Windows Blue will reportedly keep Metro UI

Windows 8 is yet to spread as completely and successfully as its predecessors, but one thing is for certain–the Metro UI is here to stay. According to reports in the media, it looks like the tile-based UI will remain an integral part of the future version of the OS. This new OS has been codenamed Microsoft Blue and will retain the UI.

A PCBeta poster claiming to be an alpha tester for “Windows 9 Dev” offered some hands-on details on Windows Blue. The operating system is rumoured to be part of Microsoft’s efforts to provide yearly, affordably-priced Windows updates. Users got an early taste of Microsoft’s upcoming plans when it was announced that they could upgrade from Windows 7, XP and Vista to Windows 8 for a mere $40. This is rumoured to be a part of Microsoft's new plan to release yearly, affordable Windows updates to their OS. Not surprisingly, this seems to be modelled on Apple’s iOS updates.

Metro UI is here to stay! (Image credit: All Things D)

Windows Blue is not only set to retain the Metro UI but will also incorporate the resizable Windows Phone 8 tiles that allow more scope for customisation and lead to a more dynamic UI on tablets and PCs.

BGR reports that the PCBeta tester mentioned that a new kernel (6.3) will be used, which should give the entire OS more polish.

Microsoft took a huge leap of faith when it released Windows 8 with a completely refurbished user interface that had a flat, typographically heavy design. Even though the initial sales do not seem to be matching up to Microsoft aspirations and users are taking their own sweet time to embrace the new design, the future seems bright for Microsoft thanks to some really good marketing strategies.

It should be noted that Microsoft has had to face issues over the use of the name Metro in the past. In August, Microsoft released documents that replaced the word Metro UI or Metro withModern UI or Modern user interface. One example of such a change is “Windows 8 is Windows re-imagined. Join this session to learn about the new platform for building Modern UI-style applications. You’ll get a deeper understanding of the platform design tenets, the programming language choices, and integration points with the operating system and across Modern UI-style apps. We’ll also demo the Windows Store and the many different ways to monetize your application, including subscriptions, trial apps, advertisement, and in-app purchases.”

Microsoft had claimed that ‘Metro’ was just a code name for the interface used by developers, and generic use of the code by the public was never intended. However, as per a report by ZDNet, this switch was made owing to a naming dispute with its European partner, Metro Group. The fact that Microsoft went with a name as boring as Modern UI supports the idea that it might have been caught off-guard by the naming dispute.

Adding 415 apps daily, Windows 8 blows past the 35,000 app milestone

Microsoft’s Windows 8 operating system now has a total of 35,0000 applications in its Store, according to tracking website MetroStore Scanner.
The total tally, 35,167, represents a growth of 14,557 in the last 35 days, indicating that Windows 8 is accreting applications to its platform at a rate of around 415 per day. For comparison, in early November, Windows 8 was adding 362 applications per day.
Development activity has therefore increased since the launch of Windows 8 itself. Microsoft must certainly be pleased.
Of the 35,167 applications, over 22,000 are available in the U.S. market.
The natural caveat to this sort of discussion is that the number of applications for a platform is just that: a statistic. The average quality of the applications contained in the marketplace, and the presence of key apps, can be more important. However, the total tally of applications is akin to the pulse of platform, and the quicker that heartbeat the better.
To better describe the terrain, here are a few landmarks: On October 30th, Windows 8 had 10,000 apps; on November 6th, Windows 8 had around 13,000 applications; on November 14th it had 16,000; on November 22nd, it broke the 20,000 app threshold. Today it broke past 35,000.
At the rate of 415 per day, Windows 8 will reach the 50,000 app mark on February 1st.
Windows 8, a rethinking of the Windows platform, is the first of its line to include an application marketplace. Boxed software was the rule for much of the operating system’s history. Microsoft’s move to include the Windows Store on its new OS was hardly surprising, given the success of similar stores on rival platforms, but it was a large addition nonetheless.
Before Windows 8 was released, some doubted whether it could accumulate developer support, or enough sales momentum to warrant developer interest. With more than 40 million licenses sold thus far, and continued application momentum, it appears that Windows 8 will enter 2013 on firm footing.

Apple rumoured to be working on a Bluetooth watch powered by Intel

Last time we heard of wearable computers, it was Google's Project Glass. But now rumours are floating around about Apple working on a Bluetooth-integrated wristwatch powered by Intel.

Chinese blog TGbus reports that the device will feature a 1.5-inch OLED display ITO (indium tin oxide) coated glass atop manufactured by RITEK subsidiary RiTdisplay . As per two 'supply chain' sources, the smart wristwatch might launch in early 2013.

The device would connect to your Apple devices, specifically the iPhone and iPod line,via Bluetooth in order to transmit information from these devices to the watch.

This isn't the first time we're seeing a concept like this one. Remember the Pebble e-paper smart watch, which raised over $10 million in funding on Kickstarter? The idea belongs to Eric Migicovsky, an engineer, who wanted to develop a line of wristwatches that could display information from an iPhone - like caller ID and text messages. The device has just been sent for FCC approval which indicates it should ship soon.

Casio also introduced a watch this year that communicates with the iPhone via Bluetooth 4.0. The GB6900AA priced at $180 is now available in select stores across the US. The watch connects wirelessly to Apple's iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 smartphones. Once paired with the phones, users can receive alerts for mails, incoming calls and even locate their lost phones.

Sony also made its own Android-based SmartWatch that came with coloured watchbands, multi-touch colour OLED display, watchband adapter and a USB charger. But it wasn't much of a hit with the masses.

Apples' 6th-generation iPod nano was promoted as a watch of sorts and the company increased the device's popularity by releasing several watch faces for the mini music player. Strangely, Apple discontinued the form factor with the 7th generation iPad nano - could this watch be the reason why?

As of now, we'd take these rumours with a pinch of salt. But if Apple does come up with an 'iWatch', it would be interesting to see if it revolutionises yet another industry.

Thinner, lighter 5th generation iPad may be introduced in March 2013

The fifth generation iPad is believed to be unveiled in March, a report by Mac Otakara, a Japanese blog states. Details regarding the upcoming version of the 9.7-inch iPad are scarce as of now, but sources claim that the tablet will take design references from the iPad mini.

Apart from this, the tablet is expected to be thinner and lighter than the 3rd and 4th generation iPad, which were heavier and thicker than the iPad 2 because of the circuitry that is used to power the device’s Retina display. And if Apple does unveil the next generation iPad in March, it will be a mere five months after the brand unveiled the fourth generation version.

The successor to the fourth generation iPad may be released as early as March

It is believed that Apple may be adopting a half-year product refresh cycle in order to keep up with the growing competition from other device manufacturers. Apple has adopted a policy of launching a single product in a year since the beginning, but this changed when it introduced the fourth generation iPad model in October after announcing the third generation version in March this year.

The report also noted that there is an upgraded iPad mini also in the works and it will come with the Retina Display technology that is used on the iPhones and newer 9.7-inch iPads, as well as an A6X processor used in the current fourth generation iPad.

This is not the first time we have heard about the second generation iPad mini, currently being dubbed the iPad mini 2. It was previously reported that if Apple does enhance the resolution of the iPad mini, the next generation device will boast a resolution of 2058 x 1536 with a pixel density of 326ppi. The report also mentioned that Apple will restructure the lighting from two LED light bars to one in order to decrease the device's overall weight.

The Apple iPad mini was recently launched in India on December 7, 2012 and is available at authorised Apple resellers for a starting price of Rs 21,900.

The 16GB iPad mini Wi-Fi only version is available for Rs 21,900, while the 32GB and 64GB versions costs Rs 27,900 and Rs 33,900, respectively. The iPad mini Wi-Fi + cellular version costs Rs 29,900 for the 16GB version, and the 32GB version is priced at Rs 35,900. The high-end 64GB iPad mini Wi-Fi + cellular version sells for Rs 41,900.

