Simmtronics XPAD Freedom Tablet Launched In India - Specs, Features & Price Revealed

Simmtronics Semiconductor Ltd., an Indian multinational computer technology company that is known best for manufacturing economical 3G Tablets with calling function and G-Sensor as well as for bringing India's First Solar Power operated Desktop PC, is here with the launch of a new tablet called XPAD Freedom. It has expanded its gadget portfolio by bringing in the Simmtronics XPAD Freedom tab that runs the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system and has support for 2G as well as 3G. The tablet features a 7.85-inch IPS capacitive touchscreen with 1024 X 768 resolution along with 19.9 cm IPS Retina Screen.

Powered by a 1.2 GHz Quadcore processor, the XPAD Freedom tablet has 1 GB RAM, a 5 megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front camera. For storage, the tablet has 8GB in-built storage which can be extended upto 32 GB via MicroSD card slot. For the user's connectivity needs, the Freedom tablet gives you support for WiFi, USB, HDMI and Bluetooth 4.0. Deriving its power from a 5,000 mAh battery that offers up to 5 hours of Web browsing time and up to 6 hours of video browsing, the tablet comes loaded with three axle load sensors and automatic four directions display. The tablet comes preloaded with apps like Documents To Go, Skype, BIGFLIX, YouTube among others.

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The Simmtronics XPAD Freedom tablet bring with it a a cover worth Rs 1990 out of the box. Bearing a price in India tag of Rs. 13,999, the tablet is available at all leading electronic stores across the country. Speaking at the launch, Indrajit S Sabharwal, Managing Director, Simmtronics said, "We are very enthralled with the introduction of this new tablet. This customized tab is designed for technology lovers who wish to use both 3G and 2G in a single device, which is enriched with a quad-core processor. We have manufactured a unibody enclosure and refined to process to be even more material-efficient and extract with tolerances measured in microns, mono-crystalline diamond cut-edges and sleek metallic finishes, designed to satisfy high-standards."

After a range of tablets like the XPAD-XQ1, XPAD X-722, XPAD X720, XPAD 801, XPAD X1010 and XPAD 802 tablets, Simmtronics XPAD Freedom has been a refreshing entry for the company in the bubbling tablet market in India.

LG PD233 Pocket Photo Printer Price In India Is Rs. 14,990

LG has introduced pocket sized printer called LG PD233 in Indian markets with a price tag of Rs. 14,990. Those of you who love to have 'hard copies' of their sweetest memories may consider this ultra-portable photo printer. The device is compatible & ideal for use with your Android or iOS powered phones or tablets. The gadget is so small that it can literally fit in your pockets or the corner of your business suitcase. Dimensions wise, it measures 72.4x120.9x24.0mm and weighs only 212 grams. 

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The printer connects with your phone either through NFC (Near Field Communication), Bluetooth or USB. The best thing about this printer is that it uses the 'Zink Photo Paper'. This is a special paper that embeds ink in the paper itself and the photos printed using the paper are Smudge-proof, water resistant, tear-resistant. 

LG offers a dedicated App on both iOS and Android platforms called 'Pocket Photo App' that lets you manage all your printing job effortlessly.

Blackberry Z30 India Launch Date, Price, Specs & Features - On 24th October The Megaphone Descends

Back in September 2013, the Blackberry Boys unveiled the all new smartphone Blackberry Z30 in an event in Malaysia and now as promised, the phone is going to be here in India soon. With an official launch date declared as 24th October 2013, Blackberry Z30 priced at Rs. 45,000 will make an entry in the country's market. As we look at the Blackberry Z30 tech specs list, we find a 1.7GHz processor with quad-core graphics, a 2880 mAh battery - the Z30 is the largest ever the company has built into a BlackBerry smartphone, a new BlackBerry Priority Hub that provides one place to manage conversations and notifications and more. The Z30 also comes with stereo speakers and new antenna technology. The premium feature and an USP - a refined version of BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), which offers a preview of any message when it arrives in whatever app is being used, is made available in the Z30 too.

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The BlackBerry Z30 features the company's latest 10 OS version 10.2 and boasts off a 5-inch display with 720 x 1280 pixels resolution, 8 megapixel rear camera and 2 MP front camera. The smartphone has 2 GB of RAM and an internal memory of 16 GB that can be expanded to 64 GB with microSD card. "The new BlackBerry Z30 smartphone builds on the solid foundation and engaging user experience of the BlackBerry 10 platform with features like the powerful BlackBerry Hub, its exceptional touchscreenkeyboard and industry leading browser," said Carlo Chiarello, Executive Vice President for Products at BlackBerry. "The smartphone is designed for people looking for a smartphone that excels at communications, messaging and productivity. Having apps like the full Documents To Go suite that comes preinstalled, together with its 5-inch touch display, the BlackBerry Z30 smartphone gives you a best in class productivity experience on the go."

