Internet speed in US is 50 times faster than in India

Talk about being in the slow lane. While Indian government, telecom operators and TRAI that regulates web access, continue to be totally oblivious to the poor state of internet in the country, the US government has reclassified broadband as an internet connection with minimum speed of 25Mbps.

In India, TRAI defines broadband connection as an internet connection that has minimum 512Kbps. This means in the US internet is officially almost 50 times faster than what we get in India. Interestingly, in the US the available internet speed is often considered average or poor. In several European and Asian countries the average internet speed is even faster. At the same time the cost of connection and bandwidth is also cheaper.

"Reflecting advances in technology, market offerings by broadband providers and consumer demand, the FCC updated its broadband benchmark speeds to 25 megabits per second (Mbps) for downloads and 3 Mbps for uploads. The 4Mbps/1Mbps standard set in 2010 is dated and inadequate for evaluating whether advanced broadband is being deployed to all Americans in a timely way," said the FCC, which regulates telecom sector in the US.

Videocon launches Infinium Z50 Q Star phone at Rs 5,999

Electronics manufacturer Videocon has launched Android phone Infinium Z50 Q Star at Rs 5,999 in India.

The smartphone has a five-inch display size and comes in white, red and blue colours.

The phone sports a 5 MP rear camera and 2 MP front camera.

Its camera has features such as auto focus rear camera with LED flash, flash and panorma shot.

The phone has internal memory of 4 GB , expandable up to 32 GB. The phone has a quad core processor and supports 3G network.

Xiaomi launches Mi 4 in India for Rs 19,999

Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi had entered the Indian market in July last year. After launching the Mi 3, Redmi 1S and Redmi Note, the company has now announced the launch of the Mi 4 for the Indian market.

Available exclusively on Flipkart.com - as with Xiaomi's earlier phones - the Mi 4 has a stainless steel body and features a 5-inch IPS display with 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution at 441 ppi. It has a Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection display.

The smartphone runs on a 2.5-GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 CPU and has 3 GB of RAM. It runs on Android 4.4.3 KitKat operating system and is loaded with the MIUI 6 user interface. Connectivity options onboard include 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

The phone has a 13-MP rear camera and an 80-degree, wide-angle, 8-MP front facing camera. It can also record 4k videos. It packs in a 3080 mAh battery and quick charge 2.0.

The 16-GB variant of the smartphone has been priced at Rs 19,999.

Registrations will start on Wednesday and the first flash sale will happen after two weeks.

Xiaomi claims to have sold one million smartphones in less than five months in India. 

The WhatSIM Will Give You WhatsApp Access Anywhere in the World for Free

WhatsApp, one of the world's largest messaging services, just became easier to access for those who do not want to pay a monthly service provider for data. Announced this morning, WhatSIM allows users to connect WhatsApp to any of 400 operators in 150 countries. WhatSIM only costs €10 upfront, with no monthly payments or expiration.

Samsung plans to manufacture Tizen-based Z1 smartphone in Noida plant

Samsung, the South Korean tech major, plans to manufacture its Tizen OS-based 'Z1' at its Noida facility soon, buoyed by the market response to its smartphone in the domestic market.

Samsung, which is the world's largest smartphone player, had launched the device in India earlier in January.

"The compelling proposition of an easy to use and clutter free interface (of Z1), along with premium design has met wide consumer acceptance... The Z1 will be manufactured in company's Noida plant in UP," Samsung India Vice President Marketing (Mobile and IT) Asim Warsi told PTI.

The Noida facility has a capacity of producing over four million mobile phones a month and manufactures both affordable and high-end devices.

Microsoft to release Office 2016 later this year

Microsoft has reportedly announced that its next major version of Office, aptly named Office 2016, will be released later this year.

Julia White, Microsoft's Office general manager said that the tech giant's new suite will offer the same "comprehensive Office experience" that users are familiar with and will be best suited for a PC with keyboard and mouse, reported The Verge.

The report said that the upcoming Office version will include a darker theme and a Clippy-like helper.

Although Microsoft is making various other UI tweaks and feature additions, Office 2016 is believed to look and feel very similar to Office 2013.

