Author: Meenakshi Rawat

OnePlus Resolves Issue with Cyanogen, Indian One Users to Continue Receiving OTA Updates

The brawl between OnePlus and Micromax wouldn’t be easily forgotten by any tech follower. Cyanogen entered a deal with India-based company Micromax for exclusive rights on its open-source operating system. Micromax then dragged OnePlus to the courtroom for using its proprietary Cyanogen OS, but nothing was finalized till date. Today, the tussle between the two tech majors has ended and that too on a happy note.

The OnePlus India team has officially declared that there is no difference between them and Cyanogen now, and the software maker will carry on its association with OnePlus. It’s time for celebration for the Indian One users, who were deprived of the OTA updates from Cyanogen.

Sunday’s are always good ! #updates #igyaan #software #onePlus #cm12

A photo posted by iGyaan Network (@igyaan) on May 3, 2015 at 12:37am PDT

The OnePlus India Head Vikas Agarwal spoke in light of the legal settlement –

OnePlus remains vindicated of the recent trials and tribulations that has surrounded the company due to legal tussle with Micromax over exclusivity on CyanogenOS. We are happy to confirm that all ‘OnePlus One’ users in India will continue to receive OTA updates from Cyanogen in-line with our users in markets around of the world.

Vikas revealed that all legal proceedings have been resolved and the cases have been withdrawn through mutual consent. Cyanogen OS will send regular updates to all OnePlus One devices globally. OnePlus got embroiled in a legal case with Cyanogen on its handsets. The Delhi High Court banned the smartphone for some time, but it was suspended soon after. OnePlus was asked to come up with an alternate OS as soon as possible.

A couple of days back, Cyanogen itself came out to announce break up with OnePlus, but things have come back on track. Since there is no dispute on the usage of Cyanogen OS on OnePlus devices, there is a high possibility of the operating system arriving on the upcoming OnePlus handset, OnePlus Two.

May 8, 2015
The Most Captivating Entries from National Geographic’s Traveler Photo Contest

National Geographic has announced the commencement of its yearly traveler photo contest. Anyone who has traveled places just for the zeal of photography can make their submission in the contest. The last date for entries is June 30.

The bar of competition is really high this time. Photographers have waited long to capture the perfect shot, and their submissions narrate a story of utmost patience. The winner of the contest will win an eight-day National Geographic photo expedition for two to Costa Rico and Panama Canal.

Here’s a glimpse of stunning pictures that capture the devotion of participants to the art:

Giant waves converge is of napali coast of Kauai. (Lee Scott / National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

The picture was taken at Karo Village in the Omo Valley of Ethiopia. The Karo are famous for their body-paint culture and skill. ((S. Ram / National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

The image is of Godafoss waterfall in Iceland. The photographer used 10 stop ND filter to capture the movement of the water as the sun set in the distance.(Ed Graham / National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

It’s a view of Jalmahal during sunrise. (Ravikanth Kurma / National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

Clicked by a drone, a surfer in Florianopolis, Brazil. (Chris Schmid / National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

Ice cave at the Vatnajokull Glacier in Iceland.(Shane Wheel / National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

May 8, 2015
OnePlus CEO Reveals the Pricing of the OnePlus Two

Seems like OnePlus is feeling the heat of the close competition, with Xiaomi, Vivo and debutant Nubia’s presence in the smartphone tussle. The Chinese electronics start-up aims to sustain the reputation garnered from the One, and intends to create a buzz with its upcoming flagship. The company disclosed a significant detail about the innards of the next OnePlus handset on Weibo and announced its price as well.

OnePlus CEO Liu Zuohu asked OnePlus fans about the reasonable price of OnePlus Two with Snapdragon 810 on it. It was an open question, and hence comments started flooding on the query. After a while, Liu put an end to the suspense and said 2499 Yuan seems reasonable.

So, we now have the price of OnePlus Two (tentatively titled), which has come from the top official itself. 2499 Yuan translates to Rs. 25,700 approx which is higher than what its present flagship comes at. OnePlus very well knows that to secure a space where many other high-end, yet affordable smartphones, are being appreciated would be not be an easy task. The firm must have decided on quality features and specifications that speak for its price.

From what is known to date, the OnePlus Two will sport a 5.5-inch 2K display. It will be powered by a Snapdragon 810 chipset along with 4G RAM. More details aren’t yet confirmed by the company. It should be noted that the next smartphone will run on its own operating system as Cyanogen and OnePlus have officially broken up. The second OnePlus device is expected to debut in the third quarter of this year.

