Author: Parul Ritvik Sood

Is Flipkart Getting Ready to Launch its Own Range of Tablets?

The recent round of rumors are that Flipkart is gearing up to launch a range of tablets under its own private label, DigiFlip. The label already sells a number of accessories under the same label, including earphones, portable speakers, laptop accessories, etc. This move would be huge step for the company to set up a tight race against E-commerce giant and arch-rival Amazon, which already sells tablets, apart from e-book readers under its Kindle brand.

Apparently, Flipkart has tied up with MediaTek to build its tablets that have been acquired from manufacturers based out of China and Taiwan. While pricing and hardware specifications would be key to the success of these tablets, it also remains to be seen whether Flipkart can weave in its primary online retail offerings that include e-books among other categories and make the tablet as a tool to access its services.

Though, the company is tight-lipped about this new venture, it will be worth noticing how it differentiates itself in an already crowded tablet market space. In India, more than 4 million tablets were shipped last year making it one of the biggest tech segment in the market. The tablet market is right now ruled by likes of Samsung, Micromax and Apple.

Flipkart has been working continuously to gain more customers and sales. Few months back, Flipkart took over Myntra.com and online shopping store. If done right, Flipkart can easily take the throne and become the domestic Amazon.

June 18, 2014
All That We Know About Amazon’s Secret Smartphone

Amazon is said to be releasing its first ever Smartphone today at an event in Seattle, where it will finally show off what it’s been working on for past year. The event will see a new addition in Amazon’s gadget family, which currently consists of Kindle Fire Android-based tablets, Kindle line of e-readers and the very recent set-top box called Fire TV. This new Smartphone will be the latest component of the retailer’s hardware family.

Rumors have been insisting that the Amazon Smartphone has been in the works for quite a while. They’ve also talked about its unusual features such as the multi-camera gesture-tracking system and a pseudo-3D eye-tracking interface.

Some of the earlier rumors suggested that Amazon would team up with HTC in order to produce a joint-effort smartphone. It had been said that talks between the two had been ongoing since June 2013 and that anything could change at any given moment. While more recent rumors also suggest Amazon has built its phone in-house, the HTC partnership still remains a possibility.

Amazon released a teaser video two weeks back that doesn’t show the device in question, but it does depict users interacting with a device. They talk about how it “moves with them” and there are shots of them tilting their heads back and forth to see how the product responds. It gave us a basic understanding of how its 3D effect might work.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Amazon is building a phone with a 3D screen back in May 2013. This report said that the device will use a retina-tracking camera, and 3D hologram-esque imagery would appear to float above the device’s display. But, we’re not entirely sure how it would look and work when used physically.

The device is said to be equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 SoC, with the display being a 4.7-inch 720p panel and 13MP rear-facing camera, a 2MP front-facer which seems unequipped to compensate with 3D technology.

Amazon is also said to be expanding its hardware family with its secretive think tank called Lab126. This is apparently where Amazon engineers come up with innovative gear that leads to features like the Amazon smartphone’s expected multi-camera gesture-tracking and parallax pseudo-3D system.

Some rumors suggested that the phone may be given away for free to current Amazon Prime subscribers, but Amazon shot those down pretty quickly. We don’t know if or when we’ll see the device launched, but one thing we know for sure is that Amazon will always have it in stock.

June 18, 2014
BlackBerry’s Comeback : New Z3 to Launch in India Next Week
It’s been a hard two years for Canadian phone-maker Blackberry. And now, as part of an efforts to regain its lost status, BlackBerry Ltd is all set to launch its latest Z3 smartphone in India next week, on 25th June. The phone is likely to be priced below Rs.12,000 which will set it directly in competition with likes of Samsung, Motorola, HTC, Microsoft and Micromax.

The same device was launched in Indonesia earlier this year, the full touch screen device was priced at IDR 2,199,000 (USD 190 or INR 11,500) and is the most affordable device powered by the latest BlackBerry 10 operating system.

