Author: Rishi Baruah

Top 5 Tech Companies With the Coolest Employee Perks

Keeping employees happy is the key to success for any company. No one knows more about a workplace than its employees. Employee ideas reflect on fundamental measures, such as pay, perks, benefits, and hours worked. But they are also determined by factors such as a company’s culture and general mood.

Below are our pick of the top 5 tech companies to work for:

Google

It is the people who make Google the company that it is today. They are motivated by the fact that their work has a positive impact on the lives of others. Google topped the list of ’50 Best Places to Work’ by Glassdoor. Since the inception of the list in 2007, Google has been steadily climbing the ranks and now is one of the top tech companies in the world.

Googleplex is Google’s headquarters in Mountain View, California. The interiors are furnished with items like shade lamps and giant rubber balls. You can access facilities like free laundry rooms, two small swimming pools, volleyball courts and around 18 cafeterias with a broad range of menu from around the world. The building has a series of solar panels that feed power to the whole facility.

Every given perk in Google has calculated reasons that are designed to keep its employees happy and satisfied. The company has everything, from on-site doctors, hairdressers to cafeteria food. It also offers parental leave from 12 weeks to 22 weeks.

Plus, if in any case, an employee decides to leave, having Google on their resume never hurts. Click here to apply.

Facebook

Facebook’s official headquarters is located in Menlo Park, California, and it employs an approximate number of 10,082 employees. The critical autonomy of Facebook is – We don’t have rules. Here, employees are their bosses in their space. Much of the designing on the wall are created by the Facebook employees themselves.

The company offers gourmet food courts, on-site doctors, laundry services and bikes to commute around the campus. New moms and dads are entitled to 4 months of parental leave with $4,000 in baby cash.

The idea behind the luxuries is to remove stress from the employee’s daily life so that they can concentrate on the company without having to worry about anything at all. Its emphasis on establishing a high-quality work environment makes it one of the best companies to work for.

Payscale? An experienced worker earns a median on $135,000 annually while interns earn around $6,000 to $7,000 per month. Click here to apply.

Adobe

Adobe was listed in the top ’50 Best Places to Work’ by Glassdoor in 2014. The company’s headquarter in downtown San Jose, California, is a huge skyscraper complex. The three towers, namely, West, East and Almaden, are known for their environmentally friendly designs that inflict minimum harm to the environment.

From the perk point of perspective, the company offers educational reimbursement up to $10,000 each year. Unlike most companies, employees here are entitled to Winter and Summer breaks. Employees are also entitled to a leave of 4 weeks after five years and five weeks after ten years. $360 are given for wellness activities like skydiving, surfing, kayaking, swimming, etc. Just like in college, employees have different fun clubs like soccer, photography, hiking, etc. Some of the other perks offered by Adobe are pet insurance, adoption assistance, backup child/adult care and financial wellness.

Click here to apply.

Apple

Apple is considered one of the most challenging companies to work for. Given Apple’s high-end products, employees have to be on top of their game to meet the ever-increasing pressure. But, working with Apple has more pros than cons. Apple’s newest campus has an area of a behemoth 2.8 million square foot, which is it is a 176-acre site and houses over 13,000 Apple employees. Apple offers benefit to its employees like college tuition fees, gym membership, healthcare, discounts off selected products and services, and much more. Expecting mothers can take up to four weeks to 14 weeks of leave.

Employees praised the leadership of the company, Tim Cook notching up 94% approval rating. Click here to apply.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a social media site where instead of making friends, you connect with people in your field of work. It is also one of the newest tech companies in the world. While most companies have inbuilt gyms where employees can work out, LinkedIn has free classes for Tai Chi, Zumba, InShape (a boot camp class), BOSU, TRX, Power Yoga and strength levels in the gym. Every month on a Friday, employees work on projects outside their daily grind. For instance in July, the theme was “LinkedIn for Good” where LinkedIn employees worked on 54 projects that got them interested in their communities.

Employees get $5,000 per year for professional education and get to pitch and run startup-like projects. They can grant up to $10,000 from the LinkedIn For Good Foundation to help their favorite charity or to start their own. Click here to apply.

June 11, 2015
5 Dream Jobs For a True Tech Lover That Actually Pay

Our society is in continuous need of skilled professionals who are willing to work hard and fast. Luckily for us, demand for tech experts is not going down anytime soon.

But which technological post offers the highest paycheck. We have listed down the top five jobs for a tech geek:

Quality Assurance Testers AKA Computer Game Tester

What can be more awesome than to get paid for playing the latest games? Yes, it sounds like a fantasy world, but in reality, companies pound out an enormous chunk of their revenues for computer game testers. This is done to put out multi-million titles with the minimum bugs. In a more proper term, computer game testers are known as ‘Quality Assurance Testers’ and they earn by testing out games. They point out all the faults while playing, including spelling mistakes.

This job requires a great deal of skills like expert play and an obsessive eye for details. On the bright side, you get to play the game before anyone else in this world.

Web Developer

They are responsible for everything you see on a website. The layout, the fonts, the pictures and videos, everything! Web developers work alone or in a team either as full-time employees, part-time consultants or on-contract basis (freelancers). While the trend is still catching up in India, Web Developers are the some of the highest paid people in places like California, San Francisco and Baltimore.

Ethical Hacker

If hacking is your super power, then this job is for you. Many companies employ ethical hackers to protect their network from hackers who would try to access private and sensitive information of the company. The goal of the ethical hacker is to expose all the weak and vulnerable areas in the main framework of the company’s network. The spot is patched once it is identified. Also, you don’t have to a programmer to be an ethical hacker, which is a common myth.

Gadget Reviewer

A photo posted by iGyaan Network (@igyaan) on Dec 8, 2014 at 4:14am PST

Almost every other day, you receive a courier containing all your favourite toys and gadgets, and in return, you get to write your honest opinion about it. But, be warned, this job is not as easy as it seems. Speaking in front of the camera and differentiating between ten similar handsets is tough. Also, don’t expect to make the big bucks as a newbie in the business. This one takes time and patience.

