Intel-powered Android notebooks coming soon, will cost $200

If this piece of news is to be believed, then very soon we will see Intel-powered Android notebooks for as low as $200 (Rs 10,880 approx). Dadi Perlmutter, Intel’s executive vice president and chief product officer, told Cnet that notebooks carrying a price tag around $200 will predominantly be Android devices equipped with Intel’s Atom mobile processors.

Intel to power Android notebooks?

However, there is no further information about these Android notebooks. It is unclear how they’d look like. Seemingly, they are expected to be convertible type devices, the hybrid trend that we saw at the popular tech shows earlier this year. Perlmutter expects the PC market to pick pace during the second half of the year as it heads into the year 2014.

Last week, Intel CEO Paul Otellini had disclosed that touchscreen PCs could make a debut at prices as low as $200. And this is expected to happen in the coming months. However, he hadn’t specified which operating system these devices would carry, so one could have easily assumed Windows 8. Whether Windows 8 PCs will carry such a low price largely depends on Microsoft, disclosed Perlmutter. He further added, "We have a good technology that enables a very cost-effective price point. The price of Windows 8 laptops depends on how Microsoft prices Windows 8. It may be a slightly higher price point."

The cheaper laptops are expected to run on Intel's Atom chips, and the ones which will run on Intel’s Core line will supposedly sell as low as $399 to $499. One can expect the higher-end laptops to be priced more. Reportedly, Intel will ship data-only multimode LTE processors by the mid of 2013 and multimode voice over LTE and data processors later during the year. Presently, the company offers only single-mode LTE chip. On the other hand, its rival Qualcomm dominates the mobile market and offers multimode LTE chips.

Intel has been a late entrant in the mobile segment. It will be introducing a mobile chip that integrates LTE on the same piece of silicon as the application processor in 2014. It has gained some traction in smartphones, but the figures are still low. Intel dominates the PC market by making chips that power computers/laptops and servers. However, the PC market has been witnessing a slow down due to the overwhelming response for mobile devices.

Nokia launches Asha 210 QWERTY phone with a dedicated WhatsApp button

Nokia unveiled the latest device in its Asha family, the Asha 210. The phone sports a QWERTY keyboard and is available in both Single SIM and Dual-SIM variants with the dual-SIM allowing for SIM swapping on-the-go. The phone also supports Wi-Fi. The most distinctive feature of the phone is a dedicated WhatsApp button. This isn’t the first time that we’ve seen a social network tie up with a device manufacturer to create a dedicated phone. HTC and Facebook have done it twice with the QWERTY HTC Chacha, which had a dedicated Facebook button and more recently with the HTC First.

Nokia and WhatsApp have entered into a partnership and WhatsApp is offering their service for free on all Nokia Asha 210 devices. Some versions of the Asha 210 will have a dedicated Facebook button instead of the WhatsApp one. It is assumed that this will depend on where the phone is being sold. Nokia is touting this device as a full-fledged social device and is clearly targeted at users who are looking to buy their first smartphone. Nokia claims that the Asha 210 is “designed to ensure that people are never more than a few clicks away from their friends and family.”

Asha 210 borrows Lumia's colourful language

The Nokia Asha 210 comes with a single back-facing 2MP camera that can be accessed through a dedicated hardkey even when the keypad is locked. The smart camera also offers a few image capturing, editing, and sharing options. Users can also share photos and other content quickly by using Nokia's Slam feature, which comes built-into the Nokia Asha 210. Slam essentially enables people to transfer images, video etc to another Bluetooth-enabled phone without the need to pair devices. What is impressive is that the phone also has Nokia Nearby, a web app that lets people discover restaurants, shops and ATM machines in their vicinity.

In terms of hardware the Asha 210 is fairly rudimentary as you would expect any ‘smart’ feature phone to be. It has a 2.4-inch QVGA screen and has 64 MB of on-board memory. The storage can be expanded to 32 GB by using a microSD card. Those expecting the phone to have 3G are in for a disappointment - the Asha 210 will only support 2G.

The Nokia Asha 210 is going to be available in yellow, cyan, black, magenta, and white when it goes on sale in the next couple of months. The phone is expected to be priced around $72, which is approximately Rs 3,900. No dates or region-wise roll out schedule has been released.

7-inch Asus FonePad launched in India for Rs 15,999

Asus has launched its new tablet – the FonePad – and has priced it at Rs 15,999. The tablet will be hitting store shelves in the next couple of days. The special thing about the tablet is that Asus has teamed up with Intel to bring the world’s first Android-based tablet with x86 architecture.

The tablet has a 7-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. Under the hood, it’s powered by a  1.2GHz Intel Atom Z2420 processor, with a PowerVR GC540 GPU handling the graphics side of things. It has 1GB of RAM, so multi-tasking won’t be that big of an issue.

The FonePad doesn’t have any rear camera, but it is equipped with a 1.2 megapixel front facing camera that can record videos at 720p. The tablet is equipped with 16GB of internal memory and sports a microSD card slot with memory being expandable up to 32GB. It runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean out of the box.

The connectivity is where the name FonePad comes into play. Unlike other tablets with micro SIM slots that are used only to access 3G, the FonePad lets you use it as a full-fledged phone, much like Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 2.

The Asus FonePad uses Intel's x86 architecture

The FonePad was originally shown off back in February at this year's CES. The Asus Fonepad has a metallic design, weighs 340g and is 10.4mm thick.

The Asus Fonepad comes with a number of exclusive Asus productivity apps: Floating App for easy management of running apps and multi-tasking; SuperNote Lite for handwritten notes and drawing; and WebStorage Office Online for Microsoft Office-compatible document editing on the move. Fonepad users also get 5GB of free lifetime Asus WebStorage for syncing and sharing data with other devices.

Two new optional accessories are also available for the Fonepad. VersaSleeve 7 is a wraparound cover with a folding design that both protects the Fonepad and props up the screen in two different positions for typing and watching video. Turn Case is a lightweight, hard-shell case for Fonepad that features a soft interior to keep the screen clean, besides being a built-in stand that places the screen at a perfect angle for watching video.

"It is ideal to have a larger screen with entertainment, social media and other online activities now playing an increasingly important part in our mobile lifestyles," said Jonney Shih, Chairman, Asus, during CES 2013. "The incorporation of 3G mobile data with full telephony support makes the Fonepad a perfect combination of tablet and phone in one single device."

Apple pulls in $43.6 billion in revenue and $9.5 billion in profit in Q2 2013

Apple announced their earnings for the quarter gone by. The quarterly earnings of the Cupertino-based gadget maker added up to $43.6 billion and the company also reported $9.5 billion in profits. This news is bound to provide some relief for the company that has seen huge erosion in share value since September 2012, having lost over $280 billion in market-cap since then.

The investor worries, however, persist as Apple sold 37.4 million iPhones this quarter, which is relatively flat as the company had sold 35.1 million phones in the same quarter last year. The Mac sales, which include desktop as well as the Macbook range, were flat as well, with 4 million units sold and iPod sales were down. Revenues were boosted by an increase in iPad sales which at 19.5 million units sold showed a significant increase from 11.8 million units a year ago.

The insanely profitable company has seen its margins come under pressure as sales of lower margin items like the iPad mini registered higher than expected sales. Due to this the company reported a gross margin of 37.5%, a big drop from the 47.4% it reported last year.
What could spook the investors further are the projections that Apple has offered for the next quarter. The company is estimating revenue to drop to between $33.5 billion - $35.5 billion and its gross margins to reduce further. Another drag on the growth is customers opting for devices from Samsung and other makers that run on Google’s Android operating system.

iPhones sell more than any other Apple device

With iPhones accounting for 42% of all revenue and iPads accounting for 16%, many are expecting Apple to offer newer product categories this year. Apple CEO Tim Cook confirmed that the company was indeed working on this. "We've got a lot more surprises in the works," Cook said. "Our teams are hard at work on some amazing new hardware, software, and services that we can't wait to introduce in the fall and into 2014. We continue to be very confident in our future product plans." Although he didn’t give out any specifics, many are expecting Apple to deliver a ‘smartwatch’ this year. The much-rumoured television by Apple, which Steve Jobs had claimed to have cracked, could also be a reality.

