Sonakshi Sinha talks about her 'Goa trip'

Shahid Kapoor celebrated his birthday — February 25 — with a bash in Goa.
There were reports that his R…Rajkumar co-star Sonakshi Sinha had also joined Shahid in the beach state.
And now, Sonakshi has put those rumours to rest through her Twitter page.
"I love how everyone has sent me to goa while im running around the streets of mathura.

 

Smartphone owners care more about operating systems than handsets

New research shows that consumers' loyalty lies with either Android or iOS and their apps ecosystem and not with the manufacturer that built their current phone.

According to insights and analysis firm Kantar Worldpanel, when it comes to upgrading or trading in, only 41% of today's smartphone owners chose to remain loyal to the same smartphone brand. However, 68% decide to stick with the same operating system.

The news will mean absolutely nothing to Apple of course, as customers who stay loyal to its iOS operating system have no choice but to also remain loyal to the iPhone.
However, for the ever growing number of firms that build Android devices, this is a huge challenge.

The report points to Samsung's efforts over the past two years to make itself visible as a brand, and a valuable one at that, as well as a maker of good phones. And the work it has been doing is paying off.

Samsung is by far the world's leading Android handset maker. Gartner's latest figures, published this month, indicate that the company sold a total of 299,794,900 smartphones in 2013, giving it a 30% share of the global handset market, regardless of operating system.

Therefore, expect other companies, from HTC to LG, to try harder to market their brands over the coming year and to attempt to make an emotional connection with customers.

Kantar points to the fact that loyalty and satisfaction when it comes to smartphone ownership is usually dicated by on-going user experience. The phone has to impress and be simple to use over the first six months in particular. But, as the average network contract now runs for two years, the handset must continue to offer a good experience for longer.

Due to the way in which Andorid software updates are pushed out to handset, this can be a real sticking point. Often the owner has no idea when or if a software update will ever come to his or her device.

Unlike other research, Kantar Worldpanel, as its name suggests, uses a global panel of consumers that it continuously monitors, questions and interviews in order to bring greater insights to the data it gathers.

A separate report into smartphone brand loyalty also published this week by Xerox found that 76% of Apple customers replace their iPhone with another iPhone, while 34% of all consumers switching device brands choose Samsung. The Korean phone maker also scored the highest among all Android device makers for loyalty and customer retention, managing to retain 58% of consumers following the upgrade cycle.

"For smartphone manufacturers, brand retention is one of the most important metrics to track. It's a very solid indication of how successful their device upgrade cycles have been in retaining customers," explains Tim Deluca-Smith, vice president of Marketing at WDS, A Xerox Company. "Both Apple and Samsung are doing very well in keeping customers excited and loyal to their product roadmaps."

However, there is also some good news for Nokia: it is the third strongest phone brand for customer retention, managing to hold on to 33% of its customers and snag an 8% share of migrating customers.

Review: Lots of innovations beyond iOS and Android

When it comes to smartphones, consumers have an array of choices from Apple to... well, Android.

The impression you get stepping into most phone carriers' showrooms is that the programmers behind Apple's iOS and Google's Android are driving most of the innovation in smartphones. You'll find few phones on display that run other software systems.

Research firm Gartner says 94 % of smartphones sales last year were either iPhones or Android devices. Windows Phone and BlackBerry devices made up another 5 % combined.

But what about the remaining 1 %? They are the wannabes such as Firefox and Sailfish -and many of them are introducing innovative advancements in features and functions.

I had a chance to try out some of these little-known systems at the Mobile World Congress wireless show in Barcelona, Spain, this week. Many of these systems aren't even available in the U.S., where I live. Although I don't see myself replacing my Samsung Android phone even if I could, some of these alternative phones have features I envy.

Firefox OS, from Mozilla
Firefox is better known for its Web browser. Now, the people behind it are trying to adapt it to run smartphones targeted at emerging markets.

Firefox OS launched last summer with three phones, priced around $50 to $70. They are in available in 15 countries, but not in the U.S.

At the Barcelona show, Mozilla unveiled plans to expand to additional markets in Latin America and eastern Europe, while ZTE announced two new models. Chipmaker Spreadtrum Communications Inc. also announced a blueprint for any phone maker to make $25 smartphones.
The home screen and icons resemble what's found on iPhones and Android.
Where Firefox OS starts to differ is in apps. With iPhones and Android, you go to an app store to get new apps. With Firefox OS, you typically have instant access to all apps, the same way you can visit a website for the first time without installing anything.

The catch is you need an Internet connection to use apps that aren't on your phone, but many apps need that access anyway to refresh news, social networks or restaurant guides.

Firefox OS also has a universal search for all content on the phone and online.
There's another neat feature coming to Firefox OS. Swipe from the left side of the screen to flip through recent apps one by one, just like hitting the back button on a Web browser.

Sailfish OS, from Jolla
Sailfish is based on the Linux operating system and comes from the Finnish company Jolla (pronounced "yolla"). Former Nokia employees created Jolla after that struggling cellphone maker abandoned an in-house operating system in favor of Microsoft's Windows Phone.

There's only one phone out so far, and it's sold only in Europe for 399 euros ($546). But Jolla has ambitions to reach Russia and Asia and to partner with other phone makers.

Jolla Ltd. also announced last week that it will release a free app that Android users can install to replace the regular Android interface with Sailfish's.

I can see getting the hang of Sailfish over time. It emphasizes gestures over tapping. Access many functions by swiping from an edge on the screen.

The home screen has nine large rectangles, similar to an elongated tic-tac-toe board. These are filled with up to nine of your open apps, so you can instantly get to any one.

You can tap to open an app, but what's neat is you can reach a task directly by pressing gently on the rectangle and dragging your finger. For the mail app, drag from the left to create a new message, or drag from the right to refresh messages. For the phone app, drag from the left to get the dialer, or drag from the right to get your list of contacts.

This saves time once you get used to the gestures.
To close an app, you can swipe down from the top edge like a window shade. If you're already on the home screen, swipe down to lock the phone.

