Sunday 30 June 2013

Ringtonium LITE: Create Custom Ringtones & Use Them On Your Android 2.2+ Device

Phone customizations are not restricted to color themes and wallpapers – you can set your own ringtones as well. Here to offer you a truly customized ringtone experience by letting you create ringtones is an app called Ringtonium LITE.

Ringtonium LITE is a free to use smartphone application compatible with Android devices. The application is sized at nearly 5 MB and requires your Android smart device to be running version 2.2 or later. The function of this application is to let you create new ringtones for your phone. What sets this application apart from similar ones is how precisely it lets you control the ringtone – you can edit the ringtone with an accuracy of 0.01 seconds.

When you open the application you can begin creating a ringtone out of files stored on your phone or a new recording that you do from within the application using the app’s distortion free microphone recording. Once you have selected the audio to work with, you can use four highly useful recording options – fading in, fading out, normalization, and gate.

Apart from this, you can of course use the sliders to select the audio through the selection sliders within a 0.01 second accuracy.

When your ringtone is finally complete you can save it as a simple ringtone or set it specifically for a contact’s call on your phone. This LITE version of the application features ads whereas the PRO version does not include ads and adds two new effects. The PRO version costs $1.99.

Features:

  • A user friendly phone app.
  • Compatible with Android devices.
  • Lets you create ringtones.
  • Can use audio files on phone or newly recorded files.
  • Lets you select audio with precision of 0.01 seconds.
  • Offers options for fade in, fade out, normalization, and gate.

Check out Ringtonium LITE @ https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bamboo.ringtoniumlite&feature=more_from_developer

Student TA: A Time Management App For Students [iOS]

The life of a student can be a very hectic one. You have to balance your social life with your homework, assignments, hobbies, and somehow you have to fit sleep in too. There are time management tools out there that can help you but nothing is dedicated specially to students except for an app called Student TA.

Student TA is a free to use smartphone application for iOS devices. The app is sized at nearly 37 MB and is compatible with iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad devices running iOS version 4.0 or later. The app features a user-friendly organizer to help you get the day’s plans and view your overall plans. Assignments can quickly be saved on the agenda and later viewed.

By offering you a visually appealing interface, the app does a wonderful job of letting you maintain your tasks and add reminders to your phone.

Features:

  • A user-friendly phone app.
  • Compatible with iOS devices.
  • Lets you manage tasks.
  • Is aimed for students.
  • Lets you maintain a list of assignments.
  • Shows the day’s planner and your overall planner.

Check out Student TA @ itunes.apple.com/us/app/college-t.a/id448355751

Burner: Protect Yourself With Disposable Phone Numbers [iOS]

You probably find yourself giving away your phone number pretty often. Whether it be at bars, dating sites, Craigslist, or any other place where you’re not entirely confident in the person you’re possibly giving your number to. In these cases, you need a way to protect yourself from possible abuse. By giving away your real number, you’re completely at risk, but with a disposable number, you’re much safer because you can always cancel the number.

Burner is an iOS application which allows you to create new disposable numbers and then remove them when necessary. The application makes it easy to manage multiple disposable numbers, letting you label them for convenience, so you’ll remember which number you’re using for what occasion. You can also control number-specific settings, letting certain calls trigger the ringtone while others won’t.

It should be noted, however, that this service only works in the US and Canada. The creation and removal of these disposable numbers aren’t free either, but it’s a price worth paying for the privacy and control.

Features:

  • Create disposable phone numbers which you can easily share with strangers.
  • Control settings such as the ringtone on a per-number basis.
  • Only available in US and Canada.

Check it out @ the Apple App Store

Listango: Save Bookmarks Online For Easy Organization & Accessibility

If you own a desktop computer, then there must be lots of times when you get out of the house and you do not have access to your computer. Even laptop owners are not with their laptops all the time. This means that when you need to use the Internet, you have to use somebody else’s computer. What you immediately realize are missing are your bookmarks since all your frequently visited websites will be in your browser bookmarks.

While bookmarks within your browser are very useful, it is best to store bookmarks online for increased accessibility. That enables you to access your bookmarks even when it is somebody else’s computer that you are using. Here to offer an online bookmarking service is Listango.

Listango is a free to use web service that lets its users store bookmarks online. You start using the service by creating a new account either via your email address or via your Facebook account. When your account is created, you should drag the service’s bookmarklet to your web browser’s bookmarks toolbar. This bookmarklet is what lets you bookmark websites and add them into your Listango account
.
First ensure that you are logged into Listango; then click on the bookmarklet any time you want to bookmark a website. You will be asked which folder to save the bookmark in and then the bookmark will be saved. You also have the option to mark webpages as “Read Later.”

Bookmarks you save in the Listango folder will appear on your public Listango username page; remaining folders are saved as private.

You can access your bookmarks by logging into your Listango account. Your folders, Read Later, and starred categories are placed on the left pane while their contents are on the right pane.


Clicking on a bookmark in the right pane will take you to its URL. You can also star bookmarks, share them on online social networks, and edit them using options in the right pane. The editing options for a bookmark let you modify its title, URL, description, and folder.

Your Listango bookmarks can be exported to HTML or CSV files.

With these features, Listango offers its users an excellent online bookmarking solution.

Features:

  • A user-friendly web service.
  • Lets you save bookmarks online.
  • Works through a browser bookmarklet.
  • Lets you sort bookmarks into different folders.
  • Reserves one folder as public to help you easily share bookmarks.

Check out Listango @ https://www.listango.com

Pocketory: Keep An Inventory List Of Your Possessions [iOS]

Face it, there’s a good chance that a decent amount of items are in your house. I’m talking about everything, from your TV, couch, and other furniture and appliances. It may not seem like a necessary thing to do, but it’s actually very helpful if you make a list of all your possessions. Not only can you share with friends and family, but you can also use the list when you lose items through burglary or natural disasters.

Pocketory is an iOS application which specializes in making it as easy as possible to create such lists. No matter the reason for making one, Pocketory will be there to help you with the process. With this handy app, you won’t just be able to add items to a list; you can also add unlimited pictures, scan barcodes, search online for unknown items, attach unlimited notes, and tag items with geo-location pins.

You can also use sorting and searching functions, and then easily share your items in multiple ways, including export to PDF. You can even share “pockets” with others to collaboratively work on. This is great for having a few friends helping you index all your possessions.

Features:

  • Create different lists of all your stuff.
  • Add pictures, notes, and geo-location pins.
  • Search online or with barcodes.
  • Share with friends or even collaborate.
  • Similar tools: iKeepm, Quidaty Home, Cosanote, OurShelf, StuffSafe, EasyRoomIn and OneSimpleMove.

