Apple Planning to Release Cheaper iMacs in 2014; Analyst

When it comes to predicting what Apple Inc., one of the most secret tech firms has up its sleeve; an analyst by the name of Ming-Chi Kuo, part of KGI Securities has an absolutely formidable record. On Saturday, Mr. Kuo forecasted that the iPhone maker will be releasing a new ‘budget’ version of its iMacs by 2014. Apple had surprised its users on September 24th, 2013, when it had announced that it would soon be releasing an updated iMac. The Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing of Apple Inc., Phillip Schiller had made the announcement in a press release.

He had said that the iMac was a perfect example of how fast, beautiful and fun a desktop computer could turn out to be. He had added that the new iMac would have faster graphics, the new Intel processors and its faster PCle flash storage, all contained within its ultra-thin aluminum enclosure. A number of updates were announced to the iMacs and the prices were also revised a bit. However, there was no show of any enthusiasm amongst the iMac users even after these updates. According to the sources of Mr. Kuo, Apple wishes to boosts its market share in the PC market and will therefore develop a range of affordable and entry level desktop computers.

Even though it is an excellent computer, the cheapest of the iMacs still costs about $1299. Thus, for many consumers, it can be a huge investment. It can be a very big investment, considering the fact that analysts are predicting a post-pc world. If the forecast of cheaper iMacs is to be believed, it wouldn’t be the first time for Apple to make its Mac line easier to afford for its customers. Along with the Mac, Apple had used to sell eMac, which was a cheaper and no frills version of the former.

In addition, the company had also offered MacBook Notebooks in black and white and made from polycarbonate along with the MacBook pros. As a matter of fact, this particular line was discontinued in 2010. The analyst is predicting that the overall iMac shipments will be increased because of the reported budget iMac. An increase of about 10 to 20 percent over every year will be seen. He is of the opinion that the iMacs failed to penetrate the non-US market because they were priced too high. Therefore, in order to tap the potential of the non-US markets, Apple will be releasing its budget iMac model.

The company is hoping that this new model will echo the successful release of the budget iPhone called the iPhone 5C. However, the low budget iPhone doesn’t seem to be doing that well. Regardless, Apple might also be considering a change in the pricing strategy of its iMac line in order to overcome the effect of the US partial government shutdown that has been placed as it might trigger a slowing down in the market. The predicted halt in personal spending will not be beneficial for consumer-driven companies like Apple.

HTC Announces Disappointing Quarterly Results

Last week, the Taiwanese smartphone maker, HTC Corp posted its first quarterly loss. The company is attempting to win sales from Samsung Electronics and Apple Inc. and said that the next two months would be the ‘biggest challenge’ that the company will face as yet. The Chairwoman of the company, Cher Wang said that they had the latest technology and is making the best product from it. The only thing that the company needs to work on is its communication with its consumers. HTC saw itself fall the most in a mere month and it has been slumping downwards this year as the share of the firm in the global smartphone market was reduced by half in the second quarter.

HTC is one of the biggest seller in the US and it is planning to redesign its flagship smartphone model called the HTC One and is making an attempt to promote its brand by hiring the renowned actor Robert Downey Jr. Since September 4th, the company’s share price saw its biggest decline when it plunged to NT$126 in Taipei trading. This year, the stock of the company has seen a decline of almost 58%. At its peak, the Taiwanese smartphone maker had been valued at about $37 billion, but this has been reduced to $3.7 billion.

HTC has been facing growing competition from Chinese smartphone makers in the less-expensive mobile division while the high-end market remains dominated by Samsung and Apple. In contrast with the market share of about 5.8% in the second quarter of last year, the company only had about 2.8% market share. Analysts have predicted that there is no possibility of a turnaround for the company with the smartphone market becoming saturated. They have stated that its devices aren’t good enough to compete with that of the rivals, whether future or existing.

A quarterly loss of NT$2.7 billion or $101 million was reported by the company for the three months ending in September. The average that had been expected by the analysts was exceeded by the actual results. The Chairwoman of the company stated that their communication was a problem and they were trying to clear the gap and improving their marketing and innovation as well. Currently, the company has pinned all its hopes on the HTC new and upcoming products and it is also hoping to halt its declining sales by building up on its franchise of HTC One.

