Microsoft Says Windows Phone Store Now Has More Than 300,000 Apps

Microsoft has claimed that its Windows Phone Store now has more than 300,000 apps. The Redmond giant, on the other hand, revealed that it is retiring all Skype apps for Windows Phone 7.

The Redmond giant confirmed the new milestone by updating its "by the numbers" page that features a collection of visual statistics about Microsoft's products and services. The page notes, "The Windows Phone Store features more than 300,000 apps and games. Hundreds more are added every day."

A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed the figures to The Next Web, saying,

Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro With 6-Inch QHD Display, Snapdragon 801 Launched

After a flurry of leaks and official confirmations, Lenovo as expected on Tuesday launched its new flagship smartphone, the Vibe Z2 Pro (aka K920).

The Chinese electronics giant announced the news on its Google+ page, as well as on its official Facebook page, saying, "From rumours to reality! Max performance, pro camera--we just unveiled this beast of a phone."

The company as of now has not revealed the pricing details of the Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro; it has however detailed a September availability for the smartphone.

iPhone 6 4.7-Inch Model Tipped to Sport 2100mAh Battery

Apple's long-rumoured 4.7-inch iPhone 6 model will come with a 2100mAh battery, claims an analyst citing supply chain sources across China.

Earlier leaks had indicated that the alleged 4.7-inch iPhone 6 will pack a battery capacity between 1800mAh and 1900mAh. However, contradicting earlier claims, ESM-China electronics analyst Sung Chang Xu in a report (first picked up by Gforgames) has suggested that the Cupertino-based giant will equip the alleged smaller iPhone 6 variant with a 2100mAh battery. Further, Xu claimed that previous image leaks indicating the battery size of the iPhone 6 had actually shown the test units of the handset.

Unfortunately, there is no new word on the battery capacity of the anticipated 5.5-inch iPhone 6 handset. Previous leaks had tipped a 2500mAh battery to power the larger 5.5-inch version of the iPhone 6, which is also rumoured to be called as iPhone Air.

Review: 3rd Generation MINI Cooper

 The 3rd generation of the MINI Cooper is here. The car will begin rolling out in markets the world over, and will make its way to India in 2014 too. BMW insists the MINI is British to the core, and yet it seems to be all about German engineering! It's a confused pitch and more so when the global press drive happens in Puerto Rico - an American protectorate - far, far away from England in the Caribbean!

So while MINI can claim nice and loud that it is made in England, and claim British citizenship too. But one look at its entire development team for the new generation hatch and you don't hear a single British accent!

Maruti Suzuki Stops SX4 Production to Make Way for Ciaz

Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) has finally taken the SX4 off the production line in order to start the upcoming Ciaz's production. Considering the fact that the new sedan has often been spotted testing in the country and now that MSI has also commenced its production, there is little doubt that Ciaz is poised to be launched in India pretty soon. However, the company is yet to make any official announcements about the date. The Maruti SX4 was brought in as the Baleno's replacement in 2007, but its sales never really managed to impress anyone. With the car barely posting an average monthly sales of 250 units for the past few months, Maruti's decision to cease its production doesn't come as a surprise.

2015 Bentley Flying Spur V8 Launched in India; Priced at Rs. 3.1 crore

Bentley announced the launch of the 2015 Flying Spur V8 in India. With prices starting from Rs. 3.1 crore, the final price will depend on the options you take. This particular one from Bentley gets the new V8 motor and joins the Flying Spur W12.

The 4.0-litre V8 is mated to a twin-turbo induction system which helps it churn out 505bhp and develop a massive 660Nm of torque. Bentley says that 0-100kkm/h is dealt in just 5.2 seconds while the top speed is limited to 295km/h. The engine is mated to ZF's dual-clutch 8-speed transmission which ensures the gear shifts are smooth and power delivery on-tap.

Audi A3 Sedan Launched in India; Prices Start at Rs. 22.95 Lakh

After months of waiting since its unveiling at the 2014 Delhi Auto Expo, the A3 sedan - Audi's cheapest car in the country has been finally launched today at a starting price of Rs. 22.95 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). Available in a total of five variants, the car has only one petrol variant priced at Rs. 28.95 lakh, the other four are diesel variants.

With such an aggressive pricing, the A3 will not just be a threat for other entry-level luxury cars, but might also affect the sales of D2 segment cars and premium SUVs. Also, the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class will be a direct competitor for the A3 upon its launch by December, 2014.

Aston Martin to Reveal Four Bespoke Models at Pebble Beach

Aston Martin announced plans of showcasing four bespoke models at Pebble Beach Concours. Commissioned by Van Nuys-based Galpin Aston Martin, the four cars will feature a variety of customizations from the company's Q division.

The cars in question here are the Vanquish coupe, the Vanquish Volante, the DB9 Volante and the V12 Vantage S. Let's start at the beginning then. The Vanquish Coupe will feature an exclusive Abor Orange exterior and carbon fibre components with a bold graphic pattern. There are changes made to the inside as well and the cabin receives a modest makeover as it has obsidian black leather upholstery with a printed helix design.

Steve Jobs Had a Dream: Free Wi-Fi by Everyone, For Everyone

Wi-Fi is fast and nearly ubiquitous in smart devices, but its range means that its use is very limited. Most people have passwords on their Wi-Fi networks to prevent strangers from hacking into their hardware, or worse, using their network to carry out illegal activities online. But Apple co-founder Steve Jobs dreamed of a future where Wi-Fi was free for everyone.

Walt Mossberg, reputed technology journalist who gained prominence for his Personal Technology column in the Wall Street Journal, which ran from 1991 until his departure from the newspaper in 2013, is one of the journalists who had the opportunity to have some long conversations with Jobs.

In a column on Re/code on Monday, Mossberg wrote that Jobs was frustrated by the fact that the iPhone could show a list of Wi-Fi networks nearby, but wouldn't be able to use them to access the Internet, because of passwords on the networks. Jobs, Mossberg writes, wanted to resolve this issue.

Who Wants Free Recharge Of Rs 60 From WeChat ?

WeChat on Wednesday introduced a new offer called 'Friends n Rewards' for Indian users who can now earn free talk time recharges of up to Rs. 60.

To qualify for the offer, WeChat app users need to send friends WeChat stickers daily in a group chat with a minimum of three friends. The Friends n Rewards offer is valid from August 4 to August 13. 

Users need to send stickers on all 10 days to win the entire Rs. 60 recharge, which can be redeemed between August 14 to August 20. The offer is valid only for Android, iOS, Windows Phone 8 and Blackberry users of WeChat. Notably, to be eligible to win free recharge, a minimum of 3 days of activity is mandatory. WeChat app users can log on to the 'WeChat Team official account' for more information, or visit the company's blog post on Tumblr.

Assassin's Creed: Rogue Unveiled for November 11 Release on PS3, Xbox 360

Ubisoft has announced the release of Assassin's Creed: Rogue, the 12th instalment of the popular Assassin's Creed franchise, on November 11. The game will be available for PS3 and Xbox 360, and continues the storyline from Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. The news first broke with a leaked trailer, following which the company made the game official on its website, along with the official trailer.

How to Recover Deleted Photos from a Memory Card

Recuva (for Windows)

Recuva (version 1.51.1063) is a 4.02MB free download, and works with PCs running Windows 2000 or above. To recover your files from your SD card, load the card on the PC via a card reader, select the corresponding drive in Recuva's drop down menu. Run a scan via the Scan button. 

Apple to Unveil iPhone 6 on September 9: Reports

Apple will unveil the iPhone 6 on September 9, multiple reports said on Tuesday.

The date is almost in-line with a mid-September timeline that has been expected for the announcement, though it contradicts another recent report that had predicted an October launch. If true, the launch date would correspond to the second Tuesday of September, a day that Apple used to unveil the iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s last year.

Re/code first reported the September 9 launch date on Tuesday:

Navdy Launches Car Heads-Up Display for Android and iOS Smartphones

Navdy on Tuesday launched a heads-up display (HUD) car console at $499. The company claims that the new heads-up display (HUD) will allow users to access their smartphone apps while driving, without taking the smartphone out of their pockets, or removing their hands from the steering wheel for extended periods of time.

As an introductory offer, Navdy has priced the HUD at $299 for the first 30-days, after which the device will be available at its original price. The Navdy heads-up display will only ship sometime in early 2015.

Shahrukh Khan to Feature in Hyundai Elite i20's Advertisement?

It is no secret that the King Khan of Bollywood aka Shahrukh Khan has been closely associated with Hyundai India since a very long time. SRK has been the South Korean carmaker's brand ambassador in India since the company's early Santro days. He has featured in commercials for Santro and i10 and if we are not wrong, SRK might soon ad(d) the Hyundai Elite i20 to the list.

Shahrukh tweeted from his official Twitter account about working late for a Hyundai advertisement on August 5, 2014 at 10:25 PM IST.

Bookings Open For Suzuki Gixxer 155cc

Showcased at the 2014 Delhi Auto Expo, the Suzuki Gixxer will soon be launched in India as Suzuki dealers across India have started taking pre-orders for the bike. Though the company already has the GS150R in the 150cc segment, the Gixxer, a 155cc bike, will be a more affordable motorcycle. The new bike will take on the likes of Honda CB Trigger, Hero CBZ Xtreme and the new Yamaha FZ.

The Gixxer features a 155cc, single cylinder, SOHC air-cooled engine that is capable of churning out a maximum power output of 13.7bhp and 14Nm of torque. Transmitting power to the rear wheel of the bike is a 5-speed gearbox.

Hennessey Eyes Speed Record with the Venom F5

Hennessey has been in the news for the right reasons and they have also established themselves as the masters of speed. Therefore, it doesn't come as a surprise when they published details of the Venom F5. Long story short, Hennessey is gunning for the top speed world record with the Venom F5, yet again!

We've seen what the Venom GT can do, but there is more on offer with the F5. The Venom F5 will be charging towards attaining the top speed record as it can do an estimated 465Km/h. The Venom F5 features a more aerodynamic body that will reduce drag coefficient from 0.44 to below 0.40 while generating a high amount of downforce, thanks to a rear diffuser.

The Rezvani Beast Takes Shape

Rezvani Automotive Designs has released a new video series that highlights the creation of their Ariel Atom-based Beast. We first told you about the car in the month of May and said that it is one of the most futuristic looking things out there.

The clip reveals a foam model beginning to take shape as a five-axis Gantry Milling Machine carves out the Beast's stylish exterior. This is the base of the carbon fibre bodywork after which, each piece of carbon fiber will then be carefully crafted over the foam and molded to exact dimensions. This type of quality build ensures that no imperfections make it to the final production form.

Once that is done, Rezvani will turn their attention to fitting the wheels and the rest of the electrical units. The company hopes to complete the first Beast by early December this year.

'World's Fastest External Phone Charger' Developed

Researchers claim to have invented the world's 'fastest' external phone charger which ends the need to plug your smartphone into a wall electricity socket and can achieve full charge in just 15 minutes.

The Petalite Flux battery, created by Leigh Purnell, an Aston University graduate, can charge itself from empty to full in 15 minutes. The device, small enough to fit in the pocket or bag, eradicates the need to plug your phone into a wall electricity socket or computer USB slot.

When the phone needs charging, users can simply connect it to the Flux battery and continue with their day. In 2014, Purnell established Petalite Battery Systems with the intention of creating the world's fastest charging external battery.

2015 BMW X4

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  BMW has officially unveiled their new X4 crossover at the Geneva Motorshow.
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  The Bavarian car manufacturer had previewed the X4 concept at the Shanghai Motorshow, probably a year ago and now here is the final production version.

Skoda Vision C Concept

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  The C, from what we can guess, stands for Coupe but you'll soon understand that it's a redundant statement since it's a four-door ( five counting the tailgate)
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  The triangular headlamps and taillamps remind you of the VW concepts but at heart it will be essentially a Skoda.

AUDI TTS

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  The front of the new TT is dominated by horizontal lines. The Singleframe grille is much broader and flatter than that of the previous model, with a powerful line dividing it into two zones.
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  The flat headlights give the new TT's face a determined look. Xenon plus units are standard, and Audi can optionally provide LED headlights

2015 Hyundai Sonata

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  Hyundai has unveiled the all-new Sonata in its domestic market, Korea.
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  Taking its design cues from the all new Genesis sedan, the new Sonata looks sharper than than the outgoing model.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Tipped to Launch on September 3 Ahead of iPhone 6

If a new report from Korea is to be believed, we might see the launch of Samsung's next-generation phablet, the anticipated Galaxy Note 4, on September 3 at a pre-IFA 2014 event in Berlin, ahead of the rumoured unveiling of the anticipated iPhone 6.

A Korea Times report citing executives of a top-tier local parts supplier for Samsung claims that the decision to launch the rumoured Galaxy Note 4 in September is to take on Apple's next generation iPhone devices - expected to be unveiled in two screen size variants 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch.

The report quotes an executive of a top-tier display supplier for Samsung, as saying, "Samsung will hold an event to announce the Note 4 on Sept. 3, just few days before this year's IFA trade fair in Berlin, Germany Europe's biggest technology exhibition."

New Qi Wireless Charging Technology Can Charge From a Distance

Current implementations of 'wireless charging' in smartphones and tablets are based on 'induction charging' technology, where the device needs to be sitting (or in direct contact with) on a charging pad to receive charge. This may soon change however, as the standard wireless charging specification, Qi, has introduced new 'resonant charging' technology, which can charging a device at a (admittedly very small) distance.

The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC), the group that defines the Qi wireless charging specification, on Thursday announced it is bringing the "integration of resonant charging into the already present inductive technology within the Qi specification."

Canadian Police Unit Launches Anti-Sexting App

A Canadian police sex crimes unit offered a sneak peak Friday of an app to help kids rebuff requests for naked pics online, amid what authorities called a sexting "epidemic."

The "Send This Instead" free app, to be offered by the Ontario Provincial Police, provides 57 humorous and sarcastic retorts to sexting requests, as well as a link to police to report sexual harassment.

Replies include "Sorry, just in the middle of something... Can I reject you later," "That would violate both my data and dating plans" and "No, but keep taking the selfies. The cops will appreciate you making your own mugshot."

Microsoft Sues Samsung Over Android Royalty Payments Dispute

Microsoft on Friday fired a legal salvo at longtime partner Samsung, accusing the South Korean giant of breaching a contract over licensing of technology used in the competitive smartphone market.

"After becoming the leading player in the worldwide smartphone market, Samsung decided late last year to stop complying with its agreement with Microsoft," the US technology firm's deputy counsel said in an online post.

The complaint filed in federal court in New York alleges Samsung is balking at making payments for patented Microsoft technology used in smartphones and tablets.

"We will review the complaint in detail and determine appropriate measures in response," Samsung told AFP.

Apple $450 Million Ebook Settlement Wins Court Approval

Apple Inc on Friday won preliminary court approval for its $450 million settlement of claims it harmed consumers by conspiring with five publishers to raise ebook prices.

In approving the accord, U.S. District Judge Denise Cote in Manhattan overcame concerns she had expressed over a settlement provision allowing Apple to pay just $70 million if related litigation were to drag out.

Apple has been appealing Cote's July 2013 finding, in a case brought by the U.S. Department of Justice, that it violated antitrust laws for colluding with the publishers to drive up ebook prices and impede rivals such as Amazon.com Inc.

In June, Apple agreed to settle related class-action litigation brought on behalf of consumers and 33 U.S. states.

When Someone Called the Cops Over Facebook Outage

Will you call 911 if Facebook goes off the radar? This is exactly some users in Los Angeles did when the popular social networking site Friday suffered its second brief outage in two months.

According to LA County Sheriff sergeant Burton Brink, they received "several" calls from dissatisfied Facebook users seeking a solution to the error message they faced while logging into Facebook.

Frustrated, Brink wrote a message on Twitter: "Facebook is not a Law Enforcement issue, please do not call us about it being down, we do not know when FB will be back up!"

Brink explained it was done to prevent more people from calling about the problem.

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