Review: Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9” 32 GB, Wi-Fi (2013 edition)

Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9” 32 GB, Wi-Fi (2013 edition)

 

MRP: Rs 36,000 (eBay.in)

Amazon is known for its humungous e-books store and also for its amazing Kindle brand of e-book readers. With the advent of Android tablets, the company also felt the pressure to introduce an Android-based Kindle tablet known as the Kindle Fire, which broke away from the traditional concept of e-ink screen. It did well and that's why the company later introduced the Kindle Fire HD and HDX in two screen sizes having more pixels for crisper text and images. Until now, the Kindle Fire HDX was not available in India, and Amazon has still not officially launched it here. But thanks to eBay.in, it is now possible for us to buy in local currency without having to worry about customs hassles. Let's take a look at whether this is really worth the extra bucks.

 

Review: Nokia Lumia 930

Nokia Lumia 930
Price: Rs 37,900

The Nokia Lumia 930, which is the current flagship Windows Phone handset from Nokia and the first one with Windows Phone 8.1, has been packed to the gills with features expected of a flagship product. This Windows Phone 8.1 handset features a Snapdragon quad-core CPU, Full HD AMOLED display, 20 mp PureView main camera with Zeiss optics, 32 GB of RAM, and 4G capability (useful when 4G will become available). In this review, I will try to give you a fair idea of my usage experience of this handset.

Review: Xiaomi Redmi Note

Xiaomi Redmi Note

Price: Rs 9000

Xiaomi was probably not contenpt with its successes with the Mi3 and Redmi 1S in recent times. Now it has come up with a phablet – Redmi Note. The Redmi Note looks like a scaled-up version of the Redmi 1S. It sports a 5.5” HD IPS display and is powered by an Octa-Core processor from MediaTek supported by 2 GB RAM. This dual-SIM device promises great performance in an affordable price. Let’s find out if it can really do what it claims.

Panasonic Launches 4K Varicam 35 And Varicam HS Production Cameras In India

It is not just that TV companies are pushing for 4K TVs; 4K cameras are already being launched in India to get the party ready. Panasonic has launched two professional cameras in India aimed at the media and broadcasting industry. The two variants of the Varicam series are the 35 and HS. Both these cameras sport 4K movie recording. The Varicam 35 features a V-Log gamma covering wide latitude of 14+ stops. It can also record to two different formats and codecs simultaneously with its in-camera colour grading function. The camera also incorporates the new super35mm MOS image sensor capable of handling variable frame rates up to 120 fps. Supported recording formats include 4K and UHD in AVC-Ultra 4K, and 2K and 1080p in AVC-Intra 100.

Video: How To "Unbend" The iPhone 6/Plus

As you all know, when Apple launched the latest iPhone 6/Plus, it really upped the ante by treading the now tried and trusted path of simply increasing the screen size, and throwing in the additional hardware upgrades. As is customary these days, reducing the thickness of the phone received a higher priority than paying attention to its ergonomics. However, while reducing its thickness, the company seems to have forgotten to incorporate ways to introduce structural reinforcements to the frame. The result is that the new iPhone is prone to bending, and that is not really its advertised feature, so it can break down or even burst into flames in worst case scenarios when the battery breaks. In fact, this has spawned new Twitter hashtags #bendgate and even #burngate. Sadly, warranty does not cover such physical damage, so you are pretty much on your own if this happens to you. If you happen to have invested in this new "bendable" handset, there is still hope, thanks to the company - gTools.

Review: Xiaomi Redmi 1S - Brace for the second assault

Xiaomi Redmi 1S
Price: Rs 6000 (Available soon Flipkart.com)

 

Xiaomi, now known as China's answer to Apple, has got a new ace up its sleeve for India - the Redmi 1S. After its earlier onslaught via the hugely successful Mi3, the Chinese manufacturer has planned to launch the brand new dual-SIM smartphone in a bid to capture the low-end segment. Yet again, the company promises high-end hardware and performance at an unrivalled pricing. I got to try my hands on the new handset before its launch to find out whether the numbers on paper really translate to good real life performance. Read on for the review.

  

Spice Launches India's First Firefox Smartphone - Fire One

Not everyone is launching Android phones. Spice has launched the Fire One, which is the first smartphone in India based on Firefox OS. The handset provides a good option for those who want to upgrade from feature phones to smartphones without breaking the bank. The press release is as below.

Review: Xiaomi Mi 3 - Finally, Premium Smartphone At Budget Pricing

Xiaomi Mi 3
Price: Rs 14,000 (Flipkart.com)

The smartphone market is probably the most varied today, when it comes to the sheer number of mobile phones and models by various manufacturers, each trying to up the ante in face of competition. In a budget market such as India, price is considered to be the driving force for sales of any product, and the mobile phone is not an exception. The Chinese manufacturer, Xiaomi, which had taken China by storm last year with its Xiaomi Mi 3 Android smartphone with high-end specs, registering record sales, has finally turned its attention to one of the most lucrative markets - India. The phone has been finally launched in India at an attractive price of Rs 14,000. Some of the high-end features of the phone includes a Snapdragon quad-core CPU with 2 GB RAM, 5" Full HD IPS screen, and 13 MP camera with Full HD recording. Xiaomi has been generous enough to send across a review unit, therefore, a review was in order. Do the high-end specs really translate into a pleasant smartphone experience? Read on.

Casio Launches XW-H1/2/3 Series Audiophile Headphones In India

While we in India have known the company mainly for its calculators and watches, Casio also produces quality musical instruments and audio products. The Japanese electronics giant has announced the launch of its XW-H1/2/3 headphones in India. These tough and lightweight headphones, which come in three colours, are touted to be audiophile grade. The company claims that they can faithfully reproduce accurate, natural sound across the entire audio spectrum.

