Author: Shivaank Rana

Samsung to Showcase Flexible Screens 1280×720 Resolutions At CES

Samsung Display’s spokespeople have confirmed that they will be unveiling two flexible screens at CES 2013, one of which will be a 5.5″ display (same size as the Galaxy Note 2), the other 55″, which sounds just about right for a TV.

During previous Consumer Electronic Shows (CES) Samsung demoed flexible displays and their capabilities. Two years later Samsung Mobile Display has teased the masses once again and stated they’ll be showcasing a 5.5-inch flexible display with a resolution of 1280×720, and a 267ppi (pixels per inch) at CES 2013.

Some of the previous reports on Samsung’s plans for the smartphone market suggested that Samsung was planning on including a flexible touchscreen in its next flagship Android smartphone, dubbed Galaxy S IV and expected to become official before the end of the first quarter of 2013.

It’ll be interesting to see the progress 2-years has brought.

December 20, 2012
Apple Releases iOS 6.0.2 To Fix Wi-Fi Issues

Apple has released a small bug fix update for iPhone and iPad users. iOS 6.0.2 is rolling out now to phones and tablets, promising only one minor change: “Fixes a bug that could impact Wi-Fi.”

There have been a number of complaints related to malfunctioning Wi-Fi connections on the iPhone 5, so this could be a welcome update for many users.

Apple’s failure to provide more specifics on just what the Wi-Fi fix addresses means we can only guess at what issues the update really aims to correct. Some iOS 6 users have reported issues with cellular data getting used even when their iOS devices are connected to Wi-Fi networks.

Apple has also been making strides in bringing iOS 6.1 to market and it should be available in early 2013.

Apple encourages all users to download and apply the update, which can be accessed immediately by syncing your device with iTunes.

December 19, 2012
Twitter 4.0 Now Available for BlackBerry Smartphones

Twitter v4.0 for BlackBerry smartphones is now available on the BlackBerry App World storefront. This is good news for the 80+ million users out there as it includes the “Connect” and “Discover” features that is present on iOS and Android.

Changes Include :

– Enhanced navigation bar – With Twitter v4.0, you will enjoy an enhanced navigation experience, keeping you connected to your friends and content that matter.

– New tabs with a familiar feel – Twitter v4.0 showcases the ‘Connect’ and ‘Discover’ tabs, which active Twitter users will recognize from Twitter’s website.

– Connect tab – Helping to keep those engaged conversations going, the ‘Connect’ tab shares who has retweeted, favorited and followed you, and gives you the option to filter ‘mentions’ and ‘replies’.

– Discover tab – Twitter v4.0 makes finding the latest news and trends easier and quicker. Discover new friends and favorite things to follow through ‘Who to follow’ or by browsing via ‘Categories’. Catch up on the latest buzz through viewing ‘Trends’.

– Me tab – Access messages and lists under the ‘Me’ tab.

Twitter 4.0 for BlackBerry is a free download from BlackBerry World.

December 19, 2012
Rumour : Nokia Windows RT Tablet Release Date Set For February

Rumours of Nokia coming to market with a tablet has surfaced today. The source is overseas from DigiTimes who states Nokia is in talks with Microsoft and Qualcomm to launch a a 10-inch Windows RT tablet. The unnamed tablet will reportedly be showcased at the upcoming Mobile World Congress in February, known specs are minimal.

Apparently the Windows 8 tablet was supposed to be available in Q1 2013 with a test market of 200,000 units, but Microsoft released the Surface and Nokia wanted to see how consumers responded to it.

Sources say that Nokia was waiting for the Windows tablet market, “To be proven.” It obviously now feels that it has and is preparing to restart development of its 10-inch tablet, with a view to announcing it during Mobile World Congress. Nokia has again teamed up with Qualcomm and Compal Electronics to manufacture it.

