Tuesday 31 March 2015

Gmail for Android updated with unified inbox, smarter search and more

Gmail for Android updated with unified inbox, smarter search and more
Finally, here’s a feature most Android users have been waiting for. Google has finally updated its Gmail for Android app to view all inboxes in one page. Users who’ve been using multiple Gmail accounts on their smartphone, won’t have to switch accounts each time and simply opt for the ‘All Inboxes’ option.
“Starting today you’ll be able to view all your mail at once, regardless of which account it’s from, using the new “All Inboxes” option. This way you can read and respond to all your messages without having to hop between accounts,” the search giant said in an official Gmail blogpost.
Threaded conversations are one of the favourite Gmail features as they keep your messages organized. Google says that now Yahoo, Outlook.com and other IMAP/POP accounts will also appear stacked as one conversation.
The updated app is also said to bring along better auto-complete for searches. However, Google hasn’t specified what exactly has been improved. “Search is the cornerstone of Google, and of Gmail. The new Gmail app for Android has better auto-complete, so you can find what you need even faster,” the blogpost said.
Besides this, users will be able to save documents to Drive with a single tap and also view larger attachment previews.
There is no word on when the new updates will be coming to Gmail for iOS.
Posted by : Gizmeon

LG sends out invites for an event on April 28; expected to unveil G4

LG sends out invites for an event on April 28; expected to unveil G4
After LG announced a global rollout for four mid-range smartphones, the company is now expected to unveil their next generation flagship smartphone, the LG G4. The South-Korean giant has reportedly sent out invites to the press in various countries for an event which will take place on April 28.
The official invite reads, “See the great, Feel the great”. As rumoured, the new device will sport a premium leather build. A report by GSMarena states that the unveiling for the device will truly be a ‘global affair’ and will take place in New York, London, Paris, Seoul, Singapore and Istanbul.
In terms of specifications, a recent listing on GFX Bench stated that the LG G4 will sport a 5.5-inch Quad-HD display with a 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution. Running Android Lollipop 5.1, the device will be powered by a Snapdragon 808 hexa-core processor paired with Adreno 418 GPU and 3GB RAM. The device is rumoured to have an internal storage at 32GB. No information has been provided whether the device will support a microSD card.
On the camera front, the G4 will have a 16MP rear camera along with a 8MP front facing camera. In terms of connectivity, the device is said to support the usual features. There is no word on battery capacity for the device either.
Posted by : Gizmeon

Microsoft unveils Surface 3: A cheaper version of the Surface Pro 3 tablet

Microsoft unveils Surface 3: A cheaper version of the Surface Pro 3 tablet
Microsoft is making a cheaper version of its Surface Pro 3 tablet computer in an effort to reach students and budget-conscious families.
Graphic artists, engineers and finance professionals needing to run complex software might still want the company’s higher-end Pro 3, said Dennis Meinhardt, director of program management for Surface. But the Surface 3 should be good for everyday tasks, he said, and brings the Pro 3’s premium feel to a device that will be affordable to more people.
Here’s what you need to know.
Price
Priced at $499 (vs $799 to $1,949 for the Pro 3), the new tablet has a slightly smaller screen – 10.8 inches rather than 12 – a slower processor, and less flexible kickstand – just three angles rather than unlimited positions.
A version with more storage and memory will cost $599. A keyboard cover, one of the Surface’s distinctive features, adds another $129. Microsoft bills the Surface line as a laptop replacement when used with the cover. And Microsoft will sell a stylus separately for $49. (It’s included with the Pro 3.)
Looks
The new Surface model is thinner and lighter, partly because it gets rid of the fan – similar to Apple’s new MacBook laptop. At 214 pixels per inch, the screen resolution is comparable to the Pro 3’s.
Battery life is promised at 10 hours for video playback. The Surface 3 runs the regular version of Windows 8.1, just like the Pro 3. In the past, Microsoft has used a lightweight version called RT in its cheaper tablets. The Surface 3 also has a USB port, a feature that distinguishes the Surface line from most rival tablets.
Availability
Microsoft expects to ship the new device around May 5, with advance orders starting immediately. Versions with LTE cellular access will sell for $100 more at a later date through T-Mobile and Verizon in the US, with other carriers expected. Data plans cost extra.
Besides the US, the Surface 3 will be available in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Luxembourg, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand and the United Kingdom.
Posted by : Gizmeon

Anti-censorship group: China behind cyberattacks on US sites

Anti-censorship group: China behind cyberattacks on US sites
Chinese authorities have taken over computers both inside and outside the country to launch cyberattacks against the website of an anti-online censorship group and a U.S.-based web resource that hosts some of the group’s data, according to an analysis released by the group.
Greatfire.org said in a statement that Chinese authorities carried out denial-of-service attacks that have intermittently shut down San Francisco-based Github over the past week. Greatfire.org said it had mirrored some of its content on Github repositories, and that the data were the targets of the attacks.
Greatfire.org said Chinese authorities carried out the attacks by installing malicious code on the computers of users visiting the popular Chinese search engine Baidu and related sites and using those computers to overwhelm Github and Greatfire.org websites with service requests.
The group said the attacks marked the first of their kind blamed on Chinese authorities and represented a dangerous escalation for a country that already tightly restricts what Chinese can see online. Greatfire.org said it was a direct target of similar denial-of-service attacks earlier in March.
Greatfire.org produces mirror websites that let Chinese users see information normally blocked by government censors. The group doesn’t reveal where it’s located or who runs it. The Open Technology Fund, a U.S. government-backed initiative to support Internet freedom, says on its website that it provided Greatfire.org with $114,000 in 2014.
The Cyberspace Administration of China didn’t respond to requests for comment Tuesday.
“Very clearly, the Cyberspace Administration of China is behind both of the recent (distributed denial-of-service) attacks,” Greatfire.org said in its statement. “Hijacking the computers of millions of innocent internet users around the world is particularly striking as it illustrates the utter disregard the Chinese authorities have for international as well as even Chinese internet governance norms.”
Posted by : Gizmeon

Huawei reports 2014 profit up 33 percent; driven by strong smartphone sales

Huawei reports 2014 profit up 33 percent; driven by strong smartphone sales
Huawei Technologies Ltd., one of the world’s biggest makers of telecommunications equipment, said its 2014 profit rose 33 percent, helped by strong sales of smartphones.
The company based in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen said it earned 27.9 billion yuan ($4.5 billion) last year. Revenue rose 20.6 percent to 288.2 billion yuan ($46.5 billion).
Huawei is privately held but has released annual results in recent years in an attempt to ease concern in the United States and some other countries that the company might be a security risk.
The company, long a supplier of network gear to telecom carriers, is trying to establish itself as a smartphone brand.
Sales by Huawei’s consumer group, mostly smartphones, rose 32.6 percent last year to 75.1 billion yuan ($12 billion).
Sales for its mainstay carrier business rose 16.4 percent to 191.1 billion yuan ($31 billion), helped by mobile broadband network rollouts. Those for the enterprise group increased 27.3 percent to 19.4 billion yuan ($3 billion).
Posted by : Gizmeon

