Intex launches Aqua Octa, India's first octa-core phablet, for Rs 19,999

Intex has beaten Gionee to the punch and has finally launched a true octa-core powered Aqua Octa in India. This is the first octa-core phone to be available in India and is priced at Rs 19,999. The company had announced its alliance with MediaTek in November to bring octa-core powered devices to the Indian market.

Dipped in white and black colours, the Aqua Octa will be available from January 15 onwards in most retail stores. However, it is exclusively available through Snapdeal from today. Gionee has also targetted a mid-January date for the launch of the Elife E7 Mini.

The Aqua Octa is powered by an octa-core processor clocked at 1.7GHz coupled with 2GB RAM. With all 8 cores running simultaneously it will definitely provide a boost when it comes to performance, although we don't think there are many use case where you will reuqire all eight cores simultaneously.

The Aqua Octa is a slim phone with a 7mm thin edge and sports a massive 6-inch OGS HD display. That's a 720p display and not full HD. It’s a dual-SIM phablet and runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, with minor customisations. The device comes fitted with a 13MP rear snapper with autofocus and a 5MP front-facing camera. On the connectivity front, one will find the usual compliment of ports and radios: a microUSB port, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3G and EDGE. Along with 16GB onboard storage, the company has included 5GB of cloud storage. There's also a microSD card slot for further expansion.

Here’s a quick look at some of its specifications:

• 6-inch OGS 720p HD display
• Dual SIM, 3G, Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth, GPS
• 13MP rear camera, 5MP front-facing camera
• 16GB onboard storage, microSD card support up to 32GB

All of this is fuelled by a 2300mAh battery that Intex says will offer up to 6 hours of talk time and 180 hours of standby. Intex has preloaded the multilingual app Matrabhasha, which brings support for regional Indian languages.

Acer's 7.9-inch A1-830 and entry-level 7-inch B1 tablets unveiled ahead of CES

Acer has already begun with its pre-announcements for the CES 2014. We’ve earlier seen its Liquid Z5 smartphone for entry-level users. The company ha now announced two new tablets – 7.9-inch A1-830 and 7-inch Iconia B1. 

The Iconia B1 is an entry-level tablet priced attractively at $129.99, which amounts to approximately Rs 8,000. It sports a 7-inch OGS (One Glass Solution) display and comes powered by a 1.3GHz dual-core MediaTek chipset coupled with 1GB of RAM. On the storage front, it offers 16GB of onboard storage that can be expanded up to 32GB via a microSD card. It runs on Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean and will be available in grey and colour variants. 

Acer hasn’t put much thought into the camera and one will find only a front facing camera on the device. The resolution of the camera is not known yet. The battery capacity is also unknown but the company says that it will provide 5 hours of continuous usage. 

Apart from the budget Iconia series, the company also adds a new device to its A1 series of tablets. The A1-830 is a stylish aluminium-bodied 7.9-inch slate priced at $179.99 (approximately Rs 11,100). The device sports a 7.9-inch display with 4:3 aspect ratio, 1024 x 768 pixel resolution and is supposed to be the iPad mini rival from Acer this year. However, as you see, it comes for almost half the price of the iPad mini and runs Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, instead of iOS 7. 

The tablet is light weight at 380 grams and mere 8.15mm in thickness. Under the hood, one will find it powered by a 1.6GHz Intel Atom Z2560 (or Clover Trail+) processor and 1GB of RAM. Acer promises a battery life of up to 7 and a half hours on a single charge for the A1. Unlike B1, it comes with both rear and front-facing camera, but their resolution isn’t disclosed yet. It comes with 16GB of onboard storage, expandable further using microSD card.

Acer will also launch some accessories for the A1 such as the Acer Crunch keyboard built using soft synthetic leather case that can also be transformed into a stand. Then there’s the Acer Crunch Cover in several colours, which is a microfiber stand that folds into multiple angles.

The Acer A1-830 will available in the US and Canada in Q1 2014 while the Iconia B1 will launch stateside in mid-January.

Micromax Bolt A28 and Bolt A59 budget smartphones listed online

Micromax seems to be on a roll as two more Android-based budget phones surface online. After the Bolt A61, Micromax’s Bolt A28 and Bolt A59 are now listed at an online retailer. However, both smartphones come with the coming soon tag. However, users can key in their details, and will be notified once the phones are available. Having said that neither phone is impressive. 

