Lenovo P770, Jelly Bean Smartphone with 3500 mAh Battery

Chinese company Lenovo is said to have shipped more smartphones in Q3 than Nokia, which is not an easy task especially for a handset maker that sells most of its products only in China.

Nevertheless, it appears that Lenovo plans to launch another Android smartphone in the Mainland, aimed at consumers who prefer high-capacity batteries. Although all Android users want their devices to last longer and longer with only one charge, most handset manufacturers aren’t able to meet these demands. Even though Samsung included a 3100 mAh battery inside the Galaxy Note II and Motorola packed an even better 3300 mAh battery within RAZR MAXX smartphone, the autonomy of both devices is still far from what the manufacturers claim. Well, Lenovo thinks it has the answer to longer autonomy for its Android devices. In this regard, GizChina reports the Chinese company will soon launch a smartphone powered by a high-capacity 3500 mAh Li-Ion battery.

Dubbed Lenovo P770, the smartphone has been confirmed to run Android 4.1 Jelly Bean platform, though we’re not yet sure whether it will come with this version out of the box or it will receive it soon after launch as an update. Furthermore, the device is said to come equipped with a 1.2 GHz dual core MediaTek MT6577 processor and 1GB of RAM. In addition, Lenovo P770 sports a 4.5-inch qHD capacitive touchscreen display that supports 540 x 960 pixels resolution. On the back, the handset will pack an enhanced 8-megapixel photo snapper with autofocus, LED flash and HD video recording.

There’s more to it, as rumors claim Lenovo plans to launch another version of P770 with a much better 4160 mAh Li-Ion battery, though these have yet to be confirmed. The bad news is that Lenovo P770 is likely to be exclusive to China, so Android enthusiasts in other regions won’t be able to grab this one.

Lenovo P770
Image credits to GizChina

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Windows 8 Shortcuts, The Complete Lists

Just like any other Windows contraption, Windows 8 comes with lots of keyboard shortcuts that can be used to quickly access specific tools or features.

Since Windows 8 integrates several improvements as compared to its predecessors, the overall number of keyboard shortcuts is also bigger, so beginners may have to search for guides like this to find out the quickest way to launch a specific app. Of course, using a multimedia keyboard with pre-defined hotkeys is the easiest way to make the most of Windows 8, but aside from the factory configured buttons, there still are a bunch of features you can only access by pressing multiple keys at the same time.

Here’s what can be very well considered the longest list with the most helpful keyboard shortcuts for Windows 8. All of them are provided by Yash Tolia, a Microsoft employee, so you can be pretty sure that all of them work.