Also announced today was what the company called the biggest share repurchase in history as Apple said that it would have returned $100 billion to investors via buy-backs and dividends thorough 2015. The company will be returning at least $55 billion in cash through dividends to compensate for the battering the company's stock has taken over the last few months

Google buys Wavii for $30 million, mirroring Yahoo's deal

Google Inc has acquired Wavii, the Seattle-based startup behind a news summarization app, for roughly $30 million in cash, a person with knowledge of the matter said Tuesday.

Google's successful bid came after Apple Inc had expressed interest in buying Wavii to incorporate the startup's natural language technology into Siri, Apple's voice-activated personal assistant feature, said the person, who declined to be named because the deal has not been publicly announced.

Google and Wavii declined to comment.

Google's purchase comes several weeks after Yahoo Inc paid a similar amount to acquire Summly, the news reader and Wavii competitor founded by 18-year-old Nick D'Aloisio in London.

The deal is reminiscent of Yahoo's Summly buyout

The deals have taken out of play two small companies that sought to enhance how consumer experience news - a significant concern for Google and Yahoo, which both maintain highly trafficked news sites.

In separate interviews last year, Wavii founder Adrian Aoun and D'Aloisio acknowledged the competition between the two startups.

D'Aloisio touted Summly's superior user interface, which condenses articles into several easy-to-read paragraphs. Aoun played up his app's technology, including a proprietary algorithm that boiled down complex news stories into sentences of just a few words.

Wavii's investors included Paypal co-founder Max Levchin, former Facebook executive Dave Morin, and Fritz Lanman, a former dealmaker at Microsoft Corp.

Most of the startup's employees are expected to relocate to Google's headquarters in Mountain View, California.

News of the acquisition was first reported by Techcrunch.

Yahoo to shut down email service in China

Yahoo's email service in China will close this summer as part of an arrangement worked out with its partner in that country, Alibaba Group.The service is scheduled to close Aug. 19. Yahoo is recommending users of its free email service in China transfer their accounts to another provider such as Aliyun, an email alternative offered by Alibaba.
Yahoo Inc., based in Sunnyvale, California, has been phasing out of China since 2005 when it turned its website, email and other services over to Alibaba. As part of that deal, Yahoo paid $1 billion for a 40 percent stake in Alibaba, one of China's biggest Internet companies.
It has proven to be an astute investment. Yahoo reaped a $7.6 billion by selling half its stake back to Alibaba last year. Yahoo's remaining stake in Alibaba is now worth even more - about $14 billion by one analyst's estimate.
Alibaba is expected to go public within the next two years, giving Yahoo an opportunity to sell more of its holdings.
The closure of Yahoo's email service in China comes at the same time that the company has been shutting down some of its U.S. services, too. The moves are part of an effort to reduce costs and free up more engineers to work on mobile products - a top priority of CEO Marissa Mayer.
Yahoo was among the first U.S. Internet companies to establish operations in China. But its presence in China turned into a public relations nightmare eight years ago when human rights activists began to assail Yahoo for cooperating with the Chinese government's demands for personal emails from two journalists who were later convicted and imprisoned.
Although Yahoo insisted it was merely obeying Chinese law, the company was internationally skewered. In 2007, it settled a lawsuit filed on behalf of the two journalists, Shi Tao and Wang Xiaoning, and a family member.

Facebook Home crosses 500,000 downloads on Google Play Store

Looks like the mixed reviews and the privacy scare has not deterred Facebook users from adopting Home, the Android launcher released by the world's largest social network earlier this month.

As per the latest figures from the Play Store, Facebook Home has passed 500,000 downloads on the Android store ten days after it was launched. Though the app continues to have rollercoaster reviews, which bring down its average rating to 2.2, it would seem the novelty of the experience has drawn many users. Of course, just the download count seems like a vague way to gauge consumer interest as the numbers don’t show how many users are still using Home.

Home brings a brand new Facebook experience for Android

Another point to be noted is that the apk for Home has been floating around in the wild with several users forced to sideload it in the initial days when the app was a US-only affair. Between April 12 and 16, when the app was made available to international users, several modified apks cropped up, downloads of which do not count towards the official tally.

While 500,000 downloads might seem too few in comparison to Facebook’s massive 1 billion-plus user base, the app’s progress is also limited by the number of devices it can run on. Hardware requirements rule out most mid-range handsets, leaving only the high-end ones capable of using Home. By comparison, the main Facebook Android app has been downloaded between 100 million and 500 million times.

A look at the graph presented on the Play Store also makes for an interesting reading, which says the number of new downloads for Home has actually dropped since its international launch on April 16. Home is currently available on certain devices, including the Samsung Galaxy S III, Samsung Galaxy Note II, HTC One X and HTC One X+. Besides these phones, Home also runs on the HTC First, which was launched alongside the app on April 4.

Adoption may be great, but reception for that app is altogether a different matter. Out of the 11,073 user ratings at the time of writing, over half i.e. 5,700 are a 1 Star and just over ten percent of the ratings i.e 1,832 are 5 Stars.

$15 million iPhone with black diamond is world’s most expensive smartphone

Stuart Hughes, known for crafting luxury Apple devices covered in precious metals and encrusted with rare stones, has created the most expensive iPhone 5 - embedded with a rare black diamond. News has it that a Chinese businessman, the owner of the black diamond, contacted Stuart Hughes about his gold iPhones, and commissioned the handset. The Black Diamond iPhone 5 is priced at a whopping $15 million.

World's costliest iPhone 5

Apparently, it took nine weeks to re-create the chassis of the iPhone 5 in solid gold, and the complete handset has been finished by hand. The single, flawless, deep cut black diamond weighs in at 26 cts and aptly replaces the home button of the smartphone. The chassis is inlaid with approximately 600 white flawless diamonds with full gold dressing on the back. It has about 135 grams of 24ct gold and a sapphire glass set in the screen. The back also has the Apple logo showing off 53 flawless diamonds. 

This isn’t the first time that the iPhone 5 has got such luxurious treatment. We have seen Hughes create the limited-edition (100 units) iPhone 5 decked in 18-carat gold and gold and diamond finishing. It also boasts of a diamond studded Apple logo. We have seen Apple’s iPad too flaunt not only precious stones and metals but also a T-REX's thigh bone and a 75-million year old rock. It was called the world’s most expensive iPad 2 dubbed History Edition built with 2kgs of gold and several diamonds.

In the meanwhile, here is a quick look at the specifications of the iPhone 5:

• 4-inch, 326ppi Retina display at 1136 x 640 pixels
• GPRS, EDGE, EV-DO, HSPA, HSPA+, DC-HSDPA, LTE and Wi-Fi
• GPS
• Bluetooth
• 8 megapixel camera with 1080p HD recording, 720p front-facing camera
• 16GB, 32GB and 64GB versions

While all this looks and sounds fancy, do you think a tech enthusiast with $15 million to throw away would ever buy such a device?

Goodbye QWERTY, hello faster typing with KALQ

Texting just got a lot easier! Researchers claim to have developed a new keyboard for touchscreens that allows superfast thumb-typing, enabling you to type 34 percent faster than on a QWERTY layout. The research team used computational optimisation techniques in conjunction with a model of thumb movement to search among millions of potential layouts before identifying one that yields superior performance.
Typing on today's mobile phones and tablets is needlessly slow. One limitation is that the QWERTY layout is ill-suited for tablets and other touchscreen devices when typing with the thumbs, researchers said.
Thumb typing is also ergonomically very different from typing on a physical keyboard.
Researchers said it has been established that normal users using a QWERTY on a touchscreen device are limited to typing at a rate of around 20 words per minute, which is slow compared to the rates achieved on physical keyboards.
The researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Informatics and colleagues from the University of St Andrews and Montana Tech initiated the process to develop a layout for two-thumb text entry with the goal of improving typing performance and minimising the strain for the thumbs.
"The key to optimising a keyboard for two thumbs is to minimise long sequences with a single thumb," lead researcher Antti Oulasvirta said.
"We also want to place frequently used letters centrally close to each other. Experienced typists move their thumbs simultaneously: While one is typing, the other is approaching its next target. We derived a predictive model of this behaviour for the optimisation method," said Oulasvirta.
The computational optimisation process had two goals: To minimise the moving time of the thumbs and to approximate alternating sides as well as possible.
In the new keyboard KALQ, all vowels, with the exception of the letter "y" are placed in the area for the right thumb, whereas the left thumb gets assigned more keys.
To fully benefit from this layout, the users were trained to move their thumbs simultaneously. While one thumb is typing, the other one can move to its next target.
Finally, researchers developed probabilistic error correction methods that took into account how thumbs move and also statistical knowledge about the texts users type.
With these improvements, users were able to reach 37 words per minute, which is the best ever reported for two-thumb typing on touchscreen devices, significantly more than the approximate 20 words on a split QWERTY for regular users.
Researchers said KALQ will be made available as a free app for Android-based smartphones at the beginning of May.

