Google I/O 2012: Jelly Bean-based Nexus 7 tablet from Asus launched

With weeks of speculations and a bunch of last minute leaks, the word is out and the device is official. Google has announced the Nexus Tablet at its annual Google I/O event.

As the name suggests, the device has a 7-inch screen, with a resolution of 1280x800, and will be powered by the Nvidia Tegra 3 processor with its 12-core GPU, coupled with 1GB RAM. The front of the device has a layer of Corning FIT glass, while the display itself features Asus "TruVivid" technology. The display is an IPS display with 178-degree viewing angle. It has a 1.2MP front facing camera and boasts of NFC. The device weighs 340gms and houses a 4325mAh battery. Google claims that the device will last for up to 9 hours of video playback and 300 hours of standby time.

The device will run on Google’s latest operating system, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. The look and feel of the OS is the same as Android 4.0 ICS, but there are many incremental upgrades to the OS.

YouTube has been completely redesigned for the tablet. Google Maps too has been optimized with new information overlays giving you more out of the maps app. The information provided includes traffic details, train information and some news. Google also showed off the gaming capabilities of the device by unveiling Horn, a good-looking 3D game, and Madfinger's zombie shooter Dead Trigger.

Users prayers have finally been answered and the Nexus 7 tablet will ship with Chrome as the standard browser.

The Nexus 7 tablet is priced at $199 (Rs. 11,339 approx.) for the 8GB variant and $249 (Rs. 14,188) for the 16GB variant. The device can be preordered today and will ship in mid July in the US. No official India launch date or price has been announced.

If there is one device that the Google Nexus 7 tablet can take on is the Kindle Fire. The Nexus 7 cannot only act as an eBook reader and a multimedia device but gives access to a plethora of apps to users via the Google Play store.

Google also introduced Nexus Q, a social streaming and entertainment device that reportedly been completely designed, and manufactured in the U.S. A sphere-like device, Nexus Q runs on the Galaxy Nexus’ dual-core processor, and connects to the Google Play store.

The Nexus Q comes with 16GB of built-in storage, and will allow users to push Android content from the Google Play store, and YouTube content, to their home TV and to speakers. It supports Wi-Fi, Ethernet, micro-HDMI, optical audio, USB, Bluetooth, and NFC connectivity. It can also be controlled via your Android handset. As for the social streaming aspect, Google says the Nexus Q will allow friends to add videos and songs to the user’s Q device, and push their content to the top of your playlist.

Google’s Nexus Q also features 32 LED lights that respond to the content being played by blinking, and changing colour. The entire top of the sphere-like device is a volume control, while a capacitive touch button is present for easy muting.

The Nexus Q is currently available for pre-order on the Google Play store for $299, but for now though, is only available for the U.S.

Enjoy videos of the Nexus 7 and Nexus Q below:

Google Nexus tablet to feature 7-inch IPS display, Jelly Bean and Tegra 3

According to the document, and CNET sources, theGoogle Nexus tablet, also known as the Nexus 7 tablet, will be manufactured by Asus (aspreviously rumoured), and will run on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Previously, Google’s new smartphone-tablet operating system was attributed an Android 5.0 version number – we’ll have to wait and see if that actually turns out to be the case.A leaked document procured by Gizmodo Australia is thought to detail the Google Nexus tablet, ahead of the Google’s I/O event, which starts tomorrow.

The leaked specifications of the Google Nexus tablet describe a 7-inch IPS display, with a HD resolution of 1,280x800 pixels and a viewing angle of 178 degrees. Other specifications include a 1.3GHz Tegra 3 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 1.2MP front-facing camera, NFC connectivity, Android Beam, and a battery life of roughly 9 hours.

There will reportedly be no rear camera on the Google Nexus tablet, presumably so that Google can keep the final price low – it is expected to retail for $199 for the 8GB model, and $249 for 16GB model. As for availability, the device is expected to hit certain territories as early as July.

The screen is an IPS display with a 178-degree viewing angle, running a resolution of 1280×800. The device will also sport a 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera. The battery will also give you nine hours worth of operation.

