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Nokia loss estimated at $ 2 Billion, Plans to sell HQ at Espoo

Nokia HQ

Nokia’s days couldn’t be worse, where on one hand the company is trying real hard with their new range of lumina phones, on the other hand the company is loosing big to mobile phone kingpins like Samsung and Apple.

With their new Lumia series no where in sight the estimated $2 Billion loss is more than the company can take and according to reports is prepping to sell its HQ at Espoo, Finland . The building is valued AT&T an estimated 200-400 million dollars, an amount which was chunk change to a company like Nokia in the past.

Nokia has dismissed speculation that tentative plans to sell off its Espoo headquarters is a sign of increasingly precarious finances, arguing that rather it is “common business sense” for the Finnish firm.

[quote]“As with most companies whose core business is not in owning real estate, it makes common business sense not to tie assets in real estate property but rather invest and focus in its core operations” Nokia’s Mark Squires Said. “Divesting real estate is an entirely different thing compared to the location of the headquarters. As we have said many times before, we have no plans to move our headquarters.”[/quote]

According to Finnish reports, Nokia’s head office in Finland is worth approximately €200-300m ($258-387m). Selling it off and then renting it back as a guaranteed tenant would free up a lump sum for Nokia to use immediately, as well as presumably liberate it from issues of maintenance moving forward. This practice is not unusual in Finland.

October 4, 2012
Apple Slashes iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 Prices

Apple has announced a cut in prices of the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 models. According to an Apple spokesperson, the iPhone 4S 16GB model is now available for Rs 41,400, a reduction of Rs 3,100 from its earlier price of Rs 44,500.

The big news for Apple enthusiasts is that the company has slashed the price of the iPhone 4 (8GB) by Rs 9,600. The phone, which was earlier available for Rs 37,900 is now available for Rs 28,300. Further, Apple has discontinued the iPhone 3GS.

No exact date given, although word on the street is that the iPhone 5 will be launched just ahead of diwali, with the 16GB version costing around INR 45,000. Previously there were reports that Airtel, Vodafone and Aircel have placed orders for Nano-SIM cards which are used in the iPhone 5.

October 3, 2012
Samsung Galaxy S3 “Mini” Coming Next Month?

Will Samsung announce a Galaxy S III Mini on October 11th?

The company has issued invites to a press event in Frankfurt for next Thursday, with a byline that reads: “Something big can be small and something small can be big.” Rumours of a smaller, less powerful Galaxy S III have persisted since the device’s announcement in May. Samsung usually takes its flagship design and tweaks it a little for the middle- and entry-level markets; for example, the Galaxy Y and Galaxy R were offshoots of the Galaxy S II.

With a a 4-inch WVGA (800×480) Super AMOLED screen it would only be 0.8-inches smaller than the Samsung Galaxy S3’s screen so, if true, the Mini-moniker is a bit of a misnomer. It might also feature a dual-core processor, a 5MP camera, and will come with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean out of the box.

Is this just a wild rumour? Let’s wait and see!

October 3, 2012
iPad Mini : Latest Specs Leaks

According to the latest leaks of the iPad mini, the 7.85-inch tablet will come in black and white colours, differentiating itself from the silver anodized aluminum of its bigger brother. The colour scheme gels with the iPhone 5, and could mark territory for Apple as they move away from the single-toned iPad.

Inside the device, we see a nano-SIM slot and antennas for 3G/LTE connectivity, so expect the iPad mini to come in both WiFi and cellular-compatible versions, likely for a smaller premium than we’re used to. The Lightning connector input is present as well, which is unsurprising.

You can see a hole for a rear camera, no flash, and the typical Apple logo with a simple ‘iPad’ insignia etched on the back. The black tone seems darker than the ‘Slate’ colour we are used to on the iPhone 5, though we don’t know what it will look like in the real world.

