Amazon teams with Nokia, snubs Google for maps

Amazon.com Inc's new Kindle Fire will have mapping services via a tie-up with Nokia Oyj, according to two people familiar with the situation, filling a gap in the tablet's capabilities while snubbing Google Inc's popular service.

The world's largest Internet retailer, which says its nine-month old Kindle Fire now accounts for one in five U.S. tablet sales, has teamed up with Nokia on mapping, the two people told Reuters.
Amazon will release at least one new version of the Kindle Fire next Thursday.

Amazon will also add location capabilities to the new Kindle Fire, which requires either a GPS chip or a process known as WiFi triangulation, the people said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak ahead of Thursday's launch event.

Mapping services, which are popular features on tablets, typically include street maps, information about local businesses and sometimes traffic status. They can also support navigation instructions and third-party applications that depend on location information, such as travel services.

Location capabilities mark the location of tablet and smart phone users.

Google Inc's Nexus 7 tablet, which competes directly with the Kindle Fire, comes with GPS receiver chips to support location and mapping functions.

The first Kindle Fire launched last year and at $199 costs half the price of the entry-level Apple Inc iPad, helping it rapidly gain consumer acceptance. On Thursday, Amazon said its Kindle Fires had completely sold out.

Analysts say the 7-inch device helps drive sales of digital media such as ebooks and music, which in turn propels core retail growth for the company.

Amazon may unveil larger versions of the Fire on Thursday in Los Angeles, analysts and media say, which will compete more directly with the iPad.

Although the Kindle now runs on an early version of Google's Android, which Amazon developed into its own operating system, it does not integrate Google Maps into the device. That means users had to access Google Maps via a Web browser, or download map apps from third-party developers.

A Nokia spokesman declined to comment and an Amazon spokeswoman did not respond to requests for comment.

Shares of the Internet retailer closed down 0.4 percent at $246.22 on Thursday, after hitting a record high of $250 earlier following the announcement that it had run out of Kindle Fires.
Cooperating with Nokia may help Amazon develop integrated, or "native," mapping functionality for the Kindle Fire without relying on Google Maps. Nokia is one of the world's largest mapping companies, through its 2007 acquisition of Navteq.

Apple took a similar step earlier this year, when it dropped Google Maps in favor of its own mapping features for its next mobile operating system, known as iOS 6. As part of the switch, Apple signed a global licensing deal with TomTom NV , another leading mapping company, for its map content and related information.

In July, Amazon agreed to buy mapping startup UpNext, which specializes in detailed 3D maps of cities and some sporting stadiums.

Reuters

Amazon says Kindle Fire is 'sold out'

Amazon.com Inc. quenched the Kindle Fire on Thursday, saying its first tablet computer is now "sold out."

The Internet retailer has a major press conference scheduled for next Thursday in Santa Monica, Calif. It's widely expected to reveal a new model of the Fire there, so the announcement that the first model is "sold out" suggests that Amazon halted production a while ago to retool for a new model.
Seattle-based Amazon launched the $199 tablet last November. It was the first Kindle with a color screen and the ability to run third-party applications, placing it in competition with Apple Inc.'s iPad, at half the price of the cheapest iPad.

Amazon doesn't say how many Fires it has sold, but says it captured 22 percent of U.S. tablet sales over nine months. That would make it the second-most popular tablet, after the iPad. Based on iPad sales reported by Apple, Fire sales can be estimated at somewhere around 5 million units.
Separately, ABI Research said Thursday that sales of dedicated e-readers, like the non-Fire, black-and-white Kindles, peaked last year. It expects worldwide sales of e-readers at 11 million in 2012, down from 15 million in 2011.

The research firm expects tablets to outsell e-readers nine to one this year, despite costing four or five time as much. Still, e-readers won't go away completely, ABI analyst Joshua Flood said.
"We believe there will always be a niche market for the dedicated reading device for voracious readers, business travelers, and educational segments, particularly ones that are low-priced," Flood said.

Amazon could update the rest of its Kindle line at next week's event, too. The current models were launched a year ago. In the intervening time, competitor Barnes & Noble Inc. has launched a Nook e-reader with a built-in screen illuminator for reading in the dark.

Amazon itself was the main outlet for the Kindle Fire. However, Staples stores recently sold it for $179.

Associated Press

Google, Apple CEOs in secret patent talks

Google Inc Chief Executive Larry Page and Apple CEO Tim Cook have been conducting behind-the-scenes talks about a range of intellectual property matters, including the mobile patent disputes between the companies, people familiar with the matter said.

The two executives had a phone conversation last week, the sources said. Discussions involving lower-level officials of the two companies are also ongoing.

Page and Cook are expected to talk again in the coming weeks, though no firm date has been set, the sources said on Thursday. One of the sources told Reuters that a meeting had been scheduled for this Friday, but had been delayed for reasons that were unclear.

The two companies are keeping lines of communication open at a high level against the backdrop of Apple's legal victory in a patent infringement case against Samsung, which uses Google's Android software.

Last Friday, a jury awarded Apple $1.05 billion in damages and set the stage for a possible ban on sales of some Samsung products in a case that has been widely viewed as a "proxy war" between Apple and Google.

One possible scenario under consideration could be a truce involving disputes over basic features and functions in Google's Android mobile software, one source said. But it was unclear whether Page and Cook were discussing a broad settlement of the various disputes between the two companies, most of which involve the burgeoning mobile computing area, or are focused on a more limited set of issues.

Competition between Google and Apple has heated up in recent years with the shift from PCs to mobile devices. Google's Android software, which Apple's late founder Steve Jobs denounced as a "stolen product," has become the world's No.1 smartphone operating system. The popularity of the software has been in tandem with patent infringement lawsuits involving various hardware vendors who use it, including Samsung and HTC.

The latest complaint was filed by Motorola Mobility, now a unit of Google, against Apple at the U.S. International Trade Commission claiming some features of Apple's devices infringe on its patents. A previous lawsuit between the two in a Chicago court was thrown out by a federal judge, who said neither side could prove damages.

Apple in recent months has moved to lessen its reliance on Google's products. Apple recently unveiled its own mobile mapping software, replacing the Google product used in the iPhone, and said it would no longer offer Google's YouTube as a pre-loaded app in future versions of its iPhone.

Cook took the helm at Apple a year ago, and Page stepped into the top job at Google a few months before that.

The conversation between Page and Cook last week did not result in any formal agreement, but the two executives agreed to continue talking, according to one source.

Google's Larry Page, who sat out several public speaking engagements earlier this summer because of an unspecified medical condition affecting his voice, has continued to run Google's business.

Apple and Google declined to comment on any discussions.


Reuters

Oracle fixes bugs in Java that expose PCs to hackers

Oracle Corp repaired bugs in its widely used Java software on Thursday, several days after several computer security experts found flaws that they said opened PCs to attacks by hackers.

Warnings about the bugs began emerging over the weekend, unnerving businesses and consumers scrambling to fend off growing threats from computer viruses that are able to evade anti-virus software.

Oracle urged computer users to install the latest version of the program as soon as possible.
Java is a language that enables programmers to write software using just one set of code that will run on virtually any type of computer. It is widely used on the Internet so that Web developers can make sites accessible from multiple browsers running on Microsoft Corp Windows PCs or Macs from Apple Inc .

