10 Hot apps for Android phones

As bound in open source awesomeness as Android is, using some of the default applications can be a less-than-exciting experience. The stock applications offer basic features and although they work well enough, there's always something better out there.

For instance, the default Webkit-based internet browser with Android is free and fast, but it doesn't have a whole lot of interesting things to fiddle around with or anywhere close to a genre-defining feature set.

In case you're worried about experimenting, everything is reversible. If you don't like the alternative browser, email client or media player, you can always choose to uninstall and get back to the default application.

So, if you wish to get more out of your Android device, a bit of an OS refresh maybe, here's a bunch of 10 alternative applications that get our recommendation.

Sony launches music steaming service

TOKYO: Sony Corp launched a music streaming service in a bid to boost sales of its consumer electronics and break Apple's dominance of the online music business.

The Japanese company's "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity" is a digital music service based on cloud technology that does not involve downloading tracks like Apple's iTunes, which started in 2001.

Instead, a subscription gives users access to a catalog of about 6 million songs, which can be streamed across Sony's Internet-connected devices like the PlayStation 3, personal computers and Bravia TVs. The service can be synchronized with a user's existing music files, including iTunes, Sony said.

The service debuted in the UK and Ireland on Wednesday and will be rolled out in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and New Zealand and the US next year. "Music Unlimited" follows the launch this year of an on-demand video service that is now available in the US and several European countries.

For Sony, the two services represent an effort to better integrate the company's consumer electronics with content like music, movies and games in a fiercely competitive market. Sony is banking on Qriocity _ its new online entertainment platform announced earlier this year--to help make that happen.

While it remains to be seen whether consumers will embrace the new services, Sony is starting off with a substantial user base through the PlayStation 3. The video game console has more than 60 million users worldwide, and about 80 percent of PS3s are connected to the Web.

In developing its new music service, Sony decided to shift away from downloadable songs, said Kazuo Hirai, executive vice president and head of the company's Networked Products and Services division.

"We realized that if we were playing catch up with the same (iTunes) model, it would be difficult to appeal to users," Hirai told reporters in Tokyo.

Initially, the service is intended to mainly enhance the appeal of its products against competitors like Microsoft Corp and Samsung Electronics Co.

"But over time, it needs to stand on its own," Hirai said. The service cannot yet be used on portable devices such as the Walkman or cell phones, though Sony says it plans to eventually integrate those as well.

Since taking over in 2005, Sony's Chief Executive Howard Stringer has been trying to unite the company's sprawling businesses, cut costs and improve efficiency. He promoted Hirai in 2009 in a management shuffle that looks to be paying off.

The company returned to profitability in the July-September quarter and raised its earnings forecast in part due to brisk sales of the PS3. Its stock has risen about 11 per cent this year, outpacing a 2 percent fall in the benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average.

Hirai said his company is on pace to meet its goal of selling 15 million PS3 consoles this fiscal year through March, and expects the games division to finish in the black.

Launched in September, the PlayStation Move motion-sensing game controller has been a big holiday hit so far, exceeding Sony's own expectations. The company said in late November that it had shipped 4.1 million Move units to retailers worldwide.

Fab@50: Sachin makes history, at a place aptly called Centurion

ENTURION: In a year when adjectives like 'biggest' and 'unprecedented' were mostly used to describe scams, it was left to India's sportspersons to provide cheer to the nation with their stirring feats.

It is fitting, therefore, for 2010 to draw to a close with a stupendous achievement by a hero who has epitomized sporting perfection for over two decades and given millions of Indians countless moments of pride and joy.

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar went where no cricketer ever had before - and no else may ever venture - when he scored his 50th Test ton on Sunday. It's a staggering achievement that reopens the debate about whether he's the greatest batsman ever, surpassing even the legendary Sir Don Bradman, who was famously reminded of himself while watching the Indian genius in action.

It was a fitting moment in many ways. After three disappointing home Tests against New Zealand when the master failed to reach the three-figure mark, it came on a bigger stage - against South Africa in South Africa, as Team India battled to avoid an innings defeat in a match-up between the world's two top Test teams.

