Google Play Store v5.0 might be roll out soon

Google might soon roll out a new version of the Google Play app (v5.0), guided by the company's Material Design concept, if the latest screenshots from a leaked early build are to be believed. The company seems set bring more a more vivid palette of colours to its already Material Design-inspired Google Play app, along with a richer visual feel.

The yet-to-be announced Google Play Store 5.0 might flaunt a reworked top bar that merges the section name (for example - Movies, Games and others) with the category tabs like Top Releases, New Releases, Home and others, as seen in the above screenshot. All the Google Play sections namely Apps, Games, Movies, Books, and Newsstand are also seen with the new colour palette combinations that are brighter and more vivid than the current version.

The Mountain View, California-based tech giant, focusing more on the card-based design, seems set to tweak the Google Play app design with the same colour treatment for accents and buttons (seen below), visibly different in the screenshots of the leaked early build sourced by Android Police.

Leaked Home Page Google Play Store v5.0

Android Police also notes that promo pages will receive a visual revamp in the store, with the example of Google's Antenna Sampler, a monthly sampler of free tracks from upcoming artists, has also been given a visual boost (seen below). Minor animations, for instance, 3-line icon changes to a 'back arrow' icon on interaction, might also see the light of the day.

While the changes are not a major overhaul over the current version of Google Play, they are completely in-line with the 'Material Design' philosophy of the upcoming Android L, which might be officially named as 'Lemon Meringue Pie'.

The website also discovered some new Material Design-inspired Google Play app icons for Music, Movies, Books, Newsstand along with a new Google Play Store icon (seen below), within the files of the app.

In addition, the per-device restoration feature, which was discovered previously by the website, was seen with some changes in the latest string files of the Google Play app. The string files hints a feature that would enable users to choose a device profile (smartphone or tablet) from where a predefined set of apps can be restored when setting up a new device.

While Google is yet to confirm any of the details mentioned above, the screenshots and the information gathered from the leaked early build cannot be completely ignored, and do indicate a direction the search giant is looking into. The release date of the Google Play Store 5.0 or the new restoration feature is still not known.

Thanks Gadgets.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-CM1 Android Smartphone With 1-Inch Camera Sensor

The Japanese giant has joined the league of Samsung (Galaxy S4 Zoom and Galaxy K zoom) with the launch of its first Android-powered camera-phone, the Lumix DMC-CM1. The company will be showcasing the device at Photokina show next week in Germany. It will be made available in France and Germany by Christmas, priced at EUR 899.

The Lumix DMC-CM1 camera-phone runs Android 4.4 KitKat out-of-the-box. It is powered by a 2.3GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor alongside 2GB of RAM. It features a 4.7-inch full-HD (1080x1920 pixels) display. For connectivity, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-CM1 supports 4G LTE networks. It comes with 16GB of inbuilt storage, which is expandable up to 128GB (via microSD card).

The new Panasonic Lumix DMC-CM1 sports a 20-megapixel sensor with an f/2.8 Leica DC Elmarit lens. It comes with a mechanical shutter and a manual control ring. Notably, the 20-megapixel sensor is of the 1-inch MOS-type, the highlight of the device, and which is also akin to the sensor size of the Sony RX10. The camera-phone further is backed by a Venus engine, usually seen on the company's Lumix cameras. The Lumix CM1 camera-phone also supports 4K video recording.

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Google driverless Cars

Google Inc., with its vision for a future where cars drive themselves, is putting itself at odds with an auto industry that shares its desire for safer, less- congested roads -- yet won't abide the "driverless" part.

The clash pits the Internet giant, public for barely a decade, against companies that spent a century building the machines that put people behind the wheel of autos. As Google works to perfect a system in research labs and road tests to minimize the involvement of drivers, automakers spend billions of dollars annually on ads to do the opposite. Think BMW and its claims to the Ultimate Driving Machine, or Volkswagen and its Drivers Wanted sales pitch.

The differences are more than philosophical.

Google is sweeping up top talent and research, powered by an almost $400 billion stock-market value that tops those of Toyota Motor Corp., Volkswagen AG and General Motors Co. combined. It's also keeping a tight grip on its mapping data and potential marketing plans for cars while helping to create what many in the auto industry consider unrealistic expectations for how quickly cars can safely become wholly driverless.

"Clearly there's some sort of tension there," said Richard Wallace, director of transportation systems analysis at the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Google's splashy displays of technology "lead to expectations creep that's probably unrealistic in some ways," he said.

Google's aloofness was on display at last week's Intelligent Transport Systems World Congress in Detroit. The search giant had minimal presence at the annual event where automakers hash out standards for the technology that would keep, at the center of it all, the driver.

The 'G-Word'

Within the industry, Google is sometimes the unmentionable presence in the room -- the "G-word," as Wallace jokingly called it at a conference last month in Traverse City, Michigan.

Among the advancements automakers announced at last week's conference in Detroit was GM's "Super Cruise" system for 2017 Cadillacs, which will let drivers take their hands off the steering wheel and feet from the pedals for periods of highway driving. Like technology being developed by Toyota, Honda Motor Co. and other companies, GM's system hands control back and forth between driver and vehicle.

The approach that Mountain View, California-based Google is taking is, literally, much more hands-off. In May it unveiled plans to deploy at least 100 fully autonomous, two-seat, egg- shaped test cars with a top speed of 25 miles (40 kilometers) per hour and no steering wheel. Google has since said it will include one, as well as brake and gas pedals, as California requires.

Google Talent

Aided by early staffing with top Stanford and Carnegie Mellon University scientists who won a U.S.-backed driverless vehicle challenge in 2005, Google recruited dozens of robotics and artificial-intelligence researchers, and is adding more.

Google has won or applied for 96 autonomous-driving patents since 2011 and has hired talent from Toyota, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz and even Silicon Valley upstart Tesla Motors Inc., according to LinkedIn profiles. For high-level advice, Google can turn to former Ford Motor Co. Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally, now a board member.

It's also backed by more than $60 billion in cash, more than any individual automaker can muster.

