BIOSTAR unveils H61MH Motherboard

BIOSTAR MICROTECH INT’L CORP, one of the leading manufacturers of motherboards and computer peripherals Worldwide introduce H61MH motherboard. The new product is based on Intel H61 chipset, and supports the operating systems like Microsoft Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7. The latest addition to the BIOSTAR family has a wide range of ports, connectors and interfaces for proper operation of the system. The product supports Intel Core i7, Core i5, Core i3 and Pentium LGA 1155 (Sandy Bridge) with TDP up to 95 watts.
The product is available with two DDR3 DIMM slots that support upto 8GB Dual Channel DDR3 1066/1333 MHz, and supplements two expansion slots for PCI single slot PCI-E x1 2.0 slot and one PCI-E x16 2.0. So, in case the user needs more than integrated graphics can support (Full HD video and DirectX 10.1), it is possible to switch to a powerful discrete graphics card with PCI-Express x16 2.0 interface
The additional feature this product offers  are four SATA2 3Gb / s ports, six USB 2.0 ports (four on board and two more on the panel), productive 10/100/1000 Mbps LAN controller based on the Realtek RTL8111E chip, and high-quality 6-channel HD Audio based on Realtek ALC662 chip. Board is equipped with all the up to date video outputs, including digital HDMI and DVI, Analog Interface VGA.
H61MH is build with the latest technology BIOSTAR has come up in last few years such as BIO-Remote2 Technology for remote control of PCs via mobile devices Android or Apple, and the Charger Booster Technology, which allows to reduce by 42% while charging battery mobile iPad or iPhone via USB. Board is equipped with high-quality capacitors with solid electrolyte. H61MH is equipped with two SATA cables, optional interface panel, Quick assembly and a CD with drivers and instructions. Delivery of BIOSTAR H61MH to India market has already begun. And the product is available at a price of Rs 3600+Taxes.

Beetel unveils '3G Supreme' Wi-Fi pocket router

Beetel Teletech, a Bharti Enterprises group company and one of India’s leading manufacturer and distributor of telecom and allied products, today announced the launch of a 3G Wi-Fi pocket Router-Beetel 3G Supreme for the Indian market. The 3G Supreme can be connected to a mobile phone (cellular) carrier and provide internet access for up to ten Wi-Fi enabled peripheral devices like mobile phones, tablets, laptops, desktops, gaming consoles etc.

The device will cater to multiple users at home, small businesses and even enterprises to use internet service at a very low cost. The device is compatible with Microsoft Windows 7, Vista, XP SP2+, Mac OSX (10.5.X Intel based CPU) and Linux (Optional). The Beetel 3G Supreme has a battery usage time up to 3-5 hrs when active. This innovative device comes at an MRP of Rs. 6000 and Rs.6500 (with LAN adapter).

Nokia lays off 3,500 employees

Nokia is planning to lay off an additional 3,500 employees, as the company continues to restructure after announcing its decision to focus on Microsoft's Windows Phone operating system.
The affected employees work in manufacturing, location and commerce, and supporting functions, Nokia said on Thursday.
In manufacturing, Nokia plans to close its factory in Cluj, Romania by the end of 2011, as the company's Asian factories provide greater scale and proximity benefits, according to Nokia. The company is also reviewing how to best take advantage of manufacturing operations in Salo, Finland, Komarom, Hungary, and Reynosa, Mexico. The planned changes will impact on the number of personnel in 2012, it said.
Nokia is also consolidating its location assets including NAVTEQ and Nokia's social location services operations. Going forward, Nokia will concentrate its development efforts in Berlin, Boston, Chicago and other supporting sites, while closing its operations in Bonn, Germany and Malvern, US.
The changes are painful, yet necessary, and will turn Nokia into a "more dynamic, nimble and efficient challenger," CEO Stephen Elop said in a statement.
The closure of the Cluj factory and related adjustments to the supply chain is estimated to impact about 2,200 employees. The changes in the location and commerce business are estimated to affect approximately 1,300 employees, according to Nokia.
The layoffs are in addition to the measures Nokia announced earlier this year. In April, Nokia said it will outsource Symbian activities to Accenture, transferring 2,800 employees to the company in the process, and cutting about 4,000 jobs.
Nokia is currently in a tough spot because sales of its existing Symbian-based smartphones have dropped faster than expected, and large volumes of Windows Phone-based devices aren't scheduled to arrive until next year.

