Microsoft launches Windows Phone 8

Microsoft has officially launched the Windows Phone 8 and an event in San Francisco. The company had already announced this new update to their smartphone operating system back in June and yesterday the company demoed several of the new features which are introduced in this new update.

The key features on Windows Phone 8 include Lens in Camera, Kid’s Corner, Rooms in People’s Hub and seamless integration with Skype and SkyDrive. The Kid’s Corner allows the kids to use their parents’ smartphone, where the parent has full control over what should be accessible to the kid. Rooms is a feature which lets you create groups and share notes, calendars, photos, messages, etc.

It has automatic photo uploads, which uploads your camera pics to you SkyDrive account. Of course this needs internet connectivity on your device and you can also choose not to automatically upload the images.

At the moment the Widows phone 8 based devices that have been unveiled include the Nokia Lumia 920, Nokia Lumia 820, HTC 8X, HTX 8S and also the Samsung ATIV S. There are now specific launch dates or pricing announced for these devices.

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Huawei MediaPad 7 Lite now available for purchase in India

Huawei announced his device back in August and now the Huawei MediaPad 7 Lite is up for grabs in India via online retailer Flipkart. The device sports a 7-inch IPS display with 1024x600 pixels resolution.

The MediaPad 7 Lite is powered by a 1.2GHz Cortex A8 processor and it runs Android 4.0 ICS. It seems to a slightly premium tablet in the entry-level segment, which might hopefully last longer than its competitors. It supports 3G with voice calling, SMS and MMS. The device also has a 3.2 megapixel rear camera and a front facing 0.3 megapixel camera for video calling.

This tablet also features 1080p HD video playback at 30 frames per second, it has 1GB of RAM, 8GB of built-in storage and a microSD card slot for expandable storage. In terms of connectivity, it supports 3G (HSDPA 3.6Mbps), Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, Bluetooth 3.0, aGPS and USB On-the-Go.

It has a 4,100 mAh battery and is device is priced at Rs. 13,700 with the online retailer. The Media Pad 7 Lite is expected to being shipping in 6-8 business days.

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ARM launches 64-bit Cortex-A50

Mobile chipmaker ARM has disclosed two processors at ARM TechCon, called Cortex-A53 and Cortex-A57 that based ARMv8 architecture, bringing enhanced 64-bit support. Its makers are calling it the most energy efficient 64-bit processors that will deliver three times the performance of todays’ top super-phones. These processors also hold the distinction of being the most complex ARM has ever built. ARM is ready to begin shipping these processors, and current licensees for the tech include AMD, Broadcom, Calxeda, HiSilicon, Samsung and STMicroelectronics.

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Disney buys all Lucas properties, new Star Wars movie in 2015

Walt Disney has entered a deal with George Lucas to buy out Lucas Films, Skywalker Sound, and Industrial Light and Magic, which includes property rights for Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises. Lucas will reportedly be receiving about half of the $4.05 billion value of the deal in cash, plus 40 million stock shares. TheStar Wars franchise however appears to be at the heart of the deal for Disney, as they soon announced plans to release a new Star Wars film in 2015, followed by a new release every other year.

During a investors’ investment call, Disney outlined its plans for the Star Wars franchise that include video games focused on mobile and social gaming markets, licensing to other game developers, Star Wars themed attractions at Disney owned resorts and parks, and something on Disney XD TV channel. Meanwhile, Disney will be putting the Indiana Jones franchise on the back burner, featuring potential hurdles with the franchise distributor Paramount.

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Black Ops II gets a star-studded live-action trailer directed by Guy Ritchie

This trailer is a testament to how much money the Call of Duty franchise makes. For the upcoming launch on November 13th of Black Ops II, Activision has put together a superb star-studded trailer of utter awesomeness. Featuring Robert Downey JR, Jack Black and a lot of international stars from gaming, movies and music. The trailer is directed by none other than Guy Ritchie and it features those actors getting blown up in various creative ways using the advanced weaponry at your disposal. 

Black Ops II takes the CoD franchise into the future, literally, though it seems to be using the same old engine. The game shows the world of espionage, subterfuge and interrogations in the distant future. With access to some creative weaponry and you have robot mechs to content with in addition to other high tech agents, one thing is for sure, the Call of Duty know how to make a kick-ass single-player campaign. The ball is in your court now, Battlefield 4.

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Spec Showdown: LG Nexus 4 Vs. iPhone 5

LG Nexus 4

After a series of leaks left very little for launch day, the Nexus 4 announcements ended on a high note - it's $100 cheaper than the Galaxy Nexus, yet it integrates a quad core Snapdragon CPU, larger display, and 8 megapixel camera. 

