Author: Happy Nagashetti

Apple’s New $1.9 Billion European Data Centers Will Run Completely on Renewable Energy

Data centers are the bedrock of the smart device revolution. They take care of all the background processes that let us connect with the world using the various apps and service. As the usage base of services keeps increasing, companies have to constantly increase the size and volume of their data centers. These are some heavy energy consuming establishments. Apple is doing its part for the environment by investing 1.7 billion euros ($1.9 billion) to build a data center that runs on 100 percent renewable energy.

Apple will be establishing two data centers; one is Ireland and the other in Denmark. These centers will take on the traffic from their various services such as iTunes Store, App Store, iMessage, Maps and Siri for customers in Europe. Apple claims that this is their biggest project in Europe and will lead to the creation of hundreds of new jobs.

In Ireland, the town of Athenry, near Galway has been chosen as the site for the data center. The government of Ireland has said that the project will add close to 300 jobs in the country. It is certainly good news for the country where the unemployment rate stands at 10.50 percent of the population.

On the other hand, in Denmark, the City of Viborg in the western part of the country will house the second data centers. The massive investment from the American tech giant was welcomed by the government of Denmark.

The investment will be split evenly between the two sites. Apple’s dedication to renewable energy would get it support from the environmentalists who have long criticized massive tech corporations for utilizing coal-based power.

February 23, 2015
Galaxy S6 Expected to Sport Full Metal Body, Curved Screen and Front Speakers

A lot is riding on Samsung’s upcoming flagship, the Galaxy S6. The device is supposed to redefine Samsung’s approach to design. The Korean electronics giant has really come to struggle in the market in the past couple of years and is in desperate need to bring out an exceptional device. The rumors of the upcoming S6 has been encouraging, and a new teaser by T-mobile may give up the first look at the new device.

The Galaxy S6 will be unveiled by the company at the Mobile World Congress 2015 (MWC) in Barcelona. Samsung has said that the device is designed under its project zero initiative to build the device from scratch. The teaser image was tweeted out by T-mobile CEO John Legere.

Was there even a question? Of course @TMobile will carry The Next Big Thing! http://t.co/st6K7weXXz

— John Legere (@JohnLegere) February 23, 2015

The picture titled “SIX APPEAL” clearly shows a Note Edge like device. Samsung had hinted before that the S6 will have a curved screen, and the image gives a clear view of the curved display. As anticipated, the grey metal body is also visible on the display, and it makes the device look robust and sturdy.

In another leak by Sammobile, it is being reported that the Galaxy S6 might also sport dual front speakers like the HTC Boomsound or the Moto devices. They also hinted at a three-sided display on the device, but it sounds like a stretch as of now.

The leaked specs and images do present a pleasant image of the device, but it doesn’t feel game-changing yet. The phone launches in about a week so we’ll hold on to our judgements till then. We do hope that the company with the biggest R&D capabilities will do a better job than they did with their previous generation Galaxy S5.

February 23, 2015
Apple Sued For Poaching Employees of Battery Manufacturer For its Electric Car

Apple has been in the news recently following the revelations that the company is working secretly on an electric car. The news has spread like wildfire and experts from all corners of technology are weighing the pros and cons of Apple’s decision. But between all the talks a battery maker is suing Apple for poaching their employees.

A123 Systems is a lithium-ion battery manufacturer based in the American state of Massachusetts. It makes batteries for electric vehicles, commercial vehicles, and for the business sector. In 2011, the company’s battery technology was used to create a 32 MW energy storage system that was the largest Lithium-Ion battery energy storage system of its kind in operation at that time. A123 had to apply for bankruptcy protection in 2012 following weak growth in the battery market and electric cars.

A123 makes batteries for vehicles to electric grids and claims Apple is stealing its employees to work on a potential electric car.

The company has now filed a lawsuit against Apple claiming that the technology giant has been actively pursuing its employees. A123 named five of its employees in the suit who have either moved to Apple or are in the process of transferring to the company. The company claims that the loss of the qualified talent adversely affects their business as they’ll find it difficult to find replacements.

