First Lumia Phones with Windows 8.1 Launched Across MENA:

At a regional conference held in Dubai, Microsoft Devices announced the availability of its first Lumia devices running Windows Phone 8.1 across the Middle East, Near East and North Africa.

Lumia 630 and Lumia 635

The Nokia Lumia 630, available in both Dual SIM and Single SIM variants, and the Nokia Lumia 635 with 4G capability, are the first Lumia devices running Windows Phone 8.1 available in the region.

These Lumia devices deliver an unrivalled affordable smartphone experience and add award winning design and experiences found on high end Lumia to the leading personalization brought by Windows Phone 8.1.

With Windows Phone 8.1, people still get the Start screen they can make their own, Live Tiles that provide updates at a glance, Office Mobile, Outlook Mobile, Windows Phone Hubs, and the entertainment experience. In fact, they get everything they liked about Windows Phone 8 and more, including tons of new features, enhancements, and improvements. With Windows Phone 8.1, the story continues with a number of new features – like Action Center, Word Flow and Senses – that are more personal than those offered by any other platform.

“Dual SIM is a key feature in many countries across Middle East Africa and we have seen great traction on our Dual SIM devices across the Asha and Nokia X range,” said Ifi Majid, Head of Global Sell-In and Customer Engagement, Product Marketing for Microsoft Smart Devices.

“We are now thrilled to bring Dual SIM to our Windows Phone portfolio, with the Lumia 630. This smartphone is an all-round great value proposition with signature design, superior imaging capability, great sound for music and video. And for those who want a little extra performance, the Lumia 635 with 4G/LTE capability offers a great user experience”.

Nokia Lumia 630 has a Snapdragon quad core processor providing a faster social experience with Word Flow and social apps like WhatsApp and WeChat. A unique colorful design with changeable shells and 4.5” ClearBlack screen delivers a great entertainment experience with apps and games including Asphalt 8 and Vimeo.

There are more choice with three variants, including the Lumia 630 in 3G single SIM and the first Lumia with 3G Dual SIM; plus the speedy Lumia 635 in 4G/LTE. The Lumia 630 Dual SIM provides a seamless switching between two SIM cards and helps people manage their social life, clearly separating calls and messages to make it cheaper and easier to connect on your own terms.

Users can get the same experiences as high-end Lumia smartphones including SensorCore with Bing Health and Fitness, Microsoft Office, Nokia Camera and Nokia MixRadio streaming.

The Lumia 630 and Lumia 635 have started to roll out in the region and are available in black, white, yellow, orange and green.

Pricing and Availability:

Nokia has said that Lumia 630 is already available in Pakistan at the following prices:

• Lumia 630 Single SIM: PKR 16,800
• Lumia 630 Dual SIM: PKR 17,600

Pricing and availability details for Lumia 635 will be announced later.

Lumia 930

The Lumia 930 with Windows Phone 8.1 integrates the best of Microsoft and Lumia to deliver the ultimate video and imaging experience on a smartphone. The Lumia 930 packs a rich suite of applications and services into a beautifully crafted design with metallic details and vibrant new colours, while keeping content like photos, videos and documents in sync across Windows Phone, PC, tablet and Xbox devices.

“The Lumia 930 is our latest flagship device in the Lumia range,” said Ifi Majid. “It comes with beautifully crafted flagship design, flagship specs from processing power to screen quality to feature set and flagship imaging capability, synonymous with our high end Lumia smartphones”.

The crystal clear 5-inch Full HD OLED display lets you watch your favourite shows, movies or video clips in any condition, and thanks to a 2420 mAh battery and built-in wireless charging, there is no need to worry about running out of battery. An advanced 20MP PureView camera with optical image stabilization and high quality ZEISS optics makes capturing and reliving amazing images and videos fast and easy. With the enhanced Nokia Camera with Living Images, it’s easy to add movement and emotion to static pictures, while imaging apps such as Nokia Creative Studio and Nokia Refocus bring even more levels of creativity to any photo.

