Tech PIVI

Apple extended its dominance in tablet computers in the second quarter, shipping nearly seven out of every 10 tablets, according to research firm   IHS iSuppli . Other tablet makers include   Amazon.com Inc , which said on Thursday that it had sold out of the Kindle Fire amid expectations of a new model soon.   A new  iPad  model came out a few weeks before the April-June quarter began. Apple's 69.6 per cent share in the April-June quarter is up from about 58 per cent in the first quarter. It's the highest since the first quarter of last year, when Apple had 70 per cent in a market with fewer competitors then.  Here are the top five manufacturers of  tablets  in the second quarter, as released by IHS iSuppli:  1. -> Apple Inc , maker of the iPad, 17 million shipped worldwide, 69.6 per cent share  2. -> Samsung Electronics  Co, maker of Galaxy line, 2.3 million, 9.2 per cent.  3. ->...

Amidst launches from Samsung and Sony, Toshiba too is making its presence felt at  IFA 2012.   The company showcased its Windows 8 Ultrabook, Toshiba Satellite U925t. This is the same slider tablet the company had been put on display at Computex 2012 held earlier in the year. The features of this Ultraboook are 12.5-inch Gorilla Glass touchscreen, Core i5 processor and a 128 GB solid-state drive. It is expected to have two USB 3.0 ports, a memory card reader, HDMI port and a 3.5mm headphone jack. There is a 3 megapixel rear camera and for video chats, a front HD webcam. Toshiba U925t will also have NFC built in for hassle free sharing of files. As of now, there's no official word in regards to the pricing of this tablet but it is expected to retail for over $1,000. Though Toshiba has not shared when exactly it will be outing this Ultrabook but it is expected to hit the shelves only after October 26, as this is the day when Microsoft will be officially releasing Window...

The repercussions of Apple's billion-dollar patent victory over Samsung were still being felt at Europe's biggest consumer electronics show, as the South Korean firm launched a host of new gadgets. After losing the biggest patent case in decades, Samsung came out fighting at the IFA show in Berlin which opens on Friday, with a sweeping media launch of smartphones, tablets, a "smart PC" and a voice-controlled camera. But as Samsung made every effort to shrug off the defeat with a dazzling array of new toys, there were concerns the court case could stifle innovation as firms fear to launch new products that could be the target of patent suits. "Behind closed doors, you can be sure that there will be serious discussions taking place, device makers talking to different platforms makers," said Florian Mueller, an intellectual property expert. "There will be private meetings in which it will be a big issue," he added. "An overprotected ...

Samsung has launched its first Android-based camera at IFA 2012. Called the Galaxy Camera, the device comes with Google Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and is powered by a 1.4GHz quad-core processor. Pricing and launch details however, have not been shared yet. The Galaxy Camera has a 16MP BSI CMOS 1/2.3" sensor, and a wide angle (23mm) lens with 21X optical zoom. It sports a 4.77-inch 308ppi HD Super Clear LCD. On the face, the Galaxy Camera feels like a camera because of its build and physical shutter button but flip it over and the device feels like an Android smartphone. This isn't the first Android camera we've heard of. Nikon recently launched the 16MP Coolpix S800c, which runs on Android, and is meant to be the ideal device for those who often share on social networks. Samsung was also rumoured earlier this year to be working on an Android-based camera, though no-one expected such specificatons. It is being called a Galaxy S III-based cam...

Following the footsteps of Facebook, Google has also added birthday reminders on its social networking website, Google+. The reminder will appear on the right hand side of the main Google search page when someone in your contacts is celebrating his/her birth anniversary. Google's birthday reminder also allows users to share a message, photo or video to wish the person a happy birthday. It may be noted here that Facebook's birthday reminder shows up a notification on the right hand side pane and lets you send a birthday greeting. "Everyone deserves a little love on their birthday, so we're making it easier for you and your friends to celebrate on Google," software engineer Irene Chung, said in a Google+  post  on Wednesday. "Starting today, you'll see a reminder on Google.com when someone in your circles has a birthday!" Google allows users to control who will see their birthday notifications on Google+. To activate the Google+ birthday...

LG has finally announced the list of devices that will be receiving the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update. Dispelling rumours that the 2011 LG smartphones will not get the upgrade, the company has announced an ICS update for the LG Optimus 2X, Optimus Black, Optimus 3D, LG Prada and Optimus LTE. LG's Singapore arm announced on  Facebook : “We heard you these recent weeks and would like to share with everyone that our Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) upgrade schedule is set and final details will be announced when they are ready. We are now working to fine-tune the upgrade for a better experience for all our customers.” LG has not yet revealed the data of availability of the update. It's notable the confirmation has come from Singapore, but is likely that the update will be rolled out globally. It's also notable LG had been  saying for some time  that the Optimus 2X will be updated with the ICS. However, LG's Canada arm recently  sparked ...

