Author: Happy Nagashetti

Wearable Technology You Should Know About

Wearable technology is the next technology boom. Since the saturation of the mobile phone market, companies have been looking for an alternative and wearable tech was a godsend for them.

Now if you are wondering that if this is another column about Smartwatches and Google glass then you are about to be surprised at what the market has in store for you.

Here we bring you some cool wearable tech which performs some amazing tasks while being rather pocket friendly.

1. Vrase

Now we all have been waiting for the Virtual Reality glasses to come in our reach. Well, there is a start-up that promises the experience using just your phone. Introducing Vrase, a VR and Augmented reality capable wearable. Simply load the content on your phone and slide it in the Vrase moble holder. This easy to use device gives options to attach peripherals like earphones and joysticks. All this makes Vrase perfect for movies, gaming and Augmented Reality purposes. The best part you ask, this incredibly simple device comes at less than half the price of Oculus and Project Morpheus and is compatible with multiple mobile phones.

2. Recon Jet

Google Glass’s real nemesis is Recon Jet. Unlike the Glass, the Recon Jet is for health and adrenaline junkies. It is the stud of wearable technology. The jet comes with onboard processing capabilities. It has 3D accelerometer, 3D gyroscope and 3D magnetometer and ambient temperature sensors along with altimeter and barometer applications and GPS. The device has an optical touch sensor like the Google glass to help the user interact with the device. The device is also compatible with health sensors so you can have real time update while you are drillin it out.

The device has a 1 GHz Dual-Core ARM Cortex-A9 processor with 1GB DDR2 SDRAM and 8GB flash memory. It also has an HD camera to substitute it for a go-pro, because POV shots are always the best. You can also connect the Recon Jet with your phone and check your text and messages.

3. The Dash

This is every outdoor lover’s dream headphone set. These wireless headphones don’t just entertain you with your music but also give you vital stats on the go. The device is perfect for people who like to track their performance. It is water resistant so feel free to take them for your next rafting trip. The headphones can measure Heart rate, Oxygen Saturation, Body temperature and calories burned. Along with the basics, the headgear also measures distance, speed, pace, rotation, G-force, drop rate, altitude, etc. The device also has an touch controls for changing songs and answering calls by connecting it to a phone through Bluetooth.

The device has 4 GB flash storage and is powered by a 100 mAh battery. The processor on-board is a 32bit ARM processor. Their neonish lighting design gives it a Tron-like feel.

At about 300$, these headphones are worth the money.

4. MBODY

These are pants which monitor your workout. You might be asking, why buy a pair of pants that measures vital stats instead of just a watch? Well the answer is that the MBODY does a lot more that a smart watch. It is capable of measuring Muscle Load, Heart Rate, Speed, Candence, Balance, Route etc. It is also capable of measuring electrical activity in your muscles and hence gives one of the best analysis amongst health hardware. If doings legs have been the pain for you, then MBODY will definitely help you out. The pants also measure the strengths of your muscles and body balance.

The “pants” come with their own MCell Bluetooth receiver which sends the information to its live app in your smartphone.

July 23, 2014
Windows 9 Leaks Show The Revival Of The Start Menu

Windows 8 never became as successful as Microsoft had hoped. One of the major reasons cited was the entirely new ‘Tiled’ interface and gesture support which helped unify the tablet, mobile and desktop experience. The new interface dissuaded a lot many folks and enterprises from switching over to the new OS. One of the major demands from the consumers who did switch over to the latest Windows OS was the inclusion of a start menu. Now in a recent leak by Myce (sounds like a great name for a mole) shows that Microsoft might finally revive the Start button.

The new revamped Start menu, if this really is what it would look, is quite impressive. According to Myce, the build is 9795 and was compiled on 13^thJuly. It is said to be from the User Interface and Platform team. Although it was widely rumored that the Start menu would resurface with this year’s release of Windows 8.2, it seems now that it will only be ready for release with Windows 9. Even though the leaked images refer have Windows 8 written over it, they are for Windows 9.