It launched the HTC One Mini in August that has a more slender design and a smaller screen of 4.3 inch. The global smartphone market is currently dominated by Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics and they had a combined 43.5% share of the smartphone market in the second quarter of this year. In order to gain some traction in the market, the company has made a marketing deal with Robert Downey Jr., who is seen as a change maker. The company’s chairwoman said that he will be the right choice because HTC is here for change as well. It is yet to be seen if this strategy will work.

Amazon Launches Kindle Fire HDX

Like the smartphone market, the tablet market is also a profitable niche for various information technology companies. While Apple Inc.’s iPad is currently leading the tablet market, it is still on the receiving end of some healthy competition from the tablets that are based on the Android OS of Google Inc. and also from the Kindle line of Amazon. Now, it seems that Amazon is once again strengthening and refreshing its lineup of tablets with the introduction of its new devices that are called Kindle Fire HDX. It is reported that these devices are significantly lighter and faster as compared to the previous generation of tablet computers of the company.

Furthermore, as compared to the older models, the newer ones, which are available in 7 inch and 8.9 inch versions have more colorful and sharper displays and they also have more pixels for every inch when compared with the most recent iPad. Moreover, Amazon has also provided a new feature in the new Kindle versions for those people who are unfamiliar with tablets. Mayday is the name given to this feature and it enables users to call upon a live customer service representative who can be seen in a tiny video window. New features can be explained by the helpers.

Also, they can provide guidance in regard to the on-screen hand scribbles and also troubleshoot problems at the same time. As a matter of fact, the device can also be controlled by the helpers from afar. The feature was introduced to reporters on Tuesday by CEO Jeff Bezos and he called Kindle Fire HDX totally unique. He also added that this feature took advantage of the exceptional customer service infrastructure of Amazon and its massive cloud computing. The device is simply building onto the superb customer service reputation of Amazon Inc. Bezos said that people did not have to be scared of their device.

A demo was also shown in which the on-screen customer service representative was asked to recommend a good application. Angry Birds: Star Wars II was recommended by the representative and instructions were also provided for setting time limit on different activities performed by children. Hence, the new Kindle tablets have been upgraded in a variety of ways. Not only that, but Amazon has also taken steps for reducing the price of its entry level tablet that will measure about 7 inch. This device is called the Kindle Fire HD and has 8 gigabytes of memory and will carry a price tag of $139.

Previously, a price tag of $199 had been given to the base HD model, but it had boasted a memory of 16 gigabytes. The price of this tablet makes it $20 cheaper in comparison to Kindle Paperwhite, which is the latest dedicated e-reader launched by Amazon. A new body made of magnesium alloy has been given to the Kindle Fire HD just like the HDX models. According to analysts, the reduction of the price of the Kindle Fire HD will benefit Amazon’s position in the tablet market more than its new features.

New Surface Tablet Unveiled By Microsoft

Microsoft Corporation is back with a new Surface a year after its flubbed introduction of the Surface tablet line. The US tech giant is attempting to correct the mistakes that it made in the first shot and gain a stronghold in the tablet computers market, which is currently being dominated by the iPad of Apple Inc. and other tablets that are based on the Google Android Operating system. The company had invited the media for a launch of its new Surface in New York on September 23rd. The software giant unveiled two new models of this line; the Surface 2 and the Surface Pro. The company has also launched an expanded portfolio of its usual Surface accessories.

Details of the device hadn’t been known in the market, but it had been expected by analysts that the company would introduce a more powerful tablet. However, the speculation about the price doesn’t seem to be true as Microsoft has shown some sensibility there. Significant updates have been made to both of these two tablets, which include improved battery life and processing power. Adjustments have also been made to Windows RT 8.1 and Windows Pro 8.1 and this has made the two devices even more powerful and customizable.

Microsoft announced that the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 will be available in approximately 22 initial markets that include Italy, Finland, Denmark, the Luxemborg, Belgium, Canada, Norway, Netherlands, Hong Kong, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Portugal, Austria, Sweden, Australia, China and the US. It will also be available on online stores of the company. A release date of October 22nd has been announced for the tablets in the aforementioned countries, except for China where it will be available in early November. Microsoft stated that in the coming months, it would announce additional markets as well. Pre-orders for the devices will begin from September 24th on Best Buy, Microsoft stores and other selective retailers.