Swipe from the left or the right edge within an app to get the home screen. Do that from the home screen to change background, ring tones and other settings. Or if you replace your phone's back cover with a promotional cover, you get special content, such as social media feeds on "Angry Birds."

Apple introduced similar gesture controls with its iOS 7 update last fall, but Sailfish goes much further.

There aren't many apps written for Sailfish yet, but Sailfish phones have a special tool for running most Android apps. You won't get some of the gesture functions, though.

Ubuntu, from Canonical
Like Sailfish, Ubuntu is based on Linux. Unlike Sailfish, there aren't any Ubuntu phones yet. But the company behind it announced partnerships with two phone makers last week. Phones are due to come out this year, likely to European and Asian markets at first.

Ubuntu's home page has a series of so-called scopes, arranged by category. One video scope might consist of icons for movies on your phone. Another might have items in your Netflix queue. You can refine what's presented through a universal search. The idea is to let you access content easily, without having to open an app first.

Swipe from the left edge to get a launcher. The top has all your open apps, while your favorite apps are underneath those. There's also a home screen scope to search for installed apps and those in the app store.

Swipe from the right edge to get your most recently used app. Swipe further for a carousel of all open apps. Just pick one to go straight to it.

These systems all have good innovations to help users, but people will find the phone and app selections quite limiting. Sailfish has potential if it can indeed run well on existing Android phones, while Android apps can run on it. I look forward to trying that out when it's released in the first half of the year.

Facebook Messenger scrapped from Windows

 

Facebook has reportedly announced end of Windows support for its Messenger app.

The social networking giant announced the end of support in the form of a notification to users within the app, saying that it would stop working on March 3, 2014.

According to PC World, Facebook Messenger debuted on Windows around two years ago and around a million people had been using it.

Although, the social networking giant has announced the burial of its Messenger for Windows, the company has maintained that it would continue to work on the app for Windows Phone.

Build your own phone

Billed as a project that will lead to a device designed exclusively for 6 billion people, Project Ara's goal is to create modular, completely customizable smartphones.

At the moment, the closest consumers can get to truly customizing their handsets is to use the Moto Maker online system for picking the color or material of the backplate on a MotoX or MotoG smartphone.

Or, if they have access to a 3D printer, Nokia will give them the files for Lumia handsets so that one-of-a-kind covers can be created at home. However, things could soon be set to change radically. If  Project Ara succeeds.

As its leader, Paul Eremenko, explains: "The smartphone is one of the most empowering and intimate objects in our lives. Yet most of us have little say in how the device is made, what it does, and how it looks. And 5 billion of us don't have one. What if you could make thoughtful choices about exactly what your phone does, and use it as a creative canvas to tell your own story?"
Originally a Motorola project, but now a fully-fledged Google project, when it was first reported in October the idea seemed like one of Google's moonshots -- something that would garner a lot of attention, capture consumers' imaginations, but then disappear without trace.

However, it would seem nothing could be further from the truth. The phone is coming and it could be here within the next 12-to-24 months with an entry-level price tag of just $50.

On Wednesday, Google announced that the first in a series of  Project Ara Developers Conferences would be held this April where attendees will get the initial modular development kits.

The grand plan is for consumers to be able not just to create a phone from the ground up with just the hardware specifications that they want now, but then to be able to swap out pieces with new ones over months and years. So, if the initial phone has an 8-megapixel camera module but a 13-megapixel unit becomes available, only the handset's camera is out of date, rather than the entire device.
Likewise, the outer shell will be equally fluid and open to change thanks to 3D printing techniques. Project Ara smartphone owners would be able to go to dedicated kiosks and get their handsets customized inside and out on a whim or when a new function or specification was vital.

Because the fact is that for the past several years, each new generation of smartphone has offered very little other than hardware specification upgrades over the device it replaced -- a faster chip, more RAM, better camera and a better or bigger screen.

In the US alone, it is estimated that consumers have amassed $33.85 billion worth of old and no longer used phones that are gathering dust in their homes rather than being recycled. Project Ara would be a very elegant way of eliminating future high-tech waste.

Most Popular Games: Bravely Default

Square Enix's highly-acclaimed fantasy RPG brings deep, strategic combat to the Nintendo 3DS system in an ambitious game that bolsters its turn-based combat with a compelling new risk/reward system RPG fans will obsess over. Explore Luxendarc as Tiz and other memorable characters on a visually stunning quest to restore balance to the world.

Hand-drawn 3D backgrounds and a rousing score bring Luxendarc to life. Enter a brave new world of turn-based combat! Time your turns tactically and turn the tides in your favor with the new Brave and Default system. Flex your strategic muscle by combining more than twenty jobs with hundreds of different abilities. Summon friends characters to fight by your side, or borrow their abilities. Recruit citizens with the StreetPass feature to rebuild Tizs destroyed village. Be part of the community in this fresh take on the single player RPG!

-A unique, innovative twist on turn-based combat
 -Complex, lovable characters in a top-tier RPG
 -Time your turns tactically with the new Brave and Default system
 -Summon your friends characters to fight by your side, or borrow their abilities
 -Form flexible strategies by combining 20+ jobs with hundreds of abilities
 -Acquire StreetPass tags and use them to gain access to powerful equipment and items in-game
 -Evocative music and gorgeous hand-drawn watercolor backgrounds with 3D elements

Win Thief on PS3 and PS4

There is a rising tide of fear in The City. Hatred saturates every stone and whilst the rich prosper, the less fortunate face misery and repression. Ravaged with sickness and famine, they wait for something to change.

Into this shadowy world steps Garrett, THE master thief in Thief, a reinvention of a franchise that helped define an entire genre of games. This first-person adventure features intelligent design that allows players to take full control, with freedom to choose their path through the game's levels and how they approach and overcome each challenge.

Thanks to Square Enix and Viva Entertainment, we have two copies of Thief on the PS3 and PS4 each to give away. To win, simple answer the following question below.
 

HTC puts a premium on design with new mid-range device

 

The new HTC Desire 816 proves that plastic can be chic and that a handset aimed at the mid-tier can be packed full of premium touches.

