Author: Preetish Gumber

Luxury Car price hike inevitable, thanks to Rupee devaluation

Luxury cars have always been something we love thanks to the comfort, quality and class they provide. But soon, one would have to pay more than before in order to own any luxury machine in Indian market.

Even after seeing a robust increase in sales on the back of new product launches, Mercedes is all set to increase prices on its models to offset the impact of rupee depreciation.

Price hike is inevitable. We can’t cover (rupee depreciation) and part of it (increase) would have to be passed on to customers,” said Eberhard Kern, managing director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India.

The company would take a call on the hike and the quantum within the next few weeks. This comes close on the heels of other German luxury carmakers BMW and Audi announcing 4%-5% increase in prices.The rupee has tumbled by about 12% since the beginning of May.

“We are getting future-ready. India is on our strategic roadmap and is one of the strategic markets,” Kern said. Bookings for the newly-launched GL class luxury SUV (sports utility vehicle) has been good and the diesel version of the B-class has a two-month waiting list, he said.

Mercedes GL Class

While sedans will continue to be an important part of Mercedes-Benz’s product portfolio, SUVs and compact cars will grow and expand, he said. The luxury car segment, which accounted for just 1.2% of the overall market for cars in 2012, would grow to 4% by 2020 when the Indian market is expected to produce 7 million cars, Kern said.

Not only Mercedes other manufactures like Audi, which has increased price last month by 4% across its model range available in India. It led to an increase of 1.52 lakh on the Q5 price and the price of Audi A6 sedan increasing by 1.80 lakh. While the top-end Audi R8 price increased by about 4.42 lakh.

Market conditions are challenging, but luxury segment has seen some propelled demand due to fresh launches. A depreciating rupee and the rise in input costs have made increase the prices of the entire range, though we are offering customised and innovative finance options from Audi Finance to make the purchase more attractive for our customers,” said Michael Perschke, head, Audi India.

While, BMW India has not decided the quantum of the hike. “Following a path of sustainable growth, BMW Group India has always been built on long-term thinking and responsible action. We are making price decisions with all due care and consideration ensuring that they pay off in the long-run and the real quantum would be announced in next few days,” Philipp von Sahr, president, BMW Group India, said.

BMW

We will have to see if price hike can be something that decreases sales for these giant manufacturers. However, considering the new launches and the increase of luxury cars on Indian roads we don’t think that 4-5% of price hike would stop anyone to buy the car they admire.

August 10, 2013
Sony Xperia i1 Teaser Image Shows A Razor Thin Phone

A picture that appeared on Chinese site Digi-wo and XperiaBlog, shows a splash of purple across a black background,but if you look closely, that’s actually a phone. This can be, Sony’s rumoured next addition to the Xperia line, previously going under the codename of Honami – and now referred to as the Sony Xperia i1.

As we can see, the image teases a September 4 date on the bottom with “Berlin” written below it. This means that Sony might have this device ready for us this year at IFA 2013 (Berlin).

The picture shows a teasing glimpse of the right side of the phone where you can see the power button, a flap and volume rocker. This purple-coloured Honami seems to show that the frame will be of a different material – perhaps aluminium ?

As per the rumors this device supports a 20 MP camera capable of shooting a 4K video, and phone is supposed to be powered by a quad-core processor.

Just for your reference here is an closer look for the device:

A closer look showing the power button of the device.

A closer look that shows the volume rockers.

We can’t take this rumor as legit until Sony declares the handset globally and officially, hopefully at IFA 2013 next month.

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August 10, 2013
Nokia Lumia 925 Available for Pre-Order for 33,999 INR

Nokia has still not officially announced the Nokia Lumia 925 in India but this device is surprisingly available for pre-order on Flipkart.com. Estimated availability is said to be last week of this month.

Lumia 925 comes with a polycarbonate body. As far as the specification on the device go, it comes with a 4.5-inch AMOLED ClearBlack display with 768×1280 resolution and Gorilla 2 Glass. It is powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor alongside 1GB RAM and 16GB of internal storage. It has an 8.7-megapixel PureView rear camera and 1.2-megapixel wide-angle front camera. The company claims that the Lumia 925’s camera is better than the one in Lumia 920.