Google, Microsoft battle drives down prices for PCs, tablets

Google, Microsoft battle drives down prices for PCs, tablets
Google is releasing its cheapest Chromebook laptops yet, two versions priced at $149 aimed at undercutting Microsoft’s Windows franchise and gaining ground in even more classrooms.
Various PC manufacturers have been working with Google to design lightweight laptops running on the Chrome operating system since 2011. The newest versions are made by Hisense and Haier. Hisense’s Chromebook can be ordered beginning Tuesday at Walmart.com and Haier’s version can be bought at Amazon.com.
Their arrival coincides with Microsoft’s rollout of a lower-priced Surface tablet in an effort to reach students and budget-conscious families. Pre-orders for that device began Tuesday, too.
As the prices for tablets and smartphones have been declining, it has forced on PC makers to lower their prices, said International Data Corp. analyst Jay Chou. The success of the Chromebook line is intensifying the PC pricing pressure.
“It has been good news for consumers, but not so good for vendors,” Chou said.
The cheaper version of the Surface Pro 3 sells for $499, compared with $799 to $1,949 for the higher-end models. The discounted version has a slightly smaller screen — 10.8 inches rather than 12 — a slower processor, and less flexible kickstand — just three angles rather than unlimited positions.
The Chromebook has served a dual purpose for Google. Like the company’s Android software for mobile devices, the Chrome system is set up so users will automatically begin using Google’s search engine and other services, such as Gmail and YouTube. Google has used the Chromebooks as a prod to bring down the prices of all PCs, something the company wanted to do because it has more opportunities to show the digital ads that bring in most of its revenue when more people can afford to buy an Internet-connected device.
“We cannot be happier that Microsoft is helping drive down the prices of PCs,” said Caesar Sengupta, Google’s vice president of product management for Chromebooks. “If Microsoft is reacting to (Chromebook’s low prices), that’s fantastic. We love it.”
Unlike most computers, Chromebooks don’t have a hard drive. Instead, they function as terminals dependent on an Internet connection to get most work done.
Despite those limitations, Chromebooks have been steadily gaining in popularity, particularly in schools, as more applications and services made available over Internet connections — a phenomenon known as “cloud computing” that has reduced the need for hard drives.
About 6 million Chromebooks were sold worldwide last year, more than doubling from 2.7 million in 2013, according to IDC. In contrast, sales in the overall PC market slipped 2 percent last year, marking the third consecutive annual decline. IDC is projecting 8 million Chromebooks will be sold this year.
Besides the $149 laptops, Google also is attacking Microsoft on other fronts. Later this spring, Google and Asus are releasing a hybrid Chromebook that can use used as either a laptop or tablet with a 10-inch screen. Called the Chromebook Flip, it will sell for $249.
In the summer, Asus and Google will start selling a new Chrome device that will provide people a cheaper way to upgrade an old PC. The device, called the Chromebit, is a stick loaded with an entire operating system that can be plugged into any HDMI port. The Chromebit’s price hasn’t been set, Google says it will cost less than $100.
Here’s what you need to know about the cheaper Surface Pro 3 and new Chromebooks:
PROS AND CONS OF THE SURFACE
Graphic artists, engineers and finance professionals needing to run complex software might still want the company’s higher-end Pro 3, said Dennis Meinhardt, director of program management for Surface. But the Surface 3 should be good for everyday tasks, he said, and brings the Pro 3’s premium feel to a device that will be affordable to more people.
The new Surface model is thinner and lighter, partly because it gets rid of the fan — similar to Apple’s new MacBook laptop. At 214 pixels per inch, the screen resolution is comparable to the Pro 3’s.
Battery life is promised at 10 hours for video playback. The Surface 3 runs the regular version of Windows 8.1, just like the Pro 3. In the past, Microsoft has used a lightweight version called RT in its cheaper tablets. The Surface 3 also has a USB port, a feature that distinguishes the Surface line from most rival tablets.
SIZING UP THE CHROMEBOOKS
Both the Hisense and Haier models have 11.6 inch screens, 2 gigabits of memory and run on Rockchip processors. The Hisense machine promises up to 8.5 hours of battery power per charge while Haier is touting up to 10 hours of power per charge on a battery that can be removed for easier replacement.
Posted by : Gizmeon

HP and Autonomy co-founder Lynch sue each other in London

HP and Autonomy co-founder Lynch sue each other in London
Hewlett-Packard Co has lodged a claim in London against Michael Lynch and a former colleague for damages of about $5.1 billion over their management of Autonomy, the company it bought in 2011.
Lynch will counter sue, seeking in excess of 100 million pounds ($149 million) for loss and damage caused by HP’s accusations, his representatives said in a statement on Tuesday.
Autonomy was supposed to be the $11.1 billion centrepiece of a shift into software for HP, but the deal turned sour a year later when it wrote off three-quarters of the British company’s value, accusing Lynch and his colleagues of financial mismanagement.
An HP spokeswoman said the company had filed a claim against Lynch, the co-founder of Autonomy, and Autonomy’s former finance director Sushovan Hussain in the Chancery Division of London’s High Court on Monday, alleging they engaged in fraudulent activities while executives at Autonomy.
“The lawsuit seeks damages from them of approximately $5.1 billion,” the spokeswoman added.
Lynch, speaking on behalf of Autonomy’s former management, has consistently denied any impropriety, saying the loss in value of the company was down to HP’s mismanagement.
California-based HP passed information in support of its allegations to the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Britain’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO).
The SFO closed its investigation in January, saying there was not enough evidence to secure a conviction of Autonomy’s former executives. The other investigations are ongoing.
Posted by : Gizmeon

