Sony kicks off Android 4.4 KitKat rollout across Xperia line

Sony has started rolling out Android 4.4 KitKat across its Xperia line.

The company on Wednesday announced that the Xperia Z Ultra, Xperia Z1, and Xperia Z1 Compact are getting KitKat updates starting on Wednesday, though timing and availability vary by market and carrier. Sony said the KitKat upgrade includes the standard interface improvements baked into the mobile OS, along with the company's "tweaked" Status Bar and Quick Settings features. Sony's KitKat installation also includes PlayStation 4-like user interface elements.

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Microsoft leaks Windows 8.1 update early

The Windows 8.1 update has leaked early, according to reports. Installing the update isn't straightforward and not recommended, though.

The rumored Windows 8.1 update is here -- sort of.

The official update isn't expected until April 8, but numerous reports on Thursday are claiming that by jumping through a few hoops, it can be installed.

But it's not recommended. One method that reportedly works involves making changes to the Windows registry, a dicey undertaking if you don't know what you're doing.

"We wouldn't be surprise if Microsoft blocks this workaround very quickly," Neowin surmised.

Here's how the Verge describes the leak. "A series of patches are required to obtain the full update, but once installed the new desktop-friendly features are enabled...The update can be downloaded via a registry change, or through direct links."

As previously reported, changes in the Windows 8.1 update include new right-clickable context-sensitive menus, the ability to pin Metro apps to the Desktop task bar, and adding dedicated search and power buttons to the Start screen, as described earlier this month by ZDNet.

In short, making Windows 8.1 more palatable to non-touch PCs. Another example: automatically booting non-touch PCs to the Windows 7-like desktop.

Other expected changes target PC makers. For instance, allowing PC makers to bring out inexpensive, minimalist configurations running on 1GB of RAM and 16GB of storage.

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From Indian minds comes Jarvis, an intelligent OS inspired by Iron Man

Personal technology has always been inspired by fiction. For instance, the world got its first glimpse of the mobile phone in the popular TV series Star Trek. Now, taking a cue from Iron Man, two young Indian technologists want to play Tony Stark and ask their computer to do stuff for them. To make things easy, their intelligent assistant is also called Jarvis after Stark’s virtual butler.

Delhi-based Chirag Dewan and Jaipur’s Himanshu Vaishnav, both computer science students in their early twenties, think their idea of artificial intelligence can change computing for ever. While start-ups the world over are working on solutions that make input methods for computing more natural, Jarvis Corp is working on an entire operating system that is fully automated and learns as it goes. Of course, it will interact with the user with the help of voice and gestures along with traditional input methods.

“From the origin of operating systems, everyone has been following the same thing. All of them have the same internal structure with a similar skin and flesh. With each new version of an operating system we are just seeing a new set of features being added to this legacy,” says Dewan, on a Skype call from the US. He says Jarvis is a totally redesigned OS. “We are not changing the paradigm, but we will change user experience for sure.”

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Android is now No 1 tablet OS, but Apple still ahead of Samsung

For the first time since Apple single-handedly kickstarted the tablet segment, Android became the No 1 tablet operating system (OS) in 2013, with 62 percent of the market, according to research firm Gartner, Inc. Worldwide sales of tablets to end users reached 195.4 million units in 2013, a 68 percent increase on 2012.

“In 2013, tablets became a mainstream phenomenon, with a vast choice of Android-based tablets being within the budget of mainstream consumers while still offering adequate specifications,” said Roberta Cozza, research director at Gartner. “As the Android tablet market becomes highly commoditized, in 2014, it will be critical for vendors to focus on device experience and meaningful technology and ecosystem value — beyond just hardware and cost — to ensure brand loyalty and improved margins.”

In 2013, the share of Apple’s iOS dropped 16.8 percentage points as more people looked at smaller low-cost tablets in emerging markets. In emerging markets the growth was as high as 145 per cent, while mature markets grew 31 percent. “Apple’s tablets remain strong in the higher end of the market and, Apple’s approach will continue to force vendors to compete with full ecosystem offerings, even in the smaller-screen market as the iPad mini sees a greater share”, added Cozza.


Microsoft’s tablet volumes improved, but still at a low base. “To compete, Microsoft needs to create compelling ecosystem proposition for consumers and developers across all mobile devices, as tablets and smartphones become key devices for delivering applications and services to users beyond the PC,” said Cozza.


