Author: Nitya Uppal

Everything You Need to Know About the Apple Watch

We had been waiting for the elusive Apple Watch to appear on Tim Cook’s wrist for a long long time. The day is finally here and we have to admit, it has been one of Apple’s most well-kept secret. At the massive Apple event held in Cupertino California, the audience couldn’t contain their excitement and stood up to greet Apple’s newest innovation. On the other hand, Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, managed to patiently walk the audience through a few of the exciting features of this insane device (he promised there was much more.)

The Apple Watch will be priced at $349 and will be available by early 2015. It will come in three variations – Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport and the Apple Watch Edition. The wearable will be compatible with iPhone 5, 5S, 5C, 6 and 6 Plus. We’re glad Apple decided against forcing people to invest in the newly released iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

Here are some things that you should know about the Apple Watch:

Personalised Interface and The Digital Crown

The company assured the audience that they’ve haven’t simply decreased the size of the iPhone to put it on your wrist. They spent time and effort to make sure the interface was made-to-fit. For this, they’ve developed the very useful ‘Digital Crown’. The company compared it to the revolutionary mouse, iPod’s click wheel and the much more recent, multi-touch screens. Instead of using pinch-and-view touch screen, which would inevitably crowd the screen, the Digital Crown will help navigate through the interface better. It sits neatly on the right side of the watch face, helping users scroll through the screen without blocking it.

Apple has also made the effort to provide a wide-variety of Watchfaces. Once you force touch the homescreeen, it instantly gives you options to change the style. Again, you can switch and check out different options using the crown. The Apple Watch uses a unique charging system, which doesn’t require alignment or exposed contact to charge.

Design

Since you would wear the Apple Watch everyday, all the time, the company decided to make sure it suits everybody’s style. The Apple Watch will be available in six designs. The watch comes with a mechanism which would make it super easy to switch between the straps. Picture this: if you have a suave leather strap on for an important meeting, before stepping into the gym you can make a quick switch to the sport-friendly band.

The straps include a sport band, soft quilted leather and stainless steel options. And since one size does not fit all, Apple has also developed smaller sizes.

Next-Level Communication

Apple promises that the person sitting next to you would not be able to tell that you’ve received a notification. The notification buzz will simply gives the effect as if someone is tapping you lightly on your wrist. You can customise the apps which you’d like notifications from. It will the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi from the iPhone for all communication purposes. The built-in speaker phone and microphone can be used to receive calls and use the built-in Siri. With a simple tap on the digital crown, Siri can be activated.

One of the coolest features, the Apple Watch reads and analyses your texts. Uses that information to give you options of short then gives you Smart Replies.

Using the same NFC technology, which was also introduced on the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus, you make short and direct payment. They’ve already roped in several partners in the US, where payments can be made with a quick touch. Apple now would like to replace credit cards and reduce the bulk from your wallets.

Focus On Fitness

Health and Fitness has always been an important arena for Apple. This Watch promises to take over and take it to a whole new level. Instead of simply tracking daily activities, the watch will actually encourage you to be more active. It has two key apps for this; the first will map your fitness activity through the day, while the second and the more important one, will help you set goals and then help you achieve them. It takes it a step further. The Apple Watch would like us to sit less, move more and get some exercise.

It’ll help set goals according to the number of calories needed to burn, distance you’d like to achieve or the number of minutes spent exercising. These apps will take the extra effort to get to know you better, according to which it will then sent personal reminders to make sure you take care of your health. It will then share this data with third-party apps. Speaking of which..

Third Party Apps

Apple has already experimented with a few third-party apps. Developers will be able to create custom notifications for the home screen. For example, the City Mapper will remind you to get off at the right station, the BMW app will direct you to where you would’ve parked your car and the Nike app will allow you to challenge your friends to go for a run.

September 10, 2014

Micromax Launches Canvas Nitro A310, We Unbox it!

