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Samsung planning Windows RT based tablets?

Samsung is reportedly working on a Windows RT tablet that will be launched in October this year, giving the much needed boost to the newly announced operating system.

According to a report in Bloomberg, sources familiar with the development stated that the tablet release will coincide with the Windows RT debut and it will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, probably S4.

Windows RT is the first operating system version from Microsoft that is made for touchscreen devices and supports ARM chips, which consume less power than x86.

If it does come through, the tablet would be Samsung’s first running a Microsoft OS.

July 9, 2012
RIM’s Blackberry App World marks 3 billion App Downloads

Everything may seem horribly wrong at Rim but all is not lost , when the company shows up with good numbers in at least one sector. The Blackberry App World just registered 3 billion app downloads it’s seen since the launch. According to RIM, that number amounts to 2.5 million downloads a day. At present, there are 90,000 apps available through the mobile app market.

[Inside BlackBerry]

July 9, 2012
Foxconn ready to jump the ship, Announces Fanless PC (PR)

Do you know Foxconn? Its the same company that makes most of the high end electronics for major manufacturers around the world, including Apple, Amazon and Most PC manufacturers. The Model dubbed AT-5250 is essentially a Nettop, will run on a 1.86 GHz D2550 Intel processor. The other one the AT-5600 will pack a Radeon HD 6320 alongside the anticipated AMD E450 APU. Prices seem fair for the duo at $260 and $280 respectively.

Called the QuietBox, they will be available worldwide in September 2012, even in India.

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Quiet PC Foxconn Nano: up to 40 times smaller than a standard PC
The company Foxconn, a leading manufacturer of electronics and computer components, announces the release of the quietest nettop line NanoPC. Two new models of AT-5250 and AT-5600 is based on the Intel Atom platform, and AMD Brazos, respectively. New items consume only 15 watts in standby mode and about 24 watts under load, is absolutely silent thanks to passive cooling.

Minicomputers in the past have attracted much attention because of the compactness (size of new products – only 190 x 135 x 38 mm), low power consumption and low cost. Foxconn engineers reworked the design nettop to use the new cooling system, and now they got one more advantage – no noise, because inside there is no fan. The choice of memory and hard drive (supports 2.5 “hard drives, and 1,8” / 2,5 “SSD) is still the user, both models come with free slots.

To communicate with the outside world, each computer is equipped with two Foxconn Nano-port USB 3.0, four USB 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet port, HDMI and VGA for display graphics, card reader 5-in-1, Wi-Fi adapter, 802.11n, interfaces for headphone, microphone, and linear output. The package includes a standard mounting VESA, through which the nettop can be mounted on the back of the monitor or TV.

Inside the Foxconn AT-5600 is a processor AMD Brazos E450 (1,65 GHz) and a graphics chip Radeon HD 6320 – this model is suitable for home media center and keep silence in the room. Foxconn AT-5250 uses an Intel Cedar View D2550 (1,86 GHz) with integrated graphics Intel GMA 3650 – a good choice for server, network hard drive or office computer.

Foxconn AT-5600 AT-5250 will be available in the CIS in September with an estimated retail price of AT-5600 will be only $ 280, AT-5250 – $ 260.

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July 9, 2012
GIGABYTE Launches World’s First Dual-Port Thunderbolt 7-series Motherboards

GIGABYTE Technology Co. Ltd., a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards, today announced the latest GIGABYTE 7 series motherboards. It is the very first to offer fully certified dual onboard Thunderbolt ports.

Capable of connecting up to 12 devices plus 3 digital displays simultaneously, with great data transfer speeds that can transfer 1TB of data in only five minutes, GIGABYTE Thunderbolt motherboards offer the fastest connection interface on the desktop PC.

GIGABYTE Thunderbolt motherboards are the first to be certified by Intel featuring dual Thunderbolt ports directly on the motherboard back panel I/O, with each Thunderbolt port supporting a maximum data transfer speeds with simultaneous bi-directional data transfer at speeds of up to 10Gbps – this means you can transfer a full HD 1080p movie in under 30 seconds.

