Techtimes

SAMSUNG GALAXY S4 MINI.

2013-08-31T00:17:00.001-07:00

Samsung galaxy S4 mini is equipped with all the features a smart PHONE must have.

it had a medium sized screen , easy to handle, fast processor, nice camera as well as dual sim support.

in short it fulfills all the requirements .

GENERAL	2G Network	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all versions
		GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - GT-I9192 (SIM 1 & SIM 2)
	3G Network	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - GT-I9190, GT-I9195
	4G Network	LTE - GT-I9195
	SIM	Optional Dual SIM
	Announced	2013, May
	Status	Available. Released 2013, July

BODY	Dimensions	124.6 x 61.3 x 8.9 mm (4.91 x 2.41 x 0.35 in)
BODY	Weight	107 g (3.77 oz)

DISPLAY	Type	Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
	Size	540 x 960 pixels, 4.3 inches (~256 ppi pixel density)
	Multitouch	Yes
	Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass

SOUND	Alert types	Vibration; MP3, WAV ringtones
	Loudspeaker	Yes
	3.5mm jack	Yes

MEMORY	Card slot	microSD, up to 64 GB
MEMORY	Internal	8 GB (5 GB user available), 1.5 GB RAM

DATA	GPRS	Yes
	EDGE	Yes
	Speed	HSDPA, 42 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps; LTE, Cat3, 50 Mbps UL, 100 Mbps DL
	WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspot
	Bluetooth	Yes, v4.0 with A2DP, LE, EDR
	NFC	Yes (GT-I9195 model only)
	Infrared port	Yes
	USB	Yes, microUSB v2.0

CAMERA	Primary	8 MP, 3264 x 2448 pixels, autofocus, LED flash, check quality
	Features	Geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, HDR, panorama
	Video	Yes, 1080p@30fps, check quality
	Secondary	Yes, 1.9 MP

FEATURES	OS	Android OS, v4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)
	Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8930 Snapdragon 400
	CPU	Dual-core 1.7 GHz Krait
	GPU	Adreno 305
	Sensors	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
	Messaging	SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Mail, IM, RSS
	Browser	HTML5
	Radio	Stereo FM radio with RDS
	GPS	Yes, with A-GPS support and GLONASS
	Java	Yes, via Java MIDP emulator
	Colors	White Frost, Black Mist
		- SNS integration - MP4/DivX/XviD/WMV/H.264/H.263 player - MP3/WAV/eAAC+/AC3/FLAC player - Organizer - Image/video editor - Document viewer - Google Search, Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Calendar, Google Talk, Picasa - Voice memo/dial/commands - Predictive text input (Swype)

BATTERY		Li-Ion 1900 mAh battery
	Stand-by	(2G) / Up to 300 h (3G)
	Talk time	(2G) / Up to 12 h (3G)
	Music play	Up to 49 h

MISC	SAR EU	0.33 W/kg (head) 0.32 W/kg (body)
MISC	Price group

TESTS	Display	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 3.127 (sunlight)
	Loudspeaker	Voice 66dB / Noise 64dB / Ring 75dB
	Audio quality	Noise -93.5dB / Crosstalk -86.2dB
	Camera	Photo / Video
	Battery life	Endurance rating 54h

HP Pavilion g6

2012-04-28T13:22:00.000-07:00

HP Pavilion g6

Price: 45000

Digit Rating: Good

3.5/5

Features:

Performance:

Value:

Design:

PROS

Strong overall performance
well built

CONS

Not for power gamers
low battery life

Summary

The HP Pavilion g6 is aimed at the casual gamer who needs a decent multimedia laptop under Rs 45,000. However, the G6 is not a full blown gaming machine and cannot run all latest games at highest settings. The laptops comes with all the latest multimedia features and is built well. The low battery life and cramped keypad are some basic issues that keeps the G6 away from being a recommended laptop in its category.

REVIEW

The HP Pavilion g6 is a mainstream multimedia laptop that pits itself against the likes of the Acer Aspire 5740G and the popular Dell Inspiron 15R series. Powered by Intel Core i5processor along with the latest AMD Radeon HD 6470 mobility GPU, the Pavilion g6 is capable of handling gaming as well. The newer HP Pavilion g6 models are expected to ship with the second generation Intel Core i3 & Core i5 sandy-bridge processors, while the review unit is shipped with the first generation Core i5 processor from Intel. The g6 seems to be positioned as a product that has something for everyone, it has multimedia features, gaming capability and good processing power under its hood to be a future proof investment, the question is, how well does it perform as an all rounder? Lets find out!

Non-review model with glossy red finish on the contours of the keypad and palm-rest

Look and Feel

The Pavilion g6 comes with a glossy charcoal-grey finish on the lid, with a predominant HP logo etched on it. The glossy black finish on the keypad and the body contours surrounding it, adds a nice contrast with the charcoal grey finish on the areas engulfing the palm-rest and the contours of the keypad. The lack of dedicated numpad keys and the combining of function keys with multimedia control keys is a slight letdown. However, the g6's keypad offers good feedback and yielded satisfactory typing experience. The trackpad features gesture based pinch-zoom functionality, which allows you to zoom-in and zoom-out while reading content on the webpage. The trackpad isn't the best that we have seen on this range of laptops, there were times when the response and precision was lacking.

Features

The Pavilion g6 ships with some interesting apps like snipping tool, which allows you to capture screenshots of the selected area on the desktop, save or edit the snapshot (called a snip), e-mail the selected snip to your friend. In addition, it comes pre-installed with Magic Desktop software, which will allow you to work on another virtual desktop, where you can lock access to your files and settings by assigning a master password. The Magic software also allows you to dynamically switch back to your regular Windows desktop by going to the Menu >> settings. Thereby one user can have multiple desktop settings for home and office user.

Performance

The Pavilion g6 definitely out runs its nearest rival - MSI FX600 across most of the synthetic benchmark tests including the PC Mark Vantage and Maxxon CineBench R11.5. The G6 clearly outruns the FX600 in the PC Mark Vantage gaming benchmark with a score of 4538 points against FX600's meagre 3107 points. However on the flip side, the g6's powerful configuration yields poor battery-life, which is less than an hour. The other notable exceptions are that the FX600 scored much better than the g6 in the 3D Mark 2006 benchmark and speaker quality test, which is quite surprising. The gaming benchmarks yielded almost neck to neck scores with the g6 scoring 37.01fps in Farcry 2 and 121.5fps in the Doom 3 test, while the FX600 scored 38.29fps and 108.6fps respectively. Overall, the performance scores tilt the scales heavily in favor of the Pavilion g6, which comprehensively outplays the FX600.

Our Take

The HP Pavilion g6 is a strong performer in the sub Rs. 45,000 price category. A decent gaming performance across Doom 3 and Far Cry 2 benchmarks and coupled with the feature-rich configuration, it makes a strong statement. The g6 is aimed at the casual gamer, who needs a decent multimedia laptop under Rs. 45,000. However, the G6 is unsuitable for high-end gamers who love to play the game at its highest resolution with full 3D visual enhancements and anti-aliasing turned on. The G6 can only give you a decent gaming experience at medium graphic details with anti-aliasing disabled.

