Digital HotSpot

Nokia's failure: No flexibility in US, emerging markets

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 18 Sep 2013 07:30:00 +0530

After just three years of massive restructuring that was supposed to revive Nokia, the former global mobile communications giant, the company's gone. Why?

Recently, Microsoft agreed to acquire the handset and services business of Nokia for about $7.2 billion. In the process, Stephen Elop, the former Microsoft executive who ran Nokia until the deal was signed, will rejoin Microsoft, which some observers believe sets him up as a potential successor for its CEO Steven A. Ballmer.

To Nokia's veteran executives, it was a day of infamy. I should know. At one point or another, I have talked with and interviewed most of them.

Only months before the release of "The Nokia Revolution" (Amazon, 2001), in which I recorded the early success of the company, Finland-based Nokia's stock price peaked at $60 and market cap exceeded $250 billion.

After the technology bubble burst, the stock declined to $16. Unlike its big country rivals that made most of their money in the U.S. and the U.K., Nokia made more than 99 percent of its revenues outside its tiny home market. It was Nokia's success in China and India and the takeoff of mobile services that boosted the stock to $40 before the global crisis in 2008, as I argued in "Winning Across Global Markets" (Wiley 2010).

But was everything all right at Nokia? No.

Strategic erosion

By 2010, Nokia was being squeezed by competition on two fronts. Even as its handsets were challenged by low-cost producers in emerging economies, Apple's iPhone, followed by Samsung, was surging in smartphones that Nokia had been developing already in the mid-1990s, but failed to commercialize.

There was nothing inevitable in this dual challenge, however. Intel, too, had struggled with parallel low-end and high-end challenges in the late 1990s, but survived.

Despite its mantra of listening to the customer, Nokia had also grown less responsive and more self-contented. When Apple was pushing its user-friendly iPhone in 2007, Nokia's R&D was looking too far in the future.

Indeed, Nokia's U.S. operations exemplify its strategic erosion. In China and India, it was far more flexible, willing to tailor products and services, and to localize its workforce. In the U.S., such responsiveness was belated. Unlike Samsung and LG, it failed to expand market share in the U.S. and it did not invest adequately and in time in the market, industry, developers, R&D or personnel.

The problem is that Nokia's strategic erosion—its failure to sustain its technology innovation and retain its market leadership in both advanced and emerging markets—explains Nokia's relative decline until 2009, but not its value meltdown after 2010.

(Read more: Nokia's tweet taunt of Apple goes viral)

Before and after the great restructuring

After the Great Recession, Nokia still dominated markets. Its stock price was at about $16. In 2009, the worldwide market volume of mobile devices amounted to 1.14 billion units. Of the total, Nokia accounted for 432 million units and Apple only 20 million. iPhone was growing explosively, but its market share was barely a third of Nokia's 68 million smartphones.

Globally, Nokia's market share was 34 percent. In China, it still had 35 percent of the massive market; in India, the share amounted to a massive 54 percent. In Europe, it held its own. Outside the Anglo-Saxon world, Nokia's operating system, the clunky but influential Symbian, dominated worldwide.

But competition was catching up in many key markets and in the U.S., its market share was in decline. Soon after Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo was appointed CEO in 2006, he vowed to increase Nokia's U.S. market share—but the latter shrank by more than a half to less than 10 percent during his tenure.

That's when Elop walked into the Nokia headquarters in Espoo, Finland, in fall 2010. What followed was three years of massive restructuring. It cut costs, as it had to, but it failed to create revenues. Successful restructuring can revive ailing corporate giants, but in the case of Nokia, it all went terribly wrong.

After three years of restructuring, Nokia's global market share was halved to 16 percent. In China, it is less than 4 percent, barely a tenth of what it once was, and less than 1 percent in smartphones. In India, Nokia's share was halved to 27 percent, and to barely 5 percent in smartphones. Nokia's stock price plunged 75 percent to less than $4.

Some observers like to explain the rise and decline of Nokia on the basis of the "Trojan horse" story. In this view, Elop was Microsoft's mole, whose evil intention was to crush Nokia's market cap so that Microsoft could more easily digest the company. True, Elop's name first popped up in Nokia half a decade ago, when it began to cooperate with Microsoft. But what the Trojan horse story ignores is that Nokia's erosion began in the early 2000s and that it was Nokia's senior executives who picked Elop as CEO.

Source : cnbc

How Nokia gave the Lumia 920 the world’s fastest screen

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 07:53:00 +0530

Although it seemed perfectly fine at the time, watching VHS tapes is far inferior to the DVDs that many of us enjoy today. Likewise, the Blu-Ray format is an improvement again on the DVD viewing experience.
This subtle, and yet very real, progress in home entertainment provides a neat analogy to the technological advances made by Nokia’s engineers for the PureMotion HD+ screen on the Nokia Lumia 920.

PureMotion HD+ is the fastest screen on a smartphone. In fact, it is over twice as fast as the displays on competitor smartphones currently on the market.

It’s a result of an evolutionary process that, with each new development, has enhanced the user experience one step further. With the PureMotion HD+ display you get crisper graphics and less blurring while e.g. scrolling, navigating and playing games.

If you’re interested in the technical details of what makes the screen on Lumia 920 so fast, read on!

The challenge

“There are a few things that really affect the blurriness of the display,” says Jussi Ropo, Nokia’s Senior Technology Manager.
“First of all, all rendering should happen at a stable 60fps as only then you get rid of the jaggedness in the moving content. You can say it’s a prerequisite for all the further improvements.”

Another important aspect related to displays is LCD and how fast the liquid crystal can change its state, meaning how fast it can change from one colour to another.

“First, when you measure 60fps it means 16.7ms – you have a new image coming every 16.7ms on the display. It is intuitive to think that when your LCD response or transition time is longer than this one frame period then you will actually get quite a lot of blur. This is because your liquid crystal is still trying to get the previous value at the same time as it has to start turning again for the next frame,” says Jussi.

Transition speeds

Therefore, the trick, and the solution on the Lumia 920, is to actually have a faster response time than 16.7ms.

“On average it takes about 9ms for all of the transitions so regardless of e.g. what shade of blue you are turning into what shade of yellow, it is always below 9ms. This is the biggest step forward in the screen speed of the Lumia 920.”

This phenomenal transition speed was achieved by boosting the voltage to each LCD pixel – overdriving the panel. By comparison, other competitor phones will have a like-for-like transition speed of around 23ms.

“We have the capability of actually showing all the frames as intended rather than creating blur because the LCD could not respond fast enough,” says Jussi.

Ultimate blur-free?

As well as the transition speeds, there are other factors that can cause blurriness on your screen. The ultimate display, says Jussi, for blur free motion is the old Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) televisions but obviously given their size (and power consumption) they are not practical at all for mobile phones.

Modern LCD and plasma TVs also use upscaling via frame interpolation (inserting extra frames) to dramatically increase the fps rate. Again though, compared to mobile phones, TVs are immensely power-hungry, so these techniques are not directly applicable to mobile phone displays.

Of course, progress never rests. Nokia is still looking to improve their displays to reduce blur even further. It is a complex problem that requires a detailed understanding of how the human eye works and balancing other factors such as power consumption.

For now though, Nokia has already produced a world-leading display on the Lumia 920. Whether you are scrolling, navigating, playing games or watching video it offers a real feast for your eyes.

Read also about the screen brightness and sunlight readability and the super sensitive touch capability of the screen on the Lumia 920.

Source : conversationsnokia

LG H160 sliding tablet and V325 all-in-one PC pack Windows 8

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 22:39:00 +0530

LG has outed a duo of new Windows 8 machines, the H160 sliding-convertible tablet and a 23-inch touchscreen all-in-one, the V325, with the promise of a standalone touchscreen version in the pipeline. The LG H160 has an 11.6-inch touchscreen and runs Windows 8 on a sliding/tilting form-factor, with a QWERTY keyboard revealed when the display is pushed up with LG’s new “Auto-Sliding” mechanism.

