Wifi Direct

We have been getting many questions with regards to Wifi Direct technology. A few year ago wireless technology like Wifi, Infra-Red, BlueTooth, NFC etc are best known for data communication.

Now you would be thinking what about wifi? If you look at it wifi allows several devices, computers, printers, mobiles etc.. to wirelessly transfer data and communicate with each other.  The only catch with wifi was that it needed a medium for the data transfer or communication to take place, that medium was usually a wireless access point / wireless router.  So the wifi alliance came up with a new technology and called it Wifi Direct.

Wifi Direct:

Thus Wifi Direct can also be called peer-to-peer Wifi, in essence it allows for two or more devices to connect to each other directly without the need for a wireless access point (wireless router).

In order for a device to be able to use Wifi Direct it needs to be certified by the Wifi Alliance. The certification is known as Wifi Certified and currently over 550 products have been certified Wifi Direct and the product range is expanding. Example of products that have been certified Wifi Direct include Smartphones, Televisions, Laptops etc.

Difference between NFC and Bluetooth

We have been getting many question regarding communication system to know what NFC is and how it’s different than Bluetooth. Keeping that in mind we will try to explain the differences between NFC and Bluetooth starting with a brief history then moving onto their current status and future. We will also mention their Advantage and Disadvantage and try to make it as understandable as possible.

NFC (Near Field Communication):

Radio frequency identification (RFID) was the base upon which Near Field Communication (NFC) started back in the 80’s. This technology permitted the user to direct radio information to a receiver where it was recognized. The initial form of this technology was used for tracking and security purposes at retail locations. As time progressed so did this technology, and the two strong companies NXP semiconductors and Sony came to invent NFC or “Near Field Communication” in 2002. In 2010 this technology evolved and got incorporated in Android smartphones.

Basically NFC is a data transfer technology that works at a short distance or another way to put it is that it’s a sort of extremely short range wireless-communication. By a process called inductive coupling two compatible devices can transfer the data in the form of beam. For NFC to work both devices should be at distance of no more than 4 centimeters for data transfer to effectively take place.

In fact in one of Samsung’s ads for their Galaxy S 4 smartphone they showed this as a very neat and nifty function where pictures and video were transferred by simply touching two Galaxy S 4’s together.

Upgrade to Windows 8.1 from Windows 8

Windows 8 users who have been waiting for a better user experience do not have to wait any longer. Microsoft’s Windows 8.1 is available as a free upgrade for any system running with Windows 8. With just a few simple steps, you can get important new features, including the ability to see multiple windows in Modern User-Interface, a Start Button and a search function that returns results both from the web and your hard drive.

* First make sure your system has all recent Windows updates. If you have been using Windows 8 steadily you are probably up to date, but if it has been a few days since you last logged in to your PC.

Here’s are the following steps to upgrade your Windows 8 system to Windows 8.1:

• Click settings on the charms menu.

• click on Change PC settings.

Microsoft Office for the iPad is coming soon, Ballmer

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has let slip that Microsoft Office for the iPad is on its way, although it's unlikely to arrive any time soon. Ballmer revealed that Microsoft is developing a version of Microsoft Office for the iPad.

He said, "Word, PowerPoint and Excel are all authoring tools. They are optimized for use with keyboards and mice. The last time I checked, the iPad didn't have a paradigm for keyboard or mice.

"The iPad will be picked up when we do what I would call not just a touch-enabled, but a touch-first user interface for Office. That is in progress for both Windows 8 and other platforms."

While there's already an iPhone version of Microsoft Office available, this is the first time the company has mentioned developing it for Apple's iPad, despite it having long been called for by users of the tablet.

However, as Ballmer's comments suggest, it seems Microsoft is plotting to bring touchscreen friendly Office apps to its own Windows 8 operating system first, likely to make its Surface tablets more appealing to buyers.

Ballmer didn't reveal any more details about the upcoming Microsoft Office applications, nor did he drop hints about a release date. However, if speculation is to believed, Microsoft Office for the iPad is likely to arrive in early 2014.

According to analysts, the firm should release the applications sooner rather than later though, with Morgan Stanley researcher Adam Holt claiming earlier this year that the firm has missed out on "billions of dollars" by not releasing Microsoft Office for the iPad.

USB 3.0 chip controller boost PC performance up to 50%

Silicon Motion Technology last week announced it has begun shipping USB drive manufacturers samples of a new USB 3.0 controller chip for flash drives that could boost their performance by up to 50 percent.

The company said the new SM3267 integrated controller is expected to deliver up to 160 megabyte-per-second read times and 60 megabyte-per-second write speeds through a single channel; that would be a 30 percent to 50 percent performance improvement over today's USB 3.0 flash drive technology.

Even though the USB 3.0 specification has the capability to support 4.8Gbps throughput speeds, the speed of a USB 3.0-enabled flash drive is dictated by the speed of the accessing flash devices in the drive. Today, most consumer-USB 3.0 flash drives support about 100MB/s read speeds.

"We are pleased to announce that SM3267 has received design-ins from most of our current USB controller customers, including many top-tier OEMs, and we expect SM3267-based USB 3.0 flash drives will be commercially available starting in the fourth quarter of 2013," Wallace Kou, CEO of Silicon Motion, said in a statement.

The new integrated chip will also be able to run at lower voltages, from 5 volts to 1.2 volts, enabling a 25 percent to 30 percent lower USB flash drive device temperature compared with other USB 3.0 flash controller products in the market, Silicon Motion said.

How to Root Samsung Galaxy Note 3

By rooting your Samsung Galaxy Note 3, you can not only  uninstall bloatware, install a custom ROM and run rooted apps, but also allow additional apps to appear in Samsung’s floating “pen window.” Fortunately, if you have the T-Mobile or Sprint version of the Galaxy Note 3, you can root your phone in just a few simple steps.

 You must use a Windows computer to complete this steps:

1) Download the root package you need from the XDA Developer’s forum and save it to your Desktop. At present, there are packages for international versions or T-Mobile and Sprint in the U.S.

2) Extract the .zip file:

3)  Open Odin by right-clicking and selecting Run as Administrator from inside the extracted folder:

4) Click on PDA and select the .tar.md5 file inside the extracted folder:

Nokia ending support for Symbian and MeeGo OS from 01 JAN 2014

Nokia announced that it will be dropping support for the Symbian and MeeGo operating systems at the end of this year. Moreover, Nokia's developers support team sent out an e-mail to the saying that they would not be allowed to continue distributing MeeGo or Symbian applications through the Ovi Store from January 1st , 2014 onwards.

While apps will still be available for download to customers and developers will still continue to receive revenue for published apps till 31 Dec 2013.

The Nokia Developer Team has said the reason for the imminent shutdown is so that the company can focus on its Asha and Windows Phone lineup and not have to worry about products it no longer makes.

There are countless loyal fans out there still using the handsets, and right now they are being very vocal that the platform is effectively being switched off. Nokia have access to the traffic and download stats for their Stores, so will be aware of the volume of users till using the Store for third party applications.

