Mobile review: Panasonic Eluga A3 Pro

Value for money

Japanese tech giant Panasonic, has come up with two smartphones ~ Panasonic Eluga A3 and Eluga A3 Pro in its Eluga A series. The only difference Panasonic has made between these two devices is storage. The rest is the same, be it design or camera. Priced at Rs 12,790, Eluga A3 Pro is a good phone with many decent features. The most impressive part of the phone is its huge 4000 mAh battery. Then comes virtual assistant ARBO, metal body and last is its decent hardware specifications. However, if one's priority is camera then think for another device as the Eluga A3 Pro has a pretty average camera. Overall, the phone looks good if one compares its features and price with other devices in the same price range.

Design overview

When it comes to design, the Eluga A3 Pro looks quite premium and feels nice in hand with its metal body with rounded corner. The phone has 5.2-inch display. At the left corner of the device, is a slot for hybrid SIM cards and microSD Card. The right corner of the phone has volume rocker and power button. At the rear is the camera, with an LED flash, and the speaker grill is at the bottom. The front of the phone has only fingerprint sensor, which also acts as home but it doesn’t have any physical navigation buttons. The navigation buttons are onscreen. The front camera is at the top along an LED notification. The micro USB 2.0 port is at the bottom edge of the device while the top edge houses the 3.5 mm audio jack.
 The screen display is bright and sharp with a resolution of 1280 x 720p. The viewing angle and visibility of the phone is quite good. One won't face any problem while using phone in strong sunlight or any outdoor.

Camera and battery

The camera of the Panasonic A3 Pro is one of the weak points. It has a 13MP rear camera with auto-focus and 8MP selfie camera at the front. On a clear day the picture comes out fine, but in low light it performs not so well. However, to compensate all these there are lots of camera features. The phone's battery is the best part. It is packed with a powerful 4,000m mAh battery, which can last a whole day in high usage and with moderate use, for two days.

Hardware

The phone is powered by a MediaTek 6753 processor, runs on Android 7.0 Nougat and has 3 GB of RAM. The internal memory of the phone is 32 GB, which can be expandable upto 128GB with a microSD card. The 3 GB RAM is good for multitasking and there is  no heating issue even in heavy usage.

Verdict

Panasonic Eluga A3 Pro, a new offering of Panasonic, has a powerful battery, decent hardware and premium look, but fails on the camera front

Read More

This article has been reproduced here : Rakesh Kumar

Share:

Mobile Review: Gionee A1 Lite

 A heavy battery phone

Camera: Front is fine, rear needs improvement

Battery: The best part 

Performance: Average, heating issue

Design: Premium looking

Price: A little expensive

Chinese smartphone maker Gionee created a lot of buzz in the market and on social media when they came up with Gionee A1 a few months back. However, Gionee A1 Plus and the recently-launched Gionee A1 Lite haven’t witnessed the same fervor. Priced at Rs 14,999, Gionee A1 Lite has a premium design, a powerful battery and a good selfie camera. But the rear camera and performance of the device is not up to the mark. At the same time, heating issue could also let down the phone. Gionee should have worked on it as its counterparts like Lenovo and Xiaomi are giving better specifications and features at less price. If your priority is selfie and a powerful battery, go for this phone without any second thought. But if you are adding performance in your priority list, look for some other option.

Design and features

In terms of design, most of the features are aped from its previous version, Gionee A1. Overall, the phone looks slim and quite decent in a full metal body. It easily fits in the hand. The phone has white colour in front panel while the rear has all in golden colour. The camera, LED flash and senors are on the top of the front panel, while at the bottom are three capacitive touch buttons. The micro USB 2.0 port and 3.5 mm audio jack are at the bottom of the phone.
 The rear side of the phone has camera with LED flash, below it is a finger print scanner and at the bottom is the speaker grill top. The volume rockers and power buttons are well placed on the right corner of the phone, while the left has a slot for nano sim card tray and microSD card. The display of the device is 5.3 inch HD (720X1280) IPS LCD and with a pixel density of 277 ppi. The display is not HD but it is bright and sharp.

