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MAC OS X Yosemite: An Interconnected Apple Universe Takes Shape

The Mac OS X Yosemite is out and for the first time mobile devices and computers can interact seamlessly across the Apple universe. You can trust Apple to learn from existing technology and create a refined version, with some sweet graphics and names added to it.

The possibilities on the Yosemite may be revolutionary. Of course they took their “inspirations” from existing technologies, but what they have come out with is indeed progressive for the entire industry.

After taking a departure from naming OS X after the big feline family, the naming conventions for the OS X will now be based cities of California, starting with the Mavericks. BTW, we do agree that OS X Weed was a pretty chill name for an OS but Yosemite does just fine.

We will now tell you why you should get really excited about the OS X Yosemite’s connection capabilities.

Seamless Interconnectivity Between Yosemite and iOS

Connectivity never seen before

Apple has absorbed the value of “Continuity” based apps and has given it the Apple spin. Using the benefit of their conformed device ideology they are able to do multi device interconnection way more easily than others. Apart from giving Airdrop the ability to work between the iOS and the Mac they have added an ingenious new feature called the Handoff.

Handoff:

Handoff set a milestone in terms of inter-connectivity

This is definitely a feature that will shut up the critics of Apple’s proprietary controlled devices. It gives you mirrored access across all Apple platforms for instant access. For example, the iPad recognizes what you’ve been working on and prompts you about it. You can stop working on the Mac, pick up your iPad and start working on your project right way without a second of lag.

There is no need for third party apps. There is no need to open a cloud app and download the file, it’s always there.

Not impressed yet? then check this out; you can start working on an email on your iOS phone and your Mac will recognize it and ask you if you want to work on its bigger keyboard. Who would not love that?

It is this ease of access that other hardware and software manufacturers should aspire to achieve.

Instant Hotspot:

Effortless Wifi tethering through the iPhone

This will be a rather helpful feature for folks constantly on the move or have irregular access to a Wifi connection. The Mac’s wifi identifies your phone and without any configurations sets up a hotspot with the phone and voila, you are connected.

SMS and Phone Access from Mac’s:

This is definitely the future of interlinked digital devices. Apple definitely was to be the first company to benefit from this because of its enormous hardware ecosystem.

SMS can now be answered from all Apple devices

Phone calls can now be received and answered from all Apple devices

With the SMS and Phone integration in the Yosemite, you can send and receive text messages as well as phone calls across all Apple devices. Not just that, you can also dial a number you see on a website right away from your macs.

iCloud Drive:

The iCloud is built in the Finder itself so you don’t need third party apps like Dropbox or Google drive. These apps and files will appear in the exact form you have customized it on any of your devices. Here is something to cheer for the iCloud drive, it works on Windows too (Truly Winning.) The apps you use also get individual folders on the drive.

Cloud to the next level

This update has the potential to fulfill Steve Jobs dream of destroying the Dropbox. (First the Android and then the Dropbox, Jobs sure wanted to kill a lot of jobs.)

Mail:

Maildrop is an interesting feature. It allows you to instantly send up to 5 GB(yes, you heard that right) from one Apple account to another. What it really does is use the iCloud as a transfer medium for the attachment to bypass size restriction on the mail server on receivers end. It will simply show up as an attachment may whatever be the size on the mail app. On a non-Apple PC, you will receive a link to securely download the file from iCloud.

We needed Markup, we just didn’t know

Markup feature allows you to add annotations or write texts on Jpegs. It even lets you sign PDF’s right in the mail itself. The feature also recognizes the hand drawn symbols and gives them a digital look instantly.

Safari:

Visual and Functional Reconstruction of Safari

Safari has got a visual renovation with a sleeker look. The browser now has a slimmer address bar to maximize browsing area. The favorites links can be accessed by clicking on the search bar. Safari is now integrated with spotlight searches to give better results and undermine Google even in the browser where it has thrived since its inception.

Tab view makes internet browsing simpler

The Tab View is without a doubt the best feature on the new Safari. This gives a bird’s eye view of all the tabs and by organizing each tab according to its corresponding website it gives a cleaner and more efficient browsing experience. As has been with Apple, the animations are impressive.