Check it out @ the Apple App Store

MusicNotesLib: An Online Resource To Get Music Sheets For Popular Songs

Online guitar tabs let you easily play popular songs on your guitar. But if you have a professional band with music training and you want to cover popular songs, you are going to need more than just guitar tabs: you are going to need music sheets. Music sheets are documents that explain which musical notes are played by which instruments in a song.

People often use music sheets to play songs with their bands; these sheets also help in learning to expertly play a particular instrument in a song. If you are looking for music sheets to your favorite songs, you should check out an online resource called MusicNotesLib.

MusicNotesLib is a free to use website that gives you access to music sheets to many popular songs. The music sheets are given to you in the form of PDF documents. But the site also offers TXT and GIF files for tabs and digital files for various music software; these additional files include MIDI, SIB, and GPx Guitar Pro files.

To get your desired music sheet, you can start by searching for the song, album, or artist you are looking for. You can also browse the “Trends” section on the site’s homepage and see which artists are popular on the site according to the day or month. Recently added artists can also be checked out.

When you find a song you like, go to its MusicNotesLib page where you will find a short biography of the band. Under the band’s biography, you will find the type of resources the site has for that particular’s bands songs. For example, you can see from the screenshot below that the website has guitar chords for 37 of AC/DC’s songs, guitar tabs for 429 songs, bass tabs for 150 songs, drum tabs for 24 tabs, MIDI/PDF files for 39 songs, and GPX/PDF files for 160 songs. Then you can find the type of files available for that particular songs.

You simply have to click on them to download, without any registration required. A sample of the song or the complete song is also given for you to listen on the webpage; but you might need to download the audio file and play it with an external application in case the file is of the MID format.

As you can see, MusicNotesLib is an excellent resource for music sheets for popular songs and tabs of various instruments used play your favorite songs. Check out the site anytime you want to learn how to play a song expertly.

Features:

  • A user-friendly web service.
  • Provides you with music sheets of popular songs.
  • Offers tabs for various instruments used in songs.
  • Gives short band biographies.

Check out MusicNotesLib @ http://musicnoteslib.com

Yahoo! update makes it simpler to share photos from Flickr

A new Yahoo! Mail-Flickr update claims to make it “super simple” to share single photos or albums from Flickr. This update is especially interesting for those who send and receive several photos in Yahoo! Mail. Joe Covalesky, Principal Engineer, Yahoo! Mail, claims that the update not only makes it simpler to share Flickr photos in mail, but also displays them in an attractive way.

He explains that the way to go about this update is akin to their Dropbox integration. Users have to click the arrow next to the paperclip icon and click “Share from Flickr”. Images show up almost as soon as users hit “Share from Flickr”, since the user is already logged in. Alternatively, if the sender of the e-mail is not a Flickr user, then he can sign up for the service right from his mail box.

Yahoo! announced a complete revamp of its photo service Flickr at its recent New York City event. The all-new Flickr is already live and comes with a whopping one terabyte of free photo storage. The new Flickr homepage now has images taking the centrestage. You’d be forgiven if you thought that you’d actually stumbled onto Instagram when you see the new Flickr page. The images are now larger and text takes a backseat.

There is a fancy new header, quite like Facebook's, on top of your page. The all new Activity Feed on Flickr combines your friends’ recent uploads with activity on your photostream, in a convenient centralised hub of sorts.

The all-new slideshow mode on Flickr displays your images beautifully, with music. The service now also supports up to three minutes of 1080p HD quality videos, since now you have one terabyte of space at your disposal. Flickr is also offering enormous amounts of space for your high resolution photos. “We want all of your images,” Flickr said, and it plans to keep it all for free.

Micromax Canvas A92 Lite available for pre-order for Rs 8,499

Amidst the hype surrounding the launch of Micromax Canvas 4, the Indian smartphone company has come up with another addition to its wide range of smartphones. This news comes in as Micromax Canvas Lite A92, a dual-SIM smartphone, is now available for pre-order on online shopping websites like Flipkart and Infibeam. This budget smartphone device can now be pre-booked for Rs 8,499.

The device runs on Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean and is powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor. This is backed by 512MB of RAM and internal memory of 4GB, which can be expanded up to 32GB using a microSD card. It comes with a 5-inch IPS touchscreen display with a resolution of 854 x 480 pixels.

The new smartphone also has a 5 megapixel rear camera with LED flash; it can capture videos at 30fps. The dual-SIM device is powered by a 2000 mAh Li-Ion battery, which the company claims will provide a talktime of six hours. But can the battery last for six hours, is a question that can be answered only once the product is available in the market. In terms of connectivity, the phone will have Wi-Fi and will also be 3G compatible. Other features will include access to GPRS and EDGE.

The device is expected to be launched along with the company’s flagship product, Canvas 4, on July 8. Sources suggests that Canvas 4, which is expected to take on the like of Samsung S4, could have an HD display and will be priced between Rs 23,000 and Rs 25,000.

Saturday 29 June 2013

Bluestacks unveils GamePop Mini Android game console

Bluestacks today announced its second Android gaming console in the form of GamePop Mini, which will be joining the already unveiled GamePop.  According to Bluestacks, GamePop Mini will be free for life with $7 per-month subscription fee (needs a minimum of 12 months subscription).

Bluestacks notes that the subscription gives access to several premium gaming titles from over 500 game developers. Like GamePop console, Mini will also come with Looking Glass technology, which brings support for iOS games on this Android console.

Similar to the bigger cousin, Mini’s specifications are still a mystery but the company did note that GamePop Mini will feature Jelly Bean Android 4.2 and HDMI out.

“The biggest value of the GamePop service is its content – not the box. Hardware costs have come down so fast that we’re able to undercut the rest of the market. With the free promotion we’ve been doing in June we’re already seeing a ton of adoption. That volume then attracts more developers and therefore more and better content. It is building momentum,” said BlueStacks CEO, Rosen Sharma.

The company is yet to reveal the exact release date but the console will be available on pre-order from July 1.

In related news, the bigger GamePop is still on pre-order via the company site and is currently free with one year subscription but this promotion will end on June 30, so if you are planning to get GamePop, here is your chance to get it for free otherwise it will cost $129.

Vine for Android updated, gets support for front camera

Twitter-owned Vine video-sharing app has pushed an update for its official Android update in Google Play. The update carrying version number 1.2 brings a host of changes to this app including support for front-facing cameras in Android devices.

