AMD launches app store, emulator for Android

Generally known for its processors and GPUs, AMD has launched an app store for Windows systems powered by its chips – including Android apps. Called AppZone, the portal mainly comprises of applications and games optimised for systems running AMD’s hardware. The chip maker has also launched AMD AppZone Player, which lets you run Android apps on a Windows system, in association with BlueStacks. The AppZone listings include around 60 apps and games meant for the Android platform.

The AppZone offers a handful of apps for Android

The AMD AppZone Player is essentially an emulator for running Android apps on Windows systems and is powered by BlueStacks’ LayerCake technology. Emulators often cannot run all apps that were originally developed for being used on phones or tablets, since they have to upscale the application and its content to a larger screen, and a completely different processor environment. However, AMD states that its AppZone Player has been optimised by BlueStack for running Android apps on systems with AMD Radeon graphics on board. BlueStack has also apparently optimised the emulator for AMD’s OpenGL drivers found on its APUs and GPUs.

BlueStacks launched its own Android emulator in 2011, which virtualises an Android environment on a Windows desktop. You can easily download, install and run Android apps inside the BlueStacks emulation environment just like on a tablet or a phone.

Downloading the AppZone Player is pretty straightforward: you can either download it from the AppZone store or simply download an app and the site will ask you to install the Player. Once installed, you can click the home page button to get the player home screen. The Player enables you to browse recommended apps that have been optimised for Android; it also has a search function that lets you find apps across app stores. You even get a small list of suggested apps that’s based on any apps you may have downloaded previously. BlueStacks is integrated with all the various app stores for Android, which you can browse through, and download and install apps.

An interesting feature here is Cloud Connect, which lets you sync your apps and messages between the emulator and your Android phone or device. To set up the service, click the settings button and then Cloud Connect and follow the on screen instructions. You will also need to download the BlueStacks Cloud Connect app on your Android device.

Any apps you install on your system shows up in the Start menu and can be launched by simply clicking on it.

Sibal gifts Aakash 2 tablet to Narendra Modi

Two units of the upgraded version of the Aakash tablet have been gifted to Gujarat CM, Narendra Modi by Kapil Sibal, as reported by the Times of India. In one of our earlier reports it had been elaborated upon that the Gujarat CM may well be among the first ones to receive the widely reported tablet, after a certain remark on the tablet did not go down too well with Sibal.

Sibal sent the tablets to Modi with a request to keep education away from politics. Sibal, in his letter to Modi, expressed his disappointment over the latter’s views on the Aakash tablet, "Education is a collaborative venture beyond the pale of politics and we need to work together in the best interests of the children of the country".

Two units of the Aakash tablet presented to Modi

Early this month, reports had emerged about Modi taking a dig at India’s low-cost dream tablet - the brainchild of the Communications and IT Minister, Kapil Sibal. It all happened when, as part of its campaigning ahead of the Assembly elections, Congress announced that it would distribute free laptops to students if they were voted to power. Critical of this, Modi took a dig at Congress and said, "Kash [If only] this Aakash tablet could land on earth, then the lie [promise of free laptops] they [Congress] are spreading now would hold some weight". Modi went on to accuse the Centre of 'dragging its feet' in distributing Aakash tablets. Modi asserted that the Centre failed to deliver on its much-hyped commitment.

The Aakash 2 is a significant upgrade over the original Aakash tablet. The initial version of the tablet had a 7-inch resistive touchscreen, which struggled to respond to touch. It ran Android v2.2 on a 366MHz processor, based on an older ARM architecture. The Aakash 2 tablet is likely to be replaced by a successor, which will have a dual-core Cortex - A9 processor by the end of this year.

Just this week it had been reported that Datawind has started supplying units of Aakash 2 to IIT Bombay. In a statement, the company revealed that an October launch of the tablet is likely. Datawind CEO Suneet Singh Tuli told PTI, “Supplies are on to IIT Bombay. In the next few weeks, it should be launched. I do not have the exact date, but HRD Minister [Kapil Sibal] has said he wants to launch on the anniversary date which is October 5”. However, Tuli added that the launch would depend on Sibal’s schedule. While refusing to disclose any further, Tuli added that the supplies to IIT Bombay had begun a month and a half ago.  

In June this year, Sibal had announced that 100,000 units of the Aakash 2 tablet would be provided to engineering colleges, deliveries for which were expected to begin last month. Sibal said, "That was the dream and I, as minister for Human Resource Development, asked myself the question can I provide a tablet to the students throughout the country that costs a reasonable amount so that all children can afford it and yet is able to deliver through the best technology, the vast information available on the net to them sitting wherever they are. We have realised a dream that was germinated a few years ago. We have been able to tell the world that through our frugal innovation system we can conquer the world and that's exactly what we need to do for India as a country".

Assassin's Creed III gets Tea Party trailer :Boston

The third game in Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed series, appropriately titled Assassin’s Creed III, is shaping up to look pretty interesting so far. The company has now released a new trailer for the game that gives us a lesson in history, albeit not a very accurate one. Gamers will play the role of a new assassin in the game. The trailer talks about the Boston Tea Party – an event that kicked off America’s fight for independence from the British rule.