Game Developer

Developers are perhaps the trendiest people you will see, and it is also considered one of the most fun jobs in the technological sector. A game developer gets to work on titles for computer, consoles, mobile phones and tablets. Creativity is as important as working in a highly pressurised environment. But, if your game does well in the market, it will be perhaps, be the greatest victory in your life.

June 10, 2015
5 Amazing Ways Drones Are Helping Out

Slowly and steadily, drones are finding their space across several kinds of industries in this world. Some companies use it to provide WiFi signals to remote places, while some high-end resorts use it to follow skiers and videotape them as they come downslope.

Drones, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), are aerial vehicles that do not need to be piloted by any person on board. Drones are scaled up functionality model aircrafts that serve more of purpose than the enjoyment of flying a remote-controlled aircraft.

They are remotely controlled by a pilot or a computer, which means that some drones are pre-programmed to carry out actions without direct human piloting.

Here are some amazing examples of how this tech is making our lives easier:

Saving Lives

Drones were used during the Nepal earthquake to search for survivors under the debris of buildings.

From firefighters to rescue personnel, a drone can be used to fly over hard-to-reach areas to check for survivors before rescuers risk their lives through the thick bush. Rescue drones are equipped with infra-red cameras that can help in search-and-rescue efforts. They also help determine the hottest area during a house fire. In the recent chain of earthquakes in Nepal, drones were put to use to search for survivors.

Supporting law enforcement

Police forces around the world are slowing starting to see the advantages of UAVs to aid them in their work. Drones are now being used to give the cops a wide range of view and to provide quick and accurate information. If used on a regular basis, drones will soon revolutionize the way police force operates.

Safe Infrastructure Management

Across countries, drones are already being used on a considerable scale for the betterment of the society and community. Considering the difficulty to inspect the top of a skyscraper or under a bridge, drones can help in minimizing the risks taken to otherwise examine such areas. These UAVs can just be deployed to assess a structure’s condition remotely, thus reducing the need for cranes or harnesses, along with the associated risks.

Agriculture Management

Using drones, farmers can target areas that need special attention. Most of the farms are acres in size, and it is not viable for a farmer to access far ends of the farm every day. By working in those areas, farmers can improve their yield and avoid wastage of resources.

Media Access for Hard-to-Reach Places

While we can already understand how this power might be abused by the media, if utilised cautiously, photography for a news channel can easily be taken using drones without risking the lives of the media person.

Some of the other potential uses where drones can be utilized are earth and climate monitoring, mapping, wildlife research and anti-poaching, temporary communications, etc. Besides in Disaster Management, India should soon start using UAVs for other purposes as well as its usage is almost endless and will prove to be beneficial for the nation.

June 10, 2015
Apple Pay Steps Out of the US For the First Time, Arrives in UK Next Month

The WWDC 2015 kicked off in style. Along with introducing iOS 9 and OS X El Capitan, another set of important announcements made by the tech giant were about Apple Pay, the company’s NFC and Touch ID-based mobile payment solution.

Jennifer Bailey, Vice President of the Online Store of Apple, came up on stage to talk about the service. She announced that it will finally be made available in the UK, from July 2015. People will now be able to make quick transactions at Boots UK, BP, Costa Coffee, Dune, JD Sports, KFC UK & Ireland, Liberty, LIDL, Marks & Spencer (M&S), McDonald’s UK, Nando’s, New Look, Post Office, Pret A Manger, SPAR, Starbucks, SUBWAY stores, Wagamama and Waitrose.

Apple is partnering along with HSBC, Santander, Natwest, Nationwide, First Direct for the UK launch, and many more. Users will also be able to redeem reward cards from Kohl’s, Walgreens and Dunkin’ Donuts. The biggest news of all was that Apple even managed to rope in Transport for London to accept Apple Pay. So you can use your iPhone or Apple Watch to pay for your travel or daily commute.

Physical stores aren’t the only places where this service comes of use, you can use Apple Pay to pay within apps; cutting short the procedure. Apps that will accept Apple Pay in the UK, include Addison Lee, Airbnb, Argos, Booking.com, British Airways, Domino’s, easyJet, Hailo, HotelTonight, hungryhouse, JD Sports, Just Eat, lastminute.com, Miss Selfridge, Ocado, Stubhub, thetrainline.com, Top 10, Topshop, Uncover, Vueling, YPlan, Zalando and Zara, among others. To pay within apps, Apple Pay is compatible with iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3. Another important advancement to Apple Pay is that later this month, Pinterest will launch ‘buyable pins’ that will allow you to buy things from Nieman Marcus and Macy’s using the Apple Pay.

Other than the UK, Apple also announced Apple Pay will be adding support for rewards programs and store-issued credit and debit cards. Apple Pay has managed to expand merchant acceptance to over one million locations in the coming month. With this addition, Apple Pay will accept credit and debit cards across all major card networks, issued by the most popular banks, representing 98 percent of all credit card purchase volume in the US.

Paying using Apple Pay is as simple as holding your iPhone near the contactless reader in the store, while keeping a finger on the Touch ID. With Apple Watch just double click the side button and hold the face up to the contactless reader to make a purchase right from your wrist. For now, Apple Pay is currently supported for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus and the new Apple Watch, allowing you to pay for items. Apple uses the NFC technology and the Touch ID fingerprint reader to authenticate purchases for buying goods in a store. Keep on checking iGyaan for more updates.

June 9, 2015
All the Important Apple Announcements From WWDC 2015 in One Place

At this year’s WWDC, Apple made a string of announcements about its future. From the new Mac OS X El Capitan to the now widely accepted Apple Pay, here’s everything important that the California-based tech giant disclosed at the event:

Launch of Mac OS X El Capitan

The new OS brings out a lot of new visual changes, as well as enhanced performance. The OS comes with several features like a new Safari browser, improved ‘Spotlight’ and enhancements to mission control. It has improved gesture support and the ability to snap windows to fill the sides of the screen.

