Showing posts with label Technology. Show all posts

Apple CEO says 'company has more money than it needs'

London, Feb 24 (ANI): Apple CEO Tim Cook has acknowledged that the tech giant has more money 'than it knows what to do with'.

Cook said that Apple's current 97.6 billion dollars in cash and investments had grown by nearly two-thirds in a year and was "more than we need to run a company".

While speaking in the firm's annual general meeting in California, Cook said that Apple was in 'active discussions' about what to do with the cash pile.

"The board and management team are thinking about this very deeply," The Telegraph quoted him, as saying.

According to the report, some shareholders have called for the money to be returned to investors, in the form of a dividend or share buyback.

Analysts have suggested it could buy a film or television production business to help support its supposed ambition to do for TVs what it has done to the music and mobile industries with the iPod and the iPhone.

Meanwhile, critics said Apple should increase wages for the Chinese workers who produce its goods. (ANI)

Micromax X368 Price in India, Micromax X368 Dual SIM GSM Mobile Phone at Lowest Price

Technology

The new Micromax X368 is a latest Dual SIM GSM mobile with basic features for entertainment. Micromax X368 is a simple bar type non-touchscreen phone comes with 2.55 inch QVGA Color Display with 240 x 320 Pixels screen resolution. The main highlights of the Micromax X368 are 2.0 Megapixels Camera, FM Radio, Auio Player, Video Player, Video Recording, 3.5mm Audio Jack, Loudspeaker, English/Hindi Language Support and much more. The phone having 43 MB internal memory with expandable microSD support up to 8 GB. It supports Bluetooth, USB, WAP and GPRS for surfing. The Micromax X368 is powered by a 1080 mAh standard Battery which provides talk time up to 5 hours and stand by time up to 200 hours.

Micromax X368 Price in India

Dual SIM GSM Phone Micromax X368 is available in India at price around Rs. 2569.

Micromax X368 Mobile Features and Specifications

- Dual SIM (GSM+GSM)

- GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz

- 2.55 inches, QVGA TFT Display Screen

- Screen Resolution : 240 x 320 Pixels

- 2.0 Megapixels with Digital Zoom

- Camera Resolution: 1600 x 1200 Pixels

- Camera Features: Zoom Level, Multi-shot Mode

- FM Radio

- Video Recording

- Audio Player : MP3

- Video Player : MP4, 3GP

- Internal Memory : 43MB

- Expandable Memory : Up to 8GB

- Alphanumeric Keypad

- Loudspeaker

- Bluetooth v2.0

- GPRS

- WAP 2.0

- USB Port

- Java Games

- 3.5mm Audio Jack

- Bookmarks

- Multiple Image Formats

- SMS/MMS/Email

- Apps: Opera Mini Browser

- Hindi and English Language Support

- Ringtones : Vibration, WAV, MP3, Polyphonic, MIDI

- 1080mAh Li-Ion Battery

- Talk Time : Up to 5 Hours

- Standby Time: 200 hours approximately

- Dimensions : 117x51.5x11 MM

- Color: Silver

Salespack

- Handset

- Battery

- Charger

- Earphone

- User Manual

- Warranty Card

Beware of heavy discounts on phone

Technology

This morning I saw a deal in my mail inbox that sounded too good to be true; the sender was promising an Android phone from Acer with 3G, WiFi, 3 megapixel camera for just Rs 5,000.

While the deal was indeed true there was a catch, the model that was being sold was from old stock. And once I read the specs it was clear the deal was not as good as it sounded. The phone was based on Android 1.6 (the early version of Android) with a 416 MHz processorand just 256 MB RAM. Today, even the entry level Android phone from an Indian manufacturer comes with a 600 MHz processor and Android 2.2 or 2.3. So this phone though from Acer would be as good as throwing away those Rs 5000.

I prodded further and found that online retailers regularly do this to clear old stocks. While some of this old stock clearance gives you good value for money most of them are just waste of money.

Here are some example of the waste of money products Palm Centrio, iMate Ultimate 8150 Windows Mobile 6.0, Acer Mobile beTouch E130, HTC Magic.

While these are just few examples, the practice is common amongst the online retailers. So how do you figure whether the product is a waste or a steal (good deal). Well just a couple of things will make it clear.

Operating system

The operating system that is alive is a good OS, a dead one makes the device dead as well. Android 1.6 is long dead, so is Windows Mobile (Windows Phone is the current OS), Palm OS and Danger OS.

Today these operating systems are useless without any support leaving the users with a device that can't be updated, you can't have new applications. In some cases you do not even get the basic services like mail, maps etc despite the hardware being capable. For Example Airtyme Flaunt, despite having GPS and Push mail facility, will not offer any of these functions because the OS which was cloud based is dead so you do not have the backup to support.

