Seagate Wireless Plus review

Seagate recently announced two new products in the Indian market. While Seagate Central is designed to be the storage hub of your home/ small office network, Seagate Wireless Plus aims to offer portable, wireless storage on the go. At Rs. 16,000 for 1TB storage, Seagate Wireless Plus may sound expensive and the question is, do you get enough value in return? Let's find out.

Design/ Setup

Seagate Wireless Plus looks like any other portable hard disk from the outside, although it's slightly wider and heavier in order to accommodate the extra circuitry needed to provide wireless access and power backup. It comes with two indicator lights - a charging/ low battery indicator, and the broadcast LED that lights up when the drive is ready to accept Wi-Fi connections.

The drive comes with just the power button on one side and a proprietary charging connector on the other. The bundled charger is rated at 5V/ 2A, and it takes a little over 3 hours to fully charge the hard disk when it has no juice left. The drive can also be charged via USB, but that takes considerably longer.

Setting up the drive is pretty simple, thanks to the accompanying Quick Start Guide. Switch on the power button and wait for the broadcast LED to turn from blinking to solid blue. Though the Quick Start Guide says this may take up to a minute, in our experience this took less than 15 seconds every time we powered on the drive.

Next step is to download the Seagate Media app from App Store or Google Play on to your iPhone, iPod touch, iPad or Android smartphone. Once the app is installed, do not launch it right away, and first connect your device to the Wi-Fi network titled Seagate Wireless. Once you're connected, launch the app, where a brief tutorial will walk you through all the essentials.

In case you are wondering how you are supposed to stay connected with the world if you are connected to this Wi-Fi network, there's mixed news. If you are near a Wi-Fi network (say office or home), you can configure your Wireless Plus to connect to this Wi-Fi connection and you can continue to enjoy Internet access, even as you are hooked to the Seagate drive. However, if you are on the move, which is very likely given this is a portable drive, you're out of luck, since you'll be unable to use your phone's 2G/ 3G data connection while you're connected to the Wireless Plus over Wi-Fi. You could solve this by getting a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot, but that's a topic for another day.

You can connect your PC/ Mac to the Wireless Plus over Wi-Fi or via USB, just like any other hard disk (USB 3.0 is supported), and load up on media. Transfer speeds are average; comparable to other regular portable drives. The hard disk is pre-formatted with NTFS but you can format it as HFS if you will be using it only on a Mac. If you'll use it on a PC as well as a Mac, or just PC, leave the drive as it is. Seagate has wisely bundled a copy of Paragon NTFS that Mac users can install to write to this drive, even if it¹s NTFS-formatted. If this sounds like jargon, you probably don¹t need to worry about this stuff at all - Seagate installer will guide you through the steps when you connect the drive for the first time.

Usage/ Performance

The Seagate Media app on your mobile device is at the centre-stage of your Wireless Plus experience. The app lets you browse the content of your Wireless Plus under tabs titled Videos, Photos, Music and Documents. The app plays most popular video formats, though it has to download stuff from the Internet to enable playback for some formats, which it does with minimum fuss. We were able to stream two full-HD movies simultaneously off the drive without experiencing any sort of buffering delays.

The Music player comes with playlist support, while Photos let you view slideshows, amongst other things. Documents lets you browse other kinds of files, though you must have third-party apps installed on the device to view/ edit them. The iOS app comes with AirPlay support to stream movies/ music to Apple TV, Airport Express or other AirPlay-compliant devices.

You can even upload stuff from the mobile device to the hard disk, from within the app. For example, we used the app to backup the precious photos we clicked on the iPhone straight to the drive, all over Wi-Fi.

The app comes with a host of settings that let you control the drive. For starters, there's an option to password-protect the Seagate Wireless Wi-Fi network (recommended) or to change the network name (SSID). You can also check for firmware updates, or even restart the drive or put it to sleep - very handy, if the drive is sitting, say, when you are done watching the movie and the drive is sitting in your backpack. The app also informs you about the number of clients that are connected to the drive right now and the amount of juice remaining in the drive.

Seagate rates Wireless Plus at 10 hours of usage, though we got around 6 hours of continuous video playback to a single wireless client with default settings. There's also a Stream and Download mode, on by default, that copies the entire movie at one go and puts the drive in sleep mode, preserving battery life. However, this didn't seem to work for very big files like full-HD content.

