Google Android, Apple iOS power over 90% smartphones in Q4: IDC

WASHINGTON: Android-powered smartphones and Apple's rival iPhone have extended their near duopoly with a whopping 91 percent of the global market in the fourth quarter, a survey showed on Thursday.

Google's Android system was used on 70.1 percent of smartphones shipped in the quarter, while Apple held 21 percent, according to research firm IDC.

"The dominance of Android and Apple reached a new watermark in the fourth quarter," said IDC analyst Ramon Llamas.

Over the full year, this gave the two platforms 87.6 percent of the world smartphone market, and underlined the challenge facing smaller players in trying to break their dominance.

Llamas said Android benefitted from "a broad selection of smartphones, and an equally deep list of smartphone vendor partners" while Apple got traction from its new iPhone 5 and lower prices on its older models.

IDC said the global market for smartphones grew 46 percent last year with 722 million units shipped -- some 227 million of them in the fourth quarter alone.

The report highlighted the tough task for other smartphone vendors, including BlackBerry and those using the Microsoft Windows Phone platform.

BlackBerry remained the number three platform but its market share slid to just 3.2 percent in the fourth quarter, and 4.5 percent for the year. That compared with 10.3 percent for 2011.

The Windows Phone platform grew some 150 percent year-over-year in the fourth quarter, helped by the introduction of the Windows Phone 8 platform and new models from Nokia and HTC.

But the platform accounted for just 2.6 percent of the market in the fourth quarter.

"With the recent introductions of two new smartphone platforms we expect some ground to be made by the new entrants over the coming years," said Ryan Reith, another IDC analyst.

"There is no question the road ahead is uphill for both Microsoft and BlackBerry, but history shows us consumers are open to change. Platform diversity is something not only the consumers have asked for, but also the operators." 

Samsung launches Rex 90, 80, 70 and 60 feature phones; prices start at Rs 4280

Samsung has announced the launch of its new range of smart feature phones under the Samsung Rex series. The four new phones unveiled at an event at New Delhi are the Rex 80, Rex 80, Rex 70 and Rex 60.

The price range of the four new Samsung Rex phones are from Rs 4280 to Rs 6490.

Samsung Rex series of phones are being launched globally from India. Samsung says the phones have been developed in India and will be introduced across a number of markets beginning with India. 

The Rex 90 has a 3.5-inch capacitive display, with dual-SIM support, a 3.2 megapixel camera, WiFi with up to 15 hours of talktime. The dual-SIM Rex 80 has a 3-inch capacitive screen and also includes WiFi support and comes with a 3 megapixel camera. The Rex 70 has a similar screen as the Rex 80 but has a lower 2 megapixel camera. The starting model, the Rex 60 has a 2.8-inch display (not capacitive) and a 1.3 megapixel camera.

The Rex 90 has 7 customisable homescreens while the other models have 8.

India wrestlers shocked at Olympics move to drop sport

India's wrestlers have expressed shock at the recommendation of International Olympic Committee (IOC) that the sport be dropped from the 2020 Games.

Four out of India's 24 Olympic medals are from wrestling. Wrestling also gave India its first individual Olympic medal in 1952.

Two of India's six medals at the 2012 London Olympics were won by wrestlers.

The IOC recommended its dismissal after assessing the performance of all 26 sports at the London Games.

There is a slim chance that wrestling may win a reprieve when the IOC meets in September to ratify its choice.

Correspondents say the decision will come as a big blow to Indian wrestlers who have been making a mark internationally.

"It's a huge setback. I can't believe that IOC can take such a harsh decision about one of the oldest Olympic sports," Sushil Kumar, who has won two medals at Olympics, was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times newspaper.

"At the Beijing Olympic Games, my aim was to win a medal and I succeeded. For London, my target was gold, but I could manage a silver. So I am determined to make up for the London loss at Rio [games]."

Senior wrestling official Raj Singh said the recommendation was a "huge loss for the country".

"But I am sure that the international wrestling body will not let the sport be shown the door from the Olympics," he said.

Senior coach Yashvir told The Indian Express that young wrestlers at his camp were stunned by the news.

"They all seem defeated," he said.

Mr Yashvir said he was now worried about the future of wrestling in India.

"Why will children want to take up wrestling now? People will rather have their children train for other games like boxing. This will directly impact our talent pool."

Freedom of expression was intact', says Kamal Haasan

Kamal Haasan's Tamil movie Vishwaroopam was released today in theatres across Tamil Nadu sending his fans into a delirious mood after a fortnight-long suspense as the actor insisted his freedom of expression was 'intact' with only a few scenes muted.

