OnePlus One launched in India

OnePlus, the China-headquartered startup behind the One smartphone has finally launched the much-talked about phone in India at Rs 21,999. Months after announcing its entry in the region, the company has informed that the OnePlus One will be exclusively available for purchase on Amazon starting December 2, 2014. The company has also started selling accessories for the phone.

In line with its global invite system, users in India will receive India-specific invites through OnePlus and Amazon.in.

OnePlus One sports top-of-the-line hardware specifications, including a 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, 3GB RAM, a 5.5-inch 1080P display, 13MP camera with F2.0 aperture and Sony image sensor, 5MP front camera, 3100mAh battery, 4G-support and and NFC. It runs CyanogenMod 11S, a custom version of Android developed by Cyanogen.

The company earlier announced that it has been developing its own version of Android and a build of the OS based on the latest version of Android, Lollipop, will be released for Indian users, next month. A final build of the OS will be released in February 2015.

The company has tied-up with HCL Care to offer after-sales service in 20 cities across India through 26 service centres.

The launch marks OnePlus' first-ever entry into a new market with local presence and collaboration with a local partner. It will also be the first time that OnePlus will have a physical presence outside of their headquarters. India will also be the first region in which OnePlus is setting up a localized service infrastructure, offering phone and walk-in support to users.

ZTE launches Grand S II in India

Chinese mobile handset makers, ZTE has launched its smartphone Grand S II in India.

The phone, priced at Rs. 13,999, is available from Monday, exclusively on e-commerce portal Amazon. 

The smartphone with 5.5 inch multi-touch full high-definition (HD) screen display has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad core processor and 2 GB RAM with an inbuilt storage capacity of 16 GB, which can be further extended to 32 GB.

The phone also has a 13 mega pixel rear camera and 5 mega pixel front camera. It runs on Android OS and is equipped with a 2500 mAh battery.

"Our growing customer base is the testimony of Indian consumers increasing trust in ZTE products," said Yuan Kang, chief executive officer, Mobile Business, ZTE India. 

"We are witnessing a significant demand of smartphones on Amazon.in and we see this as a great opportunity to offer customers across India the ease, convenience and joy of shopping for a great product," says Samir Kumar, director, category management, Amazon India.

Google Glass to be powered by Intel

Google has partnered with chip maker Intel for its next Google Glass. According to a report by WSJ, the next Google Glass will be powered by Intel and will arrive in 2015.

Wall Street Journal reports that Intel chip will replace the Texas Instruments processor which currently powers Glass. The next Google Glass is expected to have a better battery life. This a deal between Google and Intel is said to be part of a wider push into wearable's by the chip maker. According to reports, Intel also plans to promote Glass to generate new business, including pushing glass in work capacity to manufacturing businesses, hospitals and others.

Although Google has been promoting Glass for a while now, the wearable has yet to capture a market share. It has shown promise in medical and other businesses and such a professional adoption might be the right direction that Google needs to promote Glass. Google's Glass at Work initiative aims to push Google Glass usage in such industries. 

Intel has recently ventured into the wearable market with its first ever MICA bracelet for $495. The wearable is meant for fashion conscious women and comes with a stylish design. The bracelets body is laden with semi precious stones and pearls. It has a 1.6 inch OLED curved sapphire display and comes with an inbuilt SIM card, 3G and GPS connectivity. Apart from this Intel has also planned a smartwatch with Fossil and a smart bracelet in collaboration with Opening Ceremony.

Apple launches new iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3

Apple has finally launched the new iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 in India. Both the models are available online as well as across Apple authorised retail stores. 

The iPad Air 2, at 6.1 millimeters thin, adds many of the features previously available on iPhones. That includes the ability to take burst shots and slow-motion video and the inclusion of a fingerprint ID sensor for use instead of a passcode. It also has an anti-reflective coating, a first for a tablet, which makes it 56 per cent less reflective. 

You have the option to buy from six models of the iPad Air 2, priced in the range of Rs 35,900 to Rs 59,900. There are three models each under two categories - iPad with WiFi connectivity only and with both WiFi and cellular connectivity supported through a nano SIM. 

Based on their storage support, each model of iPad Air 2 has been priced differently. 

The iPad Air 2 16 GB WiFi-only model is priced at Rs 35,900, 64 GB at Rs 42,900 and 128 GB model at Rs 49,900, including value added tax. 

The three models of iPad Air 2 with both WiFi and cellular connectivity have been priced at Rs 45,900, Rs 52,900 and Rs 59,900, including VAT. 

Similarly, the iPad Mini 3 will also be available in two different categories - WiFi connectivity only and WiFi with cellular connectivity. Each of these categories has three models differentiated in terms of their storage support. 

The iPad Mini 3 models have been priced in the range of Rs 28,900 to Rs 52,900, including VAT. 

All the iPad Air 2 models have a 9.7-inch screen while the iPad Mini 3 comes with a 7.9 inch screen. 

iPad Air 2 has new Apple-designed A8X chip, which the company says, delivers 40 per cent improvement in computing performance and 2.5 times better graphics performance as compared to the previous version of iPad Air. 

Apple promises up to 10-hour of battery life in iPad Air 2 while surfing the Internet on wifi, watching video or listening to music. 

iPad Mini 3 has Apple's A7 chipset. Apple has added Touch ID feature in both iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 so that users can unlock their iPad with touch of a finger and enhance security in transactions done through these devices. 

In Air 2, Apple has upgraded main camera to 8 megapixel while camera in the iPad mini 3 remains the same at 5 megapixel. The front camera of all the iPad models is 1.2 megapixel.
The cellular version of iPad supports all kind of telecom connectivity across frequency bands available for public, including CDMA, 2G, 3G and 4G.

BSNL launches M-Secure to track lost Mobiles

State-run telecom operator BSNL has launched mobile security value added service that will allow its customers to track location of their lost mobile phones, remotely lock the device and erase data, among others.

BSNL is offering the solution, Msecure, in association with Beyond Evolution.

“Through Msecure solution user can remotely manage data contained in his or her lost mobile handset” says BSNL Director.

The application will also provide complete call log details of the lost mobile at pre-determined intervals to emergency number feeded in the mobile.

Through the application, user will be able to remotely lock device, erase data and track location of their lost device.

The application will send the location details through SMS to the emergency number. The application also allows a user to remotely raise an alarm on the lost or misplaced device.
“Security of mobile handsets has become a cause for concern owing to important data stored in it. Loss or theft may lead to unauthorized access and possible misuse of such data,” BSNL said.