Spotlight:

The only search you’ll need

This is also where things got interesting, its almost like Spotlight got an adrenaline shot. When the magnifying glass icon is clicked a search bar opens in the middle of the screen. It is a fast and convenient way of opening Apps and files. While searching for a file, spotlight gives a preview of the content of the document.

Not just that Apple has integrated the internet sourcing ability on the Spotlight. This allows more in-depth search results for your query and would completely make Google obsolete on the Mac.

Spotlight can also be used for instant conversions and much more. This added utility will be really easy to get hands on and quite possibly make you wish your other systems had it too. It is essentially a one-stop shop for instant information.

Design:

Clarity is added through Translucence

Translucency is the key element inducted into the Yosemite. From the Docks, it is especially noticeable in the drop down menus and the finder. New toolbars and windows are giving it a fresh new look. The dark mode indeed looks enticing to start using right away.

The clean and consistent design throughout the OS gives a sense of, dare I say it again, continuity which will be really appreciated during extended uses.

The new Today view in Notification Center gives you a quick look at everything you need to know now — upcoming events, reminders, stocks, weather, and more. It is really handy and reminds you of the notification panel on the iOS 6 and 7. You can extend the panel to add widgets from the Mac App Store to customize according to your needs.

ITS FREE:

Yes, it is free, the most featured packed Apple OS is releasing this fall and it is for FREE. Not just that, there is also an update that’s gonna get a lot of people excited. Apple will let you be a part of the Public Beta program for the OS X Yosemite. Though there will be some glitches, but it will give the fan-boy a feel of being an Apple developer.

Conclusion:

In the 25th installment of the WWDC, Apple made a good bet of focusing only on its two operating systems and interlinking them together. This was one of the most feature intensive update in a long while. This will be a revolutionary idea and we will probably see all the Apple competitors trying to provide better integration across multiple platforms on the lines of the Yosemite. It’s time that the Apple naysayers should take a break and introspect about what they are doing with their lives.

June 3, 2014
Top ten predictions for the Samsung Galaxy Note 4

The Galaxy Note 4, successor to the Note 3 which was the bestselling phone from Samsung’s stable, is around the corner. Note 3 was a benchmark on which most of the future premium devices were designed, like the Galaxy Tab pro.

So here we give you a roundup of all the things we know about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 3. (more…)

June 3, 2014
5 Cool Photo Editing Apps you Should Download

Simply clicking a photo and posting it? That’s an old story now. Smartphones are becoming smarter and so are our day to day lives with it. These days, app stores are flooded with photo editing apps that offer you range of filters and smart editing options. But choosing the best one from these option is a hard task. So, we have assembled a list of the best photo-editing apps for you to use on your smartphones.

Photoshop Touch

What a surprise, Photoshop tops the list. But before you get your hopes up too high, you should know that this app doesn’t come close to the power of its desktop counterpart. You can do some of the basic Photoshop things like working with layers. However, it’s mixed in with more conventional mobile photo editing features like filters and mild adjustments like color correction. There are some cool features like camera fill and using Adobe Creative Cloud, it is compatible with the desktop version Photoshop.

VSCO Cam

If you’re looking for a smooth app that has gorgeous effects and features, VSCO is the one for you. VSCO has great presets, cool features like viewing before and after photos, and a wide range of filters. A lot of people seem to prefer it over Instagram. The app uses a grid scheme that allows you to publish your photos. It is sleek and easy to use. It only launched on Android recently, after premiering as an iPhone app, so there is still certain adjustments to be made. Features like separate exposure and focus locking are not yet included. Everything here is simple and works well, even if they don’t have a million extra features.

Photoshop Express

Another one from Adobe, this app is one of the most user-friendly photo-editors I have used. Simple and spontaneous, Photoshop Express lets you make the essential adjustments to crop, exposure, color, tint, hue, saturation, contrast and levels with ease. You can add many of the classic filters from Photoshop, including “Lens zoom,” “Grain” and “Glow.” And it’s free so, if you don’t already have it, you should be downloading it now.

Cupslice Photo Editor

Cupslice is a photo editor with a little more skill and buff, even if the features aren’t as heavy as some of the others I have listed. It comes with over 50 effects to start along with your basic editing tools. It also includes a number of stickers you can add to photos and that number gets updated every week. It’s a nice, simple app that should suit the needs of most people.

