Category: Tech

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

Haptic Hologram Tech Makes Star Trek’s Holodeck a Reality

Well, it’s time we touch the concept of haptic hologram technology which Star Trek introduced to us 20 years ago in the pilot episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, ‘Encounter at Farpoint’. An English company called Ultrahaptics has developed a method of delivering haptic feedback for holographic imagery using ultrasonic technology.

The new technology, basically lets you feel without touching. Using ultrasound to project sensations into the air, this new technology is more sophisticated than what is shown in the Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s Minority Report where Tom Cruise needed gloves to feel the sensation.

Originally developed in University of Bristol, the developers of the sophisticated system claim that it can deliver different haptic feedback and virtually tactile shapes through ultrasonic waves by changing the feedback of the ultrasonic waves or their modulation frequency.

Concept image showing a possible application of haptic hologram.

The potential of the technology is huge. It could be used in markets such as consumer electronics, games, household appliances and the car industry. A coffee machine that switches on with the wave of a hand from your bed, perhaps. Adding a sense of touch as well as sight and sound will make it easier to completely immerse in virtual reality.

And the ability to feel the shape of virtual objects could open a whole lot of new possibilities in various fields of research such as doctors could use their hands to examine a lump detected by a CT scan or museum visitors could handle virtual replicas of priceless exhibits while the real thing remains safely behind glass.

Ultrahaptics is based at Bristol and has been awarded £600,000 to hire more developers and fine tune its remarkable technology. Although the current version of the technology works in a lab setting, developers said that they would have to wait a bit longer to see some of the commercial applications of the technology.

December 4, 2014
Startup Incubators: The Force Behind the Next Big Entrepreneurs

Startup is one of the buzz words of our technological age. These tiny initiatives by young and the old have become the cradle of innovation. Every other day, we hear the news of a startup acquired by a big brand to engulf their innovative creations into their systems. Giants like Google, Facebook, Microsoft and Apple are always on the lookout for a start-up with a unique offering. The buzz has also led to a successful show called ‘Silicon Valley,’ which delves into the inner workings of the Silicon Valley’s bloodsport of the startup game. India with its massive technologically trained professionals is untouched by this revolution and many incubators have come up which provide the assistance to the budding entrepreneurs to create the next big thing.

We decided to look into the world of startup incubators and who would be the right option for you, if you have an idea that can change the world. Here are a select few which are spearheading the startup revolution in India.

Startup Village, Kochi:

Probably the most prominent of all, the Startup Village began offering its services in 2012. It is a non-profit business incubator which works towards providing assistance to budding entrepreneurs in the form of office space, hosting services, business guidance and even provide legal services. The business incubator plans to set up over 1000 start-ups over the coming decade.

Startup Village is supported by public and private investments. Along with the Kerala government, the village also offers an all expense paid trip to the US for select young entrepreneurs. They provide seed fund and Angel fund to startups. The primary focus of the incubator is student startups and telecom innovations. Setting up your startup at the Village will also lets you use the office spaces, high-speed internet and interactions with like-minded entrepreneurs who are working towards the next-generation innovations.

Khosla Labs, Banglore:

Vinod Khosla, the co-founder Sun Microsystems, partnered with Srikanth Nadhamuni to form Khosla Labs in 2012. The incubator works in the fields of mobile payments and banking, retail efficiency, healthcare delivery and big data analysis. Khosla Labs team of entrepreneurs comes up with several ideas to test and experiment. These projects get prototyped through in-house design and technology teams. These prototypes are then pilot tested on the ground to get feedback and market validation. Based on the feedback, Khosla Labs provides seed money, and the project becomes a spin-off venture under an entrepreneur in residence (EIR) at the labs.

