Nokia Lumia 920

 

Pros:Sturdy Build; Beautiful design; Camera gets optical image stabilisation and does well in low light; Extremely responsive touchscreen; Sleek and fluid UI; Voice-guided sat nav that actually works; Rich social networking experience; Crisp display; Great sound quality.

Cons:No significant cons; Given the bulk, the battery life could have been better. Street Price: Approx. Rs 37,500 (€520)

Nokia's partnership with Microsoft could have gone either way; industry observers have been divided in opinion. Nokia's recent flagship devices have posed no real threat to the iPhone 4S / 5 and the myriad of Androids. But things look different now, with Windows Phone 8 and the latest high-end smartphone, the Lumia 920. Unlike Nokia's earlier top-of-the-line Windows Phone handsets, the Lumia 920 seems right from the word go. The spec sheet includes PureView camera tech, the tried-and-tested Snapdragon S4 chipset, PureMotion HD+ screen with high refresh rate, wireless (induction) charging, and more.

Review units were not available from Nokia at the time of launch, so we obtained one from the Netherlands.

The Bold And The Beautiful
There are no prizes for guessing that the Lumia 920 looks like an overgrown Lumia 800 — but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The phone's body is CNC-machined; each device is carved out of a single polycarbonate block. The result is a seamless unibody with no cuts or joints, save for the ports and buttons. The precision build and attention to detail is simply amazing. Another advantage of the coloured polycarbonate is that even if you manage to chip off a chunk from the Lumia 920, it will reveal the same colour underneath. This means you won't have to worry about your phone losing its colour.



With the Lumia series, Nokia brought back bright colours into fashion. HTC tried something similar with its Windows Phone 8X, but after seeing them both, I'd say the 920 is strikingly beautiful. Apart from the bold red (the piece we reviewed), yellow and white models sport a glossy finish. On the other hand, black, grey, and cyan (currently US exclusive) are matte.



After skipping the Lumia 900, the curved display is back with the 920, complementing the design. The use of metal near the 800's camera lens was tasteful, but with use, I found that it's prone to scratches. In the case of the Lumia 920, though, Nokia has retained the placement, replacing the metal with ceramic zirconium (the toughest ceramic commercially available). Nokia claims that this material is both scratch- and wear-resistant.



Instead of concentrating on merely slimming down the device, Nokia has been looking at ergonomics. The phone is thick, but due to its curved edges, it fits comfortably in your hand. Weight-wise, it's on the heavier side at around 185 grams.

Display
The handset features a 4.5" IPS screen labelled as PureMotion HD+ display by Nokia. The display's 1280 x 768 pixels offers a 15:9 ratio that neatly scales the old WP 7.5 apps in right proportion edge-to-edge. On the other hand, the HTC 8X with a 16:9 screen runs some older apps with a thin letterbox (vertical bars that are used to fit images of one aspect ratio onto a screen of a different aspect ratio).

The 920's screen has a pixel density of 332 ppi, which is in iPhone 5 territory (325 ppi). Sharpness is not an issue; thanks to the high 60 Hz refresh rate, anything that the screen displays — be it scrolling text or fancy transitions — looks good. Being an IPS panel, the screen offers wide viewing angles.

Nokia's ClearBlack technology, consisting of a sequence of polarising layers, eliminates reflections and delivers sunlight legibility. The screen also offers better contrast ratio than most IPS panels. The levels of blacks on the 920 are comparable to AMOLED panels, except when set to full brightness. While it's one of the best IPS panels I've seen on smartphones, I would have preferred an AMOLED screen on this phone.

There's been a lot hype surrounding Nokia's super-sensitive screen. After using the phone for a few days, I can confidently say it's one of the most responsive touchscreens available. Just like the iPhone 5's screen, it never missed an input. Even better, it's operable with pen, gloves, keys, fork, fingernails, and even a nail! This ability can come in handy in the northern parts of our country, where gloves are a must in winter. Finally, like any other high-end smartphone screen, this one is protected by Gorilla Glass 2.

Package, Basic Specs
There's nothing special in the Lumia 920's retail package. You get a USB cable, charger, and IEMs that match the colour of your of handset. But wait, where's my charging plate, Nokia? Too bad — it has to be bought separately.
The phone is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon S4 chipset, featuring a dual-core 1.5 GHz CPU and Adreno 225 GPU. It has an 8.7 mp camera with dual-LED flash, Carl Zeiss optics, and Optical Image Stabilisation. Apart from that, you get a 4.5" IPS panel with pixel dimensions of 768x1280, 1 GB of RAM, and 32 GB internal storage. The detailed list of specs is at the end of this review.


