Sony Xperia E3 Budget Smartphone With Android 4.4 KitKat Launched at IFA

Sony, at its pre-IFA 2014 event in Berlin, has finally introduced the successor of its Xperia E1, the Xperia E3, along with its dual-SIM variant, the Xperia E3 Dual. While the company has not provided pricing details, it says the smartphone will launch globally in Autumn 2014.

The Sony Xperia E3 and Xperia E3 Dual feature identical specifications, except that the latter sports dual-SIM card slots. The smartphone bears a 4.5-inch IPS display with a 480x854 pixel resolution. The Android 4.4 KitKat-based handset also houses a 5-megapixel rear camera along with a bunch of Sony's own photo and video editing apps, including features like HDR and Timeshift burst. It also has a front-facing VGA camera.

A quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor clocked at 1.2GHz powers the handset, coupled with 1GB of RAM and Adreno 305 GPU. It comes with 4GB of built-in storage, expandable via microSD card (up to 32GB). 

One of the new features introduced in the Xperia E3 is the 'shake to start' app that lets users customise shortcuts to access the preferred apps by holding the handset and flicking the wrist.

Connectivity options on the Xperia E3 include 4G LTE (in some markets), 3G, GPRS/ EDGE, Wi-Fi, A-GPS with Glonass, USB 2.0, FM radio with RDS, Bluetooth 4.0, and a 3.5mm jack. 

The smartphone weighs 143.8 grams, and measures 137.1x69.4x8.5mm. The Xperia E3's 2330mAh battery is rated to deliver up to 12 hours 20 minutes of talk time, and up to 706 hours of standby time.

Sony Xperia E3

• KEY SPECS
• 
  

Display

4.50-inch

Processor

1.2GHz

Front Camera

 0.3-megapixel

Resolution

 480x854 pixels

RAM

 1GB

OS

 Android 4.4

Storage

4GB

Rear Camera

5-megapixel

Battery capacity

2330mAh

Lenovo A536 With 5-Inch Display, Android 4.4 KitKat Launched at Rs. 8,999

Lenovo has launched the Android KitKat-based A536 budget smartphone in India, priced at Rs. 8,999.

The company has announced that the Lenovo A536 will be available starting Tuesday via the company's online Do Store and from physical retail stores.

The Lenovo A536 is a dual-SIM device and runs the recent Android 4.4 KitKat out-of-the-box. It features a 5-inch FWVGA (480x854 pixels) IPS display. The smartphone is powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek (MT6582) processor coupled with 1GB of RAM. It comes with 8GB inbuilt storage which is further expandable via microSD card (up to 32GB).

The smartphone features a 5-megapixel rear autofocus camera with LED flash, while it also houses a 2-megapixel front-facing camera. The rear camera on the Lenovo A536 includes features such as scene detection, tuning, high dynamic, HDR, face recognition, Panorama and geo tagging.

The A536 from Lenovo also includes a 2000mAh Li-ion battery that is rated to deliver up to 15 hours of usage time and up to 300 hours of standby time. The smartphone will be available Black and White colour variants only. It comes with dimensions 139.5x72x9.95mm and weighs 148 grams.

Lenovo has lately been pushing Android 4.4 KitKat update for several of its mid-range smartphones, specifically 5 of its S series smartphones - S930, S650, S820, S920, S660- and the P780. Chinese handset maker announced that Android 4.4. KitKat updates for the six mid-range smartphones would be made available in a phased manner ending with the roll-out of the S660's update in September.

Lenovo will be also launching a new smartphone at this year's IFA, called the Vibe X2. The smartphone is thought to run Android L, with the company sending lollipop-featuring invites for its September 4 pre-IFA 2014 event.

Earlier, Lenovo launched the S850 for the Indian market at Rs. 15,499.

Lenovo A536

• KEY SPECS
• NEWS

Display

5.00-inch

Processor

1.3GHz

Front Camera

 2-megapixel

Resolution

 480x854 pixels

RAM

 1GB

OS

 Android 4.4

Storage

8GB

Rear Camera

5-megapixel

Battery capacity

2000mAh

Xolo beaming Android 4.4 KitKat update to Q1200, Q900s, A500 Club, A600, A550 devices

Indian mobile manufacturer Xolo will be beaming the Android 4.4 KitKat update to a set of devices soon, and the company has already released a beta version of the software for the Q3000 phablet. Other products which are in lineup include the Q1200, the Q900s, the A500 Club, the A600 and the A550.



Indian companies not ignoring their affordable smartphones while preparing their update schedules, is quite a rare sight these days. This is why Xolo should be credited for showing commitment towards delivering new versions of Google’s OS to its devices.