The security firm Rapid7 said in a statement that it had tested Oracle's update, and the update appeared to have fixed the flaw.

The free update is available on Oracle's website.

Reuters

ZTE announces Grand X IN, an Intel-powered ICS smartphone

Intel-powered smartphones are finally showing in numbers. After we are reported that Google’s Motorola unit is planning to its first Intel-powered smartphone on Sep 16, ZTE has announced its first Ice Cream Sandwich smartphone with Intel Inside.

Dubbed as ZTE Grand X IN, the smartphone comes with Atom Z2460 processor, HSPA+ connectivity, 4.3-inch 960x540p display, 8-megapixel camera and 1,650mAh battery. The smartphone will go on sale in Europe starting next month. There is no word on Asian launch.

It is very unlikely that the smartphone will be released in India as the Chinese manufacturer ZTE hasn’t really jumped in the Indian smartphone arena as its counterpart Huawei, which has started launching self-branded devices. We hope that it changes with Grand X IN.

ZTE Grand X IN Specifications:

Intel® Atom™ Processor Z2460
HSPA+ 21Mbps support with Intel® XMM™ 6260 Platform
Android Ice Cream Sandwich
RAM 1GB, ROM 16GB/4GB, Ext. microSD 32GB
4.3”, QHD (960×540), 16M, TFT, Capacitive
1650 mAh, Li-Ion
8Mpx AF/Flash + 0.3Mpx Front Camera
GPS, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, WiFi Direct, Bluetooth 2.1 + A2DP
Accelerator, Gyro, Compass, Proximity, Light
Dolby, FM Radio
DLNA, 1080p Rec., 1080p Play
NFC, FOTA, HD Voice, Dual Mic
127 x 65 x 9.9mm chassis, 140.8g weight (with battery)

Read on for the full press release:

ZTE to Deliver its First Smartphone with Intel Inside® Running Android Ice Cream Sandwich
ZTE Grand X IN handset to be sold across Europe beginning in September
30 August 2012, London, UK – ZTE Corporation (“ZTE”) (H share stock code: 0763.HK / A share stock code: 000063.SZ), a leading global provider of telecommunications equipment, network solutions and mobile devices, announced that it will launch its first Android Ice Cream Sandwich smartphone with Intel Inside®, the ZTE Grand X IN. This ZTE flagship handset is the latest product from the ZTE Grand series and will be launched in Europe in September.
The Grand X IN delivers fast and efficient performance via the low power Intel® Atom™ processor Z2460 with Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology, and support for HSPA+ 21Mbps network with the Intel® XMM™ 6260 Platform. Together, these Intel technologies help deliver end users with an energy efficient, high performance user experience enabling fast browsing and a responsive Internet experience.
The ZTE Grand X IN has a 4.3-inch, 16 million colour screen, a best-in-class 8MP camera, Blu-ray quality movie playback and long battery life with a 1650 mAh, Li-Ion battery. With a 127 x 65 x 9.9mm chassis the Grand X IN also features the latest communications capabilities including Bluetooth 2.1, Wi-Fi & Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA and Mobile HD link (via micro-USB) short range connectivity. Its wide range of audio-visual features includes Dolby Sound, HD Video Capture.
“The Grand X IN is ZTE’s first flagship smartphone in Europe to feature Intel Inside, and we look forward to building our partnership with Intel,” said Mr. Ao Wen, Vice President of Europe Operations for ZTE Handsets. “The handsets in the ZTE Grand portfolio are quality devices focused on providing a great level of service and, with the inclusion of Intel’s technology in the Grand X IN, we have provided a handset with enhanced capabilities, reliability and ZTE has nearly 10 years experience of smartphone research and development and commits 10 per cent of its annual revenue to R&D. ZTE’s focus is to provide the best handset for the best value so all consumers can enjoy the experience of using a very capable smartphone. We want to focus on things that matter, so we excel at providing superior battery life and fast feeds and speeds, resulting in a high level of customer satisfaction.”
“We’re pleased to extend the close collaboration we entered with ZTE at Mobile World Congress 2012 to Intel-based smartphones. ZTE is a fast growing global handset maker that strives to create products with features and capabilities that people care most about,” said Helmut Vogler, vice president and general manager of Mobile and Wireless Sales for Intel Corporation. “The Grand X IN is a well-rounded device that marries robust hardware and software to deliver great performance and value for consumers.”

Guardly: Quickly Contact Friends & Authorities In Case Of An Emergency

When you are facing an emergency, you have very little time. If you need to ask for help, you need to do it in the fastest possible way. You should contact the authorities but some friend might be near who can help you. Here to help you contact friends and authorities simultaneously is a tool called Guardly.

Guardly is a smartphone application that helps you in case of emergencies. The service has different versions of their smartphone app for iOS devices, BlackBerry, Windows Phone, and Android devices. You can use the app to add friends in different groups; based on your location or situation, you can contact different groups in case of an emergency and choose to call authorities at the same time. The alerts can be sent through phone call, email, as well as text message. You can quickly take pictures and share them with the group.

While the basic features of the app come with its free version, to get features like real time chat, calling 911, and location tracking, you will need to subscribe to one of the premium packages that begin from $1.99 per month.

Features:

• A user-friendly smartphone app.
• Compatible with iOS, Android, Windows Phone, and BlackBerry.
• Lets you contact friends quickly in case of emergencies.
• Lets you sort emergency contacts into groups.
• Provides premium versions for enhanced features.

Check out Guardly @ https://www.guardly.com

Redimensionneur: Batch Resize, Watermark & Suffix Photos

Do you ever need to deal with editing a large amount of images? At MakeUseOf, we do it all the time for article screenshots. Editing the dimensions of each image can be an inconvenient task, and having an easy to use app for changing the image size and adding suffixes is a life-saver. A great program for accomplishing this task is Redimensionneur.

One thing that makes Redimensionneur so awesome is that it can run right from the executable, so you do not need to install it on your machine. All the options for editing your images are available directly from the main interface, so you will not get lost clicking around too much.

To resize images, you simply select the images from your machine and specify the desired dimensions. The program will run through the process and give you your newly resized images.

You can also use this program to create thumbnails and add watermarks to your images. Before you resize them, you can check the box for creating a thumbnail and specify the size you would like the thumbnails to be. For watermarking, you just type the text you would like watermarkered on the image, and it will handle the rest. This app takes editing your images and makes it into a quick, one step process.

Features:

• Resize a large number of images with one app.
• Runs directly from .EXE so no need to install anything.
• Also has a version with installer so you can keep settings.
• Adds watermark and creates thumbnails in one easy step.
• Change image format and add suffixes to the end.

Find Redimensionneur @ toutenvrac.org/program-red-dt.html

ProxTube: View YouTube Videos That Are Inaccessible From Your Country

Due to licensing and regional restrictions, there are certain YouTube videos that you cannot watch from your country. For such videos, YouTube detects the IP address of your network to find out your country and then displays a message stating that the uploader has made the video unavailable in your country. This message can be very frustrating especially when you are very interested in the video. Here to help bypass this restriction for USA-only videos is a tool called ProxTube.

