Whatsapp Voice Calling Feature: How to Activate it on Android?

In competition with Viber, Skype and other apps, Whatsapp has added voice calling feature recently. The company rolled out the feature gradually to the Android users and now it is available for all. And if you have another platform like iOS, probably, you have to wait for some time, as they are already in beta version.

Initially, a Reddit userpradnesh07, even got the feature activated on his phone. According to the images posted, users who receive the voice-calling feature will notice an icon for it, beside the Chats and Contacts tabs.

So if you feel left behind, don't worry, we have jotted down the steps for you, on how to get the Whatsapp calling feature on your smartphone. So here it is:

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Step 1: First of all, update your Whatsapp via Playstore to version 2.12.5 or above, otherwise if you don't get the update you ca n download the 2.12.7 from here. Then install it.

Step 2: After updating, tell one of your friends, who has the Whatsapp calling feature to call you.

Step 3: You have to receive the call, wait for few seconds, and disconnect it. [Note: Giving missed call wont work]

Step 4: Once the call is disconnected, you will get to see a new tab "calls" in the Whatsapp on your phone.

Now you are Whatsapp Voice calling feature activated customer. WhatsApp Messenger is an instant messaging app for smartphones, which is send to send images, video, and audio media messages. This application is available in all the platforms including Android, iOS, Windows, Blackberry etc.

Indeed, WhatsApp is the mostly used popular messaging app with more than 600 million active users, with India alone boasting a user base of more than 70 million. According to the company report, this app has surpassed 700 million users, during Jan 2015.

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WhatsApp on web: 5 things it can’t do

NEW DELHI: With more than 700 million monthly active users, there's no doubt that WhatsApp is one of the largest mobile-focused messaging service. A large number of these users have been demanding a PC interface for the service to stay connected with their favourite people even when they switch devices. After a long wait, WhatsApp has finally introduced a way to access the service on a PC. However, there are several limitations attached to it as the interface is limited to a web browser.

Here are five limitations of WhatsApp for web...

1. It doesn't support iPhone: WhatsApp for web essentially syncs messages between your smartphone and browser via its servers. At this time, the service does not support the iPhone. According to WhatsApp it's unable to provide the web client to iOS users due to Apple's platform limitations. Reports indicate that it intends to support the iPhone in the future but till then, if you use WhatsApp on an iPhone, you'll need to peep into your phone every time you get a WhatsApp message even if you're in front of your computer.

2. Needs your phone to be on and connected to the internet: After pairing your smartphone with WhatsApp's web client through a QR code image, you'll be able to send and receive messages through your browser. But what if your phone loses the data connection or runs out of charge? Sadly, the WhatsApp web version will also go offline. Your phone needs to stay connected to the internet for the web client to work.

3. Doesn't support browsers other than Google Chrome: WhatsApp's web interface only supports Google Chrome. So if you use Firefox, Safari or Internet Explorer, you're out of luck. A number of IT environments restrict the use of applications not approved by admins. If you're part of one and can't use Chrome, you'll not be able to use WhatsApp for web. WhatsApp's justification is that Chrome's push technology is better.

It's surprising that the service doesn't support Internet Explorer given Microsoft's investment in Facebook which owns WhatsApp. Also, it's worth pointing out that Google (the developer of Chrome) competes directly with Facebook.

4. You can't block users: To block users, you still need to go to the WhatsApp mobile app. The number of spam messages on WhatsApp has gone up considerably and the only way to deal with these, is to block their number. Unfortunately, the web version does not offer the block feature.

5. You can't create and leave groups: While you can send and receive messages from groups you're a part of, the WhatsApp web client doesn't let you create new groups or leave existing ones. You also can't send broadcast messages via the web client.

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10 Reasons to Pick the HTC One M8 Over the Galaxy S5

With the introduction of the HTC One M8 on March 25, the number of true contenders for the honor of top Android smartphone of 2014 has doubled. The other contender made its debut at Mobile World Congress in February when Samsung introduced its Galaxy S5. With the Android market this year now a two-horse race, all the other competitors will either have to introduce beautiful, well-crafted devices like the HTC One M8 and the Galaxy S5 or see their wares languish on store shelves. For now, though, it's just between those two handsets. However, deciding between the two might not be as difficult as some would argue. The Samsung Galaxy S5 is undoubtedly a good-looking device with great features, but it's not as attractive as the HTC One M8. Granted, the Galaxy S5 does have some features that HTC's alternative doesn't, like a fingerprint sensor, but such features won't be enough to put that device over the top for the vast majority of consumers and enterprise customers looking to get their hands on an Android handset this year. Here are the reasons why the HTC One M8 is the better choice over Samsung's Galaxy S5.

An Elegant Design

The HTC One M8 comes with a beautiful design that the Galaxy S5 can't match. The smartphone has an all-aluminum shell that meets the front of the device at the perfect spot to deliver an elegant finish. While the Galaxy S5 is not an ugly device, it's by no means as good-looking as the M8.

Excellent Sound Quality

Just about every review surrounding the HTC One M8 indicates that the handset has the best sound quality of any smartphone on the market. That has been achieved by bundling dual front speakers into the device. It also helps that for a while, HTC owned Beats Audio, a top music device provider that likely helped the company work on its speaker technology over the years. Sound quality is extremely important for those who want to listen to music or watch videos from their smartphones.

A Beautified Sense

Sense 6, the latest version of HTC's mobile software skin for Android, is a major upgrade over the previous version. The software is simpler and cleaner, making users more productive. What's more, it comes with support for multiple home screens and widgets, ensuring users have everything they want at the ready. Samsung has updated its TouchWiz with the Galaxy S5, but overall, that experience is slightly inferior to Sense 6.

