Category: Tech

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

Intel Gives a Boost to Internet of Things with its Own Platform

Internet of Things (IoT) will be the next big gift from the technology industry for consumer electronics. It will take interconnected devices to the next level and bring immense convenience to the consumers. Several big name brands are working towards making it a reality but Intel is working towards being a leader in the field by providing the backbone to the industry. The company will bring a line of chips, security features and softwares to boost the IoT ecosystem.

With this approach, the company will be at the forefront of the IoT revolution. It will provide a base for the next generation consumer as well as enterprise devices. The company intends to make it easier to connect to its data centers so as to make it easier to analyze data from the sensors of the connected devices.

The company is already at the top of consumer electronic chip market with the massive array of PCs which use its processors. The company has also made its foray into the smartphone and tablet market. However with IoT, the industry would need a massive number of chipsets. They can be used in sports shoes to huge industrial establishments.

The possibilities in a future IoT market are endless, and we can easily expect some fierce competition coming our way. After smartphones, watches and other electronics, it’s time for your fridge, iron, water purifier and other electronics to go smart. And if you think you have the technical might to create products for IoT, then this is the right time to get into the game.

December 10, 2014
Google to Show Off its New Project Ara Prototype Soon

When the makers of Phonebloks showcased their idea of a lego-type phone, we had a good laugh. It was an audacious idea and didn’t seem like a realizable goal. But when the project got the blessings of Google, a lot of folks started following the developments of the project. The company is just a few weeks away from unveiling the Project Ara devices.

Google will introduce the new generation Project Ara at the developers conference in January. There will be two developers conference; the first will be held on 14th of January and will target the US/European folks, while the second will target the Asian market and will be held on 21st January.

The company added the image of the printed circuit in its Google Plus post

The Project Ara developers conference will also see the unveiling of the Spiral 2 prototype hardware and the release of v0.20 of Module Developers Kit (MDK). On its G+ page, Google ATAP posted the printed circuit board for the new generation modular devices. The founder of Phonebloks, Dave Hakkens, recently showed us a working prototype of a Project Ara device. So, it seems we are pretty close to having the most consumer and eco-friendly smartphone experience.

The company will also be live streaming the conference on the Project Ara website for the nerds of the world. Project Ara is a necessary next step in the evolution of smartphones. Till now, the consumers were restricted by whatever was offered to them by the companies. With initiatives like Project Ara, the consumers will have a bigger say in the technological bits of their devices. This will also help towards a healthy environment as the phones will be regularly updated and wouldn’t be thrown away soon. We have been waiting a long while for it and hope Project Ara is worth it.

December 10, 2014
Google Translate’s Latest Update Decodes Speech and Text Within Pictures

Google Translate has become an essential feature of the internet. It is one of the primary tools used by folks world over to learn about other corners of the world. The service by Google lets you translate an entire website with just a couple of clicks. With the growth of global interconnectivity, consumer translator mediums have become more and more useful. Google is constantly working towards making its translator better and hence keeps actively updating the features. This time around Google is reportedly giving its translator the ability to decipher speech in addition to the text within pictures.

According to a report by Android Police, the updated Google Translate will use Google’s Word Lens to do the same. This will aid users in translating directions, menus, signs in foreign language into an understandable expression. Meanwhile, the conversation mode of Google Translate lets people of different languages hold discussion, but with the new feature, chatting would be much more instant.

With the new update, users don’t have to chose the language as the app will do it for you. It will automatically detect the speech and decode it. As for now, it recognises seven languages in total – English, Italian, French, German, Russian, Portuguese and Spanish. However, we can expect the inclusion of other languages later. The new feature can only translate the above listed languages to English and vice versa e.g. Russian message cannot be converted to Spanish or to any other language else than English.

December 10, 2014
Android Devices Vulnerable to Lurking Malware That Sends Out Private Data

Google’s mobile operating system Android is used in many devices such as tablets, smartphones, smartwatches and more. The OS is convenient to use and for that reason, its sale is recorded more than the combined sales of Windows, iOS and Mac OS X in 2012, 2013 and 2014. However, this is also true that Android is the weakest OS and an prey to malware and Trojans.