ProxTube is a free to use browser add-on with versions for Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. You can install the extension on either browser to view YouTube videos made available only in USA. When you land on such a video, ProxTube connects you to a US proxy and plays the video through it. You can disable the add-on anytime using its icon in the top right of your browser.

Features:

• A user-friendly browser add-on.
• Compatible with Firefox and Chrome.
• Lets you watch USA-only YouTube videos from outside the US.
• Uses a US proxy.

Check out ProxTube @ https://proxtube.com

Moborobo: An Easy To Use Android Management App

Moborobo is an application for Android users that allow them to do pretty much everything with their Android smartphone – in terms of management.

You can use the Moborobo software to easily back up and restore data that includes backing up contacts and apps to your PC and easily transferring them between your Android and iOS devices. In addition, you can find the usual features in Moborobo that you may expect from a management tool such as the ability to synchronize to and from a computer and device, manage applications, etc.

Users also have the option to download and set wallpapers on their devices and sync/manage music on their Android smartphones.

One of the best features found in Moborobo is the ability to send, receive and organize your SMS on your PC using a keyboard. This is a great feature, as users need not have to pick up their Android phones every time.

Features:

• Free and easy to use.
• Sync files.
• Backup/restore data.
• Rich management tool features.
• Download trending apps and games right from Moborobo software.

Check out Moborobo @ http://www.moborobo.com

Facetache: Add A Moustache To Your Images Online

I still remember the days when people used to have applications that allowed them to put funny frames and moustaches onto people. Well, here is a nostalgic app to revive those memories – now even more improved.

Facetache: derived from the words Face + moustache is an online website that allows users to load an image and apply a moustache to the face. The moustache can be chosen from a pre-loaded custom moustache inventory – about 12 of them in total.
The website is user-friendly and loads quickly making the whole process easy. Just open the website and use the “Load Picture” option to browse the images from Facebook or upload image from any URL.

You can then simply drag-and-drop the moustache you like onto the picture, edit the dimensions and rotate the moustache to make sure it fits properly on the face and click on the “Preview” button to view it. If you like it, just “Save” the image.

Features:

• Free and easy to use.
• Add moustache on anyone in a few simple steps.
• Upload from Facebook or any URL.

Check out Facetache @ www.facetache.com

Click n Drag Checkbox: Select Or Deselect Emails Via Click & Drag [Gmail]

If you just checked your Gmail account and find it filled with trash messages and loads of unwanted emails, you might want to try the Click n Drag Checkbox for Gmail extension as it allows users to select more than one message at the same time by dragging one checkbox. The traditional method of selecting every individual inbox message is a hassle, not to say time consuming.

Click-n-Drag Checkbox for Gmail allows you to select messages in batch (uncheck/check) allowing you to perform an action – delete, move to, etc. – on the batch.
Once the extension is installed, the user can then simply click a check box to select it and drag the mouse upwards or downwards, depending on the messages you want to select.  Once the selection is made, you can do the whole process over again without disturbing or affecting the previous selections. The same process can be repeated if you want to deselect the messages.

Features:

• Simple and easy to use.
• Save time in selecting batch messages.
• Great for bulk actions.

Check out Click n Drag Checkbox for Gmail @
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/egkhfllhmjihbfnkikpnbeeakllbobjl?utm_source=chrome-ntp-icon

WalletX: Keep Your Information Safe & Secure [Mac]

It was not long ago that everyone believed that Macs were impenetrable by hackers and viruses. Of course, that was a common misconception, and a couple of malicious viruses have served as a grim reminder of that fact. It never hurts to hide your private information a couple of layers deeper, and WalletX for Mac is a great free program that helps you accomplish just that.

In WalletX, you can create databases for the information you want to keep secure. You can have multiple databases on one machine, so you can keep your personal, work and family information separate. It’s a handy way to protect the stuff you wouldn’t want anyone else to get access to.

Just storing your information is great, but WalletX also lets you sync your data across multiple devices using Dropbox. Of course, you will need a free Dropbox account for this feature to work, but once you have one, setting it up to move your data is a breeze. For anyone looking to encrypt information on their Mac, WalletX is a great option that won’t cost you a penny!

Features:

• Store all of your private data for extra security.
• Syncs across devices with Dropbox.
• Available on all major smartphones and Mac.
• Secured hardware accelerated encryption and auto-lock.
• Free to use.

Find WalletX on the Mac App Store

IFA 2012: Samsung intros first Windows Phone 8 smartphone ATIV S

With Nokia all locked and loaded and touted as the first brand to show off its line-up of Windows Phone 8 devices at an event on the 5th of September, Samsung has just stolen its spotlight. At the IFA 2012 event, Samsung has shown the world the first Windows Phone 8 smartphone called the ATIV S.

Commenting on this latest smartphone from its Windows Phone stable, Samsung says, “Samsung ATIV S is a new smartphone for both work and entertainment featuring Windows Phone 8.. ATIV S brings a stunning hairline design and high performance with a range of content-sharing and productivity options.”

While the operating system that ATIV S runs on may be the talk of the town, the handset does come equipped with other features that will surely set the bar for upcoming Windows Phone devices. This smartphone features a 1.5GHz dual-core dual-core Snapdragon S4 Plus Krait chipset, 1GB RAM and a large 2300 mAh battery that will last a considerable amount of time.

Here is a look at the highlighted features of the Samsung ATIV S:
4.8-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels
GSM, HSDPA, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi hotspot, DLNA, NFC
GPS with A-GPS support and GLONASS
Bluetooth v3.0 with A2DP, microUSB v2.0
Stereo FM radio with RDS
8 MP AF, LED flash with full HD video recording, 1.9MP front facing camera
16GB, 32GB versions with expandable support up to 32GB via MicroSD card

Apart from these specifications, it will also feature sensors such as an accelerometer, gyro, proximity and compass.

Commenting on the design of the handset, Ben Rudolph of The Windows Team Blog stated, “Samsung did a heck of a job packing the latest and greatest tech into the ATIV S, but what’s even more impressive is how great the phone feels when you pick it up. Despite having a 4.8” display, which makes the ATIV S one of the bigger phones on the market, it doesn’t feel that big. I attribute that to three things. The first is that the ATIV S is impossibly thin – obvious, yes - but still important. The second is more subtle; Samsung made the bezel of the ATIV S an oblong hemisphere.”

At the announcement, Samsung’s Executive Vice President of IT Solutions Business, Seong Woo Nam said, “Samsung is delighted to introduce a wide portfolio of Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8-powered devices. With our leadership in design and technology and Microsoft’s leadership in operating systems, together we are able to provide customers with a full range of ATIV devices for cross-category convergence.”

With the announcement of this handset, it looks like a great start to the next generation of Windows Phone smartphones that are set to enter the market.

As for when this handset will be launched, there is no word yet available but with Microsoft expected to launch its latest operating system by the end of October, we can speculate that the handsets will be announced at around that time.

Google+ introduces Birthday Reminders

Google+ users will now receive reminders of their friends' birthdays. Google's Irene Chung, in an official blog post, introduced this new Google+ feature yesterday. On the birthdays of friends and family listed in Google Circles, users will receive a notification. Then, users have the option of sharing a message, photo or a video with the birthday boy or girl. Chung writes further that on the user's birthday, the new feature would only remind those who the user wants to share his or her birthday with. For that to happen, users will have to update their Google+ birthday preferences. Importantly, the new feature is only available to those who use Google in the English language. The feature will be rolled out gradually to those using the service in other languages.

