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Samsung Galaxy Win Announced, Quad-Core Snapdragon 200, 4.7″ Display
Samsung has officially announced the Samsung Galaxy Win globally, following its launch in China.

Samsung Galaxy Win packs in 4.7-inch screen with WVGA TFT display. It is powered by 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 200 processor. The smartphone will come with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage, which can be expanded further by up to 32GB via microSD card. It runs on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) and houses a 2,000mAh battery. For camera, there is a 5-megapixel rear camera and a VGA front camera.

Samsung Galaxy Win will be available in two different versions – single SIM and dual-SIM, depending on the market. The Galaxy Win launched in China was a dual-SIM model. It will be available in two colour options – Ceramic White and Titan Gray.

The Samsung Galaxy Win comes with enhanced smart features, including:
- Easy Mode: A simple and intuitive homescreen mode for streamlined access to your top functions
- Smart Alert: Notifications for events you may have missed (calls, messages, deadlines) when you pick up the phone
- Motion UX: Utilize functions such as Mute, Refresh & Update, and Scan for other devices with simple motion controls
The Samsung Galaxy Win will launch in Asia first and later in the rest of the world. There is no pricing information available about the device.

[toggle title=”Press Release”]Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a leader in mobile technology and digital media, today announced the Samsung GALAXY Win, an intuitive new smartphone designed to balance the needs of the on-the-go user with massive processing power, multitasking capabilities, and a compact design for ultimate portability. As a unique and practical option for mobile users, the GALAXY Win is equipped to handle demanding tasks while still providing an effortless user experience with intuitive features including dual SIM support for a seamless work and life balance, a large display for optimal viewing, Easy Mode for simple access to most used functions, and many more.

Designed to provide the best in mobile technology that can easily fit in your pocket, the Samsung GALAXY Win is powered by AndroidTM (Jelly Bean) and comes equipped with powerful hardware that makes both gaming and multi-media easy. With a 1.2GHz quad core processor and a 4.7 inch display, there is no app or game that the GALAXY Win can’t run with vivid color and resolution. The 5-megapixel camera is equipped with multiple features including Continuous Shot, Best Photo, and multiple color effects to make taking high-quality photos fun and easy. The GALAXY Win also allows users to enjoy extended multimedia use and longer talk time with 8GB of internal storage and a 2,000mAh battery.

As the perfect choice for users who want a device that can operate across multiple areas of their lives, the GALAXY Win offers intuitive solutions to enrich the smartphone user experience. For seamless work-to-play transitions, this new device comes with a wealth of enhanced smart features, including:

•‘Easy Mode’: A simple and intuitive homescreen mode for streamlined access to your top functions
•‘Smart Alert’: Notifications for events you may have missed (calls, messages, deadlines) when you pick up the phone
•‘Motion UX’: Utilize functions such as Mute, Refresh & Update, and Scan for other devices with simple motion controls

Depending on the markets, the GALAXY Win will be available in two different versions – Single SIM or Dual SIM, and available in two different colors – Ceramic White and Titan Gray.
[/toggle]
April 8, 2013
Rumour : Samsung To Release A 6.3″ Phablet In June

Samsung could announce the launch of a new Android ‘phablet,’ or smartphone that doubles as a tablet, in June, according to Korean news website ETNews.

A Samsung offical reportedly told the website, “As of now, smartphones and smart pads are separate gadgets, but the two will converge into one product under Project Möbius.”

This is the codename for Samsung’s mammoth smartphone device, which is tipped to launch as the Samsung Galaxy Mega.

Given that key parts such as semiconductors and displays are scheduled to be mass-produced between April and May, Samsung’s 6.3-inch phablet is estimated to make its debut between June and July.

We’re not sure anybody wants a 6.3in smartphone, but Samsung seems to want to find out.

The Samsung phablet is likely to come with the dual core Exynos application processor, a 6.3 inch LCD or hybrid G1F touch screen panel, a 2 megapixel full-HD camera (front) and a 8 megapixel AF camera module (on the back).

However, Samsung may not be stopping with the 6.3-inch version. According to SamMobile, Samsung is also working on a 5.8-inch Galaxy Mega with the codename GT-I9152 that will be a little better on the specs side, as previously reported.

