Apple iPhone XR First impressions

Apple is making a habit of launching “one more” iPhone every year. It did that with the iPhone X in 2017 and this year it’s the iPhone XR which fell into that category. What’s remarkable is that it’s very rare when the cheapest iPhone of the year catches the maximum attention. But that’s exactly what the iPhone XR has managed to do at the 2018 iPhone launch event. Even in the demo area of the Steve Jobs theatre, it attracted the maximum curiosity. Why? Read our first impressions to know:


Design

The first thing you’ll notice about the iPhone XR are the plethora of colour options it comes in. Apple has taken a bold step of moving away from its usual palette of colours with the iPhone XR. This phone comes in funky colours like Coral, White, Yellow, Black, Blue and even the Product Red. The Blue and Coral ones certainly stands out the most.

The iPhone XR has an all-screen glass and aluminum design which gives it a sturdy look and feel. The 6.1-inch screen is bigger than the iPhone X. The smartphone is easy to hold and offers a firm grip as well. The iPhone XR is splash and water resistant and comes with a rating of IP67. It retains the design appeal of the iPhone X but gets a nice dash of colour. The last time Apple went bold with colours was with the iPhone 5C. However, this is a more elegant design and the iPhone XR is one good looking smartphone.

Display

The one major difference between the iPhone XS and iPhone XR lies in the display. While the former has an OLED display, Apple has opted for an LCD display for the latter. If you’re thinking that there is a remarkable difference between the two, then yes there is. At least on paper. In reality, the LCD display on iPhone XR is really good. The images look sharp and colour reproduction is top notch. Apple seems to have done a fine job with the LCD display.


Camera and processor

The other difference in the iPhone XR and XS is the camera set up. The iPhone XR comes with a single camera at the back which we couldn’t test in detail. However, the Portraid mode and bokeh effect can be found in the iPhone XR as well. The images clicked on the iPhone XR we saw looked remarkably sharp and clear. Even the depth effect – a strong suit of dual rear cameras – was quite good. The front camera is a 7MP module. You’ll have to wait for our full review to know how the camera of iPhone XR measures against the rest.

As far as the processor is concerned, the iPhone XR is powered by the same A12 Bionic chipset. We fully expect this phone to deliver solid performance on all counts.

What we think

This might just be the best-selling iPhone of the year. Not because of its price alone but because this has all the good parts – well almost all – that the iPhone XS series has. And it costs considerably less, when compared to the iPhone XS. With a price tag of Rs 76,900, this could be the most compelling iPhone buy of the year. The LCD display is nothing to scoff at as it’s really good and it has the same processor as the expensive iPhones. However, it’s early to give a verdict on it but our hunch is that Apple might just have a winner on its hands with the iPhone XR.

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Google Hangouts gets its own website

Google Hangouts finally gets an all-new dedicated website.

Google has launched a new website – hangouts.google.com – showing a pane with all your frequently accessed contacts. It shows three big buttons on the right side – Video Call, Phone Call and Message. Users can even click on a contact and pin it to favourites.

“We are launching another way to use Hangouts today. From our new site you’ll be able to take advantage of the best of Hangouts in the browser, along with an inspiring image to get you through the day. Check it out and let us know what you think,” Google engineer Jordanna Chord writes in a Google+ post.

On starting a video call, users can share the screen, YouTube playlists and also draw right there on the video, just like before.

This also means, users won’t require to log into Gmail or Google+ to access Hangouts.

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How 95% of Android Phones Can Be Hacked with a Single Text

A new Android vulnerability has the security world worried – and it leaves your Android phone extremely vulnerable. The issue comes in the form of six bugs in an innocuous Android module called StageFright, which is used for media playback.

The StageFright bugs allow a malicious MMS, sent by a hacker, to execute malicious code inside the StageFright module. From there, the code has a number of options for gaining control of the device. As of right now, something like 950 million devices are vulnerable to this exploit.
It is, simply put, the worst Android vulnerability in history.

Silent Takeover

Android users are already growing upset about the breach, and for good reason. A quick scan of Twitter shows many irate users popping up as the news permeates the web.

From what I hear, even Nexus devices haven't been given a patch for #Stagefright. Has any phone? http://t.co/bnNRW75TrD

— Thomas Fox-Brewster (@iblametom) July 27, 2015

Part of what makes this attack so scary is that there’s little users can do to protect themselves against it. Likely, they wouldn’t even know that the attack has occurred.

Normally, to attack an Android device, you need to get the user to install a malicious app. This attack is different: the attacker would simply need to know your phone number, and send a malicious multimedia message.

Depending on which messaging app you use, you might not even know that the message arrived. For example: if your MMS messages go through Andoid’s Google Hangouts, the malicious message would be able to take control and hide itself before the system even alerted the user that it had arrived. In other cases, the exploit might not kick in until the message is actually viewed, but most users would simply write it off as harmless spam text or a wrong number.

Once inside the system, code running within StageFright automatically has access to the camera and microphone, as well as bluetooth peripherals, and any data stored on the SD card. That’s bad enough, but (unfortunately) it’s just the start.



While Android Lollipop implements a number of security improvements, most Android devices are still running older versions of the OS, and are vulnerable to something called a “privilege escalation attack.” Normally, Android apps are “sandboxed“, allowing them to access only those aspects of the OS that they’ve been granted explicit permission to use. Privilege escalation attacks allow malicious code to “trick” the Android operating system into giving it more and more access to the device.
Once the malicious MMS has taken control of StageFright, it could use these attacks to take total control over older, insecure Android devices. This is a nightmare scenario for device security. The only devices totally immune to this issue are those running operating systems older than Android 2.2 (Froyo), which is the version that introduced StageFright in the first place.

Slow Response

The StageFright vulnerability was originally uncovered in April by Zimperium zLabs, a group of security researchers. The researchers reported the issue to Google. Google quickly released a patch to manufacturers – however, very few device makers have actually pushed the patch to their devices. The researcher who discovered the bug, Joshua Drake, believes that about 950 million of the estimated one billion android devices in circulation are vulnerable to some form of the attack.

Yay! @BlackHatEvents graciously accepted my submission to speak about my research on @Android's StageFright! https://t.co/9BW4z6Afmg

— Joshua J. Drake (@jduck) May 20, 2015

Google’s own devices like the Nexus 6 have been partially patched according to Drake, although some vulnerabilities remain. In an email to FORBES on the subject, Google reassured users that,

“Most Android devices, including all newer devices, have multiple technologies that are designed to make exploitation more difficult. Android devices also include an application sandbox designed to protect user data and other applications on the device,”

However, this isn’t much comfort. Until Android Jellybean, the sandboxing in Android has been relatively weak, and there are several known exploits that can be used to get around it. It’s really crucial that manufacturers roll out a proper patch for this issue.

What Can You Do?

Unfortunately, hardware makers can be extremely slow to roll out these sorts of critical security patches. It’s certainly worth contacting your device manufacturer’s customer support department and asking for an estimate on when patches will be available. Public pressure will probably help speed things along.
For Drake’s part, he plans to reveal the full extent of his findings at DEFCON, an international security conference that takes place in early August. Hopefully, the added publicity will spur device manufacturers to release updates quickly, now that the attack is common knowledge.
On a broader note, this is a good example of why Android fragmentation is such a security nightmare.

