Author: Meenakshi Rawat

WordPress Faces a Temporary Ban in Pakistan Because of Security Reasons

In a bid to stop spreading blasphemous content within the natives of Pakistan, the Islamic nation has banned the open-source blogging tool Wordpress.com. The website is not accessible in Pakistan as of now, and all the blogs hosted by the content management tool have been jammed. However, the self-hosted blogs by WordPress are still functional.

Meanwhile, visitors trying to access WordPress are directed to the message, “This website is not accessible.” The error message that appears on the websites in Pakistan is given in the screen-grab below:

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, the regulatory body responsible for looking after telecommunications in the nation clarified the ban as a step for the welfare of the nation. It said that WordPress was put under restriction because of a “national security related issue.” According to hackread.com, an insider from Pakistan Telecommunication Authority said that it will be a temporary ban and has been enforced because of its use by the terrorist group Tehreek Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which is operational in Pakistan.

Pakistan has banned many social networking sites in the past. Previously, they imposed a temporary ban on Facebook, Twitter, Wikipedia, and few more websites. The authority also discontinued YouTube in 2012 saying that it will be for a while, but the locals of Pakistan are not able to open the video-sharing website till date. Seems like Pakistan, just like the Indian authorities, finds it easy to block content they cannot bring under their control.

WordPress is one of the most prominent content management tool which is used by several websites on the internet. For now, the ban is said to be temporary but if it is extended it would be an issue for all the Pakistani websites who use WordPress to manage their content. We’ll bring you more updates as more developments come in. Keep checking iGyaan for more.

March 23, 2015
Leaked Camera Samples of the Upcoming Honor Phone Suggest DSLR-Like Picture Quality

The countdown to Huawei’s Honor event has begun. The Chinese smartphone brand is set to disclose two fresh products, which will expand the Honor smartphone series.

Yesterday, Honor sent out press invites for an event scheduled on 24th March. The invite hinted that we were soon going to be seeing two new smartphones. It also teased the fact that the new handset may feature a dual camera. It has now been established that the same handset will be the first smartphone to feature a bionic parallel dual lens.

From the leak, the image quality of the camera seems outstanding. Check out the pictures below:

According to the leak, these shots have been taken from the new Honor smartphone. The quality of these pictures seem to replicate the quality of DSLR cameras; the clarity and the composition is stunning.

The fact that we may be able to achieve DSLR-like picture quality, using a smartphone has been an unachieved dream up until now. There is a race amongst major smartphone brands to bring out a smartphone with the best camera quality. Currently, the iPhone 6 Plus aces the game, with its top notch camera sensors and OIS. Is Honor planning to join the match with its next smartphone? Only time will tell.

March 22, 2015
Google Builds a Specialized Tablet to Help Doctors Fight Ebola

Ebola is a lethal disease that has claimed thousands of lives in the African nations. The doctors treating Ebola infected patients are also highly at risk. The doctors attending the Ebola victims have to wear protective gears like a moon suit, along with gloves and masks because of the contagiousness of the disease. Google has also involved itself into the battle against the virus and is doing its bit to help fight the fatal disease. The tech giant has built a tablet that could replace the present medical record keeping system.

Until now, the record-keeping method adopted by the doctors was exhausting. The Ebola fighters have to note down the information on paper and then move to the edge of the medical enclosure with the writing. The medical representative would then shout out the information to the person outside the high-risk zone so that the companion doctor can take down the notes. The paper is then destroyed to limit the virus to the contaminated enclosure itself.

The new tablet designed by Google will help in a major way to record and share information on Ebola. The tablet has a polycarbonate coating and hence, can be dipped in chlorine. The gadget has to be dipped in chlorine for about 10 minutes, which makes it suitable to be used outside the infected area without the moon suit. The specialised Google tablet works on Android and lets doctors send the data wirelessly across the globe right from the high-risk zone.

This tablet technology is extremely significant and can serve as a detector to sense the progression of Ebola virus. Meanwhile, medical experts are planning to modify the technology to fight the upcoming epidemics. Scientist Dr. Eric D. Perakslis from the Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, said that he is working with MSF to make the technology “open source”. It would help with free sharing of software and hardware designs at large. “You can think of other highly toxic environments, even laboratory environments, where this could really be helpful,” said Perakslis.

