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Samsung Mid-Rangers Galaxy J5 and J7 Arrive in India Next Week

In the past few days we’ve heard several rumours about the unannounced Samsung mid-range smartphones. The two handsets in the Galaxy line-up – Galaxy J5 and Galaxy J7 – have leaked almost entirely, and just an official launch is awaited, which will confirm their price and arrival date. According to insider sources, we won’t have to wait for long.

We’ve now heard that both the Galaxy J5 and J7 will release next week in India. However the date is not specified, the phones are expected to make a debut between June 22 and June 28.

The Galaxy J5 seems to be a regular J1-like device with the Android operating system powering it. From the design aspect, Samsung hasn’t made any alterations and we might see the traditional curved edges from all four sides, just like on the Galaxy S1, S2 and Galaxy Duos. The images leaked online give a sense of Samsung Galaxy J5 being thick, just like the Duos series. Considering the performance factor, the Galaxy J5 is said to house a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 410 under the 5-inch screen. Rumours speak of it embedding 1.5GB RAM and 8GB internal storage space, with a microSD card slot.

The front features a 5MP camera for selfie enthusiasts, with primary 13MP snapper at the back. The phone will be accompanied by a 2600mAh battery, which can last for a day.

The Galaxy J7, on the other hand, is a bigger sibling of the Galaxy J5 with a 5.5-inch screen at 720x1280p resolution. Under the hood is a 1.7GHz octa-core Marvel PXA1936 processor with 1.5GB RAM and 16GB in-built storage space, with expandability option via a microSD card slot. The phone holds similar specifications to the Samsung Galaxy J5 in terms of camera, but differs slightly in battery capacity – which is 3,000mAh.

More details on pricing will be disclosed at the launch. Keep checking back for updates.

June 16, 2015
Move Over Xbox, PlayStation is the “New Home of Call of Duty”

Sony has taken over what used to be Microsoft’s. The Call of Duty series that was once exclusive to Xbox will be the first to bring all map packs to PlayStation, from now on. Sony has won the marketing deal and with this fresh partnership, PlayStation users will be the first to get access to Call of Duty: Black Ops 3. Sony Executive Andrew House announced on E3 stage saying PlayStation is the “new house of Call of Duty”.

Microsoft’s reassurance at this point is that Call of Duty sequel will still arrive on Xbox One this year, so it doesn’t change anything. The deal is sealed and the exclusive contract will come into effect with the launch of Black Ops 3 on November 6. It will first arrive for PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One, and later for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

The multiplayer mode of the gaming adventure was disclosed by Sony in an approximately 7-minute video. It looks amazing, giving a view of real life combat. David Vonderhaar of Treyarch talked about the multiplayer, saying it is about delivering four guns of combat control. It is said to be fast, fluid and unlike any Call of Duty before.

Well, we will be waiting to get our hands on the game.

Here’s the Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 Campaign Coop and Multiplayer gameplay:

June 16, 2015
Sony Goes Back to Basics With its Retro Gamepads

At the ongoing E3 event in Los Angeles, along with announcing the release of Street Fighter 5 beta, Sony announced that the 20^th anniversary Gold Wireless Headset and DualShock 4 Controller would be coming out in September this year.

Much to the delight of Sony’s early PlayStation gamers, these devices will come in the company’s classic two-tone grey colours.

Behold! The 20th Anniversary DualShock 4 ($64.99) and Gold Wireless Headset ($99.99). Coming this September. pic.twitter.com/dORvfhTzaC

— PlayStation (@PlayStation) June 16, 2015

Thanks to the colour choices made by Sony, these gamepads are reminiscent of their old hardware. They may look retro, however both the devices come with top-notch features.

DualShock 4 Controller

Gold Wireless Headset

The controller and the headset are priced at $64.99 (Rs. 4,100) and $99.99 (Rs. 6,400 approx) respectively. Also, the controller is limited to 12,000 units that will be going on sale for in European and Asian countries soon. For now, there is no word about the number of units or the availability of the headset.

Stay tuned, more E3 coverage coming up.

June 16, 2015
E3 2015: The New Street Fighter 5 Trailer is Awesome!