Core specsDisplay: 4.7 inch IPS Plus capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors, 768x1280 pixels (~318 ppi)
CPU: Qualcomm APQ8064, quad-core 1.5 GHz  
GPU: Adreno 320
Storage: 8/16 GB storage, 2 GB RAM
Camera: 8 MP, 3264x2448 pixels, autofocus, LED flash, 1080p@30fps, Secondary Camera
Connectivity: HSDPA, 21 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, DLNA, Bluetooth v4.0 with A2DP, TV-out, microUSB (MHL) v2.0, A-GPS support and GLONASS
Battery: Li-Po 2100mAh
Price: $299, $350

OS and Software
Jelly Bean 4.2 supports wireless displays, and brings Swype-like keyboard input, panoramic photos, support for multiple user profiles, apart from features integrated in the previous release. 

Pros and Cons
(+) Uses normal SIM cards
(+) Assured of early firmware updates
(+) NFC, MHL, wireless charging
(-) No expandable storage slot

Verdict: 
At half the price of the iPhone, clearly the most exciting smartphone launch this year - here's hoping LG can bring the phone down to India soon, and keep prices level.

iPhone 5

The iPhone 5 runs on a new A6 CPU which it claims is twice as fast as its predecessor, and adds 4G network radios. A recent teardown by iFixit, along with some die analysis has established that the A6 runs on custom armv7 architecture, with three GPU cores.

Core Specs
Display:  4-inch LED backlit LCD, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors, 1136x640 pixels, (326 ppi)
CPU: A6 Processor
GPU: Triple-core PowerVR SGX 543MP3
Storage:  16GB, 32GB or 64GB
Camera:  8 MP, 3264x2448 pixels, autofocus, LED flash, 1080p@30fps. 1.2 MP 720p secondary cam
Connectivity: DC-HSDPA, 42 Mbps; HSDPA, 21 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps, LTE, 100 Mbps, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP, Lightning port, A-GPS support and GLONASS
Battery: Li-Ion 3.8V - 5.45Wh - 1434mAh battery
Price: Rs. 45,500, 52,500, 59,500

OS and SoftwareLaunched last month, iOS 6 brings over 200 new features, including native Facebook integration, Passbook, Shared Photo Streams, and a Panorama Mode for photography. 

Pros and Cons
(+)Unibody design
(+)Designed for one-handed use.
(-)Uses a nanoSIM card
(-)A lot of mapping features and voice search (Siri) will not be supported in India.

Verdict
With a larger screen, improved camera optics, and a uni-body design, it's a considerably improved iPhone.

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Nokia Lumia 920 and 820 coming in November

Nokia has announced that it will begin shipping the Lumia 920 and the Lumia 820 in Europe and Russia this week, with other countries, including India, lined-up for a November launch. Nokia is not talking exact dates or even pricing yet, but have confirmed the regions to get the new Lumia phones in November include Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Thailand,  Turkey, UAE, UK, US and Vietnam.

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Google announces $299 LG Nexus 4, coming to Asia in November

So we saw a bunch of rumors and leaks for this device and despite the cancellation of its launch event, Google and LG have announced the new Nexus 4. The LG Nexus 4 is the first Nexus smartphone from LG and also the first smartphone to run Android 4.2, which is also called Jelly Bean.

The design is quite similar to the Samsung manufactured Galaxy Nexus, however it is much powerful from the inside. The Nexus 4 is powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor which is clocked at 1.5GHz. It also includes 2GB of RAM, an 8 megapixel rear camera, 1.3 megapixel front facing camera and 8GB/16GB storage variants with no expandable memory.

The LG Nexus 4 sports a 4.7-inch IPS display which has a 1280x768 pixels resolution with Zerogap technology which helps provide a pixel density of 320ppi. It comes with all the new features introduced with Android 2.3 Jelly Bean and also includes NFC and wireless charging capability. It is equipped with a 2,100 mAh battery developed by LG Chem.

The Nexus 4 will be available via the Google Play Store starting November 13. The phone will arrive soon in November in Asia, Central/South America, Europe, CIS and the Middle East.

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Google unleashes new Nexus line-up

Google has confirmed through a blog post, the Nexus devices that have been appearing out of the rumor-mill. Starting in the middle of November, Google will begin taking orders for Nexus 4 by LG on Google Play store. The phone will be sold unlocked and without a contract at $299 for 8GB model and $349 16GB. The Nexus 4 is built with a 4.7-inch (320ppi) IPS display, Snapdragon S4 Pro with quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, and will have Android 4.2 factory-installed.

Starting immediately, the Tegra 3 powered Nexus 7 will have a 16GB model shipping for $199, and 32GB for $249.

Not the ones used to be out played, Samsung will be releasing the Nexus 10 with a 300ppi screen that has an impressive, 2560x1600px resolution. Google promises nine hours of video playback on a full charge of the 9000mAh battery. The Nexus 10 will start shipping through Google Play store in the middle of November in North America, Australia, Japan, and some parts of Europe. The 16GB model will be priced at $399, and $499 for the 32GB version.