With the launch of Nokia Lumia 925 in India the company claims that the low light images would never be this good with the award-winning PureView technology, Carl Zeiss optics and six physical lenses. The Nokia Lumia 925 lets you capture the great moments, day or night. And the beautifully crafted design will turn heads wherever you go. Nokia says one can capture more of the action than our eyes can see. The Action Shot feature in Nokia Smart Camera lets you snap once to get a sequence of movements in a single high-quality image. That means Nokia has come up with all new camera features this time. But, will this work for Nokia ? This is something that we have to wait and see. What’s your take, how many are planning to pre-book ? Let us know in the comment section below.

August 9, 2013
HTC Mini Companion Device Coming To The UK With Added Functionality

With its tiny, low-resolution and non-touch-enabled screen with monochromatic icons, the HTC Mini could pass off as a feature phone. But HTC is not taking off in a new direction because the Mini is actually a phone add-on for your smartphone(accessory).

Introduced as an accessory for the HTC Butterfly earlier this year in China, It was assumed that the HTC Mini is meant to be able to do simple tasks like to make calls and check text messages, all without any need to take your smartphone out of your pocket. HTC calls it an “enhanced Bluetooth accessory” that can be used as a remote control while your smartphone is being charged or connected to a TV.

As per cnet asia the device is made of plastic with a brushed metal-like finish, the Mini is lightweight and just as sleek-looking. However, its plastic build doesn’t reflect the same premium and industrial feel of the One, but is more reminiscent of the Butterfly’s back cover.

HTC says this device can be connected to HTC devices with Bluetooth and NFC, the HTC Mini has remote capabilities, letting you take control of your smartphone from a distance of around 10m. For example, fire up the camera app on your HTC One and the Mini has the ability to capture photos remotely. This will be useful in reducing camera shake, in case you want to do a timed shot or timelapse video.

To view your photos and videos in the gallery, you can use presentation mode to move forward or backward. This presentation mode also works with Powerpoint slides in the pre-installed Office app

One would also be able to control the music with this device,Reject or Answer calls and if you have Sense TV set up on your One, you get basic volume and channel controls for your TV set.

In Singapore, the HTC Mini comes bundled with the One when you sign up for a two-year contract at some telecoms. It’s not sold separately as an accessory.

Now, if you think to use the Mini with non-HTC phones, you’re out of luck. While you would be able to pair it via Bluetooth, usage is limited to the headset function, so you will only be able to receive or reject calls. And since the HTC Mini doesn’t have a SIM card slot, it can’t work on its own.

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August 9, 2013
78 Government Websites Under Hacking This Year (Till June)

A total of 78 government websites were hacked and 16,035 incidents related to spam, malware infection and system break-in were reported this year so far. Minister of State for Communications & IT Milind Deora said.

As per the information reported to and tracked by Indian Computer Response Team (CERT-In), a total number of 308, 371 and 78 government websites were hacked during the years 2011, 2012 and 2013 (up to June) respectively,” Deora said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

The Minister said 16,035 security incidents related to scanning, spam, malware infection, denial of service and system break-in including that of government, Defence and public sector undertakings were reported up to June this year. The number of security breach incidents stood at 13,301 in 2011 and 22,060 in 2012, he added.

It has been observed that attackers are compromising computer systems located in different parts of the world and use masquerading techniques and hidden servers to hide the identity of actual system from which the attacks are being launched. It is difficult to attribute the origin of cyber attacks,” he added.

In order to detect and prevent cyber attacks, the government has taken various measures including release of a National Cyber Security Policy 2013, which addresses protection of information and infrastructure in cyber space and building capabilities to prevent cyber threats.

“All new government websites and applications are to be audited with respect to cyber security prior to their hosting,” Deora said. It has also been mandated that all government websites to be hosted on infrastructure of NIC, ERNET or any other secure infrastructure service provider in the country. The Information Technology Act, 2000 provides legal framework to address the issues connected with cyber attacks, Deora added.