The company had barely made a dent in the competitive and sizzling tablet market when it had introduced the first-generation of the Surface tablet last year in October. The purpose behind this move was to shift the focus to device and services in order to compete in a better way with its rivals such as Google and Apple. Sales figures weren’t reported by the company, but revenue of just $853 million had been earned in the year that ended in June. Because of weak sales of its tablets, the company had been forced to make a write-down of about $900 million.

However, it is expected that the new release of the Surface tablets will be much better than the last one. Previously, Microsoft’s pricing strategy had also proved to be a turnoff for customers, but the company has seemingly made adjustments. The Surface 2, which will be an ideal device for personal use, equipped with all entertainment and gaming capabilities will be available for $449. In contrast, the Surface Pro 2 is a laptop replacement that brings considerable improvement in areas and is priced at $899.

iPhone 5S Fingerprint Scanner Hacked

Apple Inc. recently launched the iPhone 5S, the modified version of its flagship smartphone, the iPhone 5. One of the modifications that were made to the device included the introduction of a fingerprint scanner for security purposes instead of the usual PIN. However, according to Chaos Computer Club of Germany, they have managed to crack the protection of the fingerprint sensor only two days after the device officially went on sale. The group made a post to their website where they mentioned that a fingerprint of a user had been taken by their biometric team and photographed it from a glass surface.

Then a fake fingerprint was created that could be used on a real finger by putting it on a thin film and then using it to unlock the phone. A video was also shown to back up this claim and it will no doubt create concerns for businesses. This is because a number of users may have been planning to operate their corporate accounts with the phone. While physical access to the phone and a clean fingerprint is required for hacking the device, it still means that the risk of security breach is quite high. The blog post writer of the Chaos Club stated that this was proof that fingerprint biometrics is not a suitable method of access control.

He added that the only difference between Apple’s sensor and others in the market was a higher resolution. The resolution of the fake fingerprint had to be increased and the device can be opened. He asserted that the club had been insisting for years that using of fingerprints was not a secure method because fingerprints can also be lifted by people. Nonetheless, it wasn’t claimed by the group that they had accessed the fingerprint from the device itself. According to Apple, a secure chip is used for securing the fingerprint in the device.

A security specialist stated that relying on a fingerprint was acceptable in terms of casual security, but protection of sensitive data with it wasn’t advised or safe. No comment was made by Apple Inc. regarding the hack of the German club. This is the third revelation that has come to light since the last week launch of the iPhone and the iOS 7 software. First, it was discovered by a hacker that they could use a flaw in the Control Centre feature of iOS 7 for accessing emails and photos on the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5. Another discovered that a call to any number could be placed with the Emergency Call Screen.

The method of the fingerprint hack was revealed by the Chaos Club in detail. It showed that a high quality fingerprint was lifted from a glossy surface or glass doorknob and graphite powder is used for revealing it. Then a laser print is used for printing the fingerprint onto an overhead projector plastic. The fingerprint is then cut after covering with wood glue and then attached to the real finger. This touch ID system of Apple is could create issues with the new device for security conscious users.

BlackBerry’s Move Away From Consumers Won’t Stem Decline

The plan of Canadian firm BlackBerry Ltd. to back out of the consumer market, but continue serving governments and corporations, which has been its traditional strength is seen as a desperate move by most industry analysts and they state that this act will only accelerate the downward spiral the company is on. Fears of the long-term viability of BlackBerry Ltd. are being fueled by this dramatic restructuring and strategic shift. The platform can be abandoned by its consumers, business customers and telecom partners because of the uncertainty created by this decision. According to analysts, perception is important to people and things could get worse for the BlackBerry maker despite what its Balance Sheet says.

