Category: Brands and Companies

All Brands and Company Names

Xiaomi Plans to Lead the Home Automation Race; Invests Over $200 Million in ‘Midea’

After recently announcing the Mi Air Purifier, the company is showing further interest in the Smart Home business. Reports have surfaced that Xiaomi has invested around $205 million in Chinese home appliance maker Midea, acquiring about 1.29 percent share in the Chinese home appliance maker.

“The deal between Xiaomi Technology and Midea will see strategic cooperation between the two companies in smart home initiatives and electronic products,” said Xiaomi.

Midea was established in 1968 and shares the vision of a true smarthome with Xiaomi. The home appliance maker revealed that it is planning to invest CNY 15 billon over the course of the next three years on smartphone home research and development. Midea is focussing on a range of smart home management systems for air, water, nutrition and health.

Smartphones aren’t its only forte, Xiaomi has a bunch of smartdevices like a set-top box, smart TV, the Mi Band fitness tracker and the already mentioned Mi Purifier. The company also added that nearly 25 countries have shown initiative in its growing smart home ecosystem.

The past week, Xiaomi has had a tough time in India. The company has been banned from importing and selling handsets in India. Well, since the ban is only on smartphones, hopefully we will see some of its future home automation offerings arrive in our country.

December 15, 2014
Indian Government Files a Legal Case Against Google

It looks like tough times for Google are not going to be over anytime soon. After facing oppressive laws in Spain over the news service of Google, the internet search giant is under scanner in India as well. Of late, The Survey of India (SOI) filed a complaint against Google saying that it has been misleading people. As per the complaint lodged with Dehradun police, the multinational search giant has been disseminating wrong information about the coordinates of the Indian boundaries.

A senior official from the technical wing of the SOI stamped the news saying, “The faulty coordinates were noticed in Jammu & Kashmir and the northern side of India which are not as per our maps. The decision to file a written complaint was taken after consulting the highest level of authority.”

However, the police seems skeptical on this take of SOI. When inquired from the police official Anil Joshi about how far is the news reliable, he conveyed that the police is still on it. He commented that officials are trying to figure out the authenticity of the complaint. Meanwhile, the complaint has been forwarded to the cyber cell team as they will be heading all further investigations. And once they come to a conclusion, the subsequent course of action will be decided then on.

December 15, 2014
The Xiaomi Wave: Here’s All You Need to Know About the Xiaomi Ban
It has been a busy last week for Xiaomi. The Delhi High Court has put a halt on Xiaomi’s surging sales in India by passing an ex-parte injunction order. Ericsson India filed a case against Xiaomi for infringement of patents under the IPR Rules, 2007. This adverse order came into light when Xiaomi allegedly refused to reply to Ericsson’s repeated communications. The injunctions subsequently led to a suspension of sales through Flipkart and also a shut down of their Xiaomi India Site.

Xiaomi continues to insist that they have not received any notice but will take all necessary measure to comply with all the rules and regulations.

The Criers: Those Adversely Affected
- Xiaomi
Although Xiaomi does not seem to be panicking, however this suspension would adversely affect their company both strategically and financially. India is among the largest markets for the Xiaomi handsets and this ban would be a big blow for this Chinese company. On the other hand, Xiaomi seem determined to take necessary legal action to lift the ban as soon as possible.
- The Xiaomi Fans
Of course the Xiaomi fans will also immensely disappointed. Xiaomi had entered the Indian markets earlier this year in the month of July with great anticipation and it surpassed all expectation with flying colours. This ban would imply no more devices would be sold till further notice. To add fuel to the fire, this injunction would also imply ban to the much anticipated Xiaomi Mi4 which was set to release in India at the end of this month.

The Smilers : Those who Benefited

Xiaomi, however, has not been the only budget smartphone launched this year . There has been an influx of impressive smartphones in 2014. This interdiction would mean good news for other smartphone manufacturers like OnePlus and Motorola, who can seek a competitive edge in the market. Other domestic companies like Xolo, Asus, Iris who earlier didn’t stand a chance infront of this impressive device now have the opportunity to establish themselves till this case is settled.

What Happens Now ?

Although Xiaomi has ruined plans for many domestic smartphone manufacturers; it is a necessary evil. Xiaomi has forced the domestic manufacturers to also introduce budget smartphones to compete in the market. This healthy competition has led to the growth of the smartphone industry in India.

