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Microsoft Points System Will Be Removed With The Next Xbox 360 Update

Earlier, Microsoft announced it would be retiring its Microsoft Point system for purchasing games and other virtual items on the Xbox One when it launches in favor of using real money from a user’s local currency. Today, there’s an update on the Microsoft Points shutdown which concerns current Xbox 360 owners.

“Our goal is to make this transition as easy as possible for you,” Whitten wrote on the Xbox blog. “After the next Xbox 360 system update, when you go to buy something or redeem a Microsoft Points card or code on your console with your Microsoft account, we’ll add to your account an amount of currency equal to or greater than the Xbox Marketplace value of your Microsoft Points, which will be retired.”

Some of the added benefits of the change include faster and easier purchases with no need to calculate the conversion of your local currency to Microsoft Points. Whitten assures that you’ll still be able to purchase content directly from Xbox stores using any form of payment in your region. Furthermore, in late 2013 you’ll be able to buy new Xbox Gift Cards through Microsoft’s online retailers and local retail stores.

Whitten said that any Microsoft Points earned by people as part of their now shut down Xbox Live Rewards program will remain in their account and will also be converted to real money with the Xbox 360 update. A new rewards program will be announced on September 1st.

[Via]

August 10, 2013
All Apple Developer Services Back Online With Free One Month Extension

Apple today restored the Developer Center – the place where it stores all of its resources and information for third-party app creators. A message on the website read :

We are pleased to let you know that all our developer program services are now online. Your patience during this time was sincerely appreciated.

We understand that the downtime was significant and apologize for any issues it may have caused in your app development. To help offset this disruption, we are extending the membership of all developer teams by one month. If you need any further assistance, please contact us.

The short update to developers, which apologizes for the service outage that lasted just over three weeks, comes five days after Apple announced plans to have the portal at full capacity by the end of this week.

As promised, Apple has extended developer memberships to make up for all of the down time. Devs will be pleased to see that 1 month has been added to their remaining membership time, meaning if you were set to expire next May, it’s now next June.

A Turkish security researcher by the name of Ibrahim Balic came forward shortly after the outage and claimed responsibility as the intruder that breached the Dev Center’s database. No personal data was stolen from users, but Apple decided the breach warranted a complete rebuild of the backend.

August 10, 2013
Exclusive : Google and Asus Planning to Launch the new Nexus 7 in India by September

Happy news for everyone waiting for the new Nexus 7 2013 to officially launch in India. Google and Asus are working closely to bring the device to India through official Google means and should be available for sale as early as End of September.

Our source at ASUS points out :

The Google Nexus 7 did really well in India, despite the delayed launch and Asus has received overwhelming response for the new Nexus 7, despite it not being officially announced for India.

The early launch of the new Nexus 7 will make sense for the computer manufacturer in India, especially considering that Asus is the company working on the 10 inch variant.

The new Nexus 7 is expected to launch at a price of Rs. 18999 for the 16 GB and Rs. 20999 AND 23999 for the 32GB and LTE variants respectively. While we gather more information on the device from the companies, watch our initial set of videos below.

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August 10, 2013
Luxury Car price hike inevitable, thanks to Rupee devaluation

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

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

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

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

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

Mercedes GL Class

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

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

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

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

BMW

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A closer look showing the power button of the device.

A closer look that shows the volume rockers.

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

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August 10, 2013
Asus to manufacture the Nexus 10 Refresh

Following the success of the Nexus 7 2nd edition, Google has decided to hand over the reigns of the Nexus 10 to Asus aswell. The largest of the three Nexus devices from Google is due for a refresh and is expected to hit the market soon. Every year Multiple companies submit designs to Google, who then evaluates which device they want to carry the Nexus branding for the next year. Last year both Nexus tablets were appreciated by the masses the 7 inch manufactured by Asus and the 10 inch by Samsung.

