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More iPhone 5c Images Leak Along With Packaging

Apple is heavily rumoured to launch a couple new smartphones on September 10th – the low-cost plastic iPhone 5C and the new iPhone 5S. Apple has yet to confirm this date or these products, but the leaks have been a plenty.

The newest low-quality pictures to arrive online is from an overseas sites who claim to have snapped retail packaging of the “iPhone 5C” that includes the shipping box, manual and SIM card ejection instructions and tool.

The photos comes from website iApps.im, and it says that the pictures show iPhone 5C units in packaging.

It’s difficult to tell if the pictures are real, but they do seem to lineup with Apple’s past patterns. As with the 2012 iPod nano, the iPhone 5C seems to have a matching cover and wallpaper cover.

Two accompanying images show the rest of the stuff that’s allegedly found inside the iPhone 5C box, including the documentation and a SIM card ejector tool fastened to one of the sheets of paper inside.

These pictures lend more credence to the overall leak, but they’re still not enough to pass it as 100% legit.

Noticeably absent from this leak are the phone’s cable and headphones, along with the charger. However, this is hardly a surprise, since the phones themselves most likely lack their internals (i.e. logic board, battery, etc.).

Lastly, the photos indicate that the iPhone 5C will ship with iOS 7 pre-installed, something that was pretty much a given, since Apple has scheduled the iOS 7 launch for fall 2013.

[Via]

September 2, 2013
Oppo N1 Will Have A Swappable Camera System

Oppo’s N1 smartphone is one of the hot favorites since we had a rumor of its release. Rumors included the N-Lens camera add-ons, which apparently offer a choice of zooms up to 15x.

With the recent leak we can flesh out another key specification. The Chinese Android handset will run on Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, which should be sufficient and would have the unusual dual touch inputs(screen & back) as reported before. The Snapdragon processor (MSM8274) was shown on a photo of the N1’s internals that was leaked on Weibo’s website. With the new teaser video, this phone is expected to come up on September 23rd. Watch the Oppo N1 teaser below:

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[via]

September 2, 2013
Sony Launches CP-F5 and CP-F10L Portable Chargers with 5,000 and 10,000 mAh Capacities

Sony India has launched two new portable chargers today: The CP-F5 and the CP-F10L.

Sony CP-F5 Portable Charger:

The CP-F5 (image above) is a 5,000 mAh portable charger from Sony. It sports a 9.44 mm aluminium body, the company says that the battery is sufficient to charge a smartphone two times. The charger weighs 156 grams, so can easily fit with in a bag or even a pocket.

Based on Lithium-ion polymer technology by Sony, the new charger has a output of 1.5A that allows fast-charging of portable devices while retaining up to 90 per cent of its capacity even after 1,000 charges. The LED indicator would show the battery status on the charger. This device is available in many color options like gold, black and blue and is available in stores for INR 2790.

Sony CP-F10L Portable Charger:

The CP-F10L is a 10,000 mAh portable charger from Sony. It sports a 16.5 mm body, the company says that the battery is sufficient to charge a smartphone four times. The charger weighs 260 grams. The LED indicator would show the battery status on the charger.

Sony has made the CP-F10L rechargeable for 1,000 times and capable of retaining 90 per cent of battery capacity even after 1,000 charges. The device is available in stores for INR 4990.

[toggle title=”Press release “]New Delhi, 2nd September 2013: Brighten up your digital ensemble without compromising on your need to stay connected and mobile with the new 5,000mAh CP-F5 USB Portable Charger from Sony.

While sporting the same ultra-slim 9.4mm aluminium body, the battery capacity of the CP-F5 has been increased by 40% to an impressive 5,000mAh – sufficient for two full charges on a smartphone. Weighing only 156g, the USB portable charger does not add too much weight to your bag or pocket, making it ideal when you are spending a long day out of office or on holiday.

Based on Lithium-ion polymer technology by Sony, the new charger has a high output of 1.5A that allows for fast-charging of portable devices while retaining up to 90 per cent of its capacity even after 1,000 charges. Recharging the CP-F5 is hassle-free – all it takes is a connection to an AC adaptor or USB port on a computer while its LED indicator displays its battery capacity prominently.

