2012 Jaguar XKR review

The 2012 Jaguar XKR features a ferocious V8 and race-like reflexes , but does its woeful tech suite use up its nine lives?

For a lucky few, there comes a point in life where you have the flexibility to focus less on what’s necessary and more on what you want. And needless to say we were fairly certain we wanted a 2012 Jaguar XKR before one showed up to our offices a few weeks back. It’s the type of luxury sports coupe that aspires to be right up there with Porsches’ seminal 911, the Maserati Gran Turismo, and BMW’s 6-Series, the 2012 Jaguar XKR is a beast of a car that is out to deliver thrills and a heart-pounding drive experience more than anything else. Does this prowling hellcat on wheels manage to do so? Do we still want one?

Let’s find out…

Conveying power through design

Stepping into the cockpit of the 2012 Jaguar XKR is a lot like putting on a bespoke Tom Ford suit, not only does it look great, but it feels like the car was tailor-made and rolled out of the company’s Coventry plant for you and only you. For the 2012 model year, Jaguar has added its equally stylish, equally cool, dial shifter we first encountered in the 2012 Evoque. Truthfully we really like the dial-shifter; it’s different, it’s chic, and it’s just plain cool. Sure there are those out there who don’t like it, but we do.

Aesthetically speaking the XKR’s cabin is uniquely smart. There is an impressive blend of sport and sophistication throughout, and the generous use of chrome accenting on everything from the power seat adjuster controls to virtually the entire cabin’s buttons and dials gives the cabin a dramatic feel. A lot of credit should be given to Jaguar for conveying the vehicles power and dynamism simply through the cockpit’s design.

As for driver comfort, the XKR is great for passengers up front. The vehicle’s beltline is naturally high, and the greenhouse is little pinched so taller drivers might long for more headroom. Still, you and co-pilot shouldn’t have too much trouble getting comfortable, and with the XKR’s 16-way power adjusted seats nor will you find it difficult to stay warm with heated front seats and steering wheel. That said, while there is technically space in the rear for two more passengers, unless they have the flexibility of a Cirque du Soleil performer or the height of a Hobbit, forget it. It’s not happening. Of course, this is a sports coupe and the lack of rear passenger space probably won’t be a dealbreaker for many. The 2012 Jaguar XKR’s cabin is not without its low notes, though. We’ll get to the issues surrounding its tech features in a moment, but for now we’ll focus on a few other issues we encountered. Seeing as how our review XKR was a convertible, we expected a degree of road noise to creep into the cabin – and it did. It’s a minor nuisance, but a nuisance all the same. Buyers, be prepared to hear virtually everything going on outside the vehicle when stopped. Thankfully, getting that soft top down is simple, with a flick of a switch the XKR’s convertible top can be lowered or raised in about 20 seconds.

A fast car bogged down by its tech

How well a car delivers its tech features is becoming increasingly more important for drivers. Whether you appreciate the connectivity and convenience tech provides, feel indifferent to it, loath it or a little bit of everything we just mentioned, the reality on the ground (or in the car) is things will only become, well, techier. We figure most drivers, even luddites, won’t mind a sprinkle of tech, but it needs to be done right, and when it’s not, it only fuels a skeptic’s fire even further. The 2012 Jaguar XKR’s tech suite is rather mediocre when placed under close scrutiny.

To be clear, we’re mainly talking about the Jaguar XKR’s infotainment system. A 7-inch LCD display is strewn across the center console. Housed here are touchscreen controls for everything the system can operate. Here you will find climate, audio, and navigation controls. Truthfully the interface itself looks good enough, it’s nothing dazzling, but it’s clear enough to navigate through. What makes the system frustrating is the way in which the menus are laid out. While most infotainment systems have dedicated buttons to help quickly jump from function to function, i.e. an Audio button for Audio, a Navigation button for navigation, and so on, the XKR’s system possesses none of these, with only a home and power button on hand as physical buttons. That means every time you want to switch between functions you need to go back to the home screen to do so. It’s an extra, unneeded step. Truthfully, that might not have been as much of an issue as it was were it not for the interface’s woefully slow responsiveness.

Our next issue with the Jag’s technology is centered on its Bluetooth and streaming capabilities. Pairing your smartphone is simple, but, if like most drivers nowadays, you like using your phone to stream music you’ll find it more than difficult. The XKR paired our iPhone 4S with ease, and making calls was easy enough, but when it came to streaming apps like Pandora, the system was stubborn like a mule. Switching over to an iPod helped quench our musical thirst, but given our review unit’s base price of $103,000 (all kitted out that figure climbs to $116,125) we can’t think of a good reason why it can’t recognize or stream a simple app. That said, the 2012 Jaguar XKR features an excellent 525-watt Bowers & Wilkins audio system; one that will no doubt please the auditory senses.

For the road-going traveler, we’re pleased to report that navigation and backup camera are both standard in the 2012 XKR. While both system are welcome features, we found both to be average at best. The rearview camera lacks the trajectory displays of other systems found in cars much, much cheaper, but it does provide audible warnings when encroaching upon objects like a curb or a parked car. Unfortunately, drivers searching for further connectivity will be disappointed to learn that the XKR’s system does not support services like Twitter, or Facebook updates. Again, this won’t bother most, but compared to similar systems sported by its rivals, Jaguar’s system isn’t quite up to snuff.

One curvaceous and cunning cat

We’re not going to deny the sheer allure and sexiness this feral feline exudes, why would we? The 2012 Jaguar XKR is one great looking car. It will turn heads, drop jaws, and may even lead to a lot of other things we’d probably get in trouble for writing here.

Simply put, the 2012 Jaguar XKR is one beautiful grand tourer. From its sculpted and curvacious Kate Winslett-inspired body to its athletic stance, the XKR exhibits an aggressive aesthetic while also managing to keep its design demure and elegant.

Atop its hood the XKR is swathed with running character lines, and its LED teardrop headlamps are just as eye-catching prowling the streets during the day as they are stalking the streets at night, while a stretched out oval-shaped front grille brings it all together nicely.

Around the side the XKR cuts a striking figure just as well. It looks ready to pounce with a low, cat-like stance and a stretching hood. Our review model came equipped with sport-inspired, five-spoke 20-inch Takoba wheels, upgraded from the standard 19-inch Tamana variety. And while there is certainly a lot to admire about the XKR’s dashing good looks overall, around back we aren’t fans of the abrupt rear end. Because of its short, almost tapered look, we don’t feel it fits as well as it could with the rest of the car’s design. The duel exhaust pipes so closely placed to the center of the rear doesn’t help the pinched look either. Simply put, while the rest of the vehicle looks absolutely stunning the rear design comes off as simply too boring and understated.

