The XHDATA D-328 Full Band AM/FM/SW MP3 Radio: Review

First published: November 4, 2023 | Updated: June 29, 2026

The XHDATA D-328 is a mini-sized AM/FM/SW 12-band radio which I picked up during a nostalgic craving for real broadcast radio at home. Compact and ultra-lightweight, it measures just 12.5x3.8x7.5 cm and weighs around 160 grams. The unit comes encased in a slim plastic shell with a foldable telescopic aerial on top for better reception. A microSD (TransFlash) card slot is also included, allowing you to play MP3 files directly from the device. For more private listening, there’s a 3.5 mm headphone jack to reroute the audio output. One minor downside: the back panel lacks a serial number label or certifications—only a “Made in China” marking is present.

The XHDATA D-328 MP3 Radio

The model I’m reviewing here was purchased in June 2020 from Amazon India, priced at ₹1,626 before tax and ₹1,919 after 18% GST. Delivery was prompt—the radio arrived within two days. It came packaged in a sturdy cardboard box containing the radio unit, a generic BL-5C lithium-ion rechargeable battery, a mini-USB charging cable, a lanyard, a user manual, and a contact card. This review, written in 2023, reflects my experience using the device over the past three years.

For those in search of a reliable radio that can tune into local AM and FM stations while also offering MP3 playback, the XHDATA D-328 holds up remarkably well. Despite its small size, the audio quality is surprisingly decent. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of analog-style tuning on DSP-based radios—I find them a bit clunky when trying to precisely navigate between stations. But for the average listener who simply wants to tune in and enjoy, this radio more than delivers on expectations.

Setup

Setting up the XHDATA D-328 is quick and hassle-free. Simply insert the BL-5C battery into the slot located at the back of the radio, and power it on using the mode selector shuttle switch on the top—choosing either Radio or MP3 mode depending on your preference. If the battery runs low, recharging is just as straightforward. Use the included USB charging cable and connect it to a suitable power source, such as a wall adapter, power bank, or even a laptop. Within moments, you're ready to enjoy your favorite stations or MP3 tracks with minimal fuss.

Radio

The XHDATA D-328 radio supports FM, AM, and shortwave (SW) reception, all handled by a DSP (Digital Signal Processing) demodulation chip built into the Silicon Laboratories Si4825-A10 integrated circuit. Tuning is done via an analog thumbwheel dial located on the side of the unit, offering a tactile and intuitive experience. Given the compact form factor and limited dial width, the FM and SW bands are cleverly split into 2 and 9 sub-bands, respectively, allowing for more precise calibration across the frequency range. This band segmentation helps users fine-tune stations with surprising accuracy for an analog-style interface. The supported frequency ranges are listed below:

• FM: 64~108 MHz
• AM: 520~1620 kHz
• SW: 4.75~22 MHz

Whether you're tuning in to your favorite morning talk show or catching the latest chart-topping hits, this radio delivers a commendable listening experience. In my usage, FM reception has been consistently reliable, and the audio clarity noticeably improves when using headphones. The built-in speaker does the job for casual listening, but plugging in a decent pair of earphones really enhances the sound quality, making it a more enjoyable experience overall.

Radio Reception

In June 2026, the XHDATA D-328 successfully processed these radio stations in Perrysburg, which is near the city of Toledo in Ohio. While the FM reception was strong, for many of the AM channels, I attached an XHDATA AN-80 Reel Antenna to enhance the reception quality.