Again it's a disaster that #Android updates are in the hands of the hardware manufacturers. Should harm Android seriously. #Stagefright

— Mike (@mipesom) July 27, 2015

On a locked-down ecosystem like iOS, a patch for this could be rushed out in hours. On Android, it may take months or years to get every device up to speed due to the enormous level of fragmentation. I’m interested to see what solutions Google comes up in the coming years to start to bring these security-vital updates out of device-makers’ hands.

Are you an Android user affected by this issue? Concerned about your privacy? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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9 Problems Faced By People Who Don’t Drink

Drinking or NO drinking is one person’s choice but people who don’t drink often get questioning looks about why they don’t drink.

Well its cool either way i would say.

And if you are one of those who don’t drink and is around people who do, you sure will relate to this:

1.You are just tired of explaining why you don’t drink over and over again

It is really frustrating asking those never ending questions about why don’t you drink. You basically are thankful to lord when in a party you are not questioned for your drinking habits.

2.Alcohol Always Delays The Food And You Are The Only One Who Cares!

While your friends or colleagues drink you sit their waiting for the food to be served.

3.Those never-ending request of trying A sip

It turns out that its their life goal to make you drink.

4.All the dumb jokes people make about you not drinking

And then you can see them laughing like maniacs for they are drunk.

5.You have to spend your night dealing with everybody’s life crisis

While they go all emotional after some drinks, you are there listening to their life problems.

6.You become the official caretaker of all personal belongings of everyone at the party

7.And if you are a girl and don’t drink, well its is presumed its related to your BOYFRIEND issue

8.The Worst is When They Ask you stupid questions like, “Are you having fun?” or, “Do you wish you could be drunk?”

Like seriously i am having so much fun seeing you Drunk people dancing around.

9.The Worst Part About Not Drinking When You’re Friends Are

The Awkwardness You Face When You Realize You Are The ONLY One Who’s Sober and You Leave Early..And Miss Out on Some Funny Stories-Because When Your Friends Get Drunk, There is Always a Funny Story or Gossip at then end of the night!

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Neither hacking nor cyber crimes, Pew study points to another bigger threat on the net

Those championing for free Internet will be glad to know that the new Pew study appears to be quite positive. However, the study also highlights some threats that could get worse by 2025.

In a study conducted by Pew, it asked around 1,400 technology experts about the biggest Internet threats in the next 20 years. These experts were academics, theorists and some industry experts in the tech space.

Pew asked a simple question to these experts and they had to answer either a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. It asked, ‘By 2025 will there be significant changes for the worse and hindrances to the ways in which people get and share content online compared with the way globally networked people can operate online today?” And out of the respondents, 35 percent said yes and 65 percent said no.

This was followed by another question, irrespective of the respondents said yes or no. It asked them what they believed to be the biggest threat that the Internet will face by 2015. The experts canvassed by Pew believe that the government and big online corporations are the biggest threat to the Internet, and not hacking or some other form of cyber war.

“We call this research study a canvassing because it is not a representative, randomized survey. Its findings emerge from an “opt in” invitation to thousands of experts who have been identified by researching those who are widely quoted as technology builders and analysts and those who have made insightful predictions to our previous queries about the future of the Internet,” Pew adds in the summary of the report.

Dave Burstein, editor of Fast Net News, responded, “Governments worldwide are looking for more power over the Net, especially within their own countries. Britain, for example, has just determined that ISPs block sites the government considers ‘terrorist’ or otherwise dangerous. This will grow. There will usually be ways to circumvent the obstruction but most people won’t bother.”

Several experts expressed concern that the Internet will be most affected by government policies like the ones limiting to the Web, filtering content and so on, as we have seen in the past. Citing examples of Internet censorship in Syria, China’s ‘Great Firewall’ and so on, the concerns were mostly about how there could be an increase in ‘blocking, filtering, segmentation and balkanization’ of the Internet.

Paul Saffo, managing director at Discern Analytics and consulting associate professor at Stanford University, said, “The pressures to balkanize the global Internet will continue and create new uncertainties. Governments will become more skilled at blocking access to unwelcome sites.”

Pointing at the recent incidents involving whistle blower Edward Snowden and snooping NSA, the report also highlights it could get difficult to trust big companies and the web.

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Android L preview now available: A look at the big changes in the new OS

Google’s latest mobile OS iteration, known as Android L (for now, at least) is here. Though the company will roll out the software with its new devices – Android One or Android Silver – later this year, a developer preview of the OS is now available for the Nexus 5 and Nexus 7.

After a long time, Google has given the Android OS a major overhaul. The big changes are mainly visual and a part of what Google calls its Material design initiative. The new Material Design adds a geometric feel to the UI, offering refreshed look and animation. The system font has also been updated and Google says the experience of using L is akin to touching objects in real life, and how they interact with your touch.

It’s one of the biggest visual changes since Android 4.0, and you will notice almost everything looks new and different. The first big difference comes at the lock screen.

Notifications

You can either expand swipe upwards to unlock the screen, expand a particular notification or simply swipe it way sidewards. This means you can see a message but there is no need to unlock your device to view it. You can also add some privacy and security settings, to safely access the information, and also have the option of not seeing the notifications on the lock screen. On the bottom are call, lock and camera icons for quick access.

Engadget points out, “Nearly every aspect of Android’s notifications has been blessed with improvements, and there are even a couple features that are entirely brand-new. Notifications can be viewed on the lock screen now – at least, the ones that you don’t mind others seeing if they happen to peek at your locked phone.”

Another noticeable change is that quick settings like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airplane mode and others are now integrated within the notifications. So, don’t expect two separate windows. Initially, users won’t see it, but they will be accessible if you keep pulling the notifications bar further down or tap on it. This section also shows the bar to adjust brightness.

“We just barely saw a similar feature introduced in iOS 8 — if a message comes in, you can choose to reply or dismiss it right away, instead of having to go into the notifications menu or your default messaging app. (Indeed, there are a few differences between the two platforms’ implementations, but the general idea is very similar.),” adds the Engadget report.

Card-like recents

On unlocking the device, you will notice that the homescreen hasn’t undergone too many changes. It still seems familiar as most of the icons are same except the settings icon which now shows a new design. DroidLife states, “On the main screen (read homescreen), we aren’t seeing anything new. It looks like the Google Now launcher. If you go in the widgets section, it still looks like KitKat to us. The wallpapers are still the KitKat style. Most app icons are same, baring (sic) the new settings icon.”

The Recents button still shows all the current running apps, however, they now appear like cards. Yes, looks like Google is all to extend the card-like Google Now UI to other parts of Android L. Just like before, you can choose the card to access or complete the function of that particular app or simply swipe it away to dismiss it. If you open a browser with multiple tabs and then you may see each tab in the form of the card. Well, that sounds too cluttered and for now, lets take it with a pinch of salt, as things are not final yet. Google may extend the functionality to multiple entries per app.

Another new offering is the redesigned keyboard that looks quite chic. Phandroid points out, “The keyboard is all new and improved. It still offers smooth swipes, a little search button and cool animation pop-ups. In advanced settings, it lets you change the colour schemes, allowing you to go back to the white option from ICS and blue from Kitkat. But not sure if we can switch back to these colours once the final cut is out.”

