Yuphoria has announced that the 12.1 Cyanogen update would start rolling out starting today, along with Android 5.1.1 Lollipop and software version: YOG4PAS47N. The update will be rolled out in phases over the coming two weeks and include features like app drawers and folders redesigned to enhance accessibility.
LiveDisplay would be able to adjust the screen based on environmental conditions and Calendar Together with Email would let the user share availability and schedule appointments. Additionally, the company also promises an enhanced and smoother user interface, along with substantially increased support of codecs for video and audio playback
Google Now has come out with yet another feature that will allow you to ask to hear your last messages and then proceed to give them to you.
The voice command “show me my last messages” will lead Google Now to list your newest five SMS messages. It would first ask if you wish to hear them, followed by if you wish to reply to them. However, the user has to word the command either as “show me my last messages” or “show me my latest messages” for Google Now to decipher it correctly. A variation of these two manners might lead Google Now to simply open your Gmail messages and leave it at that.
Additionally, this feature only works with carrier SMS messages. It is pretty much useless for Google Voice for SMS as of now. But if you use carrier SMS, it doesn’t care much for the default SMS app and should work with anything.
HP Slate 7 came out in 2013 and since then the tablet-business for the company has not been too smooth. HP had aimed to increase sales by keeping the prices low, but that couldn’t work for the company. The manufacturer decided to modify its tactics this year, the Cyber Monday sale being an example. This year, HP conducted a liquidation sale to sort out the inventory of its low-priced slate-tablets.
Additionally, HP has split itself into two companies -one aims at enterprises, the other at consumers. Tablets for “business mobility” will now be part of production of the company. President of Personal Systems at HP, David Coughlin says the tablets will now aim at retail, education and health care.
“We are going to focus where there is profitability and growth and will not chase the low-end tablet market. We are focusing on business mobility to deliver tablets built for field service, education, retail and healthcare,” says David Coughlin
As HP got rid of pretty much most of it low-range tablets, the tablets still on the website have similar price tags as iPads. HP Envy 8 Note are two consumer tablets available on the website. They feature an Intel Atom chipset and are priced at $329 and $429 respectively. These tablets are further equipped with a stylus controlled interface.
iPad Pro with the Apple Pencil
The lowest price tablets by HP are two variants of the HP Slate 8 which include an 8-inch device powered by Snapdragon 801 along with Android 5.0 pre-installed. These tablets are priced at $469 and $499.
Back in 2013, Motorola and Google together came out with Spotlight Stories – a interactive medium to tell stories which puts users inside an animated featurette. The user would have to turn and tilt their phone in all directions and angles to let the story unfold, and follow the character on its journey.
The first Spotlight Story was Windy Day in October, 2013, followed by Buggy Night in 2014, for Moto X phones.
https://youtu.be/Fa0so7mjS_s
Google got on-board the most talented and brilliant team for the first two installments of Spotlight. The director for the films was Jan Pinkava, creator and co-director of Ratatouille, and veteran animator Mark Oftedal -the animator of films like Toy Story and A Bug’s Life.
The third Spotlight Story, Duet, which came out in 2014, completely outdid the previous Stories as French animator Glen Keane provided the most breathtaking film so far.
With these three films Google had revolutionised story-telling and art by fusing it with technology. Mobile graphics processors now not only rivaled the capabilities of video game consoles such as that of PS3 and Xbox 360, but also put the tech to a very interactive use for the average smartphone owner. Gone were the days of the primitive world of Candy Crush and Angry Birds.
Don’t believe us? Take a look at the Glen Keane film below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qnQqXr838E
“…with Duet we learned to coax rather than control. Because of the nature of this virtual world technology there were no individual shots cut together. It is all one continuous living moment. I think of it less as a traditional film and more as a visual poem,” explains Keane.
The Story can be viewed in its interactive form on the Moto X, Moto X (1st Gen.), Moto G (2nd Gen.) and Moto G 4G LTE. Take a quick look at what it’s like to follow a Spotlight Story.
https://youtu.be/VAJXkZ0WB_o
The interactive element of the Stories makes sure they last for as long as the user desires. The amount of time they want to spend exploring the world of Spotlight Stories directly determines how long the film will run for. The more the camera is moved, the longer the story will last. Thus, there is not only an element of physicality, but also direct involvement on the part of the viewer, who is now also the story-teller.
