Track, remote wipe your lost Android device for free with new Google utility

Google has finally rolled out its Android Device Manager app on Play Store. The app can be downloaded for free and can be used on Android devices running Android 2.3 Gingerbread or higher.

The availability of the Android Device Manager app was announced by Google via its Android Google+ page, saying, "Now you can find your lost Android phone or tablet with the new Android Device Manager app, available starting today on Google Play."

The new Android Device Manager app works like the web version and lets users ring linked phones at maximum volume, so that users can find their missing phones even if they've been silenced. Users will also be able to locate their smartphones on a map, in realtime. Google further added, "It's one app we hope you never have to use, but at least now you have the peace of mind if you find yourself in a bind."

In addition, it also allows users to protect the details stored inside an Android phone or tablet by remotely adding a screen lock or performing a factory reset to erase content. Google announced the Android Device Manager Web version in August this year.

Notably, Apple, Microsoft and BlackBerry have been offering online utilities, namely Find My iPhone, BlackBerry Protect, and Find My Phone, respectively, that let owners of phones track the location of their handsets, lock them, trigger an alarm and wipe data remotely, for a long time. Sony had also started rolling out its remote security service "my Xperia," in July.

While third-party services offered by companies like McAfee, Norton, Quickheal and Kaspersky, among others also offer mobile security services, they charge users a one time or recurring fee.

Google unveils Chrome apps that work independently outside the browser

Coinciding with the fifth anniversary of Chrome, Google's popular web-browser, the company has launched a new generation of Chrome apps.

While Google already offers web apps with extended functionality through the Chrome Web Store, the new kind of apps offer an experience closer to native apps. Making the announcement through a blog post on the Google Chrome blog, the company said, "Today we're unveiling a new kind of Chrome App, which brings together the speed, security and flexibility of the modern web with the powerful functionality previously only available with software installed on your devices. (Think apps designed for your desktop or laptop, just like the ones for your phone and tablet.) These apps are more powerful than before, and can help you get work done, play games in full-screen and create cool content all from the web."

According to Google, the apps have the capability to work offline, can work independently without the need to open the Chrome browser offering a distraction-free experience and can connect to the cloud, enabling users to access and save documents, photos and videos on their hard drive as well as on cloud storage solutions like Google Drive. The apps will also offer desktop notifications for reminders, updates and other actions. They will also be able to access and interact with the computer's USB port, Bluetooth and other devices connected to the computer, including digital cameras.

Google has also launched the Chrome App Launcher for Windows that will appear when users install their first Chrome app. It will appear as a launcher in the Windows task bar and will feature shortcuts for the installed apps that will launch in their own independent windows. It will also feature a search box to search through multiple apps.

Interestingly, the apps will update automatically except for changes in app permissions and will be synced across different devices the user signs into. They also take advantage of Chrome's Sandboxing security feature that guards against malware.

The new apps are only available for Windows and Chromebook computers at the moment through the Chrome Web Store's "For your desktop" section. Google has said that the apps will soon come to Mac and Linux platforms, as well.

Some of the initial apps include Pixlr Touch Up image editor, Wunderlist to-do app, popular read it later client - Pocket, Plex media manager and games like Cracking Sands Racing, among others.

One thing to note is that the apps will still need Chrome to be installed on the user's machine.

Sony Walkman F886 portable music player with Android 4.1 launched

Sony's flagship smartphone, the Xperia Z1 may have been the star of its IFA event but the company also subtly launched a Walkman F886 portable music player.

The Sony Walkman F886 portable music player features a 4-inch TRILUMINOS LCD display and supports 192KHz/ 24bit high-resolution audio formats which the company claims can deliver around six times more audio quality than music recorded on a standard CD. It comes with S-Master HX digital amplifier that can reduce distortion and noise at all frequency ranges.

It also includes Sony's Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE) technology for restoring high-range sound that is lost in the compression process and upscale compressed audio data to a quality higher than that of CDs, claims the company.

The Sony Walkman F886 portable music player runs the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS with access to Google Play Store apps and the device is compatible with Windows and Mac operating systems. Connectivity options on the portable music player include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC.

The newly launched Walkman F886 includes 32GB of internal storage which is non-expandable. The company claims that the device can deliver up to 35 hours of MP3 playback or 26 hours of high-resolution audio.