So steer clear of any of the above mentioned operating system based devices which are presented to you as new.

Hardware

Today the minimum standard for any Smartphone is 600 MHz processor, anything lower than that is not worth buying. Not only a slow processor makes the device very slow but also you cannot upgrade the device as new software usually demand powerful hardware to perform. For example, not all the Android 2.3 operating system based devices can be updated to Android 4.0 ICS which requires very powerful hardware.

Also look at RAM which should at least be of 256 MB. GPS, WiFi, and 3G are other key features that the phone should have to be relevant today.

Is the handset still available?

Search in the internet for the handset. If the device was launched more than a year ago but is not available in three or four online stores of repute, than this device's merit needs to be evaluated thoroughly before you make the purchase. Check if the upgrade for the handset was released.

For example an Android 2.1 update for an Android 1.6 device should be available online. Best way to do that is to visit the official site of the handset manufacturer and search for support.

Nokia Lumia 800 to sport new colors?

Technology

Nokia Lumia 800 seems to be heading for a more personalised approach as far as colors are concerned.

Nokia, the Finnish mobile phone brand seems to be having colourful plans as far as its flagship Windows Phone device Lumia 800 is concerned. After bringing Cyan, black, and Fuchsia coloured variants, Nokia may soon launch Lumia in Green and Red - a Bluetooth-handsfree" target="_blank">Nokia Luna BH-220 Bluetooth headset advertisement playing on YouTube indicated.

Lumia 800 is available in cyan, black and Fuchsia colours in India while the white coloured variant is available in few selected countries. The 12.1 mm thick smartphone has 3.7 inch capacitive display withnative resolution of 480 x 800 pixels. Lumia 800 features a 1.4 GHz application processor and comes with Windows Phone Mango 7.5, 512 MB RAM, and 8 megapixel camera with a dual LED flash.

Nokia Luna is the new Bluetooth hands free accessory that was announced by Nokia during theCES 2012. The tiny Bluetooth headset features such as NFC and comes with a unique dock that doubles up as a portable charging cradle for the Luna.

Since the Nokia Luna BH-220 handsfree kit is already available in the United States in various colours, it is just a matter of time before we see the Nokia Lumia in new colours as well. But in the absence of the official announcement it is really difficult to say if Nokia is planning on these new devices or it's just a marketing gimmick that has been devised to popularise the Nokia Luna.

But with Nokia focusing its efforts in the development and betterment of the Windows Phone based Nokia Lumia devices, it is expected that the devices will feature the newly listed colours especially as it perfectly matches the newly launched accessory for the smartphone in terms of colour availability.

Cheapest Indian Android ICS tablet iBerry Auxus coming soon

News , Technology

Chennai based iBerry India, a brand associated with the manufacture of low cost Android tablets in the country, will launch its first GoogleIce Cream Sandwich tablet for the Indian audience in the coming month.

While talking to The Mobile Indian, iBerry India spokesperson Musthafa Kamal informed us that "iBerry India is getting ready for the launch of its first Google Ice Cream Sandwich based tablet, which will take place in the month of March. This will also be the cheapest ICS based tablet with a price tag of about Rs 10,000."

Initially, iBerry entered the Indian market with two Android models, the BT07 7 inch version and the BT10 10 inch tablet, which were launched last year during September. Following the launch of the ICS based tablet, iBerry has plans to launch a slew of new products in theIndian market in the times to come.

The 7 inch iBerry Auxus AX02 will have a 1 GHz processor with dedicated graphics engine for speed and better graphic capabilities as well. Along with that the Auxus will feature 1 GB of DDR2 RAM, HDMI output and support for a 3G USB modem.

The 7 inch display will have 800 x 480 pixel resolution and a capacitive touch based input system with multitouch for pinch to zoom functionality. For better gaming support it will have a gyro based motion sensor.

The device will be based on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) operating system and will be capable of handling up to 32 GB of expandable memory via microSD cards. Also the device will get mini USB on the go port support for pen drives and other peripherals.

iBerry is all set to launch the device countrywide in the next month. Auxus AX02 will be available through the online retail network and retail sale partners in various cities across India. The company is offering a one year comprehensive warranty for the devices, which will be handled by the company's service network throughout India.

iBerry has also set up a toll free number for easy and reliable servicing. Along with that the tablet will come with an on-site warranty, which means if the tablet is not working the company will get it picked up from your home for servicing and repairs and users will not have to worry about searching for service centres.

Beware of heavy discounts on Phone

News , Technology

This morning I saw a deal in my mail inbox that sounded too good to be true; the sender was promising an Android phone from Acer with 3G, WiFi, 3 megapixel camera for just Rs 5,000.