"When you're at Google's scale you do plenty of things that disrupt or change the environment," said Frank Gillett, analyst with Forrester Research in Cambridge, Massachusetts. "We now have a race for who's going to build the software and services platform that operates driverless cars."

Societal Benefits

While the effort is still in an early phase, executives including co-founder Sergey Brin have committed Google to making driverless cars a reality. They tout societal benefits of robotic cars, such as a transportation option for the blind and elderly.

To traditional manufacturers, anything that makes human drivers superfluous is automotive heresy.

"Driving is essentially very fun," Ken Koibuchi, general manager of intelligent vehicle development for Toyota, said in an interview in Detroit this month. For that and reasons including liability issues in the case of an accident and yet- to-be-set regulations, the world's largest carmaker isn't planning a driverless car even as it adds automated features.

"Rather than making it seem like the driver can simply take a nap while sitting at the wheel, we need drivers to understand that there will be task-sharing involved, handing controls back and forth, and that overconfidence must be avoided," Koibuchi said.

Nissan Motor Co., Mercedes and Tesla are among those that have said they'll add self-driving features by end of the decade. None has said how much it's spending to do that.

More Investment

"They've kind of shamed the automakers into investing more money into this," said Egil Juliussen, research director for advanced driving systems for IHS Automotive. "R&D budgets for all major auto companies have jumped a lot since this started. They're literally being forced by Google to invest more to show they aren't falling too far behind."

While Google's cash pile tops that of individual automakers, Toyota's $41 billion, Volkswagen's $44 billion and GM's $29 billion ensure they can fund technology advances.

That gives manufacturers the resources to provide a counterbalance to Google, said William "Red" Whittaker, director of the Field Robotics Center at Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh.

"No one has a monopoly on this technology," Whittaker said. "The big global OEMs, they run deep, they run strong, and they aren't fooling around."

Accelerated Efforts

To speed its efforts, Toyota in January created an intelligent-vehicle system group that Koibuchi manages to bring automated driving features to market as quickly as possible.

Toyota is also among the automakers and suppliers funding the University of Michigan's Mobility Transformation Center in Ann Arbor, intended to be the largest research center in North America for automated driving systems.

GM, Ford, Honda and Nissan are also MTC backers, as are parts-makers Delphi Automotive Plc, Denso Corp. and Robert Bosch LLC, Verizon Communications Inc. and Xerox Corp.

Google so far hasn't joined that effort. It also hasn't specified whether it will build and sell driverless cars; create a service using such vehicles; or supply its driverless technology to the auto industry.

'Low Margin'

Producing its own vehicles would "be silly," Juliussen said. "The car industry is a low-margin business. The best companies get 10 percent profit margin," he said. "Why would they want to enter the business even if the revenue may be tremendously high?"

Google declined to comment on industry criticism or how its driverless program will evolve. Brin said in May at the Re/code conference in Palos Verdes, California, that the company "will work with partners in the future, including automotive companies," without elaborating.

Google drew some criticism at the Automated Vehicles Symposium in San Francisco in July from audience members who said it's not sharing mapping data with carmakers designing their own systems and has made some academic research on driverless vehicles inaccessible.

Standardized maps are needed as robotic vehicles advance, Seigo Kuzumaki, Toyota's chief technology officer secretary, said in Detroit.

"It's better to have maps that are industrywide, rather than just individually owned and operated," Kuzumaki said.

Automakers' efforts to find software talent is also affected by Google's speed in hiring, Toyota's Koibuchi said.

"Computer vision or artificial intelligence are needed, and that kind of technology is not familiar to us for now so we need to hire new people," he said. "To hire new people in each area is more difficult."

--With assistance from Tim Higgins in San Francisco and Susan Decker in Washington.

Apple Watch

Apple Watch comes in two sizes, so the watch won't feel giant on smaller hands, as some competing watches do.

I also like that Apple will offer a variety of straps and materials, so fitness buffs can get a strap that's stronger and sweat-proof, while those seeking a fashion accessory can opt for an 18-karat gold edition.

Beyond looks, it's great that the Apple Watch isn't simply adopting the smartphone way of doing things. The operating system, Watch OS, was designed specifically for the watch, and its interface relies heavily on the dial to the right, known as the digital crown. Competing watches tend to emphasize the voice and touch controls found on phones.

Of course, it's premature to conclude that you need an Apple Watch. I had only about 45 minutes with the Apple Watch and other new products announced Tuesday. The watch I was allowed to try on was running in a demonstration mode. It'll take more time with the watch - beyond a controlled environment - to make a solid conclusion.

The home screen has all your apps, arranged in rows like a honeycomb. You use the dial to zoom in and choose one. The touch screen lets you slide the honeycomb around to see different portions of your app collection. I find this easier than swiping on a small screen to scroll through pages and pages of apps. With the Apple Watch, you can even rearrange apps so that your favorite ones are toward the middle.

App developers will be able to decide what types of notifications appear on the watch and let you take actions such as replying to messages. That's an improvement over existing smartwatches, which largely replicate the notifications sent to your phone. To be compelling, the watch shouldn't duplicate your phone. It should enhance it. Apple seems to get it.

As for using the dial to zoom in and out, Apple says that improves usability because you're not blocking maps and other content on the screen the way pinching in and out would. That makes sense, though I'll need more time with the watch to assess how well the dial works on its own. With your home screen, for instance, you still need the slide apps around.

Another question mark is what kinds of apps will be available for it.

Apple announced a few useful ones, including the ability to unlock your Starwood hotel room with a tap of your watch. That's easier than pulling out your room key from your wallet. BMW also promises one to help you find your parked car in a crowded lot. If it works, that beats walking around in circles.

Apple does have a good track record in getting software developers to make good apps for its systems. Many apps come to iPhones and iPads first, and some have bonus features unavailable on Android. If that trend continues with the Apple Watch, I have no doubt customers will find more useful things to do with it than the smartwatches already out.

Apple Watch will require an iPhone 5 or later and will have a starting price tag of $349, higher than rival watches. Expect to pay even more for the 18-karat gold edition and other premium models. You'll also have to wait until early next year, as Apple won't have Apple Watch available in time for the holidays.