The Dual-Lens System

Although the Galaxy S5 would be the winner in terms of actual picture quality, the One M8 wins out for those who want to take selfies, courtesy of the device's front-facing camera and accompanying software, as well as those who want to get artistic with pictures. The back of the One M8 comes with two lenses that snap the same photo. On the device's software, users can decide what parts are blurred and what are not to create truly artistic pictures. It's a neat offering.

More Damage-Proof

The nice thing about having a device that's aluminum is that it's a little more damage-proof than those that are plastic. Most people don't like to think about dropping a handset, but an aluminum smartphone would survive a fall a bit better than the plastic option found on the Galaxy side. Those with slippery fingers should keep that in mind.

Fewer Gimmicks, More Value

The Galaxy S5 is chock-full of gimmicks. The device has a fingerprint sensor for security that those who have used it say doesn't work as well as Apple's TouchID. The device is also heavily focused on health-related apps that might or might not appeal to users. The One M8, meanwhile, comes with gesture-based controls that can detect when the device is picked up or brought to the ear. In fact, many functions can be achieved with the One M8 without even hitting the power button to turn it on.

A Slightly Better Display

Although the Galaxy S5 and One M8 come with nearly identical screens—HTC's option has a 5-inch display and Samsung's comes with a 5.1-inch screen—the One M8 is ever so slightly better. HTC claims that its screen packs 440 pixels per inch, compared with 431 for the Galaxy S5. For the average person, the difference between the two displays might be negligible, but for movie viewers, that might be something to keep in mind.

You're Tired of the Samsung Experience

Another reason someone might buy the HTC One M8 over the Galaxy S5 is that perhaps they're tired of the Samsung experience. Although TouchWiz has been updated, it's not that much different from previous versions. Plus, the Galaxy S5's design is not a major upgrade over that of the Galaxy S4. Samsung has stayed the course with the Galaxy S5. HTC, meanwhile, has tried to push the envelope.

You're Already an HTC Owner

HTC owners who are happy with their current HTC One handsets will find a multitude of reasons to buy the One M8. From the smartphone's better specs to its improved design to its downright gorgeous Sense 6 software, current HTC owners would be foolish to go elsewhere to find a new device.

HTC's Sense of Urgency

HTC is in trouble. There's no doubt about it. The company has watched its smartphone sales fall over the last few years and is relying on the One M8 to fix its myriad issues. That's a good thing for consumers. Upon buying a device that is already impressive, one can expect that HTC will keep a close eye on the One M8 to ensure security issues are patched, new software versions are quickly brought to the device, and customer-support issues are promptly handled. HTC's desperation could work in the owner's favor.

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Unbreakable smartphones coming soon

Unbreakable rubber-like smart phones, roll able tablets and functional clothing have come closer to reality, thanks to new breakthrough research by scientists including one of Indian-origin.

Researchers from Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) RMIT University have developed a new method to transfer electronics with versatile functionality, which are usually made on rigid silicon, onto a flexible surface.

The ability of micro and nano-electronic devices to sense, insulate or generate energy is controlled by thin, transparent nanolayers of oxide materials, often much thinner than 1/100th of a human hair.

These oxide materials are brittle and their high processing temperatures - often in excess of 300 degrees Celsius - have until now prevented their incorporation in flexible electronic devices.

Lead author, Philipp Gutruf, said the new process could unleash the potential of fully functional flexible electronics, while providing a new way for the materials to mesh together.

"We have discovered a micro-tectonic effect, where micro scale plates of oxide materials slide over each other, like geological plates, to relieve stress and retain electrical conductivity," he said.

"The novel method we have developed overcomes the challenges of incorporating oxide materials in bendable electronic devices, paving the way for bendable consumer electronics and other exciting applications," said Gutruf.

Supervisor and co-leader of the research group, Dr Madhu Bhaskaran, said the new approach used two popular materials - transparent conductive indium tin oxide and rubber-like silicone which is also biocompatible.

"The ability to combine any functional oxide with this biocompatible material creates the potential for biomedical devices to monitor or stimulate nerve cells and organs. This is in addition to the immediate potential for consumer electronics applications in flexible displays, solar cells, and energy harvesters," said Bhaskaran.

The study was published in the journal Asia Materials.

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True Caller hacked, 1 million Indians’ data at risk

Global phone directory app True Caller has been hacked by activist group Syrian Electronic Army (SEA). The hacking group announced this in a post on Twitter, along with an image that showed details of some users of the app.

Syrian Electronic Army broke the news via a tweet saying, "Sorry @True Caller, we needed your database, thank you for it." The hackers openly released True Caller's database host ID, username and password via another tweet.

True Caller app is available on Android, iOS, Windows Phone, BlackBerry and Symbianplatforms. The app's databases have access codes to Face book, Twitter, LinkedIn and Gmail accounts of millions of users globally. Reports say that True Caller website went down for a while but is now back online. In June this year, True Caller announced that its user base has touched the 20-million mark, representing growth of 100% in a period of five months. It said that it has 1 million users in India in March.

The Syrian hacking collective revealed that it exploited the TrueCallerwebsite as it is based on outdated Word press platform, which gave them access to the admin panel. Speaking to E Hacking News, the SEA hackers said that they have hacked into the phone directory's servers and downloaded more than seven databases. The biggest database has data worth 450GB.

Syrian Electronic Army is behind several high profile hackings, including those of Associated Press, BBC and The Onion.

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First look: Google versions of HTC One, Galaxy S4

NEW YORK: Two new Android phones will look and sound familiar to those who have been paying attention to phones. That's because these two devices are replicas of Samsung's Galaxy S4 and HTC's One, except they lack most of the bells and whistles added to the original models. 

