Twitter updates its iOS and Android applications

Twitter has updated its iOS and Android applications and along with minor appearance changes, the services included in the apps are more streamlined with the services included on their website. Just like Twitter for web, where you have tabs for Connect, Discover and your homepage of tweets, the applications now include buttons that offer the same features. The Discover tab in the app allows you to find timely content that is interesting and that matters to you. In the Discover section, you'll see Activity, which, like the web counterpart, allows you to see tweets that are retweeted or favourited by the people you follow as well as which accounts your followers start following and if they've added any new accounts to any of their lists. Activity appears right below the redesigned stories in Discover. You can tap any story to see any trend or news article. You can then read the entire story or join the conversation by replying, retweeting or favouriting related Tweets. 

Apple's new iPad officially launches in India, prices start at Rs. 30,500

If you’ve been diligently waiting for the new iPad to arrive in India, then your wait has finally ended. Today, Apple launches their third generation iPad or simply, new iPad in India and it will be available across the country in all Apple authorized outlets. The new iPad brings with it a host of new features like the Retina Display, a much better camera and faster quad-core graphics. The pricing hasn’t changed since the last time we reported it and here it is once more, in case you missed it the first time. The brand has also dropped the prices of the iPad 2 in India with the 16GB Wi-Fi version available for  24,500 and  32,900 for the 16GB Wi-Fi + 3G model.  

Ready to buy one ??

Five ways to make the most of your smartphone

5 Tips for Better Use

Yeah, my smartphone doubles up as my e-book reader, my movie screen and the latest iPod Touch I wish I had. But these roles are among the many that it has consistently donned for more than a year now. It's now time to go against the cliché and try to teach the old digital pet a couple of new trendy tricks. Here's a list of things you can do to get more bang for the bucks you shelled out for that special handset.

Greener than thou

Use your smartie to cut down on your carbon footprint. Download apps like CamCard or Business Card Reader to click and save the details of the people you meet at the next conference. Not only do these apps save the contacts under their respective fields but also give you the option to automatically look them up on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter and even get their addresses on Google Maps. It also works with QR codes in case there is one on the contact's business card and can even generate a new one for you to use. You can configure the apps to even recognise e-mail signatures and save it for future use.

Next iPhone to reportedly use in-cell touch panels

As far as iPhone rumours go, they virtually circulate throughout the year. The amount of rumours surrounding the next iPhone gathered momentum shortly after the iPhone 4S was launched and this mainly stemmed from the fact that Apple released a near identical device design-wise as compared to the iPhone 4. The last we heard of the upcoming iPhone was that it would feature a liquidmetal finish at the back thus propelling the belief that Apple will design the next iPhone differently, which of course is expected. According to a report by Digitimes, Apple is expected to use a new panel for their displays which would make the handset thinner and lighter. The brand will incorporate panels using the in-cell technology that are being manufactured by Sharp and Toshiba Mobile Displays (TMD).

Intel launches 3rd Gen ‘Ivy Bridge’ processors, succesor to Sandy Bridge

Intel Corporation today introduced the quad-core 3rd generation Intel Core processor family, delivering dramatic visual and performance computing gains for gamers, media enthusiasts and mainstream users alike. Available now in powerful, high-end desktop, laptop and all-in-one (AIO) designs, the new processors are the first chips in the world made using Intel’s 22-nanometer (nm) 3-D tri-Gate transistor technology. The combination of Intel’s cutting-edge 3-D tri-gate transistor technology and architectural enhancements help make possible up to double the 3-D graphics and HD media processing performance compared with Intel’s previous generation of chips. As a result, all the things people love to do on their PCs—from creating and editing videos and photos; surfing the Web, watching HD movies or playing mainstream games— are quicker and better. In the coming months, additional versions of the 3rd generation Intel Core processors will be available to power a new wave of systems ranging from Ultrabook devices, to servers and intelligent systems in retail, healthcare and other industries.