Apple to reveal latest iPad in March - report

News , Technology

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Apple Inc plans to introduce its latest iPad tablet at an event in the first week in March, the website AllThingsD reported, citing unnamed sources.

RELATED QUOTES

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The event will be held in San Francisco, likely at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, which is Apple's preferred site for product launches, the website said.

An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment.

Apple has typically introduced the latest versions of its iPad in the first few months of the year. The current iPad 2 was introduced on March 2, 2011. The original iPad was introduced at the end of January 2010.

Apple's iPad dominates the nascent market for tablets even though deep-pocketed rivals are taking aim at the lucrative segment. Amazon.com Inc's Kindle Fire, which sells at half the cost of an iPad, has chipped away at the lower end of the tablet market.

Apple iPad tablet sales doubled in the December quarter to 15.43 million units from a year earlier.

(Reporting By Poornima Gupta)

Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Networking

Technology

Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Networking

Social networking is like a cherry on the cake where the internet is a cake and social networking a cherry, just as without cherry a cake is incomplete in the same way internet without social is incomplete. However social networking has both benefits and limitations, given below are the advantages and disadvantages of social networking

Advantages of Social Networking

It helps individuals in making new friends and also finding old friends who might not have been touch for years and without this platform it would have been impossible to get in touch with them again. In simple words it helps in reviving old relations and helps in making new relations.
It helps in breaking monotonous life of individuals as these sites are filled with activities and really have interesting applications which never allow you to get bored which is great since people need enjoyment after hard day of work which these sites provides.
It also helps in expanding your business because there are millions of people who are on these sites and there is no better medium to promote your business among you friends, family and others than social media.
One never feels left out due to it because you get know about your family and friends birthdays, anniversaries and other important things which are happening in their life.

Disadvantages of Social Networking

The biggest disadvantage of it is that there is possibility that someone may extract your personal and professional information and use it to do harm to you and therefore you should be fully aware of such things and never disclose any sensitive information like bank account details, credit card details and so on.
Children at young age should never be allowed to use these sites because at such young age they would be exposed as at their age they are not in a position to decide whether it is right or wrong to be friends with strangers and also exposing them to social networks will erode their innocence. All things should be done at right time and social networking is not a right thing for very young kids.
One should not get addicted to it because it can have severe repercussions like losing your productivity at work, loneliness etc…., social networking should be done but one should not do it continuously as anything done in excess is bad for you.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

News , Photo Gallery , Technology

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is causing massive amounts of harm to nature in every aspect and must be controlled.

It is unimaginable to try and picture a gigantic garbage dump swirling in the Pacific Ocean that stretches from Hawaii to Japan. Still increasing in size, it is currently estimated to cover an area twice the size of the continental Unite

d States. This enormous amount of debris has been nicknamed The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, or trash vortex, and is the world’s largest rubbish dump. It is held in place by swirling underwater currents.

I became interested on the topic when I came across a headline discussing the matter. Huge quantities of trash were washing up on shores, sparking media attention. I was fascinated because I had never heard of the garbage patch, nor could I believe the size of this toxic monster. As I researched more, I was concerned about the hazardous effects troubling marine life, as well as humans.

Los Angeles River, photo taken after a recent storm

About one fifth of the plastic junk is thrown off of ships or oil platforms, and the rest comes from land. To form a clearer vision of just how large this dump is, we can look to Sailor Moore. He sailed through the area for a consistent week and saw mounds of floating garbage every time he looked out into the water.

An effort needs to be made by consumers to rid ourselves from living in a litter infested world. Unless consumers cut back on their use of disposable plastics, the plastic stew would double in size over the next decade. As well, the fate and impact on marine ecosystems must be analyzed. More than a million sea birds ever year, as well as more than 100,000 marine animals have fallen victim to the garage patch.

Before the days of plastic, when fishermen dumped their trash overboard or lost a net, it consisted of natural materials like metal, cloth or paper that would either sink to the bottom or biodegrade quickly. But plastic remains floating on the surface, the same place where many genuine food sources lie, and can remain so for 400 years. Plastic is durable and strong; precisely the qualities that make it so dangerous if it reaches the ocean. Ships were dumping massive amounts of garbage into the ocean, and littering people were letting their trash wash into drains and the garbage would eventually make its way out into the ocean.

In 1987, a law was finally passed restricting the dumping of plastics into the ocean. The Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act (MARPOL) went into effect on December 31, 1988, making it illegal for any U.S. vessel or land-based operation to dispose of plastics at sea. It prohibits the dumping of plastics anywhere in the ocean, and the dumping of other materials, such as paper, glass, metal, and crockery, closer to shore.

Some researchers say it is a clean up battle that could never be won. The large amount of plastic in the Pacific may always remain, but we can do our part and prevent the statistics from consistently increasing.