With the iPad mini starting at Rs 21,900 (16GB), it can compete directly with the Nexus 7 and the Galaxy Tab 2 (310), both of which are priced slightly below Rs 20,000.
The iPad mini has an aluminium and glass design 7.2 mm thick, and weighs only 0.68 pounds. This 7.9-inch tablet features a front-facing FaceTime HD camera and a 5-megapixel iSight camera at the back, which allows for recording full 1080p HD video. The iSight camera includes video image stabilisation and both cameras feature backside illumination, which Apple claims will allow users to capture great pictures in low light. The iPad mini also allows easy sharing of photos with friends and family using iCloud’s Shared Photo Streams.

BlackBerry Z10 specs revealed, features 1.5GHz dual-core processor

Many people are waiting for RIM's next phone, the Z10, and the rumour mill has been churning out rumours for the same. According to Phone Arena, specifications for the Z10 have been revealed. As it turns out, the specs are very similar to that of the developer alpha devices used by developers to make apps for BlackBerry 10.

The phone will run on a dual core 1.5GHz TI OMAP 4470 processor and will support a quad band radio featuring HSPA+/UMTS, quad band GSM/GPRS and quad band LTE bands 2, 4, 5, 13, 17. It will also have a 4.2-inch screen with a resolution of 1280 x 768 pixels, giving it a pixel density of 356 ppi. It will come with 2GB RAM and 16GB of internal storage with a hot swappable microSD card slot. It will also support all the standard Wi-Fi networks and GPS with A-GPS. The shooters on the device are an 8 megapixel camera with auto focus and a 2 megapixel front facing camera. The cameras will have 1080p video recording. All of this will be powered by an 1800 mAh battery.

Quite a powerhouse

Recently, it was revealed that the Z10 is set to be the first BlackBerry 10 device that sports a touch screen. In the leaked press shot, we can see what was previously known as the BlackBerry 10 L-Series handset is now being marketed as ‘The New BlackBerry Z10'. The official press shot has been revealed by UnwiredView along with serial tipster, @Evleaks. The picture shows the handset in both colours it is expected to be launched in – black and white.

From this official image, we can see the app switching pane and a contact profile page. This is nothing new and Research in Motion has revealed details on these features in the past.

Apart from this touchscreen device, Research in Motion will be announcing a keyboard version as well and the report by UnwiredView claims that it will be branded as the BlackBerry X10.

A few days ago, it was reported that Research In Motion is all set to showcase its upcoming operating system—BlackBerry 10—in all its glory. The company has started sending out invitations for the launch events of the operating system, which will be held on January 30, 2013. The launch events will be held in cities around the world, including New York, Toronto, London, Paris, Johannesburg and Dubai.

At the time, there weren't many details other than the invitations. All we know is that RIM will be showcasing the operating system during the launch events and will undoubtedly unveil the next line-up of BlackBerry devices that will be running the OS.

 This day will mark the official launch of its new platform, BlackBerry 10, as well as the unveiling of the first two BlackBerry 10 smartphones. Details on the smartphones and their availability will be announced at the event.

BlackBerry 10 will offer a large catalogue of leading applications from across the globe and across categories, including Games, Productivity, Social, Lifestyle and Leisure, Multimedia and Published Content, as well as applications designed for business and enterprise use.

DoT announces women helpline number '181'

Admist nationwide uproar over brutal gang-rape of a paramedic student, the Telecom Ministry Monday announced a three-digit women helpline number '181'."For helping women in distress, Delhi Chief Minister requested (Telecom Minister) Kapil Sibal to allot a three digit phone number.
"Though DoT has limited resource in respect of three-digit numbers, yet within two hours of the request, a three-digit number '167' has been allotted for Chief Minister's helpline," a statement from the Department of Telecom said.
This is the first three-digit number to have been allotted in two years.
Protests across the country are being seen demanding speedy justice to the accused in the Delhi gangrape case, where a 23-year-old para-medical student from Dehradun was alleged raped on Sunday night in a moving bus in New Delhi.

Nokia signs $321M deal with 360buy.com

Nokia has signed an agreement worth 2 billion yuan (US$321 million) with Chinese e-commerce giant 360buy as part of a strategic partnership, in which the former will sell its smartphones directly on the latter's online platform.
The partnership will make 360buy Nokia's largest e-commerce partner in China, the Chinese company said in a press statement last Friday.
The tie-up allows Chinese consumers to buy the Finnish handset maker's latest smartphones as soon as they are available in the country. Nokia also launched a new e-store of its own on 360buy.com, which will complement its other traditional distribution channels such as proprietary stores and licensed vendors, it added.
Nokia's latest smartphone, the Lumia 920, has since debuted on 360buy.com, which will be followed by the release of the Nokia 2050, 360buy said.
The tie-up allows Chinese consumers to buy the Finnish handset maker's latest smartphones as soon as they are available in the country. Nokia also launched a new e-store of its own on 360buy.com, which will complement its other traditional distribution channels such as proprietary stores and licensed vendors, it added.
Nokia's latest smartphone, the Lumia 920, has since debuted on 360buy.com, which will be followed by the release of the Nokia 2050, 360buy said.
The smartphone maker's agreement with 360buy is its latest effort to revitalize sales and market share in China's booming mobile space that is seeing increasing presence of iPhone and Android phones as well as locally-made handsets.
Earlier this month, Nokia inked a deal with China's largest mobile operator, China Mobile, to launch a version of its Lumia smartphone tailored specifically for the country. The Lumia 920T will be the first Windows Phone-based device running on China Mobile's Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA) network.

The 10.1-inch touchscreen bearing Tab W510 has 1.8 GHz dual core processor, Windows 8 OS, and 2 GB RAM.

Acer's Windows 8 based Iconia Tab W510 tablet, which was unveiled during Computex 2012 in Taipei earlier in June this year, is all set to be launched in India.
The 10.1-inch touchscreen bearing Tab W510 has been listed on the Flipkart, an online retailer in India, as coming soon. Its TFT LCD display has 1366 x 768 pixels resolution, with 5 point multi-touch support.

The tablet comes with 1.8 GHz Intel Atom Z2760 dual core processor, Windows 8 operating system, 2 GB DDR2 RAM, and 3540 mAh Lithium - Polymer battery. It will come in 32 GB and 64 GB internal storage versions.
The Acer Iconia Tab W510 has dual cameras - an 8 megapixel unit in the rear and a 2 megapixel unit in the front. There is an LED flash as well. For connectivity, the tablet has micro HDMI, WiFi, USB 2.0, 3.5 mm jack, and Bluetooth 4.0. It is just 8.8 mm thin and weighs 580 grams.
Flipkart has not announced its price yet, but we will bring an updated story as soon as the tablet is made available in India.

Twitter now has 200 million active users

Micro blogging site Twitter has announced that it has reached the 200 million active users landmark figure. Twitter has managed to reach this figure with an increase of 60 million from the 140 million milestone it shared back in March.

The official Twitter account sent out a tweet yesterday announcing the landmark figure. “There are now more than 200M monthly active @twitter users. You are the pulse of the planet. We're grateful for your ongoing support!” At a 42 percent increase in growth since the last time it shared its figures, Twitter at the age of six seems to be doing great at expanding its user base. With 400 million tweets sent out every day, Twitter has come a long way since 350 million tweets daily in March.

Back in September 2011, Twitter had 100 million monthly active users, with 50 million daily active users. The company has grown by a 100 percent since last year in terms of the sheer number of active users on the social networking website.

Twitter has 200 million active users now!

The news of Twitter hitting the magic figure of 200 million comes just a day after it was announced that Twitter and TV ratings agency Nielsen were joining hands to create a one of its kind social media-based TV rankings.

The Nielsen Twitter ratings will complement Nielsen’s existing TV ratings giving TV networks and advertisers the real-time metrics required to understand TV audiences' social activity. These ratings will be looking out to enhance the social TV analytics and metrics available today from SocialGuide by adding the first-ever measurement of the total audience for social TV activity – both those participating in the conversation and those who were exposed to the activity – providing the precise size of the audience and effect of social TV to TV programming.

