Home Blog Page 513

Google+ Introduces “Face Recognition” To Tag Friends In Photos

By
Dazeinfo
-
1

After Facebook, Google has accepted the value worth of image circulation and benefits. Therefore, to make it more attractive, company has introduced face recognition feature with Google+. The feature will allow Google+ users to tag friends on their photos.

Indeed, the feature is no different than Facebook “Image tagging” feature but, unlike Facebook, its disabled by-default in Google+ users profile. The ones, who want to make use of this, need to go to setting page to enable it manually. Google justifies this as a precautionary measure because all the users don’t use their network in the same fashion. Learning from Facebook’s old experience on this feature, Google has left it on users whether to make use of this feature or stay away.

“Around the holidays, many of us get together with friends and family, and if you’re like me, you take lots of photos! Tagging those photos can be a lot of work. So today we’re launching Find My Face, an easier way to tag photos of yourself and your friends,” says Google.

Like Google search, company has added the auto-suggestion feature with face recognition too. For this company is talking the data from Picasa web Albums to throw the best suggestions for users.

Google+ face recognition feature will surely benefit the network to woo users. Also, with the introduction all such initiatives and feature, Google is trying to narrow the gap with its arch rival Facebook. This may help Google+ to record the appreciated engagement ratio from user which is currently quite low – just 16 percent – compare to overall number of users.

However, making the feature ‘inactive’ by-default is an intelligent move by Google+. Though the majority of users may not find it a threat to their privacy but there are users who take their online presence and its security more seriously. For such users, any surprise like this will surely be a threat to their personal data and privacy.

The feature will be rolling out in next few days to million of users and company is expecting to make best use of it from users.

Advertisement

Samsung To Kill Apple’s iPad 3 With Upcoming Galaxy Tab 11.6 ?

By
Abhishek Singh
-
0

For last couple of years, the worldwide battle between Samsung and Apple does not seems to die down.  Apple has been claiming that Samsung imitates the design of iPad and iPhone in its Galaxy range of tablets and smartphone respectively. That’s why Samsung had to redesign its Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Germany due to sales ban.

From an exclusive source by BGR, it’s identified that the Korean giant Samsung has planed to launch the new version of its “Galaxy Tab” Tablet with 11.6 inch screen at the Mobile World Congress in February 2012. Indeed, It’s the beginning of the war; the company has planned to challenge Apple’s upcoming iPad 3 in the market.

The another rumor states that Apple would release its iPad 3—having retina display with resolution of 2560 x 1600px- in February next year. Also, upcoming Samsung Galaxy Tab with 11.6 inch screen and high resolution is scheduled to launch in the same period. It’s estimated that the retina display featured iPad 3 would have twice the resolution compare to its previous iPad 2. It’s been recommended that users should not worry about the Galaxy Tab 11.6 which would have much larger size- designed to suit customers.

Recently, Samsung has announced that the company has designed a next generation Exynos system-on-chip (SoC)—dual core Exynos 5250—and also has claimed that the speed of the said processor is twice faster compare to previous 1.5GHZ Cortex-A9 processors.

Instead of 2 GHz speed processor, Exynos 5250 would also have four times faster on Graphics front and would support higher resolution display up to 2560 X 1600 pixels. It’s quite clear that the resolution expected in Exynos 5250 is much higher than anything in the market at present. However, the company has planned to introduce the dual core Exynos 5250 in the second half of 2012 – might be with Samsung Galaxy Tab 11.6.

Obviously, screen size of 11.6-inch, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich platform, 2560 X 1600 pixel screen resolutions with 16:10 aspect ratio would make its a beast in Tablet market. Besides all these, the tablet would have the feature of Android Beam for easy syncing of Media with Galaxy Nexus along with special wireless docking mode that is especially designed for gaming on HDTVs. The intention of the company is quite clear; Samsung wants to contend Apple TV and more devices in the market.

After analyzing the whole scenario, it’s pretty clear that Samsung might not forget Apple’s maneuver in battlefield on the design copy issues. The company had lost much in the legal war and it’s time to teach a lesson to the rival. Undoubtedly, Samsung’s new Galaxy Tab 11.6 Tablet is not weak by any stretch compare to its rival’s iPad 3.