Specifications

The device runs on Android 7.0 Nougat, powered by Mediatek MT6753 Octa-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A53 with Mali-T720MP3 GPU.  A1 Lite has 3GB RAM and 32GB of internal storage which can be expanded by a microSD card. The performance of the phone is quite average. It starts creating glitches and gets slow when switching apps and opening multiple browsers. The phone also has heating issue.

Camera and battery

The phone has 20MP front camera and 13MP rear camera. The front camera works well, the picture comes quite bright and clean but it starts creating problem against the light or in low light. The only word for 13MP rear camera is it doesn’t justify its price. To compensate the disappointment, one would certainly like its massive 4,000mAh battery, it can last a whole day with a single charge.

Verdict

The front camera and battery of Gionee A1 Lite are really good but its performance and features don’t justify its price range

Read More

This article has been reproduced here : Rakesh Kumar

Share:

First Impression: Lenovo K8 Plus

A good deal

 Lenovo India has launched two smartphones~ Lenovo K8 plus and Lenovo K8 in its famous K-Series. Priced at Rs. 10,999, Lenovo K8Plus will go on sale from tomorrow (7 September) exclusively on Flipkart. The metal body and strong frames make the phone look quite stylish and easy to fit in palms. The phone runs on Android 7.1.1 (Nougat), with assured updates to Android Oreo, as well as high-end multimedia features like Dolby Atmos and Lenovo’s TheaterMax technology.

Specification and features 

 It comes with a 13.2cm (5.2), Full High definition (1920 x 1080p) display with Corning® Gorilla® Glass protection. The device is powered by a true octa core processor clocked at 2.6 GHz, with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage, expandable to 128GB using a microSD card via a dedicated slot.

Camera is the another USP of the phone, it has dual camera set-up comprising a 13.0-megapixel and a 5.0-megapixel sensor, which allow users to take their photography game up a notch, by letting them tweak focus and bokeh levels in their pictures, and by adjusting aperture as per their requirements all the way from f/0.8 to f/5.6. The cameras are accompanied with a dual LED flash for better low light photography experience. Lenovo has added a special depth editor and depth-enabled mode to the photography app and gallery to let users do more with their photographs. There is more to photography on the phone than the dual cameras – it also comes with an 8.0-megapixel selfie camera, which not only offers a beauty mode and a LED flash, but also a professional mode which allows users to tweak ISO and white balance and other factors even while snapping selfies. Ensuring everything is kept private is a fingerprint sensor right on the back on the phone. In terms of battery, the phone has a large 4000 mAh battery, with 32 hours of 4G talk time and a massive 456 hours of standby time. A fingerprint scanner on the back ensures security of the content inside the phone.

Read More

This article has been reproduced here : Rakesh Kumar

Share:

Vivo Launches Vivo Y69

The new launch of Vivo~ Vivo Y69  has focused more on its camera.

Vivo, a Chinese mobile maker has come up with a new smartphone~ Y69 under its Y series of product portfolio. With this launch, Vivo seems to tap camera-crazy customer as the mobile is equipped with 13 MP rear and 16 MP moonlight front camera, with lots of camera features. The phone has many  unique camera modes like Bokeh, Group Selfie and Live Photo. Priced at Rs. 14,990, the phone will be available in Champagne Gold and Matte Black color across the country from 1 September 2017 on Flipkart and Amazon and at stores.

Specifications

The phone has a 5.5-inch HD IPS (1280 x 720 pixels) display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. Powered by 1.5 GHz Octa-core MediaTek MT6750 processor, with a 3GB RAM and 32GB ROM for multitasking, including resource-intensive apps and games, without delay or lag. The newly launched device operates on the upgraded Funtouch OS 3.2 (based on Android 7.0) for a continuous top-of-the-line performance and features an advanced fingerprint scanner in the front. The phone has three card slots: dual SIM slots and a separate Micro SD card slot expandable up to 256GB, to increase the storage further.

Camera and battery

When it come to camera, Vivo seems to worked hard. The Y69 has a 13MP rear camera, which brings photos to life by creating a moving image with Vivo's first-ever Live Photo feature that contributes to creating unforgettable living memories. Also, the particular group selfie mode captures a wider view with minimized lens distortion. The 16MP moonlight selfie camera is paired with f/2.0 aperture to deliver extraordinary clarity and induce natural colours even under low-light conditions. The Y69 comes with a 3000 mAh long life battery providing enough battery life through the day.