The all-new dialler

The phone dialler’s definitely new, adds the report. Once you tap on the dialler, you can pan through pages like Speed Dial, Recents and Contacts, and a small circular blue dialler icon moves with you. Tap on the icon, and you can start keying in the phone number. It also shows the search option right on top.

Another change comes to the sound alerts. Earlier you could either put the phone on silent or vibrating mode. It now also adds – Do not disturb. Do Not Disturb means you get the option to set the volume of notifications for a specific time period. You will also find a Do Not Disturb option in settings that lets you block messages or calls for sometime, or customise the blocking lists for specific contacts from your list.

That’s just digging the surface for now. A lot of the changes are in the back-end and will be unearthed by the development community in due time. For now, do let us know how your experience with the L preview has been.

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Java Code Review Checklist

Clean Code

Checklist Item	Category
Use Intention-Revealing Names	Meaningful Names
Pick one word per concept	Meaningful Names
Use Solution/Problem Domain Names	Meaningful Names
Classes should be small!	Classes
Functions should be small!	Functions
Do one Thing	Functions
Don't Repeat Yourself (Avoid Duplication)	Functions
Explain yourself in code	Comments
Make sure the code formatting is applied	Formatting
Use Exceptions rather than Return codes	Exceptions
Don't return Null	Exceptions

Security

Checklist Item	Category
Make class final if not being used for inheritance	Fundamentals
Avoid duplication of code	Fundamentals
Restrict privileges: Application to run with the least privilege mode required for functioning	Fundamentals
Minimize the accessibility of classes and members	Fundamentals
Document security related information	Fundamentals
Input into a system should be checked for valid data size and range	Denial of Service
Avoid excessive logs for unusual behavior	Denial of Service
Release resources (Streams, Connections, etc) in all cases	Denial of Service
Purge sensitive information from exceptions (exposing file path, internals of the system, configuration)	Confidential Information
Do not log highly sensitive information	Confidential Information
Consider purging highly sensitive from memory after use	Confidential Information
Avoid dynamic SQL, use prepared statement	Injection Inclusion
Limit the accessibility of packages,classes, interfaces, methods, and fields	Accessibility Extensibility
Limit the extensibility of classes and methods (by making it final)	Accessibility Extensibility
Validate inputs (for valid data, size, range, boundary conditions, etc)	Input Validation
Validate output from untrusted objects as input	Input Validation
Define wrappers around native methods (not declare a native method public)	Input Validation
Treat output from untrusted object as input	Mutability
Make public static fields final (to avoid caller changing the value)	Mutability
Avoid exposing constructors of sensitive classes	Object Construction
Avoid serialization for security-sensitive classes	Serialization Deserialization
Guard sensitive data during serialization	Serialization Deserialization
Be careful caching results of potentially privileged operations	Serialization Deserialization
Only use JNI when necessary	Access Control

Performance

Checklist Item	Category
Avoid excessive synchronization	Concurrency
Keep Synchronized Sections Small	Concurrency
Beware the performance of string concatenation	General Programming
Avoid creating unnecessary objects	Creating and Destroying Objects

General

Category	Checklist Item
Use checked exceptions for recoverable conditions and runtime exceptions for programming errors	Exceptions
Favor the use of standard exceptions	Exceptions
Don't ignore exceptions	Exceptions
Check parameters for validity	Methods
Return empty arrays or collections, not nulls	Methods
Minimize the accessibility of classes and members	Classes and Interfaces
In public classes, use accessor methods, not public fields	Classes and Interfaces
Minimize the scope of local variables	General Programming
Refer to objects by their interfaces	General Programming
Adhere to generally accepted naming conventions	General Programming
Avoid finalizers	Creating and Destroying Objects
Always override hashCode when you override equals	General Programming
Always override toString	General Programming
Use enums instead of int constants	Enums and Annotations
Use marker interfaces to define types	Enums and Annotations
Synchronize access to shared mutable data	Concurrency
Prefer executors to tasks and threads	Concurrency
Document thread safety	Concurrency
Valid JUnit / JBehave test cases exist	Testing

Static Code Analysis

Category	Checklist Item
Check static code analyzer report for the classes added/modified	Static Code Analysis

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Why You Shouldn’t Install The iOS 8 and OS X 10.10 Betas

From the second the news broke, Apple developers had access to beta versions of the upcoming iOS 8 and OS X 10.10 Yosemite. As ever, many scrambled to download and install the new software as soon as possible, but that might have been a mistake.

You probably shouldn’t install iOS 8 or OS X 10.10 unless you have a good reason for doing so, and if you have a good reason for doing so you probably won’t be reading this.

iOS Beta Beware

Last year I installed and used the iOS 7 developer preview from pretty much the day it was released, until the day I could replace it with Apple’s final revision just before the iPhone 5S went on sale. My experience with the reskinned version of iOS were interesting – things changed considerably from that first beta to the finished product we’re carrying around in our pockets right now, which was an interesting process to watch.

However I only had one iOS device – an iPhone 5 – and the bugs hardly made it worth it. Not only was the whole thing remarkably slow, likely due behind-the-scenes debugging measures, but things just didn’t behave as they were meant to. The UI glitched out on a daily basis. Random crashes became something I would expect when performing certain tasks or visiting specific websites. Perhaps most annoyingly of all, many apps refused to work – Instagram wouldn’t see my Camera Roll, Voxer couldn’t access the microphone and many apps that relied on permissions in general were broken due to shifts in the way iOS handles those things.

In short, it was a bit of a nightmare. Despite the fact that I was doing it for work purposes, I’m not keen on repeating the experience any time soon. There’s a reason they’re called developer previews, and there’s a reason many developers rush out and buy an iPod Touch at this time of year. If that’s not a good enough reason to hold off installing, there’s always the issue of registering your device with Apple.

Apple charges $99 for access to its developer program, which grants access to iOS 8 by allowing you to register your device’s unique device identification (UDID) number and use the beta unhindered. While many will find it’s possible to install the beta without registering your UDID, there’s a chance things won’t go to plan – especially considering that betas expire (there are usually five or six firmware revisions during this beta period). You’ll need to install the new beta before the old one expires, else you might be left with an expensive paperweight until the official release.

Last year’s iOS 7 beta made it difficult to downgrade once installed, though it was possible. Tracking down iOS 8 firmware files isn’t going to be difficult, but it might have serious repercussions for those of you who are not registered. If you absolutely have to download developer previews, at least use a slightly-fishy service like iModZone Downloads to register your UDID against the beta program. There’s no guarantee your phone will ever actually be approved unless you have your own developer account and do it yourself, though.

But I Absolutely Have To!

If you really want to install the iOS beta, and you’re confident your UDID has been accepted, you can do so using the following method:

1. Download the iOS 8 .IPSW file for your device either from Apple’s developer website, or elsewhere.
2. Backup your device.
3. Connect via USB and find your device in iTunes, then option (alt) + click the Restore button, a window should open.
4. Select the beta .IPSW file you downloaded and install. You can restore from your backup once the process is complete.

Argh! Can I Get Rid Of It?

