Author: Bharat Nagpal

Sony Launches RX100 II in India for Rs. 42,990 (PR)

Sony has launched the RX100 MK II in India for a price of Rs. 42,990 while the RX 100 is still available upwards of the Rs. 32000 price mark. The RX100 was deemed the best portable point and shoot and the next revision the RX100 II adds to it by bringing some much needed features to the mix.

For starters there is a whole new hot shoe mount that even lets you add external audio inputs, a new 20.2 MP sensor, Wifi and NFC is also built into the camera. There is also full HD video at 24/25p and a tilting vari-angle 3 inch display which sadly has no touch inputs. For more details on the camera, read the press release below.

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[toggle title=”Press Release”]Sony launches Cyber-shot™ RX100 II in India featuring
1.0-type Exmor R™ CMOS sensor and NFC technology

• Enhances the hugely popular RX100 with great picture quality and convenient new features
• New 20.2 effective megapixel back-illuminated Exmor RTM 1.0-type CMOS sensor boosts sensitivity for better low-light images
• Wi-Fi and easy One-touch smartphone connection with NFC
• Add accessories with Multi Interface Shoe and Multi Terminal
• 3.0-type White Magic™ LCD tilts up or down
• Full HD 24p/25p movie for rich, cinematic video footage
• TRILUMINOS™ Colour for richer, more natural colours

New Delhi; 8thAugust 2013: With tremendous response from RX100, Sony India today launched its successor, Cyber-shot™ RX100 II, the first ever camera from Sony with NFC (Near Field Communication) Technology. The new Cyber-shot™ RX100 II from Sony puts even more shooting power in your pocket with added features like the NFC, Exmor R™ CMOS sensor and Multi Interface Shoe. Sleekly styled in strong, light aluminium, it’s a perfect travel partner for quality-conscious photographers who seek DSLR-style images from a pocket camera with generous control options.

Building on the superb picture quality of the multi-award winning RX100, the new camera now delivers even better results whether you’re shooting indoors or at dusk without a flash. The newly developed back-illuminated Exmor R™ 1.0-type CMOS sensor increases sensitivity while reducing picture noise in tricky low-light scenes. Combined with the exceptional f1.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens, you’ll see the difference with exceptionally crisp, natural stills and Full HD video in any shooting situation – from parties to night-time landscapes.

Wi-Fi makes it easy to connect the camera wirelessly with your smartphone and transfer photos or videos for easy sharing. It’s also the first ever camera from Sony with NFC (Near Field Communication) technology, giving the extra convenience of One-touch connection with Android smartphones and tablets. There’s no set-up needed – simply touch your mobile device against the RX100 II and a wireless connection is made instantly. One-touch Remote even lets you trigger shutter release from your smartphone — great for group shots when you don’t want to be left out of the action.

The camera’s enthusiast appeal is further enhanced by a new Multi Interface Shoe and Multi Terminal. Expand your photographic capabilities by attaching optional accessories – including an electronic viewfinder, powerful external flash and stereo microphone – via the versatile Multi Interface Shoe. The Multi Terminal also allows the addition of other options such as a shutter-release remote controller.

The bright, detail-packed 3.0-type White Magic™ LCD now tilts up and down[1], giving greater freedom to compose shots in comfort. Hold the camera high up to reach over crowds, or get down low and see things from the perspective of pets and children.

Compatibility with TRILUMINOS™ Colour technology ensures even richer, more natural colour reproduction with the new generation of BRAVIA televisions featuring TRILUMINOS™ Display.

Full HD video modes are expanded with the addition of 24p/25p shooting for smooth, cinematic movies. Other refinements include a step zoom function that’s accessible via the camera’s customisation menu. Instantly choose from five popular focal lengths using the control ring – 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 70mm or 100mm: it’s an intuitive alternative to zooming in and out when you’re in a hurry.

The PlayMemories Mobile app has been updated to enable the One-touch capabilities of the RX100 II, and also now features an enhanced user interface. It is available now for free from the Google Play store for all Android smartphones.

Introduced in June 2012, the Cyber-shot™ DSC-RX100 is world’s first compact fixed-lens camera with a 1.0-type 20.2 effective megapixel sensor.

The new Cyber-shot™ RX100 II digital compact camera from Sony will be available across all Sony Centers and major electronic stores across India from 8th August, 2013.

Model
MRP
Colour
Availability
DSC-RX100 II

Rs. 42,990

Black

8th August, 2013

About Sony India Pvt. Ltd.

