Intel Medfield-Based Lava Xolo X900 Coming to India in Late April

Showcased one month ago at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Lava’s Xolo X900 Android smartphone will make its debut in India in late April. The folks at AndroidOS have been tipped on the smartphone’s availability timeframe, though there is no detail on Xolo X900’s price tag. Rumor has it that the device will be priced lower than expected in order to successfully compete with other regional brands. Word is that Lava will launch the Xolo X900 for around 400 USD (300 EUR) off-contract, but this has yet to be confirmed by the manufacturer. Although the device will be shipped with Android 2.3 Gingerbread out of the box, Lava promised the phone would be upgraded to Ice Cream Sandwich sometime this year. Anyway, the phone’s main selling...

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Nokia Working on Patenting Its Morph Concept Phone

One of the most interesting devices that Nokia might come up with sometime in the not too distant future is a mobile phone with a morphing design.  Featuring a flexible body, including the screen and some of its internals, the device would enable users to wear it as a bracelet, or hold it in their hands as a leaf-shaped candybar. Clearly, this appears to be an idea extracted from a sci-fi movie, but Nokia fans should already be familiar with the Nokia Morph concept phone, which allegedly features the capabilities mentioned above. Apparently, the day when this device would become reality is closer than believed: Nokia is working on patenting the flexible device. In fact, the company has already filed an application to have the patent...

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Transformers: Fall of Cybetron Gets Gameplay Trailer, Release Date

Activision has just unveiled the first gameplay trailer for its upcoming Transformers: Fall of Cybertron game, alongside an actual release date for the new title. Quite a few Transformers games have appeared from Activision in recent times, including many adaptations of the actual movies, but also standalone experiences like the impressive War for Cybertron. Developer High Moon Studios is back with Fall of Cybertron, which was revealed late last year through an impressive trailer, and has now posted the first gameplay video with the title. The footage shows off lots of action and many characters, both from the Autobot and the Decepticon factions. The video also presents a release date for Transformers: Fall of Cybertron, which is out in North America on August 28. A European launch date...

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Samsung Registers New Galaxy Names: Grand, Premier and Next

South Korean mobile phone maker Samsung appears set to greatly expand its Galaxy lineup of devices, and is securing trademarks for various names these products could feature.  Recently, the company filed applications for the trademarking of names such as Galaxy Grand, Galaxy Premier, and Galaxy Next. The trademarking of these three names follows a similar move from Samsung made for Galaxy Thunder, Galaxy Express, and Galaxy Accelerate.  One thing that should be noted here is that Samsung did use some of these names for its devices in other countries around the world, but not in the United States.  Clearly, the handset vendor plans on re-using these monikers, though it remains to be seen what products will be pushed to shelves...

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Scythe Releases Improved Grand Kama Cross CPU Cooler

The recent product release wave may have been of graphics cards, but that doesn't mean that CPUs aren't receiving their own share of love.  In fact, Scythe has revealed an improved version of the Grand Kama Cross CPU cooler.  Called Grand Kama Cross Rev. B, it uses the Top-Flow design that creates airflow for the various motherboard components, not just the CPU.  It is compatible with AMD 754, 939, 940, AM2, AM2+, AM3, AM3+ and FM1 CPUs, as well as LGA1155, LGA1156, LGA775, LGA2011 and LGA1366 chips from Intel.  The chip support for LGA2011 really is more or less the whole “upgrade.” Everything else should be the same as what the good old product page says.  Sales should be underway for 30.50 Euro, which more or...

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How to Install Update 12070 on Nokia Lumia 800

Today, Nokia announced the global availability of a new software update for its Lumia 800 smartphones, with various enhancements included inside.  The new update provides longer battery life for the mobile phone, along with better voice quality through a series of improvements brought to the bass in the audio.  Following the update, Nokia Lumia 800 owners will also observe that the soft keys illuminate at all brightness levels settings.  Users who haven’t got the chance to update their Lumia 800 smartphones before (this is the third update for the device) can now learn how to do that.  The process is very simple, though it involves connecting the device to a Windows PC or a Mac. The update can be performed only through the Zune software on Windows or via the Windows...

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Script: wpsc Support Tickets

If running a WordPress site and your users are constantly sending support emails, then it's the right time to add a ticketing system to your website. There's currently a WordPress plugin for that, specifically developed to handle support tickets in the simplest way possible. Developed by the same team that created wpStoreCart, the wpsc Support Tickets plugin comes with a frontend for users (and guests if necessary), to submit their problems / questions and a backend for admins to answer, manage and close those tickets. wpsc Support Tickets also sends email notifications when email tickets are received and fixed, so users are kept in the loop every time new details are added to their ticket. Of course, the plugin is available in the WordPress...

