China Blocks Google Site For Moving To Hong Kong

China Blocks Google Site For Moving To Hong Kong

Much of China was unable to access the Google site, which indicates a possibility that the Chinese government has chosen to punish the company for its decision last week to move out of Beijing and operate an uncensored site from Hong Kong.

Users were unable to do any search on the site, with few able to even access the home page. It was unclear whether the site had been shut down by Chinese censors or there was a glitch in the system. In either case, the widespread outage is seen as the Chinese Government’s retaliation to Google’s move to Hong Kong.

There have been no statements from Beijing, and this does not surprise analysts. The great Firewall of China – the country’s blocking system – is known to cut off access from sites that run afoul of Chinese administration.

After initially releasing a press note stating the disruption was possibly due to a change from their end, Google said that the change mentioned had been made a week ago, and the current disruption was from the Chinese end. It also added that the problem seemed to have been resolved and services had returned to normal. 

Google is not the only site to face such a problem. Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have all been inaccessible here for much of last year. Because Beijing seemed to be angered by Google’s strident comments last week and in January about the country’s strict censorship controls, many analysts believed it was just a matter of time before China’s sophisticated Internet filters blocked the Google site.

Last week, citing frustration with Chinese censorship controls and online attacks that seemed to be coming from China, Google officially pulled its Chinese-language search engine out of the country and relocated it to Hong Kong, which still operates like an independent state. The move ended Google’s four-year experiment with operating a Chinese-language search engine from Beijing under Chinese censorship rules. 

The question that remains is – how long will Beijing try to play a censorship role, until the access to free speech and thought one day bursts forth? And what the consequences of that will be, no one dares to bet on.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/31/technology/31google.html?ref=global

Zero fees from India has bankers relying on private share sales

India’s best quarter for stock sales in at least six years was accompanied by a slump in fees as investment banks competed to take state-owned companies public in deals that netted them almost no revenue.

Companies led by NMDC raised Rs 44,100 crore ($9.8 billion) through March 31, the most for a single quarter since Bloomberg began compiling data in 2004. While the value of sales doubled from the previous three months, fees slumped by half to Rs 2,000 crore, according to Bloomberg data.

More than half of sales were by state-owned companies that paid near-zero fees and crowded out private firms, putting pressure on banking revenues. JPMorgan Chase
& Co and ICICI Securities are among underwriters predicting a rebound in charges this year as more private companies tap stock markets for capital and the government overhauls the way it pays banks.


To read the full article, click here.

Vikram Pandit sees the day when he will earn over $1/year

Citigroup is getting smaller, and maybe even better. Just 13 months ago, Citigroup’s chief executive, Vikram Pandit, was facing the unthinkable. After bailouts worth $45 billion, the federal government had become the largest shareholder of a bank that was once among the biggest on the planet.

Citigroup’s shares were selling at barely a dollar each, having fallen from about $20 a year earlier and $50 a year before that.
There was even talk of nationalisation, a move that would have wiped out shareholders and cost Pandit his job and his legacy.

Fittingly, New York magazine called Pandit the “Most Powerless Powerful Man on Wall Street”.

Today, Pandit is still at the helm, and through a series of small but important moves, he is quietly asserting his influence. Piece by piece, he is shedding complex businesses like the insurance and retail brokerage units, shrinking the bank’s balance sheet and stabilising its finances.

To read the full article, click here.

Ocean Breeze: The Next Source of Renewable Energy?

Ocean Breeze: The Next Source of Renewable Energy?

In a search for non-polluting sources ofenergy, the North American states of Rhode Island and New England are embarkingon projects to set up offshore wind farms, up to 30 miles off the East Coast ofthe United States. The move comes at a time when President Obama has justcleared exploration offshore of the American coast.

 The wind energy project has definitebenefits, but critical to its implementation will be ensuring that the projectis cleared from an environmental as well as economic perspective, and is in thegreater public good.
Rhode Island has put potential sites undera three year scientific study, in order to study bird migration patterns,wildlife habitats, fish distribution and areas of cultural importance to NativeAmerican Indian tribes. Its goal has been to build a consensus and avoid thekind of conflict that the neighbouring state is facing, with businessinterests, coastal tribes and resident homeowners opposing the developer, CapeWind and supporters of the alternative energy movement.

Rhode Island has proposed two potentialoffshore sites — a $200 million eight-turbine project off Block Island, and afar bigger $1.5 billion farm in the eastern Rhode Island Sound — and hasselected a preferred developer, Deepwater Wind. It has also managed to sign apower purchase agreement with a utility company to buy the farm’s output. 

