Archive for May 2013

Maruti, others hope rains will push sales

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Maruti, others hope rains will push sales\


\Car makers Maruti Suzuki India, Hyundai Motor India, Tata Motors and every other auto company in India is praying for a good monsoon this year to spur demand for cars and two-wheelers and pull the industry back on the growth path.

"Good monsoons have always bring positive sentiments into the market," said Rakesh Srivastava, senior vice president, Hyundai Motor India, which is planning to target small-town and rural India with its small cars Eon, Santro, I10 and I20.
Maruti is hoping to sell larger numbers of its Alto, WagonR and Swift small cars in this market, sources said.
"Monsoons are followed by festivals that are high points for auto sales. The predictions for monsoon are positive this year and we expect auto industry will move into a positive trajectory soon," Srivastava added.
In 2012-13, domestic car sales fell 6.7% from 2.03 million units to 1.89 million units, the first time it had declined in a decade. The start to the new fiscal has been even more tepid with sales declining by over 10% in April.
Traditionally a good monsoon augers well for the auto industry across both rural and rural markets. The meteorological department has predicted a normal monsoon this year.
"We have seen in the last few years that the share of big cities in overall sales has gone down," said Sumit Sawhney, executive director, Renault India. 
Good rains will have a significant impact on sales of two wheelers as well, which are more dependent on rural markets. The segment grew at less than 3% in 2012-13 with all major players including Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj and TVS registering a decline in sales.
Only Honda, the second-largest player in the segment, ducked the trend to post a double digit growth during the year.
"Going forward for the overall industry growth, a lot will also depend on the monsoon and overall economic activity," said Anil Dua, senior vice-president (marketing and sales), Hero MotoCorp. 
Friday 31 May 2013
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Apple takes India seriously as iPhone sales increase by 400% with the help of EMI schemes, discounts

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Apple takes India seriously as iPhone sales increase by 400% with the help of EMI schemes, discounts\

Sales up 4 times to nearly 400,000 units a month, with help from EMIs, discounts; telcos record increase in data usage, revenues.
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\NEW DELHI: Equal monthly installments and cash back schemes have worked wonders for Apple in India as iPhone's monthly sales have risen by 300% to 400% over the last few months. The Cupertino-based company has managed to dramatically push up its sales by figuring out trends of consumer demand and changing the iPhone's perception from being a high-end product to an affordable one.

Compared to average monthly sales of 70,000-80,000 smartphones before the EMI schemes were offered to consumers in India iPhone sales have zoomed up to stratospheric levels, analysts at Credit Suisse said. "From our channel checks we believe that iPhone sales are nearing 400,000 units per month in India - that is nearly 3% share of handset sales for a single top-end product in a market that has long been dominated by low-end feature phones," Credit Suisse's research analyst Sunil Tirumalai said in a note to clients that was accessed by ET.

Apple does not reveal its sales figures for a particular market. The company did not comment on the sales figures quoted by the agency.
About four months ago, Apple began its EMI scheme that offered potential buyers to make a partial payment of iPhone 4 and 4S models upfront and pay the rest of the amount in installments over 6 to 12 months without paying any interest. The super aggressive pricing and advertising blitzkrieg on the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S older models that are not sold in any other country, created a strong foothold for iPhone as a product in India. "The 4-9% implicit discount coupled with the option of easy EMIs spread over 6-12 months became popular. Within a few months, our discussions with handset retailers indicated that iPhone sales went up 3-4x, forcing companies to respond," Tirumalai added.

The Swiss brokerage firm and research agency said its estimates were based on checks with mobile store retailers across the country and from distributors mandated to sell Apple products. In September last year, Apple changed its retail strategy from partnering with telecom operators in India (Bharti Airtel and Aircel as its preferred partners), and brought on board RedingtonBSE -2.27 % and Ingram Micro as official distributors for its handsets. IDC's Asia-Pacific Mobile Phone Tracker for October-December 2012 revealed that Apple increased its value share in the smartphone market rapidly to 15.6% from 3.9% in the previous quarter while its share in shipments rose to 4.7% from 1.3% in the same time.

Korean smartphone maker Samsung that led with 38.8% share in value and 33.2% share in volumes in the fourth quarter offered more number of models to consumers on EMI schemes. Galaxy Note II almost matched the EMI payment of iPhone 5 as it sold for 12 EMIs of Rs 2,999 each compared to a down payment of Rs 16,990 for the iPhone 5 followed by EMIs of Rs 2,376 for every month in a year.

By April, Apple pushed the pedal harder by offering an 18% cash discount on top of the earlier iPhone 4 offer, thus nearly taking away the down-payment. This resulted in an effective 23-27% discount on the product which made it an affordable option for new smartphone buyers rather than a premium product. This time, apart from Samsung that began selling its flagship S4 on monthly installments, other rivals like Nokia and BlackBerry also joined the race.

However, in the smartphone price wars, telecom operators ended up with most benefits as larger smartphone sales resulted in higher data usage and thus, higher data revenue. The number of data subscribers for Bharti rose to 43.4 million in the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2013 from 41.4 million in the three months ended December 2012. The country's largest mobile phone company's average revenue per user (Arpu), an indicator of profitability, rose by 16% in a quarter - from Rs 47 in December 2012 to Rs 55 in March 2013. Idea Cellular's blended data Arpu (2G and 3G) was Rs 55 for the three months ended March 2013, up by Rs 3 over the previous quarter. Data ARPU for 3G subscriber base had risen to Rs 105 against from Rs 97 in the same period while each 3G subscriber was using an average of 608 MB Megabyte. The number of customers taking up 3G plans from Bharti AirtelBSE -4.86 % has also risen by 23% in the same period, indicating rising demand for high-speed data services as more and more consumers shift to smartphones.  
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At Rs 22 L, Merc's A-class is "value for money"

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\With three new launches rolling out and a brand new segment (compact luxury) to crack, Mercedes-Benz India has its work cut out this year. In a chat with TOI, company's MD & CEO Eberhard Kern discusses products, strategy and the future. Excerpts:

With a price of Rs 21.93 lakh for the 180 CDI Style and Rs 22.73 lakh for the 180 Sport, the justlaunched A-Class is competitive only if you do not factor in the discounts currently ruling the market . Given that this compact luxury segment is your big volume bet, is this pricing good enough?

