Google doodles on 160th birthday of petri dish inventor Julius Richard Petri

Google today celebrates 160th birth anniversary of German scientist Julius Richard Petri with an innovative doodle on its home page. The doodle features Petri's famous invention – the Petri Dish, used to culture cells or small moss plants.

Julius Richard Petri (May 31, 1852 – December 20, 1921) studied medicine at the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Academy for Military Physicians (1871–1875) and got his medical degree in 1876. He continued his study at the Charité Hospital in Berlin and continued as a military physician until 1882.

From 1877 to 1879 he was working at the Imperial Health Office, where he assisted Robert Koch. Petri developed the standard culture dish, also known as Petri plate. He also developed the technique of agar culture to purify or clone bacteria colonies from single cells. His work is said to have made it easier for scientists to identify the bacteria responsible for diseases.

Modern Petri dishes often come with rings on the lids and bases, which enables stacking so that they don't slide off one another. There are now “multi-well plates” as well that allow multiple dishes to be incorporated into one plastic container. Learn more about Petri dishes here.

Today's animated Google Doodle features a series of the Petri dishes in Google colours, replacing the “Google” word. On clicking, a hand appears that swabs each of them. Then you can see as the bacteria grow. There's a lens button on the right that directs users to search results on Julius Richard Petri.

Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Internet/Google-doodles-on-160th-birthday-of-petri_14854.html

YouTube adds slow-motion video effect to editing suite

Google allows users to create entertaining and innovative YouTube videos through various effects and features on its YouTube Editor. The company has now added a new enhancement to growing portfolio of automated editing options – Slow Motion.

The slow motion feature is expected be beneficial for those editing music videos or short films. The feature allows them to mix up or set the tone for their videos.

“Anyone who’s seen a slow motion video of a dog drinking water, rubber bands breaking a watermelon, or footballs in faces knows the age-old proverb: slomo makes everything better. What’s the best way to make slomo better? Let everyone make their own slomo video on YouTube,” says YouTube team in a blog post.

YouTube's slow-motion effect looks smoother and makes the video speed reduced to 1/8th speed.

“To create a slomo video, visit the Enhancements tool or the YouTube Editor and apply it to one of your existing videos. You’ll get a smooth, slomo video that makes it look like it was filmed with a high-speed camera.”

Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Internet/YouTube-adds-slow-motion-video-effect-to-editing_14821.html

IRCTC website to soon support booking 7,200 e-tickets per minute

Indian Railways' IRCTC website gets a massive number of hits every day. However, IRCTC is flooded with complaints with regards to slow loading/crashing of the site and failure to complete ticket booking procedures. It is often criticised for its incapability of handling huge web traffic.

However, IRCTC is now looking to address these complaints, as it reveals plans to boost the site to book 7,200 e-tickets per minute. In a presentation on upgrading the IRCTC website, IRCTC Managing Director R K Tandon said the upgrade would cost about Rs. 100 crore. CRIS, the technical arm of railways, will also be participating in the upgrading of the IRCTC website.

The official says the upgrading site is a continuous process and that an average booking per day has been increased from 3.67 lakh in 2012 to 4.15 lakh now.

Currently, the site is capable of handling 1.2 lakh concurrent connections on web servers and can book about 2000 tickets per minute.

It's notable 37 percent of 31 crore reserve tickets being booked in a year are booked online and 8 percent through ticketing agents. Ex-Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal had announced in his Rail Budget 2013-14 plans to increase IRCTC capacity to 7200 tickets per minute as well as improving the site's efficiency.

Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Internet/IRCTC-website-to-soon-support-booking-7200_14809.html

Google to set up wireless networks in emerging markets: Report

Google is reportedly planning to set up wireless networks and offer related services in emerging markets in the near future. According to the Wall Street Journal, the networks would be set up outside the big cities where wired Internet connections aren't available. Moreover, the company is looking to partner with local companies for the deployment.

“As part of the plan, Google has been working on building an ecosystem of new microprocessors and low-cost smartphones powered by its Android mobile operating system to connect to the wireless networks, these people said. And the Internet search giant has worked on making special balloons or blimps, known as high-altitude platforms, to transmit signals to an area of hundreds of square miles, though such a network would involve frequencies other than the TV broadcast ones,” says the WSJ report.

The report goes on to say helping connect more people to the Internet would help Google get more potential users for its search engine and other products/services such as YouTube, Google Play media and app store. More users will help drive more online advertising to Google services.

Narayanan Shivakumar, a former Google engineering executive, says the expansion will help Google net more data about consumer behaviour - that would allow it create more personalized services and target users with more relevant ads. “And by profiting from data it gleans from how people use a network it operates, Google could build a business more cheaply than traditional carriers do today,” he adds.

“Providing wireless networks would allow Google to circumvent incumbent cable companies and wireless carriers. Such companies, particularly in the U.S. and Europe, have clashed with Google, believing it is unfairly reaping profits on the back of their networks. Google has long feared such companies would make it harder for its Web services to work properly on the networks,” the report quotes people with direct knowledge of the matter as saying.