The company has not revealed any pricing details for the Sony Walkman F886 portable music player but has announced that the device can be expected to hit markets in October.

Sony launched its flagship smartphone, Xperia Z1 and the attachable smartphone lens cameras, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX100 and DSC-QX10 at its IFA event on Wednesday.

Sony Walkman F886 portable music player key specifications

• 4-inch TRILUMINOS LCD display
• Supports 192KHz/ 24bit high-resolution audio formats
• Android 4.1 Jelly Bean with access to Google Play Store
• S-Master HX digital amplifier
• ClearAudio+
• Comes with DSEE (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine)
• Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE) technology
• 32GB of internal storage
• Can deliver up to 35 hours of MP3 playback or 26 hours of high-resolution audio
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC
• Compatible with Windows OS and Mac OS
• Digital Noise cancelling

HDMI 2.0 officially unveiled, brings 4K video support

Move over HDMI, the next-generation HDMI 2.0 is here.

The HDMI Forum has announced the release of Version 2.0 of the HDMI Specification. The latest HDMI Specification, offers a significant increase in bandwidth offering a capacity of up to 18Gbps with the ability to transmit 4K or Ultra HD video of 3840x2160 pixels resolution(2160p) at up to 60 frames per second, 4 times of 1080p/ 60 fps video resolution.

The new standard supports 32 audio channels, as well as dynamic auto lip-sync and extensions to CEC (Consumer Electronics Control). It supports up to 1536kHz audio sample frequency, simultaneous delivery of dual video streams to multiple users on the same screen, simultaneous delivery of multi-stream audio to multiple users, and support for the wide angle theatrical 21:9 video aspect ratio.

Version 2.0 of the HDMI Specification does not define any new cables or new connectors. This means that current HDMI cables (category 2) are capable of carrying the increased bandwidth over HDMI 2.0 and you won't need any new cables when you buy a 4K TV or media player that supports the standard. This also means that once consensus builds on a universal 4K media standard, and an optical medium is formalised, devices can be built for playing 4K content discs as the connectivity standard is already there.

HDMI Licensing, LLC will detail the new features of the HDMI 2.0 Specification at IFA 2013 in Berlin on September 6.

Version 2.0 of the HDMI Specification, is backward compatible with earlier versions of the Specification.

It was developed by the HDMI Forum's Technical Working Group whose 88 members represent some of the leading manufacturers of consumer electronics, personal computers, mobile devices, cables and components.

The HDMI 2.0 Compliance Test Specification (CTS) is expected to be released before the end of 2013.

Lenovo's new ThinkPads have smaller bodies, bigger trackpads, and limitless battery life

Lenovo has launched five new notebooks under its ThinkPad series of business notebooks. The five notebooks include two new ThinkPads under the T series, the refreshed T440s and the T440, two Ultrabooks under the S series, the S440 and the S540 and an X series ThinkPad, the X240. All notebooks are powered by Intel's fourth-generation Haswell processors and run Microsoft Windows 8.

The ThinkPad T440s and T440 share many of the same features, offering up to 1TB of storage or the option of high speed solid state drives (SSD) and the latest generation Wi-Fi (802.11 ac) and optional 4G WWAN technology. The notebooks are 21mm thin. A full-HD touch enabled display is available with the ThinkPad T440s while the T440 includes an HD+ 14-inch screen with optional touch. The ThinkPad T440 can also include an optional integrated smart card reader.

The ThinkPad S440 and S540 notebooks offer a premium look and feel with bevelled edges and an ultra-thin bezel to accommodate a larger screen in a smaller form factor. These two notebooks feature up to full-HD anti-glare touch displays and discrete graphics.

The ThinkPad X240 is an Ultrabook. Weighing less than three pounds and only 20.3mm thin, the X240 features up to fourth-generation Intel Core i7 processors, up to 1TB of storage, a 12.5-inch full-HD display option with touch, ThinkPad Precision backlit keyboard and the ability to go "dongle free" with a complete set of ports for full connectivity.

"Constant improvements and a strong ambition to always build a better laptop has resulted in thinner, lighter and longer lasting ThinkPad laptops with a simpler and cleaner design and up to an incredible 17 hours of battery life," said Dilip Bhatia, vice president, Marketing, Think Business Group, Lenovo. "After extensive research with hundreds of computer users around the world, Lenovo has reset the standard for business class Ultrabooks. The result of thousands of hours spent with consumers and business users have contributed to innovations and enhancements optimised for business and personal use. The new ThinkPad design meets the changing needs of IT managers and end-users."

