Samsung Galaxy S4 may have unbreakable screen

Samsung Electronics, the world's leading technology company by revenue, is likely accelerating the launch of its next-generation flagship Galaxy smartphone -- which may come with a breakthrough unbreakable screen.

Codenamed "Project J" after mobile division chief JK Shin, development of the new Galaxy S IV could be aimed for release by as early as April, according to analysts and tech blogs.

And, as smartphones increasingly look alike - the converging form factor - an unbreakable screen could be a big selling point for the Galaxy, which is battling Apple Inc's iPhone to lead the $200 billion plus smartphone market.

Best E-Reader for Under $100

E-readers are some of this year's hottest gifts. And good news: they have dropped way down in price. But in the battle for Best E-reader for Under $100, which one comes out the winner?

Top Contenders
The basic model Kindle, the Nook Simple Touch, and the Kobo Touch all share a few traits other than a reasonable price. They all feature 6-inch screens, 2 GB of storage, Wi-Fi for downloading books, and good readability. But a few differentiating factors may tip the balance.


Kindle ($89)
The Kindle line offers a range of devices priced from $89 (or $69 if you don't mind the ad-supported version) to the $499, 8.9-inch, 4G Kindle Fire HD, which is an Android-based tablet computer rather than a straight e-reader. But for the under-$100 e-reader market, Amazon really only offers one option, simply called "Kindle." It's physical dimensions are sleek, it's thin and fits nicely in your hand; it's the smallest of the three top contenders. Another defining factor: it has a very high contrast screen; text stands out more clearly on the Kindle than on any other of the competitors.

Google Nexus 7 in India

Google's Nexus 7 tablet has finally arrived in India. With an official announcement by its co-manufacturer Asus, the long wait of the Indians has come to an end; but not without a bit of sadness.

The 16GB version Nexus has come with a price tag of Rs. 19,999, which is a bit too high when compared to its original price in the US ($199). While there is a 32GB model, and a 3G version tablet, presently only the 16GB, Wi-Fi-only version will be available in India. This tablet would be sold at ASUS showrooms and Chroma from November 20, 2012.

Nexus 7 runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and has 7-inch screen with a resolution of 1280x800 pixels. It weighs about 340 grams, has 1GB RAM and Tegra 3 processor. It also has a micro-USB port, a 1.2MP front camera. The battery backup is of 9.5 hours. 

Five of the best cell phones you can buy right now

Have you heard the Louis C.K. bit about people who hate their phones? The comedian can't believe people aren't simply amazed by everything their phone can do. They're so impatient. They want everything to happen immediately. Seconds feel like minutes. Minutes feel like days.

"Can you give it a second?" he asks.
"It's going to space. That's amazing! Can you just give it a second?"
Some people probably can. Some people don't need the newest and the fastest. For the rest of you, the folks who like — and, sometimes, need — the newest and the best, this list is for you.
We've compiled five of the best phones you can buy right now. It's impossible to say these are the best phones in the world. People are passionate about their phones and will argue the smallest detail to prove their choice is the best. But these are, to quote Mr. C.K., five of the most "amazing" phones you can buy right now.

Which tablet to buy

But this is the first holiday season in which the iPad faces competitors that have built up a solid footing in the market. Amazon and Google introduced tablets just in time for the shopping rush. As a result, many consumers and analysts say, the new market of keyboardless computers is quickly becoming as confusing as that of the old-school PC.
Holiday shoppers with a tablet computer on their gift list this year might be forgiven for feeling a little panicked.

Look at the tablets available online or at a consumer electronics store and it can be dizzying to choose from among the dozens of slim rectangles with touch screens — each with various sizes, features, prices and applications.

Tablets were supposed to be a simple alternative to the bloated personal computer market. And when “tablet” was synonymous with “iPad,” that was true.

“What’s different about this holiday season is that consumers have not just more choice, but really good choices,” said Sarah Rotman Epps, who studies consumer computing trends at Forrester. “There have been many iPad wannabes but no real quality alternatives, and now there are several.”

While choice is a good thing for consumers, she said, it also makes shopping “confusing and complicated.”