Zebronics Launches Zeb-NC4000 Laptop Cooler

Thermal issues and laptops go hand in hand. It is therefore wise to use a laptop cooler. That is, unless you're content using it on a desk, which practically defeats the very purpose of a portable device. If expensive coolers have put you off from purchasing this necessary evil, here's something that should interest you. Zebronics has launched a dual-fan laptop cooling pad for half the price of a single-fan cooler. Priced at Rs 750, the Zeb-NC4000 Premium Laptop Cooling Pad packs in two 70 mm fans operating at a speedy 2300 RPM to deliver an airflow of 16 CFM.

The accessory is advertised to house not just laptops ranging between 11" and 17" in size, but also portable devices such as tablets and netbooks. To secure your laptop, the Zeb-NC4000 employs two hinged holders at the bottom, which can be retracted for easy storage. Its detachable USB power cable can be stowed away inside the cooler for further convenience. The cooling pad features a stand designed to assume five different angles. This should make finding the perfect typing position easy. Built using aluminium and plastic, the Zebronics Zeb-NC4000 weighs under a kilo. While this may not be exactly lightweight, the build quality hopefully will make up for its bulk.

Dell Planning More Handsets For India

Dell India Executive Director and GM (Commerce and SMB), Mahesh Bhalla said,"The mobile phone business is doing really well and we have received tremendous response to the devices. Though the category is still in nascent stage, we are confident of it growing significantly". The company has five models of smartphones and tablets in India at present including the Dell Streak5, XCD35, Venue, and Venue Pro. The new handsets will run Windows and Android according to Bhalla.

Bhalla also stated that the company is not thinking about introducing low-cost handsets as of now. He argued that India is not a market driven by price alone, and that people seek value. He pointed out that Dell smartphones are already available in the sub-Rs 10k category as well, but rather than focusing on price cut, the company wants to offer a better experience and features.

When asked about the tablet market, Bhalla said that the market is small in India and it is too early to be able to predict the future. Dell has not mentioned the names or even the number of handsets it plans to launch. We think that Dell might be planning a Diwali bonanza for everyone by timing the launches in the festival season. While it has already been clarified that the prices will not be low, the handsets better be good.

Silicon Power USB 3.0 series of portable hard drives now available in 1TB version

Keeping in mind the demand for high performance drives and huge storage capacities, Silicon Power unveils the latest addition to its USB 3.0 series of portable hard drives with a 1TB model.
The claimed ‘ultra-high capacity’ version is said to meet the requirements of even the most demanding computer gamer. Along with the 320GB, 500GB, 640GB and 750GB models, the 1TB edition is said to complete the company’s series of USB 3.0 portable drives.
Fitted with an LED indicator, users can identify whether the drives are running or transferring data. The company offers enhanced storage in three series namely SP Armor, SP Stream and Diamond. Equipped with shock-resistance and high read-write speeds, the Armor series is also claimed to achieve U.S. military drop and waterproof standards.
Designed with a race car form factor, the SP streams series comprises the S10 and S20 models and is said to allow users to access photos in a matter of seconds. Its elegant protective case creates a stylish look for the device. Whereas, the Diamond range features the classic checkerhead design. With its sleek and compact look, the product is stated to be a stylish option. Equipped with an exclusive SP Widget toolkit, the drives are promoted as perfect consumer-friendly data transmission and storage devices.
To make the series eco-friendly, a power saver mode is also available. Along with Norton Antivirus 2011, the SP Widget also features several back-up and security tools which are available as free download.
The price and availability for the Silicon Power USB 3.0 1TB series of portable hard drives is not mentioned by the company.

Viewsonic To Launch 2 New Android Phones In India

 Viewsonic has plans to launch two Android phones in India in the near future. According to some credible sources, the new phones are--the V350, which includes support for dual-SIM and the ViewPad4 sporting a 1GHz Qualcomm processor and a new Viewsonic UI. Sources claim that these phones will be officially launched in the next week. The company refrains from revealing anything officially on this.

The Viewsonic V350 is slated to be an active dual-SIM phone having a 8.9-cm (3.5”) TFT capacitive touchscreen, a 600MHz Qualcomm processor, 512 MB RAM and a 5MP camera with autofocus. The phone is rumoured to be running the Android Froyo OS, which is outdated now. 
These current launches seem to be an upgrade from the earlier ViewPad7 and ViewPad10 tablets, launched in December last year.

On the other hand, the ViewPad4 will run the Gingerbread OS; it sports a 10.4-cm (4.1-inch) WVGA capacitive touch screen, 1GHz Qualcomm MSM 8255 processor and a 5MP camera with the ability to record 720p video. Earlier reports suggested that it would be a tablet but it seems, Viewsonic has reworked their strategy and are launching it as a device that will offer both phone and tablet functionalities. 