HTC Desire L launched with 4.3-inch display, 1GHz dual-core processor

HTC has launched another mid-range smartphone in the form of HTC Desire L.Measuring 128 x 66.9 x 8.9mm, HTC Desire L features a 4.3-inch Super LCD2 display with 480x800 pixels resolution. The smartphone weighs in at 118 grams. HTC Desire L is powered by 1GHz dual-core processor along with 1GB of RAM. It comes with 4GB of internal storage, which can be expanded through a microSD card.
For now there is no word on which version of Android will be on-board HTC Desire L but we believe it should have at least Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean). Also HTC will be adding its own Sense skin on top.
HTC Desire L comes with an 1800mAh battery. For camera, there is a 5-megapixel autofocus rear camera with BSI sensor and LED flash that is capable of recording videos in 720p.
There is no word on whether this smartphone will be available in other markets apart from Taiwan and what will be the tentative cost of it.
HTC has recently unveiled HTC Desire Q and Desire P.
HTC Desire Q sports a 4.0-inch WVGA display and comes with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). HTC Desire Q is powered by a 1GHz single-core processor alongside 512MB RAM and 4GB internal storage that is expandable by another 32GB via microSD slot. The phone sports dimensions of 118.5 x 62.3 x 9.3 mm and weighs 114 grams. This smartphone is only available in Taiwan as of now and carries a retail tag of NT$6,990 (which is approximately Rs. 12,750 or $235).
Connectivity options on the HTC Desire Q include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS and 3G. The phone sports a 5-megapixel rear auto-focus camera with LED flash, but lacks a front-camera, which may come as a bit of a downer to some. The phone comes with Beats Audio branding, like several of its compatriots.
The HTC Desire P on the other hand, sports a 4.3-inch display with 480x800 (WVGA) pixels. The smartphone is powered by 1GHz dual-core Cortex-A5 processor and Adreno 203 graphics along with 768MB of RAM. HTC Desire P also comes with an 8-megapixel rear camera and 4GB of internal storage, which can be expanded through microSD card slot. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth.

Security firm finds 32 apps on Google Play infected by BadNews malware

While Google Play has caught up with Apple's App Store in terms of sheer number and quality of apps, the service's open nature still causes trouble now and then. Security firm Lookout is now warning users against 32 apps on Google Play that have been found to be infected by a malware called BadNews. If installed, the malware sends messages to premium rate text numbers.

The malware won't be detected immediately after installing the apps. It has been designed to stay dormant for a few weeks so as to avoid detection. To be specific, the malware has been specifically targeted towards Android users in Eastern-European countries such as Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. The premium rate message-sending malware is quite popular in Eastern Europe and Russia.

Google has removed the apps since Lookout's warnings, but the security firm estimates that the malware has been downloaded between 2 to 9 million times. Some of the infected apps included wallpaper apps, recipe generators, games and porn apps.

More malware hits Google Play and is promptly removed

Because of its overall open nature, Android is well known for some of the flaws in its security. According to a report back in February, ninety-nine percent of newly discovered mobile malicious programs target the Android platform, while only a very small amount targets Java and Symbian-based smartphones. The report found that 2012 was the second year to show explosive growth in Android malware.

The majority of Android malware can be divided into three main groups according to functionality. Elaborating further, the report adds that “SMS Trojans” empty victims’ mobile accounts by sending SMS texts to premium-rate numbers. Backdoors provide unauthorised access to a smartphone, making it possible to install other malicious programs or steal personal data. Spyware targets the unauthorised collection of private data, such as address books and passwords (or even personal photos in some cases).

In the first half of 2012, Backdoors, SMS Trojans and Spyware combined accounted for 51 percent of all newly discovered Android malware. In the Top 10 chart of Android malware that was blocked by Kaspersky Mobile Security or Kaspersky Tablet Security, SMS Trojans emerged to be the most widespread, with applications showing unwanted ads to users in second place.

Less widespread but by far the most dangerous are mobile banking Trojans that often work in conjunction with their desktop counterparts, as was the case with Carberp-in-the-Mobile.

The Android platform allows software installation from untrusted sources, and one of the best ways to guarantee an infection is to install programs from suspicious websites. However, malware on the official Google Play application distribution platform is another trend that started in 2011 and continued in 2012, despite Google’s best efforts to reduce cybercriminal activity.

One of the most unusual examples of mobile malware in 2012 was the "Find and Call" application that managed to sneak into the Google Play store as well as Apple’s app store.

Yahoo launches Mail app for iPad and Android tablets

Yahoo is taking the next step in its effort to make some of its most popular services more appealing and accessible to the growing audience connecting to the Internet on smartphones and tablet computers.

The mobile push being orchestrated by CEO Marissa Mayer has hatched Yahoo's first email application for Apple Inc.'s iPad and other tablet computers running on Google Inc.'s Android software.

Yahoo also has created a new weather app for Apple's iPhone that will provide forecasts on top of slideshows feature pictures of landmarks in the cities chosen by a user.

A swanky new weather app for iPhone has been released by Yahoo

The free apps are being released Thursday morning.

Like many other Internet companies, Yahoo Inc. is pouring more engineering talent and money into developing mobile applications as people spend more time on consuming content on smartphones and tablets.

Mayer has made mobile services one of her top priorities since defecting from a top job at Google to become Yahoo's CEO nine months ago. She has already overseen a redesign of Yahoo's email app for smartphones, as well as the app for its Flickr photo service on the iPhone and iPad.

Yahoo's increased emphasis appears to be resonating. After Yahoo announced its first-quarter earnings earlier this week, Mayer told analyst Yahoo's mobile services now attract about 300 million monthly visitors worldwide, up from 200 million in December.

Despite the increased traffic, Yahoo is still struggling to sell more of the advertising that brings in most of its money. The company's revenue from display advertising - a key marketing channel - fell 11 percent from the same time last year. Part of the problem stemmed from advertisers' reluctance to pay as much money for pitches delivered on the smaller screens of mobile devices. That factor contributed to a decline in Yahoo's average ad prices. Yahoo is also being hurt as advertisers funnel more of their online budgets toward Google and online social networking leader Facebook Inc.

Yahoo's new weather app for the iPhone features photos imported from Flickr. It will operate separately from the iPhone's built-in weather app, which is already powered by Yahoo, which is based in Sunnyvale, Calif. But that built-in app doesn't display photos nor does it promote Yahoo's brand in the app panel.

The new email app for the iPad and Android could help Yahoo regain some of the market share that it has lost in that segment to Google's Gmail - one of the services that Mayer helped expand during her 13-year stint at Google.

