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Is Samsung Ready to Leave Android?

2012-09-02T12:00:00.000+05:30

Samsung is getting a lot of buzz for being the first company to unveil a Windows Phone 8 device, beating the mobile OS' flagship manufacturer, Nokia (NYSE: NOK [FREE Stock Trend Analysis]), by roughly one week. Is this a sign of things to come for Samsung? Or will the company stand by Google's (NASDAQ: GOOG) beloved operating system?

Not likely. Samsung makes too much money with Android to leave the platform behind. That said, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) has yet to sue Samsung for building Windows Phone 7 devices. It did, however, sue Samsung for developing a multitude of Android devices. In the United States, those lawsuits have already cost Samsung more than $1 billion.

By developing for Microsoft's (NASDAQ: MSFT) platform -- which appears to be free of patent disputes with Apple and other tech companies -- Google might have a reason to be concerned. If the Windows Phone 8 devices prove to be big sellers, Samsung will have fewer reasons to develop for Android. In time, the company's biggest and most important phones could move to the Windows Phone platform. If that happens, the entire market is likely to shift.

Again, this is not likely to happen any time soon. Samsung is still a big supporter of Android. In fact, without the Galaxy Note 2 (an Android-based phone), Samsung would not have any hope of undercutting the iPhone 5's unveiling. Without Android, Samsung would not have beaten Apple's smartphone sales figures by more than 20 million units. And without Android, Samsung could not have sold a ton of smartphones after losing a silly lawsuit.

Dropbox makes a post-hacking security fix, Introduces two factor user authentication

2012-09-01T15:00:00.000+05:30

DIGITAL LOCKER SERVICE Dropbox has added two factor authentication that it promised customers following a data security breach it suffered in July.

The cloud storage provider implemented the new user authentication scheme on Monday. The change means that users will now need their password and a security code that will be texted to their mobile phone to verify their account.

"Two-step verification is one of several steps that we're taking to enhance the security of your Dropbox. We've also created a way for you to view all active logins to your account on the Security tab, and we're working on automated mechanisms to identify suspicious activity," said Dropbox in a blog post.

The new verification system is one of several security features promised by Dropbox. The new features were announced in August after the company admitted suffering a data breach.

The breach saw a number of customers email addresses and account details become compromised after criminals managed to successfully hack into a Dropbox employee's email account.

"A couple weeks ago, we started getting emails from some users about spam they were receiving at email addresses used only for Dropbox. We've been working hard to get to the bottom of this, and want to give you an update," read Dropbox's statement.

"Our investigation found that usernames and passwords recently stolen from other websites were used to sign in to a small number of Dropbox accounts. We've contacted these users and have helped them protect their accounts."

The data breach was taken as evidence by security vendors that Dropbox remains unsuitable for business use and caused massive damage to the company's reputation.

Android 4.1 causing problems with paid apps

2012-08-12T09:00:00.000+05:30

The Google Android Jelly Bean 4.1 operating system employs encryption which is creating problems especially for paid apps.

Google's latest operating system, the Android Jelly bean 4.1 is apparently causing serious problems with paid applications. Owing to the newly added application encryption system adopted for the Android Jelly Bean, the paid applications are loosing their credentials and information after the device restarts.

The Google Android Jelly Bean 4.1 operating system employs encryption of applications especially in the case of paid application in order to reduce and eliminate piracy of apps. This is done by choosing a different install location for paid applications. This potentially eliminates all the possible piracy options.

While Google has addressed piracy issues with each new OS release such as with Jelly Bean's App Encryption, its solution has ended up being worse for developers. Apparently developers are claiming encryption (the location of installed and encrypted apps from the Play Store) makes their apps completely unusable because account information is removed after a device reboot.

Due to lack of information, the paid applications and widgets fail to proceed as the information they seek is either not accessible or has already been removed due to reboot of the device.

As of now, there is no official solution to this problem but Google has disabled the encryption feature. But the developers are working hard as to get the security and encryption feature back on track as soon as possible.

No more "Metro UI" for Windows 8

2012-08-11T09:00:00.000+05:30

Microsoft no longer wants to use the term "Metro User Interface" for its upcoming Windows products.

Global software giant Microsoft has been using the term 'Metro' for the new user interface that made its debut with the Windows Phone 7.5 Mango. But with the upcoming Windows 8 operating system, Microsoft is set to rename the 'Metro User Interface' as the 'New User Interface' or the 'Windows 8 style User Interface'.

As reported by ARS Technica, Microsoft's legal and corporate affairs team has issued an internal memo banning the use of the word "Metro" with regards to Windows. As per the report, Microsoft has in the memo clarified that the decision was taken after German retailer, Metro AG, sent a notice to Microsoft threatening legal action for infringing the "Metro" trademark held by it.

The new terminology that Microsoft will be using in regard with its upcoming operating system will be "Windows 8-style UI" when talking about Windows 8 applications, and "New User Interface" when talking about the company's product line-up.

As per a Microsoft spokesman, "We have used 'Metro style' as a code name during the product development cycle across many of our product lines. As we get closer to launch and transition from industry dialog to a broad consumer dialog we will use our commercial names."

Whatever might be the reason for the change but finally no Metro user interface will be available for Windows 8 which is to be launched in the month of October this year.

