iPhone 5 will come to India on 26th October

The 16 GB model of Apple iPhone 5 from Apple will be available in India for Rs 45,000 later this month. The 32 GB memory model may cost the user about Rs 50,000.

The latest iPhone5 from the Cupertino giant has been much awaited in India. The phone will be will be available in India from October 26 at one of the Apple Service Centers in India, The Mobile Indian revealed. The 16 GB model of iPhone 5 will cost approximately Rs 45,000, while the 32 GB model will cost approximately Rs 50,000 said the news report.

Asus Padfone 2 demoed by Asus CEO

Although it was scheduled to be officially unveiled at an exclusive Padfone 2 event tomorrow in Milan, Asus CEO, Jerry Shen, spilled the beans on the second generation Padfone during an interview with Bloomberg TV.

There has been some changes when compared to the old Padfone as, thanks to the leaked press shots posted atTwitter shortly after the interview, it appears that the new slide-in dock for the smartphone looks much better than the original one with a hatch.

Jerry Shen, Asus CEO, revealed that the smartphone part of the Padfone 2 will indeed feature a 4.7-inch HD screen and a 13-megapixel camera. The leaked picture also suggests that we might be looking at a thinner tablet dock and, most likely, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS.

Of course, Asus will officially unveil the new Padfone 2 tomorrow in Milan so we'll have a chance to get a clearer picture.

Via Pocket-lint.com.

Microsoft set to launch Xbox Music with free unlimited streaming

This week, Microsoft will step up its competition with Apple's iTunes with the launch of Xbox Music, a new service that offers unlimited streaming to Microsoft devices, including PCs running Windows 8.

Recently the Karbonn A11 showed up in the inventory of Flipkart, and now it has finally been launched along with the Karbonn A7+ and the Karbonn A1+. All these three devices are dual-SIM capable and support 3G connectivity.

The Karbonn A11 is the best equipped amongst the three. It sports a 4-inch display, runs Android 4.0 ICS and is powered by a 1GHz single-core processor. It also includes a 5 megapixel rear camera with autofocus and LED flash along with a secondary front facing 1.3 megapixel camera. It includes a 1,500 mAh battery.

The Karbonn A7+ is a device which runs Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread and sports a 3.5-inch display. It is also powered by a 1GHz single core processor, has a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and LED flash and a secondary VGA quality front facing camera. It includes a 1,420 mAh battery.

The Karbonn A1+ is not much different than the A7+. It is also powered by a 1GHz single-core processor, sports a 3.5-inch display, runs Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread. However it includes a 3 megapixel rear camera and a secondary VGA quality front facing camera. The device is equipped with a 1,500 mAh battery.

The A11 is officially priced at Rs. 9,990, the A7+ is officially priced at Rs. 8,990, and finally the A1+ is officially priced at Rs. 4,990, quite possibly be the most affordable Android smartphone with a 1GHz processor.

Asus Taichi Dual Screen Windows 8 Notebook Starts at $1299

For those who think two is better than one,Asus has created a Notebook with Dual Touch Screen,running on the latest Windows 8 operating system from Microsoft.

The lower end model of Asus Taichi which features a Core i5 processor a 128GB SSD Will be priced at $1299,while the higher end model of Taichi which sports a core i7 processor with 256GB SSD will cost $1599. both the models would feature a 4GB of RAM.

Asus will be bringing Windows 8 based devices along with the Windows RT based devices running on NVidia Tegra processors.The devices will go on sale along with the public launch of Windows 8.However you can now preorder the devices from various manufacturers including Asus,from Amazon,Newegg,BestBuy and other sites.

Source[Asus]

Note: Supersize is good

If you are one those who took to the largish-looking original Samsung Galaxy Note, then you will love the new Galaxy Note II even more. The latest mobile-tablet hybrid is an evolution of the original Note that debuted last year, and even though at 5.5 inches, the size of the device is big but not inconvenient. At 5.9 x 3.2 x 0.4 inches, it fits in just fine in your hand and at 180 g, you don't mind lugging it round, too.

It’s absurd to hold a 5.5-inch block of plastic and glass to your ears, given the Note II’s stand-out design.

It’s hard to take your eyes off the HD super AMOLED display and, credibly enough, Samsung manages to better its smartphone displays with every launch. The 720p display on the Note II stands out as it packs a new type of AMOLED screen technology where arrangement of sub-pixels makes for a sharper picture than in Samsung Galaxy S III and S II. It is predictable that Note II’s screen offers a much more satisfying movie-watching experience than on an iPhone 5's four-inch one.