Recently, the Indian smartphone market has taken a toll with the arrival of the Chinese brand Xiaomi and well, the resurgence of Motorola. These companies have taken over the Indian budget-smartphone segment by giving us amazing specifications at aggressive prices.

Micromax, the homegrown smartphone maker, is trying to get back on the horse and get a hold of the lost ground it once ruled. Today, Micromax launched a new Canvas flagship model called the Nitro A310 which will be exclusively available on Snapdeal.

The device runs on 1.7 Ghz octa core MediaTek chipset with 2GB of RAM and 8GB of internal memory which is expandable upto 64GB. The Canvas Nitro A310 is powered by 2500mAh battery.

They’ve provided a 13MP Sony camera with f/2.2 aperture. The selfie camera has a 22mm wide angle lens with a f/2.4 aperture and ov5648 bsi sensor. On the home screen Micromax has provided 5 quick widgets – Photo, Video, Front, Back, and Stable shot. Another interesting feature they’ve provided are the in-built gestures which can be used to customise the screen and to activate apps (as demonstrated in the video). The device comes with Oleophobic coating, an anti-fingerprint layer and will come in two colour variants – white and blue. The back has a leather finish, inspired by Napa Leather.

The Micromax Canvas Nitro A310 is available on Snapdeal for Rs. 12,990. After losing a large number of prospective buyers to the Mi3 and Moto G, now Micromax attempts to fight back.

Specs	Micromax Canvas Nitro A310
Battery capacity (mAh)	2500, Removable
Display	5 inch HD IPS Screen 1280X720px
Processor	MediaTek 1.7GHz octacore
RAM	2GB
Internal storage	8GB
Rear camera	13 megapixel
Flash	Yes
Front camera	5 MP
Operating System	Android 4.4

September 8, 2014

Mymo: A Fitness Wearable That Pays You to Be Fit

Wearable health devices are slowly flooding the market. Equipped with sensors, these devices are capable of informing you on your activity through the day. But the basic motivation to get moving still has to come from within, so a company called Tupelo brings a wearable that can give you that extra push.

Tupelo’s fitness wearable Mymo is a one of a kind device. The coin-sized wearable which can be clipped on, tracks the users’ steps, distance travelled and calories burnt. The device connects to any Android device; it also works with the iPhone as well as desktop PC’s.

The most convenient aspect of Mymo is that the battery on the device lasts about 6 months before the need for a recharge. This gives it considerable advantage over its competition.

Coming back, the extra push that we spoke of in the beginning; Mymo is perhaps the only device that lets user cash in their fitness points with real life goods. The device starting at Rs. 3,999 offers amazing 12 month rewards package. Users can track their movements and earn ‘MyMiles’. These MyMiles points can then be redeemed for rewards like talk time, groceries, air miles and even international vacations.

You can even compare your results with friends and family through the Tupelo leaderboard. The Tupelo Life app is available now in the Google Play Store and is soon going to be launched in the App Store.

Tupelo is a Dubai based company and it plans to bring more heath devices in India. It plans to build a comprehensive wellness platform here. The company is also offering real Gold for the first 1000 customers. These customers will automatically enter into the program in which their daily activity can earn them a full gram of gold, which at current rates would be worth Rs.2700, the device literally will pay for itself.

 

September 6, 2014
The Moto 360 is Finally Here!

We’ve spent months tracking its every move; it is the only smartwatch which promised style as well as utility. And today, amidst all the September Tech madness, Motorola revealed all the details of its most awaited wearable – the Moto 360.

It has stuck to the classic design that it promised months back. The 1.65-inch display is encased in stainless steel, the watch comes in leather straps and has Gorilla Glass protecting the screen from unwanted scratches. We’re extremely pleased with Motorola’s choice of design. Instead of going for bulk, it has stuck to the sleek style of a traditional wrist watch.