IBM to invest $3 billion in ‘Internet of Things’ unit

IBM to invest $3 billion in ‘Internet of Things’ unit
IBM is investing $3 billion to build an ‘Internet of Things’ division aimed at harnessing the massive trove of data collected by smartphones, tablets, connected vehicles and appliances and using it to help companies better manage their businesses.
IBM estimates that 90% of all data generated by mobile and ‘smart’ devices is never analyzed. The Armonk, New York, company hopes to change this by teaming up with companies like Twitter and the Weather Co, the owner of the Weather Channel, and developing cloud-based data services and tools for app developers.
IBM is training more than 2,000 consultants, researchers and developers to help businesses come up with new ways to use the vast amounts of data that are now available, said Glenn Finch, Big Data and Analytics Lead at IBM Global Business Services.
This could mean combining Twitter data with economic and weather data to predict what someone might be interested in buying.
The new business unit is part of IBM’s shift away from hardware toward spending billions to focus on analytics, cloud computing, mobile services and security.
IBM plans to launch an online service that helps insurance companies extract insight from connected vehicles, to create new pricing and services customized to individual drivers.
Meanwhile, the Weather Co plans to shift and integrate its massive weather data operation into the IBM Cloud, so that insurance providers could send policy holders text messages alerting them to impending hailstorms and vehicles could be moved before being damaged, for instance.
It could also help determine exactly how many people were hit by a natural disaster so insurers could respond to claims faster.
“Most people, most businesses, most governments wait for weather to happen to them and react to it rather than anticipate what it will do to them,” said Mark Gildersleeve, president of the Weather Co’s WSI division.
The IBM partnership “aims to help governments and businesses essentially serve their end users better by making decisions earlier,” he said.
Posted by : Gizmeon

Amazon launches ‘Dash button’ for instant product ordering

Amazon launches ‘Dash button’ for instant product ordering
Online retailer Amazon.com has launched a hardware that allows its Prime members to order a product by pushing a button.
The ‘Dash button’, which is connected with the Amazon app through Wi-Fi, is brand specific and the company has tied up with household names such as Tide, Huggies and Gillette.
The ‘Dash button’ comes with an adhesive and a hook and can be hung or hooked anywhere in the home.
The offer, limited to three Dash buttons per customer, is only open to members who receive an email from the company with an invitation to receive a free Dash Button.
Reuters had reported in September that Amazon would boost staffing at its secretive Silicon Valley-based hardware unit as it tests Internet-connected “smart” home gadgets.
Posted by : Gizmeon

Apple allows users to trade in old phones for credit toward an iPhone

Apple allows users to trade in old phones for credit toward an iPhone
Apple has found a new tactic to attract more non-iPhone users towards their devices. The company has introduced a trade-in program wherein users with old Android, BlackBerry and Windows phone can trade in their devices to receive a discount to buy an iPhone.
The Verge pointed out that earlier, Apple only accepted old iPhones. These trade-in programs will start at Apple stores in the US, Canada, UK, Germany, France and Italy. The company will only accept phones which are in a good and working condition. The trade-in program is an attempt to boost iPhone sales. The report added that, Apple is running the program through a US-based privately held corporation called Brightstar, that distributes mobile phones and other devices.
Apple first launched its standard iPhone Reuse and Recycle trade-in program in 2013. The trade-in allowed users to exchange an older iPhone model for a new iPhone at a discounted price. At that moment, an iPhone had to be an on-contract phone and had to be activated on the spot. The value was said to based on parameters like display quality, button quality, overall hardware damage, engraving, liquid damage and being able to be powered on and used normally.
Posted by : Gizmeon

WhatsApp Android app brings voice calling to everyone

WhatsApp Android app brings voice calling to everyone
Earlier this month, WhatApp had started rolling out voice calling feature for everyone. However, the activation didn’t really go through for several users and it looked like the invites had been disabled. However, today, users in India have started receiving the WhatsApp voice feature without the need for any invite.
If you’ve still haven’t got the WhatApp voice feature activated , then here’s what you need to do. Firstly, download version 2.11.528 from the Play Store or version 2.11.531 from the WhatsApp website. Once you have the latest version, voice-calling ability can be activated by receiving a call from someone whose voice-calling is already activated.
The WhatsApp voice calling feature is available only for Android, and is expected to make its way to iOS users soon. At the Facebook F8 conference held recently, WhatsApp cofounder Brian Acton said that the messaging service is preparing to bring the voice calling feature to iOS users in the coming weeks. It is known that some tech enthusiasts have already found out ways to activate voice calling on iPhones. However, that requires jail breaking the iPhone.
Interestingly, WhatsApp calling seems to be now open to all in India, just when reports about Trai seeking views to prepare regulatory framework for Internet-based calling and messaging applications or over-the-top (OTT) players have started surfacing online.
Those curious about the voice-calling feature for WhatsApp, here’s our first impressions.
Posted by : Gizmeon

Google Maps turns the earth into a giant Pacman game for April Fool’s day

Google Maps turns the earth into a giant Pacman game for April Fool’s day
Google knocked it out of the park with its Pacman doodle a few years ago, which proved to be one of the most appreciated doodles ever. And in a welcome April Fool’s treat, the search giant has brought back the game in a much bigger and more exciting avatar.
Now you can play Pacman across streets, in any country of the world, thanks to Google Maps, which has literally converted earth
Maps now allows users to play PacMan on real streets. Interestingly, the announcement came on April Fool’s Day, leaving everyone wondering if it is yet another classic prank from the search giant. Remember Google’s Pokémon Master and Gmail Shelfie announced last year on the same day? But nope. We’ve been playing Pacman across the streets of Mumbai for a while now.
The best part about the Maps Pacman is that Google is allowing users to choose any location of their choice to play the game of PacMan. The virtual streets are turned into Pacman’s playing grounds and one can start playing using the arrow keys.
To start playing, users have to click on the PacMan symbol seen on the lower left corner of the screen. It then allows you to play the game on your current location. However, a popup will alert users if the location doesn’t have enough streets to play, and allow them to select any random location.
You can then turn into PacMan and eat blinking dots to elude the four popular ghosts – Pinky, Blinky, Inky and Clyde.
Users can start playing the game in Google Maps on desktops as well as mobile phones if you have the latest app update for Apple’s iOS or Google’s Android platform.
Google is known to show its fun side every year during April Fool’s Day, and this may not be all the tech giant has up its sleeve today. We are hoping to see some more fun-filled April Fool pranks throughout the day.
Posted by : Gizmeon

