Category: Apps and Software

Games, Apps, Softwares, Operating Systems and Software Hacks

Microsoft Releases Windows 10 Preview for Phones; Here is How You Can Install it
Redmond giant Microsoft has released the first preview of Windows 10 for phones. Lumia owners can now install the preview and check out what the new OS has to offer. Several prominent Windows 10 features will be available in the preview, including the new UI, new action center, custom background images on the start screen and better voice dictation.

In a blog post, Microsoft’s Gabe Aul says the company is looking for feedback.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Gabe Aul” author_title=”Microsoft”]

This preview is still very much under development and you’re going to see some rough edges. We’re sharing it with you so you can be with us at every step, and provide your feedback to help make this the best release ever.

[/quote]

Though the preview does not get the new universal apps, the new Office apps, the Spartan browser, Xbox integration, Skype in Messaging and Cortana, among other things.

We’ll hear more about Windows 10 for phones at Microsoft’s event at MWC on March 2, while the final OS launch is expected this summer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckzhX1O6Lto

How to Install the Preview
- To get the preview, you’ll need a Lumia 630, Lumia 635, Lumia 636, Lumia 638, Lumia 730, or Lumia 830.
- Make sure you back up your data.
- Go to insider.windows.com and sign up for the Windows Insider program. Then on your PC, go to the this link and click install to send the Windows 10 insider app on your phone.
- When you access the Windows Insider app on your phone, you’ll get two options – ‘fast and ‘slow’ build schedules. Microsoft says the slow schedule has improvements coming less often, hence it’ll be less buggy.
- This will be followed by a series of long downloads and restarts, and you’ll finally be running the Windows 10 Preview for phones.
Users are advised to be patient as the whole process takes a significant amount of time.
February 13, 2015
Zomato to Start Food Delivery Service in India

Zomato is making headlines every other week. About a month back, Zomato acquired Urbanspoon, a restaurant information and recommendation service in the US and just few days back, it expanded beyond search by debuting its cashless payment system in Dubai. Now, the company is planning to get closer to their customers by reaching their doorstep.

The online restaurant discovery service is geared to launch a delivery service where users can place an order on Zomato, and it will deliver the same to your home. The service will commence in India on 16^th March and will cover 2,000 restaurants initially. The company expects to increase the count to 10,000 within one month of the launch of the service.

The CEO and Co-Founder of Zomato Deepinder Goyal said –

We have a sales team of around 300 in India and 5,000-odd advertisers… these partners know the volume we bring to them so it is quite easy for us to launch this [new service]

The service is presently in testing mode which includes 500 staff and a few restaurants. Goyal drew some light on its workings saying that the company will provide the restaurants with an iPad, which will be fitted with an app. This app will transform the iPad into a hotline and order will be taken through it. After each order, users will be asked for their rating and on the basis of the evaluation, the restaurants’ profile will be displayed.

With Zomato’s reach to millions of people across India, there is a pressure on the restaurants to make timely deliveries. After all, the site is a dominant medium for free advertising.

February 12, 2015
Check Out Flipboard’s Cool New Web Version

Mobile apps are being pushed to the desktop. Lately, WhatsApp made its way to the web and now Flipboard is joining the league. The news-reading app stepped into the desktop world and launched the web version of the digital magazine service. It is functional now and looks brilliant.

Flipboard hopes to attract the broader spectrum of web readers, which don’t prefer to browse on mobile. Flipboard CEO Mike McCue said in a meeting:

There is a whole group of people who don’t do that much browsing on their phones. That’s what they use their computer for.

Mike says that the thing they are doing is very retro, by which he means shifting the app from a handy and anytime access device to a desktop which is not mobile.

Let’s have a look at how the application works and appears on the desktop:

If you are a Flipboard user then sign in to Flipboard, else make a new account. Once you’re in, make your choice and flip the article in your magazine through the + icon at the extreme right corner below the post. You can also like the post, report it as inappropriate, share it via email, Twitter, and Facebook. Then you have the same option to search for your favourite topics as it’s on mobile.

Flipboard has worked extensively on responsive design, which makes it easier and prettier. Also, it has responsive layouts for diverse screen sizes and has a new scrolling interface as well.

By bringing the web version of Flipboard, the 15 million magazines that could only be read through mobile app until now, can now be browsed on desktop. This gives readers the time to read their personalised magazines on their workstations when in office.

February 11, 2015
How Smartphones are Just as Good as Fitness Bands in Tracking Health

Wearable technology is the field where most of the innovations are taking place in the tech sector. All technology brands are trying to woo consumers with new wearable devices. One of the basic features of most of the wearables, especially smartwatches is their ability track the fitness activities of the user. A new study might just spoil the fun for the makers of such fitness trackers as it says that smartphone apps may be just as good as wearables in tracking fitness.

