Why is Nexus 10 still a top tablet? (2014 Review)

Even after one and half year of its release, Nexus 10 remains as one of the best tablets to choose right now. This 2012 tablet made by Samsung still has got no “outdated” label on it. Nexus 4, 7 and 10 are released in 2012 November and after then Nexus 4 is succeeded by Nexus 5 similarly Nexus 7 is succeeded by Nexus 7 2013 model however Nexus 10 has remained untouched as the device still has got good a“spects” for being a tab. Let us see what makes this last tablet from Google still latest.

To be evergreen, any device needs two main ingredients: hardware and software. Nexus 10 software is always up to date as it is in the name Nexus i.e. as we all know that Google rolls out android updates first to all its Nexus devices and then followed to others.

When it comes to Nexus 10 hardware, we first have to talk about the pixel-rich screen, which is a huge 10-inch LPS display with 2560 x 1600 resolution that makes up to 300ppi. This resolution for a 10-inch tab is just awesome and even for now there are a very few tabs in the market right now that can match to this scale. Whether it may be high definition videos or high resolution games, Nexus 10 is a feast for pixel-lovers.

Kudos to the design of Nexus 10 which has overall a very good build quality, feels sleek for that size and the rubber finish makes it very easy to handle. This 10-incher is protected by a Corning Gorilla Glass 2 which makes it scratch-resistant. One of the best things Google has done is placing the speakers on the front side which make it sound clearer even when placed on a desk.

Nexus 10 is powered by a dual-core 1.7 GHz Cortex-A15 processor which is used in chromebooks and is very efficient and just does easy whatever task you throw at it. The graphics are handled by Mali GPU which makes graphics rich with zero glitch and sharp quality. With 2GB RAM on-board everything goes smooth on the machine.

Nexus 10 has got a 5MP primary camera with flash which makes photos look sharp and clear. Nexus 10’s 1.9MP secondary camera is whole a lot for video calling (and also for selfies). Relatively the tabs right now in the market have no huge advantages over the camera features of Nexus 10. In my opinion, moreover a tablet is used less frequently for taking pictures rather it’s often used for video-calling.

Nexus 10 is powered by 9000 mAh non-removable battery which can easily make you away from power socket for a day. With 5 to 7 hours of screen time, this device is a reliable beast to hangout with. Not many tablets have this long-lasting battery even for now.

Specs at a glance:
10-inch screen with 2560 x 1800 resolution (300ppi)
1.7 GHz MT8377 Dual Core Processor
2 GB RAM
Android 4.4.2
5 MP Primary Camera & 1.9MP Secondary Camera
Wi-Fi, NFC
9000mAh battery

Conclusion:
With a 10-inch screen with 300ppi pixel density, 1.7 GHz processor with 2GB RAM and a 9000mAh battery Nexus 10 is a bang for bucks and thus still a top selling tablet. After Nexus 10 though many tabs were released by Samsung and Apple they weren’t highly impressive relative to Nexus 10's price-to-specs ratio.

Best 3 top 3G tablets under Rs.10,000

With the advent of android, undeniably there’s an exponential rise in handheld devices in the world. Thanks to the ever increasing number of tablet manufacturers in India who have poured-in a lot of devices into market. At times, it’s difficult to find a best 3G tab under your budget. We have many tablets under Rs.10,000 from big players like Dell, HP and Lenovo but they don’t support 3G which has become a crucial deciding factor for tablet because in India we don’t find frequent Wi-fi (free) hotspots around. So let’s see the best 3 top 3G enabled tablets which are priced under Rs.10,000.

Note: One thing to observe here is that the below devices are not killer machines as the price tag we chose here is not a killer-one too, so let’s expect the best decent features within the stipulated price tag and the prices mentioned below may be tentative.

Micromax Funbook Mini P410i Rs.8299

Funbook Mini P410i is one of the finest devices tailored by Micromax. This 7-incher is a dual-sim tablet with a 1.2GHz dual-core processor coupled with a 1 GB RAM. It has got 1024 x 600 pixels resolution which is decent for a 7-inch tablet. It is powered by a 2800mAh battery. With a 5MP primary camera and a 2MP secondary camera, this device is a good one for photos and video-calling. This tab comes with 4GB on-board storage and can also be expandable upto 32GB. Above all, Funbook Mini P410i supports 3G.

