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The Galaxy S6 Comes in Three Weeks; Here’s What You Can Do While You Wait

Samsung’s latest flagship, the Galaxy S6 has seen the light of the day. The unique design of the Galaxy S6 Edge has already received favorable responses from critics as well as from the market. In fact, Samsung received record number of pre-orders for its latest flagship. About 20 Million potential customers have registered for the top tier Galaxy device. So if you are one of them, you know your dream device is coming in just three weeks from now on 10th of April. To create hype, Samsung may launch the device in India on the 23rd, but you’ll have to wait till the 10th of April to get your hands on it.

If you are wondering how to pass the seemingly unbearable amount of time, we have compiled a list just for you.

Watch a 100 of our YouTube videos back-to-back

iGyaan has a huge selection of videos on smartphones and other smart devices. Over the four and half years of our existence, we have covered most prominent devices. Watching iGyaan videos back to back will be a sort of a recent history lesson where you will get to see how the smartphone and other electronics have evolved over the years. So go ahead and keep the iGyaan playlist running, it has three weeks worth of excellent content (if we may say so ourselves).

Watch all of Game of Thrones Seasons, Before the New Season Begins

The ultimate television fantasy adventure will be returning on HBO and BitTorrent websites on April 12th. Now as GOT is one of the most complicated storylines, it’s always good to be revised and refreshed for a fresh new season. The multitudes of characters and immensely complex back stories and plot lines require a revisit before gathering on a whole new season filled with blood and gore and of course some pleasant nudity.

Go for a three-week mobile repair course

Smartphones are a complicated piece of engineering. While the Galaxy S6 comes in which toughened exteriors and safety features like Corning Gorilla Glass and the metal body, it can succumb to some issues. It’s always good to have the knowledge of reparing your own hardware. Learning a mobile repair course wouldn’t just give you the knowledge of how to make your device run at optimum potential, it will also let you innovate with hardware. You may end up finding your inner Tony Stark.

Learn to Cook comfort food

Now you know that when that exquisite piece of metallic marvel finally comes in your hands, you are going to spend hours with it. Wouldn’t it be great to have some delicious gourmet munchies with your premium device? So put on your apron and chef hat and immerse in a three-week cooking course. Not only will you learn an awesome art, you’ll also get to meet fun new people who can be your new contacts on your new phone.

Lastly, Get Your Shopping Lists Ready

To make the most out of your new device, you should also postpone your shopping for the next three weeks. The Galaxy S6 comes with the unique Samsung Pay feature that lets you pay through your phone. So while everyone is fumbling around with their cards, you can come in like a boss, draw your metallic machine, pay for your goodies and leave. You will also blow the minds of people around you, but make sure you don’t look back as cool guys don’t look at explosions. Guess we just made you long for your new Galaxy S6 even more with that last line, well…Oops!

March 14, 2015
Check Out the World’s First Pain Relieving Wearable

Not every wearable is about sleep tracking or counting steps. Among the many wearables showed at CES 2015, a useful one was called Quell. It is a drug-free service that helps in relieving chronic pain. The technology used for this device has been developed by Neurometrix, a company from Harvard Medical School which specialises in Neurotechnology.

This device consists of a strap that is worn around the affected part of the body, with its electrode touching the skin. When activated, it stimulates the nerves, in turn sending a message to the brain to release endogenous opioids- the body’s natural defence against pain. This brings relief within 15 minutes.

The main advantage of this device is that it is portable and can be carried along almost anywhere. The correct stimulation has to be attuned the first time, and Quell then automatically selects the same each time. iOS already has a supporting app and Android one is on its way.

The only shortcoming would be the user will have to keep on buying the electrodes periodically. Normally, this would cost $250 (approx Rs. 15,773), but pre-ordering would cost $199 (Rs. 12,555). Details about its mass availability is still uncertain, though the device is currently up for pre-order on Indiegogo. The device has already reached $250,000 in pledges.