Specifications: Processor: Intel Core i5 - M480; Memory: 3GB DDR3 667 MHz; Chipset: Intel HM55 Express; Graphics: AMD Radeon HD 6470M; Hard drive: 610.5 GB; Display: 15.6-inch HD LED, Screen resolution: 1366 x 768 pixels; Weight: 2.55 Kilograms;

Ratings
Features: 3.5
Performance : 3.5
Build Quality: 3.5
Value for money: 3.5
Overall: 3.5

Brand	HP
Model	Pavilion g6 1001xx
Price (Rupees)	Rs. 45,000
Features
Component Specifications
Processor Model No	Intel Core i5 – M480
Processor Speed (MHz)	2667
RAM (MB)	3072
RAM Type	DDR3
Memory Speed (MHz)	1066
Chipset	Intel HM55 Express
Graphics Solution	AMD Radeon HD 6470M
Dedicated Video Memory (Y / N)	Y
Dedicated Video Memory Size (in MB)	1024 MB
Audio Chipset	IDT High Definition Audio
Storage size (in GB)	610.5
Drive type (HDD/SSD/other)	HDD
Optical Drive Type / Speed	DVD Writer / Multi
Bundled OS	Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Characteristics
Screen Size (Inches)	15.6
Type of LCD	HD LED
Screen Resolution (Native)	1366 x 768
Weight (Kg)	2.55
No. of Ports (USB / FireWire)	3 / None
USB 3.0 (Y/N)	N
Connectivity (LAN / Bluetooth / Wi-Fi)	Y/Y/Y
E-Sata (Y/N)	N
Display output (VGA/DVI/HDMI/Display Port)	Y/N/Y/N
Memory Card Reader (Y/N)	Y
Type of Memory Cards Supported	SD, MMC
Inbuilt Webcam (Y/N)	Y
Webcamera resolution (in megapixels)	1.3
Build (So 10)
Body	7
Keypad	7.5
Lid, movables	6
Ergonomics and Usability
Keypad Tactile Feedback (So 10)	7
Key Layout, bevelling, spacing & Usability (So 10)	6.5
Shortcut Keys/Switches (So 10)	6
Trackpad ergonomics, size, position (So 10)	5.5
Trackpad accuracy (So 10)	4.5
Biometrics (fingerprint/face) login (Y/N)	N
Wi-Fi On/Off Switch or Button (Y/N)	N
Dedicated Bluetooth On/Off Switch or Button (Y/N)	N
Dedicated TouchPad On/Off Switch or Button (Y/N)	N
Performance
Synthetic Scores
PC Mark Vantage
PC Mark Score	6055
Memories Score	3839
TV and Movies Score	3765
Gaming Score	4538
Music Score	6810
Communications Score	5172
Productivity Score	5805
HDD Score	3695
3D Mark 2006
CPU Score	2888
Overall Score	4724
Maxxon CineBench R11.5 (CPU score)	2.27
Battery Life Test (in minutes)	57
Real World Tests
Speaker Quality (at 50% volume) (So 10)	6.5
HD Movie Viewing (using VLC) (So 10)	7
DivX Encode 7.0 (.VOB to .Divx, default mode) (Sec)	78
WinRAR 3.9 (Compression / Decompression benchmark)	1493KB/s
File transfer Test (4 GB test file-sequential) (Sec)	103
File transfer Test (4 GB test file-assorted) (Sec)	232
PassMark Wireless Mon 3.0 Signal Strength (in %)	67
PassMark Wireless Mon 3.0 bandwidth (in Mbps)	99
Wi-Fi file transfer test (Mbps) Zone 1 (in Mbps)	15.15
Doom 3 (fps) (800x600, medium detail)	121.5
Far Cry (fps) (1024x768, medium detail)	37.01
Warranty (Years)	1 year

Contact: Hewlett Packard, Personal System Group, India
Phone: 18004254999
E-mail: N/A
Website: http://www8.hp.com/in/en/home.html
Price: Rs. 45,000

Drive helps kill Microsoft's Offic

2012-04-27T23:17:00.003-07:00

How Google's Drive helps kill Microsoft's Office

This is how a search company can steal the productivity business: By storing work, not helping users edit it.

Google's hard drive in the sky, Google Drive, is a big threat to other cloud storage products likeDropbox and Box. But it's also a stab straight at the heart of Microsoft's mainstream business software, Microsoft Office.

While Google's productivity application suites, Docs (now incorporated into Drive) and Apps (for businesses), have been making some headway into Microsoft Office's territory, the important battlefield is not the application. It's the data. If Google can move the battlefield to a place where it has the bigger army and better weapons, the whole game changes. Google Drive might make that happen.

Let's look at the world from behind Google-colored glasses. Every time a user performs a search in the Google search engine, or clicks a link in Chrome, or +1s an item in Plus, Google adds an atom of data to its knowledge of what people like and what they do. This information helps Google index the Web and rank its results when people are searching for something. This is also the Facebook model, by the way.

The Google Drive 'Open with' feature can help you steal your data away from old desktop apps. Google Drive launch partner Pixlr shown.

(Credit: Screenshot by Ed Rhee/CNET)

Moreover, every action that generates user data that doesn't touch down in a Google product or service deprives Google of information that it could otherwise use to index and understand the Web of human knowledge and preference. Microsoft Word documents stored on PCs? In the most uncharitable view, every one is money being stolen from Google.

All closed, siloed apps, for that matter, remove opportunity from Google. Co-founder Sergey Brin has recently spoken out against apps and companies that wall off data from the open Internet. There is indeed a danger, but it's not just about openness, it's about Google's own ability to index the data.

Back to Google Drive: By acting as the substrate for user data -- in other words, the file system -- Google gets exposed to many times more information. Google doesn't need, and in fact has no reason, to make this data public, but having it available to index and cross-reference does make the company's core service, targeted advertising, more valuable.

The more data Google has, the more valuable its product becomes. And that product, in case it's not already clear, is you. Your attention, which is sold to advertisers.

Microsoft's main product, meanwhile, is software, not data. (And its customers aren't advertisers, but people who buy software.) So why can't Microsoft's model and Google's live in harmony? Because Microsoft's software suite consists of application software and an operating system, and the operating system stores user data, and the data is what Google wants. So Google is undermining that function with Google Drive, and not just by offering a synchronized file system (which, by the way, Microsoft also offers). Once users put their data in Google Drive, they will also find out how easy it is to open these files in non-Microsoft apps. This is one of the reasons Google is launching Google Drive with an API for developers and a suite of partner products that shave off Microsoft customers a bit at a time.

One of the most important features that third-party developers are using with Google Drive is the "Open with" feature. If you upload a Microsoft Project file to Drive, for example, you can open it with the Web app SmartSheet, directly on the Web. Similarly, Web apps like SlideRocket can open PowerPoint files. Google's own productivity apps can also open Microsoft files.