Monday 30 March 2015

Former US agents charged for bitcoin theft during Silk Road probe

Former US agents charged for bitcoin theft during Silk Road probe
The U.S. Justice Department announced charges on Monday against two former federal agents accused of stealing the digital currency bitcoin during the investigation of the underground drug marketplace Silk Road.
Carl Force, a former Drug Enforcement Administration agent, and Shaun Bridges, a special agent with the Secret Service, were charged in a criminal complaint filed in San Francisco federal court with offenses including wire fraud and money laundering.
Silk Road was an underground website where people bought drugs and other illicit goods using bitcoin digital currency. By the time authorities shut it down in October 2013, Silk Road had generated around $200 million in sales, prosecutors said.
Authorities said it was operated by Ross Ulbricht, 30, under the alias “Dread Pirate Roberts.” A federal jury in Manhattan found Ulbricht guilty in February of charges including conspiracy to commit drug trafficking and money laundering.
Force, 46, and Bridges, 32, belonged to a Baltimore-based federal task force investigating the Silk Road. Force had a prominent role in the probe, authorities said, as he was the lead undercover agent in communication with Ulbricht.
But prosecutors said while Force spoke with Ulbricht using an officially sanctioned alias, he also created unauthorized online personas to communicate with “Dread Pirate Roberts.”
Using those aliases, Force extorted $250,000 from Ulbricht and later offered to sell him information about the government’s investigation for $100,000, the complaint said. Prosecutors said Force also stole $90,000 worth of bitcoins that Ulbricht paid him in under an officially sanctioned alias used for the undercover investigation.
Authorities said Bridges, 32, meanwhile diverted to his personal account over $800,000 worth of bitcoin that he controlled during the Silk Road investigation.
Force was arrested in Baltimore on Friday and appeared in court there on Monday. Bridges surrendered on Monday and was released after appearing in court in San Francisco.
Joshua Dratel, Ulbricht’s lawyer, in a statement on Monday said that prosecutors only revealed information about the “monumental scandal” five weeks before trial after keeping the investigation secret for nine months.
“It is clear from this complaint that fundamentally the government’s investigation of Mr. Ulbricht lacked any integrity, and was wholly and fatally compromised from the inside,” Dratel said.
Steven Levin, a lawyer for Bridges, said he maintains his innocence. Ivan Bates, Force’s attorney, did not respond to a request for comment.
The case is U.S. v. Force, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 15-mj-70370.
Posted by : Gizmeon

Chinese carpooling app Dida in partnership talks with Uber

Chinese carpooling app Dida in partnership talks with Uber
An early investor in Chinese carpooling app Dida Pinche said he has held talks with U.S. ride-hailing app Uber Technologies Inc to help grow Dida in a market 99 percent controlled by Didi Dache and Kuaidi Dache.
Andy Zhang, chief financial officer of Dida investor Bitauto Holdings Ltd, told Reuters late last week that he met with Uber Chief Executive Officer Travis Kalanick in Beijing to discuss possible investment or tie-ups.
A spokeswoman for Uber declined to comment on the matter.
Investing in Dida could give Uber a second avenue into a rapidly growing Chinese market for mobile ride-hailing services. A tie-up would also help it dent the near monopoly of Didi and Kuaidi, which last month announced a $6 billion merger.
Ridesharing apps have had a troubled start to life, with regulators in Beijing and other cities across the world banning apps that earn revenue from drivers who do not hold commercial licences. That has not stopped them attracting huge investment from Internet giants such as Tencent Holdings Ltd and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.
Dida does not collect revenue – unlike Didi, Kuaidi and Uber – though it aims to monetise its app eventually. At present, it matches drivers and passengers who contribute toward fuel and parking, for instance, making costs roughly half that of a taxi.
Dida CEO George Song declined to comment on talks with potential partners, but said Dida is seeking a third round of investment. It raised $10 million in its first round and earlier this year closed a second, led by car sales platform Bitauto.
Song said Dida, which has clocked 2 million users in 8 cities since its May launch, would be open to investment from taxi or professional car hailing apps such as Uber.
“They have a relatively clear segmentation of customers and drivers,” Song said. “Overall, this is a different market.”
Posted by : Gizmeon

Asus Zenfone 2 will soon launch in India

Asus Zenfone 2 will soon launch in India
Asus Zenfone 2, unveiled earlier at CES 2015, is all set to enter the Indian market next month. According to androidpure, the company will launch the device in the country in April. The Zenfone 2 will not be sold in flash sales or invite-only basis on e-commerce sites, says the company. Looks like, the company is taking a dig at smartphone makers such as Xiaomi, OnePlus and Micromax Yu.
In terms of specifications, the Asus Zenfone 2 sports a 5.5-inch full HD display. The device has 72 per cent screen-to-body ratio. The rear side of the Zenfone 2 is rounded in a way that it is thin around the edges and is at its thickest in the center region on the rear side. The rear cover comes with a brush metal finish. A power button is located at the top and the volume rocker at the rear side, making the edges as thin as 3.9mm.
It is powered by a 64-bit Intel Atom processor codenamed Z3580 which is clocked at 2.3GHz. The Zenfone 2 comes with a whopping 4GB of RAM. It will be available in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB storage variants and has an option to expand the memory via a microSD card slot. Apart from this, users will also get 5GB of free Asus web storage.
The Zenfone 2 comes with a new version of the Zen UI that is built atop Android 5.0 Lollipop. On the camera front, it sports a 13MP rear camera with f/2.0 aperture and 5MP front facing camera. It features Real-Tone flash to ensure warm skin tones and accurate colours.
In terms of connectivity, the device supports HSPA, 4G LTE Category 4 (FDD and TDD), WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, micro USB, GPS/A-GPS, GLONASS and USB OTG.
It has a 3,000mAh Li-polymer battery along with fast charging technology. The phone is available in five colours namely Osmium Black, Sheer Gold, Glacier Gray, Glamor Red and Ceramic White.
Posted by : Gizmeon

Chromes OS beta to get new launcher; looks similar to Google Now

Chromes OS beta to get new launcher; looks similar to Google Now
Google is about to launch some new functionalities to its Chrome OS, the primary being the Chrome Launcher 2.0. At the moment this feature will only be accessible to those using the Chrome OS beta.
According to developer Francois Beaufort, “This new launcher is the best way to start new activities on Chrome OS, like performing a Google search or launching apps. It’s fast, simple, and helps you get things done.”
The new launcher looks similar to Google Now and also shows updates in the card format. There is a search bar at the top as well. Considering it is a launcher, you also get the app list which you can access when your need them.
Apart from the launcher, you will also get other features such as password-protected ZIP support which lets you unzip password-protected ZIP files. Timezone auto-update lets Chrome OS automatically detect changes in location of users and update the system’s timezones. Finally, the files app will get the material design layout.
Users can also send their feedback on these new features on the Chrome OS beta.
Posted by : Gizmeon

Google Glass could teach you to dance; identifies songs and suggests dance moves

Google Glass could teach you to dance; identifies songs and suggests dance moves
Got two left feet? Don’t worry, Google Glass could teach you to dance by identifying songs and suggesting moves in real time.
Google has filed a patent to create a system by which Google Glass can recommend dance moves to those who wear the high tech device.
“The content identification module may provide information associated with a content of the media sample, such as identification of the song and the dance, to the wearable computing system,” the patent reads.
“The wearable computing system may determine dance steps corresponding to the content of the media sample and may generate a display of the dance steps on the HMD (head mounted display),” it reads.
That means Google Glass will have an ability to determine what particular song is playing in the background before suggesting dance moves from a possible library of moves stored in its database, ‘Tech Times’ reported.
The device may also show the user a video of other people dancing to the same song in order to help the user understand what moves they should be doing.
Google chairman Eric Schmidt recently affirmed Google’s commitment to the device and the technology behind it.
The initial research programme for Google Glass, called Explorer, was scrapped, but a new unit specifically devoted to the device is currently active.
“It is a big and very fundamental platform for Google. We ended the Explorer programme and the press conflated this into us cancelling the whole project, which isn’t true. Google is about taking risks and there’s nothing about adjusting Glass that suggests we’re ending it,” Mr. Schmidt added.
Posted by : Gizmeon

