Wednesday, January 28, 2015

'Tom Clancy's The Division' Release Date: Launch Coming Alongside 'Rainbow Six Siege' This Year?

 
"Tom Clancy's The Division" was initially scheduled to be released in 2014, but just a few months before the scheduled date of release, Ubisoft decided to delay the MMO style third party shooter game to 2015. Though there has been no exact date as to when the game will be launched, a post on the Ubisoft Canada Facebook page hints that the much-awaited game could be released alongside another Tom Clancy title this year.

The Facebook post from the game developer asks fans which Tom Clancy title they are more looking forward to. The post read, "We've got two Clancy games coming this year…Which one are YOU most excited for? Rainbow Six Siege or The Division?"

Since Ubisoft has not given an exact date of release, there are rumors that the game could be postponed to arrive later this year, but according to an insider speaking to Gamereactor, a mid or end of 2015 release could be impossible.

"Sadly, I still think that the date is a tad bit optimistic as we still don't have a functioning game and still have massive problems making our multiplayer component work at the concept stage," said the source.

Last year, the game developers released a statement following their decision to delay the release for 2015.

"Working on The Division is a once in a lifetime opportunity for all of us at Massive, Reflections, and Red Storm Entertainment," the statement read. "We are creating something we are really proud of and we don't want to compromise on quality. We are going to release the game when it's ready."

Despite the delays, Ubisoft is reportedly very happy with the progress on The Division and in particular the Snowdrop graphics engine, which will be used on a number of other Ubisoft games in the future.

Google invests in SpaceX 'to help take internet into space'

Deal could value private space company at $10 billion

SpaceX has received a $1 billion investment from Google to help it take the internet into space using satellites.

The deal values SpaceX at $10 billion, according to Bloomberg. Analysts said that the investment would probably see the two companies work together, as well as Google providing cash for the expensive kit needed for Musk’s plan for internet by satellite.

Both Google and Elon Musk’s private space company have been looking to expand the reach of the internet.

Musk said that he would look to take the internet to Mars, and improve it for people on Earth, by launching satellites into space that would help people in underconnected areas connect to the web. Google has been trialling similar plans, launching “Project  Loon” in 2013, which flies internet-transmitting balloons over similar regions.

Musk told Bloomberg earlier in January that there were new investors in the firm that would likely become known at the end of the month. It is unknown whether that comment referred to Google.
They are competing with other firms such as Facebook, which has outlined plans to improve global internet connections using drones.

The companies often present the moves as humanitarian efforts, but they help the companies grow their user base, too.

Google secretly handed over WikiLeaks emails and personal data to US government


Disclosures thought to be related to the state secrets that were leaked as part of data handed over to Chelsea Manning

Google handed over emails and data belonging to WikiLeaks and was unable to tell the group that it had done so for three years.

In what WikiLeaks called a “serious violation of the privacy and journalistic rights of WikiLeaks’ staff”, Google handed over the information under a secret search warrant issued by a federal judge in 2012. Google then wrote to Wikileaks on Christmas Eve 2014, telling the group that it had complied with an order from the Justice Department to hand over digital data including all email and IP addresses of three WikiLeaks staff members.

The data requests are thought to be related to an ongoing investigation into WikiLeaks, launched in 2010. It is related to the publication of hundreds of thousands of US government secrets tand cables that were provided by Chelsea Manning.

In a letter published this morning, WikiLeaks said that it was “astonished and disturbed” by the news. It referenced similar cases with Twitter, where the social network resisted similar warrants and after legal challenges won the right to tell its users about such requests.

It asks for Google to provide information on why it didn’t tell WikiLeaks that the search warrant was issued. It also asks whether Google initiated any legal challenge to the warrants and for detail on the timeline and any further warrants issued to Google.

The letter was signed by the three staff members involved in the case, as well as Julian Assange, WikiLeaks’ lawyer, and Michael Ratner of the legal advocacy group Center for Constitutional Rights.

Google handed over the data it held on WikiLeaks’ investigations editor, British Sarah Harrison; spokesperson Kristinn Hrafnsson; and Joseph Farrell, a section editor. The warrant was acquired on the back of conspiracy and espionage charges that could carry up to 45 years in prison.

WikiLeaks released the search and seizure warrants related to the three staff members on its website.

They show that Google was initially kept from disclosing the legal process to WikiLeaks by a non-disclosure order. It then recently received a second order that allowed Google to disclose to WikiLeaks redacted versions of the legal process — providing the documents that WikiLeaks has now made available.

The warrants, issued by a US District Court in the Eastern District of Virginia, required Google to disclose the contents of all emails, including draft and deleted ones; all personal records such as addresses and the times that users logged on; and all other information stored with Google, such as calendar details and pictures and files.

Google usually notifies users via email before it shares any information with authorities, it writes on the frequently asked questions part of its Transparency Report. But it makes exceptions to that policy if court orders prohibit Google from telling the user about the request, as well as if the circumstances could involve death or injury or if it believes the account has been hijacked.

A Google spokesperson told The Independent: "We don't talk about individual cases.

"Obviously, we follow the law like any other company. When we receive a subpoena or court order, we check to see if it meets both the letter and the spirit of the law before complying. And if it doesn't we can object or ask that the request is narrowed. We have a track record of advocating on behalf of our users."