The more people realize that they don't need Office to access their archives of files from the pre-Google Drive era, the more likely they are to look to Google Drive (or perhaps competing products, if they have similar partners) as primary storage. And Google wins, while Microsoft loses.

How can Microsoft counter this market erosion at Google's hands? The company has its own cloud storage product and a strong history with developers. And it has the business customers. But according to a Google Drive developer I spoke with, one who's been dealing also with Microsoft for years, Microsoft is not there yet. It has the centralized storage in SkyDrive andOffice 365, but not the infrastructure -- especially the identity and sign-on tools -- that developers need to integrate into the Microsoft cloud.

Microsoft also needs to protect its software licensing revenue for Office. Google, the upstart in business software, can undercut Microsoft's prices since all its software sales are incremental on top of its search and advertising businesses.

Other companies realize that whoever controls the data controls the market. Box, for instance,just launched OneCloud, which lets you open documents in a variety of apps. It's mobile-only so far, though.

It is no longer a PC world, and because of that Microsoft doesn't own the world of work. People do their jobs on their own computers, on the Web, and on mobile devices; and they expect their work to follow them onto whatever hardware they're using. Every major technology company understands this. But only a few have the products, the infrastructure, and the freedom to get ahead of the shift.

Windows 8 reportedly set for October debut

2012-04-27T23:00:00.000-07:00

Windows 8 reportedly set for October debut

Bloomberg reports that Microsoft will release the final version of the upcoming operating system to manufacturers this summer, leading to a pre-Christmas launch.

Windows 8 Start screen

(Credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft reportedly will finish work on Windows 8 by summer, setting the stage to release the next version of its flagship operating system sometime around October.

Bloomberg, citing "people with knowledge of the schedule," also reports that there will be fewer than five devices running the ARM system-on-a-chip architecture at launch. Those ARM chips allow for thinner, lighter tablet devices, something that Microsoft hopes will help it cut intoApple's iPad 's huge lead in the tablet market. The Cupertino rival just disclosed that it sold more than 3 million of its latest iPad since the third-generation gadget debuted Friday.

The report confirms the timing that most analysts have been expecting. Bloomberg notes that Microsoft will lay out the details of the release schedule at an industry event in early April.

A Microsoft spokeswoman declined comment on the report.

Last month, Microsoft said it planned to release a version of Windows 8 on ARM chips at the same time it launched Windows for the x86 chips that power traditional PCs. In a blog post at the time, Windows President Steven Sinofsky said "our collective goal is for PC makers to ship [Windows on ARM devices] the same time" as more conventional Windows PCs debut.

Having fewer than five devices, though, would offer consumers only slight alternatives to Apple's hugely popular iPad. That said, some Microsoft partner may also make tablets running x86 chips, though those devices would likely be bulkier than iPads and the ARM-powered Windows 8 gadgets.

Bloomberg also reported that more than 40 computers running the x86 architecture will be ready for the Windows 8 launch.

The royal visit to RIM

2012-04-25T12:36:00.000-07:00

[photo care of Kevin Fung]

Earlier this week Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth ll and His Royal Highness, The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Phillip honoured Research In Motion® (RIM) with a visit to our manufacturing facility here in Waterloo, Ontario.

The royal couple was greeted by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, RIM President and Co-CEO Mike Lazaridis, local dignitaries and hundreds of cheering admirers. After donning their smocks, the Royal Couple was taken on a tour of the manufacturing facility.

(In case you were wondering, everyone who enters onto RIM’s manufacturing production floor needs to wear an electrostatic discharge smock and footwear to help eliminate potential electrostatic charges that can be carried on clothing – even small electrostatic charges could damage the circuit board used in the BlackBerry® smartphones when they are being manufactured.)

During the tour, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh had the opportunity to see how the BlackBerry® Bold™ 9700 smartphone is made, and to speak with some RIM employees as well.

When the tour concluded, Mike Lazaridis presented The Queen with a white BlackBerry Bold 9700 smartphone and The Duke of Edinburgh received a black BlackBerry Bold 9700 smartphone.

The Queen’s BlackBerry smartphone included a picture of children from the Queen Elizabeth Public School in Kitchener, Ontario. The children were all holding flowers and standing in front of a school sign with the message “Q.E. students welcome the Queen to KW”.

The crowd certainly seemed pleased to see The Queen, and I know RIM employees and executives were excited to be able to host this part of her visit to Canada!

RIM rolls out BlackBerry 7.1 OS upgrade for Bold 9900

2012-04-24T22:07:00.000-07:00

RIM rolls out BlackBerry 7.1 OS upgrade for Bold 9900

Research in Motion (RIM) has finally announced rolling out much-awaited BlackBerry 7.1 OS upgrade to its high end BlackBerry Bold 9900 smartphone. The BlackBerry 7.1 OS is likely to improve performance of the device along with addition of Wi-Fi hotspot functionality.

The upgrade comes after various BlackBerry Bold 9900 users complained about software bugs. The update also brings an upgrade to RIM's popular chat application i.e. BlackBerry Messenger, which is now upgraded to version 7.1.The updated BlackBerry Messenger allows users to create personalised avatars and integrated set ups for social networking like Facebook and Twitter. Users can download the upgrade from here.

To refresh your memory, the BlackBerry Bold 9900 features a 5MP camera onboard capable of 720p HD video recording, 3G/Wi-Fi/GPS/Bluetooth/microUSB/NFC connectivity, an optical trackpad, a document editor and 8GB of built-in storage space. The device comes with a 1,230 mAh battery, which is rated to deliver 6.5 hours of talktime. The device also single-core 1.2GHz processor, and 768MB of RAM.

The BlackBerry Bold 9900 had received overall seven out 10 ratings in our detailed review. The phone Some of the pros of the phone include brighter display, sleek form factor and an improved QWERTY keypad. The BlackBerry Bold 9900 is available online at Rs. 33,360.

RIM has recently announced BB 7.1 OS-based smartphone, BlackBerry Curve 9220, in India. Priced at Rs. 10,990, the Curve 9220 comes with built in Wi-Fi and FM Radio. Read our previous coverage on BlackBerry Curve 9220 here.

BlackBerry Bold 9900 to get BlackBerry 7.1 OS upgrade

Sony introduces 34 new Cyber-shot digital cameras in India

2012-04-24T21:56:00.001-07:00

Sony introduces 34 new Cyber-shot digital cameras in India

Most of the new Sony Cyber-shot cameras are powered by the combination of Optical Zoom, Optical Steadyshot (with Horizontal-Vertical Shake Protection and Gyro-sensor Correction), Superior Intelligent Auto (Superior iAuto), and Superior Quick Focus, apart from being available in “exciting colours.”Sony India has launched a whole new range of Cyber-shot cameras in the country, with 34 new models, priced between Rs. 5,490 to Rs. 27,990 . Eight of the new models come with the new Super High Zoom feature, delivering optical zoom up to 30X, while another eight, deliver Compact High Zoom with up to 10X optical zoom.

