XOLO heats up tablet race, launches Xolo Tab with 3G video calling for Rs 13,499 (USD 225)

XOLO heats up tablet race, launches Xolo Tab with 3G video calling for Rs 13,499 (USD 225)

The 8-inch tablet with a resolution of 1024x768 display is powered by Snapdragon 1.2 GHz quad-core Processor. It runs on runs on Android Jelly Bean 4.1.2 and comes with Adreno 203 GPU and is capable of playing HD videos at 720p @30fps.

The USP of the tablet is 3G video and voice calling for connectivity with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and A-GPS options. It comes with 1GB RAM. It comes with 4GB of internal memory of which 2.5GB. Its external memory can be expanded using a microSD card up to 32 GB to store lots of songs, movies and games.

It sports a 2 MP rear camera and a 0.3 MP front camera which supports 3G video calls. It has 4000 mAh battery.

Earlier, Xolo launched its new flagship smartphone XOLO Q1000S in August for Rs 18,999 and NVIDIA Tegra 3 powered 4.7 incher Play T1000 at Rs 15,999. Both received good reviews.

XOLO TAB Key Specifications:

• 20.32 cm (8) IPS Display

• 3G Video Calling (using telecom network)

• Snapdragon 1.2 GHz quad-core Processor

• Adreno 203 GPU

• 1 GB RAM

• 4000 mAh Li-pol Battery

• Android Jelly Bean 4.1.2

• Wi-Fi

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Americans fear hackers more than the government over online privacy

Americans fear hackers more than the government over online privacy

Americans are concerned about internet privacy, but they're far less worried about government snooping than they are about their online activity being monitored by hackers and advertisers. That's according to a survey of 792 internet and smartphone users in the US by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, conducted in July. 86% of respondents said they had taken steps to remove or mask their digital footprints, including clearing cookies and browsing history (64%), deleting or editing something they had posted online (41%) and asking someone else to remove something posted about them (21%). "Users clearly want the option of being anonymous online and increasingly worry that this is not possible," said Lee Rainie, Director of the Pew Research Center's Internet Project. "Their concerns apply to an entire ecosystem of surveillance. In fact, they are more intent on trying to mask their personal information from hackers, advertisers, friends and family members than they are trying to avoid observation by the government." http://ow.ly/oAVDr

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Forget passwords and PINs: Nymi bracelet replaces logins, keys and even wallets with your own HEARTBEAT

Forget passwords and PINs: Nymi bracelet replaces logins, keys and even wallets with your own HEARTBEAT

Forget passwords and PINs: Nymi bracelet replaces logins, keys and even wallets with your own HEARTBEAT 

A Canadian firm wants to replace all our computer passwords, screen locks on phones and tablets, car and house keys and even wallets with a single authentication band worn on the wrist.

The Nymi bracelet reads and monitors the wearer's cardiac rhythm, which is as unique as a person's fingerprint, to authenticate who they are. 

A built-in proximity sensor can then detect where they are, and when the wearer is close to a paired computer, device or car, will automatically confirm their identity and unlock the required hardware or software. Read more:http://dailym.ai/18C71s0

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Now, computer that teaches people social skills

Now, computer that teaches people social skills

Scientists have developed an automated personal-computer system that can help people enhance their social interaction skills.

The programme called MACH, or "My Automated Conversation coacH" has been developed by researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) mainly to help those who suffer from social phobia linked to autism.

It uses a computer-generated face that simulates a conversation. Using a standard web camera, MACH scans facial expressions, listens carefully to patterns of speech, and

reads behavioural cues. MACH keeps track of weak language, like utterances of 'Mmm', 'Uhh', and 'Basically'. It also provides feedback about how effectively the user has been communicating.

The software plays back a video of their speech, alongside charts monitoring intonation, head movements, and other coded gestures. "MACH must appear and behave human like, adapting its behaviours to changes in the interaction," researchers said in their paper to be presented at UbiComp conference in Zurich this month.

To achieve that level of realism, the animation of the virtual coach incorporated arm and posture movements, facial expressions, gaze behaviour and lip synchronisation.

The software was constructed over two years and tested on 90 MIT undergraduates seeking to improve their self-presentation in front of prospective employers, the 'New Yorker magazine' reported.

The team's paper stated that MACH led to a significant improvement in social interaction, based on a before-and-after evaluation of subjects by a professional career counsellor. Beyond job interviews, the programme could be useful for helping people with social phobia linked to autism - the root of the project - as well as public speaking or even dating, according to M Ehsan Hoque, who led the research.

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Micromax giving Samsung a run for its money, says report

Micromax giving Samsung a run for its money, says report

Domestic handset maker Micromax today said it aims to become the number one player in India in the smartphone category by Diwali on the back of excellent demand for its Canvas series. "As per the IDC figures for Q2, we are at number two with 22 per cent market share and given the growth we are seeing in the phablet category (Canvas series), we are aiming to be the top player by Diwali, which is Q3," Micromax Co-Founder Rahul Sharma said.

According to IDC figures for Q2 of 2013, Micromax stayed at No 2 spot and crossed the 2 million units mark in shipments. "The vendor is banking on the wave of phablet- driven smartphone adoption and is pushing the Canvas range of devices with bigger screens and compelling imaging capabilities," IDC said.

Sharma said IDC data substantiates its success, considering the fact that the maximum growth in Indian smartphone category has happened 5 inch-6.99 inch category which has grown 17 times year on year and the phablet share has steadily risen to 30 per cent of the smartphone market in Q2.

Micromax has increased its share from 18.8 per cent in the last quarter to 22 per cent.

"Micromax has crossed the 2 million units shipment mark in Q2 2013 and is poised to be the number one smartphone player in India by Q3. We hope to surpass USD 1 billion in revenues with our innovative product strategy, strong distribution and marketing focused on the Indian youth," Sharma said.

"We hope to cross 2.5 million units marks by third quarter of this year," he added. Without commenting on the number, Sharma said the company will continue launching new devices in third quarter also.

"With the kind of growth we are achieving, our strategy is working in right direction and going forward, we continue to stick to it," he added.

Sharma said not only in India, the company is among the top three players in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh also and exploring new markets too.

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Aprilia’s FV2 concept bike

Aprilia’s FV2 concept bike

Aprilia’s FV2 concept bike incorporates a fly-by-wire injection system, traction control, ABS, electronically adjustable suspension and carbon fiber construction with a 1200cc, 90-degree v-twin engine that we are likely to see in the RSV and Tuono in the next couple of years.The dash integrates a nav system that also supports downloading of performance telemetry data or upload of new engine mappings from the Web.The 1200cc, 90-degree v-twin claims 134.5 metric horses and over 10.5 kgm of torque, which is in the ballpark for sporty streetbikes and nakeds these days.

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