BlackBerry Messenger crosses 85 million MAU, Hits Windows Phone in July

At BlackBerry’s earnings call earlier this week, CEO John Chen revealed some vital statistics relating to their popular messaging application. Called BlackBerry Messenger or BBM, the service has crossed 160 million registered users. Out of these 85 million are active monthly users. While this number might appear large at first glance, it is merely a drop in the ocean compared to the 500 million active user base of the likes of WhatsApp. BlackBerry Messenger has been trying to increase its user base ever since it went crossplatform. The company is honest in saying that revenue from BBM isn’t substantial but they expect to change that by offering new services built on top of the messaging platform. This includes BBM Money and BBM Channels.

BlackBerry Messenger’s cross platform bid doesn’t seem to be entirely successful given that out of the 85 million MAUs about 50 million are on BlackBerry devices. The company will launch a Windows Phone version of the application in July. The app which’ll be available as a preload on Nokia’s Lumia handsets should help the company cross the 100 million MAU threshold.

iberry Auxus Linea L1 and Auxus AX04 with Android 4.4 launched for Rs. 6990 and Rs. 5990

iberry has launched two new devices running Android 4.4 (KitKat). The iberry Auxus Linea L1 is a smartphone with a 4.5-inch display based on one-glass-solution technology, Corning Gorilla Glass protection and the Auxus AX04 phablet has a 7-inch IPS display with 16:9 aspect ratio. The phablet also comes with voice calling capabilities. 

The Auxus Linea L1 1.3 GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6582 processor with Mali 400 GPU and Auxus AX04 is powered by a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor with Mali 400 GPU. Both these devices have Dual SIM support and dual cameras.

Commenting on the new launch, Feroz Ahmed, COO and Co-Founder of iberry India, said,

Further to the tremendous response and success of the exclusive launch of Auxus Nuclea X on eBay India recently, we are delighted to again exclusively launch the new series of our Auxus smartphone and tablet on eBay India. Both the products are targeted to the budget conscious Indian consumers and we are confident that this series will be well received.

 iberry Auxus Linea L1 specifications

• 4.5-inch display based on one-glass-solution technology, Corning Gorilla Glass protection
• 1.3 GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6582 processor with Mali 400 GPU
• Android 4.4 (KitKat)
• Dual SIM (GSM + GSM)
• 5MP rear camera with LED Flash
• 2MP front-facing camera
• 3.5mm audio jack, FM Radio
• 3G, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth, aGPS
• 1GB DDR3 RAM, 4GB internal memory, expandable memory up to 64GB
• 2000 mAh battery

iberry Auxus AX04 specifications

• 7-inch IPS display
• 1.5 GHz dual-core processor with Mali 400 GPU
• Android 4.4 (KitKat)
• Dual SIM (GSM + GSM)
• 2MP rear camera
• 0.3MP (VGA) front-facing camera
• 3.5mm audio jack
• 2G (EDGE), Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth, USB OTG
• 512MB RAM, 4GB internal memory, expandable memory up to 64GB
• 3000 mAh battery

The Auxus Linea L1 and the Auxus AX04 are priced at Rs. 6,990 and Rs. 5,990, respectively. These devices would be exclusively on eBay India starting June 25

Samsung to reportedly announce its Android Wear smartwatch at Google I/O

Google announced Android Wear, its wearable platform back in March and also announced that it is working with several manufacturers, including Asus, HTC, LG, Motorola and Samsung to introduce watches powered by Android Wear this year. CNET is reporting that Samsung would unveil its first Android Wear watche at Google I/O next week. Samsung is working on both Exynos-powered and Qualcomm-powered Android smartwatch, according to the report.

Without confirming anything, Samsung just said “committed to relentless innovation and new products are always in development” to CNET. Samsung already has its Gear line of smartwatches. The companylaunched the Gear 2 series powered by Tizen OS and also upgraded its first Gear smartwatch to Tizenfrom Android. Recently a filing of Samsung Android Wear Smartwatch was spotted at FCC.

