Sony rolls out ICS update for Xperia mini

Sony has officially announced on their blog that the update is now rolling out in phases so if your SI number matches the one in the list, there’s a good chance you’ll get it. Try checking the list for SI numbers from here

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Some of the specifications of the phone include: 

• 3-inch, capacitive touchscreen with a 480 x 320 pixel resoluton
• 3G, EDGE/GPRS, WiFi
• GPS with a-GPS Support
• Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP and USB 2.0
• 5MP AF camera with LED flash and 720p video recording
• FM Radio
• 320MB internal storage, expandable to 32GB via microSD card

Updated Google Currents app now available on the Play Store

The updated app of Google Current is available in the Google Play Store. You can download the app from the Google Play Store.

Here are some of the features that are present in Currents.  

• Publisher editions - Publishers such as Forbes, The Guardian, TechCrunch, PBS, Saveur, and more have produced hundreds of editions including in-depth articles, videos, fine photography, slideshows, live-maps, and social streams.
• Google trending editions - Google Currents uses Google search technology to hourly build a set of editions tracking the five most recent trending stories in categories such as world, entertainment, sports, science, and more. Each story is presented through a fresh edition of articles, videos, and pictures,
• Your favorite blogs and feeds - Instantly, turn your Google Reader subscriptions, or any of your favorite blogs/feeds into a beautiful edition with a magazine feel.
• Each edition is available for high speed offline reading, and provides quick-touch sharing. Google Currents self-adapts to differently sized phones and tablets, with your subscriptions synchronized across devices. Google Currents - a reading experience not to be missed. 

Changes in the latest edition include :

• User interface - updated to Android standards
• Top navigation bar - auto hide, touch to show
• Library/trending toggle - moved to navigation bar
• Performance enhancements
• Bug fixes

Samsung Galaxy Beam available for Pre-order @ Rs.29,900 in India

Samsung’s Galaxy Beam will be launching very soon officially as it’s currently available on Samsung’s website for pre-order. The phone is available for Rs.29,900 and unlike the Galaxy S III pre-order, you have to pay the full amount in the beginning itself. This way, you know what the final price is instead of paying a token amount and then being surprised later with the final price. The Galaxy Beam or GT-I8530 is Samsung’s first projector phone that will cater to a niche audience of movie buffs who always want a big screen experience, no matter where they are. The Galaxy Beam was first announced back in February during MWC 2012. 

The phone is fairly light at 45.3g and slim as well. The 50lumen lamp on the top is capable of projecting a 50-inch diagonal, HD picture. The phone lets users spontaneously share photos, videos or other digital media with family or friends by beaming content stored on the device directly onto walls, ceilings or improvised flat surfaces, so that everyone can share the fun without the need to huddle around smartphones or pad-sized screens. Galaxy Beam’s ultra-bright 15 lumens projector allows users to freely share life’s memorable moments instantly and in crisp clarity, even in outdoor environments.

“Galaxy Beam provides mobile freedom, enabling a unique shared experience around digital content for everyone—anywhere and instantly—from a smartphone as slim and portable as any on the market,” said JK Shin, President of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics.

For young users who depend on constant, immediate socializing of digital content and entertainment, Galaxy Beam introduces a new way of sharing. It becomes much more than a phone—a handy digital tool, deployable anywhere, which can add visual entertainment to a simple street gathering, set the mood for a small party, or simply turn life’s moments into something personally and immediately sharable. With Galaxy Beam, a birthday or anniversary party can be enlivened in seconds by sharing YouTube or Hulu music videos straight onto a ceiling or door. Likewise, students can collectively share videos or study-work in any dormitory room or student lounge, turning group study into a whole new interactive experience right from a desk table or from the palm of their hands. Galaxy Beam is also ideal for action-packed interactive gaming. Users can upload their own games or choose from over 1,000 games available via Game Hub, Samsung’s dedicated virtual gaming store, then project games to co-players or observers to turn gaming into an unbeatably interactive, shared experience.

To us, this phone definitely spells good news. Slowly but surely, phones are evolving into a wider genre without compromising on the form factor. Samsung’s always been innovating and the Galaxy Beam is the latest example of that. What’s important to notice with this new projector phone, is how good its projecting capabilities are. Because, for all you know, you might need to create a super dark surrounding, for your smartphone’s projector to be bright enough for visibility. Another important aspect is the 2000mAh battery and how much it’s capable of handling. Keeping the phone alive for about the length of two movies would be plain awesomeness. The heating up also will be an important factor to consider.






Source:- Tech2

Fun2Shoot live mobile video broadcasting app launched for Android

Fun2shoot app has now come to the Android operating System. You can download it from the Google Play store. Users can live stream videos from their mobile to their favourite social network and contacts. It features a dynamic browser-based interface; integrated web storage and one click social sharing. This live video solution claims to be ideal for anyone who hasa  live video situation they would like to broadcast.

One key feature of this app is that it allows shooting and sharing the video while broadcasting it and all the live videos are stored as archives and can also be shared from archives. 

Cisco launches Smart Wi-Fi routers with cloud computing features

Cisco has introduced new Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Routers (EA4500, EA3500 and EA2700) that deliver the latest in home Wi-Fi technology and offer a range of prices and performance. Cisco also unveiled Cisco Connect Cloud, a software platform that redefines and dramatically simplifies how consumers connect, control and interact with their connected devices, including personal entertainment and home appliances. The pricing details are as follows; the EA4500 will cost you Rs.14,999, the EA3500 will cost you 12,499 while the EA2700 will cost you 9,499. 

