Google gets a half of worldwide mobile Internet ad revenues

Last year, companies spent a total of $8.8 billion on mobile ads, half of which went to Google. In fact, the search giant took a third of all digital ad dollars spent globally, according to eMarketer. This year, Google will increase revenues faster than the overall market thanks to continued monetization of YouTube and growing adoption of mobile advertising, leading to a gain in share of the total digital advertising market.

The research firm is bullish on other players as well. For Facebook, they expect mobile revenues to increase by more than 333% to just over $2 billion in 2013, and account for a 12.9% share of the global net mobile advertising market.

Twitter is also expected to win big, with its worldwide mobile ad spending share increasing this year to about 2% of the total. In the US, however, Twitter will have a higher, 3.6% share.

Other players like YP, Pandora, Apple and Millennial Media will see their shares decrease, despite maintaining relatively strong businesses growing at rapid rates. Overall, eMarketer’s forecast for digital ad revenues at select major publishers indicates that online ad spending continues to consolidate among a few major ad sellers…

Nexus 5 dreams: Snapdragon 800, 4GB of RAM, 13MP camera, LTE, full HD screen

It is said that Google may launch Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie in October and we’re hoping that they’ll use the opportunity to unveil the next Nexus smartphone. And that’s the subject of this post – imagining, or rather wishful thinking, what the upcoming Nexus 5 could have under the hood.

Basically, we want it to have everything, including:

• Super-fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor
• 4GB of RAM – we’ve heard that phones with 4GB of RAM could be released by the end of this year
• 13-megapixel camera on the back with *awesome* camera software (Nexus phones didn’t have the best camera software)
• full HD screen with a diagonal of 4.7 or 5 inches, both will work just fine
• LTE connectivity support
• expandable memory (with microSD cards)

Perhaps more importantly, we want to see Google working with accessory makers and offer an array of cases, docks and other gear to help us protect and extend the capability of the Nexus 5.

As I already said, at this stage – this is just wishful thinking as we’re unsure what Google and its partners will come up with. We are, however, eager to know – what do you expect from the Nexus 5?

NSA leak spurs traffic on lesser-known private search engine

If the recent NSA leaks revealed by the press has you worried, you are not alone.  In fact, a little talked about private search engine called ‘DuckDuckGo’ has enjoyed sudden increase in traffic and it appears to be attributed to the recent storm of privacy concerns.

Since the PRISM program leak many security firms have noted a higher demand with customers wanting better security on-line and away from prying eyes. The past few days has seen a swarm of on-line technology, how-to sites suggesting ways in which a person can better secure their searches, emails and files.  Naturally most all of them point to using a virtual private network (VPN) with strong encyption and most suggest quitting the most popular sites such as Google or Ping.

DuckDuckGo has come up as a topic on many Internet how-to guides simply for the fact that nothing by the search engine is stored other than anonymous data that is not traced to any particular user

DuckDuckGo is a private search engine that does not track a particular user’s search.  The site is boasting a sudden increase in traffic and growing by the day. According to a recent report, DuckDuckGo made a new record of 2.35 million direct searches since this past Wednesday, June 12th, which was a 26% increase over the previous week.

These number directly coincide with the recently leaked NSA documents showing how nine of the most popular technology-based firms such as Google and Microsoft were connected to the NSA intelligence gathering.

Gabriel Weinberg, who launched the alternative search engine in 2008, said that the recent increase in user searches only proves that people are genuinely searching for better security and privacy on the Internet. Weinberg iterated that people would continue to aggressively search out alternative search methods.

The key feature with DuckDuckGo is that it never tracks a user and search results are plain and exactly what the person is searching for.  Ironically and much like Google, the alternative search engine generates revenue through contextual advertisements.

iOS 7 for iPad: 5 Things to Know

As expected, Apple debuted its latest mobile operating system in the form of iOS 7 at this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference. The software will not only be coming to iPhone and iPod touch owners but to owners of Apple’s iPad later on this year. Here, we take a look at that most important things that iPad owners should know about the upcoming iOS 7 update for iPad.

Rumors and history pointed to an iOS 7 debut at this year’s WWDC and Apple didn’t let iPhone or iPad owners down. During the event’s keynote, the company unveiled its plans for this year’s update to iOS, detailing the look and features of the new iOS 7 update, an update that will be heading to select owners of Apple’s mobile devices later on this year.

iOS 7 for iPad will be coming later this year.

