Category: Tech

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Blackberry Exits Pakistan Due To Government’s Data Requests

Blackberry is withdrawing its services and operations in Pakistan, and has ascribed ‘security concerns’ as the main cause. Earlier in July, the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority sent out notifications to the country’s mobile phone operators stating that BlackBerry’s BES servers won’t be allowed to operate in the country starting December due to “security reasons”.

These “security reasons” have not been specified, but speculation suggests that it has to do with the fact that the Pakistani government requested for an unrestricted access to their customers’ information/data. Blackberry refused to consent to this request and has therefore, received the notification to shut down.

“The truth is that the Pakistani government wanted the ability to monitor all BlackBerry Enterprise Service traffic in the country, including every BES e-mail and BES BBM message; but BlackBerry will not comply with that sort of directive.” said BlackBerry.

However, the government had only requested for Blacberry’s BES servers, the company has decided to stick to its decision of exiting the country altogether.

December 1, 2015
Moto 360 Gen 2 : Everything You Need to Know

Since, Motorola is planning to launch the Moto 360 Gen 2 in India today, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about the fashionable tech accessory. But, before we begin take a look at our hands-on video:

Design:

The Moto 360 will arrive in three different sizes – a 42 mm male and female version and a male-only 46 mm model. The difference between the male and female version, is that the latter attaches itself to a thinner 16 mm strap while the former is compatible with a 20 mm strap only. The 46 mm variant is compatible with a strap that measures up to 22 mm. While the size of the straps differ, the models are all 11.4mm thick.

Size isn’t the only point of variation the Moto 360 offers; it comes with a variety of bands to pick from – metal, leather and silicon. However, the silicon version will not be arriving in India any time soon. The smartwatch also comes with gold, rose gold and silver cases and bands. You can use “Moto Maker” to personalise the Moto 360 Gen 2 with over 300 styles.

Display:

The 42 mm and 46 mm variants have a 1.37 inch and 1.56 inch LCD display respectively, both with Gorilla Glass 3 protection. The 46 mm version comes with a 360 x 360 pixel resolution and 233ppi, while the 42 mm version has a display resolution of 360 x 325 and 263ppi.

Features:

The Moto 360 Gen 2 is powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, an Adreno 305 GPU and comes with a 512 MB of RAM space with a 4GB internal storage on board. Connectivity options include Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The watch also supports a GPS connectivity, however it only comes with the Sport range (which unfortunately isn’t arriving in India yet).

It is compatible with Android smartphones as well as iPhones due to Android Wear’s move into the Apple Store. The Moto 360 has a unique feature called Live Dial, which allows its users to set dials on their home screens.

The smartwatch also supports the Moto Body software, that keeps a tab on calories burnt and bpm stats with the help of an optical heart rate monitor. It is packed in with a 400 mAh and 300 mAh battery for the 46mm and 42mm versions respectively. Both variants will come with a charging dock station.

Price:

Globally the Moto 360 Gen 2 is priced at $299.99 to $429.99 depending on the model. So, in Indian rupees, it should approximately range between Rs.16,668 to Rs.28,669.However, we’ll just have to wait until it is launched to get the accurate price.

Meanwhile what we know is that the Moto 360 will be launching in five variants in India – the 42 mm with black leather, 42 mm with cognac leather, 42 mm rose gold female, 42 mm silver metal, and the 46 mm black metal. Watch this space for more updates.

December 1, 2015
DJI Osmo Launched in India

For the first time ever, DJI will be brining its hand-held camera into the Indian market. The company today unveiled the DJI Osmo, which uses DJI’s signature three-axis gimbal stabilisation technology that eliminates the problem of shakiness that goes with traditional cameras.

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“DJI consistently refines the way cameras move in space – whether they are in the air or on the ground,” said Michael Perry, DJI’s Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Mumbai launch event. “With the Osmo, we have created a camera specifically designed to capture a smooth moving image regardless of filming conditions.”

The Osmo comes standard with a 4K, 12MP camera with a 1/2.3-inch sensor and a 94-degree field of view lens. It is also compatible with DJI’s Zenmuse camera series. The Osmo is all about controlled shooting. It’s main USP is that it provides a smooth video experience. The trigger allows you to toggle between multiple modes of operation.

