Google unveils new Nexus 7, Android 4.3, Chromecast Internet TV dongle

San Francisco: Google is betting consumers will pay slightly more for a sleeker, more powerful version of its Nexus 7 tablet as the Internet company escalates its rivalry with Apple and Amazon.com in technology's key battleground - the mobile computing market.

The fancier devices unveiled on Wednesday in San Francisco will go on sale in the US next Tuesday in Google's online store and numerous retailers with brick-and-mortar stores. 


Among other things, the souped-up line of Nexus tablets will boast a higher-definition 7-inch display screen and a processor that promises to be nearly as twice as fast. Dual stereo speakers have been added for richer sound, and the device's battery duration has been extended to 10 hours for Web browsing, an increase of about an hour.  


On other fronts, Google also unveiled a gadget that will lean on its widely used Chrome Web browser and take aim at Apple on another front - the living room.

The new device, called Chromecast, is part of the company's attempt to make it easier for people to access Internet content on their TVs. Chromecast is a small stick roughly the same size as a thumb drive that can be plugged into an HDMI port on flat-panel TVs. It brings Netflix, Google's YouTube site and other Internet content to what is usually the biggest screen in households.

Forrester Research analyst Sarah Rotman Epps said Chromecast could undermine Apple in the still-nascent market to plug streaming devices into TVs, just as the Nexus tablets have siphoned some sales away from Apple's iPad.

Google's previous products designed to connect TV sets to the Internet haven't worked out well. The company initially tried to embed an operating system called Google TV into sets made by TV manufacturers, but that flopped. Last year, Google introduced an orb-like device called the Nexus Q in hopes of delivering more Internet video to flat-panel TVs, only to quickly pull the product from the market.

"Chromecast looks like a smart and disruptive device," Rotman Epps said. "Maybe it took the other failures for Google to get it right."

Google wants to have a presence on TVs because it could open up a lucrative new channel for it to sell more ads, which bring in most of its revenue.

In a show of its determination to make inroads on TVs, Google started selling Chromecast for just $35 on Wednesday. That price undercuts the most popular Internet-streaming devices made by Apple and Roku. An Apple TV box sells for $99, while the least expensive Roku box capable of showing high-definition video goes for $80. Roku, a company that formed within Internet video subscription service Netflix, also sells an Internet streaming stick similar to Chromecast for $100.

Earlier this year, Apple revealed that it has sold more than 13 million of its streaming boxes. Roku said its sales of streaming boxes surpassed 5 million units this year.

The Chromecast device connects with smartphones, tablets and personal computers to beam Internet connect to TVs. The Apple and Roku streaming boxes rely on a standard remote control to select Internet content.

As an enticement to get people to try Chromecast, Google is offering three months of free Netflix service with a purchase of the Internet-streaming stick. That translates to a $24 value, leaving the cost of the device at $11 for those who would have gotten Netflix anyway.

As for the Nexus 7, the extra firepower added to the second generation of the tablets will come with a higher price. A model with 16 gigabytes of storage will sell for $229, a $30 per increase from the current Nexus 7 released a year ago. That's still 30 per cent below the $329 that Apple charges for its iPad Mini. A comparable Kindle Fire HD tablet from Amazon.com currently sells for $199.

A 32-gigabyte version of the Nexus 7 will sell for $269, a $20 price increase.
The price hike for the Nexus 7 comes at a time when more people have been showing a preference for less expensive tablets. Google helped propel the trend with last year's introduction of the Nexus line, contributing to pressure for Apple to come out with the iPad Mini as an alternative to its top-selling tablets with a 10-inch screen.

Google is confident the Nexus 7 will still look like a great value once consumers see how much more powerful the new models are, said Sundar Pichai, an executive who oversees the company's Android and Chrome software.

The iPad Mini has driven down the average selling price of Apple's tablets, hurting the Cupertino, Calif., company's profit margins.

Even at a lower price, the Nexus tablets haven't been as popular as the iPad. Pichai said the Nexus products account for about 10 percent, or 7 million, of the roughly 70 million tablets now running Android software.
In the first half of this year alone, Apple sold 34 million iPads, including full-size models.

Amazon.com doesn't disclose its sales of Kindle Fires, which run on a modified version of Android. The research firm IDC estimates about 1.8 million Kindle Fires were sold during the first three months of this year.

The Nexus 7 will be the first device to get the 4.3 version of its Android software. It's a relatively minor upgrade from the "Jelly Bean" flavour of Android. Google still hasn't said when it will release a more comprehensive Android overhaul, currently known as "Key Lime Pie."

As with the original line of Nexus 7s, the new devices are being made by AsusTek Computer, working from Google's design.

