Apple came with an iOS update this Monday and have urged its all iOS users to update their devices immediately. The iOS 5.1.1 patch fixes 3 serious security issues found in the existing devices, mostly browser based bugs.

The updated iOS  version 5.1.1 will work on  iPhone 3GS, iPhon 4, iPhone 4S, iPod Touch (3rd generation and later), as well as the iPad, iPad 2, and new iPad.

However,  jailbroken devices  can also update to iOS 5.1.1 excluding newer devices like iPhone 4S, the iPad 2, and the iPad which came after the iPad 2.

One address bar spoofing bug and 2 webkit browser based bugs are addressed in this security update.

Micromax recently introduced its latest model Micromax A50 android smartphone which is available at a very competitive price, a mere Rs. 4,999 only. And this droid also showcases a voice assistant tool called AISHA much like the popular SIRI.

HIGHLIGHTS OF MICROMAX A50:

• 7.9 cms Capacitive touchscreen
• Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread Mobile OS
• Features the all new AISHA (Artificial Intelligence Speech Handset Assistant)
• Dual SIM Support
• 3G, Wi-Fi, GPRS and Bluetooth connectivity
• 2.0 MP Camera
• Gravity Sensor
• External Storage expandable upto 32 GB

Press Release by Micromax at the end of the post.

The A50 is powerful in multi-tasking too as it comes with a 650 Mhz processor speed. However the most exceptional feature of this phone is AISHA, the voice assisted tool. In the end we all want a phone which can do our tasks in a jiffy, in this case AISHA will prove very helpful for you.

Is AISHA a mimic of SIRI?

You just exchange a command such as “Update status on Facebook” and the rest is done by AISHA. You can also ask her “What is the weather in New York” and she will respond to you by “The weather is cold”. As you can see the commands are all a mimic what we found in iPhone’s SIRI, but then again iPhone 4S costs double than what A50 is priced at.

Although there are voice assistance tools for Android available at Google Play such as Skyvi and Iris but Aisha performs better and responds to your commands with much greater accuracy than those apps.

Impressive TVC

VERDICT: Looking at the connectivity options such as 3G and Wi-Fi and also enough processor speed for everyday use, this smartphone is priced at a very cheap rate i.e. Rs. 4,999 which is pretty competitive because not a lot of manufacturers these days are putting their models on sale with such feature sets in that price range. If you are looking for an affordable Android phone with more than enough features to get you started then look no further, Micromax A50 is best suited for you.

But if you are one of those who are into photography and want pro features then don’t consider buying this phone because 2.0 MP camera is not the best option. The starting point for you will be 5.0 MP found in Galaxy Fit and Galaxy Ace and other mid-range phones which also have nice processing powers and GPS functionality.

Here is the official press release by Micromax:

Bangalore, April 26^th, 2012: Micromax Informatics Limited (“Micromax”), the 12th largest handset manufacturer in the World (According to Global Handset Vendor Market share report from Strategy Analytics) today announced the launch of A50 Ninja, which comes with an Artificial Intelligence Speech Handset Assistant, “AISHA”.

Priced at Rs. 4,999/- the Micromax A50 Ninja makes an effort to provide an affordable smartphone solution for the masses who have longed for a phone which is not just smart but an intelligent device. In succession to A85, A75, A73 and A78, Micromax intensifies its Superfone portfolio by introducing A50 and thus offering handsets ranging from Rs. 4,999 to Rs. 12, 500.

A50 runs on Android version 2.3.6 (Gingerbread) with a processor speed of 650 MHz .The phone features a 7.9 cms multi touch capacitive screen to provide ease to the users. It’s another dual SIM Android powered offering from Micromax. However, with A50 Micromax offers a new innovation to the user in form of AISHA. Through the voice recognition tool, Users can initiate a Google search, view stock market details, Know phone status, movie reviews, make calls, read news of desired locations, know horoscopes, make language translations and also view recipes through AISHA. This is not just enough, AISHA helps you to inquire your missed calls, send message, inquire date and time, weather conditions, pose knowledge questions and a number of jobs to count on.

AISHA is an application that translates words into action. By simply speaking to the phone, the users can connect with the people, businesses and activities that are important to you. With AISHA if the users need to check the weather conditions they just need to say ‘What is the weather in Delhi’ and AISHA will respond saying “The weather will be sunny”.

