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Nokia to launch internal ethics investigation into misleading Lumia 920 ads

The Nokia Advertisement.

When it was discovered that Nokia misleadingly simulated the “optical image stabilization” effect of the upcoming Lumia 920 in both video and photo formats — by shooting with a DSLR instead — there was a warranted outcry. The company quickly recovered, issuing an apology and subsequently adding a disclaimer to the ads that the effect was “simulated,” but the damage was done.

According to Bloomberg, the company is launching an internal ethics investigation to discover exactly what happened inside the company that allowed such shenanigans to happen.

[quote]A company spokesperson, Susan Sheehan, said “What we understand to date is that it was nobody’s intention to mislead, but there was poor judgment in the decision not to use a disclaimer.”[/quote]

The evidence of fakery was discovered by The Verge, in which a cameraman and an artificial light was seen in a reflection of a van window.

But what must be understood is that Nokia never actually claimed the ads were shot using a Lumia 920; rather, the impression was left in the viewers’ eyes. An outright denial would have arguably taken away some of the magic, but would have also prevented a scenario such as the one we’re dealing with today.

Not the best start for Nokia’s “comeback”!

September 10, 2012
Pocket Sized Wireless Router To Use 4G!

In an attempt to make 4G (which is four to 10 times faster than 3G) entry affordable for customers, some Indian 4G operators are going to offer pocket-sized Wi-Fi routers which would enable the existing EDGE or 3G-enabled smartphones, which are available at one-fourth the price of a 4G device, to use high-speed internet. The only requirement: These phones have to be Wi-Fi-enabled. Vendors say the Wi-Fi routers are expected to be sold at around Rs 2,500 and when fully charged, the router can work for the entire day.

As many as five people or an individual with multiple devices (for instance, a mobile phone and a tablet) can get connected at the back-end through the router to a 4G network. In simple terms, it means that an Apple enthusiast can save money by just buying a Wi-Fi-enabled iPad rather than a 3G or 4G enabled model which is much more expensive.

Currently, the number of 4G devices is limited across the world and they are available at around Rs 20,000 and above — virtually unaffordable to most customers. But smartphone prices have dropped to as low as Rs 5,000 and as most of them are Wi-Fi-enabled, customers can continue to use them for making voice calls as well as surfing data on 4G.

[quote]“We already have pocket-sized routers and surely offer them to Indian operators,” says an executive of China’s Huawei Technologies, which manufactures the Wi-Fi routers:[/quote]

According to data available with the Indian Cellular Association (ICA), there are over 50 to 60 million Wi-Fi-enabled phones in the country, which constitute over 10 per cent of the total phone ownership base. With over three million smartphones being sold every month, this number will only grow. However, according to telecom operators, the number of phone owners using Wi-Fi as a service would not be more than five per cent — it is this market that 4G operators would tap.

Attempts have been made to use the Wi-Fi router model in 3G, too. Tata Teleservices, for instance, offers a pocket sized device for Rs 5,000 which would create a hub and can be used for five devices. However, operators and telecom technology providers say a similar model in 3G has been constrained by the limited amount of spectrum available — GSM operators have only 5 MHz while CDMA players are asking for more spectrum.

In comparison, 4G players have over 20 MHz of spectrum. Experts say they also have to create a robust backbone to support the strategy which would include building a large fibre optic backbone — an area where Ambani’s Reliance Industries Ltd is now investing in.

[Business Standard]

September 10, 2012
Apple To Unveil 4-inch iPod Touch?

According to the latest rumours, Apple is expected to announce new products in its iPod Touch lineup at a major press event on Wednesday (September 12), including a new model featuring a larger 4-inch display.

The US technology giant is thought highly likely to unveil its new iPhone 5 smartphone at the product launch this week, offering various improvements, including a larger screen, 4G connectivity, NFC etc..

However, the event is also expected to feature new generations of the iPod Touch, iPod Nano and iPod Shuffle.

Last week, Rene Ritchie from the iMore website reported that the upcoming iPod Touch will come with the 4-inch, 16:9 display that is rumoured to feature in Apple’s iPhone 5 – an increase on the current 3.5-inch screen in Apple devices.

The Verge speculates that Apple will fit its larger display panel in both the new iPod Touch and iPhone 5, potentially bringing the high-resolution Retina display with IPS – a technology offering improved colour contrast and viewing angles – to the media player.

As well as a larger screen, it is believed the higher priced models could feature a smaller dock connector, more storage and come with Apple’s recently launched iOS 6 pre-installed.

The updated iPod Shuffle will reportedly come in eight different colours, while a larger Nano with Wi-Fi capabilities has also been rumoured.

