Get extra ipad storage with Kingston Wi-Drive

Access your files over Wi-Fi on the pocket-friendly Wi-Drive that allows streaming multimedia, PDFs and more files.

Kingston has come up with a new device that can be used by the Apple iPad, iPhone and iPod touch owners as an additional portable storage space, and has been dubbed as Wi-Drive.

The new Kingston Wi-Drive is available in 16GB and 32GB storage options and will allow users to access data wirelessly using iPhone (3G and higher), iPod touch (3rd Gen and higher) and iPad.

Indians will have to wait till June end to buy this additional storage for their iOS devices. At present, Wi-Drive is available outside India for $130 (Rs 5850 approximately) and $175 (Rs 7875 approximately).

The push towards mobile games

At a time when most of the handset makers are offering similar features to their users, the companies are looking at mobile gaming to differentiate themselves.

Even the hardcore gamers have started converting towards the mobile games — partly due to sheer need, after all the consoles cannot be carried everywhere, and second, the mobile gaming segment is being taken seriously by even the handset makers.

It's good to be a part of the market which is being pampered by the mobile companies, right?

Sony Ericsson has launched a dedicated gaming phone, called Xperia Play, which has dedicated slide out keys for gaming. Since users are also able to make calls on the same device, gaming turns out to be an added bonus.

Apple working on SIM-free iPhone 4S

Apple is working on an improved version of iPhone 4, which has an identical form factor. The device will be branded iPhone 4S, similar to iPhone 3GS.

Apple may come out with an updated version of the iPhone 4 in June this year, which could have a SIM-less design and 8 megapixel camera.

Japanese Mac focused blog MacOtakara, cited one of its sources as saying that Apple is working on the improved version of iPhone 4, which has the same form factor, and that it will be branded iPhone 4S, just like iPhone 3GS.

ApnaCircle app launched for iPhone

ApnaCircle will also launch its application for Android and Blackberry as well that will widen the platform for professional opportunities of users.

ApnaCircle.com, a business and career networking site, has launched an iPhone application that gives users an easy access to its updates, status, profiles, discussions, connections, inbox, and invitations.

"ApnaCircle application for iPhone is a step taken to give the smart phone consumers an added tool to network for business and career. As mobiles are the closest and fast growing means of communication, our mobile application gives the power of sharing, connecting and networking in the user's hand," said Yogesh Bansal, chief executive officer and founder, ApnaCircle.com. 

Google Wallet is first off the mark — Now What?

At this time, it is just a pilot run in which two cities and some retailers are participating, but if it succeeds, the potential is huge.

Like every other new idea, Google Wallet also has attracted its fair share of detractors who don't think the service will succeed. This is obvious as in case of any new service as most people don't know how it works, and how it may go on to succeed.

Many companies were thinking of using mobiles for making payments, but with Google Wallet, Google turned out to be the first company to make a major move on it. 

How costly is iPhone 4 overseas?

Apple's iPhone 4, which was released by Airtel and Aircel in India 11 months after its international launch, is more expensive here than anywhere else on earth.

There was a time when handset giants used to launch their products in international markets first and then bring the products to India after one or two years, but now things are changing, with companies increasingly launching their handsets in India simultaneously or within a couple of months of the product's international launch.

Users in India would have loved to see the iPhone 4 launched in India at the same time as abroad, but better late than never: Apple iPhone 4 was released here courtesy Airtel and Aircel on May 27, almost a year after it was launched in international markets.

iPhone 4G or Samsung Galaxy S

With two of the most anticipated handsets launching soon, here are a few points you could consider before buying them.

With the Apple iPhone 4 hitting stores in India, followed by Samsung's announcement to launch its coveted Galaxy S2 smartphone in the country, mobile enthusiasts here will soon have a tricky but pleasant choice to make: Whether to buy the most advanced iPhone or to go for a Samsung Galaxy S2 instead.

Galaxy S2 has seen record sales in some countries; while Apple's iPhone has proven its worth in others. We understand that considering the price of these handsets, it will be tough to decide which one to buy, and an informed recommendation will go a long way.

iPhone app for GMAT preparations launched

Official application for GMAT preparation has been launched, it features a Game Center that lets you study while "competing" against other app users.

