ZTE launches premium V5 Android KitKat smartphone, prices it at Rs 10,999

Chinese mobile manufacturer ZTE has launched its V5 smartphone at a price of Rs. 10,999 exclusively on Snapdeal. The V5 runs on Android 4.4 KiiKat operating system sugarcoated with the version 2.0 of its unique UI called Nubia. ZTE has tried to deliver a premium smartphone with focus on better camera at an affordable price.

The V5 comes with a 13 MP rear snapper along with a 5 MP front camera. The rear camera uses a Sony Exmor sensor and the front camera has a BSI sensor. Sporting a 5-inch HD display with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels, Dragontrail glass protection and One Glass Solution, the V5 houses a quad-core 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor with 1 GB of RAM.

ZTE is offering just 4 GB of internal memory out of which around 570 MB is available to users. Which is pretty low compared to what other smartphones are offering in this price range. The smartphone can support up to 32 GB of external memory and is powered by a 2400 mAh detachable battery.

Google Can Kill Samsung with Android KitKat and Android One: Here's How

Google's operating system, Android KitKat and the Android One Initiative, signify yet another bad news for Korean Electronics Giant, Samsung.  Emerging markets like India and the Philippines, which are both very populated countries, are switching from feature phones to smartphones. People find it exciting to get the upgrades at cheaper costs.



Although, Google's latest upgrade with its Android Kitkat 4.4 does not impress anybody with more innovative designs and state of the art feature changes, it is certainly able to reach its main goal of being available for all kinds of smartphones, be it high-end or low-end.  Google's intention is to make the operating system a little bit smaller so that it can be used on more devices.  This certainly narrows the wide gap between high spectrum and low spectrum phones.

Lower end devices typically use only 512mb of memory so that they can keep their device affordable according to the Economic Times.  But this makes the smartphones react slower than expected.  However, Google has made Kitkat a more practical operating system, which can run efficiently with just 340 mb of memory. This is an incremental improvement for users in terms of speed and efficiency. With the help of Kitkat, people can now purchase low-cost smartphones but get the high-end experience. Users in India, are particularly ecstatic about this development.

Moving forward, this poses a grave threat to Samsung.  Xiaomi, translated as "little rice" in English, has already penetrated and beaten them in China with $100 smartphone offerings according to TIME.  The danger becomes more imminent with the availability of Kitkat and Android One.  The Android One aims to provide design references to smartphone makers who will price their phones at $100.  Currently, brand names such as Karbonn, Spice and Micromax are hitting the stores and continuing to loom over the Korean titan, Samsung.

Samsung Galaxy Star 2 Plus and Galaxy Ace NXT to retail for Rs 7335 in India at launch

The Android KitKat smartphone market in India is about to be invaded by the Samsung Galaxy Star 2 Plus and Galaxy Ace NXT, both falling in the entry-level category. The new Samsung handsets are currently listed on the official eStore at Rs 7335 and while the share the same price tag, their specs vary.



The Samsung Galaxy Star 2 Plus is essentially an upgraded version of the original phone that went official at the start of this month. While it continues to offer Android 4.4 KitKat with a toned-down version of TouchWiz out of the box, the display size and resolution (previously 3.5-inch HVGA) have been increased to 4.3 inches and WVGA, respectively.

The processor here is the same single core Cortex A7, but the clock speed is 1.2GHz. Additionally, the battery capacity is now 1800mAh, while the rear camera is of 3MP and is accompanied by an LED flash. Memory provisions remain the same at 512MB RAM, 4GB storage and 32GB microSD expandability.

The Galaxy Ace NXT has also been spotted on the company’s website, but some local retailers have already put it up for grabs in the country. The phone is quite similar to the Star 2 Plus where design and specs are concerned, but it does have a few different components.

Overview of the key Samsung Galaxy Ace NXT specifications:

- Android 4.4 KitKat w/ TouchWiz Essence UI
- 4-inch WVGA display
- 512MB RAM, 4GB storage
- 1.2GHz singe core processor
- 3MP rear camera
- Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi b/g/n, HSPA+, GPS
- 1500mAh battery

Be sure to check out the eStore listing for more information on the Samsung Galaxy Star 2 Plus and Galaxy Ace NXT. There’s no word on when the two smartphones will be released.