Thanks

Top 10 features of iPhone 6 & 6 Plus

1. Retina HD

Apple has outdone itself in the buzzwords game. The new Retina HD display is an ultra thin IPS display with 326ppi pixel density for iPhone 6, capable of wider viewing angles.

The iPhone 6 Plus gets a 1334x750 pixel display, and for the first time on the iPhone, a full-HD 1920 x 1080 display on the iPhone 6 Plus.

In terms of specs, this is not really mind-blowing when you consider Samsung, LG and Oppo’s Quad HD displays at 446 ppi. But logic-wise it makes sense, as it costs more CPU to push Quad HD images to a display that's as sharp as a 1080p display to the normal eye.

2. Ion strengthened screen

Is it Gorilla Glass? Is it a Sapphire screen as rumoured? No, it’s a brand new ion strengthened screen. While there are absolutely no details on this mysterious new screen technology, which curves neatly around the sides of the iPhone. 

We should have more details on this Ion technology when we get them. As long as it makes iPhone tougher to break, we are fine.

3. 2nd generation 64-Bit processors

While the Android world is still floundering in the dark for 64-bit processor, the only significant next step in mobile technology, Apple has bettered its superb A7 processor with the A8, using a 20nm manufacturing process. 

Not only that, Apple claims that it will perform better over a longer period of time.

4. Metal, 3D app and game engine

In a surprising move, Apple revealed the Metal API for game developers to take advantage of in pushing the graphical envelope of their games. Steve Jobs had never been big on gaming for years and Bungie story is the biggest example of that. 

However, it’s great to see Tim Cook making big strides into gaming territory, especially since the App Store has some of the best games on mobile devices to date.

5. M8, Motion co-processor health chip

Apple’s M8 health chip has gotten better, with the ability to measure relative distance and elevation, and can tell the difference between cycling and running. 

While elevation helps in tracking the amount of steps you climb, the Nike+ app was shown displaying relative elevation on hikes by using the barometer too.

6. Better battery

A feature that iPhone users have been screaming hoarse about and Samsung has taken the opportunity to jab at in their ads is the bad IPhone battery life. 

Finally, Apple has addressed this with the new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. Apple claims 14 hours for iPhone 6 and 24 hours of 3G Talktime for the iPhone 6 Plus. Of course, we cannot wait to put this to the test.

7. 3X faster Wi-Fi

The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus support 802.11ac, the superfast new Wi-Fi band that’s all the rage. 

Apple claims the new iPhones can browse up to 3x faster on Wi-Fi which is good if you happened to have put down a lot of money on one of the first 802.11ac modems.

8. 8MP camera with True Tone flash 1.5 micron pixel sensor

Though Apple did not stuff more megapixels in the new iPhones, it’s 8 megapixel snapper has grown up. With True Tone Flash and with the 1.5 Micron pixel sensor, Apple seems to be taking a cue from HTC’s handbook with ultrapixels. Apple has also introduced Focus Pixels for faster auto-focus with phase detection, and an aperture of f/2.2. iSight camera can take a stunning 43MP panorama. 

It has an image signal processor to aid in all the image-heavy lifting. Both iPhone 6 and 6 Plus have auto (optical) image stabilisation: an absolute first for an iPhone. The camera can capture 1080p video at 30 or 60 fps and slow motion video at 240 fps. With Cinematic Video Stabilisation, and using Focus Pixels, you can get continuous autofocus in video.

9. Burst selfie front-facing camera

The selfie has bought the front-facing camera into the limelight. A Facetime HD camera with a yet unknown megapixel count. However, it’s capable of beautiful selfies, with improved face detection. 

The most important feature is burst selfies, which takes a bunch of pictures in one shot, allowing you to never miss a moment.

10. iOS 8

The cherry on top of the iPhone 6 cake is iOS 8. While we have seen several features already, it’s great to know that in just a few days, you’ll be updating your devices on September 17. 

What’s amazing is how Apple has managed the scaling so well. The iPhone 6 gets a scaled-up iPhone screen size whereas the iPhone 5.5 looks like it gets scaled-down iPad apps. Sharply handled and planned, so the user will hit the ground running with fantastic looking apps out of the box.

Thanks TOI.

Most awaited bigger screen iPhone 6 (4.7 inch) and iPhone 6 Plus (5.5 inch) unveils by Apple

Apple iPhone 6 is probably one of the worst kept secrets in the tech industry with the device appearing on numerous occasions. Finally, today, Apple has officially unveiled its latest flagship smartphone – the iPhone 6.

From the outset, the newest iPhone looks very similar to the previous generation with the front being a bit stretched out. The screen size has been bumped to 4.7-inches. It has an even thinner profile of 7mm and astonishingly it still weights just about 113 grams. The large display panel also means that there’s now space for a sixth row of apps in the user interface. The display panel comes with a resolution of 1134 x 750 pixels.

Back of the iPhone 6 consists of a full metal finish panel with the stripes running from top and bottom for antennas. The sides of the smartphone are a bit curvy, which is quite different from previous four generations and the buttons are now a part of the body.

The new size also meant that the company had to work around the position of some of the hardware keys on the phone. The power button on the iPhone 6 has been relocated and is now placed on the right side of the device. As usual, the volume rockers and the ringtone switch key are on the left.

There are some significant changes under the hood with the latest generation iPhone featuring a new processor, which according to the company packs a punch.

Apple iPhone 6 comes with a re-engineered new chipset that is dubbed – A8. Just like A7, the A8 is also based on 64-bit architecture and is built on a power efficient 20nm process, which according to the company is about 20 times faster than the original iPhone with the graphics being up to 50 faster. Apple’s latest innovation houses a dual-core CPU, running at 1.2GHz.

The new camera module on the Apple iPhone 6 has a wider f/2.2 aperture and a larger 1.5 micron pixel sensor. However, it is still an 8 megapixel sensor and Apple is calling it iSight camera. The larger surface also results in larger pixels and with a larger sensor, the Cupertino giant has managed to lower image noise in low-light conditions and in turn improve the overall dynamic range in high contrast conditions.