Courtesy : Geek.com

Although the 10 inch Nexus Tablet last year, was almost as popular as the 7 inch variant , it seems that Samsung has been dropped out of the race this year and Asus is the manufacturer of choice. The new Nexus 10 tablet is expected to have a 2560×1600 display and will be powered by the latest generation Snapdragon Chipset by Qualcomm. A retail leak also shows the Brand Asus and the description as Google Nexus 10, which further confirms the story.

If you have not already checked out our videos on the New Nexus 7, do it below.

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August 10, 2013
New Nexus 7 Reportedly Suffering From Dodgy GPS

Google recently launched their new Nexus 7 tablet, and now a number of owners of the tablet have reported issues with GPS.

It seems that some owners of the NExus 7 have been having issues with the GPS system on the device, with the feature working ok for a short time before suddenly stopping. The device then reverts to the searching mode with the GPS icon continually flashing, and some owners have stated that a hard reboot sometimes does the trick but not always.

Some have changed the device for another one for the problem still to occur so it seems the bug is being caused by an issue with the Android 4.3 firmware, and we have already heard of issues with the software affecting other Nexus devices.

If it’s an issue with the Android code, a simple firmware update could squash the bug. If the problem lies with the GPS hardware, the only solution could be to send off for a replacement Nexus 7.

Apparently, Google has acknowledged this and are currently is working on a fix, but we are unsure when this come about. Comments on this situation can be seen over on the Google Product Forums, along with other problems encountered with the GPS signal, while others have said that rebooting the system can sometimes sort this issue out as reported above.

[Via]

August 9, 2013
HTC One X+ Receives Android 4.2.2 Update With Sense 5.0 And BlinkFeed

HTC One X+ users can look forward to pretty significant feature and performance improvements in the next few weeks as the Taiwanese OEM rolls out an update to Android 4.2.2 that brings Sense 5 and BlinkFeed.

The update adds to the HTC One X+ many of the features first experienced on the this year’s HTC One, including the homescreen news aggregation widget BlinkFeed, automatic video highlights, a new and improved lockscreen, a new music app, autofocus lock in the camera app and more.

All this is part of HTC Sense 5, the company’s relatively new and vastly improved user interface that has gained so much praise since the launch of the HTC One.

Battery endurance on the HTC One X+ is reportedly also improved thanks to a new sleep mode switch. Users can track the status of the battery easily by turning on the percentage battery meter in the status bar. Since this is Android 4.2.2, the Quick settings panel is also presents and can be accessed by a two-finger swipe down.

HTC is yet to reveal any more information regarding the HTC One S, which it previously said would be updated to Android 4.2 but has since cancelled its plans for the handset. The news that the HTC One S would not be updated was met with dissatisfaction by device owners and a petition is still underway to pressure HTC into changing its mind.

August 9, 2013
Report : Blackberry Set To Follow Dell And Go Private

The latest rumour to circle about BlackBerry is not a new smartphone, but that the company is entertaining the idea of going private. Reuters “several sources familiar with the situation” revealed that the board is favouring this route and believe being a private company “would give them breathing room to fix its problems out of the public eye.” The company noted in the report is private equity firm Silver Lake Partners, same company who’s behind Dell’s current private dealings, but they make it clear that “no deal is imminent” and “BlackBerry has not launched any kind of a sale process.”

The message from BlackBerry’s communications department has been pretty consistent regarding its recent quarterly performance, as well as issues like layoffs and executive departures – the company is still in turnaround mode, and needs to make more changes to get the organization ship-shape before it can return to growth. But that’s not a refrain that investors enjoy hearing – especially not when the track’s on repeat.

Ever since Thorsten Heins, BlackBerry’s CEO, took over the reins he stated that the company was not for sale, but could potentially look at licensing BlackBerry 10 to other manufactures. In an interview last year Heins stated “We don’t have the economy of scale to compete against the guys who crank out 60 handsets a year. We have to differentiate and have a focused platform. To deliver BB10 we may need to look at licensing it to someone who can do this at a way better cost proposition than I can do it. There’s different options we could do that we’re currently investigating.”