Seagate claims that up to 3 users can stream videos from the Wireless Plus simultaneously, while it can accept a total of 8 wireless connections (for, say, browsing the contents of the drive or viewing pictures). We tested both claims and found them to be true.

However, the Seagate Media app is not without its quirks. Some of the icons aren't exactly intuitive, for example, it took us a while to figure out how to select items for copying, since the icon intended for this is the one that usually means 'Share' in iOS. The app, while it does the job, is unlikely to win any design awards. Further, the Android version of the app doesn't always do a very good job remembering the position you were at in a movie when you switch away. We switched away the app for a few seconds to answer an urgent email, and came back to find the app stuttering for a while, only to start playing the movie from the beginning. On other occasions, it worked as expected, and resumed the movie from where we left.

Seagate Wireless Plus comes with DLNA support, so DLNA compatible players should be able to stream content straight off the box. As expected, the Gallery app on our HTC One X+ instantly recognised the Wireless Plus as a Media Server. Though Seagate ships only iOS and Android apps, you can browse the contents of the drive from virtually any device, by pointing your browser to the drive. This way you can play videos on your Nokia, BlackBerry or Windows Phone device, provided the browser supports playing videos in that format.

Verdict

Seagate Wireless Plus is the successor to the company's popular GoFlex Satellite drive, and an improvement in all respects, including twice the storage (1TB compared to 500GB), increased battery life (rated at 10 hours compared to 7 hours for GoFlex Satellite), improved range (80 metres compared to 45 metres) and is more compact than its predecessor. The drive is the first portable, wireless storage option in India to offer 1TB of storage, and we recommend it to anyone looking to carry a massive media collection on the move.

U.S. talks with Taliban likely to take place within 'next few days': U.S. official...

Muhammad Naeem (2nd R), a spokesman for the Office of the Taliban of Afghanistan, 
stands next to a translator speaking during the opening of the Taliban Afghanistan 
Political Office in Doha June 18, 2013.


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. talks with the Taliban are likely to be held within the "next few days" in Qatar, a senior U.S. official said on Wednesday, after delays caused by tensions over the naming of a new Taliban office in the capital, Doha.

A senior U.S. official told Reuters on Tuesday the talks would take place on Thursday.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on Wednesday his government would not join the peace talks with the Taliban, angered by a banner on the front of the new offices referring to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the name the Taliban used during their rule.

Later, a statement from Karzai's office said the banner had been taken down.

Obama job approval unchanged, views of economy improve...

President Barack Obama smiles during a dinner hosted by 
German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the Chralottenburg Castle 


President Barack Obama's job approval rating slipped slightly to 49 percent in June despite controversies over National Security Agency surveillance and the IRS targeting of conservative groups, according to a new poll from the non-partisan Pew Research Center. Oh, and fewer Americans are using the word "socialist" as a one-word description for Obama now than in early 2009, Pew found.

Obama's job approval was 51 percent in May, Pew said. And the proportion of Americans disapproving of the job he's doing stayed steady at 43 percent in both May and June.

While just 11 percent of Americans in 2012 said the economy was in excellent or good shape, that number has surged to 23 percent—the highest level since January 2008, Pew found. Thirty-five percent say the economy will get better one year from now, against 19 percent who say things will be worse. In March, more respondents said it would be worse (32 percent) than better (25 percent).

Still, 64 percent of respondents said jobs are difficult to find in their communities, against 29 percent who said there were plenty of opportunities.

Obama's handling of the economy was still underwater: 44 percent approved, against 50 disapproving. Americans are split 35-35 on whether his policies have made things better, while 27 percent say they've had no effect.

Pew has kept track of one-word descriptions for the president. In April 2009, the top five were, in descending order: "Intelligent," "good," "socialist," "liberal," "great." In September 2012, they were "good/good man," "trying/tried/tries," "president," "failed/failure" and "incompetent," with "socialist" coming in the 11th slot. In June 2013, the top terms were "good/good man," "incompetent," "honest," "liar" and "excellent," with "socialist" coming in the 8th slot. No word on what percentage accurately recall the definition of "socialist."

