Now Buy The BlackBerry Z10 For Just Rs 29,990

BlackBerry has announced a major price drop for its flagship Z10 model. The highly anticipated handset that was being touted to be able to save the company was launched at a rather steep Rs 42,000 earlier this year. However, now it is being offered for Rs 29,990. You will have to hurry though, because this is a limited period offer valid for this festive season. When contacted BlackBerry about the exact duration of this offer, I was told that it will last for the festive season including Diwali. While it is still not clear till when this offer will last, one thing is for sure that the offer is already underway.

Sunil Lalvani, Managing Director India for BlackBerry said,

"We continue to leverage festive season with relevant product and services promotions. BlackBerry 10 platform offers a new and unique mobile communication experience and at Rs.29990/- the BlackBerry Z10 smartphone is uniquely positioned to change the way in which our customers view mobile technology".

This is a major opportunity for anyone who would want to lay their hands on the smartphone from the brand most trusted by the enterprise segment. If you ask me, the handset running the latest BlackBerry 10 OS is pretty good and is backed by powerful hardware. The Z10 comes with a 1.5 GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 CPU with 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal storage, and a microSD card slot supporting up to 32 GB. The 4.2" touchscreen is pretty responsive as well. With pixel dimensions of 1280x768 at 356 ppi, the images appear crisp. The 8 MP rear camera supports 1080p Full HD video recording. What's more, it is neither too heavy, nor too large, and has got a decent talk time of up to 11 hours on paper at least. NFC is also supported for quick and convenient mobile payments where supported.

Buy Apple iPhone 5S And 5C In India Exclusively On eBay.in

While you may have to wait for Apple to officially launch the new iPhone models in India, eBay.in has already listed the iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S for immediate sale. Of course, it must be noted that these handsets are imported and factory unlocked as claimed by the sellers so that they can work on any GSM mobile network in India. Available from two different sellers, these handsets are brand new sealed packs and run the latest iOS 7. For those of you who can't hold on till the official launch happens here, read ahead.

The white iPhone 5C is available for Rs 47,500 in 16 GB and the seller claims it to be factory unlocked. It comes with 6-month seller warranty. Although the seller has not explicitly specified a Return Policy as per eBay rules, its replacement and refund are covered through eBay.in Guarantee so that should put your doubts to rest. The shipping will be done within 5 - 6 business days after receiving the payment to anywhere in India so it means that the seller actually has the handsets ready to dispatch. Shipping is free to anywhere in India and payment can be made using PaisaPay. Additionally, you can opt for 3 or 6 months EMI if that suits your budget.

The 16 GB iPhone 5S in SpaceGray colour is available for an understandably whopping Rs 69,990. Unlike the iPhone 5C, the iPhone 5S will not come with any warranty so you must decide hard whether you would want to put so much of your hard-earned cash into this purchase. Naturally, a Refund Policy is not specified either. However, the replacement and refund is still covered through eBay.in Guarantee, about which you can read over here. Shipping of this item is free all over India and the seller mentions that he/she will start shipping from 1st of October, 2013. In case you still want to take a leap of faith, you can pay through PaisaPay and opt for 3 or 6 months EMI to make that hole in your pocket seem less unpleasant.

9 Million iPhones Sold In 3 Days, Says Apple

Apple has claimed that it has sold over 9 million iPhones over the first weekend since the launch. This is a lot higher than the 5 million units sold by the iPhone 5 during the same period last year and the 4 million for the iPhone 4S a year before that. The Cupertino-based company had launched a comparatively cheaper iPhone 5C along with the flagship iPhone 5S last week. However, it has declined to confirm individual numbers for these two models. Nevertheless, sources have stated that the iPhone 5C has not been well-received, so it is safe to assume that the bulk of this number belongs to the iPhone 5S.

Apple chief executive Tim Cook said,

"The demand for the new iPhones has been incredible, and while we've sold out of our initial supply of iPhone 5s, stores continue to receive new iPhone shipments regularly".