1. Band: FM, Frequency: 88.3 MHz
   Name: 88.3 FM WXUT, Format: Alternative Music, Call Sign: WXUT
   Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
2. Band: FM, Frequency: 88.9 MHz
   Name: WBCL, Format: Contemporary Christian Music, Call Sign: WTPG
   Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
3. Band: FM, Frequency: 89.3 MHz
   Name: Yes FM, Format: Christian Contemporary Hit Radio (CHR), Call Sign: WYSZ
   Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
4. Band: FM, Frequency: 89.7 MHz
   Name: EWTN Radio, Format: Catholic Religious, Call Sign: WNOC
   Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
5. Band: FM, Frequency: 90.3 MHz
   Name: Family Radio, Format: Christian Religious, Call Sign: WOTL
   Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
6. Band: FM, Frequency: 91.3 MHz
   Name: WTGE Public Radio FM 91, Format: Public Radio, Call Sign: WTGE
   Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W ✨
7. Band: FM, Frequency: 91.7 MHz
   Name: Michigan Radio, Format: Public Radio, Call Sign: WUOM
   Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
8. Band: FM, Frequency: 92.5 MHz
   Name: 92.5 KISS FM, Format: Top 40 (CHR) (Contemporary Hit Radio), Call Sign: WVKS
   Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
9. Band: FM, Frequency: 92.9 MHz
   Name: NewsRadio 1370 AM & 92.9 FM WSPD, Format: News/Talk, Call Sign: W225AM (WSPD-AM)
   Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
10. Band: FM, Frequency: 93.5 MHz
    Name: 93.5 WRQN, Format: Classic Hits Music, Call Sign: WRQN
    Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
11. Band: FM, Frequency: 93.9 MHz
    Name: 93.9 Virgin Radio, Format: Contemporary Hit Radio (CHR), Call Sign: CIDR
    Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
12. Band: FM, Frequency: 94.1 MHz
    Name: Relevant Radio, Format: Catholic Talk Radio, Call Sign: W231EF (WPAY-AM)
    Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
13. Band: FM, Frequency: 94.5 MHz
    Name: 94.5 XKR, Format: Classic Rock Music, Call Sign: WXKR
    Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
14. Band: FM, Frequency: 94.9 MHz
    Name: 94.9 The Beat (HD2 channel of WVKS), Format: Urban Adult Music, Call Sign: W235BH
    Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
15. Band: FM, Frequency: 95.7 MHz
    Name: Mix 95.7, Format: Urban Adult Contemporary Music, Call Sign: WIMX
    Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
16. Band: FM, Frequency: 96.9 MHz
    Name: K-Love, Format: Christian Contemporary Hit Radio (CHR), Call Sign: WNKL
    Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
17. Band: FM, Frequency: 97.3 MHz
    Name: HOT 97.3 FM, Format: Hip Hop and R&B Music, Call Sign: WJZE
    Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
18. Band: FM, Frequency: 98.3 MHz
    Name: Nash Icon 98.3 FM, Format: Country Music, Call Sign: WMIM
    Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
19. Band: FM, Frequency: 99.5 MHz
    Name: CSN Radio, Format: Religious, Call Sign: W258BT
    Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
20. Band: FM, Frequency: 100.7 MHz
    Name: ESPN 100.7 The Ticket, Format: Sports, Call Sign: W264AK
    Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
21. Band: FM, Frequency: 101.5 MHz
    Name: 101.5 The River, Format: Adult Contemporary Music, Call Sign: WRVF
    Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
22. Band: FM, Frequency: 102.3 MHz
    Name: Proclaim FM 102.3, Format: Contemporary Christian Music, Call Sign: WPOS
    Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
23. Band: FM, Frequency: 102.9 MHz
    Name: W4Country, Format: Country Music, Call Sign: WWWW
    Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
24. Band: FM, Frequency: 103.3 MHz
    Name: Smile FM, Format: Contemporary Christian Music, Call Sign: WSMB
    Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
25. Band: FM, Frequency: 103.7 MHz
    Name: Buckeye Country 103.7 CKY, Format: Country Music, Call Sign: WCKY
    Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
26. Band: FM, Frequency: 102.9 MHz
    Name: 104.7 WIOT Toledo's Rock, Format: Mainstream Rock, Call Sign: WIOT
    Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
27. Band: FM, Frequency: 105.5 MHz
    Name: Q105 Toledo, Format: Hot Adult Contemporary Music, Call Sign: WQQO
    Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
28. Band: FM, Frequency: 106.1 MHz
    Name: 106.1FM We Act Radio, Format: Community, Variety, Call Sign: WAKT
    Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
29. Band: FM, Frequency: 106.5 MHz
    Name: The Truth Toledo (OH), Format: Christian Talk, Call Sign: WTOD
    Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
30. Band: FM, Frequency: 106.9 MHz
    Name: SonLife Radio, Format: Christian Radio, Call Sign: W295DB (WJYM-AM)
    Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
31. Band: FM, Frequency: 107.3 MHz
    Name: The Juice 107.3, Format: Contemporary Music, Call Sign: WJUC
    Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
32. Band: FM, Frequency: 107.7 MHz
    Name: 107.7 The Wolf Country, Format: Country Music, Call Sign: WPFX
    Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
33. Band: AM, Frequency: 730 kHz
    Name: SonLife Radio, Format: Christian Radio, Call Sign: WJYM
    Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
34. Band: AM, Frequency: 760 kHz
    Name: News Talk 760 WJR, Format: News/Talk, Call Sign: WJR
    Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
35. Band: AM, Frequency: 800 kHz
    Name: AM 800 CKLW: The Information Station, Format: News/Talk, Call Sign: CKLW
    Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
36. Band: AM, Frequency: 910 kHz
    Name: 910 AM Superstation Detroit, Format: Talk Radio, Call Sign: WFDF
    Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
37. Band: AM, Frequency: 1370 MHz
    Name: NewsRadio 1370 AM & 92.9 FM WSPD, Format: News/Talk, Call Sign: W225AM (WSPD-AM)
    Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W ✨
38. Band: AM, Frequency: 1520 kHz
    Name: Relevant Radio, Format: Catholic Talk Radio, Call Sign: WPAY (W231EF-FM)
    Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
39. Band: AM, Frequency: 1560 kHz
    Name: CSN Radio, Format: Religious, Call Sign: WWYC
    Website, FCC Public Files, Radio-Locator, W
40. Band: SW, Frequency: 4.840 MHz
    Name: WWCR 3 (World Wide Christian Radio), Format: Religious, Call Sign: WWCR
    Website, FCC Public Files, Shortwave.live, Short-wave.info, W
    Transmitter Location: Nashville, Tennessee
41. Band: SW, Frequency: 5.920 MHz
    Name: WTWW (We Transmit Worldwide), Format: Religious, Call Sign: WTWW
    Website, FCC Public Files, Shortwave.live, Short-wave.info, W
    Transmitter Location: Lebanon, Tennessee
42. Band: SW, Frequency: 15.770 MHz
    Name: WRMI Supreme Master TV, Format: Religious, Call Sign: WRMI
    Website, FCC Public Files, Shortwave.live, Short-wave.info, W
    Transmitter Location: Okeechobee, Florida (WYFR)

In November 2023, I tested the XHDATA D-328 in Pune, a city in the state of Maharashtra, India. The radio performed well when it came to processing FM signals—stations came through clearly, and tuning was relatively smooth. However, its performance on the AM and shortwave (SW) bands left much to be desired. In my experience, there was hardly any reception on those frequencies, rendering them practically unusable in this location. FM turned out to be the only reliable mode of listening on this device.