No updates about the prices of the two phones could be gathered as of now. 

Om Nanotech Launches 6GB And 10GB Pendrives

Om Nanotech has launched its 6GB and 10 GB pendrives with its flagship brand Zipmem.

The drives are high speed USB 2.0 interface compliant and are supported by operating systems including Vista, XP, Win 2000, 98SE, Linux 2.4.

The CE and FCC certified USB drives come with a maximum and minimum data read transfer rate of 18.5 Mbps and 6.5 Mbps respectively. They can be customized with advanced features like multi-partition. For example a four partition can contain one Read-only Partition designated for auto run feature, two read-write partitions and one hidden partition. The private zone is password protected.

“With our manufacturing plants present in India, we can make modifications in our products on the basis of consumer specific demands and requirements. This innovation is based on extensive market study and research and we hope to satisfy the requirements of our valued customers through these USB drives,”said Atul Khosla, Director, Om Nanotech.

The 6 GB USB is priced at Rs 400 while the 10 GB USB is available for Rs 600 with LS Industries and comes with three-year warranty.

WD Appoints Ingram Micro As National Distributor in India

Western Digital, a leader in hard drives and home entertainment products, today announced the appointment of Ingram Micro as a national distributor to sell WD’s full range of products in India. With this tie-up, WD will further expand its market reach through Ingram Micro’s extensive network of over 10,000 channel partners in India.

“Penetrating newer geographies and making our products available in smaller markets is one of our key focus areas in India in 2011. Ingram Micro, with its pan India network and capabilities will help us enhance our channel pull and drive growth in the Indian market. We are delighted to have Ingram Micro as our distributor, and look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship” said Sushil Bandi, WD’s country manager – India.
Commenting on the association, Jaishankar Krishnan, Managing Director, Ingram Micro said: “Partnering with a global leader like WD presents an excellent business opportunity for our large reseller base. Our partners can diversify their portfolio through addition of innovative and market-leading WD products. I am confident that our extensive distribution infrastructure in India will help realize mutual business potential for WD and Ingram.”

“Demand for digital content is growing steadily in India. This presents a huge business potential for a brand like WD whose innovative offerings have dominated the storage market for over two decades. This partnership will assist us to meet high expectations of the fast-growing market for storage, and Ingram Micro, with their expertise, will help us tap this opportunity.” said Khwaja Saifuddin, WD’s senior sales director – Middle East & South Asia. 

Micromax A70 debuts in India

Micromax has released Android powered A70 in India today. Micromax A70 is a budget Android smartphone with pretty decent specifications.  It features Android 2.2, 600 MHz processor and 3.2 inch display. Price has not been officially announced,

Apple Now Third Largest PC Vendor in the US, HP and Dell Still On Top

Latest data from Gartner says Apple has surged past Acer and Toshiba, becoming the third largest PC vendor in the USA. With a market share of 10.7%, Apple comes behind Dell, with 22.6 market share while HP remains on top with 26.9% share of the PC market. While IDC places Apple third in the US ranking, it also notes that the company has the biggest growth among the top 5 PC vendors with 14.7% in 2nd Quarter of 2011.

Apple Files A Fresh Lawsuit Against HTC

Apple had recently filed a lawsuit against Samsung, which led to both the companies pointing fingers at each other. However, the Korean conglomerate withdrew one of the lawsuits against the iPhone maker just a few days ago, even though the company still continues to fight the legal battle. It should be noted that Apple had also filed a lawsuit againstHTC in March 2010, accusing the company of patent infringement. The Cupertino-based company went to the ITC(International Trade Commission), asking them to ban the selling of HTC products in the U.S. However, the ITC ruled in favour of HTC in April. Apple has now filed another fresh complaint against HTC with the Trade Commission, seeking compensation in the same dispute.

Not long ago, Apple was simultaneously fighting another legal battle with Nokia, which ended in the court handing the verdict in favour of the Finnish mobile maker. This resulted in Apple being ordered to pay a huge sum of money with royalties for each iPhone sold. That being said, Nokia is better equipped in the patent wars unlike HTC, which does not hold as many patents as Nokia does.

The ITC usually gives the verdict in about a month's time and hence companies prefer this over normal courts which usually take longer. As far as Apple's second patent is concerned, it seems like a desperate second attempt to prove its point. However, a final verdict on the first case will be given on the 5th of August, where the judges could side by Apple. Interestingly, HTC acquired the S3 firm last week, which could bring some patents to their kitty. Apple's list of HTC devices that infringe on its patents include the HTC Desire, Hero, Aria, Wildfire, and other U.S. exclusive handsets plus the HTC Flyer. All eyes would be focussed on Apple and HTC on the 5th of next month to learn about the latest developments in the patent wars.