Motorola’s Moto 360 and LG’s G Watch are also expected to be launched at the Google I/O conference next week. Both Asus and HTC that are part of Android Wear are yet to announce their smartwatch plans. We will have to wait till next week to find out if they are ready to announce their first smartwatch.

Nest acquires home surveilance company Dropcam for $555 million

Google’s gradual move into the connected home space seems to be picking up steam. Nest, a Google company that specializes in internet connected smoke detectors and smart thermostats, just announced that it is acquiring Dropcam in a deal estimated to be worth $555 million in cash.

Despite being owned by Google, Nest is completing the acquisition on its own and Dropcam will be folded into their strategy. The company will also adhere to Nest’s privacy policies which is very important from a consumer perspective. Dropcam manufactures internet connected security cameras and also offers a cloud based security video archive.

Nest & Dropcam both follow a paid-for business model which ensures that they can afford to keep consumer data separate and secure. Nest’s privacy policies further ensure that this data will not be shared with anyone including Google. It is safe to expect consumer backlash if that were the case since Google’s business revolves around advertisements. Having access to security footage from your home would have serious ramifications. For the moment the two business will operate independently but expect Dropcam to be folded into the Nest way of doing things once the acquisition completes.

Path launches Path Talk Messenger for Android and iPhone

Path, Inc., the company behind the Path social network has launched Path Talk, its first messaging app for Android and iPhone. After introducing messaging feature in the Path app that was successful, it decided to launch a separate app for messaging. This has unique features including Ambient Status that automatically tells your friends when you are in transit, nearby, or low on battery and Quick Replies to nudge a friend, acknowledge a message, or start a call without ever using a keyboard.

Highlights of Path Talk for Android and iPhone

• Off the Record: Messages you send in Path Talk are automatically erased from our servers 24 hours after you send them, so you can now be yourself in conversations.
• Ambient Status: Path Talk can automatically tell your friends when you’re in transit, in the neighborhood, or even low on battery so your availability is always understood.
• Message Music, Maps, and more: Easily send movies, music, books, maps, locations, and high quality photos and videos—all with a single tap.
• Quick Replies: Save time by nudging a friend or acknowledging a message directly from your message list with just a swipe.
• Handmade Stickers: We’ve hired some of the best artists in the industry to imagine and draw characters for you to use when emoji just isn’t enough.
• Voice Messaging: Quickly send and receive high quality voice messages 1-on-1 with a friend or back and forth with a group of people.

Path plans to add Place Messaging that would enable Talk messaging between you and any local business so that you can book reservations, get prices, check in-store and more. Both Android and iOS platforms are already flooded with messaging apps. Do you think you need another messaging app?

Download Path Talk – The New Messenger (Free) - Android | iPhone

HP Slate21 Pro All-in-One PC with 21.5-inch 1080p display, Android 4.3 announced

HP launched Slate 21, the company’s first All-in-One (AiO) PC running runs on Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) last year. Now the company has come up with a refreshed version of the AiO at the CES 2014, calling it Slate21 Pro. It has the same 21.5-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) full HD capacitive reclining IPS touchscreen display with wide viewing angles and is powered by a quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 4 processor. This runs on Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean), RAM has been upgraded to 2GB.

It comes pre-loaded with Kingsoft Office Suite and 50 GB of Box cloud storage. It also has 70 degrees of adjustable recline and optional VESA mounting.

HP Slate21 Pro specifications

• 21.5-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) full HD capacitive touchscreen with wide 178-degree viewing angles
• 1.9 GHz quad-core Tegra 4 processor
• Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean)
• Integrated HD front-facing camera
• Dual-band WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, USB 3.0,  3 USB 2.0 ports, Bluetooth 4.0, Ethernet port
• 2GB RAM, 8GB internal memory, expandable memory via micro SD card slot

The HP Slate21 Pro AiO starts at $399 and is available in the United States. It also comes with a mouse and a keyboard, similar to the first HP AiO.

