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If you thought you had good ideas that you could share with people and make some money out of it, it’s become rather easy. YouTube, which has become the largest repository of informative and entertaining videos along with some rants and hurtful comments, now allows you to collect tips through the virtual tip jar.
This update is a great initiative from YouTube. Google has struggled with the great YouTube experiment as the website demands massive investments to run at optimum speeds but the revenue from the website has been low. The ads gradually became a menace and folks went with an Adblock solution which again harmed the websites revenue stream. Google will take a tiny 5% cut off each video that is an acceptable considering the huge platform they offer.
Youtube’s platform has been used by everyone, from prominent corporations to a blogger, sending out his thoughts from the bedroom. It surely has made a lot of people famous as well as wealthy. It did occasionally give undue attention to certain folks, but that’s what you from a completely free and open ecosystem.
Fan Funding is mutually beneficial for the content creator as well as the company
This initiative was announced at VidCon this year along with features like viewer translated videos. A YouTube user can translate the video and give it subtitles, and the owner has the authority to accept or decline the videos. It was seen that the viewership of the videos greatly increased when it was translated into multiple languages. This will let a channel attract a larger viewer base as well as help in a free and fair exchange of ideas throughout the world.
To make a contribution to a channel, a user must have a Google Wallet account. A support button will be added on the info card, or on the channel page, using which people can make the contributions.
Crowdfunding has been immensely successful in bringing ideas, films, prototype products and much more to the real world. These innovations would have had a tougher time seeing the light of the day if they had taken the tough route of impressing venture capitalists to fund their products. Using crowd-funding, consumers can invest in the projects they like and clearly make a consumer oriented market.
Currently, the service is available in U.S., Australia, Japan and Mexico and will be extended to other nations. To access the YouTube Fan Funding feature, users can use PC web browsers and the official YouTube Android app (version 5.7 or later).
Sony has presented a decent Xperia line up at today’s pre-IFA event, with the star attraction being the Xperia Z3. It’s a huge device with a 5.2-inch display. But Sony has provided its consumers another option who aren’t ready to make the leap to 5+ inches – new Xperia Z3 Compact with a 4.6-inch display.
The only difference between the Xperia Z3 and the Z3 Compact is the size of the display — the Z3 Compact features a 720p 4.6-inch screen. Other than that, it’s nearly identical to the flagship. Without compromising on specifications, Sony has built two variations of a single smartphone in order capture wider market base.
IFA is expected to go big on the wearable category. Just like Samsung, LG, Motorola and others, Sony has launch two wearable devices – Sony Smartwatch 3 and SmartBand Talk.
Unlike earlier versions, Sony Smartwatch 3 is based on the Google’s Android Wear. The device sports 1.6-inch 320 x 320 LCD display. It runs on 1.2 GHz quad-core processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of storage, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 and 420mAh battery. And also, following the Sony’s waterproof obsession he SmartWatch 3 comes with IP68 waterproof and dustproof certification.
The company didn’t revealed any pricing details, however, it is expected to be priced around $300 ith an additional watchband priced at $30 per band.
The company announced another wearable, called SmartBand Talk. The company described it as a “powerful lifelogging wearable, with intuitive features” that will cost $200 later this year. The device can run 3 day on a single charge and have built in microphone and loud speaker.
The device lets users record various fitness and health-related activities, while also supporting voice calls when paired with a smartphone. The SmartBand Talk has a 1.4-inch e-ink display, 32-bit ARM Cortex-M4 processor, 2MB of internal flash memory, a 70mAh battery, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 LE and microUSB support. The device is also IP68 certified, and is supposed to work with Android devices running KitKat or later courtesy the special Lifelog Android application.
Sony has launched a long list of devices at it’s pre-IFA event today. In addition to the Sony Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact flagship smartphones, company has also announced affordable Xperia E3 and Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact.
The Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is 8-inch tablet will compete against similarly sized devices from Sony’s rivals including the Google Nexus 9 and the 2014 Retina iPad mini later this year when it hits stores. The Compact Z3 Tablet has an ultra-slim 6.4 millimeter profile, weighs 270 grams, and comes with IP65/68 waterproof and dustproof certification.
