Category: Gadget

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Sony XSP- N1BT Turns Your Smartphone Into a Car Stereo

Today Sony India announced XSP- N1BT, a smart docking system that may make those long and tedious drives back from work slightly less painful.

Sony XSP- N1BT can be propped on the dashboard, and the phone can be connected onto the dock. Their docking system accommodates various sizes of Smartphone’s from various brands. Android Smartphone users can utilize the one touch Near Field Communication Connection for quick Bluetooth pairing.

First, you’ll need to download “App Control” onto your phone. Once the app is downloaded and the phone is connected, you’d have easy access to your music, radio, navigation, phone calls, and text messages. The app will then help you control the car audio system as well as give you control of all of your Smartphone’s other apps (think Souncloud.)

Since this device is made specifically keeping drivers in mind, they have included a much-needed voice control system. Instead of pulling over and struggling to set a destination on your navigation app, this voice command function will give you control over your Maps. It will also reads out the incoming texts and emails (this can be turned off).

While its main attraction is the docking system, it can also used as standalone device with CD, USB, radio and tuner functions. Lastly, the device has charging capability with an optimally designed compact USB cable for any type of Smartphone. Since everyone is constantly complaining about their drained battery, we suspect this feature would be appreciated.

Priced at Rs 12,990, the device is available in all major car accessories stores.

June 3, 2014
Moto 360 Watch Rumors Fly : What To Expect

Samsung has been ruling a still infant, smartwatch market with half-a-million Samsung Galaxy Gears dispatched this year. These have been hogging around 70 percent of the fast-growing market for smart timepieces. Motorola has since stepped in the game and has unveild its Moto 360(don’t mix it up with a popular games console). It is the least smartwatch-like smartwatch we have seen for a long time. It looks quite like a regular watch, which Motorola insists it isn’t in the least.

The Moto 360 will use Sapphire glass in order to keep scratches at bay and generally protect it against knocks and scrapes. With Gorilla Glass being designed for much larger pieces of glass, it’s unsurprising to see Motorola opting for a different material here.

Motorola has plans to release the Moto 360 in July with a $350 price tag, according to Journal du Geek, a French website. The company has also hinted that the Moto 360 would launch this summer. It did not however, mention whether it would come first to the U.S with a later release for Europe and the rest of the world. Motorola has released images of the Moto 360 with both leather and steel bands, and accidentally leaked leather color options went online earlier this year.

The Moto 360 will not feature ports for USB charging or any other wired connector, which means the purple plastic plate behind its face will allow it to utilize induction charging, a method of wireless charging that requires a powered mat or some other specialized charger. Induction charging does not currently transmit through metallic materials, which is probably why Motorola selected plastic.

The Moto 360 might be induction charged

Motorola could also use solar or self-winding chargers to supplement wireless charging in the Moto 360. This will help to increase the battery life of the watch before you finally have to set it down to charge. Of course, this is an unconfirmed leak and we are definitely hoping for a considerably lower price when the Moto 360 comes out stateside.

We hope Motorola can bring Smart and Sexy together in their endevour in Smartwatches, as they have done in the smartphone market with the Moto X, G and the baby E.

May 22, 2014
Google’s next version of Glass in Works

A few days back Google opened up the Glass program for everyone in the US with a valid credit card. While there were also reports of the Google Glass actually costing US $ 150 to build (which were later scrapped), it appears that the next version of Glass is already doing rounds of the RnD department.

Crystal Optech supplies Liquid Crystal on Silicon displays for the current version of Google Glass, Kong Wenjun of the company said that they were shipping newer displays for the next version of Glass.

Google has also involved a middle company in the purchase process which would help the Mountain View based search giant keep all of this under wraps. The latest version and the one we have is referred to as Google Glass Explorer Edition 2, which came out in October of 2013 and ships with a Mono Earbud.

While there are no specs or details or even a name available for the next version of Google Glass, it is also expected that Google will announce it at the upcoming I/O conference and this version may also be a public edition costing in the US $ 500 price bracket.

Google Glassware Gallery ( application store) also added new apps for Foursquare, TripIt and OpenTable making it a boon for the everyday traveller and connoisseur.