Start up! New Delhi:

If your goal is to change the world through societal developments, then there is an incubator for you too. Start up! is an Angel investor, incubator and consultants for social entrepreneurs. A lot of folks have understood the limitations of dependency on government for active social change. Hence, many are working towards setting up their own social enterprises to bring about ground level sustainable developments. It assists the budding social ventures by training them in business practices and with the help of its networks, helps to scale up these ventures. Start up! has aided many ventures to grow from thought to reality. They have helped social ventures in a variety of fields like healthcare, education, the disability sector and even helped to form collaborative workspaces for freelancers and creative professionals.

Start Up! also offers fellowships to students and young social entrepreneurs to work with their clients and learn by getting their hands dirty in the field.

Amity Innovation Incubator, Noida:

Amity is one of the top league private education institutes in India. Its innovation incubator is supported by DST, Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India. It is registered as a not-for-profit organisation, and it brings together industrialists, venture capitalists, technical specialists and managers to help entrepreneurs realise their dreams.

Through its virtual incubation initiative, the company offers support to startups that cannot access the Amity campus physically. Apart from the barrage of essential services, the company also offers server spaces to its incubates. It also lets the incubates hire interns from their massive student base.

Seedfund, Delhi, Mumbai, Banglore

Started in 2006, Seedfund has established some of the big name brands on the internet sphere. Brands like Redbus and Carwale began as hatchlings at Seedfund. It has invested in over 31 companies and is continuing to provide its services to more who arrive. Seedfund assists you in the micro sense, like choosing your logo to the macro business models for your company.

With so many options available to you, there is nothing stopping you from making your ideas big except your own procrastination. If you think you have the next big billion-dollar idea, then get in the game and get making, the future belongs to the creators.

December 3, 2014

Next-Gen YotaPhone Goes Official, Sports an AMOLED and E-Paper Display

Remember Russian President Vladimir Putin gifting the next-generation Yotaphone to the Chinese President during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Beijing? Yes, that same phone called the YotaPhone 2 has been officially announced and is already setting benchmarks when it comes to innovation.

The YotaPhone 2 has got some improvements over its predecessor. It features a 5-inch 1080p AMOLED display and a 4.7-inch QHD e-Ink touchscreen, which is way better than the 4.3-inch of the previous model. The e-Ink paper display on the smartphone is similar to the e-Ink display we find on Amazon’s Kindle readers, and shows up notifications, clock, weather, etc. while the front display is the standard display we find on other smartphones.

It runs on Android KitKat and is powered by a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 chipset along with 2 GB of RAM. The phone has 32 GB internal storage space. On the camera front, YotaPhone 2 sports an 8MP camera on the back and a 2MP camera on the front. It gets its juice from a 2,500mAh battery. Have a look at the key specs below:

Specifications	YotaPhone 2
Display	5-inch Full HD AMOLED display 4.7-inch always-on E-paper display
Processor	2.3 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800
Storage	32 GB
RAM	2 GB
Camera	8 MP Rear Camera 2 MP front camera
Battery	2500mAh
Operating System	Android OS, v4.4 (KitKat)

The phone is expected to release for general sales in Russia this December. Though, it is expected to arrive in India some time in the future, as the official website lists India as one of the countries where the handset will go on sale. For the time being, interested users can register on the Yota’s official website to get more updates.

This attempt could put Russia on the smartphone map of the world, largely dominated by American and Asian manufacturers. But as we already mentioned, the first official phone is in Chinese hands, the Russian manufacturer might have been a bit naive to hand over the only unique consumer device to the world’s photocopier nation.

December 3, 2014

Top 4 Ways to Make Sure You Score a OnePlus One Invite in India

Well, the ‘Flagship Killer’ has landed in India. The 2nd December event created much excitement among the smartphone lovers. However, the fact that you need to get your hands on an invite to get the OnePlus One has left many confused about how to get the same.

Although, Amazon and OnePlus have integrated their account services to make it simple for those with invites to purchase their smartphones. There is still some confusion about the invite system. Well, the company has been known for its mismanaged marketing strategy, however, this time around it seems everything is going smooth.