Photo Editor by Aviary

Photo Editor by Aviary is a very specific and composed photo editor. In addition to the most popular features such as filters, stickers, frames etc. This photo editor by Aviary provides you with addition features such as red-eye correction, tooth whitening and many more. It’s fairly amazing app providing solution to pretty much every problem with your clicks. This straightforward app would be useful addition to your smartphone.

June 3, 2014
A German Village Built its Own Broadband Network

Lack of internet connectivity sounds may be a problem of the past for a few. Well, that’s certainly not the case for most of the German villages around the Danish border. Small towns and villages with population of mere 600 people can’t connect to the internet. But for the Germans, this sounded more like a challenge than a problem. The people of a small village called Löwenstedt have come up with a solution; building their own network. History of innovation and development triggers with the absence of it, this German village proved it right.

The village’s Mayor said that they never found a company willing to supply the necessary fibre-optics, which will be around 22km of stretch. Some 58 other communities in Northern Friesland face similar difficulties and so the idea was born of clubbing together businesses, individuals and villages to secure access to a modern technology that is taken for granted in most German towns and cities.

This network will work wonders not only the youth to get connected to the outer world easily, the network will also be used to establish more business, effective trade and help in the agriculture sector which is biggest part of economy in the village.

The firm working with the village people has collected more than €2.5 million ($3.4 million) in funds with the help of 925 shareholders who each contributed a minimum of €1,000. 94% of household from the village already signed up to the network for two years even before it started functioning.

Peter Kock, who runs an agricultural technology supply firm in the village, couldn’t be happier with this initiative. “It’s brilliant. There’s no comparison,” he said. Now data files that used to take two hours to load onto his computer screen now appear in just 30 seconds. This not only helped his business growing but also benefited his customers who can now easily check the availability spare parts online.

For now, however, it is only the village of Löwenstedt that has succeeded in mobilizing the solidarity of its inhabitants to build a high-speed Internet network. Other villages have been slower and have found it more difficult to follow Löwenstedt’s lead.

What villagers of Löwenstedt has done, this has been done earlier around the world. Companies don’t want to do the “last mile/km” because they will not get the money back in subscriptions. Even now after putting in the system, only 68% of the population is subscribed; to most companies that is unacceptable. Especially if your young population is leaving in droves and the majority of the local population is over 50.

June 3, 2014
The Asus Transformer Book V is a Laptop, Tablet and a Phone

New technology and innovations are flooding in everyday. With the ever growing laptop and smartphone market, companies are trying to woe buyer by introducing crazy ideas and innovation in their products. Asus Transformer Book V is an outcome of this rat-race. Asus announced that they are working on this new piece of hardware which can be used as a tablet, laptop and a phone.

The 3-in-1 device with dual operating system support means it offers five different modes. These include an Android smartphone, an Android tablet, a Windows tablet, a laptop running Android and a Windows 8.1 laptop.

A 12.5 inch laptop/ tablet screen run on Windows 8.1 is powered by Intel Broadwell Chip. The tablet can be used independently as an Android device, when combined with a keyboard dock it turns into an Android laptop and with a mere switch of a key it will turn into a powerful Windows laptop.

With a tap on the screen,the user can switch between Windows 8.1 tablet and an Android 4.4 Kitkat tablet, but only when the phone is docked. The tablet alone has built-in storage of up to 128GB. The un-docked phone of the Asus Transformer Book V runs Android 4.4 Kitkat, and Asus claims it is the world’s first 5in LTE smartphone powered by a quad-core Intel Atom processor. The phone is also powered by a impressive 2,500mAh battery that provides up to 10 hours of web browsing time.

Asus is known for its amalgamation of several form-factors in the same device. Earlier they have promoted this hybrid structure through their FonePad, PadFone and Transformer Book. We may not see this amazing hardware soon. Unless it is powered by an Intel Broadwell chip and launches at the same time as the processor, they it may hit the market this autumn. Asus did not give any pricing or availability details for the Transformer Book.

The company is attempting to create the perfect device for multi-taskers. The Transformer Book V is aimed to bring in greater flexibility for users so that they can easily switch between work and entertainment.

