Magicon launches budget phablet mNote, Android phones m1 and M2

Magicon Impex has released a new range of smartphones in collaboration with Aircel. The new models include the m1, m2 and the mNote. All three models offer dual-SIM, a proximity sensor, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, and feature the UltraTouch capacitive touch screen.

The mNote features a dual-core 1 GHz processor, 5-inch WVGA display with 16 million colours, a regular front camera and an 8.0 MP rear camera with auto-focus and flash. It is a 3G Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich device and can create a Wi-Fi hotspot around itself for sharing internet connectivity with other devices. It also includes a 2,000 mAh battery powering it. The Magicon mNote is available at Rs. 9,999.

The Magicon m1 and m2 are both Android 2.3 Gingerbread models with a 1 GHz processor and have a 5.0 MP rear camera. The m1 model features flash and a regular front camera as well. Both models feature a 3.5-inch WVGA display and are powered by a 1500 mAh battery. The m2, like the mNote, is also a 3G device capable of creating a Wi-Fi hotspot while the m2 is a 2G phone with EDGE connectivity.  The m1 model is priced at Rs 4499 and the m2 is priced at Rs 4999.

All 3 models come with popular apps like Skype, Facebook, Twitter, Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja etc. already pre-installed.

Mr. Pankaj Anand, Chief Executive Officer, Magicon Impex, said, “Compared to all other touch screen phones available in the market today, our phone offer the most superior user experience.”

The Smart phones come with various data plans offered by Aircel and a 4 GB memory card. Aircel has offered 250 minutes of talk time, 250 SMSes and 1 GB data for 3 months with all three models. Furthermore, each model has a warranty period of 18 months.

Mr. Jitendra Rahi, National Distribution Head, Aircel, said “We are at the cusp of a data tsunami in our country and it’s important for us to take a lead in data products. With Aircel’s endeavor of ‘Internet for all’, the association with Magicon is a perfect fit as it will help drive the smart device penetration and increase data usage.”

Source:  http://www.thinkdigit.com/Mobiles-PDAs/Magicon-launches-budget-phablet-mNote-Android-phones_11587.html

Zynga revamps contract with Facebook

Zynga loosened its ties with Facebook in an amended agreement that had governed a close partnership between the two companies for years. As per the new pact, Zynga will no longer be required to use Facebook as the log-in for users, while Facebook will be able to develop its own games. Zynga can choose to do away with Facebook Payments as the way for users buy virtual goods and opt not to show ads served by Facebook.

“Zynga's mission is to connect the world through games," Barry Cottle, Zynga's chief revenue officer, said in a statement. “In order to do this, Zynga is focused on building enduring relationships with consumers across all platforms from Facebook and Zynga.com on the Web to tablets and mobile." Read Zynga's regulatory filing here.

Facebook, however, in a statement has said that the social network has no plans of getting into gaming business. "We're not in the business of building games and we have no plans to do so," Facebook clarified in a statement. "We're focused on being the platform where games and apps are built."

It is believed that there are various parts of the new deal that could hurt Zynga's interests in near future. As per the terms of the new pact, Zynga will be barred from using Facebook to “cross-promote” its games. This means when a player on Zynga.com shares their accomplishment or any activity on a given game that shows up on their Facebook Timeline, the post will not link back to Zynga.com. This would definitely dampen traffic to Zynga.com.

Both Zynga and Facebook have been making efforts to reduce their inter-dependence. In an attempt to come out of Facebook's shadows, Zynga launched its gaming platform, Zynga.com. Facebook, in the meanwhile, started wooing other game developers.

"We have streamlined our terms with Zynga so that Zynga.com's use of Facebook Platform is governed by the same policies as the rest of the ecosystem," a Facebook spokesman said in a statement. "We will continue to work with Zynga, just as we do with developers of all sizes."


Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Internet/Zynga-revamps-contract-with-Facebook_11578.html

Happy 40th Birthday Pong! Still an awesome game to play

One of the first video games ever made, Pong turns 40 today. On November 29th 1972, a little company known as Atari released one of the first successful video games of all time – Pong. The game can be considered as the start of the video game industry.