A V8 that roars

Merely looking at the 2013 Jaguar XKR is enough to deduce that it’s fast. The base model XK, and the entire XK lineup for that matter, feature an FR layout, meaning it sports a front engine rear-wheel-drive design, and is powered by a 5.0-liter V8 that pumps out 385 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. That’s all well and good, but if you really want to make this cat scat, our 2012 XKR review model featured a supercharged version of the same engine that’s tuned to churn out 510 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. Of course if that isn’t enough to get your motor running then an even more supped-up version exists in the XKR-S. Introduced in 2012, this thundercat on wheels cranks it up even further by spitting out 550 hp and 502 lb-ft of torque. We don’t have figures for the XK or the XKR-S, but during our road test our XKR was able to sprint to 60 mph from a standstill in about 4.6 seconds. Meow, indeed.

Needless to say the Jaguar XKR is fast, but how fuel efficient is it? Do you even care? Of course you do. Maybe. That being said, fuel economy isn’t stellar, but it’s better than you’d think, thanks in large part to a light-weight aluminum body and six-speed automatic transmission. According to the EPA, fuel economy for the base XK is 15 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway, while the XKR convertible manages to put up the same numbers. And like the Porsche 911, the XK in any form works surprisingly well as a daily driver.

Prowling the streets

Of course a car can be as fast as the wind, but if it handles like a burly lass then what’s the point? As it turns out, that’s not the case here, which is exactly why we’re more than impressed by the 2013 XKR and its cat-like reflexes.

On the road the XKR conducts itself with aplomb. There is no denying that this fast cat can rocket down the track without even batting an eye, but where we found ourselves really impressed was how easily it slices up the open road like a piping hot piece of apple pie. Don’t be fooled though, the XKR can get away from you if you don’t know what you’re doing. Throw down the throttle too forcefully out of a turn and the sheer amount of torque on hand causes the body to jolt with little regard for its passengers or its surroundings. You don’t have to be a pro to drive the XKR, but driving this beastly V8 isn’t for amateurs or the fool-hardy. Respect the XKR and all the roads you encounter are yours for the taking.

Overall the 2012 XKR is a thrill to drive. Virtually everything about its lusty engine and solid underpinnings manages to converge elegantly and impressively on the road. The engine note rivals anything ever created by Beethoven (yes, it does) and the sheer giddiness we felt every time we started the engine is downright embarrassing. Couple that with the XKR’s adaptive suspension and uncanny ability to soak up road imperfections and what we are left with here is one engaging, demanding, and utterly satisfying ride. It might not look as sexy as stunning as a Maserati Gran Turismo or deliver the kind of road-nirvana afforded by the Porsche 911, but the XKR is getting there, and truthfully it’s not that far off and a more than viable alternative to some of Italy and Germany’s best.

Finish Line

At the end of the day the 2012 Jaguar XKR is every bit the British beast its nameplate suggest. What we have here is an excellent blend of power, performance, and luxury all wrapped up in a sexy aluminum shell. At the same time, those seriously considering an XKR will do so knowing that other alternatives, really good ones, exist in this particular segment, and dropping over $100,000 should probably be done so with a modicum of caution – or maybe it shouldn’t.

Nevertheless, if you haven’t already gathered, we really liked the 2012 XKR. Like the Range Rover Evoque, it’s exactly the type of car that branches the brand away from the stuffy monocle-wearing aristocrats (read: rich old folks) we generally associate with Jaguar and the nameplate at large. Yes it’s expensive, yes its tech is slow, but all that doesn’t really matter when you’re out on the road carving away at every twist and turn like a warm knife through butter. The bottom line: this is one fast cat we would love to make purr over, and over again.

For more pictures, check out our 2012 Jaguar XKR photo gallery.

Highs

• Excellent exterior design with very few blips
• Cabin quality is among the very, very best
• Fast and furious V8 coupled with uncanny handling

Lows

• Tech feels ancient and slow
• Cabin can seem cramped at times
• No Bluetooth audio streaming

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Groupon’s turning its Breadcrumb acquisition into an iPad point-of-sale system

Groupon unveiled its latest play in assert the company as a commerce platform with the iPad-based point-of-sale system for merchants.

Groupon acquired iPad point-of-sale solution Breadcrumb just a few months ago and today the daily deals giant has accordingly unveiled its own POS system for local businesses to use on the iPad. While Groupon has offered a Square-like card reader to its clients, the new service is a fully-featured cash register replacement. Given Groupon’s recent launch of its payment system, Groupon Payments, the physical POS system is a natural next step. 

With Groupon Payments, Groupon hopes to reassure shareholders that have been disappointment by the company’s performance since its initial IPO price at $20 per share tanked and settled into single digits. At the moment, based on Yahoo Finance, Groupon’s stock is priced at $5.31. Still, that number is up since September, when it was at its lowest at $4.15 per share.

According to Groupon’s blog post, Breadcrumb’s General Manager Seth Harris explains that the company will be purposed with the hospitality industry in mind. “We started Breadcrumb to provide the hospitality industry with the best POS experience it has ever had,” says Harris. Breadcrumb is a fairly robust point-of-sale system: Servers can search for menu items and rearrange tables within the iPad-based software, take and place orders, split checks, process payments, and access analytics to track sales and performance.

Breadcrumb for Groupon will run strictly on iPads for a recurring monthly rental fee of $99, and this cost includes 24/7 support from Groupon’s hospitality focused customer service representatives. Breadcrumb will likely have multiple payment plans depending on the number of terminals that a business is interested in renting. All plans include the iPad compatible Breadcrumb software for rent, unlimited users, and free updates. But for $399 per month, merchants can use Breadcrumb on as many as 10 iPads, according to Breadcrumb’s site. Although, for that cost, the hardware (iPads, printers, and cash drawers) isn’t included.

Groupon Payments will likely serve as the payment system running on top of Breadcrumb’s platform. We’ve reached out to Groupon to clarify this.

When we last talked to Groupon, we learned exclusively that the company is working on developing a brick-and-mortar point-of-sale terminal for local mom-and-pop type shops, which should be introduced within the next month. According to a Groupon rep, not all small retail owners are tech savvy and interested in evolving into iPad POS services. 

With Groupon’s stock price slowly climbing, the company may have found a way to crawl out of the daily deals black hole.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Samsung Galaxy Cam gets its first U.S. wireless carrier with AT&T

AT&T will carry the forthcoming Samsung Galaxy Camera, the first real stab at combining a point-and-shoot with a smartphone.

The Samsung Galaxy Camera is becoming a hotly anticipated item, thanks to its recently announced Dropbox compatibility and next-gen, ultra-connected focus. And today, AT&T announced it will be supporting the 4G (HSPA+, most likely) camera, which will have run Jelly Bean and have access to the full catalogue of Google Play apps.

As a reminder, the Galaxy Cam has a 16-megapixel backside illuminated CMOS sensor, a 1GHz processor, and a 21x optical zoom – fairly similar specs to the Samsung WB850 F, a camera we were impressed with. The Samsung Smart camera lineup, in fact, has been a pleasant surprise when it comes to Wi-Fi connectivity. Manufacturers have struggled with implementing this feature in an easy-to-use, simple way for users, but it’s something that Samsung has done incredibly well. And we only expect this to be an even more fluid experience with the Galaxy Cam, which essentially is the first true digital camera-smartphone hybrid to come to market.

