Category: Brands and Companies

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All Major Indian Telecom Players Slash Down Roaming Rates by Up to 75%

After Vodafone slashed down their roaming rates, leading telecom operators followed suit, including Airtel, Idea Cellular and Reliance Communication. All of the operators lowered their roaming rates up to 75% after TRAI cut off the maximum ceiling tariff. Roaming call rates will be cheaper by 40% and SMS by 75%. The above is effective immediately.

For Airtel, incoming rates have been reduced by 40% and outgoing inter-circle calls will be lowered by 23%. Outgoing local call rates will be decreased by 20%, and it reduced local SMS rate by 75%. Outgoing inter-circle SMS rate has been cut by up to 74%.

As for Idea Cellular and Reliance, similarly, these two companies have slashed their roaming call rates by 40%. Idea will now charge incoming calls at 45paise/minute and outgoing is reduced by 20%. Local SMS on Idea will cost 25% lesser, and STD will be charged 38 paise while on roaming.

In the words of Morgan Stanley, American multinational financial service:

Reduction in national roaming ceiling tariff would imply a 2% revenue impact and 4% Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation) impact for operators, which could be partly offset by an increase in roaming minutes and any positive differential gains.

Earlier this month, TRAI had cut the maximum rate for STD calls on roaming to Rs 1.15 from Rs 1.50. To read about Vodafone’s new tariff plans, click here.

May 1, 2015

OnePlus Powerbank to Arrive in India in the Next Few Days

OnePlus is hiding a slew of surprises under its hood. The past month, the Chinese equipment maker launched its first drone, the DR-1, which some thought was an April fools’ prank. The technology start-up has once again teased a new product which, as always, they are calling a game changer.

The OnePlus India sent out a teaser on its official Twitter handle:

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

— OnePlus India (@OnePlus_IN) April 30, 2015

The tweet exhibits a product that is sleek and holds elegantly curved edges. Clearly, it displays the power bank that OnePlus had rolled out in December last year. Also, we had a word with the OnePlus India team and they confirmed that smart device will be arriving in India within the next few days.

The portable charger provides 10,000mAh of power and is one of the cheapest ones available till date. The external battery can easily slip in your pocket and can charge your smartphone more than 5 times on a single charge. The price and release date for India has not been disclosed yet. However its launch price was a mere $ 14.99 (Rs. 952 approx)

Here are detailed specifications of the OnePlus power bank:

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

May 1, 2015

Micromax Enters the Personal Computing Space with ‘Canvas LapTab’, a Laptop-Tablet Hybrid

Today, the homegrown handset maker Micromax debuted into personal computing arena with the launch of a tablet/laptop. It is the third segment where the company plans to gain a foothold, after smartphones and televisions. Dubbed as Canvas LapTab, the tablet transforms into a laptop when attached to a portable keyboard. The portable gadget is available at an easy price of Rs. 14,999.

The Co-Founder of Micromax Vikas Jain stated at the launch event –

We will launch five to six laptab models by March next year, which will more than 10-inches in screen size. We will move into pure laptops and pure personal computers overtime. We are thinking of manufacturing it in India.

The device is different from the one unveiled at CES 2015 and runs on Windows 8.1 OS. The compact machine has been targeted at students, travellers, and enterprises.

Coming to the specifications of the device, the Canvas LapTab features a 10.1-inch WXGA IPS touch screen. The processor powering the device is a 1.83GHz Intel Atom Z3735F, which comes bundled with 2GB of RAM. The memory storage details are still unknown. As mentioned above, the tablet runs on Windows 8.1 as of now, and can be upgraded to Windows 10 once its released.

Optics includes a 2MP front and rear shooter. The LapTab has a mammoth battery of 7,700mAh, which can keep it going for 10 hours, the company claims. It comes with a 3G SIM slot for mobile data connectivity.

The Canvas LapTab will be available on May 6 with the company’s online partner Amazon India. The product may be available through offline channels at a later stage.

April 30, 2015
Microsoft has a Good Opportunity in India with Cloud, Says Nadella

Cloud computing is a brand new platform that Microsoft is looking to evolve further. It has gained a great deal of attention, but hasn’t attained the prominence expected by the company. The top official of Microsoft believes that Microsoft has a real opportunity with cloud-computing in India and it will be a transformative area.