March 14, 2015
Microsoft’s Voice Assistant Cortana Coming To Android and iOS Devices Soon

Smartphone voice assistants can be described in plain simple words as ‘freaking cool’. They have come a long way and at present they can almost be seen as the baby versions of Tony Stark’s Jarvis. While Google Now is a great search and convenience tool, Microsoft’s Cortana and Apple’s Siri have anthropomorphic qualities that let them have human live conversations with the users. Microsoft has decided to take Cortana to a wider audience and will be bringing its voice assistant to iOS and Android devices.

Microsoft has said that it will be introducing Cortana on other operating systems as a standalone app. The company will also be integrating its artificial intelligence(AI) based technology called ‘Einstein’ with the voice assistant. With Einstein’s support, Cortana would be able to read and understand emails that will help it provide more convenient features to the users. It would let it offer suggestions to the user, even before they ask for it, something Google Now has been doing for a while.

Cortana is based on the artificially intelligent character of the same name from the famed video game, Halo. The personality of the voice assistant is also derived from the AI character from the game. Microsoft has been banking on Cortana’s ability to chit chat with the users. Cortana also offers usual voice assistant features like setting reminders and calendar, weather and traffic information, writing notes and messages.

Microsoft will also be bringing Cortana on Windows 10 operating system for desktops. It might actually beat Apple in this field as the Cupertino-based company didn’t bring Siri to the latest Yosemite operating system. Microsoft is contemplating the fall timeframe for the launch of the app. So if you liked Google Now but wanted a more human-like interaction, Microsoft’s Cortana is coming soon to give you company.

Speaking of voice assistants, remember that one time we got Siri to speak in Punjabi?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCB5I4Kqthk

March 14, 2015
Is OnePlus 2 Arriving Next Month?

Rumours of the OnePlus One successor have been in the news for quite some time. One retailer even had such a phone listed on a website, even though the design and the look of the phone were not unveiled. The same Chinese retailer, Geek Buying, has recently claimed the handset could be launched on 17th of April this year. Though, much like before, there are no such confirmations from the company as of yet.

As specified by geekbuying.com, the phone will sport a 5.5-inch 1080p display with Snapdragon 805 soC, much like the previous model. There is also a mention of a 16MP primary camera and a 5MP front camera, and is based on Android 4.4 with a 3GB RAM support.

In January this year, Carl Pei announced that it may take OnePlus close to six months to launch the OnePlus Two.

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

The OnePlus One has been selling pretty well across the world. In addition to the launch countries, it was launched in India late last year, and despite of initial hiccups involving Cyanogen and Micromax, OnePlus One has managed to do pretty well. Just a couple of days back, it was launched in 16 more countries in Europe.

[/quote]

Since OnePlus One was launched in April last year, this story may have some truth in it. However, we’d rather wait for an official confirmation from the company before jumping to conclusions. Another reason we would doubt the leak are the images accompanying the story show the Cyanogen logo at the back of the device. The company has made it clear that they are now developing their own OS aka OxygenOS. Although we have to admit, it would be exciting to see what OnePlus might have in store for us with the Two.

Till we see the next iteration, go ahead and watch our review of the OnePlus One.

March 14, 2015
BSNL Shifts To Next Generation Networks Technology For Fixed Line Services

Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Minister for Communication and Information Technology, has inaugurated the Next Generation Networks (NGN technology) for the fixed line services of BSNL today at the Bharat Sanchar Bhawan, New Delhi.

According to their statement,

At present, BSNL plans to convert 14 million telephone lines with NGN technology. This is expected to cover more than 80 percent urban customers and approximately 90 percent rural customers. However, it is anticipated that the entire fixed line customers will have NGN facility by December, 2017. Initially, BSNL plans to invest approximately Rs.1,000 crores in upgrading the TDM technology with NGN technology.

The prominent feature of the NGN is that one network can transport all kinds of information or services by condensing these into packets, much like the Internet. Commending BSNL on the introduction of the new technology, Ravi Shankar Prasad said that this technology would help India in accomplishing the aims of the Digital India program of the Prime Minister. The voice calling feature on this new technology will be available at the same rate as the present BSNL fixed line service . Although, video calls may be charged a bit higher.