Delaware, Maine, New Jersey, New York and Virginia are also eager to securepermits and to lease blocks from the federal government in waters beyond thethree-mile limit of state control. Some environmentalists are concerned thatthe offshore competition in the Northeast could trump the protection of fishand bird populations, affecting the ecology of the regions.
While environmental groups have generally praised Rhode Island’s planning asthorough, some question why state officials homed in on two sites before thethree-year study was completed. Mr. Fugate, the chief administrator of theRhode Island project and the director of the state’s Coastal ResourcesManagement Council has emphasized that the sites are tentative and could bevetoed if the research indicates that they have big drawbacks. Adjustments havebeen made as the research has progressed, he said. 

With considerable economic stakes, the first offshore wind farm couldgenerate as much as 1.3 million megawatt hours of power in a year, which wouldlight up 125,000 homes and create over 600 jobs. In fact, the competition is sohigh that researchers involved with the project have been asked to keep some ofthe data secret. 

The project has the potential to make or break the attempt to harnessoffshore wind power as a source of alternative energy, but the ecological andeconomic concerns driving the objective need to be addressed, in order to makeit a pathbreaker for other projects to follow.
Source:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/03/science/earth/03wind.html?ref=business

Employment Numbers Turn Positive In March

Employment Numbers Turn Positive In March

Over eight million jobs have been reduced in the US since December 2007, when the recession first hit. The numbers have been showing a slow decline, with fewer jobs being lost every month. In March, the turnaround has finally happened with 162,000 nonfarm jobs being added, and the unemployment rate held steady at 9.7 percent.

President Obama greeted the news with enthusiasm, claiming the economy was finally ready to turn the corner. With everything seemingly moving in the right direction, he was careful not to raise expectations too high, adding that it would take some time to achieve strong and sustained job growth required.

Based on current calculations, the economy needs to add over 100,000 jobs a month just to absorb new employees entering the labor pool, apart from the 15 million Americans already looking for work. The unemployment rates will not go down until robust job growth is seen, and estimates indicate the figure will stay around the 10 per cent mark till the end of the year at least. Still, economists saw signs in the latest report that the economy was poised to make steady, if slow, progress.

The maximum job growth is in the private sector, especially in the healthcare sector. Approximately 40,000 jobs are temporary positions, indicating that employers are hiring temps until they get a stronger sign of the improving times. Thousands of temporary workers are also being hired by the census bureau, which will continue till the end of the summer, and this may create an artificial surge in the numbers.

For the long term unemployed, the average length of time they remained unemployed increased to 31.2 weeks, the longest period of time since records have been kept. The stock market in the meanwhile reacted positively to developments, as the economy has shown signs of renewal in recent months due to significant government spending. Analysts now opine that the recovery will continue even in the absence of stimulus spending.

But substantial worries persist. Consumer spending remains tepid, though it has improved modestly in recent months. Real estate markets are still severely depressed, holding back hiring in critical industries like construction. And many state and local governments, facing ballooning deficits, are poised to make severe cutbacks. The long-term unemployed find little comfort in one month of good news, especially with many nearing the end of their government assistance.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/03/business/economy/03jobs.html?ref=business

Google Buzz, Gmail Buzz vs Twitter, Is Google buzz Alternate to Twitter or its totally Different???

Google Buzz in Gmail, Some similarities in Gmail Buzz and Twitter...

I feel buzzing and Twitting both are same and same impact in user. But the big difference is Twitter is limited to 140 text words and a tiny url. In Google buzz text unlimited and add a link to this post, upload photos, Comment,like, Un-like, and Email share available. followers, Following, Find people features similar to twitter. Connected sites more useful in Gmail Buzz.
So Google Buzz looks like Twitter, But its so high and advanced features then twitter and Buzz giving more connectivity with our mail friends. No need of fresh sign up is big plus to Google Buzz. I wish Google Buzz going to big hit in future. what is your opinion readers???

Do you Know about Earth Hour??? Be Part of Earth Hour March 27 at 8.30pm local time

Please Switch of Lights Saturday 27 March at 8.30pm...

Earth Hour 2010 takes place on Saturday 27 March at 8.30pm (local time) and is a global call to action to every individual, every business and every community throughout the world. It is a call to stand up, to take responsibility, to get involved and lead the way towards a sustainable future. People across the world from all walks of life will turn off their lights and join together in celebration and contemplation of the one thing we all have in common – our planet. Earth Hour 2010 will be the culmination of over one billion people around the globe, in more than 6000 cities, towns turning off lights for one hour on one night. Iconic buildings and landmarks across world will go dark. In India, Earth Hour 2010 to Pune, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bangaluru, Chennai and Kolkata, apart from several other cities where people will be encouraged to participate and turn-off the lights in their homes, offices and buildings from 8:30pm - 9:30pm on Saturday, 27 March 2010. for more: www.earthhour.org and www.earthhour.in

Botcha Satyanarayana, Hyderabad part of Telangana

Who's Next towards Telangana???

