globalnews

Wednesday, 16 October 2013

Feature phones gaining popularity in Korea

Samsung's Minimal Folder.
(Credit: Samsung)

If you think that feature phones are a thing of the past, think again. In a technologically advanced nation like Korea, feature phones are surprisingly gaining popularity amongst the masses. According to market research company Atlas Research and Consulting, the market shares of feature phones in the country has significantly risen from 3 percent in March to 16-18 percent recently.

LG's Wine Sherbet.
(Credit: LG Electronics)

Currently, the most popular feature phones in Korea are LG's "Wine Sherbet" and Samsung's "Minimal Folder" models, released in December 2011 and October 2011, respectively. According to statistics by Atlas, Wine Sherbet recorded sales of 140,000 units, while the Minimal Folder managed 60,000 units -- both within the span of the last two months. Comparably, Samsung's Galaxy S4 smartphone sold 260,000 units in Korea last month.

According to ZDNet Korea, these feature phones were likely bought by those of the older generation, who probably don't make full use of the functions of a smartphone. The fact that feature phones are much more affordable than smartphones could also have a part to play in the users' decision.

Via Naver News

IP pipeline: Pakistan looks to Gazprom for project financing

Gazprom participation in the IP pipeline will feature in a meeting of the Pakistan-Russia joint working group next month. Russia has already expressed its interest in investing in Pakistan’s energy sector. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD:

As a Chinese company has distanced itself from the Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline, Pakistan is now looking to Russian energy giant Gazprom for providing necessary financing for more than a billion-rupee project.

“Russia may be the best choice for financing and constructing the pipeline,” an official said. Pakistan was willing to accept Gazprom’s offer to build its side of the pipeline, which would cost about $1.5 billion, he added. Gazprom wants its subsidiaries to engage in the project.

Though Pakistan has placed a request before the Iranian government for providing all financing for the construction of the pipeline on its side of the border, government officials believe it will be difficult for Tehran to make a commitment.

“The issue of Gazprom participation in the IP pipeline will feature in a meeting of the Pakistan-Russia joint working group next month,” the official said, pointing out Islamabad and Tehran had been going through the power transition process because of which progress on the project had slowed down.

Pakistan and Iran have to sort out technical issues to pave the way for the award of engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to Iranian firm Tadbir Energy. An agreement in this regard has already been inked and will be formally signed after technical issues are addressed.

The two countries have finalised a $500 million loan deal and a high-level meeting between them is expected to be held soon to discuss the possibility of Iran providing all investment required for the pipeline. Petroleum and Natural Resources Minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, is likely to lead Pakistan’s side in the talks.

A Chinese company, which had offered $500 million for the pipeline, pulled out after Pakistan refused to extend the validity of its bid.

After inviting bids from interested companies, Inter State Gas Systems, a state-owned Chinese company that handles energy import projects, had selected Panyn Chu King Steel Limited of China as a qualified bidder, which would provide pipes at the rate of $1,650 per ton including compressors. The company sought extension in the bid validity period, but the government turned down the request.

“As the Chinese company is no more interested in the venture, the government is now banking on Iran and Russia to fund the laying of gas pipeline in Pakistan,” a source said.

Iran has already committed to providing $500 million to finance the pipeline, but now the government wants Tehran to increase the credit line. Against the financing, Pakistan will award EPC contract to Iran-designated firm Tadbir Energy.

Under the project, Pakistan will import 750 million cubic feet of gas per day (mmcfd), which can be increased to one billion cubic feet. Of the quantity, the Government of Balochistan seeks 250 mmcfd for consumption at the Gwadar Port, therefore, the central government is expected to go for enhanced supplies from Iran to cater to the needs of the province

HTC One Max

Announced earlier this week, HTC's latest smartphone is a phablet with a huge 5.9-inch display that features HTC's industrial design and a fingerprint scanner. But is this the handset to get given there are plenty of other high-end options such as the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, the LG G2 and the Sony Xperia Z1?

Upside

If you love big-screen handsets, the One Max delivers this in spades. The large 5.9-inch screen packs a full-HD 1,920x1080-pixel resolution, which gives it a pixel-per-inch value of 373ppi. That's none too shabby, which means text on screen will be sharp.

Apart from the obvious giant display, the One Max features HTC's industrial design found on its earlier flagship, the HTC One and the HTC One Mini. The One Max comes clad in aluminum, and has a removable back cover. However, the only use for removing the back cover is to access the microSD card slot -- the battery is non-removable.

Another new thing that we've previously seen on the Motorola Atrix and more recently, the Apple iPhone 5S is a fingerprint scanner. Unlike Apple's TouchID sensor though, the one found on the One Max requires you to do some swiping with your finger (instead of just holding it there).

Besides using it to unlock your phone, the One Max's fingerprint sensor lets you use three different fingers to open apps. This should make it useful for quickly getting to your favorite app, or even turning on the Ultrapixel camera.

Like the HTC One, One Mini and Butterfly S, the One Max sports a 4-megapixel UltraPixel camera. This will mean that great low-light shots, but the lower-megapixel count will result in smaller pictures as well as a lack of details when compared with pictures taken with an 8- or 13-megapixel shooter.

HTC will also be making accessories for the One Max, and this includes a Power Flip case that adds an additional 1,210mAh battery and a BoomBase speaker cube. The HTC Mini (a phone-shapped Bluetooth accessory) also makes a return in the form of the updated Mini+ and there's also a new Bluetooth tag that alerts you if you leave your phone behind.

