Category: Tech

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

5 Easy Ways You Can Shoot Underwater This Summer

Summers are here in full force and its that time when we can beat the heat and enjoy swim sessions with friends and family. Now it would be nice to ingrain some of these fun memories digitally. But there is always that horrifying thought of dropping your phone in the water. Luckily, companies these days are coming up with new devices that can shoot and click near or underwater without any damage caused.

Here is the list of awesome devices that will help you click and shoot underwater:

1.Sony’s Xperia Z2

If you’re really serious about it, you could invest in a new phone. Sony started the ball rolling for high-end water resistant smartphones when it announced the Xperia Z back in 2013. Since then in almost all its top-of-the-range Xperia Android phones have been able to survive a dunking. It is touted to be the World’s best camera and camcorder in a waterproof smartphone device. We’d give this one some serious thought.

2.HitCase For iPhone

The Hitcase Pro for iPhone 5 turns your iPhone into a rugged GoPro style video camera with a fisheye lens and a water proof and shock proof case. There are also optional accessories available which help users mount their iPhone 5 to a car, boat and helmet. The Hitcase Pro works great in extreme environments or while playing extreme sports. Use it for any activity where someone might want to shoot video with an iPhone 5 camera, but can’t hold the phone while shooting.

3.Panasonic Lumix TS5

Panasonic Lumix TS5 is still the best rugged, waterproof camera for the second year running. No competitor can match its excellent photo and video quality under a variety of conditions both above and below water. The camera can dive upto 13metres deep and can even withstand a 2 metre drop.

4.The Olympus Tough TG-2

The Olympus TG-2 is a fantastic splashproof pocket camera, one that you can take snorkeling on its own, or take it deeper while diving using its PT-053 Underwater Housing. In addition, the TG-2 Tough lives up to its name, as it is shockproof, crushproof, freezeproof and dustproof. With a fast f2.0 lens, and an impressive depth rating of 50 feet (without a housing), the Olympus TG-2 is a great camera to keep with you on the boat, and take with you while swimming or in any damp environment without any concern for it getting wet.

5.GoPro Dual Hero system

And lastly, its the super-cool housing that GoPro introduced recently. It can accommodate two HERO 3+ Black Edition cameras enabling you to capture full-resolution video and photos simultaneously without compromised image quality. By having two separate cameras housed in the Dual HERO System, you will be able to record video and still images at the same time. Having the two cameras focussed on the same subject, it will also make the recording of 3D video that much easier.

June 28, 2014
GoPro Introduces Impressive New Housing For 3D Capture
The maker of “the world’s most versatile camera” unveiled a new system that accommodates two cameras at the same time, adding a bit to the adventure. The housing can accommodate two HERO 3+ Black Edition cameras enabling you to capture full-resolution video and photos simultaneously while not compromising the image quality. While the Dual system won’t be available for a while, GoPro also introduced two new housings plus a flexible mount that should appeal to a number of users, especially divers.

By having two separate cameras housed in the Dual HERO System, you will be able to record video and still images at the same time. Having the two cameras focused on the same subject, it will make the recording of 3D video that much easier.

Not only will the Dual Hero system capture synchronized footage that can be converted to 3D, the set up will also allow you to capture simultaneous photo and video footage. You can already do that to a point with a standard camera, but the Dual system allows for full quality photo and video to be taken at once.

GoPro has also thrown in a pair of free 3D anaglyph glasses with this Dual HERO System , so you will be able to edit or view the footage straight from a 3D compatible monitor or television. Made from the same waterproof material, it works on a single interface so that you can control both unit through only one camera’s settings and modes. The new Dual Hero is waterproof upto 60 meters and has been built to withstand wet, damp or dirty conditions. This system has more perks some of them are mentioned below:
- Integrated Mini USB port enables data offload, battery charging and live-feed video when used with the included Skeleton Backdoor
- Includes two sets of Curved + Flat Adhesive Mounts for mounting to your gear
- Includes two pairs of 3D anaglyph glasses for viewing your 3D content
- Compatible with most GoPro mounts
- Compatible with the GoPro App and Wi-Fi Remote
Requiring a GoPro Composite or Combo Cable, you will be able to accesses the Dual HERO System’s integrated Mini USB port for data offload, battery charging, and live-feed video to an external monitor.