Microsoft had showcased a demo of the menu option during the Build conference this year. That version had a mix of traditional windows experience with the new metro features.

A second leaked image shows a new App store design. Though these design elements can be seen as a precursor to new windows styling too.

Now these are still images from ‘work-in-progress’ situation so it’s advisable to not get your hopes high. There are several glitches and compatibility issues that the developers have to work out. Hence, this should be taken as what it is, a leak!

July 22, 2014
Xiaomi Introduces The Mi 4 With LTE and an 8MP Selfie Cam

After taking India by storm with their Xiaomi Mi 3, the chinese smartphone dragons have released their next “flagship,” the Mi 4. Yesterday Xiaomi did something that nobody thought was possible; they pulled a MOTO. Xiaomi’s first India offering, the Mi 3, flew off the shelves within an hour of launch on Flipkart. Even though the companies had provided a pre-registration option, the phones simply vanished, and also managed to crash the website.

Coming back to the star of the moment, the Mi 4. The phone comes with stainless steel styling elements which sets it apart from the Mi 3. The 5-inch 1080p smartphone gets its processing powers from the 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 SoC. The phone has 3GB of RAM and comes with 16/64 GB internal storage options.

The camera on the phone is a 13 megapixel shooter with a wide f/1.8 aperture, so night shooting is going to get a boost from it. The selfie camera is a massive 8 MP; a major upgrade in the MI series. The phone also gets an LTE radio and is juiced up by a 3080 mAh battery. The phone will be sold at CNY 1999 which in Indian currency is about Rs. 19,000 and CNY 2,499 for the 64 GB model which would come out to Rs. 24,000 in India.

The Phone provides multiple back panel options

The phone also comes with IR blaster so that it can be used as a TV remote, a feature that is available in some of the top-end phones in India. Staying true to its customizable origins, the MI 4 also comes with options for designer back panels.

Xiaomi and MIUI fans will probably wait for the phone to come to India as it is only released in China currently. Considering the massive response the Mi 3 got in India, Xiaomi would want to take maximum advantage of the market. It has also increased the appreciation for Chinese products in India. With the amount of specs packed in the Mi 4, its seems that the ‘Apple of China’ already has the next winner of the smartphone race in their hands.

July 22, 2014
Samsung Answers The Galaxy Tab S Back Cover Deformation Issue

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S are one heck of an offering from Samsung. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that they are one of the best tablets out there. The stunning 1600 x 2560 pixels display makes it stand out in the crowd. Both Tab S tablets are sleek, sexy and flauntworthy. But recently one major issue has been troubling some consumers. The beautiful back design is getting deformed due to overheating of the devices. Though it’s not an extensive deformity, it is still noticeable.

The back cover on some Tab S were deforming due to overheating.

It has been speculated that the deformity is caused because of the heat generated by the application processor while running a 1600 x 2560 pixels display. The heat causes the Tab’s sexy back to bulge out in an uncomplimentary manner.

In an official statement issued by Samsung, they have negated this perception saying:

[quote text_size=”small”]

Contrary to certain media reports, the slight disfiguration that has formed on the rear surface of the Galaxy Tab S has been attributed to a limited number of defective back covers, which has no relation to the overheating of the application processor or the material used for the back cover. We would like to assure our customers that we have already resolved the issue. We ask affected customers to please contact their nearest Samsung Electronics customer service center.

[/quote]

Samsung is providing replacement and repairs for the affected customers. Considering the hefty pricing of the tablets, this is the least they could do. Samsung haters can give Samsung a break in this case.

July 22, 2014
Indian Government Lost 41k Crore Due to Lack of EVDO Spectrum Auction

Government of India had recently allowed CDMA service providers the option to use EVDO technology to provide high speed internet access. But now a CAG report states that as this facility was provided without an auction, it cost the government treasury a sum of Rs 41,000 Crore.

