Hitechnex

Smarter, Better, Faster: Tech trends from 2013

Hitechnex 0 Android, Gadgets, Laptops, Smartphone, Technology 31.12.13

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It is that time of the year, the time to take stock of trends that worked for tech companies and the ones that didn't. It is becoming increasingly tough for them as product cycles get shorter and consumers more demanding. In 2013, things changed faster than most of us expected. What was predicted to be a trend at the beginning of the year was nowhere to be found by Christmas. New ones emerged mid-year and became stronger as the months passed. Here are three trends that impacted you the most in the year that was.<br />
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Smartphones, smarter phones<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ELuPqvdk9Do/UsPHGXWdyXI/AAAAAAAAAWw/vn1WLKa0Tbw/s1600/M_Id_452925_eye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ELuPqvdk9Do/UsPHGXWdyXI/AAAAAAAAAWw/vn1WLKa0Tbw/s320/M_Id_452925_eye.jpg" width="320" /></a>This was the year in which smartphones started selling more than feature phones. And the credit for this has to go to affordable Android phones powered by cheap processors from companies like MediaTek, and Nokia's Lumia 520 which has made Microsoft's Windows Phone operating system affordable. In India, you can buy an Android smartphone for as low as Rs 4,000 though the performance of such devices does not compare to high-end models. But that is immaterial when you consider that these phones are democratising not just smart devices, but also taking the internet to places it has never been before. The result: More Indians access the Web from phones than from computers.<br />
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The smartphone has also become smarter than before. Yes, it is evolution, but the march of the smartphone has been at the cost of many devices, ranging from point and shoot cameras to radios. The smartphone can now be an assistant, not one that needs to be spoken to like iPhone's Siri, but one that will speak to you like the Moto X. Voice control has been there for a few years now. But 2013 will be remembered as the year in which it was perfected, well almost. Smartphones have also become intelligent to the extent of being able to take some decisions on their own. The calendar on iOS when working at full capability will tell you how long it will take you to reach from one meeting to the other, and reschedule the second according to the expected time of arrival. It will even send a text message about the delay to the person you are supposed to meet. Apple also ushered in a technology that might change our lives in a couple of years. The finger print reader on the new iPhone 5s could be the death of passwords as we know it. Soon you might just need your finger to get through to your email, bank account and app store.<br />
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C<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px;">onverting Computing</b><br />
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The two-in-one is not dead and buried. In fact, the term made a re-appearance this year. Not as a music system that you could carry on your shoulder, but a laptop that could become a tablet when needed. The first wave of Windows 8 devices that could turn, twist or tear to bring the screen close to the user to make the best of the touch-optimised operating system appeared this year. But despite their flexibility, they did not really fly off the shelves, as they were expensive at one end of the scale and underpowered on the other. By the end of the year, what has started out as ultrabook convertibles and tablet hybrids is being branded as 2-in-1s. Rest assured, you haven't heard the last of these devices.</div>
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The biggest visible change in personal computing was the advent of touch, thanks to Windows 8. Now, even entry-level devices have touchscreen options. It is not that you cannot use Windows 8 without touching the screen, but it is definitely a better experience. It also helped that touchscreen panels became affordable as their numbers started increasing. There are still laptop screens without touch, but this added feature will soon become a standard as the price will hardly make a difference.</div>
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We have all been talking about cloud computing for years now. This year, however, the cloud literally came down with the Google Chromebook. This new breed of computers, which have finally made their debut in India, are among the most affordable PCs as they keep almost everything in the cloud, right from the software to your files. Microsoft too has made cloud the default in its new operating system, as far as saving files is concerned. And, you might not have realised it, but almost all of the internet services you use are enabled by the cloud.</div>
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Everything is Wireless</div>
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When Nokia Launched the Lumia 920 in 2012 with Qi wireless charging, many thought of it as a gimmick. A year down the line, there are more phones from the company and many others that support this feature without the need to tout it. With the last frontier in wireless technology almost breached, you will now see this feature coming to all sorts of devices, from cameras to electric cars. Finally, a way out of the tangle of wires that we find ourselves in.</div>
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Wireless technology, meanwhile, has made inroads into a lot of new device streams, from cameras to televisions. Digital cameras can now share an image they have shot and corrected without help from wires or a computer to which it had been fettered since their inception. Televisions, on the other hand, now link up directly to the internet, thus shrugging off their dependence on programmed content. Many people now just watch YouTube on large screen televisions, not bothering with what local channels have to show.</div>
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The wireless capabilities of devices are ushering in what is being called the internet of Things, characterised by their ability not only to go online but to talk among themselves. A typical example are smartwatches which are synced with smartphones, letting you take and make calls, see messages and even keep a tab on your engagements. My cameras, too, can now talk to phones and the computer. The dialogue has truly begun.</div>
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Predictions</div>
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In these days of flux, it is difficult to stick your neck out and predict what will happen in the coming year. But we are putting ourselves under the guillotine and noting five trends:</div>
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<b>1. Larger smartphones: </b>The phablets — smartphones larger than five and smaller than seven inches — will become the norm, as there will be no real reason to buy a smaller device when the larger one will cost the same.</div>
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<b>2. Smaller tablets: </b>The larger 10-inch tablets will become a niche product as the seven and eight inches will become the sizes of choice since they are easier to handle. Most of them will also be able to make calls.</div>
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<b>3. Newer ways to communicate:</b>Voice has been conquered, now the focus shifts to gesture and a more natural experience on touchscreens. You will see a push towards better ways of communicating with your devices than pushing buttons.</div>
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<b>4. Wearable devices:</b>From intelligent fabrics to goggles and smartwatches, the market will soon flood with stuff that can be worn and won't need to be carried around. It remains to be seen if they can actually replace popular devices.</div>
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<b>5. Intelligence inside:</b> More devices will connect to the Web on their own and talk to their smart counterparts to make life easier for you. Cars, home appliances and security devices are first in line for this makeover. </div>
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Smarter, Better, Faster: Tech trends from 2013

