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Microsoft to Launch Remote Desktop For Android and iOS Devices

Microsoft will launch the Windows Server 2012 R2, and will release its Remote Desktop app on Windows, Windows RT and OS X, but also on iOS and Android, probably by end of this month.

The press release further shows, with Windows Server 2012 R2 Microsoft is introducing the Microsoft Remote Desktop app, available for download in application stores later this month, to provide easy access to PCs and virtual desktops on a variety of devices and platforms, including Windows, Windows RT, iOS, OS X and Android. However, this is the first time Microsoft’s remote desktop is available for rival platforms, but having said that this could be a problem for current apps which perform the same function.

The remote desktop for the iOS version will support iOS 6 and 7, while the Android variant will support everything from Gingerbread upward. No information is available on the date of the release yet.

[toggle title=”Press Release “]Microsoft unleashes fall wave of enterprise cloud solutions
Oct. 07, 2013
New Windows Server, System Center, Visual Studio, Windows Azure, Windows Intune, SQL Server, and Dynamics solutions will accelerate cloud benefits for customers.

REDMOND, Wash. – Oct. 7, 2013 – Microsoft Corp. on Monday announced a wave of new enterprise products and services to help companies seize the opportunities of cloud computing and overcome today’s top IT challenges. Complementing Office 365 and other services, these new offerings deliver on Microsoft’s enterprise cloud strategy.

Satya Nadella, Cloud and Enterprise executive vice president, said, “As enterprises move to the cloud they are going to bet on vendors that have best-in-class software as a service applications, operate a global public cloud that supports a broad ecosystem of third party services, and deliver multi-cloud mobility through true hybrid solutions. If you look across the vendor landscape, you can see that only Microsoft is truly delivering in all of those areas.” More comments from Nadella can be found on The Official Microsoft Blog.

Hybrid infrastructure and modern applications

To help customers build IT infrastructure that delivers continuous services and applications across clouds, on Oct. 18 Microsoft will release Windows Server 2012 R2 and System Center 2012 R2. Together, these new products empower companies to create datacenters without boundaries using Hyper-V for high-scale virtualization; high-performance storage at dramatically lower costs; built-in, software-defined networking; and hybrid business continuity. The new Windows Azure Pack runs on top of Windows Server and System Center, enabling enterprises and service providers to deliver self-service infrastructure and platforms from their datacenters.

Building on these hybrid cloud platforms, customers can use Visual Studio 2013 and the new .NET 4.5.1, also available Oct. 18, to create modern applications for devices and services. As software development becomes pervasive within every company, the new Visual Studio 2013 Modern Lifecycle Management solution helps enable development teams, businesspeople and IT managers to build and deliver better applications, faster.

Enabling enterprise cloud adoption

Recognizing that most enterprises will take a hybrid approach to cloud, Microsoft wants to help customers utilize their investments in on-premises software solutions toward the adoption of cloud computing. On Nov. 1, Microsoft will offer Enterprise Agreement (EA) customers access to discounted Windows Azure prices, regardless of upfront commitment, without overuse penalties and with the flexibility of annual payments.

As another part of this effort to reduce cloud adoption barriers, Microsoft on Monday announced a strategic partnership with Equinix Inc. Building on recently announced partnerships with AT&T and others, this alliance will provide customers with even more options for private and fast connections to the cloud. Customers will be able to connect their networks with Windows Azure at Equinix exchange locations for greater throughput, availability and security features.

Governments are among the most demanding enterprise customers. To help U.S. federal, state and local government agencies realize the benefits of public cloud computing, Microsoft is introducing its Windows Azure US Government Cloud. This will offer U.S. government customers a dedicated community cloud for data, applications and infrastructure, hosted in the continental U.S. and managed by U.S. personnel. Windows Azure has been granted FedRAMP Joint Authorization Board Provisional Authority to Operate, making it the first public cloud of its kind to achieve this level of government authorization.

Data platform and insights

As part of its vision to help more people unlock actionable insights from big data, Microsoft next week will release a second preview of SQL Server 2014. The new version offers industry-leading in-memory technologies at no additional cost, giving customers 10 times to 30 times performance improvements without application rewrites or new hardware. SQL Server 2014 also works with Windows Azure to give customers built-in cloud backup and disaster recovery.

For big data analytics, later this month Microsoft will release Windows Azure HDInsight Service, an Apache Hadoop-based service that works with SQL Server and widely used business intelligence tools, such as Microsoft Excel and Power BI for Office 365. With Power BI, people can combine private and public data in the cloud for rich visualizations and fast insights.

People and devices in the cloud

The proliferation of cloud applications, data and consumer devices is moving many enterprises to a bring-your-own-device model. The new release of Windows Intune, also available Oct. 18, combines with System Center Configuration Manager to help IT departments give mobile employees security-enhanced access to the applications and data they need on the Windows, iOS and Android devices of their choice. This unified management environment for PCs and mobile devices complements the new access and information protection capabilities in Windows Server 2012 R2.

Further, with Windows Server 2012 R2 Microsoft is introducing the Microsoft Remote Desktop app, available for download in application stores later this month, to provide easy access to PCs and virtual desktops on a variety of devices and platforms, including Windows, Windows RT, iOS, OS X and Android.