BlackBerry has already started sending out press invites to media houses for the launch event on 25th June. We have no doubt about the fact that the recently unveiled BlackBerry 10 OS-based Z3 will be the star of the event next week. BlackBerry Z3 is the first smartphone to come out of the partnership between BlackBerry and Chinese manufacturer Foxconn, which is popularly known for its relationship with Apple Inc.

BlackBerry has been a laggard in the global smartphone space, including India as it failed to keep up with the competition and has lost a significant market share in the past two years. But the latest launch is an effort to win back some of its lost market share in India where it once was on top of it smartphone sector.

Blackberry’s new Z3 fashions 5.0-inch qHD (960x540p) and is newly updated with OS (v10.2.2) powered by a 1.2GHz snapdragon dual-core processor with huge 1.5GB RAM and 8GB inbuilt storage (expandable up to 32GB). It is also backed by a 2500 mAh battery which is non-removable. The budget Smartphone is also equipped with 5.0-megapixel camera with flash, 5x digital zoom, image stabilization, and full HD video recording ability and a 1.1-megapixel fixed-focus front camera.

Recently, many Android KitKat OS powered low-cost devices have hit the market since the launch of Moto E such as Unite 2, Canvas Engage A019, Canvas A105, Lava Iris X1 and Xolo Q600s. Celkon Campus A35K also just released last week for just INR 2,999. It is touted as the cheapest KitKat OS based smartphone in India.

Indian market is furiously expanding in the budget Smartphone segment, mobilizing big players to cater to this segment. With Blackberry also joining the competition, market will become more intense. Besides India and Indonesia, BlackBerry would gradually introduce the Z3 in five other countries including the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia.

Key Features
- OS: BlackBerry 10.2.1 OS
- Dual-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon 400
- Dimensions: 140×72.8×9.26mm
- Weighs 164 grams
- 5-inch qHD (960×540 pixels) 220ppi
- 1.5GB RAM
- 8GB expandable up to 32GB using a microSD card
- 5MP rear/ 1.1MP front Camera
- 2,500mAh Battery
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June 18, 2014

Canvas Win W121 Vs Lumia 630 : The ‘Windows’ War

Micromax’s much talked about association with Microsoft took a huge leap with the launch of two new phones in its Canvas Win series; W092 and W121. Considering W121’s price tag (INR 9,500) and Windows phone 8.1 OS, it is expected to give a hard time to Nokia’s newly launched Lumia 630.

Lumia 630 is equipped with impressive quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor clocked at 1.2GHz in comparison to W121’s mediocre 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 200. People who love to use apps on their phones may have some problems with Lumia 630’s 512MB RAM against W121’s 1GB.

Canvas Win W121 fashions an 8MP rear snapper with LED flash and also a front-facing 2MP front-camera for selfies and video conferencing while in Lumia 630 front camera is missing, and it has a 5MP rear camera with auto-focus but no flash.

Considering the present state of the company, I personally won’t recommend Nokia Lumia 630. Furthermore, Canvas Win121 is a better option while comparing both. Canvas Win121 definitely provides you with better feature and performance

Specifications	Nokia Lumia 630	Micromax Canvas Win W121
General	Battery capacity (mAh): 1830 Colours: Bright Green, Bright Orange, Black, White	Form factor: Touchscreen Battery capacity (mAh): 2000 Colours: Black
DISPLAY	Screen size (inches): 4.50 Touchscreen: Yes Resolution: 480×854 pixels	Screen size (inches): 5.00 Touchscreen: Yes Resolution: 720×1280 pixels
CAMERA	Rear camera: 5-megapixel Flash: No Front camera:No	Rear camera: 8-megapixel Flash: Yes Front camera: 2-megapixel
RAM	512MB	1GB
Processor	1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400	1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200
Internal Storage	8GB	8GB
Software	Operating System: Windows Phone 8.1	Operating System: Windows Phone 8.1

June 18, 2014

Android Vs Firefox OS : Beginning of the New ‘Low-End Phone’ Era

Celkon debuted its Campus A35K this week, it joined the ever growing club of affordable Android KitKat Smartphones in India. With a price tag as low as Rs 2,999 in an exclusive partnership with online marketplace Snapdeal.com, this device does indeed have quite a proposition on its hands, but how well will it work? Let’s find out.