May 8, 2015
BlackBerry’s Virtual SIM Allows Users Operate Multiple Mobile Numbers via Single SIM

Once a reputed brand name, BlackBerry has lost a major chunk of market share to budding and established smartphone makers. The instant messaging pioneer is pushing itself to handset and software domain to reclaim its lost status. Recently, the company launched a software in India that allows customers to use nine different mobile numbers through a single SIM card.

Termed as WorkLife, the software offers customers to differentiate personal, professional data usage and segregates the usage details as per categories. Customers can use one number for personal use, other for foreign travels, third for business contacts and so on. It will be extremely useful for those on roaming or foreign trips as the virtual SIM will get you connected to a local virtual operator. Users can pay for the bills in the local tariff rate rather than paying for international roaming.

The Managing Director of BlackBerry India Sunil Lalvani said about the same –

The software precisely distinguishes between work use and personal use of an iPhone, Android or BlackBerry smartphone by introducing separate lines managed by the company.

The Canadian tech giant has tied-up with Idea Cellular as its first partner and is looking to join hands with more operators in India. The primary goal of the partnership would be to help manage telecom expenses, protect employee privacy and control company assets.

Lalvani further added to its statement that it will allow enterprises to interact with 25 people in one go through video and audio. Certainly, it’s a major move to lure business sector with advanced messenger service. As per Economic Times, the virtual SIM will arrive in India by year end.

BlackBerry’s share has been seen a tremendous decline in the first quarter of 2015. It is planning to establish itself once again in the Indian market and has launched the latest device BlackBerry Leap in India. It will go on sale starting next week.

May 8, 2015
Xiaomi Fans Shouldn’t Expect a SD Card Slot on Future Flagships: Hugo Barra

You must have noticed that high-end smartphones from Xiaomi doesn’t offer MicroSD card support, except the first-gen handset. Many top smartphone brands like HTC, LG, Samsung offer expandability option up to 128GB (which surprisingly Samsung decided to skip this time in the latest Galaxy S6 series), but the China-based electronics firm is against its inclusion on their handsets. Xiaomi’s Hugo Barra remarked that its devotees shouldn’t expect a SD card slot on the future flagships.

Xiaomi’s Vice President of International, Hugo Barra said in a statement –

For high performance devices, we are fundamentally against an SD card slot. It is a trend: SD cards will disappear. You should basically not expect SD card slots in any of our flagships.

He just didn’t make a statement but also backed his verdict on ditching SD card slots. According to Hugo, his team doesn’t want to sacrifice battery capacity and ergonomics for extended content storage. The microSD cards is of no good to the device and adversely affects the functionality of the phone. As per Hugo’s description microSD cards “are incredibly prone to failure and malfunctioning of various different sorts.”

Explaining in fine detail how SD cards ruin the overall functionality of the phone –

You think you’re buying like a Kingston or a SanDisk but you’re actually not, and they’re extremely poor quality, they’re slow, they sometimes just stop working, and it gives people huge number of issues, apps crashing all the time, users losing data, a lot of basically complaints and customer frustration. It’s gonna be a while before you finally accept that maybe the reason why it’s not performing is because you put in an SD card, right? You’re gonna blame the phone, you’re gonna blame the manufacturer, you’re gonna shout and scream and try to get it fixed, so many different ways until you say, ‘Actually, let me just take the SD card out and see what happens.

From this, it can be concluded that the upcoming Xiaomi flagships will not have an option of removable battery too. Since removable back only sorts the purpose when you have to put a second card slot.

The lack of an SD card is not likely to create a stir in Xiaomi-ruled markets. The company releases smartphones with sufficient memory space, but for folks who choose lesser space handsets to add an SD card later will surely be disappointed. For now, Redmi series handsets sport expandability option.

There have been news of Xiaomi’s next flagship coming in two variants – Mi 5 And Mi 5 Plus. The latter one is, no doubt, inspired by Apple’s iPhone 6 Plus.

May 7, 2015
6 Irresistible Tech Deals From Amazon’s Great Indian Summer Sale

With Amazon’s biggest summer festival The Great Indian Summer Sale going on right now, users can choose from thousands of interesting products. There is a heavy discount on each product which tempts you to grab the deal. It’s the second date of the sale and we are continously bringing you fresh and irresistable deals which shouldn’t be missed.