Currently, BSNL has more than 36000 telephone exchanges. Out of these, 28000 are in rural areas. These exchanges are working on the Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM) technology that provides only voice calls. NGN will help to provide both, the fixed line telephony and broadband from the same telephone exchange. The government has planned to invest approximately Rs 1,000 crore is to upgrade the TDM technology.

March 14, 2015
WhatsApp Speeds Up Roll Out of Voice Calling On all Android Devices

WhatsApp’s voice calling features has been a long awaited feature. The messaging app has virtually replaced SMS and now it is set to take its aim at the core business of mobile operators. The company had already begun offering the feature for some users through an invite system. It is being reported that WhatsApp has broadened the roll out process for voice calling, and it is available for all Android device.

This would be an exciting news for the users of the app. To get the update, users will have to receive a call from someone with the feature activated on their device. Once the user receives the call, the user interface will change, and three tabs will be introduced which represent calls, chats and contacts. The call section will feature call records like incoming, outgoing and missed calls.

WhatsApp has been offering the calling feature unofficially. It was reported a few days back that WhasApp had started offering invites for the feature. Those invites were time limited to a few hours. That time limit has been extended now.

Recently a malware was doing rounds that claimed to offer voice calling feature but simply directed the users to a malicious website. The website asks people to take part in a survey but ends up installing malware on the victim’s smartphone. So it’s advisable to not click on any random link and wait for the invite call to come to your device.

March 14, 2015

Karbonn Announces the Titanium Mach Two, Priced at Rs. 10,490

Aiming to expand the Titanium series, Karbonn has launched its latest handset, the Titanium Mach Two. The phone weighs a mere 112 gms and is sleek at 6.3 mm.

The device is encased with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, which makes it resistant to scratches. The device holds a 5-inch HD IPS display and is powered by a 1.4GHz octa-core processor with 1GB of RAM. It consists of 8 GB of internal storage, which is expandable up to 32 GB via microSD card. An 8MP camera with BSI sensor is equipped at its front and back.

Running on Android OS 4.4 KitKat, the Mach Two offers some interesting features like the Smart Eye function, Swipe and Shake for music player, Face Beauty Mode, and few more.

The device is currently available only in deep blue colour and can be purchased at a price of Rs. 10,490. It comes with a free protective silicon case.

With so many reliable, affordable smartphones in the market, Karbonn’s present offering doesn’t seem to stand out. We have a strong feeling it will get lost in the crowd. Xiaomi recently came out with its new Redmi 2, and Motorola too has released its next-gen Moto E. Both these devices hold a similar set of specs and are priced significantly lesser. Other gadgets that can be pitted against the Mach Two are Lava X5 and Yu Yureka.

Check out the specifications of the Titanium Mach Two below:

Specs	Titanium Mach Two
Display	5-inch HD IPS display
Processor	1.4GHz Octa-Core processor
RAM	1GB
Inbuilt Memory	8GB
Expandable Up to	32GB
Rear Camera	8MP
Front Camera	8MP
Operating Stystem	Android 4.4 KitKat
Price	Rs 10,490

March 13, 2015

Mitashi Launches New Smartphone, Says it is For Young Girls With “Vibrant Moods”

Mitashi today unveiled a new smartphone for the Indian market which is targeted at young women. It is an affordable device with some decent features but Mitashi’s marketing pitch for the phone can only be described as mildly offensive.

The company begins its press release by saying that its new phone, the “WattaGirl” is designed especially for young girls and their vibrant moods. It goes on to say that WattaGirl can hold 2 sim cards, so that all of a girl’s world can come neatly packed in one awesome phone. The press release ends by saying that a girl’s phone is an extension of a girl’s “colourful personality” referring to the brightly colored back flaps, that come along with the device. The WattaGirl offers 1.2GHz Dual Core processor along with 512 MB RAM and comes with a 5-inch display. The device is priced at Rs.4,999.

Now dear Mitashi, we understand you have to dial up the sales pitch in your press release but you don’t have to sound so condesending. How about using a language in the future that doesn’t undermine your potential consumers? It’s not that hard, let us show you how it’s done.

How we would’ve written it:

“Mitashi launches ‘WattaGirl’, the coolest new phone in town, designed for young girls as well as ladies young at heart.