The Street Fighter game series is well known to anyone who is remotely interested in gaming. At the ongoing E3 2015 in Los Angeles, Sony has announced that the well-known game will be coming to PlayStation 4. Capcom, the makers of the Street Fighter game series, confirmed during the PlayStation E3 press conference about the game’s public beta on the PlayStation 4 that will be debuting on July 23rd.

Following the leak of the game details back in December 2014, the highlight of the trailer is the addition of two new players: Birdie, the tall British punk rocker with a beak-shaped Mohawk hairstyle and Cammy, the blue-eyed, slender fighter who is now an amnesiac MI6 operative for the British government.

Birdie, who is the newest addition to the Street Fighter game, is one of the few characters that has multiple V-Skills, all of which spin around foods and drinks. Birdie can eat a banana and throw the peel on the floor, which the enemy player will slip on.

Ryu (L) VS Birdie (R)

For his V-Trigger, Birdie eats a hot pepper and enters a powered up state, making all his attacks-particularly his bull charge, even more deadly. In his Critical Art, he wraps up the opponent in chains and uses him or her as a skipping rope.

Cammy, meanwhile, retains many of her iconic moves, such as her Spiral Arrow, Canon Spike, and Canon Strike. Her Spin Knuckle is now her V-Skill.

Apart from this, the new trailer showed that the game will be played in its traditional 2D platform, with rotating camera view. No other details could be deciphered. You will have to pre-order the beta for PS4, and later on for PC as well.

Check out the trailer below:

June 16, 2015
Microsoft Shows Off an Incredible Holographic Version of Minecraft

Microsoft kicked off the annual E3 Expo yesterday with a bang. The first announcement was a brand new Xbox Controller for elite gamers. In addition to that, the company announced that hundreds of older Xbox 360 games will now be compatible with the newer Xbox One console. But this was just a warm-up. Microsoft then introduced the Minecraft HoloLens demo.

The HoloLens, which was showcased earlier this year, is a one of a kind wearable that brings science fiction into reality. It is a mere headset which when connected with any PC running Windows 10 will merge and blur the lines between the digital and the physical. At the E3 conference, Michael Saxs Persson of Microsoft Studios came on stage with the HoloLens in hand to demonstrate an all-new version of Minecraft. The video also clarified the growing rumours about the company’s Minecraft acquisition worth $2.5 billion. With this, Microsoft has shown its hard work to twist the conventional approach of playing games.

The Minecraft HoloLens demo shows a huge holographic photo running on a plane surface in 3D mode. Users can play Minecraft right on your wall and can also transfer it to another surface. You can control the world through voice input and hand gestures. Also, you can zoom in and zoom out, using your voice. The demo also revealed that the game is aware of your eye movements.

A big plus while playing with HoloLens is that another user can play along with a surface, without the HoloLens on.

Watch the Minecraft HoloLens demo below:

June 16, 2015
Sony Finally Unveils ‘The Last Guardian’ at E3 2015 and it is Epic

After a delay of four long years, Sony finally showcased the ‘The Last Guardian’ at E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) last night. The company opened its 2-hour long keynote with the disclosure of The Last Guardian trailer, after which new gaming franchises followed.

The making of the adventure sequel commenced in 2007 and was initially planned to release in 2011. But as the game’s Director Ueda left the project, it had to be stopped in the middle. Thankfully, Sony ensured that the sequel was compiled.

Shifting our focus back to the trailer, The Last Guardian showed a strong friendship between the boy and his mammoth animal mate, Trico. The plot is set in ancient times depicting disintegrated architecture. The giant creature is obedient and helps the boy get through his journey. The detailed 7-minute long trailer showcases incredible animations that are sure to gather a huge following. It’s going to see a release sometime in 2016 for PlayStation 4.

More games are expected to arrive at the ongoing E3 2015 at Los Angeles. Stay tuned for more updates.

Watch the trailer of The Last Guardian here:

June 16, 2015
New Xbox Elite Controller Lets You Hot Swap Parts for a Better Fit

At the ongoing E3 2015 at Los Angeles, Microsoft has announced a ton of goodies for its fans. The company announced hundreds of older Xbox 360 games that will also be compatible with the newer Xbox One console. As a cherry on the cake, Microsoft revealed a new Xbox controller, and it is definitely a beast in its own terms.

