Category: Brands and Companies

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Lollipop-Based CyanogenMod Update to Roll Out to Global OnePlus One Devices Soon

Despite all the discrepancies between Cyanogen and OnePlus, CyanogenMod 12S is in its final stages of testing and ready to roll out for OnePlus Global devices. This implies that most of the phones shipped with CyanogenMod 11 S are still going to get updates in the future. Though an exact date has not been announced yet, since multiple parties are involved.

Lollipop build for @oneplus one has entered QA/QE stage for release! Testing & cert to begin alongside 3rd party partners to meet GMS reqs.

— Cyanogen Inc. (@CyanogenInc) February 1, 2015

This is quite contrary to OnePlus’ recent announcement that they will be developing their own exclusive software called Oxygen OS. With Cyanogen no longer the partner of choice for OnePlus, there will still be support for all phones that shipped with CyanogenMod 11S.

As most of us are already aware, OnePlus and Cyanogen had a tiff of sorts after Micromax bagged an exclusive deal for CyanogenMod in India. OnePlus One devices purchased outside of India, will get to keep their OS, while devices manufactured specifically for the Indian market will at some point get an update to OxygenOS. Now that is a bit of a bummer for OnePlus One owners in India.

February 2, 2015
Microsoft Announces Paid Windows 10 Service Plans for Enterprises

Few days back, Microsoft unveiled the much-awaited consumer version of Windows 10. The company announced that the upgrade will be free for the buyers for one year, but unfortunately, the free deal doesn’t extend to the enterprise segment.

The confirmation came from the General Manager of Security at Microsoft, Jim Alkove, who stated in a blog post –

Windows 7 Enterprise and Windows 8/8.1 Enterprise are not included in the terms of free Windows 10 Upgrade offer we announced last week…

He further added, “Windows 7 Enterprise and Windows 8/8.1 Enterprise are not included in the terms of free Windows 10 Upgrade offer we announced last week, given active Software Assurance customers will continue to have rights to upgrade to Windows 10 Enterprise offerings outside of this offer – while also benefitting from the full flexibility to deploy Windows 10 using their existing management infrastructure.”

The company wants to attract more business for upgrade and has rolled out two new operating system service plans for firms to get updates. These are Long Term Servicing Branch and the Current Branch for Business.

The Long Term Servicing Branch is designed for the companies who don’t require all the features and plan for long-term installation. To such firms, Microsoft will dispatch security and critical updates. On the other hand, Current Branch for Business, is what Microsoft hopes most companies will opt for. In this, critical patches and security fixes will be installed automatically, and IT people will be able to experience many new features.

The news is no surprise as Microsoft aims at making profit from Windows 10 and business sector is the primary source from which it produces maximum revenue.

January 31, 2015
Google Creates Fake Human Skin to Test Cancer Fighting Nanoparticles

Science fiction has for long imagined an idea of a wonder pill that takes on all the diseases at once. Now Google is attempting to transform that idea into reality. The project is being undertaken at Google’s secret research facility known as Google X.

The Silicon Valley giant had reported last year that it was working on magnetic nanoparticles that would locate cancer cells in the bloodstream. Once they’ve located the cancerous cells, they’d report back to a wrist-worn wearable. Now to test the technology, Google is also working on creating synthetic human skin.

The nanoparticles can be introduced into the body through a pill. These particles are so tiny that over 2000 of them can be stuffed inside a red blood cell. The nanoparticles will transmit the information they possess to the wristband through light signals, and this is where the need for the skin arises. The scientists at Google will study various types of skin based on color, thickness and other features to resemble real human skin. They have already created a pair of arms that have “the same autofluorescence and biochemical components of real arms.”

The study still has a long way to go. According Andrew Conrad, the head of Google’s Life Sciences department, the path ahead is long and hard but they envision it becoming a reality in years and not decades. If successful, this can be a great step ahead in the field of medicine. The nanoparticles can be later programmed to detect all forms of illnesses before they come to the surface. With this, Google once again impresses us with its world-changing research efforts.