If you are still wondering how to get hold of an invite, there are quite a few ways to get it. Read on for more:

1. Amazon Contests

Amazon and OnePlus are currently running a couple of contests to help you grab the One. Amazon users can earn invites by spotting and clicking on the ‘One in a 1000’ contest across the internet, including select social media websites. A total of 1,000 users that spot and click these contest ads will win an invite. Another method to win one of the 4,000 invites runs involves simply connecting your Facebook account to Amazon India.

2. OnePlus Accounts

The company will be running marketing or engagement events on its social media, same as it did in other countries, through which it will give out invites. So make sure you like or follow the official accounts on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter.

3. Get a Friend To Buy One

Same as in other countries, anyone who has managed to get a OnePlus One smartphone will also receive an invite that can be shared with friends, family or anyone. These invites are valid typically up to 3 and 6 weeks of purchase.

4. OnePlus Forum

The website forum is the most famous and efficient way to get an invite. Users who join the OnePlus One forum can either win an invite via an engagement event or contest, or through other forum members distributing the invites. However, there is no way to check the authenticity of the forum members giving out the invites.

Need to know more about the OnePlus One before you start hunting for invites? Watch our full review here:

December 3, 2014
Future iPhones May Soon Have the Technology to Only Fall Face Up – Just Like Cats

Apple always seems to have a knack of pulling-off something out of the ordinary, and this time around the Cupertino based giant is on a quest to make its iPhone land like a cat in the event of a fall. Sounds too good to be true, but the company has reportedly filed a patent which just got approved by the Patent and Trademark office which put simply, would make the iPhone fall on its back.

The patent is a wild attempt by Apple to keep its glass screen from cracking. As we know, cats are known for their innate ability to reposition itself while airbone in such a peculiar way, so that it lands on its feet to prevent itself from getting hurt. Apple’s new patent tries to implement the exact same principle to its bending and overpriced devices like iPhone and iPads.

So how does it work?

Using inputs via a combination of sensors like gyroscopes, accelerometers, and GPS, a device equipped with this new protective mechanism will detect when it’s in free fall and calculate parameters like speed of descent and time to impact. The device will then use an on-board motor to reposition itself, just like a cat would, in an attempt to protect fragile components like screen or the camera in the event of a fall. In addition, the device’s on-board motor can also be deployed, so it would screech a bit as it falls on the ground, just like a cat.

Reports indicate that the patent is quite exhaustive, and Apple has provided a few more methods for repositioning the device while mid air, including extending air foils and use of gas canisters for more controlled landings.

This sounds pretty insane and we wish Apple all the luck on their noble quest to scale the pinnacle of engineering innovation, rather than settling for the mundanely obvious solution of making their phones more robust. However, its worth mentioning the fact that often companies file patents just to protect their intellectual property, rather than actually building a device. So this could well be a distant possibility and chances of it becoming a reality might be slim. Either way, we would to love to see a cat-like iPhone.

December 3, 2014
You Can Now Edit Microsoft Office Documents Directly from Your Gmail Inbox

Google has recently added another feature to the web-version of its popular email service, Gmail. Now, Gmail inbox allows users to edit Microsoft Office documents sent as email attachments. With Microsoft increasing its popularity in cloud space, Google has taken a right step forward.

This doesn’t seem like a major update, however, the new feature is a part of Google’s strategy to make its cloud service more universal and make it a one-stop from enterprise workspace. The new feature adds a Google Drive edit icon to Gmail attachments that says ‘Edit with Google Docs’. By clicking on this, the Office files get automatically converted into Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides.

Clicking this ‘edit’ option on an Office file attachment will convert the file to the preferred Google format, saving it in Google Drive to allow for continuous editing and sharing. Google has also increased the amount of Office file formats so as it can be imported to Docs to make the process easier. The list now includes 15 less-used Office formats including .pps and .ppsx.

The formats will be converted into Google formats according to their extensions such as dot, dotx, dotm*, docm* will convert into Google Docs; xlt, xltx, xltm*, xlsm* into Google Sheets and pot, potx, potm*, pptm*, pps, ppsx, ppsm* into Google Slides.

