Newbie 4G phablets: Lenovo A7000 vs Huawei Honor 4X

Smartphone space is crazy crowded these days with almost anybody looking to lay their bare hands in the market with phones that may or may not sell. Huawei hasn't done justice to its brand with smartphones in India, while Lenovo has laid down the gauntlet for other PC manufacturers to make the PC-to-mobile transition.

Both these brands will now be seen vying for space in the ultra-competitive segment i.e. 4G devices, wherein Honor 4X and A7000 will enable Huawei and Lenovo, respectively to ascertain their position in the coming years. The aforementioned devices are equally competent yet priced affordable, something that has become the theme of phone makers lately.

While Honor 4X goes for sale early next month (pre-orders have been made), Lenovo will be looking to gain on its Chinese rival in the coming weeks. So, while we wait for the devices to become available to consumers, take a closer (hardware) look at the latest affordable 4G entrants in the country.

Brand	Huawei Honor 4X	Lenovo A7000
Display	5.5-inch HD IPS	5.5-inch HD IPS
OS	Emotion 3.0 Android 4.4	Vibe 2.0 Android 4.4
CPU	1.2 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 410	1.5 GHz octa-core Mediatek 6752m
RAM	2GB	2GB
Storage	8GB exp. Up to 32GB	8GB exp. Up to 32GB
Cameras	13 (rear) + 5MP (front)	8MP (rear) + 5MP (front)
Connectivity	2G/3G/4G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS	2G/3G/4G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS
Dual-SIM	Yes	Yes
Battery	3000mAh	2900mAh
Weight	165 grams	140 grams
Dimensions	152.9 x 77.2 x 8.7 mm	152.6 x 76.2 x 8 mm
Price	Rs 10,499	Rs 9,999 (expected)

Lenovo has constructed a compact device for a phablet form size and takes the upper hand over Honor 4X in that aspect. Pricing is another area where Lenovo might have upstaged Huawei but that's never the sole criteria for buyers in India (ask Xiaomi). Looking at the figures, Lenovo A7000 has the overall package, while Honor 4X stands out in the camera and battery space for now (more on that later).

Seagate Seven Portable Drive

I wouldn't be surprised if Spectre, the next James Bond movie scheduled to be released later this year, features the Seagate Seven as one of the products "placed" in the film. Obviously, there's the number (Seven - 007) but also a nod to another legendary Bond movie.

The skin-like enclosure of the Seagate Seven reminds me of the fate of Goldfinger's secretary, Jill Masterson, who was murdered by being covered in gold after she betrayed her boss. The Seven doesn't get that costly treatment but the end product is still stunning.

Design

This portable hard drive looks superb even in its stainless steel chassis. It is thin, the thinnest external hard disk drive ever launched at exactly 7mm, thinner than some internal hard drives and at 178 grams, lighter than most. Seagate managed to produce such an engineering feat by using a 5mm hard drive with a single 500GB platter. You won't be able to open the sealed enclosure as it is literally snapped close (probably using an industrial press).

But while the Seagate Seven (otherwise known as the STDZ500400) is undoubtedly a premium hard disk drive, it comes at an equally premium price, selling for £100 at Ebuyer. It doesn't sound a lot, but we're used to 2TB external 2.5-inch hard disk drives like the Toshiba Canvio that are priced under £80.

Sure, it is not as pretty or portable, but paying five times the price per GB is a prospect hard to fathom - it seems that being the thinnest around does come at a very hefty price indeed. Pricewise, it is almost more akin to a 500GB SSD (the Kingston V300's price currently hovers in the £130 to £140 range), which might not be thinner but would leave the Seagate drive in the dust when it comes to raw performance.

Also, while the metal chassis looks great, it comes with some issues - it is prone to fingerprints and scratches.

The Seagate Seven boasts just one blue LED status light and a flat USB 3.0 interface at one end. The hard drive was supplied with a single USB 3.0 braided cable which is probably the best looking cable we've seen in a while. Not that we're excited about cables often, but this one not only looks great, it is also bendable.

Seagate's Seven is formatted to the exFAT file system but its default application, Dashboard, is Windows-only. Like other similar software, it allows the user to back up entire drives or designated file types or folders, on a defined schedule. Note that it also asks you to register with Seagate which is not essential.

That said, at 500GB capacity you will very likely run out of space quicker than you might hope. Another interesting feature is the fact that you can back up your Android or iOS devices as well as media from Flickr or Facebook (but not Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest and the flurry of others).

Performance

The drive achieved 113MBps/51MBps in sequential read and write respectively on CrystalDiskMark. Similarly, the Seagate Seven achieved a respectable score of 1954 on PCMark 8, not bad for a 5400RPM hard disk drive. All three results are very decent figures and surprising given that it is a single platter model.

That said, the scores are nothing to shout about and similarly priced hard drives like the HGST Touro Pro (which is thicker but also features a 7200RPM hard drive) are far faster and more capacious.

