How's that for an idea: never mind the hardware, focus on more useful software. That's what Bangalore-based Creo is offering on its new phone, the Creo Mark I.
The Creo Mark I won't make you stop to take a second look. It's a 5.5-inch phone but seems even bigger because it's broad and has a lot of black to it. It's also rather heavy, by today's standards. Nothing stands out, not even the branding, which is quite subtle.
But never mind that. What the Creo Mark I has going for it is the promise of new features every month so much so that the user will feel like it's a new phone. That's nice marketing, but at least it's evident that new features are created from suggestions given by users. There's a section on the phone dedicated to just that and one can get into it to activate these distinctive and useful features plus ask for more.
The unusual features in the Refuel area of the phone, so called because the company's own system is called FuelOS, include phone tracing in case of theft, an answering machine independent of service providers, a search-across-device and more.
While the software features set this device apart from the dozens in the mid-range and budget segment, the hardware doesn't keep up despite great on-paper specs. The MediaTek Octa Core processor and 3GB of RAM don't prevent the lag on the device, which readily heats up. The 21MP and 8MP cameras result in average images and the 3,100mAh battery doesn't last as long as it should. This, for Rs 19,999 which is too much for a device that should work better.
Here's looking forward to Mark II.
BW Reporters
Mala Bhargava has been writing on technology well before the advent of internet in Indians and before CDs made their way into computers. Mala writes on technology, social media, startups and fitness. A trained psychologist, she claims that her understanding of psychology helps her understand the human side of technology.
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