HTC One S JellyBean update roll out starts

HTC has started the roll out of the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update in some markets including UK. We had access to a UK unit and a massive 600 MB update showed up via OTA today. The update bears the version number 3.16.401.8 and measures 612.27 MB.We decided to give it a go and it was the much awaited jelly bean update. HTC had promised that it will release Android 4.1 JellyBean for the One S and One X this year and looks like the Taiwanese phone maker is keeping its word !

The main highlights of this update are JellyBean goodness and HTC Sense changes. Additionally there is a interesting power management fix for folks complaining about the battery life on their One S. .You can access the power saver from the notification tray.The Camera and Gallery UI has been tweaked.

BlackBerry 10 QWERTY handset shows up

RIM’s upcoming BlackBerry 10 based devices are no secret and have shown up more than a few times. Today, we got a glimpse at what might be the first QWERTY equipped device running BlackBerry OS 10. Named the “BlackBerry X10″, the handset brings a Bold 9900 inspired design to the struggling smartphone manufacturer’s next generation line up.

The phone on the left is believed to be one of the Alpha devices that RIM has seeded to developers around the world. In the middle is the full touch BlackBerry X10 which has been seen more than a few times now. RIM will be showing off their brand new OS alongside devices at an event on January 30th, 2013.

We’ve previously taken a look at the BB10 Developer Alpha. The operating system which is based on QNX is expected to bring along a lot of innovation in the interface and multitasking capabilities. RIM has consistently been losing market share and they need their new devices to be a commercial success to try and make a come back.

[Via - MobileSyrup]

Vodafone India launches Customer Support through Live Chat

Vodafone India has launched customer support through live chat. This service lets Vodafone customers chat to the customer care executive to solve their queries about their connection. This saves a lot of time since it connects quickly, unlike a call to customer support that would have several procedures before it connects to a customer care executive. Tata Docomo introduced live chat support for their customers few years back.

Airtel launches WiFi hangout – a prepaid hotspot service in select cities

India’s leading mobile and broadband provider Airtel has now sought after a new way to provide its broadband internet as a service. While the notion of a paid WiFi hotspot is nothing new in India, there has not been a wide commercial push that has widened its reach, and Airtel may fix just that, with its new “WiFi Hangout” service, a prepaid WiFi hotspot, initially launched in three cities/regions namely Mumbai, NCR and Bangalore.

Best Budget Tablets with Dual-Core Processors

In the past year, budget tablets have become capable of giving users good performance. To start with, they boast of some impressive specifications under the hood, the Android 4.0 OS and a convenient form factor making them very portable. With the evolution in performance of these devices, a dual-core processor has become a requirement especially if you multi-task and run heavy-duty apps. So here’s a quick look at some noteworthy budget tablets that boast of dual-core capabilities.


1. WickedLeak Wammy Desire

For a tablet priced at Rs. 6,800 the Wammy Desire boasts of some impressive specifications. It has a 7-inch display with 480×800 resolution, 1.5Ghz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, 8 GB storage expandable up to 32GB via a micro SD card, 1.3 video call camera, Wi-Fi, Android 4.1.1. It is one of the first budget tablets to run Android 4.1 Jelly Bean straight out of the box. In its performance, it leaves the competition far behind, but it does suffer a bit in terms of battery life.

Price: Rs. 6499

Rating : 7.0/10

Airtel seeks government permission to test 4G voice services: Report

Is Airtel preparing to launch 4G voice services in India? The telco has reportedly sought the government nod to test voice services on the fourth generation networks.

After launching 4G data services, Bharti Airtel is now seeking the government approval to test voice services on the fourth generation networks. Airtel's request for testing voice calls indicates the telecom operator is now looking to combine the data services with voice service on the high end platform.