May 15, 2014
Back With a Vengence: Sony Unveils 185 TB Cassette Tapes

CD’s and iPods made you stuff your old Michael Jackson, Enigma and Celine Dion cassettes in your attic. But remember a time when the cassette tapes dominated the sales market? In 1990 alone, a overwhelming 442 million tapes were sold. However, with the rise of the CD, the birth of the MP3, and the ultimate restoration of vinyl, sales of cassettes dwindled. By 2007 only a mere 274,000 individual cassettes were sold.

Now, though, Sony has brought the cassette back from the dead by unveiling a tape that can hold a massive 148 gigabytes per square inch. If you can’t do the math, that’s 185 terabytes of total data. Well I guess, we will soon be tossing our iPods into the trashcans.

185 Tb actually is huge data size; if calculated the super tape can hold 3,700 Blue-ray’s or a total of 64,750,000 average 3 min. songs

The tapes were unveiled in International magnetic conference. These Sony cassettes can hold data 74 times more than the standard cassettes. According to Gizmodo:

[quote text_size=”medium”]

“The tape uses a vacuum-forming technique called sputter deposition to create a layer of magnetic crystals by shooting argon ions at a polymer film substrate. The crystals, measuring just 7.7 nanometers on average, pack together more densely than any other previous method.”

[/quote]

The tape will be accessible for commercial sale, but no word yet on a release date. However, as Gizmodo points out, the super tape was formerly developed for “long-term, industrial-sized data backup” and not essentially for music, game, and video storage and playback.

May 7, 2014
Print Goes Pocket Size

Some people say print is dead. With pendrives and cloud sharing, printing documents and pictures seems unnecessary. But what if you could carry a printer in your pocket or you bag. Wouldn’t that be awesome?

ZUtA Pocket Printer is a simple, softball sized and is compatible with any electronic device and can be used anywhere, anytime. The idea was born when a team of students in Jerusalem College of Technology got together to add some innovation to the printing industry. As students they finishes assignments in library’s, trains, parks, and cafes. Once their work was done, they always had a hard time finding a place to print. Hence, they came up with the idea of this portable printer.

Since it doesn’t necessitate any special drivers, it can be accessed via computers, smart phones or tablets, by using the traditional print function or an app. It will work with paper of any size and will print roughly 1,000 sheets of paper on a standard, disposable ink cartridge. The printer will last for up to an hour on full battery and can be recharged via a USB cable.

Its teardrop design allow users to line it up with the angle of the paper to make sure their documents come out straight. It then rolls athwart the blank sheet on small, multi-directional wheels while ejecting ink. The printer is intended not only for smaller documents, such as tickets or notes from a meeting, but also for larger documents with multiple pages. It will be designed to wait for the user to place it on a new sheet of paper before continuing the job. An average page of text will be able to print in approximately 40-45 second.

The design for the ZUtA Pocket Printer was stimulated by private inevitability. Elbaum, co-founder of ZUtA Labs, said that as an entrepreneur he has often found himself functioning on the go and it befuddled him that, given everything else we can do, we still can’t print from mobile devices. Other devices advertised as portable are constrained to the size of the paper they use, which means that they can’t be nearly as mobile as the ZUtA product.

The Kickstarter campaign for the ZUtA Pocket Printer has been widely successful. It has raised more than $450,000 out of a $400,000 goal with 12 days still on the clock. The device, which will retail for about $240, is expected to go to production in September and be shipped to Kickstarter backers in January.

May 2, 2014
7 Simple Tips To Keep Your Gadgets New

Our gadgets are now a necessary part of our everyday life. We honestly believe they deserve their own section on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. We do want to get the most out of them, but often they give us serious heart aches by dying out too soon. There are certain precautions you can take to ensure they manage to surpass their average life of 12-18 months.

Use these tips to service your gadgets routinely:

1. Cleaning:

Like everything else, your gadgets also require regular clean ups. For touchscreens ideally use a microfiber cloth, the same one used for sunglasses, or you can substitute it with a soft cotton cloth. It is extremely important to avoid over rubbing. Make it a point and regularly clean your gadget to avoid the build up of grime.

2. Battery Management:

This is one important area of focus as its the life of our gadgets. The batteries have faced the brunt of high performance machines which are released one after the other. Turn off the services you don’t need – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, cellular data and high screen brightness are the major juice drainers. You can use a few credible battery apps as well. They help to increase efficiency and enhance the battery backup by automatically closing unwanted applications.