Advertisement

HP Doesn’t Give Up: Company To Launch WebOS Based Tablet in 2013

By
Abhishek Singh
-
0

Finally, it’s the end of the fate of operating system while HP’s chief executive—Meg Whitman—stated that the company would build a WebOS tablet in 2013. HP also said that it would make the WebOS code as Open Source. The discussions formalities are still on the way with developers, partners, HP engineers and other hardware engineers to bring the new version of WebOS into the market place soon.

 

HP’s CEO’s stated in an interview with TechCrunch, “We are so excited about webOS and realized that the very best thing to do is to open source the technology, contribute to it and invest in it. We will harness the power of the community to make this a better alternative to other operating systems.”

It comes into the sight that the company presently working on the Windows 8 platform -is not in state to build its new version of its WebOS next year. Previously, the company had stated that it would not be making new WebOS based devices and the future tablets would be based on Windows platform. The present commitment would be really incredible for the company as it makes sense to acquire Palm for $1.2 billion a year ago.

At the beginning of 2010, HP debuted its Windows-based tablet in the market—Slate PC—that proved a dismal failure. Though, It was awkward move of the company into the tablet segment but has tremendous potential in release of Windows 8 tablets next year.

After the failure of the company’s WebOS, its former chief executive—Leo Apotheker—had canceled the TouchPad and other WebOS hardware project in order to provide the new direction to the company. The former company’s CEO’s decision put him out from the company only to get him replaced with Meg Whitman. Although, she has little experience about the software line but her dedication to lead the company into the right place is very important for company to regain its place in market.

However, the decision of the company about its WebOS software as open source community seems to be in vague. But, the company has announced in a press release, “HP plans to continue to be active in the development and support of webOS, by combining the innovative webOS platform with the development power of the open source community, there is the opportunity to significantly improve applications and web services for the next generation devices.”

HP still doesn’t clarify about the type of openness of webOS, either it would be GPL style—free to use without customize—or Linux type—use according to preference.

Whatever it is, but the company decision has woken up a hope of beam for webOS and it’s time for the company to rethink about its hardware, operating system development and administration to compete into the marketplace.

Advertisement

IBM Launches Enterprise Social Collaboration Apps For Tablets And Smartphones

By
Abhishek Singh
-
0

The explosive adoption of Smartphone and Tablets has forced companies to work towards solutions which can track and control such devices inside office premises. Working on the same row, IBM is releasing its Enterprise Social Collaboration Software for iPads and other Mobile devices. In order to manage the significant growth of tablets in the workplace, IBM has released the software to provide security, better IT management and compliance features to users. That’s why the company is releasing a number of mobile applications design for employees to make use of the software with their iPad and other mobile devices.

The company avails the new applications—designed for tablets interface— for customers at the free of cost with active license of the company.

The Senior manager of IBM’s Mobile Collaboration Strategy—Rob Ingram—said, “The apps are very lightweight and talk directly back in a secure manner to the enterprise systems that people who don’t have these devices are using inside the company,”

There would be two types of applications for users depend upon tablets which they are using. One application only for only iPad users whereas other for LotusLive Meeting users to participate in online meeting using iPhone, or Android or blackberry tablets. In addition, IBM has another application for Lotus Symphony Viewers, which manages to telephony task within IBM from tablets and for the Android devices users. The application lets employee to engage in one-on-one or group instant messaging session on iPad and other Tablets where users can view ODF-based files, including documents, spreadsheets and presentation on iPads, iPhones or Android devices.

The preview version of new tool would be provided on IBM’s developworks website for enterprise developer in order to craft mobile applications for tablets. The company would put the applications in popular mobile apps stores like Android market Place and Apple Apps store. However, the release date is not yet confirm but is expected to liberate soon.

The analyst of Mobile Research Directors at 451 Group—Chris Hazelton—said, “With this batch of mobile applications, IBM is advancing the cause of tablets in the enterprise by letting end users use those devices to access core collaboration and communication services normally accessed from PCs. This batch of native mobile apps connects tablet users to all the core IBM [collaboration and communication] services—email, IM, document viewing and enterprise social networking.”

In present scenario, there is huge need of IBM Enterprise Social Collaboration software because Tablets use in the workplace is significantly increasing and the software would properly manage the Lotus Live Meeting Users as well as iPad users. The company is providing a special application for iPad due to its dominance in tablet segment which is far ahead compare to its rival and it’s expected to increase in coming days. The software would obviously benefit to iPad as well as Android, Blackberry tablets users from IBM family.

