Tag: new launch

Samsung W789 Dual Screen Android Flip-phone Launched

After all the rumors, Samsung has finally launched its new flip-phone called the Samsung W789.

The Samsung W789 supports a 3.3″ 320 x 480 (HVGA) TFT screen and is powered by a Quad-Core 1.2GHz chipset. The phone also includes a 1500 mAh battery and runs on android 4.1Jelly Bean. The phone runs two Sim Cards simultaneously one GSM and one CDMA.

Samsung claims that this device is designed to make daily tasks convenient, as one can reply to messages or browse the web without even flipping open the phone thanks to the 3.3″ dual touch screens.

The Samsung W789 has a variety of camera modes for you to choose from, rapid continuous shooting, beauty shot, buddy photo share are a few that can be named as of now. For now the handset will be available only in China and there is no word about it being launched in Indian market. But we will keep you updated with the latest news.

August 14, 2013
Hyundai launches Celebration Edition Santro Xing

Hyundai has now been in India for 15 years. The company is celebrating its success with the first car they had launched in India. The first generation Santro, with a 1 liter petrol engine, gave India its first tall boy hatchback.

Soon in 2003, Hyundai launched the updated version of the Santro, known as Santro Xing with a 1.1 liter petrol engine. Now, its a decade this car is stil running successfully, as per the sources Hyundai sells 4,000 units a month on average.

Hyundai Santro Xing Celebration Edition

The car’s “Celebration Edition Santro Xing” is the latest revision in the series of updates the car has received. The Celebration Edition adds some interesting new features like – Graphics on the flanks, Rear Chrome garnish, Reverse parking sensors with LED display, Manual sun blind for rear windscreen, new floor mats and Blaupunkt audio system.

If we talk about the mechanics of the car it remains the same, the 1,061cc-4 cylinder petrol engine that outputs 62 Bhp of peak power and 96 Nm of peak torque with a 5 speed of manual gearbox. But, the new Celebration Edition would be available both in petrol and LPG variant. Pricing is still not out but is estimated to be starting from 3.81 lakhs(ex-showroom). The company is planning to offer up the Celebration Edition Santro Xing with special finance options as well.

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August 13, 2013
Verizon Launches Droid Maxx, Droid Ultra and Droid Mini, Motorola Phones that India may never see!

US carrier Verizon today launched three new Motorola phones which may truly change the way the world looks at the Google owned mobility company. Motorola and Verizon have launched a trio of phones which focus on all those things that have come to be the envy of smartphone owners,

Starting with the Droid Ultra which is a 5-inch smartphone that the company claims is “all about thin,”. The Droid Ultra sports a glossy, unibody Kevlar shell that makes it thinner (7.18mm) yet stronger than its predecessors.

The Droid Ultra sports a dual-core X8 Mobile Computing System delivers about 24 percent faster processing and double the graphics capabilities on all aspects. The Droid Ultra ships August 20th for $199, and pre-orders are starting today.The Droid Ultra will be available in Black and Red models.

The Droid Maxx on the other hand is designed for a long lasting Android experience, it sports a massive 48-hour battery life and is apparently 9 percent thinner than the RAZR Maxx HD. Just like the Droid Ultra, the phone is said to be 24% faster and double in the graphics department 10-megapixel camera out back that’s capable of shooting 1080p HD video. The Droid Maxx has wireless charging and a 3500mAh battery.

Droid Mini

Droid Maxx

Droid Ultra

Finally the Droid Mini comes with a 4.3 inch display 1.7GHz dual-core processor, 16GB of onboard storage (with 2GB of RAM), a 2130 mAh battery and a 10-megapixel camera with 1080p video capture. The Droid Mini goes on sale for US $ 99 and comes with wireless charging capabilities.

The Motorola Verizon Droid phones aim to focus more on experience and less on the specs of these handsets. The handsets get the new Droid Command Center homescreen widget with access to notifications, weather updates and more, as well as quick capture to take photos with a double-shake.The three phones will also include voice capabilites as leaked in the Moto X and the Droid handsets can apparently be woken on voice command by saying, “Ok Google Now.”

[toggle title=”Press Release”]Trio of New DROID Smartphones Coming to Verizon Wireless

MINI, ULTRA and MAXX: Cutting-edge design meets strength and agility.

A new family of exclusive DROID smartphones is coming soon to Verizon Wireless: DROID MINI, DROID ULTRA and DROID MAXX by Motorola. Keeping up with the DROID tradition, these devices give users what’s expected from a DROID on Verizon – intelligence, strength and endurance.