Windows key: Switch between Modern Desktop Start screen and the last accessed application 
Windows key + C: Access the charms bar 
Windows key + Tab: Access the Modern Desktop Taskbar 
Windows key + I: Access the Settings charm 
Windows key + H: Access the Share charm 
Windows key + K: Access the Devices charm 
Windows key + Q: Access the Apps Search screen 
Windows key + F: Access the Files Search screen 
Windows key + W: Access the Settings Search screen 
Windows key + P: Access the Second Screen bar 
Windows key + Z: Brings up the App Bar when you have a Modern Desktop App running 
Windows key + X: Access the Windows Tools Menu 
Windows key + O: Lock screen orientation 
Windows key + . : Move the screen split to the right 
Windows key + Shift + . : Move the screen split to the left 
Windows key + V: View all active Toasts/Notifications 
Windows key + Shift + V: View all active Toasts/Notifications in reverse order 
Windows key + PrtScn: Takes a screenshot of the screen and automatically saves it in the Pictures folder as Screenshot 
Windows key + Enter: Launch Narrator 
Windows key + E: Open Computer 
Windows key + R: Open the Run dialog box 
Windows key + U: Open Ease of Access Center 
Windows key + Ctrl + F: Open Find Computers dialog box 
Windows key + Pause/Break: Open the System page 
Windows key + 1..10: Launch a program pinned on the Taskbar in the position indicated by the number 
Windows key + Shift + 1..10: Launch a new instance of a program pinned on the Taskbar in the position indicated by the number 
Windows key + Ctrl + 1..10: Access the last active instance of a program pinned on the Taskbar in the position indicated by the number 
Windows key + Alt + 1..10: Access the Jump List of a program pinned on the Taskbar in the position indicated by the number 
Windows key + B: Select the first item in the Notification Area and then use the arrow keys to cycle through the items Press Enter to open the selected item 
Windows key + Ctrl + B: Access the program that is displaying a message in the Notification Area 
Windows key + T: Cycle through the items on the Taskbar 
Windows key + M: Minimize all windows 
Windows key + Shift + M: Restore all minimized windows 
Windows key + D: Show/Hide Desktop (minimize/restore all windows) 
Windows key + L: Lock computer 
Windows key + Up Arrow: Maximize current window 
Windows key + Down Arrow: Minimize/restore current window 
Windows key + Home: Minimize all but the current window 
Windows key + Left Arrow: Tile window on the left side of the screen 
Windows key + Right Arrow: Tile window on the right side of the screen 
Windows key + Shift + Up Arrow: Extend current window from the top to the bottom of the screen 
Windows key + Shift + Left/Right Arrow: Move the current window from one monitor to the next 
Windows key + F1: Launch Windows Help and Support
PageUp: Scroll forward on the Modern Desktop Start screen 
PageDown: Scroll backward on the Modern Desktop Start screen 
Esc: Close a charm 
Ctrl + Esc: Switch between Modern Desktop Start screen and the last accessed application 
Ctrl + Mouse scroll wheel: Activate the Semantic Zoom on the Modern Desktop screen
Alt: Display a hidden Menu Bar 
Alt + D: Select the Address Bar 
Alt + P: Display the Preview Pane in Windows Explorer 
Alt + Tab: Cycle forward through open windows 
Alt + Shift + Tab: Cycle backward through open windows 
Alt + F: Close the current window Open the Shut Down Windows dialog box from the Desktop 
Alt + Spacebar: Access the Shortcut menu for current window 
Alt + Esc: Cycle between open programs in the order that they were opened 
Alt + Enter: Open the Properties dialog box of the selected item 
Alt + PrtScn: Take a screen shot of the active Window and place it in the clipboard 
Alt + Up Arrow: Move up one folder level in Windows Explorer (Like the Up Arrow in XP) 
Alt + Left Arrow: Display the previous folder 
Alt + Right Arrow: Display the next folder 
Shift + Insert: CD/DVD Load CD/DVD without triggering Autoplay or Autorun 
Shift + Delete: Permanently delete the item (rather than sending it to the Recycle Bin) 
Shift + F6: Cycle backward through elements in a window or dialog box 
Shift + F10: Access the context menu for the selected item 
Shift + Tab: Cycle backward through elements in a window or dialog box 
Shift + Click: Select a consecutive group of items 
Shift + Click on a Taskbar button: Launch a new instance of a program 
Shift + Right-click on a Taskbar button: Access the context menu for the selected item 
Ctrl + A: Select all items 
Ctrl + C: Copy the selected item 
Ctrl + X: Cut the selected item 
Ctrl + V: Paste the selected item 
Ctrl + D: Delete selected item 
Ctrl + Z: Undo an action 
Ctrl + Y: Redo an action 
Ctrl + N: Open a new window in Windows Explorer 
Ctrl + W: Close current window in Windows Explorer 
Ctrl + E: Select the Search box in the upper right corner of a window 
Ctrl + Shift + N: Create new folder 
Ctrl + Shift + Esc: Open the Windows Task Manager 
Ctrl + Alt + Tab: Use arrow keys to cycle through open windows 
Ctrl + Alt + Delete: Access the Windows Security screen 
Ctrl + Click: Select multiple individual items 
Ctrl + Click and drag an item: Copies that item in the same folder 
Ctrl + Shift + Click and drag an item: Creates a shortcut for that item in the same folder 
Ctrl + Tab: Move forward through tabs 
Ctrl + Shift + Tab: Move backward through tabs 
Ctrl + Shift + Click on a Taskbar button: Launch a new instance of a program as an Administrator 
Ctrl + Click on a grouped Taskbar button: Cycle through the instances of a program in the group 
F1: Display Help 
F2: Rename a file 
F3: Open Search 
F4: Display the Address Bar list 
F5: Refresh display 
F6: Cycle forward through elements in a window or dialog box 
F7: Display command history in a Command Prompt 
F10: Display hidden Menu Bar 
F11: Toggle full screen display 
Tab: Cycle forward through elements in a window or dialog box 
PrtScn: Take a screen shot of the entire screen and place it in the clipboard 
Home: Move to the top of the active window 
End: Move to the bottom of the active window 
Delete: Delete the selected item 
Backspace: Display the previous folder in Windows Explorer Move up one folder level in Open or Save dialog box 
Esc: Close a dialog box 
Num Lock Enabled + Plus (+): Display the contents of the selected folder 
Num Lock Enabled + Minus (-): Collapse the selected folder 
Num Lock Enabled + Asterisk (*): Expand all subfolders under the selected folder 
Press Shift 5 times: Turn StickyKeys on or off 
Hold down right Shift for 8 seconds: Turn FilterKeys on or off 
Hold down Num Lock for 5 seconds: Turn ToggleKeys on or off