This is the first carrier announcement for the device, and it’s a big one (it means it’s definitely hitting U.S. shelves). The Galaxy Cam stands a decent shot at cornering the consumer camera market: Wi-Fi enabled point-and-shoots are a hot commodity, and strapping a Galaxy S3 to one only sweetens that deal. It’s cutting edge, especially for an industry that’s been remarkably slow to adopt and adapt to mobile technology. 

There’s no word on how much the camera is going to cost, though it’s supposed to be on sale within the next few weeks, so stay tuned. 

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Kindle Paperwhite starts shipping today, the first reviews are in

Shopping for an e-book reader this holiday season is certainly an exciting task, from a geek’s point of view at least. There are interesting offers on all price points and manufacturers and bookstores are vying for your attention. Whatever your price range though, you can’t miss on checking out the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, which just launched today. Priced at $119 with Special Offers (which means lockscreen ads), this is probably the most sophisticated e-book reader your money can buy right now.

As the first reviews of the Kindle Paperwhite are now rolling in, we get to learn more about this, still US-only, gadget. Here’s a rundown of what’s hot and what not about this new e-reader.

The HOTs

Design-wise, the new Amazon Kindle Paperwhite e-reader is a lot different than the previous gen and that’s good. Gone is the shiny plastic, and the matte, soft touch black material is more than welcome. The Kindle Paperwhite is faster than the Kindle Touch and now about as responsive as the Nook with Glowlight.

The 6-inch screen is of higher resolution. This has led to a higher pixel density, making fonts more legible even at lower sizes. The new capacitive touch technology certainly makes life easier when you are going through the interface and settings. The screen surface has an added texture to make swiping and touching it feel even more tactile. The display certainly lives up to its name and at full brightness of the frontlight, it really looks as white as paper.

To add to the novelty, this year’s Kindle comes with built-in magnet switch, so when you are using it with the original case, the e-book reader would actually wake up as soon as you flip open the cover case.

And, of course, the pièce de résistance – the new system for front lighting is without a doubt the Paperwhite’s key selling feature. You are free to guess how many times I mistakenly called it Paperlight, while drafting this article. It just rolls off the tongue so much easier.

All reviewers agree that the light looks amazingly even and it feels almost as if the light comes from all sides. The new front light is reportedly useful for much more than late night reading. There are some 24 levels of brightness so you will always be able to fine tune it to match the ambient lighting (or the lack of it thereof). And having it on, has a benefit almost everywhere, except perhaps on a bright-lit beach, I guess.

The Kindle Paperwhite (right) compared to the Nook Glowlight (left)

Software-wise, the Kindle Paperwhite features novel perks such as an estimate of the time needed to finish the current chapter or the whole book. X-Ray, another feature, will show you all the major characters or terms throughout the book, though its usefulness is somewhat questionable.

X-ray shows the most frequently featured characters and terms

Twitter and Facebook integration allow you to share the name and link to the book you are reading directly to the social networks.

The NOTs

Modern day gadgets rarely escape reviewers’ scrutiny without warranting a scorning word or two. In this case, tech reviewers found that the relatively thin bezel on the Kindle Paperwhite makes it harder to hold than say, the Nook Simple Touch.

The Paperwhite also could have used some page turn buttons or at least, a single menu button. The storage is also not expandable, unlike the Nook Simple Touch, but honestly, I’ve never had to use a memory card inside my Nook, e-books take up so little space.

The Kindle case prices still seem like a rip-off and I can’t help the feeling that the maker is actually trying to offset the cheap introductory price of the e-book reader with overpriced accessories.

Making your mind

Summing it all up, all reviewers agree the Kindle Paperwhite is a must buy if you are after a new e-book reader. Perhaps, it may not be enough to make you upgrade if you already own the last year’s Kindle Touch or the Nook Simple Touch, but it’s definitely a top pick this holiday season. You just can’t beat the new front-lighting system and Amazon has some of the best prices on e-books these days.

All Kindle Paperwhite e-readers are already available, starting at $119 for the Wi-Fi only version with Special Offers. Unfortunately, there is still no word on when this thing is coming to our side of the ocean.

So what about you, are you getting one?

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

An Apple iPad Mini mockup makes rounds for the video camera

By this point in time, most of you have probably already seen a leaked snap or two of what the rumored 7.85″ iPad Mini would look like. And honestly, since the iPhone 5 body leaked from Chinese factories months ahead of the announcement, I’m willing to give this rumor the benefit of a doubt as well.

The new iPad Mini looks like a…mini… version of uhm, well… the iPad. There are no surprises there and given Apple’s track record in approaching product design conservatively, this might as well be it.

Earlier rumors have it that the iPad Mini will be announced in October and it makes sense. That would nail the middle of the product cycle of the bigger iPad and it would put the shiny new toy out there just in time for the holiday shopping.

But I digress, here’s the new video.

For me, the iPad has always been too much of a couch tablet to really enjoy it on the go, so I would really enjoy a more compact version. What about you?

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Nokia’s new Asha 308 and Asha 309 are now “smartphones,” despite running Series 40

Nokia has announced a pair of new Asha touchscreen phones, and made a point of labeling them as smartphones. So, what has changed?

Nokia has announced a pair of new Asha phones, the Asha 308 and Asha 309, which as touchscreen devices join the previously released Asha 305, Asha 306 and Asha 311. While we, and everyone else, referred to them as “feature phones,” according to Nokia’s press release, the Asha phones have earned “full smartphone classification from global market research companies and analysts such as GfK and IDC.”

So, you may be thinking, the Asha’s run Symbian Belle? Nope, the 308 and 309 still use Series 40 as their operating system, except it’s now called “Nokia OS” according to the specification pages on Nokia’s website.

The press release continues to refer to the 308 and 309 as smartphones, but looking back at the release for the Asha 305, 306 and 311, they were “touch screen devices,” with a “smartphone-like” experience. What has changed about Series 40 between early June, July — when Nokia still referred to it as a feature phone OS — and now? Not much, as this is manipulative marketing at its best.

It has been a long-time coming too, as the new generation of Series 40 phones have been blurring the line between feature and smart devices for a while, and when Nokia sold its 1.5 billionth Series 40 handset it paved the way for the change by describing them as “smartphone lite.”

Asha 308 and 309 features

Here’s what you need to know about the new Asha phones. The Asha 308 is a dual-SIM variant of the Asha 309 and aside from this feature, they’re both identical, so we’ll concentrate on the 309. A 3-inch capacitive touchscreen is your window into the world of Nokia OS and it has a resolution of 400 x 240, while the little device weighs just 104 grams and measures 13.2mm thick.

There’s a 2-megapixel camera on the back, plus Nokia Maps, Wi-Fi, a microSD card slot and an FM radio are all to be found inside. The Nokia Xpress browser compresses webpages for speedier (and cheaper) browsing, there’s access to an app store and a Facebook and Twitter app come pre-installed. Electronic Arts also provide 40 free games to download. Both Asha phones connect only to a 2G network.