From a vendor perspective, Apple’s strong fourth quarter helped it maintain the top position with around 36% market share, compared to Samsung’s 19%. Samsung, however, recorded a 336 percent growth. Lenovo did particularly well in 2013 with tablet sales growing 198 percent, but is still number five with just over 3% market share.

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Truecaller ties up with Nokia's Android-powered X series

Aiming to expand its reach in emerging and mass markets like India, phone directory app Truecaller has tied up with Nokia for newly launched Android-powered X series smartphones.

The Truecaller app will be available on the Nokia apps store for all devices in the Nokia X series.


"Given Nokia's reach in the emerging and mass markets, our collaboration will help in further expanding the reach of our application in these markets," Truecaller co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer Nami Zarringhalam told PTI.

Truecaller, which has a global userbase of 45 million, has about 25 million users in India, he added.

"Our recent product enhancements, rising user base in emerging markets especially India makes it the right time for us to expand our product availability to newer platforms," Zarringhalam said.

The firm claims to add about 900,000 users every week globally, while in India its users are expanding at a rate of 500,000 per week, he added.


"Our users make over 600 million phone searches every month," he said.

Nokia X series users will have access to all the features of Truecaller's 4.0 version which includes caller ID, name search and call blocking functionality, Zarringhalam said.


Truecaller 4.0 is the latest update on the app which provides the customary caller ID and call block feature, coupled with integrated functionality using Twitter.

This will help users to see if a number is connected with a Twitter account and have the ability to tweet or follow a person directly through the Truecaller app, he added.

"With Truecaller, you are able to control how your contact information is shared and how others can contact you. This is done by guarding your most personal accessory (your mobile phone) and eliminating the annoyance of unwanted calls, while making it easier for people you want to hear from to find you," Zarringhalam said.

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Samsung dumps Android, launches Tizen-powered smartwatches

Samsung has launched its next-generation smartwatch, the Gear 2 just ahead of its Unpacked event at the Mobile World Congress where it is expected to announce its flagship phone, the Galaxy S5.

The Gear 2 will be available in two variants, namely the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo, with the latter being an economy version. Samsung has dropped the Galaxy branding as the new smartwatch does not run Android. Instead, it is powered by Tizen, the Linux based operating system developed under the leadership of Samsung and Intel. The Gear 2 is one of the first commercially available Tizen devices.

Just like the Galaxy Gear, the Gear 2 also sports a 1.63-inch Super AMOLED display(320 X 320p), and is powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor and 512MB RAM. It has 4GB internal storage and features Accelerometer, Gyroscope and heart rate sensors. The Galaxy Gear did not have a heart rate sensor. It also features an IrLED port allowing it to be used as a universal remote control.

The Gear 2 sports a 2MP camera which is mounted on the front unlike the Galaxy Gear's camera which was placed on the strap. The Gear 2 Neo does not come with a camera. The Gear 2 Neo is made of plastic while the Gear 2 has a metal face.

Both of the variants of the Gear 2 are IP67 certified water and dust resistant.

While the user interface of the Gear 2 looks similar to the Galaxy Gear in the press shots, it is not known if the Galaxy Gear apps will be compatible with the Gear 2. The watch has the ability to store and play music without being connected to a smartphone.

Samsung says the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo are compatible with more than "dozens of Samsung Galaxy smartphones at launch," suggesting wider compatibility compared to the Galaxy Gear which was compatible with a handful of high-end Samsung smartphones.

The Gear 2 will be available in Charcoal Black, Gold Brown and Wild Orange colours while the Gear 2 Neo will be available in Charcoal Black, Mocha Grey and Wild Orange colours. It will be available around the world starting April though Samsung has not revealed pricing information.

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Leaked images reveal how Android looks and runs on the Nokia X

Even as launch day for the much talked about Android based Nokia X approaches, the phone has been caught in live shots. The pictures of the device have been leaked online and show a Windows-Phone flavoured Android running on the device which has been codenamed Normandy.

Website Coolxap has a bunch of pictures of the Nokia X up, giving us a better glimpse into the phone’s colourful UI and build. The phone itself looks quite a lot like a Windows Phone but is slightly more bulky and not too sleek, given that the phone is aimed at the low-end segment, catering to Asha users.


The user interface of the phone is the most interesting of the leaks, though. Given how since the time the leaks started appearing, the attention was on the UI, the leaks do not disappoint, showing a tile-based interface. The phone will indeed be running Android 4.4 KitKat but a forked version of it, something like what Amazon uses for its Kindle Fire devices. A “Store” icon is clearly seen in the leaked images, confirming that Nokia will have its own version of the App Store for the phone rather than let Google Play run on it.


