Google Nexus 7 vs iPad mini, Kindle Fire and others

Google Inc. has announced new versions of its Nexus 7 tablet computers. It has better features and a higher price tag.

The new models are available in the U.S. starting Tuesday through Google's online Play store and the following retailers: Best Buy, Gamestop, Walmart, Staples, Office Max, Office Depot, Amazon, Home Shopping Network, Radio Shack, J&R and B&H Photo. A version with cellular capability is coming later with support for T-Mobile and Verizon.

Here's a look at how the new Nexus 7 compares with last year's model and other tablets with comparable screens.

Google's Nexus 7

Price: $229 with 16 gigabytes of storage, $269 for 32 GB. Add $80 for 32 GB model with cellular capability.

Screen size: 7 inches diagonally

Screen resolution: 1920 x 1200 (323 pixels per inch)

Size: height: 7.87 inches; width 4.49 inches; thickness: 0.34 inch (200 by 114 by 8.65 millimeters)

Weight: 10.2 ounces (290 grams) for base model, 10.5 ounces (299 grams) for cellular version

Cameras: 5 megapixel rear camera, 1.2 megapixel front-facing camera

Battery life: 9 hours

Operating system: Google's Android

ProsAccess to a variety of games, utilities and other software for Android devices, though not as extensive as apps available for iPad. Option for cellular wireless broadband.

Cons
Data storage cannot be expanded with memory cards.

Google's Nexus 7 (2012 model)

Price: $199 with 16 gigabytes of storage, $249 with 32 GB. Add $50 for 32 GB model with cellular capability.

Screen size: 7 inches diagonally

Screen resolution: 1280 x 800 pixels (216 pixels per inch)

Size: height 7.81 inches; width: 4.72 inches; thickness: 0.41 inch (198.5 by 120 by 10.45 millimeters)

Weight: 12 ounces (340 grams) for base model, 12.2 ounces (347 grams) for cellular version

Cameras: Front-facing, 1.2 megapixel camera

Battery life: 8 hours

Operating system: Google's Android

Pros
Access to a variety of games, utilities and other software for Android devices, though not as extensive as apps available for iPad. Option for cellular wireless broadband.

Cons
Data storage cannot be expanded with memory cards.

Apple's iPad Mini

Price: $329 for base model with Wi-Fi only and 16 gigabytes of storage, $429 with 32 GB, $529 with 64 GB. Add $130 for versions with cellular capability.

Screen size: 7.9 inches diagonally

Screen resolution: 1024 by 768 pixels (163 pixels per inch)

Size: height 7.87 inches; width: 5.3 inches; thickness: 0.28 inch (200 by 134.7 by 7.2 millimeters)

Weight: 10.9 ounces (308 grams) for base model, 11 ounces (312 grams) for cellular version

Cameras: 5-megapixel camera on back and a low-resolution camera on front, for videoconferencing

Battery life: 10 hours

Operating system: Apple's iOS

Pros
Unmatched access to third-party applications, high-quality Apple software and the iTunes store. High-resolution screen. Available with access to fast 4G wireless broadband networks, starting at $459.

Cons
Data storage cannot be expanded with memory cards.

Barnes & Noble's Nook HD

Price: $129 with 8 gigabytes of storage, $149 with 16 GB

Screen size: 7 inches diagonally

Screen resolution: 1440 by 900 pixels (243 pixels per inch)

Size: height 7.65 inches; width: 5 inches; thickness: 0.43 inch (194.4 by 127.1 by 11 millimeters)

Weight: 11.1 ounces (315 grams)

Cameras: None

Battery life: Up to 10.5 hours of reading and up to 9 hours of video

Operating system: Modified version of Google's Android

Pros
Expandable with microSD card. High-definition screen. Larger-screen version available.

Cons
Selection of third-party applications is small. Lacks cameras and option for cellular broadband.

Amazon.com's Kindle Fire HD.

Price: $199 with 16 gigabytes of storage, $229 with 32 GB

Screen size: 7 inches diagonally

Screen resolution: 1280 by 800 pixels (216 pixels per inch)

Size: height: 7.6 inches; width: 5.4 inches; thickness: 0.4 inch (193 by 137 by 10.3 millimeters)

Weight: 13.9 ounces (395 grams)

Cameras: Front-facing camera.

Battery life: 11 hours.

Operating system: Modified version of Google's Android

Pros
Cheap and portable. Convenient access to Amazon store. High-definition screen. Dolby audio. Larger-screen version available, including option for cellular broadband.

Cons
Small selection of third-party applications available from Amazon. No rear camera for taking video and photos. Data storage cannot be expanded with memory cards.

Amazon.com's regular Kindle Fire

Price: $159 with 8 gigabytes of storage

Screen size: 7 inches diagonally

Screen resolution: 1024 by 600 pixels (170 pixels per inch)

Size: height 7.44 inches; width: 4.72 inches; thickness: 0.45 inch (189 by 120 by 11.5 millimeters)

Weight: 14.1 ounces (400 grams)

Cameras: none

Battery life: 8.5 hours.

Operating system: Modified version of Google's Android

Pros
Cheap and portable. Convenient access to Amazon store.

Cons
No-frills tablet lacks camera and microphone. Small selection of third-party applications available from Amazon. Data storage cannot be expanded with memory cards. No option for cellular wireless broadband.

Spice Stellar Glamour and Smart Flo Space with Android 4.2 launched

Spice has launched Spice Stellar Glamour and Smart Flo Space budget smartphones for Rs. 5,999 and Rs. 3,799, respectively.

The Spice Stellar Glamour features a 4-inch WVGA display with 480x800 pixels resolution. The device is powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core processor paired with 512MB RAM. The Spice Stellar Glamour offers dual-SIM (GSM+GSM) connectivity with both the SIMs supporting 3G connectivity. It sports a 5-megapixel rear camera accompanied by an LED flash and a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera. The handset runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. It also includes 4GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 32GB via microSD card. The device is backed by a 1400mAh battery. Connectivity features include GPRS, EDGE, 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The Spice Stellar Glamour comes preloaded with NQ Antivirus that comes with a 6 months subscription.