The display itself is an LCD IPS panel with 178-degree viewing angles, while connectivity includes USB, an HDMI port, microSD card slot, and the usual wireless options. The whole thing is 15.9mm thick and weighs 1.05kg – somewhat hefty for a tablet, we have to say – but manages to fit a battery good for up to 10hrs use.

There’s also a “Smart” touch pen, though it’s not clear if that’s a simple capacitive stylus of a proper active-digitizer version; we’re hoping the latter.

As for the LG V325, that’s a 23-inch Full HD AIO PC with 10-finger multitouch and a digital TV tuner, allowing for standalone TV viewing without having to boot into Windows 8. It comes with a remote control just to complete the illusion.

When you’re actually doing some work (or gaming), however, there’s an Intel Core i5 processor, NVIDIA GeForce GT640M graphics, and support for 3D, while LG says the V325 can boot up in half the time of its Windows 7 predecessors.

LG says there’ll also be a display-only version of the AIO PC, the LG ET83, launching from October 26, targeting those content with their PC/notebook but wanting touchscreen control. The company will also have new ultrabooks – the LG Z355 and Z460 – and other laptops and desktops running Microsoft’s new OS, again from October 26.

Source : slashgear

Tablet market in India seen at 7.3 million units by 2015-16

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 22:35:00 +0530

The country's tablet PC market is expected to grow at 40 percent to 7.3 million units in 2015-16 from 0.95 million in 2011-12, driven by government purchase and increasing affordability and desirability as lifestyle devices for the youth, hardware industry body MAIT today said.
Manufacturers' Association for Information Technology (MAIT) today launched its report on the Indian tablet PC market, in association with IMRB, which said that the devices have seen massive proliferation in the country and will continue to grow in the next five years, especially with the entry-level budget tablets and mid-range devices.

"The tablet market is the new blue-eyed growth opportunity in India. It is fast becoming one of the drivers of rapid growth in the IT content consumption and hardware sector in India," MAIT President Alok Bhardwaj told reporters here.

With the introduction of several national and international brands of tablet in India, the market is witnessing a revolution of sorts with these devices changing the way services are delivered in various other sectors such as education, healthcare and governance, he added.

MAIT expects the market to touch 1.6 million units in the current financial year and grow to touch 7.3 million units by 2015-16, Bhardwaj, who is also Canon India Senior Vice President, added.

These numbers, however, include those bought by government as well.

Without government purchase, the tablet PC market for consumers alone is expected to grow from 0.35 million in 2011-12 to 1.89 million in 2015-16.

Tablet PCs are computing devices, which are now being used for Internet, connectivity and as a multimedia device. The form factor makes it easier for tablet PCs to be more mobile and the larger screen size, compared to a mobile phone, makes it a better productivity tool.

"A key factor in the growth of tablets has been the encouragement from the government in adopting and developing low-cost options for use in our villages and other rural areas. Education and healthcare services are now being accessed by many more people with the help of low-cost tablet," he said.

Tablets, being one of the cheapest devices available in the Indian market, has the potential that can transform the entire country.

An increasing number of enterprises are also opting for tablet PCs driven by mobility, ease of use, low cost and availability of applications.

Source : gadgetsndtv

ASUS PadFone 2 Smartphone Unveiled

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 07:17:00 +0530

ASUS has tried to make its mark in the tablet marketplace using a series of Transformer-branded convertible tablets, but its PadFone – which was unveiled in February and made available just a few months ago – seemed to take a different tack. Instead of a tablet plus keyboard combination, this device was a three-in-one device: a smartphone that docks into a tablet with an optional keyboard attachment.

Intriguingly, the successor to the PadFone, the predictably-named PadFone 2, was just announced by the Taiwanese manufacturer. While the original model was a mid-range smartphone with an interesting accessory, the PadFone 2 aims quite a bit higher, and demands a place at the flagship handset table.

Its 4.7-inch 720p Super IPS+ display, quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset, 2GB RAM, and 13-megapixel f/2.4 camera may just about earn it its place at that table. The PadFone 2 does come out of the box with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, but an upgrade to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean has been promised.

The phone comes with a 2140mAh battery and should be compatible with WCDMA 900/2100MHz and LTE 800/1200/2600MHz networks for the international model. No microSD card support is available, but the device does come with either 64GB or 50GB of free cloud storage via ASUS’ WebStorage service.

This smartphone is compatible with a new slimmer and lighter PadFone Station, which is a 10.1-inch tablet with a 1280 x 800 resolution. This accessory comes with a 5000mAh battery that’s smaller than its predecessor, but helps cut down weight to a combined 649-g. A keyboard dock has been promised, but no timeframe has been given.

Buyers in Taiwan could have the PadFone 2 in their hands as early as next week for a contract-free price of around $610 to $750 (phone only) or $720 to $860 (bundled with the PadFone Station). Consumers in Europe and various Asian markets could expect the new smartphone/tablet combination in December.

Source : gadgetinsiders

iPhone 5 Glitch Messes With Date And Time

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 21:53:00 +0530

As previously reported, iPhone 5 users are complaining about an apparent software glitch related to the keyboard feature. Users are also complaining about another glitch involving the automatic date/time settings.

Specifically, users are talking about incorrect days and times being displayed. There’s a big thread about this in Apple’s support forums. The thread starts with a user saying:

So, I activated my vzw iPhone5 Saturday. Very much enjoying it. Woke up yesterday and was very confused because my phone thought it was 8/26/12 and 30 minutes later than the actual time. I reset network settings and it self resolved…until this morning. I woke up and looked at my phone and had a melt down because my alarm never went off. I hurriedly got ready and looked at the microwave as I ran out, and it was 30 minutes earlier than my iPhone said.

My iPhone apparently is doing something weird and reverting to 8/26/12 + 30 minutes while I (and it) sleep. It throws off iMessage and I’m sure the rest of the date/time dependent apps, so I’ve turned off the automatic time setting for now, and its fine now (so far lol). But I would like to know what the real issue is if possible!?! Is it my phone? VZW? Does it matter?

Since the original post on September 24, there have been numerous complaints along the same lines from other users. To date, there are 361 replies.

Some believe the glitch is related to Verizon’s network in the U.S. AppleInsider reported on the issue, and was unable to obtain comment from either Apple or Verizon. Mikey Campbell writes:

While the exact cause of problem is unknown, speculation points to a bug with how the timing code embedded in Verizon’s CDMA cell network is handled.

In order to operate properly, all CDMA cell towers transmit a time signal based on data from an on-site GPS receiver, allowing the network to stay in synchronization. It is possible that either Apple’s handset is somehow misinterpreting the time signals, or timing data from certain Verizon cell towers is faulty, though at this point the theories are mere conjecture.

One user in Apple’s forum said they had talked to Verizon, who confirmed that they had heard other complaints about the issue.

Source : webpronews

Sony Vaio T13 with touchscreen; larger model announced

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 21:00:00 +0530

Sony is working on two new Vaio notebooks. The existing Vaio T13 will now be available with a touchscreen, and a larger Vaio T14 model has been announced. The Vaio T14 is the 14" version of the T13 and uses the same design, only larger. As a result, the notebook is slightly thicker and heavier. Because of its larger size, the T14 has room for an optical drive. Also present on the notebook are USB 3.0, USB 2.0, HDMI, Gigabit LAN, VGA and audio connectors. The system is powered by an Intel Core i3 CPU, clocked at 1.8 GHz. Sony has opted for 4 GB of memory the Windows 8 operating system.

For an extra cost of $100, the Vaio T13 is fitted with a 13.3" touchscreen with a 1366x768 pixel resolution. A glass plate provides an edge-to-edge finish. The recommended price for the T13 without a touchscreen is $670 (£415), the same as the T14.