The price target of the stock of the company was stashed by nearly nine brokerages and was reduced to as low as $5. On Friday, the shares of the company had fallen by nearly 17% and had reduced even further to $8.23 on Monday, highlighting a further reduction of 5.6%. Once the pioneer in wireless mail, the Canadian smartphone maker announced the change of its strategy on Friday and also stated that it will be slashing around a one third of its total workforce and will report a quarterly loss of around $1 billion.

One of the firms that cut the share price from $8 to $5 stated that they had been steadfast in their position that the company should focus only on enterprise and downsize. Finally, the Canadian manufacturer is doing so, but only when recovery has become least likely. The company said that it would be announcing its quarterly earnings of September 27th and that’s when it will also discuss the future sales strategy of the business. Thorsten Heins, the Chief Executive of the company asserted that this shift to enterprise-customers only would be playing to the company’s strength in terms of reliability and security.

He said that enterprises and security matters were aware that BlackBerry carries the gold standard in enterprise mobility. The company still has a substantial subscriber base that totals approximately 72 million users worldwide at the end of June. However, three months earlier, the company had had around 76 million user base. Ever since Apple Inc. launched its iPhone and Samsung introduced its Galaxy devices, the BlackBerry maker has been struggling to cope in the market. Previously, the Canadian firm had dominated the market, but Android had sapped its market share.

The company had been relying on its Z10 touch-screen smartphone, the first smartphone based on its new BlackBerry 10 operating system, and had hoped that the device would help the company in recouping some of its luster. However, the bet didn’t work out for the company. Around 3 million of the BlackBerry devices are gathering dust in warehouses because distributors have been unable to sell them in the market. Nonetheless, shifting back to corporate customer will not fix anything because rival devices are already being used by various large organizations and employees are being given permission to use devices they prefer.

Your Fingertip Will Become A Credit Card With iPhone 5S

 

According to Apple Inc., passwords have become overly played out. Therefore, they have decided to tout a new fingerprint scanning system that they are naming Touch ID. This is one of the most prominent and new features that will be available to people when they purchase the upcoming iPhone 5S. The Cupertino, California giant has stated that phone security will be enhanced with Touch ID. This is because people will no longer have to use a four digit PIN for unlocking their phone. This time they would have to use their fingerprints. However, this new feature has another purpose. With Touch ID, people will be able to purchase stuff quickly at the App store and on iTunes.

When iPhone 5S users will browse the digital stores of Apple Inc., they will have the ability of purchasing items simply by pressing the home button instead of having to enter the password of their Apple IDs. This feature is said to be the first step into the world where purchases will be confirmed not by strings of letters and numbers, but will instead use our bodies for confirmation. An analyst of Apple at Edward Jones stated that this approach is interesting as far as e-commerce is concerned and is quite different from what other companies are trying to accomplish.

He added that the use of iTunes to kick off this technology is proof that the same technology could also be used for other applications as well. People have become attuned to the concept of using their smartphones for making online purchases. As per eMarketer, products are now bought and compared by around 75% of all smartphone users and the same group is expected to spend about $15 billion this year in mobile commerce. It is projected that by 2017, people will spend around $30 billion for purchasing stuff from their smartphones.

In the last quarter alone, Apple Inc. was able to generate about $4 billion revenue from its digital stores. That’s why the company wishes to ensure that this transition to mobile shopping happens as seamlessly as possible. This could happen with the simplicity that’s offered by Touch ID. According to analysts, this technology will be adopted by people if it’s effective because it’s unique, portable and doesn’t have to be memorized at all. Nevertheless, worries and issues regarding digital security cannot be alleviated with just a fingerprint scanner. Fingerprints can be copied of lifted with various technologies today.

People only have to touch things for exposing their fingerprints inadvertently. It can be copied easily and people will not even remember they accidentally touched something. It has been suggested that the best way of handling financial transactions is to use a two-step authentication process that requires a fingerprint scanner and also a PIN or password. The fingerprint scan is replacing the PIN option in the iPhone. But, Apple has stated that the fingerprint will be stored in the phone’s internal hardware and not in the cloud so it cannot be stolen and used to make purchases.

The Upcoming iPad Is Narrower with Retained Screen Size

The next iPad from Apple's - referred "iPad 5" by experts – is going to be significantly thinner and less wide than its previous version, while with the same screen size, as per the leaked parts displayed on a website recently. However, the new repetition of iPad mini, first introduced in October last year, is exactly in the same size, as per the cases leaked to Lewis Hilsenteger from Unbox Therapy.

