Adcom on Tuesday launched the A35 smartphone with Android 4.4 KitKat in India, priced at Rs. 2,799 with an MRP of Rs. 4,000.

The smartphone is yet-to-be-listed on the company's website, but is listed on exclusive online retailer Homeshop 18 with an October 3 availability. The smartphone will later be made available via other online retailers.

The dual-SIM Adcom A35 features a 3.5-inch HVGA (320x480 pixels) display and is powered by a 1.2GHz processor (unspecified) alongside 256MB of RAM.

Running on Android 4.4.2 KitKat, the budget smartphone sports a 2-megapixel rear camera with flash, while it also houses a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera. The A35 includes 512MB of inbuilt storage, which is further expandable via microSD card (up to 32GB).

While the measurements and the weight of the smartphone are not yet known, the handset packs an 1400mAh li-ion battery. It also features gravity and proximity sensors which consume less battery when compared to conventional sensors, according to the company.

The A35 comes with 3G, GPRS/ EDGE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Micro-USB connectivity options. It will be available in Black, White, Yellow and Red colour variants. The smartphone would also come with a free screen guard worth Rs. 399.

"Adcom is pleased to announce the launch of its latest smartphone - Adcom KitKat A35. With the advent of our latest, Adcom now has a growing range of budget Android Smartphones and has put a strong foothold below the 5K category we aim to provide users with devices that enhances their smartphone experience whilst providing value for money" stated Sanjeev Bhatia, Director, Adcom.

Notably, Adcom announced its first Android KitKat powered smartphone, the Thunder A440+, earlier this month at Rs. 3,499.

Adcom A35

• KEY SPECS

Display

3.50-inch

Processor

1.2GHz

Front Camera

 1.3-megapixel

Resolution

 320x480 pixels

RAM

 256MB

OS

 Android 4.4.2

Storage

512MB

Rear Camera

2-megapixel

Battery capacity

1400mAh

See full Adcom A35 specifications

Samsung released its latest Galaxy Note series handset, the Galaxy Note 4, in China and South Korea last week.

The company's move to launch the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is seen as an attempt beat the 'bigger' iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus to market in these countries.

However, it seems the launch has not been an ideal one for Samsung, as some Galaxy Note 4 buyers in South Korea are complaining of a manufacturing defect in the handset.

GforGames, citing a Korean site, claims that some Galaxy Note 4 users have been complaining of a gap between the phone's screen and the metal casing. Reportedly, the gap seen on some Galaxy Note 4 units can fit up to two A4 size sheets or even a business card. One of the users have also shared an image that shows gap on the top of the screen and also on one of the sides.

The Korean report further suggests that Samsung is aware of the manufacturing defect on the new Galaxy Note smartphone and the necessary changes are expected to be made before the Galaxy Note 4 is globally released in about 140 countries by end of October.

As of now, there is no official word on whether Samsung will replace these defective units. Interestingly, the Galaxy Note 4 manufacturing defect news comes at a time when Samsung's most prominent competitor, Apple, has been facing claims that its new 'bigger' iPhone 6 Plus can be bent easily.

Apple had to defend its iPhone 6 Plus on the bending issue, claiming it wouldn't happen during normal use and that only 9 users had reported the problem. The company even invited journalists to observe its testing procedures.

Coming back to the Galaxy Note 4, Samsung's new Galaxy Note series handset is likely to be released in India next month. A report even claimed that the company might sell the Galaxy Note 4 alongside premium Galaxy Alpha via offline retailers, citing excessive pressure from brick-and-mortar retailers.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4

• KEY SPECS
• 
  

Display

5.70-inch

Processor

1.9GHz

Front Camera

 3.7-megapixel

Resolution

 1440x2560 pixels

RAM

 3GB

OS

 Android 4.4

Storage

32GB

Rear Camera

16-megapixel

Battery capacity

3220mAh

See full Samsung Galaxy Note 4 specifications

Apple is said to be in the 'late' stages of testing for a new iMac with Retina display lineup, and is expected to release it alongside OS X Yosemite at its anticipated October event.