Man buys 14,962 domains in 24 hours, makes millions in a month

Cybersquatters are quick to register domains that could fetch thousands of dollars and Mike Mann is one of those individuals. He has been on a domain registering spree for the past few days. CNET reports that he’s registered close to 15,000 domains in the process, in a day, between Tuesday and Wednesday last week. Mann says he wants to own the world and by the looks of things, he plans to do that by registering all the major, popular domains on the net. Mike Mann from Delaware, USA, who is 45 years of age now, used to run an ISP in the 90s but he made his first big fortune when he was offered $25,000 and then $50,000 for the Menus.com domain. Mann had bought the domain for a mere $70. He took the domain sale business seriously and started a business doing that.

Facebook for Android gets updated, new features added

Updated.. Facebook 1.9 in Android

The official Facebook application for Android has been upgraded to version 1.9 and this new update brings in a few new features. Firstly, there are a couple of performance related upgrades that have improved the feel of the user interface and have made it less laggy. It’s now smoother and faster. In case your phone hasn’t got the update option yet, you can manually go to the official Facebook application via the Google Play Store and click update. 

Google to launch online storage service for consumers

Google Inc is preparing to roll out a service to let consumers store photos and other content online, a source familiar with the matter said, pushing into a market now dominated by the likes of Dropbox and Box. The service, to be called Google Drive, could be announced as soon as Tuesday and would be offered with both free and premium for-pay versions, the sources said.

Google's "cloud storage" offering will incorporate search capabilities and allow users to store pictures, notes and other documents on the Internet and access them from any Web-connected device. Consumers will get 5 Gigabytes of storage for free with Google Drive, while various versions with incrementally more storage capacity, topping out at about 100 Gibabytes, will be available for monthly fees, the source said. It was not immediately clear how much Google will charge for the premium versions.

Google shuts down some more services

Google has its resources plugged into several places but not all of these services and projects perform in the same way as some of the successful ones. Google decided that it was a good idea to shut these and focus the resources on more popular projects. There have been several projects that were shut in the past and the next round of cleanup has arrived. Getting the axe are One Pass, Google Flu Vaccine Finder, Google Related, Google Sync for BlackBerry, as well as the mobile web applications for Google Talk this time around. The Patent Search site now redirects to Google’s home page. 

Windows Phone 7.5 Refresh to bring Internet sharing to Lumia 710, 800

With the launch of their Nokia Lumia handsets late last year, the brand had partnered with Microsoft and launched a couple of handsets namely the Lumia 800 and the Lumia 710. The handsets have done fairly well in the market and since then Nokia have unveiled two more handsets under the Lumia banner which are the Lumia 900 and 610 that are yet to reach our shores. The Lumia 610 is expected to land here by the end of this quarter. A feature the Lumia 610 will have when it launches is Internet sharing capability, something that is lacking on the Lumia 710 and Lumia 800. However, reports by Nokiapoweruser states that this feature will now become available to these handsets with the Windows Phone 7.5 Refresh update.

Lava XOLO X900 based on Intel Medfield, launched in India

Lava International, together with Intel has just launched their first smartphone based on Intel’s brand new Medfield Atom processors. The Lava X900 will be part of the XOLO series so we can expect more phones to be added over the coming months. We first caught a glimpse of the phone back in January during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Lava has priced this phone quite attractively at Rs.22,000 and should be available shortly. At this price range, the X900 has the Motorola Atrix 2 and the HTC Sensation to answer to so its success or failure all boils down to how good the Atom chip really is and if it can stand up to ARM, a veteran in the mobile phone processor space.

As speed as PC

You can now wirelessly charge your phone at a distance of 40mm

The Wireless Power Consortium has announced that the Qi open wireless charging standard is now capable of providing full support and compatibility for longer-distance magnetic resonance technologies. Qi is the global standard for wireless power and charging. Devices are charged just by placing them on, or near, any Qi-enabled surface. Any Qi-enabled device works with any Qi charger, regardless of brand or manufacturer, making charging simple and convenient. Qi is supported by a quickly expanding list of over 100 industry-leading companies and is increasingly integrated into mobile phones, accessories, and public spaces in the US, Japan, China, and Europe.

Windows Phone 7.5 Refresh a.k.a Tango slated for a June release

Nokia’s Lumia 610 will be the first Windows Phone 7.5 Tango or Refresh as it will be officially called, to hit Indian shelves for an estimated price tag of just Rs.11,000. If this actually happens then it’s going to give stiff competition to the mainstream Androids that are currently enjoying the limelight in this price segment. We’ve now learnt, through a Windows centric Spanish blog, that Microsoft will be officially launching Windows Phone 7.5 Refresh sometime in June. This update is designed for low-end WP7 devices that are fitted with 256MB RAM and slower processors making them cheaper to produce while delivering similar experience as Windows Phone Mango.

