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Tuesday, 30 October 2012

Cipher: Crack the Code Game Tips and Hints (Information)


Who want to play some riddle game that will blow your mind? Well, i would say this is a unique pattern puzzle riddle onle game. Play Cipher Crack the Code by GameMasterTips
A great browser riddle by GamemastertipsCipher: Crack the Code is a challenging brain teaser online riddle game created and subbed by Benjamin Gabbay.
 "Cipher is an online riddle. Its name, according to the dictionary, means "a message in code."An online riddle is a kind of puzzle that requires a wide range of skills in order to advance through a series of HTML pages or "levels. Spoilers!!! :D


CIPHER TIPS, HINTS, PROCEDURE, HOW TOS, INFORMATION

TIPS and HINTS (basically, You need to replace/change the URL before .htm and you can view page source)
  • Level 1: If you read the link address, you will know the answer and proceed to level 2. :)
  • Level 2: click the image and youll see: "The door is locked! Find another way to get to level 3... what does the page title say?"
Page Title says URL? so try to change the word level2 before .htm to level3
  • Level 3: it shows Get to the SOURCE of the problem! 
So you need to get the page source: How? Right click in the page -> choose View Page Source and you will get the answer and proceed to level 4
  • Level 4: Computer talks in binary so you need to convert binary to text. Decode it Here
Binary: 011101000111001001101111011010100110000101101110
Text: <your decoded binary>+ .htm

Then you are seeing Almost. Click on the link in the image(no.4) and enter your answer in the password box.

So in braggart.htm, click the Number 4 Image.
You will prompt to enter Username and Password: the username will be Cipher and the password will be on the Binary that is converted to TEXT..see above for clues.
  • Level 5: Brick the wall(Pagetitle = come to the dark side...)  Just view the source, theres a htm file there...you need to visit it(get the page source again) and theres htm to level 6 there.
Procedure:

View Source first then you will get a link from the &lt; iframe &gt; tag :)) click and visit it..then, view source again and you will see a htm link... copy it and replace the .htm to proceed Level 6
  • Level 6: Chain of Letters | Get the source code then you will see an image...go try to visit that image..and it will lead you in series of photos..just combine those letters to get level 7.
First it display screen6a.jpg, then visit this series of letters and  change the image filename, 6b, 6o.jpg, 6L, 6i, 6s,6h,6e,6d, so... append these characters...

still cant figure out?
here.
SPOILERSaSPOILERSbSPOILERSoSPOILERSlSPOILERSiSPOILERSsSPOILERShSPOILERSeSPOILERSdSPOILERS
  • Level 7: Use of the Photo Manipulating Software (Color/Brightness): Illuminate the Darkness.. What does it means? Basically you need to light it up.. So you need to lower contrast and bright it up to see the next level found below right of the image
Procedure:
1. Download and save as the image
2. Open with Photoshop or any photo editor that has brightness/contrast

In Photoshop
Brightness: +150
Contrast: -50
Make sure the preview is checked so that you can see the changes when you change the value of brightness/contrast. :)

In the below-right of that portion, you will notice a WORD and use it as a password later on.

*Alternative with brightness/contrast

Use of Levels
Set the center value in the range of 2-4 and you will see the WORD.
Hint: the word means To keep from being seen, found, observed, or discovered.

Then, CLICK the EYE of the chipmunk/rat or whatever it is. :)) then it will prompt you a login information.
Username: cipher
Password: WORD described above :)))
  • Level 8: Creepy | ASCII Codes - View the page source theres a hint there (GIF me,

    GIF(Graphic Interface Format)  is a format of image developed  by CompuServe in 1987 while JPG or JPEG(Joint Photographic Experts Group) ..
    Here we go, you need to change jpg to gif. :) and put it onto the url address
The blinking numbers:
SPOILER97SPOILER103SPOILER105SPOILER108SPOILER105SPOILER116SPOILER121SPOILER

The numbers is in ASCII DEC/CHAR form so you need to decode it to view in plain text.
You need to use http://home2.paulschou.net/tools/xlate/ to get the word and proceed to level 9.

How?
Put the numbers in the spoilers individually into the ASCII DEC/Char input form, and the answer will be on the TEXT form. :))

Hint:
The word is  the ability to think and draw conclusions quickly.

.htm
  • Level 9:  Musical Note: View the source, you will get picture8ofdoom.jpg change number 8 to 9 so it will become picture9ofdoom.jpg, and you will the notes here. Then translate note to letters. Just Google it. But if you are tired.