Major changes to the new version would include touch-optimization for Windows 10, a separate suite of apps designed primarily for tablets and phones.

Microsoft's next operating system will have finger-friendly versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook .

The company is planning to preview Office for Windows 10 in the coming weeks.

OnePlus One

Designed for a smartphone user who is looking for an upgrade, the OnePlus One was one of the most awaited smartphone of 2014. Yes, it is a flagship smartphone, but it is priced at less than half the cost of the iPhone 6, or even the Samsung Galaxy Note 4.

The first smartphone from OnePlus, the One has got the best set of specifications. A solid built, 5.5-inch full HD touch display; 2.5 GHz quadcore processor on Snapdragon 801 chipset, 3 GB of RAM, 64 GB internal storage, Cynogen OS based on Android 4.4, and much more.

Weighing 162 grams, the One has got a slightly curved back from the edges that make it look sleek and easy to grip. The 64 GB variant launched in India has got a good sandstone finish.

The front is neat and has got a OnePlus logo along with Cyanogen written on the rear. Running on CyanogenMod version 11 based on Android 4.4, the user interface is simple and the phone gives access to all the Google services.

TomTom launches GPS sports watch range in India

With fitness and wearable gadgets taking centre stage, TomTom has launched its GPS Sports Watches in India.

This range comprises four watches - TomTom Runner, Multi Sport, Runner Cardio and Multi-sport Cardio - starting at Rs 12,999 and going up to Rs 23,499.

Aimed at runners, the TomTom Runner and Multi-Sport GPS watches offers real time information such as time, distance, heart rate, place, speed and calories burnt to runners, cyclists and swimmers.

In addition, the Runner Cardio watch has got a bigger display and full-screen graphical training partner for reviewing the workout session.

There is one-button control that allows navigation (up, down, left and right) to access the features on the watch.

Asus to launch ZenFone 2 in India in second quarter of 2015

Asus India will launch the recently announced ZenFone 2 in the second quarter of 2015. Talking on the sidelines of the EeeBook X205 launch in New Delhi, Asus executives told reporters that most of the announced products at CES will be launched in India.

Peter Chang, Asus India's country head claimed that most of the products will be launched in Q2 of 2015.

Importantly, he said Asus was track to launch the ZenFone 2 in India by Q2. "ZenFone 2, you will see in Q2. ZenFone Zoom might be later, maybe Q3," claimed Chang.

Asus also plans to launch the various ZenBook Windows 8.1 notebooks in India soon. "Chi and T series of the ZenBook should be launched by Q2," said Chang.

Asus is being a little coy about the launch of the ZenWatch.

Last we heard, the company planned to launch it in Q1 of 2015, but it appears the recent deluge of launches may alter its priorities.

"We still plan to launch it in Q1, but now the problem is that we have too many products. So we need to also prioritize and we also have to ensure there is enough supply for existing countries," said Chang.

The Taiwan based company impressed the tech media this CES with products like the ZenFone 2 and ZenFone Zoom.

The ZenFone 2, notably, is not only amongst the first phones to be powered by the new Intel Z3580 processor, but also is the first phone with 4GB RAM.

The ZenFone Zoom on the flip-side is probably the slimmest phone with an optical zoom.

Asus launches EeeBook X205 for Rs 14,999

Asus on Wednesday announced the launch of its affordable Windows 8.1 notebook, the EeeBook X205.

Priced at Rs 14,999, this notebook features an 11.6-inch HD display with 1366x768 pixel glare panel and a full-sized keyboard.

Available in four colours (dark blue, white, red and gold), the X205 runs on Intel Atom Z3735F with quad-core processor, has got Intel HD graphics onboard and Windows 8.1 (32 bit) operating system.

It comes with 2 GB RAM, 32 GB internal storage and support of up to 128 GB expandable memory.

It supports micro HDMI port and two USB ports. For connectivity, it has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi support.