For those of you that don't know, Pong was an arcade game later ported to the home consoles. It was a simple concept of tennis where two sticks were present at the opposite ends of a screen and a ball bounced between them.

Here are some fun facts about how Pong came into being. In 1958, a physicist named William Higginbotham (yes, that was his name) created a game called tennis for two. This was during the era when computers were the size of entire rooms so of course not many people knew of its existence. Fast forward to 1966, Ralph Baer (a German-born American video game pioneer, inventor, engineer, known as "The Father of Video Games", who is noted for his many contributions to games and the video game industry) chased a crazy dream of a TV you can play. In 1968, Baer invents and patents a Ping Pong style game and the rest as they say is history.

There have been many versions of the games from arcades in bars to home consoles and even versions of the game made for your smartphone.

Fun Fact: The late Steve Jobs worked for Atari before he founded Apple.

Those of you that are interested in knowing the origin and the story of the legendary game Pong can take a look at this video below.

Six months ago, Atari celebrated its 40th birthday. Although the company isn’t the name it was in the video game industry, we still have memories of a time when Atari made some of the best games in the business. You can read our 40 years of Atari - the rise and fall of the company that gave us Pong here.

Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Gaming/Happy-40th-Birthday-Pong-Still-an-awesome_11548.html

Microsoft announces 40 million Windows 8 licences sold since launch

Microsoft claims that it has sold a whopping 40 million Windows 8 licences since its launch on October 26, 2012. Tami Reller, the Windows Chief Marketing and Financial Officer, revealed this information during a speech at Credit Suisse 2012 Annual Technology Conference. Reller said, “The journey is just beginning, but I am pleased to announce today that we have sold 40 million Windows 8 licenses so far.”

Recently, Microsoft revealed that it had sold four million upgrade copies of Windows 8 in the first few days of the new OS going live.

This is quite a milestone for the company and it is really pushing the new OS to the point that all newly launched laptops and ultrabooks are powered by Windows 8 even though Windows 7 is still a very stable and well-supported OS. Microsoft sold 60 million Windows 7 licenses from its launch (October 2009) till December 2009.

The details of “licenses sold” seems to be in the grey area as it does not clarify whether these licenses are sold to consumers, organizations, distributers or manufacturers who are offering Windows 8 straight out of the box.

Notably, no details about the sales figures of Microsoft’s Surface RT tablet were revealed. Microsoft’s Surface Pro, the tablets running Windows 8 Pro will be available from January 2013.

It’s nice to see that Windows 8 has an app store but at launch there were only a few thousand apps and they didn't include big names such as Facebook and Twitter. Also the learning curve for the new OS is a bit high which may turn off the traditional Windows user. Nonetheless, it is safe to say that Microsoft has done a pretty good job with its new desktop/tablet hybrid OS.



Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Software/Microsoft-announces-40-million-Windows-8-licences_11533.html

Aakash 2 a 'Made in China' device? DataWind denies allegations

Controversies have continued to chase India’s ambitious ultra low-cost tablet PC, the Aakash 2. According to reports on the web, the ‘revolutionary’ device aimed at bridging the digital divide in the country is actually a cheap ‘Made in China’ device, and has been embellished with some applications from IIT Bombay. Questions are being raised whether the Aakash 2 is a true Indian innovation.

Economic Times in its report claims DataWind, the company assigned to design, develop and manufacture the Aakash tablet, procured about 12,000 devices A-13 model designed by AllWinner Tech of China. The supplier was finalised by IIT-Bombay, which is also implementing the Aakash project. The report says the procurement took place shortly before the Aakash 2 was officially launched.

The Chinese tablets cost about $42 (around Rs. 2,310) per unit, and were purchased from firms such as Kalong Technology Co., Ltd, Dasen International Electronics Co Ltd, Trend Grace and Shenzhen Shetong Zhaoli Co Ltd. The report points out that IIT Bombay issued a certificate dated October 29 for importing 20,000 units in India, and sought a waiver of duty as they were meant for school students under an HRD ministry programme – days before the Aakash 2 was launched.