As reported by 9to5Mac, which cites sources that have actually used the desktop, the rumoured new iMac with Retina display will feature a thin profile similar to the current generation of iMac machines, alongside faster processors and improved Wi-Fi connectivity.

9to5Mac speculates the iMac with Retina display could be available with a 5K display resolution, pointing to resolutions listed in the latest OS X Yosemite betas - 6400x3600 pixel, 5760x3240 pixel, and 4096x2304 pixel, one of which could ultimately make its way to the proposed Retina display iMac.

The recent announcement of DisplayPort 1.3, which can support 5K (5120x2880 pixels) monitors using a single DisplayPort cable without the use of compression, can also make the 5K resolution in the high-res iMac models a reality.

By comparison, the existing 21.5-inch iMac flaunts a 1920x1080 pixels resolution display, while the 27-inch variant boasts a 2560x1440 pixels resolution screen.

Besides talking about iMac with Retina display models, the sources also hinted an upgrade in iMovie and Final Cut Pro video editing softwares. The software are likely to feature improved tools for editing 4K footage.

Apple, besides its revamped iMac line up, is also being rumoured to work on a 12-inch Macbook Air laptop with a slimmer design with more powerful innards. Features hinted for the fanless Macbook Air models suggest a reversible Type-C USB port inclusion, dispensing of the MagSafe charging port, and introduction of the recently announced Intel Core M Broadwell processor. New iPad models are also in tow.

Even as BlackBerry pivots to focus more on software and services, the company that gained fame for its smartphones is not giving up on its handset business, two senior executives said.

After recording a gross profit from its weakened handset operation and with roughly 50 million people globally still using its older-generation BlackBerry phones, there is potential in that business, the executives said.

Their remarks came during a frenetic week when BlackBerry reported a much smaller-than-expected loss and launched its square-screened BlackBerry Passport device.

Ron Louks, who heads BlackBerry's devices arm, said now that the company had pared losses, it could afford to take some risks and look at introducing at least one unconventional device each year.

"When it comes to design and being a little bit disruptive, we want that 'wow' factor," Louks said. "Not all of the products will have it, but we definitely have opportunities."

BlackBerry already has another unconventional device in the works, he said, adding that it has already received some positive feedback from carriers on it.

Passport reviews have been mixed. While the device has won praise for its battery life, wide screen and touch-sensitive keyboard, it has been criticized for, among other things, being difficult to operate with one hand.

Louks hinted that BlackBerry was working on a prototype that would be easier to use with a single hand.

"From a roadmap perspective, I'm pretty happy with where we are at for next year," he said in an interview, adding that he also expected demand for the Passport to exceed expectations.

BlackBerry said on Friday that it had already taken about 200,000 orders for the Passport, which went on sale Wednesday and sold out on Amazon.com Inc within six hours.

Speaking with the media after BlackBerry reported quarterly results on Friday, Chief Executive Officer John Chen said the company was likely to show new devices at theMobile World Congress in Barcelona in 2015.

"Given the receptivity for the Passport, I know that we'll have at least another generation of that device," said Chen. "I also carry very high hopes for the Classic, and I've spoken with a lot of people that want it ... so I think we will have another iteration on that, and there will be a new concept device too."

The BlackBerry Classic, which bears similarities to the company's once wildly popular Bold smartphone, will be available later this year.

BlackBerry's volatile stock was up 0.2 percent at $10.28 in late-morning Nasdaq trading.

JPMorgan, UBS, BMO and other brokerages raised their share-price targets for BlackBerry on Monday.

Apple has reportedly removed an app called Launcher from the App Store, and the developer claims the Cupertino giant said the app was a 'misuse' of widgets on iOS 8.

According to Techcrunch, Launcher by Cromulent Labs is one of the first apps to take advantage of the new functionality Apple has introduced in iOS 8, as it could launch other apps directly from the Notification Center. The app is said to be a quick way for users to access their "favourite apps or common actions" without being forced to navigate through various home screens and with fewer taps.

The developer, Greg Gardner, explains in a blog post what the removal of the app means for users who have already have the Launcher app installed. Gardner says users will still be able to use the app, can no longer purchase the Pro version, update the app, or expect any bug fixes.

