Author: Bharat Nagpal

Apple launches new versions of iLife and iWork

Apple unveiled new versions of iPhoto, iMovie and Garage Band, with fresh software for both iOS and OS X Mavericks. Following along the clean lines of iOS 7 the new apps will have a stripped down design but will feature more performance and versatility. The new set of iLife programs are 64-bit . iPhoto now allows you to create PhotoBooks on the iPad. iMovie now lets you play around with speeds of your video, and if you’re on iOS, you can do picture-in-picture as well which was a sought after feature.

iMovie Theater,allows you to watch all of your videos on any device like the iPhone, iPad or Apple TV as long as your movies are stored in iCloud.

The iOS version of the GarageBand app now supports up to 16 tracks, which is double the current limit of 8. There’s also a new feature called Drummer which gives you an assortment of different drum profiles and live playability.All new Mac’s will come with Garage Band installed with most of the kits and profiles, more can be bought via in-app purchases.

For iWork Apple promises all-new design on mobile and a total re-write of the desktop versions, full file compatibility across devices and platforms, plus the ability to collaborate with others on Pages, Keynote and Numbers using iWork for iCloud.

Both iLife and iWork will be free with the new purchase of a Mac or iOS device.

Press Release

Apple Introduces Next Generation iWork & iLife Apps for OS X & iOS

iWork & iLife Now Free With Every New Mac & iOS Device

SAN FRANCISCO—October 22, 2013—Apple today announced its groundbreaking iWork productivity apps, Pages, Numbers and Keynote and award-winning iLife creativity apps, iPhoto, iMovie and GarageBand have been completely redesigned to take full advantage of OS X Mavericks and iOS 7. All apps have been updated to 64-bit, are integrated with iCloud, and are loaded with hundreds of new features that let you do more than ever across your Apple devices. Apple today also announced that both iWork and iLife are now free with the purchase of every new Mac or iOS device.

“This is the biggest day for apps in Apple’s history,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. “These new versions deliver seamless experiences across devices that you can’t find anywhere else and are packed with great features like iMovie Theater, Drummer and a new unified file format for iWork documents across all your devices.”

An all new iWork for Mac and iOS makes creating, editing and sharing documents easier than ever. iWork introduces a new, unified file format, delivering perfect document fidelity across Mac, iOS and iCloud, and the iWork for iCloud beta now includes support for real-time collaboration. Now you can create your document on iPad, edit it on your Mac and collaborate with friends in iWork for iCloud, even if they’re on a PC. A brand new UI makes iWork even simpler to use, yet provides all of the powerful tools you need to create amazing documents, spreadsheets and presentations.

iPhoto for Mac and iOS are now 64-bit, making browsing and editing faster and smoother than ever. Inspired by iOS 7, iPhoto for iOS sports a clean, new design that’s simpler and more beautiful than ever. New tools and effects let you create more dramatic images in both colour and black and white. Now you can also share your favourite images as custom slideshows that you can pause, rewind and fast forward using gestures, or order them as professional-quality prints, including panoramas, and as gorgeous hard cover books that you create using Multi-Touch.

iMovie for Mac and iOS have been redesigned to make it easier than ever to browse your video library and instantly share your favourite moments. iMovie for Mac includes simplified editing tools that let you quickly improve the look of your movie, add fun effects, and speed up or slow down your video. iMovie for iOS brings desktop-class moviemaking to your iPhone and iPad, so you can create split screen and picture-in-picture effects or advanced audio edits in just a few taps. And with iMovie Theater, you can watch your shared clips, movies, and trailers on all your Apple devices, even your Apple TV.*

GarageBand for Mac has received its biggest update ever with a fresh new look, all new Sound Library, and amazing new features, like Drummer and Smart Controls, giving you everything you need to easily make a great-sounding song. GarageBand for iOS has been updated to match the look and feel of iOS 7 and taps the power of 64-bit to bring musicians a full recording studio with up to 32 tracks. With iOS 7 Inter-App Audio you can record third-party music apps right into GarageBand, and AirDrop allows you to wirelessly share your song projects with other iOS users so you can work on songs together. iCloud helps keep your song projects up to date across your devices, and users can start a song on iOS and pick up where they left off using GarageBand for Mac.

Pricing & Availability
iWork and iLife for Mac come free with every new Mac purchase. Existing users running Mavericks can update their apps for free from the Mac App Store. iWork and iLife for iOS are available for free from the App Store for any new device running iOS 7, and are also available as free updates for existing users. GarageBand for Mac and iOS are free for all OS X Mavericks and iOS 7 users. Additional GarageBand instruments and sounds are available for a one-time in-app purchase of INR 270 for each platform.

*iMovie Theater requires iCloud to keep your shared content up to date across all your devices.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.

October 22, 2013
New Apple Mac Pro coming in December for US $3,000: 3.7GHz quad-core Xeon, 12GB RAM

Apple showed off and wooed the world earlier this year wth the new design of the Mac Pro lineup. Apple has announced today that the new Apple Mac Pro will be Available for a price of US $ 3000 with a 3.7 GHz Quad Core Xeon CPU and 12 GB RAM along with a 256 GB SSD. As with all Apple Products the new MAc Pro can be customized quite a lot to cater to each individuals requirements. For example users can customize their Mac Pro’s with 64GB DRAM and a 1TB flash storage drive.