ThinkPad T440s will be available starting end of October priced $1149 onwards, while the ThinkPad T440 will be available starting end of October priced $899 onwards. The ThinkPad X240 will start retailing from end of October priced $1099 onwards.

The ThinkPad S440 will be available in September priced EUR 699 onwards, initially in select markets, while the ThinkPad S540 will be available starting October priced EUR 649 onwards.

Full specifications and details related to the notebooks' India price and availability are not available at this point in time.

iPhone 5S makes a video appearance in full Champagne Gold glory

iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C, the rumoured next-generation iPhone and cheaper iPhone respectively, are expected to be unveiled on September 10. As the date approaches closer, we're seeing a new leak almost every day.

While the next generation iPhone, the iPhone 5S has made several appearances, a new hands-on video offers a good look at the Gold/ Champagne colour variant of the phone, which has been recently making headlines. The video, posted by AppAdvice also features the Blue coloured variant of the much talked-about low-cost iPhone or iPhone 5C.

The video features the back panel of the iPhone 5S in Gold colour, revealing a much subtle Champagne colour. It compares the iPhone 5S shell to the Black/ Slate and White/ Silver coloured iPhone 5 in the videos. The iPhone 5S is almost identical to the iPhone 5 with the only physical difference being the pill shaped dual-LED camera flash. The Gold colour iPhone features White strips at the top and bottom, similar to the Silver iPhone. The phone sports Gold colour at the side edges and at the bottom, as well, in line with previous leaks. The iPhone branding on the iPhone 5S also features thinner fonts compared to the branding on the iPhone 5.

 

The Blue back panel of the iPhone 5C looks similar to the phones that have appeared in previous leaks. It's almost the same size as that of the iPhone 5 except that it's a little thicker due to its polycarbonate build. It features a Black coloured Apple logo at the back.

Just a day back, alleged pictures of a new Graphite or Grey coloured variant of the iPhone 5S and some of its components had also appeared online, courtesy Sonny Dickson.

The iPhone 5S is expected to come with a brand new Apple chip, the A7, alongside 1GB of LPDDR3 RAM, retaining the form factor of the iPhone 5. A 128GB storage variant of the phone has also been rumoured. The iPhone 5S is likely to come with a larger f2.0 aperture compared to the iPhone 5, that comes with f2.4 aperture. It's also likely to sport a fingerprint reader.

The low-cost iPhone or iPhone 5C has leaked several times. Alleged pictures of the iPhone 5C have revealed a plastic polycarbonate body back panel in White, Blue, Red, Yellow and Green colours, a round camera lens and LED flash, Apple logo and iPhone branding. However, we've not heard much about the specifications of the phone till now.

Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 5S along with the iPhone 5C, the cheaper version of the iPhone, on September 10 at an event in San Francisco.

iPhone 5S to be powered by Apple's A7 chip that runs 31 percent faster

iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C, the next-generation iPhone and cheaper iPhone respectively, are expected to be unveiled by Apple at a special event on September 10. As we approach closer to that very day, new leaks and rumours keep sprouting up on the Internet.

After a series of leaks related to the form factor and exterior shells of the next generation iPhone, a new rumour suggests that the A7 processor powering the iPhone 5S is running much faster compared to the iPhone 5's A6 chip.

According to a tweet by Fox News anchor Clayton Morris, the new iPhone's A7 chip is running at about 31 percent faster than the A6. He cites sources as the basis for his claim.

In line with previous launches, Apple's next generation iPhone or iPhone 5S is expected to sport almost the same form factor as that of the iPhone 5, but similar to other 'S' iterations, is likely to boast of a hardware upgrade that should include a faster processor and perhaps, maybe more RAM and better a better graphics chip. So, this doesn't really come as a major surprise.

Morris also tweeted that the iPhone 5S will include a new dedicated chip for motion tracking, speculating that this would be part of a camera upgrade.

Apple focused site 9to5Mac also reports that some internal prototypes of the iPhone 5S were running 64-bit processors. This indicates that Apple's been testing 64-bit processors internally. The site suggests that use of 64-bit processors would help the phone render animations, transparencies, and other iOS 7 graphical effects more smoothly compared to existing iOS devices.