The update is a big one as it introduces a massive overhaul to the iOS operating system, one that Apple says is the biggest since the original introduction of iOS with the iPhone back in 2007. As we’ve said, on paper, the company isn’t lying.

iOS 7 looks remarkably different from previous versions of iOS, including the latest update from Apple, iOS 6. Gone are the skeuomorphic textures of the previous versions of iOS, replaced by vastly different icons and textures. Apple has also seen it fit to add in a number of new features, as it always does with its annual iOS update.

Included in the new update are a host of new features, some big, some small, that will be coming to iPhone and iPad owners along with the new look sometime later this year. That later this year has been pinpointed to be the fall, though Apple remains mum on a specific release date.

Ahead of the release date, Apple has released an iOS 7 beta for the iPhone and iPod touch so that developers can tinker with the software before it’s released to the public. iPad owners unfortunately have been made to wait.

In the meantime, here are the five most important things that iPad owners should know about the iOS 7 beta for iPad and the final version of iOS for iPad.

iOS 7 Beta for iPad Should Come Soon

Surprisingly, Apple did not release the iOS 7 beta for iPad alongside the iOS 7 beta for iPhone. Instead, iPad and iPad mini developers have been made to wait by Apple, possibly so that it can push the software further along than it is.

All Apple will say in regards to the iPad iOS 7 beta is that it will be coming to the iPad and iPad mini sometime this summer. That means that it has imposed a deadline of August for iOS 7 betas roll out.

iOS 7 beta for iPad remains unreleased though it is available on the iPhone.

However, we expect it to roll out much sooner than August. For one, Apple needs to get the beta out as soon as it possibly can so that testers can dig in and report bugs. And with the iPhone 5S rumored for September, and iOS betas typically lasting 60-90 days, the iPad iOS 7 beta appears to have a good chance of rolling out soon.

Exactly when remains unknown but those interested in using it should keep in mind that it will likely be bugged, flawed and a piece of software that should not be used on a daily driver.

iOS 7 for iPad Release: Signs Point to September

As for the final version of iOS 7 for iPad, it’s possible that given the late beta, that it could be out sometime after the iPhone’s update. But given Apple’s history of sending out major iOS updates to iPhone and iPad owners at the same time, we suspect that Apple is likely planning to release the iPad iOS 7 update at the same time as the iPhone’s.

September is looking like the most likely candidate for an iPhone 5S launch and thus, the launch of iOS 7. And if that’s true, and there is no reason to believe that it isn’t at this point, it should mean that the iPad’s iOS 7 update will be out in September.

At the very least, expect the iPad iOS 7 update’s arrival sometime this fall, likely at the same time as the iPhone update.

iPad 4 and Below Missing iOS 7 Features

Owners of older iPad models won’t get the full iOS 7 update.

Current owners of the iPad should know that they won’t be getting all that iOS 7 has to offer. None of the iPad models that are out on shelves right now will be getting the full version of iOS 7. Instead, they will see features missing when the device arrives later on this year.

For instance, the iPad 2 won’t be getting AirDrop, won’t get any of the new filters in the Photo application, and it won’t be getting Siri. The iPad 3 won’t be getting AirDrop, Panorama mode, or Filters in Camera. And finally, the iPad 4 won’t be getting AirDrop.

It’s entirely possible that these won’t be the only features that these devices will be missing as Apple still has quite a bit of testing and developing to do before the software arrives.

On the flip side of that, it’s possible that Apple may see it fit to include some of these features though that is very unlikely given that it has already said that they won’t be coming.

Will Be Best on iPad 5

That said, the best iOS 7 experience will more than likely be on the iPad 5 as it will more than likely have a full-fledged iOS 7 update as opposed to one that is void of features.

In the case of the iPad 3, Apple not only gave it the full iOS 5 update, but also outfitted it with Siri, a unique feature of the iPhone 4S that never came to the iPad 2. We also saw the iPad 4 get the full version of iOS 6 when it arrives alongside the iPhone 5 last year.

Expect the iPad 5 iOS 7 software to be the most robust.

We expect the iPad 5 to sport a fully featured version of iOS 7, including AirDrop, and perhaps sport a souped up version of the software if the iPhone 5S does in fact come with some unique software features on board.

At the very least, prospective iPad 5 buyers should know that the device shouldn’t be as limited as the other models.

Few Differences from iOS 7 for iPhone

iPad owners should start tempering their expectations of a vastly different iOS 7 update for the iPad. Yes, the overall look of the software will appear different than that of the iPhone, thanks to the larger screen, but at this point, there are no signs of iOS 7 offering anything unique for owners of Apple’s slates, both new and old.