This mobile-specific story-telling experience however did not go down too well with all users. The internet saw its own set of frantic questions about disabling Spotlight Stories. But there will always be haters now, isn’t it?
Flipkart has entered into a partnership with the digital map data company, MapmyIndia. MaymyIndia (CE Info Systems Pvt. Ltd.) is known for its GPS navigation, tracking, location-based apps and GIS solutions.
The move is part of Flipkart’s efforts to improve the service chain with the help of technology. The company will use this business partnership to license map data and location technologies from MapmyIndia.
Binny Bansal, COO and Co-founder, Flipkart, commented on this, “With this strategic investment, we are taking another concrete step toward transforming the supply chain ecosystem in India, making technology and information the driver of our supply chain and logistics solutions. This partnership is a strategic fit that gives us a sustainable competitive advantage.”
Flipkart’s entry into a business partnership with MapmyIndia also means that the latter’s earlier investors, which include Nexus Venture Partners and Lightbox Ventures, will exit the company. Using Location intelligence capabilities across Flipkart’s logistics network is the primary aim of this partnership. It would also enable the company to introduce services like better Address Verification and real-time Shipment Tracking, among other things.
A report has emerged clearing the cloud of rumours around a Microsoft Surface Phone -by stating it will be launched in the second half of 2016. Surface head Panos Panay and his team of engineers, the same team which worked on Surfce Pro tablet line, will be responsible for the design of the phone.
The phone will run on Windows 10, and is expected to arrive in May. If previous speculations are to be believed, the Microsoft Surface Phone is expected to be more productivity-oriented instead of specs.
Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft
The device will be a Microsoft flagship, and according to some sources, could be powered by a Snapdragon 820 chipset. Others suggest it would be something much more powerful than the current Qualcomm Snapdragons. The advanced cooling technique of Lumia 950 XL will also be made part of the Surface Phone.
Many believe that the reason Microsoft is not putting in too much effort in a widespread US release of the Lumia 950 and 950 XL is because of Microsoft’s plans to bring out a Surface Phone soon. This could be a reason why the company isn’t investing too much in marketing its new flagships. Watch this space for updates.
Source: Windows Central
Good news for all Nexus users -stock Android Nexus devices are all set to receive an update as well as new emoji next week. Android’s Hiroshi Lockheimer announced on his Twitter handle that the new emoji will require a “new keyboard, new font, new code”. This, in turn, means a new system update is very much on its way. These designs will be part of the Unicod 8.0 standard, already been incorporated by Apple iOS 9.1
Look! New emoji coming to #Nexus next week. Fonts and tech details shared with OEMs to include in their updates too. pic.twitter.com/GwvKw2d67p
However, those without a Nexus phone will have to wait longer for the update to arrive. Lockheimer stays mum on other new features and says he doesn’t want to “spoil all the surprises.”
Get prepared for new emoji -a lion, crab and unicorn -next week if you own a Nexus device. As for Android users without a Nexus device, hang in there for a little bit longer and the update shall be soon on its way.
Internet warfare and cyber espionage has been going on for a while now. Hackers breaking into secret government records, swindling banks off their money or just simply having a laugh on the internet is something not unheard of at all in contemporary times. Therefore it’s only natural that we talk about some of the most well-executed hacks that made the world sit-up and listen.
1. First Worm on the Internet (1990):
I only wanted to see the size of the web -is what Robert Morris said in 1988 when he was caught for creating what would be known as the first worm on the Internet. He tried hiding his online trail by releasing the worm from MIT, instead of Cornell where he was a student.
A design flaw ensured that the worm replicated itself in way larger numbers than Morris had planned or expected, until it had caused significant and noticeable damage to confidential files all over the country.
Robert Morris was the son of a famous former NSA scientist.
Robert Morris became the first person to be convicted under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act in 1990. He was also sentenced to three years of probation, 400 hours of community service, a fine of $10,050, and had to cover the costs of his supervision.
2. Citibank Loses Millions to Russian Hacker (1995):
One of the most important and earliest hacking scandals of banks was in 1995 when Vladimir Levin illegally transferred $3.7 million from Citibank into bank accounts of his criminal organisation.
The criminal ring-leader conducted this incredibly well-planned hack using a computer based in London. Using a list of customer codes and passwords, Levin logged into bank accounts numerous times and transfer funds to his own.
Vladimir Levin
Levin was finally tracked down by FBI at a London airport. Following his arrest, he was tried and convicted in the U.S. and was sentenced to three years in jail in 1998. A penalty of $240,015 was also levied against him by Citibank to be paid as restitution.
