You will need a gmail email address or a fully qualified google profile to get this to work.
Google apps and associated email addresses are currently not supported
When you get an invite it should look something like the image below
After you get an invite you will need to click the button :
Step 2 : Register
Once you click on the button you will be redirected to the registration page:
Add your details, upload and crop your profile Photo.
And you are all set to CLICK JOIN
Step 3 : Profile
Now that you are in, you would want to set up your profile.
You will be greeted with a similar welcome page :
welcome page
Click the sprocket settings button on the top right of you browser to get into Google Plus settings.
Next, Set up your privacy and sharing settings in the page.
HIT – SAVE, and you are done!
Step 4 : Setting up Circles
Hit the circles button on your profile page to set up Circles.
Once on the circles page you will be able to , find people by email addresses or by searching for them over other networks and email services like yahoo mail or hotmail.
Simple create circles of your choice, Like Friends, Family, Colleagues, Game Buddies, College, etc.
You can also add the same person to multiple circles.
Once you are done finding and adding your friends, its time to start posting!.
Step 5 : First Post!
Simple click on the share bar in your Google Plus homepage and start writing.
You can add media like videos or photos or even links and location from where you are posting.
Also select what all circles you would like to share this post with.
You can also leave it blank to share with everyone
Once you are done typing click the green Share button.
Congratulations you have successfully started using Google Plus (+)
You can now start inviting your friends too!
Stay tuned for an update to this post where we share details about Sparks, Hangouts and Streams
Say it isn’t so! Several rumors are pointing to a further delay in the launch of Apple most anticipated phone since the original iPhone n 2007. According to a story on a chinese website, the overheating A5 chip was the first cause of delay in the iPhone 5 and the shift from June to a supposed September release.
The story goes on to say that Apple will be transitioning to a 28-nanometer manufacturing process with the A6 chip, apparently due next year. The A5 chip that goes into iPad 2 is manufactured on Samsung’s 45-nanometer process and is almost twice the size of the iPhone 4?s A4 processor. That is not acceptable for the constantly shrinking size of the iPhone.
If there is any truth to the story, then we think Apple might release an iPhone 4s sort of modest yet sufficient upgrade which will satisfy the hungry customer for another year, say gorilla glass, 8mp camera dual core A4 chipsets. Either way get ready to take on news with a pinch of salt as we start to get closer to the real deadlines.
People all the world are waiting anxiously for the next iteration of Apple’s Jesus Phone. There are many rumors going around and speculation is ripe about to the design and specifications of the iPhone 5. Some people believe that the phone will have a larger screen, some believe that it will have a better camera and processor. Whatever the case may be, the iPhone is coming and its coming soon.
Antoine Brieux of NAK Studio recently came up with his own idea of what the iPhone 5 should look like. And he’s come up with a super sleek design. The concept is reminiscent of the iPod Nano due to the coloured aluminium and shape of the bezel. If the new iPhone looks this good, it’s going to have no trouble selling (not that it’s going to have any trouble selling either way). What do you think of this new concept?
MSI has announced that it will be releasing the world’s first PCI Express Gen 3 motherboard and exclusive Click BIOS II with unified interface. This motherboard will bring together may new technologies to boost performance. Read the Press Release for more information.
New Delhi, India: MSI, the world-renowned mainboard and graphics card manufacturer, officially launches the Z68A-GD80 (G3), featuring world’s first large bandwidth PCI Express Gen 3 mainboard, and the latest UEFI technology: Click BIOS II which features a homogenous interface both under Windows and the UEFI interface. Conforming to Intel’s latest design standard, the MSI Z68A-GD80 (G3) with PCI Express Gen 3 provides a data transfer rate that is 200% faster than PCI Express Gen 2, enhancing the performance of graphics cards without bandwidth limitations. Click BIOS II, allows simple and intuitive system adjustments in both Windows and the UEFI interface! In addition, Z68A-GD80 (G3) utilizes MIL-810STD Certified Military Class II components and are equipped with OC Genie II technology which increases the performance of hard drive up to 457%. The MSI Z68A-GD80 (G3) enables next generation superior performance with PCI Express Gen 3 and OC Genie II, ultimate stability with certified Military Class II components and an extreme user-friendly Click BIOS II interface both in Windows and in the UEFI BIOS.
