Microsoft India on Friday sent invites for an event scheduled on Wednesday, where it is expected to launch the first Microsoft-branded smartphone, the Lumia 535.
The invite sent by the company reads, "Five days to magic of triple 5." That, of course, is a pointer to the "5x5x5" Microsoft Lumia 535.

Last week, the company had unveiled the smartphone, saying, "the new Microsoft Lumia 535, our "5x5x5" smartphone package bringing a 5-inch screen, 5-megapixel front- and rear-facing camera, and free integrated Microsoft experiences (such as Skype and OneNote) to more people at an affordable price."

Both the Microsoft Lumia 535 and Lumia 535 Dual SIM come with identical specifications; except the latter features dual-SIM support. The smartphone runs Windows Phone 8.1 with Lumia Denim update and features a 5-inch IPS LCD display with a qHD (540x960 pixels) resolution and a pixel density of 220ppi. It also sports Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection.

The Lumia 535 is powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor clocked at 1.2GHz alongside 1GB of RAM. There is 8GB of built-in storage that is further expandable via microSD card (up to 128GB). Much like other Lumia handsets, the Lumia 535 and Lumia 535 Dual SIM also get 15GB of free OneDrive cloud storage.

One of the highlight features of the Lumia 535 is the 5-megapixel front-facing camera, which is reminiscent of the Lumia 730 and Lumia 735.

Microsoft Lumia 535

• KEY SPECS
• 
  

Display

5.00-inch

Processor

1.2GHz

Front Camera

 5-megapixel

Resolution

 540x960 pixels

RAM

 1GB

OS

 Windows 8.1

Storage

8GB

Rear Camera

5-megapixel

Battery capacity

1905mAh

Here's my Quick  tutorial showing on How to Install Android 4.4 KitKat On PC. .I Installed Android 4.4 for x86 on a Ubuntu machine, but nevertheless it should work for Windows and Mac too. Once Android 4.4 KitKat is Installed on your PC, you can Install & Run any of the ROOTED Android Apps such as Titanium Backup, WifiKill,Tasker etc.

Steps:
1. Download VirtualBox (Download Link Below)
2. Install the VirtualBox as shown in the video.
3. Download Android 4.4 ISO File. (Download Link Below)
4. Write the ISO file to the VirtualBox as shown in the video.
 Download Links:
 1. VirtualBox Download :
https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

2. Android 4.4 ISO Download:
http://goo.gl/s3Xtaa


IF ABOVE LINK IS BUSY THEN TRY THIS   http://www.android-x86.org/download

Yesterday Microsoft announced two new Windows Phone handsets – the Lumia 730/735 and the Lumia 830. These are new killer handsets in their respective categories, and we can't wait for you all to play with them. We had some great coverage yesterday, and you know more or less know all there is about the two devices. So we have to ask, are you planning on buying one?

Lumia 830

The Lumia 830 is the new affordable flagship from Microsoft. You'll find a 10 MP PureView camera, QI wireless charging, 5-inch 720p display and more all inside an affordable and thin package (8.5 mm!). Look for the Lumia 830 later this month at €330 ($433 USD). It'll come in orange, green, white and black, but you can swap out the rear panel for different color

• Windows Phone 8.1 Update with Lumia Denim
• 3G & DSDS RoW variant: GSM 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz; WCDMA 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1900 MHz, 2100 MHz; Speed GSM: EGPRS/296kbps/236.8kbps; HSPA+: 21.1Mbps/5.76Mbps
• Memory: 1GB RAM, 16 GB internal user memory; 15 GB OneDrive cloud storage , micro SD expandable up to 128 GB
• Display: 5" HD AMOLED (1280 x 720, 16:9), 316 PPI, Curved glass (2.25D), ClearBlack, Super Sensitive Touch, High Brightness Mode, Sunlight readability enhancements
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 (MSM8926) 1.6 GHz quad-core processor
• Primary camera: 10 MP Pureview technology ZEISS, f/1.9, Full HD video (1920 x 1080 @ 30fps), LED Flash.
• Secondary camera:  HD 0.9 MP wide angle (2596x1948) f/2.4, Nokia Camera, Nokia Storyteller, Nokia Creative Studio,
• Size: 138 x 65.5 x 7.7  mm, Weight: 140g
• Connectivity: NFC, A-GPS/GLONASS, BeiDou, WIFI 802.11 b/g/n, microUSB, BT 4.0 LE, Nano SIM
• Battery: Removable 2520 mAh battery, exchangeable shell
• Audio: 3.5 mm AV connector (AHJ), Dual microphone, FM Radio, Internet radio

Lumia 730 / Lumia 735

 Lumia 730 (dual SIM) and Lumia 735 (4G LTE single SIM). Selling for around 200 Euro later this month, the follow up to the Lumia 720 looks to be an impressive and fun Windows Phone.

Shipping with Lumia Denim and Windows Phone 8.1.1, the Lumia 730 features an impressive 5 MP front-facing camera in addition to a 6.7 MP rear camera with an ultra-low F/1.9 aperture. 