The top tech leader has done many contributions to serve the mankind; it also has a charitable arm called Google.org, which is a crisis response team to help the disaster struck people. The new tablet will mark another milestone for the company in terms of innovations that help make lives of people better.

March 21, 2015
Honor Teases Two New Smartphones, Sends Out Invites for March 24 Event

Huawei, the Shenzhen-based company, is geared to boost its Honor smartphone lineage. Today, the telecommunications company started rolling out media invites, and it says that two smartphones will be unveiled in the forthcoming Huawei event scheduled for Tuesday, i.e. March 24.

The firm sent out a teaser for the upcoming smartphones which read –

Join us to celebrate the launch of the two super cool, revolutionary, innovative and ‘brave’ Honor phones. And change the way you picture life.

From the bold statement Huawei has made, we sense something big is headed our way. One of the devices is said to sport two robust cameras; however, there are no details about their specifications. The invite came accompanied with an eyepatch which read “why see the world with just one eye?”. At this time, the cameras seem to be the highlight of the upcoming Honor phones.

More information about the Honor handsets should be revealed soon. Keep checking back for more details.

March 21, 2015
Myntra and Flipkart Adopt App-Only Model, Shut Down Their Mobile Websites

From now customers of two of India’s largest e-commerce websites, Flipkart and Myntra, will not be able to make purchases on the go, unless they decide to download their apps. Both the online retailers have shut down their mobile websites and will be operating only through their mobile application.

From now on, whenever a user visits Flipkart.com or Myntra.com on their smartphones, a page will appear that will request you to download the application.

The move by the Indian retail players is not surprising as they were already pushing people to try their mobile version. Timely discounts had been announced for app shoppers, which has led to a tremendous growth in traffic by the mobile segment. According to the information shared by Myntra, “90% of its traffic is being generated through mobile devices. Close to 85% of this traffic is driven by Android, iOS and Windows platforms.”

India comprises of a large chunk of smartphone users and majority of them are potential customers who wish to make purchases while on the move. With the growing innovation in the tech sector, shopping behaviour of buyers is changing drastically. Myntra started its shopping app in May last year and within a short span of nine months, it has now become an app-only platform for mobile customers.

The Head of eCommerce Platform at Myntra, Prasad Kompalli stated about the company plans:

Myntra will be launching new innovations on the app in the future to make shopping a more seamless and personalised experience. The rate at which Indian consumers are adopting shopping on the app, is faster than even the US and China.

Shutting down the mobile websites is a progressive step. More than anything else, it indicates the dependance of mobile users on applications. But would you want to add an extra app on your dashboard?

March 21, 2015
Windows 10 Arrives for Xiaomi Mi 4 ‘Power Users’, Images Spotted Online

It was only yesterday that Microsoft made an announcement about the summer release of Windows 10 in 190 countries around the world. It was not the only news announced by the software major, and Microsoft surprised everyone with the announcement of its exclusive partnership with Chinese smartphone brand Xiaomi. The multinational firm revealed the development of a Windows-based software (ROM) for Android devices that turn the Android run handsets into Windows phone, is underway.

Today, images of Xiaomi Mi 4 devices running on Windows have surfaced online. Since, Mi 4 is designed to run on Google’s Android platform, these fresh pictures speak of the Technical Preview of Windows 10 that Microsoft was talking about. The invention of a ROM that can swap the OS to Windows on Android devices is ground-breaking. However, it is uncertain how many of us would like to leave the cosmic Android arena to join the confined world of Windows on smartphones.

The new Windows 10 ROM doesn’t offer dual-boot feature and forces itself onto the installed device. Windows 10 then becomes the default OS of the smartphone. The basic idea behind the software is to give Android users an experience of Windows 10 user interface and apps.

The testing of Windows 10 ROM is limited to a selected group of Xiaomi Mi 4 users. Microsoft picked Xiaomi since it has a vast user base which provides constant feedback on their products. Microsoft aims to use Xiaomi’s already existing user base to receive suggestions by proving the latest version of Windows on their phones.