[quote]“It’s easy to see how our unique dual port Thunderbolt implementation simply offers more,” commented Henry Kao, Vice President of GIGABYTE Motherboard Business Unit. “We’re the only motherboard vendor currently offering DIY PC builders the absolute maximum in terms of device connectivity,” he added. [/quote]

[quote]”Thunderbolt technology represents a leap in performance and simplicity for media creators and entertainment enthusiasts,” says Jason Ziller, Intel Corp. ‘s director of Thunderbolt marketing. “We are pleased to be working with GIGABYTE as they bring the first dual Thunderbolt port motherboard to market. It s a great example of what Thunderbolt makes possible.”[/quote]

The first batch of Thunderbolt equipped motherboards include the Z77X-UP5 TH, Z77X-UP4 TH and Z77MX-D3H TH.

The Z77X-UP5 TH is priced at Rs 17,999/-.

July 7, 2012
Galaxy S3 Explosion was a fake! Samsung Calls Foul Play, Owner Admits !

After the whole Galaxy S3 explosion story went all over the world, Samsung went ahead and investigated the issue, it turns out the explosion was actually a way for the owner to get a replacement. After Samsung and a Third Party investigation was concluded it appears that the explosion occurred as a result of “external energy” being applied to the device, not anything from within the phone itself. The original poster dillo2k10 has posted an update on Boards.ie, indicating it was a mistake by someone else in an attempt to recover the phone after it got wet.

Fire Investigations UK reports on finding that the phone itself was not responsible for generating the heat that caused the damage. So now owner and potential buyers can breathe easy.

[Samsung Tomorrow]

[Boards.ie]

July 7, 2012
Galaxy S3 OTA Update brings a brightness widget to the notification panel among other fixes

After receiving several complaints of auto brightness not working properly on their flagship Galaxy S3, Samsung has pushed an OTA update that adds a brightness widget to the notification panel. There’s also a handful of stability fixes included in the 73MB update. The Update is live now and can be accessed by going to the Settings> About >Update panel.

July 7, 2012
Sony Mobile receives four red dot awards for product design

Sony Mobile Communications today announced it has received four 2012 red dot awards in the Product Design category, as well as one honourable mention. The jury of international experts evaluated entries against key criteria including the degree of innovation, ergonomics, durability and ecological soundness. The awards presentation ceremony took place in Essen, Germany on July 2.

[quote]

“Design is at the heart of Sony Mobile’s product development philosophy and these awards are testament to the design quality of our Xperia smartphones and Smart Accessories, demonstrating our commitment to offering consumers a rich smartphone experience without sacrificing on functionality or design,” saidJeanna Kimbré, Director of Creative Product Design for Sony Mobile Communications.

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Xperia active, Xperia ion, Smart Wireless Headset pro and SmartDock for Xperia ion received red dot awards in the Product Design category, while Xperia ray picked up an honourable mention

July 7, 2012
Xperia P has the ‘Brightest Smartphone Display’

Test Factory after a Test of 12 smartphones conducted in independent certified laboratory conditions in May 2012 has adjudged the Sony Xperia P to have the brightest display.

All environmental influences were minimised, each smartphone’s display set to maximum; with automatic functions turned off, and then a spectrometer was used to evaluate the brightness of each display.

This is due to Sony’s WhiteMagic, a technology that makes its smartphone debut with Xperia P. On a normal LCD display the color of each pixel (including white) is produced by mixing three subpixels: red, blue and green. But, Xperia P’s 4” Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA Engine has a fourth white subpixel. This makes it possible to significantly brighten the display to guarantee a clear and sharp picture, even in dazzling sunshine.

July 7, 2012
CyanogenMod 10 will bring Android Jelly Bean 4.1 to all those on it faster than ever.

Steve Kondik and the CyanogenMod team usually are really quick in bringing latest updates for Android to existing users. According to the team a few minor tweaks are needed to merge Google’s latest with the custom Android code, making CyanogenMod 10 easy to release.

According to the team any device that runs CyanogenMod 9 will also run CyanogenMod 10 easy. Stay tuned for more updates.

[CyanogenMod ]

July 7, 2012
Microsoft applies for a High Performance Touchscreen Patent

Microsoft Recently demonstrated a high performance touchscreen prototype, that would reduce the touch lag of a device from 100ms to 1ms. Microsoft has filed a patent protecting its endless research on the subject.

The Effect of touch response lag once reduced will bring the experience of touchscreen devices to a brilliant level. Instead of a laying line , users if drawing on a touch screen tablet, will experience almost no lag as if the ink was coming from the finger.

