Videocon Launches 4 GSM Phones: V1531+, Dual-SIM V1542, V1548, And V1580; Prices Start From Rs 1850

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Chandrakant 'CK' Isi, 01st Aug 2012 - 19:02

Videocon has added four new models to its portfolio of feature phones. The new entrants are the V1531+, V1542, V1548, and theV1580. While the press release claims that all four phones support the dual-SIM, dual-standby feature, I found that as of this writing, only the V1542's product page mentions the fact. Therefore, it's possible that the PR is mistaken about this rather important item. Moving on, the V1548 and V1580 feature a touchscreen (probably resistive), while the remaining two sport the good old bar form factor with a T9 keypad. Here's the list of common features in the newly-released gadgets:

• Dual Band GSM (900 \ 1800 MHz).
• FM radio (the V1548 has an antenna, so earphones are not required).
• Audio and video player (supported formats vary).
• Bluetooth with A2DP, GPRS (the V1580 also supports EDGE).
• Social networking (via preloaded Facebook and Twitter) .
• MicroSD card slot (8 GB for V1548 and V1531+, 16 GB for V1542 and V1580).
• Micro-USB port, 3.5 mm jack.
• LED torch (the V1542 and V1580 have dual LEDs).

Coming to the specific features: cheapest of the lot, the V1531 can be bought for Rs 1850. It has a 2.4" display (240x320), 1.3 mp camera with video recording, FM recording and auto call recording support, and a 1,500 mAh battery that claims a talk time of 10 hours. On the other hand, the V1542 sports a 2.6" display, 1.3 mp camera, and a 1800 mAh battery. All this comes at a price tag of Rs 2100.

Among the touchscreen models, The V1548, priced at Rs 2400, comes with a 2.6" display (240x320, multi-touch not supported), 1.3 mp camera, and a 1200 mAh battery. Other notable features include auto call recording and utilities such as a unit \ currency converter, stopwatch, e-book reader, mobile tracker, and SMS \ call blacklist. The retail package also boasts of a 4 GB microSD card that comes preloaded with 20 files each of Bollywood movies, song clips, music tracks, and wallpapers. As in the case of the recently-released V1570, this too is probably an introductory offer that will only last a short while.

The best model of the lot, the V1580 packs in a 3.2" touchscreen, "dynamic" (whatever that means) 2 mp camera, and a 1200 mAh battery. The handset is available for Rs 3000. It comes with Opera Mini out of the box, and also allows installation of other apps, thanks to its support for Java.

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Interview: Roundtable Discussion With Greg Sullivan — Senior Marketing Manager, Windows Phone

While on a visit to the Microsoft TechEd Europe 2012 event held at Amsterdam, I had the chance to be part of a roundtable discussion with Greg Sullivan — Senior Marketing Manager, Windows Phone. Greg talked about a variety of topics regarding Windows Phone,such as how the new OS is a huge improvement over Windows Mobile, why current devices should not feel left in the lurch whenWindows Phone 8 is launched, and why the new mobile OS will be successful. Here are some excerpts from the question and answer session that followed:

 

What makes Windows Phone better than Windows Mobile?
With Windows Mobile, we built a layer of OS, licenced it to the hardware manufacturers, and allowed them to install it on any hardware they wanted, even going so far as to offer them a part of the source code to modify it in a way that suits them. However, this created application compatibility issues, as well as an inconsistency in the UI and performance of Windows Mobile 6.5 devices. It also happened that for certain applications, the hardware was not powerful enough to run smoothly. We decided to change our approach with Windows Phone. When we licence our software, we explicitly say to the hardware manufacturers that you cannot replace or modify our user experience. We've also specified a minimum set of hardware, going as far as to make it mandatory to have certain buttons on the phone. Manufacturers have to adhere to our strict guidelines, and that is what makes the user experience consistent across different manufacturers.

How will manufacturers then be able to differentiate their WP devices from their competitors?
Manufacturers can still differentiate their hardware from others, as we haven't specified an upper limit but a lower limit. The Nokia Lumia 900 is a good example, with its polycarbonate body and superior camera.