The camera features phase detection autofocus and unfortunately, there’s no Optical Image Stabilization. iPhone 6’s camera can shoot panoramas up to 43 megapixel and is capable of capturing videos at 1080 pixels. You can also record Slo-mo videos at 120fps and 240fps, but that comes to you at a cost of higher resolution.

The dual LED flash, which was called as True Tone in iPhone 5s has been retained on the newest variant. If you are wondering how this piece of hardware does then, you might want to know that the flash contains two LEDs with different color temperature. And, this in turn helps you achieve more accurate color tone.

Connectivity options include VoLTE (Voice Over LTE) and Wi-Fi calling for T-Mobile in the United States and EE in the United Kingdom. Apple has enhanced its LTE radios in its newest chip and it now supports up to 150Mbps downlink along with 20 bands. The smartphone also comes with Wi-Fi 802.11ac among other options. Apple’s latest iPhone now supports NFC connectivity.

Apple iPhone 6 comes with a touch sensor that is known as TouchID – embedded into the home button. The sensor is hidden behind a sapphire crystal lens and there’s a metallic ring that detects the finger to activate the sensor. The enhanced service supports for multiple fingerprints and offers high security for purchases from iTunes.

The iPhone 6 comes out of the box with iOS 8 operating system and packs a 1,810mAh battery, which according to the company offers 14 hours of 3G talk time, up to 250 hours of standby and up to 50 hours of music playback.

The newest iPhone will launch on September 19 in the United States and Apple will expand the availability to 115 countries by the end of the year. And, the pre-order starts on September 12.

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iPhone 6 tipped to feature curved chassis design; alleged case showcased

If a new report is to be believed, the next generation iPhone will come with curved edges accompanied by curved display glass. If true, this would be a major departure from the company's current industrial design on existing iPhone models.

Japanese blog Mac Otakara citing some sources has claimed that the iPhone 6 will sport a design reminiscent to Squair's cases. Squair is a Japanese iPhone case manufacturer, which makes metallic iPhone cases out of Duralumin material. Notably, the Squair-made iPhone cases sport rounded edges that protrude from the iPhone's chassis.

Further, the Japanese blog claims that Apple, in favour of an all-aluminium design, will get rid of rear glass antenna windows currently seen on the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s. However, it is yet to be seen whether Apple will do away with its current straight-edge design seen on the iPhone 4, iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s.

An earlier report, citing sources familiar with Apple's plans, had suggested that the next iPhone models could feature curved glass and enhanced sensors that can detect different levels of pressure.

In addition, a video posted by Unbox Therapy on YouTube shows an alleged iPhone 6 case compared alongside the iPhone 5s, Nexus 5 and Samsung Galaxy Note 3.

Reports have been indicating that the Apple might finally enter the screen size battle with the launch of the iPhone 6, which is expected to come in two display sizes - 5.5-inch and 4.7-inch.

The video allegedly shows the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 model's case which features the power button positioned on the right panel of the device, instead on the top panel seen on current iPhone models. The video shows the alleged iPhone 6 case housing the slightly modified volume buttons, akin to the ones seen on iPad tablets.

Further, the video suggests that there will be no change in the rear camera placement in the 4.7-inch iPhone 6, as seen on the purported case. The video also shows three cut-outs at the bottom panel, which is again similar to what is seen in current iPhone versions.

The video shows that the alleged iPhone 6 cases' size in comparison to other handsets looks more close to the Google's latest Nexus 5 in terms of display size and even dimensions. The Galaxy Note 3, on the other hand, looks bigger than the alleged iPhone 6 case.

A recent report suggested that the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 has been delayed due to supply constraints and its launch might be delayed to 2015.

Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet with Android 4.4, Snapdragon 801 launched at MWC 2014

Sony finally took the wraps off its latest premium tablet, dubbed Xperia Z2 Tablet, at MWC 2014 in Barcelona.

The Japanese manufacturer has announced that the Xperia Z2 Tablet will be globally released in March 2014, however hasn't revealed the pricing of the device. The tablet will be available in two variants: Wi-Fi and LTE/3G.

The Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet is the successor to the Xperia Tablet Z, which was launched at MWC 2013. The Xperia Z2 Tablet runs Android 4.4 KitKat out-of-the-box.

The Xperia Z2 Tablet features a 10.1-inch full-HD TRILUMINOS display for mobile with Live Colour LED powered by X-Reality. The tablet also features digital noise cancelling technology and is touted to be the 'world's slimmest' tablet at 6.4mm and lightest at 426 grams.

The Xperia Z2 Tablet is powered by a 2.3GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor alongside 3GB of RAM. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, DLNA, Bluetooth, and GLONASS. The tablet sports an 8.1-megapixel rear camera and also includes 2.2-megapixel front-facing camera. It comes with 16GB inbuilt storage, which is further expandable up to 64GB via microSD card.

The company has announced that Xperia Z2 Tablet will be available in Black and White colour variants. Kunimasa Suzuki, President and CEO, Sony Mobile Communications said on the announcement, "The Xperia Z2 Tablet represents the pinnacle of tablet innovation and is a true flagship in our premium line. We have evolved our cutting-edge design to create the slimmest lightweight tablet matched with Sony's latest technologies to deliver a unique user experience. And with our new range of dedicated accessories, you can further now enhance your tablet experience whether for work or play, at home or on the go."

Sony also launched its Xperia Z2 smartphone at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, which features noise-cancellation technology and ultra-high-definition video recording

Thank You

'Pure Android' Sony Xperia Z Ultra, G Pad Launched

Sony and Google have released the Google Play edition of the Sony Xperia Z Ultra, the Japanese electronic giant's 6.4-inch device which tries to marry the tablet and smartphone form factors. 

The Sony Xperia Z Ultra Google Play edition is available for purchase on the Google Play Store only in the United States, at a $649 price tag. For the uninitiated, Google Play editions feature Stock Android just like Google's Nexus devices, stripping off the user interface customizations deployed by device manufacturers. 

The Sony Xperia Z Ultra Google Play edition is powered by a 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor, along with an Adreno 330 GPU, and 2GB of RAM. The device runs Android 4.4 KitKat, the latest iteration of Google's mobile operating system. 