Vodafone, Airtel, Idea in pact to offer pan-India 3G services

Vodafone India has announced that it has signed agreements with Bharti Airtel and Idea Cellular Ltd. for sharing of 3G services in regions where they do not have the bandwidth licenses.

The  agreement also covers areas where Vodafone-Essar has 3G bandwidth which will help the company provide 3G services through out the country.

As of now Vodafone has 3G permissions for nine telecom sectors out of the twenty two. Previously, Vodafone won the bandwidth for Rs 116.18 billion in the 3G auctions last year.  

Airtel currently operates 3G services in thirteen regions and Idea operates 3G services in eleven regions. This sharing agreement will bring all the three major players on an even keel, in terms of 3G service coverage.

Service providers have been trying to 3G attract customers, but the combination of high 3G charges and poor coverage have proven to be huge disadvantages. This agreement may go long way in rectifying coverage issues. 

AT&T & HTC announce ‘Status’ in United States

HTC has released ChaCha as Status on AT&T in US.  Revealed first time at Mobile World Congress earlier this year, ChaCha aka Status is a Facebook centric Android smartphone with a dedicated FB button.
“HTC Status brings a Facebook experience to people who want to share their experiences with their friends faster and easier than ever before,” said Jason Mackenzie, President, HTC Americas. “With a dedicated Facebook share button combined with the hallmark HTC Sense experience, HTC Status makes it easy for people to stay connected to the things that are important to them.”
HTC Status Features:

• Android™ 2.3 + HTC Sense
• 2.6-inch touch screen with 480 x 320 resolution
• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 UMTS/HSDPA 850/1900
• 512 MB RAM, 512 MB ROM
• MSM7227, 800 MHz
• Rechargeable lithium-ion battery, 1250 mAh
• 5 MP main camera with autofocus, VGA  front-facing camera

Availability: Status is coming exclusively to AT&T this summer. Pricing will be revealed closer to launch

Four Nokia Belle Phones With 1 GHz CPUs: Leaked

Nokia is in the news yet again, but it's a leak this time and not an official launch. A website has accessed a photo of a leaked document, which seems like Nokia's roadmap for this year or the next. This document reveals four new Nokia handsets, apparently running on the Symbian Belle platform. Interestingly, the document also reveals that all of these four handsets will feature 1 GHz processors. It seems that Nokia is finally planning to roll out 1 GHz processors with Symbian smartphones. The newly announced Nokia N9 will also have a such a processor.

The four handsets will be called Helen, Zeta, Cindy, and Fate. It seems like the Helen is a flagship handset with 3.5" AMOLED display, Symbian Belle, 8 MP camera, and apparently will be the successor to the Nokia C7. The Zeta will feature a slightly smaller 3.2" AMOLED display, and Symbian Belle as mentioned in the image. This handset is said to be the thinnest smartphone in the world. However, no info is available about the camera of the device since it is not visible from the picture. The Cindy and Fate will be the mid-range handsets here with 3.2" AMOLED displays and 5 MP cameras respectively with 1 GHz processors. The Cindy will be NFC enabled whereas the Fate will not.

We are not sure if these images or the document in it are genuine, but it sure does look enticing. If these handsets are for real, Nokia shouldn't wait for too long because these are going to be the fastest Symbian handsets ever made. However, if these are released too late, then we fear that it will miss the boat. Nevertheless, we hope that the struggling mobile company doesn't miss out on this opportunity, so let's keep our fingers crossed.

Google's New Service WDYL.com Surfaces

The new WDYL.com is actually Google's way of asking "What Do You Love?". Once you enter a query, it offers "relevant" results categorised by Google's services.

To test this service, I entered the word "Rajinikanth" to get the following results.

As you can see, it's not very informative, and mostly tries to promote Google's products and services such as Chrome, Picasa, Earth, and Blogger. It also fails to understand that Rajinikanth IS THE ONE AND ONLY, and offers to find a Rajinikanth nearby. Blasphemous!

Right now, the service is good for having a few laughs. However, it is not ready yet, and Google will certainly improve it before the official launch. Till then, head over to  www.WDYL.com and let us know which term returned the weirdest results.

Xerox-HCL Deal raises issue

A lot of Xerox Corp. equipment is made for the company by Singapore electronics manufacturer Flextronics International.

