Android Development in Kerala

Android is a fast growing operating system with lot of features, and millions of users. The most important part is that Android is Open Source, and anyone can get access to its source code and customize it to avail heir needs.

Speaking of Android app development, which is very young but strong, can be accomplished with many tools and supports the majority of Operating Systems. Android development in India and precisely in Kerala is now on a developing stage, Indian apps are very much alive and are ruling the play store. The apps in play store are reviewed by the users and star rated. Among the developers Kodspider is the one good solution where any body can fulfill their app dreams.

Kodspider is actually a startup with highly trained and experienced Android and Web developers and they intend to concentrate on two things only, Android and the Web. Kodspider offers innovative style and unmatched performance to apps they develop. Security is always a priority to them.

I recommend you visit their page www.kodspider.com

Asus Ares

Sometimes ODMs like to pursue the quest of the holy grail in the enthusiast market. ASUS for example every now and then chunks up a product that will bring a smile to your face, while on the other side you know it doesn't make any sense. Yea correct, x-factor products !

When we apply that logic to their graphics cards, I think most of you can remember our ASUS MARS review, a product totally out of well .. any league, expensive, noisy, hot, limited edition  .. but it was brilliant marketing as news of that MARS graphics card spread like fire through the web. And for ASUS that meant, mission achieved.

These uber-high-enthusiast targeted products are intended to create a lot of buzz and potentially have a lot of marketing value. But face the factthat there is also a small group of end-users actually really interested it in, regardless of price and deficits. So with this round of realizing something fun, extra ordinary and sure very steep prices, ASUS went back to the drawing board. They came up with a dual-GPU design solution based off the Radeon 5970, but an overall better design, new PCB, higher clock frequencies on GPUs and more memory (2GB per GPU). Then they threw in improved voltage regulation management into the mix and added a new cooler with the weight of a small baby on top of the GPUs to deliver something really special.

Now remember the MARS I just mentioned ? The end result and little baby GPUs is now called ARES - ARES as in the ancient Greek god of war, a son of Zeus and Hera, identified by the Romans with Mars. Now if you think through the naming so deeply ... this product must be something really special.

So it should come as no surprise that today we'll review the retail sample of a limited edition ASUS ARES. Have a peek at the photo

BMW 5 Series, Hyundai Sonata get top score on revised U.S. crash tests

WASHINGTON (Bloomberg) -- BMW AG's 5 series and Hyundai Motor Co.'s Sonata got the highest rating among passenger cars and trucks tested for crashes under a new U.S. rating system.

Female crash-test dummies were added to the male figures for the first time as the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rated 34 models under a redesigned testing regime, the regulatory agency said today in a statement.

BMW's four-door, rear-wheel-drive 5 Series and the latest model of Hyundai's Sonata were the only vehicles in the first batch rated to receive five stars, the top overall safety score. Both vehicles scored five stars on side-crashes and rollovers and four stars in frontal crashes.

New ipod nano. . .

iPod nano 

The iPod nano's design has more or less been the same ever since it was launched. They may not look identical but it has always looked like a slimmed down iPod classic. This year, however, Apple gave the nano its biggest design change ever.

Enter the touch screen. Yes, the multi-touch, capacitive touch screen has finally made its way into the cheaper iPods and the nano is the first and perhaps the only iPod to get it. Since the click wheel is gone, the nano is much smaller than before, 46 percent smaller and 42 percent lighter to be precise. All you see in the front now is the 1.54-inch display with a resolution of 240 x 240 pixels. The new nano is now closer than ever to matching the definition of its name.

On the top of the nano you will find the sleep/wake and volume buttons, and on the bottom is the dock connector and the earphone jack. On the back is a clip, so you can attach it to your shirt or bag. Visually, the new nano looks almost exactly like the shuffle, except it has a touchscreen instead of buttons and a dock connector.

The interface of the new nano is based on the iOS devices. You will see four icons at a time on the screen and to see more you need to swipe left. To get back you swipe right and to jump to the first screen you press and hold anywhere on the screen. You can rearrange the icons on the screen any time. Just press and hold on the icons until it jiggles and then move it to wherever you want. You can also rotate the orientation of the display by just using your two fingers on the screen and doing a twisting gesture. I wonder why one has to do this manually though; why can't the accelerometer do it on its own?