Sony India is one of the most recognized consumer electronics brand in the country, with a reputation for new age technology, digital concepts and excellent after sales service. In India, Sony has its footprint across all major towns and cities in the country through a distribution network comprising of over 18,000 dealers and distributors, more than 300 exclusive Sony outlets and 25 branch locations. Sony India also has a strong service presence across the country with 356 service outlets. Manned by customer friendly and informed sales persons, Sony’s exclusive stores ‘Sony Center’ are fast becoming the most visible face of the company in India. A distinctive feature of Sony’s service is its highly motivated and well-trained staff that provides the kind of attentive and sensitive service that is rare today.

For more details, please visit:www.sony.co.in[/toggle]

August 9, 2013
Blackberry A10 will be called Z30 according to Blackberry 10.2 files

Blackberry Aristo has always been referred to as the A10, but recent revelations by Crackberry team have found that the first big phone by the company will actually be called Z30. A few tutorial videos of the device running Blackberry 10.2 have also been found.

Z30 is said to be a big phone, the first ever by Blackberry, featuring a 5-inch OLED display with a pixel density of 295 PPI, 1.7GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU, quad-core GPU, 2GB of RAM, an 8-megapixel rear camera and will have a microSD card slot that will be able to support 64GB of storage. Internally,N

Battery is said to be kept at 2,800mAh battery and will support NFC and wireless charging. The Z30 will be a bigger version of the Z10, that means a Z20 could be in the works to fill in the Gap.

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August 3, 2013
iBerry AUXUS Nuclea N1 Gaming and Benchmarks – iGyaan

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August 3, 2013
Xolo Play T1000 Nvidia Tegra 3 phone Unboxing and Hands On Review – iGyaan

August 3, 2013
BBM Beta testing for Android and iOS Begins (All slots full)

A few folks lucky enough at the BlackBerry’s Beta Zone have been given the ability to test out BBM Beta for Android devices. Once registered at the beta zone, all one needs is an Android Device running Android 4.0 and up.

The program is not available for everyone, but if you have received an email like the one shown above, you’ll find it available under Eligible Programs. Much like it will be when it goes official, the beta version of BBM for Android requires v4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich); while the BBM beta for iPhone requires iOS 6 as a minimum requirement.

[Via]

August 2, 2013
Report : Apple will use Samsung Retina Display in the next iPad Mini

According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, Apple has chosen Samsung to supply the displays for the next generation iPad Mini, which will also boast a retina resolution. As originally imagined, Apple was intending to only employ LG and Sharp for the supply of the LCD panels, but the it seems due to lack of supply, the displays have been also ordered from Samsung’s display division.

Apple has often been known to test components before confirming the final elements of the build. Earlier reports had stated that Apple will not launch an iPad Mini Retina this year, but if the present report is to be believed, not only will Apple Launch a iPad Mini with a high resolution Retina Display, they will also employ their arch nemesis with the job of providing hardware for the unique build.

Apple has tried to completely block off purchasing from Samsung, but the korean giant is probably the only producer of high quality panels that can be produced at an economical and profitable price. Apple presently gets their displays form AU Optronics, who have clearly stated

We cannot take [Apple’s] orders because our rate of output efficiency is too low to be profitable, the company doesn’t make a profit from manufacturing the current iPad Mini’s screens. – said an AU Optronics manager.

In these desperate time it appears that Apple might just have to buy a LCD technology company, but unfortunately for them none are for sale.

August 2, 2013
Moto X Launched : Motorola X8, 4.7-inch 720p AMOLED starting US $ 199

Motorola and Google have finally made the Moto X rumored device official, it is dubbed the “Moto X” and is designed with the “user in mind”. The Moto X comes with the ability of the User to design their own phone, it is designed and assembled in the US.

Motorola has also redesigned the structure of the Handset, with new processing via Moto’s new X8 Mobile Computing System. A SoC based on a Snapdragon S4 Pro with a 1.7GHz dual-core Krait CPU and a quad-core Adreno 320 GPU, positioned alongside two unique Motorola processors, including one to handle language interpretation and a contextual computing core, which manages the smartphone’s sensors. Both of which are designed to ensure minimal battery drain when using these services.

The new Moto X has a 4.7-inch AMOLED display running at 720p, a 10-megapixel “ClearPixel” camera with 1080p video recording and will run Android 4.2.2. With the online app called Moto Maker, you choose the colors, and decide on the details: front, back, accents, memory, wallpapers, even add a name or a short message, a wooden case is also in the works and Motorola claims there are more than 2000 options with more to come soon.

The Moto X is powered by a 2,200mAh battery offering up to 24 hours of “mixed” usage and the handset is 4G LTE enabled. There’s a 10-megapixel Clear Pixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, both of which shoot 1080p video.

Bluetooth 4.0, USB 2.0, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, GPS and GLONASS, a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, Miracast Wireless Display, NFC and a nano-SIM.

