Apple to unveil iOS revamp, iRadio, Siri update -- analyst

Apple's WWDC should reveal a redesign for iOS, the unveiling of iRadio, changes to the Maps app, and a Siri update, says analyst Gene Munster.

Apple will unveil a new paint job for iOS and introduce its new iRadio music service at its Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, forecasts Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster.

In an investors note out today, the analyst offered his predictions on what to expect from Apple as WWDC kicks off. Several reports have already pointed to a redesign for Apple's mobile OS with iOS 7, and Munster sees that as 90 percent likely.

iOS 7 will mark the first change to iOS spearheaded by Apple design guru Jony Ive, and the first time in six years that Apple will overhaul its familiar interface. Such a change can be risky, but Munster sees it as necessary.

"We believe making these changes is the right move for Apple given consumers are increasingly interested in some fresh ideas from Apple around the iOS interface," the analyst said. "The risk of doing nothing is greater than the risk of disrupting the winning iOS formula."

CNET's live coverage of Apple's WWDC 2013 keynote

iRadio has an 80 percent of being tuned up at WWDC, according to Munster. By offering its own music streaming service, Apple has an opportunity to slice off a healthy chunk of that market based on sheer numbers, Apple has more than 500 million active iTunes accounts. In comparison, Spotify has 30 million users with 7 million to 8 million of them paying customers, while Pandora enjoys 70 million active users with around 2.5 million paying ones.

Still, iRadio won't contribute to a huge amount to Apple's bottom line, according to Munster. But it would be a feather in Apple's cap.

"Even if Apple is successful in the streaming music space, it likely won't move the needle for the company," the analyst said. "If Apple were to equal Pandora's [Wall Street] revenue estimate in [2014] of $875 million, it would add about 0.5 percent to overall Apple revenue. More importantly, we view the music offering as an opportunity to show consumers that they can deliver new, useful services with great experiences to make up for disappointments in Mobile Me and Maps."

Munster also sees an 80 percent chance that Apple will announce changes to its Maps app and an update to Siri. But above all, WWDC will point the way to what's ahead for the rest of 2013.

"Monday will set the stage for more measurable products over the next six quarters (iPhone 5S, cheaper iPhone, television, iPhone 6, iWatch, and possibly payments)," Munster added

New 2013 Skoda Octavia spotted testing in India

The new 2013 Skoda Octavia has made a lot of news all around the world. The latest generation of the Octy has already been launched in European markets and it is a matter of time before this car comes to the Indian car market.

It has always been pretty much for sure that the new Octavia is headed to our country and we have seen many test mules of the 2013 Skoda Octavia on Indian roads. Seen here is a fresh set of new Octavia test mule which has been spotted testing in Maharashtra.

The new Octavia that has been spotted testing wore MH20 registration plates, which is usual for most cars from Skoda’s Aurangabad plant.

Skoda is betting big on its new Octavia and people from around the world are of the belief that the new car might up the ante in the very competitive mid-size sedan segment. The new Octavia is underpinned by the much publicized MQB platform. This is the same platform that which underpins quite a few modern Volkswagen group cars.

There is a section of auto industry watchers in India who are of the belied that the 2013 Octavia will be sold alongside the Laura (the last gen Octavia) and this might continue until Skoda India comes up with entry level variants of the new Octy for completely replacing the Laura. It may be noted that the sales of current Laura have already taken a hit with the launch of the new Elantra and the Cruze.

The 2013 Octavia is considerably larger than the Laura and various international auto publications are of the opinion that the new car is almost as big as the Superb flagship sedan. This means that the new Octavia would be half a shoe size larger than the Chevrolet Cruze, the new Hyundai Elantra and the Volkswagen Jetta.

The engine options for the 2013 Octavia are likely to be carried over from the current car would get a 1.8 TSI turbocharged petrol engine and a 2.0 TDI turbocharged diesel engine. Skoda India might also add an entry level 1.6 Liter TDI turbo diesel engine variant to keep the costs under check.

It is pretty much for sure that the new Octavia will be costlier than the Laura but on the same time, the car might come across as a much more value for money proposition due to its larger size, newer technology and a bigger equipment list.

We just can’t wait for the new Octy to hit Skoda India showrooms. What about you?

Lots of thanks to Lalji Singh for sharing the pics with us.

HP launches Slate7 Android Consumer Tablet in the Middle East

HP has announced the arrival of its first Android tablet, HP Slate⁷ in the Middle East. HP Slate⁷ is affordable Android Jelly Bean consumer tablet that provides customers with easy access to Google Mobile services. 