WattaGirl comes with 5 MP Dual Camera is always ready to capture the best moments of a girl’s life. A sturdy 512 MB RAM and a 1.2GHz Dual Core processor that let’s her take on the challenges of a fast paced world. The large 5-inch screen makes viewing photos, videos and all other forms of media, a pleasure. It comes with a powerful battery so that you can talk for hours, listen to songs, watch videos and browse your social networking pages without worrying about your phone battery running out. ‘WattaGirl’ can hold 2 SIM cards so that the lady is always connected with the world.

What’s more, every phone comes with 3 flaps in bright colours. Just pop in the back flap of your choice and get ready to take on the world with the new WattaGirl. “

See? so easy.

March 13, 2015

Hands on | This is the Xiaomi Redmi 2

Xiaomi is back with another device, the Redmi 2, and it can be a blockbuster amongst the budget smartphones already in the market. The new device is more mature than its predecessor, Redmi 1s, and comes with much-required advancements such as better battery, a front camera and processor, and also an upgraded OS.

From the overall look of the phone, the Redmi 2 may remind you of the earlier version. It has the same 4.7-inch screen, but with a (1280x720p resolution) display with 312 ppi pixel density. A coating of AGC Dragontrail glass is at the top of the screen to give it protection from scratches.

The phone is considerably lighter than the Redmi 1S and feels good in hand. The rounded edges along with a soft touch back gives a subtle feel to the device and offers a comfortable grip.

The processor has been tweaked to 1.2 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 410 with an enhanced Adreno 306 GPU. It comes with 1GB RAM and 8GB in-built memory capacity. The company provides an expandable card slot that makes the device capable of storing up to 32GB of data.

The rear shooter stands at 8MP while the front comes with a 2MP camera. The Redmi 2 gets its juice from the 2200mAh battery.

Redmi 2 is a dual-SIM phone that runs on Android 4.4 KitKat with the company’s MIUI 6.0 on top. The MIUI features various features like over 5,000 themes, smart filters for cameras, Flashlight, and much more.

Like the other devices, Xiaomi is opting for a flash sale model for this device as well. Registration for the same have already started. Priced at Rs. 6,999, the device will be available on March 24. There are only two colour options accessible in India for now – white and black grey. The company promises, more colours will come later.

The detailed specs sheet of Redmi 2:

Specs	Redmi 2
Display	4.7 inch, 1280×720 pixels 312 ppi
Processor	1.2 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 410
RAM	1GB
Storage	8GB
Expandable Up to	32GB
Battery	2200mAh
Operating System	Android 4.4 KitKat with MIUI 6.0
Price	Rs. 6,999

Have a look at the hands-on video below:

March 13, 2015

Jupiter’s moon Ganymede has a Hidden Saline Ocean, Confirms NASA

NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) has been working restlessly since its inception to find traces of water in our Solar system and the infinite universe. It has now been found that Jupiter’s largest moon Ganymede has been hiding something under its surface that might make it a prime contender for a life harbouring heavenly body.

NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has made some observations that indicate the existence of an underground saltwater ocean. According to the US government agency, the subterranean ocean might have more water than the total water on the earth. An evidence of water on a heavenly body puts a tick ahead of one requisite component in the list for habitable worlds beyond Earth.

An aurora was spotted by NASA’s Space telescope that indicates the existence of water on the surface of Ganymede (the largest moon in the Solar System, and the only satellite to have a magnetic field of its own). An aurora is formed when charged particles interact with the magnetic field of any heavenly body. It is the glowing ribbons of charged particles that interact with its surrounding atmosphere. On earth these aururae are also known as Northern Lights.

It’s not just the aurorae that pointed out the presence of water on Ganymede, but the change in the behaviour of aurorae that can be caused by the existence of water. It was found that aurorae stayed in a stable position because of a salty, electrically conductive ocean. Had there been no water at its surface, the aurorae would have rocked back and forth. The observations by Hubble were done in UV light.