Twitter seems to be going all guns blazing at making positive changes to the site and that seems to be working in its favour. The social networking giants has finally thought it's time you were able to download your own tweets. The social network has started rolling out the download tweets option, as promised by Twitter CEO Dick Costolo last month.

Twitter confirmed that it has indeed begun rolling out the feature, but it is currently being tested with a ‘very small percentage’ of users. The new feature has appeared in the settings menu for some users, who said that users are allowed to ‘request your archive.’ Once activated, Twitter reportedly informs the user stating, "You can request a file containing your information, starting with your first tweet. A link will be emailed to you when the file is ready for download."

Twitter also released an update for its Android app wherein users can edit and add effects to their images right from the app. Taking Instagram head-on, the micro-blogging site also tied up with photo editing app makers Aviary to release this update. Twitter has detailed four new enhancements – Filters, Take a bird’s-eye view, Frame the action and Auto enhance.

While Twitter’s growth rate has not been off-the-charts like Facebook’s back in the day, it’s been exponential enough to make it one of the most loved and used social networking website the world over.

Nokia's 10-inch Windows RT tablet could debut at MWC: Report

Nokia is reportedly set to resume work on a 10-inch Windows RT tablet that may be unveiled as early as MWC in February, a report in Digitimes has revealed.

Nokia originally planned to develop a 10-inch Windows RT tablet equipped with Qualcomm's S4 processor in first-quarter 2012, with Compal to undertake ODM production and initial shipments of 200,000 units to test the market, the sources indicated. But because Microsoft later announced Surface, and the market for Windows 8/RT tablets needed to be proven, Nokia internally focused on smartphones, and delayed the development of the 10-inch Windows RT tablet, the sources pointed out.

This is not the first time we've seen the Nokia tablet being mentioned. Back in March, when asked about Nokia's tablet plans, design chief Marko Ahtisaari had said they were "working on it". Later, Frank Nuovo, the former chief designer at Nokia, revealed that in late 1990s - much before the iPad became the smash hit that it is - Nokia had secretly developed a tablet computer with a wireless connection and touch screen.
Again in September, Nokia CEO Stephen Elop said, "We have not announced any tablets, but I think the opportunity is very clear. People today increasingly are looking for a common digital experience between their smartphone and tablet, with a PC, and with their gaming platform, and so there's clearly an opportunity across there. This is something that we're looking at very closely."
Elop further stated that the timing for the new tablet launch couldn't have been more perfect, courtesy its tie-up with Microsoft and the then impending launch of Windows 8, which is optimised for touch-devices. "Microsoft is introducing Windows 8 as well for PCs and tablets in the months ahead; same user experience, except taken to a larger screen size, one big family, and therefore many people around the world will gain experience with what we're doing. So, it's a very, very exciting time for us."

HP India unveils range of Windows 8-based devices

HP has unveiled a range of Windows 8-based devices in India including an All-in-One (AiO) and a tablet-cum-notebook hybrid.

First up is the HP ENVY x2, a notebook with detachable screen that becomes a full tablet when separated from the keyboard via a magnetic latch. HP claims with up to seven hours of HD video playback on the tablet and up to 12.25 hours HD video playback when docked. The HP ENVY x2 includes a  11.6-inch 1366x768 touch display, Beats Audio, an HD webcam plus an 8-megapixel camera, and near field communication (NFC).

The HP ENVY x2 is powered by a 1.8GHz Intel Atom Z2760 dual-core processor with 2GB RAM and 64GB internal storage. It is expected to go on sale from January 2013 for a price of Rs. 59,990.

Next, the HP ENVY 23 TouchSmart All-in-One (AiO) that features a 23-inch 10-point multitouch full-HD display, 2.9GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB RAM and 1TB storage. The HP ENVY 23 TouchSmart is now available for Rs. 71,990.

HP also unveiled the HP ENVY TouchSmart Ultrabook 4 that features a 14-inch multitouch HD 1366x768 display, up to five hours of battery life and Beats Audio. Powering this Ultrabook is 1.7GHz Intel Core i5 processor with 4GB RAM, 500GB hard disk and 32GB solid-state storage. It comes with an option of AMD graphics card with 2GB of graphics memory.

The HP ENVY TouchSmart Ultrabook 4 is expected to go on sale from January 2013 for a price of Rs. 59,990.

All products run on Microsoft's recently unveiled Windows 8 operating system. "Windows 8 is a relatively new platform... if 25-30 per cent of the sales came from Windows 8, we would be very happy," HP India President Printing and Personal Systems Rajiv Srivastava told reporters at the launch.

He added that the company is witnessing strong migration to Microsoft's new operating system but more from individual customers, and not so much from enterprise users.

WhatsApp for iOS now free for a limited period

WhatsApp has become one of the most popular ways to connect with people over cellphones these days. While the app is free on Android and comes with a yearly subscription plan, the iOS version needs a one-time payment for the app. According to a tweet on the WhatsApp Twitter account, the iOS version of the app is now free for a limited period in celebration of the holiday season.

"Happy Holidays! WhatsApp for iPhone is free for a limited time. Tell your friends!" tweeted the WhatsApp account. Though the company has given no indication of exactly how long the "limited time" is going to last, it could be safe to assume that it will last throughout the holiday season and will go back to its normal money-costing ways after December 25.

Free for a limited time

The messaging app had recently made a comeback to Windows Phone 8 devices after some time of absence. While it is available now, it seems to lack many features that were already present in its Windows Phone 7 counterpart. The app can be downloaded for free from the WhatsApp download page.

One of the more glaring omissions from the Windows Phone 8 version of the app is the emoticons pack that Whatsapp has become famous for. The app also seems to lack fast resume from the live tile, among other features that are usually present in Windows Phone 8 apps.

Earlier this month, the developers of WhatsApp had said that the app would be six times faster than the previous version. Apart from this, they stated that there will also be new emoji included in the upcoming version, but it looks like this is yet to be delivered.

Earlier today, it was revealed that some users of WhatsApp woke up to a new spam message doing the rounds. Quite a number of users woke up this morning to a message that read, “UR1994 KB1212 RJ1708 Send this message to 10 people. As soon as all of them have read your message, you will get an SMS from Whatsapp, with an activation code. Once you enter the activation code, you will no longer have to pay to use Whatsapp, which is going to charge for messages from new year 2013."

If this reminds you of a recent instance, wherein similar messages did rounds of the popular chat service, then you’re not alone. Only last month, users came forth with complaints of being bombarded with hoax messages – some telling them the service would soon be a paid one, and that if users wished to continue using it for free, they should forward this message to 18 contacts on their list. There were others that came in with a string of emoticons, asking the recipient to forward it to 11 of his contacts to activate a new version of WhatsApp.

Samsung Galaxy Grand unveiled

South Korea-based Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy Grand smartphone, which it claims is an ideal smartphone for users with fast-paced mobile lifestyles who demand more from their phone.

Samsung Galaxy Grand smartphone runs Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean), Google’s latest operating system. It sports a 5-inch display, which the company claims provides an expansive viewing experience, presenting messaging, multimedia and web content in brilliant colour and clarity. Samsung adds that despite the large screen, the phone is still slim, ergonomic and comfortable to hold. You can also enjoy true multitasking by running multiple apps simultaneously and without switching screens using the Multi Window feature.

The Samsung Galaxy Grand is powered by a 1.2GHz dual core processor that supports seamless multitasking, faster web browsing, lightning-fast screen transitions and superior graphics for some of the most demanding apps and games.

The camera on the Galaxy Grand smartphone is one with zero shutter-lag and ultra-quick start-up. It includes a backside illumination sensor to ensure clear shots even in dark conditions, as well as full HD video recording.

