Category: Brands and Companies

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The Wait is Over, Windows 10 Arriving in 190 Countries This Summer

Ever since Microsoft announced the latest iteration of the Windows operating system last year, users have been patiently waiting for its arrival in the market. The demos presented by the company has got the market excited for the plethora of cool features. Microsoft also corrects its blunder of removing the start menu in its last offering by bring back the menu in Windows 10. The company is now ready to bring the latest OS to its customers worldwide and will be launching it this summer in 190 countries.

Microsoft will offer a one-year free upgrade which will be available to the customers running Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1. Users can choose from 111 language options for the new operating system.

Terry Myerson of Microsoft commented on the official blog post –

We continue to make great development progress and shared today that Windows 10 will be available this summer in 190 countries and 111 languages.

Microsoft has a strategic plan to roll out Windows 10 in China. The firm stated that it would partner with leading companies like Lenovo, Tencent and Qihu 360 to deliver the new Windows OS to its customers. As said earlier, more countries will soon get the update by summer this year.

Along with announcing the launch time of Windows 10, Microsoft brought out few more interesting tools to make computing more personal. Windows Hello is one of the recent features added on Windows 10. This innovative offering eliminates the need for passwords and gives instant access to your devices through biometric authentication, i.e. analyzing your face, iris or fingerprint.

Microsoft has also put major focus on Internet of Things(IoT) devices with this new launch. This advanced Windows OS will also work with major institutional devices like ATM’s, ultrasound machines, gateways, and more. The company plans to connect with more machines and is in talks to collaborate with companies lke the Raspberry Pi Foundation, Intel, Qualcomm and other tech organizations.

One revelation that caught the eye was that Microsoft signing up with Chinese smartphone Xiaomi for the developmental of Windows 10. A select group of Xiaomi Mi 4 power users will be invited to test Windows 10 and share their feedback with the company. Seems like Microsoft is trying everything its powers to capture some of Android’s massive market share. Microsoft though would not have to convince the massive number of Windows desktop users as they would be elated to get the free upgrade and of course the Start menu that comes with it.

To know more about Windows Hello, check the video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AsoSnOmhvU

March 18, 2015
Xiaomi Beats OnePlus, Brings Out a Bamboo Version of the Mi Note

One of the most awaited features of the OnePlus One were the multiple textured back panels which were called the StyleSwap Covers by the company. But citing technical issues during production, the company said last year that they were stopping production of the covers as they didn’t meet the standards. That news disheartened a lot of users who wanted to customize their devices with those innovative covers. OnePlus’s compatriot, Xiaomi though has raced ahead of OnePlus in this regard and has brought out a new Bamboo edition of the recently launched Mi Note.

The Mi Note Natural Bamboo edition is priced at $370 (approx Rs. 23000). It is powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor along with 3 GB RAM. It flaunts a 5.7-inch Full HD display (1080×1920) with 386 pixel density. It offers support for 4G networks on both of its SIM slots. The device runs MIUI v6, which is based on Android 4.4.4 KitKat. It offers 13MP rear camera with dual-tone dual-LED flash and a 4 MP front camera for clicking selfies. The handset gets its juice from a 3,000 mAh battery.

The kickass back panels promised by OnePlus that never came to the market.

Not to be outdone by Xiaomi, OnePlus also came out with a DIY (Do It Yourself) post which shows how you can easily create customized back panel graphics for your One. The instructions are simple, and it’s really easy to create the back panels which broadcasts your personality to onlookers. All you need is a OnePlus clear case, a printer, photo-editing software, the downloadable OnePlus One blueprint file and a pair of scissors. The blog post by OnePlus also shows some amazing designs that you choose for your One.

The DIY backpanels for the OnePlus One.

The Bamboo edition of the Mi Note will go on Sale in China from March 24th. The textured or back panels are necessary as they transform the monotonous bar shaped devices into personalised art pieces. We hope that more companies start bringing out customizable back panels for the Indian consumers as there is a demand for it especially from the youth market.