Advertisement

Indian IT Department Slaps Notice To Google India: Perfect Timing OR Just A Co-Incident ?

By
Prayiush
-
3

You can call it just a co-incident or probably the ill-fated post-discussion effect between Telecom minister Kapil Sibel and Google, held recently. Income Tax Department of India has imposed a notice on Google India – an Indian regulatory of Google- accusing of not showing up correct revenue figures. IT department has claimed that Google is making significant revenue from its Adwords program which serves to thousands of Indian advertisers but company has not revealed the correct figures only to make illegitimate profit by saving taxes.

According to the tax office, “Google India Pvt. Ltd. has not offered its entire income for taxation and the profit and loss account filed by the company “does not give complete picture of the businesses”.

Income tax department has questioned Google India’s about its net income from ads. Indian tax department officers have built the case on the basis of contract between Google India and Google Ireland. As we all know, Google India is making whooping revenue from AdWords programme and is crediting a sizable amount as distribution fees into its Ireland account. But Indian tax law states that if any firm is crediting cash in its own account then it will be declared as a separate entity and the respective company will have to show its full income to tax department as said by a person who is aware of tax assessment order which was served to Google India this week.

In the assessment it was mentioned that Google India has shown its revenue as Rs. 7.49 crore for 2008-09, but the correct value was 167.32 crore. As per the tax department, Google India will have to pay Rs. 74 crore to Indian Tax dept. for the year.

But few major questions arise here, if such things happened in 2008-09 then why government or tax authority was silent for such a long period? Why it has given notice to Google India exactly at the time when Google is sitting for a hot discussion with another government representative? It may be just a co-incident that Google received this notice exactly at the time when company has refused to respect Mr. Kapil sibel request ‘ASIS’ on content filtration. However, possibilities can’t be ruled out that the act is completely influenced personally or politically.

This is not just first case of its type. Government had been criticized over similar issue when it slapped tax notice to few RTI people, engaged with other controversial discussion with government. That’s why the Google India tax notice is also being considered as ill-fated attempt to play down Google’s stand against government request over content banning.

According to ET, “The firm is learnt to have told the department that there is “no omission in accounting of the revenue” and the transaction with Google Ireland is at arm’s length and adequate documentation has been maintained to substantiate this. ”

Statement directly highlights that Google India has made all the formalities and the chance of error is less because it’s a firm whose business mainly run on credibility and market reputation.

“There has been a need for advertisers to advertise their services so that they appear on the first or second page of the specified search result page. This increases the chances of the advertiser to be seen in the crowded market. In almost all these cases, it is seen that both advertiser as well as the service receiver are based out of India. To this extent, the entire or at least a substantially large portion of the revenue is generated in India only”, said by assessing officer.

Undoubtedly, Google is engaged in a controversial discussion with government over content filtration and blocking which can make its position little awkward. Being as a global brand, Google will have to deal with the situation to avoid damages its credit-ability and reputation in the market it’s known for.

Advertisement

GTA III Arriving On iOS and Android : Rockstar Launching It On December 15.

By
Lov Mishra
-
0

Rockstar, developer of Grand Theft Auto,Max Payne, Midnight Club and many more blockbuster game titles,is launching a mobile version of its globally acclaimed,open-world action game title, Grand Theft Auto 3, for iOS and Android platforms on December 15 as a 10-year anniversary edition and will cost $4.99. The original Grand Theft Auto 3, released on 2001,was the first 3D game title and was a smashing hit on platforms like PC, Sony PlayStation etc. The game series, Grand Theft Auto, features criminal activities like murders, bank robberies, kidnapping etc which players have to commit while playing game as the goals of the gameplay. This was one of the main reason due to which the later versions of Grand Theft Auto were banned in many countries, though it sort the way through. Rockstar has already released some of the screenshots of the mobile version of the game which are given below.

