Blackberry Q5 mobile review

 

Blackberry has launched its most important smartphone for the year-Blackberry Q5.  The company has specifically maintained its much appreciated QWERTY keyboard intact in this new model. For Blackberry, this keypad is the only one thing that its rivals don’t possess.  Q5 has a portrait QWERTY handset with a 3.1 inch colorful display, available in a variety of color options.

Build:

Q5 bears little resemblance to its predecessor Q10. If one looks at the layout and button placement in this new handset, it doesn’t look primarily like a Blackberry at all.  This upgraded mid-range Curve model feels hefty compared to other Curve models. The company has done away with the removable battery and glass-weave backing. It has been made with a matte plastic chassis.     On the left side, one can access micro-SIM and microSD flap along with a microUSB port. A 3.5mm headphone jack lies next to the display/power button on the top.  A volume rocker, which works as a voice control and camera shutter switch, is placed on the right side. The phone has 120 X 66 X 10.8 mm dimensions and weighs around 120 grams.

Keyboard:   

The single most attractive feature of this phone is its keyboard. The company has differentiated the design of this keyboard from all its other higher-priced models.  However, the membrane beneath the unit is weak. It is certainly an enhanced version of 9320 keyboard but it fails to captivate the user beyond a certain limit.

Display:

Q5 has a 3.1 inch IPS LCD screen with a resolution of 720 X 720 and pixel density of 329 ppi. Thanks to the pixel density, the quality of the screen is superior.  It also has a strong back lighting which makes text and image clearly legible even in broad day sunlight.  There are strong viewing angles and a better color temperature in the phone. Watching movies will be an enjoyable experience on Q5. 

Camera:

Q5 has a 5 megapixel primary camera equipped with features like f/2.4 lens, 1080p video recording and time shift. With Time Shift feature, there is an ease in correcting the errors in any kind of group photography.  The camera app is potent enough when compared to Windows Phone and iOS 6.  Hordes of creative photo filters, styles to add creativity in the images and a decent set of editing tools are also available in Q5. Users will have to be careful while taking HDR images with this camera as slightest of movement while capturing, would result in ghost images. 

Software and Performance:

The handset runs on BB 10.1 version which was used in its predecessor Q10 too. Q5 runs on a dual-core 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 supported by 2GB of RAM. 

Conclusion:

Blackberry Q5 is not a bad handset but doesn’t come with impressive hardware. The phone doesn’t offer any other attractive feature than the keyboard.

This review is written by experts at Reliance Digital.

Lenovo S890 Review

The medium-end, high-end smartphone market is ever-expanding. The market players come up with latest set of hardware specifications and bulkier screen sizes. However, the most popular segment for smartphone buyers is that of 5 inch device category.  The users get more advantage with a bigger display and also offers high portability quotient.
 
Lenovo recently introduced S890 with 5 inch screen, Android Jelly Bean software and latest hardware specifications. Look-wise, Lenovo has designed a commendable product. The device has a glossy white finish and metallic trimmings on the side which gives it a classy and great feel. The makers have introduced a magic flip cover for the phone. Magic flip cover enables the auto display on and off feature for S890.  The advantage of this flip cover is that the user doesn’t need to manually lock the screen by pushing the hardware button, but can simply change the device mode to standby by closing the flip cover.

Lenovo S890 is not equipped with any hardware buttons on the front side. Absence of buttons gives it a cool look.  The phone weighs more than 170 grams; major contribution is made by the bigger 2250 mAh battery.  There is an indicator LED in the earpiece of Lenovo S890. The display of the device is based on IPS technology which gives better contrast and brightness levels.   It also has good color vibrancy.  The device works perfectly when used in bright light conditions.  The color reproduction of the device is excellent. It offers a resolution of 540 X 960 pixels. The phone looks slimmer and smaller than its rivals because of a slim side bezel design on all its four sides.

S890 uses a MediaTek 6577T chipset that includes a 1.2GHz dual core processor along with a PowerVR SGX 544 GPU. This combination renders fluid touch operations and faster execution of commands and application requests. All the games, including HD, run smoothly on the Lenovo S890. The user experience is further enhanced by 1GB RAM and 4GB of internal storage memory.  The Android Jelly bean brings most features and applications to this smartphone.  The camera of the phone is 8 megapixels and is accompanied by a LED Flash. Auto focus feature works nicely and results in best possible sharpness.

Most heavy smartphone users will be happy with the long battery life of this device. With normal gaming, audio-video use and web-browsing, the battery usually lasts for two days between full recharges.
   