It starts with DROID Command Center, an exclusive homescreen widget for users to easily access notifications for text messages, missed calls, battery level and weather. It also serves as the gateway to new features including Wireless Display to mirror what’s on the screen onto a compatible HDTV to play games, browse the web and share pictures on a big screen.

Taking a picture and sharing it is now as easy as shake, tap and swipe. Quick Capture lets users access the 10-megapixel camera by shaking the phone twice, then tapping anywhere on the screen to snap a pic or a selfie. Sharing with a friend or a group of friends nearby is simple with the DROID Zap feature. Swiping up on a picture instantly shares it with fellow new DROID owners nearby, all they need to do is swipe down on their screen to receive it.

Hands are full or messy? Wake up the DROID by saying “Ok Google Now” and then tell it what you want to do. And for those users who constantly lose their phone under the couch or around the house, they can simply say “Ok Google Now, call my DROID” and it will start ringing. And Active Notifications lets users preview messages and app alerts without waking their phone.

These Touchless Controls and Active Display let users make calls, send texts, get directions, play music, set a reminder and preview notifications hands-free without having to unlock the phone, giving DROID users a whole new way of interacting with their phones.

The first DROID launched in November 2009 and included features new at the time such as Google Maps Navigation. It was also the first smartphone to feature Android 2.0. The new trio of DROID devices continues to give innovative features.

DROID MINI: A compact design with an edge-to-edge 4.3-inch HD display and wireless charging capabilities.

DROID ULTRA: The thinnest 4G LTE smartphone available, measuring 7.18mm, and with a 5-inch HD display. The ULTRA will be available in Black and Red models.

DROID MAXX: Features wireless charging and a 3500mAh battery that gives users nearly two days of battery life on a single charge, making it the longest lasting 4G LTE smartphone available.

These DROID smartphones are made with DuPont Kevlar fiber unibody design and will be available for pre-order online starting today, July 23, at 1 p.m. ET. The DROID ULTRA and DROID MAXX will be available for purchase starting Aug. 20 and the DROID MINI will be available starting Aug. 29. The DROID MINI will be $99.99, the DROID ULTRA will be $199.99 and the DROID MAXX will be $299.99, all with a new two-year customer agreement.[/toggle]

July 24, 2013
Breaking : Apple Updates the Macbook Air

Apple events are usually unexpected, and at the WWDC 2013 Apple has launched the new Macbook Air. Based on the new Intel Haswell chipsets, Apple is promising full day of battery life.

With the 11 inch you get 9 hours of Battery Backup, and with the 13 inch you get 12 hours of working time on the new Macbook Air.

With prices for the next Macbook Air starting at us $ 999 for the 128 GB and US $ 1199 for the 256 GB

More developing…..

June 10, 2013
Samsung Galaxy Star GT5282 Launched, 1 GHz, Dual Sim, Android 4.1 for Rs. 5240 (PR)

Samsung has just launched an ultra budget smartphone called the “Galaxy Star”, putting the company in handset range from Rs. 5000 to Rs. 45,000 for Smartphone Market Segment. The phone is aimed at the basic market, and targets the likes of Indian brands with budget smartphones. The Galaxy Star is powered by a 1200 mAh battery and runs on a 1 GHz A5 chipset, along with 512 MB RAM and 4 GB of internal storage. The Galaxy Star also has a 2 MP camera at the back and a 3 inch capacitive touchscreen in the front along with Bluetooth 4.0 for sharing abilities.

The Galaxy Star is being launched with a free data offer from Vodafone – 250 MB per month for 2 months .The offer is applicable on Vodafone 2G on purchase of Samsung Star till July 31 , 2013 .

[toggle title=”Press Release”]SAMSUNG DEBUTS THE ‘GALAXY STAR’
The entry level Galaxy device from Samsung