It is said to feature a 5.8-inch qHD (960×540) TFT display, 8-megapixel rear-camera, 2-megapixel front-camera, dual-core 1.4 GHz processor, 1.5GB of RAM, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 80211 a/b/g/n, A-GPS, 2600 mAh battery, and dimensions of 164×83.8×9.7mm. As for software, it will run Android 4.1.2 / 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, and of course, Samsung’s custom TouchWiz UX.

What do you think?

[ETNews, SamMobile, Engadget]

April 8, 2013
Facebook Home Beta Leaks Ahead Of Official Release

Do you want to give Facebook Home a try a few days before its official release? A beta has been leaked by the folks at MoDaCo and, while not all the features work, it’s a great opportunity to see what all the fuss is/may be about. That said, MoDaCo says that it will work on any Android device that meets that specification.

The “suite” involves updated versions of the Facebook app, Facebook Messenger and the Home launcher APK itself, the former two of which can be safely installed over your current versions. It’s important to note that the leaked version only supports devices with a maximum resolution of 1280×768, which precludes the Sony Xperia ZL and upcoming HTC One (for now).

It appears that the most intriguing part of Facebook Home, Chat Heads, has not been implemented in this beta version, but the Cover Feed sequence works quite well. The Facebook Home settings is also worth digging into, as it allows you to alter how frequently the fore- and background data is updated. By default, background data (the stuff inside the Facebook app) is updated every 30 minutes, while the Cover Feed content is updated every 15 minutes. We’ll be curious to see whether those aggressive settings negatively affect battery life going forward.

The Home launcher is also surprisingly smooth, and feels like a very natural extension of my workflow. The main issue we have is that Facebook attempts to bury as much of Android’s legacy functionality as possible; you must swipe down from the top of the screen to expose the notification bar and then again to expand it; and there are no spots for native Android widgets. As someone who relies on both features pretty extensively — as I’m sure most users do — this is going to be something of an issue.

Nevertheless, Home is an interesting first step towards a fully-formed Facebook experience on Android, for better or worse.

Head to MoDaCo to download the three necessary APKs.

[MoDoCa, The Verge]

April 8, 2013
HTC One Launch Delay Costs 98% Drop In Profit

HTC Corp reported a record-low quarterly profit on Monday that missed analysts’ estimates after it delayed the full launch of its 2013 flagship smartphone model, the HTC One which will now debut against Samsung Electronics’ newest Galaxy.

A shortage of cameras meant HTC managed to introduce its latest HTC One phone in just three markets by the end of the first quarter instead of the planned 80. It does not expect to kick off sales across Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific region before the end of April.

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd has said its Galaxy S4 will be available in 155 countries by the end of April.

HTC said its unaudited net profit was T$85 million ($2.85 million) in its January-March first quarter, compared with T$1 billion in the prior quarter and T$10.9 billion in the same period last year. It was the lowest since HTC began reporting quarterly profits in 2004.

The Taiwanese smartphone maker was expected to post a net profit of T$467.5 million, according to the average forecast of 18 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

First-quarter revenue was T$42.8 billion, lower than the T$50-60 billion range that HTC had forecast in February. Revenue in the fourth quarter was T$60 billion.

“As the company is in the middle of a product launch, lumpy monthly numbers can easily be explained by the phasing of product ramp ups and wind down, “Bernstein analyst Pierre Ferragu said in an investor’s note today, “but such a low number likely reflects a significant further loss of traction in the market.”

HTC will launch it’s flagship smartphone, the HTC One in India for a price of Rs.42,990. The smartphone will start shipping by the end of this month.

[Reuters]

April 8, 2013
Quad-Core Intex Aqua Wonder 2 To Be Launched On April 15, Priced At INR 9990

Joining the battle over budget smartphones in the country, Intex Technologies is planning to launch a new low cost quad-core smartphone.

The new phone called Intex Aqua Wonder 2 will be launched on April 15 and, a news website has reported, and will be priced at Rs 9,990/-.

The Intex Aqua Wonder 2 will come with a Mediatek MT6589 quad-core processor. The smartphone will run on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean).

Just like its predecessor, Intex Aqua Wonder 2 will sport a 4.5-inch IPS display with a qHD resolution of 540×960 pixels. The other expected features on Intex Aqua Wonder 2 are 512 MB of RAM, 8-megapixel rear camera, 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, 1,800mAh battery and 2GB of internal storage, which can be expanded by up to 32GB through a microSD card.

Apart from this, the company plans to launch two more quad-core smartphones in the near future. However, these smartphones will be in the price range of Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 15,000.