Described as the ‘Elite Controller for Elite gamers’, the new Xbox One Elite Wireless Controller has been added with many new features. The analog sticks and directional pad can be swapped out with different grips — concave, convex, textured, or whichever accessory creators come up with.

There are spots on the bottom for paddles, mostly for hardcore racing gamers, and every button can be remapped and reset using a companion smartphone app that will be released for Xbox One and Windows 10. You can even control the sensitivity level of the triggers on the back and analog sticks. The new hair trigger locks for the analog triggers are designed for shooters. It looks like a polished variant of the original controller, with a layer of customisability added to it.

The Elite Wireless Controller comes out in October and is priced at $150 (Rs 9,623 approx.)

Take a first look of the controller below:

June 16, 2015
E3 2015 : Watch the New Trailer of Beatbuddy Here

Today, the annual video game conference, the E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) kicked off at Los Angeles where viewers were allowed to have a sneak peek of upcoming A-Class video games. Among the many trailers shown today was Beatbuddy. Game developer, THREAKS, announced that Beatbuddy: Tale of the Guardians will be coming to three consoles in the coming months: WiiU, Xbox One and the new NVIDIA Shield Android console, which released in the US a couple of weeks ago.

The game will take place across six diverse worlds where you control the little blob as he navigates through the colorful madness. It is like a rhythmic puzzle. The game was initially launched on Steam and iOS for Windows, Mac, iPad and iPhone and sold more than 700,000 copies worldwide. Beatbuddy combines puzzle solving and defeating the enemy by exploring different areas. The game won the Best Youth Game Awards in 2014.

The soundtrack of the game is composed by some of the big names in the music industry such as Austin Wintory, Parov Stelar, Sabre Pulse and the La Rochelle Band. The game is available only on SHEILD devices through the Google Playstore for $5.99 (Rs 361.61). But we will have to wait for the Android console to hit the Indian markets.

You can check out the trailer below. It strongly reminds us of Rayman; what do you guys think?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f8BJfxgWQs&feature=youtu.be

June 16, 2015
Wireless Charging: Everything You Need to Know
This year, at the Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona, we saw that Wirless Charging was one of the most talked about subjects. Many big companies such as Samsung, Microsoft and Motorola have been investing heavily in this technology.

So, what is Wireless Charging? As the name suggests, it is the method of charging a device sans a physical wire. This concept is not new. Nikolas Tesla, whose work in the field of electricity and electromagnetism has defined our modern lifestyle, spectacularly demonstrated the possibility of wireless power transfer in 1891, as visualized by the principle of electromagnetism by Michael Faraday 60 years before. The experiment was quite successful, but long distance wireless charging is still not a practical idea. However, Tesla’s research on short distance wireless power transfer became a reality.

It took nearly a century for the technology to find its way in the mainstream industry, but now, this technology has finally emerged into the consumer electronics market.

In 2008, the newly formed Wireless Power Consortium began outlining plans to design the world without wires, of devices that could juice up upon being dropped on charging pads. But, the journey ahead to seek and work out such technology was difficult. Hence, the work began on achieving this.

How does it work?

Wireless charging, also known as ‘Inductive Charging’ is based on the principle of magnetic resonance or Inductive Power Transfer- the process where electricity is transferred between two objects through coils. This process uses an induction coil to create an alternating electromagnetic field from within a charging base station. The second induction coil inside the portable device (namely, smartphones) receives the power from the electromagnetic field and converts it into electricity to charge the battery. The two induction coils are in close range to form an electrical transformer.

This interface was developed by the Wireless Power Consortium for inductive electrical power transfer over 4cm. You just have to place the device on to the power transmission pad, and it charges using resonant inductive coupling. Just plug in the charging dock and place your device on the charging pad. Then, watch your device juice up. It’s that simple. For now, Qi, pronounced as ‘Chee’ is leading in the wireless charging technology.
Asus, HTC, LG, Motorola, Samsung and Huawei are among the few mobile device manufacturers that are working towards the required standard of Qi.

To this end, the industry has set up three groups that are working to standardise wireless charging technologies: the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) and its Qi standard, the Power Matters Alliance (PMA) and the Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP).