Facebook, another popular social networking site, already has birthday reminders, which can be spotted on the right hand side on a user's homepage. Users can quickly post birthday wishes on their friends' walls by typing them right where the notification is displayed.

Google+ Hangouts On Air that was introduced last year got a new feature recently. The Studio Mode attempts to make live Hangouts concerts sound more like they were being held offline, on-stage. In an official blog post, Google's Matthew Leske wrote that musicians could begin using the feature by first starting with Hangouts On Air, then clicking on Settings, and making the transition from Voice to Studio Mode.

Google+ Hangouts On Air allowed Hangouts to be broadcast by specific users for public viewing. The feature became quite popular with the musician community among other sections who used it as a platform to connect with their fans.

Recently, a new Google+ feature was introduced that aimed to give users more control over what they read and share on the social network. Google's Austin Chang wrote, "Last year we launched volume "sliders" to help you tune the posts in your main stream (http://goo.gl/wrHDD), and since then we've extended this feature across Google+. Today we're excited to roll out three related improvements that give you even more control over what you read and share". The new feature comprises three related improvements. Chang writes that they now have a slider using which Google+ users receive notifications each time their family or friends post something. This can be done by moving the Google Circle's slider to the right. As sharing information with family and close friends is also about notable events such as getting engaged and securing a job, the new feature enables users to send an e-mail, ensuring that friends do not miss reading the update. To do so, users can check the 'Also send email' option.

The last of the changes for now is a feature that allows users to mute notifications. A feature especially useful in cases where although a user would not want to miss posts from a certain chatty Cathy (or Charles) in their circle, he or she does not wish to be notified each time they post. Notifications can be muted by clicking on 'Mute' either from notifications or their profile.

Samsung unveils Galaxy Note 2 with Jelly Bean at IFA

As expected, Samsung has taken the wraps off its Galaxy Note II phablet at IFA trade fair. Featuring Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, Samsung Galaxy Note II comes with quad-core processor on-board. Samsung has revealed that Note 2 will go on sale in October starting in major European, Asian, and Middle East markets including India.

Samsung Galaxy Note II features 5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED display, 1.6GHz quad-core processor, 8MP rear camera, 1.9MP front camera, S-Pen, 2GB RAM, 16/32/64GB internal storage and 3100 mAh battery.

New software features in Galaxy Note II:

Samsung Air View: Air View allows users to hover with the S Pen over an email, S Planner, image gallery, or video to preview the content without having to open it.
Popup Note:  It extends the concept of Popup Play, which lets users open an S Note instantly as a pop-up window anywhere on the screen.
Quick Command: it lets users quickly activate frequently used apps with the S Pen. The command pad appears when a user just swipes upward on the screen with the S Pen button pressed.
Screen Recorder: It allows users to record a whole sequence of actions taken on their screen — a demonstration of how to use an application.
Easy Clip: It allows users to instantly outline and crop any content on the screen in any shape to save, share or paste.
Idea Visualizer: It allows users to easily add illustrations by handwriting keywords on the S Note.
The smartphone will be available in Marble White or Titanium Gray color options,

Read on for full press release:

Be Creative, Be Expressive with the GALAXY Note II
BERLIN, Germany – 29 August 2012 – At the Samsung Mobile Unpacked event held today at IFA, in Berlin, Samsung introduced the GALAXY Note II, a whole new level of innovation for the GALAXY Note category. The new Samsung GALAXY Note II enables unique experiences in personalized and expressive content creation, making it the ultimate smartphone for on-the-go creativity.
“Last year at IFA, we launched the GALAXY Note, which opened a new category of smart mobile devices. This year, again at IFA, I am proud to announce the GALAXY Note II, which will encourage users to ‘unleash their inner creativity.’ With a perfect viewing experience and unique and differentiated features, users can discover information and capture their ideas faster, express thoughts freely and manage tasks more efficiently. For anyone who wants to be creative, expressive and unique, the Samsung GALAXY Note II will be the ideal device, allowing users to live a life extraordinary,” said JK Shin, President of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics.
Since the first introduction of the GALAXY Note category, Samsung has continued to enhance and expand the GALAXY Note product experiences. In May 2012, Samsung introduced ‘Premium Suite,’ a software upgrade which provided enhanced user experiences. With the Ice Cream Sandwich OS upgrade, Samsung offered innovative new features such as Shape Match and Formula Match, providing a new way for organizing and expressing ideas in their personal and professional life. Also in August, Samsung expanded the category further with the GALAXY Note 10.1, which has a 10.1-inch large screen, a Multiscreen feature for the ultimate multitasking, and enhanced features for users’ productivity, creativity and learning abilities. With further enhancements, Samsung GALAXY Note II will help users unleash their inner creativity by letting them discover information faster, capture ideas, and express them in a more organized and efficient manner.
Perfect viewing experience
The GALAXY Note II features a 5.5” (140.9mm) HD Super AMOLED screen, providing breathtaking visuals and crystal clear detail. Its 16:9 screen ratio ensures an immersive and enriched cinema-like video viewing experience, perfect for watching HD videos on-the-go. Its larger screen allows users to see content clearly and vividly, with much enhanced readability. In addition to the stunning content consumption experiences on a larger screen, users will also be able to accomplish more tasks efficiently and create content freely on-the-go, as the GALAXY Note II comes with a thinner and portable body.
Powerful Performance
Powering content creation, sharing and multitasking capabilities, the GALAXY Note II comes with the latest hardware technologies. A mighty 1.6GHz Quad-Core processor and HSPA Plus or 4G LTE connectivity delivers easy multitasking, lightning-fast screen transitions, powerful browser performance, and minimal app load time. The GALAXY Note II is powered by Android™ 4.1, Jelly Bean. This brings stunning graphical capabilities and an upgraded Google Now service, including new features such as contextual search, to the GALAXY Note II. The memory options are 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB with an expandable micro SD memory slot. Thanks to a 3,100mAh battery, users can enjoy multimedia content, always be productive on the go, and capture ideas whenever, wherever without suffering from power limitation.
The GALAXY Note II comes with an 8 megapixel rear-facing and 1.9 megapixel front-facing camera with HD video recording. The camera has great features like Buddy Photo Share, Burst Shot and Best Photo, which were introduced on the GALAXY S III earlier in the year. In addition to that, the GALAXY Note II features a unique camera function called Best Faces. Best Faces allows users to choose the most preferred face or pose of each person from group portrait photos. Users can also personalize photos by leaving handwritten notes on the backside of a photo using the S Pen. Handwritten Photo Notes can be shared with others in jpg format.
Available in Marble White or Titanium Gray color options, the Samsung GALAXY Note II is set to launch in October starting in major European, Asian, and Middle East markets.

Gmvault: Easily Create & Restore Encrypted Backups Of Your Gmail Account

Your email account can be backed up in a number of ways. But most tools that offer these backup solutions do not let you transfer one account backup to another Gmail account. Here to help with this is a nifty tool called Gmvault Gmail Backup.

