Open Facebook!! and after facebook.com loads fully type this javascript: document.body.contentEditable = 'true'; document.designMode = 'on'; void 0
And Hit enter!!
And Hit enter!!
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Iberry to launch "India's first" Android 4.0 tablet in March
Yes, we’ll be seeing many Ice Cream Sandwich-based tablets at MWC, but we’ll probably have to wait a bit to get our grubby hands on this Android 4.0 goodness. Or will we? Apparently, iberry HK, a Hong Kong- based electronics manufacturer has set up shop in Chennai and is all set to launch India’s first Android 4.0 based tablet. They just may be able to pull it off, as besides some existing tablets that have already got ICS, the big guns will only start trickling in a little later.
Wishful thinking?
We don’t have any information regarding this tablet right now, other than the fact that it will be called the Auxus AX02 and that it will run ICS. The company currently has two products available and both run on Gingerbread. The AX02 will feature a 7-inch capacitive touchscreen, feature HDMI-out and will most likely sport a dual-core CPU. If the image shown above is the actual tablet, then we can see the front facing camera and what seems to be a physical home button, of sorts. This is a bit odd, since Google is trying to do away with any physical buttons on a device. That may change when the product actually launches.
Iberry seem to have jumped the gun a bit by claiming that they will launch India’s first ICS tablet, or do they know something that we don’t? Is it actually possible that we won’t see any ICS-based tablets before April? Only time will tell.
Microsoft to unveil Windows 8 on February 29
SAN FRANCISCO: Microsoft on Wednesday revealed plans to unveil a test version of its latest Windows computer operating software later this month.
The US technology titan sent out invitations to a "Windows Consumer Preview" event to be held on February 29 at a hotel in Barcelona during a Mobile World Congress gathering in that city.
Microsoft promised to release more information closer to the end of the month.
The introduction of a test, or beta, version of Windows 8 to the public is expected to be accompanied by the opening of an "app store" stocked with mini-programs tailored for the next-generation operating system.
In December, Microsoft began wooing developers for a February opening of its first Windows Store intended to feature third-party applications crafted for computers powered by the Redmond, Washington-based firm's software.
It will take on Apple and Google in the booming market of fun, hip or functional programs built for smartphones, tablets and computers.
Microsoft's fiscal second-quarter profit fell very slightly as lagging computer sales to cash-strapped consumers in the United States and Europe hurt its core Windows business.
Microsoft's key Windows unit reported a 6 percent dip in sales to $4.7 billion.
The US technology titan sent out invitations to a "Windows Consumer Preview" event to be held on February 29 at a hotel in Barcelona during a Mobile World Congress gathering in that city.
Microsoft promised to release more information closer to the end of the month.
The introduction of a test, or beta, version of Windows 8 to the public is expected to be accompanied by the opening of an "app store" stocked with mini-programs tailored for the next-generation operating system.
In December, Microsoft began wooing developers for a February opening of its first Windows Store intended to feature third-party applications crafted for computers powered by the Redmond, Washington-based firm's software.
It will take on Apple and Google in the booming market of fun, hip or functional programs built for smartphones, tablets and computers.
Microsoft's fiscal second-quarter profit fell very slightly as lagging computer sales to cash-strapped consumers in the United States and Europe hurt its core Windows business.
Microsoft's key Windows unit reported a 6 percent dip in sales to $4.7 billion.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
PS Vita maps and video recording: hands-on with firmware v1.6 (video)
As promised, version 1.6 of the PlayStation Vita's firmware went live today, so we thought we'd check it out ahead of the system's US launch. The two headline features are a new Maps application and video support for the front and back cameras, and the only other change I noticed is that the Home button now glows blue whenever the power is on, instead being reserved for notifications.
The Maps application might as well be a direct port of Google Maps for iOS. The two apps are essentially identical feature-wise, though the Vita interface has been tweaked to be consistent with other apps for the system. Where it differs from and arguably betters the iPhone app is in its presentation — with such a large screen, it can display much more at the same time. Loading data is a little slow, though, with checkerboarding once you scroll the slightest bit in any direction. It seems sluggish next to an iPhone at similarly zoomed-out settings, but then the Vita has more data to load and render at once.
I tested the app on my Wi-Fi model, which doesn't have onboard GPS hardware, but found it kept track of my position reasonably well when I was walking around with a Pocket Wi-Fi mobile router. Compass performance was very accurate, though unlike the iPhone app the map doesn't rotate with your positioning — instead, the marker itself displays a directional arrow, which I actually think is easier to follow. Overall, Maps is a solid addition to the Vita's feature set, but is unlikely to replace whatever app you currently keep in your pocket.