Spice launches Android KitKat smartphones Stellar 526, 520

Indian smartphone brand Spice has launched two budget smartphones, named Stellar 526 and Stellar 520. The former has been priced at Rs 11,499, while the latter can be purchased for Rs 8,999.




Both smartphones feature 5-inch IPS displays with 720p resolution and run on Android 4.4 (KitKat). The two also have 1GB RAM and 8MP rear cameras with LED flash.

Stellar 526 will compete against Moto G, Samsung Galaxy Grand Neo, HTC Desire 516, Sony Xperia L and Xolo Q2000. Spice has pitted Stellar 520 against the likes of Asus ZenFone 5, Lava X1, Nokia Lumia 630 Dual, Sony Xperia M, Xolo Q1010i and Micromax Canvas Doodle 3.

Spice Stellar 526 is powered by a 1.5GHz hexa-core processor, where all cores can run simultaneously, and has a 600MHz Mali 450 GPU. It has 8GB internal storage and support microSD card expansion up to 32GB. The smartphone is 8.3mm-thick, has a 2,500mAh battery, 3.2MP front camera, dual Wi-Fi mode (5GHz and 2.4GHz), Bluetooth 4.0 and dual-sim (3G+3G) support.

The new Stellar 520 runs on a 1.3GHz quad-core processor and comes with 4GB internal storage, with microSD support up to 32GB. This smartphone also has dual-sim (3G+3G) functionality, but comes with a 2,000mAh battery and 2MP camera. Other features of the smartphone include Bluetooth 3.0 and thickness of 8.4mm.

Both smartphones are available in store starting today as well as Spice's e-commerce website Saholic. Spice is offering flip covers worth Rs 500 free with both smartphones.

Oplus XonPhone 5 launched on Snapdeal with Android 4.4.2 KitKat

The Oplus XonPhone 5 may have a weird name, but it has gone official in India featuring a pretty alluring design and a decent offering of specs. The handset is being sold exclusively through Snapdeal where it’s priced at 7999 and is already available to purchase.



The Oplus XonPhone 5 is the second device to reach India from the Taiwanese company. The Oplus XonPad 7 which is a 7-inch Android tablet was launched earlier this year and was also exclusively sold through Snapdeal. The new smartphone is KitKat powered which gives it an advantage over many others still stuck on Jelly Bean.

If that wasn’t enough, the phone packs a good deal of features at the said price. Most handsets in this range would offer a low-resolution display, but the XonPhone 5 is equipped with a 5-inch IPS panel proffering 720p HD visuals.

Coming to the design, the smartphone looks nothing out of the ordinary from the front, but flip over to the rear and you’ll be presented with a textured panel. It more or less looks like a combination of LG G3’s arc look with the Samsung Galaxy S5’s dimpled finish. The phone is 8mm thick and it tips the scales at 170 grams which is quite heavy for its size.

Oplus XonPhone 5 key specs:

- 5-inch HD IPS OGS display
- 1.3GHz quad core MediaTek processor
- 1GB RAM, 16GB storage, 32GB expandable
- Android 4.4 KitKat
- Dual SIM slots
- 8MP rear camera, 2MP front shooter
- 2000mAh battery

If you’re interested in the Oplus XonPhone 5, head over to Snapdeal to purchase the smartphone in options of silver, grey and gold shades.

Android KitKat 4.4.4 update causes problems on the Motorola Moto

Updates are designed to fix past issues, at least in theory. Sometimes however, things do go wrong. Such was the case with the Android KitKat 4.4.3 update on the Nexus line, and history seems to be repeating itself now with the Android KitKat 4.4.4 update too. This time however, the affected phone seems to be the Motorola Moto X. Apparently, multiple Moto X users have posted complains on the Moto X boards about poor battery life following the KitKat 4.4.4 update. The firmware seems to have done more wrong than right this time around, seriously affecting the phone’s battery life.

The problems come from various sources, such as data cache problems with applications that cause additional drain, poor network signal which also affects battery life due to constant signal searching and even problems with overheating. In addition, the WiFi signal receiving seems to be affected, as well as the carrier frequencies, which all add up to considerably hit the phone’s power reserves. There are of course temporary workarounds to keep a lid on things for now, but if you’ve already upgraded to KitKat 4.4.4, you’ll likely be facing some issues that can’t really be solved until Motorola launches a new firmware version. Using Airplane Mode can help with network signal search drains, while setting your WiFi to stop connecting to weak signal networks may also be of some use.

