Picture Gallery: Land Rover Evoque

Land Rover's luxury SUV, Range Rover Evoque costs Rs 47.1 Lacs (ex-showroom, pre-octroi in Mumbai). The New Range Rover Evoque features a comprehensive range of new design elements and technologies to reinforce its style, glamour, luxury and status appeal.

The New Range Rover Evoque is powered with a 2.2Litre, four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine that delivers 140 kW at 3,500 rpm with a maximum torque of 420 Nm at 1,750 rpm. 

Check out the picture gallery of the 'Stunning' Evoque.

Top 5 Smartphones under Rs 10,000

I am sure you would agree with me when I say that the quality of budget smartphones has really improved over the past few months with a lot of feature laden phones being released. Not only are these devices better configured but the user experience has also improved. Here is our list of the top five Smartphones under Rs 10,000. All these smartphone are Android devices that most of us find user-friendly. Let us take a close look at the smartphones based on the features and manufacturing quality. 

Xiaomi Redmi 2 Prime:  This is Xiaomi's first 'Made in India' smartphone priced at Rs. 6,999. The Xiaomi Redmi 2 Prime is available on the company's online store, Mi.com and online retailers including Amazon, Flipkart, and Snapdeal.

Features: 

• 4.7-inch HD (1280x720) display
• 4G LTE with dual SIM
• Quad-core 1.2 GHz Snapdragon 410 processor
• 8MP rear camera/2MP front camera
• 2GB RAM, 16GB storage (expandable)
• Android 4.4.4 KitKat
• 2,200 mAh battery

Asus Zenfone 2 Laser: Asus has launched a few ZenFone but the Zenfone 2 is our pick, sports a great camera and also comes with a superior Laser Autofocus camera. The ZenFone 2 Laser (ZE550KL) is available for Rs 9,999 on Flipkart. 

Features: 

• 5.5-inch HD (1280x720) display
• 4G LTE with dual SIM 
• Quad-core 1.2 GHz Snapdragon 410 processor
• 13MP rear camera/5MP front camera
• 2GB RAM, 16 GB storage (expandable)
• Android 5.0 Lollipop
• 3,000 mAh battery 

Yu Yureka Plus: The Yu Yureka Plus has a Sony IMX214 sensor and CyanogenMod 12S. It is available for a good price at Rs. 8,999. The Yureka Plus is 8.5mm slim and has a 1080p display.

Features: 

• 5.5" screen (1080x1920) display
• Dual SIM 
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor,
• 13MP rear camera/5MP front camera
• 2GB RAM, 16 GB storage (expandable to 32GB)
• Android 5.0 Lollipop
• 2,500 mAh battery

Lenovo Vibe P1m: The 5" smartphone is a great package. It boasts of a powerful 3,900mAh battery which lasts long enough. It is priced at Rs 7,999 and is available on Flipkart.

Features: 

• 5-inch HD (1280x720) display
• 4G LTE with dual SIM support
• 8MP rear camera/5MP front camera
• Quad-core 1 GHz Mediatek MT6735P processor
• 2GB RAM, 16GB storage (expandable)
• 3,900 mAh battery
• Android 5.0 Lollipop

Huawei Honor 4X: The Honor 4X is a LTE smartphoneand available for Rs 9,999 on Flipkart. The 13MP camera is the highlight of the phone and a good option to buy. It has a good built quality and a decent 3000mAh battery.

Features: 

• 5.5-inch HD (1280x720) display
• Quad-core 1.2 GHz Snapdragon 410 processor
• 13MP rear camera/5MP front camera
• Android 4.4
• 3000mAh battery
• Dual SIM
• 2GB RAM, Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 
• 8GB Memory (expandable to 32GB)

Wickedleak launches Wammy Note 5 with 4GB RAM at Rs.16,990

Wickedleak has announced the launch of its next Flagship Smartphone 'Wammy Note 5', the latest in the Note series at Rs. 16,990. It is powered by the MediaTek’s Helio P10 (MT6755) Processor clocked at 2.0GHz and coupled with 4 GB of RAM.