The new routers are ideal for active online homes, easily handling everything from streaming HD video and multiplayer gaming to downloading large files, adding storage or printers and connecting multiple devices. After creating a password protected Cisco Connect Cloud account, consumers can enjoy anytime, anywhere access to multiple home networks from their mobile, tablet app or web browser and give guests Internet access, set parental controls or add new devices to their network.



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World's smallest USB 3.0 camera launched

Point Grey have announced the addition of an exciting new model to its popular line of Flea3 USB 3.0 cameras. The new model leverages the bandwidth capabilities of USB 3.0 by delivering 8.8 MP colour images at 21 FPS (185 MByte/s) in an ultra-compact, low-cost package. 

The FL3-U3-88S2C features Sony’s new IMX121 sensor with “Exmor R” back-illuminated CMOS architecture. By increasing quantum efficiency and reducing noise, “Exmor R” improves sensitivity and dynamic range for sharp, high-quality colour images. The impressive 4096 x 2160 resolution combined with the ease of USB 3.0 and the camera’s small size makes the new Flea3 suitable for a variety of high resolution colour applications, including automatic optical inspection, ophthalmology, interactive multimedia, and broadcast. 

Point Grey’s Flea3 camera line measures just 29 x 29 x 30mm and provides a unique set of features dedicated to maximizing USB 3.0 reliability, including a 32 megabyte frame buffer; on-camera power, temperature, and status monitoring; and in-field updatable firmware. The camera also provides colour interpolation, look up table, gamma correction, and pixel binning functionality. 

Some key specs of The FL3-U3-88S2C are :

• Video Data Output - upto 24-bit digital data
• Image Data Formats - Y8, Y16, Mono8, Mono12, Mono16 (all models) RGB8, YUV411, YUV422, YUV444, Raw8, Raw12, Raw16 (color models)
• Partial Image Modes - Pixel binning and region of interest (ROI) modes
• White Balance - Automatic/manual modes, programmable via software
• Color Processing - On-camera in YUV or RGB format, or on-PC in Raw format
• Digital Interface - USB 3.0 interface
• Transfer Rates - 5 Gbit/s
• Image Buffer - 32 MB frame buffer
• Memory Channels - 2 memory channels for custom camera settings
• Dimensions - 29 x 29 x 30 mm excluding lens holder (metal case)
• Lens Mount - CS-mount: FL3-U3-13S2, FL3-U3-32S2 / C-mount: FL3-U3-13Y3, FL3-U3-88S2
• Mass - 52 g
• Power Consumption - 5 V, <3 W, via GPIO or USB 3.0 interface 

The Flea3 FL3-U3-88S2C-C (colour) model is list priced at USD $945 (Rs. 52,442 approx.) and is available to order from Point Grey and its network of distributors. 






Source:- Tech2

iberry announces ICS-based Auxus AX01 tablet at Rs. 5,990

iberry is gearing up for the launch of yet another tablet PC - Auxus AX01 running Android 4.0 with 1GB RAM. The device will be priced at Rs.5,990.The Auxus AX01 will feature a 7-inch display, and is powered by a 1GHz Cortex A8 CPU and the Mali 400 GPU.The tablet is expected to hit store shelves in the first week of July.

Detailed specifications of the iberry Auxus 01 are as follows:


SYSTEM PROCESSOR

• CPU: 1.0 GHz ARM Cortex A8
• GPU: Dual Mali-400 OpenGL 2.0
• VPU: Dedicated Full HD Video processing

OPERATINGSYSTEM

• Android 4.0 Ice-Cream Sandwich
• Official Google Play Store supported

MEMORY

• 1GB RAM DDR3
• 4GB Memory
• Expandable MicroSD slot up to 32GB

DISPLAY

• 7.0" Capacitive Multitouchscreen
• 800x480 WVGA-Widescreen

NETWORK

• WiFi 802.11 b/g and External 3G USB Modem
• VIDEO OUTPUT
• Mini HDMI, v1.3, Type C

CAMERA

• (Full HD 1080p Supported)
• Front 0.3 MP

GAMES

• Dual Mali 400 GPU with OpenGL 2.0 support
• Accelerometer, Gravity & Motion Sensor

INPUT/OUTPUT

• 3.5 mm earphone jack, built-in Microphone
• Stereo Speakers, Mini USB Port
• Mini HDMI, MicroSD slot

BATTERY

• Rechargeable Li-poly 4,000MAh

Source:- ThinkDigit

Chrome now available for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch :Google I/O 2012

On day two of Google’s I/O 2012 conference at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, Sundar Pichai, Senior Vice President of Google Chrome announced Chrome for iOS. This finally brings one of the most popular browsers to Apple’s mobile platform which includes the iPhone, iPad and the iPod Touch. The app became available in the app store just a few hours after the announcement and if you haven’t downloaded it already, you can grab it from this link right here. This version of Chrome for iOS however is not the same as the one for the desktop and Android as it still uses Safari’s browser engine as the backend. Google had to make this compromise since it’s the only way they could port the browser to iOS since Apple does not allow any browser in the app store if they don’t use their engine. You can think of Chrome on iOS as a new skin for Safari along with the features that come with Chrome of course. The trade-off here is performance as it’s a lot slower compared to its Android counterpart as it has to use WebKit. 

ArsTechnica reports some of the reasons for the slowdowns experienced in iOS, “Because of Apple's own App Store restrictions, Google is limited to building Chrome for iOS on (the iOS supplied version of) WebKit. Safari is also built on WebKit, and has a bonus advantage of being able to use its Nitro JavScript engine, which is not available to outside apps. (Nitro is limited entirely to Mobile Safari or bookmarked Web apps saved as home screen icons as of iOS 5.) As such, Chrome is at a bit of a disadvantage when it comes to overall speed, though depending on the user, this speed difference may or may not be noticeable.” 


