Download: ICC Champions Trophy 2013 Game (Android, iOS, Java)

Play the game on the go, whether you enjoy the tournament or not.

 

Now cricket is a national pastime, and irrespective of the amount of controversy surrounding it, the sport continues to be as popular as ever. If the current Champions Trophy tournament doesn't really excite you, or you'd rather play the game on you smartphone than watch matches, then the ICC Champions Trophy 2013 game from Reliance is a nice place to start. Apart from a 3D app for Android and iDevices, a 2D version is also available for Blackberry and Java based handsets.

You can play in the Tournament Mode with 8 international cricket teams, or one-off matches in the Quick Match Mode. With three difficult levels to play with, it will surely keep you entertained. While the game is free for most devices (iOS users will have to pay up, too bad!) you can buy power-ups to improve your game.

Publisher: Reliance Games
Price: Free (Rs 55 on iTunes)
Platforms: iOS, Java, Android
Size: 28 MB – 62 MB
Download URLs: iOS - https://itunes.apple.com/in/app/icc-champions-trophy-2013-3d/id648894079; Android - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jumpgames.icc3dcricket; Java -http://store.ovi.com/content/368228


TAGS: Downloads, Apps, Gaming, Android, iOS

Huawei Ascend P6: "The World's Slimmest Smartphone"

At just 6.18 mm thick, the smartphone packs in the latest Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) and 5 MP front facing camera.

 

Last week Huawei teased a waterproof Windows Phone on its Facebook page, but the Chinese handset manufacturer launched a flagship of their Ascend series, the Ascend P6. At just 6.18mm thick, the phone is dubbed as the "world's slimmest smartphone". The Ascend P6 weighs just 120 grams and packs quite a bit of hardware under the hood.

The Huawei Ascend P6 features a quad-core 1.5 GHz CPU and 2 GB RAM with an onboard storage of 8 GB and it does have a microSD card slot to expand storage as needed. The large 4.7" LCD display features a resolution of 1280x720 with 'Magic Touch' for increased screen responsiveness while using gloves (similar to Nokia Lumia's super sensitive touch). On the imaging part, the Ascend P6 has a 8 MP rear snapper with F2.0 aperture capable of recording 1080p videos and taking 4cm macro shots. It also features an "industry leading" 5 MP front facing camera with auto facial enhancing capabilities.

Powering up the Ascend P6 is a 2000 mAh battery and features the latest Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean). The smartphone will start shipping from June to China and then to Western Europe from July. It will be available in Pink, White and Black. No word on its pricing and availability details in India as yet.

To recap specs of the Huawei Ascend P6:

  • 4.7" LCD display, capacitive screen with 'Magic Touch', 1280x720 pixels (~312 ppi density)
  • 8 MP rear camera (1080p video recording support), 5 MP front camera
  • Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)
  • 1.5 GHz quad-core Processor (custom K3V2 chipset)
  • 2 GB of RAM
  • 8 GB internal storage, microSD slot for expansion upto 32 GB
  • 2000 mAh Li-Pol battery
  • Weighs 120 grams, very slim (6.18 mm depth)
  • Available Colours: Pink, White, Black

Also Read: Yesterday, Huawei launched a freakishly huge 6.1" Ascend Mate at Rs 24,900


TAGS: Huawei, Mobile Phones, Android

HTC Unveils Desire 200 With A Compact 3.5" Screen

The Android handset features a 1 GHz CPU and 5 megapixel camera.

 

HTC has announced its latest budget smartphone, the Desire 200. According to the press release, the phone runs Android OS with Sense UI on top of it. However, it hasn't disclosed the exact version of the software. The phone sports a 3.5" with pixel dimensions of 320x480. It's powered by a 1 GHz Snapdragon S1 processor, and has 512 MB of RAM. Other features include a 5 megapixel camera, 4 GB of internal storage, microSD card slot, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, A-GPS, and 1230 mAh battery. The phone also comes with Beats Audio headset, backed by software enhancements. The detailed specs are as follows:

  • 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S1 pocessor.
  • 512 MB of RAM.
  • 4 GB internal storage, MicroSD card slot.
  • 4.5" screen with 320x480 pixels.
  • 5 megapixel fixed-focus camera.
  • 3.5 mm audio jack, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, A-GPS.
  • 1230 mAh Li-ion battery.
  • Accelerometer, Proximity sensor, Ambient light sensor.
  • 107.7 (l) x 60.8 (w) x 11.9 (d) mm; weighs 100 grammes.

