Samsung rolls out the 2.3 Gingerbread update in Europe just ahead of its schedule. We are left with rolling eyes. It’s a limited rollout, benefiting Holland and Germany first. For all those in the EU with a Galaxy S , boot up your phone and connect it to Kies to check for a software update.
Author: Bharat Nagpal
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HTC Mazaa Leaked as a CDMA Windows Phone 7 Device
XDA-Developers have received an image of what they are calling the HTC Mazaa. It is the world’s first CDMA phone, with 3.7-inch screen and GSM capabilities (thats right GSM capable), which runs Windows Phone 7.
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Indian Government Bans Nokia’s Push Email Service
Nokia’s upcoming push email service has been banned by the Indian Government. The Ministry of Home Affairs has relayed directives to the Department of Telecom stating that Nokia’s new push email product should not be permitted to launch in India until a system is put in place that will allow the government to monitor communications sent a received on devices.
“In view of the Intelligence Bureau’s report, Department of Telecommunications is requested to advice the Telecom Service Providers not to launch Nokia’s proposed pushmail/powermail service without putting in place monitoring facilities to the satisfaction of the LEAs,” Said the Telecom Department.
A similar thing had happened with RIM’s Blackberry servers, back in 2010.
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Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc : Full Review with Video
One of the most beautiful Android devices in the market yet, The Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc proves that not all Android Devices need to be dull and boring. The Arc is a show stopper, and it certainly impressed us on another level.
Let start with the usual line up.
BUILD QUALITY and HARDWARE
The Xperia Arc has a deceiving structure, the device looks like a plastic toy initially, but is extremely well built and once you hold the device in your hand you will never make the same mistake again. It has a great design which tapers out in the center and broadens out to the side.Contrary to what most critics are saying the device is extremely comfortable to hold in the hand and fits comfortably when gripping the device during those in game driving scenes.
The Xperia Arc also packs a brilliant bit of hardware in terms of specs. Check them out :
Specifications of Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc
Frequency Quad band Phone Style Touchscreen OS Android 2.3 Thickness 8.7mm Length 125mm Width 63mm Weight 117g Built-in Memory 512MB Additional Memory MicroSD up to 32GB High-speed Data HSDPA Connectivity GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Screen Size 4.2-inch, 480×854 pixels Secondary Screen Size N/A Screen Colours 16 million colours Camera Yes Camera Resolution 8-megapixel Flash Yes Ringtones Yes Music Player Yes Music Formats MP3/eAAC+/WMA/WAV Radio Yes Speaker Yes Internet Yes Browser WAP Games Yes Processor Qualcomm MSM8250 Snapdragon 1 GHz processor Battery 1500mAh Price :Rs. 27,500
CAMERA and MULTIMEDIA
The camera on the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc has an 8 MegaPixel Sony Exmor-R Sensor. It is just something you will love to – well, LOVE. The camera is absolutely brilliant, and comes close to a perfect replacement for a day use digital camera. The camera is extremely sensitive to light and will pick up the slightest detail in the image. The device also has 720p recording capability which when combined with onboard image stabilization methods provides a decent set of tools for video capture.We were however, disappointed with the lack of quality and depth in the video captured by the Arc. while it looks absolutely stunning on the Device , video playback on a big screen looks washed out to say the least.
The Arc also provided the best movie/video experience we have had with an Android Device. The Display simply cannot be praised enough, the colors are deep and the resolution combined with the all new Bravia Engine for Mobile phones makes the video quality just Superb. We have not seen better quality on a Phone display period.
Sound quality, video playback and Audio/Video streaming work flawlessly and deliver a promising multimedia experience. The placement of the onboard loudspeaker is at an akward position and when you are holding the device in landscape, you will find yourself covering he speaker with your finger. The results of which can be devastating for the volume levels.
Check out the Video Capture Sample
PHONE and MESSAGING
The device is exceptionally good at doing what its meant to , the voice clarity is -bang on- at both ends, and network performance is sustained. The device is really good and pocket-able and simple to use, the phone dialer is fast and has large keys, the contacts and messaging screens are easy to navigate and simple to use.The keyboard on the device is also, possibly the best stock keyboard we have used, clean large-square button layout increases the accuracy of your typing capabilities many-a-fold. The keyboard is quick as is the touchscreen responsive, creating one of the best touch input interfaces. You will actually enjoy typing on this keyboard, so text away!