It is that time of the year, the time to take stock of trends that worked for tech companies and the ones that didn't. It is becoming i...

Review BSNL Champion Trendy 531: Buy this phone if you need decent performance and a great battery

Hitechnex 0 Android, BSNL, Gadgets, Reviews, Smartphone, Technology 31.12.13

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BSNL it trying its best to woo the non-metro crowd. Its latest is a collaboration with Champion computers, a Phablet called BSNL Champion Trendy 531. Products with the BSNL tag, like the company's services, have most of the time failed to impress me. But I unboxed Champion Trendy 531 with the hope of finding something good, something that might get it some buyers.<br />
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At first glance the device looked fine, But was it good enough to change my perception about BSNL? The Champion Trendy 531 is a dual SIM phablet, and works well with both GSM and GSM/WCDMA SIMs. However, the only concern is that you need a microSIM to access 3G as the SIM slot 1 supports only 2G.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Design</span></b><br />
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BSNL Champion Trendy 531 looks like any other 5-inch phablet and features a generic budget smartphone look. The curvy plastic body holds a with 5.<br />
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3-inch QHD touchscreen display which offers 540x960 pixels at 240dpi. But the glossy finishing attracts a lot of smudges and fingerprints. And the resolution of the screen, makes you want more. Plus, it is almost impossible to see anything on this screen under direct sunlight.<br />
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The back panel felt cheap and there is always the fear that you might end up breaking it while opening the cover. The rear 13MP camera has a LED flash, while the front 5MP camera -- mistakenly quoted as 2MP on the box -- is placed on top of the display.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Performance</span><br />
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Thanks to the responsive touch screen and stock Android it was quite easy using the phone. The audio quality is good for calls, though at times there seemed to be a drop in volume. We did not notice any lag in usage, even with multiple apps open. So the 1.2Ghz quad-core processor seems to be doing a good job. To test the Trendy, I ran games like Temple Run and Angry Birds and hardly felt any lags .<br />
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BSNL 531 makes use of a massive 3200mAh battery and is good enough to last a couple of days with regular use. That is impressive. I was able to stream video over the Wi-Fi for five hours with full brightness. Also, the handset was able to deliver eight hours of talk time on one charge. yes, this battery is as good as the one on the Samsung Note III.</div>
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On of the biggest disappointments with the phone is the lack of storage space. In fact, there is just 2.70GB available for users and you will need to add a micro-SD card for more.</div>
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The 5MP front camera is quite good. In fact, the camera quality is good enough to give decent images indoors and outdoors.</div>
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<b>Should you buy it :</b> At Rs 13,999, this phone is a good option for those who need stable performance and a battery that will last.</div>
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<b>What is inside :</b>BSNL Champion Trendy 531 comes with a 1.2GHz MTK MT6589T quad-core Processor with 1GB RAM.</div>
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The handset is further operated on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS, and there is no skin overlaying. As expected, the handset comes with stock Android and most of the features are similar to that of other Jelly Bean handsets.</div>
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<b>Price: 13,999</b></div>
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<b>Rating: ****</b></div>
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Review BSNL Champion Trendy 531: Buy this phone if you need decent performance and a great battery