Though the online retailer hasn't mentioned the pricing, both devices appear to be entry-level. The dual-SIM Bolt A28 sports a 3.5-inch display and runs on a rather older Android 2.3 Gingerbread version. The budget smartphone comes powered by a 1GHz Cortex A5 processor and 1GB of RAM. The chipset isn’t specified yet, but we don't have too many hopes about its performance.

On the camera front, the A28 gets 0.3-megapixel rear and front-facing cameras.The onboard storage is limited to 512MB that could limit the number of apps you run. However, it is expandable up to 32GB. The smartphone is fuelled by a 1500mAh battery that promises up to 4 hours of talktime and up to 260 hours of standby time. Connectivity options include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPRS, EDGE, GPS/AGPS and micro-USB. 

The Micromax Bolt A59 is also a dual-SIM phone but runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. It is fitted with a 3.5-inch display with 320 x 480 pixels resolution. The smartphone is powered by a 1GHz Spreadtrum SC7710 processor along with a Mali 300 GPU and mere 256MB of RAM. The 4GB onboard storage is further expandable up to 16GB via microSD card slot.  

On the camera front, one will find a 2-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a VGA front-facing camera. The device packs in a 1500mAh battery that claims to offer up to 160 hours, and up to 4 hours of talktime. The connectivity options include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Micro-USB, GPRS, EDGE and 3G. Despite the addition of Jelly Bean, this phone seems like another forgettable effort from Micromax.

Samsung Galaxy Pro tablets and Galaxy Tab 3 lite coming in early 2014

The Samsung-Apple rivalry gets fiercer with each passing year. Just yesterday, we heard about Apple working on a new 12.9-inch tablet dubbed iPad Pro, and now news has it that Samsung is also working on its new tablet lineup called Galaxy Pro. The Galaxy Pro series will also bring a 12.2-inch tablet along with 8.4-inch and 10.1-inch display sizes. There have been rumours about both companies working on 12-inch tablets for some time now, and now they look to have gone with the same “Pro” branding.

Samsung will reportedly launch the Galaxy Pro tablets in the first quarter of 2014. According to the report, Samsung is building the Galaxy Pro lineup along with a lite version of the Galaxy Tab 3. The three tablets to come under the series include Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4, the Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1, and the Galaxy Note Pro 12.2.

Samsung is working on LTE as well as Wi-Fi versions of these tablets. The company won’t go all-colourful with these devices as the Pro lineup will be available in black or white colours.  The report further claims that 8.4 and 10.1 editions will feature 16GB onboard storage while the 12.2-inch variant will pack in 32GB of storage.

The cheaper, 7-inch Galaxy Tab 3 Lite would also be getting a cellular model and could be priced much lower at $136, which is approximately Rs 8,500. The Galaxy Tab 3 lite is expected to launch sometime in the first week of January. The Galaxy Pro 8.4 and 12.2 variants are expected to reach users in the second week of February, followed by the 10.1 model in the third week. All tablets are expected to be in stores before March, but there could be slight changes in the release dates.

Earlier report claims that Apple is working on a 12.9-inch iPad Pro with crazy high resolution display.The tablet is said to be a blend of the Macbook Pro and Macbook Air. The upcoming model is currently being called iPad Pro. One can expect two variants of the iPad – one with 2K display coming in April 2014 and another with 4K display slated for October 2014 launch.

The next version of world's cheapest tablet PC Aakash 4 will start in January and the price of the devices are expected to further come down by Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 in a year, Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal said today. 

"Aakash 4 now has been tendered for manufacturing. From January 2014, Aakash 4 which is like any other modern tablets in the country, is going to be manufactured by several players. (As many as) 18 people have actually participated in the tender," Sibal said while addressing students at Modern School. The Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals, which procures product for government supplies, has floated tender for Aakash 4 tablet for which bids will be opened tomorrow.

The Minister said that after 5 to 7 years enough number of Aakash devices will be available for every school going children in the country. Sibal said he expects the price of this cheapest tablet to further fall by about Rs 1,000 next year. 

"The cost of that ( Aakash tablet) at the moment we say is Rs 2,500 but its going to come down to Rs 1,500," he said. Aakash 4 will have a 7-inch capacitative touch screen which will be also scratch resistant.  The tablet will support wifi, 2G, 3G and 4G connectivity, come with 4GB of internal storage, external memory card slot with storage capacity of up to 32 GB, bluetooth and front camera. The Minister said that modern technology and devices like Aakash will change the way students will learn in coming days. 

