According to reports the total downloads of Apps was at an all time high in the last week of December ( also considered holiday season) . Apps downloaded on the iTunes and Android Market crossed a massive 1.2 billion downloads. This could also be considering the millions of activations received during the previous christmas week.
[Flurry]
HTC Rhyme was announced a while back and it promised a lot of hope, especially because initial pricing pointed towards a Rs. 15000 launch. When the device was finally launched at Rs. 25000 , it seemed like a bit of a disappointment. The functionality and specs of the device prove otherwise.
Bundled are really nice quality in ear earphones with remote and mic, also in the box is the wonderful light charm which will effectively signal women that their phone is ringing somewhere in the depths of their handbags. Simply targeted at the younger Gen. buyers and more so at the smartphone buying ladies. Specs include 480 x 800 pixels, 3.7 inches SLCD display along with a 1 GHz Scorpion + Adreno 205 GPU. For media and apps there is 4 GB storage plus 768 MB RAM.
Stay Tuned for the Full Review
Looks like RIM is following up in HP’s footsteps, and has decided to liquidate the Playbook all over the world. The US however seems to get the best deal, RIM’s official webstore is offering the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB model for $299, the pricing is quite strange especially since no one would buy the cheaper ones. Those who have the tablet can get access to the Android market in a few easy steps detailed by the team at Crackberry. It requires a rooted PlayBook, WinSCP, the latest version of Cyanogen Google apps.
In India the Playbook has been sold out at the lower pricing, with just an asking price of Rs. 13,500 for the 16GB, Rs. 15800 for the 32 GB and Rs. 24000 for the 64Gb versions. People are going gaga over the failed tablet simply because its priced right.
We will try getting our hands on a such device for a better review.
[RIM]
Google Plus (+) The social networking site has over 62 million users and is adding 625,000 new users each day according to unofficial Google+ statistician Paul Allen. This could be courtesy all the brand awareness Google is creating worldwide, with Television ads targeting key Google audience. At the current rate of new users, Allen predicts that Google+ will reach 100 million users on February 25th, 200 million users on August 3rd, and 293 million users by december 2012.
The reports are based on the number of Google+ signups and not actual usage reports, and until we get some information from Google themselves we won’t know.
In an announcement made today, Samsung has clarified that the company has managed to ship 1 million units of the Galaxy Note in under two months. These numbers are just from countries in Europe and Asia. While Samsung expects these numbers to rise rapidly once the Note is launched in North America, possibly the largest market for such a device.
“1 million global shipping of Galaxy Note means it has well positioned itself as a market creator,Samsung will continuously strengthen its leadership in the global smartphone market as well as create new markets with innovative devices.”
-Samsung official
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Samsung Electronics Ships over 1 Million Units of Galaxy Note Globally
Samsung’s flagship smart device Galaxy Note has reached 1 million global shipping.
Samsung Electronics said on the 29th that it has shipped more than 1 million units of Galaxy Note globally. The worldwide sales of Galaxy Note are also on the rise in Europe and Asia including France, Germany, Hongkong and Taiwan. The rapid global sales of Galaxy Note are notable since it is creating a new market for something between smartphone and tablet pc. The speed of the global sales is expected to accelerate further next year when it will be available in the US.
Recently, Financial Times reviewed highly of Galaxy Note, commenting it as”a happy medium for consumers who want to carry just one device, rather than both a smartphone and a tablet and whatever other portable gadget they pick up on their way out”.
A Samsung official also said “1 million global shipping of Galaxy Note means it has well positioned itself as a market creator,” also adding “Samsung will continuously strengthen its leadership in the global smartphone market as well as create new markets with innovative devices.”
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HTC has updated their bootloader unlock utility to serve to the needs of the buyers of the latest HTC lineup. This includes all handsets released after September and follows the same principles as earlier bootloader unlock utilities. The complete list of supported devices will be available soon, hopefully the XL and XE join the pack of modders.
[HTC]
A command line based project released by lithid-cm has the ability to go any user the power to create their own CM Roms. Called the CyanogenMod Compiler (CMC) it currently is in the test phase and allows only basic tweaks to a CM ROM including the ability to eliminate languages, wallpapers and tweak themes. The general idea is to be able to develop your own custom ROM without the need for dependence on anyone.
Have an iOS device but miss the Airplay feature because you didn’t get the Apple TV ? Well Airtight is the answer, considering you got Google TV instead. A simple app that costs only 99 cents allows you to use any Airplay enabled device like an iPad or iPhone to share with a Google TV on the same network. It currently works with only sharing of Non-DRM Movies, and Music and direct mirroring is not yet supported. So a US $ 99 Apple TV seems like a better option if you still haven’t invested in a Google TV.