As Nokia makes one of the most popular Windows Phone handsets, and has a reputation for producing durable, well-designed mobile products, a Windows RT tablet from the company is an interesting proposition.

December 19, 2012
Google Maps For iOS Download Hits 10 Million In First 2 Days

More than 10 million iOS users sprinted back into the arms of Google Maps the weekend after the new third-party app was released, according to a Google+ post from Jeff Huber, a senior vice president at the company. With its vector graphics and exclusive features like Street View, the app is obviously a hit.

There’s no doubt that millions of consumers were waiting for the Google Maps release, as Apple’s software, which replaced Google back in September, has been plagued withinaccurate location data and other bugs since its debut.

Considering the app has not been optimized yet for the iPad, that number will balloon once again when it is made into a universal app.

Now, for some context, here are some other app launch stats: OS X Mountain Lion, Apple’s latest Mac OS, was downloaded 3 million times during its first 4 days. And thejailbreak utility Absinthe saw about 1 million in its first day.

December 18, 2012
RIM CMO: We Will Have More Than 70,000 Apps At The Time Of BlackBerry 10 Launch

RIM CMO Frank Boulben recently sat down for an interview, explaining that he joined RIM for “what could be the greatest comeback in tech history.”, with the Blackberry 10. Some investors bolted a long time ago and declared the company cannot return the glory they once had. However, amidst all this turmoil, RIM and their 80 million subscribers are poised to embark on what will possibly be the most talked about mobile story of 2013.

Boulben also noted that part of the road to success for BlackBerry 10 is to educate the public on “what the device is capable of, that is a fundamental aspect.” In addition, an area of concern is the number of apps that will be available at launch. RIM has already shown off Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Foursquare, but has never communicated a solid number of how many we can expect, only that there’ll be thousands available. In the interview, Boulben stated that the Blackberry 10 will have a best in class browser, a fantastic multimedia experience and “at launch we will have more than 70,000 apps available.” That is promising.

All set for 30th January!

December 18, 2012
Retina Display Coming To Next Gen iPad Mini?

Apple is rumored to be focusing on upgrading the resolution of its recently released iPad mini to Retina display specifications, with the changes said to be arriving in the next generation of the small form factor tablet’s next generation.

Retina seems like a logical update for Apple’s second generation iPad mini, and a report from Digitimes today says that Apple is indeed planning to increase the resolution of its next iPad mini.

[quote]Apple’s next-generation iPad mini will focus mostly on enhancing the device’s display resolution, according to Taiwan-based backlighting industry sources. The sources have yet to specify whether the device will use Apple’s Retina Display technology to enhanced resolution, but market observers said it is highly likely based on the development of past Apple products such as the iPhone and 9.7-inch iPad series.[/quote]

Adding a Retina display to a device as thin as the iPad mini could be a tricky prospect, possibly requiring a large battery and a more robust processor, as it did when Apple introduced the Retina display to the full-sized iPad.

If Apple did a Retina version of the Mini it would be approximately 300 pixels per inch. That’s really hard to manufacture and hasn’t been done yet for the 7.9-inch class display that Apple uses. That said, Amazon has come close. The larger Amazon Kindle Fire HD has an 8.9-inch display boasting 254 pixels per inch. By Apple’s own definition of pixel density, that’s Retina resolution.

[CNET]

December 14, 2012
NaviFirm Showing Windows Phone 7.8 For Nokia Lumia 800, Lumia 510

The Windows Phone 7.8 platform has been spotted in NaviFirm for Nokia’s devices powered by Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7.5 OS, suggesting that it should not be too long before users receive it officially.

What Windows Phone 7.8 brings is a new home screen with live tiles available in 3 different sizes, just like in Windows Phone 8. A whole bunch of new interface theme colors have been thrown in, although the background can still be had in either white or black. Also, the lock screen wallpaper can be replaced with the one featured in the Bing application.

