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  • The New Sharp’s 70-Inch THX 4K-Certified Ultra HD TV Hits US Market At $7.5k

    In June, Sharp ventured into the 4K market with the release of the new AQUOS 4K Ultra HD TV. This was the world’s first officially THX-Certified Ultra HD TV. The release of this HDTV was a huge deal for sharp, although it was delayed for some few weeks.

    THX 4K Certification means that sharp’s new LC70UD1U is the first UHDTV to go out of its way to integrate ultra high-definition (UHD) with amazing picture quality. Sharps entry into the 4KTV is looking as promising as Samsung, LG, and Sony.

    The Company has a revolutionary technology that converts HD content into 4K resolution. The TV also features other amazing features such as WiFi connectivity, dual-core processor, as well as Sharp’s SmartCentral smart TV platform. This platform allows users to stream directly from services such as YouTube, Hulu Plus, Netflix and Pandora.

    Other amazing features of the new AQUOS 4K Ultra HDTV include a split-screen function which allows users to access the Internet and watch TV simultaneously. It also has an on the screen function for services such as Twitter, Facebook and Skype. The HDTV also has six-speaker sound, as well as Sharp’s proprietary DuoBass subwoofer system, which releases 35 watts of sound.

    The LC-70UD1 also has features such as AquoMotion 240 technology, wallpaper mode, two USB ports as well as an inbuilt SD card reader.

  • Z30 – Blackberry’s New Flagship Smartphone


    Blackberry has launched the Z30 as its flagship smartphone as it tries to capture back market share amid an uncertain future. Blackberry was once a pioneer in the smartphone arena but it has now indicated that it is weighing its options.

    The much anticipated Z30 is poised to take the crown from the previous Z10 as Blackberry’s top of the line device. It was launched at an event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The touch screen device features a five inch display as well as a 1.7 gigahertz processor. It is set to compete with the iPhone 5C, Samsung galaxy S4 as well as other android powered devices. 

    Wells Fargo analyst Maynard Um has indicated that the success of the Z30 will be based on the pricing, carrier ability as well as the pace of consumer adoption. Blackberry has for long been targeting to make Blackberry 10 the 3rd most popular operating system. However, Microsoft’s windows phone platform is poised to clinch this position.

    Although Blackberry’s new devices have received a good reception from consumers, many analysts think that it does not have the financial heft to fight off competition from the industry giants.

    Blackberry has indicated that the new Z30 smartphone will be available in stores in the UK and Middle East within the next few weeks. It will go on sale in selected retailers in other regions within the year.

  • Bentley Walker Soon to Cover Libya


    Bentley Walker is planning to extend its service coverage to Libya. The company will make use of the Ka-band VSAT broadband platform provided by Newtec. The MDM2200 IP Satellite Modem will be used to deploy the services.

    The new high speed broadband service is expected to be commissioned on 26th September. It will provide high speed broadband Internet across Libya through the Newtec IP Broadband HUB (Sat3Play), which is installed in Cyprus at the Makarios Teleport. It will also utilize the Avanti’s HYLAS 2 Ka-band capacity that was launched in August 2012.

    Poor terrestrial infrastructure, compounded by complex geography has meant that satellite based broadband internet is the only source of high speed solution in Libya. The region has a promising opportunity since it is covered by HYLAS 2.

     The new high speed internet is designed for consumers as well as SME and B2B. The service is 2 way and the high throughput terminals are able to support a wide range of IP based services.

    Serge Van Herck, CEO of Newtec indicated that the company is pleased to work with Bentley to deliver the new service for the region. He also intimated that Newtec’s VSAT terminals have the capacity of reducing costs while maintaining high quality and enhancing the optimal links for the end users.

  • RightScale to Control Virtual Networks after Expansion Drive


    RightScale is a gateway tool that allows users to use a single console to spin up storage and computing resources from multiple providers. The company has announced that it is planning to integrate an advanced networking control feature.

    Carl Brooks of the 451 Research Group indicated that the network manager is a natural advancement of the company’s product strategy. It can also be termed as a significant advancement in easing the process of creating cloud computing features. He indicated that network configuration needs an automation since it has been a largely hand driven process.

