We have been hearing rumors about the iPhone 5 since long before the 4S was launched. One of the most recent rumors to surround the heavily anticipated smartphone is arguably more intriguing than them all. According to Patently Apple, the tech giant has patented a new technology that could give its popular mobile device three dimensional appeal.

The site, which as the name implies, keeps up with all things related to Apple and its patenting initiatives, reported that the company recently patented a new technology that could introduce 3D camera technology into devices running its iOS operating system. Initial reports suggest that the new technology would enable consumers to enhance the visual depth of their shots by using sophisticated microlenses. It is believed that this 3D functionality would not be limited to smartphones, but available to tablets, personal computers, standalone digital cameras, and any other capable devices.

So how would this new 3D camera technology work in the real world? Well according the patent, it would combine radar, laser, light-detection and ranging (LIDAR) and various other sensors to enhance depth and the intensity of color accuracy. The language also indicates that it would enable cameras to detect facial expressions and gestures ranging from a grin to a grimace. It is being speculated that the detection aspect could work by detecting parts of the face such as a person’s eyes, nose, and mouth, and then matching it with a range of expressions and gestures stored in a database.

Should Apple’s 3D camera technology come to life, the marketing potential behind it could be virtually unlimited. We can see it being particularly useful for software and video game developers, companies that provide services to the entertainment industry, and others that exist to create strong visual experiences for end users. Such a concept may sound farfetched, but it isn’t when you consider that the 3D boom has already arrived. In addition to the growing number of 3D-friendly TVs, monitors and mobile devices, the popularity of Hollywood hits like Avatar and Clash of the Titans prove that there is indeed a market for Apple’s concept.

Believe it or not, but a 3D camera-enabled iPhone wouldn’t be the first of its kind in the smartphone space. In fact, that credit actually goes to the HTC Evo 3D, which officially broke the barrier by allowing users to snap pictures, record three dimensional videos, and view the captured content without needing a pair of special glasses. However, what Apple has in store could lend itself to even more exciting possibilities, mainly because of the rich capabilities of its iOS devices.

It is important to keep in mind that while Apple’s 3D camera technology sounds impressive, it is only a patent. There is no guarantee that we will see it implemented in the next iPhone or any other device any time soon. On that note, recognizing Apple as a forward-thinking leader in the world of technology, nothing the company does in the way of innovation should be surprising.

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LG Electronics plans to release televisions running Google TV in the U.S. by May 21, according to a report. The South Korea-based company made the announcement early Monday, but offered no details such as pricing, display sizes, or specs, according to Reuters. An LG representative was unavailable for comment at the time of this writing.

LG-made Google TVs have been expected for several months after speculation about an LG Google TV surfaced in November. The company followed up those rumors with a January debut of its Google TV plans during CES 2012 in Las Vegas. The gadget maker said its Google TV-powered sets would include LG Cinema 3D displays between 55 and 84 inches (diagonal), a 3D conversion engine that can turn any 2D TV show or movie into a 3D spectacle, and an LG Magic Remote including a QWERTY keyboard.

LG's anticipated Google TV launch will likely be welcomed by the search giant as it struggles to keep relevant its platform designed to merge the Web with broadcast television. The company in October launched an overhaul of Google TV with a new streamlined interface and Android app support. But two years have passed since its debut in 2010 and Google TV is still supported in the U.S. largely by Logitech and Sony devices.

Logitech announced in November that it will cease producing new Google TV devices after losing millions on developing and selling the Revue, a Google TV-powered set-top box. Sony is focusing mainly on its “four screens” strategy that will tie its televisions, smartphones, tablets, and PCs into one Apple-like ecosystem. Meanwhile, LG will sell Google TV-powered sets alongside its own NetCast smart TV platform.  Other manufacturers expected to roll out new Google TV devices include Vizio and Samsung.

Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt in December predicted that most TVs sold by summer 2012 will come with Google TV on board.