It forms part of a strategy by Apple to boost sales of its iPod which have dwindled in recent years, due to the overwhelming success of the iPhone and iPad.

September 10, 2012
Sony Xperia Tipo coming on 16th September 2012 for Rs. 9850
Sony Mobile Communications India will launch their next Xperia phone the Tipo, targeted at the budget buyer, on the 16th of September 2012. The Xperia Tipo may not be the cream of the crop when it comes to specifications, but surely adds another to the list.

Specifications Include :
- 800MHz Qualcomm Scorpion processor
- 512MB of RAM
- 3.2-inch TFT display with a HVGA resolution
- 3.2-megapixel rear camera
- 2.5GB of internal storage
- microSD card slot with 32GB of storage expandability
- 50GB of free Box.net cloud storage account
- 1,500 mAh battery pack
- Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich
The phone is expected to retail for a Price of IN Rs. 9850.
September 10, 2012
HP launches Spectre One and 3 other AIO PCs, comes very close to a Lawsuit
HP has launched a new range of Desktop AIO PCs including the Spectre One, which is very very similar to the iMac. Its a non touch windows 8 platform with basic usage specs including :
- 11.5mm thick Aluminium shell
- Four USB ports (two of them 3.0)
- HDMI input
- Ethernet jack
- Beats Audio
- Memory card reader
- Optional discrete graphics
- Optional SSDs.
- Parts are Serviceable via a back door
- Wireless keyboard, wireless touchpad
- Two NFC tags
HP also launched three other all-in-ones. The HP Envy 20 and 23, which have 20- and 23-inch screens, respectively, with 1,920 x 1,080 resolution. The low-end Pavilion 20, with a 20 inch 1080p display.

Envy systems will have touchscreens, Beats Audio and will be offered with Ivy Bridge processors.

The Pavilion is non-touch, and will be offered with both Intel and AMD chips. HP includes the new “Connected Suite,” which includes a desktop and mobile apps for sharing photos, streaming music and remote access. Though the mobile applications work with iOS and Android devices, you’ll need a HP Windows 8 machine on one end of the setup.

The Envy 20, Envy 23 and Pavilion 20 will sell for $849, $1,099 and $499 respectively. The Spectre One launches in November for $1,299.

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HP Introduces New Consumer All-in-One PCs with Advanced Touch Technology, Ultraslim Designs
PALO ALTO, Calif., Sept. 10, 2012 – HP today announced four new consumer all-in-one (AiO) PCs, including two additions to the HP ENVY line that feature the latest touch- technology innovation in a small footprint, one-cord solution.
– The new HP ENVY 23 and ENVY 20 TouchSmart AiO PCs continue HP’s leadership in touch technology, offering 10-point multitouch technology and beautifully simple designs.
– The incredibly thin and stunningly elegant HP SpectreONE is the first AiO PC to join the premium HP Spectre product family.
– The new HP Pavilion 20 is a powerful non-touch AiO PC built for value-conscious consumers.

“The clean look of an all-in-one PC and the ease of one-cord set-up are key reasons customers turn to HP,” said James Mouton, senior vice president and general manager, Personal Computer Global Business Unit, HP. “The SpectreONE design is art as well as a powerful entertainment hub. Across our rich line of all-in-ones, we continue to drive value and differentiation that have earned us sales of more than 5 million all-in-ones.”

HP all-in-ones with the power of touch
HP has built on its expertise with enhanced HP TouchSmart technology to make working, playing and staying connected as easy as a tap here or a swipe there. Designed to work with Microsoft® Windows® 8, the new HP ENVY 23 and HP ENVY 20 TouchSmart PCs deliver excellent performance and the capability of sensing up to 10 fingers on the screen for intuitive navigation, on-screen typing and playing games.

The HP ENVY 23 and HP ENVY 20 TouchSmart PCs offer 23- and 20-inch diagonal high- definition (HD) displays, respectively. They come equipped with the latest Intel® processors, optional ExpressCache and solid state drives (SSDs), and up to 3 terabytes of storage for photos, videos and music. The ExpressCache SSD option provides users with fast boot-up and application start times.

For added entertainment, the HP ENVY 23 and HP ENVY 20 TouchSmart PCs offer Beats Audio and exclusive HP innovations such as the HP TrueVision HD webcam, HP Connected Photo, HP Connected Backup and HP Connected Music powered by Meridian.

HP Connected Photo seamlessly syncs photos from a smartphone to the PC and stores them in their native resolution. HP Connected Music allows consumers to experience music downloads, streaming services and internet radio all in one convenient place. HP Connected Backup allows customers to seamlessly access and automatically back up files online for every day search, retrieval and access.

