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Leaked : Images Of Upcoming LG G2, Show Rear Mounted Volume Controls

After showing off glimpses of itself in a few different leaks earlier this year, the LG G2 may finally have been revealed tonight in a set of leaked images that appear to be from a promotional video. Posted by @evleaks, who claims to have received them from a tipster, the shots show the front of a thin device that appears to have an LG logo at the bottom of its face, just like the phone in the first G2 leak.

This new flagship smartphone is expected to be unveiled on July 7th in New York and come with a 2.3GH quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM, 13MP camera running Android OS 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. In addition, the LG G2 will have an “edge to edge” 5.5-inch full HD display.

The screenshots show the volume buttons have moved from the side of the device to the back, right under the camera. Could be an interesting shift in design, definitely useful for those who talk a great deal, but might be a but frustrating for who liste to music.

While it’s tough to say whether or not the device in these leaked images is that successor, it wouldn’t be a surprise to learn that LG is prepping some marketing materials for its next flagship smartphone with a debut that’s just a little over a month out.

Previous rumours indicated that LG would shed the ‘Optimus’ naming scheme and these pictures, if true, bring its truth. Vanished is Optimus and the device is called the “LG G2.”

[EVLeaks]

June 26, 2013
Saints Row IV Banned In Australia

Saints Row IV has been refused classification by the Australian Classification Board.

This makes Saints Row IV the first game to be refused classification under new guidelines that introduced an R18+ classification for videogames in Australia.

In a statement released this morning, the ACB said it classified the game “RC (Refused Classification)” in accordance with the new guidelines. Publisher Deep Silver told Joystiq developer Volition is reworking the game’s content for the territory.

“In the Board’s opinion, Saints Row IV, includes interactive, visual depictions of implied sexual violence which are not justified by context,” reads the ACB’s statement. “In addition, the game includes elements of illicit or proscribed drug use related to incentives or rewards. Such depictions are prohibited by the computer games guidelines.”

Games that are rated Refused Classification are banned for sale, hire or public exhibition in Australia, and are illegal to possess in Western Australia and some parts of the Northern Territory.

Publisher Deep Silver has released the following statement:

“Deep Silver can confirm that Saints Row IV was denied an age classification in Australia. Volition, the developer, are reworking some of the code to create a version of the game for this territory by removing the content which could cause offence without reducing the outlandish gameplay that Saints Row fans know and love. Saints Row IV has been awarded PEGI 18 and ESRB M ratings where fans can enjoy their time in Steelport as originally intended.”

The new guidelines began on January 1 this year, and introduced a new adult level for video games, R18+, which restricts sale to anyone under the age of 18.

In the six months since the new rating was introduced, the ACB has applied it to 17 video games, including God of War: Ascension and Army of Two: The Devil’s Cartel.

Earlier this month, the publisher announced a Saints Row 4 Collector’s Edition ahead of the Saints Row 4 release date of August 20 in North America and August 23 in Europe.

Saints Row 4 is slated to hit the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

[Via, Via]

June 25, 2013
LG LA6910 55 inch 3D Smart TV Review

At a time when manufacturers like Sony are concentrating on pushing forward their 4K televisions, LG recently released their new lineup of smart televisions, and among them was the LG LA6910 55-inch 3D TV.

The LG LA6910 has a 55″, 1920 x 1080 pixels display which is an advanced IPS LED LCD Panel. It has 9 aspect ratio modes including 16:9, Just scan, Original, Full Wide, 4:3, 14:9, Cinema Zoom 1, Zoom.

At the back it has a 2.1 speaker system (2way 3speaker) with Virtual Surround Sound Plus and Dolby Digital Decoder. The LG LA6910 has a bunch of engines to process images like Triple XD Engine, Dynamic Color Enhancer, Contrast Optimizer, Picture Wizard II, (3D MPEG) Noise Reduction.

In terms of design the LG LA6910 has a diminutive bezel with a brushed aluminum finish. A relatively thick brushed steel section of the bezel runs across the bottom lip that’s accentuated with a backlit LG logo at the centre. The stand has a unique chrome finish design with wheels at the bottom to make adjustments. Build quality is as you’d expect from a TV of this price range, solid.

Backlight bleed is virtually non-existent, and this is a mark of the emphasis that LG has paid in terms of the design and build-quality of the TV.

Since it is a smart TV you get access to various applications such as Skype and YouTube. You also have local apps such as NDTV which exist to cater to India-specific needs.

The LG LA6910 has the basic analogue video and audio inputs, Ethernet, Wi-Fi and USB connectivity options, in addition to 3 HDMIs.

The LG LA6910 is available in the market for about Rs 2,00,000/-.

You can watch our video review below :

[youtube id=”2GbYD26BC3M” width=”100%” height=”300px”]

June 25, 2013
Sony SmartWatch 2 Announced

Smartwatches today haven’t yet reached the must-have status among consumers—not yet. But companies, big and small, are banking on the market fully blowing up in 2013; the year wearable technology will be the next big mobile revolution. To get ahead of the trend, Sony has announced its brand new touch Sony SmartWatch 2 at the Mobile Asia Expo, a device the company claims is “the most advanced smartwatch available.”