Windows 8 With Nokia Exclusive Apps
With support for multi-core CPUs, the Windows Phone platform now performs even better. Thanks to a Snapdragon S4 chipset ticking inside the 920, the experience is as smooth as that of the iPhone 5. As already mentioned in oooour review of the HTC 8X, Microsoft has removed the unused space, often referred to as the gutter, from the homscreen. Users can now customise Live Tiles with three sizes to choose from. Other functionality upgrades include the addition of the mass storage mode and Bluetooth file sharing.



Kid's Corner, as its name suggests, lets you create a separate homescreen with restricted access for children. This way, you can also let other people check out your cool new phone without compromising your privacy. Minor changes include an improved lock screen that can display updates from apps, and pull background images from Bing and Facebook feeds.

One of the things I didn't like about HTC's 8X was its lacklustre maps app. In the 920's case though, you have the tried-and-tested Nokia Drive. The app allows you to download map data right on the device. Nokia offers maps for most countries; additionally, there's an option to download map data for an entire country as well as for individual states. For example, you can install the India (All) map, which is 553 MB in size, or opt for the Maharashtra/Goa map, that fits into 131 MB. Once you've downloaded the desired maps, you can avail free voice guided navigation in offline mode. The app is packed with features, and there's even an option to get voice instructions in many languages — including Hindi. The device's GPS performance is impressive; even in offline mode, it never took more than two minutes to lock onto satellites.



To top it off, Nokia offers an AR (Augmented Reality) app called City Lens that lets you find places of interest in a given locality. It helps you "see" where restaurants, theatres, train or bus stations, and shops are. It's like having HUD (Heads Up Display) in real life. What's more, it also displays the name of most residential buildings (at least in Mumbai)!



PhotoBeamer is another interesting app from Nokia that allows you to display your pictures on any web-enabled device. Fire up this app, and open the image gallery on your phone. Then visit photobeamer.com on a device where you wish to display the photograph, and simply point the phone camera at the QR code that appears on the website. The photos on your device get mirrored on the other device instantaneously. It's the fastest and easiest way to share your pictures on a bigger screen.

Coming to the subject of apps, Microsoft's Office Suite is impressive. The mobile version of IE10 is blazing fast at page rendering. If you own an Xbox 360, then Smart Glass is a must have app: It not only works as a controller for your console, but also comes in handy for text input. Bing is no match for Google, agreed. However, Bing Vision feature on Windows Phone is superb. Using the phone's camera, this app can scan QR codes, UPC codes, and even album art to provide additional information. My favourite feature is its ability to scan and translate one language to another within seconds. If you're in China, you can at least read billboards using this functionality.

Microsoft's Store, previously known as Marketplace, has around 125,000 apps, and is getting busier each passing day. As far as I'm concerned, most of the essential apps are available for all platforms anyway. Still, going by sheer numbers, it has a long way to go before catching up with Apple and Google's app repositories.

Multimedia
WP8's default music player offers a neat and clutter-free interface, but there are no equaliser settings. Nokia's Music app however does offer equaliser settings, and also comes with Dolby sound enhancement. The device's sound quality is great, and the bundled earphones are of good quality too. Just like the HTC's 8X, the Lumia 920 lacks FM radio (surprisingly, Nokia's official blog confirms that the FM tuner is present on the phone; we'll update when we have a clarification). The Snapdragon S4 takes care of MP4 and AVI videos up to 1080p — but MKV videos are still a no-go.
Camera
The 8.7 mp camera on the Lumia 920 isn't the fastest one around, but it's definitely one of the best. It offers Lenses, which are actually photo apps that can be integrated right into the camera's UI.  For example, a lens app called Smart Shot captures multiple photos and then allows you to choose and save the best one. There's an option to tap on a face and pick the frame where the person hasn't blinked. What's more, you can even delete a stranger who accidently walked into your group photo. Check out the screenshots below to see how it's done.



With Cinemagraph you can animate certain parts of an image. In simple words, it's like those animated photographs you can see in Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban. For best results, you need the most basic photography skill: Steady Hands. Once you click the photo, the software gives you areas that can be animated. If you're not happy with those suggestions, you can select the desired portions manually. Click here to view a sample.

Panorama is duly covered, and it does what it says. Its interface is better than what competing Android phones offer, yet it isn't as intuitive as the iPhone 5's panorama app. Check the gallery below for panorama and outdoor photography samples.

The Lumia 920 is capable of recording 1080p videos at 30 fps.