BATTERY
Usage life on the Xperia Arc was erratic. Sometimes lasting a full day without a recharge, and sometimes asking for juice every 5-6 hours. The battery life tests revealed a lot more info :-
- 2G Talk Time : 4.5-6 Hours
- 3G Talk Time : 3.5 Hours
- 3G Browsing : 4 Hours
- Wifi Browsing : 5-6 Hours
- Video Playback : BE : 4.5 Hours / Without BE : 6 Hours
- Audio Playback : Screen Off : 14 Hours (approx)
USER INTERFACE
The device runs Android 2.3 with a custom time-scape UI on top. The UI is simply beautiful and is like a melodious song that has no ending. The UI is the most innovative form of developer work seen on a stock device since the HTC Sense. The use of new widgets with the clean interface and the customizable App Drawer/ Full Menu make the device User Experience a wonderful one.
CONCLUSION
The device is good to look at and comes with Android 2.3 from the get go. The camera is good at taking pictures but, just average at video quality. The build is solid and the display like we said earlier has no parallel comparison. The device attempts at fulfilling the purpose of the average user and taking to task the pro user. We found no reason to root the device as we were happy with both performance as well as the UI (our major reasons for rooting). Although a new tool for the boot-loader unlock is now available and the full root for the device will come out sooner than we expected.
The device comes with a free leather cover and a free screen protector, which are excellent freebies.
There were a few negative aspects to the device and we will list them for easy access
- The device gets overheated with prolonged use, does not affect usage but gets too hot to hold against the face.
- The device also has unsteady HSDPA connection which breaks quite frequently
- The battery is erratic and drains faster when the device is hot (see first)
[xrr rating=3.25/5 label=”WE RATE THE ARC” imageset=shiny_yellow_star display_as=fraction_stars]
Check out the remaining pictures below while you wait for the Full Video Review to go up.
Full VIDEO REVIEW
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Sony sells 50 Million Playstation 3s and 8 Million Move Controllers Globally (PR)
Sony just release information that they sold 50 million Playstation 3 consoles and a total of 8 Million Move controllers. Technically these are units that were sold by Sony to retailers and not to end users so we dont know if they are direct sales yet. But, heck these are impressive numbers none the less.
FULL PR
PLAYSTATION®3 SALES REACH 50 MILLION UNITS WORLDWIDE
Sales of PlayStation®Move motion controller for PlayStation®3 (PS3®) surpass 8 million units worldwide, accelerating the expansion of the PS3 Platform.
Tokyo, April 15, 2011 – Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) today announced that the cumulative sales of the PlayStation®3 (PS3®) computer entertainment system reached a milestone of 50 million units*1 worldwide, as of March 29, 2011. SCE also announced that PlayStation®Move sales surpassed 8 million units*1 worldwide as of April 3, demonstrating
continued growth and momentum of the PS3 platform.The PS3 system, equipped with future proof cutting–edge technologies including the powerful Cell Broadband Engine™ and RSX® processors as well as the Blu-ray disc™ (BD) player and HDMI, has delivered users with high-definition and high quality entertainment experience since its launch in November 2006. The PS3 system continues to evolve and enhance the user experience through new features and services delivered via software updates.
Concurrently with the introduction of PS3, SCE launched PlayStation®Network service which now has more than 75 million registered accounts and operates in 59 countries and regions*2 around the world. PlayStation Network supports free community-centric online gameplay and communication tools such as PlayStation®Home*3, and offers vast downloadable digital content through PlayStation®Store, from games to movies of more than 32,840 content totaling to 105,988 digital content worldwide. In September 2009, SCE launched the new slimmer and lighter PS3 system with new form factor and less power consumption that has been well received by users around the world.
To further expand entertainment experience only possible on PS3, stereoscopic 3D game and Blu-ray 3D™ features were introduced to the system via a free system software update*4 in April and September 2010 respectively. The feature enables users to enjoy stunningly realistic stereoscopic 3D in their living room on their PS3 system by simply connecting it to a 3D-compatible TV such as 3D “BRAVIA” TV using an HDMI cable. The number of stereoscopic 3D software titles has reached to 89 as of April 1 in 2011.
SCE launched PlayStation Move in September 2010 for North America, Europe/PAL territories and in Asia, and in October 2010 for Japan to deliver a new entertainment experience across all categories of games, from casual to immersive. The PlayStation Move motion controller is used in combination with the PlayStation®Eye camera to detect the precise movement, angle, and absolute position in 3D space of the user, thereby allowing users to intuitively play as if they are within the game. The number of PlayStation Move supported/dedicated software titles has reached to 155 as of March 24 in 2011, including titles such as Sports Champions, SingStar Dance and Killzone3*5. PlayStation Move continues to further expand the new gameplay along with variety of upcoming new PlayStation Move titles for 2011including SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs*6.