"No longer teacher is sole repository of knowledge. Children get knowledge from all sorts of network site," Sibal said. Citing transformation in education sector, the Minister touched upon concept of Meta-University floated by him when he was Human Resource and Development Minister. 

"The concept (Meta University) is 3-4 University can get together and actually create a course which is not provided by syllabi of any particular university...this will happen in years to come not only between universities but between nations and universities around world," Sibal said.  He said students will be able to combine two courses and get degree from respective universities.

5-inch Samsung Galaxy Grand Neo with quad-core CPU revealed in leak

Cashing on the popularity of the Galaxy Grand range, Samsung is all set to bring in yet another variant of the device dubbed Galaxy Grand Neo, according to a report by SammyHub. The company recently launched its latest Grand 2 in India, here's our first impressions of the smartphone. 

The report claims that the Grand Neo will sport a 5-inch WVGA display, but there is no word on what type of display panel the company will employ. The device will be powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core A7 processor, similar to the one found in the Grand 2.

The alleged Galaxy Grand Neo will also run on Android 4.3 with Samsung's high-end smartphone feature called “Multi Window”. The rear panel of the smartphone will reportedly feature a soft-touch back, as found on the Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Grand 2. Aimed at budget phone users, it is expected to be priced well below the price tag attached to the Grand 2. Apart from these, no other details of the device are out yet. 

Samsung is also known to be working on the “Lite” variant of the Galaxy Grand, which was lately spotted at the FCC. Rumoured specifications of the Grand Lite are a 5-inch display with 480 x 800 pixels of resolution, 5-megapixel rear camera, VGA front-facing camera, 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM and microSD card support. Looking at the specs, it is quite possible that the Grand Lite and Grand Neo are the same device and marketed with different names depending on the region they are released in

Specs are great, but Xolo Q3000's Rs 20,999 price tag could be its downfall

The Xolo Q3000 that was spotted on online retail sites is now official. The 5.7-inch phablet is now available for Rs 20,999, a hefty price tag for a phone from an Indian company. It is being sold for slightly lesser prices through e-retailers like Flipkart and Snapdeal. Flipkart promises to deliver it in a week's time, while Snapdeal says it will dispatch the device in a day. 

The dual-SIM (GSM+GSM) smartphone sports a massive 5.7-inch full HD 1080p IPS display. It runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and is powered by a quad-core 1.5GHz MediaTek MT6589T processor coupled with a healthy 2GB of RAM.

On connectivity front, the device supports 3G, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi hotspot, Micro-USB, USB OTG, MHL and Bluetooth 4.0, so it's quite well-outfitted in that department. It comes with 16GB onboard storage, which can be expanded up to 32GB via microSD. As is becoming a norm nowadays, it gets a 13-megapixel rear snapper along with a 5-megapixel front-facing camera, that should deliver clear self-portraits. In addition, Xolo will be pre-loading its own security and software update apps.

Here’s a quick look at some of its key specifications:

• 5.7-inch full HD 1080 x 1920 IPS display
• Dual SIM, 3G, Wi-Fi
• GPS with A-GPS, Bluetooth 4.0
• 13-megapixel rear camera, 5-megapixel front-facing camera
• 16GB onboard storage, expandable via microSD card slot

The smartphone is fuelled by a gigantic 4000mAh battery that promises up to 33 hours of talktime on 2G and 21 hours of talktime on 3G. This is one of the largest battery packs we have seen in a phone.

The price of the phone puts it at a great disadvantage, considering the imminent arrival of the Elife E7 and the Samsung Galaxy Grand 2. The Gionee phone has a much better processor and a smaller body, while Samsung's mid-range workhorse has some interesting software additions, the promise of good after-sales service (and future software updates), and preloaded multimedia content thanks to Samsung's many tie-ups.

Subway Surfers slides on to Windows Phone 8

Yet another cool app from iOS and Android app stores has made its way to Windows Phone. Subway Surfers, the hit game has come to Windows Phone 8 devices and is available for free already.

