Windows Phone 8 officially launched, brings in Live Apps, Rooms, Kid's Corner & more

Finally wait is over. Last night, Microsoft went on to take the centre-stage by officially announcing unveil of its new Windows Phone 8 OS. At this event, Microsoft also launched the new features that are arriving in the new OS which will make the user experience much more different as compared to other mobile OSes out there.

Below is the list of new features that Microsoft revealed last night:

Live Apps: Microsoft has made the Lockscreen of the Windows Phone 8 livelier. This feature help to display information right onto your Start screen, for e.g. a Groupon deal of the day, flight information or the news headlines.

Skype for Windows Phone 8: Skype has been redesigned for this phone where it will now be ‘Always On’ over your device enabling you to receive calls anytime.

Rooms: Rooms feature has been incorporated which allows you to create private groups of people who have Windows Phone 8 such as your family members, friends or any other thing which you may part of.

Data Sense: This feature will keep track of the data usage consumed by each app accessed. The notification will be given to the users as soon as they near the limits.

Kid’s Corner: Microsoft has created the Kids corner feature that where, parent can activate a special place on the phone and Kids can access games, music, videos and more only there.

Office 2013, Xbox Music, Improvements to SkyDrive etc are some of features which will set the Windows Phone 8 OS apart from any other OS out there.
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What Should You Buy? Microsoft Surface RT vs. Apple iPad 4

So, today represents a pretty big day for Microsoft, as it marks not only the official launch of Windows 8, but it’s also the launch day for their Surface RT tablet. I still think that the starting price on the Microsoft Surface should have been closer to $299, but in the $499 range, it competes directly against the recently announced fourth-generation iPad rather than the also recently announced iPad Mini. So, how does it compare?

As far as outward dimensions, they’re comparable but different. They’re both 9.4mm thick, but the Surface RT takes on a 16:9 aspect ratio, making it narrower and longer compared to the more shorter and wider iPad 4. The weight is also comparable at 680g (Surface) vs. 653g (iPad). While the 9.7-inch iPad has a much more impressive resolution of 2048×1536 (264ppi) compared to the 1366×768 resolution (148ppi) on the 10.6-inch Surface, the ClearType tech is supposed to make the Surface look sharper than it really is.

Raw power should also be comparable with the iPad 4 getting the dual core Apple A6X processor (presumably running at 1.3GHz) along with quad-core GPU. The Surface RT gets a quad core NVIDIA Tegra 3 (1.4GHz) chip, which is similar to what you find on many current high-end smartphones and tablets. The Surface RT does have double the RAM at 2GB, though, compared to what we think is the same single gig on the iPad 4 as was there in the iPad 3.

Apple is notorious for not providing a memory card slot and that hasn’t changed in the fourth-gen iPad. You get the 16GB, 32GB or 64GB that’s already on board, compared to the microSD slot on the Surface RT to complement its 32GB or 64GB of internal storage. The iPad is available with 3G/LTE though, whereas the Surface is currently a WiFi-only device. The iPad also sounds like it wins in the camera department too with a 5MP rear (1080p) and 1.2MP front (720p) shooter, whereas both Surface cameras are 720p. They haven’t specified the actual megapixel count.

Of course, there are all those other things that you need to consider. The iPad has access to a tremendously huge App Store, whereas the Windows Marketplace for RT is not nearly as developed, especially since RT can’t run native Windows programs. That said, the Surface has the cool Touch Cover and Type Cover, and you do get a version of Microsoft Office right out of the box.
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At the end of the day, which tablet you choose really depends on your needs and preferences. And let’s not forget about the plethora of Android options too, like the less expensive Nexus 7 or possibly the upcoming Nexus 10, as well as trusty standbys like the Galaxy Tab and Asus Transformer Pad families. Whatever the case, it looks like this could be a great holiday shopping season for tablet lovers.
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iPad mini: First look

Apple's iPad Mini will bring a lot more excitement and a little more confusion to the holiday shopping season.

It only takes a few minutes playing with the iPad mini to realize the scaled-down tablet computer will be a sure-fire hit with longtime Apple disciples and potential converts who've been looking for a more affordable entree into the mobile computing market.

With a 7.9-inch screen, the iPad mini is perfectly sized to be stuffed in Christmas stockings. Recipients who will discover the pleasure and convenience of being able to take pictures, surf the Web, watch video, read books and listen to music on an exquisitely designed device that's pancake thin.

As enticing as that all sounds, the iPad mini also causes a dilemma, albeit a pleasant one.

The new option will make it even more difficult for holiday shoppers to figure out which mobile device to buy for their loved ones -or for themselves.

