LG Launches WebOS-Based 3D TVs in India

LG has unveiled its new UB9800 Ultra HD TV lineup along with the first webOS-based smart LED 3D television at the India Gadget Expo. LG says its new Ultra HD TV lineup has exceptional picture quality with a 4K resolution (3840x2160 pixels) that's complemented by rich audio from the forward-facing 5.2 multi-channel sound system designed in collaboration with Harman Kardon, featuring LG's new Ultra Surround Sound concept.


The LG WebOS Cinema 3D TV series, which will be available in India sometime in June in 42-inch, 47-inch, 55-inch, and 65-inch sizes, priced between Rs. 82,900 and Rs. 15 lakhs.

LG says its WebOS Cinema 3D TV features Smart LED Screen technology. The smart television features a Launcher Menu, a UI that presents users with entertainment options and assists in organizing utilities into a neat viewing history. The Launcher comes with an integrated 3D World, a web browser and the LG App Store that has on offer latest movies, television shows and games. This television has a cinema screen design and an ultra slim profile, with finger gesture control on the Magic Remote.

Mr. Rishi Tandon, Marketing Head- Home Entertainment, LG India, said; "This year we have launched outstanding new Ultra HD and Smart TVs, highlighted by our new WebOS platform which will demonstrate how a TV can be truly smart. Looking at the international responses for the new range of LG TVs and a more evolved Indian consumer, we are confident that our Curved OLED, webOS and Ultra HD range will set a benchmark in the Indian Television market. This year, our target is to capture 30 percent market share in the flat panel television market."

The UB9800 Series 4K Ultra HD TVs was first showcased at CES 2014, and consists of 65-inch, 79-inch, 84-inch (seen below) and 98-inch units. LG's new Ultra HD TV models feature 3840x2160 pixels resolution and equip Ultra IPS panels.

The latest LG UB9800 Series 4K Ultra HD TVs equip a proprietary chip that the company claims enhances the Ultra HD resolution and also optimises the overall image quality. Further, the UB9800 4K Ultra HD TV series comes with an up-scaling function that LG claims to take the SD, HD and even full-HD content to near Ultra HD quality by rendering it in sharp.

The new UB9800 4K Ultra HD TVs come with the Tru-Ultra HD Engine Pro that supports a technique called 4K Motion Estimation Motion Compensation (MEMC), which the South Korean manufacturer claims makes the 4K Ultra HD content appear free of motion blur.

The new LG Ultra HD TVs also feature a built-in 4K HEVC 60p decoder. The 65-inch, 79-inch, 84-inch and 98-inch UB9800 4K Ultra HD TV series can decode broadcast signals in both H.264 and HEVC H.265 formats, in both 30p and 60p. Connectivity options include HDMI 2.0, USB and LAN ports. The new models also feature LG's Ultra HD Cinema 3D, that uses Film Patterned Retarder (FPR) technology to render 3D images with virtually no flicker or cross-talk.

The new LG UB9800 series 4K Ultra HD TVs are available in India in different screen sizes of 84-inch (roughly Rs. 15 lakhs), 79-inch, 65-inch (roughly Rs. 4 lakhs), 55-inch (roughly Rs. 2.8 lakhs), and 49-inch (roughly Rs. 1.5 lakhs).

Tata and Mahindra Working on Respective Ford EcoSport Rival

There is no denying that the sub-compact SUV is one of the most sought after segments in the country today, and that is precisely why pretty much every automaker is vying for a share in the segment; they are either planning to launch relevant products or already have. It all started with the Renault Duster that became the top-selling crossover in India in no-time. Then came along the Ford EcoSport which took the excitement for small SUVs a notch up. The Duster's sales were doing just fine till the launch of Nissan Terrano, which is just re-badged version of the former.

Everyone including Maruti, Hyundai, Volkswagen, Honda are currently known to be working on their respective sub-compact SUVs to take on the likes of Renault Duster and Ford EcoSport. Our home-grown automajors - Mahindra and Tata Motors are also planning to enter the segment.

While Mahindra has been testing its sub-compact SUV for quite some time now, Tata Motors unveiled its crossover prototype, the Nexon, at the 2014 Delhi Auto Expo. Here's a lowdown of what one can expect from both, Tata and Mahindra's Sub-Compact SUVs.