When you go into the music playback screen, you will see that the album art takes the entire screen in the background. On the front you will see the track info on the top, the playback buttons in the middle. To get more options such as repeat, shuffle or Genius, just swipe left on the screen to get them.

The new iPod nano comes with a built-in FM radio (with Live Pause) and can also display photos. However, due to the smaller display size video playback is no longer an option. This is a major omission compared to the previous generation model, which cannot playback video but also record it using its built-in camera.

Other features include shake to shuffle and a pedometer for fitness freaks as well as support for the Nike + iPod Sport Kit. The new nano will be available in six colors, plus a (PRODUCT) RED version, available exclusively through the iTunes Store. The battery life is rated at 24 hours for audio playback, which is the same as the previous generation models. The new nano will be sold in two capacities, 8GB and 16GB for US $149 and $179 respectively. Expect them to be priced around Rs. 8,500 and Rs. 10,500 respectively in India.

The Good:

• Really small
• Multi-touch display
• Interface looks well designed
• Built-in clip
• Only iPod to have built-in FM radio

The Bad: 

• The screen looks bit too small
• No more video recording and playback

The new ipod shuffle. . .

Apple likes to hold their little events every now and then. Although they do not mention what they will be announcing, people have by now become adept at guessing, depending upon which month the event is being held in. Usually September is the month of new iPod launches and has been so for the past few years. So when Apple recently announced they will be holding an event on September 1, it wasn't hard to guess what they will be launching.

And as you'd imagine Apple launched a slew of new iPods, which they claim is their biggest change in their iPod line up, ever. Apart from the iPod classic, every other model in the iPod family got a major upgrade. So what are these upgrades? Well, we are here to answer that question today.

iPod shuffle
The iPod shuffle has always been very small, but with the third generation model, Apple just broke all notions of what a small player should be with what looked like an eraser. It was the smallest music player ever, but unfortunately, this size zero came at a cost, which was the loss of buttons on the player itself. The shuffle was then dependent on its earphones to control the music for it and without them it was as good as a paper clip.

This also meant that users could not use their own headphones with the shuffle as then they would have no way to control it. An alternative would be to buy expensive adaptors that would let you plug in your own headphones and control the player.

Apple realized the problem with this design and so for the fourth generation model they have gone back to their older device. The new shuffle looks a lot like the second generation model, but is now smaller. It uses an anodized aluminum body and comes in five different colors. As with the previous two generations, it comes with a clip on the back, so you can wear the player without the need for any other accessories. The controls are now on the player itself, so you can use any headphones with the device. The new shuffle still retains the VoiceOver feature, which debuted with the previous generation model.

The new shuffle has a battery life of 15 hours, which is pretty impressive for such a small player. Only a 2GB model will be sold, which will be priced at US $49. In India you can expect it for around Rs. 3,500.

The Good:

• Brings back the familiar buttons that we all know and love
• Really, really small 

The Bad: 

• No display, but that's okay, really

Make and receive calls in Gmail

Google Voice lets you manage all your phone communications and seamlessly make and receive calls on any of your existing phones. But what if you don’t have your phone with you? Or what if you’re in a place with poor cell phone reception, or you’re travelling internationally and don’t want to incur expensive roaming charges? Wouldn’t it be great if you could use your computer to make or receive calls?

The Nokia N8

Take amazing photos and videos, connect to your favourite social networks and be entertained with the latest Web TV programs and Ovi Store apps.
The Nokia N8 introduces a 12 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics and Xenon flash, HD-quality video recording, film editing software and Dolby surround sound. All in a beautiful, aluminium design.


More about Nokia N8. . . 
Nokia N8 Hands on review. . .

iPort rolls out in-wall Control Mount for iPad

iPort has rolled out its new CM-IW2000 in-wall Control Mount for the iPad. The CM-IW2000 stylishly mounts the iPad in the wall in either vertical or horizontal orientation, providing constant power, allowing full access to the Home button and screen, while replicating the power button on the edge of the frame. It also provides the user with control of audio, video, lighting and climate on the mounted iPad when the control application is connected via Wi-Fi to a compatible control system. iPort’s new CM-IW2000 in-wall Control Mount for the iPad is available now and sells for $499.

Hyundai under Korean Influence . . .

Hyundai and Kia are trying to hold on to their U.S. sales momentum by entering new segments, moving the brands upscale and bringing out vehicles with more eye-catching design.