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Dell is prepping a dev-centric laptop that runs Ubuntu 12.04 on XPS13 Ultrabook hardware. Dubbed Project Sputnik, the laptop and accompanying Ubuntu build features a range of profiles and other goodies for Linux, Android, Ruby and JavaScript developers. ??

"Hardware enablement is table stakes but where Sputnik starts to get interesting is when we talk about profiles. No two developers are alike so instead of stuffing the system with every possible tool or app a developer could possibly want, we are trying a different approach," Dell rep Barton George explained in an official blog post.

"The actual 'stuff' on the install image is pretty basic, instead we are working with a few developers to put together a tool that can go out to a github repository and pull down various developer profiles. The first profiles we are targeting are Android, Ruby and JavaScript."??

George also told Klint Finlet of DevOps Angle that although only download images are available, Dell would ultimately "like to ship laptops with a basic configuration pre-installed, and then have the profiles available for download from a repository."

Interestingly enough, George is also in touch with Ubuntu founder Mark Shuttleworth, who says he has some "big ideas" about tying Sputnik to OpenStack clouds to help create a true DevOps-centric laptop.

Ubuntu - based on the Debian Linux distribution - was first released on October 20, 2004. Named after the Southern African philosophy of ubuntu ("humanity towards others"), the OS is distributed as free and open source software, using its own desktop environment.

Canonical has steadily rolled out new versions of Ubuntu every six months, maintaining a commitment to support each release for eighteen months by providing security fixes, patches to critical bugs and minor updates to programs. Every fourth release, issued on a two-year basis, receives long-term support (LTS).
By the time Ubuntu reaches 14.04, the OS will offer full support for smartphones, tablets, TVs and smart screens.

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When you visit a consumer products sourcing fair, one of the most enjoyable things to do is to think of all the different kinds of fun companies you could start.  And at the end of the day,  there aren’t many products more fun and exciting than sporting goods.  Who wouldn’t want to sell products in which the main purpose is helping people enjoy healthier, more active lives?

Importing sporting goods is fairly simple; although, due to the nature of the activities sporting goods encourage, you may want to get some legal advice on the proper safety standards, testing and labeling of the products.  As Charlie Munger says, “Large corporations should not make football helmets.” Somebody’s bound to get hurt playing such a dangerous game, and if the helmet manufacturer has deep pockets, they’ll make an easy target for litigation.

Picking a supplier can be a nightmare for new entrants. Trade shows allow you to see lots of samples and meet tons of suppliers at once.  Just beware of the middlemen that are abound at these events and their online equivalents  (ie: Alibaba.com and Made-in-china.com).  You should research manufacturers, and a good way to detect trading companies is to tap into U.S Customs records for ocean freight imports. This customs database can be  accessed at ImportGenius.com, which  allows you to view actual shipping histories for most overseas suppliers and U.S imports of sporting goods.

When you’ve picked the supplier for your shipment and negotiated a price for your order,  you’ll  next need to make the payment.

A letter of credit is one option. A U.S. bank’s trade finance department provides an escrow account for your payment,  then when goods pass inspection and are loaded on a shipped bound for the U.S., the bank releases the funds to your supplier. Manufacturers can use the LC as collateral for any short term financing that may be required to produce your order. LC’s add an extra layer of red-tape and potentially mostly delays.

A better option for many importers is to place a deposit of 20-30% at the time of your order with the remainder payable when the goods are loaded at the FOB port.

Picking a freight forwarder will be the next step. If you’ve never imported anything, forwarders can help you get better rates by negotiating with the carriers on behalf of their collective client base. They may also have a licensed customs brokers on staff who can handle the customs entry process for you.

If you don’t have a warehouse, don’t rent one. Companies like Globeconfreight.com, logisticedge.com and shipwire.com offer third party logistics solutions that can scale to your needs as an importer.

