Microsoft releases Windows 8.1 to Computer Makers

Microsoft released the latest version of its operating system, Windows 8.1, to computer makers, moving a step closer to the final release of the software.

For consumers, Windows 8.1 is scheduled for an October 18 release, Microsoft said on its blog.

In the past, release to manufacturers (RTM) meant that any software is broadly ready for customer use. However, this time the latest update to Windows 8 OS, which has lagged in sales and customer satisfaction so far, would not be available before October 18.

Many had hoped that Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) or Technet customers would get access to the update soon after release to manufacturers.

"We put the finishing touches on Windows 8.1 to ensure a quality experience at general availability on October 18. This is the date when Windows 8.1 will be broadly available for commercial customers with or without volume licensing agreements, our broad partner ecosystem, subscribers to MSDN and TechNet, as well as consumers," the company said.

The latest update comes ten months after release of Windows 8 OS which was launched in an attempt to bridge the gap between PCs and fast-growing mobile devices.

However, the software lagged in adoption by mobile manufacturers and other popular softwares like Google's Andriod continue to lead handheld device market.

According to IT researcher IDC, Andriod based devices cornered nearly 77 per cent of market in the April-June quarter.

Microsoft said that the latest update will improve everything from performance and Internet Explorer 11 to applications and cloud connectivity.

Apple Inc.'s 'cheap' iPhone 5C may banish Siri, go plastic, but lure with colour

Moving with the times, and keeping emerging markets like India in mind, Apple Inc. will be unveiling a low-cost smartphone called iPhone 5C in early September with a plastic case in rainbow colors, which the company has traditionally reserved for iPods. The intention of company is to make iPhone 5C a fun looking alternative to its upcoming (full price) new flagship smartphone, the iPhone 5S.

Micromax, Karbonn beat Apple Inc., Samsung sales in India, China

Price vs Durability

The lower price tag means Apple Inc. is putting less into iPhone 5C financially. That starts with a plastic body in place of the more durable gorilla glass found on the iPhone 5. And that may be a problem in terms of durability. Apple Inc. is likely to start shipping the 5C to India in a few months, probably year-end.

The budget iPhone 5C is believed to be priced between $400 to $500, approximately between Rs 24,000 and Rs 30,000.

The specific plastic used on the Apple Inc.\'s color variant iPhone 5C will have to be tested before judgment can be passed, but the plastic used on some competing phones like the Samsung Electronic\'s Galaxy has proven pitifully inept in drop tests. One sample of plastic supposedly from the iPhone 5C has turned out to perform better than any competing plastic phones in informal drop tests, but the legitimacy of the supposed plastic has yet to be confirmed.

Have to part with...!

Analysts are suggesting a sensational drop. If rumours (credible ones!) are to be believed, the low-cost iPhone will drop Siri - it lets you use your voice to send messages, make calls, set reminders, and more. Siri, once much-lambasted, but which went on to acquire a much-loved presence in the lives of iPhone users, costs Apple Inc. money, lots of it, as requests and commands are all routed through a data center. By omitting Siri on the iPhone 5C, Apple keeps its cost down, the benefits of which will then be passed on to consumers in the form of a cheaper phone. Regrettable? Sure, but then nothing comes free, especially an iPhone experience which Apple Inc. is now willing to offer to those who want the iconic phone, but don\'t want to pay a \'bomb\' for it.

Future - HOLHO Full Pyramid for smartphone

Texas-based manufacturers Imagination Farm USA took Holho beyond that and designed a piece of technology that can play video holograms. And it does that by transforming your smartphone or tablet into a 3D hologram projector.

This hologram generator uses a set of mirrors to produce a moving 3D image of a video your run on your smart device, with the help of a special app. Holho will be available in several versions, from a simple one that generates a frontal projection to a four-sided pyramid that generates a complex 3D image which can be viewed from any angle.

The simplest version is called Holho Naked, designed especially for 10 inch tablets. It creates its frontal projection with the help of a fold-up mirror that can be used as a case for the tablet. The Holho Zed functions in a similar fashion, the only difference being that the tablet is placed at the top and projects the image on a tilted transparent screen.

A more complex version of the 3D hologram projector is the Holho Three-Face Pyramid which is exactly what its name says. This version uses the special Holho app to generate the hologram and is designed specifically for product display or commercial use.