The game’s graphics seems promising though it’s the mobile version for platforms like iOS and Android OS. The game is supported by selected mobile devices only. Below is the list of supported devices that can run the game without any hitches, as released by the developers,Rockstar:

Apple iOS Devices: iPad 1 & 2, iPhone 4 & 4S, iPod touch 4th Generation
Android Phones: HTC Rezound, LG Optimus 2x, Motorola Atrix 4G, Motorola Droid X2, Motorola Photon 4G, Samsung Galaxy R, T-Mobile G2x
Android Tablets: Acer Iconia, Asus Eee Pad Transformer, Dell Streak 7, LG Optimus Pad, Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 and 10.1, Sony Tablet S, Toshiba Thrive

Advertisement

Apple iPad 3 To Be Thicker Than iPad 2: Case Design And Information Leaked !

By
Abhishek Singh
-
3

Would really Apple’s third generation iPad be thicker than iPad 2? The rumors came from Japanese blog ‘Makotaka’ on Wednesday that the next version of iPad – to be known as iPad3 most probably – from Apple would be thicker than iPad 2 but couldn’t explain why is that so. Also, citing to Asian supplier—allegedly crafting the Apple’s iPad design – blog has reported that iPad would have the same screen size as iPad 2 and would support the magnetic Smart Cover.

The prototype of iPad hardware back cover is claimed to be available on the global commerce site Alibaba for sale but, surprisingly, it doesn’t have any Apple’s logo as shown on website.  Compatibility for the retina display in its third generation tablets might be one of the reasons for iPad 3’s thickness.  A number of rumors say that the company is going to increase its screen resolution in iPad 3 model which is anticipated to come in 2012. However, the company has released its retina display with the iPhone 4 in the beginning of the year 2010. In that version of iPhone, users are unable to find out the retina display due to small individual pixels which couldn’t be distinguish by the human eyes.

The retina display concept was not succeeded in iPhone 4; hence the company adopted a new display technology called IGZO—or Indium, Gallium, Zinc. The technology allows the company to offer high-definition display without using IPS technology which is presently possessed by iPad 2 and iPhones.

According to Macrumors, “Also, we believe that Apple and Sharp together have a modified IGZO (indium, gallium, zinc) technology to achieve 330 dpi, which is sufficient for an HD display while not using IPS nor having to include dual-bar LED backlighting. In our view, this should lead to several design advantages, namely the device can be thinner, battery life should be longer, and the overall experience for users should be meaningfully improved”.

But the explanation seems different because from the present rumors it’s quite clear that the next Apple’s iPad to be thicker.

Whereas, other report from digitimes claimed that the company might adopt a Dual-LED light bar system for its retinas display of iPad 3. The next generation of iPad is expected to adopt LCD panel with resolution higher than 2048 X 1536 unlike current iPad which has only 1024 X 768 pixels resolution. Hence, it requires significant modification to maintain the strength and the bright of the panels.

One more confusion about Apple’s iPad 3 is about the assigned task to its suppliers to develop two Tablet projects— J1 and J2- with different size, specification and technologies from iPad 2.

Advertisement

Grab HP TouchPad For Just $99 : HP Starting Again The clearance Sale on December 11

By
Lov Mishra
-
0

HP is once again starting the clearance sale of its well-acclaimed TouchPad Slates on December 11. HP TouchPad will cost merely $99 instead of its original price which is approximately $300. Because of limited stock, the sale remains open for few hours only. So people who were not able to get their hands on this $99 HP TouchPad in the first August-sale, can now try their luck once again. This mouth-watering sale will begin at the HP eBay store on December 11 ( Coming Sunday). The 16GB version of the TouchPad will be available for $99, while the 32GB model will cost $149, but there is no information about the stock. HP will also be selling accessories package for $79 which will include case, charging dock and a wireless keyboard for TouchPad.

gsmarena 001 HP to release the second batch of $99 TouchPads on December 11

HP TouchPad is not a GSM device hence it will not feature any network based functions. This TouchPad from HP features a 9.7 inch multi-touch display with a supported resolution of 768×1024 pixels. It has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity for wireless data transfers and internet connection. It has a 1.3MP camera supporting video calling feature and also a MicroUSB 2.0 port for blazing fast data transfers. HP TouchPad runs on HP WebOS though there are many videos showing android can be run too on it. HP TouchPad is powered with 1.2 GHz Dual-Core Scorpion Processor, 1 GB of RAM and Adreno 220 GPU. The above specification seems pretty impressive for such a cheap price tag and is sufficiently enough for handling complex functions like image editing, multi-tasking, intense 3D gaming etc.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IVkj_vdY6s