The water-proof Moto 360 is going to be a super useful wearable. Powered by Android Wear, it will give timely updates based on location, such as Weather, Time, Reminders, Location and Traffic. It has been enabled with voice control, so even when you’re driving you can easily ask for directions and traffic updates. “Ok Google” can also be used to send text messages. The watch comes with a charging dock, and the battery life is said to last a day.

Like most wearables, Moto 360 has paid attention to our health needs, and provided a heart activity app that tracks daily routine. Priced at $249.99, we’d say it’s a beautiful meddle of leather, glass and technology. Moto 360 comes in two colour variants – silver and black and will be available in India by late September.

September 5, 2014
IFA 2014 : Samsung Enters the Future With the Curved Galaxy Note Edge

Samsung introduced a one-of-a-kind smartphone today. It stands out in the crowd for its unique screen, which extends and runs over onto the right side of the device. And if you’re thinking the curved panel is simply a marketing gimmick, you’re wrong.

The extended side screen is super functional as well – it has 7 scrollable panels which are customisable. When the Galaxy Note Edge is locked, the side-panel can be used to have a quick look at notifications and get faster access to certain features such as time and date display, flashlight, camera, messages and even a ruler. Preferred apps can also be shifted to the side panel, frequent use of which will help users conserve battery life.

The Samsung Galaxy Note Edge comes as a pleasant surprise which was kept well under wraps. It is one of the few devices launched recently which left no virtual trail and had no ‘leakster’ tracking its every more.

Photo Credits: The Verge

So, the new bent display not only gives Samsung’s new smartphone a sleek look, but it actually might help keep the main screen clutter-free. Samsung has also announced that will release the API so that third-party app developers can make use of the new screen and create appropriate apps for the screen.

Specs-wise, the smartphone has a 5.6-inch, Quad HD 2560 x 1440 display and is powered by a 3,000 mAh battery. It comes with Snapdragon 805 or Exynos 5433 chipset, Android 4.4, 16MP OIS camera and S Pen stylus. With this launch, Samsung proved that it still has an eye for innovation.

September 3, 2014
Buy a Redmi 1S Today Using These Tips to Better Your Chances

After the overwhelming success of the Mi3, Xiaomi is now ready to unleash the Xiaomi Redmi 1S in the Indian market. Today, the smartphone, priced at Rs. 5,999, will go on sale at 2pm. Lack of stock, unreliability of Flipkart and the overall disappointing sales of the Xiaomi Mi3 have taught us that we need to be armed and prepared to handle these strategic flash sales better.

Here are our tips and tricks to make sure you get your hands on a Xiaomi Redmi 1S today:

1. Pre Register

Possibly the most obvious tip, you need to have already pre registered to buy the phone. Pre registrations are now closed, so hopefully, you’ve checked this box. Otherwise, remember to set a reminder to be better prepared for next Tuesday.

2. Know the Time

The Xiaomi Redmi 1S will go on sale at precisely 2:00 pm IST on 2nd September, so try and reach the buying page at least an hour earlier, even though it seems like an overkill.

3. Multiple Device logins

Try being online from multiple devices, preferably on different internet connections; in order to have different I.P. addresses accessing the site, this will improve your chances and bring you one step closer to buying a Xiaomi Redmi 1S.

4. Flipkart App

The Flipkart app uses a separate server and has a higher chance of “not failing” at the time of sale. If you want to buy a Xiaomi Redmi, the app might prove to be easier, “might” being the key word.

5. Super Refresh Times 40,000

When the sale starts, most people are struggling to open the webpage, ctrl+R / f5 (refresh)/ Cmd+R (mac), is your best friend. Hit it till you get a page to buy a Xiaomi Redmi 1S. Other people have reported opening several tabs being helpful.

6. Cart it!

If you do get a page loaded, add that phone to the cart like there is no tomorrow, once you have the handset in your cart, your chances have just gone up from 1 in a million to 50:50 in order to buy a Xiaomi Redmi 1S.