The front surface is a 320 x 480 pixel display of 3.5 inches in size. The device itself is enclosed inside a 119mm x 63mm x 10.7mm body and its overall weight comes up to 102gms. A 1GHz processor powers it from within, gaining what little assistance it can from just 256MB of RAM. Touted as the cheapest Android KitKat-operating system based Smartphone, the handset has dual-SIM slot and supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Micro-USB, and AGPS connectivity options along with 3G connectivity. It comes equipped with a disappointing 1400mAh battery, but then again we can’t complain much considering the face that its priced so cheap.

Android KitKat is the latest version of the Google-owned operating system. While the market is flooded with devices based on the previous generation of JellyBean OS, handset makers are now focusing on launching devices with Android KitKat.

The price segment this phone caters to is still ruled by the old world feature phone. The new entrant is said to be eliminating most of these buttons phone soon.

Also, Indian phone makers Intex and Spice have decided to bring Mozilla’s Firefox OS to India. Intex calls its device the Cloud FX. The company said that the phone will be priced around Rs.2000, thereby bringing the Smartphone experience to the last group of people untouched by it. Spice on the other hand has just given a July release timeframe and announced that its phone will be a dual Sim device.

This may bring a revolution in the low-end phone segment mobilizing bigger players to enter that arena. If any one device in this segment works, there is a possibility of new trends in this segment. With major companies like Google and Facebook investing in initiatives to connect the massive unconnected population with internet, operating systems like these which facilitate cheaper devices which will further lead to more global interconnection.

June 18, 2014
Micromax Launches Windows-based Canvas Win series!
And it’s here! Micromax just announced its brand new Smartphone series at an event in New Delhi. The two new budget smartphones – Canvas Win W092 and Canvas Win W121 are powered by Microsoft’s new Windows Phone 8.1.

Specs of the Canvas Win W121 include:
- 12.7 cm (5″) HD IPS Screen
- 1.2 GHz Quad Core Processor
- Qualcomm Snapdragon Processor
- 1GB RAM and 8GB ROM
- 8MP AF Rear Camera with LED Flash
- 2MP FF Front Camera
- Leather Finish Back Panel
- 2000mAh li-polymer Battery
- 32GB External Storage Capacity
Specs of the Canvas Win W092 include:
- Windows Phone 8.1 OS
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor with 1.2 GHz Quad Core CPU
- 4-inch IPS display
- 1500 mAh battery
- 5MP rear camera with flash; 0.3MP front camera
- Dual-SIM
- 1GB RAM; 8GB ROM
The Canvas Win W121 and Canvas Win W092 are priced at Rs. 9,500/- and Rs. 6,500/- respectively, will be available starting early July 2014.

Hands-on coming up shortly.
June 16, 2014
Huawei Is All Set To Launch Ascend Mate2 4G in USA

Huawei Technologies Co. has been surrounded by controversies in USA about security concerns raised by lawmakers in Washington. But they believe it can trounce all that as it makes a larger push in the U.S. and tries to build on its successes elsewhere. While Apple and Samsung dictate the all-inclusive Smartphone market with a mutual market share of 46 percent, Huawei has a minor lead among the rest, with about 5 percent, recent data suggested.

Keeping up with the market’s pace, Huawei is all set to launch Ascend Mate2 4G, a mid-range Android phone touted as a reasonably priced substitute to high-end phones such as Apple’s iPhone 5s and Samsung’s Galaxy S5.

The Mate2 will go for $299 and will be sold directly by Huawei. It will work on AT&T’s and T-Mobile’s networks, but not on Verizon or Sprint. The new Mate2 is missing some of the features found in the iPhone or the S5, but it does well on the basics. In addition, it works with 4G cellular networks, while many cheaper devices are attuned only with the slower 3G networks.