The trailer shows off many interesting story bits, mostly related to Connor’s involvement during the event. While the Boston Tea Party was an important event, the trailer mentions another event – “one that actually mattered.” This would hint to the idea that the Boston Tea Party was just a front for something grander and more sinister in the Assassin’s Creed universe.

Assassin’s Creed III is all set to have some new gameplay mechanics to help the protagonist with better travel environments. Players can use parkour to travel through trees, whereas the new combat system allows the capability to dual-wield weapons. The game also shows off the new Anvil engine that allows for a large number of characters to be on screen.

The Assassin’s Creed series deals with a secret war that has lasted millennia between the Assassins and the Templars. The Assassins seek to fight for the free will of people, while the Templars seek to control them. The first game was set during the Holy Crusades in Jerusalem. Protagonist Altaïr ibn-La'Ahad would have to jump from rooftops and sneak into groups of people in order to find and assassinate his targets.

The new assassin - Connor

The second game was set during the Renaissance era in Florence. The main protagonist of the “II” series of games (which are Assassin’s Creed II, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, and Assassin’s Creed: Revelations) is Ezio Auditore. The II series of games dealt with the evolution of Ezio as a character, who starts out as a revenge-driven teenager only to become a highly-skilled master of Assassins. Altaïr also makes an appearance in Revelation, showing the aged assassin’s last few days. The secondary protagonist of the series is Desmond Miles, who is accessing his “genetic memory” to live the lives of his Ancestors Altaïr and Ezio.

Back in August, it was revealed that the PC version of Assassin’s Creed III will be released 20 days after the release of the console versions of the game. This doesn’t come as a surprise as Ubisoft has a history of treating its PC customers as low priority customers—from delaying the release of the PC version of its games to the extremely draconian DRM that plagued Assassin’s Creed II.  An assumption can be made that the delayed PC release would make gamers purchase the console versions, thus avoiding piracy on the PC. This has not been confirmed by Ubisoft.

Assassin's Creed III will be released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on October 30, and the PC version will be released on November 20.

Video :Google Maps running on iOS 6 released

The iPhone 5 and iOS 6 have been facing a lot of flak due to the buggy iOS 6 Maps app that replaces the original Google Maps app on iOS devices in the new OS update. According toUnleashThePhones, a hacker named Ryan Petrich has released a video of Google Maps running on iOS 6. Petrich has been able to get Google Maps running on an iPhone 3GS operating on iOS 6. He managed to port the Google Maps app from iOS 5.1 with some hacking trickery. Petrich has said that he won’t be able to release the app in public as it is still unstable, but he has managed to get most of it working. The hack will require a jailbroken device. The iPhone 5 was recently jailbroken. Developer Grant Paul, a.k.a. Chpwn, recently tweeted a picture of an iPhone 5 with the Cydia app installed. Here is the tweet by @chpwn: "Taller screens like Cydia too. :) pic.twitter.com/fE14vXN2" The Cydia app is the best proof of a jailbroken Apple device. The app is its own app store that lets users buy and download apps. These apps let them better customise the phone to their liking. The tweet was posted on the same day as the iPhone 5 was released. The jailbreak is not been released yet, as there may still be bugs to work out. The jailbreak of the iPhone 5 gives hope for devices running on the A5X chip and iOS 6, although devices running on the A4 chip and iOS 6 can already be jailbroken. iOS 6 may just get Google Maps yet! Here is a quick look at the highlighted features of the iPhone 5: 4-inch, 326ppi Retina display at 1136 x 640 pixels, GPRS, EDGE, EV-DO, HSPA, HSPA+, DC-HSDPA, LTE and Wi-Fi GPS Bluetooth 8 megapixel camera with 1080p HD recording, 720p front-facing camera 16GB, 32GB and 64GB versions Made entirely out of aluminium and glass, the iPhone 5 weighs merely 112 grams, is 20 percent lighter than the iPhone 4S, and is the thinnest iPhone yet at 7.6 mm thick. Apple has chosen to debut iOS 6 with the iPhone 5 and the new OS includes Apple's own Maps app, an updated version of Siri and lots more. Overall, the new iPhone has been upgraded in almost all respects. One of the biggest changes to iOS is the addition of Apple’s own Maps app in the place of Google Maps, which Apple has done away with. The new Maps app has a built-in search for local points of interest, with over 100 million possible suggestions. Other features of the Maps app include navigation, routing, 3D maps, satellite imagery – that wraps around the 3D maps – and the ability to get directions directly through Siri. Most of the standard features of the Maps app, including satellite view, are available in almost all countries the iPhone ships to. Siri has also been updated and new features include support for more languages, easy access to sports scores, restaurant recommendations, movie listings, Facebook-enabled apps such as Photos, Safari browser, Maps, and Shared Photo Streams via iCloud.