According to Lewis, the cases were from a reliable source that proved to be dependable in the past. Finish on these cases, showed in 2 videos suggests that the cases were made by an Apple supplier. He further added that the parts recently became available in limited quality, and had been made by an OEM which delivers orders to companies like Apple.

A video for this 9.7’’ iPad shows that the upcoming model, which is an update of version introduced in last October, will be considerably thinner, and almost 17cm wider than 18.5cm screen of the previous model, since the bezel on longer sides of its screen has now been made thinner. The cut in the width refers that the latest iPad could be easily picked up in just one hand, as per Hilsenteger. iPad 5 also has better speakers in its base, and a more right-angled profile instead of a "bathtub" shape like in the previous models.

Samsung Galaxy Gear Only Has 10 Hours Battery Life: Reports

 

Samsung Electronics is one of the most popular and well-known companies nowadays as it has climbed up the ladder of the technology market in a very short time. The South Korean multinational firm is currently reining in the smartphone market along with Apple Inc. However, that’s not the only market where it is playing a dominant role. It is the largest information technology of the world and has interest in different key areas of the industry. Nonetheless, it has become common news that the company is planning to enter the wearable technology market, which is being explored by other tech companies as well.

The South Korean giant is planning to make its entry with the launch of a smartwatch called the Galaxy Gear, which it intends to launch on 4th of September, along with its Note 3. The Samsung Unpacked event will be taking place in Berlin, Germany and this has been confirmed by the company itself. There have been considerable rumors flying about the new device and recently a ridiculous prototype of the watch has come to light. This prototype was shown on VentureBeat and has taken the smartphone market with a flurry. It is believed by some people that the photographs depict the real Galaxy Gear.

But, most fans of the company wish to believe that the images portrayed are actually fake. The device that’s shown in the photos is a cross of Galaxy Mega and Galaxy Note watch. It is basically a large watch that has around four front visible screws, a 4 mega pixel camera and its display is diagonal and 3 inch wide. This particular watch comprises of a lot of health applications and boasts the S voice control. People can also connect it to a Samsung Galaxy tablet or phone, as per the reports and speculation.

Regardless, the major downside of this particular device is that it will have only a 10 hour battery life. For most people, it would therefore be useless because it will need to be charged on a daily basis and not many people wish to have that kind of a watch. If Samsung is planning to get ahead of the iWatch that Apple is reportedly working on, they need to launch something that’s much more innovative and unique than the device that has been shown through these pictures. Anyone who has a smartphone can easily tell the time with the clock on the phone.

However, a smartwatch is much more than that. It doesn’t just tell time. The watch displays key information and proves to be highly useful. These watches need to last for a long time in order to fulfill their purpose. Otherwise, they are of no benefit and people would not like to purchase them. If the actual Samsung Galaxy Gear is anything like depicted in the pictures, people are likely to be disappointed with the company, especially in regard to battery life. They may decide to wait until Apple launches its own device and go for that instead.

Apple and Verizon Reportedly Readying Up For iPhone 5 Release

One of the most successful and rapidly developing industries of today is that of the smartphones. However, it wouldn’t have come into existence if it wasn’t for the American multinational firm that’s recognized as Apple Inc. This company was the one that launched the first smartphone ever in 2007 in the form of the iPhone. Since then, its devices have become iconic and the company itself has become immensely powerful and popular in the technology market. From the success of the iPhone, the company has moved off to other devices like the iPod and the iPad. With the success of the first iPhone, the company launched others of its ilk.

In September of 2012, Apple Inc., which is one of the most admired companies of the US, launched the fifth generation of its iPhone that was called the iPhone 5. It is nearly a year since the company launched the smartphone and there has been considerable speculation in the market regarding its successor i.e. the iPhone 5S. Samsung launched its flagship smartphone in April of this year and will be launching the successor of its Note line in September. Therefore, it is expected that Apple will also be launching its own device.