[Airtight]
According to a new report from StatCounter,Chrome 15 recently reached a total global market share of 23.6% compared to Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 8 market share of 23.5%. IE is still the most popular browser if all versions of the Browser are added. Chrome 14 and 15 are said to be most popular of chrome version and possibly the reason of this overtake. Microsoft and their IE team is banking hard on the push they want to receive from IE9 and IE10, possibly to remain strong. If that does not hold true, chrome may not be far away from global victory. check out the full report below
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Chrome 15 Becomes World’s Most Popular Browser
Boston, USA; Dublin, Ireland; Thursday, 15th December, 2011: Google’s Chrome 15 has become the most popular web browser version worldwide for the first time on a weekly basis, according to StatCounter, the free website analytics company. The firm’s research arm StatCounter Global Stats reports that in the last full week in November, Chrome 15 took 23.6% of the worldwide market compared to Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 8 at 23.5%. If one aggregates all versions then IE still leads the global market with Chrome in second position, having overtaken Firefox in November.
“Google announced Chrome for business exactly a year ago and IT administrators appear to have embraced it in a remarkably short time,” commented Aodhan Cullen, CEO, StatCounter. “Looking at the daily stats, Chrome 14 and 15 have been overtaking IE8 at weekends since the beginning of October. However, Chrome 15 overtook IE8 for the first time during the five day working week, in week commencing 5th December. It looks as if people favour Chrome on weekends at home but office commercial use has now caught up.”
In the US Internet Explorer 8 continues to be the most popular browser version with 27.0% for week commencing 5th December compared to 18.1% for Chrome 15. However, in the UK Chrome 15 overtook IE8 in the week commencing November 7th. Last week (commencing 5th December) Chrome 15 had 24.7% in the UK compared to IE8 on 21.1%.
StatCounter Global Stats are based on aggregate data collected on a sample exceeding 15 billion page views per month (4 billion from the US) from the StatCounter network of more than three million websites.
As well as free web research, StatCounter (http://statcounter.com/) provides free web analytics. This allows website owners, developers and bloggers to capture valuable intelligence on their site in real time including number of visitors, visitors by country/region, search terms, popular pages, download stats, exit links and other data.
In September StatCounter announced its new website with added features.
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Not only do you find Google everywhere when it comes to computing, mobility and softwares. Google also invests in the future, including several ECO investments from the multi Billion dollar company. Google has pumped US $ 94 Million into their California Solar Energy project, totaling their investment to over $915 million. Google along with Equity from Sacramento based Power company KKR will build a 88MW photovoltaic power plant that will power 1300 US homes via clean Solar energy. Google has already laid out further investment plans, ensuring that they cross the US$ 1 Billion mark sometime early next year.
[Google]
Samsung has finally confirmed that most of its top end devices will support Google’s next OS “Ice Cream Sandwich”. This confirmation comes after weeks of consumer engagements and let downs. Samsung will be rolling out the Upgrade to ICS sometime in the first quarter of 2012. The upgrade is most likely not an OTA update and will require a full flash of the device using their proprietary desktop software called “Kies” The full List of devices includes
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Samsung Electronics plan to provide the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update for GALAXY devices. The platform update for GALAXY S II and GALAXY Note will start in the first quarter 2012, and other GALAXY devices will soon follow.
The ICS-upgradable devices are the GALAXY S II, GALAXY S II LTE, GALAXY Note, GALAXY R, GALAXY Tab 10.1, GALAXY Tab 8.9, GALAXY Tab 7.7, and GALAXY Tab 7.0 Plus.
For upgradable models, Samsung will make separate announcements on details of OS updates schedule for each market according to market situation and carriers’ requirements.
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and Samsung GALAXY Nexus, the first Ice Cream Sandwich powered smartphone, were first unveiled at a Google/Samsung joint news conference in Hong Kong on October 19th.
Ice Cream Sandwich brings an entirely new look and feel to Android. It has a redesigned user interface with improved multi-tasking, notifications, Wi-Fi hotspot, NFC support and a full Web browsing experience. Ice Cream Sandwich also features a new People App which lets users browse pictures, messages and social network updates from friends, family and co-workers.
Ice Cream Sandwich also introduces innovations such as Face Unlock, which uses facial recognition to unlock the smartphone. Using NFC technology, Android Beam allows users to quickly share Web pages, apps and YouTube™ videos with friends by simply tapping two phones back-to-back. Users can even use fun effects while shooting video or video chatting with Google Talk™.
* Google, Nexus, Android, Android Market, YouTube, Google Talk, Gmail, Google Maps, Google Earth, and Google Calendar are trademarks of Google, Inc.
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This is a major let down especially for those who were on other Samsung devices, hoping to get in on the ICS action. Fear not the developer community is still strong, and almost all devices sporting a processor faster than 650MHz will be able to get a custom developed ICS ROM.
[Samsung]
A new SMS bug has been found in the Windows Phone 7.5 devices, WP devices that receive a text containing a certain string of characters will reboot and return with a non-functional messaging client which can only be restored via a hard reset. The bug does not affect any particular device, but the OS. The funny bit is that the same bug message could be received via Facebook messenger or MSN messenger.
Android and iOS have had their fair list of SMS bugs, But never one that disables the messaging interface all-together.
