If you’re looking for a way to drag your old vintage PC to 2016 then you’re in luck. Remember Jide’s Remix OS that was announced at CES this year? Well, the developer’s at Jide has just launched the 32-bit version of Remix OS, an addition to the 64-bit OS released earlier. Usually, the older systems have very low CPU power and Ram, restricting them to run any heavy applications or latest OS, including any version of Linux distros. The 32-bit Remix OS has been purposely built to breathe new life into these aging systems.
The fully features multi-window Android OS has every basic feature one would need to perform productive work, or even play some high-end games. Everything works perfectly well with a very neat and beautiful design, resembling the latest Windows 10 OS. The start button is located at the left corner of the taskbar which is situated at the bottom of the screen. Overall, the Remix OS gives a very clean experience while adding some very powerful features to Android OS.
The good thing about Jide’s approach is that the OS can be integrated into the system while still supporting all the Core Android features. That means access to the Google Play Store is inevitable, but with apps that can be resized, moved around, and flipped from one to another, in the same way, you might in Windows or Mac OS X.
Installation is a breeze. You simply need to download the setup file, run the program to write the OS to USB, making it easily bootable from BIOS. From there you can install it on your computer, just like you’d install any other OS.
Once installed you can treat your computer as a fully functional Android smartphone with amazing features that Remix OS has baked on top of the Android core.
Whether you’ve never touched a Chromecast in your life, use it on a daily basis, or are anything in between, there are a number of reasons why the new Chromecast could be useful for you and your own entertainment. We heard a while back that Google was hard at work on a second-gen Chromecast device for media streaming, and subsequently reports came into circulation on September 18 confirming the rumour as truth. Now that Google has finally announced the ChromCast (2nd Gen) at Google Press event last week, I wanted to highlight it’s features. Below I’ve picked out five reasons to pick up the new Chromecast.
It’s Still Cheap
The new Chromecast is still very cheap. It can be picked up brand new for just $35. When compared to the $40 Roku and the $50 Amazon Fire TV Stick, the new Chromecast is the cheapest on the block. An extra $5 or $15 may not seem like much, but it’s good to see that Google are focusing on keeping the price low. Picking up one, two, or even more Chromecasts won’t be too much of a drain on funds and that’s great.
Stream Content Without Buffering
The new Chromecast has a software-side feature known as Fast Play and this will hopefully eradicate buffering. Fast Play uses an algorithm to understand what content you’re currently viewing and it then buffers the content it expects you to play next simultaneously. If you’re watching a HD TV series on Netflix for example, the new Chromecast will now buffer extra episodes constantly so that you won’t experience any pauses in viewing.
The new Chromecast also has a higher frequency 2.4/5Ghz WiFi antenna that supports 802.11ac wireless, which according to Google, will ensure WiFi speeds are higher and have less interruptions. Having this feature will be useful for those trying to utilize high download speeds. This, coupled with the Fast Play should make buffering issues even less of a problem. Both of these features are exclusive to the new Chromecast.
Browse the Web in Comfort
One feature that a lot of Chromecast users don’t seem to realize is so special is the ability to browse the web. Both the Roku TV stick and the Amazon Fire Stick cannot be used to browse the internet, but with the new Chromecast you can use your smartphone to browse the web and it will be mirrored straight to the big screen.
There are now a few new features to make web browsing more convenient too. For example, the new Chromecast now allows users to conveniently display a single tab on the TV. This would give users the opportunity to use all of a smartphone’s functionality whilst only displaying the web browser on the TV.
It’s Portable and Convenient
The first Chromecast was portable too, but the new design makes things even easier. The new round design looks and feels a lot more sturdy so there will be less chance to break or damage it. The new Chromecast also has an extended cable so that it’s a lot easier to plug into the back of your TV. Some TVs are also built in a way that makes it difficult to insert the original Chromecast into, but the extended cable on the new Chromecast fixes this issue.
More Gaming Support
Google is putting a bit more support into gaming with the new Chromecast. It’s now easier than ever to mirror your screen whilst playing games on your smartphone. Doing so will put the picture you see on your game straight onto the big screen. Connect a controller to your smartphone and you’ll have your own Android home console that’s just as capable as the OUYA.