When it comes to hardware, this compact tablet will offer users an 8-inch Full HD Triluminos display, a 2.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, 3GB of RAM, 8.1-megapixel camera, 2.2-megapixel front-facing camera, up to 16GB memory, microSD support, Android 4.4 KitKat and a 4,500mAh battery capable of delivering up to 13 hours of video playback.
But the most interesting part about this device is PlayStation 4 support., Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact owners will be able to pair their tablet with the console and play PS4 games on the 8-inch display using the DualShock 4 controller with the new Remote Play feature, whenever the TV is being used for other
purposes.
The Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact will launch globally in autumn 2014, in both LTE and Wi-Fi versions, although pricing details are not available yet.
The company also launched an affordable Xperia E3, to expand it’s range more budget friendly market. The specs of the Xperia E3 are losses some important specifications in order to accommodate the lower price point, but this is still a perfectly capable device for anyone who aren’t looking for a high-end Android smartphone.
The E3 features a scratch-resistant 4.5-inch display made of durable tempered glass and corners on its body which are designed to stand up to the occasional falls. Other specs include a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 1GB of RAM, up to 4GB of internal storage and a 5-megapixel camera. The phone is expected to launch this fall alongside the Xperia Z3, but there is no set release date yet.
The season of big ticket releases has been kicked off by Samsung in an optimistic fashion. The company flaunted an assortment of products at its pre-IFA event in Berlin. The company finally unveiled the Galaxy Note 4 which gets quite a few upgrades over its predecessor both on the hardware, as well as the software front.
The presentation was done by three presenters who were well prepared for the show, though it got a bit annoying when they tried to over-reach. Most of the features presented were affirmative of the leaks.
Looks
Image Credit: The Verge
The new generation Note flagship comes with a 5.7 inch Quad HD Super AMOLED screen. It has a thickness of 8.5 mm and weighs 176 gm. The device is LTE category 6 ready.
On the looks front, the device borrows the design language from the Samsung stable while going for an edgier design. The device is built on a metal frame which strengthens the device to minimize damage from dropping of the device. It has a soft textured back cover.
Camera
The cameras on the Note 4 get a lot better. Image Credit: The Verge
The Galaxy Note 4 comes with a 16 MP camera on the back with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS.) With the OIS, Samsung claims, you’ll get professional quality HD videos with minimum jitters.
The company has gone out of its way to bring a superior selfie experience, and it was truly innovative of them. The 3.7 MP front camera has a wide f/1.9 iris which will ensure brightness of the image. To make selfie taking more convenient, the Note 4 utilizes the heart rate sensor on the back as a shutter release. To take a selfie all you need to do is hold the heart rate sensor and release, when you are ready for a click. For taking a wider selfie or a “Weefie” with multiple people, the device offers a wide 90-degree frame. There is also an option for Wide Selfie that lets you take an even wider 120-degree selfie by moving the phone till everyone is in view. The presenters took the photo of the entire auditorium using the feature.
The camera also has an extremely useful feature called the Snap Note through which you can take an image, and the phone will extract the data from it. So when sitting in a classroom you can simply click the photo of the board, and the phone scan the image and will take the information out. You can then add annotations to the information and have an easy learning experience.
S-Pen
The S-Pen also gets upgrades and added functionalities. The pressure sensitivity has been increased to give a more natural pen-like feel. The pen now also acts as a mouse with features like click and drag which lets you select multiple files at once.
The Smart select feature lets you select text and images from multiple sources and lets you bring them all together. It also lets you easily share them on the internet.
Audio Recorder
The audio recorder on the device has also received some really handy and functional upgrades. The device can now track voices in 8 distinct directions so it great for getting quality sounds in multi-people environment. The interview mode on the device cancels out the unnecessary ambient noise and hence gives a clearer audio output.