We’ll have to wait for the iOS 7 beta to be one hundred percent sure but we don’t expect Apple to load up the iOS 7 iPad update with tons of features that are different from the iPhone update.

That doesn’t mean that there won’t be subtle differences though. For instance, we saw Apple debut a different clock feature for the iPad that took advantage of its massive display. However, don’t expect features that are unique to the iPad unless Apple decides to roll out something big to help it sell the iPad 5.

Huawei Ascend Mate launched in India for Rs 24900

Huawei has launched its 6.1 inch screen bearing Ascend Mate today in India for Rs 24900.

Huawei Ascend Mate has a 1.5 GHz quad core processor, Android Jelly Bean operating system and a big 6.1 inch LCD display with 1280 x 720 pixel resolution. The display has Corning Gorilla Glass as well for added strength. Along with that the phablet has Huawei's Emotion user interface that will give the device's home screen a new look.

Besides, the 9.9 mm thin phablet has 2 GB of RAM, and 8 GB of internal memory which can be further expanded to 32 GB via a micro SD card. Huawei Ascend Mate has an 8 megapixel rear camera with 1080p video recording capability and a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera.

But the most notable part of the 198 gram weighing smartphone is its massive 4050 mAh battery, which can also double up as a power bank for charging other phones using a cable. According to the Huawei, the 4050 mAh battery will provide up to two days of backup on a single recharge.

Huawei Ascend Mate has a micro SIM slot and the keyboard that will support right or left orientation for single-handed operation. Another feature that has been added to the device will allow someone using Mate to access the device even while wearing gloves.

Celkon Signature HD A118 launched for Rs 12,500

Celkon has launched a new 5 inch quad core smartphone with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system. The phone, named as Celkon Signature HD A118, has Mediatek MT6589 quad core chipset, clocked at 1.2 GHz. Besides, it has 1 GB RAM and 4 GB internal memory.

The older Singnature HD A119 and A118 have a lot of features in common like the processor, 5 inch HD (1280x720) IPS display, RAM, internal memory. However the new Celkon Signature HD A118 comes with an 8 megapixel auto focus camera against the 12 megapixel unit in A119. The Celkon Signature HD A118 has a 3 megapixel front camera.

The 3G enabled phone has Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi and a 2000mAH battery. The phone is priced at Rs 12,500 which is lower than that of Celkon A119 (Rs 13,999).

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iBall Slide 7334i 3G tablet with voice calling launched for Rs. 10,499

iBall has introduced a new tablet in its Slide range in the form of 7334i. iBall Slide 7334i is a 3G-enabled tablet and is priced at Rs. 10,499.

iBall Slide 7334i packs in a dual-core Cortex A9 1GHz processor along with 1GB of DDR3 RAM. The tablet comes with 16GB of internal storage, which can be expanded by up to 32GB through microSD card.

It is a 7-inch tablet with a display resolution of 1024X600 pixels. It is a dual-SIM tablet with 3G support in both the SIMs. iBall Slide 7334i can be used to make voice calls with both the SIMs. It runs on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) and packs in a 3,000mAh battery. For camera, there is a 2-megapixel rear camera with flash and a VGA front camera. The tablet also supports wireless FM and GPS.

Commenting on the launch, Sandeep Parasrampuria, Director of iBall, said, "iBall always endeavours to bring products which are really useful to the users and provides true and superb experience. iBall Slide 3G-7334i is perhaps the best product available below Rs. 10,000 in 7-inch tablet".

iBall had recently introduced another tablet in the Indian market called Slide Q9703. Slide Q9703 packs in 1.2GHz quad-core processor alongside octa-core GPU, 2GB RAM and 16GB internal storage, expandable by another 32GB via microSD card.

iBall Slide Q9703 comes with a 9.7-inch QXGA HD IPS display that sports a resolution of 2048X1536 and 264ppi. The tablet also supports 4K video playback. Connectivity options include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, as well as 3G dongle support. It comes with a 5-megapixel rear camera and 2-megapixel front camera. The Android 4.1 Jelly Bean running tablet is powered by an 8,000mAh battery. It carries a retail tag of Rs. 15,999.

iBall Slide 7334i key specifications

• 7-inch with a display resolution of 1024X600 pixels
• Dual-core Cortex A9 1GHz processor
• 1GB RAM
• 16GB internal storage, expandable by up to 32GB
• 2-megapixel rear camera with flash
• VGA front camera
• Dual-SIM (with 3G and voice calling on both SIMs)
• 3000mAh battery
• Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)

Chinese Supercomputer Named as World's Fastest

A Chinese university has built the world's fastest supercomputer, almost doubling the speed of the U.S. machine that previously claimed the top spot and underlining China's rise as a science and technology powerhouse.