While the hardware specification doesn’t scream smartphone, the software is more convincing, and although it’s easy to sneer at Series 40, there’s no denying it looks polished and really quite flash in the video below. To us, “smartphone-like” is still the best description of the Asha range — particularly for those without 3G — but that’s not going to sell any phones for Nokia, at least not where it counts.

Smartphones sell

Feature phone sales are dropping in the USA, but the Asha range isn’t aimed at those with the means to purchase a Samsung Galaxy S3 or an iPhone 5, it’s for markets where those devices are either prohibitively expensive, or don’t offer the right feature set — dual-SIM for example. These emerging markets are prime Asha hunting ground, but for Nokia to do business, it must compete with endless cheap Android smartphones.

With the software looking its best and installed on full, capacitive touchscreen handsets with a cool, colorful style; the only thing left was to convince the public that they’re buying a fashionable smartphone and not a feature phone that’s one step away from the grave. A task which starts right now.

Nokia will release the Asha 308 and Asha 309 before the end of the year, and both will cost around $99.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Apple Maps link redirect to Google Maps when you share them

Apple Maps in iOS 6 lets you drop a pin and share the location over email, SMS or social networks. The recipient can click on these links and open the point described in the URL. It seems for now, though, Apple is choosing to let people open these links in Google Maps.

This comes as no surprise considering the Apple Maps are only available on iOS 6 devices so it’s better to let people open the link in what is arguably the best and most popular mapping service in the world. If you do have an iOS 6 device, then it would open within the Apple Maps application.

There does seem to be an issue on iOS 6 devices at the moment, where certain apps tend to open the link within Google Maps in the browser whereas others open it correctly within the Maps application. This probably has more to do with those applications and an update should fix the issue.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Olympus refreshes the PEN lineup with the E-PL5, E-PM2, and introduces the XZ-2

Olympus joins its camera comrades and introduces some notable refreshes to its point-and-shoot and PEN families.

It’s Photokina time and you know what that means: All the hot names in digital photography are bringing out the big guns, refreshing their existing lineups and introducing all-new models into the mix. And Olympus is no exception, this morning officially unveiling the Stylus XZ-2 iHS, the PEN E-PL5, and the PEN E-PM2.

The XZ-2 (pictured at top) picks up where the XZ-1 left off, but will now fall under the Stylus umbrella (previously, it was in a family of its own, the X-series, but Olympus has decided it will be housed by its point-and-shoot lineup). If you remember, the XZ-1 was a fairly one-a-kind device introduced back 2010, a big-bodied point-and-shoot with DSLR tendencies – something we’re increasingly seeing in the market. Now, the XZ-2 offers a really nice update to the original but keeping, more or less, the same sleek, professional exterior.

The refresh houses the same F1.8-2.5 lens and 4x optical zoom as the XZ-1, but does its predecessor one better with a 12 megapixel, 1/1.7 inch high-sensitivity backlit CMOS sensor and the TruePic VI processor (same as in Olympus’s top of the line OM-D E-M5), which should help considerably its low-light performance (something the XZ-1 could handle, but not impressively well). You can push the camera’s ISO up to 12800, for the record.

Also new to the XZ-2 is its hybrid control ring, which you can customize to have the nice, hard click or a smoother feel – something that will come in handy when shooting video in manual. You can also choose what the ring controls; focus, zoom, exposure… it’s incredibly versatile. Also worth mentioning is the XZ-2’s 3-inch tilt-angle touchscreen, a feature Olympus’ is increasingly packaging with its new releases. In our quick hands-on with the camera in August, these two new additions in particular stood out. It’s a considerable upgrade to the XZ-1, a camera we loved, and the increased manual controls and the promise of better low-light performance are a tempting combination.

Olympus is taking a modest approach to Wi-Fi sharing with the XZ-2 as well, making it connection friendly with the help of a Toshiba FlashAir SDHC card. There’s also an upcoming app from Olympus that allows for easy upload to your smartphone. The XZ-2 will be available in November for $600.

Of course, Olympus is also updating its incredibly popular PEN lineup with the E-PL5 (above) and the E-PM2, plus updates to the E-PL3 and the E-PM1. As you can imagine, the E-PL5 and E-PM2 are upgrades of their respective predecessors, which were impressive cameras in their own rights. So suffice it to say that both have a handful of aesthetic and feature tweaks (like more filters) that are expected, and a few more notable big updates that are worth bringing your attention to.

For starters, both cameras have the 16 megapixel MOS sensor and TruePic VI processor as the OM-D E-M5 and can push ISO to 25600. They’ve also improved their AF systems, and shutter and release speed has also been increased – max frame rate is now boosted to 8 fps in single AF mode. The E-PL5 and E-PM2 also both have 3-inch LCD displays with anti-finger print coating and new tilting capabilities that let the screens flip up for easy self-portraits or video recording.

The various upgrades bring the more consumer-level cameras closer to the professional and feature-full E-M5 processors, one the biggest things separating these two being the 5-axis image stabilization system of the E-M5 (build being an obvious difference as well).

The E-PL5 will cost $700, and the E-PM2 $550 (both body only and available in October). 

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Canon announces EOS 6D full-frame DSLR along with PowerShot G15, S110 and SX50 HS point and shoot cameras

Few days ago we saw Nikon announce their smallest and lightest entry level full-frame camera, the D600, at the $2100 price point. Now, Canon has announced a rival in the form of the EOS 6D, their own smallest and lightest entry-level full-frame DSLR selling for the exact same price.

The Canon 6D uses a 36 x 24mm CMOS sensor with a resolution of 20.2 megapixels. It’s lower than the 24.3 megapixels on the D600 sensor but since the sensors are of the same size, it should theoretically give the Canon an advantage in low light situations, as the individual pixels are larger and thus will collect more light.

The autofocus system on the 6D has 11 points, way lower than the 39 points on the D600. Having said that, Canon claims their AF system on the 6D offers the strongest low-light performance of any of their AF systems till date. Canon trumps the Nikon in the max ISO department, where it can go up to ISO 25,600 whereas the Nikon can only go up to 6,400. Both offer the option to go beyond that limit using software tricks, at which point the 6D goes up to ISO 102,400 and the D600 up to ISO 25,600. It remains to be seen how good the images actually are at those sensitivities, however.

Where the Canon really shines is in having GPS and Wi-Fi built into the camera, whereas on the Nikon you would need to buy separate accessories. It’s also the first Canon EOS to include these features. The 6D also has a slightly better 3.2-inch 1024k dot display, compared to the 3.2-inch 921k dot display. Neither displays, however, swivel or have touchscreen functionalities.

The Canon EOS 6D will sell for $2,099 body-only and for $2,899 with the 24-105mm F/4 L lens. Unlike the D600, though, that launches this week, you’ll have to wait until December to get your hands on the 6D.