Fuji Xerox, which is Xerox's partnership with FujiFilm Holdings Corp., also produces equipment as well as technology.
And now HCL Technologies Ltd. of India will handle a sizable piece of research-and-development work previously done by Xerox engineers.

The five-year deal inked a week ago with HCL has Xerox expecting improved R&D and leaves hundreds of affected workers wondering what happens next to their jobs. Under the arrangement, HCL takes over some of Xerox's technology engineering duties, and 600 Xerox engineers in North America and western Europe — including 250 in the Rochester area — are to become employees of HCL.
For Xerox, the deal is all about expanding its engineering capabilities, said Willem Appelo, president of the company's Global Business and Services Group, pointing to HCL's 15,000 engineers.
While Xerox said cost savings weren't a prime motivator, "offshoring and outsourcing is becoming the watchword of the day" as companies cut costs to compete, said Rudy Hirschheim, a professor at Louisiana State University's Ourso College of Business.
HCL has offices in 26 nations, posted sales of $2.7 billion in its most recent fiscal year, and employs about 73,000 people globally doing information technology work, business process outsourcing, and software and systems engineering.
Six thousand of those employees are in the United States, and 2,300 of those 6,000 are Americans, said HCL spokeswoman Avena Suri.

HCL said it's typical for the compensation of employees it absorbs from client companies such as Xerox to remain close to what it had been. Still, experts say the fates of such workers are iffy.
Outsourcing companies, whether overseas like HCL or U.S.-based like Electronic Data Systems, make their money by having cheaper labor costs and greater efficiency than the companies that hire them, said Mary Lacity, University of Missouri professor of information systems.

Apple re-launching iPhone 3GS in India for Rs 19,990

Yes, you read that right. According to cellphone dealers, Apple is "re-launching" its two-year-old iPhone at a price of Rs 19,990 in India. The move is likely to counter cheap Android smartphones that have flooded the market recently. This particular version of iPhone will come with 8GB internal storage.

Manish Khatri, a mobile dealer in Mumbai, tweeted on Friday evening that shops had already received stock and the phone will be available from Saturday at the said price with one year official warranty. In Delhi too, several dealers said they had received stock of iPhone 3GS (8GB) on Thursday evening.

iPhone 3GS was originally released in June 2009. It has a 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen (320 x 480 pixels) and is powered by a 600Mhz processor. However, as it happens in the case of Apple products, the hardware specifications can be misleading when it comes to performance and usability.

Apple's latest iOS version 4.3 supports iPhone 3GS and that makes the phone a worthy opponent to similarly-priced Android devices that have better hardware. Apple has also said that iOS 5 will work on iPhone 3GS though it is likely that not all features will be supported.

At the price of Rs 19,990, iPhone 3GS will directly compete with Samsung Nexus S , a phone that saw its price fall by over Rs 6,000 to touch Rs 19,999 a few weeks ago. Nexus S, which runs on Android 2.3 aka Gingerbread, has a 4-inch capacitive screen. It is powered by a 1Ghz processor, packs 512MB RAM and comes with 16GB internal storage.

Toshiba Brings Back the Desktop

Toshiba is jumping back into the desktop game after halting desktop sales in 2001. After ten years of focusing exclusively on laptops, Toshiba is launching its new All-in-One Desktop PC, the DX1215. The new all-in-one desktop combines traditional desktop elements with newer technologies like a 21.5-inch touch screen, premium sound, and modern processors—both Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors are available. We got to go one-on-one with the new all-in-one, so read on to learn more.

The new DX1215 desktop is an all-in-one, which eliminates the computer tower and places all of the components, like the hard drive and processor, into the same case as the monitor. The DX1215 is built around a 21.5-inch high-definition display, with 1080p resolution and touch-screen capability. The screen offers brightness as well as sharp detail, with four LED lamps backing the display, and colors that pop.

The desktop also features Onkyo speakers, with Dolby Sound and MaxxAudio tuning. The downward-firing speakers reflect sound off of the desktop surface, providing a wider listening sweet spot than forward-firing speakers. They also provide some great sound, tested with a Radiohead track. Was it on par with a full surround sound set-up? No, but I wouldn't expect it to be, and it was certainly one of the better sets of stereo speakers I've heard on an all-in-one. The Onkyo speakers offer crisp, clear sound, and the MaxxAudio tuning lets you tweak it to find the audio that's perfect for your ears. You can even listen to the speakers with the desktop in sleep mode thanks to Toshiba's Sleep and Music.