March 18, 2015
Xiaomi is India’s Biggest 4G Device Vendor for January, Knocks Down Apple and Samsung

The battle to become the top smartphone vendor is getting tougher and steamier. After conquering China’s smartphone market, Xiaomi has once again proved itself, but this time of India. According to a report by the market analysis firm CyberMedia Research (CMR), the Chinese electronics maker Xiaomi brought down the leaders Samsung and Apple, and emerged as the biggest 4G handset seller in India. The fresh records are of January this year.

According to the data released by the research firm for January, Xiaomi is ahead of the reputed smartphone manufacturers and holds a market share of 30.8 percent. Apple, Samsung, HTC, and Micromax follow respectively at 23.8 percent, 12.1 percent, 10 percent, and 8.3 percent. Few months back, another analysis firm reported Apple as the frontrunner of the fourth quarter of 2014. The Cupertino-based tech giant held the 45 percent market share, which was followed by HTC and Samsung.

These figures showcase the shipment of only 4G handsets in India. Samsung still leads the pack with 17.3 percent market share which includes feature phones, smartphones, 3G and 4G mobile phones. Lava, Microsoft, Micromax, Intex have comparatively lesser share with 11.9 percent, 10.3 percent, 9.7 percent and 8.5 percent respectively.

This outcome by CMR is a massive blow for the world’s largest smartphone vendors. Although, the numbers represent the sales figure of a month only, but it’s an indication that Samsung and Apple need to take Xiaomi as seriously as any other contender out there.

March 17, 2015
Latest Google Chromecast Update Adds a Super Useful New Feature

The Google Chromecast has given a new meaning to entertainment by allowing us to stream content onto our television sets with minimum difficulty. The only minute problem with this had been, that you could only control the content using your smartphone or laptop, by opening the app you are running on Chromecast and put in the commands like play/pause. But now, for the first time, Google’s Chromecast allows you to pause and play videos using your television’s infrared signals, thanks to the device’s 27946 firmware update. So basically, you can now control Google Chromecast using your TV’s remote.

The device works on HDMI-CEC, the same modus operandi which allows the Chromecast to turn on the Smart TV. This feature was tested with selected applications like WatchESPN, HBO Go, YouTube, Google Play Music.

For this to work, you can check whether your television has HDMI-CEC enabled from the manual, and a remote with a dedicated play/pause button. The HDMI-CEC enabled device, the Chromecast or the TV, can then be controlled using the one remote without any further setting up.

Chromecast already supported HDMI-CEC from day one, but the feature was limited only to switching on/off the television set or switch inputs to cast media. Also the fact that there was no surety whether it would work on all the television sets since not all sets are HDMI-CEC enabled.

March 17, 2015
Motorola’s New Moto Turbo is Now Available on Flipkart

A while back, Motorola announced the arrival of the powerful Moto Turbo in India. The company has established itself in the Indian market at as a reliable budget smartphone provider, and the Turbo is its most expensive offering in the market. The device was up for pre-order since the time of its launch with the price tag of Rs. 41,999. The phone is up for grabs in India from today onwards.

The cash on delivery option is applicable on this device, and one can also buy the same on EMIs. The product can be delivered at the buyer’s doorstep in 2-3 business days.

The new Moto Turbo sports a 5.2-inch Quad HD display with 565 ppi pixel density. Powered by quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor, the device holds Adreno 420 GPU along with 3GB of RAM. A water-repellent coating is incorporated on the screen that protects the device. The battery support of Moto Turbo is 3,900mAh, and it comes with Motorola’s Turbo Charge feature that powers the device for up to seven hours of usage in just 15 minutes of charging.

The optics of the phone is also top-notch. A 21MP autofocus snapper with dual-LED flash sits at the back along with other features like slow motion video, burst mode, auto HDR, Panorama, and a few more. Though, the front camera is a conventional 2MP. The device runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop, and the connectivity options include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 4G LTE with LTE Cat 4 and Micro-USB.

Click here to buy now:

March 17, 2015
Details of Xiaomi Mi Note Plus Revealed

It’s safe to say, Xiaomi has been on a roll. It has unveiled several new smartphones in the market, which are undoubtedly remarkable and are gaining fame for being reasonable priced. The Chinese smartphone brand showcased a new smartphone line back in January called Mi Note, which comprises of Xiaomi Mi Note and Mi Note Pro. It appears like the firm has one more device in the Mi Note series to offer which is being worked on secretly.