Samsung Galaxy Grand also includes intuitive features that make the phone easy to use. For example, Direct Call enables users to automatically dial a call by raising the device up to the ear; while users can also shake the phone to trigger status updates, or pan it to zoom into a screen. Smart Alert shows missed events such as missed calls and new messages just by picking up the phone. Popup Video, for example, lets users watch video in a pop-up window anywhere on the screen while running other tasks; S Voice lets you control the phone using your voice; and AllShare Play lets you share content across Samsung devices using a single account.

Further, the phone is pre-loaded with the latest versions of Samsung Hubs to deliver the most popular games, movies and music direct to the user on demand.

Further in its statement, Samsung shares that the Galaxy Grand will be available in two versions – the dual-SIM version (GT-I9082) will launch first and the single SIM version (GT-I9080) will follow. For the dual SIM version, Samsung claims that its innovative dual-SIM feature provides total communication flexibility, allowing users to manage two phone numbers from a single phone. It is possible to receive calls on one SIM number, while taking a call from the other, ensuring efficient management of personal and work commitments without ever missing a call. It goes on to add that dual-SIM also offers the flexibility of selecting different billing plans for either SIM, switching between them to make the most of cheaper call and data plans.

Here's a quick look at the specs of the Galaxy Grand smartphone:

• 5-inch WVGA TFT LCD display with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels
• 3G, EDGE/GPRS, Wi-Fi capabilities
• A-GPS Glonass
• Bluetooth
• 8MP camera
• 8GB + microSD expandable up to 64GB

Twitter reportedly tried to buy Instagram for $525 million

Surprise, surprise! There is a new twist in the tale regarding the growing animosity between Instagram and Twitter. Reports have surfaced that Twitter was to buy Instagram weeks before Facebook finally took over the photo-sharing app.

The New York Times has reported that Twitter was in the midst of making a deal with Instagram to buy the company for $525 million in March. A few weeks later, news emerged that Facebook had finally sealed the deal with Instagram for $1 billion. The Times sources expressed shock at the fact that Twitter was not even allowed to bid a higher amount.

Unnamed sources told the Times that Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom agreed to a verbal offer of $525 million made by Twitter before calling the whole deal off and announcing that Instagram had decided to ‘remain independent’ on March 20. Therefore, it came as a bolt from the blue when less than three weeks later, Systrom signed a deal with Facebook. People familiar with the negotiations revealed that Twitter executives predictably felt that they had been left high and dry in the entire deal.

This news emerges in relation to the fact that Systrom had told California Corporations Department that the Facebook deal had been made keeping the investors’ best interests in mind and that Instagram had never received any other formal offers.

This hearing was requested by Facebook as a way to speed up the approval of its acquisition. Systrom was under oath at the time. Sources reveal that if this is indeed true, a legal muck awaits the companies ahead.

This comes as an addition to the already raging battle between Instagram and Twitter. Images from social photo sharing app Instagram have disappeared from Twitter as the developers of Instagram have turned off support for the micro-blogging site.

This new development took place in early December and when one went to view their images that had been uploaded on Twitter via Instagram, all they found was a link back to Instagram’s website. Instead of finding an image, users now see a white space where their photos previously appeared.

This move by Instagram had been said to be adopted so that users view the images on their dedicated website and not on Twitter. Instagram started rolling out Facebook-like profiles on the web in early November. The profiles are mainly modelled over the Facebook timeline, with cover photos and the profile picture feature looking identical. The cover photo though runs recent images almost like a slideshow. Users can heart an image or comment on it – these web profiles were something Instagram users had been waiting for.

Twitter, on the other hand, recently announced that a user will now be able to edit and refine their photos right from the Twitter app itself. Twitter’s co-founder Jack Dorsey had recently teased a few images on his Twitter account that showed images with a black and white photo filter and this was evidence enough that the update to Twitter was coming soon, and it did come much sooner than expected.

As of now, only the Android version is available, but in the blog post announcing this new feature, Twitter has specified that it will be available for the iPhone as well.

Instagram, Twitter and Facebook all declined to comment on the supposed bid made by Twitter to buy over Instagram.

Sony C660X Yuga rumoured specs: 3GB RAM, 128GB storage, 16-megapixel camera, 5-inch full-HD display

Sony's next flagship smartphone has created plenty of excitement in the back alleys of the smartphone world where rumours and fiction mix freely. Here's a quick roundup of what's been mentioned so far.
Phone Arena reports via Chinese Forum IT168 that the Sony C660X Yuga will feature a quad-core processor from Samsung, 3GB RAM and an incredible 128GB of built-in storage - that's twice the storage of top-end models of smartphones like the iPhone!
Also included in the Sony C660X Yuga would be a 5-inch full-HD display, which means, based on what we've heard, the next generation flagship of four big Android manufacturers - HTC, Sony, Samsung and LG - are now on track to feature full-HD display (HTC's is already here).
Keeping with the Sony tradition of making phones with good cameras, the C660X Yuga is likely to feature a 16-megapixel camera. Powering this monster package will be a large 3000mAh battery. The phone is also expected to be water/ dust resistant, as was the case with some smartphones that Sony shipped in the second half of 2012.

 

The folks over at Xperia Blog state that the Sony C660X Yuga will feature a glass-back, similar to what we saw in the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. Earlier, we saw the folks over at Android Schweiz leak what they claim are the pictures of this Sony smartphone.
Sony is expected to unveil the next generation of Xperia smartphones at CES 2013 being held in Las Vegas from January 8 to 11, 2013. The Sony C660X Yuga is likely to make an appearance at the event.

HTC Windows Phone 8S available for Rs 19,359

Those looking for a budget phone running on Windows Phone 8 now have reason to rejoice. HTC's attempt at a budget phone for Microsoft's young mobile operating system—the HTC Windows Phone 8S—is now available for purchase on some online retailers. The phone is available at a price of Rs 19,359 and comes with a warranty of 12 months.

 HTC had earlier confirmed that the phone would be released in November, but so far, hardly any retailers have started stocking it yet.

The HTC 8S comes with a matte finish, unlike most of the black slabs available today. It will be available in Fiesta Red and Atlantic Blue. HTC created the Windows Phone 8S to blend the virtual and the physical, utilising a three dimensional, pure uni-body design based on the Windows Phone Live Tiles. The device has a sculpted, tapering body, which makes it feel quite thin in your hand. It also sports a bright super LCD 4-inch screen with Gorilla Glass.

The Windows Phone 8S by HTC features a Beats Audio driver powering the 3.5mm audio jack and the speaker, boosting the audio signal for even better sound, no matter if you’re listening to music, playing a game or watching a video.

Here are some of the highlighted features of the HTC 8S:

• 4.0-inch S-LCD touchscreen with a 480 x 800 pixel resolution
• 3G, EDGE, Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth v3.1 with A2DP, USB 2.0
• GPS with A-GPS Support and GLONASS
• 5MP AF camera with 1080p video recording and an LED flash
• 4GB internal memory, expandable up to 32GB via microSD card

“Windows Phone has clearly emerged as one of the top mobile ecosystems and is competitive against any other smartphone platform in the world,” said Faisal Siddiqui, Country Head, HTC India. “We are confident that the iconic design and incredible innovation of the Windows Phone 8S by HTC will help consumers fully realize the potential and lifestyle benefits offered by these smartphones.”

Windows Phone 8 is the latest version of Microsoft’s smartphone operating system, launched earlier this week. Microsoft states that Live Tiles are the core of Windows Phone. Users can arrange the Start screen whichever way they like by pinning people, apps, music, games, photos and other tiles. One has the option of customising the Live Tiles; there are three different sizes and 20 different colours of tiles to choose from.

It was recently revealed that the app submissions to the Windows Phone Store have gone up by 40 percent since the operating system was launched. Microsoft also announced that app certification will remain open for most of the month, including what is usually counted as holiday season. The only days apps will not be tested are December 24, 25 and January 1. As the app certification process takes five days, developers are advised to submit their apps on December 17 or December 21.