1. Band: FM, Frequency: 91.1 MHz, Name: Radio City
2. Band: FM, Frequency: 93.5 MHz, Name: Red FM
3. Band: FM, Frequency: 94.3 MHz, Name: Radio One
4. Band: FM, Frequency: 95.0 MHz, Name: Big FM
5. Band: FM, Frequency: 98.3 MHz, Name: Radio Mirchi
6. Band: FM, Frequency: 101.0 MHz, Name: Vividh Bharati
7. Band: FM, Frequency: 104.2 MHz, Name: Radio Mirchi Love
8. Band: FM, Frequency: 107.8 MHz, Name: Puneri Awaz
9. Band: AM, Frequency: 792 kHz, Name: All India Radio (AIR) Pune

MP3 Playback

MP3 playback is supported via a microSD (TransFlash) card slot conveniently located on the top of the device. Impressively, it handles larger storage capacities like 32GB and even 64GB cards without issue. Listening to MP3 files on this little radio is surprisingly enjoyable—the audio quality exceeds expectations for a device in this price range. However, there are a few limitations to keep in mind. There’s no screen to display track info, and no shuffle mode either. Instead, songs are played strictly in alphabetical order based on their file names. On the plus side, you can skip forward in batches of 10 tracks, which helps when navigating larger playlists.

Audio Quality

The radio features a built-in 5.5 cm (4Ω/3W) speaker capable of delivering up to 1.5W (RMS) watts of mono audio output. Given the compact size of the device, there’s naturally limited room for deep bass response or rich audio dynamics. That said, the sound quality is surprisingly clear and crisp—especially when reception is strong. While you won’t get room-filling sound or punchy lows, it performs well enough for casual listening, news broadcasts, or talk radio, making it a solid choice for on-the-go use or small spaces. It also has a 3.5 mm headphone jack if you want to plug in a pair of headphones.

Battery

The radio is powered by a removable 3.7V BL-5C 1020mAh rechargeable Li-ion battery. It comes with a generic, factory-included battery, which—at least in my experience—didn’t hold up well over time. Within a year, the battery had bloated and become unusable, a common issue with lower-quality Li-ion cells. Thankfully, the device doesn’t rely solely on battery power. It can operate just fine without the battery installed, as long as it's plugged in via USB and receiving live power. This makes it convenient for stationary use or when a reliable power source is available, even if the battery fails.

Warranty

The product comes with a 1-year manufacturer warranty on the device.

Reviews

As of June 2026, the radio is rated 4.2 out of 5, based on 1,500 customer reviews on Amazon.com with a selling price of $16.98.

Conclusion

In summary, the XHDATA D-328 is a decent radio for its price, but for a bit more, you can find radios with more features. It's compact, offers decent audio quality, and handles local stations and MP3 podcasts effectively. It's a solid choice, especially if you're on a tight budget, but there are other radios in the same price range that provide even better value. If you're interested in small and affordable radios, there are various options from manufacturers like Tecsun, Tivdio, Degen, and others, so it's worth doing some research to find the one that best suits your preferences. While it may not excel in all areas, its affordability and features make it a compelling option for radio enthusiasts and casual listeners alike.

The D-328 product page at xhdata.com.cn

The product page for the D-328 is here (archived).

The user manual is available here at TEKLIB.

Fossil Q Explorist HR (Gen 4) Smartwatch: Impressive looks but lacks in the battery

The Fossil Q Explorist HR (Gen 4) smartwatch (Model: DW6F1) is a Wear OS-based smartwatch made by the Fossil Group. It has a round bezel with a masculine look and feel and water resistance up to 98 feet. It doesn't support SIM-based mobile communications but has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi options to pair and synchronize with a smartphone. The watch was first announced in August 2018 and subsequently released later in the same month in the US and elsewhere.

Fossil Q Explorist HR (Gen 4) - FTW4016

The watch case is made of stainless steel which is available in 6 attractive color combinations. Some popular case colors are stainless steel, smoke stainless steel, brown leather, tan leather, black leather and black silicon. Printed on the back panel is the Fossil logo, the model number, a CE marking and the country or origin, which is China.

The one that I will review here is the SKU variant FTW4016 that comes in a blue stainless-steel case with tan leather straps which was purchased in November 2018 when it was retailing in Amazon.com for $178.50 before taxes. The delivery was fairly quick, and I had the device in my hands in two days. It comes in a hard cubical box which includes the smartwatch with the battery built in, a magnetic charging dock with a USB cable, and a quick start guide. The same was selling on Fossil.com for $179 with an original listed price of $275 before taxes. This 2023 review is based on experiences after its use in the last 4.5 years.

Setup

Setting up the device is simple. Before powering up for the first time, charge it till 100% using the provided magnetic charger. Install the Wear OS app on your smartphone and pair it with the watch using Bluetooth.

Fossil Q Explorist HR in the box

Display

The touch screen display consists of a 1.4-inch AMOLED screen with a resolution of 454 x 454 pixels. The 16M color screen displays pretty crisp and vivid colors and is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass. The interface is nice, and the screen is pretty responsive.

Calling

As the smartwatch doesn't include a built-in speaker, it doesn't allow to speak over the device itself. It, however, does show notifications for incoming calls and let you receive or reject calls directly from the display. To carry on the conversation, you have to use your phone. This is useful though when you are driving with your phone connected to the vehicle's infotainment system.

Messaging

The messaging application displays Short Messaging Service (SMS) messages on-screen. If you have other messaging apps installed, like WhatsApp, they can also be displayed.

