OnePlus breathes new “OxygenOS” (Details & Poll)

It’s been sometime since we’ve seen any software updates from the latest darling of the android world – OnePlus. February it was announced that we would see some updates on the new ROM being built post the rough experience OnePlus has had with Micromax. Micromax (an Indian leader in handset manufacturing and sales) claimed to hold an exclusive deal with Cyanogen to sell its Micromax devices in India.

It was already revealed that the new ROM for the device would be called “OxygenOS” and that it would be bloatware-free or in other words as close to stock Android (5.0 Lollipop) as possible. Well they did deliver on that promise but not to everyones expectations. They revealed the team responsible in building the new ROM and they also revealed the new logo for the ROM

Besides this they also gave some information on the team members.

More on that can be found here: OnePlus Blog

Overall I think it is a good way to keep customers engaged by having your star team interact with them, but it would have been better had they done it on the date of the release. There’s a cute little note on why the release might take a little longer.

“Because this is our first major software release, we have to ensure that everything is solid and stable before making it available for download. We wouldn’t ask you to settle for anything less, and we appreciate your patience.”

However it is also widely known from their recent twitter account that the ROM build is currently already in testing phase and release is not too long away. So lets wait and watch when and how this release of “OxygenOS” pans out and how it turns out to be compared to the highly acclaimed CyanogenMod M11 ROM currently running on the OnePlus One.

Are you looking forward to the new ROM “OxygenOS” – Tell us by taking this quick poll below:

iPhone 6/6+ on Vodafone – Bundled Plans 2.0

Dear Readers,
Thank you for your time. I appreciate your interest in my blog post and more importantly in technology. I’d like to bring to your notice the first (actually second if you consider Reliance with their iPhone 5S deals last year) real push by a telco giant (second largest in India – Vodafone) for postpaid cellular plans with a bundled mobile device. This particular one is significant as it has the most sought after mobile devices in the world – iPhone 6 and 6+.

Vodafone – iPhone 6 plans

This is significant at many levels.

• Firstly it is the biggest push by an international telco in tie up with an international handset manufacturer in India where bundled plans are far from common.

Secondly it is a huge push driving the significance of mobile data as a huge business for telcos and hence the bundling.

Telcos like Idea Cellular are pushing for mobile internet at a grass-root level and now at semi-urban levels too by starting their own internet learning initiative with the IIN (Idea Internet Network).

Effective Cost To Consumer (CTC):

The iPhone 6 retails at Rs.53,500 via Infibeam. Via this plan the final amount you’d be paying considering you are going for the basic iPhone 6 (16GB) model, regardless of the color option would be – Rs.3,599 * 24 = Rs.86,376. Subtract the cost of the device from it and you’d be paying an effective monthly overhead of Rs.1369.

But please remember, this is not what it looks like – a daylight robbery by Vodafone. What they have included is the plan for your monthly usage. The most basic pack is the Vodafone ‘iPhone 6k plan’ which gives the user 6000 local & STD minutes, 6GB of 3G data and 1500 SMS. Without much research into the actual price (and don’t hold me for this) for this plan I’m pegging it at around Rs.1500 per month. They are giving it at Rs.1369 effectively.

Does it make sense to go for this plan?

Well to be honest, this plan is not for everyone. If you have a postpaid plan and are paying a good Rs.1500 and above on a monthly basis and are not too picky about your usage amounts, then this is perfect for you. For heavy users, there’s another plan which is the ‘iPhone 10k plan’ For an additional 500 bucks, you get an additional 4000 minutes, 4GB more data and 1000 SMS. Pretty good value for money if you consider you’re getting a kickass iPhone 6 along with it.

What’s the Downside?

Like they say:

If it seems too good to be true, it most probably is!

Well luckily this isn’t the case with this plan with Vodafone. It isn’t a jaw dropping plan with cheap pricing and kickass features bundled with the best device on the planet. So don’t worry about being conned into something. Having said that, DO REMEMBER You are getting into a contract for TWO years (24 months or 720 days) with Vodafone.

In their FAQs section there are a few caveats listed –

1. “Once activated, the plan cannot be changed for the next 24 months.”
2. EMI transactions (12 & 24 month tenure) are available on following banks/ issuers: American Express | Axis Bank | Citibank | HDFC Bank | ICICI Bank | IndusInd Bank | Kotak Credit Card | RBL Bank | Standard Chartered Bank.

Overall:

Unless you are a die hard phan of Vodafone and Apple (one who has the logo of the fruit company tattooed on one bicep and that of the telco on the other, or plan to get those done soon) don’t go crazy about these. Go for it in a calm and collected manner and think before you sign up for this. You could probably get the device independent of this EMI scheme with a good deal at your bank itself.

“Tread with Caution!”