For the companies that make tablets, the choice means everything. The stakes are much higher than the sale of individual devices. Each company is trying to snag lifelong customers for their other products — like music, apps, e-books, movies, Web search or word-processing software.

Google Nexus 10 : Review

When I first turned on Google's new tablet computer, I immediately thought of it as a mere conduit to Google services.

Besides giving you quick access to Gmail and YouTube, the Nexus 10 steers you to digital movies, books and other content available for sale through Google's online Play store.

Because of that, I wasn't thinking of the Nexus 10 as an alternative to Apple's general-purposeiPad - even with a price tag that's $100 cheaper, starting at $399. It took more thought and time with the Nexus to change that perception. After all, apps available for Android smartphones work on the tablet as well.

Still, the Nexus really shines when it comes to media - especially content bought through Google.

Facebook launches ‘LinkedIn-type‘ app

 Facebook has launched a new application that connects candidates with job vacancies and recruiters on the world's largest social networking site.
The new service claims more than 1.7 million jobs from partners including Monster Worldwide and BranchOut, the company said on its website.
"Facebook is all about connecting people and we're thrilled to see developers leveraging our platform to connect job seekers and prospective employers," Marne Levine, Facebook's vice president for global public policy, said in a statement.
"By allowing job seekers to view and share job openings based on personalised criteria, like location and industry, the Social Jobs Application builds on our broader effort to help people use social media to find jobs in the US," Levine added.

Consumer Reports names top 10 electronics of 2012

The magazine that is synonymous with objectivity and excellence has put this year's electronic product offerings through their rigorous tests. Now, Consumer Reports has named its top 10 electronics products of 2012 based on performance and innovation.

The magazine tested more than 600 smart phones, tablets, TVs and more for its December Annual Electronics Issue. The issue features 30 pages of buying advice and ratings and reviews of more than 600 of the hottest electronics products including tablets, laptops, smart phones, e-book readers, printers, digital cameras and camcorders, headphones, Blu-ray players, and home-theater systems.
Some familiar names are on the top 10 list, including Nikon and Samsung. The lesser-known Sonos joins American tech company Vizio on the list as well.

President launches low cost Aakash-2 tablet at Rs 1.13k

 

The advanced version of low cost tablet Aakash was launched here today by President Pranab Mukherjee.

Coming at a price tag of Rs 1,130 for students, the new version 'Aakash 2', which will be made available to students of engineering colleges and universities to begin with, is now powered by a processor running at 1 GHz, has a 512 MB, a 7 inch capacitative touch screen and a battery working for three hours of normal operations.

It has been developed under the aegis of IIT Bombay with the active support of C-DAC. Datawind is rolling out the device.

HTC, Apple reach global settlement

Taiwan's leading smartphone maker HTC said Sunday it has reached a global settlement with technology giant Apple, bringing an end to all  outstanding litigation between the two companies.
The deal includes a 10-year licensing agreement over patents, HTC said in a statement, without providing further details.
"HTC is pleased to have resolved its dispute with Apple, so HTC can focus on innovation instead of litigation," HTC CEO Peter Chou said in the statement.
Apple CEO Tim Cook said: "We are glad to have reached a settlement with HTC."
"We will continue to stay laser focused on product innovation."
HTC and Apple were locked in more than 20 cases in the world including some pending the ruling of the International Trade Commission of the United States, according to an HTC official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Review: Sony Xperia ion

Recently, Sony launched its new flagship phone in India, the Xperia ion at Rs 36,999. Though a good handset by all means, it was behind the times even at the time of its launch - both in India, as well as globally. Sony Xperia ion competes with the likes of AppleiPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S III and HTC One X. Check out how it performs as a flagship smartphone in an increasingly competitive market.

Look and feelSony Xperia ion is a decent looking phone that is easy to hold and seems sturdy enough to survive a fall without much damage. The Japanese manufacturer has used a combination of plastic and red ( YES!) metal back cover to construct the body of the new phone. Notably, it has done away with the silly fluorescent coloured stripe to mark the three buttons that it used in earlier devices like Xperia S.

Latest Mobile Phones in India above Rs. 15K

Have a look at the latest Indian launches of high-end smart phones from the leading mobile brands. Price range above Rs. 15,000.

