Author: Rishi Baruah

Gmail Quietly Rolls Out a New Login Screen

Gmail was the only Google subsidiary that had not undergone many updates for a long time. But, Google has quietly rolled out a new update that may change the phase of web logins. According to TechCrunch, Gmail has rolled out a new login screen that would require you to go through two different pages, one asking for your Email ID and the other for your password.

Before, to log into your Gmail account, you were required to enter your Email ID and password on the same page, which would later be directed to your inbox. With the new login screen, you will first have to enter your user id. The next page will ask you for your password, and then you will be directed to your inbox.

Google’s official product forum reads that the new login screen will prepare for ‘future authentication solutions that complement passwords.’ It also claims that the new login screen will reduce confusion among people having multiple Gmail accounts. It also reads that a better experience is promised for SAML SSO users, like university users or corporate that sign in with a different identity other than Google.

Google has not made clear what the above points meant. But the thread saw many users complaining about the change being unnecessary. Users have complained that the two-screen login process wastes time. Some users who have more than two accounts say the new screen have broken their ability to login using various password managers.

TechCrunch also pointed out that the method is somewhat similar to the ‘Trusted Device’ option in Android devices that lets users unlock their devices when they come in vicinity of their smartphone or tablet while they have a chosen trusted device on their person.

May 14, 2015
Apple iPhone 6s Expected to Arrive with 2GB RAM,12MP Camera and a Rose Gold Colour Option

Apple’s latest products in the market, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus include the most significant upgrades that the company has incorporated since years. The two smartphones arrived last year in September, and were accompanied by the grand announcement of the Apple Watch. Now, it is time to begin discussing what Apple has in store for us this year. According to AppleInsider, Ming-Chi Kuo, an Analyst from KGI Securities issued a security note that read Apple will be offering an additional Rose Gold option for the upcoming iPhone, to keep its market in momentum.

iPhone 6s is Expected to Include Force Touch Technology.

Some of the changes the ‘iPhone 6s’ is said to include is a new design using an improved casing material and a newly resurrected inner design. One more microphone is said to be added near the new handset’s speakers in an attempt to improve the sound quality. Kuo also said the device will come with 2 GB RAM and a 12MP camera. Kuo also reveals that Apple’s upcoming iPhone 6s models will be powered by a next-gen A9 processor. Another highlight of the new iPhone would be the inclusion of Force Touch, a feature which we’ve recently seen on the Apple Watch and MacBook. As every year, the smartphones would be released in the month of September.

This concludes one of the first major leaks about the upcoming iPhone, we should expect to see more rumours emerge as the launch date approaches.

May 13, 2015
Asia’s Largest Google Campus Will Be Based In Hyderabad

After being the first Indian city to get the Street View (a technological feature by Google Maps and Google Earth that provides paranomia views along many streets), Hyderabad may have yet another surprise announcement up its sleeves. Google has decided to set up its first Asian campus here in India’s largest IT corridor, Hyderabad. It is touted to be its biggest campus outside the USA.

Excited to announce that Google & Govt of Telangana has inked an MoU to build their largest campus (outside US) 1/3 pic.twitter.com/iMiPFa3hf7

— KTR (@KTRTRS) May 11, 2015

in Hyderabad. First campus in Asia. 2 Million sq ft space would be built. Investment of Rs. 1000 crores and in four years employee size 2/3

— KTR (@KTRTRS) May 11, 2015

to double from 6500 now to 13000. David Radcliffe, Sr VP of Google & IT Secy Jayesh Ranjan signed the MoU at Google HQ in Mountain View 3/3

— KTR (@KTRTRS) May 11, 2015

IT Minister of Telangana, KT Rama Rao, who is on a visit right now to the US, has signed a MoU with Google Inc, under which Hyderabad will allot 7.2 acres in the Gachibowli area. KT Rama Rao said an investment of Rs 1,000 crore would be used for the same and they will increase its employee size from 6,500 to 13,000. Google also expects the facility would be developed and be fully operational by 2019.

The minister also spoke with Google about supporting the intended Telangana programme that is aimed to promote digital literacy among school children.

With powerhouses of tech like Google, forging its way to Indian soil, it could very well mean that we could be heading to a very bright technological future along with a rise in employment.