According to the report, DataWind didn’t design or manufacture the Aakash 2 tablets. DataWind CEO Suneet Singh Tuli has refuted the charges and claimed his company had designed the Aakash 2. "For the first 10,000 units for IIT, and for expediency sake we had the motherboards manufactured in one of our Chinese subcontractor’s facilities And then the units have been ‘kitted’ in China at various manufacturers for expediency, whereas the final assembly and programming has happened in India. We finished this batch of 10,000 units and delivered them to IIT and will be starting another batch of 20,000 units for them in two weeks," Hindustan Times quotes Tuli as saying.

Clarifying reports of the Aaksh 2 not being an Indian device, Tuli told website PKR, “Our business model is similar to that of Apple where we use subcontract manufacturers to build our products. So, these are built in facilities of our contractors. For the first 10k units for IIT, and for expediency sake we had the motherboards and kits manufactured in our Chinese subcontractor’s facilities, and then the units have been ‘kitted’ in China at various manufacturers for expediency, whereas the final assembly and programming has happened in India.”

The government hasn’t made any official statement on the controversies surrounding the Aakash 2. However, the ET in its report quotes a senior government official involved in the project as saying he was unaware whether the products were off the shelf tablets from China. IIT Bombay has also not responded on the issue yet.

One of the prime reasons behind DataWind choosing to manufacture the Aakash 2 tablets in China is believed to be its rift with its Indian partner VMC Systems, which was supposed to assemble the device in Hyderabad. It is learnt that VMC had halted shipments over non-payment of dues. The Aakash project is no stranger to controversies. The project has been stalled various times in the past for a number of reasons. The original Aakash tablet was rejected over poor specifications whereas standoff between DataWind and IIT Rajasthan also delayed the project. At one stage it looked like the Aakash 2 will never see the light of the day. Read Aakash 2 tablet: Outdated even before launch? and Indians sceptical about Aakash 2 launch; want to see it to believe it

Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Tablets/Aakash-2-a-Made-in-China-device_11494.html

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This Online All The News blog post shows how news attached to our life.

Windows Store goes past 20,000 apps

The Windows Store in Windows 8 has gone past 20,000 apps after almost a month since its launch. The Windows 8 store added 7,000 apps in the last two weeks. Though it's not known when it hit the landmark, but Win App Update, which keeps tracks of the totals, claims the Windows Store hit the milestone on Tuesday this week.

According to Win App Update, about 17,958 of the apps (87 percent) are free. It's notable not all apps are available in all regions and languages. Almost 13,000 of those are available in the U.S., 14,000 in Canada and 11,000 in the U.K.

Earlier this month, the Windows 8 store had about 12,895 apps. This means the store went on to add about 7,715 apps in the last 17 days, averaging more than 453 apps per day. The milestone means the Windows store's growth has once again accelerated, as it initially averaged 500 apps additions daily and then dipped to 300 apps per day recently.

At this rate, the Windows 8 store is estimated to go past 30,000 mark by end of this year or may close in on 40,000 apps. The coming holiday season may see developers adding more apps to Windows 8. Developers would be looking to cash in on 'massive' sales of the Windows 8-ready devices around the world.

The Windows 8 store is likely to see 'new-style' apps, which are optimised for the Metro UI. Check out The 10 best new-style Windows 8 apps.

Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Apps/Windows-Store-goes-past-20000-apps_11481.html

GTA Vice City 10th Anniversary Edition due on Android and iOS on Dec 6

Rockstar Games has announced that Grand Theft Auto Vice City 10th anniversary edition will launch on the Android and iOS platform on December 6, for $4.99 (Rs. Rs. 275 approx.).

Rockstar’s blog says, “This 10th Anniversary Edition brings the full experience of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City to mobile devices, with native high-resolution graphics and several enhancements unique to the iOS and Android platforms including updated character models and lighting effects, new and more precise firing and targeting options, a fully customizable control layout and native support for Retina display devices.”

Rockstar has also detailed the devices, which will be able to run the game. They are:

Apple iOS Devices: iPad, iPhone 4, 4S & 5, iPod touch 4th & 5th Generation. 