March 19, 2015
Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge Official India Launch Slated for 23rd March

Samsung is rolling out the sixth-generation flagship smartphones, Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge, to more countries of the world. The South Korean firm showcased the handsets in MWC 2015, and now we have learnt that Samsung will launch the devices in India on 23^rdof this month.

While the company will be holding a special event on the coming Monday, they will not go on sale until April 10, as earlier stated by the company. Along with Galaxy S6 and the curvy S6 Edge, the Samsung event is expected to see the release of accessories as well, which includes flip cases and covers.

Samsung may also launch the new virtual reality headset for Galaxy S6. This headset is different from the VR Gear released for Galaxy Note and is specially designed to fit the smaller screen of the S6.

As far as the pricing is concerned, the Galaxy S6 will cost somewhere around Rs. 52,999, while its curvy counterpart is likely to get a price tag of Rs. 61,999.

Both the Galaxy S6 and its curvy companion are power packs and feature almost similar specifications. Both the handsets sports 5.1-inch QuadHD Super AMOLED with 577ppi resolution. The S6 is equipped with a 64-bit Exynos octa-core processor (1.5GHz quad-core Cortex A-53 and 2.1GHz quad-core Cortex A-57), while the edgier S6 is powered by the 2.5 GHz Exynos octa-core processor. The RAM of either of the devices stands same at 3GB, and both of them run on Android 5.0.2 Lollipop.

Both S6 and S6 Edge come in three variants with inbuilt memory – 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB. The devices don’t have external memory support. Optics of the S6 and S6 Edge are identical at 16MP rear with F1.9 and 5MP front camera. In case you missed the hands-on video, check the video below:

March 19, 2015
About 40 Percent of iPhone Users Willing to Buy Apple Watch: Reuters Poll

Apple devoted a huge amount of time and thought to bring out a smartwatch that can outshine all other gadgets in the wearables category. The Apple Watch is a distinctive piece and sports many features like digital crown and Force Touch that are not found in any other smartwatch. But is it really getting the traction expected by the company? International news agency, Reuters, did a survey to find out the demand for the Watch and discovered that around 40 percent of the American iPhone users are interested in buying the Apple Watch.

The poll includes adult iPhone owners of the US of age 18 years and above. The primary reason to consider iPhone users in the first place was that Apple Watch requires iPhone for most of its functions. So, iPhone users automatically come into the picture to be the initial buyers of the product.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted a survey between March 9 and March 17 in which a total of 2,469 American adults of 18 years and above took part. It was found that 24 percent of the participants showed interest in Apple Watch, out of which 10 percent described themselves as very interested. Another survey of 788 iPhone users across the globe by the same firm speaks of 39 percent interested buyers, out of which 17 percent are ‘very interested’ in the product.

These numbers from the survey might not look uplifting at this moment for Apple, but considering the 100 million active users of iPhone in the US, and nearly half a billion in the whole world, the resultant buyers may turn out to be a huge number. According to Reuters, Analyst Walter Piecyk of BTIG marketing firm considers the survey inspiring, “The survey was “pretty encouraging” for a product that has not been seen in shops, even if it was unclear how much of the interest would translate into purchases.”

It is yet uncertain how many interested buyers will convert into purchasers, as the price of the smartwatch is the major roadblock. Its price ranges from $350 for a regular edition to $17000 for the 18-karat gold edition, which makes it the most expensive smartwatch yet.

March 19, 2015
Xiaomi’s E-Store Goes Live in India, Sells Accessories But Not Smartphones

Till date, Xiaomi was dependent on its exclusive online partner Flipkart to sell its products in India, but not anymore. The Chinese electronics producer has finally opened an official Mi Store in India from where one can order products. The online store grasps the absolute authority Flipkart used to enjoy over the large chunk of Xiaomi followers in the country.

As stated by the firm, Xiaomi will only sell accessories in India and not smartphones. The exclusive rights to sell Mi handsets still remain with the e-commerce website. Meanwhile, potential customers can grab protective cases, earphones and power banks; the last one being out remains out as of now.