Oracle probes Google engineer about key email

A Google engineer, testifying in a high-stakes trial pitting Oracle Corp against Google Inc, denied that he referred to Oracle or any other company when he wrote in an email that Google should take a license to use the Java programming language.

The trial entered its fourth day on Thursday, with Google engineer Timothy Lindholm taking the stand to answer questions about a 2010 email that has become a critical piece of evidence in the case. Oracle sued Google in August 2010, saying Google's Android mobile operating system infringes its copyrights and patents for the Java programming language. Google countered that it does not violate Oracle's patents and that Oracle cannot copyright certain parts of Java, an "open-source," or publicly available, software language.

Samsung announces NX1000, NX20 and NX210 cameras with built-in Wi-Fi

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies has announced three new compact system cameras (CSC) from their NX series that feature built-in Wi-Fi connectivity: the NX1000, NX210 and NX20. The innovative additions to Samsung's NX range represent the future in CSC technology: SMART cameras with in-built Wi-Fi technology that allow users to connect to wireless networks without any additional cards or devices. Full Wi-Fi connectivity is complemented by a wide range of features, continuing the innovation of the NX series since the launch of the NX10 in 2010. The NX20 costs $1,100 ( 53,900), the N210 costs $900

( 44,100) and the NX1000 is priced at $700 ( 34,300).

Samsung NX20

IBM researching Lithium-air batteries, to run 500 miles on single charge

T

he switch from gasoline to electricity as the primary power source for vehicles stands to be one of the most important technology shifts of the first half of the 21st century. Recognizing this need, scientists at IBM Research-Almaden started the Battery 500 Project in 2009 to develop a Lithium-Air battery that could travel 500 miles on a single charge. Leveraging IBM's leadership across science and technology in chemistry, physics, nanotechnology and supercomputing modeling in both its Almaden and Zurich laboratories, this research is also done in conjunction with the other Battery 500 Project collaborators, including national laboratories.

Much Needed Technology for the future

Microsoft, Intel hope to eat into Apple’s tablet market share in 2013

Apple has enjoyed a healthy market share when it comes to tablets. They’ve dominated pretty much from the beginning with their iPad. Google’s Android-based tablets have dented the market share but they haven’t been successful at snatching the majority from Apple. Microsoft and Intel however, are hoping they can do it. There’s a lot happening between Intel and Microsoft and there’s a whole bunch of tablets being launched by the end of the year. Intel hopes to launch its Atom-powered Medfield platform in the market, in time for Microsoft’s Windows 8 OS launch sometime in October this year. Microsoft and Intel are both trying to gain lost ground in the tablet space. ARM-based processor manufacturers by companies such as Qualcomm, Samsung and NVIDIA have dominated the market, leaving Intel completely lost. The same has been the case with the OS market, where Microsoft hasn’t had a competing product to take on Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS platforms.

Intel's Medfield and Microsoft's Windows 8 to take on the Apple iPad

Next iPhone to reportedly use in-cell touch panels

Apple to use new technology for their pannels

As far as iPhone rumours go, they virtually circulate throughout the year. The amount of rumours surrounds the next IPhone gathered momentum shortly after the iPhone 4S was launched and this mainly stemmed from the fact that Apple released a near identical device design-wise as compared to the iPhone 4. The last we heard of the upcoming iPhone was that it would feature a liquidmetal finish at the back thus propelling the belief that Apple will design the next iPhone differently, which of course is expected. According to a report by Digitimes, Apple is expected to use a new panel for their displays which would make the handset thinner and lighter. The brand will incorporate panels using the in-cell technology that are being manufactured by Sharp and Toshiba Mobile Displays (TMD).

Top 5 Quad-core Phones

It is no secret that quad-core phones are in a vogue. Quad-core phones are the next best thing in tech. As phones advance like never before, their development ill be sustained only by strong processors which can support heavy softwares, better cameras and superfast Wi-Fi connections. Yes, the era of quad-core phones has begun.

 

So, here we have for you the top 5 quad core phones that you might want to look out for. 

