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Category: Tech

Latest Technology News, Alternative, Bio-Tech, Medical, R&D and Innovations

  • Spire Installer brings Siri to any Jailbroken iOS device legally, Requires a Proxy iPhone 4S

    Spire Installer brings Siri to any Jailbroken iOS device legally, Requires a Proxy iPhone 4S

    While Apple has limited Siri usage to just the iPhone 4S, iOS hackers Grant Paul (aka chpwn), Steven Troughton-Smith and Ryan Petrich have initiated a download of Siri using Spire Installer on any Jailbroken iPads, iPhone 4, iPod touches and the iPhone 3GS considering that the device runs on iOS 5 (Interesting since an untethered jailbreak for iOS 5.0.1 just came out). The Installer legally downloads a 100MB Siri installation directly from Apple and this is all legal mind you.

    The Siri port to run however requires a proxy iPhone 4S with instructions available on the link below. The team reports that once iPhone 4S is jailbroken the need for a proxy device may be eliminated altogether.

    [chpwn blog]

  • iOS 5 devices finally receive Untethered Jailbreak : No Luck for iPhone 4S and iPad 2

    iOS 5 devices finally receive Untethered Jailbreak : No Luck for iPhone 4S and iPad 2

    iPhone and other iOS device users on iOS 5.0.1 will begin to rejoice as Untethered jailbreak for their devices is finally here. Just weeks after an exploit for untethered jailbreak was found for iOS 5.0.1, it has been incorporated into RedSn0w 0.9.10, the Pwnage Tool and Chronic Devteam’s Cydia package.  This will work on iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 (including the CDMA version), iPad 1, iPod Touch 3G and iPod Touch 4G, so long as they’ve been updated to iOS 5.0.1.

    Steps are simple

    1. Head over to the Dev Team page here and download the RedSn0w for your OS (Mac/Win)
    2. Make sure your device has been updated to iOS 5.0.1 
    3. Run Redsnow on your PC or Mac and Follow instructions.

     

    Meanwhile pod2g who found the initial exploit, is also reportedly searching for a solution for iPhone 4s and iPad 2.

  • Thunderbolt ports to hit PC starting April 2012

    Thunderbolt ports to hit PC starting April 2012

    Envious of your friends Apple Computer with a high speed Thunderbolt I/O (not like he can do much with it yet) ? Intel is finally going to be able to bring their Thunderbolt technology to PCs starting April 2012. The next-Gen data transmission system which is currently only enabled in some Apple computer will come to PCs in time for Intel’s 22nm Ivy Bridge processors (Due April 2012). The only competition that Thunderbolt has, in terms of data transfer, is USB 3.0 which offers 10 times the speed of traditional USB 2.0. Thunderbolt ports however, have a couple advantages over USB 3.0 :

    • Thunderbolt ports offer double the speeds of USB 3.0
    • One machine requires only one Thunderbolt port, as all peripherals have an in and an Out Thunderbolt, so that the devices can be chained ( term : Daisy-chained) in a series. Eliminating the need for hubs or multiple wires connected to a single PC ( Gamers should start falling in love with Thunderbolt about now)

     Asus and Acer have already announced that their 2012 lineup will include Thunderbolt ports.

  • Airtight brings Airplay features Google TV

    Airtight brings Airplay features Google TV

    Have an iOS device but miss the Airplay feature because you didn’t get the Apple TV ? Well Airtight is the answer, considering you got Google TV instead. A simple app that costs only 99 cents allows you to use any Airplay enabled device like an iPad or iPhone to share with a Google TV on the same network. It currently works with only sharing of Non-DRM Movies, and Music and direct mirroring is not yet supported. So a US $ 99 Apple TV seems like a better option if you still haven’t invested in a Google TV.

    [Airtight]

  • Samsung Galaxy R i9103 Second Review ( Price Drop Version)

    Samsung Galaxy R i9103 Second Review ( Price Drop Version)

    We got over a thousand requests to review the Samsung Galaxy R especially after the price drop. The device originally launched at Rs. 27000, just a little shy of the price of the Galaxy S2, but now the phone  is priced at a mere 20,800 , also available at online retailers for a discount of 1000 using a coupon. Making it the best under 20k handset, here is why.