According to HTC Taiwan, the Desire 200 will be priced around 5000 Taiwanese Dollars (approx Rs 10,000). If HTC releases it at this price point India, then the phone will directly compete with the Nokia Lumia 520. While both the smartphones lack a front-facing camera, the 520 gets an edge with its 4" IPS screen and dual-core processor.


TAGS: Mobile Phones, Android, HTC

DOMO Launches nTice F12 And nTice A10 Smartphones

The 5.2" nTice F12 phone is priced at Rs 8900 and 4" nTice A10 phone is worth Rs 3990.

 

DOMO has announced its entry into the growing smartphone space with the launch of the 5.2" nTice F12 and 4" nTice A10 phones, priced economically at Rs. 8900 and Rs. 3990 respectively. As with any budget Android smartphone, users can listen to music, check emails, watch movies, play games, click and edit pictures, install apps, and "DO More"  at a competitive price, as the company claims.

The lower priced DOMO nTice A10 is said to be gracefully styled with chrome details, and unsurprisingly runs on Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) — a much older version of the OS. This handset is powered by a 1 GHz processor, Mali-300 GPU, capacitive touch screen, 4" display, and offers dual-SIM slots. It weighs 138 grams and is available in black colour with chrome details and a white back panel.

Technical Specifications of nTice A10

  • Dual-SIM slots.
  • Android 2.3 (Gingerbread).
  • 4" LCD display, dual-touch capacitive touchscreen with 480x800 pixels.
  • 1 GHz Processor, Mali-300 GPU.
  • 256 MB of RAM.
  • 512 MB of internal storage.
  • 2 MP rear camera with LED flash, VGA front camera.
  • microSD card slot support for up to 32GB.
  • A-GPS, FM Radio, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
  • Inbuilt Voice Call Recording.
  • 1500 mAh Li-Polymer battery.

The DOMO nTice F12 claims to sacrifice nothing in functionality: Designed for a balance between slim design, large display, performance, rich user experience, and incorporating a chic interface. The hardware is good enough to run business apps, graphically nice games, edit photos, create user movies, and connect wirelessly to Smart TV's. There's a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, PowerVR SGX 531 GPU, 5.2" large screen, 3G with video calling capabilities, 5 MP auto-focus camera, inbuilt GPS, Bluetooth, and dual-SIM slots. Running on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), it is loaded with standard applications, with support for more applications from Google Play.

Technical Specifications of nTice F12

  • Dual-SIM slots, supports 3G.
  • Android 4.1.1 (Jelly Bean), supports Google Play.
  • 5.2" LCD display, multi-touch capacitive, 480x800 pixels.
  • 1.2 GHz dual-core Cortex-A9 Processor (MT6577 SoC).
  • Power-VR SGX 531 Graphics Processor.
  • 512 MB of RAM.
  • 4 GB of internal storage.
  • 5 MP rear camera with LED flash and auto-focus, VGA front camera.
  • microSD card slot, supports upto 32 GB.
  • GPS, FM Radio, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi.
  • Inbuilt Voice Call Recording.
  • Supports Adobe Flash.
  • 2500 mAh Li-Polymer battery.

The A10 spec list reflects consequences of its low price and there isn't much to choose from at that price range, with most alternatives being quite similar. However, the F12 has tough competition as our smartphones under Rs 10,000 story will tell you.


TAGS: Mobile Phones, Multi-SIM, Android

Huawei Launches A Freakishly Huge 6.1” Ascend Mate For Rs 25,000

Features a quad-core CPU, 8 megapixel camera, and Android Jelly Bean.

 

The downpour of oversized phones continues, as Huawei unleashes its 6.1" smartphone India. Named as Ascend Mate, the handset is powered by 1.5 Ghz quad-core CPU. For photography, there's an 8 megapixel camera. Other than that, you get 2 GB of RAM, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, and A-GPS. To keep this 6.1” monster powered, Huawei has thrown in a 4050 mAh battery.