Some Andhra leader's not leaving even Telangana movement to Telangana people. "Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Minister Botcha Satyanarayana said Hyderabad was part and parcel of Telangana. “Nobody can divide it from Telangana and demand that it be made into a Union Territory,” Mr. Satyanarayana said on Tuesday even as he stood by his campaign in support of division of Andhra Pradesh for all-round development of three regions. Mr. Satyanarayana maintained that the interventionists(Who???) had failed to give him any convincing answer on why the State should be united. During his interactions with a cross-section of the society from the Andhra and Rayala seema regions, no one could answer his query on inequitable development of regions. “Why should development center around Hyderabad and its neighboring areas only?”. He wondered why the TDP leaders had taken a complete ‘U’ turn after daring the State government to introduce a resolution in the Assembly supporting Telangana".(News Source: The Hindu). Do you believing Botcha Satyanarayana honesty Telangana issue? Write your comments...

APGVB Recruitment of Office Assistants – 2010 Notification

Andhra Pradesh Grameena Vikas Bank Office Assistants Recruitment...

www.apgvb.com, APGVB invite Applications are invited from Indian citizens of Andhra Pradesh for appointment as office assistants - 2010.
Vacancies- 150.
Probation : one year
Pay Scales at present the total starting emoluments are around Rs 8,205/- per month for graduates inclusive of DA & HRA at the current rates.
Educational Qualification (As On 01.01.2010)A degree from any recognized university in any discipline or its equivalent. Proficiency in local language (Telugu) is essential. Knowledge of English is preferred. Preference will be given to candidates with Computer knowledge.
Application fee for SC / ST / PC / EXS Rs 75/-, OBC / General- 275/-.
Payment of Fee : There are two Challan forms available in our web site.
1. Andhra Pradesh Grameena Vikas Bank. 2. State Bank of India.(payment in SBI in non APGV Bank Districts) Fees should be paid invariably between 17.02.2010 and 15.03.2010 only.
WRITTEN TEST : (i) The written test will be held on - 2nd May 2010.
HOW TO APPLY : All eligible candidates should apply on-line through the link provided to our website www.apgvb.com in the prescribed Format from 17.02.2010 to 17.03.2010.
Chalns for paying fee: APGVB Challan | APGVB Branch Codes | SBI Challan |

RRB Application forms Download for Notice No 02&03/2010

Download 02/2010 and 03/2010 applications here...

Centralized Employment Notice No.02/2010 for NTPC(Graduate) closing date 17.03.2010 up to 17.30 Hrs.

APPLICATION FORM FOR Centralized Employment Notice No 02/2010

click here

***

Centralized Employment Notice No.03/2010 for ASM Closing date 23.03.2010 up to 17.30 Hrs.

APPLICATION FORM FOR Centralized Employment Notice No 03/2010

click here

APPSC Group-1 and Appsc Group-4 Exam dates announced

APPSC Group 1&4 Exam dates...

At last Appsc announce exam dates to Gr-I Service Preliminary, Gr-IV Service – Hostel Welfare Officers, Gr-IV Service- Junior Assts. & Supervisors / Matrons Grade-II and Jr.Lecturers in Government Junior Colleges. Exam schedule start after more then one and half year, from July to October. For group 4 applications received at Feb 2009. Appsc Schedule of Examinations. Commission have scheduled the written examinations for Recruitment dates of the Examinations are as follows.

Appsc exams schedule:

• Jr.Lecturers in Government Junior Colleges, Notification No : 19/2008 - 04-07-2010.
• Gr-I Service Preliminary Examination, Notification No : 39/2008 - 25-07-2010.
• Gr-IV Service – Hostel Welfare Officers, Notification No : 41/2008 - 08-08-2010.
• Gr-IV Service- Junior Assts. & Supervisors / Matrons Grade-II, Notification No : 40/2008, 03-10-2010.

