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Beyond : Two Souls Review

October 9, 2013
XOLO Q700i smartphone With a 8 MP Camera Listed Online at a Price of 11,999 INR

Xolo have secretly introduced a successor of its Q700, the Q700i has now been listed online on Flipkart for 11,999 INR. The Xolo Q700i is currently available on the online retailer, however, Xolo has not yet officially announced the device in India.

The device sports a 4.5 inch qHD display (OGS) with a resolution of 540 x 960 pixels. Xolo Q700i is powered by 1.2 GHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 processor along with PowerVR SGX544 GPU. Xolo Q700i is equipped with a 8 MP rear camera which has a BSI Sensor with image stabilization along with 2 MP front facing camera. The device has a 1 GB of RAM along with a 4 GB of inbuilt storage which can be further be expanded up to 32 GB.

Xolo Q700i runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and is a dual-SIM device, it measures 135.8 x 67.5 x 10.2 mm and weighs about 151 grams.

October 8, 2013
Nikon upgrades the D600 to D610 fixes the dust issue, does not much else

Nikon has upgraded their D600 to this year’s variant the D610, while the company claims its a lot faster (only captures .5 frames / second faster) and lighter (is the exact same weight as the D600) , we feel that the urge for Nikon to push out this update was to essentially fix the light and dust issue of the camera, where after some time of usage dust spots would appear on the sensor.

Like The D600, the D610 uses the same 24.3-megapixel FX-format CMOS sensor (35.9 x 24mm), Expeed 3 image processor, 39-point autofocusing system, and Nikon’s Scene Recognition System for automatically adjusting white balance, focus, and exposure. ISO range is still between 100-6,400 (expandable to 25,600), and Full HD 1080p video is shot at 24p and 30p. Wi-Fi can be enabled via Nikon’s optional WU-1b adapter. The D610 also has a tougher magnesium alloy construction. Sealed and gasketed, its dust and moisture resistance is on par with its higher-end cousin, the D800. It also retains the Dual SD card slots.
The Nikon D610 D-SLR will be available in late October 2013 in a variety of configurations.

Body Only – $1999.95* Suggested Retail Price (SRP)

With AF-S NIKKOR 24-85MM F/3.5-4.5G ED VR Lens – $2599.95* SRP

With AF-S NIKKOR 28-300MM F/3.5-5.6G ED VR Lens + 32GB Class 10 memory card + Large Laptop Bag – $3049.95* SRP

With AF-S NIKKOR 24-85MM F/3.5-4.5G ED VR Lens + AF-S VR ZOOM-NIKKOR 70-300MM F/4.5-5.6G IF-ED Lens + WU-1b Wireless Mobile Adapter + D-SLR Tablet Bag + 32GB Class 10 memory card – $3249.95* SRP

You can buy it in India for Rs 1,57,950 (24-85mm kit)

[toggle title=”Press Release”]CONCENTRATE ON THE CLARITY: THE NEW NIKON D610 FX-FORMAT D-SLR PLACES EMPHASIS ON THE IMAGE MAKING EXPERIENCE

The Nikon D610 HD-SLR Delivers FX-Format Quality and Pro-Level Features for Enthusiasts Ready to Take Their Passion to the Next Level

MELVILLE, NY (October 8, 2013) – Nikon Inc. today announced the Nikon D610, the latest FX-format HD-SLR to incorporate cutting-edge features and superior operability to help photographers create amazing images and Full HD video. Engineered for those enthusiasts who focus on the color, sharpness and clarity of their images, the D610 provides enhanced performance and image quality improvements, coupled with Nikon core technologies, all in a lightweight form factor. With image quality rivaled only by the 36.3 megapixel Nikon D800, the D610 is an attractive option for those willing to step up to FX-format.

“For many of us, photography is an unexplainable passion; a relentless pursuit of sharpness and fidelity in every image captured, as we endlessly seek a way to express ourselves,” said Masahiro Horie, Director of Marketing and Planning, Nikon Inc. “The Nikon D610 is a tool to help us capture and share our creative vision with all the benefits of a full frame sensor, including expanded depth-of-field control, wide dynamic range, high image quality, low noise, fine color, and low-light capability.”Superior Image Quality

Inside and out, the Nikon D610 is dynamically engineered to deliver the outstanding balance of image quality, performance and operability that only a full-frame camera can offer. The large 24.3-megapixel FX-format (35.9 x 24mm) CMOS sensor is capable of creating low-noise images with amazing dynamic range, clarity and precise color, even in challenging light. No matter the type of photography, from landscapes to wildlife, portraits to sports, the Nikon D610 excels, delivering stellar sharpness, superior handling, and the ability to enjoy the full resolution benefits of a wide variety of NIKKOR glass. Image quality and performance are further bolstered with the aid of Nikon’s EXPEED 3 image processing engine, which helps to provide vivid colors and an exceptionally broad tonal range while quickly processing image data transfer from capture to card. Additionally, EXPEED 3 contributes to surprising energy efficiency for all-day shooting.

Serious Performance for the Advanced Photographer

Whether capturing an awe-inspiring vista at the golden hour, or portraits that absolutely have to flatter, the swift response and advanced feature set will appeal to a wide range of users. From Nikon core technologies to thoughtfully laid-out controls, the robust and innovative feature set of this D-SLR will satisfy even the most demanding enthusiast.