The price and features mentioned here are indicative only. These have been sourced from various online dealers and manufacturers as a support to our reader community. Take your own responsibility to make informed decisions with extra research before making any buying decisions.

Latest Mobile Phones in India between Rs.5K to 15K

Have a look at the latest Indian launches from the leading mobile brands. Here are the Android and Symbian models priced between Rs. 5000 and Rs. 15,000.

The price and features mentioned here are indicative only. These have been sourced from various online dealers and manufacturers as a support to our reader community. Take your own responsibility to make informed decisions with extra research before making any buying decisions.

Mobiles collage 2

8 unusual gadget gifts for Diwali

As the festival of Diwali is around the corner, many of us are likely to go on a shopping spree to give the perfect gift to our near and dear ones. When it comes to gadgets as gifts, most of us tend to look towards tablets, smartphones and laptops. Well, that's cliched. This festive season why not go for something different and offbeat that does not burn a hole in your pocket and pleases your loved ones. Here is our pick of 8 offbeat gadget gifts for this Diwali.

 
USB paper shredderThe USB Paper Shredder and Letter Opener combo is simple plug-and-play device compatible with all operating systems. Not only is it perfect for use when plugged into a computer, but can be operated by AA batteries as well, making it suitable for emergencies. Available in the market for Rs 995, it has a 1.6L plastic container to collect all shredded paper, along with a forward/reverse button.

Latest Mobile Phones in India, below INR 5k

Have a look at the latest Indian launches from the leading mobile brands. Here are the basic models priced below Rs. 5000: some basic Android models included.

The price and features mentioned here are indicative only. These have been sourced from various online dealers and manufacturers as a support to our reader community. Take your own responsibility to make informed decisions with extra research before making any buying decisions.

Google‘s Siri Rival Now Available for iOS

Google has made good on its promise of improved voice search on Apple’s iOS operating system. On Tuesday, the company released a new Google Search app that brings natural language voice search to the iPhone and iPad. 

A rival to Apple’s own Siri intelligent agent, Google’s app provides contextual answers to voice queries, along with pertinent Web search results. Those answers aren’t manually curated; they’re simply the Internet’s best guess. But thanks to Google’s Knowledge Graph — a sort of storehouse of semantic-search information — they seem to be generally pretty accurate. During a Monday demo, Google product manager Hugo Barr showed the Android version of voice search correctly and quickly providing information about local movie times and answering questions like, “What is a baby kangaroo called?”

Nexus: The best of Google, now in three sizes

People increasingly have more than one device, and they switch between them many times a day. Nexus—Google’s hardware line for Android devices—gets rid of the hassle. Just sign in with your Google Account and everything is there ready to go, whatever device you’re using: photos, emails, contacts, bookmarks, even your entertainment on Google Play.

Today, we’re excited to announce three great new Nexus devices … in small, medium and large. And they all run Android 4.2, a new flavor of Jelly Bean—which includes the latest version of Google Now and other great new features.

Google Nexus 4 specs with Android 4.2 leaked online

Details of Google's new flagship Nexus 4 smartphone have apparently been leaked by the UK's largest independent mobile phone retailer.
Carphone Warehouse's website briefly displayed a listing offering the LG Nexus 4 on contract from 31pounds per month on O2 or Vodafone from 30 October.
The device is expected to be the centrepiece of a Google event in New York on Monday, 29 October, when the firm is also expected to update its Nexus 7 Android tablet, The Telegraph reports.
Carphone Warehouse's page, which has now been removed, said the Nexus 4 will have a 4.7-inch screen with density of 320 pixels per inch.
The handset was listed as measuring 68.7 by 133.9 by 9.1 millimetres, apparently thicker than its Apple rival's 7.6 millimetres.

Is the iPad Mini Worth Buying?

Apple has unveiled a new member of the family: the iPad Mini. This device is a clear response to the market pressure the cheaper Amazon Kindle Fire HD and the Nexus 7 have placed on the existing iPad. So how does this scaled down version of the iPad compare with its newly refreshed big brother and the Android tablets that still come in at a lower price? 