Features like the ability to sync web pages across devices seem to work just fine. For instance, if you’re browsing a website on your Android phone using Chrome and then switch to the iPad, you’ll be able to pick up where you left off through Chrome as it will automatically sync all your opened tabs and bookmarks, provided you have signed in of course. It’s also easier to launch ‘Incognito Mode’ right from the menu in the browser rather than having to go to Settings, which is the case in Safari. Chrome also offers to save your passwords. 




Source:- Tech2

Google Drive coming to iOS devices : Google I/O 2012

Google Drive will now be available for iOS devices. In a Google Blog Post by Posted by Clay Bavor, Product Management Director, the tech giant states:


In April, we introduced Google Drive, a place where you can create, share, and keep all your stuff. Today at the Google I/O conference we announced two new ways to get things done in the cloud: offline editing for Google documents and a Drive app for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

Offline document editing 


No internet connection? No big deal. With offline editing, you can create and edit Google documents and leave comments. Any changes you make will be automatically synced when you get back online.


You can enable offline editing from the gear icon in Google Drive and find more detailed instructions for getting set up in the Help Center. Note that you’ll need the latest versions of Chrome or ChromeOS to edit offline. We’re also working hard to make offline editing for spreadsheets and presentations available in the future.


Google Drive for iOS 


We launched the Drive app for Android phones and tablets a few weeks ago, and starting today, Google Drive is available for your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.


With the Drive app, you can open PDFs, photos, videos, documents and anything else stored in your Drive while you're on the go. You can also search all your files, add collaborators to documents, and make files available offline to view them even without an internet connection. For blind and low-vision users, the app also works great in VoiceOver mode. Learn more about what you can do with the app in our Help Center.


Get Drive in the App Store for your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch running iOS 5.0+ and visit the Play Store to get the latest on your Android phone or tablet.


To learn more about Google Drive, visit drive.google.com/start .

Mobile Number Portability gets a thumbs up

Mobile Number Portability or MNP, essentially gives a subscriber a chance to move out of their existing service provider onto a new service provider without having to forego their number. With power in their hands, subscribers are no longer tied to their providers, if they're unhappy with them. Now, according to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (TRAI)Telecom Subscription Data as on 30th April 2012, the number of takers for MNP rose from 41.88 million subscribers at the end of March 2012 to 45.89 million at the end of April 2012. In fact, if the figures in this report are anything to go by then in April 2012 alone, 4.01 million MNP requests were made. Elaborating on the numbers a little futher, the report adds that in MNP Zone-I (Northern and Western India), Gujarat emerged as the state with the largest number of MNP requests at 4.23 million, followed by Rajasthan at 4.10 million. Then in MNP Zone-II (Southern and Eastern), Karnataka emerged as the state with the maximum number of MNP requests at 5.11 million, followed by Andhra Pradesh Service area (4.44 million). To get a better idea of the numbers elsewhere in the country, you can refer to the image below -

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Google+ gets updates, Events feature added : Google I/O 2012

Google+ app  got an update at Google I/O 2012 event. This update includes :

• Google+ Events: allows users to add events, invite people and share photos and media in real-time at the location itself. 
• Sshared location : all the photos shot by the various attendees will be present at one place. 
• The feature will also add the event directly to your Google Calendar. 

It’s available for Android phones and tablets and even the Apple iPad is going to get its own app. The update is available on the Google Play store, and if you’re already using the app you can simply update it.

Google Play to offer videos, TV shows and magazines

This year’s Google I/O conference was mainly focussed on the Google Nexus 7 tablet and their latest Android operating system Jelly Bean, but Google Play - the company's online store - did not go unmentioned. Google took some time out during the keynote address to reveal that they have now expanded Google Play to offer users the ability to purchase magazines, movies and TV shows. This update will be available on all devices over the next few days.

Google states that Google Play is a digital entertainment destination with more than 600,000 apps and games plus music, movies and books. It is entirely cloud-based, which means all of your content is always available across all of your devices. The company stated, “Today, our store is expanding to include magazines. We’ve been working with leading publishers Condé Nast, Hearst, Meredith and more to offer magazines like House Beautiful, Men’s Health, Shape and WIRED.”



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Google announces Nexus Q

Along with the launch of their new phone and tablet, Google has launched a new streaming player called the Nexus Q. Dubbed the world’s first social streaming media player, the Nexus Q streams your favorite entertainment directly from the cloud to your living room. You can simply use the Google Play and YouTube apps on your Android phone or tablet to surf an ocean of music, TV, movies and videos, and Nexus Q will play it all on the biggest speakers and screen in the house. There are no downloads, no syncing, no running out of space. Just the stuff you love - at home and out loud.

Users can choose a song from the Google Play Music app on your phone or tablet and play it instantly on Nexus Q. However, it’s important to know that the Google Play Music hasn’t officially come to India. Users can upload up to 20,000 of your songs own for free. Music Manager uploads your iTunes or Windows Media Player library to Google Play so that your collection is available anywhere, anytime. Streaming is not related to music and you can watch your movies on your HDTV with Nexus Q. That feature as well, sadly, has still not been announced for India and we have doubts that it will be coming any time soon. 