Software as a service business solutions

The next major version of the company’s CRM solution, Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online Fall ’13 will be available later this month, helping make customer interactions more personal via contextual information for deeper insights than the previous version, delivered on a variety of devices.* The on-premises version is expected to be available later in the fall for deployment either in-house or hosted by a partner. More information is available here. In addition, Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 R2 is now available, offering small and midsize businesses interoperability with Office 365, full multitenant support, and a range of tools designed to support large-scale hosting of the application on Windows Azure.

More information on Monday’s announcements can be found at the Microsoft News Center.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

* Devices include Windows 8 tablets and iPad tablets with Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013; Windows Phone 8, iPhone and Android phone shortly following the release of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013.[/toggle]

October 9, 2013
Skype For Android Gets Update, Improved Video Quality
Did your phone updated to the latest change from Skype this morning ? If not, you might want to update it manually as the latest version of Skype on Android has got two new major updates, better video quality and a new tablet user interface. The company claims that you can now enjoy video chats with up to four times the resolution of older Skype versions, while using a phone or a tablet.

The user interface, tablets have got a completely new UI with the new 4.4 version of Skype, the new UI displays latest chats and calls which we have seen on the smartphones but is new for tablets.

Apart from changes, the new update also has some bug fixes like:
- Accessibility improvements with full support for TalkBack screen reader
- Updates that address incoming call issues, including one that was causing phones to reboot
- Additional changes to audio routing
- Display and UX enhancements when switching orientation
October 9, 2013
Samsung’s Curved Display Phone is Official, ‘Galaxy Round’ To Launch Tomorrow : Video

Samsung’s curved display phone has ended up all the rumors and is now official, after being shown up in leaked rumors earlier, the company has announced that it will launch the Galaxy Round tomorrow.

The highlight of the Galaxy Round is the curved 1080p 5.7 inch OLED screen, while Samsung is also aiming towards a bunch software tweaks for the smartphone. Other specifications include a 7.9 mm thickness and the device weighs 154 grams.

The device looks no closer to the prototype displayed earlier this year, you can check out the video below to know what the phone looks like and what are the special software tweaks Samsung has for its new Galaxy Round, one of them is the roll effect shown in the video. The new phone will be powered by a 2800 mAh battery, launching tomorrow in Korea the device is priced around $1,000. Stay tuned for more information on the Galaxy Round.

[youtube id=”UIEExKSjWi4″ width=”100%” height=”300px”]

[toggle title=”Press Release “]Samsung GALAXY ROUND Pioneers the Curved Display Smartphone Experience

New device presents world’s first commercialized full HD Super AMOLED flexible display

Seoul, Korea – October 9, 2013 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today introduced GALAXY ROUND, the world’s first curved display smartphone. Samsung has been a mobile display innovator by introducing color TFT-LCD, AMOLED, and Super AMOLED flexible display for its mobile product. With this pioneering curved display technology, GALAXY ROUND blends the latest smartphone screen innovations with unique design features. The sleek and thin Samsung GALAXY ROUND which equipped with a 5.7″ Full HD Super AMOLED with 7.9mm thick and weighs 154g offers a comfortable hand grip feeling to user, and exclusive experiences of curved display.

As a result of its unique curved design, users can take advantage of round integration experiences like the Roll Effect that enables user to check information such as date, time, missed call and battery easily when home screen is off, and the Gravity Effect for creating visual interaction with the screen by tilting the device. For music, the Bounce UX enables users to control their music. When the GALAXY ROUND’s display is off while the music player is running, a short press to the left of the device will play the previous track while a short press to the right will play the next track. For pictures and videos, the Side Mirror feature enables users to gain access to list of the album content with a left and right tilt.

The large screen size of the GALAXY ROUND provides additional benefits to users. Useful One-Hand Operation features bring a user’s most desired controls closer to a preferred side of the screen. The device enables enhanced multitasking capabilities that allow users to fully utilize the larger screen through Multi Window, a feature that enables users to open more than one application on the screen, run simultaneous multiple instances of the same application or to easily share content between applications.

Samsung GALAXY ROUND is available in Korea with Luxury Brown, and more color will be available soon.

* All functionality, features, specifications, and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.[/toggle]

October 9, 2013
Apple’s iPad Event May Happen Oct 22nd

Apple might host its Annual iPad refresh event on the 22nd of October 2013. AllThingsD who seems to have correct information every time, has reported that the iPad event is likely to happen on Oct 22nd.

Apple is expected to launch two new models of the iPad, the 5th Gen original iPad and the second generation iPad Mini (hopefully with Retina display) . No official word has come from Apple, but most people are expecting that the new iPad or iPad mini will come with the TouchiD fingerprint sensor for added security on the iPads.

October 9, 2013
Leaked : Samsung’s upcoming Curved Phone

Soon after LG’s plans on making curved phones came into light, Samsung’s upcoming curved phone has “seemed ” to leak, with a render, showing off what the future of the tech we hold in our hands look like.

Infamous leakster @evleaks has managed to snag on two images of what may be a Korea specific device, and what appears to be an inward curved Samsung Galaxy S4. A design like this could be bothersome, or useful depending on how the final product performs. This design could help with screen glare, contour more to your face and hands if not curved too much. Alternatively this design will also increase the thickness of the device considerably.

[Evleaks]

October 9, 2013
Beyond : Two Souls Review

October 9, 2013
XOLO Q700i smartphone With a 8 MP Camera Listed Online at a Price of 11,999 INR

Xolo have secretly introduced a successor of its Q700, the Q700i has now been listed online on Flipkart for 11,999 INR. The Xolo Q700i is currently available on the online retailer, however, Xolo has not yet officially announced the device in India.