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August 8, 2013
5 Essential Tips To Get A Happy Motor Bike

Maintaining a bike is an easy routine. But for most it can be kind of troublesome and tiring. Taking care of your bike is the key to a bike that will serve you well for years.

First of all change your engine oil or gear oil frequently as it lubricates your gears and engines, and also keeps your engine cool. Not changing the engine oil will cause further damage to the engine Which can’t be noticed early. The owner’s manual will specify how frequently the oil should be changed and this schedule should be followed.

Next is the spark plugs; it is the item which causes a spark which in turn will ignite the petrol. This should be changed as specified in the owner’s manual (or if a problem is suspected). It is critically important to use the correct spark plug grade and type. If the manual suggests an iridium plug then these can be worth the extra cost, lasting 16,000 kms or more. Considering that it can take several hours to access the spark plugs on many modern bikes this is money well spent.

Spark Plug

The chain which rotates the rear tire should be kept lubricated. If it’s kept lubricated, it should last for a very long time (50,000 kms is not unusual). If it’s not lubricated, it would be damaged due to excess heat and will wear. This cumulative wear on all the separate links makes the chain loose, and more likely to fall off the sprockets. This can be very dangerous indeed. The chain tightening procedure should be detailed in the owner’s manual, but bear in mind that too tight is a lot worse than too loose.

Also washing the bike is part of maintaining. Keeping it clean of dirt will not only make it look nice, it has its benefits and it’s the key to a bike which lasts long. It also makes it easier to notice missing or loose bolts and nuts.

Washing the bike.

Checking the tire treads every once a week is a good habit. You should change the tyres when you notice a change in the way the bike handles, or at the very latest when the tread is worn down to the wear bars. Under-inflated tyres will overheat and may fail. Over-inflated tyres will give less than optimal grip specially on Indian roads.

August 8, 2013

LG G2 vs LG Optimus G Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S4 vs HTC One | Flagships Compared

LG is in the lime light once again with its latest flagship smartphone, the G2. Powered by the mighty Snapdragon 800 chipset with four Krait 400 cores clocked at 2.3GHz, an Adreno 330 GPU and 2GB of RAM, the LG G2 simply blows the competition out of the box in terms of processing power.

The battle of the Flagship devices is always on, today we are going to compare the latest Flagship devices available or to be available in the market which are LG G2, LG Optimus G pro, Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC one. All these devices are of different screen sizes which are 5.2″, 5.5″, 5″ and 4.7″ respectively. All of these devices have a full HD resolution, which can give an edge to HTC one for the ppi. We think most people would not notice difference between 424 ppi of the LG G2 and 469 ppi for the HTC one.

Let us compare all of these devices in detail below:

Device	LG G2	Galaxy S4	LG Optimus G Pro	HTC One
OS	Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean	Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean	Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean	Android (4.2.2, 4.1.2)
Display	5.2″ IPS LCD	5″ Super AMOLED HD	5.5″ IPS LCD	4.7″ Super LCD 3
Resolution	1920 x 1080 (424 ppi)	1920 x 1080 (441 ppi)	1920 x 1080 (401 ppi)	1920 x 1080 (469 ppi)
Dimensions	135.5mm x 70.9 mm x 8.9 mm	136.66 mm x 69.8 mm x 7.9 mm	150.2 mm x 76.1 mm x 9.4 mm	137.4mm x 68.2 mm x 9.3 mm
Weight	143 grams	130 grams	160 grams	143 grams
Chipset	Snapdragon 800	Exynos 5 Octa 5410/ Qualcomm CPU; varies by market.	Snapdragon 600	Snapdragon 600
Processor	Quad-core 2.3 GHz	1.6 GHz Quad + 1.2 GHz Quad / 1.9GHz quad-core,(Varies)	1.7 Ghz Quad core	1.7 Ghz Quad- core
GPU	Adreno 330	PowerVR SGX 544MP3	Adreno 320	Adreno 320
RAM	2 GB	2 GB	2 GB	2 GB
Storage	32 GB	16 GB	32 GB	32/64 GB
MicrosSD card slot	Yes	Yes	Yes	NO
Primary camera	13 MP Full HD @60fps	13 MP Full HD @30fps	13 MP Full HD @30fps	4 MP Ultra pixel Full HD @30fps
Front camera	2.1 MP	2 MP	2.1 MP	2 MP (HDR)
Battery	3000 mAh	2600 mAh	3140 mAh	2300 mAh
WiFi	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n,ac, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n,ac, dual-band, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/ac/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot
Bluetooth	Yes, v4.0 LE with A2DP	Yes, v4.0 with A2DP, EDR	Yes	Yes, v4.0 with A2DP
Network	Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE Quad-band UMTS/HSPA Penta-band LTE support, LTE-Advanced	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 LTE 800 / 1800 / 2600	GSM 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz LTE 800 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2600 MHz	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 LTE (market dependent)
NFC	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Speakers	mono	mono	mono	Stereo
Availability	Expected this month	available	available	available
Price	TBA Exp. 45,000	39,500	35,000	40,000