And that's a good thing.

The modifications Samsung and HTC apply to Google's Android software are meant to be improvements. But I've complained before about how the changes actually make phones more complex to use. The S4 even has an easy mode for first-time Smartphone users, an admission that the normal mode is too confounding.

Google worked with both Samsung Electronics and HTC to come out with "Google Play" editions of the hit phones. Instead of customized software Samsung and HTC, the Google phones run a pure version of Android, just as it was developed by Google.

Google lets any phone maker use its Android operating system for free. To set themselves apart competitors, phone makers often add their own touches to devices. They rearrange the menu or load additional apps. Wireless carriers also to add their own apps. Before you know it, phones are bloated with features and apps you don't want and can't get rid of.

Consider my experience with the original S4 over the weekend. As I tried to adjust the camera's flash setting, I inadvertently made some postage stamp icon pop up. That activated the camera's dual-shot mode, which snaps a shot of you with the front camera to superimpose over whatever you're shooting with the camera on the back of the phone. I didn't want that, but I couldn't figure out how to get rid of it. My friend couldn't either. So we bagged the shot. Taking photos with a phone is supposed to be fun, not a chore.

With Google's version of the S4, I get a no-frills camera that is easy to figure out. It lacks gimmicks such as dual shots and the ability to combine several images of motion into a single shot. It offers about a half-dozen shooting modes, such as night, action and panorama, rather than the dozen or so on the original S4. But a half-dozen is about a half-dozen more than I need and use.

Google's S4 also lacks the original model's ability to pause video automatically when you look away the screen or to scroll down an article when you tilt your head. Those features may sound cool, but they often don't work properly.

The Google version of the S4 also has alarm sounds that I can actually wake up to. Samsung had substituted those sounds with soft, soothing melodies that I end up incorporating into dreams. I've overslept a few times as a result.

As for Google's version of the HTC One, you don't get a busy home screen filled with news articles and Facebook status updates your phone thinks you want to read. Instead, you get a clean page with few apps. It's up to you to add the ones you want to see and use.

Both Google phones feel spare and minimal, which is great because it makes me feel in control. If I want to constantly know the weather, it's easy to add a weather widget to the home screen of either phone. But it's not forced.

The same goes for apps. I get basic functions such as text messaging and the clock and a range of Google services such as Gmail and YouTube. If I want other apps, I can easily tap the Google Play icon to get them. With the original S4, Samsung tries to steer you into its own app store, as well as its own music and video players. You end up with too many ways to do the same things.

You might think it takes a lot of work to add the apps you want to Google's phones, but it actually takes more work to hide or turn off everything you don't need - that is, if you can at all- with Samsung's and HTC's versions.

Now for the bad news: The Google edition of the S4 sells for $649, while Google's HTC One goes for $599. You can typically get the original models for $100 to $200 through your wireless carrier with a two-year agreement. And unless you're on T-Mobile, your monthly bill won't go down just because you pay full price for the phone elsewhere.

In addition, both Google phones are compatible only with T-Mobile, AT&T and other carriers that use GSM cellular technology, not the CDMA networks used by Sprint and Verizon Wireless. The Google edition would have been great for Verizon customers who still have unlimited data plans. Verizon no longer lets you stay on that plan if you buy a subsidized phone, so you'd have to pay the full price anyway.

The Google phones are also ideal for people who want the latest Android system that Google has to offer. You'll be able to update your phone as Google releases new versions of Android. Normally, phone makers and wireless carriers updates by weeks or months, so you can only read about those new Android features.

There are a few useful Samsung and HTC add-ons that Google does bring to its versions of the phones.

Google's S4 is compatible with Samsung's S-View flip cover. Using a magnetic sensor, the phone detects when the cover is closed and switches to a special mode that gives you the current time and details about who's calling through a small window in the cover. You can answer or reject a call without flipping over the cover.

Google's HTC One, meanwhile, shares the original model's front-facing speakers, giving you great sound when you're watching a movie or listening to music. Both models also have cameras with larger sensor pixels for better low-light shots. Our tests show that the HTC One produces low-light images with less distortion than other Android phones, though images aren't particularly crisp because the resolution is lower.

There are a few things I wish Google would have brought to its phones and to Android in general.

In the original S4, the on-screen keyboard has a row of numerals to type in. With the Google S4, you have to hit a button to get another screen with numerals, then toggle back for the letters. The original S4 also has the ability to run two apps side by side in a split window. That's gone in Google's S4.

Meanwhile, the original HTC One has the ability to make calls, send texts and take photos by sliding icons the lock screen. With the Google version, you have to unlock the screen before getting icons to those functions.

On both phones, Google also adds one feature I could do without: a 360-degree panorama known as Photo Sphere. Neat as it is, it detracts what is otherwise a just-the-basics camera. It would have been better as a separate app for those who want it.

But that's no reason to shun the Google phones. The minimized feel of Google's versions underscores how busy software can detract good hardware. Take away that clutter, and you have excellent phones.

It's a bummer that you can't get the simplified phones through regular channels. You can get them only through Google's online Play store - for hundreds of dollars more.

About the Google phones

The new phones are existing Samsung and HTC phones loaded with Google's version of the Android operating system. That's the version that Google makes, before phone makers and phone carriers load Android up with their own features and apps.

These phones are good options for those who don't all the bells and whistles in the original models. They are cleaner and easier to use. But they are also more expensive, as you have to pay full price through Google's online Play store rather than a subsidized price that wireless carriers offer with two-year agreements.