Google is pushing a particular configuration of features with Nexus devices that appear to revolve around Google Drive and Android Beam. To that end, all these devices come with NFC, and do not have SD card reader.

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Google announces Android 4.2 based Samsung Nexus 10

Google did cancel its Android event due to Hurricane Sandy, however the company did announce the Samsung Nexus 10 tablet along with the LG Nexus 4 smartphone. We had earlier reported that Google will be announcing a 10-inch Samsung Nexus tablet which will sport a high pixel density display.

The Samsung Nexus 10 is a 10-inch display at 300ppi and 2560x1600 pixel resolution. The new Nexus 10 is powered by a 1.7GHz A15 dual-core processor and also is the first device to feature the ARM A15 architecture. It is also equipped with a 5 megapixel rear camera and a secondary front facing 1.9 megapixel camera.

The device runs Android 4.2 (which is also called Jelly Bean) and allows multiple users to have different log-ins, it has stereo speakers on the front and a 9,000 mAh battery which is rated for up to 9 hours of video playback and 500 hours of standby time. It will be available in two sizes of 16GB and 32GB, both will include 2GB of RAM.

The 16GB Nexus 10 is priced at $399 while the 32GB Nexus 10 will cost $499. It will be available for purchase via the Google Play Store starting November 13 and the countries include US, UK, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Canada and Japan. The pricing and availability of this device is India is not yet revealed.

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Assassin's Creed III Midnight Launch in Mumbai and Delhi tomorrow

Assassin's Creed III launches on the 30th of October at a midnight launch event at Mumbai and Delhi. Walk in to get freebies like AC3 t-shirts, keychains and wrist bands and lots more. Not only that you get to take your pic with Connor himself, the protagonist of Assassins Creed III. The icing on the cake is that you get 5% off plus you walk off with 2 DLC's free - Captain of the Aquila and Colonial Assassin. So be there, 30th October 11PM onwards at Games The Shop-Oberoi Mall (Mumbai) and Federation of Gamers-DLF Mall (Saket, Delhi).

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Airtel taking pre-orders for 16GB Apple iPhone 5

Airtel will be one of the mobile operators from India who would be selling the Apple iPhone 5. The company has started taking pre-orders for the smartphone and it says that the device will be available from the 11th of November.

Only the 16GB black colored variant is available for pre-order and as revealed earlier it is priced at Rs. 45,500. Aircel will also be selling the iPhone 5 as they have already teased it on their website, however they are not taking any pre-orders. The Apple iPhone 5 is quite an expensive device, and a as the website suggests, they might have an EMI option available soon.

|Via|

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Micromax A110 Superfone Canvas 2 now available for Rs. 9,999

The Micromax A110 Superfone Canvas 2 is now available for purchase online via online retailer Saholic. The device is priced at Rs. 9,999 only, and sports a 5-inch IPS display of 480x854 pixel resolution.

This is a dual-SIM capable smartphone which is powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor and runs Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich. It also sports an 8 megapixel rear camera with dual LED flash and 0.3 megapixel front facing camera. The Superfone Canvas 2 will be available in black and white, it will support 3G connectivity and include a 2,000 mAh battery which will provide up to 5 hours of talk time and 180 hours of standby. The first dual-core phone to retail at a price point under 10k, the Canvas 2 is draw a lot of excitement from consumers this shopping season. Here's a quick look at all the other phablet sized devices in the fray.

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Leaked: LG Nexus 7 details

Google may have cancelled the press event due to hurricane Sandy, but that has not stopped the information from coming out. Even in the light of recent leaks, this one has to be the mother of all. Belarusian websiteOnliner.by actually got their hands on what appears to be a review unit of some sort. This particular device was running Android 4.1.2, but the retail version is expected to ship with Android 4.2. Also, this unit has ‘not for sale’ markings printed on the back, along with hardware revision number.

In any case, this particular machine has a 4.7- inch (768x1280px) screen, Snapdragon S4 Pro system with quad-core processor clocked at 1.5 GHz, and Adreno 320 video processor.  The retail version of this LG Nexus is expected to have about 2GB of RAM with onboard storage option between 8GB and 16GB. All this still leaves the all-important price in the dark, for which we will have to wait for the official word.

Via: GSMArena

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Samsung posts record profits

Samsung latest financial statement shows record profits for the company in the third quarter of this year, mainly due to gains in the mobile business, and to some extent display panels. In three months ending in October, Samsung earned 6.56 trillion won in profits, which is nearly double compared to the same period last year that drew in 3.44 trillion won. Samsung’s year on year sales in the mobile business jumped 82 percent, and accounted for 50 percent of total revenue earned by the company.