Source : ukhardware

Sony Details New Ultrabook & Mobile All-In-One PC Devices

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 19:30:00 +0530

Sony is joining the Windows 8 bandwagon with the announcement of the company’s first ever hybrid ultrabook tablet, the VAIO Duo 11 Ultrabook. Joining the new series of ultraportable laptops will be a new hybrid-mobile Tabletop PC, the VAIO® Tap 20 PC and a few more Vaio laptops belonging to the T, E and S Series.

“VAIO Tap 20 is creating a new category of PC’s by combining desktop PC functionality, battery-powered mobility, and multi-angle viewing,” said Steven Nickel, VP, Sony VAIO. “This along with the innovative VAIO Duo 11 and the intuitive touch solutions incorporated across our existing PC portfolio, offers consumers flexibility to optimize their Windows 8 experience. Through the combination of compelling applications, Sony’s network services, and cross device connectivity, VAIO is leading the way in developing a new Touchworld experience. We expect when consumers think of touch PCs, they’ll think of VAIO.”

VAIO Tap 20 PC

The Vaio Tap 20 is a unique all-in-one PC. However, unlike traditional all-in-one PCs, this device provides a certain level of mobility, at least within a house or in a workplace. The device sports a 20 inch 10-point touch screen with wireless keyboard and mouse and can used either propped up by the stand or like a large tablet by laying it flat on a table. Featuring a removable battery for extended periods of unplugged usage, the device benefits from Sony’s Mobile BRAVIA® Engine 2, the same hardware that powers Sony’s Bravia range of HD television sets, providing high level of picture quality.

VAIO Duo 11

The Duo 11 is a Tablet/Ultrabook hybrid device which transforms into a tablet by the way of a sliding screen mechanism, which sony calls “Surf Slider.” This easily allows the user to switch between tablet mode and keyboard mode. The Vaio Duo 11 sports a 11.6-inch Full HD display touch screen and comes with a pressure-sensitive digitizer stylus. Being part Ultrabook, the Duo 11 will be powered by an Intel Core processor and battery life can be expected to last somewhere around 8 hours.

Other features shared by VAIO Tap 20 and VAIO Duo 11 are Dolby® Home Theatre® v4 Audio Technology, Sony Music Unlimited, Active Clip (an image editing tool developed by Sony), ArtRage Studio ( a premiere digital arts software, developed in partnership with ArtRage), Fingertapps Organizer (a touch based calendar app) and My Daily Clip.

Other Ultrabooks announced include the touch capable T13 Ultrabook and T14 Ultrabook (with built-in Blu-Ray Disc player). The E Series also gets two new models, the E Series 14P with aluminium chassis and touch screen and E17, a 17 inch full HD Ultrabook powered by a Quad Core processor. E17 is also available in 11-inch, 14-inch and 15-inch model options. The top end S Series Ultrabooks come built in lightweight magnesium, aluminium and carbon fiber materials and is available in 13.3-inch Premium and 15.5-inch models. Also the 13 inch model is now available in Burgundy Red.

Source : studentnewsie

Motorola Droid RAZR HD, Maxx HD getting Android Jelly Bean ASAP?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 17:41:00 +0530

The “mid-range” Motorola Droid RAZR M is the latest Android smartphone to join the Android Jelly Bean land.

As reported by Phandroid, the official Android Jelly Bean ROM for the Verizon LTE smartphone has been leaked out on Saturday, four days ahead of the scheduled release date of the top-end phones of Motorola Mobility for this year, the Motorola Droid RAZR HD and Droid RAZR Maxx HD.

The unofficial Android Jelly Bean update for the Droid RAZR M is working properly, according to Kellex of Droid Life. The operating system’s top features like Google Now, Google voice search and “project butter” are all in place and ready for action.

Is it safe to say that the upcoming Motorola Droid RAZR HD and Maxx HD will also receive their respective Android Jelly Bean “leak” shortly after their launch later this week? Apparently, Google’s Motorola Mobility will ship its new phones with the older Android Ice Cream Sandwich mobile operating system, but according to Motorola’s official press release, an update will arrive “later this year” and users will receive the update over the air or OTA.

The Motorola Droid RAZR M is powered by a dual-core Snapdragon processor, 1GB RAM, includes Android Ice Cream Sandwich OS out of the box and 8GB of built-in storage, 8-megapixel primary camera, front-facing camera, and 4.3-inch Super AMOLED qHD touchscreen display.

Source : popherald

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 21:47:00 +0530

In the scheme of things in the Android ecosystem, the latest iteration of the Google mobile operating system is Android 4.1 Jelly Bean which was announced a couple of months back at Google I/O. As expected, Google developer devices such as the Samsung Galaxy Nexus have already gotten the Android 4.1 refresh because their operating systems have no overlaid custom user interface to complicate the update process. Some high-end devices from last year on the other hand have already been cranked up to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean’s predecessor while the others are still stuck in the Gingerbread generation and still waiting for the chance to get a tasty dessert of Ice Cream Sandwich.

However, if you happen to rock a Motorola Atrix 2 from AT&T, you can already say goodbye to Gingerbread and say hello to Ice Cream Sandwich. That’s right, folks! The months of waiting for the official Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update to land on the Motorola Atrix 2 has finally and mercifully come to an end. As confirmed by AT&T, the ICS update is now rolling out to the handset via the usual OTA manner so be on the lookout for that little notification that’ll let you know of the update’s availability on your device. Barring that, you also have the option of manually checking for the update by going to Settings > About phone > System updates. There has been no solid word as of yet just how large the whole ICS update file for the Motorola Atrix 2 is but it is best to have it downloaded via Wi-Fi once it becomes available.

Actually, we already had an idea that the update was already on its way after reports came out a couple of weeks back that Motorola is already in the process of doing an ICS soak test so it was just a matter of time before ICS gets rolled out to the Motorola Atrix 2.

Once your Motorola Atrix 2 gets cranked up to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, it will become more powerful and yet easier to use than ever. The update brings a lot of goodies and treats to the handset and these include:

Improved page loading, offline reading, tabbed browsing and desktop mode on the handset’s new browser
Quick-launch lock screen that enables a user to unlock directly to home screen, phone dialer, text messages and camera
Creation of home folders on the handset’s home screen
New Peoples app to replace the old Contact app
Swipe-away notifications bar
Data usage monitor
Face Unlock

With this update to Ice Cream Sandwich, the Motorola Atrix 2 which is already a capable device to begin with has become even more capable than it already is.

Source : mobilebloom

Verizon to launch the Motorola Droid Razr HD on October 18?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 21:40:00 +0530

A couple of weeks back, we saw a lot of smartphone manufacturers hold their respective press events to unveil the latest and greatest devices in their lineups. We saw Nokia come out with a bevy of Windows Phone 8 devices such as the Nokia Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 while Samsung on the other hand has finally gone official with its second generation Samsung Galaxy Note II phablet. HTC on the other hand unveiled its new HTC One X+ superphone while Motorola came out with a triumvirate of Razr handsets that include the Motorola Droid Razr HD.

During the announcement, Motorola confirmed the rumors that the Motorola Droid Razr HD along with the other two devices, the Droid Razr M and the Droid Razr Maxx HD, are all headed to the shelves of Verizon. Although there was no mention of a specific timeframe as to when these handsets will make their debut in the shelves, the manufacturer confirmed that they will be out “before the holidays.”

However, there were reports that came out last week that intimated that the Motorola Droid Razr HD could possibly be delayed in hitting Verizon shelves because of an apparent issue that concerns the antenna of the handset. According to sources, this issue is caused by the size and location of the handset’s antennas. Not only that, the antennas also make contact with the Motorola Droid Razr HD’s external edges which can cause degradation of the signal every time a user touches the affected surfaces. Motorola on the other hand is said to already be working on getting the antenna issue on the Motorola Droid Razr HD rectified so that it could still release the handset during the holidays.