As we have seen over the past few years, a substantial number of of Internet companies are joining the Linux Foundation. Just take a look on some of the illustrious Linux Foundation members, a list which includes Google, HP, IBM, Intel, Oracle, and now Twitter. Yes, the micro-blogging service Twitter has decided to join the Linux Foundation from next week. Twitter is ready to pay $15,000 to the Linux Foundation each year as a silver member. You might be wondering, just what makes those big companies get involved with the Linux Foundation – is it just a charitable interest? Well, no! Founded in 2007, Linux Foundation provides a platform for developers, companies and organisations to share their ideas and plans, and that is the main reason for Linux’s growth in such a small period of time. Twitter is joining Linux Foundation with tens of thousands of Linux servers to provide services to their users. “Linux and its ability to be heavily tweaked is fundamental to our tech...

Samsung has unveiled a massive portable media player, set to take on the current-generation, and the next generation, Apple iPod Touch. Called the Samsung Galaxy Player 5.8, it features a 5.8-inch 960x540 pixel LCD display, along with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and Samsung TouchWiz UI. The Galaxy Player 5.8 comes in 16GB or 32GB variants, along with microSD card expandability, up to 32GB. It also features front-facing VGA camera, for video chat. Other specifications include 1GB of RAM, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, Google Play store access, and a (exceptionally large, for a PMP) 2,500mAh battery, presumably to meet the demands that not-so-small display will make. For now, Samsung has not revealed all the details about the Galaxy Player 5.8, such as the processor, bundled apps, pricing, or launch schedule. We expect the device to be further showcased at IFA 2012 later in the week, where hopefully, more details will be revealed. So far, the Korean giant ...

The LG device rumoured to be powered by Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor (APQ8064) has reportedly got leaked screenshots doing the rounds of the internet, and has acquired a rumoured name as well – the LG Optimus E973 G. The LG Optimus G is expected to be showcased at the upcoming IFA event in Berlin, which begins on August 31. Apart from leaked images, some expected specifications have also been filled in – the Optimus G should come with a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, Adreno 320 GPU (as expected), 2GB of RAM, and a 13MP camera. The device seems to be running Android 4.0.4 ICS. LG has partially acknowledged the truth behind the rumours, saying the an Optimus device codenamed ‘G’ does exist. The Korean giant also detailed the massive 4.7-inch True HD IPS+ 1,280x768 pixel display, saying it delivers 470 nits of brightness, avoids screen burn-in, and uses 70% less power than a regular LCD when displaying all-white. LG has also improved touch-sensitiv...

According to a new Gartner report, the new software delivery models, improved development methods, increasing popularity of mobile app development and open source software will help the Indian application development (AD) market achieve a growth of 22.6 percent (more than $227 million) in 2012. "The trend is compelling enough to force traditional AD vendors to 'cloud-enable' their existing offerings and position them as a service to be delivered through the cloud," said Raina. "AD for cloud demands rapid deployment, a high focus on user experience and access to highly elastic resources for software testing, while requiring comparatively less underlying infrastructure for developing applications." According to the Gartner report titled 'Market Trends: Application Development Software, Worldwide, 2012-2016', cloud has changed the way apps are now developed and deployed, which has resulted in a major shift in AD priorities. While cost continues...

Apple will unveil a new, smaller version of its wildly popular iPad in Oct after the release of the latest version of its iPhone next month Apple will unveil a new, smaller version of its wildly popular iPad in October after the release of the latest version of its iPhone next month, the All Things Digital website reported on Sunday. "First comes the latest iteration of the tech giant's hugely popular smartphone, which will be unveiled at an as yet unannounced event on September 12," the website said. "Only after the next-generation iPhone is out the door and on sale will Apple announce the smaller iPad it's been working on," it said. "That device, which is expected to have a display of less than eight inches (20 centimeters), will be uncrated at a second special event, which sources say is currently scheduled for October." The 10-inch iPad has long dominated the tablet market, but faces a growing challenge from smaller models lik...

In advance of one of the most significant waves of product launches in Microsoft’s history, Microsoft unveiled a new logo for the company on Thursday. It’s been 25 years since this company have updated the it's logo and now is the perfect time for a change. This is an incredibly exciting year for Microsoft as they prepare to release new versions of nearly all of their products. From Windows 8 to Windows Phone 8 to Xbox services to the next version of Office, you will see a common look and feel across these products providing a familiar and seamless experience on PCs, phones, tablets and TVs. That’s the new logo below. Courtesy : http://blogs.technet.com

Defeat in a bitter patent wrangle with Apple Inc, its smartphone rival and biggest customer, will dent Samsung Electronics Co's $21 billion cash-pile, but could actually help cement its leadership in the global smartphone market. A U.S. court has ordered Samsung - which sold around 50 million phones in April-June, almost twice the number of iPhones - to pay $1.05 billion damages, after ruling that the South Korean firm infringed on some Apple patents. While the verdict was a big win for Apple, the damages are less than half the $2.5 billion compensation it sought - although that could yet be increased by the judge - and are just 1.5 percent of annual revenues from Samsung's telecoms business. That phone and tablet business is the powerhouse behind Samsung's growth, earning around 70 percent of total profit. The group had net profit of $4.5 billion in April-June. Samsung could also see its popular Galaxy smartphone banned from sale in the United St...