The device sports a 4.5 inch qHD display (OGS) with a resolution of 540 x 960 pixels. Xolo Q700i is powered by 1.2 GHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 processor along with PowerVR SGX544 GPU. Xolo Q700i is equipped with a 8 MP rear camera which has a BSI Sensor with image stabilization along with 2 MP front facing camera. The device has a 1 GB of RAM along with a 4 GB of inbuilt storage which can be further be expanded up to 32 GB.

Xolo Q700i runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and is a dual-SIM device, it measures 135.8 x 67.5 x 10.2 mm and weighs about 151 grams.

October 8, 2013
How To Take Good Images From Your Phone’s Camera

These days digital cameras are found in a variety of other gadgets – including cell phones. In fact Camera Phones are one of the fastest growing segments of the digital camera market and with the improvements in the quality of what is being offered in some phones (higher megapixels, better lenses, high capacity storage) some believe that they are beginning to win market share away from the low end offerings of many digital camera manufacturers.

So keeping that in mind, we present to you some basic tips to improve the quality of images that you click from your cell phone.

1. Stand Still

It is really difficult to keep still while clicking images with your phone. Even the slightest of movements can leave the image blurred. The shutter delay is what causes these blurs.

Holding the camera really steady and even after the shutter is released, keep it steady for a few seconds more just to be sure. You could also try supporting the phone on a few books, table, against the table vase and get sharper images.

2. The Better The Lighting, The Clearer The Image

The better lit your subject is the clearer your image is likely to be. If possible shoot outside or turn on lights when shooting inside. Your phone’s biggest weakness is its inability to take good pictures in low light (unless you have a Lumia 920 or a HTC One), which means you generally will want to get as much light as you possibly can on your subject.

If your phone camera has the basic white balance features then experiment with them to get the near possible match.

3. Focus!

When you’re taking a close-up, your phone generally focuses on the element closest to the lens. Switching the focus can allow objects in the background to stand out instead, thus making a run-of-the-mill shot more interesting. To focus on an element, gently tap your screen’s viewfinder.

Wait for the subject to be in focus. Then take the shot. There are apps you can use to selectively focus areas in your image. More on apps later.

4. Avoid Zoom

The built-in zoom in most phone cameras are not optical but digital. Hence, it is advisable to not zoom in to compose a picture because you are not really zooming.

Instead, move closer to the object and crop the image later if you have to. You will notice a considerable difference in the quality of the image.

Most smartphones have 8+ megapixels of resolution and sometimes more. That means you can crop substantially and still have plenty of resolution left for display on the web.

5. Keep The Lens Clean

While most of us spend loads of money on buying screen protectors for the front of your devices, we must realise that there is a lens on the back of your device that needs maintenance too.

Phones spend a lot of time in pockets, in bags and being used in all manner of weather and conditions and over time the camera lens can collect lint/dust and create a blurred image. Just give it a good wipe with a clean cloth.

6. Keep The Background In Mind

We all have images in our phones that were ruined by poor background surroundings. From photobombing friends or garbage on the road, keep in mind that the background is as important as the subject.

Backgrounds should vary from shot to shot. You can either go for a subtle, clean background or one with motion and movement.

7. The Default Camera App Isn’t The Only One You Can/Should Use!

Depending on your particular phone and the camera app that comes with it, you may have a few settings you can adjust before taking a picture. In almost every case, though, you can do better by grabbing a more advanced camera app.

Apps like Camera Awesome allow you to shoot in bursts and separates the AF lock from the exposure lock. Other apps like Camera+ have similar options for more controlled shooting.

There are a ton out there, so look around!

8. Use Accessories!

If you intend to use your mobile phone as a digital camera, then you would do well to add on some accessories to maximise the camera experience.

Given the success of cameras on smartphones, more and more manufacturers are selling accessories specially designed for use with camera phones. These include camera phone tripods, Bluetooth adapters to transfer photos to a PC, and an attachable wide-angle lens.

When professional photographers want to up the quality of their shots, they often upgrade their lenses. If you have a good smartphone, there are plenty of lens add-ons that allow you to do the same.

An example is the Olloclip. Easy to slip on and off, the Olloclip is actually three lenses in one: macro, fish-eye, and wide angle. The HitCase for the iPhone 5 also comes with a wide-angle lens, which helps you in taking macro-shots.

9. Edit Later, Avoid Using Filters

While you’re better off tweaking some settings before you take the photo, you can always make a picture look better by editing it after you’ve downloaded the pictures to your computer.

Take your shots in color at high resolution to keep your options open on how to treat it later. You can always make it black and white on your computer, but you can’t make it colour if you take it in Black and White mode.

Apps like Snapseed (free) can be used to edit photos easily. Snapseed is very easy to use, and less onerous or labour-intensive than Photoshop Touch. It can auto-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.

10. Experiment!

The beauty of all forms of digital photography (including that of camera phones) is the ability to shoot off many shots quickly and without cost. This means you can experiment with different modes and composition and discard those that you don’t want to keep.

Don’t be afraid to try interesting angles. Sometimes playing around with angles can make an image look contrived, and other times, it just works.

Most importantly, just like any other camera, practice. Practice practice practice.Take lots of pictures. Learn what you like and what you need to improve on. It takes a while to get into a groove where you really start to excel, so shoot often and keep only your best work.