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Windows 8 on New and Old Touch Hardware

This fall, Microsoft will launch the final flavor of its Windows 8 platform, with support for both existing PCs, as well as for new PCs, which will, obviously, pack new hardware.  One of the main changes when compared to the previous Windows releases is the fact that Windows 8 will be optimized for use on touch-enabled devices.  For that, Microsoft announced a set of touch interactions designed to make up the Windows 8 touch language, and which should be adopted by application developers as well.  “These core interactions form the basis of the Windows 8 user interface, and are reused heavily in the application frameworks within our common controls and samples,” a blog post from Jerry Koh, group program manager, and Jeff Piira,...

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Samsung Galaxy S II 4G (AT&T) Now Only $0.01 at Amazon

The AT&T flavor of Samsung’s Galaxy S II smartphone is now available for purchase through Amazon for only $0.01 with the signing of a contract agreement.  The leading handset vendor is gearing up for the release of a successor for Galaxy S II, and it makes sense for the older device to see price drops.  At the moment, the Samsung Galaxy S II 4G (AT&T) is listed at Amazon Wireless with said price tag attached to it for monthly agreements, and at $599.99 (450 Euros) for those who would like to grab it without committing to a contract.  The device will provide users with great performance levels courtesy of its 1.2GHz application processor, as well as with great data speeds on AT&T’s HSPA+ network.  The handset...

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HTC Locations App Update Adds Offline Navigation to HTC Windows Phone Devices

Following Nokia Drive’s latest update that brings offline navigation to Lumia devices, HTC decided to make the feature available on its Windows Phone handsets as well. Although the application is available for quite some time, HTC Locations only offered a handful of downloadable maps, and those were only compatible with some Android devices. However, the folks at Engadget have just been tipped on a major update of the Windows Phone version of HTC Locations. It appears that HTC Titan users have already been able to pull the update, which seems to add the so-much-needed offline navigation feature. The latest version of HTC Locations app for Windows Phone allows users to download maps for later offline viewing. The software is now available...

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Microsoft’s Windows 8 "Pro Pack" Edition to Feature Windows Media Center

Among the various versions of Windows 8 that Microsoft might push to the market when the platform hits the gold state this fall, one specific flavor is rumored to feature the name of Windows 8 “Pro Pack” Edition.  The SKU is said to be called “ProfessionalWMC,” which stands for “Professional with Windows Media Center.” Apparently, this will be a different edition than the Windows 8 Professional version that Microsoft will push to shelves, and will include the Windows Media Center.  Microsoft hasn’t provided specific info on the matter for the time being, but a recent article on WinUnleaked, a source of various unofficial details on Microsoft’s upcoming platform, claims that Media Center and Family safety will be included in this...

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Buffalo Reveals Class 6 MicroSDHC Memory Cards

There are some new memory cards for sale in Japan, fit for phones, cameras and anything else that use the microSDHC form factor. Then again, Buffalo, the maker of the cards, also went to the trouble of bundling the newcomers with adapters that convert them into standard-size SDHC cards (the like used by DSii, Dsi, 3DS and Wii consoles form Nintendo, as well as many other products). Capacities range from 4 GB to 32 GB (8 GB and 16 GB are in-between), while the transfer rates are of at least 6 MB/s (Class 6 rating demands no less). From small to large, the prices are of 2,880 JPY ($34.6 / 26.37 Euro), 3,880 JPY ($46.7 / 35.52 Euro), 8,880 JPY ($107 / 81.31 Euro), and 17,880 JPY ($215 / 163.72 Euro), respectively. All in all, the items are...

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Samsung GT-i9300 to Arrive in Mid-May

South Korean mobile phone maker Samsung Electronics is reportedly gearing up for the release of a new smartphone in its Galaxy series, and might drop it sometime in mid-May.  Said handset was spotted online a few times before and even made an appearance on Samsung’s website as the Samsung GT-i9300.  Initially believed to be the next flagship phone from the company, the successor of Samsung Galaxy S II, the handset is now said to be nothing more than a mid-range device.  The smartphone should arrive on shelves as the Galaxy M, a recent article on GSM Arena notes. Apparently, this is the name under which the Samsung GT-i9300 appears in the ordering system.  Last year, Samsung announced changes in its naming scheme, and...

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New Batch of NVIDIA Releases Set for May, 2012

One might say that NVIDIA has just finished its most recent wave of product releases, even though it only launched one single desktop product itself, along with some mobile GPUs. The ones really responsible for how many new graphics cards are now running on the market are the Santa Clara, California-based company's many partners. Now, it is believed that something similar will take place no more than two months from now, or thereabouts. More precisely, it is reported  that its most recent wave of product releases will happen in May, 2012. Also, NVIDIA will be slightly more proactive as well, unveiling two more graphics cards instead of one. This isn't to say that the GeForce GTX 680 was not enough of a product launch on its own,...

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PNY Adds 2133 MHz and 1866 MHz DDR3 Memory Variants to Dual and Quad Chanel Kits

Today PNY announced new memory kits on its official website. The modules are rated at 1866 MHz and 2133 MHz speeds respectively and come in dual-channel or quad-channel configurations. These new kits are part of PNY’s XLR8 product line of fast memory modules. They come in 8 GB kits that comprise two 4 GB DDR3 modules that work in dual-channel configurations or 16 GB kits comprising four 4 GB DDR3 modules, guaranteed to work in quad-channel configuration. The company touts low latency with 9-12-11-27 timings for the 2133 MHz DDR3 CAS 10 8 GB dual-channel kit and the 16 GB quad-channel one. For the 1866 MHz 8 GB (4 x 4GB) and 16 GB (4x 4GB) DDR3 CAS 9 kits, PNY states 9-12-9-27 timings. The manufacturer puts the buyer’s mind at ease, offering...

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Production of Next-Gen MacBook Pros Begins Next Month - Report

Industry sources are telling DigiTimes that Apple has placed orders for the next-generation of MacBook Pro computers, with the first batch expected to enter mass production next month. Likely equipped with the newest Ivy Bridge processors from Intel, the next-generation 15-inch MacBook Pro is to enter manufacturing in April, according to sources from the upstream supply chain. These people specifically told the Taiwanese publication that “Apple will start mass producing its 15-inch MacBook Pro in April,” and that “the company's orders for the 13.3-inch model are far higher than those of the 15-inch.”  It is thus believed that “Apple is more focused on the 13.3-inch notebook segment.” The 13.3-inch MacBook Pro goes into production in...

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Palit’s GeForce GTX 680 Custom Card Gets Pictured

Building a custom designed card is the only thing that can set a video card manufacturer apart from the others. Having something special, no matter if it’s a 50 cent exhaust bracket that gets more hot air outside the card or a 10 cent plastic fan holder that allows you to turn the fan some millimeters towards one side or the other, it is going to help the company earn ten to twenty times the value of their added cost. However, the most important success of the team, if they manage to get the sale, is to make you pick their card and not the one sitting next to it on the shelf.  Therefore, some manufacturers will heavily invest in their card design to make something really special no matter if it brings them some extra profit or not. Generally,...

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Zotac Preparing GeForce GTX 680 Extreme Edition

Zotac is on a roll, or is getting ready for such an episode regarding the graphics adapter market, having begun work on some really powerful video controllers.  Expreview is where the photos of a future Zotac product have surfaced, along with part of the specifications.  From what we can gather, this isn't the fabled 2 GHz beast that the company was said to be developing a week ago.  It will still be very powerful though. It wouldn't be called GeForce GTX 680 Extreme Edition if that were not the case.  In fact, the company has every expectation that overclocking world records will be set and broken.  Unfortunately, it isn't easy to guess what those records will be, since the clock speeds were not revealed, not for...

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Nokia Lumia 800 Battery Enhancements Now Globally Available

Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia is currently delivering a software update for its first Windows Phone device, the Lumia 800, in an attempt to provide its users with a better experience.  This is the third update that the smartphone tastes in only four months, and is being pushed out as firmware 1600.2487.8107.12070.  The new update brings along a variety of enhancements related to the phone’s battery performance, as well as to its power management capabilities.  According to Nokia, the new software was originally planned for release starting with April 18th, but the company managed to have it ready for roll-out almost one month earlier.  “But before you get all excited and reach out for that cable to connect your Lumia...

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Samsung Galaxy S Gets Official “Value Pack”with ICS Features

It has been confirmed that one of the most popular Android smartphones available on the market, Samsung Galaxy S would never receive an Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade. The South Korean company issued a statement claiming that the Galaxy S does not feature the necessary hardware to smoothly run Android 4.0 operating system and said that it would not be able to deliver Google's latest platform to this handset. However, given the overwhelming feedback received immediately after the official statement, Samsung decided to try and make it right for the millions of Android fans who own the Galaxy S. Basically, the company said it would bring some of the features and apps of the Android 4.0, but not the whole package due to the fact that the Galaxy...

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Samsung GALAXY Tab 2 (10.1) Gets FCC Approval

Unveiled back in February at the Mobile World Congress 2012 in Barcelona, Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1) has just been spotted at the FCC (Federal Communications Commission). According to Samsung's documents filed at FCC, this is the HSPA+ version model number GT-P5100. It appears that the device has received approval for 850 and 1900MHz bands.  The only specs mentioned for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1) is support for Wi-Fi 802.11n and Bluetooth 3.0 with A2DP. In addition, the device supports HSPA+ on II and V bands, which makes it suitable for AT&T, though this has yet to be confirmed by the carrier. No clue on whether or not this will come to AT&T in the following weeks, but it's certain that it will come with Google's Android...

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