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Apple Patents New iOS Unlocking Features

A patent just awarded to Apple allows for a user of an iOS to lock or unlock a device based on a gesture — perhaps the equivalent of a child-proof cap.

The patent, as spotted by AppleInsider and reported by TechCrunch, would allow access to one set of apps — let’s say games for instance — with the drawing of a letter with a fingertip, and then another set, say email, with another, separate gesture.

Apple’s U.S. Patent No. 8,528,072 for a “Method, apparatus and system for access mode control of a device,” describes a system that creates user access modes guarded by predetermined gesture inputs.

Currently, as Apple Insider reports, Apple’s iOS offers passcode unlocking as a means of access control. Under this method, users must input a simple code or password to gain complete access to the device. Apple also provides a certain level of user configuration, allowing access to Siri, Passbook and Reply with Message even when a device is locked.

Such unlocking methods are definitely not new and various Android devices in the past along with custom ROMs have allowed similar functions, whereby a user can “draw” a letter or a shape to launch a specific app, such as the drawing of an envelope that would launch the email app.

This patent by Apple is also accompanied with the effective feature of “Guest Mode”. In this feature Apple will build a lock screen launcher that will easily be accessed by the user through gestures, voice, keyboard, mouse or stylus, already covered in the Apple patent.

September 3, 2013
Screenshot Of 1080p Windows Phone 8 UI Leaks

Evleaks has today added fuel to the Windows Phone GDR3 1080p HD support rumours with a leaked screenshot from the Nokia “bandit” device. The image is 1080×1920, a resolution Windows Phone does not currently support, but it’s reported to be from the Lumia 1520 “phablet”, possibly packing GDR3.

The image shared by @evleaks this morning shows a Windows Phone start screen with an extra Live Tile column than the Windows Phone 8 layout that we’re accustomed to. That extra column enables users will be able to place a large Live Tile and medium Live Tile right next to one another without issue.

The leaked screen shot also reveals what appears to be a new application called Story Teller.

It is expected that larger “Phablet” style Windows Phone devices will be released soon, with Nokia supposedly working on a device which will be called a Lumia 1520 which will have a 6 inch screen with a resolution of 1080×1920. this has apparently been codenamed “Bandit” which you can see below.

The rumour mill has suggested that Nokia is planning to hold an event on Sept. 26 that will be used to show off the Bandit as well as a new Windows RT-powered tablet. There’s no word yet on when either device might arrive on store shelves.

September 3, 2013
Here is Why Microsoft’s Buying Nokia

Microsoft and Nokia have been strategic partners for the manufacture of Windows Phone devices for a couple of years. Microsoft helped the company bail out of its financial woes when Nokia took 1 Billion USD to exclusively manufacture Windows Phone devices and drop plans to make devices on Android, Symbian and Meego. Microsoft’s acquisition of Nokia comes in after the successful transition of Motorola into Google, for the company may be a proud owner of a high tech manufacturing brand. Such an acquisition will enable Microsoft to manufacture devices as per their own set norms and create benchmarks for other partners. Along with the hardware and services Microsoft will also become the owner of a wide array of patents and licenses that Nokia owns, one of which earns US $ 1 for every iPhone sold.

Microsoft puts it out there, the company claims that buying a manufacturer like Nokia will enable Microsoft to deliver a

“first-rate Microsoft phone experience for users”.

Microsoft has been trying to be a hardware manufacturer in the past few years, as it attempted with the “bust” Windows RT and 8 based Surface Tablets, the Acquisition of Nokia could lead to new Hardware under the Microsoft name in the mobility segment. What the future of the once world leader in Mobile telephone will be post the acquisition is unknown, but we hope that this does not pan out similar to the HP – Palm acquisition, which ended the life of a very innovative company.

Microsoft could easily be blamed for this acquisition as well, 3 years ago Nokia was valued at well over US $ 25 Billion, Microsoft’s so called “Strategic Partnership” basically ended the marketshare that Nokia had enjoyed in the good old days of Symbian and S40. Analysts claim, if Nokia had stuck to new operating systems like Meego and relatively young Android ( at the time), the company would have prospered and would have been close to the likes of Samsung and Apple in number of movements.

Today Nokia heavily depends on its feature-phone sales for its revenues, and in a global world where the 100$ smartphone is overtaking the 100$ feature phone, Nokia may have realized the limited lifecycle it had left.

Microsoft is no stranger to takeovers, and with many a past companies under its sleeve, Nokia would be more of a trophy, just so the execs at Redmond can say “Hey, We manufacture our own phones! Just like Apple and Google.”