If you want to own the highest specification, components and the most superior performance and technology, the best choice is MSI Z68A-GD80 (G3). The product is expected to hit the market in the very early Q3 2011 as the first PCIe Gen 3 mainboard available in the global market.
The world’s 1st PCI Express Gen 3 Mainboard – unparalleled performance
With the Z68A-GD80 (G3), MSI introduced the world’s first PCI Express Gen 3 mainboard in Computex 2011. With ultra-high 32GB/s transfer bandwidth, PCI Express Gen 3 is 200% faster than PCI Express Gen 2. This allows the MSI Z68A-GD80 (G3) to process huge amounts of data and information, maximizing the performance of AMD CrossFireX and NVIDIA SLI multi-GPU solutions. MSI Z68A-GD80 (G3) is backwards compatible with all the devices with PCI Express 2.0 or older devices already available on the market and enhances their performance considerably. For example, PCI Express 2.0 SSD devices on MSI Z68-GD80 (G3) mainboards perform 14% faster than on competitor’s mainboards.
Click BIOS II with unified interface – provides the best experience
As an industry leader of UEFI technology, MSI revolutionizes the industry again with the world’s first UEFI BIOS which utilizes a unified graphical interface in both Windows and in the UEFI BIOS, Click BIOS II. Click BIOS II brings the ease of a clear, unified interface with all the benefits of MSI’s UEFI interface. This allows both die-hard overclockers and first-time system users to get the maximum out of their system through an easy-to-use Graphical User Interface. This interface supports all traditional input devices like a Keyboard, Mouse or new touch-screen interfaces for the most flexibility.
OC Genie II unleashes total system power
MSI’s exclusive OC Genie II provides stunning system performance within a single push of a button and unleash the true performance of CPU, memory and integrated graphics all at once. By maximizing system performance and guaranteeing the most stable condition, it gives users the best benefits in the shortest time. When measuring with industry standard benchmarking software such as 3DMark Vantage and PCMark Vantage, the results show that OC Genie II boosts 3D game performance up to 145% and hard drive reading speed up to 457% along with Intel Smart Response Technology.
Military Class II brings top quality and stability
MSI has equipped all its Z68 mainboards with the leading-edge Military Class II components. In addition to Hi-c CAPs made out of the rare element Tantalum and the Solid CAPs with a lifespan longer than 10 years, Military Class II includes Super Ferrite Choke (SFC) that provides 30% more power and is 10% more efficient. Military Class II components ensure ultimate stability and performance under any circumstance.
Tim Gushue, an engineer and designer, has created an accessory that he calls the Infinite Loop. It is basically an extensible, multipurpose stand for tablets and smart-phones, which can be bent into any shape and holds onto a device via suction cups. He plans to develop a series of accessories for the Infinite Loop including clip on speakers, a USB module and a camera screw thread adaptor.
The device is composed of co-molded metal and plastic and comes in two flavours. There is the two foot long ‘mini-loop’ and the standard four foot long ‘Infinite Loop’. The flexibility and adjustability of the Infinite Loop makes it compatible with virtually all tablets on the market today including the iPad, Playbook, and Galaxy Tab as well as most e-book readers like the Kindle and the Nook. The Mini Loop is compatible with all of Apple’s ‘touch’ products including the iPod and the iPhone as well as virtually any smart-phone that you can stick a suction cup to.
The device as a whole has been designed for a vast number of uses and its flexible nature means that it can be bent into a variety of shapes. The design is also modular, so multiple Infinite Loops can be joined together to create a larger stand/holder. When not in use, the Loop can be rolled up into a compact circle.
In the case of Apple vs Samsung, Samsung was earlier denied the motion to put a stop on sale of Apple products in the US which broke the patents held by Samsung. Apple went on to countersue and asked for a ban on sale of Samsung Products like the Galaxy Tab and Galaxy S2 / S among others. Apple has also asked to see upcoming products from the company to ensure that none of them violate trademark and copyright laws.