The Nokia X is all set to be revealed at the Mobile World Congress, to be held at Barcelona next week. The phone is being heavily teased by Nokia too, which released an image of four black arrows making one big “X” on the Android green colour.

The dual-SIM phone is set to be priced somewhere around $110 or Rs 6,800 if leaks are to be believed. Nokia X will come with a 512MB RAM and 4GB on onboard storage. It will also feature a 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon 200 processor and a 5-megapixel rear camera. Here’s all you need to know about the Nokia X or Normandy before the Finnish company officially announces the device at MWC.

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Normandy may not be Nokia's only Android phone this year

Rumors of the Nokia Normandy are heating up, but new whispers say it may only be the first of a whole pack of Android-powered phones from the Finnish firm.

Word from an Artesyn Technologies source is that says the phone company will have more Android phones coming this year, including several higher-end models.


Supposedly this new slew of phones powered by Google's mobile OS will be revealed sometime between May and June.

The source says the phones will come at different price points, but there's no word if it will be able to reach the Play Store unlike Normandy.


But phones may stay low end : Microsoft, which is in the final stages of finalizing its purchase of Nokia, has reportedly put its new acquisition through the chop shop and leaving it with the low-end Asha and feature phone departments.


Meanwhile, teams involved with Nokia's more notable hardware bits including PureView cameras, HAAC microphones, and ClearBlack displays have been moved to Redmond.

Taking these technology shifts into account, its possible that a majority of Nokia's Android phones could come as budget handsets with the Asha overlay - essentially a faux-smartphone tiled, touchscreen interface.


Nokia's Android pathfinder : Thus far, the only Android Nokia handset we've seen evidence for is Normandy. The phone will reportedly debut at MWC 2014 and it's already shaping up to be an abnormal little droid.a

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Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini Price Points and Specs Review – Best Android Phone Mini 2014?

With the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini, Samsung has taken its popular flagship S4 and scaled back the features and size to make a good midrange phone. While it is not as big or powerful as the S4, the Galaxy S4 Mini is the perfect little phone for lots of users who don’t require all the fluff and extras that S4 takes so very far. Here are the details on this solid little performer.

Display & Design : Size wise, the S4 Mini is similar to an iPhone 5, although the screen on the Mini is larger, measuring 4.3 inches. The overall design is identical to its big brother, the S4, but in a smaller package. Outside features include power and volume buttons, a charging port, a headphone jack, and an infrared blaster. Like the other Samsungs, this device has a user removable battery as well as a microSD slot. The display is a 960 x 540 pixel resolution AMOLED screen, which is reasonably bright and clear.

Operating System & Processor : The S4 Mini runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean out of the box, and the processor is the 1.7 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400. On board storage is either 8 GB or 16 GB. The TouchWiz user interface gives us all we’ve come to expect from the newer Galaxy devices, including S Memo, S Voice, Group Play, and Smart Stay. You can also use the infrared blaster to change channels on your television, a fun little extra that keeps you from remote hunting.


Camera : While the S4 carries a full 13 megapixel camera on board, the S4 Mini’s 8 megapixels are still nothing to sneeze at, especially for a midrange phone. Video can be captured in 1080p, making it very good as well. The flash is good, and you will be able to take decent pictures with this camera even in low light situations. This as well as the editing features earn the Mini’s camera two thumbs up.

Battery : The battery of the Samsung Galaxy S4 has a 1,900mAh battery and boasts a talk time of 12 hours, which is really not too bad for most users. If you decide to do a lot of clicking and searching, you may find that the battery drains more quickly than you would like, though.

Price Points : While full price is $399.99, Sprint users will enjoy the S4 Mini for free with a two year contract. Verizon customers will pay only $49.99 for the phone with a similar plan, or about $16 for the Verizon Edge payment plan.


All in all, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is a great little phone with a few extras that will keep budget users happy without sacrificing too much quality or performance. It is certainly not comparable to the flagship phones from Verizon or other companies, but then again, it isn’t designed to be. While nothing to write home about, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini remains a solid contender in the midrange market which is able to keep up with the other minis on the market.

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Metis Learning launches Android based tablet Eddy for kids at Rs. 9,999

Metis Learning has launched an Android based learning tablet Eddy for kids, in India. With a price tag of Rs 9,999, the tablet is aimed at children aged between 2-10 years.

