Category: Tech

Latest Technology News, Alternative, Bio-Tech, Medical, R&D and Innovations

ASUS Brings Out the Fonepad 8 in India for Rs. 13,999

Today Asus launched one more product for the Indian market – the Fonepad 8 (FE380CG). The new Fonepad supports 3G functionality and comes at a price of Rs. 13,999. The 8-inch device, initially launched at Computex 2014, is a modified version of Fonepad 8 tablet. It runs on Android 4.4 KitKat out-of-the-box and features dual-SIM support.

The device flaunts an 8-inch 1280x800p display and is powered by 64-bit Intel Atom Z3530 1.33GHz quad-core processor, paired with 2 GB of RAM. The tablet runs on the company’s Asus ZenUI; comes with 16 GB of inbuilt storage that can be expanded up to 64 GB via MicroSD card.

On the camera front, the Fonepad 8 (FE380CG) has a 5MP rear camera along with a 2MP secondary camera. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, MicroUSB, Bluetooth v4.0, GPS, and a 3.5mm audio jack. The device houses a 4000mAh battery that the company claims can last up to 21 hours of talk time.

For now, the Fonepad 8 will be available exclusively on Flipkart. The device will come in two colour variants – Black and Gold.

January 20, 2015
A Look at Technology Predictions Made By Michio Kaku 11 Years Back

Michio Kaku is one of the most famous physicist and futurist in the world. He has for years given us the ‘vision of the future’. We look at this interview he gave in 2004 for the show ‘Screen Savers’ about the future of technology, computers and artificial intelligence. Most of what he predicted seems to be coming true.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Wikipedia”]

Moore’s law is the observation that, over the history of computing hardware, the number of transistors in a dense integrated circuit doubles approximately every two years. The observation is named after Gordon E. Moore, co-founder of the Intel Corporation, who described the trend in his 1965 paper.

[/quote]

Mr. Kaku predicted 11 years back that processing technology would get so shrunk down that it would reach its limit. We are already looking at beginning of that collapse. The processing might of our phones and computers are fast becoming static or have reached maturity. This is the reason why companies are investing in new product families such as wearables and the Internet of Things. Our present gadgets though, still have a few years before they become obsolete, so don’t worry yet.

Quantum Computing is still in its infancy, but we have seen some results that are encouraging. At present, Google and NASA possess a quantum computer capable of handling 512 qubits and is known as the D-Wave system.

Artificial Intelligence is also a major topic of discussion and we have heard concerns raised by famous tech personalities. Dr.Kaku says that there may be a time when the robots might want to take over human masters, but he also presents a solution to it using an Asimov chip.

Watch the whole video for some exciting nerdgasms:

January 20, 2015
Second Batch of Yu Yureka to Go on Sale, Number of Units Undisclosed

The recently popular smartphone from the homegrown manufacturer, Yu, is again going up for sale exclusively on Amazon India. The second round of registrations has commenced, and the phone will be up for grabs on 22^nd January for a price tag of Rs. 8,999.

Micromax is imitating Xiaomi’s successful marketing scheme to entice more customers. However, last time, things didn’t go so well as Amazon India was unable to cope with the heavy rush. The first round of flash sale saw around 3 lakh registrations, but only 10,000 units were available for sale. The inadequate availability of the phone resulted in an outrage from interested buyers who were left disappointed. However, the company announced that the phone received a superb response, and the stock cleared in just 3 seconds.

Another glitch that added to the fury of the customers is that Amazon India showed the final price of Yu Yureka as Rs. 12,499 instead of the actual price (Rs. 8,999). However, the e-commerce website later apologised for the technical hitch.

As of now, there is no clue about the number of units that will go up for sale as both Micromax and Amazon are tight-lipped on the topic.

Coming to the specifications of the Yu Yureka, the smartphone sports a 5.5-inch 1280x720p display. The screen has a protection of Gorilla Glass 3. The device is powered by Snapdragon 615 CPU along with Adreno 405 GPU. The device features 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage capacity, out of which 12 GB is free. The phone gets its juice from a 2500mAh battery. On the camera front, the handset has a 13MP snapper along with a 5MP shooter on the front. The most significant feature of the device is the attractive Cyanogen OS 11.

For those who haven’t seen our review, can check out the video below:

January 20, 2015
Microsoft Patents New Tech Which Senses When You Don’t Want to Be Disturbed

A smartphone’s loud ring is highly distracting when you’re in the middle of something important. In spite of the available do-not-disturb mode, there’s no feature that is intelligent enough to sense your presence at different places and function accordingly. However, Microsoft has found a solution for this – the inconspicuous mode – which transforms your smartphone smart enough to turn down your device when necessary.

