Category: Smartphones

How to update Moto E 2nd Gen to Android 6.0 Marshmallow
Motorola Moto E 2nd gen finally started to recieve Android 6.0 Marshmallow update in India. The size of the OTA update is around 450MB. So you need to have around double that space. The new Android 6.0 Marshmallow update for Moto E 2nd gen will bring new features like Now on Tap, Doze functionality which improves battery life, using microSD card as extension of internal storage etc.

Useful links:

How to take screenshot on Moto E

How to use Moto E as modem

Moto E 2nd gen pros and Cons

How to update Moto E 2nd Gen to Android 6.0 Marshmallow

Before starting the update, it is better to fulfill some of the prerequisites. They are
- Battery is charged at aleast 50%.
- Have atleast 1GB free space.
Now here is the update procedure.

There are 2 scenarios.
1. If you have received a notification message for this update:
  - Select “Yes, I’m in”.
  - After the software is downloaded, select “Install now”.
  - After the software is installed, your phone will re-start automatically.
  - Your phone is now updated to Android 6.0.
2. If you have not received a notification message for this update:
  - Select the Settings icon in the apps menu.
  - Select “About phone”.
  - Select “System updates”.
  - Select “Yes, I’m in”. After the software is downloaded, select “Install now”.
  - After the software is installed, your phone will re-start automatically.
  - Your phone is now updated to Android 6.0.
Motorola has released Android 6.0 update for its Moto G series(Starting Moto G 2nd Gen) and Moto X series. Now it is the turn for Moto E. Android 6.0 Marshmallow update as of now available through OTA in India only. But it expected to roll other parts of the world as well very soon.

If you haven’t got the update, don’t be panic. The update will come in phases. With this update, Moto E 2nd Gen will be most affordable smartphone to run on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. If you already recieved updated, don’t forget to share your experience with new OS in the comment section below.
February 19, 2016
Samsung Galaxy A5 2016 Features and FAQ

Samsung has recently launched 2016 variant of Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A7. Both devices share similar specification in many aspects. The key difference are display screen size, RAM and the battery. In this post we will have a quick look into features of the Samsung Galaxy A5 2016 which are segregating into questions and answers.

Samsung Galaxy A5 2016 edition FAQ

What are the different variants Galaxy A5 2016 available?

Mainly Galaxy A5 2016 comes with 2 processor variants. One is powered by Snapdragon 615 Soc and the other one is Exynos 7580. The model which is available in India is powered by Exynos 7580 Soc which is a 64 bit 1.6GHz Octa core processor(Cortex A53) with Mali T20 GPU. It has 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. It also supports microSD card.

What are the different colours options available?

Samsung Galaxy A5 2016 will be available with 3 different colours variants namely Gold, White and Black.

Does it has seperate dual sim slot or hybrid slim slot?

Galaxy A5 2016 has dual sim card slot+ seperate memory card slot.

How is the display on this device? Does it has any protective glass?

The device sports 5.2 inch super AMOLED screen with a screen resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels and pixel density of ~424 ppi. The screen has Corning Gorilla glass 4 protection.

What about camera?

Samsung Galaxy A5 2016 houses 13MP primary camera with f1.9 lense and LED flash. The camera also has optical image stabilisation. There is also a 5MP front facing camera with f1.9 lense. Both camera are equipped to record videos at 1080p resolution.

What is battery capacity of Samsung Galaxy A5 2016? Does it has fast charging feature?

Galaxy A5 2016 model houses 2900 mAh battery with fast charging feature.

What is Android version? Will this device gets Android 6.0 Marshmallow?

Samsung Galaxy A5 2016 edition runs on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop out of the box. There is no official communication on Android 6.0 update as of now. However, this device is expected to get the update.

What are box content of Galaxy A5 2016 edition?

The box content are device, Quick start guide, sim ejector pin, microUSB to USB cable, Power adaptor which supports fast charging.

Does it has FM Radio?

Yes. It has.

What is the price of Galaxy A5 2016 edition? Where can I buy?

Samsung Galaxy A5 2016 edition price in India is Rs.29,400. You can purchase it from Snapdeal.com.

How to take screenshot on Galaxy A5 2016

To take screenshot on Samsung Galaxy A5 2016, there are 2 different methods available. One is through the Power button and home key and another one is through palm swipe method. I have done detailed post on these method. You can read that in my previous post on how to take screeenshot on Samsung Galaxy smartphones.

Can I use Samsung Galaxy A5 2016 as modem to share mobile data with PC and other devices?

