Blog

Kim Dotcom’s 5 Kids, 2 Controversial Websites and An Imminent Extradition

With its genesis in a fateful January day of 2012, drama around Kim Dotcom’s life continues to unfold with matters coming to a head next week. The hearing starts this Monday and it would decide whether or not Dotcom would be extradited for current charges of racketeering, money laundering and copyright infringement over his now defunct website MegaUpload. Three years ago, Dotcom had woken up one morning to find the Special Task Force at his doorstep, swinging from helicopters reminiscent of your regular Hollywood action flick (video below).

How it all began:

Back in March, 2005, a German-born internet entrepreneur, Kim Dotcom (born Kim Schmitz) started a Hong Kong based website called Megaupload. The main job of the site was to provide online file hosting that included storage and viewing, along with financial and advertisement services that included Megafund and Megapay. Millions of users across the world used Megaupload to share and access all sorts of visual entertainment, music and software. It had 50 million visitors every day and amounted to 4% of internet traffic.

On the 19th of January, 2012, the website was taken down by the United States Department of Justice on charges of copyright infringement. This was followed by the indictment and arrest of the founder and owners of the website, namely Kim Dotcom and three of his colleagues. A series of DoS attacks were carried out against umpteen US government websites and copyright organisations by Anonymous in reaction to these arrests.

The Raid:

Public opinion all over the world unanimously reached the consensus that ‘The Raid’ was a little too over the top, to put it subtly. The intricately planned manner of the arrest was definitely suitable for a first-degree criminal, one capable of corporeal harm in the case of an unexpected arrest. But for a self-proclaimed kingpin of the virtual world? Well, let’s just leave it at that.

Dotcom was physically roughed up by the officers who had arrived at his New Zealand mansion using a…wait, what was it again? Yes, a chopper! He was immediately taken into custody and put on a house arrest. He has continued to maintain residence at his mansion since then.

Dotcom refuses to back down – say hi to MEGA, among other things:

Exactly a year after Megaupload was shut down, Kim Dotcom came out with MEGA, the successor to his first major gig in the virtual world. The new website, based in New Zealand, is also a file hosting and cloud storage service which prevents government or third parties to access information of the users. Mobile apps for MEGA are available for all major operating systems like Android, Blackberry, iOS and Windows.

MEGA allows users 50 GB of free storage and upto 4 TB on a payment of a reasonable amount. Its most advertised feature is the local encryption of files before they are uploaded. This implies that MEGA doesn’t know the code to the uploaded files and therefore cannot decrypt them to view the content, thereby enabling absolute privacy to the users of the site, at the same time washing its hands of all responsibility of the content that goes up.

Dotcom and his political endeavours, New Zealand, 2014

Despite being on house arrest which allows him to cover a distance of 80 kilometres around the periphery of his residence, Dotcom has stayed a noted personality online. With a fan-following of his own, Dotcom does not hesitate from taking to social media to express dismay at his on-going legal proceedings. Amidst all this work, Dotcom also managed to found a political party in 2014. Called the Internet Party, it too has its headquarters in New Zealand like MEGA.

Kim now has 5 kids, an estranged wife, a supremely expensive piece of property in New Zealand (current worth -take a deep breath- $90 million) and a threat of expedition looming right over his head. He would have to be proved guilty of a crime both in New Zealand as well as in America to be extradited to Virginia, America. His court hearing starts in New Zealand on Monday and thus begins a circus of media, court-room scenes and the fate of a self-professed internet entrepreneur.

Source: [tw-button size=”medium” background=”#07ABE2″ color=”” target=”_blank” link=”http://mashable.com/2015/09/22/kim-dotcom-lifestyle/#7A_7qROCgEky”]Mashable[/tw-button]

[tw-button size=”medium” background=”#07ABE2″ color=”” target=”_blank” link=”http://www.theverge.com/2013/1/31/3933774/kim-dotcoms-new-site-mega-is-a-flop-with-pirates-and-heres-why”]The Verge[/tw-button]

September 23, 2015
Apple to Launch a Larger Screen Watch Next Year

If speculations are to be believed, the new Apple Watch is to be released next year. The Watch is to have a display of 46 mm or 48 mm. These rumours have instantly sparked off a discussion on the pros and cons of the Watch.

