Movies Review: Yeh Jaawani Hai Deewani

By Rummana Ahmed | Movie Reviews 

Ranbir and Deepika work their magic

Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Aditya Roy Kapur, Kalki Koechlin

Direction:Ayan Mukerji

Rating:****

‘Yeh Jaawani Hai Deewani’ is a frothy romance, bubbling with infectious effervescence and palpable energy. Karan Johar has trained his disciples well; Ayan Mukerji definitely knows how to competently weave an urban love story, complete with exotic locales, a colourful Bollywood wedding,dollops of mush, a dash of melodrama and loads of fun.

Kabir Thapar aka Bunny (Ranbir Kapoor) was lured more by wanderlust than by any of the other girls he compulsively flirted with.Naina Talwar (Deepika Padukone) was the complete opposite; a topper all her life and now a med student, like most nerds she had completely missed out on the fun element in her life. After a chance encounter with her school classmate, the wild Aditi (Kalki Koechlin), Naina impulsively decides to make a trip to Manali. While the four (Ranbir, Deepika, Kalki and Aditya) forge a strong bond during the trip, they separate knowing that at that moment they are headed towards an uncertain future.

Ayan explores the notion of ‘love’ in ‘Yeh JaawaniHai Deewani’. What do you do when you realize that you are desperately in love with someone but both of you want completely different things from life? Surely falling in love doesn’t mean complete submission of your individual dreams and aspirations? There is always a middle ground or like our hero says, there is always a right time to seize the moment. The director very clearly underlines the limitations of love too, while some stories have a realistic chance of working out, there are others where the notion of friends as lovers however appealing doesn’t necessarily translate into a happy relationship.

The film’s unusual take on friendships, especially Ranbir and Aditya’s bromance, much like Farhan and Hrithik’s veiled resentment in ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’ (2011), makes for an interesting sub-plot. While Aditi(Kalki) is quick to overlook her friend’s flaws, Avi (Aditya) is less forgiving. There’s a subtle hint that all is not right between the two bestfriends, there’s a slight allusion that it might be triggered by jealousy but as the plot unfolds, you realize that their friendship is far deep-rooted to be effected by such superficial differences.

Ayan Mukerji achieves a fine balance, never going overboard with the emotional parts nor preachy with relationships fundas. Even when there’s a longish monologue by Bunny, he breaks the monotony by making a wisecrack. Ranbir portrays the subtleties well, like someone in the audience said,his charming presence is enough to demand a repeated watch. He is ably supported by rest of the cast, Deepika, Kalki and especially Aditya, are apt in their respective roles.

‘Yeh Jaawani Hai Deewani’ has the audience’s pulse from the very beginning,from Madhuri’s peppy Ghagra number till the emotional scenes that leave you moist eyed. The dialogues are witty and the humour is smart. I honestly can’t think of any reason why you shouldn’t watch this movie.

A woman's hidden beauty secrets

Do you know that lemon juice can ve used to whiten nail tips and baking soda helps in cleaning teeth? You can also massage your face with ice cubes to reduce wrinkles.

By Indo Asian News Service | IANS India Private Limited 

Do you know that lemon juice can ve used to whiten nail tips and baking soda helps in cleaning teeth? You can also massage your face with ice cubes to reduce wrinkles.

Common beauty beliefs: Fact or fiction?

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Waxing or shaving makes hair grow thicker 

Fiction! Waxing or shaving removes the hair but doesn't actually make it grow back thicker. What actually happens is that after it's been shaved or pulled 

... more 

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These and more beauty secrets have been dug up by lifestyle website Femalefirst.co.uk which shares some of them as follows:

1- Put sliced cucumber on eyes to freshen them up. Cucumber therapy helps reduce stress also.

2- Drink at least two litres of water everyday. It helps in digestion.

3- Apply toothpaste on burnt spots and insect bites. It reduces the pain and swelling.

4- Shave legs with hair conditioner

5- Apply lemon juice on coloured hair. It makes them shiny.

6- Drink milk to be healthy.

7- Keep nail paints, eyebrow, eyeliner pencils and lipsticks in the fridge.

8- Use baking soda to make your teeth look white.

9- Apply vaseline on eyebrows to make them look bold.

10- You can use lipstick on cheeks and spread it using cotton when you run out of blusher.

11- Go for fish pedicures. It is believed that fishes eat the dead skin and impurities.

