LG’s much-awaited smartphone, the Optimus G in now out in India at a price of Rs 34,500. The smartphone runs Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean) OS.
Key features of the device are:
•The smartphone has a 4.7-inch screen with a 1280×768 resolution with True HD and IPS.
• A 13-megapixel autofocus camera.
LG Optimus G in this file photo. AP
• The G smartphone is powered by Qualcomm’s quad-core processor clocked at 1.5Ghz and has a 2GB RAM along with 32GB built-in space. The smartphone does not have a Micro-SD card.
• LG also added new video-related features. The G can dim the video in a translucent layer, allowing users to send text messages or write emails while watching the show in the background. It also allows users to zoom into a scene while playing the video using a two-finger pinch.
Now that the Optimus G is finally here, will the Nexus 4 also hit the Indian market soon? Let’s hope so.
Sony's PlayStation 4 is a major step forward for the games industry, according to an Electronic Arts executive.
Speaking yesterday at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media, and Telecom Conference, EA Chief Technical Officer Rajat Taneja said that the PlayStation 4 has "8 to 10 times the power" of current-generation consoles, making it a "gigantic leap for the industry".
Sony unveiled its PlayStation 4 last week. The company said the console will offer a gaming experience superior to current-generation devices, thanks to its eight-core X86 AMD Jaguar CPU and 1.84-teraflop AM Radeon graphics engine. The console will also come with a Blu-ray drive and 8GB of GDDR5 memory. What was lacking from Sony's presentation, however, was the console itself: It was a no-show.
Taneja didn't discuss the look of the next PlayStation, but lauded its ability to make games better and developer lives a bit easier.
"We no longer have to constrain our games or ration computer graphics, memory or bandwidth," Taneja reportedly said. "We can let the games really flourish [in] 1080p, 60 frames a second."
Taneja added that things that now takes "months" to develop will only "take days" with the new console.
Sony's PlayStation 4 is slated to launch in the fall. Sony hasn't said when it'll actually show off the console, but it's expected to make an appearance at some point in the next few months.
San Francisco: Google is adding a new and more expensive touch to its line of Chrome laptops in an attempt to outshine personal computers running on software made by rivals Microsoft and Apple.
The Chromebook Pixel unveiled Thursday includes a nearly 13-inch (33-centimeter) display screen that responds to the touch or swipe of a finger. That duplicates a key feature in Microsoft Corp’s Windows 8, a dramatic makeover of the world’s leading operating system for PCs.
The Pixel’s high-resolution screen displays 239 pixels per inch, slightly more than Apple Inc’s MacBooks with high-resolution Retina displays. A MacBook Pro with a screen that measures 13.1 inches (33.3 centimeters) diagonally can handle 227 pixels per inch (2.5 centimeters), while the 15.4-inch (39.1-centimeter) model is at 220 pixels per inch.
“This is the future: high-resolution screens and touch,” said Sundar Pichai, a senior vice president who oversees Google’s Chrome Web browser and operating system.
Google Inc designed and built the Pixel for “power users” — a fastidious and generally more affluent segment of the PC market willing to pay more for machines equipped with compelling features and components not found in cheaper laptops.
The new Google Chromebook Pixel. AP
The strategy is a departure for Google, which had positioned Chromebooks based on its Chrome operating system as affordable options for homes and offices looking for a quick and easy way to connect to the Web. Google has been partnering with PC makers to make Chromebooks over the past two years. Among them: Acer Inc. makes a bare-bones Chromebook for just $199, while Samsung Electronics Co sells one for $249.
The Pixel, which Google is building without a partner, will cost $1,299 for a Wi-Fi only model with 32 gigabytes of flash storage. A 64-gigabyte machine that can connect on both Wi-Fi and a 4G LTE cellular network will cost $1,499. That’s the same price as the cheapest MacBook Pro with a comparable screen, though the Apple laptop comes with 128 gigabytes of storage.
Apple does have a cheaper, lighter laptop, the MacBook Air. A 13-inch (33-centimeter) model with 128 gigabytes of storage starts at $1,199. It weighs less than 3 pounds (1.35 kilograms) and doesn’t have a high-resolution screen. The Pixel has the high-resolution screen and weighs 3.35 pounds (1.52 kilograms). The 13-inch high-resolution MacBook Pro weighs 3.57 pounds.
Google believes Pixel is a better value than the Air, given its higher-resolution screen with touch controls. Google is also throwing in 1 terabytes of free online storage in its data centers for three years — a benefit that Pichai estimated would cost $500 to $600.
The Pixel “will stand up very, very well to the MacBook Air,” Pichai said. “The goal here is to push the boundaries to deliver the best laptop at the best possible price.”