A new discovery has showcased that a Trojan named ‘Android SMSSEND’ is lurking. It is a threatening Trojan virus that steals essential data from your Android smartphone and leaks confidential information to all those in your contact list. This is done by sending messages to your contacts. The sensitive information that it dispatches illegally includes IMEI number, device ID, device type, contacts, pictures, passwords and personal banking information.

It is estimated that Android SMSSEND can install spyware, track your phone location, illegally access text messages and harm your system. Although, Google uses a malware scanner Google Bouncer to keep a close watch at these viruses, but the scanner seems inadequate. Whenever a user installs a third-party app, a warning message appears on screen to alert the user about the suspicious app.

It’s highly advisable not to download and install applications from untrusted sources. Also, one should run full system scan after every 3-4 days. In case, you are installing an application, read all the permissions beforehand. To save your data, it is recommended to take regular backup of the device. Last but not the least, one should avoid using unknown Wi-Fi networks as they may not be secure.

December 10, 2014
It’s Loud and Clear, Cyanogen Not to Provide OTA Updates for Indian OnePlus One

There has been a lot of confusion amongst Indian buyers about the updates on the One. CyanogenMod was one of the most prominent features of the OnePlus One. The regular updates along with amazing customizability features made the phone everybody’s dream come true. The Indian customers have had to wait a long while for the taste of the One and it got soured by the reports of Indian devices not getting any updates. That fear, unfortunately, became officially confirmed today.

CyanogenMod officially announced that it won’t be sending any OTA updates to the OnePlus devices that are bought in India. The company had previously said in a blog post that it will be providing support to the global devices in India. The keyword was “global devices” and devices sold directly in India won’t be getting the OTA updates. The company made it clear this time around saying in its blog post,“If a user in India purchased a OnePlus One global device in channels outside of India, they will receive our OTA firmware updates. However, this excludes OnePlus One regional devices sold directly in India.”

The company also mentioned loud and clear that the reason behind this discrimination is Cyanogen’s exclusive partnership with Micromax to make the YU devices. If you still want to use CyanogenMod on your device then you can easily flash the CyanogenMod ROM on it. OnePlus still has a global partnership with CyanogenMod, so the global Ones are covered for a considerable period.

But this news shouldn’t get the potential customers of the One disappointed as OnePlus has said that it has better backup plans. The company plans to bring in its own OS based on Android Lollipop. The company says that a production build will be ready by as soon as February. OnePlus says that this OS will be bloat-free and will bring a stock Android experience along with the new Material design.

Though it’s an unfortunate news for the Indian consumers, many have waited for months to get their hands on the flagship killer. Cyanogen’s updates made the phone so flawless; OnePlus has a serious challenge of matching the rapid updates and bug fixes provided by Cyanogen. The company would have to come up with an exceptional OS of its own to keep the device on the high pedestal it sits on.

December 10, 2014
16 MP Handheld HTC RE Camera Rolls Out in India via Snapdeal

Earlier in October, we disclosed that HTC’s RE camera will be coming in India for Rs. 9,990 and now the device has finally arrived in the country via Snapdeal. These handheld cameras are amazing gadgets to click pictures on the go.

The HTC RE features a 16MP sensor with a 146-degree wide-angle lens and is capable of recording full HD videos, 120 fps slow-motion videos, time-lapse videos as well as Zoes. It comes with an inbuilt HD microphone and speaker. The 820mAh battery can record Full HD videos for 1 hour 40 minutes. An 8GB storage card is preloaded in the camera, while it supports a storage capacity of up to 128 GB.

There are just two buttons at the device: click button and the slow-mo button that don’t let you fumble between modes. The RE camera works with both Android and iPhone devices and has connectivity options like Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi. Coming at a price of just Rs. 9,990, this camera is a must-buy. Check out our review of the HTC RE camera here.

December 9, 2014
Google Nexus 6 Out in India Today at Midnight via Flipkart

Earlier we announced that Google Chromecast is landing in India today and now it seems that Google’s flagship device Nexus 6 will be joining in. The device will be exclusively launched at Google’s Great Online Shopping Festival (GOSF) starting midnight. The 32 GB variant comes for Rs. 44,000, while the 64 GB model will cost you Rs. 49,000.

The Nexus 6 boasts a 5.96-inch QHD (2560×1440p) AMOLED display. It is powered by 2.7 GHz Snapdragon 805 quad-core processor coupled with 3 GB of RAM. It runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop out of the box. The screen of the device is protected by Corning Glass 3, which means users need not have to worry about scratches.