Just forward unsolicited SMSs to punish sender

2012-08-10T09:00:00.000+05:30

In recent months, mobile users have seen a resurgence in messages from real estate agents, travel agents and even those offering to send bulk SMSs.

With unsolicited SMSs still haunting mobile users in India, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has now come out with a new proposal under which telecom users just need to forward the SMS to 1909 to punish the sender.

According to a proposal by the telecom regulator, apart from providing an easy way to complain about unsolicited messages, there will also be a provision of Rs 500 fine from the first violation itself and cancellation of connection of unregistered telemarketers on the tenth violation.

The plan is to get access providers to put in place a system that blocks the delivery of unsolicited SMSs that carry similar signatures and come from a number that sends more than a specified number of messages every hour. Even banks or travel portals that send messages related to transactions will now have to hire registered telemarketers, the regulator suggested.

In recent months, mobile users have seen resurgence in messages from real estate agents, travel agents and even those offering to send bulk SMSs, which TRAI said came from unregistered telemarketers who used 10-digit numbers.

One of the reasons behind the surge, a senior officer in the regulator agency said, was the Delhi High Court order lifting the ceiling of 200 text messages a day, a decision which the regulator has decided to appeal against in the Supreme Court.

Although the regulator and the government have moved from a system of a Do-Not Call register a few years ago, it was revamped last September with mobile users given the option to register to fully block or partially block pesky messages. Besides, only registered telemarketers could call.

While the messages did stop, they resumed within a few days as marketers discovered a loophole and started routing messages from other countries. The TRAI official, however, said the regulator had plugged the gap, referred to as modem farming, as it had asked service providers to scrub bulk messages coming from foreign shores.

The draft regulation proposes that operators collect an undertaking from consumers at the time of purchase that the SIM purchased will not be used for telemarketing; and one from transactional message sending entities that they will use only registered telemarketers for their promotional activities.

RIM wanted BlackBerry with Android OS?

2012-08-09T18:00:00.005+05:30

Research in Motion has no second thoughts about leaving BlackBerry OS or options for any other operating system, but still there were certain options.

After the announcement of the delay of the BlackBerry OS 10 by Research In Motion, there were quite a few rumors about RIM in search of different operating systems for its device just in case the BlackBerry OS 10 fails to do the magic. But while the company might be warding off the rumors by saying they will stick with BlackBerry OS, the chief executive officer of RIM Thorsten Heins did mentioned a slight inclination towards Android when it comes to choices. Although not said clearly, this indeed confirms that RIM did think about Android as a viable option for sustaining the BlackBerry platform.

According to an interview given to the telegraph, Thorsten Heins said "We took the conscious decision not to go Android. If you look at other suppliers' ability to differentiate, there's very little wiggle room. We looked at it seriously - but if you understand what the promise of BlackBerry to its user base, it's all about getting stuff done. Very little time to consume and enjoy content - if you stay true to that purpose you have to build on that basis. And if we want to serve that segment we can't do it on a me-too approach."

Although it was not the preferred choice for the developers out at RIM but it certainly was one of the options.

BlackBerry has always been a great platform and while with the new operating system company will be coming up with a host of new things as well. BlackBerry OS 10 will allow for "true multitasking", potentially running a car's navigation, entertainment and gaming systems for the whole family.

Well all things have settled now, and RIM will be showcasing the BlackBerry OS 10 based devices next year and looking at the present beta version of the operating system, we would say that some pretty exciting times are just up the horizon.

Convert your TV into an Android tablet

2012-07-31T12:00:00.000+05:30

There are a lot of options that convert your TV into an Android device without the need to change anything inside the TV. Here are the options available in India.

We have had a wave of low cost tablet PCs and Android smartphones, now it seems that the time for micro PCs based on Android is coming up. These devices use a TV screen or computer monitor as display. The pricing currently starts at $48 (Rs 2,500) but unfortunately the prices in India are still very high.

We hope that Indian brands will soon bring these mini PCs to India at an affordable price, just the way they did with smartphones and tablets. In the meanwhile you can have a look at some of the devices that you can get shipped through eBay (apart from the three devices sold in India officially). You can also ask your friends abroad to help you get these.

Razor Bee (Rs 2,999)
The Razor Bee smartTV upgrader is a box shaped device that is based on Android 2.2, and comes with an ARM Cortex A8 processor and 256 MB RAM. This product is being sold by a Hyderabad based manufacturer.
It comes with a touchpad based remote, allows web browsing, Youtube video playback, quick and TV-friendly search, and plays media from USB or SD cards.

It comes with DLNA player that allows DLNA enabled mobile phones, tablets or PCs to push music, photo and videos to the TV.
On the down side the box doesn't have WiFi connectivity, though you can attach a WiFi router. It comes with two USB ports that can be used to attach a webcam, keyboard etc. However, it doesn't support 3G dongles. The connectivity is through an RJ45 jack for internet. It also has a 3.5 mm jack for a mic and headphone.
The box is priced at Rs 2,999 and some of the sites are offering basic mobile phones free from Micromax and Olive. Only three months warranty is offered for this box.