The Taiwanese firm won't be taking the wraps off its 2014 flagship phone (the replacement for the HTC One) until March, but if it's anything like the Desire 816, launched Monday at the mobile World Congress, there's a lot to get excited about.

Essentially a flagship for everyone else, the HTC Desire 816 is a mid-range phone in the same sense that the iPhone 5C is.

As the company's CEO, Peter Chou, explains: "The HTC Desire 816 marks the beginning of an exciting new era for the mid-tier. Incomparably beautiful to look at and hold with the technology and software to match, the HTC Desire 816 challenges everything that people expect from lower cost smartphones. It is bringing genuine choice to the category by delivering stunning design and high-end performance at unbelievable value."

Technically a phablet because its 720p display measures 5.5 inches, the Desire also packs a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera and, to prove that it has its finger on the pulse of popular culture, a 5-megapixel front-facing camera.

Combine that with the phone's huge screen and you've got the ultimate selfie handset.

In terms of design, the Desire takes its cues from the HTC One, but is closer to an homage in plastic. The screen is pretty much side to side -- so with a very small bezel -- and there are no physical buttons so the device won't feel too big in smaller hands.

And while HTC will be pricing the handset competitively (however it is yet to confirm pricing) it will also be offering a smaller, less powerful phone in the form of the Desire 610. Its qHD display is only 4.7-inches and its cameras (8 megapixel and 1.3 megapixel) lose a bit of resolution, but it will still offer the same look and feel as its big brother.

What's more, both handsets will offer superior audio playback thanks to built-in BoomSound stereo speakers. However, the Beats technology found in HTCs of old is missing after the two companies went their separate ways at the end of 2013.

The HTC Desire 816 will launch globally in April and the 610 is expected to follow in May.

Smartphone giants want your body

Smartphone makers are fighting for space on your wrist and your head; lucrative real estate for a new wave of  high-tech devices if only they can persuade you to wear them.

Manufacturers unleashed a battery of new wearable devices at the world's biggest mobile fair in Barcelona, Spain, trying to carve out new revenue sources in developed markets where smartphone sales are slowing.

From smart bracelets that track your fitness to watches and glasses that let you take a call or check text messages and email, these gadgets are the new stars of the February 24-27 Mobile World Congress.
Wearable devices first became commercially viable in 2013, said David Sovie, head of electronics and technology at Dublin-based consultancy group Accenture.

"I think 2014 is when you will start to see more mass market, or at least wider adoption of these technologies," he said.

According to an Accenture study of 23,000 consumers in 23 countries, there is a large appetite for such products, with 46 % saying they were interested in smart watches and 42 percent in smart glasses.

The first target is fitness fanatics, wooed with bracelets that record the number of steps they take, the distance travelled, calories used, or even their heartbeat.

US firm Fitbit, leader with more than 60 % of the market for wearable fitness devices, has invited congress visitors to join a contest by strapping on a bracelet during their stay in Barcelona. The winner is the competitor who has moved most.
"We will have 1,000 participants by the end of the week," said Benoit Raimbault, head of marketing for Europe, stressing that the bracelet prods you to "move more, eat better and sleep better".

"Today the market for fitness bands is growing well and this segment will be exploited over the next years," said Annette Zimermann, analyst at technology consultants Gartner Inc.

Sony Mobile revealed on the opening day of the fair its SmartBand SWR10, a bracelet that comes with an application allowing users to log events and photographs taken during the day as well as tracking how far they walk and checking their sleep cycle.

Smart watches, connected by wireless Bluetooth technology to the smartphone, are still trying to find a mass market, however, said Zimermann. "Smart watches still lack good design and functionality so uptake of those devices have been very slow," she explained. 
Research house Canalys nevertheless predicts a boom in connected bracelets and watches, with  sales surpassing 17 million units this year and approaching 45 million in 2017.

"It's about having an independent product that works as a standalone and does not need to be connected to your smartphone," said Archana Vidyasekar, specialist at analysts Frost & Sullivan.

"I think that is going to define the success of the market in the consumer industry."
   
' The first elegant smartwatch'
Samsung was one of the first heavyweights to enter the market, releasing last September its Galaxy Gear smartwatch, which lets a user read text messages and emails, check online services such as the weather and make calls.

But with a lukewarm reception from critics and, according to analysts, disappointing sales, Samsung launched a new version Sunday, the Gear 2, which includes a camera, TV remote control and a heart rate sensor.
Chinese smartphone maker Huawei revealed a connected watch of its own on the same day, a TalkBand, to be sold for 99 euros ($136).

Hours later, South Korean manufacturer LG said it would launch its first smartwatch in 2014.

Small Finnish firm Creoir says its model, Ibis, is "the first elegant smartwatch".

"All the connected watches are with sports designs or geeks designs; my wife wouldn't wear that," said Creoir marketing chief Ismo Karali.

Already famous though not yet on sale, Google Glass is the showpiece of the third category of wearable device: connected glasses that let you check your emails, for example, with no more than a glance.

"I have been using it for about a month, but they are very intuitive, I gave it to my six-year-old daughter and she was able to figure it out within minutes," said Cameron Green head of mobile business at technical standards group GS1, who has been testing the Google Glass.

GS1, which creates bar-codes, wants to use the glasses to let customers peer through them and see the all relevant information about a product.

For now, smart glasses seem to be attracting technophiles and certain professional groups, industry experts say.

"For many vendors though, wearables are just the thing they have got to do as the smartphone penetration caps and margins are under pressure," said Carolina Milanesi, analyst at consumer behaviour group Kantar WorldPanel.
 

LinkedIn launches China version despite censorship fears

Business networking site LinkedIn has launched a Chinese version, attempting to tap the huge market while navigating a strict censorship regime that has seen other foreign social media giants banned.

China has the world's largest online community with more than 618 million users. But its so-called Great Firewall blocks any online forums or content deemed sensitive, and has barred access to Facebook and Twitter for several years.