You can get your hands on it for $200. The HERO+ Black cameras will be sold separately. The system is available on the official website for sale.
June 28, 2014
Moto 360 Finally Unveiled, While LG G Watch And Samsung Gear Live Are Now For Sale

Exciting new Android Wear was finally showcased at the Google I/O 2014 with announcements of the launches of LG G Watch and Samsung Gear Live. The only one remaining is the Moto 360 smartwatch, which won’t be available to pre-order until later this summer.

Samsung’s Gear Live and LG’s G Watch, both powered by Android Wear are the first devices to adopt the new Google software specifically designed for wearables. The G Watch is equipped with Google’s voice recognition service and can perform the simplest of tasks including checking email, sending text messages and carrying out an online search at users’ voice command.

The Samsung Gear Live

Both of the devices cannot make phone calls by themselves but can be connected to many of the latest Android-based smartphones. A typical smartwatch allows users to make calls, receive texts and e-mails, take photos and access apps. The G Watch opened Thursday for online pre-order in 12 countries including the United States, France and Japan before it hits stores in 27 more including Brazil and Russia, which is touted for early July. Read our story about the Top 4 Awesome things Google Android Wear can do.

The LG G Watch

Gear Live was also available for online pre-order from Thursday. Samsung introduced its Android-based Galaxy Gear smartwatch last year but it was given a lukewarm reception by consumers. Samsung’s arch rival Apple is believed to readying to launch its own smartwatch soon.

Despite the Moto 360 still being one of the first watches to arrive running Android Wear OS, there is still some time before you can get your hands on the device. Google did, however, demonstrate many of the features that will be available to these devices, including voice commands for sending texts, getting directions, and music playback. With the smartwatch you’ll also be able to receive and dismiss notifications, accept or decline calls, and dictate notes and reminders.

The Moto 360

The looks of the Motorola smartwatch is its best feature. According to the team, the round design is meant to appeal to both genders while ditching the sharp corners that can dig into your wrist. The shape is an improvement over the square designs that we normally see on smartwatches, which makes the Moto 360 look like a regular fashionable watch from a distance.

The launch of Android Wear is fueling the empty smartwatch market. If Android Wear’s market takes of, our domestic lives will be soon be ruled by Android powered smart devices. Unless, Apple surprises us with its contender.

June 26, 2014
Top 4 Awesome Things Google Android Wear Can Do

If Google achieves its goal, Android will be not only on the phone in your pocket, but also wrapped around your wrist soon. As Google pointed out that we check our phones 125 time per day on an average, the new wearable gadget, aptly dubbed as Smartwatch, will take on much of that burden from the hand set.

During an I/O 2014 demo, it showed how smartwatches like LG’s G Watch paired with Android 4.3 or higher phones which will display the most important info to you at any given time. That includes flights, the weather, your commute, appointments, reminders, notes and messages. Here are the list of thing Android Wear can do:

1. Search

One feature that comes handy with Android wear is ‘Google Now’. If you’ve used Google voice search or Google Now on an Android smartphone you’ll know what to expect here. Google Now is built into Google’s search app on both Android and iOS and serves as an answer to Apple’s Siri. A virtual digital assistant, just without the sarcasm and personality that the iPhone’s disembodied voice is known for. Google Now is all about answers—it can answer a wide range of questions, make recommendations and predict what information users need based on what they are doing or where they are at.