Downside

There's such a thing as being too big, and one of the reasons why I liked the HTC One was that it stayed under 5 inches and could be reasonably used with one hand. The One Max may appeal to those who like watching videos on their handsets, but those who want to type one-handed on a crowded train will have issues stretching their thumbs.

While you have a removable back cover this time around, there's no having access to the battery means you won't be able to swap it out when it runs flat. The 3,300mAh battery should mean that it will last for at least a day, though.

Unlike other flagship handsets, the One Max comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor clocked at 1.7GHz. This is unlike the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and the Sony Xperia Z1 with their Snapdragon 800 chips. If you ask me, the One Max feels like a handset that should have made its debut earlier in the year.

Outlook

While pricing has not been announced for the region, the One Max will be available globally from mid to end October. There's no word on specific availability just yet for countries here in Southeast Asia, but it seems the phablet will hit Malaysia sometime in November. Given its lackluster specs (compared with other flagships) and lateness to the market, the HTC One Max may not get the warm reception that it needs for the Taiwanese company to make a dent in the phablet category.

Xiaomi sells 100,000 MiPhone 3 units in 83 seconds

In typical Xiaomi fashion, the Chinese technology company sold the first batch of 100,000 MiPhone 3 (Mi-3)smartphones, and 3000 MiTV televisions at 12PM (GMT+8) through its Web site today. According to Xiaomi, its Mi-3 phones sold out in just 83 seconds, while its MiTVs were sold in 118 seconds.

The 16GB version of the Mi-3 retails for 1,999 yuan (US$327) and its 32GB version is sold for 2,499 yuan (US$410). Xiaomi's 48-inch MiTV Android smart TV sells for 2,999 yuan (US$490).

The timeframe within which Xiaomi manages to sell its devices has become something of a benchmark when it comes to gauging demand for Xiaomi's highly anticipated mobile devices in Asia.

In August, Xiaomi sold its first 100,000 Hongmi (Red Rice) smartphones -- Xiaomi's budget smartphone line -- in a matter of 90 seconds. With a history for experimentation, the company took to Chinese microblogging site, Sina Weibo, as an additional sales channel through a trial run that managed to sell 50,000 Mi-2 smartphones within a span of five minutes.

While the company has become known for its limited weekly sales of its devices, some analysts have criticized this practice as creating false demand for the devices. Xiaomi, however, has repeatedly shot back and defended its production strategy, as one that keeps the supply for its smartphones in balance with the demand without the risk of overstocking inventory.

To the testament of Xiaomi's popularity in China and abroad, Xiaomi co-founder Bin Lin explained toAllThingsD at D:Dive into Mobile that Xiaomi has been struggling to keep up with the demand of its smartphones. "We are working really hard to increase the capacity," Lin said.

Having sold 7.19 million devices in 2012, Xiaomi will more than double that figure this year as the company expects to sell 20 million smartphones -– up from its initial projection of 15 million smartphone sales in 2013.

Agger intends to honour Liverpool contract

The defender confirmed the club rejected an offer from Barcelona during the summer and is happy to stay with the Reds until the end of his current contract

Daniel Agger has insisted he is happy at Liverpool, although the defender will not rule out a future move away from Anfield.

While admitting an offer was on the table for him to leave the Reds during the summer, the 28-year-old centre-half has insisted that he is content to remain on Merseyside for the remainder of his current deal.

However, Agger - who has been on the bench for Liverpool’s last two games following a rib injury - wants to win trophies and refused to deny he may move on at some point.

"[The decision to reject Barcelona] was up to the club. The club would not sell me. We can always talk about [that] again later," he told Ekstrabladet.

"I do not know [if I will leave Liverpool]. Right now I have two-and-a-half years left on my contract and I intend to fulfil my contract.

"I'm happy at Liverpool and playing well. We have a great team, and if I can win something it will be great. Liverpool is a huge club."

The Reds have been in impressive form this season, with Brendan Rodgers' men currently second in the Premier League, level on points with leaders Arsenal.

Perez claims Bale cost €91m

The Blancos president has denied that the Spanish giants paid €100 million for the Welshman, meaning Cristiano Ronaldo remains the world's most expensive player

Florentino Perez has claimed that Real Madrid paid €91m to bring Gareth Bale to the Santiago Bernabeu during the summer.

It has been widely reported that the Spanish giants handed over a world-record €100 million for the Wales international - but the Blancos president has now stated otherwise.

"Bale is insured for €91m, which is the amount he cost," Perez told Intereconomia.

That figure means that Madrid ace Cristiano Ronaldo remains the world's most expensive player, with the Portuguese superstar having cost €94m when he moved to the Spanish capital from Manchester United in 2009

Falcao: Real Madrid? I'm happy at Monaco

The Colombia international has stressed that he is not thinking about a transfer back to La Liga, claiming he is perfectly content at the Stade Louis II

Radamel Falcao has insisted that he is happy with life at Monaco amidst reports linking him with a transfer to Real Madrid at the end of the season.

Madrid president Florentino Perez stated earlier this week that the Santiago Bernabeu side remain interested in signing the prolific hitman after missing out on him during the summer transfer window, but the Colombia international is not thinking about leaving the Stade Louis II.

"I can only thank Florentino Perez for what he's said, but I must respect my current club Monaco, where I am feeling very well," Falcao said at a press conference.

"I am very happy at Monaco. This is not the right time to talk about Real Madrid's potential interest in me out of respect for my current club."

The 27-year-old has developed into a key player at Monaco since joining the club from Atletico Madrid ahead of the 2013-14 campaign.

Falcao's contract with Monaco is due to expire in the summer of 2018.