Soon, Flexible and Paper-Thin Displays With LE-OFETs Technology: Study

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The next generation of transistors may pave the way for flexible, paper-thin computer screens that provide faster response times and better efficiency, scientists say.
Researchers at Japan's National Institute for Materials Science reviewed the latest developments in research on photoactive organic field-effect transistors; devices that incorporate organic semi-conductors, amplify weak electronic signals, and either emit or receive light.
Organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) were developed to produce low-cost, large-area electronics, such as printable and/or flexible electronic devices.
The researchers reported that much progress has been made in the development of light-emitting organic field-effect transistors (LE-OFETs) since they first appeared in 2003.
Research in this area has resulted in advances in the manufacture of novel organic photonics applications using cost-effective approaches.
Light emission efficiency and brightness of these transistors will soon improve, researchers said.
Further research may lead to production of new display technologies, they said.
LE-OFETs are also expected to become fully compatible with well-established electronic technologies. This may allow further development of optical communication systems and optoelectronic systems, such as those using laser technologies.
LE-OFETs are being used to develop flexible, transparent computer screens. These screens are purported to provide faster response times, better efficiency, and no need for backlighting. They also have very low energy needs.
Light-receiving organic field-effect transistors (LR-OFETs), on the other hand, are much less developed than their light-emitting siblings.
LR-OFETs convert light into electrical signals, opening a way to new optoelectronic devices.
Phototransistors, used in CD players, are an example of such devices that hold much promise. But their durability needs to be improved for them to be used in more flexible applications, researchers said.
Further development is also required in other kinds of light-receiving OFETs before they can be used in all-plastic computing devices.
Flexible displays, in which all the device components - such as the light-emitting parts, the switching parts, and the substrates - consist of plastic materials have already been developed and will appear on the market in the near future, researchers said.
However, similar memory devices are still lacking. If "plastic memory" is developed, it will open a new frontier.
Researchers estimate that it will still be another ten years before all-plastic, flexible computing devices appear on the market.
The research was published in the journal Science and Technology of Advanced Materials.

LG G Flex2 Curved Phone to Launch on January 30; Official Price Revealed

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LG Electronics Inc. says it will start selling its latest curved smartphone in South Korea next week.
The Korean company said Thursday that the G Flex2 will be launched locally on January 30 and overseas in the coming months. LG has priced the G Flex2 at KRW 800,000 (roughly Rs. 45,400), in-line with the Amazon Germany listing last week at EUR 599 (approximately Rs. 44,076).
The smartphone is LG's latest effort to expand the use of curved screens as a way of differentiating its smartphones from those of competitors.
When LG released its first version of a curved smartphone in 2013, it was a niche product. The latest iteration shows LG is targeting a bigger market.
The LG G Flex2 is the first smartphone powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 (a 64-bit octa-core SoC) processor. It is coupled with the Adreno 430 GPU and 2GB of LPDDR4 RAM. The single-SIM smartphone runs Android 5.0 Lollipop and features a 5.5-inch full-HD curved P-OLED display with a 1080x1920 pixels resolution and a 403ppi pixel density.
The LG G Flex2's display has a 700mm-radius curvature, while the back is slightly sharper with a 650mm-radius curvature for grip.
The company at the CES 2015 launch also confirmed that it improved the 'Self Healing' back from the original LG G Flex, and it will now get healed within 10 seconds at room temperature - significantly lower than the last-generation's three minutes.
The LG G Flex2 sports a rear 13.0-megapixel camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS+), dual-LED two-tone flash, and laser-guided autofocus just like the LG G3. It sports a 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera. The G Flex2 will come in 16GB and 32GB storage variants that are expandable via microSD card.
The device measures in at 149.1x75.3x7.1 - 9.4mm, and weighs 152 grams. The curved handset packs a curved embedded 3000mAh non-removable battery, and will initially be available in two colours: Platinum Silver and Flamenco Red.

Xiaomi Mi Note Goes Out of Stock Within 3 Minutes in First Sale: Report

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Xiaomi's new Mi Note phablet, as expected, went up for sale in China for the first time on Tuesday. Within three minutes of the sale going live, the company announced that the Xiaomi Mi Note went "out of stock", leaving us to believe that the handset was sold out within this period.
The Chinese company is yet to reveal the exact number of units that were available in the first sale and the time taken for the Mi Note to go out of stock. Xiaomi announced the news via its official Sino Weibo page.
The company also revealed that the next sale for the Mi Note will be held on February 3 without again revealing the number of units expected to be available.
A recent report coming out of Taiwan forecast that Xiaomi's Mi Note phablet might touch 15 million shipping units this year.
The KGI Investment Advisory report primarily focused on what impact the large shipping units of the Mi Note will put on several Taiwanese technology companies. KGI expected that Xiaomi will ship around 13 to 15 million Mi Note units in 2015, where March and May months will see the flagship phablet sales topping.
To recall, the Xiaomi Mi Note phablet launched earlier this month, and has been priced at CNY 2,299 (roughly Rs. 23,000) for the 16GB model, while the 64GB model comes at CNY 2,799 (roughly Rs. 27,900).
The dual-SIM and dual-standby Xiaomi Mi Note with Micro-SIM and Nano-SIM card support features a 5.7-inch full-HD (1080x1920 pixels) Sharp JDI display offering a pixel density of 386ppi. It also packs Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection, and sports a metal frame.
The phablet is powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor clocked at 2.5GHz alongside 3GB of RAM and Adreno 330 GPU. The Xiaomi Mi Note also supports 4G LTE connectivity and is backed by a 3000mAh battery with Quick Charge 2.0 technology.
Other specifications include a 13-megapixel rear camera with a six-element lens, OIS, a Sony CMOS sensor, and two-tone flash from Philips. There is a 4-megapixel front-camera also onboard with large 2-micron pixels.