Specs at a glance:
7-inch with 1024 x 600 resolution
Dual-sim
1.2 GHz MT8377 Dual Core Processor
1 GB RAM
4GB internal memory with expandable storage upto 32GB
5 MP Primary Camera & 2MP Secondary Camera
Wi-Fi & 3G enabled
Android v4.1.2 (Jelly Bean) OS
2800mAh battery

Pros:
3G enabled
OTG support

Cons:
Mediocre performance
Low internal memory
Battery

Bottom Line:
With impressive specs and an affordable price tag, Funbook Mini P410i is one of the best in this segment. If you are a not a device killer who suck out the performance out of the machine, then you can go with this tab as it offers decent specifications which includes a greater connectivity with 3G.

Lava E-Tab XTRON+ Tablet Rs.5499 

With a relatively less price tag in this segment, E-Tab XTRON+ tablet has specifications almost equal to that of Funbook Mini P410i. This 7-inch tablet has got 1.5 GHz Dual Core Cortex-A9 Processor with 1GB RAM. E-Tab XTRON+ has a resolution of 1200 x 600 pixels with 5 point touch. It is powered by 3700mAh battery which could last longer. With 2MP primary camera and 0.3 secondary camera Lava E-Tab XTRON+ Tablet is a compromise in this section. It is 3G enabled and you can also connect 3G dongles.

Specs at a glance:
7-inch with 1024 x 600 resolution
1.5 GHz Dual Core Cortex-A9 Processor
1 GB RAM
8GB internal memory with expandable storage upto 32GB
2 MP Primary Camera & 0.3MP Secondary Camera
Wi-Fi & 3G enabled
Android v4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) OS
3700mAh battery

Pros:
Price tag
Performance
Battery life
HDMI

Cons:
Camera
Poor after-sales service

Bottom line:
With a highly attractive price tag and specs Lava E-Tab XTRON+ Tablet is one of the best choices and it might be one of the reasons for it being often in out of stock in many sites. If you can compromise on camera and can deal with after-sales service then you could go for this.


iBall 3G 7271 HD70 Rs.7800

iBall is emerging as a leading manufacturer in India with its devices mainly the Andi series being promoted by Kareena Kapoor. iBall 3G 7271 HD70 is one the devices that are under Rs10,000 with decent specs. This tab comes with a 7-inch display with 1024 x 600 resolution. iBall 3G 7271 HD70 is powered by a ARM Cortex A7 1.3GHz dual core processor with 1GB RAM. It has got 2 MP primary camera and 0.3 MP secondary camera for video calling. With 3000mAh battery this tablet can be reliable to be worked on for long.

Specs at a glance:
7-inch with 1024 x 600 resolution
1.3 GHz Dual Core Cortex-A7 Processor
1 GB RAM
8GB internal memory with expandable storage upto 32GB
2 MP Primary Camera & 0.3MP Secondary Camera
Wi-Fi & 3G enabled
Android v4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) OS
3000mAh battery

Pros:
Battery-life
Decent performance.

Cons:
Camera
Poor looks

Bottom line:
If you wish to go for a tab just for browsing and watching videos you could go for this. But with poor looks and lower quality camera this tab is the one we should go for a reconsideration


Conclusion:
Above 3 tabs are chosen by me after reading many reviews on 3G tabs. I personally prefer Micromax Funbook Mini P410i as the best 3G tab under Rs.10,000 considering my friends’ feedback too. But if you can push your boundary a bit further I would recommend you go for Lenovo A7-50 tablet which has got 3G, 1.3GHz quad-core processor, 1280 x 800 pixels resolution, good camera and it’s from a trusted brand (that bought Motorola).

Can Firefox OS survive in India?

Mozilla recently announced that they would be expanding their smartphone market into India by partnering with Spice and Intex device manufacturers. Mozilla, the non-profit organization behind Firefox browser started developing Firefox OS to beat the open-source mobile OS giant Android. Last year, Mozilla launched Alcatel One Touch Fire which is a very low end featured phone and unfortunately that should not be debut phone for Firefox OS. With very low features and almost equal to basic phone, Firefox OS’s first impressions are not so stunning.

