Author: Shivaank Rana

Micromax launches Superfone A80 Infinity for INR 8490

Micromax has launched another Android smartphone in the Indian market, Superfone A80 Infinity. This handset is targeted at the heavy users as it comes with a 2500mAh Li-ion battery that provides a standby time of up to 288 hours and a talk time of 7 long hours from a single charge.

Micromax A80 Infinity is a dual-SIM smartphone with features like 3.8-inch display and Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread). There is a 5.0 megapixel rear camera with flash and 0.3 megapixel front camera. Other features include 800 MHz processor, Wi-Fi, 3G and expandable memory of up to 32 GB.

Priced at Rs. 8,490, it also comes pre-loaded with voice recognition tool AISHA, which stands for Artificial Intelligence Speech Handset Assistant. It is a Siri like voice assistant that helps users to update social networking sites, figure out phone status, know horoscopes, make language translations, inquire weather conditions etc.

Check out the press release below :

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Micromax now solves the battery woes of Smartphone users

Introducing the new Superfone – A80 Infinity

?     A80 Infinity provides talk time of 7 hours and Standby Time up to 12 days!

New Delhi, July 10^th, 2012: Micromax Informatics Limited (“Micromax”), the 12th largest handset manufacturer in the World (According to Global Handset Vendor Market share report from Strategy Analytics) today announced the launch of A80 Infinity recreating the magic of long lasting battery.

Micromax had created a new category of phones with powerful battery backup when it launched its first phone X1i with marathon battery which standby time lasted over a month in the year 2008. With A80, Micromax again recreates that magic in its Superfone portfolio introducing A80 Infinity.

Today’s youth demand an all-in one device which integrates their communication needs. With the Smartphone evolution, mobile phones are no longer a device that is just used for calling or texting or data usage but has diverse usage. The mobile phone has evolved into a multi-functional device that is used for getting directions, social networking, finding places, checking mails and much more and so long battery life holds a great importance to provide anytime anywhere connectivity and service.

Micromax A80 is specifically designed for those Smartphone users who often complain of running out of battery juice due to heavy usage.

A80 Infinity features a 9.525cm full touch screen and runs on Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread). Users can enjoy undisrupted calling experience with the device which is equipped with a 2500mAh Li-ion battery thus providing a standby time of 288 hours and a talk time of 7 long hours from a single charge. This dual SIM phone is powered with an 800 MHz processor.

The phone sports a 5.0MP camera with Flash users could also share these pictures through Bluetooth connectivity or instantly upload them on social networking apps or through Wi-Fi connectivity. A80 comes with multiple camera settings such as night vision setting, multi shot option, camera censor and multiple video recording formats. The phone also sports a 0.3MP front facing camera which can be efficiently used for a video calling as the device allows 3G connectivity too. Users can store images, videos, mp3 in the phone’s memory which could also expanded up to 32GB.

Micromax A80 comes with voice recognition tool AISHA which helps users to update social networking sites, figure out phone status, operate functions of the device, find locations, know horoscopes, make language translations, view recipes, inquire date and time, weather conditions, and pose knowledge questions and a number of jobs to count on. Get live news feed through apps such as TOI. A80 provides the users with access to a plethora of apps such as Mibuddy, Mstore, What’s app and other apps from Google Play store.

Superfone A80 Infinity is available at Rs. 8490/- This model will be available across all leading retail outlets across India.

For more information, please visit www.micromaxsuperfone.com

About Micromax:

Micromax is the 12th largest handset manufacturer in the World (According to Global Handset Vendor Market share report from Strategy Analytics). The Indian brand is reaching out to the global frontier with innovative products that challenge the status quo that Innovation comes with a price. Micromax has sales presence across India and global presence in Hong Kong, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri-Lanka, Maldives, UAE, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Afghanistan and Brazil.

* Micromax holds the 3^rd position amongst the handset manufacturers in India as pre revenue with a market share of 6.9% for the FY 2011. (Source: V&D report)

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July 11, 2012
Google faces $22.5m fine over iPhone, iPad privacy breach

Google faces a $22.5m fine (£14.5m) for breaching the privacy of iPhone and iPad users after bypassing cookie rejection settings on the devices, according to reports.