If you don’t want to change your file type, Google has a solution for that too. Google suggests you to use its Office Editing Chrome extension. It is also promising ‘improved charts, images, and tables support for these file formats, but didn’t go into detail.

December 3, 2014
Samsung to Bring its Tizen-Powered Device to India on 10th December

Samsung is under a lot of stress lately. The past couple of years haven’t been very friendly to the company’s business number. The consumer electronics giant has steadily lost market share in the smartphone game over the past few months. The company has decided to go back on the drawing board and recreate its next flagship from scratch. The company is also making a bet with a new operating system to create an alternative to the Android operating system.

The company is ready to launch a new Tizen OS powered device. It has already been using the OS on some of its wearables. Samsung says that this smartphone will be in the affordable range and come at a price of around Rs. 5000.

The phone will be called Z1. It was previously codenamed Kiran. According to Sammobile, Samsung will hold an event on the 10th of December to unveil the device.

The Operating system looks like Touchwiz on Android and doesn’t looks as inviting as other UI’s in the market.

According to the reports, the Z1 will have a 4 inch WVGA display with a resolution of 800x480p. The device will be powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core Spreadtrum SC7727S processor along with a Mali-400 GPU and 512MB RAM. It will have a primary camera of 3.2 MP and have a VGA front camera.

You can find several Indian competitors at the price that Samsung is offering the new Z1. The specs are low for the device to take on any kind of multimedia. Although low-resolution videos and games may have a chance on the Z1.

Samsung has the capital and the backbone to beat companies like Xiaomi and Moto at their own game but somehow it refuses to do it. It is not sure as of yet as to how much support or apps are available for the Tizen ecosystem, and that should dissuade people further from adopting the new OS. It’s good that Samsung is attempting to provide alternatives in the times of the Android dominance, but it seriously need to bring devices that are aspirational at any price point. Tizen too looks like TouchWiz, which has become exceptionally boring in recent times. Samsung, if you want our money, you got to earn it.

December 2, 2014
OnePlus One : Essential FAQs : 16 GB Variant, Swap Covers and Sale Units

OnePlus got a slight jolt when it received the news that CyanogenMod’s exclusive tie-up with Micromax prevented the custom ROM makers from offering support for the One in India. CyanogenMod was one of the biggest strength for the OnePlus One and its customizability features and regular updates set it apart from the rest. OnePlus sure has a challenge on their hands and seems like they are ready to take it head on.

OnePlus today launched the 64 GB variant of its epic One smartphone in India. Answering to the query that many had, the company has also said that it will be bringing out the 16 GB variant soon.

To quench the thirst of the enormous demand for its smartphone in India, the company will be bringing devices in a phased manner. Presently the company has a stock of 20,000 devices in India that will be up for sale today. Following this, the company will be offering 20,000 more devices, within a week and is ready with another 20k depending on demand. Altogether 60000 Indians are going have the satisfaction of owning the flagship killer in December alone.

To battle the CynogenMod’s lack of support for its devices in India, the company said it’s developing a new OS that will be based on Android Lollipop. This OS will be announced this friday, the company is very excited and says that it will be very close to stock Android but will have key features to make it a winner.

OnePlus customers also have been excited about the Bamboo swap cases, the company began selling these covers but had to stop as the customers found them difficult to change with the stock cases. As the company is going to establish service centers in India, it is planning selling the swap covers and offering an installation at the service centre free of charge for consumers.

It sure has been a long wait for the device, and it’s encouraging to see a company take proactive efforts towards making the customers of its devices comfortable. India can be an important market for the company. It is also planning to establish an R&D center in India. This is a good time to be a mobile consumer in India.

Have you checked out our video of the device that provides the “power of twice at half the price?”