Aakash 2 supply starts by Datawind to IIT Bombay, October launch likely

Datawind has started supplying units of Aakash 2 to IIT Bombay. In a statement, the company revealed that an October launch of the tablet is likely. Datawind CEO Suneet Singh Tuli told PTI, “Supplies are on to IIT Bombay. In the next few weeks, it should be launched. I do not have the exact date, but HRD Minister (Kapil Sibal) has said he wants to launch on the anniversary date which is October 5”. However, Tuli added that the launch would depend on Sibal’s schedule. While refusing to disclose any further, Tuli added that the supplies to IIT Bombay had begun a month and a half ago.  

October launch likely for Aakash 2 tablet 

Tuli went on to add that the company had completed most of the pre-paid bookings, and it will now start focusing on supplies for unpaid bookings. "Out of 55 lakh orders, 4 to 5 per cent were pre-paid bookings. Maybe in a week or 10 days, all the pre-paid will be done. Then we will focus on pre-bookings. We are giving them offers to upgrade to Android 4.4 version," he said.

In mid-August this year, we reported about Kapil Sibal affirming that the Aakash 2 tablet would be launched in the country "very soon". Earlier this month, PC maker Lenovo shared that it was difficult to have a tablet offering a great user experience at a price as that proposed for India’s dream tablet, i.e., Rs. 2,276 ($41).

In June this year, Sibal had announced that 100,000 units of the Aakash 2 tablet would be provided to engineering colleges, deliveries for which were expected to begin last month. Sibal said, "That was the dream and I, as minister for Human Resource Development, asked myself the question can I provide a tablet to the students throughout the country that costs a reasonable amount so that all children can afford it and yet is able to deliver through the best technology, the vast information available on the net to them sitting wherever they are. We have realised a dream that was germinated a few years ago. We have been able to tell the world that through our frugal innovation system we can conquer the world and that's exactly what we need to do for India as a country".

Earlier reports surrounding the Aakash 2 launch indicated that the tablet would run on Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) OS, priced aggressively at Rs 2,263. It comes packed with more features and enhanced speed than its predecessor. Talk about Android v4.0 (ICS) being included in Aakash 2 began in April, when Suneet Singh Tuli stated in an email that the Aakash 2 tablet will have 2GB flash storage, an 800MHz processor and 256MB RAM, which should be enough to handle ICS. Aakash 2 is a significant upgrade over the original Aakash tablet. The initial version of the tablet had a 7-inch resistive touchscreen, which failed to respond to touch. It ran Android v2.2 (Froyo) on a 366MHz processor, based on an older ARM architecture. The Aakash 2 tablet is likely to be replaced by a successor, which will have a dual-core Cortex - A9 processor, by the end of this year. 

Photos taken with Windows Phone 8X released by HTC

According to Pocket Now, the HTC Windows Phone 8X will include an 8 megapixel camera, along with an aperture of f/2.0 at 28mm, a backlight illuminated sensor, and a dedicated chip for image processing. These features in a phone camera could give the Nokia Lumia 920 quite a fight. HTC has released a video and a few pictures taken with the device. The phone, originally titled the HTC Accord, seems to be running Windows 7.x in the pictures that were leaked earlier on Twitter, but there are speculations that the screenshot is of a much earlier render. The HTC Accord was first seen in June, along with three other phones. The Accord was seen along with phones named Zenith and Rio. The Accord is the middle child of the trio, with a screen size of 4.3 inches and a 720p Super LCD 2 display. Also onboard is a 1080p capable 8MP camera sensor, 42Mbps HSPA+ capabilities, NFC support and a whole gig of RAM. it is also rumoured that it may come with a MSM8260A SoC onboard. Looks good so far Windows Phone 8 is the latest iteration of Microsoft’s Windows Phone that’s loosely based on Windows 8, in the sense that it shares the same kernel, APIs and drivers. Microsoft claims that with Windows Phone 8, similarities between Windows 8 and this latest smartphone OS is more than just skin deep. Microsoft states, “We’ve based the next release of Windows Phone on the rock-solid technology core of Windows 8.” Expanding on this, Joe Belfiore, Manager of Windows Phone Program, stated that Windows Phone and its older sibling will share common networking, security, media and web browser technology, and a common file system. These features will translate into better performance, more features and new opportunities for app developers and hardware makers to innovate faster. The camera seems good for close-ups Microsoft had officially raised the curtain on Windows Phone 8 at an event in San Francisco earlier this year and claimed that it is the most advanced mobile OS Microsoft has ever made. Here is a look at some of the highlighted features available on Windows Phone 8: Multi-core processor support: Windows Phone was a slick OS that ran smoothly on handsets with a single processor. The latest OS now features multi-core support with Belfoire claiming that they’re ready for whatever hardware makers dream up. Bigger, sharper screens: Windows Phone 8 supports two new screen resolutions — 1280 x 768 and 1280 x 720, making it compatible with new handsets that will feature high-definition 720p displays. More flexible storage: Windows Phone 8 supports removable microSD cards, so users can stuff their phone with extra photos, music and whatever else is important and then easily move it all onto their PC. NFC wireless sharing: In Windows Phone 8, NFC helps make sharing photos, Office docs, and contact info easier. One can achieve this by tapping their phone on another NFC-equipped device. Internet Explorer 10: The next version of Windows Phone comes with the same web browsing engine that’s headed for Window 8 PCs and tablets. Microsoft claims that IE10 is faster and more secure, with advanced anti-phishing features like SmartScreen Filter to block dangerous websites and malware. Internet Explorer 10: The next version of Windows Phone comes with the same web browsing engine that’s headed for Window 8 PCs and tablets. Microsoft claims that IE10 is faster and more secure, with advanced anti-phishing features like SmartScreen Filter to block dangerous websites and malware. Better maps and directions: Windows Phone 8 builds in Nokia mapping as part of the platform. This partnership will provide more detailed maps and turn-by-turn directions in many countries, plus the ability to store maps offline on your phone so you can work with maps without a data connection. Improved apps and games: Microsoft states that basing Windows Phone 8 on the Windows core will unleash a new wave of amazing apps and especially games.