If you are wondering just what Android X.X Jelly Bean will bring to the table, you’ll have to wait for the I/O event. However, for now, you can take a sneak peek at what appears to the a screenshot of the operating system, posted alongside the official Google I/O companion app on the Google Play store. A transparent search bar is visible on the screenshot, quite unlike the solid offering of ICS.

Flipboard for Android

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MRP: NA

 

PROS

• Simple and intuitive layout
• Easy aggregation of information from a variety of accounts
• Convenient reading, watching videos and sharing of content
• Social networking integration

CONS

• No Android tablet version of the app
• No offline reading capabilities without third party apps

Summary

Flipboard was a fantastic app when it launched on iOS. It translates all the same awesome features to Android with the addition of Google Plus integration. If you are one who needs to consume all your content when it is aggregated under one roof, this is one app you should definitely consider.

• REVIEW

Available for iOS for over a year now, Flipboard is your personalized magazine app for not only consuming news content but also keeping track of your YouTube subscriptions and social networking feeds.

The app has been in its Beta form for the Android platform and the company has recently launched the full version of the app for free on the Google Play store. But, does it deserve a place in your app library?

Setup, Look & Feel
After you download the app from the Play Store, the first thing that you will notice is the look, feel and interface is very similar to the iOS version of the app.

Power up the app and you will be asked to wither “Sign In” with your Flipboard account or “Get Started” by creating a Flipboard account.

There are some preset categories that users can choose from such as New, Technology, Photography, Business, Sports, Style and Flipboard Picks. Selecting a category is as simple as clicking on it and hitting done.

You can also add your social networking accounts to the app by simply logging in. The library of accounts with which you can login is very large and includes Facebook, twitter, Google+, Google Reader, LinkedIn, Instagram, Flicker, Tumbler, 500px, Sina Weibo, Renren, and Youtube.

Overall, the look and feel of the app is the same that users will find on the iPhone/iPod Touch version of the app. If you have used the app before on your iOS device, you will feel right at home. If you are a new comer to the app, then the interface is fairly simple to get used to.

Performance
Navigating through the app is as simple as “flipping” through the stories one at a time. Users can flip up/down to see the next/previous story on the list. You can go through the stories either through your predefined feeds such as Google Reader or the preselected categories.While reading the story, you have the option to tweet it, add the story to your favourite list and share the link. You also have the option to view the story on the original website on the webpage.

When compared to the other versions of Flipboard, the one that takes the cake is the iPad version of the app. The only reason why this is our favourite version is that is uses the large screens real estate to show multiple stories per page rather than the single story interface found on Android smartphones and the iPhone and iPod touch.

The only disadvantage of the app is that it doesn't have an inbuilt offline reader and if you want to read an article later, you will have to link it to an offline reading app.

The Android app will work on Android 2.2 Froyo or higher. The app will stay on the internal memory of your smartphone and cannot be moved to the memory card. We installed the app on the HTC Desire running Android 2.2 Froyo and the app ran quite well. We did get a popup after installation that said the app is not completely compatible with the device but we didn't see any noticeable problems.

Another disadvantage is that there is no Android tablet version of the app available on the Play store. You will have to make do with the smartphone version of the app until a tablet version is made available.

Bottom LineFlipboard was a fantastic app when it launched on iOS. It translates all the same awesome features to Android with the addition of Google+ integration. If you are one who needs to consume all your content when aggregated under one roof, this is one app you should definitely consider. If you are however interested in looking at competing apps, you can also take a look atZite and Pulse  that are a direct competition to Flipboard.

iBall launches two new dual-SIM Android phones, starting Rs. 6,990

iBall has launched two new dual-SIM Android phones, in its Andi range of devices, called the Andi 3e and Andi 4d, priced at Rs. 6,990 and Rs. 9,490 respectively.

The iBall Andi 3e runs on Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread, with a 650MHz processor powering it. It features a multi-hued notification light below the display, apart from a dual-SIM standby option.