With strong support from 3rdparty developers and publishers worldwide, PS3 features a vast library of more than 2,128 software titles with more than 480 million units sold worldwide*7. Recently released blockbuster franchise titles from first party studios include Grand Turismo 5, LittleBigPlanet2 and KILLZONE 3. SCE will continue to further expand the PS3 platform and create a new world of computer entertainment.
*1 Sell-in number
*2 As of Mar 20, 2011.
*3 A ground-breaking 3D social gaming community available on PS3 that allows users to interact, communicate and share gaming experiences. Within PlayStation Home, users can create and customize their own unique avatars and explore the virtual community in real time where they can communicate freely through text or voice chat. When the service is available, PlayStation Home icon will appear after booting/ re-booting the PS3 system. Some content and services are charged.
*4 System software versions 3.30 or later are required.
*5 Titles and year differ by each country or region.
*6 Adapts to stereoscopic 3D games
*7 As of the end of Dec, 2010 -
Clash OF the Titans : HTC Sensation vs Galaxy S II vs Motorola Atrix vs LG Optimus 2X vs HTC Evo 3D vs LG Optimus 3D Vs Droid Bionic
Single Core cpu on a mobile phone is so passe’, its the break of the new world of technology and we are hitting it with the new dual core processors. Folks over at Engadget assembled the specs to all the dual core goodness available yet. We have it here for you in a tabulated form comparing spec for spec and detail for detail. Which one will you choose?
Click to Enlarge -
Angry Birds coming to Windows Phone 7 Devices May 25th
Rovio’s smash hit Angry Birds game will be available for Windows Phone 7 Devices on May 25th. The game is the most successful application on several app store platforms including Android, iOS and Mac App Store. Although there is no information on pricing, we hope its either free or really cheap.
[VIA]
Get it Here For iOS Devices
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Apple updates iOS to 4.3.2 for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad
Apple on Thursday released iOS version 4.3.2 for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. The only changes noted by Apple are bug fixes and security updates including the Facetime crash fix and the connectivity issues faced by iPad 2 users.
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App A Day : Sleep Cycle For iOS
Do you have erratic sleep patterns? Do you suffer from sleepless nights and drowsy days? Then Sleep Cycle is the iOS App for you. This is one of the most innovative ways to incorporate the device’s accelerometer to monitor your motion patterns during sleep. This alarm clock helps keep us on our toes even if we have been busy all night.The app monitors your sleep pattern throughout the night and will ‘wake you up when you are in the lightest sleep phase’. When we sleep, we go through phases of light sleep and deep sleep. Which phase you wake up in results in the kind of mood you will be in all day. If you wake up in your deep sleep phase you will find your self dull and sleepy throughout the day.
The app works brilliantly, and takes upto 4 days to register your sleep patterns, once they are fully registered you will find yourself waking up on time. The only catch is that the app requires that you plug in the iPhone all night leave the app running and place the iPhone on your bed upside down, so that the accelerometer can monitor your movement. The good thing however, is that the app uses the proximity sensor to turn off the display.
The App also gives you a report of your sleep patterns over the period of use of the app. With this you can monitor your sleep time and deep sleep patterns.
The disadvantage : if you leave the app to do some other activity the alarm is reset. However it should be used as the last point of interaction.
- Price : 0.99$ [xrr rating=5/5 imageset=shiny_yellow_star display_as=fraction_stars]
- Ease of Use : [xrr rating=4/5 imageset=shiny_yellow_star display_as=fraction_stars]
- Features : [xrr rating=3/5 imageset=shiny_yellow_star display_as=fraction_stars]
Download It By clicking the button below.
[qrcode]
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Windows Phone 7 upcoming features introduced at the MIX developers conference
Microsoft demoed the upcoming version changes on the next generation of Windows Phone 7 Devices , major features including multitasking, background audio, push notifications and raw sensor data (not to mention over 1500 new APIs) in the next version of Windows Phone. Check out the video below courtesy of Engadget.
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HTC Sense 3.0 only for newer Devices Past Generation left out
Here is a big bummer from HTC, all devices including Desire HD, Incredible S or any other handset that doesn’t ship with it preloaded will not be getting the Sense 3.0 update. The company claims that the new Sense is Hardware intensive and will not work properly on last generation phones. This move could go both ways for HTC, loyalists will upgrade to new handsets and angry old customers will shift loyalties. what do you think?