Obama's approval ratings on his handling of terrorism and his approach to civil liberties capture the American public's own mixed message on government surveillance. Fifty-six percent approve of his handling of terrorism, against 35 percent disapproving. When it comes to civil liberties, though, 42 percent approve while 51 percent disapprove.

Overall, the poll had an error margin of 2.9 percentage points.

And ‘The Voice’ Season 4 Winner Is…

Golden girl Danielle Bradbery made history on Tuesday night's "Voice" finale, becoming the youngest contestant to ever win the series. The 16-year-old country sweetheart also made her coach Blake Shelton, who turned 37 on Tuesday, a very happy birthday boy, giving him another reason to celebrate as he scored his third "Voice" victory in a row.

Danielle was so overcome with happy tears upon hearing the news, she could barely sing her victory song, "Born to Fly." Instead, she spent most of the performance hugging the coaches, her fellow contestants, and her relatives, as she wept and brushed finale confetti from her flaxen hair.

Danielle's win wasn't unique or historical just because of her youth. Unlike her three predecessors, she didn't come to the competition with tons of professional experience. Season 1 winner Javier Colon had released two albums on Capitol Records; Season 2's Jermaine Paul was a longtime backup singer who'd worked with Alicia Keys and Mary J. Blige; and last season's champion, Cassadee Pope, once fronted Hey Monday, a Warped Tour band signed to Columbia Records. But Danielle was just a regular kid singing in her bedroom before her mom signed her up for "The Voice."

Though it was incredible to believe, considering how poised and polished this country wunderkind always seemed onstage, young Danielle had never given a major public performance before auditioning for "The Voice." And she'd certainly never had any sort of record deal. So this season on "The Voice," a star was truly discovered.

It's easy to imagine Danielle moving on to a massive country-pop crossover career and becoming "The Voice's" most successful winner yet. Her Tuesday duet with teen country darling Hunter Hayes was one of the finale's highlights, and she could very well experience Hunter's level of success someday. (Her impressive iTunes sales throughout this "Voice" season, which helped clinch her win, have already proven her marketability.) But hopefully there will also be record deals down the road for Team Usher's maverick Michelle, who placed second, and Blake's other contestant, country-rock duo the Swon Brothers, who came in third.

Of this season's "Voice" final three, Michelle is probably the one who'd make the most interesting and adventurous records, and her iTunes numbers also indicate that there are many people in America willing to buy the quirky brand of pop-rock that she's selling. As for the Swon Brothers, with their party-hardy vibe and natural likability, they definitely have the potential to forge the same sort of career as, say, breakout country stars Florida Georgia Line, who happened to be one of the many other guest performers on Tuesday's finale.

Congrats to all three contestants on a great "Voice" season! And, oh yeah...CONGRATS TO CHER for being the best finale performer ever and for wearing an amazing wig that'd make even Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green green with envy. That is all.

Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom preview: First look

Introduction

Just taking the photo won't do these days - you'll want to edit and share it, then rake in the likes. Except most cameras pretty much bail out at the snapshot. Not the Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom though, a hybrid of a point-and-shoot with 10x optical zoom and a Galaxy S4 mini. This is Samsung's second such attempt after the Galaxy Camera, which was based on the Galaxy S III.

Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom official photos
The Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom has full telephony features (unlike the Camera), but it's not the most comfortable phone around. Photography is the full-time job here.
A 10x zoom lens with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) sits in front of a 16MP sensor. At the wide end, the lens is the very wide 24mm in 35mm equivalent, the aperture goes from f/3.1 to f/6.3 and there's a mechanical shutter. The Galaxy S4 zoom has a control ring around the lens like some high-end point-and-shoots do, a xenon flash and LED light.
That's just the camera specs, the rest is a full-featured Galaxy S4 mini hardware, including the IR blaster, which can control a projector (the one, most likely, you'd use to show off your photos).

Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom at a glance:

• General: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz; UMTS 850/900/1900/2100 MHz, HSDPA 21 Mbps, HSUPA 5.76 Mbps; LTE (market dependent), Cat3, 50 Mbps UL, 100 Mbps DL
• Form factor: Touchscreen bar phone with optical zoom lens
• Dimensions: 125.5 x 63.5 x 15.4 mm, 208 g
• Display: 4.25" 16M-color qHD (540 x 960 pixels) Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen
• CPU: Dual-core Cortex-A9 1.5 GHz processor, 1.5GB RAM, Mali-400 GPU
• OS: Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)
• Memory: 8 GB (5 GB user available) of inbuilt storage, microSD card slot
• Still Camera: 16 megapixel auto-focus camera with 10x optical zoom and Optical Image Stabilization; xenon flash and LED light; control lens ring
• Video Camera: Full HD (1080p) video recording at 30fps; 720p @ 60fps
• Connectivity: Dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth 4.0+HS, NFC, MHL-enabled standard microUSB port, GPS receiver with A-GPS and GLONASS, 3.5mm audio jack, FM radio, USB-on-the-go
• Battery: 2,330mAh
• Misc: TouchWiz 5.0 Nature UX, XviD codec support, built-in accelerometer, multi-touch input, proximity sensor, gyroscope sensor, smart screen

There are some differences between the Galaxy S4 zoom and the mini but, outside the size, those are insignificant. The chipset is powerful enough to shoot 1080p video at 30fps and 720p at 60fps (same as the Galaxy Camera). Samsung has made sure too that the default camera app is the most advanced we've seen yet, and there are a number of helpful image and video editors among other tools.

Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom in our office
With Android 4.2 you'd be able to install other editors and camera apps too (though these will have to add support for the optical zoom feature). Not to mention all the social networking and other tools for sharing your photos, which can be piped through blazing fast LTE or Wi-Fi, DLNA, MHL or Group Play.
Jump over to the next page for a closer look at the hardware, while we try to avoid any "zooming in" puns.

Sony Xperia Tablet Z review: Stepping up

Introduction

The Xperia Tablet Z gets a prominent spot in a long list of iconic designs by Sony. Easily one of the best looking tablets around, the Z inherits the slim, water-resistant design of its smartphone counterpart, which earns it extra points with the outdoor-loving crowd.

Sony Xperia Tablet Z official images
The angular OmniBalance design is all the more impressive given Sony has managed to shave down the thickness to the mere 6.9mm. Not that it matters much in actual use - this isn't a gadget to put in a pocket, slim or not, but we have been programmed to believe that "thin = cool" and the Tablet Z is keen to take advantage. On a more practical side, the tablet weighs under 500g, at least 100g less than its direct competitors.
The folded magazine design of previous Sony tablets may be gone, but the media playing spirit is not - the Xperia Tablet Z has an IR blaster to control home equipment, alongside a custom Sony music player (Walkman) and a video player with solid DLNA credentials.
Here are the other highs (and lows) on the Sony Xperia Tablet Z spec sheet:

Key features

• 6.9mm slim tablet with IP57 certification, dust and water resistant (up to 1m for 30 minutes)
• 10.1" 16M-color TFT capacitive touchscreen of WUXGA resolution (1920 x 1200 pixels); Sony Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2
• 1.5 GHz quad-core Krait CPU, Adreno 320, 2GB RAM, Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064 chipset
• Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean
• Optional Quad-band GPRS/EDGE, tri-band 3G with HSPA connectivity (HSDPA, 42 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps), penta-band 4G LTE (100Mbps down, 50Mbps up)
• 16GB of built-in memory
• microSD card slot
• 8 MP autofocus camera
• 2.2MP front-facing camera
• 1080p HD video recording @ 30 fps with stereo audio
• Dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspot
• Stereo Bluetooth v4.0
• MHL microUSB 2.0
• • Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
• Infrared port
• GPS with A-GPS support; digital compass
• 1080p MKV and SD XviD/DivX video support
• Accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer
• 6,000mAh Li-Po battery

Main disadvantages

• Runs an older Android version
• Screen has poor outdoor visibility
• Audio output quality is not on par with other tablets on the market
• Uses a previous generation chipset, slightly slower than the current best
• 6,000mAh battery isn't very big for a 10.1" tablet

WUXGA resolution on the 10.1" screen with 224ppi is a lot better than what Samsung have on the Galaxy Note 10.1 (149ppi) and quite close to the iPad 4 screen (264ppi). The chipset and Android OS version are a bit behind the times, but neither is a deal-breaker in our books.
We have to mention the water resistance, of course, which very few tablets have. The Tablet Z's predecessor, the IPX-4 certified Tablet S, was only splash-proof. An IP57 tablet like the Tablet Z on the other hand can withstand water jets and even submersion.