I felt the pangs of indecision within a few minutes of picking up the iPad mini for the first time.

As the company usually does at its product unveilings, Apple Inc. only provided reporters with limited, strictly supervised access to the iPad mini on Tuesday. That meant I could only experiment with it for about 15 minutes, but as an experienced user of the iPad 2, I could quickly see that the smaller tablet does just about everything its bigger brethren does.

Even though the mini's screen is 1.8 inches smaller than the standard iPad, the movie "The Avengers" looked lush, even in a side-by-side comparison with the larger tablet. When I pulled up the latest issue of the New Yorker, I didn't have to strain to see the text or pictures on the smaller screen. A quick check of other websites verified that the mini's screen isn't so tiny that it's going to cause a lot of squinting. After I took a very crisp picture of another reporter testing out a mini, I decided to email it to her to test how easy it was to use the keyboard on the smaller screen. No problem there. Best of all, the iPad Mini can be held in one hand and is about half the weight of the larger iPad.

The Mini worked so much like my standard iPad that it immediately caused me to have second thoughts about a decision I thought I had already made. I like my iPad 2 a lot, but it's just too big to carry with me wherever I am. But there have been times I really wish I had it with me, like when I spot something that would make a great picture or when I've needed to check something on the Web. For various reasons, I didn't want a smartphone that would require a data plan, so I had my mind set on buying the latest iPod Touch, which has an iPhone-size screen and superb camera.

Now, the iPad mini has me vacillating. Apple isn't making it easier with its pricing strategy. The latest iPod Touch with 32 gigabytes sells for $299. An iPad Mini with 16 gigabytes of storage sells for $329. I'm tempted.

Like others who will no doubt be weighing the same decision, I'll have to make up my mind. Do I want something that can fit in my one of pant pockets like the Touch? For starters, it comes in more colors than the black-or-white Mini and offers more storage capacity for a cheaper price.

Or do I want to pay a little more for another tablet computer that can slip into a coat pocket and offer a richer experience with a screen nearly two times larger than the new Touch?

The iPad mini is so mighty that I can't believe the iPad 2 will be on the market too much longer. The iPad 2's $399 price now looks like too much, given that the iPad mini can do just about everything it does on a slightly smaller screen. The iPad 2 still may have some appeal for people who want a larger tablet at a lower price the newest iPads, but I can't see too many consumers buying Apple's second-generation tablet now that the mini is available.

Consumers who aren't set on buying one of Apple's devices will have even more choices to make. The iPad mini is clearly aimed at siphoning sales away from the Nexus 7 tablet that Google Inc. began selling four months ago and the longer-established Kindle Fire from Amazon.com Inc. Figuring out which one is best-suited for you (or that special someone on your shopping list) will likely come down to weighing price against performance.
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Rapidsoftsystems-- A software and Hardware development Caompany, USA

Amazon is sells a Kindle Fire HD with 16 gigabytes of storage and 7-inch screen for $199 and a similarly sized Nexus 7 goes for $249. That means an iPad mini will cost $80 to $130 more, a price that Apple believes is justified because it boasts more features, such as front and back cameras. The mini's reliance on aluminum instead of plastic for its exterior also makes it look more stylish and more enjoyable to hold.

If the speculation on technology blogs pans out, Google might make things even more interesting and dizzying for holiday shoppers by introducing a $99 version of the Nexus 7 in the coming weeks.
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Rapid Tracker: The Most Advanced Location Tracking Application

Rapid Tracker is one of the best apps on the market that helps us and our close ones stay safe, and the same goes for our material possessions. This app is widely used, and by a very large audience and the reasons for using it are various. It is not spying on people that this app is mostly used for, but rather for knowing where your loved ones are in case they get lost, or you need to get in contact with them for whatever reason. The app, Rapid Tracker, is a real work of art in terms of technology, as it has so many features that are to help you track things and people. Status checking with photos, Geo tagging, and emergency alerts, only to mention a few – Rapid Tracker has many useful features you will love. Rapid Tracker is very useful to make life easier and protected.



How Rapid Tracker Works

If the previous paragraph fired a spark in your mind, and if for any reason you think you can benefit from using Rapid Tracker, you are probably wondering how this app works. In all truth, this app works very simply – it works based on the GPS installed on the phone of the person being monitored, so you know where they are at all times. The app also has Geo tagging, which when put in simple words, is a particular territory. You have Geo-points, and these you can use to mark the locations your loved ones go to on a daily basis. Should they go outside the Geo-tagged area, an emergency alert is sent to you.


