Nokia Working on 10.1-inch Windows RT Tablet with Battery-Equipped Keyboard Cover

Image source: Pocketnow

Quoting information provided by sources familiar with Nokia's plans, The Verge claims that Nokia is working on a 10.1-inch Windows RT tablet. While rumors of a Nokia Windows RT tablet have surfaced as early as March this year, the latest report reveals some specifications of the device.

The Nokia Windows RT slate is said to be equipped with an ARM chip, HDMI and USB ports. It also has cellular connectivity and AT&T will be among the first carriers to sell it in the U.S. Sources told The Verge that one of the key aspects of the tablet that Nokia will be focusing on is a battery-equipped cover. 

Designed to envelop the tablet like a book, the cover is alleged to incorporate a keyboard and a kickstand. The cover also sports a built-in battery that will extend the battery life of the tablet. The main battery is reported to be able to last up to 10 hours, and features fast charging which allows the battery capacity to reach 50% within a short period of time.

Nokia plans to produce a small number of the Windows RT tablets initially, and is considering the possibility of building a Windows 8 device. DigiTimes previously pointed out that the tablet will be unveiled at Mobile World Congress 2013.

Source: The Verge

Amazon CEO Granted Patent for Airbag System for Portable Devices

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Amazon VP Gregory Hart have been awarded a patent that outlines a number of innovative solutions to protect portable devices from hard impacts. One of the methods involves a deployable airbag that is activated when the device's sensors detect its fall from heights.

(Image Source: Geek Wire)

Another idea details the use of jets of compressed gas to orientate the dropped device so that it can be cushioned by a deployed airbag or springs. Details of the patent can be viewed here; the different solutions highlighted in this patent appear to be figments of an imaginative mind and may never see their mainstream usage in portable devices. 

(Source: United States Patent and Trademark Office via Geek Wire)

Google Maps App for iOS Arrives

*Update as of 13/12/2012 4.08 p.m: The Google Maps app is currently available in more than 40 countries and 29 languages, including Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish.

*Update as of 13/12/2012 1.10 p.m: A kind reader (KimGuan Goh) on our Facebook Page has shared the link to download Google Maps on the iPhone. You have to open the link on your iPhone to download the app. At point of publication, we are able to use the link to download the app on the iPhone 5/4S/4 and iPad mini.

*Update as of 13/12/2012 12.38 p.m: Apple has made the Google Maps available for download on its App Store. The file size is stated to be 6.7MB and is optimized for the Apple iPhone 5. At point of publication, the Maps app is still not available for download in Singapore.

Image source: Apple App Store

Apple iOS 6 users have something to look forward to later today as Google is said to be releasing the Maps app for iOS later today. According to AllThingsD, the information came from sources familiar with the matter. 

Google Maps was dropped by Apple in favor of its own mapping technology when it unveiled iOS 6 in September. However, Apple's own mapping solution appeared to be half-baked as it was plagued with bugs, flaws and serious navigation issues.

This not only prompted Apple's CEO Tim Cook to issue an official apology on the company's website, it also got the manager of Apple Maps fired. If Apple approves the Maps app in its App Store, iOS 6 users can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Sources: AllThingsD, Apple App Store

Samsung Galaxy S III Mini Launched, Equipped with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

Image source: Samsung

*Update as of 14/12/2012 2.56 p.m: Winston Goh, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Mobile Communications, Samsung Asia Pte Ltd, has informed us that the company is planning to launch the Galaxy S III Mini sometime in Q1 2013.

*Update as of 14/12/2012 11.56 a.m: The Samsung Galaxy S III Mini may make an appearance in Singapore as a listing for the device appears on IDA Equipment Search List, thanks to eagle-eyed Sim YuMing who tipped us off on Twitter. We are checking with Samsung Singapore on its launch date.

As confirmed by JK Shin, the head of Samsung Mobile Communications, the Korean company launched the Galaxy S III Mini in Germany. 

The Samsung Galaxy S III Mini is powered by Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, which is also featured in the Galaxy S III LTE and the upcoming Galaxy Note II. Not surprisingly, the Galaxy S III Mini sports a 4-inch Super AMOLED display with resolution of 800 x 480 pixels.

