The group Messaging app, Disco has come with a new update which adds some new features such as photo sharing and one to one chat facility to it. The App has been created by the Slide team, which is a part of Google.

The new update brings several new features to the app including Twitter and Yelp integration. Photo sharing is also another important addition since most of the competitors have it.

It seems slightly out of place, since Twitter and Yelp are Google’s competitors. But then, Slide has been working almost autonomously within Google, and the app Disco hasn’t received any promotion from Google either.

Users can just use the ‘Star’ command to follow any Twitter feed within the Disco groups and view all the updates from that feed. Users can also quickly create a poll within the app to quickly get the group feedback about a question.

The same group Slide is also working on other apps such as Pool Party which we have reported earlier. In the future, there is a good possibility that the two apps would be combined together. The results would be interesting.

Toshiba has joined the tablet game with its new Thrive, which is based on the Google Android 3.1 Honeycomb. The new Thrive tablet comes in 8GB, 16GB and 32GB storage options.

Toshiba Thrive is listed on online retailer Amazon’s website at $430 (Rs 19, 350 approx) for 8GB, $480 (Rs 21,600 approx) for 16GB and $580 (Rs 26,100 approx) for 32GB version. Loaded with dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 SoC, the tablet is now available for the grabs, albeit for US-region folks only through Amazon.

Toshiba Thrive comes with 10.1-inch, IPS technology based, LCD display that supports 1280×800 pixel resolution. Under the hood, it has dual-core 1Ghz Nvidia Tegra 2 system on a chip along with 1GB DDR2 memory. This tablet runs Android 3.1 Honeycomb by default so we can expect it be less glitch free than those running 3.0 version.

At the back panel, Toshiba has added a 5.0 megapixel camera with Autofocus and a 2.0 megapixel front facing camera for video chat. The tablet can accommodate a memory card of up to 32GB. Featuring Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and the Bluetooth 2.1 interface, the tablet offers range of connectivity options &#151 USB 2.0 port, mini USB 2.0 port and a HDMI port.

This could be the tablet users were looking forward to since it has range of physical connectivity option and users can load to carry around their files. Toshiba Thrive will compete with Motorola XOOM, Acer Iconia and upcoming ASUS Eee Pad Transformer tablets for the 10-inch tablet segment.

In a way, Toshiba Thrive directly competes with feature rich ASUS Eee Pad Transformer since both have USB 2.0 and HDMI connectivity options but the former lags behind in terms of the dock.

Toshiba Thrive offers 7 to 8 hours of battery life which still is less compared to the Apple iPad 2. However, the specifications and the features might give the iPad 2 owners some jitters.

HTC will roll out unlocked bootloader for the freshly launched Sensation, Sensation 4G and EVO 3D smartphones.

Bootloader is a code that loads other data and programs to the smartphones’ RAM (Read Access Memory), which then executes the programmes. Locked or unlocked bootloader, thus decides the extent of access to the users. A locked bootloader hence prevents users from accessing data that come preloaded with the smartphone.

On the other hand, an unlocked bootloader gives the user root access. Hence, an unlocked bootloader will enable the users to install third party apps which generally require root access.

The entire process will be executed in two parts. At first, HTC will roll out the maintenance releases and proper updates will be rolled out for more devices in early September. The unlocked bootloaders are meant for the developers to create and develop applications to enhance the Android based smartphone’s user experience.

HTC and Motorola were two handset makers that rolled out devices with locked bootloaders and thereby limiting the reach as well as access. After facing heat and recurring complaints, HTC finally decided to unlock the bootloaders for letting developers make the best of HTC devices. Do note that unlocking bootloaders by yourself voids the warranty.

HTC also announced the release of Sense Software Development Kit which is basically a tool to develop widgets for its custom use interface for the Android devices. With a wide portfolio of Android handsets, HTC is trying to leverage best of the situation &#151 developer’s interest. That is going to benefit end consumers with better quality widgets and applications from the Android developers.

Other companies are also trying to lure the developers by offering free handsets to the developers and unlocked bootloaders as well. It’s a part of a process that is expected to yield quality applications in long run.

Google has acquired smartphone-based loyalty card developer Punchd. This acquisition is likely to strengthen ‘Google Offers’ business, which is a loyalty based service going to get live soon (its already live in Beta form).

The way Punchd works is simple: The participating stores are supplied with a QR code, which is like a barcode that you can scan. Every time you buy something from a store that’s part of a customer loyalty program, you get to scan a QR code.
The Punchd App keeps track of how many times you’ve punched QR codes and alerts the user when they get their freebie.

Googles entry into the space is the second big one after Nokia entered the business with its ‘Perks’ service earlier this week. Groupon, which is the established player in this space is going to face a tough competition with these two biggies around.

While Groupon, which has recently bought an Indian deals website ‘SoSasta’, is already an established player in the country, Nokia and Google are just entering the business here. But since both Nokia and Google have much larger customer base already, it is likely that Groupon is going to have tough time surviving.

Google, which has a well established relationship with local merchants across the world thanks to its adsense business and advertising on the Google map, will be in a better position to rope in the merchants to offer best deals for the users of ‘Google Offers’ service.
Similarly Nokia, which still commands a 30-50 per cent market share of the handset market and therefore is also present in the Maps business (Navteq) thanks to the bundled maps on its handset, will also find it easier to snap deals with the local merchants.

Whatever the case may be, it will be a win-win situation for the consumer who will stand a chance to get lucrative deals while shopping right in their mobile phones. The loyalty card business gives regular shoppers an opportunity to get the best deals through loyalty coupons, which is given by the participating merchants to increase customer retention with the brand or store.

Electronic Arts (EA) is going to bring Scrabble as its first ever free game for Android. Scrabble, which is like a board game, has been one of most popular mobile games since the onset of mobile gaming.

It has remained absent from Android so far which gave rise to suspicion if the two had problems with each other. Users will now be able to play Scrabble against other users who are present on Facebook, iPads and iPhones.

Electronic Arts, the maker of the game, says on its blog: “With the launch of Scrabble Android, it will be the first franchise for EA that can be played across iOS, Facebook and Android. It will also be EA’s first free game on Android so we’re one step closer to our goal of delivering the best in free and freemium content.”

With this step, EA has decided to directly compete with the game Words with Friends from Zynga, which is similar to Scrabble. Scrabble for Android will allow users to play up to 50 games simultaneously, which sounds good but the cross platform play facility is likely to be more popular among the users.

Cross platform gaming is a delightful feature which differentiates mobile gaming from console gaming. The way different handset manufacturers allow users to play cross platform games, despite competing fiercely with the hardware companies, is creditable.

Users can also chat with each other while playing Scrabble through the chat icon which blinks when users receive a message. Users are also notified by the App when it’s their turn to play. Users can also track their statistics to find out how they are evolving as they continue to play scrabble.