Right when Apple had been swept aside as a company that would not jump on the bandwagon of phones with large displays, iPhone 6 and 6 Plus had made an appearance. Not only did the phones go ahead to witness an unprecedented rate of success, but they also made the customers accept the advantages of bigger displays.

Similar things could be expected of the Watch. One of the disadvantages of the current version is the small display which spoils a YouTube or Google Play experience for the user. The new display, along with an updated OS and an improved version of the existing features would make it easier for potential buyers to be drawn towards the gadget, irrespective of a sky-touching price tag. The Apple Watch currently falls within the vast price bracket of Rs. 29,000 ($349, £299) – Rs. 11,00,000 ($17,000, £13,500)! The next one can be expected to be anything but inexpensive. The release of the new Apple Watch can be hoped to be one of the two big events Apple hosts every year.

September 22, 2015
UN Broadband Penetration Report : Internet in India Sucks

We can’t say we’re surprised to hear that according to a report by the Broadband Commission for Digital Development, India has fallen in ranking in broadband penetration. The nation has spiraled down to 131 in 2014 from 125 in 2013. A total of 189 countries were part of the survey conducted by the UN.

This news comes just days before the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit in New York and the meeting of the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development on the 26th of this month.

There has been a 2.3 percent fall from a 15.3% in 2013 to a 13% in 2014 in broadband penetration in India. Further, the UN Broadband Commission report also pointed out that 57% of the world’s population stays out of the realm of internet, depriving themselves of umpteen opportunities of financial and intellectual development that the virtual world has to offer. International Telecommunication Union Secretary-General Houlin Zhao commented on the topic and said,

“Our important challenge now is to find ways of getting the four billion people online who still lack the benefits of Internet connectivity, and this will be a primary focus of the Broadband Commission going forward.”

A national broadband policy was adopted in India as late as 2011, alongside Middle Eastern countries like Iran and Lebanon. When it comes to the internet, India has some more interesting stats to offer. The UN survey provides a tabular representation of fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 capita. The country leading this table is Monaco at a 46.8, closely followed by Switzerland at a 46. India finds itself at a puny 1.2 in this table. Closer home, countries like Thailand and Singapore are way above at 8.2 and 27.8 respectively.

The numbers are slightly better for the country in terms of fixed broadband for mobile phones per capita 100. India finds itself located at a 5.5. But before you give yourself a pat on the back for this, remember that Bangladesh is at a 6.4, and the country at the top is China with a 322.2. Looks like it’s only the size of the population where we can give China competition at the number game.

Lastly there is a table which shows the number of households with internet connections. India is at an 18%, once again behind unexpected countries like Yemen, Thailand and Bhutan! The country at the top of this table is Iceland with a 98.2%. Now that is something to think about.

According to the survey, Europe is home to all the top ten cities with the maximum number of internet users. The other end of the spectrum is filled by sub-Saharan African countries which has the least percentage of internet usage and connectivity. For a more detailed approach, find the entire report here.

Evidently, India continues to lag behind in the technology race. Despite all the developments in the tech world, the amount of capital being invested in the country and the rampant presence of technology in our lives, the figures on paper are discouraging. One can only hope for a better progress rate by the next UN survey.

September 22, 2015

Spec Battle: Mi 4c vs OnePlus 2

Xiaomi unveiled the China-only Mi 4c today and the mid-range phone packs serious specs that can take on some big names. The Mi 4c boasts of an improved Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor and a Type-C USB support.

The phone features a 5-inch 1080p display and the ‘Sunlight Display’ is said to offer “excellent visibility in bright conditions”. The phone comes with a 13-megapixel primary camera with face detection autofocus – like the iPhone 6 and Galaxy S6 – for quicker autofocusing. The smartphone will be available in two variants – 16 GB internal with 2 GB RAM and 64 GB internal with 3 GB RAM.

The Mi 4c, though priced at a very low Rs. 13,500 (approx.), can hold its own when compared to the OnePlus 2. In the camera department, the Mi 4c and OnePlus 2 stand on even grounds, at least on paper. However, the Mi 4c boasts of a better camera quality using the same autofocus technology as the iPhone 6 and Galaxy S6. For a low budget phone, the Mi 4c also packs a powerful 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 hexa-core processor.

The highlight of the Mi 4c is no doubt a powerful SoC, which is usually seen in high-end phones like LG G4. The Mi 4c will be available in white, grey, pink, yellow, and blue colours. No word yet on when the phone will come to India.