The next one is PowerShot G15, part of Canon’s G-series of enthusiast point and shoot cameras that offer the settings and manual modes of a DSLR in a compact body. The G15 has a 12 megapixel, 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor and a 28-140mm, f/1.8-2.8 lens. The 3.0-inch display has a higher resolution, 920k dot panel compared to the previous G12 but loses the swivel functionality. As before, it has a front dial and full manual control, along with RAW and HDR shooting modes. The G15 can also record 1080p videos.

The PowerShot G15 will go on sale in October for $499.

The PowerShot S110 is the successor to the S100, a point and shoot camera designed for those who don’t want a lot of control options but still expect high quality photos from their camera. The S110 has a slightly updated 12 megapixel sensor from the S100, along with the same 24-100mm, f2.0-5.9 lens and the GPS functionality. What’s new is Wi-Fi and a touchscreen functionality for the 3.0-inch, 461k dot display.

The PowerShot S110 will go on sale in October for $499 and will be sold in black and white.

Lastly, we have the PowerShot SX50 HS, a super zoom camera with a mind-boggling 50x optical zoom. The lens in question is a 24-1200mm equivalent with f3.4-6.5 aperture. Behind this lens sits a 1/2.3-inch, 12.1 megapixel BSI-CMOS sensor. The SX50 HS has a 4.5-stop optical image stabilizer, 1080p video recording with HDMI out, 2.8-inch, 461k dot LCD, as well as manual and RAW shooting modes.

The PowerShot SX50 HS will go on sale in October for $479.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Nintendo reveals the 51 Wii U launch titles

The Wii U has an official launch date. Here’s a look at the games that will be available when it launches.

It is almost expected at this point. Any time a new gaming system is released, you hear the inevitable calls of how amazing the launch lineup will be. It is almost a given that inevitably the company releasing the new gear will utter something along the lines of “this is our best launch lineup ever.” Unfortunately it rarely works out that way anymore and launches are typically plagued by an anemic selection.

This is a lesson that Nintendo knows well. The 3DS was plagued by a meager selection of games at launch, and still hasn’t managed to offer a library that impresses. Several prices drops of the hardware have helped make the system somewhat successful and a few big releases have helped, but the lack of major titles continues to hamper the handheld’s potential. Judging by the launch lineup of Nintendo’s new console, that won’t be a problem for the Wii U.

So far Nintendo has unveiled 51 titles that it is considering launch titles. Some of these will be available on November 18 when the Wii U is released, while some will be part of the “release window,” meaning they will be available sometime between the Wii U’s launch and March.

Part of the reason for the robust selection is the ported versions of titles that have been, or will soon be released on other consoles. While games like Mass Effect 3 and Madden 13 probably won’t get anyone to buy the console on their own (especially if they have those games on other consoles already), it will give die hard Nintendo fans that are Wii users the chance to play some of the best games of this year and last.

Below is a list of all 51 games Nintendo has confirmed:

505 Games

• Funky Barn

2K Sports

• NBA 2K13

Activision Publishing, Inc.

• 007 Legends
• Call of Duty: Black Ops II
• TRANSFORMERS PRIME
• Wipeout 3
• Skylanders Giants
• Cabela’s Dangerous Hunts 2013
• Rapala Pro Bass Fishing

Capcom

• Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate

D3Publisher

• Rise of the Guardians: The Video Game
• Ben 10: Omniverse
• Family Party: 30 Great Games Obstacle Arcade

Disney Interactive

• Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two

Electronic Arts

• Mass Effect 3
• Madden NFL 13
• EA Sports FIFA Soccer 13
• Frozenbyte
• Trine 2: Director’s Cut
• Gaijin Games
• Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien
• Majesco Entertainment
• Zumba Fitness Core
• Maximum Games
• Jett Tailfin

NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.

• Tekken Tag Tournament 2
• Tank! Tank! Tank!

Nintendo

• Nintendo Land
• New Super Mario Bros. U
• Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge
• SiNG Party
• Lego City: Undercover
• Wii Fit U
• Game & Wario
• Pikmin 3
• The Wonderful 101

SEGA

• Aliens: Colonial Marines
• Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
• Shin’en
• Nano Assault Neo

Tecmo Koei America Corporation

• Warriors Orochi 3 Hyper

THQ

• Darksiders II
• Wheel of Fortune
• Jeopardy!

Two Tribes

• Toki Tori 2

Ubisoft

• Assassin’s Creed III
• Just Dance 4
• Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth
• Rabbids Land
• Sports Connection
• Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2013
• ZombiU
• Rayman Legends

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

• Scribblenauts Unlimited
• Game Party Champions
• Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Sony RX1 spotted, allegedly packing a glorious full-frame sensor

After stuffing in a one-inch sensor inside the point and shoot RX100, it seems Sony is now going to put in a full-frame 35mm sensor inside an upcoming compact camera known as the RX1.

The RX1 looks like something that is barely larger than the RX100 but with a bigger lens to go with that ginormous sensor. The lens in question is a 35mm f/2.0 Carl Zeiss lens that looks like it’s removable but is fixed to the body. Despite being fixed the lens has manual focus and aperture adjustment dials just like on removable lenses so those used to DSLRs can feel at home.

Due to the fixed nature of the lens the RX1 is not going to be pocketable like the RX100 but it’s still looks way smaller than most DSLRs and not even close to those with a full-frame sensor inside.

Other noticeable features include a focus mode dial next to the lens, built-in flash on top with a hot shoe next to it for another one or a mic, mode adjustment dial, shutter release with a power ring and an exposure adjustment dial.

With a sensor that big inside, you can expect some amazing image quality from this camera. Unfortunately, it seems that it would come at a hefty price of around $2,799. Still, for someone who wants a high quality camera that isn’t the size of a handbag, this seems like a very good choice.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Chinese researchers develop FlyingBuddy2, a mind-controlled drone

Researchers at Zhejian University have developed a mind-controlled drone to aid the disabled by offering them a second vantage point.

We can control television with our minds, so why not control a drone? In a new video, researchers at Zhejian University show off the technology that allows users to control a quadcopter, called “FlyingBuddy2,” with their mind using a headset that tracks for EEG signals.

The Chinese scientists developed the technology and drone to offer disabled people an extra “eye” in the sky. The technology uses an electroencephalogram signal (EEG) headset that is commercially available and manufactured by Australia-based Emotiv. The device, coined the EEG neuroheadset, is worn over a user’s head. Using non-invasive measures, it tracks the electrical signals firing in the brain. There are 16 tendril-like sensors that enable the owner to program and track for up to 12 different movements. The headset can reportedly also detect emotions.

To demonstrate the FlyingBuddy2′s abilities, a wheelchair-bound person wearing the Emotiv headset accomplished feats that would otherwise be impossible for disabled individuals, including viewing a flower located in an unreachable location. The drone was outfitted with a camera that constantly streams a life feed onto a laptop for its user’s viewing purposes. Bluetooth connects the EEG headset to a laptop, which then connects to the drone via Wi-Fi.

According to the video, a user can control the drone’s movements in three dimensional spaces — but the controls are a bit odd. Thinking “left hard” will signal the craft to lift off from the ground. To fly the drone downward, a user has to clench his or her teeth. Thinking about flying the craft “right” will fly the craft forward. To rotate the drone counter clockwise, the user has to think about turning “left.” To control the ascent of the drone, the users has to think about “pushing” the craft. A user can also capture pictures with the drone’s camera just by blinking.