Low-Light Performance: A wide ISO range helps the user master any lighting challenge. From a clean ISO 100 to a versatile 6,400 (25,600, Hi-2), the D610 provides minimal noise and maximum confidence.

39-Point AF System and Scene Recognition System: Users can select single point, continuous, dynamic or 3D autofocus modes to adapt to any shooting situation from static subjects to dynamic athletics. The Nikon D610’s 39-point AF system quickly acquires focus throughout the frame, even on fast moving subjects. For further accuracy, the system uses Nikon’s exclusive 3D Color Matrix Metering II 2016 pixel RGB Sensor in conjunction with the Scene Recognition System to analyze the scene and adjust exposure, white balance and focus. The resulting images display a more balanced exposure, precise sharpness and accurate color. Furthermore, the D610 utilizes nine cross-type sensors, seven of which retain AF ability up to f/8, a true boon to wildlife and sports photographers who rely on teleconverters for maximum distance.

New Improved Automatic White Balance (AWB): With an updated AWB algorithm, users can capture more vivid skies, and more natural-appearing reproduction of artificial light than ever before. Additionally, more natural skin tones can be captured, rendering faces with a more three-dimensional appearance.

New Increased Speed and Performance: A new shutter mechanism in the D610 affords a faster frame rate. Users can now capture the action at a continuous 6 frames-per-second (fps), which is ideal for photographing action sports or elusive wildlife.

New Quiet Continuous Shutter Mode: Ideal for weddings and other sensitive events, the D610 features a new Quiet Continuous Shutter Mode. When selected via the main command dial, users can shoot discreetly at up to 3 fps.

100% Frame Coverage and 3.2-inch High Resolution LCD: Shoot all day comfortably and compose easily through the wide and bright optical viewfinder, which offers 100% frame coverage. Additionally, the high-resolution 921K dot, 3.2-inch LCD screen is viewable from a wide variety of angles making it easy to compose, review and share.

Unleash Creativity with Advanced Modes: With a wide variety of creative modes designed for enthusiasts, users can continue to express themselves in new, creative ways. A series of images with multiple exposures can be combined with built-in HDR, while users can explore their inner artist with an automatic Time Lapse Mode, or the intervalometer found in all advanced Nikon D-SLR’s. To adjust color, saturation and other image parameters on the fly, Picture Controls can be applied to both stills and HD video.

Dual SD Memory Card Slots: The Nikon D610 accepts two SD memory cards, which users can set to copy and overflow, or mark as one dedicated video when shooting multimedia. Additionally, the D610 accepts blazing-fast and high capacity SDXC and UHS cards.

Full High Definition Capabilities: Capture stunning Full 1080P HD video in a variety of frame rates, including a cinematic 24p and 30p. A useful feature inherited from professional Nikon cameras, the Nikon D610 can feed 100% full screen, uncompressed video via HDMI to an external device such as a monitor or digital recorder. Additionally, a stereo microphone and headphones can be connected through thoughtfully placed auxiliary input jacks for capturing and monitoring audio.

Share a Stellar Shot Instantly: When using the optional WU-1b Wireless Mobile Adapter1, unbelievable images can be shared directly to a compatible smart mobile device such as a phone or tablet. Users can then share these images with friends and family through their own social networks or photo sharing applications.

Robust Construction: The Nikon D610 is sealed and gasketed, with dust and moisture resistance of the same caliber as the Nikon D800. The top and rear covers of the camera are made of magnesium alloy for maximum durability, while the shutter unit is tested to 150,000 cycles.

NIKKOR, Speedlight and System Compatibility

The Nikon D610 is compatible with a wide variety of NIKKOR Lenses, allowing users to truly realize a lens’ potential with an FX-format camera. For eighty years, photographers have come to rely on Nikon’s heritage of optical excellence for lenses that deliver the pinnacle of optical quality. Additionally, the Nikon D610 is fully compatible with Nikon’s Creative Lighting (CLS) System, and can act as a Commander to control up to two groups of Speedlights, in-camera.

Price and Availability

The Nikon D610 D-SLR will be available in late October 2013 in a variety of configurations.

Body Only – $1999.95* Suggested Retail Price (SRP)

With AF-S NIKKOR 24-85MM F/3.5-4.5G ED VR Lens – $2599.95* SRP

With AF-S NIKKOR 28-300MM F/3.5-5.6G ED VR Lens + 32GB Class 10 memory card + Large Laptop Bag – $3049.95* SRP

With AF-S NIKKOR 24-85MM F/3.5-4.5G ED VR Lens + AF-S VR ZOOM-NIKKOR 70-300MM F/4.5-5.6G IF-ED Lens + WU-1b Wireless Mobile Adapter + D-SLR Tablet Bag + 32GB Class 10 memory card – $3249.95* SRP

About Nikon

Nikon, At the Heart of the Image™. Nikon Inc. is the world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and photo imaging technology and is globally recognized for setting new standards in product design and performance for its award-winning consumer and professional photographic equipment. Nikon Inc. distributes consumer and professional digital SLR cameras, NIKKOR optics, Speedlights and system accessories; Nikon COOLPIX® compact digital cameras; 35mm film SLR cameras; Nikon software products and Nikon sports and recreational optics as well as the Nikon 1 advanced camera with interchangeable lens system. Nikon Corporation, the parent company of the Nikon Inc., recently celebrated its 80th anniversary of NIKKOR optics, and announced the production of over 80 million NIKKOR lenses in 2013, creating a new milestone in Nikon’s heritage of superior optics. For more information, dial (800) NIKON-US or visit HYPERLINK “http://www.nikonusa.com” http://www.nikonusa.com, which links all levels of photographers to the Web’s most comprehensive photo learning and sharing communities. Connect with Nikon and other photographers on Facebook at HYPERLINK “http://www.facebook.com/nikon” http://www.facebook.com/nikon and get the latest news and information from Twitter by following HYPERLINK “http://www.twitter.com/Nikon_USA” @NikonUSA.

