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5 Easy Ways To Cool Down Your Laptop

Has your laptop been heating up way too often for the past few days, making you worried about it crashing or burning your fingers? You know you’ve got a heating problem when your laptop sounds like an airplane taking off. We understand your plight and have a few ways to beat the heat.

Find a flat surface

One of the reasons your laptop is burning up is because you’re keeping it in all the wrong places. Keeping the laptop on your lap, or the bed, or any soft surface will cause it to heat up as you’re blocking the airflow vent that’s under the laptop. Make sure your laptop is sitting on a flat, hard surface and try to work in a cool room on a hot summer day.

Don’t keep it constantly charged

Make sure that the moment your laptop reaches a hundred percent charge, you take it off the charger. Keeping the laptop constantly charged won’t increase the battery life, but will only harm the battery further. The charger adds to the heat that is already being produced inside your laptop.

Keep limited open tabs

We tend to keep multiple tabs open when browsing the net. You may have YouTube open in one tab, Facebook in another, Gmail in one more, and so on. While its perfectly okay to do that because background tabs become inactive, however, having multiple tabs open in your internet browser (which include video and heavy data sites) does take its toll on the processor. So keep as few tabs open as possible.

Close all idle apps

Sometimes we tend to minimize apps not being used rather than closing it. Minimizing the apps such as VLC player, or Office programs, only clears up the screen, but the app is still active in the background. These apps continue to take up processing space and consume battery, so it’s recommended you close the apps not being used. Basically, close down those apps that demand excessive amounts ( 90% and above).

Use a cooling pad

Finally, the most obvious tip is to use a cooling pad. This is so obvious that almost all of you might already be using it. However, some may find it a troublesome affair to carry around a cooling pad everywhere you go. A cooling pad is handy if you plan to use your laptop in one fixed place. The important thing is to find a cooling pad that is right for your laptop and your work environment.

Here is a neat pad that you can keep on your lap, desk, or even on one leg while lounging around.

Though many of you may already be aware of some or most of these tips, there are always some tech novices out there who could use a little help. We hope these suggestions are helpful. If you know of more ways to cool a laptop, leave a comment below.

September 15, 2015
Tech Campus: Is Google Really the Only One?

Technology has been playing a huge part in our day to day lives. We all remember the day we first figured out how to use the laptop, or the smartphone, or really got to experience the television effect. Movies like ‘The Internship’ gave us a glimpse into the lives of ‘Techies’ and the general Google experience.

But, much before Google came into existence, we (the 90s kids) had another source of entertainment that became our entire childhood – Mulan, Beauty and the Beast, Timon and Pumba, Peter Pan, Ducktales, Talespin, need I say more? Who created them? And where did they emerge from? Your answer is Walt Disney and his genius team.

The term ‘tech campus’ is a fairly recent one, with Google being the best example of this. It is famous for its quirky decor, large campuses, libraries which barely look like libraries, etc. If you need some reference then just have a look at a room in the the London Google Head Office. The room below exists, just because, it can.

But did you know that our favourite characters were also created in perhaps a far more elaborate work space?

Well here’s how. Walt Disney himself pioneered the Disney studios. It was previously set in Hyperion Avenue, Los Angeles but when Disney had 3 major productions underway he figured the space wasn’t big enough for his 1000 plus creators and employees. Therefore, Walt picked a 51 acre space in Burbank and began what he does best.

These new studios seemed to have everything the employees required and more. Each animator had their personal office space with an easy chair, drapes, and these rooms were fully air-conditioned. The complex had a cafeteria with every possible thing available, like a gas station, and as if this wasn’t enough Mr. Disney even wanted to make an entire apartment complex within the studio area so that his creators and employees need not go home. My words are not enough to explain the creator within Walt Disney, so here is a trailer of the documentary series called American Experience: Walt Disney that PBS is going to air starting next Monday.

https://youtu.be/GPNOBBoZqIo?t=51

The fact that this was a big part in the creation of our goofy imaginary friends, could make it a nostalgic documentary to watch. Now, we also don’t mean to discredit the Google campus, but then again, all great things always have a greater inspiration behind it. Do you think that Disney could have been Google’s inspiration? It’s quite a plausible idea.