The Sony SmartWatch 2 features a 1.6-inch 220×176 touchscreen, which is larger than the 1.3-inch display on the previous SmartWatch. Sony also promises that the display on the SmartWatch 2 is easier to read in sunlight. Along with its larger display, the SmartWatch 2 packs Bluetooth 3.0, NFC, a micro-USB port and the ability to be used with any standard 24mm wrist strap. Finally, the SmartWatch 2 is IP57 rated, meaning that it can withstand splashed water and rain.

“We have over 200 unique apps dedicated for Sony SmartWatch with over one million downloads to date and we are continuing to work with our strong developer network to deliver even more compelling smartwatch experiences,” said Stefan K. Persson, Head of Companion Products at Sony Mobile Communications.

On the software side of things, the Sony SmartWatch 2 is powered by Android and features a UI similar to Google’s mobile OS, which Sony says helps to make the SmartWatch 2 a more intuitive experience. The new wrist gear can also display a user’s missed notifications (including Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, calls and messages) and can be used as a remote for a Sony Walkman or other media players. Sony says that the SmartWatch 2 is compatible with “most Android phones.” The device is expected to begin shipping worldwide in September 2013.

June 25, 2013
KTM launches 390 Duke at Rs. 1.8 Lakh

The much-awaited KTM 390 Duke can be yours now for Rs. 1,80,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi). Bajaj Auto and KTM launched the attractive streetbike today and is expecting a good response from the Indian market. The 390 Duke is aggressively styled with minimalistic body work and an exposed bright orange trellis frame, giving it a very typical KTM look and feel.

The 390 Duke is powered by a four-stroke, single cylinder, 373.2cc engine putting out maximum power of 43bhp at 9500 rpm and peak torque of 3.57kgm at 7250 rpm. The engine is fuel-injected, liquid-cooled and operates using a quartet of valves driven by a twin camshaft. This big Duke gets a six-speed gearbox that shifts in a one-down five-up pattern. In India, the 390 Duke will be sold with a larger radiator.

The bike is equipped with illuminated switchgear, dimpled palm grips, a comfortable set of levers and good mirrors. The compact but comprehensive digital instruments show speed, fuel level, an odometer, trip meters and a tachometer. The 10.2-litre fuel tank offers deeply recessed, appropriate thigh support. A side stand-down warning light is standard. Overall build quality, fit and finish is expectedly great.

The 390 Duke deploys a rigid, steel trellis frame and chunky 43mm diameter front upside down forks developed by suspension specialist WP, and at rear a cast alloy swingarm supporting a monoshock. The suspension setup will be slightly tweaked on the Indian spec bike making it more suitable to harsh Indian road conditions. The 390 Duke uses an ABS enabled 300mm single disc brake in front and 230mm unit at rear, a radial mounted, four piston caliper biting the front, and both controlled by steel-braided hydraulic lines. The bike rides on tubeless Metzeler radial tyres and will be sold through Bajaj’s existing network of 75 Probiking dealers.

Detailed specifications:

Price: Rs 180,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi)

On Sale: July 2013

L/W/H: 2002/873/1267mm

Wheelbase 1367 +/- 15mm

Ground clearance:172mm

Fuel tank capacity: 10.2 litres

Kerb weight: 154kg

Engine layout: Single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, four-stroke

Displacement 373.2cc

Power 44bhp at 9500rpm

Torque 3.57kgm at 7250rpm

Specific output 117.9bhp per litre

Power to weight 285.7bhp per tonne

Gearbox 6-speed, 1-down, 5-up

Front suspension: Upside-down forks

Rear suspension: Monoshock,alloy swingarm

Front brake: 300mm disc

Rear brake: 230mm disc

Wheels: 10-spoke alloy

Rim size (f-r): 17 inches

Tyre size (f-r) :110/70 x 17 / 150/60 x 17 inches

June 25, 2013
Sony Xperia Z Ultra Announced Officially, Snapdragon 800, 6.4″ 1080p Display (PR)

After numerous leaks over the past few weeks, Sony today officially announced the Sony Xperia Z Ultra, a new smartphone with a 6.4-inch full high-definition screen and a Snapdragon 800 chipset.

The 6.4-inch, 1,920 by 1,080 pixel display is what Sony calls a TRILUMINOUS Display, incorporating technology from the Bravia television line, including the X-Reality video-enhancing software.

The Sony Xperia Z Ultra works with a stylus (or any pencil, Sony says) and runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. There’s a powerful Adreno 330 GPU to push all the pixels to the screen too, a part of the new Snapdragon 800 chipset, which also packs a quad-core Krait 400 processor clocked at 2.2GHz.

