Huawei TalkBand B1 Is Your New Mobile Companion From Wearables At MWC 2014

Huawei has entered the wearable device arena at the Mobile World Congress 2014 by unveiling its new gadget 'Huawei TalkBand B1' - a wristband that is introduced as a mobile companion to MediaPad X1. The smartwatch is being called a hybrid talk-and-track device that can act as a fitness tracker as well as let you make wireless calls. With support for both Android 2.3+ and iOS 5.0+ compatible devices, the Huawei TalkBand B1 features a 1.4 inch flexible OLED display and a Bluetooth 4.1 wireless earpiece. The company claims that the device offers up to seven hours of continuous calling. Users can sync their smartphones or tablets via NFC and if the TalkBand B1 moves more than 10 meters away from the synced smart device, it starts vibrating - a feature added for security.

Like most other fitness trackers, TalkBand B1 wirelessly tracks activity time and progress. So, you can use it to capture the data about the number of miles covered, steps taken or calories burned. Other than that, it has a smart function to record your duration and quality of sleep. You can use it to set smart alarms or nap functions too. 

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The band sports a bendable curve design and at 26g weight and 14.6mm thickness, the device is pretty-lightweight. The anti-UV material used for its body is hypo-allergenic and sweat-resistant. On the inside, the device packs a 90 mAh battery and is said to keep the TalkBand B1 running for six days with a single recharge that takes two hours through a USB connector. 

The price for the TalkBand B1 is €99 as declared by Huawei's Richard Yu. The latest wearable gadget will be available in China from March 2014, and from second quarter in 2014 in Japan, the Middle East, Russia and Western Europe. Do check a video put together by the good guys at PhoneArena for a Huawei TalkBand B1 hands-on.
source:crazyengineers

Opera Max Beta App For Android Download Available - Save 50% Of Your Data Usage

Opera Software is in news with the launch of its beta version of the Opera Max app on Android. The app is used to crunch the mobile data on your phone, so that you get to use more of your limited plan at the same price. According to the developers Opera Max Beta app lets you watch multimedia content such as images and videos much faster. This data savings app is absolutely free and available on Google Play Store for download in beta version. It is designed to give you more control over how your smartphone consumes most data and where. The most impressive feature of the app is the ability to save tons of data on those heavy high-definition videos from YouTube or Vine you watch on your phone. The developers hope that the videos will load way faster than before on Opera Max.

The technology at work behind the app compresses the text, videos and images which has become possible due to years of research work that has gone into developing an efficient mobile data-compression technology.


Interested users can download the app from Play Store at the link given below. The app is being rolled out worldwide gradually on a first-come, first-served basis and therefore by downloading the app, you just reserve your place in the queue. Early bird access is for the tech-enthusiasts anyway. Downloaders will get a notification when the app starts functioning.
source:opera

SanDisk 128 GB SD Card Is Highest Capacity In The Size

Storage devices major SanDisk added a new weapon to their arsenal, the 128 GB microSDXC card. This 'One Card To Store 'em All' was unveiled at the ongoing Mobile World Conference at Barcelona, Spain. Being of the highest capacity ever made, a microSD card of such a capacity will definitely minimise users' worries of running out of storage space, SanDisk said in a statement. Consumers can now store 16 hours of Full HD video, 7,500 songs, 3,200 photos and 125+ apps, all on a single removable card, the statement added. This high-performance 128GB SanDisk Ultra microSDXC memory card will reshape the way users interact with their device and will eliminate the need to store data in multiple devices, Stuart Robinson, director at Handset Component Technologies, Strategy Analytics commented on this development.

This smaller-than-a-fingernail card was designed specifically for Android smartphones and tablets and is ideal for shooting HQ videos and pictures. SanDisk also claimed that this card performed twice that of normal SD cards. Ordinary cards provide upto 5MB/s write speeds. To manufacture the 128 GB microSDXC, SanDisk developed an innovative technique that allowed vertical stacking of 16 memory die, each die thinner than a strand of hair.

Source: androidcentral​

SanDisk said that this innovative product of theirs would be available worldwide and will cost about $200 in the US. They also announced a new feature called 'OptiMem' in their 'SanDisk Memory Zone' app. This application lets users easily view, access, and backup all of their files from their phone’s memory in one convenient place and the 'OptiMem' feature will automatically transfer old images and videos from the phone's internal memory to SD card. It will also keep track of user’s mobile device memory levels, and inform them whenever the internal memory falls below a pre-defined threshold. SanDisk’s booth is also expected to feature the new iNAND Extreme embedded flash drive at the MWC ’14.

Ironically, just 10 years earlier in 2004, SanDisk had announced their 128 MB microSD card. This means more than 1000x increase in capacity in just a decade It is amazing how technology has enabled us to push our limits beyond imagination.

Samsung’s Galaxy S5 Is Here with Fingerprint Scanner and Heart Rate Monitor

Samsung’s much awaited and highly rumored smartphone-Galaxy S5 has finally been announced at Mobile World Congress 2014 on Monday. With this latest device, Samsung is all set to give head-to-head competition to tech-giant Apple’s iPhone 5S. Adding much value to device, Samsung has gone ahead with fingerprint scanner and heart rate monitor along with other features.

Fingerprint Scanner and Heart Rate Monitor

Being one of the striking features of Galaxy S5, fingerprint scanner is located at the bottom of home button. Unlike iPhone 5S, Galaxy S5 requires a vertical swipe to unlock phone and access private data/folders. Users can also authorize online purchases using fingerprint scanner. Reports also suggest that Samsung is partnering with PayPal for this feature. Another latest feature of the phone - a Heart Rate Monitor is located on the rear panel of the phone besides camera flash. User have to place the finger on the sensor to activate and measure the pulse. The sensor measures the pulse in about 5 to 10 seconds. Along with this, the company has also included applications to record user’s health and diet.

Design

The fifth generation Galaxy smartphone is inspired by earlier Galaxy S4 design. It’s nearly impossible to identify the two devices from front, when kept side-by-side. Unlike S4, the latest device comes with a less-glossy plastic. The rear panel consists of camera with flash, sensor to monitor heart rate and speakers at the left bottom.

Other Features at Glance

With the introduction of new features, Samsung doesn’t fail to impress with other general specifications. The Galaxy S5 has super AMOLED screen with 5.1-inch display and resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels. This device is powered by super 2.5GHz quad core processor and 2GB of RAM. Galaxy S5 will run on Android 4.4.2 KitKat version. The device is equipped with larger battery which has 20 percent better stamina and offers a low power consumption mode when battery is running low. It packs a 16MP supporting real-time HDR processing for better photos. Samsung also claims that it has the fastest autofocus speed. S5 supports high speed LTE as well as 802.11ac WiFi. Download Booster is also a new feature which is said to increase download speed using LTE and WiFi simultaneously.

Though Samsung haven’t said anything on much this gadget would cost, the Galaxy S5 is scheduled to launch globally on April 11. Do share in comments below what you feel about this latest device.

source:crazy engineers

COMING TO VERIZON IN THE US: NOKIA LUMIA ICON

Nokia’s newest Lumia is built for those who demand more from their phones and don’t want to compromise when it comes to how this life companion captures each moment of their daily lives.

The first thing you’ll notice about the Nokia Lumia Icon is its state-of-the-art 1080p full HD screen that feels great in the hand at a full five inches. The metal construction also gives the device a distinctive look, making this one of 2014’s most anticipated new devices.

The Nokia Lumia Icon features a thin and light frame that is enriched with premium design touches, including an aluminum construction with ceramic keys. Coming in at just 5.8 oz and dimensions of 5.39” x 2.79” x 0.39”, this sleek performer gives the power you need without weighing you down.

True-to-life images and audio

With a crystal-clear 20-megapixel camera based on Nokia’s award-winning PureView technology and Zeiss optics, you’ll see what you’ve been missing on competitive devices when it comes to mobile images and video.

Speaking of video, your memories deserve to be captured to their fullest and Nokia Lumia Icon won’t disappoint. This video powerhouse features four lossless microphones that capture omnidirectional audio in full stereo. This means you’ll record video exactly how you remember it, thanks to our high-performance digital mics, noise reduction and those magical software algorithms.

We put Nokia Lumia Icon to the test against two super loud muscle cars racing down a Las Vegas speedway. The results definitely don’t disappoint, with audio and video coming in crystal clear despite the rumble and roar of the cars’ engines revving in the background. Check out the video yourself to see how the device fared against the background noise.

see video:youtube

A new payment ecosystem is emerging

The mobile is an acknowledged catalyst of change. It has already changed the way we communicate with each other and the way we access information. The mobile is now changing how we conduct our financial lives.

Mobile financial services is a rapidly developing industry led by a wave of dynamic, agile and technologically advanced solutions. At the front of this wave of new technology is eServGlobal.

Mobile money is now regarded as an essential service in emerging markets as well as a significant potential revenue source for both operators and financial services organisations. In developed markets, the power of this technology will take the user experience one step further into the dematerialization of payments through a secure, contactless and instantaneous experience.

Berg Insight predicts that the total value of mobile money transactions will grow from US$44 billion in 2011 to US$395 billion in 2017.

Paolo Montessori, CEO and Managing Director, eServGlobal, said: “We are witnessing the beginning of a new era of financial services which will stem from the mobile. The traditional industry leaders in both the mobile and financial spaces are making moves to join the emerging wave of mobile money services.”

eServGlobal offers mobile money solutions which put feature-rich mobile financial services at the fingertips of users worldwide, covering the full spectrum of mobile wallet, mobile commerce, recharge, promotions and agent management features. With more than 30 years of experience, eServGlobal invests heavily in product development, using carrier-grade, next-generation technology and aligning with the requirements of more than 65 customers in over 50 countries.

eServGlobal’s PayMobile platform is an end-to-end solution which allows service providers to select the right mix of telco and financial services for each individual market. PayMobile can handle over 500,000 transactions per busy hour and can manage 60 million subscribers and 350,000 agents in a single implementation.

As mobile money solutions reach a new age of maturity, an open and neutral solution for interoperability on both a domestic and international level becomes an evident need. HomeSend, the market-leading service which enables money transfer between mobile money accounts, payments cards, bank accounts or cash outlets from anywhere in the world, is ideally positioned to meet this need. HomeSend is a strategic partnership between eServGlobal and BICS.

eServGlobal will showcase their mobile money solutions at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, 24 – 28 February. eServGlobal will be hosting a live demonstration on its stand located at Hall 7 Stand i60.

source:mwc

Nokia takes Android route to fight back in emerging markets

 As anticipated, Nokia lifted the veil at Congress on a family of affordable smartphones powered by a variant of Android, the first time it has supported the OS.

The Finnish vendor announced three new smartphones targeted mainly at emerging markets – the X, X+ and XL – which Stephen Elop, EVP of Nokia Devices & Services, described as “running Android apps with Nokia’s user experience and a wide array of Microsoft services”.

While such devices have long been mooted – starting before Nokia did the deal to sell the bulk of its handset unit to Microsoft – it has been unclear if they would ever see the light of day.

Elop explained the reasoning for supporting the rival OS: “Building on the Android OS means having access to hundreds of thousands of apps right out of the box”.

However he was at pains to point out that the OS “takes people to Microsoft’s cloud not Google’s” and introduces users around the world to the US company’s services, such as Skype.

While it has widely been perceived as odd that a company set to be acquired by Microsoft is set to bring Android-powered smartphones to market, such a move would help Nokia address a weakness in Nokia’s portfolio, the Series 40 platform, which struggles in comparison with Android in emerging markets.

The X is available now for €89 while the X+ will cost €99 and will be available early in Q2. The XL, which has a larger 5-inch screen, will cost €109 and will also be available early in Q2. The phones will be launched first in emerging markets.

Elop was careful to explain how the X family is positioned below its existing Windows Phone-based Lumia range, which is targeted predominantly at western markets.

The need for care is understandable – the best seller in the Lumia range is the 520 which also happens to be the lowest priced.

“Expect to see Lumia prices come down but X will trend below,” explained Elop.

Alongside the major news about the X family, Nokia announced new affordable handsets from its existing stable – the Nokia 220 and Asha 230 – which will come on the market at €29 and €45, respectively.

source:mwc