Like many other all-in-one competitors, Toshiba's new desktop comes with a wireless keyboard and mouse. They come paired via Bluetooth, and the receiver is built into the computer, requiring no extra adapter. For other peripherals, you'll find plenty of USB ports to plug them into: two USB 3.0 ports on the left side of the unit, and four USB 2.0 ports on the back. Thanks to Toshiba's Sleep and Charge feature, you'll also be able to power phones and other gadgets via USB when the desktop if in sleep mode.

In addition to the keyboard and mouse, the new all-in-one comes with a TV-style remote for media control. Toshiba hopes that its desktop will find a place in your entertainment set-up even after you've moved on to another desktop, and the remote control is just one feature included to that end. Additionally, the all-in-one is equipped with an HDMI input, letting you use the monitor to view HD content from other HDMI-equipped devices, ranging from Blu-ray players to tablets. Also available on the all-in-one is an integrated TV tuner, providing further entertainment options.

Creative Announces Affordable Wireless Speaker

Speakers don't always have to be large, cumbersome, and boring to look at. Creative Technology Ltd seems to have taken note of this as they announced the D80 Bluetooth wireless one-piece portable speaker, which comes in four colours.

This speaker can play from any stereo Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR source compatible with A2DP/AVRCP profile such as theiPhone, BlackBerry, Android phones, tablet computers, and laptops. The Bluetooth Connect button present on the speaker lets you instantly it with the source without any hassle, and you can use the same to toggle between pre-paired sources. Support for AVRCP profile means that you can control speaker volume through compatible source devices. There is also an auxiliary input to connect other audio devices. With no obstructions such as walls, the speaker can be placed at a distance of up to 10 m from the source. It has two 3" full range drivers, which claim to produce full, dynamic audio.  The D80 weighs just 1.06 kg and has dimensions 32.5x10x10 cm.

Ernest Sim, Regional Sales Manager for Indian Subcontinent at Creative said, "Most people today store their music in portable Bluetooth enabled devices like the iPhone, Android phone, Blackberry or tablet computers like the iPad or Creative ZiiO, and the Creative D80 is designed to be the perfect compact Bluetooth speaker to go with these wireless devices. The Creative D80 speaker is so compact that it can easily be carried anywhere throughout the home or almost everywhere in a backpack, and it s priced for everyone".

Available in white with a pink, blue, or green grille or black with a black grille, the Creative D80 will be available across the country by the end of July at an MRP of Rs 2,699.

Samsung going to launch entry-level Android with 1GHz processor in US

Samsung is soon going to release an Android device, which is being termed as an entry-level smartphone, but sports some pretty decent internals. We are talking about Samsung SPH-D600. This smartphone is going to be launched on Sprint in US and will support telecom operator’s WiMax network.

It is expected to feature a 1 GHz processor, 3.5 inch 480 x 320 resolution display, 3.2 MP rear camera with a front cam and Android 2.3.3.

There is no word on the pricing or availability right now, but we will share the information as soon as we get it. Till then enjoy the following leaked pics of the smartphone. 

Gold-Plated Luxury Smartphone From Nokia

Nokia unveils its first ever premium touch smartphone , the gold-plated Nokia Oro. This beast of a phone is a treat for the eyes, and will please the techie-minds as well.

The bling Nokia smartphone, a luxury version of the highly customised Nokia C7 smartphone , has been bathed in gold, and studded with scratch-resistant sapphire crystal front keys.

The back cover is covered by finest quality Bridge of Weir leather, which is actually the best leather material available in market. The 18k gold frame comes along with Corning Gorilla Glass, which makes it stylish as well as tough. Along with the liberal use of gold, Nokia also offers a fancy-looking Nokia J Bluetooth headset, which too has been dipped in 18k gold.

From the technical view, the Oro features an 8MP camera with dual led flash and HD video recording. It comes pre-loaded with Symbian Anna, the latest Nokia OS and has a generous 8GB of internal storage capacity. Extendable memory up to 32GB can be upgraded via a microSD card.

Nokia Oro also comes with the basic packs of WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0, microUSB, a 3.5 mm audio jack, along with a t 3.5" AMOLED display. Priced at of $1,126 (Rs 50,990), the Nokia Oro will mostly hit the markets in Europe and Asia in the third quarter of this year.