Google TV Cloud Stick (Rs 5,045)
This is a very neat pen drive shaped device that you can plug into the TV's HDMI port (in case your TV doesn't have an HDMI port, this is not for you); and here you go, your TV starts running Android 4.0 with full access to Google Play store. You can even stream video from your PC over WiFi.
The dongle gets 4 GB internal storage. Unfortunately there is no external storage option. For attaching a keyboard or mouse you have a full USB port. There is no battery in the device and therefore you will have to keep the charger attached all the time, but then that's alright since it's not a mobile device anyway.

This cloud stick supports full HD playback and almost all the popular file types. It also supports cloud storage like Dropbox and streaming of media.
In terms of hardware you get a 1 GHz processor, 512 MB RAM, and 4 GB memory. There is no keyboard or mouse in the box. Though it is a very useful device, unfortunately it is costly due to it being imported by the seller. Otherwise, it is a $48 (Rs 2,500) device only.

Portronics Limebox smart (Rs 6,999)
This smartTv box comes with full one year warranty and is based on Android 2.3. It has a 1.2 GHz processor, 512 MB RAM, 4 GB internal memory and up to 32 GB through SD card. You also get WiFi support and an RJ45 jack for internet connectivity.
In terms of ports you get two USB, 1 HDMI, and three audio out jacks (you can therefore connect 5.1 speaker systems). You can also attach a USB pen drive, or hard disk for storage.

Because it's meant to be used with your TV or any other large monitor, the UI has been greatly modified from the stock Android interface. There's no lock screen, menu screen, multiple home screens or any of that - just one simple screen with folders. There's media, internet TV, browser, game, apps and settings on the front screen with each of them housing their respective widgets.
Limebox comes in white and lime colour combinations and is a good looking piece of hardware. It is a good buy considering that it comes with full warranty. However, we think it is overpriced at Rs 7,000, given that similarly specced tablets are priced at the same level and additionally get battery and a screen, both of which are among the costliest components of the tablet. But if you really want it to be attached to the TV all the time, it is better than a laptop attached using an HDMI cable provided that you get a user interface designed for TVs, and also many ports which are not there in any tablet (like the RJ45 port which allows you to connect wired broadband).

Internet TV Box (Rs 4,490)
This internet TV box being sold on eBay comes with a 1.2 GHz processor coupled with 3D GPU and 512 MB DDRIII RAM. It is based on Android 2.3.
You get 4 GB internal storage, WiFi support, infrared remote (though you will need a keyboard for typing,) and also Bluetooth (which can be used for a wireless keyboard and mouse).

In terms of connection you get a USB port (which you can use for storage), an SD card slot, and stereo audio output jacks.
The box supports all major audio and video file types, and also Adobe Flash. The internet TV box comes with 1 year seller warranty and, at Rs 4,490, is the cheapest after Razor Bee.

Amkette EvoTV (Rs 9,999)
This is the costliest smart TV box here and is made by Amkette, which was market leader of floppy drives (now floppy drives don't exist). The box is based on a modified version of Android 2.3 OS and comes with an Arm Cortex A9 processor coupled with Mali 400 GPU

It supports a USB keyboard, mouse, webcam and 3G dongle, and comes with an Evo Touch (wireless) remote, which works in the range of 10 meters and doubles up as a mouse so that moving the remote moves the cursor. There is also an Evo Touch function for on-screen control that offers motion sensors for games. The device has an inbuilt microphone for video conferencing and voice commands, and the remote works using universal remote functions for standard TV controls. There is also a 700 mAh battery for power backup.

In terms of features the box is great but then Rs 9,999 doesn't really justify the purpose that it serves. The box comes with a 1 year warranty.

Facebook phone gets a dislike before launch: Study

2012-07-30T21:00:00.000+05:30

Despite the hype and hoopla, most people are not enthusiastic about Facebook phone, according to a recent study.

In the survey conducted by Greenlight, a UK-based digital marketing agency, half of the people quizzed said they would not switch to Facebook phone if the social network makes one.

It is to be remembered that just two days back, Facebook's chief executive officer, Mark Zuckerberg dismissed reports that Facebook is making any phone on its own. However, the Facebook has reportedly joined hands with HTC to come out with a smartphone with very deep integration of the social network.

The study, which covered 500 people, however quoted respondents saying that they had to be persuaded to switch to the Facebook phone and that improved functionality would be the top reason for switching, followed by price and then design, reported the Daily Telegraph.

In past, Facebook and HTC have managed to release two smartphones that flaunted dedicated Facebook key and deeper integration of the service in the Android OS. However, these phones did not gain the popularity as expected by the makers.

According to reports, a new Facebook centric smartphone made by HTC is expected to launch sometime next year and obviously we can expect some of the fancy Facebook features incorporated on it.

Mobile Phone - They are not just Phones , 5 Most Expensive Mobile Phones, Talk About Super Villains!

2012-07-25T18:00:00.001+05:30

Browsing through reviews of the numerous luxury smartphones which have recently become available, you notice a certain word repeated often: INSANE. It seems there is no cap on the level of luxury and the corresponding price demanded for bespoke handsets, even though many of them offer less functionality than their conventional counterparts. Strong demand from abroad has meant that while UK retail sales figures have been in slight decline since 2008, the trade in luxury goods has remained consistent. If, like most of the populace, you have no idea what this means, but like shiny things nonetheless, check out this selection of luxurysmartphones.

