After the Swarovski studded Galaxy S3, a British firm is offering a blinged-up edition, made from solid gold and encrusted with 53 flawless diamonds.
Just 100 of the gem-covered handsets are going on sale – for a staggering £21,995 each.
Liverpool-based designer Stuart Hughes spends weeks making each pimped iPhone – taking an original 64gb model and furnishing it with jewels.
[quote]Stuart said: “This beautiful handset will take weeks of detailed intricate work to re-create the original chassis of the iPhone in solid gold, all of which was started and finished by hand. There will be gold dressing for the rear section and the logo in solid gold with 53 flawless diamonds amounting to 1ct.”[/quote]
It’s not the first time Stuart has cashed in on customised iPhones. He recently sold a one-of-a-kind iPhone 4S Elite Gold to an Australian businesswoman – for an incredible £6 million.
And the omens are good for his latest invention. The iPhone 5 has flown off the shelves since it was launched on September 12 – five million were bought in the first weekend alone.
It’s been a long time coming, but one of the most enjoyable “freemium” games for iOS, Jetpack Joyride, is now available on Android.
The game runs really well on the latest hardware and looks great on larger screens. It’s a one-touch platformer with a great sense of humour and a lot of cool weapons and gadgets to use. And, unlike many freemium games, Jetpack Joyride never insists on you paying for extra items, and the player doesn’t feel at a disadvantage for it.
The game first launched on the iOS App Store last year, coming to Facebook back in May. During its exclusive tenure on the iOS App Store, it was the recipient of a bunch of different awards, including mobile game of the year from a handful of different websites. It’s safe to say that Jetpack Joyride has taken the mobile gaming world by storm, even if it isn’t quite as popular as Angry Birds.
It is now available for download at the Google Play Store.
Qualcomm is on a tear. Its Snapdragon S4 processors, in both dual- and quad-core versions, are proliferating through the mobile phone industry like wildfire.
But it’s mainly the high-end MSM8960 and APQ8064 variants we’ve seen, which sport LTE compatibility and fast-as-heck 1.5Ghz speeds. Today, Qualcomm is introducing a new line of lower-speed quad-core chips dubbed the MSM8225Q and MSM8625Q.
They’re part of the S4 “Play” line, which is considered entry-level in the scheme of things. While still significantly faster than various legacy S2 and S3 chips, they don’t have the same memory bandwidth, nor the LTE support, of their more expensive peers. They’re not the same Krait architecture as the S4 Plus and S4 Pro line, instead being based on the far less-advanced ARM Cortex-A5 design.
These chips will support 720p displays and 720p video encoding and decoding, so devices with these chips will be somewhat limited in their camera capabilities. To save die space (and cost), the chips will not have WiFi or Bluetooth support on-board; instead, they will have to be added via a separate chip. The chips will natively support high-speed 3G speeds, though.
With this new line Qualcomm is looking to bring quad-core power and efficiency to the mass market. Enabling manufacturers to use powerful dual-core processors, and in many cases quad-core S4 Play processors on even mid-range and entry-level smartphones. This means you’ll no longer have to get the flagship, most expensive phone on your carrier to get awesome performance.
The MSM8225Q and MSM8625Q will be available to the public starting in first quarter 2013, so expect your next entry-level phone to be capable of a lot more than you thought.
We went hands on at launch in India and were able to run a series of benchmarks on the new Galaxy Note 2, keeping in Mind that the device was not yet the final build. Check out the video and stay tuned for more.
Google Inc has made no move to provide Google Maps for the iPhone 5 after Apple Inc dropped the application in favor of a home-grown but controversial alternative, Google’s Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt said.
Apple launched its own mapping service earlier this month when it began providing the highly anticipated update to its mobile software platform iOS 6 and started selling the iPhone 5.
But users have complained that Apple’s new map service, based on Dutch navigation equipment and digital map maker TomTom NV’s data, contains glaring geographical errors and lacks features that made Google Maps so popular.
“We think it would have been better if they had kept ours. But what do I know?” Schmidt told a small group of reporters in Tokyo. “What were we going to do, force them not to change their mind? It’s their call.”