Apple iPhone 4 launched in India

Apple's iPhone 4 hit store shelves in India on Friday, nearly a year after the next-generation version of the popular smartphone was rolled out worldwide.
Mobile phone carrier Aircel launched the iPhone 4 with a new pricing model, allowing customers to recover the upfront cost of the smartphone on select plans over 24 months, the company said in a press release.
Aircel will charge 34,500 rupees for iPhones with a 16 GB capacity and 40,900 rupees for the 32 GB model, it said.
Bharti Airtel, India's top mobile phone carrier, also launched the phone.
The iPhone 4 boasts a higher-quality screen and longer battery life than the previous model.
With more than 800 million mobile subscribers, India is the world's second-biggest market for mobile phone services and is also the fastest-growing. But smartphones are estimated to account for just over 5 percent of the mobile handset sales.
Indian carriers have recently started rolling out high-speed third-generation (3G) mobile networks, which is expected to boost sales of smartphones.

Samsung Galaxy S II to Launch In India On June 3

The Samsung Galaxy S II has managed to blow us all away by its sheer brilliance and hardware capabilities. We got our first glimpse of the device during the Mobile World Congress in February. It has been touted as one of the best Android smartphones in the market; needless to say expectations were generally high. And now this beast of a handset is India-bound, courtesy of Vodafone. The handset will be launched via Vodafone on June 3.  Vodafone will sell the handset for Rs.32,890 which isn't much considering that the entry-level iPhone 4 to be launched in India will cost about Rs.2000 more.Interested buyers may also pre-order their phones via Samsung's website from May 26 onwards for Rs.1000. It seems like Vodafone customers will have the privilege of getting the device first, followed by other Samsung retail outlets in India where the device will be available from June 9. Vodafone users will also be offered 6 GB of free data usage (1 GB per month for a span of 6 months).

This handset is the successor to the equally popular Samsung Galaxy S, which sold around 10 million units worldwide. Something similar can be expected from the Galaxy S II, and with the device that the Galaxy S II is, we don't think that should be too difficult. The Indian markets will be getting the 16 GB variant of the Galaxy S II.

Specifications:
The Galaxy S II will feature a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display, an 8 Megapixel camera capable of recording 1080p Full HD video, a 1.2 GHz dual core processor and Android 2.3 Gingerbread with the latest iteration of Samsung's TouchWiz i.e. the TouchWiz 4.0.

Micromax Launches Bling-2 Android Phone

After the resounding success of the Q55 Bling phone, Micromax Informatics Limited has launched the A55 Bling-2, which is the second model in its Bling series of phones designed for the fashion-savvy woman. True to its name, this trendy mobile phone sports a glossy finish frame made with Swarovski Zirconia and comes with a white leather carry case enclosed with a compact mirror and special pouch to keep your lip gloss, making it easy for you to retouch your makeup anytime and anywhere. Then there is also the Swarovski encrusted Home button adding a touch of style.

Apart from the glamour of the phone, it runs Android 2.2 Froyo and you can therefore install different apps from the Market to make the phone more useful. There are also built-in apps such as MiRoamer- Mobile radio, Saavn- Music on Demand, Mosho- Mobile shopping, Mundu Live TV (1 month free trial) and Whatsapp- a messenger that works across platforms (VAS) to meet the demand of today's demanding women.

On the hardware front, this phone is powered by a 600 Mhz processor and sports a 7.1 cm capacitive touchscreen. Capable of 2G as well as 3G, the phone supports quad-band GSM networks (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) and WCDMA (2100 MHz) technology. It also features Mi-Fi pocket wireless internet feature, which turns the phone into your personal Wi-Fi hotspot on the move. A 3.0 Megapixel camera is also present with lens framed in Swarovski Zirconia. Phone memory can be expanded up to 32 GB with microSD memory card. Thanks to the 3.5 mm headphone jack, you can plug in any standard headphones to listen to your favourite music. The phone also features Bluetooth for wireless file transfer and audio, and GPS to aid in navigation.

Micromax Bling-2 (A55) is available at an M.O.P. of Rs.8,999, which is a bit expensive for the hardware that is included, but then it is the "bling-factor" for which you are paying the premium.

HTC officially launches Wildfire S in India for INR 13,999

HTC India today officially launched Gingerbread powered Wildfire S in India. The smartphone has been on preorder at various online stores for last two days. Company has priced it at INR 14,700 and it is now available for purchase at all the major retail stores.
HTC Wildfire S is the third device of the series of Android devices unveiled at Mobile World Congress. Other devices which are still waiting to be released are HTC Chacha, Salsa and Flyer.
You can check more on the specifications of HTC Wildfire here or the HTC website.

XFX Unveils Three AMD Radeon Graphics Cards

XFX has debuted three graphics cards based on AMD Radeon graphics chip variants, dubbed "The Deadly Trio". The graphics cards in question are the XFX AMD Radeon HD 6670, XFX AMD Radeon HD 6570 and XFX AMD Radeon HD 6450, which are mainly targeting everyday computing.