But the most impressive of the lot is undoubtedly the Holho Full Pyramid. The gadget is made of a four-angled mirror with an inverted base sized for tablets and smartphones. The Holho app generates four images and projects them beneath the mirrors, creating a full motion 3D video that can be viewed from any angle. There are several videos already available and the app can be easily used to create more.

Developers are planning to raise $58,000 on Kickstarter, until the crowdfunding campaign ends on September 24. Backers can get their own Holho Full Pyramid with a free video for as little as $28. The special app costs $20 and more videos can be added for $10/each.

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Xolo Launched Q1000S quad-core Android smartphone launched in India for Rs 18,999

 The Indian smartphone vendor has launched the Q1000S, and it’s available on e-commerce sites and retail stores across the country for Rs 18,999.

The Xolo Q1000S feature sets continues with a 13 megapixel rear camera with BSI 2 sensor, 5 megapixel front facing shooter, 16 GB of internal memory and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.

The juice for the smartphone is provided by a 2,500mAh battery which, according to the company, lasts for about 53 hours on music playback, up to 327 hours stand-by on 3G and 425 hours on 2G or up to 22.5 hours of 2G, 12.5 hours of 3G talk-time.

The Xolo Q1000S comes with a 5-inch 720p IPS display with OGS technology, which makes the colors more vibrant. Under the hood, the Q1000S packs a 1.5 GHz quad-core MediaTek processor along with 1 GB of RAM.

NASA Says Good Bye To Kepler Telescope

Space telescope Kepler is retiring from its planet hunting duties, after having successfully confirmed 135 planets and identified almost 3,500 possible planets since its launch in 2009.The Kepler space probe has been out of use since May, having suffered damage to its pointing system, The $600 million space exploration mission is being halted as NASA is abandoning repair of the telescope.
                    Its main mission was to find other planets and especially to identify worlds the size of Earth that could support life. So far, Kepler has confirmed a total of 135 planets and found nearly 3,500 other possible planets. Scientists still have to go through all the data collected over the last couple of years, and expect to confirm even more planets.
                    Based on data retrieved by the space telescope, scientists were able to determine that there are at least 17 billion exoplanets the size of Earth in the Milky Way. Two planets located about 1,200 light years away are believed to be the most likely candidates for supporting life.

Finger Print Sensor For New IPhone

New evidence has emerged suggesting that Apple’s forthcoming iPhone update will include a biometric fingerprint sensor.

The information has come via a London programmer named as Hamza Sood, who has found some relevant support folders and documentation whilst investigating the beta release of iOS 7. As you no doubt know, developers are given early access to unreleased operating systems in order to assess it and adapt their software to new features and rules.  Sood found a folder named ‘BiometricKitUI’ which was an embedded line of text in code that referenced “Photo of a person holding an iPhone in their right hand while touching the Home Button” and then “A fingerprint that changes colour during the setup process.”  These snippets are most likely captions accompanying illustrations to help users to setup their new iPhone device.

                  The new model iPhone is expected to be released around this coming september and will be followed by a cheaper, plastic iPhone, possibly called the iPhone 5C. This model is also expected to come in a range of colours and could, we think, retail for as little as $99.

Worlds Thinnest Smartphone "Vivo X3T" with 5.75mm thick

The battles rage on for who can build the slimmest smartphone, but at only 5.75mm, BBK’s Vivo X3T is the winner for now. Just the other day at 6.18mm, Huawei’s Ascend P6, was the thinnest ruling smartphone out there. The next closet is the Alcatel One Touch Idol Ultra (what a long name for a thin phone) comes in at 6.5mm.

Specifications are as follows:

• 5-inch FHD at 1080 x 1920 Resolution
• MediaTek 1.5GHz Quad-Core Processor
• 1GB RAM
• 8MP Camera
• 5MP FFC (Front Facing Camera)
• 143.27mm x 71.03mm x 5.75mm
• 150 grams
• Android Jelly Bean 4.2

For those of you that measure everything by what is the thinnest, then we give you BBK’s Vivo X3T, at a bulimic 5.75mm thick. It has passed its Chinese certification and is expected to launch August 22 on the world’s largest carrier, China Mobile.

source: http://techbeat.com/2013/08/worlds-thinnest-smartphone/