In the end, your job is to surround yourself with the most knowledgeable experts who can save on the importing process. An experienced custom broker can save you lots of time and money compared to trying to handle customs clearance on your own.

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New Delhi: The leading electronic company, LG Electronics India has lauched its Cinema 3D Smart TV on Wednesday. The launch of the new Smart TV can proffer the company a market share in the growing 3D television segment.

The company stated that 1 lakh 3D TV sets were sold by the company last year in India. LG is expecting to raise the market by selling 5 lakh 3D sets by the year-end. Managing Director, LG Electronics India, Mr Soon Kwon said, “3D entertainment is set to explode in India at a steady growth of 500 per cent. We are targeting business worth Rs 1,000 crore from 3D TV sales.”

He added, “Olympics 2012 to be broadcast in 3D and more than 30 English and Hindi 3D movies to hit Indian cinema halls, 3D content is also increasing. The Cinema 3D Smart TV range is obtainable in sizes ranging from 32 inches to 72 inches in the price range of Rs 55,000-Rs 7 lakh.”

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KARACHI: After a three-year wait, Research in Motion has finally launched the highly-anticipated App World – the official store for applications – for BlackBerry-toting customers in Pakistan, according to its local partner Emitac Mobile Solutions (EMS).

The Canada based manufacturer of Blackberry smart phones had earlier enabled the App World on a test-basis in February for a day in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Blackberry users are now able to access the application, according to details posted on its website on Monday and later confirmed by EMS – the manufacturer’s support partner – in a statement on Tuesday.

More than six million apps are downloaded daily across the globe from BlackBerry’s App World.
“It was bound to happen,” said a telecom source who requested anonymity. While commenting on the development, he said RIM’s intentions were clear from the test launch in February. The rising popularity of Apple’s iPhone and Google’s Android-powered phones, the source said, may have forced this development.
Smartphones are more about applications, according to experts. RIM was slow to open its doors as iPhone and Android-powered phones gave its Pakistani users unlimited access to their application stores – Apple’s App Store and Android Marketplace, respectively.

BlackBerry once dominated the North American market for smartphones, boasting more than a 50 per cent share of the market but now sits just under 15 per cent in the US, according to market research firm Neilsen. But the company continues to do well throughout the world where its BBM service is popular, according to research group Canalys.

“We are very excited to be part of the App World launch in Pakistan,” said EMS CEO Babar Khan in the statement. Launched in April 2009 in US, Canada and UK, App World is now available in over 130 countries. App World allows access to third-party applications while paid ones can be purchased using valid PayPal accounts and credit cards.

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Every other week there seems to be a new tablet in the market, vying for attention. Better apps, brighter screens, lighter materials - there are so many tricks that can be pulled off that I simply don't know where I would begin.

The latest contender to head my way is the sleek new Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7. Clearly Samsung can't make up their minds on what the ‘ideal' tablet size should be, so they decided to flood the market with different sized tablets in the hope that consumers will be able to decide what they want. And don't forget the hybrid phone and tablet that is the Galaxy Note. But I don't want to talk ill of the Galaxy Tab 7.7, for it actually is a decent tablet with a few saving graces. Will it be your next tablet of choice?

Build quality & Design
The first thing that struck me after unboxing the Tab 7.7 is just how sexy it is. The last time I handled a Galaxy Tab I was met with shiny black plastic for the body, but the Tab 7.7 sports a wonderful brushed-metal backing that makes it easy to hold and doesn’t register any unsightly smudges. The back is also where you’ll find the 3 megapixel rear camera and LED flash. Despite its sleek look, the Tab 7.7 generally feels well build and is light enough to slip into your backpack or handbag. For anyone who feels that an iPad is too big to carry around, then this is the tablet for you.