For those of you who haven’t been keeping up with the apps fad, Subway Surfers is an endless runner game that has been available on Android and iOS for a long time now. Quite like you do in Temple Run, you need to keep running and dodging obstacles for as long as it’s possible. Here, the setting is an endless railway track with coaches parked as obstacles or gunning for you. Seeing as how you are the miscreant here, there's a dogged policeman chasing you, along with his dog. 

Windows Phone's India handle made the announcment via a tweet:

The app has been developed by Kiloo, a company based in Denmark and features characters Jake, Fresh and Tricky. The player essentially portrays the character of a hooligan (or guerrilla artist, depending on which side of the aisle you sit on) caught in the midst of a spray painting job in a train yard.

Special objects such as a jetpack, jumping shoes and a hoverboard are peppered through the track and the object is to run as long as possible, while completing mini challenges along the way. You can also challenge and help your friends from within the game. In keeping with the festive spirit, a Santa Claus character has been introduced for Subway Surfers for Windows Phone, but he doesn’t come bearing gifts. In fact, the Santa is none other than the grumpy inspector chasing you. Running away from Santa? This could end up confusing kids.

The game download size is about 27MB and even while it's free, there are some in-app purchases. You can get Subway Surfers on the Windows Phone Store.

5-inch Lenovo Vibe X with full-HD display, quad-core CPU launched for Rs 25,999

Lenovo has launched its new flagship, the Vibe X smartphone in India for Rs. 25,999. Slated to hit stores later this week, the Vibe X will take on the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the LG G2 but at a much lower price point than those. It will also be competing against the Micromax Canvas Turbo and the Gionee Elife E6. 

The Vibe X sports a 5-inch full-HD display that has a resolution of 1080x1920 pixels and a pixel density of 440ppi. That’s a combination that we’ve become used to seeing in the past few months. The display has Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. 

Just like the Canvas Turbo, this one has a MediaTek (MTK 6589T) chipset with a 1.5GHz quad-core CPU. There’s a healthy 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of internal storage. It runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean out of the box, but do expect some Lenovo customisations.

In keeping with the competition, the Vibe X features a 13-megapixel autofocus rear BSI camera and an LED flash. The phone also features a 5-megapixel front-facing camera that comes with a wide-angle 84 degree lens. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, A-GPS and cellular 3G. 

The Vibe X packs a 2,000mAh battery, which could turn out to be its biggest downfall. As we have seen such demanding specs require a bigger battery pack for all-day usage. 

Here’s another look at the Vibe X’s key specs:

• 5-inch 1080p IPS LCD
• 3G, Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth 3.0, GPS with A-GPS
• 13-megapixel main camera with 5-megapixel front camera
• 16GB internal storage; no microSD card slot; USB on-the-go

Built out of polycarbonate, the Vibe X features a machine-crafted mould and a laser-engraved 3D tactile finish. One of the highlights of the device is its super thin frame, with it measuring 6.9mm at the thinnest point. It’s also quite light, weighing in at 121 g.

iBall launches dual SIM Slide 3G Q1035 tablet for Rs 17,999

iBall has introduced a new addition to its Slide range of tablets with the launch of 3G Q1035. The tablet is listed on its website for a price of 17,999 and Snapdeal is selling it "slightly" cheaper at Rs 17,499. 

The USP of the tablet appears to be its support for voice-calling and dual SIM (GSM + GSM) mode. The Q1035 sports a 10.1-inch IPS HD display with 1280 x 800 pixels of resolution. Under the hood, one will find it powered by a by 1.2GHz quad-core Cortex A7 processor coupled with 1GB of RAM, and Android 4.2. The chipset maker has not been specified.

On the storage front, it gets 8GB onboard storage, expandable up to 32GB. It also features 8-megapixel rear snapper with LED flash and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera. The connectivity options include 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Micro-USB and 3G.

Take a quick look at the specifications:

• 10.1-inch IPS HD display with 1280 x 800 pixels of resolution
• 3G, Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth
• 8-megapixel rear camera with LED flash, 2-megapixel front-facing camera
• 8GB onboard storage, expandable up to 32GB

All of this is fuelled by a 6000mAh battery, which sounds like it will deliver great battery life.

iBall had launched the 3G Q1035 in its Edu Slide range earlier in September priced at a hefty sum of Rs 36,999. The company has now dropped the educational content from the tablet and packaged it as a sub-Rs 18,000 device.