Why Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge is way more than a concept

Evolution teaches us many things, one of the most important being that in order to survive, we must adapt. Unfortunately, some creatures are better adapted for survival than others. Over thousands upon thousands or millions of years, a seemingly simple organism can rise to be a thriving part of its species, setting an example of the benefits of such evolution.

However, all evolution is met with hardship, and obstacles. In the insanely competitive mobile world, products live and die on a daily basis. If you're lucky enough to break through all the noise, you may just live on for future generations. One such company that's evolved to the top of the food chain is Samsung.

In 2009, Samsung accounted for only four percent of all Android smartphones. Today, that number has jumped to 29.3%, according to a recent comScore report. Not to mention, Android now commands just over 80% of the mobile OS market, leaps beyond its position behind Windows Mobile, RIM, and the now non-existent Symbian.

Samsung may have been blasted for "copying" designs in the past, but the company hasn't been afraid to make big bets. One of the most memorable was the Galaxy Note, a phablet, a word with an increasingly shifting definition, with a completely unheard of 5.3-inch display. It was criticized as being ridiculously big and wouldn't sell, yet here we are with the fourth iteration, and 5-inch plus phones being the norm.

Apple eventually saw the need with the iPhone 6 Plus, and helped reduce the jokes about Android users making phone calls with their "tablets." Just last year, Samsung made another bet with the Galaxy Note Edge, the first ever phone of its kind. A peculiar concept, the unique experience has made it center stage with the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, the latest flagship that also sports some firsts.

What exactly is the Edge?

While the Galaxy Note Edge had just one curve, the Galaxy S6 Edge features what Samsung claims is "the world's first dual-curved glass display." Edge is a simple marketing buzzword to advertise the curved display, and although "Curve" may sound like a better choice, it doesn't get the whole message across.

For example, by swiping from the "Edge," you can access and customize a list of your five most popular contacts. Tapping on their photo, which appears as a bubble icon, lets you call or text them, and if you want to see more details such as their most recent text, you can swipe again over their photo.

Going a step further, you can customize the color for each contact. Such a feature may sound trivial, that is until you leave your phone facing down. Because the screen is slightly curved, a tiny sliver is exposed. If your friend Jason calls, and his color is red, the exposed part of the screen will light up red, instantly signaling to you your friend Jason is calling.

Where the Moto X 2nd Gen has front-facing sensors enabling you to wave your hand over the screen to ignore a call, the Galaxy S6 Edge allows you to ignore a call by putting your finger over the heart-rate sensor. This obviously makes a lot more sense if you often leave your phone facing down, which may or may not be the case.

The Edge also functions as a stream for content that interests you. Think of it as a stock ticker of sorts, able to display tweets, text messages, weather, emails, and more. Because Samsung takes advantage of a Super AMOLED display, it can display this information when the screen is turned off, and not drain your battery. To see more details about whatever information is being shown, simple tap the Edge to be taken directly to it.

Now search contacts on Trucaller without Ctrl C and Ctrl V

How cool is Truecaller? Nagging calls from unknown numbers get identified and that helps you in making sure that you pick the right ones, thereby ignore all calls from insurance agents, credit card sales and the likes. Others have tried replicating their formula and the closest we have seen to Truecaller is Hola that can merely ID contacts within their capability.

Truecaller, on the other hand has kept on reinventing its product with features that make sense in all possible manner, especially for the folks on Android. After recently changing the look of its interface, the caller ID specialists have now made searching phone numbers, all the more easy.

You won't have to cut-and-paste any number to search for their details, as Truecaller now comes with built-in search option which flashes caller details just by copying the number, without the need to paste it (check out the video below). "Android users now can be browsing anywhere on their phone, copy a phone number, and Truecaller will instantly try to identify the number and give easy access to calling or texting", as the company highlights.



They've truly made searching contacts quite easy with this update feature and expect more from them in the coming future.

Argos MyTablet (Windows)

Unlike Tesco's Hudl, the launch of which was widely regarded as being successful, Argos' introduction to the world of tablets with its MyTablet brand was nothing short of a dud. Launched back in December 2013, it garnered only two stars out of five in our review, and was criticised for its laggy performance, low-resolution screen and poor battery life.

Argos however didn't give up and launched a Windows version of MyTablet late last year for £130 alongside a 7-inch Android model. The former, sold under the Bush brand, quickly dropped in price to £99.99, an indication perhaps of the fact that it was not doing fantastically well sales-wise.

At £99.99 and without offering any extras (bar maybe a longer battery life), it is a slightly more expensive alternative to the likes of the Linx 7, Tesco Connect, HP Stream 7 Signature Edition and the Toshiba Encore Mini, all priced between £70 and £90.

Design

Like most other Windows tablets, this one is engineered to be held in portrait mode - the front facing camera (a 0.3-megapixel model) is located at the top if you look at the device's screen.