Accessories for Apple devices launched by Logitech

Logitech, today announced the expansion of its tablet accessories as well as solar-powered product portfolio in India with three new products – Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover and Logitech Solar Keyboard Folio which are made for the new, third-generation iPad as well as the iPad 2, and Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 for Mac, iPad or iPhone. Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover The Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for the iPad, as per the company, protects the iPad screen with an aluminium cover that adds minimal weight to your tablet, and features a built-in keyboard that pairs through Bluetooth. When you’re ready to type an email or watch a movie, the company claims that the keyboard’s built-in stand holds your iPad at the best angle. Similar to a Smart Cover, the Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover attaches to your iPad with a magnetic clip. It has an instant On/Off feature, which means your iPad automatically wakes up when you open the cover, and switches to standby when you close it. It has a six-month battery life (based on two hours-per-day usage). With function keys for enhanced navigation, and a piano-black finish, this keyboard cover adds both functionality and style to your iPad.  Logitech Solar Keyboard Folio Logitech Solar Keyboard Folio The Logitech Solar Keyboard Folio includes onboard solar cells that charge the built-in Bluetooth keyboard in any light, whether indoors or outdoors. When fully charged, the battery lasts for up to two years, even in complete darkness (based on an average use of two hours per day). The folio offers two stand positions, so when you want to use your iPad you can choose the viewing angle that’s best for you. Open the folio and place your iPad in the first position to enjoy the full keyboard when you’re typing. Place your iPad in the second position and the first keyboard row acts as your one-touch media playback and volume controls, so you can play, pause and change volume instantly. Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 The Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 has onboard solar cells. With a Bluetooth connection, you can pair your keyboard to as many as three devices and switch among them without having to reconnect. The Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 features Mac-specific keys, including Command, Brightness, Eject and more. Logitech goes on to add that the Logitech concave key design gives you more comfortable and quiet typing, and offers more speed and precision than typing on an on-screen keyboard.  Similar to the Logitech Solar Keyboard Folio, you can charge this keyboard in any light – low light or lamp light, indoors or outdoors. Fully powered, the keyboard works for at least three months, even in total darkness (based on average use per day of eight hours). Commenting on the launch, Subrotah Biswas, Country Manager of Logitech India and South West Asia, said, “The new Logitech keyboard cases – with their sleek, smart design and extended keyboard battery life – provide a convenient way for consumers to do more with their iPad; while the Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 will appeal to Apple users.” The Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover, the Logitech Solar Keyboard Folio and the Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 are available in India for a suggested retail price of Rs 6,599, Rs 8,999 and Rs 6,599 respectively.

Google Play now allows Indian developers to charge for apps

Smartphone apps are serious business, though developers of Android apps were left in limbo. In India, developers were only allowed to publish free apps, and this had limited the potential for innovative apps because of lack of incentive. Recently, according to The Hindu, India has made it in to Google’s official list of countries where developers can register as certified Google Checkout merchants, thus allowing Indian developers to put out paid apps. "The move was overdue for some time now,’’ said Ashish Sinha, founder of Pluggd.in, a website focused on local start-ups. “This will pave the way for creating business models around innovative Apps. Android is big in the Indian smart devices space, and this will help fuel development of the localised Apps, too.” Indian developers can now charge for apps P R Rajendran, Director of Next Wave Multimedia, a Chennai based company that has published more than ten apps on both Apple iTunes as well as Google Play, said, “We have lived with this condition for some time now where we literally run two companies, and are subject to dual taxation". He added, "This is a welcome move on the part of Google”. So far, Indian developers needed to go to a country where Google Checkout merchants are allowed, such as the US, and register a local bank account in the name of a US resident, in order to sell apps on the Google Play Store.  Google has been on a roll in India, with its recent launch of services that were previously unavailable in the country. Earlier this month, Google launched its voice guided turn-by-turn Navigation service in India. Google Maps Navigation makes good use of the long-standing features of Google Maps for mobile. The features include powerful Google search and voice search capabilities, which allow users to find local destinations by typing or speaking an address or business name.  Voice search on Google Maps Navigation is only available in English yet. Google’s search tools go a distance in assisting the user. For instance, ambiguous queries and words that are misspelled are corrected and clarified without requiring the user to enter an exact address, and the optimal route from origin to destination is quickly calculated. Importantly here, although Google Maps app itself is a free download from Google Play and the access to navigation isn’t charged for either, the Google Maps app does require an Internet connection and users are responsible for any mobile data charges they incur while using the app. Speaking at the launch of these services, Darren Baker, Product Manager for Google Maps, said, “Our goal in developing Google Maps is to provide users with the most comprehensive and accurate online maps in every country, and to share the features and benefits of Google Maps as widely as we can.”