Sales Begin at the end of August, the 16GB model will retail for $199 with a two-year contract on AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular and Verizon, the 32GB is an AT&T exclusive which will ship for $249. For now only AT&T customers will have access to additional color options via the online app those on other carriers can choose from black and white.

[toggle title=”Motorola X8″]IBERTYVILLE, Ill. – Aug. 1, 2013 – People want choice. The choice to design their own phones. The choice to control their phones by voice when their hands are occupied. The choice to have their phones assembled in America.

Moto X offers you that choice. It’s designed by you, responds to you and is made for you by Motorola, a Google company. Once you turn it on, it’s all yours. And every Moto X sold in the USA is assembled right here in the USA.

With the best of Google services baked in, Moto X helps you get everyday tasks done quickly and with less fuss. But it’s also designed to sip battery, not chug it, so it will go all day and into the night.

Responds to You

Moto X is ready when you are. It responds to your voice – no touching necessary. With Touchless Control you can check the weather, get directions, or do just about anything without lifting a finger. Moto X doesn’t guess like other phones do. It knows.

With Active Display, Moto X keeps the information you need to know at your fingertips. Instead of a constantly blinking light, important information quietly appears on the screen. It doesn’t interrupt. You don’t have to wake it up to look at the time or see your messages. Before you know it, that constant itch to check your phone will be gone forever.

Need to capture that perfect moment before it’s gone? All it takes is two quick twists of your wrist and Moto X’s Quick Capture camera is ready to shoot. Touch anywhere on the screen and you’ll get just the shot you want. Its high-quality sensor can capture the darkest scenes or stop motion blur in bright light. You’ll see the difference in every shot.

And all of this is battery-friendly, so Moto X is ready to respond all day long.

Designed by You

Your Moto X is truly yours, because you design it. Through our online studio, Moto Maker, you choose the colors, and decide on the details: front, back, accents, memory, wallpapers, even add a name or a short message. When you’re done, we assemble your Moto X right here in the USA and ship it to you for free in 4 days or less*.

Choose from more than 2,000 possible combinations, with more to come. We’ll be constantly exploring new offerings, such as real wood backs, starting later in the year. Still love the classics? You can choose an eye-catching woven black or woven white model right in the store (see below for more info on availability).

We’re pretty sure you’ll love your Moto X, but if for some reason you don’t, you can redesign or return it within 14 days**, no problem.

Made for You

Moto X has a unique curved back, designed to fit your hand comfortably, along with a 4.7-inch screen that makes it easy to operate with only one hand — when you want to use your hands that is.

Plus, no one has ever assembled a smartphone in the US before. We think it’s about time. Each Moto X sold in the US is individually assembled in Ft. Worth, Texas. Doing this in the US means you can design a custom phone online and have it delivered right to your doorstep in just a few days.

You Are What You Wear

We’ve partnered with the most innovative brands in the world including SOL REPUBLIC to create an ecosystem of accessories for your Moto X. We call it M4DE Motorola™. These include headphones, speakers, cases, docks and more.

You can even match your headphones to your Moto X. They come in all the same custom colors of the phone, in two different styles. On your ears: SOL Tracks HD headset with a V8 sound engine that has deep base and high quality. In your ears: SOL JAX earbuds with controls for calls and music, plus free ear tips for life.

Where to Get It

Moto X will be available in the US, Canada and Latin America starting in late August/early September.

In the US, woven black and woven white models will be available at AT&T, Sprint, US Cellular, Verizon Wireless and at national retailers including Best Buy stores with a suggested retail price of $199 with a new two-year agreement. Additionally, it will be available on all carriers, including T-Mobile, at Motorola.com.

Visit motorola.com to sign-up for more details about Moto Maker, which will first be available for AT&T users. And, coming soon to Best Buy.

You’ll hear from our carrier partners around the globe regarding exact pricing and availability.

*Subject to parts availability
**California residents will have 30 days to return

IMAGES & B-ROLL: Click this link (also in the footer) for images and b-roll (you agree to our license terms when downloading images or video)

About Motorola Mobility

Motorola Mobility, owned by Google, creates smartphones, tablets and wireless accessories that simplify, connect and enrich people’s lives. For more information visit motorola.com/mobility.

Certain features, services and applications are network dependent and may not be available in all areas; additional terms, conditions and/or charges may apply. All features, functionality and other product specifications are subject to change without notice or obligation. Contact your service provider for details.