The phone is huge, with a screen measuring 6.1 inches diagonally. The company says it’s targeting a few types of customers, such as those who watch a lot of video and those who need a big screen for heavy-duty email and other business functions. Further, it is equipped with impressive 3,900 milliamp-hour battery, allowing you to stream videos for almost 16 hours at a stretch.

The device also fashions 13MP rear camera and 5MP front one, which means sharper selfies and better video calling. The screen resolution is 1,280 pixels by 720 pixels comparably lower than the most Android phones.

Huawei has started taking orders, with phones starting to ship within the week. The Mate2 won’t equal a high-end phone, but it offers a lot for about half the price. That’s quite impressive for a phone of this size. It’s not a good deal if you’re already getting expensive phones at a subsidized price of $200, but it’s one to consider if you’re looking to get away from contracts and subsidies.

June 16, 2014
Here is What to Expect from Google Android 5.0

Google teased anxious tech-heads with a hint of the existence of a new Android 5.0 through a picture they posted on their official Twitter page. They posted a photo of Google Now to introduce a new feature where users can view World Cup scores and schedules via the intelligent personal assistant. Each of the phones in the images had their time set to 5.0.

The developer conference will be held on June 25th and 26th and is one of the biggest Android and Google themed events. During the conference, we can anticipate new introductions; both on the software and hardware side of things. Here is exactly what we’re expecting from the new operating system:

The Name

There is no real sign of the dessert-based name that will follow its predecessor. Having astonished everybody with its choice to go for Android 4.4 KitKat, rumor suggests that Google will slip back to its general naming principle by calling the next installment Android Lollipop. That will be a major problem because people may not like it for obvious reasons. Some reports also suggested that the new Android’s name will start with either M or L. We are wildly guessing and hoping in vain that Google will come up with some Indian-sweet inspired name like Android 5.0 Ladoo or Android 5.0 Matka Kulfi.

New Phones

The first handset to run Android 5 will either be a Nexus phone or a tablet. Given the timing of the announcement we think it might be the latter. The Google Nexus 5 launched Android 4.4 at the tail end of last year, and we reckon the Nexus 10 (2014) will appear soon – meaning a tablet launch for the new OS. HTC looks like the front runner to bring this tablet to the market, so we’re thinking that this could happen mid-2014, which makes it likely that the productions would be starting soon. We’re also hearing a lot of rumblings about a Nexus 8, a slate which will supposedly launch with Android 4.5, so maybe that’s the device that Android Lollipop will make its debut on.

Fitness First

Also, recent idea is that Google’s next version of Android will have more fitness smarts built-in. Apple is set to go big in this area with the iWatch and iOS 8, and other brands, such as Samsung and LG, are making strides in this segment too. The idea is that future versions of Android will allow the software to harness “fitness data from sensors on your Android device.” These could be built into future Android phones and tablets, but it’s also likely that the API will play nicely with Android-based smartwatches and even Google Glass.

Integrated Messaging

We would love to have one integrated app that can squeeze Google Talk, Google Voice, SMS, Gmail, and the Google+ Messenger into one service that’s easily accessible on Android. Assuming that the new messaging service shows up at Google I/O or in a near future, we would expect Google to integrate the app or client into the new release of Android.

Google Now

Google Now is one of the more go-getting evolutions of Google’s search software. The idea is simple — it’ll predict what you want or need to know before you know you need or want it, and serve it up in an easy-to-read format. And the execution of this idea has been excellent. And now, Google has been working with brands and partners on Google Now cards that will touch our lives more than we know. It would be great if Google Now would automatically remind me that my favorite show is coming on TV or remind me to water my plants because it knows that it hasn’t rained since two days.

Google Music Subscriptions

According to some reports, Google has been in talks with several record labels in an attempt to come up with a Spotify-like music service that would integrate into Android. At present, Google Play Music offers users to upload their own music to Google’s servers and provide streaming options from different Android devices and Web browsers. It seems like Google will offer unlimited music access through Google Play and/or YouTube for a monthly fee. Google recently struck a deal with Warner Brothers and is said to be working with Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and other labels too.

