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Exclusive: Nubia Expected to Bring Z9 Mini to India on May 19

A while back, the news of ZTE Nubia gearing to penetrate into the Indian market came to light. It is the newest Chinese smartphone entrant trying to secure a space in the lucrative market after Xiaomi, OnePlus, Oppo and a few more. The company has now confirmed its Indian debut for May 19 and is sending media invites for the mega event. The company is tight lipped about its first smartphone in India, but the speculations are riff about the Nubia Z9 mini.

iGyaan had a word with the representative of the company. Although the person concerned declined to comment on the upcoming phone launch, he confirmed their exclusive partnership with Amazon India. He said that Nubia smartphones will be sold through Amazon.in; however, the sale scheme is not specified yet. The e-commerce website has pushed a special Nubia page where users can register themselves. Many more phones are said to follow in the coming months and it’s quite possible that Nubia might bring its whole product catalogue after a period of time.

A new box you may soon see on the market shelves #iGyaanLife #iGyaan #Nubia

A photo posted by iGyaan Network (@igyaan) on May 15, 2015 at 4:02am PDT

Talking about what Nubia Z9 mini had to offer, the phone sports a 5-inch screen with 1080 x 1920 pixels resolution and 441 ppi pixel density. It features a Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615 chipset along with quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & quad-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU and Adreno 405 GPU. The device runs on Android Lollipop with Nubia UI 2.8 on top. A 2GB RAM and 16GB internal storage space is provided with the device, the latter can be extended up to 128GB.

As far as camera specifications are concerned, a 16MP rear shooter with autofocus, LED flash is fitted to the phone, while the secondary camera is 8MP. Connectivity options include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Micro-USB port and an audio jack. A sufficient 2900mAh battery fuels the device. The phone comes in two colours, black and white, and is expected to come at a price of Rs. 15,000.

Fortunately, Nubia fans don’t have to wait for long; May 19 is just 3 days from now. Things will be clear at the launch itself.

May 16, 2015
Top 5 Free Web-Based Photo Editing Applications

Being in a small business, you won’t have much funds to purchase industry leading software. And these days every business, whether small or large, need good images to woo customers on a social media platform. Don’t worry, there is an alternative. There are some great feature rich photo editing applications which are capable of enhancing your images and creatively adding effects without emptying your pockets.

Here’s a list of 5 of the very best web-based photo editing applications.

1. GIMP (Free)

GIMP or GNU Image Manipulation Program is a free, open-source, image editor. It has been a go-to tool for Linux users for years. GIMP is a versatile image editor that allows you to customize the application view and behavior to suit your requirements. Menus are closely parallel Photoshop’s, with File, Edit, Select, View, Image, Filters, and help serving the same functions — although in a slightly different order. GIMP is expandable and extensive, with the advanced scripting interface allowing everything from simple tasks to complex image manipulation, to be completed.

2. Picadilo (Free)

Picadilo is a free photo editor app for the Chrome browser and requires no registration. Picadilo offers you a wide range of unique tools, including brushes, selections, text, effects and more. Once you upload an image you can resize, crop, retouch, add text and filters and even put frames around your image. With more than 100 fonts, 40 photo effects, 19 retouch tools and 140 unique stickers, there are enough features to easily edit any image.You can adjust the exposure, especially useful for either very dark or bright images and can also use the Magnify tool which lets you zoom in to any part of your image.

3. Sumo Paint (Free or $4 per month for Pro version)

Sumo Paint is another browser-based image editor which gives you fantastic sets of tools, ranging from the basic to an advanced level. Unlike other apps, Sumo Paint has an online community of over 4 million users who share, update, retouch and rate the artwork of other members. You can open files from your computer, Sumo Paint or a URL and edit with a range of tools, including paint brushes, erasers, shapes, pattern palettes, eyedropper, paint, text and a variety of blend modes. You can also utilize the curves tool to control colors and contrast, and levels for adjusting tones just like Photoshop.