Powered by a 1.6GHz quad-core processor and paired with 2GB of RAM, it is indeed one of the fastest Android devices around. That’s partly also because of the latest Jelly Bean version of the Android operating system. An eight-megapixel camera at the back and a 1.9-megapixel webcam at the front should be just fine for snapping pictures and video chats. Whereas the original Galaxy Note came in just the 16GB version, the Note 2 will have 16, 32 and 64GB editions. Battery, too, has been upgraded from 2,500mAh (powers for seven hours) on the original Note to 3,100mAh (powers for 10) on the Note that really thwarts the rival devices from Apple. This could be a real headline-grabbing spec for the Galaxy Note II.

SAMSUNG NOTE II

This 5.5-inch touchscreen device has a non-unibody chassis that allows one to easily swap SIM cards, batteries or expand storage via a microSD slot. Also sports a stylus  Powered by a quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM Arrives with the latest Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, most updated and fastest version of Android Inclusion of stylus; Samsung has added new features sucha s Air Note, a way to see extra information while hovering the pen over the screen, and Pop Up Note, a notepad that shows on screen if the pen is pulled out while on a call Eight-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera  Has the upper hand, not only because of the 5.5-inch display, but also because it plays every format you throw at it, up to 1920x1080 pixels

IPHONE 5

iPhone 5 comes with a slightly larger (than previous iPhones) display size of four-inch, but the uni-body design means a tightly closed unit with no replaceable batteries. Requires a nano-SIM, not available in India Powered by A6 processor, which Apple claims is two times faster than the A5 chip in older iPhones, along with 1GB RAM  Arrives with iOS 6, the latest version of iPhone software from Apple with Apple maps, Facebook integration and other features iPhone still retains the upper hand in terms of new apps and all App Store apps working on the iPhone 5 at release Eight-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera for FaceTime HD Decides what is best for the scene in front of it on the fly and sports a fast HDR mode for tricky lighting situations. There is also a new option for panoramic photos that stitches several megabytes of photos (up to 28 megapixels) quickly

An important accessory is the re-designed S Pen stylus that comes with improved ergonomics, tech specs, a rubber tip and even has a select button on side. The stylus slots at the bottom of the device, and is always within easy reach. The AirView feature allows the user to hover the pen over the screen without touching, and this can reveal the contents of emails, text messages or calendar appointments without leaving the page. It works across the OS, including the gallery, video and calendar apps. Dedicated apps like Popup note, a multi-tasking notepad app, activate by default when S-Pen is pulled out during a call. This sticky note allows to scribble down phone numbers or important reminders, without having to launch a separate application.
Samsung has also tweaked and improved the keyboard’s text prediction capability. The keyboard also allows to enable Swype-style sliding input and activate one-handed mode as found in the original Note, among other features. In nutshell, for those with large hands, the Samsung Galaxy Note II is a comfortable device to type on. And while gaming is not really a standard benchmark for a smartphone, with quad-core 1.6GHz Exynos processor, Note II handles most games with ease. The large screen leaves plenty of room for controls, showcasing some neat graphic that, in turn, makes the Galaxy Note II a multimedia powerhouse, head and shoulders above the rest.
What we think
If you have to strictly compare the new iPhone 5 and the Galaxy Note II, it will be elegance competing with prodigiousness. We have to concur that a 5.5-inch display is going to appeal to an evolved smartphone base, or those who want tablet-like features on smartphone. But the original Note was a hit for Samsung and the company has refined the design and software further with Note II. This hybrid smartphone is a must-have for those who are not held back by its size and not to forget the host of useful tools that have been built into the operating system to suit many creative professionals.

Oct 23 the launch date for Apple’s iPad mini?

Smaller, faster and thinner than the iPad? Getty images

Is October 23 to be the date that Apple will launch its latest iPad mini?

According to a report in All Things D, the consumer giant is set to announce its latest product in an invitation only event on 23 October in the Apple Town Hall auditorium, the same place it launched the iPhone 4s, next generation Macbook Air and the OS X Lion.

Speculation has swirled for months that Apple was planning a smaller, less expensive version of its popular iPad to take on cheaper competing devices, like Samsung’s Note and other devices which bridge the gap between smartphones and the larger tablets.