Sensors

The device has several inbuilt sensors for accelerometer, ambient light, gyroscope, and heart rate.

Performance

The watch runs the Wear OS by Google on a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 CPU with 512 MB RAM and 4 GB of internal storage. It is compatible with phones running Android OS 4.4+ and Apple iOS 9.3+ and handles most tasks smoothly, sometimes with a little lag after all these years.

Audio Quality

The device doesn't have an in-built speaker.

Microphone

An in-built microphone allows you to use voice commands to perform a variety of tasks - which includes performing a web search.

Camera

The device does not feature a camera.

Internal Storage

The internal memory of 4GB provides storage for installing a fair number of apps from the Google Play Store. You can also store music in the internal storage and play them straight from the watch.

Expandable Storage

There is no option for additional storage.

Battery

One major component of a wearable device is the battery as that is what keeps it going. The smartwatch is powered by a non-removable 3.8V APack 1ICP4/25/30 330 mAh Li-ion battery packed into the casing. The watch charges from a small magnetic charging dock with an attached USB cable. It supports rapid charging that can get the battery up to 80% in an hour. The battery life at the time of purchase was about a day with moderate usage but this has deteriorated significantly over the last couple of years.

Connectivity

The Q Explorist HR allows synchronization with a smartphone via Bluetooth 4.1 LE. It also connects through Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n. There is no option for cellular connectivity through a SIM card. GPS is in-built so the watch can use GPS even when it is not tethered with the phone. It also supports NFC at 13.56 MHz which lets you make payments from Google Pay even when your phone is not with you.

SAR (Specific Absorption Rate)

The highest SAR value for this smartwatch is 0.40 W/kg on the face and 0.60 W/kg on the wrist. The SAR limit for a wrist-worn mobile device set by the FCC is 4.0 W/kg.

FCC ID

The FCC ID for the device is UK7-DW6A and the reports are available here.

Warranty

The product comes with a 2-year manufacturer warranty on the device. For me, within a month's use, the leather band was damaged, and the Fossil support told me that the accessory was not supported within the warranty. It took some convincing to get a replacement band from them.

Reviews

On Best Buy the watch is rated 4.2 out of 5 with 81% recommendation based on 196 customer reviews. Amazon has also rated it 4.2 based 4,400 customer reviews.

Conclusion

The smartwatch has performed well over the years and the body and display is still intact with no scratches. I have seen the battery life deteriorate pretty fast over time. The look and feel are still attractive.

The product page for the FTW4017P is here.

The user manual is available here at ManualsLib, and here at the FCC ID database.

Play Content on Google Home

If you have Google Assistant enabled smart speakers or display devices, like the Google Home, you probably already use them with various commands to play content and control your connected devices. On this page, I will list voice commands that you can use to play audio and video content on these devices.

You can start with the conventional voice command "Hey Google" or "Okay Google" to activate the Google Assistant.

Google Assistant-enabled Devices

First a little bit of a build-up. There are several Google Assistant-enabled devices nowadays. The Assistant may be on your phone, speaker, Android Auto-compatible car, TVs, wearables and other devices. A list of devices available in the market can be found here: https://assistant.google.com/platforms/phones/

The commands listed here have been tested on a Lenovo Smart Display that runs the Google Assistant.

Play News

To play news from various online sources on your Google Assistant-enabled device, activate the assistant by saying "Hey Google" or "Okay Google" followed by the keywords in the headings below. For example, you could say, "Hey Google, play the news" or "Hey Google, play technology news". Optionally, if you want to hear the news from a particular source, you could say something like, "Hey Google, play PBS" or "Hey Google, play BBC". At any time if you want to skip the current news source just say, "Hey Google, play next". The source of the content will depend on the new sources currently participating with Google:

Play the News

Plays news from your default sources on Google News (How to set your default news sources?)

Play the latest news about <topic>

Plays news about a topic of you choice. For example, "what is the latest news about India" will play news about India.

Play Technology News

Plays technology news on Google News from various sources like TechCrunch, Wired Security, Engadget, The Front Row Entrepreneur, Wired, WSJ Tech News Briefing, NPR Technology, Cheddar, CNBC Tech Check.

Play Business News

Plays business news on Google News from various sources like CNBC, CNBC Markets Now, Yahoo! Finance Daily, Bloomberg Market Minute, Marketplace Minute, Bloomberg P&L, NPR Business, SoFi Daily Podcast, The Indicator from Planet Money, Transport Topics.

Play Sports News

Plays sports news on Google News from various sources like ESPN Radio, NPR Sports, Fantasy Football Today, CBS Sports Radio Minute, The Early Edge, The Leadoff.

Play World News

Plays sports news on Google News from various sources like Reuters, BBC News, Global's News Room, East Coast Radio Sport, RNZ Headlines, East Coast Radio Newswatch, Daily News Brief by TRT World, News-Scroll, CBC News World Report, DW News Brief.

Play Entertainment News

Plays entertainment news on Google News from various sources like Billboard News Now, Watch This, IGN, Associated Press, Let Me Google That, Bollywood Hungama, We Hear: Quick Fix, Anchor Weird AF News.

Play Politics News

Plays politics news on Google News from various sources like Politico Playbook Audio Briefing, CNN Political Briefing, NPR Politics, Political Breakdown, Democracy Now! Audio.

Play Science News

Plays science news on Google News from various sources like PBS Newshour Science, NPR Environment, Wired Science, WSJ's The Future of Everything.