Naturally, YouTube is included in the fray as well and users can use their Android phone or tablet to search for a specific video or explore a category to find something new. Q brings a lot of features if you are having a party or gathering at home as well. All your guests need is an Android phone or tablet and a connection to your Wi-Fi network. If you prefer your own taste in music you can simply turn off guest mode in your Nexus Q settings and it’s all you. Nexus Q has an audiophile grade amplifier built in so you can hook your speakers right up, or use an optical or HDMI cable to connect Nexus Q to your AV receiver or HDTV. Once you’re playing, you can control the volume from your phone or tablet, or simply by turning the top half of Nexus Q. You can touch the top LED to mute the sound completely. Your device can connect to multiple Nexus Qs and you can choose what music you want to play. The Nexus Q comes with 32 LEDs that shift and change colour in time to the music. 

As far as specs are concerned the Nexus Q is powered by an OMAP4460 (dual ARM Cortex-A9 CPUs and SGX540 GPU) has 1GB of RAM and 16GB of NAND flash memory. It runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and has a 24W class D amplifier with 12.5 watts per channel. Connectors and ports include micro HDMI (type D), TOSLink Optical audio (S/PDIF), 10/100BASE-T Ethernet (RJ45), Micro AB USB (for service and support), Banana jack speaker outputs. Wireless connectivity includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC. The device comes with a die-cast finish and the Nexus Q has been made entirely in the USA. 

The pricing itself is pretty high at $299 (Rs. 17,045) so it’ll be interesting to see how this device fares when it is actually launched. 




Source:- Tech2

Jelly Bean gets Google Now update: Google I/O 2012

Google introduced a new search function for Android 4.1 - Google Now in its Google I/O 2012 event. The search feature is card-based and users can bring up cards containing the data they require in real-time.Google Now claims to be a handy tool for everyday uses like commuting and driving directions. It can find you the best routes to get to your workplace quickly if your usual route is clogged. The tool can also list all local eateries in an instant when queried, and once in a restaurant, the search function automatically lists the restaurant's best dishes. Sports lovers too can stay updated on their favourite teams in real-time with Google Now.

Aakash 2 officially launches

Union Minister Kapil Sibal on Tuesday officially unveiled the Indian government's ambitious ultra low-cost Aakash 2 tablet PC at IIT Bombay. As expected, the next generation of Aakash tablet PC comes with host of improvements including a faster processor, capacitive touchscreen and larger battery life. The Aakash 2 tablets will initially available for engineering students across the country.

Some of the improvements made in Aakash 2 Tablet are:

• 800MHz processor
• Capacitive touch screen
• 3,200 mAh battery
• The Aakash 2 tablet PC has been priced at Rs. 2,263, down from Rs. 2,276 of the original Aakash.

The announcement of the Aakash 2 comes three months after IIT-Bombay took over the project from IIT-Jodhpur. According to reports, IIT-B has already developed apps for the ultra low-cost tablet and is likely to incorporate few more. IIT-B has also been given responsibility for procuring and distributing the Aakash tablets. If everything goes as per scheduled, the first units of the Aakash 2 tablet will be dispatched to as many as 250 engineering colleges across the country by December-end.


A public spat between IIT-Jodhpur and DataWind, which were spearheading the Aakash project, had delayed the distribution of the tablet in February, after which the Indian government handed over the project to IIT-B.

ACi launches low-cost Icon 1100 'laptop', at Rs. 4,999

ACi or Allied Computers International, a laptop specialist brand from the UK, has launched a super-affordable “laptop” in India – the ACi Icon 1100, which will be retailed for as little as Rs. 4,999.

With its specifications and feature set however, the device qualifies as an affordable netbook. Featuring a 10.2-inch 1024x768 pixel display, the ACi Icon 1100 runs on an undisclosed VIA CPU, along with 512MB of RAM (1GB optional). Dimensions are 11 x 7.25 x 1 inches, and it weighs in at 0.7kgs.


Other specifications include a MMC/SD push card reader, 10/100 Ethernet adapter, Wi-Fi, 3G support via USB dongle, 3 USB 2.0 ports, and 4GB of storage, expandable up to 32GB. It will ship with 12 months replacement warranty.


The company will also be launch other laptops from its portfolio in India, from mid-to-high end segments.

Vodafone reduces international roaming charges by 60 percent

Days after slashing 3G tariff up to 80 percent, telecom giant Vodafone India has announced a new package that allows users to avail a whopping 60 percent discount on voice, SMS and data services on international roaming.

Vodafone subscribers can activate the service through a one-time rental fee of Rs. 1,499 (valid till 30 days). The fee will be charged in the customer's bill, and there will no cap on the usages. The service is however only available for post-paid customers. The discount offer is valid for 40 countries, including Australia, France, Italy, Singapore, Switzerland, the U.K. and U.S., on specific partner networks across the globe.


To activate, Vodafone users need to SMS ACT VROAM to 111 (toll free from home network). In case users plan to reactive the pack post expiry, they will need to send the SMS again.


"This latest offering addresses the latent needs of customers travelling to multiple countries with a single pack on one number and one-time rental, thus making international roaming a worry-free experience," Vodafone India Chief Commercial Officer Sanjoy Mukerji said.


With the revision in its ISD plans, Vodafone has evidently taken on Matrix Cellular, which offers international SIM and data cards, and dominates the international roaming market in the country. The operator's move is likely to prompt other telcos to cut their ISD plans as well.




Source:- ThinkDigit

Apple introduces iTunes Store in 12 Asian countries

Apple recently announced the launch of the iTunes Store across Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and nine additional countries in Asia and is in the process of offering an incredible selection of local and international music from all the major labels and thousands of independent labels. The iTunes Store features local artists, including Jay Chou, Girls Generation and Andy Lau; international artists, including ADELE, The Beatles and Jason Mraz, and world-renowned classical musicians, including Lang Lang, Yo Yo Ma and Yuja Wang. Customers can choose from over 20 million songs available to purchase and download on the iTunes Store. 

