Tag: latest

Windows 8 to be launched on 26 October

Microsoft on Wednesday announced that its next-generation operating system tailored for a world shifting from personal computers to smartphones and tablets will be available on 26 October.

Windows unit boss Steven Sinofsky revealed the Windows 8 debut date at a sales meeting, Microsoft communications manager Brandon LeBlanc said in a blog post.

Windows 8 will be available in 109 languages across 231 markets worldwide, according to LeBlanc.

Microsoft has promised to make the new operating system available in August for computer, tablet or smartphone makers to build into hardware.

The Redmond, Washington-based firm has gone on record stating that Surface tablets would hit the market when the Windows 8 operating system became publicly available.

July 19, 2012
New iPhone to have thinnest screen ever made – with sensors built into the glass

Apple Inc.’s next iPhone, currently being manufactured by Asian component makers, will use a new technology that makes the smartphone’s screen thinner, people familiar with the matter said, as the U.S. technology giant strives to improve technological features amid intensifying competition from Samsung Electronics Co. and other rivals.

Apple’s next iPhone, currently being manufactured by the company’s Asian component makers, will boast a thinner screen of the likes used by its rival Samsung. Above, the Apple store in Hong Kong.

Japanese liquid-crystal-display makers Sharp Corp. and Japan Display Inc.—a new company that combined three Japanese electronics makers’ display units—as well as South Korea’s LG Display Co. are currently mass producing panels for the next iPhone using so-called in-cell technology, the people said.

The technology integrates touch sensors into the LCD, making it unnecessary to have a separate touch-screen layer. The absence of the layer, usually about half-a-millimeter thick, not only makes the whole screen thinner, but improves the quality of displayed images, said DisplaySearch analyst Hiroshi Hayase.

The current iPhone 4S is 9.3 millimeters thick, according to Apple’s official website.

For Apple, the new technology would also simplify the supply chain and help cut costs as it would no longer need to buy touch panels and LCD panels from separate suppliers.

It was previously reported that the new iPhone will likely come with a screen larger than the current iPhone’s 3.5-inch display. A thinner screen could help offset an increase in weight due to the larger size.

Technological progress at LCD makers such as Sharp, Japan Display and LG Display is crucial for Apple, given that Samsung has been pushing its organic light-emitting displays as one of the unique features of its Galaxy phones. Samsung’s flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S III, comes with a 4.8-inch OLED screen and is thinner than the current iPhone.

The vast majority of OLED screens used in mobile devices today are supplied by Samsung. OLED screens, which don’t require backlighting, tend to be thinner than conventional LCD panels.

While Apple and Samsung together dominate the lucrative market for high-end smartphones, the companies are under constant pressure to meet high expectations for more-powerful, capable devices that are easier to carry.

A thinner screen in the next iPhone could make the whole device slimmer, or make extra room available for other components such as batteries. But in-cell touch screens are harder to manufacture than conventional LCD screens.

The people familiar with the situation said that LCD makers are finding the manufacturing process challenging and time-consuming as they scramble to achieve high yield rates.

Analysts have said that the new iPhone is expected sometime in the fall.

In May, people familiar with the matter said that the new iPhone will likely come with a screen larger than the current iPhone’s 3.5-inch display. A thinner screen could help offset an increase in weight due to the larger size.

The LCD industry has been working on the in-cell touch technology for several years. For LCD panel makers like Sharp, Japan Display and LG Display, Apple’s iPhone provides the environment where they can demonstrate their latest technological progress to show that LCD screens can continue to evolve and stay competitive against OLED displays. In the meantime, Sharp, Japan Display and LG Display have also been developing OLED displays.

At the same time, the adoption of in-cell technology is bad news for makers of conventional touch panels used in many smartphone screens now. Taiwan’s Wintek Corp. and TPK Holding Co., which supplied the touch-panel layer of the iPhone 4S screen, didn’t get orders for the next iPhone, people familiar with the situation said.

Source : Wall Street Journal

July 18, 2012
Microsoft Touts Office 2013 Integration With Skype, Yammer, Cloud

At a press event in San Francisco, Microsoft has unveiled the new Office suite, sporting a new look in line with Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8.