Both the devices run the new iOS7. The iPhone 5S 16 GB is priced at $199 (approx Rs 12,800), while the 32 GB variant costs $299 (approx Rs 19,200). The 64 GB version will set you back by $399 (Rs 25,500). The iPhone 5C, on the other hand is available for $99 (approx Rs 6400) for the 16 GB and $199 (approx Rs 12,800) for the 32 GB. Of course, these prices are for the US market with 2-year contracts, so retail prices will be much higher. The iPhone 5C, which has been touted to be for the mid-range, will therefore end up in the high-end price bracket with a retail price of $549 (approx Rs 36,500) and $649 (approx Rs 43,000), thus shattering the dreams of cheap iPhone aspirants.

The iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C were released in US, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore, and UK, but there is still no official word about India availability. However, insider sources have stated that the launch could happen in the first week of November although it is not clear if the company would bring one or both the models simultaneously. I'll keep you posted as more information becomes available.

Guide: How To Apply For Passport Online

A passport is an important document without which, you cannot travel outside the country. It is also important because it is accepted as a valid address and photo id proof almost everywhere. Getting a passport has usually been a hassle and people preferred to pay off middlemen to save the trouble. However, obtaining a new passport or renewing one is now really a child's play because the entire procedure happens online and is easier than you may assume. In this article, I will guide you through the steps involved.


1. The first step in this process involves visiting the Passport Seva website and registering your name. The registration is free and only requires your minimal personal details.

2. Next, download the e-Form from here passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/Resources/PassportApplicationForm_Main_English_V1.0.zip. Extract the contents of the ZIP file—a PDF file—to your desktop. This is the offline form that you are supposed to fill.

3. Open the PDF document. Choose "Fresh Passport" from the dropdown list in front of "Applying for". Select the type of application as Normal. In case you are wondering, you can also apply for Tatkaal if you need the passport urgently, by paying an additional amount over the normal application fee.

4. Select the radio button in front of "36 Pages" (or "60 Pages" if you are going to be a frequent traveller). Assuming that you are aged 18 years and above, select "Not Applicable" for "Validity Required".

5. Enter your name, middle name, and surname in the appropriate dialogue boxes. You needn't worry about capitalisation as the form automatically takes care of it. Fill in the rest of the details as appropriate by referring to the screenshot.

6. You must also fill in Family Details about at least one of the following: father, mother, or legal guardian. The rest of the details can be filled by referring to the screenshot.

7. In the Emergency Contact Details section, provide the contact details of the person who could be contacted in case of any problem. This can be a family member, relative, friend, or colleague.

8. There is also a References section in which you must furnish contact details of two people who reside near your residential address.

9. In case this application is for renewal of passport, you can fill in the required details about the previous passport under the Previous Passport/ Application Details

10. In most cases, you can safely mark No in all the answers to the queries under Other Details.

11. Check the checkbox near Agree, fill in the place of submission, the date, and click Validate & Save button. An XML file will now be created, which you must save to your computer.

12. You can now log into your account and upload this file to finish the application process.

13. Now that you are done with submitting the application, you are required to get an appointment to physically visit your Passport Seva Kendra (PSK). You can locate your PSK by visiting this hyperlink http://passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/locatePSK/locatePFCInp.

14. Before you get an appointment, you are required to pay the application fee. You can use internet banking, credit, or debit card. The fees can be calculated by clicking on this hyperlink http://passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/fee/feeInput.

15. Once the payment is made, select a convenient time slot from the ones provided on the screen to visit the PSK. You will receive a PDF file of the receipt, which you must print to take along to the PSK. Finish off the application process.

16. You are required to carry a photocopy set of documents along with the originals when you visit the PSK. The list of documents required when you visit can be checked at this hyperlink http://passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/docAdvisor/attachmentAdvFresh in case of a fresh application. The best address proof is a 1-year bank statement, which you can easily get from your bank. Other address proofs will require supporting documents. You will also need a documentary proof of your date of birth. This can be your birth certificate or any certificate such as SSC, HSC, or school leaving certificate from a recognised educational institution. For those who do not have any of these date of birth proofs and have not studied beyond 5th class, a sworn affidavit before a notary stating the date and place of birth as per Annexure A will be required.

