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Upset With Mercedes,Gujarat Businessman Drags His E-Class By Donkeys Through City Streets

Frustrated with his repeated failures at getting the car properly serviced, a Vadodara based Mercedes Benz owner paraded his E-Class luxury saloon dragged by six donkeys through city roads, in order to catch attention of the German auto major’s Indian division.

Image Courtesy : Sandesh

Kumud Patel decided to take matter in his own hands when his year and a half year old Mercedes Benz E350 worth Rs 60 lakhs, was not fixed by authorized dealer over repeated attempts.

He bought the E350 back in July 2011 along with Mercedes Benz Road Side Assistance Program. According to Kumud, problems with his new E Class started in Sep 2011. Ever since he has been trying to fix his car, but every time he got his car fixed, a new fault appeared. His car is still not fixed and has problems in two of the wheels.

It happens only in India!

[Via Rush Lane]

December 2, 2012
Google Play Revenues Leap 311% In 2012, But iOS Apps Still More Profitable

Google Play seems to be going on one heck of a growth spurt. According to new stats, the Android app store is catching up to iOS fast.

Even though the Apple App Store is four times more profitable than Google Play, iOS can’t match Android’s revenue growth of 311 percent since January and 17.9 percent in the last month. These numbers are misleading, however, since Google started the year with next to nothing in its Play Store coffers, while Apple had already earned $4 billion from App Store revenue.

Most app revenue, on both platforms, unsurprisingly came from game publishers. Zynga and EA, along with Gameloft and Halfbrick (makers of Fruit Ninja) were among the top 10, but Japan and Korean owned eight of the top ten places for app revenue sorted by publisher on Google Play. iOS was more Western-focused, with Electronic Arts leading the way, though with over 950 titles on the App Store their lead is anything but shocking.

Though Apple still outstrips Google in terms of free app downloads by 10%, it’s interesting to see developers such as Go Launcher, makers of the insanely popular launcher alternative for Android, sitting at number four, ahead of big names like Twitter, Skype and WhatsApp.

Overall, the situation doesn’t look as grim for Google as it did a year ago. Users are paying for apps, although most are games, and total numbers of downloads are approaching App Store territory quickly. People are beginning to understand that Google has built itself a versatile and potentially profitable portal for app developers, and users are beginning to see the value in investing their money into it.

December 2, 2012
HTC One X Android 4.1 Jelly Bean Update Rolling Out Globally

HTC has started rolling out Android 4.1 Jelly Bean for its flagship phone HTC One X.

HTC One X owners in the UK, Russia, India, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, and other areas should be able to download the update over-the-air now. And it should come to other regions imminently, according to a source at HTC.

If you haven’t yet seen an alert, head to Settings > Software Updates > Check Now. You should get a 1.6MB file, and then a whopping 364.54MB Android update.

So what does the update bring to your phone? The user interface is faster, with speedier switches of orientation from portrait to landscape. You’ll also be able to switch between apps faster. Face Unlock is more accurate than in previous versions, and you can swipe from the camera viewfinder to see your photos for review.

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean also brings Google’s improved voice search, and Google Now, which provides you with information as and when you need it, based on your location, appointments and schedules.

Waiting for Android 4.2 now!

December 1, 2012
New Video Gives A Closer Look At The BlackBerry 10 Camera Time Shift Feature

One of the upcoming features that RIM has embedded into the BlackBerry 10 devices is Time Shift (powered by Scalado). This gives users the ability to snap multiple pictures and easily adjust the image to make it perfect – no more closed eye syndrome. RIM first showed this off at BlackBerry World 2012 and wowed the crowd.

In a video today, RIM has posted a deeper look into Time Shift, specifically noting that the upcoming BB10 devices will come with “a great camera that allows you to take photos, full HD video. As well as a camera that solves some of the problems that you probably encounter everyday when you use a camera to take pictures.” Arun Kumar, Senior Product Manager, Multimedia at BlackBerry, said that with Time Shift you can literally go forward and reverse “in time” to make the perfect picture. You’ll be able to adjust multiple faces and basically choose a new set of eyes or change the smile. It’s a pretty cool feature and will be a solid addition to the overall BB10 experience.

Kumar also gave a bit more insight into the Blackberry 10 multimedia experience as he states that you’ll have the option to “personalize” the pictures or videos you capture, then easily sharing “your life stories with others.” This is something that has popped up online over the past number of months. Within Blackberry 10, RIM will include a picture editor capabilities that is a similar experience to Instagram.

