Alliance for Wireless Power targets wireless laptop charging, signs up Dell

The Alliance for Wireless Power is on a roll. Mere weeks after announcing a standards partnership with the Power Matters Alliance, the group added Dell to its list of backers on Thursday. Not so coincidentally, the A4WP also announced a new initiative to extend its “Rezence” magnetic resonance technology to devices that drink a bit more juice than mobile devices.

The A4WP’s new higher-powered initiative targets charging devices ranging from 20 to 50 watts, a.k.a. consumer laptops.

“Extending the Rezence specification to include higher-power, more capable devices like Ultrabooks and 2-in-1’s is a necessary evolution that will help to accelerate charging station installations and bring a truly enjoyable ‘No Wires’ user experience to more users,” Sanjay Vora, the general manager of Strategic Planning for Intel’s PC Client Group, said in the A4WP’s press release.

 

(The A4WP’s new standard would allow laptops and hybrids (like Dell’s own superb XPS 12) to charge wirelessly when the technology became available. )

Intel’s been envisioning a charger-free existence for laptops for a while now. Beyondjoining the A4WP last year and reducing the energy needs of its Haswell and Bay Trailprocessors, the company also beefed up the battery life requirements for the latest round of Ultrabooks.

That lofty ideal isn’t quite there yet, though. While a small legion of companies have signed on with the Alliance for Wireless Power (including Qualcomm, Samsung, HTC, Broadcom, LG, and Panasonic), a Rezence-powered product has yet to actually hit the streets. And even if A4WP merges its standards with the PMA, there’s that pesky Qi consortium competing for mainstream attention with its own spin on wireless charging, and its inductive charging can already be found in numerous smartphones.

Yes, a single wireless charging standard would be swell. Nevertheless, the idea of charging your notebook sans charger is downright drool-worthy. With the “first major PC original equipment manufacturer” on board the A4WP’s vision, a truly cable-free laptop lifestyle just took a baby step closer to becoming reality.

Synaptics touch technology gets a makeover

Shred it all Putting paper shredders to the test

6 Types of Twitter Conversations Revealed

Twitter amplifies political echo chambers, hobbyists live in isolated bubbles, and a few trusted information sources still set the conversational agenda for breaking news.

That's the picture gleaned from tracking thousands of conversations on Twitter, according to a new study.

Surprisingly, conversations on Twitter tend to take one of only six different trajectories, said study co-author Marc Smith, the director of the Social Media Research Foundation, which conducted the study along with the Pew Research Center.

Smartphone-Piloted Drones Could Support US Troops on Front Lines

Injured soldiers in dangerous or difficult-to-reach combat zones could one day be carried to safety aboard specially designed, smartphone-piloted drones.

The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, is developing a military drone capable of assisting troops while avoiding hostile threats on the ground, such as ambushes and improvised explosive devices or IEDs. The so-called Aerial Reconfigurable Embedded System (ARES) drones could transport cargo to and from the front lines of battle, deliver or pick up troops from out-of-the-way areas, or extract casualties, as well as conduct intelligence-gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance.

The program aims to provide troops with more practical and accessible alternatives to helicopters, which remain in limited supply in the military, said DARPA program manager Ashish Bagai.

Microsoft’s Digits Allows Computer Interaction With Hand Gestures

Microsoft’s research lab in Cambridge, UK has developed a new way to interact with the digital world using intuitive hand gestures. “Digits” uses 3 different IR cameras to track the positions of fingers with respect to each other.
One of the applications for this technology includes 3-D spacial interaction with a mobile device. By assigning gestures to certain functions, the user could conceivably control any aspect of a device. This also allows for vision free control of the device. In example used in Microsoft’s video, they assigned the the “thumb’s up” to answer an incoming call.
Other applications include sign language interpretation and endless possibilities for gaming. Could this be the new controller for XBox 720? Guess we will have to wait to find out.