Lumia 930 is equipped with four high-performance microphones and Nokia Rich Recording, which capture HD videos like never before, with incredible directional audio and support for surround sound capture and playback.A 2.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor makes activities like Xbox gaming, image capturing and video processing even faster and richer. The new Sensor Core also brings low power motion sensing to help people track their activity all day without using up the large 2420 mAh battery – perfect for exercise and exploration using apps like Bing Health and Fitness.Integrated features including one swipe notifications from Action Centre, the new Microsoft Enterprise feature pack, Microsoft Office, OneDrive, Nokia Camera, HERE Maps** all of which work seamlessly to make the Nokia Lumia 930 a great tool for work and play.

The Lumia 930 is expected to be available during the third quarter of 2014. It will be available in a range of colors including black, white, green, yellow and orange*.

Along with a range of Lumia devices, accessories like a colourful Bluetooth Mini Speaker connects wirelessly using the new easy to use Device Hub app and plays for 15 hours transforming almost any surface into big-sounding bass. It’s the perfect accessory to help people get the most from MixRadio** streaming, videos and games, and also functions as a convenient speaker phone on the go.Nokia Treasure Tag ensures that you are never far from things that are important to you – be it the pictures and videos of your family on your Lumia 930 or your keys or

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Zong Unveils its 3G Packages

As we reported earlier this week, Zong yesterday commercially launched its 3G services in the country.

A launch ceremony was held at Zong’s headquarters in Islamabad in which Zong’s top management, Dr. Ismail Shah, Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, along with other members of PTA were also present.

With this commercial launch, Zong’s 3G services are available in Lahore and Karachi. Zong’s 3G services will be made available in Islamabad with-in next couple of weeks.

Now let’s get to Zong’s 3G Packages.

According to the information we have received, Zong will offer daily, weekly and monthly 3G Packages for its customers. Check below the details:

So as obvious from the details available in the table, the maximum data limit one can get in a month is 4GB, and this plan is priced at Rs. 650 per month.

Add-ons for 3G Packages

Zong is offering Add-ons for its 3G Packages. Add-ons are basically a value addition in the package that will allow customers to use more data with-in time duration of package selected against a price.

Below are add-ons that Zong is offering for its 3G customers:

Again to explain the add-ons, if you are on a weekly package with 150MB limit, and you are nearing your data limit even before the expiry of the package, then you can select any of the addon to continue using the 3G services.

Add-ons will expire along with the data-package that you have selected already.

Out of Bundle Charges:

Once you are out of bundle, and you haven’t added any add-on to your account then 3G services will be charged as following:

• Rs.1 per MB
• This charging rate will expire along with the expiration of basic bundle that you were subscribed to.

Default 3G Package:

Default 3G package or default 3G charges for Zong’s 3G services  — when there’s no package selected – are as following:

• Rs.10 per MB

Free Social Package

Zong is offering a free social package for limited time. With this package, customers can use unlimited Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter for free. Below are details:

• Package name: Social Pack (Unlimited Facebook, Whatsapp & Twitter)
• Volume: Unlimited
• Charges: Free
• Validity: 3 Days
• Activation Method: SMS ‘Social’ to 6464

Check Remaining Data Limit

You can check remaining data limit of your 3G package by Dialling *102#

FAQs

• What is Add-on:
  • Add Ons are small volume increments that can be purchased to keep enjoying 3G experience.
  • Customers would be recommended to buy Add Ons when they reach 80% and 100% of their bundle utilization.
• What is Out of Bundle Rate:
  • If a user does not purchase an Add On after reaching volume cap of his data bundle, he/she will be charged an out-of-bundle rate of Rs.1/MB instead of Default rate of Rs.10/MB.
  • The validity of this out-of-bundle rate will be the same as validity of base package.
• Will Zong Cap Speeds after 3G Bundles are consumed?
  • Yes
  • After reaching volume cap of a bundle, the user’s mobile internet speed will be decreased to 2G speeds (256 kbps) to protect him/her from consuming too much data at 3G speeds and receiving a bill shock.
  • The normal 3G speeds will be resumed once the user buys an Add On or upgrades to a higher bundle.
• Keeping an Eye on Remaining Data Limit:
  • For Daily bundles, usage notification messages would be sent at: 80% utilization only.
  • For Weekly & Monthly bundles, usage notification messages would be sent at: 20%, 50%, 80% & 100% utilization
• How many times a bundle can be Re-subscribed?
  • After reaching volume cap, all packages can be re-subscribed multiple times within the validity period
  • The Daily Packages cannot be resubscribed multiple times in a day.
• How will Auto-Renewal happen?
  • All packages will be auto-renewed (automatic resubscription of package).
  • After 4 days of low balance, customer will be unsubscribed
• When will the Default Package be charged?
  • If a user has not subscribed to any bundle, default rate of Rs.10/MB will be charged.
  • After 1 MB of consumption, subscribers would be down-throttled to 256 kbps for customer protection.
  • 3G speeds will be resumed once he/she subscribes to a bundle