Armed with these tips and techniques, you’ll be surprised what you can do with a simple camera phone.

Let us know your tips in the comments section below!

October 8, 2013
Nikon upgrades the D600 to D610 fixes the dust issue, does not much else

Nikon has upgraded their D600 to this year’s variant the D610, while the company claims its a lot faster (only captures .5 frames / second faster) and lighter (is the exact same weight as the D600) , we feel that the urge for Nikon to push out this update was to essentially fix the light and dust issue of the camera, where after some time of usage dust spots would appear on the sensor.

Like The D600, the D610 uses the same 24.3-megapixel FX-format CMOS sensor (35.9 x 24mm), Expeed 3 image processor, 39-point autofocusing system, and Nikon’s Scene Recognition System for automatically adjusting white balance, focus, and exposure. ISO range is still between 100-6,400 (expandable to 25,600), and Full HD 1080p video is shot at 24p and 30p. Wi-Fi can be enabled via Nikon’s optional WU-1b adapter. The D610 also has a tougher magnesium alloy construction. Sealed and gasketed, its dust and moisture resistance is on par with its higher-end cousin, the D800. It also retains the Dual SD card slots.
The Nikon D610 D-SLR will be available in late October 2013 in a variety of configurations.

Body Only – $1999.95* Suggested Retail Price (SRP)

With AF-S NIKKOR 24-85MM F/3.5-4.5G ED VR Lens – $2599.95* SRP

With AF-S NIKKOR 28-300MM F/3.5-5.6G ED VR Lens + 32GB Class 10 memory card + Large Laptop Bag – $3049.95* SRP

With AF-S NIKKOR 24-85MM F/3.5-4.5G ED VR Lens + AF-S VR ZOOM-NIKKOR 70-300MM F/4.5-5.6G IF-ED Lens + WU-1b Wireless Mobile Adapter + D-SLR Tablet Bag + 32GB Class 10 memory card – $3249.95* SRP

You can buy it in India for Rs 1,57,950 (24-85mm kit)

[toggle title=”Press Release”]CONCENTRATE ON THE CLARITY: THE NEW NIKON D610 FX-FORMAT D-SLR PLACES EMPHASIS ON THE IMAGE MAKING EXPERIENCE

The Nikon D610 HD-SLR Delivers FX-Format Quality and Pro-Level Features for Enthusiasts Ready to Take Their Passion to the Next Level

MELVILLE, NY (October 8, 2013) – Nikon Inc. today announced the Nikon D610, the latest FX-format HD-SLR to incorporate cutting-edge features and superior operability to help photographers create amazing images and Full HD video. Engineered for those enthusiasts who focus on the color, sharpness and clarity of their images, the D610 provides enhanced performance and image quality improvements, coupled with Nikon core technologies, all in a lightweight form factor. With image quality rivaled only by the 36.3 megapixel Nikon D800, the D610 is an attractive option for those willing to step up to FX-format.

“For many of us, photography is an unexplainable passion; a relentless pursuit of sharpness and fidelity in every image captured, as we endlessly seek a way to express ourselves,” said Masahiro Horie, Director of Marketing and Planning, Nikon Inc. “The Nikon D610 is a tool to help us capture and share our creative vision with all the benefits of a full frame sensor, including expanded depth-of-field control, wide dynamic range, high image quality, low noise, fine color, and low-light capability.”Superior Image Quality

Inside and out, the Nikon D610 is dynamically engineered to deliver the outstanding balance of image quality, performance and operability that only a full-frame camera can offer. The large 24.3-megapixel FX-format (35.9 x 24mm) CMOS sensor is capable of creating low-noise images with amazing dynamic range, clarity and precise color, even in challenging light. No matter the type of photography, from landscapes to wildlife, portraits to sports, the Nikon D610 excels, delivering stellar sharpness, superior handling, and the ability to enjoy the full resolution benefits of a wide variety of NIKKOR glass. Image quality and performance are further bolstered with the aid of Nikon’s EXPEED 3 image processing engine, which helps to provide vivid colors and an exceptionally broad tonal range while quickly processing image data transfer from capture to card. Additionally, EXPEED 3 contributes to surprising energy efficiency for all-day shooting.

Serious Performance for the Advanced Photographer

Whether capturing an awe-inspiring vista at the golden hour, or portraits that absolutely have to flatter, the swift response and advanced feature set will appeal to a wide range of users. From Nikon core technologies to thoughtfully laid-out controls, the robust and innovative feature set of this D-SLR will satisfy even the most demanding enthusiast.

Low-Light Performance: A wide ISO range helps the user master any lighting challenge. From a clean ISO 100 to a versatile 6,400 (25,600, Hi-2), the D610 provides minimal noise and maximum confidence.

39-Point AF System and Scene Recognition System: Users can select single point, continuous, dynamic or 3D autofocus modes to adapt to any shooting situation from static subjects to dynamic athletics. The Nikon D610’s 39-point AF system quickly acquires focus throughout the frame, even on fast moving subjects. For further accuracy, the system uses Nikon’s exclusive 3D Color Matrix Metering II 2016 pixel RGB Sensor in conjunction with the Scene Recognition System to analyze the scene and adjust exposure, white balance and focus. The resulting images display a more balanced exposure, precise sharpness and accurate color. Furthermore, the D610 utilizes nine cross-type sensors, seven of which retain AF ability up to f/8, a true boon to wildlife and sports photographers who rely on teleconverters for maximum distance.