However, there might be some good news for those eagerly awaiting the availability of the Motorola Droid Razr HD. If certain sources are to be believed, the handset could hit the shelves of Verizon as early as next week. According to these sources, the wireless carrier has already started training its staff about the Motorola Droid Razr HD and has allegedly pegged October 18 as the launch date of the handset. There was no info regarding the handset’s pricing scheme but we are willing to bet the farm that it would come with a price tag of $199.99 with a new two-year contract with Verizon.

As for the Motorola Droid Razr HD, the handset is expected to ship with Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich for its operating system but is also slated to get cranked up to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean in the future. As for its internals, the circuitry of the handset revolves around its QualComm MSM8960 SnapDragon chipset. This brings to the table a dual-core Krait processor clocked at 1.5 GHz and a full gigabyte of RAM. The handset comes with a built-in memory of 12GB which can still be expanded using the microSD card slot of the device. Display-wise, the Motorola Droid Razr HD sports a 4.7-inch SuperAMOLED HD panel with an HD resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels while its camera department includes a rear 8MP shooter and a front 1.3MP snapper.

Source : technobloom

Motorola Droid Xyboard 8.9, 10.1 Ice Cream Sandwich Goes Live At Verizon (Android 4 ICS)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 21:32:00 +0530

We got some pretty disturbing news at the end of September when we found out that the Ice Cream Sandwich update for the Motorola Droid Xyboard 8.2 got officially pushed back, but then just a few days later we also received the good news that, after a bit of effort from Motorola’s part, the Android 4.0 update for the aforementioned tablet might be just around the corner.

Well, whether or not this period of time seemed long or short, the Motorola Droid Xyboard 8.9 and 10.1 at Verizon are now receiving the long-awaited Android 4.0 iteration.

Motorola Droid Xyboard 8.9, 10.1 Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4 ICS)

Here’s the skinny folks, both the 8.9 and 10.1 variants of the Droid Xyboard are now receiving the anticipated Ice Cream Sandwich update. That being said, in case you’re a Verizon customer and you happen to own one of these gadgets, head down to Settings > About Tablet > System updates and fire up the updating process.

The new OS version itself will bring what you would normally expect from an ICS upgrade, including Face Unlock, video chat, Google Voice, the ability to cap data usage and a better, faster browser just to name a few.

In the end, we know that at this point we all crave Jelly Bean, but if Android 4.1 will arrive on the aforementioned tablets, it’s better to wait while enjoying some good ol’ Ice Cream Sandwich, right?

Feel free to drop us a line if you’ve already received the update and let us know if everything works as intended. Enjoy and stay tuned for more.

Source : gforgames

Motorola Solutions ET1 enterprise tablet hands-on review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 02:30:00 +0530

V3 got its hands on Motorola Solutions' ET1 enterprise-only tablet, checking out how the business-focused Android device compares to its more consumer-focused competitor, the Apple iPad.

Built by Motorola Solutions, the business wing of Motorola which is entirely separate from the mobile phone Mobility wing purchased by Google, the tablet is currently only available on a channel sales model. This means it can only be purchased directly from Motorola Solutions and will never be seen anywhere near a high street store.

Design and build

Speaking to V3, Motorola Solutions Product Manager Andy McBain, explained that the tablet was designed to be useful in a variety of industries including courier, healthcare and government services, retail and construction.

This means that Motorola Solutions really hasn't bothered trying to make the tablet look very pretty. As a consequence the tablet is incredibly bulky when compared to other consumer products, measuring in at 131x224x25mm and weighing 630g.

One positive about its bulky design is that the tablet is very tough and durable. During our hands-on tests we got to bang the ET1 against a table and give it a not too gentle series of "taps" and in both cases it was the table and our hand that came off the worse.

The ET1's great durability carried over to its 7in capacitive, 1024x600 Corning Gorilla Glass screen. Demoing the device we were allowed to rub the screen over a rough wooden table and floor and in both cases the tablet's display came out scratch and chip free - we didn't dare try the same tests on any of the other tablets we had in the office.

The screen as an actual display however was slightly less impressive. While crisp and legible, we did notice that the display's heavy Gorilla Glass coating did make it susceptible to glare issues, even when used in regular indoor lighting conditions.

We didn't get the chance to take the tablet outside to try it in outdoor lighting, but given the issues we saw during our hands on, we're nervous the tablet may be all but illegible in bright sunlit conditions, a problem for businesses like courier companies whose staff spend the majority of their time outside, looking to use the tablet.

Operating system

The tablet runs using the now ancient 2.3 Gingerbread version of Android, though McBain did promise us a Jelly Bean update will be rolled in early 2013.

Motorola Solutions has made a series of customisations to the ET1's user interface, making it look incredibly bare bones when compared to consumer tablets. This is largely due to the company's decision not to overload the UI with widgets or unwanted apps.

This means that the ET1's interface is one of the nicest representations of Gingerbread we have ever seen. A nice consequence of this is that the tablet is really quite fast, with the lack of unnecessary bloatware leaving the ET1's 1GHz dual-core processor free to deal with important tasks.

That said we're still not convinced Motorola's use of Android for a business machine was a smart one. Android has consistently been listed as the least secure mobile operating system, with numerous security vendors including Trend Micro, Kaspersky and F-Secure listing it as cyber criminals' target of choice.

This is largely due to the fact that the Android OS works on an open as opposed to closed model, letting developers and users customise it. Apple by comparison has a closed model, keeping development of its operating system in-house and checking and vetting all apps applying to be released onto the platform. This means that while it is far easier to develop and mould Android to suit bespoke tasks and functions, the iPad is a likely a better choice security-wise.

Business perks

Despite our questions regarding the ET1's software we did notice a number of perks for businesses on the ET1.

The most noticeable of these is the ET1's series of "expansion modules". These are add-on peripherals that plug into the ET1's USB 2.0 port. Motorola Solutions told us that there are already numerous expansion modules on offer, both from it and third party developers.

The one we saw was a dedicated laser scanner that plugged into the tablet's top, allowing it to scan and extract information from numerous objects. During our demo we were shown how the peripheral could extract and save a contact's name and information simply by scanning a business card.

Overall

From a business perspective, our opening impressions of the ET1 are positive. Motorola Solutions has built a robust tablet, complete with a surprisingly full portfolio of business-focused apps and add-ons.
Our two concerns regarding the ET1 are that it's only available on a channel price model and its use of the Android OS.

Being on a channel pricing plan, the cost of the ET1 is subject to a number of factors, including what industry the buyer is in and how many units they want to order. Because of this the ET1 may prove to be too expensive for a number of small to medium sized businesses.

Additionally, the use of Android may put off security-savvy IT managers and systems administrators, due to the ongoing security concerns over the OS.

Source : v3

How to Profit From a Satellite Communication Resurgence

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 23:05:00 +0530

Only 14 years ago, an innovative startup launched the world’s very first global satellite communication system. Using a hand-held wireless phone, the company’s customers could call anywhere in the world – from the streets of New York to the North Pole to the center of the Sahara Desert.

The sheer cost and scale of the project – which included more than 60 low-orbit satellites – captivated technology and space buffs alike.

“It was the boldest and most-expensive private space initiative yet undertaken,” the Smithsonian reflects, “a test of the post-Cold war notion that markets might replace government as the drivers of space exploration and development.”

The company’s formal launch in 1998 solidified it as a dot-com darling, ushering in a new digital world that would give everyone on Earth the ability to instantly communicate with anyone at the push of a button on a wireless device.

There was just one problem: The venture quickly became a failure of epic proportions.

Nine months after signing its first customer, the company filed for bankruptcy. The era of commercial satellite phones was over before it even began.

The hope and hype of a space-age phone system was gone, and the headlines disappeared. Few noticed when the U.S. Department of Defense – one of the company’s first customers – saved the satellite infrastructure. Even fewer noticed when a group of new investors bought the company and re-branded it. And almost no one realizes how profitable this new company has become. Or that a massive equipment overhaul is about to usher in a new era of breakneck growth in a world where people, ships, airplanes and even machinery demand constant communication.