A new premium device showed up on GeekBench that speaks of the high specifications of the forthcoming device. It also illustrated the benchmark scores of Mi Note Plus, along with Samsung Galaxy S6 and HTC One M9. According to the cross-platform processor benchmark, Xiaomi Mi Note Plus sports a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor and 4GB of RAM, just like the Mi Note Pro. The device will run on Android 5.0.2 Lollipop.

From the revelations, it is observed that the fundamental specifications of the Plus version of Mi Note are identical to Mi Note Pro. Also the GeekBench scores, the Mi Note Plus stood close to HTC One M9 with single-core score at 1282 and multi-core score at 3928. The Mi Note Plus, on the other hand, scored 1235 and 4039 in single-core and multi-core score respectively.

We doubt Xiaomi’s new offering will give th Galaxy S6 tough competition, but given the price range of the Galaxy S6, the Mi Note Plus is expected to attract more customers. Recently, Lin Bin, Co-Founder and President of Xiaomi also hinted that a special edition of Mi Note would be coming out soon. The fresh device is expected to release today. It is uncertain if Xiaomi is pointing to the Plus version as the special edition, but once the firm makes the announcement, things will come to light.

March 17, 2015
OnePlus Reveals the Arrival Date of its Affordable 10,000mAh Powerbank

Last year in December, OnePlus stepped into the portable charger segment and introduced the world its first-ever Power bank. Today, the company will launch the robust device with battery capacity of 10,000mAh. The official Google+ page of OnePlus reads, “Starting March 17. Are you ready to charge?”

The product can be launched today and is expected to be priced a little lesser than $15 (approximately Rs. 900). With a mammoth capacity of 10,000mAh, the upcoming OnePlus power bank can charge the 3100mAh battery of One device three times on a single charge. The powerful bank is ready for retail.

The overall look of the One Power bank is premium. The company has opted for smooth and rounded edges that give the compact charger a smooth finish. The battery weighs 220 grams and holds 16.2 mm thickness. The unit comes in two colours, Sandstone Black and Silver White. The company claims that the device takes 5.5 hours to charge completely.

OnePlus has launched many gadgets till date and the reason the company enjoys a vast user base is the affordable pricing. At $15, the One power bank can give tough competition to Xiaomi’s 10,400mAh power bank. A minor 400mAh difference will not attract the OnePlus fan base to Xiaomi as the One mobile battery has two USB ports instead of one. One can charge two devices at a time. Also, Xiaomi’s Mi Power Bank has been out of stock for quite some time on Flipkart. It’s the perfect time for OnePlus to jump in the game.

According to PhoneArena, OnePlus Power Bank will ship in the US on March 17. There is no word about its availability in India so far.

March 17, 2015
Apple Watch Rumoured to be Coming to India in June

If rumours are to be believed, you might get a closer look at the Apple Watch sooner than you expected. During the massive ‘Spring Forward’ event, Apple had announced the arrival date of the Apple Watch, however only for a few lucky countries.

10th April onwards, in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, the UK and the US, Apple Watch will be available for preview, try-on by appointment at Apple’s retail stores, and available for pre-order through the Apple Online Store. Although, in the usual Apple style, the actual ‘on sale ‘date lands later on 24th April.

Unfortunately, India did not feature in the list of the first countries. But according to gizmodo.com, the potential sale of the Apple Watch in India might be a result of the country emerging as an important market for many brands.

The base model of the Apple Watch is estimated to start at a price of Rs. 35,000 (approx). The Apple Watch incorporates fitness tracking and health oriented capabilities along with the ability to integrate with iOS and other Apple Products.

The device will be coming in three variations – Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport and the Apple Watch Edition. And will be compatible to use with the iPhone 5, 5S, 5C, 6 and 6 Plus.

To know more about this device, click here.

March 17, 2015
Apple ResearchKit Gets Massive Sign Ups But Also Faces Some Concerns

During the latest Apple ‘Spring Forward’ event, one new feature that was somewhat overshadowed by the launch of the Apple Watch was ResearchKit. With this new software platform, Apple would involve users and health professionals to gather medical data which can be used to study various diseases. Apple might have found a successful way to crowdsource medical data.