The CEO of Microsoft Satya Nadella remarked at the conference:

It was hard selling softwares. But now with cloud, we have real opportunity in India. That definitely is the transformative thing. And of course by design, it has anti-piracy built into it, which also is very helpful.

Nadella expects Cloud to grow the size of Google in the next five years. He further stated, “Qualitatively, the way I describe the world that we live in and what it will be in the next five years is this mobile-first, cloud-first world.”

The hardware and software giant is the leader of the cloud service that provides computing and data storage services. The system works by deploying groups of remote servers and software networks that uploads different data sources for real-time processing without the need to store processed data on the cloud.

The Microsoft CEO commented on his vision is to empower every person and organisation and make them achieve more.

Customer success is the top priority of Microsoft and they work on helping their customers re-imagine their businesses. Chief Operating Officer of Microsoft Kevin Turner stated in the 2015 Microsoft Financial Analyst Briefing:

And the other big mantra we have at Microsoft, particularly for our field and our go-to-market model, is transforming while performing, and working on those things simultaneously is a very important part of our rigour and our discipline, and what we bring to the table relative to focusing on this customer success.

Alongside this announcement, Microsoft held a three-day build conference where new feature were revealed like Continuum for Phone and Microsft Edge. Check other features here.

April 30, 2015
40,000 Xiaomi Mi 4i Units Get Sold Out in 15 Seconds

Xiaomi’s brand new affordable offering has received an overwhelming response. As scheduled, the Chinese electronics maker today conducted its first flash sale of Mi 4i in India with 40,000 units up for sale. The registered users picked up the device in a matter of seconds. The phone, priced at Rs. 12,999, comes in white, blue, orange, yellow and pink colour options.

Xiaomi India Head Manu Jain confirmed about the same through Twitter –

#Mi4i: 1st sale of Mi 4i – we had offered 40K devices. Went out of stock in 15 secs. Thank u Mi fans for ur love n support. @MiIndiaOfficial

— Manu Kumar Jain (@manukumarjain) April 30, 2015

Throwing some light on its specifications, Xiaomi Mi 4i has a 5-inch Full HD OGS IPS display with 441ppi pixel density. The processor powering the phone is a 64-bit octa-core Cortex-A53; the four cores clocked at 1.7 GHz and the other four at 1.1 GHz. It features 2GB of RAM and 16GB of non-expandable storage space. The Mi 4i runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop with the company’s MIUI 6 on top.

Optics includes a 13MP rear and a 5MP shooter. The dual-SIM device is powered by a 3120mAh battery. Connectivity options include Micro-USB 2.0, Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi.

April 30, 2015
Future Google Laptops May Eliminate the Space Bar Altogether

In an attempt to making laptops more compact, Google has recently signed a patent that may make your future laptop smaller by getting rid of the space bar. In a patent signed by the search giant, the design of the laptop replaced the space bar with an extended mouse trackpad. The trackpad and the rest of the keyboard are separated by a ridge, or a line, which might work as a spacebar button. Sensors beneath the trackpad will determine whether the space is used as a trackpad or a space bar. While typing, a touch to this region will result in a space, while a tap while using the trackpad will result in a mouse click.

Google’s reason for removing the space bar is that by pushing the trackpad up to the area of the space bar would be the first step to creating a smaller laptop. Although, the patent is still presented as ‘questionable’ since Lenovo’s current line of laptops already have trackpads pushed closer to the space bar.

Meanwhile, Google’s space bar patent was rejected four times in the past, according to Patent Office’s digital paper trail system. Will we soon see a smaller keyboard in Google’s Chromebook? We will have to wait to find that out.

April 30, 2015

Microsoft Outs the Budget-Friendly Lumia 430 in India

Keeping its promise, Microsoft today launched its cheapest Lumia handset, Lumia 430 in India. The phone was unveiled back in March at a price tag of $70. The Dual-SIM device is up for grabs in the country starting today at a considerably low price of Rs. 5,299.

The Redmond-based has secured a space for itself in the budget segment with the release of Lumia 430. It has an edge over entry-level Android devices with an option to Windows 10 upgrade; when it releases later this year. The device comes pre-installed with apps like Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote), Outlook, Skype and OneDrive.

