TechToday

Facebook Announces Video Calling, Group Chat and New Chat Design

2011-07-06T11:16:00.000-07:00

Facebook announced a couple of new features today in a live announcement from their HQ in Palo Alto. Facebook users can now have Video conversations with their friends. This was today's biggest announcement and was much anticipated. The other two features announced today were Group Chat and a New Chat Design.

Facebook has collaborated with Skype for it's new Video Calling feature. CEO, Mark Zuckerberg made the announcement and Skype CEO Tony Bates also briefed reporters about the technology and collaboration.

Video Calling will be rolled out starting today and over the next couple of weeks worldwide.

Stay tuned for more on these announcements.

HP TouchPad: Review

2011-07-04T04:09:00.000-07:00

This week HP unveiled it's TouchPad, the first device other than a smartphone to feature Palm's webOS. This is the first Palm powered device ever since it was taken over by HP. webOS seems to have been made for tablet use as it integrates well with the tablet interface. Although the TouchPad does suffer from the same flaws that most other tablets have, such as an impoverished app library, HP has done a pretty good job with this one.

A first look at the TouchPad might make it seem like its light and thin due to it's glossy black shell and the way the rounded edges scatter light. It's a dense and thick device that still has some tech charm.

As mentioned earlier, webOS seems more native to a tablet than to a smartphone. Multitasking is quite impressive on the TouchPad. Each open application is called a Card. They can be stacked, rearranged and closed. Palm also has a resizable keyboard which is something new that we have seen in tablets. But the keyboard lacks shortcuts for periods and punctuation (like the double-tap feature in iOS). It's still pretty fun typing on the keyboard though.

The app situation is absolutely ridiculous with only around 300 apps during launch. Another problem with the apps is that at the moment there is no way of integrating the TouchPad apps with the webOS apps. This means that if you have already downloaded an app on your Palm powered smartphone, you have to pay again for a TouchPad version of the same app.

As for the battery, with heavy usage users have been getting around 7-8 hours of battery life, which in my opinion, is not that impressive for a bulky device such as the TouchPad.

Apart from the terrible app selection on the TouchPad, apps can take ages to launch. The touch response can take a while and is not at all convenient (Matt Buchanan of Gizmodo mentioned that you could watch Transformers 3 while waiting for touch response!) The HP app to load music on to the TouchPad is also painful and can use some lessons from iTunes. The device also lacks cloud services. This is crucial as Apple's iOS 5 update coming in the fall includes this feature and much more.

All in all, I would say that the TouchPad is a no-buy. I wouldn't waste a cent on this device. I would rather stick to my five month old iPad 2 and be happy with life.

Droid X2 Announced

2011-05-18T08:40:00.000-07:00

Motorola and Verizon have officially announced the release of the Droid X2. This comes after months of speculation and "teasing" from Motorola.

The Droid X2 is 4.3 inch Android Smartphone with a qHD screen and a dual core 1GHz processor. Other features include an 8 megapixel camera with continuous autofocus and HD video recording.

The Droid X2 will cost $200 on contract and will be available online tomorrow, May 19th. It will hit store shelves a week later on the 26th of May.

White iPhone Releases Tomororw !

2011-04-27T10:57:00.000-07:00

Finally, the White iPhone is here !!!!!

Apple announced that it would release the white iPhone worldwide in it's stores tomorrow (April 28th).

Other than a proximity sensor, nothing else has changed on the device and will be priced the same, $199 for the 16GB model and $299 for the 32 GB, both on contract.

Hulu Plus On The Playbook ?

2011-04-24T18:49:00.000-07:00

It seems that RIM wants Hulu Plus on the newly released Blackberry Playbook. And, it also wants people to know that it wants Hulu Plus on the Playbook.

Over the last few days, Playbook users have been greeted with a message telling them that Hulu Plus isn't available yet on the playbook.

Oh Blackberry, when will you ever become cool.

iPhone 5 Rumours

2011-04-19T09:04:00.000-07:00

There have been rumors in the past few days that Apple will be announcing the fifth installment of the iPhone soon. I'm not a big fan of rumors, but these people seem to be swearing on the legitimacy of these sources.

The iPhone 5 is slated to have the same design as the iPhone 4. Word has it that it would run on the A5 processor that the iPad 2 runs on and would also have an 8-megapixel camera.

To me it seems to be just what the iPhone 3GS was to the iPhone 3G.

Also, due to the calamity in Japan, Apple is rumored to delay the release to the fall, departing from the usual June release.