    If you are not familiar with the musical notes you can view the musical notes to letters here
    http://www.atlantadancepartners.com/atlanta_reading_music.html

    Hint: The word is  a green vegetable for its densely-leaved head.
  • Level 10: HEXed: ANSWER | View the Page SOurce you will HEXed so meaning its a HEXADECIMAL format. And you might noticed that Letter 'W' is a gray and you might thanks other letters are the same? but it is actually different.  If you look closely, you will know what i meant. so how? So you need to get that color hex first character. How? I used PicPick Software, but you can use corel,photoshop,gimp etc.

    you can download PicPick here  http://www.picpick.org/en/download_free and it is FREE!
SPOILERSDSPOILERSSPOILERSESPOILERSSPOILERSCSPOILERSSPOILERSASPOILERSSPOILERSDSPOILERSSPOILERSESPOILERS

Hint: The word is  a period of 10 years

Then click the letter W, and it will again enter login information
Username: Cipher
Password: <word>.htm
  • Level 11: ROME(Roman Numerals):  View the page source, and you will find a small hint.
    XI(11) try to change it to XII(12) same with previous level...oh wait, it will display wrong number so basically, we need to get other hint here.
The first photo has a number there and it is set opacity low and it is 1009, we need to convert it to Roman Numeral since the photo has a Rome and the page source linked to Roman Numeral.
Convert Number to Roman Numeral here: http://www.onlineconversion.com/roman_numerals_advanced.htm

Hint: The word is To combine or blend into one

.htm
  • Level 12: Keys | view the page source and you will get

    Is it the monitor? but it says, the keys..so infront of me is my keyboard and mouse and therefore it is literally means only the keyboard .

    Next:
     
    Since it is in the keyboard, we will examined the hint

    i ->  o
    x -> c

    It turns out that the key 'i' becomes 'o' and 'x' to 'c' so the pattern here is the NEXT RIGHT key on the Standard keyboard.

    Therefore, in this statement:   
    Move all to next right key
    u ->
    b ->
    c ->
    w- ->
    b- ->
    r- ->
    u- ->
    i- ->
    b ->

    If theres a problem with your keyboard you can use this hint also.
    Also the hint is: a machine/device. 9 characters.

    <word>.htm
Level 13:  Friday 13: View the page source and you will get these

<!--
dd/{mm}/1949 1st
dd/{mm}/1984 2nd
dd/{mm}/1946 2nd
dd/{mm}/1955 1st
dd/{mm}/1937 1st
dd/{mm}/1981 3rd
-->
<!--No, this level does NOT have anything to do with Rebecca Black.-->


Okey, lets further examined these hints.

It is friday and it is 13, so it is also means FRIDAY THE 13TH.
dd/{mm} is a format used by many people/computers which means dd - day (01-31), mm - month (01-12)

so 1st we will find  dd/{mm}/1949 1st friday, the result is

May 13, 1949

How did i come up with that?

I used Friday the 13th finder here =&gt; http://www.taliscope.com/FindFriday13.html
How to use in that site?
Choose the beginning and ending year should be the year above hints.
and click find button and wait for the result. then collect it

i collected it here

May, 1949
April, 1984
December, 1946
May, 1955
August, 1937
November, 1981

so what is that word? ;))
<word>.htm
  • Level 14: Sounds | You will be seeing this
    A NOTE ABOUT LEVEL 14
    Level 14 is all about sound. Therefore, your computer is required to play sound, and you are required to hear sound.
    Due to complaints regarding deaf riddlers and the possibility of people without sound cards, this level has been made optional to complete.
    If you would like to play through level 14, CLICK HERE.
    If you cannot hear sound for whatever reason and would like to progress to level 15, CLICK HERE.

You can answer it or you can go directly to level 15 right?

  • Level 15: Dissolve Image: Whats wrong with this picture?
    So it means, it has  a problem in viewing the image right? how to tell and know what exactly the problem?

    Procedure: View the pagesource, you will notice  <img src="screenthe15th.txt"width="32height="32">
yes,  <img> tag must be in image format like .jpg, .gif, .png, so you need to replace .txt to jpg :)

<img> tag is a HTML tag syntax.
the thing is You Have to Enjoy! ... level upwards will be posted soon.. =D

Friday, 26 October 2012

Apple's Indian App Store now displays prices in rupees


Since the Apple App Store opened to Indian users, the prices of all paid apps on it were displayed in US dollars. The Apple App Store is now displaying prices of all its paid apps in rupees. 