September 15, 2015
ASUS Launches an Affordable LED Flash Phone Accessory in India

Venturing away from smartphones, ASUS today announced the arrival of interesting accessories in India. They’ve added ‘LolliFlash’ and ‘ZenEars’ to their Indian portfolio, priced at Rs. 899 and Rs. 699 respectively.

Talking about the LolliFlash first, the accessory is a Dual-LED flashlight for smartphones. It slots into a device’s headphone socket and is perfect for adding the much-needed flash light for night time or low light selfies. The LolliFlash provides three brightness levels and a 70 degree beam.

What’s slightly disconcerting about the device is that it requires charging. The company claims that one full charge provides a 3-hour battery life. The accessory works with any device with a 3.5mm headphone jack. The portable device comes with three colour filters as well – white, blue and red.

Next, Asus introduced the ZenEars, which are earphones. The company claims that they fit perfectly into the user’s ears and effectively absorb reflected sound, reducing distortion and restore more music details. It consists of a patented damping system and transmission tube designed to deliver crystal clear and detailed sound.

Both accessories are available starting today.

September 14, 2015
Chatroulette Users Stumble Into Live-Action Game and It Is Epic

You may have heard of an online chat website called Chatroulette, that pairs random people from around the world for webcam-based conversations. Visitors on the website can begin chatting with another visitor, and either of them can leave at any point to join a chat with another random visitor. Since the website went live in 2009, the number of visitors has grown and today millions of people visit the site every day.

Now, apart from normal web chatting there are other innovative ways to spend time on the site as well. For example, British independent film company Realm Pictures came out with a short video of its new project: a homemade, real-life first-person shooter game – that operates in Chatroulette.

Realm Pictures used special cameras to stream the game’s elaborate zombie set, and then invited a select number of users on the webcam-conversation site to play in real-time. Creative Director, David M Reynolds, explains that “rather than just prerecording something that looks like a first-person [shooter game], we thought we’d actually include the most important element there—which is the player.”

At this point, we find it hard to accurately describe the epicness of a shooter game like this, so we’ll let you watch the video instead.

You might be interested to know that the main actor wore a motorcycle helmet with a GoPro camera, light and Teradek HDMI transmitter. 30 intrepid extras from a nearby town played the zombies. If that video left you wanting for more, here’s the behind-the-scenes video of how the team pulled it off.

September 14, 2015

Spec Battle: Moto X Play vs OnePlus 2

Motorola launched the Moto X Play in India today. The smartphone packs in a lot for a starting price of Rs 18,499 for the 16 GB variant.

The Moto X Play boasts of features that are sure to excite the masses. With a 21 MP camera, 3630 mAh battery, and expandable memory up to 128 GB, the Moto X Play is definitely worth its price. Other features include a 5.5 inch screen with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, Snapdragon 615, and an Octa-core 1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU.

When comparing it to the OnePlus 2 that was released last month, we found that the Moto X Play has a lot more going for it. Take a look at the specs yourself.

Specs	Moto X Play	OnePlus 2
Display	5.5 inch, Capacitive touchscreen, Corning Gorilla Glass 3	5.5-inch, LTPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, Corning Gorilla Glass
Resolution	1080 x 1920 pixels, 403 ppi	1080 x 1920 pixels, 401 ppi
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615	Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810 v2.1
Processor	Octa-core 1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 & Quad-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A53	Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & Quad-core 2 GHz Cortex-A57
GPU	Adreno 405	Adreno 430
RAM	2 GB	3/4 GB
Storage	16 GB/ 32 GB	16 GB/ 64 GB
Camera	21 MP rear, auto-HDR, dual-LED flash	13 MP with OIS, laser autofocus, dual-LED flash
Expandability	MicroSD expandable up to 128 GB	N/A
Battery	3630 mAh battery	Non-removable Li-Po 3300 mAh battery
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band Bluetooth v4.0, Micro USB v2.0	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 OS, v5.1.1 (Lollipop)	Android OS, v5.1 (Lollipop)
Price	18499 (16 GB), 19999 (32 GB)	22,999 (16 GB), Rs 24,999 (64 GB)

As we can see above, the Moto X Play offers a lot more for a lot less. In the camera and battery department, the Moto X Play has the OnePlus 2 beat, at least on paper. Added to this is the the Moto X Play’s microSD card that allows up to 128 GB more memory, whereas the OnePlus 2 does not. The OnePlus 2 received some flak for its non-removable battery, non-expandable storage, and a regular full-HD display. However, the OnePlus 2 comes with a Snapdragon 810 processor which is far superior than the 615 in Moto X Play. While the former delivers on performance, the latter promises experience.