12- Use honey as a face mask.

13- Rinse hair with beer.

14- Use lemon juice to whiten nails tips.

15- Massage an ice-cube over your face to reduce wrinkles and acne.

16- Sleep on a silk pillowcase to reduce wrinkles.

17- Use cranberry juice to boost hair growth.

18- Add peppermint oil to the lip gloss to enhance pout.

My Beautiful Life: Diana Penty

By Parizaad Khan, www.vogue.in | Vogue 

The gorgeous model turned-actor does Kathak for cardio, uses baby wipes to remov

Beauty Philosophy: For me, beauty is more internal than anything. I think it’s important to be confident, happy, at peace with yourself. And to be true to who you are. All this reflects on the outside. I don’t think there is any one thing that makes me feel beautiful. For me, feeling blissful is feeling beautiful. That comes from spending time with the people I love, being one with nature or listening to some really soulful music.

Beauty Must-Haves: Kohl and lip balm go with me wherever I go. My favourites are Maybelline Lip Smooth Color & Care Balm and Maybelline Colossal Kajal. A bronzer is also always in my kit. For my skin, I stick to the tried and tested cleanse-tone-moisturise routine. And, of course, I put on sunscreen before stepping out. After a shoot or a night out, I use Johnson’s Baby Skincare Wipes. They’re gentle on the skin and remove waterproof mascara too.

First Brush with Beauty: As a child, I remember watching my mother with great [curiosity] every time she would put on her make-up (especially on her eyes) before going out. So one day I asked her to do up my eyes, too. Since then, eyeliner and kohl have been my best friends.

Signature Look: Natural make-up with just a little colour on the cheeks, smoky eyes and voluminous hair—never fails!

Fitness Files: My routine involves light weight training three times a week. For the song ‘Tumhi Ho Bandhu’ in Cocktail, I was required to dance, and that’s when I started training in dance for the first time. I took a bunch of classes, from Western free-style to Bharata Natyam, a little folk and Kathak. The aim was to get my body familiar with various dance forms and to increase my flexibility and stamina. I fell in love with Kathak—it is a beautiful dance form, very fluid and graceful. Idecided then that I wanted to continue to learn Kathak and get better at it. It’s also a good form of cardio for me—definitely more fun than walking on a treadmill.

Diet Discipline: I can’t function without a good breakfast, so a platter of fruit along with a cup of tea, followed by eggs and brown bread, is essential. Lunch is usually a large plate of rice—I love rice—dal, chicken curry and vegetables. At teatime, I eat a sandwich, with either a chicken or cheese and tomato filling. I make sure dinner is my lightest meal of the day, and it usually includes some protein and vegetables or salad.

Guilty Indulgence: Chocolate and chips! Dieting is really not for me, but eating healthy happens by default when I’m home because my mother is a health freak and makes sure there’s never junk food in the house. But when I eat out, I end up indulging quite a bit.

Travel Tips: Take along lots of water, moisturiser and lip balm as flights tend to dehydrate your body and dry out your skin. And sleep, of course: it’s the best time for me to catch up on it. When I’m travelling, I have a little make-up kit with all the essentials in it—liquid concealer, mascara, kohl, a few basic eyeshadows, an eyelash curler, blush, lip balm and a nude lip colour, so I’m set for anything.

Spa Secrets: I am not a big spa addict and when I travel, it’s either for a shoot where we have no time to look around, or on holiday, when I prefer to spend time exploring the city. But I had the most blissful full-body Kerala massage at The Leela in Bangalore. And I’ve also tried the signature Landaa body massage at the spa at Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru, Maldives—it was amazing.

Heaven Scent: Chanel Chance is my signature fragrance. I do like trying different fragrances, but somehow I always find myself going back to it. I use Elizabeth Arden’s Fifth Avenue for a change every now and then.

Image credit: Luis Monteiro

Help your kid say No to tobacco

by Rishi Piparaiya, Director- Marketing and Bancassurance, Aviva India

Yahoo Lifestyle Entertainment 

Students pose for pictures with "big cigarette models" during a campaign ahead of the World No Tobacco Day.