The website also reports that the rumoured fingerprint sensor of the iPhone 5S would need the user to hold down on the Home button for authentication.

It's also been previously reported that the new iPhone will be powered by a new A7 chip. The usually reliable KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had predicted that the iPhone 5S will come with a brand new Apple chip, the A7, alongside 1GB of LPDDR3 RAM. According to the Kou, the latest chip is expected to be based on the ARMv8 architecture, and Apple's new design may provide improved efficiencies of up to 20 percent. Kou also believes that iPhone 5S will come with larger f2.0 aperture compared to the iPhone 5, that comes with f2.4 aperture.

He had also said that Apple was planning to introduce a 128GB storage variant of the next-generation iPhone, in line with company's move to introduce a 128GB fourth-generation iPad earlier this year.The phone is also likely to sport a fingerprint reader. Besides these, the iPhone 5S is also expected to come in a new Gold colour variant.

iPhone-like Yahoo Weather app comes to Android

Yahoo has launched a brand new Weather app for Android smartphones, with visual design and features in line with the iPhone version of the app that was launched earlier this year.

The app provides forecasts on top of slideshows featuring pictures of landmarks in cities chosen by the user. The photos are powered by another Yahoo property, Flickr.

Yahoo Weather for Android is now available as a free 11MB download from the Google Play Store. It requires Android 2.3 Gingerbread or above.

Yahoo Weather app for Android release notes

The highly-acclaimed Yahoo! Weather app is now available on Android, featuring stunning photos that match current weather conditions and an ALL new design with a ton of new features. See the weather like never before. Easily swipe for the most accurate weather forecasts or add a home screen widget for the latest weather information. Wherever you go, the forecast is beautiful.

Favorite features:

• Highly acclaimed design with beautiful photos that match your location, time of day, and current weather condition
• Detailed weather information, including 10-day and 24-hour temperature forecasts
• Interactive radar, satellite, heat, and wind maps
• Severe weather alerts
• Animated sunrise & sunset times and wind & pressure modules
• Humidity sensor, UV index, and chance of precipitation
• New home screen widgets

Tips:

• Swipe vertically for detailed weather information
• Swipe horizontally for favorite locations
• All photos in the app are from users like you. Submit yours at http://www.flickr.com/projectweather.

Skype for iOS update brings HD video calls to iPhone 5 and fourth-generation iPad

Skype has updated its iPad and iPhone apps, bringing the ability to make big definition (HD) calls.

The updated version(version 4.10) of the popular video chat app offers users the ability to make HD (720p) quality video calls from their iPhone 5 and fourth-generation iPad.

In addition to HD calls, the update brings Audio and video call quality and stability improvements, new, easier to use country code selector on the dial pad and other general fixes and improvements to all iOS devices.

The update also offers stability improvements for users of iOS 7 beta. Users of iOS 7 beta have been facing difficulties using the app app and were experiencing random crashes. Skype says that the update is a significant improvement, and that it will offer full iOS 7 support when the OS is officially released.

Skype requires iOS 5.0 or later to run.

HD calling on Skype is already available on some other platforms. In March, Microsoft had updated Skype for Windows Phone 8 to bring support for HD calling. 720p HD video calls can be made on higher-end Windows Phone 8 devices including the Nokia Lumia 920, HTC 8X and Samsung Ativ S.

The Mac version of Skype also supports HD calling. Skype had released a new version of Skype for Windows 8, earlier, improving the high definition (HD) video and sharing experience. It had added support for HD video allowing callers to send 720p video and receive 1080p video, depending on the sender's camera, available network bandwidth and the receiver's setup on PCs.

What's New in Skype Version 4.10 for iPad

Call quality improvements
- Make HD quality video calls from your iPad (4th generation only).
- General improvements to call quality and stability.

General fixes and improvements
- A redesigned country code picker on the dial pad.

What's New in Version 4.10 for iPhone

Call quality improvements
- Make HD quality video calls from your iPhone 5.
- General improvements to call quality and stability.

General fixes and improvements
- A redesigned country code picker on the dial pad.

Audi's iPhone app uses the camera to help owners find the dipstick

If you've ever wondered what that random button on your car does, or where your dipstick is located, wonder no more if you're an Audi A3 owner.