And one more, don’t miss out on the latest video explaining all you need to know about OnePlus’ arrival in India:

December 2, 2014

OnePlus Finally Launches the One in India for Rs. 21,999

Chinese Flagship decimator, OnePlus One is finally ready for purchase by the Indian consumers. It has been a long wait for the enthusiasts of the One. The phone’s high specs low price formula has impressed folk’s world over and has caused a virtual stampede of folks trying to buy this exceptional device.

The device has been much talked about, if you are one of the last few who don’t know about the device then let us take the opportunity to blow your mind. The device runs on a quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor clocking at 2.5GHz . It comes with 3 GB RAM. The device is available in a 64 GB variant. The device gets its juice from a 3100 mAh battery.

The 5.5 inch Full HD display will make it a multimedia enthusiast’s delight. The device offers a 13 MP main camera and a 5 MP Selfie shooter on the front. Coupled with CyanogenMod’s awesome camera features, the phone will deliver great image output.

Running on Cyanogenmod, the phone gives you amazing features in camera and for customization. Unfortunately, Indian consumers will be devoid of the biggest strength of Cynogenmod. The custom ROM is known for regular updates and bug fixes. But the company’s exclusive partnership with Micromax will prevent it from offering updates on the Oneplus device. Though CM11S OS is great in itself and the functionalities it offers will make you fall in love with the device. OnePlus also promises their own firmware in the coming future which will be based on Android Lollipop. This definitely makes the device a future proof purchase.

The device is priced at Rs. 21,999 for the 64 GB variant. The device is truly one of a kind device and we expect them to fly off shelves in moments of its launch. The One has arrived and looks like it will stay for a good while.

The company will continue the invite system for the Indian market and those interested in an invite will be able to get one from oneplus.net/in starting right now.

If you are successful in getting an invite a spanking new OnePlus One will await you at : www.amazon.in/oneplusone on the 2nd of December 2014. Excited yet?

OnePlus One Specifications

Color	Silk White/Sandstone Black
Dimensions	152.9 x 75.9 x 8.9 mm
Weight	5.71 ounces (162g)
Operating System	CyanogenMod 11S based on Android 4.4
CPU	Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 801 processor with 2.5GHz Quad-core CPUs
GPU	Adreno 330, 578MHz
RAM	3 GB LP-DDR3 @1866MHz
Storage	16/64 GB eMMC 5.0, available capacity varies
Sensors	Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity and Ambient Light
Battery Capacity	Embedded rechargeable 3100 mAh LiPo battery

Display

Size	5.5 inch JDI
Resolution	1080p Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), 401 PPI
Type	LTPS IPS with TOL
Protection	Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3

Cameras

Sensor	13 Megapixel – Sony Exmor IMX 214
Lenses	6 lenses to avoid distortion and color aberration
Flash	Dual-LED
Aperture	f/2.0
Front Camera	5 Megapixel – Distortion free
Video	4K resolution video with stereo recordingSlow Motion: 720p video at 120fps

December 2, 2014

Here Are 5 Podcatchers You Need to Check Out

Podcasting apps aka podcatchers have become an important part of popular culture. Be it music, fashion, tech or food, you can find millions of podcasts online. The app ecosystem is blessed with a strong selection of podcast apps to choose from, but there are some more worth your time and money than others. The best-in-class examples automatically download and sort the newest episodes of your subscribed podcasts, help manage your subscriptions and also include a variety of other features.

Here are the top 5 of our favorite podcasting apps for iOS and Android devices.

1. Pocket Casts (iOS and Android)

If you are even remotely familiar with podcatchers, you must have heard this name. It has been a crowd-favorite, however, the latest update has risen it to the top. The new update has added amazing mix of style and function in the app. Some of the features that make it the best are cloud sync, a huge library, video support, variable speed playback and unforgettable Chromecast support. It is the only app which provides a widget, full controls in the notification tray, auto download and delete, a sleep timer and OPML import and export support. This one of the best and one of the most full featured podcast apps is available in the app ecosystem. It is available on Android for Rs. 199 and on iOS for Rs. 250.