Apple is bringing the iTunes Store to users in Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. Customers can also rent or purchase movies from the iTunes Store, with many available in stunning HD, from major studios, including 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, The Walt Disney Studios and Warner Bros. Pictures. The iTunes Store joins the revolutionary App Store, which offers more than 650,000 apps to consumers in 155 countries. However, though the App Store is now available in India, we've been left out again with the iTunes release.




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Intel releases Ivy Bridge programming docs

Last week Intel released the graphics programming documentation and register specifications for Ivy Bridge processors. This Ivy Bridge graphics core programming documentation spans 17 files spread across three volumes and 2,468 pages of technical details concerning their latest-generation graphics, reported Phoronix. The complete public documentation can be downloaded for free here.

This Intel HD Graphics Open Source Programmer’s Reference Manual (PRM) describes the architectural behaviour and programming environment of the Ivy Bridge chipset family. The Graphics Controller (GC) contains an extensive set of registers and instructions for configuration, 2D, 3D, and video systems. The PRM describes the register, instruction, and memory interfaces, and the device behaviours as controlled and observed through those interfaces. The PRM also describes the registers and instructions, and provides detailed bit/field descriptions.


This documentation is divided into four volumes containing 17 PDF files. The first volume covers the graphics core, MMIO registers and programming environment, memory interface, commands for the render engine, blitter engine, the video codec engine command streamer and the GT interface register. The second volume covers 3D media pipeline, L3 cache/URB, media and general purpose pipeline and the multi-format transcoder. Volume 3 covers VGA and Extended VGA registers, PCI registers, and the north/south display engines, while the fourth volume covers subsystem cores - message gateway, URB, video motion estimation, and execution unit ISA.

Detect Parkinson's using Siri-like software: Oxford Researchers

Max Little, from the University of Oxford has been developing a software, which can gauge the differences in voice patterns. This, he believes will help in effectively detecting symptoms associated to Parkinson's disease. A post in Parkinson's Voice Initiative aptly points out that an interesting "breakthrough" that has been achieved is that it has been known now that 'voice is affected as much by Parkinson's as limb movements.' Hence having a software that can gauge the differences in voice patterns is the next obvious step in this direction. The report quoted Little, as explaining to BBC, "This is machine learning. We are collecting a large amount of data when we know if someone has the disease or not and we train the database to learn how to separate out the true symptoms of the disease from other factors." 

In his research, Little used data from 50 patients suffering from the disease. These patients had their voices recorded once a week for six months. Using this data, Little managed to 'develop an algorithm to detect changes in voice purely associated with Parkinson's.' In tests carried out recently, it was found that the software managed to accurately tell a Parkison's patient from a random population with an accuracy measuring 86 percent. 

Little, however has bigger plans. At the TEDGlobal, he announced an extension to the project and also invited the general public to come forth, phone in and leave their voice recordings, in a bid to help him improve the software. He aims to collect some 10,000 voices and has encouraged people from around the world to contribute. Interestingly, if successful, Little may make this technology available to doctors in two years, believing that the software will effectively aid doctors in the diagnosis of the disease. Little further in his explanation to BBC stated, "We're not intending this to be a replacement for clinical experts, rather, it can very cheaply help identify people who might be at high risk of having the disease and for those with the disease, it can augment treatment decisions by providing data about how symptoms are changing in-between check-ups with the neurologist."

LG launches Mobile TV app

LG has launched the mobile TV app to enhance the TV viewing experience for its users. The LG Mobile TV app allows streaming movies over Wi-Fi and also 3G connection. For all the movie fiends, the app allows watching full-length movies in several languages and along with full-length movies, it also brings to users movie trailers. This is an in-built app that comes with online widget support for quick access. It also allows on demand service and free TV viewing for about two months from the day it is activated. 

The LG mobile TV application allows watching live TV and movies, movie trailers, news, Bollywood entertainment, pre-recorded cartoons and more, on-the-move. The app has been embedded in the latest LG smartphone dubbed Optimus L7. The company had recently released the Optimus L7 along with the Optimus 3D Max. The Optimus L7 is powered by a 1GHz processor and comes with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich onboard along with LG’s Optimus 3.0 UI on top. Almost all new smartphones are emerging with a 5MP sensor for taking quick snapshots and the Optimus L7 is no different. It features a 5 megapixel snapper with an LED flash on the rear and a 0.3 megapixel front camera for video calling. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, 3G, GPS, and DLNA. Its built-in memory can be expanded further up to 32GB via microSD card slot. As far as the design is concerned, LG’s designers claim to have worked a lot on improving the overall design of their L-series of phones.

Dell launches XPS 14 Ultrabook in India starting at Rs. 82,999

Dell has launched the XPS 14 laptop. The XPS 14 has the same design as that of XPS 13 and craftsmanship in an additional screen size for consumers who desire connectivity, performance and entertainment, no matter where they are. The Dell XPS 14 starts at Rs. 82,990 and is available from the Dell India site. 


As part of Dell’s flagship XPS brand, this addition enables customers to choose the one that best suits their needs. The XPS 13 is highly portable and compact for most of today’s mobile users, while the XPS 14 provides extended battery life and connectivity. Both laptops have enterprise-friendly features to intersect the design and performance desired by consumers with the security and services required by IT departments.  

Designed for mobile users, the XPS 14 Ultrabook features a highly-durable machined aluminium chassis with innovative silicone base in a compact, thin 0.07cm design. With a bright 14-inch, 400 nit HD+ edge-to-edge display, a backlit keyboard, and optional performance graphics, the XPS 14, according to Dell, is ready to perform all day in nearly any environment, with up to 10 hours of battery life. The choice of storage includes a 500GB hard drive, along with a 32GB SSD. Rapid Start delivers fast boot-up and hibernate response times, while Smart Response quickly recognizes and caches the most frequently used files and applications, allowing customers to access critical information quickly and easily.