It features a 7-inch (1024x600) IPS display Eddy is powered by 1.6GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, It comes with internal memory of 8GB, expandable up to 32GB via a microSD card. The tablet also has an HDMI port. The tablet is available on eddytablet.com and amazon.in.
 

It has a 0.3 megapixel front camera and a 2 megapixel back camera and packs in a large 3200 mAh battery which can last for more than 4 hours.


Eddy comes with educator-selected learning content, a kid-safe environment and high-quality hardware. It also has a kid-safe browser, which only permits access to reliable websites. Not only can parents set time limits for their children to play on Eddy, they can decide which subjects their children should focus on.

Meanwhile, world’s leading Chipset maker Intel has launched a 10-inch 'Intel Education Tablet' for school students. It will come loaded with a range of educational apps. 

'Intel Education Tablet' design run Android 4.2 and is powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core Intel Atom Z2520, with an Intel GMA powering 1080p video playback; have 1GB or 2GB of RAM. It comes with up to 32GB of Flash storage. It also has front and rear facing cameras. It will have 12 hours of battery life and Wifi and 3G as connectivity options.


Intel also introduced the 10-inch Intel classmate PC based on the Intel Celeron processor N2806. It is powered by Windows 8.1. A Windows 7 version. It said that a Linux version based on Intel Celeron processor N2805 will be launched later this year.

Both the devices have features such as a snap-on magnification tool and a temperature sensor probe allowing users to view microscopic and macroscopic images and measure and analyze environmental data.

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Coming soon:Titanium S6 with 13MP camera, stylus, stock Android, Snapdragon 4-core

 

After the success of the Titanium S1, S2 and S5 Karbonn is readying for another quad-core 5-incher. This one called the Titanium S6 will run on a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 or 200 series chipset  with 2 GB of RAM.

 

The main attraction of this phone will be its 13 megapixel auto focus camera with LED flash, like the Galaxy S4 and Micromax’s upcoming Canvas 4. It will have a stylus which makes it possible to compete with the Galaxy Note. We are yet to know more on its features.
 

It will sport full HD display and Dragontrail or Corning Gorilla Glass protection for the screen. The  image of the phone posted by Gizchai.com, does show Android Edition printed on the back of the phone, indicating it might run a stock Android. We could not see a company logo not marked on the back panel of the phone. Also the phone shows a physical home button on the phone which was not there in Titanium S1, S2 and S5. Hence would wait for more pics. 

MD Karbonn Mobiles, Pradeep Jain, announced the handset saying “We are working on a quad-core based smartphone, that will run Android 4.2 Jelly Bean version and will be priced around Rs. 19000. Our aim at Karbonn is not to provide the cheapest smartphone is the category but a quality product in the market. We have done that with our past products and we will continue to do the same with Titanium S6." The Karbonn Titanium S6 Mobile is expected to be launched in July and will be priced at Rs. 19,000. 

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Will Google Provide a Taste of Key Lime Pie in October?

Android users who have had their fill of Jelly Bean and Ice Cream Sandwich may have a new snack to munch on this fall.

According to a report from VR-Zone.com, Google is preparing to launch Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie in late October.


Citing unnamed sources, the site said the next-generation mobile operating system will be an "optimized OS" that performs well on devices with as little as 512MB, suggesting that it will have a smaller footprint that will allow it to function on a variety of devices with lower-power processors.

Google did not immediately respond to PCMag's request for comment.


Leaked slides from a February Qualcomm presentation tipped a springtime arrival for the next Android operating system. But Google's I/O developer conference came and went without mention of Key Lime Pie, and summer is fast approaching, so we might be waiting until October. 


As several Android sites pointed out, October is also the fifth anniversary of the launch of the first Android-based phone, the T-Mobile G1, aka the HTC Dream. So perhaps it'll be pie instead of cake for this particular milestone.


Might the launch of Key Lime Pie coincide with the debut of the Moto X smartphone from the Google-owned Motorola Mobility? At the D11 conference last month, Motorola CEO Dennis Woodside promised that the anticipated smartphone would arrive by October.
The most recent version of Android, Jelly Bean, was unveiled at Google I/O 2012, while Ice Cream Sandwich debuted during an Oct. 2011 event in Hong Kong.

At this point, 33 percent of Android devices are running Jelly Bean, while 25.6 percent run ICS, and 36.5 percent run Gingerbread, according to Google stats published on June 3.