Click here to read more about Apple’s latest operating system.

Siri Gets ‘Proactive’

In an attempt to beat Google, Apple has brought in significant changes and new features for Siri. Instead of scouring through the cloud, they have given their Digital Assistant the permission to monitor a user’s daily habits to help give them better suggestions. Overall, it’s a step towards making Siri more intuitive, and subsequently, more helpful. The Calendar app supports the cause.

Read more about it here.

The New Power Saver Mode

Battery life was one of the most important issues discussed at WWDC 2015. A new low-power mode will allow devices to reduce power consumption and restrict to only phone call capability; improving the last few minutes of battery to upto 3 hours of usage.

Click here to read more.

Apple has Open Sourced their New Coding Language “Swift”

For faster bug fixing and developing new features, Apple has open sourced their coding language, Swift, for developers. But, does this mean other manufacturers will be able to make iOS devices?

Click here to know more.

Multi-Tasking is Here!

The company brings in the much-awaited multi-tasking feature, which was missing on Apple devices. Multitasking has been broken down into three fundamental characteristics – Slide Over, Picture in Picture, and Split View. There is a basic version that can multi-task on the most recent iPad models, while the newer iPad Air 2 will support full screen split with any app.

Click here for more details.

Watch OS with Improved Performance and Native Apps

Apple has added new updates to the Apple Watch OS 2. Apple has now allowed moving the logic and processing directly to the Apple Watch; improving the long and nagging load time everyone has been complaining about.Developers create applications that run on the Watch itself rather than in the background on a paired phone.

For more details about the improved Watch OS, click here.

A Truly Consolidated Music Streaming Service

Yes, the rumours were true. The Cupertino-based tech giant introduced its new music streaming service. Apple Music will be available 30th June onwards. For the initial three months, the service is available free of cost. After which, it will cost 9.99$ per month. Click here for more.

June 9, 2015
Apple Expected to Fine-Tune its Music Service

As the WWDC excitement continues, we can see that Apple is expected to make new announcements of its breakthrough in technology. The tech giants always make new disclosures at the Worldwide Developers Conference and this year, we hope to see the company’s new revamped streaming service, against the likes of Spotify and Pandora.

Apple’s acquisition of Beats for $3.2 billion had a reason last year in May. We can now see what the reason was. The company’s new streaming music service- Apple Music- will be based on the service of Beats Music. Explaining how Beats will reshape Apple’s digital music, the company has made a musician the main man for overhauling the music streaming service. Trent Reznor, frontman of Nine Inch Nails, who was the chief creative officer for Beats, had been playing a major role in designing the music app, along with two other Apple employees.

Sony Chief Executive, Doug Morris, who also shares a long history with Beats Co-Founder and Apple Music Boss, Jimmy Iovine, announced ‘It’s happening tomorrow’ to the audience at the Midem Music Conference in Cannes.

Apple plans to retain the idea of asking people their favourite genres of music when signing up. Not much detail was revealed by Morris, but it is expected to be priced at $9.99/month for individuals and $14.99/month for the family plan with a three-month free trial period with ads. Morris said that Apple’s entry into the paid subscription market would majorly shift the industry from downloads to streaming.

Morris said:

What does Apple bring to this? Well, they’ve got $178 billion dollars in the bank. And they have 800 million credit cards in iTunes. Spotify has never really advertised because it’s never been profitable. My guess is that Apple will promote this like crazy, and I think that will have a halo effect on the streaming business.

If the service is stashed along with the upcoming iOS 9 and is being offered for a free trial, this could guarantee millions of customers for Apple.

While iTunes had changed the way music was sold, the new streaming service will help Apple build an exclusive relationship with artists and labels. Apple has been approaching big name artists reportedly, like Taylor Swift, to sign up to guest DJ on a revamped iTunes Radio service, or enter into an exclusive streaming partnership.

June 8, 2015
Gaming Graphics: Then And Now

Over the past 30 years, video games have become an integral part of our lives and culture. Video game companies have become multi-millionaire giants. The gaming industry has grown to a gigantic extent. Today we see not only see teenagers spending a great deal of time on gaming, but also adults too are immersed in this new culture.

The first recorded game was invented in 1947. A ‘Cathode Ray Tube Amusement Device’ was patented by Thomas T. Goldsmith Jr. and Estle Ray Mann on 25th January that year. This device consisted of an analog device that allowed users to control a dot on the screen to guide the missile to targets drawn to the screen. This device opened the gateway to the evolution of Video games.

Let us look at how Gaming Graphics have evolved with time, below:

Text Based Games

Guilded Youth

The earliest games were all text based and used texts instead of bitmap or vector graphics. These games were easy to program and required minimum power, unlike graphic games. These types of games were very popular during the 1970-1990 period. The most popular was Multi-User Dungeons. Here, players read the description of rooms, objects, other players and actions performed in the virtual world. Interaction meant typing commands with each other that resemble a natural language.

Vector Graphic Games

Project Morpheus

These games used points, lines and curves to represent images in computer graphics. So, instead of drawing images as pixels, vector graphic display used electronic beams to draw the images. Most of the earlier arcade games used this graphic. Many games gave very detailed static items in full-colour layouts, while moving objects were drawn using a vector beam.

Companies like Atari and Sega used this type of graphic for their games. Some of the games that are based on Vector Graphics are Space Wars, Star Trek, Space Fury, etc.

Full Motion Video Games

Jurassic Park: The Game

This type of graphics required programmers to upload pre-recorded video files to display action in the game. In today’s time, Full Motion Videos are used to present information during cut scenes. This type of graphic makes the game look ‘more movie like’. Games that are based on Full Motion Video are also known as interactive movies. Some games based on this are Jurassic Park: The Game, The Walking Dead (series), Game Of Thrones, etc.

