Xolo Play T1000 Review

Xolo, which makes budget Android smartphones, announced itself with a bang with first Intel-powered smartphone in the world. After launching a few other Intel-based phones, it launched Mediatek processor based dual-core phones under the A series and quad-core phones under its Q series.

With the Xolo Play T1000, Xolo becomes the first Indian OEM to sell a phone featuring Nvidia's Tegra 3 processor and is touting the device as a gaming smartphone.With this, Xolo now offers phones based on different hardware across its various product lines. But does the company do enough to carve a niche for itself in a very competitive smartphone market? We find out in this review.

Design/ Build

If you are among the few who insist on being seen with the snazziest looking device in town, the Xolo Play will disappoint you.The phone measures 70x138.4x10.4mm and weighs about 167 grams.The design of the Xolo Play is simple, with no hardware buttons on the front panel. However, the device has good build quality and doesn't feel plasticky.

The front of the phone is dominated by an all-glass panel that extends right to the edges. Circling the front edge is a thin chrome strip that adds to the aesthetics of the smartphone. There are three capacitive buttons for Settings, Home and Back,which are backlit, but a little too dim than usual. The rear panel is rubberised and helps in offering a good grip.

The button placement on the Xolo Play is similar to other Android smartphones in the segment. The right edge has the volume rocker and the power/ lock button, though we wished it could feature a dedicated camera button, as well.The top panel has the headphone jack and the Micro-USB slot, while the left is barren with no keys,and the bottom edge features the microphone.We felt that the positioning of the power/ lock button above the volume rocker key was a trifle odd as we often ended up pressing the volume rocker button when we wanted to unlock the device.

Just above the display, we have the earpiece grill, with the front-facing camera located to the right.The back of our Black Xolo Play sports the rear-camera lens in the centre, right above the LED flash and both are enclosed in a metallic frame.A Xolo logo sits in the middle, with the bottom part featuring Nvidia Tegra branding embossed along with the speaker grill at the bottom-left corner.

The back panel can be opened using a small crevice on the bottom right corner of the phone. Removing the panel reveals the 2000mAh battery covering the slots for the SIM cards, which are of regular size and the microSD card.The battery needs to be removed to access the SIMs and the memory card.

The overall design of the Xolo Play is not an eyesore but is definitely not designed to turn heads and looks rather plain.

Display

The Xolo Play comes with a 4.7-inch HD display of 720x1280 pixels resolution with One Glass Solution (OGS) Technology, translating to a density of 312 pixels per inch. While that doesn't sound impressive when compared to some high-end Android smartphones, the real life experience is decent.

Under sun visibility on the Xolo Play is above average at full brightness levels and the screen used in this smartphone is reflective. Colour reproduction and viewing angles on the IPS display are not that bad. We observed that the display of the smartphone picked up smudges easily and is also a fingerprint magnet, we had a tough time getting rid of them.

Overall, while we sure wish the Xolo Play came with a full-HD display, we had no qualms about the quality of this one.

Camera

The Xolo Play sports an 8-megapixel rear camera with BSI (Back Side Illumination) Sensor accompanied by an LED flash. The camera app on the device is stock and does not feature many additional options. The images clicked with the phone were not the sharpest and colours at times,seemed just a bit washed out.We found the details in the images and noise well under control,when there's plenty of light. However, the same cannot be said for the low-light shots.

The camera is also capable of capturing videos at 720p HD resolution and even full-HD resolution, though the videos turned out to be of average quality. One can also click images while taking videos.The camera software lets you tweak a few settings for still pictures like Scene mode (Auto, Night, Sunset), ISO, White Balance, Face-detection and Focus Assist Light. There's no Panorama mode.

There is a 2-megapixel front camera, as well. The front camera is good for video chats and for clicking self-portraits and the quality is nothing to be written home about.

Software/ Interface

The Xolo Play runs Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean out of the box. We were a bit surprised to see the Xolo Play running an older version of Android.With the hardware specifications it boasts of, we expected it to come with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.Xolo's other budget offering, the Xolo Q700 runs Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) out of the box.

