New Samsung app streams images to smartphones from TV

Android based App turns smartphone into remote, game controller and also settings hub for the new Smart TV models.

Samsung has introduced a new application for Galaxy S II smartphone that can stream images directly to the smartphone from a Smart TV.

Dubbed as Smart View, the application supports Samsung LED Smart TV models, Series 7 and Series 8, both of which are available in India.

The Smart View App requires Android 2.3 Gingerbread or higher updated running on the device and currently supports Galaxy S II.

New Smart View app acts as a full remote control for the Smart TV and Blu-ray Disc products when connected to the same via wireless router. The app even offers an onscreen keyboard wherever text entry is required.

Besides that, the app also acts as the optical game controller for the games on your TV. The gyroscopic sensor of the smartphone adds more fun while playing games on TV using your smartphone as game controller.

Noteworthy feature of Smart View is that it allows pushing content from smartphone to TV and TV to smartphone when both app and Smart TV are connected over Wi-Fi. Not only that, you can sit on the couch and fine-tune the controls for the TV and Blu-ray Disc players using the Smart View app.

One crucial part is that you'll need to have a Wi-Fi network setup at home or connect Samsung Wireless LAN adapter to the TV USB port.

The app lets you do what one can do with Apple TV and iPhone/iPod touch using WiFi, i.e. two-way streaming of multimedia content between TV and a smartphone.

Currently the App supports only Galaxy S II and Samsung plans support for Galaxy S (GT-I9000), Galaxy Tab and Galaxy Player (YP-G870) in coming months.

Get extra ipad storage with Kingston Wi-Drive

Access your files over Wi-Fi on the pocket-friendly Wi-Drive that allows streaming multimedia, PDFs and more files.

Kingston has come up with a new device that can be used by the Apple iPad, iPhone and iPod touch owners as an additional portable storage space, and has been dubbed as Wi-Drive.

The new Kingston Wi-Drive is available in 16GB and 32GB storage options and will allow users to access data wirelessly using iPhone (3G and higher), iPod touch (3rd Gen and higher) and iPad.

Indians will have to wait till June end to buy this additional storage for their iOS devices. At present, Wi-Drive is available outside India for $130 (Rs 5850 approximately) and $175 (Rs 7875 approximately).

Several users are either not aware of the cloud storage services offered or believe in carrying their own data with them. Apple iOS device's shortcoming of non-expandable storage can be dealt with this Kingston Wi-Drive that is Wi-Fi enabled.

The Wi-Drive device comes with its own battery backup and supports streaming of music, photos, videos, PDFs and more. Apple devices need to connect with the device using the Wi-Drive App (which will be available soon) over Wi-Fi to access their files.

The Wi-Drive supports different audio file formats such as AAC, MP3, WAV. Besides, it also supports different video files (m4v, mp4, mov, Motion JPEG, AVI), image (jpg, bmp, tiff) and document formats (pdf, doc, docx, ppt, pptx, txt, rtf, and xls).

The Wi-Drive also works as a portable storage which one can simply hook to Windows, Mac or Linux platform based computer to quickly transfer data.

Being pocket friendly, you can carry this portable storage anywhere with you and simply enjoy streaming of content provided you have Wi-Fi setup or you can create a personal mobile Wi-Fi hotspot using the iPhone 4 (requires running iOS 4.3 update or higher).

Tata Docomo introduces 3G WiFi hub

The device offers uninterrupted connectivity for specific WiFi devices like laptops, tablets, gaming consoles and WiFi-enabled televisions.

Tata Docomo, theGSM brand of Tata Teleservices, today launched its 3GWiFi hub that enables multiple users and devices to share wireless Internet access and stay connected on the go.

The device offers uninterrupted connectivity for specific WiFi devices like laptops, tablets, gaming consoles and WiFi-enabled televisions.

The device offers dual-mode internet connectivity to users via Tata Docomo's 3G GSM network and Tata Photon Plus on theCDMA platform - one technology at a time - offering speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps.

It allows users to access the Internet at 3G speeds in all the nine Tata Docomo circles where the company has the license, while allowing them to seamlessly switch to the high-speed Tata Photon Plus platform in other locations.

