New Micromax Canvas Knight Octa-core phone units are now reportedly shipping with Android v4.4.2 KitKat OS in India.
The news was disclosed by the company via official social websites – Facebook, Google+ and Twitter.
"With the Integrated Voice Search feature of Android KitKat OS in Canvas Knight, you can search the web just by saying 'Okay Google'!" read the company post.
Micromax Canvas Knight A350 made its debut back in January in Russia and few months later in India (March). Back then, it shipped with out-dated Android v4.2 Jelly Bean OS, and now the new units will come with Android's latest software version 4.4.2 KitKat. However, the company has not yet clarified when it plans to release the chocolate wafer flavoured Android OS to older Canvas Knight models, because it's very crucial that Micromax does not disappoint its loyal fans.
Micromax's local counterpart, Xolo has already taken the initative to roll KitKat update to Q1000 Opus and has plans to release the new firmware to few more select devices - Q700S, Q1010i, Q1010 and Q3000 later this month.
As of now, Micromax sells four KitKat OS powered smartphones in the market. It includes Canvas Unite 2, Entice A105 , Engage A091 and Canvas Gold A300.
The new v4.4.2 KitKat OS brings in slew of enhanced features such as smarter caller ID, more organised message grouping (now all SMS, MMS, Video & Audio messages under one roof -Hangouts), quick access to settings, colourful Emoji characters on keyboard, Voice search (OK, Google!), Quickoffice word document app, Cloud printing (only with select HP printing), Bluetooth MAP (Message Access Profile) and many more.
Brief Description of Android v4.4 KitKat OS Update Features:
Location Menu: This integrated location menu enables users easily activate GPS, Wi-Fi and mobile networks, while simultaneously keeping a tab on the battery consumption by the location service based apps.
Enhanced Google Mobile Service (GMS) apps: This application helps users to automatically back-up photos and video clips. He/she also can create, view, share rename Google Docs and files.
Improved Caller-ID: If a user receives a call from an unknown number, the phone will look for matches on the Internet with local listings via Google Maps.
Priority Contacts: The new OS empowers the phone to automatically prioritize contact list for easy access, based on the frequency of the peoples' contacts to which users' talk.
Immersive display: To enhance the entertainment factor, the new OS comes with immersive mode, where the status bar and navigation buttons disappear in to the back ground while you play music, games and read e-books. Users can just swipe the edge of the screen to bring back the utility buttons.
Enhanced Message Grouping: Google has brought in some improvements to the new Hangouts app; now, users can find all their text SMSs and MMSs, audio and video call details all at one place. He/She can also share location and send animated GIFs.
Emoji Characters: Initially users had to install third party app to use colourful characters in their SMS. Now, with KitKat update, the keypad comes pre-loaded with native Japanese Emoji emotion icons.
NFC and Wireless Printing: Google's new OS comes with a new Quickoffice app where-in people can create and store word documents in cloud storage as well as print files wirelessly on NFC-enabled HP printers.
Multi-tasking: with efficient memory management, users can multi-task by opening multiple applications; listen to music while you can browse through the Internet.
Performance: Like all software updates, the new KitKat enhances smartphone's performance as well as efficient RAM management, leading to increase in battery
Key Specifications of Micromax Canvas Knight A350:
| Model | Micromax Canvas Knight A350 |
| Display | 5.0-inch full HD (1920x1080p) IPS displayPixel density: 443 ppi (pixels per inch) |
| OS | Android v4.4.2 KitKat |
| Processor | Tru Octa-core MediaTek processor with 2GHz CPU speed(chipset: MT6592T) |
| RAM | 2GB DDR2 RAM |
| Storage Capacity | 32GB, (non-expandable) |
| Camera | Main: 16.0-megapixel camera with M8 Largan lens, high-performance 1.34-micron OmniBSI-2™ pixel architecture, and CameraChip™ sensors feature electronic image stabilization (EIS) for snapping good quality photos.
Front: 8.0-megapixel camera with auto-focus |
| Battery | 2,350 mAh;Talk time: 7.5 hours
Standby mode: 175 hours |
| Network | 3G |
| Add-ons | Bluetooth v4.0, Wi-Fi, Yamaha amplifier, FOTA (Firmware Over-The-Air) for future updates, |
| Colours | Black & Gold, White & Gold and full Black |
| Price | Around ₹20,000/- (it varies with local tax regime) |
[Image Credit: Micromax Info]