LG and Prada have launched the new LG Prada 3.0, a first from the duo, specs include a dual-core OMAP 4430 processor at 1GHz, 4.3 ” 800 x 480 NOVA Plus, 800 cd / m² screen, custom Android skin, Android Gingerbread version 2.3.7. 8GB of storage, expandable by microSD, 8MP with HD video a 1540 mAh battery,. The phone will also come with inbuilt NFC for the the spend easy. Not to forget the device packs serious brand prowess.
[toggle title_open=”Press Release” title_closed=”Press Release” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]PRADA and LG create a style icon
PRADA and LG PRADA phone by LG, the present 3.0 – the ultimate synthesis of form and function
London, 14 December 2011: PRADA and LG, which have in the past, jointly developed mobile phones with maximum functionality and elegance reveal, today launched the PRADA phone by LG 3.0, the latest must-have smartphone. The highly anticipated phone is the third resulting from this collaboration, and embodies the design standards of both companies.
The PRADA phone by LG 3.0 combines the unmistakable style of Prada with LG’s innovative technology, including one of the biggest and brightest screens on the market at 4.3 inches and 800 cd / m².
The completely decorated in classic black smartphone meets the clear and straightforward design philosophy of PRADA and is equipped with a large and bright touch screen on the front, and the PRADA Saffiano typical decoration on the back. Every detail exudes a simple elegance, with the special floating mass of Technology LG’s flat shape with the already impressive 8.5 mm thin still further emphasized. To complete the minimalist look of the phone has only a minimum of physical buttons.
The performance of the PRADA phone by LG 3.0 is its stunning appearance in no way inferior: the gigahertz Dual-Core/Dual-Channel-Architektur provides a high-speed performance and dual-band WLAN enables fast browsing on the move.
The high design standards of the smartphone is also evident when it is switched on. The PRADA phone by LG 3.0 offers a specially developed control concept with a unique menu and symbols in black, gray and white. This interface allows users to benefit from the latest features of the Android Gingerbread operating system, an upgrade to Android Ice Cream Sandwich is provided in the future.
The special user interface is presented to users on the NOVA High Brightness display with a size of 4.3 inches (10.9 centimeters) and a brightness of 800 cd / m², where it all their favorite photos and content, even in direct sunlight can enjoy. And true to the motto of LG “Life’s Good” can be customized with the 8 MP camera with up to 8 GB of memory to capture all the beautiful moments in life and play in high quality.
In addition, available to users a full range of PRADA phone accessories like a docking station and a Bluetooth headset with PRADA logo available. You can use your phone by LG PRADA 3.0 also bring in a fashionable Prada bag.
The main technical data:
o Operating System: Android Gingerbread
o Memory: 8 GB
o Screen: 4.3 “/ 10.9 cm
o Resolution: WVGA (800 x 480)
o Display NOVA: NOVA Plus, 800 cd / m²
o Camera: 8 MP
o Dual-Core/Dual channel processor with 1.0 GHz
o Battery: 1540 mAh
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The collaboration between Prada and LG in retrospect
With the cooperation of PRADA and LG, which began in 2006 and the launch of two premium-phones in the years 2007 and 2008 led to the key elements are the focus of a smartphone – starting with software and user interface to design and packaging.
The PRADA phone by LG 1.0, a pioneer of the fashion-house phones on the market was, with more than one million units sold an unprecedented success. This premium mobile phone combined with modern technology, refined design. Thus, the PRADA phone by LG 1.0 a place in the history of product design and conquered is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City and the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Shanghai.
The PRADA phone by LG offered to the users also revolutionary new technologies. Thus, the PRADA phone by LG 1.0 was the first mobile phone in the world with a touch screen, and his successor, which provided 2.0, for an entirely new mobile experience thanks to an additional wristwatch with Link technology for the display of caller information, SMS messages, call logs, blocked numbers and alarm indications.[/toggle]
Google has reportedly removed 22 malicious applications from the Android Market after security vendors tipped off the company about apps attempting to trick users into accepting fraudulent charges via SMS. The devices get infected by a trojan that charges your phone bill with premium rate SMS charges.
[quote]Trojan horse for Android devices that sends SMS messages to premium-rate phone numbers,[/quote] Said Symantec
[quote]The initial application activity presents the user with a single option to continue, which is presumed to be an agreement to premium charges that are buried within layers of less than clear links. The Premium Short Codes used could affect users in Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Czech Republic, Poland, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Latvia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Estonia as well as Great Britain, Italy, India, Israel, France, and Germany.[/quote]
The applications were dressed as copies of the popular apps like Angry birds and Cut the rope, but were actually malicious. Google has not named the apps and has not remotely deleted the apps from users phones. So if your phone bill has been racing high and you think your SMS bills are higher than usual, factory reset your phone and carefully select your apps.
Asus has pushed the release of their Prime tablets due to issues with the stability of Wifi chipsets on them. The Prime were the first tablets to be showcased with Androids latest and greatest Ice Cream Sandwich. The company says that “the WiFi range on the TF201 did not meet our quality standards” and will not release the tablet till it met with standards.
Asus has clarified to this issue by saying that the tablet is now being prepped to be released a week late post 19/12/11, but are still skeptical if they can implement a fix by then.