It’s perhaps understandable to stop the uploading of new applications, but to deny the opportunity to update applications is going to lead to a number of issues. One immediate thought is what happens when Facebook updates their API, all the social functionality in these apps will be broken.

Toshiba unveils his new lightest and thinnest Workstation: Tecra W50

A renown Japanese computer firm TOSHIBA launched a raft of business focused laptops on Monday, including its first mobile workstation, the Toshiba Tecra W50.

Designed for intensive applications and heavy duty tasks, the 15.6in Tecra W50 is powered by a quad-core Intel Core i7 processor and Nvidia Quadro graphics with GDDR5 memory. There are also four memory slots for up to four 8GB DDR3L memory modules for a total of 32GB RAM.

This high performance Tecra W50 workstation system, Toshiba said, will "accelerate graphics intensive applications and help speed through detailed tasks such as video editing".

Toshiba said the Tecra W50 is designed to withstand the pressures of office and mobile environments and has undergone "Highly Accelerated Life Tests" (HALT) by TÜV Rheinland, which saw it tested against drops of up to 76 cm and keyboard spill-resistance up to 30 ml.

The option of a dedicated docking station opens up more ways to connect to essential peripherals as well as offering more flexibility around the office. The docking station lets users add even more ports to the Tecra W50 to extend their working environment further - whether it's to backup files onto a hard drive, connect to the network or work on multiple documents across dual screens.

The W50's non-reflective 15.6in Full HD screen has LED back-lighting for a brighter and more vibrant display. It will run either Windows 7 Pro 64-bit or Windows 8 Pro 64-bit from either a HDD or SSD configuration.

The Toshiba Tecra W50 has standard WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0, as well as a full set of ports, including five USB ports, two of which are USB 3.0, and a Gigabit LAN port. There's also Intel Wireless Display (WiDi) and a Display port for connectivity to external monitors.

The Tecra W50 will be available in Europe in the fourth quarter.

As part of the W50 launch, Toshiba also unveiled its latest range business ultrabooks, which include the new Z series family and the new Portégé R30, the successor to the Portégé R930.

Comprised of the Tecra Z30, Z30T touch edition, Tecra Z40 and Tecra Z50, all models feature the same ultrabook design, but in 13in, 14in and 15in screen sizes, respectively. Toshiba said they all feature full working day battery life, advanced security features and a common docking configuration throughout making it easy to buy right across the range.

Difference between IPS and AMOLED Screen

We have been getting many questions with regards to mobile display technology the most frequent one being what is the difference between IPS and AMOLED, so we decided we should right an article detailing the pros and cons of both and try to make it as understandable as possible.


IPS:

IPS (in-plane switching) the technology was made primarily for LCD (liquid crystal display) to overcome the limitations of the regular LCD or TFT-LCD display, the problem with the regular display TFT-LCD was a slow response time, that means a degraded touch response and bad news for gamers as games usually require screens with good response times.

Another thing was a limited viewing angle, you could make out the screen if you’re looking at it straight ahead with a little variation, but move to the side a bit and you wouldn't be able to see the screen, it was great for guys who’d be texting one girl while sitting with another. But now is the age of sharing is caring where you wanna show off what you’re watching, so something had to be done.

IPS was the answer allowing for better response times meaning good touch response and better gaming. Also it allowed for a better viewing angle meaning you could watch the screen while having others watch it too.


Advantages:
• Better response time as compared to regular LCD's.
• Better Color reproduction.
• Better viewing angle.
• Sharper Images.

Disadvantages:
• Requires a stronger backlight.
• More power hungry.
• Screens (cell phones) are usually much more thicker (bulkier) due to back-light source.


AMOLED:

AMOLED or (Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode) is an upgrade to OLED, this tech basically consists of organic compounds which when are introduced to an electric charge produce luminosity or light.

AMOLED was the tech that allowed for smart-phones to become even sleeker, basically since it does not require any back-light as compared to its IPS counterpart it is less bulky.  At the same time it provided better viewing angles and better contrast as compared to the simple LCD. The main factor that really set apart the AMOLED was its power consumption, it uses less battery power as compared to the IPS tech or regular LCD's.


Advantages:
• No Back-Light Required.
• Screen is slimmer, less bulky phone.
• No back-light, less battery usage, greater battery life.
• Great Contrast.

Disadvantages:
• Difficult to produce, more expensive tech.
• Images Not as sharp IPS.
• Less Bright as compared to IPS, so less daylight visibility.
• Display Colors Degrade over time.

Android 4.3 Jelly Bean is uses on just 1.5 percent of devices

Google has revealed the state of Android fragmentation this month and reported that Android 4.3 Jelly Bean is now available on almost half of Android devices, although the latest iteration has yet to make its mark.

Google's updated Android dashboard figures show that Android Jelly Bean versions 4.1.x, 4.2.x and 4.3 are now on 48.6 percent of Android devices worldwide in total. This is up 3.5 percent compared to September's statistics, and reflects a rise of over eight percent compared to Google's August numbers.

However, while this paint a fairly positive picture of the Android ecosystem, Google's figures also reveal that just 1.5 percent of devices are running the latest Android 4.3 Jelly Bean version.

It's also worth pointing out that there have been more iterations of Android Jelly Bean than any previous version of the mobile operating system, which has helped to push up the percentage of devices running it.

Unsurprisingly, Android 2.3.x Gingerbread is still the second most common version of Google's mobile operating system, running on 28.5 percent of devices. This is followed by Android 4.0.x Ice Cream Sandwich, which still has a 20.6 percent share. Android 2.2 Froyo and Android 3.0 Honeycomb still account for 2.2 percent and 0.1 percent of Android devices worldwide, respectively.

These numbers don't show the whole picture however, as Google only counts devices that have accessed Google Play during the month, rather than attempting to detect and analyse all of the one billion plus Android devices that exist.

It's likely that a new version, Android 4.4 Kitkat, will be added to the mix soon, with rumours claiming that Google's next mobile operating system release will appear later this month.

Internet Information Service (IIS) 8.5 will arrive this month

Microsoft's Internet Information Services 8.5 Web server will be arriving soon and bringing a few new improvements.

IIS 8.5 will be released with the Windows Server 2012 R2 product on 18 Oct 2013, which is the "general availability" product date. With IIS 8.5, the IIS team continued its focus on scalability and manageability improvements. The aim has been to improve support for organizations with a large number of Web sites to manage.


Scalability Improvements:

IIS 8.5 has two scalability improvements. One of them, called "dynamic site activation," is designed to reduce the startup times and memory use of Web sites for organizations that have a lot of sites. The Dynamic Site Activation feature, by default, only activates sites when they are requested for the first time if an organization has 100 sites or more. If there are less than 100 sites, then all of the sites are activated at startup by default.