Comparing Specs with the Competition
Screen Size: iPad Mini's screen comes in at 7.9 inches, compared to the 9.7 inch screen of the iPad and the 7 inch screens of the Kindle Fire HD and the Nexus 7. With a narrower bezel, iPad Mini fits a bit more screen into the same real estate.

Resolution: 1024x768 — this is not the Retina display that Apple touts as its high end screens on the iPhone 5 and the bigger iPad. Rather, it's the same resolution as the iPad 2, but with more pixels per inch. Also, the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD have higher resolution 1280x800 screens.
Thickness: 7.2mm thick — that's roughly 1/3 of an inch, or a little thinner than a pencil, and significantly thinner than either of the leading competitors.

Fresh Windows, but Where’s the Start Button?

Over the years, Keith McCarthy has become used to a certain way of doing things on his personal computers, which, like most others on the planet, have long run on Microsoft’s (MSFT) Windows software.
But last week, when he got his hands on a laptop running the newest version of Windows for the first time, Mr. McCarthy was flummoxed.
Many of the familiar signposts from PCs of yore are gone in Microsoft’s new software, Windows 8, like the Start button for getting to programs and the drop-down menus that list their functions.
It took Mr. McCarthy several minutes just to figure out how to compose an e-mail message in Windows 8, which has a stripped-down look and on-screen buttons that at times resemble the runic assembly instructions for Ikea furniture.
“It made me feel like the biggest amateur computer user ever,” said Mr. McCarthy, 59, a copywriter in New York.

Google Holding Event on Oct 29, Is Next Nexus Coming?

Google is sending out invite for their next event happening on October 29, 2012 at 10am in New York. The invite states “The playground is open” and there are no further information aside from the fats that the event mainly focuses on Android.

Google has already announced Android v4.1 (Jelly Bean) platform and their first tablet, the Nexus 7 is already out in the market. So now the gadget world is eager to know what more does Google have to please them? There were rumors spirally the web about the upcoming Android v4.2 (Key Lime Pie) operating system and a new Nexus smartphone running on this new platform.

A report on Wall Street Journal in the month of May stated that Google might be parenting with more than one manufacturer to launch a bunch of new Nexus smartphones by the year end. And this news seems to be true with all those rumors about LG, Sony, Samsung and HTC making next Nexus devices.

5 Useful Widgets Every Androider Must Have

Widgets helps you to do certain useful stuffs with your smart-devices. These special applications are pretty useful; they boost the performance of your device, serve unique functionality and make your daily tasks easy.  Android users will find numerous widgets in Google Play; here we have listed the most useful ones which are available for free.

1. Netquin: Android Booster

The Netquin Android booster is a system optimization tool. As the name suggests this widget boosts the performance of your android device by maintain the optimum performance. It comes with features like battery saving and task management.

The users of this widget can optimize their devices in just one tap by closing all unwanted application, connectivity options and freezing the memory for better processing. The application is also internally linked with other free utilities of Netquin.

The most interesting and useful feature in this widget is the presence of 'bandwidth manager’; this feature supervises the data usage of the device and therefore keep a check on your data consumption.

10 Best Entry-Level Smartphones in India

Very recently the India smartphone manufactures; Karbonn mobile launched as many as 5 entry level smartphones into the market at one go.  With the number of smartphones increasing in the market day by day a guide to what to buy is very helpful. So here are top 10 entry level smartphones that might help you decide which handset to invest in.

1. HTC Desire C

Price: 14,990

This HTC Desire C, entry level smartphone from HTC was unveiled in the month of May 2012. The smartphone comes with a 3.5 inch HVGA Capacitive touch screen. The screen supports a resolution of 320 x 480 pixels. The phone is powered by a 600 MHz S1 series Qualcomm processor. The phone functions on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system.

Desire C comes with a 5 mega pixel rear camera with an LED flash. But the phone is missing the front facing camera that would allow the user to make video calls and even the face recognition app in the ICS operating system would not be applicable in this handset.

The handset comes with internal memory of 4GB and a slot for a microSD card with expandable memory up to 32 GB and an additional memory of 25 GB in Dropbox. The Desire C has a 1230 mAh battery compared.

