Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc UK Release Date Revealed

If you are in the United Kingdom and patiently waiting to get your handset on the SonyEricsson Xperia Arc smartphone you might like to know that you may not have that much longer to wait as apparently the Android 2.3 Gingerbread handset is releasing this month.

Previous rumour had it that the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc could come out to play inApril; however according to an article over on Pocket-lint, they have heard from the guys at Mobiles.co.uk that the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc will become available as of the “week commencing 21March.”
Spec wise the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc offers according to GSMarena, a 4.2-inch capacitive LED backlit touch screen, 8 megapixel auto-focus camera with LED flash and 720p video, Sony Mobile Bravia engine, 1GHz Scorpion processor, AGPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, HDMI port, 320MB storage, microSD expansion up to 32GB and a 3.5mm jack.

As for which carrier the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc will be on, well apparently all carriers will offer the Android device, with Mobiles.co.uk listing O2, Vodafone, T-Mobile, Three and Orange, with apparently the best offering being £25 a month based on a 2-year term with the handset costing $30.

Intel releases Core vPro business processors

When Intel released its new consumer-oriented second-generation Core (AKA "Sandy Bridge") CPUs in January, it seemed likely that the "professional" version would be just around the bend. Today Intel has introduced just that, with its new second-generation Core vPro family of processors.

 

Though based on the same microarchitecture as the consumer chips, and utilizing technologies such improved media handling, Advanced Vector Extensions, Quick Sync Video for energizing media manipulation, and the enhanced Turbo Boost for increasing performance when not all processing cores are being utilized, vPro processors also include a number of extras that are geared specifically towards business users.

 

These include a new Host-Based Configuration feature that automates the process of setting up vPro functions on new PCs. According to Intel, "thousands of computers can be configured simultaneously in a couple of minutes." Also present is a new Keyboard-Video-Mouse Remote Control feature that lets a remote technician assist a user—now in higher definitions than ever before, compensating for jobs requiring use of HD video and larger screen sizes.

 

For users who rely on laptops to be their system at and away from the office, Intel has introduced Anti-Theft Technology Version 3.0, which introduces three new ways to protect systems. It lets authorized IT or service technicians completely disable a lost or stolen computer and prevent access to its valuable data, and then reactivate it later, all by using an encrypted and authenticated SMS message. The new Locator Beacon function helps authorities determine the precise location of a missing laptop using GPS technology on select 3G modems. And standby protection can require an encrypted login, so that if a laptop goes missing while it's in standby, it's still guarded by an extra layer of security.

 

Some vPro processors will also incorporate Identity Protection Technology, which reduces phishing attacks and instances of unlawful access by generating a six-digit numerical password every 30 seconds that only the proper target knows.

 

Intel claims that a new Core vPro i5 CPU can speed business applications by 60 percent, multitasking by 100 percent, and data encryption by 300 percent. Among the first new processor families to take advantage of these updates is the Xeon E3-1200, which Intel is calling the first entry-level workstation platform that integrates "professional-level graphics onto the processor."

Nokia announces X1-00 low-cost music phone, expected to arrive in April

Nokia has announced its latest budget feature phone, the Nokia X1-00, which is being branded as a music phone. Not featuring the Nokia XpressMusic branding, the Series 30 based Nokia X1-00 has most of the signature features of a music phone, from dedicated music keys, a super powerful loudspeaker, storage expandability via microSD card, FM radio, 3.5 mm audio jack, microUSB connectivity for easy media transfer, to what it calls a single-key playlist creator.

The phone also has a large 1320 mAh battery, rated to deliver 61 days of standby time, and up to 38 hours of continuous music play. The only thing missing from the Nokia X1-00’s music portfolio is wide support for lossless audio formats – all it offers is MP3, WAV (CD quality is probably good enough though), WMA and eAAC+. The phone supports microSD expandability up to 16GB, and comes bundled with a 2GB card onboard, as well as a stereo-headset.

The loudspeaker is apparently rated deliver an output of 106 phon (a unit of perceived loudness), and according to Nokia, it has been calibrated so that no distortion is heard even at maximum volume. The phone also has a dedicated torch, apart from five separate phone books – meaning it is a device that Nokia envisions will be used by more than one person.

The phone is one of Nokia’s most inexpensive devices, and will be priced at less than €35 or Rs. 2,100. It will be available in ‘Orange, Ocean Blue and Dark Grey’ when it launches in select markets starting in April.

Check out the Nokia X1-00's specifications below:

2G Network	GSM 900 / 1800 or 850 / 1900
Dimensions	112.2 x 47.3 x 16 mm
Weight	91.1 g
Display	128 x 160 pixels, TFT, 56K colors
Camera	No
Storage	microSD expandability up to 16GB, 2GB included
GPRS	Yes
EDGE	No
3G	No
Connectivity	Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP, microUSB 2.0
GPS	No
Java	Yes, MIDP 2.1
Audio support	3.5mm jack, MP3/WAV/WMA/AAC formats, stereo FM radio
Video support	MP4/H.264/H.263/WMV formats
Colours	Orange, Ocean Blue, Dark Grey
Battery	Standard battery, Li-Ion 1320 mAh
Stand-by	Up to 1440 h
Talk time	Up to 13 h
Music play	Up to 38 h

Nokia E7 business phone begins official pre-order bookings in India

The Nokia E7, what might be the last top-end Symbian phone, has been available in certain European regions for just over a month now, and is now officially on pre-order in India, priced at Rs. 35,000.

The latest entry into Nokia’s popular E-series, the Nokia E7 is a Symbian^3 business smartphone with a 4-inch Clear Black Display. Essentially a Nokia N8 with a sliding 4-line QWERTY keypad, document editor, and 8MP camera, the E7 might become almost as popular as its N-series counterpart has been in India, with the essential price difference the determining factor.

To pre-order, visit http://www.nokia.co.in/E7, fill up an online form, and you will be contacted by your preferred/nearest Nokia Priority Store within 24 hours. You’ll then have to visit the store, and deposit a booking amount of Rs. 3,000 – bizarrely roundabout, but there you go.

The E7 will probably arrive on shelves by April, with pre-order customers first in line. Those who want to check out the E7 and see if it is worth the wait, can ‘experience the Nokia E7 live’ at select Nokia Priority Stores. 

Apple reduces prices of the Indian iPad

The Apple iPad 2 is going to hit shelves in select regions in a few days, but Apple is still retailing the original iPad, for a $100 less back in the U.S. Correspondingly, and surprisingly punctually, the Indian iPad’s prices have been dropped as well.

The Indian iPad was launched in late January, with prices starting at Rs. 27,900 for the base model. New prices as follows:

16 GB: Wi-Fi - Rs. 24,500; 3G - Rs. 31,900
32 GB: Wi-Fi - Rs. 29,500; 3G - Rs. 36,900
64 GB: Wi-Fi - Rs. 34,500; 3G - Rs. 41,900

Note :however, this does not guarantee we will be seeing the iPad 2 in India anytime soon, in fact, it might even be next January, just like last time.