New Delhi, May 24, 2013 – Samsung Electronics, the number one smartphone provider in India, today announced the launch of the Samsung GALAXY Star in the Indian market. The GALAXY Star is the entry level smartphone from Samsung, which provides users’ with an enhanced smartphone experience at a very affordable price point. Powered with an ultrafast, speedy processor, intuitive motion UI and smart multimedia features, the dual SIM capable Samsung Galaxy Star offers seamless all-round performance, greater flexibility, freedom and content sharing possibilities to its users.
Announcing the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Star, Mr. Vineet Taneja, Country Head, Samsung Mobile stated, “In line with our commitment to providing Smartphones to a wider set of consumers , I am happy to announce the launch of Galaxy Star – a device that provides superior value to consumers based on its advanced features , intuitive performance and superior design features. We want more and more feature phone users to upgrade to the Samsung Galaxy Star. ”
Superior performance
Powered by A5 1GHz processor and the latest Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) operating system, the Samsung GALAXY Star provides the user with exceptional performance for an enhanced multi-tasking and connectivity. With 3” capacitive touch screen, the device comes loaded with a 2MP camera and the latest Bluetooth 4.0 technology for on-the-go Internet and effortless sharing. Supported with a large 512 MB RAM & 4GB internal memory Samsung Galaxy Star can be expandable upto 32GB for a seamless smartphone usage.
Dual Smart Experience
The GALAXY Star comes bundled with several smart features that enable users to control and connect with the device. Intelligent Motion UI maximizes smart features for the most responsive, intuitive user experience. For example, shake the device to refresh and update, mute volume by simply flipping device, etc. . It’s innovative Smart Dual SIM feature provides total communication flexibility, allowing users to manage two phone numbers from a single phone, thus maintaining personal and professional life with ease. The feature enables the user to receive calls on one SIM number while taking a call from the other, ensuring efficient management of personal and work commitments without ever missing a call. Enhanced Smart Dual SIM UX is designed to manage both accounts with safe call dialler and message composer.
Rich connected applications
The GALAXY Star comes pre-loaded with ChatOn, Samsung’s unique cross-platform communication service that enables the users to socialize with friends and to do more than just instant messaging. ChatOn allows users to freely share multimedia content, do group chatting with friends and create personalized animated messages. The device also comes pre-loaded with the services such Google Search and cutting edge Google Now. Google Now provides the users’ helpful cards with information they need throughout the day, even before they ask. The device is also embedded with the of the Samsung Apps store with contains a variety of e-books, games, news, navigation, productivity, social networking apps, etc. Last but not the least, Galaxy Star based on latest Android OS i.e. Jellybean 4.1 provides opportunity to consumers to download more than 700k Apps & Games from Google Playstore.
The Samsung GALAXY Star comes with a powerful 1200mAh battery and has an MRP of Rs. 5240/-.The Galaxy Star is being launched with a free data offer from Vodafone – 250 MB per month for 2 months .The offer is applicable on Vodafone 2G on purchase of Samsung Star till July 31 , 2013 .
With the launch of this device, Samsung now offers a range of 15 Smartphone models priced in the range between Rs. 5240/- and Rs. 41,500/-.
About Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in technology, opening new possibilities for people everywhere. Through relentless innovation and discovery, we are transforming the worlds of televisions, smartphones, personal computers, printers, cameras, home appliances, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. We employ 236,000 people across 79 countries with annual sales of US$187.8 billion. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com
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May 24, 2013
Jolla Unveils First Sailfish Smartphone, Includes Android App Support

Finnish startup Jolla has announced its first smartphone, which shows off its Sailfish OS on a 4.5-inch screen.

Jolla, which was founded by former Nokia employees who wanted to continue the development work the Finnish phone maker had done on the MeeGo OS, is with the introduction one big step closer to entering the ultra-competitive smartphone market.

“The earliest memories I have of things really crystalizing is from the summer of 2011. I was on holiday and there was a conference call I took on the beach, and the people that became Jolla, the founders and many of the early contributors were on that call. But to me the hard work really started in January 2012,” said Marc Dillon, who recently stepped down as the company’s CEO to focus on developing the first phone.

The smartphone has a 4.5-inch “Estrade” display, as well as 16GB of internal storage and a microSD slot. There’s an unspecified dual-core processor to handle daily tasks and an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera.

Jolla’s first handset is also 4G-enabled and has a replaceable battery, which will go down a treat with power users who often find themselves in the red at the end of the day.

Sailfish is a Linux-based operating system that picks up where MeeGo left off… or rather where Nokia left off when the company abandoned MeeGo and jumped on the Windows Phone bandwagon.

While Sailfish has a unique user interface and supports native apps written for the Linux-based OS, out of the box it will also have support for Android apps.

The heart of the OS consists of thumbnails of opened applications on the homescreen from which users also can access multiple features directly by scrolling from side-to-side or just clicking on them to access the main feature.

“The true multitasking is working in lots of different applications. You can have a video running in a thumbnail while you are doing something else on the device,” Dillon said.

The back cover plates are dubbed “The Other Half” and they will actually do a bit more than just give you a new exterior color. Jolla has said these covers will be able to automatically adjust fonts, ringtones, profiles, color themes and more.

The phone is expected to cost $500 and Indian availability has not been specified yet!

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May 20, 2013
Xolo X1000 Launched in India for Rs. 19,999

Xolo has launched the new X1000 Intel based Smart phone, with an 2 GHz Intel Atom Processor with Hyper threading. along with a PowerVR SGX540 clocked at 400 MHz.