Sony Xperia Tablet Z in our office
Sony has delivered a premium package with the Xperia Tablet Z, at least on paper. Let's dig into the hardware details to see if the claims hold up

Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 review: Walking tall

Introduction

Many - including this website - have complained that only big phones have high-end specs. But there's a flip side to this argument - it's hard to find a big phone with mid-range specs. That's where Samsung's new Galaxy Mega 6.3 comes in. It's big as its name suggests, but aims for the midrange instead of entering the overcrowded high-end arena.

Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 official images
A big screen caters to our flawed human senses - often our eyes value size over resolution and so do our thumbs. So, while the pixel density of the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 screen is no match for the bleeding edge screens on current flagships, many will find it more comfortable to read off the big screen - a nearly 60% more screen real estate is nothing to sneeze at.
The Galaxy Grand is another device that favored display size over specs, but that's in the lower end of the Android spectrum. The Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 on the other hand has respectable specs, not too far off what passed as "flagship" last year.

Key features

• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE; quad-band 3G with HSPA; LTE
• 6.3" 16M-color 720p TFT LCD capacitive touchscreen; 233ppi
• Android OS v4.2.2 Jelly Bean with TouchWiz UI
• Dual-core 1.7GHz Krait CPU, Adreno 305 GPU; Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset
• 1.5GB of RAM
• 8 MP autofocus camera with LED flash, 1080p video recording @ 30fps, continuous autofocus and stereo sound
• 1.9 MP front-facing camera, 1080p video recording
• Drama shot, Shot and sound
• Dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct and DLNA
• GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS
• 8/16GB of built-in storage
• microSD card slot
• microUSB port with USB host and MHL
• Bluetooth v4.0
• NFC
• IR port for remote control functionality
• Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
• Accelerometer and proximity sensor
• Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic
• Ample 3,200mAh battery with great endurance; user replaceable
• 8mm thickness; 199g of weight

Main disadvantages

• Big, even for a phablet
• Resolution on the low side for the screen size
• Midrange performance
• Design is a bit played out by now
• No FM radio
• Shared camera interface makes framing tricky

So, it's not just last year's flagships, the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 borrows from this year's model too - the latest Android version with latest TouchWiz enhancements, IR blaster, Air View, Multi-window and a bunch of other exclusive software goodies.
And while there's no denying it's a big device, it's only slightly bigger than its 6.3" screen. The other measurements - 8mm thickness and 199g of weight are actually pretty slender. It's barely thicker than the Galaxy S4 and weighs only 16g more than the Note II (which is 9.4mm thick).

Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 in our office
The 720p resolution is perhaps lower than some people would have liked, but the 233ppi pixel density is better than that of the Galaxy S II though not quite as good as the one on the Note II (no surprise given the different market segments). And the Snapdragon 400 chipset should be able to hold its own against the top quad-core chipsets of the previous generation like the popular Tegra 3 or Samsung's Exynos 4.
The Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 is a half-step between phones and a 7" tablet. Some say it's too big to use as a phone and too small to be a tablet. Others respond with "you can't slip a tablet in your pants pocket, but the Mega 6.3 just fits." There's certainly evidence in favor of both claims - jump over to the next page to find out which argument prevails as far as hardware is concerned.

Apple iOS 7 review: Evening the odds

Introduction

The last couple of iOS updates were hanging on the wrong side between too little and too late. The user interface is six years old now and while it has been repeatedly polished in every revision so far, it was decidedly starting to look stale. And it's not just a matter of visuals either. iOS 5 brought little to nothing in terms of new features and some would even argue that iOS 6 was actually a step back. It seems though that Apple has found inspiration again and is ready to take the game to the opposition.



The UI that launched on the original iPhone way back in June 2007 has finally been put to rest. Android has stepped up in big strides since Gingerbread to dominate the smartphone game. Meanwhile, Windows Phone keeps bringing new features, and even the conservative BlackBerry broke with the old ways and completely redesigned its platform. It was about time Apple did something different with the iOS.
The iOS 7 is among the largest upgrades the OS has ever been given - not quite the game changer that the iPhone OS 2 and the App Store were, but it certainly took a lot of effort. It not only brings some key new features and a few cool system apps, but it also completely overhauls the user interface and tweaks the right things under the hood.

