Sony Xperia Smartphones get Android ICS 4.0 upgrade starting mid April

March 31, 2012 Udit Malhotra 2 Comments

Sony Mobile has got some great news for its Xperia smartphone users, the manufacturer has given out details and a brief plan on the Android ICS 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) upgrade that would be rolled out for the Xperia portfolio starting mid April this year.

The Xperia handsets that would receive the update first would include the Xperia arc S, Xperia neo V and Xperia ray, the upgrade schedule for the aforesaid models starts mid April and continues for about 4-6 weeks. The Xperia arc, Xperia PLAY, Xperia neo, Xperia mini, Xperia mini pro, Xperia pro, Xperia active and Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman get their upgrade to Android ICS 4.0 by end of May or early June.

Android 4.0 is one platform that would be adapted across various verticals in the coming months by all major smartphone manufacturers, Sony promises its users to offer feature rich performance with its upcoming treat. It would bring new design including a better UI, great features like Android Beam, Face Unlock and more. As the upgrade would be an entirely new leap for your Xperia device and can be significantly large in size, the upgrade package would be available only via PC Companion or Bridge for Mac, not by an OTA update through Wi-Fi or 3G networks. The software upgrade can make the performance vary on Xperia devices post installation, due to its overall changes, hence it is only being delivered to users an optional one.

Apple Mac users can rejoice the option to install the upgrade straight away on their Macs, as Sony is in the process of launching the Bridge for Mac 2.0 suite, which would allow users to flash the software update right within the Mac OS X.

Sony’s newly launched gizmo at MWC, the Xperia S is planned to get the ICS upgrade in a delayed way and is supposed arrive by the end of second quarter this year. It is amazing handset that showcases some brilliant hardware specs, we wish for an early upgrade for the same.

Information on the exact release cycle and the complete dates for the upgrade scenario are to be revealed by the next month. Carrier and region specific ICS upgrades would be pushed as and when the necessary changes are made.

via Sony Mobile Blog

HomeShop 18

HomeShop18 cheating customers on Gift Voucher usage in India

March 30, 2012 Udit Malhotra 2 Comments

HomeShop18 India’s TV Sales and Web Sales platform is cheating Customers by NOT HONORING Discount Gift Vouchers received on previous purchases.

Please have a look at the Gift Voucher and the Order for a Mobile Phone on HomeShop18.

The above shown Gift Voucher was received on 30 March 2012 by Courier with an expiry date of 31 March 2012 (1 day’s usability).

Upon ordering a Mobile Phone on the homeshop18 website, the Gift Voucher is not being accepted. Please check the Screenshot of the Order.

On calling Customer Care (better be called Customer Harassment Department), the Customer Care Executive and her Supervisor said they reserve the right to change the terms of the Voucher anytime and would not honor the Discount of Rs.200/- on a Mobile Phone. Surprisingly, the Terms and Conditions of the Gift Voucher do not state anything to that effect.

Buyers, Beware! HomeShop 18 is taking you for a ride by not honoring their commitments. If you have suffered at the hands of HomeShop 18 or if you feel taking an ethical stand is right to protect buyers from fraudulent Sellers like HomeShop 18, share this post.

Android Mobiles

Value Pack for Samsung Galaxy S hits Korea, adds Android ICS like features to Gingerbread

March 29, 2012 Udit Malhotra Leave a comment

Samsung Galaxy S owners in Korea can finally consider the rumors to be true, the manufacturer has introduced a ‘value pack’ for the Samsung Galaxy S, Galaxy K and Galaxy U. The update is targeted to bring Android ICS 4.0 alike features to its mid level segment. Its great to see Samsung making an initiative for its users base considering that the Galaxy S was launched way back in mid 2010 with Android 2.1 Éclair loaded on to it. The ‘value pack’ would introduce features including the famous facial unlock, the ability to click images while recording videos, enhanced photo editing functionality, and fresh folder options to the launcher menu. We know that many of you would not like to settle for anything besides the Android ICS 4.0 on to your smartphones. For Android lovers and geeks who have already played around with some custom ROM’s can try out the ICS based ROM’s available across the market.

The ‘value pack’ update for now stands still for the manufacturers homeland Korea, we still await news on region or country specific release for the same. We would keep you guys posted with any further buzz as we come to know more about it. If you are among the champs who have already tried the update and would like to share your opinion on the same, please leave your comments.

via Samsung Tomorrow

Google+

Google+ Hangout apps finally out, adds fun, entertainment and productivity to conversations

March 29, 2012 Udit Malhotra Leave a comment

We’ve heard of Facebook Apps, Android Apps, iPhone Apps and so on, its Google now who is now ringing the bell by introducing an all new suite of third party applications that are now a part of the Google+ Hangout. The buzz was shared via a Google+ Post by +Amit Fulay (Product Manager for Google+ Hangouts). When users start a hangout, they may click on the “Apps” tab on the top left to gain access to the featured and recently used apps. The applications introduced today are an introductory set of apps, just a beginning to new apps being evolved and shared over Google+.

The introductory set of apps showcased includes:

+Aces Hangout, for playing poker with friends, face-to-face-to-face
Clubhouse Challenge by +Bravo, for testing your pop culture IQ against other teams
+Cacoo, for wire-framing, mind-mapping and diagramming with others
Google Effects, for trying on headwear, eyewear or facial hair
+Scoot & Doodle, for drawing and coloring with the people you care about
+SlideShare, for co-viewing presentations, docs and videos

The introduction of these apps has opened a horizon for Google+ developers to share and contribute new and interesting stuff to the community. Developers can check out the Google+ Developers blog for more updates http://goo.gl/CUAJ0

Besides the aforesaid apps standard Google apps like Google Docs, Youtube etc. can be used as well. This can act as very effective medium to grow and thrive effective conversation including corporates, student groups, universities and institutions. Google+ Hangouts allows folks with an option to have a group video chat with up to 10 people simultaneously for free. For all of you who haven’t yet tried Google+ Hangouts should surely give it a try.

Image Gallery