5 things to know about the Lumia 640 and 640 XL!

I left the days behind where I would write about every single technology news story but that does not mean the industry doesn't intrigue me. Microsoft's two new devices the Microsoft Lumia 640 and 640XL have impressed me a lot. The specifications are available on any technology website you go to today but I would like to talk about 5 things you should know about these two devices.

Why is technology so addictive?

We all use at least one smart device and are constantly on it. We never realise it but these devices are on us all the time and we are using them constantly. So whats the reason behind humans getting addicted to technology?

Humans are creatures who always look for answers. These devices generate a lot of questions whose answers can be found only after we use them. I am sure the first time you saw a laptop a question came to your mind, "What is this thing and how does it work?". Using the device got you the answer. It also made you realise that the device you are using is making your job easier. The same is true for cell phones.

After we have completely saturated the answer to the question we start looking for more things. This generates the next question. "What else can this device do?". Thats when open up to the world of apps. At this point there is no going back because you cannot experience everything available on the app store in a short time period.

Another reason is for the workaholic who always wants to work and be in contact with colleagues. This leads to an insane addiction to computers and mobile devices. Technology makes our lives easier. This is the sole reason for why we panic when we lose our mobile device. Loosing the comfort is scary for us.

This question came to my mind while installing a windows partition on my laptop. Made me think that I was wasting such a lot of time doing something that would give me almost nothing in return. The comments are open for your opinions. And as always.........

Thanks for reading!

Top 5 budget devices for this diwali (2014)

Devices mentioned here are priced below Rs 10,000

1. Android one devices

Google spoke about their android one program recently in India and launched three devices. Tie ups with local brands like Spice, Micromax and Karbonn have led to 3 budget devices that have amazing quality for their prices. Google’s Sundar Pichai mentioned that to make an android one device, OEM’s have to follow guidelines set by Google. So the hardware on these phones match guidelines of Google. The reason for doing this is to give users the best experience of the android OS at a compelling price.

According to Sundar Pichai, these devices were launched with only one objective, to connect everybody in the world to the internet and give them a smartphone to access the information age that many don’t have access to. Android one devices get upgrades directly from Google which means owners of these devices will have access to the latest versions of android before others like Nexus devices. For the price these devices are a great option for a first smartphone. You could also buy this phone if your usage is casual. High end gaming on budget devices cannot be expected. One con of this device is that it forces the user to install an external SD card. Some features like clicking photos don't work without external storage.

For now 3 android one devices sell in India via Flipkart, Snapdeal and Amazon. It doesn’t matter which phone you buy because the specs are similar on all three devices.

Specs:

Display size: 4.5 inches

Resolution: 480X854 pixels (218ppi)

Camera: 5MP, 2MP Secondary Camera

Flash: Yes

Processor: 1.3 GHz Mediatek chipset

RAM: 1GB

Ambient light sensor: Yes

Expandable storage: Upto 32 GB

For the price you cant expect great battery life but it will last an entire day. If you want a 720p screen then look at the next phone in this list.

2. Xiaomi Redmi 1s

Xiaomi has taken the world by storm launching devices at jaw dropping prices. The Redmi 1S is an affordable flagships with specs that are on par with devices that cost around Rs 10,000. This device deserves all the attention it is getting because it is that good.

But there is one issue with this phone, availability. Since Xiaomi sells these phones in flash sales that occur every Tuesday, not everybody can get access to this phone. The price is just too good for a device like this.

Service is the biggest issue with this device and also trust. I have a problem trusting Xiaomi because it just isn’t as reputable as a Samsung or HTC. You wont get any service from Xiaomi if anything goes wrong so hope for a perfect device when you purchase it.

Specs:

Display size: 4.7 inches Not gorilla glass

Resolution: 1280X720 pixels (218ppi)

Camera: 8MP

Flash: Yes

Processor: 1.6 GHz MSM8228 Quad Core Processor

RAM: 1GB

Ambient light sensor: Yes

Expandable storage: Upto 64 GB

3. Nokia Lumia 630

I think one windows device is necessary to be included in this list because it is a growing platform with a lot of potential. The lumia 630 is a device that has the perfect screen size for one handed use and entertainment. It runs on windows 8.2 out of the box which brings a host of new features over the previous version.

This phone is well built for its price. It comes with gorilla glass 3 on the front and has a plastic shell that is removable on the back. I personally loved the device but I couldn’t get the hang of windows phone. I loved the OS at first but some restrictions forced me to leave the device and switch to android. Apps like Feedly and Flipboard (Now available on the windows phone store) weren’t present when I used this device so I ditched the phone.

Gaming was ok on the device. Multitasking was a big issue because of the 512MB RAM. Apps would reload every time I would switch and it was time consuming. It’s a great phone for the average user but if you want a gaming device look at the Redmi 1S or for that matter any other device on this list.

Specs:

Display size: 4.5 inches Gorilla glass 3

Resolution: 480X854 (218ppi)

Camera: 5MP

Flash: No

Processor: 1.3 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 400

RAM: 1GB

Ambient light sensor: No

Expandable storage: Upto 128GB

There are no headphones present in the box of the device.

4. Moto E

Moto E was the device that kick-started the budget market of phones in India. Launched at just Rs 6,999 this phone had amazing specs and performance. It was made by Motorola to cover all the segments of the market. They had the Moto G for the mid range market at a competitive price and the Moto X was for the high end market also priced competitively. But why am I still mentioning this device even after competitors have compelling options?

The moto E has the perfect form factor for phones. Some might call it small because android devices below 5 inches have been called small always. The Moto E has a 4.3 inch display with 720p resolution and also promised upgrades for android. This alone convinced me to buy the device. At first glance I loved the phone and used it for about a month. After a month I felt the need of a bigger screen which is why I moved on.

The Moto E is a very good phone for anybody. this phone could be the perfect gift this Diwali.

Specs:

Display size: 4.3 inches Gorilla glass 3

Resolution: 960X640 (256ppi)

Camera: 5MP

Flash: No

Processor: 1.2 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 200

RAM: 1GB

Ambient light sensor: Yes

Expandable storage: Upto 32GB

5. Moto G 1st Gen

Moto G was the first device from Motorola's new line up that has brought it out of losses and made it successful. The moto G 1st gen made this list because it has the same specs as the 2nd gen Moto G with just a tad smaller display. The newer device is also great but costs more. This device is currently available for Rs 9,999 which is an awesome deal.

The devices has snappy performance and a promised upgrade to Android 5.0 Lollipop. Moto G has solid build quality and its a steady device. I personally would recommend buying this phone over all the other devices on this list but price is an issue vs the other devices. Overall I like the design of the device. 

Specs:

Display size: 4.5 inches Gorilla glass 3

Resolution: 1280X720 (329ppi)

Camera: 5MP

Flash: Yes

Processor: 1.2 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 400

RAM: 1GB

Ambient light sensor: Yes

Expandable storage: No

Special mentions to The Moto G 2nd gen, Huawei Honor holly, Zenfone 4.

These devices are also compelling buys but don't come in my top 5.