Swipe launches 6 inch MTV Volt 1000 for Rs 11,999

The 6 inch phablet promises performance and great utility with a 6 inch display.

California based brand Swipe, which had started its operations in India last year, has announced the launch of yet another phablet in partnership with MTV, the Swipe MTV Volt 1000 for the Indian market.

The Swipe MTV Volt 1000 is a 6 inch screen size based phablet that comes with an exclusive inbuilt TV-player offering viewers on-the-go access to content from MTV. The 6 inch capacitive display features 854 x 480 pixels resolution.

The Swipe MTV Volt 1000 offers a dual core 1 GHz dual core processor based on ARM Cortex architecture. The processor is supported by 1 GB RAM and the Android Jelly Bean 4.1 operating system. The phablet has 4 GB of internal storage memory which can be further extended to another 32 GB with the use of an external micro SD memory card.

There is an 8 megapixel main camera that supports video recording and a 1.3 megapixel front facing camera in the phablet. The Swipe MTV Volt 1000 has an overall weight on 186 grams making it easier to carry as well.

The Swipe MTV Volt 1000 is available on sale carrying a price of Rs 11,999 and is available across 10,000 retail points across India including Swipe e-store and online portals like Flipkart, Snapdeal, Infibeam and eBay amongst others.

Google updates its Gesture Search to identify more than 40 languages

Google’s Gesture Search – the nifty Android capability which lets you quickly access contacts, settings, applications and more through the use of on-screen gestures – has received an update which extends its character recognition to cover over 40 new languages.

New native character support also supports pinyin for Chinese language gestures.

The inclusion of native character support for various languages allows for easier transliteration where supported, which means you’ll end up typing what it is you want by using less keystrokes.

Check out Google Gesture Search from the Play Store here.

Source | Via

Samsung CEO confirms there’s an Android-powered mirrorless camera on the way

Samsung CEO JK Shin has been talking to the press about the Galaxy S4 sales and patent disputes, but somehow in the middle of all that he confirmed that the company is working on two Android-powered cameras.

One is a mirrorless camera and will presumably be part of Samsung’s NX series (allegedly called the Galaxy NX) and the other will be the Galaxy Camera 2.

Some think that the CEO meant the Galaxy S4 Zoom when talking about the Camera 2, but we’ve seen a Bluetooth certification for a GN120 device. The original Galaxy Camera was GC100 and the S4 Zoom is CM101, so it should really be a new device.

Also, Shin told reporters that the company will release a sequel to the Galaxy Camera at the Galaxy and Ativ event on June 20, making it unlikely he meant the S4 Zoom.

Anyway, Samsung has held the Galaxy NX trademark for some time. Shin told reporters “Samsung will release our latest mirrorless camera that runs on Google’s Android software.” He didn’t say when this model will be announced, but there’s no reason the June 20 event can have both cameras.

The Samsung Galaxy NX should bring a large, high-resolution sensors – current NX cameras pack an APS-C sensor (23.5 x 15.7mm) that has an effective resolution of 20.3MP. The lens are interchangeable and use the proprietary NX mount, some lenses feature Optical image stabilization.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

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iOS 7 vs Android

So we've been playing with a beta version of iOS 7 for a while now on our iPhone 5. Some things about it we like, while other we aren't really that happy with, as those who have read our iOS 7 preview probably know. But now it is time to take a look at Apple's mobile OS from another perspective – how does its latest form fare against the competition? In particular, how does iOS 7 stack up against the latest version of Android? Well, that's what we're here to find out with the help of our iPhone 5 running iOS 7 beta and our Google Nexus 4 with Android 4.2.2 on it.

Lock and home screens

The lock screen (if enabled) is the very first thing a user sees upon turning their smartphone on, which is why its flawless execution is of utmost importance. And it is hard to decide which one we like more – the one on iOS 7 or on Android 4.2, but we're pretty sure they both leave room for improvement. The iOS 7 lock screen is minimalist, providing instant access to the camera, the Control Center, or the pending notifications. However, it would have been better if one could slide either way to unlock it; only a swipe to the right takes you to the home screen. The Android 4.2 lock screen is flexible when it comes to customization, with its widgets and all, and it doesn't matter which way you swipe to unlock it. However, the selection of widgets one can place there isn't as broad as we wish it was. Overall, both lock screens are great, although they could have been better.

On each home screen of an iPhone 5 running iOS 7 there's room for 24 icons total. Interestingly, a stock Android home screen on a Google Nexus 4 leaves room for only 20 app shortcuts even though the smartphone has a larger display with higher resolution. Of course, that's not too big of a deal, especially when both interfaces allow apps to be sorted in folders. The iOS 7 home screen design and layout aren't bad, but perhaps it's all a bit too static, which is why we tend to like Android more for its versatility. It's just that widgets are a pretty cool feature that Apple's mobile OS has yet to adopt in one form or another. 