Whats more Apple had also asked for the Judge to speed up the hearing and briefing process. The court put Apple down by denying its request to compress the briefing schedule. The reson for denial is stated as “Apple’s knowledge of Samsung’s alleged infringement for more than a year and the fact it engaged in license negotiations with the Korean company during that time.”
After the sudden downpour of benchmark gods in the division of mobility, HTC also let out its dual core beast amidst the ever growing population. The HTC Sensation is the first dual core phone from HTC and also the highest resolution device from the company. Lets see if it actually fares decently well with the competition in the market.
BUILD QUALITY
If you want benchmarks for build quality when it comes to mobile devices, HTC is the global standard. HTC has always managed to surprise us with their quality and build standards. Solid unibody construction along with a tough front facing gorilla glass display which is not only impact resistant, but is also very scratch resistant. The back of the device has rubber accents in strategic locations making it an easy to handle and operate phone. The device is well build and you can see that as soon as you pick up the device in your hand.
With no shaking and rattling this device is robust and built to last. The upward edged glass is functional and is easy on the fingers as you slide off – off the screen. The designers of the HTC Sensation took everything into perspective from the aesthetics to the functionality and the intelligent placement of the buttons – which by the way are extremely tactile and responsive.
HARDWARE
There is no questioning the latest hardware in the Sensation, the latest dual core processors a very high resolution screen, functional 8 megapixel camera with full HD video at 1080p.
DESIGN
While it may not be as clean and sleek as the Samsung Galaxy S2, The Sensation wasn’t meant to be. HTC Sensation takes its design cues from the practical and robust hues of life. You can call it a Range Rover in front of a 7 series ( Galaxy S2) while both may have powerful engines, the rover is more practical in India, is tougher, bolder and solid. Nothing describes holding the HTC Sensation better than this, Its a premium SUV in the smartphone market.
PHONE AND MESSAGING
Superior audio in and out from the Sensation during calls, is the only main thing we saw. The network performance was excellent and sustained throughout our test period. 3G and WCDMA performance excelled in the Sensation as we literally hogged the bandwidth of our providers. With brilliant performance from even the likes of an MTNL trump number ( usually 2 – bars, and weak performance in our area), we were literally amazed at how well this phone handled networks. With as little as two dropped calls in two weeks of testing, this phone has scored the top rank in the iG Phone- Networks Review till date.
The touchscreen on the Sensation is a 4 point multitouch, what that means is that you can have 4 simultaneous inputs. What it also means is that you can use the onboard keyboard as fast as you can move your thumbs. As soon as you lift the finger and tap the next letter, the device is already recognizing your input and will accept the desired letter. Brilliant keyboard , with an definable auto-correct smooth interactions throughout.
DATA & INTERNET
Getting a phone like the sensation and ignoring the Internet connectivity is like buying a spacecraft without the intention to visit the moon. The device is built for online connectivity, with a superb end user experience while browsing the web, streaming audio, playing multiplayer games or even watching an iGyaan review or two. The connections to WiFi are strong and stable, the device can connect to our wireless networks in areas which other phones would term as dead spots. In a head to head comparison the WiFi network on the Sensation was much better than that on the Galaxy S2.
The Hotspot feature is possibly the one we used the most on the Sensation. Because, the network performance was so great, we were able to share our 3G networks over 7 devices and were able to enjoy the shared bandwidth and download speeds of the connection. We did struggle to upload our posts from a off road cafe on the Delhi-Gurgaon expressway over a 512kbps upload connection split 7 way, but the Sensation is not to blame for it.
BATTERY LIFE
Unlike the Galaxy S2 the Sensation has a very stable OS, add to the mix a brilliant power management framework and you get a brilliant powerhouse with excellent battery life.
