First Sony Smartphone ‘Xperia S’ Unveiled – 4.3 inch Display, 12MP Camera

Sony announced its first smartphone Xperia S , the first smartphone from the new Xperia NXT series . This next generation smartphones from Sony, was announced at Sony’spress conference ahead of the 2012 InternationalCES show in Las Vegas. The new Xperia S is an Android smartphone that delivers a stunning viewing experience with a high resolution screen, Sony HD experiences and a 12MP camera that takes pictures in just 1.5 seconds from standby. Xperia S also comes with a powerful 1.5GHz dual-core processor for faster performance.
Xperia S within the world of Sony
The new Xperia S enables easy connectivity with multiple screens for consumers looking to share and enjoy content on whichever screen best suits their situation, whether it’s TV, smartphone, laptop or tablet. Consumers can watch their favourite content from the Sony Entertainment Network by connecting their Xperia S through HMDI to TV or share photos wirelessly with just one touch. Xperia S is also NFC (near field communication) enabled to allow consumers to share content with each other as well as enjoyingan increasing number of NFC applications and services.
Biggest and best entertainment experiences fromSony
Xperia S will be able to access the richest entertainment experiences from Sony Entertainment Network. Music Unlimited offers a global catalogue of 12 million unique songs while Video Unlimited has the latest Hollywood blockbusters and TV shows from all major studios.
Xperia S is also PlayStation Certified, guaranteeing a high quality smartphone gaming experience and access to the PlayStation Store.
Instantly Recognizable Design
Xperia S showcases a new design approach referred to as “Iconic Identity”. The design will bereplicated across the Xperia NXT series and creates a simple strong look that is instantly recognizable. The transparent element at the base creates an iconic silhouette where the display is emphasized and underlined. In addition, it provides illumination effects and integrates the antenna components.
The user Interface has been redesigned to match the minimalistic design of the hardware. The home screen has a new colorful flow background making full usage of HD Reality Display and dual-core processing power.
Availability
Xperia S will be available to consumers globally from the first quarter 2012. Launching on Androidplatform 2.3 (Gingerbread) Xperia S will be upgraded to Android platform 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) during the second quarter 2012 .
Key Features for Xperia S
4.3 inch Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA Engine with HD resolution screen (1280 x 720), aswell as front (720p) and back (1080p) cameras for HD recording.
1.5 GHz dual-core processor for fast browsing and content download, which can be stored on the internal 32GB flash storage.
12 MP back camera with Sony Exmor R for mobile along with Fastest Capture to take shots in just 1.5 seconds directly from standby mode.
NFC (Near Field Communications) enabled to access growing range of NFC applications and services as well as Xperia SmartTags.
With HD sharing through DLNA , HDMI and using BRAVIA Sync for controlling your Xperia S with your TV remote control when connected to the TV,Xperia S delivers a full HD experience on TV.
Smart Extras for Android
The announcement of Xperia S is supported by the launch of three new Smart Extras accessories to enhance the experience on Android and to bring content to consumers’ smartphones in an entirely new way.
Xperia SmartTags – switch your smartphone settings with a single swipe
Xperia SmartTags work with any NFC enabled smartphone, including Xperia S. Simply touch a NFC enabled smartphone to a SmartTag, which is the shape and size of a small round token, and it launches a pre-configured profile in the phone, such as the alarm clock for a SmartTag by your bed or a GPS application for the SmartTag in your car. These profiles can be easily personalised to reflect any taste, designed to save consumers time and make their smartphone lives easier.
Smart Wireless Headset pro – the Bluetooth headset that does it all
This Bluetooth stereo headset for Android smartphones offers multifunctional features in addition to superior sound. On the display of Smart Wireless Headset pro users can read text messages, see incoming calls, access calendar notifications and much more. When detached from the phone it functions as a standalone MP3 player and radio.
SmartWatch – access apps and smartphone features with a micro display for Android
SmartWatch is a micro display accessory for communicating with an Android smartphone via Bluetooth. Consumers can, for example, discretelyaccess text messages, social media updates and manage calls or music. The display is mounted on a strap and can be worn as a watch. Applications allowing users to personalize their SmartWatch experience will be available on Android market.
Xperia S specifications
All services mentioned in this leaflet may not be available in every market.
Colour
Black
White
Facts
Size: 128 x 64 x 10.6 mm
Weight: 144 grams
Operating system: Google Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), upgradeable to Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
Processor: 1.5 GHz Qualcomm MSM8260 Dual Core
Camera
3D sweep panorama
12 megapixel camera
16x digital zoom
Aperture f/2.4
Auto focus
Face detection
Face recognition
Flash/LED
Front-facing camera (1.3 MP 720p)
Geo tagging
HD video recording (1080p)
Image stabiliser
Red-eye reduction
Scene recognition
Self-timer
Send to web
Sony Exmor R for mobile image sensor
Sweep panorama
Touch focus
Video light
Video recording
Music
3D surround sound
Album art
Bluetooth stereo (A2DP)
Clear audio
Clear bass
Music tones (MP3/AAC)
PlayNow service
Music Player
TrackID music recognition
xLoud Experience
Internet
Android Market
Bookmarks
Google search
Google Voice Search
Pan & zoom
Web browser (WebKit)
Communication
Call list
Facebook application
Google Talk
Noise suppression
Polyphonic ringtones
Sony Ericsson Timescape
Speakerphone
Twitter (Timescape integration)
Vibrating alert
Messaging
Conversations
Email
Gmail
Instant messaging
Multimedia messaging (MMS)
Predictive text input
Sound recorder
Text messaging (SMS)
Design
720p HD display
Auto rotation
Gesture input
Keyboard (on-screen, QWERTY)
Picture wallpaper
Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA Engine
Screenshot capturing
Touch screen
Wallpaper
Entertainment
3D games
Accelerated Adobe Flash Video
Google Media Uploader
Media browser
Motion gaming
PlayStation Certified
Radio (FM radio with RDS)
Sony Entertainment Network
TV launcher
Video streaming
YouTube
Organiser
Alarm clock
Calculator
Calendar
Contacts
Document readers
eCompass
Airplane mode
Infinite button
Notes
Setup guide
Stopwatch
Tasks
Timer
Connectivity
3.5 mm audio jack (CTIA)
aGPS
Bluetooth technology
DLNA Certified
GLONASS
HDMI support
Media Transfer Protocol support
Micro USB support
Native USB tethering
NFC
USB High speed 2.0 support
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi Hotspot functionality
Display
4.3” 720p HD display
Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA Engine
1280 x 720 pixels (342 ppi)
16,777,216 colour TFT
Shatter proof sheet on scratch-resistant glass
Memory
Flash memory: 32GB eMMC
Networks
UMTS HSPA 850 (Band V), 900 (Band VIII), 1900 (Band II), 2100 (Band I)
GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900
Battery life
Talk time GSM: Up to 7 hrs 30 min*
Standby time GSM/GPRS: Up to 450 hrs*
Talk time UMTS: Up to 8 hrs 30 min*
Standby time UMTS: Up to 420 hrs*
Music listening time: Up to 25 hrs*
Video playback time: Up to 6 hrs 30 min*
Embedded battery: 1750 mAh typical, 1700 mAh minimum
*Values are according to GSM Association Battery Life Measurement Technique. Battery performance may vary depending on network conditions and configurations, and phone usage.
In the kit
Xperia S
Built-in battery
Stereo portable handsfree
Charger
Micro USB cable for charging
Synchronisation and file transfer
User documentation