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Samsung to launch 20.3 MP interchangeable-lens Android camera soon

 

Samsung is currently readying a 20.3 megapixel interchangeable-lens Android camera which might see the daylight on 20th of this month.

According to Vietnamese website tinhte.vn Samsung's mobile chief JK Shin hinted that the company would soon be announcing an Android-powered mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera. Press shots of this camera called Galaxy NX, have emerged on the website.

The device comes with a mirrorless mount and a three NX lenses. The backside of the camera features a touchscreen smartphone display. It is likely to be closer in size to a DSLR than Samsung's existing CSC lineup.

Hardware controls are few and far between, and may be limited to a shutter release, video capture button, top-mounted dial and a pop-up flash release, along with the compulsory lens release to the left of the swappable optic, reports Engadget.

The camera will run Android 4.2 operating system and will sport 20.3 megapixel APS-C sensor, dual-core processors or quad-core Samsung Exynos, 4.3 touchsereen. It will feature ISO sensitivity through 25600.

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Idea launches Android smartphone for Rs 7850

Idea Cellular has added another low-cost 3G smartphone to its line-up. Idea has launched Whiz, which is powered by 1 GHz dual core processor and runs on Android Ice Cream v4.0.

Priced at Rs 7,850, Whiz features a 5 MP auto focus camera and also has a front camera with video calling. The 4-inch smartphone has a screen resolution of 800x480 pixels.


Whiz is a dual-SIM smartphone with an internal memory of 4GB and 512 RAM and is powered by a 1500 mAh battery.


Idea has also bundled in free data benefits and Idea TV subscription for the first three months with the smartphone for some zones.   

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Awesome Note for Android APK extracted from leaked Note 8.0 ROM

Waiting to get your hands on Awesome Note app for Android, well the APK is now available for download at XDA. Forum member jujuburi has extracted the installable APK from a leaked Note 8.0 ROM, and it is reportedly working fine on Samsung Galaxy Note II, and Galaxy Note 10.1 devices.

Awesome Note is pretty popular note taking app on iOS platform. It is supposed to make exclusive debut for Android on Galaxy Note 8.0, but thanks to a leaked ROM of this upcoming tablet, we already have access to this app. There is no word right now on Google Play release of the app.


Awesome Note comes with S-Pen compatibility, so it would work flawlessly with Note-series devices, but you can always try on more devices and see if it works, drop a comment you are successful.

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Wammy Passion Y quad-core phablet now on Android 4.2

Wickedleak has said that its Quadcore Phablet Wammy Passion ‘Y’ is now available on Android 4.2 in India from March 28.

The device is powered by MTK6589 cortex A7 Quad core and has Capacitive Touch Screen,Multi Touch Support, 1GB RAM, and 4GB ROM memory. It supports Support Micro SD memory card extended uop to (T-Flash card) up to 32GB maximum.

The dual-SIM device supports Adobe Flash Player 11.1 and has 5.0MP front camera: and 8.0MP Back camera: with Flashlight.

The company said that Wammy Titan 2 Handset will be receiving a similar update to 4.2 soon.

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Lenovo S920 Becomes Official

 

The previously leaked Lenovo S920 Android smartphone has just become official as the company has already made it available over at their Chinese website although it isn’t shipping yet. The device is pretty impressive and features a 5.3 inch display, runs on Android Jelly Bean, and comes with a quad core processor.

Lenovo S920 Technical Specifications

    Android 4.2 Jelly Bean
    5.3 inch HD (1280 x 720) display
    1.2 GHz quad-core MediaTek processor
    1GB of RAM
    16GB of internal storage
    micro-SD support
    8 megapixel rear camera
    2 megapixel front camera
    2,250 mAh battery

When the Lenovo S920 hits the market early April it is going to be the first device of the company to run on Jelly Bean. One thing interesting about this model is that its back part looks similar to that of the HTC One. That’s as far as the similarities go as the rest of the design is quite different. It’s also just 7.9 mm thin making it one of the thinnest devices available in the market.


Based on its specifications this device is capable of standing next to the Samsung Galaxy Note II. The price will be less than the Note II though since its only using a MediaTek processor.

What we are concerned though is the battery life of this device since it only sports a 2,250 mAh battery.

Lenovo has not made any announcement yet if they will release this device in the global market. One thing is for sure though; it will soon be released in China.