easier to repair iPhone 5 rather than previous iPhones

The iPhone 5 was launched recently, and it came with a bunch of new features. While the phone’s design wasn’t revolutionary, it looks quite different from its predecessors, the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 4S, owing to the use of a larger screen and the absence of a glass panel at the back. According to iFixit, the iPhone 5 is much easier to repair than Apple’s previous devices. As per a guide published by iFixit, the biggest issues with manually repairing an iPhone 5 are Apple’s proprietary screws used to keep the device together, and many intricate parts located near the dock that make fixing individual parts dicey. All things considered, the iPhone 5’s front-to-back construction makes accessing the insides of the device very easy, as the screen is the first thing to come out when disassembling the phone. The iPhone 5 is easy to open up and repair (Image Credit: iFixit) It was recently revealed that the iPhone 5 runs on a triple-core GPU. The device runs on a custom-made dual-core ARM processor that runs at a clock speed of 1GHz. The GPU uses a triple-core with a higher clock speed, so that the phone can achieve double the graphical capabilities of the A5 processor. The processor is most likely a PowerVR SGX 543MP3. The A5 processor that powers the iPhone 4S, iPad 2 and the fifth generation iPod Touch had a PowerVR SGX 543MP2 GPU. On the software side of things, the iPhone 5 was recently jailbroken by developer Grant Paul, a.k.a., Chpwn. Paul had recently tweeted a screenshot of an iPhone 5 with the Cydia app installed. The Cydia app is its own app store that allows users to buy and download apps. These apps would otherwise not be hosted on Apple's own App Store, as many of the apps require permission to use the root features of the device -- permissions which aren't possible to give with a device that hasn't been jailbroken. Here is a quick look at the highlighted features of the iPhone 5: 4-inch, 326ppi Retina display at 1136 x 640 pixels GPRS, EDGE, EV-DO, HSPA, HSPA+, DC-HSDPA, LTE and Wi-Fi GPS Bluetooth 8 megapixel camera with 1080p HD recording, 720p front-facing camera 16GB, 32GB and 64GB versions Made entirely out of aluminium and glass, the iPhone 5 weighs merely 112 grams, is 20 percent lighter than the iPhone 4S, and is the thinnest iPhone yet at 7.6mm thick. Apple has chosen to debut iOS 6 with the iPhone 5 and the new OS includes Apple's own Maps app, an updated version of Siri and lots more. Overall, the new iPhone has been upgraded in almost all respects.

iPhone 5 defines Apple success, Tim Cook-style

Tim Cook is no Steve Jobs when it comes to leading Apple Inc . As the debut of the new iPhone 5 just proved, that may not be a bad thing.

The taller, thinner and lighter phone prompted a rush on Wall Street to raise price targets for Apple stock, but the optimism was not because of a big technological advance or design breakthrough; the "wow" factor that was the trademark of the late Apple co-founder Jobs was decidedly absent.

Rather, it was the speed of the global launch that astounded, validating the new CEO's much-touted wizardry at the essential but unglamorous task of managing a supply chain.

Defining Apple's success

"We are positively surprised regarding the pace of the rollout, since we had expected a bigger impact from component constraints," Barclays analyst Ben Reitzes said.

By next Friday, the iPhone 5 will be in 31 countries, and will be in 100 by the end of the calendar year. That would be 30 more than the rollout of the predecessor phone, the 4S, over a similar period, Jeffries analyst Peter Misek calculated.

That means Apple has worked out supply constraints and inked deals now with 240 carriers. It will get enough phones out the door in the next 10 days to have a material effect on earnings.

"His skills fit the time period and the flow of product," said Raymond Miles, professor emeritus at Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley, adding that Apple may be at a stage where it needs "someone with a production vision."

The iPhone launch offers some other, subtler indications of how Apple is changing under Cook. In public events, Jobs stood out in his black turtleneck, an d performed carefully crafted one-man stage shows. At the press event for the iPhone 5, Cook blended into a pack of executives all sporting a uniform of jeans and untucked casual dress shirt.

Indeed, one might say that practical, low-flash, but high-impact actions are emerging as the Cook trademark. He has introduced a dividend to pay out part of the more than $100 billion cash stockpile, raised salaries for a rabidly loyal but low-paid workforce in the Apple stories, and sped up product rollouts.