Most cellphone cameras (for that matter, point and shoots too, generally) falter in low light. The Lumia 920 does better here, thanks to OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation), which allows for a longer shutter duration without risking blur caused by shaky hands. We did a quick low-light test of this Lumia against today's most popular Android, the GALAXY S III, and here are the results:

Low light photo comparison (without flash).

Telephony And Messaging
People Hub is one of the selling points of WP handsets. Thanks to deep social networking integration, you can access all your contacts from Facebook, Windows Live, Twitter, and LinkedIn in one place. What's more, the soft keyboard is extremely responsive and is designed to minimise typos. Finally, the Lumia 920's network reception and call quality were good during our tests. (Do note that these tests are quite subjective.)

Battery
The phone packs in a 2000 mAh Li-Ion battery. In our 720p video loop test, it lasted around 6 hours and 30 minutes. Not spectacular, but better than the GALAXY SIII's 5 hours and 30 minutes. The fatboy pillow works as advertised — just place the Lumia 920 on it, and see your phone take a power nap. While it's not a necessity, it makes charging very convenient.

The Lumia 920's success is important for Nokia to get back in the smartphone arena. The company has put in a lot of effort, and it shows. Bold colours, beautiful design, and the outstanding camera set it apart from the current crop of smartphones. The UI is as fluid as iOS, and the number of features can be compared to that of any flagship Android phone. In short, with the Lumia 920, the Finnish manufacturer has delivered both style and substance.


Features: 5/5
Design And Build Quality: 4.5/5
Performance: 4.5/5
Value For Money: 4/5
Mojo: 5/5

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

• 4.5'' PureMotion HD+ IPS panel with pixel dimensions of 768x1280 (332 ppi), Corning's Gorilla Glass protection, 60 Hz refresh rate, Polarization filter, 600 nits of luminance.
• Dual-core 1.5 GHz Snapdragon S4 chipset, 1 GB of RAM.
• 8.7 mp auto-focus PureView camera with dual LED flash, Carl Zeiss Tessar optics, 1080p video recording.
• NFC, Bluetooth 3.1, Wi-Fi with hotspot support, GPS with offline navigation.
• 32 GB internal storage, 7 GB in SkyDrive (cloud storage).
• 2000 mAh battery, 17 hours of talk time for 2G (10 hours for 3G), 67 hours of music playback, 6 hours of video playback.
• 3.5 mm jack with Dolby sound enhancement, Micro-USB port.
• Micro-SIM, Quad-band GSM (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz), Quad-band 3G (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz), Penta-band 4G LTE (800, 900, 1800, 2100, 2600 MHz).
• Windows Phone 8.

 SOURCE TECH TALKS

SAMSUNG GALAXY Grand

Samsung is on a mission to leave no screen size left untouched. Adding yet another model to an already crowded lineup, Samsung today announced its latest smartphone – the 5" GALAXY Grand. The screen is a TFT LCD with pixel dimensions of 480x800. On the imaging front it features an 8 mp camera at the rear and supports 1080p video recording. The front has a modest 2 mp camera for video calling.
The GALAXY Grand is powered by a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, 1 GB RAM, 8 GB internal memory with support for micro-SD card slot and a 2100 mAh battery and has the usual connectivity options. It runs the somewhat new Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) OS with Samsung TouchWiz UI skin on top of it. As seen with newer Samsung models, the GALAXY Grand will also have Samsung exclusive customisations such as S Voice, Direct Call and multi-window mode.
Screen size wise, the Grand with its 5" screen sits in between the 4.8" GALAXY S3 and the 5.55" GALAXY Note 2, but the rest of the specs are far lower than the S3 and the Note 2, leading us to believe that Samsung is trying to grab share in budget 'phablet' segment. The fact that the display is not touted to be anything spectacular (no SuperLCD, no AMOLED, just plain LCD) is another indication that this isn't a high-end device. Do the Mircomax A110 and similar 5" devices have cause for worry? Pricing will be the decider.
Here are the complete specs:

Samsung has two variants of the phone — dual-SIM (GT-I9082) and a single-SIM (GT-I9080). No brownie points to Samsung for the phone design as it is the usual you have to come to expect from them.

Ulike 2, 5MP front-facing camera

Chinese manufacturer OPPO has just released a new device called the Ulike 2. This beast features a 4.5-inch 960 x 540 LCD screen, 16GB of on-board storage and is powered by Ice Cream Sandwich. While the device doesn’t sound like anything too exciting, here’s the kicker– the device features a full-fledged 5MP front-facing camera complimented by items like a countdown timer and face slimming among other things. Pretty freakin’ impressive indeed, right?
In case you’re wondering— no, the device won’t break the bank too much. The device is available in Chinese markets for a mere $370 USD. It’s a fairly small price to pay for a device with a better FFC than most other devices, right?

