Xiaomi announces Mi TV 2S and Mi Water Purifier
We for one, never even in our wildest imagination thought that Xiaomi would make water purifiers one day. But seems like, the company has plans to flurry into other consumer electronics sections as well. The company has introduced the Mi TV 2S and Mi Water purifier in Beijing, China.
Xiaomi says, “Mi TV 2S is top of the range among 4K TVs. At an event held in Beijing, Xiaomi founder and CEO Lei Jun unveiled Mi TV 2S for a price of RMB2999 (US$483). He announced Mi TV 2S (Theatre Edition) which comes with an independent sound system for RMB3999 (US$644). He also announced the Mi Water Purifier that goes on sale for RMB1299 (US$209). Both devices will be available through Mi.com in China starting July 28.”
Xiaomi Mi TV 2S is a premium 48-inch 4K TV that is 9.9mm thin. The TV has a UHD display, which is from Samsung. And it is powered by a 1.4GHz Quad-Core processor and all this runs on the MStar 6A928 chipset. For graphics a Mali-760 is also on board and it comes with MACE-Pro4 UC+ picture engine. The display can render 4K at 60fps and supports H.265 10-bit hardware decoding. Mi TV 2S (Theatre Edition) comes with a subwoofer, soundbar and incorporates the latest Dolby sound technology. The minimalistic design of the television is very impressive.
Xiaomi first ever Mi Water Purifier comes with many neat features. This water purifier can purify up to 76 barrels of water per day. It has the reverse osmosis technology and employs four step RO filtration. This purifier has a 400-gallon RO filter that enables higher water flow rate.
Mi Water Purifier is also a smart device, which can be monitored via the Mi Home app. This app allow users to monitor real-time filter effectiveness and even reminds the user to change filters, which can be purchased directly from within the app.
InFocus M350 Review: A nice budget smartphone with 2GB RAM
InFocus mobiles are a popular smartphone brand in South India. They are slowly trying to capture a piece of the pie up north as well. We have seen few good devices by them in the past and one of their most recent launches is the M350 android smartphone. They passed one unit to us to run through our test bench and this is what we found out about this nifty little device.
Design
The InFocus M350 is available in white, black and golden colours. We received the black unit for review and quite liked it’s built. The phone’s black back panel is grippy and one can hold the phone nicely. A silver metal trim runs around the sides of the phone, which adds to the show.
The InFocus M350 has a 5-inch display. This HD IPS capacitive display comes with 16 million colours. This mobile is 10.6mm thick and weighs 146g. Which might seem a little heavy on papers, but we did not mind the bulk at all. It is very comfortable to use, even with just one hand.
Under the rear removable plastic panel, there is a non-removable battery, two Micro SIM card slots and a Micro SD card slot. The power button is located on the right side of the phone while the volume key is located on the left. The USB port is located at the bottom of the phone and the 3.5mm headset jack is positioned at the top of the mobile phone. The speaker vent is situated on the back’s lower part. The primary camera is on the top right (rear) of the mobile phone, which comes with the LED flash.
Performance
The InFocus M350 has a 1.5GHz Quad-Core processor that comes with 2GB of RAM. Together they try to make the applications and services run as smoothly as possible. The users also get 16GB of internal memory (12GB available) to store files. And there is also the option to add up to a 64GB microSD card to amass additional documents. All this runs on the MediaTek MT6732 chipset that is 64-bit capable.
For graphics a Mali-T760 MP2 GPU is also on board. There is also HTML5 for browsing. The primary camera of INFocus M350 comes with auto focus function and can capture 8-megapixel still images. For selfies, there is also an 8-megapixel secondary camera. The rear and front camera captures very decent pictures, but it struggles a bit in low light. Macro shots on the other hand were quite good.
The phone did not break a sweat when we played power hungry apps and mid-end games on it. But, when it comes to graphic hungry games the phone lagged a bit. Also, the game loudspeaker volume could have been better. Talking about which, we faced no problems when it came to audio and call quality on the InFocus M350. Screen, image and video quality is also above average and we quite liked what we saw.
Coming to its battery life, the InFocus M350 has 2,500 mAh non-removable battery inside. It worked for 17 hours straight after a full charge (under nominal use). We tested the phone with Quadrant and it managed to score 9,872 points, which is a nice score for this mobile phone that falls in the mid-segment of smartphones.