Meizu MX3 Hands on

Meizu, one of the many Chinese manufacturers, but one of the very few to make an impact on the world with their products, are present at CES 2014 here in Las Vegas and are showcasing their Meizu MX3 flagship device. The Meizu MX3 is the successor of Meizu MX2 and features best in class specifications. We go hands on with the device and you can check out the video right below.

The Meizu MX3 comes with a 5.1inch Full HD resolution(1080×1800 pixels) display and a pixel density of 412ppi). Despite the relatively big display size of 5.1inches, the form factor is compact and can be held in one hand. Meizu MX3 runs a heavily customized and forked version of Android 4.2 Jellybean and it is called as Flyme OS. The Flyme OS has a lot os customizations that makes the device ideal for one handed usage.

It is powered by Exynos 5410 Octa core processor, the same processor that powers the Samsung Galaxy S4 and graphics are taken care by PowerVR544 GPU. There is 2GB RAM and the internal storage is 16/32/64/128GB without a microSD card slot. On the front of the phone, below the display, we have just the single iPhoneish home button and there are contextual on screen buttons. There is a 8MP camera on the back and a 2MP camera on the front, both the cameras are capable of recording 1080p videos.

You can also check out the first look of Meizu MX3 right below

We also got a little time to play with the Meizu MX3 during which we compared its UI to that of the iOS UI. You can check out the comparison right below

Xolo becomes official mobile handset partner of Liverpool FC across Indian sub-continent

Xolo has inked three-season exclusive partnership detal with Liverpool Football Club to become the official regional marketing Partner for India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh. With this, the company becomes the official mobile handset partner of Liverpool FC across the Indian sub-continent until May 2016.

Xolo partnered with Intel to launch the first Intel Medfield-powered X900 in India back in 2012, It partnered with NVIDIA to introduced Tegra 3 powered phones and tablets and Tegra 4 tablet, the Xolo Play Tegra Note. It has also partnered with Qualcomm and Broadcom to launch phones powered with chips from these companies. This is the first time, the company is partnering with a sports team.

Commenting on the strategy behind XOLO’s partnership with Liverpool FC, Vishal Sehgal, Co-Founder & Director at Lava International Ltd., said

India, today, is one of the world’s fastest growing football destinations, with the sport emerging as a popular choice amongst new-age Indian audiences. XOLO has always stayed true to our brand promise of delivering ‘the next level’ in mobility to our consumers. We believe this partnership with Liverpool FC will help us strengthen this commitment in bringing best-in-class mobile experiences to Indian audiences.

Regarding the partnership, Sunil Raina, Business Head, XOLO, said

Liverpool FC is one of the most popular clubs in the country, with an iconic legacy. We are thrilled to have this association with a club that is revered as it seeks to grow the popularity of the sport in India. Through this association with Liverpool FC we will seek to not only increase connect with the youth but also drive growth for football in India. We believe that the partnership with the iconic Liverpool FC will bring many synergies and exciting opportunities to our consumers and partners in India.

As a part of this partnership, Xolo will offer

• India rich content from Liverpool FC on their mobile handsets
• Exclusive Liverpool FC merchandise
• Chance to meet various Liverpool FC players and legends
• Witness live matches at Anfield, the team’s home-ground for Lucky fans, customers and business partners
• Variety of football leagues, coaching camps and tournaments

Lenovo Vibe Z Hands on

Lenovo announced their latest flagship Lenovo Vibe Z back in November and they are showcasing their premier Android flagship at CES 2014. We are there in Las Vegas to cover the CES event and we are bringing you hands on with the Lenovo Vibe Z. You can check out hands-on video right below.

The Lenovo Vibe Z is a huge 5.5inch device that is made of Aluminum and like most Lenovo smartphone, it comes with a very impressive build quality. The weight of the huge 5.5inch display device bearing Aluminum clad build weighs just around 150g and is hardly 8mm thick. Like most flagships these days it comes with a Full HD display spread across 5.5inches and thus has a pixel density of 401ppi.