At 6.5 mmm Sony is heralding the phone as the “world’s slimmest and largest full HD smartphone.”

Other specs of note include an 8-megapixel camera, a 3,000 mAh battery and 16 gigabytes of internal storage, with about 11 GB available to the user, and a microSD card slot for extra space. (Props to Sony for being up-front about the usable storage space).

The battery, on the other hand, is a quite respectable 3000mAh, though that screen will definitely eat it up faster than more conventional phones.

The Xperia Z Ultra is set for a third quarter 2013 global release, with precise dates varying by market. There is no price set for the phone at the moment.

[toggle title=”Press Release”]

The new Xperia™ Z Ultra: The world’s slimmest and largest Full HD smartphone display*

6.4” Full HD TRILUMINOS™ Display for mobile powered by X-Reality™ for mobile engine for the ultimate big screen entertainment experience
Ultra slim, waterproof** and dust-resistant (IP55/IP58) durable design
Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 800 processor with 2.2 GHz quad-core CPUs and 4G LTE for fast performance
Write and sketch with any pencil and selected stylus or pen
Full accessory ecosystem for premium entertainment and one-touch connectivity
Battery STAMINA Mode for outstanding battery life
25th June 2013, Mobile Asia Expo, Shanghai – Sony Mobile Communications (“Sony Mobile”) today introduces the next revolution in premium large-screen Android smartphone entertainment. The new Xperia Z Ultra is waterproof**, ultra-slim with a lightweight design so you can enjoy it anytime, anywhere. It’s the first smartphone ever to incorporate a Full HD TRILUMINOS™ Display for mobile powered by Sony’s latest X-Reality™ for mobile picture engine to deliver the most immersive viewing experience imaginable. Additionally, the Xperia Z Ultra will also feature the fully integrated Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 800 processor with 2.2 GHz quad-core CPUs, 4GLTE and HD voice to provide a seamless connected entertainment experience, industry-leading battery performance and amazing speed.

“The Xperia Z Ultra is the most exciting revolution in large-screen smartphone entertainment devices with both the slimmest and largest Full HD smartphone display* in the world that is second to none.” said Calum MacDougall, Director of Xperia Marketing at Sony Mobile Communications. “We’re already bringing the best of Sony technology and design across a range of premium smartphones and tablets, and now we are bringing this same premium offering to the large-screen smartphone segment, setting a new standard for others to follow.”

The world’s largest Full HD smartphone display*

Xperia Z Ultra features a 6.4” touchscreen Full HD display with Sony’s unique TRILUMINOS® Display for mobile, creating a wider palette of rich natural colours thanks to Sony’s BRAVIA TV expertise. The breakthrough technology includes X-Reality™ for mobile – Sony’s intelligent super resolution display technology which analyzes each image and reproduces lacking pixels to optimize quality for the sharpest videos. It analyses elements depending on the scene and adjusts them based on pattern, outline and colour composition. It also strengthens subtle patterns and accurately portrays their detailed feel, as well as reinforcing bold outlines. The large Full HD display has been optimised to experience at least 60%*** more of the screen than most other smartphones.

The world’s slimmest Full HD smartphone*

Xperia Z Ultra is supremely slim and lightweight with a beautifully crafted 6.5mm body and weighing just 212 grams for ultimate portability. Sony craftsmanship in design and attention to detail comes to the fore with clean lines and premium materials – the front and back are made of tempered glass, creating a seamless surface with the OptiContrast™ panel housed in an innovative solid metal frame which looks stunning from any angle. It features the same acclaimed OmniBalance design as Xperia Z and Tablet Z. The Xperia Z Ultra is available in a choice of black, white or purple colour finishes.

The only waterproof Full HD smartphone**Xperia Z Ultra is both elegant and durable. With an impressive rating of IP55 and IP58, this smartphone isn’t only resistant to dust, but is waterproof** too – giving you the freedom to enjoy it anywhere. You can even film in Full HD underwater, taking your large-screen smartphone experience to a new level. The camera features “Exmor RS for mobile”, HDR for both photos and film, and Superior Auto mode automatically activates HDR and noise reduction when needed, so you’ll get stunning imagery even in challenging light conditions.

Ultimate entertainment experience

The Xperia Z Ultra is uniquely positioned to offer the ultimate big screen phone entertainment experience for watching movies, playing games, reading books and browsing the web.

Sony’s “WALKMAN”, Album and Movies media applications enable discovery of online and offline content through a single access point with new ways to enjoy and share that content.

The “WALKMAN” application leverages Sony’s audio engine and Facebook integration for sharing and discovering new music and is unique in that it provides seamlessly integrated access to all your downloaded music as well as access to a global library of over 20 million songs2 from Sony’s cloud-based subscription music service, Music Unlimited3.

The Movies application brings new intuitive ways to discover, manage and play movie content, together with easy access to an extensive library of blockbuster movies and the latest TV episodes from the Video Unlimited2 service.