Micromax, MTS launch Canvas Blaze smartphone with free data for 6 months

Micromax has joined hands with MTS to launch the Canvas Blaze smartphone. The Canvas Blaze is an EVDO+GSM dual SIM smartphone powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. Priced at Rs 10,999, the smartphone bundles free MTS data and minutes for six months from the date of purchase.

Micromax claims to have designed the Blaze exclusively for young, tech-savvy internet generation. The smartphone sports a 5-inch display and comes powered by a 1GHz dual-core CPU with integrated EVDO and GSM modem. It runs on the older Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean OS. On the camera front, it gets an 8-megapixel rear snapper with flash and a VGA front-facing camera. The connectivity options include 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth v2.0.

Here’s a quick look at its specifications:

• 5-inch capacitive touchscreen display
• Dual SIM, 3G, Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth v2.0
• 8-megapixel rear camera, VGA front-facing camera
• Expandable storage up to 32GB

The Canvas Blaze houses an 1850mAh battery. The smartphone comes bundled with 2GB data, 1000 minutes of free MTS to MTS local calls and 120 minutes of other local and STD calls. The Canvas Blaze is now available across all leading retail outlets in India.

5-inch iBall Andi Uddaan with dedicated SOS button launched for Rs 8,999

Indian company iBall has added to its smartphone line-up but this one has been designed keeping in mind the safety concerns for women in India. Dubbed Andi Uddaan, the company calls the phone a “perfect blend of security and style”.

It has a dedicated and exclusive SOS button on the back, which when activated blares out a loud siren that alerts the people nearby of the danger, and also calls and sends messages to five pre-defined contacts. The smartphone sends a message alerting of an emergency situation to the pre-defined contacts along with the location of the person based on your coordinates. The phone also sends out a Facebook update to alert your friends. The Uddaan comes pre-installed with an application called ‘ICE - In case of Emergency' that allows the user to add vital details like blood group, medical history, details of persons to be contacted during an emergency situation.

The Andi Uddaan also enables GPS tracking by up to 10 people. One can view the location of the person or can get the updates at pre-defined intervals. It also facilitates the addition of two geo-fences for receiving custom alerts. User can define the geo-fence on map location and the user can programme the phone to send alerts by mail or SMS when they enter or exit the fence area.

iBall Andi Uddaan features a curved glass touch panel and its back cover is made with in-mould textured lamination. Just to drive home the fact that this phone is designed for women, iBall has fitted a Swarovski Zirconia crystal on the home button. The wallpaper in the press images was a stereotypical pink and the SOS button on the back is heart shaped. 

The smartphone sports a 5-inch qHD IPS display and runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. Under the hood, one will find a dual-core 1.3GHz Cortex-A7 processor and 512 MB RAM. It gets 4GB onboard storage and the microSD card slot takes in cards up to 32GB in size. It also includes a 2000mAh battery. On the camera front, it gets an 8-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel front-facing camera. 

iBall Andi Uddaan will be available across the nation in the next two weeks. It is available at an introductory price of Rs 8,999, and marked with an MRP. of Rs 10,990. iBall also claims to bundle accessories worth Rs 1,199 such as a flip cover, an extra back cover, a pink carrying purse and a scratch guard.

Nokia Asha 502 with 5MP camera now available for Rs 5,739

Alittle later than expected, but Nokia has launched the Asha 502 in India. Unlike the Lumia 1520, which got a big launch event yesterday, this one slipped under the radar and was spotted on Nokia’s e-store. The Asha 502 has a price tag of Rs 5,739, after a 17 percent discount over the original price of Rs 6,889. For its specs, the 502’s price may seem a little jarring, considering how many low-cost Android smartphones are available at the same price. 

Let’s have a look at the 502’s specs. Running Nokia Asha Platform 1.1, which brings features like over-the-air (OTA) support for future updates, the 502 has a 3-inch LCD display with a resolution of 240x320 (QVGA) pixels. Obviously, this puts it at a disadvantage over some of its Android rivals, which have larger displays with higher resolutions. With the reworked Asha interface, the 502 comes with one-swipe access to the camera app and one-touch sharing feature for WhatsApp, which is a new addition to the platform.