October 3, 2012
WSJ : Apple Begins Production of iPad Mini

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Apple has started mass producing “a new tablet computer smaller than the current iPad.” It’s heavily rumoured for months now that Apple will be launching the “iPad mini” and have it come with a display sized 7.85-inches – this is to compete agains all the other smaller tablets on the market, such as the Nexus 7, BlackBerry PlayBook, Samsung Tab, and the Amazon Kindle Fire HD.

It’s been rumored for weeks that Apple is planning to unveil an iPad Mini in October. In August, schematics of the new device were bouncing around the tech blogs. The new smaller iPad will be priced at around $250-$300 (£156-£187 respectively), T3.com reported, citing Chinese sources.

During an Apple’s earnings call in October 2010, the company’s late co-founder Steve Jobs once famously dissed mid-sized slates.

[quote]“The 10in screen size is the minimum size required to create great tablet apps. 7in tablets are tweeners: too big to compete with a smartphone, and too small to compete with an iPad,” Jobs said. These are among the reasons that the current crop of 7-inch tablets are going to be DOA — dead on arrival,” [/quote]

October 3, 2012
HTC Launches One X+ 1.7GHz quad-core Tegra 3, 64GB, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean with Sense 4+ (PR)

HTC has launched the long rumored One X+ with a minor upgrade and a 1.7GHz Quad Core Tegra 3 Chipset, The phone also has a larger 2,100mAh battery, expanded 64GB of storage and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean with Sense 4+ onboard.

The new phone also features “Tap to Go” to pair up with Beats branded speakers and Headphones. The 8-megapixel rear module with f/2.0 lens and ImageChip-assist is the same, but the camera software’s been slightly tweaked with the addition of two new modes: Self Portrait for subtle retouching of front facing shots and Sightseeing which allows for quick launch of the camera app.

Also launched is the new HTC Get Started, a web-based service that lets users manage initial setup from the desktop for one-click installation on the phone itself. The One X+ is slated to launch globally this fall, hitting Europe and Northern Asia this October, with a November release in South Asia to follow.

[toggle_box title=”Press Release” width=”Width of toggle box”]

HTC INTRODUCES THE HTC ONE™ X+.
MORE SPEED, MORE STORAGE AND MORE BATTERY LIFE
MAKE HTC’S BEST RATED ANDROID PHONE, EVEN BETTER

HTC also announces SenseTM 4+ with Android Jelly Bean upgrades for
HTC One X and HTC One S coming soon

TAIPEI – 2ND OCTOBER, 2012 – HTC, a global leader in mobile innovation and design, today unveiled the HTC One™ X+, a refreshed version of its award winning HTC One™ X smartphone, running the HTC SenseTM 4+ experience on Android™ Jelly Bean. The HTC One™ X+ combines the iconic design, amazing camera and authentic audio experience of the HTC One series, with increased performance, longer battery life and expanded internal storage.

“We are taking the HTC One™ X to a new level with the introduction of the new HTC One™ X+,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation. “Our customers will have super-fast browsing, an even better camera and more immersive entertainment with Beats Audio.”

Performance, Endurance and Storage
Featuring a 1.7 GHz quad-core NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 AP37 processor and 64GB of internal storage, the HTC One™ X+ LTE version is up to 67% faster than the HTC One™ X1 LTE, making the HTC One™ X+ the best rated Android phone on the market. Developed to be lightning fast, the HTC One™ X+ enables quicker web browsing, fluid gaming and graphic rendering, and speedy downloads, providing effortless usage on the go.

In addition to its increased performance speeds, the HTC One™ X+ introduces extended performance with the inclusion of a 2100 mAh battery, giving you up to 50% (6 hours) more talk time, and longer to browse the web and enjoy your favorite music and videos2.