"This portable device signals a breakthrough in the WiFi space and is yet another first-of-its-kind product, offering dual Internet access technology. The sleek new product will be especially relevant in the context of today's fast-evolving and changing products, most of which are WiFi enabled laptops, desktops, i-Pads, mobile phones, even digital cameras. Best of all, given its WiFi capabilities, it allows multiple users to stay connected simultaneously," said Deepak Gulati, executive president, mobility business, Tata Teleservices Limited.

The device offers speed up to 7.2 Mbps in the 3G mode, and up to 3.1Mbps in the High-Speed Internet Access (HSIA) mode. Apart from a portable powered battery, seamless connectivity, simple browser-based configuration, the device is also password-protected for greater security.

"The device comes with innovative post-paid plans-these offer a customer-friendly package and will ensure that we offer a complete solution in terms of an efficient device and tariff combo. The high point is the fact that the device works on both the 3G and Photon (CDMA) platforms, depending on the SIM inserted," said Sunil Tandon, head, devices and mobility support services, Tata Teleservices.

The Tata Docomo 3G WiFi Hub is available with post-pay plans, to begin with. Customers opting for the sleek device will be provided with a starter pack containing both Tata Docomo 3G GSM and Tata Photon Plus start-up kits.

Customers can choose from a number of plans on both the Tata Docomo 3G GSM and Tata Photon Plus SUKs. To access data on the Tata Docomo 3G GSM and Tata Photon Plus platforms, customers will have to activate both SUKs separately with necessary documentation.

3G Wi-Fi Hub Plans

There are two plans available: The WiFi Rs 750 and WiFi Rs 1,000 plans. The WiFi Rs 750 Plan comes with a monthly rental of Rs 750, wherein customers can enjoy data usage of 2GB. Post the 2GB being consumed, customers will have to pay a nominal cost of 50 paise per MB for additional data usage.

Similarly, the WiFi Unlimited Rs 1,000 plan comes with a monthly rental of Rs 1,000, wherein customers will get 5GB of data usage. Post exhausting this 5GB, customers can enjoy unlimited data usage under the 'throttle option', wherein surfing speeds will be determined by user location, number of people accessing the network and device configuration.

The device is priced at Rs 5,999 and is available across Tata Docomo and Tata Photon stores. Tata Docomo customers can call up 1800-2660000 for details.

Samsung rolls out Gingerbread update for Indian Galaxy S users

Next in line is Android Gingerbread update for Galaxy Tab & other family smartphones - Gio, Fit, mini & Galaxy S LCD.

Samsung had begun rolling out Android 2.3 Gingerbread update for its Galaxy S GT-I9000 smartphone earlier this month in several regions. However, due to some bug with the update, Google stopped this roll out process. Most Gingerbread updates rolled out for the Galaxy S via forums and other sites have problems related to battery life and WiFiconnectivity etc.

From today onward Galaxy S users in India are getting the Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread update through Samsung Kies desktop software. Nitish Kumar, IT infrastructure professional and Galaxy S owner, shared via Twitter the image of Kies, showing the new Gingerbread build for Galaxy S GT-I9000 devices.

The new Gingerbread update brings a user interface improvement and several other bug fixes for Galaxy S devices. Those unhappy with GPS performance or battery life can expect better results with the new Indian Gingerbread firmware I9000DDJP6 update.

Before you get ready to download the new Gingerbread update, we suggest you back up the contacts, media and all other content stored on your Galaxy S. After that you can get the update by connecting your phone to the Samsung Kies software.

ASUS launches PadPhone at Computex 2011

Android based smartphone gets hooked to the back of an Android tablet.

ASUS has launched what it calls a PadPhone at the ongoing COMPUTEX 2011 convention in Taipei, Taiwan. The device involves a pair wherein an Android smartphone docks at the back of an Android tablet.

The ASUS smartphone has a 4 inch display and is expected to run Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

ASUS PadPhone's Android tablet sports a 10 inch display capable of 1280x800 pixel resolution and runs Android 3.0 Honeycomb operating system. It has a special compartment at the back for docking the smartphone. When docked, the smartphone gets charged through the tablet's larger battery.

The compartment's lid has a small slot to expose the smartphone's camera when it is docked. The tablet doesn't have a camera at its back and is dependent on the smartphone for imaging. However, ASUS has put a front facing camera on the tablet.

When someone calls the smartphone, the user can remove it from the tablet's hind or use a Bluetoothhandsfree to respond. The smartphone shares the 3G data connection with the tablet, hence both can make use of the same SIM card for 3G connectivity.

Known for its 'cost-effective and affordable' philosophy, ASUS has clubbed the tablet and the smartphone together so that both devices can use a common 3G data connection. The devices are expected to sync seamlessly with each other because they both use Android OS.. Usually, tablets are capable of using a tethered 3G connection.

The concept is indeed interesting but has a couple of pitfalls too. For instance, the phone needs to be docked at the tablet's back for using the camera, and for the incoming phone call one has to remove the smartphone from the tablet. ASUS hasn't revealed detailed technical specifications of the devices though we can expect them in the coming months.

Samsung promises 4G Android tablet later this year

Current generation Galaxy tablets 8.9-inch and 10.1-inch continue to remain absent from retail chains.

Following the success of its Galaxy S and Galaxy S II smartphones, Samsung is now eying an Android tablet supporting fourth generation network technology.

Samsung's mobile division president JK Shin has hinted that the tablet will be released later this year.

"The race for 4G (fourth-generation) has already started," Shin said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.

If it does, then Samsung will join the league of 4G Network supporting tablets LG G-Slate, Motorola XOOM, HTC Evo View 4G and RIM PlayBook 4G. By the end of this year, the US nationals would get to see most of these 4G network supporting tablets.

The current Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is capable of 3G data network connectivity and comes in 16GB as well as 32GB models.

While India still is in the initial phase of 3G roll out, it would be absurd to expect any 4G tablet anytime soon.

At the Google I/O Conference earlier this month, the company gave away Galaxy Tab 10.1-inch to all attendee developers. On one hand, Galaxy Tab 10.1-inch is being lavishly given away to developers while the actual consumers await it's availability in several countries including India.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1-inch tablet comes with a 1GHz Nvidia Tegra processor, 8 megapixel camera with LED flash at the back and 2 megapixel camera in the front.

Samsung India's spokesperson re-asserted that the Tab 10.1-inch launch is on course for June-July time frame in India. At the start of this month, Samsung India head, Ranjit Yadav had said , "We will launch the 10-inch tablet PC at around Rs 35,000 and the 8-inch device will be priced around Rs 28,000. While the tablet PC market today stands at around 25,000 units a quarter, we expect it to grow exponentially here on."

Real question is whether Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1-inch would be priced above Rs 35,000 for India or the company has taken a lesson from 7-inch Galaxy Tab's launch. Come what may, there are certain consumers who won't minding to wait for Samsung to cut price of the Galaxy Tab 10.1-inch models in the same way the company did for the 7-inch tablet.

Meanwhile, Shin, along with Galaxy Tab 4G promise, also mentioned that Galaxy S III smartphone will be released anytime in first half (Mobile World Congress?) 2012.

No 3G video calling on iPhone 4

Users in India can make video calls using WiFi, but not over 3G as the application that enables the service has been locked by Apple.

The Apple iPhone 4, which is being regarded as the most unique device, is not capable of making video calls over a 3G mobile network despite being a 4th generation smartphone.

Users in India can make video calls using WiFinetworks, but not over 3G as the application which enables the service is locked by Apple.

The Apple spokesperson in India said, "FaceTime, the application that allows video calling on the Apple iPhone 4, is a closed user application that allows people having iPhone or compatible Apple hardware like the iPad 2 and forth generation iPod touch running FaceTime application to have video calling."

"3G cannot be used to make these video calls; only WiFi data is supported by the application. The application allows seamless connectivity between other Apple products though," he added.

iPhone 4 nevertheless has all the necessary hardware, including a front facing camera and 3G capable quad frequency network band, to allow 3G video calling over the mobile network.

Many applications like Frring, Tango me and Oovoo can be used as third party solutions to curb this problem of calling over 3G mobile networks.

Along with that, these applications offer both free and paid services and allow cross platform compatibility as well, which means that an iPhone 4 user can call another iPhone, or even another operating system that supports these third party applications.

There were some issues related to video calling with Frring but with the new update for the iPhone 4, Frring users on iPhone 4 get to make better quality video calls.