For the smooth functioning of AISHA to provide an intelligent and immediate response, Micromax has back-end tie up with Indian portals such as Timesjob.com, Simplymarry.com etc

Through AISHA, the users can update their status on Facebook and Twitter. A50 comes on the Gingerbread platform and the users can discover a hub of apps that awaits them at the Google Play Store ranging from entertainment to music apps. Micromax A50 sports a 2.0 MP camera.

Superfone A50 Ninja is available at an attractive price of Rs. 4,999. This model will be available across all leading retail outlets in India.

Microsoft® Exchange ActiveSync® is a popular protocol used worldwide for mobile email application. The Good news is Nokia mail for Exchange is now ready for download for S40 Asha phones( Asha 302 and 303 ).

Equipped with Microsoft® Exchange ActiveSync®, the application enables Email, Calendar & Contact data synchronization between Nokia Asha phones & Microsoft® Exchange servers.

Currently the product is in Beta and could be downloaded here ..

Features of Nokia Mail for exchange:

Email:

• View emails with extended text formatting
• Flag, move and copy messages
• Sync multiple folders
• Contacts auto complete when composing email
• Search messages locally
• View attachment file name and forward attachments

Calendar and contacts synchronization:

• Integrates with Series 40 Asha calendar and contacts applications
• View synchronized events from Exchange calendar
• Create new synchronized personal calendar events
• Create, accept and reject meeting requests
• Two-way contacts synchronization
• Global address book lookup of contacts

Nokia Mail for Exchange: Download link.

The American based computer systems manufacturing company Dell has again surprised us with its newest range of systems which house the latest Intel’s 3rd generation Ivy Bridge processors.

As we know Intel recently released their Ivy Bridge processors later in April which contain 3-D transistors and are of 22nm architecture. Getting a PC with these processors will certainly future-proof you at least till the next year and Ivy Bridge also boast of a 20% performance improvements over its predecessors Sandy Bridge.

Although there are only desktops available now from Dell which features Intel’s 3rd generation processors. Dell will soon start manufacturing laptops and notebooks with Ivy Bridge processors. If you want a high performance desktop right now you had better go with Dell because their prices are really cheap for the average consumer.

The two desktops are the Dell XPS 8500 and the Dell Vostro 470. Here are the specs and pricing of XPS 8500 and Vostro 470.

SPECS

Dell XPS 8500:

·  3^rd Generation Intel Quad Core i5 and  i7 processor options:

o    Intel Quad Core i5 3450

o    Intel Quad Core i7 3770

·         Powerful AMD Radeon and NVIDIA GeForce graphics options:

o    1GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 640

o    1GB AMD Radeon HD 7570

·         Configure with up to 16GB of DDR3 memory (4GB standard); 4 DIMM Slots

·         Configure with up to 3TB 8.89 cm 7200RPM HDD (1TB standard); optional HDD and SSD configurations up to 3TB + 256GB mSATA SSD

·         DVD drive with optional Blu-Ray Combo drive for advanced entertainment

·         Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate options

·         Integrated 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN

·         Bluetooth 4.0 with Wi-Fi card; optional WLAN combo card (802.11n + BT 4.0)

·         Integrated 7.1 Surround Sound

·         (4) USB 3.0 + (6) USB 2.0 PowerShare; RJ45 Ethernet, HDMI, VGA, Headphone jack, Microphone jack, 19-in-1 media card reader

·         Available in White with Chrome trim

Vostro 470:

·         3^rd Generation Intel Core i5 and i7 processor options

·         Powerful AMD Radeon and NVIDIA GeForce graphics options:

o    NVIDIA GeForce GT 620

o    1GB AMD Radeon HD 7570 DDR5

·         4 DIMM Slots capable of expanding upto 32GB 1600Mhz memory

·         Support for 2 storage drives with up to 2TB 8.89 cm 7200RPM HDD

·         DVDRW drive

·         Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium with Windows 7 Professional optional

·         Integrated 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN

·         Bluetooth 4.0 with Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) card

·         Integrated 7.1 Surround Sound

·         (4) USB 3.0 + (6) USB 2.0 PowerShare; RJ45 Ethernet, HDMI, VGA, Headphone jack, Microphone jack, 19-in-1 media card reader

·         350W power supply

PRICING

The XPS 8500 starts at Rs. 53,000/- (excluding taxes) and Vostro 470 starts at Rs. 44,900 (excluding taxes).