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1The Wireless Mobile Adapter Utility Application must be installed on the smart device before it can be used with the WU-1b Wireless Mobile Adapter connected to the Nikon D610. The application can be downloaded free of charge from Google Play™ or the Apple App Store. For use with Android or iOS mobile devices, please refer to mobile device compatibility and available features at HYPERLINK “https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nikon.wu.wmau&hl=en”https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nikon.wu.wmau&hl=en (Android) or HYPERLINK “https://itunes.apple.com/en/app/wireless-mobile-adapter-utility/id554157010″https://itunes.apple.com/en/app/wireless-mobile-adapter-utility/id554157010 (iOS).

2Android and Google Play are trademarks of Google, Inc. 3iPhone, iPad and iTunes are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

*SRP (Suggested Retail Price) listed only as a suggestion. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time.

Specifications, equipment and release dates are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer.[/toggle]

October 8, 2013
BlackBerry and Kik Settles Mobile Messaging Patent Suit

After 3 years of accused patent suit, Blackberry and Kik have finally settled the patent infringement case. Kik said in a statement that it is “very happy to put the BlackBerry lawsuit to rest,” the details of the settlement are not public, because it includes the confidentiality agreement.

BlackBerry initiated the suit weeks after Kik’s messaging service was in the market, grabbing 2 million users in the period of 10 days. However, Kik says it has 90 million registered users across iOS and Android, and is looking forward to 225,000 new joiners every day. On the other hand, BlackBerry’s BBM messenger has 60 million monthly users, which could have been more if the global launch of BBM for Android and iOS was not aborted in between of the process.

October 8, 2013
Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 Review

Build Quality And Design

Just like the rest of the Galaxy series, the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 is a plastic-bodied phone with the same Galaxy S4-like template design. It has the same metallic edging, the silver-edged home button and shiny speaker grille. The back panel shares the same black and silver crosshatch pattern.

The Galaxy Mega 6.3 is absolutely huge. At 88mm wide and almost 198mm tall, this is the biggest smartphone we’ve ever reviewed. It weighs almost 200g, but it doesn’t feel overly heavy in the hand considering its size.

Moving around the device, there’s a microUSB charging port on the bottom, a volume rocker on the left-hand side, a power button on the right-hand side and a 3.5mm headphone jack up top. There’s a microSD card slot for adding additional storage under the flimsy battery cover.

Overall build quality is like any other Samsung device, but the mammoth screen size raises a few questions over the durability of the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3.

Specifications And Hardware

The Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 sports a 6.3-inch 720×1280 display and features the same camera as that of the Galaxy Mega 5.8. It is powered by a dual-core processor clocked at 1.7GHz. The Galaxy Mega has 1.5GB of RAM, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n and A-GPS. The Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 comes with a 3,200 mAh battery and runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. The phone comes with 16GB internal storage capacity and has a microSD card slot for expanding the storage up to 64GB.

Display And Multimedia

The USP of the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 is its display. While the sheer size of the display is impressive itself, we were also pleased with the colour reproduction. Samsung opted for a Super Clear LCD display instead of their AMOLED panel, and this makes it one of the better Samsung devices to use outdoors.

The thing that disappointed us though was the resolution of the display. At a time when companies are coming out with 5.5″+ Full HD displays on devices, and Samsung too will release the Note 3 with one, the 720×1280 resolution is a let down. A device of this size will by default be used for a lot of media consumption which involves a lot of text as well, so a 233 ppi pixel density is inadequate in our opinion.

The sheer size of the screen on the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 though makes consuming media enjoyable and almost stress free, and the chipset is more than capable of handling HD video playback and streaming.

When it comes to general performance though, the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 left us disappointed. The phablet lags while performing even the simplest of tasks sometimes, like scrolling through your apps grid. Samsung could have gone with a quad-core chipset on the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 given the fact that it is priced above the Rs. 30,000 price mark, but instead it chose to extend its profits margin by using a dual-core chipset.

We’re forced to believe this is poor optimization in TouchWiz more so than the capabilities of the chip though, as other Snapdragon 400 devices manage to perform smoothly, and the Snapdragon 600-powered Galaxy S 4 was also laggy until an update just before launch.

The speakerphone on the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 is fantastic, it is really loud, but not in a painfully distorted way, it sounds good through videos, music and even games.

[youtube id=”_oIoZgw6-oU” width=”100%” height=”300px”]

Camera

The Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 has an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera and a front-facing 1.9-megapixel camera for video calls. The camera app is almost identical to the one used on the Galaxy S4 and we particularly like the excellent scrolling carousel to change camera modes.

Video is captured at Full HD and employs anti-shake if you need it from the main UI, the front camera however- captures 720p video. You can also add some effects to your pictures in the Auto Mode. Shooting modes like “Best Photo”, “Best Face” and “Sound and Shot” worked really well on the S4, and they work just as great on the Galaxy Mega 5.8 .