However, the company hasn’t turned down the fact that other products may appear on the online store in the future. This means that more products by Xiaomi like Yi camera and Mi Band (fitness tracker) arrive in the Indian market in coming months.

In three short years Xiaomi has established itself as a tech beast. The electronics enterprise conquered China few months back as the biggest smartphone vendor and lately, it defeated Apple and Samsung in India and became the biggest seller of 4G devices for January. Its smartphones have done a total sale of over a million since July last year, and considering its affordable price policy, Xiaomi seems to be breaking all records.

The organization came out with Note series in January and launched Mi Note and Mi Note Pro. The latest addition to the series is the Bamboo edition of Mi Note. It is also heard that another flagship called Mi Note Plus is next in line to release.

March 19, 2015
The 6 Biggest Announcements Microsoft Made About Windows 10 Today

While smartphone brands are grabbing the spotlight with the launch of bigger and better smartphones, Microsoft is holding the attention of the audience with its latest Windows OS. Recently, the Redmond-based company publicized that it is releasing the premier operating system Windows 10 in 190 countries, and China will be the first one to receive it. The company made several other major announcements such as the introduction of Windows Hello, the Voice App and many other innovative features, which got overshadowed.

We have made an elaborate list of all the important announcements made by Microsoft today. We explain the new developments in detail below:

Software Pirates Included in Windows 10 Receivers’ List

No matter if you’re running pirated version of Windows 7 and 8, you will still be able to update to the latest legitimate version of Windows 10. The electronics manufacturer has given a nod to the users running dodgy softwares and said that the upgraded version will be sent directly. It’s still under wraps how the company will provide the latest iteration to people using pirated Windows copy.

The End of Passwords with Windows Hello

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AsoSnOmhvU

Microsoft’s new feature is a cool new tool to personalised computing. It eliminates the need for passwords and secret codes and offers unlocking devices through your personal characteristics.

Windows Hello works on biometric authentication supported by the system. This means the new tool marks your personal features such as your face, iris, fingerprints as the password and gives you instant access to your device. No need to remember complicated alphanumeric arrangements. This subtracts the possibilities of hacking as well. In all, your Windows 10 devices are entirely safe with Windows Hello.

Windows 10 is coming to 190 Countries, this summer

The announcement that spread a smile among the Windows users across the world is the early arrival of the official release of Windows 10 this summer. The rollout will start with China and 189 will soon follow. All the nations will receive the update by summer, as per the company statement.

Microsoft will offer a one-year free subscription of the upgrade, which will be available to the customers running Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1. Users can choose from 111 language options for the new operating system.

New ROM to convert Android phones to Windows

A big revelation from Microsoft was testing of a new ROM based on Windows. The company has tied up with Xiaomi and is testing the new Windows 10 with a select group of Mi 4 ‘Power users’. The new concept is original and seems to be a budding effort to overtake Android ecosystem in one go.

The new ROM doesn’t offer dual-boot solution. Once installed, Windows 10 becomes the default OS of the smartphone. It is comparable to the CyanogenMod or any other custom ROM. The Windows-based ROM is designed to get Android users to try Windows 10 native user interface and the Windows-centric apps. Through this, Microsoft hopes to encourage users switch from Android to Windows OS.

New Windows Version for IoT Devices

Internet of Things (IoT) is the major revolution that the tech world is heading towards. A new version of Windows was introduced by Microsoft that comes free with Windows 10. The new version can go with a diverse IoT devices like ATMs, ultrasonic machines, gateways, and more. The company plans to connect with more machines and is in talks to collaborate with companies like the Raspberry Pi Foundation, Intel, Qualcomm and other tech organizations.

Compactness with Windows 10

Microsoft has opted for an approach to squeeze down Windows 10. The new Windows OS compresses files to provide more storage space on the device, offering more free space for music, photos, and videos.

The condensation of system files on Windows 10 is done through compression algorithm. It restores approximately 1.5GB of storage for 32-bit and 2.6GB of storage for 64-bit Windows. The same is applicable for the Windows phone as well.