Asus ZenFone C ZC451CG With Android 4.4 KitKat Launched: Report

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Asus has reportedly launched a new smartphone, the ZenFone C, in Malaysia. No official announcement has been made by the company as yet, and availability details are not known either.
The ZenFone C may represent the first of the series that replaces the existing ZenFone 4 lineup in the future. It is worth noting that the specifications of the newly announced Asus ZenFone C ZC451CG are similar to that of the ZenFone 4 A450CG but with minor upgrades.
The dual-SIM Asus ZenFone C ZC451CG runs on Android 4.4.2 KitKat OS with Zen UI out-of-the-box with no word on the smartphone's Android 5.0 Lollipop update. It features a 4.5-inch FWVGA (480x854) IPS display. The smartphone is powered by the same 1.2GHz dual-core Intel Atom Z2520 processor with Hyper-Threading Technology (2 cores, 4 threads, 1MB cache) and 1GB of RAM as seen in ZenFone 4 A450CG. It also includes a 5-megapixel 'PixelMaster' rear autofocus camera with flash and f/2.0 lens, apart from a 0.3-megapixel front-facing camera with f/2.8 lens, according to the specifications sheet shared on Twitter by the SoyaCincau blog (via Android Headlines).
It also shares the same inbuilt storage specification of 8GB, which is expandable via a microSD card (up to 64GB). Other specifications of the Asus ZenFone C ZC451CG include 3G, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, A-GPS, Glonass, and Micro-USB connectivity options. The smartphone however differs from the ZenFone 4 when it comes to battery. As compared to the ZenFone 4 A450CG's 1600mAh battery, the new ZenFone C sports a better 2100mAh battery. The smartphone is said to be available in Black, White and Red colour variants.
Measuring 136.5x67x10.9mm and weighing 149 grams, the ZenFone C ZC451CG is said to be priced at MYR 349 (roughly Rs. 6,000). The availability details of the handset outside Malaysia are not yet known.
Asus last week also launched a new variant of its immensely popular ZenFone 5, called the ZenFone 5 (A501CG-2B509WWE), priced at just Rs. 7,999 in India.

Behind the Scenes With Engineers Who Developed the Sony Xperia Z3

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The age of smartphones has seen Japanese veterans like Sony lose ground. Between Korean companies like Samsung and the rising might of Chinese, the old giants have lost some of their sheen. Sony still manages to release some interesting products, such as the flagship Sony Xperia Z3 and Sony Xperia Z3 Compact.
Some of the engineers from the Z3 team were recently visiting India, and met up with NDTV Gadgets to talk about the creation of their leading products, and share some of the insights that emerged from the design process.
We spoke to Yoshikazu Sakamoto, Senior Project Manager, Product Program Office; Hiroshi Takano, Deputy Head of Research Tokyo; Shimpei Yamaguchi, Mechanical Engineer - Concept and Technology Advanced Design Department; and Yasutaka Kashiwagi, Base Band engineer, PD5 Product design, Hardware. Sakamoto, who has worked with Sony for nearly 10 years now, tells us that the total Sony Xperia Z3 team has 300 engineers.
Takano was the most precise of the four engineers, and carefully corrected his co-workers on percentages and other details, while talking about his speciality - the camera technology. He started off the discussion with a small presentation showing off the camera improvements that the Sony Xperia Z3 has over the previous version.
"We were able to use more of the expertise of the Cybershot team at the parent company," says Takano. "One of the biggest benefits, from Sony [parent company], is the software. A good picture is a combination of good hardware and good software."
Sakamoto also added that the camera modes that Sony comes with also make it simpler for anyone to take a good photo. "There is the Auto mode, and there is the Superior Auto. Superior Auto, the camera analyses the scene, and then the software can decide what type of photo you are taking," explains Takano. The object recognition software can then fine tune the camera settings to get the image that it believes you are trying to capture, balancing the exposure, the focus and the colour settings automatically behind the scenes.
There are some drawbacks to Sony's approach - if you choose to stick to Superior Auto, then you don't have too much control over the shots you take. But when you change the modes, you see a bewildering plethora of options. Unfortunately, these are all variations of automatic settings, with certain presets, which means you can't directly take control of the camera's settings - that's one of the key differences between using a real camera (for which these modes were designed) and a smartphone.
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Takano then showed us a cross-section of the phone so we could look at the camera module, and compared it to the camera module used in the Sony Xperia Z1. He showed us how the module was fitted in the phone, and said that the company had managed to shave 0.7mm off from the size of the new phone partly by making this module thinner.
When asked if this came at the cost of the camera performance, Takano said that there was some sacrifice made - that an even bigger camera could be even better in terms of image quality. We asked if a small bulge - similar to the new iPhone models - would have led to better images, but Takano and Sakamoto did not comment on that.
Sakamoto only says, "We kept pushing them, to make it fit, without giving up on quality. The results are stunning, and the camera is flush with the body," a clear reference to Sony's tweet last year during the iPhone 6 launch, which took a dig at theprotruding iPhone camera.
Yamaguchi, the mechanical engineer, says that the smaller camera module was essential in allowing the sleek design of the two flagship phones.
"Earlier, the camera module was bigger, so we kept it next to the display module. It was almost as thick as the phone," Yamaguchi explains. "Now, the module is much smaller, and we were able to sandwich it between the display module and the case of the phone, saving more space and making the phone smaller without sacrificing on quality."
Yamaguchi looked the youngest of the four engineers, and kept glancing at his Sony Smartband Talk since the engineers had a flight to catch after the meeting - but not before giving us a good look at the inside of both the Sony Xperia Z3 and the Z3 Compact.
Yamaguchi says that waterproofing the phones was not too challenging, and did not require compromise from a design perspective. As Sakamoto points out though, the IP65/68 rating that shows how resistant the phone is to dust and water also makes the Sony Xperia Z3 more expensive for the company to produce.
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"We have to test everything to make sure that it is actually water proof and dust resistant," Sakamoto says, "We [have to] stress test all the models before we sell them."
Yamaguchi gave us a little more detail.
"We use a special vacuum test, to confirm that the phone is actually waterproof," he says. "There is a special hole, it's an invisible hole [here, all four engineers conferred in Japanese for a few moments, as if trying to find a simplified explanation we could follow in English] like a grill."
He then showed us a small mesh on one corner of the inner body of the phone.
"We immerse the phone, and then we place it under a vacuum," Yamaguchi explains. "The mesh is specially designed, so air can come through, but water cannot. So by doing this, we can vacuum the phone and see if any water comes out." If no water comes out, that shows that none entered the phone during the immersion test.
The actual waterproofing technology is one where Sony has made some important advances. Yamaguchi showed us a clear sheet of plastic that is embedded around the body of the Z series phones. This layer seals in the phone, and protects it from water - Yamaguchi tells us that this is fitted in the phones using laser technology.
"Earlier [we] did not use laser to attach," Sakamoto explains. "It used to press the two parts together."
The seal would be heated and bonded using a mechanical process, which led to a slightly bigger phone. Using a laser to burn away the excess material while bonding the seal, Sony was able to reduce the size of the bezel, Sakamoto tells us.
So what comes next? Can the miniaturisation of parts continue, and what impact will it have on the design of the phone? Sakamoto tells us that Sony's flagships are unlikely to change in their basic design anytime soon.
"We are always looking, and will update the design when it is needed," he says, "but we don't want to abandon our identity either." He predicts that Sony's design language (called Omnibalance) will stay for a whlie.
Yamaguchi however tells us that the company is continuing to study new materials and experimenting with how different substances could be used to make phones.
"We can't do much to the basic design. Because the customer wants the biggest screen with the smallest body possible," he says. "With new materials, we could make some changes to the feel of your phone."