7. Patience

Once you have it in your cart, attempt payment by refreshing several times, in most cases you won’t be able to make payments due to overloads on the server so keep trying. Here the app helps too.

Also, if the website fails completely, there is a very high chance that the phone is in your cart when Flipkart comes back online, that’s the perfect moment for you to buy a Xiaomi Redmi 1S.

Once you do get through to the payment section and make your payments in whatever the mode you select, pat yourself on the back sir, you my friend are a lucky owner of the coveted Xiaomi Redmi 1S!

Now, check out our unboxing of the Xiaomi Redmi 1S below.

September 2, 2014

iGyaan Deals of the Day

We’re never the ones to turn down a good deal. Why consider buying a gadget at full price when we can find the same at a great bargain online.

Well, iGyaan is here to keep you updated, so be sure to bookmark this page. We’ll be posting the frequent updates about the best deals from our favourite online websites.

Deal no. 1: Nexus 5 (16 GB)

You can’t miss this one, the Google Nexus 5 ( 16 GB ) is available at a discount of upto 12%.

Quick Specs

Display

1920 x 1080 pixels, 4.95 inches

Processor

Quad-core 2.3 GHz, Qualcomm Snapdragon 800

Camera

8 MP, 1.3 MP secondary camera

Operating system

Android OS, v4.4 (KitKat), upgradable to v4.4.4 (KitKat), planned upgrade to v5.0 (Lollipop)

Deal no.2: Xbox One

Amazing combination deals now available on the Xbox One console, accessories and games. A flat discount of Rs.5,000 on the console along with a flat discount of Rs. 1,750 on the widely popular racing simulator Forza Horizon 2. Additionally, you can avail a few combo deals for the ongoing festive season.

Deal no. 3 : Moto E

There is a flat 10% off on Motorola Moto E. If you were looking for a budget smartphone with stock Android experience, Moto E is best you can buy. Considering Motorola has promised Android 5.0 Lollipop update soon for the same handset, this is good deal.

Quick Specs
Display	540 x 960 pixels, 4.3 inches
Processor	Dual-core 1.2 GHz, Qualcomm Snapdragon 200
Camera	5 MP, no secondary camera
Operating system	Android OS, v4.4.2 (KitKat) upgradable to v4.4.4 (KitKat)

Deal no. 4 : Asus Zenfone 4

Asus Zenfone 4 is a value-for money gadget which has been one of the best selling phones by Asus. The original retail price of the handset is around Rs. 6000, however, Flipkart is offering the device for Rs. 5,499.

Quick Specs
Display	480 x 800 pixels, 4.0 inches
Processor	Dual-core 1.2 GHz Intel Atom Z2520
Camera	5 MP
Operating system	Android OS, v4.3 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to v4.4.2 (KitKat)

Deal no. 5: Honor Holly

A budget-friendly smartphone offering from Huawei, the Huawei Holly features a 1.3 GHz quad core processor, an 8 MP camera, and a 5 inch HD display. Flipkart is offering the budget handset for Rs. 6,999.

Quick Specs
Display	720 x 1280 pixels, 5.0 inches
Processor	Quad-core 1.3 GHz Mediatek MT6582
Camera	8 MP rear and 2MP secondary
Operating system	Android OS, v4.4.2 (KitKat)

Deal no. 6: Nokia Lumia 1020

The Nokia Lumia 1020 is one of the best camera phones. Fitted with a massive 41 Megapixel camera with Xenon flash, the Nokia Lumia 1020 is an ideal smartphone for those who love to take professional quality pictures. Flipkart is offering Nokia Lumia 1020 for surprising Rs. 23,999.