If confirmed, the fine would be the largest ever imposed by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) against a single company – and would be the second time this year that the search giant has fallen foul of regulators in the US.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the FTC and Google are close to agreeing a settlement over the privacy breach, in which Google circumvented Apple’s protections on the iPhone and iPad against the setting of third-party “cookies” – small text files stored on the user’s device – for tracking where users went on the web.

The discovery of the circumvention, by Jonathan Mayer of Stanford University, was first revealed in February. Millions of users of Apple’s iOS software on iPhones and iPads could have been affected, said Mayer. Google declined a request from the Guardian to specify when it began the tracking.

However, Google may have escaped further prosecution for breaching an FTC consent decree over privacy that it signed in March 2011 because although the breach seems to have started in or before December 2011, the documentation in which Google explained what it would do dates back to 2009, before the decree, which covered privacy breaches caused by the Google Buzz social network, since closed.

Whether or not the FCC fines Google over the cookie infraction, it will also publish a report which would detail how it reached the decision, probably with documentation from Google about how many people were affected and for how long.

Google insisted at the time that the ad tracking was inadvertent and that the workaround to plant the Google cookie was feasible within Apple’s system. It said then: “The Safari browser contained functionality that then enabled other Google advertising cookies to be set on the browser [by other advertising companies using the DoubleClick network]. We didn’t anticipate that this would happen, and we have now started removing these advertising cookies from Safari browsers. It’s important to stress that, just as on other browsers, these advertising cookies do not collect personal information.”

Apple said at the time that “We are aware that some third parties are circumventing Safari’s privacy features and we are working to put a stop to it.”

July 11, 2012
6x Zoom Lens for iPhone 4/4s Review

We recently got our hands on a rather interesting accessory for the iPhone 4/4s, the 6x Zoom lens. It is available online at ChinaBuye at a price of $14, shipping included.

The package includes the zoom lens, a plastic case and a cleaning cloth.

When you hold the lens in your hand, the first thing you will notice is that it is light weight but well built. There are no loose parts but the plastic cover provided with the lens has a tendency to gather dust and scratch your phone.

Mounting the lens on the case is a bit difficult but once it’s on it stays put. The focus ring towards the front lens helps you adjust the focus while shooting a video or taking a photo. The focus range is 3m-infinity with a field of 9 degrees.

While testing it outside, we noticed that getting a steady image from the lens is a very tough task and it would be better to use it by mounting your device on a tripod stand. However, the lens does provide a very considerable zoom and is ideal for shooting far-placed objects. The only drawback we found was the shakiness of the lens.

Overall, given its cost, the zoom lens is a good purchase.

Check out the video review below :-

July 10, 2012
Now Download BitTorrent files through your Browser

BitTorrent just announced Torque, a new JavaScript interface that’ll let you download BitTorrent files right from your browser making the process much easier now.

N o more need of pesky desktop clients for torrenting anymore but the possibilities of BitTorrent in the browser don’t just end there. Web Developers will be able to make tools like torrent video streaming, drag and drop file transfer, social sharing and more once Torque is completed. It’s BitTorrent finally modernized for the browser and potentially a lot easier to use. Torque is only in alpha right now but it could lead to a huge shift in Torrents.

July 9, 2012
It’s a table! It’s a chair! It’s a storage unit! Oh wait, it’s all of these!

In Al-Hamad’s Little Oyster, you have a beautiful table that doubles up as a seat and a storage unit in case that one extra person pops up!

As cool as the fold up chair is, that’s not the only secret hiding in this boxy, wood-grain piece. You see, lift up that seat again and you have a compartment for storing things (Blankets anyone?). Also, it also has a lighting system at the rear! Phew!

July 9, 2012
Twitter Search gets smarter!

Twitter said on Friday that it was upgrading its search functions to include ‘autocomplete’ and spelling correction features.

The new Twitter search will also anticipate when users are looking for posts by people they follow, and offer related suggestions. The search will also see improvements when it comes to related terms, hashtags and accounts. “If you search for a topic for which people use multiple terms,” says engineer Frost Li, “we will provide relevant suggestions for terms where the majority of that conversation is happening on Twitter.”