Motorola Aura Diamond Edition (£3,500) appx र 2,25,526

Released in early 2009, the handset represents an update to the already extravagant Aura, featuring 18-carat gold-plating and 34 round-cut diamonds. While its appeal is in its eye-catching appearance, discerning users may be disappointed to find that the relatively low asking price means that the handset lacks GPS, 3G and Wi-fi connectivity.

Not for you? Why not consider buying 10,000 exercise books for school children in Africa (via UNICEF).

Vertu Constellation Quest (£17,300) appx र 11,14,121

While there are in fact two cheaper versions of the Constellation Quest available, you’re probably interested in the top-of-the-line yellow gold edition. Offering similar functionality to the Nokia E63 (Vertu was a subsidiary of the Finnish giants) the luxury elements consist of a built-in analogue clock and Vertu’s unique concierge function: accessed through a dedicated button, subscribers are put in touch with their own lifestyle manager, who’ll assist with the sort of day-to-day challenges that being disgustingly rich presents. And it’s gold, obviously.

You may equally be interested in a brand new, spacious Mercedes A-Class for the same money.

Sony Ericsson Black Diamond (£162,162) appx र 10,363,754

Dreamt up by Singaporean designer Jaren Goh, the ultra-modern Black Diamond wasn’t actually encrusted with diamonds, but seemingly attracted enough interest to reach the development phase nonetheless. The design is breathtaking, offering a borderless OLED screen, 4MP camera and…presumably other things (following initial hype, the buzz faltered, suggesting that the phone has been marketed exclusively to secretive super villains, or that it was just a big joke).

Not convinced? Why not hire the entire country of Lichtenstein for 4 nights?

Gresso Luxor Las Vegas Jackpot (£641,000) appx र 4,08,99,743

With keys made from individually polished sapphires, a back consisting of 200 year-old African blackwood and a pure gold chassis encrusted with black diamonds, this lavish handset is the epitome of super-luxury. With only two being made, the handset might actually appreciate in value, representing a sensible investment. Perhaps.

No? You may also be interested in acquiring a bloody house or two instead.

Stuart Hughes iPhone 4S Elite Gold (£6,000,000) appx र 38,28,36,916

The self-proclaimed “world’s most expensive phone”, this handset features, among other things, several hundred flawless diamonds. The broader package includes a solid platinum presentation chest set with polished pieces of genuine T-rex bone and even comes with spare diamonds, in case you’re the kind of person who’s prone to losing diamonds. Unlike other phones in this list, it also has features consistent with those you’d expect for a modern smartphone, which practically renders it a steal at £6 million.

You could alternatively, buy 600,000 regular smartphones, but what would be the point in that?

Raspberry Pi – A Delicious $25 Computer

2012-07-25T15:00:00.000+05:30

Raspberry Pi - A credit-card sized computer has sold out after it’s soft release at the end of February, and the demand for this new device just keeps on rising!

A British organisation is behind the new Raspberry Pi, and there are hopes that this tiny PC will make computing accessible to everybody. 10,000 units went on sale from the 29th of February 2012, and the demand reached a rate of 700 per second. Like the purchase prices for most computing devices, you won’t really need to squeeze your savings or the saving rates, because the device only costs $25, while there is another model (with few hardware add-ons) available for $35. It’s a no frills piece of technology, which offers a computing experience to people that simply cannot afford to spend on an average PC.

Reasons behind its development

Designed by the Raspberry Pi foundation, a registered charity established in 2009, education was the stimulus behind its development. The foundation is supported by the technology company Broadcomm, and the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory. The goal was to create a cheap device that would encourage and empower the next generation of computer programmers. The creation of Raspberry Pi has now opened the doors to a number of possibilities, specifically providing an hands-down solution for people from all over, who cannot afford today’s standard computer equipment.

What’s within (Tech Specs)

Raspberry Pi is simply a single-board computer. The developers have come up with two models of the device so far, simply called Model A, at $25, and Model B, at $35. The difference between the two is that Model B has the addition of a second UBS port and a network connectible Ethernet port, but apart from that both are identical. It measures 85.60mm x 53.98mm x 17mm, and weighs just 45g.

The Raspberry Pi is equipped with the ARM1176JZF-S 700GHz single-core processor, and a Videocore 4 GPU, which is capable of handling full High Definition Blu-ray quality video playback.

It has a total of 256MB of RAM, and an SD card reader which acts as the storage/ hard drive, for the device. There is a standard 3.5mm audio jack for plugging in headphones or speakers, and if you want to use a microphone, it can handle a USB powered microphone. There is an HDMI input port, so that it can be plugged into any HDMI compatible display device, along with an RCA video port so that it can be plugged into a standard television set too.

For Wi-Fi connectivity an external Wi-Fi adapter can be plugged into the USB port. The device is powered by 5v micro USB, and astonishingly, it is possible to run the Pi from 4 AA batteries!

What about software?

The developers of Raspberry Pi have been using a Linux operating system, and are using Fedora as their recommended distribution. Linux is free and open-source so that it can be developed and improved. While the Raspberry Pi used Fedora for now, it will soon support other Linux systems, like Debian and Arch Linux. The idea is go get people in the community to develop new software for the device, and if software can be compiled for the ARMv6 architecture it should, in theory, work on the Raspberry Pi.