Other features include a 3.2-inch display, a 3.2MP camera, a front-facing camera, G-sensor, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, storage expandability up to 16GB (via microSD card), as well as 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS connectivity.

The iBall Andi 4d also runs on Gingerbread, powered by a 1GHz processor. It has a 4-inch display, along with a 5MP camera, front-facing camera, storage expandability up to 16GB (via microSD card), and the same set of connectivity and sensor features.

There’ve been a lot dual-SIM Android phones (across price ranges) hitting the Indian market recently, with HTC the latest major manufacturer to join the bandwagon – the Desire V is available online since last week for Rs. 21,999.

 

iBerry launches the Auxus AX03G ICS tablet in India, at Rs. 9,990

The iBerry Auxus AX02 was one of the first budget tablets to run Google’s latest OS, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The Auxus AX03G will also run the same OS.  iBerry has announced the Auxus AX03G in India, the successor to its recently launched tablet, the Auxus AX02.

The Auxus AX03G is priced at Rs. 9,990. This is the same price at which the Auxus 02 was launched. The Auxus 02 has seen a price drop with the launch of the new model and will now be priced at Rs. 7,990.

The Auxus 02 was a very good performer as a budget tablet. It has all the points in its favour – a good touchscreen, smooth running of apps and multimedia and a good build. Also, check out our detailed review of the iBerry Auxus AX 02.

The biggest bump on the iBerry Auxus AX03G is in the hardware under the hood when compared to its predecessor. It has 1GB RAM as compared to 512MB on the Auxus 02, a dual Mali-400 GPU and 24GB storage (built-in 8GB NAND Flash + external 16GB microSD card) along with expandable memory via microSD slot up to 32GB.

Until now, we have seen a bunch of budget ICS tablets launch such as the Micromax Funbook,HCL MeTab U1 and the Zync Z990 to name a few.

iBerry has made the first move in upping the specification on a budget tablet that runs ICS. What remains to be seen is how the competition reacts to this and when can we see the next generation of budget tablets hit the streets from the likes of Micromax HCL and more. We are still waiting to see the first generation ICS tablets from manufacturers such as iBall, Intex and Mercury who are also contenders in the war of the budget tablets.

The Auxus AX03G has the following specifications:

SYSTEM PROCESSOR
• CPU: 1.0 GHz ARM Cortex A8
• GPU: Dual Mali-400 OpenGL 2.0
• VPU: Dedicated Full HD Video processing

OPERATING SYSTEM
• Android 4.0 Ice-Cream Sandwich
• Official Google Play Store supported

MEMORY
• 1GB RAM DDR3
• 24GB Storage Memory (Internal 8GB NAND Flash + External 16GB MicroSD memory)
• Expandable MicroSD slot upto 32GB

DISPLAY
• 7.0" Capacitive Multitouchscreen
• 800x480 WVGA-Widescreen

NETWORK
• Inbuilt SIM slot, GSM (2G/3G) 900/1800/2100MHz with Phone Function
• WiFi 802.11 b/g and Bluetooth

VIDEO OUTPUT
• Mini HDMI, v1.3, Type C
(Full HD 1080p Supported)

CAMERA
• Back 2 MP, Front 0.3 MP

GAMES
• Dual Mali 400 GPU with OpenGL 2.0 support
• Accelerometer, Gravity & Motion Sensor

INPUT/OUTPUT
• 3.5 mm earphone jack, built-in Microphone
• Stereo Speakers, Mini USB Port
• Mini HDMI, MicroSD slot

BATTERY

• Rechargeable Li-poly 4000MAh

Facebook among the 15 most hated companies in U.S.

