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Galaxy SIII Premium Suite Update 4.1.2 gets Detailed on Video by Samsung

Samsung had started pusing out Jelly Bean 4.1.2 to some phones yesterday, but has now made an official video highlighting the features and calls it a Premium Suite. The Galaxy SIII Premium Suite brings a lot to the already popular SIII, including most of the features that are shared by big brother the NOTE II. A customizable notification panel, smart rotation, Page Buddy, Multi Window, new multitasking, NFC and reader features, plus contextual awareness tweaks that adjust the phone around your actions.

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Contextual Awareness

(1) Page Buddy: Galaxy SIII Premium Suite will smartly predict what you intend to do according to your actions. For example, when you plug in your earphones, the device automatically opens up a page with the music player.

(2) Galaxy SIII Premium Suite Contextual Menu:  When you list up apps, you can now choose to see the most frequently used ones first. Especially convenient when you’re looking through apps  to find files to attach.

(3) Contextual Tag:  When you take a picture on the Galaxy SIII Premium Suite, you can tag the weather, date, and place immediately.



Enhanced Features

(1) Multi Window: You can open two different apps at the same time into two different windows on the mobile screen.

(2) Auto Share Shot Pairing using NFC: By setting the camera to ‘Auto Share Shot’ mode, you can quickly share your photos and videos by simply tapping their Galaxy SIII Premium Suite with other NFC and S-Beam enabled devices

(3) Reader Mode: You can easily control the size of the text on your browser! Also, you can just click the webpage to share it!

(4) Facebook Lock Ticker: The easiest way to see your Facebook News Feeds – set your Galaxy SIII Premium Suite to show it on your lock screen.

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December 7, 2012
2013 Skoda Octavia Unveiling In Prague This Week, Will Launch In India Next Year

The 2013 Octavia (Laura to us) is set to be unveiled in Prague this week, and will most probably end up in India in the last quarter of 2013.

Latest leaked images reveal some design traits of this new car. The 2013 Octavia carries the new Skoda design language which has been heavily influenced by the VisionD concept and the lines on the car are silky smooth.

The looks are now more like the VW cars, especially the side profile. The picture of the rear styling shows a complete transformation over the current one and has a more European look to it.

Image Courtesy : AutoCZ

The 2013 Skoda Octavia is seen with 5 spoke alloys on 17″ wheels, bumper design is more angular while boot area looks to have enhanced capacity of approximately 590 liters. Interiors too have been overhauled and fitted with quality material with better equipment.

Engine choices for international markets range from 1.2, 1.6 and 2.0-litre petrol engines and 1.6 and 2.0-litre diesels mated to either 5 or 6-speed manual transmissions and a 6-speed DSG ‘box.

2013 Skoda Octavia will stand 4,659mm in length, 1814mm in width and will sit on a 2,686 long wheelbase. Skoda expects this vehicle to be at the top of the charts of best selling cars in the world.

In India, the Octavia will be launched as the all-new Laura and will compete with the current crop of D-segment luxury sedans including the Volkswagen Jetta, Chevrolet Cruze, Renault Fluence and the recently launched Hyundai Elantra. It will go up against some stiff competition given the fact that the new Elantra is selling in big numbers.

December 7, 2012
HTC’s M7 Flagship Android Phone Rumoured For Early 2013

HTC is prepping a new flagship Android phone for launch, new reports have suggested, with a rumoured HTC M7 release date pegged for early 2013.

According to Focus Taiwan, HTC plans to stage a huge comeback in 2013, focusing on a few core products. This time it intends to actually sell them, ordering up to five million M7 devices from its manufacturing partners.

Such a device would have to be plenty powerful and plenty beautiful, right? The M7 is expected to feature a 5-inch 1080p Super LCD 3 screen, a 1.5Ghz quad-core APQ8064 SoC, 2GB RAM and 13MP camera, along with a unibody aluminum shell.

2012 wasn’t the best year for HTC, in the first three quarters the company failed to impress on the smartphone market and the financial results didn’t look to well for it.

