Angry Birds Space available for WP7

According to news at WPCentral, Angry Birds Space is now available for WP7 (WP7.5) handsets in Market Place.

Check the game on Windows Market place here.

Nokia Lumia 505 with 8 MP Camera at Mexcian Carrier Guerrero Móvil

Nokia seems to be on spree of launching Windows Phone Handset of Lumia Series. Yesterday we read about Lumia 620 WP8 based hansdet, and today images of latest Lumia 505 has leaked online. It might be exclusive to Mexcian Carrier Guerrero Móvil. It has 8 MP camera but other specs (rumored) are not belonging to highend handset. It could be cheapest WP handset, and it could also be first handset to have WP7.8 out of box.

Source at Engadget

It's not exactly often that our neighbors down south get any handset exclusives to call their own, but according to Guerrero Móvil's Facebook page, there's a Mexico-only Lumia 505 well on its way to Telcel's mobile lineup. Aside from touting an 8-megapixel camera, though, the regional carrier doesn't really reveal any other details -- however, rumor has it this Nokia handset will be running Redmond's en-route Widows Phone 7.8 and come sporting a 3.5 or 4-inch WVGA display with an 800MHz, single-core processor, 256MB RAM and 4GB of built-in storage. Of course, it's still a tad bit early to say these specs are set in stone, but the social network post does note that the WP slab will soon be official, and thus it's only a matter of time before we find out what the Lumia 505 really has to offer.

Nokia announces Lumia 620

In a surprising move Nokia has announced Lumia 620, latest in WP8 line-up. These handset seems to cheaper in WP8 handsets (unless Lumia 520 is announced :) )

Details from Engadget-

Nokia announced a surprise new Windows Phone 8 member at LeWeb 2012 in Paris today -- the Lumia 620. The entry-level handset has a 3.8-inch TFT screen at WVGA resolution (800 x 480), a 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 Plus processor, half a gig of RAM and 8GB of internal storage, expandable by microSD (up to 64GB cards supported). A 5-megapixel shooter with LED flash capable of recording 720p video occupies the back, while a VGA camera is up front for those self-portraits. Connectivity-wise, you'll get online via WiFi or WCDMA 3G, with NFC and Bluetooth 3.0 taking care of all your sharing and pairing. "Dual-shot color" interchangeable shells mean you'll be able to personalize your handset beyond switching up the Live Tile layout, and they also keep the 1,300mAh battery under wraps. Excluding taxes and subsidies, the new Lumia will cost $249 dollars when it begins shipping in January next year, first in Asia, then expanding to Europe, the Middle East and other territories later. If you're looking for a Windows Phone 8 handset but don't need the best specs out there, perhaps this is your guy -- the wallet-friendly Lumia 610 generally impressed us, so we've got a feeling this might, too.

Windows Phone 7.8 Release Coming Soon in 2012?

According to “tonistechblog” Microsoft is planning to release WP7.8 very soon. Blog has in fact mentioned that WP7.8 could be release on Wednesday (28 Nov 2012) based on information provided from some close source related to subject (Windows Phone perhaps). Now this news would be liked by many WP7 handset owners (like me) who were deprived from Microsoft’s latest Phone OS offering WP8. WP7 owners worldwide are eagerly waiting for new update which would bring start screen to WP7 just like WP8.

WPCentral has also revealed and confirmed below features present in WP7.8-

·         Build number for WP7.8 will be 7.10.8858.136.

·         New Boot Screen – Reflects Microsoft’s new Windows Phone logo and actually matches that of Windows Phone 8

·         New Start screen – The earlier confirmed 3-sizes for Tiles

·         New Core apps re-design – Xbox Games, Office and Store all get updated with new logos

·         20 Accent colors – We saw this with Windows Phone 8 and now 7 .8 too gets 10 new accent colors (plus one for OEMs or carriers to customize)

·         Live Lock screen Wallpaper – Users can now take advantage of Bing wallpaper, which dynamically updates every day. We’re not sure if this extendable to third party applications as in Windows Phone 8 but presumably it is possible.

There are some advanced changes that only Nokia is applying to their Lumia line as these are OEM customizations.