On the software front, the phone runs Android 4.1 (Jelly bean) out of the box. The Ascend Mate boasts of One-Hand UI, which supposedly allows easy single-handed operation. Moreover, there's an Easy Panel that gives quick access to notes, calculator, messages, and video playback. No prize for guessing that the Huawei Ascend Mate competes with Samsung's GALAXY Mega 6.3. While I haven't used any of these devices, at least on paper Huawei's offering sounds better with its quad-core CPU. Moreover, priced at Rs. 25,000, the Ascend Mate is 6.5k cheaper than the Mega 6.3.

Specifications:

  • 1.5 GHz quad-core Hi-Silicon K3V2 + Intel XMM6260 CPU.
  • 6.1" IPS screen with pixel dimensions of 720x1280, covered by Corning Gorilla Glass.
  • 8.0 megapixel autofocus camera, 1.0 megapixel HD front-facing camera.
  • 2 GB of RAM, MicroSD card slot.
  • Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, A-GPS, 3.5 headset connector.
  • Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean).
  • 4050 mAh battery.
  • 163.5 mm x 85.7 mm x 9.9 mm, weighs 198 grams.
  • Available Colours: Crystal Black and Pure White.


Chetan Bhagat: One less reason to buy this phone.


TAGS: Mobile Phones, Android, Huawei

Microsoft Improves Windows Phone Speech Recognition

Claims to be twice as fast and more accurate; currently being rolled out to the US market.

 

Microsoft claims to have improved the speech recognition feature for Windows Phone devices. The update has been rolling out over the last few weeks, according to its official Technet blog. Bing Voice Search, as it is known, is said to be 2x faster and 15% more accurate than before. Microsoft Research's team says that the core of this improvement, are deep neural networks (DNN), which try to model speech recognition based on the human brain, using mathematical formulas and algorithms. The technology is available only in the US as of now. It must be noted that since the actual processing happens on the servers, there is no necessity to download an update for this. Changes will be visible when Microsoft releases updates for servers in a region.

Speech recognition is nothing new, but is certainly getting hotter, as people are starting to depend on it slowly. Apple popularised it with Siri on its iDevices, and Google has its own speech recognition engine for websites and Android devices. Microsoft already had speech recognition for its Windows OS via the Accessibility features, and it should not be hard for it to surpass the competition on Windows Phone. You can check out the video below, to learn more about how Bing makes voice search better on Windows Phone:

 


TAGS: Mobile Phones, Software, Windows Phone, Microsoft

Sony Prepping For A 6.4" Smartphone: Reports

Dubbed as Xperia Z Ultra, the handset is expected to be announced on July 4th at a Paris event.

 

The market for tablet-sized phones seems to be heating up, as popular phone makers all try to tame the Mega beast. After Samsung and Huawei, rumours are rife that Sony will join the "larger-than-phablet" smartphone race. CNET reports that Sony Mobile has been sending out invites to a "big surprise" event at Paris on 4th July, and this is most likely to be Sony's foray into the "phablet" market. Dubbed as Xperia Z Ultra, the handset is expected to sport a 6.4" screen at 1080p resolution. The Android-based handset will possibly be powered by a 2.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor, and will pack in an 8 megapixel rear snapper, 1.3 MP front camera, 16 GB of internal storage, NFC, and stylus support. Similar to Sony's flagship phone, the Xperia Z, this one will also be dust and water resistant. Although all this is just a rumour for now, the event is less than a month away. So we'll find out how true the news is very soon.

Now, there are a quite a few who are reluctant to spend big bucks for small screens. That being said, I do hope popular manufactures take pity on those of us who are small-handed people, and come up with good handsets at affordable price tags and manageable screen sizes.


Image courtesy: CNET UK


TAGS: Mobile Phones, Android, Sony, Xperia

LAVA Launches 5" Iris 504Q For Rs 13,500

The Jelly Bean handset features a quad-core processor and an 8 megapixel camera.

 

LAVA has added another handset to its Iris series. Dubbed as the 504Q, this new Android 4.2.1 device offers dual-SIM functionality. At 8.4 mm, it's significantly slimmer than most budget handsets. The phone sports a 5" IPS screen with pixel dimensions of 720x1280. The display uses OGS (One Glass Solution) technology that eliminates the space between your display and touchscreen, allowing you to almost touch what's on your display. The 504Q packs in Meditek MT6589 chipset clocked at 1.2 GHz. For gaming there's a PowerVR SGX 544MP GPU. Other features include 1 GB of RAM, 8 megapixel camera, 4 GB of internal storage (1.7 GB user accessible), and 2000 mAh battery. Detailed specs are given at the end of this article:

Taking a cue from the top-end Samsung GALAXY S4, LAVA has introduced a few gesture controls. You can click photos, change tracks, and browse pictures gallery with a swipe of your hand. These are not very useful, but fun additions nonetheless. LAVA has priced the Iris 504Q at Rs 13,500; pitting it directly against the popular Micromax Canvas HD.