Not surprisingly there has been no confirmation of the event from Apple spokespersons.

The timing of the device launch is also noteworthy since Microsoft launches its latest ‘Surface’ tablets on 26 October, and will be powered by its Windows 8 software.

The new model of the iPad is expected to have a smaller 7.85-inch display and much speculation continues about what other features it will have. All Things D predicts that it will have the new lightning connectors that it introduced in the iPhone 5 and will be thinner. Everything else, as expected with Apple, is a mystery for now.

Apple has refused to comment on reports that the iPhone 5 will launch in India on 26 October.

Yesterday the Internet was abuzz after a report by BGR India had quoted multiple sources confirming the launch date as 26 October.

Apple has refused to comment on these reports. In an email response to Firstpost, Apple’s Press spokesperson said that we have no announcement to make at the moment on a launch or price of the iPhone 5 in India.  (italics quotes). He added, There is speculation in media and we dont comment on speculation. 

Apple is known to not respond to media speculations, and usually deny all reports that speculate on the release of any product.

Earlier this month, there were reports that Apple had slashed the prices of the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 in India in anticipation of the iPhone 5 launch.

The price of the iPhone 4S 16GB model was slashed to Rs 41,400, a reduction of Rs 3,100 from its earlier price of Rs 44,500. The iPhone 4 8GB also saw its price drop to Rs 28,300 from the earlier price of Rs 37,900.

Hopefully we will know soon when Apple’s iPhone 5 will be launched in India. What we do know so far, is that India is on the ‘third wave’ of the official launch of the device. Speculation is that it is likely to go on sale ahead of the Diwali shopping season.

Railways launch Rail Radar to track train movement on Google map

Oct 11

The Railways has launched an online application which allows the public to track movement of trains. The application, known as Rail Radar, is an interactive map on search engine google that can help passengers locate about 6,500 trains on real-time basis on both internet and their cell phones.

The application started by the Centre for Railway Information Systems -CRIS can be accessed through the railway website - trainenquiry.com. Talking to AIR, the Group General Manager of CRIS, Sunil Bajpai said that the application will help users to find the exact geographical location of trains.

AIR correspondent reports, to know the current status of a train, a passenger can enter a train name or number and the system will inform whether the train is delayed or running on time. 

Dish TV to offer basic channel tier for free

Dish TV, India’s top direct-to-home (DTH) company, is replicating the ‘lifetime card’ concept in the telecom sector as it looks to garner more subscribers in the ongoing push to cable TV digitisation in the country.

The company is offering a basic channel tier comprising 70 channels free of cost for life.

Subscribers will have to do a minimum recharge of its regular package twice a year to avail the facility.

The new ‘Go Digital’ with lifetime free TV, company officials said, will enable consumers to digitise with the Dish TV DTH experience and minimise the fear of approaching digitisation.

RC Venkateish, chief executive officer, Dish TV, said consumers in the four metros are apprehensive of sudden switch-off of TV viewing.

“This offering will translate into a huge competitive advantage for Dish TV as none of the other competitors both from cable as well as DTH offer this facility. Cable operators have announced a `100 monthly charge for the basic tier, which will be provided free of cost by Dish TV,” he said.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India had recommended that all cable multi-system operators to provide subscribers a basic tier priced at Rs100 per month.

Salil Kapoor, chief operating officer, Dish TV, said television viewing is ubiquitous and one of the most affordable means of entertainment in the country.

“For subscribers ‘switch-off’ of the services or their TV going blank suddenly cuts off their information and entertainment lifeline. Dish TV is now ensuring that this lifeline never gets cut off for their valued subscribers. Our endeavour is to provide highly differentiated competitive advantage over cable and other DTH,” he said.

In August this year, Dish TV launched a new set-top-box (STB) for the standard definition (SD) subscribers in the country.

Called ‘Dish+’, it is India’s first SD box with unlimited recording facility. The STB is compatible with any USB device enabling consumers to plug-n-play an existing USB stick / HDD and build an entire genre-based library of their favourite programme.

Dish TV has on its platform 400-plus channels and services including 21 audio channels, and a growing subscriber base of 13.5 million. 

Google launches free SMS service on Gmail for India

Google has extended its free SMS chat service to India, whereby users can send text messages to mobile phones via Gmail Chat.

"You can send SMS messages to your contacts' mobile phones using Gmail Chat ... Google does not charge for using this service," according to information available with Google's website.