Android Phones: Motorola Razr, Razr Maxx, Razr Maxx HD, Motorola Atrix, Motorola Photon, Motorola Droid Bionic, HTC Rezound, HTC One X, HTC One S, HTC Evo 3D, HTC Sensation, HTC Droid Incredible 2, Samsung Galaxy Nexus, Samsung Nexus S, Samsung Galaxy Note 1 & 2, Samsung S2, Samsung Galaxy R, Sony Xperia Play, Sony Xperia S, P, T & TL, Sony Walkman Z Series Media Player, Samsung Galaxy S2, Samsung Galaxy S3, Google Nexus 4.

Android Tablets: Acer Iconia, Asus Eee Pad Transformer, Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime, LG Optimus Pad, Medion Lifetab, Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 / 10.1, Samsung Galaxy Tab 2, Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, Sony Tablet S, Sony Tablet P, Toshiba Thrive, HTC Flyer, Google Nexus 7, Google Nexus 10.

Vice City takes place before the events of GTA: III, sometime in the 80’s. The city layout is based on Miami and is heavily influenced by the cult classic, Scarface. Vice City was the first game where the protagonist, Tommy Vercetti, could use bikes as vehicles along with the ability to change costumes in order to dodge the cops.

Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Gaming/GTA-Vice-City-10th-Anniversary-Edition-due_11455.html

Microsoft to release Karaoke app for Xbox 360, requires you to go Gold

Microsoft is collaborating with The Stingray channel and releasing a Karaoke app for the Xbox 360 in time for the holidays. The app will be available for use to members who are subscribers of the Xbox Live Gold service.

Interestingly, unlike other music based games which come with a library of tracks built-in along with offering purchasing of songs outright, Karaoke will only permit streaming of songs from its servers to the Xbox 360 in time slots of 2 hours, 6 hours and 24 hours.

While this is a deviation from the regular model of music games, what is similar is that you will need additional peripherals to make this work. What’s needed is an Xbox headset with a mic along with a USB mic to belt your off tune vocals into. However, the pay-per-time-slot model is something that is very prevalent in countries like Japan and Korea, where “Karaoke” is a very popular social activity.

The Karaoke app will come with a few songs that will be free to play, but the entire library of 800 songs, which is being constantly updated, will only be accessible after purchasing a 2-hour, 6-hour or 24-hour play time token.

Purchases can be made using Microsoft Points, a currency that’s used for transactions over the Xbox Live network. Earlier this year, Microsoft had decided to stop using Microsoft Points for transactions related to purchasing of movies and music, giving many hope that it would be abolished from the Xbox Live network as well, but no such end seems in sight.

Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Gaming/Microsoft-to-release-Karaoke-app-for-Xbox_11435.html

GTA V may come to the PC and Wii U

GTA V, Rockstar’s next big game in the Grand Theft Auto franchise may be coming to the Wii U and the PC.

The game is slated to launch in 2013 for the PS3 and the Xbox 360, but Rockstar’s Dan Houser has said that a version of the game for the PC and Wii U is “up for consideration”.

In conversation with IGN, Dan Houser goes on to say, “The main thing is we are not... we are a third-party publisher. We're not Nintendo, we're not Sony, we're not Microsoft. We love all of them in different ways. But we can do what we want wherever there's the appropriate business opportunity and chance to find a market”.

Up till now, the developer has released quite a few games for Nintendo’s Wii console. Some of the titles included Bully, Bully 2, Manhunt 2 and more. The company hasn't announced any Wii U titles but that doesn't mean that it isn’t considering it.

A lot of big budget games that are available on the PS3 and the Xbox 360 are making their way to the Wii U. These games include Batman Arkham City, Assassin’s Creed III and more.

Dan Houser also goes on to say that there will be no motion gaming in GTA V with the PlayStation Move or the Xbox Kinect. He says that the experience will feel disjointed if mini games are included in GTA V that use motion controls.


Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Gaming/GTA-V-may-come-to-the-PC_11416.html

Assassin's Creed III patch coming next week; fixes numerous bugs

The fifth game in the Assassin’s Creed franchise, Assassin’s Creed III is quite an ambitious game, but it isn’t without its flaws. The game has seen quite a few bugs on both the PS3 and the Xbox 360, which will be fixed via a patch that will be available to gamers next week.

Assassin’s Creed III was released on October 30, 2012 for the Xbox 360 and the PS3 for Rs. 2,799. The game will launch on November 20 for the PC and will be priced at Rs. 999.

Seeing the long list of bugs that will be fixed via the patch it seems like Ubisoft rushed the game out to meet the October 30 deadline. This is quite understandable as other AAA titles were expected to launch in November of which two showstoppers were Halo 4 and Call of Duty Black Ops II.

Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Gaming/Assassins-Creed-III-patch-coming-next-week_11402.html

Fortune names Amazon's Jeff Bezos 'Businessperson of the Year'

Amazon head honcho Jeff Bezos is Fortune's Businessperson of the Year, the magazine announced Friday.

Fortune singled out Bezos for a number of accomplishments in the past year, as well as for a dedication to promoting innovation and for long-standing management techniques like his "S-team" meetings of senior executives which begin with participants reading printed memos called "narratives, sitting "in total silence for as long as 30 minutes."

"The three big ideas at Amazon are long-term thinking, customer obsession, and a willingness to invent," Bezos told Fortune, adding, "We innovate by starting with the customer and working backwards. That becomes the touchstone for how we invent."

Amazon under Bezos has also diversified in ways that go far beyond the company's origins as an online book retailer that emerged as one of the great success stories of the dot.com era in the late 1990s. The Seattle-based company now sells enough kinds of merchandise to legitimately compete with Walmart and other brick-and-mortar retail giants.

The world's biggest online retailer is also a top global purveyor of global technology services, thanks to Amazon's clever leveraging of its sprawling cloud-based infrastructure and enviable software development platform—building a single, company-wide software structure has been a Bezos obsession in recent years.

Then there are the Kindles. Bezos essentially jump-started the e-reader market a few years back with the introduction of the Kindle, thought by many industry watchers to be a foolish move at the time. Last year, Amazon rolled out its first tablet, the Kindle Fire, offering a cheap, Android-based alternative to Apple's dominant iPad—and where various computer and mobile device makers like Hewlett-Packard and Research in Motion had failed spectacularly with similar attempts to unseat the iPad, Bezos and Amazon's slate was a big success.

Bezos's peers and competitors, such as Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, were quick to praise the man. "Jeff is a manic competitor, a delightful human being, and a trusted supplier," Hastings told Fortune.

In a long profile of Bezos listing his recent accomplishments, Fortune compared the Amazon founder and CEO favorably to the late Steve Jobs, the Apple co-founder considered to have been the gold standard for artfully navigating the fast-paced world of consumer technology and reinventing his company to meet ever-changing challenges.

"With Steve's passing, Bezos is the epitome of the venture-backed CEO," venture capitalist Bill Gurley told the magazine, adding that "if you were to ask 100 startup entrepreneurs who the CEO is they admire most, he would show up on 95 of the ballots."

But if Bezos is the new Jobs—to be fair, Fortune also went to great lengths to talk up certain differences between the two tech icons—where does that leave Jobs' successor as Apple CEO, Tim Cook? As runner-up on the magazine's list of top execs, it turns out.

The 2012 list also turns out to be dominated at the top by leaders in the technology and telecommunications sectors. Among those following Bezos and Cook on Fortune's list of top business figures for the past year are Comcast CEO Brian Roberts, eBay CEO John Donahoe, Samsung CEO Oh-Hyun Kwon, and Google CEO Larry Page,

Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Internet/Fortune-names-Amazons-Jeff-Bezos-Businessperson-of_11397.html

Facebook brings Timeline layout to Friendship Pages

Facebook has rolled out a redesign of “Friendship Pages”, which shows the two friends' history in a Timeline format.

Friendship Pages shows users' mutual friends, likes, photos, and interactions they had on the social networking website. Facebook's Friendship Pages were one of the last segments of the social network that resembled the old profile. With the addition of Timeline layout, these pages are now easier to navigate.