On the camera front, it sports a 13MP rear and 2MP front snapper. The device gets its juice from a 3,220mAh battery, which the company claims to last for six hours on a 15-minute charge as it comes along with Motorola’s Turbo Charger. Nexus 6 offers wireless charging. It comes in two colour options in the country – midnight blue and cloud white.

The smartphone went up for pre-orders on 18th November and we saw an exciting offer by Flipkart where the e-commerce giant was tempting buyers to ditch their iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. However, the smartphone comes with a ‘Coming Soon’ tag as of now, we suppose the e-commerce website is planning to change the sign at midnight. Meanwhile, Flipkart kept its promise and started shipping the device last night for those who ordered the smartphone in the second week of December itself.

December 9, 2014
Micromax Takes On HTC with Canvas Selfie, a Smartphone Featuring 13 MP Front and Rear Cameras

Homegrown smartphone maker Micromax yesterday announced a new device that will be quite a deal for selfie lovers. The company has unveiled Canvas Selfie with a 13 MP camera on the front as well as back. The phone is a pleasant surprise for those who love to click pictures at every occasion. The phone launch saw many famed personalities like CEO Vineet Taneja and IPTL stars Sania Mirza, Ana Ivanovic, Kristina Mladenovic and Daniela Hantuchova.

With the launch of Canvas Selfie, Micromax has taken on HTC Desire Eye, the first camera to offer 13 MP camera on both sides. The amazing camera is clearly its USP, but along with that Micromax Canvas Selfie houses in-built beauty tools like eye enhancement, skin smoothening, teeth whitening, remove oil, make-up, fade dark circles etc.

The phone sports a 4.7-inch HD IPS display and boasts 1.7 GHz Tru-octacore processor. It runs on Android KitKat 4.4. The device comes with a 2,300 mAh battery which can last for a day on a single charge. Canvas Selfie is a dual-SIM mobile with common slots for nano SIM and memory card, which is usually not found in many phones. It has 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB ROM (both internal). The memory is expandable up to 32 GB. The smartphone comes with Corning Glass 3, which means that the scratch-resistant quality of the phone is unmatched.

The phone will be available for purchase online in the second week of January 2015. The company has been quite tight-lipped about the pricing of the same.

December 9, 2014
Exclusive: Google Chromecast Arrives in India Tomorrow Exclusively via Snapdeal

A source close to iGyaan has revealed that Google Chromecast is now going to be available for purchase in India. The unique device that helps mirror everything from your tablet and smartphone to your TV is arriving on 9th December i.e. tomorrow. Google Chromecast is the perfect device for those who enjoy the luxuries of big screen viewing.

Sources also revealed that the news will be announced at the Google Online Shopping Festival and the device will be available exclusively on Snapdeal. The company is also building a development platform for Chromecast users for easy viewing on smartphones. Google has partnered with telecommunication giant Airtel to provide customers cost-effective data packs for the same.

A Little About Chromecast

Chromecast is a thumb-sized medium through which you can easily transfer viewing from your laptop, Android phone and tablet to TV. For this, your mobile becomes your personalised remote control. You can browse your favourite movies, videos and more and cast it on your TV. You can pause, play, rewind, make playlists and can even control the volume. Just plug in, connect and enjoy. In short, it’s a whole new way to enjoy video viewing.

December 8, 2014
Apple’s Mobile Security Measures Minimise iPhone Theft by 40%

Mobiles have become an easy target for thieves these days. Their compact size and the fact that their after-sales value is quite good doesn’t hurt the cause. However, it seems like iPhone users need not worry as Apple’s security measures are said to be super helpful in recovering smartphones.

According to a report by American Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Apple has reduced the problem of phone theft by as much as 40 percent. The report stated that the company’s security apps Find My iPhone and Activation Lock have gone a long way to curb iPhone robbery. The commission also appealed all to come together to fight back this situation and become more aware of their surroundings.

The commission commented to treat phone theft as a credit card theft. Your phone is very important as significant information like card details are stored on the device. It is also recommended that iPhone owners note down the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity (IMEI) number of their device. The commission advised the users to lock their screen through lock screen function and secure the device using passwords and pins, and report lost of your smartphone as soon as possible.