Read More

This article has been reproduced here : Rakesh Kumar

Share:

Power packed smartphone

 With its powerful specifications and mid budget price, Coolplay 6, a new offering of Coolpad looks quite promising.

Coolpad, a Chinese Smartphone maker has come up with its annual flagship launch~ Coolpad Cool Play 6 in Dubai.  Packed with a powerful specification and the phone is equipped with a grade-metal body and bezels display.  The Coolpad Cool Play 6 is powered by 1.4GHz Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 653 processor and packs 6GB of RAM, making it the most affordable 6GB RAM smartphone in India. Priced at 14,999 the phone comes with a 5.5-inch Full HD display with 1080 x 1980 pixels screen resolution. The phone offers 64GB of internal storage and packs 13 MP + 13 MP dual primary camera and a 8 MP front shooter for selfies.

 “India and U.S has now become two of the largest markets for Coolpad overseas. We have always believed in launching products that start a trend in the market and Cool 6 is yet another winner from Coolpad. The response we have got from our consumers over the years with every launch has been overwhelming and we are touched by the love of our Cool fans. We are confident that with R&D capabilities and quality products, we will be able to gain an even larger market share in India and other regions. Apart from that we are also coming with exclusive Coolpad services centers in India with plan to have these in at least 5 cities in next 6 months,” said James Du, Global CEO, Coolpad Group.

The phone runs on Android 7.1.1 and it is going to be trend setting mid-budget device from Coolpad, with every feature to be a complete smartphone. At the same time the Chinese giant has  also announced to provide the Android 8.0 OTA update by December 2017 for Cool Play 6.

The phone has 4000 mAh, non-removable Li-Po battery with a standby time up to 300 hours, with support for USB Type-C reversible connector, innovative fingerprint sensor and Dual SIM (Nano). The phone will be available exclusively on Amazon.in from 4th September 2017, in two color variants, Gold and Black.

Read More

This article has been reproduced here : Rakesh Kumar

Share:

Not to fit in pocket

Price and size of Gionee A1 Plus, a new offering of Gionee don't fit in pocket. Rakesh Kumar reviews the devices

Gionee, a Chinese Smartphone maker launched two of their flagships devices~ Gionee A1 and A1 Plus at MWC (Mobile World Congress) 2017 this year. The Chinese tech giant has already released Gionee A1 in market months ago, but they launched A1 Plus just a few weeks back. Now what is in offering? The device has everything what a good smartphone demands these days. It has a good display, Impressive battery back-up and good selfi-camera. With all these features, the phone looks quite promising. But who likes to keep a bulky phone, which is like impossible to fit in pocket? Of course many may dislike or uncomfortable carrying a bulky device. Another loophole the device has is its price, the phone costs Rs 26,999. It makes it quite costly when it is compared with Oneplus, Honor devices, which is quite rich in features. Even the recently launched, Xiaomi Mi Max 2, which has the same screen size and battery life, comes in ten thousand less with A1 Plus.

Design and features

The phone has a metallic body with round edges and curved sides.  The screen of the phone is 6-inch is well protected by a 2.5D curved Gorilla Glass 3. With 9mm and 226 gram, the Gionee A1 Plus is quite sturdy, it is something which everybody would notice. The phone has two antennas bands~ one on the top (back) and another one on the bottom (back). At the rear side of Gionee A1 Plus there is big logo of Gionee and above it there is a dual cameras and dual LED flash. On the top edge of phone has a 3.5mm audio input and a USB charging port is at the bottom edge along with a speaker grille. The power key along with the volume rockers are placed on the right edge of the phone, while at the left side, one will find a dual-SIM slot. At the bottom bezel of the device has single button for fingerprint scanner and home and a navigation key. Coming to display, the Gionee A1 Plus has a 6-inch Full HD display with resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The display is bright and sharp; one won't face any problem in using outdoors or viewing any angles. The auto brightness is also fast.