Sony to roll out Android 5.0 Lollipop update to Xperia Z3

Sony to roll out Android 5.0 Lollipop update to Xperia Z3
Sony continues to bring its latest iteration of Android, 5.0 Lollipop, to its Z series. The company has already started rolling out Lollipop update for the Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z3 Compact, and plans to release it for the Xperia Z2 and Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet next week.
Interestingly, the new update isn’t limited to the Z series, and Sony has confirmed in a blogpost to release it for the Xperia T2 Ultra and Xperia C3.
In September, Sony had launched its flagship, the Xperia Z3, and its younger sibling Z3 Compact in India for Rs 51,990 and Rs 44,990, respectively. Both are water-resistant and come with similar capabilities, but the Z3 has a 5.2-inch display, while the Z3 Compact has a smaller 4.6-inch display.
The T2 Ultra comes with a larger 6-inch 720p Triluminos display. It has a sleek profile of 7.6mm, despite the huge display. On the camera front, one will find a 13MP shooter on the back. Its 8GB onboard storage can be expanded up to 32GB via microSD card slot. Some other specs include 1.4GHz quad-core Snapdragon processor and a 3,000mAh battery.
The Xperia C3 was announced in July last year, and was clearly targeted at those who can’t have enough selfies in their lives. Priced at Rs 23,990, it was made available in September in India.
It features a 5.5-inch HD (720×1280 pixel) Triluminos display and powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400, coupled with Adreno 305 GPU and 1GB of RAM.There’s a 5-megapixel unit, with a 25mm wide-angle lens that Sony claims delivers an 80-degree field of view. And to top it all, there’s a soft LED flash as well. The back camera also sports a similar flash with an 8-megapixel sensor.
Posted by : Gizmeon

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge slam test: Does it survive?

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge slam test: Does it survive?
Samsung launched its most anticipated devices, the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge one day ahead at MWC this year. But undoubtedly, the latter has gained a lot of attention for its unique design. The double-edged device received a great deal of appreciation from critics as well as from fans.
For such a delicate-looking smartphone, Samsung made it a point to add in the new Gorilla Glass 4 for protection. They took it a step ahead and fitted one in the front and one in the back. But can the Gorilla Glass 4 provide the required protection?
A report by PhoneArena pointed to video uploaded on YouTube, in which a woman demonstrates a working Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge and then thrashes the device three times to the floor. But even after this brutal attack, the Galaxy S6 Edge survives. The woman tries to use the phone after the ‘slam test’ and it seems to be working fine.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge along with the Galaxy S6 will start shipping in India starting April 10 and is now available for pre-order. Those users who pre-book the Galaxy S6/Edge will also get benefits like one-time screen replacement along with payback points in case the company plans a trade-in cashback scheme in the future.
Posted by : Gizmeon

German firms embrace start-ups to catch up with digital world

German firms embrace start-ups to catch up with digital world
Latecomers to the digital age, big German companies have started teaming up with start-ups to shake up their conservative business culture and keep pace with a world increasingly dominated by nimble tech giants.
More than half of the firms on Germany’s blue-chip DAX index trace their roots back to the 19th century or earlier. The youngest corporate, SAP, was founded 43 years ago. In contrast, around half of the top 30 companies on the Nasdaq were set up in the 1980s or later and the fourth-biggest firm, Facebook, was established about a decade ago.
German companies are the engine of Europe’s biggest economy, which is the financial bedrock of the euro zone. But government officials and company executives fear they could fall far behind if they cannot swiftly identify and adopt innovations in web and smartphone technology that have driven the success of Google, Apple and Amazon.
Mindful of the danger, companies such Metro, Bayer, Evonik, Merck KGaA and Deutsche Telekom are now investing in start-ups – seeking to gain digital expertise, as well as to embrace newcomers whose innovations could represent threats to their own businesses.
This trend could help address a shortage of venture capital that has stunted innovation. Although investment in German start-ups more than doubled to $1.74 billion last year, this was less than the amount raised by U.S. car-sharing company Uber alone. In contrast, U.S.-based start-ups drew $49.39 billion, according to Thomson Reuters data.
“What’s missing is that companies like ourselves open up their resources to help others to grow,” Metro Chief Executive Olaf Koch told Reuters at an Innovation in Retail Meetup event on the retailer’s campus in Duesseldorf.
“We can make small companies big.”
VENTURE FUNDS
The cash-and-carry chain will choose 10 start-ups for an “accelerator” programme in which it will supply its business experience, as well as use of its sales force.
Among those hoping to catch Koch’s eye at the informal Duesseldorf Meetup were POSpulse, which uses crowdsourcing and smartphones to conduct market research, Dinnery, an online high-end meal delivery service, Bauerntuete, an online farmers’ market, and KptnCook, an app that combines daily recipes with shopping lists for local supermarkets.
Healthcare firms Bayer, Merck and Boehringer Ingelheim, Deutsche Telekom and chemicals group Evonik, meanwhile, have all set up multi-million euro in-house venture funds. Deutsche Telekom has pledged to invest 500 million euros ($542 million) in Germany’s start-up scene over the next five years.
Companies that have seen digital innovations savage the business models of industries such as telecoms and media are desperate not to snooze through the next revolution, said Christian Miele, of Germany’s Start-up ‎Association.
“Every big corporate has the problem of being too slow to adapt and move at the same speed as a startup,” he said.
“If a WhatsApp comes around the corner, disrupts your business and kills a billion dollars in revenue for every telco in the world, you start to think, what did we not see here?”
Fewer than half of Germany’s top 500 companies have a comprehensive digital strategy, according to a study by Accenture. Moreover, just 11 percent use social media and only 6 percent cloud computing, the European Commission’s Digital Economy Index published at the end of February showed.
RISK-TAKING
Mail order company Otto’s catalogue model, for example, meant it was ideally placed to capitalise on the online shopping boom, but the 66-year-old firm has been steadily losing market share to digital upstart Zalando and Amazon.
The company announced plans in February to invest a high double-digit million euro sum in a venture capital fund over the next business year.
The German government – seeking to encourage the kind of game-changing innovation that saw Daimler disrupt the horse-carriage industry at the end of the 19th Century – has announced plans to try to promote startups. They include a pre-market web platform to connect young companies with investors.
But critics say the measures do not go far enough.
“We must make venture capital investment in Germany easier and, above all, more attractive in terms of taxation. This would strengthen the country’s innovative capability and would also be an important step towards more growth and new jobs,” Bayer boss Marijn Dekkers said last month.
Chancellor Angela Merkel believes a bigger obstacle may be an entrenched fear of failure.
“This culture of investing in start-ups … of taking risks and of being able to live with the fact that only one in 10 projects will end successfully … is something that is perhaps more pronounced in the United States and maybe even in South Korea,” she said in her weekly podcast this month.
Still, Christoph Keese, executive vice president at media group Axel Springer, dismisses the notion that Germans lack the national character for risk-taking and insists the country can make up digital ground.
“We’ve lost the first round but that doesn’t mean we can’t win the second or third round.”
Posted by : Gizmeon