According to the latest rumors, the vacation of employees of Verizon and Apple has been limited during late September because they are preparing for the launch of the iPhone 5S. It is for this reason that they will want all hands on deck as it will be a major launch. The release date is expected to be somewhere near September 20th. As per the reports, an event is being planned by the iPhone maker for 10th of September where the company will officially unveil the iPhone 5S first. The leaked photos and videos have shown that the new device will be very much like the iPhone 5, but nothing can be confirmed until the company itself makes an announcement.

Assuming that event invites are sent out by the company for the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C, which will be its cheap model of the iPhone, around September 10th, it can be expected that its release date would be around a week later or somewhere near September 20th. Earlier this week, it had come to light that the vacation days of the employees had been restricted by T Mobile and the latest leaks indicate that Verizon is doing the same. Vacations from September 18th to September 22nd have been restricted.

Additionally, it is also claimed that even the support staff of Apple has been forbidden to take leaves from September 15th to 28th as it is near the release date of the iOS7 and the iPhone 5S. This internal information has come to light just after a leak that stated that the staff of Apple was ready to answer any questions regarding the features and design of the new iOS 7. All of this information simply backs up the rumor that indicates that the release of the iPhone 5S would be around September 20th.

79% of Total Threats Comprise of Android Malware

One of the most important and influential industry today is the smartphone industry. It grew rapidly since the introduction of the first iPhone back in 2007. Nowadays, it is one of the most powerful industries that exist and is being dominated by American multinational Apple Inc. and South Korean giant Samsung Electronics. Samsung was able to make a play in the market thanks to Android operating system that belongs to Google Inc. Apple, in contrast, uses its own iOS. According to the latest survey and reports, almost 70% of the smartphones sold today are based on Android OS and it is highly popular.

However, law enforcement as well as government and security workers have been warned by the US Homeland and Security Department (DHS) regarding the use of the outdated versions of the Android OS of Google. According to the department, around 79% of all malware is targeting that platform as compared to others. The warning was issued by the DHS in a Roll Call Release for the US emergency services. The department stated that the reason for the criminal interest in this particular platform was driven by the huge market share it possesses and also because of its fragmented ecosystem and open architecture.

Proof was offered by citing high malware figures and agents were advised that they should use the latest software available when they are using smart devices like smartphones and tablets. The report said that it is crucial that the mobile operating system is kept up to date and patched up because the use of mobile devices by local, state and federal authorities seems to be growing. What’s more interesting is that despite the fact that it is all but defunct now, the ancient Symbian OS of Nokia is the second most popular target as 19% of mobile malware was specifically designed for it.

Although this figure is high, it is not an accurate of the interest of criminals in the system and it’s probably because of old malware instead of current dangerous threats. Symbian had been the top choice of criminals before Android had arrived because of its ties with Nokia, but the interest has waned as buyers are now interested in iOS and Android. Apart from these operating systems, the iOS of Apple and others were the victims of about 0.7% of the total mobile malware attacks. The bottom of the list comprises of Windows Phone and BlackBerry’s OS, which are the target of about 0.3% of the attacks.

Apple’s devices like the iPhone and the iPad enjoy considerable popularity, but the numbers of malware attacks are low. This is mostly because of the closed security model that’s used by the company. According to this model, developers have to use the App Store of Apple for selling their wares and the company doesn’t allow applications in the market place until it has vet all of them. The company has been praised for its tight security as it keeps the devices of users secure and is safer in comparison to others.

Witness the First Windows 8 Tab

The competition in smartphone and tablet market is getting tougher and tougher. Every competitor is trying its best to edge out its rival by bringing innovative and unique products to the customers. Samsung has once again stolen the show. This time, by announcing the first ever windows phone 8 smartphone and tablet. Everyone was expecting it to be Nokia but it turns out to be Samsung against all odds. The announcement comes just a few days prior to Nokia’s announcement of its flagship Windows Phone 8 smartphones. Samsung has named its first Windows tablet RT ATIV. The device runs Windows RT which is a part of Windows 8 and has a decent array of specifications making it one of the best tablets in the market.