Images are processed to give a punchy, high-contrast look that is high on impact, if not quite as great at producing an entirely natural look.

[youtube id=”Qv_q4IrY-sA” width=”100%” height=”300px”]

Software

The Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, with the usual Samsung TouchWiz interface laid on top. Consequently, it looks and feels almost identical to the other high-end Galaxy phones, including the Galaxy S4.

The old elements of the TouchWiz UI are intact too, with features like Direct call (lift the phone from within a message to call), Smart Alert, tilting to zoom into pictures or gallery. Pan device to move the Icons or browse a zoomed in Image and even Flipping the device to Mute or pause.

Battery And Network

One might think that such an enormous screen, coupled with a big flat form, would mean that the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 battery life suffers. In fact, the very opposite it true. You can easily get a day and a half of moderate to heavy use out of this phone before it packs up. Given that there’s only two cores and that it’s not a 1080p screen, the quite large 3,200mAh actually goes a very long way, and that’s no small shakes if you’re looking at the Mega as both your tablet and phone.

One area the Galaxy Mega 6.3 shines is call quality. The rear speaker for speakerphone and the earpiece speaker are both quite loud, and they provide crisp, clear audio.

However, putting a phone as large as the Galaxy Mega against your head looks and feels odd. You may get used to it, but passers-by won’t any time soon.

Conclusion

The Galaxy Mega’s name definitely refers to its size rather than specifications. The Galaxy Mega 6.3 is only slightly cheaper than the Galaxy S4, while having a less advanced screen, a much less powerful processor, less RAM, a worse camera and – worst of all – diminished usability.

The Galaxy Mega 6.3 is a phone that might as well be the next big thing, but, the problem here may be that its just too big to be an everyday phone.

October 8, 2013
Sony HMZ-T3W Wearable Display Now Available For Pre-Order, Priced At $1,000

Sony Electronics today introduced its next generation Personal 3D Viewer, the HMZ-T3W is a wearable high definition visual display featuring twin OLED screens.

The device is available for pre-order in the U.S. for $999.99, the Sony HMZ-T3W will allow the consumers to enjoy the display with wireless freedom. This wireless version on Sony’s website can stream content up to 7 meters away from the source, the device also plugs into smartphones and tablets via MHL or micro-HDMI.

The company says the 7.1 channel virtual sound adds an extra dimension of realism to movies and games on the HMZ-T3W. The consumers will have an option of using the supplied/stock 16 mm driver in-ear phones or pair the HMZ-T3W with their own favorite headphones. Sony claims, whichever option chosen, the Virtual Surround Technology creates an 360 degree soundstage with dialogue, music and effects.

The units will start shipping next month, no information of price and availability for the Indian market is available yet.

[toggle title=”Press Release “]Sony Introduces Portable, Wireless Head Mounted Display

New Sony HMZ-T3W Personal 3D Viewer with Twin OLED Screens Delivers Immersive ‘Big Screen’ Experience and Now “On the Go”

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Electronics today introduced its next-generation Personal 3D Viewer (model HMZ-T3W), the world’s premier wearable high definition visual display featuring twin OLED screens.

Available for pre-sale in the U.S. now at Sony Stores and select retailers nationwide for $999, the Sony HMZ-T3W allows consumers a unique ability to sit back, relax and immerse themselves in a new world of portable entertainment with awesome, super-sized HD images and realistic sound reproduction – all with wireless freedom.

The third generation personal 3D viewer from Sony is lighter than its predecessors, easy-to-wear and loaded with simple connections for gaming consoles, PCs, home theater components, tablets and smartphones to enjoy a jaw-dropping view of movies, games and apps with a massive virtual screen size that brings a cinematic, home theater viewing experience into a portable, wearable device.

Light and comfortable
From lengthy gaming sessions to movie marathons, consumers will be absorbed in immersive entertainment with supreme comfort. The ergonomically-styled head mounted unit features flexible headbands that quickly adjust to fit almost everyone. There’s a large, cushioned head pad to reduce wear pressure, plus easy lens adjustment for relaxed, fatigue-free viewing.

Portable
Head-mounted HMZ-T3W viewers are no longer tethered to an AC power socket. The handy, compact battery box keeps the HMZ-T3W powered for hours to enjoy videos or games on the move. Additionally, when connected via MHL, the device will also charge the battery of mobile devices like smartphones and tablets while being watched and played. In addition, the HMZ-T3W also connects via HDMI®.

New WirelessHD™ lets consumers enjoy entertainment anywhere in the room with uncompressed, lag-free HD video and crisp digital sound, all without cords.

Play to win
The Sony HMZ-T3W portable 3D viewer keeps serious gamers in the game with speedy responses from its twin OLED screens and no annoying on-screen image lag. A one-touch button instantly boosts contrast and enhances shape details (game-mode), allowing gamers to relish the competitive edge in dimly-lit scenes where danger’s always lurking. It’s the perfect way to enjoy favorite titles, from fast paced shoot-’em-ups to tire-burning car rallies. Plus, there is no fumbling for the right keys in mid-game – the ergonomic visor-style headset gives an unobstructed ‘look-down’ view of your PC’s keyboard and mouse while you play.