Google is still tinkering with a new line of Nexus tablets with 10-inch display screens. The Mountain View, California, company also hasn't updated its Nexus 4 phones, though it worked with phone makers to release variants of Samsung's Galaxy S4 and HTC's One this summer. The variants run a pure version of Android, without the customizations added by the phone makers.

IT tool developed to curb dengue, malaria

A unique IT tool, developed to control and reduce the outbreak of mosquito-borne diseases by using data mining, has been validated and taken up for implementation by health authorities in five States.

The novel technology has been developed by Dr. U.S.N. Murthy, Chief Scientist, Biology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology and his team by improvising and customising Self Organising Map (SOM), a cluster technique in data mining.

Following effective validation of the technique in remote areas of Arunachal Pradesh and other places, Dr. Murthy demonstrated the technology to officials from National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) of Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The Government of India cleared implementation of SOM technology in five States — Gujarat, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Assam and Mizoram in the initial phase. It will be extended to all other States in a phased manner.

Dr. Murthy said the SOM technology would enable health officials to prioritise control parameters in endemic zones at village level and initiate measures to minimise morbidity and mortality, caused by the onset of vector-borne diseases. “By implementing SOM technology, we can alert health authorities to take up larval and adult spraying before the transmission of parasite by the mosquito,” he added.

Mosquito-borne diseases like malaria, Japanese encephalitis and dengue are posing a serious public health problem in India and other South-East Asian Countries, with some of them were occurring in an epidemic form on a periodical basis. The NE parts account for about 10.5 per cent of malaria cases and 20 per cent of the deaths

The technology comprises two dimensions — one relating to the names of the villages and the second focusing on mosquito density, infection, infectivity and parasitic load. 

Based on these parameters, a complete mapping of the villages could be done in terms of prioritising control parameters. For instance, in a village where parasitic load is heavy, drug administration rather than mosquito control would be the priority. In places with heavy mosquito density, larval and adult spraying measures need to be taken up followed by drug administration.

“This is the first of its kind approach in the country in reducing mosquito-borne diseases at village level,” Dr. Murthy added.

He said the health officials in the five States have been imparted training on the use of the software. “The feed back from Arunachal Pradesh is that it is working very well and they are able to identify the affected villages and take precautionary measures,” he said.

courstesy: source

Apple TV may get gesture control feature

The new Apple TV may have gesture control as one of its features, according to fresh rumours sparked off by sources close to the company. 

According to The Huffington Post, there was a lot of talk recently about the TV that is said to be in development and Apple is working on a service that would allow people to skip TV advertisements, with the company paying money to the networks that they would lose with fewer people watching the ads. 

The report said that the news follows Apple's plans to purchase PrimeSense, an Israeli company which designs 3D sensors that allows people to interact with devices, being the technology behind Xbox Kinect. 

The report added that the company's facial and body recognition technology could given an Apple TV the power to recognize who is watching, enabling the device to have customized profiles.

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Apple developer site remains shut 4 days after hacking

A website that Apple uses to communicate with its community of some 6 million software developers remained shuttered on Monday, four days after a cyberattack that prompted a harried upgrade to prevent future breaches. 

It was not immediately clear what data, if any, was been compromised by the attack. 

Apple said in a notice released late on Sunday that names, mailing addresses and emails may have been accessed by unknown attackers. It added that "sensitive personal information" was encrypted and could not be accessed. 

Security experts said Apple's brief statement made it difficult to assess the severity of the breach. 

"I am not exactly sure what happened. I do not know what to make of this," said Charlie Miller, author of the iOS Hacker's Handbook. 

Miller said he received an email from Apple on Monday warning him about the breach, adding that he hoped none of his personal information had been compromised in an attack. 

Still, he said he had not seen any indications that suggest other attacks on Apple could soon follow. 

"I don't think this indicates any system problems in their security," he said. 

Data breaches are relatively common because hackers are constantly identifying new ways to attack by exploiting software bugs and leveraging mistakes in the way companies configure websites and computer systems. Hackers are also relentless in sending emails with malicious links and attachments to targeted companies. 

Security experts speculated that the site may have been attacked using one of several widely known security bugs in web technology, but there seemed to be no consensus. 

A man claiming to be a Turkish security researcher posted a video on YouTube and sent out comments on Twitter saying that he was responsible for the attack on Apple's developer site and had done so in a bid to publicize a security bug. 

Apple declined comment on his claim, which could not be independently verified. The man could not be reached for comment. 

Other corporate victims of recent security breaches include: Evernote, LinkedIn Corp, LivingSocial and Sony. 

Apple said in its statement to developers that it was completely overhauling the technology on the shutdown site, which it hoped would soon be back online. 

It may be in hot demand as developers are writing and testing apps to run on iOS 7, the next-generation operating system for iPhones and iPads that Apple is planning to release in the fall. 