Sony will be expanding its distribution and retail network in the country, and intends to have 3,000 counters in FY12, up from 2,500 counters in FY11, which are distributed amongst 300 Brand Shops, 1,200 Photo stores and 1,000 consumer electronic stores including National Retailers.

The company has experience great growth in FY11, rising by 45% (Qty.). It intends to consolidate its No.1 position in the Indian digital still camera market with an aim to capture a very dominant 45% share (Amt.) in FY12.

Mr. Masaru Tamagawa, Managing Director, Sony India, spoke about how the company has been doing in the Indian market, and its growth last year: “We have received a lot of love for Sony Cyber-shot in the Indian market and we will continue to innovate and create, bringing new technology, design and excitement to our customers. The High Zoom in our new Cyber-shot line-up helps capture exceptional picture quality and great detail, even when zoomed in considerably, thus being an absolute delight to photography connoisseurs. Sony innovation will continues to drive the world of imaging forward, and ensure that our products will keep breaking new ground and earn customer acclaim.”

Sony Cyber-shot CX690

Sony Cyber-shot WX150

All new nokia lumia 900 is here

2012-04-23T22:59:00.000-07:00

Also known as Nokia Lumia 900 RM-823

GENERAL	2G Network	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
	3G Network	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
	Announced	2012, February

BODY	Dimensions	127.8 x 68.5 x 11.5 mm, 90 cc
BODY	Weight	160 g

DISPLAY	Type	AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
	Size	480 x 800 pixels, 4.3 inches (~217 ppi pixel density)
	Multitouch	Yes
	Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass
		- Nokia ClearBlack display

SOUND	Alert types	Vibration; MP3, WAV ringtones
	Loudspeaker	Yes
	3.5mm jack	Yes

MEMORY	Card slot	No
MEMORY	Internal	16GB storage, 512 MB RAM

DATA	GPRS	Class 33
	EDGE	Class 33
	Speed	HSDPA, 42 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps
	WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
	Bluetooth	Yes, v2.1 with A2DP, EDR
	USB	Yes, microUSB v2.0

CAMERA	Primary	8 MP, 3264x2448 pixels, Carl Zeiss optics, autofocus, dual-LED flash
	Features	Geo-tagging
	Video	Yes, 720p@30fps, video stabilization
	Secondary	Yes, 1.3 MP, VGA@15fps

FEATURES	OS	Microsoft Windows Phone 7.5 Mango
	Chipset	Qualcomm APQ8055 Snapdragon
	CPU	1.4 GHz Scorpion
	GPU	Adreno 205
	Sensors	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
	Messaging	SMS (threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email, IM
	Browser	HTML5
	Radio	Stereo FM radio with RDS
	GPS	Yes, with A-GPS support and GLONASS
	Java	No
	Colors	Black, cyan, white
		- MicroSIM card support only - SNS integration - Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic - MP3/WAV/eAAC+/WMA player - MP4/H.264/H.263/WMV player - Document viewer/editor - Video/photo editor - Voice memo/command/dial - Predictive text input

BATTERY		Standard battery, Li-Ion 1830 mAh (BP-6EW)
	Stand-by	Up to 300 h (2G) / Up to 300 h (3G)
	Talk time	Up to 7 h (2G) / Up to 7 h (3G)
	Music play	Up to 60 h

Jeep to make India comeback with Grand Cherokee

2012-04-22T03:17:00.001-07:00

American SUV icon Jeep, inventors of the famous CJ series of army off-roaders, could soon come to India. Part of the Chrysler group, now owned by Fiat, Jeep has been steadily dieselising its range of off-roaders to make them suitable for the European market, and that means they are now well suited to India too. Jeep President and CEO Michael Manley, a regular visitor to India, is well versed with the dynamics of the Indian market. “We recognise that Indian customers appreciate good value and we are keen to provide that with our Grand Cherokee”.

Today Jeep has a whole range of diesel SUVs and the Grand Cherokee could be followed by products like the Commander, Compass and Patriot, which are all currently sold in Europe. And Jeep will have other Fiat-based soft-roaders that could be well suited to the Indian market in the near future too. It’s currently evaluating a B-segment competitor that could be launched as early as 2014, and once Jeep gets a foot into the Indian market, it could be followed by Chrysler and Dodge at a later stage.

Even for Jeep, inventors of the SUV, the new Grand Cherokee is a landmark car. For a start it looks right, absolutely spot on. The toothy seven-slat grille has been given pride of place, the large bonnet has a tough-looking squared-off feel to it and the exaggerated wheel arches give this new car a planted, tough look. It is attractive-looking from the rear too. Then comes the fact that this really is a tough, solid vehicle. Built on the same platform as the Mercedes M-class due to Daimler’s earlier ownership of Chrysler, the new Cherokee’s chassis is the stiffest in its class. This helps ride, handling and off road-manners too.

Some Jeep traditions are carried over, like the low-ratio transfer case, but manually locking diffs aren’t part of the specifications list. What you do get is a Selec-Terrain dial which, much like Range Rover’s ‘Terrain Response’, allows you to select the kind of surface conditions you are driving on, after which the car automatically makes adjustments to various settings to get the best traction and performance.

The common-rail diesel motor under the hood has been designed and engineered by Fiat but built by diesel specialists VM Motori. Displacing the same 2987cc as Merc’s 3.0 V6, and using the identical size of pistons, the diesel maker has outdone itself by tuning the motor to deliver silky-smooth power and bags and bags of torque. You only get a five-speed automatic, strangely, and that’s not ideal.

On the inside, there’s more space than you expect. There’s a nice, airy feel to the cabin, the driver can stretch out and adjust the seat to a driving position of his choice, and there is plenty of legroom at the rear as well. Some traditions are carried over. The driver, for example, is greeted by the traditional round-boss steering wheel, and the detailing and switchgear look familiar too. Plastic quality however is not as good as either Volkswagen or Mercedes, and the general ambience of the cabin is more rugged than luxurious. But that’s what a Jeep really is – a tough, rugged, go-anywhere SUV. If Jeep manages to get local assembly – and later, production – in order, and manages to keep the price below Rs 40 lakh*, it could be off to a strong start.

Audi will showcase the hi-performance RS Q3 concept.

2012-04-22T01:32:00.001-07:00

Audi will showcase the hi-performance RS Q3 concept.
It shares engine with the recently launched TT-RS.

Samsung Galaxy tab 2 7.0(8GB )will be the first to run Ice cream sanwich

2012-04-19T22:05:00.004-07:00

The good: The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 delivers a mostly pure Ice Cream Sandwich experience for only $250. The tablet also trumps the Kindle Fire in extras by including dual cameras, expandable memory, and TV remote-control functionality.

The bad: The screen doesn't look as pretty as other PLS displays, and its camera performance is lacking compared with other tablets in the line.

The bottom line: The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 offers an excellent value and a full Android 4.0 experience that no other tablet can currently match for the price.

Design
The Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 sports a slightly altered design from the Tab 7.0 Plus, but you'd be hard-pressed to notice those differences at first glance, unless of course you're as intimately familiar with the Plus as I am.