Peter Chang, Regional Head, South Asia & Country Manager, Systems Business Group, Asus India, said: "We are persistently focusing towards delivering value products with premium feel and functionality and the introduction of EeeBook is testimony of the same fact. Streamlined curves, compact dimensions and a tactile finish; it will compliment all on-the-go computing requirements."

HTC may launch One M8 successor, 'One M9' in March along with first smartwatch

HTC, Taiwanese tech company , may launch its next flagship smartphone in March along with its first smartwatch, according to the media reports.

According to The Verge, the HTC One M8 successor is indeed named M9 and features a similar design to its predecessor with gold, gray, and silver color options.

It will feature a hefty 20 megapixels rear camera but that does not mean that the company is abandoning its UltraPixel concept entirely.

The front-facing camera will reportedly use the larger pixels which will make for better low-light selfies.

HTC's new smartphone will be powered by an eight-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor and will come with a Dolby 5.1 audio technology and HTC's latest Android skin, Sense 7.

However, little is known about HTC's first smartwatch except that it will hook into Under Armour's fitness software, a sports clothing and accessories company that announced a partnership with HTC at CES earlier this month.

Asus launches Fonepad 8 tablet at Rs 13,999

Taiwan-based consumer electronics manufacturer, Asus , on Monday launched the Fonepad 8 in India for Rs.13,999. The tablet is powered by an 64-bit Intel processor and has support for voice calls. The tablet is available at Asus exclusive stores and Flipkart in Black and Gold colours.

The tablet features the Intel Z3530 quad-core processor clocked at 1.2GHz working in conjunction with 2GB RAM. As the name suggests, the device has a 8-inch screen.The screen has a 1,280x800 pixels resolution. It also has 8GB or 16GB of internal storage and supports a microSD slot.

The tablet runs on Android 4.4 KitKat with the Asus ZenUI. It has Wi-Fi connectivity and dual slots for SIM cards. It supports 3G networks. There's also a 4,000mAh battery on the back along with a 5-megapixel camera. On the front, there is a 2-megapixel camera.

Asus claims it has a large viewing area with the device having a 72.2 per cent screen to body ratio. It is 8.9mm slim and weighs 310 grams. Asus has also added 2 front firing speakers with Maxx audio technology.

"Redefining the user experience of calling tablets category, we are elated to bring our 8 inch Fonepad 8 to the country. The device features next generation interface 'ASUS Zen UI' improves on your smart device experience, giving you a brand new user interface that features over 1000 upgrades and enhancements over the standard Android operating system.

Our Fonepad series have constantly introduced widely accepted innovation and all the necessary functionality; which has been loved by all our users. This encourages us to go beyond the regular and deliver incredible," said Mr. Peter Chang, Regional Head, South Asia & Country Manager, System Business Group, ASUS India.

Lava launches Iris Alfa smartphone at Rs 6,550

Lava International on the back of a solid 2014 has launched yet another budget Android phone in India. The company has launched the Iris Alfa for Rs 6,550 in India.

The phone features a 5-inch FWGA screen, and a 1.GHz quad-core processor coupled with 1GB RAM and 8GB internal storage. It runs on Android 4.4 KitKat with over the air updates.

On the back, the phone has a five-megapixel camera. The phone supports features like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB and 3G connectivity. It measures 9.3mm and has a microSD card slot, which supports up to 32GB of internal storage.

"With the launch of LAVA Iris Alfa we aim to cater to the needs of people who aspire to own a smartphone that looks good and has best in class features at an affordable price. The LAVA Iris Alfa smartphone comes equipped with all the necessary features required in a 5" device to offer consumers a superior smartphone experience," said Navin Chawla, Vice President and head of product, Lava International Pvt Limited.

The phone will compete with the likes of Google's Android One smartphones, the Xiaomi Redmi 1S, Asus ZenFone 4 and the soon to be launched Lenovo A6000. The phone also competes with products sold by local vendors like Micromax, Karbonn and Spice (which also make Android One smartphones).

The phone will be available in two colours - White and Black and will be available across retail outlets and ebay.in from January 19 onwards.

