Remote Control your Android Phone using SMS

How do you locate your mobile phone if the ringer is off? Maybe you switched the phone to vibrate mode while you were in a meeting and the device is nowhere to be found.

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could borrow your colleague’s phone and use it to turn on the ringer of your missing phone?

Meet Agastya, a new Android app that lets you “remotely” perform various tasks on your phone from any other phone via simple SMS commands. The other phone, that is sending the commands, need not be running Android – even the basic Nokia 1100 would do just fine – and either phones don’t require GPS or data plans (Internet).

The workflow is easy. You send an SMS command from a friend’s phone to your own phone in a given format and the app reacts accordingly. For instance, a command like “ringer” would turn on the ringer while “silent” would put the phone to silent mode.

The app can also help you retrieve your missed calls list or your incoming text messages via, you got it right, SMS. This feature should be handy for people who own multiple phones – you can easily check the call and SMS logs of your secondary phone from the one that’s in your pocket.

Here’s a complete list of SMS commands that you can try on your Android phone:

• SILENT – Turn off the phone’s ringer
• RINGER – Turn on the ringer
• IMEI – Get the IMEI number* of your phone
• LAST MESSAGES – Retrieve the last 5 text messages received on your phone
• LAST CALLS – Know the last 5 missed/received/dialed numbers
• <CONTACT> – Fetch the contact number of a person from the address book.

[*] The IMEI number can help you block a misplaced (or stolen) phone from accessing mobile networks (type *#06# to know the IMEI of your existing phone).

Agastay isn’t the first app that offers such features. The more popular Where’s My Droid app can not only turn on the ringer of your phone remotely but will also send you the phone’s current GPS location by SMS. There’s overlap but these apps are more inclined towards locating your lost phone while Agastay is like a command console – you can toggle between phone states or even fetch details of a contact remotely from the phone’s address book. The IMEI feature is also handy for blacklisting your misplaced phone.

In my tests, Agastya did work as advertised and the SMS based commands executed almost instantly though the app did crash in one instance. The company says that Agastay works on Android 2.2 and above.

On a related note, if you aren’t allowed to carry cell phones in your office, you should grab the SMS to Gmail app as it will auto-forward all your incoming text messages and missed calls list to your work email address.

4G LTE Network soon in INDIA

Here comes the 4G network to India, though only in a trial phase. Mukesh Ambani's fourth-generation telecom services are soon to rollout across the country.

Next month Reliance Industries Limited will start with its 4G network in Jamnagar before the project is escalated across India.

Only Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has secured 4G spectrum in all the circles via its subsidiary Infotel Broadband services. Airtel has won rights for Punjab, Karnataka, Kolkata and Maharashtra where as Qualcomm to come up with the network in Haryana, Kerala, Mumbai and Delhi. Aircel has managed to acquire 4G networks in Assam, orissa, Bihar, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, J&K and North East circles. Tikona will launch the service in Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, UP and Gujarat where as Mauritius based Augere Limited has managed to grab only the Madhya Pradesh circle.

4G networks is ultra-fast Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology facilitating high-speed Internet browsing, HD video streaming, voice over LTE, data downloading at 100MBps to 1GBps speed and location-based services.

RIL is roping in vendors such as Huawei, Alcatel Lucent and ZTE for 4G equipments. Presently Huawei holds 50% market share in the world for LTE equipment.

4G networks is ultra-fast Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology which is now available in only limited regions in the world. It facilitates high-speed Internet browsing, HD video streaming, voice over LTE, data downloading at 100MBps speed and location-based services.

Bharti AirTel, the largest mobile operator in India, is also learned to roll out its first 4G mobile telecom network very soon, probably with a trial phase in Kolkata. 

Motorola Gleam Plus in India soon

Motorola Gleam is a symbol of style from Motorola. Motorola Gleam Plus comes with a slim and stylish design. Gleam is perfect for those who are looking to add style to there life. Apart from the stylish design what makes style icon is the animated illuminations with incoming calls and messages. It features a 2MP camera, supports the memory card up to 16 GB, features GPRS connectivity, Bluetooth v 2.1, stereo FM radio with RDS and manymore.

Size and Design:

Motorola Gleam has a sleek and stylish flip design. The phone is light weight and has an elegant and glossy look. It weighs just 105 grams and has a depth of 13.5mm. It is 52.5mm wide and about 107mm long. The shinny look of the phone is bound to catch every eye.