While the Windows Phone 8 platform is picking up, it is in serious need of apps. Although the applications on the platform seem to be of a higher standard compared to Android, the OS lacks popular games and even social networking options like Instagram. We were told recently by Windows Phone representatives that the number of apps will be hitting significantly higher numbers very soon.

Nokia Lumia 505 - Entry-level smartphone unveiled with Windows Phone 7.8 out-of-the-box

Nokia has today unveiled a low-end Nokia Lumia 505 which is expected to be an exclusive device to Mexico’s Telcel network.

The best thing about the Nokia Lumia 505 is that the 3.7-inch smartphone arrives with Windows Phone 7.8 OS out-of-the-box but not upgradable to Windows Phone 8 OS.

The Nokia Lumia 505 packs in a 3.7-inch AMOLED ClearBlack display and arrives with just 4 GB internal memory which is not expandable and powered by a 256 MB RAM.

The Nokia Lumia 505 arrives with the following specifications:
 

• 3.7-inch AMOLED display
• Display resolution of 800 x 480
• Possibly single core processor
• 256 MB RAM
• 4GB internal memory (non-expandable)
• Windows Phone 7.8 OS
• 2G, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1, microUSB
• 1300 mAh battery 
•  There is still no information as to when the smartphone will be available for prospective buyers in Mexico and how much it will cost. The smartphone will be available in three color options: Red, Pink and Black.

Microsoft web Store now has support for installing apps via SD card

Microsoft has announced a very useful feature for its Windows Phone 8 handsets that feature storage expansion via microSD cards. It is now possible to install apps via SD card. This can be especially useful for those who do not have a data connection enabled on their handsets.

As per a post on the official Windows blog, Microsoft states that its web Store now has support for installing apps via SD card, which many Windows Phone 8 smartphones support. The post states that all one needs to do is just look for the “Download and install manually” link on the app’s details page. Click to download the app’s installation - or.xap - file, which can then be copied over to the phone’s SD card and installed.

Microsoft has also provided step-by step instructions for installing an app from an SD card. To sideload an app or game, one will need to have an SD card that contains one or more Windows Phone app files, also known as .XAP files. A user can download .XAP files to their PC and then move the files to the phone's SD card.

To install apps from an SD card, insert the card that has the .XAP file into the handset. On Start, tap Store and then tap SD Card. After this, tap Install. One should note that apps that can be installed are listed under Compatible apps and one will need to have the latest version of the .XAP file from the Store on the SD card in order to install it. If this app does not happen to be the latest version, then it will be listed under Incompatible apps.

After the procedure is complete, listed apps will appear in the app list while games will be displayed in the Games Hub.

Recently, Microsoft also rolled out its first update to its recently launched Windows Phone 8 OS. With it, the software giant has added a feature that issues a fix for the Wi-Fi problem that had plagued handsets running on this platform. The OS is now brought to OS 10211 up from the previous build, which was 9905. It brought bug fixes for the device resetting as well as the keep Wi-Fi alive feature, which made the Wi-Fi connection go off when the display was turned off.

The update is called Portico. Those who have recently jumped on to the Windows Phone 8 bandwagon may have noticed that there is a problem with the device losing connection to a Wi-Fi network when the screen is locked. This update was released to fix this issue.

In response to a tweet by a Windows Phone 8 user who said that the Wi-Fi shuts off after turning off the screen on every Windows Phone, Joe Belfiore, Corporate Vice President, Windows Phone Program Management, had stated, “Someone is gonna yell at me for saying this, but... fix is coming. :) Sshh. Just promise me a little patience though.”

If one happened to be downloading an app using Wi-Fi, and then locked the screen, the Wi-Fi would suddenly turn off once the screen was unlocked. Users were adopting a temporary fix by keeping the screen turned on till the app was completely downloaded.

Early adopters of the Windows Phone 8 platform have been experiencing some issues with their devices and it is not limited to a particular manufacturer. One of these issues is that some owners of Nokia and HTC handsets are experiencing random reboots. In a statement, Microsoft claimed that the problem has been identified and an over-the-air (OTA) fix will be delivered to addresses the issue. The current update aims to fix this issue as well.

Nokia Lumia 900 Windows Phone 7.8 update listed on Nokia’s servers

After the Lumia 800 and Lumia 510 were listed on NaviFirm, it appears that the Lumia 900 is also all set to receive the Windows Phone 7.8 update as it too has been snapped on NaviFirm.

A report by WPCentral states, “One of our eagle-eyed readers caught the Lumia 900 getting in on the action. The OS update is for RM-823, which is the international, non-AT&T version and has an OS version number of 8858 with the 12480 firmware. Windows Phone 7.8 is finalized at 8858 making this a bonafide official update.”

The website goes on to state that one of its readers had managed to download and flash his Lumia 900 with the new OS and states, “No Nokia features, just live tiles, Bing wallpaper, new colors, new boot screen, new wallpapers.”

These features are expected as part of the Windows Phone 7.8 package and the report adds that Nokia will most probably include the camera apps via the Nokia Collection when it officially rolls out the update to users.

Microsoft revealed some of the new features that come with the update, but the highlight comes in the last paragraph of the post on the Windows Phone Blog. Terry Myerson, Corporate Vice President, Windows Phone, stated, “We know you’re eager to get the Windows Phone 7.8 update, and we want you to know that we’re working closely with our hardware and carrier partners to get it tested, approved, and rolled out to as many devices as possible in early 2013. As we work to quickly get this in the hands of our loyal users, we’re also striving to deliver a high-quality release and ensure a smooth transition for our widely expanded services.”

Myerson stated that Windows Phone 7.8 not only features the new Start screen, which is used on Windows Phone 8, but also brings in a new range of features. He said that when he used the WP 7.8 update on his Nokia Lumia 900, it felt like using a completely new phone. Myerson stated, “Resizable Live Tiles totally change the way I do things, providing faster access to more of my favorite people, photos, and apps.”

Windows Phone 7.8 comes with more themes as well as an increased number of accent colours, which is now 20 in all. The new operating system also features new lock screen features such as the option to automatically display the Bing Picture of the Day and the ‘A1B2C3’ PIN/ password challenge to prevent accidental device wipes on phones connected to Exchange accounts.

He had also mentioned that there are a number of new apps that are coming to Windows Phone 7.5 and Windows 7.8 users. Apps such as Words with Friends and Draw Something are already available, while Angry Birds Space and Angry Birds Star Wars are on the way.

Myerson stated, “New models running Windows Phone 7.8 are beginning to launch in many countries around the world, strengthening the ecosystem by bringing more Windows Phones to more people. These devices will typically be sold at a range of lower price points, meaning there will now be Windows Phones for everyone’s budget and need. This is incredibly important for broadening the reach of Windows Phone across the globe and ensuring we have the right product for every market.”

The testing of the rollout of Windows Phone 7.8 is already underway and Microsoft has managed to increase its global service coverage by over 30 percent, extending it to 95 countries—a number that should continue to rise.

UC Browser now has 400 million users globally, 100 million on Android

At the ongoing AppFest 2012 in Hyderabad, UCWeb, the maker of the popular UC Browser has today announced that its global user base has hit the 400 million milestone.
The company has added over 100 million new users in less than a year and according to the latest stats, the mobile browser hold over 25% share in the Indian.

The company has added over 100 million new users in less than a year and according to the latest stats, the mobile browser hold over 25% share in the Indian.

UCWeb was first launched in the year 2004 and currently holds 50% market share in its home ground, China and has more than 10 percent market share in four other countries.
 

UCWeb has also passed another landmark of 100 million global Android users last month as the presence of the browser is increasing.
 

With the number of mobile users in India, three fold that of PC users, UCWeb has been focusing on the localization of its products to meet the needs of Indian consumers and had launched a Hindi version of UC Browser in September and will soon release its Urdu version too.

