Saturday 29 June 2013
MyFitnessPal, Best Buy, Bloomberg And NBC News Apps Updated In Windows Phone Store
Some high profile apps in Windows Phone Store got neat updates with new features. We have already covered about Twitter and Shazam updates, here are the list of other apps with updates.
What’s new:The popular workout and calorie-counting app is more social than ever, with new support for Facebook, friend management, news feeds and offline use.
What’s new:Adds closed captioning and speech recognition, so you can use your voice to browse headlines and search for stories.
What’s new:Listen to on-demand streaming of Bloomberg TV and Radio.
What’s new:Use your voice to find a nearby store or shop for gadgets.
Click on the apps names above to download them from Windows Phone Store.
via: Windows Phone blog
First public kickstarter app version, out now!
Right from the beta … we are happy to announce the first, unoffical but full featured kickstarter client for Windows Phone.
Access the kickstarter experience direct from your phone.
Current features:
Upcoming Features:
You can donwload it from the store now for only $1.99 (trial version is coming soon).
We hope to build together with Nokia WP ecological
From pocket-lint news, Huawei via pocket-lint said Huawei and Nokia hopes to join efforts in the Windows Phone platform, which does not want a conflict in this marketplace.
Huawei revealed, now Huawei Ascend W1 first Windows Phone devices in Europe and North America markets some achievements, current sales have exceeded 100 million units. Huawei Terminal phone product line president Kevin Ho in a recent exchange meeting confirmed the figure, while Kevin Ho said Huawei more interested in mobile phone sales rather than compete for customer issues with Nokia tongue profits.
"We want to work with the Nokia together to build a better Windows Phone platform." Kevin Ho said.
For Windows Phone, Kevin Ho admitted that the current Windows Phone market is not easy, and most users are familiar with Android so they buy Android devices, and allow them to receive and are familiar with Windows Phone It takes some time.
Huawei will launch in the near future Windows Phone 8 paragraph equipment Ascend W2.
Previously, we have reported the Taiwanese mobile phone makers for Windows Phone view, Windows Phone difficult to sell, there are licensing fees, and also to focus on the Windows Phone platform and Nokia to compete. For these, we believe that if really sincere launch a Windows Phone device, and from the application level to meet the needs of consumers, so that Windows Phone devices is not so difficult to sell.
Whether several major equipment manufacturers how to treat the Windows Phone platform, Windows Phone platform still has a long way to go, how to attract more consumers to join the Windows Phone platform which, in addition to OEM manufacturers, they also need Microsoft's efforts.
Sony XTRUD is an Android smartphone concept
Bought a top of the line smartphone a few months back, and now feeling burned by how quickly newer, faster phones have been announced? Well, if you had bought the Sony XTRUD, you wouldn’t have had to deal with that feeling. Why so? Read past the jump!
First things first: the Sony XTRUD is a concept smartphone – brainchild of Rybarczyk Francois, a product designer from France. The XTRUD (pronounced the same way as extrude) is a $199 Android smartphone with customizable hardware, much like modern desktop PCs.
Not satisfied with the battery? Open up the phone, and replace it! Need a more powerful camera? Buy a new lens and install that! Chipped the phone’s body? Buy a new profile.
It is a novel, never-before-seen concept smartphone that could shake the smartphone industry – if it ever becomes reality, that is. I personally do not think smartphone manufacturers would ever do something like this since it means losing sales on newer phones; components like the battery, chip etc. are cheap – it’s the overall packaged phone that these manufacturers sell at a good profit margin, and they would want to continue doing that.
One other interesting feature of the concept phone includes a circular dial for controlling volume. It’s a brilliant idea since a) it is how volume is controlled on most speaker systems and b) it allows for fine-tuned volume control.
Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG Edition One unveiled
The German based automaker Mercedes-Benz has recently pulled the wraps off the latest CLA45 AMG version, the Edition 1 package.
According to the car manufacturer, the new Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG Edition 1 is coming with the AMG sport stripes in classy graphite grey, with muscular side skirts, a glossy black rear spoiler, chrome tailpipes and special 19-inch AMG alloy wheels, with a multi-spoke design, finished in matte black, amongst others. The cabin of the model hasn’t been left unchanged either and this has been fitted with an Alcantara wrapped steering wheel, black and red upholstery with red contrast stitching, the usual AMG badgings and much more.
