We're looking for 30 awesome readers to join us at the ASUS ZenFone 2 launch!

It's nearly, time, folks. ASUS is set to launch the ZenFone 2 in this part of the world on May 18, and it's doing so with an event in New York City. And we've got a seat with your name on it. Or, rather, we've got 30 seats with 30 names on them.



Now we just have to pick 30 of you fine folks to join us. Interested
in hanging out for an evening in the greatest city in the world?





So here's the deal: You've got to be able to make your own way to the event in Manhattan. And you need to be at least 18 years old.
But that's it. We'll guarantee your seat. And perhaps you'll get more
than just the experience of being at a launch event, if you know what we
mean.



So how to enter? Just leave a comment on this post telling us why you
want to attend the ASUS ZenFone 2 North American launch event. We'll
pick 30 folks at random and then make sure you're serious about coming.
We'll close this contest on May 8 at noon EDT, and announce the winners
on May 11.



Good luck!

Quick comparison: The LG G4 vs. HTC One M9

HTC and LG's 2015 flagships showcase very different approaches to smartphone design.

They're both big names in the Android world, but HTC and LG have
always taken radically different approaches to their high-end hardware.
And with the arrival of the LG G4 to do battle with the HTC One M9, the contrast between the two firms continues to grow.

It's metal versus leather as the G4 squares up to the M9.

This year LG's all about the leather
(sure, you can also get the G4 in plastic too, but you really
shouldn't). It's a welcome move for the manufacturer, allowing it to
take a step beyond the ho-hum plastic of last year's G3. HTC, of course, has focused on metal unibody construction since 2013's M7.
The difference between the two is largely down to persona taste, though
on the G4 you'll still have a plastic-bodied, plastic-framed phone,
which kinda breaks the illusion for us. As for which one feels
more premium, that's a tough call as well. The M9's design, especially
in the highly reflective silver-plus-gold combo is more ostentatious,
but we're also digging the pitch-black leather of the G4.



The G4 is also heftier in all directions than the M9, owing to its
5.5-inch QHD display. On the M9, you'll get a smaller and lower-res
1080p panel. The resolution isn't the biggest difference between these
two screens, though. Instead, it's the G4's brightness and vividness
that puts it comfortably above HTC's offering. Even in our limited time
with the phone, it's clear to us the G4's IPS Quantum Display is more
than just hype. The M9's screen isn't bad, but it's just not even in the
same league as LG's latest panel.



When it comes to sound, it's a close call, but thanks to HTC's
front-facing BoomSound speakers, our first impressions are that the M9
sneaks in a win here.

Around the back, LG continues the use of its trademark rear-mounted
buttons for power, volume up and volume down; meanwhile HTC has opted
for traditional side-mounted keys in an arrangement that can
occasionally cause confusion. We've always appreciated LG's unique
approach to button placement, though your mileage may vary. Both phones
offer the option to wake up using a double-tap of the screen, through
KnockOn and Motion Launch respectively.



On the inside, the M9 has the upper hand, at least on paper. HTC's
flagship packs Qualcomm's high-end (and also somewhat controversial)
octa-core Snapdragon 810, whereas the G4 uses its little brother, the
six-core Snapdragon 808. The main difference here is you get two fewer
high-power Cortex-A57 cores and a slightly less powerful GPU. The 808
appears to be no slough, though, and the G4s we've used so far have
performed flawlessly, with none of the weird lag we've seen from early
versions of previous LG phones. HTC, of course, figured out smooth
smartphone software a long time ago, and its latest efforts are equally
buttery.

Removable battery and no Quick Charge, or Quick Charge and no removable battery?

LG can also boast a removable 3,000mAh battery, while HTC's is fixed
inside the M9's unibody and clocks in at 2,840mAh. The M9 can also boast
Qualcomm QuickCharge 2.0 support, which is apparently missing from the
G4. Meanwhile neither supports wireless charging out of the box, but the
G4 can support Qi charging with an accessory.



When it comes to photography, LG's talking up the G4's 16-megapixel,
laser-assisted camera, complete with a new camera app allowing users a
new manual mode with advanced controls. HTC's camera app has long
featured such a mode, giving you control over ISO and shutter speed,
among other things. We'll wait until we've spent some more time with the
G4 before saying conclusively how it measures up to the M9's shooter,
but given that HTC's camera hasn't exactly impressed us, our
expectations are firmly weighted in the G4's favor.