Surround Sound
Thrilling 7.1 channel virtual sound adds an extra dimension of realism to movies and games on the HMZ-T3W. Consumers can listen through either the supplied 16mm driver in-ear phones or pair the HMZ-T3W with their own favorite headphones. Whichever option chosen, Sony’s Virtual Surround Technology creates an impressive 360 degree soundstage with dialogue, music and effects placed accurately around the viewer. It’s like being in the cinema – or right in the action as the gaming battles rage around you.[/toggle]

October 8, 2013
LG Chem Unveils Batteries For Next Generation: Curved Batteries in Production

LG Display has confirmed production of a “bendable and unbreakable” smartphone display. Now, LG Chem unveiled what they have got for the future smartphones as the company unveiled the next generation of batteries.

Through the exclusiveness of our unique technology, LG Chem has succeeded in launching future batteries that have not existed before. This shall be the fundamental grounds for LG Chem to become a pioneer in the market. As a leader of battery manufacturer, we will continue to strive for Global No.1 by developing more of optimized, safe and long-lasting batteries to make it the business of future generation”, said YS Kwon, the President of Energy Solution Company, LG Chem.

The company announced that they have curved batteries in mass production, which will power the next generation smart phone from LG. The company calls it “Stack and Folding technology”, while the company claims that they can build batteries that will fit phones, or any wearable devices(watches, glass). The company has the patent of Stack & Folding technology and the mass production of Curved Battery has been started since this month and the products will power the next smart phone line up of LG Electronics.

[toggle title=”Press Release “]LG Chem to unveil batteries of next generation
SEOUL–(Korea Newswire) October 8, 2013 — LG Chem, a leading battery manufacturer, is ready to unveil batteries that have not existed before.

The company announced on the 8th that it has succeeded in breaking the tradition of rectangular shaped batteries to lead the effort to a more sustainable future by mass producing batteries of different shapes.

The types of LG Chem’s future batteries can be categorized as the following. ? Stepped Battery, ? Curved Battery and ? Cable Battery.

At the moment, the chemical company is already mass producing stepped and curved batteries. Stepped Battery from Nanjing plant of LG Chem has been manufactured since July to power LG G2. However, the actual production of Cable Battery shall begin in upcoming years.

First of all, Stepped Battery refers to an integral type of a battery in which two batteries are added on top of each other in the shape of “step design.” The battery takes greater advantage of available space within the device than other batteries as it perfectly suits the changing trend of modern IT gadgets of flexible designs.

For example, recent mobile devices have been adopting round shapes and designs with rear buttons creating unnecessary “dead space” inside the gadget. With Stepped Batteries, the dead space can be filled up to fully power the handset and also increase the battery capacity.

In fact, the battery density has increased the capacity by 16% and also the life span by more than 3 hours when applied to the newly launched LG G2, a premium smart phone by LG Electronics.

The competitors in the market may succeed in stacking two batteries to make it into the step design but due to the increased cost of such technology, rivals will not achieve to do so, unless they can make it to an integral single type just like LG Chem.

At the Nanjing plant, LG Chem plans to launch Stepped Battery that goes beyond 3 to 4 step designs, stacking up more batteries into one single type depending on customer needs.

In addition, LG Chem’s Curved Battery refers to packs that can power IT devices with curved screen or flexible designs such as smart phones, watches and glasses. The company has the exclusive patent of Stack & Folding technology which reduces physical stress when realizing the curved design of battery packs. The mass production of Curved Battery has been started since this month and the products will power the next smart phone line up of LG Electronics.

Lastly, Cable Battery is applied to IT devices that are bendable, wearable and even be tied into a knot. Because it has been designed to use low electricity, the battery does not heat up although the user may operate the device for a long time. Moreover, the waterproof features of the battery allow itself to be used in wearable gadgets regardless of flexible figures, from necklace types to smart watches.

“Through the exclusiveness of our unique technology, LG Chem has succeeded in launching future batteries that have not existed before. This shall be the fundamental grounds for LG Chem to become a pioneer in the market. As a leader of battery manufacturer, we will continue to strive for Global No.1 by developing more of optimized, safe and long-lasting batteries to make it the business of future generation”, said YS Kwon, the President of Energy Solution Company, LG Chem.

LG Chem will be participating at the InterBattery 2013, which will be held in COEX from Oct 16th to display and demonstrate related products in a private zone.

About LG Chem
LG Chem, Ltd. is a globally diversified chemical company which operates three main business units: Petrochemicals, IT & Electronic Materials, and Energy Solution. The chemical business manufactures a wide range of products, from petrochemical goods to high-value added plastics. It also extends its chemical expertise into high-tech areas such as electronic materials and rechargeable batteries. LG Chem is one of the world’s largest lithium-ion battery manufacturers. For more information, please visit the LG Chem website at www.lgchem.com[/toggle]

October 8, 2013
HTC One Max Leaks With US Carrier Verizon’s Branding

A fresh batch of leaked photos depict the still unannounced HTC One Max yet again, and this time it comes with US telecom carrier Verizon’s logo.

The two photographs, which appeared on Android Central’s forum, show the super-sized Max with a Verizon logo on the front. The person who posted them, Jeremy Kessous, claims that his friend works for Verizon and therefore has had access to the new phone.

The Verizon employee who took the photos also says that the oversized smartphone has a fingerprint scanner and a removable back cover to get to the battery and other goodies. It’s been rumored that the HTC One Max would have a fingerprint sensor, and we keep hearing more confirmations that it indeed does have one.

Rumored features include a Snapdragon 800 processor, Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, a large 3,300mAh battery, 2GB of RAM and a big 5.9-inch screen with a full 1080p resolution.