Multi-Windows
Using multi-window gets easier with the new device. You can now access the multi-window feature through the recent apps menu. It has become a lot easier to resize, relocate or minimize the screens during multi-window usage.
Note 4 comes in four color options: White Black, Gold and Pink. It also provides customizability with 4 covers. There is the S-View, Flip wallet, S-view Flip wallet and LED cover which reminds of the Dot case by HTC. The device also comes with a back panel encrusted with Swarovski Crystals.
The device is sleeker and edgier than the Note 3. Image Credit: The Verge
Battery
The device gets its juice from a 3220 mAh battery which is a slight increase over the predecessor. Samsung claims that with advanced optimization of their product, the battery will last longer than before. They have also brought the ultra power saving mode from the S5 onto this device.
Mont Blanc
As the phone flaunts its USP of a writeable screen, it was only natural for them to partner with a writing instrument manufacturer sooner or later. So Samsung has partnered with Mont Blanc to bring stylish writing instruments for the Note 4. The pens have multiple usability as they come with interchangeable refills for the paper and the screen. They also offer several nib options for different needs. The pen is connected with the device using a chip that lets the user have a fulfilling writing experience on the device’s massive 5.7 inch screen.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 comes with 50 GB of Dropbox storage for two years. The phone will be available in the market in the month of October.
Samsung has done well on its presentation, and this will help calm some of the criticism that it has been facing for a while. The Note 4 is without a doubt a new era for the company. This was a good launch event, and we’ll be updating you when more information surfaces.
Sony is now here to add to the long list of phones being launched today. We’ve already seen Samsung starting the event right by introducing a revolutionary curved screen smartphone. Now, we have Sony lining up its contenders to fight this year’s flagship war.
The company introduced its new flagship device, the Xperia Z3. This smartphone, will now go on to fight the highly-anticipated iPhone 6 and the newly released Galaxy Note 4.
As expected, Sony has integrated the new Xperia Z3 with the Playstation 4, by adding a new feature called PS4 Remote Play that will let you use the Xperia Z3 as “a remote screen to connect to and control your games on PS4.”
Sony Xperia Z3 will come with a 5.2-inch Full HD display that Sony claims is “the world’s brightest display of all the leading premium smartphones.” Other specs for the device include a 2.5 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, 3GB of RAM, a 20.7-megapixel camera and Android 4.4 KitKat.
Sony hasn’t yet provided a release date for the phone and will only say that it plans to launch the phone this fall. There are no pricing details revealed either.
Key Specs
Snapdragon 2.5 GHz Qualcomm Quad-core
Adreno 330 GPU
5.2″ Full HD display (1920×1080 pixels)
TRILUMINOS™ Display for mobile
20.7 megapixel camera with auto focus
8x digital zoom
ISO 3200 maximum in manual mode
Sony Exmor RS for mobile image sensor
4K video recording
Front-facing camera, HD 1080p for video chat and 2.2 MP for camera capture
Samsung introduced a one-of-a-kind smartphone today. It stands out in the crowd for its unique screen, which extends and runs over onto the right side of the device. And if you’re thinking the curved panel is simply a marketing gimmick, you’re wrong.
The extended side screen is super functional as well – it has 7 scrollable panels which are customisable. When the Galaxy Note Edge is locked, the side-panel can be used to have a quick look at notifications and get faster access to certain features such as time and date display, flashlight, camera, messages and even a ruler. Preferred apps can also be shifted to the side panel, frequent use of which will help users conserve battery life.
The Samsung Galaxy Note Edge comes as a pleasant surprise which was kept well under wraps. It is one of the few devices launched recently which left no virtual trail and had no ‘leakster’ tracking its every more.
Photo Credits: The Verge
So, the new bent display not only gives Samsung’s new smartphone a sleek look, but it actually might help keep the main screen clutter-free. Samsung has also announced that will release the API so that third-party app developers can make use of the new screen and create appropriate apps for the screen.