 The German car maker, famous for its Vorsprung durch Technik, has created yet another augmented reality app that's designed to guide an owner around a car. Audi's new A3 app covers over 300 elements of the car from windscreen wipers to the oil cap. Essentially, eKurzinfo is a modern manual within an iOS app that lets you use an iPhone camera to identify parts on an A3. If your engine is overheating and there's a symbol on the dash telling you so, you can scan it and then find instructions to top up the coolant.

Audi's no stranger to augmented reality apps. The company has launched a calendar, a virtual showroom, and an interactive brochure in the past. This latest app expands on a version previously available for the A1, and it appears to be pushing closer to eliminating the complex user manuals of the past. For now, it's a useful addition that will help car owners figure out a whole host of dashboard warnings and buttons, but we're really waiting for an R8 V10 Plus version that will let us explore the intricacies of Audi's latest supercar.

iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C names 'confirmed', next generation iPhone to have fingerprint reader, Gold colour variant

It's been long rumoured that the next iteration of the iPhone will be called the iPhone 5S and will not bring radical external changes.

However, a new report by Japanese website, Mac Otakara, which is one of the few credible sources of Apple related news, confirms that the phone would indeed be called the iPhone 5S, citing an Asian source.

The report also adds that a new Gold colour variant would be introduced for the iPhone 5S this year, and that Apple will get rid of the rectangular icon on the iPhone's home button.

It also confirms that the much leaked low cost iPhone will be called the iPhone 5C. Earlier, leaked images of alleged packaging material of the low cost iPhone had revealed that the phone would be called iPhone 5C.

The report also reaffirms KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo's predictions. He had predicted that the iPhone 5S will be powered by the faster A7 processor, and that the phone's camera will feature a smart flash which will have white or yellow light depending on the ambient light conditions, and a fingerprint reader under the Home button for security. He had also mentioned that the low-cost version of the iPhone 5 will have a hybrid casing of fibreglass and plastic making it lighter and slimmer compared to a plastic casing and for making it available in different colours. He had also said that the camera's resolution would be 8-megapixels but the lens would feature some enhancements.

Meanwhile, KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has reiterarted in a new research note that the next generation iPhone's home button will sport a fingerprint sensor. It says that the home button will be made out of sapphire and would be slightly convex compared to the current one. Kuo says that Apple will use sapphire as it's resistant to scratches and will be able to protect the biometric sensor used for detecting fingerprints.

Mac Otakara had first reported about the possibility of the iPhone 5S being offered in a Gold coloured variant, in June, following another report in May, that featured purported pictures of components part of the next generation iPhone 5S which showcased two different SIM-card trays, silver and bronze/ gold coloured, leaving the slate coloured one.

According to a new report, Apple is expected to release the next generation iPhone in September. The report cites unnamed sources as saying that Apple will unveil its next smart phone at a special event on September 10.

WhatsApp claims 20 million active users in India, 300 million worldwide; launches push-to-talk feature

WhatsApp, the popular mobile instant messaging service now claims to have 20 million million monthly active users in India, part of its worldwide active user base of 300 million. It is also rolling out push-to-talk voice messaging allowing users to send and receive voice messages in real time, with the ability to play them within the app and without any limits for duration.

The mobile focused messaging company told AllThingsD that its user base has crossed the 20 million mark in countries such as India, Germany, Mexico and Spain, and that users send 11 billion messages and receive 20 billion messages per day. WhatsApp CEO Jan Koum also told the publication that 325 million photos are shared every day on WhatsApp.

WhatsApp is now introducing push-to-talk voice messaging in the app on all mobile platforms including iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone and Nokia (Series 40 and Symbian). While WhatsApp used to let users send audio messages of limited duration (2 minutes on the iPhone app) as an attachment, it involved a number of steps including recording the message and sending it, and messages played through the default audio player. However, with push-to-talk, everything happens with a single tap. Users just need to hold a microphone button, located next to the compose box, to record their message and release it to send the message. In case the user decides not to send it, simply swipe to the left and delete it.

Unlike the audio notes feature, there's no duration limit for the voice message, and the message is automatically played through the earpiece if a user holds the phone close to his/ her ear, to emulate the experience of a walkie talkie. Just like the two checkmarks that denote a delivered message, a blue microphone indicates if a message has been played.

The feature will be gradually rolled out to all users within 24 hours, as per WhatsApp.

WhatsApp's competitors like Voxer and WeChat also offer similar voice chat features.