Erez Ben-Ari, a program manager for IIS at Microsoft, explained in a July blog post that past IIS releases work by creating queues and bindings in the process of activating sites, which can take up system memory resources. In contrast, IIS 8.5 creates one queue "and will create specific queues for specific sites only when a request actually arrives for it" for organizations that have 100 or more sites. The end result of this redesign is faster Web site startups along with reduced memory consumption, Microsoft claims.

The second scalability improvement in IIS 8.5 is called "idle worker process page-out." It's designed to reduce the memory resource demands of organizations with a lot of Web sites that aren't busy all of the time. IIS typically terminates the worker process of a Web site if it hasn't been used for 20 minutes or so. However, IIS 8.5 introduces the ability to suspend those worker processes instead of terminating them, according to Microsoft's description of the new IIS 8.5 features.

"The idea is that instead of a process termination upon time-out, the process remains alive, but suspended and consuming little resources," explained Ben-Ari, in a June blog post about the Idle Worker Process Page-out. "Then, if the site is being requested, it wakes up from suspension almost instantly."


Manageability Improvements:

IIS 8.5 has three new manageability improvements. First, Microsoft added logging enhancements for monitoring HTTP requests in IIS 8.5. The logging enhancements use a new Windows Server 2012 R2 service called "W3C Logging Service," according to a July blog post by Ben-Ari. Organization can now customize the logging to store request headers, response headers and server variables. The customization can be used to get information such as the IP addresses of connecting clients when the network has a load balancer, for example, Ben-Ari explained.

The second manageability improvement in IIS 8.5 concerns support for Event Tracing for Windows (ETW) in the logging process, which can be used to better monitor IIS in real time and debug Web applications. With ETW support in IIS 8.5 turned on, events are shown "immediately," according to Ben-Ari. In contrast, text-file logging can take about 30 seconds to flush to the log, he explained in a July blog post. It's also possible to use Microsoft's recently released Message Analyzer tool to capture events in real time, he added.

A third management improvement is an option to automatically rebind renewed certificates for Web sites. Expiring site certificates need to be tracked by IT pros, but their renewals require an extra step in which the certificate gets rebound to the site. Microsoft previously added a "certificate services lifecycle notifications" capability in Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012, and that capability can be used to log and track expiring certificates. However, what's new in IIS 8.5 for Windows Server 2012 R2 is the ability to use that notification tracking capability to "automatically re-bind a certificate that has been renewed," according to September blog post description by Ben-Ari. IT pros can set up this capability using the Task Scheduler and simply automate the certificate renewal process, he noted.

Most of the new changes in IIS 8.5 were driven by Microsoft's private-public cloud focus, according to the IIS team. IIS 8.5 underlies Microsoft's new Windows Azure Pack for hosted and private clouds, as well as Windows Azure Web Sites in the public cloud, according to an explanation by Wade Hilmo, principal development lead for Microsoft's IIS project, during Microsoft's TechEd Europe event in June. In recent years, the IIS team has been focusing its development resources more toward fitting IIS into those cloud-based scenarios, he explained. Microsoft typically ships IIS with Windows about every 12 to 18 months, he said.

Java favorite target platform for Hacker this Year

Java was the most targeted development platform for exploit attacks during the first half of the year, and attacks have increasingly shifted to zero-day vulnerabilities, according to F-Secure's new threat report.

"Of the top five most targeted vulnerabilities, four are found in the Java development, either the Runtime Environment (JRE) or the browser plug-in," according to the report, based on information about attacks detected through F-Secure's sensors and telemetry systems. The company notes that it's not surprising Java is an appealing target since "next to the Windows operating system (also a popular target for exploits), Java is probably the second most ubiquitous program in an organization's IT setup."

Analysis of attacks shows the top five exploited vulnerabilities accounting for 95 percent of all attacks, with the U.S. the geographic location most targeted. F-Secure estimates 78 out of every 1000 users in the U.S. saw a detection identifying an exploit of a specific vulnerability in the last six months. Germany also saw a fairly high number of attacks with about 60 out of 1000 users hit within the same time frame.

"Unfortunately, removing either the runtime or plug-in may not be a feasible option for companies that use Java in business-critical instances," the F-Secure report points out. Defense and mitigation strategies might involve something more complicated than uninstalling a program, such as "some combination of tweaking Java's security settings, configuring web browser settings to minimize unwanted applet execution (or installing other third-party plug-ins to do so) and monitoring network traffic."

F-Secure says 70 percent of the exploit-related attacks are carried out by means of five kits: BlackHole, SweetOrange, Crimeboss, Styx, and Cool. All of these remain under active development.

Another security threat to be reckoned with in the first half of 2013: Mac malware. F-Secure reports it saw the "first Mac malware signed with a valid Apple Developer ID," an ominous event because this allowed the malware to bypass Apple's first line of defense. After independent researcher Jacob Appelbaum identified the malware, Apple was swift in revoking the misused developer ID attributed to "Rajinder Kumar" (hence this malware has been dubbed "Kumar in the Mac").

While this is noteworthy, malware targeting Android continued to dominate mobile threats in the first half of the year, according to the report. Of interest is the discovery of Android malware dubbed Stels, which is designed for distribution via spam e-mails and a bot that uses Twitter to update its command-and-control server addresses.

Microsoft plan to combine Windows and Windows Phone Store in a Single App

Microsoft is planning to combine its Windows Phone Store and Windows Store into a single app store. Sources familiar with the company's plans have revealed to The Verge that Terry Myerson, head of the operating systems group, confirmed the move in an internal company meeting today attended by thousands of Microsoft employees. We're told that Myerson committed to the "next releases" of Windows and Windows Phone, which we understand to be Windows Phone 8.1 and a special update planned for Windows 8.1. Both are due to be ready in spring 2014.

Myerson didn't reveal how the single Windows Store would work, nor whether Windows Phone apps will run on Windows in the new model. The Windows head previously publicly commented that he sees the future of Windows RT in phones and small tablets. "Windows RT was our first ARM tablet. And as phones extend into tablets, expect us to see many more ARM tablets, Windows ARM tablets in the future," said Myerson during a recent analysts meeting.

It's possible that Microsoft may take an approach that's similar to Apple's App Store, where tablet specific apps don't run on the phone, but phone apps scale to run on a tablet. Microsoft has long promised a "common app platform" between the two operating systems and Myerson said previously that "all of the apps we bring to end users should be available on all of our devices." If Microsoft is planning to make Windows Phone apps available on Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 devices then it's well positioned to have them run in a Snap View alongside tablet optimized apps. We'll know more with the "next releases" of Windows and Windows Phone.

Play Station 4 Reviews, Specs, Release Date

The PS4 itself was shown off for the first time at E3 and it's black, just like the Xbox One. However, it has an angular design and appears to be constructed of a similar plastic to the original PS3 Slim machine. It looks as though it's slimmer than the Xbox One but we're not totally blown away by the design.