Quick Specs
Display	768 x 1280 pixels, 4.5 inches
Processor	Dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait, Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon
Camera	41 MP rear, 1.2 MP front
Operating system	Microsoft Windows Phone 8, upgradeable to WP8, upgradeable to v8.1

August 30, 2014

Samsung Galaxy S5 Takes the Ice Bucket: Challenges iPhone 5S, HTC One and Lumia 930

After a slew of celebrities, looks like its now time for the smartphone brigade to join in. There is no denying the fact that ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has taken over our social media feeds. If there is anyone still wondering why everyone is dousing themselves in iced bucket water, it’s to spread awareness about the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) disease.

The challenge is simple. If you’re nominated, you need to drench yourself in ice cold water and nominate three others to do the same within 24 hours. If you decide against taking it up, you have the option of donating $100 to the ALS Association. Since it started on 29th July, the organisation has already raised a whopping $53 million. A viral social media trend with a cause; we definitely need more of those.

The Samsung Galaxy S5 took the challenge. In the video, after completing the task, Samsung’s voice assistant nominated iPhone 5S, HTC One(M8) and Nokia Lumia 930 and gave them 24 hours to finish the challenge. A clear jab at their inability to withstand water.

By taking on the Ice Bucket Challenge, Samsung managed to do two things – spread awareness and raise funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association and more obviously, it showed off its water-proof abilities.

August 23, 2014

Samsung Slyly Adds New Black Colour to the Tab S

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S was introduced in two colour variants, white and bronze. Recently they’ve added a new black option. It’ll be nice to have a variety to choose from, especially for those who prefer the sleekness of black. You can order the device from the Samsung e-store.

The Tab S 10.5 and Tabs 8.4 both run on the Exynos 5 Octa chipset, have 3 GB of RAM and 16/32 GB storage capacities. Watch our Hands On with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S here.

See the full details below.

Specifications	Galaxy Tab S 10.5-inch	Galaxy Tab S 8.4-inch
Battery capacity:	7,900(mAh)	4900(mAh)
DISPLAY	10.5-inch Super AMOLED display Resolution:2560 x 1600 pixels	8.4-inch Super AMOLED display Resolution: 2560 x 1600 pixels
CAMERA	Rear camera: 8-megapixel Flash: LED Front camera: 2-megapixel	Rear camera: 8-megapixel Flash: LED Front camera: 2-megapixel
RAM	3GB	3GB
Processor	Octa-Core Exynos 5 (A15 1.9 GHz & A7 1.3 GHz)	Octa-Core Exynos 5 (A15 1.9 GHz & A7 1.3 GHz)
Internal Storage	16GB/32GB expanded up to 128GB	16GB/32GB expanded up to 128GB
Software	Android 4.4 Kitkat	Android 4.4 Kitkat

Thanks Ayush.

August 9, 2014

Microsoft’s Xbox One Now Available for Pre-Order on Amazon India

Microsoft’s Xbox One will be available in India on 23rd Sept 2014 starting at Rs. 39,990 it is now available for pre-order. The Xbox One with Kinect is priced at Rs. 45,990. They will be sold exclusively through Amazon India. Amazon is also running a couple of promotional offers for the first 1000 customers who book the console.

The special offers are worth Rs. 10,000 and it includes : Rs. 3,000 off on an additional controller, 2 free Blu-rays worth Rs. 2,500, a discount of Rs. 2,000 on speakers, and Rs. 1,000 off on backpacks. The Xbox One standalone variant comes with a free game, Fifa 2015 whereas the Kinect variant of the console comes with a free Dance Central Spotlight DLC and Fifa 2015.

The bundle includes the Xbox One console with a 500GB hard drive, Xbox One Wireless Controller, and a free 14-day trial of Xbox Live Gold for new members.

The Xbox One with Kinect will have a number of special experiences such as gesture controls, biometric sign-in, controller paring, Skype video calls, direct personalization, instant scanning of QR codes.

Both the Microsoft Xbox One uses an incorporated CPU-GPU design by AMD, including an 8-core low power x86-64 AMD “Jaguar” CPU. The Xbox One’s CPU cores runs at 1.75GHz.