Google Play News

The Google Play experience may swell into newspaper subscriptions. We guess that is the same as their old magazine service where users are able to purchase single editions and/or subscribe to newspapers from around the world.

Google Gaming Center

This is the freshest rumor we have heard, Google is reportedly about to test its fish in the Android gaming waters. Earlier this month, Google hired a chief game designer; titled very aptly “Chief Game Designer at Android Play Studio.” Google may also publish its own games and create a gaming hub through which you can connect to your friends and other players which provide Leaderboards and achievements. Google+ seems to be the most rational way to tie users together.

Google is said to announce big updates and hardware in this year Google I/O. If all the above rumors turn out true, then it is going to be bigger than this year’s Apple’s WWDC. Google and Apple are contesting hard to have an edge above each other; who will win only time will tell.

June 16, 2014
Samsung takes aim at the iPad Air with New Slim Galaxy Tab S

Samsung has unveiled its new Galaxy Tab S, a new flagship tablet. The new device was introduced at an event Thursday evening in New York City and It will be available in two sizes: 8.4 and 10.5 inches.

Samsung called it a high-end tablet with an emphasis on entertainment and consumption. Google, Netflix and Flipboard are said to be the most important content on the tab. The Galaxy Tab S fashions a high-resolution SuperAMOLED display with 2,560 x 1,600 resolution, giving a tough competition to iPad ‘retina’ display. Samsung said its screen technology provides better color and deeper contrast, while consuming less power than the LCD displays in most tablets. It is the first time, Samsung has made available a tablet with SuperAMOLED display. At the back, the Galaxy Tab S 10.5 and 8.4 feature an 8MP camera with a 2.1MP at the front.

Galaxy Tab S is also equipped with an adaptive display, which will change the white balance of the tablet based on the ambient light. The screen also has a less reflectivity in bright sunlight. The device also has a fingerprint scanner same as Galaxy S5 which can be used by eight people to login to different profiles.

Samsung is emphasizing the magazine content in the Galaxy Tab S with its own magazine display called Papergarden. The company also announced partnerships with Condé Nast, Marvel Comics National Geographic, who will be working on bringing titles to Papergarden, complete with interactive features.

Both Tab S tablets size variants are just 6.6mm thin, or 0.26 inches; thinner than the iPad Air. The weight is 465g for the large size and 294g for the smaller design. Both sizes come in white and bronze, and Samsung is offering optional covers as well as a keyboard.

The Tab S can also be synced to Galaxy S5 through SideSync, Once paired, the tablet can mirror the tablet’s screen in a smaller virtual window, letting users take calls on the tablet via its speakers and microphone. SideSync can also be used to transfer files or even run apps.

Samsung’s new Galaxy Tab S is a strong contender against iPad, However, time will tell how it is received by consumers. In the U.S., the Samsung Galaxy Tab S will cost $499 for the 10.5-inch version, and $399 for the 8.4-inch.

Specifications

[tabs]

[tab title=”10.5 inch”]

Display

10.5” (267.2mm) 2560×1600(WQXGA) Super AMOLED

Bearer

Wi-Fi Model

– Wi-Fi Only

LTE Model

– LTE : 800/900/1800/2600+850/2100

– 3G : HSPA+42.2 850/900/1900/2100

– 2G : GSM/EDGE/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900

Memory

3GB RAM, 16/32GB Memory, MicroSD (up to 128GB)

Camera / Flash

8M w/ Flash LED + 2.1M Full HD

Connectivity

Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, MIMO

WiFi Direct, BT4.0

GPS

GPS, GLONASS, Beidou (Not supported in USA, Canada)

Dimension, Weight

Wi-Fi Model : 247.3 x 177.3 x 6.6mm , 465g

LTE Model : 247.3 x 177.3 x 6.6mm , 467g

Battery Capacity

7,900mAh

OS / Upgrade

Android 4.4 (Kitkat)

Messaging & SNS

Google+, Gmail

LBS

Google Maps

Other Services & Applications

Samsung Magazine, Professional pack, Multi-user mode,
SideSync 3.0, Gear & Gear fit manager