The Xolo X1000 has a 4.7 inch 1280x720p display, which has a 314 pixel per inch density along with Sharp TFT transmissive LCD. On the back of the device is an 8mp camera with LED light and 1080p full HD recording, and a 1.3 MP front facing camera. Xolo X1000 also boasts of 10bursts at 15fps, with several shooting modes.

The Memory of the Xolo X1000 is 8GB and it has 1GB of RAM, making it limited when compared to several other devices presently in the market.

The Xolo A1000 will be available online starting today for a price of Rs.19,999 and will go on sale in the retail market starting March 21st. Xolo is really pushing the speed capabilities of the device pegging it against devices like Galaxy Note 2, One X+ and even the recently launched Galaxy Grand, Putting the X1000 at twice the speed in benchmarks like Linpac.

The Xolo X1000 also is running Android 4.0.4 ICS and the development for the Jelly Bean Update is going on, and will be available next quarter. This would put the Xolo X1000 behind several other devices including the recently launched budget phones.

The launch of the XOLO X1000 builds upon the successful introduction of the first Intel-based smartphone last year, the XOLO X900. We congratulate Lava on the new XOLO X1000 and believe that consumers will appreciate the increased performance and computing experience that comes with Intel Inside. said Debjani Ghosh, MD, Sales and Marketing Group, Intel India”

We will be going hands on with the phone soon, so stay tuned.

March 14, 2013
Waterproof and Rugged Xcover 2 by Samsung announced with Jelly Bean

Samsung has announced what is going to be the most notable, rugged launch ahead of schedule in 2013, the Xcover 2. Along with a 1 GHz dual core processor, 4-inch WVGA display all on Android 4.1 with TouchWiz, the device also has a 5-megapixel camera with a dedicated camera shutter button.

The Xcover 2 also has GPS and GLONASS to cater to the explorer in you. The Xcover 2 will also pack a Cardio trainer Pro workout app along with a physical hand strap and mount.

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

Samsung GALAXY Xcover 2

January 25, 2013

SEOUL, Korea – January 25, 2013 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, today unveiled the Samsung Xcover 2, the ideal smartphone for active explorers who are enjoying outdoor lifestyles and seeking a durable mobile device with essential smartphone capabilities.

• The GALAXY Xcover 2 is optimized to endure against the most rugged outdoor conditions, whether you’re at work or
play. Protected against the elements, it is dust and sand proof. It’s even water resistant to a depth of one meter for up to
30 minutes (IP67 Certified). You can now take photos under water with the direct camera key, hold on tight to your
device with the strap holder and not worry about dropping your phone as the battery cover lock gives added protection.

• Pre-downloaded Google map data, an enhanced GPS ? GLONASS which shortens the satellite signal detection by
up to 20? to tracks your location more accurately, LED Flash next to the camera which can be used like a torch and
a huge battery capacity of 570 hours(1,700mAh), making the GALAXY Xcover 2 is the best possible smartphone partner
for outdoor exploration.

• In addition, the Cardio Trainer Pro workout application will also help you achieve your fitness goals by creating a
tailored training program, checking your progress and recording your track and speed.

• For everyday, users can expect the powerful performance characteristic of a Samsung smartphone with the robust
GALAXY Xcover 2 shell. Its vivid 4.0″ (100.8mm) WVGA display provides a clear and wide viewing experience,
a 5-megapixel camera and VGA front camera that will let you record precious moments in high resolution,
Bluetooth® v 4.0 gives a better connection that consumes less power and detects devices 50 meters away.
An impressive 1GHz dual core processor powers the core of the GALAXY Xcover 2, which ensures
a fast operating speed for seamless multitasking, faster webpage loading and softer UI transitions.

• Samsung GALAXY Xcover 2 runs Android™ 4.1 (Jelly Bean) enabling faster and smoother screen transitions and
providing an enhanced user interface featuring a new, easier-to-use notification panel. As a premium Samsung
Android™ phone, the device is packed with a series of innovative features and services to boost performance and
the overall user experience. The intuitive Motion UI understands your movements to shake and update or turn over
to mute; data can be synced, backed up and restored with S-Cloud; S Voice lets users control the phone using
their voice, allowing you to see the weekly weather forecast, the contact number you’re trying to find or even take
a picture as you speak; Best Shot recommends the best shot from a series of photos; Smart Stay recognizes
whether the user is looking at the screen to dim the screen accordingly. Users can also enjoy all the benefits of
Samsung Hubs, including the latest versions of Readers Hub, Video Hub, Game Hub and Music Hub.