- AMD's technology is coursing through this new system's veins, and Sony recently told us that it believes the PS4 to be the most powerful gaming device every conceived. Sony revealed the system runs on a single-chip custom processor and utilizes eight x86-64 AMD Jaguar CPU cores, with a next-gen AMD Radeon based graphics engine powering the way.

- The Highly Enhanced PC GPU is another AMD part - something along the lines of a Radeon 7850 card and packs 18 GCN units. That may sound a like a lot of techy mumbo jumbo but what it essentially means is that the GPU packs 18 processing clusters, each packing up to 64 cores. That provides a lot of parallel processing power, and will thus handle the majority of the PS4's grunt work. It hits 1.84 TFLOPS of processing power, a good chunk more than the Xbox One.

- The PS4 will ship packing 8GB of GDDR5 memory. That's some super-fast stuff right there and should enable lightning fast performance


Play Station 4 - Specification:

• CPU: low power x86-64 AMD "Jaguar", 8 cores
• GPU: 1.84 TFLOPS, AMD Radeon™ Graphics Core Next engine
• Memory: GDDR5 8GB
• Hard Disk Drive: Built-in
• Optical Drive (Read only): BD 6xCAV, DVD 8xCAV
• I/O: Super-Speed USB (USB 3.0), AUX
• Communication: Ethernet, IEEE 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth® 2.1 (EDR)
• AV output: HDMI, Analog-AV out, Digital Output (optical)


Joy Stick Specs:
• External Dimensions: Approx. 162mm x 52mm x 98mm
• Weight: Approx. 210gm (tentative)
• Buttons: PS button, SHARE button, OPTIONS button, Directional buttons (Up/Down/Left/Right), Action   buttons (Triangle, Circle, Cross, Square), R1/L1/R2/L2/R3/L3, Right stick, Left stick, Touch Pad Button,  Touch Pad 2 Point Touch Pad, Click Mechanism, Capacitive Type
• Other Features: Light Bar, Vibration, Built-in Mono Speaker
• Ports: USB (Micro B), Extention Port, Stereo Headset Jack
• Wireless communication: Bluetooth® Ver2.1+EDR


Camera Specs:

• External Dimension: Approx. 186mm x 27mm x 27mm
• Weight: Approx. 183gm
• Video Pixel: (Maximum) 1280 x 800 pixel x 2
• Video Frame Rate: 1280x800 pixel @ 60fps, 640x400 pixel @ 120fps, 320x192 pixel @ 240fps
• Video Format: RAW, YUV (uncompressed)
• Lens: Dual Lenses, F value/F2.0 fixed focus
• Field-of-View: 85 degrees
• Microphone: 4 Channel Microphone Array
• Connection Type: PS4 dedicated connector (AUX connector)
• Cable Length: Approx. 2m (tentative)


Price:

Sony announced the PS4 price at E3 - it'll cost $399 in the US, £349 in the UK and €399 in Europe when it goes on sale in November. That's a whole $100 cheaper than the Xbox One.

That price, it must be said, does not include the PlayStation Camera, whereas the Xbox One will ship with the second version of Kinect.


Release Date:

The official PS4 release date was announced at Gamescom 2013. The PS4 will go on sale on 15 Nov 2013 in the U.S., followed by the U.K. on 29 Nov 2013. Australia will also see the console then, while Canada too shares the U.S.'s 15 Nov 2013 launch date.

Microsoft Surface 2 Pro Review + Specs

Microsoft has announced the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2. Both the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 are primarily iterative hardware upgrades, bringing improved performance, battery life, and sharper displays. The tablets themselves, except for a beautiful 1080p display on the Surface 2, introduce almost no new features. Instead, new functionality is provided by a variety of new attachments, such as the Power Cover, which will increase battery life by around 50%, and a Docking Station, which makes it much easier to use your Surface Pro 2 as a desktop replacement.


Surface 2 / Surface 2 Pro - Video Review (Hands on):

Surface 2 Pro - Specification:

	Surface Pro 2	Surface 2
Size	274.5 x 173 x 13.5 (mm)	274 x 171 x 8.9 (mm)
Weight	907g	680g
Screen	10.6-inch ClearType HD	10.6-inch ClearType Full HD
Resolution	1920×1080 pixels	1920×1080 pixels
OS	Windows 8.1 Pro	Windows RT 8.1
Storage	64, 128, 256, or 512GB	32 or 64GB
SD Card Slot	Yes	Yes
Other Ports	USB 3.0, mini DisplayPort	USB 3.0, HD video out
Processor	Intel Core i5 (Haswell)	Quad-core Nvidia Tegra 4
RAM	4 or 8GB	2GB
Connectivity	Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n)	Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n)
Camera	Front 1.2MP, Rear 1.2MP	Front 3.5MP, Rear 5MP
Bluetooth	Yes, version 4.0	Yes, version 4.0
Battery	7-8 hours of use	10 hours of use
Charger	Micro USB	Micro USB
Marketplace	Windows Store	Windows Store
Price	$900+	$450+

The Surface 2 is really the sweet spot in Microsoft’s tablet offerings. Since the company is keeping the Surface RT around at a cheaper price point, the Surface 2 should become the go-to for students or people who may do some work from home and want a tablet capable of providing a little computing power without a huge investment. With a $450 starting point, Surface 2 owners will get a device built with the impressive Quad-core Nvidia Tegra 4 processor and a full HD, 1080p display. They will also get added goodies like 200GB of SkyDrive storage for wo years, Office 2013 RT apps from the jump, and free Wi-Fi and international Skype calls for a year.

The Surface Pro 2 is all business. It’s a full blown computer shoved into the casing of a laptop. Its RAM offerings start at 4GB and go up to 8GB and its hard drive ranges from 64-512GB. Add the new Intel Core i5 Haswell processor to that and you’ve got a device with internals that can handle anything you decide to throw at it. This is one of the rare tablets that could absolutely become a laptop replacement. Of course it’s priced as one as well, starting at $900. The top-tier unit costs $1800. The Surface Pro 2 also has the distinction of running Windows 8.1 Pro rather than the 8.1 RT OS on the Surface 2. This means the Pro can run Windows desktop applications, while the standard Surface 2 cannot.

iphone 5S and 5C selling hits Nine million in one Week

Apple sold nine million iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S smartphones last weekend and pushed iOS 7 onto 200 million devices.

The colourful new iPhones went on sale on Friday, and we popped in and had a look at the queue. It is now Monday. In the time between then and now nine million iPhones went into people's hands and up to their ears. This might mean that some people are disappointed, as according to Apple's CEO, hardware is already selling out.

"This is our best iPhone launch yet - more than nine million new iPhones sold-a new record for first weekend sales," said Apple CEO Tim Cook.

"The demand for the new iPhones has been incredible, and while we've sold out of our initial supply of iPhone 5s, stores continue to receive new iPhone shipments regularly. We appreciate everyone's patience and are working hard to build enough new iPhones for everyone."

Last year in its first weekend, the Apple iPhone 5 sold five million units.