Facebook has, over the course of its existence gone on to become one of the most popular platforms that is there to help scores of people connect and share bits of their everyday lives, and its 800 million stronghold is just an extension of that thought. However, pressing issues pertaining to user privacy and child safety on the social network have now led it to feature on The 15 Most Unliked Companies In America list, Business Insider now reports, painting a contrast picture. Though social networking is an integral part of people's lives, developments over the past few months have drawn considerable ire and have triggered a lot of debate.    Another sore point has been Timeline. It presents your entire Facebook history, as well as any personal history you choose to put in, in a chronological order. However, according to a study done by IT security and data protection firm, Sophos, 51 percent of Facebook users are concerned about the Timeline feature. Sophos, in its study found that there are concerns that the additional information that other users have access to and the greater ease to access user information will make it easier for identity thieves and stalkers to get information, which they can then abuse. Sophos conducted a poll of more than 4,100 random respondents from various parts of the world on their opinion of the new Timeline feature. The key findings of the study were: 51 percent of users are worried about the new Facebook Timeline feature Only 8 percent of users like the new Facebook Timeline feature 8 percent of users say they will get used to it 32 percent say they don't know why they are still on Facebook

Apple iPad (2012)

MRP: 30500

PROS

• Retina Display
• Better rear camera
• Snappier performance

CONS

• Slightly heavier than the iPad 2
• 4G capabilities unavailable in India
• Apps will consumer more space, courtesy new display

It would not be an exaggeration to say that Apple single handedly defined the tablet genre with the launch of the original iPad way back in 2010, and, that the competition still has not been able to catch up!

With the launch of the Asus Transformer Prime boasting of the powerful NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor and Super IPS+ 1280 x 800 display, a ray of hope started to emerge for the competition (check out our first impressions). Then Apple went and did what it does best. Revolutionize the iPad to an extent that it has blown the competition straight out the window.

With quad-core graphics, a better rear snapper and a tiny thing called the Retina Display, has Apple raised the bar for the tablet industry? In a word, yes, but read on to see why and how!

What’s in the Box?
Look at the box of the iPad 2 (read our review) and the New iPad and you will see absolutely no difference. The packaging is the same and minimalistic with the box housing the iPad, 30-pin connector and a wall plug for charging along with the manuals.

Design
If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it! We placed the New iPad and the iPad 2 in the hands of virtually everyone who walked into our lab and while the display was off, none of the users could make out the difference between the 2 devices. Some of the people who were iPad 2 users complained about one being heavier than the other and they guessed which was which.

In terms of its design, the New iPad is identical to the iPad 2 (just like the iPhone 4 and the 4S). The only difference lies in its weight. Just to put things into perspective, here’s a look at the dimensions of the iPad 2 and the New iPad.

Particulars	New iPad	iPad 2
Weight and Dimensions	Wi-Fi Height: 9.50 inches (241.2 mm) Width: 7.31 inches (185.7 mm) Depth: 0.37 inch (9.4 mm) Weight: 1.44 pounds (652 g) Wi-Fi + 4G Height: 9.50 inches (241.2 mm) Width: 7.31 inches (185.7 mm) Depth: 0.37 inch (9.4 mm) Weight: 1.46 pounds (662 g)	Wi-Fi Height: 9.50 inches (241.2 mm) Width: 7.31 inches (185.7 mm) Depth: 0.34 inch (8.8 mm) Weight: 1.33 pounds (601 g) Wi-Fi + 3G Height: 9.50 inches (241.2 mm) Width: 7.31 inches (185.7 mm) Depth: 0.34 inch (8.8 mm) Weight: 1.35 pounds (613 g)

As you can see, the upgrade in weight is only incremental and first for time users, it won’t make much of a difference.

Display
What will make your jaw drop to the ground is the new Retina Display. Once you switch on the display, there is no going back to whatever tablet you used before this. It’s the same experience users had when they decided to switch from the iPhone 3GS or any other smartphone to the iPhone 4.

No matter how close you go to the screen of the New iPad or how much you zoom into the text, you will see no pixilation. The resolution of the 9.7-inch display is 2048x 536. That’s 264 PPI (Pixels Per Inch). The Retina Display is twice the resolution of the iPad 2, which sports a resolution of 1024 x 768 (132 PPI).

To the naked eye, the display on the New iPad may seem slightly less bright when compared to the iPad 2, but we have never seen a crisper display on any device.