We warned you, but you didn’t listen. Downgrade instructions are as follows:

1. Download the iOS 7.1.1 .IPSW.
2. Power down your device, hold the home button and connect to your computer. Continue to hold the home button until your iOS device says something about connecting to iTunes.
3. Find your device in iTunes, then option (alt) + click the Restore button, select the iOS 7 .IPSW you just downloaded and cross your fingers.
4. Restore your device from that precious backup you made.

Yosemite Can Wait, For Now

If you wanted to install Yosemite before it’s ready, you should have probably registered for the public beta program the day it was announced. The OS X 10.10 public beta signup page still exists, but it’s likely most of the invites (Apple limited it to the first one million applicants) are gone by now. Much like iOS betas, the OS X developer previews are designed for developers who pay the $99 annual fee, not the public.

Add to this the fact that many of the features – like iOS Continuity – are absent at present. The good news remains: for the first time ever Apple will be rolling out a public beta. So if you really do want to try out Yosemite before everyone else, this is probably the best way to do it.

But that’s not to say you should rely on public beta software any more than you should closed beta software. Unlike our mobile devices, desktops and laptops often take on workhorse roles. I can work around the problems on my iPhone by using my MacBook, but the opposite isn’t true. It’s not a great idea to put your main workhorse out of action, so if you’re going to install any beta, you should probably do it on another partition.

Installing Via A Partition

Whether you’re installing the public or developer preview, Apple doesn’t recommend using it as your main operating system just yet. If you’re not using a MacBook with precious little space left on your SSD, creating a partition might be a good option. The process is fairly easy too:

1. Backup your Mac, just in case something goes wrong.
2. Go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility and click on your main internal drive (at the top of the list).
3. Under the Partition tab click the plus “+” button.
4. Select the new partition that appears in the box and give it a size – 30GB should be enough for OS X and some software, but you can go hog wild if you want.
5. Give it a name and click Apply.

Now when you go to install Yosemite make sure you click Show All Disks in the installer when asked for a location, and select the partition you created. At startup, you’ll be given the option of choosing between Mavericks and Yosemite, and all your old data, applications and settings remain in tact. When it comes to replacing Mavericks with the final version of Yosemite, just delete the partition.

They’re Not Ready Yet

This is the biggest and best reason to avoid both the iOS 8 and OS X 10.10 betas – they’re not ready. Many of the features you’re looking forward to – Continuity between devices, sending voice iMessages, making use of HealthKit and even the ability to use your old software – just aren’t there. Cult of Mac recently discovered what a nightmare Yosemite’s half-baked software compatibility can really be, especially when installed on your only machine.

If you do decide to plough onwards and install the developer previews then good luck to you, just remember to backup everything you need first and to ensure you have registered your iOS device with Apple’s developer program. Just in case you didn’t get it the first time: it’s not a good idea to replace your existing stable operating systems with unreleased betas.

Let us know if you’re running the beta, excited for the first OS X public beta or simply happy to wait a few months until Cupertino’s new toys are ready.

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All you need to know about your next mobile OS, Android L

Google held its annual developer conference, Google I/O yesterday, and it was pretty much a given that it would showcase a new version of Android, smartwearables, Android TV and Android for cars. Google did show us all of these things but the biggest change was to Android itself.

Android fans and developers got to see a new version of Android codenamed ‘L’. This version will be out in fall of 2014 and will come pre-loaded on new Android devices. Of course, for older devices it will be up to OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) to decide when they will send out the update.

“This is one of the most comprehensive releases we have done: it has over 5,000 new APIs, and we are thinking not just for mobile, but for form factors beyond mobile,” said Google’s Android and Chrome boss Sundar Pichai, during the keynote presentation at I/O.

And while there’s a good chance that Android L could be called Android Liquorice or Android Lollipop by the time it comes out, it has a lot of stuff that’s new. We take a quick look.

First up, Android L will see the software get a massive design change. Google has gone for something called Material Design which lets developers add shadows and seams to give visuals on a phone’s screen the appearance of depth. Essentially Material Design will allow developers to add a more animated element to their apps. Elements can dynamically shrink and expand, there’s more white space between elements, and there’s an overall 3D look.

According to Google’s own blog, Material Design will allow developers to, “...apply to your apps for a new style: it lets you easily infuse your own color palette into your app, and offers new system widgets, screen transitions and animated touch feedback. We’ve also added the ability to specify a view’s elevation, allowing you to raise UI elements and cast dynamic, real-time shadows in your apps.”

Sundar Pichai talking about Android at the conference. Reuters

As this piece on CNET explains “Material Design opens up a 3D interface even on 2D screens by letting programmers specify not just what color a pixel should be, but how high it should be in a virtual stack.” Google will also bring this Material Design to Chrome OS.

What the video below.

Secondly Google is promising improved processor performance on smartphones. Google has introduced Android Runtime (ART) as the system default. According to the company’s official blog, “ART offers ahead-of-time (AOT) compilation, more efficient garbage collection, and improved development and debugging features.”

There’s also support for 64-bit support architecture. Google also says that apps written in the Java language can run immediately on 64-bit architectures with no modifications required. The company is als promising better graphics on L via OpenGL ES 3.1 and thus ensure that app developers can get capabilities such as compute shaders, stencil textures, and texture gather for their games.

Better Battery performance is also going to be a key part of Google L. Project Volta as Google calls it comes with new tools and APIs to help apps run efficiently and conserve power. There’s also a Battery Historian, a new tool that will let developers see how their app ends up using power over time. There’s also a job scheduler API to ensure that developers can set some tasks to run when the device is charging or idle to reduce battery usage.

Matias Durante, Vice President, Design at Google, speaks on stage during the Google I/O Developers Conference at Moscone Center. AFP

Notifications on Android L are also going to see drastic changes as well. Google will ensure that users can access notifications content, updates without unlocking the screen. There’s also Heads-up notification, which will appear in a small floating window if the user is working on another app. Users can choose to reply to that notification while they are in the app or also ignore it. Developers can add their own colour and branding to the notifications.

The ‘Recents’ tab has also gone a drastic change in Android L. It will now show all recently used apps as “a stacked card overview” and will include recently accessed websites from Chrome. Other apps can also add items to the list. The advantage of this is that if you open a website on your mobile browser and then switch to something else, you can just go back to ‘Recents’ to view that website instead of opening Chrome all over again. It looks much prettier than the current multi-tasking system, and resembles more like the cards in Google View.

Google is also bringing in Universal Data Control L where Android users will be able to control how data on their handset is shared. Users will also be able to divide their devices between work and personal modes. Essentially this is Google’s way to reach out to the Enterprise user and convince them that an Android phone is just as good for work as it is for play. Interestingly Google’s Sundar Pichai also mentioned Samsung’s Knox Security Technology (which allows division between work and personal data on Samsung phones) and said that they (as in Google) would be using the technology in Android as well.

Android devices can now function in Bluetooth Low Energy peripheral mode, which will let apps use this to let nearby devices know the presence of the smartphone. For instance, developers can apps that let a device function as a pedometer or health monitor and transmit data to another BLE device.

Android L will be out this fall. Image Tech2.

Given that Android L will also allow for integration across Google devices such as Chromebooks, smartwatches that run on Android Wear, cars that support Android Auto, it’s evident that the company is pushing for a larger agenda with Android being the sun around which all of this will revolve. With Android L, what we’re seeing are some refreshing changes to the OS, but for users L will mean more if they end up getting the updates as soon as it is released, otherwise many won’t get access to these features.