It is powered by one of the best processors in the market – Snapdragon 800 SoC clocked at 2.2GHz, has 2GB RAM and graphics are taken care by Adreno 330 GPU. There is a 5MP camera on the front side with a 84 degree wide angle lens and a 13MP camera on the back with dual-LED flash. It comes with Android 4.2.2 JellyBean and is overlaid by Lenovo’s new launcher in which the application drawer has been removed and follows a more iPhone like approach.

Check out the hands on of the Vibe Z SmartCover

D-Link DIR-510L Wi Fi AC750 Portable Router with built-in 4000 mAh charger announced

D-Link today introduced DIR-510L, world’s first portable 11AC router and charger. It lets you turn any connection into a fast 11AC Wi-Fi hotspot to share files, stream media and browse the Internet and also allows users to simultaneously charge mobile devices on-the-go with portable charger. It uses dual band technology (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands) and the mydlink SharePort app for mobile devices lets users upload, download and stream multimedia and documents to and from a USB drive, on the go from anywhere in the world.

Features of D-Link DIR-510L

• Dual-band 802.11ac wireless technology with combined speeds of up to 750 Mbps
• Built-in 4000mAh rechargeable battery to charge mobile devices on the go, including power-hungry devices like iPads
• Input: 5 V DC/1.8 A maximum (standard adapter); Output: 5 V/1 A via USB Type A port or 5 V/0.5 A via USB Type A port
• Dimensions - 140.0 x 59.0 x 16.0 mm; Weight: 154 g
• Two USB Ports for simultaneous file sharing and 3G/4G/LTE modem connection
• Plug in a 3G/4G/LTE USB modem to share an Internet connection
• USB flash drive to stream content to various mobile devices
• Stream content from a connected USB drive to multiple mobile devices using mydlink SharePort app
• Automatically detects connection type – broadband router, mobile router, hotspot
• Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) and Built-in DLNA Server
• Stream media to UPnP/DLNA-capable devices

The D-Link DIR-510L Wi-Fi AC750 Portable Router and Charger is priced at US$99.99

Micromax LapTab dual boot Android and Windows 8.1 device announced

Popular budget smartphone brand, Micromax, just announced its entry into a brand new product category. At the Consumer Electronics Show, The company has announced a dual boot tablet that will join its line of products which includes smartphones, tablets and HDTVs.

Called the LapTab, the Micromax product will be powered by an Intel Atom processor. The device will run both Windows 8.1 and Android Jelly Bean so that you can switch between the two depending on your usage requirement. The rest of the specifications are fairly mid range. The processor is clocked at 1.46Ghz and is paired with 2GB of RAM. You also get 32GB of built in storage.

The tablet has a 10.1 inch display with a resolution of 1280 x 800. You also get a rear facing 2MP camera. There’s still no word on pricing but the Micromax LapTab is expected to go on sale starting next month and will be retail with a wireless keyboard.

Micromax Canvas LapTab specifications

• 10.1-inch (1280 x 800 pixels) IPS touch screen display
• Dual OS – Android 4.2.2 and Windows 8
• 1.46 GHz Intel Celeron N2805 processor
•  2MP front-facing camera
• Weighs 580 grams
• WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0
• 2GB RAM, 32 GB internal storage, expandable up to 64 GB
• 7400 mAh battery

The dual boot tablet category is an interesting entry for the indigenous brand and should provide an interesting balance between productivity and entertainment applications. It also comes with Transleeve cover and stand with wireless keyboard packed with a 230 mAh battery for 20+ hours combined usage.

Corning unveils world’s first Antimicrobial Corning Gorilla Glass

Corning Incorporated has announced world’s first Antimicrobial Corning Gorilla Glass at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2014. This is the EPA-registered antimicrobial cover glass that is formulated with an antibacterial agent, ionic silver, which is incorporated into the glass surface that help keep touch surfaces clean of bacteria and microbes. Even though this has a special coating, it has the same toughness and optical clarity of Corning Gorilla Glass, promises the company.