It's notable Google already provides wired Internet in select cities of the US through its fiber-optic deployments. The company also plans to 'powerful Wi-Fi networks' in these cities.


Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Mobiles-PDAs/Google-to-set-up-wireless-networks-in_14789.html

NVIDIA announces GeForce GTX 780 GPU

NVIDIA has introduced the GeForce GTX 780 GPU, which is supposed to provide speedy frame rates and ‘smooth’ visuals for the next generation of PC gaming titles – including Call of Duty: Ghosts, Watch Dogs and Battlefield 4. In addition, NVIDIA has released to production the NVIDIA GeForce Experience software.

Designed for gaming enthusiasts, the GeForce GTX 780 boasts a powerful Kepler GPU with 2,304 cores and 3GB of high-speed GDDR5 memory – each 50 percent more than its predecessor.

The GeForce GTX 780 supports NVIDIA’s latest array of gaming technologies, including PhysX and NVIDIA TXAA, while the newest GeForce drivers reduce frame time variations to provide smoother frame delivery and a richer overall experience. And for those gamers who demand the very best, NVIDIA SLI technology – the industry’s preeminent multi-GPU solution – scales to deliver even higher levels of performance.

“The GeForce GTX 780 delivers the fastest frame-rate and smoothest animation at a value never before seen in PC gaming,” said Scott Herkelman, general manager of the GeForce business unit at NVIDIA. “This level of performance allows gamers to become fully immersed into a game the way the developers originally intended.”

The GeForce GTX 780 includes NVIDIA GPU Boost 2.0 technology, which automatically increases the GPU’s clock speeds for enhanced performance, while adding temperature target and fan controls, as well as extra over-voltage headroom and optimizations for advanced water-cooling solutions.

A high-quality cast exterior aluminum frame and high-efficiency vapor chamber cooling – the most sophisticated thermal solution NVIDIA has created – contribute to the exotic design of the card. With GeForce GTX 780, form meets function with uncompromising acoustic performance as well for near silent gaming operation.

“The GeForce GTX 780 thermal solution is the most sophisticated we’ve ever created,” said Andrew Bell, vice president of engineering at NVIDIA. “The human ear detects not just sound intensity, but also sudden variations in noise levels. For this reason, we created brand new adaptive temperature controllers to reduce unnecessary fan speed variations and deliver beautifully silent operation. This makes the GeForce GTX 780 an awesome choice for powering enthusiast-class PCs including desktop gaming towers as well as the new breed of sexy, small form-factor PCs.”

Optimization with NVIDIA GeForce Experience

Available exclusively to GeForce gamers, the beta version of NVIDIA GeForce Experience software has been used by more than 1.5 million people since the beginning of the year. Now released to production, GeForce Experience is the perfect complement to the GeForce GTX 780’s raw horsepower.

GeForce Experience automatically configures the 3D setting for each game to ensure the best experience based on the system configuration. It notifies gamers of software updates and automatically installs GeForce Game Ready drivers so gamers can maximize the performance of their GeForce GPUs and enjoy the latest PC games the day they are released.

Availability and Pricing

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 GPU is available immediately from the world’s leading add-in card suppliers, ASUS and Zotac. Pricing is expected to start at INR 48,990.

Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Parts-Peripherals/NVIDIA-announces-GeForce-GTX-780-GPU_14783.html

Google Maps to offer panoramic images of The Galapagos Islands

Google has over the months continued to enhance its Google Maps Street View experience with panoramic images of the world's exquisite destinations. It recently added Grand Canyons and Everest, and now the latest to appear in Google's Street View panorama will be The Galapagos Islands.

Google in a detailed blog post revealed it is collecting imagery of the Islands, which includes Underwater Street View photography. The visual content is expected to appear on Google Maps later this year.

Google further says the biodiversity of the Islands inspired Charles Darwin to come up with the theory of evolution. Now taken care by Ecuador, the local government and conservationists are working together to rotect the Galapagos from threats posed by invasive species, climate change and other human impacts.

The Internet company tied up with the Ecuadorean government, the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF), the Galapagos National Parks Directorate (GNPD), and the Catlin Seaview Survey to gather panoramic images of the Islands. For above-ground images, Google used is Street View Trekker while the coastal shelf were captured by Catlin Seaview Survey team, which has also teamed with Google, using three SVII cameras on its diver-operated, motorized underwater scooter.

“Our 10-day adventure in the Galapagos was full of hiking, boating and diving around the islands (in hot and humid conditions) to capture 360-degree images of the unique wildlife and geological features of the islands with the Trekker. We captured imagery from 10 locations that were hand-selected by CDF and GNPD. We walked past giant tortoises and blue-footed boobies, navigated through steep trails and lava fields, and picked our way down the crater of an active volcano called Sierra Negra,” said Google in a blog post.

“Life underwater in the Galapagos is just as diverse as life on land. We knew our map of the islands wouldn’t be comprehensive without exploring the ocean that surrounds them. So for the second time we teamed up with the folks at the Catlin Seaview Survey to collect underwater panoramic imagery of areas being studied by CDF and GNPD. This imagery will be used by Catlin Seaview Survey to create a visual and scientific baseline record of the marine environment surrounding the islands, allowing for any future changes to be measured and evaluated by scientists around the world.”

Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Internet/Google-Maps-to-offer-panoramic-images-of_14771.html

 

Apple makes iPhone more affordable in India with discount and EMI schemes

Despite being premium priced, the iPhone is a hot product in India. It has been facing some stiff competition from other flagship smartphone makers like HTC and Samsung. In order to make the iPhone more accessible to consumers, Apple has come up with a bunch of schemes that is making the iPhone an attractive purchase.

Student who trade in their old smartphone for an iPhone will receive a discount of Rs. 7,777. If you are not a student, fear not. You will still receive a discount of Rs. 7,000 for trading in your old smartphone.

If you purchase the iPhone via your American express card, you will receive 10% cash back. If you are an American Express card user, you will get cash back of Rs. 6,000 on the purchase of an iPhone 4, 4S or 5 before June 10. This information is advertised in local newspapers all over the country. You can also avail the American Express installment offer at Redington and Ingram Micro distributor outlets. So, if you purchase an iPhone 5 (16GB), you will receive Rs. 4,550 on six monthly installments of Rs. 2,374. You will have to pay Rs. 9,990 rupees as a down payment.

BlackBerry a company struggling to keep its head above water too has introduced EMI schemes to boost the sales of its entry level BlackBerry Curve 9220 and the recently launched flagship BlackBerry Z10.

You can pick up a BlackBerry Curve 9220 at an EMI of Rs. 799 per month for 12 months and the Z10 can be yours for an EMI of Rs. 4799 for a period of 9 months. You can figure out which store near you has the BlackBerry smartphones on offer by sending an SMS - BBEMI <city or pin-code> to 575758.

Samsung too has a series of offers for its smartphone product lineup. You can catch the details of Samsung’s offers here.

Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Mobiles-PDAs/Apple-makes-iPhone-more-affordable-in-India_14736.html

Sony teases PS4 console design ahead of Xbox 720 unveiling

Sony is trying to steal a bit of Microsoft’s thunder by showcasing a teaser video of the hardware design of the PS4. The teaser trailer was released a day before the announcement of the next-gen Xbox.

The video showcases a blurry PS4 console. The look of the PS4 console is something we were waiting to see at the Sony February PS4 event but unfortunately the company didn't reveal it. What the event showcased was a bunch of game demos, the potential of the hardware, a new controller design and some online features.

The teaser trailer ends with June 10 being the grand unveiling of the console, which is the date for Sony’s E3 press conference. Hopefully we will get some concrete details about the price and its availability as well.


The reveal of the next Xbox is in a few hours. You can catch the live webcast of the event here. There are a lot of rumours about the next Xbox such as a sleeker console design, redesigned Kinect, always-on internet connection to play games, a Blu-ray drive, compulsory installation and more. All these rumours will hopefully be put to rest once the event kicks off later tonight.

Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Gaming/Sony-teases-PS4-console-design-ahead-of_14721.html

ZTE to launch smartphones, tablets in India; partners Pune-based Calyx Telecoms

Chinese manufacturer ZTE has set its sights on the Indian smartphone and tablet market as it teams with Pune-based Calyx Telecoms, which will be marketing ZTE smartphone s and tablets in the country. ZTE plans to launch new smartphones within the price range of Rs. 5,799 and Rs. 14,999 by October this year. The company hasn't yet decided on the pricing of its tablets.

As per the agreement, Calyx Telecoms will be taking care of distribution, sales and marketing ZTE smartphones and tablets in the country. ZTE India's chief executive Xu Dejun believes the partnership with the Pune-based firm will help the company "strengthen its position" in a local handset market, currently dominated by the likes of Samsung, Nokia, Sony, Apple and BlackBerry.

"Backed by Calyx's strong distribution channels, we expect to strengthen our position in India, which is a key growth propeller for us, contributing up to 10% of overall revenues," said Dejun.

ZTE says the first lot of smartphones and tablets shipped in India will be made in China but plans to manufacture them locally in the near future. "We look forward to manufacturing the smartphones and tablets at our Gurgaon factory in future," said Dejun.

Calyx Telecoms executive director Gaurav Somani said the company is "broadening its distribution network" to market ZTE's product portfolio initially in Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. "We are targeting 60 cities and towns through over 7,000 touch points."


Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Mobiles-PDAs/ZTE-to-launch-smartphones-tablets-in-India_14702.html

Spice Stellar Horizon Pro Mi 505 dual-SIM 3G phablet launched at Rs. 8,499

Spice Mobiles has launched a new 5-inch Android smartphone/phablet, Stellar Horizon Pro Mi-505. The smartphone comes with dual-SIM functionality with both SIM cards supporting 3G network. The Spice Stellar Horizon Pro Mi-505 is priced at Rs. 8,499.

The Stellar Horizon Pro Mi-505 features a 5-inch capacitive touchscreen with 800 x 480 pixels resolution. It runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and is powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor. It has 512MB of RAM. The smartphone comes with 4GB built-in storage and supports additional storage up to 32GB via microSD.