Targeting Google, Russia‘s Yandex goes global

Russia's leading internet search engine, Yandex, will take the fight to Google in emerging markets like  Turkey in a bid to offset the inroads made by the US giant in its home market.
Yandex founder and chief executive Arkady Volozh told Reuters on Friday the firm was likely to use its own experts to expand into new countries, but would not rule out acquisitions or partnership deals.
"We are focussing on the markets with Google dominance in search... where they have 90-plus percent market share," Volozh said in an interview in Dublin, adding Yandex would stress to consumers the dangers of one firm dominating the internet.
Yandex is currently focussing on Turkey, where it has eked out a 1 percent market share since it entered the market last year. It describes this as a base for a significant expansion and says it will look to other large markets where it sees no real competition to Google, though Volozh refused to name them.
Yandex, which raised $1.4 billion in an initial public offering (IPO) in New York last year, has seen its share of the Russian search market fall to 60 percent in the second quarter from 64 percent a year earlier, according to LiveInternet.

Google allows Indian developers to sell apps on Android

Google has some good news for developers in the country. The company has announced Indian developers can now sell their apps on Google's Android platform, Google Play. Till now, developers from India could only offer their apps for free downloads on the Google Play   marketplace.

In a post on Android Developers blog, Ibrahim Elbouchikhi, product manager of the Google Play team said, "Developers in India can sell paid applications, in-app products, and subscriptions in Google Play, with monthly payouts to their local bank accounts."

6 alternatives to Apple's tech toys

Apple has spent more than a decade leaching its hip little tech toys into American homes and pop culture with very little pushback from the stodgy tech sector. Time's up.

A month after releasing its iPhone 5 and about a week away from debuting its iPad Mini and newest 13-inch MacBook Pro, Apple finds itself in a peculiar position. Revenue jumped 23% last quarter from the same period a year ago and the company's next year-end summary follows up a 66% annual revenue spike in its 2011 report.
As ubiquitous as the company seems, though, it's still not as big a force as it could be. Its 17% market share among mobile phones in the U.S. still trails Samsung (25.7%) and LG (18.2%), according to market research firm ComScore.
Meanwhile, its iOS platform's 34.3% share of the U.S. smartphone market still trails Google Android's growing 52.6% stake.
That disparity is far more pronounced globally, where research firm Gartner says Nokia and Samsung's 41% mobile market share dwarfs Apple's 5%. Among global smartphone users, Apple fares somewhat better, with a 24% share of the market that's still been surpassed by Android's 50% dominance.
Among computer operating systems, Mac and iOS are still small players. According to Web metrics firm Net Applications, Microsoft Windows is the operating system of choice on 84% of all personal computers in the world. Mac operating systems are just 6.30%, or little more that Windows Vista's 6.15%.

HSBC‘s websites hacked globally

Banking giant HSBC said that some of its websites had been hit by a "large scale" cyber attack that disrupted online services, but it assured customers that their data were not compromised.
The bank said in a statement that HSBC servers came under a "large scale denial of service attack" on Thursday.
It said a number of sites were affected around the world but did not give an exact number or say where they were.
"This denial of service attack did not affect any customer data, but did prevent customers using HSBC online services, including Internet banking," the bank said.
"We are taking appropriate action, working hard to restore service," the bank added. It said some of the sites are back up and running.
A denial of service attack typically involves sites being saturated with requests.
The London-headquartered, Asia-focused lender said it is working with authorities to investigate the incident. It gave no indication of who it believed might be behind the attack.

Microsoft Surface priced below Apple‘s new iPad

Microsoft is setting the price of its new Surface tablet below comparable versions of Apple iPad, signaling its intent to grab a slice of the booming tablet market. 

The world's largest software company, which announced its surprise foray into computer manufacturing in June, said it would sell a 32-gigabyte (GB), Wi-Fi only version of its tablet at $499, versus $599 for a comparable version of Apple's new iPad.

Microsoft's tablet, which is taller and slightly heavier than an iPad, will go on sale on October 26 as the company launches the new touch-friendly Windows 8 operating system. A limited number will be available for pre-order from a Microsoft website from Tuesday morning.