HTC’s revenue for November increased over previous months, to $732 million USD, but is still down 31% over the same time last year. Products like the One X+, Windows Phone 8X and Droid DNA have helped bring the company back into the spotlight, but the brand has lost much of its recognition in recent months as Samsung continues to dominate the Android ecosystem.

December 7, 2012
Mushkin Unveils World’s First 480GB mSATA SSD

Mushkin announced on Wednesday the upcoming launch of the “world’s first” mSATA SSD with a 480 GB capacity on a single module. It’s the latest addition to the company’s Atlas family of mSATA drives, and is scheduled to be available early January 2013 in the U.S. at select resellers and distributors.

If you want an ultra-thin laptop like an Ultrabook, manufacturers are pretty limited on the components they can fit inside that slender case. Storage is no exception, with most relying on an mSATA SSD as the more typical 2.5-inch drives just won’t fit. That also means storage space has been quite limited to just a couple hundred of gigabytes. Until now, that is.

Although read/write speeds for the mSATA 480GB version haven’t been officially announced, the 256GB model achieves 560MB/s reads and 530MB/s writes over a 6Gb/s SATA III connection using a SandForce controller. The 480GB model will at the very least equal those speeds, if not improve on them slightly.

The Atlas ships with TRIM and S.M.A.R.T. support, comes with a 3-year limited warranty, and is expected to start shipping by the middle of January next year. It’s by no means cheap, though. On its own you can expect to pay $499.99, in the U.S that is, although that price is sure to drop significantly for any manufacturers wanting to ship one inside an Ultrabook. Still, at around a Rs 55 per gigabyte for such a speedy drive, it’s still a very tempting proposition.

Specifications:

– SandForce SF-2281 SSD processor with unthrottled IOPS
– SATA III (6Gb/s) interface
– Supports ATA APM, Security Set, NCQ
– TRIM support (OS/driver support required)
– S.M.A.R.T. support
– Built-in BCH ECC (Up to 55 bits correctable per 512 byte sector)
– High speed MLC NAND
– MO-300 (mSATA) form factor (50.80 x 29.85 x 4.85mm)
– Mini PCIe Interface
– User-upgradeable firmware
– RoHS, FCC, CE
– 3-year limited warranty

December 7, 2012
Snapseed Photo Editor Now On Android, Goes Free on iOS

Nik Software’s robust photo editing app, Snapseed, has finally made its way to Android. The app, which is also available on iOS, lets you edit your photos using simple gesture controls, and allows you to share your newly-minted masterpieces via Facebook, Twitter, or Google+.

Snapseed for Android is available for phones and tablets running Ice Cream Sandwich or above.

While this does limit the user base, Google is pushing people stuck on Android 2.2 and 2.3 to update their phones, or to purchase a Nexus device that will always stay updated.

Snapseed is very easy to use, and less onerous or labour-intensive than Photoshop Touch. It can aut0-fix photos, definitely, but it can be used to make subtle and even minute edits to photos that affect exposure, saturation, sharpness and contrast. In other words, it’s a fully-fledged photo editor that competes with iPhoto.

Google also updated the Snapseed’s iOS version, along with making it free. For reference, Snapseed for iOS was $4.99 until right this second.

Back in September, The Verge reported that Google had acquired Nik Software, the German startup behind Snapseed, a photo editing app that won Apple’s App of the Year in 2011.

December 6, 2012
Fujitsu Stylistic Q702 Hybrid Tablet Launched For INR 69,000

Fujitsu has introduced the Stylistic Q702 hybrid tablet in India aimed at the mobile business user. Fujitsu states that this hybrid tablet can be used as two-in-one replacement for a tablet and a notebook as it comes with a full-size notebook keyboard and an addition battery. It has been priced at Rs 69,000/-.

Fujitsu claims that the screen is easy to use even in direct sunlight. STYLISTIC Q702 comes with a standard 4 cell battery but there is a second battery in the keyboard as well. One can opt for 3rd Generation Intel Core i3 or i5 processor with optional Intel vPro Technology. Other features include 4GB DDR3 RAM, biometric fingerprint sensor and optional embedded support for 3G/UMTS or 4G/LTE mobile data.