Apple claims that the Mac Pro is a computer worth keeping for “the next 10 years”, and also claims that the Mac Pro is as quiet as the Mac Mini and also consumes 70% less energy compared to the previous version of the Mac Pro.

Press Release

Introducing the All New Mac Pro—The Most Radical Mac Ever

SAN FRANCISCO—October 22, 2013—Apple today redefined pro computing with the launch of the all-new Mac Pro. Designed around an innovative unified thermal core, the Mac Pro features the latest Intel Xeon processors with up to 12 cores, dual workstation-class GPUs, six Thunderbolt 2 ports, PCIe-based flash storage and ultra-fast ECC memory. Packing amazing performance in a stunning new design, the all-new Mac Pro starts at INR 229,900 and will be available in December.

“The new Mac Pro is our vision for the future of the pro desktop, everything about it has been reimagined and there has never been anything like it,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “The new Mac Pro packs up to 12-core Xeon CPUs, dual FirePro GPUs, ultra-fast ECC memory, new PCIe flash storage, Thunderbolt 2 expandability and more into a radical new design that is one-eighth the size of the previous generation Mac Pro.”

“From the blazing fast performance of DaVinci Resolve to real-time video capture with UltraStudio 4K, Mac Pro is a revolution in pro desktop design and performance,” said Grant Petty, CEO of Blackmagic Design.

“With the Mac Pro’s dual workstation-class GPUs, we’ve seen MARI run five times faster, creating a fluid painting experience that’s unlike anything we’ve seen. This kind of performance is a digital artist’s dream,” said Bill Collis, CEO of The Foundry.

“At 20Gbps, Mac Pro’s Thunderbolt 2 blows away anything on the market and completely changes the external storage landscape,” said James Lee, CEO of PROMISE Technology.

The all-new Mac Pro is architected around a unified thermal core that allows the system to efficiently share thermal capacity across all the processors. An innovative fan draws in air incredibly efficiently and makes the new Mac Pro as quiet as a Mac mini. The result is a pro desktop with unprecedented performance packed into a design that is just 9.9-inches tall and one-eighth the volume of the previous Mac Pro.

Reinvented from the inside out, Mac Pro is designed to tackle even the most demanding workflows. The new Mac Pro features 4-core, 6-core, 8-core or 12-core Intel Xeon processors running at Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.9 GHz that deliver double the floating point performance of the previous generation Mac Pro. Two workstation-class AMD FirePro GPUs with up to 12GB of video memory provide up to seven teraflops of compute power and up to eight times the graphics performance of the previous generation Mac Pro.* OpenGL and OpenCL are optimized in OS X Mavericks to leverage the full computing power of the Mac Pro CPU and dual GPUs.

The new Mac Pro features PCIe-based flash storage that delivers sequential read speeds up to 1.2GBps and is up to 10 times faster than conventional desktop hard drives. ECC DDR3 running at 1866 MHz, with a four-channel memory controller, gives the new Mac Pro up to 60GBps of memory bandwidth, twice that of the previous generation Mac Pro.* The spectacular power and bandwidth of Mac Pro means you can seamlessly edit full-resolution 4K video streams and play them in real time.

Featuring an incredible six Thunderbolt 2 ports, each with up to 20Gbps of bandwidth per device, the all-new Mac Pro completely redefines desktop expandability. Thunderbolt 2 ports support up to six daisy-chained devices each, giving pros the ability to connect up to 36 high-performance peripherals—from external storage devices, to multiple PCI expansion chassis, to audio and video breakout boxes. Thunderbolt 2 uses existing copper or optical Thunderbolt cables and is completely backward compatible with existing Thunderbolt peripherals and cables, and also supports the latest 4K displays. A new self-configuring IP over Thunderbolt software feature in OS X Mavericks provides a fast link between Thunderbolt-enabled Macs.

The new Mac Pro provides unparalleled power for Apple’s professional apps, including Final Cut Pro X, Logic Pro X and Aperture. Final Cut Pro X has been optimized to support dual GPUs for improved real-time playback performance, faster rendering, quicker export, and 4K video monitoring through Thunderbolt 2 and HDMI. Flash storage makes importing and exporting thousands of high-resolution images faster with Aperture. Logic Pro X takes advantage of flash storage for incredibly fast project load times and Thunderbolt 2 for a high number of channels of ultra-low latency audio I/O without the need for add-on PCI cards.

The new Mac Pro ships with OS X Mavericks. Mavericks is the 10th major release of the world’s most advanced operating system and is available for free from the Mac App Store. In addition to more than 200 new features, Mavericks introduces features for power users including Finder Tabs, Tags and enhanced multi-display support, as well as new core technologies for breakthrough performance such as Compressed Memory to keep your Mac fast and responsive. Mavericks also delivers significant performance enhancements for systems with dual GPUs through optimised OpenGL and OpenCL. For more information or to download Mavericks visit www.apple.com/osx/.

Mac Pro meets stringent Energy Star 6.0 requirements and achieves an EPEAT Gold rating.** Mac Pro uses up to 70 percent less energy than the previous generation, is constructed with 79 percent less aluminium and uses 80 percent less packaging material than the current Mac Pro. Mac Pro contains no brominated flame retardants, is PVC-free and uses highly recyclable materials and features material-efficient system and packaging designs.