The device can have up to nine home screens that can be filled with widgets and apps as per the user’s choice. Further, Aqua Wonder 2 comes pre-loaded with plenty of apps and services including Whatsapp, Documents to Go, Headlines Today, ,Aaj Tak, Google Maps, Facebook, Nimbuzz, Google+, YouTube and Skype and. Apart from these, the Smartphone has an Intex Zone app, which houses a mobile tracker and can maintain an auto call record. This app can also direct you to the Intex Web Zone which consists of three Intex websites.

April 7, 2013
Bugatti Veyron SS Stripped Of ‘World’s Fastest Car’ Record

If you’re the proud owner of a Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, you may want to look away. Guinness World Records have declared that the Veyron SS is not the world’s fastest production car as per the title it was awarded in 2010. The people at Guinness apparently overlooked the fact that the recrod-setting car had been modified with a deactivated speed limiter, which allowed the Veyron SS to hit a record 267.8 mph (431.07 kmph).

Guinness World Records states that the record-setting car must be mechanically identical to the one sold to customers. Here’s what Jaime Strang, PR Director of the company had to say about the matter:

It has come to the attention of Guinness World Records that there was an oversight in its adjudication of the ‘Fastest production car’ which was set in 2010 by the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport. As the car’s speed limiter was deactivated, this modification was against the official guidelines. Consequently, the vehicle’s record set at 431.072 km/h is no longer valid. Following this, Guinness World Records is reviewing this category with expert external consultants to ensure our records fairly reflect achievements in this field.

Bugatti is defiant of Guinness’ decision, saying that the production models only have a speed limiter for its customers’ safety and that Guinness was aware of the deactivated limiter on the test car. The production models are limited to ‘just’ 258 mph.

Bugatti’s record was challenged by an American car maker, Hennessey, which claims that its absurdly fast Venom GT should be the world’s fastest production car with a clocked speed of 265.7 mph. However the Venom GT’s speed hasn’t been recorded in the right conditions, which includes an average of two timed runs in opposite directions among other factors. Due to this, the record is most likely to be reverted to the previous holder at 256.1 mph, the Shelby SuperCars Ultimate Aero TT.

April 7, 2013
Micromax Ninja A91 Available Online For INR 8,499

Micromax’s new Android phone, the Micromax Ninja A91, has appeared on online retailer Saholic at a price of 8,499 with a shipping delivery within 3 business days.

This is the first launch by homegrown smartphone maker Micromax after its Canvas HD sales hit a roadblock since its launch.

However, the Canvas HD is back in stock and is now being shipped hassle free after the latest flagship from the company stopped selling due to lack of availability.

The Micromax Ninja A91 comes with 4.5-inch TFT LCD display with 480×854 pixel resolution. The device and is powered by a MediaTek MT6577 1GHz dual-core processor alongside 512MB RAM and 4GB internal storage expandable up to 32GB via microSD card. The phone comes with a 5-megapixel rear camera and a VGA front camera.

Connectivity options on the Micromax Ninja A91 include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3G and Micro-USB. Micromax Ninja A91 is a dual-SIM dual-GSM standby phone that comes with a 1,800mAH battery and runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Meanwhile, Micromax has not released the date of the official launch of the Ninja A91

All is not good for Micromax however, as it has also been in the news recently as it was sued by global telecom giant Ericsson for Rs. 100 crore over patent infringement. The company is reportedly in talks with Ericsson over the issue and hopes to negotiate a FRAND license for the patents at the earliest.

April 6, 2013
Facebook Addresses Facebook Home Privacy Concerns

It seems that each time Facebook redesigns its News Feed, an entire swath of the Internet comes out and swears that they’ll never use Facebook again. But then, active users just increase more and more. But with Facebook Home, it’s a little different. Analysts and users alike have been asking Facebook for more clarity on what Home means for privacy — particularly for those who go with an HTC First, where there’s really no avoiding the Facebook connection.

Now Facebook has posted a Q&A on its website about the privacy implications of its new Facebook Home software for Android phones, though it was unclear if it has addressed all the concerns raised.

In a blog post Friday, the company said it had received “a few questions about how Home works with privacy.” It then posed several questions to itself about Home and privacy and answered them.

Home is essentially a software wrapper for Android smartphones that modifies the home screen, among other things, to put Facebook photos and messages front and center. It was announced on Thursday.

First of all, Facebook notes, Home is a completely optional experience. People have to install it to use it and they continue to use the regular Facebook app if they don’t like or want Home. That’s probably going to stay true for the mid-term future at least.