March 18, 2015
LG’s Curvy G Flex 2 Hits the Indian Market, Priced at Rs. 55,000

At the CES this year, LG got a huge round of applause for its sleek, refurbished curvy device G Flex 2. It was the complete overhaul of the original G Flex released in November 2013. The Korean multinational company today released the innovative smartphone on the Indian soil at its annual tech show. The smartphone comes with a hefty price tag of Rs. 55,000.

The upgraded smartphone has got a specifications boost and sports a more flexible body. When compared to its predecessor, the latest G Flex 2, when bent, can restore its original position in around 10 seconds, while the first generation LG G Flex took three minutes to achieve that feat.

Coming to the specifications of the smartphone, the new G Flex 2 boasts of a 5.5-inch full HD Curved P-OLED (1920×1080 pixels) display. Powered by the latest 64-bit Snapdragon 810 Octa-core processor, the device offers 2 GB of RAM and runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop.

On the camera front, the G Flex 2 houses a 13MP rear shooter along with a secondary 2.1MP front selfie snapper. The connectivity options of the device include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Smart Ready 4.1, LTE support, USB 2.0 and NFC.

Besides the G Flex 2, LG released the world’s first 5K television in the trade show. The 105-inch 5K television runs on Web OS and comes with LG’s magic remote control.

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March 18, 2015
OnePlus Assures Lollipop, OxygenOS Updates Arrive Before March End

OnePlus has put an end to the speculations. The Chinese company has provided a set release date for Lollipop updates on One devices, and it looks like the firm will not keep its huge fans waiting too long. Earlier, the Chinese electronics producer issued the upgrade launch date and had disappointed the customers by not delivering the same. But this time, OnePlus has spread a word through the official forum page of its website saying that Android Lollipop will be available on or before March 30.

The company declared the precise launch date of the update:

CM 12S: The official OTA update for the OnePlus One will be released on or before March 30, 2015

OxygenOS: The official release of our own Lollipop-based ROM will be available for download on or before March 27, 2015

The official forum page of OnePlus mentions the reasons behind the delayed Lollipop update roll out. The firm remarks that unforeseen complications like OS singing issue, instability of the camera module and many crucial driver flaws cropping in the new Lollipop version.

Not only this, to make its customers believe that they will release the new update unfailingly, OnePlus has made a bold statement of giving away five 64GB OnePlus One devices in case it misses either of the deadlines. Well, this shows how dedicated OnePlus is to keeping its promise.

March 18, 2015
The Wait is Over, Windows 10 Arriving in 190 Countries This Summer

Ever since Microsoft announced the latest iteration of the Windows operating system last year, users have been patiently waiting for its arrival in the market. The demos presented by the company has got the market excited for the plethora of cool features. Microsoft also corrects its blunder of removing the start menu in its last offering by bring back the menu in Windows 10. The company is now ready to bring the latest OS to its customers worldwide and will be launching it this summer in 190 countries.

Microsoft will offer a one-year free upgrade which will be available to the customers running Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1. Users can choose from 111 language options for the new operating system.

Terry Myerson of Microsoft commented on the official blog post –

We continue to make great development progress and shared today that Windows 10 will be available this summer in 190 countries and 111 languages.

Microsoft has a strategic plan to roll out Windows 10 in China. The firm stated that it would partner with leading companies like Lenovo, Tencent and Qihu 360 to deliver the new Windows OS to its customers. As said earlier, more countries will soon get the update by summer this year.

Along with announcing the launch time of Windows 10, Microsoft brought out few more interesting tools to make computing more personal. Windows Hello is one of the recent features added on Windows 10. This innovative offering eliminates the need for passwords and gives instant access to your devices through biometric authentication, i.e. analyzing your face, iris or fingerprint.

Microsoft has also put major focus on Internet of Things(IoT) devices with this new launch. This advanced Windows OS will also work with major institutional devices like ATM’s, ultrasound machines, gateways, and more. The company plans to connect with more machines and is in talks to collaborate with companies lke the Raspberry Pi Foundation, Intel, Qualcomm and other tech organizations.

One revelation that caught the eye was that Microsoft signing up with Chinese smartphone Xiaomi for the developmental of Windows 10. A select group of Xiaomi Mi 4 power users will be invited to test Windows 10 and share their feedback with the company. Seems like Microsoft is trying everything its powers to capture some of Android’s massive market share. Microsoft though would not have to convince the massive number of Windows desktop users as they would be elated to get the free upgrade and of course the Start menu that comes with it.