The Album application provides seamless integration with the PlayMemories Online2 service, letting you access all your photos and albums from within the Album app instantly and easily, wherever you are. You can even set an automatic upload of your photos to the PlayMemories Online service to access and enjoy from any your favourite Sony devices.

The Sony Reader app2 provides seamless Reader store2 access so you can download and enjoy the latest bestsellers – it even lets you sync purchased books in popular formats and continue reading from same page.
Xperia Z Ultra will include an exclusive free entertainment content offer, including a free trial of the Music Unlimited2 service (subject to availability).

Ultimate performance with the world’s fastest smartphone processor****

The Xperia Z Ultra features the world’s fastest smartphone processor**** – the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor with HD voice, that together with Sony´s audio Sony’s ClearAudio+ mode and Xloud loudness enhancement, delivers not just exceptional speed and performance, but also unsurpassed voice and audio quality.

Battery STAMINA Mode significantly improves the standby time of your smartphone by four times or more1 as it recognises when you’re not using your display and automatically turns off the functions you don’t need, while keeping the notifications you want. As soon as you press the power button to wake up your screen, everything is up and running again.

Built for business

The Xperia Z Ultra is the ideal business partner thanks to the super responsive screen with handwriting recognition which is compatible with any pencil and selected stylus or pen (capacitive stylus or metal pen with tip diameter over 1mm). You can even write notes or sketches during calls so you’ll always be ready capture your ideas as they happen. The easy-toggle keyboard makes it ideal for one-handed input and multi-tasking, with small apps to help you improve productivity so you don’t lose time browsing between windows.

The robust security architecture safeguards both your corporate and personal data, with support for multiple accounts that are quick and simple to set up. Further business oriented applications will be made available in future as software updates, ensuring you get the best smartphone experience – whether for work or play.

Ultra connectivity

With one-touch functions you can instantly and easily share music, photos and videos from your smartphone to a wide range of NFC-enabled Sony devices, including speakers, SmartWatch, wireless headsets and TVs. There are several new and innovative accessories joining the range of popular connected devices.

The SBH52 is a dynamic Smart Bluetooth™ Handset that provides easy hands-free call handling with a single press, while leaving your smartphone conveniently in your bag. The OLED display conveniently lets you browse your call log, view text messages, and see who’s calling you. Use it as a quality stereo music headset to listen to your tracks or to the built-in standalone FM radio with RDS. Pairing and connecting is done simply by touching it to your Xperia Z Ultra or other NFC-enabled device. And it’s sleek, minimal design is splash-proof, meaning you can now use it anywhere, in any weather.

The latest generation of SmartWatch, the SmartWatch 2 SW2, helps you keep track of everything without taking your smartphone out of your pocket or bag. The SmartWatch 2 is a truly multifunctional digital watch and phone remote that lets you receive notifications, control your music, and connect with one-touch NFC to your Bluetooth™ headset for easy call handling. The water-resistant design makes it more versatile to use than ever and can be personalised with any standard watch strap. Use it as a standalone watch or with your smartphone. There are over 200 apps available for our first generation and with an open API we expect new applications will be developed quickly and easily for SmartWatch 2.

The Magnetic Charging Dock DK30 has an innovative magnetic pin that lets you to place your Xperia Z Ultra snugly in the dock using one hand, either with or without the phone cover on. While your phone is charging, it stands at a comfortable viewing angle easily allowing you to keep watching your favourite movies even while charging.

Xperia Z Ultra features

6.4” Full HD TRILUMINOS™ Display for mobile powered by X-Reality™ for mobile engine for the ultimate viewing experience
Ultra slim, waterproof** and dust resistant (IP55/IP58) durable design
Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 800 processor with 2.2 GHz quad-core CPUs and 4G LTE for fast performance
Write and sketch with any pencil and selected stylus or pen (capacitive stylus or metal pen with tip diameter over 1mm)
8 megapixel camera with “Exmor RS for mobile” sensor and HDR for videos and photos
Full accessory ecosystem for premium entertainment and connectivity
Battery STAMINA Mode for outstanding battery life
The Xperia Z Ultra will launch globally from Q3 2013 (exact timing of availability will vary by market).

* Specifications verified by Strategy Analytics’ SpecTRAX service, as of 19th of June 2013 the Xperia Z Ultra is the slimmest smartphone with a Full HD display, for more information on Strategy analytics results go to: www.sonymobile.com/testresults

** As of 19th of June 2013, outside of Japan, the Xperia Z Ultra is the only waterproof smartphone with a Full HD display on global distribution. In compliance with IP55 and IP58, Xperia Z Ultra is protected against the ingress of dust and is waterproof. Provided that all ports and covers are firmly closed, the phone is (i) protected against low pressure jets of water from all practicable directions in compliance with IP 55; and/or (ii) can be kept under 1.50 metre of freshwater for up to 30 minutes in compliance with IP58. The phone is not designed to float or work submerged underwater outside the IP55 or IP58 classification range that may lead to your warranty will being void. Find out more www.sonymobile.com/testresults

*** Display area available compared to smartphones with a 5” display or smaller

**** Specifications of Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core 2.2GHz processor verified by Strategy Analytics’ SpecTRAX service as of 19th of June 2013, for more information on Strategy analytics results go to: www.sonymobile.com/testresults

1 Based on testing done with default settings, default accounts and applications for Skype™ and Twitter downloaded to the phone. The more applications installed, the bigger the effect of Battery STAMINA Mode.

