Metasearch engine Ixquick and its U.S. brand, Startpage.com have released a new proxy service that allows users to surf the web with complete privacy.

The proxy lets users browse websites safely and anonymously, without passing on any private, personally identifiable information to the websites they view.

The Ixquick proxy is a free service that works in conjunction with the Ixquick search engine, available at www.ixquick.com. When users perform a search, they will find a clickable “proxy” option below each search result. When this option is selected, Ixquick acts as an intermediary to retrieve the page and display it in a privacy-protected Ixquick window.

The proxy offers anonymity, since the user never makes direct contact with the third-party website. The user’s IP address is invisible to the viewed website. In addition, the website cannot see or place cookies on the user’s browser.

Ixquick does not record IP addresses, make a record of users’ searches, or record details about proxy usage. The company’s data collection practices are third-party certified with the “European Privacy seal”.

The proxy service is being launched today, January 28th, to celebrate international Data Privacy Day.

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Google has formally announced the availability of the Nexus One Desktop Dock from the Google online store.

Custom-designed for the Nexus One, the dock offers a convenient place to charge the phone, on a desk or nightstand. As soon the phone is slipped into the desktop dock the Clock app opens, providing quick access to the local time and weather, alarm settings, photo slideshows, and music. Users can dim the Clock screen for nighttime use.

The dock comes equipped with a charger and a 3.5mm-to-RCA audio cable, for connecting the dock to a stereo.

The dock is priced at $45 and can be bought as a separate accessory from the online store, or bundled with the purchase of the Nexus One phone, which unfortunately isn’t in India yet.

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Apple has finally announced their much anticipated, (almost prayed for) tablet, and it’s called the iPad.

The bridge between a smartphone and a laptop, the iPad has a 9.7- inch touchscreen. It’s reportedly half an inch thick and weighs 1.5 pounds. iPad is powered by A4, Apple’s next-generation system-on-a-chip. Designed by Apple, the new A4 chip provides exceptional processor and graphics performance along with long battery life of up to 10 hours. Apple’s advanced chemistry and Adaptive Charging technology deliver up to 1,000 charge cycles without a significant decrease in battery capacity over a typical five year lifespan. It also has built-in iPhoto, iTunes, a calendar and address book.

The iPad will come in three sizes – 16, 32, and 64GB – and features a speaker Bluetooth and WiFi.

Stay tuned for more updates from Apple’s conference or follow us on Twitter.

A new iPhone SDK has been announced which will allow developers to tweak their apps for the iPad.

Update:The iPad has no flash support for the browser but has a magazine, newspaper and Ebook reader.

Apple also introduced a new version of iWork for iPad, the first desktop-class productivity suite designed specifically for Multi-Touch. With Pages, Keynote and Numbers you can create beautifully formatted documents, stunning presentations with animations and transitions, and spreadsheets with charts, functions and formulas. The three apps will be available separately through the App Store for $9.99 each.

Greenpeace rejoice. Each iPad enclosure is made of highly recyclable aluminum and comes standard with energy-efficient LED-backlit displays that are mercury-free and made with arsenic-free glass. iPad contains no brominated flame retardants and is completely PVC-free.

The iPad will cost $499 for 16GB, $599 for 32GB and $699 for 64GB.

Apple’s iPad can be used as a canvas with artists optimizing the multi-touch display to the fullest.

For convenient typing the iPad will come with an optional keyboard dock and camera connection kit.

iPad features 12 next-generation Multi-Touch applications. Every app works in both portrait and landscape, automatically animating between views as the user rotates iPad in any direction.

iPad runs almost all of the over 140,000 apps on the App Store, including apps already purchased for iPhone or iPod touch.

iPad syncs with iTunes just like the iPhone and iPod touch, using the standard Apple 30-pin to USB cable.

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MapmyIndia has launched TrailBlazer, India’s first GPS navigation system for bikes. Aimed at motorbiking enthusiasts and groups, TrailBlazer is loaded with maps of 620 cities and is waterproof with an FM transmitter that broadcasts turn-by-turn voice directions.

TrailBlazer also comes pre-loaded with many popular travel destinations and highway routes. On motorbike cruising trips the gadget also doubles up as an audio-video player on which favorite music and videos can be uploaded and played back. The gadget is priced at Rs. 18,990 and is available online at www.mapmyIndia.com.