As with the other Windows slates, all the buttons and ports are located either on the top edge (headphone, microSD, micro-USB - which is used for charging as well - and micro-HDMI), or on the right (Windows button, power button and volume rocker).

Furthermore, a 2-megapixel rear camera and one speaker are located on the back of the device. The quality of both can best be described as mediocre, but unfortunately, that's what I've come to expect from sub-£100 devices. Note that this slate comes with a charger, a USB cable and some leaflets.

What sets the Argos MyTablet aside from the competition is an 8-inch display. It sports the same resolution as the 7-inch models (1280 x 800) which translates into a lower pixel density. That may put off a few potential buyers looking for a sharp display - in practice though, the difference is hardly noticeable.

The rest of the hardware is essentially the reference platform doled out by Intel and replicated ad-infinitum by its tablet manufacturing partners: An Intel Z3735G processor clocked at 1.33GHz (overclocking to 1.8GHz), 1GB of RAM, 32GB on-board storage, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 4.0.

The IPS screen is bright and has decent viewing angles, but falls short on two counts. Firstly, it is a real fingerprint magnet, probably more than any other tablets I have recently tested. Then there's the fact that the screen flexes a lot when some pressure (not a lot) is applied to it - that translates into the dreaded rainbow/oil patch effect.

Bar the display, the MyTablet has a reasonably good finish. That said, I dislike the silver back; not only is it matte, it is also a fingerprint magnet. Why Argos didn't choose a classic black finish that's less prone to greasy fingers is anybody's guess.

As for the form factor, I am not convinced by the choice of an 8-inch display. The additional inch has its advantages, especially for those who find smaller touchscreens challenging. But it also means that it is a bit too big for single-hand usage.

As is the case with all other entry-level Windows tablets, this one comes with a year's worth of Office 365 Personal, which is worth about £50 on its own. Add in Windows 8.1 for Bing and you're essentially getting the hardware for free when buying the software. Not a bad deal.

Performance

Don't expect miracles with this tablet. Like others, it runs reasonably well under light usage; that includes using it for Office work, playing decade-old games, watching YouTube, reading emails or basic web browsing.

Anything more complex than that is likely to make it crawl to a standstill. Bear in mind that the 1GB system memory it is using is shared with the graphics subsystem.

The MyTablet scored 1064, 1472 and 822 on PCMark 8 Home, Work and Creative tests respectively, which is roughly on par with the Tesco Connect tablet. As for the battery life, at just over four hours and thirty minutes on the PCMark 8 battery test, it isn't a headline grabber but is better than most Windows 8 tablets we've played with. Expect actual battery life to be higher under normal circumstances.

Micromax might get a fresh funding through the SoftBank-led group

A group of investors led by Japanese mobile telecom firm SoftBank Corp is in talks to buy a 20 percent stake in Indian handset maker Micromax Informaticsfor up to $1 billion, two people aware of the discussions said.

The investment would value Micromax, an unlisted provider of affordable smartphones that competes with South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co, at around $5 billion, the people said. They did not want to be named because the talks aren't public.

Based outside New Delhi, the company entered the Indian mobile handset market in 2008 and is credited with fuelling the rise of smartphones in the country.

In February, research firm Canalys said Micromax overtook Samsung as the leading supplier in India's booming smartphone market in the last three months of 2014, although Samsung challenged the report.

One of the people said a deal would likely involve the sale of some 20 percent of Micromax by existing investors, raising $800 million to $1 billion. Micromax, controlled by its founders, counts private equity firms Sequoia Capital and TA Associates among its investors.

Micromax had filed for a public listing in 2010, but shelved those plans citing poor market conditions. The sources said the stake sale and partial exit of investors could lead to a U.S. listing in the next couple of years.

Micromax declined to comment. A SoftBank spokesman in Tokyo declined to comment.

SoftBank has set lofty goals for investment in India, with chief executive Masayoshi Son saying it will invest about $10 billion in the country's ecommerce sector after it took a strategic stake in online marketplace Snapdeal.

Affordable smartphones and internet connections are driving the country's ecommerce boom and India is the third biggest smartphone market in the world. Low-priced smartphones are the top sellers in the country. ($1 = 62.7150 Indian rupees) (Additional reporting by Teppei Kasai in Tokyo; Editing by Clara Ferreira Marques and Keith Weir)

Periscope vs Meerkat: which is the better live streaming app?

Live from your mobile phone, it's either Periscope for Meerkat. The two video streaming apps are the latest social media sensations to broadcast real-time video.

Turning everyone into an on-the-scene reporter, Meerkat made its officially debut at SXSW Interactive Festival this month. It links to your Twitter account for easy sharing to existing followers.

Periscope launched today with the same basic purpose, only it has official Twitter backing. It was purchased by social media company for a reported $100 million (about £67, AU$128).

It's difficult enough to broadcast with one of these new apps without distraction, so using both at the same time is out. It's time for our Periscope vs Meerkat comparison.