Sandisk Cruzer Orbit USB Flash Drives launched in India, starting Rs. 480

SanDisk Corporation has announced the launch of the Cruzer Orbit USB Flash Drive in the Indian market.
Sandisk Cruzer Orbit USB Flash Drive features an interesting design that combines a 360-degree swivel design with pocket-sized portability. The flash drive features a protective cover that rotates to shield the USB connector from damage when it's not in use. With its compact form factor, the flash drive is ideal for data users who need easy, portable access to their data.
Sandisk Cruzer Orbit USB Flash Drives are in available in capacities from 4GB up to 32GB. As with other USB drives in the market today, the Cruzer Orbit USB flash drives are ready to go. Simply plug it into an available USB port and drag the desired files into the drive's folder. No additional software or drivers are required, so you can begin transferring and backing up your files immediately.
The Cruzer Orbit USB Flash Drive comes with SanDisk SecureAccess software, which allows you to create a password-protected folder for your sensitive files. You are able to share your favourite media and USB flash drive while protecting your private documents from unwanted access.
The Cruzer Orbit USB Flash Drive also offers online storage and backup. This secure cloud storage service allows remote access to your online data anytime, anywhere from any web browser.
The Cruzer Orbit USB Flash Drive is now available in India at a price range of Rs. 480 (4GB) and Rs. 2,096 (32GB).
Sandisk Cruzer Orbit USB Flash Drive technical specifications

• Available capacities: 4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB
• Compatibility: USB 2.0
• Dimensions: 1.38" x 0.85" x 0.26" (35.17 mm x 21.5 mm x 6.72 mm)
• Operating temperature: 0 to 45 degrees Celsius
• Storage temperature: -10 to 70 degrees Celsius
• Security: Password protection and 128-bit AES encryption

Android was originally intended for cameras, says founder Andy Rubin

Andy Rubin, the man credited with the great success of Android as a smartphone OS, has come out and said that the operating system was originally intended for smart cameras rather than mobile computing devices.

The smart cameras that Rubin & his co-founders envisioned would use the Android OS to connect to PCs, but it was reworked to better fit smartphones as that market had began to grow at a great pace.

"The exact same platform, the exact same operating system we built for cameras, that became Android for cellphones," Android co-founder Andy Rubin said at Japan New Economy Summit in Tokyo. Rubin, who became a high-level Google exec after the acquisition of Android in 2005, said the planned camera platform was heavily built around cloud services and online storage.

Samsung's Galaxy Camera is the most renowned use of Android for a camera's OS

Rubin also showed slides from the original pitch to investors in April 2004, one of which showed a camera connected to a home computer in wired and wireless setups and which then linked to an Android Datacenter. Growth in digital cameras was gradually slowing down as smartphones changed the market and made digital photography truly mainstream. Rubin and Co revamped their business plan and five months after the original pitch, the company called their OS platform an "open-source handset solution," which is how we are most familiar with Android now.

Then, in 2005, Android got team members with experience at the likes of T-Mobile and Orange, and began to target the then smartphone biggie Windows Mobile. Apple’s iOS didn’t enter the picture until 2007. "We decided digital cameras wasn't actually a big enough market. I was worried about Microsoft and I was worried about Symbian, I wasn't worried about iPhone yet," Rubin said.

He added: "We wanted as many cellphones to use Android as possible. So instead of charging $99, or $59, or $69, to Android, we gave it away for free, because we knew the industry was price sensitive.”

The company’s original projection was that Android would account for 9 percent of the market in North America and Europe by 2010. But last year, Android had claimed 72 percent of the market. In March, Google said that over 750 million devices were running Android and accessing the internet globally.

We don’t know if Rubin played any part in the adoption of Android for connected cameras these days, but it seems the OS is returning to its origins. Samsung has launched a Galaxy Camera that runs Android, while traditional camera makers Nikon and Polaroid also have their versions of the Android camera.

At the event, Rubin also said that he would continue to create products directed at consumers. "I can pretty much guarantee you that whatever I do next it's going to be something that delights consumers," said Rubin, who had stepped down from his role running all things Android at Google in order to "start a new chapter" at the company.

We're bigger than Twitter: WhatsApp CEO

Look who's trying to upstage Twitter. Surprise, surprise, it's WhatsApp! The CEO of the cross-platform messaging app service has boasted that WhatsApp has a bigger user base than Twitter.

On stage at the D: Dive Into Mobile, WhatsApp’s CEO Jan Koum said that the messaging service had more monthly active users than Twitter. While he did not reveal the exact number, but he confirmed they are far more than Twitter's figure. This means the figure is somewhere north of 200 million.

Koum said that WhatsApp processes eight billion inbound messages and 12 billion outbound missives daily, making it one of the most successful cross platform messaging app. The app has a great impact on messaging, with millions of smartphone users all over the world using WhatsApp to communicate with each other.

Bigger than Twitter?

WhatsApp has been in the news recently for being a lucrative acquisition. According to reports, rumours have been rife about Google aspiring to acquire WhatsApp for a figure of $1 billion for the longest time now.

t's been rumoured for quite some time now that a mobile messaging service would be the next big buy in the mobile space. It was rumoured in December last year that Facebook was in talks to acquire WhatsApp. However, multiple sources soon refuted the talk. WhatsApp also said that the article was a rumour and not factually accurate.

At the conference, Kuom denied the rumours vehemently again. WhatsApp has slowly been slowly trying to introduce the $0.99 subscription based model. Surprisingly, it has not affected a drop-off in the service. Monetisation is not an issue currently.

“We’re looking forward to a world with billions of phones,” Koum said. “And once that happens it’s going to be extremely easy to monetize. But a lot more people need to join the smartphone revolution and a lot more people need to buy more goods on their phones.”

There is definitely no scope for advertising within WhatsApp, says Koum. “We do have a manifesto opposing advertising,” he said. “We’re proud of that. Who likes advertising? We’re so bombarded with ads so much in our daily lives and we felt that smartphones aren’t the place for that. Our phones are so intimately connected to us, to our lives. Putting advertising on a device like that is a bad idea. You don’t want to be interrupted by ads when you’re chatting with your loved ones…Our monetization strategy is simple. One dollar a year. If we did something besides that, it would just get in the way. … We want a great product and great user experience.”

iPhone 5S rumoured specs: Apple A7 quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, 12-megapixel camera

iPhone 5S release date has been the subject of a lot of speculation off-late. While some reports have indicated the phone may launch in June-July, others insist that the next generation iPhone will release in August. However, there has been very little information coming out in terms of the purported specs of the phone. Until now.
The folks over at DroidGator have come across a picture of what they claim is a iPhone 5S motherboard. They add that the picture was sent to them from an IP belonging to Apple HQ in Cupertino, thereby lending credence to the image. The website says the new motherboard is similar in size to the iPhone 4S motherboard, which "may mean that the future iPhone 5S should arrive with the same touchscreen that the previous handset has: 4 inches."
The picture also shows a A7 chip, which the website claims is a quad-core processor, clocked at 1.2GHz. Other rumoured specs include 2GB RAM and Power SGX554MP4 GPU. The website also claims the new iPhone will ship with a faster Siri, with support for additional languages.
Additionally, Redmond Pie is reporting via Tinhte.vn that the iPhone 5S will ship with a 12-megapixel camera with improved low-light performance.
Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reports that Foxconn, the company that manufacturers iPhone and other Apple products in China, has stepped up hiring at its Zhengzhou plant. The company said Monday it has added about 10,000 assembly-line workers a week in Zhengzhou, its major production facility for iPhones. This increase in hiring is being seen as a sign that Apple is gearing up to produce the new iPhone.
"We have been very busy recently as we will start mass-producing the new iPhone soon," a Zhengzhou-based Foxconn executive with direct knowledge of production plans told WSJ.

Google Glass specs released: 5-megapixel camera, 720p video, 16GB storage, Bluetooth, one day battery life

Google has officially released specifications of its wearable technology innovation, Google Glass.

While Google didn't release the exact specifications of the display inside Glass, it said the resolution will be equivalent to that of a '25-inch high definition screen from eight feet away'. Google confirmed that Glass will feature a 5-megapixel camera capable of recording 720p videos. It will also feature a Bone Conduction Transducer for audio.

Glass will be compatible with any Bluetooth-capable phone, however, for using GPS and SMS it requires the MyGlass companion app which is only available for phones running Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich or higher. As per Google, Glass will offer 16GB internal storage space out of which 12GB will be usable and will be synced with Google cloud storage.

The company doesn't specify the battery capacity but mentions that it will offer one full day of typical use, however, it also warns that some features, like Hangouts and video recording, are more battery intensive. Glass will include a Micro-USB cable and charger, and Google specifies that Glass is designed and tested with the included charger and advises users to stick to using the bundled charger.

Glass comes with adjustable nosepads and Google also offers extra nosepads in two sizes.