That said,the Xolo Play packs in a fair deal in terms of software.The basic Android interface has not been tampered with much, although the absence of hardware keys means that you will have to depend on three soft buttons below the display which light up whenever the display is in use to find your way around, with the Home button also doubling up as an app switcher on long press.The lock screen and the settings menu of the Xolo Play looks pretty much like any other stock Android smartphone.

Similar to most other Android devices, there are five customizable home screens on which you can drop widgets and app shortcuts.

The notification tray includes toggles for settings such as Wi-Fi, Brightness, Rotation, Bluetooth, GPS, Data, Screen timeouts and profiles (for alerts and other notifications).

The notification tray also features a shortcut for settings and a clear all notifications shortcut, along with expandable notifications (expanded with the two finger pull gesture). Android 4.1 Jelly Bean also brings in Google Now, the handy virtual assistant.

The Xolo Play comes with the usual Android goodies like Gmail, Google Maps and Google Talkin addition to some bundled apps like a file manager, a video player and a profile manager. The device comes with few other pre-loaded applications such as Facebook, News and Weather.One of the biggest advantages of the Nvidia chipset is the access to Nvidia's Tegra Zone that offers a number of apps and games optimised for the Tegra-powered devices.Of course, you can always head over to the Google Play Store to get more apps.

The company has also bundled some of its own apps like Xolo Care, Xolo Power and Xolo Secure on the Xolo Play. These apps were also found on previously launched Xolo smartphones.The Xolo Care app lets you contact customer care.

The Xolo Power app can help manage the battery of the smartphone. It shows the estimated battery backup time that the user will get based on the applications that are currently running. It also gives options to kill apps.It also offers a 'Low battery mode' that disables Wi-Fi, cellular data, GPS, Bluetooth and also reduces screen brightness to conserve the battery, when the battery is about to die.Xolo Secure let you track and lock the smartphone in case its lost.

Performance/ Battery Life

The highlight of the Xolo Play T1000 is its 1.5GHz quad-core NvidiaTegra3 processor with a 5th low-power core which is accompanied by a 12 Core Nvidia ULP GeForce.

The smartphone also packs in 1GB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage, out of which only 2.3GB is user accessible. However, one can expand the storage up to 32GB with the help of a microSD card.

Without any doubts,the Xolo Play's specifications sound quite acceptable on paper. But unfortunately, the same is not the case in real life performance. We found the smartphone lagging in launching some apps. Admittedly, the lag is not that consistent but considering that an Nvidia quad-core processor backs the smartphone, it is quiet disappointing.

The company is promoting the device as a gaming smartphone and we found the Xolo Play performs quite well in that department.

Playing our usual list of games, including the optimised games for Tegra 3 devices, the smartphone fared well and we got a consistently decent gaming experience. However, the biggest compromise for playing games for longer periods on the smartphone is the battery backup. After a full charge, when we started playing games on the smartphone it merely lasted for 4 hours before we had to reach out for the charger.

Call quality on the Xolo Play was also decent.We were able to play full-HD clips, with all formats including MOV and AVI being supported natively.

The Xolo Play comes with a 2000mAh battery, and in our usage, it would last a full day. We charged the smartphone in the morning, and with medium to heavy usage, including an hour of phone calls, two email accounts configured, listening to some music, long hours of gaming (Temple Run 2, Skiing Fred, Vector and Shadowgun), taking some casual photographs and chat notifications, the phone lasted for 12-13 hours.It's worth pointing out that we had turned on Wi-Fi and auto-brightness, and the phone was also hooked to a 3G network with normal browsing. Changing these settings may help in increasing the phone's battery life, depending on your usage pattern.

Verdict

The Xolo Play is a phone that does the job without really excelling in any particular aspect. It has decent performance, about average battery life and a fairly stock Android experience. However, like most Android smartphones in the price range, the camera is mediocre. But the biggest disappointment is the fact that it Is still running Android 4.1, when Android 4.3 is out and most competitors sport Android 4.2. Worse, there is no upgrade path in sight.