Key features

• Complete UI overhaul with adaptive colors and system-wide Back swipe gesture
• New system icons and folders, animated icons available
• System-wide parallax effect
• Dynamic wallpapers
• Control Center with toggles, multimedia controls and shortcuts
• Updated Notification Center with three tabs
• All apps multitasking with new card interface
• Updated Safari browser with unified search filed
• iTunes radio
• AirDrop file sharing
• Inclinometer within the Compass app
• Camera filters with live preview and new square mode
• New Photos app with better photo organization, picture editing
• Weather app with live weather animations
• Updated Maps with Night mode and Turn-by-Turn walking directions
• New Siri interface, new supported commands, new voices
• Contact Blacklist
• FaceTime audio
• Activation lock
• Automatic app update
• Cellular data usage breakdown
• Chinese-English, Italian, Korean and Dutch dictionaries
• iOS in the Car coming in 2014 in selected cars

Main disadvantages

• Very iTunes dependent for uploading files and multimedia
• No open file system means you often have to duplicate files
• Limited integration of 3rd party social networks and services
• No widgets
• Air Drop works only between selected iOS 7 or later running devices
• No lockscreen shortcuts (besides those in the Control Center)
• Very basic camera UI with limited features and settings
• Limited codecs support
• iTunes radio only works in the US

The iOS 7 indeed has gone flat, but brings dynamic wallpapers and parallax view to make those flat icons pop to life. Indeed, the parallax effect is one of the few among the newly introduced features that is truly unique to iOS (yes, it is available as an app for Android, but here it's baked right into the OS). There is lots of transparency throughout the iOS, brand-new flat theme, all-new system apps, live icons, and a lot more.
From a functionality perspective, Apple has finally decided to give us connectivity toggles organized within the new Control Center, iTunes radio streaming service, the notification center has been completely redesigned, there is AirDrop for easy sharing between different iOS devices, and even more capable Siri.



Of course, there are still missing features. And while our prayers of an open file system were always likely to remain unanswered, those for better utilization of the lockscreen (with widgets and shortcuts) had a chance. Well, you can't have it all, they say.
The iOS 7 update will be seeded to iPhone 5, 4S and 4; iPad 2, 3, 4 and mini; and iPod Touch 5 generation. But not all features will become available on all devices. We also believe the iOS will be the last upgrade for the iPhone 4 and iPad 2.
To help you quickly identify what you'll be getting on your iPhone, iPad or iPod, we've got a handy table that lets you see everything at a glance.

		Updated Siri	iTunes Radio	AirDrop	Panorama	Square photos	Camera filters	Photo filters
	iPhone 4		•			•		•
	iPhone 4S	•	•		•	•		•
	iPhone 5	•	•	•	•	•	•	•
	iPod touch 5G	•	•	•	•	•	•	•
	iPad 2		•
	iPad 3	•	•			•		•
	iPad 4	•	•	•		•	•	•
	iPad mini	•	•	•		•		•

Enough small talk though, let's get down to it and see what the new iOS is capable of.

Huawei introduces Ascend P6 as "world's slimmest smartphone"

China's Huawei unveiled its flagship smartphone, the Ascend P6, at its first standalone launch event on Tuesday, underlining its ambitions to compete with Apple and Samsung in the top tier of mobile technology.

The company says the device, at 6.18 mm thick, is the world's slimmest. It has a 5 megapixel front-facing camera, designed for taking "selfies", or pictures of the owner to be shared on social media networks.

The company picked the launch date - 6/18 (June 18) - to tie in with the smartphone's dimensions.

The launch, at an arts venue in North London, takes a cue from Apple and Samsung, both of which have made new product announcements at high profile events for a number of years.

Previously Huawei unveiled its handsets at industry trade shows like Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

Huawei, which also makes telecom networking gear, is looking to drive sales of its consumer devices, a sector in which it has only had its own brand for about three years.

The company was the fourth-largest maker of smartphones in the first quarter of 2013, trailing LG Electronics and the two dominant brands Apple and Samsung, according to analyst firm Gartner. The top two sold more than 100 million units between them, while LG sold 10 million and Huawei 9 million, most of which were in its native China.

The Ascend P6 uses Huawei's customised version of Google's Android operating system.

Industry analyst Ben Wood at CCS Insight said that at the right price the Ascend P6 would attract buyers who had not considered Huawei before.