Galaxy A5 2016 supports USB tethering, Wi-Fi Hotspot and Bluetooth tethering features. Using these features, you can share mobile data with other capable devices. You can read more on this in my previous post on how to use Samsung Galaxy as modem.

These are most commonly asked question on this device. If you have any specific questions, you can ask using the comment section below. I will be doing the complete indepth review on Samsung Galaxy A5 2016 in the coming days which will cover pros and cons of the device.

February 17, 2016
Top 5 Features of Letv Le 1S
LeEco(previously known as LeTv) has recently entered into Indian smartphone market with the launch of Le Max and Le 1s. LeEco Le Max is the flagship smartphone and LeEco Le 1s is the midrange smartphone.

Letv Le 1S or LeEco Le 1s price in India is Rs.10,999 and will be available exclusively via Flipkart flash sale. The first flash sale starts from 2nd Feb. For registering for the flash sale you can visit here. At this price point, this smartphone has attracted huge response. It will compete with the likes of Coolpad Note 3, Moto G3, Honor 5X and Lenovo K4 Note.

Letv Le 1S offers some unique features which are rare to be seen in this price segment. So here is the list of Top 5 features of LeEco Le 1s. This is not an review. We will be doing indepth review on Letv Le 1S in the coming days.

Top 5 Features of Letv Le 1S
1. Design: There are multiple good looking smartphone in the budget Android smartphone segment. But Letv Le 1S stands out with its full-metal unibody design which according to company made from aircraft-grade aluminium. This gives a premium feel to the device. Though it sports 5.5 inch screen, it feels comfortable to hold and operate. The dimensions of the device are 74.2×151.1×7.6 mm and weighs 169 g.
2. Fingerprint scanner: There are couple of smartphones with fingerprint scanner in this price segment. The fingerprint scanner on the Le 1s is claimed to be the world’s first with a mirrored surface. According to company, scanner on the Le 1s is scratchproof and has an accuracy of 99.3 percent with an unlock speed of 0.15 seconds.
3. 4K Video Recording: This is another feature which is very rare to be seen in budget smartphones. It can record 4K videos at 4K recording at 30fps and 720p at 120 fps. It has 13-megapixel camera with LED flash and phase-detection autofocus (PDAF) which can focus an object in just 0.09 seconds. There is also a 5-megapixel front-facing camera which can also record videos at 1080p.
4. USB Type-C connector and IR Blaster: As of now there are very few smartphones feature USB Type C connector(Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, One Plus 2). LeEco Le 1s features USB Type-C connector with fast charging. As per company statement, 5 mins of charge can provide upto 3.5 hours of talk time on this device. Inclusion of IR Blaster increases its chances of earning some extra scores with its competetor.
5. Narrow Bezel Display screen: We have seen budget smartphones with 5.5 inch screen. But where LeEco Le 1s stands out is its display with ultra-thin bezel. It offers an impressive 80.3 percent screen-to-body ratio(iPhone 6s offers just 68.2 percent) .
Apart from these features, LeEco Le 1s has impressive specification sheet. It is powered by 2.2 GHz Helio X10 Turbo MTK 6795T Octa Core Processor with 3GB of RAM and Power VR G6200 GPU. The device has inbuilt storage of 32GB. It supports Dual sim (Micro SIM and Nano SIM) with 4G LTE connectivity. The sensors in the device are Compass, Magnetometer, Gravity Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Light Sensor, Infrared Sensor, Fingerprint Sensor.
January 30, 2016
Lenovo Vibe X3 With Snapdragon 808 Soc, 21MP camera launched in India
Lenovo has launched Vibe X3 smartphone in India. The sale for the device will start from 28th January 2PM via Amazon.in. The Lenovo Vibe X3 price in India is Rs.19,999. As of now only Matte White option available for open sale.

Lenovo Vibe X3 sports 5.5 inch IPS display screen with 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution. Lenovo claims it has unique display that offers 100 percent NTSC colour reproduction,1500:1 contrast ratio and features 178 degree wide viewing angle. Lenovo Vibe X3 has hybrid dual-SIM slots, which means users can use either two SIM cards or a single SIM card alongside a microSD card.

Lenovo Vibe X3 is powered by hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor(dual core A57 at 1.8GHz + quad-core A53 at 1.4GHz) paired with 3GB of DDR3 RAM and Adreno 418 GPU. The onboard storage is 32GB and supports microSD card upto 128GB. It packs 3500mAh battery and offers a fingerprint sensor at the rear panel.