Pricing & Availability
The all-new Mac Pro will be available in December through select Apple Authorised Resellers. The Mac Pro is available with a 3.7 GHz quad-core Intel Xeon E5 processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.9 GHz, dual AMD FirePro D300 GPUs with 2GB of VRAM each, 12GB of memory, and 256GB of PCIe-based flash storage starting at INR 229,900 inc VAT (INR 218,536.12 ex VAT); and with a 3.5 GHz 6-core Intel Xeon E5 processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.9 GHz, dual AMD FirePro D500 GPUs with 3GB of VRAM each, 16GB of memory, and 256GB of PCIe-based flash storage starting at INR 299,900 inc VAT (INR 285,076.05 ex VAT).

Configure-to-order options include faster 8-core or 12-core Intel Xeon E5 processors, AMD FirePro D700 GPUs with 6GB of VRAM, up to 64GB of memory, and up to 1TB of PCIe-based flash storage. Additional technical specifications, configure-to-order options and accessories are available online at www.apple.com/mac-pro.

*Performance claims are based on technical specifications of preproduction Mac Pro hardware as of October 2013.
**Claim based on energy efficiency categories and products listed within the EPA Energy Star 6.0 energy database as of October 2013. EPEAT is an independent organisation that helps customers compare the environmental performance of notebooks and desktops. Products meeting all of the required criteria and at least 75 percent of the optional criteria are recognised as EPEAT Gold products. The EPEAT program was conceived by the US EPA and is based on IEEE 1680 standard for Environmental Assessment of Personal Computer Products. For more information visit www.epeat.net.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.

October 22, 2013
Apple OS X 10.9 Mavericks will come a s a free Download to all Mac owners

Apple has just announced that Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks will be available to all MAC owners running Snow Leopard or later as a free of cost upgrade. This release includes iBooks, Maps, a revamped Calendar and Air drop sharing with enabled devices on iOS 7. This is fantastic news for all those who stuck out the Mountain Lion update, as now most users will be able to jump directly to 10.9 free of cost. The update goes live later today in the US, for those on different time lines can expect it early tomorrow.

Press Release

OS X Mavericks Available Today Free from the Mac App Store

SAN FRANCISCO—October 22, 2013—Apple today announced that OS X Mavericks, the 10th major release of the world’s most advanced desktop operating system, is available for free from the Mac App Store. With more than 200 new features, OS X Mavericks brings iBooks and Maps to the Mac, includes a new version of Safari, enhances multi-display support, introduces Finder Tabs and Tags and delivers new core technologies for breakthrough power efficiency and performance.

“Mavericks is an incredible release, which introduces significant new apps and features, while also improving the performance and battery life of your Mac,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering. “We want every Mac user to experience the latest features, the most advanced technologies, and the strongest security. We believe the best way to do this is to begin a new era of personal computing software where OS upgrades are free.”

OS X Mavericks introduces innovative new features, including:
• iBooks, which gives you instant access to your iBooks library, more than two million titles in the iBooks Store, and works seamlessly across your devices;
• Maps, which brings powerful mapping technology to the desktop and lets you plan a trip from your Mac and send it to your iPhone for voice navigation on the road;
• a streamlined Calendar that estimates travel time between appointments, and provides a map with weather forecast;
• a new version of Safari with Shared Links, which helps you find what’s new on the web by consolidating links shared by people you follow on Twitter and LinkedIn;
• iCloud Keychain, which safely stores your website usernames and passwords, credit card numbers and Wi-Fi passwords and pushes them to your trusted devices so you don’t need to remember them;
• enhanced multi-display support, which makes using multiple displays easier and more powerful, with no configuration required;
• interactive Notifications, allowing you to reply to a message, respond to a FaceTime call or even delete an email without leaving the app you’re using;
• Finder Tabs, which help unclutter your desktop by consolidating multiple Finder windows into a single window with multiple tabs; and
• Finder Tags, a powerful new way to organize and find your files located on your Mac or in iCloud.

Mavericks also includes new core technologies that boost performance and improve the battery life of your Mac. Timer Coalescing and App Nap intelligently save energy and reduce power consumption. Compressed Memory automatically shrinks inactive data to keep your Mac fast and responsive. Mavericks also delivers significant performance enhancements for systems with integrated graphics through optimized OpenCL support and dynamic video memory allocation.

Pricing & Availability
OS X Mavericks is available today for free from the Mac App Store. Any Mac capable of running OS X Mountain Lion can also run Mavericks. You can upgrade to Mavericks for free directly from OS X Snow Leopard, Lion or Mountain Lion. For a complete list of system requirements and compatible systems, please visit www.apple.com/osx/specs. OS X Server 3.0 requires Mavericks and is available from the Mac App Store for INR 1,100.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.

October 22, 2013
Nokia Unveils Lumia 2520 10 – inch tablet with Windows RT and LTE

Nokia at Nokia world today has launched the Lumia 2520 tablet. A device which has been a design mystery for over a year and a half, with numerous leaks and hints pointing towards the existence of the Lumia tab. As expected the Nokia Lumia 2520 runs Smartphone hardware but has Windows RT as the main OS. The Lumia 2520 comes with LTE, and a 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 CPU inside, with a bright 650nit screen made out of Gorilla Glass 2. The 6.7MP rear camera features Zeiss optics and the tablet has a 2MP front facing camera.

The Lumia 2520 tablet will be available in 4 colors red/white glossy finish, or cyan and black matte finish, by the end of 2013 for a price of US $ 499 roughly Rs. 30,000 outright. The Lumia 2520 has a 8000 mAh battery that is said to fully charge in just 80 minutes. The Nokia Power Keyboard accessory costs an extra $149, and adds an additional five hours of battery life plus two extra USB ports.