RIM will unveil their new BlackBerry 10 OS and the two new BlackBerry 10 smartphones on January 30th, 2013. For now, check out the video of Time Shift below.

[Mobile Syrup]

December 1, 2012
Dual-SIM Lava Xolo A700 Phablet Available Now

Lava has launched another Xolo branded handset in the Indian market. Dubbed as the Lava Xolo A700, this is a dual-SIM (3G+2G) smartphone, which is now retailing online for Rs. 9,999.

Lava Xolo A700 comes with a 4-inch screen and qHD (960 x 540 pixels) display. It comes with 5-megapixel auto focus camera with LED flash at the rear and a VGA front camera. The back camera is also capable of 720p HD video recording. Other features include 512 MB RAM, 4GB of internal storage, and a 1,700mAh battery. It is powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor coupled with 512MB of RAM.

As of now, the low cost market phablet is occupied by Micromax A110 Canvas 2 , Wicked Leak Note Wammy , iBall Andi 5c , Spice Stellar Horizon , Cloud Zync Z5 , Intex Aqua 5.0 and Mercury MagiQ, That are priced in the sub Rs 13.000 price range.

Lava’s older offering, the Xolo 900, ran on Android 2.3.7 and had an Intel Saltwell 1.6GHz single core CPU with Hyper-Threading, and the PowerVR SGX540 GPU (400MHz), coupled with 1GB of 32-bit dual channel LPDDR2 memory. It had a 4.03-inch TFT LCD (1024×600 pixels) display and 16GB built-in storage. The rear houses an 8MP camera with the ability to shoot 1080p HD video. The Xolo X900 is currently available for Rs. 17,500.

November 30, 2012
2013 Range Rover Launched in India

Tata owned Jaguar Land Rover Automobiles have launched the all new 2013 Range Rover in India. The 2013 Range Rover is available in three variants, the Vogue SE is set at Rs 1.72 crore, the all new Autobiography at Rs 1.79 crore and the range topping Autobiography petrol at a mind numbing Rs 1.84 crore ex-showroom-Delhi. According to Jaguar Land Rover, the 2013 Range Rover is the world’s first all-aluminium monocoque and also lays claims to be the largest automotive panel in the world’.

The new Rover has a redesigned body shell, which is lighter by about 400kg and this should contribute to better agility, performance and fuel efficiency.

The 2013 Range Rover also has a larger more spacious wheelbase (40mm more than the previous version), expanding the legroom for the middle row by 118mm.

The Range Rover’s off road capabilities also get a boost thanks to the 18mm increase in ground clearance. The wading depth is also now a claimed 900mm, up from the previous 700mm with an all new Terrain Response 2 system with auto setting and intelligent suspension control based on the terrain. The driver will also have the ability to set from 5 manual options for the ride quality.

The Autobiography Petrol has a 510PS supercharged V8 petrol engine with a response time from 0-100kmph of 5.1 second while the Diesel variants come with 258PS SDV8 which improves acceleration times when compared to the existing outgoing version. While Jaguar has started taking orders for the Super SUVs the delivers are said to begin early 2013

November 30, 2012
Original Galaxy Note N7000 Jelly Bean 4.1.2 update leaked

If you are still sporting a good old Galaxy Note N7000, then you are desperately holding your breath for the Jelly Bean update. There is some good news, a new build N7000XXLSA that’s available to download and install on the original phablet, has now been leaked and brings the Galaxy Note N700 Jelly Bean update.

[quote]According to Sam Mobile’s insiders, “the Galaxy Note still requires a lot of work,” until the Jelly Bean update can be released, so we certainly expect more test versions to roll out.[/quote]

While Most Indian Galaxy S3 owners are now happy with their new Jelly Bean Update, Galaxy S2 and Galaxy Note N7000 owners are desperately waiting for the official update notification. According to the industry insiders behind the Galaxy Note N7000 jelly bean update leak however, the 4.1.2 update for the Galaxy S2 is “almost ready”.

As inviting as the proposition may appear to be, we would recommend that you avoid test builds unless you cannot simply wait for the final version. Hit the link below to download your copy today.

[SAM MOBILE]

November 30, 2012
Microsoft Surface with Windows 8 Pro priced starting US$899 for 64GB

Microsoft has finally put a price tag on the Surface tablet variant which will come with Windows 8 Pro. The Microsoft Surface was announced earlier this year and went on sale in the beginning of November in the US. While Microsoft has failed to move numbers, many owners are surprisingly happy with their devices. Microsoft plans to up the ante with a Pro edition packing Microsoft’s full fledged Windows 8 Pro.