ShellYour email account can be backed up in a number of ways. But most tools that offer these backup solutions do not let you transfer one account backup to another Gmail account. Here to help with this is a nifty tool called Gmvault Gmail Backup.

Gmvault Gmail Backup is a freeware desktop application. The app comes in different versions for Linux, Mac, and Windows. With the app installed, you can create local backups of your Gmail accounts using a command line interface; you can have the app create encrypted backups as well. These backups can be quickly updated anytime you want. The backups can also be restored to any of your Gmail accounts you want with your labels intact.

Features:

• A user-friendly desktop application.
• Has versions for Linux, Mac, and Windows.
• Backs up your Gmail account.
• Can encrypt backups.
• Updates backups quickly.
• Can restore backups to any of your Gmail accounts.

Check out Gmvault Gmail Backup @ http://gmvault.org

Samsung Galaxy Camera official; packs Jelly Bean, 21x optical zoom lens

After many rumours, Samsung has finally made its first Android camera official at IFA. Dubbed as Galaxy Camera, it comes pre-loaded with the latest version of Android – Jelly Bean and a powerful 1.4GHz quad-core processor.

Samsung has stated that Galaxy Camera features a 21x optical zoom lens, 16M BSI CMOS sensor, and 4.77-inch HD Super Clear LCD.

Company notes that the new camera features a ‘Smart Pro’ technology, which is actually a series of modes. Using the easy-to-navigate menu system, users can choose from a series of preset scenario options which will automatically adjust the camera’s settings in order to capture the perfect photo.

The Samsung Galaxy Camera also includes a set of 35 photo editing features through the ‘Photo Wizard’, similarly ‘Movie Wizard’ allows users to create and edit videos easily from the touch screen.

The Korean manufacturer has also added an ‘Auto Cloud Backup’ feature, which will automatically save photos into the cloud via Samsung’s AllShare the instant they are taken.

The Galaxy Camera will be released in two connectivity options: a 3G and Wi-Fi version or a 4G and Wi-Fi version.

Samsung Galaxy Camera Product Specifications

Image Sensor: 16.3 effective megapixel 1/2.3? BSI CMOS
Lens: F2.8, 23 mm, 21x Optical Zoom Lens
Display: 121.2 mm (4.77?), 308 ppi, HD Super Clear Touch Display
ISO: Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200
Network: 4G, 3G (HSPA? 21Mbps): 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz
Processor: 1.4GHz Quad-Core processor
OS: Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)
Memory: 8GB ? memory slot : micro SDSC, micro SDHC, micro SDXC
Video Output: HDMI 1.4
Voice Control, Slow Motion Video, S Planner, S Suggest
Google Mobile Services
GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
Connectivity: WiFi a/b/g/n, WiFi HT40, Bluetooth 4.0
Battery: 1,650 mAh
Dimension (WxHxD): 128.7 x 70.8 x 19.1 mm
Weight: 305g

Read on for full press release:

Samsung presents ‘Camera, Reborn.’ – the GALAXY Camera
The new device combines leading-edge camera capabilities with Android™ 4.1 Jelly Bean and wireless network connectivity, letting users shoot, edit and share images easily anywhere, at any time
BERLIN, Germany – August 29, 2012 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, has today announced the launch of the GALAXY Camera. Developed to fit the changing ways we communicate, the GALAXY Camera combines high performance photography with the latest Android™ 4.1 platform, so called Jelly Bean, and wireless network connectivity, creating a brand new type of device. Samsung GALAXY Camera fits perfectly for those who wish to shoot, edit and share high quality photographs and video easily and spontaneously from anywhere, at any time.
“The GALAXY Camera opens a new visual communication era and shifts a paradigm in communication. With the growth of social networks and the prevalence of smartphones and tablets, people today communicate faster than words. As we increasingly articulate our experiences through pictures and videos the GALAXY Camera has been created to lead the way in this new era of visual communication. Communication becomes more vivid and lively with high-quality images and instant sharing anywhere, anytime,” said JK Shin, President of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics.
Andy Rubin, Senior Vice President of Mobile and Digital Content at Google, congratulated the Samsung team on their launch. “When we first started work on Android, we envisioned building a smart camera that would take digital photography to the next level. The GALAXY Camera is an innovative product that speaks to the openness and flexibility of the Android platform.”
The GALAXY Camera makes outstanding photography on the go. Users never again have to sacrifice picture quality if they want to edit and share their photos instantly. It easily outperforms any smartphone camera. The GALAXY Camera, boasting a 21x super long zoom lens and a super-bright 16M BSI CMOS sensor, delivers pictures in brilliant quality. The device also features ‘Smart Pro’ technology, a series of modes that make professional-looking photography easy for anyone to achieve. What truly revolutionizes this photography experience is Android™ 4.1 Jelly Bean and wireless connectivity, which opens up the device to applications for photo-editing, sharing, and much more. Users will experience all of GALAXY Camera’s great features on a market-leading HD Super Clear LCD.  With stunning clarity, incredible ease-of-use and unparalleled connectivity, the GALAXY Camera is the next step in imaging innovation.
Shoot stunning quality images
The GALAXY Camera’s ‘Smart Pro’ feature makes it easy to recreate advanced photographic setups in just a few simple steps for stunning artistic results. Using the easy-to-navigate menu system, users can choose from a series of preset scenario options which will automatically adjust the camera’s settings in order to capture the perfect photo. For example, the ‘Rich Tone’ setting delivers images with greater intensity – particularly effective for reducing overexposure in bright surroundings, while the ‘Light Trace’ setting automatically controls shutter speed for atmospheric night scenes full of light trails.
The GALAXY Camera’s 21x optical zoom can be controlled by either button or touchscreen, rendering long-distance pictures in a quality that users will be proud to share, while OIS ensures that images stay clear and crisp. The camera’s 16 Megapixel 1/2.3” BSI CMOS sensor captures images in brilliant color and resolution, while the 23mm aperture lens delivers impressive wide-angle shots incomparable to smartphone pictures.
Enjoy your photos and video on a world-leading display
The GALAXY Camera boasts large and vivid enough camera display – a 4.8”(121.2mm) HD Super Clear LCD screen, which makes it a pleasure to shoot, share and edit images from the palm of the hand. Another advantage of smartphone technology is the Voice Control option which allows the user to control a number of functions such as ‘Zoom in’ and ‘Shoot’ through voice. All these features are housed in a beautifully designed, ergonomic body with the GALAXY Camera’s minimal, organic design complementing its easy-to-use professional features.

Uppsite: Easily Convert Your Website Into A Mobile App

Uppsite is a helpful online tool that allows web developers and webpage owners to convert their websites into apps for mobile handheld devices, such as iOS, Android and Windows Phone 7 devices.

The whole process will take about 3 minutes and once done; you will have a fully fledged website-compatible app for the selected mobile OS. Mobile compatible apps are great as they allow users to browse your website in a user-friendly manner.

Not only does Uppsite allow users to make an app out of their website, but it also gives full permission to edit the look and feel of the app and design it as they wish.
Just enter the URL of your website into the URL box found on the main page of Uppsite and follow the on-screen instructions. You will be required to install the Uppsite plugin on your website, activate it and the whole process will be complete.