New Improved Automatic White Balance (AWB): With an updated AWB algorithm, users can capture more vivid skies, and more natural-appearing reproduction of artificial light than ever before. Additionally, more natural skin tones can be captured, rendering faces with a more three-dimensional appearance.

New Increased Speed and Performance: A new shutter mechanism in the D610 affords a faster frame rate. Users can now capture the action at a continuous 6 frames-per-second (fps), which is ideal for photographing action sports or elusive wildlife.

New Quiet Continuous Shutter Mode: Ideal for weddings and other sensitive events, the D610 features a new Quiet Continuous Shutter Mode. When selected via the main command dial, users can shoot discreetly at up to 3 fps.

100% Frame Coverage and 3.2-inch High Resolution LCD: Shoot all day comfortably and compose easily through the wide and bright optical viewfinder, which offers 100% frame coverage. Additionally, the high-resolution 921K dot, 3.2-inch LCD screen is viewable from a wide variety of angles making it easy to compose, review and share.

Unleash Creativity with Advanced Modes: With a wide variety of creative modes designed for enthusiasts, users can continue to express themselves in new, creative ways. A series of images with multiple exposures can be combined with built-in HDR, while users can explore their inner artist with an automatic Time Lapse Mode, or the intervalometer found in all advanced Nikon D-SLR’s. To adjust color, saturation and other image parameters on the fly, Picture Controls can be applied to both stills and HD video.

Dual SD Memory Card Slots: The Nikon D610 accepts two SD memory cards, which users can set to copy and overflow, or mark as one dedicated video when shooting multimedia. Additionally, the D610 accepts blazing-fast and high capacity SDXC and UHS cards.

Full High Definition Capabilities: Capture stunning Full 1080P HD video in a variety of frame rates, including a cinematic 24p and 30p. A useful feature inherited from professional Nikon cameras, the Nikon D610 can feed 100% full screen, uncompressed video via HDMI to an external device such as a monitor or digital recorder. Additionally, a stereo microphone and headphones can be connected through thoughtfully placed auxiliary input jacks for capturing and monitoring audio.

Share a Stellar Shot Instantly: When using the optional WU-1b Wireless Mobile Adapter1, unbelievable images can be shared directly to a compatible smart mobile device such as a phone or tablet. Users can then share these images with friends and family through their own social networks or photo sharing applications.

Robust Construction: The Nikon D610 is sealed and gasketed, with dust and moisture resistance of the same caliber as the Nikon D800. The top and rear covers of the camera are made of magnesium alloy for maximum durability, while the shutter unit is tested to 150,000 cycles.

NIKKOR, Speedlight and System Compatibility

The Nikon D610 is compatible with a wide variety of NIKKOR Lenses, allowing users to truly realize a lens’ potential with an FX-format camera. For eighty years, photographers have come to rely on Nikon’s heritage of optical excellence for lenses that deliver the pinnacle of optical quality. Additionally, the Nikon D610 is fully compatible with Nikon’s Creative Lighting (CLS) System, and can act as a Commander to control up to two groups of Speedlights, in-camera.

Price and Availability

The Nikon D610 D-SLR will be available in late October 2013 in a variety of configurations.

Body Only – $1999.95* Suggested Retail Price (SRP)

With AF-S NIKKOR 24-85MM F/3.5-4.5G ED VR Lens – $2599.95* SRP

With AF-S NIKKOR 28-300MM F/3.5-5.6G ED VR Lens + 32GB Class 10 memory card + Large Laptop Bag – $3049.95* SRP

With AF-S NIKKOR 24-85MM F/3.5-4.5G ED VR Lens + AF-S VR ZOOM-NIKKOR 70-300MM F/4.5-5.6G IF-ED Lens + WU-1b Wireless Mobile Adapter + D-SLR Tablet Bag + 32GB Class 10 memory card – $3249.95* SRP

About Nikon

Nikon, At the Heart of the Image™. Nikon Inc. is the world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and photo imaging technology and is globally recognized for setting new standards in product design and performance for its award-winning consumer and professional photographic equipment. Nikon Inc. distributes consumer and professional digital SLR cameras, NIKKOR optics, Speedlights and system accessories; Nikon COOLPIX® compact digital cameras; 35mm film SLR cameras; Nikon software products and Nikon sports and recreational optics as well as the Nikon 1 advanced camera with interchangeable lens system. Nikon Corporation, the parent company of the Nikon Inc., recently celebrated its 80th anniversary of NIKKOR optics, and announced the production of over 80 million NIKKOR lenses in 2013, creating a new milestone in Nikon’s heritage of superior optics. For more information, dial (800) NIKON-US or visit HYPERLINK “http://www.nikonusa.com” http://www.nikonusa.com, which links all levels of photographers to the Web’s most comprehensive photo learning and sharing communities. Connect with Nikon and other photographers on Facebook at HYPERLINK “http://www.facebook.com/nikon” http://www.facebook.com/nikon and get the latest news and information from Twitter by following HYPERLINK “http://www.twitter.com/Nikon_USA” @NikonUSA.