If you are looking for alternatives, consider the Zen Ultrafone 701 HD or the Karbonn S5 Titanium. For non-Android options, you can look at the Nokia Lumia 620. All three phones are available at a discount compared to the Xolo Play. If you can stretch your budget a bit, look at the excellent Nokia Lumia 720.

SOurce : NDTV

Google Nexus 7 and Nexus 4 spotted running Android 'Key Lime Pie'

Google may have rolled out Android 4.3 Jelly Bean a few weeks back, but that doesn't seem to have stopped the search engine giant from testing the next OS version.

The Nexus 7 and the Nexus 4 have been spotted with a build number KRS36B, suggesting Google might already be testing the next Android version.

Both the devices have been spotted at the Chromium Bug tracker, first picked up by Android Headline, who also notes that it's time to start looking for the next version of Android which can be expected to be announced in October along with the successors to Google Nexus 4 and Nexus 10.

Following the usual alphabetical order for Android updates and naming them after desserts, the successor to Android Jelly Bean is widely believed to be dubbed as Key Lime Pie, though nothing has been confirmed by Google. Looking at the build number, the publication notes, since the first letter of the build usually corresponds to the major Android version (e.g. J for Jelly Bean in Android 4.3 build number JWR66V), it's likely that KRS36B corresponds to the next major version, Android 5.0.

Android Headline predicts that possible changes that the new Android version may bring is a refined user interface, probably some more features as well as improved NFC capabilities.

It seems that the Android 4.X Jelly Bean has run its course and now Android 5.X Key Lime Pie is ready to take the rounds as the new Android version in the near future. Nothing has been confirmed by Google yet but it will be interesting to see the changes in the next Android OS.

source : NDTV

iPhone 5C spotted in new high-resolution pictures

iPhone 5C spotted in new high-resolution pictures, expected price leaks

The purported low-cost iPhone just doesn't stop when it comes to making appearances online.
New high resolution photos of the alleged device have surfaced online, once again, courtesy Sonny Dickson who had earlier shared a video of a partially assembled low-cost iPhone (also identified as iPhone 5C).

Dickson has posted an entire picture gallery featuring close up shots of the low cost iPhone's back and sides, in addition to photos of its internals.

The device pictured matches the one that previously appeared in high resolution images and video.

The pictures show the same plastic polycarbonate body back panel that appeared in recent leaks, in glossy White, complete with a round camera lens and LED flash, Apple logo and iPhone branding.

At the bottom of the phone, there's a small hole for the second microphone, next to the 3.5mm headset jack port, two screw holes with the Lightning connector port at the centre, and four holes for the speaker towards bottom right.

It's worth pointing out that similar to previous appearances, the shell does not have any buttons or even a SIM-tray, though it does have holes at the designated places in line with the iPhone 5. It also doesn't have any certification logos. Perhaps the device is still a stage away from the final product. The pictures of the internals also don't reveal much as they don't feature the main board.

While the device is said to be the low cost iPhone, it's still difficult to confirm if Apple will indeed launch it this fall when it's expected to announce new devices.

It's also being rumoured that Apple will launch the phone at a price of 3000 yuan ($490 or Rs. 30,000 approximately). According to a post on Sina Weibo by C technology (via PhoneArena), as expected, the low cost iPhone might not be a budget device though it will be priced relatively less compared to the iPhone 5.

SAMSUNG GALAXY S5

Samsung Galaxy S5 To Feature Carbon Fiber Body, 5G and Super AMOLED Plus

• Samsung Galaxy S5

There have been a lot of rumors about the Samsung Galaxy S5 and now we hear about some other cool features it might come with. According to recent rumors, the Galaxy S5 could feature a carbon fiber body, 5G speeds and a Super AMOLED Plus display, which sounds like a great improvement.

Previously we’ve told you that it might come with an Aluminium body, as we’ve heard, though others suggest it’s going to be made out of carbon fiber. Samsung and SGL have stated that the companies began a partnership in order to use carbon fiber in some Samsung products, including consumer electronics, engineering applications and consumer electronics.