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Van Persie scores spectacular goal at World Cup

Van Persie scores spectacular goal at World Cup:

 Brazil Even by Robin van Persie's standards, the Dutchman's header that looped over a stranded Iker Casillas in the Spain goal was something very special.
''It was a great goal, I have to be fair,'' Van Persie said after his stunning equalizer started the Netherlands' 5-1 rout of the World Cup's defending champion on Friday.
''Considering the circumstances, it must be the goal of my career.''
It was also a historic one. By taking his tally to 45 goals for his country, the Manchester United forward also became the first Dutch player to score in three consecutive World Cups.
His special strike started with a pinpoint 40-yard pass from defender Daley Blind. Van Persie flung himself forward to meet it, sending his header sailing over a helpless Casillas, who could only watch as the ball flew into the back of the net.
''I saw Casillas standing a bit in front of the goal, so I decided to go for a loop,'' Van Persie said. ''It just could not have been more perfect. These kinds of goals are scored once in a lifetime.''
The goal was up there with great Dutch goals of the past, such as Marco van Basten's angled volley in the 1988 European Championship final against the Soviet Union and Dennis Bergkamp's  spectacular strike against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup in France.
With just a minute to go before halftime, the timing of Van Persie's goal could not have been better. Moments earlier, David Silva had missed a great opportunity to make it 2-0 to Spain when his attempted chip in a one-on-one was blocked by Dutch goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen.
Instead, Van Persie's goal showed once again that teams who squander chances get punished.
And what a punishment it was.
Arjen Robben scored twice in the second half, Van Persie scored his second of the afternoon and defender Stefan de Vrij added another.
''We scored our goal at the perfect time, at the end of the first half,'' Van Persie said. ''We also scored the second at the right time ... it could have been six or seven the way we played.''
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque made an honest assessment of the striker's performance and the rest of the Dutch side.
''Van Persie tore our defense apart,'' he said. ''They hammered us.''

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SHORT STORY : Sometimes Your Worst Times Become Your Best Times

Sometimes Your Worst Times Become Your Best Times:

“Even your worst times have value and can become, in retrospect, your best times.”

I remember a year ago, the pounding, the darkness, the pain that I was feeling. I felt like I was about to rupture. I had it all locked up tight within me, the feelings, the stubbornness, pride, ego, humility; my truth.

I got to a point when it felt like my heart was beating and pumping outside of my chest. The stress and anxiety were taking a toll on me physically, all stemming from my emotional baggage.

The pain was damaging not only myself, but the relationships and connections around me. I thought the longer I could hold it off and keep pushing it down the more likely it would go away. As I suppressed it only festered.

his point in my life was the lowest and I knew I had to do something about it. I knew slowly but surely I had to crack the exterior of my being to be able to fix what was brewing inside.

How?

How would be the journey of intentional self growth. It was a commitment I made, to me, to take care of myself first. I was the priority. I realized that if I am not my best self, I can’t give my best self to others, to those that need me most; my wife, my son.

I committed to the process.

Though, I couldn’t tell you the process in detail, but I think it’s a level of intent with a mixture of deep desire to want to change that sheds light on the opportunities to take action on. The most important, though, is taking action.

I knew I wasn’t going to be given this key to turn and all of a sudden I would change. I knew it was going to take work, discipline and trust in the process; the journey.

This combination began to shape the lens in which I saw things; the opportunities. An opportunity presented itself when reading a book and listening to a podcast that would forever change my perspective and mindset I had on the source of all of this darkness.

It was discovering the in-between moments, slowing down and embracing the mundane.

See, up until that point I was in constant motion. I was always working and rushing towards the next big thing without noticing that my life was essentially becoming a blur.