We have always maintained that our pricing is all about value for money . We are not in the game for the lowest price or the highest discount. Our positioning is that a Mercedes-Benz commands a premium. If you consider the fact that both the variants of AClass are fully loaded versions, it's pure luxury and it's a fair price.
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LG Optimus G Pro Coming to India on June 20th (PR)

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LG Optimus G Pro Coming to India on June 20th (PR)

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LG might be enjoying the success of the Nexus 4 in India, and in order to retain that streak the company is planning to launch the new LG Optimus G Pro in India on the 20th of June. 
The 5.5 inch smartphone from LG will fall into the Galaxy Note 2 category of phone sans the stylus.The LG Optimus G Pro has a  True Full HD IPS Plus LCD capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels.
For the hardware geeks, the Optimus G Pro has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor, which features a 1.7GHz Quad-Core CPU and Adreno 320 GPU. A massive 3140 mAh battery and 2GB of RAM.
The LG Optimus G Pro has a 32 GB storage along with 64 GB expandability via microSD card. A 13 MP rear camera and a 2.1 MP front camera enable full HD video recording and LG was also the first to show off dual camera features with the LG Optimus G Pro, right before Samsung launched the S4 into the market. 
While the exact dates are unknown, several of our resources within LG have hinted at a June 20 launch, and now an independent report from Indiatimes confirms the date.
LG has somehow managed to always remain the underdog in the Indian market, thanks to delays in their products. But it looks like the company has great plans ahead and should be able to gain a large market share in India. The Price of the Optimus G Pro is expected to be in the Rs. 35,000 price bracket, but exact pricing is unknown. It is crucial for LG to launch the LG Optimus G Pro at a price that would totally capture and take the market away from Samsung, else the Note 2 and Galaxy S4 will remain the key phones.
 


 
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Rumor : LG could make the Nexus 5 After All

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Rumor : LG could make the Nexus 5 After All

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LG was the OEM of choice for building the Google Nexus phone last year, and the Nexus 4 has been quite a hit in the industry. Several tipsters and online rumors have pointed to different hardware being manufactured by different companies. The latest news comes from a Korean site called  Daum, that claims that the Nexus 5 is already in testing and may be announced sooner than expected. The site also claims that LG is the choice as a manufacturer due to huge success with the Nexus 4 and an overall positive report from the market watch. 
 
Google is known to have the same company build the Nexus device year after year, as they did with Samsung’s Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus, LG could be chosen for the Nexus 5 seeing as how well they executed the previous edition of the Google Phone.
While no real specs, images or design ideas for the upcoming product are available, it is claimed that the Hardware has already done several rounds of the Google Campus. With no real information to back this one, take it with a pinch of salt guys.


 
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Iocean X7 Youth edition will be available in India by 6th June for Rs. 11500

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Iocean X7 Youth edition will be available in India by 6th June for Rs. 11500

 
Iocean X7 Youth edition will be made available in India by 6th for a price of Rs. 11,500 (shipping extra). The X7 comes powered by quad core processor with 5 inch full HD screen. This handset will be sold by AndroidGuruz.
AndroidGuruz as per their latest facebook updates will have their first store functional in Delhi this June, 2013.  X7 will be launched on 6th with 1000 units in stock.
The Wammy Passion Z looks similar to the IOcean X7 model that is selling for over Rs. 15K with shipping. The IOcean X7 Youth edition is priced for Rs. 12,000 (Rs. 11,500 + 500 shipping). Price wise it beats the Passion Z but AndroidGuruz is new and there have been a lot of delays with some models like UMI (happening in China too), hopefully IOcean will not face this issue (it’s a different company).
The Iocean X7 sports a 5 inch screen with FHD resolution, powered by MediaTek quad core processor running Android 4.2 with 1GB RAM and 4GB internal storage. There is an 8MP AF rear camera and 2MP front camera. The battery is 2000 mAh.\

\iOcean X7
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Iocean X7 key features and specifications
  • Dual SIM / Dual Standby.
  • 1.2GHz MediaTek MT6589 + PowerVR SGX 544MP.
  • 5 inch screen with 1920×1080 pixels resolution (440.58ppi).
  • Android 4.2.
  • 1GB RAM, 4GB internal storage and micro SD card support.
  • 8MP rear camera with LED flash + 2MP front camera.
  • 3G, 2G, Wi-Fi, GPS, micro USB, Bluetooth and 3.5mm audio jack.
  • 2000 mAh battery.
  • Price Rs. 11,500 + 500 shipping with free 8GB micro SD card (Via AndroidGuruz).
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New Aston Martin V12 Vantage S Puts Out 565 hp

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New Aston Martin V12 Vantage S Puts Out 565 hp
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V12 Vantage S\

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It was recently announced by Aston Martin that they were discontinuing the V12 Vantage model. However it seems that they’re still making it, kind of. This is the V12 Vantage S. It looks mostly like the outgoing V12 Vantage, however the aluminum grille vanes are swapped for carbon fiber or titanium silver mesh inside a grille shell inspired by the CC100 Speedster concept, there are new ten-spoke, 19-inch alloys, the roof goes black and this is the first time customers can spec black pedals.