The new Chromecast is available from Google for $35/£30/€30
This is the experience which the gamers invest in; without it, the game wouldn’t be as much fun. Games like Counterstrike, Battlefield and DOTA2 are some games which can make you play constantly for hours with your fellow team mates. After a certain time, one does need to get a good pair of headsets to maximize the whole experience. In India, gamers are often confused where to buy good headsets from since most of them are quite heavy on the budget. Here we will talk you through some of the best gaming headsets available in India, popular among gamers that are also budget friendly.
We understand that each person’s preferences may be different and so we’ve tried to cover a wide range of headsets in different price ranges. What’s more, we’ve even made it easier for you to check out the product and buy it by including a URL from where you can buy them at competitive rates.
Disclaimer- Because of the nature of online business, the prices may keep varying. What has been quoted below is verified at the time of writing this article.
1. Lenovo P950
If you are looking for one that’s good at what it does without being too heavy on the pocket, Lenovo P950 cannot be ignored. With features like circumpolar design, noise canceling microphone and 27mm driver unit, it produces crisp and powerful sound. It also filters the ambient noise so that the quality of sound that reaches your ear is refined.
Some of the distinct features are:
Microphone mute button
103 dB/mW headset sensitivity
Padded earphones for long term, comfortable wear
30 mW maximum power input
Circumaural headset design
Lenovo P950 has been priced at $45.99 or, INR 1149 only.
Even though it can be used for chatting, music and watching movies, it is best known for being a gamers’ headset. Indian gamers are buying this headset not only because of its quality, but also for its brand value and relatively cheaper price. It can be easily used at a stretch for 4 hours and more. It has more power input than the Lenovo P950.
Its features are:
500 mW maximum power input
Digital tuning to give a better gaming performance
Acoustic system – semi open
Microphone Sensitivity of -44 dB
Neodymium Magnet type for better performance
The Philips SHG7980 is priced modestly at $44.99 or, INR 1875 at 20% discount.
Looking at this headset, it would seem like it is from the earphone range, but it is not. It has got this sleek look because it is really portable and needless to say, very popular among the gamer folk because of its superb sound quality.
Some of its features are:
It works well with iPhone, Android and mobile devices as well
Split adapter or extension for connection with PC
Advanced noise cancellation
Omni directional microphone.
The price of Razer Hammerhead Pro Gaming Headset is $51 or, INR 5,199 only with the current discount offer of 19%.
Razer Kraken has a series of good headsets, all of which are very popular. But if you are looking for the best among them, then the Kraken 7.1 is undoubtedly packed with the best features. With a price under 10K INR, it is still cheaper for all the features it provides– no wonder it is used by professional gamers, not only in India but around the world. Some of which are:
Signal to noise ratio 63 dB
Ergonomically suitable for hours of gaming
Bass enhancement for clarity and precision
7.1 virtual surround sound engine
The Razer Kraken 7.1 Surround Gaming Headsets are priced at $103.95 INR 8,650.
If you are looking for the most popular and commonly used gaming headset, then the Logitech G4360 tops the list. Its features are no less than the Kraken 7.1, even though it is cheaper in price than the latter. So what makes Logitech G430 so special?
Let’s have a look at some of its distinct features:
Dolby 7.1 surround sound
3 years warranty from Logitech India
Noise cancelling microphones
Rotating ear cups
On cable control
Sports performance ear pad
Light weighted design
The Logitech G430 is priced at $55.99 or, INR 6,799.
You will like this headset more for its appearance than its feature, we swear. The black, orange combination makes the headset look more appealing. It has all combo features packed into one. Some of those features include:
Impedance of 32 ohms
Frequency ranging from 18 to 28000 Hz
SNDBlock ear cushions for ergonomic sound
Superbly portable – can be disassembled into 4 parts
Retractable, unidirectional microphone
Interchangeable ear cushions
The Price of this headset is only $69.99 or, INR 7245.
This is another headset which has awesome features to boot. Roccat has already given some powerful headsets, but this one seems to be the latest upgrade. It is definitely another professional standard headphone that seeks attention.
It has:
40mm Neodymium Magnet Driver
In-line Slim remote control
Noise filtering microphone
premium 7.1 surround sound
The price of Roccat Kulo 7.1 USB Stereo Gaming Headset Asia is $49.99 or, INR 5499.
Huawei has launched many interesting gadgets in the past and their company wasn’t really recognized for being the smartphone pioneer before they started launching their phones in other countries. 2 years ago, very few people would have recognized Huawei as a smartphone brand because a huge chunk of its business outside china was based on Networking gadgets and mobile modems.