Google Could Do More for India's Gaming Ecosystem: Manish Agarwal, Reliance Games

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The Indian game development landscape is largely peppered with small, two-man (or woman) indie teams, scrappy start-ups with heady ambitions. Reliance Games is a seemingly odd fixture on the local circuit. It's one of the biggest game developers in India, with facilities in India, Korea, and Japan, and it is looking to the West to expand further. But while it is growing around the world, Reliance Games CEO Manish Agarwal tells us that the company is less optimistic about its prospects in India.

"What would be our plan for India... I wish I had an answer," says Agarwal. "The issue is, recovering any investment looks bleak. Downloads are great so should we just invest in this market. But for how many years, I don't know," he confesses.
Like most publishers in the mobile space, Reliance Games too largely relies on freemium games to make money. Agarwal says that 70 percent of the company's revenues are driven by in-app purchases (IAP), and only 30 percent comes from ads.
Revenue from India is something Agarwal says he does not even track due to its minuscule size. It's a problem shared by many developers. When asked how things came to this, he puts the blame squarely on Google.
"It's because of Google's stupidity that they have not integrated carrier billing in Google Play. They're killing the market," he says.
Nonetheless, he insists that third-party app stores have the ability to fill in the void if they're willing to spend on content aggregation.
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"If you look at it from the Indian context, if Google continues to be the way it is with no IAP carrier billing, it is a great opportunity for someone like Zapak or 9games or Mobogenie to really spend money on getting the right content [to build a strong third-party app store portfolio]. We can all give SDKs and APIs to developers," he says.
For Agarwal, it's just a matter of when instead of how. And it just might be sooner rather than later.
"I think Google is just opening the market and forcing someone else to step up and play the role that is legitimately theirs," he says. "The reason why I've not really pressed the accelerator on it is that I'm hoping soon Google will do it but it's a threshold of patience that is wearing thin."
From licensing to original IP
At the same time, he's also keen to change the kind of games that the company is making. Reliance Games has pushed out many derivative licensed games based around movies such as The Hunger Games, Pacific Rim, and Real Steel. The company is predominantly a developer of games from movie properties, working to make games based on Hollywood titles like Total Recall and After Earth. Recently however, we've seen games based on original IPs such as Drone: Shadow Strike and Ultimate Robot Fighting.
"We've seen success with licensed IPs in our portfolio," says Agarwal. "Thanks to the cashflow from these, we are able to make our own IP. Ultimately as a human being you crave for something that you have created, that is the human craving. But The business tells you that it's riskier proposition. In 2012 we had zero appetite for risk. In 2014 we had some appetite for it hence two new properties from us."
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Ultimate Robot Fighting, while bearing similarities to the successful Real Steel series from Reliance Games, is a new IP for the company.
So has the company forsaken the steady, revenue generating route of licensed games for the vast unknown? Not quite.
"When you take a look at our line-up this year, you'll see 20 percent being our own IPs and 80 percent being IPs from others" he says. "I strongly believe that with licensed games, at a practical level there is a discovery cost saved. If licensed games can give you half a million downloads, [and you can save] $1.50 cost per install on each download , the math is very simple."
On the topic of game discovery, with a slew of games on Google Play and the App Store, it should be less of an issue since new games can piggyback on older, existing, well-known games by having ads that point to them. This however, is only in theory. Agarwal claims that the reality is a lot more nuanced than it seems.
"Cross-promotion is only a function of having an active user base across all games," explains Agarwal. "There's no point in having them if they're not adding to the network of yours. So for us, Real Steel franchise and Pacific Rim make absolute sense, keep on cross-promoting, doing it. Let's take the example of Dancing with the Stars - completely different genre and segment, game has flopped. Why should we keep doing it? Now there's a thought to continue from the portfolio standpoint. As I said I have not made up my mind, I'm getting more gearing towards just clean up the store, there's no point in showing the long tail."
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As Agarwal puts it, the app market is a numbers game, even if not all stakeholders are doing their part to raise the numbers. Part of that is a project that Reliance Games calls Game Hack, which will bring the company's ability to scale up a game's reach to smaller indie developers. Reliance wants to tie up with small developers around the world, and this will be a big part of the company's future plans, as it tries to work the numbers in its favour.
"Today we are scouting the globe," says Agarwal. "We are looking at developers. I believe our studio can do two, three, maybe four games a year maximum. But I can't be a two or three game studio. Not unless each game is a 30 to 40 million dollar success."


Honda Plans to Launch CBR150R Face-lift in India


Honda already started importing the new version of its 150cc segment sport bike CBR150R face-lift version. The bike resembles its predecessor FIreblade style twin head light and have minor engine modification. The new CBR150R comes with 149.4cc liquid cooled engine with power of 17.1 PS. It has the torque of 13Nm and the bike has the same 6-speed gearbox.

Lava Iris X1 Grand and X1 Mini Launched in India




Extending its Iris X1 series, Lava has announced two new smartphones in the Indian market. The new 5-inch Iris X1 Grand and 4-inch Iris X1 mini price ranges from Rs 7,326 and Rs 4,348.