Infographics Shows The Rise Of Windows Phone Platform

When Microsoft first introduced its new mobile phone platform in 2010 - Windows Phone 7, it was met with mixed response. Enthusiasts praised it for its innovative and fresh look and design, while critics criticized it for not bringing enough to the plate and even going so far as to predict its failure. However, it is now 2014 with the new iteration Windows Phone 8.1, and the platform has seen a steady growth, aiming to compete against the big guns Android and iOS. Microsoft's collaboration with Nokia in bringing out great quality Windows Phone products across different price ranges, has played a contributing factor in this success as analysts are expecting the WP OS to cross 100 million devices this year and become the 3rd largest mobile OS worldwide. In fact, Windows Phone has already been outselling the iPhone in 24 markets including India, Malaysia, South Africa, Russia, Ukraine, and Poland.

In Conversation With Bipin Preet Singh of MobiKwik

MobiKwik is a mobile app that allows you to carry out electronic transactions right from your mobile phone from wherever you are and is therefore gaining popularity due to the sheer convenience it offers. I had a chance to converse with Bipin Preet Singh, CEO & Founder of MobiKwik to find out more about the success of this app. Read on.

Review: Antec GX700 - A Great Combination Of Looks, Performance, And Price

Antec GX700

Price: Rs 4267

For most of us mere mortals who haven't yet moved on to using portable computing devices, a cabinet is simply a metal box into which an assembled computer is placed. However, enthusiasts and gamers have a completely different picture in mind for PC cabinets. To these, and understandably so, it is more about what functionality it supports, what additional features it incorporates, whether it has good ventilation, whether it is strong enough, and also how good it looks. That last point is more about bragging rights than about the functional purpose of the cabinet. Antec has been around since a long time and has got quite a range of products for the enthusiast community. The company has been gracious enough to send me for review, the GX700 gaming cabinet, which is a GX Series cabinet with an awesome military theme. I have tried my hand out at the cabinet. Read on.

Violin Launches Windows All-Flash Array for Next-Gen Enterprise And Cloud Deployment

 

Violin Memory, Inc, a leading provider of all-flash storage arrays and appliances delivering application solutions for the enterprise, announced today general availability of the Windows Flash Array (WFA). Jointly developed with Microsoft Corp., the WFA is the first all-flash high-performance storage array powered by Windows Storage Server 2012 R2 to deliver a rich set of high performance storage features and data services for the enterprise.

 

Review: Panasonic VIERA TH-P50ST60D - The Last Of The Plasmas Can Still Hold Its Own

Panasonic VIERA TH-P50ST60D

MRP: Rs 1,25,000 (market price starting at Rs 1,00,000)

Television technology has come a long way with LED-backlit TVs currently being the TV technology of popular choice. However, Plasma TV technology continues to hold its own purely because of its inherently superior image quality. Panasonic has been one of the main proponents of this ageing technology and is still one of the largest Plasma TV makers in the market. The company has got the VIERA TH-P50ST60D belonging to the ST60 series, which is its 2013 mid-range offering. However, the performance surprised me. Read on.

Zebronics Launches Four 5.1 Speaker Models For Rs 4000 Each

Zebronics Launches Four 5.1 Speaker Models For Rs 4000 Each

Zebronics has launched four different models of speakers, each sporting 5.1 surround sound, all comprising its 5.1 Sound Monsters category. Here are excerpts from the press release:

These have been designed to deliver high quality sound at a cost effective price. They come with down firing sub-woofers to deliver the party effects required in the entertainment zone. Zebronics has added ZEB-SW8590RUCF, ZEB-SW8580RUCF, ZEB-SW8570RUCF and ZEB-SW8530RUCF speakers to the Sound Monster range.Zebronics believes that these models have been designed to add the style quotient to user's party zones. The satellite units are well designed to match home décor and facilitate with true surround - sound. They provide the right output which is comfortable on ears and sufficient to enjoy the music, both hard and soft. The full range speakers and down-firing subwoofers make the sound reliable and effective. All the speakers come with 5 satellite units and 1 sub-woofer of 100W RMS.

Key Features

• 100W Output Power

• FM Radio

• LED Display

• Fully Functional Remote Control

• Support SD memory cards & USB pen drive

Pradeep Doshi, Director- Sales for Zebronics said "Our Sound Monsters will definitely grab your attention with its royal appearance and great surround sound. These speakers are sure to enhance the beauty of customer's party zone. The aggressive pricing of these speakers makes them affordable to masses. Zebronics believes in designing quality rich products at challenging prices and Sound Monster range has always been one of our best to show case. Partners would love to address the growing demands of quality sound in the market through our Sound Monster Speakers"
Specification

• Output Power: 40W+12W x 5

• Voltage: AC220V -240V 50/60Hz

• Frequency response: 40Hz-20KHz

• S/N ratio: ≥80dB

• Separation: ≥45dB

• Subwoofer driver unit: 6.5"

• Satellite driver unit: 3" x 5

• Woofer size: 170 x 318 x 355 mm

• Satellite size: 110 x 200 x 122 mm

The company launched the ZEB-SW8590RUCF, ZEB-SW8580RUCF, ZEB-SW8570RUCF, and the ZEB-SW8530RUCF. Not only are their characteristics and features identical, they are also priced at the same value at Rs 4000, which is not a bad price for a wireless remote controlled 5.1 speakers set. I must say that these speakers do look different and the design is decent. As far as the audio quality is concerned, I can only comment about that after listening to them.