The shape and weight are about the same with some slight dimensional differences. The new tablet's outer plastic shell spills a bit into the bezel at the right and left sides and the power/sleep button and volume rocker are more pronounced and feel slightly more responsive. Also, the IR blaster is a bit larger than the one on the Plus.

Aside from that, they're pretty much physically identical. The Tab 2 7.0 is fairly thin, although notTab 7.7-thin. It's also comfortable to hold, with smooth, rounded corners. Samsung identifies the color that covers the back of the tablet as "titanium silver," which seems apt enough.

The microSD card slot allows you to add an additional 32GB of storage on top of the built-in 8GB. Samsung provides 50GB of free Dropbox storage for a year on top of that. The door to the microSD slot is easier to open now and doesn't get stuck as often as the Tab Plus' did.

Take that, Kindle Fire! With expandable memory up 32GB, you shouldn't have to worry constantly about running out of space.

The 2-megapixel front camera from the Plus has been replaced with a VGA one here, but the rear is still rated at 3 megapixels, albeit sans an LED. Thankfully, each camera is located in the upper left corner when you hold the tablet in landscape, thus allowing them to avoid unwanted fingers creeping into the camera frame when taking a picture.

The 3-megapixel back camera honestly takes pretty crappy pictures.

Equidistant from surrounding dual speakers on the right sits a dock connector, and the left edge houses a headphone jack and microphone pinhole. The ambient light sensor sits about an inch away from the front camera on the bezel. However, the ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts the tablet's brightness when auto brightness is turned on is calibrated too sensitively. When typing, my hand would occasionally cover the sensor making the screen darken. This was so consistent (and annoying) that I was forced to turn off auto brightness on the tablet while I used it.

Sadly, as with most Samsung tablets, there's no HDMI port, requiring you to purchase an adapter if you'd like to play video from your tablet on your TV

Software features
Possibly the biggest selling point (other than its price) of the Tab 2 7.0 is that it ships with Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0.3 to be precise) installed, making it the first Samsung tablet to do so.

A camera’s sensor area, not its pixel count, determines the quality of a photograph

2012-04-19T21:41:00.000-07:00

Pixels: Size Matters

A camera’s sensor area, not its pixel count, determines the quality of a photograph

Photo: Sally Wiener Grotta & Daniel Grotta

SIZE MATTERS: The size of a camera’s lens is a good indication of the size of its image sensor.Click on the image to enlarge.

The metric most often used by camera manufacturers and marketers to tout their products has been pixel count. That’s a shame, but it was probably inevitable—it’s easy to measure, and consumers are used to the idea that more is better. However, the number of pixels is a measure of quantity, not quality.

To be sure, in the beginning—the 1990s—there was a great need for more pixels. But by 2000, pixel counts plateaued at 3.3 megapixels. At that number, the sensorwas relatively cheap to produce, and the resulting images had just enough resolution for decent 8½- by 11-inch color enlargements from inexpensive inkjet photo printers. For a while, manufacturers competed not on size but with new features, such as geotagging, optical image stabilization, extended zoom ratio, and video. Then pixel escalation resumed with a vengeance. Nowadays, 12-, 14-, and 16-megapixel point-and-shoot digitals are the rule rather than the exception, and cellphones routinely offer 5-, 8-, and even 12-megapixel resolution.

What manufacturers didn’t bother explaining was what a pixel is—and why we should care how many we have. Essentially, at the heart of every digital camera is an image sensor. The lens focuses photons reflected by the scene being photographed onto that image sensor. Etched into the image sensor’s silicon are pixels (short for “picture elements”)—technically, photoreceptor or photodiode sites. Each pixel is a single point that collects the electrons, which are then interpreted into information about color and light. As in the Postimpressionist style of pointillism, which used thousands of paint dots to create a work of art, the signals from pixels are processed into a recognizable image. The more pixels, the more information collected and the larger the photo.

But bigger pictures don’t necessarily mean better pictures. In fact, pixel count alone cannot ensure a quality image. If it were otherwise, then a US $139 16-megapixelNikon Coolpix S3300 point-and-shoot camera would produce pictures as good as those from a $5995 professional Nikon D4 digital single lens reflex (DSLR) with the same number of megapixels. Or, to take the comparison to an even greater extreme, the recently unveiled (and still unpriced) 41-megapixel Nokia 808 PureViewsmartphone (yes, Virginia, there is a 41-megapixel phone camera) would have image quality similar to that of a $17 500 40-megapixel Phase One 645DF camera. Some obvious differences account for the higher prices of the Nikon D4 and the Phase One 645DF: much faster performance, higher quality construction, more durable body, superior ergonomics, more precise settings and adjustments, interchangeable lenses, and so on. But those factors don’t explain the most important advantage: vastly superior image quality.

If the number of pixels doesn’t directly relate to image quality, what does? Actually, there are several factors that define and determine a digital camera’s image quality: the physical size of the pixels and the image sensor, the filters (and usually the microlenses) bonded to the image sensor, the firmware that processes pixel data, and the camera lens.

But it all centers on the individual pixels.

Pixels on an image sensor are analogous to a bunch of red, green, and blue paint buckets placed side by side. (Red, green, and blue combine to create all colors.) The bigger the buckets, the more paint (electrons) they can capture.

Smoke Detectors

2012-04-19T08:59:00.004-07:00

Smoke Detectors

Where there's smoke, there'sfire and we usually don’t amuse ourselves with the idea of having a fire anywhere else other than a fireplace. So, we equip ourselves with an arsenal of early detection sensors that can help avert a potential disaster to life and property. One of the chief whistleblowers in this assortment of accident prevention devices is the smoke detector, which we can often see as round perforated plastic disks, fixed to the ceilings of offices and homes.

A smoke detector, in all its simplicity, detects smoke in its surroundings and sounds an alarm. These are one of the most important safety devices in an establishment especially in homes, where it is one of the few sensors which can provide safety 24x7. The alarm issued may manifest itself as a Blinking LED, an Audio siren, or in case of establishments connected with a central monitoring station, an alert on the management screens in the control room.

Electronic Ballast

2012-04-19T08:56:00.002-07:00

Electronic Ballast

People have grown up with the sights and sounds of fluorescent lamps buzzing to life after a few attempts. As the new wave of energy saving appliances gripped the world, technology made the fluorescent lamps shrink in thickness as well as reduced the number of attempts made by lamps to shine their brightest. Today many homes use energy Saver CFL lamps and fluorescent tubes which start giving light the moment they are switched on. This instantaneous production of light is achieved by the use of electronic ballasts.

Ballast is a device which controls the starting voltage and the operating currents of lighting devices built on the principle of electrical gas discharge. It refers to that part of the circuit which limits the flow of current through the lighting device and may vary from being a single resistor to a bigger, complex device. In some fluorescent lighting systems like dimmers, it is also responsible for the controlled flow of electrical energy to heat the lamp electrodes.