Display:

It features a TFT display having a resolution of 240 x 400 pixels and 256K color support. The screen size is 2.8 inches and the pixel density is 167ppi. The display quality is very much average. There is also an external display in the phone with icons.

Camera:

It features a 2MP camera having maximum image recording resolution of 1600x1200 pixels. There aren't any image enhancing features in the phone to be talked about. It does record VGA quality video and there isn't any secondary camera in the phone.

Storage Capacity:

The internal storage capacity of the phone is 50MB. The phone does have a microSD card slot which supports the memory card up to 16 GB.

Connectivity:

The connectivity features of the phone are again very much the basic with no support for EDGE, 3G and Wi-FI. It features GPRS connectivity, Bluetooth v 2.1 with A2DP and EDR and micro USB v2.0 with HS.

Battery:

It features a Standard Li-Ion 750 mAH battery that is capable of providing up to 417 hrs of stand by time and up to 4 hrs and 50 min of talk time.

Other features:

It supports HTML but not Adobe Flash. The phone has a stereo FM radio with RDS, the games re pre-installed. It doesn’t support GPS connectivity. The phone has Organizer, Voice memo and predictive text input features. It is available in Silver and Winter White Colors.

Apple to unveil iPad 3 on March 7 in San Francisco: confirmed Apple to unveil iPad 3 on March 7 in San Francisco: confirmed

Apple has just sent out invitations to its iPad 3 announcement event, which will take place in San Francisco on March 7.

Apple has just sent out invitations to its iPad 3 event, set to take place at 10am PT on March 7, at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco.

The invitation includes the words, “We have something you really have to see. And touch.” Long know for its enigmatic invitations, Apple is likely alluding to the next-generation iPad’s new screen, which is expected to have twice the resolution of the iPad 2.

Earlier today, CNBC created some confusion about where the iPad 3 unveiling would be held. At about 11am ET, CNBC tweeted that a “quad-core iPad 3 with 4G LTE” would be unveiled next week in New York City, according to “sources.” The location part is, we now know, obviously wrong. The question is: Will the rest of the information be right?

HP to Launch Windows 8 Intel-Based Tablet This Year

HP has chosen Intel’s platform to create a Windows 8 tablet because it’s not clear when Windows on ARM will be released.

Following news that HP hopes to have Windows-8 based PCs out the door by the end of the year, HP CEO Meg Whitman said during a Wall Street Journal conference in Menlo Park, California that the company also plans to release a Windows 8 tablet in the same year-end timeframe.

According to Whitman, HP chose Intel’s Atom-based solution over chips based on ARM because it’s “not clear” when Windows on ARM will actually be released. Microsoft has indicated that it’s pushing to launch the non-x86/64 version in the same timeframe, but apparently there’s enough doubt to convince HP into using an Atom SoC instead.

Wednesday during HP’s earnings conference call, Whitman made no mention of producing a Windows on ARM tablet by the end of the year, and now we know why. She also indicated that the company would be prepared for a possible Windows 8 (x86/64) launch delay, but hoped to see the new OS appear on store shelves before the 2012 holiday season begins.

“The better Windows 8 is, the better off we are,” she said during the call. “So, we’re rooting for a fantastic Windows 8 product that’s delivered on time that we can get to market before the holiday season,” she said during the call.

If Windows 8 does get delayed (and we’re not saying it will), HP could very well release compatible desktops and laptops by the end of the year anyway along with a voucher to upgrade to the new OS when it finally goes retail. Tablets would likely be stalled until the new OS is released however, thwarting HP’s pre-2012 Holiday Season launch, depending on how long the possible delay ensues.

In addition to talking about Windows 8 tablets, Whitman on Friday said the company is currently investing in developing talented executives. It’s also focusing on organic growth and getting back to the company’s original principles — what it calls “The HP Way.” She also said HP would hire the next CEO from within instead of luring outside parties.

“I will not feel like I’ve done a good job if my successor is not an internal choice,” Whitman said.

Microsoft is set to pull the curtains down from its next generation Windows 8 mobile operating system on February 29. The beta version of the operating system will be unveiled in the consumer preview event in Barcelona.

It will only then be known how the enterprises and the consumers take to this new OS and that will tell us how much success HP can have with this tablet.

Nokia announced 808 PureView Belle - 41 Megapixels Camera Phone!