Will there be true multitasking in WP8?
Multitasking has been a topic of concern with almost every platform, as it reduces battery life and creates instability. Windows Phone 7.5 does not have true multitasking and applications do not consume any CPU cycles once they're in the background, except for music and radio. However, Windows Phone 8 will have some degree of multitasking for certain applications, such as VOIP and location-based services, which will even run under the lock screen. Thus, if I am somewhere near a Starbucks café, the relevant app will send me a notification that I can go get a free cup of coffee. At this point of time, we don't have any plan of having applications arbitrarily running in the background in WP8.

Will all WP8 apps work on WP7.5 phones?
Every existing app today will work on WP8 devices. However, not all apps written for WP8 will work on WP7.5 devices, because the additional hardware features in the newer phones cannot be emulated in the older WP7.5 smartphones. It will still be possible to create apps that will run on both platforms, as long as the hardware limitations are considered.

Mobile hardware is also following Moore's Law and the OS has to keep up with the pace.Apple's iOS has a yearly cycle of updates, so what about Windows Phone?
We don't yet have an update cycle, but if you look at the historic figures, we shipped WP7 in October 2010, which was a significant change from Windows Mobile 6.5. We delivered the Mango WP7.5 release in September 2011, and it was also a significant release. Finally, we announced WP8 last week, and it is architecturally even more significant than WP7.5, with a new kernel, a new app platform layer to support, and a whole new user experience. It will be launched later this year. Therefore, while we're not saying that we will deliver a new update to the OS every year, it is better to look at our track record instead.

How will it benefit to tie WP8 with the Windows 8 desktop OS?
We haven't gone into all the scenarios, but there are certain situations in which this is beneficial, such as using NFC to tap and transfer content, and also to play a multiplayer game across the platforms. Services such as Xbox LIVE, SkyDrive, Windows LIVE, Exchange, and other Microsoft-based services will be shared and therefore make the whole experience smoother. Also, the similar user experience withLive Tiles and the Metro UI will create a level of comfort when using these devices. There are a lot more things that will be announced later this year, and you can rest assured that the tie-up of the mobile and desktop OS will bring many more benefits to the end-user.

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Review: LG Optimus 4X HD

Pros:Impressive performance; Great looks; Excellent video player.

Cons:Uncomfortable for single-handed use; Lacklustre camera; Average sound quality.

LG Optimus 4X HD
MRP: Rs 36,000
Street Price (As On 31-07-2012): Rs 32,700 (Indiaplaza.com); Rs 33,000 (Flipkart.com; Infibeam.com)


A few years ago, LG became the first company to jump on the dual-core smartphone bandwagon with itsOptimus 2X. Sadly for LG, even though Samsung's GALAXY S II was launched a few months later, it stole the show. This time around though, LG appears to have taken its time to polish its flagship offering, releasing it nearly two months after its nemesis. Let's find out whether the Optimus 4X HD can challenge the current heavyweight, the GALAXY S III (GS3).


Design And Build Quality
The retail package comes with a phone, earphones, charger with detachable USB cable, user manual, and a couple of NFC stickers for changing the phone's profile. The handset measures 5.2" (l) x 2.7" (w) x 0.4" (9 mm) (d), and weighs 133 grammes. It features a plastic body, but thanks to its clever design manages to look expensive, while a textured back panel provides a good grip. Similar to other Android flagships though, the phone is too big for one-handed use.

At 4.7", the 4X HD's Gorilla Glass covered screen matches the size of the HTC One X's panel, and is around 3 mm smaller than that of the GS3. The IPS LCD has pixel dimensions of 720x1280, taking its pixel density to around 312 ppi. The display is very sharp and bright, but the viewing angles are narrower than the One X's screen. More importantly, the depth of blacks is nowhere near that of the AMOLED panel in the GS3.

The device is powered by the NVIDIA Tegra 3 chipset, featuring a 1.5 GHz quad-core CPU and NVIDIA GPU. The detailed specs are as follows:

• Quad-band GSM (850 \ 900 \ 1800 \ 1900 MHz), quad-band 3G (850 \ 900 \ 1900 \ 2100 MHz).
• 5.2" (l) x 2.7" (w) x 0.4" (9 mm) (d), 133 grammes.
• Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich).
• Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A9 CPU, ULP GeForce GPU, 1 GB RAM.
• 8 mp rear and 1.3 mp front camera.
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n with hotspot support, DLNA, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS (with A-GPS), NFC.
• 16 GB of internal storage, 32 GB microSD card slot.
• Micro-USB 2.0 port with MHL support (video out), 3.5 mm jack.
• 2150 mAh battery.
• FM radio and a standard set of sensors.

