A glimpse of Windows 8 leaked in Microsoft Presentation Slides !

Product plan leaks are synonymous with Microsoft's documents these days. Italian Windows blog Windowsette hasmanaged to grab Microsoft Confidential Presentation Slides stating Windows 8 future plans. The future development strategy of other products like Internet Explorer 9 and Windows Live Wave 5 have also been mentioned. Apart from that, one of those slides discusses Apple's consumer strategy: A high-quality, easy-to-use user interface that feeds brand loyalty.

We already knew that Microsoft is working on Windows 8 which is scheduled to release in 2012. Now these new slides which were watermarked MS Confidential share more details about the Windows 8 Product Cycle.

The slides suggest that Microsoft is also planning to launch Windows Store which would be just like Apple's App Store. One can purchase and download programs without worrying about installations and flexible licensing policies that would make them transferable from one computer to another.

On Windows 8 front, Microsoft plans to implement presence sensors that will detect the user's presence with facial recognition and thereby put the PC in appropriate mode - sleep or stand by. Also, the boot up time of Windows 8 would be shorter than that of Windows 7 due to Action Center that will help identify the applications slowing down the boot up.

Paul Thurrott, author and blogger of WinSupersite, also gave a  sneak peek into the features of Windows 8. According to him, for faster computing and compatibility, the operating system will have built-in support for USB 3.0 and Bluetooth 3.0 in next generation devices. Windows 8 will provide sensors platform for location capabilities and will use "in-box" location service codenamed Orion. This service will use Wi-Fi triangulation with accuracy down to 50 meters to 100 meters. 

Apparently, the leaked slides also hinted Kinect for Xbox 360 like features for Windows 8 machines. One of the slides mentioned that "Windows 8 can adapt to changes in ambient light, so that the display is always easy to see". Apart from that, Windows 8 will also have stereoscopic 3D and graphics improvements with 3D-ready version of DirectX. The backup and restore function would be improved too. Windows 8 public beta might be released sometime late 2011 while the final version would arrive in mid-2012.

Again, as the slides suggest, the details are a part of Windows 8 discussion and not a well-laid accurate plan. We wait to see if Windows 8 leap-frogs Windows 7 only, or manages to overtake the ever increasing Apple Mac OS X market too.

iPhone 4 Sales Top 1.7 Million in Just 3 Days of its Launch !

Apple has released an official statement saying that 1.7 million iPhone 4 devices were sold in the first three days of their release. The company had already recorded 600,000 pre-orders for iPhone 4 as on June 16. Clearly, consumers love the new generation iPhone device from Apple.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs said in a statement, "We apologize to those customers who were turned away because we did not have enough supply." Several users were not able to pre-order iPhone 4 due to overload on the systems. Inspite of the recent reports over iPhone 4's network reception issues and bad coloration of retina display screens, people continue to show their faith in it. 

Looking at the current trends of iPhone 4 sales, we expect a shortage of supply in the near future for international audience.

C7 - The new c-series from NOKIA???

Nokia's current Symbian flagship (also possibly the last N-Series Symbian), the N8 is no doubt a good phone. But then, it might just be too much for a user who is on the lookout for a cheaper phone without compromising much on the features.

That's where Nokia's latest C-Series device, the C7-00, comes into the picture. Now, this phone has not been officially revealed by Nokia yet. However, traces of the phone were found in an XML file located in the hidden depths of the Nokia's website. This incidentally comes just a few weeks after images of the C7 were leaked.


The specs of the C7 include a 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen, Symbian^3 and an 8 megapixel camera with dual LED flash and support for face detection. It is also rumored to support multi-touch gestures. Other features include a 360x640 pixel nHD pixel display and support for 3G UMTS/HSDPA, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth .

There is no detail on the pricing or the expected launch date of this one. 

Google to launch Facebook rival ???

Now this is some interesting news coming in. Google and Facebook who dominate two different sectors of the World Wide Web might just compete on the same space if we are to believe a fresh new rumor.

Apparently, Google is planning a major entry into the social networking space with a new service that will be known as Google "Me". So far, the two had been competing in the "most visited websites" category in U.S. In March 2010, Facebook became the first website to outdo Google in terms of the number of visitors. On the global front though, Facebook has still someway to go to compete with Google at least on the "most visited" parameter.