 

Advertisement

Microsoft Entices Developers By Offering Higher PayOut On Windows Store

By
Prayiush
-
0

Microsoft has announced to launch “Windows Store” to sell third-party apps and lure developers towards upcoming version of OS. Windows 8 which is expected to launch officially by end of 2012 will be backed by “Window Store” to help third party development companies and independent developers in selling their Apps. Company has taken such initiative to compete with its rival Apple App Store and Android Market Place. Company has also taken a step which might blow out its competitor from market; It has decided to charge 20 percent from the developers on each sales over $25,000, which is comparatively lower than other players as they charges 30 percent for the same.

“We want to return the most money we can into the hands of developers, and we want to provide the best economics of any platform”. “It’s the most significant developer opportunity ever,” as said by Antoine Leblond, VP, Web services.

However, this doesn’t mean that Microsoft will charge 20 percent flat from all. It will charge 20 percent from only from those whose sales is $25,000 or more, but for those whose sales are below $25,000 it will charge as per the industry standard which is 30 percent.

 

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37E3jQIs2AA

Microsoft has taken such step to create competition in the field of App development market. Now, each developer will try to sell more and more Apps via Windows App store. Developers will set the target of $25,000, so that they can get back more and more revenue. However, from business prospective, it’s an initiative which will trigger further competition in the app market. Apple App Store and Android Market place are major consumer of apps in the industry and they truly leverage on this fact. With the latest move by Microsoft, a major share of developers community is expected to move towards Microsoft as company is known best to deal with developers and to protect their interests.

Developers can start app submission from today onwards to Microsoft’s Build Windows Contest. The public beta version of Windows 8 is expected to be available in the market in Feb 2012.

Advertisement

BlackBerry 10: RIM Renames Its New BlackBerry Platform To Avoid Ambiguity

By
Abhishek Singh
-
2

Just few weeks backs RIM (Research In Motion) CO-CEO Mike Lazaridis had announced – in BlackBerry Devcon 2011 – that the company would be going to work on new generation operating system—BBX. Everyone was excited after eavesdrop the new platform of RIM and most of them started waiting to its debut in the market. But, shockingly, the company has decided to shunt off BBX – only to rename as BlackBerry 10. The decision after the  the court hearing on the litigation from BASIS.

After court decision, the company has announced that its new generation platform would be Blackberry10. BASIS had complaint several times for the trademark infringement for the use of BBX name to RIM but the company didn’t agree with their thought process somehow then.

Knowingly, BBX is a global software developer community producing innovative database products, development tools, and an application framework for the large community with the trademark of “BBX”. After the indication of rejection from RIM, the company registered its complaint against RIM in TRO.

After TRO complaint hearing the court has released its decision in the press conference, “The BBX mark is identical to the mark which RIM is allegedly using to present its BBX product (TRO page 8). Despite the fact that the two companies are not direct competitors, the parties’ respective BBX products are highly related and target the same class of consumers, that is, business application software developers (TRO page 9).” The court went on to concur with BASIS that “The alleged infringement is likely to cause customers and prospective customers to wrongly believe that the software applications created using BASIS’s development tools are only compatible with RIM’s BBX operating system (TRO page 11).”

However, this is not the first time when a company faced such litigation in mobile industry. Similar case had arisen with Apple and the company went for the legal action against Cisco for its trademark of iPhone. The company claimed “iPhone” a registered trademark of Apple and was succeeded to secure the trademark.

CEO and Chairman of BASIS—Nico Spence—complaint to TRO that, “BASIS built the BBX brand over the course of a quarter of a century to become synonymous with the term ‘operating system independent’. RIM’s unilateral seizure of that brand to use as a name for their new BlackBerry operating system is destroying that association. It’s absurd to suggest that they are not in our line of business. We provide application development tools for the enterprise, and for desktop and mobile solutions, while RIM is touting their new BBX operating system to application software developers around the world as the linchpin to their strategy for their tablet and smartphone products,”

It’s pretty clear that BASIS upsurges the mobile application that is compatible for Android as well iOS mobile devices besides Blackberry devices. However, the application made on the RIM’s BBX platform was only meant to support its Blackberry devices and surely would have created huge ambiguity in the industry. Also, the claim of BASIS is really trustworthy because RIM might have enjoyed the company’s share of the application market due to same OS name.