You can ask Google Now, what song is playing, for nearby locations, for the latest sports score, and for the weather forecast. Even better Google Now shows search information before users even ask for it—such as flight information popping up when you have to catch the plane. All of this information is presented on white cards that slide up on the watch face and can be tapped or flicked for more info, or swiped away when no longer needed—this too is the familiar Google Now user interface and similar to what Google Glass does, which is also powered by Android.

2. Voice

Google Now is dependent on two types of input; speech and text while we use it on the phone. With Android Wear nobody seems to be typing. Rather, all the input seems to be dependent on voice commands for both search and messaging. Though, it seems that using Android wear in noisy places like concerts or stadiums will be a tough task. But on the other hand, Google does have a reputation for best-in-class voice recognition.

3. Location

Finding location is one of the key features of the Android Wear. Same as Google Now, Android Wear will aim on hands-free and voice navigation. Being a Google product will also send various notification based on the location like possibility of rain, good resturants around, warning about floods in the area etc.

4. Fitness

One more important function is its fitness tracking. Right now, such functions are being handled by devices like the Jawbone’s Up, the Fitbit and the Nike+ FuelBand. With Android Wear, Google clearly wants the only thing on your wrist to be an Android powered watch. One example high at Google I/O is showing the number of steps taken for the day and week. Android Wear devices made with heart rate monitors will also be able to tap into that data for compatible apps.

After showing-off Android Wear, Google announced a number of upcoming devices that will run its new platform. Chief among them was the new Samsung Gear Live, company’s first device to use Google’s wearable platform, along with LG G watch which are now available to preorder from the Google Play store. But those interested in the Moto 360 smartwatch will have to wait, as Google said it won’t be available to pre-order until later this summer.

June 26, 2014
Another Moto G Competitor Launched, Meet The HTC Desire 516
The new HTC Desire 516 Dual Sim secretly went online in eBay for Rs 13,302. Now, the Taiwanese vendor has officially launched the phone in the country for Rs 14,200. Well, availability of this device will certainly spice up the already crowded segment.

The HTC Desire 516 is equipped with Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean skinned with HTC Sense UI v5.1 and is a Dual Sim Smartphone that will give though competition to the Moto G. The handset that is already available in China, runs on Snapdragon 200 SoC with quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 processor and a Adreno 302 GPU with 1 GB of RAM.

Desire 516 sports a 5-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and backside-illuminated sensor (BSI), while it also houses a 2-megapixel front-facing camera. The HTC Desire 516 packs a 1950mAh battery that is rated to deliver up to 9 hours of talk time with no word on standby time.

The smartphone will be available in Black and White colour variants only. It comes with dimensions 140x72x9.7mm and weighs 160 grams. The Desire 516 is currently on sale at eBay and was first spotted by Maktech blog.

The company had also launched Desire 816 in May through Flipkart in India at Rs. 24,450. Well, the new device has a direct competition with Moto G. Moto G is priced at INR 12,499, and is equipped with 4.5 inches HD Display, 1.2 GHz Snapdragon 400 quad-core processor. 1 GB RAM, 8 GB or 16 GB Internal Storage, 5MP rear and 1.3MP front camera and runs on Android 4.4.2 KitKat.

Key Features of HTC Desire 516 –
- 5-inch Capacitive Touchscreen Display (540 x 960 pixels)
- Android v4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) OS
- 1.2 GHz, Quad core, Qualcomm QSC6270
- Adreno 302
- 1 GB RAM, 4GB Internal Memory (expandable upto 32GB via microSD card)
- 5 MP Primary Camera with LED Flash, 2 MP Secondary Camera
- Dual SIM, GSM+GSM
- GPRS, EDGE, 3G, HSDPA, Wi-Fi 802.11, b/g/n, Bluetooth, A-GPS, GPS, USB Connectivity
- 1950 mAH Battery
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June 26, 2014
Rumor Roundup: All That We Know About The Upcoming iPhone 6

Apple’s products are always the most anticipated ones in the market and iPhone 6 is not an exception to that rule. While people eagerly wait for the launch of the device, rumors and leaks fuel their excitement.