The move by Apple is a good one as this reduces the need to convert the prices and gamble on the rate of the dollar to the rupee. The Google Play store already displays the cost of paid apps in rupees. Now, there appears to be uniformity amongst the biggest app markets.
Indian prices now appearing on the Apple App Store
Indian prices now appearing on the Apple App Store


The move comes as a timely one as it is widely expected that Apple will be launching the iPhone 5 in the near future. The iPhone 5 was expected to be launched today in India, but it appears that Apple has pushed back the date of launch. A recent report stated that the reason behind the delay was that Apple had not finalised the pricing for the upcoming smartphone in India. The price of the 16GB iPhone 4S handset was reduced to Rs 41,500, and reduced further to Rs 38,500 roughly 10 days later, indicating that the iPhone 5 was on its way. 

Another plausible explanation to the delay is the shortage in supply of the iPhone 5 due to Apple employing stricter quality controls. The iPhone 5, though a booming success the world over, has been plagued by issues such as scratches found on the handset straight out of the box and a purple haze that appears with images clicked by its camera.

However, the grey market is flooded with the iPhone 5 priced at a premium. 

Here is a quick look at the highlighted features of the iPhone 5:
  • 4-inch, 326ppi Retina display at 1136 x 640 pixels,
  • GPRS, EDGE, EV-DO, HSPA, HSPA+, DC-HSDPA, LTE and Wi-Fi
  • GPS
  • Bluetooth
  • 8-megapixel camera with 1080p HD recording, 720p front-facing camera
  • 16GB, 32GB and 64GB versions

Made entirely out of aluminium and glass, the iPhone 5 weighs 112 grams, and is 20 percent lighter than the iPhone 4S, and is the thinnest iPhone yet at 7.6mm. Apple has chosen to debut iOS 6 with the iPhone 5. The new OS includes Apple's own Maps app, an updated version of Siri and lots more. Overall, the new iPhone has been upgraded in almost all respects.

One of the biggest changes to iOS is the addition of Apple’s own Maps app in the place of Google Maps. The new Maps app has a built-in search for local points of interest, with over 100 million possible suggestions. Other features of the Maps app include navigation, routing, 3D maps, satellite imagery – that wraps around the 3D maps – and the ability to get directions directly through Siri. Most of the standard features of the Maps app, including satellite view, are available in almost all countries the iPhone ships to.

Apple iPhone 5 to be launched in India on November 2


Ingram Micro announced today that it will offer the Apple iPhone 5 at leading trade stores and retail outlets across India beginning on Friday, November 2. The iPhone 5 was launched in the US on September 21.

It was recently reported that in order to expand its user base in India, Apple will start selling the iPhone 5 through specialised distribution companies. Apple has tied up with Ingram Micro Inc, which is a large US-based distributor of technologies, as well as Redington India Ltd, a local distributor with 12,000 smaller partners across the country.
Hitting international stores this month itself
iPhone 5 coming soon


There is no word yet on the official prices of the iPhone 5 in India, but the prices are expected to be the same as the iPhone 4S when it first launched. However, the prices are speculated to be Rs 45,500 for the 16GB version, Rs 52,500 for the 32GB version, and Rs 59,500 for the 64GB model.

According to a recent report, “Apple has used both these distributors in the past for products like the iPad, but did not do so for the iPhone as it was concerned that paying third-party distributors would eat into its profit margins on a key product. Apple’s Chief Executive Tim Cook said earlier this year that the company saw higher potential in countries other than India, largely because of the high cost of distributing products here. “We have a business there, that business is growing, but the sort of the multilayer distribution there really adds to the cost of getting products to market,” Mr. Cook told analysts in July.”

Here is a quick look at the highlighted features of the iPhone 5:
  • 4-inch, 326ppi Retina display at 1136 x 640 pixels,
  • GPRS, EDGE, EV-DO, HSPA, HSPA+, DC-HSDPA, LTE and Wi-Fi
  • GPS
  • Bluetooth
  • 8-megapixel camera with 1080p HD recording, 720p front-facing camera
  • 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB versions

Made entirely out of aluminium and glass, the iPhone 5 weighs 112 grams, and is 20 percent lighter than the iPhone 4S, and is the thinnest iPhone yet at 7.6mm. Apple has chosen to debut iOS 6 with the iPhone 5. The new OS includes Apple's own Maps app, an updated version of Siri and lots more. Overall, the new iPhone has been upgraded in almost all respects.

Siri has also been updated and new features include support for more languages, easy access to sports scores, restaurant recommendations and movie listings; Siri and Facebook-enabled apps like Photos, Safari and Maps; and Shared Photo Streams via iCloud.

Safari has also received a major update – the ability to go full screen on the device by touching the arrows on the corners. Another major feature of the new Safari app is the ability to sync tabs between the desktop and iOS versions of Safari. This new feature is called iCloud Tabs. The new Mail app has also received some updates, including the ability to mark people as VIPs and the ability to flag certain mails for follow-ups.