May 13, 2015
Skype’s Super Cool Live Translator App is Finally Accessible Worldwide

Skype’s futuristic software was first introduced to the world in December 2014. Skype’s Translator app that provides instantaneous translation of both, spoken and written languages, is now ready to be offered worldwide almost after six months of its first preview.

Earlier, when the app was in its preview stage, users had to sign up via the Skype Translator preview page. This was limited to users of Windows and Windows Phone OS and was available in just two languages; Spanish and English, along with forty instant languages. Now, Microsoft has removed the signup requirement for masses to preview, translating languages like English, Spanish, Italian and Mandarin in real-time. Meanwhile, under Instant Messaging, the app supports fifty languages.

The Redmond-based firm is planning to launch a distinct app specially designed for India. Filipp Seljanko, Skype spokesman, said the precise Skype app will be optimised for India’s mobile networks to offer better experience over 2G and 3G networks.

Skype’s Translator app is available only on Windows for now, and users will need a Windows 8 or Windows 10 OS for it to work. You can download the app here.

Know more about Skype Translator app here.

May 13, 2015
You Will Soon Be Able To Sell Second Handed Goods Directly From Facebook

After working on a new feature that may give Google a direct competition in the terms of a search engine, Facebook is now eyeing a feature that will let its users buy or sell goods through groups. Although, this feature is not new to Facebook as the social networking giant tried it briefly back in December 2014.

Right now in its test mode, Facebook’s latest extension is a group called ‘All Sale Groups’ that will allow users to scan through a catalog of items that are up for grabs. The items are shown along with the Groups or categories they are a part of, in a unified manner. Facebook search box would enable people to search for goods that are made public and are up for sale. Categories like books, event tickets, clothing, video games, furniture, etc. helps in faster search results.

When a person lists an item for sale, they mention the price and state whether the price rate is negotiable or not. The details include information about the product along with photos, pick up and delivery option.

Vendors would not have to pay any commission to Facebook. In return, this raises up the chances that the user will stay on the social networking site for a long time.

According to TheNextWeb, this feature is now in its infant form, and work is being done for its worldwide launch within the next few weeks. Looks like eBay has got its competitor!

May 13, 2015
Yu’s First Fitness Band Can Calculate The Calories In Your Food

At the launch event taking place in Delhi, Micromax Yu has launched the highly anticipated successor of the Yureka, the Yu Yuphoria. But the Cyanogen 12-based phone is not the only product getting launched today.

YuFit Band

Yes, Yu has ventured into an entirely new product category with the launch of its fitness band, named as the YuFit Band, along with an accompanying app. This device works as a standard step tracker, a sleep tracker and for locating your phone. The fitness band comes along with an accompanying app called HealthifyMe. This app calculates the calories of any food material you click along with suggesting a healthier alternative. On the fitness front, it gives access to group coaching, social fitness, motivation and more.

HealthYU cassette

The Fitness band costs a mere Rs. 999. The company also offered a free personal trainer for the first 1000 YuFit users. Along with the fitness band, YU also revealed another device known as the HealthYU cassette. This device measures body vitals such as ECG, skin temperature, blood oxygen saturation, heart rate and respiration rate and is is priced at Rs. 4,999. This small device can fit into your pocket and has two suction cups that help in attaching the device to a smartphone’s back cover. The device then pairs with an app working on the phone with Bluetooth, and once the pairing is complete, you can keep four fingers on the four sensors on the HealthYu to start tracking the body vitals.

May 12, 2015
YU Yuphoria Is The First Phone to Integrate Truecaller

Just a few days back, Truecaller announced its collaboration with Cyanogen to pre-install its technology on Android devices in an attempt to eliminate spam phone calls. The caller ID service was among the first of its kind that displayed the name of the person calling from an unknown number and provided a call-blocking facility.

Today, Micromax launched its second Cyanogen-based phone here in India, the YU Yuphoria. This will be the first device to have Truecaller already installed within the device’s circuits. This feature can be toggled on or off, depending upon the choice of the user.

Truecaller and Cyanogen announced that all the future devices based on Cyanogen OS will have Truecaller integrated within its system, and it will be made available for existing users by over-the-air update in the next few months.