Microsoft really has an opportunity, with the vast array of designers and young minds at Nokia, years of experience and a complete team of experts in mobility, maybe the top brass at Microsoft will be more open to world changing ideas, than they were back at Nokia. Heck in 2006 a fully capacitive touchscreen phone was rejected within the Finland HQ at Nokia stating that the world was not ready for a full touch phone. In 2007 June, the iPhone was launched, Nokia couldn’t have been more wrong.

September 3, 2013
Nokia CEO Stephen Elop, Stepping Down Because Of The Upcoming Transition

Microsoft’s Acquisition of Nokia Devices and Services will also result in the end of tenure for Nokia CEO Stephen Elop. After the completion of the deal, CEO Stephen Elop is to step down to become Executive VP of Devices & Services, and should join Microsoft (If he choses to do so).

The shift in rank should minimize any perceived conflict of interest during Elop’s transition: Nokia says.

Chairman of the Board Risto Siilasmaa will assume an interim CEO position while the company looks for a permanent replacement for Elop. Meanwhile, key Nokia executives Jo Harlow, Chris Weber, Juha Putkiranta and Timo Toikkanen are also expected to follow Elop to Microsoft, Executive VP of Design Marko Ahtisaari plans to step down on November 1st, and will leave the company on November 30th to once more become an entrepreneur. Having said that, Microsoft is getting most of the cellphone industry’s better known leaders all together, should they head down Google-rola’s Path.

September 3, 2013
Microsoft Will Acquire Nokia for €5 billion

Microsoft is set to buy Nokia’s Devices and Services unit, bringing the Lumia lineup under its own ownership. The move unites Windows Phone 8 with its biggest hardware supporter, giving the company the integrated mobile offering that it has been looking for with the Microsoft Surface and other similar devices. When the deal closes in the first quarter of 2014, Microsoft will pay 3.79 billion Euros to Nokia, plus another 1.65 billion Euros for its portfolio of patents.

Microsoft hopes that acquiring the largest Windows Phone manufacturer will speed up growth of the operating system that has yet to see commercial acceptance like similar platforms i.e. Android.

“It’s a bold step into the future – a win-win for employees, shareholders and consumers of both companies. Bringing these great teams together will accelerate Microsoft’s share and profits in phones, and strengthen the overall opportunities for both Microsoft and our partners across our entire family of devices and services.”- Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer.

According to the press release from Nokia, about 32,000 Nokia employees will migrate to Microsoft on the completion of the deal. The release further adds that Nokia is assigning its long-term patent licensing agreement with Qualcomm along with other patents to Microsoft.

Microsoft also announced that it has selected Finland as the home for a new data center that will serve its consumers in Europe. The company also said it would invest more than a quarter-billion dollars in capital and operations of the new data center over the next few years, with the potential for further expansion over time.

September 3, 2013
BBM for Android gets shown of in a Video

Event though the BBM for iOS and Android has not yet arrived, videos are starting to leak out and that is a good sign. Folks over at BlackberryOS have got hold of a test video of the new BBM for Android and it might just live up to the hype. Apart from the swipe in from the sides to chose chats and setting, the video shows the ability to transfer contacts through NFC, which is good sign that the messaging app will make the most of these the new features that are present in Android Devices.

Let us know below what you think.

September 3, 2013
PS4 Will Support Voice Commands, Facial Recognition Via PlayStation Camera

Sony last night addressed whether the PS4 features voice command capabilities through the PlayStation camera, but the company’s statement may not reveal as much as it initially seems.

The rumour that the PS4 would feature voice command capabilities popped up when video of a presentation made by SCEA’s group manager of retail training and advocacy Sean Coleman at this week’s GameStop Expo in Las Vegas was uploaded to YouTube on Thursday.

At the 5:30 mark a slide is shown for the Eye that says: “From navigational voice commands to facial recognition, the PlayStation Camera adds incredible innovation to your gaming.”

Speaking to gaming site Polygon a Sony spokesperson said: “Sony Computer Entertainment can confirm that PlayStation Camera allows for voice recognition and we will look forward to sharing more details in the lead up to the launch of PS4 on November 29.”

SCEA’s group manager of retail training and advocacy Sean Coleman outlined some PlayStation Camera features at the GameStop 2013 Expo in Las Vegas this week. “From navigational voice commands to facial recognition, the PlayStation Camera adds incredible innovation to your gaming.”

The PS4 PlayStation Camera will have some unique functionality with the new DualShock 4 controllers. It will be able to use facial recognition to detect who is holding which controller, and apply that player’s preferred controller profile.

September 2, 2013
More iPhone 5c Images Leak Along With Packaging

Apple is heavily rumoured to launch a couple new smartphones on September 10th – the low-cost plastic iPhone 5C and the new iPhone 5S. Apple has yet to confirm this date or these products, but the leaks have been a plenty.

The newest low-quality pictures to arrive online is from an overseas sites who claim to have snapped retail packaging of the “iPhone 5C” that includes the shipping box, manual and SIM card ejection instructions and tool.