I discovered how this very moment is a narrative to my story; my life. And at that point I realized how out of tune I was with both myself and the present moment. I realized how I was simply going through the motions.

This was ultimately the discovery that would open the door and nudge me towards self growth.

The transformation in which occurred had simply changed my life. The lens in which I saw things had shifted.

I now see the external circumstances, the failures and mistakes, that were causing such pain and stress differently. I am grateful for them. Without them I wouldn’t have had this opportunity to change, to reinvent. In fact, those exact circumstances are still in my life today, the only change, however, is how I choose to see them.

Part of this journey is instilling intentional actions that support self growth. Actions that act as a spring board in becoming a better version of yourself than you were the day before.

Committing to this journey I was slowly able to crack open the vulnerability vault; to dust off the deep and dark pockets of who I was. The things that have been suppressed and festering for so many years.

I began to quietly expose those things, through self reflection, journal writing and meditating. As this part of the journey unfolded, seeing my failures differently, being vulnerable, focusing on the present moment, the weight was gradually lifting off of my shoulders.

The more I exposed my vulnerabilities, the more pockets I began to discover within me, the freer I felt.

The pain in my chest has subsided. The stress I was used to carrying has vanished. It’s all because of the way I chose to view my failures. It’s all because I tossed my ego aside and started owning my mistakes and accepting my flaws.

It’s all because of the in-between moments, the present moment, the moments that are ultimately defining our lives. The very moments that are writing our story.

Committing to a journey of intentional self growth is trusting in the process. It’s trusting that the pain you expose will lead you to growth; to a better version of yourself than you were the day before.

It’s trusting that the work you put in on your best days, will be your compass for your worst days. It’s understanding that this is a journey, a journey that travels through both mountaintops and low valley’s.

Take care of yourself first; spiritually, emotionally and physically.

Choose, and want, to connect with yourself on a daily and consistent basis; through reading, reflection, writing. It comes from within, from the soul, from the heart.

Take care of yourself first so you can truly give to others later, the best way you can and know how. To make a difference in, and be part of, something much
larger than yourself.

Looking back at your life, is there a failure or mistake that has changed because you now see differently?

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Ukraine prosecutor: 49 dead as rebels down plane

Ukraine prosecutor: 49 dead as rebels down plane:

NOVOHANNIVKA, Ukraine — Pro-Russian separatists shot down a military transport plane Saturday in the country's restive east, killing all 49 service personnel on board, Ukrainian officials said.
It was a bitter setback for Ukrainian forces, which have struggled to suppress an armed insurgency by foes of the new government.
Nine crew and 40 troops were aboard the Il-76 when it went down early Saturday as it approached the airport at the city of Luhansk, the Ukrainian prosecutor general's office said in a statement.
The plane's tail section lay with other pieces of scorched wreckage in a farm field near the village of Novohannivka, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of Luhansk. An AP reporter saw a dozen or more armed separatists inspecting the crash site.
The death toll exceeded the loss of 12 soldiers including a general on May 29 when rebels shot down a troop helicopter near the eastern city of Slovyansk.
The incident underlines questions about rebel access to military gear. Ukraine has accused Russia of permitting three tanks to cross the border where they were used by rebels. Russia denies supplying the separatists

NATO released images on Saturday, said to show recent Russian tank movements near the border which "raise significant questions" on Russia's role.
The tanks seen in Ukraine, NATO said, "do not bear markings or camouflage paint like those used by the Ukrainian military. In fact, they do not have markings at all, which is reminiscent of tactics used by Russian elements that were involved in destabilizing Crimea."
Denis Pushilin, a leader of the separatist Donetsk People's Republic, told Russian state television Friday that rebels had the tanks but it was "improper to ask" where they got them.
The defense ministry's statement said that the rebels "cynically and treacherously" downed the transport plane using anti-aircraft guns and heavy machine guns. It expressed sympathy to the families of those killed "for their tragic and irreparable loss."
Alexei Toporov, defense spokesman for the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic, said the aircraft was shot down after what he termed Ukrainian "occupiers" refused an ultimatum to abandon the Luhansk airport.