It was the second security breach that the company has disclosed in five months. In February, the maker of Macs and iPhones said that some Mac computers had been infected by hackers who had also attacked Facebook and other technology companies.

Pre-orders start for Sony’s 6.4-inch phablet

Sony upped the ante for high-end phablets in June by unveiling its Xperia Z Ultra. This phablet has a 6.4-inch screen, the biggest among top-of-the-line handsets, and ranks amongst the thinnest smartphones in the world. Within a month of its global showcasing, rumours have begun that the handset will soon launch in India, and now, even pre-orders have started.

Speculation is rife that the new Xperia Z Ultra will hit India on July 31, though nothing has been confirmed by the Japanese manufacturer. However, the device has been listed on Sony Mobile's India website. Online retailer Saholic has even started taking pre-orders for the phablet at Rs 44,990, with delivery promised within seven days. The website's page for Xperia Z Ultra shows an official price tag of Rs 46,990, though if rumours are to be believed then the device may be priced under Rs 40,000.

Xperia Z Ultra phablet has a full HD display (1920x1080p resolution) with 344ppi pixel density. The quad-core CPU of the handset is clocked at 2.2GHz and is supported by 2GB RAM. This device has the same design language as Xperia Z smartphone and features on-screen keys as well as scratch-resistant and shatterproof glass. Just like the current flagship phone, Xperia Z Ultra is waterproof and dust resistant, even though it can withstand staying in the water for longer duration of time.

The phablet runs on Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) with a customized UI to make better use of the extra screen size. Powered by a 3,000mAh battery, Xperia Z Ultra packs 16GB internal storage and supports microSD card expansion up to 64GB. Connectivity suite of Sony's latest gadget consists of 2G, 3G, 4G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC and microUSB 2.0. On the back is an 8MPcamera with LED flash, while a 2MP unit is placed in the front.

At 212gram, Xperia Z Ultra is one of the heftiest phablets in the market, but with thickness of just 6.5mm, it finds itself a spot among the slimmest handsets today. Apart from multitouch, users can input data via stylus in this new phablet and pencils.

Gmail now lets you compose emails in fullscreen

A new Gmail update will let users compose their emails in full screen. Google has stated that this is a much requested feature and offers flexibility to users within the new compose window. The full-screen window option will be rolled out in the next couple of days to everyone.

Gmail's new compose box will let you open the compose screen like a chat window in a separate screen. Users will also have the option to expand the screen by clicking on the top right button or go to the default to full screen in the menu options in the bottom right.

Google had rolled out the new compose window in October last year and made it the default way in March this year. The new compose window allows users to easily reference with older mails without switching back and forth.

The controls to the new compose box are easily accessible and won't come in the users way. Another feature added is that that profile pictures of the contacts will show up in auto complete once the recipients are added in the send to option leading to lesser errors in sending messages. While adding the new features Gmail has still retained all its previous features like spell check, print, add text and add attachments in Google Drive.

Right now users can still access the old compose mode though Google has stated in a blog post that the old compose will be going away soon. Google has also asked users to submit their view about the changes through Google+.

Who's Who in the Tablet Market Melee

Over the past two years, Apple has lost significant ground in the tablet market, but it still maintains strong brand recognition and a majority share. The remainder is up for grabs. If Apple's share were to dip beneath the 50 percent mark after the 2013 holiday season, the market would still be best characterized as "Apple versus The Rest," with Apple maintaining a plurality share.

Nearly three years have passed since Apple first introduced its iPad, and the company still enjoys the largest market share in this space. This statement may seem a natural conclusion because Apple almost single-handedly reinvigorated this product category; however, creating a market does not guarantee a sustained monopolistic hold. This nascent market got crowded very quickly.

Many new players announced and rapidly deployed their own tablets, but in this fast-moving, highly competitive environment, some simply could not deliver. HTC discontinued sale of its Flyer tablet after less than a year on the market. Pandigital declared bankruptcy in mid-2012. Other companies -- notably BlackBerry -- have indicated that tablets will no longer play a role in future business endeavors. Still, Android-based tablets from Amazon, Samsung, and others have chipped away at Apple's dominance; the company's market share has declined from nearly 90 percent in 2010 to about 55 percent by year-end 2012.

Despite the loss of some early players, today's tablet market continues to expand in number of manufacturers and products. That diversity is not confined to low-end devices sold in big box retailers. Recent entrants include tech giants Google and Microsoft. Both companies are already established in the tablet market with their operating systems, and they hope to make inroads with their own branded hardware.
Retailers Amazon and Barnes & Noble established a foothold in the tablet market by springboarding off the success of their e-reader devices. Both followed Apple's lead by developing a proprietary content ecosystem around their hardware. After three years of churn in the tablet market, six top-tier tablet brands have emerged.