 

Angry Birds turns three; coming to movie theatres in 2016

Angry Birds, the game that started it all, turned three on Tuesday, the makers of the game Rovio Entertainment announced it will be producing and financing an Angry Birds 3D animated movie which is to release in summer 2016.
Rovio confirmed that Despicable Me producer John Cohen has signed on as producer of the upcoming Angry Birds movie. David Maisel, former Chairman of Marvel Studios and executive producer of Iron Man, will be executive producer of the feature film.
"John's an exceptionally talented producer, and we're delighted to have him join the flock," said Mikael Hed, CEO of Rovio Entertainment. "With John's hands-on producer background and David's expertise in establishing and running his own successful studio, these two are the dream team for making a movie outside the studio system. Both professionals have the ideal skills and vision to achieve incredible things

"I'm so excited and honored to be working on this film with Mikael, David, and Rovio's incredibly talented game developers and artists," said Cohen.
Rovia also released an update to the original Angry Birds game on Tuesday that includes 30 new levels, a pink bird that first featured in Angry Birds Season and full iPhone 5 support.
Since its debut in 2009, the Angry Birds game has been downloaded more than one billion times across platforms and versions. The most recent venture, Angry Birds Star Wars, soared to the top of the US iPhone charts within 2.5 hours of release.
The Angry Birds franchise has expanded to include a wide variety of Angry Birds-themed goodies including toys, and even a Angry Birds theme park in China.

Yahoo revamps email; pushes new iPhone, Android, Windows 8 apps

Yahoo Inc rolled out new versions of its popular Web email on Tuesday, the first major product makeover since Chief Executive Marissa Mayer took the helm of the struggling Internet company five months ago.
Yahoo released new versions of its Yahoo Mail product for smartphones and tablets in keeping with Mayer's focus on mobile devices and a revamped version of its Web-based mail product for PC users that cuts out ancillary features and that the company said delivers faster performance.
"You've told us loud and clear that you want fewer distractions when it comes to email. You want to quickly login, communicate, and get on with your day," Mayer said in a post on Yahoo's official blog on Tuesday.
Yahoo is the No. 1 Web email product in the United States and No. 3 worldwide, behind Google Inc's Gmail and Microsoft Corp's Hotmail, according to comScore.
But the number of unique users of Yahoo email declined 16 percent in November from a year earlier in the United States and 7 percent worldwide in October, according to comScore. Gmail's unique users increased 25 percent in the U.S. in November and 20 percent worldwide in October.
Analysts say Yahoo's email decline also owes partly to the broader trend of younger Internet users who prefer to communicate with text messages rather than email.
Mayer, 37, is moving to revitalize Yahoo's various Web products and reverse years of declining revenue. A former Google executive, Mayer is widely admired in Silicon Valley for her Web product savvy, though some analysts and investors have expressed caution, noting that Mayer has never before led an entire company as CEO.
She has said her top priority is to create a coherent mobile strategy for Yahoo and that she intends for at least half of the company's technical workforce to be working on mobile products.
As part of Tuesday's announcement, Yahoo unveiled an update to its mobile email app for smartphones based on the Android operating system, as well as Yahoo's first stand-alone app for Apple's iPhone.
Yahoo also released a version designed for tablets and PCs based on Microsoft's new Windows 8 operating system.
Vivek Sharma, General Manager of Yahoo Mail & Messenger, said the group of new mobile apps was part of Yahoo's goal of ensuring that its products are available across all major mobile platforms a move that he said should help Yahoo's email stay popular with the younger generation of users.
"Most of the new users, especially young ones, are using mobile Internet devices. So the first order of things is to make sure there are native experiences for them," said Sharma referring to mobile apps that are specially designed for smartphones.
Fewer ads
The new PC version of Yahoo Mail features fewer ads, primarily by doing away with pass-through Web pages that users previously encountered before they could access their inbox and which appeared after a user sent an email.
Eliminating those pages, and improvements to the way Yahoo displays its email Web pages, means that users can now reach their inboxes 40 percent faster, Sharma told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday.
Yahoo's email product is an important piece of Yahoo's overall online business, serving as a conduit to bring in users which Yahoo then tries to redirect to its other websites, such as news articles, stock quotes and videos.
By simplifying the product's look, Yahoo could increase the amount of time that users spend visiting its online properties, said RBC Capital Markets analyst Andre Sequin.
"A website can be incredibly useful, but if a user interface is annoying or has too many flashing ads, it can drive a person away," said Sequin.
He compared Yahoo's email revamp to one of the key accomplishments that Mayer is credited with at Google: the sparse homepage, which is free of ads and prominently features a search engine box surrounded by white space.
"Improve the experience on mail and there's a good chance you can get people to stay engaged with Yahoo properties for a long time," said Sequin.
Shares of Yahoo were up 11 cents to $19.54 in midday trading on Tuesday.
Yahoo's stock has risen 25 percent since Mayer became CEO in July, reaching its highest level since September 2008 when Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang was CEO.
The years between Yang and Mayer were tumultuous ones at Yahoo, as the Web pioneer cycled through four different chief executives and a variety of strategies.
Yahoo ranks among the world's most popular websites, with roughly 700 million monthly visitors. But revenue has eroded due to competition from Google and Facebook and changes in the online advertising market that have compressed prices for the online display ads that are key to Yahoo's business.
Many analysts and tech-industry observers say Yahoo's online products have failed to keep up with rivals when it comes to integrating innovative mobile and social media features.

Nokia launches Asha 205 in India for Rs 3,499 with dedicated Facebook button

The Nokia Asha 205 has been launched in India. The phone has a QWERTY keyboard, and introduces a new, dedicated Facebook button, with which Nokia is targeting those who want quick access to their Facebook profile. The phone also comes with support for popular email services like Gmail and with Twitter and eBuddy Chat pre-installed.

Other key features of the Nokia Asha 205 include:

• A mobile entertainment package that includes 40 free EA Games available for download, along with tens of thousands of other apps available from the Nokia Store
• Nokia’s exclusive EasySwap technology that enables consumers to change SIM cards without having to turn off the device
• A quoted standby time of up to 37 days with single SIM and up to 25 days with dual SIM

The Nokia Asha 205 is available in Cyan and Orange and priced at Rs 3,499. It will be available in India from December 24, 2012.

The device also takes advantage of the Nokia Xpress Internet platform, which uses Nokia’s cloud technology to reduce data consumption by up to 85 percent, helping consumers enjoy more affordable Internet access. It also features Nokia Nearby, a web app that helps consumers discover more than 7 million points of interest such as restaurants, shopping and ATM machines close to their location.

Facebook and Nokia had earlier announced a partnership with the introduction of a built-in Facebook button available on the Nokia Asha 205. This is the first Nokia phone that includes a dedicated Facebook button.

“People around the world use Facebook Mobile to connect and share with their friends,” said Kevin D’Souza, Country Growth Manager, Facebook India. “We are focused on delivering the best Facebook experience to as many people as possible and our partnership with Nokia perfectly complements our strategy of giving people around the world a rich Facebook experience for keeping in touch with their friends.”

“Young consumers are increasingly using Facebook for communication, socializing and entertainment. The launch of the Nokia Asha 205responds to this growing demand and gives a unique option for consumers at an affordable price point,” said Viral Oza, Director Marketing, Nokia India. “People who use NokiaAsha devices are hyper-social and we are proud to partner with Facebook to improve the user experience further with the introduction of the Facebook button.”

The new Nokia Asha 205 enables people to easily access the Facebook for Every Phone app and use messaging, one of its most popular features. People using the messaging features in Facebook for Every Phone can now:

• See which of their friends are online to start chatting with them right away
• Start messages and group chats fast
• Reach more of the people they know, wherever they are, no matter what device they are using

iPhone 5S to reportedly launch in June in various colour options

It has been only a month and some days since the iPhone 5 was launched in India and the rumours of the iPhone 5S are already beginning to seep in. The latest bit of information comes via Los Angeles Times where Peter Misek, an analyst at investment firm Jeffries, has stated that the iPhone 5S will be available in June and will come in a variety of colours.