Foreign tech giants are required to abide by strict rules to operate in the country, and unlike the English-language version of LinkedIn, the new site does not currently allow group discussions.

LinkedIn pledged to be limited and open about its compliance.
"As a condition for operating in the country, the government of China imposes censorship requirements on Internet platforms," it said in an online statement posted Sunday.

It promised that "government restrictions on content will be implemented only when and to the extent required" and that it "will be transparent about how it conducts business in China".

"LinkedIn strongly supports freedom of expression and fundamentally disagrees with government censorship. At the same time, we also believe that LinkedIn's absence in China would deny Chinese professionals a means to connect with others on our global platform," it said.

The company, which targets working professionals on the job market, said it was targeting more than 140 million Chinese users -- nearly half its existing 277 million global members.

Its English-language version has been available in China for more than a decade, where it has attracted four million users, it said.

Foreign tech giants have faced challenges in navigating China's strict Internet controls.

Yahoo elicited criticism in 2005 for allegedly giving the government details leading to the email account of a journalist who was later sentenced to 10 years' jail. Google in 2010 halted its mainland China search engine service after deciding to no longer censor results.

Domestic social media networks thrive in the country but face strict controls. Searches for sensitive terms are routinely blocked and offending posts deleted.

China's Supreme Court ruled in October that Internet users could face three years in jail if "slanderous" information spread online was viewed more than 5,000 times or forwarded more than 500 times.

Claudia Cardinale: 'I don't want to stop'

Sixties screen siren Claudia Cardinale talks to Steve Rose about entrancing Fellini, spurning Brando – and why appearing in 135 films still isn't enough

There's nothing Claudia Cardinale hates more than staying still, but for the past two months she's had to do exactly that. She broke her foot on holiday in Tunisia and has since been holed up in her Paris flat. "It was stupid," she says, in her distinctive Mediterranean rasp. "I was playing volleyball. There was water on the edge of swimming pool, and I slipped. I like to be active, so when I have to sit for two months without going out, it's terrible. I had many places to go and I had to refuse: Venice, Kiev, Osaka. Now it's OK. Yesterday I went out for the first time, but the weather is ugly."

Cardinale is a survivor from the era when movie giants walked the earth – most of them alongside her. She was closing down those degrees of separation when Kevin Bacon was still in short trousers. But where former co-stars like John Wayne, Burt Lancaster, Marcello Mastroianni and Brigitte Bardot are all retired or deceased, Cardinale is still walking, volleyball accidents aside. Now 74, she has made over 135 films in the past 60 years, and still does two or three a year. Added to which, her part in classics like 8½, The Leopard, Once Upon a Time in The West and Fitzcarraldo keep her busy on the festival and "lifetime achievement award" carousel.

"I don't want to stop!" she laughs. "This is fantastic, to continue to work. It's important." Why does she keep going? She laughs again. "I don't know."

Thanks to her longevity, Cardinale is now a database of golden-age movie gossip. John Wayne and Rita Hayworth? "He was so big, and she was so beautiful. Gilda for me was the best. She was my mother, and he was my father [in 1964's Circus World]. Can you imagine?" The Pink Panther? "Peter Sellers didn't speak to anybody. Always in the corner, just the opposite of what you see in the film. Blake [Edwards, director] was fantastic. Crazy. And I love crazy people." I mention Tony Curtis, her co-star in California comedy Don't Make Waves. "Ah! Incredible. When was that?" We are speaking by phone, and I can hear something being shuffled. "I have lots of papers with everything written," she says. "Otherwise, I don't remember dates." Shuffle shuffle. "Ah, si, oui. It was just before Once Upon a Time in the West. Oh yes, 1968. We shoot, oh my God, long time. I don't remember!"

hybrid Nokia X runs Android

BARCELONA, Spain -- Take a moment to mentally collect all your visions of firing up a Nokia device to scan Google Now, launch Google Maps directions with your voice, and rent Google Play content. Now throw them all away.

The new Nokia X, X+, and XL smartphones that Nokia unveiled here at Mobile World Congress 2014 technically do run on Android, just as the leaks and rumors promised -- and that means, you'll be able to load up Android apps with ease. However, this X and family don't turn in the full 'Droid experience that you think. In fact, the software doesn't look a thing like Android at all.

Instead, Nokia created a hybrid mobile platform that runs on Google's Android Open Source Project and put it on the first of a family of crossover smartphones. It's an intriguing move for sure, but are the Nokia X and X+ what Android fans had hoped for? Not even close.

Nokia X platform a three-way mashup
Nokia X doesn't just refer to the name of the phones; it's also the name by which Nokia calls its new Android-based OS.

Nokia X Software Platform uses Android's open source code as its base, which makes it possible to run the Android apps that a lot of phone-fiends crave. (However, there is a catch, which I'll address in a moment.)

On top of this Android 4.1 backbone, Nokia has painted an interface that pulls from both Asha and the Windows Phone OS. The home screen riffs off Windows Phone's live tiles with flat squares that you can reorder and resize. Not all tiles are dynamic, and the visual effect isn't as clean.

The second screen is essentially the Asha Fastlane, which gives you a stream of apps and activities, like status updates and notifications.

Nokia fleshes out the somewhat jumbled experience with a mixture of Microsoft services and its own apps. Nokia's Here maps takes care of directions, and its Mix Radio handles Pandora-like tunes. But as with Lumia phones, Microsoft's OneDrive, Outlook, and Skype join the party. To sweeten the deal, Microsoft is giving Nokia X customers one free month of Skype Out calls to land lines, for over 60 markets.