As for the standard features found on the model, these include the Bluetooth, 5.8-inch screen, leather wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters, power front seats, dual exhaust system and 18-inch alloy wheels, amongst others. The CLA45 AMG Edition 1 is still powered by the 2.0 liter four-cylinder engine, which is producing a total output of 355 HP, mated to a seven-speed dual clutch transmission. Power is being sent to the 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive system.
Facebook reportedly testing user-hosted chat rooms
Facebook is said to be testing a new feature that will allow users to set up chat rooms that their friends can join without the need of an invitation.
According to a new report by TechCrunch, the feature has been codenamed 'Host Chat' and is being tested internally. Facebook has also acknowledged the existence of the service with the usual boilerplate statement that the company tests features time to time with a small group of users, but that doesn't imply that the feature would necessarily be rolled out widely.
The 'Host Chat' feature appears to be similar to the chat feature that exists in Facebook Groups, through which group members can chat with each other. However, it appears to be more viral as an update about a user creating a chat room appears in the News Feed, by default, and any of the user's friends can join in. However, users who create the room can set privacy limits to allow selected users to join the group and even expel other users out of the room. It's not confirmed yet, but the feature may allow users to keep the chat room open to friends of friends, as per the report.
The feature in its current avatar is limited to the Web version of Facebook and allows only text chat, with support for emoji likely to be added later.
'Host Chat' would allow Facebook to get its users spend more time on the service as it struggles to offer novelty in a world where communication is increasingly moving to mobile. The feature will compete with online services like Google Hangouts that lets users host video chat rooms.
Facebook already offers a Messenger app on mobile which competes with other mobile messaging apps such as WhatsApp, WeChat, Viber and Line.
According to a new report by TechCrunch, the feature has been codenamed 'Host Chat' and is being tested internally. Facebook has also acknowledged the existence of the service with the usual boilerplate statement that the company tests features time to time with a small group of users, but that doesn't imply that the feature would necessarily be rolled out widely.
The 'Host Chat' feature appears to be similar to the chat feature that exists in Facebook Groups, through which group members can chat with each other. However, it appears to be more viral as an update about a user creating a chat room appears in the News Feed, by default, and any of the user's friends can join in. However, users who create the room can set privacy limits to allow selected users to join the group and even expel other users out of the room. It's not confirmed yet, but the feature may allow users to keep the chat room open to friends of friends, as per the report.
The feature in its current avatar is limited to the Web version of Facebook and allows only text chat, with support for emoji likely to be added later.
'Host Chat' would allow Facebook to get its users spend more time on the service as it struggles to offer novelty in a world where communication is increasingly moving to mobile. The feature will compete with online services like Google Hangouts that lets users host video chat rooms.
Facebook already offers a Messenger app on mobile which competes with other mobile messaging apps such as WhatsApp, WeChat, Viber and Line.
iPhone's 6th anniversary: Six years since Apple released its first iPhone
With the release of its first iPhone on June 29, 2007, Apple has changed the definition of a smartphone. And, on the sixth anniversary of Apple's iPhone, we bring you the journey it has travelled so far.
iPhone: It's the first generation iPhone. When the it was launched in 2007, Steve Jobs words were: "iPhone is a revolutionary and magical product that is literally five years ahead of any other mobile phone."
iPhone: The first generation had a 2 megapixel camera and was originally launched in 4GB and 8GB models. However, the 16GB model was introduced in early 2008.
iPhone 3G: Launched in 2008, the second generation iPhone, iPhone 3G, combined all the features of iPhone with 3G networking.
iPhone 3G: It was introduced in 8GB and 16GB models.
iPhone 3GS: Released in 2009, the iPhone 3GS was claimed to be up to twice as fast as the iPhone 3G.
iPhone 3GS: Unlike its predecessors, it had a 3 megapixel camera. The phone was launched in 16GB and 32GB models. The company has now discontinued the iPhone, iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS.