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January 26, 2013
Hands on : Samsung Galaxy Grand

Samsung saw the “Indian” version of the PHABLET and decided that it needed to penetrate the market which was dominated by lower class devices. The new Samsung Galaxy Grand aims to do that, with slight bit of problem the initial market price of Rs 21,500.

At first the Galaxy Grand looks like a fuse between the S3 and the Note 2, however it has features of neither (except the looks). The Samsung Galaxy Grand is powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, it has 1 Gb of RAM and 8GB internal storage which honestly is the only current redeeming feature. The Grand also belongs to the DUOS series since it a dual sim phone.

The front of the device has a 5 inch 480×800 px display which surprisingly is very clear and vivid with good outdoor visibility. The phone also has multi window which we demonstrated in our hands on video (coming up.)

8 MP Camera

On the back, the Samsung Galaxy Grand features an 8 megapixel primary camera with LED flash, which if Samsung is to be believed has “enhanced optics”. At first it just seems like a bunch of gimmicks, only a final review will tell. The camera however zero shutter-lag and a backside illumination sensor.

The build quality of the phone is also standard Samsung style, so plastics all round, keeping manufacturing costs low for the device. Samsung Galaxy Grand comes with Jelly Bean and Touch Wiz designed for Jelly Bean. So Samsung though it fair enough to stuff the phone with features like “direct call” and “popup video” from the Galaxy S3 and Note 2.

Usual Button Layout

Flip Case

[pullquote_left]”too little too late”[/pullquote_left] Although the Galaxy Grand is a noble attempt from Samsung, is the device “too little too late” especially considering the “Indian” counterparts one up-ed Samsung just a day ago. While true usage capabilities will only come with the final review, as far as The Galaxy Grand is concerned, it should be a decent if not “GRAND” add-on to the lineup of devices from Samsung. However considering sheer market value and brand value, a stable user experience and a good user support coverage, the device will be a great eye candy and will attract a lot of buyers, especially those who will prefer a “brand” over specs.

The final device will drop the matte bezel and will adopt a shiny glossy bezel, similar to the one on the Note 2. The added flip cover and the striking resemblance to the mammoth flagship will enable the user to pass the Galaxy grand as a Note 2 to the unknown eye. That is essentially what will make this device really popular for the Indian psyche.

Hands on Video:

January 22, 2013
Lamborghini Aventador Roadster To Launch In India On 25th January

The Indian arm of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., an iconic Italian super sports car maker, is going to introduce its Aventador Roadster to domestic audience on January 25, 2013. The stunning two-seater ‘Raging Bull’ was unveiled at the 2012 Los Angeles auto salon, wherein it thrilled the supercar aficionados across the world with its ravishing design and power.

The Lamborghini Aventador Roadster engine generates peak power of 700 PS and peak torque of 690 Nm. Powered by the same 6.5L petrol engine that powers the coupe variant, the roadster will have a top speed of 350 kmph and a 0-100 acceleration time of 3.0 seconds. Respective figures for the Aventador coupe variant stand at 354 kmph and 2.9 seconds. Deceleration from 100-0 kmph can be achieved in just 60 ft. Aventador is the fastest Lamborghini ever. It has a power (bhp) to weight (kgs) ratio of 1:2.34.

The open-top Lambo comes with a removable two piece carbon fibre roof with each piece weighing about 6kg. The roof can be folded and conveniently stowed in the small storage solution provided under the car’s nose.

To compensate for the reduction in structural rigidity, the rear pillars have been reinforced and there is a metal hood to cover the engine instead of the hardtop version’s glass hood.

At present, the Lamborghini Aventador is offered to domestic sports car enthusiasts at a price tag close to Rs. 3.7 crore in the country. Accordingly, industry experts believe that upcoming Aventador Roadster will be pitched at a slightly higher pricing than its coupe version in the Indian auto market.

[Rush Lane]

January 19, 2013
RIM Introduces BBM Voice, Free Voice Calling Over Wi-Fi For BBM Users
With RIM’s BlackBerry 10 announcement earlier this week – now officially launching on January 30th, 2013 – there seems to be some much needed enthusiasm running through their veins. Today the company has declared that their popular BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) service will be updated to version 7.0 and brings a bunch of new features.

BBM 7.0 will move away from just text with the addition of BBM Voice — free Wi-Fi calling between all BlackBerry Messenger users. If you’re interested in trying it out, the open beta starts today. Much as BBM initially led the move towards platform-specific messaging as a way to save on text message costs, RIM’s new integrated Wi-Fi calling solution could provide a simple way for users to save on voice minutes — so long as they have Wi-Fi available. It’s a big addition to the BBM real-time chat app, a service that T.A. McCann, RIM’s VP of BBM and Social Communities says “we pioneered and is now being copied by many.”