Apart from the STYLISTIC Q702, Fujitsu has also showcased a redesigned version of LIFEBOOK T902. LIFEBOOK T902 is a convertible tablet PC, which according to the company, is targeted at the consumers who need more performance than a tablet. LIFENOOK T902 will come with 3rd Generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processor and support up to 16GB of RAM. This tablet can run Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro and even Windows 7 Professional. However, the company did not reveal any further details about the pricing, or availability of LIFEBOOK T902.

December 6, 2012
Latest : Galaxy S IV To Launch In April With Breakthrough Unbreakable Screen?

Although the display of Samsung’s Galaxy S II uses Gorilla Glass, it’s certainly not unbreakable – as various videos on the web are demonstrating, and as some users have seen for themselves.

According to Reuters, the next flagship smartphone from Samsung may rock a cutting-edge OLED panel that resists cracks and scratches more easily, and would be “unbreakable”.

Unofficially dubbed the Galaxy S4, Samsung’s Next Big Thing could benefit from major advances in screen technology whereby the glass substrate protecting the display can be replaced with a more shatter-resistant plastic material. It would also be lighter, thus further reducing the chance of breaking the screen.

Samsung is already one of the pioneers of OLED technology and is hotly tipped to be the first to introduce it to mobile devices, as it was previously too expensive and experimental to do so. Naturally, the Galaxy S4 or at least its successor, would be a very likely to debut it.

Reuters also jumped on board the rumour train and sourced unnamed “analysts and tech blogs” stating that Samsung will unveil their new flagship Galaxy smartphone, internally called ‘Project J’ after head of its mobile division JK Shin, as early as April 2013. That is one month ahead of when the GS III was announced.

Rumoured specs of the GS IV have it running Android (potentially Key Lime Pie), larger display at 5-inches with a 441 pixels per inch (ppi), a quad-core processor and a 13-megapixel camera.

Of course, all this is a rumour until Samsung comes out with an official announcement.

December 6, 2012
RIM To Start “BlackBerry 10 Ready Program”, To Give Enterprises Free BlackBerry 10 Device

RIM announced their “BlackBerry 10 Ready Program” this morning, an incentive for their enterprise customers to “prepare their environments” for the upcoming BB10 OS. RIM will be rolling out various offerings in a phased approach and will include four components: BlackBerry 10 Ready Offer, BlackBerry 10 Ready Webcast Series, BlackBerry Enterprise Server License Trade Up, and the BlackBerry 10 Readiness Services. The BlackBerry 10 Ready Offer and BlackBerry 10 Ready Webcast Series are both available today, while the other two will go live before RIM fully unveils BB10 on January 30th.

[quote]We remain committed to our enterprise customers and want to provide them with a head start on understanding the power of BlackBerry 10 and preparing their existing environments for the new mobile computing platform,” said Bryan Lee, Senior Director, Enterprise at RIM. “The BlackBerry 10 Ready Program gives customers access to a variety of services, information, tools, and special offers to help ease their transition to BlackBerry 10 and BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10.”[/quote]

The webcast series is simple, but incredibly important. This will be the educational portion and RIM will hold weekly webcasts to share info and answer questions about the upcoming BlackBerry 10 OS, plus demonstrate how enterprise customers can easily integrate BB10 when it launches.

Specifics of the “BlackBerry 10 Ready Offer” reveals that RIM will be giving out a free BB10 smartphone, but is limited to one per company and currently available to those in Canada and the United States. RIM states that more countries will follow.

BlackBerry customers with BlackBerry Technical Support at the Advantage level or higher are eligible to receive a free BlackBerry 10 smartphone. Customers will need to install and run BlackBerry Mobile Fusion (which will be succeeded by BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10), and successfully complete an exclusive online learning course to qualify. Upon the launch of BlackBerry 10, the organization will receive a free BlackBerry 10 smartphone.

RIM has 80 million BlackBerry customers and 60 million BlackBerry Messenger users. The big unveiling of BlackBerry 10 is happening on January 30th, 2013 .