     

    Build Quality and Design

    Not the best build quality by Samsung, the Galaxy R lacks precious looks and precious materials. The back panel especially fades away after just light use, the scratch resistant front display is not so scratch resistant after all. We did face some issue with the power button and it turned out to be really fidgety. Apart from the downsides, we did like the look of the handset and it does feature some great elements, including a nice sized, tactile home button along with a nice chrome bezel.

    The design is identical to the S2 but is much fatter than the powerful predecessor. The back of the device makes it look a bit ugly, and since it fades easily the look worsens day by day.

    Hardware and Multimedia

    Now that the price is so different, we see that there is a slight difference b/w the specs of the S2 and the R.

             
    COMPARISON
    Samsung Galaxy R I9103
    Samsung Galaxy S 2 I9100 
    		    
     
    Platform
    Operating Freq GSM – 900, 1800 GSM – 850, 900, 1800, 1900; UMTS – 2100    
    OS Android v2.3 (Gingerbread) Android v2.3 (Gingerbread)    
    User Interface TouchWiz TouchWiz 4.0    
    Java        
    Processor 1 GHz ARM Cortex A9, Dual Core 1.2 GHz ARM Cortex A9, Dual Core    
    Graphics ULP GeForce Mali-400 MP    
     
    Display
    Type Super Clear LCD Super AMOLED Plus    
    Size 4.2 Inches 4.27 Inches    
    Resolution WVGA, 480 x 800 Pixels 800 x 480 Pixels    
    Colors 16 M 16 M    
     
    Camera
    Primary Camera 5 Megapixel 8 Megapixel    
    Secondary Camera  VGA 2 Megapixel    
    Flash LED LED    
    Video Recording 1280 x 720 1920 x 1080, 30 fps    
    HD Recording HD HD, Full HD    
    Other Camera Features Geo-tagging, Smile Detection, Auto Focus, Image Editor Auto Focus, Shot Mode, Photo Effects, White Balance, Geo-tagging, Face and Smile Detection    
    Zoom   Digital Zoom    
     
    Dimensions
    Size 66 x 125 x 9.5 mm 66.1 x 125.3 x 8.4 mm    
    Weight 135 g 116 g    
     
    Battery
    Type Li-lon, 1650 mAh 1650 mAh    
    Talktime   18 hrs (2G), 8 hrs (3G)    
    Standby Time   710 hrs (2G), 610 hrs (3G)    
     
    Memory and Storage
    Internal 8 GB 16 GB    
    Expandable Memory Slot Micro SD, upto 32 GB Micro SD, upto 32 GB

     

    The camera on the device is a 5MP snapper and it gives out decent image quality and 720p video, the LED flash is also good enough to illuminate low lit subjects, but don’t expect it to fill a room. Images are as crisp as can be from a 5Mp sensor, the quality when compared to a 5MP snapper from the iPhone 4 is a bit lower. 720p video is smooth and without jitters and we will soon upload a video sample to demonstrate that.

    The screen is not anything like the Super AMOLED Plus display on the S2 but the SLCD display is the same size and same pixel resolution, also the same color density and is a exceptionally bright display with great outdoor visibility. The display is try capable of playing good video and the device supports unto 1080p video playback without any issues.

    Audio on the device is loud, a bit louder than the S2 we presume, the earpiece did give us some problems as we mentioned in the unboxing, but somehow the volume keeps going up and down in the earpiece and we suspect its a software thing. Mic works great without any problem.

    The NVidia Tegra 2 chipset is well supported in the gaming developer community, so expect to find more games work on this device than were supported on the S2 initially. Let us mention that all sort of games play brilliantly.

    Call Quality and Messaging

    The network is great and no breakages in sustained network, even while traveling. We did however face low signal in key areas like flyovers and tower changes. Audio is good, but like we mentioned the earpiece can get a bit bothersome.

    The device also supports video calling over 3G networks which is a great add-on to those who want to use this feature, although we prefer services like Skype and Fring which work great too.

