Microsoft may announce the iPad Killer this Monday

Microsoft has been sending invites to a super secretive event this Monday June 18 at 3:30pm in Los Angeles where the company plans on a ‘major’ announcement. No other details about the nature of the event have been disclosed. Not only that, even the event venue is still shrouded in mystery. We did post a question to our Twitter followers as to what could be announced and replies included ‘buying Nokia or new Xbox’, ‘drastic changes in hotmail’, ‘new Windows tablet’. While the last reply was pure guesswork, chances are high that this could indeed be true. Reports have surfaced online that Microsoft may just be announcing the iPad Killer.Wrap.com has reported that, “an individual with knowledge of the company said that Microsoft would introduce a Microsoft-manufactured tablet at the event, marking a foray into a new hardware category that would put the company in direct competition with giant rival Apple.” 

Coming soon?

Microsoft has chosen to keep quiet on this particular topic and they haven’t responded to any replies or requests for comments. However, if this piece of information is indeed true, then we could have a new Microsoft tablet running on Windows 8 or Windows RT, the ARM based variant. A whole slew of Windows 8 tablets were announced at Computex 2012 by manufacturers and if Microsoft itself is entering this section, then it’s be going to be one interesting ride.  

So, MS wants to kill the iPad? Well, we hope they’ve taken a cue from this article that we have done in November 2011 on how to beat the iPad. The tablet war has been waging since quite a while now but Apple has still been reigning numero uno. Competition from the entire range of Android tablets hasn’t been able to topple the iPad so if Microsoft is planning to launch the iPad killer, they sure know how not to do it. If any tablet has to beat the iPad, here’s the list we had mentioned earlier: 

• Price your tablet sensibly
• Focus on the feel and aesthetics
• Be unique
• Try to build an ecosystem around your device
• Offer better performance, by optimising
• Stop trying to make a computer replacement
• Bug test your products thoroughly
• Make one product, make it better 

Come Monday, all will be revealed on Microsoft’s new announcement. If a tablet is indeed announced, for sake of competition, we hope it matches up to the iPad.

Windows Phone 8 officially announced, hitting new phones later this year

he news about Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8 operating system has been doing the rounds for quite a while. Yesterday, the tech giant said that they would offer a sneak peak at what one can expect from their smartphone OS once it becomes available. At an event in San Francisco, the brand officially raised the curtains on their latest mobile operating system and claimed that it is the most advanced mobile OS Microsoft has ever made. This OS will be available on new handsets that will be launched later this year.

According to a blog post, Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore claims that many of the new capabilities available on the Windows Phone 8 OS comes from Windows, which is the most successful and powerful operating system on the planet, and one used by more than a billion people. Windows Phone 8 is based on the same core technologies that power Windows 8. As a result, Windows Phone 8 will come equipped with a new wave of features for consumers, developers, and businesses.

Enter the next level in Windows mobility

Microsoft claims that with Windows Phone 8, similarities between Windows 8 and this latest smartphone OS is more than just skin deep. He states, “We’ve based the next release of Windows Phone on the rock-solid technology core of Windows 8.” Expanding on this, Belfiore states that Windows Phone and its older sibling will share common networking, security, media and web browser technology, and a common file system. These features will translate into better performance, more features, and new opportunities for app developers and hardware makers to innovate faster.

Here is a look at some of the highlighted features available on Windows Phone 8:

• Multi-core processor support – Windows Phone was a slick OS that ran smoothly on handsets with a single processor. The latest OS now features multi-core support with Belfoire claiming that they’re ready for whatever hardware makers dream up.
• Bigger, sharper screens - Windows Phone 8 supports two new screen resolutions—1280x768 and 1280x720, making it compatible with new handsets that will feature high-definition 720p displays.
• More flexible storage - Windows Phone 8 supports removable MicroSD cards, so users can stuff their phone with extra photos, music, and whatever else is important and then easily move it all onto their PC.
• NFC wireless sharing - In Windows Phone 8, NFC helps make sharing photos, Office docs, and contact info easier. One can achieve this by tapping their phone on another NFC-equipped device.
• Internet Explorer 10 - The next version of Windows Phone comes with the same web browsing engine that’s headed for Window 8 PCs and tablets. Microsoft claims that IE10 is faster and more secure, with advanced anti-phishing features like SmartScreen Filter to block dangerous websites and malware.
• Wallet - Windows Phone 8’s new digital Wallet feature does two things. It can keep debit and credit cards, coupons, boarding passes and other important info right at one’s fingertips. And when paired with a secure SIM from your carrier, users can also pay for things with a tap of your phone at compatible checkout counters.
• Better maps and directions - Windows Phone 8 builds in Nokia mapping as part of the platform. This partnership will provide more detailed maps and turn-by-turn directions in many countries, plus the ability to store maps offline on your phone so you can work with maps without a data connection.
• Improved apps and games – Microsoft states that basing Windows Phone 8 on the Windows core will unleash a new wave of amazing apps and especially games.