According to the report, Misek has predicted that the iPhone 5S will be launched in June, making it the first iPhone to be released in this time of the year since the iPhone 4.

Misek also states that the iPhone 5S will be available in a range of colour options. Misek states that the iPhone 5S will be launched in 6 to 8 different colour options. This prediction could turn out to be true as some of Apple’s rival’s such as Samsung and Nokia release smartphones in a variety of colour options. Apple too has recently released the new 4-inch iPod touch in 6 colour options.

 Apart from the launch date and the availability of the smartphone in different colours, Misek also states that the iPhone 5S will come loaded with improved specifications such as super HD camera and screen, an improved battery and Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology. The last feature was expected to be featured in the iPhone 5, but Apple did not add it; hence, it makes sense if the brand adds it with the upcoming model.

The report ends by stating, “So those are Misek's predictions, but whether he's right is a whole other question. Misek was recently wrong on a prediction about the iPad mini and appears to be wrong on another prediction involving the rumored Apple television set. However, as the San Francisco Chronicle points out, he has had correct predictions involving the iPhone in the past.”

As of now, we should take these rumours with a large dose of salt and wait for more leaks before taking them seriously.

The last we heard of the iPhone 5S was a few days ago when a French website Nowehereelse.fr had acquired some images of the internals of the upcoming model. From the images, we can see that the screw placement on the upcoming model is a bit different from the iPhone 5. Some other minor changes can also be noticed. However, in the side-by-side comparison of the two, we can see that the external design of the handset remains the same.

Apple has a tradition of opting for similar designs with every alternate model and hence, it may come as no surprise if it does decide to keep the external design the same. The brand did it with the iPhone 3GS and the iPhone 4S and from the looks of it, the iPhone 5S may not have any cosmetic improvements over its predecessor.

Lenovo announces ThinkPad X1 Carbon Touch for Windows 8

Lenovo today announced the new ThinkPad X1 Carbon Touch, a notebook optimised for Windows 8 that now adds the touch experience to the ThinkPad Carbon X1 Ultrabook. Lenovo claims that the X1 Carbon and X1 Carbon Touch are developed from superior grade carbon fibre and deliver durability that the ThinkPad series is known for. The brand also claims that it features the highest levels of performance. The new X1 Carbon Touch is designed for mobile professionals who demand the best in mobility and entertainment and want to experience the touch gesture control.

“Bringing touch gesture control to our best ThinkPad ever is a natural evolution of the portfolio and a big step towards fulfilling our promise to bring computers into a new PC+ era,” said Peter Hortensius, President, Lenovo Product Group. “We are excited to be able to offer customers the best experience in a thin and light business class Ultrabook. The X1 Carbon Touch is the Ultrabook to beat.” 

Weighing in at 3.4 pounds, the 20.8mm thin ThinkPad X1 Carbon Touch is constructed with carbon fibre material that provides strength and durability beyond traditional notebook materials. Lenovo claims that a user can interact naturally with smooth 10-finger touch on the 14-inch HD+ display and further optimise the Windows 8 experience using the large multi-gesture glass touchpad.

Lenovo states that even with its thin and light design, the X1 Carbon Touch packs a punch as it comes equipped with either Intel Core i5 or i7 processors and Dolby Home Theater v4. Certified as the first Ultrabook optimised for Microsoft Lync, it features an HD face tracking camera and dual array microphones with video and voice track capability without the need to use USB peripherals.

A new optional slim 65W AC adapter is now offered for the new X1 Carbon Touch. At just 17mm thin, and weighing 53 percent less (235g) than the standard AC adapter, it fits neatly into a user’s bag, thereby giving users maximum portability as they travel with the 14-inch Ultrabook.

For the business user, the X1 Carbon Touch features security and manageability capabilities including vPro, Integrated Fingerprint Reader, Trusted Platform Module and BIOS encryption. Lenovo’s RapidCharge technology provides the industry’s fastest charge times while the 8 hours of battery life and optional 3G connectivity ensures productivity anywhere.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Touch is priced at $1,499, which roughly translates to Rs 81,414. As of now, the official pricing and availability of this Lenovo Ultrabook is not yet available in India. But at soon as more information regarding the same is available, we will inform you about it.

Here's a look at the specifications and features of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Ultrabook:
Portability:

• 14-inch Ultrabook, weighing less than 1.36kg
• Measures 8mm at the thinnest point
• Up to 6.3 hours of battery life
• RapidCharge delivers 80 percent charge (5 hours of battery) in 30 minutes
• EE 3 with RapidDrive (up to 256GB SSD) boots 40 percent faster than non-optimised Windows 7 PCs
• RapidConnect allows users to go from zero to connected by maintaining wireless connections even when the laptop is closed

Ergonomics:

• Carbon fibre-reinforced material provides a durable construction
• 6-row precision ThinkPad keyboard with backlit option offers improved ergonomics and 30 percent larger surface area of keys
• Multi-gesture glass touchpad is 37 percent larger than previous-generation ThinkPad X1

Security:

• Business class protection with available Accidental Damage Protection, international warranty service and optional battery warranty upgrades
• Enterprise level Lenovo Transition Services automate time-consuming deployment tasks
• Carbon fibre roll cage provides strength, stiffness and protection from accidents

The ThinkPad X1 Carbon is available in India from Rs 85,000 onwards.

Angry Birds Star Wars goes live for Windows Phone 7 handsets

After releasing Angry Birds Star Wars for a range of platforms a month ago, Rovio has released Angry Birds Star Wars for the Windows Phone 7 operating system as well.

This app is available for $0.99 and those interested in purchasing this game will require having their handsets running on the Windows Phone 7.5 platform and WVGA resolution of 480 x 800. To download this popular game for your Windows Phone 7 handset, click here.

In early November, Rovio released Angry Birds Star Wars for iOS, Android, Amazon Kindle Fire, Mac, PC, and Windows 8 devices. Along with the game, the company has also released a new trailer and merchandise in select retailers worldwide.

 

“It’s a banner day for us,” said Peter Vesterbacka, CMO of Rovio Entertainment when they launched the game, “This is our best Angry Birds game yet, and we’re excited for our fans to finally meet Luke, Leia, and the rest of the gang! But it’s more than just a game launch: we think fans are going to just love the new animated trailer and the Angry Birds Star Wars products, sure to be a big hit this holiday season.”

For those not in the know, the game follows a plucky group of Rebel Birds in their fight against the evil Imperial Pigs. Fans will use the Force, wield a lightsaber, and blast away Pigtroopers on an intergalactic journey from the deserts of Tatooine to the depths of the Pig Star -- where they’ll face off against the terrifying Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Pigs.

Commenting on the release of the game, Colum Slevin, Vice President, Head of Studio Operations for Lucasfilm Ltd said, “We can’t wait for fans around the world to experience the fun of launching the Angry Birds characters into the Star Wars universe. This is the kind of creative partnership that has helped Star Wars remain vibrant and beloved for over 35 years.”

Concurrently with the game launch, Rovio and Lucasfilm have also introduced tie-in merchandise and a new cinematic trailer, which retells the classic Star Wars cantina scene with Angry Birds Star Wars characters in the starring roles. Angry Birds Star Wars merchandise, ranging from Hasbro toys to apparel to plush toys, is available now from select retailers.

Late last month, less than a month after releasing the game, Rovio rolled out an update for Angry Birds Star Wars and these new levels are in the ice world of Hoth. So, what does one get with the first update to the game? For starters, a player gets 20 levels in the ice world of Hoth. The pink bird makes an appearance and it wields a new power with which one can aim for a weak spot to completely destroy the AT-ATs. Apart from this, Rovio has also added two new bonus levels.