Once the user gives ResearchKit the required permissions, it sends the users health data to Apple. The company then shares the data with doctors and scientists. The information can include the user’s weight, blood pressure and activity levels, as well as data on conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma and breast cancer. It lets iPhone users to become the source of information for massive research projects which would help advance medicine for the future.

At present, ResearchKit is only available on the iPhone, and it uses hardware resources like the accelerometer in the device to capture the user’s physical data. It will also let educational institutes and research facilities to create apps which can gather medical data securely.

Using various tests and apps on the iPhone, users can easily monitor their health and also contribute to medical research.

The potential of the software has enticed many, and there have been huge signups for the service. In an interview, Apple chief Tim Cook said that about 11,000 people had signed up for the study using their iPhones in just 24 hours. Conventionally, it would have taken five medical centres over a year to gather up that many subjects.

But amongst the many encouraging responses, there are also some professionals who are raising concerns related to the new platform. The first and foremost is the security and privacy of the medical data. There cannot be a more personal data than the medical information of the person. This platform will keep a track of the signed up users twenty-four seven, and they have to trust Apple with this sensitive information.

The current areas of Research.

Apart from the privacy issues, there are also concerns that the data wouldn’t be as varied as Apple hopes it will be. As most of the iPhone buyers are financially independent and have college degrees, the data might not be all inclusive. But considering that the Apple smartphone is now available in almost all markets across the earth, it will lead to a massive amount of information from varied population that is not limited by geographies. Also, as the data is being collected through the iPhone’s internal sensors, it would be difficult to falsify the results, and the researchers will have access to quality health information.

ResearchKit has a long way to go, but it sure looks promising. It is an experiment worth considering by the medical community. Apple though has to come clear on its privacy policy for the platform and introduce it in clear language and illustrations that would be easy for anyone to understand. It should also engage Android and other OS users to join the platform to give the researchers a broader range of subjects to choose from. The smartphone ecosystem has finally evolved from mere communication devices to tools for bringing real world change.

March 16, 2015
Samsung’s Dream Doghouse is a $30,000 Extravagant Home For Your Dog

Dogs are a man’s best friend. A dog owner spends as much on their pets as they would spend on a human child, minus the heavy education costs, of course. Pet grooming parlours are mushrooming everywhere for folks who want to give their pets the best care. Samsung is now offering dog owners the ultimate doghouse, which is priced at a whopping $30,000.

Samsung’s Dream Doghouse has everything that will get your dog’s tougue wagging. It took 12 architects and fabricators over six weeks to complete. They were tasked with creating the ultimate doghouse of the future. It houses a treadmill, automatic food dispenser, hydrotherapy pool and a tablet computer playing dog-themed content. It was presented at Crufts 2015, the largest dog show in the world (which was sponsored by Samsung UK.)

The environment has been created to make it as dog-friendly as possible. The treadmill has been lined with a grass surface; the insides of the house have a vinyl wallpaper, and there is room for the little guy to jump around and relax.

Now it’s unsure when or if Samsung would bring the ultra luxurious house for the high flying pup to the market. The present doghouse has already been gifted by Samsung to a puppy through an online contest. The Dream Doghouse looks amazing and will be loved by the dog who gets to stay in one. But dogs are eternal kids; they would be fine with the playhouse, but all they need is love of the owners instead of a poodle palace.

March 16, 2015
Report : Xiaomi is Building its First Smartwatch

Xiaomi smartphones have been well received world over. The company has expanded itself to various sections with Mi purifiers, power banks and pen drives. The Chinese electronics producer had not shown any inclination to smartwatches till now, but the rumour mill suggest another story. Xiaomi seems to have taken the recently launched Apple Watch as a challenge and according to a report, the China’s Apple is working furiously to gain a foothold in the smartwatch segment.

GSM Arena recently reported a few features of Xiaomi’s first smartwatch. According to the source, the Xiaomi smart watch will be clad in an elegant metal design and boast a circular dial. Also, it is said to equip a pulse wave velocity determiner that keeps a check on the stiffness of arteries. Overall, Xiaomi’s upcoming smartwatches will gauge your internal body activities all the time.