Schmidt said Google and Apple were in constant communication “at all kinds of levels.” But he said any decision on whether Google Maps would be accepted as an application in the Apple App Store would have to be made by Apple.
“We have not done anything yet,” he said.
Google and Apple were close partners with the original iPhone in 2007 and its inclusion of YouTube and Google Maps. But the ties between the two have been strained by the rise of Google’s Android mobile operating system, now the world’s leading platform for smartphones.
Schmidt said he hoped Google would remain Apple’s search partner on the iPhone but said that question was up to Apple.
“I’m not doing any predictions. We want them to be our partner. We welcome that. I’m not going to speculate at all what they’re going to do. They can answer that question as they see fit,” he said.
Google provides Android free of charge and allows developers to add applications on an open basis, betting that by cultivating a bigger pool of users – now at over 500 million globally – it can make more money by providing search functions and selling advertising.
“Apple is the exception, and the Android system is the common model, which is why our market share is so much higher,” Schmidt said, adding that success was often ignored by the media, which he said was “obsessed with Apple’s marketing events and Apple’s branding.”
“That’s great for Apple but the numbers are on our side,” he said.
At one point, Schmidt, who was in Japan to announce the launch of Google’s Nexus tablet here, used the device to show off a new function of Google Maps.
The feature allows users to shift their view of an area by moving the device in the air without touching the screen, similar to the effect of looking around.
“Take that Apple,” he said, adding quickly, “That was a joke by the way.”
Samsung will Launch the new Galaxy Note 2 in India at 2:00 PM IST at an even that will be held in Hyderabad. Make sure you bookmark this page to get the latest updates and watch the Live Video stream.
Sony today launched their first sub-10,000 rupee Android smartphones, the Xperia Tipo and Xperia Tipo Dual. The smartphones, priced at Rs Rs. 9,999 and Rs. 10,449 respectively are powered by Snapdragon processors and run Android Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box.
Sony highlighted that the phone is targeted at the youth, and is designed for music and multimedia lovers, bringing back memories of their famous Walkman Series phones.
The phones are built on strong battery life and expandable storage of up to 32GB, in addition to a free 50GB cloud offer from Box. On the back there is a 3.2MP, auto-focus camera.
The two new devices be available to Vodafone subscribers with an exclusive offer of 500 GB per month for three months, with the offer being valid till 31st December 2012.
[quote] Launching the new Sony smartphone, Kenichiro Hibi, Managing Director, Sony India said, “We are happy to announce the intergration of Sony Mobile Communications India into Sony India. Mobile has been an integral part of the brand’s growth in India and we are working together to deliver products that are relevant for Indian consumers. With the XperiaTM brand, our aim has always been to innovate ahead of consumer demand. After the launch of XperiaTM NXT series earlier this year, we are now launching the phone that will reach out to entire India. We have expanded our XperiaTM range with Tipo – Sony’s first entry level price category smartphone under XperiaTM brand. Committed to the Indian market, these devices have been designed for selective markets; including India.”[/quote]
The Xperia™ tipo comes bundled up with pre-loaded apps such as Bollywood Hungama, Dainik Jagran, and Cricbuzz, on both – single and dual SIM devices. In addition to this, Xperia™ tipo users will enjoy access to appXtra, for exclusive access to music applications.
[toggle_box title=”Press Release” width=”Width of toggle box”]
Sony India unveils the Xperia™ tipo smartphone – perfect for music lovers – with exclusive Vodafone offer
Available now, and priced affordably at Rs. 9999, the Xperia™ tipo comes power-packed with Android 4.0 ICS, Qualcomm Snapdragon™ processor, pre-loaded apps, free music content and accessories
Available in single and dual SIM versions for consumers looking for a stylish, fun, and easy to use smartphone
Exclusive offer for Vodafone subscribers – 500MB data free, per month, for 3 months
September 26, 2012, New Delhi – Sony India today announced its latest smartphone – Xperia™ tipo – in the Indian market. The Xperia™ tipo, powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon™ processor,which is now available across the country, is designed for music and multimedia lovers who want to listen to playlists, and watch their favourite music videos, on-the-go. The new smartphone comes with the latest Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system that enhances the user experience, and is built on strong battery life and expandable storage of up to 32GB, in addition to a free 50GB cloud offer from Box.