Specifications:

  • 5” IPS screen with 720x1280 pixels, OGS (One Glass Solution) display tech.
  • Meditek MT6589 chipset clocked at 1.2 GHz CPU, PowerVR SGX 544MP GPU.
  • 1 GB of RAM.
  • 4 GB internal storage (1.7 GB user accessible), MicroSD card slot.
  • 8 megapixel camera (BSI sensor), 2 mp front-facing camera.
  • Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth, A-GPS.
  • Dual-SIM functionality.
  • Android 4.2.1 (Jelly Bean).
  • 2000 mAh battery.


TAGS: Mobile Phones, Multi-SIM, Android, Lava

Micromax Canvas 4 Will Be Available For Pre-order From 28th June

Shows off glimpses of its new flagship smartphone in two teaser videos.

 

Micromax is poised to bring out yet another smartphone in its Canvas series known as the Canvas 4. The Indian mobile manufacturer has uploaded two teaser videos on its official YouTube account, showing off fleeting glimpses of the upcoming smartphone that could be its new flagship handset. Titled "CAN life be endless?", these video clips show the phone, possibly a rendered version, spinning around in darkly lit environment. From the video, it is clear that the device has a 13 mp rear camera with LED flash, a stylus tucked in the top right corner of the phone, a somewhat convex back with a glistening brushed finish, and a metallic rim. Additionally, it doesn't take an Einstein to know that it is an Android device.

Specifications, and pricing details are not yet out, but it is known that the handset will be available for pre-booking from 28th June. Our guess is that the handset will be priced just under Rs 20,000. The Canvas 4 will probably compete against flagship handsets from Xolo as well as mid-range Samsung models, even though it will vie to compete against the Korean manufacturer's flagship device (the SGS4) by sporting a similar styling. Micromax has been fairly successful in the mobile phone business and is currently at the top of the list among Indian companies. However, the company still faces daunting issues with handset quality and customer support that has been at the receiving end of angry customers who have had bad experiences. You can take a look at the two videos and tell us if you spot anything more:

 


TAGS: Mobile Phones, Android, Micromax

5 Great Gift Ideas For Father's Day

Great Gift Ideas for your Father from a Geeky Child.

 
5 Great Gift Ideas For Father's Day

With Father's Day just around the corner, what is it that you'd gift your beloved father? Well, the best response would be to spend “quality time” with him — watch a cricket match, take him out to lunch/dinner, or just have a chat with him. But since we aren't that thoughtful, here are some 'not-so-less thoughtful' gadget gifts for your dad (and to show your support for the economy).



Image source - http://greatleadersserve.org/big-idea-great-leaders-serve/ Did You Know?
Father's Day came about to complement Mother's day, which was spearheaded by American women in the early 1900's. The Americans resisted the holiday for many decades, perceiving it as an attempt by merchants to merely replicate the commercial success of Mother's Day. It was officially a part of the national holiday, when President Richard Nixon signed it into law in 1972. (Source Wikipedia)

 

Phoney Love

As much as we love avoiding talking to our parents, ironically it makes one of the best presents for your dad. Why? He's obviously older, using an even older phone for as long as you can remember, and don't pretend he's not noticed your fancy new smartphone.

HTC One
Price – Rs 41,500
Arguably the best smartphone available today, it has 4.7" 1080p screen, 2 GB RAM, 4 Ultra-pixel camera, and a sleek Aluminium body. It's downside - the price. It costs as much as a full-fledged tablet.


Nokia PureView 808
Price – Rs 16,500 (approx)
If you just don't care about the so-called latest and greatest, perhaps Nokia's PureView 808 with a 41 MP snapper will mightily impress him, with its DLSR-like quality. Plus its got 4" screen, can shoot video in 1080p, and is easily expandable 32 GB. The only downside — availability.
 