Specs	Xiaomi Mi 4c	OnePlus 2
Display	5-inch, IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen,	5.5-inch, LTPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, Corning Gorilla Glass
Resolution	1,080 x 1,920 pixels, 441 ppi	1080 x 1920 pixels, 401 ppi
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 64-bit hexa-core processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 v2.1 octa-core processor
GPU	Adreno 418	Adreno 430
RAM	2/3 GB	3/4 GB
Storage	16 GB/ 32 GB	16 GB/ 64 GB
Rear Camera	13 MP rear camera, dual-tone flash	13 MP with OIS, laser autofocus, dual-LED flash
Front Camera	5 MP wide-angle front	5 MP front
Expandability	N/A	N/A
Battery	3080 mAh battery	Non-removable Li-Po 3300 mAh battery
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, hotspot 4G LTE, USB Type-C connector with Quick Charge 2.0 fast charging	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot Bluetooth v4.1, A2DP, Micro USB, Type-C reversible connector
OS	Android 5.1 Lollipop	Android 5.1 Lollipop
Price	Rs. 13,500 (16 GB), Rs. 15,500 (32 GB) Approx.	22,999 (16 GB), Rs 24,999 (64 GB)

September 22, 2015

Xiaomi Officially Launches the Pocket Friendly Mi 4c

Over the past few weeks, Xiaomi had been dropping hints in bits and pieces regarding its latest smartphone. Finally, the Mi 4c with a 5 MP front camera and a USB Type-C connector charger has been launched today. It’s priced at around Rs 13,500 for 2GB RAM and 16GB Flash, and around Rs 15,500 for 3GB RAM and 32GB Flash. It will be available in four colours, namely, white, grey, pink, yellow, and blue.

The phone seems to have an edge over its OnePlus counterpart, OnePlus 2 which is priced at Rs. 24, 999. It offers similar, or even better features for a lower price. The specs of the phone are as follows:

Specification	Xiaomi Mi 4c
Display	5-inch
Resolution	1080p
Chipset	64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 808
Processor	1.4 GHz
RAM	2 GB/3 GB
Storage	16 GB/32 GB
Expandability	N/A
GPU	Adreno 418
Rear Camera	13 megapixel with a dual-tone flash
Front Camera	5 megapixel wide-angle
Battery	3080 mAh
Operating System	MIUI 7.0 based on Android Lollilop
Price	Rs. 13,500 for 2GB RAM and 16GB FlashRs. 15,500 for 3 GB RAM and 32 GB Flash

Mi 4c has a thickness of 7.8 mm and weighs 132 grams. It makes interesting use of different kinds of taps – a single tap clicks a picture whereas a double tap takes you back. The screen wakes up with a double tap.

The Sunlight Display of the phone provides “excellent visibility in bright conditions”, claims the Chinese company. Along with the USB connector which boasts of Quick Charge 2.0 fast charging, the phone is also equipped with 4G Dual Sim. In order to make all micro USB cables compatible with the Type-C port of the Mi 4c, Xiaomi offers a USB Type-C adapter at an estimated price of Rs. 50. If all this wasn’t enough, the phone also has an in-built IR blaster capable of supporting over 2000 appliances including dSLR cameras. Though the current versions of the phone has MIUI 6, Xiaomi ensures buyers that the MIUI 7 update would be made available very soon.

Watch this space for all the latest updates on Xiaomi’s newest addition to the smartphone industry.

September 22, 2015

Selfie Death Toll Higher Than Shark Attacks This Year

The old phrase “I’d rather be eaten by a shark” comes to mind, and it has never sounded more comforting than now. According to Mashable, selfie deaths this year have surpassed the number of deaths by shark attacks.

A 66-year-old Japanese tourist died after attempting to take a selfie with his companion at the Taj Mahal’s Royal Gate. The companion suffered injuries to his leg after both fell from the stairs of the monument. The man’s death takes the selfie toll to 12 for 2015. In comparison, shark attack deaths account for 8 so far.

Selfie risks are far worse than what one may think. These tragic accidents are a reminder that focusing on your phone screen rather than your surroundings can lead to dangerous consequences. Selfie deaths have mostly been caused by falling, which is a result of trying to capture pictures from dangerous positions.