The Lava Iris X1 Grand sports a 5-inch IPS display with FWVGA 854 x 480 resolution. It runs Android 5.0 Lollipop and comes with a 1.3GHz quad core MTK6582M processor, with 1GB RAM. The device also bundles an Intelligent Flip cover that lets users access the phone’s functions without the need of switching to the main screen. It supports Smart Wake-up and Gesture controls for easy access from lockscreen.

The Iris X1 Grand also comes with an 8MP AF rear camera, double LED flash, auto focus, BSI II sensor, 2MP secondary camera for video calling, 8GB internal storage and microSD card support for up to 32GB. The connectivity options are USB v2.0, Bluetooth v4.0 and Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n).

The X1 Mini comes with a smaller 4-inch IPS display. It has a 1.2GHz quad-core chipset and meager 512MB RAM which means it may not be able to handle many apps at the same time. On the camera, one can expect a 5MP rear snapper and a VGA front-facing camera. The mobile also comes with 4GB onboard storage that is expandable up to 32GB via microSD card slot. A 1750mAh battery promising that last up to one day on normal usage completes the package.

Airtel Signs Deal with Nokia Networks to Expand 4G Services


Telecom giant Bharti Airtel today signed a deal with Nokia Networks to launch high-speed 4G services in six more telecom circles, comprising 11 states, starting from December this year.

The circles where Airtel going to launch 4G services are Andhra Pradesh, North East (7 states), Punjab, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Karnataka, sources said.

Airtel plans to launch 4G services in Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, North East and Punjab by December 2015, Karnataka by February 2016 and Rajasthan by April 2016, sources added.

Meanwhile, Bharti Airtel Chief Technology Officer Abhay Savargaonkar in a statement said: “Having already launched the high-speed 4G services across four circles of India, we are now looking at expanding this enriching high-speed broadband experience to new circles on 1800 MHz band.”

The launch in these circles will be on a different type of 4G technology called FDD-LTE.

Globally, there are 360 networks has 4G services facilities and out of this 158 network use FDD-LTE technology, as per Global mobile Suppliers Association, implying better eco-system and availability of affordable devices for this technology.

Nokia Networks, already a supplier of Bharti Airtel’s TD-LTE network, will also provide TD-LTE on the 2300 MHz in 2 other circles, Sources said that these two circles are Mumbai and Kerala.

Maharashtra Govt to Launch ‘Aaple Sarkar’ app on 26 January


After the initiation of online RTI assistance in the state, the Maharashtra government is planning to launch a web portal “Aaple Sarkar” by January 26 to address public grievances while ensuring participative governance.

Rajesh Aggarwal said that we want cooperative administration in the Maharashtra where people can give suggestions to our policies or upload their grievances on their website,” Principal Secretary of the State IT department.

He also said that the suggestions or grievances will not be limited to the Chief Minister. Ministers of each department can be reached using this doorway.

Upcoming Cars in Chennai


Range Rover Sport SVR

This will be the most powerful Land Rover SUV ever made. As far as intros go, this is a good one. Under the bonnet of the Range Rover Sport SVR will be a fire-breathing 5.0 litre, supercharged V8 engine that has an incredible 542 bhp. An 8 speed automatic transmission created by ZF will route the power to all 4 wheels.

Jaguar F-Type AWD:

The F-Type AWD from Jaguar carries the same mentioned 5.0 litre, supercharged V8. This engine produces 542 bhp, is covered by the Intelligent Driveline Dynamics system developed by Jaguar and delivers its power to all 4 wheels instead of just the front ones. 0-100 kph is deal with in 3.9 seconds and top speed is an electronically limited 300 kph.

Game Show Network – BASH Gaming


BASH Gaming was a startup co-founded in 2008 by Sumit Gupta. It was captured by US-based Game Show Network (GSN) last year for $165 million. GSN is a joint gamble between DirecTV and Sony Picture Television which is producing television game shows such as Wheel of Fortune. They are also into authorizing their TV shows to casual mobile gaming companies.

BASH Gaming started out as a social casino gaming app on Facebook and eventually moved on to mobile floors such as iOS, Android and on the Amazon app store. Bingo Bash, one of BASH Gaming’s famous Bingo based game has around 40 million installations and over 4 million active users across the globe playing each other across devices. GSN plans to advantages the user base of BASH Gaming’s multi-player technology to build their own skill-based gaming platforms for real prize money.

'Alfred' Turns Your iPhone Or iPad Into A Helpful Remote For Your Mac

Alfred Remote is an app that helps you get some extra use out of your iPhone or iPad by turning it into a remote for your Mac.

Want to open an app without clicking your way through Finder or searching for it via Spotlight? With Alfred, you have access to your Mac's dock of apps - all from your phone or tablet. 

You can also set up Alfred to play, pause, and also to adjust the volume of your music. You can also lock, sleep, or shut down your Mac via your phone as you walk out the door.

Other than this includes launching your favorite websites, pasting clipboard snippets of text,
 
controlling Spotify, sending things to Evernote, and plenty of other time-saving actions through creating your own custom workflow.

Alfred Remote relies on the already existing Alfred 2 Mac app, which is like a advanced version of Apple's Spotlight search. Alfred 2 is where you will be able to create your own custom workflow actions that string together a series of actions, which allows you to save time by creating shortcuts that carry out larger tasks.

While the actions of Alfred Remote are likely easier by using the keys already existing on your keyboard (like volume control), Alfred is a great tool for power users to cut down on clicks and keep their most-used commands ready at their fingertips.

Alfred Remote is an app that helps you get some extra use out of your iPhone or iPad by turning it into a remote for your Mac.

Want to open an app without clicking your way through Finder or searching for it via Spotlight? With Alfred, you have access to your Mac's dock of apps - all from your phone or tablet. 

You can also set up Alfred to play, pause, and also to adjust the volume of your music. You can also lock, sleep, or shut down your Mac via your phone as you walk out the door.