The Windows Phone 8 OS also comes with a flexible new Start screen. Microsoft states, “We’re making Windows Phone 8 even more personal, with a new palette of theme colors and three sizes of Live Tiles, all of which are under your control. We know Live Tiles are one of the things current owners really love about their Windows Phones, and we wanted to make them even more flexible and unique.”



Unfortunately existing handsets will not receive the Windows Phone 8 OS but instead will receive an update to their existing OS in the form of Windows Phone 7.8. (via Tech2)

Nexus 7: The best Android tablet under Rs.15,000

The Google Nexus has become the most celebrated device since its launch recently at the Google I/O. Google-Asus partnered to bring this new tablet which

The Google Nexus 7 has become the most celebrated device, since its launch at the recently concluded Google I/O 2012 event. Google and Asus partnered to bring this new tablet, which doesn’t target the reigning iPad, but tablets that fall within the price range of Rs. 11,000 and Rs. 15,000. It appears to be worth every penny, and why wouldn’t it? A quad-core tablet under Rs. 15,000 sounds just amazing. But that isn’t all, the tablet has much more features that could entice a user, and the most assuring bit comes from the fact that it has been built by industry giant.

Feature-packed

The affordable tablet market in India is flourishing. The first batch of ICS tablets came under the Rs. 10,000 bracket in the form of the Zync Z990, iBerry Auxus AX02. We’ve also seen tablets emerge above the 10K mark like the MSI Windpad, mTab Neo 2 and the most recent mTab Neo Rio. Going by the specifications and assuming that Google brings the device to India at the same or slightly higher price, the Nexus 7 seems far superior. 

Here's a quick look at its specifications -

• Screen - The Nexus 7 has a 7-inch capacitive touchscreen. It features an IPS screen with scratch resistant Corning glass protection and a resolution of 1280×800 pixels.

• Processor - The Nexus 7 built by Asus comes with a 1.3GHz Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor for quick loading, smooth and responsive interface and running multiple apps, along with 1GB RAM. A 12 core GPU offers rich and immersive graphics, while patented 4-PLUS-1CPU design offers processing power.

• Camera - The Nexus 7 hasn't worked too well in the camera bit. Google has given the rear camera a miss, while it comes integrated with a 1.2MP front camera for video chats, which also allows 720p recording. 

• Memory - The Google Nexus is available in two models – 8GB and 16GB storage. However, there is no expandable memory slot.

• Portability - The Nexus 7 tips the scale at 340 grams with 198.5 x 120 x 10.5 mm dimensions.

• Battery life - Nexus 7 promises a battery life with over 9 hours of HD video playback, 10 hours of web browsing or 10 hours of eReading. It also offers up to 300 hours of standby time.

In India, we find Android tablets positioned at various price points - starting from as low as Rs. 5,000 and Rs. 6000 and ranging upto Rs. 20,000 and above. At the end of the day, it’s all about the experience that a tablet has to offer for that extra moolah (if you are ready to spend it). In our tests and comparisons, we found that the Micromax Funbook offers good value for money at a price of Rs. 6,500. As aforementioned, there are a couple of tablets priced around the Rs. 15,000 price bracket.

On the backside

Samsung and Google are well known brands in India. Google’s known for its Android OS and its whole line of web services and Samsung is known for the dominance that it enjoys in the consumer electronics space. Although Samsung has some high-end tablets, one of the interesting products in their kitty is their Galaxy Tab 2 310, which sells in the sub-20k price tag. The Micromax Funbook and the Galaxy Tab 2 310 appear to be great products at their respective price points. The Google Nexus 7 is being introduced at a $200 price tag in the U.S. Assuming that it is priced slightly higher, it should hit Indian markets just shy of the Rs. 15,000 mark. Keeping the Funbook and Galaxy Tab 2 310 as reference points in their respective segments, we think the Nexus 7 is also going to be a key contender in its price range and will bridge that gap. 

We’ve compared the specs of the Nexus 7 with the Funbook and Galaxy Tab 2 310, which shows how the Nexus has been competitively priced by offering more value for money (if it is priced under Rs. 15,000) and how it offers much more than the Galaxy tab 2 310 for a much lesser price. So, this isn’t a literal comparison of the features, as the devices vary at price points.