Available in gold, black, blue the CP-F5 USB Portable Charger is ready to use straight out of its packaging, so even if you find yourself outside with a dying device, emergency power is immediately available upon purchase.

The new CP-F5 USB Portable Charger will be available across all Sony Centers and major electronic stores across India starting August 2013 at the MRP of Rs.2790/- Per pack

About Sony India Pvt. Ltd.

Sony India is one of the most recognized consumer electronics brand in the country, with a reputation for new age technology, digital concepts and excellent after sales service. In India, Sony has its footprint across all major towns and cities in the country through a distribution network comprising of over 18,000 dealers and distributors, more than 300 exclusive Sony outlets and 25 branch locations. Sony India also has a strong service presence across the country with 356 service outlets. Manned by customer friendly and informed sales persons, Sony’s exclusive stores ‘Sony Center’ are fast becoming the most visible face of the company in India. A distinctive feature of Sony’s service is its highly motivated and well-trained staff that provides the kind of attentive and sensitive service that is rare today.

New Delhi, 2nd September 2013: Sony answers the call for more carry-on power with the new CP-F10L USB Portable Charger that packs a massive 10,000mAh charge in a slim and lightweight aluminum body, making it the ideal portable charger for those who like to stay connected.

The CP-F10L allows smartphone users to recharge their devices up to 4 times on a single charge, its high output of 3.6A and dual USB output ports enable two devices to be charged simultaneously. You can charge both your smartphone and tablet at the same time, and you can easily check how much power is left in the charger via the convenient LED indicator.

The Portable Charger comes with micro-USB cable, allowing users to conveniently charge it either via the USB port on a computer or an AC adaptor, making it an ideal device for people who carry multiple devices and are constantly on-the-go. Weighing just 260g and only 16.5mm thick thanks to its use of a Sony Lithium-ion Polymer battery, the CP-F10L is slim and light-weight enough to fit into any hand-carry and not weigh you down

With over 20 years of Lithium-ion rechargeable battery manufacturing technology and expertise under its belt, Sony has made the CP-F10L rechargeable for 1,000 times and capable of retaining 90 per cent of battery capacity even after 1,000 charges. Furthermore, the CP-F10L is ready to use straight out of its packaging.

The new CP-F10L USB Portable Charger will be available across all Sony Centers and major electronic stores across India starting August 2013 at the MRP of Rs.4990/- Per pack

About Sony India Pvt. Ltd.

Sony India is one of the most recognized consumer electronics brand in the country, with a reputation for new age technology, digital concepts and excellent after sales service. In India, Sony has its footprint across all major towns and cities in the country through a distribution network comprising of over 18,000 dealers and distributors, more than 300 exclusive Sony outlets and 25 branch locations. Sony India also has a strong service presence across the country with 356 service outlets. Manned by customer friendly and informed sales persons, Sony’s exclusive stores ‘Sony Center’ are fast becoming the most visible face of the company in India. A distinctive feature of Sony’s service is its highly motivated and well-trained staff that provides the kind of attentive and sensitive service that is rare today.

For more details, please visit:www.sony.co.in
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September 2, 2013
Acer Unveils ‘Liquid S2’ with 4K Video Recording Capabilities

Acer seems to have taken a different approach to big-sized phones. The first attempt by the company was the 5.7-inch Liquid S1, an Android handset unveiled back in June, but this time the company is said to announce the 6-inch Liquid S2 with 4K video recording capability, a full HD IPS display and a Snapdragon 800 processor.

Acer is claims the S2 as the first phone to offer this 4K functionality. The device sports a 13-megapixel rear camera with LED flash along with a 2MP front camera capable of 1080p video. The company has also loaded up the S2 with some features like a “quick first shot” feature that lets you take a picture right from the phone’s unlock screen.

Though 4K recording is clearly the phone’s prominent feature, other specs include a Snapdragon 800 chipset, which is clocked at 2.2GHz and supported by 2GB of RAM, and the battery is 3,300 mAh.

Acer will sell this handset in Europe, no plans for India yet. The Liquid S2 is said to be available at the end of October, pricing and exact availability information is yet to to be disclosed.

[via]

September 2, 2013
HTC Zara is HTC ‘Desire 601’

HTC Zara, the mid-range smartphone that has been in the rumor mills for some time, has again been spotted, but this time is said to hold the Desire 601 Moniker.