[toggle title=”Press Release”] Nokia’s first Windows tablet, the Lumia 2520, is designed to work anywhere, with a vivid 10.1-inch HD display that is designed to provide the best outdoor and indoor readability of any tablet. Building on Nokia’s rich mobility heritage, the Lumia 2520 combines both 4G LTE and Wi-Fi connectivity, a 6.7MP camera, and for the first time ever on a tablet, ZEISS optics, letting people take beautiful pictures – even in low light. The Lumia 2520 runs on Windows RT 8.1 for a highly personal and easy to navigate experience, and also features multiple color choices and fast-charging capability – providing up to an 80% charge in one hour.

The Lumia 2520 also comes with a number of unique software experiences that are exclusive to the Lumia family, including the exclusive “Dragons Adventure” interactive game developed in partnership with DreamWorks Animation. Additionally, the Lumia 2520 includes Nokia Storyteller, a Nokia developed application that introduces a new way to curate and relive images and videos as a story on a map, as well as Nokia Video Director, which offers the ability to edit and get even more creative with videos shot on the Lumia 2520 – as well as content from Lumia smartphones. With integrated HERE Maps, the Lumia 2520 is the only tablet with true offline maps for a fast and reliable maps experience. The tablet also includes an exclusive version of Nokia Music with Mix Radio preinstalled.

The Lumia 2520 pairs with a unique and stylish accessory which offers a great set of benefits: the Nokia Power Keyboard. Offering up to five extra hours of battery life and two built-in USB ports, the Nokia Power Keyboard makes battery life worries a thing of the past. A protective and wraparound cover, the Nokia Power Keyboard includes a fully functional keypad with gesture trackpad, so typing feels as natural as on a laptop. With Microsoft Office and Outlook preinstalled, getting more done on the go is easier than ever.

The Nokia Lumia 2520 will be available in red and white in a glossy finish as well as cyan and black in a matte finish, and is expected to start shipping in Q4 2013 with an estimated price of USD499 before taxes or subsidies. Initial roll out is to begin broadly in the U.S. as well as the U.K and Finland, with additional countries to follow shortly after. The Nokia Power Keyboard will be available alongside the Lumia 2520 at the recommended price of USD149.

Lumia 2520 specs at-a-glance:
Windows RT 8.1
10.1″ full 1080p HD AH-IPS, High Brightness with Low Reflectance, Gorilla Glass 2
6.7MP Auto Focus ZEISS optics, Secondary: 2MP HD wide-angle
Video 1080p@60fps
4G LTE
Nokia Music for unlimited streaming of ad-free music
Free global HERE Maps
Microsoft Office built-in
Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 (2.2GHz Quad Core)
8000 mAh (integrated)
Red, White (glossy), Cyan, Black (matte)[/toggle]

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October 22, 2013

What to Buy : Samsung Galaxy Note 3 vs Galaxy Note 2

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 was launched in India for a price of Rs. 49900 (roughly translated to “more than most can afford”) and is now available throughout India. The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 features a new design over its predecessor boasting a soft-touch, leather like back, along with many hardware changes that put it right in line with many flagships out there. But, at the price at which it has launched, should you go in for the Galaxy Note 3? or should you get the Galaxy Note 2? Here is where we break it down for you.

Aesthetics

The Note 3 is actually slimmer and thinner than the Galaxy Note 2 despite getting a larger 5.7-inch full HD 1920 x 1080p display. The Note 3 also appears to be squarish from the front and has a slightly raised bezel, as opposed to the roundish bezel on the Galaxy Note 2.

The new leather look back panel on the Note 3 definitely adds a lot more premium appeal to the previous plastic and poorly constructed look. Which however, does not change the fact that the phone is still completely plastic, now its just plastic hidden behind faux leather-appearing plastic.

Hardware Comparison

Apart from the obvious differences in the specs, the major changes on the new Note 3 worth noting are, the aforementioned Full HD display, a new Exynos 5 chipset vs Exynos 4 on the Note 2 which offers an effective 1.9 GHz on Quad cores (with full octa-core functionality by December.). You also get 3 new temperature, humidity and gesture sensors, along with an additional gigabyte of RAM.

A 16GB bump in storage capacity makes the basic variant (and the only one available in India) a 32GB variant. A slightly larger 3200 mAh battery and 13 MP camera finish off the changes on hardware. Check out a comparative below.

Specifications	Galaxy Note 3	Galaxy Note 2
Display	5.7 inch full HD Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels (386 ppi)	5.5 inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels (267 ppi)
Processor	1.9 Ghz Octa-Core(Exynos)	1.6 GHz Quad-core Cortex-A9
Sensors	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, temperature, humidity, gesture	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Primary camera	13 MP with smart stabilization and high CRI LED flash	8 MP with image stabilization and LED flash
Video	Full HD @60fps	Full HD @30fps
Secondary camera	2 MP, Full HD	1.9 MP
RAM	3 GB	2 GB
Internal Storage	32 GB	16 GB
Connectivity	Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, Infrared booster and USB 3.0	Bluetooth 4.0, NFC and USB 2.0
OS	Android 4.3 Jelly Bean	Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean
Colors	Black, White and Blush Pink	Titanium Gray, Marble White, Amber Brown, Ruby Wine, Pink, Blue
Battery	3200 mAh	3100 mAh
Dimensions	151.2 x 79.2 x 8.3 mm	151.1 x 80.5 x 9.4 mm
Weight	168 grams	183 grams
Price	49,990	30,000

Software

Despite most attempts by the company, most of the new features of the Galaxy Note 3 will be available on the Galaxy Note 2. Including the new Action command feature which can be executed from the S Pen.