The Xperia Z Ultra Google Play edition sports a 6.4-inch display with a resolution of 1080 X 1920 pixels and pixel density of 342ppi, incorporating Sony's Triluminos and X-Reality for mobile display technology. 

The water-proof and dust-resistant (IP55 and IP58) device, sports an 8-megapixel rear camera with Exmor RS for mobile sensor, capable of recording full-HD video. It doesn't feature an LED flash. The front of the device features a 2-megapixel shooter, also capable of recording 1080p video. It comes with 16GB internal storage expandable up to 64GB via microSD card, and NFC capability in addition to supporting 4G LTE networks. 

The Xperia Z Ultra Google Play edition also includes Sony's proprietary technology including 3D surround sound, ClearAudio+, Clear Bass, Clear Phase, xLoud experience. It also supports Pen input with stylus though handwriting recognition is not supported. 

It's interesting to note that the Sony Xperia Z Ultra Google Play edition (GPE) is the company's first such device. Previously, HTC and Samsung had released Google Play edition variants of the HTC One and the Samsung Galaxy S4, respectively. 

Sony was not the only one to announce a GPE device. South Korean giant LG, also announced the Google Play edition of its 8.3-inch Android tablet, the G Pad 8.3. The tablet features an 8.3-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1920 X 1200 pixels. 

The tablet is powered by a 1.7GHz Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM. It comes with 16GB of internal storage and a 4.600mAh battery. It runs Android 4.4 KitKat. 

The LG G Pad 8.3 sports a 5-megapixel rear camera and a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera.The Wi-Fi only device is available at a price point of $349.99 on the Google Play Store in the United States. It's not clear if LG intends to sell it outside of the US, at the moment. 

In addition to the Google Play editions, Google has also taken the wraps off a white colour variant of the Nexus 7 (2013) tablet. The variant is available only in the US, UK and Japan, and is only available for the Wi-Fi only 32GB version of the tablet, at the moment. 

The Nexus 7 (2013) is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro, a quad-core processor running at 1.5 GHz. It comes in 16GB or 32GB internal storage variants, and features 2GB RAM, a 7-inch screen with FullHD resolution(1920 X 1200 pixels), 3950 mAh battery, a 5-megapixel primary camera and a 1.2MP front camera with fixed focus.

Samsung Galaxy S5 may feature eye scanner

Samsung too is reportedly working on a rival to Apple's much-famed Touch ID feature. According to reports, Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S5 will feature an eye scanning sensor. 

The security feature will allow users to lock or unlock their devices by simply gazing at it. Some previous reports too hinted at Samsung working on new security technology to match up iPhone 5S'fingerprint sensor. 

Earlier this week, there were reports that Samsung is planning move up the launch of Galaxy S5 to January 2014. A report by South Korean internet giant Naver says that the Galaxy S5 will be unveiled in January 2014 and will hit the shelves the following month. The dissapointing sales of Galaxy S4 are said to be behind the decision. 

Galaxy S5's January launch means that Galaxy S4 would spend the least amount of time at the top of the company's smartphone portfolio among all Galaxy S series phones. Both Samsung Galaxy S and Galaxy S III remained on the top of the chain for a year each, while Galaxy S II was the flagship smartphone for 15 months. 

The report also says that the Galaxy S5 will have Samsung's 64-bit eight-core Exynos 5430 chipset. Samsung Galaxy S5 is also expected to have a 16MP camera with optical image stabilization and better performance in low-light conditions. The recently unveiled Isocell sensor is also expected to debut with this smartphone. 

Some rumours also point towards a waterproof and dust-resistant body and a curved and unbreakable screen. Samsung has also filed a patent for the metal body designed for smartphones, suggesting a change in material of construction for next year's top handset. 

Samsung recently unveiled the world's first smartphone with a curved screen, named Galaxy Round. 

Sony Xperia Z1 tipped to receive Android 4.4 KitKat update in November

A new rumour claims that Sony will release the Android 4.4 KitKat update for its flagship smartphone, the Xperia Z1, in November.

As per AndroidSaS, the Japanese giant is working on its update platform based on Android's latest mobile and tablet iteration, which was announced a few months back. The site reveals that the company plans to roll out the update for the flagship in the first week of November, and further claims that November 7 might be the Android 4.4 update rollout date for Xperia Z1.

Moreover, the site expects that after rolling out Android 4.4 KitKat update for Xperia Z1, the company might roll out the latest Android update for a few other Xperia devices like, Xperia Z Ultra and Xperia Z.

The update is also expected to come bundled with major fixes including bugs, security vulnerabilities, and improvements to the X-Reality Engine. For now, there is no official word from Sony on the latest Android 4.4 KitKat update for any Xperia device.

Sony took the wraps off its flagship smartphone, the Xperia Z1 at the IFA in Berlin. The device natively runs Android 4.2.2 out of the box and it seems the device might give a miss to Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and directly be updated to Android 4.4 KitKat.

Recently, alleged leaked screenshots of Google's upcoming Android 4.4 KitKat were spotted online, revealing several new features and changes to Google's current Android 4.3 Jelly Bean iteration.

Earlier rumours have pointed to an October release date for the Android 4.4 KitKat update, as Nestle had revealed the first news about the launch of Android 4.4 KitKat on Facebook.

Codeigniter - Best PHP Framework

CodeIgniter (CI) is one of popular php framework. If you are already building PHP Application, CodeIgniter will help you to do it better and more easily. With CodeIgniter, you can save time, make your web more robust, your code will be easier to read and maintenance. It is free, lightweight, and simple to install.

Nice, CodeIgniter is small and lightweight framework. The Latest Codeigniter Framework version is 2.1.4. You don't need long time to download it. You can get it from http://www.codeigniter.com CI was written by Rick Ellis, rock musician turned programmer.

With CodeIgniter, you can cut down the amount of code you need to type. This is not just good for lazy, but: less type, fewer mistake, and less time for spend debugging.