The research letter was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study was conducted by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

The study found the mobile apps to be just as good, if not better than the fitness wearables.

The researchers used ten most selling smartphone apps as well as devices for the test. They made participants walk twice on a treadmill for 500 steps and 1500 steps. The participants of the study were packed up with multiple devices during the test. They were made to wear a waistband with one pedometer and two accelerometers, three wearable devices and two smartphones where one was running three apps while the other was running one app.

In their results, the researchers found the smartphone apps to be reasonably accurate, and there was at most a 7% difference in figures between the apps. But when it came to fitness wearables, they found the result varying across the different devices. Devices like the Fitbit One and Zip were found to be accurate in their readings while the Nike Fuelband was found to be off by a huge margin.

This revelation might get consumers to question the need for buying a wearable fitness sensor. Well, the newer smartwatches are coming with more features that give you broader health data than just the distance covered in a day. This study didn’t consider the new smartwatches. Apart from their health benefits, the smartwatches also act as remotes for your various digital appliances and their functionalities will just keep on increasing. So while the study puts to question the need for fitness sensors, the wearable market is still a fertile market for investment by the tech industry.

February 11, 2015
BlackBerry 10.3.1 Expected to Arrive on 19th February

BlackBerry launched its latest operating system (OS) 10.3.1 few days back, but it was accessible to the privileged users of Classic only. The users of the previously released devices were eagerly waiting for the upgrade and now the Canadian telecommunication company is rolling out the official OS for their BlackBerry 10 models.

The update will bring the Siri-like BlackBerry Assistant to the handsets. Along with that there are many other features that diminishes the need of app installation. There is reverse contrast mode which is extremely good for viewing at night. It turns the screen from black on white, and to white on black. One can also block contacts from calling or texting. One can hide their private pictures with the new OS for which users need to install save gallery tool. The BlackBerry 10.3.1 also claims to have resolved the persisting battery issue. The Battery Saving mode cuts back the unnecessary features that takes a toll on the battery.

The roll out was scheduled for yesterday, but a bug was spotted early on. BlackBerry seems to have resolved the issue. The company hasn’t made any official announcement about the release, but it is likely to happen on 19th February.

February 9, 2015
Google Acquires a Private Photo Sharing App, Team to Join Google+

Google, the company that stores almost all of our information has now hired the makers of an app that lets user send images privately. Odysee is an iOS and Android app that lets user automatically back up the photos and videos they’ve taken on their cameras or tablets on to their home computers. The creators of this app will now join the team at Google+.

The feature that sets Odysee apart is its ability to share photos privately and automatically with other people. It gives the option to share with followers or a follower group so your pictures only reach the people you intend to share with. The app keeps the content in full quality on the home computer.

The app was co-founded by Raghavan Menon and Shiva Javalagi. On their homepage, the Odysee team thanked the users and informed them that the service will come to a close on the 23rd of February. The current users will be able to download their photos and videos as archives.

Google is rumoured to be transitioning Photos into an independent app. Giving an option to save content directly on a home computer sounds much safer than a cloud server after the entire iCloud fiasco last year. The photo sharing app space is really crowded right now with Instagram ruling the roost, so Google would have to offer a lot more features in the new independent app to get ahead in the race.

February 9, 2015
Uber Gets Responsible, Adds Panic Button in its Mobile App for India

Uber has faced a barrage of criticism in the past. Whether it’s for unethical business practices or the behavior of its drivers. The company was in the news again in India last year following an incident of rape which also led to it facing a temporary ban. Now the company is trying to revamp its perception and has added security features on its smartphone app.

From February 11th, Uber users will get a panic (SOS) button in their app which will allow users to share their location with up to five friends. In the case of an emergency, the user would just have to press the button, and it will alert the nearest police station.

Apart from the new in-app features, Uber will also establish local Incident Response Team to handle emergency situations. This team would also be alerted when the panic button is pressed, and it will assist the riders during the emergency situation.

In its blog post, the company has also mentioned its focus on police verification. It says that every new driver interested in partnering with Uber is directed to the crime branch for police verification.

Uber has been credited with revamping the cab business for the 21st century and now with these enhanced security features, it seems everything will be back on track.

February 6, 2015
Apple Tests Faster Photos App for OS X to Replace iPhoto

Last year, Apple announced that it would discontinue its consumer photo library, iPhoto, and Aperture, the professional photo editing suite. The company has finally made up its mind. Recently, the firm released a developer version of the iPhoto successor app called Photos for OS X and soon it will be followed by a public Photos beta. The update will be absolutely free and will release for Mac users by spring this year.