These phones aren't compatible with Verizon's or Sprint's CDMA networks. If you're on AT&T, you'll be paying more for the phone without any reduction in monthly phone bills. If you're on T-Mobile, though, expect to save $20 a month, or $480 over two years. You're still paying about $70 more overall for Google's S4 and $20 more for Google's One, but it's not the hundreds of dollars you'd be paying on AT&T.

The one-time, upfront cost is $649 for Google's S4 with 16 gigabytes of storage and $599 for the One with 32 gigabytes. Both phones are available in the US only through Google's online Play store, with shipments expected by July 9.

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See, what makes your Android phone vulnerable to hackers

LONDON: A 'master key' has been reportedly discovered by a security research firm which could potentially give cyber attackers access to almost every Android phone.

According to BBC, security research firm BlueBox has discovered the loophole which is present in every version of the Android operating system released since 2009.

The bug emerges as a result of the way Android handles cryptographic verification of the programs installed on the phone

The report said that Android uses the cryptographic signature as a way to check that an app or program is legitimate and to ensure it has not been tampered with.

Jeff ForristalBlueBox and his colleagues have found a method of tricking the way Android checks these signatures so that malicious changes to the apps go unnoticed.

Forristal said that the implications of this discovery could be 'huge' as it can take over the normal functioning of the phone and control any function thereof.

Security expert Dan Wallach said that in order to catch Android users, malicious hackers would have to get their booby-trapped version of a legitimate application on to the Google Play store.

According to the report, BlueBox had reported finding the bug to Google in February.

Google denied commenting on BlueBox discovery, the report added.

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Samsung Galaxy S4 may have unbreakable screen

Samsung Electronics, the world's leading technology company by revenue, is likely accelerating the launch of its next-generation flagship Galaxy smartphone -- which may come with a breakthrough unbreakable screen.

Codenamed "Project J" after mobile division chief JK Shin, development of the new Galaxy S IV could be aimed for release by as early as April, according to analysts and tech blogs.

And, as smartphones increasingly look alike - the converging form factor - an unbreakable screen could be a big selling point for the Galaxy, which is battling Apple Inc's iPhone to lead the $200 billion plus smartphone market.

The Galaxy S IV is also expected to have bigger and better display, powerful quad-core processing power and a 13-megapixel camera, with picture density improving to 441 pixels per inch (ppi), a big improvement from the Galaxy S III's 306 ppi and better than the iPhone 5's 326 ppi.

"Looking to the first half of 2013, we see evidence of Samsung likely accelerating the release of the Galaxy S IV - compared with May (this year) for the Galaxy S III," said UBS analyst Nicolas Gaudois. "We believe preparations for volume manufacturing of unbreakable plastic substrate displays continue. All in all, we could see a strong products push in the high-end in the first half, followed by other releases."

Samsung declined to comment.

Samsung, a major backer of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, is a frontrunner in developing unbreakable screens, as OLED panels can replace glass substrate with plastic material. Down the road, mobile gadgets could be flexible as well as unbreakable.

"Eventually, they'll have unbreakable and flexible displays. Either the Galaxy S IV or S V will have unbreakable and even possibly flexible and foldable displays by 2014. That's going to be a game-changer," said Mark Newman, an analyst at Stanford Bernstein in Hong Kong.

Both Newman and Gaudois are ranked as 5-star analysts, the top ranking, by Thomson Reuters StarMine for their recommendations on Samsung.

Courtroom revisited

It would also be a game-changer for Samsung, which has built its reputation as a 'fast follower' of others' technologies and designs.

The South Korean consumer electronics giant faces off against Apple again on Thursday in a US courtroom for a follow-up ruling on whether it copied some of its US rival's patents and should pay the $1 billion awarded to Apple by jurors in an August verdict.

Samsung wants the verdict overturned, while Apple wants the damages to be increased and Samsung phones banned in the United States.

Since that landmark verdict, however, Samsung shares have gained 14 percent to record highs, while Apple shares - dented by a maps app fiasco, tight supply of its iPhone 5 and ever tougher competition in the mobile market - have slipped by nearly a fifth, wiping more than $120 billion off its market value.

Barring any extra costs related to the US ruling, Samsung should report a fifth straight record profit this quarter, as profits from its component business recover and more than offset thinning margins on mobile phones - squeezed by higher year-end holiday marketing campaigns.

"Samsung's strength extends beyond cool products, they're also a leader in the technology behind these devices. We see further upside to Samsung's stock as success in smartphones continues and chips and display profits also rebound," said Newman. "In smartphones, the opportunity is for Samsung to take more share from Apple in the premium segment, where Apple is still dominant."

UBS estimates Samsung will ship around 22.5 million of its Galaxy S III and Note II devices in the quarter to end-December, up from 20 million in July-September. Shin said in November that Galaxy S III sales would hit 40 million by the end of this month.

In a worst-case scenario for Samsung, US judge Lucy Koh could treble the damages payable to Apple, given the jury in August found Samsung "willfully" infringed some Apple patents.

"That would be a major blow to Samsung's fundamentals and overall investor sentiment, but it's not the most likely scenario," said Young Park, a 4-star StarMine analyst at Woori Investment & Securities.

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Samsung Galaxy S Duos S7562

Hi my Self Sanket Barot I Am Professional Blogger, SEO, Web Developer.

Today i had a Buy Samsung Galaxy S Duos S7562 Mobile from Seva Kendra – Mehsana Gujarat India Store. its Neared by Toranvali Mata’s (Pratima Computer).

In My Life 1st Time I had a Buy a Very Costly Mobile. i hope This Mobile is give a Good Response. 