June 2, 2014
#LetsTalkShop with Arvind Vohra from Gionee

Gionee’s recent arrival into the mobile market has proved the theory that not all “Chinese Goods” are poorly made. A few recent handsets from the company have proved to be quite the segment leaders. The Gionee S5.5 being the slimmest phone in the world and the Gionee E7 with its impressive camera.

We got a chance to sit down with the Country Head of Gionee in India, Mr. Arvind Vohra , and discuss the company, its operations and its future in a market like India.

We started of by discussing why he chose Gionee as a brand and how important it was to him, the answer seemed quite obvious. He believed in the company and its operations and the fact that he knew the global president personally helped.

Arvind claims that service is a key ingredient to providing a hardware, and as a manufacturer if he doesn’t have the right parts then the whole process is flawed.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Arvind Vohra”]

As a Manufacturer, if i don’t have spare parts, then there is something very wrong.

[/quote]

Operating in a market like India has become much more easier than before, and most of the challenges are overcome by doing everything in the manner its supposed to be done. As far as comparing India with any other market , he feels since he hasn’t worked anywhere else therefore he does not have a benchmark.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Arvind Vohra”]

There are no problems in operating in India, things have become much easier. You can register a company in three weeks, and as long as you do everything right you will be in a good place.

[/quote]

He is very keen on “exploiting OTA” updates and claims that most devices will get the OTA update for KitKat in the coming weeks. Which is avery big thing for the market he is operating in. The Elife series phones will be always be OTA supported as long as the hardware allows.

The next lineup of devices will include LTE phones, as Arvind feels that the country is ready to exploit the resource, and if Gionee can provide hardware then they will.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Arvind Vohra”]

We like to exploit the OTA updates, and almost all our devices launched recently will get the OTA KitKat Update. Going forward all our devices will launch with LTE, especially since China is transitioning we feel India will soon be ready.

[/quote]

Arvind sees no point of a tablet and fails to understand why people use them, the day he finds the real use of tablets he will start making them.

Watch the full video below and stay tuned for our next #LetsTalkShop

June 2, 2014
Quantum Teleportation Finally a Reality

Physicists at the Kavli Institute of Nanoscience at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands were able to move quantum information between two quantum bits separated by about 3 meters without altering the encoded information. This quantum teleportation experminent was done using nitrogen-embedded diamond qubit. The article was published in the journal Science.

A quantum information known as “qubit” is the smallest unit of physical data or quantum data. It is like a “bit” in terms of digital data. These particles are extremely difficult to contain even in a laboratory setting (called Super position states) and have life spans of a few seconds in room temperatures.

Though it sounds enticing to the mind and stimulates all forms of speculation, but don’t overestimate the project just yet. The success rate of the experiment currently is at just one in million or if it’s a good day for physicists, once in thousands of attempts.

But this diamond qubit teleportation attempt is said to be more consistent than its predecessors. This time they were deterministically able to predict the recreation of the qubit on the other side. They will now try to send the data to longer duration, hopefully a kilometer in the approaching future.

Quantum teleportation lets a particle travel without coming in contact with physical medium.

Quantum research is one of the toughest of fields because of the severe uncertainty in the quantum universe apart from humongous apparatus needed to keep them in steady states.

There are a lot of real world applications when this technology will be fully unlocked. We would be able to achieve faster communication if we learn how to direct it. It will be like rediscovering radio but with a super adrenaline boost. Whole new levels of communication array would be at our disposal which might also help in space communication where we are currently limited by the speed of light radio waves. Think about sending information which recreates itself on the other side without actually passing through a physical medium.

Quantum computing is stated to be much more efficient and faster than our present computer technology as quantum bits have the ability to be in multiple states at the same time.

Unfortunately we aren’t even close to Star Trek’s Transporter

We won’t be able to achieve Star Trek’s “transporter” level teleportation of humans, but it will surely make our computers a lot faster. This is of course the beginning of the R&D on the project. Google had tried to work on teleportation but it figured out that most of the aspects of teleportation that we expect are against the laws of nature.

The experiment also has the potential to prove the theory of quantum entanglement right. The theory Quantum entanglement states that quantum states of two particles remain connected even if they appear to have been spatially separated, which even Einstein highly doubted. But with this experiment scientists were able to keep the particles “entangled” even after teleportation.