To know more about Windows Hello, check the video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AsoSnOmhvU

March 18, 2015
Xiaomi is India’s Biggest 4G Device Vendor for January, Knocks Down Apple and Samsung

The battle to become the top smartphone vendor is getting tougher and steamier. After conquering China’s smartphone market, Xiaomi has once again proved itself, but this time of India. According to a report by the market analysis firm CyberMedia Research (CMR), the Chinese electronics maker Xiaomi brought down the leaders Samsung and Apple, and emerged as the biggest 4G handset seller in India. The fresh records are of January this year.

According to the data released by the research firm for January, Xiaomi is ahead of the reputed smartphone manufacturers and holds a market share of 30.8 percent. Apple, Samsung, HTC, and Micromax follow respectively at 23.8 percent, 12.1 percent, 10 percent, and 8.3 percent. Few months back, another analysis firm reported Apple as the frontrunner of the fourth quarter of 2014. The Cupertino-based tech giant held the 45 percent market share, which was followed by HTC and Samsung.

These figures showcase the shipment of only 4G handsets in India. Samsung still leads the pack with 17.3 percent market share which includes feature phones, smartphones, 3G and 4G mobile phones. Lava, Microsoft, Micromax, Intex have comparatively lesser share with 11.9 percent, 10.3 percent, 9.7 percent and 8.5 percent respectively.

This outcome by CMR is a massive blow for the world’s largest smartphone vendors. Although, the numbers represent the sales figure of a month only, but it’s an indication that Samsung and Apple need to take Xiaomi as seriously as any other contender out there.

March 17, 2015
While We Wait for OnePlus’ Powerbank, Here Are 5 Available for Purchase Today

Smartphones have become our primary source to instantly connect to the world around. To walk with the pace of the world, smartphones need to keep working; here’s where the dependant power banks come into the picture.

There are many power banks in the market that promise to charge the devices instantly while on the go. The top amongst them is Xiaomi’s 10,400mAh Mi power bank, which is the most powerful of all and is affordably priced. Unfortunately the Mi power has not been available for a while now. In a recent event, top officials of the company commented that it may take a while for the device to be back in stock. OnePlus is also geared to launch its power bank with 10,000mAh capacity, but the company is not releasing the same in India anytime soon.

So meanwhile, we decided to compile a list of powerful power banks that are worth your money. One can choose any from the below-provided list:

Sony PB574SJG

The power bank from Sony comes in elegant gold colour option. It has a battery capacity of 10,000mAh and can restock a regular battery of 2500mAh four times on a single charge. Every unit of Sony PB574SJG power bank has two ports: Micro-B USB, Mini USB. The device is priced at Rs. 1,449.

Samsung 9,000mAh

The battery support by Samsung is little less than others in the list at 9,000mAh, but can power the device more than twice once the source is fully charged. The Li-Ion Battery comes in black colour and houses one USB port. The power backup is priced at Rs. 1,000.

Lenovo 10,400mAh

The Lenovo’s external battery support is mammoth at 10,400mAh. Weighing at a mere 340 g, the battery is efficient in power conservation and features electricity-saving function. The portable machine has an LED power indicator, along with dual USB output. Every unit of Lenovo GXV0F78691 costs Rs 1,777.

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Intex 10000 mAh

Intex’s power bank is another robust gadget designed to charge not only mobiles, but also Sony Cyber-shot cameras. The Li-Ion Battery comprises of two ports, Micro-B USB and Mini USB. The battery support is small and fits in hand perfectly. The ultra-portable gadget slip into the pocket and is extremely light. It comes in two colours, white and blue, and costs Rs. 1,199.

PNY 10400mAH Power Bank

One of the top contenders in power bank arena presently is PNY. The device has a potential of storing 10,400mAh and it can be grabbed at just Rs. 999. The device has 4-lights of LED power indicator, which displays the battery level status. However it only allows a single USB, so two devices cannot be simultaneously charged.

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March 17, 2015