Is there anything missing?

What the Raspberry Pi lacks is a keyboard, mouse, and display device, so they need to be bought separately. The Raspberry Pi foundation explains on its FAQs that,

"We’re trying to build the cheapest possible computer that provides a certain basic level of functionality, and keeping the price low means we’ve had to make hard decisions about what hardware and interfaces to include."

A lot of time and though has gone into developing it, and seems that the Raspberry Pi is ticking all the right boxes so far.

In the strive to keep costs down, the bare-bones PC comes with an open board, so all the components can be seen. And at the moment, Raspberry Pi is being sold without any case (outer-shell) although they are currently being developed. And at the moment, Raspberry Pi is being sold without any case although cases are currently being developed. If you intend to get yourself one, then you can buy it from Farnell.com.

Cheapest Android ICS tablets in India under Rs 10K

2012-07-25T12:00:00.001+05:30

Unlike Aakash tablet, these are available for the common man who is price conscious.

It looks like ages when a company called DataWind started a new trend in the tablet space in India. In September 2011, it unveiled Aakash, which was hailed as the cheapest tablet of the world at Rs 2,500, and redefined the meaning of an affordable device.

Aakash has still not reached the hands of the common man who had ordered it or had shown an interest in buying it, but other tablet manufactures realised the opportunity and didn't follow the path of DataWind.

Players like iBerry, Zen Mobiles and Wickedleak have launched affordable Android Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) tablets for less than Rs 10,000 and unlike Aakash tablet, these are available in the market for the common man.

Here is a list of the cheapest ICS tablets available in India, which are priced below Rs 10,000.

iBerry AX01 (Rs 5,990)

It is the cheapest in this series. iBerry, which has some popular low cost devices to its name, is perhaps the first few makers to bring an ICS tablet to India for such a price. The company officially started dispatching this Android ICS WiFi-only tablet from yesterday.

The 7 inch iBerry Auxus AX01 tablet comes with a 1 GHz Arm Cortex A8 architecture based processor with dedicated dual Mali-400 graphics engine for speed and better graphic capabilities that supports Open GL 2.0 as well.

The device has an 800 x 400 pixel capacitive touchscreen. Along with that the Auxus AX01 features 1 GB of DDR3 RAM, and an option to connect 3G dongles using a mini USB port.

On the storage front AX01 has 4 GB of onboard memory which can be expanded to 32 GB using micro SD cards. Auxus AX01 also features a mini HDMI output which is capable of handling full high definition 1080p video playback on an HD TV screen.

Zen: UltraTab Rs 5,999

Zen Mobile, an Indian handset manufacturer, has launched a new Android Ice Cream Sandwich based tablet named UltraTab A100 for Rs 6,199 in India. However, as part of the initial phase, Homeshop18 is offering the tablet at a special price of Rs 5,999.

The Zen UltraTab A100 weighs 295 grams and has a 7 inch display. It is a WiFi only tablet powered by a 1.2 GHz processor. It has a 1.3 megapixel front camera with digital zoom.

Zen Mobile has provided an option to expand the memory of the tablet to 32 GB through a micro SD card, and has also preloaded movies like Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.

WishTel's Ira Thing 2 (Rs 6,500)

WishTel, which is known for its low-cost tablets, announced its Ira Thing 2 tablet just a few days back. It runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and is powered by a 1.5 GHz processor with 512 MB RAM.

Ira Thing 2 is available in six striking colours-red, yellow, pink, blue and white, and for those who prefer their device to look a little sober there is also a black one. The tablet has 4 GB of internal memory and an expandable memory of upto 32 GB and comes with a 1.3 megapixel inbuilt front camera. There is an HDMI port to connect a compatible TV with the tablet. The tablet comes with a 3000 mAh battery with claimed browsing time of approximately four hours.

Ira Thing 2 also has a keyboard that supports 14 Indian languages like Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Oriya.

Wickedleak Wammy Ethos (Rs 8,999)

Indian tablet manufacture Wickedleak recently launched this tablet in India for Rs 8,999. Wammy Ethos is a 7 inch Android Ice Cream Sandwich tablet with a SIM slot for 3G connectivity that supports 7.2 Mbps download and 5.76 Mpbs upload speeds.

The device weighs 450 grams and operates on a 1.2 GHz processor. It has 512 MB RAM and features 4 GB of internal memory. Wammy Ethos' external memory can be expanded to 32 GB using a micro SD card. It also has added features like Bluetooth and tethering that allow users to create a WiFi hotspot.

The tablet has a 3500 mAh battery under the hood and the exterior houses an HDMI port. Besides, it packs dual speakers.

Zync Pad Z990 (Rs 8,500)

Launched for around Rs 12,000, this tablet is now available for Rs 8,500 from Homeshop18. It comes with a single core Vivant GC340 mobile processor and runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS without any customisation. It comes with a full USB 2.0 port that can accommodate and read from USB flash drives as well as USB data modems.

The tablet offers only 4 GB internal storage while one can add up to 32 GB additional storage via micro SD cards. Zync also offers a USB dockable keyboard for Rs 999.