One of the key features of the new Office is cloud integration using SkyDrive. Users will be able to sync key settings across multiple devices after logging in to SkyDrive. You can continue working on the same document using a different device, as well as share it with others.

Microsoft also showed off how users can collaborate on Office through social network integration. For example, you can see if your Skype contacts are available from any application in the new Office suite and make Skype calls directly from within Outlook. There’s also the ability to collaborate on documents through Microsoft’s Lync application.

Good news for tablet users: A Microsoft RT version of Office for ARM-based tablets will be included for free on RT devices, including the Surface.

The new Office will have touchscreen capabilities, where users can use taps, swipes, and other gestures to create presentations. You can also draw on your presentations using a stylus.

Meanwhile, the subscription-based Office 365 will now come with three tiers–Office 365 Home Premium, Office 365 Small Business Premium and Office 365 ProPlus–with pricing information to be announced later.

Microsoft also unveiled a new version of its notetaking app, OneNote, which will have touch, pen and keyboard input.

Although Office is currently being used by more than one billion people, it faces stiff competition from cheaper alternatives, such as Google’s suite of Web-based office applications.

July 17, 2012
Micromax launches X259, powered by Solar Energy

Micromax has announced the launch of X259 handset, which comes with a built-in solar panel. Priced at Rs. 2,499, it is the first solar phone from the company.

The built-in solar panel allows the phone to get automatically charged when exposed to sunlight. It is targeted to rural consumers, who constantly grapple with power cuts over long durations. According to the company, three hours of solar charge provides 1.5 hours of talk time on the phone.

It features a 2.4-inch QVGA screen with a resolution of 240x320p, a VGA camera, a 1000mAh Li-ion battery and dual-SIM dual-standby feature. The handset also supports Bluetooth and GPRS connectivity.

[quote]”We have been at the forefront of innovation. We have introduced many categories into this competitive Industry be it long battery life phones or dual SIM phones. With the introduction of this our intent is to get rid of the mobile phone charger by including a solar panel on the device itself,” stated Rahul Sharma, co-founder, Micromax.[/quote]

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Go Green with the Micromax X259 SOLAR PHONE

? Micromax X259 comes with solar cells which can be charged through solar energy

? 3 hours of solar charge provides 1.5 hours of talk time

New Delhi, July 12^th, 2012: Micromax Informatics Limited (“Micromax”), the 12th largest handset manufacturer in the World (According to Global Handset Vendor Market share report from Strategy Analytics) today announced the launch of X259, with a built-in solar panel.

Micromax has always been recognized for its innovation in its device portfolio and has created categories such as marathon battery life phones, dual SIM Phones, Life Style phone and many more. Micromax adds yet another category to its offering of unique devices. The Micromax X259 Solar Phone priced at Rs. 2499/-, it is the company’s first solar phone which enables the users to charge their phone using solar energy.

Micromax X259 comes with a solar panel technology through which the phone automatically gets charged through solar power on exposure to sunlight. With unpredictable power cuts specifically in the rural areas this handset will be the perfect solution to address the issue of recharging the phone through electricity.

Commenting on the device launch, Mr. Rahul Sharma, Co – Founder, Micromax said, “We have been at the forefront of innovation. We have introduced many categories into this competitive Industry be it long battery life phones or dual SIM phones. With the introduction of this our intent is to get rid of the mobile phone charger by including a solar panel on the device itself”.

Micromax X259 features a 2.4” QVGA screen with a resolution of 240X320. The phone is powered with a 1000mAh Li-ion battery and facilitates dual SIM dual standby feature. The users can share images, videos, music with friends through the phone’s Bluetooth connectivity.

Micromax X259 is available at Rs. 2499/- This model will be available across all leading retail outlets across India.

For more information, please visit www.micromaxinfo.com

About Micromax:

Micromax is the 12th largest handset manufacturer in the World (According to Global Handset Vendor Market share report from Strategy Analytics). The Indian brand is reaching out to the global frontier with innovative products that challenge the status quo that Innovation comes with a price. Micromax has sales presence across India and global presence in Hong Kong, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri-Lanka, Maldives, UAE, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Afghanistan and Brazil.