Advantages
- No requirement of a power cord: The first and foremost reason wireless charging is being worked upon is to eliminate the use of wires and cables. Elimination of cables also means less e-wastage.
- Portability: It is small. Hence, you can carry it anywhere along with you. It can be used in your car, house or garden.
- Ease of access: Wireless charging points are slowly being accepted in different outlets and food joints. For example, a type of wireless charger is being used in some McDonald’s outlets in UK. This device allows multiple devices to charge at the same time.
- Environmentally friendly: The growing use of wireless charging technologies reduces CO2 emissions by hundreds of tons each year by eliminating disposable batteries and cords. Your use of a wireless charging device will be contributing to a more sustainable environment by helping to reduce world waste.
- Safety: Wireless charging eliminates sparks and debris related to wired contacts.
For now, there are two very important factors that may play foul against wireless power charging:
- A risk of radio interference: Emissions from the wireless charger may cause radios and other devices using energy in the same frequency range to malfunction. This is due to the radiation and the signals which cut each other if they are in the same frequency.
- Energy consumption: Wireless chargers will always waste more power than their wired versions, and the more flexible adaptive resonance devices will be most at risk of that.
Standardisation would allow the ecosystem for wireless charging to develop and evolve fast. But, it is hard to say about the future of this technology. This technology has just started out and is still in its developing process. But, if it works out successfully on a large scale, people would be able to charge all of their devices wirelessly in restaurants, airports, public spaces, cars and living spaces, freeing them from the burden of carrying their power cords.
June 16, 2015
Report : It’s Time India Should Get High Speed Unlimited Data Plans

India has been stuck in the internet revolution for many a years. And while the country is progressing at a rapid speed, infrastructure is not growing fast enough. With new businesses sprouting each day, the need for a connected economy has increased considerably.

India’s Massive Market

India is one of the largest consumers of mobile phones in the world. Enough so, that many manufacturers have put India in the first list of launch countries. According to the TRAI Performance Indicator Report, India has 414.18 million wireless GSM connected users as of March 2015. But this is just in the rural sector, the all India number is at ~~705.21~~ 928 Million according to the COAI report of May 2015 and Others report of Dec 2014. This number also receives staggering growth of 2.5% month on month in the Rural sector and a growth of 0.90% month on month nationwide.

What appears to be a small growth percentage, 2.5% growth means that the industry is adding approximately 10.2 million rural subscribers a month at the current trend. This additional user base earns the industry approximately Rs. 1200 crore each quarter. This large number is only a dip in an industry that moved around Rs. 26781 crore in revenue in Q4 2014.

The large revenue for the telecom operators is driven largely by the large number of users and large user base additions each month. But how much has the industry progressed since the begining of the internet age.

[pullquote_left] By the End of 2014 the World was Consuming 3000 PetaBytes of Data [/pullquote_left]

Global consumption of mobile data is through the roof. By Q4 2010 the world was only getting acquainted to mobile data and consumption of data on a portable phone was at 400 PetaBytes (mobile data traffic Up+Down). However, by the end of 2014 the world was consuming 3000 PetaBytes of Data. The industry estimates that the growth with continue by 60-70% each month.

Global Launch Trends

HSPA 42 Mbps networks have been commercially launched in 86 countries, while LTE networks have been commercially launched in 112 countries. So far, 40 LTE TDD networks have been made commercially available in 27 countries, with 27 operators launching LTE services using only the TDD mode, and 13 deploying both TDD and FDD modes together. 6 In a mixed LTE FDD/TDD network, the use of FDD for the uplink can improve the effective coverage area of the TDD band, and can also make TDD more efficient on the downlink.

On the other side mobile operators in 75 countries have now launched HD voice commercially. VoLTE or “voice on LTE” provides users with telecom-grade HD voice, video calling and other new, richer communication services on LTE smartphones.

State of Indian Networks

Despite all the launches mentioned above, India remains as a part of none of them. While India contributes to a large percentage of global mobile data usage, it all somehow comes from poor data connections.

It is estimated that if connection quality and speeds were to improve in India, the present data consumption would increase by 400%. A number that the industry should play close attention to. Over 60% of the data consumption in India was mobile data by the end of 2014.

Mobile Data Drivers

Out of the total mobile data consumed in India, 45% comes from video playback from websites like YouTube. A large chunk of music streaming services are also responsible for driving mobile data in the country.