Acer to launch Windows Phone 8 device next year

2012-07-25T12:00:00.000+05:30

Acer will launch a new Windows Phone 8 phone globally in the second half of next year.

Global computer device and mobile device manufacturer, Acer had tough luck with the Windows Phone 7.5 with just one device - the Acer Allegro, which was launched by the company last year back but is yet to be made available in many countries. But Acer seems to be counting on the upcoming Windows Phone 8 to bring things back on track for them.

According to a website (imobuile.com), Acer will launch a new Windows Phone 8 phone globally in the second half of next year. The information was provided by none other than Chen Guowei, group general manager, Acer, smart phones Business.

Acer till now had been one of the bigger players of the Windows based device portfolio and till some years back had the biggest range of Windows Mobile operating system based devices. But with the Windows Phone operating system, Acer has been quiet far behind the other manufacturers. With only one device in the market, Acer lost a substantial share in the Windows Phone market.

With the new strategy, Acer has devised they are planning to bring things back on track. But with most manufacturers targeting the year end for the launch of their Windows Phone 8 based devices, Acer might still be lagging far behind, unless they have some trump card rolled up their sleeve.

Microsoft has already announced that they will be launching the next generation Windows Phone 8 operating system in the month of October this year and device manufacturers like HP and Samsung have already announced devices to be launched around the same time.

MTS offers unlimited access to social networking sites

2012-07-24T21:00:00.000+05:30

MTS has launched a new unlimited Social Media Plan which not just allows unlimited access to Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn but also offers 6 GB for other sites for Rs 647.

MTS has launched a new 'Unlimited Social Media' plan for its MBlaze customers. The plan will offer unlimited access to social networking sites i.e. Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn though its MBlaze data card service.

The offer, which is available for both new and existing customers, also bundles up to 6 GB data other than three free websites. The plan is priced at Rs 647.

For access to Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, there is no limit and there will be no throttling of speed (reduction of speed) for any amount of data consumption.

However, if user crosses the 6 GB limit meant for accessing other sites, he/she will be charged at Rs 1 per MB. The pack will have 30 days validity.

Adobe Reader for Android gets add text tool

2012-07-24T18:00:00.000+05:30

The new Add Text tool allows adding text as well as annotations and file organiser improves the file management.

Adobe has released an update for its Reader app meant for Google Android based devices. The Adobe Reader update brings a new text adding feature with the Add Text tool. Besides that, you can now fill up PDF (portable document format) based forms after applying the new update. The Adobe Reader is the official Portable Document Reader app for the Android-based smartphones and tablets.

Adobe decided not to offer any new Adobe Flash Player installations but has not ceased any development on its Reader app. The Adobe Reader app is one versatile app to read all your portable documents (PDFs) on the move and also enjoy some other features.

With the new Add Text Tool, you can add your comments and annotations to any PDF. With the PDF documents that have field validation, you can now enter text those fields and fill out the forms.

The improved File Organiser in the Reader app now allows better management of the files by letting you create folders, copy, rename, move and delete files any time. Apart from these new features, Adobe claims to have added several bug fixes and performance improvements under the hood.

Get the Adobe Reader app update from the Google Play store.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light on Xperia devices

2012-07-24T15:00:00.000+05:30

Although ten months off the original launch plans, Sony Xperia gets Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light game exclusively.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, an action packed game, is now available exclusively for Sony Xperia devices. Sony had announced the exclusive partnership with Square Enix, the developers of the game, back in October last year, and has now finally released the game.

The game has been optimised for delivering best performance on Xperia devices. Along with this game, Square Enix promises to contribute many more such games for the Android-Sony Xperia ecosystem in the months to come.

In Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, you as Lara Croft will venture deep into the jungles of central America in search of the Mirror of Smoke, a powerful artefact from a lost age. Whoever wields this item holds the future of mankind in his hands, with the power to rid the world of light. With the Mirror now in the hands of Xolotl, the God of Darkness, Lara and Totec, the Guardian of the Mirror, have until sunrise to defeat him or else plunge the world once again into an age of darkness.

So brush up your gaming skills and be ready for some hands on action with this new game.

To get this game users will have to pay approximately Rs 72 and the game is compatible only with Sony Xperia devices running Android version 1.5 and above.

Nimbuzz for Windows Phone released

2012-07-24T12:00:00.000+05:30

Multiple instant messaging services supporting Nimbuzz have been finally released for Windows Phone platform.

Nimbuzz instant messenger, which allows signing into multiple accounts with a single login ID, has now been released for the Windows Phone platform. Go to the Windows Phone Marketplace on your phone to download the free Nimbuzz on your device. Nimbuzz is one of the popular cross platform instant messengers with support for file sharing and voice calling over the internet.

Nimbuzz allows one to sign up for an account and then link other regularly used instant messaging services such as GTalk, Facebook, Yahoo! Messenger, Live Messenger, Facebook and more. This app also enables logging into Twitter, getting updates and even sending out updates without leaving the app. By adding these instant messaging services, you can basically replace your SMS with IMs (instant messengers) which are dependent on the data network.