Specs-wise, the smartphone has a 5.6-inch, Quad HD 2560 x 1440 display and is powered by a 3,000 mAh battery. It comes with Snapdragon 805 or Exynos 5433 chipset, Android 4.4, 16MP OIS camera and S Pen stylus. With this launch, Samsung proved that it still has an eye for innovation.
Along with the Tab S8 and the ERAZER X315, Lenovo gave us a good look at another addition to its line-up of laptops, the Y70 Touch. The company claims that the Y70 Touch gaming laptop is its first 17-inch touch device.
The Y70 Touch gaming laptop comes in three variants and is available to buy from Lenovo’s US online store. The three models – 80DU000EUS, 80DU000NUS, and 80DU000HUS – are priced at $1,399.99, $1,499.99 , and $1,689.00 respectively. Lenovo also said that the laptops will be available with major retailers in October.
The only fact that may not go down well with its prospective buyers is its weight; the Lenovo Y70 Touch laptops weigh a hefty 3.4kgs.
The three models of the Y70 Touch gaming laptops are powered by the fourth-generation Intel Core i7-4710HQ Processor (2.50GHz, 4 cores, 8 threads, 6MB cache). The difference between the three variants is in system memory, dedicated GPUs, and in-built storage. All three models of the Lenovo Y70 Touch run Windows 8.1 64-bit OS and sport a 17.3-inch full-HD LED anti-glare multi-touch display. An integrated HD (720p) webcam is also included.
The three Lenovo Y70 Touch laptop variants also share the connectivity features including Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi 802.11 ac/b/g/n, as well as the same battery – a 4-cell 54-Watt Hour Li-Po. Sized at 422.9×290.6×25.9mm, the Lenovo Y70 Touch laptops boast stereo speakers powered by JBL alongside a backlit keyboard for easy typing during low light conditions.
The biggest factor blamed for the slow adoption of smartwatches is their need to be connected with smartphones. This made them more of an accessory than an actual fully-functional device. Now the companies have sensed the need to detach the Smartwatch from the smartphone while keeping its smartness intact. Google plans to do the same with its Android Wear Operating system.
Google in talks with CNET said that the company plans to bring several updates for the Android Wear ecosystem. These updates will add additional features to the devices as well as cut the umbilical cord that feeds the wearables their features through the smartphones.
These updates will help decouple the Smartwatch from the Smartphone
The updates are essential to providing independent features to these devices. Updates such as Bluetooth headsets support will let you hold your playlist on your watch itself so that you don’t need to lug around your huge smartphone when you go out for a run. In a GPS-enabled smartwatch, the GPS support will map your jog for you.
The updates will be rolled out on a regular basis and will roll out from next week. The first update is expected to advance the voice and navigation features of the smartwatches. One update that the customers will really look forward to is the one that will provide custom watch faces. This will offer the option to have customized watch faces that the users can select according to their liking.
There is still a lot of promise in this burgeoning tech segment. Smart wearables are where the companies are putting their money right now. If Google succeeds in bringing a standardized operating system that is appreciated by the people at large, it will be a big boost to the smartwatch category. Not only would there be a recognizable UI throughout, it will also help easily interconnect with the wide Android ecosystem.
It’s time Apple opened its cards on the long rumoured iWatch. The world is waiting to see if Apple can stop Android’s victory march midway.
Along with the Tab S8, Lenovo took the wraps off two new gaming PCs at the IFA trade show in Berlin today – The Y70 Touch and The ERAZER X315.
Talking about the first one, the Erazer X315 comes in two variants, the 3.1GHz quad-core AMD A8-7600 and the 3.7GHz quad-core AMD A10-7850k processors. With the AMD A8-7600, users get a 2GB AMD Radeon R9 255 GPU, 1TB+8GB SSHD in-built storage, and 8GB of RAM. And with the AMD A10-7850k, users get a 2GB AMD Radeon R9 260 GPU; 2TB+8GB SSHD in-built storage, and 12GB of RAM.