As per the latest patent granted to Microsoft this week, the ‘inconspicuous mode’ on the smartphone detects when the user is in a meeting, theatre or is going to bed. Once detected, it automatically turns on and adjusts the brightness and volume level of the device. The mode also reduces the number of notifications on the lock screen so the user does not get distracted from the ongoing happening.

This intelligent feature works using the internet. The application checks when the mode is required and detects using GPS, sound, NFC, Wi-Fi and other data. It also syncs with your Calendar and picks up information that can be of use. For e.g. meeting schedules, movie plans, bedtime, wake up time, etc. If the application finds a meeting schedule, it automatically enters the inconspicuous mode to avoid outside interruptions. The feature is extremely handy and can be turned off when required. Also, it exits the mode on its own as soon as the event that triggered it, finishes.

If this feature lands on the Windows Phone platform, it will be the next big thing for the brand. Meanwhile, there are bigger announcements by Microsoft coming up soon.

January 20, 2015
Ban Imposed on Mobiles with Duplicate IMEI Numbers

The Indian Government has enforced a ban on the import of mobile handsets in India which don’t carry a unique identity number. This measure is taken citing security concerns as such handsets can be untraceable.

GSM phones carry an IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number while CDMA handsets carry a ESN (Electronic Serial Number)/MEID (Mobile Equipment Identifier) which gives them a unique identity. This unique identity helps to keep a track of the device and can be used to retrieve the device following a theft.

Mobile handsets with duplicate or fake IMEI numbers can be used for nefarious activities. There are already instructions to ban import of handsets with fake numbers or have no numbers or with ’00…00’ IMEIs. With this new order the government intends to add handsets with duplicate IMEI on that list too.

Duplicate handsets are a menace for the security agencies who find it hard to keep track of the devices. It also creates issues for the consumers who use them as well as the service providers. This ban would help the government to crack down on the importers.

January 20, 2015
What to Expect from Microsoft’s 21st January Windows Event

Microsoft is holding a special Windows 10 event in Redmond on January 21st. The software giant has already rolled out invites to members of the press, asking them to be a part of the unveiling of “the next chapter.” The new OS is expected to bring new advancements in the consumer-end of the software. The 21st will give us the first glimpse into how Microsoft plans to compete in the consumer field of tablets and phones.

Let’s look at what we can expect for Microsoft’s January 21st event:

Windows Phone 10

It is no secret that Windows Phones so far has been a failure, with Android and iOS giving it a tough competition. According to IDC, Windows Phone holds petty 3% of market share which is the result of drastic dip in 2014. With Windows Phone 10, Microsoft is betting to change this scenario. The company is expected to take wraps off the first version of Windows Phone 10 on January 21. According to the reports, the next mobile OS will be a combination of the Windows Phone and Windows RT operating systems. Microsoft is aiming to take advantage of its universal applications model to align its tablet and phone software to run the same apps across tablets and phones.

Windows 10

Windows 10, in particular, is a crucial tipping point for the company. It’s first and foremost an opportunity for the company to follow through on its promise to make good with consumers, many of whom were turned off by the company’s last version, Windows 8. The most important change in the next installment will be the unification of the OS’s touch and traditional software. Another significant change is the return of Start Menu which was eliminated in Windows 8.

In a recent tweet, Microsoft teased Windows 10’s ability to handle multiple desktops on a single device – saying that more is coming 1.21.15. Multiple desktops allows users to open a number of “virtual desktops” and spread their work out amongst them all – imagine them as virtual monitors you can flip between.

‘Spartan’ Internet Browser

Microsoft’s new Windows 10 internet browser, codenamed Spartan, is expected to debut with Windows 10 as a separate app along with Internet Explorer. Various leaks and rumors suggest that Spartan will be one of the major elements of Microsoft’s upcoming Windows 10 operating system and will come with some ground-breaking features which are currently missing in competing browsers such as Chrome and Firefox.

According to the reports, Spartan will include digital inking support which allows Windows 10 users to annotate a web page with a stylus and send the notes and annotations to a friend or colleague. It is also said that Spartan web browser will be heavily linked to Microsoft’s Cortana digital assistant.

PC Gaming

A post on Xbox Wire noted that Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft’s Xbox unit, will be shedding light on Windows 10’s consumer experience, by including the role of gaming in consumer products. According to the post, the company’s goal is “to help PC gaming flourish”, part of which will involve extending the Xbox experience across Windows 10 gaming PCs and other devices.