A bankrupt company with an idea ahead of its time is not the end of this story. In fact, it’s just the beginning…

The dream of a seamless mobile communication network took shape in the late 1980s. It was an engineering team at Motorola that initially had the idea for this global communication service. As it was initially designed, the system called for a network of more than 60 low-orbit satellites to provide a wireless phone signal anywhere in the world.

The idea of a satellite phone service was quite revolutionary at the time. The fact that the concept had never been attempted created several barriers for the engineers at Motorola. For starters, no commercial enterprise had yet to attempt to launch low-Earth orbit satellites for a communications system. It was a logistical nightmare that even required international diplomacy to ensure that the satellite phones would work with every single phone system in the world.

Despite the scale of the project, progress was made. Motorola spun off its space-bound division in 1998. Marketing campaigns for the new brand proclaimed, “One World…One Telephone.”

Now, keep in mind that cellular service in the mid- to late 1990s was spotty at best. And at the time, there was a legitimate debate as to how the world’s mobile communications would evolve. This new satellite phone system was launched at a time when the developed world’s cellular connectivity was still bare-bones.

If you ventured outside a major city, there was little chance you would be able to find a strong cellular signal.
But in the end, you know how the satellite versus cellular story ends. Cheaper cell towers became more ubiquitous, while crippling debt combined with far too few customers doomed the satellite phone business model. According to Reuters, the company charged thousands for one of its satellite phones – and call charges topped $7 per minute. With cellular phone networks growing, the choice was a no-brainer for potential customers looking to stay connected on the go.

But after the bankruptcy, new developments kept the satellite idea on the backburner. The Department of Defense saw a use in the vast satellite network and kept them all in commission. In fact, it was the government that helped find investors to purchase what was left of the company in 2000 for $25 million.
From the rubble of a failed idea, a new venture was born. And so far, that $25 million price tag has been more than worth it…

Now, this company is no longer an ambitious startup trying to sell $7,000 satellite phones. In 2012, this communications company is looking ahead to new opportunities in a world that is becoming more desperate to connect businesses, machines and people.

We all know that cellular telephones are here to stay. But what about the places where cellular service isn’t an option? It’s a bigger piece of the pie than you might think. In fact, only about 8% of the globe is covered by cellular phone service. That’s probably far less than you imagined… but it’s true. So when it comes to connecting vast parts of the world where traditional wireless communications aren’t available, this company and its network of satellites is there to take care of business. The implications are tremendous. Aircraft passengers won’t have to turn off cellphones during their flights, thanks to the company’s connectivity options, according to Reuters. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg…

Machine-to-machine technology is also fueling growth. Commercial shipments, airlines, vehicles and even oil rigs need to be monitored. This makes up its fastest-growing division. With seamless connectivity throughout its satellite network, this company is earning new contracts from organizations beyond government intelligence.

Source : wallstreetdaily

Google Nexus 7 vs. BlackBerry PlayBook

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 09:40:00 +0530

Apple’s iPad rules the tablet roost, but the market for 7-inch tablets is a bit of a free-for-all, and Google’s Nexus 7 and RIM’s BlackBerry PlayBook are two products battling for the same consumers at similar price points.

The Nexus 7 comes off a hot summer that saw it sold out after it launched in July. At $209 for the 8GB version and $259 for the 16GB, customers had little reason to argue with the price. Of course, there are trade-offs, what with there being no rear camera, no memory card slot and no cellular data. But an Nvidia Tegra 3 processor, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and a 720p HD display are compelling on their own. Oh, and it helps that it stays on for eight to 10 hours on one charge.

The Wi-Fi-only PlayBook came to market 15 months before the Nexus 7, though the 4G LTE version recently launched in August. The apples-to-apples comparison is with the Wi-Fi-only PlayBook, a much-maligned device that has undergone two price cuts in less than a year. The recent 2.1 operating system added more functionality to the tablet that brings it closer to what the original vision was. It will also be upgradeable to BlackBerry 10 when that finally comes to market in early 2013.

As is, the 32GB PlayBook is now just $149.99, while the 64GB is $219.99. That’s four times the internal memory of the 16GB Nexus 7 for $40 less. A good deal, or a smokescreen for a product lacking in other key areas?

The answer to that largely comes from accessibility and compatibility. In that sense, the Nexus 7 wins because Android trumps the PlayBook’s operating system in both respects. It has more apps, offers more variety and can interface with more accessories and third-party products than the PlayBook can.

Netflix, Kindle, Firefox, Dropbox, TuneIn and a wide swath of games and useful apps aren’t available on the PlayBook like they are on the Nexus 7. What BlackBerry App World offers are alternative and workaround apps.

Kobo instead of Kindle. SimpleBrowser instead of Firefox. Netflix doesn’t support the PlayBook, but Flix offers a way to make it happen. Forget finding TuneIn, so look for BlackBerry Radio to fill in with its 50,000 radio stations.

There are plenty of business apps in Google Play, but the PlayBook has more variety and better security. Some even interface with BlackBerry phones. Multitasking is great on the PlayBook, and watching movies or shows stored on either device isn’t all that different, except for screen resolution.

The PlayBook can run Android apps, but only the ones that have been ported over to App World. Tech-savvy users can install unsupported ones through a process called “sideloading”, which requires an app called DDPB be installed first.

What matters here depends on how you measure either tablet’s ability to do what you actually want it to do. For convenience and playing around, the Nexus 7 wins. For basic tasks and something small business-friendly, the PlayBook is a good bet.

Source : calgaryherald

Review: Nexus 7 tablet

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 09:33:00 +0530

The Nexus 7 sets the new gold standard for budget tablets.

After several years of watching manufacturers achieve mixed results with Android tablets, Google has finally had enough. Much like Microsoft’s forthcoming Surface tablets, the Nexus 7 is an attempt to marry the company’s popular OS with the quality of hardware it deserves – and at the right price.

It isn’t technically a Google tablet. You won’t find the company’s name on the device at all. Instead, Google has co-opted an Asus tablet first seen at CES in January, reworked some aspects and come up with something it was happy with – although only Asus has its name on the device.

Whoever takes the credit, the Nexus 7 has attracted plenty of attention with its mouth-watering sub-$300 price tag. For that money, you get a narrow device with a 7in widescreen display, a first look at Android’s 4.1 Jelly Bean update, and even a $25 Google Play voucher.

Little wonder
It’s immediately obvious that the Nexus 7 is a cut above most budget tablets. It’s just the right size and weight (340g) to fit in the hand, and its mottled rear panel feels soft on the palm. A speaker grille sits just below the Asus logo, with power and volume controls on the right edge, and headphone and micro-USB sockets on the bottom edge. It’s sparse, but its gentle curves mean that it feels far from cheap.

The screen is a 1280 x 800 IPS panel, making for a pixel density of 216ppi – not up there with the iPad, but higher than any smaller tablet we’ve seen. It’s pretty sharp and readable, and the wide aspect makes movie-watching a treat. We measured the maximum brightness at 330cd/m2 and the contrast at 1100:1. Our only complaint is that colours lack punch, with a washed-out look that’s noticeable next to more expensive tablets. The speaker on the rear delivers alright sound but you’ll want to keep your headphones to hand.

Inside, Asus has installed a quad-core 1.3GHz Tegra 3 chip and 1GB of RAM, so this is a blisteringly fast device. It scored 3687 in the Quadrant benchmark and took 1799ms to complete the SunSpider JavaScript test – both scores are as fast as tablets at twice the price. It effortlessly ran every app we threw at it, including the intensive Shadowgun and the oddly demanding Angry Birds Space, and everything about the OS feels smooth and responsive in a way that Android just hasn’t managed until now – Jelly Bean’s Project Butter advancements have clearly smoothed out many aspects. It did get slightly hot after prolonged gaming, but never dangerously so; we measured the back at 42°C.

With all that power crammed into such a small device, battery life is hugely important. Asus has squeezed in a non-removable 4325mAh battery, and the Nexus 7 ran dry after 8hrs 48mins of running a video on loop at half brightness with Wi-Fi disabled. This result isn’t anywhere near the best in its field, but it’s perfectly acceptable for a travelling device.