GENERAL
2G Network
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2

3G Network
HSDPA 900 / 2100

SIM
Dual SIM (Mini-SIM, dual stand-by)

Announced
2012, July

Status
Available. Released 2012, September

BODY
Dimensions
121.5 x 63.1 x 10.5 mm (4.78 x 2.48 x 0.41 in)

Weight
120 g (4.23 oz)

- Touch-sensitive controls

DISPLAY
Type
TFT capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors

Size
480 x 800 pixels, 4.0 inches (~233 ppi pixel density)

Multitouch
Yes

SOUND
Alert types
Vibration, MP3, WAV ringtones

Loudspeaker
Yes

3.5mm jack
Yes

MEMORY
Card slot
microSD, up to 32 GB

Internal
4 GB storage, 768 MB RAM

DATA
GPRS
Yes

EDGE
Yes

Speed
HSDPA, 7.2 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps

WLAN
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi hotspot

Bluetooth
Yes, v3.0 with A2DP

USB
Yes, microUSB v2.0

CAMERA
Primary
5 MP, 2592х1944 pixels, autofocus, LED flash, check quality

Features
Geo-tagging

Video
Yes, VGA@30fps

Secondary
Yes, VGA

FEATURES
OS
Android OS, v4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), upgradable to v4.1

Chipset
Qualcomm MSM7227A Snapdragon

CPU
1 GHz Cortex-A5

GPU
Adreno 200

Sensors
Accelerometer, proximity, compass

Messaging
SMS (threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email

Browser
HTML, Adobe Flash Lite

Radio
Stereo FM radio with RDS

GPS
Yes, with A-GPS support

Java
Yes, via Java MIDP emulator

Colors
White, Black

- SNS integration
- MP4/H.263/H.264/WMV player
- MP3/eAAC+/WMA/WAV player
- Organizer
- Document viewer
- Voice memo/dial
- Predictive text input

BATTERY
Standard battery, Li-Ion 1500 mAh

Stand-by
Up to 445 h (2G) / Up to 330 h (3G)

Talk time
Up to 13 h (2G) / Up to 7 h 25 min (3G)

MISC
SAR US
0.27 W/kg (head)     0.65 W/kg (body)   

SAR EU
0.47 W/kg (head)   

Price group Rs:  16,500 /-

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Samsung fined Rs 10,000 over faulty phone

Samsung India has been asked by a consumer forum to pay Rs 10,000 to one of its customers for selling him a faulty mobile phone and then failing to get it repaired.

The compensation was awarded by the Central Delhi District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum after Samsung offered to settle the matter by paying Rs 10,000 to complainant Mulk Raj Manchanda.

"We have examined the record and have found that the instrument, purchased by the complainant (Manchanda), has not given him due service/facilities. The same could not be repaired by the seller as well as by the service provider of Samsung India Electronics Pvt Ltd."

"We are of the view that the amount of Rs 10,000 as offered by opposite party three (Samsung) will be sufficient to meet the claim of the complainant in all respect, including the purchase cost of the mobile phone as well as compensation and litigation charges.

"We allow the complaint with the direction to Samsung to pay the complainant Rs 10,000 on returning the mobile phone by him to opposite party 3," the bench presided by B B Chaudhary said.

In his complaint, Manchanda had alleged the Samsung mobile phone which he had purchased on December 29, 2009 for Rs 5,300 did not function properly and had a faulty battery.

He had also alleged the Samsung's authorised dealer from whom he had bought the phone had assured him that if the device gave any trouble then free service for five years would be available and if the trouble persists, the mobile handset would be replaced.

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IIT responsible for Aakash I failure: Datawind

Six months after ministry of human resource development launched the Aakash tablet, barely a few hundred units have reached students. The manufacturing of the device has been stopped and now the ministry and Datawind, the company responsible for supplying the tablet, are focusing on Aakash 2, an upgraded version of the device.

Datawind concedes Aakash, which is supposed to digitize the way students study in India, has not been a success in its first version. But the company squarely blames IIT-Rajasthan, the nodal agency overseeing the project, for the fiasco. It says the concerns over the tablet's quality and functionality are overblown by the institute in a bid to "favour other firms".

Datawind's CEO, Suneet Singh Tuli, says that after winning the bid to manufacture Aakash, the company supplied 10,000 tablets to IIT-Rajasthan. They were part of an initial order of 1,00,000 tablets that Datawind was supposed to supply to the government at a price of $49.98 per unit. But after a few hundred tablets reached students as part of the pilot project, IIT-Rajasthan started rejecting Aakash tablet, allegedly after reports that the device was failing during pilot testing and did not meet the quality criteria set by the institute.

Tuli, however, disagrees. "IIT-Rajasthan was simply trying to defame us by saying that we could not meet the quality required by it," he says. "When we were awarded the contract, there was only a specification sheet. But when we started supplying the tablets, IIT-Rajasthan started rejecting the tablet based on biased and unscientific testing methodology. "

"IIT Rajasthan put up roadblocks. It jeopardized the whole project. I can say the dirty tricks by the institute put us around six months behind on the project ... they did it because they were favouring other firms... Even now, the institute is trying to sabotage the project," he adds.

There are reports that IIT-Rajasthan has been issued a showcause notice by MHRD last month over the Aakash failure. The notice asks institute to explain why it did not set up a tablet testing facility and procedure in time and why it failed to resolve its dispute with Datawind. Reportedly, the institute also worked with Wishtel, a company that launched a low-cost tablet called Ira last week. TOI tried contacting Prem K Kalra, director of IIT Rajasthan, over the email and phone but he wasn't available.

Datawind says that after the fiasco, it took back the tablets supplied to IIT-Rajasthan. "We have not been paid for a single one of them. But mission is more important to us... we believe in Aakash project," says Tuli.