2D Games

2D games are two dimensioned games. This graphic allows users to create a vast game world without any hassle as compared to 3D games. 2D games are broadly divided into three categories:

Top-Down Perspective

Grand Theft Auto

More commonly known as the Bird-view, this perspective uses a camera angle that shows the players and the corresponding area from above. Most of our childhood games were played in this particular viewpoint. Some of the famous games included in this list are SimCity, GTA, Pokemon, Railroad Tycoon, etc.

Side Scroll Perspective

Heroes of Rock

Here, the view is sideways where the playable character moves from left to right generally. This type of graphics uses scrolling computer display technology. Sometimes, the screen moves only towards the left or right, and in some games, the screen moves in both ways according to the position of the character. In some games, the screen continuously keeps on moving in one direction, while the character attempts to avoid obstacles and collect things along with catching up with the screen. Some examples would be Duke Nukem, Aladdin, Lion King, etc.

2.5D or ¾ Perspective or Pseudo 3D

IMO Sonic 4

As the name suggests, these terms are used to describe techniques that are used to create fake 3D graphics. These techniques are used to create an illusion of 3D without actually creating it. Some games have the character and environment rendered in 3D, but most of its levels are not as free-roaming as a real 3D platform. It means that the character only moves in two dimensions, either up and down or left and right.

3D Games

3D graphics are graphics that use three dimensions of the geometric data. After the invention of 3D accelerated graphics units (NVIDIA, etc.), video games expanded, way above the level of 2D. 3D games are divided into three categories:

Fixed 3D

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Here, while the game characters are rendered in 3D and in real time, the foreground remains static. The background tends to stay in 2D. Many of the early 3D games were based on these type of graphics. Examples are Alone in the Dark series, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, etc.

First Person Perspective

Halo

This refers to the perspective rendered from the viewpoint of the player character. These games are avatar based, where the controlling player would see the gaming environment as through the avatar’s own eyes. This kind of graphics applies in most shooting and racing games. Some examples would be Counter-Strike, Halo (series), Call of Duty, Need for Speed, etc.

Third Person Perspective

Lost: Via Domus

This refers to a type of graphical perspective that is rendered a distance away from the playable character. This allows the player to see the full body of the character and is the most common type of graphic used in action and adventure games. One of the few difficulties related to the graphic is the awkward jerking of the camera when the character stands against a wall. The three types of camera view in this graphic are:

Fixed Camera System

Resident Evil

The camera positions are fixed during the creation of the game.

Tracking Camera System

Max Payne

The camera only follows the character.

Interactive Camera System

Resident Evil

The cameras are under the command of the user, that is; it can be adjusted according to the need of the controlling player.

Some famous examples of Third Person Perspective games would be Batman (series), Max Payne (series), Assassin’s Creed (series), etc.

June 6, 2015
9 YouTube Videos That Went Viral This Year

Since YouTube was formed 10 years ago, founders, Chad Hurley and Jawed Karim, had no idea how the concept would work out. The first video, ‘Me at the Zoo’, showed Jawed Karim at a zoo watching some elephants, and since then, there has been no stopping for them.

YouTube has played a pivotal role in becoming a global phenomenon for viewing videos. 10 years down the line, YouTube has over 1 billion users and 300 hours of videos uploaded every minute.

We will see the top nine most viewed videos of 2015 on YouTube today:

Jurassic World Super Bowl Trailer

6,737,966 views

Jurassic Park 2 never lived up to the expectations of the original film. Now, Steven Spielberg has returned with a brand new franchise of the series. This trailer debuted during the Super Bowl and left many fans asking for more.

100 Years of Beauty: Aging | Cut Has A Field Day

15,069,410 views

This is a video about a 20-something couple, who was to get married in less than a month. They got to see how they will look like in the next 50, 75 and 90 years of age. All thanks to high detailed makeup and costume professionals. Starting of as humorous, this video touches your emotional side once it progresses forward.

Dodge: Wisdom

16,148,004 views

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKKlqMs19tU

On the occasion of its 100th anniversary, Dodge, an American brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, created a campaign covering its own history. The Super Bowl commercial went viral and was viewed by more than 16 million viewers worldwide. The ad is about people who are more than a 100 years old and focuses on the fact that ‘100 years in’ isn’t necessarily the mark of decline.

Galaxy Family – Movie Magic (90 seconds)

10,320,560 views

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQTXAhdksYg

This video is about a woman who wants to make a movie using all sorts of stiched-up special effects and acting services of her family and friends, and a plumber too! She shoots all of these using Samsung devices.

How to remove your face

9,100,782 views

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpQS5i6nSH8

While the world watches videos on applying make-up, this woman removes makeup from half of her face. It was uploaded by a South Korean woman on YouTube who shows herself removing cosmetics from one side of her face with a wad of cotton dipped in makeup remover. Gradually, almost like magic, the eye liner, eye shadow, brow filler, mascara, foundation and whatever else was used before, disappears to reveal her ‘original’ face.This video went viral and reached one million views within a few weeks. The message conveyed by this video is how the woman transformed herself with a just few cosmetics and some handy brushwork.

BATMAN vs. DARTH VADER Super Power Beat Down

2,112,235 views

For

For all the comic books and Star War fans, this video is the real treat. With the world’s most powerful brain on one side and the Dark Lord of the Sith on the other, Super Powered Beat down, really highlights the “Super” part.

Zach LaVine Throws Down the “Space Jam” Dunk: 2015 Sprite Slam-Dunk Contest

9,278,688 views

The last time we saw a Slam Dunk like this was during the 1990s Michael Jordan and Looney Tunes movie. Minnesota Timberwolves player Zach LaVine performed one of the film’s iconic slams and brought the popular kids film to life

“Seeing” mommy for the first time!

13,235,533 views

This video is about a child suffering from Albinism, that reduces visual accuracy due to light-induced retinal damage. Louise received her glasses to help her see properly and saw her mother for the first time.