The company previously announced that Windows 10 will ship with DirectX 12, which promises to help developers deliver better performance from hardware, in addition to bringing benefits to integrated graphics solutions such as Intel’s HD Graphics series.

January 20, 2015
Xiaomi Fans Get Ready, the Mi4 is Coming to India

The long wait for Xiaomi’s Indian fans is coming to an end. For those who were anxiously waiting for the Mi3 to make a return for a Flipkart flash sale, this might be a bit disappointing. But for those who were eyeing the Mi4, it’s time of a happy dance.

In an exclusive interview with Indian Express, Xiaomi’s India Head Manu Jain, said that the company would be bringing the Mi4 to India on the 28th of January.

The Xiaomi Mi4 flaunts a 5-inch Full HD IPS LCD display. Its processing might comes from a 2.5 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor and possesses 3 GB of RAM. The device is available in 16 and 64 GB variants. It is powered by a 3080 mAh battery.

The Mi4 sports a 13 MP main camera and an 8 MP front camera and the device runs on Android 4.4.3 KitKat operating system.

The price of the device is expected to be around Rs 20,000. So if you were waiting for the Mi3 and had saved for it, you have about nine days to gather the rest of the money before the stampede begins.

January 19, 2015
China Offers 100% Ownership to Foreign Investors of E-Commerce Companies

China is doing everything in its power to excite foreign investors to come invest their resources in their country. The government of China has now allowed foreign investors to hold 100% stake in e-commerce companies in Shanghai’s Free Trade Zone.

This new policy comes from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Previously the investors needed to partner with a Chinese company to conduct business. They were also only allowed to own 55 percent stake in the company. China aims to gather more access to retailers and consumers outside the country.

The Shanghai Free Trade Zone (SFTZ) was established in 2013. It is the first free trade zone in mainland China and spans across 29 square kilometers. The intention is for the SFTZ to expand gradually to cover the entire 1,210 square kilometres.

Chinese E-Commerce company Alibaba made history by offering a $25 Billion IPO.

At present, there are more than 12,000 companies operating in the SFTZ. This number also includes 1,677 foreign-funded firms. This decision today will help the foreign companies such as Amazon to infiltrate into the Chinese e-commerce space.

The Chinese e-commerce market is profitable and growing at a rapid rate. At present, there are about 330 million online shoppers in the country, which, for perspective, is more than the entire population of the United States. Chinese e-commerce company, Alibaba.com had also shown its might on the NYSE when if offered the biggest IPO in history worth US$ 25 Billion. Alibaba is planning to enter India and was in talks with Snapdeal in September 2014.

January 19, 2015
Newly Discovered Glass Material Can Help Increase Your Smartphone’s Battery Life

Ever thought of a display that can prove useful in extending the battery life of your smartphone? Well, we certainly didn’t consider it. However, with the new glass material developed by researchers, the devices will last for double the amount of time they used to with normal lithium-ion batteries.

A team of ETH Zurich researchers led by Dr. Semih Afyon and Reinhard Nesper invented a Vanadate-borate glass that when embedded on the phone will act as an electrode in lithium-ion batteries. An electrode is a conductor that transfers electric current from one substance to another. The materials used in the formation of the glass are the chemical components – vanadium oxide (V2O5) and lithium-borate (LiBO2) precursors. These chemicals are later covered with a coating of reduced graphite oxide (RGO). The coating is done to increase the electrode properties of the material.

The purpose of using Vanadate as one of the compounds is that vanadate is a transition material, and the powered vanadium pentoxide and borate are mixed to produce the desired material. The scientists heated the powder at 900 degree Celsius and then cooled it promptly to form glass. These glass sheets are later crashed into powder to increase the surface area along with creating more pore space.

The research team drew light on its study saying, “Borate is a glass former; that’s why the borate compounds were used, and the resulting glass compound is a new kind of material, neither V2O5 nor LiBO2 at the end.”

Both the Vanadate and borate compounds are inexpensive and are efficient to produce energy density of approximately 1000 watt-hour per kilogram when coated with graphite oxide (RGO). The energy generated is enough to power a device 1.5 to 2 times more than the usual lithium-ion batteries.

Since the glass material is said to be cheap, there’s quite a possibility that we can see future smartphones embedded with the Vanadate-borate glass.

January 19, 2015
Toshiba Brings Out a New Range of Android-Powered LED Smart TVs in India

Toshiba is one of the first television manufacturers to offer Android TVs in the Indian market. The japanese electronic giant has launched a new range of smart TVs powered by Android (v4.4.2 KitKat with access to Google Play) that will allow viewers to access a wide range of apps, games and videos.