MOTOROLA and the Stylized M registered trademarks of Motorola Trademark Holdings, LLC. Google is a trademark of Google, Inc. All other trademarks the property of their respective owners. © 2013 Motorola Mobility LLC. All rights reserved.
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[VIA] [Source]

August 2, 2013
HTC Desire 600 Dual Sim Unboxing and Hands On
HTC is ready to bring its flagship features to the masses with the new HTC Desire 600 Dual Sim. The Smartphone running Android 4.1 Jelly bean also features the Latest HTC Sense and Blinkfeed UI. Laid out with a 4.5 inch 540 x 960 px Super LCD2 capacitive touchscreen display, it has a nimble 242 ppi pixel density. Cameras are borrowed from the HTC 8X with a 8 MP snapper 1/3.2” sensor size, 1.4µm pixel size. The front facing camera is a 1.7 MP shooter both will do 720p video.

The HTC Desire 600 dual sim is based on a Qualcomm MSM8625Q Snapdragon 200 with a Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A5 and an Adreno 203, all of which according to the company can tak on any Mediatek based handset offering similar features. The Build quality and feel of the HTC Desire 600 Dual Sim is definitely great. With its rubberized grippy back panel and slim brushed steel bezel the dual sim smartphone is really worth of the brand.

The box we got is not a retail box , but the usual in-box items should include :
HTC has not left out on the usual Sense features bundling 25 GB Dropbox storage. Check out the unbxoing video (uploading) and stay tuned for Gaming Benchmarks and full review shortly.
August 1, 2013
iBerry Auxus Nuclea N1 Unboxing

We get you an exclusive unboxing today for the iBerry Auxus Nuclea N1, a smartphone that has basically given Micromax a run for their money when the Canvas 4 was announced. The handset takes away a lot of things but adds a few that will be might appreciated by the phone buyers.

For starters the iBerry Auxus Nuclea N1 has a 5 inch 1080p display, and dual BSI cameras a 13 MP rear and a 8 MP front camera sensor, both capable of 1080p video at 30fps. The chipset that powers this device is a Mediatek 6589t clocked at 1.5 GHz on all four cores. RAM and storage can be the only downsides to this handset with only 4 GB of inbuilt storage and 1 GB of RAM, you may not be able to fully exploit the additional power on the chipset.

Everything on the iBerry Auxus Nuclea N1is backed by a 2800mAh battery that ensures a better battery backup, vs the competition. The iBerry Auxus Nuclea N1also runs Android 4.2.1 Jelly out of the box with little or no custom UI modifications and almost zero bloatware, which also improves on performance and stability (we hope) .

Another thing worth appreciating is that rooting will not void your warranty, well you wont have to root the device anyway, because its pre rooted.

iBerry Auxus Nuclea N1

HTC Butterfly S

The Build and design are actually quite like the HTC Butterfly, with the paint finish matching the newer HTC Butterfly S. the build quality seems robust at first, no indication as to what the display glass is , but the phone does have an 5 inch 1920 x 1080p Active matrix display and an OGS panel, which means the display and the touchscreen are fused together, which also means that the likely maker of the LCD panel is LG.

The Power and volume rocker buttons appear to have been made from steel, and are very tactile. The replaceable panels included in the box are a great boon, and will reduce the need of a back cover, the handset also comes with an antiglare screen protector, which may be replaced with a more suitable one which cover the ful screen as the one included does not.

The feel and finish of the iBerry Auxus Nuclea N1 are premium, although, some may not appreciate the overly large Logos at the back of the device. Now lets see how the handset performs, stay tuned for benchmarks and gaming.

August 1, 2013
Samsung caught boosting Benchmark results on Exynos devices

Most people consider the benchmark results of a smartphone before buying the handset. If reports are accurate, it appears Samsung has been boosting Benchmarks and inflating those numbers for quite some time, to enhance the overall outcome of the benchmark scores on Exynos devices. According to the tech explorers at Anandtech, the Samsung Galaxy S4 has a software bot by the name of “BenchmarkBooster,” which is responsible for overclocking the processors when certain apps are running. This causes a 13% average increase in the overall outcome of the GPU benchmark and similar enhancements on the CPU side. The apps affected by this so called “BenchmarkBooster,” are GLBench 2.5.1, AnTuTu, Quadrant and Linpack whereas the GFXBench 2.7.0 is able to bypass the incremental patch.

What Samsung is actually doing is unknown, when we reached a Samsung Rep in India we were told that Korea HQ is looking into the matter and “may soon release an official statement”. Samsung could however be boosting Benchmark scores to impress upcoming customers and even reviewers in believing that the Exynos Based Smartphones perform better than they actually do. This could indeed inflate sales a bucket load more. Let’s see what Samsung has to say. For a detailed account and geeky numbers hit the source link below.