And finally, once your search is complete, you have a new option to narrow it down: click on tweets from people you follow. This will appear next to the regular search filter options, “top” and “all.” In other words, if you want to forget the rest of Twitter exists outside your circle of follows, the company just made it a lot easier.

July 9, 2012
Your Canon Camera may cause an allergic reaction!

Canon has just released a statement saying the front rubber grips of some Canon T4i DSLR cameras may cause an allergic reaction. The grips could also turn white after a short period of time, which combined with the possibility of allergies, can cause big problems for users.

According to Cannon’s statement, the front rubber grips of some EOS REBEL T4i units produced in certain lots during the sixteen-day period between May 31st through June 15th, 2012 may turn white after a short period of time due to the presence of the substance zinc bis (N,N’-dimethyldithiocarbamate) is what causes the rubber surface to turn white. the quantity of rubber accelerator used in the affected production lots was slightly higher than usual.

Zinc bis is what can cause allergic skin reactions. To find out if your T4i is affected, you’ll have to plug in your serial number into Canon’s website. You’ll only need to do this if the sixth digit of the serial number is “1”.

July 9, 2012
Samsung planning Windows RT based tablets?

Samsung is reportedly working on a Windows RT tablet that will be launched in October this year, giving the much needed boost to the newly announced operating system.

According to a report in Bloomberg, sources familiar with the development stated that the tablet release will coincide with the Windows RT debut and it will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, probably S4.

Windows RT is the first operating system version from Microsoft that is made for touchscreen devices and supports ARM chips, which consume less power than x86.

If it does come through, the tablet would be Samsung’s first running a Microsoft OS.

July 9, 2012
GIGABYTE Launches World’s First Dual-Port Thunderbolt 7-series Motherboards

GIGABYTE Technology Co. Ltd., a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards, today announced the latest GIGABYTE 7 series motherboards. It is the very first to offer fully certified dual onboard Thunderbolt ports.

Capable of connecting up to 12 devices plus 3 digital displays simultaneously, with great data transfer speeds that can transfer 1TB of data in only five minutes, GIGABYTE Thunderbolt motherboards offer the fastest connection interface on the desktop PC.

GIGABYTE Thunderbolt motherboards are the first to be certified by Intel featuring dual Thunderbolt ports directly on the motherboard back panel I/O, with each Thunderbolt port supporting a maximum data transfer speeds with simultaneous bi-directional data transfer at speeds of up to 10Gbps – this means you can transfer a full HD 1080p movie in under 30 seconds.

[quote]“It’s easy to see how our unique dual port Thunderbolt implementation simply offers more,” commented Henry Kao, Vice President of GIGABYTE Motherboard Business Unit. “We’re the only motherboard vendor currently offering DIY PC builders the absolute maximum in terms of device connectivity,” he added. [/quote]

[quote]”Thunderbolt technology represents a leap in performance and simplicity for media creators and entertainment enthusiasts,” says Jason Ziller, Intel Corp. ‘s director of Thunderbolt marketing. “We are pleased to be working with GIGABYTE as they bring the first dual Thunderbolt port motherboard to market. It s a great example of what Thunderbolt makes possible.”[/quote]

The first batch of Thunderbolt equipped motherboards include the Z77X-UP5 TH, Z77X-UP4 TH and Z77MX-D3H TH.

The Z77X-UP5 TH is priced at Rs 17,999/-.

July 7, 2012
Sony Mobile receives four red dot awards for product design

Sony Mobile Communications today announced it has received four 2012 red dot awards in the Product Design category, as well as one honourable mention. The jury of international experts evaluated entries against key criteria including the degree of innovation, ergonomics, durability and ecological soundness. The awards presentation ceremony took place in Essen, Germany on July 2.

[quote]

“Design is at the heart of Sony Mobile’s product development philosophy and these awards are testament to the design quality of our Xperia smartphones and Smart Accessories, demonstrating our commitment to offering consumers a rich smartphone experience without sacrificing on functionality or design,” saidJeanna Kimbré, Director of Creative Product Design for Sony Mobile Communications.

