LG Optimus G Pro to come in 40 countries excluding UK

LG which reportedly became the world's third largest smartphone vendor in the first quarter of 2013, seems to be overwhelmed by the response to its Optimus smartphone series.LG will soon be expanding the availability of its flagship phablet starting with Italy . The Korean manufacturer will be bringing the Optimus G Pro to 40 new countries, starting with Italy this week. Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company said, "We are excited to be bringing our award-winning Optimus G Pro to a worldwide audience. The Optimus G Pro showcases the next generation smartphone trends with its large display, high-performance features and innovative mobile experience." Following its launch in Italy, LG Optimus G Pro will be available in Europe, Latin America, Commonwealth of Independent States and the Middle East by the end of this quarter. However, the Optimus G Pro is unlikely to make it to the stores of UK, as LG is reportedly worried about the "immature" LTE network in the region. The LG Optimus G Pro is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor and comes with 2GB RAM. It features a 5.5-inch full-HD IPS display with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels at 400ppi pixel density. The device comes with a 3,140mAh battery. It also comes with a number of pre-loaded features like dual camera recording, virtual reality panorama and QSlide. The rollout comes at a time when LG is reportedly working on the successor to its Optimus G, the Optimus G2. The company is rumoured to launch the device in an event scheduled for August 7 this year.

LG Optimus G Pro key specifications

• 5.5-inch full-HD IPS display
• 1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor
• 2GB RAM
• 16GB of internal storage, expandable by up to 64GB via microSD card
• 13-megapixel rear camera with LED Flash
• 2.1-megapixel front facing camera
• 3G, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC and GPS/ aGPS
• 3,140mAh battery
• Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean) with Optimus 3.0 UI
• 150.2X76.1X9.4mm

Sony Xperia i1 Honami packs 20MP under its hood

Japanese tech giants ,Sony's upcoming cameraphone or (phamera as i say it) flagship has been spotted in few leaked images earlier and now, the specifications of the device have been leaked. Samsung and Nokia have made their camera-smartphone or phamera , how can sony stay back. The Sony Xperia Honami will reportedly sport a 5-inch display of 1080p resolution. The smartphone is going to be powered by a 2.2 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor and feature 2 GB of RAM. The 20 megapixel Exmor RS main camera will feature Sony G-lens and BIONZ image processor, but its sensor will measure 1/2.3" rather than the previously rumored 1/1.6". The impressive snapper will be joined by a 2 megapixel front facing snapper. The smartphone will have 16 GB of expandable storage to save all those shots and will draw its juice from a 3,000mAh battery. Sony Xperia Honami is said to be IP57 certified, which it is completely dust-protected and it will withstand a meter of water for 30 minutes. The Xperia Honami reportedly measures 144 x 73.9 x 8.3mm and will come with a great set of connectivity options along with latest version of the Android OS - 4.2. The upcoming flagship smartphone from Sony is expected to compete against the likes of other camera-phones such asSamsung Galaxy S4 Zoom and, more importantly, the Nokia Lumia 1020. Sony is set to unveil its Honami smartphone at its press event on September 4 at the IFA expo in Berlin. Alongside the mouthwatering processor, screen and camera specs, and now a claimed camera app screenshot from the Honami reveals that a 20 MP unit might be indeed chilling inside Sony's next big thing, just as speculated. At the full resolution, the phone can apparently take 4:3 photos, with 16:9 going down to 8 MP. We still don't know whether there will be some sort of pixel oversampling tech like in Nokia's PureView technology, like it was whispered in the beginning.  With all the latest leaks trickling down, prototypes are obviously in the hands of people that like to brag, so samples shouldn't be far behind. We're a little more than a month away from a flood of gadget news at IFA in Berlin, and we have a sneaking suspicion that the phone's camera UI looks like, and now a leak from the Taiwanese site ePrice says the device has a 20.7-megapixel ExmorRS sensor that's the same size as the one in the Galaxy Camera and other point-and-shoots. It's also paired with a "Sony G-Lens," though hopefully not one as bulbous as some others we've seen. Other specs include a 5-inch 1080p display with the same Triluminos technology that's in the Xperia Z Ultra, Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 800, 16GB of internal storage that can be expanded with microSD and a fairly massive 3,000mAh battery. If the alleged spec sheet after the jump is to be believed, then the Lumia 1020 and GS4 Zoom might have to face some serious competition. We’ve seen several claims suggesting variously 13-megpaixel, 16-megapixel and 20-megapixel sensors using Sony’s Exmor RS back-illuminated sensor (BSI) technology. For a while there’s been talk of Sony Cybershot functionality and allegedly the phone will feature a Cybershot camera UI and both a dual-LED and Xenon flash. The sensor allegedly has a 2/3-inch aperture and one wildcard rumour we’ve seen recently says you’ll be able to swap the lenses around. It’s also rumoured to use a Mobile BIONZ image processing technology to enhance things further and there’ll be a dedicated camera button. The front-facing secondary camera is a 2.2-megapixel Exmor R sensor with 1080p video capture. The operating system will of course be Google’s Android software and the latest version, 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, has been mentioned specifically to be onboard. It seems a given it will have a Sony interface layer on top and while we’ve previously seen the ‘Sony UI’ on the Xperia Z and others, the Xperia i1 will apparently debut the so-called ‘Xperia UI’. Whether this is a dramatic change from the previous interface or something very similar remains to be seen. There’s been no word on when Sony might release its Xperia i1 handset, but it was revealed through leaks at the same time as the Xperia ZU, which was launched on June 25. Sony has another event lined up in Paris on July 4, which could possibly see the Xperia i1 Honami getting an official announcement. We think it’s quite likely we’ll see the Xperia i1 appear by the end of August at the very latest. After launch, we expect the device to hit the market within the following month, so that could put us into August or September before it’s on shelves. In terms of pricing, again there are no details given but considering Sony’s previous flagships have retailed for around the £500 mark SIM-free – we suspect we’ll see a repeat of this pricing plan on the Xperia i1.