"Thank you India. Thank You Tamil Nadu. See to it that artistes like me don't get into trouble again," said a hugely-relieved actor as the film opened to packed houses with his fans bursting crackers and pouring milk over his cut-outs.

Today's release capped a two-week long drama with many a twist and turn that saw opposition by theatre owners over the actor's plan to release it on DTH platform, protests by Muslim outfits that led to a two-week ban by Tamil Nadu government, court battle and threat of self-exile by the actor.

As the ban evoked national outcry, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa stepped in, paving the way for its release. Actor agreed to mute scenes that Muslim outfits found offensive in the government brokered meeting.

Haasan wished Jayalalithaa, who recently said she no longer watched movies, would break "her vow" for his sake as he wanted to screen the movie for his "peer and senior" in the Tamil film industry.

"I like her to see the film. Now she is a Chief Minister. But she is (also) a peer and senior. I very much like her to watch my film and hope she breaks her vow of not watching movies," a smiling Haasan told reporters.

The actor insisted that his freedom of expression was 'intact' since only a few scenes had been muted.

Fans celebrate ‘Vishwaroopam’ release in Tamilnadu

Overcoming a fortnight-long suspense and drama, Kamal Haasan’s Vishwaroopam finally hit the screens across Tamil Nadu to packed houses, amid celebrations by delirious fans.

It was a jamboree of sorts as elated fans danced to drum beat and burst crackers as they thronged cinema houses since early morning, some pouring milk over the cut outs of the 58-year-old actor.

“We are very happy with the response and shows have been booked till Monday. Kamal has done a brilliant job,” a theatre owner said.

Haasan’s fans said the technically advanced film could match up to any Hollywood production.

“It is like a Hollywood movie,” said a fan outside a theatre. “Hats off to Kamal. He has taken Indian cinema to a new height,” said another.

The film, originally scheduled for January 25 release, started screening in some theatres as early as 6 a.m.

Its release was delayed in the wake of protests by some Muslim outfits, prompting the Tamil Nadu government to ban it for two weeks.

The movie was cleared for release after the makers agreed to make changes to seven scenes following a State government-brokered meeting between Haasan and the outfits.

The State ban on the spy-thriller triggered a nationwide condemnation and support for Haasan, who had threatened to go on a self-imposed exile following the politics over his film.

Prior to the protests by Muslim outfits, the film had faced problems with the actor insisting on release on the DTH platform before showing it in theatres. The theatre owners’ opposition had forced him to delay the release.

Bikaner baby who was bitten by her father on nose, lips dies in hospital

Five days after she went through plastic surgery to reconstruct her face, a five-month-old baby girl, whose nose and lips were bitten off by her abusive father, died in a hospital in Jaipur today.  The father will be charged with murder, the police said. 

The baby and her older sister were both assaulted by their drunk father in Bikaner, about 400 kms from Jaipur, on the night of January 26. The mother filed a police case, leading to her husband's arrest, and her in-laws punished her by throwing her out of the house they shared.

After NDTV reported on the family, viewers and NDTV.com surfers donated generously. 

"The condition of the baby deteriorated last night after she was breastfed by her mother. The milk entered into her lungs following which some complications developed and she was put on ventilator support but she died," said a spokesperson of the Sawai Man Singh Government Hospital in Jaipur.

The baby was scheduled to undergo another operation in a fortnight.

‘Vishwaroopam’ to be released in Tamil Nadu on February 7

A day after the two-week ban was revoked on the controversial film “Vishwaroopam”, Kamal Haasan on Monday, announced that his film will hit across the theatres in Tamil Nadu on February 7.

“The film will release all over Tamil Nadu on February 7,” said Kamal in a statement.

Following the tripartite talks on February 2 in the presence of Home Secretary R. Rajagopal, Mr. Haasan had agreed to edit a few scenes from the film, thus bringing to an end the protests by some Muslim organisations.

The Rs. 95-crore espionage thriller was set for release in Tamil and Telugu on January 25, but a day before the release the Tamil Nadu government imposed a two-week ban fearing protests by Muslim groups.

Written, produced and directed by Mr. Haasan, who also plays the title role, “Vishwaroopam” also features Andrea Jeremiah, Pooja Kumar, Rahul Bose, Shekhar Kapur and Jaideep Ahlawat.

The film’s Hindi version “Vishwaroop” was released on February 1 across the country and has raked Rs.7.56 crore in its opening weekend.

Keywords: Vishwaroopam ban, Tamil Nadu government ban, tripartite talks, Muslim body protests, Muslim organisations