6 Major Contenders

• Apple: Apple introduced the first generation of the iPad on April 3, 2010, selling 14.8 million units by the end of that year. The iPad 2 debuted 11 months later, and Apple experienced a significant production backlog due to strong demand. Apple released its third-generation iPad on March 26, 2012, but discontinued that version upon the release of the iPad with Retina display on Oct. 23, 2012. The iPad mini made its debut on the same day, marking Apple's venture into the market for so-called "tweeners," which the company classifies as smaller-screen devices too big to be a smartphone but too small to compete with tablets. iPad sales for 2012 totaled 65.7 million, a 62 percent increase over the 40.5 million units sold in 2011. In the first quarter of 2013, the company announced larger storage capacity for the iPad with Retina display and has already reported shipments of 19.5 million units. Altogether, Apple has sold more than 140 million iPads since the device's launch in 2010.
  
• Amazon: The online retailer had a significant presence in the portable devices market with its Kindle e-reader when it announced its full-featured tablet, the Android-powered Kindle Fire, in September of 2011. A year later, the company announced a new lineup of Kindle Fire HD devices as well as a 4G/LTE-enabled version of the larger option. Like Apple, Amazon designed its tablet to serve as a delivery mechanism for its digital content ecosystem, including e-books, apps, music, video, and more. Unlike Apple, Amazon is a major online retailer of physical goods, and the Kindle serves as an additional outlet for the sale of physical/digital goods, generating additional revenue for Amazon.
  
• Barnes & Noble: In November 2009, Barnes & Noble released its Nook 1st Edition, an e-reader that combined an e-paper screen with a smaller color LCD screen used for navigation and input. Over the course of the next two years, the company released its Nook Color (November 2010) and Nook Tablet (November 2011). Both devices featured full-color multitouch screens, and were discontinued following the September 2012 launch of Barnes & Noble's most recent tablets -- the 7-inch Nook HD and the 9-inch Nook HD+. Similar to the Apple and Amazon offerings, the Barnes & Noble tablets are geared toward delivering content from the B&N ecosystem. Barnes & Noble differs from its competitors in that its direct sales are primarily books and magazines, and the company supplements those revenues with the selling of apps, music, games and movies in the Nook storefront.
  Barnes & Noble recently announced a significant loss in its Nook e-reader division in its most-recent fourth quarter. As a result, the company will turn to third parties to manufacture the color version of the Nook but keep the black-and-white version in house.
  
• Samsung: Korean conglomerate Samsung has released a variety of Android-powered tablets, beginning in November 2010 with the 7-inch Galaxy Tab. Larger versions with 8.9- and 10.1-inch screens were released in 2011, and a new 10.1-inch Note tablet, with accompanying stylus, was released in 2012. Samsung has since released second generations of its 7- and 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab devices. Samsung plans on expanding its line of smartphones and tablets in 2013. So far, that expansion includes only the new Galaxy Note 8.0 and the Galaxy S4.

• Google: Search giant Google bequeathed its open source Android operating system to device manufacturers in 2008, but the company did not release an Android device of its own until January 2010: the Google Nexus One smartphone, manufactured by HTC. The first Google-branded tablets, the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10, hit the market in 2012. These two Google-branded tablets were built by two different OEMs: Asus manufactured the 7-inch tablet while Samsung built the 10-inch device. Google sold nearly 7 million units in 2012, vaulting it into fourth place behind Apple, Samsung and Amazon.

• Microsoft: Like Google, Microsoft had an early presence in the tablet market thanks to the Windows operating system. When it came to building its own hardware, Microsoft was relatively late to the game, releasing its first tablet -- the Surface RT -- in October 2012. Microsoft released the Surface Pro in February 2013, targeting professional users. Microsoft sold approximately 1 million Surface units in 2012, representing about 1 percent of the total market, based on Parks Associates estimates. Notably, Surface sales accounted for only one-quarter of all Windows-powered tablet sales in 2012, and the company recently announced it would be slashing prices on its models to try to drive up sales.

Still No. 1

Over the past two years, Apple has lost significant market share but still maintains strong brand recognition and a majority share. The remainder is up for grabs. Within the non-Apple portion of the market, no single manufacturer has managed to carve out a majority stake. Samsung, Amazon and Google have gained, but 13 percent of the market falls in the "Other" category, Parks Associates estimates. A significant number of tablet owners are turning to lesser-known brands or searching for lower-priced options.

If Apple's share were to dip beneath the 50 percent mark after the 2013 holiday season, the market would still be best characterized as "Apple versus The Rest," with Apple maintaining a plurality share. With new or updated iPad designs expected later in 2013, Apple will certainly fight to hold onto that majority share. The rest of the market will remain highly fragmented due to pricing pressure, a constant flow of new players, and continued product diversification.