It’s confirmed in a Microsoft blog post that the device will start at $899 for the 64GB model, and the higher capacity version with 128GB storage will cost $999. The Pro packing Surface also has a “Standalone” moniker which means you’ll get a Surface pen/stylus, but the touch/type covers will cost anothe US$100. Both capacity variants will be available in January, with no word on dates.

The Surface Pro will resemble the Surface RT and, including the same “VaporMg” casing and built-in kickstand, boasts a 10.6-inch display with a 16:9 aspect ratio. The upgraded Surface will also have a full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution, 3rd Gen Intel Core i5 Processor with Intel HD Graphics 4000, 4GB of RAM, a Mini DisplayPort that can output a 2560 x 1440 resolution, a full-size USB 3.0 port and Windows 8 Pro with support for all desktop applications.

[Official Microsoft Blog]

November 30, 2012
Apple iTunes gets upped to version 11, Not so Much-Awaited after all

If you just hit the software button like us, you have been in an encounter with the an update of iTunes that pushes the number to iTunes 11. The desktop variant download includes a new MiniPlayer for playing tracks in a widget-sized window. The whole app now is remenicient of the iPad music player app (iPod) , an “Up Next” feature for cueing up songs and viewing what’s next at a glance, and instant recommendations depending on your music tastes.

iTunes 11 also has active memory and will remember where you left off while playing a song, movie or TV shows if you get interrupted.

iCloud integration will allow you to play back your library on any device, while an offline option should allow in-flight or underground listening sessions to continue without a hitch.

iTunes 11 is available as a Software Update for existing users, and a fresh install from the Apple website.

November 30, 2012
Microsoft Windows Phone 8 Reboot Bug Fix Coming In December

Microsoft has found the issue that’s causing some Windows Phone 8 users devices to randomly reboot. It’s certainly frustrating and it’s happen to other platforms in the past.

Hundreds of users of the Nokia Lumia 920 and HTC 8X smartphones have reported on Internet forums that their phones were repeatedly and spontaneously rebooting. The reports identified several different mobile operators in the U.S. and Europe. The forums didn’t identify a consistent culprit for the problem.

Initially, it was speculated that the patch to fix the rebooting issue will be part of a larger software update for the platform, known as Apollo Plus, that would bring added features. However, it looks like as the problem has been identified, Microsoft may not want to wait and is rolling out the patch ahead of Apollo Plus.

Unfortunately Microsoft isn’t specifically saying what’s causing this, only stating that it’s not them but “with our partners.” No indication if it’s a manufacturer, carrier or app developer. However, according to AllThingsD a fix is en route OTA in December.

November 28, 2012
Report : Microsoft Working on Apollo Plus Update for Windows Phone 8, Coming Early 2013

There’s no mistaking the fact that, despite Windows Phone 8’s extensive feature set and countless improvements over its predecessor, there were a few notable omissions in the final Windows product.

Microsoft admitted that it ran out of time to bring a new notification centre to the OS, and basic enterprise features like VPN support were also omitted at launch.

To that end, the company plans to introduce a software update for Windows Phone 8, currently dubbed “Apollo+”, early next year, likely during Mobile World Congress in February.

Also expected to make an appearance in the update, which may be the first to use Microsoft’s new over-the-air infrastructure, will be fixes for WiFi disconnecting when the screen is turned off, corrections for audio glitches, and the possibility of notification improvements.

Last but not least, it’s said that Microsoft plans to test the ability to receive Windows Phone 8 updates via OTA (over the air), but it’s not yet decided whether this change will be introduced with Apollo Plus update.

November 27, 2012
Samsung Launches ATIV Smart PC and Smart PC Pro in India

Samsung Today launched two new tablets+PC convertibles for India, the ATIV Smart PC and Smart PC Pro. Prices for the ATIV Smart PC and Smart PC Pro are ket at a staggering Rs. 53,990 and Rs 75,490 respectively.

The ATIV Smart PC features dual-core Intel Atom CPU clocked at 1.8GHz, an 11.6-inch display with a resolution of 1366×768 pixels, 2GB of RAM, 64GB of eMMC memory and has dual cameras (8-megapixel rear with full HD Video and a 2-megapixel front facing shooter). The keyboard dock comes standard along with a 2-cell battery, dual speakers and the S-Pen stylus. Samsung claims that it can deliver a battery life of up to 13.5 hours with the standard battery. Other ports include a micro-HDMI, one USB 2.0, a MicroSD card reader and a 3.5mm combi-headphone jack.