There has been a round of alleged iPhone 6 dummy images making the rounds. Earlier this month VentureBeat reported; the iPhone 6 will contain several highly-anticipated features, including near field communication (NFC), wireless charging, better 4G antenna, and a much bigger screen. Earlier this month, we had also reported that after the major 3.2 billion dollar acquisition of Beats by Apple, the company might include their earphones with the next iPhone.

Recently, an eBay user posted 6 high-resolution pictures, of a black and silver handset on which more details can be seen than ever before. These images show some significant design changes, including the fact that the power button has been moved to the side of the device.

It is also said to feature a significantly larger screen that will take up relatively more area on the front of the phone. The hardware border around the screen will be smaller than on previous iPhones. The size of the iPhone’s display grew from 3.5 inches to 4 inches with the iPhone 5, and with the iPhone 6, the screen is said to be even larger.

Apple has been juggling with many varieties of screen sizes, with the majority of rumors solidifying around a range of 4.7 inches and 5.5 inches, bringing the next iPhone in line to compete with Android and Windows phones that have already adopted larger displays.

Since April, various different alleged iPhone 6 parts have surfaced. What could be the front panel from the larger iPhone 6 recently appeared on Chinese microblogging site Weibo, displaying a notably thinner bezel along with familiar cutouts for a front-facing camera, ambient light sensor, ear speaker, and home button.

The supposed iPhone 6 batteries have also surfaced, as have manufacturing molds that are said to be for the iPhone 6. Apple is currently using Corning Gorilla Glass for its iPhones, but rumors suggests that the company could switch to sapphire crystal for future displays.

The talks are pointing towards the September release of the 4.7-inches variant of the new iPhone 6 followed by 5.5-inches variant a month later. While leaks of the iPhone are becoming commonplace, they are not always accurate.

In the last six months, several different designs have been leaked. Well, we are eagerly waiting to hold the new iPhone in our hand. It will be launching with new iOS 8 that was introduced at this year’s WWDC. While, the new Apple’s Smartwatch named iWatch is tentatively targeted for an October unveiling.

June 25, 2014
BlackBerry Z3 Launched : Is This Another Disappointment?

As anticipated, the BlackBerry Z3 launched in India today. The large-screen smartphone has been priced at Rs.15,990. The smartphone will be available to pre-order from Flipkart, The Mobile Store, and BlackBerry stores from Wednesday, and it will officially go on sale from 2nd July .

Sunil Lalvani, MD, BlackBerry India at the BlackBerry Z3 launch in New Delhi

Blackberry is trying hard to get back into the business, but all of their strategies seems to be in vain. This phone might be the perfect example.

Specification-wise the Z3 runs on BlackBerry 10 OS (version 10.2.1) and features a 5-inch qHD (540×960 pixels) display offering an aspect ratio of 16:9. It is powered by a dual-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 (MSM8230) processor with 1.5GB of RAM. The device is powered by 2500mAh battery. This doesn’t excite us since you could find n-number of phones which have capabilities to deliver a better performance, in the same or lower price segment.

The smartphone includes 8GB of inbuilt storage, which can be expanded up to 32GB via microSD card. For a lower price you could invest in a Moto G which has an internal memory of 16GB.

The camera specs also fail to attract as the device is equipped with a 5-megapixel autofocus rear camera and a 1.1-megapixel fixed-focus front-facing camera which can be found in a plethora of Smartphones in this segment.

The good bit about the phone is that Amazon has provided back-support to the company with its Appstore. Available on the new device, users can use it to download more than 200,000 apps. But then again the question arises, why wouldn’t a consumer just opt for an Android phone instead? Furthermore, loyalist have always enjoyed the BlackBerry Messenger and that too is now available on other devices.

Needless to say, the Canadian phone-maker failed to deliver a good gadget; its specifications fall short for the price it asks.

