Samsung launches Galaxy S4 @ Rs 41,500

NEW DELHI: Samsung has launched the Galaxy S4 in India. The flagship smartphone from the Korean company runs on the Android operating software. It will be available online as well as in retail stores at a price of Rs 41,500 from tomorrow noon.

The launch of the Galaxy S4 in India is part of the device's global launch. It will go on sale in over 50 countries by the end of this month.

In India, Samsung is launching the Exynos version of the Galaxy S4. This means the device is powered by an 8-core processor. It has 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage with provision to extend it through a micro SD card of up to 64GB and a 5-inch super AMOLED screen with FullHD resolution. The rear camera can take images in 13 mega pixels while the front camera can shoot 2MP images.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy S4 in India: 10 things to know

Other than the top of the line hardware, Samsung claims the device has some unique software features like smart stay, multi-window view and air gestures. It is powered by Android 4.2.2 and is customized with Touchwiz user interface.

"At Samsung, we are committed to innovation and to our consumers... we innovate to give the products that meet their needs," said JK Shin, CEO of IT and mobile division at Samsung.

Samsung, which has over 40% share in the smartphone market in India, is hoping that the Galaxy S4 will help it widen the lead over competitors, especially Apple.

The two companies are currently in the middle of a price war. Apple has not only cut the prices on the older models of iPhones but is also offering to pay a minimum of Rs 7,000 for the consumer's old smartphone if he buys iPhone 4.

Samsung has responded by offering consumers 15% cash back on select models of Galaxy smartphones if they buy the devices using a credit card. However, Galaxy S4 is not covered under the cash back scheme.

Other than compete with iPhone 5, which costs Rs 45,500, Galaxy S4 will also take on HTC One, the flagship smartphone from HTC priced at Rs 42,990.

Samsung announces Galaxy Note 8.0 in India, pricing and availability unknown

Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 preview

Many were sceptical about the Samsung Galaxy Note series when it first arrived in 2011, but all of its devices to date have been successes. The Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 sits in the middle ground between the 5.5-inch Galaxy Note 2 and the 10.1-inch Galaxy Note 10.1. We got some hands-on time with the 8-inch newcomer to see if it deserved to sit among its brothers.

Competing with Apple's iPad mini, the Samsung Galaxy Note 510 comes with an 8-inch WXGA (1280×800 pixels) TFT display with a 189ppi pixel density. Running on Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, the tablet has a 5-megapixel rear and a 1.3-megapixel front camera.

Measuring 210.8 x 135.9 x 8 mm and weighing 338 grams, the Galaxy Note 510 is powered by a 1.6 GHz A9 quad-core processor coupled with 2GB RAM. It will feature 16/32GB internal storage options with additional expansion support up to 32GB via microSD.

Connectivity wise, the tablet boasts Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi direct, AllShareCast, Bluetooth 4.0, USB 2.0, A-GPS and GLONASS (3G version only).

The tablet comes with a host of pre-installed applications such as the proprietary and now upgraded Chat-On 2.0 messenger, Awesome Note and Flipboard amongst many others. It has S Pen support with Air View, S Note, S Planner, Email with hand-writing integration and more.

Samsung has not revealed the price or when the Galaxy Note 510 would go on sale in India. We'll update our readers with the details as soon as we have them.

As far as the international announcement is concerned, Samsung will start selling the new tablet in the April to June period, at an as yet undetermined price.

Samsung Galaxy Note 510 key specifications

8-inch WXGA (1280x800) display, 189 ppi
1.6GHz A9 quad-core processor
2GB RAM
16/32GB internal storage, expandable up to 64GB (microSD card)
5-megapixel rear camera, 1.3-megapixel front camera
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi direct, AllShareCast, Bluetooth 4.0, USB 2.0
A-GPS + GLONASS (3G version only)
Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean)
Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Proximity
4,600mAh battery

iPhone 5S, cheaper iPhone launch in June or July: Report

Apple is all set to launch the iPhone 5S and the much-rumoured cheaper iPhone in June or July, analyst Amit Daryanani of RBC Capital Markets has claimed.

Daryanani further goes on to state that the cheaper iPhone will lack Apple's trademark 'Retina' display, in a bid to keep the costs down, Mac Rumours reports.