It’s a matter of preference, but it’s hard to compete with the big guys. LG might not beat any of these in sales. The general consumer tends to go with the popular choices like Samsung and HTC. This does not mean that the LG G2 is not the best your money can buy. As far as India is concerned pricing may be the biggest factor. So which one would you take home ? you can leave your views in the comment section below.

August 8, 2013

The All New Honda Accord 2014

Honda is all set to launch its new car in the market next year, the new Honda Accord would be launched in the Hybrid variant and the company claims this new Accord is packed with significant new technologies that separate it from the rest.

So the question is what kind of powertrain delivers such phenomenal numbers? The Honda is powered by a 2.0-liter, ultra-efficient Atkinson cycle four-cylinder engine with two electric motors. One electric motor is fixed to the back of the engine and serves as a generator to charge the battery pack on engine overrun. A second electric motor that powers the vehicle is fixed to the differential that transfers power to the front wheels, and can also recharge the pack under regenerative braking.

The new Accord’s engine is mated to a six-speed CVT fitted to a totally new Sport Hybrid intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) generating 141 hp and 122 lb-ft of torque. Meanwhile, the newly developed two-electric-motor setup produces 166 hp (more powerful than any other hybrid) and 226 lb-ft, giving the combined system a total output of 196 hp. And with the latest lithium-ion battery technology powering those front wheels, the Accord Hybrid jumps from 0-60-mph in about 7.5 seconds.

2014 Honda Accord all new Engine

Cockpit :D

The new Battery

Hybrid logo

2014 Honda Accord Front Interior

2014 Honda Accord Interior

2014 Honda Accord new tail lights

2014 Honda Accord Interior

2014 Honda Accord Front look

The new Hybrid Engine cover

When the Accord Plug-In is first released, it will only be available in New York and California. “Two motors, Three ways to drive” is what Honda says for this car and is unique continuously variable transmission allows the Accord Plug-In’s powertrain to shift seamlessly among three driving modes, utilizing power from the i-VTEC^® 4-cylinder engine and the electric motor.

EV Drive- An all-electric drive. EV Drive is active when you start from a stop, when you’re doing light cruising and acceleration, and when you’re braking. Starting from a stop stops the fuel supply, so Honda has kept the starts 100% electric.

Hybrid Drive- Electric and gas working together. Hybrid Drive is generally active when you’re accelerating and changing speeds regularly. The electric motor gets you going, and the gas engine gives you the burst you need on the road.

Engine Drive- Gas-powered cruising. A cruising vehicle’s gas engine consumes a lot less fuel than it does when starting or accelerating. That’s why highway mpg is generally higher than city mpg. So when you cruise, your gas engine cruises efficiently.

The suggested price for the new Honda Accord is said to be 39,780 USD, we’ll have to wait and see if and when this car comes to India.

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August 8, 2013
Canon’s New Tiny Video Camera Is For Filming Yourself Doing.. Whatever

The Canon’s Vixia Mini is a Wi-Fi enabled camcorder that is said to be designed to help you document your everyday life in more detail than has ever been possible.