According to a report, 59 percent of robberies involved smartphones in San Francisco, while in New York, the figure of smartphone robbery was 46 percent. In London, it reached to 50 percent. However, after the Apple Activation Lock, the burglary saw a turn down by 38 percent in San Francisco, 24 percent in London and 19 percent in New York.

December 8, 2014
Clearance Sale! Xiaomi Redmi 1S Available Registration-Free on Flipkart Today

It’s a great day for the fans of Xiaomi Redmi 1S, as the smartphone is now available on sale on Flipkart without all the flash sale drama. The purchase of the device doesn’t require registration, however this offer is valid only for today.

The smartphone was launched back in July. It has a 4.7-inch 720x1280p display and is powered by 1.6 GHz processor along with 1 GB of RAM. On the camera front, the phone sports 8 MP rear shooter.

Xiaomi has created a storm in the smartphone market by giving high specs in low price. Millions of Redmi 1S handsets have been sold in a matter of months. Lately, the company released its yet another power-packed device, Xiaomi Note phablet. It is a mid-range Android device. The electronics giant has permanently discontinued the Mi3 and this sale might be the last sale of Redmi 1S. So, all those who missed the chance of grabbing this awesome device can now avail the offer.

Watch our full review of the Redmi 1S here:

December 8, 2014

How to Pick the Best Flagship Smartphone of 2014

This year, every major smartphone company managed to raise the stake by bringing out stunning devices. Watch iGyaan’s take on which device is worth your money:

SPECS	SAMSUNG NOTE 4	Google Nexus 6	IPHONE 6 PLUS	LG G3	OnePlus One	HTC ONE M8
Display	5.7 inch QHD	5.96 inch QHD	5.5 inch Full HD	5.5 inch QHD	5.5 inch HD	5.0 inch HD
Processor	2.7GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 805	Quad-core 2.7 GHz Snapdragon 805	1.4 GHz Dual-core A8 chipset	2.26 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 801	2.5 Quad-core Snapdragon 801	2.3 GHz Quad-core
RAM	3 GB	3 GB RAM	1 GB	3 GB	3 GB	2 GB
Storage	32 GB	32/64 GB	16/64/128 GB	16/32GB	16/64 GB	16/32 GB
Expandable Upto	64 GB	–	–	128 GB	–	128 GB
Main Camera	16 MP	13 MP	8 MP	13 MP sensor	13 MP	Dual 4 MP
Front Camera	3.7 MP	2 MP	1.2 MP	2.2MP sensor	2 MP	5 MP
Battery	Removable 3220 mAh	Non-removable 3220 mAh	Non-removable 2600mAh	3,000mAh	Non-removable 3050 mAh	Non-removable 2600mAh
Operating System	Android 4.4.4	Android 5.0 Lollipop	iOS 8	Android 4.4.2	Android 4.3 upgradable to 4.4.2 (KitKat)	Android 4.4.2
Price	Rs.61,500	Rs. 43,999 for 32 GB	Rs. 62,500 for 16 GB variant	Rs.44,100	Expected Rs. 25,000 for 64 GB Variant	Rs. 38,000

December 8, 2014

World’s Thinnest Smartphone Vivo to Debut in India on 15th December

Chinese electronic giant BBK Electronics made its debut in the Indian market with its Oppo brand and now the company has all intentions to extend its roots here. After securing the position of the world’s thinnest smartphone by Oppo R5, BBK Electronics is all set to give competition to its own subsidiary through Vivo X5Max.

Media invites for the debut of Vivo has already been sent by the company and the function to unveil X5Max will be held on 15^th December, 2015 i.e. next Monday in New Delhi.

The company has chosen Viacom 18 to target the Indian audience. It has partnered with the media group to promote its smartphone on channels like MTV, VH1, Colors and Comedy Central.

The X5Max is the newest entrant to make it to the Guinness Book of World Records measuring 4.75 mm. It has beaten the world’s thinnest smartphone tag holders Oppo R5 and Elife S5.5.

Coming to the specs, the X5Max has a 5.5-inch Full HD display with screen resolution of 1080x1920p. It runs on 1.7 GHz MediaTek octa-core processor and comes packed with 2 GB of RAM and Android 4.4 KitKat. On the camera front, it has a 13MP rear camera and a 5MP front snapper to take selfies. The device offers dual-SIM card slots with support for 4G LTE and TD-SCDMA.