Features:

• Multiple-OS compatible (iOS, Android, WP7).
• App can be used by owners to update new posts, modify posts and even delete posts.
• Basic (FREE), Premium and Deluxe plans available.

Check out Uppsite @ www.uppsite.com

DueIM: Send Private & Secure One-Time Messages

You may think that sending an IM or an e-mail is private or secure, but at the end of the day, these can be forwarded, archived, copied and pasted, or viewed in history. DueIM is a simple website that negates all this by letting you send password-protected messages that are instantly deleted after they are read.

To use DueIM, type the message you want to send and then protect your message with a password. DueIM will give you the  link that you can send to the person you want your message to be sent to. Once the receiver opens and reads the message, the link will expire instantly, leaving no trace of the message.

DueIM is a needed app for anyone who needs to send messages without the fear of being read by others sometime in the future.

Features:

• Send password protected messages.
• Message can only be read once before the link expires.
• Send a short message or a long e-mail.
• Free and easy to use.

Check out DueIM @ https://due.im/index.php

Google+ Pinterest For The New UI: Make Your Google+ Stream Look Like Pinterest

Pinterest is gaining popularity and its interface is being preferred by an increasing number of Internet users. If you want your Google+ to look like Pinterest, then you can make use of a tool called Google+ Pinterest for the New UI.

Google+ Pinterest for the New UI is a browser tool working as a script. Created by a developer with the pseudonym “Pokerface,” this browser script transforms your Google+ interface into a Pinterest-like interface.

All you have to do is visit the script’s webpage and install it. The script will install right away on Google Chrome but on Mozilla Firefox you will need to have Greasemonkey installed beforehand. The interface is flexible and the stream fits into your browser resolution flawlessly.

Features:

• A user-friendly browser tool.
• Compatible with Chrome and Firefox.
• Lets you view the Google+ stream in a Pinterest-like interface.
• Fits into various browser resolution.

Check out Google+ Pinterest for the New UI @ http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/130955

Keentalks: Video Collection Of Talks & Lectures

If you are a fan of TED Talks or Khan Academy, you may know that there are other websites which offers engaging talks, lectures, and presentations. Keen Talks is another one that curates the knowledge of the web, touching on a broad range of topics categorized by subject area and speaker.

Keen Talks’ minimalist design is a definite plus, allowing you to search for videos speedily. The navigation is laid out nicely where you can also the view the most watched and most commented videos. You can also read the quick and witty description of each video to help capture what the talk is all about.

What’s most interesting about Keen Talks is that its collection covers from various sources, compared to TED Talks where you are only limited with TED’s material. It also goes beyond the lecture and speech format, as you can also watch the best conferences, debates, and interviews. I know you can’t get this conversation with Conan O’Brien on TED.
Keen Talks is a great resource for anyone looking for further learning and geeky entertainment.

Features:

• Compilation of best talks, lectures, debates, and interviews
• Minimalist, clean, design
• Browse by subject area or speaker
• Engage in community through comments

Check out Keentalks @ http://keentalks.com

Firefox 15 Android browser launched with tablet support

Mozilla Firefox for Android devices just got bigger and better with inclusion of tablet support and a load of new upgrades as well.

Mozilla has launched a new version of its Firefox browser for Android devices. Mozilla has also worked a lot on this new browser, called the Firefox 15, in order to make it better faster and compatible for tablets as well.

The browser also gives tablet owners an option to select between viewing the mobile version websites as well as the desktop version websites. This feature is nothing new but a good addition as it has been there with Opera for quite sometime now.

Android version of the Firefox browser although was compatible with Android 2.1 and above devices earlier but with the newer version, the Firefox will be available only on smartphones and tablets running Android 2.2 and above versions.

The Firefox 15 Android mobile web browser comes with a new redesigned home screen that delivers all of your browsing history, bookmarks, passwords and form data. Along with that there are newer tweaks to speed up the browsing experience both in smartphones and tablets.

Among the new inclusions is the integration of Flash for Honeycomb based tablets, bring support for many Flash based apps and videos. Besides, Firefox 15 now also brings support for HTML 5 websites.

Based on the same open technology platform as the desktop version, Firefox for Android ships with the highest level of privacy and security features in mobile browsing. Firefox respects your privacy and protects your security with features like Do Not Track, Master Password, HTTP Strict Transport Security as well.

Create your own mobile website with Google

Internet giant, Google has started a new initiative called 'Let's talk Mo'. Under the new initiative, Google is offering tools to businesses to create their own website on mobile platform though its website known as letstalkmo.com.

On the Let's Talk Mo website, businesses will be able to see how their sites look on a smartphone using the GoMoMeter tool and get personalised recommendations for creating a more user friendly experience. You can also choose from a range of partners who provide a Do It Yourself tool to create a mobile site free of cost.

The site also provides information on current mobile trends, best practices, case studies and various other resources to help businesses develop a successful mobile presence.

Micromax launches X104 with big battery for Rs 1,500

The new Micromax X104 comes with a bigger 1800 mAh battery while being loaded on multimedia and features as well.

Just a day after launching its X278 mobile phone with a huge 1800 mAh battery, Micromax has announced another affordable mobile phone with a big battery.

The new Micromax X104 also comes with an 1800 mAh battery that according to the company provides a whopping 325 hours of standby time while nearing to 7.5 hours of talk time as well between recharges.

Priced at just Rs 1500, the Micromax X104 comes with Bluetooth, colour display, FM radio and even an expandable memory for some extended entertainment times as well.

The dual SIM (GSM+GSM) based feature phone has an alpha numeric multitap keypad, micro SD cards slot supporting up to 4 GB of external memory where you can store your favorite songs, movies, videos and more while on the move.

Micromax X104 handset is equipped with a VGA camera as well for occasional snapping, while transferring of data from Micromax X104 becomes very convenient with the use of integrated Bluetooth connectivity as well.

The mobile phone has been priced at Rs 1,500 and will be available across all the Micromax mobile retail stores and partners throughout the country.

WD enters wireless router market in India with My Net

Western Digital (WD) is foraying into the wireless networking market in India. The company yesterday unveiled the My Net range of dual-band, N Wi-Fi routers, which will be available from the third week of September this year. The range comprises of four router models, the My Net N600, My Net N750 and My Net N900, and My Net N900 Central.

As per a press communiqué, the routers in the My Net line feature WD’s FasTrack technology, which is touted to detect entertainment traffic on the network and fast-forward it to consoles, media players, smart TVs, tablets, smartphones, computers and other Wi-Fi connected devices. The My Net routers incorporate a streamlined set up procedure as well as the My Net Dashboard, which allows you to customise, monitor or change the settings of the network, including setting parental controls, Internet security, guest network access, network name and password, printer and scanner settings, and mapping storage drives.

Khalid Wani, Sales Director for Branded Products, India, Middle East and Africa, WD, said, “Network demands within the connected home are growing exponentially, with members of the average Indian household simultaneously watching movies, playing games or browsing the Internet via smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles and other devices. The My Net routers are a result of valuable insights gained from our success in the Connected Homes and personal cloud markets, which also positions us uniquely to address wireless networking hassles and enhance the home entertainment experience for consumers”.