3G vs 4G

2012-04-19T08:41:00.000-07:00

1) 3G is currently the world’s best connection method when it comes to mobile phones, and especially mobile Internet. 3G stands for 3rd generation as itÂ is just that in terms of the evolutionary path of the mobile phone industry. 4G means 4th generation. This is a set of standard that is being developed as a future successor of 3G in the very near future.

2) The biggest difference between the two is in the existence of compliant technologies. There are a bunch of technologies that fall under 3G, including WCDMA, EV-DO, and HSPA among others. Although a lot of mobile phone companies are quick to dub their technologies as 4G, such as LTE, WiMax, and UMB, none of these are actually compliant to the specifications set forth by the 4G standard. These technologies are often referred to as Pre-4G or 3.9G.

3) 4G speeds are meant to exceed that of 3G. Current 3G speeds are topped out at 14Mbps downlink and 5.8Mbps uplink. To be able to qualify as a 4G technology, speeds of up to 100Mbps must be reached for a moving user and 1Gbps for a stationary user. So far, these speeds are only reachable with wired LANs.

Another key change in 4G is the abandonment of circuit switching. 3G technologies use a hybrid of circuit switching and packet switching. Circuit switching is a very old technology that has been used in telephone systems for a very long time. The downside to this technology is that it ties up the resource for as long as the connection is kept up. Packet switching is a technology that is very prevalent in computer networks but has since appeared in mobile phones as well. With packet switching, resources are only used when there is information to be sent across. The efficiency of packet switching allows the mobile phone company to squeeze more conversations into the same bandwidth. 4G technologies would no longer utilize circuit switching even for voice calls and video calls. All information that is passed around would be packet switched to enhance efficiency.

Summary:

1. 3G stands for 3rd generation while 4G stands for 4th generation

2. 3G technologies are in widespread use while 4G compliant technologies are still in the horizon

3. 4G speeds are much faster compared to 3G

4. 3G is a mix of circuit and packet switching network while 4G is only a packet switching network.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX100V

2012-04-19T07:46:00.001-07:00

Rating: Good

4/5

Features:

Performance:

Value:

Design:

PROS

Video performance

Performance in low-light

Detail in macro mode

Optics are excellent

CONS

Lack of hot shoe

Noise Reduction algorithms too aggressive

Summary

A high quality ultra-zoom from Sony. This camera almost ran away with the our scores this time around, with only the Canon Powershot S100 giving it a run for its money. The camera sports impressive video recording capabilities and managed to ace almost all of our tests. A brilliant all-round camera if you can don't mind the size.

Review

The Sony DSC HX100V from Sony is a feature-rich ultra-zoom camera, offering 30x optical zoom along with an EVF, an articulated screen and even Sony’s specialised EXMOR-R sensor which claims to provide exceptional performance in low-light situations.

Features

On the optics front, the camera offers 30x optical zoom. The camera features a large and comfortable zoom ring on the lens, but it is interesting to note that the zoom ring electronically controls the movement of the lens. This has the advantage of giving you manual control to a large extent, but also ensures that the zooming is smooth and jitter free. Also, as very little effort is required to rotate the ring, your video recording will be much more steady.

The camera is one of the few in this category that actually provides an EVF. The EVF comes with a proximity sensor and when it detects the proximity of something (preferably your face when you’re trying to look through the viewfinder), it automatically turns of the LCD and switches to the EVF.

The image is captured via the EXMOR-R sensor, which is a back-illuminated CMOS sensor that is claimed to be at least twice as sensitive as a conventional sensor, while introducing minimal noise. Other features include lens-shift IS, ISO 3200 support, a max shutter speed of 1/4000 of a second, 10fps full resolution burst mode (a commendable feat for this class of cameras) 1080p video recording with stereo sound, GPS, GPS and also, one of the highest resolution LCD screens in its class (9,21,000 dots). The camera also features various scene modes, a 3D still photography mode, sweep panorama and HDR mode. The HDR mode shoots 2 images at different exposures and then intelligently merges them together, the final image in this mode does come out quite well.

What is notable is the lack of a hot shoe for the flash. This isn't too much of an issue but for a camera of this caliber, we expected more.

Design and Build

The camera is also very well built. There is almost no flex and the hinge for the articulated LCD is quite sturdy. The LCD only flips up and down though, so it is not a fully articulated LCD.
The buttons are laid out well and there were no noticeable issues while we tested. Ditto the interface, intuitive and simple but featuring almost complete manual control. There is a dedicated button for video recording, which is a nice feature and something that we are seeing almost as standard in all current generation cameras.

Performance

For the video tests, we shot at least 4 videos at the HD resolutions supported by the camera (720p and 1080p). This camera aced all the video tests and came out scoring top marks in all our tests. The indoor tests showed a bit of noise but overall, the quality was better than most of the cameras in the comparison. There was no hunting for focus and the camera managed to focus reasonably fast.

Outdoor performance was even better. Noise was almost non-existent (in day-light of course) and as mentioned earlier, there was little or no distortion in the lens. Zooming was smooth and IS worked very well up to the camera’s max zoom of 30x. Zooming in and out wasn’t as fast as in photo mode, but this ensured that the zooming experience was smooth and stutter free.

2012-04-19T07:37:00.001-07:00

Digit Rating: Good

4/5

Features:

Performance:

Value:

Design:

PROS

Brilliant design
Superb performance

CONS

None

Summary

ADATA Nobility NH03 offers an economical cost per GB of Rs. 4.6 which is more than the WD My Book Essential 3TB drive which costs Rs. 3.9 per GB. But if you do not want that kind of capacity and are on a budget, this is the best powered drive you can get your hands on. At a mere Rs. 4300 you are getting a great performing drive which also looks better than most of the other drives on the market. Also its features such as encryption, one-button backup add value. Recommended by us.

Features:
ADATA Nobility NH03 provides a one button backup feature, which was seen in very few external hard drives. It has included a 256-bit AES encryption for protecting your data from unauthorized access. You also get utilities such as PCCloneEx and Turbo HDD software which boosts your speeds by some 10 percent for read performance.

Design and Build:
ADATA Nobility NH03 scores in the looks department. It has a piano black glossy finish and is rectangular in shape with concave sides and edges. There are enough grooves around the edges to keep the drive within well ventilated. On the front portion you have a button for backing up data. This button has a good feedback. On the rear side you have a USB port, a power port and a switch to turn the drive on or off.

Processor: Intel Core i7-2600K @3.4GHz
Motheboard: Intel DP67BG
RAM: 2x2GB Corsair Dominator DDR3 RAM @1333MHz (timing: 9-9-9-24)
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate (64-bit)
OS Drive: Intel SSDSA2H080GIGN (80 GB SSD)
RAID 0 Combination: 2 x 300GB WD Velociraptor
Graphics Card: AMD Radeon HD 6850
Power Supply: Corsair HX620W

Performance:
The drive gives unformatted space of 931.51 GB. It gave a Read Burst speed of 185.7 MB/s which was the highest among its contemporaries. In the real world testing which involved transferring 4GB sequential and assorted files from the WD drive to the RAID array and back we got the following scores. Read / Write (sequential file) in MB/s – 129.91 / 124 and Read / Write (Assorted) in MB/s –118.79 / 77.25. Performance wise this was the fastest drive in out comparison tests. It was the winner of the Best Performer award as its transfer speeds scores were better than all the other external HDDs that we tested. It took 34.97 secs to open a 1 GB PSD file when used as a scratch disk which was around 4 secs slower than the WD My Book Essential 3TB drive.