3. When New York Times Was Hacked by a Teenager (2002):
Hacking of tabloids and newspapers is one of the most common incidents of cyber-crime. Everyone is dying to spill the beans on the deep, dark secrets of tinsel town’s ‘who’s who’. The year 2002 saw hacking of voicemail accounts of celebrities like actress Sienna Miller, and even people of the British Royal Family. However, this NYT hack is especially important because it involves a 19 year old who broke into the records of one of the biggest daily newspapers in the world.
Adrian Lamo, the “homeless hacker”
Adrian Lamo gained access to some of the most confidential records of the New York Times which included detailed database of op-ed writers the paper had used in the past. This included names, phone numbers, home addresses and payment history of contributors like Democratic strategist James Carville and former secretary of state James Baker.
Because Lamo wasn’t done having fun yet, he added his own name under “experts” and put “Computer hacking, national security, communications intelligence”, under “expertise”. And yes, Adrian Lamo is the same person who turned in Wikieaks’ Bradley Manning to the US authorities, winning himself the title of the “world’s most hated hacker”.
4. Hacking Heist that Involved 100 Banks All Across the Globe (2015):
Hackers pulled a ridiculously high-profile Hollywood-styled heist as they broke in the accounts of about 100 banks over 30 countries, including India, China and the US, and duped them of $1 billion. It was a group of cyber-criminals from all over the world executing this hack over a period of two years.
It is beyond incredible how they left absolutely no virtual trail behind them, despite the humongous size and the long period of time involved in the heist. The attack which took place earlier this year in February was called an “unprecedented cyber robbery.” The criminal gang was dubbed ‘Carbanak’ by a Russian security firm, and is believed to include members from Russia, Ukraine, Chine and Europe.
5. When Irani Hackers Had a Field-trip with American State Secrets (2015):
Iran came up with a phony news agency in 2011 called NewsOnAir and used it to draw important details of American bureaucrats using social media and tactics like phishing (when a user is tricked into revealing personal credentials, like passwords, online). Though it hasn’t been confirmed that the hackers are Iranians, the central domain is located in Iran.
This group of hackers used numerous fake identities, like that of Reuters journalist Sandra Maler, to set an entire network online including social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, as well as WordPress blogs, to get in touch with important US officials.
Though it is unclear exactly how much data was lost, iSight Partners, a cybersecurity consulting group, comments, “a vast amount of social content was compromised in addition to some number of log-in credentials”. If reports are to be believed, this campaign has definitely been one of the most elaborate hacking operations ever.
If rumours are to be believed,Google will launch a new Nexus 7 tablet in 2016, and it might be manufactured by Huawei. Though Google is yet to confirm another partnership with Huawei post Nexus 6P, but scales seem tipped in Huawei’s favour.
Teaming up with Google for the Nexus device has gotten Huawei a lot of exposure in the international tech circuit. Currently, the Chinese company is the third largest manufacturer of smartphones in the world in terms of the shipment volume, and the largest back home in China.
Huawei Nexus 6P
Google launched its original Nexus 7 tablet, manufactured by Asus, back in 2012. Both the original as well as its successor fared well in the market and proved to be very cost-effective gadgets, quite unlike the Huawei Nexus 6P which is a premium device at a premium price.
Let’s see what another collaboration between Google and Huawei -if it happens at all -is likely to bring to the tech world.
OnePlus launched a cover for iPhone 6 and 6s yesterday. No, we didn’t make a mistake -it has happened. The cover is called OnePlus Sandstone Case and is available on the OnePlus website for $19.99 (about Rs. 1400).
The Sandstone Case is made of polycarbonate and is expected to provide the same tactic feeling as OnePlus devices. The measurements of the accessory are 138.7 x 70.2 x 10.5 mm, and it weighs 20 grams.
Just when you thought you’ve seen it all -there’s more. For a limited period, that is the holiday season, buyers will also find themselves a OnePlus X invite in the box of the cover. You may have paid a hefty sum to get to lay your hands on an iPhone 6 or 6s, but would you be now willing to cover it with the OnePlus logo?
Makers of the Sandstone Case clearly seem to think you would. That’s one confident -and bizarre- move, OnePlus. Many see this as the company’s attempt to move away from the image of being solely an Android vendor. Let’s see how the market responds to this.