A few days back Nokia showed a teaser video on PureView and Pure Definition. Here's is surprise to all the one who witnessed the talks. Nokia introduced a real imaging flagship phone and absolutely a true successor the Nokia N8. The new Nokia Symbian Belle Smartphone named Nokia PureView that is expected to hit European market in the second quarter 2012 for 450 Euros. Before learning the device facts, let we steal a look at this amazing artifact.

All About Apple's Upcoming Mountain Lion

Messages

The new Messages application replaces the existing iChat application with the added feature that you can send and receive messages (including photo and video attachments) to and from iOS devices and Mountain Lion systems. It will also sync with the iMessage app on your iOS device — you can start a conversation on the Mac and continue it on your iOS device. Messages will continue to work as a multi-IM client with built in support for GTalk, Yahoo Messenger, Jabber and AIM.

Notification Center

Taking a cue from iOS devices, Mountain Lion will come with its own Notification Center. A simple swipe will bring down the Notification Center on the right side of the display with notifications about mail, messages, reminders and so on. If you have other apps running, notifications will appear as banners and disappear quickly so as to not interrupt what you are doing. Clicking a notification will launch the relevant app.

GateKeeper

Gatekeeper is OS X's new security feature that prevents installation of malicious software on your Mac. You can choose to only install apps available from the Mac App Store, apps that have a developer ID associated with them or keep it the same way as OS X Lion (the lowest security setting for advanced users, which enables you to install any apps from anywhere on the web). This way, OS X steps up the security amidst reports that malicious software was on the rise.

7 Hidden Tricks about Mac OS X

GET THE DICTIONARY MEANING

If you want to get the dictionary meaning for a particular word, simply take the cursor over the word and double tap the trackpad using three fingers. The text will get highlighted in yellow and a pop up box will show you the dictionary definition and synonyms from the built in thesaurus.

SEARCH SPECIFIC FILE TYPES ONLY

While searching using the search box in Finder, type 'kind:' followed by the first alphabet of the file type you are searching for (example, type P for PDF or D for DOC). A drop down menu will show you a list of various file types to choose from. Select the file type you are looking for and then type in the name of the file to search.

REMOTELY WIPE DATA

Google Releases Dartium Browser for Developers

Google is trying to get developers interested in Dart with a technology preview of the Dart VM in Chromium, better known as Dartium. The plan is ultimately to include the Dart VM in Chrome itself, but no timeline has been given yet for that.

Google has been pushing pretty hard to move Dart forward. The company released a Rosetta Stone for JavaScript programmers called Dart Synonym at the beginning of February. However, developers have had to compile Dartium from source or find unofficial builds to test the code.

Now it's much easier to get ahold of a browser with the Dart VM. If you're using Linux or Mac OS X, you can download Dartium today. Windows builds are not available yet, but should be available "soon."

Google does warn that Dartium "should not be used for day-to-day browsing" but says that the Dart VM integration will come to Chrome "after more testing and developer feedback."

If you're interested in trying out Dart and Dartium, be sure to read over the intro and language basics pages. The language basics page also has an embedded app to run Dart code directly in the browser. You can also grab the Dart Editor for Linux Windows or Mac OS X.

Note that Google says that the Dartium binary "will expire after a few days" so you'll be needing to grab a new copy from time to time. Working with Dart? What do you think of the language and tools so far? Should developers be focusing on Dart or sticking with JavaScript?

Study: Jailbreak apps upload less private data than Apple-approved apps

The app development world went into a frenzy when social network app Path was caught uploading users’ address book information without asking for permission last week. Forbes reported on a study by University of California at Santa Barbara that found Cydia apps leaked private data "less" than apps available on the iTunes App Store.

The group built a tool called PiOS that analyzes iOS apps for private data leaks. It looked at 1,407 free apps: 825 apps from the App Store; and, 526 apps from Cydia’s repository the BigBoss.

The findings indicated 21 percent of the App Store apps tested uploaded a users’ iOS device’s UDID, 4 percent uploaded location information, and .5-percent uploaded users’ address book—like Path did. When it came to the 526 apps tested on the BigBoss repo, only 4 percent leaked users’ UDID, and only one app leaked location and address book data.

Many people are under the impression that third-party apps do the majority of the uploading, but that might not be the case. Perhaps Apple’s new restriction on uploading address book information without permission will help remedy the situation.