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Apps at Google I/O: Slides, Android TV remote control, MS Office support and more!

Google flagged off the I/O developer conference by introducing Android L, Android Auto, Android TV and more. Along with the nifty software and hardware announcements, the search giant also introduced a couple of new apps that are now available on the Play Store.

Firstly, Google has announced ‘native’ Office document editing support for Google Docs. Users can now import documents by preserving all of Microsoft Office’s formatting. Without mentioning Microsoft, Google made it quite clear that it will allow users to save files as Word files. Users can also convert files to Google Docs format mid-edit. Google Docs and Sheets standalone apps were recently launched for Andorid and iOs users, and finally Slides joins the convoy.

The Slides app is also available on Google Play store for editing presentations on mobile devices. It now allows users to ”create and share mobile slides straight from your mobile devices,” Pichai said during the keynote. Editing presentation has been a long-awaited demand from Android users.

A couple of hours after the keynote, the Android TV Remote app also made it to the Play store. It helps users control all the Android TV devices. As we know that Android TV wont come until late this year, it has been designed for the developer kit that was announced at the event and the reason why Google has made it available on the Play store. Moreover, it is believed to be working with all current Android devices.

Along with the Android TV remote, the Google Cast Receiver is also available on the Play store. This app is designed to turn your Android TV into a Chromecast-enabled device. Only developers with access to the developer kit can try out the full functionality of this app.

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Google unveils Android L: And the L stands for…?

Finally, the next iteration of Android is here with a refreshing new look and some cool improvements. Google has introduced it as ‘L release’ without giving any specific name, and has kickstarted the guessing game for which dessert the search giant pick would pick next. The company will release the developer preview later today and will probably christen it when the first official devices running it finally arrive later this year.

The next version of Android is about to begin with L, and there are a lot of theories as to what the name could be. While lollipop, lemonhead and licorice seem to be a current crowd favourite globally, Indians are expecting it to be named after the desi sweet – Laddu or Ladoo. In fact, last year a group of students from IIT-Kharagpur – which also happens to be Pichai’s alma mater – have been lobbying for the next version of Android to be named Lassi.

HTC has quickly put out an image showing several options to consider from including lemon meringue, lady fingers, lava cake and even lemonade. There are some who also feel, the name is ‘L’ itself, while others think the company is buying time to fetch a sponsored brand. The Indian Twitrrerati is rooting for Ladoo, while some are ripping into the name, saying Ladoo’s updates would be called Motichur, Boondi, etc. Some others are busying joking around the L itself…as in L for Loser.

So what do you think? Will Google release a ‘sweet’ name or will L remain the final name? Let us know. We’d love to see more options.

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Google Glass turning into a fashion accessory; DVF designer collection goes on sale

As promised, the DVF | Made for Glass collection is now up for grabs online. Earlier this year, Google had teamed with DVF, fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg’s studio for its newest range of Google Glass designs. The DVF collection adds five new frames to the Glass, which are up for sale via Google and online fashion retailer Net-a-Porter.

The five new shades and eight frames have been designed especially for women. The frames are available in five colours namely, brown, shiny lagoon, shiny elderberry, matte java and matte ice, and will cost $300 additional, which means the combination will cost $1,800. Meanwhile, the original Titanium Collecion frames are also available on MrPorter for $1650.

Looks like, Google is looking to add the fashion element to its Glass. DVF also took the Glass to New York Fashion week. Google has also partnered with Luxottica, which means Ray-Ban and Oakley-branded frames and shades for the Glass should eventually surface.

DVF shades now available

Moreover, seems Google also plans to take its Glass global, finally. It has already taken the first step by moving out of US, and headed to the UK. Google wants optometrists, sports lovers, online retailers, cooks and travellers to try out the Glass, and also looking forward to their feedback to improve the product. A grander commercial launch is expected sometime later this year.

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Google I/O preview: Key changes expected in next version of Android

Google I/O is just over a day away and a lot of things could soon be changing. As we have already seen in our previews, Google’s TV product could be in for a major overhaul, while Chrome and Chrome OS are expected to have new features too. And then there’s Android Wear, which is likely to be the headlining act at the Moscone Center West tomorrow evening.

But it’s Android that will be most closely watched, at least as far as India is concerned. Google’s new services usually take their time coming to India, but Android is here and dominating big time. So the changes to the OS will affect Indian users the most. So what can you expect at Google I/O? If indeed Google decides to show us the next-gen Android, we are in for some major changes.

The big Android redesign

Design will be a key focus at I/O this year, as Google looks to bring a consistency in US in Chrome, Android and its Web products. We have already seen the new design language called Quantum Paper in the form of the new Google+ app, which features a colour-blocked top bar and bigger buttons for quick actions. We have also seen this particular design leak for Gmail’s Web version, so Google could finally be bringing a measure of consistency across board.

As Ars Technica points out, Matias Duarte, the head of Android user experience and big driving force in Android design, has indicated that the company is rethinking its design strategy. “We need to stop thinking of ‘mobile’ as a distinct category,” he is quoted as saying, while the report adds that Google is considering desktop, mobile, car, and wearable as one product from a design point of view.

Redesign coming to Android

Android app icons could also be getting a makeover which is said to be called Moonshine internally, while some other changes have also leaked, such as a native Help interface for Google’s core apps, instead of webpages.

64-bit support

Android will finally be able to support 64-bit architecture. In the past few months, post Apple’s big 64-bit announcement last year, there has been a lot of talk about Android also getting 64-bit support. It would allow devices to have over 4GB of RAM, while newer chips based on this architecture are expected to be blazing fast. Chipmakers will have to quickly align themselves with the 64-bit support; leading names such as MediaTek, Qualcomm have already started work on 64-bit multi-core chips.

ART—Android RunTime

Dalvik, the runtime that powers Android, is one of the most crucial cogs of the OS, since it allowed developers to easily port older apps for the platform, which in turn resulted in the proliferation of apps, which consequently drove hordes towards Android. But come I/O and we could be bidding adieu to Dalvik and saying hello to Android RunTime or ART. Some users would already be familiar with ART, since it’s been an experimental runtime in Android 4.4 KitKat.

Thanks to a dedicated session for ART, we know that Google is expanding its role and could be making it the default instead of Dalvik. Essentially, with ART Android goes from just-in-time (JIT) compiling to an ahead-of-time (AOT) compiler, meaning your apps won’t be compiled every time they are run, but only when they are first installed. This should increase install sizes, but most importantly boost app performance, and could also help in lower power consumption.

Better photography?

Frankly, we are tiring of hearing about Google’s upcoming Camera API. It’s been months since we first heard that it’s coming, but it’s nowhere to be seen. But I/O could finally change that if the developer session for the new Camera API is any indication. Commits to AOSP showed the API would bring about RAW image support, native burst mode and removable cameras.

Improved camera experience?

Security and BYOD

Finally, we can see Google making a bigger play for security and enterprise device management. Android has been struggling in the race to become the BlackBerry replacement at the workplace, while Apple has been hitting the right notes with its OS updates.