January 31, 2015
HTC Brings Out an Upgraded Desire 816G with Octa-Core Processor and 16GB Memory

HTC launched the refreshed version of Desire 816G with an upgraded processor and more internal storage space. The phone will now sport a 1.7GHz octa-core processor and 16 GB of internal memory, it was earlier restricted to 1.3GHz quad-core MT6582 processor and 8 GB internal memory. The remodeled device will cost you Rs. 19,990, which is a 1000 Rupees more than the last year’s offering.

The Vice President and Country Head of HTC India, Faisal Siddiqui, commented at the event:

The new offering under the HTC Desire series is our next step towards a power-packed combination of beautiful design and flagship performance all backed by a powerful 1.7GHz octa-core processor. The HTC Desire 816G is the best buy amongst big screen devices, packing a powerful performance and innovative design perfectly at a great price.

Keeping all the other specifications same, the Desire 816G touts a display of 5.5 inches and has 1 GB of RAM. It runs on Android 4.4.2 KitKat with HTC Sense UI on top. As mentioned above, the internal memory storage has been doubled to 16 GB, which can be further expanded up to 32 GB via a MicroSD card. Sporting a rear camera of 13 MP and a 5MP front snapper, the camera quality is superior. The battery, also unaltered, stands at 2,600mAh.

With improved processor and memory, the HTC Desire 816G can compete with Huawei Honor 3X that falls in same price bracket.

January 31, 2015
New Update Brings Third-Party Integration to Google Now

Google Now, the service which focuses on bringing real-time information to your mobile device including traffic updates, scores, stock changes, travel times, your flight status, got a notable update today.

The new update brings the information from over 40 Android applications, in order to show things like last-minute hotel deals to home-buying tip. The update integrates popular apps like Trip Advisor, Book My Show, CricInfo, Lyft, Ford, Runtastic and many more.

The integration is optional, too, and you’ll be able to disable it from Google Now’s settings once the update is available on your device. Earlier, Google Now could pull lots of data from other apps through the email notifications they send you, but this direct app integration is new.

The new card-based feature only comes with a third-party app download, of course. You wouldn’t see a Lyft notification without the Lyft app installed. If you’re curious what you might end up seeing, Google has a full list of the new cards which is linked in teh source below.

The update makes Google Now very powerful. Google’s idea behind all of this is that you should get the information you need when you need it, without even having to ask for it. Obviously, there are some privacy concerns related to this update, but Google assured that no private information will be shared with third-party applications.

January 31, 2015
Xiaomi Rolls Out MIUI 6 Update for Mi 3 Devices in India

A couple of days back, Xiaomi launched its flagship device Mi 4 which comes with the latest MIUI 6 update. The company announced that it would soon roll out the update for Mi 3 based on Android 4.4 KitKat in India, and the company has kept up its promise.

Xiaomi has released the update for the Indian Mi 3 users, and one can download it from the official Forum page of Xiaomi. It will take some time for the OTA update to appear on the device. Meanwhile, other models like Redmi Note 4G will receive the update by February, while it will reach the Redmi 1S and Redmi Note 3G by March.

The new MIUI 6 has some fantastic features that are simple yet beautiful. The key features of the new Mi User Interface are Motion, Colour Content, Customisation and Security. Also, it introduced animation to apps like Clock, Weather, and Device unlock, etc.

The Dialler has been tweaked to give it a clean look. Now, users can identify unknown numbers, and avoid fraudulent and sales calls. There is a brand new notification panel that has toggles for convenient on and off. Also, the Notifications is divided; so one can classify important and unimportant as per preference. Also, it facilitates you to access notifications through the Lock Screen itself.

The MIUI 6 adds more than 5,000 themes and powerful tools to achieve more in less time. The Calendar has been improved to subscribe your interests ranging from games, holidays to TV shows and more.