About Smartphone Safety

 With the advancements in the field of technology especially in mobile technology, we are no longer using smart phones to call but there are other ways these phones are being used. With modern smartphones we can do a broad variety of jobs; everything from browsing the Internet and giving your accounts to checking your bank declaration and accessing work internet messages. These are some of the more pervasive reasons to invest in a dedicated suite, since as well as defending a wireless against the newest online risks; the user holds supreme command of the method of the apparatus and the proficiency to render it all but useless in the hands of a robber. Because these smartphones are so sophisticated many of the security issues we’re revealed to through our computers now live on our smartphones
Risks involved in having a smart phone
Smartphone loss or theft – Mislaying an apparatus to accident or theft can origin lost productivity and/or facts and figures decrease.
Decrease of sensitive facts and figures – Numerous smartphones comprise perceptive or confidential data, from usernames and passwords, individual photographs and videos, enterprise and individual internet message notes and text notes to submission facts and figures and files.
Malicious programs – Viruses, Trojans, and Worms are familiar risks to traditional computers. While smartphones have not yet become an important goal, it is expected that this will change over time, particularly as more enterprise and economic undertaking is undertook online utilising smartphones.
Unauthorised access to the mobile network – Because many mobile devices supply a kind of mesh connectivity choices, they could possibly be utilised as a stepping pebble to attack business schemes.
How can I bypass it from occurrence?
Set your mobile phone to lock, or time out, after a certain period of inactivity, needing a overtake cipher to get back in. Only install submissions on your Smartphone from trusted causes. Pay close vigilance when establishing applications to glimpse if it requires consent to data on your telephone. Set your phone to swab its facts and figures if somebody continues to attempt to guess your smartphone overtake cipher, if this feature is supported. If this is the case, double-check that the consent demanded appears reasonable founded on the kind of application you are installing.Encrypt the data stored on your smartphone if this choice is available.
Tips for mobile security

• Endow a pass code to use your smartphone and set it to auto-lock after a couple of minutes of inactivity.
• Backup your data utilising recovery programs, usually supplied with the device.
• Set your telephone to swab its data after a set number of incorrect overtake cipher endeavours, if this feature is sustained.
• Mindfully consider the source of any applications you download.
• Address the consent to your facts and figures required by any application you establish.
• While possible, prevent sensitive data from being retained on your smartphone apparatus in the first place.
• Encrypt the facts and figures on your smartphone where possible.
• Using mobile monitoring applications such as espion téléphone portable that is used to track all the activities done through mobile phone is the most reliable security option to protect the smartphone. It also has the ability to recover the lost device.

Google releases Chromecast – Tablet to TV with HDMI and WIFI

Google has thrown an original product in the mix in the Digital TV market with Chromecast. It is a small dongle that looks like a USB thumbdrive, except that it connects to an HDMI port. Once connected to the TV and on WIFI, users are able to play content on their handheld device (Android, iPhone, iPad etc) and it can be “casted” to the device with the Chromecast device connected. Supported applications include Netflix, Youtube, Google Play Movies and TV and Chrome.
At $35, this is much less than the similar Roku device at $100. Currently it looks like people that purchase the Chromecast device will get a 3 month subscription to Netflix as well which recoups much of the $35 price tag with access to content.
As more companies battle for the large screens that sit in our living rooms, it shouldn’t be surprising that Google came up with a viable, unique and competitively priced  option with Chromecast.

Microsoft launches new Surface tablets

  

Panos Panay, Microsoft Surface general manager, holds up the Microsoft Surface Pro 2 during the launch of their Surface 2 tablets in New York September 23, 2013. (Reuters photo)  

 NEW YORK: Microsoft has introduced two new Surface tablet computers and several accessories as it tries to boost its tablet business as sales of traditional desktop and laptop computers decline. 
The Surface Pro 2, unveiled Monday at an event in New York, is targeted at professionals who want to full power of laptops in a tablet-style device. The kickstand built into the device is redesigned to make it easier to use on laps. In the past, it worked best on a flat surface such as a table.

Microsoft says the Pro 2 also offers a 75 per cent improvement in battery life over the previous model.