The Lumia 730 is a budget-friendly 'selfie' phone that comes in two variants – the dual-SIM Lumia 730 and the single SIM, but LTE-compatible, Lumia 735. You'll find an impressive 5 MP wide-angle front-facing camera in the Lumia 73x series. An ultra-low F/1.9 aperture helps make some seriously wonderful photos using the front camera.

Lumia 730/735 full specifications

• Windows Phone 8.1 Update with Lumia Denim
• 3G & DSDS RoW variant: GSM 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz; WCDMA 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1900 MHz, 2100 MHz; Speed GSM: EGPRS/296kbps/236.8kbps; HSPA+: 21.1Mbps/5.76Mbps
• Memory: 1GB RAM, 8 GB internal user memory; 15 GB OneDrive cloud storage , micro SD expandable up to 128 GB
• Display: 4.7" HD OLED (1280 x 720, 16:9), 316 PPI, Curved glass (2.25D), ClearBlack, SuperSensitive Touch, High Brightness Mode, Sunlight readability enhancements
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 (MSM8926) 1.2 GHz quad-core processor
• Primary camera: 6.7 MP FF ZEISS, f/1.9, Full HD video (1920 x 1080 @ 30fps), LED Flash.
• Secondary camera: Full HD 5 MP wide angle (2596x1948) f/2.4, Nokia Camera, Nokia Storyteller, Nokia Creative Studio, Lumia Selfie
• Size: 134.7 x 68.5 x 8.7 (volumetric) mm, Weight: 133g
• Connectivity: NFC, A-GPS/GLONASS, BeiDou, WIFI 802.11 b/g/n, microUSB, BT 4.0 LE, Micro SIM
• Battery: Removable 2220 mAh battery, exchangeable shell
• Audio: 3.5 mm AV connector (AHJ), Dual microphone, FM Radio, Internet radio

While our Windows Phones can be tremendous productivity devices, they are also fantastic entertainment devices. From watching movies, listening to your favorite music files or playing games your Windows Phone can help you pass the time.

This week's roundup we'll stray from the top rated lists in the Windows Phone Store and approach things from more of a personal angle by highlighting five current gaming titles on my Windows Phone. Games that I have found to be great time wasters.

As a bonus, most of these games can easily stand up to longer gaming sessions if you prefer.

2048 Plus

What I like? I like the simple gaming mechanics that are matched with challenging game play that tests your skills at strategy.

Rainbow Rapture

What I like? I like seeing how high you can send your cloud into the sky. The controls are uncomplicated with you tapping/holding the screen to have your cloud dive and release your hold to have your cloud jump. The trick is holding the screen while the cloud dives down a hill and release your hold to let the cloud ride its momentum into the sky.

Hungry Shark Evolution

What I like? I like the simple gaming concept. While there are several quests you can take on, if you are in the mood for mindless game play all you need to do is steer your shark around the depths of the ocean terrorizing swimmers, pelicans, other sharks, scuba divers and more.

Subway Surfers

What I like? It's the pace of the game that draws me to Subway Surfers. The mechanics are easy to pick up on and consist of a series of screen swipes (swipe left to go left, right to go right, up to jump, etc.) but the pace creates the challenge. Ducking, dodging and jumping through the train yard will keep you on your toes and the bonus items helps keep the game interesting.

Snap Attack

What I like? While the other games in this week's roundup will test your skills of timing, strategy and reflex Snap Attack challenges your brain. You do have the elements of speed but the game tests your knowledge of words (and proper spelling). I also like the 2.5 minute games that are well suited for short gaming spurts and the online competition.

(sourcce:http://www.wpcentral.com/my-top-time-waster-games-windows-phone)

Lumia Cyan is the third firmware update from Nokia's mobile division, now owned by Microsoft. Lumia Cyan is distributed in parallel with the Windows Phone 8.1 OS update, and provides the necessary drivers and APIs for specific Lumia devices. As such, it enables unique Lumia features like the PureView camera, Living Images and an updated Creative Studio editing app, in addition to optimizing the battery, performance, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, a revised Camera app and general telephony functions.

Other features of the Lumia Cyan update will be dependent upon specific hardware. For example, the Lumia 930, Lumia Icon, and Lumia 1520 are expected to receive SensorCore support for a built in pedometer and exercise features. Those three phones will also have new camera algorithms applied to improve the quality of photos.

Miracast support for select devices will also be facilitated with the Lumia Cyan update, allowing users to stream media and mirror their phones on Miracast compliant devices, like TVs and computers.

Lumia Cyan will let users set the ranges for brightness levels. For example, you can have your 'low' setting very low, or make the 'High' setting less intense.

Nokia Treasure Tag support will come with Lumia Cyan due to the inclusion of a revamped Bluetooth 4.0 LE stack. (Early adopters of the Windows Phone 8.1 Preview for Developers had Bluetooth 4.0 LE removed due to incompatibility issues).

Dolby Digital Plus recording ability, the first of its kind in mobile, is anticipated to be enabled in the Lumia 930, Lumia Icon and Lumia 1520, once again due to their unique hardware with newer Qualcomm chipsets.