The Stellar Horizon Pro Mi-505 sports a 5MP camera on the rear and a 1.3MP front facing. In terms of connectivity, the smartphone supports GPS, 2G, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and microUSB. The smartphone is powered by a 2,100 mAh battery.

Spice is offering preloaded propreitary NetQin antivirus app with the Horizon Pro Mi-505, along with a free leather cover and screen guard worth Rs 500.

Spice's Horizon Pro Mi-505 is the cheaper variant of the original Stellar Horizon Mi-500, which sports dual-SIM, 5-inch screen, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and a relatively more powerful 2,400mAh battery. The smartphone is available online for approximately Rs. 12,000.

"We have received phenomenal success with Stellar Horizon Mi 500 launched last year. We have followed it up with this enhanced version with exciting features at a more attractive price point. We are confident the Horizon Pro will offer best value for money to its users,” TM Ramakrishnan, CEO, devices, Spice Mobiles is quoted as saying.

Source:: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Mobiles-PDAs/Spice-Stellar-Horizon-Pro-Mi-505-dual-SIM_14682.html

Micromax quashes Canvas Pro HD reports; A110Q Canvas pops up online

Micromax has quashed rumours of launching a full HD smartphone called the 'Canvas Pro HD A120'. A Micromax spokesperson confirmed with The Mobile Indian, stating: “The Micromax Canvas Pro HD A120 is just a rumor and the company is not working on any such device." In the meanwhile, a new Micromax smartphone, called the A110Q Canvas, has been spotted online. The company hasn't yet commented on the A110Q Canvas reports.

Details about the Micromax A110Q Canvas are scarce, but DroidExtra says the smartphone comes with 5-inch screen with 480 x 854 pixels resolution, 1.2 GHz MT6589 quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM and runs Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean.

The site further claims it had previously leaked info about the Micromax A115 Canvas 3D that came out to be true.

 

On the other hand, the Canvas Pro HD A120 was spotted recently on Sulekha with specifications details. The smartphone, according to the listing, has 5.5-inch Full HD 1920x1080 pixel display, and will run on a Cortex A7 quad-core processor. The phablet will also house the PowerVR Series 5XT GPU and 2GB of RAM.

The rear of the A120 will have a 13MP camera and the front will have a 3.2MP camera for video calling. It will sport 8GB built-in storage expandable up to 64GB via a microSD card. The Canvas HD Pro supports dual-SIM capabilities as well. A 3,000mAh battery powers the device.


Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Mobiles-PDAs/Micromax-quashes-Canvas-Pro-HD-reports-A110Q_14579.html

India's telephones subscribers base slips to 895.51 million: TRAI

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released its latest report on the performance of the telecom service providers during the quarter ending December 2012. The report covers parameters and growth trends for the Telecom Services as well as Cable TV, DTH & Radio Broadcasting services in the country.

Unsurprisingly, the number of telephone subscribers in India slumped from 937.70 million at the end of Sep-12 to 895.51 million at the end of Dec-12, registering a negative growth of 4.50% over the previous quarter Sep-12.

This reflects year-on-year (Y-O-Y) negative growth of 3.35% over the same quarter of last year. The overall Tele-density in India has declined from 77.04 as on 30th September, 2012 to 73.34 as on 31st December, 2012, reports the note.

According to the report, Internet subscribers increased from 24.01 million at the end of Sep-12 to 25.33 million at the end of Dec-12, registering a quarterly growth rate of 5.49%. Top 10 ISPs together hold 95.42% of the total Internet subscriber base.

Number of Broadband subscribers increased from 14.68 million at the end of Sep-12 to 14.98 million at the end of Dec-12, registering a quarterly growth of 2.02% and Y-O-Y growth of 12.23%. Share of Broadband subscription in total Internet subscription decreased from 61.16% at the end of Sep-12 to 59.15% at the end of Dec-12. 84.82% of the Broadband subscribers are using Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) technology.


Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Mobiles-PDAs/Indias-telephones-subscribers-base-slips-to-89551_14562.html

LG Optimus G2 spotted in benchmarks, boasts of 2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 CPU

The successor to LG flagship smartphone, the LG Optimus G has made its appearance online. The smartphone conveniently called the LG Optimus G2 was spotted in the AnTuTu benchmark along with Bluetooth SIG getting its Bluetooth certification.

In the AnTuTu Benchmark score it is revealed that there will be three variants of the smartphone - the F320K, F320L and F340L. The F320K is powered by a 1.5GHz processor and runs on Android 4.1.2. A 2GHz processor and run on Android 4.2 power the F320L and the F340L. It is most likely that the F320L and the F340L run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset.

An interesting reveal from the benchmark scores is that the F320L, which as a 2GHz processor scored less than the F320K, which has a 2GHz processor in the AnTuTu, benchmark. It is possible that the three variants of the smartphone are for different carriers in the US or may be for different regions globally. The Samsung Galaxy S4 has two variant launched globally. One that runs on the Qualcomm chipset and the other, which runs on the Exinos 5 Octa chipset.

In terms of other specifications, the LG Optimus G2 will have a 5-inch display with a full HD 19020x1080 pixel resolution. Keeping up with the next generation smartphone hardware, the device will house a 13MP rear camera and sport a 2.1MP front facing camera for video calling. A 3200mAh battery is expected to power the device.