The high-end N900 Central is a dual-band storage router with an internal hard drive. It comes in 1TB and 2TB versions and allows you to set up a personal cloud for your digital media. WD has tools that allow you to access your cloud through the Internet from a PC or via apps for both iOS and Android. You also have an optional automatic wireless backup feature. It has a maximum speed of 900Mbps (450 + 450Mbps on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands combined) and includes four LAN ports and one WLAN Gigabit Ethernet port for up to 10/ 100/ 1000 Mbps wired speeds, one USB port for additional storage, printer and media share server use, and range amplifier antennas for extended range. The 2TB version will retail for Rs 25, 999 and the 1TB for Rs 20,999.

To be available for Rs 11,999, the N900 is basically the same router as the N900 Central, but is cheaper and has more Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports (seven) and two USB ports. The N750 gives you combined data rates of up to 750Mbps, and features five Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports and two USB ports. This one will go on sale for Rs 7,199. Bringing up the rear is the N600, which has combined data rates of up to 600Mbps, five Fast Ethernet ports and one USB port. It will sell for Rs 5,699.

Telcos delivering poor service may now be fined

Since quite sometime now, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has been frequenting headlines over its steps to improve the state of affairs in the telecom sector – one of the nation's brightest sectors. In one such move, companies failing to meet the quality of service standards set for mobile and wired telephones would be penalised as per a new amendment, reports Times of India. As per reports, TRAI will put into effect "financial disincentives" of Rs.50,000 per parameter for not adhering to the quality norms. Consecutive defaulters will see the disincentives go up to a lakh. Clearly, the move would mean that India's expansive mobile user base would experience less frequent instances of call drops.

Elaborating further, the report explains that suppose if an operator does not reduce the rate of call drops on its network to less than 2 percent within three months of the amendment coming to effect, then the operator will be liable for a fine to the tune of Rs.50,000. It will go up to a lakh, if the operator does not limit the call drop rates in the quarters that follow. TRAI is now awaiting comments on the same from the industry.

In a recent official statement, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) confirmed that it has put into effect an amendment to the existing Standards of Quality of Service of Basic Telephone Service (wireline) and Cellular Mobile Telephone Service Regulations, 2009 dated 20th March, 2009, and have issued Standards of Quality of Service of Basic Telephone Service (wireline) and Cellular Mobile Telephone Service (Amended) Regulations, 2012 Act. The amendment to the 2009 act puts into perspective network related issues pertaining to the quality of 3G voice calls in the country at the moment. Simply put, the amended act makes provisions for a better 3G voice calls scenario by improving the quality of the network, in line with the standards recommended in the Act.

Only recently, there were reports about The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India planning to approach the Commerce and Industry Ministry on the issue of banning the import of phones with fake IMEI numbers. Off late, instances of IMEI cloning have been on the rise. Although cloning of IMEI numbers is not commonplace yet in the case of CDMA handsets, instances of cloning in the case of GSM handsets are aplenty. Mobile handsets with cloned IMEI numbers cannot be tracked, making them a deterrent to national security.

We reported about TRAI's attempts at helping customers keep unwanted calls and SMSes at bay being successful, with a whopping 161.66 million customers registering their preferences on National Customer Preference Register (NCPR). In yet another instance, TRAI managed to implement the 'per second billing' criteria, wherein it asked mobile service providers to provide ‘per second billing’ option to customers.

Microsoft releases SkyDrive app for Android

Microsoft’s cloud service, SkyDrive, has been making the rounds recently. After an update for Nokia Belle phones that allowed the phones to upload things to SkyDrive, Microsoft has its eyes set on expanding the service to other devices. Now, the company has released an app for SkyDrive for Android devices.

SkyDrive is the place to store your files so you can access them from virtually any device. With SkyDrive for Android, you can now easily access and share files on the go. You can also upload photos or videos from your phone to SkyDrive. Some of the major features of the app include the ability to access SkyDrive content including files shared with you, the ability to view recently used documents, the ability to choose multiple photos or videos to upload from your phone, the ability to share your files and photos through email or a link in another app, the ability to open your SkyDrive files in other Android apps and the ability to manage your files – including editing and deleting folders.

SkyDrive for Windows desktop and OS X recently got a major facelift. The software giant has revealed that SkyDrive.com will now sport a new, modern design for desktop and tablet browsers, along with features such as instant search, contextual toolbar, thumbnail multi-select, drag-and-drop organisation and content sorting. Microsoft had made the announcement in a blog post.

Microsoft has added sorting functionality to its cloud storage so that users can customise and save the sort order for any folder. “As many of you know, Windows Phone users can have all the photos they take on their phones automatically sent to the SkyDrive camera roll folder. I have lots of photos in this folder, and it used to be a pain to get to the most recent photo. We now default to sorting by newest to oldest, which should make viewing your camera roll much better,” the blog post states.

The company has streamlined the photo upload path resulting in a faster bulk photo upload experience. SkyDrive for Windows desktop and OS X will also get an update over the course of the week. Based on feedback from users, SkyDrive has been made faster and more efficient for a couple of key scenarios. “We focused on photo uploads and looking for changes in your local SkyDrive folder. As with any performance discussion, 'your mileage may vary,' as actual performance depends on a variety of factors including hardware, connection upload/ download speed, network congestion, content type, distance to the service data center, and other factors,” says the blog.

The SkyDrive app can be downloaded from the Google Play store.

Leaked images hint NFC in next Apple iPhone

Apple will be implementing Near Field Communication in the upcoming iPhone models as hinted by the images of the device's purported internals.

Apple iPhone 4S was heavily rumoured to mark the company's foray in Near Field Communication technology. However that did not happen and now all eyes are set on the upcoming iPhone model. The XDA.cn website grabbed some images that show Near Field Communications chip will be included in the next iPhone model. Apple is expected to launch the new iPhone next month along with or after the new iPad Mini tablet.

Anticipation and expectations have been set high for the next Apple iPhone. Apart from the larger display, powerful hardware and pleasing camera, the consumers as well as business folks are looking for something more. With the iOS 6.0, Apple announced the new Passbook application which is like a folder for tickets, coupons and loyalty cards.

The NFC chip can be used to communication with another NFC enabled active device, passive tag or contactless card for initiating the data exchange. Also Apple Passbook can be used to store the basic details about the bank and credit cards, then the app can be used with NFC chip to initiate and complete a mobile transaction.

Apple is looking forward to Passbook as a platform for mobile payments and ticketing instead of merely an app. It is high time since the company stepped its foot in the NFC ecosystem and roll out some significant partnerships.

By next month, we shall see the next iPhone and till then, several such small-big details about the same will continue to pour in.

Gujarat, Rajasthan to get 4G services by early 2013

Tikona which has the spectrum in five circles is likely to roll out 4G services starting early 2013 with these two states being the first to get it.

Tikona, which has won 4G (BWA) spectrum in five circles that includes Gujarat, Rajasthan, UP-East, UP-West and Himachal Pradesh, reportedly plans to launch its 4G services starting Gujarat and Rajasthan early next year.

According to a report in ET, Tikona has invited bids from network vendors to set up its 4G network and plans to spend Rs 1,058 crore. ET report also suggests that the first circles to get the network will be Gujarat and Rajasthan. The company will use TD LTE technology for its network just like the other players like Airtel, Aircel and RIL, which offers speeds up to 100 Mbps.