VERDICT

By buying these desktops you save a lot of money on your electricity bills, hehe not really, but these processors are very energy efficient and does not consume a lot of power. A small warning for pros out there, please don’t overclock your Ivy Bridge processors as there are reports on the web that they run hot compared to the Sandy bridge processors when overclocked. Also if you like living on the Bleeding edge buying Intel’s 3rd generation desktops will certainly not be a bad choice for you!

So what are your thoughts? Will you buy these chics or go with the good old Sandy Bridge processors instead, comment and let us know your thoughts.

People are anxious to witness the new variant in the Tablet Era. With Windows 8 announcement for Tablets, and Nokia handshaking with Microsoft, It is not surprising to hear rumors now and then. How would a tablet built by Nokia look like? Well,it runs on Windows 8 OS, that’s all we know!!

And what we have concept tablet called Nokia Lumia Coffee Tab, which could soon be a reality! Remember the days when Nokia-Microsoft partnered to become NOKMSFT unveiling the Nokia Concept phones running windows phone 7 …(Similar excitement now for the Tablet now!)

Jorma Ollila, the outgoing chairman of Nokia though confirms the probable launch of a new range of new tablets and ‘hybrid’ smart mobile models, he calls all these rumors as “misconstrued” and asks us to wait till the official announcement! Here we go!

Google Drive is the latest attraction from Google which is a Cloud storage solution but more than that actually. But we already have a number of solutions for cloud storage such as the popular Dropbox, box.com, Microsoft Skydrive but what’s so special with Google Drive? Lets find out shall we.

What’s the Getaway?

Google Drive as all other cloud solutions gives you a limited storage space at first i.e. a 5GB free account and when upgraded to a paid plan gives you 25GB for $2.49 per month but the getaway is your Gmail account will also have been upgraded in the process. So finally you get a mail account with 25GB of storage space for all your mails, isn’t that a good news?

It also has the functionality of Access Anytime, Anywhere just like every other cloud solution. You can access your Google Drive by your Android device by installing the Google Drive app available at Google Play. Sorry to say but an iOS app is currently unavailable but there are plans to release it in the future. You can also access Google Drive through your PC by installing the Drive software.

A Social Network? Brilliant!

Google Docs is the main highlight of this app. That’s where the real fun starts. The Google Drive already has Google Docs built into it so it becomes easy for you to store your documents and other presentation files.

Where Google Drive really excels is when it brings a small social network into picture. Whenever you share your documents to your friends or colleagues from the Google Drive, your friends can then make a comment on the post and you can reply to them back on the same thread and you get notifications for the same too. This way you can make conversations right from the app, perhaps this feature is the real deal when it comes to Google Drive. And did i tell you can share your files on Google+ too? Perhaps that was seen coming already!

Another main highlight of this app is that it can handle almost 30 file types on its own i.e. next time you are looking to open a PDF file on your Google drive from your browser, its not necessary for you to have Adobe Reader installed onto your computer, Google Drive automatically opens it for you.

Exceptional Filtering Technology

Searching for a pic with your wife when you had been to Hollywood? Don’t get stressed, the filtering feature which comes with Google Drive is top notch. It scans your faces with image recognition technology and filters out texts in your documents with the help of Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology.

Here is a short video about Google Drive for you to get to know it better.

Impressed with all the good things about Google Drive? Why not give it a try? Head to the official page of Google Drive and Sign in with your Google account. After Google finishes setting up your drive, you will receive a notification to log in.

Looking for the perfect companion for the tablet or PC? The wait is over! Microsoft has introduced the Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 5000 for the Indian market. Priced at an attractive Rs. 3350/-, it’s a must-buy as it has the full functionality of a keyboard, is compatible with both tablets and PCs and yet small enough to slip into a bag. Less than three-quarters of an inch thick, buying this keyboard also means getting rid of pesky wires, docks or trans-receivers.

That’s not all. The Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 5000 works equally well with Microsoft Windows, iPad, iPad2, and many Android devices – making it one of the first multi-platform Bluetooth keyboards to be launched in India.

Slim, stylish and cool, the keyboard is very easy on the hands. It has an ergonomist- friendly Microsoft Comfort Curve design, which promotes a more natural wrist posture whether the user is typing from office, the couch or a café. It’s also compatible with a PC, making for much less clutter on the table.