2. Instacast (iOS)

It is one of those apps that like to re-invent itself from time to time, which include frequent in-app purchases. However, these updates are quite useful and it’s hard to deny that the Instacast team works continuously to improve the app with each generation. The latest Instacast 5 comes with a redesigned media player with easy swipe access to an episode’s chapters, a Night mode that can be toggled or set to automatically trigger based on time of the day, keyword search tools and more have been added to an already feature-packed podcast app. The app is free, however, there are some important in-app purchases hat better you experience such as previously mentioned night mode.

3. Downcast (iOS)

One of the most critically acclaimed podcast app, this app will provide you a robust online search for podcast subscriptions, auto-downloading and the ability to import and export OMPL podcast feeds help you ensure your podcasts stay up-to-date. The playlist can be customized which lets you tinker and selectively build your playlists on the go, while numerous playback options (such as episode streaming, variable speed playback, video podcast support and more) allow you to play your content however you like. Available on iOS for Rs. 190.

4. Doggcatcher (Android)

This one is for power users. Doggcatcher gives you uncountable number of functions including advanced search, variable playback speeds, auto-downloading, feed customization, auto-cleanup, UI customization and even the ability to run episode diagnostics and send logs to the developer. Although it lacks a bit in user interface but it makes up for everywhere else. essentially, this app will let you do so much than you could ever want with your podcasts, and constant updates keep it on front row. Doggcatcher also comes with a full 7-day free trial too. Available on Android for Rs. 183 (approx.)

5. AntennaPod (Android)

AntennaPod is essentially a free open-sourced podcatcher. It offers all the basic features you expect from a podcatcher, like streaming and downloading episodes, refreshing all feeds automatically or adding them to a queue to listen to them late. AntennaPod gives you solid podcatcher functionality without costing you a cent. Access to the Gpodder.net podcast directory gives you access to a large network of podcasts, while OPML, Atom and RSS support allows users to quickly import their favorite feeds into AntennaPod. Home and lock screen widgets allow users to quickly start, pause and resume playback without having to bring up the full app.

December 2, 2014
Planning on Buying the OnePlus One in India? Here’s All You Need to Know

OnePlus One is denoted as the smartphone of the decade. The cult smartphone has been termed as the ‘Flagship Killer’ for its amazing features and price, and the good news is that it is now coming to India. OnePlus One will still be sold in India through India-specific invites with an exclusive availability on Amazon.in. The company is holding a press event on 2nd December to launch the smartphone in New Delhi. Here are some pointers to go through before you decide to get the One.

India-Specific Invites Vs. Global Invites

If you have a global invite, you can buy it from http://OnePlus.net/one but then the OnePlus website doesn’t offer shipping to India. However, there is a way around. You can pay a courier forwarding service like PPO Box to get it shipped to India, which will cost some extra bucks. Global invites are easy to come as they are periodically shared on Facebook groups and can be asked from a person who already has a OnePlus One.

The company planned to give away the Indian invites for those who registered at OnePlus.net/in for the newsletter. The selected people will get an email tomorrow with a confirmation link. Once you get the invite, you’ll have 48 hours to purchase the One, otherwise the invite will expire.

Amazon is regularly conducting competitions like ‘One in a 1000’ to give away the invites. In the competition, people were asked to share a photo of OnePlus ‘Never Settle’ and out of those people, invites were given to a selected few. Once the first batch of the One is sold, the users can forward the invites to other people like global invites.

Warranty

The One purchased by global invites will not come under warranty in India as explained by the CEO Carl Pei. There is quite a confusion about this, however, it is said that once India gets included in the list of OnePlus One countries, the global warranty will be valid in India too. Anyhow, this was not an official statement and still it is not clear how the company is planning to handle the warranty system.