Meanwhile, market watchers ABI Research and Strategy Analytics released their numbers on mobile market share and units shipped. According to these numbers, Samsung shipped more than twice the number of smartphones than its closest rival Apple. Samsung took 35.2 percent of market share by shipping 56.9 million smartphones, while Apple 16.6 per cent of the market with 26.9 million units. Furthermore, the reports estimate Samsung’s annual shipping rate increased by 102.5 percent.

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Xbox SmartGlass released for Android

Microsoft has released SmartGlass for Android 4.0 that connects a mobile device to an Xbox 360 through Xbox Live service. The application has features similar to other apps in its category, like making purchases, browsing personal library, and accessing community account information.

In addition, the application can show content like videos and provide keyboard input for Internet Explorer from the mobile device, on to the display connected to the Xbox. For good measure, SmartGlass also lets users control playback of multimedia content playing off the Xbox. SmartGlass requires Android ICS or higher, and a device with WVGA resolution display.

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Sony Xperia J now in India for Rs. 18,399

The wait for Sony Xperia J is finally over! This Sony smartphone has finally launched in India - this mid-ranged Android smartphone which will be available across all major retailers at Rs. 18,399.

The Sony Xperia J sports a 4-inch 480 x 854 resolution screen sheathed by a scratch resistant gorilla glass display. It is powered by a 1GHz Qualcomm MSM7227A Snapdragon processor with 512MB of RAM and 4GB internal memory (usable up to 2GB only). It means that, the phone is quite fast and will let you use multiple apps efficiently and without any lag. It comes with pre-installed Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and it will receive and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update sometime later in 2013.

The phone’s memory is expandable up to 32GB via the microSD slot available and has a powerful 1,750mAh battery which will provide you with a talk-time of up to 7hours (3G). It comes with a 5 megapixel autofocus camera with LED Flash and has a front facing VGA camera allowing you to video chat. Other features of the phone include 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and aGPS connectivity.

Sony is coming up with a lot of new models in the market and stands as a tough competition to most of the smartphones in the mid-ranged segment. Few of the new models which are expected to launch in coming days include Xperia V, Xperia Advance and Xperia TL.

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Leaked: Google Nexus 10 specs

With the recent spate of pretty accurate leaks surrounding high-profile gadget releases, official press conferences are in real danger of losing their relevance. This time it’s a website called BriefMobile that claim to have gained the specs sheet for Google Nexus 10, and a whole bung of photographs to go with it. This particular Nexus is designed by Samsung around its Exynos 5250 system with a Cortex A15 dual-core processor and Mali-T604 GPU. This is perhaps one of the devices that have been rumored to make an appearance at Google’s press event for Nexus line-up on October 29. Information from the leaked specs sheet follows after the break, while the source has more pictures of the device.

Samsung Exynos 5250 
Dual-core Cortex-A15 clocked at 1.7 GHz
Mali-T604 GPU
2GB RAM
16GB internal storage (other options possible)
10.1-inch Super AMOLED display 
2560 x 1600 pixel resolution
298.9 pixels-per-inch
5-megapixel rear-facing camera 
NFC, WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0
Dual speakers located on front of device

Via: Slashgear

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Zync Z1000: 9-inch Android tablet for just under 11K

A new player in the field named Zync Global has just released an Android 4.x tablet with a 9.7 inch, 1024x768px resolution screen. The tablet is called Z1000, and it has ARM Cortex A8 processor clocked at 1.5GHz, 1GB DDR3 RAM, 8GB onboard storage, and 7000mAH battery-pack.

There are slots for SIM and microSD cards, mini-USB for 3G dongle, mini HDMI for external display, and onboard Wi-Fi radio. To entice potential buyers, Zync has bundled Lycra pouch, screen protector, earphones, and a one-month subscription to Big Flix, all for Rs. 10,990.

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Apple iPhone 5 to hit India on November 2, App Store gets Rupee pricing

The much-awaited Apple iPhone 5 will officially hit Indian retail shelves on November 2. So far, pricing has not yet been revealed. In the meanwhile, Apple has introduced local Rupee currency pricing for the iTunes App Store.Redington India and Ingram Micro have been appointed as the master distributors of the iPhone 5, and will be responsible for providing the device to the two Apple carriers (Aircel and Airtel). Other resellers will also be able to procure the iPhone 5 from the two distributors, and sell it with their own markup.

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Windows 8 and Surface Launch Event

Microsoft launched Windows 8 and Surface tablet in New York yesterday, showcasing all the tablets and PCs that will be running on the new OS. Devices running the new OS will go on sale today in some markets, with the Surface RT tablet available in eight countries. Here are some highlights from the launch event yesterday from around the world.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer speaks at the launch of Windows 8 operating system in New York. Windows 8 is now available in 140 countries and 37 languages, to consumers it will be available in two versions: Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro. There's Windows 8 Enterprise for large organizations, while OEMs will be able to deploy Windows 8 on ARM-based tablets, such as the Surface RT.

