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You Will Never Miss Out on Your Friend’s Posts With Facebook’s Improved News Feed

Facebook announced today that they will be changing and reconfiguring their website’s News Feed section. The social networking site has applied three changes and aims to supply information about the people ‘you care about’.

One of the main changes to the Facebook layout will be that your News Feed will first prioritise your closer friends. Photo or a Status put up by them will be placed higher in the News Feed so that it won’t be missed out.

The second change is that the rules for seeing multiple posts from the same source has been toned down. This modification has been done for people who do not have much content to view. Now, you will never reach the ‘end’ of a News Feed easily.

Finally, the last change would be that you will see lesser posts of your friends liking or commenting on other friend’s posts. These stories will be pushed further down the News Feed so that you first see the posts or photos of the people you care about more.

The only downfall would be that Facebook Pages may get compromised. Facebook states in its blog:

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Facebook Official Blog”]

The impact of these changes on your page’s distribution will vary considerably depending on the composition of your audience and your posting activity. In some cases, post reach and referral traffic could potentially decline. Overall, pages should continue to post things that your audience finds meaningful and continue using our Page’s best practices.

[/quote]

Facebook has asked Web Publishers and Page Managers to visit their blog to know more about page feeds and posts under the new circumstances. Click here to visit the blog.

April 22, 2015
Indian Tech Startups Write an Open Letter to PM Modi to Help Save Net Neutrality

An unbiased internet is a right of all and should not be a distinctive property limited to a privileged few. For the Internet to be a free entity is extremely important for regular internet users, as it is the equally essential for the budding businesses to grow. Start-up firms, who are launching themselves to gain recognition using the internet, need a non-discriminatory medium to establish themselves. For them, an unbiased platform both on the basis of cost and speed is a crucial need.

A group of tech start-ups has pushed its concern over the lack of Net Neutrality. The emerging companies wrote an open letter to PM Modi which states the necessity of free Internet to build a Digital India. The letter throws light on the fact that the dream of India to produce the next Google is impossible without a non-discriminatory Internet. The Prime Minister of India, few days back, remarked in his speech that he wants India to be the birthplace of next renowned search engine.

The letter by the small businesses reads, “We dream that an Indian startup may one day become the next Google, Facebook or Amazon. We know that you share our dream. We share another dream with you, the dream of a Digital India. We dream of this as Indians, and also as businesses that wish to serve a fast-growing Indian internet market. These dreams cannot be achieved without the open Internet.”

The message ends up with the comment, “We request that open-house debates be held in major Indian cities after the consultation process is over. We, the start-ups that are at the forefront of creating Digital India, request you to take action now. We need you to protect our nation’s innovation ecosystem.” The open letter is signed by some of the fresh companies like Housing.com, Goibibo, TheSecretKart.com and much more.

Late last year, Airtel attempted to violate net neutrality by charging extra for free calls and chat services, but faced an aggressive backlash resulting it to withdraw the proposed plan. Recently Airtel Zero, a scheme to offer free data access to a variety of mobile apps, faced such hostility that it forced Flipkart to back off from Airtel’s Zero plan. However, Airtel stood by its initial claim and came out openly denying the allegations.

Meanwhile, the government has stepped into the matter and will look into the Zero plan. Facebook and Twitter are flooded with various campaigns such as #SavetheInternet, #NetNeutrality, to save the internet from classism.

To read the full letter, click here.

April 22, 2015
Here’s an Important WhatsApp Update for iOS That Everyone Missed Out On

Most iPhone users have trouble admitting it, but iOS comes with several limitations. One of the major restrictions has been the absence of easy inter-app sharing; more specifically, sending images from the Photos app to WhatsApp directly.

The new WhatsApp update, Version 2.12.1, other than adding the much-awaited voice calling feature, finally gives iPhone users the right to directly share an image from the Photos app with a WhatsApp contact.

The WhatsApp icon has been added to the list of ‘Share’ options.

A feature that Android users have always enjoyed, was a tiresome detail missing from iOS. Earlier if an iPhone user was scrolling through old pictures on his/her smartphone and decided he/she wanted to share one that was clicked in 2013 with a friend via WhatsApp. They would have to open the WhatsApp app, find the friend, and then scroll back in time to retrieve the picture. The new WhatsApp update now cuts back on the long procedure and makes it super easy to share images.

