Tata Sky launches 4K UHD set-top in India, will cost Rs 6400 for new users

by Vishal Ghosh | Jan 10, 2015 | News and Reviews

Tata Sky is bringing a new 4K set‑top box to Indian homes. The box lets you watch TV in Ultra High Definition (UHD). It also has Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 surround sound.

Why Tata Sky’s 4K Box is Important

In 2014, Tata Sky showed India its first 4K broadcast. It was the Germany vs France quarter‑final match at the FIFA World Cup. That was a big moment for Indian TV. Now the company is selling a box that can show that same quality at home.

Price and Buying Options

The new box costs Rs 6,400 for people who are new to Tata Sky. If you already have a Tata Sky connection, the price is Rs 5,900. You can buy the box in two ways:

• Buy a brand‑new 4K set‑top box.
• Use Tata Sky’s multi‑TV connection option to add the 4K box to your existing service.

You can pre‑book the box by calling the Tata Sky 24×7 helpline, visiting the Tata Sky website, or going to an authorised dealer.

What Is 4K and How Does It Look?

4K means the picture has 3840 × 2160 pixels. That is about four times more pixels than the current HD standard of 1920 × 1080. More pixels mean sharper images, finer details and less blur when you sit close to the screen.

During a test, reviewers watched a 4K broadcast from about 20 feet away. They said they could not see any pixelation. The picture looked very clear. They also compared a 4K TV with a regular HD TV and a standard definition TV. The 4K screen showed far more detail.

How to Use the Box

After you get the box, you will need a 4K‑compatible TV. Connect the box to the TV using the HDMI cable that comes with it. Turn on the TV and select the HDMI input. Follow the on‑screen instructions to set up your Tata Sky account.

The box can also show SD (standard definition) and HD (high definition) channels. So you can watch any channel, not just 4K ones. The box also supports Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 sound. That means you can hear clear, immersive audio if you have a good speaker system.

Why the Timing Is Good

The ICC Cricket World Cup starts next month. Cricket fans will want the best picture possible. Tata Sky hopes the 4K box will let fans see every run, every ball, and every celebration in crystal‑clear detail.

So far, Tata Sky has not announced which channels will broadcast in 4K. The company said it will work with TV channels to bring 4K content soon. The price of 4K channels is still unknown.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 4K mean?

4K means the picture has 3840 × 2160 pixels. It is four times sharper than normal HD.

How much does the Tata Sky 4K box cost?

New customers pay Rs 6,400. Existing Tata Sky customers pay Rs 5,900.

Can I keep my old Tata Sky box?

Yes. You can use the new 4K box together with your old box using the multi‑TV connection option.

How do I get 4K channels?

Right now Tata Sky has not listed any 4K‑ready channels. The company says it will work with broadcasters to add 4K channels soon.

Conclusion

Tata Sky’s 4K set‑top box brings Ultra High Definition TV to Indian homes at a reasonable price. It works with any TV that supports 4K and HDMI. The launch comes just before the ICC Cricket World Cup, giving fans a chance to enjoy the sport in stunning detail. If you want the best picture and sound, the Tata Sky 4K box is worth looking at.

Arjun, Sonakshi starrer ‘Tevar’ earns 14 crore in two days

by Vishal Ghosh | Jan 10, 2015 | News and Reviews

Arjun Kapoor and Sonakshi Sinha’s new movie Tevar opened in India on a Friday. It was shown on about 3,000 screens. The film also has Manoj Bajpayee in an important role.

Opening Day Earnings

On the first day, Tevar earned 7.05 crore rupees. A crore is ten million, so that is about seventy million rupees. The money came from people buying tickets in theatres.

The opening day was called a “lukewarm start.” That means the money was not as high as many hoped. Some reviewers gave the film mixed reviews, which can affect how many people go to see it.

Second Day Performance

On Saturday, the film earned a little more. It made 7.70 crore rupees in India. Adding the two days together, Tevar collected about 14 crore rupees.

Industry website Koimoi reported these numbers. The higher amount on the second day shows that some people heard about the film after the first day and decided to watch it.

How This compares to Other Movies

Arjun Kapoor’s earlier movie 2 States earned 38 crore rupees at the box office. That was a big success.

Sonakshi Sinha’s previous film Action Jackson had a budget of 80 crore rupees but did not earn enough to cover that cost. It was called a box‑office disaster.

Compared to those movies, Tevar’s start is modest. It is not as high as 2 States, but it is better than a total loss like Action Jackson.

Competition from Other Films

When Tevar opened, it had to share screens with Aamir Khan’s movie PK. PK was released at Christmas and was still earning money in theatres.

Because PK was still popular, some people chose to watch it instead of Tevar. This competition can lower the amount of money a new film makes.

Even with this competition, Tevar still earned 14 crore in two days, which shows that many fans of Arjun and Sonakshi went to see it.

What the Numbers Mean

Box‑office numbers tell us how many people liked a film enough to pay for a ticket. They also help producers decide if a film is a financial success.

For a film released on 3,000 screens, earning 14 crore in two days means an average of about 4,666 rupees per screen per day. That is a simple way to see how busy each theatre was.

Industry experts often look at the third day, usually Sunday, to see if the film will keep earning more. A strong Sunday can push the total higher.

If Tevar keeps earning similar amounts, it could reach 30 crore or more in the first week. That would be a decent result for a mid‑budget film.

How to Read Box‑Office Reports

• Day‑wise collection: Shows how much money the film made each day.
• Net vs. gross: Net is the amount after taxes; gross is the total before taxes.
• Screen count: More screens can mean higher earnings, but only if seats are filled.
• Competition: Other popular movies can affect a film’s earnings.

