Xiaomi announces RedMi 2, may price it around Rs.6,000

Xiaomi on Sunday announced a new entry-level smartphone. The device, called RedMi 2, is likely to replace the RedMi 1S in the list of Xiaomi's smartphones. It has the same 4.7-inch screen size but comes with updated internal hardware, which should help it take on the competition better.

The RedMi 2 is powered by the 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor. This is a quad-core processor running at 1.2GHz. It uses Cortex ARM A53 cores and Adreno 306 graphics chip. Compared to the RedMi 1S, which is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 running at 1.6GHz, the new processor in the RedMi 2 should be slightly faster than the older phone, at least on paper.

The RedMi 2 has 8GB internal storage, support for dual SIM with 4G connectivity and 1GB RAM. The screen sports 720p resolution. The phone will come with MiUI 6, which is the next version of the Android-based MiUI ROM. It is likely to have a flatter and slicker looking user interface compared to what is available in MiUI 5.

The device has a 8-megapixel rear camera with support for 1080p video recording and 2-megapixel front camera.

The RedMi 2 will go on sale in China on January 9 at a price of around $110 (around Rs.6,500).

Currently, it is not clear when Xiaomi will launch the RedMi 2 in India. For now the company is focussed on selling the RedMi Note as it is having some legal issues due to a case filed by Ericsson, which alleges that Xiaomi products unfairly violate its patents.

Last month Delhi High Court asked Xiaomi to stop selling and importing its phones in India while it decides on the case filed by Ericsson. But a few days later, the Chinese company got interim relief for its devices powered by Qualcomm processors.

The RedMi 2 is powered by a Qualcomm processor so it is possible that the device may come to India soon. If it does, it will help Xiaomi take on the devices like the Moto E, which continues to be popular among budget shoppers, as well as the Micromax Yu Yureka, a new phone that has managed to undercut the RedMi Note 4G on price.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/technology/story/xiaomi-announces-redmi-2-may-price-it-around-rs-6000/1/411416.html

Xiaomi confirms it is stopping sale of phones in India

Two days after the Delhi High Court asked Xiaomi to stop selling and importing phones in India, the company has confirmed that it would temporarily stop its business operations here. The court order came after Ericsson claimed that Xiaomi infringed on its patents.

In a note titled 'A Letter to Indian Mi Fans' Xiaomi global vice president Hugo Barra said that the company was looking at its options.

"We have been forced to suspend sales in India until further notice due to an order passed by the Delhi High Court. As a law abiding company, we are investigating the matter carefully and assessing our legal options," wrote Barra.

He added that Xiaomi was committed to the Indian market and would like to resume sale of its phones as early as possible. "Our sincere apologies to all Indian Mi fans! Please rest assured that we're doing all we can to revert the situation. We have greatly enjoyed our journey with you in India over the last 5 months and we firmly intend to continue it," wrote Barra.

Since entering India in July this year, Xiaomi is having a great run. Barra said that in the last two days the company has received over 1.5 lakh registrations from prospective buyers of the RedMi Note. Earlier on Tuesday, the company sold 75,000 units of the RedMi Note in 8 seconds.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/technology/story/xiaomi-confirms-it-is-stopping-sale-of-phones-in-india/1/406530.html

5 best camera phones you can buy.

There is a saying that the best camera is the one that you have on you. You may have a top-end DSLR camera at your home but it is of no use if you are not carrying it. The moments will be missed. This makes smartphones as cameras such an appealing prospect. A smartphone is always with us and if it can actually click good photos, it will be a camera that you will be using all the time.

But not all smartphones are equal when it comes to camera performance. Some are better than others. If you are someone who likes to snap pictures using the phone, here are the five devices that we suggest. In their class, these are the smartphones with the best camera.

Under Rs.10,000

The Xiaomi Redmi 1s is the first phone that springs to mind when we talk about good sub-Rs.10,000 camera phones. In fact, it is a device that punches above -- or rather much above -- its weight when it comes to camera performance.

It has an 8-megapixel camera that takes fantastic photos in daylight. In low light, it clicks images that are usable and not a mishmash of grainy noise. Xiaomi has added a very usable HDR mode which helps take better photos in low-light. The camera interface is also pretty straight forward.  In fact, we feel that the phone's camera performance eclipses a few phones that cost above Rs.20,000.  In the sub-Rs10,000 market, no phone comes even close to the camera performance of the RedMi 1S.

Under Rs.20,000

The Asus ZenFone 5 has the best camera if one is looking for a phone for less thanRs.20,000. Again, we don't have a camera which has a crazy 13-megapixel resolution, but rather a plain-Jane 8-megapixel shooter.

It has a f/2.0 aperture, which is quite wide for a phone of its class and with some magic trickery of Intel's ISP, the phone is capable of taking some stunning shots. In particular, the low-light performance and performance for macro shots is fantastic.

Under Rs.30,000

For less than Rs.30,000, you can actually have the best smartphone camera in terms of image quality. Yes, we are talking about the Microsoft Lumia 1020.