As well as moving all those phones, Apple also placed its updated mobile operating system iOS 7 on 200 million devices. This is a record for the firm.

In the UK, the iPhone is available from EE, O2, Three, Vodafone, Carphone Warehouse, Phones 4U and assorted other Apple resellers.

The new iPhones are the most colourful ones that Apple has released, and the iPhone 5S comes in gold, silver or space grey hues. The iPhone 5S 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models cost £549, £629 and £709 SIM-free, respectively.

More colourful still is the iPhone 5C, which comes in blue, green, pink, yellow and white colours. There are only 16GB and 32GB sizes on offer for the iPhone 5C, and they cost £469 and £549 SIM-free, respectively.

How to Reset Your Android Phone

Sometimes, you and your Android phone just don't get along: You want to watch a video and it won't stop pinging you with notifications. You have hundreds of apps installed on your phone and trying to figure out which one is incessantly bothering you would take too much time. In these situations, the scorched-Earth method works best—provided you don't mind losing all your personal data.

To reset your Android phone back to its pristine, fresh-from-the-factory state, simply head on over to your phone's Settings app and look for the Backup and Restore menu. Tap on it, and you should see an option labeled Factory data reset. Selecting this option will pop up a window asking you to confirm your selection.

At this point, note that if you choose to proceed, you'll lose all data on your phone, including your apps, photos, music, and any contacts that aren't backed up to Gmail's servers. If you're okay with starting over, hit the reset phone button and your phone will begin the process of resetting itself.

Resetting your phone can take anywhere between 5 and 10 minutes, depending on how much stuff you had on it. Some phones won't let you reset them unless you have over a certain percentage of battery, so it's best to perform this operation while the phone is plugged in and charging. Once the phone is done purging itself of all your data and apps, you're phone will be just like new—software-wise, anyway—and you'll be prompted to go through the setup process once more.

iOS 7 Lockscreen Bug Dicovered

 Just 72 hours after release the first significant security risk of Lockscreen bug has been discovered in Apple iOS 7.

The bug occurs because, by default, the Control Center functionality is set to be available even when the screen is locked. Although full access is not possible, a thief could take control of the camera including the photo reel and post to linked social networks.

Although the bug only manifests if a very precisely timed sequence of key presses is performed, the fact that this information is now in the public domain means that a patch will be required quickly. In the meantime, users can disable the feature, and the associated security risk, by simply disabling the option for Control Center in their lockscreen.

Mobile security firm Lookout has revealed that it has managed to use the bug to access the timer, calculator and contacts list, though we can't imagine the first two being any huge threat to personal data.

Whilst acknowledging that concern is warranted in the ongoing battle to keep personal information private, we should emphasis that this is a somewhat convoluted security risk, relying as it does on a number of criteria being met.

We do wonder, however, whether Samsung will perhaps want to claim a patent on this lockscreen bug, given that its Android phones were similarly afflicted earlier this year.

Meanwhile, in a separate development, venture capitalist IO Capital has put a bounty of $10,000 for the first hacker who can "reliably and repeatedly" break into an iPhone 5S by lifting fingerprints. Since the prize was announced, the hacking community has been adding its own prizes, including copious amounts of alcohol and bit coins.

iPhone 5S vs Samsung Galaxy S4 specs comparison

APPLE AND SAMSUNG have been fighting for the number one best-selling smartphone title for years. In the past, Apple's latest iPhone has traditionally won the yearly grudge match. However, since the death of iconic Apple founder Steve Jobs, Apple's lead on Samsung has gradually waned, with each new top-end Galaxy smartphone boasting increasingly higher sales.

For this reason, prior to its unveiling many industry commentators had begun to quietly predict that the iPhone 5S might become the first ever Apple smartphone not to beat Samsung's flagship handset in head to head sales.

Now with the iPhone 5S and its specifications revealed, it's too still early to know the final outcome in 2013's Apple vs Samsung battle, but the two smartphones' specifications suggest that the fight might be the most heated to date.


Measurements and Weight
iPhone 5S: 124x59x7.6mm, 112g
Samsung Galaxy S4: 137x70x7.9mm, 130g

The Apple iPhone 5S design looks pretty much the same as that of the iPhone 5, but it comes with multiple colour options. This means, as before, that the iPhone 5S is significantly lighter and smaller than the Samsung Galaxy S4, so it will likely be a more popular choice for smaller-handed people.

Display

iPhone 5S: 4in 1136x640, 326ppi Retina display

Samsung Galaxy S4: 5in full HD super Amoled 1920x1080 display, 441ppi

The Apple iPhone 5S has a 4in Retina display. Back in the day, when Apple first rolled out the Retina display technology, it was a big selling point for Apple devices, making the screens the sharpest and crispest ever seen on smartphones or tablets.

However a few years on, while still great, Apple's Retina displays are no longer the best on the market and a few smartphones have been released boasting better screens.

Running the Galaxy S4 head to head with the iPhone 5S' predecessor, the iPhone 5, we found Samsung's flagship had a superior screen, with its 441ppi full HD display being one of the best we've ever used.

Processor

iPhone 5S: Apple A7 processor

Samsung Galaxy S4: Quad-core 1.9GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor

Apple made a big deal about its new A7 processor, claiming that it is the world's first 64-bit mobile chip and will make the iPhone 5S one of the fastest smartphones in the word, offering 40-times better CPU performance than the iPhone 5. However, as always, Apple declined to disclose the speed of its A7 processor, making it difficult to know how it will compare to the quad-core 1.9GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 powered Galaxy S4 in real-world performance.

Battery

iPhone 5S: 10 hours' 3G talk time, unspecified lithium-ion battery

Samsung Galaxy S4: 17 hours' 3G general use, 2,600mAh lithium-ion battery

Battery life is an issue for most smartphones in the present market. This remained true on the Galaxy S4, which, despite being listed as lasting “up to 17 hours” on 3G on one charge, generally needed a top-up after a regular day’s use, with an average life of about six hours when battery was in use. This means that if the unspecified battery used in the iPhone 5S lives up to Apple’s claim of 10-hour 3G talk time it should easily outlast the Galaxy S4. However, we’ll only know this for sure when we’ve had a chance to actually test the battery on the iPhone 5S.

Camera

iPhone 5S: 8MP rear, 1.2MP front

Samsung Galaxy S4: 13MP rear, 2MP front

While the iPhone 5S camera looks lower specified, as any camera expert will tell you, it's not just about the megapixel count. Because of this, while it doesn't capture as many pixels, the Apple iPhone 5S might prove better at taking photos, because it boasts custom technology designed to capture bigger pixels, meaning that, like the HTC One, it should be better than average at taking photos in low light.

Storage

iPhone 5S: 16/32/64GB storage, no microSD card slot, 2GB of RAM 

Samsung Galaxy S4: 16/32/64GB storage, microSD card slot up to 64GB, 2GB of RAM

Both devices are available with multiple storage options, however the Galaxy S4 comes with a microSD card slot, meaning that buyers who can't afford the upfront cost of the 64GB model can add to the phone's storage at a later date.