The CAG seeking a reply from the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) stated in a note, ‘‘The non-auctioning of the spectrum in 800 Mhz (CDMA spectrum) for EVDO services resulted in non-realisation of upfront one time charge of Rs 4,187.65 crore.”

The Department of Telecommunication(DoT) though stated that the CAG’s claims of losses are “presumptive and hypothetical”. They replied that the CDMA providers were well within their license limits when they provided the EVDO based internet access. DoT holds the view that EVDO is to CDMA as EDGE is to GSM services and hence don’t require a new auction.

This is still a developing story in which multiple stakeholders will clear their stance on the matters. The trade association representing telecom companies, Telecom Service Providers India (AUSPI) Association of Unified Telecom Service, has cleared that in their opinion EVDO is an alternative form of CDMA and so companies are in their limits to use the technology.

In the recent times the Compotroller and Auditor General (CAG) has been proactively watching India’s accounts and have uncovered some glaring scams in the process. Lets just hope in times of severe corruption scandals, a new scandal doesn’t come and act as a dampner to our inflation-prone economy.

July 19, 2014
Smartphones May Soon Have Anti-Glare Waterproof Screens

In a paper, published in the Applied Materials & Interfaces, Professor Valerio Pruneri from the Institute for Photonic Sciences in Barcelona, along with Corning Incorporated have introduced an invention which is going to make your life a lot easier. The glass can is an anti-glare, waterproof screen which can be incorporated as cellphone display.

Glare has been a major issue in appreciating smartphone content when outdoors. Especially in a country like India which has some intense sunlight, outdoor use is troublesome. This revolutionary new display is stated to obliterate that issue.

Glare has been one of the major issues with mobile screens for long

The technology is quite easy to comprehend. The glass is scratched at the Nano molecular level. This helps to deflect the light away from the user’s eyes. These tiny scratches are so efficient that they do not effect the transparency of the screen. The research team has also made 100nm teeth onto the surface of the screen to deflect water, thereby making it hydrophobic. The textured surface looks like a lotus.

In their paper the team has mentioned that they would need to put the display through some more experimentation to make sure it can be used as a touch screen interface. But here is the best part, they have mentioned that large scale manufacturing of these screens will be inexpensive. This display is totally an “about time” kind of invention. This technology will be a boon for the future of smartphones. With screens capable of playing 2K content on mobile phones, a glareless screen is just what the doctor prescribed.

With this glasses the need for expensive anti glare screen filters also comes to an end.

July 19, 2014
Nokia’s MixRadio To Become a Standalone App

After brutally shutting down brand Nokia yesterday, Microsoft has started the process of restructuring the technology that came with the acquisition. The first in line will be Nokia’s MixRadio.

Guardian reports, this Nokia music service will now become a standalone app. It will still come pre-installed in the Microsoft Windows based mobile phones. The service will provided curated music to the users taste.

The MixRadio had multiple name changes over the years, from Nokia Music Store to OVI Music Store to Nokia MixRadio and now the app will be just known as MixRadio.

The app worked without any advertisement and will continue to do so. The users though have an purchasing option of Rs.50 for 7 days, Rs.99 for 30 days, Rs.250 for 90 days to download unlimited music.

MixRadio’s chief Jyrki Rosenberg claimed this new app a spin-off of the Nokia MixRadio. The app can now be release on platforms like Android and iOS too as it’s now a standalone app. Rosenberg is also in talks with multiple investors to back his app.

The reasons cited for letting MixRadio go is said to Microsoft’s new strategy of depending on external sources for content instead of running their own. The company recently shut down its production studios; Xbox Entertainment Studios too.

We can surely expect more of bits and pieces of Nokia features either going on their own or going into oblivion soon as Microsoft is restrategizing their entire business model which began with the massive job cuts announced recently.