We tried a bunch of apps that are present on the iPad 2 and have been optimized for the New iPad. Some of the free apps are Readability, Pulse, Planetary and Remote. All of them looked absolutely stunning on the New iPad.

Even watching 1080p videos on YouTube made a world of difference between the two devices. Details on the New iPad look phenomenal.

New Features to iOS
iOS has seen its fair share of tweaks since its inception and Siri was one of the biggest highlights last year when Apple announced the iPhone 4S. We all expected to see Apple’s voice controlled personal assistant make an appearance on the New iPad, but we were all left a little disappointed. Instead, Apple has added a simple voice dictation feature to the device.

Users can tap the microphone icon to the left of the keyboard, dictate, hit the button again and viola! The device understands what you say. Well almost...When we tried the dictation app with our Indian accent, we were not very successful. The app refused to identify a lot of neutral words and if you try to dictate Indian names and places, be prepared to pull your hair out!

As awesome as the dictation feature is in an American accent, it is equally frustrating in an Indian accent. 

Google detects nearly 9,500 malicious websites every day

Niels Provos from Google's security team said in a blog post that the Internet company finds nearly 9,500 new malicious websites every day, which includes sites that have been victims of cyber attacks or the ones that have been specially developed to spread malware or for phishing. While providing a detailed report on its anti-malware intiatives, Google recently revealed that it identifies nearly 9,500 new malicious sites every day. Google further says it provides millions of malware-related warnings to Internet users daily. 

"Our detection techniques are highly accurate—we have had only a handful of false positives,” hewrote. 

Google says about 600 million users of various browsers – Chrome, Firefox and Safari – see million malware/phishing warnings per day for sites they are about to visit. "When we detect malware or phishing, we trigger a red warning screen that discourages clicking through to the website. Our free and public Safe Browsing API allows other organizations to keep their users safe by using the data we've compiled,” Provos wrote. 

Google's detailed report commemorates the fifth anniversary of its Safe Browsing feature, which ensures malware and phishing are kept at bay. Google's Safe Browsing also aims to educate website owners on ways to make their websites secure. 

Google discovers that e-commerce websites mostly suffer from phishing attacks, as most of the phishers are “motivated by money”. Provos adds phishers are geographically dispersed and to avoid detection they stay online for less than an hour. Malware developers, on the other hand, attempt to take control over other websites. 

Source: Google Public Policy Blog

Samsung Galaxy Ace Duos (GSM-GSM) officially launched at Rs. 15,090

Samsung has officially launched its GSM-GSM version of the Galaxy Ace Duos smartphone in India at Rs. 15,090, a device it first revealed last month.

The GSM-GSM Galaxy Ace Duos runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system with Samsung's TouchWiz UI on top. It has 3.5-inch HVGA TFT-LCD display with a 320 x 480 pixel resolution. Other specifications of the device include 5MP rear camera, 832MHz processor, 3GB built-in storage, microSD card support for up to 32GB and 1,300 mAh battery, which is rated to deliver 6.5 hours of talktime on 3G, and 16 hours of talktime on 2G.

In terms of connectivity, the device supports 3G, EDGE/ GPRS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth with A2DP and USB 2.0 (Micro). The device also has ‘Dual-SIM always on’ feature, allowing users to field calls from either SIM, simultaneously.

The Galaxy Ace Duos comes with a wide range of applications, including the popular ChatOn and My Movies. While ChatOn lets users chat with friends and contacts, My Movies app lets users access the Indian movies. There's a My Music app as well that lets users browse, download and listen English and Bollywood numbers.

The smartphone will now join the already existing GSM-CDMA version of Galaxy Ace Duos. The GSM+CDMA version of the device was launched at Rs. 16,900, but is currently selling for roughly Rs. 14,000.

Dell to launch Ubuntu-based PCs in India

Dell India has announced it will soon launch personal computers based on the free Linux distro, Ubuntu. Dell has entered into a partnership with Canonical Ltd., the sponsor of the Ubuntu project, to sell netbooks and laptops with the open source software.