Luhansk is in Ukraine's east near the border with Russia, an area that has seen separatists seize government buildings and declare independence after holding disputed referendums.
Ukraine had claimed a success on Friday when troops retook some rebel-occupied buildings in the port city of Mariupol. No deaths were reported.
Before Saturday's incident, the Ukrainian health ministry had said at least 270 people had died in clashes between government forces and armed separatists.
Tensions between Ukraine and Russia escalated in February after pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych was driven from office by a massive protest movement made up of people who want closer ties with the European Union.

Another official, counter-terrorism spokesman Vladislav Seleznyov, was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying the death toll was preliminary and was being verified by investigators.
The Russian-built Il-76 is a four-engine jet that can be used to transport heavy gear and people.
The prosecutor's office said a criminal investigation had been opened under anti-terrorism laws.

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Microsoft to release its first TV series for Xbox on June 15th

Microsoft to release its first TV series for Xbox on June 15th:

When the Xbox One was announced at E3 2013, Microsoft made a big deal about the original content that would be coming to the platform. While this year's E3 event did not mention said content, Microsoft will be releasing the first bit of this TV series on June 15th.
Every Street Untied is a new interactive TV series coming to the Xbox. Hoping to capitalize on the soccer craze going on around the world because of the World Cup, this TV series is being delivered at exactly the right time.
The TV shows will revolve around trying to find the best street soccer players from around the world.Two legendary footballers Thierry Henry and Edgar Davids set out to discover the fiercest street soccer warriors from countries across the globe.
Eight unknown players will win the chance to prove their skills to Rio - and to the World. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them, and your ticket to experience the ultimate street soccer showdown
Original content is one way that Microsoft hopes to separate itself from other platforms out on the market. While almost every device can stream Netflix and other services, Microsoft hopes its original content will entice users over to its platform.
It’s not a bad idea, nor is it new, seeing that Netflix has gone down this route and HBO has been doing it for decades.
If you don’t like soccer, Microsoft is working on other content that will be released likely later this year. But for now, the company is hoping to stimulate the Xbox user base with a bit of soccer related content.

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DreamWorks Animation Unveils First Trailer for ‘Penguins of Madagascar’

DreamWorks Animation Unveils First Trailer for ‘Penguins of Madagascar’

After years of toiling away on TV, the penguins from the Madagascar series of movies finally have their own theatrical feature coming in November, titled The Penguins of Madagascar.

 DreamWorks Animation has released the first trailer for The Penguins of Madagascar, directed by Simon  Smith and Eric Darnell. The new trailer shows off the penguins' special set of skills, including MacGyvering  themselves in and out of all sorts of weird situations and eating cheesy snacks, all to the tune of Kenny  Loggins's "Danger Zone."

 Discover the secrets of the most entertaining and mysterious birds in the global espionage game: Skipper,  Kowalski, Rico and Private now must join forces with the chic spy organization, the North Wind, led by  Agent Classified (we could tell you his name, but then... you know), voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch to  stop the villainous Dr. Octavius Brine, voiced by John Malkovich, from taking over the world.

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DreamWorks Animation Heads 'Home' with First Trailer

DreamWorks Animation Heads 'Home' with First Trailer:

20th Century Fox and DreamWorks Animation release the first trailer for their highly anticipated 3D animated feature film, ‘Home.’

20th Century Fox and DreamWorks Animation have just released the first trailer for their highly anticipated 3D animated feature film, Home.

When Earth is taken over by the overly-confident Boov, an alien race in search of a new place to call home, all humans are promptly relocated, while all Boov get busy reorganizing the planet. But when one resourceful girl, Tip, (Rihanna, who also contributes a song) manages to avoid capture, she finds herself the accidental accomplice of a banished Boov named Oh (Jim Parsons). The two fugitives realize there’s a lot more at stake than intergalactic relations as they embark on the road trip of a lifetime. 

Directed by Tim Johnson, and featuring the voices of Jim Parsons, Rihanna, Steve Martin, and Jennifer Lopez, Home hits the big screen on March 27, 2015.

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"Interesting Uses of Honey"

If you are looking for even more ways to use honey outside of your kitchen you should go ahead and read this article.

Put honey on your lipsDo you know that making your own lip balm is as easy as looking for some almond oil, beeswax and honey? Sure it is. After reading this that $11 version you picked up at the health food store yesterday can make you feel a little guilty, does not it?