Both handsets are designed for comfort and offer similar resolution. However, with the Moto X Play starting at a fairly low price of Rs 18,499, and offering a variety of changeable colored back covers, the appeal is greater. Which smartphone would you choose? Let us know in the comments below.

September 14, 2015

Hands on Moto X Play

With Motorola’s launch of the newest gen Moto X Play edition in India, the company is showing that it is keeping India’s price conscious consumer in mind. Motorola has stabbed competition from the Chinese region, with this one.

The new Moto X Play has been launched in India starting at Rs.18499 for the 16 GB variant and Rs.19999 for the 32 GB variant.

Build Quality is top notch on the new Motorola devices, with the new X built on a metal chassis and on the outside a metal rim. The front has a Gorilla Glass 3 protected display which also counters down on either side of the phone, which feels great to use and avoids the pointy edges of the metal rim from hurting your fingers. The Moto X play is ip52 rated water resistant and can easily resist splashes or basic water damage. The back panes are replaceable too, Motorola calls them “shells”, these can be bought and swapped out to give a different look or material finish to the handset. Available in wood and leather as well, it allows the user to buy the phone at a lower price than add a cover to improve the finish and aesthetics, later on.

On the inside, is a new set of hardware, while the Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 Octa-Core chipset has been seen on a variety of handsets, it seems like a good fit for the Moto X. Supporting it is 2 GB of RAM and 16 / 32 GB storage options along with expandability via micro SD.

Interestingly the 21 MP snapper is quick and snappy, but does not support 4k video, as the chipset may not manage to moderate the heat generated during capture. 1080p video is the maximum you will get and that too only at 30fps.

The new Moto X comes with a massive 3630 mAh battery and a turbo power charger , allowing for a quick charge and giving you multiple hours of usage in just minutes of charging. Motorola seems to have found the right mix of hardware and pricing. For India’s low price market, One Plus and Xiaomi need to rethink their strategy, as Motorola’s aggressive pricing for the Moto X play while cost them some major sales.

Stay tuned for our full review.

Specifications	Moto X Play (2015)
Display	5.5 inches, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution	FHD, 1920 x 1080 pixels
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon615
Processor	Quad-core 1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 & quad-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A53
GPU	Adreno 405
RAM	2GB
Storage	16 GB / 32 GB
Expandable Upto	128 GB
Rear Camera	21 MP
Front Camera	5 MP
Video	1080p HD video, 30 fps
Battery	3630 mAh
Operating System	Android 5.1.1 Lollipop
Connectivity	Bluetooth v4.0, A2DP, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, GPS, AGPS, GLONASS GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 LTE band 1(2100), 3(1800), 7(2600), 20(800)
Price	Rs. 18499 for 16GB anf Rs 19,999 for 32 GB

September 14, 2015

iPhone 6s and 6s Plus RAM Revealed

Apple received guffaws and wow’s at their launch event last week but they very smartly didn’t reveal the battery life or RAM of their most anticipated devices; the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. Naturally then, when the battery life was announced, the tech mogul received a lot of flak for its 1715 mAh battery fail, with the likes of Sony using it as an opportunity to ridicule it.

However, Apple is set to have the last laugh with iOS developer, Hamza Sood, announcing that this time, the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus will have 2GB of RAM. While this might not be at par with the Galaxy S6 (3GB RAM) or the Galaxy Note 5 (4GB RAM), it is still pretty big news, since Apple has always come out with RAM space that was 1 GB or lesser.