Here is a list of six portable gadgets and accessories which you might need:

1. PNY Selfie Stick

Coming at a price tag of Rs. 1,500, Amazon is offering the stick at 60% discount. Buyers can claim it for just Rs. 599 per piece. It extends from the usual 23.5 cm length to 100.5 cm and holds a handy grip head along with 1/4-inch tripod thread. Battery capacity of the selfie stick is 5000mAh. The attachment is compatible with Android and iOS smartphones.

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2. ADATA 10,000mAh Power Bank

Power banks have now become an essential accessory of any smartphone. Amazon sale is the best time to invest in massive capacity power banks. Today, 10,000mAh ADATA power bank is available for Rs. 999. Buyers will save Rs. 500 as its original price is Rs. 1,500. The device has dual-USB outlets and has 4-stage LED Flashlight. It is compatible with all smartphones.

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3. Photron Tripod Stedy 400

For photography enthusiasts to take static pictures, tripod is a must. The e-commerce player is offering a deal where worth Rs. 1,500 Photron Tripod Stedy 400 can be picked at Rs. 625. The accessory has a maximum height of 4.5 feet and offers 3-way pan-tilt head. The mount of the tripod flips up automattically with quick release lever and comes with Quick Flip lever leg locks, Bubble Level to adjust horizontal position.

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4. JBL Flip II Stereo Speaker

As we told you, there’s something for everyone. Music lovers would really appreciate the inclusion of JBL Flip II stereo speakers in the sale. The Rs. 7,990 worth JBL wireles portable speakers is available at Rs. 4,999. The frequency of the gadget ranges from 100 – 20000 Hz. Also it comes with battery support and packs 2000mAh Li-ion battery.

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5. Seagate 1TB Hard Drive

Extra space of laptop is a never dying need and Amazon has taken care of this. The 1TB hard drive from Seagate is up for sale at a price of Rs. 9,999. However, it’s actual cost is Rs. 16,000. You can store 500 plus films, thousands of songs and photos in 1TB space. It can share data with 3 devices at the same time.

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6. Lenovo FLEX 2

Lenovo FLEX 2 arrived last year came at a launch price of Rs. 40,590. It is available at Rs. 28,999 for today and tomorrow only. It is equipped with 14-inch Full HD (1920×1080) display with 300 degree rotation support. It has an Intel Core i7 processor with NVIDIA GPU. Along with that, it has 1TB of HDD storage and runs on Windows 8.1.

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May 7, 2015
Reliance’s New AD Pulls an ‘Airtel Zero’, Promotes Net Neutrality Violation

While the hue and cry over Airtel’s controversial ‘Airtel Zero’ was justified, we need to be reminded that there are several other players in the market working on a similar plan.

Here’s why we had a problem with Airtel Zero – it was a new platform that let companies buy data to offer their apps to consumers for free. It allowed users to access these apps without incurring data charges. This was seen as a direct violation of net neutrality as it gave priority access to some apps over others.

Now let’s have a look at Reliance’s ‘Freenet’ service. Freenet is a service jointly launched by Reliance and Facebook in India, which hosts around 20 popular websites, (including AajTak, Facebook, Wikipedia etc) free of charge for Reliance customers.

Notice a difference between the two services? We couldn’t find one either. Check out the ad here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XT3-9odXdUg&feature=youtu.be

May 7, 2015
Nubia Z9 is a Bezel-Less Phone with Controls on its Frame

Post bigger display, the tech manufacturers have shifted their focus to another pivotal design factor, bezel-less display that will give new dimension to the smartphones. Oppo has shown off its near bezel-less phone model the R7 a while back, but Chinese equipment maker Nubia’s latest release is far ahead of Oppo’s offering.

Today ZTE’s premium brand Nubia unveiled a flagship device that sports high-end features with a brand new technology. Dubbed as the Z9, the device packs “Frame interactive Technology” or “FiT” in short, which enables an array of new controls on the aluminium mid-frame. These controls are based on grip and gesture.

Considering some of the uses of FiT, one can unlock the device with the pre-defined grip, without the need of drawing patterns or typing password. However, it is uncertain how useful it is. The FiT technology allows users to switch between apps with a single hand. While usually handling the device, one can flicker the thumb up and down the metallic frame to jump from one application to another. Now toggling the camera is simple with Nubia Z9. Just hold the phone horizontally with the four fingertips and the camera will come alive. The brightness can also be adjusted through single-hand mode. Slide your fingertips along both the sides to increase and decrease screen brightness.