If you want to upgrade your Nokia Lumia 900,800,710,610 and Nokia Lumia 510 to Windows Phone 7.8 by flashing method (all data(s) will be loss), you can just download the firmware from navifirm and use flashing tools (e.g Nokia Care Suite). Simply select the device from the list, and then choose to download the latest firmware available for it (it should be the last item in the list in the middle, labeled 1750.823.8858.12460 for Lumia 800, for example).

Please note that you flash your device at your own risk and we cannot take any responsibility for damage caused to your Windows Phone.

December 14, 2012
Android Winning Mobile War With Apple : Google Chairman Eric Schmidt

Google is winning the smartphone war against Apple, says Eric Schmidt, the company’s Executive Chairman. In an interview with Bloomberg over the weekend, the outspoken executive said that, based on market share, Google doesn’t have to worry about the mobile game. It is clearly winning. With 75% worldwide market share as of Q3 2012, Android has infiltrated most developing markets to become the de facto entry-level smartphone OS. It has taken millions of users away from Symbian, BlackBerry, and is certainly the most affordable path to entry for users upgrading from “dumbphones.”

[quote]“This is a huge platform change; this is of the scale of 20 years ago — Microsoft versus Apple,” he said. “We’re winning that war pretty clearly now.”[/quote]

Schmidt’s remarks reflect Google’s growing confidence in its ability to attract users and advertisers as more customers rely on handheld devices and shun traditional computers. By giving away Android, Google cedes revenue to hardware partners, such as Samsung Electronics Co. Schmidt is willing to make that sacrifice because it drives demand for ads and other Internet- based services that benefit Google over time.

[quote]“The core strategy is to make a bigger pie,” he said. “We will end up with a not perfectly controlled and not perfectly managed bigger pie by virtue of open systems.”[/quote]

With high-quality core apps on both Android and iOS, it’s possible to stay within the Google ecosystem on either platform these days. Even though Android is its baby, Schmidt seems satisfied with the company’s iOS strategy.

“The core strategy is to make a bigger pie,” he said. And what a tasty pie it is.

December 14, 2012
Airtel Introduces ‘Call-me-Back’ Service In Case Of Low Prepaid Balance

No talktime to even give a missed call? We are here to help you with Airtel ‘Call-me-Back ‘ service. The Call-me-back SMS service will allow a prepaid user to get a call-back from another airtel number (prepaid or postpaid) in case of insufficient balance. This unique service will ensure that airtel customers are always connected.

Just SMS writing CALL <space> <airtel mobile number you want to speak to .>, send to 121 , and expect a call from your dear ones. For e.g. ‘Person A’ having balance less than Re.1 can send a toll-free SMS to 121 writing CALL < Person B airtel number >, and the ‘Person B’ will get an SMS from number of ‘Person A’ saying : “Please call me back. Thank You.” .This service will ensure that are airtel customers are never out of touch with their family and friends.

There is no charge to ‘Person A’ for this service, and the call-back by ‘Person B’ is as per the person’s B plan rate. The customer who is calling back can be a prepaid or a postpaid user. Also, both the customers can be a local , STD number , or be in national roaming.

This service can be availed when the balance in customer’s prepaid account is below Re1 , and can be used upto 3 times in a day.

December 13, 2012
Blackberry 10 L-Series Video Surfaces

Yesterday we saw some new photos of RIM’s first full touchscreen BlackBerry 10 smartphone, the BlackBerry L-Series and now we have a video of the device in action which you can see below.

The device looks remarkably similar to the Dev Alpha device that has been floating around for the past few months, which lends credence to the idea that it contains final hardware wrapped in a “shell,” much like what Samsung did when seeding out tester devices for the Galaxy S III.

With a soft textured backing, iconic BlackBerry logo and a subtle, cropped camera lens/flash combo, the device appears to be every bit a “miniature PlayBook,” which in our eyes is a good thing. From the front it looks like RIM has completely done away with its previous design ethic, opting for a clean, distinct top and bottom bezel and what looks like an AMOLED screen.