Cyanogen Updates

The company has shared some disappointing news on its official blog. Well, Cyanogen had granted exclusive rights in India over the Cyanogen system to another company. That means, the flagship killer will be reaching the country with the popular Cyanogen OS onboard for now. However, it won’t be getting any official support or future updates. The company also added that the One will continue to be supported globally and receive frequent OTAs.

The reason for this disappointment is a recent agreement between Cyanogen and homegrown smartphone maker Micromax, through which the latter has exclusive rights to offer devices with the custom platform in India. So, while the company has no other choice than to bring the OnePlus One to the country with the CM11S OS inside, it’ll be developing its own firmware as a replacement in the future.

Also, people who bought the phone from the global invites will continue to get the OTA updates. However, Indian users can root their phones (which doesn’t void the warranty) and install the CyanogenMod Installer from the Play Store, and the latest version of CM ROM (Android) will run on your One.

Service Centres

As of now, there is no information about how the company is planning to provide services in the country. This is one of the major concerns for the Indian users who have purchased the device through global invites. The company is expected to officially announce what are they planning to do in this area tomorrow, so stay tuned.

The iGyaan Verdict

The Oneplus One 64 GB variant is expected to cost around Rs. 24,990 while the 16 GB variant is likely to come at a price of Rs. 19,990. Although the prices are slightly more than the $ price, they are much less than the Indian price of major flagships. So for the price of one LG G3, HTC One M8 etc you could typically get , “One Plus One” = 2 phones.

If you can get your hands on an invite today, do not think twice and get the phone, in fact you should have owned it yesterday.

For everything else, watch our full review here:

December 1, 2014
Xiaomi’s Mi Fitness Band Sweeps Wearable Market, Sales Reach 1 Million in 100 Days

Xiaomi has been the talk of the town, be it cheap smartphones, power banks or fitness trackers. The Chinese electronics giant has once again made it to the headline by selling 1 million Mi fitness trackers in just 100 days. The band was launched in July this year and went on sale on 18th August.

The company disclosed that it has shipped a maximum of 103,000 in a single day. The wearable is, as of now, available in China only, but the same will go on sale in Hong Kong and Taiwan from tomorrow onwards. The device has been priced at 79 Yuan (that translates to around Rs. 800), which is ridiculously cheap. This is one of the reasons people all over the world are desperately waiting for the Mi fitness band to launch in their countries.

Xiaomi Mi band is a water-resistant gadget with a battery life of up to 30 days. Although, it does not have a display of its own, the same can be paired with your smartphones and tablets to show fitness statistics. The band sports indicator lights. Apart from tracking health stats, it can become an alarm clock for you. Additionally, the band is a smart tool as it unlocks your Xiaomi smartphone, in case you don’t wish to type the password several times a day.

NDP group released a report on the sales figures of various brands, which speaks that between April 2013 and March 2014, around 3.3 million fitness bands and activity trackers were sold in the US. Out of this, 67 percent sales was made by Fitbit and 18 percent by Jawbone.

With numerous technology options available in the market, the Mi fitness band seems the most popular among fitness freaks.

December 1, 2014
Google Glass to Make a Comeback in 2015 With Intel Chips

A new report by The Wall Street Journal has revealed that 2015 will see the launch a new version Google Glass which will be powered by an Intel Chip and will offer longer battery life than the present Explorer Edition. Intel has joined hands with Google as a part of their strategy to push their market in the wearable segment.

Google Glass has already gone through some minor changes since its launch, one to add compatibility with prescription lenses and another to double the RAM; however, entirely new chipset could mean some serious changes. The Intel chips will replace a processor from Texas Instruments Inc. included in the first version of the Google Glass.

According to the WSJ, Intel plans to promote the Glass to hospital networks and manufacturers. Google launched the web-connected eyewear in 2012, but it carried a hefty price and was regarded as something that only nerds would wear. Limited battery life and an impractical four-figure price tag worked against the Glass’ widespread adoption up until now. With a more modern processor and a refreshed design, it might see consumer interest rekindled.