Overall, the device impresses on some fronts, but lacks miserably on others. Lenovo S890 looks stylish, has a good build quality, speedy operation and best battery backup seen in recent times. Downer points are that it doesn’t offer any kind of HD recording and is slightly heavy.

Celluon Magic Cube - Evolution for Keyboards

Celluon Magic Cube–Tap on Table and Get a Keyboard

                       
Celluon Magic Cube is a laser projection keyboard device. It also works as a virtual multi-touch mouse. It is one of the most revolutionary products packed in a small device. The device projects a full-size keyboard on any flat or opaque surface. The magic cube requires very less space to operate. The device can be used for tablets, smartphones, laptops and desktops. It is compatible with the latest mobile devices like iPad, iPhone and many other products that support Bluetooth. 

It is small and ultra-portable. Equipped with a long-lasting lithium battery, the magic cube can run for hours without any hindrance. The device also has a standby, power on and off mode. It is easy to turn the device on or off by just tapping on the projected surface.

A user needs some initial practice to type on this keyboard as it works on infra-red projection and not with physical keys. Initially, one can learn by using only one or two fingers and then move on to the next step of using both the hands on the keyboard surface to type. The typing is accompanied by a keystroke sound. It also works as a virtual mouse which can be operated by the tip of the finger. It is compatible with Apple iOS 4 or greater, Apple Mac OS X or above, Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, 7, Microsoft Windows Phone 7 and Google Android.
 

The magic cube is an accurate, full-size laser projection keyboard and it is light in weight and portable. This device will be available at Reliance Digital stores.

Article penned by experts at Reliance Digital

Memories that create stories

We all love to relive and cherish favorite moments from the past, memories also have emotions attached to it which go on to create some unforgettable stories to share for the rest of our lives, I stumbled upon an interesting website last weekend which aims to become a platform for sharing such memories and that too of our Indian subcontinent.

I find this as a really interesting initiative which helps in sharing some less known facts of our own past probably lying unnoticed in some dusty photo album, memoirs of our parents, grandparents etc. In this age of digital overdose finding handwritten letters feels so great, we have grown up reading biopics and references to famous leaders and personalities in our history however individual stories and experiences across culture, religion, caste creed etc. have the power to transport us back in time.

Check this website Indian Memory Project and also a video presentation from their YouTube channel which would surely strike an emotional chord, just in case you have some interesting stuff to share from your Family Archive, photos, letters (Pre 1991 period) you can share your submission on this site to be reviewed and published.

Apple MacBook Air review

When Apple comes out with a new product, customers worldwide expect any one of these three qualities: cutting-edge industrial design, new technology or new standard.  In current times when the world is hogging to “cloud-centric” technology, MacBook Air is a combination of all these three perks.  It is a revised version of the pioneer MacBook Air notebook- the world’s thinnest laptop.  

Designed with famous uni-body engineering technique, this 11.6 inch MacBook Air is the smallest laptop made by Apple.  There are two versions available of this recently launched device, 11.6-inch and 13-inch. The specifications, design and dimension remain the same for both Airs.  The device is light in weight, sturdy and easily portable. The screen can be lifted easily with a finger. 

Fixed with black keys in an aluminum case, MacBook Air does not have a keyboard which is back-lit. As a cost-cutting measure, Apple would have not included back-lit keyboard in the device. A back-lit keyboard usually makes low-light computing easy. The track pad of the laptop works smoothly and inclusion of buttons on it is done in a smart way. The user should not worry about the similar looking Power button, because the device switches to sleep mode rather quickly. 

Many changes have been made in the past to increase the screen quality of Apple laptops, this display screen in MacBook Air is really good as it offers great horizontal viewing angles and average vertical angles.  

 

It has 1366 X 768 pixels of resolution in 11.6 inch screen and 1440 X 900 pixels in 13-inch model. The display of the colors on the screen is averagely glossy. One noticeable thing in this laptop is the absence of glass cover on the screen. Though it is meant to do away with extra weight, the edge-to-edge black bordered display is replaced with an aluminum strip. The sound from the speakers is clear, crisp and commendable while comparing it with the laptop size. It would produce enhanced results when combined with external speakers or a pair of headphones. 

Dealing with connectivity, the users will strongly feel the dearth of USB 3.0 and Ethernet ports. It is fully equipped with 802.11a /b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR. There is a SDSX card reader in the bigger version, but the smaller version doesn’t hold any card reader slot.  Much to the disappointment of its users, this current Air version uses Core 2Duo chip which runs at 1.4GHz.  