The entry level Xperia™ tipo, priced affordably at Rs. 9,999, comes in two versions: single SIM and Dual. The single SIM tipo comes bundled with exciting new apps and accessories to let consumers feast their senses, and be immersed in music. The Xperia™ tipo Dual is priced at Rs. 10,449, and is perfect for consumers who do not wish to carry two mobile phones for different SIM cards.
The two new devices be available to Vodafone subscribers with an exclusive offer of 500 GB per month for three months, with the offer being valid till 31st December 2012.
Launching the new Sony smartphone, Kenichiro Hibi, Managing Director, Sony India said, “We are happy to announce the intergration of Sony Mobile Communications India into Sony India. Mobile has been an integral part of the brand’s growth in India and we are working together to deliver products that are relevant for Indian consumers. With the XperiaTM brand, our aim has always been to innovate ahead of consumer demand. After the launch of XperiaTM NXT series earlier this year, we are now launching the phone that will reach out to entire India. We have expanded our XperiaTM range with Tipo – Sony’s first entry level price category smartphone under XperiaTM brand. Committed to the Indian market, these devices have been designed for selective markets; including India.”
Sony India also announced its new marketing campaign ‘Feast your senses’ supported by a TV ad campaign. It aims to bring alive the music experience that consumers can expect on Xperia™ tipo, and enhances the company’s existing global campaign – Made of Imagination that highlights the seamless experience that Sony India brings across the multiple screens.
Now retailing in over 3,000 stores across the country, Xperia™ tipo offers a simple and easy-to-use smartphone experience targeting consumers who may be purchasing their first smartphone. With a dedicated set-up guide, and a built-in application enabling users to monitor their data usage – consumers can make the most of their smartphone experience. The Xperia™ tipo comes bundled up with pre-loaded apps such as Bollywood Hungama, Dainik Jagran, and Cricbuzz, on both – single and dual SIM devices. In addition to this, Xperia™ tipo users will enjoy access to appXtra, for exclusive access to music applications.
Colours available in India| Red, white, blue and black
Key features
3.2” scratch-resistant mineral glass display
Launching on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
Qualcomm Snapdragon processor
3.2MP camera
Powerful battery, 1500 mAh, with >24hrs usage time
Data management solution to identify data usage
32 GB expandable storage
xLOUD & TrackID for better Music experience
Dedicated set-up guide
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi™ for easy content sharing and web access
Free 50 GB Box Cloud offer
Pre-loaded applications like Bollywood Hungama, Dainik Jagran, Cricbuzz
To download high res. pics, click, Sony Mobile| media library
About Sony India Pvt. Ltd
Sony India is one of the most recognized consumer electronics brand in the country, with a reputation for new age technology, digital concepts and excellent after sales service. In India, Sony has its footprint across all major towns and cities in the country through a distribution network comprising of over 10,400 dealers and distributors, 270 exclusive Sony outlets and 23 direct branch locations. Sony India also has a strong service presence across the country with 255 service outlets. Manned by customer friendly and informed sales persons, Sony’s exclusive stores ‘Sony Center’ are fast becoming the most visible face of the company in India. A distinctive feature of Sony’s service is its highly motivated and well-trained staff that provides the kind of attentive and sensitive service that is rare today.
For more details, please visit: http://www.sony.co.in/xperia
Research In Motion CEO Thorsten Heins is promising to restore the BlackBerry phone’s stature as a trailblazing device even as many investors fret about its potential demise. Heins took the stage Tuesday at a conference for mobile applications developers to rally support for the upcoming release of BlackBerry 10, a new operating system that Research In Motion Ltd. is touting as its salvation after years of blundering wiped out some $80 billion in shareholder wealth.
Blackberry held almost 50% of the market share prior to the Android and iPhone era. With new UI that is more user centric blackberry plans to make a comeback not only in the consumer segment, but its primary source the business/enterprise segment.
RIM is also planning Native apps for Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and LinkedIN, which are quite identical to their iOS/Android counterparts.
