Best Android Phones In India

The year 2010 was all about the growth of Android. In 2011, analysts expect the Android OS to ‘explode’. In less than a year, Android handsets have grabbed a considerable share in the mobile market and they are still setting the sales chart on fire.
In India, where Symbian OS rules – Android has managed to grab a decent market share. Now, more and more people in India are realizing that the Android OS is the future of mobile phones and are buying an Android based phone for themselves. However, the Indian market is flooded with low-range Android handsets which totally spoil the Android experience. So, below is a list consisting of the best Android phones available in India right now.
Also Read: Best Android Apps in Android Market | Best Android Phones in the Market
The Best Android Phones available in India right now are –:

Samsung Galaxy 5

The only Android phone worth purchasing below the Rs. 10,000 mark is the Samsung Galaxy 5. The Galaxy 5 is a pretty ‘loaded’ handset which is pretty surprising for its price. The Galaxy 5 is powered by a 600 MHz processor and runs on Android 2.1 with TouchWIZ UI on top of it.

The handset also has a decent 2.8-inch 240×400 screen. The back of the phone sports a disappointing 2MP camera. The usual Wi-Fi, GPS, microSD card slot are also present. Even though the Galaxy 5 is a pretty cheap handset, it packs in HSDPA support. The Samsung Galaxy 5 is available in India for only Rs. 8869 and can be purchased from here. I would seriously recommend this handset to buyers instead of the other low-end Android phones like the Micromax A60.

HTC Wildfire

The HTC Wildfire is one of the most popular budget phones in India. It features a 3.2-inch QVGA (320×240) display. The handset is powered by a 528MHz processor and has 384MB of RAM along with 512MB of ROM. The usual Wi-Fi, GPS etcetera are all present.

Recently, HTC also started rolling out the Android 2.2 update for the handset in India. The HTC Wildfire is available in India for Rs. 13749.  The HTC Wildfire is a decent Android phone to own but with considerably better competitors out there. Users who want to experience the HTC Sense UI should prefer this phone over the LG Optimus One. Readers can purchase the HTC Wildfire from here.

Sony Ericsson X10 Mini Pro

The Sony Ericsson X10 Mini Pro is a power packed handset. The handset features a 2.55-inch display with QVGA display. The handset is powered by a 600MHz processor and has 128MB of internal memory. The X10 Mini Pro also packs in a slide-out QWERTY keyboard which is pretty remarkable for such a small form factor.

The handset runs on Android 2.1 with Sony’s proprietary TimeScape UI on top of it. Sadly, Sony Ericsson won’t be releasing any more Android updates for this device. The X10 Mini Pro is available in India for Rs. 15000 and can be purchased from here. A must buy if anyone in India is looking for a small form factor based Android phone with a decent QWERTY keyboard.

Samsung Galaxy 3

Before the LG Optimus One was launched, the Samsung Galax 3 was the best Android phone available within Rs. 15000. The Galaxy 3 features a 3.2-inch screen with an odd resolution of 240×400. The phone has a 667 MHz processor and 256MB of RAM along with 512MB of ROM. The usual Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS etcetera are all present.
The handset runs on Android 2.1 with Samsung’s TouchWIZ UI on top of it. Samsung will soon roll out the Android 2.2 update for the Galaxy 3. The Samsung Galaxy 3 is available in India for Rs. 11500 and can be purchased from here.

LG Optimus One

The LG Optimus One is the best Android phone available in India for below Rs. 15000. For a budget mid-range phone, the Optimus One packs a 3.2-inch HVGA display, a 600MHz processor, 512MB of RAM and 170MB of internal memory. The usual Wi-Fi, GPS, 3.5mm jack and a microSD card slot are all present.

The back of the phone sports a 3.15MP camera with auto-focus. The phone is powered by a 1500mAh battery which will make sure that the phone will easily last through a day.
Even though the Optimus One is a budget oriented Android phone, it runs on Android 2.2. LG has even announced that the Optimus One will officially get the Android 2.3 Gingerbread update. The LG Optimus One (P500) is available for Rs. 12500 in India. Readers can purchase the LG Optimus One P500 from here.

HTC Desire

The HTC Desire is very similar to the Google Nexus One. The handset features a 3.7-inch AMOLED display, a 1GHz processor and 512MB of RAM. The back of the phone sports a 5MP camera. The usual Wi-Fi, GPS etcetera are also there. The HTC Desire is an old handset now but it is available in India for around Rs. 23000 now.