At its heart is the new AM28 engine, a more evolved species of the 6.0-liter V12 incorporating features like CNC-machined combustion chambers and hollow camshafts. It produces 565 horsepower, a 50-horse increase over the outgoing model, and 475 pound-feet of torque, a boost of 37 lb-ft. Acceleration from 0-100 kmph is expected to come before the four-second mark (down from 4.2 seconds) and it will go on to an astonishing 329 kmph, up from 304 in the base V12 Vantage. The exhaust note is adapted from the One-77 (which is a great thing) and it is now the fastest car Aston Martin makes. In fact, except for the One-77, it’s the fastest road car in the company’s history.
It also marks the debut of a new transmission from Aston: A seven-speed Sportshift III. Sport shift denotes Aston’s sequential gearboxes, which means that there is no manual transmission option. This transmission is very high tech and is 55 pounds lighter than the six-speed manual it replaces. Yes, it can shift quicker than the manual, but the V12 Vantage’s most unique trait is now gone, which will surely upset die-hard loyalists. Other than that, three-stage adaptive damping confers Normal, Sport and Track modes to the suspension settings and alters the amount of power-assist for the steering. A second, independent Sport setting controls gear selection, throttle response and exhaust note. 
Most importantly, it still looks the part.


 
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HTC One with Stock Android Announced, Available June 26th $599

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HTC One with Stock Android Announced, Available June 26th $599


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Google’s Sundar Pichai while at D11 has made it clear that there indeed will be an HTC One running stock android 4.2.2 which will be launched and made available on June 26th via the Google Play store. For the US market this phone will come unlocked to GSM networks and will cost US $ 599 (approximately Rs. 34,000) vs the Samsung Galaxy S4 which is priced at US $ 649.
For global connectivity the Stock Android HTC One will offer quadband LTE (700/850/AWS/1900), triband HSPA+ (850/1900/2100) and the usual quadband GSM / EDGE. The Hardware will still be integrated with Beats audio and will retain the “two button on either side of the HTC logo” layout. The app list black bar will also be there along with the button press schemes.  For the main buttons short press of Home for Home, long press for Google Now and double tap for Recent Apps.
 



 
Thursday 30 May 2013
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Breaking: Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini is heading to India Early July forRs 24,990

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Breaking: Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini is heading to India Early July forRs 24,990\
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Yesterday Samsung announced a “Mini” version of the Samsung Galaxy S4, while it may be mini in comparison to the original Galaxy S4, the Galaxy S4 Mini is still a pretty big phone. Defining the large handsets making Korean company’s dream for the future. The specs include a 1.7GHz dual-core processor, Android 4.2.2, GPS, GLONASS, WiFi, 8GB internal memory (expandable up to 64), and 1.5GB of RAM.
The display is a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED qHD display which will horribly disappoint onlookers, all juiced up by a 1,900mAh battery. But this news is old!, Our tipster within Samsung has confirmed that the plans for the launch of this phone have already been penned down and the Hardware will arrive as soon as early July and will also be kept in the under Rs. 25,000 price bracket. 
The Galaxy S4 Mini from Samsung India, will be offered up in two variants a dual sim version and a single sim version, with a possibility of LTE enabled Single Sim variant. However, our source made it clear that he was unaware if both dual sim and single sim variants will be launched together. 
The Galaxy S4 Mini will be offered up in the same two colors as the big brother White Frost and Black Mist. More details when available. 
 


 
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Pioneer announces XDJ-R1 all-in-one digital DJ deck with iOS control (PR)

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Pioneer announces XDJ-R1 all-in-one digital DJ deck with iOS control (PR)
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Pioneer is a name synonymous with DJs and there is a real reason behind it, the company has been in the fore front of the technology for years and continues to do so. The compnay has continued its tradition into the digital age, and has launched a Hybrid all-in-on deck/console dubbed “XDJ-R1″. The XDJ-R1 all-in-one unit has two CD players, USB media playback and MIDI controller functionality. An iOS device lets you control the deck wirelessly so the DJ can now be a part of the party. The app is called remotebox and it lets you control ove 80% of the decks features.
Wireless direct ensures the connection and rids of any issues that may occur when using a router. The deck has a wonderful built in two-channel mixer with loop, sync, hot cue and sampling features, along with effects like flutter and wah-wah and many color effects.
The XDJ-R1 also comes with XLR inputs to ensure that device is found in professional setups, and with a price of US $ 1099 (Rs. 60000 approx) the company is truly eyeing the commercial market. The XDJ-R1 goes on sale in June and should be the fancy of any upcoming digital age DJs.


 
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Wammy Passion Z review and Unboxing – quad core handset with 5 inch FHD screen

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Wammy Passion Z review and Unboxing – quad core handset with 5 inch FHD screen