With a 17.78cm (7-inch) diagonal screen and weighing 368 grams (13 ounces), the HP Slate⁷ is an ideal trusted personal companion, featuring a stainless-steel frame and soft black paint in gray or red on the back. It also is the industry’s first tablet to offer embedded Beats Audio, for the best-sounding, richest audio experience available on a tablet. 

The HP Slate⁷ delivers the Google experience with services like Google Now, Google Search, Gmail, YouTube, Google Drive and Google+ Hangouts for multiperson video chat as well as access to apps and digital content through Google Play. 

“There is high demand in the consumer technology segment in the Middle East arena. Consumers in the region have vast consumer tech knowledge and are always on the lookout for the newest and most outstanding products,” said Salim Ziade, General Manager, Printing and Personal Systems, HP Middle East. “HP is a leading player in the PC market and has implemented similar innovative practice for the tablets industry, introducing its first Android consumer tablet, HP Slate⁷. The HP Slate⁷ on Android represents a compelling entry point for consumer tablets, and delivers the service and support people expect from HP” 

The HP Slate⁷ joins the recently introduced HP Chromebook as part of HP’s push to offer access to the Google experience.  

HP’s tablet offerings reside in the company’s newly formed Mobility Global Business Unit, established in September 2012 with the hiring of Torres. Torres joined HP from Nokia, where he was executive vice president and oversaw the MeeGo products and platform. 

Access and enjoy

Powered by an ARM Dual Core Cortex-A9 1.6 GHz processor, the HP Slate⁷ is fast and responsive. Integrated wireless allows customers to access email, the internet and key applications, while the High-aperture-ratio Field Fringe Switching (HFFS) panel offers wide viewing angles that provide easy viewing of documents, games, photos and videos—even in outdoor lighting conditions.  

The HP Slate⁷ includes a 3-megapixel camera on the back and a VGA camera on the front for chatting, videos and photos. 

With the HP ePrint⁽²⁾ application, customers can easily print while at home or on the go, and an exclusive native printing capability enables customers to print directly from most applications. A micro USB port allows customers to easily transfer files, and a suite of applications from HP spans exclusive games to productivity tools. 

HP will provide an array of simple and easy-to-access support tools and resources to help customers take full advantage of all of the features the HP Slate⁷ has to offer. In addition to extensive phone and online support offerings included with the HP Slate⁷, HP is offering customers the opportunity to expand and extend the standard product limited warranty with its HP Care Pack services. 

Pricing and availability 

The HP Slate⁷ is expected to be available in the Middle East beginning of July 2013 with a starting price of 599 AED.

Nexus 4 launches in India @ Rs 25,999

LG and Google announced that Nexus 4, the official Android phone, would be available in India in the coming days at an MRP of Rs 25,999.

NEW DELHI: LG and Google announced that Nexus 4, the official Android phone, would be available in India in the coming days at an MRP of Rs 25,999. Yesterday, the device became available for pre-order on Flipkart, an e-commerce site, starting at a price of Rs 25,990.

Sources said that the pre-order was part of an exclusive deal that Flipkart had struck with LG.

"LG Electronics is pleased to partner Google on the release of the Nexus 4 in India," shared Soon Kwon, managing director, LG Electronics India. "We added the best of our talent to our strength, and the result is a feature-packed smartphone that packs superb hardware under a slim hood."

For now, LG had announced details about only the model with 16GB internal storage and not about the 8GB one, which could be cheaper by at least a few thousands rupees.

Nexus 4 has a 4.7-inch screen with 720P resolution. The phone is powered by a quad-core processor and has 2GB RAM. It has a 8MP primary camera and a 1.3MP front camera. The phone doesn't support microSD card and has a battery that cannot be replaced by users.

The real appeal of the Nexus 4 lies in the software it runs. Like all Nexus devices, it is powered by an unmodified version of Android and is guaranteed to get quick updates whenever Google comes out with the new version of the OS.

This is in stark contrast to other devices that get updates several months after Google had introduced the new version of Android. In an interview to Wired, Sundar Pichai, Android division head at Google, acknowledged that the company was working to fix the update process.

Google usually sells Nexus devices online through its Play Store. But sources said that Nexus 4 would be sold only by LG and its retail partners.

The phone was launched in the global markets last year. At that time an LG executive claimed that it would be available in India in October. But the plans to launch it didn't materialize.

So far Google has made six Nexus phones and tablets. Nexus 4 is the third from the series to hit India. The other two are Nexus S and Nexus 7.