There are only three areas in which the budget obviously shows. First, there’s no camera on the rear, leaving you with an average 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera. Second, although it’s advanced enough to include NFC, there’s no 3G option.

Finally, there’s the issue of storage: the Nexus 7 is available in 8GB ($249) and 16GB ($299) flavours, with no card slots to add to that. Even with its modest price, we’d be reluctant to buy the cheaper model – with the focus on content consumption, you’d fill that 8GB in no time at all.

Source : pcauthority

Google Nexus 7 review: Even iPad Mini may not beat it

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 09:26:00 +0530

There are three things that you must know about Google’s Nexus 7 tablet. 1) It is a 7 inch tablet. 2) It runs Jelly Bean, and 3) it costs $199.

Steve Jobs famously said that 7 inch tablets were impractical. Too small for reading, surfing, playing games or watching movies, and too big to use as a phone. Well, he was wrong. The 7 inchers have come of age and Google’s Nexus 7 is the beauty of the ball.

MG Siegler, the Techcrunch writer and known Apple fanboy, could not help praising the tablet. “With the Nexus 7, Google has, for the first time, created an Android product that I would buy for myself. And I wouldn’t have an issue recommending it to anyone else,” Siegler wrote.

The 7-inch form factor makes the tablet perfect for many situations for which the 10 inch iPad is not good. For example, reading in bed, wrote Seigler. Also a 7 inch can be used with one hand, a 10 inch tablet can’t, a 7 inch tablet is much more portable, because of its size and weight, which the 10 incher is not.

The Nexus is a beautiful tablet. “It’s sleek and beautiful, with rounded edges, unlike the sawed-off rectangular back of the Fire, and a “pleather” back panel that feels great,” wrote David Pogue of New York Times. The ‘pleather’ refers to the leather-like feel Google was able to achieve on the back panel of the Nexus 7, even though it is made of plastic. The back is easy to hold in the hand, and makes the Nexus look classy.

Now, to the part about the Jelly Bean.

This latest and greatest iteration of Android came with something called Project Butter. The endeavour was to make the whole OS faster and smoother by fixing 60 fps as the default frame rate across the OS. Going by the reviews the effort was success.

“Jelly Bean finally puts Android on a par with Apple’s iOS operating system, which drives the iPhone and iPad, in two key respects: Responsiveness (when the hardware is potent enough) and elimination of the constant need to resort to menus, which plagued most prior versions of Android,” wrote Walt Mossberg of the AllthingsD.

Jelly Bean is fast and responsive, rivalling the iOS in this respect. Its voice assistant, which is fundamentally different than Siri, in that it gives functional information rather than talking with you – has got a more natural voice with Jelly Bean. Google also introduced a new feature called Google Now which supplies information relevant to your time and place – like bus route information when you are at a bus stop – or flight information if you had been searching for it, and so on. Voice dictation works even when offline, (Apple products can’t do that) you can also save Google maps for offline use, and the notification centre has been touched up.

The Nexus 7 also beats the iPad in battery life. In Mossberg’s test, its battery lasted longer than that of the iPad, coming in at 10 hrs 44 minutes, while the iPad logs in 9 hrs and 58 mins.

There are some drawbacks to the Nexus 7.

While it is a fully featured tablet, its storage capacity is just 8 and 16 GB. (Google is about to launch a 32 GB version, which will see the price of the base model go down further).

It does not have expandable storage, and there is no way to beam your content to a TV. Google launched an iTunes like store called the Google Play. But its content offering falls short of both Apple and Amazon. Though apps for Android have been growing fast, it still does not have enough optimized apps for tablets. Thus what you get are scaled version of the phone app. Even though that does not look as bad on a 7 inch tablet as it could on a 10 inch one, especially optimized apps are in a different class altogether.

Despite these failings the $199 price tag makes it a steal. Apple’s iPad comes for $500 dollars. Other 7 inch tablets, like Galaxy Tab from Samsung comes for $250 dollar, and they are not as good.

Source : nvonews

There's A Nasty Bug That Can Reset Your Galaxy S III If You're Not Careful

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 9 Oct 2012 02:00:00 +0530

There are several reports going around this morning about a malicious line of web code for Samsung's Galaxy S III that causes the phone to reset to factory settings if you visit the page.

The exploit was discovered by security researchers and demoed in this YouTube video that's being passed around. I haven't had a chance to test it on my Galaxy S III yet, but the threat seems like the real deal.

How can you protect yourself until Samsung provides a software update? If you're sent a link or QR code from a stranger, don't open it. In reality, the chances are pretty low that you'll come across the malicious link.

Source : businessinsider

The iPhone 5 Has A Bug That Makes The Screen Flicker

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 8 Oct 2012 21:44:00 +0530

Several users in Apple's support forums are reporting that the iPhone 5 screen flickers when the keyboard pops up.

In fact, it happened to our own iPhone 5 screen last night. The bug appears to be a software glitch, as it only happens when the keyboard launches. The on-screen image distorts with jagged lines, sort of like an old TV trying to find the right channel frequency.

We've heard from several people that the bug only happens when you launch the keyboard in the App Store, specifically when you enter your Apple ID or password to download a new app. But we've been unable to reproduce the glitch since last night.

There are several videos on YouTube demonstrating the screen flickering. You can check them out here, here, and here.

We've asked Apple for comment and will update if we hear back.

Source : businessinsider

Apple on iPhone 5 purple flare: You're aiming it wrong

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 8 Oct 2012 21:37:00 +0530

Apple has responded to complaints that some photos taken with the iPhone 5 show a purple flare, saying it happens to many smartphones when they're aimed near a light source like the sun.

"Most small cameras, including those in every generation of iPhone, may exhibit some form of flare at the edge of the frame when capturing an image with out-of-scene light sources," the company wrote in the support section of its website. "This can happen when a light source is positioned at an angle (usually just outside the field of view) so that it causes a reflection off the surfaces inside the camera module and onto the camera sensor."

Apple suggested keeping bright light from shining into photos taken with the phone.

"Moving the camera slightly to change the position at which the bright light is entering the lens, or shielding the lens with your hand, should minimize or eliminate the effect," the post said.

Not surprisingly, some users weren't satisfied with the response.

"You gotta be kidding me apple. You must be. Now I have to protect the camera with my hand when I want to take a picture?" one user wrote in a thread on Apple's user forums. "When a new iPhone comes out, I always buy it. If there is anyone from Apple reading this, I have to tell you that I am pretty disappointed with the product, for the first time. That's very bad."
Wrote another: "This purpling has nothing to do with pointing the iPhone 5 at direct sunlight. You can see this purple is occurring in more than just the bright light scenarios."

Some have speculated that the problem is caused by a sapphire cover that Apple added to the phone's camera.

"The new iSight camera in iPhone 5 features a sapphire crystal lens cover that is thinner and more durable than standard glass with the ability to provide crystal clear images," Apple wrote in promotional material for the phone.

Some users also suggested in the forums that a third-party filter on the lens might help.

Released Septermber 21, the iPhone 5 has been Apple's biggest product launch to date, with more than 5 million sold over its first weekend on the market.

But, as often is the case with new tech products, there have been a handful of persistent complaints about the iPhone 5. Among them, some users have said the phone's new aluminum casing scratches and dents easily. And Apple's new map app, which replaced Google Maps for the first time, has been so glitchy that CEO Tim Cook issued an apology.

But, overall, reviews have been positive. And on Friday, respected product testers Consumer Reports gave the phone a thumbs-up, calling it the best iPhone yet after running a battery of tests.

"A larger, 4-inch display; a thinner and lighter profile; 4G LTE access; and a host of innovative features all helped the iPhone 5 move up in the ranks, surpassing not only the previous iPhone 4S but also a number of other new Android-based smart phones," CR wrote on its website.