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June 25, 2014
The Evolution of Apple’s Command Key

Meet the extremely fascinating Susan Kare. She is an artist and designer and has spent most of her life pioneering pixel art. The extremely talented Iconographer has created thousands of icons for hundreds of companies.

As a key member of the Mac software design team, she has created many of the graphical interface elements for the original Apple Macintosh in the 1980’s.

This symbol is formally known as the Command key. Informally, it has had several names. It is known to be been referred as the Apple key, pretzel key, squiggly button, Saint John’s Arms and the Bowen Knot. Without a doubt, it is the most useful key on the board.

The symbol became a part of the Macintosh project when Steve Jobs found that the former Apple symbol overcrowded the menu. It was then, while doing a bit of research, Susan Kare found this symbol while browsing through the symbol dictionary. She’s glad to have chanced upon this cloverleaf-like design, commonly used in Nordic countries as an indicator of cultural locations and places of interest.

In the video,Kare goes on to talk about her journey from Apple to Windows and the evolution of digital Iconography. While talking about the yesteryears, she walks us through the early 80’s when Apple launched its first Macintosh 128K in 1984.

Susan also points out the importance of simplicity in iconography. While explaining the idea, she mentioned a book the called ‘Understanding Comics: An invisible Art’ by Scott McCloud. In which McCloud tells how details make the graphic personal while a sketch with minimilistic details is relatable to most beings.

She ended with a quote of her hero of Graphic Designing:

[quote text_size=”medium” author=”Paul Rand ” author_title=”Graphic Designer”]

Create solutions to design problems that are meaningful and memorable

[/quote]

June 25, 2014
Upcoming Moto X+1 May Have 4K Video Recording Capability

There is a flood of rumors about the new Moto X+1. Most recently, the famous phone leaker @Evleaks has released the first press render of the smartphone covered in a case. TKTechNews has also leaked a couple of videos showing the smartphone in action.

Other than announcing the possibility of a device, Motorola has remained tight-lipped about the upcoming model. Even without the company’s help, Moto X+1 is turning out to one of the worst kept tech secrets.

The leaked press render shows a device that is very plain and covered by a protective case. However, there are a couple of inconsistencies that have raised questions over the accountability of the photo. The leak illustrates that the notification bar on the home screen is opaque and translucent as per KitKat’s design. Some odd points noted are the lack of a flash alongside the rear camera and the absence of the front camera.

Here is the leaked video that features Moto X+1 by TKTechNews:

From the above video, one can see that the smartphone records crisp, detailed footage. It can quickly auto-focus during constant movement and even zoom in and out without losing pace with the movements.

This video also shows us that the smartphone may have 4K video recording abilities, apart from the standard 1080p format. Overall, this video offers hope that the Moto X+1 will provide a solid imaging experience. Last week, the same YouTube channel posted a video of a similar handset wrapped in plastic, which is allegedly the Moto X+1.

It is said that Moto X+1 may have a 5.2inch display, and 1,080 x 1,920 pixel resolution. Furthermore, rumors illustrate that the phone will include a Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM and 16/32 GB of internet storage.

June 24, 2014
Google Announces its Domain Registration Service
Google has become an umbrella brand that touches our lives more than anything else we use daily. Adding to its long list of utility offerings, Google will soon launch its own web domain registration service.

The company recently announced a beta service called Google Domains, which marks the beginning of its full-fledged domain registration business.

For now, the service is invite-only, but it looks like it will provide a bevy of features typically found on registrars such as GoDaddy, Namecheap and Hover. According to the company, the service will help users search, find, purchase and transfer domains – whether it’s .com, .biz, .org, or any other new domains that are released to the Web.

Google Domains will provide free private registrations, 10 million resolutions per year on Google’s DNS servers, branded email that forwards to an existing mail account and domain forwarding. Google says it will support a variety of different gTLDs (generic top level domains), including offerings such as .photography and .guru that are said to be rolling out over the next few months.
The move represents competition for GoDaddy, the world’s largest domain name registrar with over 57 million domains under its management. The registrar has privacy protection starting from US$7.99 per domain and email services from $4.99 a month.