The semiannual TOP500 listing of the world's fastest supercomputers released Monday says the Tianhe-2 developed by the National University of Defense Technology in central China's Changsha city is capable of sustained computing of 33.86 petaflops per second. That's the equivalent of 33,860 trillion calculations per second.

The Tianhe-2, which means Milky Way-2, knocks the U.S. Energy Department's Titan machine off the No. 1 spot. It achieved 17.59 petaflops per second.

Supercomputers are used for complex work such as modeling weather systems, simulating nuclear explosions and designing jetliners.

It's the second time a Chinese computer has been named the world's fastest. In November 2010, the Tianhe-2's predecessor, Tianhe-1A, had that honor before Japan's K computer overtook it a few months later on the TOP500 list, a ranking curated by three computer scientists at universities in the U.S. and Germany.

The Tianhe-2 shows how China is leveraging rapid economic growth and sharp increases in research spending to join the United States, Europe and Japan in the global technology elite.

"Most of the features of the system were developed in China, and they are only using Intel for the main compute part," TOP500 editor Jack Dongarra, who toured the Tianhe-2 facility in May, said in a news release. "That is, the interconnect, operating system, front-end processors and software are mainly Chinese."

Karbonn Titanium S6 with full-HD display to launch in July

Karbonn Mobiles is all set to launch a full-HD smartphone in the Indian market. The smartphone is dubbed Karbonn Titanium S6 and is expected to launch in the second week of July.

Speaking exclusively to NDTV Gadgets, Pradeep Jain, Managing Director of Karbonn Mobiles shared that this smartphone will be attractively priced. Though the exact price of this smartphone has not been revealed as of now, but he indicated that it will be under Rs. 20,000. Jain added, "Our aim at Karbonn is not to provide the cheapest smartphone is the category but a quality product in the market. We have done that with our past products and we will continue to do the same with Titanium S6."

Just like the other smartphones in the Karbonn Titanium range, this smartphone too will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. Karbonn Titanium S6 will also come with a stylus much like Samsung Galaxy Note devices. This smartphone is also expected to run on Android Jelly Bean. However, at this juncture it's not clear whether it will be Android 4.1 or Android 4.2.

In the recent past, there have been couple of affordable full-HD smartphones that have been launched in India. The first one to be unveiled in the Indian market was Wickedleak Wammy Passion Z, which comes with 5.0-inch display and is priced at Rs. 14,990. The other one is Lemon A4, which comes with 1.2GHz quad-core processor along with 1GB of RAM and is priced at Rs. 17,999.

Karbonn Mobiles is currently offering two smartphones under its Titanium range - Karbonn S1 Titanium and Karbonn S5 Titanium. The Karbonn S1 Titanium sports a 4.5-inch qHD (960X540) multi-touch capacitive touch display and is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core processor. This smartphone runs on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean). Priced at Rs. 10,990, this smartphone comes with a 5-megapixel autofocus rear camera with LED flash and a VGA front shooter.

Karbonn S5 Titanium, on the other hand, sports 5-inch multi-touch capacitive screen with qHD display. The smartphone is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core processor along with 1GB of RAM and is available for Rs. 11,990.

Want to confess your sins? There's an app

A new smartphone app that lets busy Catholic priests update their statuses to let people know when and where they are available to listen to their confessions has been developed in the US.

Father Richard Heilman in Madison, Wisconsin, is launching a My Confessor App that will let his parishioners know when and where he is available to listen to their sins. A red status box means 'Father is OUT'. A green status box means 'Father is IN'. And priests have a special log in that lets them easily update their statuses and even post messages, according to app developer Mary Hoerr, New York Daily News reported.

The app also has a section explaining the sacrament of confession, as well as another place where users can read priests' bios. Heilman is the only priest on the app for now but he says several other priests have reached out and asked to get involved.

The app currently serves people in the Madison area. However, Heilman sees this going national. The number of Catholic priests in America has declined in recent decades, according to data collected by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate.

In 1965, more than 58,000 Catholic priests belonged to the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. In 2012, that number was closer to 39,000.

On the other hand, the number of people who self-identify as Catholics has grown from 48.5 million to 78.2 million. "It's challenging sometimes for priests to find time for confession because they have work to do. And parishioners are trying to go easy on Father because they see us trying to handle multiple things," Heilman said.