As far as security is concerned, Google is supposedly working on a kill switch for Android, which would allow users to not just remotely wipe the device, but also lock it till it gets back in their possession. This would presumably be part of the current Android Device Manager app, but would also require changes on a low-level to enable such a lock.

Then there are SlickLogin and Bump acquisitions, and the emergence of Google Nearby, which could improve two-step verification, which requires user intervention, with a more stealthy authentication, by ‘listening’ for devices close by.

And lastly, Google’s purchase of Divide earlier this year, hints that the company is taking its lack of enterprise-friendly features seriously. Google is banking on Divide’s technology to make businesses feel more comfortable about Android and allowing their employees to use Android devices for business email and tasks involving other sensitive information. Divide’s device-management tools are available for iOS, but Google’s acquisition suggests native separation of information is coming to Android.

Android devices

There’s no clear indication that any Android phone or tablet hardware is coming to I/O, though last year too, we didn’t know Google would be announcing Play Store editions for some phones. That was finalised last year, and this year we could see Android Silver replacing the Nexus line altogether. But the fabled Nexus series could see one last hurrah in the form of the Nexus 9 or HTC ‘Volantis’, which leaked earlier this week.

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Jan Koum calls out Apple for copying WhatsApp features in iMessage

Apple’s WWDC keynote address has left off one tech founder feeling quite angry. WhatsApp Jan Koum took to Twitter to pass a snide remark at Apple for the ‘new features’ in iMessage and questioned Apple’s innovation.

He tweeted the following soon after Apple’s keynote was over.

very flattering to see Apple “borrow” numerous WhatsApp features into iMessage in iOS 8 #innovation
— jan koum (@jankoum) June 2, 2014

While Koum didn’t specify which update he was referring to it was pretty evident that Apple’s ‘new’ version of iMessage was looking pretty similar to other messaging apps including WhatsApp.

iMessage now has the option to insert audio, video and location information into conversations, all of which are available on apps like WhatsApp, Telegram. Apple introduced the audio feature in iMessage where users can long-press the Voice icon and then just record a audio to send it.

Interestingly if you get an audio message, you can just listen to the message without unlocking the screen. Just hold the phone next to your ear.

These message attachments also come with the “self-destruct” option chooses although users can choose otherwise. Of course, this sounds eerily similar to what Snapchat already offers.

Snapchat told Mashable on this, “It’s exciting to see other companies begin to embrace deletion by default.”

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Scientists use Nokia Lumia 1020 to capture images of bacteria

Nokia Lumia 1020 houses an excellent camera within as we had seen when we reviewed it. We have seen countless ways in which Nokia Lumia 1020 has been used to promote itself, be it this Red Bull advert or the 50 Lumia setup which created this video. But last month, the Lumia 1020 was used by two researchers to photograph and identify a type of bacteria.

In a scientific paper published in a Histopathology (examination of body tissue to study diseases) journal, authors Dr Mark Li-cheng Wu and Dr John Paul Graff described how they employed a Nokia Lumia 1020′s camera to identify a type of bacteria. Both the doctors are experts in the field of photomicrography. In the interview given to Nokia blog, the scientists explained how they connected the Lumia 1020 to a state of the art microscope and used the 1020′s lossless zoom function to get more detail out of what was seen through the microscope.

The image of the bacteria shot through a microscope using Nokia Lumia 1020

Apart from better image quality, Dr Graff said, “One of the big advantages you also have using a Microsoft-based operating system in hospitals (at least here in America), is that most of the computer networks, wherever you go, are Microsoft Windows based. The Lumia interplays with everything very smoothly so you can send files to OneDrive or secured shared drives quickly.”

The Lumia 1020 has been used by the scientists for the last 10 months and he claims that the speed offered by the 1020 in terms of image capture, saving and sending as opposed to a traditional set up where you have to go through a proprietary software is what makes using the 1020 more convenient.

Apart from higher resolution, according to the scientists, Nokia’s optical image stabilisation came in quite handy. It allowed them to shoot handheld through the barrel of the microscope’s ocular. This speeded things up as compared to a fixed set up.

The scientists also made some suggestions such as increasing the battery life, improving the capture rate and making provisions for a microSD card slot to store the high resolution images.

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Apple pulls slightly ahead of Google in the iOS vs Android battle

Apple is calling the iOS 8 the biggest release since the launch of the App Store and it does give users plenty of new features and developers the tools to create amazing new apps. But what does this mean for Android and Google? How do the two biggest competitors in the mobile OS market stack up against each other? How does this latest release change the game?

Apple CEO Tim Cook took some serious potshots at Android during the keynote address. When talking about users who switched from Android to iOS, he said: ”They had bought an Android phone, by mistake, and then sought a better experience. And a better life. And decided to check out iPhone and iOS.” He also pointed out how Android was the place where malware ruled.

Tim Cook’s jibes aside, an iOS 8 vs Android assessment is necessary and important, given that they are the biggest mobile players in the world. We’re looking at these comparison points in particular: Messages, Camera, Online Cloud Storage, Continuity, HomeKit and HealthKit app. The reason we’ve included HomeKit and HealthKit app is because these areas are going to experience massive growth in the mobile sector and there’s no way that Google hasn’t started working on these.

Messages: Apple has given iMessage a serious upgrade. Users can now name message threads, exit or enter a thread as they wish. There’s also a Do Not Disturb option to a group chat without having to leave it. Audio and video messages can be shared on Group chats and regular iMessaging. They also have a Snapchat-like self-destruct function that users can opt out of too.

Also SMSes, can be synced across Apple devices from Macs to iPads. iMessage now feels like a combination of WhatsApp, Snapchat and regular messaging.

No wonder that Jan Koum, WhatsApp’s CEO was unhappy and tweeted saying, “very flattering to see Apple “borrow” numerous WhatsApp features into iMessage in iOS 8 #innovation”

So how does Android’s SMS app compare to iMessage?

Google had merged Hangouts and the SMS app which meant that users could search across contacts, including Google accounts. All SMS and MMS messages come in this one place.

Of course, users who might be on devices such as Nexus 4 which had a native SMS app might not choose to merge the two given the privacy issues that plague Google.

Hangouts, of course, allows users to have groups chats, share videos, etc, but this SMS-Hangout marriage is an Android KitKat feature. Since only 9 percent users are on this build of Android, most people are still stuck on the boring SMS app.

Add to that the fragmented manufacturing scene that Android faces, users get different SMS apps in different devices. Unless it’s a pure Android phone.

In the short-term, Apple’s iMessage is winning purely because if you have an iPhone 4S and above — you have all access to all the features. In Android, getting the latest feature in SMS, depends on what build of smartphone you’re using.

Camera: In iOS 8, shooting and editing photos will definitely get better. Users can now take a picture, then modify it with a single touch. The new camera app will let users adjusts exposure, brightness, contrast, and more.

In fact as you make the changes to photo’s colour scheme, the smartphone will show how the levels are changing in real time. Interestingly third-party app developers can make their filters and editing tools also accessible in the Photos app directly.

There’s also a Time-lapse mode in Camera. Basically it can help users capture the sun setting, etc. iOS 8 will take the photos at selected intervals and stitch it together as video.

In Android, the Camera app in KitKat also offers features similar to iOS 8. Users can instantly edit pictures will filters, change exposure, contrast, crop a picture. Of course, unlike iOS 8, Android doesn’t allow third-party apps to provide their filters, but again the native Camera apps are pretty evenly matched.