Android 4.4.2 KitKat Update For Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini Duos, How To Install It Manually

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini Duos with the model number GT-I9192 recently began receiving the Android 4.4.2 KitKat official firmware update, while the original Galaxy S4 Mini (GT-I9190) still runs on Android 4.2.2.

The new firmware for the Galaxy S4 mini Duos comes with the build number I9192XXUCNG2, and it includes general performance enhancement and a smooth user interface with new features such as status bar icons, new emojis, closed-captions support for videos and full-screen album art on the lock screen, SamMobile reported.

Although the firmware update is currently limited to Russia, users of the Galaxy S4 mini Duos can download the firmware and flash it manually on their handsets.

Here are the firmware details, provided by SamMobile:

Version: Android 4.4.2

Changelist: 1995154

Build date: Tue, 08 Jul 2014

PDA: I9192XXUCNG2

CSC: I9192SERCNG2

MODEM: I9192XXUCNG2

Here is a tutorial on how to upgrade the Galaxy S4 Mini Duos to the Android 4.4.2 KitKat I9192XXUCNG2 using Odin. But, before trying their hands on the installation process, users should be aware of certain aspects:

- All data stored in the handset must be backed up properly

- The handset should have at least 80 percent battery power

- The USB drivers for the device must be installed on the computer

- USB Debugging must be enabled

- After flashing the firmware, any installed custom ROM will be lost

- Custom recovery, such as ClockworkMod Recovery or TWRP, will also be lost

Note: International Business Times cannot be held responsible for anything that goes wrong. Users should proceed at their own risk.

Tutorial

Step 1: Download the firmware package and extract the zip file. There will be a .tar.md5 file along with some other files.

Step 2: Download Odin v3.09, and extract the zip file. There will be an Odin3 v3.09.exe file along with some other files.

Step 3: Run Odin3 v3.09 as an Administrator.

Step 4: Boot the Galaxy S4 Mini Duos into Download Mode by pressing and holding Volume Down, Home and Power buttons. After a warning message appears, press Volume Up key to enter Download Mode.

Step 5: Connect the phone to the computer via the USB cable and wait until an Added!! message appears in bottom left box in Odin.

Step 6: Go to the Odin window and click on the AP button and select the .tar.md5 file which was extracted in Step 1.

Step 7: In Odin, ensure that only the “Auto Reboot” and “F. Reset Time” options are checked while the “Re-Partition” option is disabled.

Step 8: Click on the Start button in Odin to begin flashing. Don’t press any buttons until all files are successfully flashed.

Step 9: After the process is complete, a “PASS!” message will appear in ID:COM port with green background and the device will restart.

Step 10: After the Samsung logo appears on the home screen, you can unplug the device from the computer. The Galaxy S4 Mini Duos will now be running on Android 4.4.2 KitKat I9192XXUCNG2.

Micromax Canvas Fire A104 hits market with Android KitKat and Rs 6999 price tag

Just earlier this month, the Micromax Canvas Fire was first introduced by the Gurgaon-based company in the form of its A093 model, and it has now gone on to launch a successor to it which bears a A104 model name. Priced at the same Rs 6999, this handset features a quad core CPU and a 4.5-inch display.

Screen size is hence a main difference between the A093 and the A104, as the former features a 4-inch panel on its front. While both run the Android 4.4 KitKat OS, the upgraded version of the Canvas Fire handset kicks in 1GB of RAM rather than the 512MB module that’s present on the A093. The new device moreover benefits from front-facing speakers which we’ve also seen on its fierce competitor, the Moto E.



The same 1.3GHz quad core processor powers both the Canvas Fire devices, and dual SIM capabilities can of course be found in each of them. Like its predecessor, the A104 from Micromax comes equipped with a 5MP rear camera and a VGA webcam. This device is powered by a 1900mAh battery which is a slight upgrade over the power unit utilized by the A093 model.