Now GMAT test takers can prepare for the exam using actual questions from past exams directly from their iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad. The "Official GMAT" app, which costs USD 4.99(Rs 225), was launched today by Graduate Management Admission Council, makers of the GMAT exam. 

The application features a Game Center, which allows you to scoreboard your practice-exam results and instantly compare them with other "Official GMAT" app users. It also has hundreds of official test questions and full answer explanations from the makers of the GMAT exam. 

Location tracking basics

Despite controversy about the location tracking service of Google and Apple, this is a useful and essential feature.

The recent controversy surrounding Apple's location tracking services has shone the spotlight on these services.

Location tracking is a service through which one can find the current position of a mobile phone. The phone needs to contact the closest antenna, which it constantly does even while it is moving, and the strength of the signal is also used to determine where the phone is located.

Hotels.com launches mobile apps

The apps act as an extension of the Hotels.com website, allowing travellers to search and book accommodation from over 135,000 hotels around the world.

Hotels.com, a hotel booking website, has launched two new smart phone applications for iPhone and Android phones. The two new applications, available in over 30 languages, allow travellers to search and book more than 20,000 accommodation deals from over 135,000 hotels around the world. 

The apps act as an extension of the Hotels.com website, allowing travellers to log in as either a guest or they can create a Hotels.com account from inside the app to begin researching accommodation options, browsing two million user reviews, accessing hotel deals and booking and managing their accommodation choices. 

Android finds a way to curb piracy

Android has introduced Market License Server which gets pinged by both genuine and pirated apps so the developers can find out and remotely deactivate the app or charge the users.

To counter the scourge of piracy of applications, Android has come up with a way, called Market License Server, through which the app developers can actually verify whether the app running on a smartphone is a legitimate one or not. 

If used, this facility let the apps, even pirated copies, to ping the servers of developers which will in turn find out whether it is a pirated one or not. 

New BT app for video conference calls

It allows the host to control their video conference equipment, quickly launch a meeting, end a meeting and extend a meeting time using a mobile device.

BT Conferencing, a provider of audio, video and web collaboration services, has launched a video conference application for the Android and iOS based smartphones and tablet. 

The new app, BT Engage Meeting Mobile, is a schedule and automation tool that makes video conference calling easier than ever before. It allows the host to control their video conference equipment, quickly launch a meeting, end a meeting and extend a meeting time using a mobile device. 

Plants Vs Zombies coming to Android

Android users can download the game for free within 24 hours of its launch from Amazon AppStore, which has exclusive rights to distribute the game.

Plants Vs Zombies, a popular mobile game of PopCap, is all set to hit Android and Windows Phone 7 platforms. The game is already a big hit on iPhone, and is available on gaming consoles as well.

Android users can download the application of the game starting May 31 from Amazon Appstore, which has the exclusive right to distribute it. The game will be free for download for the first 24 hours but will cost nearly $3 (about Rs 135) after that.

iPad2 camera not popular, says Flickr

It could be due to the fact that tablets are not convenient while taking pictures, and probably Flickr numbers reflect that.

The iPad 2 camera is the most unused one, Flickr has said. The photo sharing website, which tracks the camera usage by users by detecting the devices used in clicking the photos, said the iPad2 camera is way too low on its list behind iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, and iPhone 4. 

The iPad2 comes with low resolution, and the pictures are especially bad when taken in low light conditions. Just after the launch, the iPad2 cameras quickly became famous for all the wrong reasons. 

Its picture quality was panned by several websites in the past as well.

Now recollecting memories more fun with Retrollecting app

The app helps you create your own mash-up of photos, tweets, and status updates about a holiday or an outing to the bar, and share it with your friends through Facebook and Twitter.

A new application, which will help you create your own mash-up of photos, tweets, and status updates, has been launched. The application is called Retrollect and is available free of cost on both Android and iPhone app stores.

Retrollect lets you assemble the highlights of your experiences and create a visual mash-up of that. All you need to do is to grab your photos, tweets, or the status updates that give a play-by-play of the event, which can be a holiday or outing with friends, and then build your very own Retrollect disc to showcase your experience.