3.Upgrades:

Upgrades are cheaper and more efficient than investing in whole new equipment. Scan through the available ones available from time to time, to figure out the best add-ons and upgrades to keep your system efficient. Powerbanks are also a good idea if you don’t find time to regularly charge your phone.

4. Buy Genuine:

Whichever accessory you wish to add to your device, it’s important to make sure that it is compatible as well as genuine. Fake accessories have the potential to cause harm to your expensive gadgets. There is also an added value of warranties/replaceability when you’re buying original products.

5. Maintaining the OS:

The operating system is the essence of every device, it is the basis of our interaction with the device. There are several diagnostics and maintenance tools available on the OS which should be used regularly. Unwanted clutter, such as multiple copies of the same file and unnecessary softwares, slows down the system. Take out time every few weeeks to clean up the mess.

6. Protectors:

With the increased delicateness of our gadgets, added protection is necessary. Starting with the stage, a.k.a the screen, where it all happens – a protector is required. Invest in high quality anti-glare and anti-scratch protectors, they are worth the extra cost. Also a body guard or a protective case which can protect the gadget from dust as well as impact is always advisable.

7. Banana:

Yes, a Banana. We were equally vary of the fact that a fruit might be useful. Just to be cautious, we checked out a few tutorials before trying it out ourselves. If you want your device squeaky clean, all you need to do is spread a layer of Banana on the surface. Keep caution about any openings: concentrate only on the screen. Use the banana peel to wipe the surface after a while. Follow it up with glass cleaning liquid on a cotton cloth.

April 29, 2014
Top 5 Best Portable Speakers

Towels? Check. Food? Check. Alcohol? Check.

You’ve almost got everything ready for your pool party. Guests may start pouring in any second, but you along with your usually reliable electrician are still struggling to plug in speakers on the outside deck.

Between juggling wires and extension cords, heavy music systems are now considered an unnecessary headache. Nowadays, its all about the new-age range of portable speakers – they’re practical, Bluetooth-enabled, and deliver excellent sound-quality. So, be it a terrace party, beach holiday or a barbecue; you can easily play your favorite playlist from your phone/MP3 with uncompromising sound. Say hello to a whole new world of portable speakers:

1. Bose Sound-link Mini

Price: INR 17,000 (approx)
Bose known for its unrivaled sound quality consistently manages to stay on top of every list. These speakers hold no exception to that rule. They weigh close to 700gm and hence are an extremely practical buy. Considering its size and sound, these speakers are the unworldly best in its category. A must have for music lovers who love to jet set. The price may lighten your wallet, but then again, its quality and durability will not let you complain.

2. JBL Pulse

Price: INR 12,000 (approx)
JBL Pulse stands out in the category of portable speakers for one single reason: its super fancy Light Show Impressions. The fascinating LED lights wrap the speakers neatly and respond to the beats of the music being played. This attention-grabbing detail somehow manages to avoid looking cheap and promises to liven up your party. Its battery backup is really good and it also comes with a portable charger. The speakers are relatively heavier than the bose, so you might think twice before taking it outside with you.

3. Creative D-200

Price: INR 8000 (approx)
This one is the best option if you’re looking to invest in a low-budget set. Like the rest, it is light and portable, but the Creative D-200 also has surprisingly very good sound quality. That’s the upside, on the down low – the battery backup may not last for more than three hours. So, if you’re planning a camping trip, don’t bother being weighed down by these speakers.

4. Sony SRS-BT M8

Price: INR 5500 (approx)
Sony SRS-BT M8 comes with a handle on top, which makes it easy to carry around everywhere. Another feature Sony has included in these speakers is the Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. For owners of NFC-enabled smartphones, it’ll help you avoid the hassle of connecting via Bluetooth. You simple need to tap your phone onto the NFC button located on the handle and you’ll be connected in the matter of seconds. The useful handbag shape and its relatively low price makes it a smart buy.

5. Skullcandy Ringer 2XL

Price: INR 1100 (approx)
The smallest and cheapest portable speaker available in market right now. Ringer is one of those products that looks good, but may not deliver the best quality. Considering its low price, buy them only for personal use – it’ll help you amplify music in your room. The sound quality is not up to the mark and its Bluetooth connection disconnects itself repeatedly.

April 29, 2014

LG Curved OLED TV 55EA9800 Unboxed!

LG’s new Curved OLED TV 55EA9800 is the world’s first curved TV, but it does not just stop there, it also is very flexible and durable. The design of the TV is out of the future, it is very slim, the profile is just exquisite and the curve may as well accentuate the actual viewing experience, but only if you sit dead centre.

