Sony unveils waterproof, ultra-thin Xperia Tablet Z

                                                  

NEW DELHI: Sony, which recently unveiled its Xperia Z smartphone with a 5-inch screen, has taken another shot at the tablet market with a new ultra-thin device named Xperia Tablet Z. This tablet runs on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) out-of-the-box and has waistline of just 6.9mm, thinner than rivals like Apple iPad and Google Nexus 10. Another key feature is its shockproof, dust resistant and waterproof body, which makes it largely impervious to damage. 

The all-new Xperia Tablet Z by Sony features a 10.1-inch TFT touchscreen with Mobile Bravia Engine 2 display technology and image resolution of 1920x1200p. It is powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, coupled with 2GB RAM, and 32GB onboard storage, with microSD support of up to 32GB. The tablet has an 8.1MP camera with Exmor R imaging technology and LED flash on the back, a feature no other rival can match as of now. 

Connectivity suite of Xperia Tablet Z includes top notch features like 4G LTE as well as NFC, along with standard options like 2G, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and microUSB. Powered by a 6,000mAh battery, the device will be available in black and white colours. Sony has also included its proprietary S-Force virtual surround sound technology in the tablet for enhanced audio quality. 

Sony has announced this tablet for Japan only as of now, though technology websites are abuzz that a global edition of this product will be unveiled at the Mobile World Congress in February 2013. This will be the third tablet by Sony, after Xperia Tablet S and Xperia Tablet P, which failed to make their mark in the market.

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Samsung to launch 5.8-inch Galaxy Fonblet smartphone, Galaxy X Cover 2 at MWC 2013

Apart from unveiling it's latest flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S IV as well as the new Galaxy Note, the company is also planning to launch a new smartphone sporting a huge 5.8-inch display.

Samsung oriented blog, SamMobile states that the Korean electronics giant will soon announce a smartphone dubbed as the Galaxy Fonblet 5.8 (GT-I9152). It may come with Android Jelly Bean straight out of the box and feature dual-SIM capabilities as well. The device is expected to launch in Pure White.

This smartphone is expected to be a superior version of the Galaxy Player 5.8 that is currently available only in Korea. It comes with a 5.8-inch TFT screen with QHD resolution display, 3-megapixel camera, Bluetooth 4.0 and runs on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich).

In some more news, the blog also confirms the existence of the next iteration of the Galaxy X Cover (launched in 2011) in the form of the X Cover 2 GT-S7710. The device is likely to come in two colour versions (Titan Gray and Black/Red). Pricing and availability details are currently unknown, but we expect Samsung to announce these smartphones soon.

Measuring 130.5 × 67.7 × 11.9 mm and weighing 148 grams, the Galaxy X Cover 2 will run Android Jelly Bean (version 4.1 or 4.2) and like its predecessor, is going to be dustproof and waterproof. Other features include a 4-inch WVGA display, 5-megapixel rear camera, VGA front-facing camera, 4GB of internal memory, microSD card support, HSPA+, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, GPS, Bluetooth 4.0 and a 1,700 mAh battery.

Samsung Galaxy X Cover 2 key specifications

• 4-inch TFT 480×800 WVGA
• 4GB internal storage with microSD support up to 32GB
• 5-megapixel rear camera
• VGA front facing camera
• Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, USB 2.0, A-GPS
• EDGE (850/900/1800/1900) HSPA+21.1Mbps, HSUPA 5.76Mbps (850/900/1900/2100)
• 1,700 mAh
• Android Jelly Bean
• 130.5×67.7×11.9mm
• 148 grams

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Facebook Adds Voice Calling to iOS Messenger App

Facebook is rolling out a free calling option to iPhone Facebook Messenger users.

The new function, which is rolling out to the Facebook Messenger iOS app, requires Messenger users to open a conversation with another iPhone owner, tap the "i" button in the top right corner, and press "Free Call." The recipient will then receive a pop-up notification that says, for example, "Stephanie Mlot is calling."

To those users without full functionality yet, the app reminds you that free calling is unavailable, and "You don't have permission to chat with this person" (see below).

The new option offers a real boost to people with spotty cell service at work or at home, and those hoping to conserve minutes.

Facebook hinted that the feature was in the works earlier this month, when it rolled out updates to its iOS and Android Messenger apps to include voicemail. At that point, Canadian iOS users were also given access to the voice-calling feature.

As The Verge pointed out, the move means Facebook could have "one of the largest communities of VoIP users in the world." Competitors like Skype and Vonage have much smaller user bases compared to the most popular social network.

Facebook and Skype have been in cahoots for two and a half years, since the social network in 2011 integrated a Skype video-calling feature directly into Facebook.com. But the tool was not made available on mobile, perhaps to allow Facebook to strike out on its own.

The Facebook Messenger app is currently available for free in the Apple App Store.

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Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, Galaxy Tab 2 get Android Jelly Bean upgrade

New Delhi: Here is good news for those who own Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 and Galaxy Tab 2 tablets. Samsung has announced a software update for its tablets. The company has started the process of updating their tabs to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

The update will not only improve the experience, but will also boost performance at the same time.
The new version of Android will users access to Google Now, Google's personal assistant feature, and improved performance with Project Butter.

According to BGR, "the Note's update includes dramatic improvements to the multitasking and S Pen features, while the Tab 2 will bring the company's Premium Suite of features and productivity apps to the device."

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Ubuntu is coming to samrtphones, but will anyone use it?

Ubuntu has long been a favorite Linux desktop operating system for open-source fanatics and those who like to tinker with their technology. Now it's stepping out into a new frontier: Mobile.

Ubuntu developer Canonical unveiled a new interface on Monday re-imagined for touch devices, with a design that borrows cues from Android and Windows 8. The hard sell here isn't simply that Ubuntu now works on mobile devices. Canonical hopes that future devices will not only run the new mobile OS, but will also boot the desktop variant of Ubuntu when docked to a keyboard, mouse and monitor.That would let you literally use your phone to power your PC.   

This concept isn't entirely new, as Canonical revealed similar plans last year to attach its desktop software to devices running Android. Before that, Motorola tried to turn Android phones into laptops with its Atrix line of phones and docks. And let's not forget the hybrid operating system experiment that is Windows 8. 

But no one not even Microsoft has attempted to serve up its own phone OS and desktop OS in a single package. Despite its desktop-like features, Android considers itself a phone and tablet system, while Microsoft still has Windows Phone 8 operating autonomously from the tablet and desktop-centric Windows 8.

Is Ubuntu's new creation good enough to make even the tiniest inroads against the likes of Android, Apple's iOS and Windows Phone?

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