Tata Nexon

As mentioned above, Tata Motors unveiled the Nexon concept at the 2014 Delhi Auto Expo, which gave us a fair idea of what Tata's sub-compact SUV might look like. The company recently showcased the same concept at the Geneva Motor Show, indicating that the product will be developed in accordance with global requirements.

The Nexon will be built on a thoroughly updated version of the Vista X1 platform, upon which, the upcoming Zest and Bolt are also based. The vehicle will probably be powered by the company's new 1.2-litre turbocharged Revotron engine that is capable of churning out 84bhp and 140Nm of torque. The diesel model might feature the 1.3-litre multijet diesel engine sourced from Fiat, which also does duty on the Vista.

Expected Price: Rs. 6 - 8 lakh

Expected Launch: 2015

Mahindra S101 Sub-compact SUV

India's leading SUV maker, Mahindra & Mahindra is planning to roll out a couple of new SUVs in the country, out of which, one will be an affordable sub-compact SUV. Codenamed as the S101, the crossover will be measure less than four-metres in size, which should allow the company to give it quite a competitive price tag.

The Mahindra S101 sub-compact SUV might use the same 1.5-litre twin-turbo charged diesel powertain that powers the Quanto. However, for the petrol model, Mahindra is working on a 1.2-litre engine with its Korean brand SsangYong since it doesn't have a small petrol mill. In terms of design, the car will look like a smaller version of the XUV500.

Expected Price - Rs. 6.50 - Rs. 10 lakh

Expected Launch - By the end of 2014

Equalizer Case For iPhone 5 lets you groove out in style

Getting an iPhone is not exactly a big deal, but if you happen to own a next generation iPhone, then it is a big deal simply because it has not been released to the market just yet. However, for the many of us out there who happen to own the iPhone 5,

then you would most certainly already own a phone case. However, there is no argument against picking up another iPhone case, and the $14.99 Equalizer Case is certainly worth checking out.

                                 

Playing nice with the iPhone 5 as well as the iPhone 5s, where it will sport a glowing display right at the very back which will be able to react to any ambient sound or music. After all, the iPhone is an ideal tool to carry your music with you, being a portable media player that works as well as the old school iPod (some say better). It will not draw any juice from your iPhone, since it relies on a pair of cell batteries in order to light up, where it will then react to music or sounds around. More noise will see more bars on the equalizer appear in the same vein as that of a spectrum analyzer. Of course, at that price point, the lights themselves do not react to specific frequencies, but that is one secret that you can keep to yourself.

                     

Jaguar Confirms F-Type Project 7 For Production

Jaguar has finally confirmed it will debut the F-TYPE Project 7 at the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed. F-TYPE Project 7 will be the first high performance vehicle developed by Jaguar Land Rover's Special Operations division and will see a limited-edition production run of only 250 units.

First introduced in 2013, the concept is a tribute to the 3 time Le Mans winning Jaguar D-Type that celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. The Project 7 is powered by 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine that delivers 680Nm of torque.

                              

The two-seater roadster sheds about 30 kgs as compared to the F-type convertible, and weighs 1,585 kg, thanks to its all aluminium body. This rear-wheel-drive car is mated to an 8-speed quickshift transmission.

Jaguar claims that the F-Type Project 7 is the fastest and most powerful production vehicle that the company has ever built. The company has also confirmed that it will commence the car's deliveries by mid-2015.

Intel India Unveils Education 2 in 1 Laptop Reference Design for Students

Intel India on Wednesday unveiled the Intel Education 2 in 1, its first-ever 2-in-1 reference design for students, at an event in New Delhi. At the event Ashutosh Chadha, Director, Corporate Affairs Group - Intel South Asia and Rajiv Bhalla Director, Market Development - Intel South Asia showcased the full range of Intel Education Solutions.

Together with Center for Assessment, Evaluation and Research (CAER), Intel India also launched a white paper, 'Creating a transformed learning environment' highlighting the need & importance for integrating technology in school based assessments.

The chipmaker says the Intel Education 2 in 1 has the flexibility and mobility of a tablet, along with the performance and productivity of a laptop. The Intel Education 2 in 1 has front-facing and rear-facing cameras. Its dual-docking mode is meant to allow students the option of having the tablet screen face them when using the keyboard or having the tablet screen face their peers to facilitate collaboration.

"As a result of our work with educators around the world, Intel understands the need for engaging, student-centered learning in order to drive student success in school and beyond," said Rajiv Bhalla, Director Market Development, Intel South Asia "With our new Intel Education 2 in 1, students have a tablet when they want it and a laptop when they need it. This gives educators the flexibility to create a more interactive, collaborative learning experience for their students."