·         Nokia Network+ settings – we’ve seen this in current Lumia 810/820/822 and 920 devices where Nokia adds some advanced network configurations, such as call forwarding, call waiting and SMS options

·         Bluetooth sharing of non-DRM multimedia files

·         More ringtone editing abilities

·         Contact transfer and sharing app upgrade with new features

Tango (8773) Update for Samsung Omnia W in India

Recently Samsung has started roll out for Tango Update. However there is no notification for upgrade while Windows Phone is connected to Zune. From various online sources, I tried to force upgrade my Samsung Omnia W following below steps. If anybody is interested they can also follow these steps at their OWN RISK.

Steps to force Tango Upgrade-

·         Set phone to Flight Mode which will turn off Phone Network, WiFi, and Bluetooth.

·         Connect your phone to PC via USB cable. Zune application will open.

·         Go to Phone by clicking “Phone” symbol.

·         Go to Settings, and click update.

·         While Zune displays searching for update disconnect internet connection to PC after about 2-3 seconds.

·         If above steps are right, there should be prompt about new update 8112 available. (Repeat above step if there is no prompt for update available). [Image 01]

·         Update phone with 8112.

·         Follow above steps again. This time update prompt for 8773 would be displayed. [Image 02]

·         After 8773 update is complete, Zune will also Update Omnia W with some updates from Samsung. [Image 03]

OS Details after Tango Update-

OS Version: 7.10.8773.98

Firmware revision number: 2424.12.04.3

Hardware revision number: 23.15.0.8

Radio software version: 0424.12.3.1

Radio hardware version: 0.0.0.900

Bootloader version: 6.4.25.0

Chip SOC version: 0.74.2.1

Tata Docomo 3G Signal not working

I was the one of the first customer to use Tata Docomo 3G when they launched 3G service in my city Pune. I used it till March 2012, and was getting good speed throughout city in 30 KM range from my home to office. Later I couldn’t recharge to 3G, as Online 3G recharge was down in March. So I recharged for 2G and used 2G internet plan for 21 days.

After my 2G internet plan expired, and 3G recharge was back online, I recharged with Rs 90 (which was suppose to give 120 MB). But I got 240 MB data!

BUT main issue is I am not getting "3G" symbol on my mobile (Nokia N95). If I select "Dual" network, my phone will have full signal without 3G symbol, and if I select "UMTS", "3G" is displayed, but there would be no signal.

When I was using 3G earlier, I was getting 3G symbol everywhere (home, office, road), but now my phone is not showing 3G network. So I wondered if there was any issue with Tata Docomo 3G in Pune.

I called Tata Docomo Customer Care. They checked network (I guess) at my place and confirmed that there is no issue with 3G Network. They asked me to check my handset, I checked and found that Vodafone 3G and Idea 3G was working fine on my handset, so I was sure that there was no issue with my handset.

I even sent sms “ACT 3G to 121” to check if I need to reactivate 3G again, but I got reply that 3G is already active on my sim.

So now I am on 3G plan, but not able to access 3G network at all. I guess trouble started when I activated 2G internet plan for 21 days. This is really pathetic service by Tata Docomo who is unable to change their database and provide me 3G Network access because I used 2G internet earlier!

Who will broadcast Indian Cricket?

Source

The bidding war for media rights of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)'s matches to be played in India is heating up, with more contenders joining the race. The rights include television, internet and mobile coverage for six years, starting July 2012.
According to BCCI officials, Multi-Screen Media (MSM), which telecasts the Indian Premier League on MAX, has bought the invitation to tender. The network also plans to a launch a new sports channel, Six, this year.
Apart from MSM, ESPN-STAR Sports (ESS), Bennett, Coleman & Co Ltd (BCCL)-led consortium and Reliance-Network18 have picked up tender forms.
An ESS spokesperson said they would not comment on these matters, while BCCL chief executive Ravi Dhariwal said it was an internal matter.
Subhash Chandra's Zee group, which owns sports channels under the TEN umbrella, is believed to be interested in the rights, but is waiting for BCCI to withdraw its case against it.
The bids will have to be given on April 2 in Chennai. "The marketing committee will meet in Chennai to receive and open the bids next Monday," said a BCCI official.