Overall

On paper both the iPhone 5S and Samsung Galaxy S4 are good smartphones and both have definite enterprise appeal. Once we've had time to thoroughly put the two head to head in an in-depth, hands-on comparison review, we'll make a call on which is the best business smartphone.

* The iPhone 5S is set for release on 20 September.

Apple iOS 7 Review

Introduction:

Depending on where you come from, the iOS 7 may be the bigger, and better, piece of news than the new iPhone duo. Certainly true if you have the iPhone 5 and you intend on holding on to it, unfazed by what looks like a dilemma between a marginal upgrade and a candy-colored downgrade.

It's not about the phones though. Not yet. There's two of them for a change, which means Apple will be keeping us busy with double the usual amount of hardware to review. However, we cannot ignore the fact that we took the first glimpse of the new iOS 7 this summer as a sign - a promise? - of a better, new exterior design to come.

Yes, we liked the iOS 7 and, as it's about to start hitting the iPhone 4, 4S and 5 on September 18, we're taking a closer look at what's the biggest overhaul of the platform since it debuted in 2007. What makes it different this time is that we're not focusing on the new stuff but exploring the OS head to toe.

Let's start with a closer look at the list of features.

Key Features:

 

•Complete UI overhaul with adaptive colors and system-wide Back swipe gesture

•New system icons and folders, animated icons available

•System-wide parallax effect

•Dynamic wallpapers

•Control Center with toggles, multimedia controls and shortcuts

•Updated Notification Center with three tabs

•New adaptive multitasking with new card interface, background refresh of apps and services

•Updated Safari browser with unified search filed

•iTunes online radio service

•AirDrop file sharing

•Inclinometer within the Compass app

•Camera filters with live preview and new square mode

•New Photos app with better photo organization, picture editing

•Weather app with live weather animations

•Updated Maps with Night mode and Turn-by-Turn walking directions

•New Siri interface, new supported commands, new voices

•Contact Blacklist

•FaceTime audio calls

•Activation lock

•Automatic app update

•Cellular data usage breakdown

•Chinese-English, Italian, Korean and Dutch dictionaries

•iOS in the Car coming in 2014 in selected cars

Main Disadvantages:

 

•Heavily iTunes dependent for uploading files and multimedia

•Segregated file system means you often have to duplicate files to access them through various applications

•No widgets

•Air Drop works only between selected iOS 7 or later running devices

•No lockscreen shortcuts (besides those in Control Center)

•Very basic camera UI with limited features and settings

•Limited video codec support for the built-in player

•No Smart dialing in the dialpad

•iTunes radio only works in the US at launch

We know many of our readers are impatient to see what kind of difference the 64-bit A7 chipset is making and excited about the return of the fingerprint scanner to the mobile world. But while we wait for a review iPhone 5s to arrive, let's explore the final version of the iOS 7.

The dynamic wallpapers and parallax view, along with live icons and the agile use of transparency are all part of the new design language but there's more to the iOS 7 than the modern aesthetics.

From a functionality perspective, Apple finally has connectivity toggles organized within the new Control Center, an iTunes radio streaming service, the notification center has been completely redesigned, there is AirDrop for easy sharing between different iOS devices, and an even more capable Siri.

Of course, there are still features missing. And those will be duly noted as we go along. This review is based on the Golden Master build, made available to developers ahead of the full-scale release to the general public, and we have it running on an iPhone 5.

Windows Phone Store hits 9 Million Daily Transactions

Microsoft has announced that its Windows Phone Store has surpassed nine million daily transactions, and has delivered some good news for its developer community.

Suggesting that its Windows Phone mobile operating system is finally starting to gain some traction, Microsoft put out a blog post on Friday boasting that it now sees nine million transactions every day at its Windows Phone Store. It is worth noting, however, that this accounts for both app purchases and in-app purchases.

Windows Phone Store GM Todd Brix wrote, "Since my last post we've surpassed nine million transactions per day, and Kantar reports that Windows Phone now accounts for one in 10 smartphones sales in Britain, France, Germany and Mexico."

The post wasn't just self-indulgent ramblings though, as Microsoft also delivered some good news for Windows Phone developers, revealing that it will no longer wait to receive app sales proceeds from mobile operators before issuing payment to developers. This means that developers will no longer have to wait 120 days or more for the money to arrive in their accounts, with Microsoft saying instead that payment should be received within 30 days.

Brix added, "This is an important change as we continue to add carrier billing connections. On average, developers are earning [three] times more revenue per active user in markets where carrier billing is offered. This increases to [six] times more revenue on average in emerging markets where credit card usage is more limited."

Of course, there had to be some bad news thrown in for good measure, too. Microsoft also noted in its post that its advertising team has recently joined forces with several third-party networks to bring additional ads to Windows Phone, which means that the company is going to push more adverts to its mobile operating system users.

Microsoft also said that it will offer targeted ads, but it claimed that users' information will not be shared with ad networks.

Source: http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2294850/microsoft-says-its-windows-phone-store-has-hit-nine-million-daily-transactions

GTA 5 launches tonight Worldwide

Once again, Rockstar Games launch a new series of Grand Theft Auto:  GTA 5 !

GTA 5 has a trio of main playable characters. increasing the number of core characters in the game is a great idea, as GTA 4 suffered from having to fit one character to too numerous dramatic roles - you had to believe that Niko Bellic would worry over killing one man, one minute and then go on a killing rampage the next; that he cared about friends and girlfriends, but was also a moody loner.

The series is set in fictional locales heavily modelled on American cities, while an expansion for the original was based in London.

The biggest, most dynamic and most diverse open world ever created, Grand Theft Auto V blends storytelling and game play in new ways as players repeatedly jump in and out of the lives of the game’s three lead characters, playing all sides of the game’s interwoven story.

*Initially Grand Theft Auto V is available worldwide for Xbox 360 and PlayStation-3 user's only.

*Grand Theft Auto V is available in a range of editions. The cheapest of these is priced at about £40 / $65.


Grand Theft Auto 5 - Video Trailer (Official):

Huawei upcoming Windows Phone 8: Ascend W3 Leaked

Huawei introduce its first Windows Phone 8 with a name Ascend W3. Images of the third-generation Ascend W3 smartphone have been leaked confirming the presence with a slim metal design, and which will be available in blue and yellow color variants.

A Leaked photo has recently popped up and it is allegedly that of the Huawei Ascend W3, which as you can see in the photo above, is running on Windows Phone. The handset is expected to be a mid-ranged device but will apparently sport a metal design as well, which we have to say is a nice touch and is reminiscent of the Nokia Lumia 925.

The upcoming Windows Phone booting Huawei smartphone is rumored to sport a 4.5-inch display and measures of 132 x 67 x 10mm. It is also said that there's an 8 megapixel rear shooter at the back, capable of shooting 1080P FullHD (1920 x 1080) videos.