January 30, 2015
Google Blames Nexus 6’s Supply Drought for its Revenue Dip

Recently a performance report was released by an analysis firm, Strategy Analytics that declared Apple as the top grosser of year 2014. Apple earned the highest revenue that broke records and Google was nowhere to be seen. The company considers imbalance in demand and supply of the Nexus 6 as the reason for the revenue dip.

Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of Google Patrick Pichette said that the supply problem with the Nexus 6 hammered the company’s revenue. He also remarked that the demand of Nexus 6 could not be met, as they faced several production issues.

The company doesn’t aim to produce the products to earn revenue from them. In fact, the company manufactures products as a guide to other manufacturers so that they can implement and improve the latest Android OS onto their products.

Less mobile units means less sale, and less sale directly affects the overall revenue. It’s not the mobile division that fetch the company money, but the Nexus 6 problems contributed to the slow growth rate in other sectors too.

Play Store’s earnings also saw a steep decline, which Patrick stated is because of the rising value of the dollar, especially in Japan. The company has stated the reason for the loss, but hasn’t commented what would its next step to fix it would be.

January 30, 2015
Redmi Note 4G to Go On Sale Offline Today At Airtel Stores

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4G phones will be available exclusively in Airtel retail stores, today. Customers can walk-in to the nearest Airtel stores in six cities, including Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi-NCR and Kolkata to get their Redmi Note 4G without any pre-booking.

Xiaomi has ditched the usual online route, to make available the Redmi Note 4G in the Airtel Stores near you. Airtel, calling it Mi Day will sell Redmi Note 4G on first-come-first-serve basis till stocks last. Users can book the handset from Airtel’s dedicated Mi page and select their preferred Airtel store in the aforementioned cities where they wish to pick up the device.

Post by Mi India.

Airtel postpaid customers having at least 500 MB 3G data pack activated on their connection can easily move to the Redmi Note, however, Airtel prepaid and non-Airtel customers will have to first have to opt for an Airtel postpaid myPlan when they purchase the Redmi Note 4G.

Airtel postpaid users in Bengaluru, where Airtel already has a 4G network, can get up to 10GB free 4G data by logging on to company’s Airtel Live website via their Redmi Note 4G smartphones. In cities where there’s no Airtel 4G network, customers will automatically be upgraded to 4G whenever it is rolled out.

Following are the tariff plan details on Airtel’s 4G services:

January 30, 2015
Motorola to Open Experience/Service Centres in India

Motorola can be credited for bringing about the change in the budget smartphone segment. It was the first company to take the online route for sales of its handsets in India. Now, the company is looking at setting up offline experience centres in the country that would also be used as service centres.

With the competition in the Indian smartphone market heating up, handset maker Motorola is focussing on user experience and after sales service, which is one of the main concerns when it comes to the online sale model.

The US-based brand, which was acquired by Chinese technology giant Lenovo last year, sells its devices in India through e-commerce website Flipkart.

The experience centres will allow users to get a feel of the Moto devices before buying them off Flipkart. The company added that these experience centres would act as impromptu service centres for routine tasks like software updates, while they may also cater to bigger needs as well.

However, this is not the only initiative the company is bringing for better service. The company is also experimenting with Moto Care Vans, a mobile service centre.

Amidst all this, Motorola and Flipkart both confirmed that over 3 million Motorola smartphones have been sold in the less than a year long partnership.

January 30, 2015
Microsoft May Invest in Custom Android ROM Maker Cyanogen

In a surprising round of rumors, The Wall Street Journal has reported that Microsoft is putting money into Cyanogen. According to the report, Microsoft may invest in Cyanogen and strike a commercial partnership. While the companies are discussing the deal, Microsoft has not committed to an investment.

Bloomberg also reported that the two companies are in negotiations to create a version of CyanogenOS that features Microsoft’s services. The deal seems quite similar to what Nokia did with the X series (smartphones running a heavily customised version of Android), which Microsoft killed back in July, 2014.

The investment would be unusual, because Microsoft offers its own Windows Phone operating system. But Windows Phone has only about 3% market share, which may be prompting Microsoft to consider unconventional steps.