Thursday, 25 October 2012

Image of Samsung Galaxy Premier leaked online


Image of Samsung Galaxy Premier leaked online
Afew days ago, it was reported that Samsung was preparing to release a handset that could be slotted in between the Galaxy S III and the Galaxy S III mini in terms of price and specifications. This smartphone has been dubbed the Samsung Galaxy Premier. Right on cue,a tipster on Twitter, has revealed a photo of a purported Samsung Galaxy Premier.

According to an earlier report, information of the upcoming Galaxy Premier had been leaked through a GLBenchmark test. Among the things revealed were that the device runs on Android v4.1.1 (Jelly Bean) on a 4.65-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. The maximum frequency on the CPU is listed as 1.5GHz, though the number of cores hasn’t been mentioned. The phone is rumoured to have a dual-core processor. The graphics on the device will be handled by a PowerVR SGX 544, which is much like the SGX543 that power the graphics on Apple’s latest chipset. The benchmarks also point to a TI OMAP 4470 chipset, which was recently used in the Kindle Fire HD tablet.
Similar in design to the Galaxy S III Mini
Similar in design to the Galaxy S III Mini


According to the specifications leaked earlier this month, the device will have an 8MP rear camera with an LED flash, and a 2MP shooter for making video calls.
 
The device will come with either 8GB or 16GB of internal storage that can be expanded using a microSD card. The handset will run on Android v4.1, and will feature other attributes such as 4.4Mbps HSDPA, 5.76Mbps HSUPA, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, DLNA, and GPS.
 
The handset is expected to make its first appearance in Germany before the end of 2012, and will launch in other European countries shortly thereafter. The expected price of this handset is Euro 480, which roughly translates to Rs 32,912.

Samsung has recently announced the Galaxy S III mini. The size of the display has been much talked about. The display size of four inches is not small, but in comparison with the Samsung Galaxy S III, this handset could be much easier to handle. This handset is based on the Galaxy S III, and this feature translates to the design of this latest model as well. As far as the technical specifications of the handset go, the Galaxy S III mini is powered by a dual-core 1GHz NovaThor U8420 processor, and comes equipped with 1GB RAM. If there was any doubt about what operating system would be used in this handset since it is not exactly a high-end model, then Samsung has not held back on this front, and has stated that the phone will ship with Google’s latest Android operating system v4.1.

Here is a quick look at the highlighted features of the Samsung Galaxy S III mini:
  • 4-inch Super AMOLED display with a WVGA resolution of 480 x 800 pixels
  • 3G, EDGE/GPRS, Wi-Fi with Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspot, DLNA support, NFC
  • GPS with A-GPS and GLONASS,
  • USB 2.0, Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP, LE, EDR
  • 5MP camera with AF, LED flash, BSI sensor and 720p HD video recording
  • VGA front facing camera for video chat
  • 16GB, 32GB internal memory, expandable up to 32GB via microSD card

Skype 6.0 released for Mac, Windows desktop


Skype released its latest version, Skype 6.0, yesterday for Mac and Windows desktop users. 
In an official blog post, Skype has shared the changelog featuring in its latest version.

The update has brought to the table Microsoft and Facebook Account Integration. Users can now sign into Skype using either their Microsoft or Facebook accounts. In Skype 6.0, users can send instant messages to their Windows Live Messenger, Hotmail and Outlook.com contacts via Skype. Users with Microsoft accounts can merge the MS account with Skype. All they have to do is sign in to Skype with their Microsoft accounts.

Skype announces that it has in the pipeline a feature with which users can make audio and video calls to Windows Live Messenger customers on Skype desktop clients. The feature will be rolled out in the weeks to come. 
Skype goes 3G

 
Skype 6.0 for Windows desktop users has been updated with new localised versions of Skype in Thai, Croatian, Slovenian, Serbian, Catalan, and Slovak languages. With this, the total number of languages that Skype supports has gone up to 38. Skype 6.0 has undergone a facelift on Windows desktop. The Skype user interface (UI) now bears a simpler and less cluttered look. Instant messaging and SMS areas have been refreshed as well. The online user counter at the bottom of the Skype Contacts list has been done away with for Windows desktop in a bid to unclutter the UI, offering more space for the user’s contacts in the list. Also, now if users want to change their profile pictures, they will be shown all their previous profile photos to choose from. 

The latest version Skype for Windows desktop users comes with additional 'opt-in' telemetry reports for users who choose this option: "Tools>> Options>>Advanced>>Tick Help improve Skype..." The reports may contain the user’s Skype ID and or Microsoft Account ID, but Skype clarifies that it will not use the information to identify or contact the user.