Verdict
The InFocus M350 has some great features in it. This mobile phone has an impressive display and the mobile screen is smudge resistant. It comes preloaded with MeituPic, Dropbox, WPS Office, Facebook apps etc. The experience was quite smooth throughout. Only if instead of the Android 4.4.4 KitKat, the company would have given Android 5 Lollipop, the deal would have been drool-worthy. One can get this smartphone for Rs 7,999 at any online retail store.
Pros
- Quite affordable
- Call quality is pretty clear
- Distinctive design
- Underpowered rear speaker
- Average battery life
- Non-removable battery
- Old OS
- Network supported: 3G and 4G LTE
- Display size: 5-inch HD IPS capacitive display
- Operating system: Android 4.4.4 KitKat
- Chipset: MediaTek MT6732, 64 bit
- CPU: 1.5 GHz Quad-Core processor
- GPU:Mali-T760 MP2
- RAM: 2GB
- Memory: 16GB internal memory (12GB available) & add up to 64GB via microSD card
- Camera: 8MP rear camera and 8MP secondary camera
- Dimensions: 5×10.6mm
- Weight:146g
- Battery:2,500 mAh (non-removable)
ASUS unveils the latest ASUSPRO ADVANCED BU201 and BU401 Ultrabook
Asus is a well known brand in the PC and smartphone circuits. They have just launched the ASUSPRO ADVANCED Ultrabook series in India. It has two different models under the category that is ASUSPRO ADVANCED BU201 and BU401 Ultrabook. Both, the Ultrabooks are available in dark grey colour and have spill resistant backlit keyboard, which provides visibility at all times.
Mr. Peter Chang, Regional Head, South Asia & Country Manager, System Business Group, ASUS India said, “We are very actively working towards satiating the requirements of every genre of computing which includes gaming, personal and official. Our latest launch of the ASUSPRO ADVANCED Ultrabook range is aimed at aiding modern businesses and their computing requirements. It enables users to work without worries and personifies our promise to inspire and power businesses.”
The ASUSPRO Ultrabook series features the ASUSPRO Business Center. They have a one-stop security and manageability solution, which is specially designed for small businesses. These Ultrbooks also have the Intel vPro processor that offers better control over networked computing assets and fingerprint scanning.
ASUSPRO BU201 Ultrabook
This Ultrabook has a 12.5-inch glare resistant display. This display has a matte screen surface that prevents unwanted reflections and helps reduce eye fatigue. It has only 1.27kg weight. The device 180º hinge opens flat to provide a 360º view to the users. The notebook also offers the SensePoint point stick that simulates the functions of a regular mouse.
The company has priced the ASUSPRO BU201LA-DT006P at Rs 85,999.
Tech Specs of ASUSPRO BU201 Ultrabook
- Colour: Dark Grey
- On board processor: Intel Core i5-4210U Processor, 1.7 GHz (3M Cache, up to 2.7 GHz)
- Operating System: Windows 8.1 Professional (64bit)
- On board Memory: 4GB
- Storage: SATA 500GB 5400RPM, 2.5-inch Hybrid HDD
- SSD: 8GB
- Display: 5-inch LED Back-lit, Slim 400nits, Full HD display
- GPU: Intel HD Graphics 4400
- Finger Print: Yes
- Wireless: 11bgn + Bluetooth 4.0 (Single band)
- LAN: 10/100/1000 Mbps
- Card Reader: SD, MMC and SDXC
- USB Port: 3x USB 3.0
- Interface: 1x Headphone-out & Audio-in Combo Jack, 1x RJ45 LAN Jack for LAN insert, 1x VGA Port (D-Sub) and 1x mini Display Port
- Audio: Built-in speaker, Built-in array microphone and Sonic Master
- AC Adapter: 65W AC Adapter
- Battery: 32WHrs, 2S1P and 2-cell Li-ion Prismatic Battery Pack
- Weight:27 Kg (with 2 cell battery)
- Colour: Dark Grey
- On board processor: Intel Core i5-4210U Processor, 1.7 GHz (3M Cache, up to 2.7 GHz)
- Operating System: Preload Windows 7, 64 bit Professional (upgradable to Windows 8 64bit Professional)
- On board Memory: 4GB
- Storage: SATA 500GB 5400RPM, 2.5-inch HDD
- SSD: 8GB
- Display: 14-inch LED Back-lit, Ultra Slim 250nits, HD display
- GPU: Intel HD Graphics 4400
- Finger Print: Yes
- Wireless: 11bgn + Bluetooth 4.0 (Dual band)-Intel WIDI
- LAN: 10/100/1000 Mbps
- Card Reader: SD, MMC and SDXC
- USB Port: 3x USB 3.0
- Interface: 1x Headphone-out & Audio-in Combo Jack, 1x RJ45 LAN Jack for LAN insert, 1x VGA Port (D-Sub) and 1x HDMI
- Audio: Built-in speaker, Built-in microphone and Sonic Master
- AC Adapter: 65W AC Adapter
- Weight:64 Kg (with 4 cell battery)
ZTE unveils Blade D6 4G enabled smartphone at MWC Shanghai
ZTE has expanded its Blade series of smartphone with the launch of Blade D6 at MWC Shanghai. The ZTE Blade D6 flaunts a 5-inch display with 1280×720 pixels resolution. The smartphone comes with dual SIM support and runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system topped with MiFavor UI.