The bad news for Xiaomi, however, is that court hearings in Delhi are never dependable. Although the ban is till February 5 as of now; however, when Xiaomi will be able to sell it handsets again cannot be said. A similar incident took place with Chinese manufacturer Gionee, who chose to resolve the same out of court. Though this may seem like an ideal situation, however Xiaomi is not a cash rich company and does not have any corporate offices in India.

Although Xiaomi seems adamant to stay; only time will tell whether they will actually survive in this cut throat market.
December 14, 2014
OnePlus Director Confirms India to be One of the First Countries to See the ‘OnePlus Two’

OnePlus One is received blissfully by the Indian users and why not, the phone is such a great offering at a marginal price. The Co-Founder of OnePlus and the Director of OnePlus Global, Carl Pei, is immensely delighted with the overwhelming response to ‘One’ and has thanked all the Indian OnPlus fans to make the device a success.

Carl shared his views in an official blog post saying, “As a company that’s not yet even a year old, and has no track record on which to stand upon, your faith in our product and vision is humbling. We know we made you wait a while. We understand the wait could be frustrating, but looking back, we are glad that we waited until all pieces were in place.” He also mentioned that India is an important marketplace and the country wouldn’t be lagging behind in receiving the upcoming smartphones from the company.

Pei seized the attention of the Indians OnePlus One fans with his comment, “We have some big plans in the works, India. And while it took a while for us to get the One to you, we promise that won’t be the case in the future. India will be one of the first countries to see our newest products in the future.” This ascertains the fact that like we will be the first one to see the forthcoming ‘OnePlus Two’.

The Chinese manufacturer feels that there is a need to establish an office in the country and it is working hard in this direction. Pei mentioned that the company is planning to set up a local headquarters in Bangalore, which is said to house a GM, local marketing and logistics team, along with Research and Development team. India will soon be having a local PR to update us with its all important company advancements.

Well, with this post, the OnePlus has kept us longing for the future OnePlus gadget.

December 14, 2014
Xiaomi Adamant to Fight Back High Court Order; Assessing Legal Options

Post the verdict of Delhi High Court to ban Xiaomi handsets in India, the Chinese smartphone maker spoke openly for the first time. In a conversation with Economic Times, Xiaomi India Head, Manu Jain, said that the company will comply with the court orders to stop the sale of its smartphones in India, “We have not been served the notice till now, but we know about the issue. If the court has asked us not to do it, we won’t do it.”

He further said, “We would want to be 100% compliant with Indian rules and regulations.” The smartphone manufacturer is trying every possible bit to fight back legally on the issue, “We will explore all options including legal options on what can be done. Our lawyers and legal teams are working on it, but we don’t know how this will proceed.”

Redmi 1s, one of Xiaomi’s most popular handsets is no longer available on Flipkart

Apologizing to the Xiaomi enthusiasts for the inability to deliver handsets, the International Operations Head, Hugo Barra, commented on the prevailing issue and the drew light on the company’s take to deal with the situation. “We have been forced to suspend sales in India until further notice due to an order passed by the Delhi High Court. As a law abiding company, we are investigating the matter carefully and assessing our legal options,” said Barra.

Meanwhile, registration is closed for both for Redmi 1S and Redmi Note and the upcoming flagships have also been suspended in the country. Yes, that means the upcoming Mi4 will not be available in our country for some time.

The Delhi High Court imposed the ban after hearing the allegations by Ericsson of infringing eight of its registered patents. The company cannot assemble, import, sell or advertise its devices until 5th February.

As of now, both the companies have been asked to submit the list of devices sold by them. Along with that, they have to furnish revenue details generated by the sale of the devices.

December 13, 2014
Google Confirms it Will Halt Production of Nexus 5, Limited Units Available Till Q1 2015

Google’s latest revelation is making all Nexus 5 lovers rush to retail websites. The multinational corporation has confirmed that it has stopped the production of Google Nexus 5 and only limited stock is left.

When asked about the status of the red and white versions of the Nexus 5, Google’s spokesperson commented:

Once they are gone, they’re gone, so we’d suggest people get them while they can

In a statement to The Verge, the company stated that the Nexus 5 will continue to be available for sale on Google Play and through select retailers in Q1 2015.

As of now, both 16 GB and 32 GB versions of the model are out of stock on Google Play Store. However, you can still buy one from select retailers like eBay and few more. With this move, it seems like the company is pushing people to its latest release, the Nexus 6.