Now if you can’t wait to be teleported to new place or a fictional universe, just wait for the virtual reality systems like Oculus Rift and ANTVR to come in the market. Even though they will be simulated universe, but that is the closest we can ever come to teleportation in our lifetime.

May 30, 2014
Samsung’s Tough Boy, Galaxy S5 Active Officially Launched

Two weeks back we were introduced to Galaxy S5 Active, through a leaked video by TK TechNews. And now Samsung’s Galaxy S5 Active is available today on AT&T. Unlike it’s other counterparts, it is rugged and tough.

The Galaxy S5 Active has the same full-HD AMOLED 5.1-inch screen. Its 16-megapixel camera and fingerprint sensor are also lodged into the rugged smartphone. That said, water-resistance is now part of the original Galaxy S5’s bag of tricks. There’s also the shock-resistant, dust-proof shell and a burlier look. Even if it’s a dreamy rendered view we’re seeing here, the metallic details and finish could well win over Galaxy fans that aren’t pro-plastic.

There’s an extra “convenience key” on the side of the phone that gives you easy access to all the phone’s apps that are related to outdoor activity.

Although the casing looks hardier than that of the Galaxy S5, it’s reasonably slim — a far cry from the bulky “rugged” phones of yesteryears that often looked closer to military hardware than something you’d carry in your pocket. It’ll be offered in “camo green,” “titanium grey,” and “ruby red” colorways.

The critics though are questioning the need for this phone as its predecessor, the Galaxy S4 Active, since the regular Galaxy S5 already offers more protection against the elements than most other devices on the market. Without a whole lot of extra functionality to define it against the water-loving Galaxy S5, the S5 Active’s main appeal could well end up boiling down to its tough-guy exterior.

The phone currently is only available in the USA. you can buy the S5 Active for $200 with a new, two year contract, for $27.50 per month with AT&T Next 18, for $35.75 per month with AT&T Next 12.

AT&T is also knocking $50 off the price of the Samsung Gear Fit if you buy it alongside the Galaxy S 5 Active.

May 30, 2014
Unboxed : The Lava Iris X1

The Moto E revolution is evident in the market and looks like its going to be the standard from here on. Like an asteroid it came and devastated the previous generation standard spec sheets of the lower-end smartphone market. Clearly, a new era of the lower-end smartphone evolution has begun and Lava just layed its claim to the throne with the Lava iris X1.

All major companies including Samsung have stated that they are going to bring in a competition for the Moto E. We feel it’s about time we should start a MOTO watch section to see how close the other folks are coming to touch the towering ceiling set by the Motorola.

The easy slide out box is pretty standard for a Lava device. The box contains the standard sets of inhabitants. A good sized micro USB wall charger, flat cable earphones, a round cable micro USB to USB cable. The back cover looks extremely flimsy but the branding on the back is pretty classy. It is an effort to hold it up, though the lack of a rubberized back panel makes it slippery.

Where the X1 wins over the Moto E is the free flip cover provided in the box. The flip cover is functional as the screen locks when it’s closed. Another cool aspect of the cover is that the volume rocker positions are marked on the cover itself so you can access them easily while on move. The only issue though, the white cover can get dirty, very easily.

The phone comes with the Android 4.4.2 right out of the box. It is powered by a removable 1800 mAh battery, which is slightly smaller than the non-removable 1980 mAh in the Moto E. The processor on the X1 is a Quad core 1.2 Ghz Broadcom chipset. It holds 1 GB of RAM and has an expandable memory upto 32 GB.

Coming to the handset, at the top it looks blatantly iPhone-ish minus the physical button. The screen is a 4.5 inch IPS display with a resolution of 854 x 480 pixels. The Moto G’s Corning Gorilla glass 3 is more pixel dense but the X1 isn’t that far behind, it has some good color reproduction capabilities.

Overall, it looks like a decent effort on the part of Lava, the most it could do at the moment in the face of stiff competition. Apart from the Moto E, Lava will also cross swords with Micromax which recently released its Unite 2. The phone has outperformed some of the major flagships in benchmark tests.

For the moment the phone is exclusively sold on Amazon at a price of Rs 7999. This is an audacious step, considering Lava is no Moto to have the luxury of exclusive marketing tie-ups. The X1’s closest competition, the Unite 2 costs Rs 6999 on flipkart.