Though its popular iPad has a touch screen, Apple has shunned touch-screen laptops. Apple figures that because people use laptops with the screen in front of them, rather than in their hands or laps, it’s not a pleasant experience to constantly have to reach out to touch the screen.
Microsoft, on the other hand, considers touch screens to be central to all computing environments. Windows 8 was designed to make desktop and laptop computers work more like tablet computers. Computers with touch-screen monitors can respond to touch along with old-style mouse and keyboard commands.
Google’s online Play store will begin selling the Pixel in the U.S. and U.K Thursday, with BestBuy.com expected to take orders on Friday. A hands-on experience with the Pixels also will be available beginning Friday in 10 of Best Buy’s retail stores in California, Minnesota, Washington state, Virginia and New York.
Pichai declined to say how many of the lower-priced Chromebooks have been sold, but said the models have ranked as the most popular laptop sold by Amazon.com Inc. for the past four months.
The free online storage is being included with the Pixel to overcome the laptop’s lack of a hard drive. Like other Chromebooks, the Pixel functions like a terminal dependent on an Internet connection to get to information and applications stored in large data centers run by Google or other technology providers.
Spurred by the growing popularity of smartphones and tablet computers, Google is betting more people will prefer having data, photos and video stored in remote data centers instead of individual hard drives so the content can be accessed from any Internet-connected device.
Google’s expansion into the high-end of the laptop market immerses the Internet search and advertising company more deeply into the business designing and making gadgets.
The company is already a major player in the mobile device market through its Android software. To help promote Android, Google also has designed a line of smartphones and tablets under the Nexus brand. The company also owns smartphone maker Motorola Mobility, which it bought for $12.4 billion last year.
Google’s deepening involvement in hardware has ignited speculation that the company might eventually open its own chain of stores to sell its products, just as Apple and Microsoft already do. Pichai didn’t address that in a response to a question on that topic at Thursday’s event.
Apple and Microsoft already have been hurt by the increased competition from Google. Most smartphones and tablets running on Google’s free Android software cost less than Apple’s iPhone and iPad, helping to siphon sales away from those devices. Sales of PCs running on Windows also have been sagging during the past year, partly because consumers are relying more on Android devices.
Google says it expects to make a small profit on each Pixel sold, but the company figures to make more money from the online traffic delivered from the machines. Like other Chromebooks, the Pixel is set up to automatically use all of Google’s services, including its search engine, Gmail and YouTube video site.
Samsung's critics, who accuse the Korean company of slavishly copying Apple's every move, have probably received more ammunition with the introduction of the Galaxy Note 8.0. This 8-inch tablet, which was officially revealed by Samsung atMobile World Congress, has an almost identical screen size as Apple'siPad mini.
In truth, the Note 8.0 looks nothing like Apple's smaller iPad--it takes after the Samsung Galaxy Note 2with similar curves and a plastic chassis. To those who are familiar with Samsung's approach of launching a staggering range of mobile devices in various form factors, this may seem like business as usual.
Of course, there are plenty of differences between the two devices, not to mention other competitors in the tablet space. In fact, most Android tablets in the market are of the 7-inch variety. Samsung has been the exception--it previously experimented with a 7.7-inch model, though the high price of the Galaxy Tab 7.7 has hindered widespread adoption.
To illustrate the differences (and similarities) between the new Note 8.0 and some of its potential competitors, we have collated the hardware specifications of popular tablets: The Apple iPad mini, Amazon Kindle Fire HD and the Google Nexus 7.
16/32GB onboard storage, expandable via microSD slot
16/32/64GB onboard storage, non-expandable
16/32GB onboard storage, non-expandable
16/32GB onboard storage, non-expandable
RAM
2GB
512MB
1GB
1GB
Camera
5-megapixel rear camera, 1.3-megapixel front camera
5-megapixel iSight camera, 1.2-megapixel FaceTime camera
1.2-megapixel front-facing camera
720p front-facing camera
Screen
8-inch (1,280 x 800 pixels) IPS LCD
7.9-inch (1,024 x 768 pixels) IPS LCD
7-inch (1,280 x 800 pixels) IPS LCD
7-inch (1,280 x 800 pixels) IPS LCD
GPS
Yes
No
Yes
No
NFC
No
No
Yes
No
Dimensions
210.8 x 135.9 x 7.95mm
200 x 134.7 x 7.2mm
198.5 x 120 x 10.5mm
193 x 137.2 x 10.2mm
Weight
338g (3G model)
308g
340g
394g
Price
TBA
US$329 (16GB), US$429 (32GB), US$529 (64GB)
US$199 (16GB), US$249 (32GB)
US$199 (16GB), US$249 (32GB)
Despite the fact that it's physically bigger than the other Android slates in this comparison, the Note 8.0 is the lightest and slimmest. However, the iPad mini, with an aluminum body that's not matched by its rivals, probably wins here overall.