Google’s plan for the service includes:
- $12 domain registrations
- No extra cost for private registrations
- Email aliases
- Customizable sub-domains
- Domain management tools
While the service will provide us with the ability to buy customized URLs, Google won’t provide the actual site hosting. Partners such as Wix, Weebly, Shopify, and Squarespace will provide hosting and website building services to registrants.

It seems like the right move for a company that makes the majority of its money through search. This would help them get more businesses online. Considering the fact that Google also provides tools for analytics and cloud storage, it seems like a domain registration service will fit right in.
June 24, 2014
Top 5 Apps That Will Help You Adjust To a New City

Fresh out of college, moving to a new city and living alone for the first time? Well, it happens to most of us at some point of time in our lives. Moving to a city you are unfamiliar with can be super stressful. You know that the only way you are going to find your way around, stagger across the local hotspots, and make friends is to leave your home and attempt to embrace the city head on. Still, as nervous and excited as you may be, it does not take away the fear of getting lost, being alone, or totally missing out on things because you are not visiting the right places on the best days.

But, thanks to the modern technology, there are an abundance of apps that will do everything from guide you around the city to help you make dinner reservations or find a park with trails. You may even feel a little less “alone” while exploring when you have an app to reference. And yes, if you have Google Now or Siri, they won’t let you feel alone, at least you will have someone to talk to. We have come up with a list of 5 apps that will help you blend in and enjoy the stay when you relocate in a new city.

1. HopStop

This app is available for Android, iPhone, iPad, and Mobile Web. It has been named an essential by both “Travel” and “Time” magazine. HopStop gives you door-to-door directions, but unlike most apps that focus on driving directions, this one gives you a lot more. You can get biking, walking, and taxi directions in more than 300 cities. This will be your heartfelt companion while you’re stressed about the change in your life.

2. BrightNest

Whether you’re moving from your college hostel to your first apartment or you’re just looking for a fresh start, BrightNest has tons of home improvement and organization tips that will impress your guests. This app essentially helps create and maintain a customized to-do list for your home. BrightNest is especially handy for renters who are moving to an entirely new and unfamiliar city.

3. Around Me

Around me is a GPS-based app that will take your exact location and tell you everything that is close by. This app is a great way to find new restaurants, ATM machines, grocery stores, gas station, or anything for that matter. Especially when you are craving for your favorite donuts from Dunkin’s or M.O.D. It’ll tell you exactly the direction you need to be moving in.

4. Happy Houred

Well, how are you going to find out the right places to buy beer on a Friday night, if you don’t have any local friends in the city? Happy Houred does just this. It could take you months to discover which bar has the specials you are interested in on any given day. This app tells you where to find the best shot specials, cheaper brews, half-off pizza, and so much more. Happy Houred has listings for more than 22,000 cities and continuously adding on the list.

5. Fan Finder

It is the easiest way to make friends. Football season is going on, and we all want to cheer for our favorite team. The trick is figuring out exactly where you should do this. FanFinder from the iTunes store locates US sports bars where fans of your favorite team are watching the big game. It covers almost all, it has special sections for NHL, NFL, MLB, NBA, football and basketball.

June 23, 2014
Exclusive : Micromax to launch a 6 inch Windows Phone Soon!

In our recent interview with Shubhodip Pal, CMO of Micromax, we learnt that the company is not making Windows Phone handsets as a one off, and we will see a Windows Phone flagship with a 6 inch display in the coming weeks.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Shubhodip Pal” author_title=”CMO, Micromax”]

Put it on Record! We will have a 6 inch Windows Phone in the coming months and will many more phones that you will hear about soon.

[/quote]

The company is ready to show a new product that will run on high end chipsets like Snapdragon 800 will have impressive camera sensors and displays and will also have impressive battery life, said Shubhodip in conversation with iGyaan.