The photos comes from website iApps.im, and it says that the pictures show iPhone 5C units in packaging.

It’s difficult to tell if the pictures are real, but they do seem to lineup with Apple’s past patterns. As with the 2012 iPod nano, the iPhone 5C seems to have a matching cover and wallpaper cover.

Two accompanying images show the rest of the stuff that’s allegedly found inside the iPhone 5C box, including the documentation and a SIM card ejector tool fastened to one of the sheets of paper inside.

These pictures lend more credence to the overall leak, but they’re still not enough to pass it as 100% legit.

Noticeably absent from this leak are the phone’s cable and headphones, along with the charger. However, this is hardly a surprise, since the phones themselves most likely lack their internals (i.e. logic board, battery, etc.).

Lastly, the photos indicate that the iPhone 5C will ship with iOS 7 pre-installed, something that was pretty much a given, since Apple has scheduled the iOS 7 launch for fall 2013.

[Via]

September 2, 2013
HTC Zara is HTC ‘Desire 601’

HTC Zara, the mid-range smartphone that has been in the rumor mills for some time, has again been spotted, but this time is said to hold the Desire 601 Moniker.

Earlier, evleaks revealed the design of the device under its codename HTC Zara. The leaked image showed the front and rear panel of the yet to be announced mid-range smartphone, alongside its specifications. The HTC Zara is said to have a 4.5-inch qHD screen (960×540 pixels), a dual-core 1.2Ghz Snapdragon 400 processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB internal storage, an UltraPixel camera, a 2100 mAh battery. Android 4.3 with sense 5.5.

Now, evleaks with a recent tweet has claimed that the HTC Zara will be officially called as HTC Desire 601. Which makes this device as the successor to the already available HTC Desire 600 a dual-SIM smartphone available for 25,500(approx.).

While this device is said to be a budget device, keeping in mind the price of the Desire 600 this seems a little difficult to fit in the category of budget devices. However, pricing and availability is not yet disclosed.

[via]

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September 2, 2013
Samsung Galaxy Gear Images Leaked Ahead Of Launch

We all know Samsung is all set to launch the new Galaxy Gear, we have seen the leaks showing us the structure and the connectivity options of the smartwatch including rumors of NFC for pairing with smartphones.

VentureBeat revealed the first look of the Galaxy Gear which clearly shows the look of the smartwatch. Galaxy Gear is said to have a 4 MP camera which is built in the strap of the watch and would also have tiny speakers on it. As per VentureBeat the watch has a chunky wristband, which makes it bulky.

The watch is also said to support Samsung’s S voice and some pre-loaded health applications. The images of food clicked by the camera of the watch is said to categorize food accordingly, all this features can make this device to be used as a health accessory.

As reported by the source, the watch is also said to have a independent call log by which a user can initiate a call to the smartphone and the built in WiFi will allow the watch to access internet even if the device is not connected to the smartphone. The watch is also rumored to have a 10+ hours of battery life.

The official launch is just two days from now, we are going to keep you updated with all the official specs and features so stay tuned.

[via]

September 2, 2013
Nokia : WP8 Amber Update Will Roll Out To All Devices By September End

Nokia has promised that its Lumia Amber update will reach all Windows Phone 8 devices by the end of September.

The Finnish phone maker is rolling out the update for its Lumia 920, Lumia 820, Lumia 720, Lumia 620 and Lumia 520 as well as their variants.

Amber introduces a number of new features to the Lumia range, including new photo-editing tools and improved camera capabilities. The Nokia Smart Camera app also introduces motion sequence shooting on its high-end Lumia 920, 925 and 928 handsets.

The Amber update also has “Glance Screen,” a tool that makes your phone’s inactive state more interesting. When your handset is inactive, it will display a clock and battery information. So, you can more quickly interact with your phone without having to do anything at all. You can turn off Glance, of course, or have it switch off after a set amount of time.

Unfortunately the negative news includes that some of the most desirable features are not coming to all handsets.

In the post Nokia confirms that the ‘double tap to wake’ feature is not supported on Lumia 720, Lumia 625, Lumia 620, Lumia 521, Lumia 520.

Also Nokia confirmed the FM Radio feature will not be coming to the Lumia 620, Lumia 810 and Lumia 928 as they “do not have the FM radio chip.”

Nokia recently launched its new Nokia Here Auto in-dash navigation system.

August 31, 2013
XOLO Q1000s Unboxing Video

XOLO has launched its new flagship smartphone the XOLO Q1000S, the phone is a revision of the older Q1000. The new device is just 6.98 mm thick compared to 8.8 mm for the older Q1000.