Prior to listing specifications, Google posted documentation for developers discussing software development for Glass. It also mentioned that the software would be called Glassware and that they'll need to use Google Mirror API 'a set of RESTful services that transmit information to and receive notifications from Glass devices'.

It also informed its developer members that it was seeing the first few devices come off the production line right now and that it wants to start delivering them, although only a portion of them were ready as of date. It mentioned that it will start shipping Glass in waves. The mail was shared by Anandtech's Brian Klug via his Twitter account.

Sony Xperia Z sales top 4.6 million in 40 days: Report

Sales of Sony Xperia Z, company's latest flagship device, have topped 4.6 million in just 40 days, a report indicates.
HK Silicon quotes analysts who revealed the impressive numbers. It is worth pointing out that these numbers are unofficial, with no word from Sony yet on how the Xperia Z  is doing in terms of sales. On its part, the company did reveal back in February, that Xperia Z was off to an encouraging start, but there has been no word since.
To give you an idea how good these numbers are, let's compare it with how some other successful phones fared last year. Samsung's last flagship, Galaxy S III, took two months to clock 10 million sales. While the Xperia Z numbers may not look that impressive when compared to the S III, it does fare better when compared with another popular Samsung product.
Samsung sold 3 million Galaxy Note II units in five weeks, with sales topping 5 million in two months. By that benchmark, the Xperia Z surely seems off to a stellar start.
Sony introduced the Xperia Z at CES back in January. It comes with a 5-inch full-HD (1080x1920) display and is powered by a 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor. Other highlights include a 13-megapixel rear camera, 2GB RAM and 16GB of internal storage. Connectivity options include Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, Wi-Fi, and the phone runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. The Xperia Z is IP55 and IP57 certified, which means it is dust and water resistant.
The Sony Xperia Z was launched in India in March carrying a price tag of Rs. 38,990.

iPhone 6 concept video shows smaller iPhone without Home button

While we did hear rumors about a change in the design of the iPhone, we never really took them seriously. But now a concept video of the future iPhone has got us thinking.

According to the concept video by Designer Ran Avni, shows how the iPhone 6 would look like. Though the device shown in the video looks quite similar to the current iPhone 5, the screen area in increased to 4.5 inches from the earlier 4 inches.

More importantly, Apple’s favourite, the Home button is missing. The removal of the button has enabled him to increase the screen while making the overall phone smaller. The iPhone 6 is also comparatively thinner and with a smaller body than the iPhone 5.

Apple is said to be working on a couple of phones, including the next iPhone, which is scheduled to be launched on June 20 and may be available in varied screen sizes.

Windows 8.1 May Include a 'Boot to Desktop' Option

The most recent numbers show PC sales dropping like a rock, with many blaming the radical changes in Windows 8 for scaring away customers. A new rumor suggests the drop has prompted Microsoft to consider reversing course on at least one aspect of the new user interface.
Microsoft may introduce a "Boot to Desktop" mode in the next major update to Windows, called either Windows 8.1 or Windows Blue, according to a post on WinBeta. A version of the update leaked out last month, and someone who examined the code discovered that it includes a line of code for suppressing the Start screen.
Even before Windows 8 launched last October, many felt that throwing users into the new Windows UI at startup might not be the best solution for all customers, particularly those focused on productivity (i.e. office workers). Also, since the number of apps created for the new environment was relatively few (even the new Microsoft Office runs as a Desktop app), the benefits of always starting in the new UI were questionable.
But if users are rejecting Windows 8 outright (as the PC sales numbers suggest), then Microsoft obviously needs to re-examine its approach. Will that include Boot to Desktop in Windows 8.1? We should find out for sure at the Microsoft BUILD developer conference in June.

Micromax Bolt A51 available online for Rs 4,599

If the dual-SIM equipped Micromax Bolt A51 smartphone has been on your buying list, this news is for you. The smartphone is now up for grabs on some online retail stores for Rs 4,599. The Micromax Bolt A51 runs on Android 2.3.7 (Gingerbread) OS. The smartphone is powered by a 832MHz processor and is fuelled by a 1500 mAh battery.

Up for grabs online..

Here are the key specifications of the Micromax Bolt A51:

• 3.5-inch display with a resolution of 320 x 480 pixels
• 3G, Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth, USB
• 2MP rear and 0.3 MP front-facing camera
• FM radio
• microSD card support for up to 32GB

The company is a lot in the news of late. Only recently did Micromax quietly launch the low-end A72 smartphone in the market, priced at Rs 6,999. Despite being a low-end smartphone, the A72 comes with a large, 5-inch WVGA display. It is quite likely aimed at first-time smartphone buyers.

However, the smartphone runs the outdated Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread. Even the 3 megapixel primary camera and the 0.3 megapixel front-facing camera of the A72 are in line with its low-end leanings. The Micromax A72 is a dual-SIM handset but does not have 3G capabilities. As for the processor, there’s an unspecified 1GHz processor ticking underneath with 256 MB of RAM. So, we think even an Ice Cream Sandwich update won't be possible for the phone.

Here are the key specifications of the Micromax A72:

• 5-inch capacitive display with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels
• Dual-SIM support, GPRS/EDGE
• Wi-Fi with Wi-Fi hotspot
• Bluetooth with A2DP
• 3MP rear camera and 0.3MP front camera
• 110MB internal memory with microSD card slot for expansion up to 32GB

Thankfully, the A72 packs a huge 2000 mAh battery, which, given the specs, should ideally last more than a day with moderate usage. Micromax is throwing in a carry pouch along with the A72.

Just this morning, we got a more solid look at the Micromax A115 Canvas 3D. The phone is now listed on online shopping website Saholic, with the price and launch date being listed as "Coming Soon". Thanks to the listing, we also have a more concrete look at the specifications of the handset.

The handset is speculated to have a 5-inch display with a WVGA resolution of 800 x 480 pixels. The screen is said to be able to display 3D images and videos. The smartphone will run on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean out of the box and will be powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor along with 1GB of RAM. There is still no information available about the battery of the handset, so we can't say anything about the effects the 3D display will have on the battery life.

Other speculated features include an 8 megapixel main camera, a 2 megapixel front-facing camera, 4GB of internal memory and a microSD slot to expand the memory up to 32GB.

New Apple iPhone to come in 'three sizes'

Tech giant Apple's new smartphone, iPhone 5S, will reportedly be launched in three sizes.
Analyst Brian White said that from discussions with officials at an unnamed "tech-supply chain company" during a trip to China he learned that the iPhone 5S will be available in two, or possibly three, screen sizes, Mac Rumours reports.
Mac Rumours reported that White said Apple now believes that one size per iPhone release does not work for everyone and offering consumers an option has the potential to expand the company's market share.
White predicted the iPhone 5S to be released in July, News.com.au reports.
He expects Apple to release a low-cost iPhone during the launch with a price range between 300 dollars and 350 dollars.
Security analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, however, maintains that the iPhone will remain the same size.
He also says that the new phone will instead focus on improving the tech specs of the phone by improving the camera.

Next generation of Ultrabooks to have touch screens

Intel is reportedly changing the definition of the superlight, super-thin notebooks to take advantage of the touch interface in the Windows 8 operating system. 
According to Digitimes, sources in the Asian upstream supply chain claim that touchscreen technology will become a standard feature on all new ultrabooks from June this year when manufacturers move from Intel's Ivy Bridge processor micro architecture to its successor, Haswell.
This development is apparently causing ripples of concerns among computer manufacturers as demand for touch screens currently outstrips supply and, as a result, the price of components is being pushed up and if these extra costs are passed on to consumers, their devices could be seen as uncompetitive.
Whereas any portable computer that has a hinged screen which closes over its keyboard can be described as a notebook or laptop, what constitutes an Ultrabook is clearly defined by chipmaker Intel which owns the term as a registered trademark. Therefore, if Intel changes the criteria (which it has already done once when it changed its processor architecture in 2012), manufacturers must make the necessary changes to their designs in order to continue to market their products under the Ultrabook name.