It is an essentially and important find, but the moon which is about the size of Mars, cannot be considered as an important place for further exploration. It is learnt that the saltwater ocean is around 100 miles deep below the outer crust of ice. Below the saline ocean lies the ice mantle that is then followed by rocky mantle and iron core. With present technologies, it would be impractical to make robots dig 100 miles below the upper crust, which is further separated from Saline Ocean through layers of ice.

Meanwhile, the Hubble project partner ESA (European Space Agency) will continue to conduct science operations. The agency will take a closer look at the other moons of Jupiter Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. Europa is also one of the prime candidates for hosting liquid water which is crucial for hosting life. We won’t know for sure about the existence of life on this bodies unless we send a probe there but considering the low investment in the field of space research, it might be a while before we get there. Maybe its about time we cut down on the massive defence spending and use it to further our adventures in space.

March 13, 2015
Report : LG is Working on a G4 Phablet, Expected to Arrive Later This Year

Samsung may soon have a competitor in the already competitive market of phablets. LG is expected to launch its first flagship phablet in the coming few months. According to sources, LG plans to roll out the smartphone, named as the ‘G4 Note’, undoubtedly made to measure up against the likes of the Samsung Note line and the iPhone 6 Plus. LG has also filed for the trademark at the Korean patent office in February. The development sounds exciting, though we certainly hope that instead of blatantly copying their competitor, they come up with a more creative name.

Nothing has been disclosed about the device apart from its name. In a recent interview, Juno Cho, CEO of LG Mobile, stated that they want LG to push ahead to become the third largest smartphone manufacturer in the world.

In its history of smartphones, LG had launched the Optimus Vu back in 2011. It featured a 5-inch screen with a 4:3 aspect ratio and an inadequate stylus integration. This device did not manage to make a mark in the smartphone market, and neither did its next two iterations.

According to the Korea Herald, LG has major plans to fuel up its smartphone line-up, with the G4 Note phablet and an unknown device that is stated to be more powerful than the G-series. Cho also mentioned that several high-end devices are planned to be released in 2015, and the customers will have more than just the G4 to look forward to.

March 13, 2015
Engineers Create Chameleon-like Colour Changing Material for Next-Gen Displays

Science fiction shows, movies, and books have regularly talked about shape shifting and color-changing gizmos. They are used by spies and inquisitive nerds alike, and yes, the easiest example is Harry Potter and his invisibility cloak. There have been multiple efforts towards bringing these color changing technology to reality and the researchers at UC Berkley have come close with the development of their new material.

Let’s give a simple introduction to the technology. We have all seen how a peacock’s feather changes colors when viewed from different angles. It has nothing to do with the pigment of the feather, instead, it’s the tiny fibre like nanostructures that create the illusion of changing colors. This phenomenon is called structural coloration and can be seen many other examples in nature.

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have announced in the journal, Optica, that they have designed a skin that can change the color simply by applying a tiny bit of physical force. They are calling it a “chameleon-like skin.”

The thin silicon based material changes color when applied with physical pressure.

For the creation of this material, the scientists have carved rows of ridges in a single layer of silicon measuring just 120 nanometers. For comparison, a single human hair measures 100,000 nanometers. These tiny ridges are spaced apart so that they can reflect light of a particular wavelength. The ridges are cut at an angle so as the spacing between the ridges changes, the wavelength of light being reflected also changes with it.

The researchers have said that their present material can shift from green to yellow, orange and red. The material is just one square centimeter wide. They also said that they are confident that they can create material that can change to any desired color. The next step in the process is to make bigger material so that the commercial and future applications could be studied.

The application of this chameleon skin technology is said to be limitless. It will help to cloak an entire vehicle so that it matches with its exteriors. It will find wide uses in the battlefield to camouflage military vehicles. The researchers are also looking at future possibilities of changing colors by activating a tiny electrical charge. They also said that this technology could be used on large scale structures like bridges and dams. Helping find structural damages with ease and help prevent probable catastrophes. For the regular folks, it will help to create new photosensitive display technologies that can be used for adding brilliant color presentations to outdoor entertainment venues.

The technology is unique, and we will see more application when other developers get their hands on it. Apart from the usual cloaking technologies, it may also be used to make color changing dresses that will be more than just white and gold or blue and black. Or maybe someday this material will help create real-life Mystique from X-men. Now that would be exciting.