BlackBerry’s openness to consider a deal marks a radical shift in thinking at the once high-flying smartphone maker. Until recently, BlackBerry, formerly known as Research in Motion and a pioneer in providing secured emails on handheld devices, had been bent on staying independent, betting its turnaround on its latest smartphones.

BlackBerry reported 6.8 million smartphone shipments last quarter and revenues of $3.1 billion, but also recorded an operating loss of $84 million.

[Via]

August 9, 2013
Nokia Lumia 925 Available for Pre-Order for 33,999 INR

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

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

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

August 9, 2013
Sony Launches RX100 II in India for Rs. 42,990 (PR)

Sony has launched the RX100 MK II in India for a price of Rs. 42,990 while the RX 100 is still available upwards of the Rs. 32000 price mark. The RX100 was deemed the best portable point and shoot and the next revision the RX100 II adds to it by bringing some much needed features to the mix.

For starters there is a whole new hot shoe mount that even lets you add external audio inputs, a new 20.2 MP sensor, Wifi and NFC is also built into the camera. There is also full HD video at 24/25p and a tilting vari-angle 3 inch display which sadly has no touch inputs. For more details on the camera, read the press release below.

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[toggle title=”Press Release”]Sony launches Cyber-shot™ RX100 II in India featuring
1.0-type Exmor R™ CMOS sensor and NFC technology

• Enhances the hugely popular RX100 with great picture quality and convenient new features
• New 20.2 effective megapixel back-illuminated Exmor RTM 1.0-type CMOS sensor boosts sensitivity for better low-light images
• Wi-Fi and easy One-touch smartphone connection with NFC
• Add accessories with Multi Interface Shoe and Multi Terminal
• 3.0-type White Magic™ LCD tilts up or down
• Full HD 24p/25p movie for rich, cinematic video footage
• TRILUMINOS™ Colour for richer, more natural colours

New Delhi; 8thAugust 2013: With tremendous response from RX100, Sony India today launched its successor, Cyber-shot™ RX100 II, the first ever camera from Sony with NFC (Near Field Communication) Technology. The new Cyber-shot™ RX100 II from Sony puts even more shooting power in your pocket with added features like the NFC, Exmor R™ CMOS sensor and Multi Interface Shoe. Sleekly styled in strong, light aluminium, it’s a perfect travel partner for quality-conscious photographers who seek DSLR-style images from a pocket camera with generous control options.

Building on the superb picture quality of the multi-award winning RX100, the new camera now delivers even better results whether you’re shooting indoors or at dusk without a flash. The newly developed back-illuminated Exmor R™ 1.0-type CMOS sensor increases sensitivity while reducing picture noise in tricky low-light scenes. Combined with the exceptional f1.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens, you’ll see the difference with exceptionally crisp, natural stills and Full HD video in any shooting situation – from parties to night-time landscapes.

Wi-Fi makes it easy to connect the camera wirelessly with your smartphone and transfer photos or videos for easy sharing. It’s also the first ever camera from Sony with NFC (Near Field Communication) technology, giving the extra convenience of One-touch connection with Android smartphones and tablets. There’s no set-up needed – simply touch your mobile device against the RX100 II and a wireless connection is made instantly. One-touch Remote even lets you trigger shutter release from your smartphone — great for group shots when you don’t want to be left out of the action.

The camera’s enthusiast appeal is further enhanced by a new Multi Interface Shoe and Multi Terminal. Expand your photographic capabilities by attaching optional accessories – including an electronic viewfinder, powerful external flash and stereo microphone – via the versatile Multi Interface Shoe. The Multi Terminal also allows the addition of other options such as a shutter-release remote controller.