July 19, 2014
Vertu Contemplates a Luxury Smart Watch

British Luxury Smartphone after making a shift to Android are now contemplating going into the smart watch business. Vertu was established by Nokia as a wholly own subsidiary. The company is known for their ostentatious designs which separate them from all other phone companies. The company uses premium materials in designing their phones for their exclusive clientele.

As the market has slowed down for luxury products, the company now is intending to make a entry into premium wearables. Though it’s still in an exploration phase right now, but it can be a real game changer in the watch business. In a market which is dominated by Rolex and Swiss watch makers, a premium Smart watch will be appreciated by the opulent clientele of Vertu.

The Premium watch decision was inspired by the current Smartwatch boom

Until recently, Vertu was one of the few companies which still used Series 40 Symbian OS as their mobile OS. The company released their Android series under the name Vertu Ti and Constellation, thereby finally keeping up with times.

The part about Vertu that separates it from rest is that it offers an experience that matches to its customer’s opulent taste. The phones are handmade and they use materials like calf leather, alligator skin, lizard skin, ceramic, sapphire glass screens. They also use premium metals like titanium and Gold. As these customers have to deal with privacy concern, a basic Symbian set up helps them to access basic phone functionality while looking good doing it.

With their premium pricing which starts from $6000 and can go higher than $168,000 while just being a basic feature phone. If exclusivity is what the users are looking for, Vertu sits at the top-echelons of feature providers. With this affluent buy, the customer gets access to Vertu’s Concierge service. The service offers offers 24-hour worldwide assistance, recommendations and priority bookings, all with a personal touch. They facilitate users every request, from finding the perfect gift to accessing exclusive events, they do it all.

The company now also plans to make an entry into its “affordable” segment, which will still be far away from the reaches of regular consumers. By accepting Android into its phones, Vertu has brought back the aspirational aspect back but it will still be limited to people with unfathomably deep pockets.

July 19, 2014
Chrome OS To Get A Major Facelift with Project Athena

Google is really proud of its material design. The top team flaunted their new design at the Google I/O this year. The material design will bring a level of consistency throughout all the mediums that run on Google platform; Android, Chrome and Google account applications like Gmail. Google will now bring its material designs in their laptop based Chrome OS.

Google’s leaker François Beaufort who recently joined Google as a Chromium OS Evangelist has shared the first draft look of the new OS design in action. The design uses levels and shadows to add a kind of dimensional perspective which looks rather interesting. In the first look one can get a kind of Windows Aero window swipe feel.

Google is calling this Project Athena for Chromium OS and it looks like a good step forward. By bringing in a recognizable user experience through all its mediums, Google will be able to attract as well as retain a lot many users. The material design will arrive on phones with the Android L update and this will be widely used. Unlike the KitKat update which took a while to reach the devices, companies like HTC, Motorola, LG and others are promising to bring the update as soon as possible. Google is surely ready to take on Apple full on.

July 19, 2014
Take a Virtual 3D Trip of London Through Google Maps

You’ve always known that there is a traveller inside you. But the biggest hindrance you had was the lack of enough paper currency in your wallet. You have read all about the elegance of London in the works of Charles Dickens, Shakespeare, Jane Austen and the stinging satires by D. H. Lawrence. You can’t wait to leave for this beautiful historic city and reminisce about the times when the city inspired those literary giants. Or you are a football maniac and want to pay homage to the temples of football may whatever your choice of club be.

Well, Google is here with its Maps update to give you a feel of what’s it like to roam those streets, so that when your wallet is finally ready you can wander around town like you belong there.

After bringing the 3D virtual tours of Reading, Leeds, Birmingham and Stoke on Trent, London is the next stop on the tour. The tour which is similar to the one that is available on Apple’s maps gives you a Superman eye view of the British capital. You can pan, zoom, rotate your way through all the sights you’ve always wished to see and feel good doing it.

This update is also helpful for Londoners who want to create a mental map of London like Benedict Cumberbatch’s version of Sherlock. The 3D tour is not just restricted to the tourist spots but gives you access to the entire city. So go ahead and take the Google Maps tour you’ve been waiting for so long. London is now just a few clicks away.