 
The Wammy Passion Z is powered by quad core processor and sports a 5 inch screen with full HD resolution. This handset comes with 1GB RAM and 12MP camera running Android 4.2 for a price tag of Rs. 14,990 (with shipping = Rs. 15,439).
Passion Z Box Pack
Inside the box there is the 5 inch passion Z, earphone, battery of 2500 mAh capacity, screen guard, data cable and power adapter.
Design, Display and OS
The design is similar to the iOcean X7 model with few changes. It looks like iOcean X7 but may not be exactly the same. WickedLeak’s Passion Z is 8.9mm thick and weight is 150 grams. There is mild curve on the edges and on the top and bottom. The handset is rectangular shaped and comfortable to hold. The power button is on the right side, volume rockers on the left, micro USB at the bottom and 3.5mm audio jack on the top side. The rear side is while colour with matte finish. The handset is available in White and Black color options. There is also an LED indicator on the front near the in call speaker. Passion Z comes with G-Sensor, Gyro, Light, proximity and Magnetic sensors.
Wammy Passion Z box pack
The OGS IPS screen is 5 inch supporting resolution of 1920×1080 pixels with 16M colors (433 ppi). The handset supports 5 point multi touch. Viewing angle and color reproduction is very good. This handset runs on the Jelly Bean 4.2 OS.
Wammy Passion Z review
Memory and Storage
Wammy Passion Z is loaded with 1GB RAM of which 412 MB is available. 1.48GB is allocated for the apps and you get around 1.32GB free. In addition there is the phone storage of 1.29GB. You can use external SD card of up to 64GB and can install / move apps on the external storage card.
Performance and Benchmark
The hardware is the same as seen on the Zopo ZP980 handset and Micromax A116. It is MediaTek MT6589 cortex A7 (Armv7) quad core (28nm) clocked at 1.2GHz with PowerVR SGX 544MP GPU.
Wammy Passion Z FHD screen
Benchmark scores
  • Quadrant Benchmark : 3878.
  • Anututu Benchmark : 12008.
  •  Nenamark2 : 28.2fps.
  • Linpack : single 36, multi 101.
  • Multi Touch : 5 point.
Gaming and Entertainment
As you can see the fps is under 30 but over 25 which should be good enough for many high end games. I have tried the Novo 3 and it worked pretty well. The good part is you can install apps on the external storage card.
This handset can play full HD videos (1080p) in H/W as well as S/W modes. The sound is loud and clear.  3D speaker is mentioned on the Wickedleak website but I did not find anything different with the sound.
12MP Camera
There is 12MP rear auto focus camera with BSI sensor and a front 2MP fixed focus camera. The quality is good better than what I have seen on Micromax A116. You can check out the sample images and videos at the end of this article. If you check the image properties you will find iOcean X7 as the camera model / maker.
Passion Z 12mp-camera
Others
3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS worked well. The handset does get heated up (Mild) when playing games or using heavy (CPU usage) applications. This is a dual SIM handset and SIM slot 1 is a Micro SIM slot.
Battery
I have used the handset for over a day and the 2500 mAh battery would easily last for over 1 day for users with moderate usage. The handset can be fully charged (Wall charging) in less than 3 to 4 hours.
Wammy Passion Z review
The sleek looking and light weight Passion Z has got a very good screen with full HD resolution, it runs on Android 4.2 OS and comes with 12MP camera. The handset has got an impressive look, light weight and available for a price of Rs. 15,439 with shipping. The MMX A116 is now selling for Rs. 14,000 for few extra bucks this seems a better option.
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Lava E-Tab Xtron+ launched with HDMI port for Rs. 6990

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Lava E-Tab Xtron+ launched with HDMI port for Rs. 6990

 
After the success of Lava E-Tab Xtron, Lava Mobiles has now launched the Lava E-Tab Xtron+ with almost similar specifications as its predecessor for a price tag of Rs. 6,990. This tablet is now available on Flipkart.
The only difference between the Xtron and the Xtron+ is the OS (JB 4.2), battery (3700 mAh) and an HDMI v1.4 port. It’s a dual core tablet clocked at 1.5GHz coupled with quad core Mali 400 GPU. The E-Tab Xtron+ runs on Android 4.2.2 OS with 1GB RAM and 8GB internal storage.
The screen size is 7 inches – with capacitive touch and resolution of 1024×600 pixels. This tab comes with dual cameras a front VGA and a rear 2MP. Other features are Wi-Fi, HDMI, USB 2.0 and 3.5mm audio jack. The battery is 3700 mAh that should last for over 3 hours of continuous usage.
I am not sure if HDMI port will make much of a difference to many users, but the OS will, but anyway there is hardly any option left since the lava E-Tab Xtron has been permanently discontinued.
Lava E-Tab Xtron+
Lava E-Tab Xtron+ key features and specifications
  • 1.5GHz Cortex A9 Dual core processor + Mali 400MP GPU.
  • Android 4.2.2 OS.
  • 7 inch capacitive multi touch screen with 1024×600 pixels resolution.
  • 1GB RAM, 8GB internal storage and micro SD support.
  • 2MP fixed focus rear camera + 0.3MP fixed focus front camera.
  • Wi-Fi (b/g/n), HDMI 1.4, 3.5m audio jack, G-sensors and micro USB port.
  • 3700 mAh battery.
  • Price Rs. 6,990 (via Flipkart).
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Facebook Moves to Verify Accounts of Public Figures

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Facebook Moves to Verify Accounts of Public Figures

Facebook rolled out what it calls Verified Pages and Profiles on Wednesday. Sound familiar?
If so, it’s because Twitter rolled out its “verified accounts” program back in June 2009, to protect the reputations of celebrities, athletes, and other public figures and agencies. Like Twitter, Facebook will stamp a small blue symbol near a person or page’s name. And like Twitter, it is also blue (though a slightly different shade).
“Verified Pages belong to a small group of prominent public figures (celebrities, journalists, government officials, popular brands and businesses) with large audiences. This update is rolling out to profiles as well,” Facebook said on its company blog.
The announcement shows how Facebook and Twitter have become increasingly competitive over the years. The point was underscored at the D: All Things Digital Conference in Rancho Palos Verde, Calif. on Wednesday, when Twitter’s CEO Dick Costolo took the stage.
Costolo, who deflected questions about a possible IPO, seemed to take a few jabs at his rival. He explained that his company was “not only mobile first” but instead “all-in” on mobile, perhaps ripping the oft-repeated phrase of “mobile-first” by Facebook executives.
Later, in a discussion about Twitter’s mission, there was less confusion about which company he had in his crosshairs, noting that Twitter wanted to be the place where people go to for the whole “timeline experience.”
Facebook’s post about the new features does not mention Twitter. The company said it “proactively verifies” pages and profiles.

Wednesday 29 May 2013
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HTC on track to regain sales momentum

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HTC on track to regain sales momentum


Taipei, May 29 (CNA) Taiwan's HTC Corp. is regaining its sales momentum on the back of improved economic scale and better product mix, foreign brokerage BNP Paribas Securities said Tuesday.