Moving around the device we have the headphone jack at the top, with the power/sleep button on the right along with the volume rocker. At the bottom are two inconspicuous speakers and a slot for connecting the charging cable. On the left hand side are two small covers than house slots for a full-sized SIM card and microSD cards. Unfortunately the Tab 7.7 doesn’t have a micro-USB port for connectivity or charging, and lacks any kind of video output such as a micro-HDMI, which really is a bit of a disappointment. Like the iPad, you will need to buy additional hardware to connect to the bottom to enable HDMI out. Just near the top of the device is the front-facing 2 megapixel camera and a tiny slot for the tablet’s earpiece if you’re not using a headset when making calls. Oh yes, I forgot to mention that – as with previous Tab models, the Tab 7.7 supports phone calls and text messaging with a valid SIM card inserted (more on call quality later).

Specifications
The Galaxy Tab 7.7 is powered by a dual-core 1.4GHz processor and comes with either 16 or 32GB of internal storage and 1GB of RAM. The tablet weighs in at around 335g, and measures 196.7 x 133 x 7.9 mm. It also features a gorgeous 7.7 Super AMOLED Plus display at a resolution of 1280×800, which I drool over later. And as I previously mentioned, the Tab’s size and weight makes it extremely desirable for anyone who hasn’t snapped up a tablet yet. Unfortunately the Tab 7.7 runs Android Honeycomb 3.2, which is now becoming unacceptable given that Android 4.0 has been out for months now. While Honeycomb was once the preferred Android OS for tablets, Android 4.0 could certainly bring along some much needed flair that 3.2 seems to lack.

UI and Apps
The tablet’s interface is powered by Samsung’s own TouchWiz interface, which at times can be a bit of a mess. The surplus apps that are on the screen the first time you start it up are a bit of an information overload. They also tend to drag the interface a bit, so I highly recommend binning any unnecessary widgets like YouTube or Email and just keeping your screens clutter-free. Having said that, TouchWiz does have a few hand tricks to boast – there’s a clever screenshot button near the bottom left which you can tap at any time to take a screenshot. The image is then displayed for you to edit or draw upon, after which you can then save it or email it across. There is also a handy little bar at the bottom which you can tap to bring up a selection of useful apps, such as Calculator, Memo, Phone, Messaging, and a basic Task Manager which is great for closing unnecessary background apps.

Samsung has also included its own app store, called ‘Samsung App’ – the content available here depends on the region read from your SIM card, so if there is no SIM installed then the app will not launch. It’s a bit weird that Samsung would want its own app store when Google’s Play Store is already available, but who am I to question their rationale? There are also a variety of ‘Hubs’ that you can access – Game Hub will let you download games, Reader Hub gives you subscriptions to newspapers and books, while Social Hub lets you view your social media feeds and messages. There’s a few other apps such as a file browser and Polaris Office, and Pulse for linking up news feeds.

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The recently launched Micromax A50 Superfone Ninja is taking a Siri of sorts to India in the form of AISHA. Well, we’re not exactly saying that individuals holding onto those Siri dreams may have found a more wallet friendly virtual assistant, yet.

Running Android 2.3.6, the dual SIM Micromax handset with the Artificial Intelligence Speech Handset Assistance feature is capable of launching Google Search, making language translations, displaying recipes, sending messages, scheduling meetings and more upon command.

The virtual personal assistant on the A-series device can even be asked to update statuses on networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Google+. For swift and relevant search results, the company has collaborated with Zomato, Timesjob.com, Book my Show and Simplymarry.com. Besides this aspect, users will also have Google Play at their disposal.

As for the hardware, the 3G capable smartphone hides a 650MHz chip underneath its hood, along with a 1200mAh battery, while the rear panel sports a 2MP camera. The chassis measuring 113mm x 61mm x 13mm, has been embedded with a 7.9cm multi-touch capacitive screen. Additionally, all the basics are in place with GPRS, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi as well as a microSD card slot capable of supporting up to 32GB.

The Micromax A50 Superfone Ninja price and availability details for India have already been listed out by the company. The handset is currently retailing for Rs. 4,999 across a host of outlets in the country.

