Samsung Galaxy Camera launched in India at Rs. 29,990

Samsung India has officially launched the Galaxy Camera in the country, and according to Mr. Asim Warsi, Vice President, Samsung Mobile, India is among the first five markets in the world where the camera has been launched.

The Samsung Galaxy Camera is built upon the DNA of Samsung’s very popular Galaxy S III Android smartphone, sharing with in common the Exynos 4 processor, a quad core chip that is clocked at 1.4GHz. Along with that, there is also a 1GB of RAM along with 8GB onboard storage, which can be expanded using a microSD card. There is a gorgeous 4.8-inch touchscreen at the back, which, for a second, made us feel like we were looking at the Galaxy S III. Besides the massive processing power and RAM numbers, the Galaxy camera stands apart as a peerless innovation by packing in 3G/4G radios.

Samsung’s goal with the Galaxy Camera has been to make a shooter that is truly connected. They wanted to eliminate the “yes, I’ll send you the photos later when I get home” problem by building connectivity options into the camera so that the images could be shared instantaneously. Even though we do have an Android powered camera (Nikon’s Coolpix S800c running Gingerbread), Samsung’s Galaxy Camera stands apart from it in almost every single way.

Since the camera’s key feature is that it runs on Android, Samsung has powered the impressive hardware with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS, the somewhat newest offering from Google. When asked about the plan of updating to Android 4.2 (specifically for the Photo Sphere feature), we were told that the update is in the works, but no timeline for release has been set yet.

Running on Android with such impressive hardware, the Galaxy Camera allows the users to download any app from the App store and run it on the camera. It even supports third party photography apps like Instagram and Panorama Camera 360. We tested that for ourselves to make sure it wasn’t just a gimmick and for sure, the apps worked beautifully, interfacing with the Samsung hardware very well.

One aspect of the camera that Mr. Warsi pointed out specifically was that it has been built ground up by Samsung. The processor, the RAM, the display, the 16-megapixel BSI sensor and even the 21x optical zoom lens (23-481mm) are all Samsung made. This comes in light of the fact that Samsung is known to use Schneider lenses in other camera models, but the German-made lenses are missing on the Galaxy Camera. To showcase that Samsung engineering could hold its own, prominent fashion photographer Anushka Menon showcased some of the works she had shot on the camera, and it was definitely enough to impress us.

The Samsung Galaxy camera can now be purchased online immediately and will be available in stores tomorrow for Rs. 29,990. Seeing as how a 1650mAh battery might not be enough in case you decide to use your camera as more than just a camera, the good folks at Samsung are also packing in an extra battery into the retail box for the initial sales period.

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Samsung rolling out Jelly Bean for Galaxy Tab 2

Samsung has started rolling out the Android Jelly Bean update for the Galaxy Tab 2. Once installed, this will update the version to Android 4.1, and bring this pretty much on par with the likes of the Kindle Fire HD.

According to SamMobile, the Android 4.1.1 version has been rolled out for the Tab 2 in France, which indicates that the rest of the European countries should be getting the same update soon. No official word though from Samsung regarding any timelines about the update rollout globally.

This update is available for download and install over-the-air (OTA), but if you do like a little bit of stress in your life, there is always the option of updating via the Kies desktop software!

The real advantage of Jelly Bean is the slicker user interface, thanks to Project Butter. Also arriving with the newer OS is Google Now, the personal assistant that gives you regular updates about things that may matter to you.

It will be interesting to see if this roll-out is successful. The Jelly Bean update for the Samsung Galaxy S III was pulled off the air, after users reported battery an performance issues. Surely, Samsung would have worked to ensure that such issues were ironed out from this update before it went Live.

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Windows Store goes past 20,000 apps

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

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

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

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

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

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Sony Vaio Duo 11 laptop/tablet hybrid launched in India

Sony has launched its new Vaio Duo 11 in India and it is officially priced at Rs. 89,990. Like most of the new Windows 8 portables this device is a laptop/tablet hybrid which has an 11-inch Full HD touchscreen display.

This device features a slide-our keyboard under the display and it has all the prime connectivity options like USB 3.0 and HDMI ports. This is not a new design as we have already seen similar form-factors in the past and even though they have not being a huge hits Sony for some reason has still decided to go with this design. It is quite a heavy devices weighing at 1.2 kilograms and it is 0.75 inches thick.

In terms of the specifications this hybrid is powered by the latest generation Intel Ivy Bridge i5 processor which is coupled with 6GB of RAM. It has a 128GB SSD and there is no dedicated GPU.  Further the lack of an optical trackpad means users will have to get used to touch/type style interface with this device.

Apart from all the aforementioned the Sony Vaio Duo 11 includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, it has an Ethernet port and a VGA port and Sony ships with the Pen which can be used as a stylus for input.

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Pantel launches Android 4.0 ICS based 8-inch tablet

Pantel has launched yet another tablet device in the Indian market and this device is called the Pantel WS802C-2G which features an 8-inch display and a SIM card slot allowing users to make calls.