iPhone 4: Launched in 2010, the iPhone 4 is a quarter slimmer than its predecessor and about double the picture quality .
iPhone 4: The iPhone 4 had come up with a new look and design. It was the first iPhone to get Apple's Retina Display. The company had incorporated a 5 megapixel camera in the iPhone 4
iPhone 4S: Launched in 2011, the iPhone 4S stopped short of a more radical upgrade. It had an improved camera, a higher-resolution sensor and a faster processor.
iPhone 4S: Apple also included Siri, a personal assistant service, in the iPhone 4S. More than 1 million consumers in seven countries had ordered Apple's iPhone 4S, in the first day, beating the company's previous record.
iPhone 5: The Apple iPhone 5 was launched with a bigger screen. Unlike its predecessors, which had a 3.5-inch screen, the iPhone 5 was launched with a 4-inch screen. Apple is likely to release the nex-generation iPhone, unofficially
Google launches new plugins for Google Plus
Google+ turns 2 today and the search giant is keen on spreading some joy around. For starters, it has launched a bunch of new plugins to help visitors connect with Google+ developers on the social networking site, directly from their website. These plugins include a new Follow button, a new badge for Communities, and updated badges for Pages and Profiles.
The new Follow button
The new Google+ Follow button is an independent plugin that lets visitors follow a developer from his site; it integrates with the existing social buttons on his site. Those who’ve already got the +1 button do not need new JavaScript to add the button, instead developers will have to configure the plugin and add the markup of their page. Incidentally, the new Follow button is already live on sites like Celebuzz, Cooking Light, Fitness Magazine, and Huffington Post.
To help community managers on Google+ get more members from across the web, Google has introduced badges for Google+ Communities. Considering these badges are configurable, Google claims that it is easy to match to the developer’s site design. With the new badges on, visitors to the developer’s site will view his community page in a new browser tab upon clicking the “Preview” button. Here they can view recent posts, depending on the community’s privacy settings, and also join the community. To return to their site, visitors will only have to close the new tab.
Customisable badges
The Page and Profile badges have been updated too and these are customisable as well. Developers can pick between landscape and portrait modes and light and dark themes. They can also choose between enabling or disabling cover photos and taglines.
Developers should note that their existing badges will remain that way till about 90 days, during which they will have to configure the new version for their site. After that period, any Google+ badges will feature the new design.
In addition to updated badges, a new visual style has been lent too to the +1 and Share buttons. These will be updated automatically over the next few weeks.
In addition to updated badges, a new visual style has been lent too to the +1 and Share buttons. These will be updated automatically over the next few weeks.
Civilization 5: Brave New World launch trailer released
While the new expansion pack for Civilization 5, dubbed Brave New World, is still almost two weeks away from launch, publisher 2K Games has already released the launch trailer for the expansion pack. While it doesn't show any gameplay, the trailer does give a basic idea of what the expansion pack will be about—making the later eras of a Civ 5 game more fun. Check out the trailer:
The Brave New World expansion pack was announced back in March. It is set for release some time this summer. The expansion will add nine new civilisations to the game and each one of them will have new unique units and buildings. The new civilisations will be led by new leaders, for example, Casimir III of Poland.
The expansion also has a new victory condition for those who prefer winning their games with culture. You can use Great Artists, Writers and Musicians to create masterpieces, which will in turn let you gain influence over the other civilisations. The first civilisation to gain a majority of influence over all other civilisations will win.
The expansion also has a new victory condition for those who prefer winning their games with culture. You can use Great Artists, Writers and Musicians to create masterpieces, which will in turn let you gain influence over the other civilisations. The first civilisation to gain a majority of influence over all other civilisations will win.
I fear the day Brave New World comes out; I'll end up losing entire nights to the game again
It will feature a World Congress. The World Congress essentially votes on issues like trade sanctions against rogue nations. You will be able to influence resolutions that could potentially change the game. "A new lead into the Diplomatic Victory ensures that the end of the game will be more dynamic than ever before," according to Firaxis.
There's also new International Trade Routes, new wonders and two new scenarios—War Between the States and Scramble for Africa.