For Mac desktop users, the latest version of Skype brings open chats across multiple windows, while also introducing support for Retina Display. 

Earlier this month, users had started facing problems with ransomware on Skype through a seemingly harmless looking message: "lol is this your new profile pic?" The message was followed by a link that downloads malware into user's computers. According to Trend Micro, these reports have not stopped, and are now spreading fast.

The link, which includes the user name of the recipient, goes to a file hosted at a legitimate file locker service. The file downloaded is a variant of the Dorkbot malware family, which is detected as WORM_DORKBOT.DN. This malware allows an attacker to take complete control of the user’s system. Its capabilities include password theft form various websites, including pornographic sites, social media, file lockers, and financial services; and launching distributed denial-of-service (DDOS) attacks. The behaviour that a user may see can vary significantly. It also has the capability to download other malware depending on the link provided by the C and C servers, including ransomware and click fraud malware.

The Playground is Open Join Us - GOOGLE

The event marks Google's biggest Nexus showing, with three devices scheduled for debut at the same time. The Nexus program has long been Google's way of showcasing the latest version of its Android operating system. It has also come with a measure of buzz for the manufacturing partner. 

After the Nexus One, which was built by HTC, Google mainly partnered with Samsung, including the Galaxy Nexus. But this year, Google worked with Asus to produce the low-cost Nexus 7, which sold at $199. 

Alongside the low-end Nexus 7, Google will now offer a high-end Nexus 10 tablet built by Samsung, which was initially reported by CNET. The device is expected to boast a higher resolution than the third-generation iPad. 

The tablet will be more in line with the pricing of its other products, including the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 and Galaxy Note 10.1. 



LG, meanwhile, will get its chance to shine with the Nexus 4, which is an altered version of the Optimus G. The smartphone will have a quad-core SnapDragon processor from Qualcomm, 2 megabytes of RAM, a 1,280x768 display, 16GB of internal storage, and an 8-megapixel camera. Unlike the Optimus G, the Nexus 4 won't be an LTE device, according to a person familiar with the announcement. 

LG will get its shot to build a little buzz for its products, something it has struggled to do, particularly in the U.S. market. 

The upgraded version of the Nexus 7 will include a 32GB option. A second version will include a 3G cellular connection, according to The Next Web.

Tuesday, 16 October 2012

Zync Z909+ The largest Number of Tablets Sold Ever in India. Sold Tablets : 9,15,76,63,5++ as seen on NDTV Gadget Guru

Zync Tablet Z909 Plus

By Zync
 
1 Year Warranty (Freebies Worth Total Rs.1347)
  • Front Camera
  • 7Inch (17.78cm) Inches Resistive Touch Screen Display
  • Standard battery Li-Po 3000 mAh
  • Music Player
  • Android 2.3
  • W-Fi Enabled
  • 1GHz Processor
  • Video Player
  • Expandable Memory 32GB
  • Free BigFlix movie rental subscription for one month (Gift coupon inside the box) worth Rs. 249
  • Free 2-level Screen Protector worth Rs. 399
  • Free Tablet Carry Lycra Pouch worth Rs. 399
  • Free Earphone worth Rs. 300




SPECIFICATIONS
Touch Screen Size
7Inch(17.8cm) Touch Screen
Resolution
800X480
Precessor Speed
1GHz
Opertaing System
Android 2.3
RAM
256MB
ROM(Flash)
4GB
G Sensor
Yes
Support Flash Player
32
GUI
No
OSD Language
English/French/German
SIM CARD
NO
WiFi
Yes
3G(inside/outside)
Outside
Office Software
Word/Excel/PDF etc.
Messanger
MSN/SKYPE etc
Games
Yes
Camera
Front
Audio/Video Recording
Yes
Video
MPEG1/2/4
Audio
MP3/WMA
Battery
3000mAH
USB(Micro/Macro)
Both
MRP
5990
Accessories Included in the box
Lycra Pouch, Screen Guard, Earphone, Charger, User Manual, USB Cable