Lenovo A10 Android Laptop Is Convertible - Features & Specifications Unveiled

Lenovo has brought to the market a new convertible laptop called Lenovo A10 - which is the company's first to run on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS. At 1 kg weight and 17.3mm thickness, Lenovo A10 is ultra-portable and is unique for its 300-degree flip functionality. The Lenovo A10 features a 10.1-inch HD (1366 x 768) resolution screen that can be flipped around 300 degrees in "stand mode". It is a Dual-Mode laptop with - A laptop mode and a stand more. The stable hinge and "fold-back" design keeps the device steady and prevents shaking and bouncing while using the 10-point multi-touch screen. In "laptop mode", the Lenovo A10 provides a customized user interface that features an app launcher, task bar and status bar for accessing app library and desktop for convenient multitasking and app switching.

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More on the Lenovo A10 tech specs, we find stereo speakers and an integrated 0.3 megapixel webcam. A file manager software that comes installed with the Lenovo customized OS makes it easy to locate and manage a library of documents, videos and music - something you think you need on an Android smartphone when there's too much date. Anyway, in laptop mode, the device offers a full-size ergonomic, AccuType keyboard and a touchpad - as you can see from the image above. Running on a RK3188, quad-core Cortex-A9 processor at a maximum frequency of 1.6GHz, Lenovo A10 is offering users the highest frequency for all quad-core ARM-based CPUs currently available.

Lenovo claims that the A10's battery support is up to nine hours of continuous video playback - which needs to be scrutinized under review. "With the recent explosive growth in Android-based, smart connected devices, customers are relying more on Android apps for both work and play. Why should they be required to switch and duplicate to use their laptop? Lenovo's A10 brings ultra-portability and dual-mode benefits to Android users at a reasonable price," said Bai Peng, vice president and general manager, notebook business unit, Lenovo Business Group. "Thin and light, with multiple modes and user-inspired innovations for an outstanding user experience ... the A10 is uniquely Lenovo."

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For storage needs, the Lenovo A10 users will get access to 1 GB or 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB or 32 GB of internal storage, and a microSD card slot for up to 64 GB of extra storage. For the Connectivity, the laptop features USB port and combo audio jack on the left side, and another USB port, microUSB port, and microHDMI port on the right. 

From what's been shared in the press release, Lenovo has confirmed that pricing and availability varies per region. The Lenovo A10 Android Laptop is soon going to be available in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific countries. We will update this space with more details on the Lenovo A10's price as we get the official details.

X-ray vision enables drivers to see through the trucks to overtake them safely

Big trucks and cars often block the sight on the highways which makes overtaking them a difficult business. Wouldn't it be very nice if the drivers could see the road 'through' the vehicles to make a well informed decision about overtaking? A team of researchers from University of Porto (Portugal) has developed a new technology that equips the drivers with x-ray vision that lets them see through the vehicles cruising ahead of them. This new system called "STS" enables the drivers to take better decisions whether to overtake the slow moving truck or not. 

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The system uses Augmented Reality (AR) technique with the use of a camera mounted on the front vehicle. The rear car has a transparent LCD integrated into the windshield to display what the camera on the front vehicle is seeing. There's only a lag of about 200 milliseconds in the resulting video; which means if driver's car is moving at 90 kmph; the oncoming car would look 10 meters farther than its actual position.

The researchers say that the results they've obtained so far are very promising, especially after the use of 801.11p wireless communication protocol.

VTT InTouch Interface Lets You Move Images Or Video From One Gadget To Another Just By Touch

Scientists from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland have come up with an innovative solution to make transferring files between various gadgets easier. Making use of a ring, nail or wristband - which acts as a user interface, this technology allows sharing of files directly from one screen to another simply by touch. Using the InTouch interface, you can touch a file on one screen, for example, with a structure nail and transfer it through the nail to your friend's smartphone or even to your car. Designed in a way that is easy to use and interoperable in the world of digital devices and objects, VTT developed InTouch is one step ahead in the arena of interactive devices and the concept will trigger new advancements in the field.

The existing data transfer technologies like Infrared, Bluetooth, Memory Sticks (Pen Drives) and more latest ones like Cloud sharing - all these methods are basically tied to traditional devices and standardised usage methods. But The InTouch user interface operates with touch screens and conforms to the NFC standard. InTouch allows file transfer either directly or via a cloud service. VTT has also mentioned that security and privacy are retained through the integrated security functionality.

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Unfortunately, not many technical details are available at the moment on how the technology works.

Valencell & iRiver ON Audio Headset Captures Your Heart Rate While You Listen To Music

Two companies - Valencell and iRiver Ltd. have come together to bring a unique Bluetooth Audio Headset that captures the wearer's hear rate while he or she is listening to music. Valencell - the company known for being an innovator of mobile health and fitness technology and iRiver Ltd. which is an award-winning global consumer electronics company had introduced the ON music headset at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, this January. ON Headset is the first one to be powered by Valencell's PerformTek Precision Biometrics sensor technology. Using these sensors, the iRiver ON earphones accurately monitor more real-time physiological data than any other fitness monitor – heart rate, distance, speed, cadence, VO2 max (aerobic fitness level) and calories burned.