What is an Ultrabook?According to Intel, an Ultrabook can be no thicker than 18mm for computers with a display less than 14 inches, and no more than 21mm in thickness if the display is greater than 14 inches.
It has to use an energy-efficient Intel processor from the Sandy Bridge (if the computer is a 2011 model) or Ivy Bridge family (for 2012-2013 devices), feature security protection built into the processor and have anti-theft technology installed on its hard drive to protect the computer's contents if it is lost or stolen.
The computer must use a solid state hard disk so that it can boot in seven seconds and offer a minimum battery life of five hours between charges, although Intel recommends eight hours.
Finally, it must run Windows. Which means that the ultra popular MacBook Air, the device which all other Ultrabook manufacturers use as a benchmark, cannot be described as such despite ticking every other box on the Ultrabook list

Nokia announces upcoming updates for Lumia 920, 820 and 620 Windows Phone 8 devices

Nokia’s Windows Phone 8 army consisting of the Lumia 920, 820 and 620 is getting updated with some tweaks and polishes improving performance and stabilizing the system.

The update is not a major one, but still adds some noteworthy improvements. The Nokia Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 are getting bumped up to version 1232.5957.1308.00xx with the following new features:

• improved automatic display brightness adjustment
• fix for intermittent screen blanking during a call
• further performance and stability improvements.

The affordable 3.8-inch Nokia Lumia 620 is getting updated to version 1030.6407.1308.00xx with slightly different touch ups:

• Improved touch screen functions, including corrections in multi-touch actions
• Better voice quality with Bluetooth headsets that support echo/noise suppression
• Enhanced camera performance with corrected exposure when flash is used in bright light conditions
• Various improvements to system stability, performance, and usability

The update packs will roll out gradually over the air in the coming weeks so equip yourselves with patience as you wait for that notification to give you the green light to update.

Apple iPhone 4 hot in India as sales triple in less than one week

The Apple iPhone 4 is red hot in India. Thanks to a trade-in promotion, Apple has become the number two manufacturer in the country with sales tripling in less than a week. Contracts for smartphones are rare in the country and users end up paying the full price in advance for a handset along with paying full price for service. So when a deal like the one Apple has running for the Apple iPhone 4 comes along, it ends up bringing in big business. Remember, this is an emerging market with low income buyers who want a phone that will run for years.

The Apple iPhone 4 is hot in India

The current deal being run by Apple and cooperating re-sellers takes 7,000 Rupees ($129 USD) off the price of the Apple iPhone 4, which costs $488 before the discount. To get the discount, the buyers must trade-in a used smartphone. The used device is refurbished and sold right into the country's sizzling hot used smartphone market. The deal has pushed the 4th generation iPhone ahead of the Apple iPhone 5 in India as Apple's non-existent sales in India have turned thanks to the aggressive sales tactics from the Cupertino tech giant. The company tripled sales during the 2012 holiday quarter. It is expected that Apple will start pushing the Apple iPhone 4S in India once the Apple iPhone 5S is launched.

Samsung has been following Apple and has copied the sales plan. The Samsung Galaxy Grand And Samsung GALAXY Note II are among the top three handsets in India. With BlackBerry and Nokia Windows Phone 8 models also in strong demand in India, Apple has been surprised by how hot the Apple iPhone 4 has become. It gives Apple more incentive to come up with the oft-rumored low-cost version of the iPhone as the device can be designed by Apple to maximize profits.

Nokia Lumia 720 gets listed online for Rs 18,500

Windows Phone 8 mobile operating system based Nokia Lumia 720 is now available on Flipkart for Rs 18,500. We aren't banking too much on the price for it might fluctuate on the phone's actual availability expected later this month.
Nokia had last month announced five smartphones in the Lumia series - Lumia 920, Lumia 820, Lumia 720, Lumia 620 and Lumia 520. Out of these five handsets, all devices except the Lumia 720 have already been made available in India.
The Nokia Lumia 720 is like a younger brother of Lumia 820 smartphone. The Lumia 720 features a 4.3-inch IPS LCD touchscreen with 480x800 pixel resolution natively. This smartphone is about 9 mm thick and weights 128 grams. It packs a dual-core 1 Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Plus MSM8227 mobile processor coupled with 512 MB RAM and 8 GB on-board storage. There is a memory card slot to expand the storage with up to 64 GB micro SD card.

Supporting 3G network with up to 21.1 Mbps download speeds, the Lumia 720 offers dual-band WiFi for faster data connectivity. It features a 6.1 megapixel camera at the back with Carl Zeiss optics and capable of recording 720p HD video easily at 30 frames per second. In the front lies 1.3 megapixel camera for video chat.
Other features of this smartphone include Bluetooth 3.0 with A2DP, Near Field Communication chip, accelerometer, proximity sensor, compass, GPS with A-GPS and GLONASS support, active noise cancellation with dedicated mic and 7 GB free storage space in Microsoft SkyDrive service.
Nokia has packed a 2000 mAh non-removable battery to deliver talk time of 13 hours on 3G network and about full day on 2G network. This smartphone is the perfect fit between the current Lumia 620 and the Lumia 820 devices

Iran developing its own "Islamic Google Earth"

Iran is said to be developing its own 3D mapping service that will be ready for use within four months. The announcement related to the mapping service was made by Mohammad Hassan Nami, Iran's minister for information and communications technology, who mentioned that the service will be an "Islamic Google Earth" and has been named Basir (which means spectator in Farsi).

The development was reported by The Guradian which cited a report by semi-official news agency, Mehr, that had quoted Nami saying that preparations were underway for launching its 3D map project. The report also said that Iranian authorities were creating an appropriate data centre which would be able to process a large volume of information.

"We are doing our best to launch the Islamic Google Earth in the next four months as an Islamic republic's national portal, providing service on a global scale," said the minister.

"On the surface, Google Earth is providing a service to users, but in reality security and intelligence organisations are behind it in order to obtain information from other countries," he added.

Nami mentioned that Iran was developing this service keeping in consideration Islamic views in Iran and that it would be different from Google Earth, which belonged to the 'ominous triangle of the US, England and the Zionists'. He did not give more details about the service.

Iranian authorities have been reportedly filtering Google search and Google Earth results as it looks at these services with suspicion calling them a spying tool.

We had earlier reported that Iran was developing new software to control social networking sites to prevent Iranians from being exposed to malicious content online.

Google Inactive Account Manager lets you plan for your Google Account after your death

No one lives for ever! While one may make a Legal Will to distribute his or her assets, among heirs, after death, very few think about or plan for their online digital assets. You make posts on Facebook, LinkedIn, Google Plus and other social networking sites. You have emails that contain all types of information. No one really pays much attention to Digital Assets Management! Ever wondered what happens to all these online digital assets after your death ?

Google Inactive Account Manager

Inactive Account Manager from Google allows you to plan for your Google Account after your death. This feature will let you tell Google what should be done with the contents of your Google account after your death and who should have access to it. This way, you know that after you, your loved one will be able to access your Google Account.
To enable this feature in your account, visit your Google Accounts Settings page and click on “Control what happens to your account when you stop using Google. Learn more and go to setup“.

This will take you to the Inactive Account Manager page.

Click on Setup and configure the settings to suit your needs.
When you stop using your Google Account for an extended period, Google will put you in control. You can ask Google to contact you on a mobile number or on an alternate email ID. You can set a time-out period and even up to 10 trusted friends or family members. You also have the option to have the account deleted.
I think its a great feature and all online websites, social networking sites, etc. should introduce such a feature.

Samsung announces the Galaxy Mega 6.3 and Galaxy Mega 5.8

We'd previously thought the Samsung Galaxy Mega was just another smartphone from the Korean giant's stable, but it turns out to be not one but two phones—one has a 6.3-inch display and the other has a 5.8-inch display. Both the Galaxy Mega 6.3 and 5.8 run on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, and feature dual-core processors. The Galaxy Mega will be available globally beginning May from Europe and Russia.

The South Korean giant refers to the Galaxy Mega as a device that combines the portability and convenience of a smartphone with the power, multitasking capabilities and extensive viewing experience of a tablet. It is thin and portable enough to fit into a pocket or be held in one hand. The Galaxy Mega offers a mix of popular smartphone and tablet features, such as an effortless user experience, a split-screen, multitasking between video and other apps and more.