The other tablet is Surface 2. Unlike Surface Pro 2, which is powered by an Intel processor and can run all Windows applications and programs, Surface 2 uses Tegra 4, a processor made by Nvidia using the low-power chip design created by ARM Holdings. The price of Surface 2 will be $449 for the 32 GB version. Surface 2 will only run ARM-compatible applications.

Surface Pro 2 will cost $899 for the 64GB version. It will have 4GB RAM. The model with 256GB or 512GB internal storage will have 8GB RAM.

Microsoft will also sell a cover that will also act as a physical keyboard for Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2. This is similar to the cover offered with the earlier version of the tablet. However, unlike the older cover, the new one comes with a battery inside it, which will increase the battery life the Surface tablets.

The earlier versions of Surface failed to find takers. In the last quarter, Microsoft took an almost $1 billion hit on the account of unsold Surface units. The tablets have also led to strained relationship between Microsoft and its hardware partners like Asus and Acer, which see the Microsoft devices as a threat to their business.

Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 will be available from October 22 in select markets. For now Microsoft has not revealed when these two tablets will be available in India and at what price.                      READ MORE  >>Surface Pro 2 Launch|surface pro 2|Microsoft Surface tablet|Microsoft|nVidia

Apple expected to unveil cheaper iPhone to drive emerging market sales

(Reuters) - Apple Inc (AAPL.O) is expected to introduce a cheaper version of the iPhone on Tuesday, bringing one of the industry's costliest smartphones within reach of the masses in poorer emerging markets.
The world's most valuable technology company, which many expect to unveil an iPhone 5C in several colors alongside the latest high-end iPhone 5S, is trying to beat back rivals like Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (005930.KS) and Huawei Technologies Co Ltd in markets like India and China, where it is fast losing ground.
Wall Street approves of the move to offer a more basic version of the device, although some investors warned initially it will dilute margins and potentially tarnish a brand that has been linked to premium users since its 2007 inception.
Now, they hope a bigger emerging-market presence can help reverse a 29 percent fall in the company's share price since it hit a record high of $702.10 a year ago. The selloff was fueled by fears of slowing growth and a perception that its ability to innovate and shake up industries was dwindling.
Industry observers said Apple has not turned out a category-defining electronic device since late co-founder Steve Jobs made a bet on the iPad in 2010. Speculation revolves around a smartwatch - along the same lines as Samsung's recently introduced Galaxy Gear - or some sort of TV product.
But analysts said neither is likely to generate numbers anywhere in the neighborhood of the iPhone, which supplies half of Apple's revenue and is its highest-margin product.
"Apple needs to demonstrate in the coming months that it has other product lines which can start to make up for slowing growth and falling margins in (the) iPhone and iPad," said Jan Dawson, chief telecoms analyst for Ovum Research.
"That's a tall order."
More immediately, Apple will get a boost if it succeeds in enlisting China Mobile Ltd (0941.HK) in its iPhone network. For the first time, the company will host media in Beijing just nine hours after its Cupertino, California launch, spurring speculation it will announce a distribution agreement with the Chinese carrier.
The world's largest wireless carrier serves more than 740 million users and is perceived as more amenable to carrying the popular smartphone now that profit and subscriber growth are decelerating. Net income grew just 2 percent in the April to June quarter.
And smaller rivals China Unicom (0762.HK) and China Telecom (0728.HK) - both of which already sell Apple's gadget - are making headway against the market leader.
Separately, Japan's largest carrier, NTT DoCoMo, is expected to begin selling it as soon as this fall, other sources said.
One key question is whether Apple will sell its cheaper iPhone 5C also in more mature markets like Europe or the United States - heightening the risk that it will begin cannibalizing sales of the flagship 5S.
Globally, the market for cheaper smartphones priced around $300 - the iPhone 5 now starts at $649 without a contract - could grow to 900 million units by 2015, Bernstein Research analyst Toni Sacconaghi estimated. Assuming Apple manages to capture just 10 percent of that market, the 5C could bring in revenue of $30 billion annually.
"The only real potential to surprise investors (on Tuesday) seems to be in the scope and velocity of a new China strategy, and any new features within iOS 7 and fingerprint scanner technology," said Barclays analyst Ben Reitzes.
"Since it missed the trend toward larger screened phones and seems poised for only incremental iPad improvements, we believe that Apple needs to prove it can innovate in software and services."