Of course, OEMs tend to add their own modes to the camera app and thus Android has an advantage here that Apple doesn’t always offer.

HealthKit app: Let’s face it Google is far behind Apple in this area. There are APIs on Health from Google but no dedicated health app like Healthkit. Of course Google could announce its own native app for this at the upcoming Google I/O later this month (25-26 June) but for now Apple has the lead.

With the HealthKit app, Apple has pulled ahead of Android.

The HealthKit app can pull in data from other third-party apps and this can be accessed by healthcare professionals as well of course depending on how much access users give to this app.

Apple partnered with the world-renowned Mayo Clinic on this. With HealthKit, the iPhone will keep a tab on important health metrics on a daily basis, and over a longer period.

iOS 8′s double swipe will also show your most used contacts as well. Image: Tech2.

After Mayo Clinic, Nike is also partnering with Apple for HealthKit. Apple promises that the data on Health will have deep privacy protection in place to store these sensitive records safely.

Of course, Samsung is one Android manufacturer that has been taking the Health-Smartphone link seriously. The S5 comes with a heart-rate sensor, an improved S-Health app, but given that its not available on other Androids, it’s pretty much an S5 and Samsung feature.

HomeKit: Google might have bought Nest first but Apple showed that it leads in the smart home game by announcing HomeKit. Essentially Apple is hoping that users will trust their iPhones and sync it with other home products.

Users can connect their iPhone/iPad and control garage-door openers, lights, and security cameras, even thermostats and switches.

Users can just control these through Siri. For example, they could say “Get ready for bed” and the house lights will dim. Of course. you’ll need products that are certified for the HomeKit.



For Android, catching up to the competition will be tough. As this Mashable piece points out, “Google will have a tough time convincing consumers that Android will safeguard their privacy and security as well as iOS might (the stat that Tim Cook cited, that 99% of mobile malware targets Android, happens to be true).”

Cloud capability: Even with the new iCloud Drive, Apple is still playing catch with Google. Google Drive already lets you edit documents from inside and share links on Gmail via Google Drive.

iCloud Drive offers similar features to users and now allows them to arrange documents, photos by tags, folders etc. Apple will also let you share large files as well which is something that Google was already offering. Where iCloud Drive is concerned, this is nothing new and doesn’t really set iOS 8 apart from Android.

Also users can search for iCloud documents directly from the Spotlight bar, which means that you don’t actually have to save documents on the iPad or iPhone. Google Drive doesn’t yet offer this feature, where you can search directly for Google Drive docs from the Search bar on the Homepage.

Continuity: Continuity is where Apple’s advantage of being a hardware and software manufacturer is showcased. Documents from OS X can open seamlessly on iOS and vice-versa. You can also take calls from your iPhone on your MacBook or iPad or iMac.

To be fair, Motorola and Samsung have offered features similar to this. Also, Gmail lets users access the email via draft with its real-time saving capability. Google also offers browsing and tab sync via its Chrome browser extensions, features which are similar to Continuity.

The problem though for Google is that it doesn’t occupy an important part of the Desktop space or even the PC space and thus such syncing is only available at an account level on Google.

Apple has come very close to the idea of ‘one OS, one account but multiple devices’ with Continuity.

It’s clear that despite Google’s dominance in the smartphone market, Apple has more than just a few tricks up it’s sleeve. It has also shown that it isn’t shy of taking the battle to the next level. iOS 8 allows Apple users to bring their devices together in a seamless manner — something that Android will be looking to do as well. The battle has been joined — just how will Google respond?

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Microsoft launches 12-inch Surface Pro 3 starting at $799: Is this the Macbook Air killer?

Microsoft unveiled a larger but lighter version of its Surface Pro tablet on Tuesday, hoping that the company’s expertise in business software will help it take on Apple in mobile devices. The all new Surface Pro 3 tablet, which comes in three models starting from $799 and costing up to $1,949, features a 12-inch screen, much larger than Apple iPad’s 9.7 inches. It also comes with access to Microsoft’s Office software suite, employed in businesses around the world.

At a presentation in New York, new Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella made it clear that Microsoft, which recently acquired Nokia’s handset business, is committed fully to making its own devices, despite a lack of success for its phones and tablets so far.

“We are not building hardware for hardware’s sake,” said Nadella, at the event. “We want to build experiences that bring together all the capabilities of our company.



Microsoft executives made frequent comparisons with the MacBook Air at Tuesday’s launch, making it clear that Apple’s lightest laptop, which starts at $899, was the device to beat.

The same executives, highlighting a focus on the enterprise segment of the market, also talked up the limitations of existing tablets in a full office environment.

Microsoft “has concentrated on its key strength – business users who look at tablets as extensions and/or replacements for full laptop capability,” Jack Gold of J. Gold Associates wrote. “Microsoft finally seems to understand it cannot go head to head with Apple’s iPad, and must offer a superior business device.”

Microsoft, which is recasting itself as a ‘devices and services’ company, has not made much headway on the devices side, except for its Xbox game console.

The Surface, launched in October 2012 and updated last year, has about 2 percent of the tablet market, failing to make a dent on Apple’s iPad. Microsoft has only 3 percent global share in smartphones, chiefly through Nokia.

The Surface Pro 3 runs the full Windows operating system, and Microsoft hopes it will be the device consumers and companies go to when they are replacing laptops.

Initial reaction was positive, but analysts have doubts that Microsoft can easily haul itself into a meaningful position in the hardware business.

“This is Microsoft’s best shot yet to move the needle in the right direction on market share gains,” said Daniel Ives, an analyst at FBR Capital Markets. “The odds are stacked against Microsoft, although we have to credit Nadella with putting his pedal to the metal to go after tablet market share, which remains key going forward.”

The new device, which like previous versions uses Intel processors, will be available to order this week.

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Motorola Moto E will give Samsung, Sony entry-level phones a run for their money

The launch of the Moto E smartphone at Rs 6,999 could radically change the smartphone market in India. As a brand Motorola threatens not just Micromax and Karbonn which are known for creating cheaper devices with top-end specs, but it will also pose a challenge to bigger smartphone brands such as Samsung, Sony and possibly even Nokia, which has been trying to regain its place in the Indian market.

Mobile analysts everywhere have been spelling it out since the beginning of 2013: The age of high-end flagship smartphones is over and mid-range phones will drive the volume of sales. According to an IDC report in February 2014, “emerging markets have become the centre of attention when talking about present and future smartphone growth.”

The report notes that in a developing market like India, what will drive up smartphone sales are low-cost or budget phones. “Growth in the India market doesn’t rely on high-end devices like the iPhone, but in low-cost Android phones,” said Kiranjeet Kaur, a senior analyst for mobile phones at IDC Asia/Pacific.

And this is why the Moto E could be a big hit. In terms of specs, the device has a 4.3-inch screen with 960×540 pixel resolution with Gorilla Glass 3. It is the only smartphone offering such a high quality display at this price point. Compared to this the display of the Samsung Galaxy Star Pro, which is priced at Rs 6,110 has a resolution of 800×480 (WVGA) pixels.