To enable the setup, you would first need to install the update. Then open the Photos App, choose an image and click on the Share button. Scroll through the end of the list and click on ‘More’. From the list of apps, you now have WhatsApp added as one of the sharing options. Enable it, and you’re good to go.

For more details on the new update, click here.

April 22, 2015
WhatsApp Brings Voice-Calling to iOS Along With Few More Features

It’s been a while since the cross-platform mobile messaging app debuted its much-talked about free calling service on Android platform. The iOS users were left behind with no access to this feature, but now WhatsApp has released the calling tool for iOS users as well.

WhatsApp update with version 2.12.1 hit the iTunes Store, which states that upgraded app will feature voice-calling on iPhone. Users can make a call to any of their friends and relatives across the globe using the cellular data. WhatsApp stated that it has started rolling out the service, and it will slowly reach all iOS devices “over the next several weeks.”

The latest version is not just about the voice-calling update and introduces a slew of other features, making use of iOS 8’s sharing extensions. With the new version installed, users would be able to share photos, videos, and links right to WhatsApp from other apps. To know more about the useful inter-app sharing improvements, click here.

iPhone users can now also edit contacts directly from the app. One can capture photos and videos within WhatsApp and can send multiple videos before cropping them. A caption can also be added along with the photos, just like Android app.

Meanwhile, WhatsApp recorded a steep increase in its active user base. The CEO of the company said that it now serves 800 million active users, which was 600 million nearly four months back. Covering the iOS users as well, Windows is the only platform left where the voice-calling is still to arrive.

April 22, 2015

Micromax Launches Canvas Spark With Android Lollipop and 8MP Rear Camera, Priced at Rs. 4,999

In a series of tweets, few days back, Micromax disclosed that it was all set to release its newest affordable smartphone, the Canvas Spark in India. Today, the company has finally launched the handset at a price of Rs. 4,999. The low-end 3G smartphone will be available exclusively on Snapdeal via flash sale.

Measuring a thickness of 8.5mm and weighing 134g, Micromax Canvas Spark features a 4.7-inch qHD IPS display. The screen has a protection of Corning Gorilla Glass 3 on top. Inside, the handset is equipped with a 1.3 GHz Quad-Core MediaTek MT6582M processor, coupled along a 1GB DDR3 RAM. Memory stats consists of 8GB of internal memory, with 32GB of expandable memory via microSD card.

Fitted on its back is an 8MP primary camera with LED flash, while the front-facing camera is a 2MP snapper. It runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop and comes with support for 21 languages. A 2000mAh battery provides power to the handset.

As stated by the company, the Canvas Spark is the fourth among the new 3G smartphone launched after the S300, D320 and Q324. For booking the device, customers can register on the official Micromax website starting from 12:00 pm on 22nd April.

Check out the spec sheet below for overall details:

Specification	Micromax Canvas Spark
Display	4.7-inch qHD IPS with Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Processor	1.3GHz Quad-Core MediaTek MT6582M
RAM	1GB
Primary Camera	8MP
Front Camera	2MP
Internal Memory	8GB
Expandable Up to	32GB
Battery	2000mAh
Operating System	Android 5.0 Lollipop
Price	Rs 4,999

April 21, 2015

New YouTube Upgrade to Shut Down App Support for Older iOS Devices and More

The video-sharing website YouTube has made some alterations, which is making its app dysfunctional on some aging devices. In a recent statement, YouTube announced to have upgraded its Data API, which implies that the YouTube app will not work on certain devices of 2012 model and older.

The upgrading of the Data API Version 2 to Version 3 will render the app inaccessible on the aforementioned models. The list of devices includes older iOS devices, Google TV running on versions 1 and 2, second-gen Apple TV, older smart televisions, and Blu-Ray players. Google said the app support for previous versions have already started to shut down, and will completely end by the last week of April.

There will be no way for the aged devices to access the YouTube app. iPhone, iPads or iTouch gadgets with iOS 7 or above will only be able to access the YouTube app. The company says the new API will bring in new video viewing experience and can be accessed from any screen. Starting from Monday onwards, users with API Version 2 will receive a warning video that reads, “YouTube is upgrading to a newer version, which is not supported by this device or app. To learn more and see where you can watch YouTube, visit www.youtube.com/devicesupport”.

Meanwhile, the web version on the handsets will still work. Users will older devices can access YouTube simply via visiting the mobile site, provided it supports Flash/HTML5.