HTC One X
HTC One X is an exciting offering from HTC. It is currently doing pretty good on popularity charts and has opened to good reviews worldwide. Even our own review of the handset is coming soon. Give the features a glance to get your heartbeat going:

 

• Size: 134.4 x 69.9 x 8.9 mm, 130g
• Display:  4.7-inch Super IPS LCD 2 display, 720 x 1280p 
• Memory: 32 GB Inbuilt
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi & Bluetooth
• OS: Ice Cream Sandwich 
• Processor: 1.5 GHz Tegra 3 quad-core, ULP GeForce GPU
• Camera: 8-megapixel primary, 1.3-megapixel secondary
• Battery: 1800 MHz

 

Although we are trying our best not to spill the beans, but still, here is the thing; the camera is simply sexy. There are so many things you can do with it, it feels like you are clicking in real time with a powerful snapper, may be one of the best cameras on a phone. The processor works like a charm; you can do all smartphone-sy stuff, from browsing the net and chatting to watching trailers and what not. Quad core processors create enough power so companies can fit better cameras and features into a phone – the HTC One X is a fine example of this. 

Price: Rs. 37,899

PayTm Changed its Look and Logo.

Paytm recently changed its look and we decided to do a quick review of the new Paytm. So what's new at Paytm, you ask? There is a complete make over of not just the website but the logo as well.

Changes includes :

New design -  UI & UX

Better visual imagery  - Paytm changes its home page image almost daily. It connotes aspiration and also talks about different Paytm features.

Microsoft announces three editions of Windows 8

Microsoft, via their Windows Team Blog, has announced three new versions of their much anticipated Windows 8 operating system. With Windows 8, Microsoft aims to give users the flexibility they need, whether they are on an x86/64 or a WOA PC. They can now use a touch screen or a keyboard and mouse, and switch anytime. Its fast and fluid design aims to encapsulate a wide range of hardware. Also, they have also revamped the Windows Store for downloading apps and games. All the editions of Windows 8 aim to offer a no-compromise experience. Here’s a quick brief on what the three editions aim to provide.

First, Windows 8 is the official product name for the next x86/64 editions of Windows. For PCs and tablets powered by x86 processors (both, 32 and 64 bit), there will be two editions: Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro. For most consumers, Windows 8 will be the right choice. It will include all the features mentioned above plus an updated Windows Explorer, Task Manager, better multi-monitor support and the ability to switch languages on the fly, which was previously only available in Enterprise/Ultimate editions of Windows. For China and a small set of select emerging markets, Microsoft will offer a local language-only edition of Windows 8.

US judge sends Apple and Samsung to make peace and settle

Rivals Never Stop.. 

court filing states that the respective heads of technology giants, Samsung and Apple, will try to come to terms and make a settlement over the patents that are being disputed in their smartphone and tablet technology. The lawsuit saga between Apple and Samsung has been playing out since last year, when Apple sued Samsung for 'slavishly' copying the iPhone and the iPad in their Galaxy line of mobile phones and tablets. Samsung later countersued Apple. However, on Monday, both companies agreed to a settlement conference. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh recommended them to a San Francisco based magistrate who will lead the talks. The people involved in the talks will be Apple's Chief Executive, Tim Cook, Samsung' s CEO, Choi Gee-sung as well as both companies' general counsels according to Koh's order.

Logitech unveils ultrathin keyboard cover for the new iPad

Cover and Keyboard for Ipad

Logitech has extended its tablet line up with its latest keyboard accessory – the Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover – made for the new, third-generation iPad as well as the iPad 2. This all-in-one solution provides an ultrathin screen protector as well as a built-in keyboard so you can type easily and travel without worry.

"The third-generation iPad and its apps are designed to give you more control and creativity, whether you are editing photos and movies, making music or writing a novel," said Alexis Richard, director of product marketing at Logitech. "The new Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover – with its ultra-sleek, smart design and extended keyboard battery life – provides a convenient way for you to make the most of your iPad no matter what activity you are using it for."

