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The iPad mini leaks are starting to bomb the circuit. The new anodized Aluminum design is certainly eye-catching. Gizmodo reader Martin Hajek has produced some high-quality renders of the device that show off what its black anodized aluminum casing will look like. The pictures sent to Gizmodo not only show off the tablet’s casing but also showcase the device’s rumored 7.85-inch display that features thinner side bezels when compared to the iPad.
The color options make us drool check them out.
Samsung has confirmed that the Jelly bean Update for Galaxy S IIIs in India will start seeding from their servers post 20th october 2012. While the company estimates the process to be smooth, we expect just like last time some units will get the Jelly Bean update before others.
On 6 September 2012, Samsung revealed that sales of the S III had reached 20 million in 100 days, making it three and six times faster-selling than the Galaxy S II and the Galaxy S, respectively. Europe accounted for more than 25 percent of this figure with 6 million units, followed by Asia (4.5 million) and the U.S. (4 million); sales in South Korea, the S III’s home market, numbered 2.5 million.
So if those numbers are to be agreed upon the Europe update which started last week will be followed by updates in Asia including India then US and so on.
Whats this, Is Nokia selling trademarks and logos to keep up with expenses?
This might not actually be the case but the new Facebook campaign cover image is quite similar to the good old Nokia “Connecting People” Trademark image. I Hope Nokia has some sort of legal work in place, so that they can sue their way back into the limelight.
Nokia introduced its”Connecting People” advertising slogan, coined by Ove Strandberg and used since 1992. Nokia was the world’s largest vendor of mobile phones from 1998 to 2011. However, over the past five years it has suffered declining market share as a result of the growing use of smartphones from other vendors, principally the Apple iPhone and devices running on Google’s Android operating system. As a result, its share price has fallen from a high of US$40 in 2007 to under US$3 in 2012. Since February 2011, Nokia has had a strategic partnership with Microsoft, as part of which all Nokia smartphones will incorporate Microsoft’s Windows Phone operating system (replacing Symbian).
Nokia unveiled its first Windows Phone handsets, the Lumia 710 and 800, in October 2011 which did not do well in the market as expected. Nokia then went on to release two other Lumia Phones the 710 and the Lumia 900, both of which also did not do well considering the fact that Microsoft launched the new Windows Phone 8 OS which would not be compatible on these phones.
Nokia is now banking on the release of their new 2012 Lineup of phones including the Lumia 920 and 820 which were announced on 5th Sept 2012, and are expected to become available mid November. We did go hands on with these phones and feel that they might be the saving grace Nokia is after.
The company reported a terrible Q2 result showing a Net loss of US$ 2 Billion, and declaring sale and then rental of their HQ at Espoo, Finland.
Google will add its popular Street View feature to the Google Maps web app, accessible on iOS devices, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The newspaper said the feature will be rolled out on Thursday, and tech correspondent Walt Mossberg has already tested the new version of the browser-based service.
Google has been apparently working on adding this integration to the HTML5-based app since the launch of iOS 6, and the feature will be compatible on the iPhone and iPad through Mobile Safari. The addition is a precursor to what most pundits believe is a push to add a dedicated Google Maps app to iOS, like Google just did with YouTube.
Google Chairman Eric Schmidt said in September that no standalone mapping app has been submitted to Apple’s App Store, and declined to elaborate on the company’s future plans regarding and iOS version of Google Maps. Such an app is believed to be in the works, however, as Google wants to keep a strong presence on Apple’s mobile platform, evidenced in the recent introduction of a standalone YouTube app.
Micromax has just announced plans for a new Funbook Tablet, the P350 Funbook Talk, which features the same specs of the P300 with phone call ability and a dedicated sim card slot for GSM networks.
All other features remain the same, with a 1.0 GHz Cortex A8 Dual Mali 400 chipset, Android 4.0.4 and a 7 inch capacitive screen. You do have a front facing 0.3 MP camera and a microSD card slot, along side a 2800 mAh battery and a 3G dongle support.