Make your own honey moisturizerIf you have got a handful of sweet smelling herb such as lavender, laying around and ready to be used, why not use it for your own homemade honey lotion? Try to warm honey over a span until it gets to a liquid consistency. Pour honey over herb and cap tightly; the ratio you have to use is one tbsp of herbs per 7 ounces of honey. Let sit for one week and then mix one tsp of liquid into a seven ounce bottle of unscented lotion.

Make a saladOne of the favorite and easiest fruit salads uses just a touch of honey to enhance the sugars in the fruit and it is a perfect late summer dessert.

Give yourself a facial
Honey is a natural humectant with antimicrobial properties that means your skin will be happy when you give it some sweet honey care. Try an old method of honey wash by mixing a dollop of honey and 2 tablespoons of warm water and massaging the mixture into your skin. You also can go out and try the cucumber honey facial.

Go the extra mile
Forget energy bars and shots; just pop a tbsp of honey before your next workout. It has been proven to boost athletic performance.

Clean your cuts and scrapes
Honey could actually be used as a natural antiseptic. Because of its several antimicrobial properties, honey can be used to treat wounds and even burns.

Clear up your dry elbows
Nothing is worse than scratchy elbows. So next time, after you have washed and scrubbed, smear some honey on elbows to soften the skin. Leave on for half an hour then wash off.

soften your skin
Honey is an excellent for exfoliating. You could pair it with ground almonds and lemon juice for a powerful homemade facial scrub.

Get an energy boost
Are you feeling a tad lethargic? Forget the coffee and go for the honey instead. Mix one tbsp into a cup of tea and you will be feeling better in no time.

Beautify your hair
After you wash your hair, coat the ends with a bit of honey. Let it sit for some minutes before rinsing out and you will find that your hair is less frizzy and what is more conditioned. Make your hair shiny and bright by adding 1 tsp honey to 1/4 of water and after you wash your hair, pour the mixture over your head. Let dry and enjoy your new found shiny look.

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Adventure Activities To Do Around The World:

Skydiving

When it comes to adrenaline-pumping activities, few things beat launching yourself out of an airplane and plummeting through the air on a breathtaking freefall, but as the parachute unfolds you'll be able to catch your breath and admire the incredible views. For a beachside vista, soar over the coast on a Miami Tandem Skydive or get a bird's eye view of the glittering lights of the Las Vegas Strip with a Las Vegas Tandem Skydive. For a change of scenery, head over the Pacific, and enjoy a Reef and Rainforest Tandem Sky Dive in Cairns or hop over to the extreme sport hotspot of New Zealand, where you can enjoytandem skydives in Rotorua or the adventure-capital of the south, Queenstown.

Ziplining

Remember careening through the playground on a swinging tire as a kid? Well, ziplining has had a bit of a makeover since then -- these days treetop ziplines reach dizzying heights and you can zoom through the air at break-neck speeds, all while securely attached to a safety harness. Get the ultimate adrenaline rush on a Bootleg Canyon Zipline Tour, gasp at the Hawaiian scenery on a Kipu Zipline Safari, or tackle the longest zipline circuit in North America on a Cancun Extreme Zipline Canopy Tour. That's not all - how about ziplining the heart of the Puerto Rican rainforest on the Zipline Canopy Eco-Adventure from San Juan or experiencing the Dominican Republic's first zipline on a Punta Cana Zipline Canopy Adventure?

Bridge climbing

Thrill-seekers don't have to get out of the city to challenge their climbing skills -- try clambering the rungs of these iconic bridges, where you'll be rewarded with the best panoramic views in the city. The famous Sydney Harbor Bridge isn't just a monumental landmark, the 440-foot (134-meter) high walkway is also a bucket-list favorite -- attempt the Sydney BridgeClimb at night if you dare. Brisbane Story Bridge Day and Night Climbsare another popular choice, with views from the summit spanning the nearby Glass House Mountains and Lamington National Park, alongside New Zealand's Auckland Harbour Bridge Climb.