The omission of video recording from the Vita's Photos app at launch was more of a curiosity than a gaping hole in functionality, as the VGA cameras' still performance indicated that the results wouldn't exactly be pretty. Sure enough, I can't see myself using the feature much in future, as video recorded on Vita suffers from the same problems as the still photos. As you can see from the samples in the video below, you'll be dealing with overexposed highlights, blurry texture, and washed-out color before you even think about the 640 x 480 resolution. I suppose there was no reason not to include the functionality in the first place, but it's unlikely to match or even come close to the hypothetical smartphone we have to assume most Vita owners will also be carrying.
LG readying Galaxy Note challenger
It will be called the LG Optimus Vu and will feature a 5 inch screen with 4:3 aspect ratio.
LG has teased a video of its latest smartphone, named as Optimus Vu, which will sport a 5 inch screen with 4:3 aspect ratio. This will be pitched against the Samsung Galaxy Note which also has a 5 inch screen though with a 16:9 aspect ratio.
The difference in aspect ratio means that the Optimus Vu will be broader but shorter than the Samsung Galaxy Note. Whether that will help users in having a better grip of the device is something that will be clear only when one gets it in the hand.
According to a website (androidadvices.com), which cited a US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) report, the device has Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread operating system. But we can expect it to have Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update when it will be released in the market.
The FCC, which tests devices for compliance to US standards, has reportedly mentions that the device has 1024 x 768 pixel resolution based screen with an 8 megapixel camera and has features like Android Beam (NFC for Android), WiFi Direct for faster file transfer, Bluetooth 3.0 and a front camera as well.
As per the teaser of LG, the handset will have four capacitive buttons. The design of the device is quite interesting with very rectangular shape, which looks very smart and elegant in the first look. Infact, it resembles LG's Prada 3.0 smartphone.
Samsung Galaxy Note is currently selling at Rs 29,000 and features a dual-core 1.4 GHz Exynos microprocessor with Mali-400 MP dedicated graphics processor. The Galaxy Note also features a 1 GB RAM along with 16 GB memory onboard as storage memory. Its 8 megapixel camera comes with LED flash capable of recording 1080p full HD videos at 30 fps. There is a front facing 2 megapixel camera as well that can provide self-portrait shots and video calling. It is slated to be upgrades to Android 4.0 in the next couple of months.
Can $35 tablet open Internet to India's masses?
With more than 100 million citizens online, it's home to more Internet users than nearly every other country. Yet when it comes to Internet penetration - the percentage of the population with access - India is near the bottom of the global rankings.
It's one of those curious and seemingly contradictory statistics that illustrates both the developmental challenges facing countries such as India, and the massive growth opportunities for investors in emerging markets.
Canadian entrepreneurs Suneet and Raja Singh Tuli are staking the future of their company, Datawind, on the potential of emerging markets. Datawind recently won an Indian government con-tract to produce low-cost tablets for the Indian market.
The initial contract was for 100,000 tablets, but Datawind's executives believe orders for the product could in-crease to 10 million units if not more.
But, Datawind was not initially focused on the developing world. In fact, before younger brother Suneet saw an ad for the tender in an Indian news-paper, Datawind had its sights set firmly on Western markets.
"[Our] focus was to get the product ready for the U.S. and U.K. . and figure out how we were going to launch in those markets," says Mr. Singh. "In-stead of focusing on [a few countries] and trying to do half a million units, what if I focused on one country that had a potential to do hundreds of millions of units?"
After scrambling to assemble a proposal and a prototype in time, Datawind beat out four other manufacturers and secured the contract.
Including the government subsidy, Datawind's Internet-enabled tablet, the Aakash ("sky" in Hindi), will be sold for $35, approximately the same price as a mobile phone without Inter-net access.
"Six billion people in the world today use mobile phones, but only two billion of those people have access to the Inter-net," says Mr. Singh, "An affordable Internet-enabled tablet could bridge that gap and bring billions of new Internet users online."
If things go as Mr. Singh hopes, Datawind could emerge as a leader in the race to tap the vast economic potential of the Indian sub-continent.
But not everyone is convinced that the low-cost tablet will succeed. Mark Warschauer, an education and technology professor at the University of California, Irvine, is one such skeptic.