The Spice Flo Space Mi-354 features a 3.5-inch display with a resolution of 320x480 pixels. It is powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor coupled with 256MB RAM. It packs a 3-megapixel rear camera along with an LED flash and a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera. It also runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. The device includes 512MB internal storage that can be expanded up to 32GB through a microSD card. It is backed by a 1450mAh battery. The Spice Flo Space is a dual SIM (GSM+GSM) device with 2G support for both the SIMs.

Commenting on the launch, T M Ramakrishnan, CEO - Devices, S Mobility Ltd, said, "We have witnessed massive growth with low-cost offerings and delivering the best android experience without sacrificing on performance or features. These products position themselves as premium budget phones with enhanced features and better than what competition is offering. This latest offering by Spice is a perfect amalgamation of functionality, style & entertainment. "

Both the devices come preloaded with Spice Cloud app that provides consumers free Cloud backup with 2GB data storage and access to user photos, documents, music, videos and contacts across the devices, along with security and anti-theft features.

Spice Stellar Glamour Mi-436 key specifications

• 4-inch WVGA display with 480x800 pixels resolution
• 1.2GHz dual-core processor
• 512MB RAM
• 4GB internal storage expandable up to 32GB via microSD card
• Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)
• 5-megapixel rear camera with LED flash
• 1.3-megapixel front facing camera
• 1,400mAh Battery
• Dual-SIM (3G+3G)

Spice Flo Space Mi-354 key specifications

• 3.5-inch display with a resolution of 320x480 pixels
• 1GHz dual-core processor
• 256MB RAM
• 512MB internal storage, expandable up to 32GB via microSD card
• Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)
• 3-megapixel rear camera with LED flash
• 1.3-megapixel front facing camera
• 1,450mAh Battery
• Dual-SIM (2G+2G)

Guardian teams up with New York Times over Snowden documents

The Guardian has agreed with the New York Times to give the U.S. newspaper access to some classified documents leaked by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, both papers said on Friday.

In a brief story posted on its website, the Guardian said it "struck a partnership" with the Times after the British government threatened the Guardian with legal action unless it either surrendered or destroyed files it received from Snowden about Government Communications Headquarters - Britain's equivalent of NSA.

"In a climate of intense pressure from the UK government, the Guardian decided to bring in a US partner to work on the GCHQ documents provided by Edward Snowden. We are working in partnership with the NYT and others to continue reporting these stories," the British newspaper said in a statement.

The Times' executive editor, Jill Abramson, confirmed the collaboration.

"We don't usually comment on our reporting before publication, but in this case we will make an exception since it is already public. The Times is reporting on material from The Guardian as well as other matters related to Edward Snowden," the Times quoted her as saying.

A source familiar with the matter said the partnership deal had been struck several weeks ago and that Abramson was personally involved in negotiating it.

The website Buzzfeed reported that Scott Shane, a Times reporter who covers national security and intelligence, was working on a series of stories expected to be published next month jointly with the Guardian.

The Guardian said in its story that its partnership with the Times would enable it to "continue exposing mass surveillance by putting the Snowden documents on GCHQ beyond government reach."

It said Snowden, who disclosed documents on U.S. internet and phone surveillance programs in June and has obtained asylum in Russia, was aware of the deal.

The Guardian's editor, Alan Rusbridger, revealed earlier this week that under the supervision of representatives of GCHQ, Guardian staffers had destroyed computer equipment containing Snowden files after the newspaper was threatened with possible legal action by senior British government officials.

Rusbridger said he had put British officials on notice that copies of material which had been destroyed had been sent outside British government jurisdiction.

British authorities say they launched a criminal investigation this week following the temporary detention and questioning at London's Heathrow Airport of David Miranda, domestic partner of Glenn Greenwald, a Brazil-based Guardian writer who has led coverage of leaks from Snowden and communicated directly with the former NSA contractor.

British officials have said that Snowden's leaks have gravely damaged national security and could put lives in jeopardy if more secrets are disclosed.

The Times and the Guardian previously collaborated on stories related to alleged phone hacking by British tabloid newspapers and on coverage of secret U.S. military and diplomatic documents made available by U.S. Army soldier Bradley Manning to the WikiLeaks website.

Indian school kids to design Android apps

School students in the age group of 10-13 years will design mobile applications on Android platform in a countrywide contest.

"Students from schools across the country will participate in the first all-India Android mobile applications (app) design competition," Global Discovery Academy's chief product officer Vipul Redey said Bangalore Saturday.

"The contest has been designed to develop the thought process of students by exploring and generating their own unique concepts," Redey said.

The students will also compete in creating problem-solving applications in the areas of social concerns like environment, education, health, nutrition and civic amenities.

The criterion to participate is knowledge of computers and internet applications. The academy will provide training on mobile phone programming.

"We believe in leveraging technology as a tool to enhance conventional teaching and encourage students to ideate, explore and learn through exposure than rote-learning," Redey asserted.

In the three-stage contest, a participant has to describe to the academy by Sep 1 the app he/she will design and develop to serve a specific social cause, its functionality and user engagement.

In the second stage, a student has to submit a prototype of the mobile app to the academy for programme.

"Selected finalists will present the app idea and prototype at a special event in New Delhi and winners will be decided by a panel of judges on basis of creativity, effectiveness of the app and ease of its use," Redey added.

Google updates Play policies to make it mandatory for games to use its in-app billing service, regulate interstitial ads and more

Google has made changes to its Google Play Developer Program Policies regulating certain apps, payments within apps and advertising.

Google sent an email to developers registered with the program summarising the changes:

- Streamlined the ads policy, with guidance on interstitial ad behaviour, and a new "System Interference" provision, which prohibits ads in system notifications or home screen icons, and requires user consent when an app changes specified settings on a device.

- A revised hate speech policy that provides more comprehensive coverage, while recognising Google Play's role as a platform for free expression.

- Clarification that the gambling policy extends to all games that offer cash or other prizes; that virtual goods and currency in games are subject to the payment processor policy, that incentives should not be provided to users to rate an app; that artificially inflating an app's install count is prohibited, and that the Google Play Program Policy applies to all developer information or content made available on the Store.