[Anandtech]

July 31, 2013
Can’t Login to Twitter on an iPhone, iPad or iPod ? Twitter knows it, Here is How you Fix it!
Many iPhone / iOS device users are facing issues logging into Twitter from their iOS devices, so much so that some people cant even open the twitter website on their browser. Twitter is aware of this bug and claims that it is working on a fix.

If you can’t login to Twitter on your iPhone, iPad or iPod you may be one of the many who are affected by this bug.

[box type=”notice” title=”Bug Alert: ” message=” Some users are having trouble sending a Tweet with photo. Some users report seeing the following errors when logging into Twitter for iPhone: Unauthorized / @(null) / Error Loading Tweets (400 or 401) “]

Twitter Recommends the following steps to attempt to reinstate your iPhone / iOS Twitter access to your Twitter account .

Remove your account from the app and log back in

If clearing your phone’s cache or turning your phone off and then on again didn’t work, you should try removing and then re-adding your account to the app. This is essentially the same thing as logging out and back in again, but since there is not “log out” option on the app, you’ll need to remove the account from the app entirely and then sign back in.

Note: The instructions for removing an account from the app are different for iOS4 and iOS5 (and higher). If you don’t know which OS version your phone is running, you can check by going to your iPhone’s Settings > General > About > Version.

To remove your account from the Twitter for iPhone app:
1. Go to your phone’s System Settings.
2. Tap on Twitter.
3. Tap on the account that needs to be removed.
4. Select Delete Account.
To add your account back to the app:
1. Open the Twitter for iPhone app.
2. Tap Sign in.
3. Enter your username and password.
4. Tap Done.
If you’ve forgotten your account’s password, follow the troubleshooting steps below to recover it.

How to send a password reset from your mobile device:
1. If you’re using a mobile device to access Twitter, you can send yourself a password reset via Twitter for Android, Twitter for iPhone, or mobile.twitter.com.
2. On the welcome page, select Sign in and then Forgot password?
3. Enter the email address or username that you are trying to request a password reset for. If you have a phone number associated with the account, you can choose to receive a reset via SMS.
Uninstall and reinstall the app

If above troubleshooting steps didn’t resolve your issue, you can try deleting and reinstalling the app on your iPhone.

To uninstall the app:
1. From your home screen, press and hold your finger on the Twitter for iPhone app icon.
2. The icon will begin to wobble and an x will appear in the top left corner of the icon. Tap the x.
3. Your iPhone will ask you to confirm your decision to delete the app. Tap Delete.
4. The app will disappear from the screen and has been deleted from your phone.
To reinstall the app:
1. Go to twitter.com/#!/download/iphone and click Download now.
2. Open the App Store app on your phone and search for Twitter.
3. Tap Install.
Try clearing your phone’s cache
1. Tap the Settings app icon on your iPhone.
2. Tap Safari in the list of applications.
3. Scroll down and select Clear History and/or Clear Cookies and Data
4. If you’ve cleared your cache but are still experiencing the issue, try turning your phone off and then on.
Check that your time zone settings are set to update automatically

If you’re seeing “Unauthorized” or “Invalid username and Password” when you try to sign in, this is likely caused by incorrect time zone settings or an outdated version of the Twitter client application. Please make sure your Twitter client is up to date with the latest version and that the date, time and timezone settings are set to update automatically.

To check your time zone settings:
1. Tap the Settings app icon on your iPhone.
2. Tap General.
3. Select Date & Time.
4. Make sure the option to Set Automatically is enabled.
July 30, 2013
Sony Launches the XPERIA Z Ultra in India Rs. 46990, 6.4 inch Full HD, Waterproof and Dust Resistant (Hands On)

Sony today launched the new Xperia Z Ultra in India, the phone is a bigger (really) sized variant of the Xperia Z and in theory really builds on the design and the features of the Xperia Z. The Xperia Z Ultra features a 6.4 inch Full HD 1920 x 1080p display with 344 ppi pixel density which is powered by the Triluminous and X-reality engines of the Mobile Bravia embed. The Xperia Z Ultra also features a MSM8974 Snapdragon 800 chipset which is more than capable of powering the device, with Quad-core 2.2 GHz Krait 400 CPU and Adreno 330 the phone is really a mammoth creation in both size and hardware power. The Xperia Z Ultra just like the Z before it, is IP58 certified – dust and water proof which means the the Xperia Z Ultra is Water resistant up to 1 meter and 30 minutes.

For Cameras you have an 8 MP rear snapper and a 2 MP front camera both sans a LED Flash and capable of 1080p video at 30fps. The Xperia Z Ultra comes with a 3050 mAh battery which is embedded into the device and is non removable, the profile of the handset is truly fantastic where it is only 6.5mm thick and weighs only 212g considering the size. Sony have also rounded off the sides so that it does not bite your hands when you attempt to grip this passport sized handset. The phone will be available in Black, White and Purple and boasts lots of freebies from the get go, including Asphalt 7 which is pre installed, Sony Live Content from Indian Idol Etc. and free 3months subscription to Big Flix.