Product Description

A delightful combination of functionality and superior efficiency, the Zync Tablet Z909 Plus is packed with a variety of exciting features for an immersive user experience. This tablet offers a variety of business features like document viewer, Gmail and email support while the internet connectivity ensures a fast browsing speed for lag-free working even when on the move. Design Light in weight and designed to offer lasting functionality, the Zync tablet is lavished with a sleek, glossy finish. The smooth rounded corners and the slim, slender design of this tablet offer a secure grip for easy handling. The ultra compact design of this tablet easily fits in small bags and the ergonomic design ensures lasting, trouble-free functioning. Performance The 1 GHz processor of this tablet offers high speed processing and superior efficiency courtesy the fast clock speed of this processor. The 7 inch resistive touchscreen display with a wide resolution of 800x480 pixels is perfect for watching all your multimedia files in superior clarity and ensures easy legibility. The multi touch feature instantly responds to even the slightest movements for lag-free functioning. The 256 MB DDR3 memory powers a variety of processes and offers easy transition between different processes. The 4 GB internal memory offers optimum storage space and can further be expanded to up to 32 GB to fulfil your future computing needs. Connectivity An external 3G dongle support and the preinstalled HTML browser offer super fast internet access wherever you go. The USB 2.0 port is compatible with a wide range of computer operating systems for secure and speedy file sharing when connected to your PC or laptop. Using the Wi-Fi connectivity protocol you can instantly access different web sites even when on the move without the hassles of long connecting cables. Operating System Allowing easy homescreen customisation is the Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) Operating System that ensures instant access to the frequently used widgets and applications for easy processing. The flash support of this OS allows easy access to the flash content on different web pages to keep you entertained all day long. Power Management A single charge of the 3000 mAh Lithium Ion battery keeps your gadget optimally functioning by offering a long battery backup time. Other features The front camera of this tablet allows for clear video chatting and also instantly captures all your cherished memories. The inbuilt video player with the multi format support offers lag-free playback of a multitude of video files. The music player is also compliant with different types of audio files while the stereo sparkers deliver a sharp and rich audio quality for a superlative music experience.

Monday, 15 October 2012

iPad mini to come with cellular and Wi-Fi options


The Apple iPad mini was reported to available in only a Wi-Fi option, in order to keep the price of the forthcoming tablet to a minimum. A recent report indicates that the 7.85-inch tablet will now come with both Wi-Fi as well as cellular capabilities.

It appears that the Cupertino-based brand is not holding back any punches with this smaller iPad, and launching it in various storage capacities such as 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, and the top-of-the-line model at 64GB of internal storage.
Listing as seen on Mobile Geeks
Listing as seen on Mobile Geeks


As per a related report published by Engadget“According to a proven source of Mobile Geeks, German electronics retailer Media Markt has the iPad mini in 16 flavors in its inventory system. The company's internal documentation shows the rumored tablet at 8, 16, 32 and 64GB configurations, with each offering a choice of black or white, as well as a choice of 3G or just WiFi. The retailer is listing sticker prices, too: for the WiFi-only flavor, €249 buys an 8GB model, €349 snags 16GB, €449 for 32GB and €549 scores 64GB of storage. Looking for a slab with cellular connectivity? Stack an extra €100 on each of those prices.”

Considering that the regular sized 16GB iPad is priced at $399 in the US, the iPad mini may be expect to cost approximately $250, which would roughly translate to around Rs 13,171. 

However, one should not be too hopeful of getting the tablet for this price tag. It is likely that it could be priced significantly higher, as was the case of the new iPods. The portable media player cost much more than models being sold in the US.

That being said, Apple has been losing its market share in the tablet segment to the likes of Amazon with its Kindle Fire, and Google with its Nexus 7 tablet. For Apple to stay in the run, and cater to a customer base that would want a smaller tablet, Apple would have to launch a 7-inch tablet to cement its throne as the leading tablet manufacturer. The Google Nexus 7 tablet is faring exceedingly well in the market and rumours suggest that a 3G version of the tablet may also be in the works. Apple would need to step into this segment to battle the increasing competition from other manufacturers.

Speculating on the competition at hand, while the prices of the Nexus 7 and the Kindle Fire are similar, both of which are Wi-Fi only, the Nexus 7 seems to be the device of choice as it comes with beefier hardware along with access to Android v4.1 (Jelly Bean) as well as future Android releases. However, Apple has its own iOS operating system. When it does announce the iPad mini, it will most likely launch it with iOS 6 straight out of the box.

Google rolling out update for Play store


Google is rolling out an update for its official one-stop-shop for Android apps, Google Play. The latest update to the store allows you to remove apps from the All Apps list, which records all your app downloads to date, in addition to remembering your location in lists, and new icons for notifications and installed apps. The latest version number is 3.9.16. Android Police was the first to report on the matter.

In addition, the updated Play Store remembers where you are when looking at a list, including the All Apps list as well as the My Apps list. This feature will remember your location in a list, so that whenever you click on an option in a list and go back, you’re returned right to the place where you were earlier.

What’s more, you can now multi-select apps in the All Apps list. Selecting multiple apps is done by long-pressing an app, and tapping the More apps option. You can delete apps from the lists in one go.

Google has also chosen to change the notification icon for new app updates. Notifications by Play Store are now expandable, and show more information about app updates. The icon for individual apps after they are installed no longer shows a generic icon; you now get the icon for the app in the notification after you install it.