Its 41-megapixel sensor with optical image stabilisation and a 6-element lens system reigns supreme in terms of image quality. Nokia's PureView technology comes into play, which uses the 41-megapixel sensor to produce noise-free 5-megapixel images using a technique called oversampling. If you want to shoot at 41-megapixels then you get the option to zoom into images (digitally) with little loss in image quality. The phone also is able to support RAW files, which is a rarity in a smartphone. Yes, there are phones that cost more than what Lumia 1020 costs, but when it comes to camera quality you don't have to spend more because it is the best.

Around Rs.40,000

What if you don't want Lumia 1020? What if you want a smartphone that doesn't run Windows Phone operating system? If you have a budget of around Rs.40,000, we will suggest the Apple iPhone 5S.

We know it is one year old. And we know it lacks fancy features like "Exmor-R" image sensor or "Ultrapixel" technology. But features don't matter. What matters is reliable and solid performance and that is exactly what the camera in the iPhone 5S provides. The phone has a 8-megapixel image sensor and a lens with F/2.4 aperture. But despite seemingly modest-hardware, it clicks beautiful photos. More importantly, the camera software in the iPhone 5S makes it a joy to use. The shutter lag -- duration between shots -- is almost non existing, which means you won't miss clickable moments. The HDR mode is well implemented and useful. The overall performance is reliable, irrespective of shooting conditions. The iPhone 5S is also helped by the way core software in the phone processes images. Noise is kept low and white balance is usually spot on. Overall, this one is a solid choice for anyone looking to get a smartphone that has excellent camera.

Willing to spend more...

If money is no criteria, then we suggest the Apple iPhone 6 Plus. As we said earlier, in terms of pure image quality, the Lumia 1020 reigns supreme. But the iPhone 6 Plus is the best combination in terms of usability, core software, smartphone functionality and camera prowess. With a price of Rs.62,500 it is a pricey preposition though. But it is worth it if you want absolutely top notch images coming out of your smartphone camera.

In many cases the iPhone 6 Plus is as good as the Lumia 1020 in terms of image quality. But even beyond the image quality, the user experience is great. It is simple to use and now that Apple has added exposure controls in iOS 8, power users can tweak the exposure for even better images.

Apple has added a phase detection autofocus system in the iPhone 6, which makes it a hyper fast shooter. The presence of the optical stabilisation results in crisp, noise-free images even in dimly-lit scenes. The performance is equally good when it comes to shooting videos. Don't believe us? Hey, even the folks at DxOMark have rated the iPhone 6 Plus as the best camera phones in the world, and these guys really push the camera hardware to its limits.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/technology/story/5-best-camera-phones-you-can-buy/1/399356.html

First impressions: Redmi Note is big, fast and heavy

Big and bulky -- these are the words that come to mind when one picks up the Xiaomi Redmi Note.On Monday, the Chinese phone company launched its phablet in India at an attractive starting price of Rs.8,999. We played with the device for a while. Read on for our first impressions. 

The RedMi Note is a blocky chunk of plastic, albeit sturdy plastic, measuring 9.5mm in thickness and 199 grams in weight. This means it is quite the gargantuan beast. That said, it has tapered sides, which help it fit in hands. Its back is made of glossy plastic, which reminds us of Samsung phones but then again at Rs.8,999, one can't complain. The build quality is actually quite good for the price. 

The RedMi Note comes in two versions. The 3G model is powered by octa-core Mediatek chip clocked at 1.7GHz while the 4G model uses quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chip clocked at 1.6GHz. Both models have 2GB of RAM and 8GB of internal memory. On both models, microSD cards are supported but on the MediaTek version the limit for the card is 32GB while the Qualcomm can use up to 64GB cards.

We tried both models. While we did not stress test the devices or ran any benchmarks on them -- that will have to wait until we review the RedMi Note properly -- we found the performance satisfactory. The user interface was smooth and we did not find any noticeable lag. 

On the back, the phone has a 13-megapixel Samsung-made sensor and the front it has a 5-megapixel sensor. 

The 5.5-inch 720P screen shows great colors that look natural. It has good viewing angles. 

Perhaps the biggest deal about the phone is its 3,100mAh battery which is user removable. Xiaomi claims the battery will last for long time. This is something we will test in the review. 

The MediaTek model offers dual-SIM capabilities and works with both WCDMA and GSM networks. The Qualcomm model is 4G ready but only supports single SIM. That's something the user will need to consider before making the purchase. 

Additionally, the 3G only model is stuck on Android 4.2.2 Jelly bean, while the 4G model is on Android 4.4 KitKat. 

The 4G model will be available in the second half of December for Rs.9,999, while the 3G model will be available on December 2. Xiaomi expects to offer around 50,000 units in the initial flash sale. 