Camera and battery

Gionee A1 Plus sports dual-camera set-up (rear) with a 13-megapixel (MP) sensor with f/2.0 aperture and a 5 MP fixed-focus sensor with f/2.2 aperture. The dual LED flash is for low light photography. The phone worked well in under bright lights but was not up to the mark when there was low light. The pictures in bright lights have are quite impressive with all the details and coloure balance.  The front camera is a 20MP fixed focus camera with f/2.0 aperture, the performance is good but it also created some problem in dark. When it comes to battery, the phone is equipped with a big 4,550 mAh non-removable battery, which work really well. Even in heavy usage, the phone once charge can spend more than a day. The fast charging is like icing on cake.

Specifications

Gionee A1 Plus is equipped with MediaTek Helio P25 processor, which features octa-core that runs at frequency shooting up to 2.6 GHz. It runs on Android Nougat under the Amigo 4 skin. It has 4 GB RAM and 64 GB internal storage, which can be expanded with microSD to up to 256 GB. But it supports a hybrid card slot which means one can either use two SIMs or one SIM and a microSD.

#Mobilereview #GioneeA1Plus #Gioneemobiles

Read More

This article has been reproduced here : Rakesh Kumar

Share:

Might and Majesty

Aqua Loins 3, the new offering of Intex comes with 2.5D curve DragonTrail glass, big battery, Android 7 OS and the SwiftKey Keyboard.

Intex Technologies, a leading mobile handset makers introduced a new feature-rich, powerful and stylish 4G-Volte smartphone~ Aqua Lions 3. In partnership with SwiftKey by Microsoft, the Android 7OS powered device comes with a smart keyboard that will make typing 22 Indian languages easy and cool.

Priced at Rs. 6499, the phone is 4G-Volte smartphone comes with a 5-inch HD IPS OnCell display supported with a 2.5D curved glass. The display is well protected with the super tough DragonTrail glass, one of the best for protection and sturdy usage. The device is powered with a 1.25GHz quad-core processor and 2GB RAM, ensuring smooth performance while playing high-end games, watching videos and multitasking. The device is powered with a big 4000mAh Li-Ion battery.

 “With Aqua Lions 3 smartphone, we are not only providing the best specs, but also with SwiftKey keyboard integration enabling Intex’s diverse consumers from different parts of the country the freedom and joy to express themselves in their mother tongue. Intex has always designed products keeping in mind consumers’ needs & demands and Aqua Lions 3 model will surely be a delight,” said Ishita Bansal, Product Head - Mobiles, Intex Technologies.

For photography enthusiasts and selfies lovers the phone has 8MP (AF) selfie and 8MP (FF) rear camera powered with Front LED & Rear LED flash to click bright pictures even in low light zones. It has in-built 16GB ROM with an expandable memory of up to 128GB, that ensures no more space constraints. The device is available in two premium colours~ Champagne and Black.

Read More

This article has been reproduced here : Rakesh Kumar

Share:

Gamer’s choice

ASUS’ newly launched laptops

ROG GL552 and ASUS G501 in gaming series can be the choice for game enthusiasts, given their specifications and cost. A review by Rakesh Kumar

When Asus added four laptops, including ROG GL552 and ASUS G501, in its gaming series ROG (Republic of Gamers) last time, it had in mind the entire lot of game enthusiasts in the country. Of course, they succeeded to an extent, as the GL552VW is a good offering in terms of specifications and range. However, it has some flaws too, like battery life, which has only four hours of backup. If you watch any movie or Youtube video, the battery will drain fast. The design ~ black metal deck, along with the sinister red backlighting, which ASUS claimed to have been inspired from F22 Stealth Fighter ~ can impress anyone. The only problem with it is that it’s a little chunkier than similar 15-inch-gaming laptop. And it is also bit heavy, making difficult to carry all the time. In terms of performance, the product, with sixth generation Intel Core i7 processor with 16GB of DDR4 RAM (2133Mhz), is quite fast. One can run heavy graphic games like Call of Duty: Ghosts and Need for Speed: Rivals without any problem. The stereo speakers, which feature SonicMaster tech, have little shallow sound in games and music.

Specification

The GL552VW comes with a Quad core 6th Gen intel core i7(Skylake), Nvidia GTX 960M graphics with blazing fast 4GB GDDR5 graphics memory, 16GB memory, a TB of storage along with 128 GB SSD. The screen has 15.6-inch, 1920 x 1080 screen delights with great accuracy, spot-on colours and top-tier brightness. At the same time, Asus ROG GL552 is pre-loaded with Windows 10 Home, Asus Live Update, the Splendid Utility for customizing your display, and the Game First III app that helps prioritize network traffic to make sure you don't lag while gaming. At last in the given range, ASUS ROG 552 is a top-notch gaming laptop.