    Messaging works great on the nice and large screen, with the ability to switch to Swype which is inbuilt into the system you can enhance the experience of typing. You can also switch to a flurry of available keyboard replacements in the Android Marketplace to best suit your needs of typing.

    Battery Life 

    The battery life on this device is varied out of the box you will struggle to pass a few hours with the device, you will need to charge it at least twice a day if not more. But we found easy fixes, and we have discussed these with Samsung and we believe that a software update should rectify the problem soon. Turn off Wifi, background data sync and Mobile data, when not in use and here are the results

    Talk time 2G : 5 hours

    Talk Time 3G :  4-4.5 Hours

    Standby Time : 2 Days- 3 Days

    Internet usage : 8 Hours over Wifi

    Video Playback : upto 6 hours constant video

     

    Conclusion 

    The device is an exceptional device especially after this price drop, it does lack proper construction, but has a set of features that are difficult to match at this price. The only thing that comes close to this device is the LG Optimus 2X  with almost the same price and the same chipset. The Galaxy R has a newer built of Android and will definitely get the ICS update. The Galaxy R also has TouchWiz UI which we prefer over the one on LG. We also believe that the device is well supported in the developer community and has a larger user base.

    Samsung Galaxy R is a great purchase and a brilliant holiday gift.

    We Rate it 4.0/5.0 

    Images

    Unboxing Video

    New Review

     

  • Samsung working on a High Res Dual Core 2 GHz tablet for launch in Feb 2012

    Samsung working on a High Res Dual Core 2 GHz tablet for launch in Feb 2012

    Samsung is said to be hard at work on a tablet that will feature a retina like resolution of 2560 x 1600 px. The tablet is said to be either 11.6 inches or 10.1 inches, all running on a dual-core Exynos 5250 CPU clocked at 2GHz, pushing apps on a custom Touchwiz running on Ice Cream Sandwich. The tablet is also said to have an 8MP camera at back and a 3MP camera in the front capable of HD Video Calls.  

    The tablet will also feature Android Beam for easy syncing of media with a Galaxy Nexus, and a special wireless docking mode for gaming on HDTVs. The tablet is supposedly slated for release in February 2012 to beat rumors of an iPad 3 sale starting on Feb 24th ( Steve Jobs’ birthday). There is no official announcement from Samsung but it appears that CES 2012 would be a good time for Sammy to announce this thin, wide and high res Tablet of the future.

  • iGyaan Holiday Guide : Best Phones for 15,000

    iGyaan Holiday Guide : Best Phones for 15,000

    So many questions, so little time. Its the time for holiday cheer and we are literally getting bombarded with hundreds of emails asking us what phones to buy. So here is our guide for the best options in the Rs. 15000 price.

    (In order of preference) 

    Android Phones  

    1. Micromax A85 SuperFone : (Rs. 15290) The price drop has already been announced, and at this price it is the best spec’d phone. A dual core Nvidia Tegra 2, 3.8 inch touchscreen, 5 MP camera and gesture control make this the best bet at the price. But sadly it ships with Android 2.2.

     

    2. Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini Pro Sk17i: (Rs 15,000) One of the most recommended devices by iGyaan in 2011 our extensive review will tell you why this device is an excellent purchase.

     

     


    3. Motorola Defy (Rs 14,000) : The original defy is still an awesome phone, with Android a brilliant rugged construction that resists water and dust. The design is also shock proof. Check out our Review.

     

    4. HTC ChaCha (Rs. 14500): A brilliant form factor with excellent build, the only touch and type phone with this design from HTC. Also the first phone with a dedicated FB button on the Android platform, a Social king. Our Review Covers it.

     

     

    5. Samsung Galaxy Ace (Rs 13000): One of the most loved phones of 2011 the ace has a nice display along with impressive looks, a good processor and Touchwiz on top of Android 2.3. The device is well supported in the developer community and will get ICS courtesy Root and Custom CM9 rom. Check out our Review 

     

     

    6. HTC Wildfire S (Rs 12,500): Not our last option but an alternative to the Galaxy Ace, the build is far superior also is the quality of materials used. The device features HTC Sense on top of Android 2.3 and is arguably the best built phone of this bracket. The camera in some aspects is better than the Ace and pulls out great images. The processor is only a 600MHz compared to the 800MHz on the Ace. We reviewed it Here

     

    Blackberry 

    Blackberry Curve 3G 9300 (Rs. 14,450):  The only berry in this range, you also get the CDMA version of the curve 8520 (called: 8530) which is not worth mentioning. What is to say this is an old outdated berry running on the older OS6 but features a great and responsive OS. It is a great upgrade for some one on a Blackberry high . We however say, spend more and get the Curve 9380 : we covered here.