17. The status of your application goes live just a couple of days after the application is submitted and you can track it from within your account.

18. Police verification of your physical address takes place after a few days. You may receive a phone call from your local police station to the number you had provided in the application and you must visit it along with the same set of documents as during the PSK visit. In case it takes too long to receive such a call, you can visit the local police station to enquire about whether the application has been forwarded over there from the PSK.

19. Once the police verification of your physical address is done, the application is sent back to the PSK, which sends it to the district police headquarters for final verification, and then it finally goes back to the PSK. After this stage, the passport is printed and couriered to the applicant.

20. The applicant will receive an SMS notification about the passport being sent to the residential address. It is advisable for the applicant to be physically present to receive the passport by providing any valid id proof to the courier. However, if this is not possible, the passport can be received by a blood relative after furnishing his/her id proof to the courier. If there is nobody to receive the passport at the said address, the passport is returned to the PSK and the applicant will have to collect it from there.

Featured Download: Coast by Opera

Platform: iOS 6.0 and above (iPad only)
Price: Free
Size: 14.8 MB
Publisher: Opera Software ASA
Download from here

If you thought that Opera Mini was great for the iPad, you should try Coast from the same Norwegian company. Coast by Opera is essentially a web browser tailor-made for the iPad. The Opera team claims to have built it from scratch, disowning over 20 years of experience with desktop browsers and building Coast from scratch from a tablet point of view.

Coast's UI doesn't look anything like the usual internet browser. It adopts the same minimalistic design approach as the iPad, with a single button that takes you to the home screen and other recently visited websites. The web page occupies almost the entire screen area of the iPad and Coast even does away with the address bar. It mainly relies on gestures to achieve the usual browser commands such as forward and back with left and right swipe. Opera even goes so far as to say that this browser should have come with the iPad. This refreshingly unique and free browser from is definitely worth a try.

Samsung Continues Its Large Screen March With The GALAXY Note 3

While the sane techies may criticise Samsung for its increasing screen sizes in mobile devices, the Korean manufacturer prefers to listen to the majority who want such screens and continues its march by launching the GALAXY Note 3. The new smartphone boasts of a 5.7" Full HD Super AMOLED multi-touch display that should be a treat to view due to its high pixel density of 388 ppi. Despite its large screen size, the device is just 8.3 mm in thickness and weighs 168 grams, which is just about the same as most smartphones today. It is powered by an 8-core Exynos 5 Octa chip (1.9 GHz Cortex-A15 and 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7 CPU with ARM Mali T628MP6 GPU) with 3 GB RAM that should provide enough firepower for the most demanding tasks today.

The Note 3 looks better than its predecessor with a faux metallic bezel and a plastic leather rear cover with faux stitching. It has a 13 MP rear camera capable of recording 1080p@60fps and even 4K@30fps. With 32 GB of internal storage, there is a microSD slot to add up to an additional 64 GB. It supports USB OTG with the SuperSpeed USB 3.0 standard, thus becoming the first smartphone to support this interface for faster data transfers with compatible devices. A 3200 mAh battery is present for power backup. Here are the specifications:

• Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean), Google Play
• 2G (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz), 3G (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz), Micro-SIM 
• 5.7" Super AMOLED capacitive multi-touch screen with pixel dimensions of 1080x1920 (386 ppi) 
• Exynos 5 Octa chip (quad-core 1.9 GHz Cortex-A15 and quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7 CPU with ARM Mali T628MP6 GPU) 
• 3 GB RAM, 32 GB internal storage, Up to 64 GB via microSDXC 
• 13 megapixel rear camera with LED flash, autofocus, 1080p@30fps and 2160p@30fps 
• 2 megapixel front camera with 1080p@30fps 
• Wi-Fi with hotspot, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, Infrared, micro-USB 3.0 with OTG 
• 3.5 mm audio jack, GPS with A-GPS and GLONASS 
• Accelerometer, Gyrometer, Proximity, Compass, Barometer, Temperature, Humidity, Gesture 
• 3200 mAh Li-Ion battery