President and CEO of Samsung Petrochemical, Yoosung Chung, stated that lightweight materials have become very important for consumer electronics, which means they take this very seriously and we could finally see a carbon fiber smartphone from Samsung to replace plastic.

Carbon Fiber should make the smartphone lighter, more resistant to shocks and scratches, while allowing the maker to mold the body in any shape they want.

Settings aside the body, we also know that Samsung is testing 5G, though the technology is due to be finished by 2020, but some say that the Galaxy S5 might feature it. Personally I don’t believe there is any reason for this, as no carrier will support it so early. It’s more likely to see a 4G LTE-A compatible Galaxy S5 though.

The Super AMOLED Plus display would be a great improvement, considering it’s much superior to the panels currently used in the Galaxy S3 and S4 and we really hope Samsung manages to get it ready for use with the Galaxy S5.

We should also see an improved CPU to compete with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 800, which will probably remain a dual-quad-core or Octa, as Samsung calls it.

Flexible displays will most likely stay out of this for the moment, as the technology is probably not matured yet and Samsung can’t risk using an unfinished product, though it would be awesome to have a curved display as they showcased at MWC in February.

This is all we can guess about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S5 and we’ll let you know once we find more information about it. Like usually, the Galaxy S5 release date should be around May 2013.

Smart NaMo - Android smart phone in the name of Narendra Modi

A group, claiming to be "independent body of fans of Shri Narendra Modi", has launched the Namo Android smartphone that will be available 'soon'.

Namo, is short of course for Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister of Gujarat, and Chairman of Central Election Campaign Committee of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), one of India's leading political parties. Namo is also, the group shares, short for, Next-generation Android Mobile Odyssey, as the Namo phone is based on Android.

Explaining the motivation in releasing the phone, the group says on its website, "We are fans of Shri, Narendra Modi, our forthcoming future leader of our great nation India, we are manufacturing latest Android handset dedicated to the IRONMAN of modern India."

The website is scant on details about Namo, the smartphone, though it does mention some of the specifications. Namo will sport a 5-inch Corning Glass 2 display and be powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core Mediatek MT6589 chipset. It will have a 13-megapixel camera. The phone will supposedly come in 4 variants, with the amount of RAM and internal storage varying between 1-2GB and 16-64GB respectively. There's no word yet on the price or availability of Namo smartphone.

To be clear, it seems what the group plans to do is import off-the-shelf smartphones from China to rebrand and market them, similar to what many other Indian smartphone brands are already doing. Will the group be around to service the Namo smartphone if and when it runs into issues is anyone's guess.

"We are from land of Gujarat & in electronic smartphone business in China," the group says. "Our product is our way of dedication & respect to our great nation leader. We will be launching NAMO Android handset with Shri Narendra Modi "signature edition", for which process in under way! We will launch our handset very soon... for updates please see our FB page."

AOSP 4.3 for non-nexus phones

You weren’t able to set foot on the Interwebs for the past 48 hours without being bombarded by a never ending stream of news about Chromecast, the new Nexus 7, and of course the updated software it will be running, Android 4.3. As with any update to the Android OS, the usual clamor for factory images and race to bring the update to other Nexus devices has been as frenzied as always. However, it’s not only Nexus devices that are able to take advantage of the latest AOSP updates.

Thanks to a combination of Sony Mobiles efforts to be the Good Guy Greg of Android OEMs and XDA Developer Admin pulser_g2, Sony Xperia Z users can now get a feel for “stock” Android 4.3 on their device. The build is compiled by adding the Sony repository to AOSP 4.3, and as with other Sony AOSP releases, there is no functional radio included. Therefore, no calls/SMS/mobile data (this can be rectified though if you know what you’re doing, and that’s all I have to say about that). For this reason, the build is provided as a fastboot image and not a flashable zip. This is compiled for and tested solely on the C6603, so don’t go throwing this at another model and expecting it to stick.

Obviously, without a radio this isn’t going to be your daily driver. However, it’s certainly worth a look if you want to check out the latest update and don’t have a Nexus device laying around. Check out the development thread for more information.

Source:XDA