Commenting on the Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 5000, Mr Satish Parreddi, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Retail Sales & Marketing, Microsoft Corporation (India) Pvt. Ltd said, “Consumers today want style, portability as well as comfort and our latest keyboard is the perfect companion to today’s mobile lifestyle. Microsoft Bluetooth Mobile keyboard 5000 is especially designed for people on the move and as the market for mobile products such as the Tablets and Laptops increases; this is poised to become an accessory consumers would definitely want”.

Fast Facts: Microsoft Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 5000

System : Compatible with Microsoft Windows®7,Windows Vista, iOS and Android
Price: Rs. 3350/-
Availability: April, 15, 2012
Weight: 0.4 Kgs
Ergonomic: Yes
Colour: Black
Keys: 104
Battery: Standard AAA and removable

Bangalore, India. – April 12, 2012 — LogMeIn Inc. (NASDAQ: LOGM), the company behind the popular namesake remote access service, has just opened the beta of‘Cubby’, an all new cloud data service to simply and securely share information across PCs, Macs, iPads, iPhones, Android devices, or with other people. The first service built on LogMeIn’s very own cloud data sync and storage platform, Cubby lets people turn any number of PC or Mac folders into ‘cubbies’ that can be accessed from other devices, stored in the cloud, and shared with colleagues and friends. Cubby also gives people the option to simply share or sync an unlimited amount of information across their devices for free, and without ever counting against cloud storage limits. As a result, people have the flexibility to share and access information across their devices without having to worry about creating a new, separate version of their digital life in the cloud.

People interested in participating in the Cubby beta, which includes 5GB of cloud storage, free unlimited syncing across devices, as well as apps for the iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac and Windows, can request an invitation at Cubby.com.

“When it comes to sharing data in the cloud today, most solutions on the market are ultra simple but inflexible, or highly flexible but inherently complex. We see Cubby as an opportunity to deliver an ideal balance of simplicity and flexibility,” said Marton Anka, LogMeIn’s CTO. “It is designed to adapt to the way people naturally interact with their information — to deliver the benefits of the cloud without forcing people to change their behavior.”

Cubby highlights:

· Any folder can be a cubby – People can simply use the folders they have – their existing PC or Mac folders – or they can take advantage of a simple, easy-to-use default cubby. There’s no need to put files and documents into a single cloud folder/box, and no need to recreate existing folders.

· Share your stuff across devices for free, cloud optional – People can share their stuff across their devices for free, without being restricted by cloud data storage limitations. Cubbies can be stored to the cloud or simply synced across devices.

· Decide what content gets shared across which devices – Any cubby and its content can be synced to selected devices. So people can keep their work, personal and family information as separate as they’d like. No need to have those family holiday photos on your work PC or a copy of the latest TPS report from the office on your kid’s Macbook.

· Multiple ways to share and collaborate with others – Cubbies and their content can be shared with others either by inviting them into a cubby, which lets both parties see, work with, and sync content; or they can simply send people read-only links to files and cubbies.

· Simple access from anywhere, any device – Cubby can be accessed from any web browser, comes standard with Mac and PC desktop apps, and offers a free iPad and iPhone app in the Apple App Store and a free Android app in Google Play.

· Architected for security — Built on the same architecture used for LogMeIn’s connectivity products, Cubby takes advantage of industry best encryption standards to ensure data is protected at all times. As a key additional step, Cubby is designed in a way that gives users the ability to be the sole owner and holder of their encryption keys.

LogMeIn’s New Data Services

Cubby is built on LogMeIn’s Gravity Data Services, LogMeIn’s own, proprietary data synchronization and storage cloud. Architected to deliver secure, high-scale data sync and storage capabilities at incredibly low cost, the new Gravity Data Services has been designed to help bring new offerings, like Cubby, to market, as well as to introduce cloud data benefits into virtually any other offering, service or application. LogMeIn plans to use Gravity Data Services to expand its suite of essential cloud offerings, add a variety of new cloud data capabilities to its existing family of access, customer care and remote IT management products, and create opportunities for 3rd parties to build their own cloud offerings on LogMeIn’s platform.