But, CodeIgniter is not everything. We will not find 'engine generator' that can build page self. Several frameworks have features like that. For example, they can create web page (that to do basic Create, Read, Update, and Delete operation) automatically. CodeIgniter doesn't do this.

This, I copy from their help page: "Our goal for CodeIgniter is maximum performance, capability, and flexibility in the smallest, lightest possible package".


From an technical and architectural standpoint, CodeIgniter was created with the following objectives:

Dynamic Installation:

In CodeIgniter, components are loaded and routines executed only when requested, rather than globally. No assumptions are made by the system regarding what may be needed beyond the minimal core resources, so the system is very light-weight by default. The events, as triggered by the HTTP request, and the controllers and views you design will determine what is invoked. 

Loose Coupling:

Coupling is the degree to which components of a system rely on each other. The less components depend on each other the more reusable and flexible the system becomes. Our goal was a very loosely coupled system. 

Component Singularity:

Singularity is the degree to which components have a narrowly focused purpose. In CodeIgniter, each class and its functions are highly autonomous in order to allow maximum usefulness.

Nice feature, CodeIgniter is very flexible. We can apply at PHP 4.3.2 and above, or PHP 5. It will realy help us when our web hosting still don't support PHP 5. CI support serveral database: MySQL, MySQLi, MS SQL, Postgre, Oracle, SQLite, and ODBC.

Hope this post give you a nice information

Google's 5 Recent Innovations

Google has turned 15. Over the years, the internet giant has charmed us with its cool products. While some of these have changed the way we work, some the way we interact, and some others our lives. Though long past its startup days, the 'search company' still retains its innovative zeal.

Here is a look at 5  hottest Google innovations of recent times.

 

Google Glass

aGoogle unveiled its first wearable computing device Glass in 2012, bringing a product that had been relegated only to science fiction till now. This gadget is an extension of Android smartphones and tablets and can be used to capture photos and videos, make phone calls, check out maps, read emails and text messages and perform various other tasks with just voice commands.

First of its kind, Google Glass has captured the imagination of not just the tech community but also the fashion fraternity.

 

Google driverless cars

Driverless cars are said to be the next big thing in the world of automobiles and Google is taking this big idea out to the real world. An idea from Google’s X Lab, driverless cars are currently being tested by the company in Nevada, Florida and California in the US.

While Google has not announced any plans to commercialize these driverless cars, reports have said that the company may roll out the unmanned Robo-Taxi to ferry people.

 

Google Street View

Google’s Street View project started in 2007 and has gone in full swing over the past few years, with several innovative features. Under this project, the internet search company shows panoramic imagery of various places around the world right on their desktop. You can even view the Street View images in 3D, provided you have the requisite red/cyan glasses.

Not only are the Street View photos available from desktops and mobile devices, but also on the Nintendo Wii U.

 

Android

The Android mobile operating system has taken the world by storm and approximately 80% of smartphones today are powered by it. Though it is not an original product (Google has acquired the company that made the OS), it did add its own twist to the software. Android was meant to be an operating system for digital cameras, but Google decided to turn it into a mobile software even before Apple came out with the first iPhone.

Android has grown in popularity on the back of its easy-to-use interface, open source nature and wide range of free apps. Google offers the OS to manufacturers for free, giving them the option to update Android versions on their devices as and when they like. This free-to-use nature of Android has propelled the rise of several mobile companies, such as Samsung, Huawei, ZTE, Micromax and Xiaomi.

 

Password alternatives

Google has stepped up its efforts to kill passwords completely over the past few years. The company has announced its support to Fast IDentity Online Alliance (FIDO) and is working new novel means to verify users’ identity when they sign into their online accounts.

Dennis Woodside, CEO of Google’s Motorola unit, has spoken about flexible electronic circuits that are embedded into people’s skins much like tattoos and act as passwords. Motorola is also exploring the application of the Proteus Digital Health pill, which a unique ECG trace that can be used to identify users by external devices.

 

Thank You...

Fairfax to buy BlackBerry for $4.7 billion

BlackBerry has agreed to a $4.7 billion sale to a group led by its largest shareholder, Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., after new smartphones failed to turn the company around.

BlackBerry Ltd. said Monday that a letter of intent has been signed and that its shareholders will receive $9 in cash for each share. The deal comes just days after the Canadian company announced plans to lay off 40 percent of its global workforce.

The BlackBerry, pioneered in 1999, was once the dominant smartphone for on-the-go business people and other consumers. It could be so addictive that it was nicknamed "the CrackBerry." President Barack Obama couldn't bear to part with his BlackBerry. Oprah Winfrey declared it one of her "favorite things."

But then came a new generation of competing smartphones, starting with Apple's iPhone in 2007. The BlackBerry, that game-changing breakthrough in personal connectedness, looked ancient suddenly.

Although BlackBerry was once Canada's most valuable company with a market value of $83 billion in June 2008, the stock has plummeted from more than $140 a share to less than $9, giving it a market value of $4.6 billion, just short of Fairfax's offer.

Anaylsts say that although BlackBerry's hardware business is not worth anything, its service business and patents are still valuable. At the end of the second quarter, the company also had total cash and investments of about $2.6 billion and no debt.

The deal follows a $7.2 billion offer that Microsoft Corp. made this month for the phones and services business of another troubled phone maker, Nokia Corp.

Fairfax head Prem Watsa, who owns 10 percent of BlackBerry, stepped down as a board member because of potential conflicts when BlackBerry announced it was considering a sale last month. The company would no longer be traded publicly once the sale goes through.

"We believe this transaction will open an exciting new private chapter for BlackBerry its customers, carriers and employees," Watsa said in a statement. "We can deliver immediate value to shareholders, while we continue the execution of a long-term strategy in a private company."

Watsa is one of Canada's best-known investors and is founder of Toronto-based Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. BlackBerry founder Mike Lazaridis recruited Watsa to join the company's board when Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie stepped aside as its co-CEOs in January 2012.

BlackBerry shares plunged 17 percent after the company announced Friday a loss of nearly $1 billion and layoffs of 4,500 workers. It gained 9 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $8.82 Monday.