The most significant change comes in the form of mandating use of Google Play's in-app billing service as the method of payment for games offering virtual goods or currencies within a game. For other apps offering additional content, services or functionality, using Google Play's in-app billing service is also mandatory except "where the payment is primarily for physical goods or services" or "where payment is for digital content or goods that may be consumed outside of the application itself."

This essentially means that offer virtual currency or coins through an in-app payment would only be able to accept payments for subscriptions through Google Play's in-app billing service and not through any other third-party payment provider(such as PayPal, Zong and others).

Google has also added "games of skill that offer prizes of cash or other value" under the gambling cause preventing any games that offer real money from being offered through the Play Store.

What does that mean for the developers and end users? Google has tightened its control on ads offered by apps that hamper the user experience of the Android devices. It clarifies that "Interstitial ads may only be displayed inside of the app they came with. Forcing the user to click on ads or submit personal information for advertising purposes in order to fully use an app is prohibited. A prominent and accessible target must be made available to users in any interstitial ad so they may dismiss the ad without penalty or inadvertent click-through." This means that some apps that pushed ads as notifications even when they were not running would not be allowed in the Play Store unless the developer makes changes to prevent the same.

Google has also clarified that it won't allow content that comes under hate speech in apps offered via the Play Store. It says, "We don't allow content advocating against groups of people based on their race or ethnic origin, religion, disability, gender, age, veteran status, or sexual orientation/ gender identity."

With the revised policy, it appears that Google intends to regulate the Play Store in favour of the user, reducing spammy apps and making the OS more secure. However, game developers would now have to give a30 percent cut to Google on in-app sales, similar to Apple, since all purchases must now be routed via Google's in-app billing service. On the up side, it means that game developers via users will be able to leverage carrier billing where it is available.

Sony Xperia Honami aka Xperia Z1's latest teaser reveals rear camera with G lens

Sony has just put up a teaser image on its Google+ page for what is most likely to be the upcoming Sony Xperia Honami or Xperia Z1/ i1's rear camera.

Sony has already been making headlines this week with the alleged press render images of the phone surfacing online, in a way confirming the colour variants of the yet to be announced handset.

The company has posted the image to its Google+ feed and notes, "Have we captured your attention yet...?" accompanied by the #bestofsony hashtag. The earlier teaser images have also been posted with the same hashtag which suggests that the company wants more people to talk about its upcoming smartphone on social platforms.

The new image shows the rear panel of the device housing the camera alongside an LED flash and G logo. The G logo hints that the Xperia Honami could feature the company's G lens which is usually used in the company's DSLRs and Digi-cams.

This is the first time that the company has teased the device's camera which has been considered as the highlight of the much talked about device. The Sony Xperia Honami is said to feature a 20-megapixel Exmor RS rear camera that is expected to sport a Sony G-lens and BIONZ image processor.

Earlier, Sony teased the upcoming smartphone's power button which was reminiscent of the one present in Sony's flagship smartphones, Xperia Z and Xperia Z Ultra. The company also teased animage showing the phone in water suggesting that the handset is water-resistant.

Sony is expected to introduce the company's next flagship smartphone at an event on September 4 on the sidelines of the IFA.

Rumoured specifications of the Xperia Honami or Z1 include a 5.0-inch full-HD display. It's likely to be powered by a 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor with 2GB of RAM. It's expected to include 16GB internal storage and a 3000mAh battery. The device is said to run Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.

Purported images of Motorola Droid 5 smartphone with QWERTY slider leak online

While all eyes are still on Motorola's recently unveiled flagship phone, Moto X, it appears that Motorola is preparing to expand its Droid line-up of smartphones with Motorola Droid 5.

If the images posted on Chinese social network Weibo are to be believed, the Google owned handset maker is allegedly gearing up to launch the next Droid phone that follows Droid's design aesthetics and features a 5-row slide out QWERTY keyboard. The various leaked images, reveal that the alleged Droid 5's front panel will not house any physical button and that the rear panel will include the camera alongside flash. The Verizon 4G LTE logos on the front panel also suggest that the device will head to the US carrier.

New Cell Phones blog has noted some of the specifications of the alleged Droid 5 that include a 4.3-inch or a 4.5-inch display with a full slider QWERTY keyboard. The handset will reportedly feature wireless charging, support NFC, and would be water and dust resistant. No other details are known.

Motorola's flagship smartphone, Moto X was launched earlier this month for a suggested retail price of $199.99 to customers who sign a two-year contract with five of the biggest U.S. mobile network operators.

The Moto X features a 4.7-inch display with a resolution of 720x1280 pixels. It is powered by a 1.7GHz dual-core Qualcomm MSM8960Pro Snapdragon processor coupled with 2GB of RAM. It offers 16GB of internal storage. It also sports a 10-megapixel rear camera accompanied by an LED flash and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera. The Moto X also features a shake gesture that directly opens the phone's camera app.

The device runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. Users can customise the body of the phone and choose from 18 back covers, different colour accents for the ring around the camera lens, accents around the volume and on-off buttons and get a personal message etched at the back of the phone. However, the customisation feature is limited to US carrier AT&T.

Micromax Canvas Doodle 2 with 5.7-inch HD display, stylus official for Rs. 19,990

Micromax has finally officially launched the Canvas Doodle 2 for Rs. 19,990.

The Micromax Canvas Doodle 2 features a 5.7-inch HD IPS display with a resolution of 720x1280 pixels. The device is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core processor. It sports a 12-megapixel auto-focus rear camera accompanied by dual LED flash and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. The device includes 16GB of internal storage, which is non-expandable. The Canvas Doodle 2 runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and the company claims that the device can be upgraded through FOTA. There is a 2600mAh battery that can give up to 8 hours of talk time, as per the listing. It is a dual-SIM device (GSM+GSM). Connectivity options include EDGE, GPRS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 3G. Pre-loaded apps include M! Doodle, M! Live, M! Security, M! Zone, Hike, Spuul, Foneclay, Facebook and Kingsoft office.

The Micromax Canvas Doodle 2 also comes with a stylus, like the original Micromax Canvas DoodleA111. The phablet also includes features like Smart Pause, Skitch and Blow or Shake to Unlock, which were recently seen on company's flagship smartphone, the Micromax Canvas 4.