The most prominent features of the XOLO Q1000S are the Unibody construction along with the 5 inch HD IPS One Glass Solution (OGS) with a resolution of 1280 x 720 px and a 13 MP camera with BSI 2 sensor at the back and a 5 MP camera with BSI 1 sensor in the front. A few things users may not like are the non expandable storage which is fixed at a 16 GB and the non replaceable battery. The XOLO Q1000S is powered by a 2500 mAh battery pack and runs the MTK 6589T Quad Core 1.5 GHz chipset with a PowerVR SGX544 GPU and has 1 GB of RAM.

The Q1000s is fairly pocketable, this is because of the 6.98 mm thickness. Inside the box, there is a usual mix up of things, a charging cable, a set of earphones, the USB wall charger, an extra screen protector and some standard documentation.

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August 31, 2013
Sony Smartphone-Mount “Lens Cameras” Leak

We’ve previously covered the recent rumours of the 20 Megapixel Sony Wifi ‘smart lens’ which will attach to Android and iOS smartphones and connect to the phone via Wifi. Theoretically, you’ll be able to take much better pictures with the bigger CMOS sensor and Zeiss glass.

A new rumored gold iPhone now has a rumored gold lens attachment from Sony, according to a report from SonyAlphaRumors which has also posted an image. Until now we’d only seen leaks of a black device, and while a white version was perhaps to be expected, how about gold? Would be a perfect match for that rumored gold iPhone 5S.

“For the first time you can shoot top quality images with your smartphone. Forget these iPhone or Android lens kits!” said SonyAlphaRumors.com, which posted images of the new devices.

But the lenses won’t have screens or camera controls, and can be attached magnetically to the smartphone, from which they can be controlled, it added.

The two new ‘lens-camera’ devices will launch as the DSC-QX10 and DSC-QX100, the idea being that they mount onto a smartphone and contain a built-in imaging sensor, Bionz processor, Wi-Fi/NFC, SD card slot and battery.

The QX10 is rumoured to have a 1/2.3 inch 18MP CMOS sensor and f/3.3-5.9 lens. In terms of pricing, the more expensive QX100 is expected to be priced around the $450 mark. The lenses will be able to capture HD video at 1080/30p.

Does this interest you shutterbugs?

August 31, 2013
Google Acquires WIMM To Help Its SmartWatch Program

Google just purchased a company, WIMM Labs, to give its burgeoning smart watch business a boost.

The Android creator has been rumoured to be working on a smart watch for at least six months, but it appears that there has been activity within Google’s walls from early 2012.

According to GigaOm, plus a message on their website, WIMM employees were absorbed into Google’s Android team, as the eventual retail product will inevitably run a form of the OS. Sony’s Smart Watch, and Samsung’s upcoming Gear device, run Android as well.

WIMM had already been working on a smart watch running Android, and had developed a small set of “micro” apps that enhanced functionality between the wrist and smartphone, but worked largely on their own. The company posted a note on their site stating “During the summer of 2012, WIMM Labs entered into an exclusive, confidential relationship for our technology and ceased sales of the Developer Preview Kit.”

Judging from the WIMM One smartwatch, WIMM’s platform, as neat as it was, still needed work: The watch was thick and ungainly, and its battery struggled to eke out more than a few hours of usage between recharges.

Whether or not Google intends to release a smartwatch of its own, it certainly would like to see Android running on all sorts of wearable gadgets, which was the big idea behind WIMM in the first place.

August 31, 2013
HTC Desire 600c Dual-SIM Seen On Company’s Website with CDMA Support

Not very long ago HTC launched its new phone Desire 600, and now the company is ready to launch the new variant of this phone which is the Desire 600c. While the Desire 600 supported Dual SIM (GSM and GSM), the Desire 600c supports dual-SIM (GSM and CDMA). The handset is already listed on HTC’s official website.

The HTC Desire 600c features a 4.5-inch qHD display. The device is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor with 1 GB of RAM. It comes with 8GB of internal storage which is expandable up to 64GB via microSD card. The HTC Desire 600c dual-SIM has a 8 MP rear camera with auto focus, LED flash and a 1.6 MP front-facing camera with BSI sensor. The phone is also capable of 720p video recording. The HTC Desire 600c dual-SIM weighs 127 grams and features dual front stereo speakers with built in amplifiers. The phone is powered by a 1860 mAh battery which is similar to the the Desire 600c.

The HTC Desire 600c dual-SIM is a bit different from its predecessor. Though the device almost have the same specifications, it is not identical in design. The HTC Desire 600c dual SIM is a CDMA variant and supports GSM+CDMA networks. The phone runs Android Jelly Bean with HTC Sense, BlinkFeed and other features. As per the images the phone will be available in two colors Black and white.

Pricing and availability has not been confirmed, but the pricing should be around the price tag of the HTC Desire 600 which is INR 26,000.

August 31, 2013