Verdict:
ADATA Nobility NH03 offers an economical cost per GB of Rs. 4.6 which is more than the WD My Book Essential 3TB drive which costs Rs. 3.9 per GB. But if you do not want that kind of capacity and are on a budget, this is the best powered drive you can get your hands on. At a mere Rs. 4,300 you are getting a great performing drive which also looks better than most of the other drives on the market. Also its features such as encryption, one-button backup add value. Recommended by us.

Dell xps 13

2012-04-19T03:17:00.000-07:00

Price: 79900

Digit Rating: Excellent

4.5/5

Features:

Performance:

Value:

Design:

PROS

Elegant, premium look and design
Metal and carbon fibre chassis
Gorilla Glass display
Very good hardware configuration
3 year hardware, software warranty

CONS

Trackpad needs work

The Dell XPS 13 is probably the smallest 13-inch ultrabook out there. And despite its slim-trim dimensions, Dell packs the XPS 13 with a lot of hardware firepower and features an excellent look, feel and design to propel it amongst the best ultrabooks available in the market.

RIM launches BlackBerry Curve 9220 in India at Rs. 10,990

2012-04-19T03:11:00.001-07:00

RIM launches BlackBerry Curve 9220 in India at Rs. 10,990

Research in Motion (RIM) has launched a new Curve smartphone in India. Priced at Rs. 10,990, the BlackBerry Curve 9220 sports BlackBerry 7.1 OS, built in Wi-Fi and FM Radio. RIM says the Curve 9220 is the most affordable BlackBerry device in the country so far. As part of the launch in India, RIM is offering apps worth Rs. 2,500 free with the BlackBerry Curve 9220. The device is slated to hit the shelves on April 19.

RIM's new Curve 9220 has a dedicated key for accessing BlackBerry Messenger along with traditional BlackBerry QWERTY keypad and optical trackpad. With the dedicated BBM key, users can access the Facebook for BlackBerry, Twitter for BlackBerry apps and other social apps in one consolidated view.

The Curve 9220 has a 2.44-inch TFT screen with 320x240 resolution. The device also features a 2MP camera with 5x digital zooming capabilities. For connectivity, the BlackBerry Curve supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The device does not support 3G and GPS.

It comes with a 1,450 mAh battery, which is rated to deliver 7 hours of talk time or up to 28 hours of music playback or FM radio on headphones. While announcing the new Curve smartphone, RIM India MD Sunil Dutt said, “The new BlackBerry Curve 9220 offers a unique mobile experience that young Indian will love thanks to its affordable pricing and unmatched messaging and social connectivity features.”

Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif was also present at the launch event held in Delhi today.

Prior to the launch of the Curve 9220, RIM officials also shed light on the company’s future strategies for India. RIM said it was eyeing India’s growing smartphone population and making efforts to consolidate its position in 2-tier and 3-tier cities. RIM wants to focus on India’s SMBs and other enterprise segments as well.

While addressing the reporters, Sunil Dutt pointed out that BlackBerry platform was growing in India. He said that the number of India-based BlackBerry developers has increased from 4,000 to 30,000 in last two years.

RIM’s Executive Vice President Patrick Spence, who was also present at the event, said that his company is going to push its newly launched BlackBerry Business cloud services andBlackBerry Mobile Fusion tool. According to Spence, RIM will continue to support HTML 5, which allows developers to build cross-platform applications.

Htc one X--smartest phone with a quadcore processor.

2012-04-19T01:30:00.003-07:00

GENERAL	2G Network	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
	3G Network	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
	Announced	2012, February
	Status	Available. Released 2012, April

BODY	Dimensions	134.4 x 69.9 x 8.9 mm
	Weight	130 g
		- Touch-sensitive controls

DISPLAY	Type	Super IPS LCD2 capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
	Size	720 x 1280 pixels, 4.7 inches (~312 ppi pixel density)
	Multitouch	Yes
	Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass
		- HTC Sense UI

SOUND	Alert types	Vibration, MP3, WAV ringtones
	Loudspeaker	Yes
	3.5mm jack	Yes

MEMORY	Card slot	No
MEMORY	Internal	32 GB (26 GB user-available) storage, 1 GB RAM

DATA	GPRS	Yes
	EDGE	Yes
	Speed	HSDPA, 21 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps
	WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot
	Bluetooth	Yes, v4.0 with A2DP
	NFC	Yes
	USB	Yes, microUSB (MHL) v2.0

CAMERA	Primary	8 MP, 3264x2448 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
	Features	Simultaneous HD video and image recording, geo-tagging, face and smile detection
	Video	Yes, 1080p@30fps, stereo sound rec., video stabilization
	Secondary	Yes, 1.3 MP, 720p

FEATURES	OS	Android OS, v4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
	Chipset	Nvidia Tegra 3
	CPU	Quad-core 1.5 GHz
	GPU	ULP GeForce
	Sensors	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
	Messaging	SMS (threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email
	Browser	HTML, Adobe Flash
	Radio	Stereo FM radio with RDS
	GPS	Yes, with A-GPS support
	Java	Yes, via Java MIDP emulator
	Colors	Gray, White
		- MicroSIM card support only - Beats Audio - Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic - TV-out (via MHL A/V link) - SNS integration - MP4/H.263/H.264/WMV player - MP3/eAAC+/WMA/WAV player - Google Search, Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Calendar, Google Talk - Document viewer/editor - Voice memo/dial/commands - Predictive text input

BATTERY		Standard battery, Li-Po 1800 mAh price:around: 36000 Rs.

Samsung Omnia W I8350

2012-04-19T01:23:00.001-07:00

GENERAL	2G Network	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
	3G Network	HSDPA 900 / 2100
		HSDPA 850 / 1900 - Samsung Omnia W I8350T
	Announced	2011, September
	Status	Available. Released 2011, October

BODY	Dimensions	115.6 x 58.8 x 10.9 mm
BODY	Weight	115.3 g

DISPLAY	Type	Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
	Size	480 x 800 pixels, 3.7 inches (~252 ppi pixel density)
	Multitouch	Yes
	Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass

SOUND	Alert types	Vibration, MP3, WAV ringtones
	Loudspeaker	Yes
	3.5mm jack	Yes.