Microsoft's Fresh Paint drawing app comes to Windows Phone 8

Microsoft's popular Windows 8 / RT app Fresh Paint is now available for Windows Phone 8. The app lets you use your touch screen to create original artworks, as well as edit photos to make them look more like paintings. You can either open up a photo in the app or use the Fresh Paint filters directly in the Camera app using Windows Phone 8's Lenses feature.

As you'd expect, you'll be able to share your artworks and photos via text

message, email, or back them up and share with Microsoft's SkyDrive. It's available as a free download for any Windows Phone 8 device with 1GB of RAM — so the freshly-announced Nokia Lumia 625 isn't compatible.

Apple testing 13-inch iPad and larger iPhone

Apple is testing iPhones and iPads with larger screen sizes, as per report from The Wall Street Journal. The company is said to be considering an iPad with a screen size of just under 13 inches, along with an iPhone with a screen measuring over four inches diagonally.

Korean news site ET News reported in May that Apple was testing a 12.9-inch iPad, and Reuters reported last month that the company is looking into producing iPhones with screen sizes of 4.7 inches and 5.7 inches.

It's not clear whether any of the models will make it into mass production; Apple, like many other companies, tests a large number of prototypes before deciding to launch a product. Documents produced during its showdown trial with Samsung last year gave insight into the process, with dozens of rejected iPhone and iPad designs presented as evidence.

The WSJ's sources say that this year will see the release of a new iPad with the same 9.7-inch 2048 x 1536 Retina display, but employing in-cell touch technology to make the structure thinner and lighter. The same technique was used on the iPhone 5. The upcoming iPhone "5S," meanwhile, is said to be set for a release this year alongside a lower-cost plastic model, and both will reportedly come in a variety of colors.

Apple 'iPhone Lite' pictured in two versions

By SheebaSudeep

Another day, another rumor about Apple's plans to launch a "lite" version of its iPhone.

A report out of China and discovered by Phone Arena on Friday claims Apple could be planning to launch two versions of an "iPhone Lite." That report, which included images claiming to show Apple's plans, indicates that one of the handsets is codenamed "iPhone Zenvo," while the other comes with the name, "iPhone Zagato/Bertone."

The devices are currently known as their codenames, Zenvo and Zagato/Bertone.

Both devices, according to the leaked documents, will come with 4-inch displays and come in different colors. However, the Zenvo model will come with a dual-core processor from Samsung and 1GB of RAM.

 The Zagato/Bertone version will have an unidentified "H6P" processor and support for TDD-LTE.

In terms of design, the device looks about the same as the current iPhone 5, but judging by the specs, will be the cheaper model that has been bandied about for the last several months. There has been some disagreement over the device's name, however, as many reports suggest it'll be called the iPhone Mini.

But before we get ahead of ourselves, it's important to note that there's no way to confirm the accuracy of the leaked documents, since Apple is notoriously secretive about its plans. The company has also been known to use some decoys to throw folks off the scent. In other words, as with all Apple rumors, take this one with a grain of salt until the iPhone maker actually shows off a new device.

Microsoft launches OWA iPhone and iPad apps

By TechnocafePro

Microsoft has launched dedicated native apps for Outlook Web App for iOS, available for iPhone as well as iPad.

 

Through the app, enterprise users will be able to get email, calendar and contact functionality that they get in Outlook Web App on their web browsers, provided they subscribe to Office 365 that includes Exchange Online support.

Microsoft says that the apps will also offer additional capabilities that are only possible through native integration of the app with mobile devices.

The app can be downloaded from the App Store and after signing in with their Office 365/ Exchange credentials, users can switch between Mail, Calendar, People and Options by tapping on the icon in the bottom left corner of the app. The button brings up a navigation screen that features Windows Phone/ Windows 8 like tiles for Mail, People, Calendar and Settings. In fact the Calendar tile is a live-tile that features details related to upcoming meetings.

The same button when pressed for a longer time brings voice input, which can be used for giving commands for performing actions like opening the calendar and writing a new email.

The app icon also offers a badge for unseen mails in addition to push notifications that the app offers for new mail.

The mail inbox in Outlook Web App for iPad offers a two-column view, taking advantage of the iPad's bigger screen real estate, displaying the list view and reading pane with the folder pane collapsed.

The inbox in the iPhone app offers a one-column list view and features controls to switch to the folder pane and reading pane.  The app offers a touch optimised user interface with support for gestures like tapping and swiping.