Rafting

Whether hurtling downstream or navigating treacherous rapids that threaten to overturn your dingy, river rafting is an exhilarating way to get your pulse racing and your clothes soaking. Grab a paddle, hop in an inflatable raft and explore some of the world's most daringly turbulent waters. Try Tully River Full-Day White Water Rafting from Cairnsboasting an incredible 45 rapids; drifting beneath an array of tropical wildlife on theWhitewater Rafting on the Pacuare River in Costa Rica or taking on the mighty Colorado River with a Grand Canyon Rafting Trip from Las Vegas. Fancy an underground water adventure instead? Go Black Water Rafting at Waitomo Caves near Auckland and you can navigate eerie caves, underground waterfalls and caverns filled with glowworms. Just don't forget your life jacket!

Sandboarding

Forget walking across the sand dunes - the most entertaining way to get around in the desert is by sliding downhill on a sandboard. The summer alternative to snowboarding, sandboarding has fast become a popular activity, but if you can't get your balance, don't worry - you can always sit on the board and sled downhill instead! Try a Dubai 4x4 Sandboarding Safari; a Cerro Negro Volcano Sandboarding Tour from Managua where you can climb the famous volcano, before zooming back down the other side; or wander the moon-like landscapes of the Pinnacles Desert in Western Australia and try sandboarding on the looming Lancelin sand dunes, with a Pinnacles Desert, Koalas and Sandboarding 4WD Day Tour from Perth.

Bungy jumping

If nose-diving through the air like a human yoyo sounds like fun, you're sure to have bungy jumping on your to-do list. Whether you want the ultimate death-defying plunge with your nose skimming the floor or a short-and-sweet drop, there are a range of locations around the world that will help you live out your bungying aspirations. The The Original Kawarau Bridge Bungy Jump in Queenstown was the world's first public bungy jump and at 141-feet (43-meters) it's the perfect way to experience the activity. The Auckland Harbour Bridge Bungy Jump and the 164-foot (50-meter) high Cairns Bungy Jump are also popular choices, but for the ultimate in extreme jumps, try the mega 440-foot (134-meter) drop atQueenstown Nevis Highwire Bungy Jump with a scream-worthy 8.5 seconds of freefall.

Caving

While not one for the claustrophobic, if crawling through narrow rock crevices, swimming in eerily-lit underground pools and scrambling through pitch black caves sounds like your idea of an adventure, grab a headlamp and a crash hat, and head underground. Caving is not only a challenge, but a chance to discover some otherworldly scenery - an Iceland from Below Tour uncovers a wealth of curious lava formations, dripping stalactites and peculiar rock formations, and a Batu Caves and Temple Tour from Kuala Lumpur reveals a fascinating series of underground Hindu temples etched into the mountainside. You can even go caving in the city - Budapest Caving Tours expose a labyrinth of tunnels and secret caverns right underneath the city's residential district.

Swimming with sharks

There's no better way to prove your bravery than taking a dip in the ocean with sharks so close you can feel the swish of their fins. Thankfully, you won't be cast into the open seas to re-enact scenes from Jaws - instead, you'll be safely inside a cage, able to return to the boat at any time. Take a trip to the St Thomas to enjoy Swimming with Sharks at Coral World Ocean Park, where you can take a detour to the dolphin pools if your nerves get the better of you; brave the depths of the Atlantic to try Cage Diving with Great White Sharks from Cape Town or take an Oahu Shark Dive in Hawaii. Prefer your sharks a little less ferocious? Try a Mexican Whale Shark Snorkel Adventure where you can dive amidst the world's largest, and decidedly friendlier, fish.

Paragliding

For an extreme sport that's more tranquil than terrifying, experiencing the feeling of floating in mid-air with a tandem paragliding excursion, harnessing the power of the wind to propel your parachute. Launch off the 5,380 feet (1,615 meters) summit of Cerro Arco on a Mendoza Paragliding Tour and soar over the Andean landscape, or head to Colombia, where you can gaze down at the matchbox-sized houses of the city on a Bogotá Paragliding Adventure or swoop over alpine valleys and craggy mountains on a Medellín Paragliding Tour.