###

1The Wireless Mobile Adapter Utility Application must be installed on the smart device before it can be used with the WU-1b Wireless Mobile Adapter connected to the Nikon D610. The application can be downloaded free of charge from Google Play™ or the Apple App Store. For use with Android or iOS mobile devices, please refer to mobile device compatibility and available features at HYPERLINK “https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nikon.wu.wmau&hl=en”https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nikon.wu.wmau&hl=en (Android) or HYPERLINK “https://itunes.apple.com/en/app/wireless-mobile-adapter-utility/id554157010″https://itunes.apple.com/en/app/wireless-mobile-adapter-utility/id554157010 (iOS).

2Android and Google Play are trademarks of Google, Inc. 3iPhone, iPad and iTunes are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

*SRP (Suggested Retail Price) listed only as a suggestion. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time.

Specifications, equipment and release dates are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer.[/toggle]

October 8, 2013
Celkon Unveils Campus A15, 1 Ghz Dual-Core With Android 4.2.2 at a Price of 3999 INR

Celkon today unveiled a new device to add on to its campus series, the Campus A15 is the latest smartphone from the company.

The Celkon Campus A15 sports a 3.5 inch HVGA display with a resolution of 320 x 480 pixels. The device is powered by a 1 Ghz Dual-Core processor and runs on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. Campus A15 has a 256 MB of RAM and a 512 MB of inbuilt storage (165 MB for Apps & 12.15 MB for Phone storage), however, the memory is expandable upto 32 GB.

The Celkon Campus A15 also has a 3.2 mega pixel rear camera. The device has a 1400 mAh battery, the connectivity options in the device include, Bluetooth, GPRS, WiFi, micro USB and Dual SIM support. The Ceklon Campus A15 is priced at 3999 INR.

October 8, 2013
BlackBerry and Kik Settles Mobile Messaging Patent Suit

After 3 years of accused patent suit, Blackberry and Kik have finally settled the patent infringement case. Kik said in a statement that it is “very happy to put the BlackBerry lawsuit to rest,” the details of the settlement are not public, because it includes the confidentiality agreement.

BlackBerry initiated the suit weeks after Kik’s messaging service was in the market, grabbing 2 million users in the period of 10 days. However, Kik says it has 90 million registered users across iOS and Android, and is looking forward to 225,000 new joiners every day. On the other hand, BlackBerry’s BBM messenger has 60 million monthly users, which could have been more if the global launch of BBM for Android and iOS was not aborted in between of the process.

October 8, 2013
Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 Review

Build Quality And Design

Just like the rest of the Galaxy series, the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 is a plastic-bodied phone with the same Galaxy S4-like template design. It has the same metallic edging, the silver-edged home button and shiny speaker grille. The back panel shares the same black and silver crosshatch pattern.

The Galaxy Mega 6.3 is absolutely huge. At 88mm wide and almost 198mm tall, this is the biggest smartphone we’ve ever reviewed. It weighs almost 200g, but it doesn’t feel overly heavy in the hand considering its size.

Moving around the device, there’s a microUSB charging port on the bottom, a volume rocker on the left-hand side, a power button on the right-hand side and a 3.5mm headphone jack up top. There’s a microSD card slot for adding additional storage under the flimsy battery cover.

Overall build quality is like any other Samsung device, but the mammoth screen size raises a few questions over the durability of the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3.

Specifications And Hardware

The Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 sports a 6.3-inch 720×1280 display and features the same camera as that of the Galaxy Mega 5.8. It is powered by a dual-core processor clocked at 1.7GHz. The Galaxy Mega has 1.5GB of RAM, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n and A-GPS. The Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 comes with a 3,200 mAh battery and runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. The phone comes with 16GB internal storage capacity and has a microSD card slot for expanding the storage up to 64GB.

Display And Multimedia

The USP of the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 is its display. While the sheer size of the display is impressive itself, we were also pleased with the colour reproduction. Samsung opted for a Super Clear LCD display instead of their AMOLED panel, and this makes it one of the better Samsung devices to use outdoors.

The thing that disappointed us though was the resolution of the display. At a time when companies are coming out with 5.5″+ Full HD displays on devices, and Samsung too will release the Note 3 with one, the 720×1280 resolution is a let down. A device of this size will by default be used for a lot of media consumption which involves a lot of text as well, so a 233 ppi pixel density is inadequate in our opinion.

The sheer size of the screen on the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 though makes consuming media enjoyable and almost stress free, and the chipset is more than capable of handling HD video playback and streaming.

When it comes to general performance though, the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 left us disappointed. The phablet lags while performing even the simplest of tasks sometimes, like scrolling through your apps grid. Samsung could have gone with a quad-core chipset on the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 given the fact that it is priced above the Rs. 30,000 price mark, but instead it chose to extend its profits margin by using a dual-core chipset.

We’re forced to believe this is poor optimization in TouchWiz more so than the capabilities of the chip though, as other Snapdragon 400 devices manage to perform smoothly, and the Snapdragon 600-powered Galaxy S 4 was also laggy until an update just before launch.

The speakerphone on the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 is fantastic, it is really loud, but not in a painfully distorted way, it sounds good through videos, music and even games.

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Camera

The Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 has an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera and a front-facing 1.9-megapixel camera for video calls. The camera app is almost identical to the one used on the Galaxy S4 and we particularly like the excellent scrolling carousel to change camera modes.

Video is captured at Full HD and employs anti-shake if you need it from the main UI, the front camera however- captures 720p video. You can also add some effects to your pictures in the Auto Mode. Shooting modes like “Best Photo”, “Best Face” and “Sound and Shot” worked really well on the S4, and they work just as great on the Galaxy Mega 5.8 .