MS Dhoni, the man who was at the other end when Sachin became the first batsman to hit 200 in an ODI, was again at the non-striker's end on Sunday. In both cases, the landmark was achieved off a speed merchant who's probably the most lethal in the business right now - Dale Steyn. They would have been special moments even if they'd come against lesser bowlers, but it was appropriate that they should come against another champion.

A gentle push to cover, a few quick steps towards the non-striker's end and history was made at the SuperSport Park, at a venue aptly called Centurion. Almost from the day he made his debut some 21 years ago, Sachin had seemed destined to get 50 Test centuries. Still, when the moment arrived, it prompted goosebumps, tears and loud cheering across the world.

As Sachin took off his helmet and looked skywards before throwing his arms up in his now trademark gesture, the stadium stood up as one to clap. Suddenly, tricolours were proudly fluttering in different parts of the ground.

It was another great knock in a year that has seen Tendulkar harvest over 1,500 runs with seven centuries and an average in excess of 85 from 13 Tests. But for the man himself, the century was but a brief stop in a long journey as he strove to pull off a miracle for India - a most unlikely draw in the first Test against South Africa. Or, at least, some honour in defeat.

While India are more or less finished, 30 runs behind with two wickets standing at 454/8 as a snap shower ended the day's play, Tendulkar was still not done. He is there, unconquered on 107 (226 balls, 13 fours, 1 six).

For a major part of the day, Tendulkar had to wage a lonely battle as a humiliating defeat loomed. India, shot out for 136 runs in the first innings, began the day at 190/2. When Tendulkar came to the middle after night watchman Ishant Sharma's dismissal about 45 minutes into play, India still needed 270 to avoid a loss by an innings. The little master battled on even though Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Suresh Raina left without any substantial contribution.

Finally, skipper MS Dhoni stepped up and lent the support Sachin was looking for. With Dhoni looking assured at the other end, a relaxed Tendulkar worked his way towards the landmark.

There is a sense of timelessness when Tendulkar bats. He seems to be in the zone, as if what is happening around him does not affect him. He does not bat, he meditates. Sunday was no different. He did survive a close LBW appeal by Harris when at 57. Other than that, he had an answer for everything South Africa threw at him.

While the pitch played well, the home attack was still testing. Steyn and Morne Morkel were unrelenting in their aggression and Tendulkar had to weave in and weave out of many searing bouncers. In fact, he took a painful blow on the left shoulder in the final minutes of the day as he tried to avoid a Steyn bouncer.

In between, there were the superb drives, delicate glances and fierce cuts drawing big applause from even home fans.

Anticipation at the stadium grew more intense with every run he scored. And it was an uneasy tea break when Tendulkar went in at 80.

But the maestro soothed nerves when play resumed with two crisp fours to move to 88. At 89, he launched Paul Harris into the stands to jump to 95. A couple of nudges here and there, and a two off Steyn got him to 99. History was made off the next ball.

Tons scored against: Australia (11), Sri Lanka (9), Eng (7), S Africa (6), B'desh (5), NZ (4), W Indies & Zimbabwe (3), Pak (2). Only Jack Hobbs (12) has more tons against Aus. Sachin's 9 are also the most centuries by any batsman against Lanka.

Favourite Grounds: MAC Stadium (Chennai), VCA Ground (Nagpur) - 5 tons each, SSC (Colombo) 4, Sydney 3.

28 tons scored on foreign grounds (a world record. But he doesn't have even one at Lord's), 22 centuries at home.

- When Sachin has scored a ton, India has won 20 Tests, lost 10 and drawn 19 (the 50th may well be in a losing cause)

- He has scored 20 tons in the first innings of a match, 17 in 2nd, 10 in 3rd & 3 in 4th

- Only player with 20 knocks of 150-plus

- Only batsman in world to complete a ton with a six five times.

What next?

He's achieved almost every landmark in cricket, but here are 3 more that we'd love to see:

1. A hundred international 100s: Has 46 tons in ODIs, needs 4 more

2. Test triple: Still hasn't scored 300 in an innings, done by many lesser batsmen

3. A World Cup win: The one prize to elude him so far.

Six of his best in Tests:

114 vs Aus, Perth; Feb 3, 1992: Barely 19, he hit a superb ton on a wicked wicket.