Earlier, evleaks revealed the design of the device under its codename HTC Zara. The leaked image showed the front and rear panel of the yet to be announced mid-range smartphone, alongside its specifications. The HTC Zara is said to have a 4.5-inch qHD screen (960×540 pixels), a dual-core 1.2Ghz Snapdragon 400 processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB internal storage, an UltraPixel camera, a 2100 mAh battery. Android 4.3 with sense 5.5.

Now, evleaks with a recent tweet has claimed that the HTC Zara will be officially called as HTC Desire 601. Which makes this device as the successor to the already available HTC Desire 600 a dual-SIM smartphone available for 25,500(approx.).

While this device is said to be a budget device, keeping in mind the price of the Desire 600 this seems a little difficult to fit in the category of budget devices. However, pricing and availability is not yet disclosed.

[via]

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September 2, 2013
Samsung Galaxy Gear Images Leaked Ahead Of Launch

We all know Samsung is all set to launch the new Galaxy Gear, we have seen the leaks showing us the structure and the connectivity options of the smartwatch including rumors of NFC for pairing with smartphones.

VentureBeat revealed the first look of the Galaxy Gear which clearly shows the look of the smartwatch. Galaxy Gear is said to have a 4 MP camera which is built in the strap of the watch and would also have tiny speakers on it. As per VentureBeat the watch has a chunky wristband, which makes it bulky.

The watch is also said to support Samsung’s S voice and some pre-loaded health applications. The images of food clicked by the camera of the watch is said to categorize food accordingly, all this features can make this device to be used as a health accessory.

As reported by the source, the watch is also said to have a independent call log by which a user can initiate a call to the smartphone and the built in WiFi will allow the watch to access internet even if the device is not connected to the smartphone. The watch is also rumored to have a 10+ hours of battery life.

The official launch is just two days from now, we are going to keep you updated with all the official specs and features so stay tuned.

[via]

September 2, 2013
Scientists Create Flexible, Transparent Speaker Which Runs On Ions

A working transparent speaker has been produced by a research team at Harvard, that uses ions, rather than electrons, to carry the electrical charge.

The transparent speaker, created at Harvard University, is made from two layers of polyacrylamide gel swollen with salt water, which act as electrolytes, sandwiching a thin rubber membrane that vibrates as a high-voltage signal is run across its surface. However, this is not any ordinary electronic device, as the electrical charge is carried by ions, not electrons.

This bendable, transparent speaker could be a step in the direction of wearable tech that blends seamlessly with our bodies. What do ionic conductors have that other electronic systems don’t? They can be stretched to many times their normal area without an increase in resistivity, for one. This resistivity is a problem common in stretchable electronic devices. In addition, they can be transparent, which makes them well-suited for optical applications. Thirdly, the gels used as electrolytes are biocompatible, so it would be relatively easy to create ionic devices such as artificial muscles or skin.

“Engineered ionic systems can achieve a lot of functions that our body has: they can sense, they can conduct a signal, and they can actuate movement. We’re really approaching the type of soft machine that biology has to offer,” project co-lead author Christoph Keplinger tells Harvard.

The findings are published in the journal Science. We just hope that this transparent speaker has good bass.

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August 31, 2013
Nokia : WP8 Amber Update Will Roll Out To All Devices By September End

Nokia has promised that its Lumia Amber update will reach all Windows Phone 8 devices by the end of September.

The Finnish phone maker is rolling out the update for its Lumia 920, Lumia 820, Lumia 720, Lumia 620 and Lumia 520 as well as their variants.

Amber introduces a number of new features to the Lumia range, including new photo-editing tools and improved camera capabilities. The Nokia Smart Camera app also introduces motion sequence shooting on its high-end Lumia 920, 925 and 928 handsets.

The Amber update also has “Glance Screen,” a tool that makes your phone’s inactive state more interesting. When your handset is inactive, it will display a clock and battery information. So, you can more quickly interact with your phone without having to do anything at all. You can turn off Glance, of course, or have it switch off after a set amount of time.

Unfortunately the negative news includes that some of the most desirable features are not coming to all handsets.