Nimbuzz mobile for Windows Phone will allow chatting, sharing images, storing chat history, and even managing contacts. Apparently, something really crucial is missing from this app, namely, push notifications. Obviously that means you have to keep checking the app every now and then for responses from contacts. Also, there is no video chat option in Nimbuzz.

To get Nimbuzz for Windows Phone 7.5 devices, visit the Windows Phone Marketplace.

Speaktoit assistant on Windows Phone

2012-07-24T09:00:00.000+05:30

The Speaktoit assistant brings Siri like functionality to mobile devices and a lot of customisations as well.

Speaktoit, an independent application developer for both iOS and Android, has announced the launch of Speaktoit voice assistant for Windows Phone users as well. The Speaktoit assistant aims at bringing similar functionality to Windows Phone devices as Apple's Siri brings to the new iPhone 4S.

Speaktoit assistant is based on the principle of voice recognition which it utilises to understand the needs of users and in turn provide a logical solution. Apart from being just the assistant, Speaktoit provides voice based alerts for almost all results, which the developer claims makes it better than Siri. Also the Speaktoit assistant offers visual avatars allowing users to customise the assistant for better visual appeal and giving a face to the communication they have with their device.

Social media has been integrated in the application and allows people to update their status on popular social networking websites like Facebook by just speaking to the app. Till now the application was available on Android and iOS, and has received positive feedback from most users. It has been rated as a useful application as well. To deliver better performance the application is constantly upgraded by the developer through regular updates.

Speaktoit is now available on Android, Windows Phone and iOS. While it has been made available free of cost for Android users the iOS and Windows Phone versions are available for $0.99 or Rs 55 approximately.

Android ICS based Funtab Fit launched for Rs 5999

2012-07-23T21:00:00.004+05:30

Funtab Fit comes with a 7 inch capacitive screen and has a 1 GHz processor.

Go Tech, a Delhi based company, has launched an affordable Android ICS tablet, called Funtab Fit, for Rs 5,999. This is the third tablet launched by the company in its Funtab series.

Funtab Fit comes with a 7 inch capacitive screen and has a 1 GHz processor which runs Android 4.0 operating system. It has 512 MB RAM and comes with 4 GB internal storage capacity which is expandable upto 32 GB through a micro SD card.

Besides, Funtab Fit has WiFi, and a USB port along with a mini USB port. It comes with a 3600 mAh. Besides, it has a 0.3 megapixel front camera for video chats.

The Funtab Fit is the updated version of Funtab Fit that comes with 800 MHz processor, 512 RAM and Android 2.3 operating system.

Windows Phone 8 to feature memory card support and screenshot capabilities

2012-07-23T18:00:00.003+05:30

The upcoming Windows Phone 8 will get a load of new functionalists-screenshots and additional memory support included.

Microsoft has revealed a few things about the upcoming Windows Phone 8 operating system. The contents of the Windows Phone hardware specifications mentioned in the Windows Phone summit include two most demanded features by various Windows Phone users. These include support for external memory cards for more storage on the device, and along with that a mass storage mode as well.

Although the details have not been published by Microsoft some of the details were tracked by WPDang. According to the new details Windows Phone 8 will include newer functionalities and features that most users have been asking for.

The first is mass storage mode. When Microsoft announced that it would add support for microSD cards in Windows Phone 8, it was unclear whether the company would go with the popular mass storage protocol or the media transfer protocol. Now it appears that the feature will allow users to store files in the memory of their Windows Phone device without the need of software.

Along with that Microsoft has also added the ability to take screenshots. Now it is being said that Windows Phone 8 will let users grab screenshots by pressing the Windows key and the camera key simultaneously.

There is nothing particularly new or exciting about these features because they are frequently seen in newer operating systems like Android and iOS, but their inclusion in Windows 8 seems nice and it's good to know that users' suggestions are being heard.

Windows 8 tablet OS coming on Oct 26: Microsoft

2012-07-23T15:00:00.009+05:30

However, there is no word from the PC giant about its country wise availability.

Microsoft's much awaited Windows 8 operating system, which is expected to make a mark in the tablet segment, will be released on October 26 this year.

Stephen Sinofsky, president of the Windows and Windows Live division, announced the date in an annual meeting of the company. However, it was Microsoft's communications manager, Brandon LeBlanc who made it public though a blog post yesterday.

"Steven Sinofsky announced at Microsoft's annual sales meeting that customers will be able to get Windows 8 - whether in upgrade fashion or on a new PC - starting on October 26th. Earlier this month at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference, Tami Reller told attendees Windows 8 would be available in October. But now everyone has a specific date to mark on their calendars," LeBlanc wrote in the blog.

However, there is no word from the PC giant about its country wise availability.

Features of Windows 8

Windows 8 is the next generation operating system from Microsoft that would be used in tablets apart from PCs and laptops. It is expected to bring several new features to the tablets including security features like Secure Boot is designed to prevent any unauthorised firmware, drivers or operating systems from launching as the computer boots up into Windows.

Windows 8 has been designed keeping new age touchscreen devices in mind and likewise would bring a new 'Picture Password' functionality that would allow users to unlock their tablets by gestures than keying in passwords.

Besides, there are lot many features that the new tablet operating system expected to bring which will come to light once Microsoft's releases the OS.