IPTV new trend in india,MTNL,BSNL,RELIANCE in Que

MTNL launch iptv first time in India

IPTV service now in India which is delivered using IP (Internet Protocol) technology, which is the same technology used in Internet Services. MTNL already start booking in mumbai , BSNL and Reliance launching soon. In this service the TV channels are encoded in IP format and delivered to TV using a Set Top Box. The IP TV Service also includes Video on Demand Services which is is similar to watching Video CD's / DVD's using a VCD / DVD player. Movies, Instructional Videos and other content shall be available to customers in the IP TV Services. In this network All the three services , Normal Telephone Service, Broadband Internet service and IPTV service work together.The main components in delivering this IPTV service are 1. TV and Content Head End - Where the TV channels are received and encoded. Also other content (Video's) are stored at Head End. Provider has signed agreement for this with Broadband.Delivery network is Broadband network and s telephone land line and Set Top Box (STB). The Set Top Box is required at the customer location for converting the IP signal back to TV signal. The STB shall be connected between Broadband Modem and customer's TV. Landline telephone with Broadband connectivity is required for this service.

videocon mobile phones, Videoconmobile phones prices in India,Videocon mobile,

Videocon mobile phones prices in India...
Videocon offers wide range of mobile phones from a basic FM radio mobile phone to a touchscreen smartphone.Videocon is a trusted brand in consumer electronics in India.

* Videocon V2950 mobile price – Rs.18,000
* Videocon V1750 mobile price – Rs.9,500
* Videocon V1604 mobile price – Rs.5,500
* Videocon V1502 mobile price – Rs.4,900
* Videocon V1405 mobile price – Rs.4,000
* Videocon V1403 mobile price – Rs.3,500
* Videocon V1401 mobile price – Rs.3,390
* Videocon V1302 mobile price – Rs.2,900
* Videocon V1303 mobile price – Rs.2,790
* Videocon V1301 mobile price – Rs.2,690
* Videocon V200 mobile price – Rs.1,600.
(All above prices Approx. rate, some variation from place to place) more in: www.videoconmobiles.com

How to Check my IMEI Number? IMEI number verification, IMEI number Tracking

IMEI Number Check, IMEI Check...

International Mobile Equipment Identity(IMEI) number which do not have for China handsets will stop working from First December 2009 because all mobile operators across India are asked The Department of Telecommunication to stop services to such handsets. To check your IMEI Number can be made by following steps given below. To see your Handset IMEI Number press *#06#, For checking your Handset GENUINE IMEI Number send SMS to 53232(eg : IMEI <15> send to 53232)

What is an IMEI number?
• IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is unique 15 digit identification number of the Mobile Handset. It is like the registration number of your vehicle. No two mobile handsets in the world should have the same IMEI number. IMEI number is an important tool for the handset tracking. IMEI numbers are being allotted by five bodies authorized by GSMA. From IMEI number one can identify the make and model of the handset.

Press *#06# IMEI Number checking

The Structure of an IMEI :

IMEI numbers either come in a 15 digit or 17 digit sequences of numbers. The IMEI format currently used as AA-BBBBBB-CCCCCC-D. AA: These two digits are for the Reporting Body Identifier, indicating the GSMA approved group that allocated the TAC (Type Allocation Code). BBBBBB: The remainder of the TAC. CCCCCC: Serial sequence of the Model. D: Luhn check digit of the entire model or 0 (This is an algorithm that validates the ID number).

IMEI Number Verification :

To see your Handset IMEI Number press *#06#, For checking your Handset GENUINE IMEI Number send SMS to 53232(eg : IMEI <15> send to 53232). If your Chinese handset is showing an unique IMEI number, it is important to validate that it is an unique IMEI number and not a cloned or duplicate IMEI number because recently many local Chinese firms sent millions of cheap mobiles in India with duplicate or cloned IMEI number which are also equally invalid as per international and Indian laws. No IMEI number or duplicate IMEI number, people can use a service started by Mobile Standards Alliance of India (Govt. Approved) to provide valid and unique IMEI to all such handsets by paying just Rs 199. After getting new IMEI number, any person can use such handsets for as long as he wants. People can get the list of all available authorized service centers in their area by visiting this link http://www.msai.in/listofcentre.php.

+9, 11 digit new mobile phone number from January

9 adding to all mobile phone numbers from January...

DoT has amended the National Numbering Plan 2003 for migration to an 11-digit numbering plan in mobile services by prefixing the number ‘9’ to the existing two-digit PLMN Access Code. More than 480 million subscribers of mobile telephony services will have 11-digit number from January 1 2010. The subscribers will have to prefix 9 to the existing 10-digit number. For example, a number 9xxxxxxxxx will become 99xxxxxxxxx. The Department of telecommunications (DoT) issued a notice to all telecom service providers on Tuesday, informing the change in the plan. The change in numbering system is due to increase in the number of subscribers. This is also due to increase in the number of service providers. This is not the first time phone numbers will be modified. A few years ago, the government had prefixed the number ‘2’ to all BSNL and MTNL fixed-line land phones across the country to accommodate more connections.