Vodafone Go BBM Plan – Unlimited Access toBlackberry Messenger at Rs. 5 / Day

Vodafone India is launching Go BBM , a new BlackBerry service plan for its prepaid and postpaid customers. The new plan, which will be commercially launched next week, will offer unlimited access to BlackBerry Messenger Services (BBM) at Rs 5 per day for prepaid users and Rs 129 per month for postpaid subscribers.
As a part of the introductory offer, subscribers who purchase the BlackBerry Curve 8520 and BlackBerry Curve 9300 smartphones till February 2012 will be able to avail of a one-year unlimitedaccess to BBM services from date of purchase.
BlackBerry Messenger is an instant messaging app just for BlackBerry smartphone owners. BBM lets you communicate in real time with people who matter most with features like confirmation when message have been delivered and read, and the ability to send pictures, videos, voice notes, files and more.
Vodafone India chief marketing officer Kumar Ramanathan said:
“We consistently strive to come up with innovative products and services that not only offers convenience but also value. The Go BBM plan aims to extend the BBM service to our customers across segments at affordable prices. BBM is a powerful and popular service used by a significant segment of our customers to stay connected and we are confident that this service will gain further popularity with this new plan.”
Research In Motion India managing director SunilDutt, said:
“We are happy to partner Vodafone to offer rich communications features of BBM in an affordable service plan to customers in India. Go BBM service plan from Vodafone is an attractive offering that will enable more users to opt for BlackBerry smartphones and service as per their preferences.”