Mobile Data Usage

[pullquote_left]55% of mobile data will be consumed for Video services[/pullquote_left]

Globally, YouTube is responsible for consumption of 40-60% of mobile data, a number which is relatively lower at 17% in India due to mobile data connectivity and speed limitations.

It is estimated that by the year 2020, 55% of mobile data will be consumed for Video services. Reaching this percentage will be possible by the implementation of 5G mobile data globally. 5G services are being tested in over 8 countries as we read this, while implementation for global markets is kept at 2019. India (and some other markets) are not a part of this implementation list.

India is about 5 years behind the 4G rollout targets (Dec 2010) and 2 years behind LTE 2.0. HD Voice and Video are not being talked about by the Indian industry leaders, despite the fact that India is one of the largest contributors to the overall revenue for the mobile industry.

Data and Future

India needs fast internet access, as a developing nation, its metropolitan cities need to be connected to the world. With a boom in startup culture and high paying jobs with international markets, most suffer due to lack of internet access. Video consumption and video calling with services like Skype, Google Hangouts and even FaceTime are at an all time high and consumers end up paying large sums of money just to say connected.

[pullquote_right]FUP has slowed down growth[/pullquote_right]

The biggest limiting factor in the whole telecom industry is the limited usage policies implemented by the companies. The limited usage policy or fair usage policy (FUP) was first implemented by Airtel and Tata Teleservices to prevent users for exploiting their internet connection speeds and downloading illegal materials from the internet.

The FUP has since not been removed and with no pressure from TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) this antiquated method continues to haunt each user.

Airtel is one of the biggest users of this aged method of policing the usage of high speed data and is also one who exploits its use the most to benefit in the long run. Airtel has annoying auto redirects (Smart Bytes) that transfer you to a buy page insisting that you buy additional data packs to continue on the fast speed. These packs are usually 4-5 times the cost of the bundled data and tend to really hurt consumers financially.

The world is getting connected, using a highway of data which is not only fast but also super efficient and budget friendly.

Unlimited data is one of the perks of a liberated growing economy. The current government showed success by choosing the internet as a means of communications with its potential voters. There are claims from our telecom ministers claiming that “India plays a crucial role in the future of the internet.”

However, we are no where near that future. Most operators globally offer the ability to choose a plan that suits the customers needs. The United States and countries like United Kingdom, Australia, South Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, Canada and many others are not familiar with the term FUP. In fact, any form of throttling is against the law in many of these countries. Terming the so called limiting plans as “marketing gimmicks” countries have ensured that the consumer gets what he pays for, no more and especially no less.

Google Fibre Deployment Map

Then there are packages from the likes of Google Fibre limited in reach and availability, Google has made possible speeds of upto 1000 Mbps for as little as US $ 70/month (chump change compared to what iGyaan spends for Internet) available at residences across the United States. They also offer a “Basic Plan” which is at 5 Mbps downloads and 1 Mbps uploads (unlimited) for a price of US $0 if you pay the installation fee. Free Internet! If that does not help the startup economy, then what else will?

Something needs to change

India and Indians deserve the ability to get unlimited internet, the users seem to be paying for it, but nobody seems to be getting it. Riddled by hidden corporate talk and contracts that fool the customers into believing that they are getting the best possible deal. Everybody has the right to stay connected, and a fast internet connection is more like a lifeline today.

Many sectors in the country do offer high speed data connections for a higher price. However, these too are controlled by limits, and speed drops are often too high. A 100 Mbps connection from Airtel Fibrenet drops to a mere 512 Kbps post a 100GB download. A simple math calculation will tell you that it takes just 2 Hours, 23 Minutes and 9.93 Seconds to download 100 GB on such a connection. Post the download you either have to pay heavy sums of money to get data packs or live with a devastatingly slow 512 Kbps which would take 19 Days, 10 Hours, 2 Minutes and 1.6 Seconds to download the same 100 GB. Airtel charges INR 5,999 + tax for this plan , making it well over US $100. Now compare this to Google’s 1000 Mbps line with no limits whatsoever, which costs US $ 70 /month.

Something needs to change and fast! Sign our petition below and be part of the voice of change. #StopFUP #EndFUP

June 16, 2015
Deals of the Week : Smartphone Discounts You Should Check Out

It’s always showering discounts online. Despite the festive drought during summer, the e-commerce platforms have managed to draw customers to its portal through irresistible deals on smartphones. They’re currently throwing inviting offers with a major price drop, together with optional exchange deal and additional benefits.