The XFX AMD Radeon 6670 graphics card is meant for gamers as well as casual users. With DirectX 11 and AMD's HD3D 3D video technology, this graphics card is good to be used for gaming and ideal to be used to watch Blu-rays or immersive 3D movies. The XFX AMD Radeon HD 6570 graphics card is being touted to be capable of taking your daily routine to the next level with similar features as the first card, but at a lower speed and power consumption. The third graphics card is the XFX AMD Radeon 6400, which is for people who want to upgrade from on-board graphics for better overall system performance with the least power consumption, making it ideal for HTPC (Home Theatre PC).

Each of these graphics cards feature AMD's exclusive technologies including Eyespeed technology, which provides a vivid HD experience as well as optimizes everyday applications. They also feature Eyefinity technology, which enables the user to watch movies, play games and work on documents spread out on up to three displays for the ultimate panoramic perspective of work and play. AMD's APP Acceleration is yet another technology incorporated in these products, which harnesses the power of AMD's GPUs, with speed and better overall performance while utilizing everyday applications from Microsoft Office 2010 to web browsers like IE9 and Firefox 4. AMD s APP Acceleration includes advanced video features to enhance the video experience with pre and post-processing reduced CPU utilization and smooth, high-quality playback of HD and online video. Last but not the least, these cards also support AMD's OpenCL and DirectCompute 11 APIs to take over tasks, normally handled by the CPU, albeit in a more efficient way.

Pricing for these products is as mentioned below:
* XFX AMD Radeon HD 6670 - Rs.7,500
* XFX AMD Radeon HD 6570 - Rs.7,000
* XFX AMD Radeon HD 6450 - Rs.5,000

All graphics cards are covered with 3 years warranty by Rashi Peripherals.

Yahoo! Launches New E-mail Service

Yahoo! is giving its popular e-mail service a long-promised facelift and also inviting all of its 284 million users to upgrade to the revamped version. This version of Yahoo! Mail makes it even easier for people to share, organise and store online conversations and media content with a focus on improved performance, enhanced spam protection and a customisable inbox. Yahoo! Mail is available in 43 markets and 26 languages around the world.

The company will also make the latest version of Yahoo! Mail available to its global partners, including Nokia.

Social Infusion: People can instantly respond to messages from Facebook, Yahoo! Groups, Yahoo! Mail and other webmail providers with a new easy reply bar. Additionally, people can view photo slideshows, inline videos and more from within their inboxes. People can also view and share notifications and updates from Twitter, Facebook and Zynga from a new Updates tab.

Conversations Aren’t Just E-mail: When people want to compose an IM, SMS or e-mail they will find their most frequent contacts and lists shown to them. People can now also chat with Facebook friends alongside Windows Live and Yahoo! Messenger contacts and view all of their past IM and text conversations within Yahoo! Mail.

Tailor Your Inbox: People can choose from over 50 themes and stationery options to express their personalities and customise how they view messages and contacts.

App-ify Mail: New, easy-to-use applications help people be more productive and organised right from their inboxes. People can now track their online orders with the All My Purchases app, get removed from unwanted newsletters using the Unsubscriber app or send mega files using Attach Large Files by YouSendIt.

Mail Search Redefined: A mail search experience leverages Yahoo!’s wealth of search science and technology to help people get answers faster by finding the right e-mails. When searching through Yahoo! Mail, a left-hand refinement column appears, letting users easily navigate, sort and narrow the search results by sender, attachment file, date, or folder location.

Lightning Speed: Leveraging Yahoo!’s cloud technology, Yahoo! Mail provides performance that is twice as fast as previous versions of Yahoo! Mail, even in regions where only basic Internet speeds are offered.

Spam Buster: Advanced SpamGuard technology and a new anti-phishing platform have reduced spam reports by 60 per cent and help protect people from e-mail hackers and unwanted instant message conversations. Yahoo! Mail blocks more than 550 billion spam messages per month, the company claims.

“Yahoo!’s vision for online communications brings together all the tools that people use to connect — e-mail, chat, SMS, and social updates — and makes it easier for them to share content and engage in conversations with the people that matter most to them,” said Blake Irving, chief product officer, Yahoo!. “We’re delivering on this strategy with the latest version of Yahoo! Mail, providing our hundreds of millions of users worldwide with a fun, engaging and constantly connected experience across desktop, mobile and tablet devices that keeps the conversation going – anytime, anywhere.”

To upgrade an existing Yahoo! Mail account or create a new Yahoo! Mail account, go to overview.mail.yahoo.com and click the ‘Upgrade Now’ button.