World’s Slimmest Smartphone Huawei Ascend P1 S Unveiled

Huawei unveiled Ascend P1 S , the world’s slimmest smartphone at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show ( CES ). The Huawei Ascend P1 S is 6.68mm thin and features a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED 960 x 540 touchscreen with Corning Gorilla Glass . The Ascend P1 S is alsothe fastest and most compact smartphone in its class with a dual-core 1.5GHz TI OMAP 4460 Cortext-A9 processor and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system.
Huawei also unveiled the Ascend P1 which, as part of the same smartphone series, boasts the same functionality while measuring 7.69mm. Delivering the ultimate in elegance and speed with a 1670mAh/1800mAh battery , the Huawei Ascend P1/P1 S series provides the fastest multi-tasking, video replay and gaming experience in its class.
The Huawei Ascend P1/P1 S series feature a super-sleek and narrow 64.8mm body, elegant contours and an effortlessly stylish design. The PPVD back cover coating evenly distributes heat, and provides a strong metallic, three-dimensional design with a delicate texture. The Ascend P1/P1 S is available in metallic black, ceramic white and cherry-blossom pink with more colors to come to match your personal style wherever you are, whatever you’re doing.
The Ascend P1/P1 S brings your digital world to life with its impressive 8-megapixel BSI rear-facing and 1.3-megapixel HD front-facing cameras with dual flash LED and HDR effect optimization. The Ascend P1/P1 S allows you to capture special moments in sharper, brighter and clearer detail both in light and dim environments.Relive your most memorable moments on the Huawei Ascend P1/P1 S with its stunning 1080p HD video-capture capabilities. Its high speed dataconnectivity through 3G, WiFi and Bluetooth and in-built social media capabilities enable you to instantly share your photos and videos via social media.
The Huawei Ascend P1/P1 S will be available in Europe, Asia-Pacific, North America, Australia, Middle East, and China from April 2012.
Richard Yu, Chairman of Huawei Device said:
“We’re excited to unveil the world’s slimmest smartphone here at CES 2012. The Ascend P1 S demonstrates our ongoing commitment to innovating high quality devices that utilize the latest hardware and software technologies.”

SanDisk 128GB ‘Extreme SDXC UHS-I Card’ Introduced

SanDisk Corporation introduced the 128 gigabyte (GB) SanDisk Extreme SDXC UHS-I card. The new card is ideal for photography enthusiasts capturing Full HD2 3D videos and high-resolution photos.
Video Recording Drives Growth of User-Generated Content
Advanced DSLR cameras and HD camcorders enable imaging enthusiasts to capture Full HD 1080p videos, even in 3D. According to IDC3, user-generated video from digital cameras and flash memory-equipped camcorders will increasemore than 50 percent, from 4 exabytes in 2011 to 6.8 exabytes in 2014.
The 128GB SanDisk Extreme SDXC UHS-I card is based on the new Ultra High Speed (UHS-I) architecture and is designed to capture hours of top-quality video footage. The card’s UHS Speed Class 1 rating surpasses the recording requirements of demanding video use cases-fromhome movies captured on a DSLR to high-quality 3D footage.
The SanDisk Extreme SDXC UHS-I card is designed to help imaging enthusiasts shoot like the pros, with the speed and capacity needed to capture not only high-quality videos but also high-resolution RAW+JPEG photos, which can reach up to 30 megabytes in size.
Faster Shot-to-Shot Performance, Faster File Transfers
The SanDisk Extreme SDXC UHS-I card features upto 45MB/sec read/write speeds4, enabling photographers to capture sequences of high-resolution photos using their camera’s burst mode and then quickly transfer the files to a computer.
The card’s fast shot-to-shot performance lets photographers capture the images that matter most to them-whether using a point-and-shoot camera to take photos of a young child’s first steps or a DSLR to capture a high school track star racing across the finish line. The card’s fast file-transfer speed lets photographers offload an hour-long Full HD video in five minutes or a batch of 500 high-resolution photos in as little as one minute5.
The SanDisk Extreme SDXC UHS-I card is backed by SanDisk’s reputation for quality-professional photographers trust SanDisk. The card provides consumers with the reliability and durability theyneed to capture photos anytime, anywhere, and includes a built-in write-protect switch to help prevent accidental data loss. For added protection, the card includes a one-year downloadable offer for RescuePRO Deluxe data recovery software (a $59.99 value), which can bring accidentally deleted images back to life.
Pricing and Availability
The 64GB and 128GB SanDisk Extreme SDXC UHS-Icards are shipping worldwide with MSRPs of$199.99 and $399.99 respectively
Chris Chute, research manager, worldwide digital imaging solutions, IDC said:
“Consumer video capture is driving user-generated content creation. This is the first year that more than half of all video captured will be in HD, and that number is set to reach nearly 80 percent in 2014. This trend highlights the need for memory cards that are fast enough to handle a massive data flow while offering enough capacity to store the resulting files.”