Of course, all availability and pricing details of the One Max are still up in the air, so we’ll have to wait for HTC to finally reveal the device to the world, all in its own sweet time.

We’re hoping HTC’s supply chain issues have been sorted by now as the company hasn’t had a great 2013 so far.

October 7, 2013
Google Forms An Alliance With Top Companies For Affordable Internet Worldwide

Google has kick-started an initiative to bring the Internet to third world countries with the help of its peers in the technology sector as well as a handful of American, British and other organizations.

Called the Alliance for Affordable Internet, group aims to steer countries toward policy and regulatory change that will encourage better wireless and wired Internet access, CNet reported.

Google says that A4AI will work with countries around the world to influence policy changes that will make Internet more affordable. How affordable? Google says that ISPs in developing countries charge up to 30 percent of a person’s monthly income for basic broadband services. With effective policy change, Google says it can bring down costs to the UN Broadband Commission’s recommended target of 5 percent of a person’s monthly income.

“A4AI has a specific goal in mind: to reach the UN Broadband Commission target of entry-level broadband access priced at less than 5 percent of monthly income worldwide,” Jennifer Haroon, principal executive of Google’s access program, wrote in a blog post.

Microsoft, Yahoo, Facebook, Cisco and Intel are just a few of the more than 30 members drawn from technology firms, public sector groups and foundations around the world.

If A4AI achieves its goal, the two-thirds of the world that is not currently online will be able to connect to the Internet for a reasonable price.

October 7, 2013
LG Flexible Smartphone To Be Vertically Concave, Will Be Introduced This Month

LG is expected to introduce a smartphone with a curved display later this month, then mass produce and release it sometime in November. The name of the LG curved smartphone is currently pegged as being called the ‘G Flex.’

As for a launch day, Reuters sources who are ‘familiar with the matter’ believe that LG plans to launch this curved phablet in November – will most likely hit Korea first, then roll out to other countries. There’s no indication on the OS, but it’s safe that LG will continue to use Google’s Android OS. The report also notes that unlike rival Samsung, LG will come to market with a plastic OLED (POLED) display that is curved from top to bottom, not side to side.

LG also issued a press release and declared that the will introduce the world’s ‘First Flexible OLED Panel for Smartphones. LG notes that the ‘OLED panel is built on plastic substrates instead of glass’ and that they ‘made the panel bendable and unbreakable.’

In addition, as expected, the display is ‘vertically concave from top to bottom with a radius of 700mm, opening up a world of design innovations in the smartphone market. And only 0.44mm thin, LG Display’s flexible OLED panel is the world’s slimmest among existing mobile device panels… it is also the world’s lightest, weighing a mere 7.2g even with a 6-inch screen, the largest among current smartphone OLED displays.’

October 7, 2013
Samsung Refreshes NX300 With NX300M, Will Have 180 Degree Screen Flexibility

Samsung’s recently available NX300 mirrorless camera was one of the most anticipated camera because of its 3D capabilities. The camera did not do pretty good in the Indian market, but that does not stops Samsung to refresh the camera.

Samsung has refreshed the NX300 camera with the new NX300M which brings something more useful to the user, the new camera has a 3.31 inch AMOLED touch display that can now flip to 180 degrees instead of just 90 which was on the NX300.

However, the other features remain the same, like the 20.3 megapixel APS-C sensor, 100-25,600 ISO range, 8.6 fps continuous shooting, WiFi with SmartShare and the NFC capabilities. The NX300M will be available in Korea with an 18-55 mm kit lens for 890,000 won approximately 839 USD. We are not sure when and if Samsung will launch the refreshed product for the Indian market.

October 7, 2013
Samsung tries to prove it made fiction a reality with new Gear Ads

Samsung’s new Galaxy Gear ads point towards a very futile yet nostalgic part of our history, taking in key characters from our lives. Dick Tracy, Power Rangers, Flintstones, Jetsons, Knight Rider, Star Trek, Inspector Gadget and even the Predator, all believed in a wearable tech that could let you communicate. Most importantly a watch, that would allow communication and control of surroundings.

The Two ads may spark up a nostalgic feeling for those who have lived in the era, but will not change the fact that the The Galaxy Gear watch is nothing more than a mere control device. They are worth a “watch” anyway.

[youtube id=”B3qeJKax2CU” width=”100%” height=”300px”]

October 7, 2013
iOS 7 Battery Drain Fixes for iPods, iPhone 4, 4s, iPhone 5, 5c and iPhone 5s

If you recently upgraded your iPhone 4, 4s and or 5 to iOS 7 then you are probably suffering from massive battery loss on your iOS device also known as post-upgrade-drain-syndrome. However we have been able to locate a few causes that could be the culprits behind the whole iOS 7 battery life drain issue.

Check out the ten quick fixes below and the ultimate fix at the bottom.

Quick Fixes

1. Brightness and Display Timeout : It’s an age old problem, and probably the easiest to fix quickly : ensure that the brightness is not turned up too high and the timeout of the display is at 1 minute. This will save the battery considerably as the biggest consumer of iOS 7 battery is the Display.

2. Location Services : In iOS 7 a lot of apps ask for location use consent and users mostly agree without realizing that the use of GPS causes sufferable battery drain, quickly fix theis by going to Settings > Privacy > Location Services and turning off apps you don’t want using this service. For example Google Chrome may use location to find localized results but you may not need that, so turn it off. Also at the bottom of the Location services menu,you will find a System Services panel, which can be further tweaked to turn off options like Location Based iAds etc. that you don’t need.