                                                                                                  

ZTE to enter Indian smartphone market

ZTE Telecom India  a wholly subsidiary of China based ZTE Corporation, a provider of telecommunications equipment, network solutions and mobile devices has tied up with Pune's Calyx Telecommunications for distribution, sales and marketing of ZTE products. ZTE will launch five smartphones under its own brand name in India on Friday. However ZTE has not revealed the list of handsets that would be launched in India this week. ZTE is not new to the Indian market; it is the second largest seller of data cards or dongles in India and has also sold few popular smartphones in India but has never used its own name. Many of you might have used the Dell XCD 35 or Idea Blade - both are same and are actually rebranded version of the ZTE Blade smartphone. Similarly Reliance 3G Tab is actually a ZTE product. The Chinese giant is also one of the largest phone makers of CDMA phones for Indian CDMA operators. Its closest rival, Huawei had entered the Indian market a long back. Thus, ZTE is foraying into Indian market to sell its smart phones and tablet PCs. It has targeted to sell over one million handsets in a year. ZTE will enter the Indian smart phone market with an initial portfolio of five different models of smart phones ranging from Rs. 5,799 to Rs. 14,999.While there is no news on the devices that the company is planning to launch in India, we know the price range, Rs 6,000-Rs 15,000. So here is a look at ZTE's international portfolio of entry to mid-level smartphones which they might bring to India. Announcing the tie-up, Xu Dejun, CEO, ZTE India said, "We expect to emerge as a key player in the Indian smart phone arena. Globally, ZTE is the fourth largest handset manufacturer and we are certain to strengthen our position in India, which is a key growth propeller for us, contributing to 10 per cent of our overall revenues. We feel that it is a perfect synergy between two companies who share the same vision of empowering the Indian handset market." ZTE is operating in India form last ten years and provided mobile handsets to Micromax, Karbon and servive providers like Reliance Communications and Idea Cellular Ltd. Gaurav Somani, eexecutive director, Calyx Telecommunications said, "We are broadening our distribution network with ZTE's smart phone and tablet portfolio initially focusing on Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. We are targeting 60 cities and towns through over 7000 touch points. ZTE products will be available in all major states by the end of October 2013."

Image of Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 Duos leaks

Amazed with the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3? Then you are going to love this. A dual sim feature is all that lacked in the Samsung GM6.3Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 is probably the most gigantic smartphone in the market right now and it might soon be getting a dual SIM version. The image of the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 Duos has been leaked and bar the pattern at the back, the design of the upcoming smartphone is identical to that of theinternational version. The Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 Duos is reported to have SCH-P729 as its model number. It is said to match the Galaxy Mega 6.3 6.3-inch LCD display with a resolution of 720 pixels and will feature a 1.7 GHz dual-core Exynos processor along with 1 GB of RAM, 8 megapixel rear camera, 2 megapixel front camera, microSD card slot and will run on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. The Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 Duos is said to have already cleared Bluetooth certification, but there is no word on the launch date and the pricing of the smartphone at the moment. Apart from SIM slot increment and reduced RAM, everything else looks to be same on the rumoured smartphone. Some say that the dual sim feature will be a CDMA-GSM one. No news apart from this is available.