One can completely understand the stress of having to counsel children against unhealthy lifestyle habits; smoking and tobacco consumption being one of the most damaging. The burgeoning trend of impressionable children picking up a cigarette is not really that surprising – the thrill of trying something new, peer pressure, increasing their “cool quotient”, or aping role models – all of this contributes to this habit. What is particularly disturbing is that, despite the networked and knowledge based environment that we live in, many children are still oblivious to the ill effects of smoking,not just on their health but also on their overall lifestyle.

Parents obviously want to protect their children from this habit; at the same time, one cannot really curb their day to day activities or social circle. Therefore, rather than stressing every time yourchild goes to a party, you should proactively counsel thechildand educate him/her about the various ill effects that this habit can have. Here are a few pointers which I think can help parents dissuade their kids from giving in to this habit:

Set a good example – There are no better role models for a child than his parents. You must therefore set an example by not smoking yourself. Take a look around – chances are anyone who you know who smokes, has had a parent who smoked as well. And it is really not very effective when a person who smokes tries to educate another person against it.

Have an open mind – Try to be less of a father and more of a friend to your kids. Do not vilify them if you come to know about their smoking habits. Try to empathize and understand their part of the story. Shouting is seldom effective in such scenarios and instead try and understand why your child took up the habit in the first place. After you get a sense of the root cause, you will be better equipped to tackle the issue and come up with a solution.

Educate them about the ill effects on their health – sit them down and educate them about the repercussions smoking will have on their health in the long run. Addiction at a young age is difficult to break even as an adult. Cite examples of people you know who gave up smoking or lost the battle against it, make them readanecdotes and blogs on the topic, and ask them what exactly is it doing for them? Can they not find that pleasure or coolness in other activities? Isn’t learning the drums or dancing the salsa cooler? 

Show them the bigger picture – For a teenager, a health threat alone might not be a strong enough factor toquit or refrain from smoking. Therefore, try to paint a larger picture. Tell them about the financial consequences this habit might have on them. Give them a sense of the amount of money they will end up “turning to ashes” and the long term repercussions in terms of paying for health services; for a smoker, life and health insurance products come at a premium and in some cases chronic smokers are denied any insurance at all.Counsel them on how they can put this money to a better and more productive use. Also educate them about passive smoking and how this habit will not only harm them but also their loved ones.

Vices such as smoking and tobacco consumption, if not tackled carefully, can escalate into bigger issues that will impact the future of the child. As parents we should be vigilant, understanding and supportive and do all we can to ensure a healthier future for our children. 

The author, Mr. Rishi Piparaiya, is the Director of Marketing and Bancassurance, Aviva India.

Dhoni sidesteps IPL row

AFP 

Dhoni talks to the media in Birmingham.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni kept his own counsel on Thursday when questioned on corruption claims regarding the Indian Premier League but promised to reveal his views at the "right time".

Controversial accusations of 'spot-fixing' have engulfed the sixth edition of the lucrative Twenty20 tournament, with Indian police making several arrests in recent weeks.

The investigations started on May 16 when Delhi police arrested three cricketers including Test fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, accusing them of deliberately bowling badly in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars.

The scandal is threatening to bring down N. Srinivasan, the head of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), who has been under intense pressure after his son-in-law was arrested for allegedly betting on IPL games.

Gurunath Meiyappan, is an executive at the Chennai Super Kings IPL team -- owned by Srinivasan's India Cements and featuring Dhoni as one of its star players.

Dhoni, speaking at a news conference in Birmingham, central England, on Thursday to preview India's Champions Trophy bid, said he was glad to be abroad.

"It's good to be out of there (India)." But asked for his views on the evolving IPL row, which has seen Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf stood down from the Champions Trophy following fixing allegations in the Indian media, Dhoni was cautious.

"It's not that the reputation (of Indian cricket) is gone," he said. "When the right time comes I'll answer (more thoroughly), but as of now I don't think we have lost reputation because whatever the set-up will be throughout the world or in any sport, still you'll have people who will be slightly mentally weak compared to some of the others.

"I would love to elaborate but at the right time I'll do it. I just want to keep our side away from everything as of now."

Reigning world champions India are in the process of rebuilding their side and have arrived for the 'mini World Cup' that is the Champions Trophy without Sachin Tendulkar, now retired from ODIs, Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan.

Fans sad to see some of their favourites no longer involved have been critical of India in recent months but Dhoni backed a youthful squad to come good.

"It's an ongoing process. A few of them (fans) will ask questions and you have to silence them," he said.