The bright, detail-packed 3.0-type White Magic™ LCD now tilts up and down[1], giving greater freedom to compose shots in comfort. Hold the camera high up to reach over crowds, or get down low and see things from the perspective of pets and children.

Compatibility with TRILUMINOS™ Colour technology ensures even richer, more natural colour reproduction with the new generation of BRAVIA televisions featuring TRILUMINOS™ Display.

Full HD video modes are expanded with the addition of 24p/25p shooting for smooth, cinematic movies. Other refinements include a step zoom function that’s accessible via the camera’s customisation menu. Instantly choose from five popular focal lengths using the control ring – 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 70mm or 100mm: it’s an intuitive alternative to zooming in and out when you’re in a hurry.

The PlayMemories Mobile app has been updated to enable the One-touch capabilities of the RX100 II, and also now features an enhanced user interface. It is available now for free from the Google Play store for all Android smartphones.

Introduced in June 2012, the Cyber-shot™ DSC-RX100 is world’s first compact fixed-lens camera with a 1.0-type 20.2 effective megapixel sensor.

The new Cyber-shot™ RX100 II digital compact camera from Sony will be available across all Sony Centers and major electronic stores across India from 8th August, 2013.

Model
MRP
Colour
Availability
DSC-RX100 II

Rs. 42,990

Black

8th August, 2013

About Sony India Pvt. Ltd.

Sony India is one of the most recognized consumer electronics brand in the country, with a reputation for new age technology, digital concepts and excellent after sales service. In India, Sony has its footprint across all major towns and cities in the country through a distribution network comprising of over 18,000 dealers and distributors, more than 300 exclusive Sony outlets and 25 branch locations. Sony India also has a strong service presence across the country with 356 service outlets. Manned by customer friendly and informed sales persons, Sony’s exclusive stores ‘Sony Center’ are fast becoming the most visible face of the company in India. A distinctive feature of Sony’s service is its highly motivated and well-trained staff that provides the kind of attentive and sensitive service that is rare today.

For more details, please visit:www.sony.co.in[/toggle]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[via]

August 9, 2013
Sennheiser Launch Momentum On-Ear Headphones In India (PR)

Sennheiser has launched a new, smaller and lighter version of its Momentum on-ear headphones, sporting a new compact design and – for the first time – availability in a range of colours.

Both the ear pads and stainless steel headband are covered in Alcantara, which has the same texture and feel of suede leather. While equally plush and comfortable, this composite material is supposedly more durable and stain resistant, too.

Audio performance-wise, the Momentum boasts a wide 16Hz to 22kHz frequency response using a pair of large 32mm drivers. According to Sennheiser, this model has been tweaked with a slight bass emphasis and is capable of blocking out ambient noise. Another highlight is its low 18ohm impedance, making the Momentum easily compatible with most mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablets and notebooks.

Gunjan Srivastava, MD Sennheiser Electronics India Pvt Ltd said “The new Momentum On-Ear embodies an urban style, focused on the perfect amalgamation of high performance and the finest materials. This new range is perfect for those who demand the best audio experience without compromise on personal style.”

The new member of the Momentum family will cost Rs 14,990 and is available in blue, green, pink and ivory colour variations at selected retail outlets across the country. The product carries a worldwide warranty of two years.

[toggle title=”Press Release”]Sound meets fashion-
Sennheiser’s new MOMENTUM On-Ear

~ To be available in four vibrant colors ~

New Delhi, August 2013 – Music and fashion have a link that has existed for a really long time. Music is associated with fashion and different eras in history have witnessed fashion influenced by music of that era. German audio specialist, Sennheiser, have developed the new range of MOMENTUM On-Ear headphones which combine quality, substance and value. Equipped with high-quality audio technology and finished with the finest materials, the MOMENTUM On-Ear is the perfect blend of audio quality and sophisticated design. The MOMENTUM On-Ear are smaller, on-ear version that makes it possible to define your personal style with a range of contemporary colours.