The company is now working on Aakash 2, an updated version of the original tablet. It will have a capacitive screen instead of resistive and hence support multitouch. It will also have a better processor - based on Cortex A8.

"We are working with IIT Mumbai for Aakash 2 and will start supplying the tablet to government this month. Our original order for 100000 units has been transferred for Aakash 2 now. After the order of 100000 units is met, MHRD will invite bids for more tablets. We will bid again," says Tuli. Kapil Sibal, minister of human resources and development, on Tuesday said that Aakash 2 will be available in May.

Datawind also sells a commercial version of Aakash tablet called Ubislate. Tuli claims the firm has received over 3 million pre-bookings for Ubislate. However, this tablet too has not reached customers. "We are aware of the delay and trying to sort it out. We hope to ship Ubislate to consumer in next 10 days. To compensate for the delay, we will now give them Ubislate+, an upgraded version of the tablet at the same price," says Tuli.

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Aakash 2 project aimed at democratising technology

The Centre said "Aakash 2" project was aimed at "democratising technology" in the country.

Aakash is a low-cost tablet PC. The world's cheapest tablet PC was launched in October last by Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal. Aakash 2 is the upgraded version of the tablet.

"The project is aimed at democratising technology in the country. The focus is on service to citizens and how a Government will interface directly with public without any human interference," said Union Minister of State for Communications Sachin Pilot.

He was addressing silver jubilee celebrations of the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) here.

Hailing the contribution of C-DAC, Pilot said it had played a major role in taking IT to the masses and the future challenges "will be of interoperability and sustainability."

"Content must be available in all languages and at all platforms. 2012 is about a different India. Our quintessential hunger for knowledge has not changed. While India continues to grow, the game changer will be the transition of our society into a knowledge society."

Sam Pitroda, Adviser to Prime Minister on innovations, said the first phase of the telecom revolution was already over, and we have "entered the second phase of the revolution where the focus is on democratisation of information."

"The National Knowledge Network (NKN) is probably the biggest example of this initiative, but the key here is to learn to use this capability. NKN connects 2,50,000 villages through an optical fiber network and through this network, the villagers will be able to access a number of services from the Government. This has a huge implication on e-Governance."

Three products from the R&D stable of C-DAC were released on the occasion by the Minister.

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Aakash gets Rs 765 crore in Budget 2012

The world's cheapest tablet project has been allocated about Rs 765 crore in Budget 2012-13, which is likely to trigger the second phase of the project expected to begin in April, even as the first phase is stuck in a deadlock.
The allocation for Aakash has been made under the National Mission for Education through ICT of Ministry of Human Resource and Development. The mission had launched the low-cost tablet project, last year.
According to official sources, the money allocated is 'sufficient' for the second phase of the project. Aakash-II is likely to cost the government about 569 crore for about 50 lakh tablets.
"Most of the money is likely to be utilized for the Aakash project. Some of it will be utilized for developing e-content," said a senior government official involved in the project.
The government plans to procure about 50 lakh tablets, in a phased manner, at 2,276 each. Half of the cost (about 1138 per tablet) will be subsidized by the central government. The rest will be borne by the state governments, who want to distribute Aakash tablets in state colleges and institutions.

The billion dollar- five-year fund allocated to NME-ICT mission expired on March 31, which led to a fresh allocation by Finance Minister Prefab Mukherjee in the Union Budget 2012-13. The new allocation comes even as IIT Rajasthan was unable to utilize about 25 crore allocated for phase I of the Aakash project, due to a disagreement with its vendor.
According to a government official heading the Aakash project, only about 500 Aakash-I tablets have been procured so far. However, according to Data wind officials, they have supplied about 10,000 tablets to IIT Rajasthan, for which they are yet to receive money.
Disagreement over specifications of the tablet has added to the deadlock. "Allocation of more money to a project which is not stable is not an established practice in government," said Satish Jha, President of One Laptop Per Child foundation, which has a competing product in the market.
Meanwhile, the government has washed its hands off the deadlock, citing it as a commercial dispute between two parties. Nonetheless, Minister for Human Resource and Development Kapil Sibal said in Lok Sabha earlier this month, that Data wind will supply about 100,000 improved tablets.
Sibal also plans to launch a tender in April for Aakash-II, which are expected to come with a better processor and capacitive touchscreen, but at the same price.

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Samsung Galaxy S3: wireless charging a possibility

Reports from Korea suggest the Samsung Galaxy S3 may come with wireless charging capabilities allowing you to say goodbye to that fiddly night-time plug in ritual.

According to an anonymous source, Korean publication DDaily says it has been told that the hotly-anticipated Galaxy S3 will allow users to do away with wires as it will arrive with a built in inductive charger.

The source goes on to say that the Galaxy S3 will be able to charge from a distance of 1-2 meters from the charger base.

Look mum, no wires!

Wireless charging is nothing new, with a variety of cases and charging mats currently available on the market to suit a range of handsets and built in wireless charging technology has had its outing in the form of the Palm Pre among others.

The hope is if Samsung manages to squeeze this technology in a handset, which is already rumoured to boast a quad-core processor, 4G connectivity, HD screen, NFC and a decent camera, it will have refined the process making it more efficient and cost effective.

Being able to charge your phone by just placing it down somewhere near a plug is certainly appealing, but if the base station is not included in the box (which we reckon is more than likely) we still expect a substantial cost to be involved to pick one up.

We're taking this latest report with two large fistfuls of salt, as it would seem unlikely Samsung will be able to keep the weight and depth of the Galaxy S3 down to a reasonable level with all the touted tech it's expected to pack into it.

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How to install android OS on PC

Recently, we’ve been hard at work improving Android Market to give you new ways to find great applications and games, purchase books, and rent movies. Today, we’re releasing a new version of Android Market which makes all of these available on phones (Android 2.2 and higher).