The SMS service is available in India and 51 other countries in Asia, Africa and North America.

The feature was activated for Indian users on October 10 and is available for regular Gmail users as well as those on Google Apps.

As per Google's website, this feature is available on all the mobile operators in the country.

The company said in order to send an SMS, users would have to add phone number to their contact list.

Responses to the SMSs would appear as replies in Gmail Chat and conversations will be stored in users' Chat history, like regular chats.

Google initially provides free SMS credit of 50 messages for each user. For every message sent, users' credit woud decrease by one. However, this credit would increase by five every time a user responds to the text message by sending a return message.

In case, the SMS credit limit slashes down to zero, one credit would increase automatically after 24 hours.

Google said users can also 'buy' SMS credit in case of shortage by sending a text message to their own phone and then by replying to that message.

The internet firm has also provided the facilities for those users do not wish to receive any messages on SMS from any Gmail user.

In order to send an SMS from Gmail, on the Gmail Chat interface type the phone number you want to send an SMS to and click Send SMS and then add the recipient's name and country, then click Save. Then write text in the chat window and press Enter.

Micromax unveils Funbook Talk tablet at Rs 7249

Zeebiz Bureau

New Delhi: Expanding its Funbook range of tablets further, Micromax has unveiled its latest budget tablet called Funbook Talk

The Android 4.0 tablet is priced at Rs 7,249.

The Funbook Talk boasts of a 7-inch capacitive TFT LCD display with 800x480 pixel resolution. The tablet is powered by a 1GHz processor with 512MB RAM.

The device also enables voice calling by lending 2G connectivity support and also has a mini HDMI port.

The tablet has a VGA front camera. It has 2800mAh battery allowing 5 hours of talk time, 4GB internal storage expandable unto 32GB via microSD card support, Wi-Fi and 3G dongle support via USB 2.0.

Sony halts Xperia tablet sales post-defect

Tokyo: Sony Corp said it has halted sales of its Xperia tablet PCs, a month after its launch, after discovering gaps between the screen and the case that make some of the machines susceptible to water damage.

The problem with the tablet, which is supposed to be water resistant, is the result of a manufacturing flaw at the Chinese plant where it is fabricated, said Sony spokeswoman Noriko Shoji. Sony has not yet decided when it will resume sales, she added.

Sony began selling its latest Android tablet on Sept. 7 in the United States followed by launches in Japan, Europe and elsewhere. So far it has shipped around 100,000 of the devices. The company said it will fix any of the tablets sold and expects the cost of the recall to have no significant impact on earnings.

The latest tablet from Sony, which like its smartphone has been branded Xperia in a bid to unify its mobile devices under one name, joins a crowded market for tablets that is still dominated by Apple Inc's iPad. Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, with its rival Android machine, leads the pack of Apple challengers.

Facebook, YouTube blocked in Kashmir

The government had issued orders to Internet
service providers to restrict access to the websites.

New Delhi: Internet users in Kashmir are unable to access Facebook and YouTube. The government had issued orders to Internet service providers to restrict access to the websites. This move is believed to be in response to the protests against the anti-Islam video on YouTube.

It was previously reported that the certain URLs with offensive content had been blocked, but it now seems that access to the entire websites have been restricted. Last month the Government of Jammu & Kashmir had directed service providers to ensure that the controversial YouTube video was not accessible from the state.

The order was issued by the state Home Department, invoking the powers conferred under section 5(2) of the Indian Telegraph Act 1885.

"In the interest of public safety and for maintaining public order, the government directed all licensed Telecom Service Providers and Internet Service Providers to make arrangements to ensure that their subscribers in Jammu and Kashmir should not be able to download or upload the contents" with regard to the video, the order said.

The order also emphasised that if necessary entire domains could also be blocked by service providers. "If necessary, due to technical reasons, the Fully Qualified Domain Names shall be blocked viz www.youtube.com, www.facebook.com etc," the order read.

Greater Kashmir quoted executives from telecom service providers in the state who confirmed that there was indeed a block in place, but when Greater Kashmir contacted Aga Ruhullah, Jammu & Kashmir's minister for information technology, he claimed ignorance. "There is not any ban on these websites. I don't have proper information of it. I can't confirm whether there is any technical snag in it," Ruhullah said.

Meanwhile, the Government of India has asked private telecom operators in Jammu and Kashmir to provide at the earliest a mechanism for fool-proof monitoring of real-time Internet traffic in the state.