Back in October 2014, some reports claimed that the Cyanogen CEO Kirt McMaster shrugged off Google Senior Vice President of Android, Sundar Pichai’s interest in purchasing the company. The interest of these tech giants in the hot start-up is natural, considering the popularity and enormous community associated with the company.

January 30, 2015
OnePlus Names its New Custom ROM OxygenOS

After the much hyped ban of OnePlus in India due to Cyanogen turning its back on the company, the cult-favourite Chinese smartphone maker started working on its own Android release for its phones.

Back in mid-December, OnePlus announced that it would hold a contest to determine the name of the custom Android ROM that it’s working on. Now, in a recent blog post, the company announced the name of the its custom Android ROM, the ‘OxygenOS.’ Announcing the new name, Brandon H (Forum Administrator for OnePlus) said in the official forum post:

We realized that, like everything we do, our true goal is to make the product that we ourselves would want to use—to make great technology more accessible for everyone. With our ROM, that means software that is open, customizable, and free of bloat and unnecessary features.

The company says that it likes this name because the element oxygen “is the epitome of simplicity, yet it’s also extraordinarily powerful,” going on to say that oxygen is everywhere, is part of everything that we do, and is an important building block to other “amazing things”.

The new Oxygen OS will be based on Android 5.0 Lollipop, and OnePlus had already released the alpha version of Oxygen OS few weeks back which was basically just the stock AOSP version of Android 5.0 with no other customizations. There is not too much detail available on the OxygenOS as of now, but OnePlus says that more details will be shared on February 12, so it won’t be long before we learn more.

Lately, the smartphone market has seen number of companies developing both smartphones and their customized operating system. Xiaomi was one of the first company which was commercially successful in doing this. Cyanogen has risen to prominence with its high profile tie ups with Micromax and OnePlus with its bloat free software.

January 30, 2015
Microsoft Office for Android Tablets is Out Now

After two months of beta testing, Microsoft has released the final version of Office for Android tablets. As with the iOS apps launched last year, Office is essentially free to use on Android for most consumers, though certain premium features and business functionality require an Office 365 subscription.

The list of requirements to use the app include having a tablet that’s 7-inches or larger that’s also running Android 4.4 KitKat or newer. They also need to have to have an ARM-based processor and 1GB of RAM or above.

All of the Office apps have a similar home screen. You can store your files either locally on your device, on your Microsoft OneDrive account, at a SharePoint location or on Dropbox. Once you sign in you’ll automatically be signed into OneDrive so you can sync files between devices, but the apps also feature Dropbox integration if that’s the file syncing solution you prefer.

The one thing the new Android version of Office lacks is support for phones, which are still stuck with the older, more limited Office Mobile. The recent flood of Microsoft apps is a part of the company’s plan to put Office apps on all the popular devices whether they are running on Microsoft’s OS or not.

January 29, 2015
Here’s What Android Lollipop Looks Like on HTC One M8

HTC One (M8) owners can now rejoice as the Lollipop version of HTC’s Sense is rolling out. The roll out began today (28th January) and is likely to hit the majority of One (M8) users in the following days. We were lucky enough to get the update on our HTC device.

Weighing in at the hefty 780MB, the update will probably hit your device in the following hours. Among its more notable new features is the revamped notification drawer/quick toggle settings and the recent tasks switcher, which have been inspired by the Material Design guidelines

The majority of improvements make the UI more fluid and snappier than ever before. We are listing top changes in UI of HTC One (M8) with the Lollipop update.

1. Lock screen

First and foremost, your lockscreen is going to look more sleeker and polished with the Material Design-inspired UI. Just like in stock Android, swiping dismisses the notification and double-tapping it opens the corresponding app. Apart from the slightly dimmed lock screen wallpaper at the bottom, you are also treated to an estimate of how long it will approximately take before your phone’s battery gets drained. The lock screen shortcuts at the bottom are untouched.

2. New Camera Features and Weather app

The new update adds some camera features such as the Auto Selfie mode, along with some Zoey features as well. The HTC weather app has been removed and replaced with the AccuWeather app.