Running under the hood is a ST-Ericsson NovaThor dual-core 1GHz processor , a Mali-400 GPU and 1GB RAM. Software-wise, you get Google Now, S Voice, S Beam and Smart Stay on the Galaxy S III Mini.

The Galaxy S III Mini comes in two storage capacities: 8GB and 16GB. If you need more storage capacity, there is a microSD slot that supports up to 32GB. Measuring 121.55 x 63 x 9.85mm, the Galaxy S III Mini is quite light at 111.5g with its 1,500mAh battery.

There is no word yet on its availability outside Europe. We will update this section where we have the information. In the meantime, here's a comparison of the Samsung Galaxy S III Mini against the other recently announced 4-inch Android smartphones:

Specifications	Samsung Galaxy S III Mini	HTC Desire X	Sony Xperia J
Operating System	1 Jelly Bd 4.eanGoogle Androi	Google Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich	Google Android 4.0 Ice zCream Sandwich
Processor	ST-Ericsson NovaThor dual-core 1GHz processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core 1GHz processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon S1 single-core 1GHz
Built-in Memory	1GB RAM	768MB RAM	1GB RAM
Display	4.0-inch Super AMOLED 800 x 480 pixels	4.0-inch Super LCD 800 x 480 pixels	4.0-inch display  854 x 480 pixels Scratch-resistant glass
Camera	5-megapixel autofocus rear VGA front	5-megapixel autofocus rear	5-megapixel rear autofocus camera  VGA front camera
Battery	1500mAh	1650mAh	1750mAh
Storage	8/16GB internal storage capacity  microSD card support up to 32GB	4GB internal storage capacity  microSD card support up to 32GB	4GB internal storage capacity  microSD card support up to 32GB
Dimensions	121.55 x 63 x 9.85mm	118.5 x 62.3 x 9.3mm	124.3 x 61.2 x 9.2mm
Weight	111.5g	114g	124g

Sources: Samsung, IDA Equipment Checklist via Sim YuMing

D-Link Enters The AC Field

The DIR-865L marks D-Link's inevitable entry into the domain of 802.11ac routers. Also known by its longer moniker 'Wireless AC 1750 Dual Band Router", or the "Amplifi Cloud Router 5700" in other regions, the DIR-865L now joins the ranks of ASUS, Linksys, and Netgear, who've already furnished the networking market with access points brandishing theoretical top speeds of up to 1,300Mbps for the 5GHz band, and 450Mbps on the 2.4GHz band. That said, what does the DIR-865L bring to the table? For starters, the device is packed with D-Link's cloud services; a trend which seems to be growing in popularity with router makers these days. Think Linksys and their latest EA-series of Smart Wi-Fi routers. Now, back to D-Link. By logging in to the mydlink portal, either through a computer or a mobile app, users are able to access and configure their router's settings via the cloud. This applies to paranoid parents on the move as well, especially those who love to check up on their child's web-surfing habits via the router's logs. But first, there are two things you might want to take note.

With an array of integrated cloud services and a combined maximum throughput of 1,750Mbps, can D-Link's latest 802.11ac contender outdo the competition? We'll find out in just a jiffy.

One, the app in question is called "mydlink Lite", and it's only available on iOS and Android at this point in time. Tough luck if you're on Windows or Blackberry. Two, if you're using a Mac to access D-Link's cloud portal,  remember to install Java for OS X 10.7 and above for Java plug-ins aren't pre-installed with the newer OS X versions. D-Link has another SharePort Mobile app worth a mention. Available exclusively on iOS and Android, users are reportedly able to stream multimedia content on an attached USB drive to their smartphones or tablets. Apparently, the app also enables you to save these 'streamed' files for offline playback. Other perks of the DIR-865L include IPv6 support, backward compatibility with older 802.11a/b/g/n devices, as well as Advanced and OpenDNS parental controls. Let's take a quick look at its design and features before we check out the router's 2.4GHz and 5GHz wireless performances.

sources:hardware zone

Apple Hires Experienced Hacker Kristin Paget

Source: DailyTech

In a bid to shore up both OS X's and iOS's defenses, Apple has hired veteran hacker Kristin Paget (formerly known as Chris Paget). Most famously, Kristin was brought on by Microsoft before the launch of Vista to help ensure the OS will be as bug-free as possible. At that point, Microsoft was confident that Vista was good for release. However, Kristin spotted a wealth of bugs, so much so that Microsoft was forced to delay the release of Vista so that she could help fix the bugs.