With not a lot of difference for the end user, one would consider going for the Note 2 as it would mostly achieve all the features that one would require from a smart phone with pen functionality.

The Galaxy Note 3 is the latest flagship from the company while the Galaxy Note 2 did really well in the past and offers most of the features for the Note 3 at a considerably low price. If you really need to get the most for your money’s worth, the Galaxy Note 2 is still an impressive piece of hardware with a lot going on under the hood, it is still capable of handling every app in the Google Play store, and whatever you can throw at it. If the latest is what you must get, then consider spending a lot more for the newest Note 3.

October 21, 2013

Apple iPhone 5s Unboxing and First Look

Apple is all set to launch the new iPhone 5s and 5c in India on the 1st of November 2013. The Prices for the 2013 edition iPhones vary from Rs. 41000 all the way up to Rs 71500, which is sort of a new record price for a consumer smartphone in India. The new iPhone 5s is aesthetically same as the iPhone 5 but differs only with the addition of the TouchID sensor where the home button usually is.

The new iPhone 5s comes with the standard set of things in the box, a wall charger a usb to lightning cable and a set of well packaged ear pods. Apple has chosen to keep the sim ejection tool to themselves this time around, as users will struggle with safety and paper clips to pop open the sim tray.

The iPhone 5s Gold color actually looks better than anticipated, and no video or image can truly depict the touch and feel of the phone. The rough finish back panel and the color tone are subtle and not overpowering as one would imagine.

The new iPhone 5s runs on a A7 chipset and also has a M7 motion co-processor, the A7 chipset runs on 64 bit architecture and is an industry first as far as portable mobile devices are concerned. The touchID sensor also is excellent, its quick to setup and very accurate from the get go, one can really get used to it. Check out details in our unboxing video above and images below. The iPhone 5s goes on sale in India starting 1st Nov :

Price of iPhone 5s in India

16GB : Rs. 53500

32 GB : Rs. 62500

64 GB : Rs 71500

iPhone 5s

iPhone 5s

October 18, 2013
Hugh Jackman becomes the face of Micromax Canvas Turbo and more !

Micromax Mobile has appointed Hugh Jackman (Yes Wolverine !! ) as the face of the company. For at least the following year, he will be the brand ambassador for the Indian Mobile phone player. The association will kick off with the new Micromax smartphone – Canvas Turbo, to be launched soon in the Indian market. Oddly enough, Micromax being an Indian brand has chosen a Hollywood celebrity as their brand ambassador, does this mean that Micromax has big global plans?

I am extremely thrilled and honored to be part of the Micromax family. I am a huge lover of India as it is one of the most exciting countries in the world and we also share our love for cricket. Phones are genuinely time saving devices that can help you live a better life while juggling around with different situations. The new Canvas phone from Micromax is a leap in innovation with great sense of fun and amazing features that helps me balance my work with all the different roles that I play in my everyday life.-Hugh Jackman said

We are very excited to welcome Hugh Jackman in the Micromax family as he truly embodies the aspirational, reinventing and fearless persona of the brand Micromax. As we look to expand our footprint across the globe in various international markets, the association with the Hugh Jackman is an ideal partnership for us to connect with audiences as he is the leading name in the entertainment industry in the world.At Micromax, we have always believed in offering products and services that empower our consumers with the latest technologies and innovations. This is a strategic partnership and we look forward to a creating a strong 360 degrees campaign with Canvas Turbo to bring alive this new experience for our audiences across print, TV and online platforms. – Shubhodip Pal, CMO, Micromax

Whatever plans the company has going forward, this bit of news definitely confirms the upcoming launch of the Micromax Canvas Turbo.

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October 18, 2013
iPhone 5c and 5S priced in India : 16 GB Starting Rs. 41900 and Rs 53500

The iPhone 5c and 5s are slated to hit India end Oct 2013 and go on sale starting Nov 1st. Airtel and Reliance seem to be the two major companies marketing this set of phones aggressively. The pricing information for the 2013 edition of iPhones has come out and does not look to be in the region that buyers from India will appreciate.

The iPhone 5c is set to go on sale for a price of Rs. 41900 for the 16 GB variant irrespective of color, while the iPhone 5s is expected to go on sale for a price of Rs. 53,500 for the 16 GB variant again irrespective of color. Some rumors earlier had pointed out that the price of the gold color may be hiked, but such is not the case.

If we compare the price to the US, a contract-free and unlocked 16GB version of the iPhone 5C is available for USD 549 (about Rs 34,700) in the US, while an unlocked and contract-free iPhone 5S can be bought for USD 649 (about Rs 41,000). Apple is charging a hefty premium, this is considering the stricter Custom duty laws and the ever fluctuating price of the dollar.

On a different note, the phones are already available in the grey market sometimes cheaper than the slated launch price. So are you waiting for the official “high priced” iPhone 5c / 5s or are you taking the jump with the import units. Either way you still get warranty because the import units are still under warranty at Official Apple Stores across the globe, India has a franchise model so the imported units are not covered under warranty.