April 21, 2015
Qualcomm to Tap Samsung to Build Next-Gen Snapdragon 820 Chip

Qualcomm has long association with one of the world’s largest semiconductor foundry Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). The latter firm has provided some of the cutting-edge chips like Snapdragon that are fitted to most of the high- and low-end smartphones of the decade. But Qualcomm seems to giving a break to its customary practice and is planning to head towards Samsung for the next-generation Snapdragon processor.

As per a report by Re/code, Qualcomm will make use of Samsung’s manufacturing arm to build the upcoming Snapdragon 820, stated an insider. This means we might see the high-end 2016 smartphones powered by a Snapdragon processor manufactured at Samsung’s chip-making plants. Meanwhile, it is heard that Apple has also given the contract to Samsung for the A9 chips.

The present Snapdragon 810 made by TSMC lags behind Samsung’s own Exynos 7, equipped with the latest Galaxy S series handsets. Unlike previous processors, the Snapdragon 810 heats up and slows down immensely after certain minutes of usage. This led to a major loss to Qualcomm, who lost a major chunk of its customers because of the problematic Snapdragon 810 processor.

Samsung also has an edge over TSMC as it uses thinner 14nm transistors instead of 20nm used at TSMC. A thin wiring adds benefits to the phone. As the wires are slim, the chips would be small and smaller chips costs less. Smaller chips also give a better battery performance.

Qualcomm has all reasons to turn to Samsung as Snapdragon is the major revenue factor for the company. To regain its lost clients, the global semiconductor firm may make a switch and tie up with the Korean company for improved chips. It is welcoming news for Samsung who has shown tremendous growth in the smartphone, as well as hardware business.

According to the source, the Snapdragon 820 will have built-in LTE modem along with a graphics core and a custom-designed Qualcomm processor. For now, both Samsung and Qualcomm hasn’t slipped any information, and we have to wait for an official announcement for the authenticity of the report.

April 21, 2015
Microsoft Expected to Roll Out Windows 10 by July End

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. Microsoft hasn’t yet disclosed when the latest Windows is going to debut, but we have some details about its arrival.

As stated by TechCrunch, Windows 10 will release at the end of July. The online tech publisher contacted some officials who disclosed the release date of the next Windows OS.

In October 2014, Microsoft released the Technical Preview of Windows 10 that allowed users to view and test the new OS first hand. The Redmond-based firm has high expectations from its latest operating system and is offering it free for its Windows 7, 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1 users for one year. The new Windows marks the comeback of the Start Menu, which was absent in the previous Windows 8 version. It has some exceptional features like Project Spartan and Cortana. With Project Spartan, users can have an all-new experience while browsing the web. Further developments include tweaks and enhancements to its menu, screen, and other features like Cortana.

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

April 21, 2015
Here’s How You Can Watch Xiaomi’s “Global Mi Phone Premier” Live

The forthcoming Xiaomi event is going to be grand in many ways. It’s the first time that the Chinese electronics firm has chosen India for Global Mi Phone Premier and today, Xiaomi announced another first. The firm came up with a statement saying that the global Mi event will be live streamed on April 23 at 3.30pm IST. Users can visit the official Mi page to watch the event live.

For now, the Mi page features a countdown to the event. On April 23, the timer will be replaced by a live streaming video for the Xiaomi fans. Also, the live stream of the event will be in English for the majority of the world to understand. The audience sitting in their homes can also participate in the live event by sending tweets with hashtag #MiLaunch2015.

As we all know, the launch event is open for all, and anyone from fans and media can walk in to witness the launch of the new phone.

Xiaomi teased the new smartphone with a tagline “i IS COMING”. Since then, much has been speculated about the forthcoming device. There have been reports that the next device is the low-end version of the Mi 4. A device with title Mi 4i was also spotted on the GeekBench3, which brought to light scare details of the phone.

Fortunately, there are just two more days for the new device to launch, and it will put an end to all the anticipations. Keep checking back for more updates on the next Mi Phone.

April 21, 2015
Nokia May Make a Comeback in the Smartphone Market Next Year

Microsoft acquired Nokia’s devices and services business for a heavy sum of $7.2 billion last year. The Finnish company can no longer use the Nokia brand name on smartphones till Q4 2016, and on feature phones for ten years. Once the biggest smartphone maker in the world failed to catch up with the fast-growing market trends set by Apple and Google. But, as most of us considered, it was not the demise of the titan.