From the looks of things, initiating a call through BBM Voice is quite simple and cleanly integrated into the service. Users will see an icon that represents the voice availability of their BBM contacts, and a simple press of the “dial” key (or the dial icon on a touchscreen-equipped BlackBerry) will request that the receiver join a voice call. Once the call is started, users can jump back into chat to send images or other content, will full multitasking available in other apps and full compatibility with speakerphone or Bluetooth headsets.

BBM 7 will also see 16 new emoticons, including a “hang loose” sign, mad, camera icon, lightbulb, sun, rain, thunderstorm, snow, tired and what looks to be dizzy. Also coming in the upgrade is an In App Upgrade Notification that will do just that, notify you when an BBM update is available (works for OS 5, 6, 7 devices). Finally, RIM has also linked your BBM info (display name, picture, contacts, groups) directly to your BBID, thus making it eventually easier to switch/upgrade to BlackBerry 10 without any frustration.

BBM 7 will be available to the masses “before the end of the year,” but if you’re interested to give it a go now you can head on over to the Beta Zone and download BBM version 7 and BBM Voice.

Check out the Press Release below :

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

For the times when you want to hear a friend’s laughter instead of reading LOL, BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM™) is taking the social networking experience to a whole new level with an exciting new feature called BBM Voice. Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ:RIMM)(TSX:RIM) today announced BBM version 7, a free update for the globally popular mobile social network, which will allow customers to make free voice calls to other BBM customers around the world over a Wi-Fi® connection*.

BBM is a fast, convenient and inexpensive service for BlackBerry® customers that gives them the ability to instantly chat with a friend, family member or colleague, and know when their message has been delivered, and read. With the new version of BBM, customers have a new option – they can talk with their BBM contact across the globe for free over a Wi-Fi connection. In an instant, customers can switch between texting and talking, or talk and text at the same time. For consumers, especially in developing markets, the BBM Voice feature offers an attractive way to talk with friends and family near and far, and staying in contact will be easier than ever as the holiday season approaches. For business customers, BBM Voice allows for enriched collaboration.

“BBM is the quick, easy way to stay connected to the people that matter to you, and with today’s announcement we’re expanding the capabilities of the service for deeper social engagement and even greater collaboration, beginning with voice functionality,” said T.A. McCann, Vice President of BBM and Social Communities at RIM. “The new BBM Voice feature is for when you’re travelling and you want to call home without worrying about phone charges. It’s for when you have news you can’t wait to share, for quickly explaining complicated details, and collaborating with colleagues. Whenever your ideas are too big for text, there’s BBM Voice.”

BBM Voice includes a number of convenient features.
- Customers can initiate a BBM Voice call directly, or instantly switch from a BBM text chat to talk, and back again.
- The split-screen feature allows customers to talk and text at the same time, so for example, they can send a picture to their contact while talking with them. They can also check other BBM text chats, check email, or navigate to other apps while engaged on a BBM Voice call.
- BBM provides a visual indicator that shows when contacts are available for a voice call.
- BBM Voice is compatible with any accessories a customer has now for making voice calls on their BlackBerry smartphone, such as a Bluetooth® or wired headset. Customers can also use BBM Voice over their BlackBerry smartphone’s speakerphone.
- If it’s not an ideal time to talk, customers can simply choose to respond by texting back.
Another important feature of BBM version 7 is its integration with a customer’s BlackBerry ID, which is designed to back up their BBM profile, groups and contacts so they can automatically be restored in the event they switch to a new BlackBerry smartphone, including to a BlackBerry® 10 device.

BBM version 7 with the new BBM Voice feature is currently available in Beta for BlackBerry smartphones running the BlackBerry® 6 OS or higher with support planned for smartphones running the BlackBerry 5 OS at a future date. The Beta can be downloaded for free from BlackBerry Beta Zone**. Customers can sign up to BlackBerry Beta Zone for free at www.BlackBerry.com/betazone.

For more information about BBM, please visit www.blackberry.com/bbm.

* BBM requires a BlackBerry service plan. The BBM Voice feature requires a Wi-Fi connection with access to the Internet and may not be available in all markets.

** BlackBerry Beta Zone is not available in all markets.

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November 14, 2012
Microsoft Officially Unveils Windows 8 and the Surface RT tablet

Microsoft has brought thousands of people to New York to celebrate the launch of its Windows 8 operating system and its Surface RT tablet, available October 26th. Touting 670 million users of Windows 7 and over 15 petabytes of data stored in its Skydrive cloud, Microsoft is confident that Windows 8 will become even more successful than its predecessor.