Here are some of the deals that you can grab right now:

Nexus 6

Coming at a launch price of Rs. 43,999, Flipkart is selling the phone at a cost of Rs. 36,999, a substantial markdown of Rs. 7,000. The price cut is on both the versions – 32GB and 64GB. The 64GB variant is available at Rs. 41,999, down from Rs. 48,999. Nexus 6 can cost you Rs. 36,999 on exchange, an additional Rs. 5,000 off.

Featuring a display of 5.96 inches, the Nexus 6 packs 2.7GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 with Adreno 420 GPU and 3GB RAM. The device runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop, upgradable to v5.1 (Lollipop).

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Moto X (2^nd Gen)

Another good pick is Motorola’s premium range smartphone – Moto X (2^nd Gen). Flipkart is giving a 26% concession on the handset, offering it for Rs. 21,999, instead of Rs. 29,999. The Rs. 8,000 price difference is significant, and with exchange from your present smartphone, it will cost even lower. If you are going for an exchange offer, the Rs. 29,999 device can be around 50% cheaper at Rs. 16,999.

The phone holds a 5.2 inch AMOLED display with Gorilla Glass protection, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, 2GB RAM, and 16GB internal storage.

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Micromax Canvas Nitro A311

With our rating of 7.9 out of 10, Micromax Canvas Nitro is one of the best performance-oriented phones in the budget category. Buy the phone at Rs. 1,000 less, i.e. Rs. 8,999. Sporting a vivid 5-inch LCD display with 5MP camera on top, the Canvas Nitro features a Mediatek Mt6592 octa-core chipset clocked at 1.7GHz. It holds 2GB RAM, 16 GB in-built storage and 13MP primary shooter.

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Moto E (2^nd gen) 4G

There is no heavy discount on this Motorola model if are not willing to barter your old phone. The LTE version of Moto E (Gen 2) is being offered at Rs. 500 less, but on exchange, you can get it on Rs. 2,000 off, i.e. Rs. 5,999. Other gifts comprise of free Airtel 4G SIM, Double data absolutely free with Airtel and a few more.

The device touts a bigger 4.5-inch qHD (540×960p) screen, a 1.2 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 410 processor, 1GB of RAM and 8GB of inbuilt storage capacity, expandable up to 32GB. A rear camera of 5MP is fitted onto Moto E (Gen 2) LTE, while the front has a 0.3MP shooter. Running on Android 5.0 Lollipop, the device comes with a 2390mAh battery.

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Honor 4X

The excellent all-round multimedia device has gotten more affordable. Honor 4X is now under sub-Rs. 10,000 category (although temporarily), costing Rs. 9,999 at the ongoing Flipkart sale. Besides the phones, customers will get other offers, such as Rs. 3000 off on Yatra wallet, offers worth Rs. 3,000 on Freecharge, 1-3 months of free streaming and downloads from Hungama and much more.

In terms of specifications, Honor 4x sports a 5.5 inch HD (720×1280) display, Snapdragon 410 processor, 2GB RAM, 8GB in-built storage, expandable up to 32GB. The handset features a 13 MP camera on the back and a 5MP front snapper. The whole system is powered by a 3000mAh battery.

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June 15, 2015
Belgium City Sets Up a Special Lane for Pedestrians Who Can’t Stop Texting

It is quite common for people to bump into each other because they are too preoccupied with their smartphones. Another typical scenario, instead of looking left or right before crossing the street, people are steadily studying their mobile screens. Both the cases may lead to unnecessary collisions and can be a cause for serious injury.

Following its success in China, the forward-thinking European country, Belgium, has launched the perfect solution for this problem and is already proving a hit among texting fanatics.

The solution is Text Walking Lanes. Antwerp, Belgium, has given its smartphone users their own designated lanes, where they can walk while texting or looking at their mobiles, without the risk of bumping into someone and dropping their phones. The path is marked as ‘Text Walking Lane’ and is marked with a bright, highly visible white paint.

Dietrich Jehle, professor of emergency medicine at the University at Buffalo, said,

When texting, you’re not as in control with the complex actions of walking. While talking on the phone is a distraction, texting is much more dangerous because you can’t see the path in front of you.