BlackBerry said the general terms of the deal have been approved by its board and a special committee set up to look at options. The company said it will negotiate and execute a definitive transaction agreement with Fairfax by Nov. 4.

During that time, BlackBerry is entitled to continue to find other buyers, but if BlackBerry backs out of the deal, it would owe Fairfax about $157 million.

"The special committee is seeking the best available outcome for the company's constituents, including for shareholders," BlackBerry chairwoman Barbara Stymiest said in a statement.

Watsa is likely to keep current CEO Thorsten Heins in the job. He said in April that he's a big supporter of Heins and has called his promotion the right decision. He also said he's excited about the company's new BlackBerry 10 operating system.

This year's launch of BlackBerry 10 and fancier devices that use it was supposed to rejuvenate the brand and lure customers. But the much-delayed phones have failed to turn the company around. At their peak in the fall of 2009, BlackBerry's smartphones enjoyed global market share of more than 20 percent, says Mike Walkley, an analyst with Canaccord Genuity. That is now just 1.5 percent.

BlackBerry said Friday that it will lay off 4,500 employees as it tries to slash costs by 50 percent and shift its focus back to competing mainly for the business customers. That will bring its global headcount to 7,000. The company cut 5,000 jobs last year.

A week earlier than expected, BlackBerry surprised the market by reporting Friday that it lost nearly $1 billion in the second quarter. The company is booking over $900 million in charges to write down the value of its unsold smartphones.

The company also said Friday it plans to focus on offering only two high-end devices and two entry-level phones going forward, with emphasis on the business market.

The decline of BlackBerry, formerly known as Research In Motion Ltd., is evoking memories of Nortel, another Canadian tech giant, which ended up declaring bankruptcy in 2009.

But BGC analyst Colin Gillis said taking BlackBerry private is the right move and said it's possible that BlackBerry could survive in a much smaller form. He noted that the $9-per-share offer is lower than the $12.32 average price that the stock traded over the past six months.

Anthony Michael Sabino, a professor at St. John's University's business school, said going private removes the burden of pleasing shareholders with short-term results, just as Michael Dell hopes to do with Dell Inc. after winning a bid to take the troubled computer maker private. He said Fairfax is known for patience in its investments, which would give BlackBerry time to regroup.

"In all honesty, its fate is still uncertain, but at least now it has a fighting chance," Sabino said.

Samsung Note 3(Rs. 49,900), Galaxy Gear Smart Watch(Rs. 22,990) Launched in INDIA

Note 3 is a successor to Galaxy Note 2, which was launched last year and was received very well in the market. The new Note has a 5.7-inch screen with a SuperAMOLED panel. It has the FullHD resolution with 1920 x 1080 pixels. It is the first smartphone to pack in 3GB RAM. It comes with 32GB internal storage as well as supports microSD card. While the body is made of plastic, in a first for a Samsung smartphone, the back cover uses a leather-like material to give it a more premium finish. The device sports a primary camera that can shoot 13MP images while the front camera comes with a tag of 2MP.

Note 3 weighs 168 grams. The Indian version of the device is powered by Exynos Octa 5420 processor. The processor has two set of cores. One set of four cores based on A15 architecture runs at 1.9GHz. The other set of low-performance cores based on A7 architecture runs at 1.3GHz. For now the processor can utilize only one set of cores at a time. But Samsung is likely to release a software patch by the end of this year that will make device use all 8 cores in various combinations for the best balance between performance and battery life.

Note 3 processor features the next-generation Mali chip called T628, which is one of the fastest mobile graphics chips at the moment.

But the highlight of the device is its multi-functional stylus. When used in combination with special software features, the stylus in Note 3 not only allows a user to scribble their thoughts into the notepad app but also offers additional options for better multitasking and switching between apps.

Samsung said it is expecting the Note 3 to contribute significantly to its bottom line during this festival season. Note 3 will be available with special EMI schemes from day one. However, for now Samsung has not planned any exchange offer for the device.

"Galaxy Note 3 represents the next evolution of Note experience. It meets the needs of consumers for a larger screen, makes everyday life easier with the S Pen... It is slimmer, lighter, and more powerful," said Vineet Taneja, country head for Samsung Mobile & It.

With Galaxy Gear, meanwhile, the Korean company is hoping to get in front of others in the area of wearable computing devices, which are expected to be part of the next big technology wave. Gear is a smartwatch with 1.63 inches SuperAMOLED screen. It has a single core 800MHz processor, 512MB RAM and 4GB internal storage. One of the big features of the watch is a 1.9MP camera that will allow a user to shoot images with a flick of his wrist.

The smartwatch will allow users to receive or make calls. It will also show them notifications from social media apps. It has a gyroscope, accelerometer and pedometer, which makes it suitable for tasks like monitoring of physical activity of a user in real time. Samsung said that a number of native apps will be available for Gear.

The device currently works with Note 3 and Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 edition), which will be launched in India in the coming weeks. Samsung said that support for additional devices, including Galaxy S4, will be added at a later date.

Gear is a new type of device. To make sure that consumers understand it and utilize it properly, Samsung is planning to demo the watch at its retail stores extensively. The company has also decided to feature and highlight Gear in all Note 3 advertisements and promotions to showcase its utility when paired a smartphone.

Apple Launches iPhone 5S and Cheaper 5C

Apple has, for the first time, unveiled a cheaper smartphone, named the iPhone 5C. It has almost the same specifications as iPhone 5, which was launched as the company's flagship device last year, but in a plastic body.

The iPhone 5C (with contract in the US) is cheaper than all new iPhones launched till now, and is said to be targeted at emerging markets like India and China. With the launch of iPhone 5S, Apple has discontinued the iPhone 5 that was rolled out last year and served as the flagship model till now.

Apple also launched its pricey new iPhone 5S, which will take over from iPhone 5 as the latest flagship device of the company. It will be available in three colours - gold, white and black.

But the wow appeal usually associated with Apple's launches clearly seemed to be missing from today's event. Unlike in the past when iPhone's newer models turned slimmer, lighter, glitzier each year, Apple seemed to have reserved most of its attention to what lies inside the body this time.