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Research In Motion (RIM) (RIMM)(RIM.TO) today announced the BlackBerry 10 Ready Program. The program is designed to address the needs of BlackBerry enterprise customers as they prepare their environments for the launch of BlackBerry 10 and BlackBerry® Enterprise Service 10, RIM”s powerful new multiplatform enterprise mobility management solution. The program will be introduced in a phased approach with four components. Two of the components – The BlackBerry 10 Ready Offer and the BlackBerry 10 Ready Webcast Series – are available today. The BlackBerry Enterprise Server License Trade Up and BlackBerry 10 Readiness Services components will be available ahead of the global BlackBerry 10 launch on January 30, 2013.

“We remain committed to our enterprise customers and want to provide them with a head start on understanding the power of BlackBerry 10 and preparing their existing environments for the new mobile computing platform,” said Bryan Lee, Senior Director, Enterprise at RIM. “The BlackBerry 10 Ready Program gives customers access to a variety of services, information, tools, and special offers to help ease their transition to BlackBerry 10 and BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10.”

BlackBerry 10 Ready Offer

BlackBerry customers with BlackBerry Technical Support at the Advantage level or higher are eligible to receive a free BlackBerry 10 smartphone.* Customers will need to install and run BlackBerry® Mobile Fusion (which will be succeeded by BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10), and successfully complete an exclusive online learning course to qualify. Upon the launch of BlackBerry 10, the organization will receive a free BlackBerry 10 smartphone.

BlackBerry 10 Webcast Series

The weekly BlackBerry 10 webcast series is designed to share information, answer questions about RIM”s enterprise product portfolio, and prepare enterprise customers with the tools they need ahead of launch. The webcasts will be supported in multiple languages.

BlackBerry Enterprise Server License Trade Up

RIM will be offering customers who purchase BlackBerry 10 smartphones the ability to trade up their existing BlackBerry Enterprise Server licenses on a one for one basis for free, until December 31, 2013.** The license trade up offer will allow customers to secure and manage their BlackBerry 10 smartphones with BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10. Customers will be able to access an online tool for the BlackBerry Enterprise Server License Trade Up in January 2013.

BlackBerry 10 Readiness Services

This set of services will provide customers with a smooth migration path to BlackBerry 10. Change management and planning migration tools, and application development services will be available in January 2013. For more details customers can email [email protected].

For more information about the BlackBerry 10 Ready Program please visitwww.blackberry.com/blackberry10ready.

To register for the BlackBerry 10 Webcast Series, and to get a complete list of dates and times, please visit www.blackberry.com/blackberry10webcasts.

* Offer available while supplies last. Limit one (1) device per company. Offer currently only available for customers in North America. (Additional countries are expected to follow with similar offers.) Offer deadline: February 28, 2013. For complete details see Terms and Conditions:http://www.blackberry.com/business/blackberry-10-ready/free-blackberry-10-device/terms-and-conditions.html.

** Offer applies to BlackBerry Enterprise Server licenses only; not applicable for BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express licenses. Additional Terms and Conditions apply.

About Research In Motion

Research In Motion (RIM), a global leader in wireless innovation, revolutionized the mobile industry with the introduction of the BlackBerry® solution in 1999. Today, BlackBerry products and services are used by millions of customers around the world to stay connected to the people and content that matter most throughout their day. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. RIM is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market (RIMM) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (RIM.TO). For more information, visit www.rim.com or www.blackberry.com.

Forward-looking statements in this news release are made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used herein, words such as “expect”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “intend”, “believe”, and similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by RIM in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that RIM believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Many factors could cause RIM”s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including those described in the “Risk Factors” section of RIM”s Annual Information Form, which is included in its Annual Report on Form 40-F (copies of which filings may be obtained at www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov). These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on RIM”s forward-looking statements. RIM has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

BlackBerry, RIM, Research In Motion and related trademarks, names and logos are the property of Research In Motion Limited and are registered and/or used in the U.S. and countries around the world. All other brands, names and marks are the property of their respective owners. RIM is not responsible for any third party products or services.