In the past, the Q1010i, Q1010, Q700s and Q1000 Opus from Xolo were also been granted the Android 4.4 KitKat boost by the company, and it’s finally the turn of others from the league. While the Q1200, the Q900s, the A500 Club, the A600 and the A550 will be getting the upgrades in the months to come, the one for the Q3000 is live now in its beta form. It can be downloaded OTA or from the company’s website.

This smartphone which was released late last year originally ran the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS. It kicks in a 5.7-inch full HD display and is fueled by a quad core 1.5GHz processor. 2GB worth of RAM and 16GB of storage serve its memory needs, while there’s a 4000mAh battery onboard as well, that keeps it going in between charges.

If you are the owner of any one the Xolo phones that are to receive the Android 4.4 KitKat upgrade soon, do stay with us for updates on the same.

Moto X KitKat Update Android 4.4.4 OTA Rollout Begins in the UK

Now that Motorola have finished pushing out the Android 4.4.4 KitKat update to users in the United States, they are starting to focus on other parts of the world. Today, we’ve received word that users in the UK, with the Moto X, have started to update to Android 4.4.4 KitKat.



If you have a Motorola Moto X with the model number XT1052, then you should expect to see an Android 4.4.4 update notification very soon. This update should be like most, so you should expect to see the OTA update sent out in batches. You could wait for the automated OTA update notification or you can go into the Settings of your Moto X and manually check for yourself. We recommend checking once per day since updates are only sent out in daily batches. If you aren’t eligible for the update right now, you can try again tomorrow.

We can tell from the official changelog that this update is the standard update that’s been going around. You can expect to see the latest patches from the Android 4.4.4 KitKat update along with some various changes. Motorola has improved the image quality for your camera. This includes better consistency of exposure, more realistic flash coloring, and better looking photos in low light conditions (for the front-facing camera). You also have the ability to pause and resume video recordings, and there’s even an updated phone dialer app with a new design. The last thing in the changelog talks about the ability to download the Motorola Alert application from the Google Play Store.

If you have received this update on your XT1052 Moto X, then please tell us in the comment section below. We would love to hear what country you’re in and what carrier you use so we can keep track of who has the update right now.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo getting Android 4.4 update in India

Months after rolling out the KitKat update for the Korean version of Galaxy Note 3 Neo smartphone, Samsung has released the update for Indian consumers. The update is now available over-the-air as well as via Kies application.

495 MB in size, the update includes the usual KitKat goodies like performance enhancements, cloud-print support, UI improvements, updated Hangouts app, improved downloads app and more. The update will also come with Samsung-specific customisations like lock-screen improvements, new launcher settings, improved stability and more.

Among other details, the update carries build number KOT49H.N750XXUCNG6 and the exact Android version number is Android 4.4.2.

To manually check for the update, go to Settings > About Phone > Software update on your Galaxy Note 3 Neo. If you have already updated your smartphone, do let us know about the experience in comments.

Celkon Millennium Dazzle Q44 KitKat smartphone launched at Rs 6499

Celkon has announced the Millennium Dazzle Q44 smartphone in India for Rs. 6,499. The smartphone is listed on the company's official website and will soon be available across retail and e-commerce stores in India.



The Celkon Millennium Dazzle Q44 is a dual-SIM (GSM+GSM) smartphone. It has a 4-inch IPS OGS display with 480 x 800 pixels resolution. The smartphone has a 1.3 GHz quad-core processor with 1GB of RAM and runs Android 4.4.2 KitKat out-of-the-box.

The smartphone has a 5 MP rear camera with LED flash and 2 MP front camera for video calling. The Millennium Dazzle Q44 has 8 GB of inbuilt storage expandable up to 64 GB via microSD card slot. Apart from Dual SIM support, connectivity options included are Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, GPRS/ EDGE, and 3G. Celkon has partnered with Airtel to offer 500MB of free data on 3G for the first two months. It is backed by a 1500mAh Li-ion battery and is available in Gold, Silver and Grey colors.

Speaking at the launch, Murali Retineni, Executive Director Celkon Mobiles, said, "We are happy to bring out yet another exciting offer for our customers. We thank Airtel for associating with us and providing free data plan for all our Millennium Dazzle customers. At Celkon we believe in innovation and our latest offering Millennium Dazzle Q44 is the most innovative, stylish, elegant, and as aptly named, has outstanding features. Millennium Dazzle Q44 is affordably priced at just Rs 6499."

Celkon launched the budget Power Millennium Q3000 and Elite Q470 smartphones last month. Both the devices features quad-core processor and run on Android 4.4 KitKat OS out-of-the-box. The Power Millennium Q3000 and Elite Q470 are priced at Rs 8,999 and Rs. 11,999 respectively.

Intex outs Aqua Style smartphone with Android 4.4 KitKat at Rs 5990

The Intex Aqua Style has just been showcased by its maker in India, and this Android 4.4 KitKat-based smartphone is all set to be made available by it at Rs 5990. The device runs on a quad core CPU and grabs an array of specs that place it the in the same segment as the Moto E, the Unite 2, the ZenFone 4 and more.