iPhone 5S mass production begins

Will the next gen iPhone 5S shake the world like the arch rival Samsung Galaxy S IV did? The long-awaited next generation iPhone will enter mass production by the end of this month, according to Jefferies analyst Peter Misek. Peter Misek believes that Apple is going to order about 50-55 million iPhones for the fourth quarter out of which, 5 million will be iPhone 4Sand up to 25 million of its upcoming flagship smartphone. Lastly, Peter Misek expects Apple to announce its iPhone 5S in late September or in early October. The iPhone 5S has a history at the rumor mill. Pictures in December showed an exterior identical to the iPhone 5, just a couple of months off the launch of the iPhone 5. Other pictures surfaced last month. More recently, a Korean news outlet expected a version of the iPhone 5Swith LTE-Advanced technology. A recruitment firm, which is responsible for hiring at Foxconn’s plant in Zhengzhou in northern China, has begun recruiting workers on a large scale, indicating that mass production of the iPhone 5S has begun, CNET reported, citing China Business News. The report by China Business News was based on information from an anonymous source at the Zhengzhou plant, who said that Foxconn currently has 210,000 workers, which is way below the 300,000 people employed during the production peak in 2012. Therefore, the company is now assumed to be filling assembly line positions with new employees. “As the seasonal hires file onto the production floor, it is widely believed that Foxconn is preparing to enter the mass production phase of the so-called ‘iPhone 5S,’ a handset thought to carry over the design of the iPhone 5, but with upgraded internals,” an Apple Insider report said. The unidentified source also provided a new twist in the iPhone 5S tale, saying that the Zhengzhou plant is working on a completely different iPhone, which could feature a “borderless” design, an aluminum and carbon fiber shell, and weighs 40 percent less than the iPhone 5. The iPhone 5S is expected to have a form factor similar to that of the iPhone 5. However, the device is likely to feature a more powerful processor, a fingerprint sensor, a longer-lasting battery, an improved camera with dual LED flash andslow-motion video capturing capabilities.

Rumors are rife that Apple will launch the iPhone 5S, along with iOS 7, in September, followed by a release date in the fall. The Cupertino, Calif.-based tech giant is also rumored to be working on a more thoroughly redesigned iPhone 6 for 2014, which will follow this year’s iPhone 5S. Also Multi coloured iPhones are expected

MORE ON iPHONE 5S

http://pitstoptech.blogspot.in/2013/07/slow-motion-mougul-camera-on-later.html

http://pitstoptech.blogspot.in/2013/07/iphone-5s-to-be-phablet-apple-to-launch.html

http://pitstoptech.blogspot.in/2013/06/head-movements-to-be-included-in-ios7.html

Whatsapp gets and update for Windows users. Fixes some major bugs

WhatsApp messenger has been widely appreciated and used on several mobile platforms. However, WhatsApp App has been giving issues to the users on Windows Phone 8 platform. Now the developers have pushed a new update with several new features and improvements to ensure smoother WhatsApp experience. The new WhatsApp App 2.10.491.0 version is of 6 MB and can be downloaded from the Windows Phone store . WhatsApp is a popular instant messaging and multimedia sharing app based service available for almost all mobile platforms. The new WhatsApp update for the Windows Phone 8 devices brings voice calling from within the app. Along with new smileys, users can see them on the double wide tiles as well. The app now allows users to keep music playing in the background while using the app. Whenever the app is started, user is asked whether to let the app take a back up of the chat history. This option is also available in the settings. Notifications have been fixed for users so that no message is missed out. Apart from that, users get to see large images and there are several performance improvement tweaks. WhatsApp has had tough time with Windows Phone platform and the company has certainly not given up on it.

Here is a quick list of changes on the new version of whatsapp -

• Initiate voice calls from within the app
• Background API allows you to play music
• Proper Emoji
• Fixed notifications for users
• Users can now see smileys on the double wide tile
• Fast resume (If the app is open and you click on the incoming notification it opens as fast as on Android)
• On start-up, it now asks if you want to back up your chat history. You can also do this through settings.
• Large images shown