There is no official information about the LG Optimus G2 but leaks suggest that the device will be unveiled to the public in August/September 2013.


Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Mobiles-PDAs/LG-Optimus-G2-spotted-in-benchmarks-boasts_14507.html

Google bans non-Play store app updates

Mess with Google, and Google will mess with you. Google caught Facebook updating its Android app without using the Google Play store update mechanism. Google closed the loophole in its terms and conditions, and now no Android app will be upgradeable without access to the Google Play store.

The Google Play store terms and conditions read, “An app downloaded from Google Play may not modify, replace or update its own APK binary code using any method other than Google Play's update mechanism.”

Facebook says that it was only pushing out the update to users that allowed non-Play store downloads to their phones. This worked under the old terms and conditions but now Facebook and any other app will only be able to send updates through the Google Play store.

It is good that Google is tightening the lid on their app update policy. This will help keep malicious content out of users’ devices especially those that do not download apps from the Play store. Are you wondering what will happen to all those Android devices available in the market that don’t allow access to the Play store?

Well, the policy is only aimed at updating apps and not at side loading apps. So fear not. If you are one who installs .APK files on your Android smartphone/tablet, you can continue to do so. Just don’t expect to receive any updates on those apps, but instead, you’ll have to download the new version APKs.


Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Apps/Google-bans-non-Play-store-app-updates_14400.html

Micromax says that it has sold more than 1 million Canvas smartphones

Micromax has made quite a name for itself in the budget smartphone world in India. Some of its most successful products have been the Canvas 2 A110 and the A116 Canvas HD. It is no surprise then that the company has announced that it has sold over a million units of its Canvas range of smartphones.

Micromax’s Canvas range of smartphones has three devices – the A116 Canvas HD, the Canvas 2 A110 and the Canvas Viva A72.

Commenting on the success of the Canvas Range so far, Mr. Shubhodip Pal, CMO, Micromax, said, “The Canvas series has proved to be a trendsetter in Indian smartphone segment. The demand for these devices has been on an upward curve from the time of their launch. These are our flagship models and the overwhelming consumer response has made us confident that we are headed towards the right direction. When we launched the Canvas HD, for the first time our online sales partners had witnessed a digital queue in cyberspace to such an extent for any product, to the traditional cue one normally sees. It was great to witness consumers wait until 12:00am for their chance to book the Canvas HD on Valentine’s Day selling 9000 units in less than 24 hours.” We hope to further strengthen our leadership in the smart phone segment in the coming months, as we continue to bring an exciting range of “CANVAS” phones which are driven by consumer insights and cater to the needs of the market.”

The Canvas 2 A110 is one of the most successful 5-inch budget phablets to hit store shelves. Boasting of a 5-inch display and dual-core processor, the A110 runs Android 4.0 ICS straight out-of-the-box. The smartphone is upgradable to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean but the upgrade isn’t available over the air or through PC software. You have to go to a service center to upgrade the smartphone.

The Canvas HD on the other hand, launched with a quad-core CPU and ran on Jelly Bean. The downside to the smartphone is that due to supply issues, the device was out of stock for quite some time.

Micromax is also taking a dig at the Apple and Samsung EMI scheme with a picture posted on Facebook and the official website. The image has all the three Canvas smartphones with a punch line that reads, “Can own without EMI”.

This isn’t the first time that Micromax has taken a dig at competing smartphone makers. In the past we have seen Micromax take a shot at the Samsung Galaxy Y ad campaign on TV. You can check watch the ad campaign here.

Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Mobiles-PDAs/Micromax-says-that-it-has-sold-more_14386.html

Sony Xperia P, Go and E dual to receive Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update this week

Sony has said that three of its Android smartphones, the Xperia P, Go and E dual will receive the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update starting this week. The update will be released globally in phases and should be completed towards the end of May.

The official Sony mobile blog reads, “The new software brings Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, along with a number of different and improved Sony features. We’ve been working to blend our Sony Xperia software with Google’s Jelly Bean release to create some cool user experiences – some of the functionality you can look forward to includes:”

The update brings a slew of new features such as Battery STAMINA mode, which allows you to fully customize your phone. It knows when the screen is off and shuts down the draining apps. The apps start once the display is back on.

The update also includes a new way to search for apps from the app draw, an added two home screens bringing the total to 7, and the regular slew of Android features such as Google Now, Project Butter and more.

If you are a Sony Xperia Go user, there’s a catch to the update. The official blog post says, “In some cases – particularly for Xperia go users – we’ve only made the upgrade accessible via PC Companion or Bridge for Mac due to the size of some software packages, and these users will only receive an in-phone notification if running Ice Cream Sandwich.”

The Jelly Bean update for the Xperia S, Xperia SL, Xperia ion, and Xperia acro S will start rolling out from the end of May.


Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Mobiles-PDAs/Sony-Xperia-P-Go-and-E-dual_14366.html

Microsoft Surface Pro and Surface RT head to more countries, skip India

After months of waiting, Microsoft has finally announced that more parts of the world will be getting the Surface PRO and Surface RT tablets. Up until now, only 8 countries worldwide had been graced by the availability (and support) for the new tablets from Microsoft, but that’s all set to change.