Apple mulling iPhones with bigger screens

Apple is considering launching iPhones with bigger screens, a Reuters report said, quoting four people with knowledge of the matter

The report said that Apple is looking at introducing at least two bigger iPhones next year, one with a 4.7-inch screen and the other with a 5.7-inch screen.

The report also said that Apple may also launch cheaper iPhones in 5-6 colours.

The moves underline the increasing threat Apple faces from Samsung which has overtaken the California-based firm in market share through the popularity of its bigger-screen Galaxy "phablets" and introducing new products at different prices.

Apple's flagship iPhone 5 model, launched last September, has a 4-inch display whereas Samsung's Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 2 come with 5-inch and 5.5-inch screens, respectively.

The report said that Apple is expected to launch two new models this year. The new models, widely referred to as the iPhone 5S, may come with new fingerprint technology. The cheaper versions of the iPhone 5S could come in plastic casings and in 5-6 colours as well.

Apple updates MacBook Air lineup with full-day battery backup

Phil Schiller the senior vice president of worldwide marketing at Apple introduces the new MacBook Air laptops during the keynote address of the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, June 10, 2013 in San Francisco. Photo: AP

Nidhi Singal

Apple announced the updated MacBook Air WWDC in San Franciso on Monday. The new machines will feature an all day battery life along with fourth generation Intel Core processors with faster graphics.

The new 13 inch MacBook Air features fourth generation Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors that awards it up to 12 hours of battery life and up to 10 hours of iTunes movie playback. On the same lines, the 11-inch MacBook Air can deliver up to nine hours of battery life and up to eight hours of iTunes movie playback. The MacBook Air has also got support for next generation 802.11ac Wi-Fi for wireless performance that is up to three times faster when connected to an 802.11ac base station. The gaming and graphic intensive apps will be up to 40 per cent faster as Apple has used the new Intel HD Graphics 5000. The company has also used a new flash storage that provides speeds up to 45 percent faster than the previous generation MacBook Air. It will be nine times faster than traditional hard drives. There is also a thin and light design features dual microphones, a FaceTime HD camera, a high-speed Thunderbolt port and two USB 3.0 ports.

The MacBook Air will run OS X Mountain Lion that will bring messages, notification center, system-wide Sharing, AirPlay mirroring, dictation, game center and the enhanced security of Gatekeeper to the machine. There is also a redesigned AirPort Extreme and AirPort Time Capsure base station that feature three-stream 802.11ac Wi-Fi technology with a maximum data rate of 1.3Gbps, almost three times faster than 802.11n. The new MacBook Air will be right away through Apple Authorised Resellers.

The 11-inch MacBook Air with a 1.3 GHz processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 2.6 GHz, 4GB of memory with 128GB of flash storage is priced at Rs 67,900, while the one with 256GB of flash storage starting at Rs 81,900. The 13-inch MacBook Air will be equipped with a 1.3 GHz processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 2.6 GHz, 4GB of memory and is available with 128GB of flash storage starting at Rs 74,900 whereas one with 256GB of flash storage is priced at Rs 88,900.

Indian Company Ebay India to sell Google LG Nexus For , price Rs23,490

Google LG Nexus 4 is now available on eBay India (www.eBay.in), a leading eCommerce marketplace, in advance of the launch in the India Market.

Google's newest Android smartphone in partnership with LG.

Company Microsoft Surface Pro in 64GB and 128 GB versions soon

 

Software Huge Microsoft is ready  for  launching of new Surface Pro tablet which would come in 64GB and 128 GB versions. The new version of the Surface tablet is expected to be launched in January, 2013.

The new Surface Pro weights less than two pounds and is only 14 millimetres thick. The models will carry a price tag of $899(899*45 rupees) and $ 999(999*45 rupees) respectively, according to reports

Surface with Windows 8 Pro will run Windows 7 desktop applications, and both models will include a Surface pen.

