Nexus 5, Android 4.4 KitKat may be announced on October 15: Report

The next-generation Google Nexus
phone, the Nexus 5, and Android 4.4
KitKat, the new iteration of Google's
mobile operating system, could be
announced as soon as next week, if a
new report is to be believed.
The new phone and the next version
of Android could be announced on
October 15, as per a report by CNET
UK. The report cites rumours coming
from Google Launchpad, a startup-
focused event run by Google that
lasts a fortnight.
Previously, the much-anticipated
successor to the Nexus 4 was
rumoured to get a late October
release . A website had cited sources
to claim that the alleged Nexus 5
would be introduced and shipped in
the last week of October. It also
claimed that the rumoured Nexus 5
would come at half the price of the
Apple iPhone 5s at $446.
Just days back, a case-maker posted
an image of the expected Nexus 5 ,
revealing the phone's rear panel.
Earlier this month, the rumoured
Nexus 5's battery, pricing and
storage details were leaked. A report
claimed that the 16GB Nexus 5
model will supposedly be priced at
$299 (Rs. 18,500 approximately),
while the 32GB Nexus 5 is expected
to be priced at $399 (Rs. 24,500
approximately).
Rumoured specifications of the
Nexus 5 include a 4.95-inch full-HD
(1080p) IPS LCD display, Qualcomm
Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor
clocked at 2.3GHz, 2GB of RAM, 8-
megapixel rear camera with OIS and
a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera.
The alleged Nexus 4 successor has
also been expected to include a host
of sensors like ambient light,
proximity, pressure as well as
accelerometer, compass, notification
LED and gyroscope.
Google announced the next iteration
of its mobile operating system,
Android 4.4 KitKat, in September .
It's worth pointing out that the
company has not shared or
indicated timelines for the launch of
the new device and the OS.

You can Like but you can no longer hide from search: Facebook to users

Facebook is getting rid of a privacy
feature that let users limit who can
find them on the social network.
Facebook Inc. said Thursday that it
is removing a setting that controls
whether users could be found when
people type their name into the
website's search bar.
Facebook says only a single-digit
percentage of the nearly 1.2 billion
people on its network were using the
setting.
The change comes as Facebook is
building out its search feature,
which people often use to find
people they know or want to know
on the site.
Facebook, which is based in Menlo
Park, Calif., says users can protect
their privacy by limiting the
audience for each thing they post
about themselves.

Samsung Galaxy J with 5-inch full-HD display, Android 4.3 unveiled

Samsung has taken off covers from
its new Galaxy J, believed to be a
Galaxy S4 smartphone variant for
Japan.
The new Galaxy device will be
heading to NTT DoCoMo as a part of
Japanese operator's winter
smartphone line-up. The Samsung
Galaxy J is expected to be available
by the end of October, however, no
pricing details have been revealed.
Further, there is no word on the
possibility of global availability for
the smartphone.
The Samsung Galaxy J features a 5-
inch full-HD Super AMOLED display
and is powered by 2.3GHz quad-core
Snapdragon 800 (MSM8974)
processor. The device runs Android
4.3 Jelly Bean out-of-the-box, much
like the recently unveiled Galaxy
Note 3. It sports 13.2-megapixel rear
camera with BSI CMOS sensor and
LED flash, while also housing a 2.1-
megapixel front-facing camera.
The Galaxy J comes with 3GB of RAM
and includes 32GB inbuilt storage
expandable up to additional 64GB
with the help of microSD card. It
packs a 2600mAh battery and comes
with connectivity options like Wi-Fi,
Bluetooth, GPS/A-GPS, NFC and even
supports Xi LTE networks (Japan).
In the meanwhile, the Sony Xperia
Z1 f has also been launched under
NTT DoCoMo's winter smartphone
line-up. The device is a mini-variant
of Sony's flagship smartphone, the
Xperia Z1 and is expected to be
released in late December 2013.
The Sony Xperia Z1 f (SO-02F)
features a 4.3-inch TRILUMINOS HD
(720x1280) display with X-Reality for
Mobiles. Other specifications include
a 2.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm
MSM8974 processor, 2GB of RAM,
and 16GB inbuilt storage, further
expandable up to 64GB with the
help of microSD card.
The Sony Xperia Z1 f sports a 20.7-
megapixel Exmor RS sensor alongside
BIONZ image processor engine and
pulsed LED flash, as seen in Xperia
Z1. It also includes a 2.2-megapixel
front-facing camera. It runs Android
4.2.2 Jelly Bean out of the box,
much like its elder sibling.