136 vs Pak, Chennai; Jan 31, 1999: Battling back spasms, Sachin guided a chase of 271 but fell with victory in sight. India lost by 12 runs. Heartbreakingly beautiful.

155 n.o vs Aus, Chennai; March 9, 1998: The one which had Warne admitting to nightmares. The leggie kept bowling into the rough, Sachin kept hitting him against the turn.

241 n.o. vs Aus, Sydney; Jan 4, 2004: His first double ton abroad came as he cut out the cover drive. Marked his transition from dasher to gritty accumulator.

111 vs South Africa at Wanderers; Nov 28, 1992: Sachin himself rates this as one of his finest, against an attack of Allan Donald, Brian McMillan and Craig Matthews.

103 vs England, Chennai; Dec 15, 2008: Silenced critics who accused him of not playing match-winning knocks in India's first Test after 26/11.

Yahoo to close Delicious, more services after layoffs

SAN FRANCISCO: The content-sharing site Delicious may not be on Yahoo Inc's shrinking menu of online services much longer.

Although a final decision evidently hasn't been made, Delicious is on a list of services that Yahoo is planning to close after shedding 600 employees, or about 4 percent of its work force, earlier this week.

An internal Yahoo slide containing the endangered list was posted on the Internet Thursday. The presentation was shared through Twitter, whose popularity may be one of the reasons that Yahoo no longer prizes Delicious as much as it did five years ago when it bought the site for an undisclosed sum.

In a statement, Yahoo confirmed it will phase out several services in the coming months without specifically mentioning Delicious. The company, based in Sunnyvale, California, said it would provide more details "when appropriate."

Other services on Yahoo's "sunset" list include MyBlogLog, Yahoo Buzz, Yahoo Picks and Yahoo Bookmarks.

They would become more detritus in a housecleaning that Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz began shortly after she was hired to engineer a turnaround nearly two years ago. She has closed or sold a variety of unprofitable or little used services so Yahoo could focus on other areas more likely to attract traffic and sell advertising. Some of the priorities heading into 2011 include mobile, communications and local services.

Bartz's strategy hasn't paid off yet, with Yahoo's revenue growth still lagging other Internet rivals such as Google Inc and Facebook, leaving its stock price in the doldrums.

Yahoo shares gained 6 cents to close Thursday at $16.51. The stock price is down slightly for the year and hasn't come close to approaching the levels it reached during the spring of 2008 when Yahoo was still mulling a takeover offer from Microsoft Corp Those talks ended after Yahoo balked at Microsoft's last offer of $33 per share in May 2008.

Yahoo bought Delicious at a time when its then-CEO, Terry Semel, was trying to build a social hub. He would later try to buy Facebook for $1 billion, only to be turned down by that social network's founder, Mark Zuckerberg, who was just named Time magazine's person of the year, for building one of the world's most influential services.

Delicious started in 2003, a few months before Zuckerberg began working on Facebook in his Harvard University dorm room.

In a Thursday e-mail to The Associated Press, Delicious founder Joshua Schachter said he regrets selling his creation to Yahoo. He left Yahoo in 2008 and is now working on a new startup, called Tasty Labs, that is trying to turn social networks into a more useful business tool.

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World Cup 2010 writes legacy in sport's vocabulary

PARIS: In years to come, the impact of the 2010 World Cup may be gauged by the words that it introduced to the footballing lexicon.

'Vuvuzela', 'Jabulani' and 'tiki-taka' would have meant little to football fans at the dawn of the year, but at the end of the month-long extravaganza in South Africa they were on the tips of every tongue.

The ubiquitous noise of the vuvuzela - a plastic horn blown by fans that emitted a sound not dissimilar to a swarm of hornets - was the first indication that Africa's first World Cup would dance to a different rhythm.

The cacophony created by the trumpets was such that some broadcasters developed technology to block it out of their coverage, while the Adidas Jabulani - the official tournament ball - proved similarly controversial.

Designed to be more perfectly spherical than any ball in history, it proved an irritant to goalkeepers and was derided as "horrible" by Spain's Iker Casillas and his Italian counterpart Gianluigi Buffon.

It was England's Robert Green who suffered the greatest embarrassment, however, letting a tame Clint Dempsey shot squirm through his grasp and into the net in his side's opening game, a 1-1 draw with the United States.