The MOMENTUM On-Ear is a new addition to the MOMENTUM family, adding a dash of colour to the Sennheiser product range. The new range of headphones is available in four fresh shades- blue, green, pink and ivory. The distinct looks have been selected by an international team of designers and trend scouts.

Mr Gunjan Srivastava, MD Sennheiser Electronics India Pvt Ltd said “The new MOMENTUM On-Ear embodies an urban style, focused on the perfect amalgamation of high performance and the finest materials. This new range is perfect for those who demand the best audio experience without compromise on personal style.“

High-quality audio technology and the finest materials

The MOMENTUM On-Ear headphones stand out for their minimalist design, but also for the tangibly high quality of their materials and workmanship. The ear pads and headband have been finished in Alcantara®, a high-tech material produced in Italy. As a result of its unique combination of suppleness, durability and breathable comfort, this luxury material is valued by fashion designers and interior designers alike. As with all other models in the MOMENTUM family, the headband of the MOMENTUM On-Ear is made of stainless steel.

The sound of these headphones is also clear and uncompromising, creating a sound experience in which even the tiniest details can be heard. Equipped with high-end 18-ohm transducers, MOMENTUM On-Ear guarantees full stereo sound with a slight bass emphasis in a frequency range from 16 to 22,000 Hz. The closed, on-ear design of these headphones isolate the listener from external noise to ensure a great listening experience on the move – even in noisy urban environments.

Perfection in every detail
MOMENTUM On-Ear headphones feature a single-sided detachable cable with convenient in-line remote and microphone for Apple iDevices, for easy control of music playback and to make and receive calls on the go.
The new member of the MOMENTUM family is available across in the colours blue, green, pink and ivory at selected retailers across the country. The product is backed by a worldwide warranty of two years.
The Sennheiser e-store now lets you check out and buy these headphones anytime and from anywhere. Visit the e-store at http://shop.sennheiserindia.com

The Momentum On ear range is prized at: Rs 14,990

About Sennheiser Electronics India Private Limited

Sennheiser Electronics India Private Limited, established in February 2007, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG / Germany. Sennheiser India, with its Head Office in Gurgaon and a branch office each in Mumbai and Bangalore, has three full-fledged service centres across all locations to provide the best service support for Sennheiser and its Group brands’ product range. Also part of the Sennheiser Group are Georg Neumann GmbH, Berlin (studio microphones and monitor loudspeakers), and the joint venture Sennheiser Communications A/S (headsets for PCs, offices and call centres).
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August 8, 2013
Bill Gates : People Dying of Malaria Don’t Need Google Project Loon

Google recently unveiled Google Loon, which intends to use hot air balloons 49 feet wide stationed 12 miles above the planet, in order to provide high speed Internet services to regions without adequate broadband infrastructure. While most people around the world, whether they understood the concept or not, were impressed by the idea, Microsoft founder Bill Gates wasn’t.

The following is an excerpt from Gates’ interview published by Business Week :

One of Google’s convictions is that bringing Internet connectivity to less-developed countries can lead to all sorts of secondary benefits. It has a project to float broadband transmitters on balloons. Can bringing Internet access to parts of the world that don’t have it help solve problems?

“When you’re dying of malaria, I suppose you’ll look up and see that balloon, and I’m not sure how it’ll help you. When a kid gets diarrhea, no, there’s no website that relieves that. Certainly I’m a huge believer in the digital revolution. And connecting up primary-health-care centers, connecting up schools, those are good things. But no, those are not, for the really low-income countries, unless you directly say we’re going to do something about malaria.

Google started out saying they were going to do a broad set of things. They hired Larry Brilliant, and they got fantastic publicity. And then they shut it all down. Now they’re just doing their core thing. Fine. But the actors who just do their core thing are not going to uplift the poor.”

August 8, 2013

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

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

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

Let us compare all of these devices in detail below:

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

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

August 8, 2013