Why is it hard to beat android?
Mozilla is aiming at emerging smartphone markets for its Firefox OS devices. But the point is, can Firefox OS survive in India which is already crowded with innumerable android devices. Android has captivated a huge chunk of smartphone share in last few years and has become the favorite choice for the budget smartphone seekers. We could say Android has almost created monopoly in smart devices. Heading up to fight with the giant droid, Firefox OS should go with innovative, powerful and yet affordable strategies.

The power of Android lies in its OS and price. Thanks to indigenous manufacturers who brought android more close to India with a wide range of smartphone catalogue. Anyone can choose an android phone starting from Rs.3000 to 50,000 in India. To cover this wide price range for Firefox OS, it could take ages while the android would reign more.

While Mozilla is aiming at launch low-end smartphones for now, Android is making powerful devices that could almost replace a laptop. Moreover, with no significant feature better than android, Firefox OS’s future is uncertain. Andy Boxall from Digital Trends wrote an article titled “I used Firefox OS for 30 days and it made me want to quit phones forever”. He said that “If this is what Mozilla is sending to do battle with the mighty green Android, then it’s a suicide mission”.

Are we resistant to a new OS?
With Android and iOS people are comfortable and that made the path for a new OS very narrow. Because they are easy to use, have huge app markets, powerful yet affordable. In this scenario, a new OS with no ground-breaking innovation has a limited possibility for its survival.

With few apps it would take much more time for Firefox OS to make equivalent devices to Android and iOS. While the giants of mobile-OS are moving onto other segments of tech-gear like android watches, Mozilla has a high need to pull its socks tight to run faster.

Final word
Thus in regions like India where the smartphone market is too congested with local and international players, a new operating system is not a well welcomed aspect. Moreover, India is highly price-sensitive market where affordability of devices decide the penetration of the device. Best example from the recent past is Moto G which almost captured price segment (10k to 15k) with its affordable price and features.

So if Firefox OS would like to beat or at least fight with already established operating systems in India, it should and must come up with two weapons : innovative features and attractive price tag.

How to find font in Chrome

While browsing internet in Google Chrome we come across some stunning websites with many cool fonts that give beauty to the whole site. Not only a web designer but a normal viewer who appreciates design also sometimes wonder about the fonts used in the website which give that ravishing look.

If you want to find the fonts in an image there are many services like Myfonts and Whatfontis in which you can upload the image containing the text and it would give you the fonts that are used in that image. But when you want to find the font of the text in Google Chrome, it would be tedious to go to source and search for type and size of every font you are interested in. Moreover if you want to find the font used in a menu or a widget or a button, then it would be very strenuous task.

Thanks to Chengyin Liu for this Google Chrome extension called Whatfont which enables us to find font in Chrome without inspecting elements of the webpages. Whatfont cannot recognize font in an image but when it comes to text, Whatfont gives full attributes of the font like font-type, font family, font size, line height, color of the font.

Click the Whatfont button that appears after installation and when you hover your mouse over the text, you can see the type of font being used on the webpage and when you click on the text, all the attributes mentioned above will be displayed in a small box. When the font in the webpage is being served by a third party service like Google fonts or Typekit, it will also be displayed in the small window. At the top right corner of the webpage is “Exit Whatfont” button, which enables to exit the extension and come back to normal browsing.

5 Tips you must know to secure your Android

Your device potentially has all the information about you. Your photos, documents, emails, messages and not to forget contacts are the core data of your life. It is highly important to secure your device which encapsulates highly sensitive data.

Chances are you might have already heard that android has more security issues relative to iOS. But that’s not completely true. When you know how to safeguard your device rightly there’s no “insecurity” about your android device. Let us see 5 tips that you must know to secure your android device.

1. Lock it down!!
The simplest but yet sometimes overlooked way, to easily secure your android device is to lock it. Depending on the data you store and its sensitivity, you can take one of the three options from pattern lock, PIN or password protect. Pattern lock is easiest way to lock your phone and ofcourse also the easiest to guess. You might have already guessed your friend’s pattern after a few glances. For a better security while using pattern-lock, avoid using visible pattern.

Using a PIN to lock your device is one of the smartest way to secure your android and also a better option than pattern-lock. And for more tight security on your android, you can opt for password protection with alphanumeric characters.

In my view, locking your apps is as important as locking your device. Use applock software, a simple yet powerful tool to lock your apps down. Lock messages, email, Facebook and more, to protect your privacy and so you can never worry about lending your device to a friend again.