Microsoft's operating system isn’t even fully released yet, but we've already got plenty to go on with Windows 8 Release Preview (and, if you're a developer, Windows 8 RTM) to have a good idea about the many ways the new OS can be dolled up. In fact, one of the standout revelations of RTM was the new "tattoos" that can add personalized flourishes to your Start screen background. The new tattoos are only the latest additions to the many personalizations Windows 8 already boasted in previous pre-releases. In fact, the very first choice in Windows 8's PC settings page is "Personalize," where you can make the lock screen, your account picture, and start screen reflect your own style. Windows 8 also inherits many of the customization options that were available in Windows 7—in the newer OS's desktop mode. Not only can you choose a desktop background, screensaver, and system sounds, but you can also take advantage of downloadable Themes, inclu...

On the lighter side of this Friday, looks like an awesome developer has gotten the Jelly Bean launcher ported to non-Jelly Bean devices. I was wondering when a JB launcher was going to hit the Play Store. Takes an artist some time to create some art. Come to find though, is that another team has also released the JB awesomeness in the store. That artist,  Tim Hutt . Now he is not the first to tackle this launcher port, Team Syndicate did as well. I wish I would have been paying more attention to the Play Store for these launchers, but I think the fact that I got JB already ported on my phone I felt no need to. I apologize for that my friends. Ran into the video that is shown below, which does a quick run through of this launcher. For good measure though, I will post both links to Tim Hutt’s launcher, and Team Syndicate’s. The choice I leave to you guys, because I have not tried either of these launchers. Check out the video and choose which launcher is best. Let u...

Facebook has announced it will be rolling out a new and cleaner version of Messages, which will now have a dual-pane layout. The new Messages inbox has a list of the recent messages on the left side, and a reading pane on the right. The two pane format is said to make the Facebook Messages platform look closer to the professional emails, such as Microsoft Outlook. The previous Message design had a single-column view, while users needed to visit another page for viewing any conversation. The new layout will be rolled out for global users over the next few weeks. Facebook in a blog post  says  the new format “brings conversations to life”, as it features the option of adding multiple pictures and emoticons to their messages. Facebook has also added keyboard commands for easier navigation. The shortcut commands enable users to compose, reply and navigate through the messages. To see the full list of available shortcuts, type Alt Q on a PC or Control Q on ...

Amazon has taken a step towards providing a broader selection of its services in India, with the launch of the India Kindle Store on Amazon.com, found at amazon.com/kindlestoreindia. Users will get access to wide selection of e-books, including Indian authors, and exclusive works, priced in Indian Rupees. Another major step is that the popular Amazon Kindlee-book reader will now be available via Croma retail stores. For now, it looks like only the  6-inch Kindle E-Reader Wi-Fi  will be available, at Rs. 6,999. Customers can also purchase Kindle, Kindle Touch e-book readers and Kindle Touch 3G tablet from Amazon.com, with shipment to India. Independent Indian authors and publishers will be glad to know that Amazon also launched Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), giving them a fast, free and easy way to make their books available to Kindle customers in India and around the world on both Kindle devices and free Kindle reading apps. With KDP, authors and pu...

Microsoft has officially opened registration for new Windows 7 users (who purchase Windows 7 PC between June 2, 2012 – January 31, 2013) to upgrade to Windows 8. Microsoft is offering the upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $14.99. It may be recalled that the Indian consumers are entitled to a downloadable upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for a price of just Rs. 699. Microsoft in a  tweet  announced, “"The @Windows upgrade offer is now available in 140 countries. Register now!  http://windowsupgradeoffer.co m ." To upgrade, users will be required to provide their 25-digit Windows 7 OEM product key as part of their online registration process. Starting October 26th, the company will start sending out promo codes through e-mail, which can be applied upon checkout within the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant. It's notable the offer is valid till February 28th, 2013, after which users will have to shell out the full price – though the company has not yet revealed what it would be. ...

Just 2 days after Rovio announced a Green Day-themed update for Angry Birds Friends, the Finnish gaming studio has now made it official. The Facebook version of the bird slinging game now has a new Green Day musical episode with 10 themed levels and new mean pigs inspired by the band's members Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tre Cool. The game also includes the band's latest single "Oh Love" and another exclusive track titled "Troublemaker", which can be unlocked within the game. Commenting on this first-of a kind-partnership, Armstrong said, "We're all fans of Angry Birds. It's such an addictive game that when we first started playing it we couldn't stop. Go Team Green!" Come this fall, Rovio plans to release more exclusive content and levels. It isn't clear if the Green Day update will be extended to other versions of the game. Green Day is a popular American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band comprise...