Tikona, unlike Airtel and Aircel (two other players with BWA spectrum), is a pure play wireless broadband player currently offering service using unlicensed band over 4G (WiMax) and WiFi technology.

Airtel is currently the only service provider in India which already offers 4G services in Kolkata and Bangalore. It also plans to launch service in Pune and Chandigarh shortly. Airtel has also bought stake in Qualcomm's BWA (broadband wireless access) business which has spectrum in four circles (Delhi, Mumbai, Kerala, and Haryana) and is looking at early next year launch in Mumbai and Delhi.

The other company which has announced plans for its 4G network is Aircel which has license for eight circles and will launch its first 4G network with Chennai by December this year.

Reliance Industries which is the only private player with nationwide license, however seems to be in no rush and is reported to be rolling out its own network from ground up and is likely to take another 12 months to start its operations.

OwnFone: Meet world's simplest phone

OwnFone is a simple design with no display and just up to 12 numbers, all printed with name on the phone. Just click the name to dial. There is nothing else that the phone does.

A UK company has come out with a radically simple phone design, with very simple functions aimed at children and elderly.

The phone, called OwnFone, doesn't have a display or a keypad. You only get upto 12 numbers with name printed on the phone to dial and you can receive calls and that is all that the phone does.

This is really useful for children as parents can ensure that they get to call selected numbers and is also easy for them. Elderly can also benefit from simple design.

The phone is customisable with a choice of a format with two, four, eight or 12 contacts. They will be indicated by a name written in black on a white box. Contacts are located above the call control button and volume. A hole indicates the phone's headset, beside it an LED for status. One can also choose the colour and pattern of the print on the phone.

The device is just 7mm thick and weighs only 40 grams, the integrated battery last three days on a single charge. Currently, the phone is available only in England and Ireland where it costs £ 55 (Rs 4850). However, the company has announced its plans to launch it elsewhere.

Keentalks: Video Collection Of Talks & Lectures

If you are a fan of TED Talks or Khan Academy, you may know that there are other websites which offers engaging talks, lectures, and presentations. Keen Talks is another one that curates the knowledge of the web, touching on a broad range of topics categorized by subject area and speaker.

Keen Talks’ minimalist design is a definite plus, allowing you to search for videos speedily. The navigation is laid out nicely where you can also the view the most watched and most commented videos. You can also read the quick and witty description of each video to help capture what the talk is all about.

What’s most interesting about Keen Talks is that its collection covers from various sources, compared to TED Talks where you are only limited with TED’s material. It also goes beyond the lecture and speech format, as you can also watch the best conferences, debates, and interviews. I know you can’t get this conversation with Conan O’Brien on TED.
Keen Talks is a great resource for anyone looking for further learning and geeky entertainment.

Features:

• Compilation of best talks, lectures, debates, and interviews
• Minimalist, clean, design
• Browse by subject area or speaker
• Engage in community through comments

Check out Keentalks @ http://keentalks.com

3DPageFlip PDF to HTML: Easily Batch Convert PDF Files Into HTML

If you have a large PDF file and want to embed it on your site, one convenient solution would be to convert it directly to an HTML file. Here to help you do that is a desktop app called 3DPageFlip PDF To HTML.

3DPageFlip PDF To HTML is a user-friendly desktop application for Windows computers. The app is free to use and, as its name indicates, it converts PDF files to HTML files. The app has two modes – Batch Convert and Hot Directories. Batch Convert lets you quickly convert PDF files in batches to HTML files.

The Hot Directories mode lets you convert entire directories of PDF files into HTML. This action keep an eye on the PDF files directory and automatically converts any newly added PDF files to HTML.
Features:

• A user-friendly desktop app.
• Compatible with Windows.
• Lets you convert PDF files to HTML.
• Supports batch conversion.
• Can monitor PDF file folders and automatically convert newly added files.

Check out 3DPageFlip PDF To HTML @ http://www.emagmaker.com/flash-magazine-free-pdf-to-html/index.html

TweetInsight: View Most Trending Topics On Your Twitter Feed

As the name suggests, TweetInsight is an app that offers services related to Twitter, the micro-blogging website. Primarily a web application, the site is useful for people who need to access only selective information on their Twitter accounts. For the most part, TweetInsight helps you find out the most trended topics on your Twitter news feed, items with most hashtags and the most recent web pages shared by people on your contact list.

Once you log on to the website, all you need to do is to sign with your Twitter account. By providing your Twitter username/email and password, you authorize the app to access recent tweets in your timeline and give you insights about people following you on Twitter. This limits its use to just being a virtual highlighter for your Twitter account, which is not offering much when you can access your account directly just as easily.

Features:

• Gives updates on what your Twitter friends are discussing.
• Highlights most shared items and URLs.
• Informs who is following you.

Visit TweetInsight.

Snapchat: Send Self-Deleting Pictures [iOS]

Sharing images with friends and people can be a tedious task, as it requires going through a lot of hassle – opening the images, attaching them to emails and sending them. In addition, the user may not want to share the image forever with that specific person and may want them to delete the image after viewing, which is not always possible. To solve this problem, you should give Snapchat for iPhone a try.

Snapchat helps users communicate in the form of real-time pictures. Using the Snapchat app, the users can take a photograph and choose the duration for which the image will be active – after which the image is deleted permanently.

Once the timer is set, the image can be sent to your friends who will have a specific time to view the message after which the message will disappear forever – if they take a screenshot of the screen, you will be notified.

Features:

• Free and easy to use.
• Available for iOS users with iOS 4.0 and above.
• Images are deleted automatically after the given duration – up to 10 seconds can be selected.

Check out Snapchat @ http://itunes.apple.com/pk/app/id447188370?mt=8&affId=1788472&ign-mpt=uo%3D6

PicturetoPeople: Get Free Picture and Text Effects Online

Most of us who have social networking accounts add special effects to our images to add to their visual appeal. Mostly desktop applications are used to add these effects but online applications for this purpose are preferred since they do not require any installation thus can be used on any computer with internet access. Although convenient, not all online image effects websites offers a wide range of filters and images. If you are looking for an excellent website that offers not only a wide range of image effects but also text effects, you should check out a website called “PicturetoPeople.”

Picture to People is a free to use website that offers its users an impressive array of image and text effects. The site works on all modern web browsers as long as they have JavaScript enabled. To get started with image effects, simply click on the one you want from the list available on the site’s left pane. Next select your effects type from a list of previews, point to the image file stored on your computer, and then apply the effect by clicking on the “Calculate Effect” button. You will be shown the final image in your browser which you can download as a JPG image file.

Text effects are also offered by the site. As before, you start by selecting the text effect you want to apply.

You are then provided with previews of various sub-effects which you can click to select.

Finally you type in your text, enter the text size, and choose from a list of visually appealing fonts to generate the special effects text.

In conclusion, Picture to People offers its users an invaluable source of image and text effects; the website’s use being free makes it even more special.

Features:

• A user friendly web service
• Offers numerous visually appealing picture and text effects
• Lets you select custom font size and font style for text effects
• Provides final images as JPG downloads

Check out PicturetoPeople @ http://www.picturetopeople.org/