The vuvuzela and the Jabulani may ultimately become little more than footnotes in the story of South Africa 2010, but the tiki-taka style of slick passing football that swept Spain to their first ever World Cup triumph will provide a more enduring monument.

Success at the 2008 European Championship had made Spain one of the pre-tournament favourites, but they fell to a shock 1-0 defeat against Switzerland in their first match.

La Roja battled into the knockout rounds, however, before consecutive 1-0 wins against Portugal, Paraguay and Germany took them to the final.

The margins of victory may have been slender but Spain's modus operandi remained the same: patient inter-changes of passes, orchestrated by Barcelona playmaker Xavi, punctuated by rapier-like bursts into opposition territory.

The Netherlands barred Spain's path to glory, having disposed of Dunga's heavily backed but ultimately one-dimensional Brazil in the last eight.

A slow-burning final at Johannesburg's Soccer City Stadium was initially remarkable for a succession of robust Dutch challenges, including a chest-high assault on Xabi Alonso by Nigel de Jong that somehow failed to draw a red card from English referee Howard Webb.

Spain would not be cowed, however, and with four minutes of extra time remaining Andres Iniesta gathered Cesc Fabregas's pass before drilling an unerring drive into the bottom-left corner.

"Spain deserved to win this World Cup," said Iniesta afterwards.

"It's something we have to remember and enjoy, and we should feel very proud of everyone in this squad. To win the World Cup -- there are no words to describe it."

Vicente del Bosque's team were acclaimed as worthy winners, but there were also plaudits for Joachim Loew's effervescent young Germany, who thrashed old foes England 4-1 in the last 16 before overwhelming Diego Maradona's Argentina 4-0 in the quarter-finals.

German forward Thomas Mueller won the Golden Boot for top scorer, while Diego Forlan was crowned player of the tournament after firing Uruguay to the last four for the first time since 1970.

Italy and France both limped out in the group phase; France amid high farce after their players boycotted a training session in protest at the expulsion of Nicolas Anelka for clashing with coach Raymond Domenech.

Ghana, meanwhile, came within a whisker of becoming the first African team to reach the semi-finals, but Asamoah Gyan's missed penalty in the last minute of extra time against Uruguay enabled the South Americans to progress at their expense.

None of it came as any surprise to the tournament's true star, however.

Paul the Octopus earned international fame by correctly 'predicting' the outcome of eight consecutive games before passing away at a German aquarium in October.

iPhone to get Toshiba LCD panels

Toshiba Corp will spend about 100 billion yen ($1.19 billion) to build a factory to make small LCD panels, mainly to supply to Apple Inc for use in iPhones, Japanese business daily Nikkei said.

Its subsidiary Toshiba Mobile Display Co will build the facility in Ishikawa prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast and it will churn out low-temperature polysilicon LCD panels, which allow for high-resolution images, the paper said.

A Toshiba spokesman said the report was untrue and nothing had been decided regarding a new plant to build LCD panels for Apple.

Work on the plant will start by early next year, with production due to begin in the second half of 2011, the paper said.

Toshiba Mobile Display already makes low-temperature polysilicon LCD panels at a facility in the prefecture and its monthly production capacity of 8.55 million units is projected to more than double with the new factory, the daily said.

Apple will invest in the factory, the Nikkei said. Toshiba's shares gained 0.5 percent to 442 yen in early trade in Tokyo, outperforming the benchmark Nikkei average, which dipped 0.1 per cent.

Bombay HC upholds stay on Rajasthan Royals termination

NEW DELHI: Bombay High court upholds the interim order of independent arbitrator Justice BN Srikrishna arbitrator's stay on IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals termination made by BCCI.

Meanwhile, the court allowed Rajasthan Royals to take part in IPL 4 auction which will be held in January.

However, the court has set financial conditions to Royals while upholding the stay.

The BCCI had on October 10 decided to terminate the franchise agreement of Rajasthan Royals, along with that of Kings XI Punjab, for alleged breach of agreement by the two franchises.

Royals had challenged the termination before the Bombay High Court.