Now, Huawei is one of the Top 5 smartphone manufacturer in the world, with its spot being swapped with Xiaomi and other brands. That being said, I have always been interested in Huawei products and kind of favored it over other brands, specially when it comes to modems, routers, and new smartphones like Honor 6, honor 6 plus.
The company has been pumping out some extremely interesting gadgets lately, and Huawei Honor 4X might not be the best performer out there, but it certainly is one of the best dual Sim 4G camera smartphones. Huawei could make this phone either a little cheaper or more feature rich, as one of their competitor tells us that they can get even better hardware and still keep down the cost down.
Their Chinese competitor Xiaomi Mi4i sports even better specifications and hardware compared to Honor 4X. With better display (1080p), octa core processor, and 16GB internal memory at just Rs 12,999 — Xiaomi Mi4i does beat Honor 4X (Rs 10,499) on specs, at least on papers.
So, what is it that it packs inside the box which should make you consider it over other competitors? Let’s figure out!
The Unboxing:
Honor 4X comes with usual bundled accessories and in-box contents, excluding the headset. Almost all the major Chinese smartphone manufacturers follow the trend to exclude the headset from the production unit, and this is the case with Honor 4X as well.
The box contents includes – Smartphone, Charger, USB to micro USB cable, user manuals and a screen protector (which is already placed on the display out of the box).
Design
Like any other budget smartphone, Honor 4X doesn’t have a distinct look, it does fall under the average design and basic design that every other smartphone in the same range is following nowadays.
Don’t get wrong assumptions here, the smartphone does feel premium and sturdy for its range. The build quality is nice, and the phone seems durable for day to day usage. Surprisingly it feels really thin and easy to hold in hands – thanks to the curved back cover.
Measuring 77.3 x 151.9 x 8.7 mm and weighing 170 grams, the device feels slim but little on the heavier side. But, considering the 5.5-inch (1280×720 pixels) display the weight can be justified and you will get used to it after a while.
The display is sharp and renders very nice colors, which is pleasant to eyes. During our test, the outdoor test didn’t stress our eyes, where texts and images were easily visible and UI was visible in direct sunlight.
The auto brightness mode is little moody because sometimes it refuses to lit up the screen in the bright environment, and sometimes it’s brighter than required inside. However, It is only occasional. I am sure this is a software glitch and should be fixed soon. Switch off the auto-brightness though, and this thing can get really bright, making it very easy usable on a sunny day outdoors.
The display is crisp and Huawei’s colorful Emotion UI 3.0 really pops out well. Huawei could pack the full HD display considering their competitor Xiaomi is already doing the same with the latest release Mi4i which costs a little extra.
There are notification LED, a centrally located earpiece and 5MP front-facing the camera at the top of the display along with proximity sensor and ambient light sensor.
Below the display there are three capacitive touch buttons, of which I am not a big fan – On screen buttons are way better and save space too, but somehow Huawei decided to follow footsteps of competitor in this segment.
At the top, there is a tiny noise cancelation microphone and a 3.5mm audio jack.
On the left side, there are no ports or keys whatsoever, keeping the design clean and really favorable for flip cover users.
While, at the right side, you’ll find the power/Screen lock button and the volume rocker button.
Coming to the back, you’ll see the simplistic Honor logo, with the 13MP rear camera and flash.
At the bottom, there is an audio grill, Micro-USB port, and a tiny microphone pinhole.
Hardware
The device packs some really nice hardware under the hood, which provides enough juice to run this phone smoothly. Huawei uses their home brewed processor and chipset on their flagship devices, but they decided to use third party modules on this device.
Honor 4X features 1.2 GHz + Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 MSM8916, Quad Core processor, which, to be honest, is little too weak compared to the new competitor Xiaomi Mi4i which features 1.7 GHz Snapdragon 615 (64-bit) Octa core processor.
Mi4i also features better internal storage (16 GB), compared to 4X’s 8GB internal memory. But, 4X does beat Mi4i in terms of external SD card slot. Rest assured, Honor 4X and Xiaomi Mi4i is pretty much same, except Mi4i has a 5-inch display (1080p) and Honor 4X has a 5.5-inch display (720p).