The Tablet has been announced for a price of Rs. 7250, expect full video soon.
A new study says most iPhone users have updated to iOS 6, Apple’s latest operating system, despite a number of flaws that have plagued its launch.
After only two weeks on the market, iOS 6 is running on over 60% of iPhones, 15% more than on iPads. Chitika, an ad network and analytics firm, put together the study.
Apple is known for having fast adoption rates for its operating systems, but it wouldn’t have been surprising if iOS 6 bucked that trend after suffering from a plethora of problems that have embarrassed the Cupertino tech company since its launched.
iPhone users are adopting iOS 6 faster than iPad or iPod Touch users, likely because most iPhones support the upgrade, whereas the iPad 1 and iPod Touches before the 4th generation won’t be updated past iOS 4 or iOS 5.
In particular, the iPad 1, due to its limited 256MB of RAM, was not able to update past iOS 5.1, leaving many owners angry that their first-generation product is now obsolete. While most apps will still run fine for another generation or so on iOS 5, many developers will begin enforcing iOS 6 in the coming months.
Nokia has launched a new Xpress browser of or the Lumia line that is identical to the browser found n the new Asha phones.
Announced today via the company’s Beta Labs site, Nokia Xpress leverages the cloud to compress internet data up to 85 percent, help users keep tabs on their consumption habits and even reformats favorited sites into a magazine-like layout.
The app also allows for simple searches for items across Bing and YouTube from within the browser.
Its not available in the marketplace as of now but can be downloaded from the source below.
Nokia’s days couldn’t be worse, where on one hand the company is trying real hard with their new range of lumina phones, on the other hand the company is loosing big to mobile phone kingpins like Samsung and Apple.
With their new Lumia series no where in sight the estimated $2 Billion loss is more than the company can take and according to reports is prepping to sell its HQ at Espoo, Finland . The building is valued AT&T an estimated 200-400 million dollars, an amount which was chunk change to a company like Nokia in the past.
Nokia has dismissed speculation that tentative plans to sell off its Espoo headquarters is a sign of increasingly precarious finances, arguing that rather it is “common business sense” for the Finnish firm.
[quote]“As with most companies whose core business is not in owning real estate, it makes common business sense not to tie assets in real estate property but rather invest and focus in its core operations” Nokia’s Mark Squires Said. “Divesting real estate is an entirely different thing compared to the location of the headquarters. As we have said many times before, we have no plans to move our headquarters.”[/quote]
According to Finnish reports, Nokia’s head office in Finland is worth approximately €200-300m ($258-387m). Selling it off and then renting it back as a guaranteed tenant would free up a lump sum for Nokia to use immediately, as well as presumably liberate it from issues of maintenance moving forward. This practice is not unusual in Finland.
Apple has announced a cut in prices of the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 models. According to an Apple spokesperson, the iPhone 4S 16GB model is now available for Rs 41,400, a reduction of Rs 3,100 from its earlier price of Rs 44,500.
The big news for Apple enthusiasts is that the company has slashed the price of the iPhone 4 (8GB) by Rs 9,600. The phone, which was earlier available for Rs 37,900 is now available for Rs 28,300. Further, Apple has discontinued the iPhone 3GS.
No exact date given, although word on the street is that the iPhone 5 will be launched just ahead of diwali, with the 16GB version costing around INR 45,000. Previously there were reports that Airtel, Vodafone and Aircel have placed orders for Nano-SIM cards which are used in the iPhone 5.
Will Samsung announce a Galaxy S III Mini on October 11th?
The company has issued invites to a press event in Frankfurt for next Thursday, with a byline that reads: “Something big can be small and something small can be big.” Rumours of a smaller, less powerful Galaxy S III have persisted since the device’s announcement in May. Samsung usually takes its flagship design and tweaks it a little for the middle- and entry-level markets; for example, the Galaxy Y and Galaxy R were offshoots of the Galaxy S II.