"It's for us to see what kind of a squad we've got with a fresh bunch of players.

"You have to look at the positives. If you look at the positive you can say the players that have been playing in the IPL have had good exposure to international bowlers because bowlers from all over the world, they come and play in the IPL.

"The best that the world has to offer (play IPL) which means most of the players are in touch and are in good rhythm," wicketkeeper/batsman Dhoni added.

India have warm-up matches against Sri Lanka on Saturday and Australia on Tuesday before facing South Africa in the opening match of the tournament proper in Cardiff on June 6.

Tendulkar, Laxman break silence, express shock

Srinivasan rattled | BCCI Treasurer mulling resignation | 'Batsmen not invloved'

Yahoo! Cricket 

India captain MS Dhoni has been panned for his silence, but Sachin Tendulkar finally voiced his opinion on the spot-fixing and betting scandal that has engulfed Indian cricket as on Friday he expressed his "shock and disappointment" over the developments in the last two weeks.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his first reaction to the scandal said politics and cricket should not get mixed.

"Developments in the last two weeks have been shocking and disappointing," Tendulkar said in a statement on Friday. "It always hurts me when the game of cricket is in news for wrong reasons."

"As cricketers we are always taught to go out, fight hard, give our very best and play in the true spirit of the game," Tendulkar, who is the first current Indian cricketer to comment on the scandal, said.

"During this difficult phase, I join every cricketer, from the boys in the maidans across the country to those who represent clubs, states and the country, who trust the authorities to take sincere steps to get to the root of the issue."

"The faith reposed by the millions of fans should be justified and we owe it to them to ensure that Indian cricket is all about pride and joy," the legendary batsman, who has announced his retirement from IPL, played for Mumbai Indians, which won this year's tournament.

Former India batsman VVS Laxman had also said the issues of corruption in the IPL were "distressing".

"It's very disappointing. The last two weeks have been quite distressing and a feeling of anguish was definitely there. I hope the various investigations done by the police in Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai come to a logical conclusion, and more importantly the cause of this problem is erased. It is very important because just for some greedy players, the credibility of the rest of the players should not be affected. I think it is a very important issue and I am sure it will be cleaned up very soon," Laxman said.

Manmohan, when asked if the government was contemplating intervention into the scandal, said: "I would not like to comment on the type of things you have mentioned. This is under investigation."

The prime minister refused to be drawn into the controversy that top politicians, including ministers, were holding top positions in the BCCI.

"It is not proper for me to comment. I only hope that politics and sports don't get mixed," he told the accompanying media on board his special aircraft after ending his five-day visit to Japan and Thailand.


SRINIVASAN HAS 48 HOURS?

The anti-Srinivasan group in the BCCI says the board president's future is likely to be decided in the next 48 hours, CNN-IBN reported. BCCI sources told the channel if Srinivasan doesn't step down by then, they will call a special emergency meeting.

As Srinivasan is an elected functionary, at least three-fourths of the 30 full members of the board must vote against him. But that too may not be enough. To have him removed as the BCCI chief, at least 10 members have to make a written submission to convene a Special General Meeting of the board.

If he manages the support of eight full members, which is the case now, he would stay on.


RAJASTHAN PLAYER TO TURN WITNESS

The Delhi Police is speaking to Rajasthan Royals player Siddharth Trivedi in connection with the IPL spot-fixing case.

Trivedi has been made a prosecution witness in the case to make the police case stronger. CNN-IBN reports that Trivedi was offered bribe by bookies but he refused.

Meanwhile, the news channel reported that two foreign players were approached by the bookies, but they also rebuffed the approach.

Trivedi told the police that he has information about all four bookie rings, many of whom are in custody. Trivedi reportedly told the police about a group of friends including foreign players who partied together where bookies were active, according to CNN-IBN.

MISSING HOTELIER SURFACES

Chennai hotelier Vikram Aggarwal aka Victor in betting circles, who had been untraceable, finally appeared at the Mumbai crime branch on Friday for questioning. Earlier on Friday, the Tamil Nadu Police mulled issuing a lookout notice against Aggarwal to stop him from fleeing the country.

The Mumbai Police argued that further custody is necessary to complete their investigations at a Mumbai court where Gurunath and Vindoo had been produced on Friday. The Mumbai Police said they confronted Gurunath with the contents of his diary. The diary contains notations of several meetings.