Track Your Children with Rapid Tracker

In most cases, parents use Rapid Tracker to help them know the exact location of their children. When young, kids can easily get lost, and this is where the app should show its power. It should help you find your kid and bring them home safely. How many times has it happened to you that your kid stayed over at their friend’s and forgot to tell you about their little side trip? In these cases, you don’t have to worry about the terrible things that could have happened to your little one, as with Rapid Tracker, you can eliminate all those worries from your head, knowing exactly where they are.


Let’s track your Friends and create your own group in your School or College

Apart from tracking your friends, Rapid Tracker provides facility to create a group of your friends and give it a Name. Rapid Tracker provides friends or family vault, a secure area for the friends and family. Rapid Tracker have added many exciting collaboration services be it to share your data like pictures, Audio and Video Messaging or Share Calendar and Event Reminders, share meeting place reminders, Party reminder, Movie show reminder within your own friend’s group.


What Are Other Uses of Rapid Tracker?

It is not only kids that need to be tracked – adults, especially teenagers, need to be watched over all the time. For example, let’s say you forbade your teenage daughter from using your car, and left for work. In case she breaks the rules and decides to take the car, you will surely know about this. Aside from this, in case you are wondering whether your spouse is being faithful to you, you can also find out where he or she is going, and whether there are any reasons for suspicion.


The application is also useful for business owner to track sales persons, just need to install the application in their device (iPhone, Blackberry, Android and J2ME) and you can monitor the real time location of sales person to know if he is at right place? Their current location will always be visible to you. Rapid tracker also provides collaboration features like you can communication with sales person by its in-app chat module; you can share files, share status reports with your business person. You can see where employee is now, where they’ve been, even how fast they’re driving. And you can set up email or text alerts when employees speed or go off-route. This will allow you to better utilize your field staff, manage shifts and other work assignments.  App is itself a tracking and communication platform.

For more details contact at support@rapidprotect.com



What Are Rapid Tracker’s Features?

This app has a lot of cool features, and we have already mentioned a few. What we haven’t discussed yet is the option of logging on to your computer and watching the activity of the person being tracked. Also, you are, of course, staying connected, and with this app you can post your status on Facebook, Twitter, and so forth.


Conclusion

All in all, Rapid Tracker is an amazing app, and if you worry too much about where your close ones are, you should not waste a second more and install the app on their and your phone, as you will surely worry a lot less.

App is available at all major mobile platforms, below are the links to download the app:
Website link: http://www.rapidprotect.com/product-rapid-tracker.php
iPhone App link: http://itunes.apple.com/in/app/rapidtracker/id508441139?mt=8
Android App link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rapidsoft.rapidtracker
Blackberry App link: http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/screenshots/123150/?lang=en
Symbian app link: http://www.rapidprotect.com/rapid_tracker_symbian.php

Apple iOS 6.0.1 may be on its way

At the iPhone 5 event, Apple showcased some of the new features that would come with its next major operating system. A few days later, this OS was released to the masses and it was reported that in the two weeks it had been out, more than 60 percent of iPhones had been updated to this latest mobile operating software, iOS 6. From the looks of it, an update to the software may be on its way in the near future and that Apple has already begun testing iOS 6.0.1 with various carrier partners in the US.

Apart from this, the author states that the reliable source within Apple who has informed him about this update has also stated that Apple has already started testing iOS 6.1. The author notes that it is not likely that Apple will sell the iPad mini with iOS 6.1 preinstalled but if it does happen then they will issue a release to other devices at a later date.
Rapidsoftsystems-- A software and Hardware development Caompany, USA

The biggest announcement by Apple at its event held earlier this month, apart from the iPhone 5, was iOS 6. The new version of the operating system comes packed with many features and is now officially available for download on the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. Apple has dropped iOS 6 support for the first generation iPad. iOS 6 can be downloaded directly on to your device through an over the air update, or you could let iTunes do your work for you by letting it download the update and install it on your iOS device.

One of the biggest changes to the operating system is the addition of Apple’s own Maps app, which has replaced Google Maps on iOS. The new Maps app has a built-in search for local points of interest, with over 100 million possible suggestions. Other features of the Maps app are navigation, routing, 3D Maps, satellite imagery – that wraps around the 3D Maps – and the ability to get directions directly through Siri.

Speaking of Siri, the virtual assistant has got some updates too. The new Siri update gives it the ability to display scores and rankings of your favourite sports teams, the ability to launch apps directly through Siri, and integration with the movie review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes.
RapidPRotect-- A best family tracking mobile app

Safari has also received a major update – the ability to go full screen on the device by touching the arrows on the corners. Another major feature of the new Safari app is the ability to sync tabs between the desktop and iOS versions of Safari. This new feature is called iCloud Tabs. The new Mail app has also received some updates, including the ability to mark people as VIPs and the ability to flag certain mails for follow-ups.