Will keep you posted.

Blackberry Playbook

2011-04-15T22:44:00.000-07:00

The Blackberry Playbook has been called a possible iPad "killer" in the recent past. But taking a look at the specs below, I really don't think it is capable of doing so. But, then again, I am a die hard Apple fan.

The Playbook isn't coming out till later this year and boasts of "full Flash support". Take a look at it for yourself and feel free to leave your comments.

Ultra portable, super convenient
Height 5.1" / 130mm
Width 7.6" / 194mm
Depth 0.4" / 10mm
Weight 0.9 lbs / 425g

7" LCD display, 1024 x 600 screen resolution
Multi-touch capacitive screen

Professional grade performance
Full computing power in a tablet format
1 GHz dual-core processor
1 GB RAM
Symmetric multi-processing

Web without limits
Games, media, apps and everything the real Internet offers Full Adobe, Flash 10.1 enabled
Built-in support for HTML 5
No-compromise rendering of text, graphics and video

High-speed connections
BlackBerry PlayBook tablets will offer support for network configurations as follows:
BlackBerry PlayBook with Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
BlackBerry 4G PlayBook with Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n + WiMax
BlackBerry 4G PlayBook with Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n + LTE
BlackBerry 4G PlayBook with Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n + HSPA+
All BlackBerry PlayBook tablets support Bluetooth® 2.1+EDR

Amplified BlackBerry experience
Wirelessly connect to your BlackBerry smartphone for real time access to:
Email, calendar, address book, task list and BBM™

Best-in-class media
3 MP high-definition forward-facing camera
5 MP high-definition rear-facing camera
Codec support for superior media playback, creation and video calling
1080p HD video; H.264, MPEG4, WMV HDMI video output
Micro USB and Micro HDMI ports

Video calling
Crystal clear high resolution display
Dual video cameras

Built for business
Out-of-the-box compatibility with BlackBerry Enterprise Server
Seamless pairing for a secure window into your BlackBerry smartphone
Corporate data access
Secure and manageable

BlackBerry Tablet OS
Powerful, user-friendly QNX technology: It’s what the World Wide Web runs on
Multi-processing for true multitasking

Rich application ecosystem
Rapid development environment
Reliable BlackBerry Tablet OS, powered by QNX technology
Supports POSIX OS, SMP, Open GL, BlackBerry 6, WebKit, Adobe
Flash, Java and Adobe Mobile AIR

White iPhone 4 Coming This Spring

2011-04-14T23:10:00.000-07:00

Apple announced on thursday that the white iPhone 4 would be coming this spring. This comes after nearly a 10 month wait by many customers.

Apple declined to comment which carrier would first receive the white version of the iPhone 4, but it is believed that both AT&T and Verizon will be selling it from day one.

This comes after Apple delayed the release of the white iPhone 4 twice last year, indicating manufacturing issues. This wasn't the only problem that the iPhone 4 release saw. As soon as it hit markets last year, customers complained of reception problems and dropped calls. This issue stemmed from the design of the phone where the antenna was placed on the back case. Complaints grew to feverish heights, which lead CEO Steve Jobs to give out free cases to solve the problem.

Despite all this, the iPhone 4 has been a massive hit, selling 16.2 million units during it's holiday quarter. The release of the white version is likely to spur additional demand, which will help Apple pull through it's summer quarter.

Would you buy a white iPhone 4 ?

Apple Announces iPad 2

2011-03-02T20:44:00.000-08:00

Earlier today Apple announced the iPad 2, the second generation of its popular tablet device. CEO Steve Jobs came out of his medical leave to unveil the new device, saying "We've been working on this product for a while, and I just didn't want to miss today,".

The next generation iPad is faster than the previous one and is much more thinner as well at 8.8 millimeters, compared to its predecessor's 13.4 millimeters. It is also 15 percent ligher and is also available in white.

The iPad 2 also comes with a Dual Core A5 chip, promising faster processing and graphics.

FaceTime has come to the iPad with two cameras, one in the front and one in the back. The back camera comes with HD video recording capability. According to early reviews, the iPad seems to be too big to take lots of pictures with but the FaceTime seems to be generating a lot of interest.

Apple also announced the ability to connect the new iPad to a HD screen using a new accessory that plugs into the device's charging port. The accessory will cost $39 in the US.

The price for the new iPad ranges from $499-$899 depending on capacity and connectivity to the internet.

All in all, another awesome device from Apple. Can't wait to get my hands on it March 11 !