Overall,  MacBook Air is small, sleek , light and stylish.  This device has the best-in-class trackpad and a full-sized keyboard. However, absence of Ethernet, USB 3.0, card slot and no backlit keyboard are some points to be taken into consideration before making the purchase decision. 

The review is written by experts at Reliance Digital.

Apple’s iOS7 reveal – was it really “iConic”?

 

Apple revealed a refreshed version of iOS 7 at the WWDC 2013 event on 10th June, enough to get social media channels buzzing again with views and opinions. Catching up to Android and also drawing inspiration from other mobile OS'es is clearly evident from this reveal and the new skin looks dressed up more like a bubble gum color scheme, this is what you can come up with Jonathan Ive? Head to mycolorscreen and you would see how creative people can get on Android. Apple’s iOS eco system does not offer even a fraction of such flexibility to fiddle with.

 

(Know more about how you can customize your Android phone here)

 

Taking a jab at Android’s fragmentation is becoming outdated debate, Android is available across multiple vendors on different handset models which have variety in phone specifications that allow Android’s penetration at so many price points.

 

You cannot run Windows 7 or Windows 8 smoothly on a Celeron processor today, there are so many customers across globe who still want to stick to Windows XP even after MS decided to phase out all support for this OS, what matters is even with that outdated OS the power of computing reaches out to so many people and same goes for Android, Would Apple allow a company like Micromax to port iOS on its low cost tablet and share profit’s with them? Answer is a clear NO. It is beyond logic to expect Jelly Bean to run on all Android handsets or tablets.

 

Apple sells just one iPhone which is always priced as a luxury product when a new one comes out, they found strong consumer base in US and European market and have being more or less happy with that maintaining their walled garden of iOS all this while.

 

Only recently Apple has started marketing iPhone strongly in India in partnership with local vendors, launching EMI schemes that have worked for this Cupertino giant, when it comes to product innovation Apple has got some breathing space to take a lead on Android as Samsung has stuck to just one design and look across its entire recent Galaxy series launch recently and there was no new Nexus device announced at Google I/O 2103 event.

 

While iOS 7 reveal was in progress, one could make out that next iPhone could very well come close to a 5 inch screen size and get little wider as well, which would prove to be a positive move, rumors are also floating about Apple launching a low cost iPhone which is very unlikely.

 

Anyways check JB OS7 skin made by a user – Shmogt, he has come up with a set of files which allow you to make your Android phone resemble iOS 7 (requires additional app downloads from Google Play to enable the entire look and feel), I have used theme pack files made available by this user and managed to get the iOS7 look on my Galaxy S4 (video clip below)

 

On a lighter note, here's a meme on what could have happened after the iOS 7 reveal

Man of Steel Movie Review

I have continued my weekend movie marathon outing from March this year leading up to Man of Steel today, Bryan Singer's Superman Returns garnered mixed reviews post release, which prompted Warner Brother's studious to go in for a re-boot again.

I felt this attempt to revive Superman's story from it's origin by Zack Snyder does not do justice to Superman franchise overall, problem with re-boot stories is that as audience we expect something better from the previous versions; while one can have trouble accepting a director's vision for that centrifugal character in the movie.

Christopher Nolan's association with this movie as producer should have being reversed, Zack Snyder should have pumped in money limiting himself to making slick trailer which he is actually good at and Nolan should have being allowed to get behind camera. 

Henry Cavill is an apt choice to don Superman's cape and casting of other actors is all fine, however like Batman Begins took long enough to set the tone for Batman's character to emerge out of dark shadows, similarly Man of Steel's plot takes its own sweet time to bring our superhero out of his anonymous abyss and when the action begins it goes non-stop without taking a pause which took me back to Bryan Singer's version of Superman returns which had moments in storyline which were balanced to action extravaganza.

Man of Steel storyline moves little like "Lost" TV series narrative style where you get pulled back into past life of Clark Kent growing up battling his unique gift he feels it makes him a freak and the odd man out explaining why he choose to remain elusive from the world all this while, when he finally comes out as the Superman in front of humanity offering himself to save earth from General Zod, it is all fireworks from here.

Though all the mayhem and explosions, environmental damage caused by alien ships etc. look very realistic this CGI overload dilutes story further and you start getting a feeling of watching a Mortal Kombat fight waiting for KO moment to close in. During some sequences you feel Superman zooming to rescue like a dog intercepting a Frisbee throw grabbing it out of nowhere, awww so cute. Well it's not because he looked more like another DC Comics character Flash in these frames.