“Traditional handheld cameras are either shaky, or require bulky stabilizers that are difficult to set up,” Perry continued. “The Osmo moves the experience of handheld filmmaking from capturing what happened, to sharing expressive, smooth video that shows what an experience was like.”

The Osmo comes with these smart filming functions:

Panorama – Take a picture and the camera will automatically pan around 360°, taking and stitching overlapping photos to create a panorama shot.

Long Exposure – Make handheld long-exposures crisp using the camera’s stabilisation technology.

Slow Motion – Capture slow motion shots at 120 frames-per-second (fps) up to 1080p.

The Osmo also comes with additional accessories such as a tripod, extension rod, bike mount, universal mount and a straight extension arm.

The Osmo is available in India in 10 key cities including Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai, and will also be available through direct shipping anywhere in the country. The camera is priced at Rs. 69,990.

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November 30, 2015

Everything You Need to Know About Microsoft’s Lumia 950 and 950 XL

Microsoft held an event last month where it unveiled a slew of products that included the new flagship smartphones – Lumia 950 and 950 XL. The devices have finally been launched in India. The Windows 10-powered handsets boasts of top notch specs and performance. Here’s everything you need to know about Microsoft’s newest Lumia devices.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snEIjWR4lQw

Display

The Lumia 950 sports a 5.2-inch AMOLED display with 2560×1440 pixel resolution and a pixel density of 564 ppi for clear, sharp images. The 950 XL, on the other hand, comes with a larger 5.7-inch IPS display with 2560×1440 pixel resolution and a pixel density of 518 ppi. This is the first time Microsoft has used QHD display in its Lumia lineup.

Design

Except for the camera housing at the back, the Lumia 950 XL is basically a scaled-up version of the Lumia 950. The devices sport Gorilla Glass 4 on the top while the rest of the body is made of polycarbonate, which is quite grippy. In other words, the plastic feel of the device will find both acceptance and criticism from users. Though the devices are made for a firm grip, the look itself may feel too generic, and one may expect more from a flagship device. It is also likely that Microsoft has focused a lot more on specs than design, perhaps going for affordability.

Processor

The Lumia 950 is powered by a hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor with 3GB of RAM while the 950 XL packs in a 64-bit octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor with 3GB of RAM and features a liquid cooling technology, similar to the one found in the Surface tablet computer, which will keep the temperature of the processor low.

Both the devices are offered in 32GB storage option and come with a MicroSD slot that allows up to 200GB of expandable storage.

Camera

Both the devices sport a 20MP primary camera with triple LED flash and fifth generation OIS, all of which promises detailed low light pictures. The devices also come with a 5MP front-facing camera and a physical camera button.

Software

Even though the devices fail to make a mark on the design and hardware front, the software truly wins the battle for Microsoft. The Lumia devices are the first set of smartphones to feature Microsoft’s latest Windows 10 operating system. Windows 10 is the company’s effort to try and bridge the gap between smartphones, tablets and PCs.

One of the biggest USP of the new Windows 10 is the Continuum feature which lets you “use your Lumia 950 like a PC by connecting it to a bigger screen, keyboard and mouse with Microsoft Display Dock, an optional accessory that enhances the new Windows 10 Continuum experience for phones — and simultaneously charges your device.”

While the above mentioned features are some of the main highlights of the device, the Lumia smartphones also come with standard connectivity options like Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth v4.1, NFC, USB Type-C, GPS with A-GPS and GLONASS. Sensors include Accelerometer, Ambient light, Barometer, Gyroscope, Magnetometer and Proximity.

Finally, the 950 and 950 XL are fitted with 3000mAh and 3,340mAh batteries, respectively. The devices are priced at Rs. 43,699 for the 950 and Rs. 49, 399 for the 950 XL. Here’s a detailed spec list of both devices.