Under Cook, more Wall Street analysts have been invited to headquarters to talk to executives, particularly Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer and head of Internet services Eddy Cue. Cook himself addressed investors at a Goldman Sachs conference, a rarity for Apple executives, and initiated investigations into allegations of labor abuse in its supply chain.

Insiders say he is a refreshing presence after the prickly Jobs, who was admired but feared. Cook is also known for his ability to track vast amount of data and zero in on a critical parameter.

One person familiar with the CEO notes that under Cook, the company has continued to rapidly increase its revenue, retain all the senior executives, maintain its product rollout schedule and avoid huge blunders.

On the flip side, the imbroglio over the sub-par mapping software in the iPhone 5 suggests that Jobs' obsessive perfectionism and attention to user experience is already being missed.

Apple Maps, which offers soaring 'flyover' views of major cities, has displaced Google Maps on the new iPhone software. But the new program has no public transit directions, limited traffic information, and flat-out mistakes, such as putting one city in the middle of the ocean.

"Apple made this maps change despite its shortcomings because they put their own priorities for corporate strategy ahead of user experience," said Anil Dash, a widely followed technology pundit, reflecting widespread annoyance and consternation.

Jobs would have put the whole company to work on the problem, as each negative review of the widely used feature would have irked him, said the person familiar with Apple's inner workings. The issue facing Cook now is how fast he reacts to the Maps problem and how quickly it gets fixed, the person said.

Jobs himself allowed email synchronization software MobileMe to launch in 2008, to deadly reviews. Fortune magazine reported Jobs telling the entire development group, "You should hate each other for having let each other down" and immediately replaced the group's head.

"No CEO, not even Steve Jobs, would be able to catch all the problems in every new feature of a new complicated product, like the iPhone 5," said Harvard Business School professor David Yoffie. "The big question is how will Tim respond now?"

More broadly, there is also the question of whether Apple under Cook can produce products that are revolutionary rather than evolutionary. His products thus far - the iPhone, the new iPod line and an expected iPad mini - represent improvements, rather than game changers.

In the meantime, Cook is topping Jobs' sales record: IPhone 5 preorders hit 2 million in 24 hours, twice the level of the 4S, and analysts expect a smaller iPad mini in October.

Investors do not seem to need much more convincing about Cook's ability to captain the ship: the average price target for Apple stock is now $763, up 6 percent from a month ago, thanks to analysts raising targets in the wake of the "wow-less" launch event.

Reuters

Motorola unveils S11-Flex HD Bluetooth headphones

Motorola has unveiled the S11-FLEX HD wireless stereo headphones. According to an official release issued by the company, these Bluetooth headphones deliver HD audio, and feature five adjustment points. S11-FLEX HD will be available for sale from October 28, 2012 at Best Buy, and online at Motorola.com and BestBuy.com for $129.99 (roughly Rs 7,000). The pair of headphones are aimed for use during workouts.

The Motorola S11-Flex HD headset

S11-FLEX HD has a flexible outer band, adjustable inner band, and telescoping and rotating ear pieces, which let you adjust your headphones. It has protective seals and moisture-repelling mesh to keep out sweat. The S11-FLEX HD headphones can stream music to up to 150 feet from your smartphone or music player, so you can do a circuit at the gym, clean the house or work in the yard without having a music player hugging your hip.

“It’s a custom-fit world with fashion, furniture and even food being created to fit the unique needs of every individual – we decided technology shouldn’t be any different,” said Dickon Isaacs, Design Director, Consumer Experience Design, Motorola Mobility. “That’s why we built upon our popular S9 and S10 series to create an amazing headset that can be tailored and custom fit just for you.”

The S11-FLEX HD comes with customisable equalizer settings. The multi-function button on the headset makes choosing your settings easy.

“S11-FLEX HD delivers the kind of sound you’d only expect from a wired headset – high quality, crystal clear audio -- with the ability to adjust the fit and customize the sound for a personalized experience that no other product delivers and without the wires,” said Cedric Welch, Senior Director, Companion Products, Motorola Mobility.

The S11-FLEX HD can also be used as a hands-free commute. The dual mics deliver noise cancellation when making calls.

Additional features:

• Dedicated music and volume controls
• Multiple ear cushion models in various sizes
• A quick five-minute charge fuels a full-hour workout with music
• A 15-minute charge delivers your favorite workout tracks for up to three hours
• Universal compatibility with devices from all major brands.