This temporary arrangement was the brainchild of a smartphone company based in the city. They say that a significant number of mobile phone breakage is due to ‘text walking’ collisions. This idea received equal criticism, some welcoming the idea while others wonder to what level of dependency has the human race stooped down to.

Let us try to apply such a change here in India. Our country has the second largest population in the world, and more than half of it owns a mobile phone. Among this is a good amount of people who just duck their heads into their mobile screen. So, yes, the probability of bumping onto another commuter while walking is very high. Because of this reason, Texting Lanes could be welcomed here in India. But, for achieving this, space and infrastructure are imperative factors. With almost 40% of India living in urban cities, is it possible to make space for people to text-and-walk, when there isn’t even enough area demarcated for walking?

Comment and let us know about your thoughts on ‘Texting Lanes’.

June 15, 2015
How Apple Plans to Take Over India’s Smartphone Market

India has moved straight from the lowermost section of Apple’s priority list to sit right on top. The Cupertino-based firm, which has long snubbed the country for other nations like the US, UK and more, now plans to be the No. 1 smartphone seller in India, next year. According to a report by Business Insider, Apple has signed a partnership agreement with Optiemus Group, based in Delhi, to double its iPhone sales.

Optiemus Group has been a major distributor of Samsung and HTC brand handsets in India. Following this partnership, Optiemus will be distributing iPhones as well, increasing the volume of the iPhones in India. Besides this, Apple is reportedly considering teaming up with other distributors whose distribution network is vast. The company is also considering over appointing a new distributor, which may be either of the four – Redington, Ingram Micro, Rashi Peripherals and Brightstar. Optiemus Group then follows, being the fifth larger dealer.

Apple iPhone 6

The company sold a total of one million iPhones last year in India, and with the aim to double its smartphone sales this year, its goal is 2 million iPhone sales in FY 2015. By tying up better distribution networks, the company may even make India one of the priority countries for launches. Apple Watch, its first smartwatch, is yet to arrive in India.

As per an industry insider –

Since shipment figures are one of the indicators of success in the smart phone industry, any new distributor Apple appoints will lead to an instant surge in shipments, which will help it to achieve the target fixed by headquarters and will also lead to a significant jump in retail reach.

In such circumstances, the company will turn into a threat for Samsung and Micromax, who have been battling each other for the top spot, with minimal complexities. The inclusion of Apple in the game, by giving more choices to customers, will make business tougher for Samsung and Micromax. Although it takes a backseat in the overall Indian smartphone market, Apple is the most valuable smartphone brand in the whole world.

[tw-button size=”medium” background=”” color=”” target=”_self”]Source[/tw-button] [tw-button size=”medium” background=”” color=”red” target=”_blank” link=”http://www.businessinsider.in/Know-about-Apples-new-strategy-to-knock-Samsung-out-of-competition-in-India/articleshow/47673988.cms”]Business Insider[/tw-button]

June 15, 2015
Biggest Gaming Titles to Arrive at E3 This Year

The E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) has revived the gaming mania, and it is going to soar manifold on its onset. The annual video game conference and show kicks off on June 16, Tuesday, at Los Angeles Convention Centre, and it will allow a sneak peek at haunting animations, mean machines and hulking characters. Many famed developers will mark their presence at the event, bringing a slew of AAA games. Some of the games to draw the spotlight this week are the sequels of the old favourites, in addition to some new titles.

Here’s are some of the biggest games to arrive at E3 this year:

Star Wars Battlefront

Based on Star Wars films, the game is one of the long-awaited titles to release this year. Started in 2004 by developers Pandemic Studios, the franchise was taken over by Electronic Arts DICE. The teaser video released by EA shows a first-person view of the Battle of Hoth and features four planets – Hoth, Tatooine, Endor, and Sullust. Featuring first and third-person gameplay perspectives, the game is slated to launch later this year.

Fallout 4

Developed and published under Bethesda banner, Fallout 4 was introduced ahead of E3 in a press conference organised by Bethesda Softworks. Fallout 4 has a backdrop of approximately 200 years after a war that ends up in a nuclear holocaust in 2077. The setting is a post-apocalyptic desert, known as Commonwealth. The player character takes shelter on Vault 111, just to mysteriously awaken 200 years later without aging a single day. The Fallout sequel is confirmed to release on November 10 with a version for PC, Xbox One, and PS4.