To give XPS customers peace of mind, every XPS product comes with Dell’s 3-year Premium Phone Support warranty, which offers 24x7 support availability via phone, chat or e-mail as well as 3 years Complete Cover will be offered, along with 3 years Pro Support Warranty ( Hardware + Software Support), the plan includes in-home service after remote diagnosis .


Dell ProSupport is available for Dell business customers and provides end users and IT professionals with various remote and on-site technical support for complex hardware and software needs that include access to ProSupport specialists. Trusted Platform Module (TPM) offers user and machine security with BitLocker Data Encryption for network-based client computing.






Source:- Tech2

FarmVille 2 Officially Announced by Zynga

Zynga has officially announced the coming of a sequel to one of their most popular social games, FarmVille. With 3D graphics, more features and more social elements, Zynga is clearly betting the farm (I won’t apologize for that, not a chance) on FarmVille 2.

If you play FarmVille, you need to know that you will not be able to transfer over any of your goods or items from the original game to its upcoming sequel.


The company has seen an exceptionally large dip in stock and value over the last few months. Zynga needs their high-profile titles to be successful.


The details for this one are exceptionally light. During the Zynga Unleashed presser earlier today, company simply indicated that FarmVille 2 is coming soon. They also have a very sparse Facebook fan page.




Source:- TechnoBuffalo

YouTube for PlayStation Vita Downloadable Today

Sony has announced that the YouTube app for the PlayStation Vita will be available on the device’s PS Store today. They revealed the coming of the software earlier this month, and that revelation has now moved into the realm of quickly pending.

They wrote in PlayStation Blog :



Hi everyone! Recently, we announced that YouTube would be coming to PS Vita. It’s the latest application to be added to PS Vita’s growing portfolio of applications and one that takes full advantage of PS Vita’s high-definition and 3G capabilities. Starting later today, the YouTube application will be available as a free download via the PS Vita Store on PSN.
With the YouTube application on PS Vita, you can watch millions of YouTube videos on PS Vita’s stunning 5” OLED screen. And with 3G, you can watch your favorite content – from comedy to gaming tips to viral videos – while you’re at home or on-the-go. The application itself is straightforward and easy to use. Key features include:

• Recommended Videos: Displays videos recommended from YouTube
• Search: Search for videos by typing a keyword
• Viewing History : Displays the most recent videos you’ve viewed
• Add to Favorites: Displays a list of videos you’ve added to your Favorites list. You must be signed into your account to add a video to your Favorites.

Videos will be viewable in two modes – full screen and small screen. In Full Screen mode, a control panel will be displayed on the screen, which will allow you to easily expand or minimize videos. Additionally, an HD button will appear when playing high definition (up to 720p) videos. Simply tap on the HD button to switch from HD to SD.


In Small Screen mode, you’ll be able to view a video, while having access to the Like or Dislike buttons, Suggested Videos, Comments and Information.
PS Vita was designed to deliver the best high-resolution portable entertainment experience possible. We’re very excited to be able to offer the content and applications that are compelling to you, and we looking forward to bringing you more as we move further into 2012.

NOOK tablet Gets DC Comics App

Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products, today announced a partnership with DC Entertainment to bring its bestselling line-up of graphic novels featuring iconic DC Comics and Vertigo characters like Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and Sandman to the award-winning NOOK Tablet™ and NOOK Color™, as well as Android tablets via the NOOK for Android™ app. The new partnership brings together DC Entertainment, the comic book industry’s most prolific digital trailblazer, and NOOK Comics, the leading provider of digital graphic novels and comics with more than 4,000 titles available.

With the addition of DC Entertainment content, Barnes & Noble is also introducing Zoom View, an all-new NOOK Comics feature designed for NOOK Tablet and NOOK Color. Zoom View allows readers to focus in on individual panels in graphic novels and comics, allowing them to fully enjoy the stunning artwork and compelling storytelling that brings this genre to life. Zoom View will be immediately available on all DC Entertainment titles.


“Our goal is to reach the broadest possible audience and this new partnership with Barnes & Noble brings Batman, Superman and many other iconic DC Comics and Vertigo characters to the millions of NOOK Tablet and NOOK Color readers,” said Jim Lee, co-publisher of DC Entertainment. “The new Zoom View feature makes our comics even easier to read, and emphasizes the graphic and artistic storytelling that is paramount to our art form.”


“Barnes & Noble is committed to offering NOOK customers a wide selection of digital graphic novels, and we’re excited to offer DC Entertainment’s fan-favorite collections on NOOK,” said Jim Hilt, Vice President, eBooks for Barnes & Noble. “The new Zoom View feature makes the reading experience even more interactive, and takes these graphic novels to a whole new level of entertainment.”


With more than 100 DC Entertainment graphic novels now available, the world’s greatest superheroes, their most acclaimed stories and most powerful graphic novels are on NOOK. More titles will be added every month and can be purchased at www.nook.com/dccomics, or directly on NOOK Tablet, NOOK Color, and Android tablets via the NOOK for Android app. DC Entertainment’s graphic novels are also available in Barnes & Noble retail locations.