The corporate cousins share vehicle platforms, a complicated Korean ownership structure and a story line: strong U.S. sales growth fueled by an onslaught of new vehicles with attractive new styling and loaded with technology.


Hyundai and Kia were part of an exclusive club last year: They were two of only three brands to achieve a sales gain in the United States. And each has improved its market share in 2010.


As the two Koreans launch new and redesigned products, they hope to carve out distinct identities and go after different customers.

Dave Zuchowski, Hyundai Motor America’s sales boss, says the brand is pursuing baby boomers who in the past have sought quality and reliability in Honda and Toyota showrooms.


On the other hand, Kia is targeting younger buyers with vehicles made to be stylish and fun to drive.


Both are squeezing into new niches. Hyundai plans its $60,000-plus Equus sedan and the small, sporty Veloster coupe. Kia may replace the Rondo compact minivan with a tall five-door model based on the same platform as the Hyundai i30 sold in Europe.


The brands also are moving upscale with the likes of the Equus, Hyundai’s redesigned Azera and Kia’s Cadenza successor for the Amanti.


Both brands continue to work at shaking off their images as makers of bland budget cars. Kia’s redesigned Optima sedan will have a sporty shape, and Hyundai is giving the swoopy Sonata-like look to the next Elantra.


Alternative-fuel vehicles also are in the pipeline. Kia plans a hybrid version of the Optima and is kicking around the idea of a dedicated hybrid. Hyundai plans a hybrid Sonata and will unveil a fuel cell vehicle in 2012.

Apple applies for patent to kill jailbroken devices

Apple is apparently ramping up its battle to prevent iPhone and iPod owners from jailbreaking their devices.
The company has applied for a patent, titled "Systems and Methods for Identifying Unauthorized Users of an Electronic Device," that covers a series of security measures to automatically protect devices from thieves and other "unauthorized users." Unauthorized users apparently applies to those who engage in jailbreaking, which allows devices to run apps not approved by the company producing the operating system--such as Apple, the main target of such bypasses.
The application, which was filed in February 2009 and published Thursday, describes measures to identify "particular activities that may indicate suspicious behavior," so that "safety measures" can be taken to restrict the device's functions. Those activities include the "hacking, jailbreaking, unlocking, or removal of a SIM card," according to the application. Apple also intends to send warnings to owners via e-mail or text message when such activity is detected.
The application also describes a variety of measures that could be used to help identify the unauthorized user, including the activation of a camera that could capture and geotag the device's surroundings, and perhaps current user, and transmit that information to a remote device:
 In some embodiments, an unauthorized user can be detected by comparing the identity of the current user to the identities of authorized users of the electronic device. For example, a photograph of the current user can be taken, a recording of the current user's voice can be recorded, the heartbeat of the current user can be recorded, or any combination of the above. The photograph, recording, or heartbeat can be compared, respectively, to a photograph, recording, or heartbeat of authorized users of the electronic device to determine whether they match. If they do not match, the current user can be detected as an unauthorized user.
When unauthorized use has been detected, "access to particular applications can be restricted, access to sensitive information can be restricted, sensitive information can be erased from the electronic device...," the application states, effectively wiping and bricking the device.
Apple representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In July, U.S. Copyright Office ruled that bypassing a manufacturer's protection mechanisms to allow "handsets to execute software applications" no longer violates federal copyright law. However, while the U.S. Copyright Office has declared the software legal, Apple has repeatedly discouraged users from loading such a bypass, reminding them that doing so will void their device's warranty.
"As we've said before, the vast majority of customers do not jailbreak their iPhones as this can violate the warranty and can cause the iPhone to become unstable and not work reliably," Apple said in a statement in response to the ruling.

Parallels starts selling Windows 7 upgrade tool

Parallels said it is ready to start selling a program that uses virtualization to help ease the migration to Windows 7  from older versions of the operating system.

The company's $50 software uses virtualization to help consumers migrate from an older version of Windows to Windows 7.
(Credit: Parallels)

The company, which is best known for software that lets Windows run on a Mac, has been working on a tool to ease the move to Windows 7 from earlier versions of the operating system--a move first reported by CNET.

The new software, dubbed Parallels Desktop Upgrade to Windows 7, will be available from Amazon and Parallels almost immediately and will hit store shelves on May 31, Parallels announced on Wednesday. It will sell for a suggested price of $49.99, including a high-speed USB transfer cable, or $39.99 without the cable.

Kim Johnston, Parallels' vice president of consumer and small business marketing, said that the software is an ideal tool to safely move to Windows 7.

"Ninety percent of customers haven't upgraded yet," Johnston said. "This is a perfect solution for them."

The product would appear to remove several key hassles. Moving to Windows 7 from XP or even some versions of Vista requires a complicated clean installation, ordinarily requiring users to back up and restore their data and then reinstall all of their programs. Also, some programs designed to run in Windows XP won't run in Windows 7, a problem that Parallels elegantly solves by running a virtualized copy of the older operating system. However, this latter technique may raise legal issues for those who use it.

The Parallels product is designed to move any version of Windows XP or Vista to any version of Windows 7 and run the older operating system inside a virtual machine that is largely invisible to the person using the software. However, in many cases the user is not properly licensed to be running both copies of Windows.

The license terms that accompany the typical upgrade version of Windows 7 don't allow a user to keep using their old copy of XP in a virtual machine. Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate do include a virtualized copy of XP, but only for use with Microsoft's own XP mode. Users who buy a full, rather than upgrade copy of the OS would appear to be properly licensed, though those copies can cost several hundred dollars.

For its part, Parallels said the burden is on the user to make sure they are properly licensed.

"We remind the customer to check the status of all of their third-party licenses," Johnston said. "We just have no way of knowing what their software and hardware licensing is."

So far, Microsoft hasn't commented on the licensing issues surrounding Parallels product, although Johnston points out that the software was formally announced at a Microsoft event in Paris, in which the company was specifically invited to speak.

"We collaborate with Microsoft a lot and they are a great strategic partner," she said.

Google I/O: Seeking results

Google will kick off two days of announcements, educational sessions, and geek mayhem on Wednesday with the first keynote at Google I/O 2010, and this is the place to be for live coverage.

The event is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. PDT Wednesday morning at the Moscone Center in downtown San Francisco. Google hasn't released a specific agenda, but I believe that Wednesday's event will focus heavily on Web development and Google applications, while Thursday will focus on mobile technologies. We'll cover both events, but stay tuned here for Day 1 coverage.

USB 3.0 Gets a Speed

USB 3.0 is fast, very fast, and that is exciting. It is exciting more for what can be accomplished using USB than the speeds that it achieves. At 4.8Gbit/s (maximum theoretical) or 600 MB/S (maximum achieved) it would seem plenty fast enough to handle just about any task that you can throw at it (including video?). At ten times the speed of USB 2.0, this is one step closer to universal cable utopia.

Toyota Fortuner

Toyota has launched the Fortuner SUV in India. The single variant vehicle will be retailed at Rs 18.45 lakh ex-showroom, Delhi. In competition with other city SUVs like the Honda CR-V, Mitsubishi Outlander, Ford Endeavour and Chevrolet Captiva, the Fortuner's pricing beats that of all these vehicles and comes as a proper surprise, given Toyota's brand standing in the country which could have had them price the vehicle a little higher too. With such competitive pricing however, it is clear that Toyota is here to weed the rest of the competition out.



With genuine 4x4 capabilities, the Fortuner is just not another city slicker and has fairly good off-road capabilities when it comes to getting out of sticky situations, making it a proper Sports Utility Vehicle as opposed to being just a large car. Its torquey engine is supported by a very smart all-time 4WD system, but what also makes the Fortuner a genuine city vehicle are its great interiors, space and ride comfort. With airbags for the driver and passengers and Toyota's acclaimed Global Outstanding Assessment design for crash impact, the Fortuner also comes across as a very safe vehicle.


It will be interesting to see how the market warms up to the Fortuner, and how the competition reacts to it. We will be here covering the developments as they happen, so stay logged in to ZigWheels.com.

Honda launches Civic Sport - Price: Rs 12.36 lakh

Honda Siel, the Indian division has launched the new model for the Civic to keep up with the demand of the ‘Young Indian’. The car is a spin off variant of the Honda Civic and is a limited edition sports car.
The Special edition was launched just as Honda reached the 3 lakh mark in auto car sales in India.
The Honda Civic Sport will come with a 1.8Litre i-Vtec engine and will come with manual transmission. Automatic transmission will not be provided from the company itself. The car was also the highlight of the Auto Expo in Delhi which took place early this year.
“This launch will help broaden our customer base and appeal to the young at heart target audience.” said Mr Masahiro Takedagawa, President & CEO of Honda Siel Cars India Ltd.