Since you touch your mobile device often, bacteria can exist on the screen of these devices. Corning Antimicrobial Corning Gorilla Glass help address this growing concern, which inhibits the growth of algae, mold, mildew, fungi, and bacteria because of its built-in antimicrobial property. This is effective for the lifetime of a device,  says James R. Steiner, senior vice president and general manager, Corning Specialty Materials.

This glass can installed in electronic devices such as computers, cellular phones, calculators, telephones, and other electronic display panels. 

ZTE Grand S II with 5.5-inch 1080p display, Snapdragon 800 processor announced

ZTE has announced the Grand S II, the successor of the Grand as it promised last week. It has 5.5-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) full HD IPS display, powered by a 2.3 GHz Quad-Core Snapdragon 800 processor and runs on Android OS. It comes with 13-megapixel rear camera with LED Flash, full HD video recording and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera.

Voice control technology for voice unlocking, voice-to-phone self photography and My Drive assistant app with higher voice recognition rate, reducing distraction while driving. It would also have triple-MIC noise reduction for more natural and clearer voice calls. It also has 4G LTE support.

ZTE Grand S II specifications

• 5.5-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) IPS display
• 2.3 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor with Adreno 330 GPU
• Android OS
• 13MP auto focus camera with LED Flash, 1080p HD video recording
• 2MP front-facing camera
• 2GB RAM, 16GB internal memory
• 4G LTE / 3G HSPA+, Bluetooth, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n (Dual Band), GPS/aGPS
• 3000 mAh battery

ZTE would also unveil BlueWatch, its first Smartwatch and its first phablet with a 5.7-inch HD display

Huawei Ascend Mate 2 4G officially unveiled, packs LTE and a 13 MP camera

Huawei has just unveiled the Ascend Mate 2 4G at their CES 2014 press conference today in Las Vegas. The refreshed Ascend Mate, which was one of the first 6 inch devices to enter the world of phablets the same time last year, packs the same 6.1 inch 720p display, with a supposedly better IPS panel and finally incorporated 4G LTE inside. The Ascend Mate 2 4G is also slightly thinner than its predecessor and boasts a 200 MHz increase in clock speed featuring the 1.6 GHz quad-core HiSilicon Kirin 910 processor with Mali 450 GPU. Sporting a new 13 MP BSI sensor on the back, it improves upon the 8 MP one on its predecessor and also comes with a 5 MP front facing camera this time around.

Here are the complete specifications of the Huawei Ascend Mate 2 4G -

• 9.5mm thick
• 6.1-inch (1280 x 720 pixels) HD IPS display
• 1.6 GHz quad-core HiSilicon Kirin 910 processor with Mali 450 GPU
• Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) with Emotion UI 2.0
• 13MP auto focus rear camera with LED flash
• 5MP HD front-facing camera
• 3.5mm audio jack
• 2GB RAM, 16GB of internal memory, expandable memory card slot
• Cat4 LTE connectivity with up to 150 Mbps speeds

The Huawei Ascend Mate 2 is very much an evolutionary upgrade over its predecessor, no doubt about that, but of all the similar specifications mentioned, the Ascend Mate 2 4G can also provide reverse charging functionality for taking advantage of the high capacity 4050 mAH battery, which is rated for 100 hours of music on a single charge if the company’s words are to be believed. The company has not provided solid dates for availability but the Chinese will be getting it by the end of first quarter, according to the company. 

Pebble Smartwatch goes premium with Pebble Steel, it’s thin and comes in two colour variants

Exactly one year back, the Pebble was showcased to the public for the first time. It was truly one of the first “Smart”watches at that point in time but now we are in the middle of a revolution, where suddenly everyone wants to make one before giants like Apple make a splash into the hot wearables market. But Pebble has been playing it cool. With a comfortable lead in mind share, the company started to expand from its Kickstarter roots and then updated its smartwatch’s software with a new SDK, support for iOS 7 notifications and more. Initially introduced as a sporty colourful watch, one of the major complaints from many users(including us) was that it looked like a toy and the build quality was rather cheap.