2 Number of tracks available from this catalogue varies by country and may be less.

3 Sony Entertainment Network services are subject to availability by region. Please visit www.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com for more details.[/toggle]

June 25, 2013
New Mercedes Benz E-Class launched at Rs. 41.50 Lakh

Luxury car giant Mercedes-Benz has launched the 2014 E-Class in India. The new E-class (codename W212) gets a refreshed design with this mid-cycle facelift and has gone back to a single headlight unit for the first time in 18 years. The headlamp is now encased in a single flowing lens with LED elements for the low beam and daytime running lamp.Mercedes will also be offering the E-class with the option of full LED headlamps. Other changes include a bigger, more aggressive grille flowing into a restyled bumper devoid of fog lamps. The rear sports new taillights and a new bumper as well.

Inside, you’ll find a new sportier steering wheel as well as minor updates to the central console. The dials are new, the COMAND system gets a new screen and Merc is bringing in a sat-nav and a DVD player as well.

The E-class will be offered in India with a choice of two engines – a 2.0-litre, direct injected petrol unit making 184bhp and a 2.1-litre diesel mill putting out 204bhp. Both are four-cylinder engines and will be mated to Merc’s 7G-tronic automatic transmission.

Slightly surprisingly, Mercedes Benz has done away with the cheaper Classic and Elegance variants for the E-class. Both versions are available only in the top-spec Avantgarde trim, unlike its predecessors. Additionally, the German manufacturer has also introduced a ‘launch edition’ spec of the E 250 CDI, of which only 100 units will be sold. The launch edition E 250 CDI gets a panoramic sunroof, rear tyres that are larger than the front (245/40 R18 (F), 265/35 R18 (R)), a space saver and Merc’s illuminated central star.

New Mercedes E-Class Prices (ex-showroom, Delhi)

E200 Petrol: Rs 41.50 lakh

E250 CDI: Rs 44.8 lakh

E250 CDI launch edition: Rs 49.90 lakh

June 25, 2013
Age Of Empires Heading To Android And iOS

According to a report from Japanese news outlet the Nikkei, by way of Reuters and MacRumors, Microsoft is gearing up to release some of their classic gaming franchises on iOS and Android devices. This initiative will begin this year and it is said that the first title to grace our touchscreens will be the historical real-time strategy epic Age of Empires.

A Microsoft representative has confirmed that a mobile version of the Age of Empires series is being developed for mobile devices as a result of the partnership, with no other games currently announced.

Microsoft has released an official statement to Polygon saying:

“Today, KLab Inc. announced a licensing agreement with Microsoft Corp. to develop a mobile version of Microsoft Studio’s Age of Empires franchise, which will be initially developed in English for iOS and Android and launched globally, with plans to release the game in other languages and on Windows Phone in the future. Some reports included incorrect information about additional Xbox Live-based games on iOS and Android but there are no further announcements beyond Age of Empires at this time.”

The mobile version of Age of Empires will follow a free-to-play model, and will be released by the end of the 2013 financial year. There are no more details at this time about which other titles Microsoft will bring to iOS and Android.

[Via, Via]

June 25, 2013
Microsoft Set To Reshuffle Company Structure

According to sources at AllThingsD, Microsoft is poised to make major changes to its executive team, cutting the fat from the top and reorganizing the company into four distinct parts — operating systems, applications & services, hardware, and enterprise — overseen by Steve Ballmer.

The company is holding its annual Build developer conference later this week, which coincides with a public launch of Windows 8.1, the first major update for the new operating system which was released in late October.

One virulent rumour to emerge from this department shuffle is the unification of Windows and Windows Phone into a single division, something that was seen as inevitable given the former’s dominance and the latter’s sustained obscurity. Windows Phone 8 brought a unified kernel, which made it easier to develop apps and games for both platforms at once, but the operating systems maintain separate app stores and update processes. Windows Phone also suffers from the fact that it entered a market entrenched by two dominant players, and has struggled, despite a warm reception, to gain market share, especially in North America.

Creating unified ecosystems for mobile and desktop seems to be a common theme for big tech companies at the moment, and might position Microsoft to challenge the king of the ecosystem – Apple – more effectively.

Microsoft is likely going to issue updates to its Surface RT and Pro tablets later this year, informed by the improvements made to Windows 8.1. Rumours persist of a smaller, cheaper Surface, likely in the 7- to 8-inch form factor, to better compete with the iPad mini. The Redmond-based company has recently been discounting its RT tablet, which runs an ARM-based Tegra 3 chip and is limited to apps distributed through the Windows Store, to spur lukewarm sales.