At this price, the Desire is a truly desirable handset. Readers who want to purchase the HTC Desire can do so from here.

HTC Desire Z

The Desire Z is one of the best Android handsets available in India to sport a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Unlike other high-end Android phones, the processor of Desire Z runs at a ‘mere’ 800 MHz. However, this does not make the phone a slow couch and it is able to beat all the older generation Snapdragon phones in performance easily.

The slide-out QWERTY keyboard of the handset is also pretty good and is one of the main attractions of this phone. The Z packs in 1.5gig of internal memory and 512MB of RAM. The back of the phone sports a 5MP camera with an LED flash which is capable of recoding 720p HD videos. The Desire Z runs on Android 2.2 with the latest version of Sense UI on top of it.
The Desire Z is available in India for Rs. 25899. Readers interested in buying the Desire Z can buy it from here.

HTC Desire HD

HTC recently released the Desire HD in India. The handset is made up of a single block of aluminum and has a very premium feel to it. The Desire HD sports a mammoth 4.3-inch display along with 768MB of RAM and 1.5gig of internal memory. The handset is powered by a 1GHz Snapdragon processor and packs an Adreno 205 GPU. The back of the phone also sports an 8MP camera along with dual-LED flash.

The Desire HD has been packed to the brim with features from HTC but sadly, the company has skimped on the battery of the handset. The handset is powered by a measly 1230mAh battery which will see this handset barely make it through a day.
Still the HTC Desire HD is a very good phone and is available in India for Rs. 27899. Readers who are interested in buying the Desire HD can do so from here.

Samsung Galaxy S

The Samsung Galaxy S has been one of the most popular Android phones last year. The handset features a 1GHz Hummingbird processor and a PowerVR SGX540 graphics core. The Super-AMOLED display on the handset has stellar contrast and viewing angles. Samsung had launched the Galaxy S with Android 2.1 on board but recently rolled out the Android 2.2 update in India.

The phone also sports Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS, microSD card slot, and 16GB of internal memory including 2GB of ROM for installing all your apps. The Samsung Galaxy S retails for around Rs. 26000 in India right now. The back of the Galaxy S packs a 5MP auto-focus camera while the front has a VGA camera for all your video calling needs.
The downsides of the Galaxy S include a plasticky build quality and no LED flash to assist the 5MP camera. The combination of killer internal hardware, screen and pricing make the Galaxy S the best Android handset available in India right now. The Samsung Galaxy S is available in India for Rs. 27999 and can be purchased from here.
So which is your favorite Android based phone in India? Do let me know through your comments.

35+ Amazing Softwares that Are Free!!

Many good softwares are either too costly or simply unaffordable, but that does not mean every good software out there requires you to shell out absurd amounts of money. There are 100s and 1000s of softwares that are completely free and perform as good as if not better than their paid counterparts.
This is the 700th post for us and we thought to make it worthwhile for you. In this post we will look at more than 35 amazing softwares that can be used for different purposes and are absolutely free to use.  These softwares provide you solutions that make your computing life much better without costing you a penny.

Productivity Suites

OpenOffice.org

One of the best alternatives available for Microsoft Office Suite, OpenOffice.org has not only received several awards and accolades, it is one of the best alternatives to managing your document, spreadsheets, presentations and more.
With Open Office you can do everything you can with Microsoft Office and with the software being open source you can expect 100s and 1000s of cool software engineers contributing to make it better.
Download OpenOffice.org | Learn more about OpenOffice.org
Other worthwhile mentions

• Zoho
• Google Docs

Thunderbird

Maintaining several email accounts in a single place has always been a forte associated with Microsoft Outlook. Thunderbird on the other hand is a alternative which is as good as Outlook if not better, providing you with the many of the same features to manage multiple email accounts at no cost at all.
Thunderbird lets you manage your POP and IMAP accounts with ease. Thunderbird also allows you to extend the basic functionality by allowing you to add useful add-ons and extensions making it just too good to resist.
Download Thunderbird | Learn more about Thunderbird

Dia

A good software is always conceptualized by defining the exact way in which it should work with process diagrams and flowcharts. If you have been paying out of your pocket for Microsoft Visio it is high time you switched to Dia a open source software that allows you to create structured diagrams and flowcharts for free.
Download Dia for Windows | Learn more about Dia