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December 6, 2012
Samsung Galaxy S3 Users Reportedly getting 4.1.2 Updates with MultiWindow Feature
While most users are still complaining about the Android 4.1 jelly bean update not yet being available on the Samsung Galaxy SIIIs, a few users reportedly have gotten the Android 4.1.2 update. SamMobile claims that Android 4.1.2 is starting to reach Galaxy SIII international 3G model, with multi-window support. While most users over the world will not get this update, Poland is first in the list and most users are reportedly busy downloading updates. More Apps from the Galaxy Note II like the gallery app, Smart Rotation and other apps may come in future updates.

Unlocked units will also be the first to get the updates, carrier-locked handsets will take a little while longer, though if previous releases are anything to go by, most networks seem pretty keen to push Samsung’s firmware updates as fast as possible to keep customers happy.

According to owners of the Gaalxy S3 GT-I9300 GS3 in Poland, Android 4.1.2 has hit their device, bringing with it the Note 2?s famous “Multi-View” windows for superior multitasking. There’s also a few TouchWiz applications that have been updated. Here’s everything worth looking forward to in the JZO54K update:
- Multi-View
- Page Buddy
- New Gallery App
- Notification Panel can now be customized (sweet!)
- Brightness Slider in notification panel can now be disabled
- Smart Rotation
- Continuous Input in Samsung Keyboard
- Paper Artist App
- Group Cast App
The update, currently rolling out in phases, will be available in other countries shortly.

[SamMobile]
December 6, 2012
Airtel launches Green Data Centre in Mumbai

Bharti Airtel has launched a new Green Data Centre in Mumbai. The state of the art facility has been designed to achieve 1.7- 1.75 PUE, making it one of the most energy efficient facilities in India.

The new data center expands Airtel Business’s ability to offer collocation, managed hosting, disaster recovery, remote infrastructure management, application and cloud computing services to small, large and medium enterprises across verticals in Mumbai. This is Airtel’s eighth tier 3+ data centre in the country and is in line with Airtel’s growing focus on hosting and managed services segment.

The data centre has been jointly designed and commissioned with India’s NetMagic Solutions Pvt Ltd; is carrier neutral, and is connected to airtel’s first class bandwidth capacity and network support infrastructure to enable scalability, resilience and efficient delivery of services to its valued customers.

[quote]

Drew Kelton, President – Airtel Business, Bharti Airtel, said “Mumbai is the commercial capital of India and is also one of the world’s top centres of commerce as a result it offers humungous opportunity to provide IT managed and cloud services to enterprise customers. With the launch of this facility, Airtel takes another step in moving beyond its core connectivity services and into collocation, managed and hosting services and bringing these services closer to our clients in Mumbai. It supports our drive to be the preferred IT&T provider delivering end to end solutions to our customers.”

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Airtel currently operates seven level 3/3+ data centres in NCR, Bangalore, Chennai, Bhubneshwar and Pune – giving PAN India presence and choice to enterprise customers for their both primary/DR requirements.

December 5, 2012
Windows Phone Now Home To 120k Apps : Microsoft

WP8 would share the same kernel as that of Windows 8 and Windows RT

The Windows Phone Store now has over 120,000 apps ranging from photo apps to those that help you stay in touch with friends across the globe. Out of the top 50 apps available for iPhone and Android, 46 of them are available for Windows Phone 8. Back in June, the company had announced that it had crossed 100,000 published apps, and now a 20 percent increase in just six months is something to applaud.

For Microsoft, growing its app store is an important goal around fostering the image of the Windows Phone platform. Seeing as consumers love apps, having a plethora of them available for download is a critical selling point.

Microsoft has also announced that since Windows Phone 8 was launched a few weeks back, WP developers have witnessed more than 100% increase in revenue. While the company didn’t give the specifics, it does seem that WP apps are finally gaining some traction among the users, something which is certainly good news for the developers who have invested their time and money into developing Windows Phone 8 apps.