Launched under the brand Regza, the Ultra HD 4K L9450 and the full-HD L5400 seriesfeature personalized content, visual details, stunning graphics, built-in Wi-Fi, and a Web browser to access any website.

The smart TVs support up to eight user accounts, allowing each member of the family to have their own apps such as Facebook without having to log in and out each time. And obviously, the new range also allows viewers to use plug-and-play wireless keyboards and mice.

There’s also an option to side-load apps or install your own app markets, as the Google Play store loaded on the TV is limited to free apps only. You can also download paid apps that you’ve already bought on your Google account.

All three models will come with digital video broadcasting support (DVB-T2) for watching free-to-air HD channels. L9450 UHD 4K series is available in 50, 65 and 84 inches screen sizes priced between Rs. 1.99 lakh to 10.49 lakh. While L5400 HD & Full HD series is 32, 40, 47 and 56-inch screen sizes are priced between Rs 38,990 to Rs. 1.29 lakh.

January 19, 2015
Xiaomi Invests in Gaming and Software Giant Kingsoft

After gaining huge success in India and overseas through its impressive smartphone line-up, the Chinese electronics manufacturer Xiaomi has plans to expand further. Seems like the company is now eyeing the games and software market.

Xiaomi recently acquired 3% of Kingsoft’s share and the deal was finalised at approximately $68 million. The partially acquired company is a Chinese games and software giant, which started by developing PC games and is now a renowned name in security, entertainment and enterprise products. With this buyout, Xiaomi seems to be laying the ground for dedicated a gaming experience and improved services for its loyal customers.

Until now, Xiaomi was inking deals in hardware only – a whopping $203.7 million investment in home appliance maker Midea Group and a strategic funding in wearable start-up Misfit. The Chinese top smartphone manufacturer bought the shares of Kingsoft from the Chinese investment holding Tencent and the deal is likely to finish by January end.

Last week, Xiaomi amazed everyone with the launch of the 5.7-inch Mi Note. The company still has something in its bag and will unveil it on 20th January; it left its fans longing with an image that speaks of a mysterious new gaming hardware.

Recently, the news cropped up that the smartphone giant has plans to invest in Indian tech start-ups, as well as overseas media content. With Xiaomi investing in almost every business segment, there will be soon a day when this Chinese producer will beat the current top-listers and will dominate the tech industry.

January 19, 2015
Apple’s 12-inch iPad Pro Might Include a Stylus as an Optional Accessory

Steve Jobs had a firm belief in simplicity of design, which was one of the reasons why he never liked the idea of a stylus. It was pretty evident, in his 2007 Macworld conference speech, when Jobs kept repeating “Who wants a stylus?”. He dismissed it stating that humans are born with one of the best pointing devices available, referring to our fingers, so why not use it?

However, under Tim Cook’s guidance, Apple has made some drastic changes in the design philosophy of its products. Now, according to KGI Securities, Apple might bring out a stylus accessory for its iPad products, expected to be first introduced with the rumoured 12-inch iPad Pro.

According to KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the stylus will be an optional accessory, as the expensive stylus would drive the base cost of the iPad higher.

Apple’s proposed haptic stylus from a 2010 patent application

Looking at technical details of the stylus, Kuo predicts it will charge via a Lightning connector, believing a more convenient wireless charging solution would also add to the expense. Kuo also believes the initial stylus model will not include a gyroscope accelerometer, but future models could include the component to support ‘3D handwriting’ to allow the user to write on other surfaces or even in air.

There is a big difference between supporting hardware stylus and requiring them to use the product (like Samsung’s Note series.) As an optional accessory, it is pretty clear that Apple’s offering will be more of a niche purchase.

Anyhow, the inclusion of stylus in Apple’s much talked about 12-inch iPad makes sense. Many third-party companies offer rudimentary stylus accessories today, although none seem to have had widespread uptake. An Apple-branded stylus would definitely help adoption, of course.

Watch the full 2007 Macworld Keynote below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7EfxMOElBE

January 19, 2015
Facebook in Hiring Mode to Boost its Virtual Reality Business

When Facebook acquired Oculus Rift for a price of $2 Billion, we had a feeling it has something big planned for it. Virtual Reality(VR) is a budding market that is growing at a slow and steady pace. Facebook sees huge potential for these devices and is now on a hiring spree to get Oculus Rift up and running in the consumer space.