Here’s the Fallout 4 gameplay trailer released in E3 2015:

https://youtu.be/OzV1GlDDlv8

Halo 5: Guardians

Microsoft is ready to showcase its massively popular instalment Halo 5: Guardians in Halo series. Scheduled to release on October 27 exclusively for Xbox One, we are expecting even more alluring visuals from this sequel, which 343 Industries has maintained from the past four series. The follow-up will see Master Chief being hunted by UNSC and solving a mystery that threatens the entire galaxy.

Watch the Halo 5: Guardians trailer here:

Call of Duty: Black Ops 3

One of the biggest jewels in Activision’s games portfolio is the Call of Duty franchise. The incredibly thrilling operations of the intense spy adventure sends chills down the spine. In the third part, you play as a member of a prototype Black Ops unit that has cybernetic enhancements with mission briefings of a missing CIA team in Singapore, set 35 years later in 2060. The forthcoming title Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 is a game taking leap into the future with new characters, landscapes, and weaponry, which can be customized as a player progresses. The major alteration with Black Ops 3 is the multi-player mode where players can share information about threats during the game.

Have a look at its trailer below:

https://youtu.be/58Pspqx0XGs

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

As the number symbolises, ‘Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End’ is the fourth and final instalment in the Uncharted franchise. The third-person action-adventure shooter developed by Naughty Dog for PlayStation 4 and published by Sony is set to release early next year. For the first time, vehicles will be playable and the protagonist Nathan Drake will be riding a bike in the upcoming sequel.

The game is set several years post Nathan’s last adventure. He is forced back into the world of thieves. For his loved ones on stake, Drake embarks on a journey across the globe in quest of a historical conspiracy behind a pirate treasure. The gameplay demo is tantalizing, truly. Have a look at it below:

June 15, 2015
One Good Reason Why No One Should Buy Samsung Galaxy Note 5 at Launch

Last year, Samsung launched the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and Note 4 Edge at IFA Berlin. It was the first time the company had incorporated the ‘Edge’ on a smartphone. And unlike smartphone innovations, which are usually leaked weeks before their official launch, the company managed to keep this one a secret till the day it was slated to arrive.

We have to admit, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is a beautifully designed gadget. It breaks away from the monotonous slab-like look and stands out in the overcrowded smartphone market. Now, in 2015, it’s time for Samsung to bring out its updated version. We’ve already heard several rumours about the Galaxy Note 5. We know that it might feature a 5.9-inch Super AMOLED display with curves on both the edges, it might carry an upgraded version of Samsung’s Exynos 7422 and be powered by a mammoth 4100mAh battery. A latest report also suggested that the Note 4 successor will sport a USB 3.1 Type-C port, which we recently saw incorporated in Apple’s Macbook. Overall, the Note 5 sounds like it’s going to be a superb package.

Now if you’re wondering why we’d recommend you steer clear of purchasing Samsung’s upcoming handset at launch, then here’s the reason: Just like the company has a history of delivering solid flagships, it also has a habit of reducing the price of the smartphone, soon after launch.

We’ve noticed the pattern over the past few years. For example, the Samsung Galaxy S5, which was launched in India in April 2014 with a price tag of Rs. 51,500 ($802 approx), dramatically dropped its price and was available for Rs. 40,600 ($632 approx), within a month. A more recent example would be the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge at Launch

Both are impressive Android smartphones. At the time of launch in India, the 32GB variant of the Samsung Galaxy S6 was available for Rs. 49,900 ($777approx.) Today, three months after launch, you can buy the smartphone for as low as Rs. 39,480 ($615 approx.)

All smartphone companies are known to reduce the price of their smartphones. Recently we saw the same for OnePlus, Motorola, and even Apple. However, the companies wait till they’re ready to bring out their refreshed models, before putting their offerings on sale.

The buyers who end up picking up the Samsung smartphones the same month as the launch, feel cheated about having spent a larger sum than anybody else. Instead of waiting to buy the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 at launch, we’d recommend you go for the Galaxy S6, S6 Edge. Since they’ve arrived recently, they’re sure to come with top-notch specs and updated features. It would be a much safer bet, than to go for the Note 5.

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June 15, 2015