"Huawei P6 is darn thin," he tweeted. But he added that the device was not, at this stage, compatible with the high speed, next generation 4G networks, which are being rolled out across the world.

Carolina Milanesi at Gartner said she would have liked to see a more original design instead of something that tries to position the brand as an alternative to Apple by going with a similar rounded metal design.

Overall it shows that Huawei is working towards their goal of becoming a top brand by 2015, she said.

Bale’s heart of gold. He trademarks sign

 
GARETH BALE is set to make a fortune after trademarking his goal celebration and shirt number.
The ‘Eleven Of Hearts’ logo is the first step in marketing the Tottenham star as a global brand.
And it could see the flying Welshman net over £10million a year in endorsements alone.
Bale has been linked with an £85m move to Real Madrid this summer, which would catapult him into the same league as Bernabeu favourite Cristiano Ronaldo and England legend David Beckham.
Beckham earns more than £26m a year from endorsements, while Ronaldo picks up over £13m for his.
Bale gets around £2m from adidas and has also signed up as a pundit for BT next season, when they will start screening Premier League football.
But his heart ‘logo’, featuring his shirt number 11 at the centre, is set to raise his market appeal around the world.

Brian Banks’ accuser ordered to pay $2.6 million in damages to Long Beach School District

Per multiple reports, Wanetta Gibson, the woman who falsely accused linebacker Brian Banks of rape when they were both students at Long Beach Polytechnic High School, has been ordered to repay $2.6 million in damages related to the $1.5 million she received from the Long Beach School District in a 2007 lawsuit, claiming an unsafe environment. Gibson was sued for the money she received, as well as court costs and a possible $1 million in punitive damages. Gibson was not present at the ruling and her whereabouts are unknown, per the Long Beach Press-Telegram, but the court gained authorization to recoup the money through her future wages and property.
It's important to note that Banks receives none of this money. He served five years in prison and another five years on probation as a result of the original verdict, and was only released in 2012 when Banks taped her admitting that the accusation was false.
"The court recognizes that our school district was a victim in this case," school Superintendent Christopher J. Steinhauser told the Press-Telegram. "This judgment demonstrates that when people attempt to defraud our school system, they will feel the full force of the law."
It is also possible that Gibson could face fraud charges, depending upon the court's opinion as to whether her 2012 recanting constitutes an admission of fraud. If the original accusation is the basis for such a charge, the three-year statute of limitations for fraud charges to be brought would void any such action.
Banks was a high school football star who had received a scholarship offer from USC and had made a verbal commitment to the school. After he was finally freed, he reunited with Pete Carroll, who offered him that scholarship and had moved on to the Seattle Seahawks, for a tryout in June of 2012 at the Seahawks' Virginia Mason Athletic Center. He wasn't quite ready for prime time just yet, but he looked amazingly close for a guy who never played college football and had little time to prepare himself for the challenges of the NFL.
"I don't want nobody to take it easy on me out here," he said. "I know I have a lot of work to do and if that's what's required, then definitely give it to me. I'm ready for it. I've heard of his coaching style. It wasn't until that day of the tryout that I was on the way up here with one of the scouting coaches and he was like, 'I want to let you know, coach Norton — he's no joke.' But you know what? I like that intensity. I like that style of coaching. If it's not right, tell me it's not right. And if it needs fixing, tell me it needs fixing and let's fix it together. We'll get it done. I appreciate it."
Banks didn't make the team, but he got back to work, and made the Atlanta Falcons' roster in April of 2013. When that triumph was announced, Banks recalled some of the feelings he went through while in prison.
"It's almost impossible to explain, the feeling of not having freedom, to be stripped away of your freedom, of your dignity, the respect you once had. To lose it all and watch the world pass you by as you sit inside a prison cell, knowing you shouldn't be there, knowing you're there because of another person's lies, to lose it all and then get it all back, it's a very humbling, spiritual feeling that you just don't want to take anything for granted.
"I've had the opportunity to see both sides of the human spirit. ... My journey has been crazy but my journey has been a learning experience that is unlike any other."
And Banks is a person unlike any other. I've had the opportunity (I should actually call it a privilege) to speak with him on multiple occasions, and I've always been struck by his incredible persistence and generosity of spirit. Somehow, he managed to wade through a decade of defeat unmarked by its seemingly inevitable aftereffects, and he's been an inspiration to everyone who's been around him.
"I feel like what I've been through these past 10 years shows that I have a determination factor of not giving up, of keeping hope in whatever it is that you want to accomplish in life that you can," Banks said last June, when asked what he can offer to teammates in a mental and emotional sense. "And I'm more than willing to be that person on any team that if someone is feeling down one day, or someone is feeling like giving up, or someone is feeling like they can't get to that next step in their life, I'm definitely there to talk to them and be that person of encouragement.
"At the same time, I feel like my situation is no different from anybody else's experiences. I always say, 'It's not what you go through, but how that experience affects you.'"
One can only hope that Wanetta Gibson gets what's coming to her, but is a more lasting and positive sense, it's good to see that Brian Banks has beaten the odds and seems to be getting what he truly deserves. He was unavailable for comment regarding the Gibson ruling, because he was too busy getting ready for training camp.