PC Applications

Samsung Kies

UI / Web Browser

Samsung UI / Android, Chrome Browser

Audio

MP3, AAC ,AAC+, eAAC+, WMA, Vorbis, FLAC

Video

H.263, H.264 (AVC), MPEG4, VC-1, WMV7, WMV8, VP8

Recording : FHD (1920 x 1080) @30fps

Playback : WQHD (2560 x 1440) @30fps

Connectors

USB 2.0, 3.5mm Ear jack

[/tab]

[tab title=”8.4 inch”]

Display

8.4” (212.8mm) 2560×1600(WQXGA) Super AMOLED

Bearer

Wi-Fi Model

– Wi-Fi Only

LTE Model

– LTE : 800/900/1800/2600+850/2100

– 3G : HSPA+42.2 850/900/1900/2100

– 2G : GSM/EDGE/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900

Memory

3GB RAM, 16/32GB Memory, MicroSD (up to 128GB)

Camera / Flash

8M w/ Flash LED + 2.1M Full HD

Connectivity

Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, MIMO

WiFi Direct, BT4.0

GPS

GPS, GLONASS, Beidou (Not supported in USA, Canada)

Dimension, Weight

Wi-Fi Model : 125.6 x 212.8 x 6.6mm , 294g

LTE Model : 125.6 x 212.8 x 6.6mm , 298g

Battery Capacity

4,900mAh

OS / Upgrade

Android 4.4 (Kitkat)

Messaging & SNS

Google+, Gmail

LBS

Google Maps

Other Services & Applications

Samsung Magazine, Professional pack, Multi-user mode,
SideSync 3.0, Gear & Gear fit manager

PC Applications

Samsung Kies

UI / Web Browser

Samsung UI / Android, Chrome Browser

Audio

MP3, AAC ,AAC+, eAAC+, WMA, Vorbis, FLAC

Video

H.263, H.264 (AVC), MPEG4, VC-1, WMV7, WMV8, VP8

Recording : FHD (1920 x 1080) @30fps

Playback : WQHD (2560 x 1440) @30fps

Connectors

USB 2.0, 3.5mm Ear jack

[/tab]

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June 13, 2014
Apple Set To Change 100 Year Old History, will make headphones With a New Lightning Port

The internet has been talking about the possibility of Apple killing classic 3.5mm headphone jack in favor of the company’s propriety Lightning port. The decision to do so could have far-reaching effects for customers, who would be requisite to buy adaptors for their existing headphone sets, but would also result in larger synergies with the company’s latest acquisition of high-end headphone company Beats Electronics.

The company has introduced a new design for manufacturers in its made-for-iPhone (MFi) program that will let them to produce headphones with Lightning connectors. The new type of headphones will be able to make the change between analogue to digital audio with an elevated lossless stereo 48 kHz digital output, it would in addition convert the traditional headphones into a smart device.

The headphones that go directly into the Lightning port would have better audio quality than current models, meaning those fancy Beats by Dre would sound better.

The 3.5 mm headphone jack also remains the biggest hurdle when trying to make a slim phone, as the headphone jack requires a far fatter cavity than most other components, and the lighting connector serving as a headphone jack could mean that the iPhone could end up being super slim at the edges.

Apple has pointed out in its new specification that the new headphones can be “made to work specifically with a companion iOS app”. For instance, consumers would be able to do more than just skip tracks; they could work with apps such as iTunes Radio or initiate playback controls on iOS.

The biggest advantage of this new addition in iPhones will be that the headphones would be able to tap into power from an Apple device, thus eliminating the costs associated with an internal battery.

But on the downside, talks are customers won’t be able to listen to headphones and charge the phone at the same time, but of course there are also talks about wireless charging for the new iPhone.

Unlike the iPhone charger, the audio headphone jack has been around for more than 100 years. A version of it was used in the first telephone switchboards, and the jack has been in Army radios for as long as the Army has had radios. The current 3.5mm headphone jack is the portable-music standard, and has been since even before the first Sony Walkman hit stores in 1979.