It will come with Mali T860 GPU to take care of Intense 3D Games and smooth graphic rendering. The Wammy Note 5 smart phone will have a 5.5 inch display with a 2.5D Curved Glass. It will come with Full HD resolution with a high pixel density. Wammy Note 5 will sport 13MP Camera with Sony Exmor RS Sensor at the Rear and 8MP Front Camera with OmniVision Senso. The Smartphone will have support for Indian 4G Operator Bands across FDD-LTE and TDD-LTE.

The flagship device will be priced at Rs 16,990 and will be exclusively available on online Wickedleak’s official website – www.wickedleak.org. The Registrations for the Smartphone begins today, 22nd December 2015 and the Smartphone would be available for ordering starting 15th January 2015. 

Customers can register their on the following link – http://www.wickedleak.org/content/18-wammy-note-5-registration-for-sale

Mi India announces updated Pick Mi service

Mi India has announced an update regarding Pick Mi, a unique home pickup, repair and drop-off after sales service. Mi users can now give a 'missed call' to 7676404444 to book the Pick Mi service. Additionally customers can call the toll free number 1800 103 6286. Pick Mi is available at a nominal fee of Rs. 189, which can be paid online or via Cash on Delivery.

Currently Pick Mi is available at more than 6076 pin-codes, 597 cities, 29 states and 4 Union Territories. The service is available in even  distance places like Kohima, Bhuj, Kangra and Andaman Nicobar islands. In metros (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai), the service is operated through a biker runner model and in the rest of India, through Fedex as a courier partner. The total time taken for picking up a device, having it repaired and being delivered back to the customer is 24 hours for metros (Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata) and 7-10 days for the rest of India.

Manu Jain, Head of Mi India, said, "We have always focused on meeting the needs of our customers and providing them with the best user experience. With Pick Mi, we are trying to revamp the service model in India and bringing the convenience of e-commerce (doorstep delivery) to the service industry. We have seen positive results for Pick Mi. A large number of people are already using the service regularly in the pilot cities of Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, and we receive a few hundred calls every single day."

LG G Pad II 8.3 with 8 megapixel camera launched in Korea

LG announced the launch of the LG G Pad II 8.3 tablet in Korea today. The G Pad II 8.3 LTE tablet features a metal body has a full hd (1920x1200 pixels) IPS display and a full-sized USB port.

It is powered by 1.5GHz quad-core processor coupled with 2GB of RAM. The G Pad II 8.3 comes in brown gold color and the company hasn't mentioned the price of the tablet and its availability in the market thereafter.

The LG G Pad II 8.3 supports 16GB of inbuilt storage and is expandable up to 128GB via microsd card. It sports an 8 Megapixel rear camera with autofocus and 2 Megapixel front facing camera. In terms of connectivity, the LG G Pad II 8.3 supports LTE, Bluetooth v4.1, Wi-Fi. The tablet runs on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop out of the box.

Gionee launches Marathon M5 Plus in China for 2,499 RMB (USD 385)

Gionee announced the launch of Marathon M5 Plus smartphone at an event held in China yesterday. The cost of the device is 2499 RMB (approx Rs 25,000 or 385USD) and will be on sale from December 25. The company has also stated that the Marathon M5 smartphone will come at a price of 1999 RMB (approx Rs 20,000 or 308USD). 

The Gionee Marathon M5 Plus smartphone features a big 6" AMOLED display full HD 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution with 2.5D arc symmetrical design and gorilla glass.  In terms of camera, it has a 13MP rear camera and a 5MP front facing camera for selfies. It is powered by a 1.3 GHz octa core CPU coupled with 3GB of RAM. 

The device has a 64GB internal memory and can be further expanded up to 128GB via microsd card. The smartphone runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop with Amigo 3.1 UI out of the box. The M5 Plus smartphone houses a powerful 5020 mAh battery which can be fully charged in less than 2 hours according to Gionee. The launch date for India is not yet announced but expecting to be next month.