3. Notification drawer

The Lollipop update of Sense 6.0 has adopted a revamped stock Android notification centre. The One (M8) drops the separate side-by-side screens (one for your notifications and the other one housing your quick toggles) and now comes with a slightly revamped Lollipop drawer. A single swipe brings down your notifications, while an additional one reveals the quick toggles shade, which has got a prominent Material Design makeover.

4. Recent App Switcher and Menu

The app switcher has undergone the most drastic change. Instead of the more classic, Sense UI-like grid menu with your recent apps, you will get the carousel-like menu inspired by the Material Design guidelines.

5. Settings and Battery Menu

The setting menu is untouched but with one very important addition – a search button in the upper right corner of Sense UI’s Settings. This probably may go unnoticed but adds the ease to search things in the Settings menu. Another noteworthy improvement can be found in the battery consumption menu of the Lollipop-based Sense UI. It’s pretty similar to the one in stock Android. It now provides you with a more in-depth breakdown of your battery usage. Apart from this, the Running Apps menu hidden in Settings has also been improved. It now displays a much more user-friendly breakdown of the current state of your 2GB of RAM, separating the system from the user-installed apps.

January 29, 2015
Apple Grabs Top Spot from Samsung in the Largest Smartphone Vendor Race

Gone are those days when Apple used to console itself seeing Samsung receiving for world’s largest manufacturer achievement. Samsung has long enjoyed the reputation of being the biggest smartphone vendor in the world. But this time, Apple has snatched the accolade from its lap and is happily showing off the award as the world’s largest smartphone vendor.

According to an analysis by a trusted company, Creative Strategies, Apple has set a benchmark by selling 74.5 million iPhones. It is the biggest quarterly profit by any company in the history of smartphone trade. However, Samsung says that it has sold as much as 95 million handsets in total, out of which 71 million – 75 million are smartphones. Well, the South Korean producer is just putting ahead big numbers to cover its defeat.

The picture above clearly speaks of Apple’s win over the other vendors. The analyst for Creative Strategies, Ben Bajarin crowns Apple as the winner this time. However, another analysis firm Strategy Analytics claims that both Apple and Samsung shipped the same number of phones in the fourth quarter last year – 74.5 million smartphones.

Few days back, Apple saw record-breaking fiscal Q1 2015 earnings of $74.6 billion, out of which $18 billion was the net profit. This net gain figure put Apple in the topmost spot in terms of revenue. The soaring sales of iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus is the reason behind this success.

Though Apple has acquired the top position, Samsung will not sit back and let the Cupertino-based giant enjoy the prestige. It will surely work on a unique product to entice more customers. It would be exciting to see what Samsung comes up with next.

January 29, 2015
Samsung Expected to Extend Gear VR Support to Galaxy S Edge and Galaxy S6

Samsung’s recent innovation Gear VR, apart from latest smartphones and TVs, is far from reaching of masses. The reason was the fact that its compatibility with only one device, Samsung Galaxy Note 4. The company is putting effort to make the virtual reality headset a regular feature with smartphones, and is pushing support to more devices. According to SamMobile, the South Korean producer is adding two more devices to the compatibility list of Gear VR – Galaxy S Edge and Galaxy S6.

This doesn’t sound something really bizarre as the latest devices are likely to support the new invention. But it isn’t as simple as it seems.

The Gear VR, powered by Oculus, is a wearable put on the head that encloses Samsung Note 4. The gadget has been designed to fit a display of Note size, more that 5.3-inch, so that a viewer can get 96-degree viewing angle. According to the rumours, the Galaxy S Edge and Galaxy S6 will sport a 5.1-inch Quad HD display that cannot fit in to the big screen of the virtual reality headset. If the sources of SamMobile are to be believed, then the upcoming flagships may feature a display larger than 5.3 inches.

However, the company hasn’t confirmed its adaptability with both the devices and users have to wait for an official announcement.

January 29, 2015