However, it would not be completely correct to say that Google has not been in the social networking sphere. In fact, Google's own Orkut still happens to be the most used social networking website in countries like Brazil and India - although it has of late lost some sheen. Earlier this year, Google launched its "Buzz" service which was mired in privacy issues and didn't actually get to a flying start.

This latest rumour regarding Google Me was first revealed by Digg founder Kevin Rose who tweeted : "Ok, umm, huge rumor: Google to launch Facebook competitor very soon "Google Me", very credible source."

Interestingly, neither Kevin nor Google has said anything about this service after the tweet.

New NOKIA - A QWERTY phone, may be a C series or N series!

It was just yesterday that we reported about Nokia confirming the fact that the N8 will be the last phone from the N-Series brigade to come with Symbian.

Just a day later, a phone that is supposedly known as the N9 has been leaked. The phone, which is being referred to be a successor to the N900 does pose a couple of intriguing questions.

On the looks front, it looks like an N8 with a slide out keyboard which should obviously mean its a successor to the N8 and hence would be an N-Series device. The OS that appears to be running on the phone is obviously Symbian. This contradicts Nokia's own statement that the N8 was their last S60 N-Series phone. The folks who posted this image first says that this one would go by the name N9 . Apart from the slider keyboard this phone is also said to sport an 8-megapixel camera.

There is a C0 label at the top of the handset which according to some signifies that this one is actually headed to become a member of the new C-Series. Anyway, the folks who claim to have this one in their hands have said that they will be posting a detailed review of this one. 

TOSHIBA Libretto W100 - World's first dual touch screen laptop.

The Libretto (W100) is the world’s first dual-touch-screen laptop running Microsoft Windows 7 that offers the consumer an enriched ultra-mobile computing experience. The Libretto W100 showcases Toshiba’s engineering skill and ingenuity, creating a unique pocket-sized companion that can be used to create and consume any content.


The Libretto W100 with its two 17.8cm (7 inch) touch-sensitive screens is targeted at prosumers who want to be at the forefront of creative mobile computing and want to enjoy state-of-the art web and computing applications refined by a unique user interface. The Libretto W100 takes user interaction to a new level, offering a distinctive and intuitive method of conceiving and capturing ideas.

The Libretto W100 can mimic both ‘traditional media’, opening like a book, or ‘high-tech’ media, like lifting the lid of a laptop. That means users could hold the Libretto W100 vertically to read the double-page spread of a newspaper, or could hold it horizontally, reading a document on the upper screen, while using the lower screen to capture clippings and ideas. The lower screen can also display a virtual keyboard, enabling the device to function in the same way as a laptop. The user can easily drag and drop content, files or icons from one screen to another with a simple sweep of the finger.

Lighter and smaller than even a netbook, people will carry the Libretto W100 with them nearly everywhere. With its attractive casing, the smart Libretto W100 is discreet and aesthetically pleasing, and will appeal to creative, stylish people. Its wireless connectivity can provide convenient web access on the move to surf the web, to read and type e-mails or messages, to stay in contact with friends on social networks, download newspapers and watch videos.

The new MeeGo OS for Nokia phones!

Nokia's N-Series is known for its line-up of feature packed phones that Nokia calls "mobile computers". These phones are powerful devices that cram in a lot of features ranging from multimedia abilities to office applications. In short, the N-Series are adept at handling anything you throw at it. The series did give us path breaking and revolutionary handsets like the N91, N73 and the N95 - which were amazing devices of their time. All these phones had one thing in common - their Symbian Operating System. In fact, the N-Series and Symbian had become synonymous. That is about to change now.

A Nokia official has reaffirmed that the N8 is going to be the last N-Series device with Symbian. The device runs Symbian^3 has a 12 megapixel camera and like its predecessors - is a multimedia powerhouse complete with an HDMI port. However, the phone is crippled by the OS which even after being an updated version continues to be outshined by more contemporary OSes like Android and the iOS4.
Nokia, however, has an ace up its sleeve in the form of its upcoming MeeGo OS that would be used in the future N Series phones. MeeGo is being developed by Intel in collaboration with chip giant Intel and is expected to land on main stream devices by the end of 2010.
Of course, this doesn't mean Symbian will die a slow agonizing death. Symbian will continue to be used on its X, E and C series devices. Symbian^4 too is in the making as of now and is expected to be a decent upgrade over the current versions of Symbian when it arrives later this year or by early 2011.
The first Nokia MeeGo N-Series devices are expected to be launched by early 2011.

Radio controlled watch from CITIZEN.