In the post Nokia confirms that the ‘double tap to wake’ feature is not supported on Lumia 720, Lumia 625, Lumia 620, Lumia 521, Lumia 520.

Also Nokia confirmed the FM Radio feature will not be coming to the Lumia 620, Lumia 810 and Lumia 928 as they “do not have the FM radio chip.”

Nokia recently launched its new Nokia Here Auto in-dash navigation system.

August 31, 2013
XOLO Q1000s Unboxing Video

XOLO has launched its new flagship smartphone the XOLO Q1000S, the phone is a revision of the older Q1000. The new device is just 6.98 mm thick compared to 8.8 mm for the older Q1000.

The most prominent features of the XOLO Q1000S are the Unibody construction along with the 5 inch HD IPS One Glass Solution (OGS) with a resolution of 1280 x 720 px and a 13 MP camera with BSI 2 sensor at the back and a 5 MP camera with BSI 1 sensor in the front. A few things users may not like are the non expandable storage which is fixed at a 16 GB and the non replaceable battery. The XOLO Q1000S is powered by a 2500 mAh battery pack and runs the MTK 6589T Quad Core 1.5 GHz chipset with a PowerVR SGX544 GPU and has 1 GB of RAM.

The Q1000s is fairly pocketable, this is because of the 6.98 mm thickness. Inside the box, there is a usual mix up of things, a charging cable, a set of earphones, the USB wall charger, an extra screen protector and some standard documentation.

BUY NOW

August 31, 2013
Sony Smartphone-Mount “Lens Cameras” Leak

We’ve previously covered the recent rumours of the 20 Megapixel Sony Wifi ‘smart lens’ which will attach to Android and iOS smartphones and connect to the phone via Wifi. Theoretically, you’ll be able to take much better pictures with the bigger CMOS sensor and Zeiss glass.

A new rumored gold iPhone now has a rumored gold lens attachment from Sony, according to a report from SonyAlphaRumors which has also posted an image. Until now we’d only seen leaks of a black device, and while a white version was perhaps to be expected, how about gold? Would be a perfect match for that rumored gold iPhone 5S.

“For the first time you can shoot top quality images with your smartphone. Forget these iPhone or Android lens kits!” said SonyAlphaRumors.com, which posted images of the new devices.

But the lenses won’t have screens or camera controls, and can be attached magnetically to the smartphone, from which they can be controlled, it added.

The two new ‘lens-camera’ devices will launch as the DSC-QX10 and DSC-QX100, the idea being that they mount onto a smartphone and contain a built-in imaging sensor, Bionz processor, Wi-Fi/NFC, SD card slot and battery.

The QX10 is rumoured to have a 1/2.3 inch 18MP CMOS sensor and f/3.3-5.9 lens. In terms of pricing, the more expensive QX100 is expected to be priced around the $450 mark. The lenses will be able to capture HD video at 1080/30p.

Does this interest you shutterbugs?

August 31, 2013
Google Acquires WIMM To Help Its SmartWatch Program

Google just purchased a company, WIMM Labs, to give its burgeoning smart watch business a boost.

The Android creator has been rumoured to be working on a smart watch for at least six months, but it appears that there has been activity within Google’s walls from early 2012.

According to GigaOm, plus a message on their website, WIMM employees were absorbed into Google’s Android team, as the eventual retail product will inevitably run a form of the OS. Sony’s Smart Watch, and Samsung’s upcoming Gear device, run Android as well.

WIMM had already been working on a smart watch running Android, and had developed a small set of “micro” apps that enhanced functionality between the wrist and smartphone, but worked largely on their own. The company posted a note on their site stating “During the summer of 2012, WIMM Labs entered into an exclusive, confidential relationship for our technology and ceased sales of the Developer Preview Kit.”

Judging from the WIMM One smartwatch, WIMM’s platform, as neat as it was, still needed work: The watch was thick and ungainly, and its battery struggled to eke out more than a few hours of usage between recharges.

Whether or not Google intends to release a smartwatch of its own, it certainly would like to see Android running on all sorts of wearable gadgets, which was the big idea behind WIMM in the first place.