Quick controls and notifications

Control Center adds functionality that iOS sorely needed. Simply put, swiping up from the bottom of an iOS 7 home screen brings up a list of toggle buttons for turning things like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on and off, controlling music playback, adjusting the screen's brightness, even using the camera's LED as a flashlight. Options like these have been available on custom Android UIs for a long time, and the stock Jelly Bean interface has many of them as well out of the box, located in a menu accessible from the notification bar. 

Speaking of notifications, the Notification Center in iOS 7 has been overhauled and now takes the user straight to their agenda. That's very convenient for people who actually use the Calendar app. Furthermore, the user is free to pick what notifications are to be displayed there – stocks information, unread email, GameCenter alerts, reminders, and more. Android's notification bar is a bit different for it doesn't display much if there aren't any pending notifications. But on the other hand, the user does get updates via Google Now. 


Dialer and contacts list

Yup, people still use their phones to talk to people. On iOS 7, the Phone app is pretty much all you need to call someone as it lists your contacts, your recent calls, and your favorites. Of course, a keypad is available as well. Android's Phone app is pretty much the same, but it has one notable advantage over its iOS counterpart, namely that it displays a photo of each contact as you scroll down the list, while the iPhone's contacts app shows a contact's image only if you tap on them to view detailed information. 


On-screen keyboard and messaging

Typing on a mobile device quickly and efficiently is often a matter of getting used to its on-screen keyboard's size and layout. With iOS 7 and the iPhone, in particular, we can easily type texts using a single thumb because the phone's width is optimal for the purpose. The Google Nexus 4, running Android 4.2, is wider and is therefore more comfortable to use with two thumbs rather than one. Overall, both virtual keyboards are pretty nice. Perhaps Android has a slight advantage in this category with its dedicated smiley key and the option to enter text using the swiping method.

But when it comes to messaging, iOS has a significant advantage over Android with its iMessage system, which automatically routs texts over the web instead of eating up the user's monthly SMS allowance. Not that Android's Hangouts is a bad solution, but it would have been more convenient if the Android messaging features were unified in a single app. 


Multitasking

Well, we have nothing to complain about really when it comes to both platforms' implementation of multitasking. Switching between apps on both iOS 7 and Android 4.2 is pretty straightforward. Apple's mobile OS now provides app preview windows, unlike in previous version where the apps were listed only with their icon. Multitasking on Android is also executed well, with recent apps listed vertically along with a screenshot of their last state. 


Customization features

When it comes to customization, Android is still king with its widgets, live wallpapers, and custom launchers. However, Apple has done some progress in that aspect. The latest version of the platform features the so-called dynamic wallpapers (yup, they are just like Android's live wallpapers) – these can be set on both the home and the lock screens.

Web Browser

Both Chrome on Android 4.2 and Safari on iOS 7 are great for surfing the web as they are very fast fast, with support for multiple tabs and incognito browsing. Also, both can synchronize bookmarks and opened tabs between multiple devices, which is pretty cool for people who have to switch frequently between their desktop computer and a smartphone or tablet. We only wish that Chrome had Safari's Reader mode, which cleans all unnecessary content from a web page, leaving only an article's text and some images for easier reading.


Camera UI and Image Gallery

The stock camera interface on Android 4.2 leaves something to be desired. For people who aren't familiar with its arrangement, the UI can be confusing and frustrating to use. We assume that Google has tried to simplify its use by making all knobs and switches available at a swipe's distance, but that's clearly not a solution all users would be comfortable with. The iOS 7 camera interface, on the other hand, is simple and intuitive. Even a newbie can get the hang of it in no time. The newly added filters make the experience even more enjoyable.

The iOS 7 gallery application has grown smarter now and it can sort your images based on the time and location they were taken at. It also lets you edit the image by adding filters, removing red eyes, fine-tuning the color balance, or simply cropping it in a desired proportion. Sharing photos online, be it on Facebook, Twitter, or via Email, is also an option. The Android 4.2 gallery app can also edit and share images, as well as to sort them by date or location, so we don't think it is any less functional. It would have been cooler, though, if there were more thumbnail sizes available in grid view. 


Multimedia

When it comes to multimedia playback, Android 4.2 does not care how you load your music or videos onto the device. The user is free to hook the smartphone or tablet to a computer and just copy and paste their media onto it folder by folder. Of course, one also has the option to purchase songs or movies via Google Play. With iOS 7, however, you don't quite have as much freedom. The iTunes application is what you must install onto your computer and use to transfer music or video onto the iOS device. Not that it's too bad of a solution, especially when doing so helps to keep your music organized, but some might find the limitation annoying. 