In its review, Consumer Reports actually gave high praise to the phone's 8-megapixel camera.

"In the full battery of tests we give to smartphone cameras, the iPhone 5's camera proved capable of capturing beautifully sharp and vibrant photos," the report read.

CR also gave high marks to the phone's new turn-by-turn GPS navigation (a feature Android phones already had) and its larger 4-inch screen. Of the map app, Consumer Reports found it "competent enough, even if it falls short of what's available for free on many other phones," and said it expects Apple to improve it.

The phone did not, however, top Consumer Reports' smartphone rankings.

The Samsung Galaxy S III retained the top spot, and the Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX also got a higher overall score from the group than the iPhone 5.

Source : editionCNN

5 reasons to skip iPhone 5 lines

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 8 Oct 2012 07:06:00 +0530

Folks are already lining up at Apple Stores to join the annual party, hoping to be first on the block with the new iPhone 5. Pre-orders are sold out, and online orders placed today won't be delivered for two to three weeks. That means braving the lines at Apple Stores and other retailers is pretty much your only option, if you want the phone Friday or this weekend.

But maybe being first on the block isn't so radically important. The iPhone 5 will be just as cool in mid-October. Here are five reasons not to bother camping out for an iPhone this weekend.

1. The phone isn't that radical. Yes, the phone has been redesigned with a slightly larger (4-inch) screen and faster processor. Apple promises zippier speeds via connections to 4G LTE service from AT&T, Verizon Wireless and Sprint. The LTE service is available in some spots, but not everywhere. Those are all great features, but they will be just as great a few weeks later, after you've ordered the phone online and waited patiently for it to arrive in the mail.

2. Competition. Your chances of getting the phone for this weekend aren't good. Apple sold 2 million iPhone 5s in its first hour of pre-order sales before pulling the plug. Odds are very good that pros will be online ahead of you -- folks who are paid to be there by foreign interests who either want to re-sell the iPhone or to make their money producing apps and need the new device as soon as possible. The iPhone 5 goes on sale Friday in the U.S. as well as in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and the United Kingdom. It rolls out a week later to 22 more countries, including Italy, Spain and Sweden. But countries such as China, Russia and South Africa will have to wait a long time for their official iPhone 5 fix. Apple hasn't announced when the phone will be sold there. So you've got some stiff and well-heeled competition on the line.

3. Software update effectively gives you a new iPhone. On Wednesday, Apple makes available a free iOS 6 software update that gives you a new phone without you having to buy a new one. Apple promises 200 new features in the software, which includes Apple's take on Maps (goodbye, Google Maps) which offers spoken turn-by-turn directions. You also get Passbook, an app that ties together all your tickets and loyalty cards, Facebook integration and a massive improvement for the FaceTime video chat feature. Before, you could only speak in Wi-Fi hot spots. But with the new software, you can also talk over cellular signals. Get used to the new features on your old phone while you wait for the new one to arrive.

4. It's an expensive purchase. The iPhone 5 starts at $199 with a new or renewed two-year contract. If you're not eligible for an upgrade, the iPhone 5 starts at $649 and goes up to $849 for a model with 64 gigabytes of storage. That's a lot of moola to spend -- even more if you ditch work for the day to stand in line and get docked for a day's work.

5. You buy time to stock up on new power adapters. The iPhone 5 ditches the old 30-pin connector that worked on 150,000 devices -- such as car chargers and home stereos -- in favor of the new, smaller and thinner "Lightning" cable. Apple's reasoning is that the new thinner, phone required a smaller charger. Apple will try to ease the pain by offering a $29.99 adapter for the old cords, which we all have lying around the house to juice up our iPhone, iPad and iPod. So by the time your new phone arrives in the mail in early to mid-October, you'll have discovered the new software features you like, have adapters ready to charge up and dock your new phone and saved yourselves hours of strife braving the weather and crowds so you could be first on your block.

Source : usatoday30

AT&T iPhone 5 iOS 6 Microcell Users Are Facing Problems

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 8 Oct 2012 07:00:00 +0530

For customers of AT&T who do not get good reception in their home due to the peculiar location of their house can get over the problem by getting a 3G Microcell device which will boost the weak signals through their existing broad band connections. However sometimes the Microcell which has been installed itself become a cause for disruption of communication and it is a situation where the disease is worse than the cure.

Many iPhone 5 users who have installed microcell in their smartphones or iPhone 4 users who have upgraded to iOS 6 are facing difficulty in reception of signals. I have an iPhone 5 and it has a 3G Microcell device installed. However inside my house the device does not work and I have to switch to VOIP like Skype for my business communications. I had a talk with AT&T guys and they informed me that they are aware of the problem and are working on it. However they did not give any timeframe for the problem to be solved.

The Microcell is a complicated device and is managed by three entities-AT&T, Apple and Cisco who makes the device. Having a word with my good old friend who is a geek in wireless technology helped me to get to the gist of the problem which is caused by the following reasons-

The first reason for it not to work is that 3G MicroCell does not support LTE connections. It is a hardware issue and is caused because the HSPA base band chip on the device’s circuit board is incompatible with LTE. Nothing can fix this problem. However I have read in forums that some users were able to connect with their Microcell by just switching off the LTE. Microcell connects to the fastest connection and will choose the weak LTE signal instead of the stronger 3 or 4G HSPA signal. So switching off the LTE will do the trick.

Another problem with the Microcell not working with iPhone 5 or the iOS upgraded iPhone 4 is that it adjusts its signals it generates to avoid interference with local towers. This in turn depends upon how weak the signals are at the time of activation. The user’s phones will also adjust their transmitter power based upon the strength of the received signal from the MicroCell. So the balancing of the signals becomes very tricky and often erroneous.

The Microcell is a boon for people who are residing in rural areas where the signal strength is often poor. However it causes problems in city where the signals are adequate but are unable to reach the inner parts of your house. There is also a risk of hacking. Therefore users are cautioned to proceed very carefully and report back any issues with your 3G MicroCell or if your iPhone 5

Source : pc-tablet

Samsung Galaxy S3 Better Than iPhone 5 (15 Reasons Why)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 8 Oct 2012 06:54:00 +0530

The iPhone 5 is doing valiant battle against the Samsung Galaxy S3, and the S3 is on the backfoot. Samsung however wants to keep the spotlight shined brightly on the S3 and went to great lengths to make an ad showing 15 reasons why its flagship is better than the newly released iPhone 5. In case you missed the ad, here’s is what Samsung had to say.

Why Samsung Galaxy S3 beats the iPhone 5 (Samsung ad)

The Samsung Galaxy S3has NFC and the iPhone doesn’t. NFC is as good as Bluetooth but expands just what you can do by simply tapping your phone against NFC-compatible devices.

Smart Stay keeps the Samsung Galaxy S3 back light on while the user is looking at the screen. This is handy for well-lit places.

S-Beam allows the transfer of data between handsets simply by tapping them together.

Share Shot means that Samsung Galaxy S3 owners can share images over their own Wi-Fi, like iPhone’s Shared Photo Streams.

Group Cast is great for people giving presentations. Users can see files like PowerPoint and interact with them live, as well as PDFs and images stored on their phones.

Direct Call is handy, too. If you’re writing a text and realize you need to call the person instead, just raise the phone to your ear and it’ll start calling the person.

Smart Alert vibrates to tell you you’ve missed calls or texts. It’s like the notification centre, but it reminds you to check your phone rather than you remembering.

Palm Swipe Capture lets users screen grab by swiping a palm over the Samsung Galaxy S3 screen. The iPhone 5 does screen grabs too, but users have to hold the home and sleep/wake buttons down.

Palm Touch works the same was as Palm Swipe, but you use it when you’re playing music to mute it.

Picture in Picture lets users watch videos when they’re already doing something else. You watch the video in a small pop-up.

Shake to Update means you shake your Samsung Galaxy S3 to refresh your apps, like Twitter. Just shake to get your latest tweets.