 Extreme biking

Forget rolling through country lanes and leisurely pedaling the beachfront; cycling fanatics have plenty of more extreme ways to get their kicks. Whiz down steep mountain-sides and weave between volcanic craters on a Waimea Canyon Bicycle Downhill or discover theRoad to Pachacamac: Small-Group Bike Tour from Lima, where you'll cycle an ancient Inca Trail, dotted with sacred temples and landscapes steeped in local myths. Tackle untamed jungle and lava tubes with a Kilauea Volcano Bike Tour in Hawaii Volcano National Park; kick up clouds of dust as you tear down the Las Vegas' Red Rock Canyon while Dirt Mountain Biking in Kaaawa Valley or taking a Guided Mountain Bike Tour of Mustang Trail in Red Rock Canyon.

 Skiing

Whether you're a powder junkie or a ski virgin, there are excellent ski resorts all over the world where you can polish your moves. Hit the world renowned ski runs at Australia's best-known resorts on a Thredbo or Perisher Blue Weekend Snow Trip, where there's an array of beginner runs, near-vertical black runs and challenging off-piste routes to keep all levels amused.

Skiing isn't the only way to make the most of the snow, either - try Heli Hiking Franz Josefalong the spectacular New Zealand glacier; tackle the immense Troublesome Glacier on aHelicopter Tour and Dogsledding Adventure from Anchorage; or opt for an Athabasca Glacier Snow Trip from Banff.

 Deep sea fishing

Whether you're a first-timer or an experienced fisherman, the thrill of catching your own dinner is irresistible -- just make sure you pick a gorgeous landscape to gaze at while you wait for the fish to bite. Soak up the coastal charms of Reykjavik, as you fish for Haddock, rockfish and Pollock in the nearby Faxaflói bay with a Sea-Fishing Tour from Reykjavik; barbecue your fresh catch as you float the waves near California's famous Newport Beach on a Half-Day Deep-Sea Fishing Cruise from Newport Beach; reel in enormous Hawaiian tuna on a Small-Group Sport Fishing Adventure from Oahu; or take a Deep Sea Fishing Private Boat Charter in San Juan. You could even liven up the experience, with a Miami Party Fishing Cruise where there'll be plenty to keep you amused while you wait for your dinner to swim past.

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AT&T will be one of the first to offer the Samsung Galaxy Tab S

AT&T will be one of the first to offer the Samsung Galaxy Tab S

Yesterday, Samsung held a press event in New York announcing its new tablet, the Galaxy Tab S. Today, AT&T has revealed that it will be one of the first wireless carriers in the United States to offer a 4G / LTE variant of the device.
The Galaxy Tab S is Samsung's latest entry in its tablet line and will become its new flagship device. The tablet will be released in a 10.5” and 8.4” flavors and will have a stunning 2560 x 1600 resolution Super AMOLED display. The tablet will be razor thin, measuring in at 6.6mm. The device will follow the design language of the Galaxy S5 and its sibling tablet, the Tab 4.
Depending on your region, the tablet will come with a Exynos 5 Octa (1.9 GHz quad-core ＋ 1.3 GHz quad-core) or Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 2.3 GHz quad-core processor. The AT&T variant will most likely be packed with the Snapdragon processor and come with 3GB of RAM, 16/32GB of storage and a microSD slot for expansion. The Tab S will have an 8MP camera on the back and a 2.1MP camera on the front.
AT&T has not announced pricing or a release date for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S.

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Twitter puts tweets inside your tweets on iOS and Android

Twitter puts tweets inside your tweets on iOS and Android

If you think retweeting's so 2013, then you may want to update your Twitter app now. As The Next Web notes, the latest version gives you the option to embed tweets in your tweets (credit Xzibit or Inception), so long as you're using either an iOS or an Android device. Take note, though, that embedding's a bit more troublesome than straight out retweeting. You'll have to copy the link to someone's tweet and then paste it into your Twitter app's text box (on a phone or a tablet, which means exerting double the effort). Also, you'll have to click and view each tweet individually to see the embedded boxes like in the image above -- they show up as ordinary links on the timeline, and your followers won't even see them as embeds on the web interface.
Still think it's worth the download? You can get the latest Twitter app from iTunes and Google Play now, and even if the feature isn't even listed in the What's New sections, it should be bundled with the most recent updates for both platforms. Since it hasn't been officially announced, though, this could just be an experimental rollout and not a permanent addition to the apps.

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