Xiaomi unveils Mi Note to challenge Apple iPhone 6 Plus

China's Xiaomi Inc on Thursday staked its claim to Apple Inc's crown as it unveiled the flagship Mi Note, its challenger to Apple's iPhone 6 Plus.

Lei Jun, the chief executive of the world's third-biggest smartphone maker and most valuable tech start-up, introduced the Mi Note in Beijing with a breakdown of the large-screen phone's technical features, with multiple comparisons to Apple's equivalent.

At 2,299 yuan ($371) for a model with 16 GB memory, the Mi Note will retail for almost two-thirds less than the iPhone 6 Plus.

Xiaomi takes efforts to play down comparisons with California-based Apple, though it is commonly called the 'Apple of China'.

"The Mi Note is shorter, thinner and lighter than the iPhone," Lei told his audience of thousands gathered in the north of China's capital.

He wore a light-blue shirt, eschewing his previously favoured black top, jeans and sneakers, reminiscent of Apple founder Steve Jobs' trademark black turtleneck and jeans.

"Xiaomi is an innovative start-up company, with a short history," said Lei.

The company has been frequently criticised for allegedly copying other tech companies, most notably Apple. "In 10 years, we will have tens of thousands of patents."

Lei also laid out Xiaomi's strategy to connect its smartphones with Xiaomi-branded home appliances, allowing phone users to remotely control washing machines, air purifiers and surveillance cameras.

"In five to 10 years all devices will become smart devices," he said. "If every smart device and every device at home can be seamlessly connected to the cloud, what could our life be like? It would be beautiful and easy."

Just three years after Xiaomi sold its first smartphone, a $1.1 billion round of fundraising announced in Decembervalued the firm at $45 billion. The privately held company has risen to become the world's No. 3 smartphone maker and is challenging Apple and Samsung Electronics as well as domestic rivals such as Huawei Technologies.

It weathered a decline in overall smartphone sales in China last year to see revenue more than double to 74.3 billion yuan ($11.99 billion) from 2013.

The company sold more than 61 million handsets in 2014, up 227 per cent from a year earlier. In China, the world's biggest smartphone market, overall sales fell 8 per cent, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

On Monday, Reuters exclusively reported that Lei and Facebook Inc CEO Mark Zuckerberg discussed a potential investment by Facebook in China's top smartphone maker ahead of last month's fundraising, but a deal never materialised.

Directi launches international calling mobile app Ringo in India

It has already been launched in 16 countries, and now 'Ringo', an international calling application, makes its India debut. While launching it in the country, Bhavin Turakhia, founder and CEO of Directi, an Internet products and services company, claims that Ringo will help make international calls cheaper and that too without using the Internet. Well, mostly.

"In India, conventionally, when you talk about international calling, you're dividing yourself into two buckets," says Turakhia, talking about having either purely Wi-Fi and data apps like Skype and Viber, where the other person also needs Skype/Viber and needs to be online, or the carrier, which is reliable and works all the time, but is also very expensive.

"There is no app in the middle which allows low-cost international calling without using the Internet," says Turakhia. Ringo will use the Internet to make a request for the call. Turakhia says the app will not use the Internet for the call, but will be similar to calling through a carrier, and will compete with the likes of Skype as well as regular telecom carriers.

To offer the service, Turakhia has partnerships with global telcos either directly, or through an aggregator.

On the delay in launching the app in India, Turakhia says: "The regular call flow available in the US and the UK is not entirely available in India because of the regulatory and partnership concerns in the manner that it operates. To design this call flow took us a little time in India and that's the only way we could have launched in India."

With Ringo, the consumers will be able to see the rates per minute for every call they make. "We're trying to bring in a level of transparency," says Turakhia, adding that calls through the app will be 70 to 80 per cent cheaper than regular phone calls, and about 20 per cent cheaper than calling apps over the Internet.

Through Ringo, which charges on a per minute basis and deducts credits that the consumer has to buy, Turakhia is making a small margin... "Our goal is [that] when we achieve the scale and volume, we will continue to increase and enhance that margin."

Lenovo launches cheapest 4G LTE smartphone in India at Rs 6,999

Chinese tech giant Lenovo unveiled the country's most affordable 4G LTE smartphone, priced at Rs 6,999 as it looks to cash in on the booming demand for high-speed data services.