The device boasts 5.2-inch 1080p display made by Sharp. The chipset fitted onto the device is Snapdragon 810 SoC. The phone comes in two storage variants 32GB and 64GB; the 32GB variant comes with 3GB RAM and 64GB with 4GB RAM. The phone with 8.9mm thickness runs on Android L and fits a battery of 2,900mAh capacity. Optics include a 16MP rear shooter with f/2.0 lens and optical stabilization, whereas the front is an 8MP camera with Sony sensor. Connectivity option include Bluetooth 4.1, MHL 3.0 and NFC.

The Classic Edition is available in China for 3,499 yuan or around $560 (Rs. 36,000 approx.) off-contract, while the Elite Edition will cost buyers 3,999 yuan or about $645 (Rs. 41,500 approx.). There is also a Premium Edition with fingerprint reader on the power button. There is no update of its availability in other countries.

May 7, 2015
5 Best Headphone Deals at Amazon’s Great Indian Summer Sale

As most of know The Great Indian Summer Sale by Amazon kicked off yesterday. The three-day event will offer thousands of products such as smartphones, kitchen appliances, apparels and more at unbeatable price. The e-commerce portal is updating the offers every half an hour and we are bringing to you some of the best deals of the day.

Below are some of the best headphones that you cannot afford to miss:

1. JBL J03B Tempo

Coming at a standard price of Rs. 2,499, the headphones can be grabbed in the Amazon fest at a massive discount of 60%. At the expense of just Rs. 1,491, customers can own a pair of high-performance JBL headphones. The foam cushions, silicone sleeves and padded ear cups ensure comfort with high-output sound. At the movement, the deal is 72% claimed. Hurry up to grab one!

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2. Sennheiser Momentum

Another impressive deal is on Sennheiser Momentum headphones that comes with smart remote. The accessory priced at Rs. 14,990 is available of flat 53% off, i.e. for Rs. 7,991. It is one of the best headphones for those who hunt for luxury audio. It boasts superior built quality and sits comfortably on the ears. It features a metal in-line three button control and microphone supporting Apple devices like iPod, iPad and iPhone.

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3. Skullcandy RIOT S2IKGY-372

In earphones category, Skullcandy RIOT S2IKGY-372 is one of the best you can pick. It can be grabbed at a cost of Rs. 975, which is 17% lower than the actual price. The Skullcandy RIOT has rubber earbuds that fits absolutely perfect within the ears and then there is a built-in Mic in the earphones, which is a plus. It is one of the best accessory on the go and fits even in the smallest space.

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4. JBL Yurbuds Venture Talk

If you are an outdoor enthusiast, then the Venture Talk from JBL will be apt for you. The Rs. 5,990 product is coming at an offer price of Rs. 2,399 (straight 60% off). The in-ear earphone is water-resistant and tangle-resistant and features a one-button microphone system to seamlessly control track and call functionality.

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5. Skullcandy 2xl Phase X6FTFZ-821 Headphones

Last in the list is Skullcandy 2xl Phase headphones available for Rs. 999. Buyers will save Rs. 1,500 on the Skullcandy product, whose actual cost is Rs. 2,499. The headphone set and features super comfort on ear design with articulating ear cups, a collapsible design and a dynamic acoustic range. 51% of the deal is claimed; only limited stocks left.

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May 7, 2015
Xiaomi Collaborates with GadgetWood to Offer One-Day Repair Services in India

Xiaomi fans had been complaining about the poor after-sales services of its products since quite a while. Considering the complaints of its huge followers in India, the Chinese electronics producer has decided to eliminate the flaw. Xiaomi has partnered with a web-based portal, GadgetWood eServices, that provides repair and support services for devices like smartphones and tablets.

The Delhi-based start-up GadgetWood is committed to providing one-day repair services to Xiaomi customers at their doorstep. This includes pick and drop service within one business day of placing the request. The fee finalised for the service is Rs. 99. The Co-founder and CEO of GadgetWood Jayant Jha stated about the tie-up –

The Xiaomi brand has created ripples in the Indian market. With the combined synergies of this globally-reputed brand and GadgetWood, consumers can benefit from a great user experience as well as quick and seamless repair services. The partnership is a testament to the fact that we, at GadgetWood, are committed to solving all technical and usage-related concerns of the Indian consumer through our unmatched services.