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Microsoft launches Windows 8 in India, upgrade from XP, Vista and 7 to Pro for Rs. 1,999

Global software major Microsoft late Thursday unveiled its Windows 8 version of the operation system in India as part of its worldwide launch.

"Retail and enterprise users worldwide will be able to experience from Friday all that Windows has to offer with a new user interface, a host of applications from its store," Microsoft India chairman Bhaskar Pramanik said in a statement late Thursday. The bundled version will be available on form factors ranging from tablets to laptops and ultra notebooks from 14 OEM (original equipment manufacturer) partners, including Acer, Dell, Fujitsu, HCL, Hewlett Packard, Lenovo, Samsung, Sony, Toshiba, Wipro and Zenith Computers.

Over 250 Windows 8 enabled devices, including 23 new SKUs (stock keeping unit) of Windows 8 PCs are available across 100 cities and over 2,500 retail stores. Unlike its earlier versions, including Windows 7, Windows 8 boasts of an intuitive start screen and tiles with rich content and update in real time.

"As Windows anytime upgrade (WAU), the latest version is cloud connected. Users will have to sign once with their MS (Microsoft) account to ensure they will be able to access mails, calendars, contact, pictures among other apps (applications," Pramanik said. The new OS (operating system) will have two versions at retail - Windows 8 & Windows Pro, while Windows 8 enterprise offers mobile productivity with features like To Go, Direct Access.
"Users can upgrade their personal computers (desktops) that have Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 at an affordable price of Rs.1,999 till Jan 2013," Pramanik added.

The update can be downloaded after checking the system with Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant, which gives you the option of buying and downloading Windows 8 after running a compatibility report. -IANS

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Qualcomm working on an Android device for the blind

Qualcomm and Project RAY have collaborated to build a new eye-free mobile device for the blind, this device is called Ray. The Ray is mobile-device based on Android which is built on a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset and sports a unique user interface for the visually impaired.

The user interface depends on the touch screen, haptic feedback, text-to-speech and audio feedback to support phone calls, text messages, emails and social networking. When a user touches any random position on the screen, it acts as a starting point for selecting an activity. From here simple finger movements in different directions enable navigation. It has built-in vibration capabilities and voice prompts for the user feedback. The user interface evolves and becomes easier by learning the users’ preferences and usage patterns.

Here is a word from the guys behind the project;

“Audio-books, magazines and periodicals are an important method for accessing information for blind and visually impaired people, but the current system requires renting items by mail, which is not timely. Subscribers can now use RAY devices to easily access and download audio assets from the library over an advanced mobile broadband network, rather than waiting to receive CD copies,” said Amos Beer, chief executive officer of the Central Library for the Blind, Visually Impaired and Handicapped. “Our library is delighted to be working with Qualcomm and Project RAY to build a system enabling people with vision impairments to remotely access and download audio assets from the library. Also, the system is being designed specifically for Project RAY devices and specific user identities to ensure digital rights management protection for copyrighted material.”

“We believe the Project RAY device will enhance the ability of blind and visually impaired people to access resources and information independently,” said Don Rosenberg, executive vice president and general counsel for Qualcomm. “This project, which is part of our Wireless Reach initiative, demonstrates one of the many ways Qualcomm technology can improve people’s lives and we are proud to support this important program.”

It is great to see innovation moving in various directions (especially such directions) and we hope to see similar projects from other companies.

|Via|

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Gearbox confirms Borderlands Legends for iOS

A few days ago a leaked ad revealed Borderlands Legends for iOS and now the game is finally confirmed. Gearbox has officially announced that the game will be arriving in the iTunes App Store on October 31st.

Unlike the original Borderlands series which is a first-person action RPG, Borderlands Legends for iOS will be a top-down action role-playing game. The game will have random missions and and gamers will be able to play as four characters from the series which include Brick, Lilith, Mordecai and Roland.

Gamers will also be able to level up characters and purchase guns and gears which will help you as you progress in the game. The pricing is also revealed, the iPhone/iPod Touch version will cost $4.99 while the iPad version will cost $6.99.

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LG Nexus 4 render image shows up on Twitter

We know that the upcoming Nexus smartphone will be manufactured by LG, the same recently was also confirmed by an LG executive. This device will be revealed at Google ‘Android Event’ in a few days, scheduled for October 29.

New render images of this upcoming Nexus smartphone have been leaked online on Twitter by @evleaks. Although, live images of this device have surfaced previously they did not include the Nexus branding. This render looks similar to that device and also includes the Nexus branding on its back.

This device will be known as the LG Nexus 4 and it will come pre-loaded with Android 4.2, which could retain Jelly Bean Branding, or be named Key Lime Pie. It will be powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor and will have extremely similar specifications to the LG Optimus G.