With a a 4-inch WVGA (800×480) Super AMOLED screen it would only be 0.8-inches smaller than the Samsung Galaxy S3’s screen so, if true, the Mini-moniker is a bit of a misnomer. It might also feature a dual-core processor, a 5MP camera, and will come with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean out of the box.
Is this just a wild rumour? Let’s wait and see!
According to the latest leaks of the iPad mini, the 7.85-inch tablet will come in black and white colours, differentiating itself from the silver anodized aluminum of its bigger brother. The colour scheme gels with the iPhone 5, and could mark territory for Apple as they move away from the single-toned iPad.
Inside the device, we see a nano-SIM slot and antennas for 3G/LTE connectivity, so expect the iPad mini to come in both WiFi and cellular-compatible versions, likely for a smaller premium than we’re used to. The Lightning connector input is present as well, which is unsurprising.
You can see a hole for a rear camera, no flash, and the typical Apple logo with a simple ‘iPad’ insignia etched on the back. The black tone seems darker than the ‘Slate’ colour we are used to on the iPhone 5, though we don’t know what it will look like in the real world.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Apple has started mass producing “a new tablet computer smaller than the current iPad.” It’s heavily rumoured for months now that Apple will be launching the “iPad mini” and have it come with a display sized 7.85-inches – this is to compete agains all the other smaller tablets on the market, such as the Nexus 7, BlackBerry PlayBook, Samsung Tab, and the Amazon Kindle Fire HD.
It’s been rumored for weeks that Apple is planning to unveil an iPad Mini in October. In August, schematics of the new device were bouncing around the tech blogs. The new smaller iPad will be priced at around $250-$300 (£156-£187 respectively), T3.com reported, citing Chinese sources.
During an Apple’s earnings call in October 2010, the company’s late co-founder Steve Jobs once famously dissed mid-sized slates.
[quote]“The 10in screen size is the minimum size required to create great tablet apps. 7in tablets are tweeners: too big to compete with a smartphone, and too small to compete with an iPad,” Jobs said. These are among the reasons that the current crop of 7-inch tablets are going to be DOA — dead on arrival,” [/quote]
HTC has launched the long rumored One X+ with a minor upgrade and a 1.7GHz Quad Core Tegra 3 Chipset, The phone also has a larger 2,100mAh battery, expanded 64GB of storage and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean with Sense 4+ onboard.
The new phone also features “Tap to Go” to pair up with Beats branded speakers and Headphones. The 8-megapixel rear module with f/2.0 lens and ImageChip-assist is the same, but the camera software’s been slightly tweaked with the addition of two new modes: Self Portrait for subtle retouching of front facing shots and Sightseeing which allows for quick launch of the camera app.
Also launched is the new HTC Get Started, a web-based service that lets users manage initial setup from the desktop for one-click installation on the phone itself. The One X+ is slated to launch globally this fall, hitting Europe and Northern Asia this October, with a November release in South Asia to follow.
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HTC INTRODUCES THE HTC ONE™ X+.
MORE SPEED, MORE STORAGE AND MORE BATTERY LIFE
MAKE HTC’S BEST RATED ANDROID PHONE, EVEN BETTER
HTC also announces SenseTM 4+ with Android Jelly Bean upgrades for
HTC One X and HTC One S coming soon
TAIPEI – 2ND OCTOBER, 2012 – HTC, a global leader in mobile innovation and design, today unveiled the HTC One™ X+, a refreshed version of its award winning HTC One™ X smartphone, running the HTC SenseTM 4+ experience on Android™ Jelly Bean. The HTC One™ X+ combines the iconic design, amazing camera and authentic audio experience of the HTC One series, with increased performance, longer battery life and expanded internal storage.
“We are taking the HTC One™ X to a new level with the introduction of the new HTC One™ X+,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation. “Our customers will have super-fast browsing, an even better camera and more immersive entertainment with Beats Audio.”