Specification	Lumia 950	Lumia 950 XL
Display	5.2-inch Quad HD AMOLED	5.7-inch Quad HD AMOLED
Resolution	2560×1440 (564 ppi)	2560X1440 (518 PPI)
Processor	64-bit hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor	64-bit octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor
GPU	Adreno 418
RAM	3 GB	3 GB
Storage	32 GB	32 GB
Rear Camera	PureView camera with 20MP sensor, Zeiss optics, OIS,triple LED natural flash, and4K video recording	PureView camera with a 20-megapixel sensor, Zeiss optics, OIS, triple LED natural flash, and 4K video recording
Front Camera	5MP wide-angle 1080p front-facing camera	5MP wide-angle 1080p front-facing camera
Expandability	200 GB	200 GB
Battery	Removable 3000mAh battery	Removable 3,340mAh battery
Connectivity	Wi-Fi: MIMO, WLAN IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 4.1	Wi-Fi: MIMO, WLAN IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 4.1
OS	Windows 10	Windows 10
Price	Rs. 43,699	Rs. 49,399

November 30, 2015

Microsoft 950XL Launched With 5.7 Inch Display and Windows 10

Microsoft has unveiled the 950 XL at an event in New Delhi, showcasing a sleek design and a 5.7inch Quad HD display. The Lumia 950 XL is one of the two phones that have been revealed; both of which run on the Windows 10 OS.

The 950 XL that comes with a 151.9 x 78.4 x 8.1 mm dimension, weighs only 165g and is encased within a polycarbonate protection. It comes in two colours – Black and White; and has three physical buttons – power, volume and camera. On the storage front it comes with 3GB of RAM space and 32GB of internal storage which is expandable up to 200GB via a microSD card, and also supports OneDrive storage.

The Windows 10 powered handset comes with a 5.7-inch Quad HD AMOLED display with 2560×1440 resolution and 518 ppi pixel density, and also being protected by the Corning Gorilla Glass 4. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor with Octa-core CPUs and 64-bit capabilities. On the camera front it comes with a 20MP PureView rear camera with 4K recording and a 5MP wide-angle front camera with 1080p resolution.

Connectivity options include Wi-Fi: MIMO, WLAN IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 4G LTE and Bluetooth 4.1. The handset is packed with a removable 3340mAh battery that supports wireless charging too and is priced at Rs.49,399.

Here are the specifications:

Specifications	Lumia 950 XL
Display	5.7-inch Quad HD AMOLED
Resolution	2560×1440
Density	518 ppi
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 810, Octa-core 64-bit
RAM	3GB
Storage	32GB
Expandable Upto	200GB and One Drive Storage
Rear Camera	20MP, PureView, Zeiss optics, OIS, triple LED natural flash, and4K video recording
Front Camera	5MP, wide-angle 1080p
Battery	Removable 3340mAh battery, USB-C fast charging, wireless charging
Operating System	Windows 10
Connectivity	Wi-Fi: MIMO, WLAN IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.1, 4G LTE
Price	Rs.49,399

November 30, 2015

Microsoft Lumia 950 Launched in India

Microsoft launches its Windows powered Lumia 950 in India -a phone which is being touted as the phone that works just like your PC and runs on Windows 10. It features a 5.2 inch Quad HD display and measures 8.25 mm in thickness.

Lumia 950 comes equipped with Cortana, Microsoft Office and the Windows Store, and can be connected to a bigger screen, keyboard and mouse using an additional accessory called Microsoft Display Dock. The Displa Dock also charges your phone simultaneously. While the apps run on the big screen, the user can still continue to make calls and receive messages on the phone at the same time.

The handset further boasts of a 20 MP main PureView camera, capable of 4K video capture; the front camera is marked at 5 MP. Nokia 950 has 32 GB of internal storage, expandable up to a 200 GB using a microSD card. The battery of the phone is of 3000 mAh. The phone is available in two colour variants -black and white, and is priced at Rs. 43, 699.

Find other specs of Nokia 950 below:

Specification	Lumia 950
Display	5.2-inch Quad HD AMOLED
Resolution	2560×1440 (564 ppi)
Processor	Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 808 processor, Hexa-core CPUs and 64-bit support
GPU	Adreno 418
RAM	3 GB
Storage	32 GB
Rear Camera	PureView camera with 20MP sensor, Zeiss optics, OIS,triple LED natural flash, and4K video recording
Front Camera	5MP wide-angle 1080p front-facing camera
Expandability	200 GB
Battery	Removable 3000mAh battery
Connectivity	Wi-Fi: MIMO, WLAN IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 4.1
OS	Windows 10
Price	Rs. 43,699