The handset is expected to be shown off at CES 2014 and hit the market in January that year.

Some source reports that the company is also working on a high end Windows Phone which is comparable to the Ascend D2 features, which features a 13 megapixel camera, 5 inch 1080P screen and 32 GB of storage. However no release date for this handset is know yet.

Nokia Windows 8.1 Tablet "Sirius" leak

An image of Nokia's rumoured first Windows 8.1 tablet as a code name "Sirius" with 10.1 inch,  HD 1080p screen display has appeared on the internet.

Arguably the most interesting of these is the Nokia 'Sirius', the Finnish phone maker's first tablet. This device has been rumoured for a while, and is expected to launch alongside the Nokia Lumia 1520 tablet on 26 September.

Assuming this leak is accurate, and we have no reason to believe it is not, you won't have to wait until the end of the month to find out what the tablet will offer. It reportedly will run Microsoft's Windows 8.1 RT operating system and will have a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and a 10.1in 1920x1080 full HD display.

Taking tips from Nokia's Lumia phone lineup, the tablet reportedly will also feature a 6.7MP camera with Carl Zeiss optics, built-in LTE support and will be available in red, complete with a "multi-function cover with keyboard".

That's all we know right now, but the Nokia Sirius is likely to make its debut within the next few weeks, priced at around $499.

These include: the 8in Dell Venue tablet which will likely feature an Intel Atom Bay Trail chip and a $299 price tag; the Lenovo 7in and 10.1in Intel Atom Bay Trail tablets, the Miix 8 and Miix 2; and the Microsoft Surface Mini, which will reportedly feature an 8in screen and a Qualcomm processor. We expect to find out more about these tablets over the next few weeks.

Windows 8.1 RTM hits two million downloads in 24 hours

After offering free "WINDOWS 8.1 (RTM)" to its MSDN & TechNet  subscriber From Microsoft. WINDOWS 8.1 release to manufacturers (RTM) build has seen over two million downloads since Microsoft distributed it to Technet and MSDN subscribers on Tuesday, the firm's EVP of marketing Tami Reller has claimed.

The two million download figure suggests two things: that Windows 8 developers see the Windows 8.1 release as a much needed update, and that Microsoft did right to reverse its earlier decision to withhold the RTM build until its general availability later this year

Announcing the news in a keynote at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) on Wednesday, Microsoft's Reller claimed that the firm had seen an "incredible uptake" of the Windows 8.1 build since its release.

The RTM version is the "gold" build that's used by device manufacturers. In past software releases, Microsoft typically had given early access to these bits to its developer MSDN subscribers and IT pro TechNet subscribers, but the company wasn't going to do that this time because of its new faster software release cadence. However, Microsoft has now relented and released the bits anyway. It did so after hearing from developers and IT pros that they needed the time to get ready for the general availability releases, according to the announcement. Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 reached their RTM milestones earlier late last month.

While the RTM versions of the operating systems are feature complete, some of the software will be updated at general availability release. For instance, Microsoft indicated it would have further updates to Windows Server 2012 R2 at that time. The price list for Microsoft's new software will be available on Nov. 1 for those organizations making new software purchases.

Microsoft considers the RTM software to be preview software, so there is no upgrade path to the final general availability version, according to the Microsoft spokesperson. Installing the Windows 8.1 RTM on a test machine is the preferred approach. For instance, even the Windows 8.1 preview came with multiple install caveats to observe.

Microsoft hopes that the updates in Windows 8.1 will help those customers who dislike how different the operating system feels in relation to earlier releases to like it again.

Source : www.theinquirer.net & www.redmondmag.com

Asus Transformer Book "Trio" combines both Windows 8 & Android

Trio combine the versatility of a keyboard for comfortable typing with the portability of a tablet for quick access, it also combines the power of Windows 8 with the simplicity of Android.

Hardware
Where many hybrid laptops consist of a tablet that attaches to what is effectively a dumb keyboard, the Trio has brains in both parts. So when the 11.6-inch, 1080p screen is detached and you wander off to use it as a tablet, the keyboard can be plugged into a monitor via Mini DisplayPort or Micro-HDMI, and someone else can use it as a desktop computer.

It's powered by a fourth-generation Intel Core processor -- up to i7 -- in the keyboard, with a separate dual-core 1.6GHz Intel Atom Z2760 processor in the screen. The keyboard/PC station packs 4GB of DDR3 RAM with up to a 1TB hard drive, and the tablet/screen boasts 2GB of LP DDR2 RAM with a choice of 16, 32, or 64GB of storage.

The keyboardy bit offers 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0, and the tablety bit does 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 3.0. There's a separate battery in each half of the Trio, so not only can each part work on its own -- for up to 13 hours as Android and 5 hours as Windows 8 -- but when you bring them together one can provide a life-giving transfusion of power to the other.

Also in the tablet is a 5-megapixel camera with autofocus that shoots 1080p video, and a Webcam facing forward that shoots 720p high-definition video chat.

All this power doesn't come light. The keyboard dock measures 13.4mm thick and weighs 1kg, while the tablet is 9.7mm thick and weighs 700g. Overall it's a hefty package, but then the whole point is that you don't have to carry the whole thing around.

Software
The Trio offers the choice of Windows 8 or Android 4.2 Jelly Bean when docked. The screen only runs Android when it's detached, but when they're together or when the keyboard is plugged into a monitor, it runs Windows 8. To switch between them, press a little button next to the F12 function key on the top row of the keyboard. Switching can be instant, but can take a moment or two to go from one to the other. Even with a briefly blank screen, it's still pretty clever.

Why do you want both types of operating system available? As with the screen and keyboard, it's all about power versus portability. Windows 8 allows you to install almost any software you can think of when you have something intensive to do, while Android offers a simplified touch-screen experience that's easier on the battery, with apps designed to be simple to use when you're out and about.


Another advantage is that if you've invested in plots of Android apps from the Google Play store for your Android phone, you can use them on your Trio, too.

Both types of software are designed to use with a touch screen, so you can use either by tapping, swiping and using several fingers at once on the screen, even when it's docked as a laptop.

Hands on
In person, the Asus Transformer Book Trio is just as impressive as it is on paper. When connected to the dock, it seamlessly switches from Android to Windows 8 with the touch of a button, and responds quickly to swipes and gestures.
As a tablet, it's awkwardly long, but shockingly light. The slate is comfortable to hold -- using both hands of course -- but my outstretched arms made me feel like I was holding a map open instead of a portable electronic device.
The Transformer Book Trio features typical Asus goodies, like its calibration and audio-enhancing software. At full volume the tablet was pretty loud and the audio sounded fuller than most devices.

Performance wise, the Transformer Book Trio was fast as an Android tablet, Android laptop, Windows 8 laptop, and Windows 8 desktop (as an extended monitor). By far its most impressive ability is to seamlessly become three different devices with the choice of two different operating systems.