Lenovo's A6000 was unveiled at the CES in Las Vegas last week. The device has been aggressively priced to compete with Xiaomi's Redmi Note 4G (Rs 9,999) and Yu's maiden device -Yureka (Rs 8,999).

LTE, is a standard for wireless communication of high-speed data for mobile phones and data terminals.

"This is perhaps the most value for money LTE device in India, the A6000 promises the perfect balance of speed, performance and ergonomics. With 2015 expected to be the year of 4G LTE, we are committed to take on this new technology and give consumers the best performance,"

BlackBerry Classic launched in India, priced at Rs 31,990

BlackBerry has launched its Classic smartphone in India, a few months after it released the Passport in the country.

Priced at Rs 31,990, the Classic is powered by 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and is paired with 2GB of RAM. It runs on BlackBerry OS 10.3.1.

The company will take forward its Bold series with this smartphone. It has a 3.5-inch touch display and navigation keys along with BlackBerry Bold's QWERTY keyboard. BlackBerry has also brought back the trackpad and has smartly gelled it with the BB 10 UI.

The new Classic has 16 GB of internal storage and supports up to 128 GB expandable memory. The device is equipped with 8MP rear camera and 2MP front facing camera. Connectivity options onboard include NFC, Bluetooth. It has the BlackBerry World and Amazon Appstore for downloading apps to the phone.

"With the launch of the BlackBerry Classic, we bring back the unique BlackBerry QWERTY experience that made that BlackBerry smartphones a users' go-to productivity tool", said Sunil Lalwani, Managing Director, BlackBerry India, at the launch. 

The smartphone is available at BlackBerry Exclusive stores and on Snapdeal.com.

The company has also launched a buyback offer where existing BlackBerry Bold smartphone users can get up to Rs 4,500 discount on purchase of the BlackBerry Classic. This offer, though, can only be availed on Snapdeal.com.

Samsung launches Z1 Tizen phone in India at Rs 5,700

Samsung on Wednesday launched a new budget smartphone in India. However, unlike its earlier smartphones this one runs on Tizen operating system and not Android. The device called Z1 will be available at a price of Rs 5,700 from Wednesday.

The company said that this low-priced smartphone would help it reach millions of new consumers in India.

"The smartphone market in India is rapidly evolving, with many consumers using their device as their screen of choice for content including videos, television programs, and video games, as well as a range of apps," said Hyun Chil Hong, Samsung India Electronics president and CEO.

The phone has a 4-inch screen with a resolution of 800 X 480 pixels. It uses a dual-core processor running at 1.2GHz and 768MB RAM. It has 4GB internal storage, support for up to 64GB microSD card and a 3.1-megapixel rear camera.

While Tizen is obviously different from Android, Samsung is using almost the same Touchwiz interface on the Z1 that it uses on its Android phones. This makes the Z1 look similar to  the smartphones sold by the company.

 The Z1 will be available to consumers from Wednesday in white, black, and red.

Samsung said that it has also signed up several content partnerships for the Z1 users. It said that Z1 users will have access to over 7000 TV shows and films if through Box TV at an annual fee of Rs 1,750.

On paper, the Z1 doesn't compare favourably to its competitors. Devices like the ZenFone 4, which is cheaper in the market, and the RedMi 1S, which sells for Rs 5,999, not only have much better hardware but also run Android, something that is familiar to consumers.

Even devices like Spice Dream uno, which is part of Android One range, have better hardware and - possibly software - than what Samsung is offering with the Z1. 

Lenovo launches TAB 2 A7-10 tablet at Rs 4,999 exclusively with Snapdeal

Tech giant Lenovo on Tuesday launched its new tablet-TAB 2 A7-10-exclusively on online marketplace Snapdeal, priced at Rs 4,999.

The ultra-portable tablet, which was showcased at Consumer Electronic Show (CES) 2015 in the US, has Android KitKat operating system, 1.3 GHz quadcore processor and seven-inch display.