Panasonic launching 2 new smartphones , P11 and T11

Panasonic's second smartphone P11 is now available for pre-orders at Flipkart for Rs. 16,690. The online retailer is taking pre-orders for P11 and estimates the release date for the device to be third week of July. The Panasonic P11 comes with a 5.0-inch IPS display with a resolution of 720x1280 pixels. It runs on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) operating system. It is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core processor with 1GB RAM. The camera department includes an 8.0-megapixel auto-focus camera accompanied by a LED flash at the back and a 1.3-megapixel front camera. The internal memory stands at 4GB which can be further expanded up to 32GB with the help of microSD card. The yet to be launched Panasonic P11 supports dual SIM functionality (GSM+GSM) and also includes a 2,000mAh battery. The device also sports changeable back covers. Another device that has been spotted on the online retailer's website is the Panasonic T11 with a 'coming soon' tag. It features a 4.0-inch WVGA display with a resolution of 480x800 pixels. On hardware front the device is backed by a 1.2GHz quad-core processor and 1GB RAM. Other features include a 4GB internal storage that can be expandable up to 32GB via microSD card and comes with 1,500mAh battery. It runs on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean). The Panasonic T11 is expected to be a mid-segment device. Panasonic has been a late entrant to the Indian market. The company launched its first smartphone,Panasonic P51 for the Indian market a few months back. The company promised to launch a series of smartphones across different price ranges, and with the P11 and T11, it seems to be living up to that.
Panasonic P11 key specifications

• 5-inch IPS display with 720x1280 pixels
• 1.2GHz Mediatek quad-core processor
• 1GB RAM
• 4GB internal storage expandable up to 32GB via microSD card
• 8-megapixel rear camera with auto-focus and flash
• 1.3-megapixel front facing camera
• Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
• 2,000 mAh battery
• Dual SIM (GSM+GSM)

The first device powered by Tegra 4 is going to be ZTE Geek

A China Mobile version of the upcoming ZTE Geek has been pictured, by none other than ZTE itself. The picture comes in conjunction with images outed by China's TENAA certification database, which is notorious for leaking devices coming out of Asia. ZTE has released some shots of the device from a more flattering (albeit somewhat gushy) perspective. Sporting a 5-inch fullHD LCD and an upgraded front-facing camera, the real star of the show is the expected NVIDIA Tegra 4 (Tegra is a system on a chip (SoC) series developed by Nvidia for mobile devices such as smartphones, personal digital assistants, and mobile Internet devices. The Tegra integrates an ARM architecture central processing unit (CPU), graphics processing unit (GPU), northbridge, southbridge, and memory controller onto one package. The series emphasizes low power consumption and high performance for playing audio and video.) chipset inside, featuring four Cortex-A15 cores clocked at 1.8GHz. This is bound to be the official debut of the chipset in a smartphone. For now, the ZTE Geek U988S is set to work only on China Mobile's TD-SCDMA network, so we'll have to wait and see if a global version of the Tegra 4-powered Geek is also in the works. The first mobile phone powered by the quad-core Tegra 4 has been outed by Chinese manufacturer ZTE. The ZTE Geek U988S, originally expected to feature an Intel processor inside, will instead be powered by the NVIDIA produced chip. The Tegra 4 will be clocked at 1.8GHz and the phone will have 2GB of RAM onboard. Other changes include an improvement in the screen's resolution from 720 x 1280 to 1080 x 1920, and the sensor on the front-facing snapper will double to 2MP from the original 1MP. Meanwhile the camera on back will remain at 8MP. And while it is great that ZTE has decided to launch the phone with updated specs, this model will only be released in China for China Mobile's proprietary TD-SCDMA network. The carrier is the largest mobile operator in the world.

Specs of ZTE Geek U988S:

·         5 inch display

·         1920 x 1080 pixels resolution

·         1.8 GHz quad core Tegra 4 processor

·         2 GB RAM

·         8 GB internal memory

·         8 MP primary camera

·         2 MP front facing camera

·         Google Android v4.1 Jelly Bean

·         2300 mAh battery

Xolo Play with Tegra 3 for inr 16000

XOLO has officially launched its first NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor powered XOLO Play T1000 smartphone on Monday. According to the company, XOLO Play is now available for purchase at the company website and major retail stores across the country. “As the mobile market continues to grow strongly in India, we’re thrilled to work with XOLO to bring the first of many Tegra-powered devices in India,” said Vishal Dhupar, managing director, NVIDIA South Asia. XOLO Play features 4.7-inch IPS display with 720p resolution, Android 4.1, 8MP rear camera and 2MP front camera. The phone also comes with 1GB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, microSD card slot and 1900 mAh battery. “As XOLO continues to be a differentiated player in the fast-growing smartphone market in India, the XOLO Play T1000 delivers outstanding performance and exceptional visual content. It offers quick, responsive and visually stunning game play, fast web-browsing and enhanced multi-tasking performance,” said Vishal Sehgal, co-founder and director at Lava International. XOLO Play has been priced at INR 15,999.