Apple has not replied to the lawsuit as of yet. The company is said to have engaged hundred’s of employees on a secretive project that is codenamed as ‘Titan’. Apple is also said to have attracted auto professionals from Mercedez Benz and electric car maker Tesla. It apparently plans to bring out an electric car by 2020.

Apple’s competitor, Google, has already invested immense resources into the creation of its self-driving car ecosystem. Apple’s advent into the electric car market is encouraging as the electric car space needs a big boost. Tesla was seen as the only major player in the field, but with the addition of big name brands like Mercedes, GM and Apple, you should hope to see some real competition in this space.

February 20, 2015

Microsoft Lumia 532 | Hands On

Microsoft yesterday launched the Lumia 532 in India targeted at the affordable segment of the market. The phone runs on Windows Phone 8.1 OS and will be getting the Windows 10 update. Microsoft launched the devices with multiple offers like data connection and premium access to Truecaller for six months. But what has it really got to offer for its price tag of Rs.6,499, let’s have a look.

The Lumia 532 comes from the Nokia inventory of devices that now feature a Microsoft logo. The phone is fairly fast and responsive. It features a 1 GB RAM and a 1.2 GHz Snapdragon 200 processor. You get a 5 MP shooter at the back and a VGA camera on the front that lets you make Skype calls from the device. This dual-sim, 3G device gets its power from a 1560 mAh battery.

Microsoft has said that the device will always get the latest operating system(OS) updates and will be getting the Denim update soon. Microsoft’s next major OS update is Windows 10, and the Lumia 532 will be getting it too.

Coming to build quality, the device does impress you with its exteriors. It carries on the legacy of the Nokia’s strong build, for which it is still appreciated (*Nokia 3310 memes). It has a robust, matte finish, polycarbonate back panel along with a strengthened front glass. The sides of the device have been given a glossy finish which is unique offering from Microsoft. It might be a bit tough to get the back panel out initially, but it will get easier once you understand the technique to open it.

The physical controls and ports are easy to access too. On the right side, you have the volume rockers and the power buttons. On the bottom, you get the microUSB port for charging and data syncing. On the top is a 3.5 mm jack for hands-free. The phone lets you expand storage to up to 128 GB which will be appreciated by multimedia hoarders.

Windows phones are known to be fast and responsive, and so is this device. The UI is really responsive, and the 1 GB helps you to get your tasks done with ease. You can customize the size of your live tiles just by holding them out and then selecting what size you want. You can also move the tiles as you desire. The device lets you change the basic color of the device, and you can get a back panel with the same color too. So this will be loved by the young folks. There is also a new predictive keyboard that will make it a lot easier to type messages.

So the device overall offers some good features for its price tag of Rs. 6,499. The device will always be updated and has a lot of colors and customization features that will impress the youth market. We will bring out a full review out soon and if you have any questions and queries regarding the device then post it in the comment section below and we’ll try to address them in our review. Keep checking iGyaan for more.

SPECS	Microsoft Lumia 532
Operating System	Windows Phone 8.1
Screen Size	4 inch 480 x 800 pixels
RAM	1 GB
Battery	1560 mAh
Processor	Snapdragon 200
CPU	Quad-core 1.2 GHz
Internal Storage	8 GB
Expandable Up to	128 GB
Front camera	VGA
Rear Camera	5 MP
Price	Rs. 6,499

February 20, 2015

Microsoft Brings the Lumia 532 to India

Microsoft has today launched two new devices for the affordable segment of the Indian smartphone market. The company launched the Lumia 435 and the Lumia 532 here in Indian capital today. Lumia 532 is a dual sim device with a price tag of Rs. 6,499.

Microsoft Lumia 532 has a 4 inch display with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels and a pixel density of 233 PPI. It gets its processing might from a Quad-core 1.2 GHz, Snapdragon 200 processor along with 1 GB RAM. The internal storage of the device stands at 8 GB and can be expanded through a MicroSD card to up to 128 GB. Apart from that you also get 30 GB of free OneDrive cloud storage.

On the camera front, the device sports a 5 MP camera on the back and a VGA camera on the front. It is juiced up through a 1560 mAh. The device runs on Microsoft Windows Phone 8.1 operating system and will receive the upcoming Windows 10 upgrade.