According to Canonical CEO Jane Silber, Ubuntu-based devices, including the Dell Inspiron 14R and 15R, will be available in the market from this week. Also, a number of new Dell models with Ubuntu are slated to release this year. Dell currently sells PCs loaded with Microsoft's Windows operating system, which is a paid software. While talking to the media, Silber said the partnership will help the company increase penetration in the country.

Sameer Garde, President, Dell India, said, “With Ubuntu, these machines offer our customers a compelling mobile or in-home computing proposition, with the benefit of Dell quality and security. I am confident that they will prove attractive to both home and business users.”

According to Garde, the Ubuntu-based PCs will help push mobile computing in the country. “The Indian government has been fairly supportive of the vision behind Ubuntu. The Supreme Court of India is using the software in 20,000 desktops,” he adds. 

The launch is aimed at educational institutions to push growth. Silber reveals the University of Delhi is already using the software in 10,000 desktops and various Assam schools are also using it.

To refresh your memory, Ubuntu is a computer OS based on the Debian Linux distribution and is distributed as free and open source software. Ubuntu uses its own desktop ecosystem. Though majority of Ubuntu is based on desktop personal computers, it is also used for cloud computing. To know more about Ubuntu, head on to its Wikipedia page.

Interestingly, Dell's decision to launch Ubuntu-based personal computers comes shortly afterMicrosoft announced its foray into the hardware segment via its Surface tablets.

Portronics launches My-Buddy laptop cooling desk in India, at Rs. 1,999

Portronics has launched a laptop cooling desk in India, called My-Buddy, and priced it at Rs. 1,999.

The Portronics My-Buddy is called a multi-utility laptop cooling desk by the company, and it features a 2W 1,800 RPM fan, which is powered via the built-in USB cable – not requiring a separate power source.

The My-Buddy laptop cooling desk supposedly works with any size of laptop, and can be folded, and carried easily. It can bear the weight of more than 35kg, and its auto-lock joints have been tested for over 25,000 operations, without significant wear and tear.

Portronics claims the My-Buddy cooling desk is completely height and angle adjustable, unlike other laptop cooling pad and is thus suitable for anything from beds to lawns, carpets to sofas. The base of the laptop cooling desk is made out of French wood, which is light yet sturdy, while the foldable legs are made out of high-quality lightweight aluminium.

Check out the specifications of the Portronics My-Buddy cooling desk in the table below, and do also check out the video introducing the product, further below.

Panel Size	520*300*12 mm
Height	235 – 315 (adjustable)
Angle of panel	0 – 30% (adjustable)
Fan speed	1800 RPM
Input	DC 5V 200MA (Max)
Power	2W

                     