Xbox One is also packed with features like the Game DVR/Upload which lets you capture and record your greatest game moments and through ‘Upload Studio’ you can easily edit and share clips with your friends and community. It also offers many apps such as Skype which is specially designed for Xbox One, Internet Explorer, OneDrive, Twitch, Machinima and IGN which are integrated flawlessly with your games and TV experience.

Pre-Order Now

 

August 9, 2014
Samsung Launches 4G-Equipped Galaxy S5 in India
At the very least, we can give credit to Samsung for understanding the need of the hour. With Airtel and Aircel racing to provide India with 4G cover, Samsung has decided to launch a 4G variant of its Flagship Device at the price of Rs 53,500.

While most of its features remain the same as the 3G S5, some of the key features of the new 4G variant include:
- Qualcomm 8974 Pro 2.5 Ghz processor
- Supports Eight 4G LTE bands support
- Advanced Camera (HDR mode, Selective Focus)
- IP67 protection (Dust and Water Resistant)
- Ultra Power Saving Mode (24 hours standby time with 10% battery)
- Download Booster
- Wi-Fi MIMO
For this device, Samsung and Airtel have tied up and are making a special data offer to Samsung S5 customers. All existing and new Airtel 4G subscribers will get 5GB 4G data/month free for 2 months. The device will be available in India from 20th July in Copper Gold, Charcoal Black and Shimmery White colour options.

One of the impressive features of this phone is the Download Booster. It allows users to access 4G and Wi-Fi simultaneously, resulting in super high connectivity.

All this sounds pretty fancy, but we’d advise recommend you not to make a hasty purchase, since the brand is notorious for reducing its prices.
July 18, 2014
Skullcandy Launches a New Series for Football Fans in India
The highly recognized audio brand has launched a new set of headphones for Football lovers who are currently losing it over the World Cup. They’ve created headphone assortments for three national teams heading to Brazil– England (FA), Germany (DFB) and France (FFF). The range of Hesh 2, Ink’d and Uprock headsets, complete with iconic federation logos and patriotic national colours was launched at selected retailers in India on 16th June, 2014.

The Utah-based company also made another major announcement – Thiago Silva has been chosen as their first ever football brand ambassador. Silva is the captain of the Brazilian national team and has led Brazil to its third consecutive FIFA Confederations Cup title recently.

The newly launched series is now available in Indian stores. As mentioned earlier, there are three headsets involved in this new Skullcandy Football World Cup Series and their features include:
1. UPROCK
These extremely comfortable headset is encased with plush ear pillows and has a soft-touch finish. Its name is based on an urban dance and it truly enables us to incorporate music in our daily routine. It consists of twin 40 mm drivers and tangle-proof flat cables. It also consists of mixed material so it can withstand intense pressure and prevents any damage. These are priced at Rs 2,899
1. HESH 2:
These have conical over-ear housing drives which give a really powerful sound. It has features which enables you to switch track and also has a built-in microphone for making and receiving calls. Its cable is detachable which helps you to move around and the soft leather touch ear pillows are there for the acoustics as well as to fit your ear perfectly for convenience. Hesh 2 are slightly expensive, they are priced at Rs 5,299.
1. INK’D 2:
These earphones have a supreme sound which delivers an attacking Bass, natural vocals and precision highs. These are the only in-ear headphones of the series with different sized ear buds which you can keep changing according to your needs. It also has a flattened cable for enhancing its visual appeal. The most inexpensive of the lot, these are available for Rs 1,549
June 19, 2014
10 Things You Don’t Know About Facebook (But You Should)

Long long ago, there was Orkut, Hi5 and MySpace. Somehow, none of them stuck quite the way Facebook did. In fact, Mark Zuckerberg’s brainchild has done way more than just stick around, it changed the way we connect with people.