As with its younger sibling the Lumia 435, the company is also offering free 500 MB data connection from Airtel for a duration of 7 months. A 6-month Truecaller premium subscription worth Rs. 360 is also added for free with this device.

Overall, looking at the spec sheet it seems like Microsoft is trying to clear out the inventory of the devices it inherited from Nokia. There is a plus side to these devices too. As Microsoft is working towards creating a unified ecosystem with Windows 10, you can expect easier interaction between your Windows Phone and your Windows 10 based computers. But it does seem like you would have to overlook the competition that offers more features at present for a unified Microsoft ecosystem of the future.

February 19, 2015
Microsoft Launches the Affordable Lumia 435 in India For Rs.5,999

Microsoft is a giving a push to its smartphone business in the affordable segment of the market. The company has launched the Lumia 435 in India to strengthen its portfolio at the lower end of the smartphone market.

The Lumia 435 sports a 4 inch display with a resolution of 480×800 pixels with a pixel density of 233 PPI. It is powered by a Dual-core 1.2 GHz, Snapdragon 200 processor along with 1 GB RAM. It has 8 GB internal storage but can be expanded up to a massive 128 GB that is great for a budget device.

This device has a 2 MP camera on the back and a VGA camera at the front. It gets its juice from a 1560 mAh battery. The device runs on Microsoft Windows Phone 8.1 and will be upgraded to Windows 10 in the coming future.

To attract the customers to its ecosystem, Microsoft is offering a 500 MB data connection from Airtel for 7 months. Along with the data connection, the company is also offering a 6 months premium package of Truecaller.

The device is priced at Rs. 5,999 which is identical pricing for the Moto E, which offers a 4.3 inch qHD ( 540 x 960) display and will also be getting the latest Android Lollipop update soon. The 435’a expandable storage and the free data plans are its only attractive features, so it remains to be seen how many takers it manages to find in the Indian market.

February 19, 2015
Qualcomm Brings Out New Processors in the Snapdragon 600 and 400 Series

One of the most trusted makers of smartphone chipsets, Qualcomm has launched four new processors for smartphones. These processors are part of the company’s Snapdragon 600 and 400 series.

Qualcomm launched Snapdragon 620, 618, 425 and the 415

The processors will help to broaden the reach of LTE capabilities of devices in the mid and the affordable range of smartphones. In the 600 series, Qualcomm has unveiled the Snapdragon 620 and 618. These chips are integrated with 64-bit ARM Cortex A-72 CPUs and the new X8 LTE modem. The company says that with these launches, the mid-range segment of the handsets will get functionalities that were only available on the top tier 800 series.

Qualcomm has also introduced Snapdragon 425 and 415 in the 400 series. These will be the first octa-core chipsets in the 400 series. The Snapdragon 425 will be clocked at 1.7GHz, whereas the 415 is clocked at 1.4GHz.

These chipsets will provide higher value to the cost-conscious consumers. Qualcomm also says that these processors will offer higher volume. The 415 is expected to show up in the devices launched in the first half of this year, while the rest might be seen in the later part of the year.

February 19, 2015
Dragon Brings Back The First 3D Printed Tools From Space

3D printing is the ultimate technology revolution. It will give people the ability to create, customize and print out almost anything they need. One major arena, where the technology will bring immense convenience, is space travel. Instead of storing a massive inventory of tools and supplies, the astronauts can just print out what they require, when they need it. The testing of 3D printers capabilities in space is underway at the International Space Station(ISS). Now the tools made in space are being brought back to earth for research purposes.

The tools are being brought back to Earth in SpaceX’s Dragon spaceship in its fifth resupply mission. These tools will help the researchers understand the nitty gritty of printing in space. After heavy study, the researchers will validate if the technology is dependable for long duration human flights like a trip to Mars.

Zero-G Printer from Made in Space was used to create these the tools at the ISS.

The Zero-G printer experiments are a joint project between Nasa and Made in Space. It uses a low-temperature plastic stock. To finish the experimental phase at the ISS, a ratchet wrench was printed, and the designs were fed to the printer directly from the ground station. The lessons learnt from this research will help to further strengthen the utility of 3D printing in the microgravity of space.