The Asha 502 comes only in dual-SIM (GSM+GSM) configuration with Nokia's Easy Swap technology and also supports dual standby. This one takes in micro SIM cards instead of the regular-sized SIMs. One of the major improvements from the Asha 501 is the 5-megapixel camera on the back, which also has an accompanying LED flash. 

It comes with 1010mAh battery which can deliver up to 480 hours of standby time and up to 14 hours of talktime. It measures 99.6x 59.5x11.1mm and weighs 100 grams. It comes with expandable storage support up to 32GB with the help of microSD card. All in all, the 502 is a major improvement over the Asha 501 in terms of specs. The lack of 3G might be a dealbreaker for many and the display certainly needs a bump up in resolution.

Micromax Canvas 2.2 A114 available online for Rs 12,999

Micromax seems to be on a roll. After the Bolt A61 and Canvas Juice A77, yet another Micromax device is now listed online. The Micromax Canvas 2.2 A114 is available on Flipkart for Rs 12,999. However, the company hasn’t listed the device on their official website yet. 

The latest addition to the Canvas clan comes powered by a quad-core MT6582M processor clocked at 1.3GHz, coupled with 1GB RAM. The dual-SIM smartphone runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. On the camera front, the Canvas 2.2 A114 comes equipped with an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera. It gets all the usual connectivity options such as 3G, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS/A-GPS. It also gets 4GB of on board storage that can be expanded up to 32GB via microSD card slot.

Take a quick look at the specifications of the Micromax Canvas 2.2 A114:

• 5-inch qHD IPS display with 960 x 540 pixels of resolution
• Dual SIM, 3G, Wi-Fi
• GPS with A-GPS
• Bluetooth
• 8-megapixel rear camera, 2-megapixel front-facing camera
• 4GB onboard storage, expandable up to 32GB

The A114 is fuelled by a 2,000mAh battery that promises up to 7 hours of talktime and up to 180 hours of standby time. The smartphone will compete with the Karbonn Titanium S5 and the Intex I-5. Both smartphones feature a qHD display, come powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core processor and are priced around Rs 11,500.

Nokia's 6-inch Lumia 1520 with 20MP camera, Snapdragon 800 launched for Rs 46,999

Nokia has finally taken the wraps off the off its first Windows Phone phablet for the Indian market, the Lumia 1520, at an event held in Delhi. The 6-inch device has a full 1080p full HD display, 20-megapixel PureView camera and a new Nokia Camera app. The Lumia 1520 is priced at 46,999 and will be available from today onwards.

Much like the other phones in the Lumia series, the polycarbonate shell of the phone will come in a multitude of colours. The phone runs on the latest Windows Phone OS with the GDR3 update. This has added a third column to the Live Tiles feature on the Lumia device. This third column will definitely help users to see and do more on the larger screen. One of the key points that the company focussed on was the presence of four built-in microphones, for better audio capture.

Under the hood, one will find a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor clocked at 2.2GHz, coupled with 2GB of RAM. The 1520 comes with 32GB of internal memory, which can be expanded up to 64GB via a microSD card slot. The 20-megapixel camera on the phone is one of the highlights and Nokia has added a bunch of new features to the Nokia Camera app as well as the Pro Camera app. This is in addition to apps such as Nokia Refocus and the suite of Nokia Lenses.

Take a quick look at the specifications:

• 6-inch Full HD display with 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution
• 3G, Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth
• GPS with A-GPS, GLONAAS
• NFC
• 20-megapixel PureView camera with dual-LED flash, 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera
• 32GB onboard storage, expandable up to 64GB

Nokia will be entering a market that already has the likes of Samsung Galaxy Note 3, Sony Xperia Z Ultra and the HTC One. How will Nokia's first Windows Phone 8 phablet fare against these rivals? We'll bring you all the comparisons and coverage from the launch through the day. For now, see our specifications review of the Nokia Lumia 1520.

Samsung announces 4.7-inch Galaxy Core Advance, coming in early 2014

Samsung has announced yet another budget smartphone, the Galaxy Core Advance. Though the company hasn’t revealed its price, the device is all set to enter markets early next year and going by the specs, it won't be a high-end model. 

The Core Advance will be available in Deep Blue and Pearl White colour variants, and join the Core line-up that includes Galaxy Core and Galaxy Core Plus. However, unlike the previous Core devices, the Core Advance will come with an all-new design and in single SIM configuration. The Galaxy Core Advance is also expected to feature a screen curtain that will help save battery by letting you make commands on a blank screen.