In our time with the device, we noticed that it was quite a good performer thanks the nimble skin on top of Android. Taps and swipes registered without any issues, and even heavy games like Asphalt 8 and Dead Trigger 2 loaded pretty fast. The phone does support up to 10 simultaneous touches, as you can see in our test.
That said, both Asphalt 8 and Dead Trigger 2, stuttered a bit in our testing. This was consistent with the fairly average scores we got in our graphics benchmark tests. In Nenamark2, the Honor 4X scored 52.4fps. The scores in the CPU-intensive AnTuTu, Geekbench 3 and Quadrant benchmarks were more encouraging, and we managed to score 20,433, 1,459 and 11,937 points respectively.
Software
The phone’s Emotion UI, which is a skinned version of Android 4.4.4 (monthly updates are promised, though no word on Lollipop availability) packs neat features such as launching common apps from the lock screen using gestures and shortcut buttons, an on-screen button for quick access to common controls and more.
During extensive daily use consisting of always-on WiFi, 3G data, continuous Bluetooth connectivity to a smartwatch and using a range of web, productivity apps and gaming, the phone refused to drain even two days being unplugged (see screenshot). This is unprecedented stuff.
Its 3,000 mAH battery coupled with its power-efficient Snapdragon 410 hardware platform along with software-based optimizations (like when the phone regularly notifies you of apps that are overly power-hungry) all clearly do a spectacular job in translating into real-world endurance.
Just like other Asian phone company Android user interfaces, there is no app drawer or separate list of apps. Instead, all your widgets, folders, and apps are laid out on a collection of homescreen panels, and you can have as many of them as you’d want.
Huawei’s take on Android is pretty slick and generally good looking, with a very colourful but clean aesthetic. That Snapdragon processor allows for some smooth, neat looking transitions as you navigate around or open/close an app.
As you’d expect, there’s a bunch of built-in software features and tweaks to differentiate this from stock Android. For example, the notification dropdown sorts all your notifications in a reverse chronological timeline manner.
Apart from that, most parts of the UI can be customized thanks to the built-in themes app. There’s hundreds of themes available, but I couldn’t find a stock-Android-like theme, heh.
You can even customise the lock screen, and even set lock screen gestures to access certain apps quicker.
Lastly, multimedia is a very pleasant experience on the Honor 4X. Audio via headphones was also a pretty average experience, even with the built-in DTS feature. This is admittedly disappointing, considering other Chinese OEMs like Vivo and Meizu tend to focus a lot on audio, and Honor’s target demographic here would definitely be heavy on the music listening.
Camera
On the photo front, its 13 MP rear camera performed reasonably well across scenarios, nothing to set it apart though.
These days features like ‘beauty enhancers’ and the like are all the rage; unfortunately this phone succumbs and includes such gimmicks. I found them all but useless, but they’re great for getting a kick out of.
It also has an ‘all-focus’ mode that lets you choose the focus point in your photo after taking the shot. I found this feature worked erratically–clearly it isn’t Lytro-level image processing, but appeared to be some type of pseudo blur-applying algorithm.
The panorama and HDR modes did function as expected, and overall the camera was snappy to respond, but overall the primary camera is very middling. The secondary camera is 5MP, resulting in higher-resolution selfies, but is average so far as front cameras go.
Camera Samples:
Rear Camera
Battery Life
The call quality was good and we didn’t find any problem with it. In our battery test the phone lasted 11 hours and 16 minutes before it had to be charged. This is possible thanks to the large 3000mAh battery, but do bear in mind that there are other phones in the same price range, some with lower capacity batteries, that exhibit better performance.
What we think!
Huawei Honor 4X is definitely not the best option available in Rs. 10-15 thousand ($155-$230 approx.) price segment, but what it offers overall, is something that can definitely capable of deciding whether it is worth your money. The phone does offer inferior processor and internal storage than Xiaomi Mi4i, but it is consistent performer.
If you are not a game freak, and you don’t really use too many applications on your device — this smartphone is capable of going throughout the day with one single charge and still giving you full access to your favorite applications which you would use to carry out your work. 2GB Ram with 1.2GHz Quad core processor makes the system smooth, and Huawei Emotion UI 3.0 is pretty sleek.
While Mi4i does offer 16GB internal storage, it lacks micro SD card support. Also, you have to decide whether you want to go with bigger display and slightly inferior processor on Honor 4X which provides consistent performance or Smaller display and powerful processor on Mi4i, which tend to heat up like their previous phones. Mi4i does cost slightly more than Honor 4X, which justifies their respective specifications.