Other than this includes launching your favorite websites, pasting clipboard snippets of text, controlling Spotify, sending things to Evernote, and plenty of other time-saving actions through creating your own custom workflow.

Alfred Remote relies on the already existing Alfred 2 Mac app, which is like a advanced version of Apple's Spotlight search. Alfred 2 is where you will be able to create your own custom workflow actions that string together a series of actions, which allows you to save time by creating shortcuts that carry out larger tasks.

While the actions of Alfred Remote are likely easier by using the keys already existing on your keyboard (like volume control), Alfred is a great tool for power users to cut down on clicks and keep their most-used commands ready at their fingertips.

Stream WireFree

There are many devices and apps that offer the same but the experience of setting up and streaming can be cumbersome for many.

TeeWe is yet another compact gadget that simplifies the experience. It is a small wireless HDMI dongle that looks like a thumb drive which plugs into the TV's HDMI port. For powering Teewe, there is a micro USB wall adapter has been added to the box. The USB port on the TV can also be used to power up the dongle.

Before using the dongle, one has to just install the free Teewe app on the Android or iOS device. Once it is done, connect the phone to the Wi-Fi network and follow the instructions to set up Teewe's WiFi. later connecting the device with Teewe and setting it up with the home network, it's ready to go. TeeWe was quick enough to stream content played on the phone. This includes streaming videos from YouTube or watching content stored on the phone. Using the device on the Android device was much smoother over an iOS one.

The streaming performance depends up on the Wi-Fi network. A fast and uncluttered Wi-Fi network works best for TeeWe to operate. A Live TV channels update has also been added to the app. There is also a separate app for Windows laptops that can be used for streaming content to the TV.

There are many devices and apps that offer the same but the experience of setting up and streaming can be cumbersome for many.

TeeWe is yet another compact gadget that simplifies the experience. It is a small wireless HDMI dongle that looks like a thumb drive which plugs into the TV's HDMI port. For powering Teewe, there is a micro USB wall adapter has been added to the box. The USB port on the TV can also be used to power up the dongle.

Before using the dongle, one has to just install the free Teewe app on the Android or iOS device. Once it is done, connect the phone to the Wi-Fi network and follow the instructions to set up Teewe's WiFi. later connecting the device with Teewe and setting it up with the home network, it's ready to go. TeeWe was quick enough to stream content played on the phone. This includes streaming videos from YouTube or watching content stored on the phone. Using the device on the Android device was much smoother over an iOS one.

The streaming performance depends up on the Wi-Fi network. A fast and uncluttered Wi-Fi network works best for TeeWe to operate. A Live TV channels update has also been added to the app. There is also a separate app for Windows laptops that can be used for streaming content to the TV.

Instant Prints




Printing instant prints from a digital camera is one of the new electronic inventions in printing. The Polaroid PoG is a mini portable printer.

This printer produces full-color 2" x 3" prints using "inkless" technology. The images are made from heat activated crystals on photo paper. These photos are waterproof, tear proof, and smear-proof.

This new electronic invention connects to a digital camera using a USB and to a mobile phone through Bluetooth. It uses rechargeable batteries.

Printing instant prints from a digital camera is one of the new electronic inventions in printing. The Polaroid PoG is a mini portable printer.

This printer produces full-color 2" x 3" prints using "inkless" technology. The images are made from heat activated crystals on photo paper. These photos are waterproof, tear proof, and smear-proof.

This new electronic invention connects to a digital camera using a USB and to a mobile phone through Bluetooth. It uses rechargeable batteries.

Air Umbrella


This Air umbrella was developed in China. The forced the air creates a canopy over you, in the same way, that a traditional fabric umbrella does, which prevents the rain falling on you. After the rain has stopped or you have reached your preferred destination, you can simply put the device in the bag as it is always dry.
This product may look like a big flashlight and it consists of the air up, thereby creating a shield around you. In the pole of the umbrella contains a rechargeable battery and a button at base that turns the Air Umbrella on or off. We can change the size of the canopy as per our wish. This air umbrella can two people dry as it will shield over one meter in diameter the shaft.
The developers have tested this device in heavy rainfall and according to them, it performs superbly. A motor which is located in air umbrella could make some noise, but the sound of the rain can drown this out. The air that is impelled by the umbrella pushes droplets of water up to 70 centimetres away. If the rain happens to be coming at a diagonal you just change the way you hold.
The Air umbrella comes in with a price tag of $118, but they are selling fast. The sources say that the company is planning to develop three models, one for 30cm running for 15 minutes on a charge,  one for 50cm running for 30 minutes per charge and the another model for 80cm running 30 minutes per charge.
At present, battery life is a bit short at the moment. But, the company is working on extending this along with the design over the next 10 months. Production of this air umbrella is expected to start within the end of this year. 
This Air umbrella was developed in China. The forced the air creates a canopy over you, in the same way, that a traditional fabric umbrella does, which prevents the rain falling on you. After the rain has stopped or you have reached your preferred destination, you can simply put the device in the bag as it is always dry.

This product may look like a big flashlight and it consists of the air up, thereby creating a shield around you. In the pole of the umbrella contains a rechargeable battery and a button at base that turns the Air Umbrella on or off. We can change the size of the canopy as per our wish. This air umbrella can two people dry as it will shield over one meter in diameter the shaft.

The developers have tested this device in heavy rainfall and according to them, it performs superbly. A motor which is located in air umbrella could make some noise, but the sound of the rain can drown this out. The air that is impelled by the umbrella pushes droplets of water up to 70 centimetres away. If the rain happens to be coming at a diagonal you just change the way you hold.

The Air umbrella comes in with a price tag of $118, but they are selling fast. The sources say that the company is planning to develop three models, one for 30cm running for 15 minutes on a charge,  one for 50cm running for 30 minutes per charge and the another model for 80cm running 30 minutes per charge.

At present, battery life is a bit short at the moment. But, the company is working on extending this along with the design over the next 10 months. Production of this air umbrella is expected to start within the end of this year.