Therefore the next time you want to check how many calories you've burnt while listening to your favorite music on the treadmill, ON headset is something you can carry with you. Apart from being able to monitor one's real-time heart rate, it will also be able to keep track of physical location and workout data. "We're excited to partner with Valencell to launch such a compelling product into the mobile fitness marketplace," said Henry Park, iriver's CEO. "There's been great demand, so we're thrilled to be the first to market."

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The iRiver ON features a simple design which offers all the biometric feedback, in addition to iRiver’s legendary listening experiences, boasting convenient music and call controls to boot. Apart from that, the iRiver ON would also arrive with its own complementary fitness application for both iOS and Android smartphones. The monitored data will be displayed on the user's paired mobile device via this accompanying app, which can be used to track progress and create a personalised fitness training programme. If used as a training aid, the app will deliver voice prompts to the user as they're exercising, letting them know how close they're getting to their goals. The iRiver ON price is officially declared to be $199.99.

Railway lines to have fiber optic embedded to report unusual deformation or cracks

The Institute Of Railway Research (IRR) has undertaken a new ambitious project, called Capacity4Rail with two aims: 1. To make laying of railway lines quicker & easier 2. To make the railway lines intelligent. The project funded by EU will see the grants of about €15m being invested in development of these new type of railway tracks. The project will be headed by Prof. Simon Iwnicki of Huddersfield University and is expected to be completed in a time span of about 4 years. 

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The Capacity4Rail project would ensure that the new railway tracks are capable of meeting Europe's transportation needs in coming years. It will aim at development of low maintenance infrastructure and modular way of laying the railway tracks. IRR's Dr. Yann Bezin said that the research team is looking at better & more efficient designs of developing the tracks. The modular construction methods will allow quicker installation of pre-assembled tracks brought to the sight in sections. 

The team also wants to make the railway tracks intelligent by running Fiber Optic lines along the railway tracks. The system would allow early detection of cracks or track deformations through the measurement of fiber optic signals. Metallurgist Prof. Jay Jaiswal, who earlier worked with Tata Steel will work on investigation of new materials for crossings and switches. Jaiswal has been recently appointed as the visiting professor at the Huddersfield University. 

India's Mahindra Aerospace to launch 8-seater, 'Made In India' aircraft in 2 years

Anand Mahindra's got big plans for his company and his latest foray is into manufacturing of small aircrafts in India. Mahindra Aerospace will began manufacturing 8-seater small aircrafts in India in the next two years; confirmed Hemant Luthra, president of Mahindra Systech at the inauguration of a new aerostructure facility in Bangalore today. The company, at present, manufactures GA8 utility aircrafts in Australia through Aerostaff & GrippsAero; which it had acquired 3 years ago. The company has exported about 250 aircrafts from Australia to United States, Europe and other countries.

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Anand Mahindra wants to turn India from a global consumer to a global producer in the aviation domain. The facility inaugurated today in Bangalore is the first aerostructure facility (privately held) in India. Mahindra says that their utility aircrafts will be like Mahindra Jeep - capable of landing in terrains where no one has reached. 

The 25,000 square meter facility has ability to craft large and complex sheet metal parts using computer controlled shaping & cutting machine. It's also equipped with stretch-forming, bladder press, heat treatment and other special utility equipments.

Need To Text While You Are In A Theater? Just Book Your Seats In The ‘Texting Aisle’

Imagine yourself in a movie theater indulging in the latest blockbuster and someone sitting besides or below you takes out his/her smartphone and starts texting. The bright light of the screen definitely distracts you from the movie and the problem goes a step further while you are watching a 3D movie. This activity of texting during a movie screening even got the Madonna into trouble as she was banned from an American chain of multiplexes for texting during the New York Film Festival premiere of Steve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave.” To find a solution to the problem that keeps the mobile phone users in the cinemas without disturbing the rest, AMC Theatres has proposed an idea for a ‘texting aisle’. The entire back row of each of its theatres will be equipped with barriers that shield the glow of the smartphone and they would be soundproofed to muffle the clicking sound of any QWERTY keypad phones.

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This ‘texting aisle’ would be a perfect seat for tweet reviewers. Thanks to Twitter we have seen a whole army of movie reviewers who have been assigned the job of writing real time review of a movie via Twitter status updates during the first screening of a movie. It would also be a good place for businessmen who need to keep in touch with their colleagues every minute. The report from The Independent also states that other cinema chains in the North America like Regal Entertainment and IMAX are also working on ways to accommodate mobile phone users among the rest of the audience. Now we must stress that this is just an idea and its implementation may be years away and until then the back row will continue to be free for mischief mongers.

Bajaj Discover 100 M Price, Specs & Features Shout "A Mileage Bike At Large"

Bajaj Auto has taken to the heart the matter of bringing a bike in the Indian market best suited for the mileage crazy country. Expanding its Discover range (namely 100, 100T, 125, 125T, 125ST), the company has today launched a new bike called Bajaj Discover 100 M, a new 100cc bike - which is being promoted with a tag line - "Mileage Bikes Ka Naya Satya." Unveiled with a Price in India tag of Rs. 49,000 (ex-showroom Delhi) for the disc brake featuring variant and for Rs. 45,996 (ex-showroom Delhi) for the drum brakes variant, the Bajaj Discover 100 M features an ARAI certified mileage of 84 kmpl. As we take a look at the new bike's specifications list, we find a DTS-i technology-equipped powertrain that powers the bike. This four-stroke, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine has a displacement of 102 cc and comes equipped with 4-valve head featuring corrugated fins for good cooling.