Well, Pebble has a solution for it this year at CES 2014, in the form of the all new Pebble Steel, their new stainless steel chassis for the same good old innards. It has the same e-ink display, the same battery and the lot but it’s now thinner, has a stainless steel frame and is protected by clear Corning Gorilla Glass. Watch it in action in this promo video here -

Pebble Steel: "Ready to Go" from Pebble Technology on Vimeo.

The Pebble Steel improves upon the old Pebble in a number of ways. Firstly, it makes the Pebble Smartwatch premium. Made of forged and CNC-machined Stainless steel, the watch admittedly is now in the classy category. With matching straps, the Pebble Steel does look really awesome and it comes in two colour variants – Brushed stainless steel and Black Matte.The watch will come with two bands out of the box, one leather and the other in matching stainless steel.

Second, it’s more Glassier. Yes, the display is now protected by Gorilla Glass and even includes a finger print coating. No more weird glue-induced colours on the Pebble, it’s all clear glass now, with less scratches and finger prints, which, we think, is great and much needed. Not only that, there is also a new RGB LED indicator at the bottom left of the watch face which will let you know the status of the battery. Again, a much needed addition as there was no proper way other than the sometimes appearing battery indicator to find this out, should be really handy to find out when the battery is low. Another video to show case the new smartwatch -

Meet Pebble Steel from Pebble Technology on Vimeo.

The watch also loses the plasticky buttons on the sides and goes for stainless steel machined ones, which introduce better tactility and of course, more premium look and feel. Same goes for the new magnetic connector, which we hope is now more magnetic and sturdy than it is now, in its current form. With all the premium additions, the price naturally gets higher. The Pebble Steel will be exclusively available for order from the GetPebble.com website, starting today, for $249. That’s just $50 less than the Samsung Galaxy Gear, but we’d say the Pebble is a much better deal, especially now that it has gained a new SDK and an App Store.

Pebble Smartwatch gets its own App Store with curated apps and watch faces

Fresh off the announcement of Pebble Steel, the smartwatch company also announced its own App Store for its Smartwatches. Called the Pebble App Store, the repository of apps and watch faces with curated lists will reside inside the official Pebble apps for iOS and Android, according to the company. This move has been expected to happen for some time now, especially with the growing popularity of the Smartwatch and the homebrew developer support it gathered in the initial months of launch. If numbers are anything to go by, about 300,000 Pebbles have been sold so far and software bits like apps and watch faces for the Pebble have been already downloaded over 3 million times through third party curated app stores like MyPebbleFaces.com, which is arguably the most popular, for now. That’s definitely going to change with the introduction of the Pebble App Store, and more over, with the introduction of SDK 2.0, developers can now do more with the Pebble and the new App Store will be having that as the base minimum requirement for apps.

Developers can submit apps to the Pebble App Store and can have their apps listed at launch if sent before January 9th of this year, which is just 3 days away. The Pebble App Store will officially launch in the end of January with the ability to install, manage and discover apps for the smartwatch from the phone. Pebble also plans to have some curated lists for making discovery easier, like -

These will arguably help enhance the experience of a new user, as we ourselves had to dig up for several new apps and games for our Pebble from multiple sources earlier. This will just make it way easier, but it is also quite obvious that it was needed from the start. Pebble also has partners in ESPN for live scores, Foursquare for instant check ins from the watch, Go Pro remote control, Home Automation control through iControl Networks, Mercedes car information and even remotes for services like Pandora and Yelp. We hope the list keeps on increasing further.