Values
2G
3G
WiFi
Talk Time
upto 9 Hours
6 hours
–
Standby time
48 Hours
36 hours
7 Days
Web Browsing
8-9 hours
5 hours
5 Hours
Video Streaming
4 Hours
2.5 Hours
4 Hours
Music Streaming
14 hours
9 hours
14 hours
GAMING
We found that most games work great with the device and we had no issues with incompatibilities. The only issue that we did see is the difference in display size. Some apps failed to recognize the QHD display on the HTC Sensation and came as mini boxes within the screen of the Sensation, limiting them to their maximum pixel size. The processor is managed well with the GPU and can deliver great graphics and a brilliant gaming experience. Align those with excellent sensors, including a gyroscope and a brilliant touch screen, you have yourself a gaming device
DUAL CORE
We feel HTC did a better job than LG did on the Optimus 2X and Samsung on the S2. Sure the Optimus 2x is cheaper and Samsung has better benchmark results, HTC is more organized and professional and the framework and implementation of the hardware is built to last. The OS is tweaked to give little or no errors and is bug and crash free. Graphics and Implementation of the user interface elements is absolutely stunning and smooth. The Sensation impressed us in all hooks when it came to stuff under the hood, yes it didn’t score high on quadrant, but it can with a little tweaking. Currently the Sensation is a mature device and not as young and energetic as the Galaxy S2 especially when it comes to Processor and Graphics.
ADD ON NOTES
The Sensation has a much higher resolution display in comparison to the S2, but the super Amoled plus trumps the extra resolution 4 times over. The Amoled plus screen is extremely vivid and lifelike. We faced a lot of network issues on the S2, but none on the Sensation, the battery drain issue faced on the S2 was also nowhere to be found on the Sensation. The device does not overheat and performance is smooth throughout.
CONCLUSION
The HTC Sensation is true competition to the Samsung Galaxy S2 and the hype around it. The S2 failed to deliver where it mattered most, the Sensation on the other hand does everything that its meant to and more. The Sensation also is a bit cheaper than the Galaxy S2 in the market and provides excellent user support throughout its service channels. The device is robust, well made and is built to impress. If you are looking for a good investment for your moolah, this is the true multi-taskers of choice.
If it wasn’t for the washed out display in comparison to the Super Amoled Plus, this device would have scored maximum score but for now :
[xrr rating=4.5/5 label=”We Rate The Sensation : ” imageset=shiny_yellow_star display_as=fraction_stars]
Google is updating the marketplace app in their Android OS to include a easy tab for Books and Movies being sold and rented on the Android Marketplace. At movie titles starting at just US$ 1.99 or IN Rs. 84/- it makes it a highly worthwhile option for Android device owners who had to earlier toss around looking to download rich media content to their devices. The Update is said to roll out within the coming weeks but a pre-release build is already doing the rounds and can be found here(download )
Watch the video below to get a quick overview of the design.
Apple has been suing every bit of competition they find in the market including their latest attack target – HTC. In an attempt to weaken the morale of the folks at Cupertino HTC’s general counsel Grace Lei said:
HTC is disappointed at Apple’s constant attempts at litigations instead of competing fairly in the market.
This comes after a previous attempt from Apple to stop imports of products by HTC in the US. Final resolution of the previous case is due this month, while Apple has already planned ahead.
Its only been a couple of months and Apple has slammed HTC with the second patent infringement case. The US International Trade Commission is reporting that HTC is being accused and is being asked to stop the import of “personal electronic devices”. Last year, Apple filed a separate action against HTC with the U.S. International Trade Commission, where HTC then leveled its own patent infringement claims against Apple. Preliminary rulings for those cases are expected this week.
Shares in the world’s No.5 handset maker, HTC Corp (2498.TW), tumbled more than 4 percent on Tuesday, after Apple Inc (AAPL.O) sued the company in a fresh complaint with a U.S. trade panel.
HTC said its net profit doubled in the second quarter, beating market expectations. But analysts suggested that because the operating income tracked forecasts, they expected shares of HTC would consolidate before the investor conference at the end of this month, when the company gives guidance for the third quarter. There are rumours out there that HTC would need to pay Apple T$20 billion ($693.64 million) in compensation.
That would lower down profit expectations considerably.