One major aspect of the announcement is bringing more attention to Windows RT, a version of Windows 8 optimized to run on ARM-based processors such as Nvidia’s Tegra 3 and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4 family. This is the version of Windows that will first become available on Microsoft’s Surface tablet — the Intel-powered Pro version will be available in the coming months — and will be limited to running apps downloaded from the Windows Store. While this severely limits the potential audience of Windows RT, Microsoft has promised that the Windows Store will contain more apps upon its launch than any other ecosystem did when it launched.

Microsoft claims that there have been over 1,000 PCs, in varying styles and sizes, certified to use Windows 8. The ARM-based PCs and tablets will have extensive peripheral support, supporting the majority of mice, keyboards and printers. As for apps, Microsoft promises that top brands will feature in the Store, as well as first-party apps such as Xbox Music, Games and Movies.

October 25, 2012
Google Nexus 7 8GB Sold Out And Unlikely To Return, 32GB Version Coming Soon

If you jumped onto the Play Store today looking to pick up an 8GB version of the tab in time for the holidays, you may have noticed the $200 8GB has been completely sold out, listed as “coming soon.” So what gives? Well, there have been whisperings that Google could have plans to completely phase out the 8GB version of the Google Nexus 7, in favor of offering the 16GB models for the exact same price.

Google is expected to announce a 32GB Google Nexus 7 tablet, both Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity, at their upcoming “playground is open” Android event on October 29th. Google has yet to confirm the news of a new version of the tablet, but some retails have received stock and unofficially started selling them.

From day one, many have complained that the 8GB version of the N7 simply lacked sufficient storage (5.6GB usable), and dropping it entirely sort of makes sense at this point, particularly with both the iPad Mini and Kindle Fire HD starting at 16GB. The 8GB retailed for $209 and hopefully a massive price drop for the 16GB version is en route…

Of course, it could just come back tomorrow, and we could be wrong, but hey, the timing is right, and our gut instinct here tells us otherwise.

October 24, 2012
Asus Padfone 2 Launched (Press Release)

Just a couple of days after the PadFone 2 images were leaked via Twitter, Asus today officially unveiled the PadFone 2. Asus’s Padfone concept encapsulates a smartphone and a 10-inch tablet in one convenient sandwich, with the smartphone module being home to most of the processing internals.

The Asus Padfone 2 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core chip clocked at 1.5GHz and has a 4.7-inch 720p display which uses Sharp’s IGZO technology, wrapped under a scratch-resistant Corning Fit Glass. The maximum brightness on the device is an astounding 550nits!

It sports a new 13-megapixel with a burst mode capable of capturing up to 100 shots at a blisteringly quick six shots per second, while simultaneously recording 1080p HD video at 30fps, or 720p HD video at 60fps.Apart from this, it has a 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera, 2GB of RAM, Corning Fit Glass, NFC and 50GB of Asus Web storage.

[quote]ASUS Chairman Jonney Shih unveiled PadFone 2 in front of the world’s media at a press conference in Milan, Italy. “Our relentless drive to innovate through Design Thinking has empowered us to create PadFone 2. It’s beautiful, it’s fast, it’s seamless and, best of all, it’s intuitive,” said Mr. Shih[/quote]

The Asus PadFone 2 has a 2140mAh battery provides up to 16 hours 3G talk-time and 13 hours Wi-Fi web browsing, while PadFone 2 Station’s 5000mAh battery gives up to 36 hours 3G talk-time. PadFone 2 Station’s internal battery also has enough capacity to recharge the docked PadFone 2 three times over.

As far as the pricing is concerned, users can opt to buy the PadFone 2 either as a standalone or together with the PadFone Station. The price ranges between $620 (Rs. 32,739) and $750 (Rs. 39,607) for the smartphone alone and the entire combo costs an additional $210 (Rs. 11,089).

Check out the Press Release below :

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Live Life Intuitively with ASUS PadFone™ 2

Quad-core smartphone with incredible battery life and a thinner, lighter PadFone 2 Station deliver the ultimate mobile flexibility.

Milan, Italy (October 16, 2012) – ASUS, a global leader in the new digital era, today announces the PadFone™ 2. Building upon the successful PadFone combination of an Android smartphone and dockable tablet for incredible mobile flexibility, PadFone 2 consists of a higher-specification quad-core smartphone and a completely redesigned tablet.