4. BeFunky (Free)

Uploading an image to Befunky allows users to edit and create a variety of different styles from photographs including fixes and sizes. Using the basics of the flash-based tool, you can increase the colouration, sharpen the image, crop out specifics, resize and much more. You could add stamps to the images for an added touch including text in a variety of styles to fit nearly any need. Like Instagram, there are filters and social discovery, but it’s more organized, with categories for photo types, such as nature, pets, faces, and so on. Instead of spending money on expensive graphic design programs, this app could be one of your most visited websites.

5. FotoFlexer (Free)

FotoFlexer is one of the most advanced online editors offering a handful of features like red-eye removal, crop, resize and flip. There are advanced tools like smart resize, recolour, cutout, scissors, curves and morph. The interface is divided into tabs, each of which contain between eight to twenty effects that can add borders, fix mistakes and save the image in either JPG or PNG format when you’ve finished editing. With filters and effects, increased options for import and export and a visual history panel, FotoFlexer is likely to be one of the best online editor out there.

May 16, 2015
This App ‘Shuffles’ the Spam Out of Your Life

Tired of picking up spam calls and receiving undesired emails? We’ve all had unwanted calls and emails. As a solution, a new mobile app has been developed by Shuffle Ventures, Inc. for filtering out such problems.

This app, called Shuffle, lets you create additional and temporary phone numbers that is directly integrated with your iPhone and can be used to call, text or receive voicemails. The virtual number works in harmony with the native phone number, thus allowing you to call or text from both without any hassle.

If a phone number became discredited by spammers or telemarketers, you could just delete it, and no one can reach you on that number again.

The newest update of this app is the ability to create your email aliases that can filter your spam mail from your main inbox. The ID can easily be used for public mail subscriptions.

Primarily, you can set up different “shuffle” numbers and emails for your personal and social connections, work colleagues, other secondary businesses, dating services, job searches, social networking sites, etc.

Charges for a single number per month are $1.99, and you have the option of renewing it. If yes, then the number is charged per call transaction.

For now, this app can be downloaded on iTunes, and we can expect an Android version in the coming few months. Worth the wait!

May 16, 2015
Google Will Soon Add ‘Buy Button’ in Mobile Search

Google kicked off as a search engine, but its hasn’t restricted itself to search only. It is constantly refurbishing itself with the inclusion of fresh features like ‘Find My Phone‘, allowing users send directions from desktop to mobile, providing a list of relevant apps, and many more innovative tools. The tech behemoth is now planning to venture into the online marketing business with the introduction of ‘buy button’. According to a report by Wall Street Journal, the Mountain View-based giant will soon start showing the ‘buy button’ for the searched products on mobile devices.

The source familiar with the matter revealed that only the sponsored search results will come with a buy button within the ‘Shop on Google’ page. The non-sponsored results generated from Google’s search algorithm will be deprived of this feature. As soon as a shopper clicks the buy button, he/she will be directed to the Google product page where they can pick the desired colour, size and payment option.

Google will be investing $1Billion in Satellite Internet initiative of SpaceX

Like many other shopping websites, the products would be provided and sold by the original retailers instead of Google. The move is being considered as a profound shift in Google’s strategy as the company is diving into an entirely different segment. It will not drive the customers to the retail sites, and instead will confine them to Google’s own shopping page. In the Google program, retailers will have access to limited information like e-mail ID and delivery address only if the shoppers opt for it.

The payment credentials will also stay with Google and won’t be sent to the retailers. Once Google gets money from the shopper, it will pass on the payment to the retailer. Users will be offered with a wide array of payment options, as confirmed by the source. The buy option will be available to mobile users as of now, as Google aims to try it with a smaller fraction of an audience.

With this move, Google will be known as a retailer and its role will be much more than just showing results. It will be handling an online transaction business along with managing traffic. The strategic shift will turn Google into a marketplace, pitting it against the thriving e-commerce giants like Amazon, eBay and more. We may come across this new feature in a few weeks.

May 16, 2015
Microsoft Backtracks, Announces Pirated Softwares Will Not Receive Free Windows 10 Upgrade

The arrival of Windows 10 is the next big thing every Windows OS user is looking forward to. Of course, the latest Windows version has many distinctive features, but Microsoft’s promise to provide free Windows 10 upgrade to everyone is another major cause of wait for users running pirated copies.Unexpectedly, Microsoft has pulled back its support for the non-genuine versions of Windows 7 and 8.1.