Not that Kind of Tablet

The only tablet that my Dad has ever cared about, is the one that comes out of our medicine cabinet. Yet he is quite Net savvy (at least where he wants to be) and loves checking out YouTube videos of long one gone Indian Classical Singers. If your dad isn't too far away from mine in his idiosyncrasies, a Tablet would be ideal for him. He'll have his own personal entertainment device which is light and convenient to use. Now to only teach him to use a touchscreen.

Apple iPad 4 16GB (Wi-Fi+3G)
Price – Rs 40,000
The best that Apple has to offer in their new "Retina Display" line-up. It's got a stunningly-sharp display, FaceTime HD camera, and the latest iOS. Downside — Not as data sharing friendly as other devices on the planet.



Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 P3110 (Wi-Fi, 16 GB)
Price – Rs 10,000
If you really don't fancy Apple, Android tablets should fit the bill quite well. It doesn't have call facility but comes with very capable specifications, a good 7" screen to boot, and has all the Android goodness built right into it.
 

Kindley Read

Do you have stacks of books flooding your house everywhere, which your Dad is unwilling to let go of? If your father is a sentimental bookworm, who loves hanging on to his books from the 15th century, then Amazon Kindle in India is what you need. True prying his hands off the books with a gollum like grip is going to be difficult, but it sure will save you a lot of space and clutter... or there's always the mala (loft).

Amazon Kindle
Price – Rs 6000
The fantastic e-book reader is like no other tablet-styled device, it has a screen that reads just like paper with no glare, even in bright sunlight, can hold thousands of books, and is lighter than a paperback book at 170 gms.
 

Watch This!

If your dad is the type who thinks a watch tan is a mark of manliness, it is time upgrade his hand tanner to something with a little more oomph! Enter the world of Smartwatches, they can not only show time, but also control your smartphone including showing social media updates. Unintentional side effect — Your father's going to end up looking perpetually bored and uninterested in the happenings around him, can't be too good for his sex life.

Casio G-Shock Bluetooth
Price - Rs 10,000 (approx)
After years in incubation, Casio finally releases a G-Shock, which can tune in with your Smartphone. It alerts you when a call is coming, mails, calendar notifications, and of course Social Media networking too. It is even geriatric friendly, if your father's perpetually forgetting his phone, it will instantly alert you that you've wandered off too far. Only drawback — it's only for iPhone and is not readily available yet.


Sony SmartWatch
Price - Rs 6200
For those looking for a more accessible alternative, Sony may just fit the bill. It's a full-fledged touchscreen watch made to do pretty much what an Android smartphone can do, while acting as a phone remote. It's only drawback — its battery life sucks as much as that of an Android phone.

 

Not so Healthy

With old age comes old age groans, and your Dad isn't an exception with rising BP (because of your harkate [behaviour]) and erratic Blood-Glucose levels. Redeem yourself by gifting your ailing father a health checker that ends up saving money, time, and the last strand of hair on your father's balding head.

Accu-Chek Combo Insulin Delivery System
Price - NA
The double-benefit system is the most advanced medical system you can have, it has a complete Diabetes Management tool and a state-of-the-art system blood glucose meter with an insulin pump. It uses bluetooth to talk to each of its removal devices, fully customisable bolus calculator, and a helpful reminder/warning system. Of course, no use gifting your father all this technology if all he has is a singular problem (other than you driving him the wall), check out other health devices available at Accu-Check.

 

Bonus Gift

I Have Needs
While your father may be a father to you, he is also a man and...err...a lover. While we don't want to paint any grotesque images in your mind (opps, too late now!), it is something you might want to present him. A gift card from a kinky clothing shop, in a weird sort of way.

Kaamastra
This is a first-of-its-kind naughty clothing site to tickle one's senses and much more. This e-commerce site has it all, sexy lingerie, roll play costumes, body jewellery (that barely cover the essentials), massage and bath items, and lubricants. While we cannot personally recommend anything from here (for obvious reasons of preference) and the fact that my editor is mostly likely to chop this section out. We just hope at the end of all this, you don't come home to a man dressed in kinky clothing in the living room!


Main Story Image Thumbnail Courtsey - Chimpwear


Tags : Mobile Phones, Tablets, E-Commerce, HTC, Amazon, Samsung, Sony, Nokia, Apple, Kindle, One, GALAXY, iPad

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