Facebook to Release Timeline for Brands This Month

Facebook will bring its Timeline profile pages to brands this month in the U.S., according to executives briefed on the company's plans.

At its F8 conference in September, Facebook introduced a dramatic transformation of profile pages for its more than 800 million users with the Timeline format, which generates picture-heavy, scrapbook-like collages spanning users' entire history on the social network. It has been rolled out slowly, and users still have the choice to opt in.

At the time of the announcement, the company said it would wait to roll out the new feature for brands. Facebook VP-Marketing and Business Partnerships David Fischer said Timeline for brands would be "consistent" with the Timeline look-and-feel, but not a carbon copy.

The new pages for brands will start in beta with a handful of partners and then be released to more marketers in stages, according to the sources. Facebook declined to comment on the product or the timing.

So what will Timeline for brands look like? For one, the tabs or apps marketers currently host on their Facebook pages to sell products or take polls may turn into boxes on the brand's Timeline, much like how apps for Spotify or Washington Post Social Reader live on users' Timelines.

The format change could put the onus on brands to develop their own apps using custom verbs other than "like", in the same vein as Pinterest, which has a Facebook app that tracks when its users have "pinned" something. Promoting the use and development of "Open Graph" apps, which can have their data tapped for ad targeting, is an area of increased focus for Facebook.

Timeline has significant implications for Facebook fan-page management. One top consideration is that a brand's Facebook presence no longer must date to when it joined the site but can be represented with content populating its Timeline from throughout its history.

Facebook is expected to go into detail about the new pages at its first-ever fMC event, a day-long conference in New York on Feb. 29 specifically for marketers.

Microsoft reveals a 'more accessible' Windows 8

Microsoft's president of the Windows Division, Steve Sinofsky, has revealed a number of new accessibility features in Windows 8, explaining in a blog post that the new range of features will make Windows 8 better for everyone.

Sinfosky points out that there are a number of key features that have been addressed in Windows 8 that should make it easier for people with disabilities to use.

These include improving the assistive technologies within Windows and providing better developer tools that have accessibility built in.

Broad spectrum

"Windows 8 is a product we design for an incredibly broad spectrum of people around the world," said Sinfosky in his blog post.

"One of the areas where we have worked to deliver an even greater level of innovation is in ensuring that Windows 8, particularly the new Metro style experience, is accessible to everyone regardless of their physical abilities."

Some key Windows features have been improved, with the blog explaining that the Narrator element has been updated with user feedback and new languages, as has speech recognition.

Another key feature that has been improved is the screen magnifier. This has been given a touch makeover so users are able to control the feature completely from the edges of the screen they are viewing Windows 8 from.

Head over to the Microsoft blog now for more information on how Windows 8 is shaping up in terms of accessibility.

iPad 3 set for March 7 announcement?

Those Apple fans desperately seeking the launch of the iPad 3 tablet now have a date to pin their hopes on amid reports that the tablet will be unveiled on March 7.

The prediction comes from Apple news site iMore, which says sources 'which have proved reliable in the past' have confirmed the date ahead of any official announcement from Cupertino.

The report follows AllThingsD's assertion that the launch will take place some time during the first week of March before going on sale around a week later.

iMore also backs up rumours of expected enhancements to the device, including a Retina Display, a quad-core A6 processor and possible 4G LTE connectivity for markets where those speeds are available.

Traditional launch schedules

The Wednesday March 7th timeline doesn't sound like too much of a reach from our perspective and would certainly fit in with launch schedules for previous versions of the device.

Even if Apple doesn't take the stage in San Francisco on that particular date, we can't imagine that iMore's estimate will be out by much.

Google to launch Android 5.0 Jelly Bean in 2Q12

Viewing that the adoption of Android 4.0 has fallen short of original expectations and Microsoft will launch Windows 8 in the third quarter of 2012, Google is likely to launch Android 5.0 (Jelly Bean) in the second quarter and appeal for adopting Android 5.0 and Windows 8 in the same tablet PC, according to Taiwan-based supply chain makers.

Android 5.0 will be further optimized for tablet PCs, while Google will also integrate its Chrome system functions to push dual-operating system designs. Brand vendors can either choose to adopt only Android 5.0 or add Android 5.0 to Windows 8 devices with the ability to switch between the two OSes without the need to shut down the computer.

Through Android 5.0, Google also wishes to earn another chance to enter the notebook and netbook markets.

