iPad Mini and 4G iPad inventory coming to India soon, prices leaked

Multiple news sources are claiming that the iPad mini and 4'th Gen iPad are set to arrive soon in India, with prices starting at Rs. 21,900 for the 16 GB version, and the cellular option starting at Rs. 29,900. That's just marginally cheaper than the iPad 2, which has a larger 10-inch screen, but lacks the iSight camera found on the newer, smaller iPad Mini. It's also quite competitively priced against the Nexus 7, but that's if the rumours are prove to be true. Here are the leaked prices which we'll confirm once we get official word on the same.

ITNET Infocom@itnetinfocom

iPad Mini India pricing announced 16 WiFi 21900 32 WiFi 27900 64 WiFI 3390016 3G WiFi 29900 32 3G WiFi 35900 64 3G WiFi 41900 next week.

November 22, 2012

ITNET Infocom@itnetinfocom

iPad 4th Gen also coming 16 WiFi 31900 32 WiFi 37900 64 WiFi 43900 16 WiFi 3G 39900 32 WiFi 3G 45900 64 WiFi 3G 51900.. Stocks next week

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Real Boxing has realistic graphics, motion controls and it's on iOS

Just take a look at these screens from Real Boxing - they look like they belong on bigger consoles, rather than an iOS device. Built on Epic's epic Unreal Engine, this game looks as good as the high-def versions of EA'sFight Night series. This game enables motion sensor fighting through the phone camera or tablet camera. Still, the best way this would work is if you have an iPad connected to your HDTV. It would look pretty stupid boxing with the phone a few feet away, and even more stupid if you're doing it in a crowded local train in Mumbai. Real Boxing has other sweet features, like a very in-depth career mode, that has you create and train your own fighter in mini games before getting into the ring. Whats more, you can actually take your boxer online in multiplayer and pummel the grin off your buddy's face with your hyper-trained boxerman. Looks like a winner. We should have the review out for you soon.

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Jabra debut portable wireless speakers

Jabra has entered new territory with the release of SOLEMATE, a 2.1 configuration set of wireless speakers. The set has 2-inch subwoofers by Peerless, a pair of tweeters, and 3 channel Class D amplifier. The speakers can connect using USB, 3.5mm stereo pin, or over Bluetooth within a 10m radius. While receiving signals overs Bluetooth, the speakers can generate 120dB if the transmitting device is within half meter radius. Being Jabra, these speakers have been designed to work as phone speakers, or when doing VoIP calls— too bad the set does not include a microphone. On a full-charge, the built-in batteries can play music for a maximum of eight hours.

Jabra has designed SOLEMATE to be used outdoors, and to that end the base of the speaker set has non-slip rubber sole, and a slot to store a 3.5mm cable. Bundled with the speakers is a muffle-free bag that is resistant to shock, moisture, and dust. The Jabra SOULMATE is available in black and while colors, and they are selling for Rs.10, 990.

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Antec X1: Entry-level cabinet for under 3K

Antec X1 has the kind of specs to house a gaming rig for those who are looking for something cheap, but nothing too shabby. Antec has not disclosed the material used in building this cabinet; however for a price of Rs.2,750, one should not expect anything more than the ordinary. The X1 design houses the PSU at its bottom, it can accommodate standard ATX motherboard, and a 280mm graphics card.

The cabinet ships with a 120mm fan at the front for exhaust, and it has room for a single 120mm fan at the back, side, and another one in front for intake. There are 11 drive bays that are split three for optical drives, and eight for hard-drives. The interior of the cabinet is painted black, and the front panel has audio I/O and USB 2.0 ports.

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Has Apple launched its own eBay store?

Officially refurbished Apple products are now available on eBay, a move that suggests the iPhone maker company has opened its own store on the auction site. The store carries no branding, but sources cited by 9to5Mac claimed the store is a trial run for an official Apple store to sell refurbished products online.

The Apple retailer appeared on eBay about a month ago and, according to 9to5Mac, “has been hiding in plain site ever since”. According to the Telegraph, it is branded as a “Refurbished Outlet”, and features no corporate or contact information.

