ZyXEL launches N300 Gigabit NetUSB wireless router at Rs. 10,600

he NBG4615 v2 Wireless N300 Gigabit NetUSB Router helps you share data with USB-equipped wireless devices without any tricky wiring.

ZyXEL Communications has launched the new NBG4615 v2 Wireless N300 Gigabit NetUSB Router, with an MRP of Rs. 10,600. According to the company, the NBG4615 v2 Wireless N300 Gigabit NetUSB Router has some excellent features, such as easily connecting to multiple laptops and PC's through the router, and wirelessly sharing files, etc. The router is already available on retail shelves.

Speaking on the launch, Mr Madhukar Swayambhu, Sales Head India and SAARC region, ZyXEL said: “ZyXEL’s N300 Gigabit Net USB Router would strengthen the product portfolio by delivering high speed connection with optimum streaming and gaming facilities. This router expands the ZyXEL’s reach to the SME and home users.”

Users will be able to share multiple USB-equipped devices with NetUSB support. The NBG4615 v2 Wireless N300 Gigabit NetUSB Router comes with two built-in USB Ports which can be connected easily through a local PC. The user can enjoy enhanced gaming and multimedia through configurable QoS technology that ensures smooth delivery of gaming, video as well as downloading.

ZyXEL says users will be able to keep their private data secure with Internet-only access for guests. This ensures that a user's network data remains protected and confidential. Users can also configure the router through the "Easy mode" which helps you set up quick navigation. It also has an "Expert Mode" for expert navigation that gives a detailed configuration.

 

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Microsoft starts Windows 7 SP1 roll out on Windows Updates

For those of you that haven't updated, Windows 7 SP1 is now a mandatory part of Windows Updates.

Windows 7 SP1 has been available since February 2011 but there are still many that haven’t upgraded their OS. Microsoft will now be rolling out the first service pack, as a mandatory part of Windows Updates for users systems. Users who have automatic updates enabled will get the update automatically the minute it is made available.

The update is sized at 1.9GB and may take users quite a bit of time to download especially if you have a slow net connection. If you don’t get the Windows 7 SP1 update today, don’t panic. It will be rolled out in phases to different parts of the world. The update won’t bring a major change to the OS, instead many small and incremental fixes. The update is available at the consumer level of Windows 7 use, and will not affect enterprise-managed PCs. Microsoft also announced it will stop official support for Windows 7 RTM by April 9.

On its official Windows blog Microsoft says:

“Starting tomorrow, Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) will begin rolling out automatically on Windows Update. Updating customers to Windows 7 SP1 is part of our ongoing effort to ensure continued support and improved security updates for customers who have not yet installed SP1. Windows 7 SP1 was previously available on Windows Update but required user action to install. Starting tomorrow, the installation will be fully automatic with no user action required for those who already have Automatic Update enabled.

SP1 will be released gradually over the coming weeks to all customers on the RTM version of Windows 7. The service pack will take slightly longer to install compared to other updates. To ensure Service Pack 1 is installed without issue, customers should check for sufficient free disk space and that AC power is present on a laptop. If additional space needs to be created, we recommend using the Disk Cleanup tool to delete some files so that the service pack will install. If the service pack installation is interrupted, it will reattempt to install automatically after the next restart.

This update only applies to Windows 7 consumer PCs that are not managed by a Microsoft management tool such as Systems Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) or WSUS Server. SCCM and WSUS administrators still have full control over the release of Service Pack 1. This remains unchanged.”

Source: Windows Blog

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Karbonn A3 and A4 entry-level Gingerbread-based smartphones launched

Karbonn has added two new smartphones to its portfolio, the A3 and the A4. Both the smartphones run on Android 2.3 Gingerbread and are priced at Rs. 3,660 and Rs. 4,990 respectively.

Karbonn’s entry level Android powered smartphone portfolio has expanded with the launch of the A3 and the A4. Both the smartphones run on the Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS.

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Micromax Bolt A51 Gingerbread-based 3.5-inch smartphone spotted online

Micromax Bolt A51 has been listed on Micromax's official site ahead of an official announcement. The Bolt A51 looks to be an entry-level smartphone

The Micromax Bolt A51 supports has a 3.5-inch display with 320x480 pixels resolution. Other notable features of the smartphone include dual-SIM support (GSM+GSM), 2MP rear and 0.3MP front cameras, 256MB of RAM, 512MB of ROM, expandable storage up to 32GB.

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Facebook app sends message that self-destructs in 10 seconds

Facebook has announced a new app that erases pictures and messages within 10 seconds of being sent, the Daily Mail reported. It is an advanced version of one of the social networking site's original apps, the "poke". The equivalent of a head nod or wink, the "poke" in its old form is rarely used today as the site has become more advanced.