Box Office Report: 'Man of Steel' Nabs $125.1 Million for No. 1 June Opening of All Time

After three decades, Warner Bros. has successfully resurrected its Superman franchise with Zack Snyder's darker, more violent take on the marquee superhero.

Man of Steel, directed by Snyder and produced by Christopher Nolan, debuted to $125.1 million at the Father's Day box office to score the top opening of all time for June. That figure includes $12 million grossed Thursday night from special Walmart screenings, putting the actual three-day figure at $113.1 million.

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Either way, Man of Steel eclipsed previous June record-holder Toy Story 3, which debuted to $110.3 million in June 2010.

Man of Steel is a notable win for WB and Legendary Pictures, which co-financed the $225 million tentpole. In 2006, WB and Legendary's Superman Returns did okay business at the box office, but not enough to mark a new chapter for the franchise.

Man of Steel opens exactly 30 years after Superman III, the third entry in the wildly popularChristopher Reeve franchise. There was one more title in that series, Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, although it fell flat at the box office in summer 1987.

This time out, British star Henry Cavill stars as Clark Kent, aka Superman, which sees his character trying to hide his superpowers and live a normal life on Earth. Amy Adams stars as Lois Laneand Michael Shannon takes on the role of the menacing General Zod. Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner and Diane Lane also star.

David S. Goyer penned the script based on a story he crafted with Nolan. Warners and Legendary turned to Nolan as a producer on the project after he successfully revived the Batman franchise with his Dark Knight trilogy. In the summer of 2005, Nolan's Batman Begins opened to $48.7 million and had incredible staying power.

Man of Steel, while drawing mixed reviews, earned an A- CinemaScore, portending strong word of mouth. The pic skewed male (56 percent) and was fueled by older moviegoers, with 62 percent of the audience over the age of 25.

IMAX theaters did big business, taking in $13.3 million (12 percent of the total gross) to likewise score the biggest June opening of all time.

Overall, 41 percent of the revenues came from 3D screens.

Overseas, Man of Steel is opening day-and-date in 24 markets, and is did huge business in the U.K. and Southeast Asia. The film's take through Friday was nearly $30 million, but full weekend numbers weren't immediately available.

Coming in No. 2 Friday at the North American box office was Sony's innovative end-of-the-world comedy This Is the End with a stellar $32.8 million. The R-rated pic, opening Wednesday and marking the directorial debut of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, has already made its $32 million budget back.

This Is the End stars Rogen opposite Jonah Hill, James Franco, Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson, Michael Cera and Emma Watson.

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In comedy, the actors -- all playing fictional versions of themselves -- meet at a star-studded party at Franco's house when the apocalypse begins and they're forced to work together to survive. The film is based on a short film created by Rogen and Baruchel in 2007 titled Jay and Seth vs. The Apocalypse. Rogen and Goldberg also co-wrote the scripts for Superbad, The Green Hornet and The Watch.

This is the End also features several other cameos during the early scenes at Franco's house party, including appearances by Rihanna, Mindy Kaling, Jason Segel, Paul Rudd and Kevin Hart.

Sofia Coppola's The Bling Ring rung up strong business at the specialty box office as it debuted to sold out crowds in five theaters in New York and Los Angeles. The movie, from A24 Films, took in $210,000 for a location average of $42,000. It marks the director's best opening since Lost in Translation.