Civilization 5: Brave New World is available for pre-order on Steam at a discounted price of $26.99 (Rs 1,600 approx). After launch, the price will go up to $29.99 (Rs 1,785 approx).
Micromax Canvas A92 Lite available for pre-order for Rs 8,499
Amidst the hype surrounding the launch of Micromax Canvas 4, the Indian smartphone company has come up with another addition to its wide range of smartphones. This news comes in as Micromax Canvas Lite A92, a dual-SIM smartphone, is now available for pre-order on online shopping websites like Flipkart and Infibeam. This budget smartphone device can now be pre-booked for Rs 8,499.
The device runs on Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean and is powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor. This is backed by 512MB of RAM and internal memory of 4GB, which can be expanded up to 32GB using a microSD card. It comes with a 5-inch IPS touchscreen display with a resolution of 854 x 480 pixels.
The device runs on Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean and is powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor. This is backed by 512MB of RAM and internal memory of 4GB, which can be expanded up to 32GB using a microSD card. It comes with a 5-inch IPS touchscreen display with a resolution of 854 x 480 pixels.
Micromax could launch the budget smartphone on July 8
The new smartphone also has a 5 megapixel rear camera with LED flash; it can capture videos at 30fps. The dual-SIM device is powered by a 2000 mAh Li-Ion battery, which the company claims will provide a talktime of six hours. But can the battery last for six hours, is a question that can be answered only once the product is available in the market. In terms of connectivity, the phone will have Wi-Fi and will also be 3G compatible. Other features will include access to GPRS and EDGE.
The device is expected to be launched along with the company’s flagship product, Canvas 4, on July 8. Sources suggests that Canvas 4, which is expected to take on the like of Samsung S4, could have an HD display and will be priced between Rs 23,000 and Rs 25,000.
Top 5 quad-core smartphones between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000
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Epic App Battles: WhatsApp versus WeChat
Let me be completely honest here. I prefer chatting to talking over the phone. There is something inanely comfortable about being able to think your replies out, add funny emoticons to your conversation and generally be able to multitask while conversing. And aiding my love for chatting as a mode of connecting with my friends are cross-platform messaging apps that run on your data plan and let you keep chatting for no extra charge. The cross-platform messaging platform is undergoing a pretty little boom period now with players like Nimbuzz, Kik and Viber amongst many, many others claiming small chunks of the market with specific features catering to their respective niches.
Exchanging stickers and voice messages are kind of fun
However, the one app that seems to have been catapulted into the spotlight in quite a massive way in India has been WeChat. I say “seems” because despite the app perching itself coolly on top of charts on both iOS and Android, you will almost never find more than a handful of your friends using the service at any given point of time. However, with a lot of money being pumped into a huge marketing campaign that spreads across print and television in the country, it looks like this app by China’s Tencent is here in India to stay.
We decided to pit the seemingly multi-faceted WeChat against the dependable, big daddy of cross-platform messaging – WhatsApp. To most it will seem like a lost cause to pit a seemingly new app like WeChat against WhatsApp. However, those also happen to be the same guys who scoffed at Facebook on Orkut communities back in 2007 while playing fraandship-fraandship over what was lovingly described as “Scraps”.
There is no denying that WhatsApp is a giant in its own right. The service, after all, is currently catering to more monthly active users than Twitter’s user base. Yes, I’m not making this up; WhatsApp’s MAU is north of 250 million users and it processes about 18 billion inbound and 12 billion outbound messages everyday. While we do not have exact figures of how many users WeChat serves, official figures on Google Play Store says that the app has been downloaded between 10,000,000-50,000,000 times and has received a rating of 4.5 on the store. On iOS too, the app is rated at 4. 
Dat simple interface!
Nitty-grittys out of the way, if there's one area where WeChat cannot touch WhatsApp in, it's the interface. While WhatsApp’s UI – especially on Android – is as sharp as a hot knife slicing through butter, WeChat’s effort looks as jarring as your neighbouring aunty doing an item number at the society’s Ganpati Pandal.