In the U.S., you’ll be able to rent thousands of movies, starting at $1.99, right from Android Market on your phone. With the Videos app, available in Android Market, there’s no more waiting for downloads, syncing, or worrying about storage space. Simply sign into Android Market with your Google account, and you can rent movies from anywhere – the web, or your Android phone or tablet – and start watching instantly. You can also download movies to your device so they’re available for viewing when you don’t have an internet connection.

Also in the U.S., you can now purchase books from Android Market on your phone. Like movie rentals, books are linked to your Google account, so they’re instantly available across all of your devices – computer, phone, or tablet – without the need for wires or downloads.

You’ll be delighted to find we’ve overhauled Android Market to make it faster, easier, and more fun to discover great apps, movies, and books. We’ve created more space to feature some of the most interesting content of the week on the home page. We’ve added more top charts, with newer, more relevant items, and we’ve made it easy to swipe through these charts as you browse the store. We’ve also introduced new collections of great content, like staff picks and Editors’ Choice apps.

The new Android Market will be rolling out in the coming weeks to Android 2.2 and higher phones around the world. You don’t need to do anything - the update is automatic on supported phones. If you’re in the U.S., you’ll also be able to download the Videos app, rent movies, and buy books once you receive the new Android Market.

Your phone is about to get a lot more interesting! Enjoy the new Android Market.

How to Install Android on Local Desktop Computer

First of all open this link and Download Android V 0.3 download here:

 http://code.google.com/p/live-android/downloads/list as per Above Video.

Posted by Paul Montoy-Wilson, Product Manager

 

Sanket Barot

http://jmdcomputerindia.com

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Protect your Data, Passwords

It’s hard to remember multiple passwords and keep sensitive information secure in this digital age. Whether you use a Mac, PC or smartphone, various free tools can help you with this by securing all passwords with a master password, encrypting data and securely wiping any sensitive info explain Karan Bajaj & Hitesh Raj Bhagat

EXCLUSIVELY FOR MAC OSX
Encrypt This
Simply drag and drop the files/folders you want to protect onto the application’s icon. It will then ask you to set a password for accessing the files and then create a protected disk image of your content.
Get it from www.nathansheldon.com

Pastor
One of the simplest password managers for MAC, Pastor requires a master password to be set to access all the stored passwords and serial numbers. It even comes with a password generator.
Get it from www.mehlau.net

Password Vault Lite
This app stores all your passwords online and safeguards them with a master password. It can also run from a USB drive and features an auto-lock timer that locks the program after some inactivity.
Get it from www.lavasoftware.com

TXTCrypt
As the name suggests, TXTcrypt works for text and not for files. Simply type in any text (mails/notes), protect it with a password and share it with anyone. The receiver needs the password and TXTcrypt to decrypt and read it.
Get it from www.txtcrypt.com

EXCLUSIVELY FOR WINDOWS PCs
AxCrypt
An open-source encryption solution, AxCrypt integrates with Windows Explorer to give you encryption options with a simple right click. The developers also offer portable versions (to use on flash drives).
Get it from www.axantum.com/axcrypt

Crypt4Free
Crypt4Free is a small package that allows easy encryption and schredding (secure deletion) of files on your Windows system. It also compresses encrypted files to reduce size while sending.
Get it from www.aeppro.com

MyPadlock
MyPadlock locks down all your passwords using 128-bit AES encryption — all you need to remember is one master password in order to access all the passwords you have stored inside. Data is stored locally.
Get it from www.mypadlock.com

Zero Footprint Crypt
Equally suited to both beginners and experts, Zero Footprint Crypt works just like a file explorer (with the same tree-style/hierarchy structure). After encryption, you can also use it to securely wipe the original file from the drive.

Get it from www.goo.gl/k4oE4 Available across multiple platforms KeePass
Perhaps the most popular cross-platform password safe, KeePass is easy to use, totally free (open source) and uses the most secure encryption algorithms around.
www.keepass.info

Lastpass
LastPass not only stores all passwords and login data, it also stays synced across browsers, giving you access to your passwords wherever you are.
www.lastpass.com Password Dragon Written using Java, Password Dragon is a password manager that works on Linux and can even be stored on and launched from a USB flash drive.
www.passworddragon.com

TrueCrypt
TrueCrypt creates a virtual encrypted disk on the machine — you can add, copy, paste files into the drive and it encrypts onthe-fly. It can also be used to encrypt external drives.
www.truecrypt.org

Apps for Android
File Locker
File Locker comes with its own file browser. You can batch select and encrypt/decrypt files irrespective of size. It also allows you to open documents from within the app and notifies you if a file is left unlocked by mistake. The interface can be configured to either display all files, only locked files or only unlocked files.

Pocket
Pocket allows you to save login information for websites, bank accounts and so on under various categories. The application requires a master password to view the data stored inside and allows you to copy text while keeping it masked. This way no one can read your login credentials even if the app is left running.

Apps for iOS
Enlume
With Enlume Password Manager, you can store your passwords and other information in a categorised way. If you categorise the information you store, it also becomes easy to search. The data is then protected by a master password—if the password is incorrectly entered too many times, it locks down the app for 24 hours.

TheVault
The Vault is a password manager for iOS devices that keeps your login credentials secure. Apart from passwords, it can also store screenshots and photos as well. All the information is stored on the device itself and it also allows importing of data from other password storing applications as well.

Apps for BlackBerry
iLocker Lite
iLocker offers enhanced security by allowing you to lock any application with a password. It can be set to lock an application after the phone is locked, immediately and even at a scheduled time. This way, not only are all your applications protected, even the content inside the application is kept safe from prying eyes.