Microsoft is expected to issue a minor update Windows Phone 8 this summer with a more extensive “GDR3 overhaul coming later this year, which would bring 1080p display and quad-core chip support. Nokia will likely announce its Lumia 41MP EOS smartphone next month with the GDR2 update on board.

According to sources close to the situation, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is likely to unveil his plans to restructure the tech giant to a larger group of senior execs by July 1.

[Via]

June 25, 2013
Cheaper Audi Q3 Sport variant coming soon to India

While BMW and Mercedes Benz are busy attracting customers with high-end hot hatchbacks, Audi has devised a clever plan of its own to take its share of the market. Instead of rivalling the BMW 1-series and Mercedes Benz A-Class with its A3 Sportback or its A1 supermini, Audi is taking on the BMW X1 and Mercedes Benz B-Class with a cheaper, lower-spec variant of the Q3 called the Q3 Sport.

The Q3 Sport will be assembled in India as a CKD (Completely Knocked Down) unit at Audi’s assembly facility in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. The Q3 Sport loses a lot of features in order to keep the price relatively low. It comes with a downgraded 2.0 TDI engine, producing 140 bhp and 320 Nm of torque instead of the 177 bhp and 380 Nm of torque put out by the 2.0 TDI in the standard Q3. The Q3 Sport will have to do without the more common 7-speed dual clutch auto transmission, and the all-wheel drive Audi Quattro system. Instead, the front wheels will be driven through a six-speed manual. Also missing on the ‘budget’ baby SUV, will be the daytime running LED lamps which have come to be a symbol of brand recognition for the German auto giant.

However, Audi knows the business well enough to offer all the kit which one expects from a luxury car. Creature comforts such as leather seats, cruise control, voice dialog system, climate control, MMI with Bluetooth connectivity and 18-inch alloy wheels amongst others, will be standard on the Audi Q3 Sport.

The entry level Q3 is expected to be priced at around Rs 25 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) courtesy of the toned down performance and the CKD assembly. At this price, the Q3 Sport will be cheapest Audi to be sold in India, and should give the Merccedes-Benz B-Class and the BMW X1 a run for their money.

June 25, 2013
iOS 7 Beta 2 Now Seeding To Developers

Apple has released iOS 7 beta 2 to developers today, which officially contains “bug fixes and improvements” to the redesigned and initially-divisive mobile operating system.

Apple first unleashed iOS 7 to the developer community at its Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) on June 10, but the release was only accessible on the iPhone and iPod touch.

One major addition in the iOS 7 beta 2 is support for the iPad and iPad mini, though support only goes back to the iPad 2.

Existing iOS 7 beta users can go to Settings / General / Software Update and begin the over-the-air download of iOS 7 beta 2. Registered developers can head to Apple’s Developer Portal for more information on how to sign up.

iOS 7 includes an all-new user interface and features such as AirDrop peer-to-peer file transfer functionality, Control Center for quickly accessing settings, a new Photos app, integration with cars, and new Siri voices and options.

Apple is scheduled to release iOS 7 this fall for iPhone 4 and up, iPad 2 and later, the iPad mini, and the fifth-generation iPod touch. If history is any indication, its release will also coincide with the launch of a new iPhone.

June 25, 2013
Leaked : Photos Of The Upcoming Sony Xperia Z Ultra

Sony is set to unveil a few new smartphones tomorrow, but the most noteworthy is a 6.4-inch stylus-friendly phablet likely to be called the Sony Xperia Z Ultra.

Unlike the Samsung Galaxy Note, the Sony Xperia Z Ultra is unlikely to come with a stylus. Instead, users will be encouraged to use other objects such as pencils to interact with the screen, though an intermediary piece of paper is encouraged. The technology behind the ZU is similar to what you find on the Nokia Lumia 920 and Samsung Galaxy S4, both of which offer screens of increased sensitivity that can be used with gloves. Sony takes this one step further by allowing non-capacitive styli to work with the screen.

The Sony Xperia Z Ultra is expected to feature Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor with a clock speed of 2.2GHz, the handset will also feature an Adreno 330 GPU.

Other specifications on the Sony Xperia Z Ultra will include 2GB of RAM and 16GB of built in storage. The handset will also feature a 6.4 inch display with a full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.

As you can see from the promotional shot above, someone is using a drafting pencil to sketch onto a piece of paper on top of the ZU, which in turn will appear on the screen. This could open up a lot of uses beyond just the obvious, but we’ll see what Sony has to say tomorrow.

[Via]

June 25, 2013

Audi wins 24 Hours of Le Mans for 4th year running

The #2 Audi R18 e-tron quattro of drivers Tom Kristensen, Allan McNish and Loic Duval came out on top at the 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans this past weekend. The race, largely overshadowed by the death of Danish Aston Martin driver Allan Simonsen, marked Audi’s fourth consecutive and 12th overall victory at Le Mans. The Audi crossed the finish line one lap ahead of the #8 Toyota TS030 driven by Anthony Davidson, Stephane Sarrazin and Sebastien Buemi.