It’s not only for frivolous stalking. Even if you’d like to quit the website, you can’t. How else would you log onto your Soundcloud, Pinterest, Tumblr or Spotify? Facebook’s made sure its got us entwined in a tight web.

Even though we’ve being using it for years, there are certain facts about Facebook none of us know. Here is the list of things you should know about Facebook, which you probably don’t:

1. You Can Calculate the Time You’ve Wasted on Facebook.

Yes, it’s addictive. And yes, most of the time you’re wasting hours checking out who your ex-girlfriend is hanging out with these days. I think we all can agree that we can survive without the information Facebook gives us. But since we’ve already established that quitting is not an option, you can check out this tool, developed by Time magazine, which counts the days of your life you’ve wasted on Facebook. A perfect reminder to restrict your time on the site.

2. Facebook has 1.28 billion Active Users

For most, it’s become a daily addiction. You’ve just woken up, sleepy and bleary eyed, you’re already checking your notifications or you click on your browser to check your emails, but before you know it, you’re scanning your news feed to see if anyone has done anything exciting. Sounds familiar? Clicking on the blue icon has become a reflex action.

3. Facebook has a 100 million active users in India

And 84 percent of those users access the site via their smart phones. These numbers were announced on 31st March 2014. Facebook’s biggest competitor is its very own WhatsApp, which has more than 40 million registered users in the subcontinent.

4. There is a Reason Facebook is Blue

A lot of you may already know this one, but the reason is that Mark Zuckerberg, the Founder and CEO of Facebook, is colorblind. Zuckerberg sees the color blue best, because of his red–green color blindness.

5. Facebook is currently blocked in 4 countries

There are bouts of the site being blocked off and on in several countries. North Korea, China, Iran, Syria, Vietnam have held on to the blockage for a long time.

6.Despite being blocked, China has about 63.5 million Facebook users

When there is a will, there is a way. Although, Facebook is very much blocked by the Great China Firewall, formally known as the Golden Shield Project, a surprising report gave whopping number of registered users in China.

7. You Can Schedule Status Updates on Facebook

Download Hootsuite and it will allow you to schedule posts ahead of time. So you could be sharing content even while you’re relaxing or if you’re busy with some other activity.

8. Viacom, MySpace,Yahoo and NBC Have All Tried to Buy Facebook

In the past ten years, according to David Kirkpatrick’s book The Facebook Effect, 11 companies have tried to acquire this social media giant. Makes us wonder, where would the website be if Mark Zuckerberg had given in and handed it over?

9. Facebook Has Spent a Total of 22billion on Acquisitions

Instagram, WhatsApp and now, Oculus are only three of the 45 companies that Facebook owns. Facebook has spent a total of 22billion on acquisitions. Some of the other acquired companies include Snaptu, Little Eye Labs, Face.com and Friendster Patents.

10. Mark Zuckerberg is the Youngest Self-Made Billionaire

Mark Zuckerberg dropped out of Harvard shortly after he came up with the idea of Facebook and now his net worth is 28.5 billion dollars. According to Forbes, Facebook’s shares are up more than 130% over the past year. That’s caused Zuck’s net worth to more than double over the same period, even after he gave away 18 million shares in late December.

June 19, 2014
10 Things You Don’t Know About Twitter (But Should)

Recently, we’ve been paying quite a bit of attention to this powerful social media forum. Why shouldn’t we? It is used by millions everyday, and we especially love the way it helps us stay connected. Twitter needs to be given credit for being one of the first sites which helped us communicate with famous names. Everyone starting from Barack Obama to Shah Rukh Khan use this microblogging service. Companies also use this service to keep in contact with their customers.

Yesterday, we explained the 10 easy steps you can use to become a Twitter Pro. Carrying on the series, here are 10 things you probably didn’t know about Twitter:

1. Narendra Modi’s Tweet Created History

India has won! ???? ?? ????? ????? ??? ??? ???? ???? — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 16, 2014

On 16th May 2014, the Indian election results confirmed a huge victory for the Bhartiya Janata Party. On the same day, @NarendraModi’s victory tweet, created record history by becoming the most retweeted and favourited tweet from India.