Xiaomi isn’t only known for its smartphones, the company recently unveiled a super affordable action camera.

For the time being, these are just reports and there’s no solid proof of its authenticity. Very scarce details are known about the watch, but from the little information, it can be said that Xiaomi is prepping to answer back to its competition. The company is renowned for providing superior specs at affordable prices like the new Mi Pad, Mi Note, and most recently, a super cheap action camera. It’s an easy conclusion, if the news turns out to be real, Xiaomi’s first smartwatch will be priced lesser than the other wearables in the market.

March 16, 2015
Google to Help Brands Create Effective Promotional Campaigns On YouTube

Google is the most prominent advertising platform of the internet. With its broad range of offerings, Google provides multiple advertising venues for companies. Google will be debuting its ‘Behind the Scene’ series to showcase the power of branded video content on its YouTube platform. The series will be launched today, with Clean&Clear’s ‘See the Real Me’ campaign, which debuted last year on YouTube. The central idea of ‘Behind the Scene’ series is to showcase the brands and agencies on how to create more gripping video content.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”David Mogensen” author_title=”Head of YouTube Ads Marketing”]

Increasingly we’re hearing from brands that they want to become better content creators on YouTube, but they’re not exactly sure how to do it. We thought instead of telling them how to be better content creators we can show them by highlighting a brand that’s going on the same journey.

[/quote]

This move is targeted at attracting more marketing personal who are focusing on creating branded online content to reach the masses. YouTube is keenly interested to be a beneficiary of the branded content push. The ‘Behind the Scene’ series will be the first of its kind for YouTube. Mogensen said that more of such series could help in educating brands on creating exciting content that strikes a chord with the audience.

Clean&Clear is a Johnson & Johnson skincare owned brand. It launched its ‘See the Real Me’ series on YouTube last year to showcase how real girls, social media influencers and celebrities tackle personal challenges. Clean&Clear produced more than 120 videos and was viewed by almost 30 million viewers.

The ‘Behind the Series’ will include videos on ‘how to create content strategy’, ‘how to spark a conversation with the audience using content’ and ‘how to operationalize content creation’. It will also feature interviews with the executives of Johnson & Johnson and the story of the conceptualization, production and launching of the campaign. This series will also help marketing and advertising students to understand the nitty-gritties of online marketing using the power of YouTube and other social media services.

March 16, 2015
Blackberry Launches SecuTablet, a Samsung Galaxy Tab S With Advanced Security Features

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S devices had one of the best displays in the market. They are great portable entertainment companions. But what if they could also be used for carrying confidential or classified information? BlackBerry has taken up the task and is ready to bring out a device called SecuTablet that is basically an updated Galaxy Tab S.

Blackberry is known world over for its superior security technology. During the last year’s Sony Pictures hacking crisis, it was the old BlackBerry phones in the storage that came to rescue to establish secure communications. Now in the age of portability and mobility, the people handling sensitive information will also have to be on the move. The security of such information can be essential to businesses and governments.

The SecuTablet is basically a Galaxy Tab S with a Security bundle to keep data safe.

SecuTablet can be used as a regular tablet. It lets you access the usual Android apps and features. The tablet is the result of cooperation between BlackBerry’s SecuSmart wing and IBM. They have added a bundle of security features that keep the users data safe and prevents it from falling into the wrong hands. It also encrypts voice and data communication through a built-in Secusmart Security Card

The SecuTablet will not be available in any store near you. The device with its advanced security features comes at a price of $2,380. The device is currently being tested by the German government and may soon find takers in other governments and enterprises. Security of data and information has become a major concern amongst institutions and citizen’s alike after revelations by Edward Snowden. It’s no surprise that BlackBerry is trying to cash in on the concern with its advanced technology considering its smartphone business hasn’t been doing so well lately.

March 16, 2015
The Galaxy S6 Comes in Three Weeks; Here’s What You Can Do While You Wait

Samsung’s latest flagship, the Galaxy S6 has seen the light of the day. The unique design of the Galaxy S6 Edge has already received favorable responses from critics as well as from the market. In fact, Samsung received record number of pre-orders for its latest flagship. About 20 Million potential customers have registered for the top tier Galaxy device. So if you are one of them, you know your dream device is coming in just three weeks from now on 10th of April. To create hype, Samsung may launch the device in India on the 23rd, but you’ll have to wait till the 10th of April to get your hands on it.