On the software front, the smartphone comes with Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean) cloaked by Samsung's TouchWiz UI. Being a Note class of device, it comes with a stylus that automatically launches the Air Command menu once it is removed from its compartment. There are pen-oriented features such as Action Memos (something similar to sticky notes, but using handwriting recognition), Pen Window, Screen Write annotation tool, S Finder, and Scrapbook. It retains the multi-window functionality that has been enhanced to support more apps. Additionally, it can run multiple instances of a single app (thus you can log into multiple instances of an IM client using different IDs from the same device simultaneously) and you can drag and drop content between apps A My Magazine news aggregator app comes preinstalled to keep you updated with the latest happenings around. It also comes with a 1-year subscription for Evernote Premium.

Samsung provides security to the phone with its KNOX application that allows users to store security-sensitive apps and data inside a secure "container". There is also a Find My Mobile feature that allows users to disable the device if it is stolen or lost. This prevents even factory reset of such a disabled device, while the user can still remotely track or erase the data if necessary. With the Indian market in mind, the smartphone comes with support for 11 regional languages including Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, Oriya and Assamese. The Samsung GALAXY Note 3 comes for a whopping Rs 49,900. Probably as a consolation, Samsung bundles freebies worth Rs 15,000 with the smartphone, which include preloaded apps and a wide range of services that can be accessed through a special zone called Content Gifts. Also, Note 3 customers on Vodafone network will be able to avail 2 GB of 2G internet per month for two months. The smartphone will be available from 25 September 2013 and can be pre-booked on the Samsung mobile e-Store right away.

Is It Time For Wearable Android Devices? Samsung Thinks So With Its GALAXY Gear Smartwatch

It wasn't just the GALAXY Note 3 that was announced by Samsung; the company also launched its much awaited GALAXY Gear smartwatch in India as a companion accessory. This new concept device is wearable like a watch and normally displays time and weather info, but is actually a gadget that will pair with an Android device to notify the user about incoming texts, emails, and calls with quick previews. Samsung is advertising it to be able to extend the GALAXY Note 3 experience, but it should technically work with any other Android device, at least from Samsung, just as well. Here are the specifications:

• Android
• 1.63" Super AMOLED screen with pixel dimensions of 320x320
• 800 MHz Exynos CPU, ARM Mali-400 MP4 GPU (210 MHz/500 MHz)
• 512 MB RAM, 4 GB internal storage
• 1.9 megapixel camera on wrist band
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC
• 3-axis accelerometer, Gyroscope
• 315 mAh battery with up to 25 hours backup

The gizmo looks somewhat larger than a regular wristwatch with its 1.63" Super AMOLED screen. It is powered by an 800 MHz Exynos CPU with 512 MB of RAM and 4 GB of storage. There is even a 1.9 mp camera along with Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, Wi-Fi, an accelerometer and gyroscope. The 315 mAh battery is advertised to be able to provide up to 25 hours of backup. The Samsung GALAXY Gear is priced at Rs 22,900, which puts it beyond reach for most aspirants. While I am still a long way from being ready to wear such a large and expensive watch, for those of you who still want to give it a shot, the smartwatch will be available in India from 25 September 2013.

Panasonic Launches HC-MDH2 And HC-MDH2M Wedding Cameras For Rs 79,990 And Rs 84,990

Panasonic has launched two new movie cameras in its Wedding Camera line-up in India well in advance of the wedding season. The models HC-MDH2 and HC-MDH2M unveiled today differ in only the storage aspect with the former having two SDXC card slots, thus at least theoretically supporting up to 2 TB in each slot, while the maximum capacity of such a card available today is 256 GB. The latter sports an internal storage of 32 GB and an SDXC card slot for expandability. In my opinion, it does make better sense to have internal storage as well as external storage when it comes to Full HD recording that these cameras support. Other than the storage factor, the cameras are virtually identical.

Manish Sharma, MD, Panasonic India said during the event,

"With technology constantly changing it allows our brand to push boundaries and create new and exciting products that are customised according to the needs and requirements of the Indian market. With the newly launched wedding camcorder in our AVC cam range, we plan to take customer experiences to the next level making it special by providing them with a rich photographic experience".