Along with the LG Nexus 4, Google is also planning to unveil the 32GB 3G capable variant of the Asus Nexus 7, it's also rumored that Samsung will launch a 10-inch Android tablet which is being called the Nexus 10.

|Via|

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LG brings 84-inch Ultra-HD 3D TV

Hot on the heels on Sony initiating pre-orders for Bravia KD-X9000, LG has brought in its own 84-inch behemoth. This 3D TV can churn out images at 3840 x 2160px, or 4K resolution, and sound is played back through a pair of 15W woofers and 10W speakers. It uses passive glasses for 3D, converts 2D content into 3D, and it can upscale 1080p content to full supported resolution. The 84LM9600 packs the usual suite of Smart TV features, plus WiDi, and ‘Dual Play’ that serves up different frames to a pair of 3D glasses. LG is selling this set for about the same price as Sony, for Rs. 17,00,000, starting in November.

Sources: The Times of India, engadget

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Spec Showdown: Nexus 7 Vs. iPad mini

Google Nexus 7

Unveiled in June this year, Google partnered with Asus to release an affordable tablet that doesn't compromise on performance, build quality or firmware. It's expected to launch in India next month.

Core specs
OS: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
Display: 7-inch IPS, 1,280x800 pixels (216 ppi)
Chipset: Quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3
Storage: 8GB or 16GB; 
RAM: 1GB RAM
Camera: 1.2-megapixel front-facing
Connectivity: NFC, Wi-Fi n, Bluetooth 3.0,  
Battery:  4,325 mAh; 10.1 hours video battery life
Weight: 340 grams
Size: 7.8 x 4.7 x 0.41 inches
Price: $199 (8GB), $249 (16GB)

Pros and Cons
(+) Higher pixel density screen
(+) Quad core chipset
(+) Early firmware updates.

(-) Starts at 8 GB, no expandable storage
(-) Wi-Fi-only for now
(-) No rear camera

Verdict: Expected to launch sometime next month in India, the Nexus 7 is 130-$80 cheaper depending on storage options - that should translate to a lower price point compared to the iPad mini.  

Apple iPad Mini

Launched yesterday, the iPad mini is their most affordable tablet yet, starting at $329 for the 16GB Wi-Fi only version. It has the optics of the iPad 3G and the display resolution of the iPad 2.

Core specs
OS: iOS 6
Display: 7.9-inch IPS, 1,024x768 pixels (163 ppi)
Chipset: Dual core A5x processor
Storage: 16/32/64GB options
RAM: ??
Camera: 5-mp 1080p rear; 1.2-mp 720p front camera, 
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, Lightning port
Battery: "16.3-watt-hour"; 10 hours battery life (rated)
Weight: 308 grams 
Size: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.28 inches
Prices: $329, $429, $529 (Wifi) 

Pros and Cons
(+) 5-megapixel 1080p rear camera
(+) Starts at 16 GB
(+) Cellular option supports 4G LTE networks

(-) No expandable storage
(-) Relatively expensive at higher storage capacites
(-) First world gets first dibs 

Verdict: We're kind of elated that the iPad Mini starts at 16 GB. Based on today's currency conversion rates the entry-level version can be expected to cost around Rs. 17,600, but India is not in the list of 34 countries that will see retail availability by Nov 2.

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Mac Mini update brings Ivy Bridge, USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt ports

Apple has also pushed through updates to the Mac Mini yesterday, which sees an Ivy Bridge update on the processor front, and can be configured in 3rd generation with dual-core Intel Core i5 and quad-core Intel Core i7 processors. The new Mac Mini sports Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 (4x) ports, apart from HDMI, SDXC, Gigabit Ethernet, and FireWire 800 ports. There's no discrete graphics chip option in the line-up, leaving  the Intel 4000 graphics chip to do all the heavy lifting. Memory can supposedly be expanded to 16 GB, storage options range from 500 GB to 2 TB. Gleaned from the press release, here's a listing of the retail price points it's available at in India.

2.5 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5, 4GB RAM, 500GB hard drive - Rs. 39,900
2.3 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7, 4GB RAM, 1TB hard drive - Rs. 52,900 
2.3 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7, 4GB RAM, 2x 1TB hard drive, OS X Server - Rs. 65,900.

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Apple announces 4th generation iPad: A6X processor, 4G LTE connectivity, FaceTime HD

It was not just the new iPad mini that Apple announced at its special event in San Jose, California on October 23. The company also introduced its new 4th generation iPad which is a revised version of the previous iPad and comes with improved internals.

Like all the previous generation iPads the fourth generation iPad has a 9.7-inch display and retains the high resolution Retina Display which was introduced with the third generation iPad. It has a 5 megapixel iSight camera and it is powered by a new A6X processor which has twice the graphics performance compared to the A5X processor. Needless to say Apple has also retained the battery life and it is still rated at 10 hours.

One major change is that the 30-pin dock connector has been replaced by the new Lightning port which first appeared with the iPhone 5. The Lightning port has a much smaller connector which can be used in any orientation. If you upgrade to the new iPad it means that would will have to get a new set of accessories as your previous one’s will not be compatible with the new connector.