They can also uninstall Home or disable individual features. For example, Facebook says Home can be turned off in the “Home Settings.”

It’s unclear whether that means all “Home” features will be disabled leaving you with the core Facebook app functionality without actually uninstalling Home or whether this disables things like the Cover feed on the homescreen and that’s it.

The data use policy states that the data Facebook collects can include Internet Protocol addresses and a user’s location. “For example, we may get your GPS or other location information so we can tell you if any of your friends are nearby.”

It was not clear from Facebook’s post whether Home collects location data any more frequently than does the Facebook mobile app, and Facebook didn’t immediately respond to a question about that sent late on Friday.

Facebook has riled users in the past with respect to their privacy. Last year it settled a class-action lawsuit over a feature called Sponsored Stories, which used people’s photographs to suggest that they were endorsing companies’ products.

[PCWorld]

April 6, 2013
HTC First Runs Stock Android Jelly Bean

The new Facebook Home-optimised HTC First runs a stock version of Android Jelly Bean, which can be accessed simply by turning off the social network’s new, custom UI, reports on Friday revealed.

As Phandroid found out during its hands-on time with the device, it looks like the HTC First runs a stock Android version underneath the Home user interface, which makes it the first HTC handset after the G2 to come with stock Android on board, even though it’s not comparable to the kind of stock Android you get with Nexus devices:

So, what does this mean exactly? Well, I should start out by saying that when I say “stock Android,” I’m not talking about pure AOSP with direct updates from Google. Only Nexus (and for a short time, Sony) devices get those kinda privileges. What I mean by “stock” is a version of Android that simply isn’t skinned and comes with stock Android apps like messaging, camera, gallery, stock notification bar, etc., but may or may not have some of the underlying software tweaked.

HTC later confirmed to The Verge that this was indeed the case and stock Android is the beneath-the-surface version of the OS.

Why is this somewhat of a surprise? Well HTC phones are usually dripping in its own skin for Android, the love-it-or-hate-it Sense UI.

For a pure Android experience, you can always purchase the latest Nexus model (or ask a relative to get it for you from abroad!), but did the HTC First also get sort of interesting now that you hear you can run Android on it without any UIs in the way?

[Phandroid]

April 6, 2013
Nokia Lumia 920 Edges Out Samsung Galaxy S4 In Video Stabilization Tests

The new hotness may be the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S4, but despite a massive 5-inch screen and 13 megapixel camera sensor, the device lacks one important feature: optical image stabilization. This disparity to Nokia’s flagship Lumia 920 was tested by the folks at WP7Forum.ru and as you would expect, the proprietors know their home court advantage.

Both devices were fastened to a remote-control car and towed around on an office floor, but only one, the Lumia, stays calm and collected throughout the process. The Galaxy S4 looks like its experiencing tiny tremors throughout the entire ride, exposing the limitations of non-stabilized mobile camera sensors for video capture.

Nokia had incorporated–one of the first for its kind–an optical image stabilization mechanism in the Lumia 920 that would allow for stabilized video recordings and great low light photography performance without the need for a flash.

While by no means a definitive test, it certainly shows just how far ahead the Lumia 920 is from the rest of the market when it comes to optical image stabilization. The ultimate test will be to compare it to the HTC One, which also offers OIS on its Ultrapixel sensor.

The video is in Russian, but if you don’t speak the language you’re not missing much (other than the reason the remote control car had to be towed manually, its batteries were out).

[WP7Forum]

April 6, 2013
Autogyaan: BMW X4 Concept Unveiled Before Shanghai Motor Show

The BMW X6 was a very polarising design when it first came out in 2008, and its newly unveiled younger brother seems to be headed the same way. The X4 concept has been unveiled and a production model of the ‘Sports Activity Vehicle’ (SAV) as its called by BMW, will go on sale in 2014. BMW also says that the concept isn’t just the preview of a new model, but a glimpse at the future of the entire X range.
Like the X6, the X4’s styling is a hybrid of an SUV and a fastback coupe, a design most of us now know as the crossover. Flaunting strong character lines down its sides, a big radiator grille and two-tone 21-inch alloy wheels, the X4 takes on an aggressive and powerful stance, like the larger X6. Dimensionally most similar to the 3-Series Wagon, the X4’s headlight’s and taillights remind us a lot of the upcoming 4-Series coupe as well as the 3-Series Gran Turismo. Underneath the sculpted body, the X4 is based on the smaller X3 and will most likely offer the same engine options as the X3. It will be built alongside the other X models at BMW’s factory in Spartanburg, USA.
The X4 seems to be a well-shaken cocktail of many old and new BMWs. We prefer the X4’s adventurous yet balanced design to that of the X6, but the fastback SUV is still a niche segment and isn’t widely accepted by petrolheads all round the world. Expect this car to make a lot of news when it makes its world debut at the Shanghai Motor Show later this month.