“Starting today, we're introducing a new layout for friendship pages. Friendship pages combine posts, photos and events that you and another person have shared. Click the gear menu at the top of a friend's timeline to see a friendship page,” says Facebook in a blog post.

The update provides users more options to personalise the pages, and have a more complete look on the interaction between the two friends. Users will be able to remove different areas of their relationship details.

They can also remove the images they are tagged in from the friendship Timeline. To remove such images, users need to click on the pen icon on the upper right hand corner and choose “hide from Timeline”.


Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Internet/Facebook-brings-Timeline-layout-to-Friendship-Pages_11329.html

ViewSonic introduces TD220 dual point optical touch display in India

ViewSonic has launched its latest touch-enabled backlit LED display in India, the 22-inch ViewSonic TD2220 monitor. The company is looking to tap the renewed demand in touchscreen monitors, with Windows 8 and its touch-friendly interface already out. It has been priced at Rs. 16,999, and comes with a standard 3-year limited warranty and ViewSonic’s strongest pixel performance guarantee.

With a 21.5-inch diagonal (viewable), the TD2220 display is said to be equipped with advanced dual point optical touch technology, featuring a hardened 8H level scratch resistant surface to ensure high touch accuracy and durability. It offers a 1920x1080 pixel resolution, and ViewSonic says the display delivers excellent image quality for a variety of multimedia content, with a dustproof surface that is perfect for 2-point touch control, whether by finger, stylus, or even a gloved hand.

The ViewSonic TD2220 features a USB HID compliant design, allowing for automatic touch functionality via USB connection under Windows operating systems. Paired with multiple video sources (DVI with HDCP and VGA inputs), and a 20,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, the TD2220 computer display also has SRS Premium Sound on its stereo speakers.

Featuring a VESA mountable design, the Energy Star and EPEAT Silver certified ViewSonic TD2220 also features an Ecomode setting, for up to 40% energy savings. The monitor is fully compatible with Windows 7 and 8. It also features dual USB ports for the connection of a keyboard and mouse, or external storage devices to access files, and multimedia content.

Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Parts-Peripherals/ViewSonic-introduces-TD220-dual-point-optical-touch_11302.html

Google rolls out new search page layout, shifts navigation bar

Google has announced some changes to its search page layout, shifting its navigational tools from the upper left of the page to the top of the page. The updated layout will be initially rolled out to the U.S. users. The changes had hit the tablets last year, arrived on mobile phones a few weeks ago, and is now rolling out to the desktop.

Google in a blog post announced the update brings in a more streamlined search page. “You’ll notice a new simpler, cleaner design on the search results page — we’ve been working on ways to create a consistent search experience across the wide variety of devices and screen sizes people use today,” said Google.

Google further says the new design gives more breathing room, and more focus on the answers you’re looking for, whether from web results or from a feature like the Knowledge Graph.

The same advanced tools you’re used to are still there when you need them. Just click on “Search tools” to filter or drill down on your results:

CNET in its report points out the results currently do not display the advertisements but that could be a glitch from the testing. The report quotes Google as saying the advertising placements will remain the same.

Source:  http://www.thinkdigit.com/Internet/Google-rolls-out-new-search-page-layout_11292.html

Google brings new security features to Android 4.2 Jelly Bean

The advent of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean brings new security features to the platform, features that have been required for a while to protect users from the many dangers associated with malicious apps.

The new security features are built natively into Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, and the most vital of them, is in essence similar to the Bouncer feature rolled out for the Google Play store in February this year. While the Google Play store is now supposedly cleaner because this feature, Android users are still at risk when sideloading apps from other sources.

Completely opt-in, the ‘verify app’ feature can be toggled from the ‘Security’ section of Android 4.2 settings. Each time users download and sideload an app, it is sandboxed, with virtual walls put up between the app and other software on the device. A pop-up box will then ask user if they want to check the app for potentially ‘harmful behaviour.’ The device will then send information about the device to Google’s servers, and compare it with a database of known applications.