Samsung Galaxy J key specifications
5-inch full-HD Super AMOLED
display
2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon
MSM8974 processor
3GB of RAM
Android 4.3 Jelly Bean
13.2-megapixel rear camera with BSI
CMOS sensor and LED flash
2.1-megapixel front-facing camera
32GB inbuilt storage, expandable up
to 64GB via microSD card
2600mAh battery

Samsung Galaxy S4 mini and Galaxy S III receive India price cuts

Samsung seems to have slashed the
prices of its two premium mid-range
smartphones, the Galaxy S4 mini
and Galaxy S III in India. It is not
clear whether the price cut is part of
a limited period festival offer or not.
The Samsung Galaxy S III is now
available for Rs. 25,400 compared
with Rs. 28,900 earlier while the
Galaxy S4 mini will be now available
for Rs. 23,360 (16GB model) down
from the previous price tag of Rs.
27,990, at Samsung's official online
store. Both the smartphones have
seen a price cut of around Rs. 4,000.
Additionally, both the smartphones
are now also available at Flipkart
with additional discounts. The
Galaxy S III is available at Rs.
24,900, while the Galaxy S4 mini has
an offer price of Rs. 22,900.
The South Korean major launched
the Galaxy S III in May last year at a
price of Rs. 43,180, while the Galaxy
S4 mini, a 'mini' variant of
company's flagship, the Galaxy S4,
was launched earlier this year for Rs.
27,990.
The price slash news come ahead of
festivals season, and it could be
assumed as a limited period festival
offer for both the smartphones.
Not too long ago, BlackBerry also
announced a price cut for its
flagship smartphone, the Z10 in
India. However, the company
mentioned that the price cut is a
limited period festival offer but has
not revealed the duration of the
offer.

Samsung Galaxy Round curved display smartphone launched as Note 3 variant

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd on
Wednesday launched the world's
first smartphone with a curved
display, a variant of the Galaxy Note
which moves the Asian giant a step
closer to achieving wearable devices
with flexible - even unbreakable -
screens.
Curved displays are on the frontlines
of Samsung's innovation war with
rivals such as Apple Inc and LG
Electronics Inc, as the South Korean
firm seeks to expand its lead in the
slowing market for high-end
smartphones.
"It's a step forward for having
unbreakable gadgets and flexible
devices eventually. But for now, the
new phone is more of a symbolic
product," said Hana Daetoo
Securities analyst Nam Dae-jong,
adding that Samsung did not yet
have capacity for large-scale
production of curved touch-screens
for the new Galaxy Round .
The Galaxy Round is Samsung's
attempt to gauge consumer appetite
for curved phones although its lack
of other eye-catching features means
it is unlikely to be a hit, he said.
"I don't think it'll be massively
compelling enough for gadget buyers
as the curved display doesn't come
with many unique features," he said.
The Galaxy Round's 5.7-inch (14.4-
centimetre) display has a slight
horizontal curve and weighs less
than the Galaxy Note 3 , allowing a
more comfortable grip than other
flat-screen models on the market,
Samsung said in a statement.
Its key features include a tilt
function which allows users to check
information such as missed calls and
battery life, even when the home
screen is off. Users can also scroll
through media files by pressing the
screen's right or left, the company
said.
The phone initially would be
available only in South Korea and no
decision had been made about
releasing it in other markets.
Design challenges
Curved displays open up
possibilities for bendable designs
that could eventually transform the
high-end smartphone market, where
growth has slowed amid competition
from low-end producers.
Samsung's Galaxy Gear smartwatch
released last month has a flat
screen, but the company is hoping
to have the technology to make more
attractive and wearable devices in
what is shaping as a key
battleground for consumer
electronics companies.
Technology firms have yet to figure
out how to cheaply mass produce
the parts and come up with display
panels that can be thin and heat-
resistant. Batteries also have to take
new forms to support flexible screens
that can be rolled out, attached to
uneven surfaces or even stretched.
The battery in the Galaxy Round is
not curved, Samsung said.
Competition is heating up with
Samsung's cross-town rival LG
Electronics planning to introduce a
smartphone with a vertically curved
display in the first week of
November, a source familiar with the
matter said this week.
Its components affiliate, LG Chem
Ltd, said on Tuesday it had started
commercial production of a curved
battery for use in the device.
The firm also said it has developed a
battery in cable form, suitable for
wearable devices, and expected to
start commercial production within
the next couple of years.
Technology analysts and media
reports say Apple is working on a
smartwatch, potentially with a
curved screen, but there has been
no word from the California-based
company about its plans.
Samsung's new curved-screen phone,
available through South Korea's
biggest mobile carrier SK Telecom Co
Ltd, costs 1.089 million won.
© Thomson Reuters