Microsoft has a separate rollout plan for both the tablets. The Surface RT, which ARM based slate that runs a slimmed down version of Windows 8 meaning it won’t run desktop programs, is set to expand its availability to 29 markets by June this year. The slate is already available in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, but in the next two months, Mexico, Korea and Thailand will also be added to that roster. If you take a closer look, you will notice India is not on that list. It seems like Microsoft has covered all of Europe, the USA, the countries Down-Under and even many countries in Asia, but casually skirted around India.

The Surface Pro which is currently only available in the USA, Canada and China, will make its way to Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, Korea, Malaysia, Russia, Singapore, and Thailand before the end of June. Once again, no India.

While it is good to finally see Microsoft implement its second phase of rolling out the tablets, it is a little disconcerting as to why they would skip India, a country with a population that is rated as one of the highest consumers of technology based devices. Even Apple has recognized India’s important role in establishing a market dominance. We can only hope that the Surface tablets would come soon to the Sub-continent.


Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Tablets/Microsoft-Surface-Pro-and-Surface-RT-head_14351.html

Spice Stellar Pinnacle Pro quad-core smartphone launched at Rs. 14,990

Spice has added yet another smartphone to its Stellar series. Christened the Stellar Pinnacle Pro, the device runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. With an MOP of Rs. 14,990, the Spice Stellar Pinnacle Pro Mi-535 will be available from the last week of April 2013. It will be available to users across all leading mobile phone outlets in India. It can also be pre-booked on saholic.com starting 23rd April 2013.

The Spice Stellar Pinnacle Pro has a 1.2GHz quad core processor, 1GB of RAM and 16GB of built-in storage expandable via a microSD card. It also boasts of dual-SIM capabilities. The rear of the smartphone has an 8MP camera and the front has a 5MP camera. It has a 5.2-inch display with a qHD resolution. It also supports Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi tethering. A 2550mAh battery powers the smartphone.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. T M Ramakrishnan, CEO – Devices, S Mobility said, “The new Stellar Pinnacle Pro Mi 535 is backed by whole new software integration that promises unparalleled user experience. Pinnacle Pro is an enhancement of our Stellar Pinnacle Mi 530. Stellar Pinnacle received tremendous response from the consumers since its launch in January this year. We have set a new benchmark in the industry by adding a 5MP front camera with Wide Angle View, enabling group video chats. The 1.2 GHz Quad core processor coupled with the latest android platform Jelly bean 4.2 in Pinnacle Pro will give an enhanced user experience. We will continue to focus on innovation and use the latest technologies to develop products at aggressive price segments.”

If you are in the market to pick up a sub-Rs. 15k smartphone, you can take a look at the LG Optimus L7 II, Micromax A116 Canvas HD, HTC Desire X, Sony Xperia J and more.


Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Mobiles-PDAs/Spice-Stellar-Pinnacle-Pro-quad-core-smartphone-launched_14339.html

'World's first Braille smartphone' designed, due at less than Rs. 10,000

Sumit Dagar has a postgraduate degree from the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad. He claims has always had a need to do something for the sections of society that have been neglected by the masses. To that end, Dagar is developing a smartphone that can be used by the visually challenged section of society.

Dagar wanted to design the smartphone during his study at the NID. He decided to use the Braille language on the smartphone to facilitate the visually challenged to recognize numbers and words on the smartphone by touching it.

"We have created the world's first Braille smartphone," said Dagar to International Business Times. "This product is based on an innovative 'touch screen' which is capable of elevating and depressing the contents it receives to transform them into 'touchable' patterns."

A prototype of the smartphone was developed by Dagar in collaboration with IIT Delhi. It has been in development since the past two years at LV Prasad eye institute in Hyderabad.

"The response during the test has been immense. It comes out as a companion more than a phone to the user. We plan to do more advanced versions of the phone in the future," Dagar told The Times of India.

The “world’s first Braille smartphone” is expected to rollout by the end of 2013 and will be priced around the Rs. 10,000 mark. The smartphone will help the blind read text messages, emails, graphs, images and more.

According to the Economic Times, “The smartphone uses Shape Memory Alloy technology, which is based on the concept that metals remember their original shapes i.e expand and contract to its original shape after use This screen will be capable of elevating and depressing the contents to form patterns in Braille. The phone's 'screen' has a grid of pins, which will move up and down as per requirement.”



Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Mobiles-PDAs/Worlds-first-Braille-smartphone-designed-due-at_14312.html

Mercury planning to launch more than seven Android tablets this quarter

Kobian is planning to launch more than seven new tablets in this quarter under its brand 'Mercury'. According to the company the tablets will be priced competitively and will target students as well as business executives.

Sushmita Das, VP - Business at Kobian Pte Ltd said "We had launched more than 8 models in 2012-13 which saw great success in sales growth among all product lines. Our major focus is to design the tablets that meet the needs of the user at affordable prices without compromising on the quality. 2013 will see more models with higher versions, dual and quad core processors and high definition display."