April 6, 2013
Top 5 Android Launchers
Launchers in Android devices keeps them refreshed and new every time you change them. A correct launcher and a correct hardware combination can make your device faster, smooth and stylish. There are plenty of free Android launchers available on the Play store. Some are marvelous and work on any hardware specs while some require hardware customizations.

In this article, we list our top 5 Android launchers, both paid and free –

1. GO Launcher EX

Searching for a reliable home launcher for your Android? Then undoubtedly try the most popular home launcher Go Launcher EX of Google Play.

Go Launcher is no less than any premium launcher which come per-installed in many Android devices. If you compare the features, this launcher even crosses HTC’s sense and Samsung’s touch Whiz interface. The basic reason for this launcher’s popularity is the number of customization options available in it.

It has many themes available ranging from Windows 8 theme to Jelly beans to Ubuntu theme. Some of the best features about this launcher includes: Smooth transitions, great custom GO widgets, strong app management functions like hide app, sort app, search app and clean cache options.

Features:
- Provides extremely smooth transition animation.
- Smoothness in flipping operation.
- It contains more than 5000 personalized themes.
- Amazing custom gestures.
- Many needful including GO widgets like weather, switcher, calendar etc.
- Strong app management function like sorting, hide app, search, cleaning memory and refresh.
2. Apex Launcher

Apex is a great launcher that comes out looking like Jellybean out of the box, no hunting for themes required.

The menus are all every easy to get around and figure out what they do, and the launcher itself is designed, ultimately, the way you want it to look. That’s the beauty of Apex, you can get it looking and working the best possible way for your personal style.

It has up to 9 customizable home screens, infinite elastic scrolling, fancy transition effects, Multiple drawer styles, Lock your desktop to prevent accidental changes and many more features.

Features:
- You can customize homescreen grid size and up to 9 homescreens.
- Scrollable dock with up to 7 icons per page and up to 5 pages.
- Fancy transition effects (tablet, cube, etc).
- You can hide elements as you want (persistent search bar, status bar, or even the dock).
- Customizable icons and labels for shortcuts and folders
- You can choose different folder preview styles and background.
- You can hide apps from the drawer.
- You can lock your desktop to prevent accidental changes.
- Enjoy homescreen gestures (pinch, swipe up/down, double tap)
- Advanced theme engine (icon packs, skins, etc.)
- Backup/restore settings and data
- It is optimized for both phones and tablets
3. NOVA Launcher

Nova launcher is another best free Android launcher which is very similar to Apex launcher. It allows use of ADW or Go Launcher themes to change the looks. You can even change the color of the launcher from the launcher settings. It gives full freedom to select an icon pack from GO launcher or Apex launchers. It has infinite scrolling, folders options, transparent drawer, widgets overlapping option, backup and restore options and hide apps options.

Features:
- Completely coloured themes.
- You can change the accent color of the launcher and it is full color picker supported.
- Customizable App Drawer
- Icon Themes – You can apply ADW or Go launcher icon themes to all app icons.
- Scrollable Dock (for Tablets and Phones) – You can keep all your favorite apps on the dock, with up to 7 icons per page and up to 3 pages.
- Transparency – Scrolling style, you can choose between horizontal paginated or vertical continuous.
- Scroll Effects – You can enjoy eye candy when scrolling your desktop and drawer. Effects include Cube and Cardstack and more for Prime users.
- Infinite Scroll – You will never be far from your favorite page, loop through your desktop continuously.
- Folder Icons – Chose a background, preview style or even replace the whole icon.
- Backup – Export your settings and layout before a wipe to quickly get back up and running.
- Widgets in dock – Just add any 1×1 widget to the dock.
- Widget Overlapping – Overlap on resize or placement, long-press to send to back or bring to front.
- Bulk Add – You can add multiple apps to the desktop or a folder at any time.
- Activities shortcut – You can select hidden activities from your favorite apps.
4. Smart Launcher

Unlike all other launchers out there, with almost the same kind of layout (at a basic level), Smart Launcher is characterized by its minimalist design, low memory usage and a user-friendly UI that lets you start any application with a few taps. You have to use it to know it. My only gripe is that, the Quick Start screen does not have native icons for generic apps such as Google Maps.