     

    Nokia Symbian

    Nokia 700 (Rs 15299) :  Younger version of the 701, this device is available in the market in select locations, features new Symbian Belle and a 3.2 inch Capacitive Amoled Clear Black display. A 5 Mp camera and 720p video capabilities make it a good competitor. Another add-on is the tough gorilla glass front. The price seems a bit high for this old-school Operating System. The phone also has a 2Gb internal storage and is a grab option for those who refuse to abandon the legendary OS in its dying days.

     

     

     

    Nokia 500 (Rs 11,000): Then there is the 500,  its the only other Nokia phone in this bracket apart from the discontinued C6-01. This features a 1GHz processor along with a 3.2-inch TFT nHD Capacitive Touchscreen. The phone features Symbian Anna and has great 5MP camera, which is fixed focus. Again price is a bit of a pinch especially because the device is unable to offer the freedom that say an Android device would offer, But on the upside it does have a 1GHz processor.

     

     

     

     

    Windows Phone

    Samsung Focus (Rs 14000) : The device was never announced in India, but New and unlocked US versions can be bought on Ebay. The device features a nice 4.0 Inch Super Amoled Display with a native 480 x 800 px resolution. Already updated to Mango this device offers all the new features of Windows Phone 7.5 at a bargain, everything of course except a front facing camera. The Focus also has 8GB of memory and 512MB Ram and 512MB Rom

     

  • LG will introduce world’s largest OLED display at CES – 55 inches (PR)

    LG will introduce world’s largest OLED display at CES – 55 inches (PR)

    LG has confirmed that it will be releasing the OLED displays of the future at the CES 2012. The Worlds largest OLED display measuring 55 inches will also be unveiled at the event. The unveiling will happen on January 9th, LG claims their technology uses white OLEDs overlaid with colors for a lower error rate and clearer “ultra definition” screen.

    [toggle title_open=”Press Release” title_closed=”Press Release” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]

     

     

    LG Display Announces World’s Largest OLED TV Panel
    55″ Panel to Advance Popularization of OLED TV Market

    Seoul, Korea (December 26, 2011) – LG Display [NYSE: LPL, KRX: 034220], a leading innovator of thin-film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) technology, today announced that it has developed the world’s largest 55-inch OLED(Organic Light Emitting Diodes) TV panel. The 55-inch panel is a significant step forward in the popularization of OLED TVs and demonstrates the effective application of AM OLED technology to larger panel sizes at a more cost efficient level.

    “Our objective has always been to actively define and lead emerging display technology markets,” said Dr. Sang Beom Han, CEO and Executive Vice President of LG Display. “Although OLED technology is seen as the future of TV display, the technology has been limited to smaller display sizes and by high costs, until now. LG Display’s 55-inch OLED TV panel has overcome these barriers.”

    Superior Image Quality in an Ultra Thin Design
    LG Display’s 55″ OLED TV panel produces remarkable image quality with no after image due to its high reaction velocity, as well as high contrast ratio of over 100,000:1 and wider color gamut than that produced by LCD panels.

    OLED, a medium that controls pixels is a departure from LCD panels which utilize liquid crystals. The new technology allows light emitting diodes to self-generate light and features a reaction velocity to electric signals over 1000 times faster than liquid crystal.

    The environmentally conscious will also appreciate LG Display’s 55″ OLED TV panel. While light sources in backlight units, like LCD panels, must always be kept on, the OLED panel allows diodes to be turned on or off which enables lower power consumption than conventional LCD panels.

    With no need for a special light source, LG Display’s 55″ OLED TV panel is also able to utilize a simplified structure thinner than that of a pen (5mm), and lighter than LCD panels. The panel’s minimalist structure also allows for the realization of unique design elements.