"The Aakash has gotten lots of publicity, but there are a lot of sub-$100 tablets coming out of China," says Mr. Warschauer. "And from the reviews I've read, they're pretty junkie. They're slow, and battery life is low, the interface is so clunky, and the software doesn't load right."
He points out that users might find the devices more frustrating than they are worth. Indeed, recent reports indicate these same concerns could also plague the Aakash.
Meanwhile, the Singh brothers are moving full-steam ahead. Four new manufacturing facilities in India are in development, and Datawind is negotiating deals with the governments of Thai-land, Turkey and others that will be announced in the coming months.
"I strongly believe that the flood gates for the next billion Internet users have opened," says Mr. Singh, "They'll come on board because the price barriers have been broken."
Nokia cuts 4,000 as it moves manufacturing to Asia
Nokia plans to cut 4,000 jobs as it moves manufacturing to Asia, the ailing mobile-phone company said today.
The cuts will take place this year at factories in in Komarom, Hungary, Reynosa, Mexico and Salo, Finland, though the factories will continue some work.
"Shifting device assembly to Asia is targeted at improving our time to market. By working more closely with our suppliers, we believe that we will be able to introduce innovations into the market more quickly and ultimately be more competitive," said Niklas Savander, Nokia's executive vice president of markets, in a statement.
Asian countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, and most notably China have become powerhouses of manufacturing, offering not just relatively inexpensive labor but also increasing levels of industrial and design expertise, engineering resources, and proximity to component suppliers.
The price is right, but harsh working conditions in China have become a public-relations mess for Apple, which uses contract manufacturer Foxconn to build iPhone and iPads. Apple is not alone in relying on Chinese manufacturing, though.
Nokia, under the new leadership of Stephen Elop, has dramatically transformed already by scrapping its Meego and Symbian operating systems in favor of Windows Phone. Later this month at the Mobile World Congress show, it looks like Nokia will debut a new high-end Windows Phone model.
Nokia's three factories won't close, though operations are being scaled back. "They give us a unique ability to both provide customization and be more responsive to customer needs," Savender said.
For employees who lose their jobs, Nokia will offer financial support and help finding new local jobs, the company said.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
LG launches two new phones - Optimus Sol and Optimus Hub
New Delhi: Strenghtening its Optimus portfolio, LG has launched two new phones - Optimus Sol (LG E730) and Optimus Hub E510. Both the phones run Android 2.3 Gingerbread.
The LG Optimus Sol is touted to feature 3.8-inch, 800 x 480 resolutions, "Ultra AMOLED" display. The new "Ultra AMOLED" display is claimed to have a two-fold advanced reflection rate compared to standard AMOLED displays, which gives it better clarity outdoors and lower image quality degradation. The phone is only 9.8mm thin and is powered by 1 GHz processor. It also features Wi-Fi, DLNA, HSDPA, GPS, 5MP autofocus camera.
The LG Optimus Hub, on the other hand, has a 3.5-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen having a resolution of 480 x 320 pixels. The Optimus 2.0 UI is integrated in this Android device. Powered by an 800 MHz ARMv6 processor and 512 MB of RAM, the LG Optimus Hub is touted to have Adreno 200 GPU so that users can enjoy seamless gaming sessions. It is engineered with a 5 mega pixel camera that has 4x digital zoom capability. The LG Optimus Hub E510 lets you record videos at a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels and 24 fps. Also, the LG Social+ widget is claimed to collate all the updates in a single screen interface for easy accessibility. The connectivity options include GPRS, EDGE, 3G and Wi-Fi.
The LG Optimus Sol is priced at Rs 19,000 and the LG Optimus Hub is priced at Rs 14,500.
'Deleted' Facebook photos still viewable THREE YEARS later
Private photos: Mark Zuckerberg's own private photos were taken from the site after a reported security glitch, including two snaps that appeared to show the CEO killing and eating a chicken
Site users rely on the 'delete' function to get rid of embarrassing nights out - but pictures can actually persist long after users have pressed the 'delete' button
Facebook's new 'timeline' profiles highlight pictures from years ago - but deleting pictures you don't like may be no defence
'We have been working hard to move our photo storage to newer systems which do ensure photos are fully deleted within 45 days of the removal request being received.'
'This process is nearly complete and there is only a very small percentage of user photos still on the old system awaiting migration.'
'We expect this process to be completed within the next month or two, at which point we will verify the migration is complete and we will disable all the old content.'
Being Bored of the Old Simple Folder Look?? This Trick Will help u..:)
I have not tried it yet!! So plz understand!!