Images are processed to give a punchy, high-contrast look that is high on impact, if not quite as great at producing an entirely natural look.

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Software

The Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, with the usual Samsung TouchWiz interface laid on top. Consequently, it looks and feels almost identical to the other high-end Galaxy phones, including the Galaxy S4.

The old elements of the TouchWiz UI are intact too, with features like Direct call (lift the phone from within a message to call), Smart Alert, tilting to zoom into pictures or gallery. Pan device to move the Icons or browse a zoomed in Image and even Flipping the device to Mute or pause.

Battery And Network

One might think that such an enormous screen, coupled with a big flat form, would mean that the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 battery life suffers. In fact, the very opposite it true. You can easily get a day and a half of moderate to heavy use out of this phone before it packs up. Given that there’s only two cores and that it’s not a 1080p screen, the quite large 3,200mAh actually goes a very long way, and that’s no small shakes if you’re looking at the Mega as both your tablet and phone.

One area the Galaxy Mega 6.3 shines is call quality. The rear speaker for speakerphone and the earpiece speaker are both quite loud, and they provide crisp, clear audio.

However, putting a phone as large as the Galaxy Mega against your head looks and feels odd. You may get used to it, but passers-by won’t any time soon.

Conclusion

The Galaxy Mega’s name definitely refers to its size rather than specifications. The Galaxy Mega 6.3 is only slightly cheaper than the Galaxy S4, while having a less advanced screen, a much less powerful processor, less RAM, a worse camera and – worst of all – diminished usability.

The Galaxy Mega 6.3 is a phone that might as well be the next big thing, but, the problem here may be that its just too big to be an everyday phone.

October 8, 2013
Sony HMZ-T3W Wearable Display Now Available For Pre-Order, Priced At $1,000

Sony Electronics today introduced its next generation Personal 3D Viewer, the HMZ-T3W is a wearable high definition visual display featuring twin OLED screens.

The device is available for pre-order in the U.S. for $999.99, the Sony HMZ-T3W will allow the consumers to enjoy the display with wireless freedom. This wireless version on Sony’s website can stream content up to 7 meters away from the source, the device also plugs into smartphones and tablets via MHL or micro-HDMI.

The company says the 7.1 channel virtual sound adds an extra dimension of realism to movies and games on the HMZ-T3W. The consumers will have an option of using the supplied/stock 16 mm driver in-ear phones or pair the HMZ-T3W with their own favorite headphones. Sony claims, whichever option chosen, the Virtual Surround Technology creates an 360 degree soundstage with dialogue, music and effects.

The units will start shipping next month, no information of price and availability for the Indian market is available yet.

[toggle title=”Press Release “]Sony Introduces Portable, Wireless Head Mounted Display

New Sony HMZ-T3W Personal 3D Viewer with Twin OLED Screens Delivers Immersive ‘Big Screen’ Experience and Now “On the Go”

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Electronics today introduced its next-generation Personal 3D Viewer (model HMZ-T3W), the world’s premier wearable high definition visual display featuring twin OLED screens.

Available for pre-sale in the U.S. now at Sony Stores and select retailers nationwide for $999, the Sony HMZ-T3W allows consumers a unique ability to sit back, relax and immerse themselves in a new world of portable entertainment with awesome, super-sized HD images and realistic sound reproduction – all with wireless freedom.

The third generation personal 3D viewer from Sony is lighter than its predecessors, easy-to-wear and loaded with simple connections for gaming consoles, PCs, home theater components, tablets and smartphones to enjoy a jaw-dropping view of movies, games and apps with a massive virtual screen size that brings a cinematic, home theater viewing experience into a portable, wearable device.

Light and comfortable
From lengthy gaming sessions to movie marathons, consumers will be absorbed in immersive entertainment with supreme comfort. The ergonomically-styled head mounted unit features flexible headbands that quickly adjust to fit almost everyone. There’s a large, cushioned head pad to reduce wear pressure, plus easy lens adjustment for relaxed, fatigue-free viewing.

Portable
Head-mounted HMZ-T3W viewers are no longer tethered to an AC power socket. The handy, compact battery box keeps the HMZ-T3W powered for hours to enjoy videos or games on the move. Additionally, when connected via MHL, the device will also charge the battery of mobile devices like smartphones and tablets while being watched and played. In addition, the HMZ-T3W also connects via HDMI®.

New WirelessHD™ lets consumers enjoy entertainment anywhere in the room with uncompressed, lag-free HD video and crisp digital sound, all without cords.

Play to win
The Sony HMZ-T3W portable 3D viewer keeps serious gamers in the game with speedy responses from its twin OLED screens and no annoying on-screen image lag. A one-touch button instantly boosts contrast and enhances shape details (game-mode), allowing gamers to relish the competitive edge in dimly-lit scenes where danger’s always lurking. It’s the perfect way to enjoy favorite titles, from fast paced shoot-’em-ups to tire-burning car rallies. Plus, there is no fumbling for the right keys in mid-game – the ergonomic visor-style headset gives an unobstructed ‘look-down’ view of your PC’s keyboard and mouse while you play.