You can send recommendations to your friends by creating a disc about your experience, or simply relive those moments whenever you wish to. You can also share your discs on Facebook or Twitter right from the app.

The bad part, according to some users, is that the app seems to be created for iOS and simply ported to the Android, but then its free and there is harm in trying whether you use on iOS or Andorid platform.

Mango update to bring Facebook Chat to WP7

Besides, it will bring Windows Live Messenger, AOL IM, Office 365 support, group messaging, artist-on lock screen, Wifi hotspot support, and visual voicemail.

The first update of Windows Phone 7 (WP7) will bring a host of features to the operating system including Windows Live Messenger, Facebook Chat, AOL IM, Office 365 support, group messaging, artist-on lock screen, Wifi hotspot support, and visual voicemail.

This has been revealed by a website called Windows Phone Dev Podcastshows.

Microsoft is going to update its Windows Phone 7 in the coming months. After the Mango update, the platform will likely be renamed WP7.5 or WP8.

Now phones help moms in shopping

Greystripe, the research firm, studied more than 230 women who were using iPhone, iPod Touch or Android devices while making shopping decisions. The study also reported the women preferred free apps more.

The new age moms are turning to smartphones for help in shopping. Not that they are shopping from the phones itself, rather they are using the phones to find out where the stores are and also for comparing prices as well, says a research firm Greystripe. 

In a press release, the research firm says that close to half of the moms are using these devices to locate stores and 36 per cent of them are comparing prices using the smartphones. 

"Smartphones have become the super tool for moms on the go," said Dane Holewinski, director of marketing with Greystripe. "The majority of moms with smartphones are using those devices for their day to day tasks especially shopping, making them the ideal target for advertisers."

WebMD app reaches Android

WebMD is a health app which helps users make informed decision about their health through specialized tools such as Symptom Checker, Drugs & Treatments, First Aid Information and Local Health Listings.

WebMD Health Corp has announced the launch of its health application for the consumers who use Android platform handsets. The app is already available for iPad and iPhone. 

The WebMD app has a varied of tools such as Symptom Checker, Drugs and Treatments, First Aid Information and Local Health Listings. The Android app also has a new voice search functionality in which users can enter their query by speaking into the microphone. 

"WebMD for Android is the next significant step for expanding our multi-screen market presence," said Wayne Gattinella, president and chief executive officer, WebMD. "We are proud to be selected by Google to showcase the new WebMD for Android App at their annual developer conference today."

WebMD is already a popular health information website. Unlike other apps, which provide entertainment to the users, the WebMD apps on iPhone, iPad and Android phones specialises in providing comprehensive healthcare information to its users so they can make informed decisions.

Android handsets beat iPhone in Japan

Handsets running Google Inc’s Android software captured 57 per cent of Japan’s smartphone market last fiscal year, cutting the share of Apple Inc’s iPhone, MM Research Institute Ltd. said.

Shipments of Android phones rose to 4.91 million units in the year ended March 31, Tokyo-based MM Research said in a statement. That compares with sales of 250,000 units, or 11 per cent of the market, a year earlier when devices running Google’s software started to be widely available in Japan.

Apple shipped 3.23 million iPhones in Japan in the last fiscal year, accounting for 38 per cent of the nation’s smartphone market, the report said. The company, whose mobile phones are offered exclusively by Softbank Corp in Japan, shipped 1.69 million of the devices for a 72 per cent share a year earlier, according to the report.

Mobile operating systems are influencing desktops

The dividing line between the mobile and desktop operating systems is getting finer, and the two worlds are expected to merge eventually.

The mobile operating systems have been derived from their desktop counterparts. That's the reason the email application on the smartphones look very much like the desktop version. 

But, as the mobile operating systems maturing, they are in turn influencing the appearance of their desktop peers. 

Take the Mac App Store for example, in which the apps run full screen and it supports multi touch gestures (with the help of Magic trackpad) too — these two properties essentially originated in smartphones and now have made their ways to Mac computers.

The other companies also intend these two worlds to merge eventually. 

The WebOS operating system of Hewlett Packard was designed for mobile use, but HP is now trying to bring it for desktops and notebooks. And then there always is our favourite Windows 8 smartphone operating system, which is now proposed for the tablets as well.