Xiaomi India Head Manu Jain commented on this move, “We want to bring door-delivery services to customers, who otherwise have no time to travel and identify outlets to service their gadgets in.”

The press statement from GadgetWood revealed about the pilot project being carried out from the past two and a half months in Delhi and NCR. More than 500 users have already tested the service during this period.

After-sales service is one of the biggest factors that contributes to the establishment of an emerging firm in any nation. Xiaomi enjoys million of fans in India, and this partnership will strengthen its position even more in the country. Besides, it will also lead way to Xiaomi’s ambition of becoming an Indian company.

May 7, 2015
5 Best Smartphone Deals from Amazon’s Great Indian Summer Sale

One of the biggest e-commerce portals has kicked off its sale today. The Amazon Great Indian Summer Sale will hold products from smartphones, accessories to kitchen appliances at maximum discounts. The three-day sale will last till 8th May and shoppers can shop between between 8am and 6pm.

Here are some of the best deals on smartphones:

1. YU Yureka

The most-loved budget smartphone is now on open sale on Amazon’s ‘Great Indian Summer Sale’. No registrations required and one can claim his/her device by clicking the Buy button. The 5.5-inch device with Gorilla Glass 3 protection is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor. It has 2GB RAM, 16GB storage space and packs 2500mAh battery. At Rs. 8,999, YU Yureka is one of the best smartphones in the market right now.

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2. Samsung Galaxy S4

Save big on Galaxy S4 at the Amazon sale. There is a straight 30% discount i.e. Rs. 7,000 off on the 5-inch smartphone. The fourth generation Galaxy handset has octa-core processor and comes pre-installed with Android Jelly Bean. The rear camera is a 13MP, while the front is a 2MP. The amazing deal will cost users Rs. 16,499.

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3. Apple iPhone 5c

iPhone 5c is the second latest device by the Cupertino giant in the smartphone market. Launched at a price of Rs. 31,500, the phone is being offered by Amazon at as low as Rs. 19,900 (saving of Rs. 11,500 approx.). The device with 4-inch multi-touch retina display is powered by the Apple A6 chipset. An 8MP snapper sits at its back, whereas the front boasts a 1.2MP camera.

Buyers can pick from different colours like yellow, pink, blue, and more.

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4. Micromax Canvas 2

The second-gen Canvas smartphone has come down to Rs. 7,043 just for three days in Amazon’s Summer sale. It has a 5-inch display with 1.3GHz Quad-core Mediatek MT6582 processor. With 1GB RAM and 4GB memory (expandable up to 32GB), the device comes with sensors like Accelerometer and proximity. The Canvas 2 features a 2MP rear and a front VGA camera.

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5. HTC Desire 816G+

Amazon is offering the Desire 816G+ on the best price of Rs. 15, 910. The phone orifinally comes at Rs. 21,990. The smartphone sports a 5.5-inch display with 1.7GHz octa core processor. It has 1GB RAM and 16GB of internal storage space, which can be expanded up to 32GB. It has a good 13MP primary camera with Flash that can do 1080p video recording.

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May 6, 2015
CyberMedia Research Confirms, Samsung Leads the Indian Mobile Smartphone Race

Once again, Samsung has become the top smartphone manufacturer, beating Micromax in its home ground. The Korean electronics firm has retained its position with an increase in market share from the last quarter. This shuffling is due of change in duty structure and restricted supply of mobile devices from Chinese brands like Xiaomi, OnePlus due to Chinese New Year festivities.

According to CyberMedia Research, Samsung’s share increased from 23.7% in fourth-quarter 2014 to 27.9% in Q1 2015 (January to March). The firm also saw a boast in market share in feature phone during this quarter that was lower in the previous one. The major factor to contribute to its growth in India is the availability of various models in different segments. Samsung has variety of smartphones from entry-level to high-range that led to its success this year.

Micromax remained at the second spot with a decline in market share in the smartphone segment. The India-based equipment firm registered a decline in share from 17.8% in the previous quarter to 16.2% in the first quarter of 2015. Microsoft rolled to the third spot with 9.6% share in overall mobile handsets.

Lead Analyst, Telecoms Research at CMR, Faisal Kawoosa commented, “With major announcements of new handsets and entry of some new brands happening in a big way in 4Q CY 2014, there wasn’t really something very exciting in the market for customers that could push up sales in 1Q CY 2015. At the same time, change in duty structure and the consequent impact on the supply chain due to the Chinese New Year festivities contributed to the market contraction.”

