iPhone 5 100,000 foot drop test video

Over the years we have seen many drop test videos, some of them taking things to the extreme, and one such case manufacture does seem to take testing smartphones to the limits to see if a device can survive when wearing one of their cases. That case manufacturer is G-Form, who have now published a video testing out their new Xtreme case for the iPhone 5, and naturally we have that footage for our readers viewing consideration below.


We have seen a few G-Form case test videos in the past such as with the original Apple iPad being dropped from 500 foot, and we have even seen the iPad 2 having a bowling ball dropped onto it to see if it can survive the impact, and of course both of these Apple products survived the tests.

Samsung Galaxy S3 firmware update hits UK fixes flaws

In recent weeks a couple of possibly serious issues have come to light regarding the hugely popular Samsung Galaxy S3, which included a security flaw affecting the handsets Exynos processor and more recently reports of handsets suddenly dying. We can now report that a Samsung Galaxy S3 firmware update has arrived for users in the UK that could fix both of these issues with the smartphone.

Only yesterday I was checking for software updates via the handset and was met with the same “Access to the software update service is provided to users in the order in which they are requested” message that was shown when recently updating the device to Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean. This raised my hopes of an early release of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean for the Galaxy S3, so I decided to check for updates via the Samsung KIES desktop application.

Samsung Galaxy S IV press release shot leaks?

SamMobile just shared a picture of what is said to be a press shot of the next Samsung flagship, the Galaxy S IV.

The phone looks like the Galaxy S III but there is one major difference, there is no home button. Another noticeable difference is that there is no camera button and the thin bezel.

Here are the rumored specs:

4.9-inch SuperAMOLED Full HD screen with 1080×1920 resolution
Exynos 5450 Quad-Core CPU clocked at 2.0GHz
Mali-T658 GPU
2GB of RAM
13 megapixel rear camera
2 megapixel front-facing camera
Android 4.2.1
It's hard to tell if this is a real thing or fake, but SamMobiles source claims that that he have more pictures to prove his claims and we hope that we will see them soon.

What do you think? Is this just an early render or a real thing?

New Swiftkey Flow Beta Released as Build 4.0.0.61

A new Swiftkey Flow beta was just released to the public as version 4.0.0.61. It includes a bunch of performance fixes, allows flowing on tablets in landscape, takes care of memory leaks, improves battery usage, and more. This is the first major update to Flow after its initial launch, so the Swiftkey team was quick to point out that they are still working through a pretty solid bug list.

We’ve included the changelog, a “things to be aware of” section, and the known issues list from Swiftkey.

Hit up the break and download it to your phone or tablet! 

Byond Mi-book Mi7 with 3G, Voice calling, Android 4.0 launched for Rs. 11499

Byond Tech has launched Mi-book Mi7, the company’s first 7-inch tablet with 3G support and voice calling features. Byond launched Mi-book Mi5 , a 7-inch tablet last year with 2G voice calling support last year, but the Mi-book Mi7 has a better 7-inch (1024 x 600 pixels) capacitive 5-point multi-touch display and is powered by a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor. It runs on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and comes with a 2MP rear camera, VGA front-facing camera. It also comes pre-loaded with office suite.

Videocon VT10 10-inch tablet officially launched for Rs. 10999

Videocon has officially launched the VT10 10-inch Android Jelly Bean tablet in India. It went on sale from online retailers Snapdeal and HomeShop18 last week. It has a 10-inch (1280 x 800 pixels) capacitive multi-touch IPS display, 1.5 GHz dual-core processor and runs on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean). It has a 2MP Front Camera and a 2MP Rear Camera.

It also comes with pre-loaded apps including NexGtv that offers unlimited access to Live 50+ TV channels, Saavn music app ,Facebook and Nimbuzz.

Videocon VT10 Specifications

• 10-inch (1280 x 800 Pixels) capacitive multi-touch IPS display
• 1.5 GHz dual-core Rockchip RK3066 processor
• Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) OS
• 10.3mm thick, weight 650g
• 2MP rear camera, 2MP front-facing camera
• 1GB RAM, 8GB internal memory, expandable memory up to 32GB with micro SD
• 3G (via USB Dongle), WiFi b/g/n, USB 2.0, USB OTG support, HDMI out
• 6800 mAh battery

The Videocon VT10 is priced at Rs. 10,999 and comes with free HDMI and USB OTG Cables.