ASUS Chairman Jonney Shih unveiled PadFone 2 in front of the world’s media at a press conference in Milan, Italy. “Our relentless drive to innovate through Design Thinking has empowered us to create PadFone 2. It’s beautiful, it’s fast, it’s seamless and, best of all, it’s intuitive,” said Mr. Shih.

PadFone 2 is a fully featured 4.7″ Android™ smartphone with industry-leading specifications that docks with the unique PadFone 2 Station to become a lightweight, but fully featured, 10.1″ tablet. Apps are seamlessly optimized on-the-fly to support both tablet and phone modes, with an instant transition between smartphone and tablet screen sizes.

Enlarge and Charge

ASUS’ world-renowned Design Thinking philosophy has significantly reduced PadFone 2 Station’s thickness and weight. At just 649g, the combined weight of both PadFone 2 and PadFone 2 Station is now lighter than most tablets on the market, and the dock mechanism has been redesigned to require just one swift step to use. PadFone 2 has also been subtly refined to increase its screen size to 4.7″, while reducing its thickness and weight to just 9mm at its thickest point and 135g, respectively.
Battery life is astounding, too. The higher-capacity PadFone 2 2140mAh battery provides up to 16 hours 3G talk-time and 13 hours Wi-Fi web browsing, while PadFone 2 Station’s 5000mAh battery gives up to 36 hours 3G talk-time. PadFone 2 Station’s internal battery also has enough capacity to recharge the docked PadFone 2 three times over.

Super Phone, Super Performance

A 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM ensures incredible PadFone 2 performance in both smartphone and tablet modes. The new 4.7″ 1280 x 720 HD Super IPS+ display uses scratch-resistant Corning® Fit Glass and delivers sharp, detailed images with accurate colors, ultra-wide viewing angles and 550 nits brightness for stunning outdoor visibility.
A new 13-megapixel high-performance camera captures incredibly detailed images with no shutter lag. Burst mode can capture up to 100 shots at a blisteringly quick six shots per second, while simultaneously recording 1080p HD video at 30fps, or 720p HD video at 60fps. Low-light performance is also enhanced by the wide f/2.4 aperture and a dedicated image signal processor. Both PadFone 2 and PadFone 2 Station feature superlative sound quality too, thanks to ASUS SonicMaster technology and audio tuning by Waves, recipient of a Technical GRAMMY Award®.

Easy to Share, Easy to Save

With capacities up to 64GB and 50GB of ASUS WebStorage provided free for two years, PadFone 2 offers endless possibilities for storing data. Data syncing between devices is also a thing of the past, since PadFone 2 storage is used by PadFone 2 Station when the two are connected. Shared mobile data connectivity between smartphone and tablet also means just one data plan is needed for both devices, while support for up to 42Mbit/s DC-HSPA+ and 100Mbit/s LTE delivers super-fast web browsing and downloads.

User-friendly enhancements

PadFone 2 also features a new version of the SuperNote app that instantly converts handwritten notes made in multiple languages into editable text. Its Instant Translation tool also translates any word, phrase or sentence in an email, web page or app at a touch, without the need for a third-party translation tool.

Availability

PadFone 2 will be launched before the end of December in Europe (Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden) and Asia (Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, U.A.E). Availability in other countries will be announced at a later date.

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October 16, 2012
New Maruti Alto 800 Averages 23 kmpl : Scheduled For 16th October Launch

Maruti Suzuki India Limited has announced official market release of their upcoming Alto 800. The company has already started accepting orders for the new model on initial booking amount of Rs.5,000. Alto 800 possesses a 796cc engine with fuel efficiency of 22.74 kmpl which is 15% higher than their previous model. It is this factor that will make it one of the most economic cars in the country.

The new Maruti Alto 800 small car should come with an expected price tag that stays at the Rs 4 lakh mark. Alto 800 replaces MSIL best seller Alto as the company seeks to overcome tough market conditions such as higher petrol costs and increased interest rates all of which have adversely affected sales of small cars in the country.

Alto 800 will be offered in a choice of six variants – 3 petrol and 3 CNG. Petrol variants are expected to offer mileage approximately at 23 kmpl while the CNG version will give mileage of around 31 kmpl. Interiors are fashionable and offer enhanced head and leg room making the Alto 800 ideal even for taller passengers. While the Alto K10 will continue being availabe as is, Maruti Alto 800 exports to Latin America and other markets will begin soon. Alto 800 once launched is likely to compete with Tata Nano and Hyundai Eon. MSIL Alto sales have been declining since the past few months. In the period April to August 2012, the company sold 89,000 units while in the same period in the previous year this figure stood at 1.22 lakhs

[Rushlane]

October 10, 2012