It might be ages before you actually manage to get used to WeChat’s very confusing interface if you decide to use it. There’s the main page from where you can access your chats, a contacts page where you can handle your connections and a social page that has four more options. WhatsApp, on the other hand, follows the app equivalent of the wham-bam-thank you ma’am principle. With a relatively neater interface on Android, WhatsApp has the edge when it comes to looking pleasing to the eyes. Moreover, it is far, far ahead of WeChat. It’s time WeChat too releases a Holo version of its app on Android. The stalker-friendly “Last seen at” and the tell-tale double-ticks indicating that a message sent/received are features that WeChat could do well to lift from the more experienced WhatsApp. While the well-circulated joke says that the “Last seen at feature” has been behind many a break-up, it’s a very important feature for most power cross-platform messaging users, as is the double tick system. 
Settings confuse, Drifts amuse
What really ails WeChat is that it’s spread itself too thin. The app wants to offer a little something to everyone and so has video chat, audio messaging, social, profiles, stickers, emoticons etc; thereby essentially turning the service into a mixed bag of nothing. The service and its features are too elaborate for its own good. Right from the moment you decide to sign up for the service, you’re made to go through a slightly longish process of choosing a new username, connect it to your social networking profiles and have WeChat provide you with a whole new one called “Moments”. All WhatsApp needs is your mobile number and access to your contacts list. Then again, like a famous advertisement goes, “Itne paise mein itna-eech milega". WhatsApp’s limited features cannot hold a candle to WeChat’s elaborateness. The latter’s capabilities begin where WhatsApp’s end. Texting each other is a passé, is what WeChat believes. It allows you to send across voice messages, hold video chats, converse using the walkie-talkie mode and even like and comment on photos. Besides being a cross-platform messaging app, WeChat moonlights as a mini social networking ecosystem. WhatsApp, on the other hand, lets you message friends. Additionally, WeChat also has a brilliant web mode for accessing your chats and transferring files through the browser. I sincerely wish WhatsApp would consider incorporating this feature, making life easier for people like me who have to shift focus between phone and PC. 
Pleasing to the eyes
For all the flak it gets for having a very confusing interface that looks extremely cluttered, WeChat has some great features too. Its social tools go largely unnoticed, and frankly, it is the service’s fault for not putting the spotlight over it. For one, there is the “Shake” feature that, based on your location, connects you to people around you or even across the globe. All you need to do is activate the feature and shake the phone. Now, we don’t know if shaking to get rid of your loneliness is a euphemism for something, but this feature could help you make new friends. Of course, you’ll have to rummage through a swamp of fraandshippers, unless that happens to be your thing. The “Look Around” feature overlaps a little with Shake and shows people using WeChat around you. The “Drift Bottle” is a fun concept of picking up floating message bottles in the proverbial WeChat sea and choosing to reply to them. WhatsApp, on the other hand, lets you message friends. If you’re on the receiving end of fraandshippers, you will need to tinker around with security settings in a big way. You can control pretty much every aspect of the service, choose who can see you, opt between letting strangers contact you and even turn-off certain annoying features. WhatsApp, on the other hand … well, you get the drift. The bottom-line here is that while WhatsApp is currently leading this race, it’s in danger of becoming the hare that fell asleep near the finish-line. If it finds solace in piggy-backing on the status quo and refuses to evolve, WeChat just might turn into the proverbial tortoise that won the race. Even so, assuming none of my friends are currently on either of the apps, I would ask them to contact me over WhatsApp for the sheer simplicity and ease with which you can use it. And even while it looks like WeChat could end up stealing a huge chunk of WhatsApp’s users over a period of time, it’s features are far too many to be able to hold the attention of people who simply want to contact their friends and loved ones.
(Cover image credit: Church Planting)
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Govt bans popular diabetes drug and analgin
The government has banned three popular medicines—the widely prescribed anti-diabetes drug pioglitazone, painkiller analgin and anti-depressant deanxit—in the wake of health risks associated with them. While it's believed that pioglitazone can cause heart failure and increases the risk of bladder cancer, analgin has been discarded the world over on grounds of patient safety. Deanxit, on the other hand is a harmful combination, which has been long banned even in Denmark, its country of origin.This decision comes in the wake of a strong stand by the government on suspending marketing of all drugs prohibited for sale in other countries like the US, the UK, EU and Australia.