Step 1. Create a new folder( to an existing folder ) and then right click choose properties , then customize then change icon to 2nd one from top left ( the folder icon )
when u open folder u wont find anything but it contains a file desktop.ini to make it visible go to step 2 ................
step 2.go to tools -> folder options -> click on view then here make sure that u
a)click on show hidden icons
b)hide extension for known file type option is not marked ( not selected )
c)hide protected operating system files option is not marked ( not selected )
the options b and c are just below the show hidden icons option
click ok and then open the folder u just created ( plus changed the icon )
u will find a file name desktop.ini ( which was hidden earlier )
open that file and paste this part of code :
[{BE098140-A513-11D0-A3A4-00C04FD706EC…
iconarea_image=C:\WINDOWS\Web\Wallpape…
iconarea_text=0x00ffffff
now the file must look something like this
[.ShellClassInfo]
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32…
IconIndex=4
[{BE098140-A513-11D0-A3A4-00C04FD706EC…
iconarea_image=C:\WINDOWS\Web\Wallpape…
iconarea_text=0x00ffffff
the code in red C:\WINDOWS\Web\Wallpaper\Crystal.jpg indicated the location of the image used as background , in this case image crystal.jpg is located in c->windows->wallpaper so change this to the image location u want as background and its donw save ur file .
u can even change the code in green it indicates the icon names color which u can change according to ur choice -- oxooffffff indicated white ,
5x55555 indicates black etc ( u can use html color codes after 0x six digit color code )
thats it , if u are having trouble then just watch the video at top . ( one more thing after everything is done go to my computer -> tools ->folder options -> view ->click on do not show hidden icon and click ( select ) the two options below it 1)hide extension for known file type option
2)hide protected operating system files option )
Monday, February 6, 2012
Facebook and Google remove 'offensive' India content
Facebook and Google say they have complied with an Indian court directive and removed "objectionable" material.
They are among 21 web firms, including Yahoo and Orkut, facing a civil suit in Delhi accusing them of hosting material that may cause communal unrest.
A criminal case of similar allegations is due to be heard next month.
Judges have threatened to block sites that fail to crack down on offensive content, but many firms say it is impossible to pre-filter material.
Late last year, Communications Minister Kapil Sibal met officials from Google, Facebook and other websites and said the government would introduce guidelines to ensure "blasphemous material" did not appear on internet.
The Delhi High Court last month asked Facebook and Google India to "develop a mechanism to keep a check and remove offensive and objectionable material from their web pages" or "like China, we will block all such websites".
'Constitutional issue'
The civil case being heard in Delhi on Monday was filed by Muslim petitioner Mufti Aizaz Arshad Kazmi, who alleged the companies were hosting material intolerant to religious sentiment.
Google and Facebook told the court they had complied with an earlier order by a Delhi district court judge to take down certain material.
Communications Minister Kapil Sibal has taken a strong line on the issue
Google said: "This step is in accordance with Google's longstanding policy of responding to court orders."
Facebook India said it had also filed its compliance report.
Facebook, Google, Yahoo, Microsoft and others all argued that no action should be taken against them.
But the judge insisted the 22 firms should provide a written reply within 15 days detailing the removal of the material.
A second, criminal case - brought by Hindu journalist Vinay Rai - is scheduled to be heard next month, with leading company executives summoned to appear.
However, a Delhi High Court judge will rule next week on an appeal by the firms involved for the case to be quashed.
A spokesman for Microsoft said it had "filed an application for rejection of the suit on the grounds that it disclosed no cause of action against Microsoft".
Google India has argued that it is not feasible to pre-monitor material posted by "billions of people across the globe".
Google lawyer, NK Kaul, said in an earlier court hearing that the issue also related "to a constitutional issue of freedom of speech and expression, and suppressing it was not possible as the right to freedom of speech in democratic India separates us from a totalitarian regime like China".
Facebook says policies are in place that enable people to report abusive content.
In December, Mr Sibal said: "My aim is that insulting material never gets uploaded. We will evolve guidelines and mechanisms to deal with the issue. [The companies] will have to give us the data, where these images are being uploaded and who is doing it."
Mr Sibal was angered by morphed photos of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi, as well as pigs running through Islam's holy city of Mecca.
Taiwan smartphone maker HTC sees Q1 revenue falling
TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan smartphone maker HTC Corp expects to post much lower-than-expected revenue in the first quarter, underscoring analyst views that it will face another weak quarter and an uphill struggle to prove to investors it still retains its innovative touch.