However, since Android 4.0 did not perform as well as expected, several of Google's downstream partners are turning conservative about Android 5.0.

We will most likely hear more at Google I/O in June where Google does many of its big announcements.

Apple unveils Mountain Lion Preview: iOS-ification of OS X

It has been only seven months since Apple released Mac OS X 10.6.7 Lion and yesterday (February 16, 2012) the company announced Mountain Lion—the next major update to its desktop operating system. Mountain Lion brings even more popular iOS features to the Mac platform. The notion is shared by those Apple invited to a private briefing a few day ago: Mountain Lion is all about putting even more of iOS into the bowels of OS X. Meanwhile, iOS-ification of OS X continues with Twitter integration in Mountain Lion and new iOS-esque apps, such as Messages, Notification Center, AirPlay Mirroring, Notes, Reminder, Game Center, and deep iCloud integration.

With over a hundred million iCloud accounts now in use, Mountain Lion’s setup assistant will now ask you to set up an iCloud account for the Documents in the Cloud and Find My Mac features, as well as to sync contacts, email and chat messages and calendar entries. You can also access your iCloud storage in Finder and drag and drop documents for manual syncing between iOS apps that support Documents in the Cloud and their desktop counterparts.

AirPlay Mirroring is another welcome addition for those wishing to securely beam a 720p video stream of what is on your Mac to a HDTV through the Apple TV. Share Sheets, a new system-wide feature, is accessible from Apple’s and third-party apps for sharing links, photos, and videos. Like in iOS, Twitter integration means you give your Twitter credentials once and tweet directly from Safari, Quick Look, Photo Booth, Preview and supported third-party apps.

Mountain Lion Beta is available to Mac Developer Program members starting today whilst end-users can upgrade to Mountain Lion from the Mac App Store in late summer 2012. The company also pledged to update OS X once a year from now on. For more information, check out Apple’s new OS X Mountain Lion Sneak Peek page.

Sony announces the launch of the PlayStation Vita in India

Here's good news for the gaming freaks. Sony's long-awaited PlayStation Vita portable game machine is set to hit stores in India. The company reportedly has announced that it will be launching PlayStation Vita in India at the same time as in the UK, on February 22.

The device is a touch-interface and motion-sensitive handheld seen as a successor to the PlayStation Portable. Gamers can connect over cellphone networks and Wi-Fi hotspots, and use GPS location-tracking technology.

The Vita has front and back cameras, a touchscreen in front, a touch pad on the back and two knob-like joysticks. It will enable gamers to play against each other using PlayStation 3 consoles over the Internet-based PlayStation Network, a system that was hit with a massive hacking attack in 2011.

Sony PlayStation Vita Wi-Fi only model is expected to be priced at Rs 19,990 and the Wi-Fi + 3G model at Rs 24,990.

According to reports, Sony has also announced 26 titles including games such as Lord of Apocalypse, Super Stardust Delta, Ninja Gaiden: Sigma, Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3, Ridge Racer, WipeOut, and F1 2011.

Windows 8 'Borrowed' Features From Linux

Design, ideology and primary audience are the main distributions where Linux and Windows 8 differ greatly. However, they all have been developed on the basic principles of OS design and it is quite obvious that there will be some overlap, in-fact they are bound. According to some Linux fans, Microsoft has been stealing from the open source community for a long time. And now Microsoft is nearing the point where the company simply appropriates good Linux features.

Now let us get back to business and take a sneak peek into new features of Windows 8 and where actually did they come from...


1. File copy dialogue

In an attempt to make things more transparent, Microsoft put into action an improved copy, move, rename and delete dialog that not only shows the progress of each operation, but also a graph and the ability to pause individual copy operations.

Well, the new feature is pretty much like Linux’s Dolphin and Nautilus file managers. The file transfer dialogue also allows users to pause operations and view multiple copy jobs in one window.

* Microsoft stepped ahead here. Window 8 does not stop the entire process when any problem occurs with a file operation, but keeps these problems in the error queue.


2. ISO mounting

Microsoft finally announces mount ISO files in Windows 8. Once mounted, a new drive letter appears in Windows Explorer that represents the virtual CD/DVD ROM. And this cool option lets users to get rid of third-party tools like, Power ISO, Daemon Tools or Virtual CloneDrive.

* No Linux distro does ISO mounting as easily as Windows 8.