Oculus can be credit for bringing Virtual Reality back from the dead. Using the increased processing might of this generation chipset has helped these device give an authentic VR experience. The graphics quality has gotten better and there are now multiple headset options in the market that promise an immersive experience. While devices like Gear VR from Samsung are already in the market, Oculus Rift’s consumer version is still in the development stage.

Facebook acquired Oculus last year for a sum of $2 Billion

Facebook has listed 54 jobs on its website that seem to directly focus on it VR division. The jobs listed include managers to oversee logistics, procurement and global supply chain planning. Analysts believe this hints that the company is ready to bring the consumer version in the market.

If you want to test out the Oculus Rift, the company offers a Developers Kit that supports over 188 game titles. Other players in the VR market include Sony with its Project Morpheus, Google with the low-cost headset called the Cardboard project and Avegant Glyph. There are also some start-up projects working on their VR headsets too, like ANTVR.

We hope the wait for the consumer version of the Oculus Rift is coming to an end. It may be only a while before VR would be the way to game because of its immersive advantage.

January 19, 2015
Top 5 HD Games That Will Push Your Flagship to its Limit

While some of you are content playing 8-bit Flappy bird and Candy Crush on your smartphones, others like to take full advantage of their high resolution displays of their devices. These days most smartphones come with the top notch specs that are capable of handling console quality gaming. So, why not use it?

Everybody wants to play high definition games that are visually impressive, but not everybody can because HD games have some restrictions on the hardware. If you want to play them you, must have a really high-end device that is powered by a powerful processor, to be able to enjoy the games.

We are listing 5 of the best games whose graphics are so realistic they’ll knock your socks off.

5.Real Racing 3

Okay, most of you will cringe your nose reading the name of the game as it has been criticised for the large amount of in-app purchases required to be successful in the game. However, one can’t deny the fact that Real Racing 3 is one of the most graphically impressive games Android has ever had the pleasure of knowing. Unfortunately, this means that you have to empty large memory on your handset, 1.6 GB to be precise.

Download – Google Play (Free)

4. Asphalt 8 : AIRBORNE

This games needs no introduction, we all have practically grown up playing this game on our old-gen Motorola and Nokia handsets. The 8th edition of the Asphalt is more beautiful than ever with a impeccible graphic quality, shaders new generation geometric real-time reflections, and other awesome effects. The game can now enjoy an arcade racing as frantic as spectacular with the attractive possibility to drive the best cars on the planet; the cars perform jumps and amazing stunts. The game is full of events and races to participate and there are more than 180 events in career mode to play, divided into eight seasons.

Download – Google Play (Free)

3. Dead Trigger 2

The second version of the popular zombie slaying game requires a high-performing hardware and when you play it on display with a high resolution, it offers a graphical experience like no other. Even if you aren’t a fan of point and shoot games or guns in general, it’s worth trying it out in order to admire the graphics. When installing, take heed of the 414 megabytes and the fact that you can only play when connected to the internet.

Download – Google Play (Free)

2. Wild Blood

If you dream of fantasy worlds regularly this one is for you. A paid app, Wild Blood mixes elements from the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table with an action game. Not to mention the breath-taking graphics. The game lacks a plot, but the fantastic and dazzling imagery makes up for it.

Download – Google Play (Rs. 420)

1. Assassin’s Creed Pirates

This game not just gives you the best imagery among the other but also an amazing gameplay. This is the sole reason, Assassin’s Creed Pirates makes it to the top of our list. The starting point of the game is a map that will take you to many different missions, like looking for an old friend or bringing home some pillaged loot. Of course, the way there is treacherous, full of obstacles with guns, swords and all sorts of pirate business.

Download – Google Play (Free)

January 18, 2015
Xiaomi Teases Mysterious New Device, Expected to Arrive on 20th January

Just when we thought Xiaomi had opened all its cards, it went ahead and released a new teaser. The teaser, launched on its official Weibo page, hints at a possible new announcement by the company on 20th January 2015. The interesting thing is that the teaser image comes not from its smartphone weibo account but from its official gaming account.

As always, the teaser image doesn’t reveal what the device could be. It includes three rectangles, with the title ‘Bigger is Better’. The fact that it comes from its official gaming page hints that this upcoming device might be gaming hardware.

The company had surprised us just a few days back. While everyone expected the Chinese manufacturer to launch the second generation Redmi Note or the Mi5, the company decided to take a step ahead and launched the Xiaomi Mi Note. The new device flaunts a 5.7-inch 1080p display and seems to be Xiaomi’s contender against the OnePlus One (with a price to match.)

Looks like we’ll have to wait and see what Xiaomi has in store next.

January 18, 2015