Play Health News

Plays science news on Google News from various sources like The Space, NPR Health & Science, NPR Health Care, PBS Newshour Health.

Play Art & Lifestyle News

Plays art and lifestyle news on Google News from various sources like Real Simple Tips, Mom Tips, PBS Newshour Art Beat, NPR Art & Life.

Play National News

Plays national news on Google News from various sources like The Feed on The Official Libsyn Podcast, Air Force Academy News, Early Bird Brief.

Indian Content on Google Home

After you have got hold of that new toy they call Google Home, you probably start wondering "does it play regional content?" This article attempts to uncover ways to do just that.

Been trying to figure out ways to make the Google Home speaker play online radio content from India and this is what you discover - it can play some Indian radio channels via TuneIn and iHeartRadio. You can, for example, call out Hey Google and tell it to fire up any of these online radio stations playing news, music and other content in Indian languages. Here is a non-exhaustive list of online radio that streams Indian content ranging from news to commentary to music.

1. Hey Google, play Red FM: plays 93.1 Red FM Vancouver streamed over TuneIn. This Canadian radio station is broadcast from the Metro Vancouver region of British Columbia and the majority of its programming is in Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu languages.
2. Hey Google, play Radio Mirchi: plays Mirchi FM Online that is streamed over TuneIn. This Indian radio station is broadcast from Suva, Fiji and the majority of its programming is in the Hindi language playing Bollywood and other Indian music. This broadcast is mostly unreliable - more often the playback fails.
3. Hey Google, play Big FM Kolkata: attempts to play 92.7 Big FM streamed over iHeartRadio but fails.
4. Hey Google, play Radio City Hindi: plays online Radio City Hindi streamed over TuneIn. This Indian radio station is broadcast from Mumbai and the majority of its programming is in the Hindi language. This channel gives you a flavor of Radio City 91.1 FM online, with mood-mapped Bollywood music, stories from Love Guru and the oh-so hilarious Babber Sher.
5. Hey Google, play Radio City Hindi Classics: plays Radio City Hindi Classics streamed over TuneIn. This Indian radio station is broadcast from Mumbai and the majority of its programming is in the Hindi language featuring all-time favorite classics of Hindi Cinema’s legendary artists.
6. Hey Google, play Radio City Bollywood Mix: plays Radio City Bollywood Mix streamed over TuneIn. This Indian radio station is broadcast from Mumbai and the majority of its programming is in the Hindi language featuring select covers, mixes, recreations and much more of favorite Bollywood songs from across the globe.
7. Hey Google, play Radio City Tamil: plays Radio City Tamil streamed over TuneIn. This Indian radio station is broadcast from Mumbai and the majority of its programming is in the Tamil language featuring the finest picks of Tamil contemporary songs peppered with humor capsules & the iconic Radio City Love Guru.
8. Hey Google, play Radio City Malayalam: plays Radio City Malayalam streamed over TuneIn. This Indian radio station is broadcast from Mumbai and the majority of its programming is in the Malayalam language featuring blend of contemporary and classic hits.
9. Hey Google, play Radio City Kannada: plays a radio station from Google Play Music called College Bound - though you would expect it to play Radio City Kannada streamed over TuneIn. This Indian radio station is broadcast from Mumbai and the majority of its programming is in the Kannada language presenting the best of Bangalore.
10. Hey Google, play Radio City Gujarati: plays Radio City Gujarati streamed over TuneIn. This Indian radio station is broadcast from Mumbai and the majority of its programming is in the Gujarati language featuring a blend of devotional, lok sangeet, garba and Gujarati film music streaming all day long.
11. Hey Google, play Radio City Marathi: plays Radio City Marathi streamed over TuneIn. This Indian radio station is broadcast from Mumbai and the majority of its programming is in the Marathi language featuring retro music across a wide range of film, devotional and folk compositions, all-day long.
12. Hey Google, play Radio City Premaloka: plays Radio City Premaloka streamed over TuneIn. This Indian radio station is broadcast from Mumbai and the majority of its programming is in the Kannada language featuring love songs with the soothing voice of Love Guru, all through the day, all throughout the year.
13. Hey Google, play Radio City Freedom: plays Radio City Freedom streamed over TuneIn. This Indian radio station is broadcast from Mumbai and the majority of its programming is in the Hindi language featuring the best of indie music from across genres straight out of the Indian sub-continent.
14. Hey Google, play Radio City Electronica: plays Radio City Electronica streamed over TuneIn. This Indian radio station is broadcast from Mumbai and the majority of its programming is in the Hindi language featuring Indie Electronic music 24x7 - Dubstep, House, Chillout, Drum & Bass, Ambient, Trance & more.
15. Hey Google, play Radio City Metal: plays Radio City Metal streamed over TuneIn. This Indian radio station is broadcast from Mumbai and the majority of its programming is in the Hindi language featuring non-stop Indian metal songs from the biggest bands in the Indian metal underground.
16. Hey Google, play Radio City Fusion: plays Radio City Fusion streamed over TuneIn. This Indian radio station is broadcast from Mumbai and the majority of its programming is in the Hindi language featuring carefully curated, non-stop contemporary Indian folk fusion songs across languages.
17. Hey Google, play Suno 1024: plays Suno 102.4 FM streamed over TuneIn. This Indian radio station is broadcast from Dubai, United Arab Emirates and the majority of its programming is in the Hindi language featuring Bollywood and other Indian music.

Some of these streaming services are not always too reliable, though they work most of the times.