Here’s a quick look at the specs of the Galaxy Mega 6.3:

• 6.3-inch (159.7mm) HD TFT display
• 3G, Wi-Fi
• GPS
• NFC
• 8-megapixel primary camera, 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera
• 8/16GB internal memory, microSD card support for up to 64GB more memory

The Galaxy Mega 6.3

Here’s a quick look at the specs of the Galaxy Mega 5.8:

• 5.8-inch (147mm) QHD TFT display
• 3G, Wi-Fi
• GPS
• NFC
• 8-megapixel primary camera, 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera
• 8GB internal memory, microSD card support up to 64GB more memory

The Galaxy Mega smartphones come with most of TouchWiz's newest features. Group Play enables easy content sharing for up to eight devices on the same Wi-Fi network. A feature called WatchON transforms you phone into an IR remote controller for a richer TV experience; all users have to do is connect the device to their home entertainment system, and it will provide program recommendations, schedules, and even let you remotely control your TV. Samsung Link lets you stream photos, videos, notes or music to your television, tablet or computer, while S Translator provides instant translation for text or voice on applications.

S Travel provides trip information, local guides and resources, while Story Album lets you create albums of daily events, keep special moments in one place using a timeline, geo-tag information and publish digital albums in hard copy.

The Galaxy Mega 5.8

The Galaxy Mega phones feature split-screen support for a variety of applications, including email, messages, MyFiles, S Memo, S Planner and more. The Air View feature lets you preview information in emails, photos in Gallery, and-speed dial contacts.

iPhone 5S coming this August with more than two colour options: Report

iPhone 5S, the next generation iPhone, would come in a number of colours including black and white, as per a report by Japanese website Macotakara via (MacRumors). The report adds that the much rumoured cheaper iPhone will also come in a range of different colours. It suggests that the iPhone 5S would be announced in July and will see an August release.

In addition to the prediction related to multiple colours, it's also predicted that the next iPhone would come in different sizes. Topeka Capital Markets analyst Brian White, has said in his research note that Apple will release the iPhone 5S in two or three screen sizes this summer. He also suggests a July launch and mentions that he believes that Apple would launch a cheaper iPhone.

It's not the first time that White has predicted multiple screen sizes. In January, he had said that the next iPhone may come in multiple colours and different sizes. White had also predicted that the next iPhone would come in a total of eight colours.

There's some confusion on the number of colours that the iPhone is rumoured to sport as it's not clear from the Macotakara report if Apple would add three new colours to the existing set or a single colour.

The site translates the rumour as:

"It seems that it will have gossiped if the 5-color lineup of low-priced edition iPhone is carried out until now, but iPhone 5S may be 3 colors added to 2 colors of iPhone 5 1 color somehow. However, the informed sources did not tell about the kind of detailed color."

Also, there's no mention of the additional colours but the present generation iPod touch is available in white, black, yellow, blue, and pink, in addition to a special red edition.

It seems that multiple analysts and industry watchers have agreed on the next iPhone launching in July-August. iMore's Rene Ritchie had also predicted that the iPhone 5S, is likely to release in August. The Wall Street Journal had also suggested a summer launch. Amit Daryanani of RBC Capital Markets had also claimed that Apple will launch the iPhone 5S and the much-rumoured cheaper iPhone in June or July.

Sony Xperia SP launched in India for Rs 27,490

After giving us a taste of the high-end Xperia Z and ZL, Sony has now launched the mid-range Xperia SP in India. The Xperia SP is an evolution of the Xperia S and brings a radical design—it has a transparent strip at the bottom—in a sturdy shell. The Xperia SP was announced in March and will be available from mid-April onwards for Rs 27,490.

A 4G-ready handset, the SP brings a 4.6-inch 720p display in a sleek body that's reminiscent of the Xperia ZL. Sony has retained the LED notification strip that we first saw in the Xperia U. The unique strip, which sits below the display, will match the approximate colours of the album art of the song that’s playing on the phone and will also pulse with the music. Additionally, users can customise the colour of the LED notification light to correlate to their contacts.

The Xperia SP has a sleek aluminium-based body

Available in black, red and white, the SP takes its design cues from Sony's flagship Xperia Z, which is given away by the very accessible aluminium power button. It is powered by a 1.7GHz Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor, while the Adreno 320 GPU is in charge of graphics. There's 8GB of internal storage space, but you can use the microSD card slot to expand that. The Xperia SP will run Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean out of the box along with Sony’s customisations and India-specific apps such as Sony LIV and Sony Music.

Another interesting perk is the capability to hook up with Sony's DualShock 3 controller to let you play games using real controls instead of on-screen controls. To hook up a DualShock 3 controller to an Xperia SP, you simply have to pair both the devices via Bluetooth, as the controller uses simple Bluetooth protocols. After you've paired the two, you can connect the controller to the SP by pressing the PlayStation button on the controller.

Around the back is an 8-megapixel camera module based on Sony’s Exmor RS sensor that's capable of shooting 1080p video, and there's a VGA front-facing shooter to take care of video chats. To improve the build quality of the Sony Xperia SP, the company has endowed it with an aluminum wireframe wrapped by a plastic casing. Connectivity-wise, the SP not only offers the usual Bluetooth, GPS/GLONASS, Wi-Fi and MHL-powered microUSB combination, but also brings in NFC.

Here are the key specs of the Xperia SP:

• 4.6-inch display with a 1280 x 720-pixel resolution
• LTE, HSPA+, GPRS/EDGE
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot
• Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP
• NFC
• GPS with A-GPS support and GLONASS
• 8MP primary camera with LED flash, 1080p video and VGA front-facing camera
• 8GB internal storage, with microSD card slot

Sony has added a 2370 mAh battery and has also thrown in Stamina mode, which should ensure good battery life. The official stand-by time is quoted as 709 hours (LTE), while the talk time is rated at 18 hours and 53 minutes.

Google kicks 60,000 low-quality apps out of Play Store

The Google Play Store is now much lighter and refreshed thanks to 60,000-odd low quality apps being taken off it. The search giant apparently booted the apps from the store because they failed to live up to Google’s standards. This was by far the largest app-cleaning exercise we've seen on the Play Store.

According to a TechCrunch report, the spring cleaning of sorts took place in February. However, not all of these were pulled out by Google. A part of the apps could have probably been taken off Google Play by the creators themselves.

Unlike Apple’s App Store, Google has handed app developers a free hand over the store. While Apple screens every single app that goes up on its Store, Google exercises the “wait and watch” principle on its own Store. This is not always a good thing, since it allows the inclusion of sub-standard and low quality apps until someone from Google manages to spot and delete them.

Spring cleaning is still a part of Google

Anyone who’s used an Android phone will realise that Google Play is plagued with spammy apps. Apps that spread malware, spread spam, and contain sexually explicit content are always on Google’s radar.

Here is what Google’s Terms of Services have to say about how apps that are suspected to spread spam are identified:

Spam and Placement in the Store

Developers are important partners in maintaining a great user experience on Google Play.

• Do not post repetitive content.
• Product descriptions should not be misleading or loaded with keywords in an attempt to manipulate ranking or relevancy in the Store’s search results.
• Developers also should not attempt to change the placement of any Product in the Store by rating an application multiple times, or by offering incentives to users to rate an application with higher or lower ratings.
• Apps that are created by an automated tool or wizard service must not be submitted to Google Play by the operator of that service on behalf of other persons.
• Do not post an app where the primary functionality is to: Drive affiliate traffic to a website or provide a webview of a website not owned or administered by you (unless you have permission from the website owner/administrator to do so)
• Do not send SMS, email, or other messages on behalf of the user without providing the user with the ability to confirm content and intended recipient.

This development comes in the wake of rumours about Google’s Play Store undergoing a redesign. A leaked video by Droid Life and a screenshot released by a YouTube employee show that Google is looking to release a cleaner user interface for the Store. Google Play is expected to be upped to version 4.0 with the impending update. It looks like Google is going in for not just a lighter look, but also a lighter load with the revamp.