There is a possibility of a revolt if Apple lovers are suddenly told that every pair of headphones they ever bought will be useless with the iPhone 6. But, then again, Apple usually tries to be ahead of the curve and predict what technologies are going to become legacy technologies, And so far they’ve been successful with it.

June 13, 2014
Panasonic’s Most Powerful FZ Camera: Lumix DMC-FZ1000

Panasonic launched a new camera today in its FZ series called FZ1000. It is said to be the most impressive FZ series super-zoom camera to date. The camera also boast of being the first fixed lens camera to have 4K video recording ability. (3840 x 2160, up to 30fps in MP4 format)The new Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 is described as a premium bridge camera that pushes boundaries –clearly a new-age product.

Unlike the usual 1/2.3-inch sensor, the FZ1000 features a one-inch CMOS chip which offers 20.1 valuable megapixels. The focal range on the camera stretches from an ultra wide 24mm to 400mm in 35mm terms. As has been with Panasonic, the lens here is a Leica branded 16x optical zoom with an aperture of f/2.8-4.0, supported by a five-axis hybrid Optical Image Stabalization(OIB) systems. This will

Comprising Panasonic’s DFD (Depth From Defocus technology, the DMC-FZ1000 gives you an ultra high-speed auto-focus of approximately 0.09 seconds at the wide end and approximately 0.17 seconds at the telephoto (Zoom) end, now that is fast. This will help you get the best image with the sharpest of focus, instantly.

High speed burst shooting is available at up to 12 frames per second using the full 20.1-megapixel resolution. The new camera also boasts a short release time lag and quick start-up time of approximately 0.66 seconds.

The 2359K pixel OLED Live View Finder and LCD monitor with 921K pixel give the perfect feedback

The DMC-FZ1000 also includes a stunning 2,359,000 pixel OLED Live View Finder and a 3-inch free-angle LCD rear monitor with 921,000 pixel resolution. The camera is incorporated with a new zoom lever, zoom ring and drive mode dial which provides a spontaneous control interface. Integrated Wi-Fi connectivity and NFC (Near Field Communication) technology provides users with a more supple shooting experience and the capability to share images right away.

A new addition to the FZ series is a 3.5mm jack for connecting an external microphone for video recording. The device also features remote shooting via downloadable Panasonic ‘app’ which includes a photo collage function. Images can also be Geo-tagged. Convience is a prime objective of this camera and it achieves it spectacularly.

Panasonic has promised a mid-July release for the Lumix DMC-FZ1000 at a suggested retail price of £749.99 in UK i.e. around INR 75,000. Hefty yes but its truly worth it.

June 13, 2014
The Plastic HTC E8 One Officially Launched

HTC E8 One has been launched in China and its pricing is almost half as much as its aluminum counterpart M8. The much talked about plastic body is said to be solid and looks good too.

E8 fashions an impressive ergonomic Dual Curve Design, that makes the device fit in your hands easily. It has a 13MP main camera and 5MP front facing wide-angle camera. The Built-in Touch Up software balances skin tones while retaining your genuine look. The company will also provide a dual SIM version of the phone but only in selected areas, as mentioned on their website.

The new ‘Vogue Edition’ HTC M8 One is said to be similar to M8 in most of the specs. Though it is pointed out that its 13 MP camera is slower and the TV remote feature is missing. The price of the E8 is easily a steal given the near-identical features as the M8 i.e. Motion Launch, HTC BoomSound, Snapdragon 801, 5-inch 1080p screen, MicroSD expansion.

E8 is available in four colors: Polar White, Electric Crimson, Maldives Blue, and Misty Gray. The new device is said to be a little bit taller and thicker than the M8. The price set for the phone is CN¥2, 799 which rounds up to INR 27,000 approximately. We’re still uncertain about when it would be launched in India.

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June 12, 2014
Amazon Quietly Launches its New Music Streaming Service

There had been a lot of speculations that Amazon may finally turn on its music streaming service this week. And they did just that a while ago.