Compact Cars

Today's compact cars might not be quite as roomy, quiet or comfortable as their midsize counterparts, but the fit, finish and features are increasingly comparable. And even if they'll always be smaller by definition, compact cars continue to get roomier, quieter and more comfortable, making them increasingly intriguing alternatives to many larger and pricier options.
And when it comes to fun and efficiency, smaller is almost always better. Whichever direction you're leaning -- soft or sporty, showy or subtle -- there's a compact car designed with you in mind.
What's New
Compact car buyers who are into the latest thing should check out the new Toyota Corolla, Mazda3 and Kia Forte, all of which were completely redesigned for 2014. The Chevy Cruze lineup also adds a diesel option for 2014.
10 Best
The compact car segment is well-represented on our lists of 10 Coolest Cars Under $18,000, 10 Coolest Cars Under $25,000 and 10 Best Sedans Under $25,000.
Actual Price
Most compact cars start under $18,000, but most buyers upgrade to an automatic transmission and other popular equipment, making the average price paid for a compact car in 2013 right about $20,000. The average price paid for a midsize sedan, for reference, is closer to $25,000.

2014 Chicago Auto Show: The New Cars

Poet Carl Sandburg called Chicago "the city of big shoulders" and it's a description that fits its annual auto show. With more than a million feet of floor space and the largest public attendance in North America, the Chicago Auto Show isn't as glitzy as other shows, but its strength lies in focus on down-to-earth, hard-working vehicles that get the job done in the real world. That's not to say there wasn't a shortage of luxury vehicles. BMW launched its 740Ld xDrive diesel powered all-wheel drive flagship while SRT unveiled a Satin Vapor Edition of the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger. But more often than not, the show is about vehicles like the the smaller Chevy Express delivery van. Other noteworthy trucks unveiled include the Toyota Tundra TRD Pro Series pickup and Nissan's Frontier engineering study.
One of the more significant car launches was Subaru's new Legacy, while special trim packages on the Hyundai Veloster, Nissan Versa Note, Dodge Journey and Volvo's S60/V60 debuted as well. Kia also showed off an EV version of its Soul hatchback.
The show, which is held at the McCormick Place Convention Center, opens to the public on Saturday, February 8, running through February 17.

A 'smart ring' to control gadgets

A Kerala-based young IT company has developed a 'smart ring' to control electronic gadgets such as mobile phones, car's music systems, home appliances, etc.

Officials from the RHL Vision, a Kochi-based company promoted by fresh engineering graduates, gave a video presentation of their new product to the cabinet here Wednesday in the presence of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

Appreciating the young minds, Chandy said the company made all of them proud of the young people from the IT sector.
"The presentation on 'Fin' - the smart ring has really excited all of us and it's all about a ring which is worn on one's finger and you can switch on and off electronic gadgets at home and even use a mobile phone without picking up the instrument," Chandy told reporters after the weekly cabinet meeting.

"In its attempt to seek crowd funding for a period of 45 days, the company has collected $100,000 in 40 days," Chandy added.

The company was founded by 23-year-old Rohil Dev last month at the TechCrunch CES Hardware Battlefield held in Las Vegas.

RHL Vision was selected among the top 15 companies and their product was the only one selected from India for the prestigious event.

The company's product development officer Charles S. Vincent told IANS that he was excited to present a demonstration before the cabinet Wednesday morning.

"We got 15 minutes time and the opportunity given to us has really made us feel proud of what we have done. The chief minister was also really encouraging us. Some of the ministers asked us numerous questions and wanted to know if it would be useful to the common man," Vincent said.

Company founder Rohil Dev, who could not attend the presentation as he was on his way to Spain, told IANS: "We will source the materials for this 'ring' from Taiwan and China and at the moment we plan to do the assembling in Switzerland. We are planning to sell the product at $120."

The product would hit the markets in July.

The ring can be used a car's key and enables its users to attend to phone calls or control the music system without taking one's hands off the steering wheel.

It uses smart, low energy technology such as bluetooth for communication with the connected devices.

It can transmit natural gestures as commands to any bluetooth-connected device such as a smartphone, a music player, a gaming console, a digital interface inside a car or a television set.

Snapdeal, Flipkart not our authorised resellers: Lenovo

Chinese smartphone and PC maker Lenovo has issued an advisory cautioning consumers when buying its products from e-commerce companies like Snapdeal, Flipkart and Amazon.in as they are not its authorised resellers.
"What we have noticed in the past few months is that some of these sites, and largely due to a marketplace kind of a set up, there are a lot of resellers that have cropped up, which are selling at very low predatory prices. These we believe may or may not be an authorised or genuine products," said Sudhin Mathur, Director, Smartphones, Lenovo India.

He added that the company has issued an advisory with a list of all authorised stores and genuine partners.

"E-commerce websites like Snapdeal, Flipkart and Amazon.in are not authorised Lenovo resellers. We encourage you to check your warranty entitlements when you buy from these websites," Lenovo said in the advisory on its website.

In a bid to woo customers, e-commerce companies offer heavy discounts on products, which are often below prices offered in the offline market.

When contacted, Snapdeal said it takes "utmost care" to list products only by those sellers who have the necessary authorisation to sell these products.

"Customers can rest assured that all the products including Lenovo and Toshiba products which are available on Snapdeal.com are genuine and eligible for warranty," a Snapdeal spokesperson said.

According to an Amazon India spokesperson, sellers are "contractually obligated to list genuine products" with manufacturer warranty. This applies to all brands, it added.

Samsung seeks to wow mobile world with new smartphone

Samsung aims to take the mobile world by storm Monday, almost certainly unveiling a new Galaxy S5 smartphone with rumoured Apple-fighting features such as a fingerprint scanner and larger screen.
   
The top smartphone maker coyly announced to journalists an "Unpacked 5" event for the opening day of the February 24-27 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.
"We are holding a global launch event of our new flagship product in 2014," its invitation said, using a well-worn technique of not naming the smartphone so as to build anticipation.

The new device will be at the vanguard of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.'s defence of its number-one position.

The South Korean group sold 300 million smartphones last year, 31 percent of the nearly one billion sold globally and double archrival Apple Inc's 15.6-percent share, according to US technology research house Gartner Inc.

The Galaxy S5 is variously rumoured to have a fingerprint scanner on the home button; a 5.24-inch, full high-definition display; a water and dust-proof case and a 16 megapixel camera.

At the same time, the industry anticipates that Samsung will reveal the latest, possibly thinner, version of its smartwatch, the Galaxy Gear 2, after the first version failed to win over many critics.