    Brooks indicated that networking is extremely hard compared to virtual machines that can be scaled up or down, stopped or paused. Many providers give public or private IPs to customers and a VPN tunnel. However, the process of deployment and management varies from one provider to the other. Some providers make use of APIs while others need a manual setup. Brooks indicated that a system that can sit between this complexity and the customers is very much welcomed.

    RightScale says that the network manager will provide an abstraction of network constructs across the clouds. It will provide a common user interface to access the different resources for Amazon, Google, Microsoft and CloudStack.

    RightScale has indicated that the initial release will be for Amazon web servers, which has the largest market share in cloud provision. The company is hoping to add the network manager in other providers.

  • Samsung Unleashes its 55-Inch Curved OLED TV on European Market for 7999 Euros


    Tech giants Samsung and LG are at their usual sparring again. As expected, Samsung was not one to trail behind LG for long in terms of its curved OLED debut in Europe.

    As of yesterday, anyone in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Italy, Belgium, Austria or Switzerland can now take home the 55-inch flawless curved OLED screen for only 7,999 Euros. This is about $10,697 and a full grand less than the similarly-sized though not flat display recently launched by LG.

    Samsung Electronics is aiming for a full-scale market penetration of its premium TV. The OLED TV boasts a state-of-the-art performance and perfect picture quality, so it will be bringing both future HDTV technology and artistic flair to consumers. The product is set to be launched at major electronics consumer events across Europe, one of the most prominent being the Trade IFA 2013 held in Berlin, Germany.

    As the Samsung screen hits the stores, it should give LG a fair running for its domination with its 55-inch OLED TV.

  • Amazon Upgrades its Virtual Private Cloud Technology with IP Configurability


    Amazon Web Services has extended IP configurability across its virtual private cloud technology hence giving developers more control over how they configure IP addresses for rented virtual machines within the cloud.

    Announced last week on Wednesday, this advance means that admins now have greater IP allocation options in the premier cloud technology. They can choose whether to allocate public IP addresses to rented virtual machines when instances are deployed in their default Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) subnet or not. It also means they are allowed to give instances in non-default subnets public IPs preceding launch.

    Amazon's Management Console supports this public IP feature, so GUI aficionados will be granted access to the features during the instance creation wizard via tickboxes.

    The capabilities of these changes bring with them potential uses in isolation of apps from each other through separate subnet placement, for example, and allocation of a separate public IP to each in order to feed out separately to the Internet.

    With all VM instances functioning within a VPC, developers are getting a more controllable network substrate and – theoretically – an easier-to-handle security model. The changes come as the company is in the process of elevating VPC to the default AWS environment. This makes the default operating environment for every new elastic compute (EC2) instance a private network.

  • Will the Newly Released iPhone 5c Appeal to Emerging Markets?


    According to a report published by USA TODAY, many analysts are skeptical that the iPhone 5c will have huge sales in the emerging markets. Just a day after the release of the high-end iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5c (the cheaper one of the two), analysts are still concerned with the iPhone 5c retail prices. Without a contract, the phone is set to sell at $549 and $99 with a two-year contract.

    This Wednesday, Apple shares finished at $467.71, $26.93 down, amidst fears that the tech company might have placed a  very high cost on iPhone 5c, hence failing to capture the emerging markets. Michael Walkley, an analyst at Canaccord says that while the specifications of the 5c and 5s did not fall far from expectations, the price of the 5c was too far from what he expected.

    In recent years, Apple has lost ground to Samsung, Huawel and other android supported handsets that sell at cheaper prices and still offer ideal smartphone features. This concept is ideally true in emerging markets , especially in developing countries where use of smartphones is quickly becoming the norm. It is without a doubt that the iPhone 5c was specifically designed and manufactured to appeal to people in the emerging markets. However, with such a high price, we can only wait and see what fate has in store for the beautiful, features ladened phone.

  • Use WiFi VoIP Through Your Cell Phone with CSipSimple Android App

    It is possible to use your cell phone as a VoIP phone through various apps. CSipSimple is an Android based app that enables cell phones to handle VoIP calls. Whenever a VoIP call is made, an answering screen comes in that is distinguishable from the normal calls. The dialer for VIP calls is also different from the normal calls.