Even if the app is not also listed on the Google Play store, Google is confident it can detect if it is safe or not, as the company says it is constantly scanning the web for newly appearing APKs, and has a good understanding of how the ecosystem works. If the app under scrutiny is detected as safe, the installation will continue, if it is detected as dangerous, it will prevent you installing it. If however, the app is questionably secure, but not strictly harmful, the user will have the option to continue with the installation.

According to Google, the app installation process will not be greatly slowed down by the new security process, as most of the processing happens on the company’s servers, and the user device only has to send an APK signature onward.

As for the other new security features, Google has also introduced an improved app permissions screen, for sideloaded apps, which is apparently much simpler to read than before. Android 4.2 also brings a scanning feature, that detects any attempt by an app to send a text message to a known fee-collecting short code (premium number), and will alert the user. The user will have the option to then allow, or deny the app from continuing with sending.

For details on the interface changes that Android 4.2 Jelly Bean brings to the platform, refer to our previous coverage.


Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Apps/Google-brings-new-security-features-to-Android_11241.html

HTC to launch One X+ in India this month

HTC has announced that the One X+ will be launched in India this month. According to the information released, the One X+ will be available initially at the same price as the One X came at the time of launch. This means the One X+ will post a price tag of around Rs. 38,000. Also, the HTC One X will be getting the Android Jelly Bean around the same time the One X+ hits stores in India.

The HTC One X+ has a 1.7GHz quad core processor, a 4.7-inch Super LCD2 display with Gorilla Glass and a 720p HD resolution and 64GB internal storage. This is up from 16GB and the 32GB options the One X came with, while the 25GB free Dropbox storage offer is also applicable on the One X+. For the user, the total available storage options out of the box will total 89GB. There is an 8MP camera with BSI sensor.

The One X+ will come with Android Jelly Bean out of the box, and the HTC Sense 4.0.

We have been able to spend some time with the One X+ at the launch event in Singapore, and will bring a detailed first impression write-up with a lot of images very soon. Do stay tuned for that.  

Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Mobiles-PDAs/HTC-to-launch-One-X-in-India_11231.html

Megaupload founder announces new file-sharing service

Kim Dotcom, the founder of Megaupload, and possibly the most hunted man on the internet, has revealed plans for the successor to his wildly popular file sharing service.

Dubbed ‘Mega’, Dotcom announced in a post on his website that the new web portal will go live on January 20, 2013, basically laughing in the face of US prosecutors and copyright advocates that have been trying for his indictment in a high-profile case involving alleged copyright infringement via his web service.

Dotcom and his co-defendants have managed to find an innovative way to circumvent objections made against the services of Megaupload, by giving users direct control – and responsibility – over their files. The planned new encryption essentially means that owners of the site will have no idea about what content is being stored on their servers. The only ones with access to the required decryption key will be the users who upload the files themselves, thereby also providing increased security against hacking. In yet another snub to U.S. prosecutors, Dotcom has said that the new website will not use U.S.-based hosting companies as partners, in order to avoid being shut down by U.S. authorities.

Before it was shut down in January, 2012, Megaupload was one of the largest file storage and viewing services in the world, averaging about 50 million hits per day. With over 25 petabytes (25,000 terabytes) of data stored on its servers, the portal was widely known and used, and its shutting down led to great outrage in the online sphere, with many severe responses from the file sharing community, including denial-of-service attacks on a range of websites belonging to the U.S. government and copyright organizations.

Now, the latest offering from Dotcom and his co-workers seems to be filling the gap left by Megaupload’s shattering. While the new site boasts faster upload speeds and larger storage capacity, the encryption technology marks a major shift from Megaupload as Mega operators and owners will not have access to user files and therefore be immune from content liability.

U.S. authorities have released no official comment yet on the planned venture. The announcement was delayed by an hour on account of overloading by users on data. In a tweet, Dotcom suggested that a lot of the traffic was driven by U.S. authorities: “FBI agents pressing reload... We see their IP addresses.”


Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Internet/Megaupload-founder-announces-new-file-sharing-service_11227.html