Citizen watch company Limited has launched a new Eco-Drive radio-controlled model. This watch is Citizen’s first analogue chronograph capable of receiving standard time radio-waves from multiple stations. 
A radio controlled watch receives standard time radio waves that are broadcasted from radio wave transmitters and uses these waves to automatically correct the time and date.

The model is designed to receive standard time radio-waves from 5 stations including Germany, the U.S.A., Japan (East and West), and China. As a result, it not only offers greater accuracy but added convenience too. 
For world time, users can choose from 26 cities and UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). Simply turn the dial disk using the crown to switch the city. Doing this allows you to easily adjust the hour and second hands to the time zone of the city selected.

As the new Radio control watch comes with an ‘Eco-Drive’ platform, it keeps running on any kind of light. Whenever exposed to any source of light, the watch charges itself and sustains even when kept in dark for some time. Other features include charge level indicator, power reserve indicator, and alarm.






Radio controlled Calibre H610 is priced at Rs. 66,000 INR.

Dell thunder - a cellphone from the mobility giant!

From laptops and other computer paraphernalia, Dell has now gotten into the mobile phone business and recently announced a slew of new mobile handsets after their Dell Mini 3i debuted last year in China. TheDell Thunder is an Android powered touchscreen handset that features some heave specs that include a 4.1-inch multi-touch enabled display with a 480 x 800 pixel resolution and an 8MP camera. Android v2.1 is the operating system the company has gone with and Dell has also designed a customer UI called Stage to help enhance the overall mobile experience.


Some of the other feature that the Thunder comes loaded with include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP and GPS. The handsets 1 GHz Snapdragon processor should ensure smooth functioning of the handset overall but this totally touchscreen handset also has quite a bit too offer even the looks department. 



So lets keep our fingers crossed and wait for this phone to come up in our hands soon!

Motorola MB511 Flip Out - One more innovative design from MOTO.

Motorola has never been one to design handsets that employ conventional styling. From the ultra sleek RAZR to the Aura and then the Backflip. Only recently a new handset seems to have made it out, unofficially, and is called the FlipOut. It’s a squared off design with a display that rotates to reveal a full QWERTY keypad. 

This upcoming device will be 3G ready and also include Wi-Fi. For the frequent traveler it’ll be equipped with GPS and hopefully Motorola’s MotoNav maps. The MOTOBLUR UI will ensure that social networkers are always in the look about what’s going on in their online lives and of course all of this will run on top of Google’s Android OS. 

Nokia C6, rival to nokia N97 ?

Nokia recently announced the all new C-Series phones. Many of them being the mid-entry level phones to capture the market in this segment. The top of the line is the new C6.

Nokia C6 has a 3.2-inch TFT touchscreen, the screen display at 360×640 pixels with 16m colors giving the clear view. The Nokia C6 supports UMTS/HSDPA connectivity and also has the hidden hardware QWERTY keyboard. 2.2-inch QVGA display, 50MB internal memory, FM radio, GPS function and camera.

It resembles from outer appearance as the other touch screen phones like the 5800 xpress music, 5230, 5233 etc. but the main difference lies in the fact that it has got a real physical QWERTY keyboard and a 5MP camera but Nokia has disappointed by not giving the carl zeiss optics in this phone.

Expected price is 220 euro.

Specifications

Video

Will N8 be a masterpiece from NOKIA ?

Deterring all the speculations, finally the Finnish giant is up with something which was missing and most eagerly awaited in its orchestra! The all new NOKIA N8, the latest in its so called N-SERIES line up of DEVICES. But will it do what NOKIA and all others are expecting out of it?

lets have a look at its specifications, images and videos.

Nokia had done its homework hard and is up with many new things in this upcoming mobile computer. Its first ever device to flaunt the new symbian^3 OS, first ever Nokia phone to feature 12 megapixel camera with carl ziess optics and Nokia has first time used anodized aluminium in making this masterpiece rather than their conventional steel as used in E-SERIES or the plastics used in the N-SERIES.

Specifications

Video

Nokia N85 & N79 - the new N series lineup!

Nokia introduced officially two new members of the Nseries family - Nokia N79 and Nokia N85. The two devices come with rather different designs but both have quite extensive specs sheets to brag about.