The race was incredibly close at the end – after 23 straight hours of competition, the leading Audi and Toyota cars were on the same lap before Kristensen was able to pass Sebastien Buemi’s Toyota with just minutes remaining to win by one lap over his rival. This victory also marks Kristensen’s ninth career win at Le Mans, which is an extension of the record he already owned and a remarkable feat on its own. Kristensen dedicated his win to fellow Danish driver Allan Simonsen, who died as a result of injuries sustained on the fourth lap of the race, when his Aston Martin spun off the track and hit the barrier at high speed.

Karun Chandhok returned to Le Mans this year and finished a respectable 13th overall, and 7th in the P2 class in the Murphy Prototypes’ ORECA-Nissan 03 with team regular Brendon Hartley and experienced US sportscar driver Mark Patterson. Last year Chandhok managed an impressive, sixth placed finish overall with the JRM Racing HPD P1 team.

Third place overall was snatched by the No. 3 Audi driven by Lucas Di Grassi, Marc Gene and Oliver Jarvis. In LMP2, Oak Racing’s Nissan-powered Morgan racers came in first and second, followed by G-Drive Racing’s Oreca, also powered by Nissan. The LMGTE Pro class was won by the No. 92 Porsche 911 RSR, followed by the No. 91 Porsche and No. 97Aston Martin Vantage V8. Corvette Racing finished fourth with its No. 73 C6-ZR1 while their fellow Americans from SRT Motorsports finished in eighth and ninth positions in their brand-new Viper GTS-R racers.

For more information on what the 24 Hours of Le Mans is about, click here!

These are the final positions after 24 hours.

Pos Cl      Car       Drivers                         Laps  Gap
 1. P1  #2  Audi      Kristensen/McNish/Duval      348   
 2. P1  #8  Toyota    Davidson/Sarrazin/Buemi      347   +     1 Lap
 3. P1  #3  Audi      Gene/Jarvis/di Grassi        347   + 1m55.252s
 4. P1  #7  Toyota    Wurz/Lapierre/Nakajima       341   +    7 Laps
 5. P1  #1  Audi      Lotterer/Treluyer/Fassler    338   +   10 Laps
 6. P1  #21 HPD       Leventis/Kane/Watts          332   +   16 Laps
 7. P2  #35 Morgan    Baguette/Plowman/Gonzalez    329   +   19 Laps
 8. P2  #24 Morgan    Pla/Brundle/H Hansson        328   +   20 Laps
 9. P2  #26 Oreca     Rusinov/Martin/Conway        327   +   21 Laps
10. P2  #42 Zytek     Krumm/Mardenborough/Ordonez  327   + 1m07.075s
11. P2  #49 Oreca     P-Companc/Kaffer/Minassian   325   +   23 Laps
12. P2  #43 Morgan    Gachnang/Mailleux/Lombard    320   +   28 Laps
13. P2  #48 Oreca     Hartley/Chandhok/Patterson   319   +   29 Laps
14. P2  #38 Zytek     Dolan/Turvey/Luhr            319   + 4m01.549s
15. P2  #36 Alpine    Ragues/Panciatici/Gommendy   317   +   31 Laps
16. GTP #92 Porsche   Lieb/Lietz/Dumas             315   +   33 Laps
17. GTP #91 Porsche   Bergmeister/Pilet/Bernhard   315   + 2m10.631s
18. GTP #97 Aston     Mucke/Turner/Dumbreck        314   +   34 Laps
19. P2  #34 Oreca     Frey/Niederhauser/Bleekemolen314   + 1m27.131s
20. GTP #73 Corvette  Garcia/Magnussen/Taylor      312   +   36 Laps
21. GTP #71 Ferrari   Beretta/Kobayashi/Vilander   311   +   37 Laps
22. GTP #51 Ferrari   Bruni/Fisichella/Malucelli   311   + 1m57.110s
23. GTP #74 Corvette  Gavin/Milner/Westbrook       309   +   39 Laps
24. P2  #41 Zytek     Rossi/K-Smith/Lux            307   +   41 Laps
25. GTP #53 SRT       Farnbacher/Goossens/Dalziel  306   +   42 Laps
26. GTA #76 Porsche   Narac/Vernay/Bourret         306   + 1m51.302s
27. GTA #55 Ferrari   Perazzini/O'Young/Case       305   +   43 Laps
28. GTA #61 Ferrari   Gerber/Griffin/Cioci         305   + 1m26.507s
29. GTA #77 Porsche   Dempsey/Foster/Long          305   + 2m51.114s
30. GTA #50 Corvette  Bornhauser/Canal/Taylor      302   +   46 Laps
31. GTA #96 Aston     Goethe/Campbell-Walter/Hall  301   +   47 Laps
32. GTP #93 SRT       Wittmer/Kendall/Bomarito     301   + 1m58.599s
33. P2  #40 Oreca     Dagoneau/Downs/Younessi      300   +   48 Laps
34. GTA #67 Porsche   Gibon/Milesi/Henzler         300   +   32.348s
35. GTP #66 Ferrari   Bertolini/Faisal/Qubaisi     300   +   51.765s
36. GTA #88 Porsche   Ried/Roda/Ruberti            300   + 1m28.639s
37. GTA #75 Porsche   Collard/Perrodo/Crubile      298   +   50 Laps
38. GTA #81 Ferrari   Potolicchio/Aguas/Bright     294   +   54 Laps
39. P2  #39 Lola      Porta/Brandela/Raffin        280   +   68 Laps
40. P1  #12 Lola      Prost/Jani/Heidfeld          275   +   73 Laps
41. P1  #13 Lola      Beche/Belicchi/Cheng         275   + 1m27.020s
42. GTA #70 Corvette  MacNeil/Rodrigues/Dumas      268   +   80 Laps
43. P2  #33 HPD       Tucker/Franchitti/Briscoe    242   +  106 Laps
44. P2  #46 Oreca     Thiriet/Badey/Martin         310      Retired
45. GTP #99 Aston     Makowiecki/Senna/Bell        248      Retired
46. P2  #45 Morgan    Nicolet/Merlin/Mondolot      246      Retired
47. P2  #47 Morgan    Imperatori/Howson/Tung       241      Retired
48. GTP #98 Aston     Dalla Lana/Lamy/Auberlen     221      Retired
49. P2  #32 Lotus     Holzer/Kraihamer/Charouz     219      Retired
50. P2  #30 Lola      Mowlem/Burgess/Hirschi       153      Retired
51. GTA #54 Ferrari   Mallegol/Bachelier/Blank     147      Retired
52. GTA #57 Ferrari   Krohn/Jonsson/Mediani        111      Retired
53. P2  #25 Oreca     Graves/Hamilton/Nakano       101      Retired
54. P2  #28 Lola      Giroix/Haezebrouck/Ihara     22       Retired
55. P2  #31 Lotus     Weeda/Rossiter/Bouchut       17       Retired
56. GTA #95 Aston     Simonsen/Nygaard/Poulsen     2        Retired