Another device which the company is also expected to release is the Lenovo S820 which was spotted weeks ago. There is no information yet regarding the specifications of this device other than the fact that it appears to look similar to the HTC One.

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Karbonn Retina A27 priced at Rs. 9,090, now up for grabs

With a price for the Retina A27 by Karbonn having been announced, the company has put forth surprisingly decent components at Rs. 9,090. Even so, the only online shopping outlet which appears to have stashed it at present is Saholic. Seemingly, this gadget could pose as stiff competition to smartphones such as the Lava Iris 430 and the Acer Liquid E1.

Turning our attention to the specifications of the device, the front panel is dominated by a 4.3-inch LCD display with a resolution of 960 x 540 pixels. The screen employs IPS technology in order to grant users the privilege of viewing from wider angles. 512MB of RAM together with a dual core processor clocked at 1.2GHz has been slipped into the device’s chassis with a view to boost its performance.

Another hardware component residing under the hood is a 1,800mAh battery, using which, owners should be able to derive around 4 hours of talk time. They can moreover expect the handset to function for up to 7 days when left on standby.

Inclusion of the Android Jelly Bean OS speaks in the phone’s favor and this obviously serves as a key to the world of the Google Play store. In terms of inbuilt software, users should look forward to security attributes such as slide, face, pattern, pin and password lock options.


This handset could fall in the wish list of ardent mobile photographers, knowing that it flaunts an 8MP camera on the flip side as well as a 2MP webcam on the front. Utilizing the primary snapper will expose users to features such as auto focus, an LED flash and face detection.

The Karbonn Retina A27 furthermore features dual SIM ports, adding to the pile of recent devices in India which have managed to squeeze in an additional slot. Moreover, there will an onboard storage space of 4GB, while the bulk hoarding capacity can be stretched up to 32GB via a microSD card. Interested folks will spot the handset with the aforementioned e-retailer, radiating the color black.

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Simmtronics launches 10.1-inch Android tablet XPad X-1010 at Rs 8,449

New Delhi: After the launch of the XPAD X-720 and X-801, Simmtronics has now introduced a new tablet named "XPAD X-1010", which features a 10.1-inch capacitive multi-touch display with a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels. The tablet tuns Android 4.0 ICS and is priced at Rs 8499.

The Simmtronics XPAD X-1010 is engineered with a 1.2 GHz A8 cortex processor and 1GB RAM. The tablet has 8 GB of internal memory; its memory can be expanded up to 32 GB. It sports a front VGA camera for video chat.

The X1010 is packed with a 5600 mAh Lithium polymer battery which is claimed to offer 150 hours of back up and six hours of internet browsing time. 

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Micromax to launch A89 Ninja with 1GHz dual-core processor, Android 4.0

Micromax seems to be on a launching spree of sorts. The Indian handset maker is all set to launch another dual-SIM Android smartphone Micromax A89 Ninja. The smartphone has been listed on Micromax's website under the coming soon section with no price tag.

Micromax A89 Ninja will come with 1GHz dual-core Mediatek MT6577 processor accompanied by 512MB of RAM. It sports a 4-inch screen with WVGA display. The smartphone comes with 2GB of internal storage, which can be expanded to up to 32GB through a microSD card. It runs on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich).

It packs in 1450 mAh battery, which Micromax claims will deliver four hours of talktime and 170 hours of standby time. For camera, it has a 3-megapixel rear camera but sans flash.


Just like most other Micromax smartphones, it comes pre-loaded with apps such as Hook up,M! live,M! store,M! Zone+,Fruit devil and Darkman.

Micromax had launched A87 Ninja 4 last year and Micromax A89 Ninja seems to be the upgraded version of the same. Micromax A87 Ninja 4 too comes with a 4-inch screen with WVGA display but runs on the dated Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), while and Micromax A89 Ninja runs on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). Also the A87 Ninja 4 had a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, while this one has a 1GHz dual-core Mediatek processor on board. At 3-megapixel, Micromax A89 Ninja even has a better camera than A87 Ninja 4, which had a 2-megapixel one.

We expect that this device to make an appearance on one of the retail website really soon.


Micromax has recently announced a quad-core smartphone - Micromax A116 Canvas HD. The other features of this smartphone include Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), 2100mAh battery, 5-inch HD IPS screen, 8-megapixel rear camera, VGA front camera, 1GB RAM and 4GB of internal storage.

This smartphone is expected to be available from the second week of February for under Rs. 15,000.

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