XOLO Play key specifications

• 1.5 GHz NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor
• Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
• NVIDIA TegraZone for gaming
• 4.7-inch HD IPS one-glass solution display
• 8MP rear auto focus camera with BSI sensor, 2MP front camera
• 1 GB RAM, 4GB built-in memory expandable up to 32GB via microSD card slot
• 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 and GPS/aGPS
• 1900mAh battery

Samsung Galaxy S IV mini up for pre-order for the tag of 27990 (More than the current price of Samsung Galaxy S III and Micromax Canvas IV)

Samsung's official online store has started taking pre-orders for the Galaxy S4 Mini (GT-I9192). Samsung launched its Galaxy S4 Mini smartphone for Rs. 27,990 in India. However, it is only now that the company has started taking pre-orders for the device. The online store also notes, "Expected date of material availability 18th July." This means the device can be expected to be available only after July 18 and until then people can pre-book the smartphone. Another online retailer has also listed the device, although it comes with a 'coming soon' tag. Samsung has been rolling out different variants of its flagship smartphone, Galaxy S4 globally for a while now. The device has been launched in India to strengthen the premium mid-range segment of the company.As far as the specs are concerned, Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini is powered by a 1.7GHz dual-core processor with 1.5GB RAM. The device boasts off a 4.3-inch qHD (540x960 pixels) Super AMOLED display, with a pixel density of 256ppi. It comes with 8GB of internal storage which can be further expanded up to 64GB via a microSD card. It runs the Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean with the company's TouchWiz skin on top. On camera front, the device features an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 1.9-megapixel HD front facing camera. The device also supports dual SIM (GSM+GSM). The Galaxy S4 mini is backed by a 1,900mAh battery and is available in two colour options - White Frost and Black Mist.

Samsung Galaxy S4 mini key specifications

• 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED display
• 1.7GHz dual-core processor
• 1.5GB of RAM
• 8GB internal storage, can be expanded by up to 64GB via microSD card
• 8-megapixel rear-facing camera
• 1.9-megapixel HD front-facing camera
• 1900mAh battery
• Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)
• Dual SIM (GSM+GSM)

The Galaxy S4 Mini may sounds like Samsung Galaxy S4 launched at a low price point. However, there is a misconception in the minds of users'. The South Korean giant will highlight this phone as better than Galaxy S3. But in reality, the latter handset is far the best budget Android powered handset you can buy. Let's have a look at the specifications of Galaxy S4 Mini followed by Galaxy S3.  Gallery Last month, Samsung finally announced much awaited Galaxy S4 Mini. The phone was touted to have rocking specifications. But Samsung showed an ill fitted device. Not only that, Samsung India is charging hell lot of money to own Galaxy S4 Mini.  The monster Galaxy S4 is retailing for Rs. 38,999. Undoubtedly, Samsung Galaxy S4 is the best rated Android phone in the Indian market. And the price is even right. But the same cannot be said about Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini. The device can be purchased at Rs. 26,999 via Flipkart. Now it's up you whether to purchase Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini or old generation Galaxy S3 The Mini avatar of Samsung flagship “as the name says” Galaxy S4 Mini is up for pre-order in India now  There is price difference of about Rs. 13500 between the two (Galaxy S4 was launched at Rs. 41500). I am here tempted to compare it to the 13 megapixel camera of Canvas 4, which is of course better. Micromax lays the camera with special Galaxy S4 like features and a quad-core 1.2 GHz processor underneath. The phone body is also decent and you will be happy to flaunt it as a style statement. “On the software front, you are missing a few key features from the GS4, most notably Air View and Air Gestures” says Engadget in a hands on review of Galaxy S4. This is what you get at Rs. 17999 in the Canvas 4. Galaxy S4 Mini seems to be a costly affair, when you compare it to Sammy’s own Galaxy S3 (last year’s flagship), or the latest launch from Micromax. It's just a shame it's so expensive. Over all the devices are arranged ascending order of worth , Samsung Galaxy S IV Mini < Samsung Galaxy S III < Micromax Canvas 4

How to use a USB OTG for different uses(part I) : making a useless tablet into an e-reader