Motorola Moto 360 (1st gen): Smartwatch with a blend of style, functionality and price

The Moto 360 is an Android Wear-based smartwatch made by Motorola Mobility. The appearance of the watch stands out with a round watch face in a solid-built stainless-steel case which is IP67 dust/water resistant. It doesn't support SIM-based mobile communication but has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi options to pair and synchronize with a smartphone. As one of the first Android Wear products to hit the market, it was first announced in March 2014 and subsequently released in September that year in the US and elsewhere.

Moto 360 (1st gen)

I ordered the Moto 360 in light chrome in June 2015 when it was retailing in Flipkart for Rs. 14,999 inclusive of all taxes. The delivery was fairly quick, and I had the device in my hands in three days. In comes in a cylindrical box which includes the smartwatch with the battery built in, a charging cradle, a power adapter with micro-USB output. and a quick start guide.

The watch is available in various colors like black, cognac leather, stone grey, champagne metal, natural metal, champagne, dark metal, and light metal.

Setup

Setting up the device is simple. Before powering up the device for the first time, charge it till 100% using the provided Qi charging dock or cradle and the wall charger. Install the Android Wear app on your smartphone and pair it with the watch using Bluetooth and / or Wi-Fi.

Display

The touch screen display consists of a 1.56-inch IPS LCD screen with a resolution of 320 x 290 pixels (~205 ppi density). The 16M color screen displays pretty crisp and vivid colors and is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3.

Calling

As the smartwatch doesn't include a built-in speaker, it doesn't allow to speak over the device itself. It, however, does show notifications for incoming calls and let you receive or reject calls directly from the display. To carry on the conversation, you have to use your phone. This is useful though when you are driving with your phone connected to the vehicle's infotainment system.

Messaging

The messaging application displays Short Messaging Service (SMS) messages on-screen. If you have other messaging apps installed, like WhatsApp, the messages can also be displayed.

Performance

The watch runs Android Wear OS on a 1.0 GHz Cortex A8 CPU over a Texas Instruments OMAP 3 SoC (system-on-chip) with 512 MB LPDDR RAM and 4 GB of internal storage. It handles most tasks smoothly, sometimes with a little lag and seldom the system hangs with auto or hard restarts.

Audio Quality

The device doesn't have an in-built speaker.

Microphone

An in-built microphone allows you to use voice commands to perform a variety of tasks - including doing a web search.

Camera

The device does not feature a camera.

Internal Storage

The internal memory of 4GB provides storage for installing a fair number of apps from the Google Play Store.

Expandable Storage

There is no option for additional storage.

Battery

One major component of a wearable device is the battery as that is what keeps it going. The smartwatch is powered by a non-removable 3.8V Motorola WX30 SNN5951A 300 mAh Li-ion battery packed into the casing. This is in contrast to Motorola's claim of a 320 mAh capacity battery as revealed by a teardown by iFixit. The watch charges inductively by resting it on the included charging Qi charging cradle. The charging cradle accepts a micro-USB which is also included in the box. The battery charge lasts just about a day with a conservative amount of use. The battery life could be better.

Connectivity

The Moto 360 smartwatch allows synchronization with a smartphone via Bluetooth 4.0 LE with aptX codec support. It also synchronizes with the smartphone via Wi-Fi. There is no option for cellular connectivity through a SIM card.

SAR (Specific Absorption Rate)

The highest SAR value for this smartwatch is 0.44 W/kg. The SAR limit for a wrist-worn mobile device set by the FCC is 4.0 W/kg.

FCC ID

The FCC ID for the device is IHDT6QC1 and the reports are available here.

Warranty

The product comes with a 1-year manufacturer warranty on the device and 6 months of warranty on the accessories.

Conclusion

The smartwatch has been performing well over the last 12 months and still got the looks. Sometimes the apps do hang, and the system abruptly reboots. I have seen the battery life deteriorate pretty fast over this period. The look and feel are still attractive. The connectivity to the smartphone is frequently lost and I have had to reset the watch and pair all over again several times. The 2nd generation of Moto 360 is already available which I have not tested.

January 28, 2022 Update: I have owned the Moto 360 (1st gen) for over 6 years now. Over the last 3 years many apps on the device have stopped working and synchronizing with Android phones. Lately, the phone has stopped completing the startup process and is unusable. So, I let it go.

The product homepage at http://moto360.motorola.com/

The user manual is available here at ManualsLib, here at B&H and here at the FCC ID database.

Nokia 206 RM-872: Basic feature phone which moderate performance

Nokia 206

It's been nearly a year since I got my hands on the Nokia 206 (Model RM-872) which is an entry-level mobile phone. I will write my experience with the phone and what I learned about it in this post.

I ordered this on Flipkart where it was retailing for Rs. 3,580 inclusive of all taxes on 23 October 2014 and received it just the next day, which was pretty impressive. While it comes in 5 colors - black, white, cyan, magenta and yellow - my unit is black. Flipkart had listed this phone as Nokia Asha 206 which is an error - the 206 is not an Asha device.

The GSM phone is highly compact, comes with a 6.1 cm (2.4 inch) QVGA display, a 1.3 MP read camera, 32 MB RAM, dual-SIM support and a 1200 mAh removable battery. Inside the box is also an AC-11 travel charger, a headset and a setup guide. 

Setup

Setting up the device is easy. Just remove the back cover, remove the battery, lift the mini-SIM holder and place a GSM SIM card into the slot, place the battery back again and then put the back cover on into position. You can optionally insert a microSD card in the slot under the back cover and a second SIM card in the slot at the left edge of the phone. Then after you have charged the battery, you are good to start the phone using the power button.