We have heard rumours of a Rs. 25000 phone which houses all the aforesaid specifications, including a 2500 mAh battery along with a 16 MP + 8MP camera combination and 2 GB of RAM, all of which would make it a beast on the Windows Phone device sheet.

Micromax plans to have this device out to the consumer as early as August, with a new lineup of products that are said to compete with the “Flagships of the world”, i.e. HTC One M8 and Galaxy S5 by the end of this year. But Shubhodip claims that, it will only happen once they have delivered their “Promise” on service issues starting next month.

Watch the full #LetsTalkShop to get the details.

June 22, 2014
#LetsTalkShop : Shubhodip Pal talks Micromax Mobile

An Indian company that a few years ago not spoken of, a brand that most would not associate with, and a manufacturer that was looked down upon, today is one of the most prominent names in the market. It’s never easy when you are talking to the game changers, but the conversation always turns out to be amazing.

This week on #LetsTalkShop a lot is revealed about Micromax. Shobhodip Pal, who is the CMO of Micromax India, delves deep into the problems faced by the company, the relationships within and outside the organisation.

Shubhodip has been with Micromax for 19+ months and has seen, while being instrumental; the company emerge as one of the biggest names in the Indian smartphone and mobile race. One of the busiest men in the organisation Shubhodip always is pepped on energy and throughout the discussion was energised.

According to Shubhodip, Micromax has always and will continue to deliver platforms that they feel the market is ready for. After Android, Micromax felt that the time is right for Windows Phone and once the partnership was announced at the build conference, Micromax was ready to build windows phones and recently delivered the two most important products in the line up.

The company is working on many more products in the lineup of Windows Phone, as this is not a one off for the company, he said.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Shubhodip Pal” author_title=”CMO, Micromax”]

Put it on Record! We will have a 6 inch Windows Phone in the coming months and will many more phones that you will hear about soon.

[/quote]

Micromax has usually ignored Software updates, however; the company is working on rolling out software updates for all their recent phones and promises quick updates going forward thanks to a new software development team that has been assigned.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Shubhodip Pal” author_title=”CMO, Micromax”]

Micromax is working hard to roll out Software updates for most of its models July onwards, with the help of a dedicated team.

[/quote]

The company is also planning to set up software update kiosks across the country, where people can bring in their phones for 30-40 minutes and get an updated phone back. While it seems a little ambitious, Micromax is keen on delivering this and changing the now negative chatter around updates to a positive one.

For reaching as far as he has Shubodip, asks that you remain persistent and are not scared to roll up your sleeves. Are willing to go out of your way to make your organisation shine, and you will grow once you start to believe in the organisation.

The full interview is a must watch so head over to the video for the juicy bits.

June 22, 2014
Google’s Revolutionary App Translates Sign Language into Speech

Google is building an app called Google Gesture which translates sign language into speech. It analyses the muscle activity and position of the hand and forearm using electromyography which then uses the smartphone application and translates it into speech in real time.

Google is working with students of Berghs School of Communication in Stockholm, Sweden for the development of this app that will help dumb people to communicate. Google Gesture will be paired with bands worn in forearms that read muscle movement while the user converses using signs. The readings are then sent to the app which analyse these movements and turn it into speech.

[quote]

For some people, sign language is a must. While others don’t understand sign language, which means a lot of interesting conversations never takes place. How can we at Google help bridge the gap between those who use sign language and those who don’t?

[/quote]

The aim of this project is to fix the problem of communication for people who are unable to speak and depend on gestures to communicate daily. Google has been constantly working with people around the world, creating technology that will help people from all walks of lives.

In the past, Google had developed a software that enables the deaf and hard of hearing to communicate via technology. For example, Android offers an option on its Google Translate App that turns speech into text.