This quarter has seen contracted overall shipment from the Q4 2014. The mobile handset sale in the country declined by 15% to 53 million mobile handsets, out of which 37% were smartphones i.e. 19.5 million and 18% were feature phones.

May 6, 2015
Third-Gen Moto X Speculated to Arrive in the Next Few Months

The second-generation Moto X was Motorola’s latest offering in the high-end smartphone category, along with the Droid Turbo. The device debuted last year but hasn’t been able to make way for itself in the competitive smartphone arena, with Samsung Galaxy S6 and iPhone 6 grabbing all the spotlight. The US-based electronics firm is aware of its lagging position among other smartphone brands like Samsung, Apple, Xiaomi, and is reportedly working on the successor of Moto X (2^nd gen).

According to STJS Gadgets, the third-generation Moto X is leaked by a Motorola insider, who claims to have a hold of details about the next Moto X. The upcoming smartphone on Moto X series will sport a 5.2-inch QHD AMOLED display, used on the Droid Turbo. Under the hood will be a Snapdragon 808 chipset bundled with a massive 4GB RAM. The device will come pre-installed with Android 5.1.1 Lollipop.

The front camera will be a 5MP, while the back will house a 16MP snapper with Clear Pixel Technology. The battery powering the device will also be mammoth at 3280mAh. The device will come in two storage variants – 32GB and 64GB. Moto X (3^rd Gen) is expected to arrive in the coming months.

May 6, 2015
Xiaomi Mi Band to go on Sale Again on May 12, Registrations Begin Today

The first flash sale of the Xiaomi Mi Band in India was a huge success. The sale commenced on May 5 at 2pm and got over within seconds. The Chinese electronics start-up is conducting the second flash sale of the Mi Band in India, but unlike the special preview sale, the fitness wearable will not be available for Re. 1 this time.

The next Mi Band sale will be held on May 12, i.e. the coming Tuesday. Interested buyers can register on the official Mi website today 2pm onwards. The registration window will be open till May 11, 2pm. The Mi Band will cost buyers Rs. 999.

Our next sale for Mi Band happens next Tuesday, 12th May at 2PM! Registration starts tomorrow 2PM at mi.com/in, so do…

Posted by Mi India on Tuesday, May 5, 2015

The Mi fitness tracker was introduced in India along the Xiaomi Mi 4i. It is the cheapest tracker available in the country. The aluminium surface band comes with a micro laser perforation and no display screen. It is water resistant and has a battery life of 30 days. Used as a fitness and sleep tracking band, this device connects to a user’s smartphone and can unlock the handset without the need of passwords or patterns. It is available in a variety of colours like blue, pink, brown, grey and purple.

May 6, 2015
Indian Government Comes Out in Support of Net Neutrality

The much heated issue of Net Neutrality now has the Centre’s support. The government hasn’t come out with a final verdict on the same, but is committed to keeping the Intenet open and evenly accessible to everyone. Standing up in support of free internet, Telecom and IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in a firm voice said that the practices of blocking and deliberately slowing down or speeding up of lawful content on web should not be allowed.

While responding to a discussion on Net Neutrality in Rajya Sabha, Prasad commented –

Government stands for ensuring non-discriminatory access to Internet for all citizens of the country. The government agrees with the viewpoint that blocking and deliberately slowing down/speeding up of lawful content on the Internet should not be allowed, and customers should have unrestricted access to all lawful content on the Internet.

Prasad stressed on the fact that the Government has all powers to direct Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on public policy. “However, TRAI’s powers to regulate tariff and quality of service are subject to overall public policy of the government and the government has sufficient powers under the Trai Act to invoke its national policy objectives to give directions to Trai,” stated Prasad.

Telecom and IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad spoke up about keeping the Internet an open platform.

He further mentioned that a detailed examination on topics like traffic management, national security, integrity of network and infrastructure investment is needed by experts on Net Neutrality.

It should be kept in mind that government hasn’t laid down the structured guidelines on net neutrality principles. Once the government frame rules for the content flow on web, telecom operators wouldn’t be able to adopt illegitimate pratices to earn more money.

A while back, TRAI’s consultation paper on its official website gathered millions of emails in support of Net Neutrality. From the comments of the Telecom minister, it seems like the final verdict would slay the Airtel Zero plan, once and for all.

May 6, 2015