Two good deeds could win you a Meizu m2 smartphone

Want to win a Meizu m2 smartphone? Here's a chance to win one. Meizu Technology (MEIZU) today announced the launch of its #MerrywithMeizu‬‬ online contests for its Indian fans on Facebook & Twitter. ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

To bring the festivity alive, Meizu has organized three different contests, one for each day, starting from, 21st December. Yesterday, it was create your own Christmas tree contest and today, Meizu fans can win two Meizu m2’s and 12 goodie bags by sharing two good deeds which they might have done in 2015. 

You can share your complete story on Meizu India Facebook and Twitter page using hashtag #MerrywithMeizu‬‬. Contest is valid only for today, Tuesday, 22nd December. 
  
Features of the Meizu m2: 

• Memory: 2 GB of onboard RAM and Samsung's advanced 16 GB eMMC 5.0 flash 
• Display: 5-inch 720p HD screen
• Camera: 13-megapixel rear camera, 5-megapixel front camera and FotoNation 2.0 
• Network: dual-SIM and dual 4G, primary slot for storage capacity up to 128GB and an expandable storage capacity of 144 GB 
• Battery life: Capacity of 2500mAh 
• Design: 5-inch screen and 131g weight

The Five Best Games of 2015

2015 was a great year for gaming, with a multitude of games being released across various genres. While it may take too long to list out all the good games released this year, today, we’ll look five games that stood out from the rest, that are well worth your time and money.

Mad Max (Xbox One, PS4, PC)
Loosely based on the movie released this year, Mad Max was an open world game where players stepped into the boots of Max Rockatansky, as he explored a savage post-apocalyptic world in search of his precious car. A brawler at heart, this game managed to mix on-foot and vehicular combat into one brutal and highly entertaining package.  




Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege (Xbox One, PS4, PC)
A largely multiplayer only game, Siege is a tactical shooter where two teams battle it out online in a tense game of cat and mouse. What sets Siege apart from the crowd is its nail biting versus gameplay, and environmental destruction that is as practical as it is satisfying. 




The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (Xbox One, PS4, PC)
One of the most expansive open world games made this year, Wild Hunt is the conclusion to the Witcher trilogy. In it, players step into the boots of a genetically modified mutant – a Witcher who must scour the world in search of his (kind of) daughter. Satisfying combat, engaging dialogues, a gripping plot and deep RPG mechanics make this one of the most enjoyable games of 2015.




Assassin’s Creed Syndicate (Xbox One, PS4, PC)
This year’s entry in the Assassin’s Creed franchise takes players to Victorian London where they do all the things you expect from an Assassin’s Creed game, but this game around, it’s actually a lot of fun. Plus both the titular characters – Jacob and Eve Frie have a sense of charm and charisma that make them far more relatable than previous protagonists. 




Fallout 4 (Xbox One, PS4, PC)
After a break of nearly seven years, the Fallout series is back improving upon nearly every gameplay aspect that allows so many gamers to get lost in their game world. In addition to that, developer Bethesda has added in more addictive elements like base building and weapon and armour customization to make sure you have no social life left for a long...long time. 

Jaguar Land Rover India Announces InControl Apps

Jaguar Land Rover India has announced the launch of its innovative new smartphone integration platform, InControl Apps developed in conjunction with Bosch. The InControl Apps platform transfers the interface from the phone to the in-car infotainment touch-screen, to allow users access to popular apps. Jaguar Land Rover and Bosch have worked closely with leading third party app developers, to enable access to an initial suite of Android and iOS compatible applications. The India-customised platform will allow access to popular apps in India like NDTV, Hungama, MapmyIndia and Zomato. 

(L-R) Mr. Harkamal Jot Singh, Head Revenue & Monetization NDTV; Mr. Ankur Kansal, Brand Director, Jaguar Land Rover India Ltd; Mr. Siddhartha Roy, CEO, Hungama.Com; Mr. Shivalik Prasad, Executive Director, MapmyIndia.com; Mr. Naga Santhosh, App Center India - Head, Robert Bosch Engineering Solutions Limited; Mr. Rohit Suri, President, Jaguar Land Rover India Ltd; Mr. Prashant Sharma, Head of Sales, Zomato; Mr. Rohant Shyam, Head of West, Zomato; Mr. Joy Ghatak, General Manager, Engineering Solutions - CM PJ-CD Projects, Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions Limited.