“Anywhere, anytime, any device access to information is quickly going from aspiration to expectation, and we’re only in the beginning of the post-PC era. We believe Gravity Data Services will play a key role in delivering the essential cloud services required in a time when virtually anything can be connected to the Internet,” said Michael Simon, LogMeIn’s CEO. “We see this as both a natural extension of our business today and key step towards dramatically expanding the types of services we offer to consumers and businesses in the future.”

About LogMeIn, Inc.
LogMeIn (NASDAQ: LOGM) provides essential cloud services to individuals, businesses, and IT organizations for remote access, collaboration, customer care, and remote IT management. These services are used by more than 15 million people to quickly, simply and securely connect over 150 million internet-enabled devices across the globe — computers, smartphones, iPad™ and Android™ tablets, and digital displays. LogMeIn is based in Woburn, Massachusetts, USA, with offices in Australia, Hungary, India, Japan, the Netherlands, and the UK.

LogMeIn and Cubby are trademarks of LogMeIn in the U.S. and other countries. iPad and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., and Android is a trademark of Google, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries around the world.

As you would have seen this morning. Google’s navigation bar has an yet another addition. Its time for Google Play. As you know Google had recently revealed the Google Play platform to experience and share the unique features it offers for the Android users.

Basically, it is a transformation of Google Market into Google Play which gives you a one stop shop to listen to music, watch movies, and read ebooks on your Droid. Apart from that you can also browse through 1000′s of android apps.

The recent addition of Google Play icon in the navigation bar (highlighted with a red colored NEW label) makes it more easier for us to access Google Play content. Placed between the very popular Google Maps and Google’s very own video service YouTube, Google Play is likely to get more Clicks from visitors all over the world.

According to the Official blog post,

Entertainment is supposed to be fun. But in reality, getting everything to work can be the exact opposite—moving files between your computers, endless syncing across your devices, and wires…lots of wires. Today we’re eliminating all that hassle with Google Play, a digital entertainment destination where you can find, enjoy and share your favorite music, movies, books and apps on the web and on your Android phone or tablet.

As you can see the glossy Google Play logo also looks good as a favicon in any browser.

You should also know that apart from offering free apps, Google Play has integrated Google Music too and you can now stream or buy music right from the Play Store. To download music and videos just sign in to your Google account and then purchase apps with the help of Google’s pay service, the Google Checkout.

After download your Music will stay on Google servers as the whole thing is Cloud based and you needn’t worry about copying your files to other android devices too, because the sync will happen automatically, assuming you have already configured your synchronization settings!

If you would like to watch Google’s intuitive new idea in launching Google Play then here’s a video to show you just that!

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Yes its true. HTC’s Beats Audio, the music enhancer software that comes bundled with every HTC Phone is now available for your Android Phone too and also its completely free.

We have seen many Android apps which can be used to amplify your music and add extraordinary sound effects on your Droid smartphone such as DSP Manager, PowerAMP, Xloud, etc, unlike the stock music app which consists of no music enhancements whatsoever.

Beats Audio is one such software which elevates your music to the next level but this app existed for HTC users only, until recently a Senior Member at the XDAForums who goes by the codename “RockoDev” developed the app for all Android devices. Many users have confirmed it works for all the Android versions. The files consists of a flashable zip which is to be put on the root of your sdcard and flashed using a recovery app like ClockworkMod.

Here’s a step by step procedure on how to flash it.

PREREQUISITES: 

1. Make sure you have a recovery manager like ClockworkMod or ROM Manager before trying to flash this file.

2. Make sure your Android device is fully rooted i.e. you have Superuser access to your Droid filesystem.

3. Make sure you are using a Android 2.3+ Gingerbread ROM atleast. This app is not tested on Phones running Froyo or any other lower category ROMs.

If you are sure you meet all the above requirements please proceed to the next step on how to install Beats Audio.

HOW TO:

Step 1: Download the Beats Audio zip file by visiting this thread at XDA.

Step 2: Copy the file to the root of your sdcard i.e. don’t keep it in any folder.

Step 3: Reboot into Recovery by pressing Power+Home button simultaneously and choose the option Install zip from sdcard.

Step 4: Locate the file you copied in Step 2 and Press Yes. Let it flash and then select Reboot system now.

Voila. Check out your App drawer and there it is the Beats Audio app!

If you would like a video tutorial instead, here it is.

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Source: XDA Blog