Windows RT is Too Confusing for Users

Microsoft CEO was told by the head of Dell's PC business that he should reconsider the name “Windows RT” for the ARM version of Windows 8. The latter explained that since the OS didn’t run traditional Windows software, this name would be too confusing for users. He warned Microsoft not to use the Windows brand name on RT, because it was designed to run on ARM-based tablets: Windows RT runs only Windows Store, or Metro, applications.

However, Microsoft just shrugged and claimed that the Windows brand was too important not to be used in the new OS name. Indeed, Microsoft has created Windows, which couldn’t be seen as making something else. Nevertheless, the warning turned out to be right. There have already been some users who’ve picked up the Surface RT tablet and were confused.

Actually, Microsoft has even had to change its return policies for consumers who bought Surface RT only to figure out that they can’t run standard Windows software on it. Local media agrees that if Microsoft had listened to Dell, they could have avoided one of the major criticisms of its new OS: that Windows RT looks so much like Windows 8 that it is incredibly easy for an ordinary user to mistakenly purchase a Windows RT device without realizing that it isn’t a regular Windows device.

Worse still, Windows 8 differs a lot from Windows 7, and users might think that RT simply doesn’t run their old software due to that rather than because of running a different chip. In response, Microsoft blames its customers for their lack of desire to be “educated” about the gadgets they purchase. The company also complains that the consumers aren’t going to read any instruction manual – they would just buy something else instead!

Free Vodafone SIM cards and NFC – A reality

Global Mobile Technology leaders Vodafone and Gemalto (the world’s largest SIM card manufacturers) have joined forces to provide secure Free SIM card based NFC payments to customers around the world, in a multiple year contract between the two giants. This union will see the provision of an infrastructure that will deliver secure and trusted mobile transactions including payment by mobile contact and even ticketing. The security is provided by the SIM card, which is controlled by Vodafone, which means that the manufacturers or software providers will never have access to customers’ sensitive information.

Only Gemalto will have access to the software, which will be implanted in the Vodafone SIM card, this combination creates and manages a secure environment in which customers can take advantage of Near Field Communication (NFC) technology to make payments and other transactions on their mobile.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 in Amber Brown and Ruby Wine

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is one popular device with the Android faithful, and just like the hugely popular Samsung Galaxy S3 the Note 2 just might be getting some new colour options which old Sammy seems to be quite in favour of recently, as the word is there could be both brown and red versions of the Galaxy Note 2 on their way.

According to a report by Japanese website Blog of Mobile, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 variants popped up in a magazine advert which could suggest that these two new colours could soon be arriving in South Korea.

Apparently the official new colours are Amber Brown and Ruby Wine, with the Amber Brown version already available in Japan. So one can presume that it will be only a matter of time before old Sammy brings these new colour models of the Note 2 to other markets.

Ubuntu for phones announced

Ubuntu for Android has been there for a while, enabling you to dock your phone and make it your desktop, with a full blown OS on the phone, but what about Ubuntu, the OS itself on your smartphone? Yes, Canonical has let loose the details of the new Ubuntu OS for smartphones, with devices slated to launch by 2014. Watch the virtual keynote video here -

Crimson Dragon Side Story WP7 shooter game

Crimson Dragon isn’t available on Xbox Live just yet, but if you simply can’t wait to get your shooting action on and defeat your enemies you can get that action on Windows Phone 7 by downloading the Crimson Dragon: Side Story game for Windows Phone 7 devices. A game that is a side scrolling shooter that uses touch controls.

Crimson Dragon: Side Story for Windows Phone 7 devices enables the gamer to get a taste of Crimson Dragon using touch controls to pilot their dragon and target their enemies along with breeding new controllable dragons and the ability to level up via repeated play.

LG to launch two new Google TV models at CES

LG, after having some moderate success with its range of Google TV-based HDTVs also called “Smart TVs”, has decided to launch two more models at the upcoming CES event. These new Google TVs will be made available in a variety of screen sizes ranging from 42 – 60 inches in diagonal. They will have the Google TV software pre installed, and will be running on a dual core processor.