Nokia is planning to bounce back to the smartphone business sometime next year. Reports by online publishing daily Recode suggest that Nokia is gearing to make a comeback in the mobile business, and is working on several new ambitious projects including virtual reality. The company has so far released only two products – an Android app called Z Launcher and the Nokia N1, also dubbed as the first Nokia-branded Android tablet.

The 6600 was one of the most popular devices by Nokia and was almost the star of the movie, Cellular.

It is expected that Nokia will employ the same strategy for the new device as it used for the N1 tablet. The device was launched last year along with a brand licensing agreement with Foxconn. The Finnish company hopes to find a similar brand licensing agreement partner for its next release.

There has been reports that Nokia has “a lot of great stuff in development’, but there is no certainty about the upcoming Nokia product or if the company is making a comeback by 2016. Therefore, the news should be taken with a pinch of salt.

With its latest acquisition of Alcatel-Lucent for $16.5 billion, together as Nokia Corporation, the company has set its sights on Virtual Reality, Internet of Things and Cloud Computing, and is ready to greet the world with brand new treats.

April 21, 2015
Google Gives Android Wear a New Look With the Latest Update

The search engine major is geared to update its smartwatch operating system that would bring Android-run watches a step closer to Apple Watch. Lately, Google announced to update Android Wear to bring a slew of new features that are simple, fast and would make Android watches convenient to use.

The foremost significant feature of the new update is the always-on mode that is now extended to the apps. With the update, Android Wear will support a low-power, always-on mode that would allow apps to stay in the background in black and white. The screen will remain on, showing just a minimal amount of data and will save the battery life as well. The feature is helpful especially with shopping lists, map directions, music controls and fitness apps. The screen turns back to full colour when the user is actively looking at it.

Google has reduced the dependability on your smartphone with the latest Android Wear update. The Android smartwatches can now operate independently “as long as your watch is connected to a Wi-Fi network, and your phone has a data connection.” Yes, the Android Wear now supports Wi-Fi. Users can move the smartwatch beyond the Bluetooth range of their handset, which was the only connecting medium until now. The Android Wear device will now receive notifications, send messages, and use all your favorite apps.

The fresh update will sort of change the way users interact with their smartwatch. Google has added a few gestures to improve usability. Now, one can scroll the screen up just by a flick of the wrist and don’t need to empty your hands to operate the watch.

The basic functionality of the watch has been simplified by bringing ahead the apps and contacts. Just touch the watch face and users can start send messages immediately and start apps.

Also, Google has added hand-drawn emoji support as a mode to communicate with your friends. Android Wear will understand the hundreds of different emojis drawn by you and send it via message or text.

The update will be coming over the next few weeks, starting with the new LG Watch Urbane. All the other Android watches will soon follow.

April 21, 2015
Reliance Jio to Provide High-Speed 4G Services via Three Frequency Bands

Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited, headed by Mukesh Ambani, has announced its plans to launch the 4G network services through an integrated system. As per the company statement released recently, “RJIL plans to provide seamless 4G services using LTE in 800MHz, 1,800MHz and 2,300 MHz bands through an integrated ecosystem.”

Reliance Jio or RJIL is an Internet access and telecommunication company headquartered in Mumbai and is a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited. This company is the only pan-India operator with Broadband Wireless Access spectrum and uses commercial LTE services for providing 4G across India with over 22 telecom circles.

Reliance successfully acquired the 1800 MHz spectrum for 14 circles back in 2014, and in March 2015, Reliance acquired the spectrum in 800MHz and 1800MHz in over 13 circles. The company states the Mobile Switching Centre Code (2G network element that controls the Network Switching Subsystem elements), Mobile Country Code and the Mobile Network Code (both are used in combination to identify a mobile phone carrier using GSM or LTE networks) has also been allotted.

Reliance has asserted that it hopes to provide high-speed services in domains like education, healthcare, security, financial services, government-citizen interfaces and entertainment. The company claimed that access to innovative and empowering digital content is of utmost priority. It is learnt that Reliance is working with strategic partners to aid it in installation and testing activities.

April 20, 2015

OPPO Launches the Affordable Joy Plus in India, Priced at Rs. 6,990

After a year of launching the OPPO Joy smartphone in April 2014, the Chinese electronics manufacturer has brought out its successor, the Joy Plus for the Indian market. The affordable handset holds almost identical specifications as the previous iteration, but comes with increased RAM.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Mr. Tom Lu” author_title=”CEO, OPPO Mobile India”]

Our aim at OPPO India is to provide our customers with ground-breaking technology at affordable prices. The Smartphone market in India is constantly evolving and we intend to reach across sections through our budget Smartphone, Joy Plus. We are looking at aggressive market penetration this year and we are confident that Joy Plus, packed with latest features will provide our customers more personal and reliable mobile experience.