The HP ENVY 20 TouchSmart also offers HP Connected Remote, which delivers the ultimate audiovisual experience by turning a smartphone or tablet into a remote control, enabling users to wirelessly control music, videos and photos.

Art intersects technology with HP SpectreONE
The HP SpectreONE AiO PC has a gorgeous ultraslim design complemented by a 23.6-inch flush-glass full HD display and a unique curved back. At just 11.5 millimeters thin, the HP SpectreONE is the thinnest AiO PC in HP’s portfolio, and one of the thinnest AiO PCs available on the market today.

An accompanying stylish wireless trackpad, designed specifically for the HP SpectreONE, offers users freedom of movement with multitouch capabilities. Users can scroll, swipe and tap their way through the new Windows 8 environment.

As powerful as it is beautiful, the HP SpectreONE features the latest Intel processors, an NVIDIA 1-gigabyte graphics card, optional ExpressCache and optional SSD. It also delivers connectivity with HP’s TouchZone near-field communication (NFC) technology and a full array of ports, including two USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, HDMI-in and a Beats Audio headphones jack. With HP’s TouchZone NFC technology, users simply tap a smartphone or NFC tags on the base of the HP SpectreONE to instantly transfer content or login to the PC.

An entertainment powerhouse, the HP SpectreONE offers Beats Audio, an HP TrueVision HD webcam and the new HP Connected Remote, HP Connected Photo and HP Connected Music. Full versions of Adobe Photoshop® Elements 10 and Adobe Premiere Elements 10 are provided to give users additional photo- and video-editing capabilities.

The HP SpectreONE is bundled with several services at no additional cost. To safeguard confidential data and thwart cyberthreats, the HP SpectreONE PC includes a two-year subscription to Norton Internet Security. The SpectreONE also gives users support from a dedicated team of experts, and 90 days of complimentary HP SmartFriend Services. HP SmartFriend Services provides stress-free assistance with PC setup and answers to all how-to questions. Customers receive prioritized treatment with a direct number, minimum wait time, extended support hours and follow-up calls. Users also can choose to receive online chat support with remote assistance.

All-in-one simplicity at a great value
For users craving the ease and space-saving design of an HP AiO PC at a great value, the HP Pavilion 20 AiO PC packs a 20-inch diagonal HD display in an attractive easel design. The HP Pavilion 20 joins the recently announced HP Pavilion 23 AiO PC and offers intuitive features, including an HP TrueVision HD webcam, to keep users connected to family and friends.
The HP Pavilion 20 also offers the new HP Connected Remote, HP Connected Photo and HP Connected Music.

This new array of AiO PCs follows an Aug. 30 announcement of new touch notebooks, all designed to work with Windows 8. Additional PCs and a tablet made for business will be announced in the coming weeks.

Pricing and availability
– The HP ENVY 23 TouchSmart and HP ENVY 20 TouchSmart AiO PCs are expected to be available in the United States in October at starting prices of $999 and $799, respectively.
– The HP SpectreONE is expected to be available in the United States in November with a starting price of $1,299.
– The HP Pavilion 20 is expected to be available in the United States in October with a starting price of $449.

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September 10, 2012
Windows Phone 8 SDK preview opens September 12th

Microsoft announced that developers will be able to sign-up for inclusion in the Windows Phone 8 SDK (Software Development Kit) programme from September 12th. Microsoft also revealed that the program will be initially limited to a select few at first until the full Windows Phone 8 SDK is publicly available later this year, after Windows Phone 8 has been released.

Microsoft won’t be giving access to just anyone, it will give priority to any developers that have already published apps to Windows Phone. In essence, they’ll be favoring the developers that chose to develop for Windows Phone before there was any major buzz for it. How exactly this will help the company garner better app development remains to be seen.

[quote]”The full Windows Phone 8 SDK will be made publically available later this year when we unveil Windows Phone 8. Until then, we believe this program offers more published developers a way to explore the SDK and get started on the next wave of amazing Windows Phone apps,” said Microsoft in a statement.[/quote]

One should keep in mind, WP 8 apps are on a whole new development platform. While WP 8 devices will continue to support WP 7.5 apps, these apps will not take advantage of the new hardware capabilities of WP 8 devices. Microsoft officials said they wouldn’t be disclosing the full set of Windows Phone 8 OS features until a later, unspecified date.

September 9, 2012
Windows Store Reaches 1000 Apps Milestone

We have seen a large rise in the number of Windows 8 apps that users of the RTM version can see from the Windows Store. Today, a third party site that has been tracking the numbers of those apps stated that it has now passed the 1,000 milestone.