Google and LG have worked together on something called the LG Magic remote Qwerty that helps in easy keyboard input as well as voice search with an inbuilt mic. LG also have skinned the Google TV UI to make it more useful. They have added a card-style layout which they call “Smart Home”, which more or less resembles the metro UI on the Xbox 360. The user interface has some useful features though, like “My interests” which is like a live update of whatever you choose for it to display, including weather, social feeds etc.

Samsung Galaxy S3 Sudden Death issue needs quick fix

Since its release during the summer of last year the Samsung Galaxy S3 has been enjoying a good time with regards to reviews and sales of the handset. The biggest news away from the sales figures for the smartphone has been the various versions of the operating system running on the different carrier models of the handset. Towards the end of last year though a more worrying problem emerged with owners reporting a sudden death issue with the Samsung Galaxy S3, which needs a quick fix even though only select models are being affected.

We first reported on the problem affecting some owners of the Samsung Galaxy S3 just before Christmas, with a growing thread on the XDA Developers forum that originally started in November. Since our report we have had some of our readers also reporting the problem hitting their version of the handset, and Samsung replacing the motherboard installed inside the device.

Chennai Airport prepares for paperless tickets using smartphones, tablets and laptops

Just after the BCAS(Bureau of Civil aviation Security) announced that, like the Indian Railways, Airports in India can accept tickets on phone or any computing device, the Chennai Airport has started preparations for the same. If implemented, passengers will be permitted into terminal buildings with tickets in digital form, but the boarding pass will still have to be paper once checked in.

This move comes in the wake of the Indian Railways, an inferior yet highly used mode of public transport started accepting e-tickets through SMS and on any screen provided with the ticket. Likewise, all the major Airports will go paperless soon and that is a welcome change for frequent travelers and people who are frustrated with slow changing digitization of public transport.

Chennai Airport authorities are reportedly being trained to look for the appropriate information in digital tickets, as the formatting may vary. Since print out tickets are mandatory and a lack of easy print solutions inside the Airport complex are less, people who forget their tickets clobber for limited and pricey solutions in some airline stations.  It is also said that the CISF who take care of the entry points into the Airport will be trained to look at the PNR on the digital form of the ticket.

It is about time that digital Wallets and passbook support arrive, for eliminating paper boarding passes, but I guess that is still a distant dream.

Source TOI  Image via The Hindu

Samsung unveils enhanced Series 7 Chronos Notebook and Series 7 Ultra with Full HD displays

Samsung has refreshed the Series 7 PC line-up with an enhanced version of the Series 7 Chronos Notebook from the previous version. that has Full HD 1080p display, a faster GPU and the Series 7 Ultra 13.3-inch ultrabook with a sleeker and light weight profile. These comes with Windows 8, Backlit Keyboard with clikpad and have JBL Stereo Speakers for powerful audio.

Aircel launches ‘Pocket Music International’ for International Music Downloads

Aircel has launched Pocket Music International, a new pack that would let their customers download full tracks directly from their mobile phone, from a vast catalogue provided by top two global music recording giants Sony and Universal.

This new service is aimed at younger generation and range from various genres like pop, rock and hip hop from several international artists such as Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Beyonce, Michael Jackson, Enrique Iglesias, Bryan Adams, Pitbull, Black Eyed Peas, Jennifer Lopez and many more.

Aircel subscribers can log on to music.pocketinternet.in from their mobile phone to subscribe to the Pocket Music International pack. It comes at a daily subscription of Rs. 5 which would let you download 5 song downloads daily. So you get to spend just Re. 1 for a song, which is value for money.

Corning Gorilla Glass 3 to be introduced at CES 2013

Corning, makers of the popular toughened glasses for smart devices have announced that they would showcase Gorilla Glass 3 at CES 2013 next week. The company unveiled the Gorilla Glass 2 at CES 2012 that was used in range of popular smartphones of 2012 including the Google Nexus 4, Samsung Galaxy S3, Nokia Lumia 920 and lots more.