December 12, 2014
Sony and Microsoft Ready to Begin Console Wars in China

China is a country that practically produces almost everything available in the market. The country is the manufacturing hub of most of the world’s electronics. But it has serious distrust for foreign products. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) is a nanny state that is quick to ban anything that doesn’t stand up to its cultural standards. The country recently lifted a 14-year ban on foreign consoles in the country. This led to the arrival of the two gaming giants in the country who will now start a new battle in their war of console supremacy in the most populated country in the world.

About four months back, Microsoft’s Xbox One hit the Chinese shores. On January 11th its arch nemesis, Sony PlayStation 4 will arrive to begin the familiar war. Sony told Reuters that it would arrive with 30 titles and has already applied for licenses for them. In comparison, Xbox One has only 10 titles in the country.

It is rather difficult to get your gaming title passed through the scrutiny of the Chinese censors. The country is infamous for having a giant mechanism that constantly censors content throughout the media and the internet. The safest bet for the companies is to bring sports based titles to get past easily through the licensing process. It doesn’t seem like the Chinese gamers are going to get access to the likes of GTA 5 anytime soon.

These devices also come at a hefty price tag even though the consoles are made in the country. The PS4 comes for 2,899 yuan(Rs. 29,240) while Chinese buyers would have to shell out 3,699 yuan (Rs.37,300) for the Xbox One. Microsoft hopes to sell a million devices by October 2015.

It is good to see China opening its doors to the world one step at a time. It’s about time the country also imported democracy and let its people taste real freedom. Well, if freedom in 21st century means being a slave to the screen, guess the Chinese aren’t far from it.

December 12, 2014
Flipkart Suspends Xiaomi Redmi Note, 1S Sales Until Further Notice

Flipkart, the e-commerce website which was also the official online shopping partner for Xiaomi’s handsets has been directed to stop all imports and sales of the handsets until further notice. Flipkart’s dedicated webpage now mentions that the phones are ‘not available’.

Xiaomi fans would have to wait for a while till the case settles. Till then, Xiaomi sales in India would be hugely affected, leaving the fans disappointed. However, those who have ordered the Redmi Note handset and the Redmi 1S handsets from this week’s sales should be getting their devices as scheduled. The next weeks sales will not be held till further notice.

Xiaomi Vice President, Global, Hugo Barra, also mentioned the same on the official Xiaomi Facebook page which reads as follows-:

The decision had been arrived by the Delhi High court two days ago when Ericsson approached the Court claiming that Xiaomi has infringed its patents and failed to reply to Ericsson’s notice. Along with Xiaomi, Flipkart also was roped in and directed to stop all imports and sales of the handsets till further February.

The silver lining, if any, for the Xiaomi fans is that the ban is only on handsets. Those who wish to purchase power banks and other accessories can still do so through Flipkart.

December 12, 2014
Micromax Is About To Bring Something Amazing for Yu

The wait for India’s first truly CyanogenMod based device is about to draw to a close. It has certainly been a long wait. CyanogenMod used to be just for the nerds who had the expertise in flashing custom ROMs, but OnePlus One brought it into the mainstream. Indians fans of the ROM maker were truly elated when OnePlus disclosed their plans for India. But they were disappointed to know that it won’t get support from Cyanogen because of their exclusive partnership in India with Micromax. The Indian brand is now ready to unveil its first Cyanogen powered device/devices on the 18th of December and has sent out invites for the launch.

There isn’t a lot known about the smartphone except that it will be a separate entity from Micromax’s usual Canvas line of devices. Micromax has stated some facts about this new family of devices that sound enticing. The company has said that it will service Yu devices even if they are rooted. It also hinted at probable future prospects of wearables under the Yu brand.

Following the footsteps of the OnePlus, Micromax has also set up a developers forum. Here folks can register complaints, provide suggestions and cooperate in the open source process of making the devices better.

The best part about the Yu devices would be their updatability. Updates have been a major topic of contention between Micromax and its customers. Luckily CynogenMod’s proactive update schedule will take care of all that headache. But we seriously hope they add some serious muscle in the hardware too. We really want an international standard Indian brand and Micromax needs to work a bit harder if it wants to be India’s shining glory in the international market.

December 11, 2014
Dell Introduces Rugged Extreme Series in India Starting at Rs. 2.29 Lakh

With all their amazing features, consumer electronics are still extremely delicate. Even the thought of dropping your laptop might give you goosebumps, right? They hold your entire life’s data, but they give up with a spill of water. If you are a traveller, you are always scared for your gadgetry. Dell has a solution to all your worries, well if you have the cash.