3. Windows To Go

Microsoft to unveil Windows 8 on Feb 29

Microsoft revealed plans to unveil a test version of its latest Windows computer operating software later this month.

The US technology titan sent out invitations to a "Windows Consumer Preview" event to be held on February 29 at a hotel in Barcelona during a Mobile World Congress gathering in that city.

Microsoft promised to release more information closer to the end of the month.

The introduction of a test, or beta, version of Windows 8 to the public is expected to be accompanied by the opening of an " app store" stocked with mini-programs tailored for the next-generation operating system.

In December, Microsoft began wooing developers for a February opening of its first Windows Store intended to feature third-party applications crafted for computers powered by the Redmond, Washington-based firm's software.

It will take on Apple and Google in the booming market of fun, hip or functional programs built for smartphones, tablets and computers.

Microsoft may remove iconic 'start button' in Windows 8

Microsoft's iconic start button, which was introduced in Windows 95, is likely to be removed in the software firm's upcoming Windows 8 version, according to a report. 

The start button evolved to become the operating system's 'launchpad', offering access to software, files and search functions. 

According to leaked screenshots from the tech site, The Verge, earlier test versions of Windows 8 had flattened the recognisable 'orb', but the new build removes it altogether. 

"Fear not though, the start button functionality isn't as dead as it seems," The Verge reported. 

According to the site, the button itself might be absent, but the functions can still be accessed via a 'hot corner' designed to work equally well with touch screens or computer mice, The Daily Mail reports. 

"We have confirmed with sources close to Microsoft's Windows 8 development that a hot corner has replaced the Start button orb," the site said. 

"A thumbnail-like user interface will appear in Metro or desktop mode, providing a consistent way to access the Windows desktop and Start Screen in Windows 8 regardless of touch or mouse input," it added. 

Microsoft has not announced a release date for the new operating system, built to work with touchscreens as well as on conventional PCs, but it is widely expected to be released in the second half of 2012.

Hands On: Logitech M600 Touch Mouse

Touch is everywhere now, from the front of your phone to the screens of all-in-one desktops, and the mouse is no exception. With the release of Logitech's M600 Touch Mouse, the idea of putting a touch surface on a mouse is officially old hat—we've seen this trick done several times, at varying degrees of proficiency.

The touch mouse to beat is currently the Editors' Choice Microsoft Touch Mouse. We got to spend some time using the new Logitech mouse, and while we'll reserve our ratings for a full review, it's hard to deny that the M600 Touch Mouse is one of the better touch-enabled mice we've used.

The Logitech M600 Touch Mouse is a wireless optical mouse, and it connects wirelessly through a USB nano-receiver, small enough to plug in and leave it for daily use. Plus, thanks to Logitech's Unifying Receiver technology, you can connect up to five additional wireless Logitech products through this one receiver, leaving the rest of your ports free. The shape of the mouse allows it to be used with either right or left hands, with the necessary adjustments available in the accompanying SetPoint software utility.

Facebook Could be the Biggest Tech IPO in History

People familiar with the matter say that Facebook could file for its initial public offering as soon as next week, according to reports from the Wall Street Journal. The source also says that Facebook is close to picking Morgan Stanley as the lead underwriter. The filing could happen next Wednesday, and the company is aiming for a $75-$100 billion valuation. It is looking to raise $10 billion in stock.

Facebook started in 2004 as a college-only social network. It opened to the public in September 2006, dropping the minimum age requirement from 18-years-old to 13-years-old. In little over seven years, it has grown to a userbase of 800 million people across the globe.

Reports say that the IPO will have two active managers; Goldman Sachs Group will most likely play an important role.

Morgan Stanley was a lead underwriter for both the 2011 Zynga and Groupon IPOs last year. To put this in perspective, Groupon went public with a $12.7 billion valuation, the highest tech valuation since Google's $23.1 billion. Google sold $1.7 billion in stock.

Facebook will go public under the symbol 'FB,' according to reports from BusinessInsider. Right now it's unclear whether Facebook will list on NYSE or Nasdaq.

Facebook has been on a roll these past few weeks, pushing out Timeline to all of its users, releasing 60 new social apps. It also halted its trading on secondary markets for three days earlier this week, hinting at an IPO.