Apart from front shooter support, the update also adds a new upload manager and makes the app snappier. You can check out the full change-log below:

Front-facing camera support
New upload manager for un-submitted posts
Improvements to settings
Improvements to camera loading time and support for more devices
Speed improvements overall
Bug fixes and UI improvements
This is the second consecutive week in the matter of a week for this app. The release of Video on Instagram seems to given the Vine developers much needed motivation to work faster.

The last update, which was released on June 21, brought clear cache option, Facebook integration, ability to search users and individual hastags to the apps.

You can grab the app download from here.

Android 4.3 ROM for Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play edition leaked online

Now available for flashing on Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505

Google might not have officially announced Android 4.3 until now but the likes of Samsung already have access to the source code of this Android version. The company is reportedly in process of porting Android 4.3 to the Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition and one of the pre-release versions of Android 4.3 ROMs for SGS4 GPE has leaked online.

This leaked ROM seems to be quite functional and has already been ported to the Snapdragon 600 version of Galaxy S4, which is pretty much same as the Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition.

Available now for download at SamMobile site, it can be flashed using a custom recovery like CWM or TWRP on GT-I9505. As we don’t have access to a GT-I9505, we could not try out the ROM but from what we can see in the screenshots posted by SamMobile, there is hardly any difference between Android 4.2.2 and Android 4.3.

The new camera app, which was already seen in Google Play editions, is available and apart from that all other changes seems to be under the hood (if there are any).

Android 4.3 Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition ROM details:

Build ID: JWR66N
PDA: I9505GUEUBMFP
CSC: I9505GXARBMFP
Build Date: 26 June 2013
Changelist: 968842

Nokia Asha 210 available for pre-order at Rs 4,499

Nokia's freshly announced device Asha 210 is now listed for Rs 4499 at Flipkart's website.

Nokia had announced the Asha 210 smartphone back in April and till now there is no sight of that device. Now a popular online retailer - Flipkart has listed the Nokia Asha 210 smartphone for Rs 4,499.

The Nokia Asha 210 arrives with a 2.4-inch LCD display with native 320x240 pixel resolution. It features a Qwerty keyboard with a dedicated button for WhatsApp. The app has also been integrated with the Phonebook inside the phone to launch WhatsApp directly from there. However, the image of the device listed at Flipkart shows dedicated Facebook button. There is a large spacebar key which also acts as the button to turn the WiFi - on or off.

Nokia Asha 210 has 32 MB RAM and has a memory card slot to accommodate up to 32 GB micro SD card. At the rear is a 2 megapixel camera but without a flash. There is a dedicated camera button at the side. Appearing 11.8 mm thick, the Nokia Asha 210 runs the Asha OS and the dual-SIM model of the same will feature EasySwap technology - it enables swapping SIMs without turning off the device.

The new price did surprise us as during launch it was quoted as Rs 3,900. But now since the value of Indian Rupee has fallen against the Dollar, the Indian price of the same device is expected to be around Rs 4,499.

The new price did surprise us as during launch it was quoted as Rs 3,900. But now since the value of Indian Rupee has fallen against the Dollar, the Indian price of the same device is expected to be around Rs 4,499.

Watch India-WI-SL tri-series live on mobile via nexGTv

Along with match broadcast, users will also be able to enjoy the match highlights.

After the exciting Champions Trophy, India is all set to tussle with West Indies and Sri Lanka in a tri series which is set to start from today and you can catch it live on your mobile itself via the nexGTv application.

DigiVive, the parent company of nexGTv, bought the rights from Taj TV. Along with match broadcast, users will also be able to enjoy the match highlights in the special VoD (video on demand) section of DigiVive's mobile TV service, nexGTv till August this year.

The service can be downloaded by sending an SMS MYTV to 58888, or from any of the app stores as well as from the nexGTv website www.nexgtv.com.

GD Singh, director, DigiVive said, "After India's thrilling win at the ICC Championship Trophy 2013, we are very excited to offer the tri series matches on nexGTv. We bring the kind of content to consumers that they want to see, and that's what makes nexGTv the premier mobile TV service of India. Going by our users' feedback, we incorporated a special VoD section for sports events as our users like the flexibility of viewing the desired content as per their convenience and time."

According to nexGTv's developers, the app is also able to deliver seamless live streaming even on a 2G network.

Key Lime Pie to add official support for appliances, laptops & smartwatches: Report

Android is being used in variety of consumer devices for a long time but Google is now planning to add official support for devices like laptops and home appliances in the upcoming Key Lime Pie release.

According to a report in Wall Street Journal, with the K-release of Android (also known as Android 5.0), Google is aggressively going to promote the use of Android in additional devices like laptops, refrigerators and even wearables.

Google will be giving more freedom to the manufacturers to use Android 5.0 in such devices, which until the latest version (Jelly Bean) were not officially supported and could not get Google apps or Play store access.

Device makers were earlier also not allowed to use Android name to promote such unofficial devices, but Google has increasingly become lenient and has let companies like NVIDIA (for Shield) to use Android officially.

HP, other laptop makers working on Android-powered laptops

HP, the latest major Android partner, has already started working on laptops with the next version of Android. Using the new found freedom in Android 5.0, these upcoming HP laptops will be directly competing with their Windows counterparts.

WSJ notes Key Lime Pie running laptops will be different from the Android-powered hybrids we have seen so far that allow tablets to connect with keyboard docks.

Other unnamed laptop makers are also said to be working on similar devices.

Samsung making an Android-based smartwatch

Samsung, which recently confirmed that it is working on a smartwatch product for a long time, has now told WSJ that the smartwatch runs on Android and will come with smartphone capabilities. The report does not elaborate on these phone capabilities, but it is likely that Samsung has included a cellular modem in the watch to give direct data or voice call access to the consumers.

Next-gen Google Nexus Q is in works: WSJ

After the debacle of original Nexus Q, Google is now reportedly working on the second-generation of this home-entertainment device. According to Wall Street Journal, the search giant plans to keep the Nexus Q II affordable, after all $299 pricing was the major bone of contention for the original.

As per WSJ report, the second version of Nexus Q could arrive this fall but nothing is certain at this point. It will be joined by Google’s upcoming Android game-console and smartwatch products both of which are currently under development at Mountain View.

Nexus Q II is likely to run on the next major version of Android – Key Lime Pie, which is rumoured to be adding support for more devices like laptops, home appliances and wearables. Google will most likely include a better support for streaming devices in this Android version.

Apart from the pricing, the limited feature set of original Nexus Q was said to be another drawback. Google should be able to fix that with the upcoming Android version.

Original Nexus Q is mostly a glorified paperweight now

In related news, with the latest update to Google Play Movies app, the original Nexus Q is no longer of any use. The updated app removes support for Nexus Q, leaving the device with access to only YouTube as the last possible content source.