Must Watch: Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Replaces The PC

WHAT NOTE CAN DO THAT IPHONE 5 CAN'T

Lava XOLO A800 With 4.5" Screen Launched For Rs 12,000

Lava started off its XOLO series with the X900, its first handset powered by an Intel processor. With a price tag of Rs 22,000, the handset failed to make an impact in the market. To make up for lost efforts, last month, the Indian manufacturer released the affordable XOLO A700 based on Mediatek's dual-core MT6577 chipset. This time around, Lava has unwrapped the dual-core handset's successor — the XOLO A800. This smartphone is also powered by dual-core processor clocked at 1 GHz, and 512 MB of RAM. It comes with an 8 mp rear and VGA front camera. Its 4.5" IPS screen has pixel dimensions of 960x540. The dual-SIM (GSM) handset runs Android 4.0 out of the box. The detailed list of features is as follows:

• 4.5" IPS touchscreen with 960x540 pixels, 16 million colours.
• Dual-SIM GSM (900, 1800, 2100 MHz).
• 1 GHz dual-core processor, 512 MB of RAM.
• Android 4.0 (ICS).
• 8 mp camera with an LED flash.
• Front 0.3 mp camera.
• 4 GB of internal storage, MicroSD card slot (supports up to 32 GB).
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0, Assisted-GPS.
• 3.5 mm audio jack, Micro-USB 2.0.
• Ambient light sensor, Proximity sensor, Accelerometer.
• 1600 mAh battery.
• Package Contents: Charger, USB, 8 GB microSD card.

With a price tag of Rs 12,000, the Lava XOLO A800 will compete with the Micromax Superfone A110 that boasts of a bigger screen. That being said, the XOLO might edge past its competition in terms of performance. Since we haven't tested it yet, we wouldn't know that for sure.

SOURCE TECHTREE

Sony Rumored To Have “Yuga” Smartphone In The Works, Would Feature 128GB Of Storage And Samsung Quad-Core Processor

We now have some additional Sony news to share with you all. As previously indicated recently, we knew that Sony has at least one major flagship device that is in the works behind the scenes, though we couldn’t quite confirm what the expected specs would be— until now. Thanks to the gang at Phone Arena, we now know that Sony has named a mysterious device the C660X “Yuga”, which will be a 5-incher and be completely surrounded in Dragonglass glass panel (Dragonglass is similar to Corning’s Gorilla Glass). The news doesn’t stop there either— the upcoming device is reported to feature a specialized quad-core processor not from NVIDIA, Qualcomm or Mediatek— but rather the “Yuga” will feature a Samsung Exynos variant processor, which is a shocking departure from the normal processors that are used, but not completely unexpected considering we knew Samsung intends to have its processors all sorts of manufacturers’ smartphones. Additional details about the “Yuga” includes the following:

Samsung Exynos 5 Quad

3 GB
5 inch OLED display FHD
128GB ROM
16 megapixel
3000mAh battery
Water / Dust resistant
IR blaster

What’s unclear though is if this device will be identified as the Xperia 5 (or Xperia 6) or if it will be given some other name. Also, no one seems to know when this device is expected to be released– though we have a hunch we’ll see it in Q3 or Q4 of 2013. Still– we certainly know that Sony has some clear intentions on snagging a big share of the market place— and this device could certainly go a long way with achieving that goal. Stay tuned with Talk Android as we try to get further details of what could be a potentially game-changing device.

SOURCE TALKANDROID

Nokia Announces Budget Lumia 620 Handset

Nokia has announced its third Windows Phone 8 handset — the Lumia 620 — on its official blog. The device is similar to the mid-range Lumia 820, and it comes with changeable shells. The Lumia 620 has a 3.8" ClearBlack screen, and it is powered by a 1 GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor and 512 MB of RAM. Here are the phone's specifications:

• Quad-band 3G (850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz); quad-band GSM (850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz).
• 3.8" TFT WVGA ClearBlack screen with pixel dimensions of 480x800.
• 1 GHz Dual-Core Snapdragon S4 processor, 512 MB of RAM.
• 8 GB internal storage, 64 GB microSD card support.
• 5 megapixel rear camera with autofocus and LED flash; Video capture: HD 720p at 30fps.
• VGA front camera.
• NFC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0, A-GPS (Glonass).
• Micro-USB; 3.5mm audio connector
• 4.5" (l) x 2.4" (w) x 0.4" (11.02 mm) (d); weighs 127 grams. 