Windows 8 Start screen

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Microsoft Still Develops Midori, a Non-Windows-Based Operating System

Microsoft has recently released Windows 8 and reports are claiming that the company is already working on Windows 9, but references to a different operating system have reached the web today.

Mary Jo Foley of ZDNet writes  that Microsoft is currently working on Midori, a non-Windows-based operating system that’s very likely to receive the green light at some point. The project has been the task of some very high-profile Microsoft programmers, but some of them have already left the team for other opportunities. While information on the new operating system is pretty scarce at this point, it seems that Midori won’t be based on the existing NT kernel, but instead it will heavily rely on Singularity, the microkernel operating system project started by Microsoft Research in 2003. Basically, Singularity’s ace up its sleeve was the fact that absolutely all apps, drivers and the kernel itself were written in managed code. One of the proofs that Microsoft is now working on Midori is a job opening for a software architect that should “lead development of a safe concurrent programming model.”

Here’s what the description of the job looks like:

“The Technical Strategy Incubation team is looking for a senior software architect to lead development of our safe concurrent programming model. This programming model is a core component of a new, novel operating system, 99% of which is written in type- and memory-safe C#. A core principle we add to managed code is that 1st class, statically enforced concurrency-safety must become a peer of type- and memory-safety.” Just as always, Microsoft remains tight-lipped on such a project, so we can’t tell for sure whether all these details are indeed accurate. We’ve contacted Microsoft for an official statement, so we’ll get back to you very soon.

Still, as far as Microsoft’s project goes, expect this to be one of the “innovative” technologies the company plans to build as a devices and services firm. Don’t be too surprised if it gets the green light in one year or so.

The Midori project could get the green light in a couple of years
Image credits to svas.com

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How and Why We’re Tracked Online

Security solutions provider Veracode has released a clever infographic to detail how and why our every move is tracked online.

Experts highlight that many of the security and privacy issues stem from the fact that users don’t know what information they’re unwittingly handing over when surfing the web. Understanding what websites track us and what information they’re after makes it easier for us to take proactive measures. For instance, did you know that every time you visit a website your interest in that particular site is actually auctioned to advertisers? That way, companies can make sure that the ads they show you match your interests.

Most websites track us with the aid of cookies, but some of them take it one step further and tend to use more controversial methods, such as deep packet inspection, which can be utilized for advanced network management, security functions, user service, but also data mining, eavesdropping and censorship.

How companies track us online
Image credits to Veracode

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Nokia Details Nokia Maps 3.0 for Lumia 920 and Lumia 820

Lumia 920 and Lumia 820, Nokia’s first Windows Phone 8 devices, arrive on shelves with a nice range of appealing features coming from the Finnish handset vendor itself, including a new flavor of the Nokia Maps application.