This Girl Can

8,264,593 views

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aN7lt0CYwHg

Earlier this year, Sport England (English Sports Council) released its ‘This Girl’ Can video which shows all types of women being active in sports like swimming, boxing, volleyball. They are strong, engaged, super sweaty, and rightfully unaffected by the fact that they don’t look like the models on a sneaker commercial.

June 6, 2015
Top 5 Games You Should Watch Out For This Year

2014 is now a faded memory. But as we drive down the road, there is plenty to look forward to in 2015. Here are five reasons why 2015 could be the greatest year in gaming history.

Batman: Arkham Knight

Batman: Arkham Knight is possibly one of the most awaited games of 2015. It is slated to be released on 23rd June 2015. Here, the Scarecrow returns along with a roster of super villains, including Penguin, TwoFace and Harley Quinn to destroy the Batman. The highlight of the whole game is that you can finally access the Batmobile to tear through the streets of Gotham.

Rise of the Tomb Raider

A few days back, Microsoft released a cinematic trailer of its highly anticipated game, Rise of the Tomb Raider. This game is listed to be released on June 15th at the Los Angeles Convention Centre. The trailer shows Lara Croft traveling through a blizzard while narrating the willingness to risk your life to discover greatness. You can check out the whole trailer below.

Halo 5: Guardian

This is an upcoming Halo game announced during Microsoft’s E3 presentation in 2013. Halo 3 follows the story of John-117 and the is the sequel to Halo 4. It is all scheduled to be released on 27th October this year.

Tom Clancy’s the Division

Ubisoft announced they would be releasing Tom Clancy’s The Division at E3 2015. The game focuses a lot on how vulnerable the US have become in a futuristic era as the society has become more complex. A disease causes the US to collapse in five days, leading to the non-availability of primary amenities, in turn leading to chaos. Check out the trailer below.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The amnesiac Witcher, Geralt of Rivia, is on a hunt to recover his forgotten memories driving him to seek out the Wild Hunt, a spectral procession of ghosts. As a witcher, you have skills, not unlike a medieval Jedi Knight. You can force push attackers to the ground, mind trick villagers to gain knowledge about a quest, and swing a sword like a pro sword master. It is all set to be released on 19th May this year.

Know any games we missed out on? Leave a comment below and let us know.

June 6, 2015
Best Smartphones to Look Forward to in 2015

The smartphone train keeps on moving forward as time passes by. With almost half of this year gone by, we’ve seen many new devices like Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge and HTC One M9. But the year is far from ending, and many companies have given out hints of their new unnamed devices. Let us check them out below:

Samsung Galaxy S7

Samsung raised the standards of the Samsung smartphones in March when they launched the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. Now, fans of the devices have already started to speculate about the next Galaxy phone that is touted to be released by the end of 2015. If these rumours are to be believed, Samsung will feature a massive 30MP primary camera and a 10MP front camera with the device. The device is also rumoured to have a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display with 8K resolution. The device may also include an 8GB RAM, according to the rumours. The processor might be a 64-bit Exynos processor. Following the Galaxy S6 line, we might see Samsung to releasing a Galaxy S7 Edge too. Some other features include Retina Scanning, Advanced Touch ID and Fast Charge technology.

Huawei Honor 7

After Huawei launched the Honor 6 a year ago; the Honor series has been due for quite some time. A new teaser by Huawei indicates a launch of a new product on 8^th June, which we think is most likely the Honor 7. The teaser showed a nicely drawn banner with the date and a quote that read ’Imagination is Everything’. According to TENAA, there will be two variants of the 5-inch full HD Honor 7 and will be powered by an in-house Kirin 935 chipset. One of the variants will have 3GB of RAM and 16GB of storage, and the other will have 4GB of RAM and 64GB of memory. Not many details were revealed about the device for now.

OnePlus Two

OnePlus One was one of the most successful Chinese electronic startup stories of 2014. This handset captured an enormous chunk of the mid-segment smartphone market. OnePlus announced a new device on June, which is expected to be the next OnePlus handset. As per the details leaked by the company CEO Liu Zuohu, OnePlus Two will run on Snapdragon 810 chipset along with 4GB RAM. A 5.5-inch 2K display will enhance the viewing experience of the user. There is a high possibility of OnePlus Two running on Cyanogen OS, as the differences between Cyanogen and the Chinese smartphone firm have been sorted out. In the major disclosure yesterday, OnePlus’ Zuohu spilled the beans on the release time of OnePlus Two. The much-awaited device will make a debut in the third quarter of this year. India will be one of the first countries to see the launch of the next probable flagship killer.

Mi5 and Mi5 Plus

Reports from Gizmochina claim two more devices will be joining Xiaomi’s line-up later in June 2015. These devices are larger copies of the Mi 4, expected to be named Mi 5 and Mi 5 Plus. The claimed specs of the devices were leaked on the Chinese social media site, Weibo. The Mi 5 is touted to have a 5.2-inch display with a resolution of 1440×2560 pixels. It is believed to be powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chipset with either 3GB or 4GB RAM and will be juiced by a 3,000mAh battery. Its camera specification includes a 16MP primary camera.The device will also be infused with fingerprint technology. Its larger cousin, named as Mi 5 Plus, will feature a 6-inch screen with 4GB RAM, 32GB internal memory and a 16MP primary camera. No details were revealed about its processor, display, etc. Xiaomi has yet to announce the date of release, but reports mention that the two handsets will be out in June.

LG G5

Rumours say that LG is now working on the successor of the G4, and will be bringing iris recognition system into play. Reports from Korean publications state that LG has teamed up with local biometrics specialist Irience to implement this feature in its next smartphone. Reports also indicate that the phone will be released in the last quarter of 2015. For now, this is the only information we have found out.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5

After a year of the release of Samsung Galaxy Note 4, rumours of its successor have started to flow in. Considering their launch pattern, the Galaxy Note 4 successor may launch sometime in September this year. The Note 5 will come with a model number SM-N920F. It is likely to feature 5.4-inch or 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display with curves on both the edges. Let us remind you that the Note 4 was the first smartphone with which the curved edge display was included. Other rumours speak of a 5.9-inch screen with 4K resolution. The company has been preparing to venture into the 4K technology and the forthcoming Galaxy Note 5 may be the first to embed it. Other buzz suggests of a 16MP rear camera, 8MP secondary shooter, 4GB RAM and 16GB internal storage.