In addition to sharing new details about its forthcoming BlackBerry 10 OS, RIM used the BlackBerry Jam keynote to make an announcement about App World. The company just revealed that in addition to applications and games, the store will sell music, movies and TV shows. There are currently 105,000 apps in the store, with 3 billion downloads logged since the store’s opening.
RIM says, BB 10 applications will join the herd soon: the company will begin accepting submissions on October 10th.
Malicious hackers can hide a code in a web page that will trigger a full factory reset of Samsung’s best-selling Galaxy S3 smartphone, deleting contacts, photographs, music, apps and other valuable data, security researchers have discovered.
The code, now circulating freely online and comprising just 11 digits and symbols, was revealed at a computer security conference in Argentina.
Ravi Borgaonkar showed off the attack at the Ekoparty security conference, reports Slashgear. There he showed how a hacker could direct the user to a webpage where some malicious code could plunge them into a factory reset nightmare.
Borgaonkar’s talk, Dirty use of USSD Codes in Cellular Network, showed how the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) protocol, which is commonly used, can be exploited by attackers.
Frustratingly, users can see the reset process kicking in but neither hitting back nor any other command will stop it. Apparently the code can also be used to destroy the SIM card too.
Although there’s no evidence that anyone is using this powerful line of code to mess with people’s Samsung phones (yet), the level of attention in the tech media means that some nefarious types may start.
Dell has announced the launch of its S Series of monitors, targeting consumers seeking entertainment experiences such as watching movies or playing games. The new monitors come in 27″, 24″, 23″ and 21.5″ sizes and will be available soon on Dell’s India website.
These monitors carry Image Enhance Feature which delivers increased picture quality and color producing razor sharp images with crisp edges and fine details. These monitor penal could be tilted up to 4 degrees forward or 21 degrees backwards. This will help the users in enjoying wide viewing angles in full HD (1920X 1080 resolution) and a 16:9 aspect ratio.
Dell’s S2240L/M and S2340L monitors are virtual borderless while the S2740L and S2440L are frameless. These are also available with host of connectivity ports like HDMI, DVI-D(HDCP), VGA and USB which enhances users convenience to connect to their laptop, desktop or console.
The new S Series monitors feature advanced panel technologies which support ultra-wide viewing angles, while the new Image Enhance feature improves visual quality. Dell says the new monitors will help users tackle creative projects with efficiency. Dell Display Manager also aids productivity with fast access to software such as Auto Mode, which lets you select your preferred preset modes for specific applications.
Nokia today unveiled Nokia Life+, the latest evolution of its widely-used Nokia Life service. Nokia Life+ is a free (*) Web application, which will provide millions of people with Nokia phones valuable information on education, health and “infotainment” topics. Nokia Life+ will be supported by the Nokia Asha 308 and Nokia Asha 309 smartphones alongside a wide range of Nokia mobile phones.
More than 76 million people have experienced the original Nokia Life service, the world’s most popular life improvement information services suite that works across a range of basic and feature phones without the need for a data connection. The new Nokia Life+ web application builds on this success by providing an even richer web-based service through the new and improved Nokia Xpress Browser, which compresses Internet data up to 90%, resulting in more efficient web browsing and a smarter Internet experience.
“People in developing economies need better access to information on the Internet that has relevance and value to their daily lives beyond entertainment. Nokia Life+ will serve as a bridge as people graduate from a primarily text-based mobile experience towards richer, web-based usage,” explained Jawahar Kanjilal, Vice President & Global Head of Nokia Life. “Nokia Life and Nokia Life+ are now available on a huge variety of Nokia phones, including the Asha smartphone range, to plug the information gap for people with or without data plans.”
Nokia Life+ is now available in 18 countries (**) as a free Web application, accessible as a download from Nokia Store or from the Xpress Browser.
Life+ is now available in English with two services – ‘Life Skills’ and ‘Live Healthy’ – with more services to be added over the coming months. Life Skills is aimed at younger consumers, providing content on how to develop interpersonal skills, build self-confidence, acquire financial literacy or prepare for a job. Live Healthy offers consumers and their families a range of tips and trivia touching upon nutrition, hygiene, staying fit and prevention of common illnesses. Later this year, local versions of Nokia Life+ will be available in India, China and Indonesia, providing consumers with a truly localized mobile Internet experience.