The new cameras feature powerful 21x optical zoom and 50x Intelligent Zoom, along with advanced shooting performance for photos as well as movies in Full HD (1080 pixels height). The 5-Axis Hybrid O.I.S. + (optical image stabilisation) and Level Shot Function make sure that you don't have to worry about blurry images due to shaky hands. Additionally, it supports simultaneous recording in the dual memory devices so that videos and images are always backed up. Low light performance has been improved, thanks to the new high-sensitivity sensor that is 1.3 times as sensitive as sensors used in conventional models.

The cameras come with an easy-to-view large 3.0" LCD screen with intuitive touchscreen interface. The recording can be backed to an external hard drive without the need of a computer. With Eye-Fi compatibility, these can also connect to Wi-Fi devices to save files recorded on the card to a PC or upload them to social networks. They are designed with ergonomics and hours of sustained usage in mind with the acclaimed "Ergonomic Stable 4-point Support Design", which are essential attributes while capturing lengthy special occasions such as weddings. Here are some of the salient features of the two cameras:

• 1/2.33-type (17.52M) S-FSI sensor
• 5-Axis Hybrid O.I.S. + Level Shot Function 
• F1.8-F3.5 
• 3.0" LCD (460K) 
• Manual ring (Focus, Zoom, Iris, White Balance, Shutter Speed) 
• 28 mm wide-angle lens for covering a larger shooting area in indoor shooting 
• 21x optical zoom for capturing close-up images of subjects that you cannot get close to and 50x iZoom (1400 mm) 
• Large lens and lens-emphasized design 
• Light weight for easy handling & easy to use LCD layout

The Panasonic HC-MDH2 and HC-MDH2M are available at Rs 79,990 and Rs 84,990 respectively. You can get to have a closer look at the HC-MDH2 before buying if you happen to visit the Gujarat Photo Fair being held from the 20th to 22nd of September 2013, in Ahmedabad.

In case you wish to purchase one of the above cameras, or any Panasonic camera, you can find out the contact nearest to you from the below contact list:

Nokia Lumia Amber GDR2 Update "extras+info"

Nokia has already started rolling out the Amber or GDR2 update for its Lumia handsets running Windows Phone 8 and there is a good possibility that most of you might have already received it and running it. However, there is a likelihood that you may still not be able to access a few of the upgraded settings and may not see the words "Lumia Amber" anywhere as you would expect.

Well, fret no more, because help is at hand. In case you have upgraded your Lumia to the latest update, chances are that it is indeed the Amber update. To be able to access all the new settings, you can simply grab the latest version of the "extras+info" from here. A small 13 MB update will be installed that will instantly reveal the hitherto hidden settings such as glance, storage check, and Call+SMS filter. You will also be able to confirm that you are indeed running the Amber update by looking into extras+info, where it will display "Lumia Amber" under Software release.

Logitech Mashup: A Great Weekend Treat For Tech Bloggers

Logitech held its Media Mashup event on Saturday, 14th September 2013, inviting technology bloggers, reviewers, and gamers for a weekend treat. Logitech was courteous enough to invite me to the event held at The Taj Lands End hotel Bandra located on the Arabian Sea shore where the land of Bandra literally ends and meets the sea. From the start, I was made aware that this is not really going to be a serious tech event, but rather a lively entertainment gala of sorts where everyone can just enjoy the time and interact with each other.

Since I reached a few minutes early, I got a chance to get myself snapped against the Logitech Mashup hoarding. I was told that I will be presented with a framed photo print of the same to take home.

Before the event got underway, I had enough time to take a look at the various music and gaming products recently launched by the company that were on display to get sampled.

The first product that I got my hands on was the Logitech Ultimate Ears (UE) 5 Pro and UE 4 Pro, which is a custom-made in-ear headphone that is not available in India. Where it is available, the company takes an impression of the ear canal of the prospective customer and prepares the silicone rubber buds accordingly to ensure a perfect fit and maximum audio isolation. The Logitech rep said that there are currently no plans to make it available in India. It does sound great and it is a shame that it may not retail here.

