Harish Jonnalagadda is the Regional Editor at Android Central. A reformed hardware modder, he now spends his time writing about India's burgeoning handset market. Previously, he used to ponder the meaning of life at IBM. Contact him on Twitter at @chunkynerd.
If the rumors are any indication, ZTE's upcoming Nubia Z7 handset will not only pack a wallop, but the Android flagship smartphone will also be a sleek piece of kit. Teasers of the device from last month indicated a metallic construction, which has been further reinforced by live photos of the device. The images, which were posted on China's Sina Weibo, showcase thin bezels and a...
Samsung officially announced the Galaxy Tab S series of Super AMOLED tablets at an event in New Delhi today. Set to go on sale in two weeks' time, the flagship tablets are aimed as an alternative to the iPad Air in India. Samsung has launched the 3G-enabled models initially in the country, with the LTE variants set to arrive once later this year. The 8.4-inch Galaxy Tab S will retail...
Skype has announced that it is changing the way it charges VAT to EU customers. Instead of charging VAT when customers add credit, Skype will add the relevant taxes when you actually use the service to make a call or buy a new subscription. Until now, 15% VAT (8% for Swiss residents) was charged while purchasing credit, so if you were to buy €10 worth of credit, you would have been...
Rumored to launch later this month, Samsung's Galaxy S5 Mini is now official. The device features the same design with the textured back as the Galaxy S5, in a smaller form factor. Samsung is also bringing features that were exclusive to the Galaxy S5, like IP67 certification, Ultra Power Saving Mode, a heart rate monitor and the fingerprint scanner. The Galaxy S5 Mini features much...
Samsung has diversified its product portfolio even further by launching four new smartphones running Android 4.4 KitKat that are geared toward budget consumers. The new additions to the Galaxy lineup includes the Galaxy Core II, Galaxy Ace 4, Galaxy Young 2 and the Galaxy Star 2. All smartphones feature Samsung's TouchWiz Essence skin, which is essentially a lightweight version of...
Samsung is getting ready to launch a mini version of the Galaxy S5, which is reportedly set to hit retailers next month. According to SamMobile, the device will be available world-wide. Citing an anonymous insider source, the SamMobile report suggests that the Galaxy S5 mini will include some of the features that are seen on the standard Galaxy S5, which include a fingerprint sensor...
LG's latest handset for China, dubbed the G3 Beat, may well be the oft-rumored G3 mini. The device, which was launched at a trade exhibition in China, boasts the G3 branding as well as a design that is similar to that of the faux metal back of the original G3. If this device does indeed turn out to be the G3 mini, it will be the largest "mini" variant ever launched. With a screen...
After expanding to several South Asian markets earlier this year, Xiaomi is getting set to launch in India. According to sources familiar with the matter, the Chinese handset vendor will offer its handsets exclusively on Flipkart, India's largest online retailer. Xiaomi is initially expected to launch two smartphones in the Indian market within the next two to three months. The deal...
HTC has already committed to bringing Android L to its devices within 90 days of the code going live, but that doesn't mean that the Taiwanese manufacturer is not focused on the current version of Android. A leaked document from XDA contributor llabtoofer revealed that HTC will begin rolling out the Android 4.4.4 update to the One M8 and last year's One M7 sometime between July and...
It looks like Verizon will have two new LG handsets on offer, as a leak earlier today revealed that in addition to the G3, the carrier will also stock a device by the name of LG G Vista, which is claimed to be a "Lite" variant of the G Pro 2. There aren't any details as to what the hardware G Vista might feature, but if the image above is any indication, it looks like the device...
At its annual I/O conference yesterday, Google unveiled the Google Fit health tracking platform that allows devs to build apps that can fetch data from a slew of wearable devices. While no devices were mentioned at the event, a series of leaks today suggest that Adidas is getting set to launch a smartband that runs on the platform. Dubbed miCoach Fit Smart, Adidas' smartband looks...
If you were looking to get both the LG G3 and the G Watch, here's a nifty way to save some cash. UK carrier Three has announced that all customers purchasing a G3 will be eligible to buy the G Watch for a discounted price of £99, allowing you to shave £70 off the retail cost of the smartwatch (Three is selling the G Watch for £169, whereas the Play Store is listing it for £159). To...
Update: Carphone Warehouse has also started selling the LG G3 online, with all three color variations available for purchase with next-day delivery. Original story follows. Can't wait till next Tuesday to buy the LG G3? You're in luck, as UK retailer Unlocked Mobiles has started selling the device ahead of other outlets like Amazon. The retailer's website lists the G3 as being in stock...
Razer's getting into the connected entertainment market by announcing a micro-console powered by Android TV. Set to launch later this fall, Razer's micro-console will be focused on gaming, and will be able to stream movies, music and other apps. Although Razer isn't divulging the exact hardware used in the micro-console, the brand's CEO and founder Min-Liang Tan said that users would...
After launching the first batch of Android Wear smartwatches on the US and the UK Play Store earlier today, Google has started listing the G Watch and the Gear Live in the Indian Play Store. LG'g G Watch is currently on pre-order for Rs. 14,999 ($249), with an estimated shipping date listed as July 8. Meanwhile, Samsung's Gear Live is listed as coming soon, with a price tag of Rs. 15...
Following years of rumors and speculation, Barnes & Noble has confirmed that it will be splitting its Nook hardware line and its brick and mortar retail business into two different companies. The move will be finalized by the end of the financial year. After enjoying a modicum of success initially, the Nook series of e-readers failed to maintain their momentum against the likes...
Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy Tab S series will be available in the UK starting July 4. The tablet lineup, which was unveiled earlier this month, will be available online and at several high street retailers including John Lewis, Carphone Warehouse and Dixons Group, along with Samsung Experience Stores and the Samsung Store at Westfield Stratford City. The 8.4-inch Wi-Fi only...
After launching exclusively in the US earlier this month, Facebook's Snapchat competitor service Slingshot is now available globally. The ephemeral photo sharing service handles messages slightly differently to Snapchat. To view an incoming image, you have to send an image back to the sender, without which you cannot view the message. Messages disappear shortly after they've been...
One of the major features in the Nokia X2, aside from the improved hardware, is the introduction of Nokia's software platform 2.0, which is based on a fork of Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. However, it looks like the new platform will be limited to the Nokia X2, as Microsoft has confirmed that earlier devices in the Nokia X family will not be compatible to receive the update. Microsoft said...
At a press event in New Delhi, Google India announced that the Voice Search feature is now compatible with most Indian dialects. The language option is limited to English, but the voice search engine can transliterate queries posed in Hindi. Google mentioned that it worked with over 700 volunteers from across the country to dial in the intonation and the "specific language models...