Understanding these points helps you see why a film may earn more or less than expected.

FAQ

What does “crore” mean?

A crore equals ten million. So 14 crore rupees is 140 million rupees.

Why did Tevar earn more on the second day?

People heard mixed reviews on the first day, and some decided to watch it later. Word of mouth can boost earnings.

Is 14 crore a good start for a new film?

It is a moderate start. Big blockbusters earn much more, but for a film with a mid‑range budget, 14 crore in two days is respectable.

Will Tevar beat PK at the box office?

PK has already earned a huge amount and continues to run. It is unlikely Tevar will surpass PK’s total, but it can still be a success on its own.

Conclusion

Tevar’s opening shows a steady start with 7.05 crore on day one and 7.70 crore on day two, totaling 14 crore. The film faces strong competition from PK and carries the legacy of its stars’ past movies. Watching the numbers over the next few days will tell if the film can grow into a solid hit. Simple box‑office facts help fans understand a movie’s performance and what to expect next.

YU Yureka aka Micromax YU

by Vishal Ghosh | Jan 7, 2015 | News and Reviews

The Yu Yureka is a big step for Micromax. It is the first phone under the new brand name YU. Micromax wants to change its image and show that it can make good phones at a low price.

Design and Build Quality

The Yureka is a 5.5‑inch phablet. That size is the same as the Xiaomi Redmi Note, which is its main rival. Even though the size is big, the Yureka feels more premium than the Redmi Note. The back of the phone uses a material called Moonstone. Moonstone looks similar to the Sandstone finish on the OnePlus One, but it feels better than the shiny plastic on the Redmi Note.

Even though the Yureka also has a plastic body, Micromax made it feel sturdy. It does not feel cheap or flimsy. The phone is not the most beautiful phone, but it is not ugly either. It is solid and well‑made. The phone is also light for its size, which makes it easier to hold.

One useful feature is the removable battery. This lets you take the battery out and replace it if needed. Many modern phones do not allow this, so it is a plus for the Yureka. The design matches the price tag and the brand’s new look.

Display Quality

The Yureka has a 720p display. This means the screen resolution is 1280 × 720 pixels. On a 5.5‑inch screen, this resolution is not very sharp. Reviewers have said that 720p screens do not look great on large phones. The colors on the screen are decent, but there is very little color shift when you look from the sides.

Because the screen is not very sharp, pictures and text may look a little blurry compared to a full‑HD screen. However, the display is bright enough for indoor use and works well in sunlight.

Overall, the display is acceptable for the price, but it does not match the higher‑resolution screens on more expensive phones.

Performance and Software

The Yureka runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 615 processor. This is an octa‑core chip that runs at 1.5 GHz. It is one of the first phones to use a 64‑bit Snapdragon chip. The phone also has 2 GB of RAM. This amount of RAM is enough for most daily tasks like browsing, social media, and light gaming.

Games such as Asphalt 8 and Injustice: Gods Among Us run smoothly. The phone can handle these games without much lag. However, the phone uses CyanogenMod 11 (CM 11) as its operating system. Reviewers have found that CM 11 is not the most stable version. Some apps crash occasionally.

Benchmarks show good numbers for the processor, but the phone can get warm after long gaming sessions. The performance is solid for a phone under Rs 10,000, and it was praised in a India Today review as the best smartphone in that price range.

Camera and Photo Quality

The Yureka has a 13 MP rear camera. Reviewers liked this camera a lot. The camera captures good white balance and colour spread. It is better than the camera on the Redmi Note, which many called the best under Rs 10,000 before the Yureka arrived.

Photos from the Yureka can look a little undersaturated. This may be due to the CyanogenMod software processing. The OnePlus One had the same issue, but the Yureka’s photos are not as dull. Among the Yureka, Redmi Note and OnePlus One, the Yureka may have the best camera.

There is no mention of a front‑facing camera in the original article, so we keep the focus on the rear 13 MP sensor.

Battery Life

The phone has a 2500 mAh removable battery. On paper, this size seems small for a 5.5‑inch phone. Micromax says that the CyanogenMod OS uses the battery efficiently. In real use, the battery does not last a full day if you play many games or use power‑hungry apps.

With lighter use, such as web browsing and occasional gaming, the phone can last about a day. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 4G has similar battery life, while the 3G version of the Redmi Note does worse. The Yureka could have a bigger battery because there is space inside the phone.

Overall, the battery life is okay for a budget phone, but it could be better.

FAQ

Is the Micromax YU Yureka good for gaming?

Yes. The Snapdragon 615 and 2 GB RAM let the phone run games like Asphalt 8 smoothly. It may get warm after long sessions, but it works well for casual gaming.

How does the Yureka compare to the OnePlus One?

The Yureka is cheaper and has a larger screen. The OnePlus One feels more premium and has a more stable CM 11 version. Performance is similar, but the OnePlus One is considered a higher‑end phone.

Can I replace the battery yourself?

Yes. The Yureka has a removable battery, so you can take it out and put in a new one without special tools.

What software updates are available?

The phone ships with CyanogenMod 11. Newer CyanogenMod versions, like the Android 5.1 Lollipop‑based CM 12.1 nightlies, are available for other phones such as OnePlus and HTC, but not officially for the Yureka.

Conclusion

The Micromax YU Yureka is a solid budget phone. It offers a large 5.5‑inch screen, a decent Snapdragon 615 processor, 2 GB RAM, a good 13 MP camera and a removable battery. It may not have the sharpest display or the longest battery life, but it gives good value for under Rs 10,000. If you want a large phone that can handle everyday tasks and light gaming without breaking the bank, the Yureka is worth a look.