ASUS ROG 501VW

ASUS ROG 501 is another product, which was launched in this series. The things one is going to like about this product, unlike other gaming laptops, this is thin with high performance in this price range. Despite its light weight and thin body, no compromised were made in among the ports and designs. However, the only problem with the device is its 512GB storage space. Another let-down could be Ethernet port, which is missing and a wire connection provided. All in all, G501VW could be one of the best portable gaming laptops in the market. In terms of design, the product wears an awesome look with brushed aluminum body, with a black, matte-ish paint job. In terms of performance, the device is good, equipped with Core i7 6700HQ processor and is able to handle all tasks with equal ease. One could run dozen tabs or watch video, and won’t face any problem.

Specification

ASUS ROG 501VW is equipped with sixth generation Intel Core i7 processor with 16GB Ram, dedicated NVidia GTX 960M GPU with 4GB memory and a 512GB SSD drive. It has a 15.6-inch 4k display (native resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels) feature that's still rare in this price bracket. It has three USB 3.0 ports, a full size HDMI output, a USB Type-C port and a card reader.

Read More

This article has been reproduced here : Rakesh Kumar

Share:

A low budget phone

The latest offering of Chinese smartphone maker Coolpad's Mega 3 has many features, which will attract buyers in this price range. But low resolution can let this phone down, writes Rakesh Kumar

In November Chinese smartphone maker Coolpad came up with its new phone Mega 3. Like its predecessor, Mega 3 is also a low budget phone at just Rs 6,999. What is good about the phone is its triple sim and good design. But the phone’s resolution is very low, lacking the punch one requires to watch high definition movies or games. Another drawback of the phone could be its speed, especially when multiple browser, apps or games are opened. Switching between apps could be a little stressful.

Design and storage

The Coolpad Mega 3 is built well and looks good. The phone weighs 170g and is 8.3mm thick. The exterior of the phone is covered with plastic, which is removable and doesn't feel delicate. The good thing about the phone is its coarse finish at the back, which gives a good grip unlike glass. The volume keys are on the left side while the power button is on the right. The purpose behind separating the power buttons and volume buttons is to give people a better idea of where each of them is exactly placed. The other good thing about the phone is that it can support three SIM cards, all of them 4G-ready, at a time.

 The internal storage of the phone is 16GB and one could enhance the storage to another 32GB through a micro-SD card. The battery of the phone has 3,050 mAh, which can run well for a full day with modest usage.

 Unlike other budget phones, the camera of the phone, which is 8-megapixel both in front and back, is not very appealing.  Shots taken in daylight looked decent, with reasonable colour accuracy but a lack of detail.

Software and display

The Mega 3 runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow with the company's CoolUI skin. There is no app drawer, which means all the apps will be shown on Home screen. But the advantage is one can change the look and feel by applying new themes and wallpapers. The phone has a MediaTek 1.2GHz MT6737 quad-core processor with 2GB RAM. It gives smooth performance, until multiple tabs are opened. In terms of resolution, the 5.5 inch smartphone has a resolution of 1,280x720p, which handles colour well. Visibility from odd angles is good.

All in all, given the specifications, features and price, the phone is impressive in this price range.

Read More

This article has been reproduced here : Rakesh Kumar

Share:

Christmas Nuggets

Christmas has some quaint customs in different parts of the world. Rakesh Kumar collects these bits

 

Christmas is when virtually the whole world gets into a festive mood. At this time of year, the streets of cities, towns and villages gets decked up with colour, lights and Christmas decorations, creating a magical atmosphere all around. This is one festival where, irrespective of the Christian population, there is an air of celebration and feasting. Some things are common, such as Christmas tree, mistletoe, the Nativity, feating and Midnight mass, yet, some customs set apart Christmas in different parts of the world. We bring some of these unique festivities.