The new app release brings along a nice range of enhancements when compared to what was already available for users, and those who own a Nokia phone should find it available for download via the official Windows Phone Store today. According to Nokia, there are three different ways in which the application can be updated on a Nokia device, all of them simple and intuitive. The Windows Phone Store live tile on the phone’s screen will prompt users to update to the new app flavor, and the app is also available in the Nokia Collection section of the Windows Phone Store. Moreover, users can download and install the app through a Windows computer, should they choose to do so.

The new flavor of Nokia Maps comes with support for storing maps offline for use when no connection is available. However, it will provide specific details on places and the like only when online. “Turn-by-turn navigation is no longer just reserved for people who drive, you can now get precise guided instructions using the pedestrian navigation, too,” Nokia explains. “Whether you’re walking down a street, cutting across parks or climbing public stairs, Nokia Maps will guide you in the right direct to ensure you get to your destination, without the need of an Internet connection.”

The app also delivers info on public transportation, so that users can get to where they want in more ways than before. Of course, there is also the Nokia Drive feature that makes it easy to get to the destination when in a car. “We also understand that often when you navigate somewhere, to a shopping centre, an airport or a stadium for example, your journey doesn’t end at the door. In fact, it continues way into the building, until you reach your desired store, departure gate or stand within the stadium,” Nokia continues. “That’s why we’ve now included venue maps in this new version. While this doesn’t strictly navigate you indoors (yet), it does show you all the different locations within a building.”

With Venue Maps, for example, users receive access to maps of over 18,000 unique buildings in over 40 countries around the world, with multiple floors to browse, info on where escalators are located and more.

Nokia Maps
Image credits to Nokia

Download the latest Nokia Maps from Windows Phone Marketplace for your Lumia Windows Phone 8: http://bit.ly/PPFNLx

Maps just got better than ever. Take a closer look at Nokia Maps for Nokia Lumia on Windows Phone 8. Discover new places to try or just locate what you are looking for at a glance. Get to where you are going with the help of turn-by-turn navigation made for walking or driving and smart routing for public transport. Nokia Maps can do all this in true offline mode, so you have the ability to download cities or even entire countries to your phone and enjoy blazingly fast and reliable maps completely offline. New venue maps let you find everything from stores to restrooms to ATMs indoors in places like shopping malls, airports and transport stations.
Video credits to Nokia

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Zotac ZBOX mini PC Now Using AMD E2-1800 APU

The dual-core 1.7 GHz E2-1800 accelerated processing unit from Advanced Micro Devices may not be Trinity, but it is a fitting choice for the sort of system that Zotac designed the ZBOX as.

Being a reasonably strong processor with a genuine integrated graphics processing unit, the APU handles computing and video tasks with the minimum of energy requirements. This is, in fact, one of the main reasons that Zotac decided to equip the latest ZBOX Mini PC with the chip. The other versions of the small, box-shaped computer use Intel Atom D2550 (1.86 GHz Dual-Core) or Atom D2550 (1.86 GHz Dual-Core), though there are some other AMD-based options as well. According to the official website, the AMD E-450 (1.65 GHz Dual-Core) and A4-3300 (2.5 GHz Dual-Core) APUs are available as well. Intel Celeron and Core Series chips can be chosen too, though. Essentially, Zotac lets buyers decide which of the many chips and accompanying hardware parts they want most.

Zotac has added the E2-1800 APU as an option thanks to its integrated AMD Radeon HD 7340 graphics processor, which boosts performance by up to 10% without noticeable power consumption changes. The only other addition is a quartet of special USB connectors. "The new ZBOX gives users up to a 10-percent performance boost for even greater system responsiveness and usability in applications and games," says Carsten Berger, marketing director, ZOTAC International. "We also add four high-amperage USB ports to quickly charge power hungry devices such as tablets and smartphones to simplify charging multiple devices." Zotac's ZBOX mini PC has an HDD of 320 GB or more, 2 GB to 8 GB of DDR3 RAM (two DDR3 random access memory slots), Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0. The product is bundled with an MCE-compatible remote w/ USB IR receiver (for remote controls) and a VESA75/100 mount (good for mounting the ZBOX at the back of monitors or HDTVs).