Commenting on this release, Rovio stated, “It is a dark time for the Rebellion. Evading the dreaded Imperial Starfleet, a group of freedom fighters has established a new secret base on the remote ice world of Hoth. Unfortunately the evil Darth Vader discovers their hideout, and the desperate Rebel birds must escape the AT-ATs and Pigtroopers hot on their trail. But the Rebels have an ace up their sleeve with the debut of PRINCESS LEIA!”

Iran launches own YouTube-like video-sharing Web site

Iran has launched a video-sharing site in its latest effort to provide alternative government-sanctioned Internet services.
Dubbed "Mehr," the Farsi word for affection, the site aims to attract Persian-speaking users and promote Iranian culture, according to the About Us page reviewed by the Agence France-Press.
"From now on, people can upload their short films on the Web site and access [IRIB] produced material," said Lotfollah Siahkali, deputy chief of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.
The Iranian government has been waging a battle against what it calls "inappropriate" content on the Internet. The government announced in September that it would block its people's access to Google's search engine and Gmail in September, an apparent retaliation for an anti-Islamic film posted on the company's YouTube site that caused outrage throughout the Muslim world.
At the same time, a government deputy minister announced that the government was moving ahead with much-rumored plans to create a domestic Internet as a way to improve cybersecurity. All government agencies and offices have already been connected to the "national information network," according to a Reuters report at the time that indicated the next step was to connect citizens to the network.
The country has reportedly been developing a national interanet in an effort to create "a clean Internet." The Iranian government denied those reports, but the Iranian media say the domestic system would be fully implemented by March 2013, Reuters reported. Still unclear whether access to the World Wide Web would be cut once the Iranian system is rolled out. 

Iranian Internet users have grown accustomed to censorship. The country's government cut off access to the Internet a few times earlier this year, the latest of which blocked access to all encrypted international sites outside the country that operate on Secure Sockets Layer protocol. Many Iranians use proxy servers over Virtual Private Networks to circumvent government efforts to block access to foreign news sites and social networks such as Facebook and Twitter.

Black Ops II crosses $1 billion sales mark

Black Ops II has been a huge success for Activision. The game has now crossed the $1 billion mark worldwide in just fifteen days. Comparatively, Modern Warfare 3 took sixteen days to hit the $1 billion mark.

Just a day after its release, Black Ops II had crossed the $500 million mark. For the sake of comparison, one of the biggest games for the Xbox 360, the recently released Halo 4, saw about $220 million in sales on its first day. However, this could be attributed to the fact that Halo 4 is an Xbox 360 exclusive release, whereas Black Ops II was released for all gaming platforms.

 

This is par for the course when it comes to sales of games in the Call of Duty franchise. In 2011, Activision had reported $400 million worth of sales for the last year's Call of Duty game – Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. The Call of Duty series has always seen record breaking sales since the release of Modern Warfare 2 back in 2009.

Activision had released an update for the game last month that fixed a number of bugs and allowed the FOV to be increased by up to 90 degrees. Other fixes in the patch include a fix for the horse falling through the world in Afghanistan when playing on CPUs with 4 or more cores and a fix for cases of 'Connection Interrupted' in multiplayer while loading into a match.

FOVs are generally locked because of the hardware limitations of gaming consoles, as the consoles have problems streaming high-resolution textures in a game. With the FOV locked, less in-game area is visible and hence, less in-game area needs to be streamed. Games on the PC don’t generally have the same problem as the hardware on gaming PCs is leagues ahead in terms of power than that on gaming consoles.

This is a big deal when it comes to first person shooters because the FOV determines how much you can see in the first person view. While FPS games on consoles are usually capped at 60-65 degrees because of the hardware limitations of the systems, this isn’t a problem because players are generally far enough away from the screen for the FOV to be right. When playing a PC game, players are generally much closer to the screen and require an increased FOV to avoid feeling nauseous due to tunnel vision.

Back in 2009, when Activision had released Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, the company faced a lot of complaints from players for locking the FOV of the game to 60 and removing the capability of playing on dedicated servers. This forced PC gamers to play on peer-based games, which caused high amounts of problems if the host of the game was on a slow connection.

YouTube gets a cleaner, simpler look

Guess who’s gone in for a cleaner, simpler look? It is YouTube. In an official blog post yesterday, the popular video viewing platform shared that considering people come to YouTube to watch the videos they care about, it is important then that it stands out. In the new look that YouTube now embodies, users will notice that the most crucial elements are placed at the front and centre while viewing a video. The video itself is placed right at the top of the page, whereas the subscribe button, social actions and video information are put together combined below the player.

Users can view the playlists that are available to the right of the video, allowing them to browse through while watching. The cleaner, simpler look, shares YouTube, has been spread across tthe entire site.

YouTube shares further that those using YouTube have been active at subscribing to the channels of their choice. Giving a slight recap, the post shares that last year YouTube started making it simpler for users to subscribe to the channels of their choice by introducing a Guide on the homepage. Explaining the ways of the Guide, the post adds that once a user adds subscriptions to their Guide, they organise the site around their preferences, available for their viewing on YouTube. The next step in this direction is bringing to users their subscription-filled Guide across the site and all device.

YouTube shares that once users subscribe to their favorite channels, the Guide will let them know about the new videos they can enjoy. It will also suggest the latest and greatest channels that the user may like, while also showing them what their friends are sharing across the web. Interestingly, users will also be able to find the Guide and subscriptions on apps across several millions of devices, including Android, iPhone, Playstation 3, Google TV and more.

Hoang Nguyen, software engineer at YouTube, shares in an official blog post that users will be able to view automatic captions in videos in six more languages. The automatic captions are now available in German, Italian, French, Portuguese, Russian, and Dutch. The post adds that back in 2009, a feature automatically creating captions on YouTube videos in English was introduced. YouTube has since added Japanese, Korean and Spanish.

Nguyen writes, "...automatic captions are an important first step in the path toward high-quality captions for the 72 hours of video people upload per minute." Nguyen goes on to share that there are chances that these automatic captions will have errors, and to this end, creators will have many tools to improve the quality of the captions.

Nguyen adds that with automatic captions in tow, creators can then download them for editing, or edit them in-line on YouTube. They can also upload plain-text transcripts in these languages, and the same technology will generate automatically-synchronised captions. "You now have around 200 million videos with automatic and human-created captions on YouTube, and we continue to add more each day to make YouTube accessible for all," Nguyen concludes.

New WhatsApp for Windows Phone 8 devices to be 6 times faster

If you have recently made the switch to Windows Phone 8, one of the biggest absentees in the Windows Phone 8 store is the popular instant messaging client WhatsApp amongst others. The web messaging app is apparently undergoing some heavy alterations and will be launched for WP8 some time in the very near future.

While there has been no official announcement from the developers of WhatsApp that an update is on its way, one consumer received a reply to a query to the effect that there is a new update on the way and that it will be 6 times faster than the previous version. Apart from this, they stated that there will also be new emoji included in the upcoming version. In the response, they have also mentioned that they would continue to use the background audio API; however, they are looking forward to Microsoft devising a way of keeping the system running in the background and for this to happen, Microsoft would need to lift its restrictions on third party apps.

Earlier on, when we received the HTC 8X, we managed to download WhatsApp from the WP Store. However, we found that the application did not work at all, although we were able to subscribe and activate our accounts. It seemed like this was an issue for other WP8 users as well and the app has since, been taken off the store. We looked for the app on a Windows Phone 7.x device and it is still present and available for download.

Many Windows Phone users have complained about the quality of the app for their devices and claim that it is not up to par as its version is available on other platforms such as iOS and Android. Hopefully, with the update, all issues will be taken care of. 

While the Windows Phone 8 platform is picking up, it is in serious need of apps. Although the finesse of applications on the platform seem to be of a higher standard compared to Android, the OS lacks the availability of popular games and even social networking options like Instagram. We were told recently by Windows Phone representatives that the number of apps will be hitting siginficantly higher numbers very soon.

Let us know your thoughts on the lack of apps situation for the WIndows Phone platfom and if there are any other apps that you'd like to see be made available soon.