    The setup process is simple and straight forward. It is recommended that you use the basic setup and configure the device to only be available on the WIFI network. This means that the device automatically picks the local network whenever it becomes available. Whenever you are in an area without WIFI, all calls go to voice mail. This ensures that you are not disturbed by office calls while you are at home.

    On an iPhone, you may use Zoiper, which has equally good functionality. The app is also available on android in case you need to standardize the software on different applications. The applications provide you with a convenient and unique opportunity to with workmates within the office network.

  • Everything Apple Announced at Yesterday's iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c Event


    During yesterday's event that took place in Cuperino, Apple has finally unveiled the long-awaited new iPhones: iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c. 

    Apple's CEO Tim Cook kick-started the event, of course in his trademark uniform of a black button-up shirt and dark jeans. Most of the announcements he made seem directed at beating Google's Android platform at having the market share in new markets. The Android platform has been having a fast growth in emerging markets, especially Asia, and Apple now appears to have rededicated its efforts to penetrate these markets and expand its customer base.

    The highlights of the event were:

    • Launch of two new iPhones: iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S
    • iOS 7 release date announcement
    • iWork updates
    • Siri upgrade

    Apple Introduces 2 New iPhones

    Apple reached a new level of its iPhone business with the iPhone 5, and we have been expecting even better ever since. In the past, the release of a new iPhone has been accompanied by lowering of the price of the previous device. However, this year prices for iPhone 5 remain the same as it is replaced with two new designs.

    The two iPhones, iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S, will be available for pre-order on September 20. It is expected that they will be available in China too.

    iPhone 5S: Apple's New Flagship Phone

    The iPhone 5S has been labeled "the most forward-thinking phone ever made” even before it hits the stores. It is similar to the iPhone 5 in size and thickness, and it's available in three colors: gold, gray, and silver. It is made of high-grade aluminum, which Apple’s marketing chief Philip Schiller called "the gold standards in smartphones."

    The most outstanding thing about the iPhone 5S is its speed. With a 64-bit A7 chip – the first phone ever to use this kind of chip – the new iPhone has speeds that are 40 times greater than those of the first iPhone. The graphics power is also impressive; looking at the phone feels like looking on a PC gaming device.

    Battery life has been improved from iPhone 5. With the iPhone 5S, the battery can last 10 hours 3G talk time and its standby life is 250 hours. Monitoring motion will also be possible thanks to the new Apple M7 chip. It bears similarity to the X8 computing system used by Motorola for its Moto X. With this chip, app makers will be able to detect movement of the users throughout the day, like the total number of steps they take. It also saves on battery.

    The camera system has also been improved. It features an f.2.2 aperture for better night photos. It also features a dual-LED rear-camera flash for better photos in low light. This type of flash – dual-LED flash – extends the distance of the camera flash. Other new features are a 10 frames-per-second burst mode and a slow-motion video for 120 frames-per-second recording.

    As rumored, the home button for the screen is a fingerprint scanner Apple calls Touch ID. The security of the iPhone has just become better with Touch ID because you no longer have to worry about forgetting the passcode for the phone or go through the hassle of typing in a series of numbers just to get a weather update. You use Touch ID by clicking on the home button and holding down the finger for a couple seconds. It can read a finger at any angle and you can even teach it to recognize multiple fingers to allow other people access to the phone. In case you are concerned about security, Touch ID can be turned off.

    The iPhone 5S will be available for a two-year contract at a cost of $199 for 16 gigabytes, $299 for 32 gigabytes, and $399 for 64 gigabytes.

    iPhone 5C: Candy-Colored and Cheaper

    The iPhone 5C comes as was predicted, with a plastic body and 5 new bright colors: red, white, green, blue, and yellow. The face of the phone is black and no seams, joints or flat lines are visible even with close inspection. The inside also features a new construction. There is a 4-inch retina display, 8 megapixel camera, and a new FaceTime camera.

    Regarding cell service, Schiller said “It supports more LTE bands than any smartphone in the world.”