Acer's new Iconia 8 brings Intel's Atom to the U.S. this summer for $149

Acer's latest entry into the mid-sized market is the Iconia 8
(B1-820). It's got an 8-inch IPS display (1280x800), comes in either 16-
or 32-gigabyte configurations, weighs 335 grams and is 9.5 mm thin.



The Iconia 8 is powered by an Intel Atom processor and is pushing
Android 5.0. It'll be available in the U.S. in July for $149 and in this
month in Europe starting at €179.

• The new Iconia One 8 B1-820 features Acer Precision Plus technology for a highly accurate touch and writing experience.
• The screen's enhanced accuracy makes it ideal for writing and
  sketching with the optional Acer Accurate Stylus or a fine tip 2mm
  pencil.
• A tartan pattern cover in ten eye-catching colors provides a fun way for customers to express their unique style.
• The Acer Iconia Suite of touch tools simplifies tasks with simple gestures and quick access icons.
• Intel® Atom™ quad core processor and Android 5.0 (Lollipop) makes it powerful enough for productivity tasks and casual gaming.
• An 8-inch HD display with Zero Air Gap and IPS technology brings out all details and colors from wide viewing angles.

NEW YORK (April 23, 2015) Acer today announced the addition of
leading touch capabilities to its line of Iconia One 8 tablets with the
new Iconia One 8 B1-820. Featuring Acer Precision Plus technology, it
offers a highly accurate touch and writing experience. The screen's
enhanced accuracy makes it ideal for writing and sketching with the
optional Acer Accurate Stylus, while the Acer Iconia Suite of touch
tools simplifies tasks with touch gestures and quick access icons.



In addition to its bright, crystal-clear 8-inch HD display (1280 x
800) with Zero Air Gap and IPS technology, it includes a powerful Intel®
Atom™ quad core processor, 16GB or 32GB of storage and the latest
version of Android 5.0 (Lollipop), making it powerful enough for
productivity tasks, watching videos and gaming(1).



Weighing just 355 grams (12.5 ounces) and 9.5 mm thin, the Iconia One
8 is available in 10 eye- catching colors. A textured tartan crisscross
pattern on the back provides a sophisticated cloth-like aesthetic and
tactile feel for a secure grip.



Leading Technology and the Acer Accurate Stylus makes Writing and Drawing Effortless



Acer Precision Plus technology incorporates touch sensors that are
smaller and more precise than the industry standard. With a higher
density of touch sensors, fingertips and writing implements have greater
accuracy and therefore make fewer mistakes. Ideal for sketching or
writing, the B1-820 can be used with the optional Acer Accurate Stylus
or any 2mm fine tip writing implement such as a graphite pencil.



Acer Iconia Suite of Touch Applications Simplify Tasks



Iconia Suite is a set of creative tools that provide intuitive ways
to simplify tasks with touch gestures and quick access icons. Whether
it's taking notes, calling up handy gadgets or multitasking, Iconia
Suite is designed for simplicity and efficiency:

• EZ Note – A simple way for creating and organizing meeting
  minutes, class notes or sketching out ideas. Notes can be created with
  handwriting, typing, an audio recording, a photo or screenshot. Four
  types of strokes can be used to simulate the experience of using a real
  pen, and an unlimited number of books and pages can be created(2).
  Bookmarks make it easy to find notes intuitively, including audio
  recordings.
• EZ WakeUp – With just one-touch and a double tap, the tablet awakes (3) and loads a pre-selected app of choice.
• EZ Snap – Makes it easy to take a screenshot with a simple three-finger pinch. Images can be easily edited and shared.
• EZ Gadget – Makes multi-tasking a snap by providing a single pop-up
  window that includes a Calendar, Browser, Calculator and Text Memo.
• System Doctor – An easy way to free up and manage system memory and
  storage to eliminate lag and increase capacity for more photos or apps.

Customizable Reading Mode Reduces Digital Eye Strain



To help minimize eye fatigue, the tablet's Reading Mode provides a
quick way to reduce the amount of blue-light being emitted from the
tablet's screen and making it easier on the eyes. Activation is quick
and easy; swipe down from the top of the screen with two fingers to
access the Quick Settings; tap on the book icon to enable Reading Mode.