The YU Yuphoria is the successor of Micromax’s Yu Yureka, the company’s first Cyanogen based handset. Know more about the device here.

May 12, 2015
Cash Payment In Uber Cabs Rolls Out For Some Users In Hyderabad

India is a country where more than half of its population still pay their daily expenses using direct cash rather than through credit cards. It is due to this fact alone that Uber is lagging behind Ola Cabs, which holds on to about 80% of the organised cab market here. But, this scenario may change soon enough for Uber, keeping in mind the fact that the taxi company is now conducting an experimental test in the city of Hyderabad that will soon enable riders to pay drivers directly in cash after their taxi ride

Uber users just have to open the app, go to payment options and select cash as the payment option. This will enable the user to pay the cash directly after the ride. But, this option won’t be available for everyone for now as this phase has just been rolled out. The company said the cash option will be accessible to everyone in Hyderabad within a week’s time. Minimum pay balance in the user’s PayTm wallet will not be necessary, and there would be no booking fee or additional charges to riders.

Uber said that if the cash payment system works out well in Hyderabad, other cities in India will soon be able to do the same in the coming few months. Last month, following a similar scheme, Uber had launched UberAuto, an auto hauling service that accepts cash payments.

May 12, 2015
Apple’s Newest iOS Update Comes With A Revamped Music Player

Apple Watch had almost flooded the news as it came close to its releasing on April. Now, after clearing out most of the hassle and confusion, Apple has now again begun to concentrate on its software. Today, Apple has released the third beta of iOS 8.4 for developers. Apple has been testing different beta groups of iOS 8.4 since the release of iOS 8.3 in mid-April.

Major updates include a revamped music app that is described as more powerful and elegant than before, Up Next Functionality, a redesigned MiniPlayer look for ‘Now Playing’ and a new improved version of iTunes Radio.

The new design of the music app will show pictures of the artist in the Artist View. Within the Music App, there are personalized playlists and global search capabilities that make it easier to search for music. The newest toggle included in the Music App is the Offline Option which shows any music that is stored offline. The iTunes Radio has had a few interface changes too, like a new font for ‘Recently Played’ and some more new fonts for each iTunes Radio category.

The update is available via OTA update and through the iOS Developer Centre. It is highly possible that Apple might release a new version of its iOS and OS X 10.11 at the Worldwide Developers Conference, which is scheduled to take place in 8^th June.

May 12, 2015
Zomato Takes Online Food Delivery to the Next Level with its New App ‘Order’

In March, Zomato launched a delivery system where customers can place an order on its site and the same is delivered at their homes. More recently, Zomato had partnered along with Uber to help customers book cabs to the restaurant they are planning to eat. Now, the company is preparing to launch another new app called Zomato Order for its Android and iOS users.

The new yellow app’s primary functionality lies only on delivery of food. However, both, the native app and the new Order app, are intertwined in functionality. Users can switch from the older Zomato app to the new one instantly.

Zomato’s official blog reads that there are three main reasons as to why a new app is being launched. One, the focus on a single function will improve user experiences, thus making it a hassle-free app. Second, the new app will not have to be updated along with the native app and vice versa. Lastly, the two apps will be linked to each other in such a way that users will be able to look up to the restaurant in the Zomato app, and place the delivery order in the Order app.

Zomato explained,

Having two separate apps allows us to build lightweight apps that get straight to solving the problems you face. Actions that are core to the app experience can be given priority of position, and we aren’t forced into making real estate compromises.

The Order app is currently available for users in NCR and will soon be released for Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune and Kolkata users. Zomato is also working on a variety of new apps. One such app is ‘Zomato Book’ which will deal only with table reservations and is scheduled for launch in the next few months.

May 11, 2015

BlackBerry Tries Its Luck Again, Launches BlackBerry Leap For Rs 21,490

BlackBerry first announced its comeback to the touch phone segment when it introduced the Leap at the MWC 2015. A refreshed version of BlackBerry Z3, the handset was first scheduled to be launched in India on 7th May and was priced $275 (Rs 17,500) internationally. Finally, after a good amount of waiting, BlackBerry has finally launched the Leap in the country.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Sunil Lalvani” author_title=”Managing Director, BlackBerry India”]

The BlackBerry Leap was designed specifically for the young power professionals who see their smartphone device as a powerful and durable productivity tool that also safeguards sensitive communications while on-the-go. With BlackBerry Leap, we continue to provide products and services that meet the needs of our consumer and enterprise customers.