McAtkins Online says that in its latest app count shows there are now 1,004 apps that are visable for Windows Store users. This number includes both desktop apps (which cannot be directly downloaded from the Windows Store) and the “Modern” Windows 8 apps. Just a few days ago, the same website said there were 839 apps available on the Windows Store.

Apparently, the rate at which new applications are being pushed to the Store has increased, and chances are that Microsoft will go near the 3,000 apps mark or beyond it by the time the platform reaches general availability.

It seems that more and more developers are flocking to Windows 8, which suggests that more new software will appear in the Store soon, thus making the platform even more appealing than before.

It’s also possible that Microsoft could be holding back until just a few days before October 26th before it decides to open the flood gates for new Windows 8 apps to be released.

September 9, 2012
Facebook Making Efforts To Close Fake Accounts

Facebook is making a “huge effort” to weed out fake profiles to prevent misuse of such identities, a senior company official has said.

[quote] “Absolutely, there is a huge effort,” Facebook India business manager Pavan Varma told PTI when asked about the company’s action on this front. The doubt about the authenticity of the account will arise if an account has a generic name instead of a proper name, uses images of celebrities/ cartoon characters as display pictures, or does not have “enough friends”, Varma said. [/quote]

“It could even be that Facebook comes back to you saying, could you help us identify yourself if you don’t have enough friends, because we don’t want fake identities,” he said.

“We are worried about the experience we deliver…It’s not about protecting our brand identity so much,” he said.

As reported earlier, Facebook is also making efforts to crackdown on “Fake Likes” companies try to get on their pages.

[Economic Times]

September 9, 2012
Google Introduces Voice Navigation To India

Commuters in India are all set to get turn-by-turn, voice-guided directions, using the Google Maps Navigation. In addition, if you’re living in Bangalore, Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Pune and Hyderabad, you’ll find that live traffic updates feature just got activated on your maps menu.

You can even speak your destination into your phone and have your route set for you. A country-specific option lets you set the voice to an Indian accent for easier comprehension.

[quote]“Whether you’re heading to the Bengaluru airport for a business trip or visiting Agra’s world-famous Taj Mahal for a weekend of sightseeing with friends, Google Maps Navigation has you covered,” say Darren Baker, product manager and Suren Ruhela, senior program manager, Google Maps, in a statement posted on the Google India blog.[/quote]

While Navigation app was always a feature of Android phones in India, the service was not supported officially. It used to show just the route and lacked support for voice instructions. Currently, the Navigation feature is in beta and Google tells users to exercise caution while using it.

September 8, 2012
New iPhone To Support LTE

Expect the next iPhone to be 4G LTE compatible, a report released Friday said.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the flagship Apple smartphone will receive 4G LTE compatability, which is the latest generation of cellular technology and is supposed to provide faster mobile Internet speeds than previous technologies such as 3G.

4G LTE technology was largely expected to be included in last year’s iPhone model, the iPhone 4S. Apple chose instead to go with HSPA+, a slightly speedier 3G technology, but a far cry from what can be had on the 4G LTE spec, which can be ten times as fast.

Wireless carriers are eager to drive more customers to those networks, which are more efficient and could spur faster growth in data revenue by making it easier for consumers to use services like streaming video.

Another report early Friday said the next iPhone will likely cost the same as the iPhone 4S and start at $199 for a 16 GB version, going up from there.

Apple is expected to debut its next iPhone at its press event Wednesday. It kicks off at 10 a.m. PT. Expect more details on that early next week.

September 8, 2012
Google Snaps Up VirusTotal

Google has bought startup VirusTotal, picking up a fledgling but widely used cybersecurity player for an unknown amount in a move that could beef up protection for its internet services.

VirusTotal is a free online service for scanning files and URLs to spot viruses, worms, trojans and other malicious content detected by antivirus engines and website scanners.

[quote]Elaborating on the recent turn of events, VirusTotal wrote in its blog post, “Our goal is simple: to help keep you safe on the web. And we’ve worked hard to ensure that the services we offer continually improve. But as a small, resource-constrained company, that can sometimes be challenging.”[/quote]

VirusTotal already offered browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer to integrate malware scanning into users’ browsers. Although the company said that it will continue to operate as an independent service, it’s safe to assume its tools will be integrated into the scanning data that Google already provides to Chrome, Firefox and Safari to show users 8 million warnings a day when they visit malware-infected websites.

September 8, 2012
iPad Mini’s Shell gets re-leaked !