3. iPhone 5/ 5s Parallax : The fun new animation which causes the wallpaper in the background to move, making the whole plane of the iPhone look 3 dimensional also affects the battery life drastically. Head over to Settings > General > Accessibility and set “Reduce Motion” to On. This will disable parallax and increase iOS 7 battery life.

4. Background App Refresh: If your apps are getting updated and refreshed while your phone is resting, its not really resting. While your phone is on standby , its actually getting drained pinging the servers for data refreshes. turning this off will improve battery life considerably. Find it in Settings > General “Background App Refresh” you can turn it off completely or turn off apps you can refresh manually.

5. Push Mail / Fetch Mail : Push Mail and Fetch mail also check the servers for new email frequently, using up data and battery life, setting this to manual will help the battery life of your iPhone / iPod. However some would rather have this feature on. Find the settings in Settings > Mail,Contacts, Calendars > Fetch New Data.

6. Incompatible Apps : Some apps that have not been optimized for iOS 7 may cause battery drain issues, one such daily use app is “Whatsapp”. In our testing we saw that battery drained 200 times faster if Whatsapp is actively running on the iOS 7 device. If not using this app is not an option, then double tapping the home button and sliding the app away to fully quit the app may be a good option to save battery life.

7. iPhone 5/ 5s Airdrop: On the iPhone 5, 5c and 5s a new feature called Airdrop allows you to share files between other iOS devices that support this feature including Mac OS devices. However if you don’t use this feature frequently turning this off from the control center will save additional battery. Swipe the control center up and tap on AirDrop , then tap “Off” and you are all set.

8. Spotlight Settings : With iOS 7, you can now search for anything on your iPhone using Spotlight. All you have to do is pull down on your Home screen and you can search pretty much every part of your phone, from notes to music, to mail. This also takes a mjor hit on the Battery, simply reduce the search options to the ones you do use : go to Settings > General > Spotlight search and set it to use only things you use.

9. Siri: Unless you use Siri frequently, turn her/him off. If you do use Siri, then turning off “Raise to Speak” in Settings > General > Siri will keep the proximity sensor from being used all the time.

10. Bluetooth and Wifi: Although the essence of any Smartphone, if you are not a frequent user of Bluetooth and Wifi, then turning them off will help improve iOS 7 battery life.

Although the above fixes will help a lot with the battery life drain, turning off only those features you can live without is recommended. If all else fails try the major Fix below.

Major Fix:

Set Up as a new device:

In most cases when we update any hardware from one generation of OS to the next, it is recommended that a fresh install be done. Similarly when you upgraded your iOS 6 device to iOS7, a lot of profiles and cached files, tmp file and even some preferences get carried over to iOS 7 which may not essentially be compatible with the new OS and may cause the processor on the iPhone/ iPod to get overworked.

Take a backup of all your images, sync up your contact to iCloud or any similar service, and bid adieu to the old messages. Put your iPhone / iPod in DFU mode , and restore the device via iTunes, once the new iOS is downloaded and flashed on your iPhone / iPod, set it up as a new device and do not restore from backup.

Simply sync back your images, contacts, music and apps and you are good to go. You will see a drastic change in the battery life of your iDevices, as this method will make your device fresh and delete all the garbage that was not required.

October 6, 2013
iGyaan Gift Guide : Headphones and Earphones

The festival season is just around the corner and you want to spend some money on your loved ones. Here we bring you the recommended list of Headphones and Earphones that you can gift to your near and dear ones.

1- Sennheiser MX 170

The Sennheiser MX 170 are in the ear type headphones, with a ear bud design on them. These are budget friednly headphones and are priced at 459 INR. The device has a 22 Hz – 20000 Hz Headphone Frequency Response, 32 ohm Headphone Impedance, 109 dB/mW Headphone Sensitivity at 1 kHz and the device has a standard 3.5 mm jack. The cable length is 1.2 meters.

2- Skullcandy S2DUDZ-003:

The Skullcandy S2DUDZ-003 headphones are in ear style headphones and have a bud design. The device gives stereo sound and enhanced bass, it has a neodymium magnet. It features a standard 3.5 mm jack and a 1.3 meter long cable.

3- JBL Tempo:

JBL Tempo are in ear type headphones available in the market for a price of 1040 INR and are in ear canal-phone type. The device has a 20 Hz – 20000 Hz Headphone Frequency Response and a Gold Plated Connector 3.5 mm jack.

4- Sony MDR-XB30EX Extra-Bass

The Sony MDR-XB30EX Extra-Bass are in ear canalphone designed headphones. The device features a 100mW of max power input with a neodymium maget, 4 Hz – 24000 Hz headphone frequency response with 16 ohm headphone impedance and a standard 3.5 mm jack.

5-Sennheiser CX 180

The Sennheiser CX 180 are in ear canalphone designed headphones that are priced at 1313 INR. The device features 20 Hz- 20000 Hz frequency responce, 16 ohm headphone impedance, 110dB/mW headphone sensitivity at 1 kHz. The device has a 3.5 mm jack along with a 1.2 meter cable.

6- JBL Tempo J04W :

The JBL Tempo J04W are over the ear/head designed headphones available at a price of 1995 INR. The device features 20 Hz – 20000 Hz frequency response, 32 ohm impedance, a 30 mW of max power input.