Apart from the aforementioned this Android 4.0 ICS based tablet is powered by a 1.2GHz single-core processor, it has 1GB of RAM, 8GB of built-in storage, microSD card slot, USB port which supports 3G dongles and a 5,000 mAh battery.

Pantel has also partnered with BSNL to launch this tablet and the telecom operator will provide 4GB of data for the first two months. The WS802C-2G tablet is officially priced at Rs. 8,299 and the company is also offering a keyboard accessory which has stereo speakers and it costs an extra Rs. 1,499.

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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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Windows Phone 8 users now report poor battery life and random reboots

Windows Phone 8 based device are yet to launch in the Indian market, although HTC has announced the pricing and also said that they will arrive sometime this month. We have still not got an official word as to when they will arrive in the market. On the other hand Nokia recently announced that its Windows phone 8 devices will not be coming to India this month.

If you are interested in purchasing these devices then this might be helpful as various users from around the globe are reporting battery issues and random reboots with the flagpship Windows Phone 8 devices.

At the WPCentral forums a huge number of HTC 8X users have reported random reboots and there is a similar thread on Microsoft’s support forums which has gained 60 replies by now regarding the same issue. I have used the HTC 8X which is a not a resale unit and has some testing tools, I have faced the similar issue along with others.

Nokia Lumia 920 users have also reported random reboots and freezes, along with poor battery life problems. There is a thread on the same on Nokia’s support forums regarding the reboots and freezes. In hopes of fixing the battery life issue users tried wiping their devices which has left some units stuck at the Nokia splash screen as reported by users on a thread over at WPCentral.

All the three companies are yet to respond to these issues and once the official word is out we will update you on the same. One should note that these are early Windows Phone 8 issues and a fix for these may soon be available as a small update.

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iFixit takes apart the Nexus 4, points out it is not quite repairable

Carrying on with the amazing task of tearing down the new gadgets, the team at iFixit recently took apart the new LG Nexus 4 to take a close look at the internals of the latest Google Nexus smartphone.

This device has an all-glass chassis and the rear cover of the phone conceals a number of pressure contacts that power the NFC antenna and connect the induction coil to the motherboard of the device which helps with its wireless charging feature. The battery pack is secured to the case with adhesive hence physically replacing the battery will be a problem. This is a 3.8V 2,100 mAh battery just like the one on the iPhone 5. Beneath this there is a speaker enclosure which is placed over a plastic frame that covers the motherboard, earpiece speaker and a vibrator motor.

On the motherboard, the Nexus 4 has five Avago chips – one for GSM and EDGE networks, three for power amplifications and one for its GPS capabilities. Additionally there is a WTR1605L OVV PKK486R1 Qualcomm chip which features LTE capabilities. It is unclear as to why this chip is present on the device as it the device does not support LTE connectivity.

iFixit points out that it is easy to take apart the device but it is not entirely repairable and gave the Nexus 4 a score of 7 out of 10 on repairability.  However it does use the fused display technology which might make it much stronger and less prone to damaging the display. If it does get damaged then it may cost more than a few bucks to replace the display.

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App of the Week: vjay for iOS

From the makers of 2011's Apple design award winning DJ app, vjay is an iOS app for the purpose of quickly editing audio/video clips. The editor ships with a modest library of 15 video tracks from artists such as Far East Movement, Eclectic Method, Parov Stelar, and J-Live. In addition, the application can read media content from a storage device, built-in camera, and iTunes Store. vjay has a handful of audio processing filters, and a few video effects such as transitions, and loops. Algoriddm is selling vjay for iPhone and iPod for $0.99; whereas the iPad version is priced at $4.99.

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Texas Instruments shutters tablet chip business

According to a report by Reuters, Texas Instruments has laid-off 1,700 as part of an ongoing operation to move out of the tablet chip business. The company has declared in September that the competitive mobile and tablet market has forced it to think about making further investments. These numbers account for five percent of Texas Instrument’s global workforce.

Texas Instruments will shift their focus to wooing car and home appliance manufacturers. The company will continue to support OMAP processor for vendors such as Amazon, who are expected to ship Kindle with OMAP 5.

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HTC Desire SV now available for purchase in India

HTC recently unveiled its new dual-SIM capable Desire SV smartphone which it said will soon launch in the Indian market. This device is now up for grabs via online retailer Saholic at Rs. 21,799, it will ship in four business days.

The Desire SV is a dual-SIM capable Android 4.0 ICS based smartphone which is powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor and 768MB of RAM. The device also features a 4.3-inch WVGA SLCD display, has an 8 megapixel rear camera with LED flash, no front facing camera, Beats Audio integration, 4GB built-in storage and a 1,620 mAh battery.

This of course is a much capable and high quality dual-SIM capable Android smartphone in the Indian market. If dual-SIM capability is the prime feature you are looking for then there are a bunch of low-cost dual-SIM capable smartphones from local manufacturers.