3D printing will make access to travel more accessible and economical. Nasa is already testing the technology for creating essential engine bits for its rockets. The technology surely will have a bigger role to play in the field of space travel in the coming future

February 19, 2015
With About $19 Billion Valuation, Snapchat To Become Third Most Valued Startup

Snapchat, the service that lets you send self-destructing text and picture messages is going places. In the latest round of funding, the company seems positive to raise its valuation to $16-19 billion. With this funding round, the company will become the third most valued startup after Xiaomi and Uber.

Last year, Snapchat raised $485 Million and was then valued at $10 Billion. This time around the company is targeting $500 million and is expected to be valued between $16-19 Billion. The company will over all raise $1 Billion after proposed funding.

Snapchat needs the funding as it plans to purchase the recording label Big Machine. This purchase is expected to cost Snapdeal a massive sum of $350 million. To raise its funds further, the company has said that it will be introducing ads on the platform.

Snapchat has been gaining popularity and is said to have acquired up to 200 Million monthly active users. For comparison, Instagram has over 300 Million subscribers while Whatsapp, the most popular of the messaging app has a user base of over 700 million.

February 18, 2015
German Company Lets You Print A 3D Replica of Yourself

The selfie culture refuses die down. It is the ultimate expression medium for the inner narcissist. Smartphone makers are also hard at work to give the best front camera capabilities to their handsets. Now a German company is taking things a step ahead. Why should you be only contended with digital images of yourselves when you can create a real life 3D printed replica.

Meet DOOB 3D created by a Dusseldorf-based company. To scan a person DOOB 3D system requires a room size scanning booth. The system incorporates 54 DSLRs, 54 lenses, an extensive 3D modeling pipeline. The final replica or the DOOB is printed out of full-colour 3D printer worth USD 80,000.

You can get DOOBed on your special occasions.

DOOB 3D can also print multiple people at one. A person just steps in the booth, and the cameras are all fired at once to capture the moment from all angles. All the images are transferred to a propriety software that creates the 3D model which is ready to be brought into the real world through the 3D printer.

You can also DOOB your furry friends.

The printer prints out the replica at a leisurely pace of 1.1 inches in an hour. The DOOBs are as tall as four to fourteen inches. It might take a few hours to half a day to print out a complete DOOB.

The 3D Printing revolution has begun and has unlimited possibilities. DOOB is utilizing the technology well, and the massive system could be shrunk down so that it can be introduced everywhere. Maybe the next step of this technology would be to create 3D self-replicas with moving parts. It might also let people print themselves as various different characters such as superheroes so imagine your shelf full of Marvel character action figures with your face on them. May however you look at it, DOOBs are cool.

To know more about the prospects of 3D printing in just two quick minutes, watch our new show, Tech in Two:

February 18, 2015
Here is Samsung’s First Trailer Teasing the Galaxy S6

Samsung’s next in Galaxy S series has already been a subject of a lot of speculation and hype. The prospects of a full metal based device have enticed the audience. Samsung has also said that they have worked from scratch on the device, and the market is looking forward to seeing how Samsung takes on this challenge. The Korean electronic giant has just unveiled the first teaser for this new flagship from its stable.

Samsung will be holding an unpacked event on the 1st of March. The company has posted a brief 17 second teaser video on Twitter with the hashtag The Next Galaxy. The video talks about a great vision and unique view and ends with a graphic of the main camera along with the line I am #thenextgalaxy.

I am #TheNextGalaxy. Be inspired by my vision at #Unpacked. https://t.co/Qu3e4L2DEg

— SamsungMobile (@SamsungMobile) February 13, 2015

The Galaxy S6 is reported to sport a Quad HD(2K) display and will most probably be powered by Samsung’s own 64 bit Exynos processor. It will run Android Lollipop and might have up to 128 GB internal storage options. Samsung is supposedly including a 20 MP, intelligent main camera that might address the focus on the camera in the teaser. There are also talks of payment system called Samsung Pay to be launched along with the device.