In addition to these, users can read and create Information Rights Management (IRM) protected email in the app.  The app also displays out-of-office messages and other MailTips in the header of the compose section, in addition to apps like Bing Maps for Outlook.

The app also offers offline use functionality allowing users to read, delete and flag messages, and compose new messages or reply to messages in their inbox. They can also view and edit calendar and contacts offline.

The Calendar in the iPad app offers day, week, work week and month + agenda views and allows users to swipe from day-to-day, week-to-week or month-to-month. The calendar app for iPhone offers day, month and agenda views.  The app also offers full delegate access to the calendar, and access to multiple and shared calendars.

The app also offers contact integration of Outlook contacts with the iPhone's caller ID. The ability to sync these contacts to the device can even be controlled by the company's IT department.

Outlook Web App for iOS also offers remote wipe capability enabling IT departments to delete email and calendar data in the app from the device in the event that the device gets lost or the user leaves the organisation. 

Apple tunes up Logic Pro X

By Technocafepro

The more advanced version of music mixer Logic Pro has a fresh interface, a wider array of instruments,and a collection of new effects.

Apple has launched a new version of its Logic Pro music-mixing software with an entire orchestra of features.

Available as of Tuesday, Logic Pro X sports a redesigned interface  and more instruments and effects geared toward professional musicians. The new Drummer feature adds a virtual drummer that can play along with your song using a variety of drumming styles. A Flex Pitch function offers pitch editing for your songs, and the Logic Remote feature allows you to control Logic Pro X from your iPad.

Apple also has beefed up its MainStage live performance app, which can bring studio-produced sounds to a live concert via your Mac. MainStage 3 also sports a new interface and works with the plug-ins and controls in Logic Pro X.

"Logic Pro X is our most powerful version yet, with advanced tools and a modern, new interface designed to streamline the process of creating professional quality music," Apple Marketing Chief Philip Schiller said in a statement.

Musicians can buy and download Logic Pro X and MainStage 3 from the Mac App Store for $199.99 and $29.99, respectively. Logic Remote is a free download from the App Store for iOS devices.

Google Maps app for Android smartphones and tablets

By SheebaSudeep

Popular IOs games and apps to go free ahead of app's store anniversary

By SheebaSudeep

A number of  popular apps and games have gone free including popular games like Infinity Blade II and Tiny Wings. Apple has declared that it  is officially celebrating the fifth anniversary of the App Store and as a part of this bang celebration ,5 popular apps and 5 popular games will  go free.Not only this , Apple has also released a timeline which  documents the App Store journey so far.

Here's a list of apps and games gone free until now. Though it has not been revealed for how long users can enjoy these benefits for free,it is better to  grab them when you can. It's expected  that still more  popular apps will go free to celebrate the occasion and we'll try to  update this list on a continuos basis, so keep coming back.

• Infinity Blade II, the successor to the original Infinity Blade game which has been developed by Chair Entertainment and Epic Games, is now available for free for the first time after its initial release. It normally costs $6.99.

• Disney's popular physics based game, Where's My Water?, which usually costs $0.99 are now declared as  gone free.

• Tiny Wings that costs $0.99 for the iPhone version,and its iPad counterpart, Tiny Wings HD which is usually priced at $2.99, are also part of the celebration and hence has  gone free.

• Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP, the adventure game developed by Superbrothers and Capybara Games, is available free of charge. This  game  otherwise costs $4.99.

• Badland, which is an atmospheric action adventure platform game, developed by Frogmind,  is free now. The game usually costs $3.99.

• Popular journaling app, Day One, developed by Bloom Built, that usually costs $4.99 is also available at no cost.

• Barefoot World Atlas, an app that offers an interactive 3D globe for children, built by Touch Press is also available to download for free. The app costs $4.99, otherwise.

• Over, a photo overlay app by Potluck which usually goes for $1.99 is also available free.

• Traktor DJ and Traktor DJ for iPhone from Native Instruments have also gone free. The Traktor DJ (iPad) app is chargable normally and costs $19.99, while Traktor DJ for iPhone costs $4.99, on other occasions.

• With How to Cook Everything you can learn how to cook more than 2,000 gourmet recipes. Usually  costing $9.99,but its available for  free temporarily.