The fourth generation iPad will also support LTE connectivity and of course it will have a Wi-Fi only variant available as well. This new iPad will cost the same as the previous generation iPad starting at $499 for the Wi-Fi only 16GB version and the LTE capable model will start from $629 for the 16GB version.  The pre-orders for the fourth generation iPad will start from this Friday and the Wi-fi only models will start shipping from November 2nd. Apple has announced that the cellular version will start shipping few weeks later.

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Apple announces iPad mini powered by dual-core A5 processor and 7.9-inch display

This device has been rumored since a long time, and finally Apple has revealed it at its San Jose event on October 23. It is called the iPad mini, as the name suggests it is a smaller version of the iPad tablet which features a completely new design, a 7.9-inch display with 1024x768 pixels screen resolution and is encased in a 7.2mm aluminum shell which makes it 53 percent lighter and 23 percent thinner than the 4th generation iPad, announced along with this device.

Phil Schiller also compared the device with Google’s Nexus 7 and pointed out that the Apple’s new tablet is lighter and thinner despite have a display area which is a third larger than Google’s Nexus tablet. The Nexus 7 has a bigger, plastic bezel around its screen while the iPad mini has an aluminum bezel. Well he did skip the price here as Google’s Nexus 7 is much affordable than Apple’s 7-inch device and is powered by a quad-core processor.

Regardless, the iPad mini looks excellent and in terms of the internals it is powered by a dual-core Apple A5 processor and the company claims it has 10 hours of battery life. Further it has a 5 megapixel iSight camera, Wi-Fi 802.11n, optional LTE and the new Lightning connector.

The pricing starts from $329 for the Wi-Fi only 16GB model than goes up by $100 as the size increases - $429 for 32GB and $529 for 64GB. The cellular enabled version which supports LTE starts from $459 for the starter 16GB model and then goes up $100 as the size increases.

The new iPad mini will come in ‘white and silver’ and ‘black and slate’, it will be up for pre-order starting this Friday, October 26 in 34 countries around the globe. Apple will start shipping the iPad mini in these 34 countries starting November 2, however India is not on this list and the device might take some time before it arrives in the Indian market.

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New Apple iMacs: Bigger, thinner, and faster

Apple took to the stand to announce hardware revision for its desktop computers that tend to get drowned in the noise generated around the phone, tablet, and the laptop. Starting next month, Apple will roll out the 21.5-inch iMac fitted with a 2.7GHz Core i5 processor, GeForce GT 640M graphics, 8GB of RAM, and a 1 TB hard drive for starting price of Rs. 85,900.

In December, Apple will begin shipping the 27-inch (2560 x 1440) flagship iMac model for starting price of Rs. 122,900. The configuration offers a choice between Core i5 and Core i7 line of processor, up to 3TB of storage, 128GB SSD for system cache, and four USB 3.0 ports. Both models lack an optical drive, and come bundled with a  wireless mouse and keyboard.

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Nokia Lumia 510 unveiled, most affordable Windows phone yet

Nokia has taken the wraps off its entry-level Lumia 510, which was leaked late last month. The Lumia 510 has a 4-inch screen compared to the Lumia 610, but half the storage capacity at 4GB. Both have a a 5-megapixel shooter on the back that can record VGA quality video. The phone is headed next month to India, China, South America and Asia at an estimated price of $200.

The Lumia 510 is fitted with a 4-inch WVGA TFT capacitive touch screen, 256 MB of RAM, and is powered by a S1 series Qualcomm processor. The phone supports GSM and WCDMA networks, other connectivity options include WLAN 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, GPS/A-GPS, micro-USB, and a 3.5mm audio jack. On the software front, the 510 runs on Windows Phone 7.5 Mango (upgradable to 7.8), with preloaded Office Mobile apps, Nokia Maps and Nokia Drive, along with the IE9 web browser. The phone is bundled with 7GB of cloud storage on SkyDrive. For a complete lowdown on its specs, hit up the source link below.

Source: Nokia Conversations

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Zen Mobile's Android 4.0 tablet selling for 8K

Zen Mobile has released an Android ICS tablet with a 9-inch screen called the Zen UltraTab A900. The tablet is built with a 1.5 GHz processor of undisclosed origin, 512MB RAM, micro-SD reader, 1.3 MP front-camera, on-board Wi-Fi, and 3G through USB dongle. Zen Mobile has priced the tablet at Rs. 7, 999, and at least for now, HomeShop 18 has the exclusive dibs at retail.