October 15, 2013
iGyaan Exclusive : Hands on with the HTC One Max

HTC has just launched the new HTC One Max globally. The phone that has been in numerous leaks and rumors ofor weeks now has finally been made official and here is what its all about. The HTC One Max as anticipated is a big daddy of the HTC One and features a new bigger 5.9 inch Full HD Display with IPS /= LCD panel and Gorilla Glass 3.

On the core of the HTC One Max is a 1.7 GHz Snapdragon 600 chipset and Adreno 320 GPU, you get 2 GB RAM and 16/32 GB storage along with microSD expandability upto 64 GB. The back of the HTC One Max has a new set of features, including a new Ultrapixel camera which retains the 4 Megapixel 1/3″ sensor but adds a lager 2 micron pixel size. The front facing camera is a 2.1 MP wide angle shooter, and both cameras capture burst shots with zero shutter lag and 1080p full hd video.

The HTC One Max comes with Android 4.3 and HTC Sense 5.5 which adds a flurry of new features to the HTC One Max’s interface, including a newly revamped BlinkFeed which allows subscription to custom topics and websites. And great new video highlights and Gif maker add-ons in the camera interface among many other UI elements. The back of the HTC One Max is removable , but only to access the MicroSD and MicroSIM slots, the black square at the back of the HTC One Max is a fingerprint scanner that can record upto a maximum of 3 fingers to be used to either unlock the device securely or launch applications. HTC might enable more finger recognition if the consumer feedback may so agree. HTC has also retained the HTC BoomSound speakers adding more sound, thanks to the lager available space on the HTC One Max, we can certify that the sound is definitely much better than on the One.

HTC has also launched a new 30% battery case that adds another 30% battery life to the HTC One Max’s already huge 3300mAh battery, a new BoomBass Speaker that makes the HTC One Max a 2.1 enabled device, the new Mini + Bluetooth Accessory and a new device finder called HTC Fetch. Stay tuned for details on those.

One Max Battery Case

October 14, 2013
Chinese kids allegedly forced to work at Foxconn making PS4s to get School Credits

If your usual projects at school were tough, and you thought internships were boring, this piece of news might change your mind. According to Chinese media, over 1,000 students from the Xi’an Institute of Technology have been working on the PlayStation 4 production line at Foxconn as part of a work experience partnership.

Just like regular workers, the students get paid and get workex on their CVs to make PS4 units however there seems to be no relevance to their courses. Foxconn has admitted to Quartz that some students were designated night shifts and overtime in disagreement with internship protocol. Foxconn says it’s taken steps to make sure it won’t happen again.

While reports claim that Xi’an Institute of Technology is holding credits of Students who don’t complete this “Mandatory” Internship. A real strategy for education, or a way to get cheap and effective labor ? You decide!

Hit up the source below, to get more details!

[Source]

October 11, 2013
Exclusive : Apple iPhone 5s and 5c will Launch in India 1st Nov

We had posted during the launch of the iPhone 5s globally that the iPhone 5s and 5c will be available in India Oct 20th, the launch has been delayed to ~~23rd Oct and not~~ 1st November.

iGyaan is the first to know exclusively, directly from Apple, that the Public launch of the new iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c in India will be on 1st Nov in 10 cities across the country which include Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai among 6 other cities. The Pricing for the phones is as follows:

iPhone 5s 16 GB : Rs. 53500

iPhone 5s 32 GB : Rs. 63500

iPhone 5s 64 GB : Rs. 71500

iPhone 5c 16 GB : Rs. 41900

iPhone 5c 32 GB : Rs. 53500

The iPhone 5s and 5c will be available on first come first serve basis at the event,

Here is another exciting thing, iGyaan is also planning a few giveaways post the iPhone launch in India, so you can stay tuned for the days ahead.

The iPhone 5s and 5c were announced in September at an event held at Cupertino in the United States. The iPhone 5s is the first phone to integrate a 64bit chipset and a TouchID fingerprint Sensor.

October 10, 2013
Apple’s iPad Event May Happen Oct 22nd

Apple might host its Annual iPad refresh event on the 22nd of October 2013. AllThingsD who seems to have correct information every time, has reported that the iPad event is likely to happen on Oct 22nd.

Apple is expected to launch two new models of the iPad, the 5th Gen original iPad and the second generation iPad Mini (hopefully with Retina display) . No official word has come from Apple, but most people are expecting that the new iPad or iPad mini will come with the TouchiD fingerprint sensor for added security on the iPads.

October 9, 2013
Leaked : Samsung’s upcoming Curved Phone

Soon after LG’s plans on making curved phones came into light, Samsung’s upcoming curved phone has “seemed ” to leak, with a render, showing off what the future of the tech we hold in our hands look like.

Infamous leakster @evleaks has managed to snag on two images of what may be a Korea specific device, and what appears to be an inward curved Samsung Galaxy S4. A design like this could be bothersome, or useful depending on how the final product performs. This design could help with screen glare, contour more to your face and hands if not curved too much. Alternatively this design will also increase the thickness of the device considerably.

[Evleaks]

October 9, 2013
Beyond : Two Souls Review

October 9, 2013
Nikon upgrades the D600 to D610 fixes the dust issue, does not much else

Nikon has upgraded their D600 to this year’s variant the D610, while the company claims its a lot faster (only captures .5 frames / second faster) and lighter (is the exact same weight as the D600) , we feel that the urge for Nikon to push out this update was to essentially fix the light and dust issue of the camera, where after some time of usage dust spots would appear on the sensor.