7- Skullcandy S6HSDZ-072 Hesh 2.0

The Skullcandy S6HSDZ-072 Hesh 2.0 are over the ear circumaural headphones and are priced at 3274 INR. The device features an over the ear design with, 35 ohm impedance and 105 dB/mW sensitivity at 1 kHz.

8- Sennheiser CX 680 Sports

The Sennheiser CX 680 Sports are in ear canalphone designed headphones, priced at 4349 INR. The device features 18 Hz – 20000 Hz frequency, 16 ohm impedance and a standard 3.5 mm jack. These headphones undoubtedly gives a sporty look.

9- Sennheiser HD 280 PRO Over-the-ear :

The Sennheiser HD 280 PRO are over the ear/head Circumaural headphones priced at 7189 INR. The device features 64 Ohm, 102 db/mw, 8 – 25000 Hz and a maximum power of 500 mW.

10- Sony MDR-XB900/C E:

The Sony MDR-XB900/C E are on the ear type headphones, priced at 7791 INR. The device sports a 50 mm driver units, neodymium magnet, 3000 mW maximum power input, Supra-aural closed headphone, frequency response of 3 Hz- 28000 Hz.

11- Sony MDR-XB920

You can check out our own review for these over the ear headphones.

[youtube id=”R-6dBdZN70w” width=”100%” height=”300px”]

12- Sennheiser PXC 310:

The Sennheiser PxC 310 are over the ear closed headphones priced at 19799 INR. The device features a neodymium magnet, 15 Hz – 22000 Hz headphones frequency, 590 ohm impedance and a 107 dB/mW sensitivity at 1kHz.

October 6, 2013
iGyaan Gift Guide : Headphones and Earphones

The festival season is just around the corner and you want to spend some money on your loved ones. Here we bring you the recommended list of Headphones and Earphones that you can gift to your near and dear ones.

1- Sennheiser MX 170

The Sennheiser MX 170 are in the ear type headphones, with a ear bud design on them. These are budget friednly headphones and are priced at 459 INR. The device has a 22 Hz – 20000 Hz Headphone Frequency Response, 32 ohm Headphone Impedance, 109 dB/mW Headphone Sensitivity at 1 kHz and the device has a standard 3.5 mm jack. The cable length is 1.2 meters.

2- Skullcandy S2DUDZ-003:

The Skullcandy S2DUDZ-003 headphones are in ear style headphones and have a bud design. The device gives stereo sound and enhanced bass, it has a neodymium magnet. It features a standard 3.5 mm jack and a 1.3 meter long cable.

3- JBL Tempo:

JBL Tempo are in ear type headphones available in the market for a price of 1040 INR and are in ear canal-phone type. The device has a 20 Hz – 20000 Hz Headphone Frequency Response and a Gold Plated Connector 3.5 mm jack.

4- Sony MDR-XB30EX Extra-Bass

The Sony MDR-XB30EX Extra-Bass are in ear canalphone designed headphones. The device features a 100mW of max power input with a neodymium maget, 4 Hz – 24000 Hz headphone frequency response with 16 ohm headphone impedance and a standard 3.5 mm jack.

5-Sennheiser CX 180

The Sennheiser CX 180 are in ear canalphone designed headphones that are priced at 1313 INR. The device features 20 Hz- 20000 Hz frequency responce, 16 ohm headphone impedance, 110dB/mW headphone sensitivity at 1 kHz. The device has a 3.5 mm jack along with a 1.2 meter cable.

6- JBL Tempo J04W :

The JBL Tempo J04W are over the ear/head designed headphones available at a price of 1995 INR. The device features 20 Hz – 20000 Hz frequency response, 32 ohm impedance, a 30 mW of max power input.

7- Skullcandy S6HSDZ-072 Hesh 2.0

The Skullcandy S6HSDZ-072 Hesh 2.0 are over the ear circumaural headphones and are priced at 3274 INR. The device features an over the ear design with, 35 ohm impedance and 105 dB/mW sensitivity at 1 kHz.

8- Sennheiser CX 680 Sports

The Sennheiser CX 680 Sports are in ear canalphone designed headphones, priced at 4349 INR. The device features 18 Hz – 20000 Hz frequency, 16 ohm impedance and a standard 3.5 mm jack. These headphones undoubtedly gives a sporty look.

9- Sennheiser HD 280 PRO Over-the-ear :

The Sennheiser HD 280 PRO are over the ear/head Circumaural headphones priced at 7189 INR. The device features 64 Ohm, 102 db/mw, 8 – 25000 Hz and a maximum power of 500 mW.

10- Sony MDR-XB900/C E:

The Sony MDR-XB900/C E are on the ear type headphones, priced at 7791 INR. The device sports a 50 mm driver units, neodymium magnet, 3000 mW maximum power input, Supra-aural closed headphone, frequency response of 3 Hz- 28000 Hz.

11- Sony MDR-XB920

You can check out our own review for these over the ear headphones.

[youtube id=”R-6dBdZN70w” width=”100%” height=”300px”]

12- Sennheiser PXC 310:

The Sennheiser PxC 310 are over the ear closed headphones priced at 19799 INR. The device features a neodymium magnet, 15 Hz – 22000 Hz headphones frequency, 590 ohm impedance and a 107 dB/mW sensitivity at 1kHz.

October 6, 2013