August 31, 2013
HTC Desire 600c Dual-SIM Seen On Company’s Website with CDMA Support

Not very long ago HTC launched its new phone Desire 600, and now the company is ready to launch the new variant of this phone which is the Desire 600c. While the Desire 600 supported Dual SIM (GSM and GSM), the Desire 600c supports dual-SIM (GSM and CDMA). The handset is already listed on HTC’s official website.

The HTC Desire 600c features a 4.5-inch qHD display. The device is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor with 1 GB of RAM. It comes with 8GB of internal storage which is expandable up to 64GB via microSD card. The HTC Desire 600c dual-SIM has a 8 MP rear camera with auto focus, LED flash and a 1.6 MP front-facing camera with BSI sensor. The phone is also capable of 720p video recording. The HTC Desire 600c dual-SIM weighs 127 grams and features dual front stereo speakers with built in amplifiers. The phone is powered by a 1860 mAh battery which is similar to the the Desire 600c.

The HTC Desire 600c dual-SIM is a bit different from its predecessor. Though the device almost have the same specifications, it is not identical in design. The HTC Desire 600c dual SIM is a CDMA variant and supports GSM+CDMA networks. The phone runs Android Jelly Bean with HTC Sense, BlinkFeed and other features. As per the images the phone will be available in two colors Black and white.

Pricing and availability has not been confirmed, but the pricing should be around the price tag of the HTC Desire 600 which is INR 26,000.

August 31, 2013
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
Xbox One Voice Commands Won’t Work For Everyone

After slashing the number of countries getting the Xbox One this year to just 13, Microsoft’s website shows that voice command for the Xbox One will only be available at launch in five countries – the US, UK, Canada, France and Germany.

As Videogamer spotted, the Xbox One website’s footnote reads: “Xbox voice commands will not be available in all markets on the product release date. Voice commands will be available at launch in US, UK, CA, FR, and DE.”

Microsoft’s tiny disclaimer doesn’t explain why the limited launch of voice interaction is necessary, but it might be related to the voice localization issues that previously resulted in delays for eight other European countries. Although, it could also be server load or production volume related.

Microsoft at E3 demonstrated how the Xbox One can be turned on by simply saying, “Xbox on”. And while Microsoft has since stepped back a bit from the lofty aspirations it carried into E3, there’s no question that voice controls feature largely in its plans for the future of the console. In fact, the Xbox One “Get the Facts” page specifically states that “advanced voice and motion control open up new game experiences like never before,” and that it can be turned on, off and controlled in various ways using voice commands.

While the Xbox One will still be usable in all of its launch markets, players simply won’t get a reaction if they buy the console from outside of the five supported regions.

Hindi voice commands soon please!

August 30, 2013
Samsung Starts Mass Production Of Advanced DDR4 Memory

Samsung announced today that it is mass producing DDR4 RAM modules in 16GB and 32GB capacities, following news that 16GB modules were being sampled back in July 2012. Samsung boasts that its modules support up to 2667Mbps transfer speeds, and that the 4Gb DDR4 memory chips used by the modules lower power consumption by 30 percent relative to comparable DDR3 chips.

The chips are expected to deliver a data transmission rate of 2.667 gigabits per second, which is 1.25x the speed achieved with 20nm-class DDR3 RAM.

“The adoption of ultra-high-speed DDR4 in next-generation server systems this year will initiate a push toward advanced premium memory across the enterprise,” said Young-Hyun Jun, executive vice president, memory sales and marketing, Samsung Electronics. “After providing cutting-edge performance with our timely supply of 16GB DDR3 earlier this year, we are continuing to extend the premium server market in 2013 and will now focus on higher density and added performance with 32GB DDR4, and contribute to even greater growth of the green IT market in 2014.”

In late 2012, JEDEC finalized the DDR4 specification, which promised more performance, reliablity and efficiency compared to current DDR3 modules. DDR4 DRAM will be capable of 1.6 GT/s (gigatransfers per second) to 3.2 GT/s per pin, while running at a lower 1.2 volts, down from the 1.5 volts required for DDR3 memory.

Samsung hasn’t specified when their DDR4 RAM modules will be available to purchase, or how much they’ll cost, but the company claims that through using their 4 Gb DDR4 chip, they’ve developed “industry’s largest lineup of products tailored to applications from servers to mobile devices”.

August 30, 2013