Microsoft responded to all customer queries regarding how this will work for genuine and non-genuine Windows. The hardware and software giant commented on its blog post stating that Genuine Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 customers will be upgraded to Windows 10 for free and will continue receiving ongoing Windows innovation and security updates for the supported lifetime of that device.

On the other hand, Non-Genuine users are suggested to purchase a licensed copy of the ubiquitous Windows to save their personal data from getting exposed publicly. Microsoft said that the Windows 10 update will not be free for Non-Genuine Windows devices and customers have to pay a certain cost depending on what the offer is. As per the company statement, some offers would be run by Microsoft to shift users from the pirated version to the original. The new version will be accessible on devices running pirated copies, but that will again be a non-genuine version. It will come with a watermark notifying its piracy.

Microsoft hasn’t clarified the pricing scheme and has asked to stay tuned for further announcements. Windows 10 is scheduled to release this summer. It will release in 190 countries and will support 111 languages. The fresh Windows OS will bring major upgrades and innovative features like Cortana, Continuum and many more. Read more about the same here.

May 16, 2015
WhatsApp’s Latest Update for Android Now Available on Google Play Store

WhatsApp is out with their new update and is sure to easy on your eyes. Earlier, WhatsApp had released the new update with a new Material Design and UI, but only to a handful of users as beta versions. After a month of anxious waiting, the update is now available for everyone to download through the Google Play Store.

The new build (version 2.12.87) has a dark green background that earlier was grey in colour. The top bar that holds the Search and Setting buttons has been enlarged as compared to the previous update. This top bar hides itself when you scroll downwards. When you click on a friend’s profile, you will find that the person’s picture is big enough to be viewed easily as a profile picture. The new chat screen looks very light and bright, maybe because of the fresh aura of the dark green interface. From the Emoji perspective, the only change you will see is a white background on the emoji list. While calling through WhatsApp, the caller’s name will be highlighted in bigger fonts with smaller and more minimalistic icons.

This update can now be downloaded on Android devices from the Google Play Store. As of now, we do not have any knowledge about the new update for the iOS, Windows or Blackberry devices. Keep checking this page out to stay updated.

Just to be made clear, some users received this update few weeks ago. This update was actually the beta version of the same. The final version is being talked about in this article.

Click here to read more about WhatsApp Voice Calling feature.

May 16, 2015
Here’s What You Can Expect From Samsung Galaxy Note 5

Samsung has carved a niche in the smartphone segment with the unconventional, Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. The firm regained its name and market share because of the latest series and Samsung fans are now waiting for the next high-end product to hit the market. The Korean firm is now gearing up to launch its next flagship, the Note 5 phablet. Considering their launch pattern, the Galaxy Note 4 successor may launch sometime in September this year.

As a fresh round of rumours suggest, the Note 5 will come with a model number SM-N920F. It is likely to feature 5.4-inch or 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display with curves on both the edges. Let us remind you that the Note 4 was the first smartphone with which the curved edge display was introduced. Other rumours speak of a 5.9-inch screen with 4K resolution. The company has been planning to venture into the 4K technology and the forthcoming Galaxy Note 5 may be the first to embed it.

Needless to say, the bar of expectations has been raised higher for the next phablet. Users may see a powerful processor fitted for computing tasks and sufficient in-built memory to store content. An upgraded version of Samsung’s Exynos 7422 is speculated to govern the computing operations. If we go by reports, the Note 5 will feature 3GB LPDDR3 DRAM, 32GB of eMMC (embedded multimedia card) along with a controller. Other buzz suggests of a 16MP rear camera, 8MP secondary shooter, 4GB RAM and 16GB internal storage.

Summing up all the speculations, the Galaxy Note 5 appears to be a major update from the Note 4. It will have improved features, higher specs and an upgraded S-pen for better user experience. While none of the configurations have been confirmed by the company, interested buyers have to wait for an official announcement.