Logitech Ultimate Ears UE 5 Pro 

There were a few more of the Ultimate Ears (UE) wired and Bluetooth headphones on display including the UE 4500 (Rs 7995), UE 3600 (Rs 3495), and the premium UE 6000 (Rs 17,995) with on-board amp, active noise cancelling, classy neoprene travel case, and with a folding design featuring removable cable.

Logitech UE 4500 and UE 3600

Logitech UE 6000 

The translucent blue UE 900 IEM was the most expensive of the lot costing a whopping Rs 34,995, which is quite a bit when Logitech is still not calling it audiophile grade. It comes with tangle-free braided cables, which can be detached to attach another cable with an inline remote control that works with the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Also, it comes with quad armature design and patented Dual-Bore technology that is said to deliver great audio. Eight ear bud sizes are available to ensure maximum comfort.

Logitech UE 900

Logitech also showed off two portable speakers - the smaller and more portable UE Mobile Boombox (Rs 8995) available in multiple colours, and the larger and more powerful UE Boombox (Rs 21,995). Both the devices can work on Bluetooth as well as via 3.5 mm aux connection. While the former can connect to 2 devices at a time and has up to 10 hours of battery backup, the latter can pair with 8 devices, work with 3 simultaneously to work even as a speakerphone, and can continue to play for up to 6 hours on a full charge. The UE Boombox sports a rugged build with the upper half made of aluminium including a strong handle, while the bottom half is polymer with a rubberised finish to prevent it from moving around on the surface on which it is placed, as it plays music. With 8 drivers present behind the aluminium grill, this one really delivers loud booming sound.

Logitech UE Mobile Boombox

Logitech UE Boombox 

Additionally, there were a few gaming (G Series) keyboards and mice to be seen. Unfortunately, I couldn't get to know them enough because the show got underway.

Subrotah Biswas, Director, India & South-West Asia, Logitech, introduced the event to get things started. He talked about engineering and brilliance, and how explained the "When Science Wins Gamers Win" slogan of the event.

Subrotah Biswas explains the technology

Entertainment was next, as magician (or rather mentalist) Karan Singh, appeared on stage and displayed some card magic. As the show progressed, he called up volunteers from amongst the attendees and freaked them out by reading their minds - cool entertainment!

Magician Karan Singh performs

Next up was stand-up comedian Rohan Joshi who lightened up the mood even more with his impromptu hilarious performance. While there was some political satire, it was overall clean adulterated entertainment that shouldn't offend anyone.

After two hours of interactive amusement, it was my turn to take to the stage (of course, with no live audience), as I talked about the Logitech UE Boombox - the product that impressed me the most. A video was shot, which I will share as soon as I get my hands on it. Before I left the event, Logitech reps handed me the aforementioned framed photo of yours truly - a nice memento of the event.

The Logitech Mashup was a nice way to get to know not just the company's products, but also to interact with others, and to get a nice weekend dose of entertainment that should keep me going for the upcoming week.

Apple Unveils iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C: An iPhone For Everyone?

Now you can bite the apple and eat it too, quite literally; or is it? Apple has unveiled an iPhone for everyone: the iPhone 5S, which will be its new flagship successor, and a new cheaper variant known as the iPhone 5C for those who may find the former out of reach. The S could stand for speed, while the C possibly for cheap. Apple has appropriately put the taglines as "Forward thinking" for the 5S and "For the colourful" for the 5C. The launch has ended months of speculations about whether or not the Cupertino-based company will launch a cheaper variant along with its regular premium handset.

To start off, the iPhone 5S is obviously an upgraded version of the iPhone 5 in terms of hardware in a similar way as the iPhone 3GS was to the iPhone 3G. It is powered by a new 64-bit A7 CPU that should allow for better gaming experience approaching the graphical intensity and fluidity of hand-held consoles. Additionally, there is an M7 companion processor that handles motion data, thus offloading the A7. The much speculated silver ring fingerprint scanner is also built into the home button to allow secure unlocking of the phone by its authorised owner.