It has now been reinvented to be called "Facebook Poke" and allows users to send fleeting messages, pokes, photos and 10-second videos to friends, the Mail said Saturday. The messages expire after a set period of time, from 1 to 10 seconds, and cannot be retrieved by either party again, making it perfect for sending salacious images without leaving a trail. -IANS

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HTC planning Windows tablet to take on Apple, Google, Amazon

Taiwanese electronics maker HTC is planning to make tablets based on the latest Windows operating system. HTC is said to be working on a 12-inch device and a 7-inch version that can also make phone calls, according to a person familiar with the company’s plans. According to the Telegraph, the move would give Windows maker Microsoft another ally in its challenge to Apple and Google in the 63.2 billion dollars market.

HTC’s products, to debut in 2013, will be based on the Windows RT version of Microsoft’s operating system, designed for machines with chips using technology from ARM Holdings Plc (ARM), the paper quoted a person familiar with the plans, as saying. According to the report, a 7-inch tablet would be the first of that size for Windows RT. The move comes as Microsoft tries to compete with the iPad mini, Amazon’s Kindle Fire and Google’s Nexus 7 in the market for smaller, cheaper tablets, the paper added. -ANI

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Asus Padfone 2 now receiving Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

Soon after Asus announced the Padfone 2 back in October a few devices received the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update last month. Now finally the update is available for all Asus Padfone 2 users.

Initial reports suggest that the update first started rolling out in Japan, Hong Kong and other regions. Asus has also published the update files for WWE (World Wide English region) and HK, allowing users to grab it manually.

There are several improvements with the new Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update and users will now have access to features like Google Now amongst others. The Padfone 2’s audio quality and USB Internet sharing features have been improved, GPS has been optimized and there are some camera improvements for better focusing and photo quality.

Asus Studio has also been added which allows image editing and video streaming playback has been optimized. This new update takes the firmware version of the device to 10.4.5.36 and if you have not yet received a notification for the update you can manually check for it in device settings.

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Sony Yuga to launch as Sony Xperia Z

The amount of Sony Yuga leaks has been quite frequent of late. The Sony Yuga (C660X) which has been reported to be a device with a 5-inch 1080p display and dust and water resistance might be called the Xperia Z according to a new report.

This device is expected to show up at CES 2013 which is scheduled for January and Sony might also unveil a few other devices during the event.

So far all the leaked information has not been confirmed by Sony. The device is expected to be powered by a quad-core Snapdragon S4 processor, it will run Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean and will also feature the OptiContrast technology which helps reduce on-screen reflection.

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Ouya adds recruits more developers to its cause

Android touting console, Ouya seems to be shaping up for its retail launch in March, next year. The company recently announced through its Twitter account that they have dispatched 10 more developer kits to interested parties. These developers have expressed interest in porting or developing new games specifically for Ouya system.

Ouya will begin shipping out development units by December 28, alongside the necessary SDK. The retail model is scheduled to ship out in March, which will also effectively be a development console. Here are a list of titles they're working on.

Fist of Awesome
MechKnight Chronicles
Syder Arcade
KidElectro
Space Runner
Legend of Dungeon
iMech Online
DustyRevenge
HolyShield!
Starbound

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Khan Academy made available to non-Internet users

Khan Academy has introduced a new service called Khan Academy Lite (KA Lite) that acts as a servers to distribute content over wireless LAN, using peer-to-peer sharing techniques. This will allow content on Khan Academy to be available to those that do not have access to the internet. The project has been designed to be compatible across wide-range of systems, and kinds of internet access.

Khan Academy intends to work on developing the system to enable creation a chain of peer-to-peer systems, with just one or few machines with internet access. KA Lite currently works along the same lines, with a central server synching information across clients. The server was originally designed to run-off a laptop; however, the developers discovered that the servers runs quite smoothly even on a Raspberry Pi with a Wi-Fi radio.

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Karbonn launches SmartTab 10, priced at Rs. 10,490

Karbonn Mobiles has previously launched quite a few 7-inch Android based tablets in the Indian market, and now the company has launched a 10-inch variant called SmartTab 10 and it is priced at Rs. 10,490 as an introductory offer.

The SmartTab 10 has a 9.7-inch capacitive display with a 1024x768 pixels resolution and it come pre-loaded with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. It is powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core MediaTek processor, 1GB of DDR3 RAM and has a 6,000 mAh battery.