Google had launched an e-bookstore in December but the store never really took off as using it with an e-book reader was quite a pain. You had to download stuff to your PC and sync it across to your device. Now, a new e-book reader is all set to change that process and challenge the likes of the Kindle and the Nook.
Created by iRiver, the company behind a range of MP3 players, the device is called the Story HD and hooks directly into the Google Library. The Story HD will pull books directly from the Google Library without having to use a PC to perform a sync to the device. This means that the device will have access to over three million free titles as well as access to hundreds of thousands of paid books.
There are over 80 devices that currently support Google’s e-book format when synced via a PC including the Kindle and the Nook. None of the readers natively support the e-bookstore however, if you have a smartphone, you could just use the Google Books app to access the store.
The iRiver Story HD will be available for $140 online. The device will have built in WiFi as well as a black and white screen with a QWERTY keyboard. For comparison, the Nook and the Kindle are available for the same price as well.
Samsung has released a Solar powered netbook that will be available in the US and Russia. The rear side of the display houses a solar panel that can generate an hours worth of power for every two hours of exposure to direct sunlight.
The netbook’s 10.1 inch 1024x600px display is specially designed for extra brightness and is also layered with an anti reflective coating for use outdoors. The netbook features either a dual-core N570 or single-core N455 Intel Atom processor, with a choice of a 250 or 320 GB harddrive. A sleep mode called ‘Samsung Fast Start’ combines the stability of hibernation with the fast reloading of sleep, while ‘sleep-and-charge’ enables the charging of external USB devices even when the computer is off. A full charge of the six-cell battery is reported to provide up to 14 hours of use. The Samsung NC215S is expected to be released in the United States in early July at a cost of 400 USD, and in Russia in early august, for 13,999 rubles (500 USD).
The Anticipation clock of most humans starts to ring with the sight of an Apple Product Launch. This time around people are expecting 3 new launches. The iPod refresh, the iPad with some minor changes and most importantly the iPhone 5 (or iPhone 4s).
The iPhone is the most successful smartphone ever made, with in excess of 18.5 million devices sold this year the iPhone has set records that are yet to be matched. Why everyone loves the iPhone? There could be several answers:
The User Interface
The OS
The Hardware
The Looks
The Company Name / Brand Value
Pricing
It could be any or all of the factors from above, we really don’t know. The iPhone has always been marketed as a magical device, with the right amount of hype. Keeping price at a point where it was just above the competition and just low enough to be an approachable target (for those looking for a smart phone) . This strategy has also led people into believing that Apple Devices are super premium and most people in India still hold them at gold value (sometimes more value that those useless super value phones).
Whatever the reason behind the iPhones popularity, we know a new one is coming and following rumors and yearly cycles , here is what we think the iPhone 5 is going to be like.
Name
The most obvious guess for a name of the upcoming iPhone would be the iPhone 5 , but unless Apple is planning some major changes the new iPhone may just as well be called the iPhone 4s. Whatever said and done the word “iPhone” will be there and a 5 would sound much better than an iPhone 4s. Some people suggest that the new device will be called iPhone 4 HD, but that seems like an unlikely name for a device from Cupertino.
Hardware
There is no guessing the obvious, Apple has already shown off their A5 chipset in the iPad 2 , and just like the iPhone 4 had the iPads chip, the next iPhone will have the new Apple dual core A5 chip. This will boost the speed and performance of the iPhone 5 (we are just going to stick to that name for now) upto four times. Also, in tow will be RAM upgrades and a bigger 8 megapixel camera sensor, which has been talked about.
Various rumors and speculation points to a larger Edge to Edge display on the front of the device. A possible 3.8 inch or even 4 inch capacitive display can do no harm to Apple’s Jesus phone, giving it a larger screen – real estate would require pumping in more pixels per inch to retain the “Retina Display” badge.
Design
Now this is where the controversy starts. The iPhone 4 had a impressively new design which was loved by everyone when it was launched. Mostly everyone appreciated the new stainless steel design, although there were some who said that it was not as nice looking as the original iPhone. The new design brought a lot of possibilities for Apple especially in the components department. A machined design meant that they could stuff their components into the phone and still have room for a large battery. The frame of the iPhone was the most impressively designed structure to be ever used in a SmartPhone, leaving only the glass front and back in question, which did end up weakening the whole device and making it prone to damage.