BSNL it trying its best to woo the non-metro crowd. Its latest is a collaboration with Champion computers, a Phablet called BSNL Champion...

Review Lenovo Yoga Tablet: Excellent ergonomics and battery, but an inferior display

Hitechnex 0 Android, Gadgets, Lenovo, Lenovo Yoga, Reviews, Smartphone, Technology 31.12.13

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Can you use a tablet with one hand? For most tablets, the answer is no, especially for long periods. Chinese manufacturer Lenovo is attempting to change that perception with a cylindrical metal grip on one side that lets users hold the tablet easily.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9YGp9lbzUlA/UsPDyuX89hI/AAAAAAAAAV0/8OTFxndF3Ek/s1600/lenovo440dec30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9YGp9lbzUlA/UsPDyuX89hI/AAAAAAAAAV0/8OTFxndF3Ek/s320/lenovo440dec30.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9YGp9lbzUlA/UsPDyuX89hI/AAAAAAAAAV0/8OTFxndF3Ek/s1600/lenovo440dec30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9YGp9lbzUlA/UsPDyuX89hI/AAAAAAAAAV0/8OTFxndF3Ek/s1600/lenovo440dec30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9YGp9lbzUlA/UsPDyuX89hI/AAAAAAAAAV0/8OTFxndF3Ek/s1600/lenovo440dec30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>Lenovo's Yoga moniker is no longer reserved for ultrabooks that can be bent backwards. The Chinese manufacturer, which recently said it has moved from being a PC maker to a PC-plus company, has brought the Yoga brand name to two unconventional tablets. Lenovo Yoga Tablet comes in two screen sizes. The 8-inch variant costs Rs 22,999, while the 10-inch model costs Rs 28,999. We reviewed the 8-inch Yoga Tablet, so read on to find out if the tablet is worth buying</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Design</span></div>
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Before venturing into the tablet's build, it is best to take a look at what is new. In a tablet market full of lookalikes, Lenovo Yoga Tablet stands out for its unique design. The tube grip on one edge of the tablet makes it easy to hold. Twisting the tube reveals a tiny stand, which is by far the most innovative addition to a tablet. If you have ever used an iPad with Apple's smart cover, you would know how much the typing experience improves after you fold the cover into a triangle to raise one edge of the iPad. The stand on the Yoga Tablet lets you do the same thing without paying around Rs 4,000 more, unlike the iPad. But at 401 grams, the tablet is too heavy for one-hand use.</div>
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Users can also use the stand to prop up the tablet. This, along with the front-facing speakers and Dolby sound, make watching films enjoyable on the Yoga Tablet. The only gripe is that the speakers were not loud enough for noisy places, but are good for watching films at home. Holding a tablet in your hand while watching films is cumbersome for various reasons such as aching or sweating hands, and the device's rising temperature, especially during summers. The stand eliminates that irksome experience altogether.</div>
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Lenovo is known for making sturdy devices, as evident with the company's rugged ThinkPad laptops, and the Yoga Tablet is no exception. The back panel of the tablet is made of metal and so is the tube grip. This gives the tablet a sturdy feel.</div>
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The placement of the power button is unconventional – at one end of the tube grip – but it's easy to find once users get used to the device.</div>
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Performance</div>
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Lenovo's practical approach to the tablet's design was encouraging, but the display is far from the best. Yoga Tablet 8's pricing pits it squarely against last year's iPad Mini and the display is just a shade inferior when compared to Apple's device. However, those looking to buy the 10-inch Yoga Tablet can get a much better display on the iPad Mini Retina (Rs 28,900). Those used to Retina display will find it very hard to accept the lower resolution screen on the Yoga Tablet. However, that is a compromise users will have to live with at this price point.</div>
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Yoga Tablet runs Android 4.2.2, but Lenovo has customised the OS. The app drawer has been removed entirely, which means that you will not have to tap a button to view a list of apps. All your apps are on the home screen by default, just like the layout in Apple's iOS. One area where the software differs from iOS is that you can place widgets on the home screen. I did not like Lenovo's customisations since stock Android feels much smoother and refined. There is no point trying to change the interface if the company cannot improve user experience. A slight lag was noticed when swiping between home screens, especially when many widgets were placed on one of the home screens.</div>
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For a mid-range tablet, the device performed as expected. This tablet is capable of running most games, but don't buy it if you want to play heavy games, such as Real Racing 3, all day. As with most tablets, the Yoga Tablet's camera is poor.</div>
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Android and excellent battery life are rarely seen in the same sentence. Earlier this year, Lenovo's P780 smartphone proved that stereotype wrong, although the phone was a little too bulky for most people. With the Yoga Tablet, Lenovo has given users excellent battery life in a sleek form factor. The secret – the tube grip houses its battery. It lasted around 10-11 hours on moderate to heavy usage.</div>
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Review Lenovo Yoga Tablet: Excellent ergonomics and battery, but an inferior display