Apart from this it sports a front facing VGA quality camera for video calling and has a 2 megapixel rear camera. It also supports 3G connectivity via USB dongle (no built-in 3G radio), Wi-Fi and supports expandable memory up to 32GB via a microSD card.

The Karbonn SmartTab 10 comes preloaded with a few applications which include Saavan, Angry Birds Season, Turbo Fly 3D, Flipboard, Google Chrome, Kingston Office, Facebook, JustDail and others. Most of these applications are available for free on the Google Play Store.

The only close competitor to the SmartTab 10 is the Micromax Funbook Pro and the former undoubtedly tops the latter at just Rs. 490 more.

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Sony reveals its update schedule for Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

So Sony has finally revealed its plans on updating its existing device to the latest version of Google’s mobile operating system. Android 4.1 Jelly Bean was launched earlier this year and has since been rolled out to quite a few devices.

According to Sony’s schedule the Xperia T, Xperia TX and the Xperia V are more likely to receive the Jelly bean update sometime between February to March. There is a possibility that there might be delays as we have already seen in the past.

Xperia P, Xperia J and Xperia Go are scheduled to receive the update sometime in the end of March and in the subsequent weeks this new update will arrive on Xperia S, Xperia SL, Xperia Ion and the Xperia Acro S.

Android 4.0 ICS will be the final update for devices including Xperia U, Xperia Miro, Xperia Tipo and the Xperia Sola. However, if you have a knack for hacking your smartphone then some folks at XDA Developers might have already figured out ways to get the latest version of Android running on these devices.

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THQ files for bankruptcy protection

Game publisher THQ has made it known through a press release that they have filed for protection against bankruptcy, and it will be selling off its studios and games in development. Furthermore, THQ has secured backers from Clearlake Capital Group, that has put forth about $60 mil. They have also managed to get financing from Wells Fargo to the tune of $37.5 million.

While THQ will invariably go through some changes, the company assured that customers will not be affected by this transition, nor will it lay-off any staff. THQ’s top management has assured that they will continue to develop and publish games, with Jason Rubin calling the situation “a new start for our company.”

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Apple may be moving chip production to US

AppleInsider has dipped into its source of informants that four states in US are all wooing to get a chipmaker to set up shop in their territory. The chipmaker has been identified simply as Azalea, and the states of New York, California, Texas and Oregon are all competing to host its fab operations.

The same website has also picked up on rumors that the company behind the name Azalea may be Taiwan Semiconductor. TSMC has been rumored to take chip manufacturing for Apple, over from Samsung.

Source: AppleInsider Photo: PCper.com

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Facebook cashing in on to-be-mums by selling info to advertisers

Social networking giant Facebook is reportedly minting off money from pregnant women by selling access to private information about their due dates and the gender of their unborn babies to advertisers. Women who pass on the happy news of their pregnancy to loved ones on the site can be bombarded with promotions for baby clothes, nappies, prams, and toys as a result of the policy. The move has now been condemned by parenting experts who warn it could make expectant mothers feel as though they are being ‘cyber-stalked’ by big business, the Daily Mail reports.

According to the paper, it has also fuelled concerns over Facebook’s willingness to exploit the private information of its one billion users to make a profit. The US social networking site set up a ‘Life Events’ section on users’ pages in the summer of last year to allow them to tell friends about major news, which allows to announce details of their pregnancy, including predicted due date and – based on scans – the gender, the paper said. However, it has been learnt that the firm has secretly changed this policy and is selling access to information posted by expectant mothers on the Life Events section to advertisers. This is potentially lucrative for Facebook, which was floated on Wall Street last year and is looking for ways to cash in on the treasure trove of personal information it holds, the paper added. The founder of the Netmums.com website for parents said many people would be alarmed by the development. “While many women willingly give away personal details about their pregnancies to marketing firms, they do this knowingly and usually in return for free product samples or discount vouchers,” said Siobhan Freegard. Facebook, however, has denied selling personal information directly to advertisers. -ANI Photo: Thinkstock/Gettyimages

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RIM records first-ever decline in subscriber base after losing over million users

Troubled Canadian mobile maker Research In Motion (RIM) has lost over a million subscribers in the last quarter, the first drop in user base in the firm’s history. It comes despite RIM posting better than expected revenues of 2.7 billion dollars, sending its shares soaring more than 7 percent. RIM’s first-ever decline in its subscriber base comes with just a month remaining before the crucial launch of the new BB10 smartphone line. RIM reported a loss of 114 million dollars or 22 cents a share, excluding one-time items, in contrast to analysts’ average, who had forecast a loss of 35 cents a share, Fox News reports.