June 24, 2013

Apple 1 Computer Up For Auction

If you fancy owning a little bit of Apple history in the form of one of the very first Apple 1 computer systems, you will be pleased to learn that one of the rare Apple 1 computer systems is now available at auction by Christie’s auction house with a starting price of $300,000.

The first Apple computer designed way back in 1976 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. The Apple 1 computer was the foundation of the business that the two Steve’s created in the 70’s and is firmly seen as a piece of technology history.

The owner is a 70-year old man named Ted Perry who acquired the computer by trading some computer parts at a second-hand swap somewhere between 1979 and 1980.

The device still works, Perry affirms, and he says he has kept the computer mostly in a cardboard box since he acquired it more than 33 years ago. The new auction for Perry’s Apple 1 kicks off on June 24, next Monday, and will last until July 9, MacRumors said.

Though the Apple I sold modestly, an estimated 200 units, proceeds and experience gained from the project helped to set the foundation for the Apple II, the personal computer which would help to kick off the home computing revolution and make Apple a household name. Over time, the first Apple model became a collector’s item as Apple built itself into one of the most successful companies of all time.

Experts claim that only 30 to 50 of the first Apple computers are still alive and kicking.

June 24, 2013
Leaked : Gionee ELIFE E6 Smarphone Specs, 5″ Full-HD Display, Quad-Core Processor

Gionee has been aggressively launching devices in the Indian market for quite some time now, receiving both positive and negative feedback for their devices. Now according to a report from VR-Zone, they have something special in store for the Indian market.

The new smartphone will be called the Gionee ELIFE E6. It will sport a 5.0-inch 1080p (1920 x 1080) display on the front, with a 1.5 GHz Quad-Core ARM Cortex A7 CPU coupled with 2GB of RAM.

The Gionee ELIFE E6 will have a MediaTek MT6589T Chipset, PowerVR SGX544 GPU. At the back, there will be a 13 MP Camera with a BSI sensor and LED Flash which will be able to record Full-HD videos at 30 frames per second. There will be a 5 MP Front Camera which will be capable of 720p video recording.

The Gionee ELIFE E6 will run on Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean and will be powered by a 2000 mAh+ battery. It is also reported that the smartphone will be 8mm thick.

The report further goes on to state that the expected price of the Gionee ELIFE E6 will be between Rs. 18,000-20,000 which effectively pits it against the upcoming Micromax Canvas 4 and the Samsung Galaxy Grand.

The reported release date for the Gionee ELIFE E6 is July 10th. Will you be interested in this smartphone? Let us know in the comments section below!

June 24, 2013