Google’s Nexus tablet

Nexus 7, the tablet made by Google in partnership with Asus, will launch in India in October this year. The 7-inch tablet is first Nexus branded tablet and hence runs Google's unmodified Android operating software. It was announced at Google I/O on June 27.

The model with 8GB internal storage is priced at $199. It will be available in the US and three other countries in the coming weeks. The one with 16GB has been priced at $249.

An Asus spokesperson told the TOI that the tablet would be available in India in October. "We hope to complete the process to bring the tablet to India by the end of September. Once we have the sufficient stock, we will launch it here," said the spokesperson.

Asus did not reveal the details about price. "Price and other details, including exact configuration of the tablet, will be decided in September," the spokesperson said.

Given its relatively low price in the US, Nexus 7 may turn out to be one of the most affordable high-end tablets in India.

The Nexus 7 announced by Google is powered by a quad-core 1.3Ghz processor. It has 1GB RAM and a 1.2MP front camera. The device runs on Jelly Bean, the latest version of Android that was also announced at Google I/O.

Many companies, including Samsung and Asus, are selling Android tablets since the beginning of 2011 but they have not made much headway against iPad, which continues to be wildly popular with consumers. Google hopes that with its own tablet, it will be able to entice consumers better. Also, the company believes that the Nexus tablet in the market will prompt app developers to write more tablet-specific apps for Android.

Nexus devices are Google branded products. Unlike a customized users interface that Samsung and HTC put in their Android devices, Nexus devices are powered by 'pure' Android and receive updates as soon as Google pushes them out. This makes these devices particularly attractive to power users, who don't want to wait to get latest software updates.

Even though Nexus products are considered to be Google's own devices, their launch is handled by the hardware partner. This means that Google has little say in whether a Nexus product will get launched in India or not. For example, Galaxy Nexus, which is Google's flagship phone, has not been launched in India by Samsung even though it went on sale in several countries last year.

With Nexus 7, Google is not only attempting to take on the iPad but also aiming for Kindle Fire, a 7-inch tablet made by Amazon. In India, Kindle Fire is not sold officially. But there are other 7-inch tablets that may feel the heat once Google's tablet hits the market here. source-timesofindia.indiatimes

Best Budget Tablets in India - priced below Rs. 15,000

1. iberry Auxus AX02 - MRP: RS.9990/-

The Rs. 10,000 price point has seen the rise of quite a few tablets in the past year from brands such as iBall, Mercury, Beetle, Viewsonic and Reliance to name a few. In trying to break the price barrier, some of these devices compromise on features such as build, battery life, camera and the power under the hood. Until now, these devices ran Android version 2.2 or 2.3.

PROS

• Good build
• 1GHz processor
• 1GB RAM
• 1080p MP4 playback
• Android 4.0 ICS
• Good capacitive touchscreen

CONS

• Few apps crashed on us frequently
• No Bluetooth
• Screen brightness is low

2. Mercury mTab Neo2 - MRP: 14999/-

Budget tablets are all the rage these days especially if they run the latest OS. We have seen a slew of budget tablets launch that not only pack in decent hardware under the hood but run Google's latest OS, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The older generation budget tablets launched with Android 2.3 Gingerbread felt a little incomplete. But today we have with us a device that falls right in the middle of the above two mentioned OS'.

The Mercury mTab Neo2 has a dual-core processor and runs on Google's originally unveiled tablet specific OS, Android 3.0 Honeycomb. We haven't seen Honeycomb budget tablet hit store shelves in India and this is a first. Thankfully, Mercury says that the device will be upgradable to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.
Another factor that needs to be considered is that besides being dual core, the tablet is also priced at the higher spectrum of the budget tablet price range, i.e., at Rs. 14,999.  

PROS

• Good Build
• 1.2GHz dual-core processor
• 1080p MP4 playback
• Good Capacitive touchscreen
• Keyboard is really good in portrait mode
• SIM card slot

CONS

• Bad viewing angles
• No volume rocker
• Menu, Home and Power buttons could have been more ergonomic

3.Micromax Funbook - MRP: Rs.6499 /-

The Micromax Funbook is the cheapest ICS budget tablet to hit the streets at Rs. 6,499. Its biggest compromise when compared to the competition is the build and the battery. The screen too is a bit disappointing. Having said that, this is the slimmest budget ICS tablet available today. The 1080p MP4 playback was smooth and games like Angry Birds Space and Pool Master ran well. If you are in the market to pick up a budget tablet and are on a really tight budget, you can consider the Micromax Funbook.

PROS

• 1.2GHz processor
• 1080p MP4 playback
• Android 4.0 ICS
• Very slim design

CONS

• Touchscreen performance is underwhelming
• Screen is easily susceptible to glare

4. Zync Z990 - MRP: Rs.8990 /-

This is a budget tablet, and it clearly shows in the build quality, performance and even the display. But at this price, the real enticing factor is that it has ICS on-board. While there are a whole host of connectivity ports as well, but there is no getting away from the "budget" build quality.

PROS

• ICS experience on a budget
• Real world performance better than what benchmarks show
• Decent battery life
• USB hub supports broadband dongles

CONS

• No Bluetooth
• Build quality isn't good
• Display not optimised

5.BlackBerry PlayBook - MRP: Rs.13990 /-

Right now, the BlackBerry PlayBook is ideal for a BlackBerry smartphone user looking to purchase a tablet. This is mainly due to the BlackBerry Bridge sync option. However, even then we would advise potential buyers to wait it out till there is a respectable apps eco-system. Current apps in the App World are nothing to write home about. RIM had announced that Android apps would soon be ported to the BlackBerry App World, but that has yet to happen. The Wi-Fi data transfer option and ability to edit the Documents To Go app is a big plus point.

PROS

• Excellent multitasking
• Brilliant display
• Flash and Adobe AIR support

CONS

• Limited number of apps
• Biased towards BlackBerry smartphone users
• Poor implementation of the power/sleep button

Source-thinkdigit

Beware of missed calls - your SIM will be closed

A new trend of cloning SIM cards by giving missed call is on the rise. Reportedly, missed call from numbers starting +92, #90 or #09 are dangerous and can clone your SIM when you call back the number.

According to reports, more than one lakh subscribers have fallen prey to this new telecom menace.

Modus operandi

The modus operandi of the SIM cards cloning racket is quite simple. You might get a missed call from a number starting with +92, #90 or #09. The moment, a subscriber calls back on the number, his or her cell phone is cloned.

However, if the subscribers picks up the call before it is dropped then the caller, on the other end, poses as a call center executive verifying the connectivity and call flow. The caller then asks the subscriber to press # 09 or # 90 to call back on his number to make sure the connectivity is seamless.

Troubles of SIM cloning

If your SIM is cloned, you might fall into a big trouble. The crooks behind the racket can misuse your information stored in the phone or external memory (SIM, memory & data cards).

Culprits can use the cloned copy of your SIM to make calls to any number they wish to. This can lead the subscribers to the threat of their connection being used for terror calls.

Precautionary measures

Telecom operators like BSNL have reportedly issued alerts to all the broadband users. SMS alerts are also being issued to other subscribers.

However, according to IT experts, the crooks can use other combination of numbers as well for making a call. So it is better not to respond to calls received from unusual calling numbers

It is also advised that important details like bank account, ATM/ Credit/Debit card numbers and passwords should not be stored in the phone memory because one may risk of passing on their vital details to unscrupulous people involved behind such activities.source-zeenews.india.com