BBK has been doing tremendously well and has even beaten Apple, which is leading the race of World’s Most Valuable Brands. BBK’s market share has crossed Apple’s in China. It is reported to set up a distributor network across 20 states and may launch more phones in the market, which are expected to cost between Rs. 7,000 to Rs. 40,000.

December 8, 2014
5 Super Cool Home Automation Gadgets You Need to Add to Your Wishlist

Want to pimp up your home and make life easier? Well, thanks to our smartphones, wireless internet and companies that make some awesome innovative gadgets, we can now control everything in our homes anytime and most importantly, from anywhere. The smart home automation industry is still in its nascent stage, however, there are some devices that are already making our lives easier.

Here’s a wishlist of new home automation gadgets that you would love to have in your bedrooms:

1. Belkin WeMo Light Switch

Are you one of those who always forgets to switch off the lights? Well, then this one is for you. Belkin WeMo Light Switch connects to your home Wi-Fi network and you can control the lights using your iOS or Android device. Control options include switching lights on/off and scheduling lights to go on and off at specific times.

2. Philips Hue Personal Wireless Lighting

Well, this light is available in the Indian market; however, you need to shell out almost Rs. 30,000 to get one kit. The whole kit will give you amazing lighting experience in your bedroom. This kit includes 4 LED light bulbs that can be controlled wirelessly using a smartphone or a tablet. But here’s the actual fun part – you can change the hue of the light by picking any colour from a picture. Also, the brightness level can be easily controlled through the app as well.

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3. Nest Smoke Alarm

Nest Protect is a smart and quiet alarm that will give you a heads-up before it goes off. Also it can identify the part of the house from which smoke is coming. A convenient way to ensure that your iron is not burning your house down.

4. Belkin Conserve Socket

Here’s one if you tend to forget to turn the socket off after you’re done charging your phone. This smart outlet automatically turns off after a set amount of time has elapsed. Use this simple, handy tool to prevent mishaps and save money on your monthly electricity bills.

5. iRobot Roomba

Roomba is a solution for all those who totally rely on technology to solve their problems. iRobot has developed this product that will clean your apartment at the touch of a single button.

December 8, 2014
Indian Government Plans Rs.10,000 Crore Innovation Fund for Tech Start-ups

In the Information Age, the winner of the game is the one who takes the lead in innovation. Countries and corporate investors are proactively looking to push talented individuals and companies to create the next revolutionary product. Never has been the pace of innovation this fast. In just the last decade, we have seen radical changes in technology especially in the consumer electronics field. Internet has not just connected the world together it has also allowed for the proliferation of knowledge and made the world a globally accessible marketplace. Luckily for India, it is already a part of the ground-level innovation game called start-ups. Now the Indian government is planning to give an adrenaline shot to the innovation process in the country.

The Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY) is planning to set up a Rs. 10,000 crore fund for innovation and development purposes in the fields of electronics and IT. The announcement was made by DeitY secretary R. S. Sharma at InfoComm 2014.

The government will partner with the existing venture capitalists to select the start-up where it would invest the fund. The government is also looking towards strengthening Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) to promote the development of the sector.

The present government is actively engaging with the industry to grow India’s technical might. The Digital India program is an audacious plan by the government to boost information interconnectivity across the nation. By investing in innovation, the government strengthens the nation’s ability to create its own technology as well as reduce dependency on technological import from other nations. India currently imports electronics worth $100 billion, which is expected to go up to $400 billion by 2020 which will be more than the bill for importing oil. If India forms an encouraging technological ecosystem that supports research and production of the products, it will lead to a considerable reduction in the import bill.

If the government is serious about innovation then, it should also invest heavily in green energy technology as that will lead to severe cuts in the bill for fuel import. By aggressively pushing for a green energy, India can become a frontrunner in changing the future of the world. The government should heavily subsidise green car production and off-grid electricity solutions instead of giving billionaires like Adani a loan of $1 billion for a coal project. The government should rather invest in citizens of the country who pay for that money in taxes. The foundation of an innovation fund by the government is an encouraging and appreciable step, but it needs to do a lot more to make this country into a technology frontrunner.

December 6, 2014