Apple iPhone 6S

Hardly a few months after releasing the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, rumours of the new iPhone models are already trickling in. According to Macrumors, Apple will be releasing two iPhones under the ‘S’ naming category, namely the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus. Apple will be concentrating more on internal performances rather than external looks. At most, Apple may add Pink colour iPhones to its lineup. According to rumours, the new devices will have a faster A9 processor, 2GB of RAM, a 12-megapixel camera, an additional microphone to enhance voice quality, and a new internal mechanical design to address some bending issues users experienced with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Mini and Galaxy S6 Plus

It seems like Samsung is on the move to expand its range of Galaxy line-ups. The Korean company is reportedly working on a smaller version and a larger version of the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, namely, Galaxy S6 Mini and Galaxy S6 Plus respectively. Both the rumours emerged this week.

According to GSMArena, the smaller version, Galaxy S6 Mini, or ‘SM-G9198’, the device will be an iPhone 6 competitor. It will have a 4.6-inch HD display and run on Snapdragon 808 chip with 2GB of RAM. It will be equipped with a 15MP primary camera and a 4.7MP front camera.

Meanwhile, Italy’s HDBlog revealed that the company is working on a bigger version, possibly a phablet, on the Galaxy S6 line. For now, the device has been codenamed as ‘Project Zero 2’. Interestingly, the S6 and S6 Edge were codenamed ‘Project Zero’. According to the rumours, the device will just be like the Galaxy S6, only bigger and with a more powerful battery.

Xolo Black

On Wednesday, Xolo announced that they are working on a new handset named Xolo Black. This device will come with a dual camera set up that will be able to capture images and their dimensions in an instant, thus creating 3D images. The phone will come along with HIVE 1.5 or above, along with Android Lollipop, and its price is expected to come in the sub-Rs 15,000 segment. Not many details were revealed about the phone and it is said to launch in the month of June.

Microsoft Lumia 940XL

Microsoft had launched the Lumia 930 almost a year ago, and now, the company is back with its newest smartphone, the Microsoft Lumia 940XL. According to NokiaPowerUser, the device is a larger version of the Lumia 940. The device is expected to have a bigger 5.7-inch display with a slim design and a metal frame. The processor will feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor paired with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot for expandable storage, a 5MP front-facing camera, a 20MP main PureView camera for photos and videos, and will feature native pen support as well.Further, it will also support USB C-Type and an Iris Scanner too. The specs sound very exciting, but the company has not officially confirmed the existence of such a device.

Motorola Moto X (third-gen)

Motorola may launch the third generation of its flagship Moto X smartphones in the coming few months. 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 the 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 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.

Keep on checking iGyaan for more updates regarding these future devices!

June 4, 2015
Tips to Improve Your WiFi Connectivity

Everyone needs a reliable WiFi connection today. Almost all our devices are WiFi enabled, and the Internet is a crucial part of our lives too. We stream radio, music and videos from any corner of our house and connect multiple devices thanks to the wireless technology. Although it is one of the most important part of our lives now; slow speed, bad receptions and other negative WiFi issues are very frustrating.

Here are some common ways to boost your WiFi signal:

The Perfect Spot for your Router

Just because the router looks dirty or outdated does not mean you hide it behind the desk or dressing table. In order to get the best signal, it must be put in a place that has minimum obstruction and is free of any walls. For example, the best place would be the living room because of the huge area. An elevated area would prove to be an advantage too.

Switching the Channel

Neighbouring WiFi signals tend to interfere with your own WiFi signals, thus leading to the degrading of the network. WiFi routers operate on different channels, and you would want to adjust your channel on to the one with minimum interference. The most common channels for wireless networking are channel 1,6 and 11.

The more, the merrier

Most WiFi routers come with two fixed antennas, which are obviously not strong enough to send signals to the distant corners of the house. Adding a booster antenna can solve this problem. With three antennas in place, it comfortably covers large areas, throughout entire homes or offices.

Avoid Interfering Devices

Devices like cell phones, cordless phones, microwaves can often interfere with your signal. Suggestions would be to move the router as far as you can from the interfering appliances.

For example, a microwave operates at the same frequency as one of the WiFi access points, thus reducing efficiency and capacity of your access by 50%.

Install a Wireless Repeater or Booster

Attaching a wireless Booster will boost the strength of your wireless network. But, if you need to boost the range too, connect a wireless Repeater. These devices allow you to communicate with specific SSID or repeat the signal with the same or a different name, thus providing enhanced coverage and strength, without having an Ethernet cable to connect to the access points. The greatest benefit is it works like an extended signal provider, without requiring additional wiring. Both attachments are very cheap in cost.

June 3, 2015
If Rumours are to be Believed, Then This is the Next Apple iPhone

Apple’s future iPhone series has already become a trending topic for all the Apple fanatics around the world, that too, only eight months after the iPhone 6 launch. There are already many speculations and rumours surfacing about the future iPhone such as the design, specifications and features.

No matter how secretive a company is about its next version, they have to issue a list of patents to USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office), which in turn provide hints of the features of the next flagship. Here are some key patents that were filed by Apple, let us check them out:

Apple iPhone Sidewall Display

Apple was granted a patent for ‘Electronic devices with sidewall display’ on May 2014. This patent very well suggests that the next iPhone may have its display screen extended to the edges as well. The patent suggests that the side screen will work as the primary screen extension with touch sensitive portions.

This screen can eliminate the use of traditional physical keys that are used for volume and locking the device. Apple suggests the side display could be used for slide-unlock functionality, music player control, called ID, etc.