Review: New HTC One M9 is a strong contender against Apple, Samsung

Review: New HTC One M9 is a strong contender against Apple, Samsung
HTC’s flagship One phone has a lot going for it — except for strong sales.
In Samsung’s and Apple’s shadows, HTC barely has any market share despite having good phones. But the latest edition of the HTC One, dubbed M9, is even better than previous year’s models, as it addresses a major shortcoming: the camera.
The latest One keeps an elegant, all-metal design with a few changes. The power button moves from the top to the right side to keep the phone from sliding down and out of your hand when pressing. The back edges are also sharper to improve grip, though it does give the phone a boxy feel. The M9 screen stays at 5 inches, as measured diagonally.
Advance orders for the One have already begun in the U.S. The phone will be in retail stores on April 10, though it might ship sooner for those ordering it now. No-contract prices range from $600 at Verizon to $709 at AT&T.
Here are other things to know before you buy.
BETTER PICTURES
The 4 megapixels in previous One cameras was quite low, resulting in fuzzy images, especially when cropped or enlarged. HTC had turned its attention to making each pixel capture more light, but the phone didn’t always succeed in taking better indoor and night shots.
The new One fixes that by squeezing in a standard 20-megapixel rear camera. Images are indeed better when enlarged. The new One does well in low light, too, compared with test shots taken with last year’s model.
The One still doesn’t always do as well as the iPhone 6 and Samsung Galaxy S6 in focus, color and exposure, especially in extreme situations. Many indoor shots had a purple tint, and outdoor close-ups were out of focus. You can get good everyday shots, but don’t get the One just for the camera.
IT’S IN THE LOCATION
HTC adapts the home screen to your location. At work, for instance, you’re shown apps for email, calendar and note-taking. At home, you see music, YouTube and an app store for more ways to waste time. When you’re out, you get Maps.
Choices change based on what you use. After a few days, the phone added Netflix while “Out,” given my bad habit of watching video while dodging traffic on sidewalks. Location also influences suggestions for new apps.
It’s a good feature, though it ought to automatically figure out whether you’re home or at work. You need to specify that — something many people won’t bother to do. And it would be nice to have more options beyond “Out.” Apps you need on your daily commute will differ from what you’d want on the weekend.
When you’re not home, the phone will periodically recommend nearby places to eat, based on Yelp recommendations. Late Thursday afternoon, it sent me to a coffee shop about 15 minutes away by foot. (I went to a pub instead.)
SMASH-SAFE, SUPERB SOUND, STORAGE
HTC is offering U.S. customers an extended protection plan for one year. You get a free replacement if you crack the screen, drop the phone in the toilet or damage it in any other way. You’re limited to one replacement, and the plan doesn’t cover loss and theft. If you don’t need the replacement, you’ll get a $100 credit on your next One.
The One also has superb sound, through twin front-facing speakers. And it’s one of the few phones still letting you add storage. You can’t replace the battery, though.
COMPROMISES
There’s no fingerprint reader like the latest iPhones and high-end Samsung phones. The One has a full high-definition display at 1080p, but it’s short of what comes with the latest Samsung and LG phones.
HTC also got rid of a second rear lens, which had captured depth information and allowed you to change the area of focus after the fact. Other cameras do this with a single lens, but not very well. HTC sacrificed that to fit in its 20-megapixel sensor. It’s a good trade-off, as everyday pictures are much better now. But avid photographers will do better with an iPhone or a Galaxy S6. Then again, if you’re clumsy, you can’t beat the promise of a free replacement.
Posted by : Gizmeon

Jay Z, Madonna, Minaj among owners of new streaming service

Jay Z, Madonna, Minaj among owners of new streaming service
Madonna, Rihanna, Beyonce and Jay Z are among the A-List musicians who are co-owners of Tidal, a streaming service being billed as the first artist-owned platform for music and video.
The membership-based service — similar to subscription service Spotify — will provide music and video content that users can stream on computers, tablets and smartphones or listen to offline. It is being offered at two price points: $10 for standard sound quality and $20 for “lossless high fidelity sound quality.”
Few other details were released about the streaming service.
Kanye West, Daft Punk, Alicia Keys, Jack White and Nicki Minaj also were among the artists who announced at a New York City event Monday that they are co-owners of the service that quietly launched in October. Keys said the artists hope Tidal will “forever change the course of music history” and ensure the viability of the industry.
The celebrities — who also included Jason Aldean, Usher, members of Arcade Fire and deadmau5 — stood in a line onstage as Keys spoke to the audience at Skylight at Moynihan Station in Manhattan. Most of them wore black as a sign of solidarity. Keys called the event “a graduation.”
“So we come together before you on this day, March 30th, 2015, with one voice in unity in the hopes that today will be another one of those moments in time, a moment that will forever change the course of music history. For today we announce of Tidal, the first ever artist-owned, global music and entertainment platform,” Keys said.
The venue for the event was transformed to display a walkway paying tribute to the different decades in music, starting with the 1950s.
Coldplay’s Chris Martin and Calvin Harris, who both appeared via video, are also co-owners.
“Our mission goes beyond commerce, it goes beyond technology. Our intent is to preserve music’s importance in our lives,” Keys said. “Music is the language of love, of laughter, of heartbreak, of mystery. It’s the world’s true, true, without question, universal language.”
Each of the owners signed documents at the event as the audience screamed when they walked to a table in the center of the stage.
Posted by : Gizmeon