There is an unhealthy obsession with selfies, so much so that people will go to any lengths to take that perfect, memorable picture. You find selfies being taken on a train track (which is the second biggest reason for selfie deaths), with weapons, animals, over ledges, and in other dangerous and potentially risky positions.

Many tourist spots have begun to warn visitors from using selfie sticks and taking selfies in general, and with the death toll rising like this, the prohibition could get a lot more serious.

Source: [tw-button size=”medium” background=”#07ABE2″ color=”” target=”_blank” link=”http://mashable.com/2015/09/21/selfie-deaths/#9RzT80qAPkkW”]Mashable[/tw-button]

September 22, 2015
Over 50% of All iPhones Upgrade to iOS 9

Following its release on Wednesday, September 16th, iOS 9 has become the most successful and swiftly adopted iOS so far. The speed with which users went ahead to update their devices led Apple to affirm that more than half of all iPhones have iOS 9 now.

The new operating system comes with a better, faster version of all characteristic Apple features, along with additions, which are bound to woo users. iOS 9 is equipped with a power-saving mode, a feature that allows you to place a FaceTime call and watch a video simultaneously, a smarter Siri, scribbling functions in the Notes app, and an improved Apple Maps that now includes transit directions.

The update process has been made easier by Apple. Memory and storage issues, which have been a concern with the recent iPhones, have also been taken care of with this update. The iOS 9 takes no more than 1.3 GB of space as compared to the 4.6 GB of iOS 8. Users are also able to temporarily delete apps which will be restored once the update is complete.

The new iPhone 6s and 6s Plus will be available for sale Friday onwards. iOS 9 is their operating system by default. Apple expects to set new records in its sales come the 25th of this month.

All this seems to be comforting news for the company grappling with a series of problems in its software this week. Failed iOS updates were followed by a cyber attack on numerous apps in Apple’s App Store. However, the reduced update speed for Android users have inevitably made Apple’s stats look prettier than they are.The fact that different companies allow updates to OS Lollilop on their handsets at different times have allowed upgrades to iOS 9 to be the most to any OS in such a short period of time. Despite a few hiccups following the fancy Apple event earlier this month, Apple has managed to maintain its stable position in the tech world.

September 22, 2015
Apple Increases Efforts to Ready Electric Car by 2019

According to the Verge, Apple Inc. has trebled its 600-person team to increase the muscle of its electric car plans. The project is codenamed Titan and the company hopes to complete it by 2019. While Apple loyalists wait with bated breath for this addition to the tech world, it remains unclear if the car would be fully automated.

Additionally, the 2019 deadline does not necessarily mean that the car would be ready to enter the market and be up for shipping by then. This date is also a year ahead of the initial deadline for the automobile. Titan therefore becomes one of Apple’s most ambitious projects, especially after the company’s absolute lack of prior experience in the automobile industry.

Source: [tw-button size=”medium” background=”#07ABE2″ color=”” target=”_blank” link=”http://www.theverge.com/apple/2015/9/21/9365833/apple-electric-car-2019-report”]The Verge[/tw-button]

September 22, 2015

Video : OnePlus 2 Review – Get in Line

A good revision to the Oneplus One, But, Misses major features. With battery life issues and heating under the hood. Alternatives may be better.

Specification	OnePlus Two
Display	5.5-inch TPS LCD in cell, Corning Gorilla Glass
Resolution	1080 x 1920 pixels, 401 ppi
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810 v2.1
Processor	Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & Quad-core 2 GHz Cortex-A57
GPU	Adreno 430
RAM	3/4 GB LPDDR4 RAM
Storage	16/64 GB
Expandability	N/A
Rear Camera	13 MP with OIS, 1.35 sensor size and fast laser focus and 2.0 aperture
Rear Camera Video	2160p at 30fps, 2160p(DCI) at 24fps, 1080p at 60fps, 720p at 120fps, HDR, stereo sound recording
Front Camera	5 MP
Front Camera Video	1080p at 30fps
Battery	Non-removable Li-Po 3300 mAh battery
Operating System	Android 5.1 Lollipop-based Oxygen OS
Connectivity	SIM: Dual Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot Bluetooth v4.1, A2DPGPS with A-GPS, GLONASS Type-C reversible connector
Miscellaneous	Fingerprint sensor
Price	Rs 22,999 for the 16GB variant; Rs 24,999 for the 64GB variant

September 22, 2015

Indian Government’s New Policy Proposal Threatens Our Online Privacy

The latest draft of the National Encryption Policy released by DeitY has found itself on the receiving end of ridicule and scathing criticism. Being condemned as an obsolete move that puts India decades behind in the tech-world, the proposal is seen as an attack on privacy on the internet.