The camera remains in focus, as with other WP 8 Lumia devices. The 620 comes with Cinemagraph and Smart Shoot features to utilise the full potential of the 5 mp camera. The phone will be preloaded with Lumia-specific apps such as HERE maps and Nokia City Lens. Expected to go on sale by March 2013, the handset will be priced at around $249 (approx Rs13,700).

Aakash iTutor, An Android Tablet-Based Coaching Program

We have recently spoken about how mobile phones are being used as tools of education and how iDevices are being used in a school. With tablets proliferating in India, we expected these devices — with their larger screens, more appropriate for the purpose — to be used along such lines. Aakash Education Services has launched a coaching program that works on a 7" Android tablet bundled along with the course, called Aakash iTutor. This is in no way affiliated with the Aakash tablet; a coaching institute with that same name has been in existence for the past 17 years. The target audience for the iTutor course is students of standards VIII to XII who stay far from the class venues, and for whom this is a means of distance education. The coaching classes of the institute are located in and around Delhi.
Students from all over the country can enrol for the course, and get a 7" tablet with a customised version of Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread) as part of the package included in the fees. (SMS AAKASH to 53030 or call 1800 102 2727 toll free for more information.) The tablet has Wi-Fi connectivity, and can also connect to the internet using a USB dongle. The customisation includes access to video lectures, self-study materials, self-assessment tools, a feedback mechanism, and other features to help study various subjects. It claims to provide the interactivity of a classroom. This needs to be taken with some healthy scepticism, because it is completely up to the student to participate; the teacher has no control.
The iTutor has the option to lock out entertainment features right at the start. However, a company representative told us that students can upgrade the software once they purchase the tablet, which pretty much means the lock is useless.
Overall, this is a positive step in the area of digital education. We'll be able to tell you more about iTutor once we receive the tablet for review. The video below should give you an idea about the programme.

Prices For iPad mini And iPad 4 In India Revealed

The 7.9" iPad mini and 9.7" 4th-gen iPad were launched with a lot of fanfare. They now seem all set to hit online stores in India. All the various versions of the iPad aren't visible yet, but the Wi-Fi only and the Wi-Fi + Cellular versions of the 16 GB iPad mini are listed on Saholic.com. They will be available for purchase after the 8th of this month. The Wi-Fi version is priced at Rs 21,900, while the Wi-Fi+3G version will cost you Rs 29,900. The 32 GB (Wi-Fi only: Rs 27,900; Wi-Fi + Cellular: Rs 35,900) and 64 GB versions (Wi-Fi only: Rs 33,900; Wi-Fi + Cellular: Rs 41,900) are expected to appear on the site soon.
Versions of the iPad 4 which will soon be available on Saholic.com include the 16 GB (Wi-Fi only: Rs 31,900; Wi-Fi + Cellular: Rs 39,900), 32 GB (Wi-Fi only: Rs 37,900; (Wi-Fi + Cellular: Rs 45,900), and the 64 GB (Wi-Fi only: Rs 43,900; Wi-Fi + Cellular: Rs 51,900).
For those who came in late, here are the specification lists for the two slates:
iPad mini:

• 7.9" LED backlit IPS panel with 1024x768 pixels; pixel density of 163 ppi.
• Apple A5 chipset, 1 GHz dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 CPU, PowerVR SGX543MP2 GPU, 512 MB of RAM.
• 5 mp rear auto-focus camera.
• 1.2 mp front-facing camera for FaceTime.
• 16 GB / 32 GB / 64 GB internal storage, No expansion slot.
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, LTE connectivity (optional).
• Proprietary Lightning connector, 3.5 mm jack, Microphone.
• Three-axis gyro, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor.
• 7.9" (l) x 5.3" (w) x 0.3" (7.2 mm) (d); weighs 308 grams.
• Available Colours: Black & slate, White & silver.
• Package Contents: Lightning to USB Cable, USB Power Adapter.

4th-gen iPad:

• 9.7" LED backlit IPS panel with 2048x1536 pixels; Pixel density of 264 ppi.
• Dual-core A6X with quad-core graphics.
• 5 mp rear auto-focus camera.
• 1.2 mp front-facing camera for FaceTime.
• 16 GB / 32 GB / 64 GB internal storage, No expansion slot.
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, LTE connectivity (optional).
• Proprietary Lightning connector, 3.5 mm jack, Microphone.
• Three-axis gyro, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor.
• 9.5" (l) x 7.3" (w) x 0.4" (7.4 mm) (d); weighs 652 grams.
• Available Colours: White, Black.
• Package Contents: Lightning to USB Cable, USB Power Adapter.