Apple contacted me on September 23, 2014 and told me that they have decided to disallow any Notification Center widget that lets you launch other apps. Their only reason was that it is a 'misuse' of widgets, even though there are no written rules to this effect and the app was originally approved by them.

Apple told me I could release an update without the Notification Center widget or they will take the app off of the App Store in 'a number of days'. I submitted a fix for the app which I thought to be a valid compromise where every click on the widget always goes back to the Launcher app first which then redirects you to your target app. This was submitted on Friday, September 26 and within an hour, Apple rejected the fix and then took Launcher down from the App Store.

The developer has now filed an online petition to request that Apple allow Launcher's functionality in widgets on the App Store. Gardner, while speaking to Techcrunch, also said that the Launcher app had ranked highly on the list of the top 20 highest grossing productivity apps in the US shortly after its App Store debut. The app has also made it to the top 10 highest grossing productivity apps in 43 different countries, according to Gardner.

"It seemed that [Apple was] opening up the platform and allowing for more inter-app communication in iOS 8, but this decision shows that they still feel they know what is best for the users, even if users disagree," told Gardner to Techcrunch. "At this point I don't have any plans to continue developing iOS apps."

Smartwatch maker Pebble has announced permanent price cuts for its smartwatch duo - the original Pebble and the new Pebble Steel. The company alongside also revealed a firmware update for the smartwatches that brings support for activity and sleep tracking.

According to the company, the original Pebble will be now available at $99 (Rs. 6,100 approximately), down from the earlier price tag of $150 (Rs. 9,230 approximately). The Pebble Steel, which was launched earlier this year, is now priced at $199 (Rs. 15,400 approximately), compared to $249 (Rs. 15,430 approximately) previously.

Pebble in a blog post titled "Celebrating Pebble's Growth with New Things to Love," also announced that the company is expanding the retail presence of the smartwatches to more partners and markets. The company confirmed that the Pebble will be now available at Sam's Club, Fry's Electronics, and Sprint stores (coming soon) across the US, which will join Best Buy, Target, AT&T stores, and Amazon. Pebble starting October will be also reaching UK markets and will be available at Dixons retail, O2, and Amazon.co.uk. Some of the new markets that the company will be entering starting Wednesday are Benelux and Scandinavia.

Pebble also announced new health and fitness apps from Misfit, Jawbone, and Swim.com. The new Misfit app for Pebble has been enabled for continuous activity and sleep monitoring. While Jawbone has launched new activity tracking watch face for Pebble dubbed UP that will show daily and weekly activity progress of the user while will automatically sync with its new UP app for iOS. The company confirmed that the app will be soon launched for Android platform. Swim.com, on the other hand, measures distance, pace, times, strokes, and efficiency while swimming and automatically syncs data with the connected device and even syncs this data with cloud. Notably, Pebble is water resistant (up to 5ATM, or 50 metres) which is suitable for swimming.

The official blog post said, "Today, we're announcing a new area of growth for our ecosystem - health and fitness - and releasing software update that enables non-stop activity tracking and sleep monitoring (thanks to Pebble's class-leading multi-day battery life). This update lets Pebble users display their favorite watchface while tracking their activity in the background."

The company released the complete changelog of the Pebble's new firmware (version 2.6).

• NEW: Activity. Activity tracking apps (e.g. Jawbone, Misfit, Swim.com) for Pebble now work seamlessly in the background. View installed Activity apps and toggle preferences in the Pebble Settings menu. An Activity icon is visible within Pebble menus when a compatible app is installed and running.
• NEW: Quick Launch. Set shortcuts from a watchface to your favorite Pebble apps with a long press of the Up or Down buttons. Enable Quick Launch and set app shortcuts in the Pebble Settings menu.
• Battery icon is now persistent within Pebble menus.
• Select button once again dismisses notifications when paired with an Android device or iOS device on iOS 7 or lower. iOS 8 users get notificaion dismissal for both Pebble and the paired device when pressing Select.
• Bug fixes and improvements

While aficionados concentrate on writing the eulogy for Orkut, one of the most popular social networking websites just a few years ago, its owner Google has gone ahead and removed it from the Internet. The URL www.orkut.com now redirects to Google's home page.