Here’s a quick look at the specs of the Micromax Canvas Fire A104:

– Display: 4.5-inch, 854 x 480 pixels
– OS: Android 4.4.2 KitKat
– Processor: 1.3GHz quad core
– Memory: 1GB RAM, 4GB storage (expandable up to 32GB)
– Camera: 5MP rear, VGA front
– Battery: 1900mAh

The Micromax Canvas Fire A104 has only been listed on the company’s official site right now, but it should soon make its way into online shops in the country. Like we said, its price.

Buy Celkon Millennium Power Q3000 Smartphone with Android Kitkat OS for Rs. 8,999 from Snapdeal

Buy Celkon Millennium Power Q3000 Smartphone with Android Kitkat OS for Rs. 8,999 from Snapdeal

Celkon launched two new handsets in the Millennium series dubbed as Elite Q470 and Millennium Power Q3000.  Both thehandsets are available online exclusively on Snapdeal.  Both the handsets run on Android 4.4 Kitkat operating system and are powered by quad core processors.

Mumbai: Celkon Millennium Power Q3000 comes with 5 inch display and the display resolution is 480 x 854 pixels.  It features 8 megapixel and 1.3 megapixel rear and front cameras.  It supports 3G connectivity.  The handset offers 4 GB ofinternal storage and also supports micro SD card using which memory can be expanded up to 32 GB.  Q3000 comes packed with 3000 mAh battery that delivers 12 hours talk time and 375 hours standby time.

Celkon Millennium Power Q3000 is now available on Snapdeal.  It is listed for a price of Rs. 8,999. The online retailer claims that this is 4% off on MRP which is Rs. 9400.  Free delivery is offered on the handset and it will be dispatched in one business day.  Free flipcover worth Rs. 499 is offered on this purchase.  Customers are given cash on delivery and EMI options.  More than 5000 orders are already processed, says Snapdeal. 

Click here to buy.  http://www.snapdeal.com/product/celkon-millenium-power-q3000/968105129?

Full specifications of Celkon Millennium Power Q3000

• The handset sports 5 inch display
• Display resolution is 480 x 854 pixels
• Body dimensions are 145.6 x 72.7 x 9.98 mm
• It weighs 167 grams
• It is powered by 1.3 GHz quad core MediaTek MT6582M processor
• The processor is paired with 1 GB
• It is provided with 4 GB internal storage
• Memory can be expanded up to 32 GB via micro SD
• It has 8 megapixel primary camera with flash
• it also features Android 4.4 Kitkat operating system
• connectivity features are GPS, Bluetooth, 3G and WiFi
• 3.5 mm headphones
• FM Radio
• Micro USB charging
• It supports dual SIM
• Proximity, accelerometer sensors
• Battery under the hood is 3000 mAh battery

Install CyanogenMod Android 4.4.4 KitKat CM11 M8 Custom ROM on Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini I9195

Popular custom ROM developers, CyanogenMod have released the new Android v4.4.4 KitKat CM11 M8 firmware to Samsung's 2013 flagship compact smartphone - Galaxy S4 Mini I9195.

CyanogenMod CM11 M8 Custom ROM is based on the ASOP (Android Open Source Project) v4.4.4 KitKat OS and is said to bring customization options for easy access (short-cuts to favorite apps), improved visual interface, boost device performance, and loads of other user-experience enhancing features.

Prerequisites (things to remember before installing Custom ROM in to the device):

• Though installing custom ROM improves the device's performance and UI experiences, it makes the company warranty void and they will no longer be liable to provide updates in future [users can restore warranty by flashing the device with stock-ROM].
• This custom ROM (CM11 M8) has to be installed on the Samsung Galaxy S4 I9505 (international LTE model) only and if tried on other devices, it might get bricked [To check your device model: Go to Settings >> About phone >> model number]
• Installation of custom ROM requires clearing of whole data in the smartphone, so make sure to back all the data by installing Clockwork Mod (CWM) Recovery/ TWRP in the smartphone.
• Make sure to install USB drivers on the PC, or else the phone (Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini I9195) will not be recognized by the computer.
• Make sure your device has more than 80 percent battery, or else there is chance of smartphone getting temporarily bricked if the installation process is interrupted.

[Disclaimer: This procedure is very technical and should be performed by a person with sound knowledge of rooting (or manual software installation) Android devices. If the step-by-step installation process is not followed properly, there are chances of the smartphone getting bricked or being permanently irreparable. International Business Times, India Edition cannot be held responsible for any damage or claims from readers if the procedure does not yield the required results or if the smartphone is bricked. Hence, users are advised to proceed with caution.]