The smartphone will reportedly also support features for disabled and visually impaired. For instance, the optical scan feature will recognize text from an image and read it out loud. Light sensing technology will use the device's camera to sense light direction and brightness and the instant voice recorder will allow users to make quick voice notes. 

The Samsung Galaxy Core Advance sports a 4.7-inch TFT display with a 480 x 800 pixels of resolution. It is powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core processor with 1GB of RAM. On the camera front, it gets a 5-megapixel rear autofocus camera with a LED flash and a VGA front facing camera. The connectivity options include NFC (S Beam), Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS with GLONASS. It runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and also gets a layer of Samsung's TouchWiz UI.
 
Take a quick look at the key specifications:

• 4.7-inch TFT display with a 480 x 800 (WVGA) pixels resolution
• 3G, Wi-Fi, NFC
• Bluetooth 3.0, GPS
• 5-megapixel rear camera
• 8GB onboard storage, expandable up to 64GB with a microSD card

All of this is fuelled by a 2,000mAh battery. One can also expect the Core Advance to include some usual Samsung services like S Voice, S Translator, Sound & Shot, Group Play and Easy Mode. We have no word on India availability yet.

PlayStation 4 spotted on Snapdeal with Rs 40,000 price tag

While Sony has been quiet about launching its next-gen console—the PlayStation 4—in India, online retailer Snapdeal seems to be quite confident about it coming here in December. The online store has listed the console as available for pre-orders. Picking it up requires the buyer to pay Rs 1,999 in advance, and the store will charge the remainder of the Rs 40,000 price tag when it starts shipping.

No other online store seems to have started taking pre-orders for the console, except for Game4U which started taking advance payments for it back in July. Sony has been quiet about the whole thing, and the most anyone knows about an Indian PlayStation 4 launch is from a statement by PlayStation India Country Manager Atindrya Bose from back in June where he said that the console would be coming here this year.

“It will be matched with the European launch; give or take a bit to account for Indian logistics. The consoles have to be shipped in advance and currently all consoles also require certification for the India market. In terms of targeting, we’re looking to synchronise with the European launch,” Bose said. “That’s this year.”

The PlayStation 4 is hitting its first market—the Americas—tomorrow, while Europe will be seeing it later this month on November 29. The console is set to be cheaper than competitor Xbox One by around $100, since it doesn’t include the PlayStation Eye camera in the box.

Microsoft’s Xbox One, on the other hand, is going to hit 14 markets on November 22, which falls right in the middle of both of the PS4’s launch dates.

Landmark puts Sony PlayStation 4 up for pre-order for Rs 1,499

Game4U was the first retailer to start taking pre-orders for the PlayStation 4 in June, but it's only now that we are seeing more retailers list the new console. Last month, online retailer Snapdeal seemed to be quite confident about the gaming console coming here in December and was taking pre-bookings. Now, popular books and entertainment store Landmark has put up the PS4 for pre-order and assures dispatch on the date of its release in India at the end of this month.  Landmark wants users to book their PS4s by paying Rs 1,499 up front, and the rest of the amount will be deducted upon the release of the console. The retailer is promising Day 1 dispatch of the console for pre-orderers. It is also offering Rs 500 e-gift vouchers to purchase games for the new console. n August, Sony had announced it received more than 1 million preorders worldwide, so we expect quite a lot of pre-orders coming from India too. The PS4 has been a runaway hit since its launch. On the first day, more that $400 million worth of PS4 business was raked in from just North America. Earlier this week, the company announced that it has sold over 2.1 million Sony PlayStation 4 consoles in just two weeks.The Xbox One matched the PS4's day one feat of selling over a million units. In comparison, Xbox One is not slated to launch in India officially till the end of 2014, so Sony has a leg up over Microsoft in this regard. But Sony has to make sure new titles meant for the new generation of console are launched at a steady clip. Microsoft definitely has the advantage when it comes to launch titles in this generation's battle.

LG G Flex to be launched in India on December 11

LG has sent out invites for a press event slated for December 11 in New Delhi.  While the invite itself doesn’t explicitly mention which devices will be launched, it’s more than apparent when you see the arcs above and below the headline. This clearly indicates that the LG G Flex is being launched for the Indian market this week. We had expected an international launch for the phone this month.