10 Best Innovative Gadgets at CES 2012

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2012 showcased new technologies and amazing products to the world. There were many gadgets that became the cynosure of the visitors due to their sheer innovation. We have highlighted some best gadgets from CES 2012 out of the 21 items which were honoured with the "Best of Innovations" awards.

In the Digital Imaging category, the Lytro got featured for its light field camera that allows consumers to instantly capture interactive, living pictures and then allows the users to focus them after they are taken. 

Meet the world's first connected health and heart rate monitor wearable on the wrist. Listed under the Health and Wellness category, the basis band got honored for its innovative technology. It's a multi-sensor band that collects data like heart rate, calories burned, physical activity and sleep patterns and links to a personal online dashboard. 

Nest Learning Thermostat got mentioned in Eco-Design and Sustainable Technologies category. Touted as the world's first learning thermostat, the device learns your preferences, programs itself to keep you comfortable and guides you to energy savings. 

Developed by Sonomax Technologies Inc., eers custom-fitted earphone is another innovative device to look for in the Headphones category. 14 years in development, 13+ patents, Sonomax expansion technology delivers incomparable sound isolation, fidelity and comfort. 

There were few tablet devices that showed up in the list in different categories. However, Asus Padfone is listed in the Wireless Handsets category. Already in the news since its announcement, the Padfone is a breakthrough product which combines smartphone and tablet into an all in one device. 

If you are looking for Portable Home Appliances, check out invoxia NVX 610. Offering a contemporary design, it is the first desktop phone with an acoustic sound and an intuitive interface driven by your iPhone.

Razer Blade gaming tablet is already making news. Featured within the Gaming Hardware & Accessories category, the Razer Blade is appreciated for its true portability, incredible performance, and an all-new revolutionary user interface. 

Then in the Computer Accessories category, Plantronics Calisto 835 speakerphone finds place. The device unites computer telephony, mobile and landline calls. Equipped with a touch sensitive dial pad, it offers access to caller ID, dialing, answering, switching, and muting across connected devices. 

In the NEW! Tablets, E-Readers & Netbooks category, the new Sony Tablet S gets a special mention. The first PlayStation certified tablet is inspired by a folded magazine. The device is appreciated for its ergonomic design and light weight. 

HTC Amaze 4G is the best among Wireless Handsets category. Dubbed as one of T-Mobile's fastest smartphones, the HTC Amaze 4G is powered by a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor and runs Android 2.3. 

The other honorees were from different categories that include SafePlug Electrical Receptacles, RCA USB Wall Plate Charger, Belkin Kitchen Cabinet Mount, Devialet D-Premier Home Audio, MyFord Mobile app, Libratone Live AirPlay Speaker and Panasonic BDT320 Full HD 3D Blu-ray Disc player. 

While, SonicBlade Home Theater Speakers, Samsung's KN55ES9000 3D Smart TV with Ultimate Picture Quality, Samsung's SUR40 table-top multi-touch display and WiPNET for wireless access also got mentioned in the best innovations list. You can visit this link to know more about CES 2012 Innovations Honorees.

Top 10 Android Smartphones Unveiled At CES 2012

Consumer Electronics Show 2012 proved to be the biggest platform for promotion of Android and Android-based devices. It was a power show for the existing players in the Android smartphone market and a number of new entrants gave a signal of the next big things coming from their camps. The market of smartphones is going to be even bigger in 2012. CES gave a glimpse of innovations and trends in the smartphone segment. 

 

Take a look at top 10 smartphones showcased at the event. 

 

• Huawei Ascend P1 S 

Huawei unveiled its latest smartphone, which is also being touted as the world's slimmest Android smartphone. The Huawei Ascend P1 S is just 6.68 mm thick and has a 10.9-cm (4.3-inch) super AMOLED touchscreen. The screen of the phone has a Gorilla Glass panel on the front but not the Gorilla Glass 2, which was revealed earlier this week. The device is powered by a dual-core TI OMAP 4460 Cortext-A9 CPU at 1.5 GHz. The phone runs the latest Google Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system. The handset is available in metallic black, ceramic white and cherry-blossom pink. The second model of the phone Huawei Ascend P2 has the same functionality but has a slightly thicker frame at 7.69 mm. It is expected that the models will officially hit the market in the second quarter of 2012.