The pixel density of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 is 189 ppi (pixel per inch). This is higher than the iPad mini's 163 ppi, which has been highlighted by reviewers as one of its biggest flaws. On the Android front, there are 7-inch tablets such as the Kindle Fire HD and Nexus 7 that have identical 1,280 x 800-pixel screens, which means the Note 8.0 isn't exactly groundbreaking.
Samsung has touted the multitasking capabilities of its Note devices--the quad-core processor and 2GB of onboard RAM helps to ensure that performance remains smooth and acceptable. The Note 8.0 is clearly superior to its competitors in the CPU department. The fact that Samsung has retained support for a microSD slot, allowing users to supplement the limited storage on these devices using a microSD card, is another plus for some users.
The Galaxy Note 8.0 does have some unique features. For instance, it can make phone calls (for the international 3G version), and it has a stylus, which is probably its biggest asset when done right. While you can also use a stylus on other tablets, it doesn't have the level of integration as the S Pen on the Note. Besides, the Wacom digitizer on the Galaxy Note 8.0 has better performance and sensitivity. Also, unlike other slates, we bet you won't lose the S Pen easily due to its built-in stylus slot on the Note 8.0.
With a big question mark over the price of the Galaxy Note 8.0, it's probably too early to give a definitive verdict here. We're hoping to get a hands-on with the tablet soon, so you may want to check back here in a couple of days
The Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Sony has announced the launch of its new Xperia Tablet Z, which is a 10.1-inch Android tablet and the world’s thinnest.
Like the Xperia Z smartphone, the tablet is also water-proof and the dust-proof. The device is only 6.9 mm thick and weighs 495 grams only.
“Xperia Tablet Z sets new standards in entertainment by matching premium specifications and Sony technology with cross-device connectivity and a consistent user-experience,” said Kaz Tajima, corporate vice president, head of UX creative design and planning, at Sony Mobile Communications. “The Xperia Tablet Z reinforces our intention to be a leading player in the premium Android device market, by building on the principles established by Xperia Z and perfectly optimizing them for the tablet form factor.”
The tablet has a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro asynchronous quad core processor. Sony also states that the tablet has the highest levels of water resistance making it immersible in up to three feet of water for up to 30 minutes. (However all ports and covers have to be firmly closed)
It has 10.1-inch full-HD Reality Display, an 8MP HD rear camera featuring the Exmor® R for Mobile image sensor and a 2 MP HD front-facing camera. Sony’s S-Force Front Surround 3D provides superior audio performance while Sony’s Clear Audio+ mode and the innovative use of two built-in speakers with four ‘speaker halls’ on the left and right corners help the tablet deliver amazing sound no matter how it is held.
The Xperia Tablet Z also offers a microSD card slot for up to 64GB of expandable storage. Xperia Tablet Z will launch on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) and is upgradable to 4.2 after launch. However this doesn’t come with a standard experience and Sony has added a bunch of its own apps such as Walkman App, Sideview, etc. The device has 2GB RAM and will come in 16 GB and 32 GB version. The device is currently available only in black.
The tablet supports WiFi, has NFC capabilities and a built-in universal IR remote control which can control Sony and other manufacturers’ consumer electronic devices.
The Xperia Tablet Z is available in black and white (white only in Sony Stores and online) and cost $499 and $599 in the US. The tablet will be out in May in the US.
BlackBerry has just launched its new device, the BlackBerry Z10 in India. Now, the price for this device is Rs 43,490 which many are seeing as too steep. In fact the number was even trending on Twitter on Monday, with many people feeling that this is too high a price-tag for a smartphone.
However according to Sunil Dutt, the Managing Director of BlackBerry 10, the pricing is justified. He said at the launch when asked about the high-price, that, ‘In the mind of the consumers, pricing is not a barrier.” In his view, for BlackBerry lovers, the high-price won’t stop them from trying out the Z10 as it was something they have been waiting for.
While the price is debatable and many might feel that BlackBerry is just targeting high-end consumers with such pricing, BlackBerry also showcased a bunch of features for the new smartphone. The BB 10 is clearly not just a device which is trying to compete with raw specs but largely on the basis of some features that it hopes will set the BB 10 apart from the competition. (Read Android and iOS)
The launch was largely dedicated to these features which were intent on emphasising that BlackBerry is now more intuitive and perfect for all those who are hyper-connected. So what is so new in the BlackBerry 10 OS? We take a look at the key features: The Social Hub: This feature allows users to sync all their social networks – Facebook, Email, Gmail, Twitter, LinkedIn, BBM etc – and access notifications, messages etc from the Hub itself. This is quite a smart addition to the BB10 especially because many of us tend to open lots of apps simultaneously and switching between them can be a pain.