Flying the drone, as you’ve noticed already, requires a series of mind bending commands that goes against the user’s habitual inclinations. But as with mastering anything, maneuvering the craft takes practice.

In addition to offering users a second set of eyes, the video claims that controlling the drone gives users makes the mind more nimble and precise.

Mind controlled devices are a reality and may one day rid of remote controls altogether. The FlyingBuddy2, set to be presented at the Ubiquitous Computing Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is just one step closer to an improvement in the well being of disabled users.

If you’re looking to get your hands on one, the device can be purchased for $500.

Check out the video of the drone below.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

3G Nexus 7 said to arrive in around six weeks

The Nexus 7 is pretty much the best Android tablet available in the market right because it does so much for so little. But in order to reach that low price point some compromises had to be made, which included having no 3G connectivity at launch.

But it seems that will soon be remedied, as apparently a 3G model of the Nexus 7 is on its way. According to Paul O’Brien at MoDaCo, a 3G version of the Nexus 7 will launching in six weeks from now. The rest of the specifications are said to be identical to the current Nexus 7 tablet.

He did not have any information regarding the pricing and the launch date for the 3G model. It’s also unknown which markets this model will be released in, that is, if it will be limited to a single or multiple US carriers only. Hopefully, Google won’t do what they did with the Verizon Galaxy Nexus because that did not turn out well for anyone.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Redesigned Apple earbuds rumored to accompany iPhone 5 release

It's only a rumor at this point, but Apple may be bundling a brand new set of earbuds with the upcoming iPhone 5.

Apple has a lot of great hardware offerings, built and designed with attention and care. In comparison, its ill-fitting, flimsy, and awful-sounding earbuds currently being packed alongside the iPhone 4S are a bit of a nightmare. And while you’re probably sick of hearing about the iPhone 5, we think you’ll be happy to hear Apple might, possibly, probably not, but maybe have a new set of earbuds to accompany its latest iOS device.

Vietnamese site, Tinhte.vn recently posted a video claiming to feature the redesigned headphones in all their glory. Tinhte even compares the alleged new version to the old in case you don’t have your own pair lying around. After taking a listen to the new buds, Tinhte said the sound quality is superior to Apple’s previous offering with more powerful bass, though the overall volume has been reduced. Apparently they are much more comfortable to wear for longer periods of time.

It’s impossible to tell if these are the real thing, but Apple’s unibody signature seems to be present. Plus, there’s the following phrase printed on the cord: “Designed by Apple in California Assembled in Vietnam”. Tinhte claims the buds feel like a cohesive unity with no parts in danger of detaching or falling apart. They’ve also been made more compact, with oval tips replacing the large, round tips that barely funnel sound into your ear. The earphones are cut at an angle so they can slide more easily into the canal and focus their sound. Fabricated wire and other quality finishing materials certainly have Tinhte convinced they’re the real deal. Tinhte also has a proven track record of gaining access to pre-release and prototype Apple devices.

But despite the large number of evidence pointing to the contrary, these rumored earbud replacements could easily be the work of a clever imitator. A lack of in-line microphone and volume control is probably the most compelling evidence against their authenticity, but there’s no way to tell whether the mic has been embedded into the buds somehow. Also, removing a feature that’s been such an integral and useful part of Apple’s original earbuds is like taking a step backward, which doesn’t ring true for Apple.

If they do end up being more than wishful thinking, Apple will finally resolve a glaring flaw in its otherwise well-built products. But as with most rumors, be prepared for all of this to be a distant memory once the truth emerges. It won’t be a long wait at least, with the iPhone 5 announcement rumored to be less than two weeks away.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Terms & Conditions: App.net’s terms of service, privacy policy explained

App.net, the cool new kid on the social media block, makes respect for its users and its users personal data a primary selling point. Here, we take a look at the site's terms of service and privacy policy to see how well they adhere to that ideal.

Welcome to the second edition of Terms & Conditions, a weekly column where break down the terms of service, privacy policies, and other legalese we all love to ignore — but that have serious bearing on our digital lives. This week’s target: App.net.

Social media’s coolest newcomer, App.net, has been described as a more open, advertising-free, developer-friendly alternative to Twitter. The service, which launched in alpha in mid-August after a successful $500,000 crowdfunding run, currently costs $50 per year to use. And with respect for privacy and its users in general, App.net released the first versions of its terms of service and privacy policy at the end of August. To make things even more open, App.net has requested that users review the documents in an effort to refine them, a process that is taking place on Github.

At present, App.net appears to be sticking to its principles, with a ToS and privacy policy that are simple, and easy to follow.

“We asked our attorney to help us craft some terms that outline, with the least amount of legalese, the important things you need to know about accessing and using App.net’s website and service (collectively, “Service”),” begins the ToS document. “These are our terms of service (“Terms”). Please read them carefully.”

That we will.

App.net Terms of Service: Part 1. Accepting terms — whether they change or not

Like all terms of service, the document kicks off by saying that you must agree to the terms to use the service. Or, to flip it around, if you use the service, you agree to the terms. Nothing odd or unreasonable about that.

App.net also reserves the right to change the terms at any time. This is probably not so they can trick you into signing over your life savings or handing over your new puppy to the App.net team. Rather, the terms will change if they roll out new services. To be a safe, vigilant user, you need to pay attention to changes to the terms of service — because if you keep using the service after they change, then you have agreed to the new terms by default.

Part 2. Accounts

Unlike Facebook, App.net allows users to create accounts that do not publicly carry your real name. You can make “pseudo anonymous” accounts. And you can make “parody” accounts, but parody accounts must be explicitly identified as such. Further, you do have to give App.net your real name — or at least the name that appears on whatever credit card you use — for billing purposes.

Furthermore, by agreeing to the ToS, you take responsibility for keeping your login credentials a secret, and accept all the consequences of not doing so.

Part 3. ‘Content & conduct’

Anything you post to App.net — links, photos, poetry, whatever — is your responsibility, ” including its legality, reliability, and appropriateness.”

App.net has the “limited right” to “reproduce, modify, publicly perform, publicly display, and distribute” the content you post to the service, which basically means that you give App.net the right to do exactly what you intend App.net to do: publish the content to your followers.

Unlike some other services, App.net is quite clear about its deletion policy: You can delete any of your content, and it will immediately be taken out of public view. App.net’s servers may still retain some of the content, but only for a period of two weeks. It is then gone forever.