The rumoured spec was first spotted on Xcode and later confirmed by Sood, via Twitter. If you haven’t looked at the specs already here’s a quick look:

Specifications	iPhone 6s	iPhone 6s Plus
Display	Retina HD display with 3D Touch, 4.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit widescreen	Retina HD display with 3D Touch, 5.5-inch LED-backlit widescreen
Resolution	1334 X 750-pixel resolution at 326 ppi	1920-by-1080-pixel resolution at 401 ppi
Processor	Embedded M9 motion coprocessor	Embedded M9 motion coprocessor
Chipset	A9 chip with 64-bit architecture	A9 chip with 64-bit architecture
OS	iOS 9	iOS 9
Internal Storage	16GB/64GB/128GB	16GB/64GB/128GB
Exapandibility	N/A	N/A
Rear camera	12-megapixel iSight camera with 1.22µ pixels, ƒ/2.2 aperture	12-megapixel iSight camera with 1.22µ pixels, ƒ/2.2 aperture, Optical image stabilization
Rear Camera Video	4K video recording (3840 by 2160) at 30 fps	Optical image stabilization for video, 4K video recording (3840 by 2160) at 30 fps
Front Camera	5-megapixel photos, ƒ/2.2 aperture, Retina Flash	5-megapixel photos, ƒ/2.2 aperture, Retina Flash
Front Camera Video	720p HD video recording	720p HD video recording
Body Dimensions	143 grams	192 grams
Special Features	Fingerprint sensor, 3D force touch, live photo	Fingerprint sensor, 3D force touch, live photo
Connectivity	23 LTE and faster Wi-Fi	23 LTE and faster Wi-Fi
Variants	Silver, Gold, Space Gray, Rose Gold	Silver, Gold, Space Gray, Rose Gold
Price	$199, $299 and $399 respectively for 16GB/64GB/128GB on contract.$649, $749, $849 for 16GB/64GB/128GB respectively unlocked	$299, $399 and $499 respectively for 16GB/64GB/128GB on contract.$749, $849, $949 for 16GB/64GB/128GB respectively unlocked

September 14, 2015

How To: 5 Things You Can Do With Your Old Android Phone

So you have an old Android phone and you’re wondering whether you should trade it in for a newer one. How about you keep the old phone and get a new one anyway? There are plenty of things you could do with your old Android phone than you probably thought. So, before you plan on selling it for a price much lower than what your phone is still worth, here are 5 things you can do instead:

1. Turn it into a home media controller

Your smartphone can actually do a lot if you know the right apps for it. It can be used as a home entertainment controller through a couple of ways.

If you pair your device with Google’s Chromecast streaming stick, you can stream content wirelessly from apps like YouTube, Netflix, Google Play Movies, Wynk, YuppTV, and Eros Now to your TV over your Wi-Fi network. The device is available on Amazon, Flipkart, and Snapdeal.

Another way to set-up your home media controller is by downloading an app called Plex. This is a free app that allows you to stream content to your TV.

2. A permanent GPS system for your car

Why buy an expensive GPS system when your old Android smartphone can do it for free (apart from the data charges, of course). Mount your phone into your car’s dashboard and let it serve you as a dedicated GPS device.

The added advantage to this is that, since you can leave it permanently in your car, the device can also serve as a tracker via. apps like “Wheres My Droid”, if you ever you find your car missing from the parking spot.

3. An MP3 player for the car

If you are going to use the device as a permanent GPS system, you might as well use it as an MP3 player by attaching an aux cable or connecting the phone to your car via Bluetooth. Just fill her up with all your favorite music using as much storage as you want (since you won’t need it for anything else) and you can forget about CDs or the radio.

A home security cam

Chances are your old smartphone still has a decent camera. And if you want a little more security in your office or home, you can turn that phone into a web-security camera. All you need to do is download the free IP Webcam app and follow the instructions to set it up. Within seconds you’ll be able to view your camera from any platform using VLC player or web browser.

Another popular app called Presence can turn your old smartphone into a security camera and motion detector.

Make it kid-friendly

Children need something to distract them. Nowadays a Lego set just doesn’t cut it. Your child may just be at peace if you let them fiddle with your old smartphone. Clear your phone of all the apps that do not concern them and add a few apps made just for toddlers, and then let them take it from there. Not only is it a great way to distract your child allowing you time alone with your TV, but a few educational apps and games can really be fun and helpful as well.