Google recently held a massive discount sale in celebration after its Play Store recorded 25 billion app downloads. The search giant was offering top rated games and apps at discounted rates of just 25 Cents (Rs 13). The company was also promoting special collections like 25 movies you must own, 25 banned books, 25 albums that changed the world and the store's 25 top selling magazines, at special prices.
Now expanding to support the purchase of movies and magazines
New Google Play update brings minor improvements.


However, Goole hasn’t been particularly kind to India. It was recently revealed that India’s listing in the official list of countries where developers could register as certified Google Checkout Merchants was short lived. Pluggd.in’s Ashish Sinha writes, “So for India based Android app developers, things are back to what it was earlier – i.e. you cannot sell paid apps in the Play store (some workaround here). We have asked Google to update us on the final status (or was it some drunken employee updating the support page?). For sure, Google needs to revisit this strategy. If not, Microsoft is going to snatch away these Android app developers with a better integrated strategy (it’s already happening).”

Earlier, Indian developers needed to go to a country where Google Checkout merchants are allowed, such as the US, and register a local bank account in the name of a US resident in order to sell apps on the Google Play Store. With reports about India featuring on that list, it did seem as if troubles were over. Now, however, things stand the way they were.  

Smartphone apps are serious business, though developers of Android apps were left in limbo. In India, developers were only allowed to publish free apps, and this had limited the potential for innovative apps because of lack of incentive. 

Reports quoted P R Rajendran, Director of Next Wave Multimedia, a Chennai based company as saying, “We have lived with this condition for some time now where we literally run two companies, and are subject to dual taxation". Rajendran's company was reported as having published more than ten apps on both Apple iTunes as well as Google Play.

Friday, 12 October 2012

Apple dismisses rumours of iPhone 5 India launch


It was speculated that Apple will launch the iPhone 5 in India on October 26, 2012. This news was first broken by BGR that had cited multiple sources to support it. However, a report by FirstPost now states that an Apple spokesperson FirstPost contacted said that e iPhone5 is not scheduled to launch in India yet.

As per the report, the authors at Firstpost contacted Apple asking if the launch date was accurate. They then received an email response which stated, “We have no announcement to make at the moment on a launch or price of the iPhone 5 in India. There is speculation in media and we don’t comment on speculation”.
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Apple refuses to comment on the iPhone 5 launch in India


However, this response should come as no surprise. Apple has never commented on rumours or speculations the world over. So this could still mean that the iPhone 5 launch may take place on October 26, and Apple will comment on it only after it makes an official announcement.

The report by BGR states that its sources have confirmed that Apple is preparing to launch the iPhone 5 in India on the last Friday of this month, which is October 26. BGR adds that Apple will distribute the iPhone 5 in India on its own rather than rely on its carrier partners. 

Here is a quick look at the highlighted features of the iPhone 5:
  • 4-inch, 326ppi Retina display at 1136 x 640 pixels,
  • GPRS, EDGE, EV-DO, HSPA, HSPA+, DC-HSDPA, LTE and Wi-Fi
  • GPS
  • Bluetooth
  • 8-megapixel camera with 1080p HD recording, 720p front-facing camera
  • 16GB, 32GB and 64GB versions

Made entirely out of aluminium and glass, the iPhone 5 weighs 112 grams, and is 20 percent lighter than the iPhone 4S, and is the thinnest iPhone yet at 7.6mm. Apple has chosen to debut iOS 6 with the iPhone 5. The new OS includes Apple's own Maps app, an updated version of Siri and lots more. Overall, the new iPhone has been upgraded in almost all respects.

One of the biggest changes to iOS is the addition of Apple’s own Maps app in the place of Google Maps. The new Maps app has a built-in search for local points of interest, with over 100 million possible suggestions. Other features of the Maps app include navigation, routing, 3D maps, satellite imagery – that wraps around the 3D maps – and the ability to get directions directly through Siri. Most of the standard features of the Maps app, including satellite view, are available in almost all countries the iPhone ships to.

Siri has also been updated and new features include support for more languages, easy access to sports scores, restaurant recommendations and movie listings; Siri and Facebook-enabled apps like Photos, Safari and Maps; and Shared Photo Streams via iCloud.

Safari has also received a major update – the ability to go full screen on the device by touching the arrows on the corners. Another major feature of the new Safari app is the ability to sync tabs between the desktop and iOS versions of Safari. This new feature is called iCloud Tabs. The new Mail app has also received some updates, including the ability to mark people as VIPs and the ability to flag certain mails for follow-ups.