The company is hoping the Surface - along with Windows tablets from other hardware makers - will challenge the dominance of Apple's iPad, which has 70 percent of the tablet market after essentially inventing the category in 2010.

The iPad's popularity demolished the market for mini-laptops called netbooks, and crimped the sales of full-scale PCs, eating away at Microsoft's Windows market. 

Samsung Galaxy Premier’s specs, price, pics leaked

Samsung is reportedly working on a new Android-powered smartphone called the Galaxy Premier. A report in technology blog MobileGeeks says that the upcoming phone, code named Samsung GT-i9260, will not be the speculated Nexus 4, but an altogether new device.
In Galaxy Premier, the South Korean smartphone manufacturer seems to have stuck to the pebble-esque design which it introduced in its flagship Galaxy S III and then followed in Galaxy Note II and the recently-unveiled Galaxy S III Mini.
The upcoming Galaxy Premier will boast of a 4.65-inch touchscreen with 1280x720 resolution, 1.5GHz dual-core ARM Cortex A-9 processor and will run on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) skinned with TouchWiz UI. On the imaging front, the post on MobileGeeks says that the new smartphone will have an 8MP primary camera with LED flash, while the rear camera will have 2MP resolution.
According to MobileGeeks, the yet-to-be-announced Samsung Galaxy Premier will come in 8GB and 16GB variants and will support microSD card of up to 64GB capacity. In terms of connectivity, the device is expected to have Wi-Fi, DLNA, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, 3G, 2G and microUSB. The size of the upcoming device will be 68.1x133.97x8.8 mm, as per the post.
The post on MobileGeeks said that the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Premier will cost 480 euros. However, considering that the unlocked version of the Galaxy S III, which has better specs, in Europe is priced at around 450 euros, this price seems unlikely. Samsung may choose to place this phone between the Galaxy S II and Galaxy S III, since it has no smartphone in that price bracket, expect for Galaxy Note, which is too big for most people.

Samsung Galaxy S III mini preview

The Samsung I8190 Galaxy S III mini is like a nostalgic return to the roots for the highly successful Galaxy S franchise. Quite similar to the original Galaxy S specs-wise, the new SIII mini aims to get as much of the Galaxy S III's personality into a smaller package that's easy on the thumb - and pocket.
The original Samsung Galaxy S III is currently the smartphone to beat, but to many it's too large of a slab to handle. A strong point can be made that a large screen is a must for a great browsing experience or video watching on the go, but not everyone is willing to put up a with the body size such a screen implies.
The Galaxy SIII mini is ready to deal a serious blow to the competition in the midrange, by offering a more compact (and cheaper!) way to get the premium smartphone experience. An ambitious goal it is, but Samsung isn't afraid of a challenge.

iPad mini:What you need to know before buying

If you're experiencing a bit of déjà vu from the hype over a new Apple product, it's completely understandable.
After all, we just got through another iPhone launch, with an incredible amount of online buzz, industry speculation, insider info and leaked photos leading up to it.
So here we go again.
The rabid tech community has now turned its sights to what seems to be an imminent announcement by Apple for a smaller version of its best-selling iPad tablet.
Dubbed by many as the iPad Mini, iPad Air or iPad mini (if Apple takes a page from its iPod touch, nano and shuffle line), this compact and less expensive ebook reader on steroids would go up against the likes of Amazon's Kindle Fire HD, Google's Nexus 7, B&N Nook HD+ and the Kobo Vox.
While Apple hasn't commented on any of this, the following is a collection of the rumors swirling about the iPad's little brother, said to debut within a few weeks. And hey, if it's true, Samsung will need to quickly shoot a new TV commercial that pokes fun at all the hype.

Samsung launching Galaxy S III Mini on Oct 11

Samsung Germany has sent invites for an upcoming device being launched on October 11, 2012. The invite says "So big can be small and so small can be big" and "Get ready for a little sensation" in German, with the characteristic 'S' of its flagship Galaxy S series in the background.

This hints that the South Korean manufacturer will probably launch a small device at the event. Speculation is rife that the company will roll out a smaller version of its current flagship, the Galaxy S III, currently being called the Galaxy S III Mini. Rumours say that the smartphone will be powered by Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) with Samsung's TouchWiz UI and will feature a 4-inch touchscreen and a dual-core processor.