The Nokia N85
Nokia N85 is a quad-band GSM and tri-band UMTS dual slider, inspired by the controversial design of the Nokia N81. It's also got HSDPA support to improve network data transfer speed even further. Undoubtedly, the most exiting feature about the N85 is the display - a 2.6" 16M color AMOLED unit of QVGA resolution. There is a built-in accelerometer for automatic rotation of the UI and dedicated gaming keys for improving the N-gage gaming expirience.

Some of the other features of the Nokia N85 include microUSB slot, 3.5mm standard audio jack and GPS. The handset running of the Symbian OS with S60 UI and Feature Pack 2 preinstalled will also have WLAN and Bluetooth among its connectivity options. A 5 megapixel camera with autofocus, dual-LED flash and autofocus assist light is mounted at the back of the device. It can manage the sweet VGA video recording at up to 30 fps. A secondary CIF camera is at the front to take care of the video calls.
The built-in memory of the Nokia N85 is 74MB and there is a microSD card slot to extend that. An 8GB card (the largest currently available on the market) will be included in the retail package. The final multimedia touches to the Nokia N85 are the FM radio and FM transmitter.
Nokia N85 will be available in Copper color in October for an estimated retail price of 450 euro (660 US dollars) before taxes or subsides.

The Nokia N79
The bar-shaped Nokia N79 has a bit more modest feature list but has better (or so it seems to us) looks and a more compact boy. It still supports all the four GSM bands but the 3G works only on the 900 and 2100 MHz bands. The display on the N79 is a 2.4" QVGA one, capable of showing up to 16M colors. Wi-Fi, GPS and a 5 megapixel camera are some of its other more important features.
Nokia N79 also sports FM radio and FM transmitter, allowing you to broadcast your favorite tracks within a short range over radio waves. Quite as expected, it too runs on the Symbian OS with S60 v3.2 UI. Nokia N79, much like the N85, features the interesting Navi wheel navigation solution which we first came to know in the Nokia N81. The 3.5mm standard audio jack, the Bluetooth connectivity and the microUSB slot are hardly a surprise to anyone. The internal memory of the N79 is 50MB and it will be expandable through the microSD card slot (a 4GB memory card will be included in the retail package).

The other upgrade of the Nokia N79 over the N78 (in addition to the improved camera and video recording) is its easily customizable exterior. The handset will come with two extra Xpress-on covers in the retail package and additional ones can also be purchased.

Nokia N79 will hit the shelves in Canvas White and Seal Grey color versions in October and will cost 350 euro (515 US dollars) before taxes or subsides.

Lets see when they hit the Indian market & with what price tag!! Keep guessing!!

Nokia N78 now available in India!

The Nokia Nseries N78 is now available in India. Nokia claims the device not only offers multiple experiences on one device but also helps merge experiences to create newer ones. The highlight of N78 is its "Location Tagger" application that automatically tags location data to pictures, allowing users save pictures by date plus geographical co-ordinates. The phone offers the full suite of Nokia services such as Nokia Maps and integrated A-GPS.

Looks-wise, N78 comes in two colors: cocoa brown and lagoon blue and sports a signature sleek black surface. It is claimed to be the slimmest of Nseries devices and boasts a 2.4-inches screen, packing a 3.2 mega pixels camera with Carl Zeiss optics, and technologies including high-speed connectivity via WLAN and HSPDA 3.5G. Nokia has preloaded Maps of eight cities across India on to its N78 -- these are complete with points of interest across 52 categories such as bars, cafes, restaurants, hotels, etc. And, N78 comes with an integrated three-month navigation license. The N78 is also the first to feature widgets such as Weatherbug and RSS feed that are enabled by Web Runtime technology. The device supports microSD cards up to 8GB, internal speakers, and standard 3.5mm headphones. The N78 comes with Nokia Original Accessories including the Nokia Stereo Headset WH-600 and the Nokia Bluetooth Speakers MD-7W. The headset has a headband style while the Bluetooth Speakers feature a click-and-go magnetic attachment system allowing consumers carry their music with them. The Nokia N78 will retail for around Rs 19,999. Though hope for the price to go down after few months of its launch.

For now just go n' grab it at your nearest retailer.

EA Forays into "Dead Space" !