‘Play Your World’ Google Maps Game for Google+ Announced

Google announced ‘ Play Your World ‘ game as a part of pushing internet games to Google+. Play Your World game will be based on the indoor and outdoor maps of its Google Maps service.
Google has released a promotional video for a Google Maps-driven game for Google+ Games . In the video, Google pimps a “Play your world, like never before” slogan and a link to “Start here,” which leads to entertaining demos on how to useGoogle Maps.
The game comes out next month and appears similar to On the Ball, Marble Madness and Rolling Madness 3D — all games in which a player navigates a ball through courses.
The Maps team developed the game for the Google+ Games platform, which went live Aug. 11. The game runs on WebGL, a technology that creates 3D web graphics viewers can see withoutinstalling extra software.
Play Your World with Google Maps

Internet Addiction Affects Brain Like Drug and Alcohol Addiction: Study

Reports now prove that brain reacts to internet addiction, similar to the way it does to drug, alcohol addiction. A certain experiment on 17 Internet addicts recruited from Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Shanghai MentalHealth Center, has thrown up baffling results.
Those with Internet addiction, or Internet addictsbelong to a relatively new breed of people who virtually spend all the time that they’re awake surfing the Internet.
While there may have been experiments done in the past, which tried to gauge the concept of Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD), this one’s different, since this study looks at the change in the structure of the brain and the presence of the white matter.
Elaborating on the study more, the report stated,
“Whole brain voxel-wise analysis of fractional anisotropy (FA) was performed by tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) to localize abnormal white matter regions between groups. TBSS demonstrated that IAD had significantly lower FAthan controls throughout the brain, including the orbito-frontal white matter, corpus callosum, cingulum, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, and corona radiation, internal and external capsules, while exhibiting no areas of higher FA.”
At the end of the study, the researchers did find some abnormal white matter structure, which they have been linking to behavioral changes.
The report further throws light on the methodology used on the 17 subjects to reach thefinal result. Reportedly, the assessments were based on a set of 6 questionnaires, namely the Young’s Internet Addiction Scale (YIAS), Time Management Disposition Scale (TMDS), Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (BIS), the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) and Family Assessment Device (FAD). The questionnaires were all initially put down in English and were later, translated into Chinese.
A crucial, breakthrough turn to the research camewhen researchers found that the brains of those suffering from IAD were found to contain abnormal white matter integrity in corona radiata. Researchers pointed out that abnormal white matter as such has been previously observed in cocaine and methamphetamine abuse, and alcohol dependence.