* Micromax holds the 3^rd position amongst the handset manufacturers in India as pre revenue with a market share of 6.9% for the FY 2011. (Source: V&D report)

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July 13, 2012
Digg sold for a mere $500,000

Digg, the “social news” site which was once the poster child for Web 2.0 and valued at up to $175m, has been sold to San Francisco incubator Betaworks for just $500,000 (£324,000) in cash plus equity.

The sale of the seven-year-old site marks a colossal loss for its former venture capital backers, who put in a total of $45m during its life as an independent.

Digg reportedly still gets more than 16 million monthly unique visitors – but it has lost its ability to drive the direction of the net’s interest as it once did.

Having once looked as though it could be the biggest driver of such social news, the site stumbled multiple times in trying to remake the way that users could vote stories up or down its front page – and lost its advantage over rivals sites such as Slashdot and Reddit.

[quote]

In a statement on its site, Betaworks said: “Digg is one of the great internet brands, and it has meant a great deal to millions of users over the years. It was a pioneer in community-driven news.

“We are turning Digg back into a startup. Low budget, small team, fast cycles. How? We have spent the last 18 months building News.me as a mobile-first social news experience. The News.me team will take Digg back to its essence: the best place to find, read and share the stories the internet is talking about. Right now.”

[/quote]

None of Digg’s remaining employees will join Betaworks as part of the acquisition. Chief Executive Matt Williams will join venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz as an entrepreneur-in-residence.

Betaworks CEO John Borthwick will become Digg’s new chief.

July 13, 2012
Samsung Galaxy S3 / SIII Pebble Blue Unboxing

As requested by our viewers, Bharat Nagpal unboxes the Pebble Blue version of the Samsung Galaxy S3. The box contains a 2100 mAH battery, Stereo headphones with changeable earbuds and a microphone, a mains plug with USB sync charge cable, a Quick start guide and a Warranty card. The MRP of the device is INR 42,000 but is available in the market for around INR 36,000.

We will be coming out with a full in-depth review soon, so stay tuned!

Check out our unboxing, hand-on, video and image samples and launch videos here :

July 12, 2012
More Case Color Gem Lucent Black Hard Case iPhone 4/4s Unboxing

In this video Bharat Nagpal unboxes the More Color Gem Lucent Hard Case for the iPhone 4/4s. It is a bumper case and has a snap-on mechanism. The cut-outs on the case are really well spaced and accurate. The only drawback of the case is that it is only slightly raised above the surface the phone which may lead to some scratches. . It is available in the market for $29 (INR 1500)

July 12, 2012
New Nokia Phones leaked, 4 new Lumia phones indicated

Developers with access to Nokia’s Remote Device Access (RDA) tool have “discovered” a bunch of new Lumia and Belle phones. Interestingly, four of these handsets seem to be Windows Phone devices while the Belle 805 should be running on Symbian Belle.

According to Nokia Power User, the Lumia 920, 950, 1001 and Nokia 510 could be authentic or just misinformation planted by rumormongers. However, the blog believes that the Nokia 510 and Belle 805 are likely “authentic” and that the Nokia 510 could be the “cheapest Windows Phone 7.5 device” aimed at competing against Android.

We think the blog could be right because it doesn’t make any sense for Nokia to release any new high-end Windows Phone 7.5 handsets at the moment with Windows Phone 8 (WP8) expected to launch soon. However, a budget device like the Nokia 510 running the Tango update could be just the thing to maintain Nokia’s presence in the smartphone market before the WP8 mobiles arrive.

July 12, 2012
Micromax launches Superfone A80 Infinity for INR 8490

Micromax has launched another Android smartphone in the Indian market, Superfone A80 Infinity. This handset is targeted at the heavy users as it comes with a 2500mAh Li-ion battery that provides a standby time of up to 288 hours and a talk time of 7 long hours from a single charge.