Micrososft may throw these screens into future Microsoft Tablets, if they do, expect them to be superiorly responsive.

[USPTO]

July 6, 2012
Amazon may be planning a Smartphone

If popular media company “Bloomberg” is to be believed Amazon is planning a smartphone to be launched this year. Amazon is apparently already in pursuit of wireless patents and a production agreement with major OEM Foxconn for manufacturing the said Smartphone.

No further details on the matter are available, although Amazon is very capable of delivering a smartphone to the market, with their ecosystem already in place, the App Store, the Cloud services, the Music streaming and Kindle. The only thing you can be sure of is, that if Amazon does make a Smartphone there is almost a 100% chance that it will be an Android ICS 4.0 or Jelly Bean 4.1 device and it is likely to be skinned by Amazon to match the Kindle Fire UI.

[Bloomberg]

July 6, 2012
Zync Z-999 plus tablet launched at INR 11,999

Noida-based computer maker Zync Global today launched its 3G-enabled tablet PC priced at Rs 11,990, which the company says will help it achieve a sales target half a million devices in the current fiscal. It comes with Android 4.0 and 3G.

The Z-999 plus comes with an inbuilt Wi-Fi for file transfer along with a 2 mega pixel back camera and VGA front camera for video chat. The tablet is also equipped with a HD video playback support, HDMI support, 8GB iNand memory expandable to 32GB, keyboard support function and has an inbuilt 3G sim card slot. The high resolution LED screen is perfect for watching movies, multi-player games and downloading and sharing data.

It is powered by a 1.5GZ single core ARM Cortex A8 processor and 512 MB RAM. Its size and light weight of 340 gm and excellent battery life of 4200 mAh makes it an ideal device in the low cost tablet market. It only measures 8mm- which is slimmest in its category.

July 5, 2012
A watch made from the Statue of Liberty!

A watch for the Patriots! The newest “DNA” watch collection from Romain Jerome will be the Liberty DNA timepieces. These watches will each incorporate some metal from the actual Statue of Liberty, and feature a unique design meant to honor the statue while not simply featuring imagery from it on the case and dial.

The bronze bezel of this 125-piece limited-edition watch is adorned with 12 spikes reminiscent of the statue’s crown. The verdigris dial echoes the color of oxidised copper, the facetted hands are bronze colored and the strap made from vintage brown alligator leather. The medallion on the case-back of the watch depicts the flame of liberty lighting up the stars and stripes of the American flag. The watch will acquire a patina as it ages over time, thereby adopting the color of the original.

Romain Jerome actually has a long history of incorporating exotic materials into its expensive watches. Including volcanic ash, metal from the Titanic, and even dinosaur bones.

Nice way to spend your money on the 4th of July eh?

July 5, 2012
Apple planning smaller iPad to rival Nexus 7?

Hot on the heels of Google’s Nexus 7 tablet, rumours have resurfaced of an iPad Mini. According to Bloomberg, citing “two people with knowledge of the plans”, the smaller tablet will have a screen size of between 7 and 8 inches – less than the 9.7-inch iPad currently out now.

The tablet could be announced in October and won’t have a Retina Display on-board, one of the sources purportedly said.

A cheaper iPad tablet could pose a formidable challenge to Google’s $199 Nexus 7 and Amazon’s Kindle Fire slates. Microsoft has also introduced a new Surface tablet range, complete with a keyboard cover and Windows 8.

Since the iPad went on sale in April 2010, Apple has dominated the tablet market, which is predicted by Display-Search to reach $66.4 billion this year. Apple has 61% of the market share.

July 5, 2012
Apple loses patent war with HTC

Taiwan’s HTC on Wednesday won a London court ruling against US tech giant Apple over a series of patent infringement claims linked to technology used in its mobile devices.

London’s High Court said in a ruling carried on its website that HTC’s devices did not infringe four Apple technology patents.

Along with the slide-to-unlock mechanism, HTC challenged Apple’s patents on the iPhone’s “multi-touch” system. Both are prize features in the American company’s portfolio, according to intellectual property experts. The other patents in the case related to the way the iPhone manages photographs, and the use of different character sets in text messaging.

A HTC spokesman welcomed the London court’s ruling, which said parts of the slide-to-unlock patented were too “obvious” or foreshadowed by earlier patents.

July 5, 2012