We believe VIXIA mini will be different from any old Flip camera you’ve got tucked away in a drawer somewhere. It is said that the $300 VIXIA Mini weighs just about 158 g and is slim enough that you can tuck it away in your pocket until it’s time for action.

Canon’s idea is that you can carry the Vixia Mini around with you wherever you go and then when the moment is right, the camera will be there for you. You can pop-out the built-in legs and the 2.7-inch touchscreen and hit record. The screen tilts 170 degrees so you can look at yourself while you’re doing whatever it is that you thought important enough to record. The built-in Wi-Fi allows you to control the Vixia Mini remotely via a smartphone app, and also transfer the 1920 x 1080 mp4 videos (or 12.8 megapixel stills) to other Wi-Fi devices.

VIXIA mini gives you the power to create images with spectacular depth, detail and emotional resonance. The 12.8 Megapixel High-Sensitivity CMOS sensor works in concert with Canon’s DIGIC DV 4 Image Processor to create the renowned Canon HS SYSTEM. We think with the Canon HS SYSTEM, you will experience excellent tracking performance even in low light. The Canon HS SYSTEM lets you capture clearer images with reduced noise and blur in a variety of situations for incredible video and photos.

VIXIA also have Interval Recording which we believe will give you and the viewers a fascinating look at slow-moving changes. VIXIA records still images or half-second video clips at intervals you determine (5, 10 or 30 seconds; 1 or 10 minutes), with playback in flip-book style. This mode can be perfect for recording plant growth, cloud movement, tidal changes, light effects from dawn to sunset and so much more.

[toggle title=”Press Release”]The New VIXIA mini Compact Personal Camcorder Features an Ultra Wide-Angle Lens, Full HD Video, Vari-Angle LCD Monitor and Slim Ultra-Compact Body with Built-in Stand, and Allows for Convenient Hands-Free Shooting with built-in Wi-Fi

Melville, N.Y., July 31, 2013 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced the new VIXIA mini compact personal camcorder. The creatively designed VIXIA mini personal camcorder allows shooters to easily record their hobbies, special interests and memorable moments hands-free, and then share those videos and images on their favorite social networking sites or their own blogs via built-in Wi-Fi or via the free Canon Movie Uploader app*.

The VIXIA mini compact personal camcorder features an ultra wide-angle Canon f/2.8 fisheye lens (160 degree movies / 170 degree photos) allowing a user to shoot from unique and creative perspectives while including their surroundings to make their videos and images more interesting. By utilizing the Wide Mode users can give the viewer a full view of their surroundings and then switch to Close-Up Mode to provide emphasis on a particular subject. While in Close-up Mode, users can record a centered 1920 x 1440 resolution image with little distortion. They can also quickly toggle from one shooting mode to the other, or switch back and forth between video and image mode, by touching the camcorder’s innovatively designed 2.7-inch capacitive-tilt touch panel LCD display. Attached to the camera by two parallel hinges, the Vari-Angle LCD monitor allows for various shooting styles, including low-angle shooting, normal and high-angle-shooting and self-shooting.

In addition, the camcorder’s 12.8 Megapixel High-Sensitivity CMOS image sensor combined with the Canon DIGIC DV4 Image Processor creates the Canon HS SYSTEM, allowing shooters to capture and record stunning Full HD video in MP4 format as well as jpeg still images to a removable microSD card, all in the exceptional image quality standard that the Canon line of VIXIA camcorders are known for. The camcorder’s video image quality is further enhanced with the use of a Mechanical Shutter for the recording of moving subjects with little distortion. Beyond delivering high-quality video, the VIXIA mini compact personal camcorder also records high-quality audio thanks to its built-in stereo microphone. By using Audio Scene Select modes, users can choose an audio scene that matches their surroundings such as music or speech or even suppressing road noise.

“The new VIXIA mini compact personal camcorder marks the birth of an innovative video camera designed specifically for the social media savvy user,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies & Communications Group, Canon U.S.A. “This uniquely styled compact personal camcorder allows users to shoot, view and share videos and photos of themselves enjoying their hobbies or special occasions with family and friends.”