With memory expandable up to 32GB, the device has 1 GB RAM, 8GB onboard memory, 0.3MP fixed-focus front camera and 3,450 mAh battery.

Yureka for you

Design and Display: The Yureka has got a 5.5-inch touch display with a 1280x720p resolution. Its front is neat, with three physical touch keys below the display. There is a 'YU' branding at the rear, with no mention of Micromax. The phone is sturdy and comfortable to grip with one hand. The rear has got a rubberised finish. The videos and images appeared crisp and sharp.

Operating System: The Yureka runs on Cyanogen OS 11 based on Android KitKat (v4.4).

Specifications and Performance: The Yureka is powered by 1.5 GHz octa-core processor on Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 (64-bit) chipset and is paired with 2 GB of RAM. These specifications did decently well on the benchmark tests. I was easily able to switch between multiple running apps. The heavy graphic apps and games loaded quickly and ran without any lag. However, while playing with the themes, the phone froze a couple of times. Other than the default apps, there is a YUniverse app that allows one to save websites for easy access, and discover news stories.

Camera: The 13 MP camera is a big plus for the Yureka, especially when one considers its price. The images captured with auto focus were impressive. They were sharp and the colours looked rich. However, when moved indoors, the images lacked sharpness. The Yureka can capture videos at a decent 1080p resolution. It also packs in a 5 MP front-facing camera for capturing selfies.

Battery: The 2500mAh battery onboard is just about average. With heavy usage, including hours of browsing, gaming, social networking, camera clicks and calling, the phone died before the end of the day. If used wisely, however, it can last a day.

LG G3 Beat

LG G3 Beat

Specs: 5 inch display; 8 MP ; 1.2Ghz Quad-core processor; 1GB RAM

LG isn't a popular name in the smartphone segment in India but this doesn't mean that their smartphones are bad. With the G2 and Flex, the company had some innovations up its sleeve. LG has now introduced the miniature version of its flagship smartphone, the LG G3 Beat. Adorning a metal-finish rear panel, it looks like a smaller version of the G3.

The power key along with the volume controls has been moved to the rear of the phone, making the side panels look neat. Accessing these keys is easy as LG has added only a 5-inch display and had maintained the thinness at 10.3mm. However, it has a downside too. Unknowingly, I ended up unlocking the phone and launching the apps. In the end, I had to turn on the Knock Code that drained the battery. The Beat had a display resolution of only 1280x720pixels. Even then, most of the text, images and videos appeared crisp.

The 1.2GHz quad-core processor paired with 1GB of RAM is good enough for fetching emails, browsing the web, downloading apps and so on. The user interface does slow down the phone a bit but I got rid of it using third partly launchers. The 8MP camera did a decent job. The call clarity is good and typing long emails isn't troublesome. The LG G3 Beat comes with 2500 mAh battery that will last a day if used carefully.

iPhone 6 Plus

Apple Iphone 6 Plus

Price: Rs 62,500

Specs: 5.5-inch display; 8 MP camera; A8 chipset; 16 GB onboard storage; Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth; 172 grams

Keeping its cult audience happy, yet again, Apple has launched two variants of the iPhone - iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. While the former continues to have an under-5-inch display, the latter forays into the phablet space, spoiling the game for the competition.

Microsoft announces new special editions of Lumia 830 and 930

Microsoft, the software giant, has reportedly announced two new special editions of its Lumia 830 and 930 smartphones which offer the same specifications as its predecessor but comes with the traditional bold colours replaced with black and white backs and an "anodized gold" finish.

Although Microsoft has been quite late in joining the gold trend, yet it has pulled off an impressive trick by providing the two devices a lustrous makeover without making them look tacky, reported The Verge.

The gold trim set against a glossy black and white back does look stylish on both the devices and the Nokia logo, picked out in gold, on the rear of the devices also looks pretty tasteful, the report said.

This will most likely be the last time Microsoft releases a Nokia -branded mobile.

However, neither of the new handsets will be available in the United States with Microsoft planning to release them only in "select countries in Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa and China."

Lumia 930 will be available in black colour this week and in white towards the end of Jan. The 830, on the other hand, will be available in both colours from Feb.