For now, like Lava and others, we’ll wait and see how the market responds to this new era of intelligent evolution in the basic smartphones business.

May 30, 2014
The 10 Most Interactive Websites On the Internet

It’s the new age of marketing and companies have juiced every kind of media gimmick to promote themselves. It’s not only the online world, but all sorts of companies are looking to use new-age technology to attract more viewership. Now, interactive websites are the new ‘IT’ thing to advertise, as well as engage viewers with user-based interactive flash games.

Creating bespoke design and digital solutions help you glue the customers on your site. Here are 10 hand-picked websites that will glue your eyeballs to your laptop screens:

Hello Sour Sally

It is the first frozen yogurt store in Jakarta and their site is just so much fun! The site allows you to move “Sally” through a wonder world of ingredients. It is designed as a small game where you help sally collect all the ingredients to make the yogurt. Not the most easy to navigate, perhaps, but adorable.

May 30, 2014
Future Meets Reality? A Day Made Of Glass

First seen in 2011, this five-minute video shows a day-in-the-life of a family in the future to exhibit how a speciality glass may deliver astonishing benefits to daily products. From organizing your to-do list with a few touches on the bathroom mirror to altering the look of a car dashboard with a quick flick of your finger, or reading a classic novel on a thin piece of flexible glass – the video depicts a world of mobile communication and connection.

For more than 160 years, Corning has applied its skill in glass science to help enable the breakthroughs that have revolutionized our modern world, such as, Thomas Edison’s light bulb, glass windows for all U.S.-manned space flights, and the world’s first low-loss optical fiber for telecommunications networks. This track record for modernization continues today through Corning’s stanch pledge to research, a passion for glass, and their vision for the future.

The “A Day Made of Glass” video captured the imagination of millions on YouTube and was expanded in 2012 with Corning’s release of “A Day Made of Glass 2.” Set on the same day, this video takes a new journey with the same family, while extending the possibilities of glass into the hospital, classroom, and home of the future.

Today, the “A Day Made of Glass” series continues to grow, including new videos, an educational program, and a recently launched microsite. Visit the new microsite that features all of Corning’s “A Day Made of Glass” videos and content related to the company’s vision, including learning tools, feature stories, and FAQs on the video series.

It would be a stretch to label everything in these videos as digital signage, but the technologies they represent are so obviously cross-applicable that we might as well start getting ready for a world where digital signage isn’t just digital out-of-home, but digital in-home as well.

May 30, 2014
Skype’s Incredible New App Translates in Real-time

Skype clearly understanding the need of the hour has created an app which might be easiest way to stay in touch with your friends around the globe. With this app, Skype stays true to its motto and hopes to make its international connections easier. The new feature automatically translates conversations in real time. Before the end of 2014, Microsoft plans to release a beta Skype app that will enable real-time translation of people verbally speaking in different languages.

Skype Translator, as Microsoft is calling it, appears to be an extension of the real-time translation Microsoft has been developing for over ten years. The company had previously shown the technology in action, with the real-time translation of speech delivered by Microsoft’s Rick Rashid in China. Even more recently, Microsoft released Bing Translator, which performs the same function as Skype Translator, just on Windows 8.

The feature, dubbed Skype Translator, was demonstrated on Tuesday by Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella during an onstage interview at the Recode Code Conference in Palos Verdes, Calif. During the demonstration, Nadella conducted a conversation with Skype chief Gurdeep Singh Pall, who was speaking German, while Skype provided real-time translation of the German into English and vice versa.

On the Microsoft Research site, the company said it’s been working on machine translation for more than a decade, and that earlier translating voice over Skype was “considered a nearly impossible task.” However, four years ago the program got a jumpstart with a project that was able to translate phone calls in real-time. Meanwhile, a separate project improved speech recognition accuracy, Microsoft said. That eventually bolstered other services that listen to human voices, like Microsoft’s Cortana voice assistant for Windows Phone.

Microsoft had bought Skype in May 2011 for $8.5bn (£5.2bn) – making it the firm’s biggest acquisition at the time. However, it has been facing increasing competition from a multitude of rivals, including Google Hangouts, Apple’s Facetime, Blackberry’s BBM, Tango and Viber.