May 16, 2015
According to BJP, ‘The Internet Must be Governed’

BJP said the internet is a crucial part of one’s life, and should be governed very carefully without the need to compromise the freedom of speech and expression.

Speaking at an Internet governance event organised by industry chamber Assocham, BJP National Spokesman, Sambit Patra said,

Internet is extremely important and since it is extremely important for governance also, because every person is within the ambit of government, Internet has to be governed in a way that does not take away basic essence of Internet which is freedom of speech and expression.

He also stated that the government had formed a community along with TRAI on Net Neutrality. He said,

Once the TRAI submits its recommendation to the Telecom Commission and then after the commission approaches the government, the government will take the decision in favour of people.

On March, the Supreme Court deemed Section 66A of the IT Act as unconstitutional. This Act granted police the power to arrest anyone for sending out offensive messages from computers, mobiles or any other communication portals with a maximum penalty of 3 years in jail. Sambit Patra stated this Act had been misused in the past, due to vagueness of words.

On the contrary, Congress leader and former Union Minister, Manish Tewari, challenged Patra’s discussion by stating that the Internet should not be governed and must be left the way it is to develop. He supported his statement by saying,

Difficulty is where do you draw the line? Someone may be liberal and may draw the line on the left and someone may conservative may draw the line on the extreme left.

A few days back, the Indian Government came out in support of Net Neutrality. The government hasn’t been issued with a final verdict on the same but is committed to keeping the Intenet open and evenly accessible to everyone. Standing up in support of free internet, Telecom and IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in a firm voice said that the practices of blocking and deliberately slowing down or speeding up of lawful content on web should not be allowed. Read more about it here.

May 15, 2015
Fresh Round of Rumours Emerge About Google’s Android M

Google is restlessly dispatching the Lollipop version of its Android operating system to maximum number of devices. Some smartphones are enjoying the sweetness of the Android Lollipop, but there is a huge per cent patiently waiting to for an OTA update on their handsets. Google is simultaneously working on bringing out a fresh version of Android OS, temporarily titled as Android M, that is estimated to see a launch in the forthcoming Google I/O conference. Rumours have been rife about Android M for quite a while. Let’s see what they have to say about the upcoming mobile OS.

Much to our surprise, the next Android OS won’t have any special design aspects to wait for, as per a report by Android PIT. It is reported to be a minor upgrade of the present Android version with slight changes in design and features. The report by Android PIT cites that the upcoming version will not be a major overhaul in terms of design. It said to “expect evolutionary change and refinement rather than a gee-whiz new look.”

If we talk about the features, the Android M is speculated to bring a major improvement that will bring Android OS closer to Windows OS and iOS, by a step. If rumours are to be believed, the forthcoming Android M will have a revamped notifications setting where alerts are unified across different platforms. That means, the notifications will appear on your smartphone, the tablet and the PC as well.

Connected devices will be another area of focus on Android M. The Smart Home feature will be tweaked majorly to improve wireless control over connected devices.

Meanwhile, there were reports of the new OS handling over the privacy policy to users, which was needed since quite long. However, there has been no confirmation on any of these reports as yet. Know more about Android M here.

May 15, 2015
Candy Crush Will Be Included With the Windows 10 Update

We all have played a fair deal of classic games like Solitaire, Minesweeper and Hearts since the existence of Windows. As for Windows 10, these games will automatically be installed in the system. In addition to these, Microsoft is also tagging partners along to bring in their contribution of games to the new OS. The latest to join the Microsoft wagon is King’s widely popular sugar-filled game, Candy Crush.

According to Windows Blog, Candy Crush Saga will come automatically for customers that download or upgrade to Windows 10 during the launch. This version includes cross-play with iOS and Android devices.

It will quite be an unique experience playing Candy Crush on Windows 10’s smooth OS. King Digital Entertainment turned quite some heels when the game was first released for Facebook in 2012 and made its way to iOS, Android and Windows devices in the same year.

Back in March, Microsoft announced the release of the highly-anticipated Windows 10. The company said that the latest OS would come this summer in over 190 countries and 111 languages. As stated by TechCrunch, Windows 10 will release at the end of July. It is a free upgrade as long as customers claim this offer in the first year of the OS in the market.