Like recent BlackBerry devices, the L-Series features a prominent notification light and a volume rocker with a third middle button for playback pause and resume.

December 13, 2012
Panasonic strengthens foothold in India : Inaugurates new manufacturing unit – Panasonic ‘Eco Ideas’ Factory

Panasonic India, today announced the expansion of its presence in India with the opening of its first model ‘eco ideas’ Factory in India. This is the company’s latest initiative to showcase best practices in sustainable manufacturing and raise level of eco consciousness in the community through outreach activities. With the opening of this manufacturing unit in India, Panasonic reiterated how localization is key for the company’s growth and its commitment in India. This factory promises not just state-of-the-art manufacturing of high-tech products, but also brings much-needed employment, economic growth, and social benefits to the region. In addition to creating hundreds of jobs, vocational trainings will be offered to improve the technical skills of the people working in and around the Jhajjar facility, helping them increase their employment opportunities.

The factory was inaugurated in the presence of dignitaries like Honorable Chief Minister of Haryana, Shri Bhupinder Singh Hooda; Shri. Pradeep Jain ‘Aditya, Minister for Rural Development, Government of India; Shri Naresh Kumar Sharma, MLA, Badli; Mr. Randeep Singh Surjewala, Industries and Commerce Minister, Haryana; Shri Deepinder Hooda, Member of Parliament; Shri Ram Kishan Gujjar, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Industries and Commerce Department, Mr. Pradeep Puri, CEO of Model Economic Township Company Limited; Mr. Rajeev Arora, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Mr. Tarun Bajaj, Managing Director of Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC). Senior representatives from Panasonic also graced the occasion.

The new Panasonic India Group facility, located at Dadri Toi in Jhajjar Haryana, will implement a wide range of eco initiatives, including development of technologies to support a zero-carbon lifestyle and the adoption of sustainable business practices across the entire company. Panasonic Technopark is designed with various green features, which include a 28.29 KWp solar modules installation at the rooftop of the office, entrance canopy and car park to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and a 100% water recycling system for a sustainable water provision. As part of the factory’s sustainable manufacturing, the company will implement initiatives that focus on three key areas, which include CO2emissions reduction, waste management and recycling, and chemical substance usage.

[quote]Present at the launch, Shri Bhupinder Singh Hooda said, “Panasonic has demonstrated its strong commitment in contributing to the country’s efforts in environmental protection. Indeed, the newly established ‘eco ideas’ Factory is a prime example of a manufacturer taking stewardship of its processes and products to mitigate any detrimental environmental impact. We hope such efforts will spur even more manufacturers to do the same and this will lead to the overall development of this area as well as the country especially in terms of providing employment to so many people.”[/quote]

The construction of the manufacturing unit commenced in April 2011 and has an initial manufacturing capacity of over 1,000,000 sets of air conditioners, 400,000 sets of washing machines and 25,000 sets of welding and cutting machines per annum. These environmentally friendly products will cater to the domestic market and the manufacturing unit will be providing employment to approximately 3,500 staff by 2018. Panasonic shall focus on making India a manufacturing hub and will export products from India to other markets like Middle East and Africa region. The percentage of export of products manufactured at Technopark will be 5% by 2013 and 20% by 2015.

At the factory inauguration, Panasonic India announced its commitment of making “environment” central to all business activities in line with the regional ‘eco ideas’. These actions have been divided as 1) ‘eco ideas’ for Lifestyle – achieving green lifestyles to enrich Indian people’s lives through activities promoting energy saving eco products, developing new comprehensive energy and environment solutions business and expanding Eco Learning Programme; 2) ‘eco ideas’ for Business-style – reducing environmental impact through Green manufacturing and CO2emissions reduction.