• Lenovo S2

Lenovo unveiled its new Android-based smartphone S2 at the Consumer Electronics Show 2012. The firm has not yet announced the pricing or the availability of the phone. However, it will be made available in China soon. The Lenovo S2 has 9.7-cm (3.8-inch) touchscreen and runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system. The smartphone is powered by dual core 1.4 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8255 mobile processor and has rounded top and bottom edges. With its new offering, Lenovo also gives the options to its users to get different configurations even for the smartphone. The device will be available in an 8 GB version with 512 MB RAM and a 16 GB version with 1 GB RAM, just like laptops. 

• LG Spectrum 

This device is likely to make a mark of its own because it is incredibly responsive to touch. It features an 8-megapixel camera capable of 1080p video capture. It includes a 1830mAh battery, microSD slot loaded with a 16GB card to complement the 4GB of internal storage. This Android smartphone runs on a dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S3 processor that's bolstered by 1GB of RAM.

• LG Viper On Sprint

 

The LG Viper is amongst the first LTE phones from Sprint. The device sports a candy bar design with a trim profile and rectangular shape. It features Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), a 1.2 dual-core GHz processor, a 5-megapixel camera around back, a second front-facing camera, and support for NFC Google Wallet. 

 

• Motorla DROID 4 On Verizon

 

Motorola has unveiled the fourth generation of its Droid Android smartphone. It is a 4G LTE device that sports a 10.2-cm (4-inch) qHD display. This new offering from Motorola resembles the Droid RAZR, with the only exception being the presence of a full QWERTY keyboard. It is worth mentioning here that the Droid RAZR was unveiled by the company in November, but its hype was completely overshadowed by Samsung's Galaxy Nexus that includes Android Ice Cream Sandwich. With Droid 4, the company aims to target the Android phone fans who always wished for a physical keyboard. The smartphone is 1.3-cm (0.5-inches) thick and comes with a dual-core 1.2-GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, an 8-megapixel camera, 16GB of internal storage and 4G LTE.

• Motorola Defy Mini

Motorola's Defy Mini packs a 8.1-cm (3.2-inch) 480 x 320 display, 600MHz processor and a mere 3-megapixel camera an comes wrapped in a ruggedised casing with Gorilla Glass fascia. It is a smaller device with 109 x 58.5 x 12.55 mm dimensions and weighs 107g, but accommodates a larger 1650 mAh battery along with Bluetooth 2.1, WiFi b/g/n (with WiFi Direct support) and an FM radio. It too has a VGA front-facing camera, dual-band HSDPA and quadband EDGE. The smartphone runs on Android 2.3 operating system(OS). 

• Sony Xperia S

Sony's new handset will run on Android 2.3 Gingerbread and is expected to receive the Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) update by the second half of 2012. The specs of the device include a 10.9-cm (4.3-inch) HD display with a resolution of 1280 x 720, 1.5GHz dual-core processor with a MSM8260 chipset, 12 megapixel camera with Sony Exmor R sensor and 1080p video recording capabilities, 32GB internal memory. The smartphone weighs 144g.

• Viewsonic Viewphone 3

Here is another offering from Viewsonic for CES visitors this year. The new Viewphone 3 is an Android 2.3-powered smartphone, which offers dual-SIM capability at low price point of $279 unlocked. This 8.9-cm (3.5-inch) device comes with an 800 MHz single-core ARM Cortex A8 processor. There's also an HSDPA connectivity along with WiFi and Bluetooth. The dual SIM feature can be used to keep business separate from personal calls. A recent ad for the device suggests one SIM card for business calls and one for personal to allow for more "personal freedom and privacy." It is expected to hit the Latin American market later this quarter, and it will be the first Viewsonic phone there.

• Lenovo K800

 

Lenovo has introduced the new K800, an Android powered smartphone, which is the first device to get Intel's Medfield SoC chip. The Android Ice Cream Sandwich smartphone runs on Intel's Atom Z2460 and comes with Lenovo's LeOS customised skin. The Lenovo K800 comes with an 8mp shooter at the back with dual LED flash, a front camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS and WiDi (Wireless Display).

• Fujitsu ARROWS ES IS12F

According to Fujitsu and partner Toshiba, the ARROWS is the thinnest smartphone that measures a mere 6.7mm thick. The other specs of the device include a 10.2-cm (4-inch) touchscreen display with WVGA (800 x 480 pixel) resolution, 1GB of built-in storage teamed up with a single-core Qualcomm 1.4GHz processor, and a 1400mAh battery.Tha smartphone runs on Android OS.