HTC Announces Android 4.0 HTC One SV With 4.3" Display

HTC has added another handset to its One series of smartphones. Dubbed the One SV, the phone sports a 4.3" Super LCD-2 display. It's powered by a dual-core Snapdragon S4 chipset clocked at 1.2 GHz. For photography, it comes with a 5 mp camera with LED flash. On the software front, HTC has decided to with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich); we believe Jelly Bean would have been the right choice, though. The detailed specs are as below:

• 4.3" Super LCD-2 display with pixel dimensions of 480x800.
• Corning Gorilla Glass 2 protection.
• 1.2 GHz dual-core S4 chipset, 1 GB RAM.
• 5 mp rear camera, 1.6 mp front camera.
• 8 GB internal storage, MicroSD card slot (supports up to 32GB).
• Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth, Assisted GPS.
• Android 4.0 (ICS) with HTC Sense UI.
• 1800 mAh battery.
• LTE support.

The handset looks a lot like the Desire SV, which hit the Indian market in November. The HTC One SV is expected to launch next month in the UK. According to Clove's (UK) listing, the phone is priced at £350 without contract, which translates to roughly Rs 30,000. However, considering that prices are higher in the UK for almost anything tech, you can expect the One SV to be priced at around Rs 25k in India.


source techtree

iPad mini out in India today, starting at Rs 21,900 only

The iPad mini and iPad 4th generation are all set to be launched in India tomorrow. Getty Images

The iPad mini and iPad 4th generation are all set to be launched in India today. And it seems that the price for the iPad mini isn’t so pricey after all, at least where the basic version is concerned. The new iPod touch is also out and it costs more than the mini !
According to this Tech2 report, the iPad mini’s 16GB Wi-Fi only version will cost Rs 21,900.
The 32GB and 64GB versions will be available for Rs 27,900 and Rs 33,900 respectively. The iPad mini Wi-Fi + Cellular version will come with a starting price at Rs 29,900 for the 16GB version, while the 32GB version will be available for Rs 35,900. iPad mini, the 64GB Wi-Fi + Cellular version, won’t come cheap with a starting price of Rs 41,900.
If the device is indeed priced at Rs 21,900 for the 16GB model, it will compete directly with the Nexus 7 which is priced below Rs 20,000. Remember Nexus 7 doesn’t have 3G or Cellular connectivity either.
The fourth generation, 9.7-inch iPad with the Wi-Fi only will start at Rs 31,900, the 32GB model at Rs 37,900, and the 64GB version at Rs 43,900.
The Wi-Fi + Cellular iPad 16GB version will start at Rs 39,900; the 32GB tablet will cost Rs 45,900; and the 64GB variant will cost Rs 51,900.
The fifth generation iPod touch is also out. And the price for that is Rs 23,900 for the 32 GB version while the 64 GB  version is available for Rs 30,900.

Newbie’s Guide to Rooting

Newbie's Guide to Rooting
If you're reading this article, chances are you're either already rooted or thinking about rooting your device. The thing with rooting is that instead of folks falling into two different camps, I believe there are three camps. In my opinion, we're either rooted, don't even want to think about rooting, or we're kind of intrigued by the idea but don't want to go through the hassle or risk of rooting our device. This guide is more for the latter. My intent is not to sway anyone one way or the other. This is simply to try to keep things simple, while providing resources and knowledge from first-hand experience, and enabling you to make your own informed decision. While I'm not going to walk you step-by-step on how to root your specific device (we'll be here forever going through each device); I will introduce you to the concept of rooting, reliable sources for reading, things to do before rooting, the benefits of rooting, and what to do after you're rooted. 

What is rooting? 
Rooting a device is simply the process of gaining full, privileged, or admin control of a device thus allowing 'root access' or 'superuser' permissions. The process itself basically exploits a security weakness on a device, and in simple terms, grants the user executable permissions that are not otherwise there with a non-rooted device. Once a device is rooted, the user has complete control of the device from files on the device to being able to perform additional tasks that will truly make your device your own.

