Lava launched pixel V1 Android One smartphone with 5.5-inch HD Display Octa-Core Processor 2GB RAM Android 5.1.1 Lollipop At Rs 11,350

Lava has officially launched pixel V1, the company’s first Android One smartphone in partnership with Google. It has a 5.5-inch HD IPS display with minimal bezels, is powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek processor and runs on Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop) with updates directly from Google. It has a 8-megapixel rear camera (enhanced to 13-megapixels) with LED flash and a 5-megapixel (enhanced to 8-megapixels)  front-facing camera. It has dual SIM support and 3G connectivity.

Lava pixel V1 specifications

5.5-inch (1280 x 720 pixels) Full Lamination IPS display with Asahi Dragontrail glass protection, oleophobic coating1.3 GHz Quad-Core MediaTek MT6582 processor with Mali 400 MP2 GPU2GB DDR3 RAM, 32GB internal memory, expandable memory up to 32GB with microSDAndroid 5.1.1 (Lollipop)8MP rear camera (Interpolated to 13MP) with LED Flash, 1.4um BSI sensor, f/2.0 aperture, 5P lens5MP (Interpolated to 8MP) front-facing camera with 1.4um BSI sensor, f/2.4 aperture, 4P lens3.5mm audio jack, FM Radio7.3mm thick and weighs 135 grams3G HSPA+, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, USB OTG2650mAh battery

The Lava pixel V1 comes in White with Silver color and is priced at Rs. 11,350. It will be exclusively available from Flipkart online from today, July 27th. It will also available simultaneously from 4000 modern trade chains and over 32,000 multi-brand outlets across the country, which will be increased to about 100,000 gradually.

Android 5.1 Lollipop Now Rolling out for Android One Users in India

Three months after announcing the Lollipop release, Google pushed out the first Lollipop update all Android One users in India. Now, the company has just officially confirmed that the next Android 5.1 Lollipop update is being rolled out to all Android One users.

Google India has released a cute video confirming this news. The video’s background score is the groovy ’Koi yaha naache naache’ with the signature Android caricatures having a party announcing that ‘things have just got better’ and that ‘Android One (smartphones) upgrade to Lollipop 5.1′.

It is a gradual roll out, so it might take some time before it shows up on your device. You can manually check for an update by visiting the ‘System Upgrades’ section in the Settings Menu. It is recommended to upgrade your device in a strong Wi-Fi connection, with a fully charged battery to prevent inconvenience.

The 5.1 Lollipop update will bring greater system stability, improved RAM management, and fixes for frequent app crashes, Wi-Fi connectivity issues, and issues with Okay Google function among others.

Google’s Android One initiative was launched in India in September with the aim to tap the rural segment and convert them into smartphone users. Google has roped in local vendors like Micromax, Karbonn and Spice with a vision to bring the “pure” Android experience to affordable smartphones.

Android 5.1 Lollipop now rolling out for Karbonn Sparkle V Android One Smartphone

With its Micromax and Spice counterparts already having received their 5.1 Lollipop updates, the Karbonn Sparkle V Android One phone has come late to the party, but it has received its download nonetheless. The upgraded software is being rolled out to the device currently in the form of an OTA release.

Android One smartphones were supposed to be on par with Nexus and Google Play Edition devices as far as software updates were concerned. However, Google seemingly ignored these handsets during its Android 5.0 Lollipop release, instead having directly gone for its 5.1 version.

The Micromax Canvas A1 and the Spice Dream Uno got their updates a few days back, but the Karbonn Sparkle V has for some reason only received its software now. Owners can now experience all the new features of this OS including its fresh notifications area, better battery performance, new design language and more.

Like the two other Android One handsets, the Karbonn Sparkle V too kicks in a 4.5-inch FWVGA display, and runs on the combination of a 1GB RAM module and a 1.3GHz quad core Mediatek MT6582 processor. There’s a 5MP rear camera onboard, apart from a 2MP front snapper.

Here’s a more complete look at the key specs of the Karbonn Sparkle V:

– Display: 4.5-inch IPS, 480 × 854 pixels
– OS: Android 4.4.4 KitKat (Lollipop 5.1 update released)
– CPU: 1.3GHz quad core MediaTek MT6582
– GPU: Mali 400
– Camera: 2MP front, 5MP rear
– Memory: 1GB RAM, 4GB internal (expandable up to 32GB)
– Battery: 1700mAh
– Connectivity: Dual SIM, HSPA+, Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS

The Karbonn Sparkle V can be purchased now through Snapdeal, Flipkart and Amazon, apart from traditional retailers from all over India at varying price points hovering around the Rs 5000 mark.

Android 5.0 Lollipop now Rolling Out for Android One Smartphones

Google has finally started rolling out Android Lollipop update for the Android One smartphones – Micromax Canvas A1, Spice Dream UNO Mi-498 and Karbonn Sparkle V in India, as it promised Google released new Android One smartphones running Android 5.1 Lollipop in Indonesia month, so the update could be Android 5.1 instead of Android 5.0, but we are not sure yet.

The Android Lollipop update brings Material Design with bold, colorful, and responsive UI design, better notifications, battery saver feature, better security including  Android Smart Lock, New Quick Settings, Improved network hand offs, flexible sharing, faster, smoother and more powerful experience with ART, 15 new languages and more. The Android 5.1 adds several tweaks and features.

Caesar Sengupta, VP Android Division, Google, said on Google Plus Android Lollipop over-the-air (OTA) will be a gradual process, which will be rolled out each week to more phones selected at random. So it will not be available for everyone immediately. Google already promised to offer software updates for Android One devices for two years after its release.

Google To offer Free Internet for Some of Apps on Android One Smartphone

The Android One initiative, which Google launched last year in India, hasn’t taken off as well as it expected. Android One smartphones were marketed with stock Android UI and a promise of faster software updates, that too for 2 years from the release date. However, consumers don’t seem to be amused by these features, so they are still favouring non-Android One smartphones with better hardware specifications over Android One devices like the Xiaomi Redmi 1S and the Lenovo A6000, but looks like the Internet giant isn’t going to back down without putting up a fight.

According to a report from The Information, Google is working with selected carriers and app developers to explore a possibility of making data usage free for consumers using Android One smartphones. If accomplished in a right way, this might help consumers where data connectivity is unreliable or disproportionately expensive. Google wants to take off the burden of data usage cost from consumers’ pockets by “zero rating” data transmission for certain applications. Even Facebook had launched Internet.org in India earlier this week in collaboration with Reliance Communications, which lets consumers using Android devices browse Internet for free through Internet.org app.

Also Read: How Internet.Org Might End Up Controlling Data Tariffs in India

Under this initiative, brands like Flipkart, Snapdeal, Redbus, and Ola Cabs are working with Google to get their apps “Zero Rated”, so that consumers can use their Android apps without paying for data. As Google doesn’t want to piss off carriers, apps like YouTube, Skype or Viber aren’t going to be included under this initiative, at least for now. Apparently, Google tried this initiative with its own apps a few years back, but that didn’t work out very well. We hope that Google succeeds in this plan to make data usage for free to consumers, at least for some necessary apps like GMail, Facebook, WhatsApp, and some shopping apps.