For information on the unique features of Windows 10, click here.

May 15, 2015
Apple Might Release Two Variants of iPhone 6s

Apple’s newest smartphones iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus proved to be the game changers for the company. They successfully reminded the world that the Cupertino-based firm has an edge over other smartphone brands and why it’s the world’s most valuable company. The demand of the latest iPhone 6 iterations are shooting up tremendously and Apple knows where they are falling back. The newest Apple handsets are missing out on some features and the company is sincerely attempting to overcome those minor lags with a new iPhone 6 version.

Earlier we heard of some tools that will be inculcated in the upcoming ‘iPhone 6s’, but now we have a few more details about the much-awaited device. According to the analyst Ming-Chi Kuo from KGI Securities, the forthcoming iPhone 6s will feature the same display size of 4.7 inches and 5.5 inches found on iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, respectively. This means we might see two variants of iPhone 6s sometime this year. The resolution of the upcoming models will be the same as of previous versions.

The next products will show an improvement in the structure. The bending issue will be restored to a large extent by altering different casing materials and internal mechanical design. In order to promote its exclusive Apple Pay service, the recognition rate of Touch ID will be enhanced for effortless payments. Together with that, Gesture control is also said to deploy in the next smartphone.

According to the report, the mass production of the phones will commence in August. A maximum of 90 million smartphones will be shipped out of which 2/3rd will be iPhone 6s and 1/3rd will be the bigger version of the same.

Recent rumours speak of iPhone 6 holding a 2GB RAM and a 12MP camera. Force Touch introduced with Apple Watch and the new MacBook will be the major highlights.

May 15, 2015
Moto G (Gen 3) Spotted on Flipkart’s Smartphone Listing

Seems like Motorola is geared to release another version of Moto G shortly. The Schaumburg-based company hasn’t come out with any such announcement, but we have learnt this from Motorola’s exclusive online partner, Flipkart. Next-gen Moto G smartphone was recently spotted on Flipkart where sparse details of the phone were provided. The Indian e-commerce website might have accidently made the page live, but it stamps the rumours of Moto G (Gen 2) successor in the pipeline.

The Moto G (3rd Gen) page has come up with an early listing of the handset. It does not give away much of the details like display, processor, etc. and discloses just the internal storage capacity of the phone. It does not even have an image of the upcoming smartphone. The only details known are that it will be available in white colour and will have 8GB in-built storage space. The Indian version of Moto G (3rd Gen) will have a model number AP3560AD1K8.

There have been rumours of the Moto G (Gen 3) sporting a 5- or 5.2-inch full-HD display, packing a 64-bit 1.7GHz Snapdragon 610 SoC along with 2GB of RAM and 4G LTE support.

It’s not clear if Motorola purposely leaked its next smartphone to give it hype, or if it was Flipkart who mistakingly slipped the information. Motorola is hopping forward in the smartphone race, where, the competition among the mid-range handsets is at its peak. It would be nice to see how Motorola plays its cards this time and what difference it makes on the present electronic brands.

It is worth noting that both the first-gen and second-gen handsets did really well in the Indian market, and the third phone in the series is likely to continue the trend.

May 15, 2015
India Will Be Receiving Only The WiFi Variant Of LG Watch Urbane

Since Apple has released its Apple Watch successfully, many companies like Samsung, Timex, etc. are coming out with their versions of smart watches. LG does not seem far behind in the trend of creating smartwatches. The South Korean manufacturer raised its bar with the revelation of the G Watch R. Later, the company unveiled yet another smartwatch called the LG Watch Urbane. A fusion of style and technology, this watch is for both men and women.

According to NDTV Gadgets, India will be only receiving the WiFi variant of the watch, not the LTE version. As of now, there are no official statements given by the company, although it is expected this week.