If we had to pick between the iOS 7 music player app and Play Music on Android 4.2, we'd most likely go with the former. Apple's solution just feels a bit better organized, although Google's music player is definitely not bad either. Both apps allow one to control music playback from the lock screen, which definitely makes things more convenient. Also, they both come with built-in streaming music services – iTunes Radio for Apple's iOS 7 and Play Music All Access for Google's Android, and offer the ability to stream whatever audio the user has stored in the cloud. 

To watch videos on Android 4.2 one has to use the Gallery application. Strange, we know, but for some reason, Android in its stock form lacks a dedicated video player. Fortunately, the Gallery gets the job done, although you might want to browse the Play Store for a proper video player in case you watch a lot of video on your smartphone. The iOS 7 video player is okay as well, with a pretty simple UI and support for closed captions. 


Conclusion

It is pretty hard, if not impossible, to say whether iOS 7 or Android 4.2 is better. That would be like saying that bananas are better than oranges, or vice versa. The fact of the matter is that both operating systems are pretty well made. And perhaps we won't be wrong if we say that the two are in their best state to date, although we can't be absolutely sure about that since the iOS 7 release we tested isn't final. Besides, a newer, better version of Android might be already out by the time iOS 7 is ready for prime time, if rumors are to be trusted.

Overall, those who favor a clean, elegant, intuitive interface (also the people who aren't sure what they want) would likely be perfectly happy with iOS 7 in its latest form. On the other hand, people who are into personalization and those who like the feeling of having more control over their smartphone would be better off with Android.

Google Street View updates with over 1,000 new locations

Google announced a huge update for its Street View feature in Google Maps. Over a thousand new locations around the world are getting Street View imagery for the first time, including parts of Asia, Europe, Latin America, Canada, and the US. Singapore, specifically was given a fairly large addition, allowing users to explore more of the city and its various hot spots.

The update includes a variety of popular locations in different countries. For instance, you can now explore the Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade and Fullerton Heritage Promenade in Street View, as well as walk around the Singapore Zoo if you’re into virtual animal watching or want to know what to expect when you visit there.

In Europe, you can take a virtual self-guided tour of the Seville Cathedral in Spain. It’s the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and the third largest church. Street View has also been added to the canals of Copenhagen in Denmark where the Street View imagery was taken from a boat, and let’s you tour the waterfront and many landmarks along the canals.

In Latin America, you can explore Brazil’s Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady Aparecida, which is said to be the most visited Marian shrine in the world, and you can also go inside Brazil’s Vila Belmiro soccer/football stadium. However, it doesn’t seem the Street View camera were allowed to go on the field, as you can only navigate around the outside field lines.

That last nifty update that Street Maps received was late last month, when imagery was added to the new 9/11 Memorial in New York City and Central Park in upper Manhattan, as well as locations affected by Hurricane Sandy. While Google is continuing to cover as many streets as possible, it’s nice to see them add unique content, such as actually going into buildings and exploring places that you would otherwise never get the chance to see.

SOURCE: Google Lat Long Blog

New Xbox 360 teardown cracks open the “offline gamers” console

During Microsoft’s E3 2013 press conference where they mostly focused on Xbox One games, the company also outed a new and redesigned Xbox 360 to hold gamers over until the Xbox One launch in November. Naturally, though, it was immediately bound for the iFixit teardown waitlist, and it’s finally on the surgery bed getting its guts splayed out.

While most people would think that the redesigned console would see at least a few updated components on the inside, that’s surprisingly not the case this time around. The Xbox 360 E, as it’s called, has a similar interior to the previous Xbox 360 S, including the same cooling components. The new console even has practically the same performance power as the previous model.

However, where the majority of changes have occurred is on the outside, where the console received an Xbox One-esque look, as well as a new port layout on the rear of the console that does away with the old A/V and S/PDIF ports in favor of a single optical audio out jack. Microsoft also cut down on the USB ports, only giving gamers four USB ports this time around — two ports on the front and two in the back.

However, the new Xbox 360′s outer shell is far easier to open than the Xbox 360 S’s casing, making it a bit easier to repair if your DIY self ever want to get inside and change some things around. Plus, the new model has a more modular design this time around, so replacing various components like the drives, fan, WiFi card, RF module, and heat sink will be fairly easy.

Of course, it was a bit of a confusing moment when Microsoft unveiled a new Xbox 360 when they just announced a new console, but it seems the company is marketing the Xbox 360 as the solution to gamers who want to remain offline, as the Xbox One will require an internet connection at least every 24 hours.