It is not a bad movie overall to watch it once;but it fails to spark the excitement Iron Man 3 left behind this summer and Zack Snyder should return to sepia tinted canvas of his action movies, like Sanjay Leela Bhansali keeps his world in movies painted all in blue.

My expectations washed away with Man of Steel as I came out of Inox which also partly spoiled this movie outing experience, last row seats are not comfortable and screen looked too small for this 3D movie, ambience around the screen was more distracting, if you are not a Superman fan avoid seeking some thrill tomorrow in case rains blew away today's champion trophy match excitement between India and Pakistan. Superman may have to take flight again some time in coming years as Man of Steel movie ended failing to prove it's mettle thankfully without a hint of sequel in pipeline.

Connect with Technology - XpressWay

Reliance Retail to Come Up with Digital Express Stores across Mumbai

Reliance Digital, the consumer durables arm of Reliance Retail has come up with customized solutions of technology. Reliance Retail has focused on concept stores to cater to the various needs of Indian consumers. Carrying forward this vision, Reliance Digital is launching customized stores under the brand Reliance Digital Express in Mumbai. These stores will be operational in Bhandup, Bandra and Prabhadevi areas from 18^th May 2013.Reliance Digital Express stores would offer consumers a different experience on latest technological devices used in everyday life. 

The idea behind Digital Express was to create awareness about the latest technological advancements taking place across the world today and bringing them together under one roof. At these stores,  you can get various home security systems, all kinds of information about how to use the latest electronic and wireless devices , viz. how to use video calling from your latest gadget, how to stream movies directly from the cloud or how to use high tech camera enabled intercoms. The well-trained team at Digital Express stores will help to solve any queries and also guide you through choosing the best-fit option available that suits your needs.

Reliance Digital Xpress outlets will have latest gadgets including smartphones, ultra books, HD speakers, music players, smart TVs and many more such gadgets which symbolize a better lifestyle. As a part of its launch program, there are many exciting offers on products where you can get discounts, freebies and gift vouchers on any of its stores for the first three days.  

The stores are designed considering the intrinsic requirements of gadget freaks. As for example, it lends a corner to experience each gadget individually in its own environment.  It will create a superior shopping experience for its customers. Branded as the world’s coolest technology store, these series of stores will open new arenas of using customized technology equipment’s. Reliance Digital Express is an addition in the kitty of Reliance Retail, the retail arm of Reliance Industries Limited. Reliance Retail is the largest retail chain in India and is set to expand even further in the upcoming years.  

Technology is getting exciting in recent times, evolving at a rapid pace which requires you to get comfortable with these changes to make your life less complicated, so hop on to the Reliance Digital Xpress and experience Technology much easier than before.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Bugs

Galaxy S4 has rushed through "shipped" figures reaching 6 million in 15 days, and early adopters have started reporting bugs like overheating cases, battery drain and most common one is the camera bug that freezes the phone and causing phone to reboot.

If you can manage to use Better Battery Stats app to understand what are the processes/wakelocks causing actual battery drain on your S4, it is a good app to use, else if you prefer simple data on battery draining apps try Wakelock Detector

Excessive over heating needs attention and fixed on time with replacement if required, do not play around till your phone gets damaged.

Coming down to Camera Bug, try this option on your S4 going into Settings - More - Developer Options (Enable this section clicking on it 7 times) - Scroll down to Apps section - Limit background processes - Select "at most 4 processes"

Screenshots below

This is a kind of temporary solution that worked for me worth trying until Samsung comes up with a proper fix in any next firmware update.

BTW, Google announced availability of Samsung Galaxy S4 with stock android going on sale in US in June'13, really doubtful if Samsung would allow Google to put this handset on sale in India else it would be a great alternative to get rid of Touchwiz bloatware which has eaten up a lot of internal storage memory.

 

***Jun'13 Update:JDQ39.I9500XXUBMEA Firmware***

 

After upgrading my S4 with the above mentioned Jelly Bean 4.2.2 Firmware version, my phone has crashed twice. Once when I switched it off on low battery and powered it again for charging it frooze on boot animation screen and I had to perform a hard reset, 2nd time it happened due to a flash light app that got stuck and after rebooting same issue.

 

One thing to note is that this firmware version does not increase the internal storage size from 8.83 GB to beyond 9 GB, it only updates internal available memory to 8.90 GB. Camera bug issue seems to be fixed now and OS seems more responsive and fluid.

 

I noticed good standby battery back up with regular use on my phone though after the firmware upgrade, screen below.