Check out the Video above and the detailed specifications below.

LG 55EA9800 Specifications

Display

Screen Size(Inches)	55
Type of Television	OLED

Picture Features

Resolution(Pixels)	1920 x1080
3D Support	Yes
2D-to-3D Converter	Yes
Picture Processor	Triple XD Engine
Number of Selectable Picture Modes	7 Modes (Vivid,Standard,Eco, Cinema,Game, isf Expert1,isf Expert2)

Audio Features

Selectable Sound Modes	6 Modes (Standard, Music, Cinema, Sport, Game, User setting)

Smart TV Features

Facebook	Yes
Twitter	Yes
Web Browser	Yes

Connectivity

HDMI Input	Yes
USB Port	Yes
Composite Input	Yes
Component Input	Yes
Digital Audio Out (Optical/Coaxial)	1 (Optical)
Wifi	Yes
DLNA Support	Yes

Dimensions

Dimensions (W x D x H)(mm)	1227 x 192 x 798.5 mm
Approximate Net Weight(Kgs)	17.2

More Features

Other Features	Smart Energy Saving – Motion Eco Sensor – External Device App Download – Scheduled Recording – External HDD Recording Support – Network File Browser – Media Link – Voice Recognition – 3D Picture Mode – 3D Sound Zooming – Smart Sound Mode – DTS Decoder – Contrast Optimizer – Dynamic Color Enhancer

After Sales Service

Warranty Period	1 Year

April 23, 2014

Nike Fuelband will work with Strava, My FitnessPal and Run Keeper in the Future

Up until now Nike’s FuelBand was only favored and bought by those with an Apple iDevice whether iPhones or iPods, simply because of the ease with which they could sync up their bands.

Now, with the launch of the Nike+ Fuel Lab in San Francisco, the sports group is planning to bring more to the user with partnerships and collaborations. Nike plans to bring integration with MyFitnessPal, RunKeeper and Strava. According to Nike, thanks to this partnership Millions of people will have a “common universal currency to monitor and evaluate” all kinds of activity.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Stefan Olander” author_title=” Nike’s Vice President of Digital Sport.”]

We are excited about evolving NikeFuel to deliver richer experiences that make it easier for all athletes to reach their potential, The demand for simpler data-powered experiences is soaring, and all-day sensing is more available on mobile and wearable devices than ever before. Nike is committed to broadening the use of NikeFuel through collaborations with industry leaders to create smarter products and services.

[/quote]

April 11, 2014
LG Smart Bulb Launched for Android and iOS devices

The LG Smart Bulb is the LG’s first smart light-bulb, which is compatible with Android and iOS devices. This is similar to the Bulb launched by Philips some time back.

It is not clear if this smart bulb will be available for other markets, but for now, it has been launched in Korea at a price which converts to roughly Rs. 2000. LG claims that the Smart Bulb can work with devices running a minimum of Android 4.3 and iOS 6.

On the inside, it has a 10W LED bulb and can run for more than 10 years if used five hours a day, Claims the company. The LG Smart Bulb can connect to smartphones via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, and even flashes when its connected device receives a call, or if music is played within the same device.

March 24, 2014
Moto 360 is Motorola’s Android Wear Watch

Its no surprise that Motorola will be the first company to drop in the most interesting piece of hardware in the new ecosystem announced by Google, aka Android Wear.

Called the Moto 360, its possibly the best vision of what a smart watch should be like. Motorola has taken the traditional route with the new Moto 360 keeping the design round and the materials very robust. A generous use of Steel and Leather alongside a tried and tested milled round design make the hardware look very promising.

Thanks to very enticing images, we are now aware that the Moto 360 will show maps as well as updates from Google Now. Motorola may have hit the nail right on the head with the new Moto 360, it is said to be available in the summer in a list of varied styles including a Leather strap or all metal strap.

Its goes on sale in the US in the summer to start with, expected globally soon after.

March 19, 2014
Google Announces Android Wear; Clean Android for Wearables

Looks like Google has been noticing the recent influx of Smart watches and will be extending its love to devices more than just Google Glass. Google has announced Android Wear, a new way for the company to bring Android to wearable technology. Many call it the Nexus of smart watches, its more a clean Android interface the way google wanted it.