Sunbird

Though not one of the most talked about product, Sunbird definitely is a great alternative to managing your appointments and events without having to use Microsoft Outlook.
And if you would frown about having to use two different applications to manage emails and calendars you should definitely try out Lightning that combines Thunderbird with Sunbird to create a great productivity application.
Download and learn more about Sunbird

Browsers, Instant Messengers, Remote File Management, Shell and Linux Emulation

Firefox

Firefox is not only the best open source browser available today, it also provides you with a much safer and faster browsing experience. It is really much better than Internet Explorer and not many would say otherwise.
Well if you have been reading us for sometime you may already know how much we love Firefox. You can definitely check out the ultimate list of tips and tricks for firefox 3 and while your at it don’t forget to see the Firefox extensions we have put up for you.
Download Firefox 3 | Learn more about Firefox
Other worthwhile mentions

• Flock
• Maxthon
• Opera
• Avant Browser

Digsby

Digsby is much more than just a just a multi-protocol IM client. With Digsby you can communicate with your friends over AIM, Yahoo, MSN, GTalk and more without having to install separate clients, as well as check your emails from multiple providers.
If that was not enough you can also use Digsby to update your social networking statues in Facebook, Twitter and MySpace.
Download Digsby | Learn more about Digsby
Other worthwhile mentions

• 8hands
• Meebo
• Pigdin
• Miranda IM

WinSCP

Remote file management is always a challenge and though there are several softwares out there our preferred one is WinSCP, a incredible and versatile software that makes file management quite a breeze.
WinSCP is not only allows you to transfer files but they do it by providing you a way to securely do them, using the SFTP protocol instead of the regular FTP protocol.
Download WinSCP | Learn more about WinSCP
Other worthwhile mentions

• Filezilla

uTorrent

If you are looking to download files using torrents, look no farther than uTorrent, one of the best softwares to manage torrents. Not only is it lightweight it also can be managed using the browser by accessing the uTorrent site and the best part is it runs out of the box without requiring any installations.
Download uTorrent | Learn more about uTorrent
Other worthwhile mentions

• Vuze

Free Download Manager

Managing your downloads with browsers have never been that easy and download managers definitely allow you to download files in a much better way. Free Download Manager allows you to download files from multiple sources, accelerating your download process, along with allowing you to pause and resume them.
Free Download Manager makes your download management much better and also comes with inbuilt support to download torrent files.
Download Free Download Manager | Learn more about Free Download Manager
Other worthwhile mentions

• Internet Download Manager
• FlashGet

Related: Top 3 free Internet Download Accelerators

Putty

Ever wanted to manage Linux servers from your Windows machine using shell. Putty is one of the best way to access shell environment. As far as we know there is not competition to Putty.
If you have been using Putty, don’t forget to check out how you can manage your putty sessions in a database and work in a tabbed interface or minimize it to a tray so that you are not overwhelmed with the number of open windows.
Download Putty | Learn more about Putty

Cygwin

Ever wanted to emulate a Linux system on your Windows PC or just wanted to practice few skills before you actually installed Linux as you main system? Cygwin is one of the best Linux emulator you will ever find using which you can get your hands dirty without worrying about screwing up a actual operating system.
Download Cygwin | Installation Instructions | Learn more about Cygwin

System Management, File Management, System Maintenance, Anti-virus, Anti-spyware and Firewalls

Having paid for a software like Windows does not mean that you get the best of everything, there are several pieces of softwares that help you maintain your system so that it runs properly for a long time and is optimized to the T.

AVG Free Anti-virus

Symantec no doubt has a huge market in the anti-virus industry with Norton, with support from computer manufacturers who bundle the trial version of Norton in factory shipped desktops and laptops, that obliviously does not mean it is the best.
Norton has had huge complaints of considerably slowing down PCs and using considerable system resources. AVG on the other hand is a real good alternative which is free and does not tax you system as much as Norton does. The latest version of AVG also comes with several new features such as Anti-spyware, Anti-rootkit and more.
Download AVG 8 | Learn more about AVG
Other worthwhile mentions

• Avast
• Comodo
• ThreatFire

Related: Tips to stay safe on the  Internet

CCleaner

Your PC accumulates several temporary files and traces that are not useful to you. These temporary files and traces slows down the PC along with taking up unwanted disk space.
CCleaner is a cleaning robot for your computer, which is smart enough to know which places to look for unwanted files and traces. CCleaner can also cleanup several applications along cleaning temporary and unwanted files created by Windows.
Download CCleaner | Learn more about CCleaner