After BCCI has terminated Broadcast deal with Nimbus, BCCI has invited fresh tenders. ESPN-STAR looking to gain the rights which it has been missing for long period. Sony-MSM which already hold BCCI backed IPL rights also looking to grab the rights to boost its newly planned Sports channel SIX. Zee group has case pending against BCCI, so it has restrained itself from bidding currently, but it would also be happy to get rights. Apart from this three, surprising to see BCCL (owners on Times group channels - Times Now, ET Now, Movies Now, Zoom) and Reliance-Network18 (who recently acquired ETV channels). April 2 is the date to watch out for all the happening in biggest broadcast deal in Cricket.

Den Digicable Merger Plans

Source

Is further consolidation coming to Indian cable TV land? Last year, Zee and Star merged their distribution aggregation firms - Zee Turner and Star Den - to form Mediapro. Last week, News Corp announced that it was exiting from leading Indian cable TV MSO Hathway Cable, paving the way for private equity firm Providence to enter.
Now, the buzz is gaining ground that a deal between Digicable and Den Networks is imminent. Sources indicate that talks between the two are at an advanced stage.
"Talks are on for a share-swap deal. Details of the share swap ratio are being worked out," a source familiar with the development said.
Apparently, private equity firm Ashmore, which controls Digicable, is eager that a deal does indeed take place.

"We are in talks. But nothing has happened so far," Digicable MD and CEO JS Kohli said.
Den founder-promoter Sameer Manchanda was not available for comment till the filing of this report.
The consolidation is coming in the wake of the government's mandate to the cable TV industry to switch over nationally from analogue mode to digital by December 2014, beginning with the four metros over the next three months.
The merger, if it does go through, will result in a behemoth with 17 million subscribers nationally.
A deal between the Den and Digicable, however, will require some serious hammering out, indicate observers.
For starters, is the red ink that stains Digicable's finances. Den will have to absorb those. Then there is the huge investment that is needed to upgrade headends and homes to digital.
"The merged entity will have a huge footprint, but the challenge for Den will be to raise capital to support digitisation of this expanded network," said a media analyst.

What I had read earlier that Anil Ambani has stake in Digicable, while Big brother Mukesh has stake in DEN.

Ambani brothers planning some big game in TV distribution in India

Does India have 4G Broadband? This guys thinks Yes!

Just seen advertisement pasted on my building wall about Broadband connection by 4G!!!
Few days back I read news that Indian govt is allocating 4G spectrum and soon going to sale this spectrum by holding auction. But this guys have already got 4G.

But look at their speed - 512 Kbps to 2 Mbps. Its speed less than that offered by 3G. This guys needs some serious education on Wireless technologies.

Neo Sports for Sale?

Reference

For founder-promoter Harish Thawani, fresh trouble is brewing. TheOneAlliance, the brand of the joint venture company between Multi Screen Media (MSM) and Discovery, has terminated the distribution contract of Neo Sports Broadcast's two sports channels.

"We terminated the contract with Neo Broadcast on 3 January. We had specifically mentioned in the contract that the deal would be valid if Neo had the BCCI rights. We have communicated to them about the scrapping of the contract," MSM Discovery president Rajesh Kaul told Indiantelevision.com, without disclosing the size of the contract.

"After deciding to end the distribution contract, it is highly unlikely that Sony will look at buying Neo. The Times of India Group may be a contender. Or even Mukesh Ambani via Network18. These are entities who could be looking at entering the sports broadcasting market. But the big debate could be valuation," said a media analyst.

It seems Indian Sports broadcasting would see rise of new sports broadcaster in 2012 after Nimbus/Neo was out of BCCI boat. It would really be interesting if group like Times Network (who runs channel like Times Now, ET Now, Zoom and Movies Now) or Network 18 (who runs channels like CNN-IBN, CNBC-TV18 along with Hindi news channels and soon to start newly acquired channels from ETV) would own Neo channels. Or would Neo bounce back?

Also interesting to see who gets BCCI rights for Cricket broadcast right for all Internation and Domestic matches played in India (hosted by BCCI).