Honor 4X is not a perfect smartphone, nor does it justify the price range it is launched in, but it is true for anything you buy with your hard earned money — you’ll always feel you paid more than what they offer.
If you have a tight budget, and you can’t go beyond 10 thousand Mark, Honor 4X is definitely a Go from our side. However, if you are willing to sacrifice external storage option and can tolerate a little heating issue on your smartphone that costs 1.5 thousand extra — you should go for Xiaomi Mi4i.
GENERAL FEATURES
Brand
Honor
Handset Color
Black
Form
Bar
SIM Size
Micro SIM
Call Features
Loudspeaker
Model Name
Honor 4X
Touch Screen
Yes
SIM Type
Dual Sim, LTE + LTE
Model ID
che1-L04
In the Box
Handset, Warranty Card, Data Cable, User Manual, Charger
MULTIMEDIA
Sound Enhancement
Dual Microphone Noise Reduction
Video Player
Yes, Supports 3GP, H.263, H.264, MPEG4, MP4, Full HD
Flash Support, Sony BSI Sensor, CMOS, Aperture F2.0, 27 mm Wide-angle Lens, HDR, Refocus Mode, Ultra-fast Snapshot, Audio Photo, Auto Focus
HD Recording
HD, Full HD
Rear Camera
Yes, 13 MP
Front Facing Camera
Yes, 5 MP
INTERNET & CONNECTIVITY
Audio Jack
3.5 mm
Preinstalled Browser
Android
Bluetooth
Yes, v4
4G
Yes
Navigation Technology
A-GPS, GLONASS, with Google Maps
Wifi
Yes, 802.11 b/g/n
Internet Features
Email
EDGE
Yes, Class 12
GPRS
Yes, Class 12
USB Connectivity
Yes, micro USB, v2
Tethering
USB, Wi-fi Hotspot
3G
Yes
OTHER FEATURES
Sensors
Digital Compass, Hall Sensor, G-Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Ambient Light Sensor, Accelerometer
Phone Book Memory
Yes
SMS Memory
Yes
Call Memory
Yes
SAR Value
1.130W/kg
Important Apps
Google Mail, Google Search & Search by Voice, Hangouts, Google Maps, Google Calendar, YouTube, Play Store, Backup, Phone Manager, File Manager, Weather, Hi Space, Huawei Music
Acer Z410 Plus is going to be a 64 bit phone under the brand, which was unveiled at CES 2015. The Z410 is priced at 69 euros and it comes with dual SIM slots and a 4.5 inch qHD display.
The device is powered by MT6732 processor, clocked at 1.3 GHz and this time we get 2GB of RAM instead of 1GB like on the predecessor.
The phone runs on Android 4.4.4 Kitkat and comes with 4G connectivity. It keeps the 5MP back camera, as well as the 2000 mAh battery from the unit unveiled in January.
The device was expected to be debuted at a conference on April 23rd in New York, but the company unveiled the device prior to the scheduled date.
We haven’t heard any fixed official release date from Apple about their next Operating system to control their flagship devices. While, we are eager to see what hidden features the iOS 7 has to offer beside its hideous app icons and not too adaptive UI; some developers are already trying to port the apps and UI to the current OS.
Apple has introduced some very customizable and exclusive features in iOS7 at WWDC13 this year, and We are really excited about it. But, if you really want to get hold of some of the features of upcoming iOS, you can possibly do that right now.
Jony Ive may not have got the icons and the glossy effects right, but the weather app is right on and if you don’t want to bother upgrading to iOS 7, which is still not out of the Beta stages, just for the weather app, then we have the perfect solution for you in the form of a new app!
So, How to Get the iOS 7 weather app now? Luckily you don’t have to do any dirty work, like – hacking into the system to modify some files or create an app yourself. — You just need to download an app from iTunes and you are done.
Developed by Robert Paul Neagru, “Aero” is a new app that is currently topping App Store charts mainly due to its elegantly designed UI which also closely resembles the UI on the new Weather app in iOS 7. Following the new iOS 7 edge-to-edge guidelines set by Apple, the developer of Aero has managed to make a very intuitive UI that is unmatched by any other weather apps on iOS.
Untill, we get our hands on the new iOS 7, this weather app is the best bet for you.