Outputing 9.3 bhp of power at 8000 rpm while generating a peak torque of 9.02 Nm at 6000 rpm, the Discover 100 M reaches a top speed of 95 kmph. On the exterior features, there's little or no change. The bike carries on the Discover legacy and features the conventional specs found in its counterparts. There's a angular headlight that comes with twin pilot lamps and we have web-spoked alloy wheels which finished in black besides the engine and exhaust. K.Srinivas, President of Bajaj Auto (Motorcycle Business) shared this thoughts at the launch event saying, "The Discover series of bikes have redefined the “Mileage Bike” segment. In this segment the competition offer only plain Jane very basic bikes as the predominant consideration of the customer is Mileage. Thanks to our patented twin-spark, 4 –Valve engines we are able to “Power Up” the Mileage bikes – the Discover 100M gives 9.3 PS power and yet delivers 84 km to the litre," he said.

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Speaking about the currently existing tough market conditions, he said, "The market environment continues to remain tough, while the motorcycle market has remained flat in the first six months, our estimate is that at the retail level, the sales are down by 8%-10%. What is more worrying is even in Navratras, the retail sales were down by 8% to 10%." Among other features of the Discover 100 M, there's robust single downtube, semi-dual cradle steel frame with telescopic fork suspension in front and dual gas-charged (Nitrox) shock absorbers that are given on a rectangular swingarm section at the back.

Coming in five colour options - Flame Red, Brilliant Blue, Midnight Black (Red decals), Midnight Black (Blue decals) and Midnight Black (Olive Decals), the Bajaj Discover 100 M might be a great option for people planning to buy a new vehicles this festive season in India.

Canon Ultralight Portable Scanner And CaptureOnTouch App Launched For Android And iOS In India

Canon India, the digital imaging giant, today announced that launch of its first ultralight portable scanner
image FORUMLA P-201 and CaptureOnTouch mobile app for easy scanning when on move. This scanner-app combo together shall prove to be an effective tool for consumers, letting them scan documents in several formats including PDF, JPEG, and others. Users have further liberty to share these scans via email or archive in other apps with a click. The scanner come pre-loaded with all the latest image processing options, and sports an Automatic Paper Size Detection. The scanner also has color detection technology, which intelligently determines whether to save a particular scan in Greyscale or color. This bundle of joy is priced at Rs 11,995/-. Also, the CaptureOnTouch app could be availed via Google Play store and iTunes today onwards.



Canon has anchored itself well in the document scanning segment, with all its innovative products boasting nothing but the best available features. Canon enjoys a market share of 25.1% with respect to unit shipment in High-Speed Document Imaging Scanner during the period January-June 2013. The team is seeking to secure a similar leadership in the newly emerging portable scanning segment, and P-201 is sure to pave the required way catering to customers who're constantly in the need of a cost-efficient and compact scanner.

Underwater Wireless Sensors From University of Buffalo - Internet Dives Into The 'Deep-Sea'

“Underwater internet!” Sounds alien? Not anymore. Researchers at University of Buffalo have been working on underwater wireless sensors that use TCP/IP (the common networking protocol for internet) and can transmit the data over internet. Tommaso Melodia, Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering, with his students, successfully tested the technology in Lake Erie near Buffalo. The usual Land based wireless networks use radio waves for data transmission, but, as radio waves penetrate poorly into the water, cannot be used for these marine networks. Hence, acoustic or sound waves are used for underwater transmission.

Organizations using sound waves for wireless transmission into the sea use different infrastructures and therefore, data cannot be shared easily between such systems. Melodia has been working on standard framework that would transfer the data from underwater sensors to laptops and smart phones. The researchers have proposed to modifications to the TCP/IP in order to use the sound waves. Using TCP/IP implies that the network will be accessible over internet. According to the news release of University of Buffalo, while experimenting, two 40-pound sensors were dropped into the water and a high pitch chirping sound emerged out of a nearby concrete wall when a command was typed into a laptop.

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Lead researcher, Professor Tommaso Melodia emphasized on the part that these sensors can play in transmission of critical information regarding disasters.“Making this information available to anyone with a smart phone or computer, especially when a tsunami or other type of disaster occurs, could help save lives,” he said. "We could even use it to monitor fish and marine mammals, and find out how to best protect them from shipping traffic and other dangers," said Melodia, pointing at the various possibilities that deep sea internet has.

Although, the data rates provided by acoustic waves are too slow (probably a few kbps) and noisy, the researchers will seek to make advancements in future. The research team will present a paper on “The Internet Underwater: An IP-compatible Protocol Stack for Commercial Undersea Modems,” at the annual international conference on Underwater Networks and Systems. We certainly need better systems for quick information passing from the marine world, but, will it be feasible to have flawless ‘internet based technologies’ intercepting the water bodies?