Samsung 10 inch Galaxy Tab 2 now in India, priced @ Rs 32,990

2012-07-23T12:00:00.006+05:30

The newest tablets offer a 1 GHz dual core processor and Android ICS onboard with a wholesome 10 inch display.

Global electronics brand Samsung has announced the launch of its latest tablet - the Galaxy Tab 2, 10.1 - in the Indian market. The tablet was announced earlier this year during the Mobile World Congress. The tablet comes with the latest Android Ice Cream Sandwich operating system and is the second generation 10.1 inch Android tablet from Samsung.

The Galaxy Tab 2, 10.1 features a dual core 1 GHz processor along with a 1 GB of DDR 2 RAM for better multitasking and performance in applications. The Tab 2 features the all new PLS (Plane to line switching) technology based display; this technology allows the display to show superior colours, contrast and even wider screen viewing angles than the existing IPS technology based displays. The 10.1 inch display features a capacitive touch and a 1204 x 800 pixel native resolution.

The tablet features HSPA + 3G connectivity allowing it to get data download speeds of up to 21 Megabits per second which will come in real handy while accessing social media websites or while sharing content on various websites online. The tablet is powered by the latest Android ICS 4.0 operating system that not only offers functionality of a tablet but also allows users to use it as a regular smartphone for communications as well.

The tablet features a 3 megapixel rear camera which is capable of video recording in HD 720p resolution while it also gets a VGA camera for video conferencing and video calling.

The tablet is available for buyers throughout the country and has been made available in 16 GB variant only. The device carries a price tag of Rs 32,990 which might be a bit on the higher side but it's the only 10.1 inch tablet in India to come with ICS pre-installed.

Watch India-SL Micromax cup on your mobile via ZengaTV

2012-07-23T09:00:00.001+05:30

ZengaTV will also provide highlights of the matches. The highlights will be available 30 days after the match as well.

If you are a cricket lover than this is a good news for you. You can watch the upcoming India-Sri Lanka Micromax cup on the go with ZengaTV's mobile TV application.

ZengaTV, the mobile TV service provider, has said this while announcing that it has got exclusive mobile video streaming rights for the tournament which comprises 5 ODI's and one T20 slated to start from July 21 in the island nation.

ZengaTV will also provide highlights of the matches. The highlights will be available 30 days after the match as well.

Users will be able to watch the matches on their mobile devices simply by visiting Zenga's mobile website (http://m.zengatv.com) and clicking on a button. There is nothing to pay and no software to download.

Speaktoit assistant on Windows Phone

2012-07-22T18:00:00.000+05:30

The Speaktoit assistant brings Siri like functionality to mobile devices and a lot of customisations as well.

Apple iPhone 3GS now for Rs 9,999 only!

2012-07-22T15:00:00.006+05:30

Aircel is offering Apple iPhone 3GS for Rs 9,999 with a rider of advanced rental of Rs 3000 for which you will get unlimited 3G data for 12 months.

Apple iPhone 3GS is now an old phone, yet it has got the same incredible quality and user interface that the latest iPhones have. And with Aircel offering this phone for just Rs 9,999, it is even a better deal.

To grab this deal customers will need to pay advance rental of Rs 3,000 in addition to the cost of the phone which will offer them 2 GB unlimited (after 2 GB at a slower 128 Kbps speed) plan for 12 months in 3G circles, and in circles where only 2 G network is available users will get 1000 mins local and STD calls and 2500 local and national SMS along with unlimited 2G data for 6 months.

The only catch is that the plan is available only for the postpaid users. While the plan is more attractive for people where Aircel has 3G network is available but never the less 2G offer is also exciting.

If you are in the market for a smartphone with a budget of Rs 10,000, this is the offer that you can safely go for. Aircel offers only unlimited plans and have one of the cheapest 3G plans in the country, so even after 12 months (in 3G circles) or 6 months (2G circles) as the case may be, users will get very attractive data and voice plans.

Till now iPhone 3GS has been available for Rs 19,990 from Airtel and Aircel.

Aircel to launch 4G services by December

2012-07-18T21:00:00.011+05:30

The pricing is likely to the similar to the 3G prices that Aircel currently offers. It will offer content and other services through the network.

Aircel, which holds 4G spectrum in eight circles, will start rolling out 4G services over LTE TDD network starting from Chennai between October to December this year.

According to a report of the Business Standard, Aircel will invest Rs 2,800 crore to setup the network.

Aircel has 4G spectrum in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu (including Chennai), West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Assam, North-East, Jammu & Kashmir. It has 3G spectrum in 13 circles which include Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu (including Chennai) Kerala, Punjab, UP (East), Kolkata, West Bengal, Bihar & Jharkhand, Orissa, Assam, North East, and Jammu & Kashmir.

The newspaper also quoted Sandip Das, chief executive officer of Malaysian telco Maxis Berhad (which controls a majority stake in Aircel), as saying, "Aircel will not only provide mobile 4G services through dongles and devices but also get into consumer homes by offering broadband internet, broadcasting, video on demand, education and health care services, among others".

In India, Airtel is the only operator which has so far launched 4G services in Kolkata and Bangalore and shortly plans to launch in Delhi, Mumbai (with Qualcomm) and Pune.

Reliance Industries with PAN India 4G spectrum is also expected to start rollout service by December.