Android 5.0 Improves Performance and Battery Life



The Iconia One 8 B1-820 offers up to 8.5 hours of battery life(4),
for all day use. In addition, the enhanced user interface includes a
more responsive and colorful design with realistic lighting and shadows
while still retaining familiar visual elements. An improved Notification
System provides new ways to control when and how messages are received.



Wide Angle Camera



The new Iconia One 8 includes a .3MP front camera and a 5MP rear
camera; the rear camera also supports 88 degree wide angle captures,
allowing more people and/or scenery to be included in shots.



The new Iconia One 8 was unveiled today at the next@acer press event
at 4 World Trade Center in New York, where the company announced its
latest devices and solutions for families, students and professionals.
For more information, visit acer.com/nextatacer.



Pricing and Availability



The Acer Iconia One 8 will be available in North America in July with
prices starting at US$149, and in EMEA in April with prices starting at
€179. Exact specifications, prices, and availability will vary by
region. To find out about availability, product specifications and
prices in specific markets, please contact your nearest Acer office or
retailer via www.acer.com.



1) Specifications vary depending on model.
2) Unlimited number of books and pages can be created when used with
Acer tablet.
3) If the B1-820 is locked using facial lock, a pattern, PIN or
password, it will need to be unlocked after waking it up, then the
assigned application will open automatically.
4) Actual battery life varies depending on product specifications,
computer settings, and applications or features launched. All batteries'
maximum capacity diminishes with time and use.

European Union files anti-trust charges against Google

Making good on rumors that have been bouncing around for several months, the European Union officially filed
anti-trust charges against Google on Wednesday. The Commission will
formally investigate whether the tech firm has abused its dominance in
search results, as well as within its Android operating system.


In the near term this doesn’t mean much—there will be a lengthy
investigation and likely a trial. But in the long term, if Google were
to be found guilty, it could face a fine of up to $6 billion (10% of its
annual revenue) and various business-altering restrictions. Many
pundits are comparing it to Microsoft in the late 90’s.


From the European Commission’s Statement of Objections:

• Google systematically positions and prominently displays its comparison shopping service in its general search results pages, irrespective of its merits. This conduct started in 2008.
• Google does not apply to its own comparison shopping service the system of penalties,
  which it applies to other comparison shopping services on the basis of
  defined parameters, and which can lead to the lowering of the rank in
  which they appear in Google’s general search results pages.
• Froogle, Google’s first comparison shopping service, did not benefit from any favourable treatment, and performed poorly.
• As a result of Google’s systematic favouring of its subsequent comparison shopping services“Google Product Search” and “Google Shopping”, both experienced higher rates of growth, to the detriment of rival comparison shopping services.
• Google’s conduct has a negative impact on consumers and innovation.
  It means that users do not necessarily see the most relevant comparison
  shopping results in response to their queries, and that incentives to
  innovate from rivals are lowered as they know that however good their
  product, they will not benefit from the same prominence as Google’s
  product.

And from its formal Android investigation press release:

• whether Google has illegally hindered the development and market
  access of rival mobile applications or services by requiring or
  incentivising smartphone and tablet manufacturers to exclusively pre-install Google’s own applications or services;
• whether Google has prevented smartphone and tablet manufacturers who
  wish to install Google’s applications and services on some of their
  Android devices from developing and marketing modified and potentially competing versions of Android (so-called
  “Android forks”) on other devices, thereby illegally hindering the
  development and market access of rival mobile operating systems and
  mobile applications or services;
• whether Google has illegally hindered the development and market access of rival applications and services by tying or bundling certain Google applications and services distributed on Android devices with other Google applications, services and/or application programming interfaces of Google.

It’s worth pointing out that none of this should have a direct
effect on Google search results or Android within the United States and
other countries. The Federal Trade Commission just concluded a two-year
anti-trust investigation into the Mountain View company, and concluded
that it didn’t violate US monopoly laws.

TOP 10 MOST POWERFUL PASSPORTS

Getting a Visa to travel sometimes it’s really stressful,
all the papers you have to present, plus the money you will spend just
makes you tired of all the bureaucracy between countries and you just
wish you could travel everywhere without having to get a ” permit” to
go.


Unfortunately if you are not Jason Bourne and have a lot
of different passports, you still have to get a visa to go to some
places. The bright side is that if  you have one of these passports you
can go to more countries without a visa.


Here is the list of the Top 10 most powerful passports in the world.