Powermat





Powermat is a wireless charger for hi-tech gadgets. You can simply place your gadget on the mat to charge it.It uses magnetic induction energy and not electricity to charge the devices and it works faster than standard power adapters.It can also charge multiple different gadgets all at the one time.

Acer ICONIA




The Acer ICONIA is the world's first 10-finger multi-touch, dual-screen tablet, combining the versatility of a 14" form factor with the unique dual-touchscreen layout and highly intuitive multi-touch functionality to radically enhance your computing experience. Navigate with personalized gestures, spread a webpage across both screens, and experience true touch freedom.

Cost: $1199.99

JBL OnBeat



The JBL OnBeat loudspeaker firmly docks iPad, iPod and iPhone devices and lets you rotate iPod and iPhone screens to portrait or landscape orientation for the best video display. The JBL OnBeat docking station features dual Phoenix full-range transducers with computer-optimized DSP equalization for a richly detailed 360-degree soundstage, an IR remote puts you in full control of system functions and music navigation from across the room, and an AC power supply keeps your devices charged when docked. With an optional composite cable, the JBL OnBeat system can even send video content on to your TV for the whole crowd to enjoy.

Cost: $149.95

Toshiba USB Mobile LCD Monitor



Need to make a big splash for on-the-spot presentations and want to leave that heavy projector at the office? Want an additional monitor for serious multitasking, or sharing work and other creations? If so, the Toshiba USB Mobile LCD Monitor may be your new best friend. The 14-inch monitor provides instant screen “real estate” with 1366 x 768 HD resolution. At under three pounds and less than one inch thick, this ultra-portable monitor is designed to fit in most standard laptop bags.

Cost: $199.99

Visioneer Mobility Color Cordless Scanner



The Visioneer Mobility Color Cordless Scanner allows you to scan documents, receipts, photos, business cards, etc. to your smartphone, SD card or USB flash drive. No computer required. The battery is able to scan up to 300 pages per charge. The AutoLaunch feature begins scanning the document as soon as the page is inserted.

Cost: $199

Cobra Tag



A Cobra Tag sensor is attached to your keys, purse, computer bag, or any other item you want to protect from loss. The sensor communicates with the phone’s free app and will remind you if you leave your phone or valuables behind. The Cobra Tag is also a two-way finder. Tap the button on the Cobra Tag to ring your smartphone. If you are looking for your Cobra Tag-protected item, use the phone’s application to make the Cobra Tag ring. To secure your phone's data, the PhoneHalo application can be set to lock your phone when out of range of your tagged item. 

Cost: $59.95

KeyJuice for Micro/Mini USB




Charge and sync your USB devices with the KeyJuice for Micro/Mini USB charge and sync cable that folds and fits on your keychain. Includes a full-size USB 2.0 port. For Apple products, check out the KeyJuice for iPhone, iPod and iPad.

Cost: $14.99

Arctic Cooling Pad




Protect your laptop and work surface from heat with the Arctic Cooling Pad featuring a moveable fan. The ergonomic working angle, ultra-quiet fan and innovative design make this laptop cooling pad an excellent companion for any laptop up to 17 inches.

Cost: $29.99

Logitech iPad 2 Keyboard Case


 

The Logitech iPad 2 Keyboard Case is a great on-the-go companion for your iPad 2 device. A recess just behind the keyboard allows you to use your iPad 2 in either portrait or landscape modes. The wireless keyboard pairs quickly and easily over Bluetooth, and charges over USB, so you never need to worry about replacing batteries.

Magic Mouse



Never replace batteries again with Mobee's magical wireless inductive charger for the Magic Mouse. The unobtrusive design lets you rest your mouse easily on a sleek charging station that plugs into a USB port. A full charge takes approximately five hours and then lasts for as long as six days of worry-free pointing and clicking. 

Cost: $49.90

Soulra XL




The Soulra XL solar-powered sound system allows you to bring your iPod/iPhone tunes outdoors. With eight speaker drivers and a 22W output with bass boost, the unit features a 72-square-inch monocrystal solar panel that fully charges the unit in five hours of direct sunlight. The rechargeable lithium ion battery provides up to eight hours of playback time, and the unit can also charge your iPhone or iPod device. An AC adapter is also included for indoor use.

Cost: $299

WOWee One Slim



The WOWee One Slim is a compact portable speaker unit which provides a full range frequency response. It is intended for use as both a fixed and portable solution for all iPod, iPad, mp3, mp4, mobile phone and computer applications. It uses the same hybrid technology as the WOWee ONE and produces an incredible bass sound with a 40Hz - 20kHz sound range.

The unit is powered by an internal rechargeable battery and can deliver up to 10 hours of playtime per charge. It can be recharged via computer USB or a 5V USB power adapter using a plug. There is also a built in LED low battery indicator.

Cost: $39.95

Photo iPad Scanning Dock



This is the scanner that saves treasured photos directly to an iPad while it docks and charges the device. Controlled by a free app, the sheet-fed scanner makes it simple to preserve and share heirloom photos and documents as digital files. In as little as 12 seconds, a photo is converted to a crisp 300- or 600-dpi color JPEG image that is displayed on screen in real time and saved to the iPad’s camera roll. The integrated dock holds the iPad upright and has a built-in Lightning connector that recharges its battery in five hours. Scans sheets up to 8 1/2" x 14". Plugs into AC with your iPad’s USB power adapter. For iPad 4, iPad Mini, and iPhone 5/s/c running iOS 6.0 or later. 4 1/2" H x 13" W x 4" D. (1 3/4 lbs.)

Cost: $169.95

NEC VE281 Mobile Projector



NEC’s VE281 mobile projector is designed to provide high brightness for small-to-medium-sized businesses, education environments, corporate conference rooms and mobility applications where heavy ambient light is present but the space requires a small projector. This lightweight model includes 3D-ready technology, high-contrast images and a powerful 7W speaker. Its automated technologies — from Auto Power On and quick startup/shutdown to a lamp life up to 6000 hours — make it an eco-friendly choice. The VE281 offers the Intelligent Driving Scheme (IDS2) for increased lamp life and contrast.