Display

The 6.1 cm (2.4 inch) QVGA TFT 65K color display is bright, images are clear and the size is okay at this price point. It displays at 240 x 320 pixels with a 4:3 ratio (~167 ppi density). The home page displays a set of short icons to applications and calendar appointments along with the data and time and other information.

Keypad

The keys on the keypad are smooth with large letter - good for the elderly and people with sight problem. The keypad features predictive text input using the T9 dictionary for easy typing.

Calling

With its dual-SIM support, it lets you carry a second phone number within the same device. You have the option to set a default SIM for services like outgoing calls, text messages, multimedia messages and data connections. It also lets you select a combination, like you can select SIM1 as the default for outgoing calls and messages while SIM2 can be the default for data connections. There is also an option for the phone to ask you which SIM to use every time.

Making, receiving or rejecting calls on this phone is a breeze with the intuitive user interface. It also allows putting a call on hold, dialing a 2nd number and setting up a multiparty conference call, call forwarding, call waiting, and muting. It also stores the phone numbers of recent received, dialed and missed calls.

The phone book lets you store up to 1000 phone numbers along with the name, an image and other details of the contact. Setting up speed dial numbers lets you make phone calls by pressing a single button on the keypad.

I like the way that Nokia lets you turn on and off the keypad lock swiftly by pressing the Menu + * key combination. This is easier than most phones from other manufacturers.

Messaging

The messaging application supports both Short Messaging Service (SMS) and Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS). The predictive text works fine and is helpful.

Performance

The phone runs on Nokia's Series 40 operating system which fares well on the performance front. Apps like Facebook and WhatsApp are slow, but they work.

Audio Quality

In-call reception audio quality is very good, and I haven't come across people complaining about the audio they receive on the other side. The volume of the sound is low but the quality is good.

Camera

The device packs in a 1.3 mega-pixel primary camera on the back with no flash. The camera allows you to shoot both still photos and videos. The images are 1280 x 960 pixels. Videos are stored using the Common Intermediate Format (QCIF) at 10 fps. The image quality is okay.

Media Player

The built-in media player can play videos formats (MP4, H.263 and WMV) and most audio music formats including MP3, WAV, WMA and AAC. The media library can automatically categorize songs based on artists, albums, and genres if the audio files have the information filled in.

FM Radio

The phone has an FM radio receiver which lets you play radio stations. The headset acts as an antenna for the radio signal reception so it should always be connected to the phone for the radio stations to play.

Web Browsing

The phone has a built-in XHMTL web browser named Nokia Xpress which features Unicode-support. It renders the pages well even though the screen is small for most web pages nowadays.

E-mail

The phone has a built-in e-mail client that lets you configure multiple email accounts.

Internal Storage

The 64 MB internal memory storage is pretty low on the upfront but when you come to think of it, what huge data would you want to store on a basic phone like this.

Expandable Storage

DONE The phone accepts a microSD or microSDHC to extend the storage up to 32 GB for storing multimedia files.

Battery

The phone comes with a 1200 mAh 3.7V Nokia BL-4U Li-on battery. The user manual states the battery backup is for up to 20 hours of talk time and up to 680 hours of standby time under optimal conditions. My experience with the battery backup is good - I haven't used the phone regularly as it is not my primary device. On an average the battery can last 4-5 days with regular use.

Connectivity

The mobile supports and operates on the cellular EGSM 900-800 Mhz 2G network. It supports up to 85.6 kbps on GPRS and 236.8 on GPRS. It also has Bluetooth v2.1 with Enhanced Data Rate (EDR). There is no support for USB or NFC.

Software Updates

Software updates to the phone can be done wirelessly over the air. There is also an option for the phone to automatically check for new updates.

SAR (Specific Absorption Rate)

SAR value for this phone when tested for use at the ear is 0.93 W/kg.

FCC ID

DONE The FCC ID for the device is NCC CCAF12DG0440T3 and the reports are available here.

Warranty

DONE The product came with 1-year manufacturer warranty on the device and 6 months of warranty on the accessories out of the box.

Conclusion

DONE Overall, it is a pretty decent phone. The build quality is good, and the display is large. It runs smooth with apps hanging sometimes which may be due to the low amount of memory. This is perfect for elderly people who find it difficult to operate smartphones.

Update June 2020: The phone is still working and operational, but the functions now run very slow.  The body is hard and has survived several drops. I finally let it go.

Sony Xperia Z Model C6602: Excellent camera with water-resistance

The Sony Xperia Z is a 5-inch Android-based smartphone made by Sony Mobile Communications. The phone was first announced at CES in January 2013 and was first released on 9 February 2013 in Japan.

Xperia Z Model C6602

This phone boasts a design that's as tough as it is elegant, encased in resplendent glass. It's not just a pretty face; it's certified IP55 and IP57 for water resistance up to one meter, keeping its cool for up to 30 seconds underwater. Both the front and back panels sport tempered glass with an anti-shatter film coating. It is available in various models based on locales and wireless carriers:

1. C6602 (worldwide with UMTS only)
2. C6603 (worldwide with UMTS and LTE)
3. C6606 (T-Mobile U.S. with UMTS and LTE)
4. C6616 (Bell Canada with UMTS and LTE)
5. SO-02E (NTT Docomo Japan with UMTS and LTE)

I ordered the C6602 in pitch black on March 13, 2013 when it was available for pre-order in Flipkart India for Rs. 39,190 inclusive of all taxes. The shipping was free, and I had the device in my hands on March 20.