The draft aims to “enable information security environment and secure transactions in Cyber Space for individuals, businesses, Government including nationally critical information systems and networks”.

This proposition is facing criticism because inherent within it is the implication of weakening of the encryption codes that would make private files on the internet accessible to the government. Apple offers an advanced version of iMessages where the company itself has no record of the messages of its users, and fights it out with the US government in the court regarding the latter’s involvement in the virtual existence of its citizens.

Back home, India asks its citizens to make themselves more vulnerable in Cyber Space in the form of regulation regarding the internet. It goes ahead to talk of plans of imposing a 90-day-compulsory-period of storage on all data exchanged using services like WhatsApp or iMessage, which make use of an end-to-end-encryption technology.

“All information shall be stored by the concerned B / C entity for 90 days from the date of transaction and made available to Law Enforcement Agencies as and when demanded in line with the provisions of the laws of the country.”

The complete draft of this new policy has been posted by DeitY on their website. The authorities ask for comments on the decision which can be sent to [email protected], until October 16, 2015.

September 21, 2015
Companies May Start Manufacturing 5G Smartphones From Next Year

With 4G gaining speed slowly here in India, we’re already looking at the possibility of 5G coming sooner than expected. There is no doubt that the next step to fast, wireless network is 5G. The question is how quickly that may happen. Though it is highly unlikely that 5G would be introduced by next year, it will not, however, it has not stopped smartphone makers to prepare for it.

The whole idea behind 5G comes as a ‘what can we add’ when looking at 4G. 4G connections tend to drain battery life in a flash and 5G would look to solve this by making it more energy efficient.

So far Bharati Airtel is the only operator to have launched 4G in a broad scale since it initially launched it on 10 April 2012 in Kolkata. Since then, Airtel’s 4G services have spread across the entire country.

Bharati Airtel revealed it has faced problems in Delhi due to the spectrum cap. The problem currently is the need for more spectrum. The operators in India need more spectrum to improve quality of not only internet services but to also reduce ‘call drops’. This is a deficiency which can only be fixed by the Indian Government and TRAI.

The recent spectrum auction held in March saw Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India, Idea Cellular, Reliance Communications and Reliance Jio Infocomm as the big winners, with Bharati Airtel and Reliance Jio already planning big launches of LTE using 1800 MHz as the primary band. However, limited spectrum is slowing the growth of 4G. This will also delay 5G services in India, whenever it does begin to roll out.

September 21, 2015
How To Port Your Number Using Mobile Number Portability
On the 3rd of July, telecom companies around India launched the National Mobile Number Portability (NMNP). This means that you can now move from one city to another and still retain your mobile number. While many may be aware of this already, we decided to provide a step-by-step guide for those who may not know the proper procedure to port their number and a few things to keep in mind before doing so.

Step 1 : Generate An Eight-Digit Unique Porting Code

The first thing you have to do is generate an eight-digit Unique Porting Code by sending “PORT <10-digit mobile number>” to 1900. You will then receive an SMS of the UPC code and the UPC expiration date.

Step 2 : Get The Required Documents

Before you head to your mobile operating store, you’ll need to carry along a few documents. You will need an ID proof, address proof, a passport size photograph, and a copy of your last paid bill (in case of post-paid customers). Airtel customers can carry forward the existing talk-time or outstanding/pending bills to the new telecom service.

Step 3 : Visit The New Mobile Operator Store

Once you have your UPC code and required documents ready, you can visit the mobile operator store you wish to switch to and fill out the number porting form. You will also buy a new sim card. The whole porting process costs Rs. 19.

STEP 4 : Choose Your Plan

Both pre-paid and post-paid customers will have the option to either retain their original plan or to choose a different one based on their needs. Every operator has its own range of plans and you can pick yours at the store.

Step 5 : Processing Time

Some operators like Airtel promise that all NMNP requests will be processed within 24 hours. You will receive an SMS regarding the deactivation of your old sim card. Once deactivated, you can insert your new sim. Generally, most operators complete the porting process within 7 days.

