Karbonn launches first smartphone with builtin BHIM app

Karbonn became the first company to launch a Android 7.0 powered mobile with integrated fingerprint scanner and BHIM app. Since the digital Indian push during the last quarter of 2016, there have been a spate of other products in this area, but Karbonn K9 Kavach 4g is probably the first that falls in affordable range and offers the fingerprint security features that are only available with more expensive models. With NPCI officials attending the event, here is a hoping that due work on the security compliance has be done on the device to assure users of safe digital transactions. 

Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/technology/story/karbonn-k9-kavach-4g-launched-for-rs-5-290-comes-pre-bundled-with-bhim-app-for-cashless-payments/1/993730.html

Karbonn Windows Phone: Wanted to like it, but..

I have been using the Karbonn's first Windows phone for about 2 days now. My initial impressions with the phone were very good. The performance and the touch response seemed to work very well. The display was not so good, with very poor viewing angles and grossly incorrect colors. The camera was OK, the Skype calls using the front camera was like - atleast it is there - !.

But the bummer of the whole thing was when I installed the SIM card on the phone. The phone never stabilized on the network signal, which seemed to go on and off. After some time the phone restarted. And this kept on happening. I changed the SIM to another spare one, and the same thing repeated.

There is also another issue with the piece I received, the battery doesn't seem to charge fully. Infact, it never goes beyond 97% charge, no matter how long you wait.

With these basic issues, I am left using this thing like an iPod touch, only not as good! I have contacted Snapdeal, and would report back on what happened. In short, I don't think it would be prudent to review this product based on this particular faulty unit.


Update: Snapdeal sent me a replacement device. But to my horror it too has the same problem with keeping a stabilized network signal. Given the experience, I would strongly *NOT* recommend the product, unless if you are just an enthusiast!

 

Karbonn Titanum Wind W4 is here, review soon

Karbonn Titanium Wind W4 : Now the least expensive Windows Phone in India

That is right. The Wind W4 from Karbonn is the cheapest Windows device selling in India and is under 5K INR (see: http://www.snapdeal.com/product/titanium-wind-w4/1241433329#bcrumbSearch:karbonn%20titanium%20wind%204). I would be reviewing this device in coming weeks, so stay tuned.
 

Now quad core smartphone below 5k INR

The below 5K phones with good user experience is soon becoming a reality with Karbonn introducing an Android Kitkat based phone http://www.amazon.in/gp/aw/d/B00NMC7WU4/ for only 4999 INR.

At this price you get pretty decent spec phone with a quad core, 1GB ram, 5mp AF camera, and a VGA front camera, 800x480 - 4.5" screen.

At this price point it would well be the cheapest 3g capable smartphone in India right now. Now we need to wait and see when Windows based phones can hit this price point.

Initial impressions of Karbon Android One

The Karbonn Android One device is not something that it's exceptional in hardware. It is normal. The only thing that may stand out is that there are all the sensors that you would probably find in a mid range phones. What makes this phone different is not the hardware but the software.
 

Android One is directly supported on the software side by Google, and is expected to get all major software updates for about two years. This is the only thing that sets it apart from other offerings. Essentially you should be using this only if you have interest in keeping the system always up to date. If you are just looking for a phone, this is a good to own. But if you are purely looking in terms of hardware then you did be looking somewhere else. This is especially true in terms of display resolution of the current devices : at best they are poor, with very poor text clarity and sharpness. 

And then there is issue of bloatware. There was an impression that android one would be free of these. That however does not seem to be the case. The android one device that I have has a number of apps that I simply do not want,  but there is no way to remove them. About the only thing that you can do is to hide or disable them.
 

There are however good things. You get a very much stock android experience , one that you would typically get on q nexus device. This I includes the google now launcher , feature which are missing in devices like moto e. The camera and photo app is one of the better ones I have used and are really good and easy to use and take good snaps. And then there are a host of other google apps that we have taken for granted: Google maps and gmail being the ones that I use the most.
 

In the end when I compare it with say Firefox phone that launched recently in India, I find that if you are looking for a mobile computing device then it would be better to save up and buy one of the android one devices rather than go for the really cheap Firefox phone. If however you are buying a phone and occasionally would like to be connected then Firefox phone is a good option to have.

Is Android One really free of bloatware?

It is a big NO. Have a review I unit of  Karbonn Sparkle android one phone and it has got a host of pre-installed apps that I cannot simply uninstall. These include: olyx, snapdeal,  saavn, QuickOffice, news and weather, moneycontrol. I am also finding a lot of Google applications to be bloatware : Google + to be specific.

WP phone prices are coming down, still not below 5K INR

Karbonn today launched Karbonn Titanium Wind W4 - a WP phone - exclusively on Amazon.in (available here: http://www.amazon.in/Launch-Karbonn-Titanium-Windows-Phone/dp/B00NWD6CHW/).

The price of this device is 5,999/- INR and is actually the lowest priced WP powered phone available in India at the moment. This is good news. But the bad news is that this price is still too high for large adaptability of the platform. The WP powered phones need to come below 5K INR, and at the same time maintain quality to attract a large audience.

Karbonn A1 + Super : another affordable Kitkat

Feature phones are dead. They are really. If you plan to get a feature phone, you may as well be dumb, or might really want some super good battery life.
Karboon A1 + Super is just another reason to not get a feature phone but a full smartphone with the latest Android OS on it. That too well below 4K INR.

New affordable mobile from Karbonn @ Flipkart

With the success of Moto E, every one seems to like exclusivity. This time it is Karbonn and they are launching four smartphones on Flipkart, all well below 5K. What is good is two of these come with latest Android Kitkat OS. Check out this link to purchase from Flipkart.

Karbonn A50s : resets the base smartphone specs

Karbonn A50s launched exclusively on Flipkart defines what a base smartphone specs and price would be. It is below 3K INR, well to be precise it is 2790 INR. And that is super affordable. I am not sure about the performance aspects of the phone, but the specs look great on paper. I may evaluate this phone once I get hold of it. The only sore point I have about the phone is the Android OS version is not Kitkat, but Jellybean.
On and just so as to 'rub it on' Moto E, this piece has got an front facing camera as well as a flash for the the main camera.
There were recent reports of Firefox OS finally entering Indian markets, but with a product like Karbonn A50s, Mozilla will have to keep the price tags on their mobiles to something like 1.5K to actually make any dent. Point is A50s is a full Android phone, where as Firefox OS is relatively new, and has quite immature ecosystem.