The Android Wear project will bring an ever aware, smart watch which is always listening. So just say “okay Google!” and open your garage door.

Android Wear promises to be more than just voice commands and just a user interaction based response system. The Android Wear project promises to bring contextual updates and notifications based on your likes, location and available choices keeping in mind weather conditions and local ambiances.

The new project promises to bring better interaction with your smartphone, alongside better health features and tracking.

If you’re a developer, there’s a new section on developer.android.com/wear focused on wearables. Starting today, you can download a Developer Preview so you can tailor your existing app notifications for watches powered by Android Wear.

Google has gone ahead to announce that Asus, HTC, LG, Motorola and Samsung are working on Android Wear devices; chip makers Broadcom, Imagination, Intel, Mediatek and Qualcomm are helping with the hardware; and fashion brands like the Fossil will bring it to the global consumer.

March 19, 2014
Google Glass Assists Surgeons and Medical Students at Ohio State University

A group of surgeons at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center added to the usage of Google Glass during surgical procedures.

As reported by ABC news, Christopher Kaeding who is an orthopedic surgeon at OSU, used Glass for a standard surgical procedure.

When he first put them on, he said that it mildly disrupted his routine. “In surgery, you have a certain feel,” he told ABC News. “But I was surprised how quickly I felt comfortable with it.”

In this particular case, Glass’s purpose was to allow Christopher to join a Google Hangout,during the surgery. Also in the hangout were Robert Magnussen, an assistant professor of orthopaedics at OSU, as well as few of the medical school’s second year students.

Ryan Blackwell, one of those students, said that Glass can give students an insider’s perspective.

“Most students have shadowed a surgeon in the operating room, but you’re often stuck on the outside trying to get a glimpse of whatever you can,” he said. “But with Glass, you get that experience that weren’t able to get before.”

Magnussen adds that Glass’s filming ability can reach more than just a couple of students at a time. For medical educators, he sees it as a way of making the curriculum more involved. “Say we’re talking about the anatomy of the knee. Watching an actual knee surgery would liven up that lecture,” he said.

Both Blackwell and Magnussen have a few minor worries about Glass’s video quality and buffering. The location of Glass’s camera also isn’t ideal for surgery, making some of Kaeding’s incisions difficult to see. ” said Blackwell.

In addition, the short battery life may mean that Glass isn’t suited for certain surgical procedures that take a long time. While other doctors at OSU have said that Glass could also be used to display a patient’s X-rays, as well as both pathology reports and reference materials pertaining to the surgery. Though Glass has potential, it’s important to keep the focus on the patient.

Kaeding knows that Glass is still a prototype at this point and that there’s room for improvement. But there is one thing that even he can tell is a huge benefit this early on. “Once it’s on, it’s hands free,” he said. “You don’t have to break sterility so you won’t have to regown and reglove.”

This adds up to the usage of Google Glass, what do you think ?

[via]

August 31, 2013
Leaked : Samsung Nexus 10 Quick Start Guide

If you needed any more proof that the Nexus 10 is coming next week, here it is. The Samsung Nexus 10’s quick start guide has leaked online, courtesy of Korean site Seeko.

The photos show the name “Nexus 10” on the cover of the guide, and inside it are basic images of a tablet with both Samsung and Nexus branding. The outlines show that the Nexus 10 has a camera and notification LED on its face and a second camera with a flash on its rear. On the left side is a 3.5mm headphone jack and microUSB port, and over on the right side is a microHDMI port, and speakers are on either side of the display. The power/lock button looks to be on the top of the device along with a volume key.

There are no specs confirmed for the tablet but, from we’ve been hearing this could well become the Samsung tablet that packs a wonderful 2560×1600 display and a quad-core Exynos 5250 with Android 4.2, which would make for a compelling tablet, Android or otherwise.

The Nexus 10 name popped up on our radar last week when it appeared in the EXIF data of a photo posted to Picasa.. This purported manual doesn’t confirm or debunk any of those details, but it does give us a peek at what the (basic) design of the Nexus 10 will be like, which appears to be similar to the Galaxy Note 10.1 with the speakers on its face and a panel around the rear camera.

While none of this is official until Google makes it so, the company’s Android event is just a few days away, so it may not be long before we get to see the Nexus 10 in real life. Are you interested in a 10-inch Nexus tablet from Google and Samsung?

All will be revealed on Monday!

October 25, 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