Review
A dual-SIM smartphone that works. And a remote control that does not.
Smart and Pricey
Motorola has reinvented itself on the back of Google's Android operating system, but the Milestone XT 800 is possibly the most interesting device it has launched recently - the first dual-SIM (GSM+CDMA) smartphone in India. This device also has a genuinely fast processor, great screen resolution, a good camera, smudge-proof gorilla glass, and an excellent build quality. However, there are also many aspects, such as its decision to load an older version of Android (version 2.1) onboard, in which it could have done a lot better.
Its battery life is also an issue, when both the SIM cards are loaded while running applications. And it is also the most expensive dual-SIM device on the market. Had Motorola developed this handset with a single SIM card slot, improved battery life, loaded Android 2.3, and sold it cheaper, it would possibly be among the three best Android devices in the market today.
+ve: Two SIM card slots - in case one network goes down, great build quality, excellent feature set
-ve: Is there a need for an expensive dual-SIM smartphone?
Price: Rs 31,990
All-rounder
This player plays back most formats, including all high-definition ones, without any difficulty. If you bought the wireless adapter to connect to your home Wi-Fi network, or connected your Ethernet Internet cable into the box, you could play YouTube videos off the Internet as well. In fact, the WD TV Live Hub is rather pointless unless you connect it to a network which allows it to stream videos stored onboard its oneterabyte hard disc to multiple televisions (if they run off a Wi-Fi network) and computers in the house. Can it manage that? Yes, it can and it does, allowing different users to view different content stored on board. Setting it up is not too much of a problem.
However, the hyperactive remote control is a problem, making selections almost impossible. But if you want a wireless entertainment hub in your house, the WD TV Live Hub is possibly the only product available in its class in India.
+ve: Stream media anywhere inside your house, play back content in full 1080p high-definition
-ve: Pesky remote control; overkill, if you view HD through your TV's USB port
Price: Rs 11,999
Compiled by Kushan Mitra
Motorola XT 800
Its battery life is also an issue, when both the SIM cards are loaded while running applications. And it is also the most expensive dual-SIM device on the market. Had Motorola developed this handset with a single SIM card slot, improved battery life, loaded Android 2.3, and sold it cheaper, it would possibly be among the three best Android devices in the market today.
+ve: Two SIM card slots - in case one network goes down, great build quality, excellent feature set
-ve: Is there a need for an expensive dual-SIM smartphone?
Price: Rs 31,990
All-rounder
WD TV Live Hub
However, the hyperactive remote control is a problem, making selections almost impossible. But if you want a wireless entertainment hub in your house, the WD TV Live Hub is possibly the only product available in its class in India.
+ve: Stream media anywhere inside your house, play back content in full 1080p high-definition
-ve: Pesky remote control; overkill, if you view HD through your TV's USB port
Price: Rs 11,999
Compiled by Kushan Mitra