Lenovo Vibe X3 houses 21-megapixel rear camera with Sony IMX230 sensor, LED flash, PDAF (phase detection autofocus), 6P Lens, f/2.0 aperture, and 4K video recording support. There is also a 8-megapixel front facing camera. Vibe X3 offers has Vibe Enhancement features such as the Pro Mode, Smart Assist, Slow Motion, and Nightscape.

The connectivity features of Lenovo Vibe X3 are 4G LTE, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, NFC, USB OTG and Micro USB. It runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop with VIBE UI on top. The smartphone comes with two front-facing stereo speakers powered by Dolby Atmos tech. It uses Wolfson-powered audio technology for calls, along with Hi-Fi Lenovo Sound with HD audio. Lenovo has bundled some of the gesture controls such as tap-to-wake, flip to sleep etc.

Lenovo Vibe X3 supports TheatreMax,which enables a larger viewing experience by using an AntVR headset. Customer who need AntVR headset can buy it by paying additional Rs 1,299. One more additional accessory is Skullcandy Ando earphones which is also available for purchase at Rs 1,299. Coming to design aspect, Vibe X3 is made up of high quality thermosetting synthetic resin build at the back. The device measures 9.3mm at the thickest and 3.4mm on the sides. The actual performance we will know, once we complete the Lenovo Vibe X3 review.

Lenovo Vibe X3 Specification
- 5.5 inch IPS display screen with 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution.
- hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 SoC with 3GB of DDR3 RAM and Adreno 418 GPU.
- 32GB internal storage and support for microSD card upto 128GB GB.
- Hybrid Dual sim Slot.
- 21MP primary camera and 8MP front facing camera.
- 4G LTE, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, NFC, USB OTG and Micro USB.
- 500mAh battery and fingerprint scanner.
January 27, 2016
Asus Zenfone Zoom with 3X Optical Zoom and 128GB storage
Almost an year after it first announced in January 2015, Asus Zenfone Zoom finally launched in India. The main selling point of this Asus smartphone is its 3x optical zoom. As a bundled offer, customer will get tripod and ZenFlash along with this smartphone with discounted additional price. Asus Zenfone Zoom price in India is Rs 37,999 and for the tripod and ZenFlash bundled offer price is Rs 39,999.

The Asus Zenfone Zoom comes with 13MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera. The key feature of the primary camera includes 3x optical zoom, 10-element Hoya lens configuration which uses a dual prism periscope module design to capture more light, 4 stop optical image stabilization which ensures stutter free handheld shots even for 1 sec exposures. The camera also has all the good features we have seen on other Zenfone such as laser auto focus, manual shooting modes, super resolution etc. Apart from this, Zenfone Zoom supports 32 second exposure mode. But do remember that, this feature can only be used along with tripod.

Recommended Reading:

How to take screenshot on Asus Zenfones

The new Asus Zenfone Zoom comes with Intel Atom Z3590 quad core processor which is clocked at 2.5GHz couples with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The device supports microSD card for additional storage. Unfortunately, Zenfone Zoom supports only one sim card. The connectivity features of the device are Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, 4G LTE (Cat 4) and microUSB 2.0. It runs on Android Lollipop with ZenUI on top.

Asus Zenfone Zoom sports 5.5 inch full HD display with Corning Gorilla Glass 4 protection. The display offers good viewing angles and good levels of brightness. The device is made up with aerospace-grade alloy which provides a solid-looking construction. Zenfone Zoom houses 3000mAh Li-polymer non removable battery. It comes with 18W power adapter. According to company, this can charge the battery from 0 to 60 percent in just 39mins.

These are only the first impression on Asus Zenfone Zoom. This is done based more by looking at the spec sheet. However, in the coming days we will be making an indepth review on Asus Zenfone Zoom.

Asus Zenfone Zoom Specification
- 5.5-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) display with Corning Gorilla Glass 4 protection.
- 2.5GHz quad-core Intel Atom Z3590 processor with PowerVR G6430 GPU.
- 4GB LPDDR3 RAM, 128GB internal memory, expandable memory up to 128GB via micro SD.
- Android 5.0 (Lollipop) with ZenUI.
- 13MP rear camera with OIS, 3X optical zoom, f/2.7-4.8 aperture, Laser AF, Real Tone flash
  5MP front-facing camera.
- Dimensions: 158.9 x 78.84 x 5~11.95 mm; Weight 185g.
- 4G LTE / 3G HSPA+, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, NFC.
- 3000mAh battery with ASUS BoostMaster fast charging.
Image source: Maxabout.com.
January 25, 2016