Review Lenovo Yoga Tablet: Excellent ergonomics and battery, but an inferior display Can you use a tablet with one hand? For most t...

Review Sony a7: This full-frame can compete with any Canon or Nikon camera, if you can afford it

Hitechnex 0 Camera, Reviews, Sony, Technology 31.12.13

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Camera manufacturers are a worried lot. The improvement in phone cameras have over the past few years eroded almost all of their business in the point and shoot range. Almost everyone clicks pictures these days, but not all are using something that has been built exclusively for the purpose. This is why innovation has become the key to survival in the camera business. Nikon pushed the envelope a bit too far when it launched the D800 with a 36MP sensor, Canon was silent for a while before it thought of the ultra compact 100D. But since then, most of the innovation has happened from Sony, not exactly the first name that comes to your mind when you think of cameras. They launched the stunning RX1, a compact camera with a full-frame sensor, the RX100s that took compact cameras to a whole new level and now the new Sony Alpha a7 and a7R DSLRs, both full-frame mirror-less cameras in very manageable sizes. I put the Sony a7 to the test.<br />
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The design reminded me a lot of the RX1. In fact, the body is not much larger even though this is a full-frame DSLR. But the RX1, the great camera that it is, would develop a serious complex in front of this one. That is because this has a tiltable LCD panel, a proper eye piece though looking into an electronic OLED viewfinder and whole range of lenses to play with. It is compact, but build like a Colt with a body that will weather most storms, and dust storms, that come its way. All the ports are tucked away behind sturdy flaps. Despite the small built, the camera offers a very steady, DSLR-like, grip. There is a thumb rest near where all the controls are settles. There is a ring here to adjust the settings and another on up front accessible with your fingers. While framing a shot, both these will come in more than handy. There are two customisable buttons that maker life much easier. Plus, you can switch between auto focus and auto exposure lock on the body itself. I would have preferred this to have been a switch for manual focus.</div>

Review Sony a7: This full-frame can compete with any Canon or Nikon camera, if you can afford it

Camera manufacturers are a worried lot. The improvement in phone cameras have over the past few years eroded almost all of their business...