Imaging, Music and Movies
Combining the amazing camera capabilities of its predecessor3* with a series of intelligent features, powered by SenseTM 4+, the HTC One™ X+ has been designed to deliver the most premium mobile experience. The newly launched Self Portrait mode on the front camera helps you capture high quality photos by intuitively detecting the human face at various angles and applying subtle enhancements to skin and eyes. Sightseeing mode makes sure you’ll always be ready to capture the moment – one touch of the power button bypasses the lock screen and launches directly into the camera. Two new views in Gallery display images and videos and group them according to where and when they were taken.

Exclusively available on HTC smartphones, Beats AudioTM provides authentic, studio-quality sound that delivers the most immersive sound experience with an enhanced audio profile, crisper vocals and detailed high notes for your music, games, movies and videos. Making it easier to listen to music out loud, and through SenseTM 4+, the HTC One™ X+ introduces a new Tap and Go function, which allows you to connect the phone and your music to Beats speakers’4 when you tap them. To disconnect, it is just another quick tap.

Providing exclusive access to thousands of movies through HTC Watch 2.0, the HTC One™ X+ will appeal to both the avid film fan and the casual movie-goer. Combined with the introduction of video hub, another benefit of SenseTM 4+, for the first time you will be able to put all your video entertainment in a single place.

Easy Set Up
A new feature in the HTC One™ X+ is HTC Get Started, a new web service that guides the user painlessly through the set-up and personalisation process from a desktop web browser. Designed to enhance the experience of setting up a phone for the first time, this feature ensures that users will get the most out of their new phone from the beginning. With the touch of a button, users’ phone will reflect the settings and apps that were chosen on the Web. Visit start.htc.com for more details.

Availability
The HTC One™ X+ will be available in Europe and North Asia from October and in South Asia from November 2012. North America will make a separate announcement regarding availability of the HTC One™ X+. The Android Jelly Bean with HTC™ Sense 4+ update is scheduled to begin rolling out for the HTC One™ S and HTC One™ X from October.

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October 3, 2012
iPhone 5 Launch in India confirmed for End October, Prices add shock value!

Apple India is working hard to bring the iPhone 5 to India end October 2012. The iPhone 5 will be announced in India around the 28th/29th of October and will be available soon after. In the meanwhile carriers including Vodafone, Reliance, Aircel and Airtel have all ordered nano SIMs (the iPhone 5 uses nano SIM which is smaller and thinner than a micro SIM).

The pricing on the iPhone 5 seems off, where the iPhone 4s came into market for a price of Rs 44,500, the iPhone 5 is expected to launch for a price upwards of Rs. 46500 for the 16Gb variant. The price difference between capacity variants is also massive, where the iPhone 4s had an increment of Rs 5500 for the 32GB version, the iPhone 5 32GB will be approximately Rs 8000 more.

iPhone 5 will truly be the most expensive consumer smartphone in India. Those travelling abroad will prefer buying an importing the iPhone 5 since the price difference will be almost Rs 10,000 less compared to the Indian version.

October 3, 2012
Government Blocks Facebook, YouTube in Kashmir

There are reports that the Indian government has blocked Facebook and YouTube in Kashmir. The story was first reported by GreaterKashmir which said that, ISP companies blocked social networking sites including Facebook and YouTube in Kashmir without any official directive the state government.

The cellular companies have also blocked GPRS facilities on the mobile telephones causing immense inconvenience to the subscribers. Greater Kashmir received over a dozen telephone calls from different areas of the Valley, complaining that the internet service has been blocked by companies including BSNL, Reliance, Aircel, Airtel and Vodafone.

It was previously reported that the certain URLs with offensive content had been blocked, but it now seems that access to the entire websites have been restricted. Last month the Government of Jammu & Kashmir had directed service providers to ensure that the controversial YouTube video was not accessible from the state.

October 2, 2012
HTC Releases Windows Phone 8X Promo Video

Expected to hit the shelves around the world in November (alongside the 8S), the HTC 8X, aka Windows Phone 8X by HTC, has appeared in what seems to be its first official promo video.