Coming to the camera, there are improvements with a 15% larger 8 MP sensor compared to its predecessor, which should help reduce noise levels in low-light photography. There is improved video stabilisation for blur-free handheld shooting in addition to Burst mode, Panorama, photo filters aka Instagram, and Full HD video capture at 30 fps. The camera also supports 720p at 120 fps thus making it possible to play back such videos in slow motion, essentially called "Slo-mo video". A dual-LED flash has also been added to shoot in the dark. Apple has retained the 4" screen size and specs from the iPhone 5 and it still looks very much like its predecessor, although it is available in colour variations of Space Gray, Gold, and Silver. However, Apple has got nicely crafted premium leather cases for the iPhone 5S, which are available in multiple colours.

The iPhone 5C is basically the iPhone 5 with cost cutting and some colour, targeting the mid-range buyer segment. After sticking to white or black for years, Apple has finally gone Technicolor with the iPhone 5C, which is available in white, pink, yellow, blue, and green. As a cost-cutting measure, the iPhone 5C sports a polycarbonate body but is heavier than the iPhone 5 at 132 grams.

The handset is powered by an A6 chip with 1 GB of RAM. The screen is a 4" Retina display with pixel dimensions of 1136x640 but without scratch-resistant glass. An 8 MP AF primary camera with LED flash is present along with a 1.2 MP front-facing Facetime camera. Additional features include Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi with AirPlay, and A-GPS with GLONASS.

Both the devices will run the new iOS7. The iPhone 5S 16 GB is priced at $199 (approx Rs 12,800), while the 32 GB variant costs $299 (approx Rs 19,200). The 64 GB version will set you back by $399 (Rs 25,500). The iPhone 5C, on the other hand is available for $99 (approx Rs 6400) for the 16 GB and $199 (approx Rs 12,800) for the 32 GB. Of course, these prices are for the US market with 2-year contracts, so retail prices will be much higher. The iPhone 5C, which has been touted to be for the mid-range, will therefore end up in the high-end price bracket with a retail price of $549 (approx Rs 36,500) and $649 (approx Rs 43,000), thus shattering the dreams of cheap iPhone aspirants.

Toshiba And Sachin Tendulkar Launch Cricket Series LED TVs

Cricket is a religion in India; even rivalling the traditional festivals celebrated in the country. Understanding this phenomenon, Toshiba launched 3 new Cricket Series of LED TVs in India in collaboration with none other than our very own cricketing living legend Sachin Tendulkar. The P2305, L2300, and L3300 series of TVs incorporate a new Cricket Mode, which enhances the image quality to deliver richer colours, sharper details, and crisper images. In fact, the company mentions that the new mode "enhances the green of cricket field, the cracks on the cricket pitch, and the fast moving cricket ball". Motion blur is also reduced to make the fast moving ball appear sharp.

Toshiba says that Sachin Tendulkar himself provided valuable inputs and feedbacks while the TV was being designed, to deliver a stadium-like experience right in your living room. The TVs feature slim bezels to enhance the viewing experience. The audio quality is said to be improved as well with a few models featuring a sound bar like design. Each model adorns a personalised signature of the little master on the bezel or the sound bar.

The Toshiba P2305 LED TV Cricket Series consists of Full HD LED TV of 39", and HD Ready LED TVs with screen sizes 32", 29", and 24". The prices of these models are Rs 47,490, Rs 28,990, Rs 25,990, and Rs 16,990 respectively. These feature a slim silver sound bar at the bottom of the screen with 20 W audio output and Power Bass Booster. These also come with Auto Clean (to reduce picture noise), Auto Signal Booster (improves sensitivity when signal strength is weak), and AutoView (adjusts the backlight and various other parameters according to ambient light) technology in addition to 10-bit video processing for better colour reproduction.

The L3300 series has got two of Toshiba's innovations: Turbo LED and Detail Booster. While the former boosts brightness by 50%, the latter claims to enhance the detail levels, such as while upscaling. There is also Screen Mirroring technology to wirelessly connect the TV to your smartphone, tablet, or PC. There are two models in this series with screen sizes 32" and 39" and priced at Rs 36,990 and Rs 50,990 respectively.