The removable battery is great if you buy another and keep it charged as a back-up. The iPhone 5 battery is notoriously unremovable.

The Samsung Galaxy S3 supports a microSD card and this can double the storage in some cases to a whopping 128GB. The iPhone 5 simply does not.

Turn Over to Mute does as it says on the tin. Use this widget to silence an incoming cal in seconds.

Tilt-to-Zoom also does as it says on the tin. This is better than pinching.

Now of course it was a bit naughty of Samsung to leave out the many features of the iPhone 5 that put the Samsung Galaxy S3 in the shade, but you can’t find fault with these 15 in their ad either.

Source : autoomobile

ST's Wearable Body Sensor Technologies to Power Preventice’s BodyGuardian Remote Monitoring System

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 7 Oct 2012 18:05:00 +0530

STMicroelectronics, a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, and Preventice, Inc.TM, a leading developer of mobile health solutions and remote monitoring systems, announced today that ST is providing wearable body sensor technologies to power the new BodyGuardian Remote Monitoring System (RMS)TM from Preventice.

Preventice recently announced its receipt of 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the BodyGuardian RMS, allowing Preventice to market and sell BodyGuardian to hospitals and clinics for use in detecting and monitoring non-lethal cardiac arrhythmias for ambulatory patients.

ST, one of the world's largest semiconductor companies serving all sectors of the electronics industry, has made a strong commitment to expanding its expertise and innovation in sensor technology to health care and other industries.

"A key goal for ST is to enable our customers to quickly develop solutions that contribute to people enjoying a better quality of life; ST makes that possible through our unique ability to provide the complete breadth of products and technologies required for their applications," said Benedetto Vigna, executive vice president and general manager analog, MEMS and Sensors Group, STMicroelectronics. "The clearance from the FDA of the Preventice BodyGuardian System clearly demonstrates our expertise in helping customers develop medical-grade electronics for demanding markets."

The BodyGuardian RMS uses clinical algorithms that were developed by doctors at Mayo Clinic to support remote monitoring of individuals with cardiac arrhythmias. The BodyGuardian System will allow physicians to monitor key biometrics outside of the clinical setting, while patients go about their daily lives, by providing a continuous connection between the patient and their physicians.

According to Preventice, this connection is made possible by a small body-worn sensor that is attached to the patient's chest. This sensor collects important data, including the patient's ECG, heart rate, respiration rate, and activity level and transmits that data to physicians via mobile-phone technology, enabling doctors to monitor patients from their iPad or desktop. The wearable body sensor in the BodyGuardian RMS is enabled by ST hardware and software technology that includes sophisticated MEMS, low-power STM32 microcontrollers, and analog components combined with advanced ST-proprietary algorithms.

"ST is a pioneer and leader in the sensor industry and working with them allows us to bring the high-end, clinical monitoring technology developed by Mayo Clinic and Preventice to a broader base of patients," said Jon Otterstatter, co-founder, president and CEO of Preventice. "Our goal at Preventice is to bring sophisticated remote patient monitoring to patients where they live, work and play—creating an environment of continuous care for patients with cardiac arrhythmias and a variety of other chronic conditions."

The potential for remote patient monitoring to reduce patient costs and influence care delivery is contributing to rapid growth in the use of wireless monitoring, which is expected to continue in the coming years. In fact, recent research from Kalorama shows that the U.S. market for advanced patient monitoring systems has grown from $3.9 billion in 2007, to $8.9 billion in 2011. The market is expected to reach $20.9 billion by 2016, according to this same study.

Source : azosensors

TRITTON Pro+ Headset Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 7 Oct 2012 14:35:00 +0530

Pluck the sleek white TRITTON Pro+ multi-format headset from the packaging and its build quality is instantly recognizable. Sturdy while lightweight, this True 5.1 Surround Sound headset looks lovely. Included in the box is a wealth of cabling, connectors and the important decoder box through which everything is connected. Bear in mind, you’ll need a spare plug socket to give it the necessary juice to blow your ears off though.

Set up can take a while, but is relatively painless thanks to the included instructions, which outline how your 360 and PS3 (as well as PC/MAC in Europe) can be connected. There are a lot of ports to navigate, however, with optical lead, USB cable, power supply and another couple of leads to connect to the Xbox controller (they even bundle a cable for use with non-standard controllers). Unlike some rival headsets, it’s great that every conceivable cable is included in the box – even the older Xbox 360 model is catered for. The 12ft cable that runs from the decoder box to the headset means you can comfortably sit back a fair distance from your console too.

The successor to the AX Pro, the new Pro+ headset crams four Neodynium drivers into each ear (30mm Front & Rear, 23mm Center, 40mm Sub) to provide thumping base and decent midrange. It looks and feels lovely – with nicely positioned over-ear cups and plush leatherette cushioning. Even the outer portion of the headsets lights up with the trademark double-T logo glowing orange when it’s up and running. All external sounds are nicely isolated so you’ll be hard pushed to hear anything beyond the confines of those earcups too. A nice touch is the Selectable Voice Monitoring (SVM) feature, which lets you hear your own voice when you speak so you’ll never need to shout and disturb those around you!

Despite the very rigid appearance of the Pro+, it’s supremely comfortable and quickly becomes more supple after use. Your ears are nicely encapsulated and won’t feel squashed, while sweating is less of an issue than some rival headsets. There’s also a thick cushioned strip that lines the band that sits atop your head. For those of you with larger heads, the headrail is also extendable so you can ensure a decent fit. Thanks to the various speakers packed within the headset, it can feel a little weighty during long gaming sessions, however. But those guys at Mad Catz have again made removing them for a quick break as easy as possible by incorporating the trademark Tritton swivel on each earcup so they rest nicely around your neck.

We did find that for the best results, you really need to take some time to configure all the settings at the start, with each driver tweakable via the inline control. Additional buttons on the decoder box feature nifty features such as “Time Delay” – to adjust the front and rear channels and the time it takes the sounds to emerge – and “Dynamic Range Control” to change balance and ensure you can pick up both soft and loud sounds.

Playing Black Ops or Modern Warfare 3 was a joy with these on your head. You’re given complete control over the front, central and rear speakers as well as the subwoofer and can change the settings to ensure even the most subtle footsteps are detectable. We played many matches online and it really did appear to improve our performance; being able to gauge which direction gunfire was coming from certainly improved my position in the leaderboards. Try spinning around on the spot while stationary too and you’ll hear the positioning of the explosions and shots change. Magic.

We also put it through its paces with a few other popular titles and were very impressed with the results. FIFA 12 was hugely atmospheric with the Pro+ headset – every tap of the ball, blow of the whistle and roar of the crowd resonates through your ears as though you’re there. Get a win and the cheers and celebrations blow you away. And wait until the soundtrack kicks in… the tunes thumping away in the background sound fantastic.

Similarly, a playtest of Resident Evil 6 certainly added to the atmosphere as we negotiated the gothic cathedral, Chinese streets and snowy mountain ranges. As you’d expect, zombie games are perfectly suited to this kind of setup with all those groans of the shuffling undead creeping up behind you. The sound effects are nicely amplified too – and it was quite impressive that you could pick up every minute detail. Wandering round the halls of the university campus, for example, the squeak of the floorboards was otherwise missed through my TV speakers. Add the cinematic background music to the mix and the experience is fantastic.

Against friends, voice chat is crystal clear, helped by the removable and highly-flexible microphone that connects to the left earcup and can be positioned wherever you please. The only real downside seemed to be that it picks up a little too much… some friends mentioned they could hear every little sound in the background of my room as well as my voice.

Sure, it would have been cool if they were wireless, there’s loads of cabling and they’re not cheap (£149.99 in the UK, $199.99 in the US) but whether you’re gaming, playing music or watching movies, the Pro+ performs well whatever. The retail price may be high but for the build quality, performance and the amount of use you’ll no doubt get out of them, they’re well worth the investment. You’ll never listen to games in the same way again!

Source : gamingbolt