July 18, 2014
Facebook Mentions: An Exclusive App for Celebrities

Celebrities get to live a good life. Once in public view, they get loads of cool stuff or in words of Ricky Gervais, “Once you get rich, people start giving you stuff for free.” Now Facebook is coming out with an exclusive app called “Facebook Mentions” that is accessible only to public figures.

Users can follow others and keep a track of trending topics easily

Twitter has become a medium for prominent personalities to connect with their admirers. From Movie Stars, Musicians, Politicians to even Scientists and Astronauts have used the website to connect to their followers. With this exclusive app, Facebook will try to make itself more attractive to the celebrity clientele.

To get access to this app one needs to have a verified page on Facebook. Currently, the app runs only on iOS 7 or higher versions (well that’s going a bit too exclusive.) The app lets users host Q&A with their followers, discover and join conversations relating to them. It also makes the users follow others and shows them what is trending on Facebook so they can share their thoughts on the matter.

Facebook Mentions makes it easier for these personalities to share multimedia content with their followers. It is speculated that the Beats-Apple deal celebration video will be posted through this application.

This app makes life a lot easier for social media managers of celebrities to keep in touch with the perception of their bosses in the public. Ever since social media came into existence, celebrities have had a direct communication channels with their fans and followers. Facebook Mentions hopes to be the exclusive medium for this interaction.

July 18, 2014
Android Wear to Release API For Watch Faces

Smart watches are a buzzing product ecosystem right now. It’s a great new device and almost all major tech companies are trying their hands with this gizmo. Google’s Android Wear OS based devices are particular generating a lot of interest.

With Google providing development opportunities for apps for the Wear devices, there has been a boom in the apps for such smart watches. Android customizability has been its strength from the beginning. Now they are providing API to 3rd party developers to create new watch faces. With the options for square and circle shapes, the options can be endless.

Multiple watch face options will give versatile looks to the watches

Wayne Piekarski, Senior Developer Advocate at Google, announced through a Google+ post that the new API make it easy for developers to make all round watch faces. Think of the convenience of having multiple clock faces in one watch, you can literally have a new watch to flaunt every day.

Earlier, the process of making watch faces was a bit slow as a developer needed to integrate several tweaks for the watch faces but this API will simplify that process. He stated “Customization has helped Android thrive, and the same will be true for Android Wear.”

July 18, 2014
Finnish Smartphone Company Jolla Enters India With Snapdeal

Today began with a sad news. The last remnants of Nokia will be shredded in the coming months with Microsoft pulling the plug on Nokia X. This Finnish giant had ruled the mobile market during its formative years, and now it is a chapter for the history books. But if you thought that it was the end of Finland’s involvement in the Indian mobile market then you have to think twice. Another Finnish company, Jolla is all set to make an entry into India.

Jolla Phones run on Sailfish OS which wont take long to get used to.

Jolla markets phones running on the Sailfish OS. Jolla (Ok, it’s actually pronounced as Yolla), has signed an exclusive partnership with Snapdeal.com to market their products in India.

The Sailfish OS has evolved from Nokia backed OS, Meego. Guess some legacy of Nokia will still be around apart from, of course, the Nokia 3310 which is known to survive stellar supernovas. The Sailfish OS is unique in the sense of its gesture heavy interface. Multiple functions on the phone can be targeted through interactive gestures. The learning curve is minimal if you have some smartphone experience. The best part, Sailfish is compatible with Android applications which will definitely make it desirable for many enthusiasts.

The sharp design features looks good on the phones.

Jolla’s co-founder and CEO Sami Pienimäki said that there had been a lot of interest in India concerning Jolla phones, and that’s why they landed here. It is a good alternative for people looking for a different user experience in comparison to devices flooded in the market.