Rohit Suri, President, Jaguar Land Rover India Ltd , said "InControl Apps will enhance the overall luxury experience of our vehicles and provide technology savvy customers a more convenient option to access their favorite apps.  This is an exciting new technology addition to Land Rover vehicles, which have already become popular for their design, performance, craftsmanship and luxury credentials."

InControl Apps platform is now available on 2016 Model Year Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, and Discovery Sport and will be rolled out on other Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles subsequently.

Panasonic launches Multi-Channel Speaker Systems, SC-HT40GW–K and SC-HT20GW-K

Panasonic India has launched two new models of multi-channel speaker system in India. These Speaker Systems SC-HT40GW-K and SC-HT20GW-K is a powerful compact subwoofer and easy connections for all media devices. 

The 80WRMS 4.1 SC-HT40GW and 60WRMS 2.1 SC-HT20GW speakers produce rich bass effect with perfect combination of vocal clarity. The handcrafted wooden cabinet enhances the bass effect. The 4.1Ch has modern sleek design with compact wall-mountable speakers while the 2.1Ch boasts of the famous Tall Boy speaker design, which is compatible with your 32" TV set. TThe 4.1Ch speakers are Bluetooth enabled which provides enhanced audio experience in any ambience.

Mr. Ashish Sasidharan, Product Head, Consumer Electronics, Panasonic India, said, "Over the years, we have witnessed the evolution of television industry from CRTs to flat panel as a result of new innovation and technology. To this effect, Panasonic India has made sustained efforts to bring globally customized products for enhancing the sound experience with the introduction of SC-HT40GW-K and SC-HT20GW-K speaker systems. Currently, the organized Audio market size is estimated to be 2.8 Million Units per year in 2016 and with this new launch we aim to capture 10% of the market share."

The SC-HT40GW-K and SC-HT20GW-K models are available at Rs 7,590 and Rs 5,990 respectively 

Creative launches Woof 3 Micro-Size Bluetooth Speaker for Rs. 3,999 At Snapdeal

Creative Technology Ltd today announced the micro-size Bluetooth speaker Creative Woof 3 for smartphone and tablet users. It is shaped like an inverted bell. It is a premium metal alloy housing a 45mm driver. It even doubles up as a speaker phone with its built-in invisible microphone when connected via Bluetooth with a smartphone.

The speaker supports up to 6 hours of playback on a single charge via USB, and gives users to enjoy their content in four ways:
· Bluetooth wireless audio: Connects wirelessly to Bluetooth-enabled smartphones and tablets.
· Built-in MP3 Player: Supports MicroSD card playback of songs in MP3/WMA formats.
· Built-in lossless digital audio player (DAP): Supports MicroSD card playback of songs WAV/FLAC/APE formats.
· USB audio: Enjoy digital audio from your PC. Also charges your speaker at the same time.
· Integrated 3.5mm AUX-In

The Creative Woof 3 is priced at Rs. 3,999 and will be exclusively available on Snapdeal from today, 21st December 2015 onwards.

Videocon Mobile Phones launches Z55 Krypton 4G smartphone with 13MP camera for Rs 7,999

Videocon Mobile Phones HAS introduced its first 4G smartphone - Z55 Krypton in India. The value handset comes with 13MP front camera, a 5MP front camera and latest Android Lollipop 5.1 OS out of the box. It features a 5-inch HD IPS screen with Dragon Trail X Anti-Scratch glass and is priced at Rs. 7,999. 

The Videocon Z55 Krypton is backed by 1GB RAM and 8GB internal memory. The handset is powered by 1.3 GHz Quad Core Processor and houses a 2200 mAh battery. Other features includes Bluetooth, GPS, Skype, V-Secure, Wi-Fi, Dual SIM, FM radio and others. 