The court decision is obvious and RIM would not like to move up for litigation to grab the BASIS’s trademark. That’s why company has decided to change the name of its next platform as Blackberry 10. The decision of the court might affect to the company’s business in a small margin but it’s important to maintain the healthy competition for the marketers for long run.

Advertisement

Facebook “Pages” To Be Killed By New “Subscribe” Button For Websites?

By
Dazeinfo
-
0

Facebook is trying to pee-up in the outside ecosystem of social networking websites, especially for those who have anything to do with social network sites extensively. Today, Company has announced to launch the “Subscriber Plugin” for websites and blogs – as an extension of recently launched Subscribe Button. The upcoming Subscribe plugin will allow internet users to integrate the subscribe button with their websites /blogs to allow people have all updates from such sites directly into their Facebook News & Event section. Apparently, the whole concept is influenced by the Twitter’s Follow Button.

Speaking on stage at LeWeb 2011, Facebok’s VP & Marketing Director EMEA, Joanna Shields, announced that company is working towards the launch of such plugin but didn’t spill any more beans on this.

“We will soon launch the Subscribe plugin, an extension of the Subscribe button, that publishers and other developers can add to their web sites to make it easy for people to connect to reporters and public figures in one click. We have no further details to share at this time.” Facebook statement says.

But, this has sparked a big question over the future of Facebook Pages. Generally brands, journalists, celebrities and websites who have regular updates use ‘Pages” as their preferred source of internet broadcasting. Facebook users “Like” those pages to get updates from such pages. Also, people do integrate ‘Like” button on their websites to allow Facebook users to get connected with their Facebook Page.

Now, with new subscriber plugin, scenario is no different. Infact, it would be much easier for Facebook users to get updates by Subscribing as update will come to them directly and instantly from websites unlike Facebook Pages where users don’t get updates until and unless website/blog owners don’t post updates on Facebook pages. The new single step process may replace two step processes with Pages.

However, there are few disadvantages also associated if people opt to stay with Subscribe option replacing the use of Pages. ‘Insight’ will be the biggest blow for such people as Facebook will loose control over your website stats significantly. Also, its not clear yet whether information flowing into Facebook via subscribe button will directly update Facebook users’ News & Feed section or will have separate section to view.

The new initiative is being considered as a result of an effort to combine, influence and integrate websites with Facebook. After the debut of Business Pages from Google+, Facebook wants to maintain the lead with Google+ in social media arena. Consequently, Facebook has gone through the series of updates, upgrades, launch and enhancements of many new features in last couple of weeks.

Since, there are many unanswered queries which are in cloud and exact benchmarking would be possible only after Facebook decides to unveil few more details on this. But, with all current scenarios, I am having stern reservation towards the need of Subscribe plugin.

Anyhow, we are keeping a close eye of the thread and shall update again soon with more in-depth analysis and information.

Advertisement

Microsoft Registers 3 Million Windows 8 Developer Edition Downloads Since BUILD

By
Prayiush
-
3

Microsoft OS business continues its dream run. It’s newly introduced Windows 8 developer preview has registered 3 million downloads in last three months. Introduced in September 2011, Windows 8 developer preview has resulted as one of the most successful OS after Windows 7. Its previous version Windows 7- has already boomed the OS market with 450 million licenses sold till October. Microsoft is expected to launch Windows 8 beta versions for people by February 2012, followed by official launch as compete product by the end of 2012.

However, some of the features of Windows 8 are leaked in the internet market which has created interest in the mind of users.

One of the interesting facts, revealed  by Windows Web Services – VP Antoine Leblond, is that there are more than 1.25 billion PCs all across the world and is expected to add more 400 million new x86 PCs in next 12 months. He has also enlightened company’s marketing stats which states that Microsoft has shipped more than 500 million of PCs since the introduction of Windows 7 in market. Interestingly, 247 million of Android devices, 152 million iOS and 30 million Macs have been shipped during the same period. When we compare such stats, none of the OS stands near to Windows 7 shipment.

“The reach of Windows is just so much bigger”. “That’s what you get to participate in by developing Metro-style Windows apps,” as said by Antoine Leblond, VP, Windows Web Services.