Its reviews, however, are 99.7 percent positive, despite no information on where objects are from, the report said. According to the paper, the move, while uncharacteristic for the iPad-maker, would bring it into line with other PC manufacturers, including Dell and HP, as well as retailers such as Argos and Tesco. eBay has become a popular place for manufacturers to shift excess stock efficiently, as the site has pushed itself forward as a digital high street for bargain products. -ANI

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Hewlett Packard blames Autonomy for $8.8bn write-off over 'misleading' firm on finances

American multinational computer maker Hewlett Packard has blamed UK software firm Autonomy for an 8.8 billion dollar write-off over alleged ‘misrepresentations of finances’ before being taken over by HP last year. HP said Autonomy appeared to have "inflated" the value of the company prior to the takeover as part of a "wilful effort to mislead", which eventually led to a 5 billion dollar charge in its latest quarterly accounts.

The former management team of Autonomy "flatly rejected" the allegations, while three former senior members of staff, including former chief executive Mike Lynch, said they were "shocked" to see the statement, the BBC reports. “It took 10 years to build Autonomy''s industry-leading technology and it is sad to see how it has been mismanaged since its acquisition by HP,” the statement from the former management team said.

According to the report, during a conference call following the announcement, HP chief executive Meg Whitman said, “We did a whole host of due diligence but when you''re lied to, it''s hard to find.” "[Autonomy] was smaller and less profitable that we had thought," she said, adding that HP''s investigations suggested that the UK firm had misstated its revenues and growth rate. Taking into account recent falls in HP''s share value and lower-than-anticipated returns from the merger, the total one-off charge recorded in HP''s accounts for the three months to the end of October was 8.8 billion dollars, pushing the company to a 6.85 billion dollar net loss, the report said. -ANI

Photo: REUTERS/Thierry Roge

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Facebook outrage: Shaheen's account hacked, 10 held for vandalism

My Facebook account has been hacked, said Shaheen Dadha Tuesday two days after she and her friend were arrested for questioning on the networking site the Mumbai shutdown following Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray's death, even as 10 people were held for vandalising her uncle's clinic. Also, as Shaheen and Renu's arrest Sunday night by Thane rural police was hotly discussed in colleges and schools, offices, networking sites and Twitter, a lawyer filed a complaint before the Maharashtra State Commission for Women alleging human rights violation.

Speaking to IANS, Shaheen said she did not deserve to be treated like this. "I have apologised because I want peace and harmony. But this has been a nightmare. The treatment meted out to us was unfair," she said. She also said that somebody from California had hacked her Facebook account. "I have registered a police complaint, mentioning that I will not be responsible for whatever is posted through the fake account," said Shaheen, who was released on bail after being booked for "hurting religious sentiments".

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leaders remained evasive on the alleged attack on the Thane-based clinic of Shaheen's uncle. "Bala saheb is our God. If one hears anything against their God, a strong reaction is bound to come. We don't know if those who ransacked the girl's uncle's hospital were Shiv Sainiks, but please understand that there are thousands of Bala saheb supporters outside of Shiv Sena too," party official Anil Parab told IANS. Thane rural police also arrested 10 rioters who ransacked the hospital of Shaheen's uncle. However, they were released on a bail bond of Rs.7,500 each after being presented in the local court.

Superintendent of Police Ravindra Shengaonkar confirmed the developments. However, he refused to state whether the rioters were from the Shiv Sena. Lawyer Abha Singh, who approached the women's commission over the issue, said: "The manner in which the girls were arrested clearly indicates that there has been gross violation of human rights as well as Supreme Court directives for affecting arrests." The message posted by Shaheen and 'liked' by her friend Renu Sunday read as follows: "With all respect, every day, thousands of people die, but still the world moves on... Today, Mumbai shuts down due to fear, not due to respect."

Facebook is also sporting anti-Shaheen pages, one of which is titled "Don't Support Shaheen Dadha". The page vehemently appeals to everyone that Shaheen should not be supported and that what she did was wrong. But there was wide support for the two women too.