The Mumbai Police had summoned Aggarwal for questioning on Friday over betting links with BCCI chief N Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan.

On Thursday, the Madras High Court had dismissed Aggarwal's anticipatory bail petition in connection with the summons issued by the Tamil Nadu Police.

Aggarwal failed to appear before the Crime Branch Crime Investigation Department (CBCID) on Thursday, the deadline set by the latter for an enquiry in connection with cricket betting.

In another anticipatory bail application filed by him in connection with the summons issued by Mumbai Police, the court ordered notice to the Mumbai Police.

Police say Aggarwal has been active in betting circles and was the one who introduced Bollywood actor Vindoo Dara Singh to Gurunath. Both are being interrogated on charges of betting.


IPL CEO FILES COMPLAINT

IPL CEO Sundar Raman on Friday filed a complaint against Gurunath Meiyappan, the son-in-law of Srinivasan; Chennai Super Kings owner India Cements and the Rajasthan Royals in a Mumbai court. 

Top 5 voice over IP apps for Android

By Samir Makwana, The Mobile Indian

Make voice calls over wireless networks to save some moolah using the voice over internet protocol apps for Android devices.

Saving on voice call costs, especially when one is traveling to foreign countries is difficult. That's when Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP services come to the rescue. Now there are a number of app wrapped services that incorporate VoIP services in order to make free VoIP calls.

There are several apps for Android today that allow making calls using the phone's data connection. Here are five hand-picked apps that not only provide quality VoIP services, but also bundle a slew of other interesting features.

Skype

Skype, a pioneer of Voice over IP services, is a dominant player even on the Android platform. After registering for Skype services, users can add contacts and engage in free Skype to Skype client calls over WiFi networks for better audio quality.

Also, the service offers free Skype-to-Skype video calls. Users can make relatively cheap international calls by buying Skype credit. Engage in instant messaging, photo exchanging and voice calls over WiFi as well as 3G networks. Get the Skype App for Android smartphones from Google Play store.

Viber

The Viber app, which promises good sound quality, lets the user make calls over WiFi and also 3G networks. The app makers stress on the better audio quality even over 3G networks.

Apart from that, it acts like WhatsApp - connects you to the folks in your phone's Addressbook for instant messaging and photo exchange. Viber has attracted and has been actively making millions of users happy across the globe. Try out the Viber app from Google Play store.

Nimbuzz

The multi-purpose and multi-account holding messenger app - Nimbuzz has always been quite popular on the Symbian platform. To stand out from the crowd, Nimbuzz promises free unlimited VoIP calls amongst Nimbuzz contacts.

It also offers the cheaper HD quality international calling service for free with Nimbuzz messenger contacts. There is the regular instant messaging, group chats, notifications and even SIP VoIP account facility available. Nimbuzz messenger app can be downloaded from the Google Play store

Fring

Fring follows a buddy system, which gets addictive over a period of time. You can make voice calls over 3G or WiFi networks to connect with others who are on Fring.

It also offers a four-way video chat capability, which makes it stand out amongst the rest. Fring uses a DVQ technology to automatically adjust the best possible audio as well as video quality to suit the connection. You can download the app from here.

Line

Line is very similar to the apps mentioned above but it comes with themes and large stickers for instant messaging. The best part of this app is that it works flawlessly with its desktop counterpart. Users can enjoy free high quality voice calls to other registered Line users, and it is very convenient for saving voice call costs.

The app recently got a major update and a slew of new improvements to make it look fantastic. Get the new Line app for Android devices from the Google Play store.

We pondered over several other apps and also considered Google Voice but it does not work in India as yet.

First look: Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8

It's the younger version of Samsung Galaxy Note, minus the S-pen functionality

Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 is the second super-phablet introduced by the Korean company in its newly launched Mega series. It has a 5.8 inch display, a dual core process and some nifty features. We got to experience the Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 during its launch in Delhi on May 28.

So here is a brief account of the monster handset that would definitely help you clear your doubts if you are planning to purchase it.

In terms of the design the Galaxy Mega 5.8 looks brilliant in its 9 mm thick body which is much thinner than most smartphones out there in the market. At 182 grams, it is also lightweight which is quite contrary to the perceived profile that its display suggests.