Samsung has managed to answer its design critics over the last year with the launch of the Galaxy Alpha and the Note 4. It is yet to be seen if Samsung manages to launch a new cutting edge design that could reach the lower segment of its devices or just a simple rehash with minimal tweaks and bumped up specs. A lot is riding on Samsung, and it needs to get it right this time.

February 14, 2015
Tech in 2, Episode 1 : 3D Printing Explained in 2 Minutes

In this fast-paced world, wouldn’t it be great if someone explained complex technology in the time your instant noodles cooked? We took it upon ourselves to bring the best of the information in one easy sized bite.

Welcome to ‘Tech In 2’, iGyaan’s latest show. Here you get everything you want to know about any gizmo or technology you desire. If you want to know about anything in the world of technology, leave a comment below, and we’ll bring out an episode for you.

To begin, we bring you this episode on 3D printing or additive manufacturing(AM). It is a revolutionary technology that will completely revolutionize the way we buy things. We explain how you can create almost anything from a small tool to an entire house using the technology. Feel free to share the video with someone you think needs the info.

Read more about 3D printing technology here.

February 14, 2015
iPhone 6 Plus Uses Twice as Much Data as the iPhone 6

Apple fans had to wait for a long while before they got a big screen. Their request was finally answered by Apple last year when they finally launched the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus with bigger displays. These displays are great for multimedia consumption, but apparently they will also cause your data bills to skyrocket.

In a research paper submitted by Citrix, it claims that iPhone 6 Plus uses almost twice as much data as the iPhone 6. Interestingly it was also found that the bigger iPhone slurps out ten times more data than the iPhone 3Gs.

One of the major reasons cited for this heavy data usage is the increased multimedia content accessed through the devices. The bigger screen makes it easier for the users to watch heavy data intensive content like streaming videos.

This revelation may not be as worrisome to an Apple user because if you can afford an iPhone, then you might easily handle the additional data charge. iPhone users have got the pleasure of the big screen display just a few months back, so it’s obvious that they are making the most of it.

February 13, 2015
After Internet.org, Google Plans to Bring Project Loon to India for Affordable Internet

Facebook recently launched Internet.org initiative in India which offers affordable Internet connectivity and basic services on the Rcom network. It is one of the major initiatives to connect the folks who still don’t have access to the information superhighway. Google’s Project Loon is also one of the major connectivity initiatives, and the company is bringing it to India.

Google has said that it is working with the Government of India to bring its balloon and kite powered internet initiative to India. The company plans to provide the entire planet with internet coverage by the year 2016. This is the brainchild of Google X, the companies secretive research wing.

Project Loon balloons travel 20 kilometers above the surface of the planet and use wind to pilot themselves. From there they offer access to communications at 3G-like speeds. It will be beneficial to empower users in rural parts of the country. This network will also be a boon during emergency situations such as natural disasters.

The communication age demands a population to be connected with the world, in order to grow. Currently, a massive population of 3 Billion people around the world are oblivious to the benefits (and the few misgivings) of the internet. Initiatives like Project Loon, Internet.Org and proposed satellite-based space internet will allow the entire humanity to interconnect.

February 13, 2015
Move Over 4G, Finland is Building the First 5G Test Network

The communications age has gained rapid speed over the past decade. From a mere 2G GSM connectivity, we have reached the mobile broadband range of 4G. We now have the fastest wireless access to the internet ever, but the folks at Finland seem to think that it can be much faster. A Finnish research institute is building a 5G network for test purposes.

5G or Fifth generation of mobile telecommunications technology will of course offer increased speeds, but it will also be less draining on resources. It is also known as ‘tactile internet’. 5G is expected to be 100 times faster than the fastest 4G. It would also require smaller antennae and its signals can be bounced off buildings and solid surfaces.

The test network is being constructed in the Finnish city Oulu, which is situated in the Northwestern part of the country. It is being built by the University of Oulu in cooperation with the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. VTT will be working on a closed private network whereas the University will be setting up an open public network.

With the closed network, VTT will test out and access the potentials and challenges of their technology. The public network, on the other hand, will test the network’s ability to handle heavy traffic. The work on the network construction will begin on February 18. The technology is expected to reach mainstream markets by 2020.

February 13, 2015