Tools to Become the Star
The Canon VIXIA mini compact personal camcorder comes with a feature set that puts the user in the driver seat, expanding their creativity, allowing them to not only be the director of their videos or images, but also the star. Mirror Image Recording/Playback lets users view the scene they are recording in real time so they can watch as they record. So whether they are shooting their latest blog post about cooking a favorite Italian culinary delight, or filming a practice golf swing to help perfect their back stroke, the VIXIA mini compact personal camcorder is a versatile and convenient tool.

New Special Scene Modes such as Food & Fashion, Sports, and Macro provide users with advanced presets to help capture impressive images even under difficult shooting conditions to prevent over/under exposure. For those looking to shoot in a fun and unique perspective, the camcorder’s Slow Motion or Fast Motion modes provide imaging effects that allow creativity in controlling space and time. Slow Motion allows shooting video at a choice of two slow motion speeds – 1/4x (VGA) and 1/2x (720p) allowing viewers to easily see and closely examine video of dancers or other fast moving subjects. Fast Motion allows shooting at two fast motion speeds – 4x and 2x – ideal for speeding up footage of cooking, makeup, nail art, etc.

The camcorder’s Smart Auto Mode allows the beginning user to capture those spontaneous moments with a touch of the screen. Smart Auto intelligently selects one of 38 predefined situations to give outstanding video and still image output.

The VIXIA mini compact personal camcorder comes with a built-in adjustable stand allowing users to tilt and elevate it up to approximately 60 degrees providing a new way to record video hands-free, and the camcorder’s tripod socket also allows for flexible positioning of the device. And an automatic lens cover helps protect against scratches and dust when the camera is not in use.

Advanced Connectivity to Help Users Share Their World
Once a user has recorded their video blog, or a day at the park with the kids, it’s time to share the video or images with friends, family and fans. The VIXIA mini compact personal camcorder comes with built-in Wi-Fi allowing users to quickly share their video and photos to social networking sites like YouTube and Facebook, or they can be sent directly to their PC. A user can also upload their video or still images taken with the VIXIA mini compact personal camcorder from virtually anywhere by downloading the free Canon Movie Uploader app onto their iOS supported device.*

The Live Streaming feature allows for users to view and record on their iOS or Android device when they download the free Canon CameraAccess2 App**.The Canon CameraAccess2 App is available for download on both iOS and Android supported smartphones and tablets. The Live Streaming feature also allows a user to control the VIXIA mini compact personal camcorder from remote locations.

Pricing & Availability
The VIXIA mini compact personal camcorder will be available in black and white and is scheduled to be available September 2013 for an estimated retail price of $299.99.1 An optional VIXIA mini carrying case and strap are scheduled to also be available September 2013 in black or white for an estimated retail price of $14.99.1 For more information, and a full list of product specifications, visit http://www.usa.canon.com/vixiamini

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions. With approximately $40 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), ranks third overall in U.S. patents registered in 2012† and is one of Fortune Magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies in 2013. In 2012, Canon U.S.A. has received the PCMag.com Readers’ Choice Award for Service and Reliability in the digital camera and printer categories for the ninth consecutive year, and for camcorders for the past two years. Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest level of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based consumer service and support for all of the products it distributes. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company’s RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss and follow us on Twitter @CanonUSA.

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† Based on weekly patent counts issued by United States Patent and Trademark Office.

All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks of their respective owners.

Availability and specifications of all products are subject to change without notice.

* This software enables you to upload images to social network sites. Before uploading images, please be aware that image files may contain privacy related information such as people and places. If necessary, please delete such information. Canon does not obtain, collect or use such images or any information included in such images through this software. Compatible with iOS version 5/6 or later for select devices.

** The Canon CameraAccess2 app is compatible with iOS version 5/6 or later or Android version 2.3/4.0 for select devices.

1 Prices are estimated retail prices and are subject to change at any time without notice. Actual prices are set by individual dealers and may vary.[/toggle]

August 7, 2013
Blackberry Z30 Compared Alongside Z10 And Q5 In New Leaked Images

Blackberry has still not confirmed anything about the rumored Blackberry Z30 but that has not stopped more rumors to pop up online.