If you are wondering how to pass the seemingly unbearable amount of time, we have compiled a list just for you.

Watch a 100 of our YouTube videos back-to-back

iGyaan has a huge selection of videos on smartphones and other smart devices. Over the four and half years of our existence, we have covered most prominent devices. Watching iGyaan videos back to back will be a sort of a recent history lesson where you will get to see how the smartphone and other electronics have evolved over the years. So go ahead and keep the iGyaan playlist running, it has three weeks worth of excellent content (if we may say so ourselves).

Watch all of Game of Thrones Seasons, Before the New Season Begins

The ultimate television fantasy adventure will be returning on HBO and BitTorrent websites on April 12th. Now as GOT is one of the most complicated storylines, it’s always good to be revised and refreshed for a fresh new season. The multitudes of characters and immensely complex back stories and plot lines require a revisit before gathering on a whole new season filled with blood and gore and of course some pleasant nudity.

Go for a three-week mobile repair course

Smartphones are a complicated piece of engineering. While the Galaxy S6 comes in which toughened exteriors and safety features like Corning Gorilla Glass and the metal body, it can succumb to some issues. It’s always good to have the knowledge of reparing your own hardware. Learning a mobile repair course wouldn’t just give you the knowledge of how to make your device run at optimum potential, it will also let you innovate with hardware. You may end up finding your inner Tony Stark.

Learn to Cook comfort food

Now you know that when that exquisite piece of metallic marvel finally comes in your hands, you are going to spend hours with it. Wouldn’t it be great to have some delicious gourmet munchies with your premium device? So put on your apron and chef hat and immerse in a three-week cooking course. Not only will you learn an awesome art, you’ll also get to meet fun new people who can be your new contacts on your new phone.

Lastly, Get Your Shopping Lists Ready

To make the most out of your new device, you should also postpone your shopping for the next three weeks. The Galaxy S6 comes with the unique Samsung Pay feature that lets you pay through your phone. So while everyone is fumbling around with their cards, you can come in like a boss, draw your metallic machine, pay for your goodies and leave. You will also blow the minds of people around you, but make sure you don’t look back as cool guys don’t look at explosions. Guess we just made you long for your new Galaxy S6 even more with that last line, well…Oops!

March 14, 2015
Microsoft’s Voice Assistant Cortana Coming To Android and iOS Devices Soon

Smartphone voice assistants can be described in plain simple words as ‘freaking cool’. They have come a long way and at present they can almost be seen as the baby versions of Tony Stark’s Jarvis. While Google Now is a great search and convenience tool, Microsoft’s Cortana and Apple’s Siri have anthropomorphic qualities that let them have human live conversations with the users. Microsoft has decided to take Cortana to a wider audience and will be bringing its voice assistant to iOS and Android devices.

Microsoft has said that it will be introducing Cortana on other operating systems as a standalone app. The company will also be integrating its artificial intelligence(AI) based technology called ‘Einstein’ with the voice assistant. With Einstein’s support, Cortana would be able to read and understand emails that will help it provide more convenient features to the users. It would let it offer suggestions to the user, even before they ask for it, something Google Now has been doing for a while.

Cortana is based on the artificially intelligent character of the same name from the famed video game, Halo. The personality of the voice assistant is also derived from the AI character from the game. Microsoft has been banking on Cortana’s ability to chit chat with the users. Cortana also offers usual voice assistant features like setting reminders and calendar, weather and traffic information, writing notes and messages.

Microsoft will also be bringing Cortana on Windows 10 operating system for desktops. It might actually beat Apple in this field as the Cupertino-based company didn’t bring Siri to the latest Yosemite operating system. Microsoft is contemplating the fall timeframe for the launch of the app. So if you liked Google Now but wanted a more human-like interaction, Microsoft’s Cortana is coming soon to give you company.

Speaking of voice assistants, remember that one time we got Siri to speak in Punjabi?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCB5I4Kqthk

March 14, 2015