UI And Performance
The 4X HD features Android 4.0 out of the box, with LG's Optimus UI v3.0 on top of it. Unlike the lacklustre performance of its predecessor, this handset delivers a smooth and pleasant user experience. LG has started paying attention to the software, and the results are positive. The interface is clean, and even transition effects are virtually lag-free. Although the handset is powered by a same Tegra 3 chipset as found in the One X, I found the 4X HD's performance way better than HTC's flagship phone. While the interface does not have too many software tricks, there's a unique feature that allows you to replace app icons with images of your choice. Check out the second screenshot in the gallery below to see what it looks like.

Every game that I tried on this smartphone worked well. However, I felt that the loading times were slightly longer than the GS3. The browser is quick to render pages, and supports web videos as well. Overall, there's nothing to complain about in the interface and performance departments.


Multimedia
The music player's interface is simple and easy to use. It offers aDolby Mobile enhancement mode, as well as a plethora of equaliser settings. Sadly, the sound quality isn't as good as you'd expect from a high-end phone.

Thanks to its big 4.7" screen though, the 4X HD is ideal for watching movies. The phone supports most video formats including MP4, DivX, XviD, and MKV out of the box. Moreover, it offers a few interesting features, such as the ability to control the playback speed from 0.5x to 2x, zooming in and out of a video, and an enhanced seek bar that displays a thumbnail of the frame at that location.

The 8 mp camera is accompanied by a single LED flash. It offersContinuous Shot (burst shot), Panorama, and HDR modes. Although there's no dedicated capture button, the <VOLUME -> key serves this purpose, much like the iPhone. The shutter speed isn't as fast as compared to its rivals, and it can only capture around 10 images in 7 seconds. However, the resulting shots contain a good amount of detail, and also deliver natural colours. On the flip side though, the image quality is marred by excessive noise. This is a big letdown for a top-end phone.

The 4X HD is capable of recording 1080p videos at 30 fps. You can also take snaps during the recording process. The clips are saved in the MP4 format and offer smooth playback. The high-quality video recording is the only saving grace of the phone's camera. Click here to check out the sample.


Telephony, Messaging, Battery, And Verdict
Unlike the current crop of high-end phones, the 4X HD has a normal SIM slot, which is a good thing. The phone's network reception is strong, as expected at this price point. Additionally, the signal strength of the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections is also quite good. Coming to the subject of messaging, the onscreen keyboard isn't very well designed, but the large screens size ensures that you don't hit the wrong keys too often. Finally, the 2150 mAh battery lasts up to around 5 hours under heavy use, which I think is good enough for a quad-core Android phone. Under normal use, it should safely take you through a normal working day.

LG has made a strong comeback in the high-end segment with the 4X HD. It has a nice design, pleasant UI, and great performance. In the display, camera, and audio departments though, its nemesis the GALAXY S III takes the lead. However, considering that the 4X HD is around 5 grand cheaper, it's still a good deal for those who desire to own a quad-core phone, don't care about having a very good camera, and have a budget that's limited to Rs 35,000.


Features: 4/5
Design And Build Quality: 3.5/5
Performance: 4/5
Value For Money: 3.5/5
Mojo: 3.5/5

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

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Review: Resistance: Burning Skies (PS Vita)

Pros:Touchscreen integration is great; Fun if you like mindless shooters; Headshots are unintentionally hilarious.

Cons:Terrible production values; Disjointed storyline; Depressing environments; Gunfire is too loud.

Resistance: Burning Skies (PS Vita)
Developer: Nihilistic Software
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
Genre: Action \ First Person Shooter
Street Price (As On 1-Aug-2012): Rs 2,400 (BuyThePrice.com, Flipkart.com); Rs 2800 (Game4u.com,HomeShop18.com)

When Resistance: Burning Skies (BS) was first announced, a heavy burden of expectation was strapped firmly on its back. BS wasn't just a spin-off of Nihilistic's bestselling Resistance franchise. The first shooter to make its way onto the PS Vita, it was seen as the dawn of a new era in handheld gaming; an era that proudly boasted of two analogue sticks and a touchscreen that promised to add a new dimension to gameplay. Hype is a good thing — provided you can live up to it. Does Burning Skies deliver the goods?