6 Old Gadgets That Still are good to Buy

By SheebaSudeep

There has always been devices in the market which are still in demand irrespective of the age . They made their place in the market  for their  excellent operating systems, processors, camera and the ever admirable external design. These devices have outstood their competitors just for that memorable experience. They still dominate the market would pose to be the epic ones of their time.
Here are some of them which are still having  a good bang.

#6.Apple iPad 2

Launch price: 29,500
Current price: 22,500

 

Apple boasts of its iPad mentioning  that there was ‘nothing quite like it’when the ipad was launched. Even though there are two versions, the iPad 2 is the slimmest device of the either  with an 8.8mm thickness and slightly smaller surface area.  IPads are best known  among people for video and gaming, users are quite choosy  to look at its performance and speed which are the main specs to be noted.iPad 2 has a dual core 1GHz processor, which is known to double the speed and spice up graphics by nine times. Another commendable feature is the device’s 9.7 inch IPS LCD screen and also the 10 hour battery life.iPad 2 also upgrades to the latest iOS 6 version and this phenomenal battery life give no disruption in running all new apps.

#5.Samsung Galaxy Tab 2

Launch price: 13,900
Current price: 9499

This Wi-Fi enabled device has one of the favorites picks  of some of the users and still stands to outstand among its other series in this list. Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 comes as a great option for those  who wants an  7 inch tablet other than the iPad. Its classy and pleasing look from the behind along with its overall build quality also gives it an option for users to possess it.

The  device’s notable specs include its 7 inch screen that makes it easy to read data with one hand. The dual core processor clocked at 1GHz is also notable besides the operating system which is Android Jelly Bean 4.1 that gathers a strong point in this device.

#4 Nokia 808 PureView

Launch price:  33,899
Current price: 17,999

When Nokia 808 PureView was announced earlier in 2012, The attraction was the 41 MP camera sensor that made headlines all over the tech industry. It is and still stands out to be the Smartphone for imaging enthusiasts of the present.
And for all the gadget lovers who wants to know some details about its camera, first feature to note among  all is that Nokia has given this Smartphone a high point camera so that it could easily capture better quality lower resolution images. Therefore the 808 lower resolution PureView mode offers good quality, decent speed and quick responsiveness. The camera offers zooming option based on the output resolution mode you are in.

#3 Apple iPhone 4

Launch Price : 34,500
Current price 24,345

We saw a major transition in the design of iPhones with iPhone 4 coming into the limelight, beating iPhone 3GS. The device was launched in 2010 but is still seen in the market with a price tag of 25,000. what makes this phone special in the market is that  it is the cheapest one in the market right now and that Apple is also offering a cash back scheme on this device.

The iPhone4 is quite fast and offers smooth performance with its iOS. It flaunts a fantastic design and can even compete with the newest fragile Nexus. It is also a compact device and can comfortably fit into small hands without any disruption.
For those watching out on this, it is no doubt a good looking device that matches the class of the present Smartphone design without any major drawbacks.

#2 Samsung Galaxy SIII

Launch price:  43, 180
Current price : 27,500

Samsung Galaxy SIII still claims to be a Smartphone with a great design and display. As Samsung has earned a reputation of delivering some of the best Android devices, Galaxy SIII definitely needs a mention here.
What defines the Smartphone is its 4.8 inch display that supports a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels resolution. It is a Super AMOLED display from Samsung and offers deeper black and vibrant colors for a smart display.
The device’s 8 MP rear camera also holds some notable features like, a bunch of filters and modes including a panorama option for great landscape pictures.
On the whole Galaxy SIII is a feature rich device which has made it one of the best Smartphones for the year 2012 adding great reputation the South Korean Mobile maker.

#1. HTC One X

Launch Price:  37,899
Current price: 28,800

This Smartphone is known for its good screen, stunning design, powerful processor and quality camera. Most of all Android 4.04 Ice Cream Sandwich is that which has taken HTC to the next level of Smartphones.
The Smartphone’s unibody design has been a great feature, apart from  the 4.7 inch screen with Super IPS LCD 2 technology. The device’s Tegra 3 processor is clocked at a speed of 1.5GHz, along with 1GB of RAM, which together make the Smartphone respond actively under the command of your fingers.
HTC One’s 8 MP camera allows to create so many varied styles of photos, using the raw power of the quad core processor to good effect.
With all good features bundled in one go, it is obvious that the Smartphone HTC One X is still an expected one even today.