Windows 8.1 Download Now Available - Microsoft Lists Features At Launch

Microsoft has made official the release of Windows 8.1 Update. Now, everyone owning a Windows 8 device can download Windows 8.1 for its new features that aim at addressing the issues raised with the original Windows 8. So, before you go ahead and start updating your tablet or laptop, we want you to take a look at the Windows 8.1 features. Windows 8 was introduced amidst a lot of expectations as an operating system built to bridge the gap between touchscreen devices (tablets and smartphones) and the non-touch gadgets we have had for years (laptops and desktop). The most striking feature was the Metro UI - a tiled interface that could be tapped or swiped to view, open and manage applications. But, it didn't strike a chord with the masses.

So, as we see the Windows 8.1 update specifications one by one, we see the Revival of the Start button - tapping once on this brings up the tiled interface and a long press opens up system controls.
There's the goold old option of Desktop Mode that lets people get rid of tiled interface completely. There are a bunch of iconic Keyboard shortcuts, which plan to remove the need to toggle between different on-screen keyboards when typing numbers and letters. There's arrival of Gesture control - where users can swipe through some apps without touching the screen. Lastly, one of the interesting things that you can do to the UI is size the tiles. Therefore, the blocks on the touchscreen interface can be in one of four sizes that you choose. This way you are also facilitated in your multi-tasking, you can now have up to four apps side by side with flexible windows sizing for each app on the screen.​

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Another addition with the Windows 8.1 update is Bing Smart Search. According to the folks over at Microsoft it is the easiest way to find what you are looking for and to get things done. Built for touch, swipe or type from the Start screen and Smart Search will find what you need. Coming to SkyDrive - Windows 8.1 has got a deep and improved cloud integration with it. For all those looking for the latest app for Windows 8.1 on the Windows Store, there has been a redesign. With the “New & Rising” section, the hottest and newest apps will bubble up on your screens as you open the Windows Store. There's a new updated app for all your favorites including - Adobe Photoshop Express, Box, Evernote, Facebook, Hulu Plus, Netflix etc.

That's all we know about the Windows 8.1 features. If you are already a Windows 8 user, you can now head over to download the free update to Windows 8.1 online through the Windows Store. Starting tomorrow October 18th, Windows 8.1 will be available on new devices and as packaged DVD product at retail locations around the world. You can also click here to learn about the wide variety of new Windows devices available now and coming throughout the holiday season to find the one that best fits their needs, and their budget.

Here's a little help on how you can update to Windows 8.1 depending on the version of Windows you're currently running -

1. If you're already running Windows 8, you can update to Windows 8.1 in the Windows Store for free. Here's a link that will be of help.
2. If you’re running Windows 7, you can buy and download Windows 8.1 using Windows 8.1 Upgrade Assistant. In Upgrade Assistant, you'll have the option to install Windows 8.1 now, later, or using media with an ISO file or a USB flash drive.
3. If you're running Windows Vista or Windows XP, you'll need to perform a clean installation with a DVD. Make sure to review system requirements before buying a DVD

Samsung Galaxy Star Pro, Galaxy Trend - Price, Specs & Features In India At Launch

Samsung Group India has launched two new Android smartphones in the market with Samsung Galaxy Star Pro and Samsung Galaxy Trend. Bringing forth these new mid-segment smartphones, Samsung India has brought new additions to its Galaxy series. As we check out the specifications chart of both these smartphones, we find that the Samsung Galaxy Star Pro features a 4-inch WVGA touchscreen and is powered by a 1 GHz single-core processor. It has 512MB RAM along with 4 GB internal storage which can be expanded with a 32GB microSD card. There's a 2 megapixel camera and has support for Dual SIM.

Both Samsung Galaxy Trend and Galaxy Star Pro run Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system. "Galaxy Trend and Galaxy Star Pro will provide our consumers an exceptionally rich mobile experience in regional languages with the ability to access an array of apps in their preferred language," Samsung Mobiles and IT Country Head Vineet Taneja said. At a price in tag of Rs. 6,750 and Rs 8,290 respectively, the Samsung Galaxy Star Pro and Galaxy Trend have just about average features that you can expect from a mildly priced phone.

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Coming to the Samsung Galaxy Trend features - we get a 4.0-inch WVGA display with 480 x 800 pixels resolution. Powered by a 1GHz Single Core processor coupled with 512MB RAM, the Galaxy Trend offers 4GB internal memory that is expandable via microSD card to 32 GB. It is equipped with a 3 megapixel rear camera. Both of these devices come pre-loaded with nine Indian languages, including Hindi, Bengali, Punjabi, Marathi, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu and Tamil. "Not only can consumers browse the web, send SMS, and enjoy the phone interface in any of the 9 languages, but also use exciting applications in any of these languages," the company said in a statement.

The Korean company, which has a 26 per cent share in the country's smartphone market is offering options in local languages in a bid to attract non-English speaking customers. It is interesting to note that Samsung now has about 14 devices under Rs. 10,000. There's a wide range of smartphone options to choose from if you are planning to buy a new Android for yourself. Choose wisely, get the best.