Karbon mobiles price list India

Karbonn Mobiles price list(Approx):

Karbonn mobiles provide touch screen, music player, camera, dual sim, Bluetooth, radio, etc. In order to buy rich mobiles at low cost, Karbonn mobile is one of the best mobiles. Karbon Mobile Price List in India or Price list of Karbonn mobile is given here.

1.Karbonn K118 mobile phone price– Rs.1,875
2.Karbonn K332 mobile phone price– Rs.1,923
3.Karbonn K330 mobile phone price– Rs.2,067
4.Karbonn K310 mobile phone price– Rs.2,160
5.Karbonn K300 mobile phone price– Rs.2,600
6.Karbonn K447 mobile phone price– Rs.2,700
7.Karbonn K217 mobile phone price– Rs.2,749
8.Karbonn K360 mobile phone price– Rs.3,000
9.Karbonn K451 mobile phone price– Rs.3,077
10.Karbonn K444 mobile phone price– Rs.3,077
11.Karbonn K541 mobile phone price– Rs.3,442
12.Karbonn K451M mobile phone price– Rs.3,500
13.Karbonn K450 mobile phone price– Rs.4,200
14.Karbonn K446 mobile phone price– Rs.4,500
15.Karbonn KC441 mobile phone price– Rs.4,721
16.Karbonn K770 mobile phone price– Rs.5,500
17.Karbonn K661 mobile phone price– Rs.7,000
18.Karbonn K560 mobile phone price– Rs.8,000
Official Website of Karbonn Mobile – http://karbonnmobiles.com/mobiles

Nokia Mobile Phone Price list india,

Nokia Mobile Phone Prices – All Prices are in Indian Rupee (INR)
All mobile price list in :www.fonearena.com/mobile phone pricelist.html
Nokia N96 Rs.33000
Nokia E90 Communicator Rs.32827
Nokia N97 Rs.29500
Nokia N85 Rs.21000
Nokia N86 8MP Rs.20789
Nokia E72 Rs.19750
Nokia E66 Rs.18759
Nokia N82 Rs.17937
Nokia E75 Rs.17378
Nokia 6260 Slide Rs.17308
Nokia E71 Rs.15750
Nokia N79 Rs.14241
Nokia 6700 Classic Rs.12514
Nokia N73 Music Edition Rs.11500
Nokia E63 Rs.10800
Nokia 6208 Classic Rs.10005
Nokia 7610 Supernova Rs.9100
Nokia 3600 Slide Rs.9000
Nokia 3120 Classic Rs.7129
Nokia 7310 Supernova Rs.7100
Nokia 6303 Classic Rs.6690
Nokia 3610 Fold Rs.6453
Nokia 3500 Classic Rs.5243
Nokia 7210 Supernova Rs.4800
Nokia 2680 Slide Rs.4000
Nokia 2700 Classic Rs.3975
Nokia 3110 classic Rs.3970
Nokia 2630 Rs.3400
Source & more in : http://www.fonearena.com/mobile_phone_pricelist.html

• 

  Samsung Galaxy i7500 [Review]

  Samsung's first Android device is a bit laggy

  Slim, 3.2-inch AMOLED anti-scratch display, Wi-Fi, GPS with compass, accelerometer, proximity sensor

  Tacky side buttons, memory card slot in battery compartment, thin touch QWERTY pad

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  Write Review

  Expert Rating :

  

  Exper Review:
  
  
  After seeing the Android operated handsets from HTC -- Hero and Magic -- it's time for Samsung to unleash its first Android device in the market. There are two Android based phones that Samsung have released, Galaxy I7500 and the Galaxy Spica I5700. However, in India only the Galaxy I7500 has been released and we have it for review today. The features that strike you at first sight are its sleekness and the large display of the device. But there is more to it and in this review we are going to tell you about it.
  
  

  

  
  
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  • Samsung Galaxy i7500
  • Stereo Headset (in-earphones)
  • USB Cable
  • Charger
  • Manual & Software CD
  
  

• 

  Sony Ericsson Yari [Review]

  A stylish gaming handset from Sony Ericsson

  Good design, good quality display, GPS, decent web browser, powerful loudspeakers, dedicated gaming keys

  Camera focusing issues, frustrating soft key and camera shutter button design, no Wi-Fi, slightly expensive

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  Expert Review:
  
  
  After the F305, the Yari is Sony Ericsson's next gaming handset. It features a sliding design like its predecessor but packs in a lot more features, like a QVGA display, 5 megapixel camera and GPS. Read on for the full review of this handset.
  