The Lumia Cyan firmware update and Windows Phone 8.1 OS refresh began to roll-out over-the-air on June 25th, 2014, but only for the Lumia 925 in Finland and also in Argentina. The update will arrive for other phones throughout June, July and August, depending on the Lumia model, carrier (if applicable) and country/region.

Before starting the Lumia Cyan update, we recommend that you make enough space on your phone. Having about 1.5GB free phone memory will ensure that your software update goes smoothly. To check for available free space, go to Settings > storage check (storage sense). In the below Software Update FAQs you can find detailed instructions on how to clear up some space on your phone and other tips to help you, for example if you encounter an update error.

The Lumia Cyan update with Windows Phone 8.1 consists of two parts, and after the first update your phone will automatically check for updates again. Follow all the update prompts so that you don’t miss out on any of the goodies.

The long-awaited Nokia Lumia Amber update is rolling out for all Windows Phone 8-powered Nokia Lumia phones. The update is built on top of the WP8 GDR2 update from Microsoft, but has some exclusive features, developed by Nokia.
This includes a brand new camera app, the Smart Camera. This app launched with the Lumia 925 and will now be available to all other WP8 Lumia phones. The high-end devices – Lumia 920, 925 and 928 – will also get the Pro Camera app, which was introduced with the Lumia 1020.

Tips have been pouring in from Windows Phone Central readers across India that their Nokia Lumia 720s and 520s are getting notifications that the Amber update is now available. The Nokia support site also confirms that Amber has been approved is rolling out in India.

Nokia’s firmware update enables new features like flip to silence, Glance Screen and camera improvements. When coupled with Microsoft's GDR2 operating system update, users will also receive such features as Data Sense, FM Radio, default-camera selection, Lumia Color Profile, and Call/SMS filtering.

If you haven't seen an update notification on your phone already, you can go to Settings > Phone Update > Check For Updates to see if you can get it.


It's not just apps either – the Amber update brings better noise reduction, better color rendering, better exposure metering and improved autofocus to the whole WP8 range, while the Lumia 920 will also get its ISO setting ceiling pushed from 800 to 3,200.
The Nokia Lumia Amber update will allow you to install a number of cool apps, too (that are not themselves part of the update). The Nokia Video Trimmer and Nokia Video Upload will help you edit and share videos that you've captured with your Lumia phone.
The Nokia HERE suite can be updated, once Amber is installed. The new version allows for easier map updates, only downloading the changes in a map instead of downloading the whole thing (this saves time and data).

Nokia had previously planned to bring Amber to all of its devices by the end of September, which is drawing near. So far they have made steady progress, but with one week left, they are cutting it close.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4


Samsung Galaxy Note 4
As is customary, Samsung is expected to launch its next-generation Note phablet at IFA. The phablet is said to feature a 5.7-inch display, same as its predecessor Note 3, but with 2K resolution (1440x2560p).

Galaxy Note 4 is also expected to get a 20.7MP camera, a major jump from the 13MP camera of its predecessor. Just like Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S5, the next top Samsung phablet will be able to record 4K (movie hall quality) videos.
2. Samsung Gear S



Samsung Gear S
Although Samsung has already announced its next-generation smartwatch Gear S, the watch will see its official unveiling at IFA. The Gear S sports a 2-inch curved display and offers features like Wi-Fi connectivity, pedestrian navigation and a built-in GPS. The device will run Samsung's Tizen operating system and not Android Wear.
Samsung has said the Gear S will start selling from October. Pricing details will be revealed during the event.
3. Motorola Moto X+1


Motorola Moto X+1
Motorola is expected to take the wraps off its new Moto X+1 smartphone on September 4, however, the device has already made numerous online appearances, courtesy leaks. The leaks reveal a design similar to Moto X complete with an optional wood finish back panel. It features a Motorola logo and a camera lens that has a circular ring enclosing it. The ring has two LEDs on opposite sides, which will reportedly act as the dual-LED flash.

According to rumours, the phone will come with a full-HD 5.2-inch display, a 12MP camera, a 2.5GHz quad-core processor, and 16GB internal storage.
4. Motorola Moto G2


Motorola Moto G2
Motorola is also expected to announce the successor to its Moto G smartphone. Going by the leaks, Moto G2 is said to sport a 5-inch display and narrower bezels compared to Moto G.

The phone will reportedly have an 8MP camera, front-facing stereo speakers and a microSD card slot. Rumours also suggest that the phone will have a 720p display, a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor and 1GB of RAM, just like the original Moto G.

5. Motorola Moto 360


Motorola Moto 360
Although we've all seen Motorola's much talked about Moto 360 smartwatch, the company has still not revealed its pricing. Moto 360 is to be officially unveiled on September 4, with an expected price tag of $249.99. The Android Wear-powerd watch has a more conventional, round watchface, unlike the rectangular watchface of the Samsung and LG smartwatches.

The Moto 360 is rumoured to have a 1.5-inch backlit LCD display with 320x290p resolution and come with a stainless steel case, plastic case back, leather band and metal buckle. It will be powered by a Li-ion battery and run on a Texas Instruments processor. Moto 360 is said to feature a built-in pedometer and heart rate monitor and can withstand water damage up to 3.3-feet for a maximum of 30 minutes. According to rumours, Moto 360 will also feature wireless charging.