Yes and no. Well, mostly no. It's a reasonably fun game with some interesting ideas, but fundamental flaws and woeful presentation hold it back from laying down a meaningful marker for the rest to follow.
 

Burning Skies looks dull for the most part, but it does have its moments.

Alien Vs Firefighter
BS is set somewhere between Resistance: Fall of Man and Resistance 2. Your character is a firefighter who goes from grappling with hoses and poles to fighting alien invaders in a span of 30 seconds. This is followed by an "emotional" reunion with his wife and kid, who just so happen to be running from aliens in the same neighbourhood. More alien encounters and a meeting with a military general ensue, and that's just the first 15 minutes. Putting it mildly, the plot is uninteresting and all over the place. Cutscenes are long and annoying, almost pleading with you to believe there's a story beneath the stupidity. You'll often find yourself mashing keys all over the place hoping to skip them, but sadly, you can't. If you're the kind of gamer who likes an engaging storyline, you will not find it in BS. It's a mindless shooter, through and through.
 

Heads Will Fly… Hilariously
Visually, BS does an average job. The textures are sharp, albeit incredibly dull. The game seems to have a distinct lack of colour, and the tones of red and brown get overbearing and downright depressing at times. That being said, the weapons, characters, and environments are quite detailed — just don't expect PS3 quality though. While fires and explosions look great, shooting the heads off aliens turns out to be downright comical. Heads topple with abandon and roll along the ground like tennis balls in a manner that would make developers from 1999 proud. Yes, I know it's a handheld console, but I've seen mannequins react to decapitation more convincingly. The in-game audio is not particularly special either. While the background score is tolerable, it's completely drowned out by the monotonous gunfire that rattles on tirelessly through the numerous gunfights. The overall presentation and production values of Burning Skies are nowhere near the levels of its PS3 counterparts. It's just one large helping of "meh".
 

The aliens stole their costumes from the sets of A Game of Thrones. True story.

Touch Me, Baby!
Getting to the good stuff now: the one department where Burning Skies isn't decidedly mediocre is the gameplay. The control scheme is a standard dual-analogue layout, with the shoulder buttons serving to aim and shoot. The touchscreen adds an interesting new variable to the mix, and for the most part, lends flavour to the gameplay without seeming tacked on. This is how it works — you have an arsenal of eight guns, which are unlocked as you progress through the game. Each gun has a primary firing mode mapped to the right shoulder button, just like any other FPS. However, the secondary fire options operate through touchscreen interactions. For instance, your first gun, called the Bullseye, allows you to lock on to a target by tapping it on the screen, and fires all your shots unerringly at it. Another gun that can shoot through walls lets you pinch the screen to create a bulletproof barrier in front of you. The system takes a while to get used to, and you'll end up messing up your attacks the first dozen times, but it's a pretty seamless experience and works well once you learn the ropes. Each new weapon comes with a training video that is easy to grasp. At the regular difficulty level, BS allows you enough leeway to use your abilities to the fullest, without being overrun by your foes. This system adds variety to what would otherwise be a straight shoot-em-up, and makes it that little bit more satisfying. More thought towards level design and set pieces could have made things more challenging, but it's not a bad first attempt.

The single-player campaign lasts around five to six hours, but there isn't anything in there that will make you want to play through it again. The experience is completely linear, with wave after wave of aliens that get progressively better armed. Boss fights can get a bit intense, but are repetitive in general, with the standard formula of targeting weak points on Chimera behemoths. A multiplayer mode does exist, with support for up to eight players in deathmatch modes, but that's about all there is on offer.
 

Touchscreen mechanics help shield you from bullets, but are sadly ineffective against the mediocre storyline.

Resist The Urge!
Resistance: Burning Skies is a reasonable foray into the PS Vita's first-person shooter market. It shows that there's potential to be tapped and that the Vita is most definitely suited for the FPS genre. There are some great ideas in here, but the disjointed storyline, poor production values, and dull visuals make this a hard game to recommend. The touchscreen component is impressive, but the basic elements of a good game are missing. At Rs 2,400, which I personally find ridiculous for a handheld title, you're better off giving the game a skip and hoping that the next big PS Vita shooter is a better-rounded package.

Gameplay And Design: 3.5/5
Graphics: 3/5
Sound: 2/5
Mojo: 2.5/5

Overall Rating: 3/5

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