Features:
- It is ready to use without special configurations.
- It can support for Live Wallpaper and screens of different sizes.
- It can support of set of icons for Launcher Pro and ADW Launcher.
- It support Widgets but available for only PRO version.
- Main screen with Quick Start.
- Drawer organized by categories.
5. ADW Launcher

This is one of the oldest launcher apps on the market. The reason why it’s number 5 is that it was for the longest time neglected by the developer. It looks like it is again being updated with the latest version being totally rewritten for Android Jellybean, and also coming with a new default theme. There are several versions of this on the market, but we found the premium Ex version the best one.

Features:
- Highly customizable home replacement application.
- It’s compatible with android versions from 1.6 to 4.1.
- It contains thousands of skins and themes with support for most popular launcher themes
- You can mix and match your skins, icons, docks, folders, etc.
- It can configure your applications in unlimited groups and hide unwanted apps.
- Fast setup screen with fast access to add items or configure everything.
- It has configurable visual desktop indicators.- Easy folder tweaking and management, content previews, arrangement, colors, etc.
- New AppWidget picker for devices running Android 4.1 and newer.
- Icons editor to create your own customized shortcuts or edit existing ones
- You can resize AppWidget.
- It contains AppWidget backup/restore (only for android 4.1 and newer).
- Customizable applications dock with support for unlimited shortcuts with paginated scroll.
- Lots of settings to play with: texts, colors, animations, sizes, you should dig in.
What do you think? Did we miss out on any? Let us know your top 5 below!
April 5, 2013
Myntra Acquires San Francisco-Based FITIQUETTE, Developer Of Virtual Fitting Room Technology

Online fashion and lifestyle products retailer Myntra has acquired San Francisco-based technology platform provider FITIQUETTE for an undisclosed sum.

“This acquisition will strengthen and expand Myntra’s technology platform and drive transformational change in online shopping space in India by providing world-class experience to its customers,” the company said in a statement today.

This is Myntra’s second recent acquisition in the U.S. The first, in November 2012, was of New York-based Exclusively.in, which powers the private label vertical, Sher Singh. In both cases, the financial terms were not disclosed.

The virtual dressing room developed by FITIQUETTE generates a virtual mannequin based on various body types to which users can adjust each specific measurement according to their body until it closely mirrors their own, the company said, adding that the technology enabled online shoppers to virtually ‘try before they buy’.

Mukesh Bansal, CEO & Co-founder, Myntra says “Myntra aims to create the most compelling Fashion Shopping experience for Indian consumers at par or better than global standards. FITIQUETTE has developed pioneering technology for solving the Fit/Size problem online. This acquisition will not only help us improve the experience significantly, but will also enhance our technology team with addition of top tech talent from FITIQUETTE.”

The FITIQUETTE team will be joining Myntra with Andy heading Myntra’s newly formed Innovation Labs in San Francisco.

Andy Pandharikar, CEO & Co-founder, FITIQUETTE says “The Indian e-commerce industry is growing at breakneck speed and it is a great time to be a part of this journey. I am confident that FITIQUETTE’s powerful technology will benefit Myntra’s vision of providing world class solutions to online shoppers across the country.”

[toggle title=”Press Release”]Myntra Acquires San Francisco Based ‘FITIQUETTE’

Myntra, India’s largest e-commerce platform for fashion and lifestyle products, today announced the acquisition of San Francisco based FITIQUETTE (TechCrunch Disrupt Finalist), a technology solution which is a one of a kind virtual fitting room.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) – Apr. 5, 2013 – Bangalore, April 5, 2013: Myntra, India’s largest e-commerce platform for fashion and lifestyle products, today announced the acquisition of San Francisco based FITIQUETTE (http://www.fitiquette.com/) (TechCrunch Disrupt Finalist (http://techcrunch.com/2012/09/10/fitiquette-online-clothi…)), a technology solution which is a one of a kind virtual fitting room. FITIQUETTE’s technology innovation aims at solving size and fit issues for online shoppers. This acquisition will strengthen and expand Myntra’s technology platform and drive transformational change in the online shopping space in India by providing world-class experience to its customers. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, except to note that the acquisition was part cash, part stock.