Step-by-step installation procedure of CyanogenMod Android v4.4.4 KitKat CM11 M8 Custom ROM for Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini I9195 (LTE model):

Step 1: Download Android v4.4.4 KitKat CM11 M8 Custom ROM (here) and Google Apps (here) in to your PC.

Step 2: Connect Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini (I9515) to PC via USB cord.

[Note: Before plugging the phone to the computer, be sure that you have installed USB driver software, if not, click here to download the firmware]

Step 3: Place Android v4.4.4 KitKat CM11 M8 Custom ROM and the Google apps .zip files into the phone's SD card memory. [Note: Users are advised to paste the .zip file in SD card root, not in any other folder.]

[Note: Before installing the custom software, be sure that the device must have rooted and has installed ClockworkMod Recovery/TWRP tool.]

Step 4: Turn off the device and disconnect from the PC.

Step 5: Then perform the regular Recovery Mode sortie by press holding 'volume (up)', 'home' and 'power' buttons.

Step 6: After entering the RECOVERY mode, perform full data wipe, by choosing 'wipe data/factory reset'.

[Note: use Volume keys to navigate and power button to select options, while operating under Recovery Mode]

Step 7: Now, clear the cache memory by selecting 'wipe cache partition'.

Step 8: Then to go back to ClockworkMod recovery, and select 'advanced' and tap 'wipe dalvik cache' [Note: This step is optional, but many recommend this procedure so that user will not face boot loops or any other errors in the middle of custom ROM installation]

Step 9: Again come back to main recovery screen and then tap 'install zip from SD card'

Step 10: Then tap 'choose zip from sdcard' and go to Android 4.4.4 ROM .zip file in SD card and enter the installation process. Repeat the same procedure again to install the Google Apps. [Note: use Volume keys to navigate and power button to select options]

Step 11: Once done with the installation process, navigate to '+++++Go Back+++++' and re-start the device by opting 'reboot system now' seen in the recovery menu.

Now, your device (Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini I9515) will take at least five minutes (only for the first time) to complete the booting process.

Head to Settings >> select About phone to confirm the installation of Android v4.4.4 KitKat CM11 M8 Custom ROM.

Celkon launches Millenium Power Q3000 and Q470 quad-core powered smartphones with KitKat OS

Celkon launches Millenium Power Q3000 and Q470 quad-core powered smartphones with KitKat OS

Celkon has launched Millenium Power Q3000 and Millenium Power Q470 smartphones in India for Rs. 8,999 and 11,999 each. Both devices are powered with quad-core processor and runs the Android KitKat OS. Both smartphones will be sold exclusively through e-commerce portal Snapdeal.com.
 
Millenium Power Q3000 features a 5 inch display with 854 x 480 pixel resolution. It is powered with 1.3 GHz quad-core processor with 1GB RAM and runs Android KitKat operating System. It sports an 8 megapixels rear camera and a 1.3 megapixels front camera for video calling. It comes with 4GB of internal storage and is expandable up to 32GB using microSD card. It is backed with a 3000 mAh battery.
 
Celkon Millenium Power Q3000 Specifications: 
– Display: 5-inch
– OS: Android 4.4 KitKat
– Processor: 1.3GHz quad core
– Memory: 1GB RAM, 4GB internal storage (expandable up to 32GB)
– Camera: 8MP rear, 1.3MP front
– Battery: 3000 mAh
 
Celkon Millenium Power Q470 sports a 4.7 inch display and is powered with same 1.3GHz quad-core processor with 1GB RAM. It also comes with an 8 megapixels rear camera and a 2 megapixels front camera. The main attraction is its16GB of internal storage, however there is no option of memory expansion. It is backed with a 1800 mAh battery.
 
Celkon Millenium Power Q470 Specifications: 
– Display: 4.7 inch
– OS: Android 4.4 KitKat
– Processor: 1.3GHz quad core
– Memory: 1GB RAM, 16GB storage
– Camera: 8MP rear, 2MP front
– Battery: 1500 mAh
 
Both the devices comes with free flip covers from Snapdeal. The devices will be available on the site from tomorrow onwards and will go on sale from July 21.