Manoj Menon, managing director at consulting firm Frost & Sullivan said that once launched, the new feature could have wide ranging applications in sectors such as education and tourism. He added that the translation feature may also help Microsoft to integrate Skype with its office social network site Yammer. Microsoft also bought Yammer – which operates like Facebook for communication within companies – for $1.2bn in 2012.

“Microsoft has acquired some great assets such as Yammer and Skype over the past few years,” Mr Menon said. “The ability to integrate these together will help unlock their value and the translate feature is a wonderful step in that direction.” Skype has also been taking other steps to try and attract more users. Last year, it confirmed that it had developed technology for 3D video calls. But it has said it could be many years before the technology is launched.

While it’s unclear how the beta app of Skype Translator will relate to Skype itself (will the two remain separate apps?), it’s certainly clear that Microsoft is moving ahead fast in terms of real-time translation.

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May 29, 2014
LG G3: Beginning of the 2K Run?

The Flagships are engaged in some real battles now. LG G3 dropped in and made it a lot more interesting. Packed in with a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor clocked at 2.46 GHz, expandable memory upto 128 GB and a laser focus support for the camera, the phone sure has some unique features to look forward to.

The G3 brings the First 2K Display

The phone’s display is its champion. The G3 has a best in class 5.5 inch Quad HD display with 538 pixel density that gives a resolution of 2560 x 1440 px(2K). With this release LG brought in the first 2K phone in the market.

Quad HD displays have been promised to the market by several manufacturers. Oppo’s Find 7 and Lenovo’s Vibe Z2 are some of the example. But why haven’t the rest of the manufacturers jumped on board with a 2K display market, we try to see the issues with running a Quad HD screen.

The screen on the LG G3 is substantially better than most of the screens this article is being read on. It is been said that the human eye cannot distinguish pixel density after 300ppi which Apple terms as its Retina display at 326 ppi in the iPhone 5S. But the images are just so mesmerizing on a Quad HD screen that you loose the reasons for the debate in the first place.

One of the major reasons why manufacturers are not encouraged to adopt a Quad HD display is because of the massive power required to run the display. It especially puts a heavy strain on the processor. But on a processor like the one G3 has, this might not be a major issue. A massive battery like the 3000 MaH on the G3 will take care of the excessive resource drain.

There isn’t enough content for the 2K and 4K displays.

There also aren’t a lot of apps that are ready for the 2K display. There is a serious shortage of content at the moment, as it is resource intensive to create the content in the first place. As the technology is still young, the content producers will wait for a while before investing in a heavy process like creating videos or games for such screens. They will wait for the device market to get populated with more products with such high definition displays.

Since HD is now the norm across many platforms, it is rather easy to create content for it. To create HD content you just need a computer system with decent specifications. The investment for making an HD content is comparatively lower than that for 2K or 4K productions.

So the question we really need to ask is that, are Quad HD phones worth buying at the moment or maybe we should just shut up, wait for the content to show up and enjoy the insane crispness of a handheld 2K screen.

May 28, 2014
Look Out Oculus! ANTVR Might Steal the Show

While the Oculus Rift was setting up the stage for the Virtual Reality(VR) revolution, one Chinese open source project might turtle its way to the finish line. A Chinese company called ANTVR is offering VR headsets which have everything that a proprietary system like Oculus lags. Get ready for a whole new iOS-Android like battle.

The shining glory of the ANTVR is it flexibility of integration on multiple platforms. It can be used with Xbox, Playstation, PC, Blu Ray and even the Android. Right now Oculus only plays the games made for its system and Sony’s project Morpheus will only run on the PS4(Lame!).

It is easy to make games for the ANTVR because of its an Asperical Lens system. The lens also allows proper recreation of the image and takes out any aberrations. This might actually help correct the complaints of vertigo in the likes of the Oculus Rift. Adjustable pupil distance also helps to reduce the strain on the eyes.

The headset gives a 360 degrees immersive vision. It has a dual 9 axis Inertial Measurement Unit(IMU), which bestows on it better capabilities for sensing the movements of the user. The IMU is integrated in the headset as well as the controller. The headset’s 100 degree straight vision gives a feeling of wearing an entire IMAX screen on your head.