Commenting on the launch, Shubhodip Pal, CMO Micromax said, "Canvas Doodle 2 further builds our promise to empower our consumers with devices which help them express their imagination and creativity with their smartphone like never before. We are swiftly moving forward in our pursuit of being the number one smartphone player in India, and Canvas Doodle 2 will further consolidate our surge to the top position in smartphone market. This is complemented by an entire eco-system of applications and latest software. The TVC of the campaign would also go live on August 28, to reach out to the masses."

Earlier the handset made appearance through online retailer's listing and official teaser post on Facebook.

Micromax Canvas Doodle 2 key specifications

• 5.7-inch HD display with a resolution of 720x1280 pixels
• 1.2GHz quad-core processor
• 16GB of internal storage, non-expandable
• 12-megapixel rear camera with dual LED flash
• 5-megapixel front-facing camera
• Android 4.2 Jelly Bean
• 2,600 mAh battery
• Dual-SIM (GSM+GSM)

Google Chromecast update disables ability to play content from 'unauthorised' sources

It looks like Google doesn't want users of its Chromecast media streaming device to beam their own content to their TV screens.

The Internet giant has pushed a new update to its $35 media device that breaks support for AllCast, a third-party app that allows users to stream their own content to their TVs via the device. The app allowed users to play multimedia content stored in their Android device's gallery, Dropbox, or Google Drive.

Koushik Dutta, the developer of the app alleges that Google's latest Chromecast update intentionally breaks AllCast (which used to be initially called AirCast) by disabling 'video_playback' support from the ChromeCast application. He posted an update on his Google+ page saying that this was the second time Google purposefully "removed/ disabled the ability to play media from external sources." He says that it also confirms his suspicion about the Chromecast developer program' policy seems of taking a heavy-handed approach, allowing only approved content through the device. He adds that Chromecast will probably not be indie developer friendly as Google's stand on third-party apps was not clear.

Google had unveiled the Chromecast on July 24. It is a small stick roughly the same size as a thumb drive that can be plugged into an HDMI port on flat-panel TVs. It brings Netflix, Google's YouTube site and other Internet content from Google Play to what is usually the biggest screen in households.

The device connects with smartphones, tablets and personal computers to beam Internet content to TVs. However, unlike the Apple TV, it doesn't let users beam local content to TVs due to Google's copyright worries, and connects to an Internet server for receiving content. 
App developers need to add support for their apps if they want users to be able to beam content through the device. Having said that, users can also send their Chrome browser tabs to the device, which means video playing on any web page can be streamed to the TV through Chromecast. The tab casting feature is still in beta, though.

Gionee P2 with Android 4.2 launched for Rs. 6,499

Gionee, the China-based handset vendor, has launched the Gionee P2 in India at a price point of Rs. 6,499.

The Gionee P2 features a 4-inch WVGA display with a resolution of 480x800 pixels. The device is powered by a 1.3GHz dual-core Cortex A7 MediaTek 6572 processor paired with 512MB of RAM and Mali 400 GPU. It sports a 5-megapixel rear camera accompanied by an LED flash and a VGA front-facing camera. The rear camera includes options like face detection, touch to focus, Panorama, face beauty, gesture & smile shot and can also record HD videos. The Gionee P2 runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. It comes with 4GB of internal storage that can be further expanded up to 32GB. The device support dual SIM (GSM+GSM). It also packs in 1700mAh battery. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, FM Radio, GPS, Digital Compass, Light Sensor, Face Unlock and Game Zone.

The Gionee P2 is a budget android smartphone and will be up against the likes of devices from Micromax, Karbonn and Spice in the same price segment.

Previously, the company launched Gionee Elife E6 which features a unibody design and sports a 5-inch OGS (One-Glass-Solution) AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080x1920 pixels and boasts a pixel density of 441ppi. The device is powered by a 1.5GHz MediaTek quad-core processor, along with 2GB of RAM. The internal storage offered by the phone is 32GB. The Gionee Elife E6 sports a 13-megapixel autofocus rear camera, which also includes a second generation BSI sensor, along with an LED flash and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera with a 28mm lens. Both cameras support 1080p video recording. The phone runs Android 4.2 with its own custom Amigo UI layer. The phone is powered by a 2020mAh battery.

Gionee P2 key specifications

• 4-inch WVGA display with a resolution of 480x800 pixels
• 1.3GHz dual-core Cortex A7 processor
• 512MB RAM
• 4GB internal storage, expandable up to 32GB
• 5-megapixel rear camera with flash
• VGA front facing camera
• Android 4.2 Jelly Bean
• Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, FM radio
• 1700mAh Battery

Nokia's Windows RT tablet codenamed Sirius to look similar to Lumia phones: Report

Alleged images of Nokia's new Windows RT tablet surfaced online, a few days back, and now it's being suggested that the Finnish giant's first tablet would closely resemble its Lumia smartphones.

According to a report by The Verge, Nokia is working on launching a new 10.1-inch Windows RT tablet, codenamed Sirius. It says that the images which leaked online a few days back were of a prototype and the final device would be a bit different.

An earlier report by the same publication suggested that the tablet has been codenamed Vanquish.

The report offers some more details about the tablet's form factor and hardware specifications. It mentions that the tablet will be thinner than the current generation iPad and would be lighter, weighing just over a pound. The tablet will have a coloured body and its 10.1-inch screen would feature a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, which would be optimised for outdoor reading, as per the report.

The Nokia tablet would sport a 6-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front facing camera. The report cites sources to inform that the tablet will be powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor along with 2GB of RAM. It adds that the tablet will offer LTE connectivity and will deliver a battery backup of 10 hours. The tablet will offer expandable storage and feature a microSD card slot in to extend its 32GB internal storage capacity. It's also likely to come with a micro-HDMI connector, and a micro-USB port. This is in line with the rumoured specifications that leaked earlier.

Nokia will offer a keyboard accessory with the tablet that includes a battery for additional charging, as per the report. The company is expected to unveil the tablet at an event in New York (US) on September 26 and will price it comparatively with the iPad, it adds.