UltraTab 900 Specs at a Glance

Processor :1.5 GHz processor / 512 MB DDR3 RAM

Software :Android 4.0 OS with ice cream sandwich platform

Display - 9.0” Screen with superb Clarity

Camera: 1.3 MP front camera

Memory: RAM; External TF card (maximum 32GB available)

Battery life  Capacity: 14hrs + Web usage (on WiFi) or 3.5h  hours of 720p video playback/4000 mAh

Sound: MP2, MP3, WAV, AAC, WMA Etc

Dimensions: 11.8*148.6*238.6mm

Weight: 512.9 g

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Google extends seller support to Indian developers

After a false start last month, Google has added merchant support for Indian developers, which lets them tie their account on Play Store, to an account with an Indian Bank. The Developer Console for these developers will now have the option to setup a Google Checkout account for merchants.

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32GB Surface RT tablet up for pre-order on eBay India

ust recently did Microsoft reveal the pricing for its upcoming Surface RT tablet and now the device is unofficially available for pre-order via eBay India for a price of Rs. 38,490. This is much expensive that the official price, as the 32GB variant will retail in the US for $499, which converts to around Rs. 26,800.

This is not official pre-order availability as Microsoft has started taking pre-orders only in eight countries so far and India is not on that list. Further, this comes without its Touch Cover and only the 32GB variant is currently available online.

The seller also states that this device will be a direct import from the US and the pre-orders will start shipping from November 2. A time extension will be requested as soon as the order has been received. Hence, there is no clarity as to when the product will reach the customer and we highly recommend to not go ahead with the pre-order.

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Samsung release new Chromebook for $249

Samsung has released a new ChromeBook, which Google in a blog post positioned as a secondary computing device. The Chrome book has an 11.6-inch screen with 1,366 x 768px resolution, ARM Cortex-A15 processor, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of flash storage, USB 3.0 and one USB 2.0 port, and a battery-pack advertised to run for six hours. In lieu of an SD card reader, Google is giving 2 years subscription for 100 GB of storage on Google Drive. The Chromebook is selling for $249 through Google Play store, and retailers across US and UK.

Source: Google Chrome Blog

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Acer Iconia Tab A110 Will Cost $230

Acer has decided to release its 7-inch Android tablet on October 30, and it will cost $230. For this price Acer gives a 1024 x 600 resolution screen, Tegra 3 system with quad-core processor, 8GB onboard storage, a microSD card slot, and a micro HDMI port. The price and the specs put the Iconia Tab A110 in about the same league as Nexus 7, with the exception of an additional $30 that nets a microSD card and HDMI port, but its screen has lower pixel-density that the Nexus 7.

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Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean now rolling out to Galaxy Nexus, Nexus S and Motorola Xoom

Google has announced that Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean update will be available over the air for Samsung Galaxy Nexus, Nexus S and the Motorola Xoom. As opposed to the last update, Android 4.0 ICS, which took pretty long to get to Xoom and Nexus S, this one made in good time. Unfortunately, it isn’t clear if this update schedule will apply to all versions of these devices.

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Video: Halo 4 Live Action Trailer plus Mini-series Forward unto Dawn

The evil suits at Hollywood may have pulled the plug on the Halo movie, but Microsoft is determined to show those suits what they missed out on. In an act of awesomeness, Microsoft hired the legendary David Fincher to produce a trailer and a bunch of four shorts for Halo 4. The Halo 4 miniseries is entitled Forward Unto Dawnand from the trailer itself you can see it's gonna be a fantastic ride, featuring a distinct style that harks a bit to300, taking place in an acadamy of trainees who would go on to become future Spartans.

Fincher's distinctive style is all over with stylish slow mo's and beautiful effects that can rival any big budget Hollywood blockbuster. Forward Unto Dawn also introduces the new alien race, as well as you get to see Master Chief in the flesh, sort of. Episode 1 and two are already out and ready for your viewing pleasure.

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LG Optimus 4X HD price drops to Rs. 27,990

Good news for those who were eyeing the LG Optimus 4X HD! The fully loaded handset is now available on a substantially discounted price of Rs. 27,990, down from a launch price of Rs. 34,000. There is no official announcement made by LG, but the smartphone is available at the discounted rate with most online retailers such as Flipkart, BuyThePrice, etc. which implies the price reduction has been made across the board.

Equipped with all the essentials, LG Optimus 4X HD runs Android 4.0 ICS, backed by a 1.5 GHz Quad Core Cortex-A9 processor and 1 GB RAM. The display is an enlarged 4.7-inch TFT Capacitive Touchscreen of 1280 x 720 pixels resolution. The primary camera has an 8 megapixel sensor, whereas the secondary camera has a 1.3 megapixel sensor. 

The phone has recently being replaced as the company’s flagship by the new LG Optimus G, which is powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor clocked at 1.5GHz. We are guessing that the price cut suggests an upcoming launch of the Optimus G in the Indian market.

As we gear up for shopping season, it's likely that we will be seeing a number of price cuts on older models - the iPhone 4, 4S, and the HTC One S and Desire V  are now available at more affordable prices for Indian consumers.

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