The Intel Education 2 in 1 is powered by a quad-core Intel Atom processor Z3740D, runs Windows 8.1, and provides up to 7.8 hours of battery life as a tablet and an optional 3+ hours of additional battery life when docked. Intel says the reference design is for education, and has been ruggedized so that it can withstand drops from 70 centimetres, and offers IP51 water and dust resistance. Other kid-friendly features include a handle that makes it easier to hold, and a stylus with a realistic pen-like grip.

While discussing Intel's Education initiatives in India, Ashutosh Chadha, Director, Corporate Affairs Group, Intel South Asia said, "In a global economy, creating 21st century success for individual students, communities and nations means giving every student the skills and opportunities to excel. With a vision to advance excellence in education around the world, Intel is directly involved in education programs, policy advocacy and technology products that enable today's youth to develop the skills they need to be the innovators of tomorrow."

BlackBerry Z3 With 5-Inch qHD Display Launched at Rs. 15,990

Canadian smartphone manufacturer has launched its recently unveiled large-screen smartphone in India, the BlackBerry Z3, priced at Rs. 15,990. The BB10 OS-based smartphone will be available to pre-order from Flipkart, The Mobile Store, and BlackBerry stores from Wednesday, and go on sale from July 2.


The BlackBerry Z3 is the first phone to be launched by BlackBerry since new CEO John Chen took the helm late last year.

The Z3 runs BlackBerry 10 OS (version 10.2.1) and features a 5-inch qHD (540x960 pixels) display offering an aspect ratio of 16:9. It is powered by a dual-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 (MSM8230) processor with 1.5GB of RAM.

BlackBerry's Z3 sports a 5-megapixel autofocus rear camera and also houses a 1.1-megapixel fixed-focus front-facing camera. The smartphone includes 8GB of inbuilt storage, which can be expanded up to 32GB via microSD card. 
                                      
The smartphone packs a 2500mAh battery, which is rated to deliver up to 15.5 hours talk time and up to 384 hours of standby time. Connectivity options on the BlackBerry Z3 include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G, GPS, NFC and Micro-USB.

The BlackBerry Z3 smartphone also comes preloaded with some BlackBerry services such as BlackBerry Hub, BBM, Time Shift, Story Maker camera features, and BB10 browser.

The Z3 was initially announced in Indonesia and is one of the first devices being made with FIH Mobile Ltd, a unit of the Taiwanese Foxconn Technology Group best known for building devices such as the Apple iPad and iPhone. 

The smartphone was made available for the Indonesian market starting in mid-May, and was priced less than $200 (roughly Rs. 12,000). 

Acer Chromebook CB5 with Nvidia Tegra K1 SoC Briefly Listed Online

It seems that Acer is all set to add another Chromebook to its range, but this time - the Chrome OS-based laptop is powered with Nvidia Tegra K1 processor. Dubbed Acer Chromebook CB5, it was spotted listed on a Swedish retail site.

According to the website listing, Acer Chromebook CB5 notebook will feature a Nvidia Tegra K1 CPU with 4GB of RAM, a 32GB SSD and a 13.3-inch (1366x768 pixel) HD display.

First spotted by Android Authority, the listing on the Swedish retail site Komplett.se was later removed. Before being removed, the listing suggested that the Acer Chromebook CB5 will be available starting August 1.

Other than that fact, listing didn't include much else, but if we look at the purported images, the Acer Chromebook CB5 will include a 3.5mm headphone jack, Ethernet port, and two USB 3.0 ports. If the listing proves to be correct, then this would be the first Chromebook by Acer to be powered by a Nvidia processor.

Recently at its 'a touch more connected event' in New York, the company had introduced a new Chromebook, calling it the 'fastest Chromebook in the industry', along with five new laptops and two all-in-one PC.

Acer had also said it was the first Chromebook to run on an Intel Core processor, which will ship with a fourth generation Core i3 processor. It did not detail anything else about the new Chrome OS-based laptop, except for the fact that it will ship in 14-inch and 15-inch models, with a tentative release date of this summer.

Notably, Acer was one of the first to announce Google's Chrome OS-based notebooks along with Samsung at the Google I/O conference in May 2011. The first Chromebook began shipping on June 15, 2011.