The G Flex was initially launched for the South Korean market and is only the second phone to have a curved display panel. Samsung beat LG to the punch in this regard with the Galaxy Round.See our comparison of the two curved display phones. Unlike the Round, the G Flex is curved like a banana and has a self-healing cover on the back. The smartphone also takes design cues from the recently launched G2, and comes with rear buttons for power and volume.

Let’s take a look at some of the hardware specs. The G Flex sports a 6-inch 720p curved OLED display. The design is vertical oriented as the phone is curved on the horizontal axis. According to LG, the design reduces the distance between user’s mouth and microphone when the Flex is held against the ear. 

The LG G Flex is powered by a 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor coupled with 2GB of RAM. On the camera front, the G Flex comes with a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera. It packs in a 3,500 mAh battery and runs on Android 4.2.2.

LG has also added a host of features that take advantage of the curved screen. A feature called QTheater lets users quickly access photos, videos and YouTube directly from the lockscreen just by dragging outwards along the curved surface with both fingers. There’s a neat theatre curtain effect before the video starts. 

One of the highlights of the device is the 'self-healing' protective film for the back panel. LG claims that the phone can heal itself against minor scratches and bumps. The special protective film on the back cover will ensure that the hairline scratches disappear within minutes. 

The phone also comes with a dual window mode that allows users to multitask better and also a swing-lock screen that keeps changing the device’s wallpaper depending on how the phone is held in your hand.

HTC launches dual-SIM Desire 501, Desire 601 and Desire 700 starting at Rs 16,890

Last month, Faisal Siddiqui, Country Head, HTC had revealed that the company plans to launch at least two, if not four new Desire models in India that were earlier announced in Taiwan. And here they come! HTC has launched the dual-SIM Desire 501, Desire 601 and Desire 700 in India priced at Rs 16,890, Rs 24,190 and Rs 33,050 respectively.

The HTC Desire 501 dual-SIM (GSM+GSM) sports a 4.3-inch WVGA display and is powered by a 1.15GHz dual-core processor with 1GB of RAM. It packs an 8-megapixel BSI sensor, 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera and 8GB of onboard storage, that can be expanded up to 32GB via microSD card. All of this is fuelled by a 2100mAh battery. On the connectivity front, the smartphone supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, DLNA and micro-USB.

Here’s a quick look at some of the key specifications of the Desire 501:

• 4.3-inch WVGA display with 480 x 800
• Dual SIM, 3G, Wi-Fi, DLNA
• Bluetooth
• 8-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and BSI sensor, 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera
• 8GB of onboard storage, expandable up to 32GB via microSD card

HTC Desire 601 is also a dual SIM smartphone and sports a slightly bigger 4.5-inch display. Under the hood, it is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core processor coupled with 1GB of RAM. It comes with a 5-megapixel rear camera and VGA front-facing camera. The HTC Desire 601 is equipped with dual-front stereo speakers with built-in amplifiers. Connectivity options include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS and 3G. The device is powered by a 2100mAh battery that promises up to 12 hours of talktime and up to 582 hours of standby time.

Here’s a quick look at some of the key specifications of the Desire 601:

• 4.5-inch qHD display with 540 x 960 pixels resolution
• Dual SIM, 3G, Wi-Fi
• 5-megapixel rear camera, VGA front-facing camera
• 4GB onboard storage, expandable up to 64GB via microSD card

The HTC Desire 700, the most expensive amongst the three sports a 5-inch qHD display. It is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core processor coupled with 1GB of RAM. It also includes a 2100mAh. Just like the flagship HTC One, the dual SIM Desire 700 features HTC BoomSound dual-front stereo speakers with built-in amplifier. One can expect connectivity options such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, DLNA, GPS/AGPS and 3G. The smartphone packs a 2100mAh battery that promises up to 11.6 hours of talktime and up to 582 hours of standby time.

Here’s a quick look at some of the key specifications of the Desire 700:

• 5-inch qHD display with 540 x 960 pixels of resolution
• Dual SIM (GSM + GSM), 3G, Wi-Fi
• 8-megapixel rear autofocus camera with LED flash, 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera with BSI sensor
• 8GB onboard storage, expandable up to 64GB via microSD card

All three smartphones run on Android OS along with a layer of HTC Sense. However, the Android version and the exact chipset aren’t specified.