The search engine's first foray into social networking was with the introduction of Orkut more than 10 years ago. The service was named after its creator, also a Google employee, Orkut Buyukkokten. On June 30, Google had announced that it would be shutting down Orkut, once widely popular in India and Brazil, for good on September 30.

In a blog post, Google had said, "Over the past decade, YouTube, Blogger and Google+ have taken off, with communities springing up in every corner of the world. Because the growth of these communities has outpaced Orkut's growth, we've decided to bid Orkut farewell."

Up until yesterday, users of the late social networking website could export their photos on the website to Google+, incidentally Google's current attempt at riding the social media bubble. Moreover, users could also download Orkut profile, scraps, testimonials, community posts and also photos to their computer of choice via Google Takeout. In case you haven't done that yet, you are mostly out of luck now.

Interestingly, both Orkut and Facebook were started in 2004. While Facebook is still widely popular, Orkut started losing its mojo a few years ago. Google tried its hand at social networking once again with Buzz, which tanked gloriously. Now, Google's only hope is Google+.

After months of speculation and plenty of leaks, Microsoft has given the world its first official look at the next version of Windows. The biggest surprise is its name - Windows 10. While some of the new features are predictable, others come as surprises. It's clear that Microsoft has gone back to the drawing board after enduring endless criticism of its bold Windows 8 strategy and redesign. The reinvented Windows tries to combine the best of both worlds.

1. Windows 10 will be designed to appeal to office workers 

After years of dealing with complaints that Windows 8 was too different to roll out in large-scale corporate environments and would require massive resources to be spent on retraining users, Microsoft has decided to appeal to that crowd by incorporating familiar elements and hiding features that won't be applicable. The new Start menu is a prime example of this. 

2. ...and corporate IT managers

On the management side, Windows 10 promises better security, easier manageability, and improved capabilities for dealing with today's security threats. There will also be improved methods of installing and dealing with volume licenses, making the upgrade process easier. Custom app stores will help corporate environments to deal with software deployments and permissions. There is still a huge install base of Windows XP machines in office environments which work just fine, but Microsoft's new features might be tempting enough for managers to finally decide that an upgrade is worthwhile.

3. Windows 10 will scale from small smartphones to giant data centres

The Windows 10 name will apply to future versions of Windows Phone as well as Windows on tablets, desktop PCs and hybrid portable devices. The same experience will carry over to the Xbox One console and potentially other devices as well. Users will see an interface suited to their device type, screen size and input methods, so for example, the full-screen Start UI will not necessarily be a part of the desktop usage experience, but will appear for touch-first tablet users. There will even be a way for users to switch between the two modes, especially if they use tablets with detachable or foldable keyboards.

4. The new Start menu will combine Windows 7's usability with Windows 8's tiles

While a lot might change between now and the final release of Windows 10, previews indicate a two-column Start menu with old-style icons for pinned or recent programs on the left, and live tiles on the right displaying updates and information. The tiles will be customisable, though at their smallest size they will be functionally identical to pinned shortcuts.

5. Modern apps will run in windows on the desktop

Desktop users will be able to run Modern apps (downloaded from the Windows store) on the desktop just like other apps. They will be resizable and can be pinned to the taskbar. Important functions will be accessible through a context menu.

6. Virtual Desktops are finally coming to Windows

A mainstay of OS X and most Linux distributions for years, virtual desktops have remained a niche feature on Windows. In another move aimed at appeasing hardcore desktop users, virtual desktops are now baked right in. A new Task View will let you see an overview of all running apps and arrange them between desktops. 

7. Snap has also been improved

You can now quickly tile four apps at once on the Windows 10 desktop just by dragging them to the corners of your screen. You'll see suggestions for filling up your screen so that you don't have to deal with overlapping windows. Desktop users with large monitors will rejoice. 

8. Search and power user features will be improved

The new search feature combines local and Web results. You can begin searching just by typing when the Start menu is open, which means you can continue to hit the Start button and just start typing exactly like in Windows 8. Microsoft has another treat for power users - finally, you can use a simple Ctrl+V shortcut to paste text into the Command Prompt. 

9. The Charms bar isn't going anywhere

Just like with the Start screen, Microsoft isn't completely removing all vestiges of Windows 8. The Charms bar remains, though most probably only visible to users of touch-first devices. It will be improved, and those Windows 8 users who are familiar with it can continue to use it.

10. There's much more to come

Microsoft has teased that there are plenty of good reasons for its decision to skip a Windows 9 and jump two version numbers ahead. We hope to see many more improvements and refinements of the concepts that have been demonstrated so far. With public beta releases not too far away, it's going to be an eventful year leading up to the final release of Windows 10.

The choices at this level are more or less two-fold if you're considering full-frame: Nikon D4S (below) or Canon 1D X.

Both cut it close and there's little to separate the two, but when it comes to being just a whisker ahead we think the Canon has it in the speed department. It offers the fastest-in-class burst mode, the battery seems to last forever and, importantly, its 18-megapixel full-frame sensor is just about perfect for all manner of jobs.

Some other full-frame models outperform in the resolution stakes, and it's questionable as to whether Canon lost its "movie king" hat, but otherwise the 1D X is as good as professional full-frame DSLR cameras get.

PRICE: £4,845 (body only)

Looking for an entirely alternative approach? The Nikon Df could be exactly what you're looking for. It's wrapped the top-spec D4's full-frame sensor into a retro body similar to the FM2 from decades gone by.

This could be the camera to reinvigorate where those photographic passions started. Classic manual control dials give the camera a distinct look and way of operation. But it all comes at a price: this niche camera is kitted out with the 50mm f/1.8 G lens only and has a recommended retail price of £2,749. Ouch. Wow. Meh? Take your pick - it'll be loved by some and seen as little more than a pricey exercise in nostalgia by others.

The Nikon Df could be called over-ambitious. We can't shun the feeling that Nikon needs to learn some lessons from this release. But as much as we thought we'd made up our mind about the Df based on its "almost there" aspects, we just kept on taking photos, looking at the pictures and being impressed. And that's what pulls it back from the brink of obscurity because everything that comes out of this camera looks so great.

PRICE: £2,749 (with 50mm f/1.8 G  lens, at time of writing)

Although the Nikon D4S is an evolutionary rather than revolutionary continuation of the earlier D4 model, it's still as good as full-frame cameras come. There's little to separate this from theCanon EOS 1D X although, in our view, this is the camera with the best autofocus system released to date.

Shoot at the "normal" ISO settings - the extended settings become absurd, with ISO 409,600 a bit out there - and results are excellent, but it's the D4S's ability to assist in getting the shots that matter that makes it such an exceptional bit of kit.

For the average consumer this is the Ferrari of cameras: out of reach in both price and realistic use. For the pros out there it will be a potentially priceless tool, albeit one that only a handful will see as an immediate upgrade necessity.

PRICE: £5,200 (body only)

Microsoft has launched the Lumia 930, Lumia 830 and Lumia 730 Dual SIM in India, priced at Rs. 38,649, Rs. 28,799, and Rs. 15,299, respectively. The Lumia 930 will be available from October 15, while the other two will be available from October 8.

The Lumia 930 (seen below), Lumia 830 (seen above) and Lumia 730 Dual SIM (seen far below) run Windows Phone 8.1, and while the former has the new Lumia Denim update out-of-the-box, the latter will get it sometime in Q4 2014. All three handsets get 1TB of free cloud storage via OneDrive for 6 months, as well as for the Lumia 1520. After 6 months, users will have to pay Rs. 100 per month.

The Lumia 930, unveiled back in April alongside the Lumia 630 and Lumia 635, features a 5-inch (1080x1920 pixel) display with a pixel density of 441ppi. The display boasts of a Gorilla Glass 3 screen, the 'Super Sensitive Touch' feature, and 'a near 180-degree viewing angle'. The Lumia 930 is powered by a 2.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 SoC coupled with 2GB of RAM, and 32GB of built-in storage (7GB free OneDrive cloud storage).

The Lumia 930 also sports a 20-megapixel PureView camera, which has optical image stabilization (OIS) and Carl Zeiss optics. A front-facing 1.2-megapixel wide-angle camera is onboard as well, apart from four directional microphones and integrated Dolby Surround Sound. A LTE quad-band chip and Bluetooth 4.0 LE support is featured.

Featuring an aluminium frame with metallic accents, and a curved polycarbonate back with Bright Orange, Bright Green, Black and White colours, the Lumia 930 runs on a 2420mAh battery, and boasts of built-in wireless charging.

Microsoft is billing the Lumia 830, which was launched at IFA 2014, is the company's "thinnest and lightest Lumia to date." It will be available in Green, Grey, Orange, and White colours. It sports a 10-megapixel PureView camera with Carl Zeiss optics, LED flash, and also comes with what the company touts is the "thinnest" Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) set-up seen on a Lumia smartphone. It also packs a 1-megapixel front-facing camera.

Other enhancements added to the camera on the Lumia 830 include Nokia Rich Recording - with three mics offering true 5.1 surround sound, and Nokia Camera is claimed to offer distortion-free and full bandwidth stereo recording. The company confirmed that an over-the-air (OTA) update of Lumia Camera on the Lumia 830 will bring even quicker camera start-up and shooting speeds, and will also add new features such as Rich Capture and Moment Capture.

Microsoft notes the Lumia 830 also includes the low-power motion-sensing technology, dubbed SensorCore, for fitness fanatics. 

The Lumia 830 features a 5-inch HD (720x1280 pixels) ClearBlack IPS LCD display offering a pixel density of 296ppi. It is powered by a quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor clocked at 1.2GHz alongside 1GB of RAM. There is 16GB of inbuilt storage which is further expandable up to 128GB (via microSD card). It is backed by a 2200mAh battery that offers a standby time of up to 22 days, and talk time of up to 14.8 hours on 3G. It supports wireless charging.

The Lumia 730 Dual SIM, which was launched alongside the 4G-capable single-SIM Lumia 735 at IFA 2014, on the other hand will come in Bright Green, Bright Orange, Dark Grey and White colours. It features a 6.7-megapixel rear camera with LED flash, and a secondary 5-megapixel front-facing camera with a 24mm wide angle lens. The Lumia 730 Dual SIM, like its name is a dual-SIM (Micro-SIM) smartphone, and features 3G connectivity. 

The Lumia 730 Dual SIM features a 4.7-inch HD (720x1280 pixels) display with a pixel density of 316ppi and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. It is powered by 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor coupled with 1GB of RAM.

It features 8GB of built-in storage that can be expanded via microSD card (up to 128GB). Microsoft is also offering 15GB of free OneDrive cloud storage for Lumia 730 Dual SIM users. The Lumia 730 Dual SIM features a 2220mAh battery rated to deliver up to for 22 hours of 2G talk time and 17 hours of 3G talk time. 

Nokia Lumia 930

• KEY SPECS

Display

5.00-inch

Processor

2.2GHz

Front Camera

 1.2-megapixel

Resolution

 1080x1920 pixels

RAM

 2GB

OS

 Windows Phone 8.1

Storage

32GB

Rear Camera

20-megapixel

Battery capacity

2420mAh

See full Nokia Lumia 930 specifications

Nokia Lumia 830

• KEY SPECS

Display

5.00-inch

Processor

1.2GHz

Front Camera

 0.9-megapixel

Resolution

 720x1280 pixels

RAM

 1GB

OS

 Windows Phone 8.1

Storage

16GB

Rear Camera

10-megapixel

Battery capacity

2200mAh

See full Nokia Lumia 830 specifications

Nokia Lumia 735

• KEY SPECS
• 
  

Display

4.70-inch

Processor

1.2GHz

Front Camera

 5-megapixel

Resolution

 720x1280 pixels

RAM

 1GB

OS

 Windows Phone 8.1

Storage

8GB

Rear Camera

6.7-megapixel

Battery capacity

2220mAh

See full Nokia Lumia 735 specifications