Zotac ZBOX mini PC
Image credits to Zotac

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Nokia Readies Lumia 830, a Lower Version of Lumia 820

Although Lumia 920 and 820 currently ship in just a handful of countries, Nokia has plans to launch another Windows Phone device, the Lumia 830.

The smartphone has just leaked in China via WPDang and it seems to be a less-featured version of the Lumia 820 (yes, you read that right). According to WPDang, this would be Nokia Lumia 710’s successor. No clue on whether or not Lumia 830 will be powered by Windows Phone 8 or an older version.

There are no details on the phone’s specs sheet for the moment, but we expect more info to emerge in the following days. In fact, we do know Nokia Lumia 830 will be available in five color options as shown in the picture. Stay tuned for more updates on the matter.

Nokia Lumia 830
Image credits to WPDang

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TP-Link 3G/3.75G Wireless N Routers 4G Compatible Now

Owners of a 3G or 4G wireless router may want to check out one or more of TP-Link's products: TL-MR3020, TL-MR3220 and TL-MR3420.

These are the so-called newcomers from the company's Wireless N Router series. The older ones are getting 4G support too. Called The Portable Battery-Powered Wireless N Router (TL-MR3040) and Wireless N Routers for home networks (TL-MR3220 and TL-MR3420), they have only supported 3G and/or 3.75G networks before. The networks of Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile are all compatible with the devices.

DSL and cable network connections are still preferable of course, being faster and more stable. 4G can be a good backup when they crash though, for whatever reason. "The existing inventory of 3G/3.75G Wireless N Routers is being phased out and the 3G/4G products will be in retail channels beginning November 2012," said Lewis Wu, the director of sales at TP-LINK USA.

TP-Link Portable Battery-Powered Wireless N Router

TP-Link Portable Battery-Powered Wireless N Router

TP-Link TL-MR3020

TP-Link TL-MR3220

TP-Link TL-MR3420
Images credits to TP-Link

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Gigabyte H61M-DS2 DVI and H61M-DS2 HDMI, Very Cheap LGA 1155 Motherboards

One would expect a couple of micro-ATX motherboards to have more than one distinctive feature, that does not apply here.

Only the video ports of the H61M-DS2 DVI and H61M-DS2 HDMI are different, as can be seen from the names. Other than that, they both have 4-phase VRM, four SATA 3.0 Gbps ports, 6-channel HD audio, Gigabit Ethernet and three PCI Express slots: one full-size PCIe 2.0 x16, plus two PCIe x1. In addition to the above, Gigabyte implemented dual-UEFI BIOS (one for backup) and the Ultra Durable 4 Classic components (fiber-weave PCB, anti-surge IC, etc.).

Overall, the socket LGA 1155 mainboards (Sandy Bridge- and Ivy Bridge-ready) may be worth more than their price of under $50 / 39-50 Euro. One of them paired with Zotac's low profile GTX 650, or that single-slot GT 640 with three video ports, from MSI, could lead to very good systems.

Gigabyte H61M-DS2 DVI
Image credits to Gigabyte

Gigabyte H61M-DS2 HDMI
Image credits to Gigabyte

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RISC OS Is Now Available for Raspberry Pi

The Raspberry Pi mini PC is a very popular platform and already a lot of developers have ported distributions for it, including RISC OS.

RISC OS is one of the oldest operating systems still around and it was initially developed by the team that built the ARM processor. According to the developers, RISC OS is owned by Castle Technology Ltd, and maintained by RISC OS Open Ltd. This version is made available free of charge to Raspberry Pi users. Keep in mind that it's not a final version, but a release candidate. It might have some bugs and it should be treated as a development version.

Raspberry Pi relies on an ARM processor with a clock speed of 700 MHz, 512 MB of RAM, an SD card slot and a 5V Micro USB connector that supplies the power. It also features RCA and HDMI ports. Download RISC OS for Raspberry Pi 2012-11-01 RC6 right now, here (torrent).

RISC OS in action
Image credits to Raspberry Pi Foundation

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