Our supply-chain checks indicate that AAPL is working to launch multiple new phones in the June/July time-frame this year. Specifically, AAPL will launch the iPhone5s and a more affordable but lower-end iPhone at the same time, in either late CYQ2 or early Q3. The low-end iPhone will have the same 4" form factor as the iPhone5 but will have plastic casing and no retina display. With a lower price-point, AAPL will be able to target a growing and important part of the Smartphone market (sub-$400 price-band).

Earlier reports had indicated that the cheaper iPhone will have a polycarbonate body and carry a price tag of $330 (unsubsidised), which is nearly half the price that an unsubsidised iPhone 5 carries, so this report is in line with that. Another report had said that Apple may use Qualcomm's Snapdragon SoC for low-cost iPhone, instead of its own processors, due to price and supply constraints.
As for the successor to iPhone 5, some rumours had indicated that the iPhone 5S will come with NFC and fingerprint scanner. However, Apple Insider has dug out some purported pics of iPhone 5S parts, including the home button, which do not bear any clear indication of a fingerprint scanner.

BlackBerry Z10 official: 4.2-inch 1,280 x 768 display, 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 Plus, LTE, BB 10 for $200

After months of rumors, speculation and official teases, RIM's BlackBerry's first full-touch BlackBerry 10 device -- the Z10 -- is finally official. Look familiar? It should. Thanks to an incessant stream of leaks, the handset you see in black and white above had become something of an open secret. But now we can confirm that candybar slab does indeed pack specs quite similar to that of the Dev Alpha unit that preceded it.

Bucking the bigger is better trend we've seen in the mobile industry as of late, the Z10 comes outfitted with a palm-friendly 4.2-inch 1,280 x 768 display -- amounting to a pixel density of 356 dpi -- and measures in at 5.13 (130mm) x 2.6 (66mm) x 0.37 (9.3mm) inches, making it significantly bulkier than, say, the iPhone 5 and Galaxy S III. So, it's not the thinnest device we've seen as of late, but at 138 grams, the Z10 certainly won't be weighing down your hand. Beneath its mixture of aluminum and hard, textured plastic lies a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 Plus buffered by 2GB RAM, a removable 1,800mAh battery, slots for microSD (up to 32GB supported) and micro SIM, as well as radios for Bluetooth 4.0, NFC (integrated into the backplate) and WiFi a/b/g/n.

Because no 2013-era smartphone launch could go without it, the Z10 will ship LTE-ready for AT&T, Verizon and Sprint, with carrier-branded models across the top four US operators. Long time BlackBerry fans will be glad to note that the Z10 does, indeed, sport that familiar red notification LED, in addition to ports for micro-USB, micro-HDMI and a 3.5mm headphone jack. On the imaging front, the handset packs a 2-megapixel front facer (720p video) and 8-megapixel rear shooter capable of 1080p recording -- both perfect for using Sclalado's TimeShift camera software. Of course, it nearly goes without saying that the Z10 is RIM's showcase entry point for its BB 10 OS. Verizon is the first to confirm that it'll charge $199.99 for the handset on a two-year deal when the hardware arrives in March, and has also called shotgun on the white version as exclusive to Big Red.

 

                           

Sony Xperia Z Water Friendly Phone

           Sony has announced a new smartphone that can be used in the shower or bath without the risk of damage.The Xperia Z can also record HDR (high dynamic range) video, a facility borrowed from its camera division.The Android-powered device was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.YouTube: Sony Xperia Z Water Friendly Phone

Samsung GALAXY GRAND Officially Announced --

Samsung GALAXY Grand launched officially today which is available in both single and dual SIM versions, with Dual version to be released in upcoming months.

Its comes with a 5-inch display (WVGA 480X800 pixels), running on 1.2GHZ dual core processor, having 8 MP rear Camera, 2MP front Camera, 1GB og Main memory(RAM), 8 GB internal Storage with a memory card slot ang Bluetooth 4.0 .

It is similar to Samsung’s S 2 but having a bigger screen and less storage.

And not forgetting to mention that it runs on latest Andriod 4.1 Jelly bean with a multi window feature too..

It is expected to be on sale in INDIA in the I st quater of 2013.