  
  

  
  

  

  
  
  
  
  Bundle
  

  • Sony Ericsson Yari
  • Battery
  • Charger
  • Headset
  • Data Cable
  • 1 GB Memory Card
  • User Guide 

• 

  Spice D-6666 [Review]

  A dual SIM phone with the flexibility to use both GSM or CDMA

  Dual SIM card slot, second slot can be used with both GSM as well as CDMA cards, good design, QVGA display, simple, easy to use interface

  Underwhelming multimedia experience, slow Java application performance, slightly expensive

  Expert Rating :

  

  Expert Review:
  
  
  The Spice D-6666 is an interesting new dual SIM phone which not only gives you the convenience of using two SIM cards with the phone but also gives you the flexibility of using either a GSM or CDMA SIM in the second SIM slot while the first one is fixed for GSM usage. The D-6666 also has features like a QVGA display, 2 megapixel camera, Bluetooth and expandable memory. 
  
  
  

  

   
  Bundle:
  

  • Spice D-6666
  • Battery
  • Charger
  • Headset
  • USB Data cable
  • 1GB microSD card
  • Software CD
  • User Guide

• 

  HTC Tattoo [Review]

  Affordable Android mobile phone

  Design and build quality, option to create your personal skin, Android 1.6 Cupcake with Android Market, solid integration with Google services with full suite of Google apps, HTC Sense improves usability and aesthetic appeal of the UI

  Unimpressive camera quality with no autofocus or flash, some apps on the Market don't work with the QVGA resolution, UI can be a bit sluggish at times, no 3G support in the Indian version of Tattoo

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  Write Review

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  Expert Review :
  Google's mobile operating system - Android OS - is very impressive and is the only one which can come close to the iPhone OS in terms of usability but has so far been restricted to high end mobile devices, with no phone yet under the 20k mark. However, HTC's new Tattoo intends to change that by being the first sub-20k Android phone that packs nearly as many features as its older brothers. This means you get almost the same Android experience but now at a more affordable price.
  
  But lower price is not just the main feature of the Tattoo. The phone's special rear cover, with its unique pattern, is reason for it being named 'Tattoo'. But the best part is that you can have the rear covers engraved with a pattern of your choice. So what more does this phone have to offer. Read on to find out.
   

  

  
  
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  • HTC Tattoo
  • Battery
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  • Stereo Headset
  • 1 GB microSD card
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• 

  Sony Ericsson Satio [Review]

  
  

  Impressive spec sheet, but will it perform as well? Let's find out

  Good camera quality and features, large, high resolution display, great audio quality, connectivity features, 8 GB memory card supplied

  Plasticky design, resistive touchscreen, utterly frustrating software and user interface, abysmal web browser, no 3.5mm headphone jack, no stereo speakers, no DivX/XviD support, poor quality supplied headset, horrible battery life

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  Expert Review:
   
  After the Xperia X1, Sony Ericsson did not come out with a new touchscreen phone for quite some time. Last year, however, they announced two new phones, the Aino and the Satio (back then called the Idou), both of which had impressive spec sheets (especially the latter) and were poised to bring the company back on track in the ever growing touchscreen phone market.
  
  The Satio is pretty loaded phone and represents a couple of firsts for Sony Ericsson. It is the first phone from the company with a 12.2 megapixel camera and also the first to run the S60 operating system. But will this phone be able to stand up to the tough competition? We review the phone to find out.
  
  

  

  
  
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  • Sony Ericsson Satio
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• 

  LG Chocolate BL40

  Frazier Barretto, Jan 22, 2010 1901 hrs IST

  Stylish phone but other areas need improvement

  Large screen, good looks, 5MP camera, good audio quality, DivX support

  Fingerprint magnet, bad touch response, interface lag, tall handset, video format support

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  Exper Review
  
  
  It's was about time LG revived the Chocolate Series, especially after the first two Chocolate phones did so well. LG has now released two new Chocolate phones; the BL20 and the BL40. From the two we have the BL40, which boasts a one of a kind screen with its 21:9 aspect ratio capacitive screen. LG has improved their touch interface, or at least that's what it seems like from all the noise they created before the phones release.
  