"While some investors are worried about HTC's execution ability and the uptake of its planned product launches, we believe there is now a better chance of HTC regaining its momentum," said Laura Chen, an analyst at BNP Paribas Securities Taiwan Ltd.

"We believe HTC's earnings growth will recover in the second half of 2013 on its improved economic scale, better product mix and operating leverage," Chen wrote in a research note. She rated "buy" on the stock, with a NT$325 (US$10.86) target price.

Chen said the new HTC One's sales momentum has been on an upswing since its launch in the early second quarter, indicating that the actual shipments of the model during the quarter could beat BNP Paribas' forecast of 3 million to 3.5 million units.

Given that Verizon Wireless, the biggest U.S. mobile operator, plans to start selling the new HTC One in late June, HTC will have a good chance of surpassing its second-quarter sales guidance of NT$70 billion, said Chen.

Moreover, HTC plans to introduce a new phone codenamed the M4 in June and an upgraded version of its large-screen Butterfly phone in the early third quarter, she said.

The new Butterfly will be mainly promoted in Asia, China, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, while the M4 will be promoted globally, Chen said.

In the second half of this year, the Taoyuan-based smartphone maker also plans to introduce a new flagship product with a larger screen size of up to 5.9 inches and an upgraded processor, according to Chen.

"Despite hardware specs becoming less differentiated, HTC is not only delivering decent features and form factor designs but also creating a difference in user experience through its integrated software and applications," the analyst said.

"We think the worst is now over for the company and we see turnaround potential in the near term," she said.

HTC shares closed down 1.24 percent at NT$279 Wednesday in Taipei.

In a separate report, CLSA Global Markets maintained a "buy" rating for HTC shares and a target price of NT$360, citing improving supply of the new HTC One.

HTC's revenue momentum will likely sustain into the third quarter driven by more sales of the new HTC One and mid-end models, helping the company to register a positive year-on-year growth in revenue for the first time in two years, the Hong Kong-based brokerage firm said.

CLSA projected HTC's third-quarter revenue to grow 16 percent from a quarter ago and 19 percent from a year earlier, as the new HTC One shipments are forecast to reach 4 million units in the quarter.

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WeChat now available in Nokia Asha smartphones

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WeChat now available in Nokia Asha smartphones


Tencent announced that WeChat, a leading innovative mobile social communication application, is now available on the Nokia Asha touch family of smartphones.
WeChat for Asha smartphones comes with its signature 'Hold-to-Talk' feature, which allows users to send voice messages over a mobile or data network. Users can also chat with a maximum of 40 friends online through WeChat's group chat feature.
Designed to easily chat with friends or to connect with people from all around the world, WeChat enables users to add friends through various methods including connecting via phone books and WeChat ID.
As a precautionary measure to safeguard the privacy of WeChat users, only friends who are granted permission to connect will be able to communicate to the users. Against the backdrop of security and privacy concerns on social media, these measures leave users with a peace of mind, and ensure that users are sharing and interacting only with fellow users who are trusted contacts.
The application is available for download in Nokia Store and official WeChat website.
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    Sony India launches most expensive Xperia Tablet Z priced at Rs 46,990

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    Sony India launches most expensive Xperia Tablet Z priced at Rs 46,990

    Sony Xperia Tablet Z
     
    Following the launch of its water- and dust-resistant flagship smartphone Xperia Z, Sony has now launched a tablet in the same vein. The Xperia Tablet Z has a 10.1-inch screen with a resolution of 1920x1200 pixels and the screen is shatter-proof. This is one of the most expensive tablets in the market priced at Rs 46,990. Sony will not launch the white variant of this tablet in India, so users will have to settle for black colour.
    It comes with a quad-core Qualcomm processor and runs on Android Jelly Bean (4.1.2). The tablet is sleek with a thickness of 6.9 mm and light (495 g). The build quality is good, but the tablet retains a slightly plasticky feel. The back panel is smudgy as it retains fingerprints. There are two speakers for surround sound and Sony says the tablet is ideal for watching movies. The company says the tablet is IP57 guidelines compliant and hence, can be immersed in water for up to 30 minutes.
    Select Sony Bravia TVs support wireless connectivity with the Tablet Z. If you're watching a movie on the tablet, you can use near-field communication (NFC) to transfer the video to your TV with just a tap.
    The device has 16 GB internal memory and Sony is bundling a 16 GB microSD card with the package. It supports up to 64 GB of expandable memory. The tablet has an 8-MP rear camera and a 2-MP front camera. The first impressions of the camera showed grainy images in night mode, but picture quality was good otherwise.
    The tablet has some exclusive Sony apps, such as Sony Music (six months subscription free), Sony LIV (free access to SAB, Sony Entertainment and Sony Max channels) and X4 video (can play 4 videos at once).
    The pricing puts this tablet in competition with iPad 64 GB and Asus Transformer.
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    Wammy Passion Z quad core with 5 inch FHD display launched for Rs. 14990