If you can think of more ways to get the most out of your old smartphone, let us know in the comments below.

September 14, 2015

Motorola Releases the Moto X Play in India

The mid-range Moto X Play has finally arrived in India. Like other Motorola smartphones before, the X Play will be available exclusively on Flipkart starting at Rs 18,499. The Moto range for 2015 includes two variants, the Moto X Play and the Moto X Style which is scheduled to come out later this month.

While the X Style will focus on design, the X Play is built for experience. The Moto X Play will have a 21-megapixel primary camera with dual-LED flash, and a 5-megapixel front camera. The rear camera will have an auto-HDR mode, which means the camera will automatically adapt to the conditions so you won’t have to spend time adjusting the settings manually. The phone will come with a standard HD quality video with 1080p at 30fps.

What the Moto X Play boasts of is its 3630 mAh battery, which will give you plenty of juice between charges. Both the Moto X Play and the X Style will have a microSD slot expandable up to 128 GB. This is welcomed as many smartphones today refuse to come with an SD slot. Other features include a 5.5 inch screen with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, Snapdragon 615, and an Octa-core 1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU.

In terms of value for money, we think the Moto X Play packs in a lot. The camera and battery life are its main attraction and is a good choice for those who like to play a lot of games on the go and still expect to have enough battery life for the rest of the day.

The design of the X Play is pretty solid with a textured back that has a rubbery finish, which feels comfortable in your hand. The back panel can be swapped for a different coloured one depending on your mood that day. The feisty phone will be available on Flipkart from midnight onwards so the wait isn’t long either.

Watch out for the Moto X Play hands on video and more information about it, today.

Specs

Display	5.5 inch, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution	1080 x 1920 pixels, 403 ppi
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615
Processor	Octa-core 1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 & Quad-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A53
GPU	Adreno 405
RAM	2 GB
Storage	16 GB/ 32 GB
OS	Android OS, v5.1.1 (Lollipop)
Camera	21 MP rear, auto-HDR, dual-LED flash5 MP front
Expandability	MicroSD, up to 128
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-bandBluetooth v4.0, Micro USB v2.0, Type-C reversible connector
Battery	3630 mAh battery
Price	18499 (16 GB), 19999 (32 GB)

September 14, 2015

The Console That Redefined Gaming

PlayStation turned 20 this month and it has come a long way. With the first console launched in 1995, PlayStation has come to define gaming experience. As a nostalgic homage we will look at how the original console redefined the way games would be played in the years to come.

Future of Gaming

Prior to its launch, people would have only been familiar with the Sega and Nintendo consoles. The PlayStation introduced CD based gaming in a huge way. Not that CD games didn’t exist before, but it was the PlayStation that used CDs in a big way instead of the cartridges used by Nintendo and Sega. The cartridges were more expensive compared to CDs and was more limited in terms of space. The PlayStation arrived at an important time. 1995 saw the beginnings of the World Wide Web and CD-ROM technology that allowed games to include real videos and music soundtracks.

Since CDs were cheaper and could hold a lot more data, Sony was able to attract more third-party publishers. Developers such as Squaresoft (Final Fantasy VII) and Enix (Dragon Quest VII) left Nintendo and joined Sony to release their games in CD format. The success of the PlayStation is widely believed to have cause the demise of the cartridge-based consoles.

The Definitive Controller

Sony PlayStation

Nintendo 64

Nintendo may have popularized the four-faced diamond shaped buttons, the analogue stick, and the shoulder buttons, but the PlayStation set the standard for controllers.

The PlayStation had four shoulder buttons (L1, R1, L2, and R2) rather than the traditional two found in Nintendo. Moreover, it also introduced the Dual Analogue Controller, where Nintendo had one one, allowing for greater camera and action controls. And this has become the standard controller for gaming since.

Narrative Gameplay

Another significant change were the games themselves. Before the PlayStation, Super Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog were the most popular names in the gaming world. Yet these games offered a simple, linear gameplay where story did not matter. However, Sony wanted more out of games and with the CD-ROM technology at its disposal, it had the power to add more to gaming than ever before.