HTC said on Monday it sees a drop in revenue of as much as 36 percent in the first quarter to between T$65 billion and T$70 billion ($2.20-2.37 billion), from T$101.42 billion in the previous three months, but said its difficulties were "short term."
HTC Corp, the world's No.5 smartphone maker by shipments, is widely expected to roll out four models later this month at the Barcelona Mobile World Congress, including an ultra-slim type, currently codenamed the HTC Ville, and one that uses advanced quad-core chips.
The challenge for HTC, which was once the standard bearer of the Android operating system, is to make such devices stand out in an increasingly competitive marketplace, analysts say.
"It can be turned around," says Melissa Chau, Singapore-based research manager for IDC, speaking before the company gave its first quarter revenue guidance. "But the problem remains the same: How are they going to differentiate?"
A poll of 19 analysts by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S had forecast HTC would see T$89.64 billion ($3.04 billion) in revenue this quarter, after a worse-than-expected decline in the fourth quarter, the first decline in two years.
BNP Paribas analyst Laura Chen said in a report before Monday's guidance she was expecting a muted first quarter "due to lackluster demand for its old products, and as most of their new projects will be only kicked off in late 1Q."
She noted aggressive price cuts, lower economies of scale and likely inventory digestion as pressuring sales and margins this quarter. BNP expects HTC to resume sales momentum from late in the first quarter of 2012 and more than 30 percent sales growth in the first half of the year. But it won't stop year-on-year sales and earnings growth remaining in decline.
MARGINS SQUEEZED
HTC also said on Monday it expected gross margin and operating margin to come in at around 25 percent and 7.5 percent, respectively, down from 27.12 percent and 12.71 percent in the previous quarter.
It added that it expected margins to normalize when its product transition is over.
"Despite short-term difficulties, momentum will resume in the upcoming product cycle driven by HTC's brand strength, innovation, and design/engineering capabilities," the company said in a statement.
HTC dropped to fifth place in the global league table in the fourth quarter, according to tech research company IHS, down one place from the previous quarter, as its models scrambled to compete with Apple Inc's iconic iPhone and Samsung Electronics' Galaxy range.
The Taiwanese former contract maker had a fairytale ride in 2010 and early 2011, when its shares more than tripled in the 14 months to April 2011 and sales grew four-fold in 1- years as consumers snapped up its innovative phones with their distinctive large clock numerals.
Back then, HTC was synonymous with the Android operating system: indeed, Google chose HTC to build its flagship Nexus One phone to showcase Android's features in early 2010.
But an equally rapid fall from grace saw its stock become the worst performer among global smartphone companies last year, down 42 percent. Analysts questioned its lack of new designs in the fickle and fast-changing smartphone market.
HTC has found it hard to differentiate itself as more players have entered the Android market, says IDC's Chau. The software, and increasingly the hardware, have become commoditized, forcing HTC to hunt for new ways to stand out.
"They have been differentiating by their user interface, and that worked at the beginning," she said. "But do users now buy a phone based on that?"
Meanwhile Samsung ambitiously created new segments from the high-end, with models such as its large-screen Galaxy Note, down to Android phones costing less than $200, as well as leveraging its marketing and retail networks to promote its products.
AMBITIOUS PLANS
HTC has ambitious plans for the year. It will announce four new smartphones at the Mobile World Congress on February 26, according to Barclays Capital. The HTC Ville will feature a 4.3-inch AMOLED display and an 8-megapixel camera and run on the latest version of Android, 4.0.
Other reported models include a high-end design codenamed the Edge that uses a quad-core CPU, as well as a couple of mid-range smartphones. Improved designs and performance and an absence of next new models from Samsung and Apple in the quarter will provide HTC some room to make up its lost market share, analysts said.
But challenges remain. Slowing growth in developed markets, wider distribution of Apple's iPhone 4S, especially in the United States, and a narrowing technology gap with other makers in the Android camp are all challenges HTC will have to tackle in 2012, Morgan Stanley said in research note.
HTC shares have climbed 15 percent since the beginning of this year, above the main TAIEX share index's 9 percent rise, as investors see value in the company and consider its stock oversold in previous weeks.
"It's going to be hard, but Android has a lot of steam behind it. Samsung leads because it's marketing hard but that doesn't mean that HTC can't reach some demographics," said IDC's Chau. She points to a doubling in the smartphone market in Asia Pacific in 2011 and a likely 40 percent growth this year.
"Not everyone wants the same device."