What are the benefits of rooting? 
As mentioned above, rooting gives the user ultimate control over a device. Imagine for a second that you couldn’t access, alter, or delete a file or program on the PC/laptop that you own. That really doesn’t make much sense does it? Granted you could mess some things up if you're not careful, but you do have the right and are given that ability as the superuser or admin of your PC that you paid money for. You are the ‘root’ user of your PC or laptop. Now think, do you have complete control of the device that you’ve no doubt paid a lot of money for? If the manufacturer doesn’t limit what you can do on your laptop, why do phone manufacturers do it?

Beyond just the basic idea of knowing you have complete control of your device, rooting allows you to modify the phone to your liking. Do you hate all of that carrier 'bloat' that is preloaded on your device? Don’t just disable it, root it and get rid of it so you have more storage. Additionally, if you don't have a Google device, chances are you get updates later than when Google officially releases them – way later, since they then have to go through the carrier to be ‘massaged.’ When you're rooted, you can get those updates within a few days from developers that own your same device via a custom ROM. Speaking of custom ROMs, most ROMs include an option to tether. This is in fact a major reason why most go ahead and make the leap to root.
Other benefits include the ability to completely back up your system onto your SD card. This way if all else fails, you could boot into your recovery and load the backup that you have saved that is sitting on an external storage. Additionally, you can modify boot animations, fonts, and themes. No techie or coding experience is necessary. The beauty these days is that there are numerous apps that allow you to make these changes with a few selections of available options via the app(s).

Fact is, once you’ve made that leap to go ahead and root and you do a few things that aren’t normally 'allowed,' it can get addicting and you begin finding out what else you can do. It’s truly what Android is all about. For example, due to my phone being rooted, I'm able to run Android 4.2 with a phone that was released almost 2 ½ years ago. It was essentially abandoned by my carrier and Google regarding updates, but being rooted keeps it ‘alive.’ I don't get the newest features like Photo Sphere since my phone lacks a proper gyroscope, but I can run 4.2 while enjoying most of the other benefits. You shouldn’t feel like you need a new phone to enjoy new software. It's downright amazing what developers can pull off on older devices, and when you have root access, you can enjoy those benefits such as custom ROMs and kernels which make your device even better.

What are the risks of rooting? 
Okay, honestly this is what most of you want to know, right? I mean, if it were easy and there were no risks then everyone would be rooted. Aside from completely voiding your factory warranty, to be blunt, you can seriously mess up your phone – like to the point where you’ve made it into a glorified paperweight. That's the big risk. I know, it's a massive risk, but it's kind of along those lines of a risk that has to be pointed out like all the risks that go along with taking medicine. I mean it's a risk for me to drive to work each morning. It's a risk to fly. I could go on and on. However, it's more of a disclaimer than anything. These days, most devices are very easy to root. Also, keep in mind that the method(s) you run across to root your device has been done numerous times by countless others.
No technical knowledge is required for the most part – just basic computer knowledge if anything. I'm far from a 'techie type' but recently I sold a rooted device I had been using for the past year and began using my old device that wasn’t rooted (I hadn’t gotten the rooting bug when I used my previous device). In a matter of 15 minutes I was rooted without any prior knowledge of how to root that device. It's literally that easy, for the most part.  Rooting has come a long way since the first Android smartphone, and rooting a device usually only takes a few minutes once a little bit of homework on the user’s part is done.

Things to consider and/or to do before rooting 
So you know what rooting is, the benefits of it, and are aware of the risks. Now what? I'm not going to lie, there's going to be some work involved if you're new to this.

• I can't stress it enough: Google is going to be your friend. Search rooting your device. Do you have an older device? Maybe start with that one first. Then read, read, and read some more. Reading and doing your homework on your device prevents the risks we discussed earlier. The more you read, the more you'll know going in and what to expect.

• Stick to reputable websites that come up on your searches – ones you’ve probably already come in contact with before and visit frequently. When you run across terminology that you don't understand, read up on that also. You're essentially teaching yourself here.

• XDA is an excellent source and usually has everything you need in one place that's dedicated just for your phone. All of your questions have been asked and answered in there before, trust me. All you need to do is search. Granted it can be a little intimidating at first, but most forums for devices have a General section with a “Newb” thread, or two.

• Did I mention reading? I’ve found that if you read enough, most sites you visit about rooting your device will become repetitive. It's at that point that you should feel comfortable with what to expect in rooting your device.