10 Weird laptop designs

Over the years laptops have gone sleeker in looks, lost weight and gained in processing power, but there has been little change on the basic design and appearance front.

Not largely! As, there are also some laptops that have been given shapes of gaming consoles like Wii and Sony PSP3, while some carry Hummer's stamp in both looks and ruggedness. There is also one that has been modded to accomodate as many as four operating systems.

It’s romance for Priyanka, Shahid!

Looks like this winter is the time for romance for Priyanka Chopra and Shahid Kapoor. Industry is abuzz with news that the two have patched up.

This is the third time that they made up after a bitter breakup. Priyanka and Shahid broke up when she was filming for Don 2 and both deleted each other from their social network list. But when she was returning to Mumbai, the ex-lovers spoke to each other and it just took a phone call to start the fire again.

"Priyanka and Shahid got very emotional on the phone and decided to give their relationship one more shot. But, they will keep it hush-hush till they feel it's the right time to talk about their relationship," says a source.

"Sometimes when you are not in touch with someone, you realise the value of that person. This has definitely happened for Shahid and Priyanka. Now, they are constantly in touch and get along like a house on fire again," adds the source.

iPhone breaks Samsung, LG monopoly

For more than a decade, Kim Jung Yeon only bought phones from Samsung Electronics Co and LG Electronics Inc, passing on best sellers made by non-Korean companies such as Motorola Inc's Razr. Her loyalty ended with Apple Inc's iPhone.

"The iPhone has a cool design and I love the feel and grip of the phone," said the 37-year-old Web designer in Seoul, who bought the device last year, and enjoys using applications about food recipes. "I don't see any reason why I should return to LG or Samsung phones again if I buy another smartphone."

Samsung and LG, the world's two-largest handset makers after Nokia Oyj, can no longer count on home-field advantage as they play catch up in the fastest-growing segment of the $163 billion global industry. A year after Apple's phone debuted in Korea, LG is reeling from record phone losses while Samsung this week unveiled the Nexus S phone equipped with Google Inc's latest Android operating system to win back customers.

"Korean companies are going to face a tough situation overseas going forward, given how much share they are losing at home," said Han Eui Lim, a consultant at ROA Group Inc in Seoul. "Especially in the case of LG, it's very concerning."

Samsung and LG shares have both underperformed the benchmark Kospi Index this year. Samsung has gained 11 per cent and LG has declined 7.8 per cent in 2010, compared with the index's 16 per cent gain. Apple shares have surged 51 per cent, helping it overtake Microsoft Corp as the world's most valuable technology company.

Fewer carriers

The iPhone, available in Korea only through KT Corp as opposed to all of the nation's three wireless carriers for Samsung and LG, has sold about 1.6 million units since it went on sale in the country in November 2009, according to KT.

South Korea had about 4.52 million users of smartphones -- devices that can be used to surf the Web, and play games and video -- at the end of September, with a quarter of those being the iPhone, according to Nomura Holdings Inc. analyst Stanley Yang.

The iPhone created a "mobile big bang" by changing the way Koreans live and work, according to Digieco, a research division of KT, in a report last month.

Espoo, Finland-based Nokia is the world's largest maker of mobile phones, accounting for 117.5 million of the 417.1 million phones sold worldwide in the third quarter, according to research firm Gartner Inc. Nokia's share of 28 per cent was followed by Samsung's 17 pe rcent and LG's 6.6 per cent. Apple was fourth with 3.2 per cent, Gartner said last month.

Phone software

Among smartphones, handsets using Nokia's Symbian software held marketshare of 37 per cent in the quarter, with Android surging to 26 per cent from 3.5 per cent last year. Apple had 17 per cent, according to Gartner.

Global handset revenue is forecast to be approximately $163 billion this year compared with $154 billion last year, according to Credit Suisse Group AG estimates.

Samsung and LG, which are adopting Google's Android, may have fallen behind in the smartphone market because of their external reliance on software, according to Peter Yu, a Seoul- based analyst at BNP Paribas SA.

"The iPhone and smartphones in general are mostly about software content -- it's more of a cultural product," said Yu, who has a "reduce" rating on LG. "When the iPhone was introduced, the Korean companies were in a state of denial, they underestimated the potential."