6. Sony Xperia Z3


Sony Xperia Z3
Just like last year's IFA, Sony is all set to unveil its new flagship phone, Xperia Z3 at IFA 2014. The phone has been spotted at Chinese certification agency TENNA's website.

The leaks point to a design similar to the current high-end Xperia devices. It is said that the phone will sport a 5.2-inch full-HD IPS LCD display and will be powered by a 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor, along with 3GB RAM. It's also rumoured to sport a 20.7MP rear camera with a Sony Exmor sensor, and a 2MP front-facing camera capable of shooting video in 1080p. The phone will be water resistant.

7. Asus ZenWatch

Asus ZenWatch
Taiwanese device maker Asus has also teased its ZenWatch Androud Wear smartwatch. The watch sports a new design which is a mix of circular and square shapes.

According to leaks, the ZenWatch will purportedly include a few more voice controls on top the ones that come preprogrammed into Android Wear. Supposedly the watch will also be able to function in some capacity even without pairing with a smartphone. A Taiwanese publication reports that the watch will come to market for less than $199 and will be available from October.
8. Lenovo Vibe X2

Lenovo Vibe X2
Chinese device maker Lenovo has already made news by taking a dig at Apple with its IFA press invite for the Vibe X2. The phone's leaked specifications suggest that it will feature high-end hardware.

The Lenovo Vibe X2 is expected to come in two variants, one powered by a MediaTek octa-core processor and the other one by a 2.2 GHz dual-core part. Both of the variants are expected to sport a 5-inch 1080p display, 2GB of RAM, 32GB internal storage, 13MP rear camera and a 5MP front-facing camera for selfies.
9. Nokia Lumia 730

Nokia Lumia 730
Nokia is also expected to unveil its much talked about Lumia 730 'selfie' phone at the IFA.

The phone is rumoured to target the 'selfie' market as it's expected to sport a 5MP front-facing camera. It is likely to sport a 4.7-inch HD ClearBlack display, a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon chip, 1GB RAM, a 6.7MP rear camera, and 8GB of storage with microSD support.

It's not the first time we've seen Xiaomi pull off an Apple-inspired design, so the look of the newest Xiaomi Mi 4 shouldn't be too surprising. For one, the recently announced Mi Pad borrowed elements of the iPad Mini and the iPhone 5C, while its Mi WiFi Mini router resembles the Apple Magic Trackpad.

The Mi 4, the company's new Android flagship phone, borrows its style heavily from the iPhone 5S, but the Chinese company has added its own touches to the design with a removable rear cover and a larger 5-inch display.

The 1,999RMB smartphone will be available in China for 1,999RMB (which converts to $320, £190, AU$345) for the 16GB model and 2,499RMB (which converts to $400, £235, AU$430) for the 64GB version at the end of the month, while the 4G version (TD-LTE, for China) will launch in September. There's no word yet on global availability.

Design and display
As mentioned, the Mi 4 takes a lot of design cues from the iPhone 5S. The stainless steel frame around the edges is similar to those on the iPhone, though the button placements are opposite each other. The phone looks completely different from the previous Mi 3 flagship, which looked more like a Nokia handset.

Specs and software
Internally, Xiaomi's Mi 4 comes packing what you'll find in most flagship phones. It's powered by a 2.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, has 3GB of RAM and comes with either 16GB or 64GB.

More importantly, Xiaomi has managed to squeeze a 3,080mAh battery into the phone's 6.7mm-slim frame, which should easily last you a day or more. There doesn't appear to be a microSD card slot, and the phone seems to still cater to the older large SIM cards.

On the rear is a 13-megapixel camera while there's a front 8-megapixel shooter for taking detailed selfie shots. The rear has a six-element lens while the front uses five-elements. Both cameras have a f1.8 aperture. Xiaomi also demoed an image refocusing capability similar to that found on the LG G3 and Samsung Galaxy S5.
The Mi 4 runs MIUI on top of Android KitKat (4.4.3), and is likely to be v5. While Xiaomi has announced a new upcoming v6 that will debut on August 16, the phone likely isn't running it as it will go on sale at the end of July in China. A quick check of the phone's MIUI version shows that it's running MIUI 4.7.20, but the last major release for v5 was 4.6.27 in June

Aloysius Low/CNET

It's hard not to think of the phone as a clone of the iPhone, but Xiaomi has added its own touches. Instead of going with onscreen keys like some of the recent Android phones, the Mi 4 still keeps the old-school style of the back, home and menu buttons.

Chinese smartphone maker Oppo is soon going to launch Oppo N1 mini, the compact variant of its Oppo N1 smartphone, in the Indian market. Just like its bigger sibling, the N1 mini also sports a rotating camera. According to sources, the phone will be launched this month itself. Earlier today, Oppo also posted a teaser of the phone on its Twitter and Facebook pages. Oppo had launched the N1 mini in the Chinese market in June, pricing it at 2699 yuan(Rs 26,600 approximately). The phone sports a 5inch(720x1280p) display. It is powered by a 1.6GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 quad-core processor and 2GB RAM.