Coming on the specifications, then the Lumia 430 sports a 4-inch WVGA (800×480 pixels) LCD display with 235ppi pixel density. A 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor provides power to the device together with 1GB RAM. The internal storage space is 8GB, but users can expand it up to 128GB via MicroSD card. For now, the Lumia 430 runs on Windows Phone 8.1 with Lumia Denim update, but soon users can access the benefits of Windows 10 on the device.

On the photography front, a 2MP camera is fitted at its back, while the front is a VGA snapper. A 1500mAh battery fuels the phone, which the company claims can stand 8.4 hours of talktime. Connectivity options include dual-SIM card slots, 3G support, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.

The company has announced some exciting offers to entice customers like Rs. 3,000 cashback on transaction via MobiKwik app. Other deals include Rs. 1,500 discount on ticket booking via Redbus app, and 500MB free data per month for two months.

Have a look at its spec sheet below:

Specifications	Microsoft Lumia 430
Display	4-inch (800×480 pixels) LCD
Processor	1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200
RAM	1GB
Storage	8GB, expandable up to 128GB
Operating System	Windows Phone 8.1, upgradable to Windows 10
Camera	2MP rear, front VGA
Battery	1500mAh
Price	Rs. 5,299

April 30, 2015

Continuum Will Turn a Windows 10 Handset into a Full-Fledged PC

Microsoft’s annual Build Conference brought a slew of significant features. Significant announcements included the disclosure of the new Windows 10 browser ‘Microsoft Edge‘, and the other is the official confirmation of Windows 10 being open for Android and iOS apps.

Among many noteworthy revelations, one that caught hold of our attention is Continuum for phones. The tech firm demonstrated onstage one of the spectacular possibilities for its new Windows 10 and revealed how a small 5-inch handset can turn into a full-blown PC.

So, how does Continuum work and what does it means to Windows Phone users?

Continuum sorts the problem of shifting among various devices. As Continuum transforms a phone into a computer, its user interface (UI) moulds itself to work better with a mouse and keyboard. It’s just like Universal apps from Microsoft that scales up to fit the screen they are opened in.

When a Windows phone is connected to a PC, it acts as the main gadget with power to access everything that you do on a full-sized computer. With Continuum on a smartphone, all the keyboard shortcuts of a PC work will work exactly the same way on your Windows smartphone. This way, users can get their work done using their phone like a PC.

It also comes with dual-screen capabilities, which means users can continue using their phone while it is plugged into external peripherals like a TV or a desktop. This allows the handset to be used independently, and both the screens can perform different functions at the same time. Joe Belfiore from the Microsoft Team announced that new processors from Qualcomm are being used which can help drive two displays separately.

Continuum has given a boost to Windows Phones and has made it somewhat like an Apple iPhone, which works better in conjunction with other gadgets in its ecosystem. For now, Continuum is built to provide limited access, but the hardware will be modified to deliver full-on desktop features in the future. With this, Microsoft has secured its current customers and may even lure more with its new tool.

Watch the below clip for more information about Continuum for Phones:

https://youtu.be/-oi1B9fjVs4

April 30, 2015
It’s Official! Microsoft Extends Android and iOS App Support for Windows 10

The day before, the news of Microsoft planning to roll out a fresh feature came to light, which could bring the plethora of Android apps for Windows users. Now at the Annual Build Conference, Microsoft confirmed the authenticity of the reports. Last night, Microsoft revealed its plan to bolster the piddling share of its Windows Phone market and announced that the new Windows 10 can run the reworked Android and iOS apps. The company unveiled Software Development Kits (SDKs) that allows developers of Android and iOS to port their apps on the Windows platform.

Microsoft wants to offer the 1 billion associated loyal Windows customers the vast apps ecosystem that the company had not been able to develop since long. Two new SDKs will do the porting of apps. For the Android developers, American tech behemoth is allowing to leverage Java and C++ code to make Windows apps, and iOS developers will use the Objective-C code developed by Microsoft.

Microsoft’s Executive Vice President of Operating Systems Terry Myerson commented at the event –

Windows 10 is going to enable you to reuse your Web code, your .NET and Win32 code, your Android, Java and C++ code, to build amazing new applications, bringing the code over, extending it, putting it in the Windows Store, and reaching 1 billion Windows 10 customers.

Today, we’re announcing that you will be able to compile the same Objective-C code that’s being used in iOS applications within Visual Studio on Windows. Enabling you to leverage that code and extend it with the capabilities only found on the Windows platform.