Like The D600, the D610 uses the same 24.3-megapixel FX-format CMOS sensor (35.9 x 24mm), Expeed 3 image processor, 39-point autofocusing system, and Nikon’s Scene Recognition System for automatically adjusting white balance, focus, and exposure. ISO range is still between 100-6,400 (expandable to 25,600), and Full HD 1080p video is shot at 24p and 30p. Wi-Fi can be enabled via Nikon’s optional WU-1b adapter. The D610 also has a tougher magnesium alloy construction. Sealed and gasketed, its dust and moisture resistance is on par with its higher-end cousin, the D800. It also retains the Dual SD card slots.
The Nikon D610 D-SLR will be available in late October 2013 in a variety of configurations.

Body Only – $1999.95* Suggested Retail Price (SRP)

With AF-S NIKKOR 24-85MM F/3.5-4.5G ED VR Lens – $2599.95* SRP

With AF-S NIKKOR 28-300MM F/3.5-5.6G ED VR Lens + 32GB Class 10 memory card + Large Laptop Bag – $3049.95* SRP

With AF-S NIKKOR 24-85MM F/3.5-4.5G ED VR Lens + AF-S VR ZOOM-NIKKOR 70-300MM F/4.5-5.6G IF-ED Lens + WU-1b Wireless Mobile Adapter + D-SLR Tablet Bag + 32GB Class 10 memory card – $3249.95* SRP

You can buy it in India for Rs 1,57,950 (24-85mm kit)

[toggle title=”Press Release”]CONCENTRATE ON THE CLARITY: THE NEW NIKON D610 FX-FORMAT D-SLR PLACES EMPHASIS ON THE IMAGE MAKING EXPERIENCE

The Nikon D610 HD-SLR Delivers FX-Format Quality and Pro-Level Features for Enthusiasts Ready to Take Their Passion to the Next Level

MELVILLE, NY (October 8, 2013) – Nikon Inc. today announced the Nikon D610, the latest FX-format HD-SLR to incorporate cutting-edge features and superior operability to help photographers create amazing images and Full HD video. Engineered for those enthusiasts who focus on the color, sharpness and clarity of their images, the D610 provides enhanced performance and image quality improvements, coupled with Nikon core technologies, all in a lightweight form factor. With image quality rivaled only by the 36.3 megapixel Nikon D800, the D610 is an attractive option for those willing to step up to FX-format.

“For many of us, photography is an unexplainable passion; a relentless pursuit of sharpness and fidelity in every image captured, as we endlessly seek a way to express ourselves,” said Masahiro Horie, Director of Marketing and Planning, Nikon Inc. “The Nikon D610 is a tool to help us capture and share our creative vision with all the benefits of a full frame sensor, including expanded depth-of-field control, wide dynamic range, high image quality, low noise, fine color, and low-light capability.”Superior Image Quality

Inside and out, the Nikon D610 is dynamically engineered to deliver the outstanding balance of image quality, performance and operability that only a full-frame camera can offer. The large 24.3-megapixel FX-format (35.9 x 24mm) CMOS sensor is capable of creating low-noise images with amazing dynamic range, clarity and precise color, even in challenging light. No matter the type of photography, from landscapes to wildlife, portraits to sports, the Nikon D610 excels, delivering stellar sharpness, superior handling, and the ability to enjoy the full resolution benefits of a wide variety of NIKKOR glass. Image quality and performance are further bolstered with the aid of Nikon’s EXPEED 3 image processing engine, which helps to provide vivid colors and an exceptionally broad tonal range while quickly processing image data transfer from capture to card. Additionally, EXPEED 3 contributes to surprising energy efficiency for all-day shooting.

Serious Performance for the Advanced Photographer

Whether capturing an awe-inspiring vista at the golden hour, or portraits that absolutely have to flatter, the swift response and advanced feature set will appeal to a wide range of users. From Nikon core technologies to thoughtfully laid-out controls, the robust and innovative feature set of this D-SLR will satisfy even the most demanding enthusiast.

Low-Light Performance: A wide ISO range helps the user master any lighting challenge. From a clean ISO 100 to a versatile 6,400 (25,600, Hi-2), the D610 provides minimal noise and maximum confidence.

39-Point AF System and Scene Recognition System: Users can select single point, continuous, dynamic or 3D autofocus modes to adapt to any shooting situation from static subjects to dynamic athletics. The Nikon D610’s 39-point AF system quickly acquires focus throughout the frame, even on fast moving subjects. For further accuracy, the system uses Nikon’s exclusive 3D Color Matrix Metering II 2016 pixel RGB Sensor in conjunction with the Scene Recognition System to analyze the scene and adjust exposure, white balance and focus. The resulting images display a more balanced exposure, precise sharpness and accurate color. Furthermore, the D610 utilizes nine cross-type sensors, seven of which retain AF ability up to f/8, a true boon to wildlife and sports photographers who rely on teleconverters for maximum distance.

New Improved Automatic White Balance (AWB): With an updated AWB algorithm, users can capture more vivid skies, and more natural-appearing reproduction of artificial light than ever before. Additionally, more natural skin tones can be captured, rendering faces with a more three-dimensional appearance.

New Increased Speed and Performance: A new shutter mechanism in the D610 affords a faster frame rate. Users can now capture the action at a continuous 6 frames-per-second (fps), which is ideal for photographing action sports or elusive wildlife.