2. Setup security.
It is always important to have an anti-virus app to safe guard your device from all viruses, malware, and spyware. Equally you also need to be sure that you can wipe out all your data remotely in case if you lose your phone or if it’s stolen.

Lookout is one good app which you can rely upon for a complete security on your android device. It has malware protection, privacy options and also you can easily wipe out your data remotely with just one click. It scans every file, app and email attachment to make sure every bit of information is safe in your device.

In Lookout, there’s a feature named Privacy Advisor which safeguards your privacy by letting you know which apps can access which information. And in case your device is stolen, you can trace out your lost mobile instantly on an internet browser and make your device sound a loud alarm. And there are more in Lookout making it as an all-in-one app for both privacy and security on your android device.

3. Be careful with apps.
With an ever-increasing number of apps in Play Store, we need to be more cautious before we install them into our device. Because it’s like opening doors for strangers into your home filled with very sensitive “things”. We need to understand that all apps in Play Store are never safe. Here are the simple things you need to do before you install apps.

• Never allow .apk installations from unknown sources.
• Read user reviews of that app from the Play Store.
• Take rating into consideration while you compare any apps.
• Read carefully about the permissions you grant to the app because a calculator app may not need access to your call log.

Never hesitate to uninstall any app which has suspicious activity. Because at the end of the day an app doesn’t steal your data but for worse you give them the data with permissions.

4. Update OS.

Updating Android is one small thing which can make big differences in security, privacy and UI improvements. If your device manufacturer allows you to update your OS to latest version, then just make it done. Because updates always come with security patches, eliminated bugs and overall a better security.

5. Backup your data.
Backing up your data is one less important thing until some disaster happens. Regular backups will make you feel relaxed about your data and apps. There are a number of apps in Play Store for this purpose. Some apps doesn’t work on non-rooted phones. Choose the right app according your device and your sections of backup.

G Cloud Backup is one of the best apps for backing up your data. It works on non-rooted phones also and offers a wide range of sections to backup and upload to cloud storage. It gives 1GB of free storage and you can earn up to 8 GB by inviting friends, sharing on facebook and twitter and more. You can access your backup files through your browser. G Cloud stores all your files on the secure and reliable Amazon AWS Cloud with military grade 256-AES encryption. If you lose or delete anything, you can restore it instantly.

Some of the other apps you can use to back up your android device are Super Backup, App Backup & Restore and Titanium Backup.

5 Reasons to love Moto G

Moto G was launched few minutes ago by Motorola CEO Dennis Woodside in Brazil. And undoubtedly it’s a game-changer in budget smartphones segment. “The industry had really abandoned five billion people on the planet who were never going to pay $600 for a phone,” Dennis added in his presentation. So I quickly present you the 5 reasons to love Moto G.

Price:
Why price first? ‘Cause the Moto G is mainly a high-end smartphone for budget-oriented group. And the combination of price and specs that Moto G offers is highly appreciable. 8GB version of Moto G is available at 179$ in US without any contract and 16 GB at 199$. The specifications almost match the high-end rulers in present market like iPhone5 and Galaxy S4.

Display:

Moto G sports a 4.5 inch LCD TFT screen with HD 720p resolution. Its 329ppi pixel density at a comfortable 4.5 inch screen is a mega feature at this price. And Moto G is shielded by Gorilla Glass screen protection. It has got edge-to-edge display similar to Moto X for a better experience in movies, photos, video chats and more.

Processor:

Moto G is powered by the newest Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor with quad-core CPU clocked at 1.2GHz coupled with 1 GB of RAM. Let it be high end gaming, playing HD videos or extensive multi-tasking, Moto G with this engine runs smoother.

Battery:
Above all Moto G comes with a 2070mAh battery which is very much sufficient to feed juice to these modules all day long. For longer talk time and uninterrupted experience of media on phone, 2070mAh really powers up Moto G.

Camera:
Moto G doesn’t feature a high-end camera but has a decent 5MP shooter on the rear side and 1.3MP camera on the front-side of the device which is really a power to money. Moto G can easily record 720p videos and also has a refined camera app for easy capturing images and recording HD videos.