If such a phone is, in fact, launched, it will be a decent alternative for those who want a smartphone with a 4-inch screen (same as the new iPhone 5). Considering that Samsung's current 4-inch Android smartphone, the Galaxy S Advance, has not been updated to Ice Cream Sandwich, it is possible that the Galaxy S III Mini will take its place, though there is no confirmation yet.

The Samsung event follows the launch of iPhone 5 and the device to be launched there is expected to go on sale before the beginning of the holiday season. This strategy will help the company lap up sales during the crucial holiday season.

Samsung Galaxy Note II at Rs 39,990

Samsung Electronics launched its latest Galaxy device as part of efforts to better compete with Apple's newly released iPhone 5. Priced at Rs Rs 39,990 in India, the new version of the Note features a thinner and slightly bigger 5.5-inch screen, quad-core processor, the latest version of the Android operating system called Jellybean, and improved stylus function.

The Galaxy Note II is powered by the latest version of Android operating system, 4.1 Jelly Bean.

The device is equipped with a new 1.6 GHz quad-core processor that helps run multiple applications faster than the dual-core processor of the previous version.

Nokia unveils Asha 308 and Asha 309 full-touch smartphones

Nokia unveiled the Asha 308 and Asha 309, the latest additions to the Asha Touch family of mobile devices. They are tagged as the Nokia’s most affordable capacitive touchscreen devices to date giving consumers fast web access at low cost. The Nokia Asha 308 features easy swap Dual SIM and Asha 309 is the single SIM variant with WiFi. Asha 308 and 309 deliver a full smartphone experience enriched with new Nokia web services and developer tools. Nokia estimates the retail price for the Nokia Asha 308 and Nokia Asha 309 to be about Rs 5300, excluding taxes and subsidies, with shipping expected to start in the fourth quarter 2012. 

The new devices offer a fluid 'swipe' user interface and an open environment for third-party application development, characteristics that have earned the complete Asha Touch range full smartphone classification from global market research companies and analysts such as GfK and IDC."Our innovative Asha Touch family of devices is designed for people who want a great smartphone experience with lower running costs," said Timo Toikkanen, executive vice president, Mobile Phones, Nokia. "By introducing the Nokia Asha 308 and Nokia Asha 309, we're expanding our affordable smartphone lineup and bringing new mobile experiences to more people." 

Samsung's new Anti-iPhone 5 advertisement is the Fastest-Growing Viral Tech Video

Samsung's new TV ad for the Galaxy S III — which takes shots at Apple fanboys waiting for the iPhone 5 — is the fastest-growing viral video in tech, with more than 120,492 shares in social media in the past 24 hours, according to Unruly Media.
In fact, Samsung has so successfully cornered the viral tech ad video market that it also holds all three top spots on the Tech Viral Video Chart, with a combined 138,074 views in the past 24 hours for the Galaxy S III, Galaxy Note II, and Galaxy Note 10.1.
Meanwhile, Apple's iPhone 5 spot is sixth on the list, with only 553 shares in the past 24 hours. (Many Apple fans watched the spot on Apple's own website, which is unshareable.)
Unruly Media has been tracking and auditing online video views since 2006. It follows more than 1.65 billion video views across 2,000 online video campaigns for over 400 brands.
Samsung's tricky media buys and clever ads have leveraged the hype surrounding the release of Apple iPhone 5 for Samsung's benefit.
Samsung's commercial runs with the tagline: "The next big thing is already here." It shows a line of eager Apple fans waiting outside a store to buy the iPhone 5. But random Samsung users weave in and out of the line, comparing the Galaxy S III's features, to the iPhone 5, such as the new, possibly inconvenient adapter on the iPhone 5, and the fact that after five iterations Apple is only now introducing a larger screen.
The commercial also snagged the No.1 spot on the list of the top 20 most viral videos of any kind, followed by the trailer for the new Hobbit movie, which has 117,892 shares.
Apple on the other hand didn't even make the Top 20 list.
Samsung's digital agency on the campaign is 72andSunny; Apple's is TBWA/Media Arts Lab.

iPhone 5 benchmarked as the fastest smartphone

I crown the iPhone 5 speed king after pitting it against every other iPhone we've tested, along with today's top Android phones.