Features of Videocon Z55 Krypton:

• 5” HD IPS Screen with Dragon Trail X Anti-Scratch glass
• Android OS -  5.1 Lollipop
• Powered by 1.3 GHz Quad Core Processor
• 1GB RAM; 8GB ROM
• 13MP Rear camera, 5MP Front Camera
• 2200 mAh battery 
• 4G network, GPS/A-GPS, 
• G-Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Light sensor 
• V-Secure , V-Safe

Acer Announces Exciting Offers during Christmas season

Christmas is right around the corner and Acer, today announced exciting offers for PC buyers in India during this festive season valid for purchases made till December 26th, 2015. The offers are valid on all Acer Aspire series notebooks and All-In-One PCs. 

Acer Aspire E5

On the purchase of Aspire Notebooks and All-in-One PC with Intel Core processors at any retail store, consumers will get a free JBL GO Bluetooth speaker worth Rs. 2999. In addition to this, consumers can avail the benefit of interest free loans through Bajaj Finance with several attractive EMI options starting @ Rs. 2499/- at select stores.

That's not all. Acer is also offering 1 year of Accidental Damage Protection and 2 years of Additional Warranty at a nominal price of Rs. 1499 (Excluding taxes) worth Rs.4999/-. Additionally, consumer will also receive Unistall Antivirus pack for 1 year and life time data recovery pack worth Rs. 2490.

The new Aspire E5 Series notebook comes in a variety of color options in 14-inch and 15.6-inch displays. Consumers can choose from White, Red and Charcoal color options. . Acer Aspire E5 also uses technologies like LumiFlex, BluelightShield, Acer TrueHarmony, WiFi 802.11ac and MU-MIMO. The Aspire E5 series is also Skype certified to provide a friction-free audio and visual communication experience. 

The Aspire V3 is a premium laptop powered by 5th Gen Intel Core processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 840M graphics with 2 GB of dedicated DDR3 RAM, with up to 7 hours battery life. The Audio experience is enhanced using Dolby Digital Plus Home Theater that provides a virtual surround sound experience.

The Aspire Z Series all-in-one desktop has a 19.5" Full HD display takes full advantage of Windows 10. The all-in-one includes Optical Disk Drive and HD webcam with 1 microphone. It is built into a panel that is 31.2 mm thin and adjustable stand that tilts from 17° to 35°.

Acer offers notebooks at different price range starting from as low Rs. 19,999 with best-in-class quality and features. Customers can get more details on the offers and availability by dialing toll free number 1800 103 3311.

Motorola brings exciting offers for Christmas season

With Christmas round the corner, Motorola has a variety of offers during this festive season. Consumers can grab these special offers through the Big App Sales Days on the Flipkart app from 21st to 23rd December, 2015.

● Moto G Turbo Edition: The new Moto G Turbo Edition with a TurboPower charger for quick charging, an ultrafast Snapdragon Octa-core processor, 4G LTE and IP67 rated protection to keep your phone safe from water and dust.
● Moto X Style: This device has exceptional cameras with flash on rear and front and the world’s fastest Turbo-Power charging that gives you 7 hours of battery life in 15 minutes.
● Moto X Play: For those who are looking for a device that comes with the best in class cameras, 30+ hours battery life, powerful processor, water-repellent design and a pure Android experience.
● Moto G (3rd Gen): It’s quick, sharp and dependable with advanced IPX7 water-resistance, 13-megapixel camera, 4G LTE speed, an expansive 5-inch HD display and a battery that can keep up with you throughout the day.
● Moto E (2nd Gen): With 4G LTE speed, a 4.5-inch qHD display, Rear and front-facing cameras and a Quad core processor, the phone is perfect to start your smartphone journey.


Following are the details:

Models-Offer price/Actual cost

Moto E (2 Gen) 3G- Rs 4,999/ Rs 5,999
Moto E (2 Gen) 4G- Rs 5,999/ Rs 6,999
Moto G (3rd Gen)- Rs 10,499/ Rs 11,999
Moto X Play- Rs 16,999/ Rs 18,499
Moto X Style- Rs 26,999/ Rs 29,999

There is also a 10% cashback on all Motorola devices on transactions made on CitiBank and Standard Chartered, and an exchange offer on the Moto X play, Moto X Style and Moto G 3rd gen.