[/quote]

Xperia active, Xperia ion, Smart Wireless Headset pro and SmartDock for Xperia ion received red dot awards in the Product Design category, while Xperia ray picked up an honourable mention

July 7, 2012
Xperia P has the ‘Brightest Smartphone Display’

Test Factory after a Test of 12 smartphones conducted in independent certified laboratory conditions in May 2012 has adjudged the Sony Xperia P to have the brightest display.

All environmental influences were minimised, each smartphone’s display set to maximum; with automatic functions turned off, and then a spectrometer was used to evaluate the brightness of each display.

This is due to Sony’s WhiteMagic, a technology that makes its smartphone debut with Xperia P. On a normal LCD display the color of each pixel (including white) is produced by mixing three subpixels: red, blue and green. But, Xperia P’s 4” Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA Engine has a fourth white subpixel. This makes it possible to significantly brighten the display to guarantee a clear and sharp picture, even in dazzling sunshine.

July 7, 2012
Zync Z-999 plus tablet launched at INR 11,999

Noida-based computer maker Zync Global today launched its 3G-enabled tablet PC priced at Rs 11,990, which the company says will help it achieve a sales target half a million devices in the current fiscal. It comes with Android 4.0 and 3G.

The Z-999 plus comes with an inbuilt Wi-Fi for file transfer along with a 2 mega pixel back camera and VGA front camera for video chat. The tablet is also equipped with a HD video playback support, HDMI support, 8GB iNand memory expandable to 32GB, keyboard support function and has an inbuilt 3G sim card slot. The high resolution LED screen is perfect for watching movies, multi-player games and downloading and sharing data.

It is powered by a 1.5GZ single core ARM Cortex A8 processor and 512 MB RAM. Its size and light weight of 340 gm and excellent battery life of 4200 mAh makes it an ideal device in the low cost tablet market. It only measures 8mm- which is slimmest in its category.

July 5, 2012
A watch made from the Statue of Liberty!

A watch for the Patriots! The newest “DNA” watch collection from Romain Jerome will be the Liberty DNA timepieces. These watches will each incorporate some metal from the actual Statue of Liberty, and feature a unique design meant to honor the statue while not simply featuring imagery from it on the case and dial.

The bronze bezel of this 125-piece limited-edition watch is adorned with 12 spikes reminiscent of the statue’s crown. The verdigris dial echoes the color of oxidised copper, the facetted hands are bronze colored and the strap made from vintage brown alligator leather. The medallion on the case-back of the watch depicts the flame of liberty lighting up the stars and stripes of the American flag. The watch will acquire a patina as it ages over time, thereby adopting the color of the original.

Romain Jerome actually has a long history of incorporating exotic materials into its expensive watches. Including volcanic ash, metal from the Titanic, and even dinosaur bones.

Nice way to spend your money on the 4th of July eh?

July 5, 2012
Apple planning smaller iPad to rival Nexus 7?

Hot on the heels of Google’s Nexus 7 tablet, rumours have resurfaced of an iPad Mini. According to Bloomberg, citing “two people with knowledge of the plans”, the smaller tablet will have a screen size of between 7 and 8 inches – less than the 9.7-inch iPad currently out now.

The tablet could be announced in October and won’t have a Retina Display on-board, one of the sources purportedly said.

A cheaper iPad tablet could pose a formidable challenge to Google’s $199 Nexus 7 and Amazon’s Kindle Fire slates. Microsoft has also introduced a new Surface tablet range, complete with a keyboard cover and Windows 8.

Since the iPad went on sale in April 2010, Apple has dominated the tablet market, which is predicted by Display-Search to reach $66.4 billion this year. Apple has 61% of the market share.

July 5, 2012
Apple loses patent war with HTC

Taiwan’s HTC on Wednesday won a London court ruling against US tech giant Apple over a series of patent infringement claims linked to technology used in its mobile devices.

London’s High Court said in a ruling carried on its website that HTC’s devices did not infringe four Apple technology patents.

Along with the slide-to-unlock mechanism, HTC challenged Apple’s patents on the iPhone’s “multi-touch” system. Both are prize features in the American company’s portfolio, according to intellectual property experts. The other patents in the case related to the way the iPhone manages photographs, and the use of different character sets in text messaging.

A HTC spokesman welcomed the London court’s ruling, which said parts of the slide-to-unlock patented were too “obvious” or foreshadowed by earlier patents.

July 5, 2012