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Dell buys software firm Gale Technologies

Computer maker Dell has announced that it has acquired Gale Technologies, a provider of infrastructure automation software. Gale Technologies offers software that can help customers turn discrete compute, network and storage resources into integrated solutions featuring self-service and automation, reported Xinhua.

Without disclosing the financial terms of the deal, Dell said it plans to keep Gale Technologies' employees and will continue to invest in additional engineering and sales capability. Dell also announced that it will use the acquisition to form a new Enterprise Systems and Solutions division to design and deliver integrated enterprise information technology (IT) solutions.

Privately-held Gale Technologies was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Santa Clara in the US state of California. The purchase is the latest indication of the increasing competition among technology giants to create one-stop shop which packages compute, storage, network, software and other components into a single, optimized IT solution for enterprises. Dell's deal came a day after Cisco, the world's largest maker of computer networking equipment, announced Thursday that it intends to pay $125 million to buy Cloupia, an infrastructure automation software provider similar to Gale Technologies. -IANS Photo: Thomas Peter / Reuters

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Galaxy S IV rumored to debut at CES

Asia Economics reports that Samsung will unveil the Galaxy S IV during CES in January. The phone is rumored to have a 5-inch AMOLED display with 441ppi density that gives the display 1920x1080px resolution. Other rumored specs include quad-core Exynos processor, and 4G LTE capabilities. While Samsung has refused to comment on this report, earlier rumors claim Galaxy S IV will release sometime in March.

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LG Nexus 4 to launch in India on November 30

So LG had previously mentioned that the Nexus 4 will be coming to Asia sometime before the end of this year and India of course was one of the countries to receive it. The announcement also suggested that the device will come to India sometime in November and it seems this might be the case.

Online retailer, Saholic has now made the product page for the LG Nexus 4 live on its website and claims that it will be in stock by November 30. The fine print says that it will take 3 days for shipping, so you might get the device in the first week of December.

Now, the LG Nexus 4 might be an affordable Android smartphone in a few countries, but LG has already suggested that it might not have similar pricing in other regions. The reason here is that Google wants to make profits from this device solely on the basis of content and we don’t have much of Google content (apart from apps) in India or many other such countries. So expect the device to be priced as much as a high-end Android smartphone.

The Nexus 4 is available for purchase with an eBay retailer for the price of Rs. 25,990 for 8GB and Rs. 29,990 for 16GB. This will be an USA import which will ship for free and is expected to be delivered between 15th and 25th of December. Hopefully it might have international warranty and one would have to wait for a few extra days.

In terms of the specifications the LG Nexus 4 is powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor which clocked at 1.5GHz and 2GB of RAM. It sports a 4.7-inch IPS HD display, 8 megapixel rear camera, 1.3 megapixel front facing camera and runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean update. Needless to say this will be one of the first devices to receive any future Android updates.

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Rumour: Google Maps for iOS 6 is under development

Good news for those iPhone users who updated to iOS 6 and had to live with the the default navigation tool which Apple had provided. A new report suggests that Google is preparing a new Maps app for the iPhone and it might soon it the iTunes App Store.

Since its launch in 2007 Google Maps had been the default maps and navigation app on the iPhone, however with iOS 6 Apple decided to replace it with its own solution. Many of us know that it didn’t go very well. Now a report on WSJ claims that Google is currently working on its Maps app for iOS 6 and they are working on its final bits before submitting it to the App Store for Apple’s approval. WSJ claims that source of this information is someone who has direct knowledge about the project. However, this person said that it was not clear when Google will actually make their submission to Apple. An Apple spokesperson refused to comment on an app that has not been submitted for approval; whereas a spokesperson for Google gave little in terms of new information.

Even Nokia recently submitted its own maps and navigation solution called ‘Here’ to the App Store, this will be available for free in a few weeks. The report also suggests that the new Google Maps app will features turn-by-turn navigation which was missing in the previous default versions.

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Zebronics launches affordable Bluetooth headset at Rs. 449

Long conversations on a modern smartphone can be fatigue-inducing, especially if you're holding a phablet sized device. Zebronics has announced the availability of an affordable new Bluetooth headset that's retailing at the price of a wired hands-free unit, with a claimed wireless range of 10 metres and a built-in re-chargeable battery.

Weighing just 7 grams, the ZEB-BH500 integrates a rechargeable polymer lithium ion battery which the company claims can provide 2.5 hours of talk time and up to 85 hours of standby time. The unit provides stereo sound, includes a secure ear hook. The unit ships with a USB charging cable, and a 1-year warranty for Rs 449.

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Nokia Lumia 920 will not launch in India in November

Nokia had previously announced that India will be included in the first wave of the Lumia 920 launch globally, however not it seems that this is not the case.

While Nokia had previously sent out a global press release stating that the Lumia 920 will launch in India in November. Apparently (as reported by BGR India), India was not supposed to be listed and it was an error.
Nokia India will announce the availability of the device once they have finalized a launch date and it also seems that the devices are currently being tested by Indian carriers before they hit the market.

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