The ATIV Smart PC will also feature the full set of Samsung developed apps to utilise the Windows 8 Platform

Samsung’s ATIV Smart PC Pro promises to deliver the extra features missing from the Smart PC, Intel Ivy Bridge dual-core i5 processor and a full-HD 11.6-inch display. Its only 9.9 mm thick and classifies as an ultrabook. ATIV Smart PC Pro also includes standard keyboard dock, 4GB of RAM, a 128 GB SSD drive, stereo speakers, twin cameras 5.0-megapixel rear camera, 2.0-megapixel front facing camera, funnily enough the more expensive one out of the two has a lower resolution camera. The ATIV Smart PC Pro has a 4-cell battery and up to 8.5 hours of battery life.

The ATIV Smart PC Pro also features the S-Pen stylus, one micro-HDMI port, one USB 3.0 port, a microSD card reader, a combi-headphone jack and Samsung’s proprietary dock port. Both the Smart PC and Smart PC Pro are expected to be available in December 2012

November 27, 2012
Motorola Mobility Indian Website Shut Down

Motorola Mobility has shut down its India-specific product website as part of its global streamlining process.

[quote]“We are streamlining our business and support systems, and unfortunately, we’ll no longer have a dedicated website for India,” a message on Motorola Mobility India’s website said.[/quote]

“Your local support site will remain open well into the future, and we’ll continue to provide support for our existing products,” it added.

This move seems to be a part of the company’s global downsizing process. In August, it had confirmed its decision to cut off 20 percent of work force and shut down operations in many countries.

Motorola Mobility, which is totally independent from Motorola Solutions, had incurred heavy loss last year. Google took over the company for $12.5 billion in May this year. Google had earlier said in a filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

The company is likely to continue its sales in India till the stocks lessen. It is rumored that India may not see any new products from Motorola. It was reported that the existing customers would continue to get the service centre support.

This move seems to be a part of Motorola’s global downsizing process. In August, Motorola had confirmed its decision to cut off 20 percent of work force and shut down operations in many countries.

Motorola Mobility, which is totally independent from Motorola Solutions, had incurred heavy loss last year. Google took over the company for $12.5 billion in May this year. Google had earlier said in a filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission, “These changes are designed to return Motorola’s mobile devices unit to profitability, after it lost money in fourteen of the last sixteen quarters,” as reported by IBN Live.
The company is likely to continue its sales in India till the stocks lessen. It is rumored that India may not see any new products from Motorola. It was reported that the existing customers would continue to get the service centre support.

November 26, 2012
BlackBerry 10-N Series Physical QWERTY Keypad Gets Photographed

The BlackBerry 10 N-Series hasn’t since seen the light of day, until today. Aside from the early marketing video never really meant for public eyes, the N-Series has escaped blurry cams everywhere but purported images of the BlackBerry 10 N-Series Physical QWERTY Keypad have made their way out now.

Taking a look at it shows the similar iconic design that we’re used to seeing in other flagship devices, namely the Bold 9900, but with the upcoming BB 10 it looks like the familiar chrome ‘frets’ will be straight, rather than curved.

The BlackBerry 10 platform and the first two smartphones powered by it will be launched on January 30, and more on the matter will become official at that time.

For BlackBerry users out there, are you likely to go with touchscreen or QWERTY keyboard?

November 26, 2012
Video Of Nokia Lumia 510 Running Windows Phone 7.8 Surfaces Online

After the Windows Phone 7.8-powerd Nokia Lumia 900 spotted in China earlier this month, a new device has been caught on camera running the unannounced operating system, the Lumia 510.

A new video, presumably from Winp.cn, shows the current build of Windows Phone 7.8 (8858) in action on the Nokia Lumia 510. Actually, it’s less action and more of a nice, soothing stroll on some of the more superficial changes coming in the OS update. The new tiles are shown off and we even see the Bing lockscreen wallpaper working.

A new rumour states that Windows Phone 7.8 will launch as early as Wednesday of this week, though in what capacity we don’t know. We may get a roll-out schedule in the very least, though even that is up in the air.

There have been several leaks that indicate Nokia is actively working on a new major Windows Phone update for its first generation Lumia handsets, though there has been no word on availability.

One nice feature exclusive, it seems, to Nokia phones is the ability to keep WiFi on in the background when the screen is off. This may seem trivial to most smartphone users but amazingly the functionality is not currently present in Windows Phone as we know it.

We still expect WP 7.8 to come out sometime early 2013.

November 26, 2012