    Advancing the Popularization of OLED TVs
    Although industry watchers anticipate OLED as the future of TV display, to date, the technology has faced challenges due to limitations on the sizes of displays it can be applied to and a high level of investment required. LG Display has successfully addressed these issues with its 55″ OLED TV panel.

    The panel adopts an Oxide TFT technology for backplane which is different from a Low Temperature Poly Silicon (LTPS) type generally used in existing small-sized OLED panels. The Oxide TFT type that LG Display utilizes is similar to the existing TFT process, with the simple difference lying in replacing Amorphous Silicon with Oxide. Moreover, the Oxide TFT type produces identical image quality to high performance of LTPS base panels at significantly reduced investment levels.

    Additionally, LG Display uses White OLED (WOLED). WOLED vertically accumulates red, green, and blue diodes. With white color light emitting from the diode, it displays screen information through color layers below the TFT base panel, which leads to a lower error rate, higher productivity, and a clearer Ultra Definition screen via the benefits of small pixels. Further, it is possible to realize identical colors in diverse angles via color information displayed through a thin layer. Lower electricity consumption in web browsing environments for smart TVs is another key strength of WOLED.

    Showing at CES 2012
    The world’s first 55″ OLED TV panel from LG Display will be made available for showing to select media and customers at a private booth starting on January 9 in Las Vegas through the end of CES 2012. For information regarding a product tour, please contact the individuals listed below.

    About LG Display
    LG Display Co., Ltd. [NYSE: LPL, KRX: 034220] is a leading manufacturer and supplier of thin-film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panels, OLEDs and flexible displays. The company provides TFT-LCD panels in a wide range of sizes and specifications for use in TVs, monitors, notebook PCs, mobile products and other various applications. LG Display currently operates eight fabrication facilities and five back-end assembly facilities in Korea, China and Poland. The company has a total of 55,000 employees operating worldwide. Please visit http://www.lgdisplay.com for more information.

    Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer
    This press release contains forward-looking statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current plans, estimates and projections, and therefore you should not place undue reliance on them. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update publicly any of them in light of new information or future events. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. We caution you that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Additional information as to factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements can be found in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

    [/toggle]

  • Sony sells its stake in SLCD back to Samsung for US$ 939 Million (PR)

    Sony sells its stake in SLCD back to Samsung for US$ 939 Million (PR)

    Sony has sold its stake in the SLCD division of Samsung, the initial tie up was a 50%-50% partnership between the two companies. The venture was started seven years ago and now the companies have decided to part ways. The 50% stake that Sony owned was bought back by samsung for a sum of US $ 939 million, and Sony believes that it will continue engineering efforts for LCD developments in the future alongside Samsung.

    [toggle title_open=”Press Release” title_closed=”Press Release” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]Sony and Samsung Shift to New LCD Panel Business Alliance

    • Samsung to acquire all of Sony’s shares of S-LCD, making the joint venture its wholly-owned subsidiary
    • Sony and Samsung enter into a strategic agreement for supply and purchase of LCD panels.

    Tokyo, Japan – Sony Corporation (“Sony”) and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (“Samsung”) today announced that the two companies have signed agreements to transition the current business relationship with respect to LCD panels.

    Under the agreement, Samsung will acquire all of Sony’s shares of S-LCD Corporation (“S-LCD”), the two companies’ LCD panel manufacturing joint venture, making S-LCD a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung. In consideration for the share transfer, cash consideration of approximately KRW 1.08 trillion* will be paid to Sony by Samsung. Concurrently, the two companies have entered into a new strategic agreement for the supply and purchase of LCD panels with a goal of enhancing the competitiveness of both companies. The agreement also allows Sony and Samsung to continue cooperative engineering efforts focused on LCD panel technology.

    For Sony, this transaction will enable it to monetize its shares in S-LCD and aims to secure a flexible and steady supply of LCD panels from Samsung, based on market prices and without the responsibility and costs of operating a manufacturing facility. With whole ownership of S-LCD, Samsung anticipates heightened flexibility, speed and efficiency in both panel production and business operations.