The iPhone 5 looks to be the fastest smartphone we've ever tested at PCMag.com.

With its mysterious, Apple-designed A6 processor, the iPhone 5 is unique in the world of smartphones. Most high-end phones nowadays run on one of two architectures: ARM's Cortex-A9, which is used by Nvidia, Texas Instruments and others, and Qualcomm's Krait. But the A6, as AnandTech discovered, is something completely different—an ARM-compatible system-on-a-chip designed, top to bottom, by Apple.

Google Maps & Apple maps alternatives

If you are among those who has been very disappointed with the new maps on iOS 6, you are in very good company.

Fortunately, there are a number of free apps out on the iTunes App Store that will let you find your way around town, without paying anything more than data charges.

They might not be as good as Google Maps, but while we wait for a Google Maps app (will one ever come?), they should be more than handy for all ye looking for a spot of navigation without paying a penny for the app itself.

Best games for iPhone 5

If you're among the millions who pre-ordered an iPhone 5 or braved the elements (and friendly ridicule) to stand in line to get one in person, what are you planning on doing with it?
Tons of stuff, we'd reckon, but almost certainly you'll want to test out that fancy 4-inch Retina screen and speedy A6 processor by checking out some new games for your new toy. Sadly, EA's Real Racing 3 -- the one game Apple chose to show off the device's gaming potential during their iPhone 5 press conference -- won't be out of the shop until later this year. Try these eight showstoppers instead.
Wild Blood
Gameloft, $6.99
King Arthur's court gets a mobile makeover in this gorgeous hack 'n slash action romp. You play as a demon-slicing version of Sir Lancelot out to stop your mad king from unleashing hell. You know, just like the books! Except  the books weren't powered by the Unreal Engine 3, which helps make Wild Blood one of the most graphically rich games ever to grace an iOS device. Better yet, it's already been fully-optimized for the new screen on your iPhone 5, so get hacking.

Not Ready for iPhone 5?

The good news for plenty of current iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users pondering buying the new iPhone 5 is that they'll get many of the 200 new features in Apple's (AAPL) free update for mobile software, iOS 6, available on Wednesday.

I've compiled a handful of the most significant features you'll get with the iOS software update, which I tested on the iPhone 5 and the newest iPad. Some older devices won't be able to use all of these features and one feature will work only on the iPhone 5: taking a still photo while recording a video. Here are some highlights of the new features. There are many more features too numerous to mention.

Review: Dell XPS 14 Ultrabook

Not so long ago, most laptops used to be the hideous black plastic boxes. And then Apple'sMacBook Pro - and in 2008 - MacBook Airhappened. This put a squeeze on the laptop makers like Dell and HP. For some time, these companies resisted. But then had to give up as consumers demanded better-looking laptops.

Nowadays, the high-end laptop market is full of some pretty machines. Dell XPS 14, which belongs to Dell's ultrabook range, is one such laptop. But we have seen that getting aesthetics as well functionality right has proved a bit difficult for most laptop makers.
Even though machines look good, they lack refinements in areas like screen, keyboard and touchpad. Dell claims XPS 14 is a beauty with brawn. It doesn't compromise. Let's find if this is the high-end laptop you should buy...

iPhone 5 review

The Apple iPhone 5 is finally here, with the latest arrival boasting a 16:9, 4 inch screen, new smaller port, thinner, lighter design and 4G LTE.
Last year's iPhone 4S always felt like an incremental upgrade rather than a true step change, and although it sold wonderfully for Apple and brought some interesting additions, few would argue against the suggestion that it opened the door for competitors.
As a result, this year's launch was perhaps most important for Apple since the very first iPhone arrived back in 2007.
For anyone following the rumours over the past year, the iPhone 5 will not bring any major surprises, with many of the new features expected – including the new dimensions and the improved A6 chip.
The camera is smaller, hardier and enhanced by the more powerful chip, and the front facing camera is bumped up to a 720p version. WiFi is improved and the inclusion of 4G is a must have in the current phone world.