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    Wammy Passion Z quad core with 5 inch FHD display launched for Rs. 14990

    called the Wammy Passion Z that is powered by quad core (MediaTek) processor with a 5 inch full HD screen running on the Jelly bean 4.2 OS. This handset is priced at a Rs. 14,990.
    The handset is already listed on the Wickedleak website and can be pre-booked. Shipping will start from 15th June 2013. The handset looks similar to the Oppo Find 5 model and specs wise will also compete with the ZOPO ZP980 handset.
    As mentioned its powered by MediaTek MTK6589 chipset clocked at 1.2GHz with PowerVR SGX 544 MP GPU. This is with the same chipset as found on theMicromax A116 handset. The Passion Z runs on Jelly Bean 4.2 with 1GB RAM and 4GB internal storage.
    Handset is 8.9mm thick and light weight at 150 grams. The 5 inch LCD IPS OGS screen supports 1920x1080p resolution. This is a dual SIM handset. The camera is of 12MP resolution with LED flash and with BSI sensor. There is a front camera of 2MP resolution. Full HD video recording and playback is supported.
    Other features are 3G, 2G, Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, micro USB, 3.5mm audio jack and 3D speakers. A 2500 mAh battery powers up this handset. The specifications and the price look very tempting.
    Wammy Passion Z
    Wammy passion Z key features and specifications
    • Dual SIM (GSM+GSM) with Dual Standby mode.
    • Quad core MTK6589 ARMv7 cortex A7 clocked at 1.2GHz + PowerVR SGX 544MP GPU.
    • Android 4.2.
    • 1GB RAM, 4GB internal storage and micro SD support up to 32GB.
    • 5 inch IPS LCD screen with 1920×1080 pixels resolution (443ppi). 5 point multi touch.
    • 12MP rear AF camera (BSI sensors) with LED flash and front 2MP camera. Full HD (1080p) video recording and playback supported.
    • 3G, 2G, GPS with A-GPS, Wi-Fi (b/g/n), micro USB, FM radio, 3D speakers,  3.5mm audio jack and Bluetooth.
    • Sensors : G-Sensor, magnetic, light, Gyro and proximity.
    • 2500 mAh Li-Po battery.
    • Price Rs. 14,990 ( via WickedLeak). Review coming soon..
    Posted by Unknown
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    Pantel Technologies will now enter the Android smartphone market

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    Pantel Technologies will now enter the Android smartphone market

    Most of you might be aware ofPantel Technologies who had entered the tablet market a few months after Aakash tablet was announced. They partnered with BSNL and the tabs were sold by the name BSNL- Penta.
    Like many other tablet manufactures, Pantel Technologies will too venture into the smartphone domain. They will soon launch 3 Pantel smartphones, probably by next month. They have kept the price range between Rs. 7,000 to Rs. 15,000.
    Looking at the price, they might come up with single core, dual core or even quad core powered handsets. We will have to wait and see what they can provide and at the exact price. By the end of this year, Pantel Company is also planning to launch a 4G enabled smartphone in India.
    The market is already crowded with a lot of model, dual core, quad core you name it. But all of these handsets come powered by either MediaTek or Qualcomm processors. There is slight variation in the features, camera, battery and the price.
    Pantel Smartphones
    Most of you might be aware ofPantel Technologies who had entered the tablet market a few months after Aakash tablet was announced. They partnered with BSNL and the tabs were sold by the name BSNL- Penta.
    Like many other tablet manufactures, Pantel Technologies will too venture into the smartphone domain. They will soon launch 3 Pantel smartphones, probably by next month. They have kept the price range between Rs. 7,000 to Rs. 15,000.
    Looking at the price, they might come up with single core, dual core or even quad core powered handsets. We will have to wait and see what they can provide and at the exact price. By the end of this year, Pantel Company is also planning to launch a 4G enabled smartphone in India.
    The market is already crowded with a lot of model, dual core, quad core you name it. But all of these handsets come powered by either MediaTek or Qualcomm processors. There is slight variation in the features, camera, battery and the price.
    Pantel Smartphones
    Posted by Unknown
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    Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 I9152 dual core Phablet for Rs. 25100

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    Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 I9152 dual core Phablet for Rs. 25100

    Saholic has already listed theSamsung Galaxy Mega 5.9 I9152 dual core powered Phablet running Android jelly bean. The handset is priced at Rs. 25,100. The status is coming soon, probably they will have the stocks in few days.
    The Galaxy Mega 5.8 (I9152) is big phone with a 5.8 inch TFT screen supporting a resolution of 960×540 pixels. This handset is powered by dual core processor running on Jelly Bean 4.2 OS with 1.5GB RAM and 8GB internal storage. The handset is 9mm thick and weight is about 182 grams.
    Just like the Samsung Galaxy Grand the Mega 5.8 also comes with 8MP rear camera with LED flash and can record full HD videos. There is a front camera too of 2MP resolution. The handset supports 3G, 2G, Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth. It also houses a 3.5mm audio jack and micro USB port.
    The battery is of 2600 mAh capacity. The box pack contains the handset, battery, headset, data cable, travel charger and user guide. There is no flip cover included, would have been great if they did. The handset could carry a price tag of more than the Galaxy Grand.
    Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8
    Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 key features and specifications
    • Dual SIM / Dual Standby (GSM+GSM).
    • 1.4GHz dual core processor.
    • Android 4.2 JB OS with TouchWiz UI.
    • 5.8 inch TFT screen with 960×540 pixels resolution (190ppi).
    • 1.5GB RAM, 8GB storage and micro SD support of up to 64GB.
    • 8MP rear camera with LED flash + 2MP front camera. Full HD video recording (1080p) at 30fps supported.
    • 3G (21Mbps), 2G, Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 4.0, micro USB 2.0, 3.5mm jack and GPS with GLONASS / A-GPS.
    • Sensors: Accelerometer, compass, proximity and gyro.
    • Battery: 2600 mAH Li-Ion.
    • Price: Rs. 25,100. Listed on Saholic.
    Posted by Unknown
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    Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 launched for Rs. 31490

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    Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 launched for Rs. 31490