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Nokia W7 and W8 to be the First 2 Nokia Windows Phone 7 Devices
Here is an interesting tidbit. A report at russian website Habrahabr [Russian] claims that they have first hand information on the new and upcoming models of Nokia’s Windows Phone 7 Lineup. The W7 and the W8 will be both touch screen, where either of them will have a slide out full qwerty keyboard. They also present information on how Nokia will get to play with the Phase 2 of Windows Phone 7 Devices where the form factor limitation will be lifted and the ability to reorganize the operating system, will be an integral part of the Manufacturers capability.
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Live from the Samsung Forum 2011 : Samsung’s New Lineup of Full HD and 3D monitors : Eyes On
We are live at the Samsung Forum 2011, and we are looking at some interesting things including the latest monitors from Samsung, including the latest monitors from Samsung (SA 750, TA 350, CA 750, CA 550, UD Series).
Check out the Pictures and details below, with a quick video of them coming shortly.
SA 750Samsung’s Full HD 3D LED Monitor Series 7 monitors—available in 23- and 27-inch configurations—offer full HD 1920×1080 resolution and hyper-realistic 3D playback on a wide variety of 3D content, including 3D video games, 3D movies, and user-created 3D content like photos and videos. The SA 750 can also automatically analyze and render 2D content in real-time to stunning 3D, supporting not only PC content, but also content from Blu-ray players, gaming consoles and set-top boxes.
The monitors enable cleaner, flicker-free textures for fast-moving games in the 120Hz mode, delivering a comfortable 3D viewing experience without any interruption. The SA 750 also boasts blazing fast response time (2 ms) for an optimal gaming and movie viewing experience, without ghosting or streaking.
Adding appeal to eco-conscious users, Samsung’s SA 750 features an Eco Light Sensor that saves energy and creates a comfortable viewing environment by automatically adjusting the brightness of the screen based on ambient light, while the Eco Motion Sensor contributes to ease of use and lower energy consumption by automatically turning the display on or off when a user is within, or has left, the vicinity of the monitor.
The SA 750 is a sophisticated design product featuring a narrow bezel, compact, cylindrical stand with glowing buttons and UltraSlim depth, the slimmest in the world.
T22A350
The TA 3 Series includes a 21.5-inch LED monitor that offers full HD 1920×1080 resolution and a brightness of 250cd. The TA 3 Series can receive TV broadcast signals through a built-in tuner.
The system has ConnectShareTM features that allow people to enjoy digital contents from USB memory stick and supports Dolby Digital DTS 2.0.
CA 750 and CA 550Like a docking station, Samsung’s Central Station Series 7 and 5 monitors serve as hubs that easily connect a user’s laptop to a range of other devices without the hassle of plugging and unplugging multiple cables every time. After the initial setup, when the user connects LAN and audio cables to the Central Station monitor, the system is primed for instant use the next time the user is ready to connect; all the user has to do is link his or her laptop to the Central Station using a single USB connection. Exclusive to the CA 750 is an auto wireless detection option, which can free users from the restriction of wires by automatically finding and connecting with a user’s laptop.
The CA 750 and CA 550 Series also create a better, more comfortable viewing experience by instantly transforming a small laptop screen to a 23- or 27-inch screen with LED backlight and superior picture quality. The monitor offers full HD 1920×1080 resolution and blazing fast response time (2 ms) to prevent ghosting or streaking. Samsung’s Mega DCR technology boosts the contrast level to more than a million to one, showing life-like depth and vivid color on any multimedia content. Additionally, the CA 750 and CA 550’s ergonomicdual-hinge design can change the height or tilt of the screen with ease. The Auto Configuration feature automatically adjusts the screen resolution between the user’s laptop and Central Station monitor when the two are connected via USB.
Among the many input and output options offered by the Central Station, the CA 750 and CA 550 support USB 3.0 technology, which enables users to transfer data 10 times faster than by USB 2.0, and to charge mobile devices twice as fast as by conventional electric charging. Despite this power, the system has earned both Energy Star and EPEAT Gold ratings by helping users save energy. Additionally, Central Station automatically powers on or off when a laptop is connected or disconnected. The system’s Eco Saving mode enables users to choose the energy consumption level from three options: 0 percent, 25 percent and 50 percent down—meaning users can save on the system’s energy costs by up to 50 percent.