The Antenna design, dubbed Antennagate put Apple in the wrong kind of limelight and has ever since been know as the “break all or make all” theory for last years Jesus phone. Everyone thought the antenna problem would diminish the sales of the iPhone 4, but it actually gave them so much publicity that the device did better than expectations from the company HQ.
Using a similar antenna on the next iPhone would be a not-so-smart move from Apple, although there are those who would still buy the device, a large chunk of the audience would think that Apple ignores the consumer, and move onto alternatives.
The tear drop design has had many references in rumors of the upcoming iPhone 5, a device machined out of Aluminum (unibody is Apple’s forté) which is really slim for the most part but thicker in arears that will hold the antenna and battery. A device of such design will do fantastically well with the young consumer base of Apple’s baby.
Operating System
We all know the iPhone 5 will have the iOS 5, which will radically enhance the usability of the phone. With dedicated notifications, iMessage, iCloud, Newsstand, Twitter integration, Wireless Device syncing, new photo editing, and the use of volume button as a dedicated camera shutter release. The iOS 5 is ready to give stiff competition to its competitors, still remaining the most secure and bug free mobile OS below the stratosphere . There are still basic features missing from the iOS, bluetooth file transfer being one of them.
One More Thing!
Apple may introduce a new cheaper iPhone this year, to target the Android buying generation. A similar strategy already kind of exists with the iPhone 4 being the pedigree and the iPhone 3Gs being sold for Rs. 19,990 (USD 400).
But these rumors point to a completely new and cheaper device id, possibly a US $ 200 iPhone ( they could relaunch the 3GS at 200 $/ or drop in a sim card in the iPod touch). Nobody really knows till Steve walks up on stage ( hopefully) with the next “Magical” device and amazes the audience watching the event worldwide.
No matter how many expectations are met, the iPhone 5 is coming and its coming soon. So hold on to your monies and wait for its arrival, for you never know what technologies might make you drop loyalties and compel you to make the switch.
Here is a list-up of all the expectations we have
A Completely new design
An 8 Megapixel camera possibly on the opposite side of the back panel.
Separate Camera Flash for better allumination
Larger screen with the same Retina resolution
The new A5 chip with 1 GB RAM
32/64 Gb capacities
HD Facetime Camera
Slimmer profile
Back panel made out of tougher glass/ Aluminum / Steel
Expectations can run wild, leave a comment below if you have any other expectations!
HTC has confirmed via their official Facebook fan page that they will start unlocking bootloaders in their popular phones come August. On the List is the HTC Sensation (global – yes the one in India) along with Sensation 4G on T-Mobile and the EVO 3D on Sprint.
HTC wont stop there and says that it will continue to provide unlocking capabilities to other devices as time progresses.
**UPDATE 7/10**
We wanted to provide an update on HTC’s progress with bringing bootloader unlocking to our newest phones. We know how excited some of you are for this capability, and we’ve put significant resources behind making this change as soon as possible. While we wish we could flip a simple switch and unlock all bootloaders across our device portfolio, this is actually a complex challenge that requires a new software build and extensive testing to deliver the best possible customer experience.
We’re thrilled to announce today that software updates to support bootloader unlocking will begin rolling out in August for the global HTC Sensation, followed by the HTC Sensation 4G on T-Mobile USA and the HTC EVO 3D on Sprint. We’re in the testing phase for the unlocking capability now, and we expect it to be fully operational by early September for devices that have received the software updates. We’ll continue rolling out the unlocking capability over time to other devices as part of maintenance releases and new shipments.
HTC continues its commitment to unlocking bootloaders and supporting the developer community. Because of the importance of this community to us, please expect an update on this about every few weeks as we make progress toward launch. Thank you for your patience and continued support!
A mockup of iPhone 5 was spotted on TV show Covert Affairs, Although it resembles a lot of rumors we have hearing lately, it is a clear video implant of the device.