“We prevented a lot of bugs from shipping on Vista,” Paget said, according to a recording of her talk. “I’m proud of the number of bugs we found and helped get fixed.”

With Kristin, Apple is hoping to get stop hackers from jailbreaking and unlocking its iOS devices. Additionally, it hopes to beef up OS X's anti-malware defenses. Earlier this year, Mac users were rocked by the Flashback trojan, and just days ago, we reported on a new Dockster virus affecting Mac users.

Source: DailyTech

Intel Talks 2013 Tech

Prakash Mallya (left), Country Manager, Sales and Marketing, Intel Malaysia, and Uday Marty, Managing Director, Southeast Asia, Intel Technology Asia, spoke to us about upcoming technologies in 2013

Earlier today, Intel Malaysia invited us over to their office to talk about upcoming technologies and what to expect in 2013. Present at the discussion were Uday Marty, Managing Director, Southeast Asia, Intel Technology Asia, and Prakash Mallya, Country Manager, Sales and Marketing, Intel Malaysia.

Uday Marty spoke first, stating that Intel’s focus in 2013 will primarily be with the Intel Core processors and the Intel Atom processors. In Asia, Marty said that the development of apps is being decentralized – nearly anyone with development know-how can create an app for various platforms, especially when it comes to the Android and Windows 8 platforms.

Ultrabooks and other mobile devices will be big in 2013, according to Intel

He also said that touch controls, Big Data, and the cloud will be developed further in 2013, allowing for businesses and consumers alike to experience a new level of computing. One such experience can be found on notebooks and Ultrabooks that will be powered by Intel’s upcoming 4th Generation Intel Core processors. These devices will offer all day battery life and standby time of up to several weeks, without compromising on performance levels. This is in line with the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) trend that is happening across the globe currently.

Once Marty completed his briefing, Mallya took over by offering a Malaysian perspective. He began by saying that research has shown that Malaysians are highly tech savvy. With this in mind, 2013 will be the year that Intel makes it easier for Malaysian consumers to better select devices that suit their needs by educating the public on the different types of Ultrabooks being offered in the market.

He continued by saying that Intel Malaysia will focus on three key areas in Malaysia, namely to develop businesses, aid in education, and develop the local talent who work for Intel at the Penang plant.

Sources:hardware zone

iPad mini and iPad with Retina Display Now Available in Malaysia

Source: Official Apple Store Malaysia

With all eyes set on the December 14 arrival of the iPhone 5, Apple Malaysia has quietly updated the official online store, allowing consumers to purchase the new iPad mini and fourth-generation iPad in time for the year-end holiday.

Source: apple.com

Like the iPhone 5, the iPad mini (reviewed here) is available in either Black & Slate or Silver & White, starting at RM999 for 16GB model, RM1,299 for the 32GB model and RM1,599 for the 64GB model. The Wi-Fi + Cellular variant, on the other hand, starts at RM1,399 for the 16GB model, RM1,699 for the 32GB model and RM1,999 for the 64GB model. At present, both variants are expected to ship in two weeks upon order confirmation.

Source: apple.com

Arriving less than a year after the 'new iPad', the fourth-generation iPad – known simply as iPad with Retina display – introduces the powerful new A6X chip and the all-new Lightning connector. The Wi-Fi model is available at RM1,499 for the 16GB model, RM1,799 for the 32GB model and RM2,099 for the 64GB model. The Wi-Fi + Cellular variant is offered at RM1,899, RM2,199 and RM2,499 respectively.

source:hardwarezone

New Xbox Rumored to be Launched in Late 2013

Source: Microsoft Xbox 360

The Xbox 360 was released way back in 2005, which means that it has been out in the market for the past 7 years. However the 360's days may be numbered as sources have told Bloomberg that Microsoft may be readying their next console for a late 2013 release. Referred to as the "Xbox 720", the product is rumored to ship for US$299 and will include Kinect and heads-up-display glasses along with an emphasis on cloud gaming.