The new app is expected to have a cleaner design and a file management system that is more convinent. As per the previous declaration by Apple, the new Photos app will be linked to iCloud, which is Apple’s photo backup.

As per The Verge, the new Photos app is just like iPhoto, so users would not have any problem navigating the app. Photos for OS X has four main tabs – Photos, Shared, Albums, and Projects. It contains all your photos in chronological format. Shared holds images from the shared photo streams, and an activity feed for likes and comments on those streams. Albums simply carries albums created by users and Projects stores slideshows. It’s a storefront for products with printed photos like cards, books, calendars, and so on.

Not just this, Phtotos for OS X can perform many other functions. The Albums section can segregate different kinds of images, e.g. panoramas, slo-mo videos, and time lapses. The app is said to be really fast, no matter how many pictures you stuff in it.

The central feature is its amazing syncronization capabiliy. If someone clicks on a picture from the iCloud-connected iPhone, it will automatically appear on the Photos app on Mac. Overall, the new app sounds quite promising and with this big step, the app should be able to gain some attention.

February 6, 2015
WhatsApp Adds Voice-Calling Button on iOS, Tests Voice Calls on Select Android Devices

WhatsApp’s big plans for the new voice calling feature have been received well by the crowds. After receiving news that the instant messaging service is being tested for Android devices, the company has released a voice-calling button for iOS users.

The news broke out yesterday evening and it is very easy to use. A calling button in WhatsApp appears on iOS handsets within the chat window. This button is placed next to the contact name and profile picture. The app uses phone’s dialler for making outgoing calls.

The voice calling button, next to the profile picture.

Though, the changelog of the update doesn’t notify about the calling feature and mentions addition of Dynamic Type support throughout the app, quick camera button in chat that let’s you quickly choose a recent camera roll photo, but it’s there in the new update.

For Android, WhatsApp is currently passing on the feature to a select number of users, so we’d recommend you to keep a lookout for the update. Once WhatsApp is satisfied with the response of the service, it would be available for everyone to use.

The reason that this upcoming feature is so popular is that it would allow users to make calls without having to pay for the call (only for their data service.) Few days back, WhatsApp rolled out the voice-calling feature to select users became viral and only people with invite could use the new tool. But it was barely useful as other people with the same feature could only be contacted.

February 6, 2015
Google Gtalk’s 9-Year-Reign to Come to an End on 16th February

Google’s IM service Gtalk after 9 fulfilling years will come to an end on 16th February. The internet search giant has decided to push its user base to Hangouts, the new app for chat.

The company is shutting down its Gtalk service on February 16, which will be replaced by Hangouts. Google declared the same via chat saying that Google Talk app for Windows will go non-functional on February 16, 2015 and users can download Hangouts Chrome feature to continue chatting.

Hangouts is also very user friendly to use and offers many more features with a convenient interface. It shows when the person was last seen, allows to chat with multiple people at a time, allows video calling and packs many more features than the Gtalk.

This move was obvious and Google is not being unfair by taking down Gtalk. The company gave users ample time to get used to it by announcing it on May 2013. Hangouts is the future of Google, but it is also true that Hangouts is not widely accepted. However, one cannot deny that the instant messaging application is the need of the hour as it provides smooth integration between PC, tablet and mobile.

February 5, 2015
Apple’s New Beats Music Streaming Service is Reportedly Coming to Android

Some six months back, Apple bought the popular audio equipment brand Beats and at that time it wasn’t clear how and where the company going to use it. But now, Apple has started revamping the popular Beats Music streaming service and according to a report, the company will launch the new paid streaming service on the Android platform.

The recent service is entirely designed by Apple and infuses Beat technology and music content under the hood. Based on cloud streaming, the yet unnamed service is centered around the user’s music library. A new search feature is embedded within the app that helps locate songs in the iTunes/Beats catalog. Along with that users will be able to stream music and add songs to their personal library from the catalog itself.

Not only this, but also it is thinking of integrating Beats Music’s Playlist, Activities, and other features to let users access an already prepared music library. There is also news that the company will update Beats’ social networking feature so that people can follow other users and artists.

The service, expected to be priced $7.99 per month, will compete with the already popular apps like Spotify and Rdio, which cost $9.99 per month each.

A Beats Music app is already available for download on the Google Play Store, but it is not the tweaked version. The company has no plans to develop a new app for Microsoft’s platform.

The new service will mark Apple’s first-time effort to build an in-house Android application. It’s not astonishing, and the company could have focused on Android-based apps as Android audience is far widespread than the iOS.

There is no notification about when and on which platform (iOS or Android) it is going to release, but rumours have surfaced that it will release in March this year. There is a possibility that the new Beats Music app may release alongside Apple watch, but these are mere speculations as of now.