Click to enlarge...

All three tablets come with a 7-inch screen, but the Nexus 7 manages to rope in a higher resolution at 800 x 1280, compared to both Funbook and Galaxy Tab 2 310. Moreover, the Nexus 7 has an IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen with scratch resistant abilities. The Nexus 7 equips a quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A9 processor, which is commendable at this price. The Micromax Funbook features a 1.22 GHz Cortex-A8 processor, while the Galaxy tab 2 310 equips a dual-core 1GHz  Ti OMAP processor for a much higher price. The Nexus comes equipped with a better battery, compared to the other two. Moreover, it has the latest version of the Android OS, even when ICS hasn't reached most devices yet.

Sleek and slim...

Google’s pushing hard for NFC and it's visible by the feature added to the Nexus 7 tablet. The NFC feature means that you can quickly grab bits of information from tags and other devices. For a tablet that may be priced around the Rs. 15,000 range, it’s actually pretty neat. Both, the Funbook and the Galaxy Tab 2 310 don’t come with the feature. The Nexus 7 might have NFC, but here in India, NFC still hasn’t taken off, since only a handful of devices now support it, with little to no infrastructure set in place. The Funbook lacks a camera, and only has a VGA one for video chatting. The Nexus 7 lacks one too, but it has a front facing 1.2 MP camera (720p video recording), which would primarily be used for video conferencing. If you’re going to be using photo apps on your tablet, the Galaxy Tab 2 might be the better of the lot. It has a 3MP camera, and since it’s rear facing, it makes it simpler to click photos with.  

There are a number of reasons to be excited about the Nexus 7. It marks Google’s foray into the tablet space and looking at the price bracket it’s priced at, it has a lot of potential, as we’ve mentioned in this story. It has a ton of fire power, bundled with a great screen and good features and could possibly reach India after September. In fact, we think it’s better than the Galaxy Tab 2 310 in many ways. The only reason to go out and buy the Galaxy Tab 2 is if you need 3G capability built into the device. (via Tech2)

Google Nexus 7 already for sale online in India

So, you wanted to buy the Google Nexus 7, but gave up hope knowing the delay in official Indian launches? Well, there is some hope for you if you want to desperately get this tablet. The Nexus 7 has started cropping up on a couple of online sites. Indiatimes Shopping has the tablet in stock and they have priced the Nexus 7 at Rs. 16,952. EMI options are available on the site as well. Online store eBay.in has a seller that ships the product to India within 14 days, which we’re guessing is still quicker than whatever the official launch date may be (that is if Google is still planning to get it here). The seller has priced it at Rs. 17,690 for the 8GB version which roughly translates to around $321. To remind you, Google’s pricing was $199.

Want some?

For those of you’ll living inside a box, the Google Nexus 7 tablet was announced at the recently concluded Google I/O 2012 event. Google has added a ton of high-end hardware to the mix and has kept the price down to a minimum by pricing it at $199 for the base model, which comes in a storage capacity of 8GB. This tablet, manufactured by ASUS is not just designed to take on Apple’s highly successful iPad, but will also pose a stiff threat to the Amazon Kindle Fire and Google aims to tackle the competition better with its pricing strategy. The Google Nexus 7 tablet is available in two storage capacities, which are 8GB and 16GB and the brand has priced it extremely competitively at $199 and $249, respectively. 

In stock

As far as connectivity is concerned, there had been rumours that the Google Nexus 7 tablet would not come equipped with 3G connectivity, in order to keep the price to a minimum and the brand have done just that. The connectivity options found on this flagship Google Nexus 7 tablet, include Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, Bluetooth and NFC capabilities. This tablet also comes with Google Wallet pre-installed. As for the camera featured here, it comes as no surprise that Google has just added only a front facing camera that can be used for video calls, but what is interesting is that this camera can shoot HD 720p videos. When it comes to the size, this 7-inch tablet measures 198.5 x 120 x 10.5 mm and weighs 340g. These dimensions allow it to go head-to-head with the Amazon Kindle Fire. 

The Google Nexus 7 will be the first device running on Google’s latest operating software, which is Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. As for the availability, consumers from United States, Canada, Australia and the UK can pre-order the tablet from the Google Play store. Google have announced that the delivery for this tablet is scheduled for mid-July. [via tech2]

So, will you go for the Nexus 7 at this price or will you play the waiting game? Let us know your thoughts and more in the comments section below.