December 12, 2012
HTC 8X Gets First Windows Phone 8 OTA Update, Brings Always-On WiFi

This is a pretty big moment for Windows Phone and Microsoft, as the first over-the-air (OTA) update is currently being delivered to the international Windows Phone 8X by HTC. Previously, updates to Windows Phone have required the device to be tethered to Zune software on a computer, but one of the new features of Windows Phone 8 allows untethered and far easier OTA updates on the device itself.

The update, currently exclusive to the HTC 8X handset, ups the device’s build number from 9905 to 10211, delivering a range of bug fixes designed to fix reported instances of Windows Phone 8 handsets spontaneously rebooting – a serious flaw that could harm Microsoft’s chances of breaking into the smartphone market, despite Google’s latest Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system having a few similar issues of its own.

In addition to software tweaks designed to make the handset more reliable, the HTC 8X’s update also brings support for a new setting that forces the phone’s wireless connectivity to remain active at all times – even with the handset’s screen is off. With the setting active, users may find battery life increased in areas where mobile signal is weak but Wi-Fi signal is strong, and will reduce their data usage on metered contracts.

December 12, 2012
Untethered Jailbreak For New iOS 6 Devices To Be Released By Dream JB On Dec. 22

There is some happy news for those who keenly look forward for iOS 6 untethered jailbreaks for iPhone 5. A mysterious and unknown hacker calling himself “Dream JB” is promising to release an untethered iOS 6 jailbreak for the iPad mini, latest iPad and iPhone 5 on December 22. Dream JB is not associated with any known dev team, and the group has posted a message on its website claiming video proof of the one-click solution will arrive tomorrow via an unedited YouTube video.

If true, the new untethered jailbreak will support all current Apple devices running iOS 6.0.1. This includes the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPad 2 and beyond, iPad Mini, iPod Touch 4th generation and beyond.

A jailbreak for iOS 6 has been available for a long time, but it’s a tethered solution that means once you’ve used it, your iOS device has to be plugged into your Mac or PC every time you need to boot it up. Restart your iPhone on the train home from work, then, and it’ll be pretty much useless until you get home.

What’s more, that jailbreak isn’t compatible with Apple’s latest iOS devices, which means if you have an iPhone 5 or a fourth-generation iPad, you’re stuck using the firmware the way Apple intended it to be used.

Most jailbreakers only use jailbreaking tools from proven sources such as the iPhone DevTeam, or Absinthe creator pod2g. And not surprisingly, a large portion of the jailbreaking community is calling Dream JB’s untethered jailbreak a scam.

Let’s see if they’ve really managed to pull off the seemingly impossible, it doesn’t matter to the iPhone 5 owners where the jabilbreak comes from, as long as there is one. Only time will tell if Dream JB has really done it.

Of course, everyone knows that the world ends on December 21st… so there’s speculation this is all a joke. We’ll find out soon enough.

December 12, 2012
YouTube App For Android Updated, Brings UI Revamp For 10″ Tablets

Google has had a busy few weeks, updating or overhauling many of its mobile apps. Not only did Gmail for Android and iOS get major releases in the month of December, but Google+ received a long-awaited Community feature (which has yet to roll out to the mobile apps) and Google Search for Android was updated with better Now support.

This morning, an update to the official YouTube for Android application was released, bringing a brand new UI for 10″ tablets. Instead of having that revolving wheel type of layout, you now have a more “organized” view of your subscriptions and the content they publish on YouTube.

When viewing videos, there’s now a vertical bar to the right of the windowed video of the YouTube app showing off the description and related videos. Comments seem to have been lowered in importance and prominence, buried under the Related Videos.

You can also easily pair your account with Google’s new YouTube TV application, which lets you control your TV viewing experience from your phone or tablet. This is a relatively new feature, but one that will become more important as Google adds more “lean back” content to the service.

These changes are viewable on the iPad, too, but only through the browser at m.youtube.com. This is a huge update and will make your 10-inch Android tablet much more useful.

December 12, 2012