It is interesting to note that Nokia believes the Windows RT platform has a future, after Microsoft itself failed to make a dent in the market with its Surface RT tablet, taking a $900 million charge for "inventory adjustments" for the tablet in its last quarterly earnings.

Nokia Lumia 925 and Lumia 625 officially launched in India

Nokia has launched its much anticipated smartphone, the Lumia 925 in India for Rs. 33,499 . The Finnish handset maker has also launched its large screen mid-range Lumia device, the Lumia 625 for Rs. 19,999.

The Lumia 925 had been listed on Nokia's official website with a price tag of Rs. 34,169. However, the MRP of the phone was listed as Rs. 38,529.

The Nokia Lumia 925 was introduced back in May at an event in London and was seen as a new interpretation of company's flagship phone, the Nokia Lumia 920.

The Nokia Lumia 925 is a premium smartphone and sports a metal frame with a polycarbonate back. As far as the specifications go, it comes with a 4.5-inch AMOLED ClearBlack display with a resolution of 768x1280 pixels and Gorilla 2 Glass. It is powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor alongside 1GB RAM and 16GB of internal storage. It has an 8.7-megapixel PureView rear camera and 1.2-megapixel wide-angle front camera. Nokia claims that the Lumia 925's camera is better than the one featured in the Lumia 920. The Nokia Lumia 925 is available in two colour variants Black and Grey. It comes with a 2,000 mAh battery and runs Windows Phone 8. A wireless charging cover can be attached with the phone, available in Yellow, Red, White and Black colours.

With the launch of the Lumia 925, the company also introduced the new Nokia Smart Camera mode that offers an easy way to capture ten images at once and edit the pictures with options like Best Shot, Action Shot, and Motion Focus.

Meanwhile, the Nokia Lumia 625 has also been officially unveiled after being listed on an e-commerce retailer's website, earlier this week for Rs. 19,499.

Nokia had announced the launch of the Lumia 625 sporting a 4.7-inch LCD screen, its biggest one on a smartphone yet, last month. The specifications of the Nokia Lumia 625 include a 1.2GHz dual-core processor alongside 512MB RAM and 8GB internal storage that can be expanded up to 64GB via microSD card. It comes with a 5-megapixel rear camera and a VGA front-facing shooter. The 4.7-inch screen sports a 480x800 pixel resolution. The device runs Windows Phone 8. The phone will be available in Orange, Yellow, bright Green, White and Black colours.

Nokia Lumia 925 key specifications

• 4.5-inch AMOLED ClearBlack display with 768x1280 resolution
• 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor
• 1GB RAM
• 16GB of internal storage
• 8.7-megapixel PureView rear camera
• 1.2-megapixel wide-angle front camera
• Windows Phone 8
• 2,000 mAh battery

Nokia Lumia 625 key specifications

• 4.7-inch 480x800 resolution
• 1.2GHz dual-core processor
• 512MB RAM
• 8GB internal storage, expandable by up to 64GB
• 5-megapixel rear camera
• VGA front camera
• 2,000mAh battery
• Windows Phone 8 with Amber update

Windows 8 PCs vulnerable to cyber threats, warns German agency

A German government technology agency has warned that new security technology in computers running Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system may actually make PCs more vulnerable to cyber threats, including sabotage.

Germany's Federal Office for Information Security, or BSI, said in a statement posted on its website on Wednesday that federal government agencies and critical infrastructure operators should pay particular attention to the risk.

The warning comes after weeks of public indignation in Germany over leaks related to U.S. surveillance programs. The spying scandal has become a headache for Chancellor Angela Merkel ahead of a September 22 election.

The problem, according to the BSI, is with the use of a computer chip known as the Trusted Platform Module, or TPM 2.0, which is built into Windows 8 computers. TPM 2.0 is designed to better protect PCs by interacting with a variety of security applications.

But the BSI, which provides advice on technology and security to the government as well as the public, said the joint implementation of Windows 8 and TPM 2.0 chips could lead to "a loss of control" over both the operating system and hardware, without specifying exactly how that could occur.

"As a result, new risks occur for users, especially for federal and critical infrastructure," it said.

The statement concluded: "The new mechanisms in use can also be used for sabotage by third parties. These risks need to be addressed."

Microsoft declined comment on the BSI statement.

The company provided Reuters with a statement saying that PC makers have the option to turn off TPM technology, so that customers can buy PCs with it disabled.

TPM was developed by the Trusted Computing Group, a non-profit organization backed by technology firms including IBM, Intel, Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft.

The BSI said it was working with the Trusted Computing Group and operating systems producers to find a solution.

A spokeswoman for that group declined to comment on the specific claims raised by the BSI. She said the group has provided PC makers and users with plenty of advice on best security practices to avoid any threats that they may face.

Microsoft CEO to retire: 9 candidates who could replace Steve Ballmer

Microsoft Corp has set up a special committee to find a new chief executive after Steve Ballmer announced his retirement on Friday.

The world's largest software company has no anointed successor, and has had only two CEOs in its 38-year history - Ballmer and co-founder Bill Gates.

The following is a list of tech executives that Microsoft might consider.

1. Tony Bates - Came to Microsoft two years ago as CEO of the acquired Skype and was recently elevated to lead Microsoft's business development and overall strategy.

2. Terry Myerson - The executive in charge of operating systems, which is still the heart of Microsoft, ranging across PCs, tablets, phones and the Xbox game console.

3. Satya Nadella - Heads Microsoft's cloud and enterprise group, which is coming to the fore as the company struggles to catch up in online and mobile computing.

4. Kevin Turner - As Chief Operating Officer for the last eight years, the former Wal-Mart Stores Inc executive leads Microsoft's enormous sales organization, but is generally considered to lack the technology credibility to be CEO.

5. Steven Sinofsky - The former head of the Windows unit was widely tipped as a potential Microsoft CEO until his abrupt departure in November. His reputation has taken a hit since then with the dismal sales of the Surface tablet he launched and the lukewarm reception of Windows 8.

6. Vic Gundotra - The high-flying Google Inc engineer, key to that company's mobile phone and social initiatives, is a former Microsoft executive who could be tempted to return.

7. Reed Hastings - The CEO of Netflix Inc is a rising Silicon Valley star and has intimate knowledge of Microsoft's business after several years on its board, until his departure last year.