Short films

LG replaced its chief executive officer and head of the handset-making division in October after the mobile-phone business posted record losses for two consecutive quarters. Standard & Poor's cut LG's debt-rating outlook to "negative" on Nov. 11, citing the "deteriorating" competitiveness of the main handset business.

"If consumers in Korea choose iPhones because of better usability in the local market, overseas customers will do the same," said Kim Jee Hyun, who wrote "Mobile Innovation," a book about the changes in the Korean mobile-phone industry.

To attract Korean users, KT is sponsoring local film directors including Chung Yoon Chul, to make movies with the device's high-definition video capability.

Park Chan Wook, who won the Grand Prix at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival with "Old Boy," is making a 25-minute film that will hit wide-screen theaters this month.

The Korean companies aren't giving up.

New models

Samsung in June introduced the Galaxy S, equipped with a 4- inch touchscreen that's larger than the iPhone's 3.5-inch display. The Korean company has sold 8 million units of the phone worldwide already, including 1.8 million locally, and the aim is to double the number next year, according to the company.

Samsung is looking to boost sales by developing models using multiple operating systems, including its own Bada software, and by selling its products through a wide range of carriers, said James Chung, a company spokesman.

"In the next two or three years, Samsung's position in smartphones will be quite similar to or better than Apple," said Stan Jung, a Seoul-based analyst at Woori Investment & Securities.

Seoul-based LG introduced the Optimus One in October and sold more than 1 million units of the model as of mid-November, with a goal to sell 10 million globally.

LG added 500 research-and-development staff this year for developing handsets, Chief Financial Officer David Jung said in October. The company plans to introduce a "premium" model next year, he said.

Until then, Kim's loyalty toward the iPhone may deepen with applications that let her find recipes to cook dinner.

"The iPhone's operating system offers so much variety in terms of applications, it seems to me it will take a while for Samsung and LG to catch up," she said.

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Lava brings the A10 mobile phone to India

Lava mobile, one of the lesser known brands in mobile phones, have come out with their latest phone - the A10. The body has a unique gun-metal finish which supposedly gives it a "masculine" look. The phone boasts of some unique features like a 3-inch IPS screen.

In simple terms, an IPS screen gives you better quality and brightness and lets you view the screen from different angles, that is you don't have to be bang opposite to the screen to know what's going on in the phone.

Introducing Mobiking mobile Videocon v600 with GPS, Thermometer, Barometer etc.

Introducing Mobiking

MRP: INR 11,995

Key Features

Rugged & Sports Design Powered by Ducati

Screw framed body chasis

V6200 is powered with Sports Features like: GPS, Thermometer, Barometer, Pedometer, Altimeter, UV Rays Sensor, Digital Compass, LED Pulse Indicator

Rubberized Panel with Steel Side Skirting

Large 6.4 cms (2.4) TFT Screen with 3 modes - Phone, Fun & Sports

Dual LED Torch

Dedicated keys for - GPS, LED Torch, Camera & (MFD) Sports Feature

Customizable back OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diodes) Screen

Pre-bundled 4GB MicroSD Card with Preloaded GPS with life time validity

2MP Camera with Video Recording

V6200 Specifications

General

240*320 TFT Screen with 262K Colors

1030 mAH battery, Upto 6 hrs Talk Time/ upto 400 hrs Standby Time*

Remote controlled access

Private Security feature

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Entertainment

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FM Radio on loudspeaker

Camera

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Memory

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1000 SMS memory

Connectivity

Dual-Band GSM (900/1800 MHz)

Colour

Black

Inbox Contents

Standard Content:

Handset

Charging Adaptor

USB Charger

Headset & Sportz Headset

3.5 mm headset connector

Data Cable

User Manual

Warranty Card

Service Center Directory

Sports Content:

Adventure Flask

Arm Band

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Mo-biking used guide and PC Suite

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3rd ODI: India crush New Zealand by 9 wickets to seal series

Gautam Gambhir hit a second successive century as India crushed New Zealand by nine wickets in the third one-day international on Saturday to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series.

Scorecard | Match in Pics

The stand-in skipper hammered 16 fours in his unbeaten 126 off 117 balls to help his side overhaul New Zealand's 224/9 with 10.3 overs to spare in the one-sided encounter at the Reliance Stadium.