LG could base next Google 'Nexus' device on Optimus G

LG had announced its next flagship phone last month. Rumours indicate that the phone, named the LG Optimus G, could be what the next Google ‘Nexus’ phone is based on. According to AndroidCommunity, LG would be working on the next Nexus phone and use the Optimus G as the base. Google usually announces a new Nexus phone by the end of the year, and according to AndroidCommunity’s sources, this year will be no different. According to the sources, Google is working closely with LG to work on the next Optimus G. If LG does end up making a Nexus device using the Optimus G as the base, the new Nexus device will probably come shipped with Android v4.1 (Jelly Bean) out of the box, as opposed to the Optimus G, which is slated to run Android v4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) out of the box. Could be what the next Nexus device is based on Here is a quick look at some of the main features of the LG Optimus G: 4.7-inch True HD IPS+ display with a resolution of 1280 x 768 pixels LTE, 3G, EDGE/GPRS and Wi-Fi capabilities for net access, NFC GPS, A-GPS Bluetooth 4.0, USB 2.0 13MP camera with LED flash and 1.3MP secondary camera up front 32GB Internal memory MHL, DLNA LG claims that with the powerful quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor as its base, and the best technologies for enhanced viewing and longer battery life, LG adds the finishing touches on the Optimus G with a sleek design and innovative UX features. The brand states in an official release that the offerings in the Optimus G will provide users an experience currently unavailable on any other smartphone. “The Optimus G is a groundbreaking premium device not only in the history of LG but also in the smartphone industry,” said Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “With the Optimus G, users will be able to experience unsurpassed UX features that will allow them to perform tasks that really enhance their daily lives.” LG claims that the technologies such as the Zerogap Touch and True HD IPSPLUS Display from LG Innotek and LG Display harmonise to offer the slimmest, sharpest and clearest viewing experience yet. The new battery from LG Chem which is a 2100mAh battery has a longer life of 800 cycles, a significant improvement over existing mobile phone batteries. An ultra high-resolution, compact 13MP camera is employed in the Optimus G to offer the sharpest photos without pixillation – even when creating extra-large prints. The phone is set to see a global release in October.

iPhone 5 jailbroken, Cydia installed

While most people like Apple’s iPhones for their simplicity and easy-to-understand interface, some like the iPhones just to jailbreak the device, and see what they can do or how much they can mess around with the insides of the phone. Developer Grant Paul, a.k.a. Chpwn, has recently tweeted a picture of an iPhone 5 with the Cydia app installed. Here is the tweet by @chpwn: "Taller screens like Cydia too. :) pic.twitter.com/fE14vXN2"

The Cydia app is the best proof of a jailbroken Apple device. The app is its own app store that lets users buy and download apps. These apps let them better customise the phone to their liking. The tweet was posted on the same day as the iPhone 5 was released. The jailbreak is not been released yet, as there may still be bugs to work out. The jailbreak of the iPhone 5 gives hope for devices running on the A5X chip and iOS 6, although devices running on the A4 chip and iOS 6 can already be jailbroken.

Cydia has been installed on an iPhone 5

Here is a quick look at the highlighted features of the iPhone 5:

• 4-inch, 326ppi Retina display at 1136 x 640 pixels,
• GPRS, EDGE, EV-DO, HSPA, HSPA+, DC-HSDPA, LTE and Wi-Fi
• GPS
• Bluetooth
• 8 megapixel camera with 1080p HD recording, 720p front-facing camera
• 16GB, 32GB and 64GB versions

Made entirely out of aluminium and glass, the iPhone 5 weighs merely 112 grams, is 20 percent lighter than the iPhone 4S, and is the thinnest iPhone yet at 7.6 mm thick. Apple has chosen to debut iOS 6 with the iPhone 5 and the new OS includes Apple's own Maps app, an updated version of Siri and lots more. Overall, the new iPhone has been upgraded in almost all respects.

One of the biggest changes to iOS is the addition of Apple’s own Maps app in the place of Google Maps, which Apple has done away with. The new Maps app has a built-in search for local points of interest, with over 100 million possible suggestions. Other features of the Maps app include navigation, routing, 3D maps, satellite imagery – that wraps around the 3D maps – and the ability to get directions directly through Siri. Most of the standard features of the Maps app, including satellite view, are available in almost all countries the iPhone ships to.

Siri has also been updated and new features include support for more languages, easy access to sports scores, restaurant recommendations, movie listings, Facebook-enabled apps such as Photos, Safari browser, Maps, and Shared Photo Streams via iCloud.

Safari has also received a major update – the ability to go full screen on the device by touching the arrows on the corners. Another major feature of the new Safari app is the ability to sync tabs between the desktop and iOS versions of Safari. This new feature is called iCloud Tabs. The new Mail app has also received some updates, including the ability to mark people as VIPs and the ability to flag certain mails for follow-ups.

Though, the biggest problem is that many of these features won’t be available in India at launch.

update Your Status from the beyond?

There are several services on the Internet that allow you to schedule messages for your Facebook, Twitter and even email messages, to be sent after you die.