November 30, 2015

Samsung Gets the 128GB DDR4 RAM Ready For Mass Production

Last year, Samsung had introduced a 64GB 3D TSV DDR4 DRAM, and now it has revealed that it has begun mass production for the first ever TSV (through silicon via) DDR4 (double data rate-4) in 128 GB modules. Joo Sun Choi, Samsung’s executive vice president for Memory Sales and Marketing says:

“We are pleased that volume production of our high speed, low-power 128GB TSV DRAM module will enable our global IT customers and partners to launch a new generation of enterprise solutions,”

The new 128 GB TSV modules will be made up by 144 DDR4 chips; these chips are further structured into 36 4 GB DRAM packages containing four 20nm based 8GB chips. The design of this new module will allow for better signal transmission as compared to other conventional ones. It also comes packed with 4GB master chips embedded for data buffer function. Therefore, it will cut power consumption by 50% and can also provide speed of up to 2,400 Mbps.

Apart from all of the above, Samsung is looking to produce 20nm 8GB DRAM chips, higher performance modules with 3,200 Mbps and 2,667 Mbps speed and even looking to open applications for higher bandwidth memory. Let’s hope it all comes around.

November 30, 2015
Amazon Teases Drone Prototype in Video for Future Deliveries

A new video released by Amazon shows a drone delivering goods to their destination. The company boasts of the drone being able to detect obstacles in its way to steer clear off, while possessing the ability to fly for 15 miles. The video which was released yesterday, also used Top Gun’s Jeremy Clarkson to convey its message.

The drone lands on a strip with the company’s logo on it in the video. The strip has been put there by the family that has placed the order. This suggests that the landing strip may be necessary for the drone to get to its location.

While the tech seems fancy and futuristic, Amazon is yet to get its clearance from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The plan to put a delivery-system in place that uses drones was first announced in December 2013 by Amazon. Let’s see what the future holds for it.

November 30, 2015
The Fossil Q Founder Smartwatch Will Now Be Available On Google Store

The Fossil Q Founder smartwatch that was only available for purchase at select Fossil Stores and their website, will now be available at the Google Store as well. This watch is available in two model options – light stainless steel case with silver-finish steel bracelet and light stainless steel case with leather band.

The Q Founder is the result of a collaboration between the three companies – Fossil, Google and Intel. The smartwatch runs on Intel’s processor while Google provides it with an operating system that is compatible with Android and iOS. However, the Intel Atom processor isn’t named, and neither is the amount of RAM. Although we do know that it has a 4GB of internal memory along with sensors for activity tracking and Bluetooth; and comes packed with a 4,000mAh battery.

The price for Google Store hasn’t been mentioned yet, however the smartwatch is priced at $245 (Rs.19,709) in stores across USA.

November 29, 2015
US Sets Up Three Centers for Treatment of Smartphone Addicts

Nomophobia is the fear of not having access to a smartphone. Yes, it exists and is real enough for an American fascility called Morningside Recovery to provide formal, systematic treatment for it. The treatment begins with collecting the smartphones of individuals with the condition. Following this, they are allowed only limited access to their devices, promoting other kinds of activities they may have been missing out on lately. By cutting contact with the outside world, the individuals are encouraged to interact with each other, and participate in group and individual activities.

The sufferers of nomophobia are encouraged to develop new behavioral patterns that do no involve smartphones. With the help of breathing exercises, the individuals are trained to deal with anxiety and panic attacks. Morningside Recovery has three centres providing this treatment located in California, Texas and Arizona.Dr. Waterman, the director of the programme, advises not just his patients but also smartphone addicts all over to “just try to put it [smartphone] down for a few moments and re-focus on their daily interactions.” Kindly take note. In a world where smartphones have become an extension of our bodies, it is not long until facilities like Morningside Recovery start popping up in India as well.

November 28, 2015
The Indian Railways Website Just Beat Flipkart and Amazon In Numbers

Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corp (IRCTC) has emerged as India’s biggest online marketplace, beating out competition from Flipkart, Amazon and the like. IRCTC generated a revenue of two hundred and six billion rupees ($3 billion) in their last financial year solely based on online sales; this number is almost double Filpkart’s yearly turnover.

IRCTC had an increase in their turnover as compared to the previous year by 34%, and this has probably been due to the fact that the website has taken steps in order to upgrade their otherwise slow interface this year. This resulted in a record of taking 1.34 million ticket reservations in one day.

