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.

HTC Play : exclusive store for games

The recent patent indicates HTC's interest towards making an exclusive store just for games that too not just for different smartphones but for multiple OS's also

Taiwan based handset maker, HTC Corporation may soon come out with an exclusive game store for users. HTC has filed a trademark with the US patent and trademark office on May 24 relating to a service known as the HTC Play. Although no official comment has come from HTC yet but it is expected that HTC Play will be a unique, one of a kind service related to video games or gaming.

HTC in the past has also revealed some information about its services related to a dedicated audio service.

SmartAR: New augmented reality tech from Sony

Although augmented reality has yet to hit big time, there are numerous popular apps such as Wikitude and Augmented Car Finder which use augmented reality to provide real world benefits to users.

Smart AR is the new augmented reality technology from Sony which can be integrated into future mobile devices. Akhibara News reports that the SmartAR technology will be able to follow multiple objects at the same time. In simpler terms, augmented reality is the method of integrating virtual objects into the real world view as seen on the screens of mobile devices.

Must-have accessories for smartphones

These accessories not only help protect your precious gadgets but also help you in times of need. Here we have five must-have gadgets for every smartphone user.

Smartphones are fast taking over the legacy created by feature phones. By the end of 2012 many feature phone users would have migrated to using smartphones owing to falling smartphone prices. Further, because they are becoming cheaper, and because of the improved hardware - multi core processors, dedicated graphics cards etc - that these devices have, smartphones are increasingly being used by lay users for entertainment, internet browsing etc. and aren't restricted for official purposes alone.

Naaptol application now on Android

The app enable users to browse more than two lakh products from more than 500 categories and garner detailed information, reviews, specifications of the products and experts' reviews.

Naaptol, a virtual home shopping brand, has come up with an application for Android-based devices, the users of which can use it for quick and convenient shopping.

The application will enable users to browse more than two lakh products from more than 500 categories and garner detailed information (image review, MRP), reviews, specifications of the products and experts' reviews. This procedure helps the user to do a comparative analysis of the available products and can avail the products at the best price point.

Samsung Galaxy SII touches 1 million mark in one month

Samsung Galaxy S II sales are attributed to good hardware, though even small improvements like being able to access missed calls and SMSs without unlocking the screen add to user experience.

In record breaking sales figures Samsung Galaxy SII reached the magical one million mark within only a month of its launch. Its previous version, the Samsung Galaxy S had reached the same figure in 70 days. 

The Android handset, which runs on a dual core system on a chip (SOC), hit Korean stores in April and received a rousing welcome perhaps for its good hardware.

MTNL launches push email services in Delhi, Mumbai

It can run on any Java enabled, GPRS-enabled handsets including platforms like Blackberry, Symbian, Android, and Windows Mobile.

Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL), which provides GSM telecom services in Delhi and Mumbai, has announced Push- email services for all its mobile subscribers in the two metro cities. The service was launched first in Mumbai on May 27.

With the service, users can automatically get new emails on their mobile phone. Much more preferred than the "pull email" option, "push email" are generally device dependent and are provided by the device manufacturer. MTNL has tied- up with Bharat Berry Technologies to provide the services.

Samsung Galaxy S2 smartphone debuts in India

The Galaxy S2 is based on Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system and has a 4.3 inch Super AMOLED (Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode) Plus display, which is better than the conventional AMOLED displays in terms of contrast ratio and colour reproduction.

Samsung Mobiles India today unveiled its latest creation, the Samsung Galaxy S2 smartphone, which is the upgrade of Samsung Galaxy S announced last year. The phone will be hitting the markets next month and is priced at Rs 32,890 for the 16 GB version.

Although there are both 16GB and 32GB versions available internationally, but for reasons untold, the Galaxy S 2 will only be available in 16GB capacity in India. There is no official word from Samsung on the future availability of the 32 GB version.

Nokia's Oro smartphone to hit market in July

Keeping Symbian alive, Nokia has announced the launch of its latest smartphone encrusted with 17 carat gold and the latest Symbian Anna preloaded.

Finnish handset maker Nokia has launched its latest Symbian based smartphone named Oro, which is a Spanish word meaning Gold. 

Built on Symbians' latest Anna operating system, Nokia Oro had revealed just about a couple of months back. The phone has been named Oro because it is 18 carat gold plated while the center key is made up of a sapphire crystal. The back panel is made up of pure Scottish leather and is available in two, light and dark colour variants. 

Smartphones getting more powerful

Phones are now evolving into multi core devices that can be connected to large monitors and then work like media players or computers.