Customers buying a Moto G Turbo Edition will get an electronic gift voucher worth Rs 1000 and exchange upto Rs 6,000 

Google Nexus 6P gets cheaper by $50

With Christmas festival nearing, Google has cut the cost of the Nexus 6P smartphone. Google has temporarily dropped the starting price by $50. Which means, the 32gb version will cost $449, 64GB for $499 and 128GB for $599.  

This is the first time we have seen a price cut in the Nexus 6P. The Google Store is also offering free overnight shipping. The flagship Android 6.0 Marshmallow smartphone 

The 5.7" display handset is powered by Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810 coupled with 3GB ram, sports 12 mp rear camera and 8 mp front facing camera. It weighs 178 grams, has a Non-removable Li-Po 3450 mAh battery and comes with the latest OS, Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box.

Source: The Verge

Review : Bose Soundlink Around-Ear Wireless Headphones 2 - Pricey but smart, sturdy Bluetooth headphones

Bose, a name many love and hate. Bose has always marketed itself as a lifestyle brand rather than just an audio brand, and this shows in their products especially the Soundlink Bluetooth headphones II reviewed here.

The first thing you’ll notice is how polished and sturdy these headphones feel, and not to mention light. Compared to my Audio Technica ATH-M50s, these headphones almost don’t make their presence felt when worn. 

The around-the-ear design with the soft plush membrane cushioning sits well on the ears especially for people like me who have large ears and a large head.

What’s in the package?

The Bose Soundlink Wireless Headphones II includes a carry pouch, a 3.5mm attachable corded wire and a micro USB cable for charging. Thankfully even if you have forgotten to carry this cable, your phone charger can easily work to charge the device. Very thoughtful indeed of Bose.

Using the wireless headphones

Being Bluetooth, all one needs to do is pair this with your phone or tablet. Now since Bluetooth being Bluetooth, you’ll come across the similar pairing headaches and occasional wireless connection drop issues.

Once paired you are set, all the buttons are on the right of the headphones. How do you know which is the right side? Bose has included discreet markings of L and R so as to as distinguish quickly even in the dark rather than fumble around for the little markings as most headphones put you through.

What does it sound like?

The first thing you’ll feel is that due to the closed design, you instantly get passive soundproofing. Excellent for immersion at home (when sitting) but don’t use this outside when walking, it can be dangerous. Also, these headphones aren't meant for jogging or at gym, as they won’t stay on for such rigorous activities and you’ll end up sweating far too much around the ear due to the plush membrane cushioning.

The sound spewed from headphones is enjoyable. It is clean and well balanced; those who’d like heavy or boomy bass should stay away from these. It does not deliver the crispness or sharpness you’d get from similarly priced wired headphones, but Bose does not claim nor aim towards that kind of audience. Bose sounds generally deliver, a smooth pleasant sound which most ears like, but for the discerning audiophile, stay far away.

The battery life is amazing at 15 hours and you can expect 2 hours of usage just by 15 mins of recharge. The call quality is good and clear via the dual microphones, though weirdly on my Nexus 5 it didn't work as advertised but on a Moto G phone we tested, the calls ran wonderfully well.

I also particularly liked how the headphones are vocal in telling you the battery percentage, there’s a female voice that talks to you to inform you of which phone you are paired with, the battery status, etc. You can feel the distinct buttons on the side to take a call, increase the volume, pause etc. without ever having to remove the headphones to look at, to perform these functions. All this certainly adds to a very thoughtful and gratifying experience.

So overall, I’d definitely recommend these Bluetooth headphones for their overall experience, except for the price point which pinches me particularly. However, in the wireless Bluetooth market, you will be hard pressed to find better solutions at a lower price point.

Bose Soundlink Around-Ear Wireless Headphones II
Price – Rs. 21,150

By: Nikhil Rastogi

YU launches its flagship device, Yutopia for Rs 24,999

YU Televentures today announced the launch of its first flagship smartphone Yutopia and also announced its foray into software services with the launch of its ambitious project ‘Around YU’.  The Yu Yutopia will be sold exclusively on Amazon India.  