    Both the Samsung Mega Models namely the Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 (I9152) and Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 (I9200) has been launched in India for Rs. 25,100 and Rs. 31,490. The Mega 5.8 is already listed on the Saholic website whereas the 6.3 model will hit the store in early June.
    The Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3supports 4G and runs on the Android 4.2 OS with TouchWiz user interface. The 6.3 inch TFT screen supports resolution of 1280×720 pixels (HD) i.e. with 233ppi. The RAM is 1.5GB and you can choose from 8GB or 16GB as internal storage (price will vary accordingly).
    This handset is powered by 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 dual core processor with Adreno 305 GPU. The camera is of an 8MP resolution with LED flash and another camera on the front of 1.9MP resolution.
    Other features are 4G, 3G, 2G, Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, micro UBS, NFC and 3.5mm audio jack. For this massive handset a 3200 mAh Li-ion battery is used, that should easily give a usage time of over day. The handset will be available early next month with a price tag of Rs. 31,490.
    Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3
    Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 (I9200) key features and specifications
    • Single SIM (Micro SIM).
    • 1.7GHz Krait dual core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 CPU + Adreno 305 GPU.
    • 8mm thick and weight is 199 grams.
    • 6.3 inch TFT screen with 1280×720 pixels resolution (233ppi).
    • Android 4.2.2 with TouchWiz UI.
    • 1.5GB RAM, 8 or 16 GB storage option and micro SD support up to 64GB.
    • 8MP rear AF camera with LED + front 1.9MP camera. Full HD video recording supported.
    • 4G, 3G (21Mbps), 2G, Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, 3.5mm jack, micro USB 2.0 and GPS with A-GPS/GLONASS.
    • Sensors: Magnetic, gyro, accelerometer and proximity sensors.
    • 3200 mAh li-Ion battery.
    • Price Rs. 31,490.
    Posted by Unknown
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    United we Stand: Google's revamped social network, chat app unify most of its services

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    United we Stand: Google's revamped social network, chat app unify most of its services

    Google
     
    At Google I/O, the company's annual developer conference, the search giant announced some major updates. Over the years, the company has released new versions of Android at an alarming pace and manufacturers have failed to release updates on time.Now, the company has released major updates to its services without updating Android. From the company's search engine to its social networking website, most Google services have been revamped.
    Hangouts (replaces Gtalk)
    Gtalk, a chat application, was released around eight years ago. Known as Talk on Android phones, the service was popular, but growing increasingly irrelevant since the release of cross-platform chat apps such as WhatsApp, Viber, Nimbuzz, and Hike. At I/O 2013, Google released Hangouts, a new messaging app that replaces Talk.
    Go to the Play Store, search for Hangouts and press update. Once you open the app, the changes areattractive. The list of online contacts has been replaced with a list of recent conversations — much like WhatsApp. Hangouts also uses the swipe gesture to good effect, letting you switch between your most recent conversation and the list of conversations. It would have been better if you could swipe from one conversation to another, a great feature in the old Talk app. In each conversation, small icons with users' profile pictures can be seen. Tap the icon and you get a message: "User has read up to here." This is a smart way of showing whether a user is online or not. While the app is excellent, user experience on some older phones is not so great. Hangouts is a heavy app and freezes on phones with old hardware. In such cases, users can uninstall updates to revert to Talk.
    Google+
    Almost everyone who uses Gmail has a Google+ account, but most users don't actively use the service. That might just change because Google has integrated its social network into all its services. Want to post a review of an app on Play Store? You need a Google+ account. If you use Hangouts, you'll probably want to check friends' profiles which takes you to your contacts' Google+ profiles. While some users might feel that this forces them to use Google+, the truth is Google needed to unite its services and the company has used this opportunity to strengthen its social network.
    Sunday 26 May 2013
    Posted by Unknown
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    Sony’s waterproof tablet up for pre-order @ Rs 44,990

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    Sony’s waterproof tablet up for pre-order @ Rs 44,990






    NEW DELHI: Sony Xperia Tablet Z, unveiled at Consumer Electronics Show 2013 in US, is now available for pre-order in India. Major online retailers are taking advance bookings for the device, which is scheduled to be launched early next month. Flipkart, Snapdeal and Infibeam are offering the device with 16GB storage and Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity for Rs 44,990 approximately.

    Xperia Tablet Z runs on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) out-of-the-box and has waistline of just 6.9mm, thinner than that of rivals like Apple iPad and Google Nexus 10. Another key feature is its shockproof, dust resistant and waterproof body, which makes it largely impervious to damage.

    The all-new Xperia Tablet Z by Sony features a 10.1-inch TFT touchscreen with Mobile Bravia Engine 2 display technology and image resolution of 1920x1200p. It is powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, coupled with 2GB RAM, and 32GB onboard storage, with microSD support of up to 32GB. The tablet has an 8.1MP camera with Exmor R imaging technology and LED flash on the back, a feature no other rival can match as of now.

    Connectivity suite of Xperia Tablet Z includes top notch features like 4G LTE as well as NFC, along with standard options like 2G, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and microUSB. Powered by a 6,000mAh battery, the device will be available in black and white colours. Sony has also included its proprietary S-Force virtual surround sound technology in the tablet for enhanced audio quality.

    This is the third tablet by Sony, after Xperia Tablet S and Xperia Tablet P, which failed to make their mark in the market.
    Posted by Unknown
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    Source confirms Intel’s big score: Samsung tablet using an Atom chip

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    Source confirms Intel’s big score: Samsung tablet using an Atom chip