In an attempt to chase Apple’s recent $3 billion deal with Beats Music, the online giant is testing its hand at music streaming, promising over 1 million songs ready to instant streaming pleasure. They were previously only offering a music downloading service. We’ve heard that Google is also in talks to acquire Songza, another streaming music service.

The new Amazon music service will be available to those who subscribe to Amazon Prime, its paid shopping membership option. Amazon Prime costs $99 and also offers a streaming video service that competes with Netflix.

The music service will work across multiple devices and will allow users to play songs as many times as they want, including some offline capabilities. There appear to be around 90,000 albums listed right now as options for streaming, working out roughly to the 1 million tracks Amazon promised.

The new offering is described as a condensed version of Spotify. Consumers would be able to access a restricted playlist of songs, but none of them would be the most recent chart toppers. The independent music labels, Sony Music and Warner Music Group have reportedly signed on to license their music to Amazon, though Universal is said to be out of the picture right now.

Amazon has also recently been encouraging its video streaming content by selling digital content – be it movies, television shows, books, or music – instead of its physical counterparts. This lets the company save money in storage and shipping.

This move may also have something to do with the fact that Amazon is likely to be releasing its own Smartphone next week.

June 12, 2014
New Goal-Line Technology Puts an End to ‘Ghost Goals’

In 1966, German fans were furious when the controversial right-foot shot by British soccer legend Geoff Hurst was awarded to England. At the time, there was no way to tell if the ball had crossed the line or not. There are so many others called the ‘Ghost Goals’. FIFA has acknowledged these blunders and this year they’re introducing computerized help to aid officials at this year’s World Cup.

Brazil will be the opening World Cup tournament to include an automated goal-line technology checking system, in a sense, a double-checking device that would help end the ‘was it or was it not a goal’ controversies that disrupt matches and cast doubt into the minds of fans.

It is by far the biggest innovation at this year’s World Cup. The introduction of goal-line technology will let the referee know whether a ball has entirely crossed the line or not. In the last two years, the technology has been steadily introduced in various leagues, mainly in Europe.

A German company GoalControl will be testing and introducing this technology in each of Brazil’s 12 World Cup stadiums with its seven cameras stretched around the ground, alert on each goal post, taking 500 pictures every second.

When a player boots a goal, the referee will be able to check his or her smartwatch to see whether ‘Goal’ has flashed up on the screen, which will hopefully put an end to ‘Ghost goals’ and some of the most controversial moments in the game.

This World Cup 2014 will the most tech-savvy event in the history of football. Sony, contributing to this spree, has installed 65-inch screens in and around Brazil’s most popular cities, which will broadcast the events in 4K on giant screens.

June 12, 2014
Barclays Introduces Wearable Credit Cards

The horror of losing our credit card haunts us every day. If you are anything like me, you surely have lost your credit cards number of times. The aftermath is even terrible with tedious process of form-filling and standing in long lines to apply for a new one. Well, Barclays, the London-based multinational banking and financial services company, found a solution for that. A wireless wearable device that can act as your virtual wallet and give cashless transactions a boost.

Called the bPay band, it is a part of a revolution where wearable technology will allow consumers to pay for a variety of services, such as coffee, travel and even gym memberships, with the single swipe of an arm.

Barclays’ bands are efficiently laden with money by users from their bank accounts, which can then be used for little purchases up to a single transaction value of £20 by swiping them over a pay point. The new bands are rubberized, waterproof and enclose a computer chip and micro-aerial to correspond with transaction terminals. Wearable 24 hours a day, bPay bands operate faster than usual plastic cards as they don’t require a four-digit pin.

The bPay bands have been already used at public events such as London Pride, where they were used to get entry and buy food and drink. The company is planing to bring the bands to the mainstream so that they can be used at 300,000 terminals and incoffee shops and newsagents , that already work with contactless debit cards.

The company is still working with various retailers, merchants and consumers for the greater acceptance of the technology. Company website mentioned that, it will be possible to pay for journeys on all buses, tubes and trains inside London by swiping bPay bands across terminals from later this year.

June 11, 2014