Some more:

There are some more reasons on the store for love as the device comes with Android 4.3 and has a guaranteed upgrade to Android 4.4 KitKat by January. Similar to Moto X, Moto G also features customizable backs that are removable. 19 Customization options, including interchangeable Moto Shells and Flip Shells in seven colors as well as Grip Shells in five colors are available for Moto G. Flip Shell is a shell at the back and comprises a flip cover to protect display.

Here is Moto G ad:

 

30 Incredible HD wallpapers of Thor2 The Dark World

Here are 30 incredible Thor2: The Dark World ultra HD wallpapers for your smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop.Click on the image to get the full-size wallpaper and save the image.This page takes time to load cause of ultra HD images.

Sony Xperia C Vs Micromax Canvas Turbo

Xperia C is one of the affordable smartphones made by Sony. Probably, that happened because Sony installed a Mediatek processor in Xperia C. And the best competitor for Sony Xperia C in Indian smartphones could be Micromax Canvas Turbo as these two devices fall into same price range but of course with different specs.

Canvas Turbo is the best smartphone ever made by Micromax. Now,Hugh Jackman being the face of Micromax, that “cheap-Chinese-phone” factor is fading away from Micromax. With premium display and better processing power, Canvas Turbo is a high-end smartphone yet comes under mid-range budget. Let’s compare both the machines categorically.

Display:
In display section, Canvas Turbo stands at a far better point than Xperia C. Both the devices feature 5-inch screens. Xperia C comes with a qHD TFT display with 540 x 960 resolution and has a pixel density of 220ppi which is very common in mid-range smartphones. Whereas Canvas Turbo sports a full HD IPS display with 1080 x 1920 resolution and has a pixel density of 441ppi.

Undoubtedly Canvas Turbo’s display has better viewing angles and sharper display than Xperia C. Canvas Turbo has got no screen protection while Xperia C is protected by a scratch-resistant glass by Schott.

Processor:
Xperia C and Canvas Turbo both the devices are powered by quad-core processors from Mediatek but the latter has got 1.5GHz Turbo processor coupled with a whopping 2GB RAM while the former stands at 1.2GHz with 1GB RAM. And the devices come with the same GPU that is PowerVR SGX544.

In terms of processing power, Canvas Turbo is superior to Xperia C. High-end gaming, full HD video playback and intense multi-tasking can be done with ease in Canvas Turbo while in Xperia C you may observe a relatively considerable lag.

  • Recommended read: 5 Reasons to buy Micromax Canvas Turbo

Camera:
Xperia C sports an 8MP rear camera and VGA secondary camera while Canvas Turbo features a 13MP rear camera and 5MP secondary camera. Xperia C features Sony’s Exmor R mobile sensor. Both the devices are capable of recording 1080p videos.

Canvas Turbo can capture excellent images in daylight with rich colors but noise can be observed in low-light images. While Xperia C images are just above the decent quality with less noise in low light images too.

Storage:
Xperia C comes with 4GB internal storage and can also be extended up to 32GB using microSD card. Canvas Turbo doesn’t support microSD card and comes with 16GB internal storage. Xperia C caters 1.2GB for user memory and nearly 1GB for apps. On the other hand out of 16GB internal storage of Canvas Turbo you get 13.5GB for user memory and 1GB for apps.

Software:
Both Sony Xperia C and Canvas Turbo are powered by Jellybean. Xperia C comes with 4.2.2 and Canvas Turbo with 4.2.1 android version.

Xperia C interface is similar to Sony Xperia Z with cascading lockscreen UI, themes and homescreens. While Canvas Turbo is almost similar to stock android with just minor modifications in keypad and icons.

Battery:
Canvas Turbo may encounter battery problems as its full-HD display and quad-core processor are powered by just a mediocre 2000mAh non-removable battery but on the other side Xperia C is powered by 2390mAh battery which is capable of providing 14hrs of talktime.

Price:
Both the phones fall under same price range of 15k-20k. Canvas Turbo is introduced at Rs. 19,999 and is available at Rs. 19,500 in local mobile stores right now while Xperia C is available at Rs. 18,500.

There may not be much difference in the price but the specs do differ a lot and also the value for both the brands. Making Hugh Jackman as the brand-ambassador, Micromax has moved up its place in branding.

Conclusion:
If you are looking for an international brand phone with decent specs, you can choose Sony Xperia C and if you can hold an Indian smartphone like Micromax in hand with impressive hardware, you can go for Canvas Turbo which is power to money.