The company dishes about full Skype integration in Windows Phone 8, which we knew was coming, as well as a new service called Xbox Music, which seems to be Microsoft’s updated version of Zune for the new Windows Phone Store.. We already know of the 8X’s excellent back camera, with improved low-light performance, but its front-facing camera is particularly noteworthy. It’s a 2.1MP wide-angle lens, so it fits more people in a single shot.

October 2, 2012
BlackBerry 10 “Aristo” Specs Leaked : 4.65-inch Touchscreen, Quad-Core, LTE, 2GB RAM

Well, it seems that leaked hardware specifications of the BlackBerry Aristo have hit the Internet, where it will be part of the BlackBerry 10 dance that is happening real soon.

RIM previously noted that their full touch devices will have a screen resolution of 1280 x 720 (16:9), and the physical keyboard devices will sport a resolution of 720 x720 (1:1). Over the past few months these devices have internally been called the L-Series and the N-Series, but a new A-Series device name has popped up with the codename of “Aristo.” Here’s the quad-core LTE goodness:

– Qualcomm APQ8064 Krait Quad Core 1.5GHz
– 136 x 68 x 8.85mm
– GSM – Quad band (not specified) – WCDMA – 2100/1900/850-850MHz – LTE –
– AWS/700/1900/850MHz – EU/APAC – GSM – Quad band (not specified) – WCDMA –
– 2100/1900/850-850/900MHz – LTE – 1800/2.6GHz/800/900MHz
– OCTA Glass OLED 4.65? – 1280 x 720 – 24 bit Colour – 16:9
– Capacitive All Touch
– 2GB RAM + 16GB Flash – Hot Swappable MicroSD slot 16GB MicroSD card
– 802.11 a/b/g/n 2.4GHz/5GHz 4G Mobile Hotspot
– MicroUSB – MicroHDMI – Wifi Direct – NFC – DLNA – Bluetooth 4.0
– Stereo speakers – 4 Microphones – Noise Reduction – Wideband AMR
– 2800mAh sealed battery with non-removeable door
– Footprint 104 x 57.1 x 3.4mm

There’s no word on when this device will come to market, but hopefully it’s true. RIM is expected to launch a total of six BlackBerry 10 devices this year.

October 2, 2012
Report: iPad Mini Oct 10th invites will go out next week!

According to a major Apple investor known to Fortune magazine, the invites for the iPad Mini event will go out next week. It has long been rumored that Apple will launch a smaller 7 inch version of the iPad, possibly in 16:9 aspect ratio.

Several mockups and case designs have leaked over time and it seem that the iPad is indeed coming. The most probable reason for the time of launch could be the upcoming Holiday season which will truly drive numbers through the roof.

October 2, 2012
1080p, 443ppi Smartphone Screens Being Made by Sharp

A lot of the current top-of-the-line Android handsets have screens with a 1280 x 720 resolution on average, but that’s about to change. Sharp is wanting to bring 1080p displays to phablets of all kinds, and has announced that it has started production of its own 5-inch, full 1080p HD smartphone displays

Many of the current top-of-the-range smartphones — iPhone 5 apart — have screens with a 1280 x 768 pixel resolution or similar, which is good enough to be labelled as HD. However, just as it did with flat screen TVs, 720p is about to be replaced by 1080p — as Sharp has announced that it has started production of its own 5-inch, full-HD smartphone displays. The new panel boasts a resolution of 1920 x 1080 and a pixel density of 443ppi. As a comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S3’s 4.8-inch display has a resolution of 1280 x 720 and a pixel density of 306ppi, while the 4-inch iPhone 5 has 1136 x 640 pixels and 326ppi.

Production begins this month, and will likely hit consumers in mid-to-late 2013.