According to the report, the Waterloo, Ontario-based company hopes to reinvent itself and revive its fortunes with the BlackBerry 10. It also reported a surprise net profit in its fiscal third-quarter, reflecting a one-time tax gain from restructuring of its international operations. In the period ended December 1, RIM reported net income of 9 million dollars, or 2 cents a share. That compared with a year-ago profit of 265 million dollars, or 51 cents, the report said. The decline in its subscriber base is a disconcerting marker in the history of RIM, which virtually invented the concept of on-the-go email. In recent years, RIM''s user base has grown, even as the BlackBerry lost ground in North America and Europe, boosted by gains in emerging markets, the report added. -ANI

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HP launches Envy X2 hybrid, Envy Touchsmart Ultrabook 4 and Envy 23 AIO in India

HP recently launched its new Windows 8 based products in the Indian market and they include the Envy X2 hybrid, Envy Touchsmart Ultrabook 4 and Envy 23 AIO.

Both of its Envy X2 hybrid as well as the Envy Touchsmart Ultrabook 4 will be priced at Rs. 59,990 and will be available in January. The Envy 23 All-In-One PC is already out in the market and this device is priced at Rs. 71,990.

The HP Envy X2 hybrid is powered by an 1.8GHz dual-core Intel Atom processor, it has 2GB of RAM and a 11.6-inch display with a resolution of 1366x768 pixels. It also includes built-in 64GB eMMC NAND storage with a SDHC card slot in the keyboard dock and microSD card slot in the tablet. It has a HDMI port, two USB ports, 8 megapixel rear camera and 1080p front facing camera. The device has 14 hours of battery life with the keyboard dock.

The HP Envy Touchsmart Ultrabook 4 is powered by an Intel Core i5 processor clocked at 1.7GHz. It also includes 4GB of RAM, 500GB HDD and a 32GB SSD for faster boot up. It includes the on-board Intel HD 4000 GPU, 14-inch display, 2 USB 3.0 ports, 1 USB port, a HDMI port and a 720p capable front facing camera.

Finally, the HP Envy 23 All-In-One is also powered by an Intel Core i5 processor which is clocked at 2.9GHz. It has 4GB of RAM, a 1TB HDD, 2USB 3.0 ports, 4YSB 2.0 ports and a HDMI out port. It sports a 23-inch display with a 1920x1080 pixels resolution and it is equipped by a NVIDIA GT 630M GPU with 2GB dedicated graphics memory.

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Apple's pinch-to-zoom patent dismissed by US Patent Office

Apple’s patent on pinching to zoom, a key issue in its battle against Samsung, has reportedly been declared ‘invalid’ by the US Patent Office, who claim that the patent should never have been granted. The rejection comes as a blow to Apple’s 1 billion dollar lawsuit against rival Samsung, and is the second such occurrence in just a few months. The ‘pinch to zoom’ feature is one of six patents that Samsung was found to have infringed earlier this year, and formed a key feature of Apple’s iPhone as well as all subsequent smartphones, The Telegraph reports.

According to the paper, the feature allows users to zoom in and out of almost anything on a smartphone screen simply by moving two fingers together or apart. Apple's claims were rejected on the grounds that prior patents covered the inventions. The US Patent Office ruling was revealed in court documents filed by Samsung in San Jose, where the two technology giants are battling over the patent infringement claims, the paper said. Apple, however, is likely to appeal the ruling so the patent is still technically in force, the paper added. Earlier, the US Patent Office also threw out Apple’s “bounce” feature, also known as “rubber-banding”, which governs the visual effect to indicate when a user has hit the bottom of a web page, the paper concluded. -ANI

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ASUS release mobo for AMD 760G chipset

ASUS has released a motherboard for AMD processors that are designed to work with the 760G chipset. Priced at Rs.3,350, the M5A78L-M/USB3 motherboard has 4 DIMMs to support 16GB of DDR3 RAM, factory-clocked at 1333MHz, and can be overclocked to run at 2000Mhz. For graphics, the motherboard has an ATI Radeon 3000 processor with an HDMI-out option. For good measure, ASUS has also thrown in a couple of USB3.0 ports, alongside its own licks to power distribution and BIOS technology.

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WD release 7mm thick hard-drive for laptops

Western Digital has released a slimmed-down model of 2.5-inch hard drives that are small enough to fit inside a regular sized laptop and an ultrabook, using the standard 9.5mm slot. Western Digital is calling this range WD Blue, which has been designed to shocks up to 400G. The 500 GB model (WD5000LPVT) is selling for Rs.3,600; whereas the 320 GB model (WD3200LPVT) is going for Rs.3,150

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