Waterproof Design

A patent signed in March 2015 by Apple may allow you to take a bath and use your iPhone without the risk of electrocuting its circuits and without compromising the stylish looks of the device. Apple is working on a new protective coating that can prevent the iPhone from getting damaged from water or any liquid entering beyond the chassis of it.

Flexible iPhone

This patent may very well take the new iPhone over the edge. In January 2015, Apple signed a patent that the company may very well consider the idea of a flexible device. It was written in the patent that by making the iPhone flexible, certain applications could be opened by bending it in a particular way.

Home Button Joystick

Apple signed yet another patent on January 2015, which sounds good for iPhone gamers. This patent describes the Home button of the iPhone with a spring beneath it. The new Home button will be able to be used as a multifunctional button and comes in two modes. One is the standard functionality mode and the other will transform it into a joystick.

Password

In the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, we have the finger print scan lock system. But in December 2014, Apple signed a patent that would make your face the password. Yes, in the process of digging deeper into a personal computing device, Apple’s new device in the future, can soon be unlocked using facial recognition.

Camera Patents

Interchangeable Camera Lens:

Apple filed two patents back in January 2014 that could make it possible to change an iPhone’s camera lens, a possibility. One patent read that the device, possibly the next iPhone may have a removable case that would allow camera attachments. The second patent offers an alternative method of attaching new lenses to the iPhone using magnets.

Super Resolution Photos:

Apple signed a patent in May 2014 that would improve picture qualities taken by iPhone at different heights. The patent describes a series of slightly tilted photographs at different angles and stitches them together to create Super-Resolution photographs.

June 2, 2015
Thanks to Tech, Military Warfare is Now Invincible

Technology plays a crucial role in today’s military weapons and is advancing at a good speed. Military weapons are not only limited to lightweight uniforms, arms and night goggles, mind blowing advancements today in military tech has produced products that we thought to be as fiction ten years ago.

We will look at some of the greatest improvements that today’s military warfare has adopted and can change the face of war:

Wearable Robots

In 2014, DARPA (Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency), an agency of the U.S. Department of Defence responsible for the development of emerging technologies for use by the military, developed wearable robots. A wearable robot is a mechatronic system that is designed to the shape and function of the human body, with segments and joints corresponding to those of the person it is externally coupled with. This exoskeleton enables a soldier to carry heavy objects weighing more than 100 kgs while running or climbing stairs, with ease. It also allows the wearer to wield heavier weaponry. The exoskeletons use a hydraulic system that is controlled by an on-board computer.

Smart Bullets

Very soon, the phrase ‘dodging the bullet’ will be termed as void, as the US military has made significant progress in its effort to develop self-guiding missiles. Initially, the program, Extreme Accuracy Tasked Ordnance program, known as EXACTO, was started by DARPA that worked on the continuous guidance of a bullet to its target.

.50 caliber bullets were fitted with optical sensors and were able to hit moving targets with extreme accuracy during a live-fire demonstration. DARPA says the goal of the EXACTO program is to give shooters accuracy for hitting their mark at greater distances and engaging the targets sooner, thus enhancing the safety of its troops.

Phantom Drone

The Phantom Eye drone, developed by Boeing, is a liquid hydrogen-fueled aircraft system that is capable of staying 65,000 feet up in the air for four days and carries a weight of 450 pounds. Boeing also released a larger version of the Phantom Eye that can stay up in the air for ten days and ship 2,000 pounds.

The Phantom Eye first completed its 80-hour test flight on March 2010. Its primary role is providing airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities to support a variety of missions. But, lately, it is being used by the US Navy as a communications relay.

Fly-by-wire technology

Fly-by-wire technology is a technology that allows the plane to go to ‘Auto-Pilot’ mode. In simple words, the pilot’s instructions or inputs from the cockpit are relayed by an electric wire to an electric motor that moves the control surface. Major advantages of the electrical systems are lighter weight, less complexity, and easier maintenance, all of which ultimately reduced the airplane’s operating costs. Many catastrophic accidents throughout aviation history resulted from the lack of safeguards ready for any situation, and today’s effective safety and reliability statistics are proof of the advanced technology represented in fly-by-wire digital flight control systems.

Electronic Warfare

Electromagnetic Pulse Grenade

Communication plays the greatest role during a war. To weaken your enemy, you must first take down their eyes and ears, that is, communication servers and relays. The US army is on its way to developing the technology that can target specific areas and knock out enemy communication. The best example for this is electromagnetic pulse grenades and small signal jammers used by various military aircrafts.

June 1, 2015
Tips to Help Protect your Computer from Viruses
In developing times like now, we live under the constant threat of computer viruses and malware that reach your system through emails or any external devices like a pen drive. We have multiple Anti-Virus programs available and it is critical to keep updating them. But the key to a virus-free environment is beyond using an anti-virus program. Safe computing practices and policies should be used to safeguard your PC from such threats.

Let’s take a look at some user friendly, yet efficient methods of dealing with viruses, other than using Anti-Virus programs:

Do not open suspicious email attachments

Most of the infected emails are filtered in the SPAM Folder

It is wise not to open any unknown email with an attachment unless you are expecting them. Most of the viruses and links to phishing websites come through emails. To know whether the mail contains a virus or not, you can follow the steps below:
- Always check the sender’s address. If the address is known to you, it is safe to open the mail. But if the address is unknown, we would recommend caution before clicking on the mail.
- Check the subject line. If the subject line shows some random sentences asking you to open the mail, Do Not click on it. Some viruses are capable of mimic, or spoof, legitimate email addresses.
Keeping your computer updated

Keeping your computer updated helps to lower down incoming viruses from external sources. It is because across different Operating Systems, various security updates are released, thus helping in protecting your computer.

Using a Firewall

Pictorial representation of how a Firewall works

Use of Firewall does not entirely eliminate the threat of Viruses, but it helps in alerting you if a virus or worm attempts to connect to your computer. It can also block hackers from downloading potentially harmful files to your computer.