ASUS’ dual OS Transformer Book Duet TD 300 with Android and Windows 8 is official

ASUS has officially unveiled its latest Dual OS convertible two-in-one, the Transformer Book Duet TD300. Simultaneously running Android 4.1 and Windows 8.1 on a single device, ASUS claims to offer two different experiences on a single machine, with laptop and tablet configurations thanks to the detachable keyboard dock. ASUS promises a 4 second time frame for switching between the two different operating systems at just a press of the button. It’s slightly disappointing that it runs on Android 4.1 Jellybean but the implementation will be interesting to see if it actually works in real life. The convertible is powered by the latest 4th generation Intel core i7 processor and comes with a 13.3 inch 1080p panel in the default configuration. The base configuration cuts the resolution down to 1366×768 and packs a Core i3 processor but comes with an affordable price tag of $599, which might be enticing for people looking to try this weird combo of a device.

In practice, not many use a 10 inch Android tablet or even a 10 inch Windows tablet, so the Transformer Book Duet might be a really niche product, much like the original transformer but people who usually evade Windows tablets for apps might just happen to like this offering we think. Apart from the Core i7 processor inside the top end model, the device also comes with a 128 GB SSD with the keyboard dock having a separate 768 GB worth of space which gets added when you connect the dock to the tablet. The dock also has ethernet, HDMI and USB ports to make it complete when used in the laptop mode.

Our understanding is that the OSes are running in parallel on the same Intel processor, so we think it might be a factor that affects the device’s battery life but still, it’s not very clear.

ASUS unveils the ZenFone range with 4, 5 and 6 inch screens sporting the ZenUI

After revealing the first Dual OS convertible, ASUS unleashed a whole new range of smartphones under the ZenFone range. Coming in three different screen sizes, the ZenFone line of devices are all about value for money and addressing choices in form factor as well as price. The three devices launched today are ZenFone 4, ZenFone 5 and ZenFone 6 with the number denoting their respective screen sizes. All the phones are powered by the Intel Atom processors with different configurations for each model, lets see what each one packs inside.

The ZenFone 4, pictured above in the header image is the cheapest and smallest of the lot that comes with a 4 inch display with WVGA resolution and is powered by the Intel Z2520 processor. It also features a 5 megapixel rear facing camera and weighs just 115g. Coming in five colours like Charcoal Black, Pearl White, Cherry Red, Sky Blue, Solar Yellow, the ZenFone 4 is priced at a competitive $99 to rival the low cost Android phones flooding the market.

The ZenFone 5 sports a 5-inch 720p display and is just 5.5mm thin at its thinnest point, which is pretty cool. It’s display also has a digitizer that allows one to use any pen or stylus and also allows gloves-on usage. The processor inside the ZenFone 5 is the Intel Z2580 running at 2 GHz and the device also packs a 8 Megapixel camera, which ASUS calls the “PixelMaster” which comes with Image stabilization. The BSI sensor and the f2.0 aperture also help in capturing good low light photos, according to ASUS. That aside, the device also comes with a 2 MP front facing camera. The ZenFone 5 is available in four colours – Charcoal Black, Pearl White, Cherry Red, and Champagne Gold.

Coming to ZenFone 6, this phablet is possibly a slight variation of the FonePad Note FHD6 with regards to the chassis, but the specifications are different. It comes with a 720p HD screen, with the same PenTouch and GloveTouch technologies that one can see on the ZenFone 5. It is also powered by the same Intel Z2580 chip running at 2 GHz. It not only has a bigger screen, but a bigger camera too, packing a 13 megapixel sensor based on the PixelMaster technology for better low light shots and also has a similar 2 Megapixel front facing camera. Coming in the same 4 colours as the ZenFone 5, one of the interesting additions to the ZenFone 6 is the ASUS SonicMaster audio technology that enhances the music experience.

All these phones also come with the new ZenUI, which is ASUS’ new Android skin. It brings some nice minimalistic design and modified default apps for email, gallery etc. Also bundled inside is the Omlet Chat app which is yet another Whatsapp me-too trying to take on the instant messaging space. All these phones are subjected to local availability and pricing, and we hope to hear from ASUS India regarding these low cost phones soon. With that said, the ZenFone range of devices seem like good entries to the low-mid range of Android device, but only time can tell how successful they are.