[/quote]

The new mid-segment smartphone from BlackBerry features a 5-inch HD screen and is powered by a 1.5GHz Qualcomm MSM 8960 processor, along with a 2GB RAM. It comprises of 16GB of internal memory and 128GB expandable via microSD. Camera specifications include an 8MP primary camera and a 2MP front camera and runs on a 2,800mAh non-removable battery. Leap runs on BlackBerry 10 OS (version 10.3) and supports Android apps too. These apps can be downloaded from either the Amazon Appstore or BlackBerry World. Connectivity options include 3G, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy and EDR, GPS, FM radio and 4G (FD-LTE 1800MHz only).

This device is due for sale from 12^th May and is priced at Rs 21,420. The handset will be available on all Blackberry exclusive stores from tomorrow.

To get a clearer idea of the specs, refer to the table below:

Specification	BlackBerry Leap
Display	5.0 inches 720 x 1280 pixels 720p full-touch
Processor	Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 Plus
RAM	2GB
Internal Memory	16GB
Expandable Up to	128GB
Primary Camera	8MP
Front Camera	2MP
Battery	Non-removable Li-Ion 2800 mAh
Operating System	BlackBerry OS 10.3.1
Price	Rs 21,490

May 11, 2015

Here’s How Facebook Would Like to Replace Google

When browsing through mobile, it is quite a task to open a website, copying the link, switching between the apps and pasting it on your Facebook status bar. For many users, this is quite a cumbersome job. According to TechCrunch, to change the experiences for its mobile users, Facebook is working on an internal test search engine for its mobile app.

TechCrunch spotted that a few iOS users saw a new ‘Add a Link’ button next to buttons that we use to add photos, location and feelings. Upon writing down a word in the search engine, a list of related and matching links shows up that can be shared to your wall along with a caption. Using this feature, users will be able to bypass search engine while searching for content and give the social media giant a rich data of analytics of the type of content being explored and shared in a series of detailed statistics.

This move by Facebook may throw a hard brick on Google. On the other hand, Google has also allowed users to order food from its search results and add tweets. Apple, too, mentioned about the AppleBot on its support page, indicating an all-new Apple Search on Safari and other search related apps on iOS and OSX environment. This may set up an entirely new bar for search engines.

There are no words when this feature will roll out for the rest of its mobile users. For now, only a handful of iOS users has access to this new tool.

May 11, 2015
Top Tech-Toys For a Perfect Mother’s Day Gift

Every mom in this world is special, and we would always want to take that extra step to make here time worthwhile. A bouquet of flowers, a hand-made card, all add up to it. What we have here are some tech-savvy gifts that may make your mom’s life a little easier.

Check out our list of some tech gadgets you can gift to her:

Fitness Band:

Fitness bands are really cool. Especially for someone who works around the clock for the betterment of the family and have almost negligible time to keep a check on health. Cheap and easily available, these bands make for handy gifts. When coupled up with the corresponding fitness app, this wearable can give details on the heart rate and sleep cycles. Also, some are available in different color variations too.

At the IFA 2014, Garmin, modern in-car navigation systems maker, introduced a new wearable device that combines the communication features of a smartwatch with the fitness-centric abilities of an activity tracker. The Vivosmart does what regular activity trackers do best, along with which it borrows some of the key features typically found in smartwatches. It also tracks your sleep, based on movement, and offers daily reports on how much time you spent moving. In fact, through the Garmin Connect app, all your activity data gets rendered into easier-to-understand charts and graphs.

<br />

Chromecast:

Chromecast is a thumb-sized medium through which you can easily shift viewing from your laptop, Android phone and tablet to TV. For this, your mobile becomes your personalized remote control.You can browse your favourite movies, videos and more and cast it on your TV. You can pause, play, rewind, create playlists and can even control the volume. Just plug in, connect and enjoy. In short, it’s a whole new way for your mom to enjoy video viewing.