Meanwhile the co-founder and CEO of Snapdeal, Kunal Bahl commented on the deal saying “The market in India offers few choices in terms of mobile operating systems. Jolla with its innovative Sailfish OS introduces an entirely new user experience to consumers. Jolla offers a unique smartphone experience both in terms of hardware and software. We look forward to a long-term and mutually beneficial relationship.”

There are multiple back panel options too.

India’s mobile market is currently bustling with some youthful energy with multiple companies trying to impress Indians with their products. In the past few months some major international manufacturers like Asus, Xiaomi and some smaller ones like Obi have entered India.

With Jolla also coming into the fray, Indian consumers will have a good number of option to choose. In times of heavy price rises, a healthy competition in the mobile segment can be in favor of the consumers. The phones will be available for purchase within a month.

July 18, 2014
Microsoft Puts the Final Nail in Nokia’s Coffin With Biggest-Ever Job Cut

Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella announced the biggest job cut in the history of the company. The company will lay off 18,000 of its employees. The majority of these cuts, around 12,500 will be Nokia employees. The cuts will be on all fronts, from professionals to factory workers, everyone can expect pink slips.

In a letter to his employees, Satya Nadella stated that the first 13,000 folks losing their jobs will be notified in the coming six months. He also said that while the cuts are being made, there will be some employment opportunities in other areas too.

He promised that the process of job cuts will be thoughtful and transparent. Microsoft will offer severance packages to all and will also provide job assistance. The reason cited for these cuts is simplification of work and the integration of Nokia Devices and Services into the company’s model.

The Nokia X product line up will be converted to Lumia series

The most important aspect of this news is that the Android-based Nokia X product line up will be integrated into the Lumia products and will run on Windows OS. This has to be the single most brutal take down of brand in the history of corporate acquisitions.

Microsoft had earlier announced that they will do away with the Nokia brand name as they believe that the brand name is outdated. We have previously brought you extensively researched story about the rise and fall of Nokia and with this development, you can expect the death of Nokia. From here on, Nokia may be just mentioned in nostalgic past references about its glory days. A titan that the mobile industry, as well as we, grew up with has finally perished.

July 18, 2014
Say Hi to Jibo: World’s First Family Robot

If you remember watching Robin Williams’ forgettable Bicentennial Man, you must have felt the thrill of having a robotic companion in your family. The best part about Robin Williams’ character is that it was a robot capable of human emotions and learning new things just like a human being. Now a company called Jibo Inc, founded by an ex-MIT professor, Cynthia Breazel has brought an incredible new family pet in Jibo.

This Linux powered robot has a cylindrical base and a circular screen which makes it look like a smaller and rather enthusiastic version of Marvin the Paranoid Android from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Alan Rickman as a sad robot was the only humorous part of that movie.

Jibo is about a foot tall family friendly robot that is capable of doing everything your dog can’t do. It has six microphone inputs that help Jibo to take voice instructions and reply back. Jibo can take pictures; assist you in your daily chores, read out your messages. But here is the best part; it can be a cute little tutor to your kids, which is surely going to make a lot of private tutors angry, especially in India.

One of the feature that is really impressive is the boost tele-presence will get with Jibo. With Jibo the person on the other end can physically move about and interact with all who are present in the room. This is our favorite feature. Jibo also seems fun to interact with and even though some of its functions can be currently done by a smartphone but the fun interaction aspect is missing from them.

In future, the company wishes to integrate Jibo with your home automation system so it can take care of the security of your house and the power management. They also intend to add health features so that it can gather up information from devices like heart rate monitors, glucometers and scales and can maybe become your personal trainer.

Unfortunately you can’t buy Jibo just yet, but you can surely pre-order it and you can also contribute towards the project through their Indiegogo page. Jibo will arrive at the doorstep of folks who have preordered. Guess the robots are finally ready to invade our houses and if they are as cute as Jibo, they’ll be sure welcomed with an elation from everyone in the house.

July 17, 2014