For BB’s hardcore corporate users this is probably the best addition in terms of features. The BlackBerry Balance: This is again a feature aimed at all those hardcore corporate users. This allows users to divide their device into work and play. Your works apps and email are separate and your office IT admin has access to this, while the personal apps are separate and the IT admin does not have access to these.
The advantage of this is that you are not worried about your IT admin getting remote access to everything on your smartphone. This is also BlackBerry’s way of challenging the two device path that a lot of people take, one with their personal email and Facebook and Twitter, etc and another with the official email and work related apps. With Balance BlackBerry is trying hard to merge work and play into one device for a lot of corporate users.
Swipe and Keyboard: BlackBerry 10 is completely based on Swipe gestures. To move in and out of an app you need to Swipe, in the dead centre of the phone as we tried out. As BlackBerry’s MD pointed, the whole logic behind this was to ensure that users don’t have to keep pressing a back button or a Home slot to move out. While Swipe does take some getting used to, especially since you have to do this in the centre and not anywhere else, that doesn’t mean it’s not convenient or that you can’t get used to this.
BlackBerry is clearly taking aim at all those Android phones with their back and home buttons.
The Keyboard is based on predictive text. As Vivek Bhardwaj, BlackBerry’s software head, showed in the demo, the keyboard even corrects errors when say, you forget to use the space key. Again all the typing is based on Swipe gestures and that will take getting used to, especially for those who are used to a regular iPhone or Android touch-screen keyboard.
Apps: This is the defining feature for any smartphone and while we heard mention of Skype and Angry Birds (yawn, yawn), the fact is that a lot of app developers aren’t creating native apps for the BlackBerry 10. For instance, there were reports earlier, that Instagram was not going to create a native app for the OS.
BlackBerry did show off two apps made by Indian developers at the launch. The HDFC banking app and the PVR’s NFC wallet app.
The Q10 was also spotted at the launched, and this device which comes with a QWERTY keyboard will be out in mid-summer in India. According to the rumour buzz, the price is likely to be between Rs 15,000 to 20,000 Source: firstpost.com
Ranbir Kapoor (L) poses with the BlackBerry Z10 as Managing Director for BlackBerry India, Sunil Dutt looks on at the country launch of the BlackBerry Z10 in Mumbai. AFThe Social Hub: This feature allows users to sync all their social networks – Facebook, Email, Gmail, Twitter, LinkedIn, BBM etc – and access notifications, messages etc from the Hub itself. This is quite a smart addition to the BB10 especially because many of us tend to open lots of apps simultaneously and switching between them can be a pain.For BB’s hardcore corporate users this is probably the best addition in terms of features.The BlackBerry Balance: This is again a feature aimed at all those hardcore corporate users. This allows users to divide their device into work and play. Your works apps and email are separate and your office IT admin has access to this, while the personal apps are separate and the IT admin does not have access to these.The advantage of this is that you are not worried about your IT admin getting remote access to everything on your smartphone. This is also BlackBerry’s way of challenging the two device path that a lot of people take, one with their personal email and Facebook and Twitter, etc and another with the official email and work related apps. With Balance BlackBerry is trying hard to merge work and play into one device for a lot of corporate users.Swipe and Keyboard: BlackBerry 10 is completely based on Swipe gestures. To move in and out of an app you need to Swipe, in the dead centre of the phone as we tried out. As BlackBerry’s MD pointed, the whole logic behind this was to ensure that users don’t have to keep pressing a back button or a Home slot to move out. While Swipe does take some getting used to, especially since you have to do this in the centre and not anywhere else, that doesn’t mean it’s not convenient or that you can’t get used to this.BlackBerry is clearly taking aim at all those Android phones with their back and home buttons.The Keyboard is based on predictive text. As Vivek Bhardwaj, BlackBerry’s software head, showed in the demo, the keyboard even corrects errors when say, you forget to use the space key. Again all the typing is based on Swipe gestures and that will take getting used to, especially for those who are used to a regular iPhone or Android touch-screen keyboard.Apps: This is the defining feature for any smartphone and while we heard mention of Skype and Angry Birds (yawn, yawn), the fact is that a lot of app developers aren’t creating native apps for the BlackBerry 10. For instance, there were reports earlier, that Instagram was not going to create a native app for the OS.BlackBerry did show off two apps made by Indian developers at the launch. The HDFC banking app and the PVR’s NFC wallet app.The Q10 was also spotted at the launched, and this device which comes with a QWERTY keyboard will be out in mid-summer in India. According to the rumour buzz, the price is likely to be between Rs 15,000 to 20,000.