Kobo eReaders - Kobo Touch, Glo, Arc and Aura HD Launched In India, Features & Price At Glance

Kobo, the eReader manufacturing company, has launched a bunch of its products in India. All eReaders, after tying up with leading bookstores in India such as Crossword and WHSmith as well as with the electronics retailer Croma to sell its devices, Kobo has launched four devices, namely - Kobo Touch, Kobo Glo, Kobo Arc and Kobo Aura HD . As we take a look at the features, specs and price of these gadgets individually, we find a wide range of choice for the buyers. Firstly, all the devices have USB and Wi-Fi connectivity. As we take a look at them one by one, we have the Kobo Touch eReader with n anti-glare 6-inch Pearl E Ink touchscreen priced at Rs. 7, 999. It comes with 2GB of storage, along with support for a microSD card of up to 32GB.

The next one on the list i.e. the Kobo Glo which is priced at Rs. 10,999 offers ComfortLight technology to enable people to read anytime – day or night. The Kobo Glo uses E Ink technology, and its no-glare XGA high-resolution 6” E Ink screen provides an experience that is just like reading print on paper. Then comes a multi-featured Kobo Arc. Priced at Rs. 11, 999, the Kobo Arc has a 7-inch screen and runs a customised Android 4.1.1 (Jelly Bean) operating system. It is a full fledged multimedia tablet with high-definition display and comes powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM.

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Last but no the least is - Kobo Aura HD, an eReader cum tablet PC priced at Rs. 13,999 that offers the highest-resolution screen available in an eReader today. At 265 dpi, the spacious 6.8-inch Pearl E Ink touchscreen offers 30 percent more reading surface. The device’s 1GHz processor makes page turns fly and is the fastest eReader on the market. For buyers, it is good to note that as part of Diwali offer, Kobo is offering special Diwali pricing until November 3 on two Kobo devices. Kobo Arc is available at Rs. 9,999 (regular price Rs 11,999) and Kobo Touch at Rs 6,999 (regularly price Rs 7,999).

"We intend to sell two hundred thousand units in 12-18 months across the portfolio," Kobo Executive Vice President and General Manager Wayne White said. "In order to be successful in India, we will have to customize a device for the market here, which is likely to come next year," White said. Book readers might find an instant connect with the device as the company said readers will also have access to Kobo e Bookstore featuring nearly 4-million titles across 68 languages including of Indian authors such as Jhumpa Lahiri, Ramachandra Guha and Sachin Garg. Kobo is also soon bringing a device that comes with a SIM card slot for mobile connectivity. Keep checking this space for more on this.

Sony Xperia C Specs, Features & Price In India - Will It Tackle Samsung Galaxy Grand?

Sony India has launched its Xperia C smartphone or better called phablet in India at a price of Rs. 21,490. Unveiled globally in June this year at Mobile Asia Expo, the Sony Xperia C features a 5-inch TFT display with 960 x 540 pixel resolution and has the Omnibalance design that Sony uses in its top-end models. Featuring Dual SIM support and running the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system, the Xperia C is a valid alternative to the similarly priced smartphone from rival company Samsung - the Samsung Galaxy Grand. In India, Sony Xperia C might also face a stiff competition from Micromax Canvas 4, Intex Aqua i7, Gionee Elife E6 a and LG Optimux Pro Lite. 

The Sony Xperia C features 4 GB internal storage and a microSD card support up to 32GB, 1GB RAM and runs on a 1.2GHz quad-core Mediatek processor. Sporting a 8 megapixel camera with Sony's Exmor R sensor on the rear, the Xperia C lets users take a self-portrait by enabling the smart voice guide to use voice commands that helps frame the shot. There's also a 'Beauty Mode' which offers users a way of softening skin tones to ensure that harsh lighting conditions or blemishes don't ruin the picture. The front camera on the unit is a VGA one. 

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Deriving its power from 2,390mAh battery that the company claims can survive through 14 hours of talk time and 588 hours on standby mode, the Sony Xperia C offers connectivity using 2G, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and microUSB 2.0. Available in three color variants - white, black and purple, the smartphone has a symmetrical look with a curved back panel and features colour-changing illuminations to visually alert users to incoming calls, texts messages and alarms. Sony is also offering headphones worth Rs 1,490 with the Xperia C for free. 

With an offer of six months of accidental damage protection with the handset, the Sony Xperia C brings with it an Airtel offer of 1GB free data usage for two months. That pretty much sums up the complete all-you-want-to-know about the Sony Xperia C.

Made-In-China 'Li-Fi' May Be Your Cheapest Wi-Fi Alternative - Lightbulbs At Work

Chinese researchers have finally made a breakthrough in the wireless internet segment with Li-Fi technology, where wireless signals get transmitted via lightbulbs. These brilliantly awesome Chinese folks proposed that four computers under a 1 Watt LED lightbulb may connect to the web, principle being that light can act as a carrier instead of conventional radio frequencies. Chi Nan, an IT professor at Shanghai-based Fudan University expanded that a lightbulb having embedded microchips can produce data uploading/downloading speeds of nearly 150 Mbps (Wooot!), and this is way higher that what the average broadband connection in China currently delivers. Also, where Li-fi scores over the traditional Wi-Fi is that it's way to cheaper than the existing wireless signal transmission equipment and offers a much greater efficiency.