The box included the handset with the battery built in, a travel charger, a USB cable, Sony earplugs with extra ear buds and the user manual. Flipkart also shipped a pair of Sony MDR-ZX300 over-the-head stereo headphones in the package.

Setup

Setting up the device is simple. Just pop open the flap on the right to insert your SIM or USIM card, slide a microSD card into the slot on the left (if you wish), charge the battery if needed and you are good to start Sony's latest flagship smartphone.

Calling

Making, receiving or rejecting voice and video calls on this phone is a breeze with the intuitive user interface. It also allows putting a call on hold, dialing a 2nd number and setting up a multiparty conference call, call forwarding, call waiting, and muting. It also stores the phone numbers of recent received, dialed and missed calls.

Performance

Running Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean) out of the box and later transitioning to KitKat and Lollipop on a quad-core 1.5 GHz Krait CPU over a Qualcomm APQ8064 Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset with 2 GB RAM, the phone handles all tasks smoothly. It also ships with a Qualcomm Adreno 320 GPU to handle all the graphics. The transitions are smooth and effortless, and apps run flawlessly with no visible lag or crashes.

Display

The device has one of the greatest displays available in the market. The capacitive touch screen display consists of a 5-inch TFT Full HD screen with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels (~441 ppi density). Powered by a Qualcomm Adreno 320 GPU, the 16M color screen displays pretty crisp and vivid colors and is responsive to all touch and gestures.

Audio Quality

In-call audio quality is nothing short of excellent, and music playback offers impressive clarity, although the loudspeaker could use a tad more volume.

Camera

Armed with a 13MP auto-focus primary camera and LED flash, the Xperia Z can shoot 13-megapixel photos and full HD videos at resolutions up to 1920 x 1080 pixels at 30 fps. The image quality is excellent. The camera features Sony's Exmor RS CMOS image sensor, face detection, image stabilizer, red-eye reduction, sweep panorama and geo-tagging. There is also a 2MP front (or selfie) camera.

Internal Storage

With a generous 16 GB internal memory, there's room for a multitude of apps. Need more space? A microSD or microSDXC memory card can expand storage up to 32 GB, and it handles the load with ease.

Expandable Storage

The phone accepts a microSD or microSDXC memory card to extend the storage up to 32 GB for storing multimedia files. Loading a 64 GB microSD with audio, video, and document files of various formats showed no noticeable lag and the device has been able to handle the file-load smoothly.

Sensors

The Xperia Z isn't just a pretty face; it's got brains too. Embedded sensors include a magnetometer, ambient light sensor, gyroscope sensor, accelerometer, and proximity sensor.

Battery

As one of the major factors in a mobile computing device, the Xperia Z is fueled by a non-removable 3.7V Sony LIS1502ERPC 2,330 mAh Li-ion battery built into the casing. The battery packs enough juice to last a long time even with heavy use. A full charge from zero takes about 5 hours, ensuring you're always ready to go.

Connectivity

The Model C6602 supports a single micro-SIM card on GSM 2G and / or HSDPA 3G networks. If you have the other models (C6603, C6606, C6616 or SO-02E) you would also have support for 4G. On the WLAN front it supports Wi-Fi 802.11 on the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands. It also has Bluetooth v4.0, NFC for contactless payments and DLNA to wirelessly play media on a DLNA-compliant TV. For wired PC connectivity using USB 2.0, it accepts a MicroUSB data cable which is provided in the box.

FM Radio

If you're a radio enthusiast, the Xperia Z has you covered. Its stereo FM radio data system receiver lets you groove to your favorite stations. Just keep the headset connected for optimal signal reception.

Security

The phone allows various ways to unlock, including the following:

1. Pattern unlock
2. PIN unlock
3. Password unlock

SAR (Specific Absorption Rate)

SAR value for the C6602 phone when tested for use at the ear is 0.48 W/kg.

FCC ID

The FCC ID for the C6602 is PY7PM-0280 and the reports are available here.

Warranty

The product comes with a 1-year manufacturer warranty on the device and 6 months of warranty on the accessories.

Reviews

Critics and users alike have heaped praise on the Xperia Z. TechRadar awarded it a stellar 4.5 out of 5, while Engadget gave it an impressive 8.3 out of 10. Google users rated it 4.4 out of 5 based on their experiences. Best Buy customers gave it a 4.2 rating, with an 81% recommendation rate based on 196 customer reviews. And over on Amazon, it boasts a 4.2 rating based on feedback from 4,400 customers.

The Xperia Z on SonyMobile.com India

Conclusion

The Xperia Z is one of the finest smartphones in the market. The build-quality is good, and the performanceis stellar. There is some bloatware that ships with the device which I got rid of immediately to free up resources and everything has been fine. Though the price is on the high end, it is totally worth it.

August 30, 2017 Update: Through an extensive usage over the last ~4 years in various geographies, I finally replaced the Xperia Z for a Google Pixel device. The device is still working though it has gotten terribly slow, and the battery dries up pretty quickly. It has never visited a service center, so you see that the hardware has been very reliable.

The user manual is available here at ManualsLib, and here at the FCC ID database.

World's Thinnest Ultrabook: Acer Aspire S5

Acer announced the world's thinnest Ultrabook, the Aspire S5, an ultra-slim device that measures only 15 mm at the maximal point. More here at Engadget.