Nokia Life+ is supported by an ecosystem of reputable global and local content partners who carefully tailor information specifically for the services. These Nokia Life+ partners include Reader’s Digest, Foundation for Social Change, FKUGM, Detik.com, Cita Cinta, GADIS, Gamatechno, Sygma, Ayahbunda, Madison Research, EnableM, Sina and iMedia.
MySpace is ready to become popular once again, and it just might do exactly that with its sleek new looking interface. Check out the video which shows that the company after a major rebrand is ready to get back into the game. The sleek interface is quite appealing and you can sign up for a preview at the link below.
Nokia has outed two new devices in their lineup, the Asha 308 and Asha 309, calling them the users “Smartphone”. Both feature a 3 inch capacitive touch screen, 800MHz processor, WQVGA resolution, 1,110mAh battery, 20MB internal storage plus include a 2GB microSD (expandable to 32GB), 2-megapixel rear camera and EDGE connectivity.
The 308 is a a dual sim phone whereas the 309 remains a single sim variant, 308 also supports GSM/EDGE 850, 1900MHz bands. Nokia will load both the Asha 308 and 309 with their new xpress browsers, that allows for up to 90% compression.
Just like the other Asha Touch phones, each new device comes with 40 free EA games for you to download and keep forever. The titles include Tetris, FIFA 2012, and The Need for Speed The Run. There are also 22 classic arcade games that you can buy in the Nokia Store from NAMCO BANDAI, such as Pac-Man, Ridge Racer Drift and Final Fantasy.
[toggle_box title=”Press Release” width=”Width of toggle box”]
Nokia expands Asha Touch range to offer consumers smarter Internet experiences
The Nokia Asha 308 and Nokia Asha 309 deliver a full smartphone experience enriched with new Nokia web services and developer tools
Jakarta, Indonesia – Nokia today unveiled the Nokia Asha 308 and Nokia Asha 309, the latest additions to the Asha Touch family of mobile devices. The dual SIM Nokia Asha 308 and single SIM Nokia Asha 309 give consumers fast web access at low cost. To create this smarter Internet experience, Nokia released a new version of Nokia Xpress Browser, which enables up to 90% more efficient mobile browsing and faster access to rich web applications compared to conventional browsers.
The new devices offer a fluid ‘swipe’ user interface and an open environment for third-party application development, characteristics that have earned the complete Asha Touch range full smartphone classification from global market research companies and analysts such as GfK and IDC.
“Our innovative Asha Touch family of devices is designed for people who want a great smartphone experience with lower running costs,” said Timo Toikkanen, executive vice president, Mobile Phones, Nokia. “By introducing the Nokia Asha 308 and Nokia Asha 309, we’re expanding our affordable smartphone lineup and bringing new mobile experiences to more people.”
Nokia estimates the retail price for the Nokia Asha 308 and Nokia Asha 309 to be about USD 99, excluding taxes and subsidies, with shipping expected to start in the fourth quarter 2012.
Nokia’s most affordable capacitive touchscreen device
The Nokia Asha 308 and Nokia Asha 309 are Nokia’s most affordable capacitive touchscreen devices to date. A view shared by independent analysts is that the Asha line represents great smartphones available for less than USD 99. “Nokia’s Asha Touch family delivers all the core smartphone experiences, and with the new software developer kit, provides ever-increasing flexibility for developers to build compelling new experiences for consumers,” said Will Stofega, Mobile Phone Program Director, IDC.
The Nokia Asha 308 and Nokia Asha 309 are 2G-enabled devices featuring a 3.0” WQVGA capacitive display, multiple home screens, stereo radio, loud speakers and up to 32GB microSD card support. The Nokia Asha 309 is the single SIM variant with WiFi, while the Nokia Asha 308 is a dual SIM device featuring Nokia’s industry-leading Easy Swap technology. Easy Swap enables people to switch between multiple SIM cards quickly and easily to get the best local tariffs without having to remove the battery or turn off the phone.