FITIQUETTE is the first virtual dressing room of its kind globally. This unique innovation generates a virtual mannequin based on various body types to which users can further adjust each specific measurement according to their body until it closely mirrors their own. This technology enables online shoppers to virtually ‘try before they buy’, providing an online shopping experience which is very similar to the offline model.

With this acquisition, Myntra will have the ability to provide the best virtual solution to solve a perceived barrier of shopping online – finding the right fit and size. This acquisition demonstrates the strength and the rising trend of Indian companies going beyond their boundaries and acquiring international firms.

Mukesh Bansal, CEO & Co-founder, Myntra says “Myntra aims to create the most compelling Fashion Shopping experience for Indian consumers at par or better than global standards. FITIQUETTE has developed pioneering technology for solving the Fit/Size problem online. This acquisition will not only help us improve the experience significantly, but will also enhance our technology team with addition of top tech talent from FITIQUETTE.”

Andy Pandharikar, CEO & Co-founder, FITIQUETTE says “The Indian e-commerce industry is growing at breakneck speed and it is a great time to be a part of this journey. I am confident that FITIQUETTE’s powerful technology will benefit Myntra’s vision of providing world class solutions to online shoppers across the country.”

The FITIQUETTE team will be joining Myntra with Andy heading Myntra’s newly formed Innovation Labs in San Francisco.

This is Myntra’s second acquisition in a short span of four months. In November 2012, Myntra acquired Sher Singh (http://techcrunch.com/2012/11/08/indian-e-commerce-compan…), a global private label online brand specializing in sports-inspired lifestyle apparel for men and women and its New York based parent company Exclusively.in.

About Myntra.com:

Myntra.com is among the leading e-commerce platforms in India for fashion and lifestyle products. Myntra.com has partnered with over 500 leading fashion and lifestyle brands in the country such as Nike, Adidas, Puma, Lee, Levis, Arrow, Biba, FabIndia, Timberland, CAT, US Polo and the likes to offer a wide range in latest branded fashion and lifestyle wear. With the largest in-season product catalogue, 100% authentic products, cash on delivery and 30 day return policy, Myntra.com is today the preferred shopping destination in India.

Headquartered in Bangalore, Myntra was started by a group of IIT/IIM graduates in 2007. The company has been funded by top tier Venture Capital funds like Tiger Global, IndoUS, IDG and Accel Partners.
[/toggle]

April 5, 2013
Panasonic Lumix GF6 Photos And Specs Leaked

Panasonic Lumix GF6 images and specifications have been leaked early this week, before its official launch, revealing what you can expect from the new Lumix GF6 when it officially launches later this month.

The leaked Panasonic Lumix GF6 information revealed that the camera would be priced at £449 or around $680 and comes with the new 14-42mm lens kit.

It seems that someone with a twitchy finger over at TechRadar accidentally published a hands-on review of the camera a bit too early (likely breaking NDA agreements they signed with Panasonic). Earlier today, an article titled “Hands on: Panasonic GF6 review” appeared on the site.

Engadget reports that the camera has passed through Taiwan’s National Communications Commission (their equivalent of the FCC), which has been inspecting the built-in WiFi feature of the camera. Wireless communication may be one of the big features in GF6.

Other features of the new Lumix GF6 include a new retouch function which as been designed to enables users to editing photos directly on the Lumix GF6 camera, with the ability to remove distracting elements from view.

The Panasonic Lumix GF6 also comes with 19 different creative effects that can be applied and area available on the Creative Panorama shooting mode.

The leak has given us the first glimpse at the Lumix GF6’s full spec list, which include the same 16-megapixel sensor as the GX1, a new Venus engine to assist with imaging performance, and an electrostatic touchscreen.

[TechRadar, Engadget]

April 5, 2013
BlackBerry 10 ‘R-Series’ QWERTY images leak out, the Next Curve?

The Blackberry Z10 and Q10 may not have stirred the market, the R10 may exactly be the piece of hardware people may be looking for, this sub 400 $ Blackberry will cost under Rs. 20,000 in India and will feature Blackberry 10 as the main operating system. The R10 will come with 8GB storage, less RAM, the QWERTY keyboard you see and side mounted SIM and SD card slots.

The phone is expected to release in Q3 – Q4 2013, the image shows blurred out edges, as usual dev devices have serial numbers on the bezel.

[VIA]

April 5, 2013