The handset is already selling quite freely in the grey market in India, but at a premium. According to our sources, the 16GB version of the iPhone 5 is available for Rs 58,000, the 32GB model for Rs 64,000, and the 64GB one for Rs 71,000, in the grey market.

One can expect the iPhone5 to retail at the same price at which the iPhone 4S was launched, if or when it is officially launched here.

Galaxy S III mini launched with 4-inch Super AMOLED display and NFC


It appears that Samsung has no intention of pausing their good run and has announced the Galaxy S III mini, a smaller version of the record breaking Galaxy S III smartphone, which continues to notch up outstanding sales figures. There had been rumours surrounding this handset since the past few weeks and putting all speculations to rest, Samsung has launched a handset that features all the details that were leaked in the past, which include a 4-inch screen sporting a WVGA resolution.

The size of the display has been discussed much, as 4 inches is not exactly small, but in comparison to the Samsung Galaxy S III, this handset could be much easier to handle. Like previous rumours had suggested, this handset is heavily based on the Galaxy S III and this feature translates to the design of this latest model as well. As far as the technical specifications of the handset go, the Galaxy S III mini is powered by a dual core 1 GHz NovaThor U8420 processor and comes equipped with 1GB RAM. If there was any doubt about what operating system would be used in this handset since it is not exactly a high-end model, then Samsung has not held back on this front and has stated that the phone will ship with Google’s latest Android operating system 4.1 Jelly Bean.
A big smaller Galaxy S III mini has become official
Galaxy S III mini is now official


Here is a quick look at the highlighted features of this handset:

  • 4-inch Super AMOLED display with a WVGA resolution of 480 x 800 pixels
  • 3G, EDGE/GPRS, Wi-Fi with Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspot, DLNA support, NFC
  • GPS with A-GPS and GLONASS, 
  • USB 2.0, Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP, LE, EDR
  • 5MP camera with AF, LED flash, BSI sensor and 720p HD video recording
  • VGA front facing camera for video chat
  • 16/32GB Internal memory, all with all with expandable support up 32GB MicroSD card

Apart from the above mentioned features this handset comes loaded with sensors for an accelerometer, gyro, proximity and compass.  The brand has used a 1500mAh battery on this smartphone and this should be sufficient given the specifications of the device. As far as the size of this handset goes, the Galaxy S III mini measures 121.6 x 63 x 9.9mm and weighs in at 111.5g. 

Commenting on the announcement of the Galaxy S III mini, JK Shin, President and Head of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics said, “The GALAXY S III introduced a new concept of smartphone that has proven hugely popular around the world. We're now delighted to bring its revolutionary design, intuitive usability and intelligence to the GALAXY S III mini in a more compact form. We continue to make every effort to provide extraordinary mobile experiences to meet a wide variety of user needs.”

The Galaxy S III mini is powered by Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), the latest version of the world's most popular smartphone operating system. Jelly Bean has fast, fluid and smooth graphics along with a new Google Search experience featuring Google Now.

Commenting on the design of the handset, Samsung states that its ultra-minimal curved frame delivers a natural feel, which is also seen on its nature-inspired home screen, wallpapers and ringtones. 

The Galaxy S III mini is packed with technology that the brand claims is designed to make interacting with the phone incredibly natural and intuitive. S Voice, Samsung's natural language recognition software, lets a user use their voice to unlock the phone with simple customized commands, or to play their favourite songs, turn the volume up or down, organize schedules, or automatically launch the camera to start taking photos. 

The Galaxy S III mini is also capable of understanding a user’s gestures to make using their phone easier and more natural. With Smart Stay, the phone's camera tracks a user’s eyes and keeps the screen lit as long as one is looking at it. When reading a text message from a friend, Direct Call enables a user to automatically dial a call by lifting the phone to their ear and Smart Alert alerts one to missed calls or messages as soon as the user picks up their phone.

Samsung claims, “Content sharing is easy and fast on the GALAXY S III mini: Its S Beam feature lets you share a 10MB music file in just two seconds by simply tapping on another S Beam-enabled device including GALAXY S III or GALAXY Note II, even without a Wi-Fi or cellular signal. The 'Buddy photo share' function also allows photos to be easily and simultaneously shared with all your friends pictured in an image directly from the camera or the photo gallery.”

As far as availability is concerned there have been no concrete dates but the smartphone is expected to be launched by November. With Samsung’s market in India absolutely booming, one can expect this smartphone to launch here in the first batch. As of now there is no pricing attached to the handset, but stay tuned.

With the Galaxy S III mini featuring the same size display as the iPhone 5, the competition between the two brands is just getting hotter and only time will tell which brand manages to stay on top for a sustained period of time. 

Do share your thoughts on the latest smartphone from Samsung in the comments below.