If the rumors about the release date are correct it would mean interesting times for the gaming landscape.Sony launched an upgraded version of the PlayStation 3 at Tokyo Game Show 2012 and later re-affirmed their commitment to a 10 year life-cycle for their console, placing the release of the "PS4" in 2015. This would give the next Xbox a three year window for an uncontested run, something Sony will obviously not be pleased about. 

At present, the purported 2013 release date for the next console also gives Nintendo's WiiU about 11 to 12 months to establish a foothold. Microsoft however has made no comment on the veracity of the new rumors as of yet.

Source: Bloomberg via Arstechnica

Nokia Lumia 900 Running on Windows Phone 7.8 Spotted

Leaks happen all the time and it is unsurprising that a video of the Windows Phone 7.8 update running on the Nokia Lumia 900 has been making its round on the Internet. If you recall correctly, Microsoft just recently announced via its WP blog that existing WP7.5 users will be getting the update in early 2013.

Here's the video, in which the resizable tiles feature is prominently featured:

  

In any case, WP7.5 users don't have that much longer to wait. To be fair, the WP7.8 update isn't exactly ground-breaking and feels more cosmetic than anything else. To recap, the update will have the following features:

• New Smart screen where you can resize the Live Tiles
• New theme colors and accent colors
• New lock screen features such as the option to automatically display the Bing Picture of the Day

Source: PhoneCatTV (YouTube) via GSMArena

Windows 8 Store Hits 20,000 Apps

Win App Update, an independent analyst of the Windows Store, recently tweeted that the Windows 8 Store has surpassed 20,000 apps. Out of these 20,000 apps, close to 18,000 (17,958 to be exact) are free.

Not all apps are available in all regions, but looking at the numbers, the new Windows 8 Store is growing at a impressive rate of close to 500 new apps a day. And at this rate, it will pass the 30,000 mark before the end of the year.

Apple has shown that apps can make or break an OS, and if the numbers are anything to go by, the Windows 8 Store seems to have the quantity side of things covered. Quality, however, will take time as developers adjust themselves to Microsoft's radical new OS.

Source: The Next Web

Nikon D600 Time-lapse Video Shows Dust Accumulation on Sensor

Reports have been coming in of the Nikon D600's tendency to accumulate dust on its sensor. Photographer Kyle Clemens bought a brand new D600 to replace his aging D70, and the first thing he did with the camera was to investigate the problem for himself. He set up his D600 with a 50mm f/1.8 lens, pointed it straight at a white piece of paper and shot a total of 1000 images. This time-lapse video of those images show a clear build-up of dust on the upper-left portion of the sensor.

Clemens does mention that he "adjusted the curves and play with sharpening to make this look as bad as I possibly can." Nikon hasn't issued an official comment on the issue. We've updated our review of the D600with the news.

Source: Kyle Clements via Dpreview.

Thunderbolt-Enabled Motherboards from Gigabyte Support 4K Resolution Displays

Gigabyte has just announced details of test results that confirm three of its Thunderbolt-enabled Intel Z77 motherboards support 4K resolution video displays. The testing carried out at the company's testing facility in Japan on an Eizo FDH3601 4K display.

(Image Source: Gigabyte)

The company's Thunderbolt-enabled Intel Z77 chipset motherboards feature dual Thunderbolt ports and for the test setup, the Gigabyte GA-Z77MX-D3H TH board, installed with an Intel Core i7-3770K processor and its integrated Intel HD4000 graphics core, was able to drive the 4K resolution display without the need for any discrete graphics card. Each Thunderbolt port has support for 2K resolution as it complies with the DisplayPort 1.1 standard; hence, when they are combined, they work in tandem to provide a combined resolution of up to 4K.

We do foresee building a high-end home theater system with one of these Gigabyte boards with their dual Thunderbolt ports; however, while driving a 4K resolution display, we would not be able to connect any more Thunderbolt-enabled devices via daisy chaining. Another thing to note is that while 4K video playback may seem impressive, we do hope the company will start pushing the envelope by supporting 3D content on such high resolution as this will enable gamers and AV enthusiasts to invest in these boards for a truly high-end system to meet their needs.

For more information on the Gigabyte Thunderbolt-enabled boards, do head over to their site for more information.

(Source: Gigabyte)