Microsoft previously revealed that it had recorded 500,000 downloads of Windows 8 developer preview version within 24 hours of launch. It’s interesting to know that the new version of Windows 8 will have some additional features which will help in fixing the corrupted files automatically. Also, users can craft and reorganize the Start Screen groups as well as can navigate to windows 8 Apps in an improved way.

Personally, I think that the new version of Windows has some features which are really attractive and useful. But, introducing Windows 8 so early is a bit confusing step since it’s current version – Windows 7 – is being appreciated by users and still a significant share of users are still hanging around with Microsoft’s best desktop OS till date – Windows XP. It is one of the most successful OSs in Windows history.

Microsoft has also revealed that in Windows 8 public beta version will have group applications for the convenience of the users. It will have Windows media center along with Windows games, DVD creator as well as .Net 3.5. These all features will definitely help Windows 8 to justify its presence among users.

Advertisement

Android Market Celebrates 10 Billion App Downloads: Apps For Just 10 Cents

By
Abhishek Singh
-
4

Google established its Google Play Store (formerly known as Android Market) in October 2008. The company had to wait several months to hit 1 billion app downloads which finally happened in July 2010. Exactly after a year, the number of Google Play Store app downloads surpassed 6 billion. However, with astounding growth in the last four months, Google has today seen the 10 billionth app download from Android Market. Surprisingly, with 1 billion apps downloaded each month, it’s impossible to predict the growth rate of Android apps in the next few years.

In the present scenario, a lineup of independent online app stores like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, is available in the market but seems primarily feeders. Currently, only two major online app stores, to speak off, are Google’s Android Market and Apple App Store. The main rival of the Android marketplace is only Apple Apps store which reached 10 billion downloads in January 2011 – exactly two and half years of launch in July 2008.

The director of Android Developer Ecosystem –Eric Chu—wrote in a post on Android Developer blog, “One billion is a pretty big number by any measurement. However, when it’s describing the speed at which something is growing, it’s simply amazing. This past weekend, thanks to Android users around the world, Android Market exceeded 10 billion app downloads – with a growth rate of one billion app downloads per month. We can’t wait to see where this accelerating growth takes us in 2012.”

Though the number of apps download is not important, the growth rate of apps downloaded in the last four months has really caught up everyone’s eye. The company took 21 months to reach 1 billion as depicted by the bar chart above but now 1 Billion app downloads have changed the culmination of the marketers. It needs the company to increase its effort to avail the apps online in order to fulfill the demand of the users which has reached 1 billion per month in numbers.

Really, it’s a time for a special celebration, that’s why the company has announced to offer a number of apps in Android Market for just 10 cents ($0.10) on Tuesday. The apps which are under celebration offers include Asphalt 6 HD, Color & Draw for Kids, Endomondo Sports Tracker Pro, Fieldrunners HD, Great Little War Game, Minecraft, Paper Camera, Sketchbook Mobile, Soundhound Infinity, and Swiftkey X.

It’s obviously a good time for the Android market because of the outstanding growth rate. The aggressiveness of the Android market would be tough to counter for rivals like Apple. Though Apple App Store reached the magic number of 10 billion way back this year, Android’s recent growth, in the last four months, has threatened every online apps stores like Amazon, Barnes & Noble.

Advertisement

Nova7 Outclasses Aakash Tablet: Superior Configuration With Affordability [VIDEO]

By
Abhishek Singh
-
5

World’s cheapest android Tablet – Aakas – has finally got a competitor to deal with. MIPS Technology, a china based company, has developed a new Tablets–Nova 7— running on Google’s upcoming Android 4.0 (ICS). To compete with Aakash, company has priced Nova 7 only $99.  Aakash— a tablet recently introduced by Indian Government and running on Android 2.2 – was introduced with  a price tag of just $46.

The debut of Nova 7 is definitely fuel the competition for Aakash as its loaded with Android latest version Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS). Currently, Nova 7 in Tablet is only available in china and can be ordered through Ainol Electronics.

The foremost important is that the Nova 7 runs on latest Android 4.0 version, features 7-inch capacitive touchscreen, 1 GHZ single-core MIPS processor while Aakash only has 366 MHZ processor. Also, Nova7 is loaded with 2 MP rear camera, a front camera, 3D graphics, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI out and Micro-SD card slots. Company has not declared the price on what it would be available outside China.