Developers don’t have to put much effort in making apps from scratch. Just a few tweaks in codes and the apps will be ready to run on all Windows devices, automatically fitting the different screen sizes. Microsoft is also looking towards shifting the existing apps on Windows 7 and Windows 8 to the latest Windows 10. The firm mentioned that 16 million .NET and Win32 apps were still being used every month on Windows 7 and Windows 8, so their importance cannot be overlooked.

On the first day of the conference, Microsoft previewed the .NET Core for Windows, Linux and Mac OS X. ‘Visual Studio 2015 Release Candidate’ was also released that makes it easier for developers to build universal applications and deploy them to Windows, Linux, iOS and Android platforms.

The company hasn’t come up with the release date of Windows 10 yet, but it is speculated to release in or before fall.

April 30, 2015
Microsoft Introduces ‘Microsoft Edge’, the New Windows 10 Browser

Work on a new browser for Windows 10 has been underway since January. For months it had been codenamed as Project Spartan, today Microsoft has finally unveiled this browser with a new name, Microsoft Edge. New features like faster rendering, voice assistant Cortana, note-taking mode, customizable reading note, these gave the Project Spartan an ‘edge’ upon the traditional Internet Explorer.

Here are the new developments:

Break-up with Internet Explorer

It is definitely a replacement for the Internet Explorer because it features a new and faster rendering machine called EdgeHTML. With a basic and minimal designing layout, it looks like a browser from the future. It will be set as the default browser for Windows 10 and, as claimed by Microsoft, the only one that will be used by the customers.

Microsoft Edge’s logo

Logo of the Edge browser does not stray far from its original logo of the Internet Explorer. The lower-case Explorer ‘e’ was not exactly a favourite among users after the entry of Mozilla or Chrome. The Edge’s logo is almost the same, just added a futuristic look to convey a message that it knows where it came from.

Then and Now

Edge will not support Extension until after RTM

Though the browser is loaded with new features like Cortana, customizable reading note, etc., the company says the browser is not yet ready to be integrate RTM support on Microsoft Edge. It has said the Edge will continue to iterate through updates in the Windows Insider Program. Although still far off, Microsoft is now making it easier for developers to port extensions from other browsers.

Check out the video below by Microsoft introducing Microsoft Edge

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH1D31YHsgY

April 30, 2015
Report: Android Apps Might Soon Be Available for Windows Users

Windows Phones have been in the smartphone race since long, but their App Store is still remains constrained. Microsoft is committed to eliminating the glitch and is ready to offer its users the luxury of the Android app ecosystem. The company is reportedly working on a feature that will open the doors of the Android app store for Windows users.

A trusted blogger Paul Thurrot has commented on Microsoft’s plans that they might come out with at the BUILD conference scheduled for tonight. He revealed that Microsoft is likely to introduce a feature that will let users run Android apps on Windows 10 devices like smartphones, tablets and PCs.

This means the confined app network will now grow to the maximum by encompassing all the apps that are developed for Android till date. It will give a major push to the Windows Phone market, which was till date lagging because of its limited App Store.

It is still unclear how Microsoft will integrate the change. It remains to be seen if it will create a new app store for Android apps or allow support for Android stores by third-party developers. The move will help the company in the long run, but it is dubious how it will go with Microsoft’s Universal App strategy.

April 29, 2015
Asus Hints ZenFone 3 Will Come Equipped with a Qualcomm Chipset

ASUS has long been using Intel chipsets on its smartphones. It has a tie-up with the software firm that makes available latest chips for personal computers, as well as handsets. The Taiwanese equipment manufacturer is reportedly in talks with Qualcomm to embed its chips in future Asus phones.

The CEO of Asus, Jerry Shen shared some information with online tech portal Yugatech about the company’s partnership with Qualcomm and hinted that it could use Snapdragon 615 for future handsets. He also disclosed that they will discontinue using confusing naming convention opted for the recent releases, and go Apple’s simplistic way. Users might see a new nomenclature for the forthcoming ZenFone 3.

Shen mentioned that the company will release a major product every year and will roll up incremental upgrades every six months. With this he confirmed we can expect the successor of the ZenFone 2 in 2016.

April 29, 2015
Micromax Launches a Surprise Device on April 30

Indian tech company, Micromax, is all set to enter an entirely new product category on April 30^th. Micromax established a firm foothold in the smartphone market with the release of the Yu Yureka, and moved forward to release its smart television.