It features a 5.2" WQHD IPS Display and is powered by Snapdragon 810 processor coupled with 4GB DDR4 RAM. It sports a 21MP rear camera and a 8MP front facing camera. It has a 32GB inbuilt memory, which is expandable via microSD card (up to 128GB). More features include fingerprint scanner, Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 and Cyanogen OS 12.1, which is based on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. The dual-SIM smartphone (micro-SIM and nano-SIM) supports 4G LTE, 3G, Wi-Fi and houses a 3000mAh battery. 

Commenting on the launch, Sharma said, "We commenced our exciting journey at Yu a year ago with a promise of making technology more simplistic and the smartphones an enabler of our daily tasks. We are extremely euphoric to complete our first year with a bang as today's launch reaffirms our promise of doing everything that's exciting and new. Yutopia is a revolutionary product that is packed with the compelling 'Around Yu' services, making the smartphone literally five years ahead of any other device."


Pre-bookings begin today from 2PM and the phone will be available for grabs starting from December 26.

WhatsApp Blocked in Brazil for 48 hours

Yes, you heard it right. Whatsapp has been blocked in Brazil due to a criminal proceeding in the Sao Paulo State Justice Tribunal in Sao Bernardo do Campo. The case involves a drug trafficker linked to the PCC, or First Command of the Capital, one of Sao Paulo's biggest and most dangerous criminal gangs. The trafficker allegedly used WhatsApp services in the commission of crimes.

According to the court, WhatsApp failed to comply with a judicial order issued July 23. WhatsApp was notified again on August 7 when the court set a fine for non-compliance. On Wednesday, after finding WhatsApp in continued non-compliance, Judge Sandra Regina Nostre Marques ordered the 48-hour shutdown under terms of the country's Internet legislation, the statement said.

"This is a sad day for Brazil. Until today, Brazil has been an ally in creating an open Internet. Brazilians have always been among the most passionate in sharing their voice online. I am stunned that our efforts to protect people's data would result in such an extreme decision by a single judge to punish every person in Brazil who uses WhatsApp," Zuckerberg wrote on his Facebook page in both English and Portuguese.

Source: NDTV

Cheetah Mobile Added GPS Tracker and Hindi Version to CM Locker

Cheetah Mobile has introduced a new feature in CM Locker for combating smartphone theft. The new feature, GPS tracker, helps users track down stolen smartphone by automatically sending an email of the phone location once the intruder attempts to access CM Locker protected phone. CM Locker helps prevent phone theft and safeguards users’ privacy on daily basis. CM Locker is also available in Hindi language. 

Launched at the end of 2014, CM Locker quickly shot up to around 10 million downloads on Google Play. With an average user rating of 4.7 stars in just 4 months, it is the highest rated security locker in the world providing the speedy, safe, and simple user experience. 

CM Locker also improves battery performance via automatically shutting down battery draining apps running in the background. CM Locker is also packed with different wallpapers and themes for customization, three types of password modes including fingerprint, a fully integrated weather forecast function, and many other impressive features.

You can download the CM Locker app here.

Micromax launches Canvas Pulse 4G smartphone at Rs 9,999

Micromax Informatics Ltd. today announced the launch of Canvas Pulse 4G in India at Rs 9,999. 

The Canvas Pulse 4G has a 5-inch HD IPS display, a powerful 1.3 GHz octa core processor and a 3GB DDR3 RAM. It sports a 13 MP rear camera and a 5MP front facing camera. It houses a 2100mAh battery is available exclusively on flipkart.

Mr. Vineet Taneja, CEO, Micromax Informatics Ltd said, "India is currently at the cusp of 4G evolution, and Micromax is fully prepared to lead this march with a range of 4G devices from value to premium segments, which deliver best-in-class performance and design across price points for the diverse Indian consumers. Our latest launch, Canvas Pulse 4G is our premium yet powerful product with Flipkart offering 3GB RAM and Octacore at a never before price  reiterating our commitment to democratizing technology for the new age digital natives who want to be connected all the time."