Password Manager
Password Manager Secret Server stores important passwords in an intuitive user interface that makes it easy to organise and access. You can create a favorite list of passwords or securely share a password with any one you want. A nice touch is that it shows you which password was recently accessed or modified within the app.

- JMDComputerIndia.com

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7 hot dual-SIM phones in India

If it wasn't for India, there hardly would have been a market for dual-SIM mobile phones.

Today, the landscape is dominated less by local upstarts, and more by companies like Nokia, Samsung and Motorola who figure in your list of options.

If you're like most prepaid users in India, a dual-SIM phone makes sense as you get the best call rates across states when travelling. Here are seven affordable dual-SIM phones that we would recommend.

Motorola EX115

Motorola EX115 is another dual-SIM QWERTY phone, albeit a few months older. The smartphone has a 3 megapixel camera, video camcorder, large colour display and an expandable memory of up to 32GB with micro-SD card. Motorola EX115 is specially tailored for social messaging. The handset comes pre-loaded with Gmail, Facebook, Myspace and YouTube mobile apps. It offers talk time of up to 200 mins and standby time of up to 250 hours. The Motorola EX115 has a colourful 5.8 cm (2.3 inch) QVGA display and dimensions of 61 mm in width, 109 mm in length, and 12.35 mm in height.

Price (best buy): Rs 4,990

Spice Mi-270This is an Android 2.2 FroYo based, dual-SIM smartphone from Spice Mobile. It features a 7cm touchscreen, 2 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, GPRS/EDGE and GPS connectivity. It's also the cheapest Android phone,

Price: Rs 5,700

The Samsung Corby II S3850

This is obviously the successor to the original Samsung Corby. This one includes a capacitive touchscreen along with a 2 megapixel camera, FM Radio and social networking integration. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi and GPRS/EDGE connectivity.

Price: Rs 5,600

Motorola EX128

Motorola EX128 is another dual-SIM touchscreen phone. The smartphone has a 3 megapixel camera, videocamcorder, large colour display and an expandable memory of up to 8GB with micro-SD card. Motorola EX128 comes pre-loaded with stereo FM, games, java apps, media player etc. It offers talk time of up to 200 mins and standby time of up to 250 hours. The Motorola EX128 has a colourful 3.2 inch WQVGA display and dimensions of 57mm in width, 107mm in length, and 12.8mm in height.

Price (best buy): Rs 5,990

Videocon V1855This is a dual-SIM phone with an 8 megapixel camera which is supported by flash, face detection and smile detection. It has no WiFi connectivity, but includes GPRS/EDGE capabilities. It comes pre-loaded with social networking and messaging clients.

Price: Rs 6,000

Samsung Ch@t 332This device has a full QWERTY four-row keypad and sports a 2.2-inch display. It also includes a 1.3 megapixel camera with video recording capabilities. This dual-SIM phone supports up to 8GB microSD card.

Price: Rs 3949

The Nokia X1-01

This is a phone especially built for music lovers and has a speaker vent at the back. It runs on Series 30 mobile OS and includes a 1.8-inch 16k color screen, dedicated music keys and supports up to 16GB microSD cards.

Price: Rs 2,200 

 

- JMDComputerIndia.com

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Acer launches Android-based Liquid Metal

Acer has expanded its Smartphone portfolio in the country with the addition of Acer Liquid Metal. Acer Liquid Metal is based on Android 2.2 (Froyo) operating system and runs on 800MHz Qualcomm Snapdragon Core processor.

Measuring 115 X 63 X 13.5mm inches, the Smartphone has a curved 3.6" display with a TFT capacitive touch screen. The Smartphone has a stainless steel battery cover, which is solid and resistant.

The Liquid Metal supports HSDPA for on-the-go Internet access at speeds up to 14.4Mbps as well as Wi-Fi allowing data transfer 10 times faster than previous devices. The LED signal on the upper part of the telephone notifies the user of missed calls, the need to charge the battery, and new incoming messages clearly.

Acer Liquid Metal's 1500 mAh battery coupled with intelligent power management means you have up to 8 hours talk time and 550 hours in standby mode. Acer Liquid Metal comes with 3 popular keyboard layouts including Clever XT9 predictive text support to save users typing unnecessarily.

Liquid Metal is built in with a pinch to zoom feature, 5-megapixel camera with digital zoom, LED flash with a maximum resolution of 480 x 800 pixels. The camera offers 720p HD video recording as well as autofocus and smile recognition.

Key specs:

* Powered 800MHz Qualcomm Snapdragon Core Processor

* Android 2.2 Froyo OS (5X faster than the earlier versions)

* Display : 9.1 cm (3.6-inch) TFT capacitive touch screen, 16M colors, 480 x 800 pixels resolution

* Fastest Connectivity Suite : HSPA 14.4 MBPS , 3G (3G + WiFI), GPS, Mini USB

* Record video in HD at 720p (30fps)

* Dolby Surround technology , EQ profiles and Dynamic Bass Boost Push Mail

* 3 Predictive Dialers (3 KB with XT 9)

* Superior Battery Life up to 8 hrs of talk time (1500 MAH Battery)

* Top LED Indicator

* Accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate

* Wireless LAN Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, UPnP

* Bluetooth v3.0 with A2DP

* Camera: 5 mega-pixel,auto-focus, LED flash ,Geo-tagging, face and smile detection, image stabilization

* Unique Acer Interface

* Pinch to Zoom option

* 8GB Micro SD Card (up to 32GB)

Available in silver, brown and tiffany Blue colors, Acer Liquid Metal is priced at Rs. 20500.

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