<br />

Camera:

Memories are the best gifts ever! And what would be more impressive than gifting your mom a device to capture and store happy moments? Cameras are one of the best surprises that can ever be offered. Buy that camera, and click the first selfie with your mom.

The Sony-DSCRX10 Cybershot Digital Camera can capture sharp images and full-HD video clips in pretty much any lighting condition, with a vast focal range.

<br />

E-Reader:

Designed mainly for reading purposes, this device may help your mom avoid the heated summer shopping for magazines. The hefty burden of carrying books or managing her library. Just a single tab can hold a number of books and magazines for your mom to read. It will be a fantastic gift for your mom if she is a bookworm and save her precious time spent on regular travels to the bookstore.

Amazon’s Kindle is the most prominent of all readers, and it has been in India for quite some time now. It has a 300 ppi display that is claimed to have the highest resolution, contrast, and brightness till date. To give a natural book reading experience, the Kindle has haptic actuator that create advanced vibrations when a page is turned.

<br />

Portable Phone Charger:

An excellent source of power when you do not have any access to any electricity. Your mom will never have to worry about low-charged mobile phones while traveling or otherwise. It is small and portable, and can be carried along anywhere she goes.

Until the OnePlus power bank is available, the CP-F5 is a 10,000 mAh portable charger from Sony and is rechargeable for 1,000 times and capable of retaining 90 percent of battery capacity even after 1,000 charges. This silver USB portable charger requires a charging time of 7 hours via an AC adapter and 23 hours through a standard USB port.

May 10, 2015
Samsung Galaxy S6, S6 Edge Now Boast Their Own VR Headset

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge back in September 2014. As an icing on the cake, the Korean company in collaboration with Oculus revealed the Gear VR, a virtual reality headgear developed to work along with the Note 4. A year after, Samsung released its latest flagship devices, the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge in April 2015. The company also announced that a similar VR set will accompany the handsets soon, but no such headset were up for purchase.

Today, Samsung made this device available for purchase. The device, named as Gear VR Innovator Edition for Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge, is a smaller and lighter version of the Note 4 Gear VR. It comes with a redesigned strap and a built-in fan to help in air-flow. According to Samsung, the Octa-Core Exynos 7420 chipset, which is the powerhouse of S6 and S6 Edge handsets, and the high PPI display will provide its users with better and smoother virtual reality experience. The other side of the coin would be the smaller screen of the S6 and S6 Edge devices, which may result in a narrow field of view.

This device is available at Samsung’s official website and BestBuy. This device can be purchased for $199.99 (Rs 12,741) and is available only for its US customers right now. No other details about its price and availability in India has been disclosed.

May 9, 2015

OnePlus Powerbanks Get Listed On Amazon India, Set to Arrive Next Week

A few days ago, OnePlus India tweeted from its official Twitter page that teased of a new ‘game-changing’ product. The image within the tweet showed a device with elegantly curved edges. Clearly, it is the power bank that OnePlus had rolled out last year in December. The OnePlus team had also confirmed with us that the device would be arriving in India within the next few days.

The game changer is here! #getPower pic.twitter.com/h4i1XMgqDb

— OnePlus India (@OnePlus_IN) April 30, 2015

But due to undisclosed reasons, the launch has been delayed by a week in India. For now, the device is listed on Amazon but displayed as unavailable. You will need to sign up to get notified when the device is available.

The charger provides a massive power of 10,000mAh, yet one of the cheapest devices available till date. The device easily slips into your pocket and can fully charge your OnePlus thrice. The device comes with two USB ports so that you can charge two devices at the same time. It is priced at Rs 1,399 and is available in Sandstone Black Colour.

You can read about the details of the device from the table below:

Specifications	OnePlus Power Bank
Colour variants	Sandstorm Black
Battery type	LiPo
Capacity	10,000 mAh
Charging Time	5.5 hours (approx)
Dimensions	142.8 × 72.6 × 16.2 mm
Weight	220g
Safety features	Electrostatic, short-circuit, overcharging, overheating protection

May 9, 2015

Author: Rishi Baruah

Fitness Band:

Chromecast:

Camera:

E-Reader:

Portable Phone Charger:

Specifications

OnePlus Power Bank