8. Paul Maritz - One of the key powers in the early days of Windows, Maritz left in 2000 and eventually ran virtualization firm VMware Inc until last year. Talk occasionally surfaces that he could return to Microsoft, but he has never indicated any interest publicly.

9. Bill Gates - The co-founder of Microsoft is still Chairman, but has focused his day-to-day efforts on philanthropy since 2008 when he vacated his office on campus. People close to him say he is not considering a return to the CEO position.

Xolo Q1000S with 5-inch HD display launched for Rs. 18,999

Xolo has launched the Xolo Q1000S in India at a price point of Rs. 18,999.

The Xolo Q1000S features a 5-inch HD IPS display with OGS display technology and boasts a resolution of 720x1280 pixels with 294ppi pixel density. It runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. The device is powered by 1.5GHz quad-core MediaTek 6589T processor paired with 1GB RAM. It also comes with 16GB of internal storage which is non-expandable and measures 6.98mm in thickness.

The Xolo Q1000S sports a 13-megapixel rear camera with BSI 2 sensor with LED flash and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. The rear camera is capable of recording full-HD videos and also comes with image stabilisation technology. Other features of camera are scene detection and tuning, high dynamic range (HDR), low-light enhancement, face recognition, burst mode feature to capture up to 99 shots, Panorama and geo-tagging. The handset packs in a 2500 mAh battery that can give up to 327 hours of standby time and about 23 hours of talk time, as per the company. Connectivity options include GPRS, EDGE, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and 3G.

Earlier this month, the company had launched the Xolo A500S. The Xolo A500S features a 4-inch WVGA display that has a resolution of 480x800 pixels and pixel density of 233 Pixels Per Inch (PPI). The device is powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core processor with 512MB of RAM and a Mali-400 MP GPU. It includes a 5-megapixel rear camera accompanied by an LED flash and a VGA front facing camera. The rear camera can record videos up to 720p resolution. The Xolo A500S runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. It also includes 4GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 32GB through microSD card. It is a dual SIM device with support for GSM+GSM with dual standby. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPRS, EDGE, 3G, and Micro-USB. Other features include an accelerometer, ambient light sensor, proximity sensor and AGPS. The Xolo A500S is backed by a 1400mAh battery.

Xolo Q1000S key specifications

• 5-inch HD IPS display with 720x1280 pixels resolution and 294ppi pixel density
• 1.5GHz quad-core MediaTek 6589T processor
• 1GB RAM
• 16GB internal storage
• 13-megapixel rear camera
• 5-megapixel front facing camera
• Android 4.2 Jelly Bean
• 2500mAh battery

Almost one third of all apps on BlackBerry World developed by a single developer

While app numbers are a key to a mobile platform's success, turns out BlackBerry's taken it really seriously. A new revelation reveals that almost one-third of its apps have been developed by just one developer.

According to a report by BerryReview, more than 47,000 apps in BlackBerry World, BlackBerry's app and content marketplace, are offered by a single developer by the name of S4BB. A large number of these apps are merely wrappers for content such as audiobooks, city guides, phrasbooks and fart apps, amongst others.

This essentially means that about one-third of the apps available on the BlackBerry World have been published by a single developer. It appears that BlackBerry was boasting of big app numbers riding on these 'almost spam' apps by a single developer, in a bid to counter the naysayers' 'lack of apps' argument when it launched BlackBerry 10, without focusing on the quality of apps.

Blackberry has also been relying heavily on developers who work with other platforms, with its Port-A-Thons, rewarding them to port their existing apps for the company's new platform. According to areport, BlackBerry has been able to generate around 40,000 BB10 apps for its BlackBerry World app store through these port-a-thons. BlackBerry's BlackBerry 10 OS has the ability to run Android apps and many of the big names have simply ported their existing Android apps to the platform. 

At the time of its launch, BlackBerry had announced that  70,000 apps were available on BlackBerry World. However, most of these apps had been ported from other leading platforms.

All this implies that native development on the platform has not really taken off.

iPhone sales power China Telecom to higher profits

State-owned China Telecom, the country's third biggest mobile phone operator by subscribers, said Wednesday that profit grew in the first half of the year as revenue from iPhone sales kicked in.

Beijing-based China Telecom, also the world's biggest fixed-line telephone operator, stepped up marketing spending to woo customers after it became the second Chinese mobile company to offer Apple's popular iPhone in the first half of 2012.

Company officials had warned the increased spending would hurt short-term profitability but help in the long term.

The efforts appear to have paid off.

The company posted a 10.2 billion yuan ($1.7 billion) profit in the January-June period, up 16 percent from the year before.

Operating revenue rose 14 percent to 157.5 billion yuan.

China's three state-owned mobile phone companies are locked in an increasingly competitive battle as they invest heavily in faster fourth-generation networks to support new data-hungry smartphones and tablet computers.

China Telecom Chairman Wang Xiaochu also warned of the threat from free instant messaging apps such as the hugely popular WeChat that have eroded two important sources of revenue, text messaging and voice calls

"There are still uncertainties in domestic regulatory policies while the accelerated evolution of new technologies is driving up industry competition," Wang said. "The cross-sector competition of mobile internet gradually emerged. In future we will face new challenges."

The company's mobile customers rose to 174.5 million, up 13.8 million from the end of last year. Mobile data revenue rose 36 percent.

Fixed lines slipped 4 percent to 159.6 million.

HTC hopes visionary CEO can engineer second coming

Now in his tenth year as CEO of HTC Corp, Peter Chou is lauded as the architect of the Taiwanese firm's award-winning smartphones. But as the company's fortunes have dived, some insiders say he's now an obstacle to any revival.

Rocked by internal feuding and executive exits, and positioned at the high-end of a smartphone market that is close to saturation, HTC has seen its market share slump to below 5 percent from around a quarter five years ago; its stock price is at 8-year lows, and it has warned it could make a first operating loss this quarter.

Reuters interviewed a dozen former and current HTC executives who said Chou's abrasive management style and weak strategic vision play their part in the company's decline, which has coincided with the success of Apple Inc's iPhone and Samsung Electronics' Galaxy phones.