The Aqua Style has been blessed with a 4-inch display which offers its visuals in a 800 x 480 pixel resolution. The quad core processor that toils inside it has been clocked by Intex at 1.3GHz. 1GB worth of RAM is there to assist this CPU in its operations, whereas the device grabs flash storage worth 4GB.

There is of course a microSD card slot present on the Aqua Style, which lets you expand its storage further up to 32GB. This phone kicks in a 5MP rear camera, whereas its front is adorned by a 2MP snapper. A 1400mAh battery powers it from within, keeping it going between charges. Along with details about the handset, Intex has also announced the signing of Tollywood actor Sudeep as its brand ambassador for Karnataka.

A quick look at the specs of the Intex Aqua Style:

- Display: 4-inch, 800 x 480 pixels
- Processor: 1.3GHz quad core
- OS: Android 4.4 KitKat
- Memory: 1GB RAM, 4GB storage (32GB expandability)
- Camera: 5MP rear, 2MP front
- Battery: 1400mAh

Like we said, the Intex Aqua Style has been priced at Rs 5990. A free flip cover will also be offered alongside it, said the company.

Sunstrike Rage Swift Android KitKat pegged real cheap at Rs 2999 in India

The Sunstrike Rage Swift is one of the cheapest Android KitKat phones to enter India of late and it’s priced at Rs 2999, the same headline-grabbing cost at which the Campus A35K from Celkon hit Snapdeal. The Swift would have been one of the plainest-looking handsets to date if it wasn’t for the differently designed capacitive buttons placed just below the screen.




The Back and Recent Apps keys on either side of the Home button, are depicted by dotted patterns. The Sunstrike Rage Swift would have displayed a very nondescript appearance otherwise. Painted in the color black, the device sports a bar form factor with soft curves for edges.

This Sunstrike phone can work on 3G or 2G bands, and it even allows you to connect to Wi-Fi hotspots. If you currently visit the Rage Mobiles website and click on the link that’s supposed to take you to the Swift page, you’ll be shown a Magic Swift phone with product images of an Optima Smart handset.

It looks like the company doesn’t care very much about creating first impressions. We dread to investigate its customer care policy by actually buying one of its offerings. So if you’ve had any run-ins with the brand, feel free to enlighten us by dropping your views into the comments section below.

Sunstrike Rage Swift specifications at a glance:

- Android v4.4.2 KitKat OS
- 3.5-inch qHD touchscreen
- 3G, 2G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, FM radio
- 1.3MP and 0.3MP cameras
- 1600mAh battery, up to 6 hours talk time

Lenovo Announces Android 4.4 KitKat Updates for 6 Mid-Range Smartphones

Lenovo has announced that it will soon be releasing the Android 4.4 KitKat update for several of its recently launched mid-range smartphones, specifically 5 of its S series smartphones - S930, S650, S820, S920, S660 - and the P780.

The Chinese electronics giant announced that Android 4.4. KitKat updates for the six recently announced mid-range smartphones will be made available in a phased manner starting from this week ending with the roll-out of the S660's update in September. Notably, Lenovo recommends users back up their data before updating their phones from Android 4.4 KitKat.

Lenovo further said that the update for the six smartphones will bring the UI available in its Vibe series of smartphones, along with the Lenovo 'Premium DOit' apps. The UI will according to the company get a 'simple clutter-free look' and a 'user-friendly incoming call interface'. Also new, is enhanced notification access, an updated theme centre, an automatic profile changer, expanded accessibility APIs, the face orientation rotation feature, the smart call feature, the smart swipe feature, the new pocket and parental mode, as well as the smart dialler.

Describing three of the most popular the Premium DOit apps, Lenovo says SECUREit will help users track, analyse and optimise their data usage; the SHAREit app provides the fast phone-to-phone data transfer capability without the need for Wi-Fi or mobile network; and SYNCit will let users to have a permanent backup of all their data and whilst making it accessible on any device.

Elaborating on the changes the Android 4.4 KitKat update will bring, Lenovo added improved application compatibility, security enhancements, as well as bug fixes. Also new is an update to the Lenovo power manager, delivering improved battery utilisation. The camera apps have also been improved, for more efficient autofocus and white balance capabilities.

Commenting on the announcement, Sudhin Mathur, Director- Smartphone, Lenovo India, said, "After rolling out updates for Vibe Z, Vibe X and S860 last month, we are now bringing Android 4.4 to six of our mid-range smartphones at various price points. These updates are poised to take the user experience of these phone to a different level. In the last two years in India, we have grown leaps and bounds launching over 18 smartphones, each addressing specific user requirement, and we aim to continue this growth trajectory with newer models and iterations."