 

Chi added that as far as cell phones are concerned, millions of base stations across the world contribute to strengthen the signals, but a major part of the energy is juiced up in their cooling systems. She even added that the energy utilization rate was just a mere 5%. Having said that, Chi was quick enough to point out the commercial impracticality of Li-Fi as of now, as when the light will be blocked, it's cut off the signal then and there. A few developments remain to make Li-Fi a commercial success, and the team is currently running experiments for light communication controls, microchip design and manufacturing, among other segments.

Haral Hass from Edinburgh University is the man who bestowed upon this technology the name Li-Fi back in 2011, which stands for 'light-fidelity' and simply refers to a light communication technology that offers high-speed wireless transmissions, somewhat like our very own Wi-fi. Once this tech comes to life, it opens up the Pandora's box to limitless applications, with each and every light source being employed as a data transmitter. Edison would've been proud.

Microsoft Windows Remote Desktop App For Android, iOS And Mac Lets You Access

Tapping into the smartphone and tablet market, Microsoft has today released a Remote Desktop App for Android, iOS (iPad and iPhone) and Mac which allows users to remotely access their Windows devices and servers. The apps can be downloaded for free through their respective app stores. The Microsoft Remote Desktop app for Android (2.2 or later) and iOS (Version 6 and 7) is a 4.4 MB file that brings the power of remote desktop protocol (RDP) and RemoteFX supporting Windows gestures to your Android smartphone or tablet. The app features secure connection to your data and applications with Network Layer Authentication (NLA) technology. It also facilitates high quality video and sound streaming with improved compression and bandwidth usage.

By using these apps, users also get support for easy connection to external monitors or projectors for presentations. In addition to the above features, the Remote Desktop app for Mac also offers support for printing from Windows applications to any printer configured on the Mac and allows users to access local files on the Mac even from Windows applications. Here's a pointer though - The software doesn't detect PCs automatically, so you'll need to use the IP address and remember to toggle on the requisite options from the base station's Control Panel. The Remote Desktop app would be of great help to employees who will now be able to access their Windows servers and PCs through their Apple devices as workplaces shift to BYOD (Bring Your Own Device).

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Microsoft had made a subtle mention of the release of these apps in a recent press release related to enterprise cloud solutions. The Microsoft remote desktop app for Android as well as iOS is getting decent reviews so far. It remains a mystery why Microsoft doesn't want to actively promote the release of these apps. There has been no official press release. We want our readers to check out the Microsoft Remote Desktop app right away on their Google Play Store and Apple App store and share the reviews with us.

Download Links - iTunes and Google Play

Facebook For iOS Update Features Adding Photos To Comments, Ability To Edit Comments & More

Facebook iOS app update is here. With the update version 6.6, Facebook has taken a step closer to bringing all the functionality that the Facebook desktop mode offers. The latest update to Facebook app on iOS features ability to add photos to comments and also edit statuses or comments from any iOS device running on iOS 6.0 and later. iPhone and iPad users will surely be relieved to have all the new features for Facebook apps. There's the usual bug fixes and option of expressing yourself with icons when you post to someone's timeline and getting to privacy shortcuts by tapping the lock by your name in the main menu.

One of the other major changes that the updated Facebook for iOS app brings is a new way to get to Privacy Settings. While the option is still present prominently under the 'More' tab, Facebook now also displays a lock symbol with the user's name tapping on which opens the Privacy Settings similar to how Facebook displays this symbol in the web version. The updated app has brought a more iOS-like navigation with a new bar at the bottom of the app, that features buttons for News feed, Friend Requests, messages, notifications, and a More button that offers a menu which was previously included in a sliding pane at the left hand, a feature that some people also call the Hamburger menu.

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That's all about the features that this update brings. You can go ahead and download the Facebook for iOS update from App Store right away. We await your reviews and comments in replies below.

TDK's working on 40 TB HDDs for 2020 launch

With our cameras going full HD and the world moving over to 4K videos, it's no surprise that our digital data storage needs are going to grow exponentially in coming days. Our current generation of HDDs are capable of storing only a few hundred GBs now, with the max storage hitting limits at about 3TB in the 3.5" form factor. TDK understands this need and has already began working on a new heat-assisted recording technology that will allow creation of HDDs that can store up to 40 TB of data. It will eliminate the limitations imposed by the current technique that uses recording media with high magnetic coercivity.


Coercivity of the medium aka the quantity of reverse magnetic field required to change the value of the data to be stored is decreased through laser assisted heating. The overall effect is that the recording density of the medium gets increased. 

The issue with laser assisted heating is that it ends up heating the parts of the medium that shouldn't be touched. This often results into loss of important data. This can be avoided by using a very focused & sharp laser so that heating can be localised with desired precision. TDK's engineers have developed a new type of device, which they call 'near-field light generator' to localise the heating to area of just a few nanometers wide. TDK says this technique allows them to have a light spot in 1/10 of the area used in Blu-Ray disk recording. 