Airtel ‘Comedy FM’ VAS Service – Dial 52747 to Subscribe

Airtel has launched Comedy FM , which is a 24X7 un-interrupted one-stop comedy shop for mobile users. This VAS (Value added Service) for mobile customers offers jokes, fillers, standup comedy acts, funny moments of STICOMs, Gags and fillers.
The Comedy FM has been developed in partnership with the leading media company SONY Entertainment Networks. Airtel customers can now dial 52747 to enjoy non-stop Comedy on India’s first Comedy station.
Comedy FM IVR service is available at Rs 2 per day and 2 paise per second browsing charges. Users can access help and unsubscribe option for the service from the settings section.
Subscribers will get the un-interrupted humour experience here. It will be packaged with the following components:
Stand-up comedy acts from the hilarious television series Comedy circus
Light moments from popular SAB TV SITCOMs like FIR, Office-Office, Lapataganj etc.
Interesting fillers, spoofs and gags
The product will have 4 components and 3 of them will be available right from the launch:
IVR: User can dial into an MM number and enjoy the experience
Settings: Users can access help and unsubscribe option for the service from the settings section.
Subscription @Rs.2/day
Browsing @2 paisa/second

Samsung GalaxyTab 620 Honeycomb Tablet – Price Rs. 30,250 in India

Samsung announced the launch of Samsung GalaxyTab 620 in India. GalaxyTab 620 is built on Android Honeycomb 3.2 platform with 1.2 GHz dual core processor . This 3G enabled Tablet has option to connect with Wi-Fi which can increases download and streaming speeds bytwo folds.
Weighing 345 gm , the tablet is one of the lightest in its category. At 9.96 mm , its sleek design makes it convenient to carry. It is available in India at a price of Rs. 30,250 .
With integrated communication service , users can aggregate contacts, calendar and email with instant messaging and social networking service (SNS). Contacts can be synced with online portals and social networks and manage schedules and events from multiple accounts.
Samsung India’s Country Head for Mobile and IT, Ranjit Yadav said in a statement said:
“The GalaxyTab 620 with its powerful processor, next generation OS, stylish design and intelligentvalue added applications make this a faster, lighter and smarter device. It has HSPA+ technology which can enable user to download movies and songs, surf the web and play online games while on the move with data speeds of 21Megabit per second. It takes only 390 seconds to download a 1GB movie and a mere 0.57 seconds to download a 1.5MB photo.”

Viewsonic ViewPad E70 Tablet Announced – 7″ Screen, Android 4.0

ViewSonic announced ViewPad E70 – the newest addition to its tablet line. The 7″ ViewPad E70 runs on Google’s latest Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich Operating System and is powered by 1GHz processor .
It offers the ultimate in value and fun for a premium tablet experience at an affordable price, super light weight compact design and premium apps and services.
The compact, ultra slim Android 4.0 tablet ships with 4GB memory storage. Other features include a front-facing camera, Wi-Fi support and microSD expandable storage up to 32 GB . The ultra-portable design makes it easy for users to bring the device on-the-go for viewing and streaming multimedia with the included 1080p HDMI output .
The ViewPad E70 brings advanced technology to consumers with rich features and premium value,for an extremely portable and affordable mobile entertainment device. Integrated apps and services provide easy access to leading multimedia, entertainment content, and thousands of mobile apps offered.
ViewPad E70 delivers a rich user experience with included apps, premium features, and the latest Android 4.0 operating system. One of the most portable and affordable tablet products on the market, ViewPad E70 is designed to meet consumer demand for a tablet that delivers on both quality features and value.
The ViewPad e70 will be available for an ESP of $169.99 in late Q1.
Michael Holstein, vice president of business development, ViewSonic said:
“ViewSonic is committed to delivering advanced technology designed with the consumer in mind. Featuring the latest Android operating system, along with leading apps and services for entertainment content, the ViewPad E70 continues the ViewSonic tradition of bringing feature-rich products to new markets.”

Google Partners with O-Zone to Provide FreeWi-Fi Access in India

Google in partnership with O-Zone Networks is offering free Wi-Fi to Indian users . It is a part of Google’s effort to increase usage of Google’s social network Google+ as well as YouTube. The service wil allow unlimited usage of Google+ and 10 minutes of free access to YouTube per week . For using any other websites, users have to pay for minutes.
The service provided by O-Zone Networks will runfor an initial three months . O-Zone is in talks with Google to make it a long-term contract.
This new marketing initiative further encouragesmobile internet usage and enhances consumer experiences with Google+ and YouTube users on portable devices while away from work and home .
O-Zone Networks CEO Sanjeev Sarin stated about the unique marketing partnership:
This is a first-of-its-kind promotional tie-up. This association between Google India and O-Zone Networks reinforces the fact that people are now realizing the power of Wi-Fi.