    The phone comes with a two-year contract at a cost of $99 for the 16 gigabytes version and $199 for the 32 gigabytes version. The predicted full price by analysts is $55o
    .
    Being the less expensive iPhone, it is expected that the iPhone 5C will be Apple's flag bearer in a number of emerging markets where the majority of customers cannot afford the current Apple products. These markets have hundreds of millions of people buying smartphones every year. They include China, India, and Russia.

    iOS 7 Coming Sept. 18

    The iOS 7, showcased earlier in June at the Worldwide Developers Conference, was unveiled today. It brings over 200 new features among them a design that makes the iPhone screen seem totally new. This design sports stark open white space that will be a welcome sight for users who want a the calming effect of white. With the thin iconography and the flat new design, iOS 7 is a far cry from its 1980s-era skeuomorphic.

    One of the features of iOS 7 is a live streaming music service Apple calls the iTunes Radio. Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president for software engineering, said that there are also several apps being developed around the new interface. A demo of the new Camera app showed that its speed beats that of the app in iOS 6. A slick user interface allows zooming out to a year view, with the user's photos showing in tiny icons. There is also built-in access to live photo filters and new organization capabilities for images by time and location.

    The new operating system is laden with processor-intense features and it offers full multitasking capabilities. This could adversely affect the battery life of iPhone 4S and other older iPhones, but we wait to see. Apple has maintained that this will be the most popular mobile OS.

    According to Federighi, “iOS 7 will be available — unbelievably, for free — on Sept. 18.”

    Shipping of the operating system will begin next month to iOS device users, making 700 million devices new for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch users.

    At Last Siri Receives an Upgrade

    Apple has made this year Siri's year in the spotlight. The company released an upgrade for the popular voice-activated digital assistant so that iPhone users can get an improved Siri experience. The upgrade features a new male voice. There are also a number of new voice commands that include searching on a number of sites on the Web like Wikipedia.

    Over the last couple of years, Apple has been hard at work to improve Siri following negative feedback and reviews after he (Siri) could not understand some of the things customers were saying. The upgrade has also been influenced by the competition between Apple and giant rival Google Android operating system's voice command features.

    Apps on iWork Platform Now Free

    Cook also announced a few welcome updates for iWork. iWork is the productivity software for Apple responsible for the apps on iPhones and iPads. Some of these apps include the Keynote, Numbers, and Pages apps.

    Cook said that iPhoto, iMovie, Keynote, Numbers, and Pages were now available for free. Anyone with a new iPhone or iPad will be able to download these apps free of charge.

    He also said of iWork, “No other platform has any apps like these.”

    The London iTunes Festival

    One of the biggest announcements Mr. Cook made was of the iTunes Festival that is taking place in London from 1-30 September. The festival is an annual event that involves 30 nights of free live music performances. This year it unfolds at the Roundhouse art centre and some of the names Cook threw that will be performing were Lady Gaga, the curtain raiser, and Justin Timberlake. Among the other singers making appearances are Katy Perry, Queens of the Stone, and Kings of Leon.

    According to Cook, the concerts will be streamed live in over 100 countries across the world. After the performances, they will also be available on iTunes for free. Users of Apple TV, iPhones, iPads, iPod touch, and laptops will therefore not miss out on anything even if they don't make it to London. The number that has already applied for tickets to the event is so far 20 million.

    Cook also pointed out to Apple's retail growth by announcing a new Apple store that boasts a museum-like appearance with glass on three sides. Stanford, California is home to the store, which opened last weekend.

  • VMware Embraces Cyborg Cloud by Adding Cloud Foundry to its vCHS


    A while ago VMware made news by tossing out its open source platform as-a-service cloud initiative into a spin-off dubbed Pivotal. This was alongside other tech products like Spring, Greenplum Database, and GemFire.

    In an announcement at VMworld, San Francisco, on Monday, the virtualization company revealed that among the key components it would be tapping into for its upcoming cloud is Pivotal's Cloud Foundry. The company announced that VMware's upcoming vCloud Hybrid Service cloud will come with the platform as-a-service wired atop it.

    For VMware customers, this means they will now be capable of creating their own cyborg clouds whose underlay is the VMware vCloud Hybrid Service (vCHS) and overlay is a Pivotal CF. Pivotal CF is designed to work with both vCHS and vSphere, and it will deliver access for customers to an enterprise support contract.

    Support for Cloud Foundry is set to become available in the fourth quarter of 2013.