The connectivity features of the Erazer X315 include 4x USB 3.0; 2x USB 2.0; HDMI-in; 7-in-1 card reader; 6x audio jack with S/PDIF; and Wi-Fi 802.11ac. Weighing 16.5 pounds, the Erazer X315 gaming desktop measures 375.9×360.6×175.2mm and also features Dolby Advanced Audio technology.
The Erazer X315 will be available in November this year with major retailers with the starting price tag of $599.
Asus has been teasing its smartwatch for quite a while, and now it’s finally here. The super sleek ZenWatch runs Android Wear OS and features a version of the ASUS ZenUI developed specifically for the ZenWatch.
Powered with Android Wear, the new ZenWatch will be priced around $250, while the international pricing is yet to be announced. It’s the first Android Wear smartwatch with a customised UI. It is compatible with smartphones running Android 4.3 or above.
The ZenWatch features a gold-colored middle layer and stainless steel top and bottom, with a brushed surface around the face. It has a 1.63-inch 320×320 AMOLED display with a slight curve to its surface, and a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, as well as 512MB or RAM and Bluetooth 4.0.
They’ve provided a heart rate sensor on the bottom, and it uses standard user-replaceable 22mm watchbands. IP55 water and dust-proofing helps it tolerate accidental splashes, and it has a 9-axis sensor for tracking activity and movement.
Asus has also included a number of gesture controls and pre-loaded features, which makes it stand out amongst other Android Wear devices. These features give you options to unlock your phone or tablet by tapping the face of the ZenWatch, auto-opening a function you set with a double-tap, covering the watch to mute and phone finding, remote camera operation and slide deck control apps. However, for these feature to work you are required to install a separate, Asus-created watch manager app in addition to Android Wear on your companion device to work.
The Asus ZenWatch comes in a a soft touch stitched-leather strap and quick-release clasp. The display is curved to give off a 2.5D effect.
Lenovo, ahead of thursday’s pre-IFA event, has launched a 8-inch Intel Atom-powered Android tablet, called the Tab S8. The tablet has an 8-inch (1920×1200) display and includes the One Glass Solution touch-panel technology. The tablet has a ultra-slim bezel with the dark front panel which gives it a very sleek look.
The Tab S8 has a 8.0-inch, 1920×1200 resolution IPS display, Intel Atom Z3745 SoC with quad-core 1.86GHz CPU, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal memory, 8 megapixel rear camera, 1.6 megapixel front camera, stereo speakers with Dolby sound, 7 hours of battery life and Android 4.4 KitKat.
The Tab S8 will go on sale beginning of September for $199. The company has listed Ebony, Blue, Canary, Yellow, and White colour variants (depending on regional availability) for the Tab S8. The low price is impressive considering its capabilities, and might be worth a look for anyone wanting a mid-sized tablet on a budget. The Company also mention a 3G/LTE version of the Tab S8 without any further details.
Japanese electronics giant Sony has announced new 4K televisions in three new series in India. The six new offerings from Sony come in screen sizes ranging from 49-inch to 85-inch within the price range of Rs. 1,74,900 to Rs. 7,04,900.
The company said that four of these 4K televisions are already available in the market while the other two will be available by the end of September. Sony claims that the new Bravia 4K TVs offer ‘excellent picture and audio quality, while featuring a bevy of new features will appeal to the discerning consumer’.
Sony has further stated that all six of the new Bravia 4K models offered by them will incorporate the powerful picture processing engine, 4K X-Reality PRO, which uses a combination of unique up-scaling and super resolution technology from Sony to offer any content in beautiful and stunning 4K resolution. All new models supports HDMI 2.0 which gives them the ability to display 4K/60p content.
They are also equipped with a new decoder which supports HEVC and can playback 4K/60p content from Internet streaming services and USB playback. The TVs are also compatible with MHL 3.0, which supports 4K output from smartphones and tablets.
The company is also introducing a new feature called ‘One-Flick Entertainment,’ that allows viewers to quickly browse content across different sources at home. The added One-Flick Remote Control gives users ‘intuitive control’. Using simple swipes users can access both offline and online content. There is also an option of seeing content stored on NFC-enabled smartphones or tablets by touching those devices to the One-Flick Remote Control.