Features include:
•3.5″ wide touch-screen
•Waterproof
•FM transmitter for voice guidance
•FM receiver for helmets for listening to voice guidance
•Music & video playback
•Loaded with maps of:
•620 cities with complete details of streets, localities, sub-localities and points of interest
•5,76,000 towns and villages connected by national and state highways
•2 million unique destinations across 52 tourist and business categories such as petrol pumps, ATMs, restaurants, hospitals, hotels, national parks, etc.
•Weight: 200 gms
•Memory: 2GB

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Google has unveiled its first phone the Nexus 1, which combines the latest in hardware from HTC Corporation with the newest Android software.

The goal of Google’s new consumer channel is to provide an efficient way to connect Google’s online users with selected Android phones.

Through the web store found at www.google.com/phone, consumers can buy the Nexus 1 without service (meaning any GSM network SIM card can be inserted into the device), or purchase the phone with service from one of Google’s operator partners. As new phones come to market through this channel, consumers will benefit from the ability to match a phone of their choice with the service plan that best meets their needs. Operator prices and plan details will be featured on the site.

“The Nexus 1 belongs in the emerging class of devices which we call ‘superphones,’ with the 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon™ chipset making it as powerful as your laptop computer of three to four years ago. It’s our way to raise the bar on what’s possible when it comes to creating the best mobile experience for consumers,” said Andy Rubin, VP of Engineering. “We look forward to working with handset manufacturers and operators to bring more phones to market through this channel worldwide.”

Nexus 1 Hardware features include:
•Display: 3.7″ AMOLED 480×800 WVGA display
•Thinness: 11.5mm; Weight: 130g
•Processor/Speed: Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 3G QSD8250 chipset, delivering speeds up to 1GHz
•Camera: 5 megapixel auto focus with flash and geo tagging
•Onboard memory: 512MB Flash, 512MB RAM
•Expandable memory: 4GB removable SD Card (expandable to 32GB)
•Noise Suppression: Dynamic noise suppression from Audience, Inc.
•Ports: 3.5mm stereo headphone jack with four contacts for inline voice and remote control
•Battery: Removable 1400 mAh
•Personalized laser engraving: Up to 50 characters on the back of the phone
•Trackball: Tri-color notification LED, alerts when new emails, chats, text messages arrive

“The Nexus 1 represents the unique combination of design and innovation two companies like Google and HTC can have when they collaborate,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation. “The Nexus 1 continues HTC’s strategy of offering people a portfolio of phones that meet their diverse needs.”

The Nexus 1 runs on Android 2.1, a version of the platform’s Eclair software, which offers advanced applications and features including:
•Google Maps Navigation: offering turn-by-turn driving directions with voice output.
•Email: multiple Gmail accounts; universal inbox and Exchange support.
•Phone book: aggregate contacts from multiple sources, including Facebook.
•Quick Contacts: easily switch between communication and social applications.
•Android Market: access to more than 18,000 applications.

In addition, the Nexus 1 introduces new functionality and software enhancements:
•Enter text without typing.
•Use a voice-enabled keyboard for all text fields: speak a text message, instant message, tweet, Facebook update, or complete an email.
•Tell your phone what you want it to do.
•Search Google, call contacts, or get driving directions by just speaking into your phone.
•Take personalization to the next level.
•Dynamic, interactive, live wallpapers react to the touch of a finger.
•More widgets and five home screen panels allow for further device customization.
•Capture camera-quality pictures and video with your device.
•5 megapixel camera includes LED flash, auto focus, zoom, white balance and color effects.
•View pictures and Picasa Web Albums in the new 3D Gallery.
•Record Hi-Res MPEG4 video, and then upload to YouTube with one click.
•Read your voicemail messages.
•Get transcribed voicemail with Google Voice integration, without changing your number.
Nexus 1 is initially available from the Google web store in the US without service for $529 or starting at $179 with a two-year contract from T-Mobile USA. In the near future, Verizon Wireless in the US and Vodafone in Europe plan to offer services to customers in their respective geographies. Today, consumers can go to www.google.com/phone to learn about the Nexus 1 and place an order. Google will initially take orders from consumers in the US and three other markets – the UK, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

In the coming months Google plans on partnering with additional operators, offering consumers access to a broad set of service plans.

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