It will be one of an array of new "smart devices" to launch at the show, analysts predict, as manufacturers seek alternative sources of revenue during a slowdown in the well-developed smartphone market.
   
The rise of Chinese smartphones
   
A 42.3-percent surge in smartphone sales to 968 million units last year was propelled almost entirely by developing markets such as Africa, Asia, and Latin America, a report by Gartner showed.

Mature markets such as Western Europe and the United States actually slowed in the final quarter of 2013, it said.

Behind the glitz of the big Samsung launch and its battle with Apple, which traditionally skips the show altogether, analysts point to two developments in the sector: the rise of big Chinese manufacturers, and the growing importance of Internet giants.

China's Huawei and Lenovo already held the number three and four positions for smartphone sales in the final quarter of 2013, according to Gartner, with their compatriot ZTE not far behind.

"Chinese players are looking beyond their own borders to scale up," said Melissa Chau, senior research manager for the Asia Pacific at technology analysts International Data Corp.

China's Lenovo took a big step in that direction in January, agreeing the $2.9 billion (2.1-billion-euro) purchase of the loss-making Motorola Mobility from Google to grab a strong platform in the Americas and a foothold in Europe.

The online world is also elbowing its way into the mobile market.
Facebook's 29-year-old founder Mark Zuckerberg is the star speaker in Barcelona, a reflection of the surge in advertising revenue it now captures from mobile users.

Microsoft, meanwhile, has agreed to pay 5.44 billion euros for Nokia's loss-making mobile phone division.

"Suddenly, mobile is not this separate industry from the Internet and technology, it is part of the same mix," said Ian Fogg, senior principal analyst at research house IHS.

"We can see smartphones are now ubiquitous. We can see they are something consumers interact with throughout the day, wherever they are, including when sitting at the desk," he added.

"That is fundamentally different for media companies, for communications companies, for retail companies and for pretty much every blue chip that wants to engage with consumers."

Besides the new Samsung flagship, a slew of other smartphones are set for release in Barcelona.
   
A connected fridge
  
Nokia is rumoured to be unveiling new devices including, ironically, a smartphone using a version of Android rather than Microsoft Windows in an attempt to capture sales in emerging markets.

Sony, too, may launch a new Xperia smartphone, the first new edition of its flagship since announcing this month the sale of its stagnant PC business to focus instead on smartphones and tablets.

Taiwan's HTC, China's ZTE, Huawei and struggling US mobile maker Blackberry are also expected to launch devices.

But the connected world is now moving well beyond mobile phones and tablets, as the "Internet of things" phenomenon hooks to everything from your television or fridge to the lightbulb.

Manufacturers will attempt to show off the advantages of the connected world, but it is a development that also presents some security challenges.

Security provider Thinkpoint Inc. said last month it had uncovered more than 750,000 malicious emails from more than 100,000 everyday consumer gadgets such as home-network routers, multimedia centres, televisions and at least one refrigerator.

HTC's smartwatch coming to Mobile World Congress: report

HTC is reported to have a host of potential of wrist-worn devices up its sleeve, and the first looks set to make its debut at Monday's global smartphone and telecoms gathering in Barcelona.
At the beginning of this month, HTC chairman Cher Wang told Bloomberg that the company had been working on wearable technology for some time and claimed that it had solved the biggest problems that smartwatches face -- battery life and screen performance.

Fast-forward to today and reports are surfacing that an advanced prototype version of this problem-solving smartwatch will be making an appearance at MWC and that it will be based on the Qualcomm Toq.

The Toq is a smartwatch unveiled in September that uses wireless charging to keep the battery topped up with minimal fuss and that uses a clever low-energy yet always-on Mirasol touch-screen. Or so says a person with direct knowledge of the plans who spoke to Bloomberg.

So far, not particularly impressive or revolutionary. However, the same source also says that HTC is developing a second smartwatch that is built around Google Now, the search company's contextual search and concierge service that pushes relevant information to users based on likes, preferences, diary dates, email inbox and geographical location.

So, for example, if the watch wearer likes Italian food, hasn't eaten and is walking around a city center, Google Now will alert him or her that a good Italian bistro is within walking distance, along with a list of specials and reviews.

Contextual features and services like that could be the key to making smartwatches actually worth owning. But HTC still isn't done. It is also making a bracelet that plays music.

The company plans to show its prototypes to network carriers and other companies attending MWC, which kicks off on February 24 but it's not clear if journalists or other attendees will get to see them; what is clear is that HTC is focused on officially launching its first wearable technology device before Christmas 2014.

Google unveils 'Project Tango' 3D smartphone platform

Google announced a new research project Thursday aimed at bringing 3D technology to smartphones, for potential applications such as indoor mapping, gaming and helping blind people navigate.
The California tech giant said its "Project Tango" would provide prototypes of its new smartphone to outside developers to encourage the writing of new applications.

Project leader Johnny Lee said the goal of the project, which incorporates robotics and vision-processing technology, is "to give mobile devices a human-scale understanding of space and motion."

"What if you could capture the dimensions of your home simply by walking around with your phone before you went furniture shopping?" Google said on its Project Tango web page.

"What if directions to a new location didn't stop at the street address? What if you never again found yourself lost in a new building? What if the visually impaired could navigate unassisted in unfamiliar indoor places? What if you could search for a product and see where the exact shelf is located in a super-store?"

The technology could also be used for "playing hide-and-seek in your house with your favorite game character, or transforming the hallways into a tree-lined path."

Smartphones are equipped with sensors which make over 1.4 million measurements per second, updating the positon and rotation of the phone.

Partners in the project include researchers from the University of  Minnesota, George Washington University, German tech firm Bosch and the Open Source Robotics Foundation, among others.

Another partner is California-based Movidius, which makes vision-processor technology for mobile and portable devices and will provide the processor platform.

Movidius said in a statement the goal was "to mirror human vision with a newfound level of depth, clarity and realism on mobile and portable connected devices."