Key DC Entertainment titles that are available immediately include:

• Graphic novel titles from DC COMICS – THE NEW 52, including Justice League, Vol. 1: Origin, Animal Man Vol. 1: The Hunt, Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls, Justice League International Vol. 1: The Signal Masters, Catwoman Vol. 1: The Game, Green Lantern Vol. 1: Sinestro, Stormwatch Vol. 1: The Dark Side, Green Arrow Vol. 1: The Midas Touch, Wonder Woman Vol. 1: Blood, and Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 1: Faces of Death.
• Other best-selling graphic novels including Watchmen, All Star Superman Vol. 1 and 2, Fables Vol. 1-15, The Sandman Vol. 1-10, Superman Earth One, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Vol. 1-2, V for Vendetta, Batman: Hush, and Batman: Year One, among many others.
• Zoom View requires an update to the current NOOK Tablet and NOOK Color software. The free software update, version 1.4.3, is available for download today at www.nook.com/support. A free over-the-air (OTA) update requiring no action from customers will begin rolling out to customers via Wi-Fi starting June 27.

With all NOOK products, customers can shop Barnes & Noble’s expansive NOOK Store™ of more than two million digital titles. In addition, Barnes & Noble offers always free in-store NOOK support for customers to set up and learn how to use their new device face-to-face with friendly neighborhood NOOKsellers™.

Gmail for iOS Updated with Notification Center Support

Google has finally updated its Gmail for iOS application with several much needed features. Jason Parachoniak, a Google software engineer, said the latest update includes full Notification Center integration with banners, alerts and the ability to view Gmail messages on your lock screen. The notifications are also now 5x faster than the previous version of the application.

In addition, users can choose which Gmail account they want to send a message from. A user simply needs to navigate to Settings > Accounts > “Send mail as” and then he or she will be presented with a list of the available Gmail accounts. Finally, Google said that it has fixed an issue that constantly logged users out of their Gmail accounts after a certain time period had passed. Gmail will now stay logged in as long as a user wants it to. The free update is available from the iTunes App Store now.




Source:- TechnoBuffalo

T-Mobile to Sell Prepaid Phones In Dollar General Stores

 Today, T‑Mobile USA, Inc. and Dollar General Corporation announced a new distribution arrangement, bringing an affordable phone and convenient access to T‑Mobile’s prepaid and Monthly4GTM No Annual Contract service to Dollar General customers. Beginning in July, more than 6,400 Dollar General stores will offer numerous T-Mobile prepaid plan options and the Samsung t139 phone, which features messaging, Web browsing, a camera and Bluetooth connectivity.

“Dollar General is dedicated to making shopping for everyday needs simple, hassle-free and convenient,” said Todd Vasos, executive vice president and  chief merchandising officer, Dollar General. “Since 2004, our customers have had access to great T-Mobile plans, and we know that our customers will appreciate more communications options that are affordable and flexible.”


The T‑Mobile Monthly4G No Annual Contract $50 unlimited plan offers unlimited talk, text and Web with no overage charges, and the first 100 MB of data at up to 4G speeds all on America’s Largest 4G Network®. In addition, Dollar General offers T‑Mobile’s Pay As You Go plans, and other Monthly4G No Annual Contract plans, giving customers a flexible option at any price point.


“Dollar General is the nation’s largest small-box retailer and a well-respected company that customers go to when looking to get the most for their money,” said Amy McCune, senior vice president of national accounts, T-Mobile USA. “This is a natural partnership to help bring Dollar General customers to America’s Largest 4G Network at an incredible value.”


T-Mobile product and plan offerings will be displayed in a bright end cap at the front of the store, featuring a variety of units and services to make selection simple for customers.


Monthly4G plans provide access to wireless service for 30 days; capable device required to achieve 4G speeds. After high-speed allotment is used, speeds slowed to up to 2G speeds for remainder of month. T-Mobile’s HSPA+ 4G network not available everywhere. See coverage details at T-Mobile.com.

Cricket Now Offering Prepaid iPhone

Cricket, a wireless service, is the first to offer a prepaid, no-contract iPhone 4S — 8GB ($399) and 16GB ($499). The plan will run customers $55 a month and offers unlimited calls, texts and Web. Buzz has apparently been high surrounding the device’s June 22 arrival. 

The 16GB iPhone 4S costs $499.99, while the 8GB iPhone 4 costs $399.99. The phone comes with a $55 no-contract plan that includes unlimited calling and text messages. The plan also includes 2.3GB of data, after which the carrier will slow the connection down.
A Cricket representative said the phone was available at company-owned and select dealers this morning with "brisk" customer activity.

Find the location of your train with SMS

According to a latest development by the Indian Railways, one can now trace the location of his train by SMS.

Type the train number and SMS it to 09415139139 or 09664139139, and you will soon have the exact location of a train on real-time basis. 

Sony officially announces NSZ-GS7 Internet Player with Google TV

Sony Electronics Inc. has just announced the availability and pricing of the NSZ-GS7 Internet Player with Google TV, that was originally introduced in January at CES. Powered by Google TV, the Internet Player will hit US shelves from July 22nd. The Japanese technology giant has not yet revealed any information regarding a global roll out of the NSZ-GS7 Internet Player so there’s no telling if India will be one of the stops it makes. 

Android-enabled Smart TV boxes are currently an up and coming technology here in India and are being offered by companies like Amkette with their EVOTV Box and Portronics’ (Limebox) amongst others. Keeping that sentiment in mind, it is possible that Sony just might consider introducing the Internet Player into the Indian market.  

In 2010, Sony helped pioneer the Internet-TV convergence as one of the first manufacturers to launch products powered by Google TV. With the new NSZ-GS7 Internet Player with Google TV, Sony will also be the first manufacturer to launch Google TV products outside of the United States, initially starting with the United Kingdom in July, followed later by Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Netherlands, Brazil, and Mexico. The NSZ-GP9 Blu-ray Disc player with Google TV will be available this fall in the United States, followed later by Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Netherlands. We can only hope that it makes it to India as well, as it seems for right now, only the US, Canada and Europe will be getting the device. 