($1 = 29.5300 Taiwan dollars)
(Additional reporting by Jeremy Wagstaff; Editing by Jonathan Standing and Alex Richardson)
HTC said on Monday it sees a drop in revenue of as much as 36 percent in the first quarter to between T$65 billion and T$70 billion ($2.20-2.37 billion), from T$101.42 billion in the previous three months, but said its difficulties were "short term."
HTC Corp, the world's No.5 smartphone maker by shipments, is widely expected to roll out four models later this month at the Barcelona Mobile World Congress, including an ultra-slim type, currently codenamed the HTC Ville, and one that uses advanced quad-core chips.
The challenge for HTC, which was once the standard bearer of the Android operating system, is to make such devices stand out in an increasingly competitive marketplace, analysts say.
"It can be turned around," says Melissa Chau, Singapore-based research manager for IDC, speaking before the company gave its first quarter revenue guidance. "But the problem remains the same: How are they going to differentiate?"
A poll of 19 analysts by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S had forecast HTC would see T$89.64 billion ($3.04 billion) in revenue this quarter, after a worse-than-expected decline in the fourth quarter, the first decline in two years.
BNP Paribas analyst Laura Chen said in a report before Monday's guidance she was expecting a muted first quarter "due to lackluster demand for its old products, and as most of their new projects will be only kicked off in late 1Q."
She noted aggressive price cuts, lower economies of scale and likely inventory digestion as pressuring sales and margins this quarter. BNP expects HTC to resume sales momentum from late in the first quarter of 2012 and more than 30 percent sales growth in the first half of the year. But it won't stop year-on-year sales and earnings growth remaining in decline.
MARGINS SQUEEZED
HTC also said on Monday it expected gross margin and operating margin to come in at around 25 percent and 7.5 percent, respectively, down from 27.12 percent and 12.71 percent in the previous quarter.
It added that it expected margins to normalize when its product transition is over.
"Despite short-term difficulties, momentum will resume in the upcoming product cycle driven by HTC's brand strength, innovation, and design/engineering capabilities," the company said in a statement.
HTC dropped to fifth place in the global league table in the fourth quarter, according to tech research company IHS, down one place from the previous quarter, as its models scrambled to compete with Apple Inc's iconic iPhone and Samsung Electronics' Galaxy range.
The Taiwanese former contract maker had a fairytale ride in 2010 and early 2011, when its shares more than tripled in the 14 months to April 2011 and sales grew four-fold in 1- years as consumers snapped up its innovative phones with their distinctive large clock numerals.
Back then, HTC was synonymous with the Android operating system: indeed, Google chose HTC to build its flagship Nexus One phone to showcase Android's features in early 2010.
But an equally rapid fall from grace saw its stock become the worst performer among global smartphone companies last year, down 42 percent. Analysts questioned its lack of new designs in the fickle and fast-changing smartphone market.
HTC has found it hard to differentiate itself as more players have entered the Android market, says IDC's Chau. The software, and increasingly the hardware, have become commoditized, forcing HTC to hunt for new ways to stand out.
"They have been differentiating by their user interface, and that worked at the beginning," she said. "But do users now buy a phone based on that?"
Meanwhile Samsung ambitiously created new segments from the high-end, with models such as its large-screen Galaxy Note, down to Android phones costing less than $200, as well as leveraging its marketing and retail networks to promote its products.
AMBITIOUS PLANS
HTC has ambitious plans for the year. It will announce four new smartphones at the Mobile World Congress on February 26, according to Barclays Capital. The HTC Ville will feature a 4.3-inch AMOLED display and an 8-megapixel camera and run on the latest version of Android, 4.0.
Other reported models include a high-end design codenamed the Edge that uses a quad-core CPU, as well as a couple of mid-range smartphones. Improved designs and performance and an absence of next new models from Samsung and Apple in the quarter will provide HTC some room to make up its lost market share, analysts said.
But challenges remain. Slowing growth in developed markets, wider distribution of Apple's iPhone 4S, especially in the United States, and a narrowing technology gap with other makers in the Android camp are all challenges HTC will have to tackle in 2012, Morgan Stanley said in research note.
HTC shares have climbed 15 percent since the beginning of this year, above the main TAIEX share index's 9 percent rise, as investors see value in the company and consider its stock oversold in previous weeks.
"It's going to be hard, but Android has a lot of steam behind it. Samsung leads because it's marketing hard but that doesn't mean that HTC can't reach some demographics," said IDC's Chau. She points to a doubling in the smartphone market in Asia Pacific in 2011 and a likely 40 percent growth this year.
"Not everyone wants the same device."