Electronic Arts (EA) is working on an all new sci-fi horror game for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. "Dead Space", as the name suggests, is set in deep space, and is currently under development by EA's Redwood Shores Studio.
Being described as a 'third-person survival horror game', the game promises the ultimate in psychological thrills and gruesome action, according to EA. In "Dead Space", players get to don the hat of engineer Isaac Clarke, who's sent on a routine mission to do a repair job on a mining ship in deep space. Except that the mission takes an awful turn when Clarke discovers that the ship's been ravaged by an alien infestation. Clarke is left with no option but to fight his way through the dead silence and darkness of deep space in order to stay alive. Glen Schofield, executive producer of the game, said that with nearly every other person being a huge fan of the horror and sci-fi genres, they were compelled to create the most terrifying game they could to keep the player on the edge of his seat the entire time. With an official Web site reminiscent of the 'Aliens' movie franchise, the game is expected to release sometime in autumn next year for both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Bose MusicMonitors Desktop Speakers !

It seems that Bose has realized that the multimedia speaker market maybe a little messy - but providing quality to those demanding audiophiles gives them pleasure. Bose has launched Computer MusicMonitors - a new set of desktop speakers.

The speakers spec stand at 5-inch by 2-inch delivering 25-watts. The set touts Dual Internal Opposing Passover Radiators to improve the performance for the small-sized speakers. The speakers will be available on October 4 at a cost of USD 399 (Rs.15,950).

USB 3.0 to Release Next Year!

Nothing stands still in the fast lane that is technology... Intel has announced that the all new USB 3.0 standard will be likely released in the first half of 2008. This -- the chip maker announced during the Intel Developer Forum (IDF), where the USB 3 Promoter Group was also announced -- comprising early members Microsoft, HP, and NEC.
And before your head spins with the sheer speed of things to be... remember, tech enthusiasts may only see the move as a logical next step for PC's most popular wired connectivity standard. Vis-a-vis the USB cables of today that can at the most send data at 480 megabits per second, USB 3.0 will escalate data transfer speed to an awesome tenfold i.e. nearly 4.8 gigabits of data per second. And unlike its predecessors, USB 3.0 will see fiber-optic cable hand-in-glove with Copper wiring, the reason behind the immense speeds. Besides, the standard promises low power consumption and backward-compatibility as well. So what does this entail for consumers? More HD devices -- HD DVD or Blu-ray players.. the works... While it is being said the standard is slated for a industry release next year, most likely it will be the year after, or even after (2010) by the time consumers get to see what it looks like...

Benchmark Helmet Bluetooth Headsets !

Up until now, we've seen motorcycle helmets with headsets built into them. But in almost all such cases you'll have to part with your helmet for just a headset implanted. The pain would be unbearable, especially if it's a designer one or a stylish helmet. Benchmark Helmet has just the right thing for all us biker boyz and galz: their Camos lineup.

The lineup promises to provide easy listening without the problem of wires - and no need to spare your old helmet. The lineup consists of 2 new headsets, which support Bluetooth 2.0 and A2DP. These headsets are waterproof and have noise canceling technology as well. With talk-time of 10 hours and standby time of around 150 hours, they'd last you long enough. BHS-500 and BHS-600 will be priced around USD 149 (Rs.5,960) USD 199 (Rs.7,960), respectively.

Aiptek 720p Pocket Camcorder !

Aiptek has always been into providing cheap options. This time, it's HD (High Definition) video at a pretty low price tag. A-HD 720p High Definition Camcorder can record 720p video at 30fps (frames per second).

Other specs include 4x digital zoom, red-eye reduction, component output, and a 2.4-inch swivel screen. It's just 6 MB of internal storage - which is really sad - but an SD (Super Density)expansion slot has been provided. It also supports capturing of still images. It has AC and USB (Universal Serial Bus) charging. Here's the finale: it's priced at just USD 170 (Rs.6,800)!

AMD Announces Three Core Chips !

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is reportedly introducing triple-core Phenom processors to its much decorated chips portfolio. The three-core chips will essentially be quad-core Phenom processors -- with one core disabled, according to AMD.
In a way, the company is looking to make concrete use of four-cores that don't quite make the cut instead of relegating them to scrap. While a balanced approach towards multiple cores is common practice, AMD has it that even an odd number of chips can make light work out of a single workload. Part of AMD's roadmap update, the company indicated that it's 'Toliman' triple-core chip would be out in 2008; the 'Heka' triple-core chip in 2009; and a Gen-Next 'Regor' dual-core chip -- also in 2009. Meanwhile, the timing of AMD's announcement is precariously close to the ongoing Intel Developer Forum, yet consumers are likely to see the move more as addition of yet another mid-range chip to somewhat blur the dividing lines between a high end Phenom and a low end single-core Athlon.