October 1, 2012
ASUS Transformer Prime TF201 Jelly Bean OTA Update Rolling Out Now
The latest version of Android, 4.1 codenamed Jelly Bean, is slowly making its way towards tablets, and as before, ASUS is one of the companies rushing to update its products. The Transformer Pad 300 received the update at the end of August, so now it’s time to update the premium Transformer Prime TF201 and the Infinity TF700T. The former can be updated right now, over the air, while for the latter you’ll have to wait some more, as ASUS said it had to perform a last hour update to the keyboard app, to play nicely with the new Facebook app. Don’t despair, as the update was delayed just a few days, which means it will arrive over-the-air sometime at the beginning of next week.

Asus is doing well in the U.S. mobile market and recent tie-up with Google even resulted to better sales. Being one of the tablets that come packed with quad-core processor, Transformer Prime TF201 has actually garnered massive following from both average users and tech enthusiasts.

The Jelly Bean update for Transformer Prime is believed to bring hundreds of improvements on top of JB stock features. TP has been a subject of criticisms shortly after its release because there were software-related flaws. The Ice Cream Sandwich fixed most of them including poor GPS performance and Wi-Fi problems.

It has already been reported a few months ago that Adobe will not support Android 4.1, so that means flash support will be gone for good. But Asus said owners can still be able to download and install Flash Player to play typical videos found on the web. Moreover, the company didn’t provide information explaining why Wi-Fi Direct feature will be removed from Jelly Bean but whatever the reason is, owners cannot be able to connect their devices to other Wi-Fi Direct-supported devices after the update.

View the Change Log Below :

[toggle_box title=”Change Log” width=”Width of toggle box”]

Asus Transformer Prime Jelly Bean Change Log
- Upgrade OS from Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) to Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)
- Default enabled System Bar Lock
- Add Multiple Photo Selection feature
- Support Connect Dock (Accessory)
- Remove Adobe Flash Support
- Remove Wi-Fi Direct Function Support
- Remove Press Reader
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October 1, 2012
Microsoft “Surface Phone” To Be Out Next Summer?

The latest rumours have Microsoft heading deeper into the hardware space and developing a phone. According to the sources over at the China Times, Microsoft has been working on the “Surface Phone” for several months and plans to release it sometime during the first half of 2013.

The alliance with Nokia as a manufacturing arm didn’t pan out as Microsoft intended, as the first Lumia phones couldn’t quite gain traction against the dual-core, high-res offerings of Android and iOS. Microsoft has certainly itself to blame since it took it quite a long time to introduce support for modern hardware in its mobile OS, and Nokia showed it can deliver innovative handsets when the platform allows it, with the Lumia 920.

Of course, this is all rumours and nothing is confirmed, but it’s not too far of a stretch to believe as Microsoft is preparing to release their own Windows 8 “Surface” tablet later this month – a product they successfully managed to keep under wraps until they unveiled it and has somewhat ruffled the feathers of WP partners.

No word on specs of the said “Surface Phone,” but in the meantime we’ll see welcome the Lumia 820, Lumia 920, Samsung ATIV S and HTC’s 8X and 8S.

October 1, 2012
CyanogenMOD 10 Back With Over-The-Air Update Support

The quest for mainstream acceptance is a difficult one for CyanogenMOD and its open-source peers. Users have to sift through countless forums and lists of instructions to learn how to root and hack their Android phones, often with disastrous results. While the initiation process is getting easier, it’s still not as easy as we’d like.

CyanogenMOD has been great about installing features for existing users that make their lives easier. They had a Do Not Disturb mode long before Apple or Samsung, and integrated quick settings into the notification bar long before HTC. Now, they’re bringing back a feature from CM6, over-the-air updates, with a hardier back-end server to provide the speed and reliability users expect from their ROM downloads.

The menu is available from the Settings/About/CM Updater screen, and while the app won’t push updates to your device, it can be set to check once daily or several times a day, and is granular enough to search only for stable versions, or download nightlies, too.

The feature is available in the latest CM10 nightlies based on Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean.

October 1, 2012