Surround Sound
Thrilling 7.1 channel virtual sound adds an extra dimension of realism to movies and games on the HMZ-T3W. Consumers can listen through either the supplied 16mm driver in-ear phones or pair the HMZ-T3W with their own favorite headphones. Whichever option chosen, Sony’s Virtual Surround Technology creates an impressive 360 degree soundstage with dialogue, music and effects placed accurately around the viewer. It’s like being in the cinema – or right in the action as the gaming battles rage around you.[/toggle]

October 8, 2013
LG Chem Unveils Batteries For Next Generation: Curved Batteries in Production

LG Display has confirmed production of a “bendable and unbreakable” smartphone display. Now, LG Chem unveiled what they have got for the future smartphones as the company unveiled the next generation of batteries.

Through the exclusiveness of our unique technology, LG Chem has succeeded in launching future batteries that have not existed before. This shall be the fundamental grounds for LG Chem to become a pioneer in the market. As a leader of battery manufacturer, we will continue to strive for Global No.1 by developing more of optimized, safe and long-lasting batteries to make it the business of future generation”, said YS Kwon, the President of Energy Solution Company, LG Chem.

The company announced that they have curved batteries in mass production, which will power the next generation smart phone from LG. The company calls it “Stack and Folding technology”, while the company claims that they can build batteries that will fit phones, or any wearable devices(watches, glass). The company has the patent of Stack & Folding technology and the mass production of Curved Battery has been started since this month and the products will power the next smart phone line up of LG Electronics.

[toggle title=”Press Release “]LG Chem to unveil batteries of next generation
SEOUL–(Korea Newswire) October 8, 2013 — LG Chem, a leading battery manufacturer, is ready to unveil batteries that have not existed before.

The company announced on the 8th that it has succeeded in breaking the tradition of rectangular shaped batteries to lead the effort to a more sustainable future by mass producing batteries of different shapes.

The types of LG Chem’s future batteries can be categorized as the following. ? Stepped Battery, ? Curved Battery and ? Cable Battery.

At the moment, the chemical company is already mass producing stepped and curved batteries. Stepped Battery from Nanjing plant of LG Chem has been manufactured since July to power LG G2. However, the actual production of Cable Battery shall begin in upcoming years.

First of all, Stepped Battery refers to an integral type of a battery in which two batteries are added on top of each other in the shape of “step design.” The battery takes greater advantage of available space within the device than other batteries as it perfectly suits the changing trend of modern IT gadgets of flexible designs.

For example, recent mobile devices have been adopting round shapes and designs with rear buttons creating unnecessary “dead space” inside the gadget. With Stepped Batteries, the dead space can be filled up to fully power the handset and also increase the battery capacity.

In fact, the battery density has increased the capacity by 16% and also the life span by more than 3 hours when applied to the newly launched LG G2, a premium smart phone by LG Electronics.

The competitors in the market may succeed in stacking two batteries to make it into the step design but due to the increased cost of such technology, rivals will not achieve to do so, unless they can make it to an integral single type just like LG Chem.

At the Nanjing plant, LG Chem plans to launch Stepped Battery that goes beyond 3 to 4 step designs, stacking up more batteries into one single type depending on customer needs.

In addition, LG Chem’s Curved Battery refers to packs that can power IT devices with curved screen or flexible designs such as smart phones, watches and glasses. The company has the exclusive patent of Stack & Folding technology which reduces physical stress when realizing the curved design of battery packs. The mass production of Curved Battery has been started since this month and the products will power the next smart phone line up of LG Electronics.

Lastly, Cable Battery is applied to IT devices that are bendable, wearable and even be tied into a knot. Because it has been designed to use low electricity, the battery does not heat up although the user may operate the device for a long time. Moreover, the waterproof features of the battery allow itself to be used in wearable gadgets regardless of flexible figures, from necklace types to smart watches.

“Through the exclusiveness of our unique technology, LG Chem has succeeded in launching future batteries that have not existed before. This shall be the fundamental grounds for LG Chem to become a pioneer in the market. As a leader of battery manufacturer, we will continue to strive for Global No.1 by developing more of optimized, safe and long-lasting batteries to make it the business of future generation”, said YS Kwon, the President of Energy Solution Company, LG Chem.

LG Chem will be participating at the InterBattery 2013, which will be held in COEX from Oct 16th to display and demonstrate related products in a private zone.

About LG Chem
LG Chem, Ltd. is a globally diversified chemical company which operates three main business units: Petrochemicals, IT & Electronic Materials, and Energy Solution. The chemical business manufactures a wide range of products, from petrochemical goods to high-value added plastics. It also extends its chemical expertise into high-tech areas such as electronic materials and rechargeable batteries. LG Chem is one of the world’s largest lithium-ion battery manufacturers. For more information, please visit the LG Chem website at www.lgchem.com[/toggle]

October 8, 2013
DualShock 4 Controller Is Windows Compatible, Will Provide Basic Functionality

PC gamers will be able to use the DualShock 4 controller for Windows-based games. The revelation comes courtesy of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios President Shuhei Yoshida via Twitter.

When the original poster followed up by asking whether the compatibility would be built in by default, Yoshida responded: “For basic functions, yes.”

It’s presently unknown whether the gamepad will be recognized specifically as a DualShock 4 or will feature XInput API, which allows third party devices to register as Xbox 360 controllers. When pressed for clarity, Yoshida said to wait for until after the console’s November launch for a field report on the matter.

Love the Xbox 360 gamepad or hate it, it works wonderfully with compatible PC games — simply plug in and play. Being able to use the DualShock 4 with the PC will certainly have its advantages depending on the type of game you are playing.

October 7, 2013