Samsung launches Galaxy S Advance and Galaxy Pocket

New Phones From Successful Galaxy Series

Samsung Electronics announced the expansion of its Galaxy smartphone range with the launch of the Galaxy S Advance (GT-I9070) and Galaxy Pocket (GT-S5300). For its Indian smartphone users, Samsung has made available several interesting apps in its application store. Through the My Reader app, Indian consumers can access over 3,00,000 books from Landmark, get 26 Newspapers and 28 Magazines, and access popular comic titles such as Amar Chitra Katha etc. The My Music app allows Samsung Smartphone users to download and listen to more than 1,00,000 songs from Hollywood and Bollywood as well as popular regional titles. Handy is a single point application where users can search, book and pay for flights, trains, buses, and movie tickets. Users can also create their own stock portfolio, get real time stock prices and stay updated on the latest in business news. Furthermore, users can search a restaurant by cuisine and even reserve a table for themselves. The Mobile TV app allows users to watch their favourite TV shows while being on the move while the My Movies app gives users access to movies, videos, and trailers of their choice. The S Advance is priced at Rs.26,900 and the Pocket is priced at Rs.8,150.  

Free Bitdefender scanner solves Mac OS X Flashback Trojan infection

Free Free Free..

We had reported earlier how the Flashback trojan had infected 5,50,000 Macs worldwide but now we have some good news for Mac users. Bitdefender has announced a new virus scanning software that offers detection and removal for the latest e-threat affecting Mac OS X users. Identified earlier last week, the Flashback.L Trojan is thought to have infected more than 6,00,000 OS X computers worldwide already by exploiting the Java runtime environment on the local machine.

Report states Galaxy S III will not be very different from the S II

What Next ??

There have been a lot of rumours in the recent past about the Samsung Galaxy S III and one of the hottest topics regarding the smartphone is with respect to its design. From numerous leaked images in the past, indications have pointed to a complete design overhaul and one of these rumours had suggested that the brand would ditch the home button as the latest version of Android does not require it. However, these reports had been rubbished by newer rumours thereby indicating that the much awaited smartphone will indeed feature the home button. However, the hopes of a design change are something potential consumers are certainly looking forward to but the latest report by CNET may disappoint those who are expecting this.

TRAI makes new regulations for mobile banking

Starting with stringent measures to keep pesky calls and SMSes at bay, TRAI has been asking for several reforms for the betterment of mobile customers. They have been successful to a great extent at banning unsolicited calls/messages. It had even asked telcos to maintain tariff transparency by advertising mobile tariffs in newspapers. With the ongoing buzz about mobile money, wherein companies have been promoting how transactions through mobile are convenient and secure, TRAI has decided to come out with some relevant rules here too. It has issued new guidelines for mobile banking, as per reports. All service providers offering mobile banking have to adhere to and meet the quality standard that has been laid down by TRAI. Airtel recently extended its mobile money service to more cities, while Loop also has its mobile wallet services.

Lava to launch first ever Intel smartphone this week in india

Back in February, when the Mobile World Congress event was in full swing, Intel took to the stage and revealed that they have partnered with Lava International Ltd. and announced the Xolo X900. What makes this handset interesting is that it is based on Intel's smartphone reference design, featuring the Intel Atom processor Z2460 with Intel Hyper-Threading Technology and supporting HSPA+ with the Intel XMM 6260 Platform. If one was wondering when this handset would be officially announced, a report by PCWorld has cleared that up and stated that it would be launched in India this week.

Coming Soon..

Current Mango running WP7 devices to never see Apollo update

To upgrade or not to upgrade? That seems to the big question right now with Microsoft and their now rather controversial, Windows Phone 7 OS. Only very recently good news was pouring out from the WP7 camp when an interview with a Microsoft developer evangelist, one Nuno Silva, revealed that Apollo aka Windows 8, the next big update for the OS, post Mango, would be making its way to all devices. The key word in the statement was “all” and it was quite apparent form the video interview that the developer meant even first-gen devices and not just the Lumias, HTC Radars and such. In specific terms, the name Samsung Omnia 7 was also mentioned.

While we’re sure WP7 users, the world over, who heard the news must have been excited, that state of joy was soon to be crushed with further announcements from sources close to Microsoft.Reports are now stating that according to reliable sources, what was said earlier about Apollo making it to ‘all’ devices was quite inaccurate. In fact it was, simply put, wrong. Current devices running the latest Mango update will, apparently, not be getting an update to Apollo.