The design of the Galaxy Mega 5.8 is inspired from the Galaxy Grand. It not only looks good but it feels great in hands too. Thanks to its curved edges and slim profile, this device is easy to hold on too. The power and display lock key has also been placed on the side of the device promoting easy single hand access.

The Galaxy Mega 5.8 has a massive 5.8 inch TFT LCD display featuring a decent 540 x 960 pixel resolution at 190 PPI pixel density that makes visuals quite detailed but with some pixilation.

The Galaxy Mega 5.8's user interface has elements of both smartphones and tablets. For instance, the moment users change the orientation of the device, even on the home screen the display goes to landscape with relocation of apps and utilities.

The Mega 5.8 has a 1.4 GHz dual core processor from Broadcomm that is assisted by 1.5 GB RAM and Android Jelly Bean 4.2 operating system. Along with that the device also has 8 GB of internal storage space and 64 GB of expandable memory card slot.

The Galaxy Mega 5.8 boasts an 8 megapixel rear camera capable of recording 1080p videos at 30 frames per second and a 1.9 megapixel resolution front video chat camera too. The quality of the camera in indoor mode is not that impressive but its real worth could only be revealed in a full-fledged review.

The device is surely complete in every aspect with ample connectivity options in the form of WiFi,HSPA+">HSPA+ and Bluetooth 4.0. Also the device is available in a dual SIM variant.

There is also a big 2600 mAh battery in the Galaxy Mega 5.8 which expected to give it a decent operational life.

The Galaxy Mega 5.8 is priced at Rs 25,100 at which it offers a decent set of hardware along with a huge display but at a lower resolution. The device is sure enough to entice most complex of users with its look, feel and hardware specification which are fast becoming benchmark of a smartphone.

We will try to bring a full-fledged review of the device to throw more light on its mettle. So stay tuned.

First look: Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3

Only future can tell whether it would be able to create an all-together new device segment or not.

The Galaxy Note range of devices from Samsung, which neither falls in the smartphone category nor they belong to the tablet category, has gained quite a long list of followers.

Building upon that Samsung has introduced the Mega range of devices. The Mega device are in one word a XL sized phablet that aims at offering better functionality due to its humungous screen size.

Samsung unveiled the new device in a press conference in Delhi where we got a chance to get our hands on the new Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3. It features a 6.3 inch display and a sleek design that differentiates it from the tablets.

The design of the Galaxy Mega 6.3 is inspired from the Samsung Galaxy S4, the flagship product form Samsung in smartphone category. The colour scheme and the design aspects are similar as well, with a stylish glossy finish to the body along with chrome edges. Thanks to its sleek nature, we could use it in one hand. The device has a total weight of 199 grams that makes it light enough so that usage is comfortable too.

The Galaxy Mega 6.3 has a TFT LCD display featuring 1280 x 720 pixel resolution at 233 PPI pixel density. Due to its decent pixel density, visuals do not look pixelated despite its big screen. The power/standby key as well as the volume rocker keys has been placed on the sides of the device for an easy single hand access.

It comes with an upgraded Samsung TouchWiz user interface which is very easy to operate and most of its important functions are added to the home screens right out of the box. Users can easily tweak the settings as per need.

The device can be customised for single handed use as well. For instance, you can tweak the onscreen keyboard to place it on right or left hand side so that you can type in one hand itself.

It comes with also split screen functionality along with Pop up video play for simultaneous productivity and entertainment.

The Galaxy Mega 6.3 has a 1.7 GHz dual core application processor from Qualcomm based on ARM Cortex A9 architecture. It is supported by 1.5 GB of RAM. Along with that the device has 16 GB of internal storage. There is 64 GB expandable memory micro SD slot in the Mega 6.3 as well.

The Galaxy Mega 6.3 features a very functional 8 megapixel rear camera which is capable of recording full HD videos while its 1.9 megapixel resolution front video chat camera as well. The quality of the camera is average but we will give a final verdict on the same during its comprehensive review.

The Galaxy Mega offers both performance and hardware superiority but it will be a big hindrance for many buyers to buy this device especially due to its bigger size for a primary calling device. But looking at the success of Galaxy Note devices we will hold back that comment for the future.

The price of the device is Rs 31,499 minus the stylus.

The device looks good but a full-fledged review can only reveal its real worth.

Battle of Giants: Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 vs Note 8.0

Without using the Galaxy Mega 6.3 and Note 8.0 you wouldn't know that one of them is much better than the other.