Kobian states that the new Mercury tablets will have a compact and sleek design with advanced technologies to enhance the users working experience. The new models by Kobian will be launched by the end of April-May-June quarter, and will support high definition display and dual as well as quad-core processors. Kobian is also planning to launch tablet leather cases in their accessory section.


Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Tablets/Mercury-planning-to-launch-more-than-seven_14299.html

Bigflix launches app with free subscription for select Nokia Lumia handsets

Bigflix, the movie-on-demand service by Reliance Entertainment Digital, today announced its association with Nokia to launch the Bigflix App for the Nokia Lumia 520, Lumia 620 & Lumia 720 Windows Phone handsets. Lumia owners can download the app on their phones, and people who buy these handsets today will have the app pre-installed on their handsets. Additionally, people who purchase the Nokia Lumia 520, 620 or 720 smartphones will be able to avail of a three-month free subscription to Bigflix. According to a press release, the subscription will give the Lumia smartphone users access to more than 1,500 films in more than 6 Indian languages on both their Lumia smartphones and their laptops, desktops and tablets.

The release quotes Vipul Mehrotra, Director-Smart Devices, India, Middle East & Africa, Nokia “For the new generation of the Lumia range we wanted to combine great design and functionality with incredible entertainment options for our consumers. We are extremely excited about bundling the Bigflix app with the Nokia Lumia 520, 620 and 720 smart devices. With access to an extensive range of blockbuster titles on Bigflix available in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali and other Indian languages by simply streaming these movies on their smart-phones, this integration redefines entertainment on-the-go.”

All three Nokia smartphones are now available for purchase. The Lumia 520 is available for around Rs. 10,500, the Lumia 620 for around Rs. 14,200 and the Lumia 720 for around Rs. 18,500. The Bigflix streaming service can be subscribed to for Rs. 249 a month and users wanting to give the service a try-out can do so for a month by paying just a rupee.


Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Mobiles-PDAs/Bigflix-launches-app-with-free-subscription-for_14304.html

Jelly Bean update for Xperia S and Galaxy Note may arrive next month

Much to the anger of a lot of customers, Sony did not come good on its promise that an Android Jelly Bean update for the Sony Xperia S will be rolled out by the end of March 2013. No official communication came along in that regard, with the usual response to forum queries being something in the tune of “we are working on it” and “it will be released soon”.

This time around, French mobile service provider, SFR, the Xperia S will get the Jelly Bean update in May 2013. Interestingly, SFR’s leaked schedule also shows that the original Samsung Galaxy Note is in line for the update at around the same time. These are schedules that SFR will be adhering to. However, rollout of the updates will vary in timings from region to region.

Sony Xperia S was launched in February 2012, and was running on Android 2.3 Gingerbread at that time. Later in the year, the phone got the Ice Cream Sandwich operating system update, and later on it was confirmed that the smartphone is eligible for the Jelly Bean upgrade as well. According to this leaked data, the upgrade will be to Android 4.1.2, and in all likeliness will be the last update for the smartphone.

Samsung had already communicated that the original Galaxy Note will get the Android 4.2 update, which will be the last update for the phone.


Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Mobiles-PDAs/Jelly-Bean-update-for-Xperia-S-and_14286.html

Sony Xperia SP available for pre-order online at Rs. 25,490

Sony recently unveiled the latest addition to its Xperia smartphone line-up, the Xperia SP. The smartphone was launched at a price of Rs. 27,490. Today it is up for pre-order online for Rs. 25,490.

As of writing the article, the Xperia SP is available for pre-order Infibeam and Flipkart. Flipkart says the estimated release date of the smartphone is the fourth week of April and Infibeam says that the device will be available released on 23rd April 2013. Those interested in purchasing the smartphone can expect the device to reach their doorsteps towards the end of the month. The Xperia SP is priced at Rs. 25,490 on Infibeam and at Rs. 25,990 on Flipkart.

A dual-core 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, Adreno 320 GPU along with 1GB of RAM power the Xperia SP. It has a 4.6-inch TFT display with the BRAVIA Engine 2, delivering a 1280x720 pixel resolution. The screen has Corning Gorilla Glass, scratch resistant, and supports 10-point multi-touch. Just like the Lumia 920, it also supports glove mode.

The rear of the Xperia SP has an 8MP shooter with 1080p HD video recording, and the front has a 0.3MP camera. The Xperia SP is slim at 9.98mm thickness and weighs a mere 155 grams. It supports 8GB built-in storage expandable up to 32GB via a microSD card. It also supports 3G, Wi-Fi, microUSB, Bluetooth 4.0 and DLNA. A 2,370mAh battery powers the Xperia SP. The Xperia SP has a bunch of promising features at its disposal. You can take a look at these features here.

Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Mobiles-PDAs/Sony-Xperia-SP-available-for-pre-order-online_14269.html

Samsung could have paid students for online smear campaign against HTC

We often talk about ‘the smartphone wars’ but we ignore how often those ‘wars’ tend to be fought dirty. Apart from just fighting out in stores, most mobile companies want to launch preemptive strikes against the competition through measures like patent litigation and negative ad campaigns. While it is an open secret that these companies also do employ bloggers and online commenters to raise awareness of their products, Samsung may have just crossed the line when it comes to irresponsible (and maybe even nefarious) marketing by employing students to actually post negative comments online about HTC products. The Fair Trade Commission of Taiwan has initiated an investigation against Samsung for the same and if the Korean handset manufacturer is found guilty, then it may have to pay a fine of up to $835,000 (Rs. 4.5 crores approx), which is, frankly- and unfortunately, chump change for a company like Samsung that made $52.4 billion in just the last three months of 2012.

To its credit, Samsung has not denied these accusations but has, predictably, responded with obtuse marketing speak. In a statement sent to CNET, the Korean company deemed the incident ‘unfortunate’ and blamed it on employees who had ‘insufficient understanding’ of Samsung’s principles. Samsung continues the apology by actually apologizing, but then hilariously states that it has stopped all marketing campaigns that relied on posting ‘anonymous comments.’

Okay, hold up. I think it’s great that Samsung managed to ooze out some kind of apology to begin with, but isn’t the fact that it had okayed a marketing campaign that involved anonymous comments, worth mulling over? Is there any scenario where a marketing campaign that involves anonymous comments is fine? We can’t deny the immediate power that comments on a story have on readers, especially if the story is a review and the reader is a seriously interested buyer. Even if the majority of the comments on a mobile phone review are positive, one single comment by someone complaining about some aspect of the phone, will make the reader stop and think. And if Samsung is actually employing students to make less than accurate comments about HTC phones, which is likely because these comments are of the ‘anonymous’ variety, then the investigation could have more serious repercussions for Samsung than just an inconsequential fine.

At least, HTC should be somewhat glad. All this negative attention from Samsung proves that in spite of the massive sales numbers for its Galaxy handsets, the Korean phone maker is actually threatened by HTC.


Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Mobiles-PDAs/Samsung-could-have-paid-students-for-online_14248.html

Motorola X Phone delayed till 'August or later': Reports

The anticipated Motorola X Phone has now been delayed and may see the light of day in August or later.

Ever since Google bought Motorola we wondered what the company has been working on. Information appeared online suggesting that Motorola was working on an X phone. Some information suggests that the X phone was one of the last devices Motorola was working on before being taken over by Google. We have even seen a few leaked images of the so-called X Phone.

Now, information is circulating on the Internet, which suggests that the Motorola X Phone is delayed and will launch in August or later. The device was originally slated for a June/July launch. There is no official reason as to why the smartphones release has been pushed back.

PhoneArena has reported that the device is still in its early prototype stages. It is expected that the X Phone will have a 4.7-inch 1080p display and a very slim bezel. The leaked images we saw some time back were images of this same prototype. The device is also expected to run on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. The smartphone is also expected to have a 2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor along with a 4000mAh battery.

The delay means that Google has something up its sleeve, which will be unveiled at the annual Google I/O event that will happen in May 2013. Google I/O is generally the place where Google shows off the developments in the Android OS and the Nexus family of devices.

Recent speculations on the Internet suggest that we will see a white Nexus 4 with higher built-in storage capacity. It is also expected that the Nexus 7 will be refreshed with updated specifications. Since Google glass has received quite a bit of attention and competition in development, we thing it will get its fair share of attention at the event too. Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie too seems to be on the horizon. With so much happening Google can also slip in the launch of this mysterious Motorola X phone. For all we know, it could be the next Android flagship phone showing off Key Lime Pie. What do you think? Let us know in the comment section below.



Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Mobiles-PDAs/Motorola-X-Phone-delayed-till-August-or_14211.html

Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 and 6.3 specs leaked online

New details have emerged about the specifications of the rumoured Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 and Mega 6.3 phablets. The Galaxy Mega 5.8 was leaked in the beginning of April along with the Galaxy Mega 6.3. The 5.8 and 6.3 signify the size of the display on the devices in inches.

The Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 GT-I9152 will reportedly bear a 5.8-inch qHD display (960x540 pixel resolution). Its rear is said to house an 8MP camera and the front has a 2MP camera for video calling. A 1.4GHz dual-core processor, along with 1.5GB of RAM, will power the Mega 5.8. In terms of its connectivity options, the rumoured Mega 5.8 should have Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 80211 a/b/g/n and A-GPS. A 2600mAh battery powers the entire package. Despite its large screen, the Galaxy Mega 5.8 is quite slim, at 9.7mm thickness.

The Galaxy Mega 5.8 is expected to run on Android 4.1/4.2 Jelly Bean and will have Samsung’s TouchWiz Nature UX interface on it. There is no information about the pricing or the tentative launch period of the phablets.

As far as the Galaxy Mega 6.3 GT-I9200 is concerned, the device is expected to have a dual-core Exynos processor, with no details about the clock speed or the RAM it is coupled with. The rear of the Mega 6.3 will have an 8MP camera and the front will have a 2MP camera.

There are no more details about the availability or prices of either the Galaxy Mega 5.8 or 6.3 are known.

Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Mobiles-PDAs/Samsung-Galaxy-Mega-58-and-63-specs_14151.html