The ministry of health and family welfare has suspended the manufacture and sale of all three drugs under Section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 with immediate effect, through a notification issued on June 18, informed sources told TOI. While the ministry has been dilly-dallying on withdrawing analgin and deanxit for years now, despite pressure from a parliamentary panel, the decision on the diabetes drug pioglitazone has taken the industry completely by surprise.
The decision to ban pioglitazone and its combinations will hit the Rs 700-crore market for such drugs and adversely impact a clutch of companies including Abbott, Sun Pharma, USV, Lupin, Ranbaxy and Wockhardt.
Pioglitazone combination is a bigger market than plain pioglitazone itself which is has posted a strong double-digit growth, with over 30 companies marketing the drug. The top-selling brands of posiglitazone include Pioz MF G and Pioz (USV), Gemer P (Sun Pharma), Tribet (Abbott), Tripride (Micro Labs) and Gluconorm PG (Lupin). (See chart)
Popular pain-reliever analgin is a relatively small market with brands like Baralgan and Novalgin (Sanofi Aventis), as most companies fearing a ban have already pulled out from the market, industry experts said. The third drug, a combination of Flupenthixol and Melitracen sold as Deanxit (Lundbeck), Placida (Mankind), Franxit (Intas) and Restfull (Lupin) is facing a ban because deanxit is prohibited for sale in Denmark, its country of origin, and also, the combination is not sold in major countries.
Under the Drugs and Cosmetic Rule 30-B, the import and marketing of any drug the use of which is prohibited in the country of origin, is banned in India. A parliamentary panel report on health earlier this year had rapped the government for dilly-dallying on withdrawing deanxit and analgin, which are not sold in markets globally.
The family of 'glitazones', used for blood glucose lowering properties, has been mired in controversy since the beginning, with many drugs under the class having already been banned globally, and in India. Three years back, another drug from this family, rosiglitazone, marketed by a host of companies including GSK India was banned, following a decision taken in Europe.
In the case of pioglitazone too, France has already taken it off the shelves, while in the US it is sold with a boxed warning. The warning emphasizes that it may cause or worsen heart failure, and its use for over a year may be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer.
Doctors here in India had said in a study last year that more robust data on use of pioglitazone on Indian patients was needed. Till that time, the patient should be adequately informed about this adverse effect and the drug should be used in as small a dose as possible, with carefulmonitoring and follow up. Earlier this month, the ministry had suspended sale of dextropropoxyphene, sold as Wockhardt's Proxyvon, a widely-used pain-killer.
Micromax Canvas 4 pre-order starts, specs ‘missing’
Indian mobile manufacturerMicromax has started taking pre-orders for its upcoming Canvas 4 smartphone. However, it has not revealed the specifications or the price of the handset as of now. On the Canvas 4 website,Micromax says that it will unveil the phone and its price on July 8. Previously, Micromax released two teasers of Canvas 4 on its YouTube channel, which showed that the phone has a 13MP camera on the back. The tagline of the smartphone is "Can Life Be Endless" suggests long battery life. Speculation is rife that the phone will have an eight-core processor, just like Samsung Galaxy S4. Reports citing sources at Micromax claim that the phone will have a price tag of Rs 17,000, run of Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) and a 5MP camera.
Micromax says that 10 customers who pre-book the device before July 6 will be invited to the Canvas 4 launch event.
The manufacturer is taking advanced bookings for Canvas 4 at Rs 5,000. The remaining sum needs to be paid within 7 days of launch and the smartphone will be delivered by July 15. While Micromax requires the Rs 5,000 to be paid in full at the time of booking, the remainder amount can be paid in instalments.
Those who book Canvas 4 but later decide not to purchase it can ask for refunds at the Micromax e-store. The booking amount will be refunded within 7-10 days without levying any interest, said Micromax.
Micromax in January said that it will launch a total of 30 smartphones this year. Since then, it has rolled out devices like Canvas HD, Canvas 3D, Canvas Music, Bolt A35 and Canvas Viva.
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