The PlayStation brought in story-driven games that had a narrative structure to it. Games had an entire movie-like experience with major action moments and cutscenes. The idea of playing a game that was like a story in itself was quite exciting. And over the years the stories grew bigger, more engrossing, and more intricately woven.

These are only some of the major features that changed and defined the way games would be played in the years to come. And it all started 20 years ago.

For nostalgia sake, here is a video showing some of the most popular games from the first PlayStation, and we’re sure they’ll will bring a smile to your face (except for Silent Hill). How many of them have you played? Let us know in the comments below.

September 13, 2015
App Of The Week: Pac-Man 256 Comes With The Best Glitch Ever

From the makers who brought you ‘Crossy Road’ comes another fun, addictive, and nostalgia-driven game – Pac-Man 256. Hipster Whale has developed what you may call an update of the original Pac-Man, including its ‘glitches’. Yes, you read it correctly. The game builds on the famous Pac-Man glitch that appeared once the player made it to level 256. In that glitch, the player was met with half-a-screen of scrambled alphanumeric characters and an endless, unbeatable level due to limitations in the game’s coding. Pac-Man 256 uses that bug and makes it the enemy of the game.

The new Pac-Man is very much like the original. There are ghosts chasing after you while you escape them and eat up the dots and fruits in your way. But players are also navigating endlessly upwards to escape the ‘Glitch’, which starts eating away at the bottom of the board. If the ‘Glitch’ catches up to you, or you get eaten by a ghost, you will die and need to use a credit to play again. Credits are earned via in-app purchases. You didn’t think it was that easy, did you?

We had mentioned the addictiveness of ‘Crossy Road’ and the new Pac-Man follows the trend. It will bring back memories of the original, and will remind you of that ever crazy glitch, if you were one of the great souls who made it to level 256. If you thought the original Pac-Man was a great way to kill time, then the new one will surely take up your whole day. We suggest you either play ‘Crossy Road’ or ‘Pac-Man 256’ but not both at once.

If you find yourself with some spare time head over to Apple Store, Google Play, or Amazon Appstore to download Pac-Man 256.

September 12, 2015
Gillette’s Flexball Fusion ProGlide Razor’s Tech is a Smart Idea

Each time Gillette launches a new razor, most recent converts usually cringe at the thought of changing their razor. Unlike the Avenger Razors, the new Flexball however, is a rather simple step in getting the best shave. It launched a while back globally, but recently made its debut in India.

Flexball

The razor costs Rs. 499 and is available exclusively on Amazon India. It still works with your existing Fusion blades if you have those lying around. The new blades are however, considerably improved. The blades are thinner and have a finer edge which will help with thick hair beards. The rubber grip at the bottom of the razor is more stubborn and the lubrication strip comes with a new mineral oil.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxPgcd1Embo

Since the face is not geometrical, the Flexball razor comes with a ball joint just under where the razor is. When you shave the ball joint flexes left or right up to an angle of 24 degrees as you slide it across your face. This also prevents you from shaving in different angles and you can get a clean shave with just a single swipe in one direction.

24 Degree Flex

24 Degree Flex

While most of its features come directly from the previous ‘Fusion’ razor, the predecessor had some issues. The blades were not properly spaced which seems to have been solved in this version. The rear trimmer was also difficult to use and often caused more cuts than precision trims. The precision trimmer on the new Flexball Razor has a tiny comb that will align the hair before they are sliced out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvuBDT9JjN4

If you think you are ready for a new Razor, the trial version of the Gillette Flexball Fusion ProGlide is available on Amazon for a relatively low price. So do you think that Gillette is the best a man can get, or there are better ones?

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September 12, 2015
Apple Watch Expected in India Next Week

The wait is almost over for Apple fanatics in India who have been itching to get their hands on the Apple Watch. The Economic Times reported that the Apple Watch will enter the Indian market next week. Just a few days ago, Apple had launched its new iPhones and iPads as well as an upgraded WatchOS 2 to the Apple Watch.

While the new iPhones are scheduled to come out in mid-October, the Apple Watch will be here before the festive Navratri period which starts in October. The Apple Watch has been introduced in limited countries and the company is also set for the software upgrade. The upgrade will introduce Facebook Messenger and an app called iTranslate.