New Quiet Continuous Shutter Mode: Ideal for weddings and other sensitive events, the D610 features a new Quiet Continuous Shutter Mode. When selected via the main command dial, users can shoot discreetly at up to 3 fps.

100% Frame Coverage and 3.2-inch High Resolution LCD: Shoot all day comfortably and compose easily through the wide and bright optical viewfinder, which offers 100% frame coverage. Additionally, the high-resolution 921K dot, 3.2-inch LCD screen is viewable from a wide variety of angles making it easy to compose, review and share.

Unleash Creativity with Advanced Modes: With a wide variety of creative modes designed for enthusiasts, users can continue to express themselves in new, creative ways. A series of images with multiple exposures can be combined with built-in HDR, while users can explore their inner artist with an automatic Time Lapse Mode, or the intervalometer found in all advanced Nikon D-SLR’s. To adjust color, saturation and other image parameters on the fly, Picture Controls can be applied to both stills and HD video.

Dual SD Memory Card Slots: The Nikon D610 accepts two SD memory cards, which users can set to copy and overflow, or mark as one dedicated video when shooting multimedia. Additionally, the D610 accepts blazing-fast and high capacity SDXC and UHS cards.

Full High Definition Capabilities: Capture stunning Full 1080P HD video in a variety of frame rates, including a cinematic 24p and 30p. A useful feature inherited from professional Nikon cameras, the Nikon D610 can feed 100% full screen, uncompressed video via HDMI to an external device such as a monitor or digital recorder. Additionally, a stereo microphone and headphones can be connected through thoughtfully placed auxiliary input jacks for capturing and monitoring audio.

Share a Stellar Shot Instantly: When using the optional WU-1b Wireless Mobile Adapter1, unbelievable images can be shared directly to a compatible smart mobile device such as a phone or tablet. Users can then share these images with friends and family through their own social networks or photo sharing applications.

Robust Construction: The Nikon D610 is sealed and gasketed, with dust and moisture resistance of the same caliber as the Nikon D800. The top and rear covers of the camera are made of magnesium alloy for maximum durability, while the shutter unit is tested to 150,000 cycles.

NIKKOR, Speedlight and System Compatibility

The Nikon D610 is compatible with a wide variety of NIKKOR Lenses, allowing users to truly realize a lens’ potential with an FX-format camera. For eighty years, photographers have come to rely on Nikon’s heritage of optical excellence for lenses that deliver the pinnacle of optical quality. Additionally, the Nikon D610 is fully compatible with Nikon’s Creative Lighting (CLS) System, and can act as a Commander to control up to two groups of Speedlights, in-camera.

Price and Availability

The Nikon D610 D-SLR will be available in late October 2013 in a variety of configurations.

Body Only – $1999.95* Suggested Retail Price (SRP)

With AF-S NIKKOR 24-85MM F/3.5-4.5G ED VR Lens – $2599.95* SRP

With AF-S NIKKOR 28-300MM F/3.5-5.6G ED VR Lens + 32GB Class 10 memory card + Large Laptop Bag – $3049.95* SRP

With AF-S NIKKOR 24-85MM F/3.5-4.5G ED VR Lens + AF-S VR ZOOM-NIKKOR 70-300MM F/4.5-5.6G IF-ED Lens + WU-1b Wireless Mobile Adapter + D-SLR Tablet Bag + 32GB Class 10 memory card – $3249.95* SRP

About Nikon

Nikon, At the Heart of the Image™. Nikon Inc. is the world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and photo imaging technology and is globally recognized for setting new standards in product design and performance for its award-winning consumer and professional photographic equipment. Nikon Inc. distributes consumer and professional digital SLR cameras, NIKKOR optics, Speedlights and system accessories; Nikon COOLPIX® compact digital cameras; 35mm film SLR cameras; Nikon software products and Nikon sports and recreational optics as well as the Nikon 1 advanced camera with interchangeable lens system. Nikon Corporation, the parent company of the Nikon Inc., recently celebrated its 80th anniversary of NIKKOR optics, and announced the production of over 80 million NIKKOR lenses in 2013, creating a new milestone in Nikon’s heritage of superior optics. For more information, dial (800) NIKON-US or visit HYPERLINK “http://www.nikonusa.com” http://www.nikonusa.com, which links all levels of photographers to the Web’s most comprehensive photo learning and sharing communities. Connect with Nikon and other photographers on Facebook at HYPERLINK “http://www.facebook.com/nikon” http://www.facebook.com/nikon and get the latest news and information from Twitter by following HYPERLINK “http://www.twitter.com/Nikon_USA” @NikonUSA.

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1The Wireless Mobile Adapter Utility Application must be installed on the smart device before it can be used with the WU-1b Wireless Mobile Adapter connected to the Nikon D610. The application can be downloaded free of charge from Google Play™ or the Apple App Store. For use with Android or iOS mobile devices, please refer to mobile device compatibility and available features at HYPERLINK “https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nikon.wu.wmau&hl=en”https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nikon.wu.wmau&hl=en (Android) or HYPERLINK “https://itunes.apple.com/en/app/wireless-mobile-adapter-utility/id554157010″https://itunes.apple.com/en/app/wireless-mobile-adapter-utility/id554157010 (iOS).

2Android and Google Play are trademarks of Google, Inc. 3iPhone, iPad and iTunes are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

*SRP (Suggested Retail Price) listed only as a suggestion. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time.

Specifications, equipment and release dates are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer.[/toggle]

October 8, 2013