Win the Meizu m2 smartphone for just Re.1

Meizu has announced an online contest for its Indian fans. Its very easy, one need to think and visualize where you would like to see the 'Meizu' logo. Implement the idea in reality by typing, painting, inking the logo in an unusual place. A picture of this has to be then posted with hashtag #‎m2for1 on the Meizu India Facebook page.

The contest has begun live starting today, 15 December till 21 December. The winner will get the Meizu M2 which is priced at Rs. 6999, by paying just Re. 1. The handset features a 5" HD (720) display, 13 MP rear camera and a 5 MP front facing camera. 

OPPO announces ‘After Sales Service’ Policy

OPPO has announced the new ‘After Sales-Service Policy’ for its devices. This includes an added focus on service performance, quality, understanding the customer and proactive communication to address any query or call for support. As a part of OPPO’s strategy to strengthen its global market and after – sales, the company plans to open 200, new service centres across India.

As a part of the new policy every OPPO smartphone will now have extended warranty. All new handsets purchased from 15th December onwards will have a 2 years service warranty applicable across all OPPO service centres in India.

According to the new policy, which seems to be very interesting any new OPPO handset that develops functional defect within the first 30 days of purchase will be termed, as 'Dead after Purchase' and handset will be replaced automatically. The accessories such as charger, data cable, headset and battery (including internal battery) come with 6-month warranty.

Rajkot IPL Team owned by Intex mobiles gets Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja at IPL auction

Newly formed Rajkot IPL Team owned by Intex Mobiles managed to win some of the brightest stars of the game for its team. At the auction, the team successfully bid for Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, James Faulkner and Brendon McCullum at rates of 12.5 Cr, 9.5 Cr, 5.5 Cr and 7.5 Cr respectively.  With this, the Rajkot IPL team has set the ball rolling for a star-studded line-up to represent the team in the season 9 of IPL, starting 09th April 2016.

"Our intent is to put together a really strong team to ensure a thrilling tournament for the fans. I am very happy with the players that we have been able to fix today as they are amongst the best talents in the sports. Being a new team we will inject new ideas and hopefully add lots of excitement to the upcoming season." stated, Mr Keshav Bansal, Owner, Rajkot IPL Team and Director, Intex Technologies.
  
Intex Technologies, with a close to 12%  per cent market share in the Indian mobile phone market, hopes the ownership will help it create a brand value synonymous to the state, only cementing its positioning as a brand of Indian origin.

OnePlus X to Be Available Without Invites Every Tuesday

OnePlus as promised last week has announced that its OnePlus X smartphone will be available without invites every Tuesday. Oneplus confirmed the news in a tweet unfortunately the open sale on every Tuesday doesn't apply to Indian consumers, who require a country specific invite. OnePlus earlier had one day open sale to buy the OnePlus X smartphone without an invite in India. 

The tweet on OnePlus said, "Do your happy dance - the #OnePlusX is now invite-free every Tuesday! Starts tomorrow." 

The OnePlus X sports a 5" full-HD 1080 display. It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor coupled with 3GB of RAM. It has an 16GB storage and is expandable up to 128GB via microSD card. It has a 13 Megapixel rear camera and a 8 Megapixel front facing camera. The dual sm handset houses a 2525mAh non-removable battery. The handset with the Onyx variant is priced at Rs. 16,999.

PS: The OnePlus X without invite on Tuesday offer is not applicable for India.

iPhone 5s price drops down, now available at Rs 22,822

Christmas is round the corner and what better way than gifting an Apple phone to your dear ones. The iPhone 5s prices now has declined to Rs 24,999 from Rs 44,500 in September. 16GB Apple iPhone 5S is available on Infibeam for an unbelievable Rs 22,822. 

This is the third time we have seen a price cut of the iPhone 5S in three months since September. his move comes as demand for iPhone 6s and 6s Plus has declined after Diwali, said an ET report.

The company had previously lowered the price iPhone 5s during Dussehra in October and also before Diwali in November. The report also cites that  Apple's move is in line with the company's plans of doubling sales from India in the December quarter, which is a high sales period for Apple globally.

Source: DNA