===========================


Conseguir um visto para viajar às vezes é muito estressante,
todos os papéis que você tem que apresentar, mais o dinheiro que você
vai gastar só te fazem cansado de toda a burocracia entre países e você
só queria poder viajar para qualquer lugar sem a necessidade de ter uma ” autorização ” para ir.




Infelizmente, se você não é o Jason Bourne e tem
muitos passaportes diferentes, você ainda tem que ter um visto para ir a
alguns lugares. O lado bom é que se você tiver um desses passaportes
você pode ir para mais países sem visto.


Aqui está a lista dos Top 10 passaportes mais poderosas do mundo.


===========================


Conseguir una visa para viajar a veces puede ser muy estresante:
todos los papeles que tienes que presentar, además del dinero que vas a
gastar probablemente van a hacerte sentir cansado de tanta burocracia
entre países, cuando lo único que quieres hacer es viajar a cualquier
lugar sin tener que pedir “permiso” para ir.


Desgraciadamente, no eres Jason Bourne ni tienes muchos pasaportes
diferentes, necesitas conseguir una visa para viajar a algunos lugares.
Lo bueno es que si tienes alguno de estos pasaportes puedes ir a más
países sin visa.


Esta es una lista de los 10 pasaportes más poderosos del mundo.


10 – Liechtenstein – 159 Countries Visa Free Travel.


10 – Lichtenstein – Pode visitar 159 países sem Visa.


10 – Liechtenstein – Puede visitar 159 países sin visa.




9 – Malasya and Malta – 163 Countries Visa Free Travel.


9 – Malasia e Malta – Pode visitar 163 países sem Visa.


9 – Malasia y Malta – Puede visitar 163 países sin visa.






8- Iceland – 165 Countries Visa Free Travel.




8 – Islandia – Pode visitar 165 países sem Visa.


8 – Islandia – Puede visitar 165 países sin visa.





7 – South Korea – 166 Countries Visa Free Travel.


7 – Coreia do Sul – Pode visitar 166 países sem Visa.


7 – Corea del Sur – Puede visitar 166 países sin visa.





6 – Australia, Greece and Singapore – 167 Countries Visa Free Travel.


6 – Australia, Grecia e Cingapura – Podem visitar 167 países sem Visa.


6 – Australia, Grecia y Singapur – Puede visitar 67 países sin visa.










5 -Switzerland, New Zeland and Austria – 168 Countries Visa Free Travel.


5 – Suíça, Nova Zelandia e Austria – Pode visitar 168 países sem Visa.


5 – Suíza, Nueva Zelanda y Austria – Puede visitar 168 países sin visa.





4 – Canada, France, Ireland, Japan, Spain and Portugal – 170 Countries Visa Free Travel.


4 – Canada, França, Irlanda, Japão, Espanha e Portugal – Podem visitar 170 países sem Visa.


4 – Canadá, Francia, Irlanda, Japón, España y Portugal – Puede visitar 170 países sin visa.








3 – Italy, Belgium, Netherlands – 171 Countries Visa Free Travel.


3 – Italia, Belgica, Holanda – Podem visitar 171 países sem Visa.


3 – Italia, Belgica y Holanda – Puede visitar 171 paises sin visa.










2 – USA, Germany, Denmark and Luxembourg – 172 Countries Visa Free Travel.


2 – Estados Unidos, Alemanha, Dinamarca e Luxemburgo – Podem visitar 172 países sem visa.


2 – Estados Unidos,  Alemania, Dinamarca y Luzemburgo – Puede visitar 172 países sin visa.





1 –  UK, Finland and Sweden – 173 countries visa free.


1 – Reino Unido, Finlandia e Suecia – Podem visitar 172 países sem Visa.


1 – Reino Unido, Finlandia y Suecia – Puede visitar 173 países sin visa

What color Galaxy S6 did you buy?

Today is the day many of us have finally picked up a Galaxy S6 of our own. There has been tremendous hype building for both the "regular" Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 edge,
and there will be plenty of discussion about them for a long time to
come. We think most are going to be pretty happy about their purchase —
this is the best Galaxy yet.



Some of the discussion is about the color choices. Besides the black,
white and gold option you'll see available today at your carrier's
store, the Galaxy S6 also has a blue and green option. The bad news, at
least for those of us in the US, is that it looks like you may be waiting a long while
to see either the blue or green for sale unless you buy an
international version. That being said, there's nothing wrong with the
way the available colors look. The GS6 and the edge look and feel
fabulous in any color.