Gambhir, leading the side in place of rested regular captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, had also starred in India's eight-wicket win in the second one-day international in Jaipur, making an unbeaten 138 off 116 balls.

The fourth game of the five-match series will be played in Bangalore on Tuesday.

Gambhir carried his form in to the third game in Vadodara, adding 115 runs for the opening wicket with Murali Vijay (30) and another 114 for the next with Virat Kohli (63 not out).

Kohli also continued to torment the rival bowlers with a breezy 70-ball knock containing six fours and two sixes, as New Zealand slumped to their eighth one-day defeat in a row.

"We knew 224 was never going to be enough," New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori said.

"It was really tough early on. The track got better, and India played exceptionally well, with Gambhir leading the way.

"We have to keep fighting. Our top order needs to stand up, and hopefully that will happen in the next couple of games."

Gambhir's stroke-filled innings overshadowed a career-best 72 not out by James Franklin who helped the visitors recover from a shaky 106/7 after they were sent in to bat.

Franklin hit five fours and a six in his 108-ball innings and shared 94 runs for the eighth wicket with Nathan McCullum (43) to lend respectability to New Zealand's total.

Left-arm paceman Zaheer Khan (2/31) had given India a flying start by striking twice inside the first 11 overs before spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Yusuf Pathan claimed two wickets each.

Zaheer, playing his first game of the series, dismissed Brendon McCullum off the second ball of the innings when the opener edged tamely to Vijay at second slip.

"It was an important game because we did not want to give New Zealand any scope for a comeback in this series," said Gambhir, named man of the match.

"Zaheer is a quality bowler and he got Brendon McCullum in the first over, and that set up the game for us."

The in-form Martin Guptill (12) was run out following a direct hit from Gambhir before Zaheer returned to have Ross Taylor caught behind the stumps.

Yuvraj Singh snapped up a sharp, low catch to dismiss Scott Styris (22) while Pathan claimed the wickets of Vettori and Gareth Hopkins in successive overs.

Franklin, who came in to bat with New Zealand struggling at 49/4, worked with Nathan McCullum to add 68 valuable runs in the last 10 overs.

Few smartphone owners are loyal to their brand

The booming smartphone market shows no sign of slowing but manufacturers will have to fight hard to keep their customers as smartphone owners show little loyalty to their current brands, a GfK survey shows.

The survey, to be published later on Monday, found that 56 percent of smartphone owners in key global markets were keeping their options open about which phone they would buy next, with only Apple commanding a significant degree of loyalty.

With features such as Wi-Fi, GPS and high-resolution cameras now commonplace, owners of Internet-enabled phones are increasingly concerned with the ease of accessing attractive services to enhance their devices, often through app stores.

"Loyalty with a handset is a lot more complicated these days in that people buy into experiences at the high-end level," Ryan Garner, the lead analyst on the survey, told Reuters.

"If a phone doesn't do what it says it will do or what the owner hopes it will do, the maker will lose loyalty."

The survey found that just 25 percent of smartphone owners planned to stay loyal to the operating system running their phone, with loyalty highest among Apple users at 59 percent, and lowest for Microsoft's phone software, at 21 percent.

Of users of Research in Motion's BlackBerrys, 35 percent said they would stay loyal. The figure was 28 percent for users of phones running Google's Android software, and 24 percent for users of Nokia Symbian phones.

Nokia, the world's biggest maker of cellphones, is revamping its software strategy under new Chief Executive Stephen Elop, and is due to release two new platforms next year.

GfK conducted the survey of 2,653 mobile phone users in Brazil, Germany, Spain, Britain, the United States and China online during October and November.

The German market-research company also found that 37 percent of cellphone owners in all those markets excluding China planned to upgrade to a smartphone on their next purchase. They did not ask the question in China for logistical reasons.

Sales of smartphones nearly doubled in the third quarter and are expected to be up more than 50 percent for 2010, according to IT research firm Gartner, outpacing growth seen at closer to 30 percent for the cellphone market as a whole.

Smartphones command far higher margins than regular mobile phones, although that profitability is being eroded by new competition from vendors who have been able to enter the market thanks to Google's open-source Android software.