Revealed! Most downloaded smartphone apps of 2013

Hitechnex 0 Android, Apps, Gadgets 31.12.13

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TORONTO : Snapchat, Vine, and Candy Crush Saga earned coveted spots on smartphones this year, making them among the most downloaded apps of the year.<br />
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There are more than a million apps on Apple's App Store and Google's Play store, the two dominant marketplaces for apps, which see billions of downloads each year.<br />
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This year, the most downloaded apps were new takes on communication, gaming, and entertainment, according to mobile app experts.<br />
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"2013 was a really interesting year in terms of maturation, milestones and new trends," said Craig Palli, chief strategy officer at Fiksu, a mobile marketing company based in Boston.<br />
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"The most downloaded apps were in familiar categories, but offered new twists," he added.<br />
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While old favorites such as Instagram, Facebook and Twitter — available for iPhone, Android and other devices - continued to be popular ways of communicating with friends, Snapchat eclipsed them in downloads in 2013, becoming the sixth most downloaded free app of the year on the App Store, according to Apple.<br />
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"Snapchat went from being a niche app to achieving much more critical mass, so much so that Facebook was reportedly willing to spend billions of dollars to acquire the company," said Palli.<br />
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With Snapchat, users can send photos and videos that disappear shortly after they are viewed.<br />
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Launched in 2011, the app's user base continued to grow rapidly in 2013, with over 13 million people using the app in October, according to the latest available estimates from global information and measurement company Nielsen. In December alone, over 400 million pieces of content were shared through the app, according to Snapchat, based in Venice, CA.<br />
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Vine, a video sharing app released earlier this year by microblogging company Twitter, was the fourth most downloaded free app in 2013. The app, for iPhone, Android and other devices, allows users to share videos under six seconds in length. Nielsen estimates over 6 million people in the US were using the app in October of this year.<br />
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Snapchat and Vine fall into a category that mobile analytics firm Flurry calls camera-enhanced messaging, which they said grew eightfold in 2013.<br />
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"The communications category underwent phenomenal growth this year. Messaging apps like Snapchat, Line, Kakao (KakaoTalk) and WeChat are all exploding and becoming bigger than the carriers in their home countries in terms of users," said Simon Khalaf, chief executive of San Francisco-based company Flurry.<br />
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Crushing saga<br />
Games were another popular category, with Candy Crush Saga for iPhone, Android and Kindle Fire securing its position as the top downloaded free app, and as the top revenue grossing app. It has been downloaded over 500 million times since its launch last year, according to its creator King, based in the UK. Nielsen estimates that over 20 million people in the US were playing the game in October of this year.<br />
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In the entertainment category, Pandora continued to be the leading way to stream music and was the ninth most downloaded, and third top grossing, app in 2013.<br />
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"Clearly the device has swallowed radio," said Palli. "Despite the new entrants, Pandora remains the dominant player in the space," he added.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-11j_2x5ZKVo/UsO5OdThkAI/AAAAAAAAAVM/mHxbqFwM8lA/s1600/open-app.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-11j_2x5ZKVo/UsO5OdThkAI/AAAAAAAAAVM/mHxbqFwM8lA/s1600/open-app.jpg" title="This year, the most downloaded apps were new takes on communication, gaming, and entertainment, according to mobile app experts." /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This year, the most downloaded <br />apps were new takes on <br />communication, gaming, and <br />entertainment, according to mobile app experts.</td></tr>
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But the biggest trend of 2013, according to Palli, is the emergence of apps as a way to control companion devices, which he believes will continue to grow in 2014.<br />
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On Christmas Day, apps that pair with devices were among some of the top downloaded apps on the App Store.<br />
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The Fitbit app, for iPhone and Android, pairs with an electronic wristband to track metrics such as steps taken, distance traveled, and calories burned. It was the 16th most downloaded app on December 25, according to Palli, who monitored the Apple rankings.<br />
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Other apps that pair with devices, such as Chromecast, UP by Jawbone, and GoPro were also among the top downloads that day.<br />
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Khalaf predicts that apps for televisions will be the trend to watch for 2014.<br />
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"I think 2014 could be the year the TV industry gets disrupted by mobile," said Khalaf.<br />
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"If you think about it, every American spends $100+ dollars per month on a service that is not personalized and not mobile. It's an area that's ripe for disruption and I think someone will come up with new content, maybe a new device and more importantly a better business model."<br />
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