"It has got a big 5 inch display" - Well that used to be the statement few days back; now the term 'big' does not anymore suggests 5 inch, thanks to then Galaxy Mega 6.3 of Samsung. With the arrival of the new phablet (saying tablet would not be wrong either), the whole concept of mobile phones seems to be on the verge of an overhaul. But all these arguments about concepts are a different matter altogether, what we are discussing is should you go for the Galaxy Mega 6.3 or the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0.

Some would think this as a ridiculous comparison. How could someone compare a tablet with a phablet? However, consider this: both come with SIM calling and are priced alike. You cannot use either of them for calling. So in that regard, both the devices are bigger versions of phablets, and therefore this comparison.

Size and display

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 is a full-fledged tablet with a big 8 inch screen. Obviously, it weighs 338 grams, much more than the Galaxy Mega 6.3, which weighs 199 grams. Also, the tablet measures 210.8 x 135.9 x 8 mm (height, width, thickness) against Mega 6.3's 167.6 x 88 x 8 mm. So, apart from thickness, the Note 8 is almost double the size of the Galaxy Mega 6.3.

Coming to the display, the Note 8's 8 inch display comes with 800 x 1280 pixel resolution that amounts to 189 ppi pixel density. On the other hand, the Galaxy 6.3 has 233 ppi pixel density as its display has 720 x 1280 pixel resolution. Both have TFT capacitive touchscreens.

Memory

Currently, only the 16 GB internal storage version of Note 8 is available in India. In the tablet, you can also use a micro SD card of up to 64 GB. The Galaxy Mega 6.3 too has 16 GB internal storage space along with a 64 GB micro SD card slot.

Camera

The Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 has an 8 megapixel autofocus rear camera, which is able to capture images and video in high definition. It is assisted in low light by LED flash. There is a 1.9 megapixel front camera as well.

On the other hand, the Note 8 has a 5 megapixel rear camera and a 1.3 megapixel front camera. Notably, the Galaxy Mega 6.3's rear camera is able to capture images in 3264 x 2448 pixel resolution against the 2592 х 1944 pixel resolution images of the Note 8.

OS, processor and RAM

The Note 8 comes with Android 4.1.2 along with an Exynos 4412 chipset, which uses a quad core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A9 processor and Mali-400MP GPU. It has 2 GB RAM. On the other hand, the Mega 6.3 has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset with dual core 1.7 GHz Krait processor and Adreno 305 GPU. It has 1.5 GB RAM.

Connectivity

The Note 8 tablet comes with micro USB 2.0, which also acts as an MHL port that allows it to be connected to an LCD/LED TV. Besides, the tablet has Bluetooth 4.0, a micro SIM slot for calling as well as 3G connectivity, and WiFi (b/g/n). It has WiFi Direct, a 3.5 mm jack and DLNA support as well.

The Mega 6.3 also has a micro SIM slot, WiFi, WiFi Direct, Bluetooth 4.0, and micro USB cum MHL port.

Additionally, it has NFC functionality, but this is not that important in the Indian context as of now as the ecosystem has not been developed much and there is nothing much you can do with this feature.

Battery

When it comes to big devices, the battery part enjoys the most important spot. Note 8 in this regard sits pretty good with its 4600 mAh Li-Ion battery. The Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 has a smaller 3200 mAh battery, but owing to its dual core processor and smaller display size, we think the resultant battery life in identical conditions would be same for both devices.

Conclusion

In my view, the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 is in no man's land - it is bigger than big smartphones and smaller than small tablets. But apart from its size, its features do not warrant a price tag of Rs 30,000. In fact, better smartphones than this, like LG Google Nexus 4 and HTC One X come for Rs 5,000 less. As far as this comparison goes, Note 8 seems much better than the Mega 6.3 as the above comparison shows, apart from the display resolution and camera properties.

Having said that, I would also like to remind you that when Samsung launched the world's first mainstream phablet - Note, which has a 5 inch display - everybody wondered how it would be to use such a big device, and added that people should go for a full fledged tablet instead. Similarly, analysts were divided in opinion about the 4:3 aspect ratio based LG Optimus Vu. We will try to review the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 as soon as possible; till then I assume Note 8 is a better product than Mega 6.3, which neither gives the comfort of smartphones (in terms of mobility) nor the big screen advantage of the tablet.