RT ATIV comes with a 10.1 inch LCD displaying a fine High Definition resolution of 1366 x 768. It is a very slim device at just 8.9 mm of thickness and weights just about half a kg at 570 grams. We can sense the superb built quality, design and portability of the device by Samsung. The device has 2 GB of RAM along with optional 32 or 64 GB built-in memory with option of further expansion. The device also features a 5 MP rear camera that is able to take very good photographs. It also comes with a LED flash that is not very common in the tablets. A very capable front camera of 2 MP is also included for video calling. So whether it is shooting, video making or video calling, it’s a joy with RT ATIV.

RT ATIV will feature Microsoft Office Home and Student 2013 RT preinstalled. It is for the first time that these programs will come preloaded in a tablet. This will add great convenience to the users, which they will be looking forward to. If you want a taste of Windows Phone 8 as well as Office Home and Student 2013 RT, this is the way. Battery time has been a problem with modern devices. We have seen a lot of devices offering very little in terms of battery timing. To tackle this problem, RT ATIV comes with a powerful 8200 mAh battery. It device will give you plenty of running time. So you don’t have to worry about charging again and again. 

Samsung devices have always showcased superior connectivity, especially wirelessly. So is the case with this device. Bluetooth 4.0, NFC and WiFi are the wireless connectivity capabilities of this device where as microUSB and HDMI output are included for media and data transferring through cables. As far as the price is concerned, no pricing and availability info has been released as yet, however according to the speculations it can be priced around 400$ at its release. So if you want to have one of these, start saving now and muster up your financial muscles.

The new windows tablet from Samsung promises great user experience and smooth performance thanks to its eye catching design and impressive specifications. It can potentially upset the sales of the new iPad. However, the facts will surface only when the tablet is released. So you have to wait until the RT ATIV is unleashed into the market.

Sony Upgrades its Flagship Xperia S

We rarely see the trend of upgrading a good smartphone by the manufacturer. Instead, it will launch sequels to the predecessor. It can be a good idea on manufacturer’s part to upgrade its devices. Sony has realized the importance and has taken the initiative of doing this by upgrading their 8 months old flagship device, the Sony Xperia S. The new updated model is known as Xperia SL.

Sony Xperia S was released as flagship smartphone which received appreciable response from the users. Sony have decided to release its updated model, the Xperia SL. The Xperia SL is an improved version of already popular Xperia S. Sony has added a number of features and update the already ones to the next level. The new device will now feature Andriod OS 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, along with Sony’s own Timescape UI for better user experience.

The device is just about a centimeter thick and weighs slightly les than 150 grams. The size of the LED backlit LCD has been kept as 4.3 inch which offers 16 million rich colors and a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels. Sony calls it a 10 point multi touch capacitive screen which is scratch resistant as well.

The Xperia SL misses out on a quad-core processor, however it won’t make a big impact as the 1.7 Ghz dual-core processor has sufficient punch to keep it going smoothly. Sony has opted to keep the RAM at 1 GB and release it with 32 GB non-expendable storage capacity. The camera on this device is an improved one with 12 MP of shooting capacity. It comes with a complementary LED Flash and autofocus. It can shoot 1080p Full High Definition videos with ease. Another camera on the front has been incorporated for general video calling through network as well as applications like Skype.

The device lags a bit in terms of connectivity as there is no NFC or wireless charging support and the Bluetooth version is also not the latest. It features Bluetooth 2.1 technology and Wifi for wireless connectivity while standard microUSB v2.0 comes with the USB on the go support which can be a pleasant little surprise for some users. Other array of features include Accelerometer, proximity sensor, compass and gyroscope. All these built-in stock features will provide the much needed freshness and newness into the device which shall be appreciated by the users.

Currently there has been no announcement regarding the price, availability and release of the device. However, it is speculated that it will enter the market in Last quarter of the current year.
Sony Xperia SL promises to be an improved device with lots of new and refurbished features.

However, the lack of quad-core processor, RAM, non-expendable storage and unimproved connectivity may prove to be a bit of a letdown. The price of the device will finally determine the fate of this particular smartphone. Whether it proves to be a hit for Sony or ends up just another smartphone in the market, we will have to wait and see.


To buy latest mobile phones from Sony Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung, Apple, HTC, etc, Click Here.