[/quote]

The dual-SIM smartphone runs on Android 4.4.2 KitKat integrated with the company’s ColorOS 2.0 UI. Display details include a 4-inch WVGA IPS screen with 480x800p resolution and 234ppi pixel density. It equips a 1.3GHz dual-core MediaTek (MT6572) bundled with 1GB RAM. The memory capacity of the device comprises of 4GB of internal memory, which can be extended up to 32GB via microSD card.

It has a 3MP primary camera with LED flash and a 0.3MP front shooter, and picks up power from a 1700mAh removable Li-ion battery. On the connectivity front, the Joy Plus offers 3G, GPRS/EDGE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Micro-USB and Bluetooth options. Overall, the phone measures 124x63x9.9mm and weighs about 125grams. The phone is finished with a Frost Matte Gold Frame.

The phone will soon be available in various stores across India at a price of Rs. 6,990.

Check out the spec-sheet below to get a clear idea:

Specification	OPPO Joy Plus
Display	4-inch WVGA IPS, 234ppi pixel density
Processor	1.3GHz dual-core MediaTek (MT6572)
RAM	1GB
Primary Camera	3MP
Front Camera	0.3MP
Internal Memory	4GB
Expandable Up to	32GB
Battery	1700mAh
Operating System	Android 4.4.2 KitKat with ColorOS 2.0 UI
Price	Rs 6,990

April 20, 2015

Moto E (Gen 2) 4G Goes Up For Sale Tonight Priced at Rs. 7,999

After the huge success of Moto E (ten 2), Motorola has finally introduced the LTE version of the second-generation Moto E in India. Today, the company has announced the roll out of the same starting tonight at 12am. The bigger Moto E successor comes at a price of Rs. 7,999.

While the base version of the new Moto E costs Rs. 6,999, the LTE variant of next-gen smartphone is priced Rs. 1,000 higher than the standard variant.

Recalling the specifications of Moto E (Gen 2) LTE, the device touts a bigger 4.5-inch qHD (540×960p) screen and a 1.2 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 410 processor as compared to the Snapdragon 200 processor of the 3G model. The handset features 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.

Unlike the Moto E, users can now personalize their devices. The new interchangeable, colourful bands and grip shells have been introduced that give the phone an appealing look. The bands come in six different shades (Golden Yellow, Turquoise, Blue, Raspberry, Purple, and Red) and for back plates any colour can be chosen from Golden Yellow, Charcoal, Turquoise, Blue, and Raspberry.

It would be interesting to see if the new model can secure the amount of traction acquired by the first device in the E series.

Use this link to purchase the device:

April 20, 2015
OnePlus Finally Ends the Invite System for the One

Last week, OnePlus revealed that they were planning to make a big announcement on 20th April. All signs pointed towards the OnePlus Two, new gaming hardware or a power bank. Nobody had anticipated that the Chinese company would announce that they’ve finally decided to do away with the infuriating invite system. So, starting today the 64GB Sandstone Black and the 16GB Silk White variants will be available without an invite forever, on Amazon.in

With this announcement OnePlus also confirmed that OnePlus Two is in fact, on its way. Though they said that the second flagship will only be available through the invite system.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Carl Pei ” author_title=”Co-founder and Head of Global, OnePlus”]

By rigorously testing and improving our logistical structure over the last one year, we are far more confident that our processes have matured enough for us to handle the increased production and after-sales support that comes along with opening up sales. It’s what we’ve been working towards, and now we’re ready. This current shift from an invite system to a non-invite system is a big step, one from which we will learn a great deal before the OnePlus 2 launch, with invites, in the third quarter of this year.

[/quote]

It’s great to hear that the company has managed to catch up the production to the smartphone’s demand. This also sends a strong message to OnePlus’ arch rival, Xiaomi. Xiaomi continues its tedious flash sale system, which has made it quite a task for interested buyers to purchase the smartphone. Although Xiaomi had also recently opened up the sales of the Xiaomi Mi 4, which is currently available to buy on Flipkart.

For interested OnePlus customers, no more scouring for invites – the flagship killer is finally available to buy whenever, you want it!

Check out our hands on review of the device here:

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April 20, 2015