Apple has been obsessed with making its iPhones thinner for a while now and has consciously and noticeably worked on reducing the thickness of its devices in the past. However, it may have not always ended too well for the company -Bendgate definitely not being the highlight of Apple’s history.
Though the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus were thicker than their predecessors at a 7.1 mm and a 7.3 mm, iPhone 7 is rumoured to be slimmest iPhones so far. Since speculations about this new Apple device have already begun,let’s see what this could mean for the user.
Pros:
No Ear-Phone Port:
If rumours are to be believed, Apple is planning to get rid of the earphone jack to make the iPhone 7 thinner than any of its predecessors. This move is part of Apple’s patent which aims to make the new device waterproof by getting rid of the port, thereby reducing the number of potential entrances of moisture and liquids for the device. Voila! Say hello to a waterproof iPhone (or at least one less exposed to damage by liquids), boys and girls.
Consequently, the device will probably need to have one common adapter that makes all earphones compatible with it. Additionally, Apple could also include a standard pair of earphones that could be used with the help of a connection to a Lightening conductor. Even if the device requires third-party adapters, they will be available at a fairly affordable price. Bluetooth can also be used as a replacement for earphones.
Convenient Size:
A thinner iPhone would definitely be easier to carry around. In all likelihood, it will weigh less than the 143 gms of the iPhone 6s and the 192 gms of iPhone 6s Plus, and thus would be lighter and more portable for the user.
Also, the current iPhones -6s and 6s Plus- have a thickness of 7.1 mm and 7.3 mm respectively. With its latest devices, Apple has come a long way from Bendgate. None of that was witnessed this year as the devices seems sturdy and hardy, in addition to being water-resistant. Time to rejoice, Apple fans and loyalists.
Cons:
Yes, the Ear-Phone Port:
Users would have to use Bluetooth or the Lightning connector instead of the earphone port. A Lightning cable or a 3.5 mm-to-Lightning adapter would have to be provided by third-party sellers in order to ensure compatibility with iPhone 7. These third-party sellers and their products, the hassle of extra accessories, or the need to use adapters -all of it will make things more complicated for users.
Apple is expected to take care of earpods that would connect to the Lightning port and launch accessories specific to the iPhone 7 and its absence of an earphone port. Needless to say -if this happens, be prepared to burn a whole in your pocket for a pure and authentic iPhone 7 experience.
Might be Sturdier, But Not Comfortable:
A thinner iPhone will not be very comfortable in the hand. The device will not provide a firm grip to the user if made too thin. The attempt of making the device sleek and stylish will completely backfire if it keeps slipping out of the hands. As sturdy as it might be, it will still be an iPhone.
Apple would also have to notch-up the speaker quality to ensure a decent over-all sound experience for iPhone 7. Instead of getting rid of the ear-phone jack, the company can instead tone down its paranoia of being repetitive with design, and let go of their obsession of making tech breakthroughs with a new iPhone every year. But if that happens, Apple would perhaps cease to be Apple.
Microsoft started an initiative last year called Cities Unlocked and introduced its first in-ear device on a trial basis in the UK. The highlight of this device was that it allowed users to hold conversations without the headset’s audio drowning out the voices.
The initiative, which was founded in 2011 as a partnership between Microsoft and a UK based charity called Guide Dogs, is now introducing its ‘phase two’ over-the-ears headset which includes audio descriptions and instructions related to directions, navigation and over-all surroundings of the user. The ‘3D soundscape’ of the device takes into account the direction of the incoming sound as well as the one the wearer is facing.
Jarnail Chudge, Microsoft’s project leader for Cities Unlocked programme, says, “After phase one last year we started to think deeply about how we can empower people to be more independent, more mobile, and act in much the same way as a sighted person would do.”
The audio prompts would be provided by the headset using a Bluetooth connected smartphone. More information about the surroundings can also be requested by the wearer, along with the option of replaying the audio they’ve just heard. The initiative aims to help over 285 million visually impaired people all over the globe using technology.
Find out more about this new headset in the video below.
A survey conducted by Wristly has revealed Apple Watch users to be largely dissatisfied with their new gadget. The Watch has failed to perform on many fronts and is being touted as a bad choice especially in terms of speed.
A survey of 330 unhappy users of the Apple Watch revealed that 55% of them tried using the device for a fortnight or more to see if they could get a hang of it, but to no avail. The Watch is not only slow, according to the participants, but also hard to use. The constant need to tilt it in order to get the time is another feature that didn’t go down well with the users.