MEMORY	Card slot	No
MEMORY	Internal	8 GB storage, 512 MB RAM

DATA	GPRS	Yes
	EDGE	Yes
	Speed	HSDPA, 14.4 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps
	WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi hotspot
	Bluetooth	Yes, v2.1 with A2DP
	USB	Yes, microUSB v2.0

CAMERA	Primary	5 MP, 2592 x 1944 pixels, autofocus, LED flash.
	Features	Geo-tagging, image stabilization
	Video	Yes, 720p@30fps
	Secondary	Yes, VGA

FEATURES	OS	Microsoft Windows Phone 7.5 Mango
	Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon
	CPU	1.4 GHz Scorpion
	GPU	Adreno 205
	Sensors	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
	Messaging	SMS (threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email, IM
	Browser	HTML
	Radio	Stereo FM radio with RDS
	GPS	Yes, with A-GPS support, Bing map
	Java	No
	Colors	Black
		- Document viewer/editor - MP4/WMV/H.264/H.263 player - MP3/WAV/WMA/eAAC+ player - SNS integration - Organizer - Voice memo - Predictive text input

BATTERY		Standard battery, Li-Ion 1500 mAh
	Stand-by	Up to 370 h
	Talk time	Up to 7 h

Price : 19900

Apple iPad 3 review

2012-04-18T23:56:00.000-07:00

Apple iPad 3 review:

Introduction

So, the iPad is dead, long live the iPad. That's also part of the deal. The retirement of the first-generation of the Apple tablet is nothing out of the ordinary. There used to be the iPad and the iPad 2. Now, we have the iPad and the iPad 2 is the backup, the second choice.

The new iPad. Here's one for you. You're Apple and you're about to launch your latest product. You want to dispel even the remotest suspicion of recycling old stuff. You want the slightest hint smothered of sequels and their questionable worth. What do you do?

Apple iPad 3rd gen official pictures

Make it nothing like the old one? No, no - you're not paying attention. Pretend you're Apple. The market leader in tablets, the standard-setter in touchscreen, the king of design, the god of marketing.

Yes, it's as simple as a single stroke of divine wisdom. You get rid of the numbers. Next is wrong - new is what everyone cares about. If you're telling people they're getting the ultimate, the last thing you want them to think about is what comes later. Numbers are about the order of appearance, the new iPad is about the order of succession. In the royal sense.

Key features

9.7" LED-backlit IPS LCD touchscreen, 2048 x 1536 pixels; scratch-resistant, oleophobic coating
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n connectivity, carrier-dependent hotspot support
Optional LTE connectivity (data only)
Optional GPS with A-GPS support (for the 3G model only)
Apple A5X SoC with 1 GHz dual-core ARM Cortex A9 processor
PowerVR SGX543MP4 quad-core GPU
1GB RAM
iOS 5.1 with iCloud support and activation
16/32/64GB of inbuilt storage
Weight of 652 grams (662 grams for the LTE version)
Bluetooth 4.0
11,560 mAh battery
Accelerometer, compass and three-axis gyro-sensor
Compatible with every iPad and iPhone app without any modifications
The cheapest version costs less than a SIM-free iPhone
5MP auto-focus camera
1080p video recording at 30fps
VGA secondary camera capable of FaceTime calls
Four and five-finger gestures
1080p TV-output with the Apple Digital AV Adapter (purchased separately for $39), 720p video streaming
Supports magnetic cases

Main disadvantages

iTunes still required for uploading most of the content
Reflective screen struggles outdoors
Same CPU as the iPad 2
Heavier and thicker than the iPad 2
No Flash support in the web browser
No standard USB port
Non replaceable battery
No stereo loudspeakers
No GPS receiver in the Wi-Fi version
No memory card slot
No Siri
Can get uncomfortably hot at times
No charging while in use
Lack of basic iOS apps - weather, stocks, clock, calculator, voice memos

The three iPads look almost exactly the same but, to be fair to the new iPad, it brings a massive upgrade. The 2048 x 1536 pixel Retina display has four times the resolution of the previous model. The bar is yet again set too high for the competition. And it's a leap worth several generations. Apple did well to make sure the monstrous screen is well covered in terms of graphic processing with some extra GPU cores too and the performance is flawless.

The 5MP camera is an improved version of the one on the iPhone 4 and the video recording is duly upgraded to 1080p. There's Wi-Fi hotspot support too but that's carrier-dependent and our Wi-Fi-only iPad naturally doesn't have it.

The long list of cons shouldn't come as a surprise. Some of them are down to Apple's way of doing things but we'll look closer at the screen outdoor performance and the reported overheating in gaming or video playback.

The iPad live pictures

Siri didn't make the cut this time around and you won't find some basic iOS apps either such as Weather, Stocks, Clock, Calculator and Voice Memos. Let's hope though there won't be blank spaces in our review of the new iPad. Follow us on the next page where we look at what's new in the hardware department.

sony xperia S

2012-04-18T23:51:00.001-07:00

Also known as Sony Ericsson Xperia Nozomi, Sony Ericsson Arc HD

GENERAL	2G Network	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
	3G Network	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - LT26i
	Announced	2012, January
	Status	Available. Released 2012, February

BODY	Dimensions	128 x 64 x 10.6 mm
	Weight	144 g
		- Touch-sensitive controls

DISPLAY	Type	LED-backlit LCD, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
	Size	720 x 1280 pixels, 4.3 inches (~342 ppi pixel density)
	Multitouch	Yes, up to 10 fingers
	Protection	Scratch-resistant glass
		- Sony Mobile BRAVIA Engine - Timescape UI

SOUND	Alert types	Vibration; MP3 ringtones
	Loudspeaker	Yes
	3.5mm jack	Yes

MEMORY	Card slot	No
MEMORY	Internal	32 GB storage, 1 GB RAM

DATA	GPRS	Up to 86 kbps
	EDGE	Up to 237 kbps
	Speed	HSDPA, 14.4 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.8 Mbps
	WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot
	Bluetooth	Yes, v2.1 with A2DP, EDR
	NFC	Yes
	USB	Yes, microUSB v2.0

CAMERA	Primary	12 MP, 4000x3000 pixels, autofocus, LED flash, check quality
	Features	Geo-tagging, touch focus, face and smile detection, 3D sweep panorama, image stabilization
	Video	Yes, 1080p@30fps, continuous autofocus, video light, video stabilizer, check quality
	Secondary	Yes, 1.3 MP, 720p@30fps

FEATURES	OS	Android OS, v2.3 (Gingerbread), planned upgrade to v4.0
	Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8260 Snapdragon
	CPU	Dual-core 1.5 GHz
	GPU	Adreno 220
	Sensors	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
	Messaging	SMS (threaded view), MMS, Email, IM, Push Email
	Browser	HTML5, Adobe Flash
	Radio	Stereo FM radio with RDS
	GPS	Yes, with A-GPS support and GLONASS
	Java	Yes, via Java MIDP emulator
	Colors	White, Black
		- MicroSIM card support only - TV launcher - SNS integration - HDMI port - Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic - MP4/H.263/H.264/WMV player - MP3/eAAC+/WMA/WAV player - TrackID music recognition - Google Search, Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Calendar, Google Talk - Document viewer - Voice memo/dial/commands - Predictive text input

BATTERY		Standard battery, Li-Ion 1750 mAh
	Stand-by	Up to 450 h (2G) / Up to 420 h (3G)
	Talk time	Up to 7 h 30 min (2G) / Up to 8 h 30 min (3G)
	Music play	Up to 25 h