The most common of these processors are Qualcomm's Snapdragon, Texas Instrument's OMAP 4 and Samsung's Hummingbird. The main advantages that smartphone users can expect from multi-core chips include faster web page loading, better performance, a better gaming experience, smooth user interface and better multitasking. Increasingly, smartphones can be used to watch television, and can play and capture full high definition, or 1080p resolution video. 

Sharp announces a 16 mega pixel Android smartphone

The smartphone features a 16 mega pixel camera, Android 2.3, and is waterproof as well to keep things from getting wet.

While Sony Ericsson might still be planning to pump some life in its Cyber Shot brand, Japanese electronics manufacturer Sharp has become the world's first handset maker to launch a smartphone with a 16 mega pixel camera. The device is called Aquos Hybrid 007SH and runs on Google's Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) operating system. The smartphone is perhaps the world's first clamshell Android smartphone. 

It will have a 3.4 inch LCD display capable of reproducing 3D imagery though its stereoscopic vision, which means that users will not be required to wear glasses to view the 3D content on this phone. 

The manufacturer has also made this phone waterproof to protect it in various situations, but the idea behind making it a clamshell phone is still unknown. 

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.

Nokia's next MeeGo device N9 revealed

A teaser video on Youtube revealed the nitty-gritty of Nokia's next MeeGo based device, to be named as N9, which will be the successor of Nokia's N900.

Nokia could soon come out with yet another MeeGo device and it may be named as N9.

A purported video of the device was uploaded on the Youtube. However, the video was removed immediately by Nokia claiming copyright issues.

Notably, the Finnish handset maker had, during the Nokia 2011 Developer Forum earlier this year, announced that it would come out with another MeeGo based device soon.

Intel chips in smartphones in 2012

The company has been promising smartphone chips for a long time, but hasn't delivered on its promise so far. There were speculations that Intel may start making ARM chips also, but it is obviously in no mood to pay royalty to ARM.

Smartphones based on Intel's chips will be ready by as soon as next year, the chief executive of the biggest chipmaker has said.

"You'll see the first Intel-based phones in the market in the first part of next year," Chief Executive Paul Otellini of the company was quoted as saying by the Reuters.

LG Optimus 2x finally available in India for INR 27K

LG has finally made dual core Android smartphone Optimus 2x available in India. Online retailer Flipkart is now selling it for INR 26,990, much below the announced recommended price of INR 30,000. It however is shipping it within 6 to 8 days, which is a bit odd considering Flipkart’s record of shipping in three days normally. They might be still waiting for the stock, which would be due in a few days, so this long shipping time.

Anyways, it is certainly good news for everyone waiting for this dual core beast in India. LG Optimus 2x has been getting negative publicity recently due to the rebooting issues on the phone, but LG has confirmed that it is going to release a fix soon for this problem.

Best capacitive touchscreen phones in India

These three handsets have the best capacitive touchscreens among all the brands available in the world today.

Touchscreens were initially introduced to understand how people would feel if physical buttons were removed from their beloved devices. And things took a totally different direction altogether. Today touchscreens have become main-stream, replacing physical keys and buttons in mobile phones, laptops and tablets, all of which have touchscreen variants that are loved by people the world over.

CNN launches app for Nokia smartphones

The CNN App includes user-generated content upload functionality through iReport, showcases important global news through text, video and photos; and also enables users to watch live breaking news video.

CNN has launched an international news application for Nokia E7 smartphones, available on the Ovi Store. 

The CNN App for Nokia also will be available for free in the coming weeks for the Nokia N8, Nokia C7 and Nokia C6-01, with wider availability to be announced later.

Price War enters Tablet PC industry in India with Zinglife launching high quality Android Tablets.

Emerging as one of the most trusted brands of India, Zinglife has recently introduced their latest range of Android Tablets in India. Offering the latest technology in terms of top-of-the-line configuration and innovative designing, Zinglife is a pioneer in bringing about a revolution in the Tablet PC industry of India. 

With the advent of Zinglife, the much awaited Price War has finally hit the India market. Launched at unbelievably competitive pricing, these Android Tablets are giving best of the brands a run for their money.

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.

Linked In application for Symbian phones

After Android, Linked In application makes its way for phones based on Symbian operating system.

Linked In, a popular business and professional social networking website, has announced its application for smartphones based on Nokia's Symbian platform. 

The application is a compact version of the Linked In online account, which allows users to send and receive messages from their connections, add new ones, respond to invitations, browse profiles, view and compose status updates. 

The application also has a "Call Out" button on the top right hand side of the screen, which might confuse some users as there is no description available for that. But, that key allows the users to update their status messages which are automatically syndicated with their Twitter account, if that is linked to the Linked In account. 

As of now the application only has one version and is available only for Symbian S60 ^3 devices. The application is optimised for touchscreen S60 based phones only but we can expect Nokia to release other versions of this application for its s40 phones as well soon.