CrackBerry has posted new images that show the to be announced BlackBerry Z30 phone pictured alongside the company’s flagship touchscreen smartphone Z10 and the most affordable BlackBerry 10 device, the Q5. The Z30 features the biggest display on a BlackBerry device launched till now.

The image shows three devices Z30, Z10 and Q5 kept alongside. The above image reveals that the smartphone’s screen will display 5 rows of icons and not just 4 much like the BlackBerry Z10. The image(below) of the rear panel of the BlackBerry Z10 and the alleged Z30 show that the latter will feature a textured back.

Z10, Z30-back

Specifications of the Blackberry Z30 can be seen on our previous article

August 7, 2013
LG G2 Images Leak Ahead Of Official Launch

LG is all set to unveil its new flagship smartphone G2 at an event in New York later on Wednesday, but that hasn’t stopped the device from making ‘another’ appearance.

Evleaks has posted some images of the LG G2. The latest leaked images are in line with the previous leak and shows nothing new. One of the image shows the front panel of the yet to be announced smartphone that shows the 5.2-inch display with thin bezel at the sides, the back panel shows the rear camera along with an LED flash, power key and volume keys.

The LG G2 is rumoured to be powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, 2 GB of RAM and a 13-megapixel rear camera. The smartphone is also expected to be so thin that it features back-mounted volume controls, instead of ones on the side. It is likely to sport a 5.2-inch full-HD display and would run on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean.

LG G2

Earlier, LG also released a teaser video featuring the G2. The video ended with a teaser of the black round-edged device that clearly showed the rear camera with up and down arrows above and below it.

The company is aggressively promoting the handset globally with ad campaigns hitting the web and TV in various parts of the world.

With this the company also unveiled a series of colorful Quick Window cases for its upcoming smartphone. The company announced that the all new line of premium cases for the LG G2 will be available at the same time as the smartphone. The cases will be available in seven different colors that include Black, White, Pink, Purple, Blue, Mint and Yellow.

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August 7, 2013
Hyundai Grand i10 Set For Launch Next Month

India’s second largest passenger car manufacturer, Hyundai Motor India Ltd, will launch its fifth small car ‘Grand i10’ next month with an expected price of Rs. 5-7.2 lakh for the petrol variant and Rs. 5.5-7.5 lakh for the diesel variant.

Positioned between its two existing small cars i10 and i20, Grand i10 will compete directly with rival Maruti’s bestseller Swift. Hyundai’s small car line-up also includes Santro and Eon.

Also, Hyundai is likely to build the 1.1-litre diesel engine in its Chennai facility. At present the company imports its diesel engines from South Korea and this move will help them reduce cost as Sriperumbudur plant is capable of producing both petrol and diesel engines. With a 1.1 litre diesel engine, Grand i10 will be Hyundai’s cheapest diesel offering in the country.

This car is built on an absolutely new platform and will be offered with the 1.1 litre diesel engine in India for the first time,” said Rakesh Srivastava, senior vice-president, sales, Hyundai India. “It is very different from the current i10.”

Hyundai Grand i10

Hyundai Grand i10

Hyundai Grand i10

The Grand i10 will be superior with this segment as it could be the first offering rear AC along with all usual goodies Hyundai offers, its makes a very strong point for itself.The festive season is just around the corner, so it is indeed good time for Hyundai to launch the new and the only product for this year in the Indian market.

August 7, 2013
Apple On Counterfeit Adapters: A ‘Takeback Program’ To Replace Them In Exchange For An Official One

Recent reports have suggested that some counterfeit and third party adapters may not be designed properly and could result in safety issues. While not all third party adapters have an issue, Apple is announcing a USB Power Adapter Takeback Program to enable customers to acquire properly designed adapters.

Customer safety is a top priority at Apple. That’s why all of the products — including USB power adapters for iPhone, iPad, and iPod — undergo rigorous testing for safety and reliability and are designed to meet government safety standards around the world.