The teaser by Micromax reads as ‘The Next Smart Thing is Coming.’ The question mark shown next to the television may suggest the company is working on something very different than what it usually offers. The invite drops the hint that the gadget is being brought in collaboration with Intel.

The next smart thing is coming soon! pic.twitter.com/czuFFP6cPH

— Micromax Mobile (@Micromax_Mobile) April 26, 2015

What’s interesting to note is that days after Micromax’s event, Xiaomi’s Mi fitness band goes on sale on 5th May. It might be possible that Micromax would release their version of a fitness band few days before Xiaomi’s launch. The surprise device could also be as simple as a Chromecast-like streaming dongle, or a dangerous bet like the HTC Vive virtual reality headset.

Meanwhile, there are several rumours going around. Some claim that Micromax is planning to release a hybrid laptop. Since the speculations are many, it would be better to sit back tight and wait for the 30th. Just a day to go now.

April 29, 2015
Xiaomi’s 1,000 Mi Band Units Priced at Re. 1 Might Cause Trouble for Other Buyers

Along the new Mi 4i, Xiaomi introduced another much-desired product to the Indian market – the Mi Band. Xioami’s fitness band is one of the cheapest available in the market and helps keep a track of users’ sleep, workout and overall fitness. The company announced at the Global Mi 4i Premier that it will give away the Rs. 999 Mi Band for just Re. 1. The first 1,000 units of the tracking device are going up for sale, but massive number of people are registering to secure it.

Xiaomi claims that the Mi Band is a reliable activity tracker which offers a battery life of 30 days. Users can set alarms, get missed call notification right on their wrists. The water-proof band is IP-67 certified and works under water. It connects with both iOS and Android smartphones through Bluetooth 4.0 and a companion app.

As Xiaomi has kept the price negligible at Re. 1 for the Mi Band Preview, a massive crowd is sure to login the official Mi website. To be the lucky one, willing buyers will continually attempt to make a purchase, which will cause an unwanted onslaught of traffic. This will cause a problem for the rest of the buyers who wish to buy smartphones, power banks or other accessories. There might be chances of the website facing a temporary outage. The registrations started from April 28, and the sale will commence at 2pm on May 5.

April 29, 2015
Microsoft Might Set Up a Smartphone Manufacturing Unit in India

The smartphone landscape in India is rapidly flourishing. Previously Xiaomi expressed its view to build a manufacturing unit in the country and now, Microsoft is mulling over the same thought. The US-based firm Microsoft is pondering over establishing a local manufacturing unit in India after the government’s decree on import. The company says that post the Indian government’s rigorous take on international organizations, it would be expensive to bring phones to the country.

Corporate Vice-President at Microsoft Mobile Device Sales, Chris Weber reiterated the same, “We’re evaluating local manufacturing in terms of what our local footprint is. There are some new regulations and tax duties, etc., about local manufacturing and certainly we’re looking at them to make sure that we remain competitive.” He further mentioned that the evaluation is underway for all nations including India.

Microsoft got a boost in the smartphone business with the buyout of Nokia’s device business for $7.5 billion last year. The firm has a foothold in the market, but to stay ahead of its competitors like Samsung, Xioami, Micromax and more, Microsoft needs to offer phones at an unbeatable price point.

As an Indian origin firm, Micromax has added benefits. It can retail its handsets at comparatively lower prices as the Indian government has relieved the home-grown companies from many taxes to give them a push. On the other hand, the current budget puts excessive load on foreign tech companies since it has made import even more pricey. It has led global companies to consider establishing a manufacturing unit in India.

Weber said that Microsoft will update its 4G devices portfolio in India and make a comeback in the premium smartphone market this year. The hardware and software beast now has several budget and mid-range smartphones in its portfolio. Seeing people’s inclination to high-end devices like Galaxy S6 and iPhone 6 Plus, Microsoft is planning to throw its top-notch devices in the marketplace and enter the premium smartphone battle.

The American multinational technology firm is presently rebranding the brick-and-motor stores of Nokia all over the world. The rebranding will be held in two categories – Microsoft Priority Resellers and Microsoft Mobile Sellers. The former one will keep all the company products, and the latter will be an experience store.

April 29, 2015