Windows Phone 8 will support 1080p displays by the end of the year

Microsoft is planning to update Windows Phone 8 to support 1080p resolutions. Sources familiar with Microsoft's Windows Phone plans have revealed to The Verge that the company will issue an update later this year that brings support for the 1080p resolution and new 5-inch and higher devices. Windows Phone 8 currently supports WVGA, WXGA, and 720p resolutions.

The update, known as a General Distribution Release (GDR3) for Windows Phone, will set the stage for new devices set to debut for the holidays. HTC had originally planned to release a "Zenith" flagship device with a 4.7-inch display and quad-core processor, but the company reportedly cancelled its plans as the device would have a lower resolution than its competing Android models. We understand that the GDR3 update will also provide support for new Qualcomm processors, allowing manufacturers to opt for quad-core devices with Windows Phone.

Microsoft's update will arrive as part of the new devices, but we understand that it's not directly related to the company's Blue plans for Windows Phone — a codename for a future upgrade. Windows Phone Blue is tentatively scheduled for early 2014 and will help bridge the gaps between Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system and Windows Phone 8. The software maker is planning to enable additional points of synchronization, including the browser, to further integrate both operating systems.

Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 details leaked

Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Mega Duos GT-I9152 smartphone will come with premium features like a dual-core 1.4 GHz mobile processor, 1.5 GB RAM and Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean operating system, according to SamMobile.
Samsung is expected to bring two large screen display bearing smartphone-tablet hybrid devices under its 'Galaxy Mega' series including this Galaxy Mega Duos GT-I9152 smartphone which will have a 5.8 inch display. Another handset in this series is reported to come with a 6.3-inch display.
Meanwhile, SamMobile has now claimed to have got tipped about the features of the Galaxy Mega Duos GT-I9152. Quoting its sources, the website claimed that the Galaxy Mega Duos GT-I9152 will have a 5.8-inch display with 940x560 pixels resolution. That means, the display will be just big but not as crisp as the other premium Android smartphones. In a way, it will be like a large Galaxy Note or Galaxy Player device.

The Galaxy Mega 5.8 will also come with the Nature UX user interface. At the back, it will feature an 8 megapixel camera while a 2 megapixel will be in the front for self-portraits as well as video chat.
For wireless connectivity, the phone will have 3G networks support, WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0 while location based services will be powered by GPS with A-GPS support. Samsung will pack a 2600 mAh battery to make this large display bearing device run for long time.
From the specifications, the Galaxy Mega Duos GT-I9152 does appear to be an improved and beefed up version of the Galaxy Grand Duos. So far, there are no details on the official launch, availability or even estimated pricing of the new Mega phones.

Intel announces next generation Thunderbolt interface capable of 20Gbps speeds

Intel has announced the next generation of the Thunderbolt interface that will be able to offer data transfer speeds of 20Gbps (Gigabits per second) in both directions, almost double of what the current Thunderbolt interface offers. The announcement was made during the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The development was first reported by Engadget which also noted that the next generation Thunderbolt tech (which is code-named Falcon Ridge) offers simultaneous 4K video file transfer and display and runs at 20 Gbps. It's worth pointing out that 4K files would be much heavier than 1080p video files.

The new interface will be backward compatible with the previous generation Thunderbolt cables and connectors, which means that you'll be able to use them with devices that sport the new interface. Production will start in 2014, as per the report.

Intel claims that Thunderbolt has about 200 licensees, and greater number of compatible devices. It intends to launch new thinner cables in a few months.

For the uninitiated, Thunderbolt, which was code named Light Peak, is a hardware interface, developed by Intel in technical collaboration with Apple, that allows users to connect external devices including storage devices and display devices with one port. It combined both capabilities and offered more transfer speed than Firewire, which was a serial bus interface standard for high-speed communication, initiated by Apple.

The first device to ship with the Thunderbolt port was apple's 2011 MacBook Pro. Other high speed interfaces include USB 3.0 that offers transfer speeds of up to 5 Gbps, which is more commonly found than Thunderbolt. The high cost of Thunderbolt prevented it from reaching the masses.

HTC One to hit India by late April for Rs 42,900

HTC has launched its latest flagship, the HTC One, in India. The phone will be available in stores by the end of the month and is set to cost Rs 42,900. It has an aluminium unibody and will be available in silver or black colours. The One has a 4.7-inch full HD SuperLCD3 display that has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. This means the screen has a pixel density of 469 PPI, the highest we have come across yet. The phone has a lot of new features, including the BlinkFeed, Zoe, BoomSound, and the new version of Sense UI.

The HTC One is coming to stores this month for Rs 42,900

Here are some of the key specifications of the HTC One:

• 4.7-inch LCD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels
• HSPA+; LTE, Cat3, GPRS/EDGE
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/ac/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot
• GPS with A-GPS support and GLONASS
• Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP
• NFC
• HTC UltraPixel camera with autofocus, 2.1-megapixel front camera
• 32 or 64GB internal memory

The HTC One was launched back in February at swanky, simultaneous events in London and New York. The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 600 CPU, which has four Krait cores clocked at 1.7GHz each. There is also an Adreno 320 GPU and a healthy 2GB of RAM.

“People today immerse themselves in a constant stream of updates, news and information. Although smartphones are one of the main ways we stay in touch with the people and information we care about, conventional designs have failed to keep pace with how people are actually using them,” said Faisal Siddiqui, Country Head, HTC India. “A new, exciting approach to the smartphone is needed and with the new HTC One, we have re-imagined the mobile experience from the ground up to reflect this new reality.”

The HTC BlinkFeed transforms the home screen into a single live stream of information aggregated from various sources. The infomation displayed on the screen includes social updates, entertainment and lifestyle updates, news and photos.

HTC Zoe gives people the ability to shoot high-res photos that come to life in three-second snippets. These photos, called Zoes, are then displayed in a way that brings the gallery to life and transforms the traditional photo gallery of still images into a motion gallery. It also automatically creates integrated highlight films from each event comprised of Zoes, photos and videos set to music with professionally designed cuts, transitions and effects. These highlight videos can be remixed or set to different themes, and can be shared on social networks, email and other services.

HTC BoomSound introduces front-facing stereo speakers with a dedicated amplifier and a full HD display that immerses people in music, videos, games and the YouTube clips they love. BeatsAudio integration is enabled across the entire experience.

Samsung Galaxy Y Plus and Galaxy Young now available in India for Rs. 6290 and Rs. 8290

The Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus went on sale in India for Rs. 22,900 couple of weeks back, now Samsung’s new budget phones, the Galaxy Y Plus and the Galaxy Young are on sale in India from online retailers Snapdeal and Flipkart. The Samsung Galaxy Y Plus (GT-S5303) surfaced on Samsung India’s website last month. It has a 2.8-inch QVGA (240 x 320 pixels) capacitive touch screen display, powered by a 850 MHz  processor and runs on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich).  The Samsung Galaxy Young (GT-S6312) was announced back in February, and we also brought you hands-on images of the device from the MWC 2013. It has a 3.27-inch ( 480 × 320 pixels) capacitive touch screen display, powered by a 1 GHz processor and runs on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean). Both these phones have dual SIM support with dual SIM Always On feature.
Samsung Galaxy Y Plus specifications

• 2.8-inch  (240 x 320 pixels) capacitive touch screen display
• Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
• 850 MHz processor
• 2MP camera
• Dual SIM (GSM + GSM)
• 3G HSPA 7.2 Mbps, Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth, aGPS
• 4GB internal memory, expandable memory up to 32GB with MicroSD.
• 3.5mm audio jack, FM Radio
• 1200 mAh battery

Samsung Galaxy Young specifications

• 3.27-inch ( 480 × 320 pixels) capacitive touch screen display
• 1 GHz processor
• Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) OS
• 3MP rear camera
• Dual SIM (GSM + GSM)
• 3G HSDPA 7.2 Mbps, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS
• 3.5mm audio jack
• 768 MB RAM, 4GB internal memory, expandable memory up to 64GB with micro SD
• 1300 mAh battery

The Samsung Galaxy Y Plus and Galaxy Young are now available from Snapdeal for Rs. 6290 and Rs. 8290 respectively. The Galaxy Y Plus comes in Blue color and the Galaxy Young comes in Blue, White, Silver and Red colors.