IBM's Watson To Go Live Tonight

2011-02-14T13:30:00.000-08:00

IBM's Watson is all set to take on "Jeopardy" champions Kim Jennings and Brad Rutter tonight. It promises to be some awesome TV at around 7pmish tonight (check local listing for exact timings). The challenge runs through 3 pre taped episodes and the participants are aware of the outcome thats been kept a big secret.

So, do you think Watson could beat two of the best players of this silly yet entertaining game that humans have made. And if so, could this be the dawn of Artificial Intelligence? Is SkyNet coming soon ? Please feel free to leave your comments.

T-Pain Gets A Facebook Tattoo !

2011-02-01T21:39:00.000-08:00

Rapper T-pain has a permanent memento of the world's favorite social networking site, Facebook.

I'm sure I definitely don't like this guy, even on Facebook.

iPhone Now On Verizon

2011-01-19T18:14:00.000-08:00

The wait is finally over. Verizon has finally unveiled the iPhone 4. This comes after a year of testing by Verizon. Seems like they wanted everything to go perfect with the iPhone.

Click on the link for more info. Will keep you posted about the Verizon iPhone as and when news comes in.

Skyfire Reappears in iTunes Store

2010-11-05T14:07:00.000-07:00

Last week, the Skyfire web browser for the iPhone that is capable of flash content playback, hit the iTunes store. But it seemed like it was too good to be true and the app was quickly pulled out of the store without any notification. This was blamed at the company's servers crashing under extensive load. The app was yanked to get the server situation under control.

But, good news is, the app is now back on iTunes for US customers. The company CEO said in a blog post that the app would be made available in other countries in coming days.

This means that now you can watch your favorite TV shows online on their network website or access thousands of flash content that is out there on the web.

The app is already available on the Android Store for Android phones. Check back soon for reviews on the iPhone version of the app. Here are some pictures of the app on the iPhone.

Microsoft Kinect is Out !!!

2010-11-05T13:26:00.000-07:00

The Microsoft Kinect Motion sensing gaming device is out !!!!

Stay tuned for reviews and updates on it.

Playstation Phone: Coming Soon !!

2010-11-03T17:34:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pics of what is supposedly the "Playstation" Phone from Sony. This product is believed to be hitting the market soon. From the pictures, it seems to be running on Android. More on this as we get more info.

The New iPod Nano

2010-09-04T15:14:00.000-07:00

Apple recently unveiled the new iPod Nano that comes with multi-touch and other amazing new features for something so tiny. The same multi-touch feature that made the iPad and iPhone famous is now on the Nano. Now everything on your nano is just a tap or swipe away.

The nano also packs in a stunning 1.5-inch color display with 240-by-240 pixel resolution. Album art and photos are the only things you can show off though. The new nano does not play videos, unlike its predecessors.

Apart from that, it can be clipped on, has the same 30-pin connector that iPods have and comes in seven bright colors that would definitely rock your world.

An amazing new nano, does a few big things for something really small.

Now Netflix for iPhone and iPod Touch

2010-08-26T02:43:00.000-07:00

Now you can stream your favorite TV shows and movies right onto your iPhone or iPod Touch running the iOS 4. Netlfix, initially only available for the iPad, is now available on the iPhone.

What are you waiting for? Get it already !

Blackberry Torch

2010-08-23T08:14:00.000-07:00

The new Blackberry Torch (a.k.a Blackberry 6) was unveiled a few weeks ago. Here is a look at it's specs.

Features

Optical trackpad
High-resolution touch screen
Full QWERTY keyboard
3G network support
Simultaneous voice and data
Email and text messaging
BlackBerry® Messenger
Instant Messaging
Phone
Browser
Social feeds
Camera and video recording
Wi-Fi®
GPS
Media player
Organizer
Bluetooth®
Tethered modem

Display

3.2” HVGA+ touch screen (480x360)
Font size (user selectable)
Light-sensing and proximity
detecting screen

Camera & Video Recording

5 MP camera
Continuous auto-focus
Image stabilization
Flash
11 scene modes
2X digital zoom
VGA (640x480) video recording
Geotagging

Battery & Battery Life

1300 mAHr removable/rechargeable lithium-ion cell
Standby Time: GSM® - up to 18 days, UMTS - up to 14 days
Talk Time: GSM - up to 5.5 hours, UMTS – up to 5.8 hours
Music Playback: up to 30 hours
Video Playback: up to 6 hours

Data Input & Navigation

Trackpad located on front face of device, ESC key to the right,
Menu key to the left
Touch screen with on-screen keyboard: portrait SureType®, QWERTY and multi-tap, landscape QWERTY
Slide-out QWERTY keyboard with backlighting

Voice Input & Output

3.5mm stereo headset capable
Integrated speaker and microphone
Hands-free headset capable
Bluetooth headset capable
Integrated hands-free speakerphone

Memory

512 MB flash memory / 512 MB SDRAM
4 GB eMMC + 4 GB media card included
Expandable memory – support for microSD card
up to 32 GB

Looks like a great phone. More updates soon.

iPhone Copycat !