The Google Nexus 7 is one of our favorite budget Android tablets for many reasons, but durability isn't one of them. As our Always On torture test has demonstrated, the touch screen on the Nexus 7 is a rather delicate flower. If you've experienced the fragility of this screen first-hand, chances are you've got the tablet gathering dust somewhere with a partially or completely unresponsive screen. The good news is that you might be able to give your broken tablet new life, so long as it still powers up. Inspired by this tutorial found on  I endeavored to see if one could set up a Nexus 7 without using the touch screen, for use as a dedicated e-book reader. To make this happen, your first step is to get your tablet working using an alternative input method (assuming your touch screen is hosed). The easiest way to do this is to invest in an inexpensive USB OTG adapter. You can read all about this wondrous accessory on Sharon Vaknin's extensive tutorial. Connect the adapter between your tablet and a USB mouse, and you should be able to navigate around Android with a standard mouse pointer. Your first task on your now-functioning tablet is to disable the tablet's screen lock. We don't want to rely on the USB mouse as a long-term solution, so disabling the screen lock will allow you to jump in and out of your tablet with nothing more than the sleep/wake button. Jump into your Android settings, select Security, and at the top you should see a field for Screen Lock. Tap it, and select None from the list. Realize, though, that this will leave any private information and accounts on this tablet accessible to anyone who picks it up. If that's a concern to you, now would be a good time time to delete any sensitive information and disassociate any accounts from the tablet you don't want meddled with. Next up, decide on what e-book reader you prefer to use for this. The key is that you'll need one that supports the ability to use the tablet's volume buttons as a means to advance book pages. I didn't do an exhaustive search for apps that include this feature, but I found that Google's own Play Books app (included on the Nexus 7) offers this, as well as Amazon's Kindle app. The B&N Nook app didn't seem to include this feature, but for those looking for an alternative e-reader with great open-format support, give Cool Reader a try. Once you've settled on your reader software, locate the app's settings and check the box that enables the page-turn function using the volume keys. After that, back out, open a book, and give the volume key page control a try. If it works, then it's nearly time to jettison the USB mouse and adapter and fly this thing using only button controls (sleep/wake, up/down). But first, decide on a book that you're set on spending some time with for a while. A task as seemingly simple as changing books will require you to fish out that mouse and adapter again, so open up a worthy digital tome before you unplug.

High camera supporting devices to be launched this summer

Its raining smartphones this summer with top companies launching their (high camera) smartphones. There is a lot of hype and each of these devices is rumoured/declared to be released this week. Nokia, Google and LG are all gearing up to unveil new premium handsets in the coming weeks, here's what to expect:
Nokia
The Finnish phonemaker has somehow managed to let almost everything about its latest phone leak prior to its official launch. With mere days to go before its July 11 launch, the only thing that remains unclear about the next Windows Phone 8 handset is its name.It could be called the Lumia 909 or the Lumia 1020. The handset will feature a 41-megapixel image sensor for professional-quality photographs even in low-light conditions. This sensor, along with its camera app, will also mean ' lossless' digital zoom, i.e., being able to blow up pictures without losing resolution or detail.It will also come with 32GB of internal storage (but no SD slot for further expansion) and a 4.5-inch OLED display.
Read more: http://pitstoptech.blogspot.com/2013/07/nokia-lumia-1020-to-be-unveiled-at.html
Read more: http://pitstoptech.blogspot.in/2013/07/nokia-lumia-1020-sneakpeak.html
Google
The company this weekend sent out 50 invites to a Motorola press even on July 10 and 11 which could very well see the Moto X handset unveiled for the first time. Unlike Nokia, Google has managed to keep most details about this phone a well-guarded secret.What is known for sure is that it will use sensors in an intelligent, contextually aware way so that the handset can do things automatically that other phones can't.One such thing is launch the camera app when the user brings the phone up to his or her face, or automatically activate the hands-free mode when it senses it is in a car. The phone can also be customized but Google hasn't elaborated on this detail, or confirmed whether the customization extends to the device's chipset and RAM or if personalization is confined to background wallpapers, and the shape, color and texture of its shell. And, Google being Google, there is every chance that the event will have absolutely nothing to do with phones. We'll have to wait and see.
LG
Unlike Google, LG has been very clear that on August 7 it will be debuting its next flagship handset, the LG G2.  It will feature extra control buttons on its rear casing, will boast a 5.2-inch full HD display, a whopping 13-megapixel camera, 3GB of RAM and the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon processor.

Shop-o-holic-ism on the rise on smartphones

As many as 78 per cent of smartphone users also frequently use their phones in a store to compare products, says a study conducted among 400 smartphone and social media users in the country.An online study among smartphone users has found that 65 per cent of them use their phones to make a retail purchase, and 81 per cent of them frequently use social media to seek advice before making a purchase. As many as 78 per cent of smartphone users also frequently use their phones in a store to compare products, says a study conducted among 400 smartphone and social media users in the country. The study, carried out by First Data Corp-ICICI Merchant Services, was carried out in 10 countries including India in April among 4,000 people. It further finds that almost four-fifths of smartphone users have at least one retailer app on their phone. Given the unique proliferation of mobile phones in the country, an increasingly large number of Indians are turning to mobile phones as their first daily touch point to the internet, Nitish Asthana, executive director at First Data Corp, told PTI. First Data is a global technology and payments processing leader. In a lot of cases, the number of users of mobile devices is growing faster than web traffic. For an e-commerce company to keep pace with market trends, the mobile phone has become an important conduit, he said. Noting that consumers here are going through a fundamental shift in their primary channel of Internet access, he said this channel is increasingly becoming the smartphones. The study also finds that despite security concerns, online banking is on the rise in the country with more and more consumers asking for online banking services. This is clear from the fact that over half the respondents feel that online debit card and credit card purchases are secure (56 and 51 per cent, respectively), while 49 per cent feel that using their mobiles to make a payment at a store is also secure. Though 66 per cent feel that protecting their personal information and privacy is a growing concern, over 55 per cent are willing to share their interests with retailers to receive customised offers and deals. According to the study, almost three-quarters of respondents expect their banks to provide online banking services and 66 per cent expect a mobile phone app from their bank and higher 68 per cent of smartphone users have downloaded their bank's app onto their phones.