Other than this, the LG Watch Urbane boasts of a 1.3-inch circular P-OLED (320x320p resolution) display, just like the G Watch R. Its bezels are narrow, which gives it a more elegant and classy look. The device is driven by 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset paired with 512 MB RAM. The Watch Urbane can hold data in the 4GB inbuilt memory and runs on Android Wear. The 410mAh battery of the smartwatch can be a bit disappointing and one has to charge it time and again to keep it going. The Watch Urbane packs Gyro, Accelerometer, Compass, Barometer and a heart rate sensor.

LG has priced the fashionable smartwatch at $349 (Rs. 22,000 approx). It is available in two variants, silver and gold but there is a nip to it; currently the watch is only available in the US and the sales begin from May 8. We don’t have an official confirmation about the watch’s arrival in India, but it is expected to launch sometime in end May.

May 15, 2015
Nepal’s Homegrown Solar Company Makes an Innovative Contribution to Help Nepal

On 12th May, Nepal was hit by yet another earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter Scale. Before this, an earthquake of 7.8 magnitude struck the country on April 25th, leaving more than 20,000 people dead, injured or missing.

During this phase of time, many technological powerhouses like Facebook, Google, and telephone subscribers pooled in resources for the people of Nepal. Google People Finder app helped a lot of people search for their friends and family while Facebook collected a grand sum of $10 million through its Donation Drive. Companies like Airtel, Vodafone, etc. lowered down their call rates for a few days.

Nepal’s own solar power company, Gham Power, has played a pivotal role in providing relief and helping the victims. Run by Sandeep Giri, Gham Power sprung into action to deploy solar power systems to help lighting up camps and mobile charging stations.

Sandeep Giri says that two major issues interfere while addressing basic needs like medical attention, food, water, and shelter.

Firstly, you don’t want to be in the dark, as it’s scary, you don’t feel safe, and it is also very cumbersome to get, or administer relief without light. Second, in this day and age, your first instinct is to reach out for your loved ones to check if they are okay and let them know you are okay, and when you reach for your mobile phone, it’s dead and there is no place to charge it.

Gham Power has teamed up with many other local solar companies and is right now working with Global Nepali Professional Network to raise money and build as many solar power systems as possible. The project has been named ‘Rebuild with Sun’ and has been launched on Indiegogo campaign. Its initial fundraising goal is $150,000. The contribution has been broken down to provide energy supply in different areas like: $50 provides lights and charging for one family, a hundred dollar buys a 20-watt system that can serve three families and $500 can provide a 100-watt system aiding 15 families and up to 100 phone users.

You can read more about how different tech powerhouses joined hands in an effort to help out Nepal in distress here.

Click here to see the aftermath of the deadly earthquake that hit Nepal on 25^th April.

May 15, 2015

Microsoft Brings the Lumia 540 to India, Priced at Rs. 10,199

Microsoft is steadily pushing itself in the affordable section of the Indian smartphone market. After announcing the Lumia 540 in April, the company launched the smartphone in India today with a price tag of Rs. 10,199.

Throwing some light on the specifications of the device – the Lumia 540 Dual SIM sports a 5-inch display with a resolution of 1280×720 pixels and a pixel density of 294ppi. It is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor, coupled with 1 GB RAM. It has 8 GB of internal storage and can be expanded up to a heavy 128 GB. The camera optics include an 8MP rear camera with a LED flash and a 5MP front camera. Its pre-bookings begin today and will be available in black, white and cyan colors.

The Microsoft Lumia 540 joins a long list of budget smartphones already playing the Indian field. The new entrant may not have what it takes to survive. A couple of days back, Micromax’s subsidiary Yu announced its affordable “flagship,” the Yuphoria. It offers similar specs, but is priced at a mere Rs. 6,999. Clearly, the Lumia 540 will face stiff competition.

Here’s a quick look at the phone’s specs:

Specification	Microsoft Lumia 540
Display	5-inch
Resolution	1280×720 resolution, 294 ppi IPS display
Processor	1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor
RAM	1GB
Internal Memory	8GB
Expandable Up to	128GB
Primary Camera	8MP with autofocus and LED flash
Front Camera	5MP
Battery	2,200mAh
Operating System	Windows Phone 8.1 with Lumia Denim
Price	Rs. 10,199

May 14, 2015