Apple has tied up with Hermes for brand new bands. But whether the gold and rose gold bands will make it to India next week is still not known, though Apple CEO, Tim Cook, has stated that the new options will be available in all the 24 markets where the watch is currently sold.

The Apple Watch is expected to be priced somewhere in between Rs 25,000-30,000. It will be interesting to see whether the watch will make it big in the Indian market as it has not seen much popularity in wearable technology, yet.

September 12, 2015
Cortana Will Soon Be Available On the Cyanogen OS

Microsoft’s Cortana has previously been integrated into the Windows Phone 8.1, Windows 10 as well as on Android devices and are soon planning to be available to iOS devices. New reports now suggest, that the latest partner to collaborate with Microsoft is Cyanogen.

Cyanogen has previously included Microsoft in it’s OS by incorporating apps such as – Bing, Skype, Office etc. But in a recent interview with International Business Times, Cyanogen’s CEO Kirt Mcmaster announced that they are definitely planning to incorporate Cortana into their OS. He also mentioned that this incorporation will be more than just adding an app on to their devices, but will in fact “deeply intergrate” Cortana into their system as a function.

This he believes will truly showcase the capabilities of Cortana, as compared to other digital personal assistants.

“When Apple launched Apple Music at WWDC, they showed the Siri integration with Apple Music. Siri doesn’t power Spotify like that so we can do these kind of things with for example, integration of Microsoft’s Cortana into the OS enabling natural language to power Spotify and other services.”

However, he did not mention how exactly this integration will function, so we cannot tell you anything more. It could be integrated into the UI’s control, which would then allow it to be used in apps, but really nothing is confirmed about it’s further usage.

So, let us know what you think about this new partnership. Do you think Cyanogen is the best platform for Cortana?

Source: [tw-button size=”medium” background=”#07ABE2″ color=”” target=”_self” link=”http://www.ibtimes.com/cortana-cyanogen-ceo-kirt-mcmaster-building-next-great-smartphone-os-2093032″]ibtimes[/tw-button]

September 12, 2015
What Makes ‘Crossy Road’ So Addictive?

Now that the popular mobile game Crossy Road will be available on the new Apple TV, we decided to dig a little deeper into the game and other such games and the reasons behind their addictiveness. Andy Sum, developer of Crossy Road, had a big moment when he took to stage to talk about his game. He described Crossy Road as an endless arcade hopper game. The game is simple enough to understand: players control a mascot such as a chicken, koala, bunny etc. and hop across the road and obstacles to get as far as possible and achieve a high score.

Here’s a look at the game in action presented by Sum at the Apple event

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfPMaqC-WSw

Clearly, Crossy Road draws inspiration from the classic 1981 arcade game Frogger, and other more recent ones like Temple Run and Flappy Bird. So what is it about these games that make them so addictive and popular, so much so that they get to take the stage at an Apple Event?

Simple gameplay

One of the reasons for the growing popularity of these games is the simplicity of it all. Games like Crossy Road, Flappy Bird, and Frogger have a simple manner of progression. There are obstacles to cross using mostly your thumbs to tap on the screen. With no tricky controls, these games can actually be played with one hand tied behind your back.

Old style graphics

The simplicity of graphics also makes the game fun to play. Almost everyone would like to play games that have almost real-life graphics, but sometimes we just like to get back to the good old minecraft-like days. It doesn’t ask for much, and is a good way to pass time while going to work. Or at work (Yes, we all do it.)

Tests patience

In a busy world like ours, patience is a rarity. Yet these games require incredible patience. And those who manage to reach a higher level or rake up high points have it in them to deal with the rest of the day. The game also has the ability to frustrate you into pulling out your hair. But it all adds to the fun of it.

Here’s a video of someone who scored a 580 in Crossy Road, which, if one has played the game would know is not an easy feat to achieve.

And finally a look at how people from the ’80s passed their time. You can see where Crossy Road comes from.

If you haven’t played the game yet, you can download it here for Android and here for iOS. Let us know what you think about the game in the comments below.

September 12, 2015