The company would demonstrate the toughness of the Gorilla Glass 3 and also showcase the benefits of Corning Gorilla Glass in larger format, multi-touch displays. The Corning Gorilla Glass 3 would be tougher than the earlier versions with Native Damage Resistance (NDR), 40 percent improvement in scratch resistance and is also expected to be more slimmer. The company would also unveil Thunderbolt Optical Cable at the event next week.

Corning would unveil the Gorilla Glass 3 on Monday, 7th January 2013 at CES in Las Vegas.

Airtel launches mEducation services

Airtel has launched mEducation that would enable their customers subscribe to range of educational services including language skills, entrance exam preparation,  career counseling, search schools or colleges and more on their mobile phones. Airtel customers can activate these services through several mediums such as SMS, IVRS and WAP.

Airtel mEducation services

• English Guru - Learn English in your native language transcending barriers of lack of opportunities, teachers, poor infrastructure or costs – IVRS – Dial 55066. Cost - Rs 30/ 30 Days
• Office Vocab - Learn the corporate lingo and improve your vocabulary to prepare yourself for the coropoarte world. SMS - 55077/ *321*793#. Cost – Rs 1.5/ Day
• Exam Prep - Questionnaire based preparatory material for popular National entrance & competitive exams – UPSC, MBA, CLAT, Bank PO, RRB, Staff Services & GRE – SMS PREP to 5432105/ *321*550# Cost – Rs 2/Day
• Mock Tests - Full length Mock Tests for popular National entrance & competitive exams – UPSC, MBA, CLAT, Bank PO, RRB, Staff Services & GRE – SMS - MOCK to 5432105/ Direct WAP Link Cost. – Rs 99 (12 mock Test) / Rs 49 (5 Mock Test)
• Ask an Expert – Ask the best industry experts all your education and career related queries. SMS - 55077. Cost Rs 10/ week (10 questions free)
• Career Counselling - Talk to the best of professors from top institutes and leading industry experts & professionals on all your career related queries IVRS - 55077. Cost - Rs 2/ day + event Charges
• MBA Fastrack Pack  - Learn the tricks to crack the CAT by the CAT Guru, Arun Sharma – WAP – m.crackcat.in Cost - Rs 10/ day (30 Day) or Rs 199 (One time)
• Personality Development - Develop your soft skills and enhance your personality IVRS – 53222345 Cost - Rs 15/ 7 days
• Campus Search - Search any campus/ school/ college in your city and town – Dial 532229 or *322*290#, or SMS sub school to 532229 Cost - Rs 1.5/ day
• Scholarship Alert - Scholarship Alert right on your mobile. SMS – 55077 Cost - Rs 1.5 / Day

LG Optimus 2X Android 4.0 update now available in India

LG Optimus 2X (LGP990) users have finally received the Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) update in India. LG started rolling out the ICS update for Korean users back in August and for European users, earlier this month. The LG Optimus 2X launched in India last April with Android 2.2 (Froyo) on-board and later received the Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) back in November. LG confirmed the ICS update for the device soon after that.

The Android 4.0 update brings the new Optimus UI 3.0 with a new lock screen, face unlock, a new camera UI, faster browser and lots more new features.

As you can see from the image above, the firmware version of the update ROM is V30b, unlike the V30a that rolled out in Europe recently. The Android 4.0.4 update is about 686 MB and is available OTA (Over-the-Air) and also through the LG Mobile Support Tool on your PC.

Facebook Messenger for Android and iPhone updated with Voice Messaging

Facebook has updated Messenger app for Android and iPhone that brings option to send quick voice messages to your friends. You can choose a friend or a group of friends and select the attach button next to the text area, to record voice messages. You need to press and hold the record button to record a message, which shows the number of seconds the voice is being recorded. You can release it to send the voice message or slide off to either side to cancel.

Once the message is sent, the recipient can click the voice message to listen, the sent message is also stored in the inbox. Facebook for iPhone version 2.1 update also brings option to call friends for free right from the Messenger. This feature would roll out to users gradually.

The new version also brings several improvements and bug fixes. Download Facebook Messenger v2.2.4 for Android from Google Play Store and Facebook Messenger v2.1 for the iPhone from the Apple iTunes Store for free.