Sharkoon announces new gaming keyboard and mouse

Sharkoon brings to the market another product from its gaming line-up, featured at CeBIT, the Sharkoon Skiller gaming keyboard that comes with an 18-key rollover, interchangeable WASD and cursor keys, and software for creating up to ten keyboard profiles. Visually, the Skiller has defining corners and edges. The black keyboard comes in a striking geometric design and an additional eye-catcher is the blue illuminated Skiller logo on the palm rest. Gamers who want to highlight and haptic their WASD and Cursor keys will find enclosed eight interchangeable rubber keys all in blue. In addition to the 107 standard keys, the Sharkoon Skiller has 20 multimedia keys for Internet and media applications. The Skiller The Skiller is fluid in its operation. Thanks to its 18-key rollover, players will not be at a disadvantage during action-packed gaming situations that require simultaneous quick and accurate key commands. With its programmable keys and profile memory, the Skiller is an extremely versatile companion that quickly adjusts to all changing areas of operation. Through the enclosed software, all standard keys can be assigned frequently used individual functions or macros. The configuration supports the creation of up to ten profiles, each with three sub-levels. This allows an optimal keyboard layout for a variety of different applications and gaming environments to be created with only a little bit of effort. The keyboard measures 485 x 212 x 25 mm, weighs 603 grams and is equipped with a 150 cm long USB cable. End customers will find the Sharkoon Skiller Gaming Keyboard available for the suggested retail price of 14.99 euros (approx. Rs. 1,078) across authorized retailers. The next product that the company has announced is the Sharkoon DarkGlider Mouse that comes with a 6,000 DPI sampling rate, 1 ms key response time, illuminating LC Display, ten programmable keys and a Weight Tuning System. The Sharkoon DarkGlider is the high-end model presented in Hannover under Sharkoon's gaming input devices. Under its ergonomically designed, secure-grip rubber cover in matte black sits the latest version of the ADNS-9500 LaserSensor Sensors. The mouse contains up to a 6,000 DPI resolution, 11,750 FPS frame rate, 30 G maximum acceleration, a millisecond response time and a maximum 5 mm liftoff distance as a very precise, reliable and responsive playmate. The DarkGlider glides on five lenticular ceramic feet, which cannot afford to support any significant sliding resistance. The DPI sampling rate can be arbitrarily set and read in the illuminated LED display. The DarkGlider For comfortable control a total of ten keys are provided, including two axis-scroll wheels and a DPI selector. All keys can be freely programmed using the enclosed software. The 256 kilobyte onboard memory provides room for up to five user profiles. Also through the software numerous other additional settings can be made, such as single DPI stages, mouse sensitivity, polling rate as well as the colour, frequency and intensity of the mouse logo. For those who prefer a more discreet appearance, the illuminating logo can be turned off. The combat weight of the Sharkoon DarkGlider can be optimally adapted to the needs of the game, thanks to the Weight Tuning System. Four weights fit into the appropriate slots, with four weights in both 3.1 and 3.7 grams being provided. The maximum weight of the mouse is 150 grams. In order to give the mouse strength and durability, Sharkoon has coated the 180 cm long connection cord with fabric, gold plated the USB plug and enclosed a set of interchangeable ceramic and Teflon glides. The enclosed high-quality fabric bag becomes a well-protected refuge for the mouse between its operation and transportation.  End customers will find the Sharkoon DarkGlider Mouse available for the suggested retail price of 39.99 euros  (approx. Rs. 2,875) in authorized retailers.

Not even a week has passed since Microsoft announced its next generation of smartphone and details of handsets have already begun to emerge.

Details of three devices by Taiwanese handset manufacturer HTC have emerged. Two of these devices will be high end whereas one will be an entry-level Windows Phone 8 device.

The entry-level phone will be called “Rio.” It will feature a 4-inch WVGA display, 14.4Mbps HSPA, and a 5MP camera with 720p video recording. It’ll run on Qualcomm’s MSM8227 processor and have only 512MB of onboard storage.

The two higher-end phones will be called the “Accord” and “Zenith.” The specifications of these phones will represent the devices in the HTC One family. The Accord will have a 4.3-inch 720p Super LCD 2 display. This is the highest screen resolution Windows Phone 8 will support. The device also boasts of an 8MP camera, 42Mbps HSPA+, NFC support, 1GB of RAM, and a dual-core processor.

The “Zenith” on the other hand has specs even better than the Accord. It will have a 4.7-inch 720p Super LCD 2 display, an 8MP camera and 42Mbps HSPA+ data. The highlight of the Zenith is of course the quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon chip on which the device will run.

HTC Corporation CEO Peter Chou said in the statement, “HTC is committed to Windows Phone more than ever and we are excited to be bringing new Windows Phone 8-enabled smartphones to customers later this year.”

Huawei too will be launching a handset called the Ascend that will run on Windows Phone 8. No specification details are known about the device but this could be a nice opportunity for the Chinese company to grab some limelight.

Details of the Nokia handsets running Windows Phone 8 have been kept tightly wrapped. We hoe to see some impressive specs from the Nokia-Microsoft tie up. The strong connect between Microsoft and Nokia is evident from the fact that all handset manufacturers caring the WP8 will have Nokia Maps.

You can take a look at the details of the windows phone announcement here

For those of you that are current WP7.5 users, there is bad news for you. You can only get an update of WP7.8 and not WP8.