December 5, 2012
YouTube App For iOS Updated, Adds iPad, AirPlay, iPhone 5 Support

In addition to the Gmail app for iOS, Google also updated the YouTube app today. It adds support for a variety of different Apple products and services. It at last fills up the entire 4-inch display of the iPhone 5. Having those black bars next to videos annoyed a lot of users. Plus, iPad users can rejoice as well thanks to YouTube’s optimization for the tablet as well.

One of the new features is the Guide of channels that you can access by tapping on the YouTube logo in the title bar; tap it, and you’ll go back to the app’s main sidebar, listing your account’s options and Channels.

Among other improvements — including clickable links in video descriptions and ability to add or remove a video from your playlists — a notable addition is AirPlay support: you can now natively stream videos to any AirPlay-compatible device such as the Apple TV or a Mac running Reflection.

YouTube 1.1.0.4136 is now available as a free download via App Store and it’s fully compatible with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation), iPod touch (5th generation) and iPad devices running iOS 5 or later.

December 5, 2012
Gmail 2.0 For iOS Released, Gets New UI, Multiple Account Support

Google’s Gmail app for iOS received its 2.0 facelift on Tuesday and is now available through Apple’s iTunes App Store.

From the seamless multiple account integration to the use of Google profile photos, the Gmail app feels smooth and fresh, an equally potent combination of top-tier iOS app design and Google’s recent minimalist flair. Aesthetically, it hews closely to the recent flat, white upgrade Gmail’s desktop site recently received.

The Gmail app also integrates Google calendar invites, so you can accept or reject times from within the app itself. Links also start up in Chrome by default (if it’s installed on the phone) so you can stay away from mobile Safari completely if desired. Google has improved search within the app which, if you’re anything like me, involves instantly retrieving results from 15,000+ emails.

Gmail 2.0 also incorporates infinite scrolling, so it never appears like you have to dig into the servers for emails older than 30 days. It downloads headers and content on the fly and, as stated, makes searching huge databases even faster than before.

Multiple account integration is going to be the biggest boost to productivity for many users; I was previously getting around this by forwarding my second and third accounts to a main one, but this is no longer necessary, thank goodness. Lastly, users can reply to Google+ posts from within an email thread, something we’ll likely continue to see Google iterate on in future updates. We wouldn’t be surprised if, one day, Gmail and Google+ are only one app on both Android and iOS.

December 5, 2012
Lumia 620 : Nokia Launches The Most Affordable Windows 8 Phone

Nokia has just launched their most affordable Windows Phone 8 device the Nokia Lumia 620. The Phone which runs Microsoft latest Mobile operating system is powered by a Qualcomm S4 1GHz dual-core CPU. Includes a 3.8-inch ClearBlack WVGA screen running at 800 x 480 resolution. FOr Optics we have a 5-megapixel rear camera and a front facing VGA one. The Phone has a fixed storage of 8 GB and no expandability upto 64GB via MicroSD.

Nokia is ready to play the 610 game with the Lumia 620 as the company will offer seven colors with exchangeable shells in gloss and matte finishes depending on color. You will also get a full host of Nokia only apps including Nokia Drive, Nokia Music and Nokia Maps. Nokia is also calling it the world’d most affordable Windows Phone 8 device yet with a price of 190 euros or Rs. 12,999 globally. We are hopeful that the company can quickly launch and make the device available in India around the same price mark

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Nokia introduces new Nokia Lumia 620

Nokia’s third and most affordable Windows Phone 8 smartphone offers youthful appeal

Espoo, Finland and Paris, France – Nokia today introduced the Nokia Lumia 620, the third and most affordable in its range of Windows Phone 8 smartphones. Alongside the flagship Nokia Lumia 920 and mid-range Nokia Lumia 820, the Nokia Lumia 620 offers a more fun, youthful appeal, and compact design.

The Nokia Lumia 620 uses a new dual-shot color technique to deliver a variety of striking color and texture effects. Dual-shot adds a second layer of colored, transparent or translucent polycarbonate on top of a base layer to produce secondary color blends and depth effects. With seven different exchangeable shells to choose from, people can adapt the look of their Nokia Lumia 620 to their own personal taste and style.