Starting August 16, 2013, if you have concerns about any of your USB power adapters, you can drop them off at an Apple Retail Store or at an Apple Authorized Service Provider. They will ensure that these adapters are disposed of in an environmentally friendly way.

If you need a replacement adapter to charge your iPhone, iPad, or iPod, they recommend getting an Apple USB power adapter. For a limited time, you can purchase one Apple USB power adapter at a special price — $10 USD or approximate equivalent in local currency. To qualify, you must turn in at least one USB power adapter and bring your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to an Apple Retail Store or participating Apple Authorized Service Provider for serial number validation. The special pricing on Apple USB power adapters is limited to one adapter for each iPhone, iPad, and iPod you own and is valid until October 18, 2013.

iphone4

Apple also said:

Due to the complexity of testing required to detect an unsafe or counterfeit adapter, Apple Retail and Apple Authorized Service Providers cannot advise you on the authenticity or safety of your adapter. We are offering this special takeback program for any USB power adapter made for use with iPhone, iPad, and iPod for which you have concerns”

Apple’s move comes after multiple reports that surfaced recently saying two iPhone users in China were electrocuted while using counterfeit power adapters. Following these accidents Apple has cleared all this on its China’s website(www.apple.com.cn/power-adapters/)

August 7, 2013
Samsung Galaxy Gear Can Be The Next Change In Tech World

Samsung is all set to host the Unpacked event in Berlin on 4 September ahead of the IFA consumer electronics show. The South-Korean tech giant is expected to launch the Galaxy Note III at this event but for tech enthusiasts all over, its the news of another Samsung device that is most endearing.

Samsung is rumored to unveil its first ever smartwatch in less than a month, we now have a very good idea of what the new device will be called. A Dutch website called “GalaxyClub” has spotted a trademark filing for a new line of devices called the Galaxy Gear. Earlier rumors have indicated that Samsung will release the device on September 4th alongside its Note III.

Patent Filing

GalaxyClub has also reported that Samsung has filed this smart watch in a new patent with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in July. According to the patent document, the description for the device states “Wearable digital electronic devices in the form of a wristwatch, wrist band or bangle capable of providing access to the Internet and for sending and receiving phone calls, electronic mails and messages”. You can view the patent in the link below.

Smart watches and wearable computing devices are the future. So there is no reason why Samsung would want to be left behind in this market, especially with the news of an Apple iWatch looming in the rumor mills.

[VIA],[USPTO]

August 6, 2013
Washington Post sold to Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon

The Washington Post Co. agreed Monday to sell its flagship newspaper to Amazon.com founder and chief executive Jeffrey P. Bezos, ending the Graham family’s stewardship of one of America’s leading news organizations after four generations.

Jeff Bezos, whose entrepreneurship has made him one of the world’s richest men, will pay $250 million in cash for The Post and affiliated publications to The Washington Post Co., which owns the newspaper and other businesses.

Seattle-based Amazon will have no role in the purchase; Bezos himself will buy the news organization and become its sole owner when the sale is completed, probably within 60 days. The Post Co. will get a new, still undecided name and continue as a publicly traded company without the newspaper.

The Washington Post Co.’s newspaper division, of which the Post newspaper is the most prominent part, has suffered a 44 percent decline in operating revenue over the past six years. Although The Post is one of the most popular news sources online, print circulation has dwindled, falling an additional 7 percent daily and on Sundays during the first half of this year.

Ultimately, the paper’s financial challenges prompted the company’s board to consider a sale, a step once regarded as unthinkable by insiders and the Graham family.

In a note to Post employees on Monday, Weymouth wrote:

This is a day that my family and I never expected to come. The Washington Post Company is selling the newspaper that it has owned and nurtured for eight decades.”

Baron, the former editor of the Boston Globe who joined The Post as its editor in January, said he was surprised to learn last week that the newspaper was being sold.

But he added: “I’m encouraged that the paper will be in the hands of a successful businessperson who understands the world of technology as well as anyone. He’s expressed his commitment to the organization and to its continued independence. I came here because I wanted to join a great news organization, and it will continue to be one.”

August 6, 2013