The 50L2300 is the flagship model with a 50" Full HD LED-backlit panel. In addition to the Cricket Mode, it features the 100 Hz Active Motion Rate (AMR) image-processing technology that smoothens fast motion and reduces blur such as during a cricket game. It comes with two powerful 10 W speakers, Dolby Digital decoder, Power Bass Booster, and Audio Distortion Control, and is available for Rs 85,990. The new TVs are already available for purchase off the shelf at major retail outlets across India.

  

I got a chance to take a look at a side-by-side comparison of the new Toshiba TV's cricket mode and a regular LED TV. With all parameters such as contrast, brightness, and saturation, kept at default levels, the Toshiba does appear brighter and the image is better defined. The colours also appear vivid and motion blur is reduced. However, there is one undesirable effect of extra noise getting introduced, which is likely to be a byproduct of the image processing in the Cricket Mode. However, this noise is not always visible and depends on the scene type.

Interestingly, Toshiba has stayed away from the 3D gimmick, which is actually a good thing because there is just not enough 3D content available for it to go mainstream and it is still a very imperfect technology. Do you think that the Cricket Mode will be enough to help Toshiba stay in the television race in India?

Olympus Launches OM-D E-M1 Flagship Mirrorless Camera For Rs 1,05,000

Olympus has launched its new flagship mirrorless camera OM-D E-M1 in India. This is an upgrade over the E-M5. The company had first launched a camera in this category back in 2009 with the PEN E-P1, which was, in fact, the first in a pocketable size with a small lens. The E-M1 features a High Speed Dual fast Auto Focus, which uses phase detection as well as contrast detection. Thus, when phase detection technique doesn't work, contrast detection is employed for the purpose. The company calls this "On-chip Phase Detection Auto Focus".

This 16.3 MP camera with a magnesium body, has an Electronic View Finder (EVF), which the company claims, is as good as the optical viewfinder of a DSLR, meaning that what you see is what it clicks. The EVF features Adaptive Brightness Technology to adjust its brightness as per lighting conditions. Additionally, the company states that the camera is "Dustproof, splashproof, and freezeproof". Of course, the company execs were quick to point out that it cannot be used underwater or in the sand. This means that it is merely resistant to these elements. It can, however, be used up to -10 ° C. Being a flagship product, it is priced steeply at Rs 1,05,000, putting it out of reach of most mirrorless camera aspirants. The pricing takes it deep into DSLR territory and it remains to be seen if it can hold its own against DSLR competitors in the price range even though the E-M1 is more compact.

New Exclusive Shots Of Nokia Lumia 1520, Giant 6" Windows Phone By The Verge

The Verge has got its hands on the Nokia Lumia 1520, which is the largest Windows Phone offering from the Finnish manufacturer. The Lumia 1520 has been in rumourville since the past few weeks, but the exclusive photos on the website alongside a Sony Xperia for comparison's sake seem to be authentic. The upcoming handset sports a 6" screen, thus making it official that Nokia is also going to join the large screen mobile phones bandwagon after most Android phone manufacturers have already done that.

The large screen boasts of pixel dimensions of 1080x1920, thus allowing it to natively display Full HD movies. There is a 16 MP camera at the back with a Carl Zeiss lens and PureView technology. The camera is capable of shooting still shots at 16 MP and saving an additional 5 MP photo to quickly share on social networks. An LED flash is present on top. There are buttons for volume control, lock, and camera shutter on the right of the handset, while the left has caddy slots for micro-SIM and microSD cards.

Judging from the photos, the Lumia 1520 appears to have a unibody design, which basically means that the battery will not be replaceable, but you may not want to complain about that because the device seems to be considerably slim. The thin bezels should make it good to watch movies, but it also increases the chances of inadvertently triggering the touch interface. As expected, the large screen handset runs GDR3, which bears the codename "Lumia Bittersweet shimmer". Nokia provides several Lumia-exclusive apps as can be seen in one of the photos. Check out a few of the shots below and visit The Verge at the above URL to view them all: