White Nexus 4 Pops Up

The LG Nexus 4 is undoubtedly the best Android phone currently in the market, assuming you can get your hands on one. Right now, everyone wants one and its easy to spot why. It's cheap, super fast, runs on the latest Android OS (what else does one need). the only thing disappointing so far was that we had only a single color model in black. Turns out all this is set to change with the release of an even more attractive white Nexus 4.

Yesterday PhoneArena gave us the first look of the rumored white Nexus 4 device. The quality is not fantastic, but what it certainly looked like an authentic photo in my eye.

Today the Vietnamese site Tinh te' managed a hell of a job by uploading a whole collection of photos of the Nexus 4 from every possible angle.

Will Google unveil this device in the Mobile World Congress next month or maybe in May at the Google I/O? Hard to call. Maybe it will be a limited edition only for employees or for the Google I/O attendees. In short, I haven't got the slightest clue and wont bore you with speculations.

But given that there have been white versions of the Nexus S and the Galaxy Nexus, it seems quite likely that Google will come out with a white Nexus 4.  

Source: Tinh Te, PhoneArena

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Pixar Lamp - Brought To Life In Reality

The Pixar introductory logo animation will be etched in peoples mind for many years to come and is one that still excites people at the movies. However, only few know how the jumping lamp was even invented in the first place. 

Now, Adam Ben-Dror, Shanshan Zhou and Joss Dogget from the University of Wellington, New Zealand decided to bring the Pixar lamp to life, and the result is mind-twisting in every sense.

Through intricate animatronics, these people managed to bring the Pixar lamp to life in a way that most of us would find creepy. With a face recognition feature, it will track your every move and behave as if it wants to tell you something. The eerie way it tries to find you when you are hiding your face behind a book is not only creepy, but also displays a false sense of intelligence. It’s intelligence that might make this Pixar lamp (named “pinokio”) the most humanoid lamp we have ever seen. Its algorithm, electronic circuit and structural modifications make this Pixar lamp come to life when you switch the “lamp” on. Don’t think you are safe though. Once you turn it on, you will not be able to turn it off, at least not with the on/off switch. The Pixar lamp is “aware” of its own conscious state, and it will simply turn itself on again if you decide to turn it off. It’s freaky how impressively this lamp keeps its “master” at bay. Freaky to say the least!

'Pinokio' is able to respond to the prompts of human movement - bringing the iconic Pixar Lamp to life!

                             

Source: Design Boom 

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Rumor Roundup – HTC M7

As the Mobile World Congress gets closer and closer the rumors of the devices to be launched grow exponentially. One device which has gained the attention of the people is the HTC’s next flagship phone, the successor of the One X/X+, aka the M7. With the launch of this device, the Taiwanese firm will be hoping for a reverse of its fortunes.

The phone is expected to have a 4.7 inch full HD screen (1900 X 1080 resolution) making its pixel density 468 PPI (pixels-per inch). For some perspective, if that's true, it would be around 40 percent sharper than the current iPhone 5's Retina display (326 PPI) and also higher than the HTC Droid DNA/Sony Xperia Z ( 440 PPI). There were also rumors of HTC having an AMOLED display but those seem to have disappeared with most sources claiming that the M7 will have a so-called SoLux LCD display, which is said to offer a number of visual improvements over the previous generation Super LCD2, boosting viewing angles, outdoor visibility, and color accuracy.

The phone is expected to run on a Qualcomm quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor at 1.7 GHz and 2GB RAM. This bothers me a bit as we will definitely see quad core powered phones touching 2 GHz by the end of the year, a phone running at atleast 1.9 GHz would be a better bet against the future Samsung Galaxy S4 and Note 3. Unless HTC has planned the M7 followed by M7+ 6 months later approach again (which again I hope it does not). The phone is expected to have a 32GB flash memory and a 2300 mAH battery. There doesn't seem to be any method to expand the storage memory.

Screenshot of the leaked HTC Sense 5 UI

The operating system is bound to be Jellybean, although which version it is still not clear. It is expected to have a Sense 5 user interface.

The rear camera, boasts a 13MP image sensor and a f/2.0 lens. The front camera has a 2MP lens, with both cameras said to be able to record 1080p video. The rumored new image sensor ("Cinesensor") also sports super slow-motion and video HDR. In addition to these, the M7 will launch with enhanced sound abilities. The speaker is designed by the Dr. Dre-branded sound technology, Beats, while another "Clear Words" technology is said to make phone conversations easier to hear.

Screenshot of the leaked HTC Sense 5 UI

4G LTE connectivity is also rumored, as is a next-gen Wi-Fi 802.11ac connection that is said to be three times faster than the current 802.11n WLAN wireless technology. Also, HTC has reportedly brought back the left-for-dead IR port, placed it near the power button atop the M7, and given it learning capabilities. Phones that work as high-end universal remotes right out of the box? That’s just the kind of thinking HTC needs to recapture lost market share.

The first look at the M7 was provided by the usually reliable @evleaks on Unwired View. The edge to edge bezel and the odd grilles make it a really ugly looking phone and the fact that there is no HTC logo suggests that this is not the exact design HTC is expected to showcase at the MWC this year.

The next appearance of the M7 on PocketNow, with major probability that it’s fake. It looks like some fan decided to have some fun. For starters, the icons are off. They don't look even remotely similar to past versions of Sense, hence I’m inclined to believe that these are simply fan-made. The back is also simply derived from the Windows Phone 8X. The most odd thing about this shot is that the Home and multitasking buttons have been swapped. However, PocketNow's source claims this is accurate. Which is an extremely baffling choice by HTC if it turns out to be true.

The next appearance has been on Android Police, who in the past have proven that they are one of the most reliable sources of news when it comes to Android. This shot corroborates a lot with the information that PocketNow's tipster provided. Both the leaks have the home and multitasking buttons swapped and have similar dock icons. Some of the uncertainties are that the capacitive buttons which sit unusually high on the front. Also there are none of the usual regulatory markings on the back – which means that even if it is authentic, this may be a prototype that doesn't reflect the final result.

Whatever may be the case, we’ll likely find out more at the Mobile World Congress 2013 in a little over a months’ time, where the company is expected to officially announce the M7. New information pegs a release for only a few weeks after its trade show debut, at an unlocked price just north of $600.

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Source: Unwired View, PocketNow and Android Police.

[Update] Temple Run 2 : Coming Soon

Back in 2011 when Keith Shepherd and Natalia Luckyanova released a little 3D endless running game, they could not have anticipated its overwhelming success. Fast forward to 2013 and the duo are all set to release the second version of the popular game - Temple Run 2.

The game is already available in the New Zealand iTunes Store and will be available in the US later tonight as per the reports at Touch Arcade. 

From the screenshots and the gameplay video (bottom), it mentains the same gameplay as the original with sharper graphics, a new floating temple environment, more power-ups and special powers of each character. Oh, and the monkey chasing the hero also looks much more scarier this time around.

Temple Run 2 is free to play but sadly there is no word on when it might land on the Android Play Store as well.

Update: The game is now available in the iTunes Store.

Update: The developer has confirmed that the new game will arrive on Android on January 24th (Source: Android Police). 

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Source: Touch Arcade

Google Nexus 4 Spotted Running Android 4.2.2

Unless it is a work of photoshop, it looks like a few lucky people just got their hands on an LG made Nexus 4 shipped with Android Jellybean 4.2.2 out of the box. The photos have allegedly come from a certain Nexus 4 in Malaysia and another in Brazil.

Currently Android 4.2.1 is the latest official public build by Google, which addressed a lot of bugs in the 4.2.0 version (including the embarrassing missing december issue). Such a quick rollout of 4.2.2 version may seem a little fishy, but it doesn't mean that Google isn't working on Android 4.2.2.

Despite the point difference in the build number, the device reportedly doesn't have any new features different from the everyday's Nexus 4 running Jellybean 4.2.1, except "dev keys" at the end of the build number. This comes as no surprise as more changes are expected under the hood in fixing bugs than tweaks in the UI.

It is quite easy to manipulate images such as these. On the other hand, it makes sense that brand new Nexus 4 phones that LG manufactures in Brazil run the very latest version of Android. Is this a private beta test build leak or is a roll-out of the new build in progress? Only the coming few weeks can answer.

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Source: Lowyat and Adrenaline

Winners of the National Geographic Photo Contest 2012

The winners have just been announced of this year's National Geographic photo contest. The Society received more than 22,000 entries from over 150 countries. Presented here are the winners from the three categories of People, Places, and Nature. The Grand Prize Winner receives $10,000 and a trip to National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C., to participate in the annual National Geographic Photography Seminar in January 2013.

1. Grand-Prize Winner (Nature Category): The Explosion! The subject's name is Busaba, a well cared for Indochinese Tigress whose home is at Khao Kheow Open Zoo

2. First Place, Places Category: The Matterhorn, 4,478 m, at full moon.

3. First Place, People Category: Amongst the Scavengers - In Dandora, Kenya.

4. Honorable Mention, Nature Category: Predation up close and personal - Near Komodo, Indonesia.

5. Honorable Mention, Nature Category: Red Fox catching mouse under snow

6. Honorable Mention, Nature Category: East of Iceland - Glacial ice washes ashore after calving off the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier on Iceland's eastern coast.

 7. Honorable Mention, Nature Category: Ursus Arctos Horribilis - photo of a wild Alaskan brown bear digging on a game trail.

8. Viewers' Choice, Nature Category: Tender Moment

9. Honorable Mention, Places Category: Eerie Eiffel

10. Viewers' Choice, Places Category: Iceberg Hunters

11. Honorable Mention, People Category: Stilt Fishing - Stilt fishing is a typical fishing technique only seen in Sri Lanka.

12. Honorable Mention, People Category: Chinese traditional dragon boat racing - Dragon boating is a Chinese traditional entertainment.

13. Honorable Mention, People Category: Captive - Yayasan Galuh Rehabilitation Center is an impoverished mental health facility based in Bekasi, Indonesia that hosts over 250 patients.

14. Viewers' Choice for People: Expedition Amundsen - A race that follows in the path of the famous explorer Roald Amundsen brings the contestants to the Hardangervidda Mountainplateu, Norway.

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P.S: CES 2013 coverage coming up next in a few days. 

Most Anticipated Video Games of 2013

Although 2013 has just taken off, it's already shaping up to be a weird year for the gaming industry. It’s the end of the current generation’s console cycle, and that means graphics - like everything else - has reached its limit. It looks like Microsoft and Sony will try to squeeze one more year out of their current gaming consoles before the Xbox 720 and PS4 make it into the market. Meanwhile, Nintendo will be trying to get its new hardware, the Wii U, off the ground. But despite the turbulent environment - the list of big game releases still looks quite encouraging.

It goes without saying that PCs are on the forefront of videogame development as they aren’t anywhere as constrained as their console counterparts. They are at least half a decade ahead of the pack – which allows developers to make use of high resolution textures and detailed physics engines.

Here are 15 of the most anticipated video games of 2013.

1. Dead Space 3

The nerve chilling sci-fi third-person shooter is back and promises to be more terrifying than ever. Isaac Clarke is returning to Necromorph territory more prepared than ever. Teaming up with his buddy John Carver, Isaac intends to discover the root cause of all Necromorphs and permanently eviscerate the abominations from the universe. Fans can anticipate Dead Space 3 to honor the series’ identity of horror and brutality. Dead Space 3 also introduces new co-op play, where you can play as Isaac and John together with your friends.

Platforms: PC, PS3, Xbox 360

Release date: February, 2013

2. Crysis 3

Crysis 3 sees Prophet return to a post-apocalypse New York to finally take his revenge on the corrupt Cell Corporation. Veering away from the corridor shooter gameplay of the second Crysis, Crysis 3 is set to offer wide open spaces in a New York City overrun by flora and fauna. Players can expect to be able to utilize free-form strategies against AI opponents as they traverse through the wide open areas.

Platforms: PC, PS3, Xbox 360

Release date: February, 2013

3. Grand Theft Auto V

GTA V will be the first game in the series that allows players to assume the role of three different main characters - Michael, Trevor and Franklin. A gaming world said to be bigger than the environments of Red Dead Redemption, GTA: San Andreas and GTA 4 combined. And if all that wasn't enough, Rockstar is also promising to redefine open-world multiplayer.

Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360

Release date: Q2 2013

4. Bioshock Infinite

The game was originally scheduled for a 2012 release, but the necromancers over at Irrational Games pushed this highly ambitious title into 2013. BioShock Infinite introduces a whole new environment, the game is set in the floating sky-city of Columbia, a metropolis shrouded in clouds and secrets. Gamers will play as Booker DeWitt, a former Pinkerton agent with a rugged yet handsome look. Matching its predecessors will be no easy task, but a floating fortress in the midst of a civil war has certainly caught my interest.

Platforms: PC, PS3, Xbox 360, PS Vita

Release date: March, 2013

5. Sim City

As the name suggests, SimCity is a reboot of the classic city-building sandbox, and the first true sequel since 2004. Just think of the leaps in processing power that computers have made since then, and imagine how much more detailed your little metropolis could be. It’ll be all the more devastating when a UFO comes and ruins everything.

Platforms: PC, Mac

Release date: March, 2013

6. Watch Dogs

Developed by Ubisoft Montreal, the same team responsible for Far Cry and Assassin’s Creed, comes Watch Dogs, a hacking and surveillance sandbox game. Forget iOS vs Android. In Watch Dogs’ future, everyone is jacked into a centralized operating system, which means that the game’s hacker protagonist has access to the digital lives of the entire city. To complement the typical open-world fare of shooting and driving, the game will allow players to eavesdrop on cell phone conversations, manipulate city infrastructure, and even just look up the names of passersby.

Platforms: PC, PS3, Xbox 360

Release date: TBA 2013

7. Starcraft II: Heart Of The Swarm

Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm is the first expansion pack to Starcraft II, and the second chapter in a planned trilogy of games. The game's campaign takes place after the events of the first game and you take on the role of Sarah Kerrigan and the Zerg race in an all new single-player campaign. The multiplayer is also set to get some major additions with new buildings, units, and associated strategies.

Platforms: PC, Mac

Release date: March, 2013

8. Remember Me

It’s delightfully uncomfortable to think about Remember Me’s setting of 2084 Paris, where surveillance is everywhere, privacy doesn’t exist, and certain people—including the game’s protagonist, Nilin - have the power to change people’s memories. With former Splinter Cell, Rainbow Six and Heavy Rain staff overseeing its development, Remember Me should strike a nice balance between action and storytelling.

Platforms: PC, PS3, Xbox 360

Release date: May, 2013

9.  Gears of War: Judgment

Another game, another prequel. This time, it’s the Gears of War franchise. Gears of War: Judgement takes place before the events of the original trilogy, with Baird and his team brought to trial for disobeying orders. Add in class-based multiplayer, and what you have is a prequel full of surprises.

Platforms: Xbox 360

Release date: March, 2013

10. The Cave

The Cave sees seven characters from across time and space - including an adventurer, a knight, time-traveller and a scientist - join forces to explore a Cave that magically brings their desires, hopes and dreams to life. Did I mention that The Cave is the brainchild of the maker of adventure classics Day of the Tentacle and Maniac Mansion? Could this be 2013's must-have downloadable release?

Platforms: PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U

Release date: January, 2013

11. 0x10c

Mojang, the studio behind Minecraft, has a twist in mind for its sci-fi MMO: At the core of every player’s spaceship is a fully programmable 16-bit computer. At best, 0x10c’s CPUs will spark the same type of creativity that made Minecraft a huge hit.

Platform: PC

Release date: TBA 2013

12. Destiny

Little is known about the next big game from Bungie, the studio that created Halo. What people have heard so far outlines a story about an alien invasion, and a sci-fi universe that aspires to be as epic in scale as Star Wars. We’ll see about that - but Bungie’s track record is enough to keep us listening.

Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360

Release date: TBA 2013

13. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

Developed by Platinum Studios with input from Hideo Kojima, Metal Gear Rising combines a thrilling combat system with an insane story. It's also extremely violent - thanks to a brutal, albeit enormously fun limb-slicing system - and incredibly challenging. Is "revengeance" even a word? I’m not sure, but action and Metal Gear fans are in for a treat in 2013.

Platforms: PC, PS3, Xbox 360

Release date: February, 2013

14. God of War: Ascension

God of War: Ascension is the next in line for the popular God of War series, exclusive to the PlayStation 3 console system. Taking place six months after Kratos killed his wife and child, God of War: Ascension promises to reveal a more human side to Sony's ancient Greek anti-hero, before he was consumed by a desire for revenge. The game will also have the newly introduced multiplayer system.

Platforms:  PS3

Release date: March, 2013

15. Tomb Raider

The highly-anticipated Tomb Raider reboot reveals how Lara Croft became the fearless treasure-hunting heroine we've all come to know and love. Shipwrecked on a hostile island and without her usual highly-developed skillset, it's not going to be an easy ride, especially with scavengers, wolves and booby-trapped temples to contend with. Seriously. Lara Croft has been around for 16 years and, in recent years, has really shown her age, hopefully that will change with this game.

Platforms: PC, PS3, Xbox 360

Release date: March, 2013

I’m well aware that this list is non-exhaustive. There are many more grand releases set for 2013 such as  Prison Architect, The Last of Us, Total War: Rome 2, Beyond: Two Souls, DmC: Devil May Cry, The Elder Scrolls Online, Metro: Last Light and many others. Feel free to discuss in the comments below.

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