Panos Panay, general manager of Microsoft Surface, says the new tablet is a customised tablet variant of the Windows 8 operating system.

First Easily Handled smartphone by Samsung in soon

 

User Easily Handled Phone Flexible smartphones could indeed debut in 2013, and the first offering would come from South Korean electronics giant Samsung.

Its already know fact that a host of mobile hardware companies like Sony, Nokia, LG, and Phillips are also working on the flexible smartphones.

British Board Committe  reports that Samsung will most likely be the first electronics manufacturer to launch such a device. There is no word on whether we could be seeing flexible screen technology on the next Galaxy S or Galaxy Note smartphone, or whether Samsung will introduce a new line of Galaxy 'Flexible'smartphones. Samsung has already repoted stating that its flexible displays will be "foldable, rollable, wearable and more, [and] will allow for a high degree of durability through their use of a plastic substrate that is thinner, lighter and more flexible than conventional LCD technology..........

Monitoring Oxygen Ventilation and External Suction Device

 

The Monitoring Oxygen Ventilation and External Suction Device (MOVES) is a life support system that can be mounted to a stretcher and has its own pump and filter that provide the wounded person with the oxygen he needs to survive. It has a monitor to track the patient's health, is powerful enough to work both immediately off the battlefield and in a hospital, and has two batteries, which means one at a time can be swapped out without interrupting the operations of the machine.

Ghost

 

Looking like a cross between the scrapped Sea Shadow test craft and an awesome G.I. Joe playset, the Juliet Marine Ghost is a versatile and adaptable stealth boat, that can carry troops, work as a mobile command center, go on patrol, or, most interestingly, launch missiles through large hatch opening on its roof. Right now there is one working prototype, but Juliet Marine hopes to have another this summer.
Also I'm not even joking about the G.I. Joe resemblance--the company's own advertising material seems to acknowledge that. And that little side pod in the back? Totally carrying a detachable jetski.

Sharc SV2

 

Benjamin, the autonomous underwater robot pictured here, has a Guinness World Record for crossing the Pacific Ocean. Starting from San Francisco in November 2011, it arrived in Australia in November 2012, and it did that without carrying any fuel.
Benjamin is powered entirely by solar panels. With carefully angled underwater wings taking advantage of the passive motion of the sea, it is a slow machine, traveling at about one knot, or 3 feet every 2 seconds. Speed isn't the point--endurance is. Already proven to be more than capable of spending a year at sea, the SHARC SV2 has plenty of room to carry sensors, letting it collect all sorts of important oceanic data that would be impractical or expensive to secure by other means. That's great for scientists.
What's it doing at a military expo? The sensors are neat, but it's the combination of sensors with an all-but-undetectable machine that the Navy is really interested in. Without engines or heat signatures, this machine runs quiet and it's almost invisible. All the while, it uses energy from its solar cells to collect and transmit whatever the sensors pick up.

Firedrill

 

The Firedrill was on of several technologies on display with an explicit emphasis on saving lives. The name is slightly misleading--it's a fire-extinguishing drill, which first drills into a room, vehicle, or ship that has an interior fire and then through holes behind the drillbit floods the room with one of four different fire suppressants.
This is an old technology, but it's still cool--here's an article from 1993 about a fire in an early experimental F-22 that a firedrill put out.

Throwbot XT

 

The Throwbot is basically a remotely piloted camera on wheels that you toss like a grenade. (The manufacturers take that "like a grenade" part seriously: you pull out a pin to turn it on and everything.) On display at the expo is the Throwbot XT, which has better wheels and the ability to pick up audio. The military uses of such a machine are all some variation on placing an eyeball around a corner and an annoying rat-sized machine under the feet of hostile people. There's even a clip to attach the Throwbot XT like a bayonet, so that a gun suddenly turns into a deadly periscope.
It also is comically fun to steer behind very serious and professional exposition attendees, and happens to look like an ancient Russian tank built during World War I.