SOURCE: iFixit

Angry Birds Star Wars Lando update totes thermal detonator

The Star Wars iteration of the Angry Birds collection of apps has been updated this week with the dapper Lando Calrissian in bird form. This character is bringing along with him the ability to blast three bolts as his closest associate Han Solo bird, but instead of them being shot one after the other all in the same direction, they’re let loose all at once: two diagonals and a straight-on shot. This update also brings on a collection of power-ups activated in a similar way to the Millenium Falcon attack.

Angry Birds Star Wars continues the ways of Rovio’s lucrative in-game purchase model with a series of power-ups that are also sent out free for those that play the game quite often. When a user starts up this update of the game, a spin-wheel will appear, giving the user a set of new weapons to use with any bird they choose.

One of these power-up weapons os a thermal detonator – a count-down bomb, if you will. Another is a hologram projector : this power-up allows you to use the same bird twice (the first is holographic, but has the same powers and effects). There’s a power-blast sort of weapon that gives any character a power not unlike Han Solo’s blaster, and a Force-charged slingshot that allows you to shoot the birds twice as far as the regular, everyday slingshot.

These weapons are all available for use inside any level and can be attached to any character – but use them wisely: they run out, and they’re not free. They also take away the opportunity to use the character’s normal power in their launch – and they can be stacked.

Pig-poppers will want to make sure they’re keeping track of their weapon power-up belt – up top where want may turn to need rather quickly.

Meanwhile it would appear that Dagobah has had a single level opened up for teasing purposes while the $1.99 entry-fee stands. Of course winning every round with five stars is still a possibility, and you do get a “new lightsaber” when you pass the test.

This update appears to be popping up for each different platform running Star Wars Angry Birds right now – if you’ve got Star Wars Angry Birds and don’t see the update, let us know!

Google+ Update Coming Later Today, Brings Enhanced Notifications, New Menu, And More

Google has been adding a lot of new features and design tweaks to the G+ app as of late, and today an update will be rolling out that puts focus on the way it handles notifications service-wide. Post-update, when you dismiss a notification – which also happens to have a new bell icon – on one platform, it will dismiss said notification globally, regardless of whether the action is performed on mobile or the web. Unread notifications will also be separated from those that have already been read moving forward.

 

That aside, the Android app is also getting a few key new features:

• Photo deletion directly from the Photos view
• Tapping the post shows now +1s, comments, and reshares
• The new slide-out menu has finally been incorporated

That last point is going to be a big one for many people – G+ is finally getting the new navigation drawer that has already showed up in Music, Magazines, GMail, and several other Google apps.

Updates to both the Android and web apps are rolling out gradually starting today, with iOS support coming later.

Twitter’s FollowMe creates highlight reels of your best tweeting moments

Twitter teamed up with Vizify to bring #FollowMe into the limelight, and it offers a neat HTML5-based video showing off your best moments, as well different statistics, like what time of day you tweet the most. It’s a cool feature that other users can enjoy, but it’s also something that users themselves can look at to see their Twitter habits.

Twitter will compose and put together the video automatically, meaning that you don’t have to do anything but click the big green button. However, if you want a little say as to what goes into your #FollowMe video, you have the ability to edit the clip in different ways to make it what you want, including changing the music and choosing your own tweets and photos to include.

You can already check out a few examples that Twitter has provided, including #FollowMe clips from NBA stars Kobe Bryant and Steven Curry, as well as star of the TV show Glee, Amber Riley. Since the feature works through Vizify, you’ll have to log in on their website in order to get started making your own #FollowMe video. After it’s made, you can tweet out the video to your followers or add it to your Twitter bio for a neat little introduction.

VIA: Twitter Blog

SOURCE: Vizify

Broadcom introduces BCM23550 quad-core HSPA+ SoC

Broadcom is a chip making company that is no stranger to producing chipsets that are destined to be at the heart of low-cost devices. Much like MediaTek, the newest Broadcom chipset (dubbed BCM23550) packs four ARM Cortex A7 CPUs (quad-core) and features a maximum of HSPA+ connectivity. Here’s a quick look at its features.

The Broadcom dual-HD feature allows users to simultaneously share HD content from their Smartphone to a larger display. Note that the display has to be Miracast-enabled to be able to use this feature. We don’t know if the chipset will be capable of powering 1080p displays, but then again the budget devices using this chipset won’t be packing such high-end specifications in the first place. In the connectivity department, the BCM23550 exceeds expectations with support for Bluetooth, NFC, 5G WiFi, GPS and RFID.

The Broadcom BCM23550 is currently under sampling and will enter mass production in Q3 2013. Expect devices powered by this SoC to hit the markets no later than Q1 2014 (if not Q4 2013). A major boon to manufacturers is that the new chipset is pin-compatible with the older BCM21664T dual-core chipset, reducing time spent in designing a device and integrating the new product in it (basically, fast and easy upgrades to existing designs using the older dual-core chipset).

Source: Broadcom