The Xperia Z Ultra has 16 GB inbuilt storage and 2 GB of RAm and you can expand the storage with upto a 64 GB microSD card, class 10 recommended.

Buy Now

July 30, 2013
Corning Launches Gorilla Glass NBT for touch-enabled laptops

Gorilla Glass has been the name associated with strengthened mobile phone glass since 2010, but now Corning, the company behind it all plans to take it to the next step by introducing Gorilla Glass NBT for touch-enabled laptops. This new layer of glass promises to bring all the features of the Gorilla Glass 3 to a larger Laptop size glass.

“Known as the cover glass of choice, Corning Gorilla Glass now extends its exceptional capabilities into the emerging touch-enabled notebook market,We are confident that Corning Gorilla Glass NBT will outperform legacy soda lime glass, delivering eight to ten times more scratch resistance. In fact, for just one to two percent of a notebook’s retail price, consumers can now get the best cover glass solution: a Gorilla solution. Simply put, we believe that if you don’t have Gorilla on your device, it’s not as good.” said James R. Steiner, senior vice president and general manager, Corning Specialty Materials.

Gorilla Glass NBT will be available by Fall 2013 and should be incorporated in most manufacturer touch enabled laptops by 2014.

[toggle title=”Press Release”]Corning Brings Gorilla® Glass NBT™ to Touch-Enabled Notebooks

New cover glass helps prevent damage to touchscreen displays; extends Corning Gorilla Glass into new market

CORNING, N.Y., July 29, 2013 – Corning Incorporated (NYSE: GLW) today introduced its newest cover glass, Corning® Gorilla® Glass NBT™, designed to help protect touch notebook displays from scratches and other forms of damage that come from everyday handling and use.

Gorilla Glass NBT is Corning’s unique glass solution for touch-enabled notebooks. Touch is becoming the primary way consumers are interacting with their mobile devices; and with increased touch comes the potential for the glass to scratch. Scratches can result in the cover glass breaking, when the devices are subject to normal day-to-day usage. Corning Gorilla Glass NBT provides enhanced scratch resistance, reduced scratch visibility, and better retained strength once a scratch occurs to help protect notebook displays from breakage that can occur with lower-performing soda lime glass.

Consumers want thinner, sleeker and lighter-weight personal computers featuring touch technology. Noted as the next wave in touch technologies by market research groups, touch-enabled notebooks have the potential to approach the size of the current smartphone cover glass market within the next few years. Corning Gorilla Glass NBT delivers the cost-effective scratch and damage resistance that consumers have come to expect of the world’s leading cover glass solution to this new mobile device market.

“Known as the cover glass of choice, Corning Gorilla Glass now extends its exceptional capabilities into the emerging touch-enabled notebook market,” said James R. Steiner, senior vice president and general manager, Corning Specialty Materials. “We are confident that Corning Gorilla Glass NBT will outperform legacy soda lime glass, delivering eight to ten times more scratch resistance. In fact, for just one to two percent of a notebook’s retail price, consumers can now get the best cover glass solution: a Gorilla solution. Simply put, we believe that if you don’t have Gorilla on your device, it’s not as good.”

Similar to a handheld or tablet device, the consumer’s physical interaction intensifies with a touch-enabled notebook device to include swiping, tapping, gripping and cleaning. Everyday interaction with these notebook devices can result in scratched cover glass and a compromised user experience. Corning’s consumer research indicates that complaint rates for scratching on notebooks are already up to four times higher compared to other mobile devices. Replacing the screen can be expensive and sometimes cost as much as half of the full notebook price, while leaving the user without a device for days.

“As a leader in touch-enabled computing, Dell is always seeking the finest materials to ensure our notebook screens are impact and scratch resistant,” said Sam Burd, vice president, PC Product Group, Dell. “We’re integrating Corning Gorilla Glass NBT into our new client devices launching this fall, further enhancing our industry leading product reliability and durability.”

Corning Gorilla Glass NBT is currently available and is expected to be featured on several notebook product models by leading global brands later this year.

For more information on Corning Gorilla Glass NBT, please visit www.corninggorillaglass.com.[/toggle]

July 30, 2013
LG G2 Quick Window Case gets official launch before the phone’s launch.