Chou has said publicly he has no intention to stand down, and executives - none of whom wanted to be named because of the sensitive nature of the issue - said HTC has no clear internal successor. "Part of the weakness is there is no obvious successor, and that's not been good for morale," one said.

Chou declined to be interviewed for this article, but in response to Reuters queries, the company said: "HTC's board and broad employee base remain committed to Peter Chou's leadership. The (flagship) HTC One product family - which has been met with accolades by media and consumers alike - was a result of Peter's vision and leadership, and speaks for itself."

Obsessive eye
Born in Myanmar but educated as an electrical engineer in Taiwan, Chou joined HTC from Digital Equipment Corp (DEC) in 1997. Colleagues describe him as a perfectionist with an obsessive eye for materials and hardware design. Staff would deliver trays of prototype phones for him to inspect and pore over, spinning them to check for balance and running his fingers across the bevelled edges and joints. Phones would pile up on his desk, sometimes spilling onto the floor.

That attention to detail and Chou's willingness to make decisions on the fly helped build a culture within HTC of moving quickly to address market demands.

At an offsite meeting two years ago, for example, the HTC team realised it needed another device for its portfolio. Chou quickly drew some sketches on a whiteboard, recalled one of those present, and soon had the outlines of a device, its price point, and a launch date - just three months away. Most manufacturers would need up to 18 months for a similar project, yet the Sensation XL appeared on schedule, and to rave reviews.

"Having the ability to just tear up a plan and say, OK, this is the new thing and we're going to get it done fast. That's Peter," said another former senior foreign executive.

This shoot-from-the-hip approach served HTC well when the market was growing fast. Shortening the time to market meant HTC could alter plans at the last minute to take advantage of new or cheaper parts. But, as the market has matured, making it harder for handset makers to differentiate their products, the approach has left HTC vulnerable. Locking in the supply of more advanced components and materials to make products stand out requires more foresight and planning than HTC currently allows, former executives say.

"The weak point is they don't really have a long term strategy," said one. "It used to be a strength, and now is becoming a weak point as they don't have a clear direction going forward."

HTC's second-quarter net profit was well below forecasts even after resolving component shortages that hit its HTC One phone, and the company has said current quarter revenue could fall by as much as 30 percent from the previous quarter. HTC shares trade at around a tenth of their 2011 peak.

Management style
Just three years ago, HTC was shipping 25 million smartphones a year and Chou led a huge expansion, bringing in foreign executives from Sony Ericsson, Apple, Motorola and Microsoft as he sought to take on Apple by doubling HTC's shipments.

HTC was named Device Manufacturer of the Year at the world Mobile Congress in February 2011 and its market value topped that of rivals Research In Motion, now BlackBerry Ltd, and Nokia. Chou ordered champagne to celebrate.

But as Apple and Samsung reigned supreme, HTC's annual shipments never reached that 50 million level, and by the end of last year HTC had dropped to 10th among global smartphone makers.

The HTC One, and earlier so-called 'hero' handsets from HTC, have won wide praise. The problem has been selling them.

Executives say HTC's failure to hit sales targets was at least partly down to Chou's management style. After hiring a slew of foreign executives, he fell short on promises to senior staff to foster a more open culture and cede sufficient authority. He openly berated managers and overrode their decisions, often with little discussion.

Such an atmosphere, executives said, damaged morale and left managers uncertain of their roles. Chou kept his sales, product, marketing and design executives separate and, in some cases, created parallel teams doing the same thing. He didn't hold meetings of executives of the different departments to iron out problems even as HTC's performance wilted. "There's a culture in HTC not to discuss numbers at senior management meetings," said one former executive. "Those discussions tend to become hard or ugly, but if you don't solve it, it becomes bigger."

Old guard
Chou's difficulty in developing a durable global brand of handsets and building an ecosystem of apps and services around it raise questions about how HTC can recover under his leadership at a time when high-end smartphone sales growth is slowing.

"With intensifying competition from other top-tier players and the entrance of lower-tier players, we think a long-term margin downtrend is inevitable," SinoPac wrote in a recent note.

Many of the foreign hires have now quit, and HTC's old guard has re-established charge, running nearly all operations except design from Taipei. That, say those both inside and outside the company, is a mixed blessing.

While leadership tensions may have eased, some warn that concentrating global marketing in Taiwan will create a one-size-fits-all, local approach that won't help HTC grow globally. "What works in Taiwan is different from other markets," said one of the former executives. Chief Marketing Officer Benjamin Ho defended the move, saying in a recent interview with Reuters that it made sense to centralise key functions, but that HTC was "not forgetting that we know we're an international brand."

Even his fiercest critics agree Chou remains the heart of the company and say it's hard to imagine HTC coming up with great devices without him.

As it seeks to turn around its fortunes, HTC has launched cheaper phones in China, and brought out a smaller, cheaper version of its flagship phone, the One Mini. It is trying to revive its U.S. business by working more closely with operators and forming a new operations team.

HTC has also signed up "Iron Man" star Robert Downey Jr, whose own turnaround story - from jail and drug rehabilitation over a decade ago - is an "inspiration", says Ho. As part of HTC's around $1 billion annual marketing spend, the first advertisements featuring Downey appeared last week.

TiVo Roamio review

In many ways, TiVo's digital video recorders have become redundant as cable and satellite TV companies offer their own DVR services. Yet the company that pioneered DVRs 14 years ago keeps churning out new products.

Avid television viewers will appreciate that. The fifth-generation TiVos, called Roamio, continue the company's tradition of giving you much more than you can get from your cable or satellite company. That includes the ability to watch recorded shows when you're away from home, starting this fall.

But you'll also pay much more for the experience - $400 for the mid-range model, plus a monthly service fee of $15. By contrast, you can often get DVR service through your TV provider for a comparable monthly fee, with no extra equipment to buy.

If you don't watch a lot of television, Roamio isn't for you. It would be like going to a five-star restaurant when all you want is bread. But Roamio is a worthwhile investment if you have hundreds of television channels and Internet video services and can't figure out where to start.

Like other DVRs, you can pause live television to answer the phone or the door. You can rewind live sporting events and create your own replays. Get home 15 minutes late? You can start watching a show from the beginning as it's still being recorded.