    Established in April 2004, S-LCD has continued to deliver advanced and cost-competitive LCD panels to both of its parent companies, contributing to the expansion of the respective parties’ TV businesses, and the large-sized LCD TV market overall. However, LCD panel and TV market conditions have now changed. In order to respond to such challenging conditions and to strengthen their respective market competitiveness, the two companies have agreed to shift to a new LCD panel business alliance.

    The share transfer and payment are targeted to close by the end of January 2012, subject to necessary approvals from regulatory authorities.

    As a result of this transaction, a non-cash impairment loss of approximately JPY 66 billion is expected to be incurred by Sony in the third quarter of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012, due to the reevaluation of its S-LCD shares. This loss includes an impact from the fluctuation of exchange rate. Despite this one-time loss, Sony estimates that the transaction will result in substantial savings on and after January 1, 2012 in respect of costs associated with its
    procurement of LCD panels. The current estimate of the yearly savings in respect of such costs is approximately JPY 50 billion, compared to LCD panel procurement costs estimated for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012. Neither the one-time loss nor the estimated cost savings were included in Sony’s forecast of consolidated financial results for the current fiscal year ending March 31, 2012, announced on November 2, 2011. Sony is currently reevaluating this forecast, taking into account this transaction and other factors that might affect its full year FY2011 consolidated financial results forecast.

    Facts about S-LCD
    Established: April 26, 2004
    Capital: KRW 3.3 Trillion
    (Samsung Electronics: 50% plus 1 share, Sony: 50% minus 1 share)
    Representative: Location: Production Items:
    Donggun Park, CEO
    Tangjeong, Chung Cheong Nam-Do, South Korea 7th and 8th generation Amorphous TFT LCD
    *Note: The final amount of such payment will be determined based on S-LCD’s financial statements as of the end of December 2011.[/toggle]

  • Spice Mi 350n Unboxing and Comparison with A75 Superfone

    Spice Mi 350n Unboxing and Comparison with A75 Superfone

    The Spice Mi350n is an answer to the Micromax A75 Superfone, with dual sim and Android 2.3, the device offers similar specs and a cheaper price of Rs 7700 check out our Video Unboxing and quick comparison b/w the two devices.

     

  • Samsung Galaxy 5 already Running Ice Cream Sandwich courtesy CM9

    Samsung Galaxy 5 already Running Ice Cream Sandwich courtesy CM9

    While big smartphones struggle to get their fix of Google’s new OS. Folks over at MadTeam, the ones that got us the original Cyanogen on the Galaxy 5, have managed to port over Android’s new baby Ice Cream Sandwich to the Galaxy 5. Although the port is not complete and is not recommended for daily use, infact basic functionality of the device is broken. Check out the list below.

    Working:

    • Hardware Acceleration (Some Parts)
    • Touchscreen
    • WiFi
    • Audio

    Broken:

    • Telephony
    • 3G
    • GPS
    • Sensors
    • Bluetooth
    • Market
    • USB Mounting
    • WiFi Hotspot
    • Tethering
    • JIT is Disabled (So, the ROM is slightly slow)
    • Keyboard (Doesn’t appear completely on the Screen)

    While the team is currently removing the bugs, It is recommended that you stay away from this build bless you want to loose all functionality. We expect the full release to come out soon, and will present a full upgrade guide once we have tested the build for ourselves.

    [Madteam]

     

  • HTC Radar Video Review

    What better way to see a review than on Video? Check out our HTC Radar review for some Win Phone Mango fun, and an overall device rating.

    Price Rs. 24000/-

    We rate it 3.5/5

     Check out the Unboxing video:

  • Air Dictate brings Siri to your Mac, soon to a PC

    Air Dictate brings Siri to your Mac, soon to a PC

    A clever App from a seasoned developer Avatron Software, Air Dictate, allows users to use voice dictation on their Mac’s using  Apple’s own Siri. This app does not bring the great conversation you can have with Siri off and on, but it does bring the excellent voice recognition engine to you Mac, and first reports suggest that it works great. We are downloading the App as we write this, expect a full test soon.