2010-08-22T13:01:00.000-07:00

The new Samsung Galaxy, what does it remind you of ?

iPhone anyone ?

iOS 4 Running Slow On iPhone 3G ?

2010-06-26T06:57:00.000-07:00

If you've updated your iPhone 3G with the new iOS 4 and found your phone to be running slow, your not the only one.

Almost all iPhone 3G owners who have installed the latest update have complained of slow and sluggish speeds when opening Mail, Messages and other applications.

But, as a little Googling lead me to discover, a Double-Hard Reset should make things better.

To perform a hard reset, press and hold the Sleep/Wake button and the home button simultaneously until you see the Apple logo. Ignore the "Slide to switch off" notice that appears while doing so.

Do this once again, and your iPhone 3G should be running at the same fast, but not 3Gs fast, speed it used to before.

As the link states, a hard reset clears the RAM and cache of the iPhone, improving its performance.

If a Double-Hard Reset doesn't work, then try a Triple-Hard Reset or more !!

Check back soon for more updates.

iOS 4 On iPhone 3G : Review

2010-06-23T01:05:00.000-07:00

The new iPhone iOS 4 is out and everybody is rushing up to update their iPhones. The new OS comes with some great new features and functionality. These include backgrounds for the home screen, 5x digital zoom for the camera and new Mail features. But the most anticipated of them all was the Multitasking, allowing users to run multiple apps at the same time. (You've already heard the pandora and skype story !!)

The disappointment comes for iPhone 3G owners. Many of the new features such as the higly anticipated Multitasking is'nt available on the 3G model. 3G users also don't get to change their home screen backgrounds !!!

Apart from that, the camera has got a 5x digital zoom which is pretty decent. The improved spell checking feature seems to be good so far (although it reminds me of using Microsoft Word because of the red underlines!!) You can now create playlists from your iPhone and name them. Apps can now be organized into folders that are intelligently named according to their type and functionality.

iBooks is available as a free download in the app store after the upgrade.

Coming to the performance of the iPhone 3G, the phone did seem a little faster after the upgrade. Opening apps, Mail and Messages seemed a lot faster than before.

Those who are yet to update their iPhone 3Gs, I suggest you leave it over night. Mine took 3.5 hours to complete !! This is with 7GB of music, 4GB of apps and loads of messages, mail etc.

All in all, an update worth downloading !!!!

MiVizu Black iPhone 4G Skin Case for iPhone 4 / 4th Generation compatible with 16GB / 32GB + Screen Protector and MiniSuit LCD Cleaner keychain

"Firefox Home" Coming Soon To iPhone

2010-05-26T18:12:00.000-07:00

Mozilla has announced that it Firefox Home app is coming soon to the iPhone. This app would be able to sync with your desktop bookmarks and browsing history, allowing you to surf the web as you would on your computer, when your on the go.

Click on the link for more info on this upcoming app.

Firefox For Dummies

Video Game Sales Down

2010-05-15T04:31:00.000-07:00

Video game sales plummeted 26% in the month of April, making it one of the worst falls for the gaming industry. This includes both software and hardware sales.

The reason behind this is the increasing number of games and content being available on mobile devices such as the Apple iPhone. More and more gamers are shifting to this new platform as video game consoles become costlier.

What do you think about this ? Is the video game industry dead ? Or is it slated for a comeback ? Send in your comments.

iPad International Pre-Orders Begin !!

2010-05-10T04:19:00.000-07:00

International Pre-Orders for the iPad have begun at Apple's online stores.

Get your hands on the iPad as soon as possible !!!

Stay tunes for more upadates on this and more on TechstingToday.blogspot.com

How to run windows on the iPad

2010-04-27T03:05:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's true! The Apple iPad can run Windows 7. This can be done using a client called Citrix

Click on the link to find out more.