2. You Can Use Twitter to Share Files

Log onto Filesocial.com with your Twitter ID, upload a file and it will automatically be shared on your twitter account. You can upload PDFs and documents, as well. It’ll appear as a regular post on your feed; anyone can see, comment and even download that file.

3. Get Your Entire Twitter History Emailed to You

At the bottom of your Account Settings page, there is a tab labeled ‘Request Your Archive’. Click on it to request a file containing all your information, which goes back to your first Tweet. Twitter emails you a link from where you can download the file that includes a detailed document with timestamps, tweets, retweets and URLS.

4. You Can Create Secret Lists

It’s fairly simple, when you click on the tab to create a new list, click on the option of making the list private. Now no one other than you would be able to view that list. Twitter lists can be used de-clutter your account. Once you have a large number of followers or if you’re following too many people, you can sort out the by organising them into lists which are only visible to you. Lists can be organized on the basis of location, topics being discussed, job profiles, or your closest friends.

5. The Blue Bird Has a Name

Twitter’s famous mascot is named “Larry”. Larry the Bird has been reportedly named after Larry Bird, a former professional basketball player who played for the Boston Celtics.

6. People Buy Followers on Twitter

Okay, most of you might already know this. Similar to buying ‘likes’ on Facebook, you can buy followers on Twitter. There are a ton of sites available which claim to give you cheap rates to increase your followers. This might be a good idea if you’re building a brand and promoting it through Twitter, however you should know that these followers will not be an active audience. They’re not going to be interested in your brand or tweets, they’re only an added number.

7. The Most Followed Person on Twitter is..

With more than 53 million followers, Katy Perry has been reigning on top since November 2013. She is followed closely by Justin Bieber (52.2 million) and then President Barack Obama (43.5 million). Says a lot about where the world’s priorities lie. The most followed Indian is Amitabh Bachchan, with more than 9 million followers.

8. Twitter’s Current CEO Was a Professional Comedian.

Their previous COO and current CEO Dick Costolo, in an interview revealed that he tried his hand at stand-up comedy and failed. According to Business Insider, his stakes at Twitter are now worth $430 Million. We’re pretty sure he has no regrets.

9. You Can Send Tweets Via Text Messages

In fact, this is the site’s foundation stone. Twitter’s co-founder Jack Dorsey had initially pictured it as an SMS-based communication platform. Though Twitter is a free service, your mobile carrier service might charge you according to your chosen messaging plan. If you have an unlimited texting plan you won’t get charged, if you have a pay-per-message then the regular charges will apply.

10. Facebook Almost Bought Twitter

According to the tech grapevine, sometime around October 2008 Mark Zuckerberg offered to pay $500 million to buy out Twitter. He was dealing directly with Jack Dorsey. The deal came to a crashing halt when Dorsey was yanked from his position as CEO, and assigned the position of a Chairman with zero operational control.

June 10, 2014
Gotta Keep Innovating! We Love How Coke Thinks

You may not know this, but Coca-Cola is damn serious about recycling more packaging than they use.

The ‘2nd lives’ campaign with tag line, “What if empty Coke bottles were never thrown away?”, shows that instead of getting rid of plastic bottles, we can use them in different fun ways. The video was a refreshing change to see them make an effort to encourage upcycling plastic in Vietnam. They’ve developed interesting cap attachments that convert discarded bottles into bubble-makers, soap dispensers, paint brushes, water guns, pencil sharpeners, etc.

The campaign created with the help of Ogilvy & Mather China, promised that Coke will give away 40,000 of these modified caps, which come in 16 different varieties, in Vietnam. The last line hinting that they’d start rolling them out in the rest of Asia as well.

The only question we have is, “when are they going to start giving these away in India?”

June 6, 2014