ANTVR co-founder Qin Zheng quit his PhD to work on the system. He and his entire team look as if they are the members of the fellowship of Nerdliwood. Maybe it is because they themselves are Sci-Fi and gaming nerds that they can perfect a system that other fan boys and girls can enjoy.

Another key area where the ANTVR succeeds in is its transformable controller that offers multiple functionality. The controller can be used as a standard controller, a steering wheel, a gun or even a simulated hand grenades, can it BE more all-round convenient? There is also an option for standard cables as well as a wireless version of the controller.

The designs for the ANTVR systems are done by China based industrial designers LKK. They have come up with really ingenious and kickass designs. The transformable controller especially will be a boon to the gamers.The software’s and sensors are designed for a complete immersive experience. The detachable controller makes it extremely simple to use. Easy placement on the head even with spectacles is a welcome development.

ANTVR’s open source platform opens it up to enormous possiblilities. Qin Zheng has said that he will provide all documentation and libraries to the public. This approach will help increase the rate of upgradation of firmware and rapid feedback and growth for the ANTVR in comparison to its competitors.

The most respectable part of Zheng’s approach is that he has made it clear that he will not sell the company. The company has already scored $212,344 with its kickstarter campaign whose target was $200,000. The selling price of the individual equipment is around 300$ which will be a direct competition to the Oculus Rift’s consumer version.

We seriously hope for the ANTVR project to live long and prosper and set a milestone in the VR arena. This will also force big companies like Facebook (owners of Oculus) to try to one up the competition and come up with better products.

May 28, 2014
5 Apps You Should Hit to Get Fit

Your health is in your hands. Seriously, it’s right there—or it can be, in the form of flashy petite apps downloaded to your smartphone. But with so many options to select from, it can be hard to know which apps really facilitate desirable results. At a time when storage space is dear and your vigor even more so, we’ve hand-selected fitness apps and games intended to help you facilitate a healthier you. Here is to using our phones to get fit!

Fitness Point Pro: Is a simple app, made for gym rats who are dedicated to follow a fitness regime. A paid app, this would a super cheap replacement of your trainer. By downloading the app, you get access to a database full of exercises as well as a detailed description of each exercise with animation. The animations being the main selling point.They ensure you follow exercises correctly, steering clear of injuries. This app also encourages you to create new workouts, as well as suggests combinations. And you receive a calendar view of each and every log, not to mention both day and month views for training and exercises.

Johnson & Johnson Official 7-Minute Workout App: This app is one of most user-friendly app you would ever use – it has 36 exercises, 13 pre-designed workouts, and a custom workout feature to help you design your own 7-minute workout. You can choose the length of rest intervals, the number of times you want to run through a particular circuit, and tunes from your personal music library to further personalize your session. And with audio and visual instruction, you’re sure to get in a good workout anywhere there’s a floor, wall, and a chair.

Zombies, Run! 5K Trainer: This app is one of my favorite app in this list, nothing related to it’s name. Okay, we’re lying. The app works exactly the way it reads. Can you think of any better way to train for that 5K than to flee from hordes of zombies? Part interactive horror flick, part personal trainer, this app guides you through interval training while involving you in an apocalyptic story through which you’re meant to save humanity over the course of eight weeks. It’s a great way to keep yourself motivated, while having a little flesh-eating fun on your way to a win.

Cody: This one uses a strong social element to motivate its users to stay fit. Why do get fit alone when you can get fit with friends? Cody offers users inside connections to a fitness community where they can share and discover workouts (complete with video, photo, and text instructions) by following new and old friends. Users get their own cheering section! Friends can like and comment on each other’s workout activity. Cody also allows users to track their progress via a timeline packed with stats and highlights.

Fitocracy Macros: It’s way more than just a regular calorie-counting app. Fitocracy Macros tracks the calories you take in from macronutrients (protein, fat, and carbs). This macro-centered strategy is supposed to help prevent the low energy, hunger, and crankiness that other diets cause. Plug in your stats, body type, fit goal, and you’re set! The only downside is that you’ll have to research how many calories are actually in the macros you munch on, but that aside, it’s a simple and easy app that helps you reach your dieting goals.

May 26, 2014