    Intel’s long years investing in mobile processors are about to pay off with its biggest win to date. We’ve confirmed that the next Samsung Galaxy tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3, will have an Intel Atom chip based on the Clover Trail code name.
    clover trailA source familiar with the matter confirmed to us that Samsung has chosen the Intel chip over other competing ARM-based solutions, including Samsung’s own Exynos mobile processors. If it’s true, that could mean that Intel’s mobile processor business is finally getting some traction.
    Benchmark testing sits leaked that news this week. The GFXBench site and the SamMobile site noted the Intel chip appeared to be inside a device dubbed the Samsung Santos 103 tablet with the product name GT-P5200 running Android on an Intel Clover Trail chip. Various sites concluded that was Samsung’s third-generation Galaxy Tab slate, which has a 10.1-inch touchscreen.
    Test results say the device has a 1,280-by-800 display and is running Android 4.2.2 operating system. The processor can run between from 800MHz to 1.6GHz in terms of clock speed. That’s within the stated capabilities of the dual-core Atom Z2520 processor. The Intel chip is made in a 32-nanometer high-k metal gate manufacturing process.
    Other sources have noted that the Samsung tablet will come in multiple versions and will have an Exynos processor. That may mean that Intel has just one of the versions. Other rivals competing for the business include Nvidia’s Tegra chip.
    Intel expects to make more progress in mobile over time. It is releasing chips now with the code-named Haswell microarchitecture that will improve power efficiency and graphics performance dramatically. The graphics will be twice as good as previous Atom chips, and active power will be 50 percent better.
    Intel will release new information in a talk at the upcoming Computex trade show in Taiwan. That will include new designs and upcoming low-power chip microarchitectures including Silvermont (used in Bay Trail tablets for this holiday), Avoton (for micro servers) and Merrifield for smartphones.

     
    Posted by Unknown
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    Nokia Lumia 925 may soon be available in India, Lumia 920 price slashed

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    Nokia Lumia 925 may soon be available in India, Lumia 920 price slashed
    Nokia may soon launch its much awaited Lumia 925 in a metal design in India as the device has showed up on company’s India website. Although the price and the time of its launch have not been mentioned, it is listed as coming soon.
    At the time of its global launch earlier this month the company said that Lumia 925 will be priced around 469 EUR before taxes and subsidies. The company had said that country-specific pricing and availability would be announced locally.
    Nokia Lumia 925 showcases the latest PureView camera innovation and new features and third party applications. The company said that the device is a new interpretation of its flagship, the Nokia Lumia 920.
    It has Operating system Windows Phone 8 and is powered by 1.5 GHz dual-core Snapdragon. As far as display is concerned it has  4.5 inch AMOLED WXGA (1280 x 768), 2.25 D sculpted Gorilla 2 Glass, ClearBlack, High Brightness Mode, Sunlight Readability, Super Sensitive Touch for glove and nail usage.
    It has PureView 8.7 megapixels main and 1.2 megapixels wide angle front camera. It comes with 1 GB RAM, 16 GB internal memory with 7 GB free SkyDrive cloud storage. It has 2000 mAh battery, Wireless Charging supported via an accessory cover.
    Meanwhile, Nokia has cut the price of its Lumia 920 smartphone in India. The device which was priced at Rs 38,199 at the time of its launch in January this year is now available at Rs 32,639.
    Powered by a dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 processor alongside 1GB RAM and 32GB of internal storage,Nokia Lumia 920 has a 4.5-inch PureMotion HD+ display with 1280x768 resolution.
    The device comes with 8.7-megapixel camera with PureView technology.  The camera also boasts of enhanced Optical Image Stabilisation that claims to stabilise recorded videos, even if the phone is subjected to a lot of jerks, like in a moving vehicle.
    For best mobile phone deals: http://shopping.telecomtiger.com/    
    Nokia may soon launch its much awaited Lumia 925 in a metal design in India as the device has showed up on company’s India website. Although the price and the time of its launch have not been mentioned, it is listed as coming soon.
    At the time of its global launch earlier this month the company said that Lumia 925 will be priced around 469 EUR before taxes and subsidies. The company had said that country-specific pricing and availability would be announced locally.
    Nokia Lumia 925 showcases the latest PureView camera innovation and new features and third party applications. The company said that the device is a new interpretation of its flagship, the Nokia Lumia 920.
    It has Operating system Windows Phone 8 and is powered by 1.5 GHz dual-core Snapdragon. As far as display is concerned it has  4.5 inch AMOLED WXGA (1280 x 768), 2.25 D sculpted Gorilla 2 Glass, ClearBlack, High Brightness Mode, Sunlight Readability, Super Sensitive Touch for glove and nail usage.
    It has PureView 8.7 megapixels main and 1.2 megapixels wide angle front camera. It comes with 1 GB RAM, 16 GB internal memory with 7 GB free SkyDrive cloud storage. It has 2000 mAh battery, Wireless Charging supported via an accessory cover.
    Meanwhile, Nokia has cut the price of its Lumia 920 smartphone in India. The device which was priced at Rs 38,199 at the time of its launch in January this year is now available at Rs 32,639.
    Powered by a dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 processor alongside 1GB RAM and 32GB of internal storage,Nokia Lumia 920 has a 4.5-inch PureMotion HD+ display with 1280x768 resolution.
    The device comes with 8.7-megapixel camera with PureView technology.  The camera also boasts of enhanced Optical Image Stabilisation that claims to stabilise recorded videos, even if the phone is subjected to a lot of jerks, like in a moving vehicle.
    For best mobile phone deals: http://shopping.telecomtiger.com/    
    Posted by Unknown
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    UMI will start delivery of UMI XII handsets to customers within 1 or 2 days

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    UMI will start delivery of UMI XII handsets to customers within 1 or 2 days

     
    After series of delays UMI has finally received the UMI XII – first lot and will soon start the shipping process from tomorrow or day after. They have already notified the customers.
    UMI Spokesperson mentioned that they have received the first lot and will start shipping it to the customers after quality checks. The second lot is already undergoing custom clearance and the 3rd lot will be dispatched from China, today.
    UMI has send me some images that also includes the UMI XII handset rear view and front view – Note that the borders are missing (the UMI XII prototype model had the borders). The X2 handset is with 2GB RAM and 32GB internal storage.
    The chipset is MediaTek MT6589 and not MediaTek MT6589T, UMI has mentioned this on their Facebook page.  There are over 9000 customers (made full payments), awaiting delivery. I guess by next week we will start getting user inputs / reviews.
     UMI XII front view
    UMI XII shipping lot
    UMI XII rear view
    Posted by Unknown
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