ZTE Nubia Z5mini leaks before its announcement launch

The press render of the ZTE Nubia Z5 Mini, the mini-variant of the ZTE Nubia Z5 has leaked ahead of its announcement.ZTE Nubia Z5 Mini is rumored to sport a 4.7-inch 720p display and the smartphone is said to feature a Snapdragon 600 chipset with 1.5 GHz quad-core Krait 300 CPU instead of a Snapdragon S4, which powers the Nubia Z5. The Nubia Z5 Mini will come with 2 GB of RAM, 8 megapixel rear camera and wide range of connectivity options. The mini-variant of the ZTE Nubia Z5 will measure 65.7 x 134.8 x 10.3mm and weighs about 160g. Lastly, ZTE Nubia Z5 Mini will run on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean.Unfortunately, there is no official confirmation on launch date of the smartphone, but we expect ZTE to officially announce the device in the nearest future.

@GSMArena

Karbonn Titanium S9 launches, giving surprise to many !

Handset manufacturer Karbonn on Friday introduced Karbonn Titanium S9 smartphone, its flagship device, priced at Rs 19,900.Karbonn's flagship device is powered by a Mediatek chipset enabled 1.2 GHz Quad Core processor. The 3G enabled smartphone runs Android Jelly Bean 4.2 operating system. With a 2600 mAh battery, this dual sim device has 16 GB internal memory and 1 GB RAM, the company said in a statement.The 5.5'' screened Karbonn Titanium S9 comes with 5.5'' HD IPS capacitive screen and boasts of a real-estate of high-definition 720p display. The smartphone is equipped with a 13 MP rear camera and a 5MP front-camera for video chats.“The launch of Karbonn Titanium S9 initiates our foray into the HD IPS smartphone category wherein we seek to satiate the consumer needs with the best-in-class technological innovations,'' said Shashin Devsare, executive director, Karbonn. Being an ultra light-weight device, the world in High-Definition can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere; wherein you can experience breath-taking smartphone capabilities through the gamut of technological innovations incorporated within.  Shashin Devsare, Executive Director, Karbonn said “The Karbonn Titanium S9 is the most exciting revolution to have come from Karbonn till date. The launch of the device initiates our foray into the HD IPS smartphone category wherein we seek to satiate the consumer needs with the best-in-class technological innovations. We understand the emergent needs of consumers of smartphone devices which look brilliant and work effortlessly. Thus in this regard, our product innovation is geared towards creating an eco-system of mobile devices which bring the best of smartphone experience to them.”With Micromax slated to officially launch the Canvas 4 on July 8, Karbonn Mobiles it seems has made a preemptive strike and launched the Titanium S9, which features a massive 5.5-inch IPS display and costs Rs 19,990. In addition to the Titanium S9, Karbonn is also expected to launch the Titanium S6 later this month and this device could sport a 1080p resolution screen and a Qualcomm processor.

Key Features of Karbonn Titanium S9:

* 13.9 cm (5.5) HD IPS Capacitive Screen, 16 Million Colours

* 1.2 GHz Quad Core Processor

* 13 MP auto focus rear camera with flash & 5 MP front camera

* Android 4.2 Jelly Bean

* 16 GB Internal Memory

* 1 GB RAM

* 2600 mAh Battery

* 3G Enabled Wifi Bluetooth

* Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n

* G-Sensor, Proximity, Ambient Light Sensor

* Up to 32 GB Expandable Memory

* Dual sim (GSM + GSM)