Xiaomi to sell Mi 4, Redmi Note 4G offline on ‘The Mobile Store': Report

Xiaomi to sell Mi 4, Redmi Note 4G offline on ‘The Mobile Store': Report
The Chinese phone maker, Xiaomi, entered the Indian market in August last year. It managed to woo audiences with its unique flash sales and limited stock availability per week, exclusively via Flipkart. The company has now decided to shed its ‘online-only’ image and teamed up with the retail chain ‘The Mobile Store’ to sell select Mi smartphones.
The phones on offline stores will reportedly carry the same price as they are available online. According to The Economic Times, Xiaomi’s Mi 4 and Redmi Note 4G will be available through The Mobile Store – via 55 stores in Delhi NCR – priced at Rs 19,999 and Rs 9,999, respectively.
Mobile Store outlets will reportedly also work as service centres for the Xiaomi phones. Manu Jain, head of India operations at Xiaomi told the news site, “This will be the first time that we’re getting into offline trade in India. In China, about 20-30% of total sales through come from telecom operators stores while the rest comes from our online store – Mi.com.”
However, it should be noted that this isn’t the first time, the company is selling its device via brick and mortar store. If you remember, Xiaomi had teamed up with Airtel to sell its Redmi Note 4 via its stores.
In line with the reports about Xiaomi’s own e-commerce store, the Chinese handset maker has  started selling accessories on its Mi India store .
So far, the company had been selling its devices only via its exclusive India partner, Flipkart. With the recent moves, it clearly shows that as Xiaomi plans to expand its lineup in India, it is also looking to partner with different distribution channels.
Posted by : Gizmeon

Sunday 29 March 2015

GitHub facing denial-of-service cyber attack; Baidu denies involvement

GitHub facing denial-of-service cyber attack; Baidu denies involvement
US coding site GitHub said on Sunday that it was deflecting most of the traffic from a days-long cyber attack that had caused intermittent outages for the social coding site, with the Wall Street Journal citing China as the source of the attack.
“Eighty-seven hours in, our mitigation is deflecting most attack traffic. We’re aware of intermittent issues and continue to adapt our response,” a tweet from the GitHub Status account said.
The attack took the form of a flood of traffic, known as a distributed denial of service, or DDoS, attack. Those kinds of attacks are among the most common on the Internet.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the flood of Internet traffic to GitHub came from Chinese search engine Baidu Inc, targeting two GitHub pages that linked to copies of sites that are banned in China.
On its blog, GitHub said that the attack began early on Thursday “and involves a wide combination of attack vectors.”
“These include every vector we’ve seen in previous attacks as well as some sophisticated new techniques that use the web browsers of unsuspecting, uninvolved people to flood github.com with high levels of traffic,” the blog post continued.
“Based on reports we’ve received, we believe the intent of this attack is to convince us to remove a specific class of content.”
GitHub supplies social coding tools for developers and calls itself the world’s largest code host.
A Beijing-based Baidu spokesman said the company had conducted a thorough investigation and found that it was neither a security problem on Baidu’s side nor a hacking attack.
“We have notified other security organizations and are working to get to the bottom of this,” the spokesman said.
Posted by : Gizmeon

Lenovo A7000 4G smartphone to be launched in India on April 7

Lenovo A7000 4G smartphone to be launched in India on April 7
Lenovo is gearing up to launch its new budget smartphone, Lenovo A7000 in India on April 7. The company has sent out media invites teasing the Dolby Atmos technology. It claims to be the first phone to sport a Dolby Atmos sound.
Unveiled at the Mobile World Congress this year, it is successor to the Lenovo A6000. The new Lenovo A7000 sports a 5.5-inch HD display with a 720 x 1280 pixel resolution. It is powered by a 1.5GHz octa-core MediaTek chipset paired with 2GB RAM.
On the camera front, Lenovo A7000 has an 8MP autofocus rear camera with LED flash and a 5MP front facing camera. In has onboard of 8GB and can be expanded via microSD card slot. The dual-SIM smartphone will run the latest version of Google’s Android 5.0 Lollipop out of the box.
In terms of connectivity, the smartphone includes support for 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, GPS/ A-GPS, Bluetooth and microUSB. The device is powered by a 2,900mAh battery.
The device weighs 140 grams and will be available in Onyx Black and Pearl White.
Posted by : Gizmeon

Microsoft acquires LiveLoop, an Office collaboration tool maker

Microsoft acquires LiveLoop, an Office collaboration tool maker
Microsoft continues its acquisition spree with the addition of a new productivity startup called LiveLoop. The five-person San Francisco-based company which has been acquired for an undisclosed amount, shares users’ PowerPoint presentations on the Internet without compelling them to download or use any other software unlike GoToMeeting and WebEx.
LiveLoop has posted the notice (seen below) on their website, informing masses that its service will discontinue from April 24. The company did not provide any further information as to why this move has been taken. It also informs that the company will be deleting all presentations and user data after the given date.
According to a report by ZDnet, a Microsoft spokesperson confirmed that the company has bought LiveLoop and stated that, “Microsoft is excited to welcome the talented team from LiveLoop to help build great collaboration across Office applications, as part of our strategy and vision to reinvent productivity.” LiveLoop is financially backed by venture capital firms New Enterprise Associates and Columbus Nova Technology Partners.
The deal is part of a line of productivity app acquisitions by the company. Microsoft had also acquired Sunrise Calendar app in a deal valued at $100 million early this year. Sunrise applications will continue to be available for free, according to Pierre Valade, chief executive of the two-year-old company.
In December, Microsoft also acquired the mobile email management application Acompli, in a deal reported to be worth more than $200 million. The deal gives Microsoft a startup helping people more easily manage their mail on handsets using Google Android or Apple iOS operating systems.
Posted by : Gizmeon

Smartphone bill alerts can leave you distressed

Smartphone bill alerts can leave you distressed
Bill alerts from mobile phone companies in your email or via SMS are meant to inform you when you are about to exceed their plan limit and make the things better. But just the opposite may be happening, find researchers.
The study from University of Toronto Mississauga has found that such bill warnings can be more costly because cell phone companies adjust their plans and fees accordingly to maintain profits.
While some consumers do benefit, others either decrease or stop usage, end up with more expensive plans or continue to underestimate their usage and choose the wrong plan.
“Fixed prices go up, free minutes go down and then some of the overage rates drop. But the overall effect is that the average person pays more,” said Matthew Osborne, assistant professor of marketing at University of Toronto Mississauga.
He co-wrote the paper with Michael Grubb, an assistant professor of economics of Boston College in the journal American Economic Review.
How much more? In the data and modelling the researchers used, bill shock alerts cost people an average of $33 extra.
Those who chose to stay on the most expensive plans fared best. The researchers used monthly billing data for a group of student cellphone customers.
That formed the basis of a model for what their usage and plan choices would look like under billing alerts.
“Although much has changed in the mobile phone world in the last decade and students’ choices may not reflect the broader market, verification tests run by the researchers suggested bill shock alerts still take a toll,” the authors wrote.
That should lead policymakers to reconsider what measures will actually benefit consumers.
“Perhaps a better avenue is policy that helps consumers do a better job of forecasting their usage,” Osborne added, such as encouraging more detailed summaries of past usage or average use over a year.
The research could have application to other services where consumers need to monitor their activity to avoid extra costs, such as banking overdrafts, utility services and even health insurance.
Posted by : Gizmeon