“We continue to execute on our strategy to reach new audiences and new markets,” said Jo Harlow, executive vice president, Nokia Smart Devices. “With its innovative design, the latest Windows Phone 8 software and signature experiences from Nokia, like Nokia lenses, Nokia Maps and Nokia Music, the Nokia Lumia 620 is a highly competitive smartphone at this price point.”

Among the features shared with the Nokia Lumia 920 and Nokia Lumia 820 are exclusive camera lenses that transform the creative power of the Nokia Lumia 620’s five megapixel main camera and VGA front-facing camera. The Cinemagraph lens adds simple animations to still photographs, while Smart Shoot creates a single, perfect shot from multiple images, even removing unwanted objects from the picture.

The Nokia Lumia 620 also provides access to the world’s best maps and location experience, including Nokia Maps, Nokia Drive, Nokia Transport and the exclusive Nokia City Lens. Nokia City Lens displays information about local surroundings overlaid onto buildings as seen through the camera viewfinder.

Making it easy to discover and enjoy new music, Nokia Music provides free streaming of ad-free tracks without registration or subscription and the ability to download playlists for listening offline.

With NFC support, the Nokia Lumia 620 can easily pair with NFC-enabled accessories like the JBL PlayUp Portable Speaker for Nokia. Open and secure NFC-connectivity makes it possible to share and receive content by tapping with compatible devices, or make secure payments using the Wallet application in Windows Phone 8.

Powered by Windows Phone 8, the Nokia Lumia 620 delivers a more personal smartphone experience. Adjustable Live Tiles update direct to the Start Screen. People Hub pulls together contact information from multiple address books and social networks into a single location, making it easy to stay in touch with friends and set up contact Groups and private Rooms for sharing. From the Me Tile people can check in to their location, post an update, set chat status, see what’s new and monitor notifications across Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Windows Phone 8 also includes Xbox Live, Microsoft Office, 7GB of online SkyDrive storage and faster, safer surfing with Internet Explorer 10.

These features and capabilities are enabled by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon(TM) S4 Plus processors.

“People can do more of the things they love when they choose a mobile device that has a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor,” said Enrico Salvatori, senior vice president and president of Qualcomm Europe. “The Snapdragon S4 Plus processor is the heart of the Nokia Lumia 620, making it possible to multi-task, stream in HD and share content at super-fast speeds.”

The Nokia Lumia 620 will be available in a range of colors* including, lime green, orange, magenta, yellow, cyan, white and black. Estimated at USD 249, excluding taxes and subsidies, the Nokia Lumia 620 will begin selling in January 2013 in Asia, followed closely by Europe and the Middle East before expanding further.

* Availability of colored shells may vary by country.

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December 5, 2012
Rumour : Apple Hiring Former Texas Instruments Engineers in Israel

Apple is taking full advantage of the recent layoffs at Texas Instruments in Israel.

In November, Texas Instruments laid off about 250 employees in Israel as part of a worldwide effort to reduce its workforce by 1,700 people.

A fresh rumor is trying to convince us that Apple is on a hiring spree in Israel, where the company’s hunting for some talented engineers. What’s interesting about this particular story is that Apple is said to be hiring the same former Texas Instruments employees to work on its system-on-chip technology.

According to TI Israel’s website, the Ra’anana campus was responsible for wireless connectivity solutions like WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS and OMAP products. OMAP, or Open Multimedia Applications Platform, is a type of system-on-a-chip developed by the Texas-based company currently being used in portable devices like Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD.

Apple in April was reported to be gearing up for a major hiring campaign to fill spots at its Israel R&D center located in Haifa’s Scientific Industries Center, which boasts a collective of high-tech companies like Google, Intel and IBM. The recent TI Israel hires won’t be the first for Apple, as former Deputy CEO Etai Zaitsman is said to be working on the Haifa initiative headed up by Aharon Aharon, a veteran of Israel’s tech industry.

December 4, 2012