Powering the device is a 1.3 GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6735 64-bit processor coupled with 2GB of RAM. The internal storage of the smartphone stands at 16GB which can be expanded further via microSD card. The Blade D6 comes equipped with 13.0-megapixel primary camera with LED flash and a 5.0-megapixel secondary camera for clicking selfies.
On the connectivity front the smartphone offers, 4G, 3G, LTE, WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS and packs in a 2,200 mAh battery. The company has divulged any details about the pricing and availability of the device. However, the smartphone will be available in in pink, gold, gray and silver colors and will be first rolled out in Australia, Russia and Japan.
Samsung Galaxy J7 First Look And Hands On (Video)
Here is the first look video of the Samsung Galaxy J7. The phone has a 1.5 GHz octa-core processor combined with 1.5 GB RAM. Built for gaming, Samsung insists that it will provide you with top-notch gaming performance. It will be available with Flipkart in the coming weeks. The price of the Samsung Galaxy J7 is Rs 14,999.
Samsung Galaxy J7 and J5 get launched in India at Rs 14,999 and Rs 11,999
Just when the world is waking up to the news of upcoming flagship devices from the Korean company in the form of Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge plus and Galaxy Note 5, Samsung India has gone ahead and launched two new mid segment phones called Samsung Galaxy J7 and J5.
These two options thicken the pot of 4G enabled smartphones that Samsung has to offer to its Indian consumers. Talking about the tech specs, both the smartphones sport a 5 MP front camera with LED flash and 13 MP auto focus rear cameras. The Samsung Galaxy J7 sports a 5.5-inch display, while the Galaxy J5 has a 5-inch one. Ultra power saving mode comes to both the phone to keep them alive for longer when running out of battery.
Samsung insists that these phones are built for the gaming audiences who can play multiplayer games on them with ease, using 4G networks. They have tied up with Gameloft who are giving a credit of Rs 3,200 to the buyers. The users can redeem the money for in-game purchases etc.
The Samsung Galaxy J7 has a 1.5 GHz octa-core CPU. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy J5 has just a 1.2 GHZ quad-core CPU. Both the phones support 1.5 GB RAM. To store files the Samsung Galaxy J7 has a 16 GB on board memory and the Samsung Galaxy J5 has just 8GB. Of course a microSD card slot is available to expand the memory further by as much as 128GB.
The price of the Samsung Galaxy J7 has been kept at Rs 14,999 and the Galaxy J5 can be picked up for Rs 11,999, exclusively on Flipkart. Airtel has also partnered with Samsung for these phones and one can avail Wynk song service free for 6 months. On top of that, 4G double data support is available too at no additional costs. Seems like, Samsung got the price point and add-on stuff right this time.
HTC Desire 820G+ mid-segment Android smartphone launched for Rs 19,900
The Taiwanese of the smartphone maker HTC has launched yet another mid-segment smartphone in its Desire series dubbed as 820G+. The company has priced the smartphone for Rs 19,990 and it will be available in Santorini White, Saffron Grey and Milky-way grey colour options.
Talking about HTC Desire 820G+, Faisal Siddiqui, President, South Asia, HTC, said, “As our customers create and consume more rich video content and want greater freedom to personalise their smartphones, they are increasingly looking for bigger and better screens, faster processors, amazing sound, and outstanding battery life. We also know that they want more flexibility that comes with expandable memory. Today I am excited to announce that at only INR 19,990/- the HTC Desire 820G+ dual sim delivers one of the most features found with a smartphone at this price. With an outstanding user experience in a sleek, chic, slim and colourful package.”