TDK has also verified the technology by reading and writing multiple files simultaneously. Heat assisted heads are being tested in TDK's labs and the company is now ready to take it to the masses through partnership with Seagate Technology - one of the world leaders in digital data storage.

Lava E-Tab Ivory Tablet - Specs, Features & Price In India Detailed

Lava is on fire this year. The company is on a spree for its product launches. This time it's a tablet called LAVA E-Tab Ivory. Priced at Rs. 10,199, the E-Tab Ivory tab specs speak of a Dual SIM capability along with 3G video calling facility. More on the features - we see that the Lava E-Tab Ivory is being called the successor to the Connect series which also boast of voice calling capabilities. Featuring a 7-inch capacitive touchscreen which delivers visuals in 1024 x 600 pixel resolution, the tablet runs on the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

Powered by a 1.2 GHx dual core processor and a power VRSGX531 Ultra GPU running at 500 MHz for the gaming audience, the memory specs on the E-Tab Ivory tablet talk of 1 GB DDR3 RAM, a 4 GB internal storage which could be expanded to up to 32 GB via microSD card. The tablet has also a 2 megapixel rear camera and a 0.3 megapixel front camera. The Lava tablet comes armed with a 3000 mAh battery which provides for a decent battery backup.

 

There are various applications preloaded here, for instance - Total Recall HD, NFS HD, Hungama, OLX, Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp.The exterior features a silver metallic finish with a white bezel. The tablet has dimensions of 194mm x 120.5mm x 10.8mm. For the connectivity - the tablet offers Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS. Like we have mentioned before, The Lava E-Tab Ivory is going to be soon available for sale in India through online and local retailers for Rs 10,199.

LG G Flex - The 6-inch Curved Smartphone Is Happening, Leaked Images Appear

With the leaked images surfacing, we now know that the curved screen smartphone from LG is very much real. Called the LG G Flex - the smartphone is said to have a curved 6-inch display, which got confirmed after alleged images from press release renders made it to the headline first on Engadget and then other major blogs. After announcing that it has started production of curved smartphone displays, LG's rumoured 'G Flex' curved display smartphone has now surfaced online in the form of press renders. It was only last week that LG had announced mass production of the OLED curved display featuring LG G Flex, and as confirmed back then, these images are reassuring that the purported press images leaked now bring a curved screen vertically i.e. from top to bottom.

LG G-Flex may not feature any hardware buttons on the front and on the side edges and there would be just a LG logo appearing at the bottom of the screen. It is also possible that LG has put the Power and Volume rocker keys behind the phone, below the camera lens, similar to the positioning of the keys in the LG G2, the company's latest flagship. LG had also previously confirmed that the new OLED panel will be 0.44mm thin and weigh just 7.2g, even with a 6-inch screen. So, we are definitely sure about the size of the smartphone.

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As the reports are floating around, we may really witness the launch of the LG G-Flex smartphone as early as November 2013. But, we are looking forward to more leaks and details about the tech specifications, price and availability of the smartphone till then. It is also important to note that Samsung Electronics has recenty launched the much-anticipated and talked-about gadget in the tech town. Called the Samsung Galaxy Round- the company has pioneered the launch of the world's first Full HD Super AMOLED flexible display bearing smartphone. The highlight of the phone is the subtly curved 1080p 5.7-inch OLED screen built with a 7.9mm profile and the phone overall weighs less than the Note 3, at 154g. The interesting features to note are that if you tilt the phone to the side, the Galaxy Round offers up notifications, battery levels and more at a glance.

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We are now eager to see if at all curved display smartphones happen to make their mark with the buyers - who would be the winner? LG or Samsung? Or would there be no fight at all? Let us wait and find out.

Facebook Acquires Onavo - Israeli Mobile Data Analytics Startup; Deal Valued Over $100 Million

Facebook has established its first office in Israel, an office anchored so far by a data analytics company recently bought by the world's largest social networking site. Facebook today confirmed that in an attempt to make internet access more convenient, it has acquired Tel Aviv-based Israely startup Onavo, deals of which still haven't been disclosed- but the expected figures should range anywhere from $100 to $200 million. Around 30 Onavo employees shall be sweating it out for Facebook and will work in the company's new Israely office (which as of now remains Onavo's still).

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Founded in 2010, Onavo develops iOS and Android apps that compress data as and when downloaded, thus optimizing the device and app performance and bettering battery life. The startup even offers an analytics tool that lets Android and iOS users track the data consumed by individual applications installed in their phones, though this service is now offered by all the latest OS versions.

This acquisition follows a logic. Facebook has been planning to grow its mobile business for a while now, and that would mean making the platform much more usable on mobile devices. Now with Onavo's technology, which simply targets smartphones, Facebook can now optimize their content on mobiles. Company’s co-founders, Guy Rosen (CEO) and Roi Tiger (CTO) cite Facebook's Internet.org initiative to make internet access easier- "Today, we’re eager to take the next step and make an even bigger impact by supporting Facebook’s mission to connect the world."