• Have a 'backup' plan. What happens if you're not successful rooting your device? What if it 'hangs' in the process? If you don't know what to do, you didn’t read enough in the beginning. At the very least you should already have a backup saved of your stock ROM/OS. Additionally, you should know exactly how to recover that backup and/or your factory settings should something go wrong. Most phones have a fail-safe that you can enter to go back to stock, access a backup, etc. At the very least, you should have a backup created before you begin and you should know how to access your recovery mode as well as the steps to get you back up and running. Whenever I create a backup, I test that backup to see if it'll load properly.  After all, what good is a backup if it can't load? Yes, it's time consuming but you can't be too careful, and honestly, if you're not prepared to invest a little time, then rooting is probably not for you.

• Make sure you're looking at the most recent process to root your device.  When you search, filter by date and at least pull a set of instructions from the past few months, or the most recent you can find. Methods change over time, and often times those newer methods make it easier on the user to root. Make it easy on yourself and pull those latest instructions.

• Read all instructions carefully – very carefully. Do not assume anything if you're halfway knowledgeable in rooting. Read each step, and make sure it makes sense to you before you begin. Read the instructions multiple times and do each step one-at-a-time – slowly.

• Speaking of slowly – don't be in a hurry! It's not a race. I know the adrenaline can get going, but take your time and be thorough. Again, do each step slowly and read each step carefully. Also, finding a guide that includes pictures will help tremendously.

• Do your homework and read user comments. Most of the time, the steps you find to root your device will come in the form of a blog or forum. Read the posts under it. You'll be surprised at how much additional you'll learn from other users that are in the same situation as you – and reading those that are successful will give you confidence.

• Ask questions. The good thing about the Android Community is that most of us are willing to help each other out since we were once newbies. In those forums and blogs, ask questions. Most of the time you'll get a quick answer.

Yay! I'm rooted.  Now what? 
Let me just say this: If you don't know why you want to root, then you probably don't need to root. Read the section again about the benefits of rooting above, and do some research to make sure you know why you want to root.

• First thing's first – create a backup. You're rooted and up and running with no issues so create that backup. Most devices, upon root, will have a modified recovery system.  Know exactly how to access that system (you may have to search the exact way to access it) and get familiar with it. Once familiar, create a backup. Test that backup, and if it loads properly you can now proceed with having fun. Also keep in mind that when you change recoveries (usually going from stock to rooted), your backup you made on the previous recovery will not work on the new one.

• Know exactly how to access your recovery should you need to do so at any given time. This includes if the phone is off, or on. Also, some phones allow you to access what's called a 'Download Mode' which requires you to have your device plugged into a laptop or PC. This mode is then used to push an OS onto your device via your PC or laptop. Believe me, one day you'll have to use one of these types of recoveries. Scary, yes. But valuable that you'll be prepared.
• Read some more. Each phone is different, so read what's available to you now that your device is rooted. As mentioned, this could include custom ROMS and/or kernels that allow you to get better battery life and other nice features. Also check out the apps that will work for all rooted devices that allow you to make tweaks to your device mentioned earlier.
• Remember to not be in hurry with whatever you do with your phone once rooted. You have complete control and rights to everything on your phone, and one slip-up and it may not work properly.
• Spread the knowledge. Once you’ve learned the ropes, help others.

Summary 
Hopefully this guide has helped you become more comfortable with the process of rooting. Again, it's not meant to sway anyone in any matter. It should simply be used as a resource so you can make your own decision. There are many benefits of rooting, but if it's not worth the risk then you obviously shouldn’t do it. Good luck, and happy rooting.

Disclaimer: Talk Android cannot be held responsible if any damage is done to your device.

Glossary of Terms

Root – Admin access gained for a device or the process of gaining admin access for a device.
XDA (XDA-developers.com) – A website with very valuable information specific for your device in blog and forum format.
ROM – Essentially an operating system, including the kernel.
Kernel – Heart of the operating system. It keeps everything running.

Android Key Lime Pie

New cartoon by Google employee could hint at Android Key Lime Pie for next release

Android has come a long way in the last five years, and we have truly seen an evolution of the operating system. As a spoof of this concept, Google employee Manu Comet posted a little drawing to his Google Plus page.  In it we see our little green friend evolving from a weak, frail, hunched-over blob, into a happy, healthy, upright and robust robot. In each phase of the evolution process he is eating the dessert that coincided with that particular Android release. Most interestingly, the last evolutionary phase of the process has our little green friend eating a slice of Key Lime Pie (long speculated as the next release of Android). This is by no means an official confirmation from Google, but it is pretty strong evidence to that end.  We don’t know what kind of features we will find in Key Lime Pie, or how much of a jump it will be from 4.2, but seeing all the great new features Google has cooked up in each of its recent releases gives us hope that we have a lot to look forward to! Now the waiting game…