The Dell Latitude 12 and 14 Rugged Extreme follow in the footsteps of the Latitude XFR D630, which was so extreme that it was the choice of military men in the field. These badass notebooks can withstand temperatures from minus 29 degree Celsius to scorching 63 degree Celsius. These bad boys can withstand impact from a 6-foot drop. They can also take on blowing dust and rains, so these are perfect for folks whose devices face the brunt of their out worldliness.

They are not just rugged; they look extremely stylish too. They look like the briefcases used by secret agents in espionage-based movies and tv shows. Latitude 12 has the added advantage of a swivel screen with superior visibility that makes it a good outdoor device.

Latitude 12 comes with options for fourth-generation Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors. You can install up to 16 GB of RAM along with 128 GB, 256 GB and 512 GB hard drive options. The device also has a 8MP rear camera with LED flash. It holds a customisable RGB backlit keyboard. This tough gadget starts at a price of Rs. 2,39,999. On the other hand, Latitude 14 Rugged Extreme costs Rs. 2,29,999 with about the same specification options.

These laptops sure compliment their rugged and extreme title. Though it’s not much use to an average user, but for a man on the move, these hefty-sized laptops would be perfect companions. These are definitely the badasses of the laptop family.

December 11, 2014
Google Makes Virtual Reality Available for Everyone for Just $20

Virtual reality (VR) headsets have gained considerable buzz in the recent past. Oculus brought VR into mainstream, and several others followed soon after. Samsung’s Gear VR was the most prominent of all but to use it, you have to buy a Note 4. This is the reason it’s out of the reach of most enthusiasts. A Kickstarter project called ANTVR showed some promise with its innovative features and controllers. However, it’s Google who might bring the VR experience to everyone with the Google Cardboard project.

As the name suggests, the entire gadget is made up of just cardboard and some other small bits that you can find in your homes itself. You will have the support of Google; that will assist you in making the headset as well as provide software support for it. You can consider this as a gift from Google for all the big data you provide them.

Google has released new SDK for Android and Unity to create apps for the VR headsets. The Google Cardboard project can be considered the heights of jugaad device by a prominent company. The company already provides instructions to assist you in making your own DIY VR headsets. On a page dedicated to the Cardboard project, the company also featured several apps and games for the headsets.

The headsets work with any device and thus is accessible to all.

You can download the Cardboard app to start your VR experience. There are several demos already available in the app including a Google Earth flyby, a tour of Versailles and lets you watch Youtube videos on a virtual massive screen. Apart from this, you can download apps like Paul McCartney’s live performance, The Hobbit VR experience and several other fantastic visuals for your eyes only.

You can also buy the headsets, and they cost you somewhere between $20-$45. This is way cheaper than every other alternative in the market, and you can make it yourself for even less. The company says that it will be uploading instructions to make the device with extreme specifics such as how to cut using a blade, die-cutting or a laser cutter.

It’s great to see Google interested in an open source project for VR technology. The affordability of this technology is really encouraging. As it works with any phone, you don’t even have to buy an expensive new device to make it work. Of course, you might end up with nausea, headache and vertigo but it’s worth the effort to watch Sir Paul McCartney live, isn’t it?

December 11, 2014
Xiaomi Reportedly Banned From Importing and Selling Handsets in India

The Delhi High Court has reportedly put a halt on Xiaomi’s surging sales in India by passing an ex-parte injunction order. Hearing a case filed by Ericsson India against Xiaomi, the court on Monday passed an ex parte order from “selling, advertising, manufacturing or importing devices” that infringe upon Ericsson’s patents. In fact, the judge also directed the customs officials to stop the imports under the IPR Rules, 2007. Moreover, local commissioners too have been appointed to visit Xiaomi India offices to ensure the implementation of the order.

The adverse order in the case seems to have come about after Xiaomi allegedly ignored Ericsson’s repeated communications. Reports indicate that Flipkart is also implicated in the case, and that the Delhi High Court granted the injunction after Xiaomi did not respond to Ericsson’s missives.

In an emailed statement to NDTV Gadgets, Xiaomi India Head, Manu Jain, responded to the Delhi High Court Injunction

While we haven’t received an official notice from the Delhi High Court, our legal team is currently evaluating the situation based on the information we have.

India is a very important market for Xiaomi and we will respond promptly as needed and in full compliance with Indian laws. Moreover, we are open to working with Ericsson to resolve this matter amicably.

Xiaomi had launched its India operations in July 2014 and the country is the second largest market for the company and also the fastest growing one. It sells phones exclusively through online marketplace Flipkart via flash sales in limited numbers. In such a limited span Xiaomi has made an unparalleled impact completely throwing the domestic smart phone players off their game.