The Asus Transformer Book Trio is expected to go on sale in October and, according to an Asus representative, it will be "competitively priced." My guess is that the Trio will go on sale for somewhere between $700 to $800.

Reference : Cnet Reviews

Google Drive for iOS

The Google Drive for iOS app has been updated with an all-new look that mimics the card-style layout using across Google+ and the Google Drive for Android app.

The good: Google Drive for iOS offers a sleek interface for accessing, moving, and sharing your stored files. Also, the built-in document editors are easy to use and come with a multitude of formatting tools. Real-time collaboration is a nice feature.

The bad: The app doesn't let you create or edit Drawings or Presentations. There are no sorting or filter options to help sift through files. And an extra password-protect feature would be nice.

The bottom line: An elegant blend of Dropbox-like storage and mobile document editing, Google Drive is a must-have app, especially if you're a dedicated Google user.
An impressively powerful mobile productivity solution, Google Drive for iOS mixes Dropbox-style storage with on-the-go document editing. It lets you access and manipulate files in the cloud and do things like create spreadsheets and view presentations, all from its tightly designed interface. The app even lets you collaborate in real-time with other Drive users with whom you share files. As well, it lets you share links to files, so your friends can download items directly from your Drive.

With a recent update, Google Drive for iOS moved closer in line with other Google-made products. It now features a card-based interface like its sibling on Android, and larger thumbnails are available for quick previews of files. Quite frankly, with its sleek look and powerful features, this revamped app should be installed on every Google user's mobile device.

What many Google users may not know is that every Google account comes with 15GB of free storage space. Of course, this space is used for items saved on your Gmail and Google+ Photos accounts, as well as on your Drive, but still, the deal is a good one that's worth knowing about.

Cloud Storage: Thanks to the included space, you can use Drive to store not only your spreadsheets and text documents, but also any other file types you may want accessible from the cloud. From the app, you can upload photos and videos, and they'll immediately appear in your Drive, ready to be accessed from any of your devices.

Reference : Cnet Reviews

Microsoft relents, gives devs early access to Windows 8.1

Microsoft said Monday that it would provide early access to the release version of Windows 8 today, via its MSDN and TechNet services, reversing a previously-held stance that had angered developers.

Microsoft's decision was revealed Monday in a blog post, together with the disclosure that the Windows 8.1 bits would be accompanied by tools designed to spur app development.  The current Windows 8.1 Enterprise RTM build will be available through MSDN and TechNet for businesses "later this month". Microsoft will make the Windows 8.1, Windows 8.1 Pro, and Window Server 2012 R2 builds available, Microsoft said.

The Visual Studio 2013 Release Candidate is also live, Microsoft said, and can be downloaded from this site.

"We heard from you that our decision to not initially release Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2 RTM bits was a big challenge for our developer partners as they’re readying new Windows 8.1 apps and for IT professionals who are preparing for Windows 8.1 deployments," Microsoft chief evangelist Steve Guggenheimer wrote. "We’ve listened, we value your partnership, and we are adjusting based on your feedback. As we refine our delivery schedules for a more rapid release cadence, we are working on the best way to support early releases to the various audiences within our ecosystem.

Microsoft had previously revealed that Windows 8.1 would roll out to consumers on the morning of Oct. 17, with a retail launch a day later. Late in August, Microsoft began shipping the final version of Windows 8.1 to OEM customers. But the release was accompanied by howls of outrage by developers who would have been forced to wait for the October launch date, the same as consumers.

In short, that would have meant almost no time for developers to ensure that their applications ran properly under Windows 8.1. Historically, developers have had weeks or months to perform their testing, a practice Microsoft's release schedule would have broken. “Most of us actually want to support Windows 8.1, a lot of us want to get apps ready for the awesome 8.1 features, but we can’t properly do that unless we get the RTM bits before the public gets the Windows 8.1 update," one developer wrote in comments attached to the original Microsoft announcement.

But Microsoft undoubtedly sat back, examined the relatively small number of Windows apps (about 115,000, according to MetroStore Scanner) and decided that they needed every one.

For those who have subscribed to the TechNet service, the Windows 8.1 bits will be one of its last hurrahs. In July, Microsoft said that it would phase out the $199 service, and replace it with a new TechNet Evaluation Center offering free evaluation software for limited periods of 90 to 180 days.  Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) subscriptions for software developers start at $699 per year.

If you're not a TechNet or MSDN subscriber, you can still try out Windows 8.1, via PCWorld's guide to installing the Windows 8.1 preview, before October rolls around. Microsoft is also releasing new Windows Server 2012 R2, System Center 2012 R2, and the latest update to Windows Intune

Reference: PCWorld

Samsung starting mass production of DDR4 Memory

Samsung announced that it has started mass producing DDR4 memories that it expects will go into enterprise servers in next-generation data centers. Memory DDR4 RAM modules in 16GB and 32GB capacities, following news that 16GB modules were being sampled back in July 2012. Samsung boasts that its modules support up to 2667Mbps transfer speeds and that the 4Gb DDR4 memory chips used by the modules lower power consumption by 30 percent relative to comparable DDR3 chips.

As we've written before, any speed increases promised by DDR4 won't make their way into servers or PCs until memory controllers begin to support them. Since today's memory controllers are integrated into the CPUs themselves, we'll need to wait for new processors before we can get new memory. Intel's Haswell-E server CPUs, due in 2014, are the company's first announced processors to support DDR4, and there's no word on whether its next-generation "Broadwell" chips for consumer PCs will support the standard. AMD has yet to announce its own plans for DDR4 support.

Samsung's modules use 4Gb (512MB) chips manufactured at 20nm, the same process being used to make its current low-power "green DDR3." Neither 16GB nor 32GB memory modules are unheard of today (especially in server memory), but 32GB modules are rare and much more expensive than their 16GB counterparts. When DDR4 memory does finally hit servers (and in a more distant future consumer PCs, tablets, and phones), it may make these larger capacities more accessible than they are today.

Upcoming Windows Phone 8 : Nokia Lumia 1520

Nokia is preparing to launch a Lumia 1520 Windows Phone 8. We got a brief look at the phone last month thanks to a leaked image. Nokia Lumia 1520 made yet another appearance. This time around, the handset emerged in a slew live photos, showcasing its hardware, and getting sized up against what appears to be a Sony Xperia Z1.

Lumia 1520 allegedly packs a giant giant 6-inch screen, 1080p display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 SoC, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of built-in memory, and a microSD card slot. There is no information on the camera of the device but could be a 20 MegaPixel, though, with its pronounced hump, it looks a lot like the snapper of the Nokia Lumia 925.

The rear of the device includes a camera with a hump that's similar to Nokia's Lumia 925, and it also matches a press render that leaked earlier this week. Microsoft's latest Windows Phone 8 update, known as General Distribution 3, can be seen running on the device with an additional column of Live Tiles on the Start Screen for 1080p resolution support.

*Nokia will be announcing its next Lumia smartphone on September 26.

Nokia Lumia 1520 - Photos (Official):