Where TiVo has excelled is in helping you find programs to record. You can create wish lists of favorite actors and have TiVo automatically record movies or talk shows they appear in. You can also do the same with keywords, such as "national park" or "dolphins." You can even have TiVo offer suggestions based on your past viewing, though I have found its picks dubious at times.

TiVos also integrate TV shows and movies from Internet video services such as Netflix Inc., Amazon.com Inc. and Hulu. When you search for "Breaking Bad," for instance, you get a list of episodes the AMC channel is showing over the next two weeks plus all the episodes available on Netflix or Amazon. To watch through TiVo, you still have to get a Netflix subscription or buy individual episodes through Amazon, but it's good to know you can get past episodes there. You can also search for related video on YouTube and see what other shows cast members from "Breaking Bad" are in.

The new TiVo has all that, plus suggestions on what to watch now, rather than just what to record in the future. It's based partly on what other TiVo users are watching at the moment or have watched in that time slot in the past.

Roamio also lets you customize the on-screen television listings. If you're in the mood for a movie, you can have TiVo show you just the movies when you scroll through the listings. You can customize that further and scroll through just comedies or documentaries. Instead of movies, you can also scroll through just sports, news shows or kids programming.

As is the case with previous TiVos, if there are channels you never watch, such as something in Korean or Russian, you can have TiVo remove them from your lineup. Shows on those channels will be filtered out of listings and searches. You can also do that with Internet services you have no interest in paying for.

Roamio also has a number of hardware improvements, mostly on the mid-level Roamio Plus ($400) and the high-end Roamio Pro ($600)

• Those two models will let you watch live or record up to six shows at once. That's up from a maximum of four. (The $200 base model has four tuners, up from two.)

• Both will let you watch your recorded shows on an iPhone or iPad. Before, you needed a separate $130 TiVo Stream box. Streaming is currently limited to iPhones and iPads connected to your home wireless network, but TiVo will start offering out-of-home streaming this fall. Users will be able to stream video in various ways, including through a hotel Wi-Fi on the road. Android streaming is promised by early next year.

• All three models come with a remote that uses radio signals rather than an infrared beam. What that means is you don't have to point the remote at the TiVo.

• All three models also have Wi-Fi built in, so you no longer need to attach an Ethernet cable or buy a separate TiVo Wi-Fi adapter for $90.

• The Roamio offers speed improvements over the previous model, which you'll notice when navigating menus. That said, the system did hang on me for a few seconds now and then as TiVo sifted through all the data.

The base model comes with 500 gigabytes of storage, enough for 75 hours of high-definition recordings. The Plus model, which is the one I reviewed, has 1 terabyte for 150 hours, while the Pro has 3 terabytes for 450 hours. That's nearly 19 days of TV without any sleep. There's even more room for non-HD recordings.

If you bought a new TiVo recently, you probably don't need to upgrade. If you want the streaming, you can simply buy the TiVo Stream device. It will get out-of-home streaming, too, when that's available. You can also get a device called the Slingbox, which essentially mirrors over the Internet what's being shown on your home TV. TiVo has at least one advantage over the Slingbox: It lets you and whoever's home watch different shows.

Roamio isn't compatible with satellite TV or video service through AT&T's U-verse.

It works with cable TV service, but you'll need to keep it. While the base model can accommodate over-the-air broadcasts, the Plus and the Pro models can't process signals from antennas. You would be stuck with TiVo as a streaming device, which isn't its strong suit. Both Roku (Review) and Apple TV offer access to many more Internet services than TiVo. TiVo is largely limited to Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon.com and a few others. That said, the Roamio has software changes that's designed to make future apps easier to write.

Game machines such as the Wii U and phones such as Samsung's Galaxy S4 offer apps that let you find shows and control the TV from the device. TiVo can replace your TV's remote, too, but it's expensive if that's all you want.

I have stopped channel surfing since I got my first TiVo in 2001. There's always something better to watch now that TiVo has helped me find and record programming. After just a few hours with Roamio, I was discovering even more shows and movies I want to watch.

And with streaming video, it does a good job of finding all that content. With one search, I can tell that Netflix has only the first four and a half seasons of "Breaking Bad." That same search tells me that if I want more recent episodes, I need to buy them through Amazon Instant Video or wait for reruns on AMC. With Roku, I have to search for online content one service at a time.

You can probably cobble together a bunch of services and devices that do what TiVo does. With the new Roamio, TiVo is the one that does it all and does it well.

Jolla claims pre-orders from 136 countries for its Sailfish-based smartphone

Finland based mobile startup, Jolla, which was founded by a group of ex-Nokia software developers, has closed its pre-sales campaign for its first Sailfish OS based smartphone, which it had unveiled in May.

The company said (pdf) that the first production batch of Jolla smartphones has been fully booked. 

The first Jolla based smartphones are targeted to begin shipping by the end of 2013, starting with Europe, as per the company.

It disclosed that it had received online pre-orders from 136 countries, but did not shed light on the number of units booked.

"We are delighted to see this great worldwide interest towards our very first device. When you see someone wearing an 'I am the First One' T-shirt, you see a proud future owner of Jolla," says Tomi Pienimäki, CEO of Jolla. "For those, who missed the first opportunity, we are now doing our best to offer a second chance, a new batch of Jolla smartphones later in the autumn. I encourage everyone interested in Jolla to sign up at jolla.com and be the first to know about any new developments, such as the opening of the next pre-sales campaign."

According to a report by TechCrunch, Jolla has hinted that the number of devices sold through the campaign may be in the tens of thousands of units range. The report quotes a Jolla spokesperson saying, "Although Jolla is not giving out the exact number of devices prebooked it can be said that the size of the production batch for a mobile device vendor of this size is typically 50,000 units." 

Jolla had introduced a Kickstarter-like 'Movement' in May, in which people could participate by pre-ordering the phone. One could opt for a zero-cost pre-order option to reserve the phone when it launches, or pay 40 Euros for a limited edition phone and a t-shirt along with assured priority status. One could also pay 100 Euros and get all the goodies along with an extra back cover and 100 Euros off on the total price.