($1 = 29.5300 Taiwan dollars)
(Additional reporting by Jeremy Wagstaff; Editing by Jonathan Standing and Alex Richardson)
India is second fastest growing market: Facebook
NEW DELHI: Why is Facebook becoming more and more popular? Connectivity and accessibility are the biggest drawing cards, say users.
Facebook also finds India equally indispensable.
According to the Facebook data analyst, Inside Facebook Gold's 2011 data, India was the third biggest Facebook market after US and Indonesia, at 34.6 million users.
And the growth rate of Indian users is at 162.4 percent, second only to that of Brazil.
The statistics show that the social networks and Facebook in particular are only going to grow in times to come.
Samir Parikh, chief psychiatrist at department of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences, Max Healthcare, however, denied that this boom was a country specific phenomena limited to India.
"The growth of Facebook has been universal across the globe. In India, the higher growth rates come from the much recent increase in accessibility of internet," Parikh said.
"Social networking sprouts from the mankind's intrinsic need to stay and feel connected. Mankind is all about communication," he added.
For Facebook loyalists, the two biggest draws are connectivity and easy accessibility.
IT professional and long-time Facebook user Vinesh Nagpal says the social network lets him "stay in touch with my old college friends".
On the other hand, Yogesh Kumar uses it for networking. "I use FB for networking, and yeah, it keeps me in touch with the friends too," said the Pune-based programmer.
The chance to keep tabs on childhood friends is one of the biggest draws for Rituparna Borah who hails from Assam.
"I use Facebook to connect with my friends with whom I am not in regular touch with. I also use it as a pastime," she said.
The fact that Facebook is now multilingual and available in regional Indian languages like Punjabi or Bengali, combined with the rapid increase in the numbers of Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs) and smart phones in India can only mean a bright future for Facebook in the country.
The main competition to Facebook's dominance over Indian social networks comes from Orkut and GooglePlus. But many consider Orkut outdated, while Google's latest offering has yet to take off.
"Orkut's interface started getting a bit too cluttered and a lot of spam in the network drove me away, although I used to be on Orkut for several years after launch of Facebook," said Raghav Tuli who accesses Facebook on his smart-phone more frequently than the computer.
Facebook also finds India equally indispensable.
According to the Facebook data analyst, Inside Facebook Gold's 2011 data, India was the third biggest Facebook market after US and Indonesia, at 34.6 million users.
And the growth rate of Indian users is at 162.4 percent, second only to that of Brazil.
The statistics show that the social networks and Facebook in particular are only going to grow in times to come.
Samir Parikh, chief psychiatrist at department of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences, Max Healthcare, however, denied that this boom was a country specific phenomena limited to India.
"The growth of Facebook has been universal across the globe. In India, the higher growth rates come from the much recent increase in accessibility of internet," Parikh said.
"Social networking sprouts from the mankind's intrinsic need to stay and feel connected. Mankind is all about communication," he added.
For Facebook loyalists, the two biggest draws are connectivity and easy accessibility.
IT professional and long-time Facebook user Vinesh Nagpal says the social network lets him "stay in touch with my old college friends".
On the other hand, Yogesh Kumar uses it for networking. "I use FB for networking, and yeah, it keeps me in touch with the friends too," said the Pune-based programmer.
The chance to keep tabs on childhood friends is one of the biggest draws for Rituparna Borah who hails from Assam.
"I use Facebook to connect with my friends with whom I am not in regular touch with. I also use it as a pastime," she said.
The fact that Facebook is now multilingual and available in regional Indian languages like Punjabi or Bengali, combined with the rapid increase in the numbers of Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs) and smart phones in India can only mean a bright future for Facebook in the country.
The main competition to Facebook's dominance over Indian social networks comes from Orkut and GooglePlus. But many consider Orkut outdated, while Google's latest offering has yet to take off.
"Orkut's interface started getting a bit too cluttered and a lot of spam in the network drove me away, although I used to be on Orkut for several years after launch of Facebook," said Raghav Tuli who accesses Facebook on his smart-phone more frequently than the computer.
Android Applications on your Windows 7?? Yes Possible!!
Android on your Windows Pc??
yes possible!!
Just download this app player!!
Even you can surf net through it!!
LINK: http://bluestacks.com/
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Social networking giant Facebook turns eight
Facebook, the world's most popular social networking site, has turned eight.
With an estimated 845 million active subscribers, thesocial networking giant still continues to grow, since its launch on February 4, 2004 and is most likely to have 1 billion users by August this year.