"Google has paved the future direction for smart mobile vision systems and we're excited to be working with a company that shares our vision to usher in the next wave of applications that fundamentally alter how a mobile device is used to experience the world around us," said Remi El-Ouazzane, chief executive of Movidius.

"Project Tango is truly a groundbreaking platform and we look forward to seeing the innovation the developer community achieves," he added.

As it promises Android updates for 2 years, HTC outs Windows Phone 8.1

HTC has been able to build attractive smartphones like our editor's choice HTC One, but its support of post-launch Android updates hasn't been as solid. That's about to change.
The company has promised to support "all new flagship devices going forward with all major Android updates for two years," according to the HTC US product team in a Reddit thread.
So far, this ambitious goal only applies to its North American phones and we put in an inquiry to HTC to see whether it'll make a similar global commitment.
Steady Android updates certainly haven't been the case with the HTC One X and HTC One X+.
They're stuck with Android 4.2.2, unable to be upgraded to Android 4.4 KitKat, even though X+ came out 14 months ago.
Select upgrades possible for HTC One X

HTC blames the lack of HTC One X and X+ updates on chip maker Nvidia. It no longer supports the Tegra 3 and is instead focusing on its newer Tegra 4 and Tegra K1 processors.
However, the Taiwanese phone manufacturer does have one possible contingency plan for its US customers: it's actively "exploring" an update to Android KitKat 4.4 for the HTC One X since it has a Qualcomm processor instead.
HTC also mentioned that US customers will continue to receive Android 4.4 upgrades on its newer flagship smartphone, the HTC One. Next up is T-Mobile, which should have the new firmware in a matter of days.
Windows Phone Blue update too?

HTC refuted a question as to whether or not it's "done with Windows Phone," calling itself a strong partner of Microsoft.
In fact, the company confirmed that it's working with Microsoft to bring the forthcoming Windows Phone Blue (better known as Windows Phone 8.1) update to its existing Windows Phone 8X smartphone.
Windows Phone 8X is almost a year and a half old, so it may be getting the same prolonged updates treatment as Android.
HTC also refused to talk about the possibility of a new Windows Phone in its future, but said it will continue to take new products into consideration. The Blue update is a good start.

Nokia X Android phone appears in retail listing ahead of tipped MWC launch

The eagerly-anticipated Nokia X Android phone moved one step closer to officialdom when it briefly appeared in a retail listing on a shopping site in Vietnam this weekend.
The listing on the MaiNguyen site listed the handset as having a 1GHz dual-core processor, 512MB of RAM, a 5-megapixel camera and Android 4.4.2 KitKat on board.
Those specs tie in with another leak from Twitter's @evleaks on Friday, which also claimed the device would have a 4-inch WVGA display, a 1500mAh battery and would be available in six colours.
Evleaks also added that Android apps will be available from the Nokia store and third-party retailers.
The price is right

While the hardware may not please the mobile purists, the price of the experimental device may make it worth a look. The since-removed listing had the device priced at around £70/$110/AU$120.
The device, which is expected to be aimed at emerging markets, remains one of the most intriguing smartphone launches of 2014.
Firstly, it'll be Nokia's first ever Android phone following years of smartphone enthusiasts and industry figures clamouring. Secondly, it comes as Nokia's transition into a Microsoft-owned company is in full swing.
It is expected we'll get the first look at the Nokia X on the show floor at MWC 2014, which kicks off in a little over a week in Barcelona. TechRadar will be out in force to get some hands-on time with the device.

LG confirms third-generation L Series phones will land with KitKat at MWC 2014

LG's pre-event announcements are getting earlier and earlier with the company confirming the arrival of its new L Series III Android phones more than a week before MWC 2014 kicks off in Barcelona.
The third-generation L Series phones - the L90, L70 and L40 - come with a variety of display sizes and specs, but each have the latest version of Android 4.4 KitKat on board.
The handsets are all in the mid-range area, but the L90 has a 1.2GHz quad-core processor, a 4.7-inch 960 x 540 display, 8GB of internal storage, 1GB RAM, an 8-megapixel camera and 2540mAh battery.
The L70 is slightly smaller at 4.5-inches (800 x 400), houses a dual-core chip, 8-megapixel camera, and 1GB RAM, but on-board storage is slightly lower at 4GB, while the battery pack comes in at 2100mAh.
Dinky

Finally, the L40 is dinky at 3.5-inches, also has a 1.2GHz dual-core processor alongside a 3-megapixel camera, 4GB of storage, 1GB RAM and a 1700mAh battery.
All three devices will be on show at MWC, which begins in earnest on February 24. We'll be on hand at the LG stand to take a look.

Mercedes-Benz C220 CDI Grand Edition review, test drive

The C-class we get in India will soon be replaced by the all-new model shown at the 2014 Detroit motor show. So, this Grand Edition is, essentially, a celebration of the 50,000 cars produced at the Chakan plant and a way to get the last few of those out of showrooms before the new one steps in later this year.

The Grand Edition is a regular C-class with added styling elements to differentiate it from the standard model range. It gets an AMG styling kit on the outside with front and rear aprons, side sills, sporty 17-inch alloys with AMG hub caps and chrome tail-pipes. It's also got 'Grand Edition' badges on the wings. The rest of the car looks the same and, despite its age, looks fresh and the big grille gives it presence.

On the inside, the changes are minor - you get the same solid build that you'd expect from any Mercedes-Benz. Quality is top-notch and all the controls feel well damped and precise to use. The LED screen on the dash is now of a higher resolution but controls only a handful of car settings like Bluetooth and the music system. The Grand Edition also gets satellite navigation as standard, however, it's not the easiest to use and isn't the best around either. To start navigation, you have to press and hold down the 'C' button next to the COMAND controller. It isn't intuitive to use and the graphics are poorer than what we are used to these days.