The Moto E also comes with Android 4.4 KitKat in its stock form, with Motorola software in the form of apps. It has a dual-core processor clocked at 1.2 GHz and 1GB RAM, along with 4GB internal storage space and a microSD card slot. On the back is a 5 megapixel camera but there’s no front camera or LED flash, which is standard for this price point. It also has 3G support, Bluetooth 4.0, for low-powered connections.

Moto E’s low price and specs could make it a clear winner in the India market.

In comparison to this the Star Pro doesn’t have 3G, has a single-core processor and is still on Android Jelly Bean. The camera is a mere 2-megapixel unit. The RAM and total memory for the smartphone are not listed on Samsung’s website, but at least the former is unlikely to top the Moto E. For a user who wants specs but has a low-end budget the Moto E with its 1GB RAM, and 5-megapixel camera is the clear winner. And what helps is that Motorola, like Samsung, has good after-sales service.

For Samsung, as this IDC report notes, the Galaxy Star has been ”bringing in huge volumes at the low end,” and the Pro is supposed to be a better version of this.With the Moto E coming at such low-cost and offering great specs, that picture could change quickly.

Where Sony is concerned, the cheapest smartphone they have to offer is Sony Xperia E which is available in dual-SIM and single SIM versions. The smartphone, which is priced at around Rs 7,990 at online retailers, has 3.5 inch screen with 320×480 pixel resolution, 512 MB RAM, and a 3.15 primary VGA camera and no front camera. The single-SIM version of the phone is priced at Rs 6,895. This, too, pales in comparison to the Moto E.

The Moto E is a winner over both low-end Sony and Samsung smartphones. The other brand that should worry about the Moto E is Nokia, which had the third spot in smartphone sales in India, according to latest IDC data.

Nokia’s Android offering the Nokia X which was launched for Rs 8,599, but retails close to the Moto E’s price, again lags behind in terms of specs. While the 4-inch display and the 1GHz dual-core processor are close to the Moto E, the 512 MB RAM, and 3-megapixel rear camera come up short. This is even more unlikely to impress users given that the Android version on Nokia X is a forked-one with no access to the Google Play Store. Nokia has promised that users will be able to run most Android apps but the fact that there’s no official Google support could be a deal-breaker for many.

Something that’s rarely seen in the sub-Rs 8,000 bracket is the large battery of the Moto E. The 1980 mAh battery sounds aplenty given its non-demanding hardware. So on nearly all counts, the Moto E has the better of its rivals.

While specs and price are a big plus for Moto E, the one advantage that the competitors have is that the smartphone is only available on Flipkart. It’s not a phone that you are likely to see in your local mobile store shop, someplace where you can get a chance to handle the phone, which goes a long way in spreading brand awareness as well.

The problem is that the Moto E is restricted to users who are used to or know abfout online shopping. This significantly reduces the target audience for the phone.

Of course, the impact Moto E makes on the market will only be revealed once the first sales figures are out. For now, it’s safe to say that Moto E has a lot to offer in terms of brand and specs for those who don’t want to spend a bomb on their next (or possibly first) smartphone.

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HTC Desire 310 review: Buy a Moto G instead!

The HTC Desire 310 dual sim is the company’s answer to Motorola’s Moto G. Priced at roughly the same range, the 310 is designed to be affordable yet offer some of the basic tools needed to give first-time smartphone users a pleasant experience. But does it succeed? And more importantly, does it offer better value compared to the Moto G?

Design and Build

When HTC announced the Desire 310, we felt it had better aesthetics compared to Motorola’s offering. However, in reality, things are quite the opposite. The matte-finished plastic body has a very cheap feel to it and is not something we expect from HTC. It’s a bit chunky as well at 11.3mm in depth.

The 310 doesn’t look all that good outside press shots

Apart from the logo, there aren’t any capacitive buttons since everything is on-screen now. There’s a front-facing VGA camera for Skype calls. The display is a 4.5 TFT LCD, which is the most disappointing part of the phone. Not only is the resolution not HD, the quality of the panel is below average. Due to this, the colour reproduction and viewing angles are sub-standard at best.

The 5MP fixed-focus sensor on the back

We found the button placement and the feedback to be quite disappointing as well. Not only is everything on the right, it gets worse as the buttons sit almost flush with the body making it a task to actually press them. Tactile feedback is almost non-existent as well. Around the back is a 5MP shooter but no flash.

The matte-finished back is quite drab

The HTC Desire 310 hasn’t really gotten off to a very good start. The build and finish of the handset are very disappointing to say the least. Hopefully, it will redeem itself in the software department.

Features

The Desire 310 is bundled with Android 4.2.2 but is stripped off the Sense user interface. It’s a little weird using an HTC phone without Sense as it feels like a lot like a Micromax or a Karbonn phone, since the UI is very similar to what you get on those phones. There are some remnants of Sense like video previews and BlinkFeed but that’s about it. Since the 310 doesn’t have to deal with this extra burden, the interface is quite spiffy despite the 512MB of RAM.

The 310 has mostly stock Android

The Desire 310 is powered by a MediaTek MT6582M quad-core chipset running at 1.3GHz. This ‘M’ moniker at the end indicates the GPU runs at a slightly slower 416MHz as compared to 500MHz on the standard version. The 512MB of RAM raises an issue if you try to multitask. This is where the phone gets a bit laggy. You get the standard suite of Google apps pre-installed as well as apps like Facebook, Polaris Office 5.

Media

We have the stock music player for music and the same goes for videos. Audio quality is not bad through a pair of good IEMs. You even get equaliser presets to tune your music. There’s 4GB of internal memory out of which, the user gets 2.6GB. This can be expanded by 32GB thanks to the MicroSD card.

Media playback is decent

There’s 1080p video playback support but we doubt you’d enjoy a movie on this phone due to its low-res screen.

Connectivity

The Desire 310 is a dual-SIM phone (GSM+GSM) with single-band 3G and quad-band 2G support. Call quality was good as well as we didn’t have much issues here. The phone isn’t the best for surfing the web due to the lacklustre display but there’s the basic connectivity in place. There’s also Wi-Fi ‘n’, Bluetooth 4.0, GLONASS and USB 2.0. Sadly, there isn’t any notification LED to alert you with incoming calls and messages.

Some of the bundled apps

Camera

Adding to the roster of disappointments is the 5MP camera. To start off with, it lacks auto-focus, which is the last nail in a coffin as far as we’re concerned. Unsurprisingly, the quality of pictures is pretty bad despite the lighting condition. The interface is also very basic and similar to what local brands offer. You can record in 1080p though, for whatever that’s worth.

The camera UI

Quality of pictures are below average

Battery life

Battery life gives the 310 a small feather in its otherwise sparse cap. The phone managed to complete our 8-hour loop test with 17 percent to spare. The 2000mAh battery does offer good back-up time but then it ought to when you have only the bare essentials in the phone.

Under the hood

Verdict and Price in India

With a street price of roughly Rs 11,500, the HTC Desire 310 dual sim is too expensive for what’s on offer. In fact, we wouldn’t even recommend it if dropped to half its price. It’s quite simply a disaster of a product which is too bad when you consider the Desire 210 and Desire 816, which actually have good potential. The Motorola Moto G continues to be the best Android under Rs 15,000. If you don’t mind the rival camp, then we also recommend the Nokia Lumia 525 instead of the 310.

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