Disabling the Auto-Play Option

Many viruses attach themselves to a drive and start installing automatically when the media is connected to a computer. As a result, connecting any external hard disk or external data can lead to automatic propagation of such threats. Hence, disable Autoplay.

Lastly, Surf Safe

Many anti-malware programs include browser plug-ins that help avoid virus infections and internet phishing. These plug-ins should always be utilized with regular web browsing. Personal data and sensitive information should never be entered on any web page that has arrived independently. They should instead open a web browser, enter the address of the page they need to reach, and enter their information instead of clicking on a hyperlink and assuming the link has directed them to the proper URL. Hyperlinks contained within an e-mail message often redirect users to fraudulent, fake, or unauthorized websites. By entering web addresses manually, users can help ensure that they arrive at the actual page they intend.

Although the above methods should be carried out on a daily basis, the only fool-proof savior is a good Anti-Virus program, like Avast! to name one. Many computers receive free anti-virus programs, but these are not enough to provide sufficient protection against the ever-growing list of threats. We need to stay updated with ever-growing technology. Browse safe!
June 1, 2015
Things You Should Know About Xiaomi

When it first started off in 2010, this company did not expect that five years down the line, it would would become one of the biggest smartphone companies globally. Yes, Xiaomi had taken the tech world by surprise when they released the Xiaomi Mi series lineup, capable of holding its own ground against Apple or Samsung smartphones. Additionally, Google had lost one of its top Android executives, Hugo Barra, to an ‘unknown Chinese smartphone company’ in 2013. Yes, he was headed to Xiaomi as the Vice President of Xiaomi Global, also dubbed as ‘Apple of the East’ by New York Times.

History

Xiaomi was initially started by Mr. Jun Lei and seven more partners on April 6^th, 2010. Initial investors included Temasek Holdings, an investment office from Singapore, and Chinese venture capital funds IDG Capital and Qiming Venture Partners. After Mobile Processor developer, Qualcomm, joined hands with Xiaomi, the smartphone company launched the first Android-based user-interface, MIUI. Xiaomi’s Mi1 smartphone was announced immediately next year, and since then there was no turning back.

Xiaomi Founding Team with Mr. Mr. Jun Lei (in red).

Rise of the Name

After three and a half years of entering the market, Xiaomi had employed a small number of 2,400 staff and sold its wares only in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Despite the limited market, Xiaomi managed to sell more than 7 million devices 2012. It is quite an impressive feat, keeping in mind that it was around the same time that Nokia and BlackBerry were struggling to reach up to the same number worldwide.

The expansion campaign did not stop just there. Xiaomi unveiled its second high-end phone, Xiaomi Mi2, in August 2012, and it sold 10 million devices in the next 11 months. In total, Xiaomi sold over 18.7 million smartphones in 2013 and 26.1 million smartphones in 2014.

Lei Jun, founder and Chief Executive Officer of China’s mobile company Xiaomi, shows Mi Notes at its launch in Beijing January 15, 2015.

It opened its first international expansion outside with their first destination in Singapore. On its Opening day, Xiaomi Mi3 batches were sold off within two minutes. Apart from Singapore, Xiaomi had also landed in the markets of Malaysia, Philippines and India. Xiaomi entered the Indian market via an exclusive retail partnership with Flipkart and offline retailers for the first time.

In April 2014, Xiaomi purchased a new domain- mi.com for $3.6 million. It became the most expensive domain name ever bought in China and it replaced xiaomi.com as the official website for Xiaomi.

Idea behind the Success

What separates Xiaomi from other smartphone companies is that the company sells its products at a cost that has virtually no profit margin. So, how does the company make a profit? It makes its money when customers pay for its cloud services like messaging and data backup. The company also pointed out its iconoclastic business model which instead of using traditional marketing and distribution practices, it heavily relies on the Internet to fuel its sales, thus reducing advertising and promotional costs.

Xiaomi Mi 4i was the first Xiaomi phone to see its initial release outside of China

Another reason the handset is so much cheaper than its competitors is because of the weekly/monthly Flash Sales. Releasing only a small quantity of phones per sale keeps down the production cost. But the only drawback is that eager customers have to wait, thus leading to a loss in sales.

In a Singapore flash sale, Xiaomi sells 5,000 Redmi Note units in 42 seconds.

To make up for its thin line profit margin, Xiaomi continues to sell the same phones for a long period of time, rather than coming out with a new handset every six months. This gives more flexibility with profits and ensures the sale of accessories too.

Here is a fun fact: Apart from its own website, the company also sells devices on Tmall.com, one of China’s largest online retail sites. Xiaomi not only sells its handsets here, but also sells accessories like headphones, T-Shirts and its toy rabbit mascots. The company claims it sold over 180,000 units of mascots in 2012 alone!

Controversies

With great success, criticism and controversies are sure to follow. Xiaomi’s first controversy was the similarity in the design of its products and Apple products. If this weren’t enough, Xiaomi CEO, Lei Jung cultivated a Steve Job image after reading his about him in college. Thus, Xiaomi was accused by Apple for copying their philosophy and mindset. Xiaomi stated that it followed a different set of principles. While many pointed out the similarities between the two companies, few others said the ability to customize the software based on user preferences sets Xiaomi apart.

In India, import and export of Xiaomi’s products were banned on December 9^th 2014. This was because of a complaint filed by Ericsson. Ericsson had alleged earlier this month that Xiaomi was selling Mediatek chipset powered smartphones through the site Xiaomishop.com. Ericcson claimed it to be a violation of the interim order of the Delhi High Court that allowed the company to sell only Qualcomm chipset based smartphones. Xiaomi, in turn, told the court that the site was not an authorized seller of its products.

Conclusion

Today, Xiaomi is the 3rd largest smartphone distributor. Many Chinese companies sprung up after the success story of Xiaomi across the world, with Huawei creating real impact with visible success. Along with controversies surrounding it, it will be interesting to see how Xiaomi copes in the global market. We will just have to wait and watch.

May 30, 2015