LG G2 is the next upgrade for the LG Optimus G which is slated for launch on Aug 7th, but the company is not holding back in sending out accessories for the slated handset. Just like Samsung’s S View cover the Quick WIndow case has a cutout window in the front. But LG has gone one step forward and designed a new QuickView UI which will light up the area with incoming call details, text messages, a clock, weather report, alarm or music player.

The availability for the LG G2 is still a mystery, but if LG intention to launch accessories is clear, it seems that the phone is not too far away!

[toggle title=”Press Release”]LG EXPANDS ACCESSORY OFFERINGS WITH PREMIUM SMARTPHONE CASE

Convenient QuickWindowTM Case for LG G2 Available in Seven Colors

SEOUL, July 30, 2013 – LG Electronics (LG) will be introducing a line of premium cases for its upcoming flagship device, LG G2, to be available at the same time as the smartphone. The aesthetically beautiful case, QuickWindow, is the newest addition to LG’s growing premium smartphone accessory lineup, which includes cases, headsets and portable chargers.

An opening or “window” on the cover of QuickWindow allows users to glance at various information displays without having to open the cover flap. With only a light swipe of a finger, the QuickWindow UX will appear in the window which users can view while on the go. Information that can be viewed through the QuickWindow cover include a clock, weather report, alarm, music player, incoming phone call details and incoming text messages.

“LG’s newest premium accessory delivers practical and stylish options while protecting the smartphone, which for many consumers is a significant investment,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “Our smartphone designers have in mind the type of case they’d like to see on their designs. So it made a lot of sense for LG designers to share with our customers their vision of the perfect accessory.”

The QuickWindow case for the LG G2 will be available in seven different colors, including black, white, pink, purple, blue, mint and yellow. The cases will be available simultaneously with the launch of the LG G2.[/toggle]

July 30, 2013
Micromax Canvas 4 A210 Review – The Best Canvas till date!
Micromax has forever been associated with cheap and budget phones, earlier with feature phones now with budget Android phones. With the Micromax Canvas 4 A210 the company tries to find a balance between the desires of the market and a stable ecosystem. The Micromax Canvas 4 A210 has been perceived a big negative mark on the company’s ever tarnished reputation, So is the Micromax Canvas 4 A210 the marvel of innovation Micromax claims it to be? or is it just another attempt at making more money, lets find out.

Build Quality and Hardware

The Micromax Canvas 4 A210 is exceptionally well built, it uses the two elements found in the worlds most popular handsets, the steel bezel and frame of the iPhone and the plastic back panel of the Samsung Galaxy series. The end result is a beautiful looking device that fits well in the hand and feels great to use. The plastics on the Micromax Canvas 4 A210 are cleverly used and remain at a minimal, whereas no serious strengthening has been utilized to the glass.

On the inside of this phone is a Mediatek 6589 chipset that offers up 1.2 GHz on Quad cores and a sufficient Power VR SGX GPU. On the inside is 16 GB of Storage and 1 GB of RAM, whereas the cameras are fitted with a 13 MP BSI Sony Sensor with full HD capabilities and a front facing 5 MP shooter also with 1080p capabilities. The display is a 1280 x 720p 5 inch display and the overall device offers quite a balanced mix of hardware and build quality. Although many companies are offering higher specs with similar handsets, the build quality on the Micromax Canvas 4 comes out on top.

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Display

[pullquote_left]Unethical Journalism Aside[/pullquote_left]

The Micromax Canvas 4 A210 uses a new type of display, unseen on any of the company’s earlier devices, the display has a serious blue hue imbalance, but is exceptionally visible outdoors compared to the previous Gen display. The 1280 x 720p resolution was a major let down for many a buyers because of many rumors that pitted the phone equipped with a 1080p display. All “unethical journalism” aside the display is great for almost all requirements including gaming and multimedia, however it never hurts to get more resolution even if you don’t need it.

The touchscreen is very responsive and the display is perfectly fused into the body of the device, a lower resolution display also ensures better battery life considering that this device only has a 2000 mAh battery which you can read more about in the battery section below.

Multimedia, Gaming and OS

The Micromax Canvas 4 A210 is based on Android 4.2 and is mostly a vanilla interface, some basic customizations have been added to give additional UI features. “Blow to Unlock” for one is and example of a feature that has been added which may actually be liked by some, we personally feel that it is a waste of battery and a serious red flag to safe mobile phone usage.

Micromax has also added some features like smart pause on Samsung devices, a software feature which uses the sensors and front camera to detect when a user looks away, while watching a video , and pauses the video. Some fun UI elements like bouncing notifications and alerts in the lock screen add to the user experience.

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We feel that Micromax now needs to work on a proprietary UI for Android on their devices, much like TouchWiz or Sense, they need to develop a UI which will truly make their devices unique. For now the Micromax Canvas 4 is based on vanilla android and mostly third party modifications which may or may not be activated.