UD SeriesFeaturing ultra-thin bezels, the 55” UD Series of Large Format Display (LFD) units measure only 5.3mm from bezel to bezel, dramatically reducing the distance between the parts of the image and enabling companies to create seamless and effective video wall solutions at any budget. The UD55A delivers 700 Nits of brightness with 1920×1080 resolution. Maintaining Samsung’s signature pristine picture quality, the UD55A includes two intelligent features that ensure the best picture is always displayed: Automatic Color Calibration automatically adjusts the White Balance on video walls; while a detachable Ambient Brightness sensor automatically adjusts the on-screen brightness in conjunction with the ambient light level of the area surrounding the display.
Providing full connectivity options, the UD55A includes one D-SUB, one DVI and two HDMI ports, in addition to a DVI-out interface, which enables the seamless sharing of content among up to 100 monitors. The UD55A also features a built-in network PC running Microsoft Windows Embedded Standard 2009, along with Samsung’s exclusive MagicInfoTM software, for effortless content management over a network. Additionally, the RJ45 interface, included with the monitor, provides users with long distance remote control abilities via LAN.
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Samsung Galaxy S 2 Benchmarked
Looks like the Galaxy S 2 is running Benchmarks all round, the device beats any stock device in current benchmarks. Scores are coming in over 3300 thanks to the dual core processor.
The Samsung Galaxy S 2 was launched Yesterday in India, check out our coverage of the launch with hands on Here
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Live Video from Samsung Forum 2011 : Samsung Series RF 3D Laptop Launched : Hands On : 3D Gaming Beast
We are live at the Samsung Forum 2011 here in New Delhi. We got some hands on Time with the new Samsung Series RF Laptop. They come with Glasses-on 3d/2d switchable displays. Launched in India, these gaming powerhouses will be available by the end of April 2011. Options of upto 2GB Graphics Memory, 1.5tb onboard HDD, and 17 HD displays with 2D/3D options.
Check out the images and the Video hands on Below …
FULL SPECS
Operating System Operating System Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium
(64b)Processor Processor Intel® Core™ i7 Processor 720QM
(1.60GHz, 6MB)
Intel® Core™ i5 Processor 460M
(2.53GHz, 3MB)Main Chipset Main Chipset Intel HM55 Memory System Memory 4GB (DDR3 / 2GB x 2) Memory Slot 2 x SODIMM Display LCD 15.6″ LED HD (1366 x 768) 16:9 Gloss Graphic Graphic Memory 1GB gDDR3 (Ext. Graphic) Graphic Processor nVIDIA GeForce GT 330M (Ext. Graphic) Multimedia Sound HD (High Definition) Audio Sound Effect SRS Premium Sound Effect Multimedia Player Cyberlink Power DVD Speaker 3W Stereo Speaker (1.5W x 2) TV No Integrated Camera High Sensitivity Web Camera Storage HDD 640GB (5,400rpm S-ATA) ODD Super Multi Dual Layer (S-ATA) Intel Turbo Memory No Communication Modem No Wired Ethernet LAN Gigabit LAN Wireless LAN 802.11bg/n Bluetooth Bluetooth v3.0 High Speed I/O Port VGA Yes HDMI Yes Headphone-out Headphone-out Mic-in Yes Internal Mic Yes USB 2 x USB 2.0, 2 x USB 3.0
(Chargable USB included)Multi Card Slot 4-in-1 (SD, SDHC, SDXC, MMC) X-Dock Port No SIO No IEEE1394 No RJ11 (Modem) No RJ45 (LAN) Yes TV Antenna No DC-In (Power Port) Yes PC CardBus Slot No S-Video (TV-out) No Input Keyboard Type 103 Key
104 KeyEZ BLU Keys Fn + F8 (Easy SpeedUp Manager)
Fn + F7 (Samsung Support Centre)Touch Pad, Touch Screen Touch Pad (Scroll Scope, Flat Type) Security TPM No AMT No Virus Norton Internet Security (60 days free) Lock Kensington Lock Port Recovery Samsung Recovery Solution Security BIOS Boot Up Password FingerPrint Reader No Power AC Adapter 120 Watt
90 WattBattery 6 Cell Physical Dimension (W x D x H mm) 379.6 x 255.5 x 31.4 ~ 37.0mm
(14.90″ x 10.00″ x 1.23″ ~ 1.45″)Weight, include Standard Battery (kg) 2.60Kg (5.73lbs) Software Installed S/W Samsung Update Plus
Easy Display Manager
Easy Battery Manager
Easy Network Manager
Easy SpeedUp Manager
Easy Partition Manager
Adobe Reader
Microsoft Office Starter 2010
Samsung Support CentreStandard DVD OS DVD