March 13, 2015
NVIDIA GTX 960M and 950M Processors Bring High-Powered Desktop Gaming To Notebooks

Some time ago, NVIDIA had launched the GeForce GTX 980M and 970M processors for notebooks. Now, to turn up the heat on the competition a bit more, the chip maker has added GeForce GTX 960M and 950M to the GTX 900M lineup. Nvidia is mainly aiming for notebooks from ASUS, Lenovo, Alienware, Acer and HP. Both the processors features Maxwell architecture, including 640 CUDA cores and are built on 28nm process.

These new processors are very powerful and hence can be used for purposes other than gaming, for example video editing and creating 3D graphics. Acer has announced that a new batch of its existing line of Aspire V Nitro Black Edition laptops will offer the GeForce GTX 960M as an option.

Aspire V Nitro Black Edition laptop

One of the features of the processor is the BatteryBoost which lets users enjoy longer playtime than previous gaming notebooks. It provides more battery backup, even if the user is playing off-cord. Users can choose between the best graphics performance or the best battery life, according to the application they are using. Other features include ShadowPlay activation. Users can record full-resolution videos for sharing on YouTube or stream live to Twitch.

As of now, only the Acer V Nitro will be offering the GTX 960M service. Alienware, ASUS, HP and Lenovo would be releasing the upgraded version soon.

UPDATE

For a limited period, customers who purchase the GeForce GTX 980, GTX 970, and GTX 960 graphics cards, or a notebook with a GTX 970M or above, will get a code for a digital copy of the game. Labelled the ‘Undeniably Epic’ bundle, it will be authorized for purchases from Flipkart, Snapdeal and computer stores that are a part of Nvidia’s retail network.

March 13, 2015
Apple Makes the iOS 8.3 Beta Software Open for Everyone

After unveiling the new MacBook and Apple Watch last week, Apple is paying attention to its software. It has released the beta version of iOS 8.3 for regular users. The Cupertino-based giant, for the first time, is inviting general public to test out the third beta of iOS 8.3 before officially releasing it officially.

The tech biggie has launched a webpage called Apple Beta Software Program. Users can sign in to test-drive the beta software and experience what Apple has more to offer. One can enrol their iPhones on the webpage and download the file software.

The software program page advises to back up the device, as the software is still in development mode. The new iOS 8.3 is expected to feature new emojis, easier logins for Google users, wireless CarPlay, and is likely to come with major bug fixes. It is highly possible that some applications may not run as directed as it’s not the final product.

Meanwhile, it is noticed that in spite of public release, only a few users have been able to try out the upcoming iOS. Apple hasn’t laid out the plan how it’s conducting the testing, but it is estimated that the users who took part in the ‘OS X Yosemite Beta Program’ will be able to give feedback to the iOS 8.3 program.

The official release of the new beta software for public use signifies that the iOS 8.3 has taken a step closer to the final public release, however we shouldn’t expect to arrive anytime soon since Apple released iOS 8.2 only a few days ago.

March 13, 2015
Silk May Be The Key to Longer Lasting Li-Ion Batteries

In today’s world, where almost everyone is dependant on battery-burning devices, research in the field of extending battery life has been on its peak.

A new study has suggested that Silk can be used to make rechargeable Li-Ion batteries last longer. Li-Ion batteries have found a major place in today’s era of technology. The reasons for its acceptance stands in its above average battery life and small size. However, demand for these batteries to last longer on a single charge is increasing steadily, and the same is being researched upon. One such research has led to the creation of a new green material that is derived from silk and can be used to create Li-Ion batteries that last longer.

Scientist, Chuanbao Cao, and his colleagues from Beijing found out a way to process natural silk to create carbon-based nanosheets that could potentially used to store energy in devices. This material can store five times more lithium than graphite, which is critical in improving battery performance. This worked perfectly, completing 10,000 cycles with only a 9% loss in stability.

As of now, the team has been able to install silk-based materials effectively only in prototype batteries and super-capacitors. It could be the first step in yielding longer lasting batteries in thousands.

March 13, 2015