    [iTunes]

  • Galaxy Tab 8.9 gets unofficial Ice Cream Sandwich (Video)

    A group of Galaxy Tab 8.9 owners couldn’t wait anymore and decided to homebrew their own Ice Cream Sandwich build for the Tab 8.9. Using files from the upcoming final build of Cyanogen Mod 9, this home cooked build is anything but final. Bluetooth, GPS, hardware acceleration and the accelerometer are  functioning, while Wifi still remains a problem.  The group is refraining from releasing builds for download at the moment, but they are promising quick updates. Check out the video preview below, but if anything, like a user comment, it seems it was recorded on a potato.

    [XDA forums]

  • HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio Review

    HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio Review

     

    The HTC Sensation XE has been a low baller in India, especially because it was launched soon after the Sensation, added only minor improvements that made major differences. Here is our review.

    Build Quality

    The Sensation XE, just like is predecessor, is built in a unibody fashion, with a sold structure and aluminum back panel with rubber edges. The front of the device has an outward curved gorilla glass which is shatter and scratch resistant. The HTC Sensation XE is superbly built and will last a lifetime by designers who 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. 

     

    Specs

    There is no questioning the latest hardware in the Sensation XE, the latest dual core processors a very high resolution screen, functional 8 megapixel camera with full HD video at 1080p not to forget the added Beats by Dre audio.

     

    DESIGN

    The Sensation XE is still the Range Rover that the original sensation was, you can infact say this is a higher end model, especially because it does not add any changes to aesthetics except the obvious beats branding and the red accents.

    PHONE AND MESSAGING

    Just like the original Sensation we got superior audio in and out during calls. The network performance was excellent and sustained throughout our test period. 3G and WCDMA performance excelled in the Sensation XE. The XE also continues the standard that the Sensation set as being the best in phone networks on our list of devices. Over all impressive.

    The touchscreen on the device is same as the original Sensation, allowing 4 point interaction, 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. This allows for really fast messaging and the keyboard has nice and large keys considering that the Sense keyboard is one of the most coveted Android keyboards yet.

     

    Beats Audio + Multimedia

    The Sensation XE not only features a Beats audio processing engine but also has one of the best included earphones/headphones with a smartphone. The iBeats come with a uniquely distinctive carry pouch and also have online microphone and remote for audio control. While you can’t compare the quality of audio to high end standalone headphones, these uniquely stand out far above normally included ones. Offering good, deep bass and excellent vocals. The device also instantly detects the iBeats, once plugged in, and activates the beats audio profile.

    The screen is a brilliant qHD Screen with a native resolution of 540 x 960 px, large enough to put any phone to shame, not considering of course the Galaxy Note and likes.  The screen is also no Amoled or Super-Amoled display so don’t expect it to be as vivid. But watching movies, reading text and playing games is great on this device. The Beats audio improves the overall multimedia experience a lot, making movies, music and just plain old videos sound better.

    The camera is an 8MP snapper the same from the Sensation, it captures stunning pictures and great full HD video. The camera app comes with a lot of features in the standard HTC style, which allows for a lot of tweaks to be made by the photographer at hand. On the front is a lowly VGA camera which offers decent VOIP capabilities and no video calling.

    BATTERY LIFE

    Values 2G 3G WiFi
    Talk Time unto 9.5 Hours 5 hours –
    Standby time 48 Hours 30 hours 7 Days
    Web Browsing 8-9 hours 5 hours 5 Hours
    Video Streaming 4.5 Hours 3 Hours 4 Hours
    Music Streaming 15 hours 10 hours 14 hours

    In certain cases we saw improvement in the battery management on the Sensation XE compared to that of the HTC Sensation.

    Conclusion

    Although not a major improvement over the Sensation, in terms of looks and performance, the little add-on definitely make a big difference. The processor bump to 1.5GHz improves overall device performance and does not affect battery life. The beats audio improves the overall experience of the device and the earphone make an excellent add on. The device is robust, well made and is built to impress, a definite up above the competition.

    [xrr rating=4.5/5 label=”We Rate The Sensation : ” imageset=shiny_yellow_star display_as=fraction_stars]

    Price  Rs. 32,599/-

    Videos

     

    Review Video

     

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