One-Flick Entertainment gives users quick YouTube access while watching regular TV channels. Also, the Sony Bravia 4K televisions have a new ‘Social Viewing’ feature, which enables users to Skype chat (with the built-in camera) apart from keeping track of their social media accounts.
Sony has detailed pricing for the four available Bravia 4K TVs, with the 79-inch Bravia KD-79X9000B priced at Rs. 7,04,900, the 55-inch Bravia KD-55X9000B priced at Rs. 3,14,900, the 55-inch Bravia KD-55X8500B priced at Rs. 2,54,900, and the 49-inch Bravia KD-49X8500B priced at Rs. 1,74,900.
However, pricing details of the remaining two 4K televisions will be revealed when they launch by the end of this month.
3D printing is one of the most beneficial technologies out there and it is all set to bring immense comfort to our lives in the coming decades. It is a process through which one can create three-dimensional objects in which successive layers of material are laid down under computer control. NASA pushed the limits of this technology and decided to create one of the most complex parts of a rocket engine, and then they tested the prototype. What happened next will blow your mind.
At a test stand at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, scientist tested out a design with a new manufacturing process. The design was fed into the computer and then manufactured layer by layer in a 3D printer. The process involved layering metal powder and fusing it together with a laser, a process known as selective laser melting.
3D Printing will make Space travel immensely convenient.
This injector design was similar to the ones that are used in small rocket engines. It is also close to the design of the RS-25 engine which will power the Space Launch System (SLS), which will be the biggest rocket ever built. The entire injector was created as a single component instead of manufacturing each element individually. In traditional processes, about 163 individual parts are made and then assembled for this extremely complex equiment. This process is economical, both money and time wise.
NASA engineers tested out two designs for five seconds each, and they produced 20,000 pounds of thrust. They performed as per the expectations. The 3D printing process afforded the engineers the convenience of building parts that enhance the performance of the rocket engine. They created geometric flow patterns that allowed oxygen and hydrogen to swirl together before combusting at 1,400 pounds per square inch and temperatures up to 6,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
For this initiative, NASA took the assistance of two private companies, Solid Concepts in Valencia, California, and Directed Manufacturing in Austin, Texas. Both companies were responsible for printing out one injector for testing.
NASA now plans to test out the feasibility of additive manufacturing process in the entire manufacturing process of a rocket engine. They have already tried complex injectors and other components through 3D printing process, and are impressed by the speed at which the components are manufactured and the ease of testing these components. The technology will make space travel a lot more convenient too. Instead of taking huge cargo of equipments, astronauts can simply print out the tools they need, thereby being independent of the earth base. 3D printing, by the looks of it, is here to stay, and this technology is capable of changing the world.
Back in July was when we first heard about the Gionee Elife S5.1 via its TENAA certification. While, the handset is yet to be officially launched, a set of very clear images has been leaked online.
If you have a quick look at the Gionee Elife S5.1, you can easily mistake the device for an iPhone as it borrows all its design aesthetics. Along with its design and look, the handset’s specifications have also been leaked.
The Gionee Elife S5.1 will feature a 4.8 inch screen with a resolution of 1280×720 pixels. The AMOLED display is expected to be crisp and come in bright colour variants. The model is powered by a 1.2 GHz quad core Snapdragon 400 processor and 1GB of RAM.
However, one notable thing about the smartphone is that it doesn’t have a micro SD card slot for storage expansion and comes with 16GB of internal storage space. Furthermore, there is no news about the 32GB variant. These days with rapidly increasing size of apps and games, that may pose to be a problem.
The device has an 8-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a 5-megapixel front camera. The phone supports 4G LTE connectivity, 3G, Wifi, Bluetooth and runs on Android version 4.3 layered by the company’s Amigo 2.0 interface.
It is said that when the device comes to the market, the company will offer four different color choices to choose from including Pink, Turquoise, Black and White. The pricing is yet to be revealed.