But which color did you end up getting? Answer the poll then fill the comments with your thoughts —that's why they are there!

What color Galaxy S6 did you buy?

GoldWhiteBlackHolding out for blue or greenNot buying one

Samsung Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, MacBook Pro, and More Tech Deals

inShare

This
week the latest generation Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch, coloured laser
printer, Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, and more gadgets are available
at a discounted price.

1. Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (2015 model)

The
latest edition of the Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch is now available online
in India. Paytm is offering a cashback of Rs. 9,000 on all the three
variants of the laptop. You can buy the entry level variant with 128GB
SSD storage for as low as Rs. 79,799 (effective after cashback). The
other two variants with 256GB and 512GB SSDs are available for Rs.
92,999 and Rs. 1,18,990. The latest generation MacBook Pro 13-inch is
powered by a 2.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, supported by 8GB
of RAM. The new MacBook Pro features an all new Force Touch trackpad
that can measure the amount of pressure you exert on the touchpad's
surface to enable more gesture based controls, drawing features, and
multi-touch gestures. Apple promises that the battery on these new
machines would last up to 10 hours for web browsing, and 12 hours for
iTunes movie playback. Use the coupon code A9K to get a cashback of Rs.
9,000 in your Paytm Wallet. You can even withdraw this cashback to your
bank account directly, although a fee of 4% will apply.

Price: Starting from Rs. 79,799 (MRP Rs. 94,900)

Link: Paytm

2. Ricoh SP C220N color laser printer

Snapdeal
has dropped the price on the Ricoh SP C220N color laser printer to Rs.
8230 (MRP Rs. 24,990). The new discounted price makes this single
function color laser printer one of the most decent printers in the
under Rs. 10,000 price segment. The printer feature a warm up time of
less than 45 seconds, and can start printing out black and white prints
in under 14 seconds, and colors in less than 30 seconds. You can even
use it to create copies of documents. The company boasts of a print
speed of around 16 prints per minute, making it a decent choice for home
or small offices.

Price: Rs. 8,230 (MRP Rs. 24,990)

Link: Snapdeal

3. Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge

If
you've been waiting for Samsung's flagship smartphone, it's finally
here. Even though the official listed price on the box is Rs. 56,700 you
can grab the Galaxy S6 32GB variant for Rs. 48,400 (effective), the
lowest possible price currently. Paytm is offering a cashback of Rs.
2500 on the Galaxy S6 as well as the Galaxy S6 Edge. You can get a new
Galaxy S6 Edge for as low as Rs. 56,900 (effective) at Paytm, again the
lowest price online. The cashback amount of Rs. 2,500 will be credited
to your Paytm Wallet within 24 hours of a prepaid order getting shipped,
and within 24 hours of delivery for a cash on delivery order. Either
way, the deal makes sense since the amount can take care of the first
1-2 months worth of your mobile bills.

Price: Rs. 48,400 (MRP Rs. 56,700)

Link: Paytm

4. Philips AT10/00 wireless portable speaker

The
Philips AT10/00 offers a decent overall package for those in the market
for an affordable portable speaker with a number of input options. The
Philips AT10/00 wireless speaker features support for Bluetooth devices,
USB drives, audio in, and SD cards. There's an in-built FM tuner as
well. There's an in-built rechargeable battery so you can take the
speaker with you on short picnics. The battery can last up to 20 hours
of music playback. You can grab the speaker for as low as Rs. 2,832
using coupon code HOMEAUDIO09. There's an additional
discount if you choose to pay using PayUMoney payment gateway at
checkout. At the final price, this is the lowest this speaker has been
in a while now.

Price: Rs. 2,832 (regular Rs. 3,500)

Link:eBay

5. Plantronics GameCom 777 wired gaming headset

Flipkart
has dropped the price on the Plantronics GameCom 777 wired gaming
headset down to Rs. 4,999 (MRP Rs. 5,890). The Plantronics GameCom 777
features an over-the-ear headset design, and a built-in microphone. The
headset is powered by 40mm driver units which should offer a decent
sound experience. The unit comprises of controls for adjusting volume as
well as a mute button for the microphone. Plantronics promises that the
headset will offer a high quality 7.1 Dolby surround sound, along with
noise-cancellation features using the circuit built inside the
microphone itself to cut out the ambient noise. The headset is pretty
light so you can carry on playing your games while wearing the headset
for several hours.

Price: Rs. 4,999 (MRP Rs. 5,890)