Will this injunction imply the end of Xiaomi in India? A similar incident happened with Gionee, early this year when Ericsson had managed to halt sales for the brand, but the case was resolved out of court in a matter of hours.

In Xiaomi’s case, the company may not have enough “moolah” to get away with an out of court settlement. Will India witness the rise and fall of one of the most dynamic smartphone company all in a span of 6 months?

Only time will tell…!

Update :

Not just sales, Xiaomi now shuts down its Indian website too. Following the suspension of its handsets through Flipkart, Xiaomi shut down its Indian website. The company has put out an announcement, which now contains only one page that shows the letter from its global vice president Hugo Barra addressing the Xiaomi fans. On the brighter side, the facebook page of Xiaomi is still live, so all the Xiaomi followers can stay updated.

December 10, 2014
Intel Gives a Boost to Internet of Things with its Own Platform

Internet of Things (IoT) will be the next big gift from the technology industry for consumer electronics. It will take interconnected devices to the next level and bring immense convenience to the consumers. Several big name brands are working towards making it a reality but Intel is working towards being a leader in the field by providing the backbone to the industry. The company will bring a line of chips, security features and softwares to boost the IoT ecosystem.

With this approach, the company will be at the forefront of the IoT revolution. It will provide a base for the next generation consumer as well as enterprise devices. The company intends to make it easier to connect to its data centers so as to make it easier to analyze data from the sensors of the connected devices.

The company is already at the top of consumer electronic chip market with the massive array of PCs which use its processors. The company has also made its foray into the smartphone and tablet market. However with IoT, the industry would need a massive number of chipsets. They can be used in sports shoes to huge industrial establishments.

The possibilities in a future IoT market are endless, and we can easily expect some fierce competition coming our way. After smartphones, watches and other electronics, it’s time for your fridge, iron, water purifier and other electronics to go smart. And if you think you have the technical might to create products for IoT, then this is the right time to get into the game.

December 10, 2014
Google to Show Off its New Project Ara Prototype Soon

When the makers of Phonebloks showcased their idea of a lego-type phone, we had a good laugh. It was an audacious idea and didn’t seem like a realizable goal. But when the project got the blessings of Google, a lot of folks started following the developments of the project. The company is just a few weeks away from unveiling the Project Ara devices.

Google will introduce the new generation Project Ara at the developers conference in January. There will be two developers conference; the first will be held on 14th of January and will target the US/European folks, while the second will target the Asian market and will be held on 21st January.

The company added the image of the printed circuit in its Google Plus post

The Project Ara developers conference will also see the unveiling of the Spiral 2 prototype hardware and the release of v0.20 of Module Developers Kit (MDK). On its G+ page, Google ATAP posted the printed circuit board for the new generation modular devices. The founder of Phonebloks, Dave Hakkens, recently showed us a working prototype of a Project Ara device. So, it seems we are pretty close to having the most consumer and eco-friendly smartphone experience.

The company will also be live streaming the conference on the Project Ara website for the nerds of the world. Project Ara is a necessary next step in the evolution of smartphones. Till now, the consumers were restricted by whatever was offered to them by the companies. With initiatives like Project Ara, the consumers will have a bigger say in the technological bits of their devices. This will also help towards a healthy environment as the phones will be regularly updated and wouldn’t be thrown away soon. We have been waiting a long while for it and hope Project Ara is worth it.

December 10, 2014
Google Translate’s Latest Update Decodes Speech and Text Within Pictures

Google Translate has become an essential feature of the internet. It is one of the primary tools used by folks world over to learn about other corners of the world. The service by Google lets you translate an entire website with just a couple of clicks. With the growth of global interconnectivity, consumer translator mediums have become more and more useful. Google is constantly working towards making its translator better and hence keeps actively updating the features. This time around Google is reportedly giving its translator the ability to decipher speech in addition to the text within pictures.

According to a report by Android Police, the updated Google Translate will use Google’s Word Lens to do the same. This will aid users in translating directions, menus, signs in foreign language into an understandable expression. Meanwhile, the conversation mode of Google Translate lets people of different languages hold discussion, but with the new feature, chatting would be much more instant.

With the new update, users don’t have to chose the language as the app will do it for you. It will automatically detect the speech and decode it. As for now, it recognises seven languages in total – English, Italian, French, German, Russian, Portuguese and Spanish. However, we can expect the inclusion of other languages later. The new feature can only translate the above listed languages to English and vice versa e.g. Russian message cannot be converted to Spanish or to any other language else than English.

December 10, 2014