When they say that social networking is addictive, they are really not kidding. While it may seem spooky to some, there are a couple of online tools that will allow you to post on social networking sites long after you are dead. Hard to believe? Well, if you were to search the Internet, then you will come across several such online services that allow you to do just that.  Social Networks If you are looking for a service to update Facebook, then head to ifidie.net, it has a Facebook app that allows you to leave messages in text or video format. How it works is after registering for the app, you can record your message and then nominate Facebook friends as Trustees. The job of the trustees is to notify them of your death. The idea is to nominate as many friends as trustees (in case the one you have nominated dies before you) and it has a minimum requirement of three trustees to confirm your death. After receiving the confirmation of your death, as a precaution you will be contacted and a buffer period gets activated. If they receive no communication from you after the buffer period, then assuming you are dead your messages will be published. And no, the trustees you nominate will not have access to the recorded message before it is published. Crave fame? Try your luck in death While the app may seem frivolous, the founder of the app Eran Alfonta came up with the idea following his friend's near death experience after having involved in a car accident. They realised how fickle life could be and thought about ways to be able to leave messages for their loved ones. This formulated into ‘ifidie’. Taking it a step further in August 2012, they launched a premium service that allows you to send personalised messages to recipients of your choice. And if you missed out on fame while you were alive, then you can try your luck in death by participating in their if i die 1st initiative. You can sign-up, leave your message and if you happen to be the first user to die, then they promise you that your last words will be immortalised, as it will be given wide coverage on leading media websites, blogs and newscasts. A somewhat similar service is LastWrite. After creating your account, you can write letters or choose to post something on your Facebook. It works differently than ifidie, in a sense that its database is linked to the U.S. Social Security Office. The Social Security Office is informed of a person’s death and the same is updated on LastWrite's system. A list of expired social security numbers is updated on a daily basis on Lastwrite and when the system finds matches, it sends out your letters. Here you have a greater control, as you can choose to send letters on email addresses of the recipients of your choice or have your Facebook page updated. You can even choose when you want to send the letters or post the update on Facebook, as it allows you to set a date that could be your first death anniversary or any other significant date.    Find out what your next Tweet could be When it comes to Twitter, you have the option to use tools that allow you schedule Tweets and you can easily set Tweets to be posted even 20 years down the line. There are many such tools you can use, like TweetDeck, Twuffer, Hootsuite, SocialOomph and many more. But, of course, whether or not these tools and not to mention Twitter itself, survive the test of time is difficult to say. But if they do, then rest assured that your Tweets will see the day of light and if you are still alive and active on Twitter, then it might just spook you as well. And if you are long gone and your account hasn’t been terminated following a request to do so by your near and dear ones (your close ones can get your Twitter account terminated after submitting proof of your death and establishing their relationship with you), then rest assured that your Tweet from the beyond will cause quite a buzz. There are even several sites online that will predict what your next Tweet could be—all you have to do is provide your Twitter handle. It’s not necessarily a tool to be used to analyse what the next Tweet of a dead person could be, but more of a fun app that runs on an algorithm that will analyse your Tweets so far and then predict your next Tweet. If you like what you see, then you can share it on Twitter. Right now the results are bit gibberish, but as the idea catches up, we are sure we will see algorithms that predict better results. You've Got Mail If the idea of sending emails appeals to you, then you might want to check Dead Man's Switch. You can write email messages for the recipient of your choice and they will be sent to them after you have departed. How does it know you are dead? Well, the service will email you at regular intervals and you have to respond to those. If you do not reply, then it will keep contacting you and after sixty days of your last response, it will send out those emails. With the free account you can leave messages to two recipients. At twenty dollars, you can opt for a lifetime account with which you can leave messages to hundred recipients. You can also check DeathSwitch that works on a similar premise. Here, with a free account you will be able to send message to one recipient, but no attachments. And with a premium account that will cost you around twenty dollars, you can attach files like videos, images or documents and can send 30 messages and include up to 10 recipients for each message. Alternatively, you can look at free service EternityMessage, which allows you to schedule messages and images to be sent at a future date as set by you. But here there is no death switch and the messages will be sent when you have scheduled them for; it doesn’t wait for a death trigger.      Write emails to be sent to your loved one's after you die Digital Avatar Going a step further, you can also create your digital avatars for posterity, so that your loved ones can interact with your digital avatar after you have departed. There are a couple of sites like LifeNaut and VirtualEternity with the help of which you can achieve this. LifeNaut offers the Mindfile feature, which will basically create your digital avatar based on the information that you share, which includes memories, images, videos, documents etc. In fact, the people behind LifeNaut.com have created Bina48, a social humanoid robot, based on the information, memories, beliefs, etc. collected from several people including Bina Rothblatt, co-founder of LifeNaut. You can easily create your virtual avatar Its abilities include face recognition, voice recognition, head & eye movement and conversational ability amongst others. LifeNaut has proved that by combining detailed information about a person and using artificial intelligence, it is possible recreate a persona of an individual. VirtualEternity is another such platform that allows you to create your digital life-like avatar, or Intellitar as they are referred to. A person can use the platform to train the avatar to reflect their personality by uploading images, providing voice training, taking personality tests etc. Your avatar then answers questions based on the data that you have provided.   These are but a few, as there are many such services available on the Internet that allow you to digitise your experiences in the form of memoirs, send emails, update social networking sites, etc. But, of course, even if you sign-up for all these services for whatever motive, whether or not you succeed will largely depend on their existence. However, you won’t be able to find out whether you succeeded or not, because you will be long dead!