  

  

  
  
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  • LG Chocolate BL40
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  HTC HD2

  The phone's stunning looks and massive display make it very desirable

  Spectacular display, good touch sensitivity, excellent design, 1GHz Snapdragon processor, superb HTC Sense UI, feature rich

  Too big to carry around comfortably, outdated Windows Mobile OS, average camera quality, unimpressive battery life, mono loudspeaker

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  Expert Review

  Remember the HTC Touch HD, the Windows Mobile smartphone with a gargantuan display? HTC finally has a big brother for the device and are calling it the HD2. If you though the display on the Touch HD was big, wait till you get your eyeballs on this one. It is a 4.3" behemoth of a display with a 800 x 480 pixel resolution and a capacitive touchscreen technology, a first for any Windows Mobile phone. Also a first on any phone is a 1GHz Snapdragon processor. The phone is also incredibly slim measuring only 11.5mm in thickness. Apart from this the HD2 also has several other features, such a 5 megapixel camera, 3G/HSDPA connectivity, Bluetooth, WiFi, A-GPS and what have you. Read on for the full review of this phone.  
  
  

  

  
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  • HTC HD2
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  Nexus One

  We reviewed it, we loved it!

  Superb design and build, excellent display quality, Android 2.1 OS with Android Market, 1GHz Snapdragon processor, great interface design, excellent web browser, good connectivity features, voice to text converter

  Display has poor sunlight visibility and slightly over-saturated colors, interface is occasionally jittery, no DivX/XviD playback, inadequate loudspeaker volume, keys under display are a bit frustrating to use

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  After being present in the mobile phone industry as just a software manufacturer, Google has finally decided to take the plunge and make its first very own mobile phone to compete with the likes of Nokia, Samsung, Apple and BlackBerry. Its weapon of choice? The Nexus One. Manufactured by HTC for Google, the Nexus One has, by far, one of the most impressive specifications list you can find in a smartphone. Or should I call it Superphone, as Google does. The Nexus One comes armed with Qualcomm's finest 1GHz Snapdragon processor, a 3.7-inch, 800 x 480 pixel AMOLED display, a 5 megapixel camera, HSDPA, Wi-Fi, GPS and runs on the latest and greatest Android 2.1 operating system.
  
  

  

  
  
  
  Although the Nexus One is so far only sold in U.S., we managed to get our hands on one sample in India, which was bought from U.S. We spent some time with the Nexus One and this is what we have to say about it.
  
  
  
  
  Bundle:
  
  
  

  • Nexus One
  • Battery
  • Charger
  • Headset
  • USB Cable
  • Carry Case
  • 4GB microSD card
  • User Guide

   

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  Acer neoTouch

  We reviewed it and thought it could have been a lot better

  Large, high resolution display, powerful 1GHz Snapdragon processor, good connectivity features, Flash support in browser

  Poor Bundle, design attracts fingerprints and scratches, minimal UI customization done by Acer, average audio quality, poor quality loudspeaker, no Java application support, no DivX/XviD support, no pre-installed navigation software, expensive

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  Acer phones that we received in the past weren't particularly good and had nothing great to offer, especially when compared with the competition, who are really fighting tooth and nail. Phones by Acer seemed to be a halfhearted attempt by the manufacturer. Today, we have the Acer neoTouch with us which seems to be more in touch with the competition around it and Acer has equipped it accordingly. For starters, there is the blazing fast 1GHz Snapdragon processor, which is currently the fastest processor on mobile phones. The neoTouch also has a large high resolution touchscreen display. It also comes with the full range of connectivity features and runs on Windows Mobile 6.5. Let us see how this one performs.
  
  

  

   
   
  Bundle:
  

  • Acer neoTouch
  • Battery
  • Charger
  • Headset
  • USB cable
  • User Guide

  
  
  The bundle of the phone was rather disappointing. We did not find any memory card in the package and the neoTouch doesn't exactly come with a large amount of memory built-in. There was also not any TV-out cable, something that you always find on high-end Nokia phones. There was also no carry case for the phone and the provided headset was also of average quality.

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  Acer Liquid

  Great design, superb display - the Liquid is a laudable phone from Acer

  Lovely design, beautiful display, Android 1.5 Cupcake with Android Market and full suite of Google mobile apps, 768MHz Snapdragon processor, good audio quality (headphones), superb web browser, decent camera quality, good connectivity features

  Messed up ergonomics, build quality not up to the mark, poor loudspeaker (in quality and volume), no flash for camera, unmarked keys below display are confusing and hard to locate in the dark, no DivX/XviD playback, memory card not hot swappable

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  We have reviewed a lot of Acer phones in the past but somehow neither of them cut the mustard when it came to quality and performance. Their designs were mediocre, the UI was outdated and when compared to the competition they seemed of poor value, especially considering they were always priced high. Also, compared to manufacturers like HTC, who burn the midnight oil to improve the performance and usability of the Windows Mobile OS, with features like the Sense UI, Acer, did not seem so concerned and seem to making the phones just for the heck of it. 
  