June 21, 2014
Moto E Contender, The Lava Iris X1: Full Review
The Moto E is one tough nut to crack. Other Android phone brands despise it. Companies like Micromax and Lava and others were taken aback by the spectacular performance of the Moto E and the huge appreciation it has received in India.
Lava X1 is Lava’s challenger to the Moto E, and we’ve already had a hands on with the device. Now we take a detailed look into the phone to see how it scores up against its competing low budget KitKat devices.

Design, Hardware and Build:

Design though “inspired”, is good to the eyes. Especially the touch panel

The phone is another Lava phone with iPhone-esqe design features, using a lot of plastic. The device is light to hold in comparison to the Moto E, which is heavy on weight and features. The back cover looks extremely flimsy, but Lava provides a flip cover in-box and that is one good point about the Iris X1.

The screen goes to sleep when the flip cover is closed. The volume rocker buttons are marked on the cover and can be easily pressed, so they’re quick to access when traveling. The only issue with the flip cover is its affinity to attract dirt. Lava has provided three microphone openings for active noise cancellation.

Unlike the Moto E, the X1 can be appreciated as it has the power button and the volume rockers on right and left side respectively, which is much simpler to use.

Another attractive feature is the capacitive touch buttons at the bottom of the screen. These buttons are invisible in the bezel and light up when you need them.

Display and Multimedia:

The text is good to read on X1 even at 281 pixel density.

The 4.5 inch screen on the device is an IPS display. The resolution of the screen is 854 x 480 pixels. The display is capable of good color reproduction. The blacks are predominant on the display, and that gives a pretty saturated color. The viewing angles are a bit of a disappointment as the screen tends to dim down when viewed from the side.

2 finger multi touch is disappointing.

The display only supports two finger multi-touch. This flaw makes gaming on the device no fun. The display also has a matte feel which doesn’t feel all that smooth.

The videos and images look good on the display. Though sometimes, the videos tend to get choppy. Even games like Candy Crush Saga and Subway Surfers had a jerky performance.

Camera:

The X1 holds a 8 mega pixel auto focus camera with LED Flash. The image is captured using a BSI sensor. The secondary camera is a 2 megapixel shooter. The camera is decent for the price point. It is definitely better than the five megapixel shooters that are dominant at this specifications range.

The camera shoots videos at a maximum of 480p which maybe a downer for many.

Phone and Battery:

The X1 is powered by 1800 mAh battery. Lava claims it gives a standard talk time of about 9 hours 45 minutes. The phone would last you a whole day on regular use.

The phone keypad is pleasing to the eyes and easy to use.

Android and UI:

Simplistic KitKat is the best thing LAVA did.

The operating system running on the Iris X1 is a fairly unhampered Android KitKat OS with minimum bloat-ware. The only add-ons are an FM radio, a torch and the Office suite. This basic look gives full customizable options in the hands of the users.

Performance and Gaming:

The phone has a 1.2 GHz Broadcom quad core processor. It is supported by a 1 GB RAM and 4 GB ROM. Even with a quad core processor, the phone has several lags and might get annoying after a while. The phones normal functions are decent, but the multimedia performance needs a performance boost.

Conclusion:

The Phone is a decent try but Lava needs to buck up on the performance issue.

Lava seems to have come out with the device in a haste, and they could have worked more on it. Of course, the company lacks the innovation capability and years of experience that Motorola Mobility has. The phone has a good look, and the untampered Android KitKat is its strength. Lava does have to learn some lessons from the X1 and hopefully the X2 (if it ever comes out,) will have fewer of X1’s flaws and more of its fortes.

[tw-column width=”one-half”]

GOOD THINGS
- Capacitive Touch Buttons
- Active Noise Cancellation
- Good Design
- No Bloatware Android KitKat
- Flip Cover
[/tw-column]

[tw-column width=”one-half” position=”last”]

BAD THINGS
- Two Finger Multi Touch
- Low Processing Powers For Gaming
- Plasticity Feel
- Price High for Segment
[/tw-column]
June 21, 2014