Apple’s Nano, a product line that came into existence as a replacement to the iPod Mini has since its introduction in 2005 underwent some really big changes. Currently in its sixth iteration, the Nano might just have underwent its most dramatic transition so far.

That s because Apple has just announced the all new iPod Nano at the 2010 Fall Event. The new Nano gets a 3.3 inch touch screen display, it’s more boxy now (remember the third generation version?) albeit with a much larger display area. Those who loved the longishness of the previous generation Nano along with its camera, well, its time to move on.

With Apple’s products shrinking in size with each product refresh, why should the Nano be an exception? The New Nano is a whopping 46% tinier than the (already) tiny fifth generation Nano. The weight too has seen a drastic reduction. If it was featherweight earlier its literally weightless now.

If you were a fan of the click-wheel, be disappointed because that too has been scrapped. The touch-screen now takes up most of the front fascia. There are volume buttons on the side and a clip on at the rear the only hardware buttons on the device. Apple claims that the Nano can play music continuously for 24 hours till it runs out of steam. There would be two variants of the Nano in 8 and 16GB capacities both of which would be available in various color options. FM radio fans don’t need to worry as the feature hasn’t been given a miss.

In the US, the Nano 8GB will set you back by $149 while the 16GB version would sell for $179. Oh and if you happen to be in the US, you can start buying these today! Lucky Yanks.

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Sony Corp, hoping to spur sales ahead of the holiday shopping season, has slimmed down its electronic readers and also given them touchscreen control.

The three new versions of its ‘Reader’ line also feature an improved screen with better clarity, the manufacturer said on Wednesday.

Sony was first to the market with its Reader in 2006 but has struggled to keep up with rival Amazon.com Inc, whose Kindle e-reader is the top-selling device of its kind, according to analysts. Amazon does not disclose sales data.

In July, Amazon undercut competitors by offering a $ 139 wireless Kindle. The crowded e-reader market also includes traditional bookseller Barnes & Noble and electronics giant Apple, whose fast-selling iPad device has e-reader functions.

Steve Haber, president of Sony’s digital reading unit, said the touchscreen was one of the top requests made by consumers, who are willing to pay more for extra functionality.

“Lowering prices to get cheaper and cheaper, that’s not our direction,” Haber said in an interview. “Our plan is not to race to the bottom.”

Haber said the company expected to sell more of its lower-cost pocket version last holiday season, but sales of its higher-priced touchscreen version outsold the cheaper one.

“People stepped up and spent another $ 100 to buy touch,” he said.

Sony cut the prices of its last generation of Readers in July. Prices on the new versions are lower than their predecessors when first launched.

The new pocket version Reader retails for about $ 179. Sony’s larger 6-inch screen version, which allows for extra memory, costs $ 229. Users of these two devices must plug in to a computer when it comes time to download content. Both are available immediately.

Sony is also offering a $ 299.99 ‘Daily Edition’, which, like the Kindle, is wireless. It has 3G and a larger screen. The Daily Edition rolls out in November.

Haber said overall sales of its readers are growing at three or four times last year’s levels. “We haven’t seen any change in momentum,” he said.

Sony said it is also offering dictionaries in its new Readers and has been adding titles to its e-book store.

It plans to include reader reviews through integration with social network site GoodReads, and will launch applications later in the year to interface with Apple’s iPhone and Android-based smart phones from google Inc.

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Telecom major, Bharti Airtel, announced the launch of data services in Thailand and Malaysian markets.

The move by the New Delhi-headquartered company, which already has operations in 19 countries in Asia and Africa, is aimed at strengthening its global data portfolio, a release issued here said.

The service offerings launched in the two south-east Asian nations include IPL, managed MPLS and ethernet, it added.

In Thailand, Bharti has partnered with True International Gateway while in Malaysia, it has tied-up with Telecom Malaysia for the launch, the release said.

“The launch…enables us to cater to two of the fastest-growing international bandwidth markets,” Bharti Airtel’s Chief Executive Officer for global data business, Ajay Chitkara, said.

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Rahul Gandhi is a hit on Facebook.

He has a fan page following of 67,921 people which could be among the largest for any leader in the country on the popular social networking site.

Moreover, Gandhi’s facebook account, which Congress says has not been created by him, has 4,999 friends listed in it. It has photographs and videos as well as regular updates.

Rahul’s sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra too has a fan page with 17,469 people listed as followers and another page named as “Priyanka Gandhi politician” having 163 followers.

Party President Sonia Gandhi has a page which lists her as an author with 1,283 people liking it while another page with politician listed along with her name has 503 people who like it.

When contacted, Chairman of the Computer Department of the Congress, Vishwajeet P Singh, went through the pages and accounts on Facebook and said some of the pages give information taken from Wikipedia and are “definitely” not created by the office of either Rahul or Sonia Gandhi.

“It has definitely not been done by the Computer Department,” said Singh, adding it is very easy to set up a page and these are open forums.

Singh also dismissed the possibility of taking action as no one claims to have created the pages.

Asked whether such pages and the internet increase the reach of the party, the Congress leader said that the penetration of internet in India is not like that in the United States and it will take time to have the kind of impact which is there in the US.

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