The phones also come with the free* gift of 40 premium EA games, social features such as standalone Facebook and Twitter clients, the Nokia Messaging Service, and video streaming through the browser from sites like YouTube – a first within the Asha Touch range.
New Services and Developer Tools
Nokia also introduced two extensions to its Xpress Browser Internet platform, the only cloud-based web browser to support web apps: • The Nokia Nearby web app helps people discover new places by searching nearby locations and presenting the options on a map. The service is available via Nokia Xpress Browser or as a feature within Nokia Maps.
• The Nokia Life+ web app will give millions of people access to content that spans education, health and infotainment to enhance their daily lives. Nokia Life+ is available in English across 18 countries, with local versions coming to India, China and Indonesia in the fourth quarter of this year. Nokia Life+ can be accessed through Nokia Xpress Browser or the Nokia Store.
Both services work with Asha Touch smartphones. In addition to these services, Nokia introduced a new web-based tool that makes it even easier to build new applications. With Nokia Xpress Web App Builder, publishers can create appealing web apps for Asha Touch devices, and even novices can turn their web content into a fun and sophisticated web app for Nokia consumers.
*Data costs may apply.
Device images are available at Nokia.com/press. Xpress Web App Builder is available at webappbuilder.developer.nokia.com
Samsung has launched a new range of SSDs for the global market. Based on the SATA 6.0 gigabit-per-second (Gb/s) interface, the drive will be available in a general and a pro version. The 840 PRO provides 100,000 input/ output per second (IOPS) for random read and 90,000 IOPS for random write. The original SSD 830 never came to India, but Samsung has big plans to bring SSDs to India and similar countries this time around, promising prices lower than the competition. Starting at Rs 6999 for the 64GB General 840 going upto Rs 45,000 for the 512 GB Pro version.
[toggle_box title=”Press Release” width=”Width of toggle box”]
Samsung Electronics announced its new lineup of high-performance SSDs designed for use in personal computers. The new series supporting SATA 6.0 gigabit-per-second (Gb/s) interface comes in two tracks; one for general computing purposes and another, an advanced lineup dubbed ‘PRO’ for serious users.
Samsung’s tiered offering for professional and general user environments provides consumers a broader choice of SSDs to best suit their personal requirements.
The unrivaled performance of Samsung’s SSDs lies in its MDX controller, which delivers superior performance, high reliability and sustainability that are among the product’s proprietary features. The premium class 840 PRO provides 100,000 input/ output per second (IOPS) for random read and 90,000 IOPS for random write*. Benchmark test** on the overall system performance unveiled a three-fold advancement when applying the 840 PRO in place of a conventional hard disk drive.
The new 840 series will be available globally from mid October through retail channels.
* Performance figure are based on test results on IOMeter 2010.
** Benchmark test based on PC Mark 7 Score test.
*** All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.
About 2,000 Chinese employees of an iPhone assembly company fought a pitched battle into the early hours of Monday, forcing the huge electronics plant where they work to be shut down. Authorities in the northern city of Taiyuan sent 5,000 police to restore order after what the plant’s Taiwanese owners Foxconn Technology Group said was a personal dispute in a dormitory that erupted into a mass brawl.
The company said the incident was confined to an employee dormitory and “no production facilities or equipment have been affected.” It said the cause of the disturbance was still under investigation.
One Foxconn employee reached by telephone Monday afternoon, however, said the incident began when workers started brawling with security guards. Unconfirmed photographs and video circulated on social networking sites, purporting to be from the factory, showed smashed windows, riot police officers and large groups of workers milling around. The Foxconn plant, in the Chinese city of Taiyuan, employs about 79,000 workers.
The Chinese state-run news media said 5,000 police officers had been called in to quell the riot. The disturbance is the latest problem to hit Foxconn, which also is a key supplier to Dell, Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft. It is part of Hon Hai Group of Taiwan and has been struggling to improve labor conditions at its China factories after reports about labor abuse and work safety violations.
Apple and Foxconn have worked together in the last year to improve conditions, raise pay and improve labor standards.