The video below demonstrates how Nova 7 is game changer in the tablets market:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2i41fA9WfsA

Also, Nova 7 has been blessed by Google. Besides Google’s certification to run application like Google’s Map, Gmail, Google talk and Google Music, Nova 7 users can access Android Marketplace to load many more apps as per their needs. In the present scenario, where low-price tablet strategy plays vital role to attract a set of tablet users, Amazon’s Kindle Fire at $199 compel Apple to reduce iPad 2’s price from $499. It is thrilling the world by imagining the level of competition in Tablet industry which would result in low cost devices only t attract more and more number of customers. Ultimately, it would be the end user would enjoy the maximum benefits from all such price war. while price war is here to stay for long, it would be interesting to see the price tags of Samsung Galaxy lineup, Barnes & Noble’s Nook, and also more than two dozen tablets models – which are going to release before the Christmas.

The Senior Vice President of Google Mobile—Andy Rubin—said “I’m thrilled to see the entrance of MIPS-based Android 4.0 tablets into the market. Low cost, high performance tablets are a big win for mobile consumers and a strong illustration of how Android’s openness drives innovation and competition for the benefit of consumers around the world.”

Really, the low-price Tablet—Nova 7 would attract users who can’t afford expansive tablets like Apple’s iPad. The tablets would be very beneficial to countries like India, China, and other Asian countries – where price drives the product sale chart – to educate the rural masses with the advanced digital trends.

Advertisement

Microsoft Windows 8 Would Fail To Impress Enterprise And Desktop Users

By
Abhishek Singh
-
0

Knowingly, Microsoft is expected to release its Windows 8 in the next year and the company isn’t yet release even its beta updates. Definitely, Windows 8-based tablets seems likely to be late in the market compare to its rival Apple, Amazon’s Kindle Fire, Nobles & Barnes’ Nook and also its success seems in vague.

Enterprises want to keep themselves away from the new metro version of Windows as it has been especially designed for the Tablets. Also, being a new baby, there won’t be many upgrades to look for in future. Unwillingly, the Microsoft is unable to impress neither enterprises nor users for Windows 8 upgrade till now.

IDC’s Mary Jo Foley said “Windows 8 will be largely irrelevant to the users of traditional PCs, and we expect effectively no upgrade activity from Windows 7 to Windows 8 in that form factor.” Also, the company predicted in their report that the Windows 8 looks to be out of order because a few number of user might update its PC from Window 7.

After Windows 8 developer preview, it’s quite clear that there is nothing new for the desktop and laptops owner. The new Metro interface is obviously designed for touchscreens and the tablets owners not the desktop users.

IDC has also stated “There will be intense scrutiny on Microsoft’s ability to deliver a successful tablet experience aboard both X86-based tablets and on devices running ARM processors.”

Microsoft’s plan to port Windows 8 to ARM is not so easy because ARM might not be able to run on the existing Windows desktops. The porting would only be possible when the software would be rewritten especially for the ARP chips. However, the same issue happened with Apple while porting Mac OS from 68k to PowerPC. The company also had to redefine its Mac OSX to run on ARM mobile devices. Later, the company re-branded its MacOSX to iPhone OS and iOS.   It’s the strategy of Apple not to do any experiment with existing Mac apps on iOS, instead builds unique apps in order to suit iPad and iPhone. Unlike Apple, Microsoft is experimenting with the desktop operating system in order to suit the touchscreen devices which show the company’s conflicting ideology about its software plan for Windows 8.

Apple dominates in Smartphone as well as in Tablet market and the demand of its MacBook Air and Pro is increasing day-by-day. Instead of producing the competitive product, Microsoft has adopted a new strategy to license the technologies which support Apple’s devices. Really, Microsoft needs to change its monopoly rather legitimate on the patent issue, the company should focus on its innovation. The official release of Windows 8 is still far way from now and it’s the time for the company to rethink about the significant number of updates. The company should focused on the desktops users because this portion is still untouched and unchallenged.

Advertisement
1...512513514...580Page 513 of 580

Category

Links

Stay connected

Newsletter Signup

Subscribe to our newsletter

To be updated with all the latest news, offers and special announcements.

© Dazeinfo Media & Research Pvt Ltd | All rights reserved.