Note : Some Important Points
- Post-paid customers must make sure any unpaid bills are paid before porting as this can hold up the porting process
- Make sure your active connection is at least 90 days old
- Some operators like Airtel and Idea require you to call 59059 for tele-verification once the new sim is activated.
September 21, 2015
Xiaomi Claims Mi 4c’s Front Camera Challenges the iPhone 6’s

We had earlier reported that Xiaomi’s upcoming Mi 4c was looking to challenge OnePlus 2 with its own USB Type C port. Now the Chinese company looks like it wants to take on Apple as well. We know that the Mi 4c will come with a 5-megapixel front camera, but the company’s president and co-founder, Lin Bin, wanted to show just how good the front camera will be by calling out the iPhone 6 for a face-off.

According to the images posted by Lin Bin on Weibo, the Mi 4c front camera will feature an 85-degree super wide angle, that will be able to fit a lot more people into the frame than what the iPhone 6 can. It was also revealed that the Mi 4c will have a self timer option.

The above selfie shared by Lin Bin shows a comparison between the Mi 4c’s front camera and the iPhone 6’s front camera. As you can see, the Mi 4c comfortably frames 6 people while the iPhone 6 can not fit them in as clearly.

However, we can’t help but wonder if this comparison is a little off given that the iPhone 6 only features a 1.2-megapixel front camera. Perhaps a comparison with the new iPhone 6s that sports a 5-megapixel front camera would give a better picture of the Mi 4c’s camera.

Other features of the upcoming Mi 4c include a 5-inch full HD display, 13-megapixel primary camera, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 with a hexa-core processor. The smartphone will be launched on 22nd of September 2015.

Image Source:[tw-button size=”medium” background=”#07ABE2″ color=”” target=”_blank” link=”http://weibo.com/u/1689618340?nick=%E6%9E%97%E6%96%8C_Bin”] Weibo[/tw-button]

September 21, 2015
This is the Smartphone OnePlus Plans to Reveal in December

OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei had hinted at a successor of OnePlus 2 earlier in August this year. The company had commented that the new phone will be an entirely new segment and should not be considered as a OnePlus 2 successor. One employee from OnePlus confirmed saying, “we can only tell you that this is not going to be the OnePlus 3 nor a OnePlus 2s.” He also said, “We’ll be broadening our range this year.”

Other than the fact that it would be arriving in December, there were no more than vague rumours about the smartphone. Now, Chinese website Mobile-dad has managed to lay their hands on a pair of images which show a ‘Mini’, potentially the next smartphone by the company.

The leaked renders of the smartphone:

OnePlus Mini seems to resemble its predecessor in terms of basic design, but suggests more of a rounded, slim profile with an Apple Touch ID-like fingerprint scanner and two cameras coupled with two LED lights. Other features include a pair of machined grills for the speaker and microphone. With a tentative launch expected in December, the phone is speculated to cost $249 (Rs. 16,350).

The new device may also address the problem of the missing NFC, wireless charging, quick charging; or any other feature the current OnePlus 2 lacks.

Source: [tw-button size=”medium” background=”#07ABE2″ color=”” target=”_blank” link=”http://www.mobile-dad.com/a/286/16191.html”]Mobile Dad[/tw-button]

September 21, 2015
Android Nanodegree : Google Announces a New Course For Young App Developers

If you’re looking for a course in coding apps, Google and Tata Trusts may have the answer for you. The two names have come together to launch an Android Nanodegree in partnership with Udaycity. The course aims at letting developers work on their skills from anywhere in the country on a phone, laptop or tablet. Google and Tata Trusts will also offer a 1,000 scholarships for students as part of the programme.

Rajan Anandan, VP & Managing Director of Google South East Asia and India said at the launch event of the initiative, “With the launch of this program we want to bridge the gap by providing India’s developer community an easy access to learn and build high quality apps for the world. Today, only 2% of apps built in India feature in the top 1000 apps globally and our goal is to raise this to 10% in next three years. We’re pleased to announce, that Google along with Tata Trusts will offer 500 free scholarships each to developers for Android Developer Nanodegree program.”

The Udacity Android Nanodegree program is open for enrollment right now. The program takes an average of 6-9 months and costs Rs. 9,800 per month with Udacity refunding 50 percent of the tuition upon completion. Google will also host a career summit for thirty of the top graduates from the Android Nanodegree program in Bangalore by end of this year. Scholarships for the Android Nanodegree are available immediately. For more information click here.

September 21, 2015