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MobiPixie Review: Photography goes Social

As smartphones get increasingly advanced, we have become more dependent on our mobile phone cameras for clicking pictures and capturing memorable moments.

Photo-sharing apps are great, not just at an individual level, but are great tools that small businesses can leverage as well. It’s a superb way for businesses to connect with their consumers and keep them updated about the latest products being launched. Businesses can use mobipixie to create to connect and engage with their customers.


A Tool For Small Businesses

Small businesses can benefit by using photo-sharing apps to create personalized e-cards for their customers and build a better rapport with their top clients. With Mobipixie they can also build their brand value by incorporating product pictures or behind the scenes pictures in their e-cards.



The app makes creating attractive e-cards and sharing them with customers cost-effective and easy.

How Does MobiPixie Work?

The mobile app, MobiPixie, takes this a step further, letting users share the photos they click with their social networks and even design custom greeting cards with these photos. With this app, users can now share with their social networks pictures they click almost instantaneously, letting their world know what all they see and experience.


What’s So Great About The App?

It’s a cloud-based solution that lets users manage their photos more conveniently through their phones, and share them with social groups that they can create. The best thing about these social groups is that users have complete control over which users in their networks get to view their photos.

It’s also a social network in itself, where users can find their friends or invite friends to join, and even search for photos uploaded by their friends. The app also comes with an inbuilt Flash-based tool that lets users design their own greeting cards using the photos they click. Users can edit the images while creating the greeting cards and even add their own personalized messages to the cards.These cards can be shared directly with other users as e-cards or printed out to be used as regular greeting cards. One of the best features about the app is the integration with Facebook so that users can directly post these greeting cards onto their friends’ walls.

The Downside

The only downside we could find in the app is the limitation in terms of enhancing the images clicked. In the age of Instagram where users can apply automatic filters and effects to bring out the best in their images, we only wish MobiPixie could also let users magically enhance their images in a similar manner. Hopefully, that’s something the developers’ team is working on and we can find auto-effects in the upcoming versions of this app.

MobiPixie is also available as a web application, and although originally designed as an Android app, has recently been made available to iPhone users as well. The development team has also announced that BlackBerry users will soon get this app as well.
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How not to miss calls and annoy people?

Mobile phones can extremely annoying sometimes. Recently, I was travelling by public transport and selected the loudest ring possible not to miss an important interview call. Obviously that wasn't a problem, it actually started when I was late for a meeting at office and just rushed into the board room with a baggage of file. Bang, within minutes my phone started to play a crazy loud tone which I had selected earlier for the noisy location. I lost two things that day, that interview call and my job. Well of course phone was not the only reason, my boss was anyways not too happy with me but that loud ring just gave him a chance to say ‘You’re Fired’. Ya pretty much like movies.

I decided two things coming back to home. One, I am never going to get fired because of the phone, imagine what would happen if it rings like that in a funeral? I guess somebody would slap me. And two, that I needed a new job. So I googled both. Finding job was the tricky part in those tough times but I got solution for my other problem. No Missed Call Ever sounds like more of a recording thing that takes you calls but it’s actually a cool app. I never knew that phones can be so smart that they’ll adjust volume according to the ambiance  Well on second thoughts, phones are not. Actually this app makes my phone so smart.

So I read the description of this app, which sounded kinda cool to me, and decided to give it a try. Obviously I didn’t have anything on the job front. I found that this app actually works with everything including incoming phone calls, texts, emails, and chat messages. It overrides the phone’s ringer and detects the incoming call or message and selects the best ring volume according to the noise around me. I have no idea how this app does that but who cares unless I get what I want. But I wish I had it before losing the job, anyways a lesson learned.

No MissedCall Ever is a likeable app with the user friendly interface and all. It provides easy options to choose from the five predefined settings of volume and rings. Of course you can also choose the pre-downloaded ringtones too. But I also got a complementary package of some cool and extremely loud ringtones for those crowdy places. You also get to select same setting for calls, texts and emails or dedicated settings of ring and volume. Plus it can be a wonderful gift for your mom and girlfriend who just don’t pick up phones because the phone is stuffed somewhere in the handbag choking to say I’m Ringing, Please Pick me up! This app understands when you keep phone in pockets or handbags and would adjust the volume accordingly. Unfortunately my girlfriend still can’t use the app. She has an android and No Missed Call Ever would take some time to reach to the android market. Nevertheless, my BB supports it and I’ll wait for the android version too. 
RapidPRotect-- A best family tracking mobile app
Rapidsoftsystems-- A software and Hardware development Caompany, USA