"Police officers who arrested the two girls in Mumbai shud be immediately dismissed. That's minimum that the govt ought to do," tweeted activist and politician Arvind Kejriwal. "Now you can't ask questions about why there should be a bandh? Did anyone notify the police that this is actually a democracy?" Mumbai-based author Jerry Pinto wrote on his Facebook wall. Minister of State for Communications and IT Milind Deora said: "Question isn't about amending Section 66A of the IT Act, it's about preventing misuse by the police, who clearly acted in haste and applied wrong sections of IPC and IT Act." The Communist Party of India-Marxist asked Maharashtra's Congress-Nationalist Congress Party government to "take immediate action and stop pandering to the whims and fancies of the Shiv Sena". -IANS

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India outraged: voices rise in crescendo against 'Facebook arrests'

Oppressive, deplorable, arbitrary… the adjectives flew freely Tuesday as Indians across all sectors verbalised their outrage at the arrest of two young women who questioned on Facebook the shutdown in Mumbai after Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray's death. A day after 21-year-old Shaheen Dabha was arrested with her friend, who had 'liked' the post on Facebook, and her uncle's clinic in Thane was vandalised, police arrested nine people believed to be from the Shiv Sena. Both the women were arrested Sunday - for "hurting religious sentiments" and under the Information Technology Act, 2000 - and released on bail Monday. Police also launched an inquiry against the arrests and the vandalism in Thane, near India's financial and entertainment hub Mumbai.

But that did little to curb the democracy vs dictatorship debate and the mounting fury over police high-handedness. The topic was hotly discussed in college and school classrooms, in offices, on social networking sites and was also the top trending topic on Twitter. From corporates and students to politicians and academics, the voices of protest, young and old, rose in unison. "I am so scared to write on facebook... My freedom of expression is killed by the arrest of two young ladies in Mumbai," wrote Guwahati-based wildlife activist Firoz Ahmed on his Facebook wall.

"Police officers who arrested the two girls in Mumbai shud be immediately dismissed. That's minimum that the govt ought to do," tweeted activist-turned-politician Arvind Kejriwal. "Now you can't ask questions about why there should be a bandh? Did anyone notify the police that this is actually a democracy?" Mumbai-based author Jerry Pinto wrote angrily on his Facebook wall. In Mumbai-based communications professional Kumar Manish's view, the arrests were an "oppressive way of muzzling voices". "It is unfortunate and deplorable that Maharashtra Police, a state functionary, acts and reacts within couple of hours for an action which is within the laws enshrined in the Constitution of India… We are living in a democracy, let us not make it 'demo-crazy'," he added.

Many others IANS spoke to in Mumbai preferred not to be identified though they condemned outright the arrests and the vandalism that followed. A telling comment perhaps on the forces at play in India's busy commercial capital and its neighbourhoods. "Dictatorship is what we witnessed over last weekend… Can one not even express their feelings now? Are we in democracy or dictatorship," asked a young man. Terming it the "the death of democracy", another woman professional said: "What irks me is how the alleged Shiv Sainiks reacted in the most intolerant and cowardly manner. We are living in mob culture and this is just not acceptable." 

The ire spilled over to every sector. Minister of State for Communications and IT Milind Deora said: "Question isn't about amending 66A of the IT Act, it's about preventing misuse by the police, who clearly acted in haste and applied wrong sections of IPC and IT Act." "Also, vandals of Dhada Hospital must be booked! Hope Maharashtra government takes immediate corrective action," he tweeted. The CPI-M asked for Maharashtra's Congress-NCP government to "take immediate action and stop pandering to the whims and fancies of the Shiv Sena".

In a statement against the "illegal and arbitrary arrests", the groups Communalism Combat and SAHMAT said the incident was "one more instance of the growing politics of intimidation threat and violence that are not firmly dealt with by the authorities". Signed by artists, academics, media professionals and legal experts, the statement said the arrests were the "most recent in a long list of actions undertaken by the police under the IT Act which are questionable". Most people felt the only way to reinforce faith in the establishment was to suspend the policemen who arrested the girls.

The ripples were felt globally as well. Linking the Mumbai arrests to the shooting of Pakistani teen Malala Yousafazai, contactmusic.com reported that the prohibition of what's allowed on the internet and the decreasing amount of free speech available on social networks such as Twitter and Facebook is becoming more and more apparent.And this was the message posted by Shaheen: "With all respect, every day, thousands of people die, but still the world moves on... Today, Mumbai shuts down due to fear, not due to respect."-IANS

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