While, the company CEO Mark Zukerberg is best known as the man who built Facebook, the company has three other co-founders, all college roommates and fellow students of Harvard University; Eduardo Saverin, Dustin Moskovitz, and Chris Hughes.
The four initially built the service exclusively for Harvard students, but it was soon expanded to other colleges and eventually added support for students at various other universities.
Initially before it's public launch, it was called 'thefacebook.com'. However, on 4th February 2008, Zukerberg renamed the domain name and launched what we know today as 'Facebook'.
Facebook has not only put Mark Zukerberg in the list of top and youngest billionaires but also helped a lot of start ups, non profits and other companies grow, interact and increase sales.
In January 2009, Compete.com study ranked Facebook as the most used social networking service by worldwide monthly active users.
Quantcast estimates Facebook has 138.9 million monthly unique US visitors in May 2011.
According to Social Media Today, in April 2010 an estimated 41.6 per cent of the US population had a Facebook account.
In India, Facebook has registered a growth of 132 per cent this year, which is higher than many other countries.
In some countries, such as Turkey or Chile, up to 80 per cent of Internet users are registered with Facebook. The Russian Facebook audience exceeds 5 million people.
However, company's market growth has started to stall in some regions, with the site losing 7 million active users in the United States and Canada in May 2011.
The company filed for an initial public offering (IPO) on February 1, 2012.
With an estimated 845 million active subscribers, thesocial networking giant still continues to grow, since its launch on February 4, 2004 and is most likely to have 1 billion users by August this year.
While, the company CEO Mark Zukerberg is best known as the man who built Facebook, the company has three other co-founders, all college roommates and fellow students of Harvard University; Eduardo Saverin, Dustin Moskovitz, and Chris Hughes.
The four initially built the service exclusively for Harvard students, but it was soon expanded to other colleges and eventually added support for students at various other universities.
Initially before it's public launch, it was called 'thefacebook.com'. However, on 4th February 2008, Zukerberg renamed the domain name and launched what we know today as 'Facebook'.
Facebook has not only put Mark Zukerberg in the list of top and youngest billionaires but also helped a lot of start ups, non profits and other companies grow, interact and increase sales.
In January 2009, Compete.com study ranked Facebook as the most used social networking service by worldwide monthly active users.
Quantcast estimates Facebook has 138.9 million monthly unique US visitors in May 2011.
According to Social Media Today, in April 2010 an estimated 41.6 per cent of the US population had a Facebook account.
In India, Facebook has registered a growth of 132 per cent this year, which is higher than many other countries.
In some countries, such as Turkey or Chile, up to 80 per cent of Internet users are registered with Facebook. The Russian Facebook audience exceeds 5 million people.
However, company's market growth has started to stall in some regions, with the site losing 7 million active users in the United States and Canada in May 2011.
The company filed for an initial public offering (IPO) on February 1, 2012.
MNP likely to see more takers following SC ruling on 2G licences
A mass switchover by mobile users is likely in the telecom sector as customers would now plan to port in to different networks following the Supreme Court's order cancelling 122 licences of operators such as Idea Cellular, Uninor, Tata Teleservices, Loop Telecom and Videocon.
The mobile number portability (MNP) service, which had a pan-India launch in January last year, has so far witnessed 29.24 million porting requests from across the country having over 890 million wireless users.
Noted telecom analyst and director of consultancy firm Com First India Mahesh Uppal said MNP will definitely be used as an option by those users who attach huge importance to their numbers.
"Though in India people are not very committed to MNP as in West, it will still be used as an option by those for whom retaining their numbers is very important. MNP would certainly act as a useful aid," Uppal told IANS.
Although the telecom regulator said the move by subscribers is expected to affect barely 5 percent of the total subscriber base, a concerned user would like to go in for another player taking advantage of the MNP service.
"The move is likely to affect less than 5 percent of users as the current operators other than the ones whose licences have been cancelled control almost the rest of the market," Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) chairman J.S. Sarma told IANS.
"Customers can always go to the operators of their choice (through MNP)," he added.
Vikramjeet Singh, a 22-year-old user of one of the affected firms, said: "This is shocking news but I am glad that through MNP my mobile services would continue but there is a lot of confusion right now and I hope to get some clarity on this issue."
"As a consumer I am perplexed as to why should a consumer suffer for the faults of telecom operators but I think I have no better option than MNP. I have to retain my number as it is circlulated among all my friends and relatives," 26-year old Shambhavi Shukla, working at a private firm, told IANS
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