Defraggler

Your PC is not the smartest thing in the world and it has a tendency to spread fragments of files all over the place. Defraggler allows you to sort out the mess and make your PC run faster and much better. The good thing about defraggler is that it allows you to choose the files you want to defrag making the process much more easier and faster.
Download Defraggler | Learn more about Defraggler

Comodo Firewall Pro

Windows inbuilt Firewall is good but not really one of the best things around, there are several alternatives which you can definitely try out but our personal favorite is Comodo which packs in all the features of a professional version as a free software.
Download Comodo Firewall Pro | Learn more about Comodo Firewall Pro
Other worthwhile mentions

• ZoneAlarm
• PC Tools Firewall Plus

Recuva

“Oops I deleted that important file” is a statement many users have right after using Shift + Delete option for a file.If you thought that you could never recover the deleted file you are in for a surprise. There are several softwares that will allow you to recover deleted files.
Recuva is one of the best alternative that is available today, not only is it very reliable, you will not have to spend a penny for it as it is completely free.
Download Recuva | Learn more about Recuva

Imaging Tools, Graphics, 3D Software, Image Managers

Gimp

Gimp is undoubtedly the best alternative available for Photoshop. Edit your images with ease without having to worry about paying a fortune for Photoshop. Gimp also can be used in conjunction with plugins bringing a host of new features to the core software.
Download Gimp | Learn more about Gimp
Other worthwhile mentions

• Paint.net

Related: Online Image Tools

Blender

Creating 3D applications is not that easy but even more harder is spending thousands of dollars to get a software that allows you to create 3D animations.
Blender is a great application to work with 3D modeling with a great interface at a unmatchable price, Free.
Download Blender | Learn more about Blender

Picasa

Picasa is definitely one of the best tools available for managing your photos. With Picasa you can import your pictures from your camera and edit them to change contrast, remove red eyes and more. You can also upload your pictures to your online album and share them with family and friends without having to upload each and every file individually.
Download Picasa | Learn more about Picasa
Other worthwhile mentions

• IrfanView
• Windows Live Photo Gallery

Video Softwares, Audio Softwares, 3D Softwares

VLC Player

VLC Player is one of the best video softwares available to view different files and formats. VLC player supports multiple codecs out of the the box allowing you to play almost all kinds of file formats without having to install any additional softwares or codecs.
Download VLC Player | Learn more about VLC Player

Miro

Miro allows you to convert your PC into a Internet TV. You can use it to watch Internet video channels and play any video file. You can play files from YouTube and more and you can play almost any types of file with it including HD videos.
Download Miro | Learn more about Miro

PicLens

PicLens is a Firefox add-on that transforms your browser into full screen 3D browser allowing you to browse images and videos in full screen.
Learn more and download PicLens

Audacity

Audacity is one of the best free tools available for audio editing and recording for several operating systems.
You can record live audio, convert tapes into digital recordings, cut, copy, splice or mix sounds together and more.
Download Audacity | Learn more about Audacity

Development Tools, Editors

Eclipse

Eclipse is one of the best development IDE available for building robust enterprise applications, embedded software development and more with support for several languages.
The Eclipse project has been supported by several well know companies and also has a very large open source community to help develop and test the product.
Learn more and download Eclipse
Other worthwhile mentions

• Apatna Studio Community Edition

Notepad++

Notepad++ is not just a mere notepad replacement, it will allow you to modify several file types and has been getting better by the day with new features like auto complete and more.
If you are stuck with notepad this is definitely one software you should give a try.
Learn more and download Notepad++
Other worthwhile mentions

• Notepad2
• Programmer’s Notepad

CD / DVD Writing Softwares, DVD Ripping, Virtual CD / DVD

Handbrake

Handbrake is a DVD Ripper that will allow you to rip DVD files and convert them to MPEG-4 format for Mac OS, Linux and Windows.
Download and learn more about Handbrake

CDBurnerXP

CDBurnerXP is a free application to burn CDs and DVDs, including Blu-Ray and HD-DVDs. It also includes the feature to burn and create ISOs, as well as a multilanguage interface.
Download CDBurnerXP | Learn more about CDBurnerXP

MagicDisc

Several softwares and games can be downloaded as image files like ISO, BIN etc. If you do not have a CD / DVD writer those files may be practically useless to you. With MagicDisc you can easily mount those image files as Virtual CD / DVDs and install the software, copy them and do more.
Download MagicDisc | Learn more about MagicDisc
Related: How to mount Image files as a virtual CD / DVD Rom