“Bulk of the sales may be attributed to IRCTC’s rapid growth in e-ticketing which has been due to its interface and setting up of a very robust process,” said Sandip Dutta, IRCTC’s Public Relations Officer.

This speed has also been upgraded to book 7,200 tickets per minute as compared to the earlier 2,000 tickets per minute. With all these upgrades the battle between the three online e-commerce websites – Amazon, Flipkart and IRCTC, seems to have its final result. However, since IRCTC isn’t really in direct competition with either of the two; they have tied up with Amazon India for the next two years as its preferred shopping partner. More power to you Indian Railways.

November 28, 2015
Google Glass Patent Hints at Possible New Design

In September 2012, before the Google Glass became the creepy privacy invader that it is seen as today, Google filed a patent for a design unlike what the original Google Glass looked like. This new design depends on the user balancing the wearable on the side of their head rather than having it rest on the nose. The Glass is designed in a snake-like flexible headband that will sit on only one side of the user’s face. This patent was finally awarded to Google on November 24 2015.

The device can be configured to fit around the user’s face keeping the display above one eye. Whether the display is limited to one eye or not is uncertain, though the use of a prism could allow videos to be seen in both eyes. The original Google Glass, as you may know by now, was criticised for privacy invasion and was banned in bars, movie theatres and some restaurants.

Since the failure of the fist Glass, Google has been working on a second prototype that will look to make the Glass a lot less creepy. The patent could just bring the second version of the Google Glass to fruition, though nothing has been confirmed as of now. Google has been keeping the details of the Glass closely guarded.

November 28, 2015
Microsoft Sends Out Cortana To Be Tested By iOS Users

After providing a version of Cortana to Android users, Microsoft is now looking for Windows Insiders willing to test Cortana on iOS. This process is underway as reports surfaced suggesting that iOS testers have received an email alerting them that Microsoft’s virtual personal assistant was available for download.

This version of Cortana for iOS offers voice responses to questions, provides sports scores, stock prices, reminders, alarms, and much more. And because Cortana is not just any virtual assistant, it comes with its own personality to tell jokes and sing songs. Further reports suggest that this version of Cortana for iOS is being distributed by Apple’s TestFlight and is limited to only 2000 testers. With this, Microsoft is planning to look for a way where Cortana can be used to connect iPhone users with their Windows powered PC.

Microsoft has suggested that testers set a reminder using Cortana on their PC in order to see how it works on the iPhone, and also to use it to hold meetings so that they can test whether Cortana is able to help users do so. Apart from that, interactions with Cortana are supposed to be like interactions with any other human personal assistant, so users are suggested to speak to it just like they would with any human assistant.

However, Microsoft has made no confirmation about how long this testing will last, but as of now this definitely makes the wait for iOS users shorter.

November 28, 2015
Instagram’s Next Update To Support Multiple Accounts On Android

If reports are to be believed, the the new Instagram app version 7.12.0 on Android might begin supporting multiple accounts on one device. This is the first time, since its inception, that Instagram has even thought of the possibility of multiple accounts.

However, not everyone who downloads the newest version of the app will receive this feature as it is still being rolled out in stages. Additionally, Instagram has not made any official statement yet. In case you did receive the update, then you should see an “Add Account” option under the “Clear Search History” option on the settings list. This basically means that you can now add or create another account to use simultaneously with your present account already logged in.

As of now, iOS doesn’t seem to have this feature even if they also have the same Instagram 7.12.0 version. If you want to check whether you have this feature, click here to update; and don’t forget to let us know about it.

November 28, 2015
Samsung Galaxy A7 To Arrive With Better Battery Life

New reports suggest, that an FCC certification reveals the new Galaxy A7 to offer a 3,300mAh battery. It also says that the A7 is 151.8mm long and 74.5mm wide. Connectivity wise, this phone will have 4G, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS.

The FCC has not given out anymore specifications of the phone, however another benchmark had leaked them. So, according to that, the A7 will have a 5.5-inch 1080p AMOLED touchscreen, a 13 MP rear camera, a 5 MP front camera, 3GB of RAM, a 1.7 GHz octa-core processor, and will run on Android 5.1 Lollipop. As of now, Samsung has not confirmed anything, but with all the leaks and rumours, let us hope that something gets confirmed soon enough.

Source

November 28, 2015