On the basis of hardware, the Redmi Note looks like a compelling option for someone who wants a decent phone with big screen for less than Rs.10,000. Nevertheless, we will have more to say about it in our review.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/technology/story/xiaomis-redmi-note-is-big-fast-and-heavy/1/403517.html

Xiaomi Redmi 1S to be launched in India Price - 5999 on Flipcart

Good News for Xiaomi Fans Xiaomi Redmi 1S to be launched in India on 26 Aug as per officially announcement. 
Xiaomi, commonly known as 'Apple of China' will introduce its entry level smartphones. The company has send out invites to the bloggers for the launch event in Delhi.
Redmi 1S will be available at Rs. 5,999

GENERAL	2G Network	GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900
	3G Network	HSDPA 1900 / 2100
	SIM	Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by)
	Announced	2014, May
	Status	Available. Released 2014, May
BODY	Dimensions	137 x 69 x 9.9 mm (5.39 x 2.72 x 0.39 in)
	Weight	158 g (5.57 oz)
DISPLAY	Type	IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
	Size	720 x 1280 pixels, 4.7 inches (~312 ppi pixel density)
	Multitouch	Yes
	Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 2
		- MIUI 5.0
SOUND	Alert types	Vibration; MP3, WAV ringtones
	Loudspeaker	Yes
	3.5mm jack	Yes
MEMORY	Card slot	microSD, up to 32 GB
	Internal	8 GB, 1 GB RAM
DATA	GPRS	Yes
	EDGE	Yes
	Speed	HSDPA, HSUPA
	WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspot
	Bluetooth	v4.0, A2DP, LE
	USB	microUSB v2.0, USB On-the-go
CAMERA	Primary	8 MP, 3264 x 2448 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
	Features	1.4 µm pixel size, geo-tagging, touch focus, face and smile detection, HDR
	Video	1080p@30fps
	Secondary	1.6 MP, 720p@30fps
FEATURES	OS	Android OS, v4.3 (Jelly Bean)
	Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8228 Snapdragon
	CPU	Quad-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A7
	GPU	Adreno 305
	Sensors	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
	Messaging	SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Mail, IM
	Browser	HTML5
	Radio	FM radio
	GPS	Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS
	Java	Yes, via Java MIDP emulator
	Colors	Black, Chinese Red, Metallic Gray/ blue, green, yellow panels
		- Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic
		- SNS integration
		- MP4/H.264/H.263 player
		- MP3/WAV/eAAC+/FLAC player
		- Organizer
		- Photo/video editor
		- Document viewer (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF)
		- Google Search, Maps, Gmail,
		YouTube, Calendar, Google Talk, Picasa
		- Voice memo/dial/commands
		- Predictive text input (Swype)
BATTERY		Li-Ion 2400 mAh battery

Xiaomi Mi3 Price in India

What makes different for other phone to Xiaomi Mi3 unique?

1	First Xiaomi smartphone to be launched in India
2	Mi3 is the first smartphone ever to bring SFX surround sound to your headphones.
3	The most affordable smartphone with Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor
4	The most popular1 phone in last 30 days
5	The best2 phone in terms of specifications priced around Rs. 16,000
6	The #2 fastest phone priced around Rs. 16,000
7	The #3 fastest phone with 13 MP Camera
8	The #3 thinnest Android phone priced around Rs. 16,000

                         Xiaomi Mi3 Specifications

General Information

Brand	Xiaomi
Model	Mi3
SIM Slot(s)	Single SIM, GSM
Touch Screen	Yes, Capacitive Touchscreen, Multi-touch
Weight	145 grams
Dimensions	144 x 73.6 x 8.1 mm
Colours	Black, Blue, Pink, Yellow
Box Contents	Handset, Battery, Charger, USB Cable, User Manual, Warranty Card
Operating Frequency	GSM 1800 / 1900 / 850 / 900 MHz / UMTS 1900 / 2100 / 850 / 900 MHz

Platform

Operating System	Android v4.4 (KitKat)
Sensors	Accelerometer, Barometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Light sensor

Hardware

Processor	2.3 GHz, Quad core, Qualcomm Snapdragon
Graphics	Adreno 330
RAM	2 GB

Storage

Internal Memory	16 GB
USB OTG Support	Yes

Display

Screen Size	5 Inch
Screen Resolution	Full HD (1080 x 1920 pixels)
Pixel Density	441 ppi
Display Type	IPS LCD
Screen Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass, v3

Camera

Main Camera	Yes, 13 MP
Front Camera	Yes, 2 MP
Flash	Dual LED
Video Recording	1920x1080 fps
Zoom	Yes, Digital Zoom
Camera Features	Back-illuminated sensor (BSI)

Battery

Capacity	3050 mAH, Li-ion, Non-removable

Internet & Connectivity

GPRS	Yes
EDGE	Yes
3G	Yes, HSDPA, 21 Mbit/s; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbit/s
Wi-Fi	Yes, Wi-Fi 802.11, b/g/n/n 5GHz, Wi-Fi Direct
Bluetooth	Yes, v4.0, A2DP
GPS	Yes, with A-GPS, Glonass
USB Connectivity	Yes, USB Port, USB On-The-Go, microUSB 2.0
More Connectivity	NFC

Multimedia

Radio	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes
Audio Jack	3.5 mm