However, in a bold move aimed to take on rivals Microsoft and Google, Apple also announced that it was making its premium productivity suite iWork, which can be downloaded free with iOS 7.

Under the hood of iPhone 5S
Unlike the iPhone 5C, this device is made using aluminium and is powered by the A7 processor. The A7 chip is the only one in the world to feature the 64-bit desktop-class architecture and is twice as fast as previous processors in performing tasks and rendering graphics.

"With up to twice the CPU and graphics performance, almost everything you do on iPhone 5s is faster and better than ever, from launching apps and editing photos to playing graphic-intensive games," claimed the company.

The new iPhone 5S has an 8MP camera, which comes with dual-LED flash. The camera's sensor is 15% larger than that of its predecessor and offers better low-light performance.

Apple claims that this phone's camera can take 20 photos in two seconds, features auto image stabilization and records 720p videos at 120 frames per second (which is the highest for any smartphone). 1080p videos are recorded at 30fps.

iPhone 5S also has an all-new M7 chip that tracks motion data without waking the A7 chip and interacts with health apps to give fitness data. However, Apple claimed the two-chip system does not affect battery life of the device, which offers 250 hours on standby and 10 hours of talk time on 3G networks.

At the launch, the company showcased the gaming prowess of the iPhone 5S, which supports OpenGL 3.0 standard. The new phone delivers more details and makes graphics more vivid.

Google had recently introduced the OpenGL 3.0 standard in Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean). It can render rich and complex visual effects, previously only possible on desktops and gaming consoles.

Apple has also introduced a new, hi-tech biometric feature called Touch ID, using which one can unlock the phone with the touch of a finger.

Setting up Touch ID to recognize your fingerprint is easy, and every time you use it, it gets better. The Touch ID sensor recognizes the touch of a finger so the sensor is only activated when needed, preserving battery life.

All fingerprint information is encrypted and stored on the chip itself. Touch ID can also be used as a secure way to approve purchases from the iTunes Store, App Store or iBooks Store.

"iPhone 5s is the most forward-thinking smartphone in the world, delivering desktop class architecture in the palm of your hand," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing.

"iPhone 5S sets a new standard for smartphones, packed into its beautiful and refined design are breakthrough features that really matter to people," Schiller claimed.

Pricey proposition
iPhone 5S ( with contract) will be available in the US for a suggested retail price of $199 for the 16GB model, $299 for the 32GB model and $399 for the 64GB model. The 16, 32 and 64GB unlocked variants have been priced in the US at a hefty $649, $749 and $849, respectively. This is the same pricing format followed by Apple for previous iPhones.

In first phase, iPhone 5S will start retailing in the US, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore and the UK on September 20. A new iPhone 4S 8GB model will also be available for free on contract.

Cooking old wine for Asia
Apple's move to launch a cheaper version is clearly aimed at boosting penetration in key Asian countries like India, China and Japan. However, many may be disappointed as iPhone 5C comes across as old wine in new bottle since it has received hardly any hardware update.

Instead of cutting the prices of its older models, Apple has adopted a different strategy this time. "In the past, we've lowered the price of the current iPhone, making it accessible to more people. This year, we're not going to do that," said Schiller teasingly.

"The business has become so large that this year we're going to replace the iPhone 5, and we're going to replace it with not one, but two new designs," he reiterated.

Of the two devices launched tonight, this is how Schiller described the cheaper variant made of polycarbonate: "iPhone 5C is beautifully, unapologetically plastic."

iPhone 5C will come in two variants and will have two-year contracts. It will come in five colours - green, grey, light blue, peach, and yellow.

It has a 4-inch screen and comes with Apple's A6 processor, which power the now-discontinued iPhone 5. This new cheaper iPhone has an 8MP camera with a five-element lens, similar to the one used in iPhone 5. Connectivity options in the new handset include 4G LTE, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi.

The 16GB variant of this smartphone will cost $99 on contract, while the 32GB version has been priced at $199. The unlocked 16 and 32GB versions of the iPhone 5C have been priced at $549 and $649, respectively. The company also announced cases in six colours for this handset, which will cost $29 a piece.

iWork now offered free
Earlier, Apple CEO Tim Cook kicked off the launch event at Apple headquarters in Califiornia, US, with an introduction of the company's new iOS 7 operating system. Cook surprised everyone by announcing that Apple was making available free with the new iOS 7 five of its premium paid productivity software apps such as iPhoto, iMovie. Pages, Numbers and Keynote are collectively known as iWork suite. The move clearly seems aimed at taking on Microsoft Windows Mobile and Android devices.

iOS comes on September 18
iOS7 will be available for downloads from September 18, which is in contrast to Apple's past practice of rolling out the iOS update on the day of unveiling the latest iPhone. The delay could disappoint Apple aficionados, as also the fact that iOS 7 updates won't apply to many older generation devices.

It is a bad news for many existing owners of Apple's mobile devices such as iPhones and iPad. The older generation devices won't get the iOS 7 update which will apply only to iPhone 4 and 5, iPad 2 and 3, iPad mini, and the 5th-gen iPod touch. This means the owners of the iPhone 3GS and iPad 1 would be left high and dry.

The iOS 7 which will come pre-loaded on the two new iPhones, will feature new icons and ringtones; several new Siri features (including a male voice option); redesigned search and Safari browser; new multitasking layout in a 3D look; new camera features, including Sqaure (for Instagram photos) and better segregation of images as per location, occasion and time.

It will also have a new Control Center, besides Notification Center that can be opened even on a locked screen by merely swiping down from top to bottom of the screen. Other features include improved multitasking, AirDrop and iTunes Radio.

iOS and Android evenly poised
With Apple shipping its 700 millionth iOS device next month, it will become the most popular mobile operating system in the world. claimed Cook.

Interestingly, Apple and rival Google are neck to neck vis-a-vis app downloads. Apple's App Store had 900,000 apps and 50 billion total downloads according to the company's announcement made at the time of launch of iOS 7 on June 10. Google's Android had 1 million apps and same 50 billion downloads as announced by the company while launching the Android 4.3 on July 24.

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