It sports a 13MP rotating camera lens with an LED flash. The camera is capable of taking 24MP pictures through the Ultra HD mode. The phone comes with 16GB internal storage but doesn't feature a microSD card slot for expansion. It has a 2140mAh battery. The phone runs Oppo's Color OS 1.4 based on Android Jelly Bean. In terms of connectivity, the phone supports 4G LTE, 3G, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. It's worth pointing out that Gionee also offers Elife E7 Mini, a smartphone that sports a similar rota

Apple's gold-coloured iPhone 5s might have sparked a gold rush in the smartphone industry. Both Samsung and HTC announced gold-coloured variants of flagships Galaxy S5 and One (M8) this year. But HTC was first to take the newfound gold obsession quite literally, making the "most expensive HTC phone ever created" - HTC One (M7) Gold Edition. We're not surprised to know that only five of these made-in-gold phones were created - each valued at £2,750 (roughly Rs 2,75,000) each.

If there ever was a star-studded product, it probably would be the Stuart Hughes iPhone 5 Black Diamond. Thanks to real diamonds and ample Photoshopping, the phone looks like a school student's astronomy project. Priced at £10,000,000 (roughly Rs. 1,00,00,00,000), we're not quite sure if anyone who plans to use the phone would buy it. Constantly looking at the phone will prove to be a tough task, thanks to several shiny diamonds.

Italian car maker Lamborghini's owners also dabble in luxury goods, such as the phone in the image above. Priced at £2,500 (roughly Rs. 2,50,000) each, this phone is probably the best looking among the ones listed thus far. That is if you ignore the gold variant, whose looks can be described as the opposite of beautiful. Assuming you ever buy this phone, Lamborghini also sells a range of not-so-beautiful leather cases to compensate for the phone's good looks. Let us know how you liked it.

When it was launched in 2011, Tag Heuer Link was actually a pretty good Android smartphone. Its sealed body is water-tight and shock-resistant. If you like rugged smartphones, you might even have considered shelling out $6,700 (around Rs. 4,20,000) to buy one. However, luxury smartphones age like their cheaper counterparts. The phone runs Android 2.2 Froyo, and looks more like a PDA (remember those) than a smartphone.

So why does Dior's Reverie phone cost £78,000 (roughly Rs. 78,00,000)? Apparently because each unit is hand-assembled in France, "intricately embellished in 18-carat white gold, 1,539 diamonds and 46 pieces of iridescent mother-of-pearl". Seriously, if you really had that much money, wouldn't you be better served by buying all that jewellery minus the phone? This phone comes with a full touch screen and a five megapixel camera. You could buy that separately if you had the money.

If this phone is anything to go by, we're happy that Porsche doesn't make phones. The iconic luxury car maker's touch hasn't added to this phone's looks at all. In fact, the P9981 looks like a phone that got the worst of both worlds - the bulk (and price) of a car and software from a bygone era. To top it all, BlackBerry's product listing refers to the BB7 OS on this phone as the "next-generation BlackBerry OS". We're still wondering if anyone really believes that to be true. The price? Rs. 1,39,990.

Luxury handset maker Vertu's Constellation smartphone costs €4,900 (roughly Rs. 4,16,000). features a 4.3-inch HD display with 342ppi pixel density which is protected by a 5.1-inch piece of sapphire crystal which the company claims can only be scratched by a diamond. Luxury components aside, the phone also has a case made of calf leather, which is available in five colours and is far from good-looking.

Phones with the old numeric keypad went out of fashion a long time ago. Yet Ulysse Nardin has managed to make a good-looking retro phone with one. The Chairman is not unique for its keypad, but for its passive recharging system. The phone has a kinetic rotor system that can recharge the phone's battery (similar to the technology used in some watches). For that cool technology and lots of diamonds of course, you might have to shell out anywhere between $12,800 and $49,500 (approximately Rs. 7,20,000 to Rs. 29,00,000).

Savelli's Jardin-Secret series consists of 11 luxury phones, all of which have been hand-crafted and run Android. With each of these phones, Savelli says users get an exclusive UI design and sounds created by professional photographers and DJs. White Ice is a variant targeted at women, and comes with 18-carat rose gold and white alligator skin. While animal lovers may frown at this phone, those who want to buy phones from this series will have to shell out $10,000 to $1,20,000 (around Rs. 6,00,000 to Rs. 72,00,000).

As far as luxury phones go, Mobiado Pioneer probably has the coolest reason for its astronomical cost (€8,600, which is roughly Rs. 7,00,000). The company says the phone is a tribute to the Pioneer 10 satellite probe - the first man-made object to go past the asteroid belt beyond the planet Mars. In a fitting tribute, this phone has a back cover that's made of an actual meteorite. Our palms are itching for first impressions.

Asus, along with the range of new MeMO Pad and Fonepad tablets, has also launched two new tablets under its Transformer Pad series at the on-going Computex trade show in Taipei. The tablets namely, Transformer Pad TF103C and TF303CL, share some common specifications.