Micromax A80 Infinity is a dual-SIM smartphone with features like 3.8-inch display and Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread). There is a 5.0 megapixel rear camera with flash and 0.3 megapixel front camera. Other features include 800 MHz processor, Wi-Fi, 3G and expandable memory of up to 32 GB.

Priced at Rs. 8,490, it also comes pre-loaded with voice recognition tool AISHA, which stands for Artificial Intelligence Speech Handset Assistant. It is a Siri like voice assistant that helps users to update social networking sites, figure out phone status, know horoscopes, make language translations, inquire weather conditions etc.

Check out the press release below :

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Micromax now solves the battery woes of Smartphone users

Introducing the new Superfone – A80 Infinity

?     A80 Infinity provides talk time of 7 hours and Standby Time up to 12 days!

New Delhi, July 10^th, 2012: Micromax Informatics Limited (“Micromax”), the 12th largest handset manufacturer in the World (According to Global Handset Vendor Market share report from Strategy Analytics) today announced the launch of A80 Infinity recreating the magic of long lasting battery.

Micromax had created a new category of phones with powerful battery backup when it launched its first phone X1i with marathon battery which standby time lasted over a month in the year 2008. With A80, Micromax again recreates that magic in its Superfone portfolio introducing A80 Infinity.

Today’s youth demand an all-in one device which integrates their communication needs. With the Smartphone evolution, mobile phones are no longer a device that is just used for calling or texting or data usage but has diverse usage. The mobile phone has evolved into a multi-functional device that is used for getting directions, social networking, finding places, checking mails and much more and so long battery life holds a great importance to provide anytime anywhere connectivity and service.

Micromax A80 is specifically designed for those Smartphone users who often complain of running out of battery juice due to heavy usage.

A80 Infinity features a 9.525cm full touch screen and runs on Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread). Users can enjoy undisrupted calling experience with the device which is equipped with a 2500mAh Li-ion battery thus providing a standby time of 288 hours and a talk time of 7 long hours from a single charge. This dual SIM phone is powered with an 800 MHz processor.

The phone sports a 5.0MP camera with Flash users could also share these pictures through Bluetooth connectivity or instantly upload them on social networking apps or through Wi-Fi connectivity. A80 comes with multiple camera settings such as night vision setting, multi shot option, camera censor and multiple video recording formats. The phone also sports a 0.3MP front facing camera which can be efficiently used for a video calling as the device allows 3G connectivity too. Users can store images, videos, mp3 in the phone’s memory which could also expanded up to 32GB.

Micromax A80 comes with voice recognition tool AISHA which helps users to update social networking sites, figure out phone status, operate functions of the device, find locations, know horoscopes, make language translations, view recipes, inquire date and time, weather conditions, and pose knowledge questions and a number of jobs to count on. Get live news feed through apps such as TOI. A80 provides the users with access to a plethora of apps such as Mibuddy, Mstore, What’s app and other apps from Google Play store.

Superfone A80 Infinity is available at Rs. 8490/- This model will be available across all leading retail outlets across India.

For more information, please visit www.micromaxsuperfone.com

About Micromax:

Micromax is the 12th largest handset manufacturer in the World (According to Global Handset Vendor Market share report from Strategy Analytics). The Indian brand is reaching out to the global frontier with innovative products that challenge the status quo that Innovation comes with a price. Micromax has sales presence across India and global presence in Hong Kong, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri-Lanka, Maldives, UAE, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Afghanistan and Brazil.

* Micromax holds the 3^rd position amongst the handset manufacturers in India as pre revenue with a market share of 6.9% for the FY 2011. (Source: V&D report)

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July 11, 2012
6x Zoom Lens for iPhone 4/4s Review

We recently got our hands on a rather interesting accessory for the iPhone 4/4s, the 6x Zoom lens. It is available online at ChinaBuye at a price of $14, shipping included.

The package includes the zoom lens, a plastic case and a cleaning cloth.

When you hold the lens in your hand, the first thing you will notice is that it is light weight but well built. There are no loose parts but the plastic cover provided with the lens has a tendency to gather dust and scratch your phone.