February 5, 2015
Android One Smartphones Next in Line to Get the Lollipop Update

Google has posted a tweet that might lure customers into buying the low-cost Android One devices. Google India tweeted from its official Twitter handle stating that the company will roll out the Android Lollipop update for Indians in the coming weeks.

Android One users in India — you’ll be getting the Lollipop update in the next few weeks. @androidone

— Google India (@googleindia) February 4, 2015

At a time, when only 2% of the Android devices are powered by Lollipop after three months of release, it’s quite a move by the company. This announcement will please Android One users who have been desperately waiting for the update.

Meanwhile, it was reported that Android 5.1 Lollipop was spotted on Android One devices in Indonesia.

With Lollipop coming to Android One handsets, users will experience improved natural touch screen interactions. The Material Design gets more clear and bolder colours to the screen. Along with that, notifications pop up on the lock screen itself and facilitates dismissing them without unlocking it. Overall, it offers a bloatware-free and seamless Android experience.

February 4, 2015
Samsung to Introduce Apple Pay-Like Payment System With Galaxy S6

Samsung wants its next flagship Galaxy S6 to overtake all existing records and attain the top spot among the users. The South Korean firm is taking every possible measure to ensure this and according to a Korean media report, the company is geared to launch a new payment system, Samsung Pay, with the Galaxy S6.

The Korean Times stated –

Samsung Electronics’ new smartphone Galaxy S6, set to make its debut at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona in Spain next month, will look a lot like Apple’s iPhone 6, sources said Monday

As per the report, the producer has already partnered with VISA as one of the payment partners in the system. The Samsung Payment System will be based on LoopPay technology. Through the new fingerprint sensor embedded on Galaxy S6, users can pay by just touching LoopPay-enabled cards. The rumour going around is that the device will sport a non-swipe fingerprint sensor that requires you to place your finger and hold it for a minute like the iPhone.

Meanwhile, talks have surfaced that LoopPay is working on cases for Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 4. These cases would be touch-enabled and will allow making payments through phones like the upcoming Galaxy S6. As of now, there is no information about Samsung Pay coming to Note Edge, but we expect the company will extend support to this device as well.

There are a lot of speculations about the forthcoming flagship by Samsung; as many wait anxiously for its upcoming launch at the MWC. Samsung has used many tactics to market this phone, but only time will tell whether it will live up to its expectation.

February 4, 2015
Coming Soon: Dine-and-Dash Using Zomato’s Cashless Payment Feature

The popular restaurant discovery service Zomato is getting bigger and better with every passing day. After spreading its reach to more than 22 nations across the globe, Zomato is leaving no stone unturned to become everybody’s to-go service. The restaurant search service recently introduced a new feature that allows you to pay from the app itself, without peeking into your wallet for a card or hard cash.

The cashless payment system on the app is launched in Dubai as of now, but the company will soon release it in India this year. The Co-Founder and COO of Zomato, Pankaj Chaddah, confirmed the same in a conversation with a leading publishing daily.

We definitely plan to introduce it in India over the course of the year. Once we see how this does in Dubai however, we’ll get a better idea as to what we can expect when we roll it out on home turf.

Let’s take a look at how the Zomato’s cashless feature works. When a person visits a partnered restaurant and checks in through the app, the ID gets connected to the billing system. It totally depends on the user how he/she wishes to pay. If the customer opts to pay through the cashless payment option, the payment method integrates with the billing system of the restaurant and the amount gets deducted.

The company said that Dubai was the ideal city to test the new feature as credit card users. On the other hand, Indians prefer to pay the bill via cash and not by card. Meanwhile, users can pay through the app at the participating restaurants, but the company will continuously be adding more restaurants to its list.

For now, the feature is released for Zomato iOS only, but Android users can expect it soon.

February 4, 2015
Google Brings Mortgage Calculator into Search for Quick Calculations

Google today launched a new feature that will help new homeowners make quick calculations of their mortgage amount. The internet search giant has added a mortgage calculator in the Google Search that will allow users to adjust interests and check which financial options fit their needs. The option works on both desktop and mobile.

According to the company, users can ask Google questions like “How much can I borrow at $200 a month?” or “At 5% APR how much can I borrow over 10 years?” and Google will answer them instantly, eliminating the need to jump to another website. The company says that users can even adjust the mortgage amount, interest rate, mortgage period and can choose other options that match your interest. You can even take advice if needed. The new feature seems handy and useful.

Along with total mortgage amount, one can also check the monthly payments for the mortgage amount. Meanwhile, this service is only available for UK-based users and there is no information when is it going to launch in other countries.

This small feature eliminates the need to recheck the amount with middlemen. Once again, Google making our lives a little simpler.

February 4, 2015