Asus Transformer Pad TF103C and Transformer Pad TF303CL models run on the latest 64-bit Intel Atom Z3745 quad-core processor clocked at 1.86GHz, and measure 257.4 x 178.4 x 9.9mm. Both the Asus Transformer tablets also feature a mobile keyboard dock with an ergonomic chiclet keys. The keyboard has one-touch function keys for tasks like Delete and Screenshot. Both also feature stereo speakers with SonicMaster technology.

The Asus Transformer Pad TF103C (See above) tablet sports a 10.1-inch IPS display with HD (1280x800 pixel) resolution and 170 degree wide viewing angle. The tablet, which runs an unspecified version of Android, also offers dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, apart from integrated GPS and Glonass receivers.

The Asus Transformer Pad TF103C comes with a 2-megapixel rear camera and a 0.3-megapixel front-facing camera. The inbuilt storage can be expanded up to 64GB via microSD card from the 16GB, which comes along with the device.

Available in White and Black colour variants, the tablet weighs 550 grams and delivers up to 9.5 hours of battery life. The Transformer Pad TF103C is also compatible with USB OTG and Miracast.



The Asus Transformer Pad TF303CL (See above) runs on Android 4.4 KitKat and features a 10.1-inch IPS display with WUXGA (1920x1200 pixels) resolution and 10-finger multi-touch support. 2GB of RAM also comes with the device.

The tablet sports a 5-megapixel rear camera and a 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera. The Transformer Pad TF303CL is available in two storage variants - 16GB and 32GB. Users would also receive 5GB additional cloud storage (lifetime access) via the Asus Webstorage service, along with 11GB of storage for the first year.

The network options of the Transformer Pad TF303CL include Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, LTE, GPS and Glonass. Asus Transformer Pad TF303CL weighs 595 grams and is available in Blue and Gold colour variants.

The firm also unveiled a new Zenbook and a triumvirate of hybrid laptops in its Transformer Book series at the on-going Computex trade show in Taipei.

Taiwanese PC giant Acer has detailed five new smartphones, one new smartband, and one new tablet ahead of Computex 2014. These are the Liquid E700, Liquid E600, Liquid Z200, Liquid X1, and Liquid Jade smartphones, the Liquid Leap smartband, and Iconia Tab 8.

Here we look at the Acer Liquid Jade and Liquid Leap, which Acer had first unveiled at its 'touch more connected' event in April with very few details. On Friday however, the company provided a lot more details, along with Q3 2014 availability - no pricing was revealed yet however.

Starting with the Liquid Jade, the dual-SIM smartphone runs on Android 4.4 KitKat. Acer says the smartphone 'targets users for whom every device or accessory carried is an expression of their style and personality.'

It boasts of 5-inch IPS 'Zero Air Gap' display with a 720x1280 pixel resolution and a Gorilla Glass 3 screen. The Liquid Jade is powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6582 processor that is coupled with 1GB of RAM. The smartphone features 8GB of built-in storage that is expandable by microSD card (up to 32GB)

The Liquid Jade features a 13-megapixel rear camera with an f/1.8 aperture, 0.3 second autofocus, and 1080p HD video recording. It also features a 2-megapixel front-facing camera. In terms of connectivity options, it offers 3G, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth, Micro-USB, A-GPS, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

Dimensions of the Liquid Jade are 140.5x69x7.5mm, while the smartphone is powered by a 2100mAh battery.

The Liquid Leap on the other hand is Acer's first wearable device, as well as its smallest touchscreen device with a 1-inch display. Acer says the Liquid Leap smartband offers fitness tracking, call and SMS notification, as well as music control, and will be sold together with the Acer Liquid Jade smartphone in selected markets.

The 1-inch touchscreen (resolution unspecified) on the Liquid Leap is placed on a durable rubber wristband, and delivers a battery life of up to 7 days. Calling it lightweight and stylish, Acer hasn't provided the weight of the smartband yet, but did reveal it will connect with smartphones using Bluetooth 4.0, but didn't detail compatibility (or if it was limited to select Acer phones).

The Liquid Leap comes in Moonstone White, Mineral Black, Aquamarine, Fragrant Pink, and Vivid Orange colours, as well as IPX7 certification for water-immersion up to 30 minutes in 1 metre of water - but doesn't specify dust resistance.

Acer Liquid Jade

• KEY SPECS
• 
  

Display

5.00-inch

Processor

1.3GHz

Front Camera

2-megapixel

Resolution

720x1280 pixels

RAM

1GB

OS

Android 4.4

Storage

8GB

Rear Camera

13-megapixel

Battery capacity

2100mAh

Samsung has finally launched its first Tizen smartphone, the Samsung Z. The new Tizen smartphone will be available initially in Russia starting Q3, and will be launched in other markets soon after.
The South Korean giant has revealed that it will be offering additional apps for Samsung Z users via the Tizen Store. The company in an attempt to lure more developers to its new Tizen ecosystem has announced a special promotional program for developers which will for one year.

Unfortunately, the company has not announced pricing details of the Samsung Z; though it can be expected to be announced in Q3. Samsung will be showcasing the new Tizen smartphone at the Tizen Developer Conference on June 3 in San Francisco.



Notably, the Samsung Z sports an angular design with lines, providing a differentiated look and feel from company's Android-based Galaxy range of smartphones. It will be available in two colours - Black and Gold. Much like the Samsung Galaxy S5, the Samsung Z also features the Heart rate sensor, Fingerprint sensor, and S Health 3.0 app.

The Samsung Z is a single SIM device which runs the Tizen 2.2.1 OS out-of-the-box. It comes with a 4.8-inch (720x1280 pixels) HD Super AMOLED display. It is powered by a 2.3GHz quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM.

It comes with 16GB of inbuilt storage, which is further expandable via microSD card (up to 64GB). The Samsung Z sports an 8-megapixel autofocus rear camera with LED flash and BSI sensor, while there is a secondary 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera.

On the connectivity front, the Samsung Z includes 3G, 4G, Wi-Fi, Micro-USB, Bluetooth, GPS/ GLONASS, and NFC options. The smartphone packs a 2600mAh battery with an Ultra Power Saving Mode feature. The Samsung Z measures 138.2x69.8x8.5mm and weighs 136 grams.

Commenting on the launch of first Tizen smartphone, DJ Lee, President and Head of Global Sales and Marketing Office, Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics said, "Samsung is committed to enhancing the mobile experience of consumers with innovation that is both personal and unique to their needs. The Samsung Z integrates the power and adaptability of the Tizen platform, enabling users to browse the web faster and utilize applications more effectively."

Samsung Z

• KEY SPECS

Display

4.80-inch

Processor

2.3GHz

Front Camera

2.1-megapixel

Resolution

720x1280 pixels

RAM

2GB

OS

Tizen 2.2.1

Storage

16GB

Rear Camera

8-megapixel

Battery capacity

2600mAh

What Does DSLR Mean?

DSLR means Digital Single Lens Reflex camera.Digital means that the camera shoots digitally, rather than using film.Single Lens means that it uses one single lens for viewing and shooting. The other type of camera would be a Twin Lens Reflex (TLR) camera, which lets you view through a top lens and shoot through a second, bottom, lens.


Shooting Mode Options
We're going to start with the basics on this board, so I'm going to walk you through the most important shooting modes and how best to use them.

Each brand of camera (Nikon & Canon being the two most common & popular) will have slightly different options on the shooting dial. But the basic, most important functions, are the same between most cameras.


Full Automatic Mode
Full Automatic Mode is indicated by the open green rectangle.

The idea with this mode is that the camera senses the lighting conditions and all other aspects of picture taking, and then automatically adjusts all its settings to fit the situation.

To be totally honest, I don't usually love this mode. It often triggers the flash to come on (not a good thing for quality photos), and it often has trouble with fast-moving subjects...they turn out blurry.  


Portrait Mode
The Portrait Mode is indicated by a drawing of a person's face or profile. That's because usually you take a portrait of someone's face!

A great portrait is focused in only on your subject's face, showing the detail of their eyes (most important!), skin tone, hair, etc. It really focuses in on these things, while blurring out the background.

Think about it like this - a great portrait doesn't have the background equally as in focus as the subject's face. You want all the attention to be on the person's face.
When using the Portrait Mode, be sure your subject is well lit. Harsh sun is not great as it will create unflattering shadows. Soft light (in early morning or late afternoon, for example) is great.

If there's not enough light, your camera will want to use the flash which is a portrait no-no! That harsh lighting is no good for color or quality. 
Last but not least, your portrait model will need to be still. This setting does not handle movement well - it creates blurriness in the final image.


Landscape Mode
Landscape Mode is indicated by a picture of mountains on your camera. That's because if you're taking a picture of mountains (like this example image) you should probably be using the Landscape Mode!

• This mode is also great for taking pictures of far away things or anytime you want to capture "the big picture" of a large scene where you'd like all aspects to be in focus.
• When you use Landscape Mode, a few things happen.  
• The blues and greens will be more vivid in your images.
• The camera will adjust its settings so that most of the image is in focus. This is very different from Portrait Mode, where you wanted only the subject's face (nothing else) to be in focus.
• This mode tends to do OK with moving subjects, but it's not the best. 

Close Up Mode
Close Up Mode is indicated by a flower, usually a tulip. That's because flowers are a common subject for close-ups.

When you use Close Up Mode, your camera will adjust itself so that only a very small amount of the picture is in focus and all the rest is blurred out.  Excellent for flowers, bugs, dew drops, and any sort of still life type shot where you want to capture & highlight all that lovely close-up detail.

Fun fact - that blurriness is called "bokeh"

Some tips for using the Close Up Mode:

• Make sure you've got adequate lighting.
• Hold your hands as still as you possibly can. Try holding your breath. Or try stabilizing your camera on a ledge. A tripod, if you've got one, would be great here too.
• Don't even try to use this mode on fast moving subjects like babies and animals. You'll get a super blurry picture.

Sports Mode
Sports Mode is indicated by a running guy. He's about to sprint super fast, and this is the mode to use to capture him!

In Sports Mode, your camera adjusts its shutter speed to be as fast as possible.  That means it does its very best to capture an image of a very short moment in time - SNAP! By snapping its shutter as fast as possible, your camera is "freezing" objects as best it can.

This mode is great for kids, animals, sporting events, or capturing anything that's fast moving.  

This mode also enables you to take pictures very quickly, one after another, creating a sort of stop-action feel when you look through your photographs.


Manual Mode
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Manual Mode is indicated on your camera by the letter M.
Manual Mode is class level 201 stuff, but it is well worth learning. When shooting in Manual Mode, you are able to control every aspect of your photography in order to create the best possible picture.

What can you adjust when you're shooting in Manual Mode?

• Adjust the ISO to adjust your camera's sensitivity to light.
• Adjust the Aperture, also known as the F-Stop, to adjust how much of an image is in focus. Just a little (like in Close Up Mode) or a lot (like in Outdoor Mode)
• Adjust the Shutter Speed, which changes how quickly your camera snaps the picture. A fast shutter speed will capture a fast moving object but requires more light. A slow shutter speed can operate in lower light conditions but requires a very steady hand. 
• Adjust the Focus manually to be sure your camera is focusing in on the correct area. 

its all about Balance

When you're shooting in Manual Mode, one of the main things to keep in mind is that you're creating a balance between the three key camera settings in order to create the style of photo you want while working with the lighting conditions you currently have.

There are three pillars of photography to learn about: ISO Speed, Aperture and Shutter Speed.

• ISO is your camera's sensitivity to light. If you set the ISO number higher, your camera will be more sensitive to light, which means you'll be able to work in lower light conditions. But set it too high, and you'll create undesirable graininess in your photos.
• Aperture determines how much of the picture is in focus, but also impacts light. A low F-Stop number lets in lots of light while also creating lots of blurriness in the background. A high F-Stop number lets in much less light and causes everything to be in focus.
• Shutter Speed determines how quickly your camera snaps the picture. Slow shutter speed lets in more light (because the shutter closes slowly) and fast shutter speed lets in less light.
• You've got to balance these three things to give your camera enough light, while also creating the effect you're after!

Understand ISO

First things first - the ISO number indicates how sensitive your camera is to available light.

The lower the ISO number, the less sensitive it is to the light, while a higher ISO number increases the sensitivity of your camera. 

This article has some great, in-depth ISO information as well as example images that demonstrate the learnings.

I'll give you the high points here

• The main reason to adjust ISO is when you're shooting in low-light conditions. You will need a higher ISO number here because you want your camera to make use of what little light is available.
• If you go much above 200 ISO, you will begin to introduce graininess into your pictures, which is not desirable. See this article for great examples of what that looks like.

Understanding Aperture

The Aperture is the circular mechanism inside your camera that opens and closes when a picture is taken. This is the setting where you choose how much of the photo is in focus, and how much is blurry. 

This article by the Pioneer Woman contains a great, in-depth explanation of the Aperture and how it works. She's very good at explaining things in layman's terms and has tons of other photography tutorials if you like her style!

High Points:

• You can set the aperture to close very tightly when you take a picture. This is a large F-Stop number, such as  F22, and creates a photo where lots is in focus.
• You can also set the aperture to remain very open. This would be a small F-Stop number, such as F1.4, and creates a photo where a small amount is in focus and the rest is blurry.
• As with all Manual Mode settings, you'll need to balance your camera's need for light with the settings to create your desired effect. Low F-Stop lets in lots of light, High F-Stop doesn’t let in very much light. Got it? 

Understanding Shutter Speed
Shutter speed is the amount of time the camera's shutter is open, when taking a picture. This is measured in seconds, or more usually, fractions of seconds.

1/1000 is a very fast shutter speed, and will "freeze" a fast moving object.
1/20 is a very slow shutter speed. Any moving object shot with this shutter speed would appear blurry.
30 is a very very slow shutter speed.  It means when you take a picture, the camera opens its shutter for a full thirty seconds!  You'd use this setting to take a picture of the dark starry night sky, for example. And you'd need a tripod!
Rule of Thumb: If you set shutter speed to anything lower than 1/60, you'll need a tripod. 1/60 is where blurriness begins to occur due to shaking hands. Humans just aren't able to hold still enough to take a clear picture below 1/60.


As for light & balance: fast shutter speeds don't let in much light, so you have to manage this by balancing your other three settings. Slow shutter speeds let in much more light, so they are great for low light conditions, but you have to manage this against the shakiness/blurriness you might create with a slow shutter speed



The last part of shooting in Manual Mode is learning about manual focus. You don't have to manually focus when you're in Manual Mode (oftentimes auto focus works just fine) but there are some situations where manual focus is best!

First, take a look at my image for this learning. See the little switch on the lens that says AF | MF? That's how you switch between Auto Focus (AF) and Manual Focus (MF). Once you're in MF mode, you twist the grooved moveable ring on your camera to adjust the focal point.

This article outlines five situations where manual focus is best.  I wholeheartedly agree with this advice, and will give you the five situations here. Read through the article to learn more about the thoughts behind each one.

• 
  
• Macro Work (IE super close-ups)
• Low Light
• Portraits
• Shooting Through Glass or Wire Fences
• Fast Action