If you aim to do some gaming on the Canvas 4, you will be happy to know that most games work out of the box and work well. On the occasion some heavy spec’d games will hang or crash, which can only be expected.

Watching videos and movies is great especially thanks to the great display and loud speaker, but you do start to miss a full HD experience if you have had one.

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Camera

One thing which really changes the perception of the Micromax Canvas 4 A210 is the camera with its f2.2 lens equipped Sony BSI 13 MP sensor. The camera is the same unit used in the Xperia Z and performs exceptionally well. The camera also works great in low light conditions and captures great videos. The front facing camera is a bit of overkill, unless you do a lot of self portraits. The front camera is great but only if you have ample lighting, and honestly we don’t deny that sometime soon in the future front cameras may also start to get a dedicated flash diode.

The camera module is far too advanced for the software that has been included in the Canvas 4, and if you manage to root your device using our method, you can easily install the camera app ported from other devices. Any camera app that will give you additional manual controls is the app you are looking for.

A word to the wise, if you plan on doing macro photography with this camera, Autofocus will not be your friend. An add on lens might also be helpful.

The camera has great image composition ensuring great color reproduction and great crisp focus. If you intend to use auto mode the included app works fairly well and will not disappoint. Wait for our detailed camera review.

Performance

if you are looking for extreme performance on this smartphone you are actually looking in the wrong place, you are better off buying a Nexus or HTC One if that is your objective. The Micromax Canvas 4 A210 aims to achieve a few things and extreme performance is not one of them. The phone is pretty good for what its worth, gaming is decent, day to day usage is excellent, multitasking works great and for once the OS is quite stable.

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The Micromax Canvas 4 A210 will get you through most of the tasks you can put it through and then some, but it will not satisfy the tweak hungry junkies. The chipset has its limitations and they can’t be witnessed in the day to day usage of an average user.

Micromax as a Company

We take off from the regular review process to point out a couple of things to our readers, The Micromax Canvas 4 is very identical to the Blu Life One, in fact it may as well be the same phone. Both companies Micromax and Blu have many things in common, they are both young companies and they both have the same vendors. But, Blu handsets will never come to India, because the company is presently focused in the Americas, just like Micromax’s main focus is in India. Even though we got many requests to compare the two handsets we feel it is unnecessary at the least.

Micromax has taken a bold step and tried to take care of the biggest concern of users with the improved build of their handset, in doing so the cost of their handset has gone up considerably . That tied with the inflated cost of the US $ made it a pricing fail for the company, and we feel Micromax is a bit premature to be entering the sub 20k market with handsets based on Mediatek chipsets in fact the same chipset that goes in sub 10k handsets. But, what most people are neglecting is the use of quality materials and components is bound to raise costs, the Sony 13 MP sensor itself justifies such a bump in pricing.

Micromax is no Samsung when it comes to customer satisfaction, hell even Samsung are not that great. The company aims to become a big mobile brand, but it is presently far from that goal simply because of their dependence on readily available products and components.

Battery Life

The Canvas 4 has slightly low battery life and the constant use of included apps does not help. On average you will get 3-4 hours of continuos talk time. Features like smart pause and blow to unlock will really mould your battery life usage and are best avoided. Real Life Tests:
The Good

Micromax has for once tried to focus on the user experience more than the specs, the Micromax Canvas 4 A210 is extremely well built when compared to competition and even their own previous phones. The warranty for the Canvas 4 ensures that if your phone is damaged or defective (within warranty guidelines) you instantly get a replacement phone. Software elements like smart stay and smart pause that usually require expensive devices to begin with.

The cameras are also an advantage on the Canvas 4 and those with a taste for mobile photography will truly come to appreciate the device for that. The phone achieves what most phones by sector 2 manufacturers dont, premium feel.

The Bad

The price for one is a little off the mark, a 15k price point would appear to be a more worthy option for the Canvas 4. The OS is still mostly stock and with the added bloatware and software gimmicks, we are not impressed.

Conclusion

There is no doubt that the Micromax Canvas 4 A210 is the best Canvas / Micromax phone till date, but with the impending release of iBerry Nuclea N1 and a series of devices already in the market. The decision is truly in the hands of the buyer, the company is attempting to change its ranks in the smartphone market and the Micromax Canvas 4 A210 may be that very device. Once Micromax realizes the market status and drops the price by 1500- 2000 this very well may be the best smartphone in the market in the Rs. 15000 price bracket, but until then this seems like an investment which may not yield a return worth of value.

With Root already achieved by iGyaan those looking to get more bang for their buck will also be satiated.

Video Upcoming

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July 24, 2013