   The Acer Liquid is the company's first smartphone to run Google's Android OS. With this phone they are trying to tell us that they are taking the smartphone market seriously and that they should not be taken lightly. The Liquid runs on a powerful Snapdragon processor and has a large 480 x 800 pixel capacitive touchscreen display. It also incorporates all the sought after connectivity features as well as a 5 megapixel camera, 3.5mm headphone jack and expandable memory. 
  

  

  
  
   Bundle
  

  • Acer Liquid
  • Battery Charger
  • Headset
  • USB Cable
  • User Guide
  • 2GB microSD card (with SD card adaptor)  

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  BlackBerry Bold 9700

  A great business phone that also has some good multimedia features

  Good build, compact, lightweight, sharp screen, optical trackpad, 3.5mm jack, 3MP AF camera, smoother OS, talktime, DivX & XviD support

  No FM tuner, last row of keys smaller, missing accelerometer & compass, need to purchase document editor

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  Flying high on the success of the Bold, Blackberry has launched the new Bold 9700. The new phone has some minor updates, a few physical changes and some alterations in the hardware as well. Blackberry made a statement with its Bold 9000 that they were no longer just a business device manufacturer. And with the release of the Curve 8520 it was clear that they intended to penetrate into social networking and target young consumers.
  
  Let's see if the 9700 is able to make any such bold assertions this time around.
  
  
  

  

  
   
  Bundle
   
  

  • Blackberry Bold 9700
  • 2GB memory card
  • Stereo Headset
  • USB Cable
  • Charger with adaptors
  • Leather Case
  • Software CD
  • User Manual & Warranty

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  Samsung CorbyPro

  Value for money phone

  Good build, QWERTY keypad, smooth interface, multitasking, Wi-Fi, GPS, 3.15 MP camera with geo-tagging

  Screen is a smudge magnet, screen resolution could have been higher, battery life

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  It's impressive to see the number of mobile phones that Samsung has launched in the market. Samsung is out there to capture the entire market and want to do it by providing just about every option that we as consumers could ask for. Observing a great demand for touchscreen phones, Samsung has brought in quite a few them into the market. The Star Series from Samsung mobile captivated the market and managed to work wonders, showing the potential of low-priced touchscreen phones.
  
  But once the series began to lose its charm, Samsung released the Corby series of handsets, and now we have so many of them to choose from. Today we look at the CorbyPro, which boasts of features that we see in premium handsets.
  
  

  

  
  
  Bundle
  

  • Samsung CorbyPro
  • Stereo Headset
  • 1GB Card
  • USB Cable
  • Charger
  • Software CD & Manual

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  Nokia 5233

  Touchscreen smartphone on a tight budget

  Good design; fits well in your palm, good touchscreen response, excellent audio quality (headphones), full-fledged smartphone OS with multi-tasking ability, very well priced

  Build quality unsatisfactory, smallish display has poor sunlight visibility, bare bones in terms of features and bundle

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  When Nokia decided to enter the mainstream touchscreen phone market, they decided to do so with the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic. Back then the market was ruled by much more expensive phones like the Apple iPhone and the LG Viewty. In comparison, the low price and good features of the 5800 made it an instant hit. Today, however, the game has changed significantly; you can buy a touchscreen phone from your pocket change!
  In order to compete with the new batch of low-priced touchscreen phones, such as the Samsung Corby series, Nokia has now released two new smartphones, the Nokia 5230 and the Nokia 5233. The 5230 lacks the 3.2 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, stereo speakers and the high capacity memory card of the 5800, whereas the 5233 goes a couple of steps further and loses the 3G and GPS as well, for an even lower price tag. Today we will be reviewing the cheapest touchscreen phone that Nokia has produced till date - the Nokia 5233.  
  
  Note: Since the only difference between the 5230 and the 5233 is the lack of 3G and GPS in the latter, a lot that has been said here also holds true for the 5230 as well.  
  

  

  
  
  Bundle
  

  • Nokia 5233
  • Battery
  • Charger
  • Headset
  • Lanyard with plectrum stylus
  • User Guide

  
  
  The bundle of the 5233 is completely stripped of anything that might even seem like luxury. There is no memory card, no carry case, and worse of all, no USB cable. Now you know how they managed to price the phone so low.  
  
  In comparison, however, the Samsung Corby comes with a 2GB card, USB cable, in-ear earphones and a carry case for around the same price as the 5233.