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After the recent big launches in the Android mobile universe by HTC (HTC One X) and Sony (Xperia S), it is now the turn of Samsung which is all set to launch its next flagship smartphone. The company has code-named it the ‘next galaxy', just to tease mobile phone lovers.

The South Korean electronics giant has announced that the Samsung Galaxy S3 phone will be unveiled in London on May 3, an event that will also be streamed live on Facebook. Enthusiasm for the next generation Galaxy S phone is very high, given the success of earlier phones from Samsung. It would be fair to say that Samsung alone has come close to challenging Apple's iPhone in terms of specifications and performance. However, HTC's One X seems to have raised the bar for all Android mobile phones. There is a lot of speculation on just what Samsung will do with the upcoming phone. In recent times, Samsung has set the benchmark for mobile screen displays with its Super AMOLED Plus screen. The invite for the launch event, that several tech blogs have posted, and the video teasers that have gone viral give little information away though on what Galaxy S3 would have in store.

iPhone5 rumours
It is only fair to follow up the Android update with some news from the Apple camp about the anticipated iPhone5 launch in June. There is a lot of speculation that the “biggest PC vendor” in the world will be using a new technology called “in-cell” technology that could make its touch-panel displays slimmer. According to the chatter, Apple is likely to source the display panels from Japanese manufacturers Sharp and Toshiba in a move that is expected to make the next generation iPhones the slimmest smartphones in the market.

If the rumours are true, the new “in-cell” technology — that basically fuses the LCD and the touch sections display — will make the iPhone slimmer than the phones that feature “on-cell” display, including the likes that flaunt the Super AMOLED screens.

That distinction of being the slimmest phone once belonged to the iPhone but the most recent high-end Android phones have managed to cut down on size. The other big rumour about the next-generation iPhone is that it would be larger in size, given the trend of bigger phones. It was something Steve Jobs resisted a lot but there are strong rumours that the iPhone5 would, in fact, have a display larger than 4 inches diagonally. iPhone4S has a display that is 3.5 inches diagonally.

Bluetooth keyboard from Microsoft
Microsoft has introduced its Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 5000 in India, a wireless keyboard which, it says, is compatible with most personal computers and tablet PCs in the market. The Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard, priced at Rs. 3,350, is less than three-quarters-of-an-inch thick and sports the curve-design that is supposed to be ergonomical. It is small enough to be carried around in a bag, and seems like a good companion for tablet PCs.

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AsusTek, Inc. released a new tablet, Asus Transformer Pad TF300 in the US and Europe. The new device is successor to the 2011 Transformer Prime but the company has decided to trim off the Eee Pad Prefix from the name. The Pad TF300 comes preloaded with Google’s latest version of the mobile operating system Android, Ice Cream Sandwich (version 4.0.3).

Though the Prime has received the update to ICS, in fact it was the first device to upgrade to the said version of Android, the Pad TF300 comes pre-loaded with a number of applications and features that the Prime lacked or still lacks in both firmware and applications. We will go through each one of them in this review.

Design and shape
For better or for worse, technology now-a-days thrives on the shape and design, in addition to applications. The operating systems themselves have become so versatile that only core performances are measured on critical balance.

The new Pad TF300 trickles down in design aesthetics compared to the Prime, which is one of the slimmest tablets in the world to date. At least, Prime users had the bragging rights to say to the iPad users that they have got quad-core slimmer tablet than the iPad. However, that bargain fades off with the Pad TF300.
The screen size is the same at 10.1 inches as the Prime, which is a good aspect as compared to the iPad series that sport 9.6-inch screens. The TF300 is slightly thicker than the Prime, about 0.06, at 0.38. The new tablet is also heavier than the predecessor, although the difference is very slight, but if someone wants to blow the dust of a critical balance the Pad TF300 is  0.08 pounds heavier than the Prime. Width and height are the same at 7.1 and 10.4 inches, respectively.

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