Under the hood is a 2143cc turbo-diesel engine - the four-cylinder motor makes a modest 167bhp. But it’s the way the power comes in a creamy smooth manner that impresses the most. There is more than enough power on tap and, even the gearbox, though a bit on the slower side, is smooth-shifting. An additional bonus is that the C 220 CDI is a lot quieter than the now defunct twin-scroll turbo-equipped C 250 CDI. The C 220 CDI is a safe handler and straight-line stability is fantastic. Even the ride is quite forgiving and only sharp potholes catch it off-guard. 

The C class is still a very competitive car and its relaxed driving experience adds to its overall appeal. With the Grand Edition, Mercedes has given it some added spice to attract more buyers. Rear seat space is still cramped though and the price is quite high as well. At Rs. 39.16 lakh (ex-showroom, Pune), the Grand Edition C 220 CDI isn't the best bargain around. Yes you do get more features but at a very hefty cost. 

Fact FileEngine
Fuel Diesel
Type 4cyls, 2143cc, turbo diesel
Power 167bhp
DimensionsLength 4591mm
Width 1770mm
Height 1447mm
Wheel base 2760mm

Valentine's gifts to please your lady love

If you're a guy, the pressure is on to find your lady that special gift that will make her eyes light up in that unmistakable way. But don't panic; with this Valentine's Day gift guide you're sure to find a winner.

Here goes our top Valentine's gift ideas, in descending order:

Any girl knows about the damaging results of harsh winter conditions on her skin, which is why a rich hand salve is a thoughtful Valentine's Day gift. We say, pick one that is the perfect size to fit in her purse, and you can be sure she will always have it on hand (no pun intended). Plus, she’ll carry it around with her wherever she goes. Sweet!

Suggestive of an intimate night in, a scented candle is an affordable and romantic gift- especially if it’s lit in a strategic spot when she gets home or wherever else it is you wish to take her. This gift will show her you have a healthy understanding about her desire to see something pleasing and feel relaxed after a tough day!

The cold months can be especially hard on the fairer gender- a comforting cup of cocoa is a great way to fight off the early morning, late night chill, isn't it? A complementing pair of mugs will represent an interest in sharing a warm beverage. Simple and unassuming, a ceramic pair, like this one, is more romantic than you might think.

Jewelry can be a bit of a gamble. But, if you do decide to get her one this year, stray from the predictable. So, a watch that’s elegant yet not too showy and made by a trusted brand is sure to hit the right note. Also, make sure you get a watch that has just the right touch of eccentric, perfect for the girl who accessorizes like a pro.
Move over the usual sweat pants/ printed pyjamas. Gift her knit pants- they are as comfortable as they are sexy- that will become her at-home staple. Not only are they casual, their slim fit will compliment those legs. Talk about introducing a little extra everyday sexiness to lounging around!

There are few gifts better than a fragrance in a sweet bottle to gift a woman any time of the year, Valentine's Day included. The choice is yours, but try going for a light floral scent of Roses, it won't overpower her natural smell.
Lingerie is the ultimate Valentine's Day gift for her that’s really for you. Every woman likes to feel sexy, and a matching top and bottom combo will put you both in the mood. We recommend the highest-quality lingerie available out there, because when you’re trying to get skimpy, you really shouldn’t skimp.



If you can't write the kind of poetry every girl wants to have written about her, breathe easy. Give her a selection of romantic and evocative poems (presented in a portable format, if she is the tech-savvy kinds). This unique gift will make for one hell of a gift for your sweetheart- something a little longer-lasting than most gifts that's sure to make her think of you.

LG unveils larger-screen phone to take on Samsung, Apple

South Korea's LG Electronics unveiled a revamped version of its large-screen smartphone G Pro on Thursday, seeking to woo customers ahead of a rival offering from market leader Samsung Electronics later this month.
Apple Inc is also widely expected to launch its new iPhone with a bigger screen this year.

The G Pro 2 boasts a 5.9-inch screen, bigger than the 5.5 inch screen of the previous model and one of the biggest on the market. It also has a 1-watt speaker system, a first for smartphones and will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor.

The unveiling of the new G Pro had been expected later this month. LG's earlier timing may have been prompted by market leader Samsung's decision to unveil a version of its flagship Galaxy S smartphone on February 24 at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, three weeks earlier than expected.

The G Pro 2 will be on the market in Korea in late February. LG, the world's fourth-biggest smartphone maker by sales, did not announce a global sales target for the phone.

LG Electronics has improved products and sales sharply in recent years and its global smartphone sales jumped 81 % in 2013, according to data from Strategy Analytics. Even so, heavy promotion costs for high-end models has seen its phone division post two consecutive quarters of losses.

Credit rating agency Moody's Investors Service downgraded LG Electronics' credit ratings last week, citing persistent pricing pressures and the high costs of marketing new products, particularly mobile phones.

Celeb couples who got married on Valentine's Day

Arshad Warsi-Maria Goretti: Actor Arshad Warsi married VJ Maria Goretti on February 14, 1999. The couple, whose courtship lasted eight years, had two kinds of wedding ceremonies - one in the church and the other a nikaah. The couple has two kids - a son named Zeke, and a daughter called Zene Zoe.

Adriana Lima-Marko Jari: The Victoria's Secret supermodel eloped with her boyfriend and basketball player Marko Jari on February 14, 2009. They had a small civil ceremony. However, the couple, who met for the first time at a party in Los Angeles in 2006, did throw an exuberant gala later.

Raj Kaushal-Mandira Bedi: TV actor and cricket presenter Mandira Bedi and Bollywood filmmaker Raj Kaushal tied the knot on February 14, 1999. Interestingly, Raj's parents wanted to have an archetypal Hindu wedding and Mandira's parents a Sikh wedding. So, the couple were married in the Capital twice. One, in the typical Arya Samaji Hindu style and then in the traditional Sikh ceremony. The much in love couple has a son Vir, who was born in 2011.

13-Feb Francois-Salma Hayek: This Latina bombshell and billionaire François-Henri Pinault decided to get married in a low-key civil ceremony in Paris on V-day in 2009. It was soon followed by a grand reception in Venice with the who's who of Hollywood on the guest list. Interestingly, the pair's daughter is named 'Valentina'.