This survey is definitely not winning Apple many customers, especially in India where Motorola launched its Moto 360 2nd Gen today. Looks like customers in the country are likely to give the Apple gizmo a pass now.
Moto 360 2nd Gen
However, having said that, it should be pointed out that about 41% of the survey participants accepted they are likely to buy the 2nd gen variant of the Apple Watch. Reasons behind this can only be speculated as perhaps evaluation of the Watch from a technological point of view, or some sort of brand loyalism Apple is infamous for generating in its customers.
Either way, looks like the market offers tough competition to both the Motorola as well as the Apple smartwatch. Which one would you rather prefer?
Launched earlier this year at IFA Berlin ’15, the Moto 360 Gen 2 has arrived in India today. Find our unboxing video here:
The Moto 360 comes in two different sizes – a 42 mm male and female version, and a male-only 46 mm model. The difference between the male and female version is that the latter attaches itself to a thinner 16 mm strap while the former is compatible with a 20 mm strap only. The 46 mm variant is compatible with a strap that measures up to 22 mm. While the size of the straps differ, all models have a thickness of 11.4 mm.
The bands of the watch can be chosen from metal and leather. Though there is also a silicon option available for the band, it won’t be arriving in India any time soon. This year, Motorola has clearly been very influenced by the fashion world and all the latest trends within the design industry.
Thus it’s come up with two models, two sizes and up to 300 different ways to customize your Moto 360. However there will be only 5 of these variants that will be made available in India and they are: 42 mm with black leather, 42 mm with cognac leather, 42 mm blush rose gold, 42 mm silver metal, 46 mm black metal. Other than the size and range, there have been very subtle changes to the new design from the previous Moto 360, such as – a re-positioning of the button to the 2 o’clock position and one can even customize the finish of the small bezel that surrounds the display. With respect to the processor, Motorola has upgraded its device with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor.
They have also further improved the battery life and say that the 46 mm watch will last up to two days between charges, while the 42 mm watch will be able to last about a day and a half.
The watch is compatible with iOS 8.2 and above and therefore can be coupled with Apple devices. Other important features of the Moto 360 Gen 2 includes customize-able watch ‘faces’. Other than a bunch of options provided by Motorola, users can also use their own pictures as the watch-face.
The Live Dials of Moto 360 Gen 2 give access to summarised information in one glance. Depending on what matters to the user most, the watch will give weather updates from among footsteps count, rate of heart activity and calorie count etc. The Moto Body is a feature that will keep an account of not just footsteps and heart rate, but also sleep patterns and nutrition of the user.
Additionally, the watch is rated at IP67 which means it can be soaked in 1 m (3.3 ft) of water for half an hour. The watch further boasts of voice controls.
With a starting price of Rs. 19,999 ,this device goes on sale at 7:30 PM today on Myntra and Flipkart. To find more details about the Moto 360 Gen 2, click here.
Microsoft launches its Windows powered Lumia 950 in India -a phone which is being touted as the phone that works just like your PC and runs on Windows 10. It features a 5.2 inch Quad HD display and measures 8.25 mm in thickness.
Lumia 950 comes equipped with Cortana, Microsoft Office and the Windows Store, and can be connected to a bigger screen, keyboard and mouse using an additional accessory called Microsoft Display Dock. The Displa Dock also charges your phone simultaneously. While the apps run on the big screen, the user can still continue to make calls and receive messages on the phone at the same time.
The handset further boasts of a 20 MP main PureView camera, capable of 4K video capture; the front camera is marked at 5 MP. Nokia 950 has 32 GB of internal storage, expandable up to a 200 GB using a microSD card. The battery of the phone is of 3000 mAh. The phone is available in two colour variants -black and white, and is priced at Rs. 43, 699.
Find other specs of Nokia 950 below:
Specification
Lumia 950
Display
5.2-inch Quad HD AMOLED
Resolution
2560×1440 (564 ppi)
Processor
Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 808 processor, Hexa-core CPUs and 64-bit support
GPU
Adreno 418
RAM
3 GB
Storage
32 GB
Rear Camera
PureView camera with 20MP sensor, Zeiss optics, OIS,triple LED natural flash, and4K video recording
Front Camera
5MP wide-angle 1080p front-facing camera
Expandability
200 GB
Battery
Removable 3000mAh battery
Connectivity
Wi-Fi: MIMO, WLAN IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth 4.1