Technology that lets you 'feel' textures on touchscreen

Smartphone users can now 'feel'
images and objects seen on their
touchscreen!
In a game-changing invention,
engineers at Disney Research,
Pittsburgh, have developed a new
technique that allows you to feel the
texture of objects seen on a flat
touchscreen.
The novel algorithm enables a
person sliding a finger across a
topographic map displayed on a
touchscreen to feel the bumps and
curves of hills and valleys, despite
the screen's smooth surface.
The technique is based on the fact
that when a person slides a finger
over a real physical bump, he
perceives the bump largely because
lateral friction forces stretch and
compress skin on the sliding finger.
By altering the friction encountered
as a person's fingertip glides across
a surface, the Disney algorithm can
create a perception of a 3D bump on
a touch surface.
The method can be used to simulate
the feel of a wide variety of objects
and textures.
"Our brain perceives the 3D bump
on a surface mostly from information
that it receives via skin stretching,"
said Ivan Poupyrev, who directs
Disney Research, Pittsburgh's
Interaction Group.
"Therefore, if we can artificially
stretch skin on a finger as it slides
on the touchscreen, the brain will
be fooled into thinking an actual
physical bump is on a touchscreen
even though the touch surface is
completely smooth," Poupyrev said in
a statement.
In experiments, researchers used
electrovibration to modulate the
friction between the sliding finger
and the touch surface with
electrostatic forces.
Researchers created and validated a
psychophysical model that closely
simulates friction forces perceived by
the human finger when it slides over
a real bump.
The model was then incorporated
into an algorithm that dynamically
modulates the frictional forces on a
sliding finger so that they match the
tactile properties of the visual
content displayed on the
touchscreen along the finger's path.
A broad variety of visual artifacts
thus can be dynamically enhanced
with tactile feedback that adjusts as
the visual display.
"The traditional approach to tactile
feedback is to have a library of
canned effects that are played back
whenever a particular interaction
occurs," said Ali Israr, a Disney
Research, Pittsburgh research
engineer who was the lead on the
project.
"This makes it difficult to create a
tactile feedback for dynamic visual
content, where the sizes and
orientation of features constantly
change. With our algorithm we do
not have one or two effects, but a
set of controls that make it possible
to tune tactile effects to a specific
visual artifact on the fly," Israr said.
The new research will be presented
at the ACM Symposium on User
Interface Software and Technology in
St Andrews, Scotland.

Nokia Asha 503 leaks, tipped for a Q4 launch

With numerous leaks, it's no secret
that Nokia has in all probability
been working on two Asha feature
phones, the Asha 502 and Asha 503,
considered the successors to the
popular budget Asha 501 phone.
While the Nokia Asha 502 was leaked
recently, the latest to hit the rumour
mill is its sibling, the Asha 503. The
new leak comes courtesy of the
popular phone tipster, @evleaks
which has posted a render of the
rumoured Nokia Asha 503 on Twitter.
The tweet also hints that the phone
might be announced this year.

The leaked render of the Asha 503
reveals the handset in multiple
colours, with a large rear camera
sensor sitting alongside an LED
flash. Other features revealed by the
leak include the power button,
volume rocker buttons, audio jack
port and Micro-USB port housed at
the sides of the phone. Moreover,
the leaked render shows the device
in a glass casing which we assume
would come bundled with the
device. The leaked render further
suggests that the phone will likely
come preloaded with Line instant
messaging app.
The alleged Nokia Asha 503 has
been rumoured to feature a
polycarbonate and glass design. The
display is likely to be around 3.2 to
3.4-inches. The device is expected to
be powered by a 1-1.5GHz processor
with a GPU and RAM could be in the
range of 128 to 512MB. The Asha
503 is expected to support 3G
connectivity, the feature that was
widely missed on the Asha 501. It is
also likely to be a dual-SIM phone.
Meanwhile, Nokia is expected to
unveil six new devices at its October
22 event, due to be held at Nokia
World in Abu Dhabi, according to a
recent report.
The expected devices to be launched
at Nokia World include the long-
rumoured Lumia 1520 phablet; the
company's first Windows RT tablet,
the Lumia 2520; the Lumia 525, said
to be the successor to the Lumia
520 , and the Treasure Tag accessory.

iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c India launch date set as November 1

Apple Wednesday announced that
iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c will be
available in more than a dozen
countries on Friday, November 1,
including India and Mexico. The
company also confirmed that the
iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c will be
available in Italy, Russia, Spain and
more than 25 additional countries a
week before that on Friday, October
25.
iPhone 5s comes with the Apple-
designed A7 64-bit chip, all-new 8
megapixel iSight camera with True
Tone flash and Touch ID fingerprint
sensor. iPhone 5c features an all-
new design, comes in multiple
colours and packs internals almost
identical to the iPhone 5 .
iPhone 5s and 5c will be available
on Friday, October 25 in Austria,
Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
French West Indies, Greece, Hungary,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau,
Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand,
Norway, Poland, Portugal, Reunion
Island, Romania, Russia, Slovakia,
Slovenia, South Korea, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and
Thailand. iPhone 5s and 5c will also
be available on Friday, November 1
in Albania, Armenia, Bahrain,
Colombia, El Salvador, Guam,
Guatemala, India, Macedonia,
Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova,
Montenegro, Saudi Arabia, Turkey
and UAE. Both iPhone 5s and iPhone
5c are currently available in the US,
Australia, Canada, China, France,
Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto
Rico, Singapore and the UK.