Micromax launches A116 Canvas HD with 5-inch IPS HD display at Rs 14,999

Micromax has launched its new A116 Canvas HD smartphone at a press event held in Delhi. The device is priced at Rs. 14,999. The Indian phone maker is known for its budget-friendly handsets and this mid-level device also comes with an attractive set of features. Its flagship model, the A110 Canvas 2, was quite popular and this one takes the performance a notch higher. This affordable smartphone goes by the latest trend and packs in a 5-inch IPS display just like the previous Canvas A110, but with higher 1280 x 720 pixel resolution. It is also Micromax’s first smartphone to feature a quad core processor.

The smartphone is powered by a powerful MediaTek MT6589 1.2 GHz quad core processor, with 1GB RAM. It runs on the Android Jelly Bean 4.1 and comes equipped with a 2100mAh battery. The smartphone comes with an 8MP rear camera with LED flash and multiple camera settings such as night mode and 4X zoom. This 3G enabled phone supports microSD card up to 32GB. Promising superb graphics and HD viewing experience, Micromax targets youth who are always on the lookout for better, faster and savvier smartphones on the move.  

Commenting on the launch and association with MediaTek, Deepak Mehrotra, Chief Executive Officer, Micromax, said, “At Micromax, we constantly strive to innovate and develop great technological experiences for our consumers. Today’s launch marks our association with MediaTek to bring forth our first quad core phone in this segment, offering consumers a great user experience with latest features and added functionality. We are excited with the success of Canvas 2, which has clearly established Micromax as number one player in the new 5” phablet category in India. We are looking forward to similar success with the new phone being unveiled today.”

Micromax’s previous popular flagship model, the A110 Canvas 2, came with a 5-inch FWVGA capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 480 x 854 pixels. Equipped with a 2,000mAh Li-ion battery, it offered up to five hours of talk time and up to 180 hours of standby time. The device ran on Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich.

The A116 Canvas HD is expected to be available for purchase starting the first week of February via all major retailers across the nation and all major online stores.

Source : Micromax launches A116 Canvas HD with 5-inch IPS HD display at Rs 14,999

Nokia Asha 308 launched in India at Rs 5,865

Nokia has launched one of its latest phones from the Asha line in India. The Nokia Asha 308 is now available on Nokia India’s online store for a price of Rs 5,865. The phone runs on Nokia’s S40 full-touch interface.

The new device offers a fluid 'swipe' user interface and an open environment for third-party application development, characteristics that have earned the complete Asha Touch range full smartphone classification from global market research companies and analysts such as GfK and IDC.

Nokia Asha 308 has been launched in India

Here are some of the highlights of the Nokia Asha 308:

• 3-inch capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 400 x 240 pixels
• EDGE/GPRS
• Bluetooth 3.0 with A2DP
• 2 megapixel camera, VGA frontfacing camera

In its official statement, Nokia previously shared that it has released a new version of Nokia Xpress Browser, which it claims enables up to 90 percent more efficient mobile browsing and faster access to rich web applications compared to conventional browsers.

"Our innovative Asha Touch family of devices is designed for people who want a great smartphone experience with lower running costs," said Timo Toikkanen, executive vice president, Mobile Phones, Nokia during the announcement of the phone. "By introducing the Nokia Asha 308 and Nokia Asha 309, we're expanding our affordable smartphone lineup and bringing new mobile experiences to more people.”

According to Nokia, the Asha 308 and Nokia Asha 309 phones are its most affordable capacitive touchscreen devices to date. A view shared by independent analysts is that the Asha line represents great smartphones available for less than USD 99. "Nokia's Asha Touch family delivers all the core smartphone experiences, and with the new software developer kit, provides ever-increasing flexibility for developers to build compelling new experiences for consumers," said Will Stofega, Mobile Phone Program Director, IDC.

Nokia also introduced two extensions to its Xpress Browser Internet platform, which the company calls the only cloud-based web browser to support web apps.

The Nokia Nearby web app helps people discover new places by searching nearby locations and presenting the options on a map. The service is available via Nokia Xpress Browser or as a feature within Nokia Maps.

The Nokia Life+ web app will give millions of people access to content that spans education, health and infotainment to enhance their daily lives. Nokia Life+ is available in English across 18 countries, with local versions coming to India, China and Indonesia in the fourth quarter of this year. Nokia Life+ can be accessed through Nokia Xpress Browser or the Nokia Store.

Both the services work with Asha Touch smartphones. In addition to these services, Nokia also introduced a new web-based tool that makes it even easier to build new applications. With Nokia Xpress Web App Builder, publishers can create appealing web apps for Asha Touch devices, and even novices can turn their web content into a fun and sophisticated web app for Nokia consumers.

Source : Nokia Asha 308 launched in India at Rs 5,865

LG Optimus Vu With Android 4.0 And 5" Screen Lands In India

Announced at MWC 2012 in February, LG's first phablet, the Optimus Vu, has finally hit the Indian market. The handset has a 5" screen, and will compete with the Samsung GALAXY Note II. On the software front, the Optimus Vu runs Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and comes preloaded with a plethora of apps specifically created for the stylus. It is powered by a 1.5 GHz quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 chipset and has an 8 mp camera.

Here's the list of detailed specs:

• 1.5 GHz Quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 chipset, 1 GB of RAM.
• 5" IPS screen with 1024x768 pixels, 4:3 aspect ratio, 16 million colours.
• 8 mp auto-focus rear camera, 1.3 mp front camera.
• Camera features: 8x zoom, Time machine shot, HDR, Panorama, Continuous shot, Beauty Shot, 1080p video recording at 30 fps.
• Wi-Fi, 3.5 mm Jack, Bluetooth, A-GPS, NFC.
• 32 GB internal storage, Micro-USB port with support for MHL.
• Quad-band GSM (850, 900, 1800, 1900 GHz), Tri-band 3G (W900, W1900, W2100 MHz), Micro-SIM slot.
• Android 4.0 (ICS), Preloaded with special apps for stylus.
• 5.5" (l) x 3.6" (w) x (0.3 mm)(d), 168 grams.
• 2080 mAh battery.

The original Optimus Vu (launched in Korea earlier this year) had a dual-core CPU, but for other markets, LG has decided to go with the quad-core chipset. So at least on paper, the Vu looks as powerful as the GALAXY Note II. That said, I wonder how many users will find a 4:3 form factor comfortable. The Note II has the upper hand also because of its 3100 mAh battery, Jelly Bean OS, and the microSD card slot.

The Optimus Vu is listed on LG's India website with an MRP of Rs 34,500.

Source : LG Optimus Vu With Android 4.0 And 5" Screen Lands In India