Google Play Music had already removed the support for this home-streaming device as a part of a previous update. The Nexus Q owners wouldn’t be too miffed with this development; after all they got the device for free from Google.q

Micromax A92 Canvas Lite coming soon for INR 8,499

Apart from flagship Canvas 4, Micromax is planning to release another smartphone in the coming weeks. Dubbed as Micromax A92 Canvas Lite, the phone is currently listed on Flipkart as coming soon. To remind you, the phone was earlier spotted on the support site of Micromax.

Micromax A92 features a 5-inch WVGA display, 1GHz dual-core processor, and Android 4.1. The phone also packs dual-SIM support, 5MP rear camera, 512MB RAM and 4GB of internal storage.

Other specifications of the Canvas Lite include 3G support, 2,000 mAh battery, microSD card slot and FM Radio. Overall, the phone seems to a replacement for Micromax A110 Canvas 2 but A92 sports lower megapixel camera, suggesting that both A110 and A92 might co-exist.

With A92 Canvas Lite and Canvas 4, we now have a total of nine Android phones in Micromax’s Canvas series. If we include the original A100 Canvas too, the total goes to ten, but it has been discontinued now.

There is no word on the release of Micromax A92 Canvas Lite but Flipkart listing does note that the phone will be carry a price-tag of INR 8,499.

WSJ says next version of Android will work on low-end hardware

It seems like Google is finally getting serious about low-cost Android smartphones. According to a report in Wall Street Journal, Android’s next version will be better optimised for budget smartphones that are sold in emerging markets like India.

We have increasingly seen that entry-level Android phones are released with older Android versions as the manufacturers cannot get the latest Android versions like Jelly Bean run properly on them. Google plans to solve this with Key Lime Pie aka Android 5.0.

WSJ notes that the K-release of Android is expected sometime this fall and the development work for the same is being wrapped up at Mountain View.

The single Android version support for all segment Android devices will also help app developers who wouldn’t have to spend time optimising their apps for multiple versions of the same OS.

This is not the first time we are hearing about Google’s plans to make Key Lime Pie optimised for low-end smartphones. Earlier, a report by VR Zone has noted the same.

Google to launch low-cost Android phones for emerging markets: Report

In related news, Wall Street Journal also notes that Google is preparing low-cost Android phones of its own to be released in developing markets. Given the hardware ambitions as well as plans to take internet to the next billion people, the Google branded budget Android phone do not seem that surprising.  However, we still believe that it is more likely that Google will partner with local manufacturers like Micromax or Karbonn in India and similar companies in other countries to push budget devices rather than building on its own.

Friday 28 June 2013

Qualcomm Zola smartwatch coming in September: Report

Looks like chip maker Qualcomm is planning to jump in the smartwatch market with its own offering. According to reliable leaker evleaks, the company will release a smartwatch called Zola in September this year.

There are no other details available right now but Qualcomm could use one of its entry-level chips and Mirasol display in this device.  Technically known as Interferometric modulator display, Mirasol offers paper-like readability in almost any ambient condition, while consuming significantly less power than any other display available today.

Qualcomm even showcased a mock-up of Mirasol display based smartwatch (images above & below) at SID display week earlier this year. Could we see a variant of this smartwatch as Zola later this year? May be or maybe not.

Thanks to Mirasol, Qualcomm makes almost every major component needed in a smartwatch, so this shouldn’t be a huge jump for the company.

The report of Qualcomm Zola smartwatch comes just days after Sony unveiled its third-generation smartwatch at Mobile Asia Expo. Dubbed as SmartWatch 2, this Sony wearable acts as a second screen to Android phones apart from working as a normal watch.

Smartwatches are going to be a big thing this year and we have heard that all consumer electronics giants like Samsung, LG, and Apple as well as search giant Google are working on their own smartwatches.

Android Gmail app gets an update

Google has pushed yet another update for the Gmail app for Android to make some improvements in the app.

Google has pushed a new update for the Gmail app to add some features to the settings and improve overall performance of the app. The new Gmail Inbox interface bringing update was the last one pushed for the Android platform users. The update brings back the Delete button which returns to the top of the window for quickly deleting the mails.

Gmail app for the Android devices had received new Inbox interface showing tabbed allocation of the emails by variety. However, this update did remove the usual Delete button that appeared on the top of the window. The same dustbin like Delete button is back on the panel so that the users don't have to hunt for it.

The sender images can now be touched while selecting several emails at the same time. Apart from that, there are several bug fixes in the Gmail update.

Finally, the settings for archiving and deleting emails have been improved with the new settings meant to be used with swipe gestures.

The updated version of the Gmail app is available from the Google Play store.

Android powered game console & wrist watch in works

The Android powered gaming console would give access to content available on Android.

Google, after dominating the smartphone and tablet market with Android, is now working on doing the same for gaming consoles as well. As reported reported, Google is developing an Android powered gaming console that would offer users the opportunity to play Android games right on their big screen televisions.

However, the device is expected not to be very different from the Android powered micro-computers presently available in the market. But since the device would be made by Google advanced features and support for external controllers and other devices is expected.

The console would make absolute sense and would give an opportunity to users to access content and applications available on the Android platform already. In contrast with other gaming consoles which presently suffer due to high cost of gaming titles, the Android powered console would offer the same at a fraction of a cost and much faster availability considering the present scenario. Going forward high definition titles are also expected to offer console quality games as well.

Along with the Android powered gaming console, Google is also reportedly working on an Android powered wrist watch device as well. The wearable Android device would be built offering similar features as the popular Sony Smart watch. But Google is expected to arm it with much more features than existing smart watches of various companies that mostly work as notifications enabled gadget.

Micromax Canvas 4 pre-bookings open, launch on July 8

Micromax forgets to reveal specifications

Micromax has begun pre-bookings for its next flagship smartphone Canvas 4 today. The company is asking for INR 5,000 as the advance payment, which can be refunded in case of the order cancellation.

Surprisingly, Micromax has not revealed any specifications of the device, and we only know what is visible in the products shots of the smartphone (i.e. 13MP rear camera).

Unless you really want to be one of the first buyers of Micromax Canvas 4, we would suggest you to wait until July 8, when the device is going to be officially launched and final pricing as well as full specifications will be revealed.

This pre-booking might not be binding but it is certainly one of the weirdest pre-orders we have seen in a long time.  The company seems to be following Samsung, which also opens pre-bookings with advance payments without even revealing the final price of the device, but at least they announce the specifications beforehand.

Anyways, you can read all the terms and conditions of the pre-booking here. The pre-bookings can be made at this link.

According to Micromax, the shipping of pre-booked Micromax Canvas 4 will begin on July 10.

Videocon launches A55 HD Android phone for INR 13,499

Videocon Mobiles has announced the launch of its new Android smartphone A55 HD in the Indian market today.  Packing a 5-inch display, A55 HD is the latest entrant in the growing list of 5-inch smartphones in the country.

Videocon A55 HD features a 720p HD display, 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 8MP rear camera and Android 4.2.1. The phone also comes with 1GB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, microSD card slot and 2,000 mAh battery.

In addition, the Videocon A55 HD packs 3.2MP front camera, HSPA+ connectivity, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS.

“The launch of Videocon A55HD heralds a new milestone, as with this device we bring to our customers best-in-class technological innovations, which we are offering at a compelling price. The A55HD brings the best of ‘high definition’ technology, processing speed, camera quality and many more features relevant to the upwardly mobile, technology savvy and brand-conscious user,” said Khalid Zamir, Head Product Planning & Development, Videocon Mobile Phones Division.

The company has also pre-loaded V-Store on the phone, which acts as the secondary appstore for the device and gives access to Android applications.

HTC unveils glamour red HTC One, coming to UK in July

HTC today announced that it is going to release a glamour red version of HTC One smartphone in the UK. This red-coloured HTC One will be sold exclusively by Phones 4u retailer from mid-July. The company has not revealed if the new colour will be launched other markets too or not.

Packing the same specifications as the Silver and Black colour HTC One, the new variant will also come with 4-7-inch 1080p display, Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, Ultrapixel camera and 2300 mAh battery.

“We have always been committed to offering consumers the flexibility to share their personalities through their choice of mobile phone, whether through colour, customisation or features. The new HTC One in Glamour Red showcases the power of our flagship model in a colour that demands attention, whilst maintaining the high standards set for sophisticated design and build quality,” said Philip Blair, President of EMEA, HTC.

There is no word on whether the pricing of glamour red be any different from other versions.

Lenovo K900 with Intel Inside now available in India

Lenovo’s Android phablet K900 is now available via the company’s official e-store in the country. The company is also running a promotion for a limited period and giving the phone for just INR 28,999 (instead of INR 32,999) after INR 4,000 discount (use coupon code K900ISHERE).

Originally announced for the Indian market earlier this month, the phone will be widely available next month but the company has already started selling it from its e-store.

Lenovo K900 is the first Intel Clover Trail+ powered smartphone to be released in the country as well as globally. It features a 5.5-inch IPS display with 1920x1080p full HD resolution, Android 4.2, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, out of which only 10.24GB is user accessible.

Lenovo K900 key specifications:

Android 4.2
5.5-inch 1080p display with Gorilla Glass 2
13MP F1.8 rear camera with dual LED flash
Front camera with an 88-degree super wide viewing angle
2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage
2GHz Intel Atom Z2580 dual-core processor
157X78X6.9mm, 162 grams
2500 mAh battery

HTC One & Samsung Galaxy S4 Nexus editions now available in Google Play

As promised, HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4 with Nexus user experience are now available via Google Play in the United States. There is still no word on whether both phones will ever make it out of US but we sure hope so.

HTC One is being sold at $599, while Samsung Galaxy S4 is available at $649. The specifications of these special stock Android edition phones are pretty much same as the retail skinned versions apart from the fact that both are SIM-unlocked and feature un-lockable bootloaders.

To remind you, HTC One comes with 4.7-inch full HD display, Snapdragon 600 quad-core CPU, Ultrapixel camera, 2.1MP front camera, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage and 2,300 mAh battery.

On the other hand, Samsung Galaxy S4 packs 5-inch full HD display, Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor, 13MP rear camera, 2MP front camera, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, and 2600 mAh battery.

Both the phones also run on Android 4.2.2 and will be getting future Android updates directly from Google.

According to Google, HTC One and Galaxy S4 Nexus editions will start shipping from July 9.

Google Search for Android updated

Google has released a new update for its Search app on Android. The update mainly focuses on US-centric features but there are a couple of things for international users too. This is important to note here that the current update is only for Android 4.1 or above.

Like all the recent Google app updates, this is also an ultra-slow staged roll-out, so you will have to wait for hours (may be even days) for the update to appear in your device Play Store.

First talking about the US-centric changes, Google Now will now show information about TV shows you are watching on your internet connected TV as long as both your Android device and TV are on the same Wi-Fi network.  Google Now will also alert you about offers whenever you are nearly a redemption location.

Among other changes, there is a new voice action that allows users to play music from Android phones or Play Store. Search app will also show voice actions tips after the update.

Thursday 27 June 2013

Google Play edition devices show updated camera app, other tweaks

The lucky few tech sites that got their hands on HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play Editions ahead of the release have posted details about some tweaks that are present in these devices. Despite running on stock Android 4.2.2, both the devices have different software builds than Nexus 4.

Here is a list of tweaks present in these Google Play editions:

Updated camera app interface:

The new camera app interface that was spotted on Nexus 4 with Android 4.3 in Thailand is actually present in the Google Play edition devices.  In place of the circular series of options present in stock Android 4.2 camera app, the updated interface now shows camera options in an arc form.

Initially the interface shows a total of four most commonly used options as well as option to access more settings.  When you choose more options, the interface shows you five more settings. The action options are also shown in arc design apart from the picture size option, which still appears in pop-up menu form.

The always present buttons like switching between video and image mode have also been moved closer to the shutter icon rather than sitting away from it.

It is important to note here that there is nothing functionally new to the camera app, only the interface has been changed. There is no word on when the updated camera app will arrive on Nexus devices or if Google plans to release it in Google Play like Keyboard and Calendar apps.

New live wallpaper:

The Google Play edition devices also come with new live wallpaper, which is called Sun Beam and is actually orange-tinted version of Phase Beam wallpaper, which is already present in Android. The new wallpaper might or might be added to the upcoming Android versions. (Download Sun Beam Live Wallpaper).

Update lock-screen clock on Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play edition

Like HTC One comes with Beats Audio integration even in Google Play Edition, Samsung and Google has included a slightly updated lock-screen clock to support Samsung’s Flip Covers for S4.

New Boot animation

The Nexus edition phones also come with a brand new boot animation, which is probably made for these two phones and might come in any future Nexus edition smartphones. (Download New boot animation)

Google Keep note app as system app

Google has added Google Keep as system app in these Nexus edition devices, but there is no confirmation on whether the future Android versions will also include Keep as system app rather than an optional download from Google Play.

New Motorola Mobility logo

Motorola Mobility is finally getting ready to tweak its brand for the first time since Google acquisition. First of these tweaks is a new logo, which was spotted by guys at The Verge today.

The new logo ditches the bold and italic typeface for a thinner and softer look. The M badge is still present but will be shown in new colourful versions, one of these version appeared on the site of Techweek (image below). The logo also adds “a Google company” tagline.

The company is yet to officially announce the change but we can expect to see an announcement pretty soon. We have already the variants of this logo in some of the leaked images of Moto X phone.

The last Motorola logo change came with the split with Motorola Solutions, when the company changed the M from monochrome to bright red colour.

This is a very important time for the company as it prepares itself to get back in the smartphone market with Moto X, which is coming later this year. Moto X is also the first device to get significant contribution from Google.

Kindle Fire HD, Fire HD 8.9 now available in India

Kindle Fire HD is priced at Rs 15,999 and Kindle Fire HD 8.9 is priced at Rs 21,999.

Amazon has made available its 7-inch Kindle Fire HD and 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD in India, priced at Rs 15,999 and Rs 21,999 respectively. The tablets are available through Amazon.in.

The 7-inch Kindle Fire HD tablet features an In-plane Switching(IPS) HD LCD touchscreen display with 1280x800 pixel resolution. The screen offers 215.6 pixel per inch density.

Amazon has also added Advanced True Wide polarizing filter and has a custom laminated touch sensor on the display for 25 per cent less glare. For faster downloads, the Kindle Fire HD features dual-band and dual-antenna comprising WiFi chip that supports multiple-input multiple-output technology for 40 per cent speed boost.

The 7-inch Kindle Fire HD is 0.4-inch thick and houses a dual-core 1.2 GHz TI OMAP 4460 mobile processor along with 1 GB RAM. This tablet still uses a custom version of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Amazon has packed dual stereo speakers with Dolby Digital Plus audio technology for best possible audio experience. The Kindle Fire HD comes in 16 GB and 32 GB on-board storage options and will have a front facing camera capable of supporting front-facing Skype video calls in HD resolution.

The other tablet - the 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD tablet comes with 8.9-inch touchscreen display supporting 1920x1200 pixel resolution. This display carries same qualities found in the 7-inch Kindle Fire HD tablet. The 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD is slightly thinner than the 7 inch variant, with a thickness of 0.35-inch.

It houses a dual-core TI OMAP 4470 mobile processor and 1 GB RAM. Even this tablet runs modified version of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Better quality audio is promised with the dual-stereo speakers powered by Dolby Digital Plus audio technology.

The 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD will be offered in the WiFi only version with 16 GB and 32 GB on-board storage options. Amazon will also offer WiFi+4G LTE versions with 32 GB and 64 GB on-board storage.

Both tablets have free cloud storage access for storing Amazon offered content. For web browsing, these new tablets use Cloud-accelerated web browser - Amazon Silk.

Amazon has priced both the tablets well and will compete with iPad Mini (in case of 8.9 inch version) and Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 in case of 7 inch version. And given the attraction of lot of contents and a modified operating system which has got lot of fans the tablets look attractive.

Sectos offers simple and safe image and video encryption

The Sectos application also allows users to hide pictures and save them on the cloud.

Root uninstaller has announced the launch of Sectos photo and video hiding utility for Android. Sectos allows users to secretly hide sensitive photos and videos within the device so that they can be easily accessed but not by anyone else. The application is available free of cost for Android devices running version 2.1 and above, and supports a pin or pattern based lock for additional security.

To differentiate Sectos from other products available in the market the developer has added a special hidden mode for the application, which allows the application icon to be removed, and to access it users just need to enter a special number in the device's number pad to start the application.

The application allows for single touch encryption of files and also comes with a special camera mode in which all the pictures taken will automatically go into the vault and there is no need for hiding those pictures.

The developer is also working on integrating cloud storage in the application. With this the application would be able to save encrypted data on cloud storage servers like Dropbox and Google Drive for accessing later; while making the data useless for any other applications or users.

CompressNow: Easily Compress The Size Of JPG, GIF, JPEG & PNG Pictures

There are lots of times when an Internet user wishes that the digital images they are working with were a smaller size. Just because of the size of a picture, one has to face waiting times in numerous situations. For example, if you are attaching an image with an email or uploading it on a social network, you have to wait a considerable amount of time for a large image to finish uploading.

This is a problem not only for end users but also for web developers – the larger the images on your website, the longer page loading times faced by your site visitors. Here to offer a solution to this problem is a site called CompressNow.

CompressNow is a free to use web service that lets you easily decrease the size of images in an efficient way. The site does not require you to sign up for any new accounts – you can start using it right away. All you need to do is select a digital image that is stored locally on your computer. Supported image formats include JPG, JPEG, GIF, and PNG file formats. The next step is to specify the percentage of compression.

Finally, you right click on the resulting image preview and save it as an image on your computer. The final image you save is of the same dimensions as the original image but of a lower file size.

Features:

  • A user friendly web service.
  • Lets you easily compress images.
  • Lets you specify compression percentage.
  • Supports JPG, JPEG, GIF, and PNG images.

Check out CompressNow @ www.compressnow.com

Nokia HERE now have indoor maps for 45 countries including India

Nokia has added Venue Maps to the HERE Maps and includes indoor maps of over 49,000 buildings in 45 different countries including India.

Nokia has added venue maps with indoor mapping feature to its HERE maps service. The HERE Maps now has venue maps of about 45 different countries including India. The venue maps include the floor plans of over 49,000 buildings that include several prominent ones. So the Nokia HERE maps will not only give directions when you have to visit a location but will also guide you through the floors of the mapped buildings.

Google had introduced indoor mapping earlier this year for the Google Maps.

For the venue maps of 45 different countries, the HERE Team has included floor plans of several prominent locations and buildings to aid the users. From theme parks to ATMs, most popular places have been added to the venue maps. The venues carry colour coding to differentiate itself from other elements on the map. Nokia plans to add about 1000 venues every three months.

The venues mostly include shopping malls, grocery supermarkets, public transport, airport and other places. Whether you get good network in such places or not, your GPS along with A-GPS can be used to help you navigate to your chosen destination.

The updated Nokia HERE Maps with Venue Maps can be downloaded from the Windows Phone store.

Airtel and Google offer free internet access

Airtel subscribers will not incur any data charges for using Google Search, Gmail or Google+.

vBharti Airtel and Google today announced the launch of Free Zone, which will give Airtel mobile customers access to mobile web search and feature-phone-friendly versions of Gmail and Google+ in India. The first page of a website linked from search results is provided at no data cost.

Airtel mobile customers can access the service by visiting www.airtel.in/freezone and simply start using the Internet without having to sign in to the service. Any user can create a Gmail account instantly on the Free Zone homepage and enjoy a multitude of connectivity and social media services from Google.

Rajan Anandan, vice president and managing director, Google India said, "The mobile Internet user base is growing really fast in India. Working with Airtel on this exciting trial means that we can offer Internet services at no cost to anyone with a phone. This gives people easier access to information in a way that benefits everyone, whether it's an individual or a small business that wants to reach more people on the web. We hope this initiative will encourage more Indians to experience the value of the Internet and gain from it."

He further added, "Students can easily look up for facts to work on their assignments, housewives will be able to easily check on recipes and connect with their friends and family from their mobile phones."

Airtel subscribers will not incur any data charges to access these services (Google Search, Gmail, Google+) on Free Zone powered by Google, but to access more advanced services such as attachment download or browse through to web sites from the ones accessed in the Free Zone would be enabled through the subscription to a standard data package.

Buy Micromax Canvas 2 now for Rs 8,417

Micromax Canvas 2 Android smartphone with exciting features and an even exciting price as well.

The Micromax Canvas 2 Android smartphone, which not so long ago was selling for Rs 10,000, is now available for just Rs 8,417 only.

The Canvas 2 has been a popular smartphone in the Indian market whose price zoomed to Rs 13,000 from its launch price of Rs 9,999. But now you can get this handset for Rs 8,417 from Flipkart.

The price of the Micromax Canvas 2 is mentioned as Rs 9149 on the website but users will get an automatic reduction in the price while making the payment. Interested users will have to hurry as this is a time limited offer, valid only for today or until the stocks last.

To refresh your memory, Canvas A110 has a 5 inch screen with 800x480 pixels resolution. The screen is an 'IPS panel' that offers better viewing angle. It comes with an 8 megapixel rear cameras that with dual LED flash. The Canvas A110 has a dual core 1 GHz processor, 512 MB RAM and 4 GB of internal storage as well.

Besides, the Canvas 2 also comes with a 2000 mAh battery, 3G, GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, Android 4.0.4, gravity and proximity sensor, and 32 GB expandable memory along with dual SIM connectivity. Micromax has also released Android Jelly Bean upgrade for the device and users can upgrade the device to it following the purchase.

Mercury mTAB Lite launched for Rs 6,000

It is based on Android 4.0 and is powered by 1GHz Vimicro Cortex processor.

Kobian, a player in computer peripherals and tablets, has launched a 7 inch tablet mTAB Lite for Rs 6,000.

Mecrury mTAB Lite is based on Android 4.0 and is powered by 1GHz Vimicro Cortex processor. It has a 512MB RAM, 4GB of Internal storage and supports 32GB extendable memory through Micro SD card.

mTAB Lite is 12mm thick, weighs 320gms and support 2G connectivity through SIM card. Other features in the tablet are WiFi, 0.3 megapixel front and rear camera, and 2700mAh battery.

Wednesday 26 June 2013

Celkon CT910+ HD a 7 inch 3G SIM tablet launched for Rs 7,999

The Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean based tablet comes with HD display, 2 megapixel rear and front camera, 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS connectivity and a 3500 mAH battery.

Celkon has announced the launch of a new 7 inch Android tablet called CT910+ HD. The tablet comes with 3G SIM calling function and is powered by a 1 GHz dual core processor and a 3500 mAh battery.

The tablet, which comes with HD resolution based display, is based on Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean operating system. Further details are not yet available. The tablet has been priced at Rs 7,999 which looks attractive for a tablet with this kind specification.

Celkon CT910+ HD also comes with 2 megapixel front and rear camera. The tablet supports 3G SIM calling as well as video calling function.

The Celkon tablet offers GPS, Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity. However, information about its RAM and internal memory is not yet known to us.

Samsung announces Galaxy S4 LTE-A: World’s first LTE-Advanced Smartphone

Samsung today unveiled the world’s first LTE-Advanced smartphone in the form of Galaxy S4 LTE-A. An upgraded version of the company’s internationally available Samsung Galaxy S4, the new smartphone not only offers better data download speeds but overall performance improvements, thanks to the presence of Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor.

“The introduction of the GALAXY S4 LTE-A demonstrates Samsung’s desire and ability to provide consumers with technological innovations that take advantage of increased network speeds to deliver richer and fuller experience,” said JK Shin, CEO and President of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics.

According to Samsung, Galaxy S4 LTE-A will be available in South Korea this summer in Blue Arctic and Red Aurora colours.

The specifications of Samsung Galaxy S4 LTE-A are largely same as the normal Galaxy S4 apart from the Snapdragon 800 instead of Snapdragon 600 and 32GB of internal storage.

Microsoft to open Windows stores in India

This move by Microsoft can be seen as an attempt by the software giant to grab the attention of shoppers at large retailers.

Microsoft is planning to open Windows Stores - experience zones in India, at which customers can have a hands-on experience of Microsoft products like mobiles based on Windows Phone 8, tablets and PCs based on Windows 8, and tools or apps in the Windows 8.

Chakrapani Gollapali, general manager - consumer channels group, Microsoft India said, "We are planning to open Windows Stores in India in coming days. They will be experience zones that will be setup within existing stores of multiband retailers or malls to provide customers hands on experience of our complete line up of products right from devices to software."

He added, "Microsoft doesn't plan to open any standalone stores because the idea of opening Windows Store is to provide user experience rather than selling, though selling will take place at stores."

He didn't share any specific timeline or places where the stores will be opened.

This move by Microsoft can be seen as an attempt by the software giant to grab the attention of shoppers at large retailers, which in return could lead to sales and profitability.

Also, another development that might have promoted Microsoft to open stores in India may be to grab consumer attention in the wake of Google's success in terms of Android OS, which is ably supported by partners like Samsung, and by Indian players like Micromax, Lava, Xolo, Spice and Karbonn.

Interestingly, just a couple of days back Google made an official announced that in the coming days it will open physical Android stores, called Android Nation, in India.

These stores will act as points of sale for Android powered devices of different brands as well as an experience zones where one can get a feel for devices.

Now the thing that needs to be watched is who will come up with a store first - Google or Microsoft, and which one will provide a better user experience.

Appium: Take The Pain Out Of Testing iOS & Android Mobile Apps

Developing mobile apps involves a lot of effort. As the mobile marketplace gets bigger and more people switch to using smartphones, app development becomes even more important. If you want to build an app that dominates the mobile space, you can’t simply choose to write for one OS and instead need to target as many users as possible with a cross-platform approach.

Appium is designed to take some of the pain out of testing for the mobile marketplace. It’s built on the philosophy that “testing native apps shouldn’t require including an SDK or recompiling”, a bold statement in the current climate. Appium promises to automate tests for any mobile app, using your own tests written in any language with any test framework. The platform promises to let developers write tests with the tools they know and love and use them liberally.

The platform requires Mac OS X with XCode and the Apple Developer Tools in order to work, as iOS development can only be performed on a Mac. Android testing is of course supported, with Google being less stringent about which platform apps can be developed on. If you’re a cross-platform app developer who finds the word “testing” synonymous with “torture”, Appium might just be what you’re looking for. It’s open source and very quick to set up to boot.

Features:

  • Run tests for all of your mobile applications written in any language on any framework.
  • Conduct tests without recompiling or including an SDK or third-party libraries with your app.
  • Designed for native and hybrid apps.
  • Open source, lengthy documentation and quick to get started.

Check out Appium at  Appium.io

Garmin introduces Monterra: A rugged Android-powered GPS

Garmin today announced its first outdoor rugged handheld GPS with Android at core. Dubbed as Monterra, it will be available in Q3 for a suggested price of $649.99 (Worldwide with preloaded worldwide basemap), and $699.99 (U.S. with preloaded TOPO U.S. 100K with Navteq roads).

Garmin Monterra packs 4-inch capacitive multi-touch display, Wi-Fi, 3-axis compass with accelerometer, gyro, barometric altimeter, built-in UV sensor, ANT+, Bluetooth 3.0, NFC, dual-band GPS and GLONASS receiver.

In addition, the device comes with 8-megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash, 8GB of internal memory and a microSD slot for even more extra storage.

“Monterra provides outdoor professionals and enthusiasts with the ultimate ability to customize their GPS device to perfectly suit their personal and professional needs,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales.

According to Garmin, Monterra features a unique mapping feature: 3D MapMerge. With this feature, users can combine two maps–like TOPO, basemap, or BirdsEye Satellite Imagery–then view the new unique map in three dimensions.

Monterra uses a dual battery system, which allows users the option of using the rechargeable Li-ion pack (included) or traditional AA batteries.

Sony unveils dual-SIM Xperia C with MediaTek CPU

Sony today announced its first MediaTek powered Android smartphone at a press event in Mobile Asia Expo. Dubbed as Sony Xperia C, the phone will only be released in select markets.

Carrying the model number S39h, Sony Xperia C features a 5-inch qHD display, dual-SIM (3G+2G), 1.2GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6589 and 8MP rear camera.

According to Sony, the phone will be available in Black, White and Purple colours. The release date or pricing is unclear at this moment, but the company did share that China Telecom will be releasing the device in the Chinese market.

Sony Xperia C key specifications:

  • Android 4.1
  • 8MP rear camera, front camera
  • 5-inch qHD display
  • 1GB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, microSD card slot
  • FM Radio
  • Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm audio jack
  • ClearAudio+, Clear bass, Clear Phase, Clear stereo, “WALKMAN” application
  • 1.2GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6589 processor
  • dual-SIM support

Sony SmartWatch 2 with aluminum body unveiled

Sony has formally announced the second generation SmartWatch 2 with water resistance, NFC and a 1.6-inch display.

Sony has formally announced the new SmartWatch 2 at the Mobile Asia Expo 2013 in Shanghai, China. It has a slightly larger display than its older sibling and comes in an aluminum body. Sporting a totally new user interface, Sony touts the SmartWatch 2 as the secondary display for an Android based device.

The new Sony SmartWatch 2 features a 1.6-inch display with 220x176 pixel resolution and is readable even in sunlight. Sony has given it (IP57) power to resist water till certain level and thus it stands proudly with Sony's similar feature bearing smartphones.

On the connectivity front, the SmartWatch 2 supports Bluetooth 3.0 (surprisingly no Bluetooth 4.0) and thereby compatible with the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich or higher running smartphones.

Users can download several apps specifically developed for the SmartWatch 2 that can let the user answer or reject calls, take a photo using it as a camera button, control presentations, map a run or bike ride, read emails and messages, etc.

Sony promises to bring the 24 mm watchstraps in more colour options. Sony expects to make the SmartWatch 2 available by September this year and the pricing of the same has not been announced yet. Sony had launched the first generation SmartWatch in India for Rs 6299 and considering the improvements, the SmartWatch 2 may cost the same or more.

HP announces 21.5-inch Android tablet with Tegra 4

Want to use an Android powered All-in-One PC?  HP has announced Slate 21 for you. This Android powered tablet also doubles as a desktop PC with keyboard and mouse in tow.

The company today showcased the device as a part of its press event in Beijing along with several other Android devices, which have already been announced.

HP Slate 21 packs 21.5-inch display with1920×1080p IPS touchscreen display, NVIDIA Tegra 4 quad-core processor and Android 4.2.2.  The device also features 8GB of internal storage, microSD card slot, USB 2.0 ports, Bluetooth, DTS Sound technology, Wireless Direct and an HP TrueVision HD Webcam.

According to a company blog post, Slate 21 will go on sale in the United States in September for $399. There is no word on release or pricing elsewhere.

This blog post also talks about why HP has introduced this giant Android tablet.

“Honestly, that larger screen allows for a better shared experience. This could replace one or two mobile devices in your home that could be used as a shared device for the house. Creating a large-screened device with touch functionality, we thought we could unlock more uses,” HP’s Eric Wiggins notes.

Idea offers free Facebook Messenger access to prepaid users

Indian telecom operator Idea Cellular has announced that it has partnered with Facebook to offer its prepaid 2G and 3G users free access to Facebook Messenger app on Android (and iOS).

Idea users simply have to download the app from Google Play and activate the free access by dialling *800*88#. The free access will be valid for three months and Idea users can active it anytime by July 31, 2013.

“With the increasing mobile broadband penetration in India, the mobile phone is becoming the most important device for accessing Internet and social networking platforms. Nearly 50% of data users on the Idea network access Facebook on their mobile phones. The free Facebook Messenger service will enhance their social networking experience and enable Facebook users to chat with their contacts while on the move,” said Sashi Shankar, Chief Marketing Officer – Idea Cellular.

“Messaging is a fun and useful way to share privately and connect with friends in smaller personal groups. We are happy that Idea subscribers can now enjoy free access to Facebook Messenger and experience new features such as Chat Heads and Stickers. This partnership allows us to connect people in new areas and offer them the Facebook experience on the Idea network,” said Kevin D’souza, Country Growth Manager, Facebook.

Like every other free scheme, free FB Messenger access also comes with one condition – you can only use 200MB data per month as a part of Facebook Messenger free access, if you cross the limit, you are likely to be charged as per the data rates of your existing 2G/ 3G plan.