Utilities

Foxit PDF Reader

Foxit PDF Reader is no doubt one of the best alternative to the Adobe PDF reader. It is much more faster and robust than the reader provided by Adobe.
There are several features that you make you completely ditch Adobe PDF reader, if you have not already done that.
Download Foxit PDF Reader | Learn more about Foxit PDF Reader

7Zip

7Zip is one of the best open source software which allows you to manage several types of archives with simplicity and ease. 7Zip supports all the popular archive formats such as zip, rar, gzip, tar and more.
It is by far a much better alternative to the dominating WinZip and WinRar softwares that require you to purchase licenses.

xPlorer2 Lite

Windows explorer is definitely not the best to manage files, with you have to open several windows just to perform a simple task of copying and pasting files.
xPlorer2 Lite is a very handy utility when it comes to managing files in Windows. The tabbed interface saves you lot of times and hassles simplifying the task of managing files.
Download xPlorer2 Lite | Learn more about xPlorer2 Lite
Related: Windows Explorer Replacements

Launchy

Loading applications has never been more easier than it is with Launchy. This is probably one of the best software that makes your life much more easier when it comes to opening applications without having to go through the pain of creating a desktop shortcut or searching for them.
Download and learn more about Launchy

Google Desktop

If you thought Google only worked online then you are in for a surprise. Google Desktop is one of the best indexing and desktop search tools for your PC with results as accurate as their web based search.
With Google Desktop Search you can search your files, emails, chat conversations and more. The handy sidebar also allows you to add gadgets so that you can access information quickly and easily.
Download and learn more about Google Desktop

Windows Live Writer

One of the best tools to manage your blogs offline, Windows Live Writer has grown to become one of the most loved applications from Microsoft.
You can manage multiple weblogs and post to them with ease, save drafts online and offline, edit images, add watermarks to them and more.
Download and learn more about Windows Live Writer

How I Nearly Doubled the life of my Android Phones

Last year, I purchased my first Android phone – the Samsung Galaxy S. Before the Galaxy S, I had no previous experience with the Android OS. However, after I got the Galaxy S, my love for the OS and its ‘openness’ grew. Since the Galaxy S, I tried many other Android based devices including a HTC Legend, a HTC Desire and the Samsung Galaxy 5. Recently, I got the HTC Desire Z.
On my suggestion, many of my friends also purchased an Android based phone and they have been simply loving the OS. However, one complaint all my friends have is the poor battery life of their Android phone.  In fact, the majority of Android owners complain about the poor battery life of their handset. Until late last year, the battery life of even my Galaxy S was very poor. If I used the phone heavily, it would be totally out of power by evening.
I tried many tips, found all over the Internet, but the increase in battery life was hardly noticeable. Then one day, I came across an application on the Android market called Juice Defender. The description of the app says that it will help ‘Reclaim your battery’. Out of pure curiosity about the efficiency of these kind of apps, I installed Juice Defender on my phone. I ran the app on my phone and was surprised to see that the app checks if your phone is rooted or not. After that, I enabled the app and used the ‘Aggressive’ profile.

Since then, the battery life of my Samsung Galaxy S has improved considerably! Before using Juice Defender, the battery of my phone would go down to 30% by night on moderate usage. My ‘Moderate’ usage scenario includes an hour of phone calls, 30-40mins of fiddling around with the phone, around 30 messages and some tweeting via TweetDeck with Auto Sync enabled for my FB, GMail and Twitter account.
After installing the app, I can squeeze out nearly a full day and a half of battery life from my Galaxy S with the usage pattern defined above. Even under heavy usage, I can get a full day of battery life from my phone. I seriously never expected this app to have such a big impact on the battery life of my phone. I installed this app on the Android phones of all my friends and relatives. After a week of using the phone with the app running in the background, even they reported substantial improvements in the battery life.

When I shifted to the HTC Desire Z, I did not install Juice Defender for a couple of days. The battery life of the phone was pathetic. Even on light usage, the battery of the phone hardly lasted me a single day. However, after I installed Juice Defender, the scenario again changed. The battery life of my Z increased substantially.
For people who think that this app may slow down your phone or may disable some features of the phone, I am pleased to say that this is not the case. There is absolutely no performance hit or anything. Your Android phone will continue to function as it was.
For all Android phone owners with poor battery life, I will highly recommend you to try out Juice Defender on their phone. Users always have the option to uninstall the app if they don’t like it.