The HTC Desire 820+ flaunts a 5.5-inch display with 1280×720 pixels resolution. The smartphone offers dual nano SIM support and runs on Android with Sense UI on top. Powering the smartphone is a 1.7GHz Octa-Core MediaTek MT6592 processor clubbed with 1GB of RAM. The onboard storage of the device accounts to 16GB which can be further expanded up to 32GB using a microSD card. The device sports a 13.0-megapixel rear snapper with LED flash an 8.0-megapixel front facing camera to facliiate video calling.
The smartphone packs in a 2,600 mAh battery and offers 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS as connectivity options.
Apple introduces the new iPod touch with iOS 8 in India
Apple has brought the latest iPod touch in a new line of colours to India. The colour options include space grey, silver, gold, pink and blue. So what’s new on this iPod? Well, to start with this music player features a new 8-megapixel iSight camera that has improvements for FaceTime. Now users can do FaceTime in HD with it. Users can have fun with popular features including slo-mo and burst mode, too. The new iPod Touch also has the Apple-designed A8 chip and the M8 motion coprocessor.
Mr. Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of iPhone, iPod and iOS Product Marketing said, “iPod touch gives customers around the world access to Apple Music, the App Store and iOS, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system, starting at just INR 18,900. With big advancements like the A8 chip and the 8 megapixel iSight camera, customers can experience next-level gameplay, take even more beautiful photos and enjoy their favourite music, TV shows and movies.”
With the Apple-designed A8 chip, users can play even more immersive games for hours and hours at a strech, all the while with great battery life. iPod touch has 4-inch Retina display. This again is great for gaming and to view videos. The company claims that the iPod touch also has three times faster Wi-Fi.
The app store is available in over 155 countries and will give 1.5 million across 24 countries to its users. Apple is marketing this product as a music player first and then anything else. Apple is giving a 3 month trial of its Music store to new customers after which one would need to shell out Rs 120 per month. A family plan is also available that gives access to this service to up to 6 members in a family for a nominal fee of Rs 190 per month.
The company has priced the new iPod touch at Rs 18,900 for the 16GB model, Rs 22,900 for 32GB and Rs 26,900 for 64GB.
Oppo launches Joy 3 Android smartphone for Rs 7,990 in India
The Chinese smartphone manufacturer Oppo has expanded its Joy series of smartphone with Joy 3. The company has priced the device for Rs 7,990 and its will be available in classic white and matte grey colour options.
Speaking about the smartphone, Tom Lu, CEO, OPPO Mobiles India said, “OPPO Joy 3 is a successor of Joy Plus which combines appearance, fine camera quality at an affordable price. The device offers endless possibilities and enjoyment to the consumers both in rural and urban India. Indian market is our top most priority and we want to launch models across categories which combine style, technology and design.”
Talking about the specifications, Oppo Joy 3 flaunts a 4.5-inch FWVGA display with 845×480 pixels resolution. The dual SIM device runs on Android 4.4 KitKat operating system based on the ColorOS of the company. The smartphone is powered by a 1.3 GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6582 processor paired with 1GB of RAM. The onboard storage of the smartphone stands at 4GB which can be further expanded up to 32GB using a microSD card.
The Oppo Joy 3 flaunts a 5.0-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a 2.0-megapixel front facing camera for clicking selfies. The connectivity options of device include 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS and houses a 2,000 mAh battery.
Karbonn launches Titanium MachOne Plus budget Android smartphone for Rs 6,900
The domestic smartphone manufacturer Karbonn has expanded its product portfolio with the launch of Titanium MachOne Plus. The company has priced the device for Rs 6,900 and it will be available via all online and offline retail channels in the country.
The Karbonn Titanium MachOne Plus features a 4.7-inch HD IPS display with 1280 x 720 pixels resolution. The smartphone offers dual SIM functionality and runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system. The device is powered by a 1.3 GHz quad-core MediaTek processor paired with 2GB of RAM.
The on board storage of the smartphone accounts to 16GB which can be expanded further up to 32Gb using a microSD card. The device flaunts an 8.0-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a 5.0-megapixel front facing camera to facilitate video calling. The connectivity attributes of the device include 3G, WiFI, Bluetooth, GPS and packs in a 1,800 mAh battery.
The Karbonn Titanium MachOne Plus comes pre-loaded with the SwiftKey app which supports 22 Indian languages. The smartphone also consists of Smart Awake which enables the user to access notifications with a locked screen. The smartphone also has a Multi Gesture feature which allows the user to carry out different functions with two finger swipes.