Performance, Endurance and Storage
Featuring a 1.7 GHz quad-core NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 AP37 processor and 64GB of internal storage, the HTC One™ X+ LTE version is up to 67% faster than the HTC One™ X1 LTE, making the HTC One™ X+ the best rated Android phone on the market. Developed to be lightning fast, the HTC One™ X+ enables quicker web browsing, fluid gaming and graphic rendering, and speedy downloads, providing effortless usage on the go.
In addition to its increased performance speeds, the HTC One™ X+ introduces extended performance with the inclusion of a 2100 mAh battery, giving you up to 50% (6 hours) more talk time, and longer to browse the web and enjoy your favorite music and videos2.
Imaging, Music and Movies
Combining the amazing camera capabilities of its predecessor3* with a series of intelligent features, powered by SenseTM 4+, the HTC One™ X+ has been designed to deliver the most premium mobile experience. The newly launched Self Portrait mode on the front camera helps you capture high quality photos by intuitively detecting the human face at various angles and applying subtle enhancements to skin and eyes. Sightseeing mode makes sure you’ll always be ready to capture the moment – one touch of the power button bypasses the lock screen and launches directly into the camera. Two new views in Gallery display images and videos and group them according to where and when they were taken.
Exclusively available on HTC smartphones, Beats AudioTM provides authentic, studio-quality sound that delivers the most immersive sound experience with an enhanced audio profile, crisper vocals and detailed high notes for your music, games, movies and videos. Making it easier to listen to music out loud, and through SenseTM 4+, the HTC One™ X+ introduces a new Tap and Go function, which allows you to connect the phone and your music to Beats speakers’4 when you tap them. To disconnect, it is just another quick tap.
Providing exclusive access to thousands of movies through HTC Watch 2.0, the HTC One™ X+ will appeal to both the avid film fan and the casual movie-goer. Combined with the introduction of video hub, another benefit of SenseTM 4+, for the first time you will be able to put all your video entertainment in a single place.
Easy Set Up
A new feature in the HTC One™ X+ is HTC Get Started, a new web service that guides the user painlessly through the set-up and personalisation process from a desktop web browser. Designed to enhance the experience of setting up a phone for the first time, this feature ensures that users will get the most out of their new phone from the beginning. With the touch of a button, users’ phone will reflect the settings and apps that were chosen on the Web. Visit start.htc.com for more details.
Availability
The HTC One™ X+ will be available in Europe and North Asia from October and in South Asia from November 2012. North America will make a separate announcement regarding availability of the HTC One™ X+. The Android Jelly Bean with HTC™ Sense 4+ update is scheduled to begin rolling out for the HTC One™ S and HTC One™ X from October.
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Apple India is working hard to bring the iPhone 5 to India end October 2012. The iPhone 5 will be announced in India around the 28th/29th of October and will be available soon after. In the meanwhile carriers including Vodafone, Reliance, Aircel and Airtel have all ordered nano SIMs (the iPhone 5 uses nano SIM which is smaller and thinner than a micro SIM).
The pricing on the iPhone 5 seems off, where the iPhone 4s came into market for a price of Rs 44,500, the iPhone 5 is expected to launch for a price upwards of Rs. 46500 for the 16Gb variant. The price difference between capacity variants is also massive, where the iPhone 4s had an increment of Rs 5500 for the 32GB version, the iPhone 5 32GB will be approximately Rs 8000 more.
iPhone 5 will truly be the most expensive consumer smartphone in India. Those travelling abroad will prefer buying an importing the iPhone 5 since the price difference will be almost Rs 10,000 less compared to the Indian version.
Expected to hit the shelves around the world in November (alongside the 8S), the HTC 8X, aka Windows Phone 8X by HTC, has appeared in what seems to be its first official promo video.
The company dishes about full Skype integration in Windows Phone 8, which we knew was coming, as well as a new service called Xbox Music, which seems to be Microsoft’s updated version of Zune for the new Windows Phone Store.. We already know of the 8X’s excellent back camera, with improved low-light performance, but its front-facing camera is particularly noteworthy. It’s a 2.1MP wide-angle lens, so it fits more people in a single shot.