Microsoft has not disclosed the prices so far.

Motorola Moto X (2nd Gen)

Price: Rs 31,990

Specs: 13MP camera; 2.5Ghz quad core processor

The improvised new Moto X is a sleek phablet. It encases a 5.2inch full HD AMOLED display in a plastic body with metal chassis.

The display is bright with deep black and crisp text. Irrespective of the big display, it can be operated with a single hand and this includes typing.

The back has a rubberized finish that is prone to scratches. Continuing with the touchless controls, the Moto X's display illuminates as soon as you pick up the phone.

In case of a notification, it appears on the lock screen, which can be accessed by holding the icon. The voice assistant software that worked beautifully on the 1st gen Moto X, works brilliantly on this one too.

Unlike the previous gen Moto X, where Motorola had added dual coprocessors for listening and tracking activity, this time they had gone ahead with just one. The 2nd gen Moto X packs in a 2.5Ghz quad-core processor on Snapdragon 801 chipset.

It has got 2GB of RA M and comes with only 16GB internal storage. However, our review unit showcased 8.09GB of total space of which only 7.28GB is user accessible.

It doesn't support expandable memory.

The 1st gen Moto X captured good images but even this has been enhanced further.

The 13 MP camera with dual LED flash does a great job.

The images are crisp and the colours look natural when captured under bright light. However, there is a slight noise when used indoors.

The 2300 mAh battery onboard lasted me a day on heavy usage.

Micromax Canvas Breeze Tab P660

While CES 2015 moves along, Micromax has quietly launched the Canvas Breeze Tab P660 on Snapdeal.com. The tablet has an MRP of Rs.19,999, but Snapdeal is offering a massive discount and selling it for just Rs.9,990.

It is a dual-SIM tablet with 3G connectivity and voice calling functionality. It has a 7.85-inch 1024x768 pixels display and is powered by the quad-core MediaTek MT8389WM CPU clocked at 1.2GHz. In addition to this, it has 1GB RAM, and 8GB of internal storage, which can be expanded with a microSD card slot.

It is a pretty slim tablet and measures just 6.9mm.

On the back, the tablet has a 5-megapixel fixed focus camera with a LED flash and a 4,000mAh battery. On the front, there is a 2-megapixel camera.

As always, connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 2G and 3G. It runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, which was launched way back in November 2012, and there is no word on an update to Android Lollipop.

It is offered in Red and Black colours. Micromax has tied up with telecom operator Airtel to bundle 500MB of free 2G/3G connectivity per month for 6 months. Additionally, Micromax is also offering a 4,400mAh power bank which doubles as a USB/ADSL router with a speed up 150Mbps.

Samsung Galaxy Alpha

Price: Rs 39,990

Specs: 4.7inch display; 12MP camera; 1860 mAh battery

Breaking free from the trademark Samsung design, which makes all Galaxy smartphones look alike, the Galaxy Alpha does have a premium look and feel.

The design isn't revolutionary as it seems to be a combination of the iPhone 5s and the Galaxy SII . There is a metallic rim with a plastic back.

It is thin and weights only 115 grams. It definitely is the best looking Galaxy smartphone till date.

The looks might have changed but the innards remain the same.

The Alpha runs on 1.3GHz quad-core + 1.8GHz quad-core processor and is paired with 2 GB of RA M.

This isn't bad but almost all the other high-end smartphones run on the latest Qualcomm chipsets. This includes the new Moto X, which is priced lower than the Alpha.

While this doesn't affect the basic functionality, it does make a difference while handing heavy graphic apps and games. There is the Air View mode too that preview information by hovering finger over the screen instead of tapping.

It has got 2GB of RA M and 32 GB onboard storage. The 12 MP camera onboard does a good job.

There are a plenty of settings to play around with and the images turns captured are full of details.

While we don't have a dedicated camera key, the camera app can be accessed from the lock screen itself. There are various modes onboard including HDR, Dual, beauty face and Panorama.

Lastly, on a single charge, the 1860mAh battery gave me slightly over a day.