Sony's evolution of hardware to complement the continually updating Google TV is the next step in the future of home entertainment convergence. Sony's NSZ-GS7 and NSZ-GP9 are both designed to bring the best of Google to your TV, with new experiences arriving every day through the Google Chrome browser; thousands of supported mobile apps in the Google Play Store, including hundreds optimized for TV; YouTube with 72 hours of video being added every minute; and a global community of developers from around the world. Google TV's cross search functionality shows viewers all content sources available from broadcast providers and the Internet to deliver customized video results on demand.

Both new products come complete with a redesigned remote control equipped with a backlit QWERTY keyboard, a touch pad for easy operation and a three-axis motion sensor to enjoy games. Additionally, the Bluetooth remote control can also be utilized as a universal remote to control connected devices such as TV, set- top-box and A/V receivers - the NSZ-GP9 Blu-ray Disc player even incorporates voice search capabilities.

In the US the Sony NSZ-GS7 Internet Player with Google TV is up for pre-order from today and is priced at $199 (Rs 11,336). 




Source:- Tech2

iBall launches two new dual-SIM Android phones, starting Rs. 6,990

iBall has launched two new dual-SIM Android phones, in its Andi range of devices, called the Andi 3e and Andi 4d, priced at Rs. 6,990 and Rs. 9,490 respectively.  

The Andi 3e 

• Android version 2.3.5 Gingerbread. 
• A front camera for video calling on 3G networks and Wi-Fi. 
• 3.2 inch capacitive touchscreen. 
• Dual-SIM standby option
• 650 MHz processor
• Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS and GPRS
• 3.2 megapixel back camera 
• 16GB microSD card support.
• Includes G-sensor, proximity sensor and a light sensor.

Price: Rs. 6,990 

Andi 4d

• 1GHz processor
•  5MP back camera 
• 4-inch display
• Dual-SIM facility
• 3G capability 
• Front-facing camera for video calling. 
• Includes G-sensor, proximity sensor and a light sensor.

Price:Rs. 9,490

HTC Desire C officially launched in India for Rs.14,999

HTC has officially launched its Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich-based Desire C smartphone in India with MOP of Rs. 14,999. The HTC Desire C features HTC Sense 4.0, Beats Audio technology and a powerful battery.

Some of the key specs of the HTC Desire C are:

• Android 4.0 - Ice Cream Sandwich with Sense UI
• 600MHz processor
• 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen display with a 480 x 320 pixel resolution
• 3G, EDGE/GPRS and Wi-Fi capabilities for net access
• GPS with A-GPS support for Google Maps
• Bluetooth v.4.0 with A2DP and USB 2.0 (Micro)
• 5MP camera
• Supports Bluetooth 4.0
• 512 MB of RAM
• Beats Audio
• FM radio
• 4GB internal + microSD card support for up to 32GB more memory

The phone has a metal-framed body and packs a standard Li-Ion 1230 mAh battery. It features a capacitive 320x480 pixel touchscreen and will feature Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) with HTC’s Sense UI 4.0 on top. It supports Bluetooth 4.0 and has a flash-enabled browser. The Desire C is also a little bigger than the Wildfire S measuring 107.2 x 60.6 x 12.3 mm, but it’s quite lighter and slimmer than the Explorer at just 100gm.


For connectivity, the HTC Desire C supports 3G with 7.2Mbps HSDPA, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n with hotspot, Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP, and USB 2.0. The device is available in two colours – black and red. There is also a NFC variant of the model.


Through HTC Desire C’s deep integration of Dropbox and 25GB of free online space, you also have the freedom to securely back-up, browse and share thousands of photos, videos and documents, whether stored locally or in the cloud.

Bing Maps updated with 165TB of new imagery

Bing has, in an official blog post revealed that they have published their largest satellite release to date with the introduction of a staggering 165TB of new imagery to their popular Bing Maps. The official post further adds that their latest release is larger than all of their previous Aerial releases put together. Part of their latest Aerial release, is new Satellite imagery as well as Global Ortho photography. Further, Bing reveals that their previous "Aerial footprint" was 129TB in all. The latest combined new data release of 165TB, hence is understandably a huge leap. The new release will give you an aerial view of regions across - North America, South America, Africa, Australia, Europe and Asia. The total area covered in this data release is nearly 38 million square kilometers, and the report informs further that the total area covered in this data release is nearly 38 million square kilometers.Those who can't wait to give it a try, can head over to - Bing Maps World Tour App   

Arial View of Burj Khalifa 

The Global Ortho project, as per this post has been 85 percent acquired and published. Also, a milestone of completing 100 percent of aerial photography over the United States, too was achieved by Bing Imagery Technologies, this month. That in Europe should finish by  this fall, and by the end of this year, all updated imagery will be published. 

Some of the highlights in the latest release, according to the post are -  

• Taipei, Taiwan
• Santiago, Chile
• Mexico City, Mexico
• St. Petersburg, Russia
• Giza, Egypt
• Jaipur, India
• Namib Desert, Namibia
• Fritz Cove, Juneau, Alaska
• Long Island, Folly Beach, South Carolina
• Choptank River, Dorchester County, Maryland
• Laguna del Camino de Villafranca, Castile-La Mancha, Spain
• Teatro Massimo, Palermo, Italy
• Monte Grappa, Vicenza, Italy
• École Polytechnique Fédérale, Lausanne, Switzerland

Source:- Tech2