HTC Desire 600 launches in India with a price of 26860

This is another great handset from Taiwanese tech giant. 4.5-incher HTC Desire 600 with quadcore processor, 8MP camera launched in India for Rs 26,860. HTC has disclosed its latest handset HTC Desire 600. This phone is said to have a powerful processor and has astounding features that will make others jealous of you. This stupendous and alluring phone is available on Infibeam for Rs 26,860.This phone was launched recently and it features a 4.5 inch qHD Touch Screen that gives a new viewing experience. It is a Super LCD Capacitive Screen that gives high display resolution. It is as light as ever and weighs only 130gms. It is based on the Android with HTC Sense and HTC Blink Feed. It is powered by 1.2GHz Qualcomm Quad Core processor that not only enhances the speed of the phone but also gives a better overall performance.This Dual SIM phone has various connectivity features like Wi-Fi, DLNA, HTC Connect. Now you can connect to the Internet and share file through USB and Bluetooth connectivity. Now chatting, emailing, watching online videos, etc gets easier on the HTC Desire 600. You can hold your moments and capture them in the 8MP rear camera with LED Flash. It also has 1.6MP front camera that makes video calls possible anywhere and anytime.This phone allows you to store as much data you want in the 8GB internal memory space and a lot more as you can expand this up to 64GB through microSD card. It keeps you on for longer hours as it runs on 1860mAh Li-ion polymer battery. It gives you talk time of 11 hours and Standby time of upto 500 hours.

Key Features
4.5-inch qHD Touch Screen
1.2GHz Qualcomm quad-core processor
8MP rear camera and 1.6MP front camera
Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
Wi-Fi, DLNA, HTC Connect
1,860 mAh Li-ion Polymer battery

Long awaited HTC One mini to release soon

HTC(High Tech Computer) is a taiwanese manufacturer of mobiles and smartphones. HTC One mini has been around for quite some time even though it's not officially announced yet. The smaller sibling of the One flagship features a 4.3" 720p display and a dual-core Snapdragon chipset.We already saw live pictures of the HTC One mini twice. We also got an official render and a few confirmations of its existence from different organizations.

It is a micro sim powered device supporting 2G and 3G connectivities.It is expected to release in Q3 of 2013. It has a 4.3inch display with 16GB internal memory and 2GB RAM. It has 4MP camera with LED flash and a front camera. It can also record 1080p HD videos. It will run on Android v4.2.2 Jelly Bean. It is available in Black and silver colour variants. It cannot be said as a complete shrunken version of HTC One as it lacks its harm. Also it has no memory card slot so the internal memory should have been minimum 32 GB. Also the primary camera should have been better. 

Budget iPhones to come up soon

The other day i put my sight on some photos of what was reported to be Apple’s new budget iPhone, and now we have another photo of the handset, which shows another new colour for the device.The Budget iPhone is rumoured to launch in September along with the new iPhone 5S, as you can see from the photos below, the handset will feature a polycarbonate casing and will be available in a range of different colors. As yet we do not have any details on what will be inside the budget iPhone, the handset is rumored to come with Apple iOS 7, so it should have semi decent specifications.We know you were just screaming, "But what about blue??" when leaked photos showing alleged green, yellow and red cheap iPhone models appeared earlier this week.Calm down, as now comes word (or sight) that Apple may be planning to have a blue budget iPhone join the low-cost trio, as the latest snap from a Chinese factory seem to indicate.What appears to be a half-assembled iPhone blue shell has been photographed alongside the three previously leaked of colors and a white version, according to French site Nowhere else.With the pigments popping up left and right, we wouldn't be surprised if we soon see a fuchsia, burnt orange and taupe model soon.Pictures of candy-colored entry-level iPhones with rounded corners have started circulating. Many have branded them hideous, crude atrocities. They need to be. Apple is facing a unique dilemma: Because of the stellar success of the iOS app universe, the entry-level iPhone has to have nearly the same specs as the flagship iPhone. The display has to be large. The processing power has to be substantial. Apple cannot afford to fragment the iPhone device base, particularly since it has spent years mocking Android vendors mercilessly for doing just that. Still, the budget iPhones have to be something that affluent and aspirational consumers despise.There can’t be much differentiation on the hardware or software aspects. So there must be a very sharp line drawn between the two models based on the look and feel.Apple cannot have the bulk of its customers trade down to the budget phone from more expensive devices. It must make the entry-level model look so vulgar and cheap that most iPhone users will stick to the main line models, even if they have to pay a $200 to $400 premium. The budget phones have to look tackier than the new iPhone 5S, but that is not enough — they must also be less desirable than the iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S… yet still appear more desirable than low-end Android phones.This is a very, very tricky manoeuvre to pull off, which is why Apple has literally agonized over the move for years, even as the Android camp built a huge volume lead in Brazil, Spain, China and other major markets.It will be absolutely fascinating to see how the entry-level iPhone is going to be priced and marketed, but it looks like Apple has clearly achieved its primary goal — the new entry-level model looks absolutely hideous to someone who has been using an iPhone 5.