Panasonic launches 5-inch smartphone @ Rs 26,990

NEW DELHI: Panasonic today re-entered the smartphone market with the global launch of its new P51 smartphone in India. The phone runs on a quad-core processor and has a 5-inch display, a feature seen in many top-end models nowadays. It has been priced at Rs 26,990 in the Indian market and will compete against the likes of Samsung Galaxy S III, HTC One X and LG Optimus 4X HD, among others.

The company said it has inked a partnership deal with Times Internet Limited, the online division of The Times Of India Group, and the new handset will come preloaded with TOI and ET apps.

The all-new Panasonic P51 features an IPS display with 1280x720p resolution and 295ppi pixel density; the touchscreen boasts of Asahi DragonTrail scratchproof and damage-proof glass for added durability. This device runs on Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean), the latest iteration of Google's free mobile operating system. It has a 1.2GHz quad-core CPU under the hood and packs 1GB RAM and 4GB onboard storage, along with microSD card support up to 32GB.

The connectivity suite of this dual-sim phone comprises features like 2G, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and microUSB. An 8MP autofocus camera with LED flash is placed on the back of the phone, while a 1.3MP HD unit is used in the front. Powered by a 2,500mAh battery, Panasonic P51comes with a free magnetic flip cover and supports input via stylus. This phone measures 8.5mm along the waistline, weighs 135gram and will be available in white and black colours.

The Japanese manufacturer has roped in Student Of The Year star Varun Dhawan as the brand ambassador for its smartphone range. He joins Katrina Kaif, who is the brand ambassador for the company's air conditioners, in endorsing the company's products.

Panasonic has joined hands with Jaina Marketing for the distribution, marketing and customer care support of its P51 smartphone. It has said that it will invest Rs 200 crore over the next year in brand building for the mobile range. Panasonic is eyeing an 8% share of the Indian smartphone market in the first year

Daizo Ito, president, Panasonic India, said, "We are now launching our innovative smartphone which will redefine the Indian smartphone consumer experience. We are confident that our product will provide the Indian consumer a great multimedia experience and the 'best value for money' proposition."

The radio is making a comeback this summer with Windows Phone 8 update

Update also includes Google's new sync protocols

Following Tuesday's Nokia Lumia 925 launch, Microsoft revealed the device will be running an updated version of Windows Phone 8 that brings back one feature and adds a few more for good measure.

Coming this summer to Windows Phone 8 devices, the software update will see the return of the FM radio, which had been laying dormant in the current generation of devices.

As well as access to the airwaves, Windows Phone users who rely on Google accounts will be pleased to know that Microsoft is updating the OS to keep up with Google's new syncing tech.

In a post on the Windows Phone blog, the company said "the update also ensures Windows Phone continues to work with Google services by adding support for the company's newest sync protocols - CalDAV and CardDAV."

Hundreds of improvements

The update will bring "hundreds" of small improvements to the OS, including some tweaks for Xbox Music that improves the accuracy of song data.

Owners of the Nokia Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 can also expect to receive the 'double tap to wake' feature announced alongside the impressive Lumia 925 today.

With high profile Android and iOS launches expected to arrive in the next few months, will these modest improvements to Windows Phone 8 be enough to satisfy fans of the OS?

Let us know in the comments section below.

BlackBerry Launches New Mid-tier Smartphone

BlackBerry has launched a new mid-tier smartphone, with the classical BlackBerry keyboard, targeting consumers from emerging markets. The Waterloo, Ontario-based company also said its BBM messenger service will be offered on iOS and Android devices.

The BlackBerry Live conference was kicked off on Tuesday with the launch of BlackBerry Q5, which is slated to ship in summer in the emerging markets, in several colors including pink, red and white. It is the third smartphone from BlackBerry, which will run on the BlackBerry 10 operating system. The new phone has a 3.1-inch touch screen with a QWERTY keyboard, and looks almost the same as the BlackBerry Q10.

In addition to the new phone, Chief Executive Thorsten Heins also announced the release of BlackBerry 10.1, the update to its latest smartphone operating system, for existing Z10 phones. Heins also said US carriers will start selling Q10 in early June. Q10 is already available in Canada and several other countries.

BlackBerry expects its new devices powered by its new BB10 OS to boost its revenues and bring it back in black. BlackBerry, formerly known as Research In Motion, once had been the dominant force in the smartphone industry, but lost its position to Apple's iPhones and Samsung's Galaxy series phones running on Google's Android platform.

In a surprise move, Heins also said its BBM messenger service will go cross-platform to iOS and Android devices. He said BBM would be available for free download this summer on iPhone and Android devices, if approved by Google Play store and Apple's App store.