Mounting the lens on the case is a bit difficult but once it’s on it stays put. The focus ring towards the front lens helps you adjust the focus while shooting a video or taking a photo. The focus range is 3m-infinity with a field of 9 degrees.

While testing it outside, we noticed that getting a steady image from the lens is a very tough task and it would be better to use it by mounting your device on a tripod stand. However, the lens does provide a very considerable zoom and is ideal for shooting far-placed objects. The only drawback we found was the shakiness of the lens.

Overall, given its cost, the zoom lens is a good purchase.

Check out the video review below :-

July 10, 2012
Twitter Search gets smarter!

Twitter said on Friday that it was upgrading its search functions to include ‘autocomplete’ and spelling correction features.

The new Twitter search will also anticipate when users are looking for posts by people they follow, and offer related suggestions. The search will also see improvements when it comes to related terms, hashtags and accounts. “If you search for a topic for which people use multiple terms,” says engineer Frost Li, “we will provide relevant suggestions for terms where the majority of that conversation is happening on Twitter.”

And finally, once your search is complete, you have a new option to narrow it down: click on tweets from people you follow. This will appear next to the regular search filter options, “top” and “all.” In other words, if you want to forget the rest of Twitter exists outside your circle of follows, the company just made it a lot easier.

July 9, 2012
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
Tekfusion Twinwoofers In Ear Earphones Initial Hands on Review

We recently got our hands on the Tekfusion Twinwoofers in-ear headphones and got down to an initial hands-on review.

Technical Features :

Frequency Response : 19-21 KHz
Impedance : 16 Ohms
Pressure Level : 113 dB
Net Weight : 30g (1.06Oz)
Color : Black Chrome
Cable Length : 1.1m
Cable Type : Symmetric
1 Year Manufacturer’s Warranty

The package consists of the Twinwoofers In-Ear Hedphones , 5 pair of Eartips – 3 pair regular S/M/L, and 2 pair Tripple flange – M/L, Clip & Cable Slider , a Carry Pouch and a User Manual.

The first thing you’ll notice is they are light-weight but pretty tough. They are made from metal, and have partial gloss and partial matte finish – which gives them a very premium look . The twin-woofer logo adorns the back of the drum and overall the headphone is very well crafted. The earphones come with a 3.5 mm gold plated jack.

The initial impression of the headphones was that they perform really well at low volume but a slight clipping can be noticed at high-volume bass. We will take a look into this once we come out with our full in-depth review but for now, for a price tag of INR 1000-1200 these are definitely one of the best earphones in the market.

Check out our hands-on review here :-

July 4, 2012
Meet Siri the Punjaban!

After many months of trials and tribulations we got Siri on the iPhone 4S to go Balle Balle!

Check it out and remember to visit iGyaanTV and subscribe on Youtube.com/iGyaanTV

June 24, 2012
Samsung Champ Duos Deluxe C3312 Unboxing and Hands on !
The next revision of the Samsung Champ is here and with a bang. The Champ Duos Deluxe is a dual sim variant of the Champ lineup with added features, an improved touchscreen and a lot more apps in the newer user interface.

In the box of the Champ Duos Deluxe you will find a charger, handsfree , manual and warranties along with the handset itself. The first look of the device shows that the device is well built and can handle some beating.

The touchscreen is a resistive touchscreen but is very responsive to the finger aswell, as will be demonstrated in our video.

Samsung Champ Deluxe Duos C3312 features and specification:
- 1.3 MP Primary Camera
- Dual SIM (GSM + GSM) with dual standby
- 2.8-inch Touchscreen
- FM Radio
- GPRS and EDGE Enabled
- Expandable Storage Capacity upto 32 GB
- Operating Freq:GSM – 900, 1800
- User Interface: TouchWiz
- Java: Yes
- Screen resolution: QVGA, 240 x 320 Pixels
- Video Recording:Yes
- Size:55 x 101.8 x 12.1 mm
- Battery:Li-Ion, 1000 mAh
Price of the Phone is (MRP.) Rs 4750

Video Coming Soon.
February 7, 2012