Intel chips are mostly used in personal computers and servers in data centres, but the company has targeted the tablet and wearable markets for new power-efficient versions of its x86-based processors. It competes with rivals such as ARM and Texas Instruments. At CES 2014, it showed off smart earbuds that can measure a runner’s heart rate. In March, Intel purchased the high-end health tracker maker Basis Science. The chip maker’s XMM6321 3G cellular radio was incorporated into MICA, a fashion bracelet that was unveiled in September.

Google has been pushing Glass as a workplace-computing device. Recently, through a program called Glass at Work, Google is working with software developers including Augmedix and APX Labs to encourage use of Glass in industries such as health care, construction and manufacturing where employees work with their hands but need information.

December 1, 2014

ZTE Brings Out the 5.5-inch Full-HD Grand S II in India

Chinese Telecommunication giant ZTE has officially announced the Grand S II in India which will be available for purchase exclusively via Amazon for Rs. 13,999. The smartphone was initially unveiled at CES 2014 and unlike Xiaomi, the Grand S II will be available without the flash sale system.

Apart from the slightly dated Android version, the Grand S II is crammed with some impressive features given the price. The smartphone sports a 5.5 inch Full-HD display and packs in a solid 2500mAh battery. Under the hood, the ZTE Grand S II is powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset clocked at 2.2Ghz bundled with 2GB of RAM. The camera unit includes a 13 MP rear camera with LED flash capability along with a 5MP selfie cam. On the memory front it comes with a hefty 16GB inbuilt storage expandable upto 32 GB via SD card. Check out the key specs below.

Specifications	ZTE Grand S II
Display	5.5 inch Full-HD 1080×1920 pixels
Processor	2.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800
Storage	16 GB + microSD upto 32 GB
RAM	2 GB
Camera	13 MP with LED flash 5 MP front camera
Battery	2500mAh
Operating System	Android OS, v4.2 (Jelly Bean)

In addition, ZTE has introduced Hub and Spoke models for customer service which are open across metros and is further planning to expand its operations in India. The smartphone does pack an impressive set of specs given the price range, though how good the device is, we’ll have to wait till we get hands on the device.

December 1, 2014

Celkon Brings Out an Ultra Cheap Windows Smartphone

Following the footsteps of XOLO and Micromax, Celkon has also jumped onto the Windows bandwagon. Celkon Mobiles, in partnership with Qualcomm and Microsoft today launched its first ever Windows OS phone called the Win 400. The device will be up for grabs for Rs.4979 and does pack some good specs given the price range.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Y Guru Chairman and MD – Celkon Mobiles, said “We are happy to announce our association with Microsoft and Qualcomm, a new milestone for Celkon. We have many more exciting offerings lined up in the coming year as well which will stand true to our proposition of being innovative and yet, affordable.”

The Celkon Win 400 has dual-SIM capability and runs Windows 8.1 OS. It has a 4-inch WVGA display and is powered by a Qualcomm snapdragon quad-core chipset clocked at 1.2Ghz bundled with 512MB RAM. In terms of memory, the phone offers 4GB in-built memory expandable upto 32GB via sdCard Slot. Optics on the device feature a 5 MP Rear Camera AF coupled with a Flash along, while on the front we have a 1.3MP selfie cam. Connectivity options on the Win 400 include support for 3G, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi along with GPS support. The device packs a pretty decent 1500mAh battery. Check out the key specs in the table below.

Specifications	Celkon Win 400
Display	4” (10.16cm) Screen with WVGA Display
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor with 1.2 GHz Quad core CPU
Storage	4 GB + microSD upto 32 GB
RAM	512 MB
Camera	5 Mp Rear Camera AF with Flash Light 1.3 Mp Front Camera
Battery	1500mAh
Operating System	Windows Phone 8.1

The phone will be available in White and Black color variants across all retail stores and e-commerce websites in India. The Win 400 from Celkon is apparently the cheapest Windows phone ever produced.

December 1, 2014

Category: Tech

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