App.net then lists a variety of content that you man not post to the service. Their description is quite clear here, so I’ll just let them do the explaining. The following types of content are forbidden from App.net (and yes, links to pirated content and child pornography are included):

• Content that is libelous, defamatory, bigoted, fraudulent or deceptive;
• Content that is illegal or unlawful, that would otherwise create liability;
• Content that may infringe or violate any patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright, right of privacy, right of publicity or other intellectual or other right of any party;
• Unsolicited promotions, political campaigning, or commercial messages (SPAM);
• Private information of any third party (e.g., addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, Social Security numbers and credit card numbers); and
• Viruses, corrupted data or other harmful, disruptive or destructive files or code.
• Use the Service in any manner that could interfere with, disrupt, negatively affect or inhibit other users from fully enjoying the Service or that could damage, disable, overburden or impair the functioning of the Service;
• Impersonate or post on behalf or any person or entity or otherwise misrepresent your affiliation with a person or entity;
• Collect any personal information about other users, or intimidate, threaten, stalk or otherwise harass other users of the Service;
• Create an account or post any content if you are not over 13 years of age;
• Circumvent or attempt to circumvent any filtering, security measures, rate limits or other features designed to protect the Service, users of the Service, or third parties.

Later in the document, App.net says that breach of any of the rules outlined in the terms of service — including those above — may result in you losing your App.net account, and access to the service.

Part 4. App.net is not your property

Under the “App.net’s Materials” section of its ToS, the company simply says that you are forbidden from stealing App.net’s technology, or the information posted to App.net, and using it for your own purposes outside of the service itself. Do so, and you’ll probably get kicked out.

Part 5. Outside content

I’m not exactly sure whey they didn’t include this portion under Part 3. — it would certainly fit there — but for whatever reason, they’ve decided to include “hyperlinks and third-party content” in its own category.

While the first part says that you may not link to App.net or content on the service to make money, it’s the second part that really matters for most people: Specifically, App.net does not take responsibility for any lies posted by its users. Nor does it take responsibility for content outside of App.net that its users may link to; if you click on a link to something offensive or illegal, that’s not App.net’s problem.

Part 5. “Unavoidable legal stuff”

All this section says, in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS (why does legal stuff have to scream at us?), is that App.net takes no responsibility if you break its code of conduct, post illegal material, stalk someone because of information found on App.net, or otherwise bring the wrath of lawsuits down on App.net’s head. If you do, you will have to pay the consequences, and the legal fees, involved.

Part 6. Copyright

If you post links to pirated material, and App.net gets served DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) takedown notices, you might get kicked out of App.net entirely. So don’t do that. (App.net has a stand-alone Copyright Policy, which has more details about DMCA takedown notices.)

Part 7. Laws and stuff

App.net is a California company, and is therefore subject to the state’s laws.

Part 8. Settling disputes

If you and App.net have a problem with each other that relates in anyway to something covered in the terms of service, you both agree to try to resolve the matter directly with each other. If, after 60 days, you and App.net have failed to resolve the problem, the negotiations may then move into “mediation” territory, which also lasts a maximum of 60 days. During these first 120 days, neither you or App.net may sue each other. After the first 120 days, however, lawsuits may be filed.

Hopefully that doesn’t happen, and negotiations can then move into arbitration territory, which means the you’ll try to settle the dispute out of court. But, unlike the simple mediation process, a third-party will officially serve as the arbitrator, who can decide how damages are awarded, and whether anyone will have to pay the other’s legal fees. Arbitration can only last up to 90 days, except under “extraordinary circumstances.”

Part. 9 Getting kicked out

As mentioned above, failure to abide by the terms of service could result in you account being suspended or entirely disabled.

At the end of the document, App.net asks for your feedback, which you can give through the Github discussion board, or by emailing App.net at: support@app.net.

>>Next Page: App.net’s privacy policy

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

EXCLUSIVE: Samsung is reportedly working on a Galaxy S III-based 16MP point-and-shoot

A tipster just sent us some really interesting gossip – Samsung is working on a Galaxy S III-based point-and-shoot camera. The convergence device – called Samsung Galaxy S camera – features the trademark 4.8″ SuperAMOLED screen and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (no info on the chipset though).

Yes, it does sound a bit too good to be true, but let’s dream for a moment and here what our tipster (who has proven reliable on previous occasions) has to say about this camera he claims to have seen with his own eye two weeks ago.

The Samsung Galaxy S camera is described as a Galaxy S III glued to the back of a point-and-shoot camera, with no physical buttons on the back. It is reportedly 1.5 to 2 times thicker than an S III, but that seems too little given the rumored 10x zoom. The camera will feature a 16MP sensor of unkown size, a pop-out Xenon flash and a curved right side to help with the ergonomics.

The Galaxy S Camera will run on Ice Cream Sandwich and will come in Wi-Fi and 3G + Wi-Fi versions (only mobile data, no voice), which is reportedly being pitched to various carriers.

This camera will supposedly be announced at IFA, alongside the Galaxy Note 2. Samsung do have a tendency to announce experimental products at IFA, like its first tablet two year ago and then its first AMOLED tablet and phoneblet last year, so there’s a chance of this turning out to be true. It won’t be the first Android-powered camera either, but having seen no actual proof of the product ourselves, we advise you to take this all with a pinch of salt.

Thanks to our tipster, who requested to remain anonymous.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Why Switch to a Touchscreen Phone?

Around a year or two ago, I was quite skeptical on the hullaballoo about touchscreen phones. I couldn’t see the point why mobile phone manufacturers would release such futuristic yet way off tangent devices. I was hostile towards the thought of seeing them hit the shelves; much so to the idea of owning one. Like any other buzzworthy gizmo, I predicted the fad would die right away.

But fast forward to 2012 – I am now a happy and satisfied touchscreen phone user and I couldn’t wait to lay my hands on a new one. I witnessed how touchscreen technology immediately grew into the preferred means of controlling mobile devices, most notably, the smartphone. The massive growth in the touchscreen smartphone industry has prompted a lot of consumers to migrate to this ever-growing mobile computing arena.

First, you have to understand that I’ve been a feature phone user for the past five years. I started with those little rectangular ones, which served as my PDA and portable media player aside from being my trusty web browser for emergency situations (they were mostly 3G capable, but I had to closely monitor my data usage because of exorbitant fees from my carrier). Then I switched to a number smartphones with full QWERTY keyboards. The ones I used could be classified as high end models since I wanted to make sure that I’m getting the most computing power out of these babies – so much for being a heavy mobile phone user. But then, I decided to take the risk because being a self-confessed utilitarian, I thought I was not getting the most out of the usual QWERTY smartphone models that I owned.

If you haven’t decided to make the move yet, then you must read on. Treat this write-up as an attempt to convince you into purchasing your first smartphone. I’m speaking from my own experience here as a late adopter; so expect me to discuss it in the most practical way I can.

I wanted a lighter mobile phone.

QWERTY phones are usually heavier or bulkier than most touchscreen phones because of the presence of a physical keyboard. I’ve had a 180g smartphone that’s around 15mm thick; and I’ve quit using its sliding keyboard long ago. I can’t lug it around that much and I can’t really put it in my pocket since it makes me look like I have a lump on my thigh. Worse, I kept on bumping onto things – that’s the biggest drawback I had. With my first touchscreen phone, I quickly felt the convenience such a device brings. I can place it in my pocket without looking like I was carrying one since it was lightweight and stylish.

I wanted to be more productive.

Unlike feature phones or QWERTY smartphones, touchscreens are a lot better in terms of usability, features, and trappings. They are precisely good to have, because they have spacious screens you can make use of with nothing more than a finger or a stylus (or both). Plus, apps are a dime a dozen. Some of the fully touchscreen customized apps I truly enjoyed include note-taking apps like Evernote and Note Taker HD, the business phone app from VoIP provider RingCentral, and powerful mobile browsers such as Dolphin. Additionally, upgrades are released on a regular basis so I can get all the latest bells and whistles for my phone’s OS.

I want an all-in-one device.

Most people would say, “If you want to watch movies or listen to music, get a media player. If you want to take photos, get a camera.” But unlike orthodox tech users, I am admittedly a tightwad techno freak. Why should I bother about carrying multiple devices when I can have it all?

Familiarity and adaptation to touchscreen phones may take time for some, but once you get your hands into one, you’d quickly realize how user-friendly and indispensible it is to your everyday life – just like how I’ve come into terms with it. And it is for these reasons why I want you to switch to a touchscreen phone. Even though you hear a lot of people say that touchscreen phones suck, then why the hell do manufacturers keep on making them? And why do they sell like pancakes? If you could answer that question, then I’ll stop right here.

Source : techtalkafrica[dot]com

Why a $200 Surface tablet makes sense for Microsoft

Does the $200 price point for the new Microsoft Surface tablet sound a little bit too good to be true? We examine why it might not be too far fetched.

When Engadget broke the news that the Microsoft Surface would be sold for $200, it caused quite a stir. Can it possibly be true? Microsoft is refusing to comment. An anonymous source kicked off the fuss by saying that the Microsoft Surface for Windows RT tablet would be going on sale on Oct. 26. That’s believable enough because it’s also the launch date for Windows 8. What’s harder to swallow is the idea that even Microsoft can afford to sell it for $200. (By the way, in case you are wondering, Windows RT is a version of Windows 8 for ARM devices such as tablets.)

Competition is good for consumers

This kind of pricing is the sort of thing that capitalism fans always argued should come about because of fierce competition in the market. In theory, companies vying for our affections will drive prices ever lower. In practice, it rarely happens for a variety of reasons, or it happens until the competition goes out of business and the survivor can charge whatever it wants.

In any case, if it is true, then it’s great for consumers currently considering buying a tablet. Stats from IHS recently suggested that Apple’s share of the tablet market is heading toward 70 percent with a range of Android manufacturers accounting for the bulk of the rest. Of course, that was before Google launched the Nexus 7. If you were to buy a tablet right now and you wanted the best value for your money, it might be tough to see past the Nexus 7. If you want the best tablet and price is of no concern, then the iPad is the obvious choice.

Microsoft would really stir things up by releasing a 10.6-inch tablet at a $200 price point. Unfortunately, beyond the inclusion of Windows 8, we don’t know much about the Microsoft Surface right now when it comes to specs. However, the 10.6-inch display and the choice of 32GB or 64GB storage is enough to suggest a higher price. So, how could Microsoft afford to sell it at $200?

Could it be a loss leader?

It would not be unheard of for a company to sell a product at a loss in order to stimulate sales of other products or services. It might be a practice that’s more common in major supermarkets, but tech companies do it too. Sometimes, they can afford to lose money on something to gain market share. Microsoft poured cash into establishing the Xbox brand, building a user base for Xbox Live services. Once it was established, it began selling hardware that did turn a profit. The Xbox 360 made money and there was room to sell it below cost because it could be subsidized by a subscription to Xbox Live. Clearly it’s a high risk strategy, but Microsoft knows it can pay off.

Techland at Time conservatively estimated the build cost of the Surface and suggested that Microsoft would lose at least $50 on each one, if it sold for $200. As it turns out, Microsoft lost more than that on the original Xbox. VentureBeat suggests a loss of $168 on each machine sold.

That still doesn’t make it likely, but it is a possibility.

Bundle it with a contract or subscription

This is one of the most popular theories floating around. You get the tablet for $200, but to use it, you also have to sign up for a two-year contract or a subscription to a service. The fact that carriers are backing away from subsidizing tablet costs suggests that it won’t be a 4G contract scenario. Microsoft also won’t want to limit sales channels.

Maybe it’s a subscription to Office 365, as the Guardian blog suggests? A subscription bundle could also involve Sky Drive, Xbox Live, or the newly branded Xbox Music (previously Zune Music). A monthly subscription that bundles all of Microsoft’s offerings and maybe even ties in a deal with a third-party service could be in the cards, as well. Some kind of tie-in with a subscription to services seems far more likely than a straight grab for market share that Microsoft will look to capitalize on later.

Partner problems

There are some compelling arguments against the suggested price point. As our own Geoff Duncan points out, Microsoft has to keep its RT partners onboard. It is expecting Dell, Lenovo, and Samsung to make Windows RT devices, so a loss-leading Surface tablet wouldn’t help, especially when you consider Microsoft’s licensing fee on top of manufacturing costs and marketing. A $200 Surface could make it impossible for them to compete.

Does Microsoft have to do this?

Amazon might be losing a small amount of money on each Kindle Fire in order to build a market share and sell content, but they aren’t taking a huge risk. Google makes a modest profit or breaks even on the Nexus 7, but once again, the profit comes from elsewhere. Google makes its money on content and advertising. Apple makes a huge profit on every iPad sold and then makes more from selling content. Microsoft does have to work hard to break in here, but there’s room to maneuver.

There’s some middle ground between the bargain basement $200 price and the premium $500 plus price. The competition outside of the iPad is not unmanageably intimidating. A lower price could help Microsoft establish a foothold with the Surface. Selling a big tablet with decent specs at a break-even price or a slight loss is probably necessary if Microsoft expects to catch up with the competition.

Microsoft doesn’t have to be as aggressive as $200, but if they go with that price point, the Surface would fly off the shelves. Maybe it ultimately comes down to this: How desperate is Microsoft to catch up?

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Android running Nikon camera surfaces again, this time through pictures

We have reported in the past about Nikon working on an Android based point and shoot camera. Nikon Rumors have now published some pictures that are allegedly of this yet to be announced camera.

The camera in question looks like your usual point and shooter from the front, until you get to the back where you’ll find a large touchscreen along with the usual physical Android navigation keys.

To be honest, something about this picture doesn’t seem right. If Nikon is putting Android on their cameras, something tells me they won’t just put up a stock Android ROM on there, complete with an alarm and music player app, which seem out of place on a camera. Instead, they would probably try to make the UI seem more like their existing cameras while maintaining Android specific features such as image sharing or a web browser, rather than make it look like a generic Android phone’s UI.

Nikon Rumors have pictures of two more cameras that suggest Nikon will be releasing a range of Android based cameras on launch, although you don’t see the back of either of them so they could be just your average point and shoot cameras for all we know.

The product announcement is said to be on or around August 22, so we’ll just have to wait for a couple more days to find out if this is for real.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com