You can now play Super Mario 64’s first level in HD on your browser

You can now play Super Mario 64’s first level in HD on your browser
A computer science student named Erik Roystan Ross has recreated the first level, Bob-Omb Battlefield of the popular game Super Mario 64 in HD, using the Unity Engine and has released it for free to everyone. Though this game was initially launched on the Nintendo 64, users can now play this game in the browser as well.
Currently, Ross has no plans to further recreate any other levels for the game, dubbed Super Character Controller. According to Dsogaming, the computer science student said that, “I currently do not have any plans to develop this any further or to resolve any bugs, unless they’re horrendously game-breaking and horrendously simple to fix.” He added that, “This project is provided as-is, and you are free to use it for any purposes you like, with the exception of selling it for profit.”
Initially, Eric had planned to make just a part of the first level but got carried away and finished the entire level, points out Technabob. The report added that, Ross made all the art and animations for the game, except for the ones for Mario, the Goomba and Power Star, which he borrowed from Super Mario Galaxy. The background music and sounds for the game is similar to to the existing Mario games while the UI elements are based on the original Mario 64 user interface. Erik claims that though the replica of the game is not 100 percent accurate, users will not have any complains against it, added the report.
An earlier report suggests that, Super Mario was to go mobile as Nintendo was planning to venture into smartphone games. Nintendo, which already warned its annual operating profit would halve on weak console sales, said it was teaming up with online gaming firm DeNA Co Ltd to develop and operate gaming apps. The two companies will also launch later this year an online membership service accessible on mobile devices as well as Nintendo’s existing Wii U console and the portable 3DS.
Posted by : Gizmeon

Planning to buy Apple Watch Edition?

Planning to buy Apple Watch Edition?
It’s known that Apple has crafted special retail programs for the Watch allowing customers to try the wearable for 15 minutes at its retail stores. But the company plans some additional perks to those planning to buy the uber-expensive 18-karat gold Watch Edition.
Now, citing sources familiar with the matter, a 9To5Mac report states that ‘Apple has developed a unique Apple Store purchasing experience just for the Apple Watch Edition’. Those interested in buying the Apple Watch Edition will get special attention as soon as they enter the store.
Firstly, there will be no waiting time and an expert from the store will attend to them for a dedicated one-hour. The potential Apple Watch Edition customers will be able to complete in-store Apple Watch Edition purchases with special appointments in a private area within the store. There will be separate try-on tables and out of the dedicated one hour, 30 minutes will be to simply try out the Watch, adds the report.
In order to avoid the possibility of theft, Apple employees have been asked to allow customers to try only two Apple Watch Edition models at a time. What about customers who want to compare it with other standard Watch models? In that case, another retail employee will come with the non-Edition models, which will be brought from separate tables assigned for standard watches. Users can select accessories only after they’ve finished trying the watches.
As heard earlier, Apple plans to go the jewellery way for the Watch Edition. The special try-on table will be accompanied by a pair of stools, Edition demo kit and a try-on mat, just we see in jewellery stores. “Once the customer decides to purchase the Edition, it can be set up in one of two ways: in-store with the same Expert or via a new service called Virtual Personal Setup,” the report further adds.
Those who don’t want to walk up to a store can also opt for video-conferencing option. This option isn’t just for the Watch Edition, but also for standard stainless steel models.
It should be noted that Apple Watch Edition customers will also get an ‘exclusive, dedicated Apple Watch Edition phone line for two years of 24/7 technical support (in English)’. Users can opt for AppleCare+ and choose to upgrade the support to three years.
One can also opt for Contact Center Edition Team that will come with a dedicated phone number to schedule on-demand setup. However, it should be noted that the Apple Watch Edition try-on programs will not be made available at all stores. However, it can be ordered online and delivered to a store that the user prefers via the company’s new ‘Edition Courier-to-Store’ program.
Apple will begin taking pre-orders for the Apple Watch from April 10. An earlier report revealed that Apple won’t allow walk-in users to directly buy the device once it starts selling on April 24. There will be limited inventory. The priority will only be given to those who have placed a pre-order and come with an appointment. Only after these customers have received their units, the other walk-in customers will get the chance to take home the Apple Watch.
Posted by : Gizmeon

Amazon Kindle Voyage e-book reader launched in India at Rs 16,499

Amazon Kindle Voyage e-book reader launched in India at Rs 16,499
Amazon has released its new Kindle eBook reader – Voyage – in India at a price of Rs 16,499 for the Wi-Fi variant and Rs 20,499 for the 3G variant. The device is said to have many improvements over its predecessors along with a thinner and lighter body. The e-book reader is available on Amazon India.
In terms of design, the Kindle Voyage features a 6-inch display with Carta e-paper technology and adaptive front light that adjusts automatically. It sports a magnesium back and a glass-flush front which uses micro-etching to diffuse light to eliminate screen glare. It has an internal storage of 4GB which is capable of holding over thousands of books.
The Kindle Voyage is just 7.6mm thin and the company claims that it is their thinnest Kindle ever. It has a high-resolution display with 300ppi, which is twice as many pixels as Kindle Paperwhite. The display is said to deliver crisp text which will read similar as on the printed page. The new PagePress sensors added to the e-book will allow a user to turn the page without lifting a finger, claims Amazon. This feature is said to provide a silent haptic response for constant and immediate feedback.
The new front light on the Voyage will sense a user’s environment and will automatically adjust the brightness. It can be adjusted manually as well. In terms of battery, the Kindle Voyage will fully charge in approximately 3 hours from a computer via USB cable. Amazon claims that a single charge will lasts up to six weeks, based on a half hour of reading per day with wireless off and the light setting at 10. Battery life will also vary based on light setting and wireless usage.
In terms of Wi-Fi connectivity, the Voyage supports public and private Wi-Fi networks or hotspots that use the 802.11 b/g/n standards with support for WEP, WPA and WPA2 security, using password authentication or Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS).
Similar to other 3G Kindles, the Kindle Voyage 3G will come with free 3G in over 100 countries across the world, which indicates that a user can browse the Kindle store and download books without needing to connect to Wi-Fi.
The device measures 162 mm x 115 mm x 7.6 mm. The Wi-Fi variant weighs 180g while the Wi-Fi + 3G variant weighs 188g.
Posted by : Gizmeon