The rumoured iPad mini shell that was leaked earlier has gotten a new life thanks to new images prior to the 12th Sept 2012 iPhone 5 launch. The shell appears to be thicker in size and the claimed iPad mini will not have a sim card slot, making a stab at the success of the Kindle Fire and Nexus 7 tablets. The tablet also touts dual speaker arrangement and the new style dock connector that is seen in the leaked mockups of the iPhone 5 as-well.

September 8, 2012
Nokia Lumia 920 Slated For November Release

According to Reuters, Nokia will start selling its new smartphone, potentially its last chance to break into the most profitable part of mobile phone market and secure its future, in November, sources at European telecoms operators said on Friday.

The Lumia 920, which uses Microsoft’s Windows software, is Nokia’s bid to catch up with Apple’s iPhone and a string of popular phones using Google’s Android software, like Samsung’s Galaxy models.

The new phone, which with its rounded edges and colorful covers look similar to its predecessors, was unveiled on Wednesday and drew a thumbs down from many analysts, who felt it lacked the “wow” factor to make big inroads against rivals.

They were also unsettled by Nokia’s refusal to say when the phone, and the smaller Lumia 820 models, would go on sale, or to give details on the price and operator partners.

Once the world’s biggest mobile phone maker, Nokia fell behind rivals in the fast-growing smartphone market and has struggled to catch up, racking up more than 3 billion euros in operating losses in the last 18 months and forcing it to cut 10,000 jobs, as well as sell assets.

By going on sale in November, the Lumia 920 will hit stores in time for the key holiday sales season. It will be priced similar to Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S3, operators in several countries said. The Galaxy S3 sells for around 580 euros.

But the phone will probably land more than a month after Apple’s new iPhone and will face stiff competition from Samsung, which last week unveiled the world’s first smartphone with the Windows Phone 8 software that the Lumia 920 will use, as well as new models from HTC and Google’s Motorola.

An executive at an eastern European telecoms operator said he would start selling the Lumia 920, which features a high-quality camera and touch screen that can be used with gloves, in the second half of November, adding larger countries would receive the model earlier that month.

[quote]”The problem is that Nokia has temporarily destroyed the market for its own phones. Nobody will buy the old Windows phone and until the new Lumia comes, the market is absolutely dead,” the executive said, declining to be named because he was not authorized to speak to the media on the subject.[/quote]

Industry sources said on Thursday that Nokia had cut the prices of its older smartphones in a bid to boost demand until its new phones reach the market.

Analysts expect the Finnish firm to lose another 700 million euros in the July-September quarter and to sell around 3.6 million Windows phones, down from last quarter.

In comparison, Samsung sold more than 20 million Galaxy S3 smartphones in just 100 days.

Samsung has become the world’s biggest smartphone maker as Nokia’s share of the market has plunged to less than 10 percent from 50 percent during its heyday before the iPhone was launched in 2007.

The Lumia 920 is expected to go on sale in the United States around the same time as in Europe.

[Reuters]

September 7, 2012
Intel Haswell chips expected to be launched next week, cut power usage and boost performance

Intel Corp will tout a new generation of processors, named Haswell, next week that consume less power, hoping to reinvigorate a stagnant personal computer industry and soothe increasing concerns about its growth.

Intel said it has improved performance and graphics in the upcoming version of its Core chip line, while also slashing power consumption by a whopping 41%.

That, say industry analysts, could help laptop manufacturers build and sell, thinner and smaller computers with significantly longer battery life, which could be a boost to the sluggish PC industry.

Intel is also expected to show off a range of Ultrabook laptops powered by recently launched Ivy Bridge processors, as well as hybrid devices with screens that detach from keyboards to be used as tablets.

Intel’s processors are used in 80 percent of the world’s PCs but the Santa Clara, California company has been slow to adapt its chips for smartphones and tablets and now trails Qualcomm and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, which design their chips using power-efficient technology licensed from ARM Holdings Plc.

September 7, 2012
Apple planning Pandora-like music service?

Apple is planning a Pandora-like music service, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal, as part of a bid to become a major player in the online music space.

According to people “familiar with the matter,” the report says Apple would like to create stations similar to the ones on Pandora or Spotify, which play genres of music and are interspersed with ads from sponsors.

The Wall Street Journal said Apple’s service would work on the company’s hardware, including the iPhone, iPad and Mac computers, as well as potentially on PCs using Microsoft’s Windows operating system.

In recent years, though, with the proliferation of smartphones, iPads and wireless Internet access that perpetually connects those devices to online sources of music, Apple’s iTunes approach to selling songs for $1 or so apiece has come to seem antiquated in comparison with music streaming services like Spotify and others.

September 7, 2012