Spain

The first special date in Spain is 22 December, marked by the draw for the Christmas Lottery ~ almost everyone in Spain takes part and prizes are celebrated in style out in the streets. The next big days are definitely the most family-oriented, on 24 and 25 December: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, as well as the Midnight mass. The most entertaining day falls on 28 December with the Day of the Santos Inocentes, when people play pranks similar to those of April Fools' Day.
People say goodbye to the year with the New Year's Eve celebrations on 31 December. To get involved,  don't forget to buy 12 grapes in advance. Why? According to Spanish tradition, everyone has to eat one grape in time with the striking of the clock at midnight. If you manage to eat them all on time, you will have a New Year full of luck.

Germany

In Germany, Christmas trees are secretly decorated by the mother of the family for her young kids. The Christmas tree is traditionally brought into the house on Christmas eve.

Poland's Warsaw's market
In Poland, Christmas is celebrated a bit differently. On this day everything is supposed to be clean. So, people wash their windows and clean their carpets very thoroughly. Unlike other parts of the world, in Poland, Christmas meal is eaten in the evening. It's traditional that no food is eaten until the first star is seen in the sky! So children look at the night sky to spot the first star. In Warsaw one can see the reconstructed historic district bedecked in decorations, Christmas trees lighting up the main thoroughfares and little huts from which vendors sell Polish treasures for those searching for souvenirs or decorations.

Israel
In the little town of Bethlehem, where Jesus was born, on Christmas Eve, natives and visitors alike crowd the church doorways and stand on the roof to watch for the dramatic annual procession. Galloping horsemen and police mounted on Arabian horses lead the parade. They are followed by a solitary horseman carrying a cross and sitting astride a coal-black steed. Then come the churchmen and government officials. The procession solemnly enters the doors and places an ancient effigy of the Holy Child in the church. Deep winding stairs lead to a grotto, where visitors find a silver star marking the site of the birth of Jesus.
Christian homes in Bethlehem are marked by a cross painted over the door and each home displays a homemade manger scene. A star is set up on a pole in the village square.

Australia

In Australia, Christmas falls in the middle of the summer holidays, so some people might even be camping at Christmas. Australians hang wreaths on their front doors and sometimes go out Christmas carol singing on Christmas eve. People also decorate their houses and gardens with Christmas trees and Christmas lights. Neighbours sometimes have little competitions as to who has got the best light display. On Boxing Day most people visit their friends and often have barbecue at the beach. A famous yacht race from Sydney to Hobart in Tasmania is also held on Boxing Day.

Philippines
The Southeast Asian island nation has the world's longest festive season and pulls no punches in its celebratory zeal, with lavish light displays, masses, and festivals held throughout the country from September until January. The formal Christmas celebrations start on 16 December, when many people go to the first of nine pre-dawn or early morning masses. The last mass is on Christmas day.

Norway
Santa Claus is said to live in Norway. And Christmas Eve is the time when gifts are exchanged. The presents are also said to be brought by small gnomes called "Nisse". Children pick up the gifts from under the Christmas Tree and read the cards on them out loud. On this day, rice porridge is sometimes left for the Nisse, who, it is believed, guard the farm animals. In some parts of Norway, children dress up as characters from the Christmas Story, such as shepherds and the Wise Men, and go singing from house to house in their neighbourhood. Another tradition in parts of Norway is that families light a candle every night from Christmas Eve to New Year's Day. Interestingly, the most famous custom about Christmas in Norway is the big Christmas Tree that the country gives to the UK every year. The tree is given to thank the UK for the help its people gave to Norway during World War II. The tree stands in Trafalgar Square in the middle of London and hundreds of people come to watch when the lights are turned on.

Russia
In Russia and many other countries, including Serbia, Christmas is normally celebrated on 7 January. The difference in the date is because the Russian Orthodox church uses the old Julian calendar to mark religious days. The official Christmas and New Year holidays in Russia last from 31 December to 10 January. Some people fast on Christmas Eve, until the first star has appeared in the sky. People then eat "sochivo" or "kutia", a porridge made from wheat or rice, served with honey, poppy seeds, fruit (especially berries and dried fruit like raisins), chopped walnuts or sometimes even fruit jellies. Following the meal, prayers might be said and people then go to the midnight Church services. They don't wash the dishes until they get home from Church.

Read More

This article has been reproduced here : Rakesh Kumar

Share: