Tech.News

Aaxa P2

By Richard Jantz, Macworld
March 11, 2010 10:22 AM ET 

[Source:www.networkworld.com] 

Aaxa's P2 combines SVGA (800 by 600) native resolution, a brightness rating of 33 lumens, and 30,000 hours of LED light--some of the strongest specifications we've seen in a pico projector.

This LCoS (liquid crystal on silicon) unit also displays sharp, legible text and has a built-in media player with 1GB of memory, a 4GB MicroSD card reader, and dual 0.5-watt speakers, so it can independently display presentations, photos, and video.

On the other hand, the P2 is bulkier and louder than most picos (its noise level specification is 30 dB); its rechargeable battery lasts only about 50 to 60 minutes (due to its relatively high 15-watt power consumption); and its color quality is mediocre. Still, for standard business presentations where crisp, legible text matters more than vibrant color graphics, the P2 is a fine choice--bright enough for small-group presentations under low light conditions. In low ambient daylight at a distance of 5 feet from the screen, the P2 displayed viewable 37-inch-diagonal images. In a darkened room at night, the P2 successfully displayed 80-inch diagonal images at a distance of 11 feet from the screen.
In our performance tests, the P2 earned an overall rating of Very Good for image quality, though it did much better on some tests than on others. In displaying text images, the P2 earned a Superior rating for rendering sharp fonts in presentation slides, spreadsheets, word processing documents, and Web pages. At its default settings, however, the P2 displayed lackluster color graphics, due to undersaturated hues and dull, washed-out color.
In our motion tests, the P2 delivered smooth action during animated presentations, in the Monsters vs. Aliens DVD screening, and in podcasts and other videos piped from an Apple iPhone or iPod. But its mediocre color yielded grayer tones than with most other pico models did. The P2's built-in sound was reasonably audible, but we'd recommend getting stronger speakers if sound plays a vital role in your presentations or videos.
Whereas most picos have an internal battery compartment, the P2's rechargeable battery attaches to the bottom of the 1.0-by-2.3-by-4.3-inch, 9.17-ounce projector. With the battery attached, the P2 weighs about 18 ounces, and it's as thick as two decks of cards. Add the unit's accessory cables (A/V, VGA, USB, power), battery clip, metal tripod, remote, and battery pack dock (for recharging) to the load, and the entire P2 outfit weighs about 2.5 pounds (not counting the carrying case). The bundled composite (RCA-type) A/V cable worked fine with the digital camera and DVD player we used in our tests, but we had to use a third-party cable to connect the P2 to the iPhone 3GS and fifth-generation iPod nano used in other tests.
The P2 is straightforward to operate. The simple controls include separate off/on buttons for the projector's fan and for illumination, plus buttons for accessing the unit's on-screen display, card reader, and media player, and a focus dial in front. The menu options are easy to navigate when we used the P2's media player and card reader to display images without attaching it to an external device, and the projector also has a handy remote control.
But the P2's 1GB of internal memory is considerably less than the memory provided by other projectors. And the P2 is limited to reading 4GB memory cards. The P2 lacks bundled software for converting media files into the formats it supports. The P2's user manual recommends using a third-party conversion utility.
Macworld's buying advice
The Aaxa P2 is an excellent choice for users who primarily want a pico projector that's powerful enough to deliver viewable, text-oriented presentations for small groups in low-light settings. But for graphics-oriented slideshows and for self-running presentations, other models offer better-quality color images and more-versatile media players.

Bing Gains Again -- Should Google Worry?

US market share depends on whose statistics you read. Most likely scenario: Bing gaining, Yahoo draining, Google maintaining

By Jeff Bertolucci, PC World
March 10, 2010 07:11 PM ET  

[Source:www.networkworld.com] 

Microsoft's Bing search engine may still be a bit player in the lucrative online search business dominated by Google, but it's slowly and steadily gaining users. And it appears that Bing's share is coming at the expense of both Google and Yahoo, the latter of which recently teamed up with Microsoft to be more competitive in online search.

It all depends on whose search market statistics you read -- Hitwise's or comScore's. The most likely scenario in the U.S. search market: Bing is gaining, Yahoo draining, and Google maintaining.

Bing the Creeper
Analysis firm Experian Hitwise today released its U.S. search market data for February, and the numbers show that Bing's slow push upward isn't running out of stream. Conversely, Yahoo's gradual decline continues. Google's trending downward too, albeit with a still-enviable market

Here's a quick January vs. February comparison chart for the big three search engines in the U.S.

	December 2009	January 2010	February 2010
Google	72.25%	71.49%	70.95%
Yahoo	14.83%	14.57%	14.57%
Bing	8.92%	9.37%	9.70%

Source: Hitwise
Hitwise's data should give Google execs plenty to ponder. Microsoft's massive marketing push for Bing appears to be paying off. There's no reason to assume that Bing's advance will stall, particularly if Redmond succeeds in its aggressive foray into mobile search.
Rumors earlier this year had Apple in talks to make Bing the default search engine for the iPhone. That scuttlebutt, however, could very well have been part of a strategic Apple bluff to win concessions from Google.
Microsoft has high hopes for its well-received Windows Phone 7 mobile operating system, which, of course, uses Bing as its default search engine. If Win Phone 7 grabs a significant share of the mobile OS market -- a difficult task considering the rising number of Android-based devices, and the ongoing popularity of the iPhone -- Bing could get another market share boost.

Google: Same As It Ever Was?
Meanwhile, comScore just released its February numbers for the U.S. search market. They show Google and Bing with slight gains, while Yahoo is down slightly:

	January 2010	February 2010
Google	65.4%	65.5%
Yahoo	17.0%	16.8%
Bing	11.3%	11.5%

Source: comScore
Certainly, both the Hitwise or comScore data give Microsoft a reason to feel cautiously optimistic about Bing's chances. And the Microsoft-Yahoo search partnership allows Redmond to focus its energies on goliath Google, which can't afford to get too cocky, even with its gaudy market share.
Contact Jeff Bertolucci via Twitter (@jbertolucci) or at jbertolucci.blogspot.com

Google's Big New Cloud Play: Should Microsoft Be Afraid?

By Shane O'neill, CIO
March 10, 2010 08:02 PM ET

 [Source:www.networkworld.com]

Late last week, Google made another aggressive move to stay ahead of Microsoft in the online productivity tools space by acquiring DocVerse, a startup founded by two former Microsoft employees, known for tools that let users collaborate on Microsoft Office files on the Web.

Google nabbed the three-year-old, San Francisco-based DocVerse for $25 million, according to the Wall Street Journal. What Google gets in return is the technology to make Microsoft Office operate more like Google Docs.

DocVerse provides a 1MB plug-in to Office 2007 that allows users to edit and share Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents online and in real-time with all the features of the Office client versions intact.
Ironically, the acquisition gives Google the authority to let users access full-featured Office files in a Web-based environment before Microsoft does.

Google plans to add the DocVerse functionality to Google Apps for free, but it has not announced when that will take place. Yet one thing's for sure: Google is giving Microsoft no breathing room in the race to bring cloud-based productivity tools to businesses. Just yesterday, Google unveiled an online store called Google Apps Marketplace, where enterprises can buy cloud-based applications designed to work with Google's own apps.

A Body Blow to Microsoft
It's worth noting that Microsoft already provides the same kind of online-collaboration capabilities as Docverse via its free Office Live Workspace service. But this is an offering that Microsoft has barely marketed, likely because with the upcoming Office 2010, arriving in June (May 12 for businesses), Microsoft will include Office Web Apps. These are free, stripped-down online versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote. If users want the full features of Office 2010 they will still have to buy the full Office 2010 desktop suite.
While Microsoft still has an undeniable lead in the productivity tool space, especially at enterprises, the latest moves by Google turn up the heat. Just as Steve Ballmer announced Microsoft's "all in" commitment to cloud computing last week, Google comes along and integrates online collaboration with Office docs through its own established cloud-based productivity suite and opens up a apps store for businesses.
"I'd say this [Google's Docverse buy] was a body blow to Microsoft," says veteran industry analyst Roger Kay. "Microsoft has to respond as best it can, whether shipping Office 2010 earlier or pushing Office Web Apps more, or both."

Chasing Google's Web Apps
Office still remains Microsoft's main cash cow, along with Windows. It generates 90 percent of the revenue for Microsoft's business division. However, the Office suite faces a variety of growing threats, not only from Google Apps, but also from IBM with LotusLive iNotes and Oracle with its newly announced "Cloud Office."
Kay says that regardless of Microsoft's new devotion to cloud computing, it still runs behind Google when it comes to online collaboration tools.
"Google is always trying to outflank Microsoft," Kay says. "There are a lot of benefits to a client-based collaborative system that synchs periodically via the cloud. Having it as an Office plug-in through Google Apps is pretty sweet."

The Real Problem: Google Incompatibility with Office
Nevertheless, there is a flip side to Google's purchase of DocVerse: It is an acknowledgement by Google that Office is the king of productivity apps and that incompatibility between Office and Google Docs has been a weakness.
Does DocVerse solve this weakness? No, writes PCWorld columnist David Coursey.
DocVerse is essentially an Office add-on that stores files in Google's cloud, writes Coursey. This may help convince Office users to try Google Apps, but it doesn't address the bigger problem of feature and file format incompatibility with Office.

"Limited compatibility with Microsoft Office is a major reason why many Google Apps free and paid customers prefer to use the e-mail and calendar features, but not the word processor, spreadsheet and presentation modules of Google Docs," writes Coursey.
Still Early Going for Google Apps
For the time being Office still dominates at large enterprises. A November survey of 2,000 IT decision-makers by research firm Forrester revealed that 80 percent of companies surveyed support some version of Microsoft Office, and 78 percent have no plans for implementing an alternative to Microsoft Office.
This could change as Google continues to tighten its focus on online collaboration tools for businesses, says Forrester analyst Sheri McLeish. But, she emphasizes, it's still early going for Google Apps.
"Yes, businesses are experimenting with Google Apps, but Google is still trying to sort out its apps and enterprise solution sets."
McLeish adds it's hard for most companies to make the business case to switch tools when users are comfortable and familiar with Office. "Google realizes this," she says, "which is why it is resorting to acquiring a company that basically helps people work online with Office formatted documents."
Clearly Google's long-term goal is to chip away at Microsoft's Office desktop suite dominance, but the DocVerse acquisition doesn't move the ball too far down the field, says McLeish.
"I see this as a complement to Office apps, not a replacement technology," she says.

 

NFL Mobile Kicks Off With Verizon Wireless in April

[Source: Verizon Wireless] 

[NFL and Verizon Wireless announce four-year agreement to deliver the NFL Network Channel and other NFL content to Verizon Wireless subscribers beginning with the NFL Draft in April.]

Basking Ridge, NJ and New York -- The National Football League (NFL) has joined forces with Verizon Wireless, the owner and operator of the nation's most reliable wireless network, to provide fans with the deepest NFL experience on their mobile phones, it was announced today. The new four-year agreement for NFL Mobile kicks off next month with coverage of the 2010 NFL Draft to be held from April 22-24 and continues with the NFL's regular season.Verizon Wireless, which also becomes the NFL's official wireless service sponsor, will provide fans with unprecedented access to America's favorite sport regardless of whether they are in the stands, at home, or on the go.
Among the programming that will be available for the first time during the regular season will be the wildly popular NFL RedZone channel from the NFL Network, which airs live look-ins of every key play and touchdown from Sunday afternoon games. Fans also will be able to watch live streaming of NBC's Sunday Night Football and NFL Network's Thursday Night Football. In addition, fans will receive the NFL Network channel, which airs seven days a week, 24 hours a day on a year-round basis, and is the only network fully dedicated to the NFL and the sport of football.
"This is an agreement that has, at its core a mutual desire by both the NFL and Verizon Wireless to provide consumers with what they want on and off the field," said John Stratton, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless. "For Verizon Wireless, it is NFL content delivered over our 3G network so football fans can extend the excitement of the sport long after the last touchdown of a season. And the NFL content is customizable in that consumers have options from video to ringtones to alerts; the choice is theirs."
The NFL experience will become increasingly rich as Verizon Wireless launches its 4G network. It plans to have 4G available in 25 to 30 markets in 2010 and in virtually all of its current nationwide 3G footprint by the end of 2013.
"We are looking forward to working with Verizon Wireless to deliver our fans the most extensive experience on mobile phones," said Brian Rolapp, the NFL's senior vice president of media strategy. "Our fans have an insatiable appetite for football, and we will be able to keep them connected wherever they are on game day but also throughout the year."
In addition to NFL RedZone, live Sunday Night and Thursday Night games, and NFL Network, other features of NFL Mobile on Verizon Wireless will include:
* Video: Game highlights and an extensive collection of on-demand video featuring analysis and inside access from NFL Network and NFL Films.
* Audio: Live radio broadcasts of every regular season and playoff game from both home and away teams.
* Fantasy: Access to fantasy information, news, and player and team statistics.
* Customizable NFL alerts, ringtones and graphics.
Fans will get their first taste of NFL Mobile on Verizon Wireless with one of the most anticipated sports events of the year, the NFL Draft, to be held from April 22-24. Among the content:
* Live 24/7 stream of NFL Network's coverage of the Draft from Radio City Music Hall.
* Extensive collection of on-demand video of NFL Network analysis.
* Pick-by-pick Draft tracker updated in real time.
* In-depth prospect profiles, blogs, news and more.
Additional information on specific phones and associated pricing will be available closer to the start of the NFL season in August
More>>

  

UPDATE 1-Motorola, Microsoft in deal to put Bing on phones

[Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/idCNN1018030820100311?rpc=44]

 

* Bing bookmark will appear on Motorola phones
* Starting in China in first quarter
NEW YORK, March 10 (Reuters) - Motorola Inc (MOT.N) has reached a deal with Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) that will put Bing search and mapping services on its phones that use Google's (GOOG.O) Android operating system.
Motorola said the partnership with Microsoft means that a Bing bookmark and search widget will be loaded on cell phones, starting in the coming weeks with phones in China.
The move follows shortly after Motorola struck a similar deal to let consumers in China use Baidu Inc (BIDU.O), among others, as the default Web search instead of Google on Android based phones.
The partnerships come against a backdrop of Google's dispute with China over censorship, which, if it leads to Google withdrawing from the country, could cause big headaches for Motorola.
That's because Motorola is banking on its ties to Google's Android and its sales in China to help in a big turnaround effort. Having search alternatives on the Android phones should lessen Motorola's dependence on Google, in China or elsewhere, analysts have said. (Reporting by Paul Thomasch; editing by Carol Bishopric)

 

Opera Mini 5 Beta for Android Arrives

Techtree News Staff, Mar 11, 2010 1412 hrs IST

Enjoy fast browsing with same Speed Dial, Download management, Tab browsing features on your Android phones

After recently embracing the iPhone platform, Opera has now brought its Opera Mini 5 beta mobile browser to the Android Platform. With that, Opera Mini 5 Beta mobile web browser now runs on all major mobile operating systems - Symbian, iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile and now Android.

Carrying the same fast browsing experience with help of Opera Turbo technology the Opera Mini 5 Beta is already available for free from Android Market. 

Also Read: Hands-on - Opera Mini 5 Beta for Android

Just like for other mobile operating systems, Opera Mini 5 Beta will bring same set of features for Android Platform. The mobile web browser is claimed enable faster web browsing, thanks to the up to 90 percent compression of the web pages at the Opera server, before it is sent to the mobile browser. This virtually guarantees you a fast desktop like browsing experience. Opera Mini 5 beta has Tabbed browsing, Speed Dial, Download Manager and Opera Link features along with the touch interface interactivity. The browser also has a Password manager so that you don't have to take pains of feeding credentials several times. We wonder if Mozilla's Fennec aka Firefox for mobiles would ever measure up for all mobile OS platforms anytime soon. 

 

 

 

Samsung e-Reader with Slider Form Factor Announced

Techtree News Staff, Mar 10, 2010 1806 hrs IST

The E6 has a 6-inch e-Ink display

Samsung has announced its E6 e-Book reader in U.S., almost two months after it was first showcased at the 2010 CES - along with its bigger brother, the E101. The latter is yet to be announced though.


Samsung has tied up with Barnes and Noble bookstore to offer the E6 owners a sizable section of titles in the e-book format. The E6 has in sight the likes of the Amazon Kindle and even Barnes and Noble's own e-Book reader, the Nook. It is interesting to see Barnes and Noble tying up with Samsung to offer content for the E6 which competes with it's own Nook.


That said, the E6 is quite a looker - for an e-Reader that is. It has a very unusual slider form factor - probably a first for any e-Book reader on the planet. It has a 6-inch e-Ink display with a very crisp 600x800 resolution. Easily readable both indoors and outdoors, it also happens to be quite compact. The E6 comes with 2GB of internal memory, which should be sufficient for storing lots of data. However, if you feel 2GB isn't enough for the kind of reading you do, you can always use a microSD card to increase the memory to a colossal 16GB.


The E6 supports Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g) and Bluetooth 2.0 and can also act as a wireless music player if you have lots of free memory and a pair of Bluetooth headphones that you can wirelessly connect using Bluetooth. There is a headphone jack as well as built in speakers. The speakers can also be used to listen to Samsung's text to speech ability in which the reader actually reads out content for you.
 

The E6 comes with an electromagnetic resonance (EMR) stylus pen. This gives the user the freedom to add annotations and "writing" on the e-Book screen.

Samsung is yet to reveal the price if the E6 and it is largely expected to be priced nominally compared to its competitors.

 

 

HTC Smart Coming to India Soon

Techtree News Staff, Mar 11, 2010 1338 hrs IST

The first 'dumbphone' from HTC to land in India this month

According to folks over at CellPassion, the Taiwanese company's first BREW based handset - the HTC Smart - is all set to be launched in India by the end of this month.
 

 
The HTC Smart was earlier known as the Touch.B and was thought to be a "dumbphone", making it the first ever non-smartphone from HTC. HTC, as you might be aware, has only been known to produce Windows Mobile and Android OS based smartphones. The company however claims that instead of being just another dumbphone, the Smart can be called a smartphone for the masses. It was first seen at the recently concluded CES and comes with a decent spec-sheet, except for the fact that both Wi-Fi and GPS are missing.

Being the smartphone for the masses, it was only logical that the Smart should come to a country like India first where a mass-market phone has a lot of potential.  HTC is reportedly planning to invest about $1 million for the Smart's launch in India. The HTC Smart is likely to be priced under the Rs. 10,000 barrier and might compete with the likes of the Corbys and the Cookies of the world. It also has in its sight the entry level Nokia touchscreen handset, the 5233.

After its launch in India, the phone will also head westwards towards Europe, most probably by early April.

Here's a brief run down on the specifications of the Smart:

• 2.8 inch QVGA touchscreen display
• GSM and HSDPA connectivity
• Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP
• 3.5mm headset jack
• 3MP camera with flash
• HTC ExtUSB (11-pin mini-USB 2.0)
• 300 MHz processor
• 256MB ROM and 256MB RAM
• MicroSD card support
• 1100 mAh battery
• 104 x 55 x 12.8 mm
• 108 grams

 

 

Hunting Mobile Threats in Memory

New software aims to expose mobile malware by monitoring a device's memory usage.

Yesterday at the RSA Conference in San Francisco, a researcher presented a new way to detect malware on mobile devices. He says it can catch even unknown pests and can protect a device without draining its battery or taking up too much processing power.

Credit: Technology Review

Experts agree that malware is coming to smart phones, and researchers have begun to identify ways to protect devices from malicious software. But traditional ways of protecting desktops against threats don't translate well to smart phones, says Markus Jakobsson, a principal scientist at Xerox PARC and the person behind the new malware detection technology. He is also the founder of FatSkunk, which will market malware-detection software based on the research.
Most antivirus software works behind the scenes, comparing new files to an enormous library of virus signatures. Mobile devices lack the processing power to scan for large numbers of signatures, Jakobsson says. Continual scanning also drains batteries. His approach relies on having a central server monitor a device's memory for signs that it's been infected, rather than looking for specific software.
Devices have two types of memory--random-access memory (RAM), used by active programs, and secondary storage, which takes longer to access and generally holds data not currently in use. Jakobsson's system would check a device by first shutting off nonvital applications, such as an e-mail app or a browser. At that point, nothing should be running except the detection software and the operating system itself. He demonstrated the software using a device running the Android mobile operating system at the RSA conference.
If malware is present and active, it will need to use some RAM to execute instructions on the device. So the central server contacts the detection software to check to see if malware is using RAM by measuring how much memory is available. It does this by completely filling the remaining memory space with random data and checking the amount of data needed against a fingerprint of the memory that was created when the device was known to be malware-free.
At this point, any malware running in the open would be revealed. The malware could try to hide its presence by allowing the random data to overwrite it in RAM, Jakobsson says, but this would prevent it from taking any further action. And if it tries to hide by accessing data in the device's secondary storage, this would slow the device's response to the central server, revealing the presence of malware.
Once a device passes this check, Jakobsson says, the system can be certain that no malware programs are actively running. It can then safely scan secondary storage in search of dormant malware. Jakobsson explains that the system isn't designed to prevent malware from getting onto the device--just finding it when it's there. In contrast to the constant scanning that antivirus software typically performs, with his system the scanning could occur before a device performed a sensitive transaction or at predetermined intervals. It could also function as a backup security system for traditional antivirus.
"This technique is certainly designed by well-recognized researchers of the community and it is clear that it's the result of a lot of work," says Aurélien Francillon, a researcher in the system security group at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, who studies malware detection schemes. But careful analysis will need to be done to thoroughly evaluate the method, he says.
Continue>>.

 

Androids Will Challenge the iPad

Tablets powered by Google's mobile operating system are set to debut.

Apple's iPad is certain to grab headlines when it hits stores next month. But a number of touch-screen tablets powered by Google's Android operating system will also debut this year. Competing with Apple's latest consumer gadget won't be easy, but analysts say the software behind these devices could give them a few key advantages.

Tap and go: This prototype device runs on the Android operating system and features a customizable home screen. The interface was created by Boston-based company Tap 'n Tap. Credit: Tap 'n Tap

Like the iPhone OS, which will power the iPad, Android was originally developed for cell phones. This means it will be fast and low-power. "Android is very responsive; it's instantly available," says Jeff Orr, a senior analyst for mobile devices at ABI Research.
It can also make use of apps already developed for Android phones. "The real benefit [of using Android] is that it taps into this ecosystem of developers that have latched onto Android," says Carl Howe, analyst and director of the Anywhere Consumer Research division of the Yankee Group. Most importantly, some of these Android devices come with features that the iPad currently lacks--the ability to run Flash, for example, as well as a webcam and software multitasking.
Several companies showed off Android-based tablets at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January. Taiwanese computer makers Compal, MSI, and Quanta all gave demos of Android-powered devices with screens between seven and 10 inches and powered by Nvidia's Tegra 2 microprocessor.
More......

 

First Android Projector Phone From Samsung

[Source: - http://phandroid.com/]

We just told you about the super-slick looking and ultra powerful Samsung i8520… you know, the one with the projector, 8MP camera, and Super AMOLED screen. Well that phone just got a name… the Samsung Halo. This isn’t 100% official yet but you can’t get much closer to the truth than Engadget did:

After quizzing a team of perplexed executives of increasing rank, a VP from Samsung’s mobile division finally told us that it’ll be revealed as the “Halo” tomorrow when the show floor opens.

And if you had any doubts about whether or not it is Android-based?

Even though the i8520 clearly seems to run the same UI as the Bada-powered Wave, we’ve been assured by multiple people in Samsung — including a VP in the Mobile division — that it is, in fact, running Android 2.1.

I wonder what the “most recent” version of Android will be by the time the Halo launches? The Android world is spinning at a ridiculous speed… and (budda bah bop bah) I’m loving it.

 

Motorola HS1001 Android Home Phone

[Source: - http://www.gizmag.com/motorola-hs1001/14395/]

 The Motorola HS1001 is an Android v1.6-powered cordless handset that features a 2.8-inch touchscreen display with virtual keypad, allowing you to surf the web and check email via a WiFi connection to a home network. The home phone features dual WiFi technology that enables connection to a home network as well as its own base station. Additionally, the DECT 6.0 phone also supports a “full spectrum of multimedia applications,” video. the Motorola HS1001 will be available in the U.S. in Q3 2010 and is expected to sell for around $150 each.

Samsung Diva S7070 Released In The UK

[Source: - http://www.unwiredview.com] 

 

Folks in the UK will receive the Samsung Diva S7070 that is designed for women. This touchscreen handset has a 2.8-inch QVGA touchscreen display, TouchWiz UI, Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE connectivity, social networking integration, a 3.5mm headset jack, and a 3.2MP Auto Focus camera with a “beauty shot” feature. The phone also features a diamond-shaped navigation key and a fashionable back cover. The Diva S7070 is currently available via Carphone Warehouse and O2. Carphone provides Benefit make-up products as gifts to the first 10,000 S7070 Diva buyers, while O2 offers free 12-month subscriptions from iSUBSCRiBE to the first 8,000 buyers.

 

Sony Ericsson Naite Now Available From Sony Style 

[Source: - http://www.sonystyle.com/]

 

Sony Ericsson has announced the availability of its latest candybar phone ‘Naite‘ via Sony Style website. The handset is sold for $159 (unlocked and unsubsidized). Made from recycled and recyclable materials, this eco-friendly phone offers a 2.2-inch QVGA display with 240 x 320 resolution, a 2MP camera, a 100MB of internal memory, a microSD card slot and supports both quad band GSM connectivity (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) as well as HSDPA connectivity (2100 MHz). 

 

Almanac spotlight: best for business

By JBC on 05 March 2010

[Source: - http://conversations.nokia.com/]

GLOBAL - Business phones haven’t traditionally been the most glamorous devices around, but that doesn’t mean they lack appeal – far from it. Nokia has a rich pedigree in the business phone arena, and it’s carrying on that good work today with some excellent business-focused devices for the mobile professional.

We’ve dipped into the Almanac to pull out our three favourite best-for-business Nokias around – feel free to let us know your own favourites in the comments below.

Continue reading>>

 

Skype and Nokia jointly announced the release of Skype for Symbian;

  a Skype client for Nokia smartphones based on the Symbian platform, the world's most popular smartphone platform. Skype for Symbian will allow Nokia smartphone users worldwide to use Skype on the move, over either a WiFi or mobile data connection (GPRS, EDGE, 3G). It is now downloadable for free from the Ovi Store, Nokia's one-stop shop for mobile content.

Skype for Symbian enables Nokia smartphone users to: - Make free Skype-to-Skype calls to other Skype users anywhere in the world* - Save money on calls and texts (SMS) to phones abroad - Send and receive instant messages to and from individuals or groups - Share pictures, videos and other files - Receive calls to their existing online number - See when Skype contacts are online and available to call or IM - Easily import names and numbers from the phone's address book

Skype for Symbian will run on any Nokia smartphone using Symbian ^1, the latest version of the Symbian platform. Skype will soon introduce this client to Symbian mobile devices from other manufacturers, including Sony Ericsson.

"Symbian enables us to bring smartphones to more and more people and ensures scale for our solutions and compelling services, such as Skype. We're seeing around 1.5 million downloads a day on Ovi Store now and believe that the Skype client for Nokia smartphones will have wide appeal to Symbian users," said Jo Harlow, Senior Vice President for Smartphones, Nokia.

"Skype, the king of Internet communications, running on Symbian, the world's dominant smartphone platform, makes for an explosive combination," said Larry Berkin, Head of Global Alliances and GM USA, Symbian Foundation. "With Symbian's global reach, Skype is that much closer to becoming the ubiquitous real-time communications platform for hundreds of millions of Symbian-based mobile users."

Russ Shaw, General Manager, Mobile at Skype said, "With Skype for Nokia smartphones, more than 200 million smartphone users worldwide** will be able to take the Skype features they love with them on the move. Alongside Skype's relationships with operators and handset manufacturers worldwide, making Skype available direct to consumers will help millions of users keep in contact with the people that are important to them without worrying about the cost, distance or whether they are away from a computer."

The initial Skype for Symbian application is compatible with the following Nokia touchscreen models: Nokia N97, Nokia N97 mini, Nokia X6, Nokia 5800 XpressMusic and Nokia 5530 and the following non-touch devices: Nokia E72, Nokia E71, Nokia E90, Nokia E63, Nokia E66, Nokia E51, Nokia N96, Nokia N95, Nokia N95 8Gb, Nokia N85, Nokia N82, Nokia N81, Nokia N81 8 Gb, Nokia N79, Nokia N78, Nokia 6220 classic, Nokia 6210 Navigator, Nokia 5320.

For more information on Skype for Symbian, including the latest supported handset list, at http://www.skype.com/go/symbian.

Via: Press Release by Nokia

Tata Indicom and Micromax Mobiles have come together and launched their new mobile named as Micromax C112 Color FM handset, with Tata Indicom's 'Pay Per Second' offering for its prepaid customers across circles. Micromax C112 is available in India at a price of Rs.1699.

Features and Specifications of Micromax C112 Mobile:

* CDMA 800 MHz

* 107*47*12.57 dimensions

* Weighs 70g

* 128*128 Pixels,65K Color CSTN stylish display

* 5-way navigation key

* FM radio

* Hindi keypad

* Mobile tracker

* Speakerphone

* Games

* Messaging

* Phonebook Memory (500)

* SMS Memory (300)

* Midi ring tones

* Li-ion 800mAh battery

* Talk time of up to 3 hours

* Stand-by time of up to 5 days.

Announcing the new offer, Mr. S Ramakrishna, Regional COO- AP & Orissa Circle, Tata Indicom, said, "We have been consistently offering such exciting propositions to our customers so that they get the benefits of feature-loaded handsets along with splendid tariff offerings. The Micromax C112 is a user-friendly, stylish and affordable handset. When you combine that with per second billing and free talktime of 200 local minutes through a recharge of just Rs 38/-; the offer truly becomes irresistible! The offer is aimed at our new prepaid subscribers who expect nothing but the best in class offerings and value propositions when it comes to Tata Indicom."

Micromax C112 Color FM handset prepaid customers can get a new Tata Indicom connection absolutely free along with 200 minutes talktime with per second billing option. What's more, subscribers also have the option of recharging with a RCV of Rs 38/- as many times they want till 31st May, 2010 and avail free local talktime of 200 minutes. The validity for each installment of promotional talk-time is 30 days.

Nokia C Series C5 Mobile Phone in India

Adding one more feather to their cap, Nokia launched their latest innovation smartphones, the C Series. Nokia started of C-Series with Nokia C5 Smartphone. The C5 is a smartphone packed into a feature phone body, boasting S60 3rd edition and a host of messaging and social networking features built in.

Features and Specifications of Nokia C5 Mobile Phone:

* S60 3rd edition

* 12mm thin , 46mm across and 112mm high

* 2.2-inch display

* 3.2-megapixel camera

* 2GB card in the box

* mircoSD support for up to 16GB cards

* 1050 Mah Battery

* 12 hours talktime (GSM)

* Stay on standby for 26 days between charges.

* FM radio

* 3.5mm AV connector

* Stereo IHF speaker

* Free walk and drive navigation by Ovi Maps

* The Nokia C5 boasts a cool new feature in its phone book, where you can see your friends status updates directly from Facebook. You can also update your Facebook status easily and share your location with Ovi Maps 3.0.

* Nokia Messaging instant messaging easier via IM using Google Talk or Windows Live Messenger.

* Available in white and warm grey

Price of Nokia C5 in India:

Nokia C5 will be available in India next month at a Price of Rs.8400

Olive Telecommunication;

is a privately held leading Convergence Solutions Device Developer with presence in mobile telephony, mobile computing and wireless broadband space.

Olive offers a range of mobile handsets which includes touch screen phones, QWERTY keypad mobile phones, dual sim handsets, AAA battery powered hybrid mobile phone, long battery life cell phones and lots more.

Olive Telecommunication has launched India's First Hybrid Mobile phone which runs on AAA Batteries, named as Olive-FrvrOn or Olive-VG2300. This mobile is available at a cheap price of just Rs.1699.

Features and Specifications of Olive FrvrOn:

* Hybrid Mobile Phone

* Runs on AAA Batteries

* Equipped with LiOn Battery also.

* 1.5" Color Display

* Stereo Headset

* Built-in FM radio

* Polyphonic Ringtone

* Speakerphone

Arun Khanna, Chairman Olive Telecommunication said, “Olive FrvrOn has been designed keeping in mind the extensive usage of mobile phones countrywide. While the heavy duty urban user will now have the confidence of 'Non Stop' telephony; to the rural user, with undependable electricity supply the phone becomes a veritable life-line."

Samsung Mobile has launched the next version of their touchscreen phone Jet, This one has been launched as Samsung Jet 2;

 However, there are not much changes in Jet 2 as compared to Jet 1 just that there are some software updates and enhancements.

There are not much changes with respect to hardware or features. Lets go down and read in detail about the features and specifications of this phone

Features and Specifications of Samsung Jet 2 Touchscreen Phone:

* WVGA AMOLED display (3.1”)

* 800MHz application processor

* 5 MP Camera

* Google Push Email

* Equipped with Dolphin Browser

*

TouchWiz 2.0 UI

*

Wi-Fi

*

GPS

*

DNSe & SRS Sound Effect technology

* DivX and XviD video playback

* 3G Enabled

* EDGE

* Bluetooth

Ranjeet Yadav, Director- Mobile & IT, Samsung Electronics states mentioned in a press conference:

Loop Mobile Introduces Service Gallery on Wheels

Loop Mobile has announced the launch of its unique new "Mobile Service Gallery" in Mumbai, which will allow Loop consumers to experience its service right at their doorsteps.

This new initiative by Loop makes use of a fully equipped mobile van that doubles up as a service center that can be used to activate connections, recharge coupons and for on-the-spot bill payments, billing and service queries, etc. The van will travel across Mumbai throughout the day to maximize its usage by patrons. The van, designed by automobile designer Dilip Chabria, is fully air-conditioned and offers comfortable seating arrangements for costumers.

Loop Mobile claims that it's 'mobile' service gallery is a first of its kind in Mumbai. The van will accommodate three Loop Mobile executives who will answer any queries or service related issues. The Loop Mobile Service Gallery will be stationed outside prominent locations like Shopping Malls, Theaters, colleges and other popular hangouts. Depending on the response, the company would launch more such mobile galleries for the convenience of its subscribers.

Micromax Introduces the C112

Micromax Mobile has launched its latest handset, the C112 in India. Along with the launch, it was also announced that the C112 will come bundled with an offer that would enable customers to get a new Tata Indicom connection free along with the phone.

The Micromax C112 is a basic handset that comes with a 1.44 inch, 65k, 128*128 screen. It is large and vibrant enough to provide decent legibility reading and watching stuff. The phone is touted to be an "FM handset" and obviously sports a FM Radio receiver with features like 20 channels and scheduled FM recording. It also comes with a Hindi keypad, mobile tracker and a calendar. Here are the specs of the phone:

* Form Factor - Candy Bar Style

* Band - CDMA (800 MHz)

* Weight - 70g

* Dimensions - 107*47*12.57

* Display - 65K Color CSTN (128*128 Pixels,1.44 inches)

* 5-way navigation key

* Stereo FM Radio

* Speakerphone

* SMS

* Games

* Phonebook Memory - 500

* SMS Memory - 300

* Expandable Memory - N/A

* Battery Type - Li-ion 800mAh

* Talk Time - Up to 3 hours

* Standby Time - Up to 5 days

With the Tata Indicom tie-up, users get 200 minutes talk-time with per second billing option. Subscribers also have the option of recharging with a RCV of Rs. 38 as many times they want till May 31, 2010 and avail free local talk time of 200 minutes. The validity for each installment of promotional talk-time is 30 days. The offer is aimed at Tata Indicom's new prepaid

BSNL 3G Arrives in Andhra Pradesh

Continuing 3G launching spree across the country, BSNL has bought 3G to Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh and other major cities across the state. This comes barely days after the service was launched in Bangalore, Karnataka.

While the launch of the services was expected across Andhra Pradesh, what has interested us are the tariffs of the service - details of which are provided below:

New subscribers on the 3G network can make STD calls for 50 paise per minute. Local calls, on the other hand, are priced at 30 paise per minute. This is while using the 3G network. If you are off the 3G network, the charges will be 70 paise for STD and 60 paise (both per minute) for local calls. Local SMS will be charged at 40 paise per SMS, national SMS for 60 paise and international SMS for Rs. 3. Now, for the important part. The data transfer charges is 1 paisa per 10KB data transfer.

There is a subscription charges for the 3G network that amounts to Rs. 59. New 3G consumers have the option to recharge for Rs. 120. In the beginning, BSNL has announced a promotional offer in which users will get 50 minutes of free talk time on STD OR local calls (video calls) and 25MB of free data transfer.

The tariffs are slightly different for existing BSNL consumers. If they subscribe to 3G, they will be charged 50 paise and 70 paise for 3G and a non 3G local call respectively. For STD calls, they have to pay 60 paise using 3G and 80 paise on 2G. If you notice, calls on the 3G network are actually cheaper!

The service is now live and can be accessed in 29 cities and 23 district headquarters across Andhra Pradesh.

 Intel, Orange Collaborate on MeeGo Platform

[Source: Orange]

Intel and Orange today announced a strategic agreement to deliver Orange multimedia services across a number of devices based on the Intel(R) Atom(TM) Processor and MeeGo software platform. MeeGo, a result of a merger of the Linux-based Moblin(TM) and Maemo software projects unveiled at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, enables an open software environment for rapid development of a range of smart, PC-like devices and exciting new services.Establishing a common software framework across multiple devices, ranging from smartphones and tablets to netbooks, Intel and Orange will simplify access to an increasingly mobile and personalized internet and drive uptake of new and existing applications and services. MeeGo builds on the capabilities of the Moblin core OS and its support for a wide range of device types and reference user experiences, combined with the momentum of Maemo in the mobile industry and the broadly adopted Qt application and UI framework for software developers.
Intel and Orange will work to increase the availability of Orange Signature Services, such as Orange TV and Orange Maps, which will be supported by the MeeGo environment. Intel and Orange will also work to harness the potential of a converging computing and communication's platform enabling customers to enjoy services across multiple devices and screens.
"Seventy-five percent of our customer base has yet to embrace the mobile internet. With the increasing number of phones and operating systems for customers to choose from, it is our role to make sure our customer's journey into this richer mobile multimedia environment is simple and easy," said Yves Maitre, SVP Devices, Orange Group. "Our collaboration with Intel on the MeeGo software platform will not only ensure a broader choice in terms of screens and devices, but that customers continue to benefit from a consistent user experience delivered through Orange Signature services, including a customized home-screen they trust and recognize, the highest quality network and secure and simplified billing."
"The Intel Atom processor has been a terrific success in the marketplace so far," said Doug Fisher, vice president, Software and Services Group and general manager, Systems Software Division, Intel Corporation. "Combined with the MeeGo software platform, these PC-like devices will deliver a wealth of Internet, computing and communications experiences with rich graphics, multitasking and multimedia capabilities and the best applications performance. Orange and Intel share a similar vision around digital devices and consumer experiences and our joint work will connect people to the content that matters most, wherever they may be."
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Intel Previews New Intel-powered convertible classmate PC

[Source: Intel] 

Santa Clara, CA -- Intel disclosed information about its new Intel-powered convertible classmate PC reference design, adding to the existing classmate PC designs as part of the Intel® Learning Series. This upcoming addition combines aesthetics with ruggedness, full PC functionality with enhanced e-reading capabilities and improved performance with energy efficiency. It will join the clamshell classmate PC design to provide classrooms around the world with a more purpose-built solution for education PC manufacturers are now designing their products based on this design that will be introduced later this year.The flexible design of the new convertible classmate PC works and moves the way kids do The Intel-powered classmate PC provides powerful computing performance to support various educational applications and activities:
Features the Intel® Atom™ processor – built for low power consumption and designed specifically for a new wave of mobile Internet devices and simple, affordable netbooks
Enough memory and storage to run education applications that help students succeed today and build skills for the future
Integrated wireless connectivity with WiFi and providing the options of 3G, GPS, WiMAX for easy network and Internet connections
Rechargeable battery with up to 8.5 hours* of battery life so students and teachers don’t have to worry about plugging in [*with optional 6-cell battery]
10.1” LCD monitor with 1024 x 600 resolution Built-in rotational camera for more natural and intuitive picture taking
Built-in audio and microphone so students can experience and create multimedia
The convertible classmate PC is easy to hold and carry with heat dissipation features, rubberized surface for easy grip and a comfortable, low-profile handle that supports a variety of holding and carrying positions
The durable, lightweight and compact construction withstands everyday use and is perfect for child-size hands, small desks and various classroom configurations:
Improved ruggedness with drop test from desk height
Hard drive protection
Water-resistant keyboard, touchpad and screen
Bump and scratch resistant
Optional anti-microbial keyboard
Comprehensive research and classroom observations back the new convertible classmate PC’s “micro-mobility” offerings
The Intel-powered convertible classmate PC can convert instantly from a clamshell design to a tablet PC, allowing students to naturally change form factors as they move about between activities and locations in the classroom, an observation that Intel ethnographic researchers have termed “micro-mobility.” The digital accelerometer automatically switches the screen orientation, so students can hold their PCs any way they want and with whatever hand they use to write
The Intel-powered convertible classmate PC provides natural, easy and fun reading, writing and drawing experiences:
Touch-optimized user interface for the eReader application included
Students can touch the screen to scroll and turn pages or use convenient buttons at the side of the display
Supports mainstream ebook file formats like pdf and ePub
Improved note taking experience with annotation software application
Handwriting recognition and note-taking software give students the choice to input content without typing
Handwriting recognition is available in multiple localized languages
Cool surface temperature for comfort while using in tablet format
In tablet mode, the “palm resting” feature ignores the touch of hands resting on the screen, allowing students to write and draw intuitively
Ergonomic stylus is wide and triangular for comfortable grip, and can be attached to the classmate PC with an optional tether
The Intel-powered convertible classmate PC promotes collaboration and teamwork between students in the classroom:
In clamshell mode, the screen swivels 180 degrees so content is easily shared with classmates
In tablet mode, students can easily carry their classmate PCs around the classroom or outside to facilitate group projects
With the built-in rotatable camera, students can photograph or film themselves and their classmates from their desks or while on the go
Dual headphone jacks allow students to share audio with a classmate or teacher
Digital microphone enhances voice input and online chat quality
Instant Collaborator software lets students easily share files and screens with classmates
Intel collaborates with a wide network of vendors to develop and deliver education technologies that support and optimize Intel®-powered convertible classmate PCs
Intel collaborates with local hardware, software and peripherals vendors to catalyze innovation and optimal compatibility at the development stage
More than 300 vendors, including hardware vendors, operating system vendors, software vendors and enterprise solutions providers are developing applications, peripherals and services optimized for Intel-powered classmate PCs
The Intel® Learning Series, now in 60 countries, offers marketing tools, training, online exposure and a forum for vendors to share resources and find common opportunities
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Airfone AQ9 Dual SIM Mobile: Price, Features & Reviews

  

 

Airfone AQ9 is a user friendly Dual SIM Dual standby mobile phone, from the Airfone stables. Airfone AQ9 has a 1.8" color screen. Airfone AQ9 entertains with the Wirless FM and MP3 Player with surround sound. The MP3 Player and FM Radio in the Airfone AQ9 can be operated by a single touch.

Airfone AQ9 is also embedded with other added advantages like Five LED Torch, Extra Long Battery Life and Expandable Memory. The user friendly features of Airfone AQ9 are augmented with the easy to handle options that allow the subscriber to Operate mails through Gmail, yahoo, lotus notes etc, with the help of Mobee.in.

Airfone AQ9 Key Features:
* QVGA 256k Color Screen with GSM900/1800 band
* Messaging options like SMS and MMS
* Speed Dial and sound recorder options
* The inbuilt games and expandable memory add to its appeal
* The1200 mAH battery offers talk time of 3-4h and stand by time of 240h.

Airfone AQ9 is loaded with a list of enticing features that augment the user experience. Airfone AQ9 is priced at Rs. 2,899 /-

By: Amrith K. A.
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