Cost: $339

iFusion



The iFusion is an integrated communications docking station for the Apple iPhone. Combining the capabilities of many top-selling iPhone accessories into a single device, the iFusion utilizes built-in Bluetooth technology, a full duplex speaker phone and a patented ergonomic design to deliver superior voice quality that meets the requirements of today's home and business consumer.

The cradle design of the iFusion supports the iPhone 3G, 3GS and 4, providing a means to securely dock the phone while supplying power, battery charging and data synchronization via an integrated USB cable. With support for A2DP Bluetooth streaming, users are able to enjoy their favorite iPhone music over the internal speakerphone.

Cost: $169

LaCie RuggedKey




The LaCie RuggedKey is built to withstand accidental drops from heights far above what you'd encounter on your way to the office. Its rubber construction is 100-meter drop-resistant. That means ultimate protection for your key – and your data – for all of life's little stumbles. The RuggedKey has a USB 3.0 interface and file transfer speed of up to 150 MB/s, but it's also backward compatible with USB 2.0. The USB also comes with AES 256-bit encryption for data security.

Cost: Starts at $39.99

SyrenPro



The SyrenPro is a wireless weather-resistant outdoor Bluetooth speaker with TrueWireless Stereo pairing, which lets you create your own stereo system wirelessly using two speakers. The speakers can be plugged into an electrical outlet or run by rechargeable battery for up to four hours, so you can enjoy your music anywhere. The speakers provide 360-degree sound, are weather/UV resistant, and work with most Bluetooth devices.

Cost: $129.99

Livescribe Echo Smartpen




The Livescribe Echo Smartpen allows you to record audio while you’re taking notes, and then play them back later. You can save and share interactive notes to your computer, iPad or iPhone via a micro-USB connector that also allows you to recharge your pen. The memory storage holds 400 or 800 hours of recorded audio, depending on the model, and includes an OLED display that makes it easy to navigate smartpen apps.

Cost: Starting at $169.95

Logitech Type-S




The Logitech Type-S is a thin and light protective keyboard case for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 and protects both sides of your Galaxy Tab S from accidental bumps, scratches and spills. Its built-in Bluetooth® keyboard and well-spaced keys provide a fast and comfortable typing experience. The dual-view stand caters to different activities from typing to reading to chatting online, and includes an auto-wake auto-sleep feature so that the tablet wakes when you open the case. The Logitech Type-S is also now available in bright red.

Cost: $99.99

G-DRIVE ev SSD



With a need for speed - take the power of the G-DRIVE ev SSD with you. With extreme solid-state performance connected with USB 3.0, you’ll get transfer rates up to 400MB/s. The drive comes with 512GB of storage capacity and is compatible with Mac OS 10.6, Windows 7, 8 and Vista. It comes with a three-year warranty. Use it alone or with the G-DOCK ev with Thunderbolt and experience up to 480MB/s for the ultimate flexibility and expandability that today’s creative professionals demand.

Cost: $499.95

Logitech Bluetooth Multi-Device Keyboard




The Logitech® Bluetooth® Multi-Device Keyboard K480 is designed for use with up to three devices, regardless of computing platform. Now, you can work on a report on your computer, and with the flick of the Easy-Switch dial, respond to a message on your smartphone or type a tweet on your tablet – all from the Logitech Bluetooth Multi-Device Keyboard K480.

Saturday, January 24, 2015

SMALL BUSINESS PHONE SYSTEM TO COMPETE WITH THE LARGE ENTERPRISE

About The Author
Michelle Patterson has been working with telecom companies for over 10 years, and is excited with the new IP/VoIP/Cloud Telephony and other systems flooding the market. She is learning as much as she can about IP Telephony, Cloud Telephony, VoIP, Unified Communications, etc.
 
It’s a tough world out there for the small businesses as the competition in the market is getting tougher with every passing day. It is absolutely clear that the organizations which adopt the right technologies have better chances of competing with the larger fishes in the market. The choice of the right technology can propel the growth of a small business and even turn the smallest business into the fiercest competitor of big corporate houses. SMBs can start by investing in the appropriate business phone system.   

The latest trend among the SMBs is to invest in the latest phone systems that use VoIP technology. A recent survey has concluded that about 41% of the businesses that have employee strength of 100 or less have already migrated to the VoIP business phone systems. There are many other businesses that are contemplating such a move in the coming days. This trend is catching up among the SMBs because they have realized that a robust business telephone system can help their business stay afloat and get an edge over the larger companies in the market.

In this article, we are going to take a look at some of the prominent advantages of switching to VoIP business phone systems:

Amazing features: Majority of the SMBs do not have enough money to project themselves as a large concern in front of their customers. For instance, a small company might not have a receptionist or even a brick and mortar office. Now VoIP can help such companies build an image of a professional by using some of the advanced features offered by VoIP phone solutions. Features like auto-attendant, voicemail, call forwarding and email notification can present a very professional image of the company. On top of this, VoIP solutions facilitate the integration of existing email and CRM systems, which enables efficient and effective call handling.

Huge cost savings: For the SMBs every penny counts and they would be better off spending the money on products, services and solutions instead of investing on admin tasks. VoIP can help the smaller organizations free up their IT team as the entire communication system can be managed from a centralized network. The companies will never have to pay for multiple lines and availing additional features like video and voice conferencing. VoIP helps the data to be routed on the same network.

Higher Productivity: By investing on the latest VoIP telephony solutions, smaller organizations will be able to cut down their productivity losses incurred for maintaining the legacy equipments. The IT team in the organization will be able to focus on other important tasks and the employees too will be able to concentrate on the core business processes, which would eventually result in higher profits. .

Service: The VoIP telephone systems facilitates easy and quick video conferencing with customers and attend calls on the go by using features such as Find Me/Follow Me. There are several add-ons that allow the SMBs to give priority to their clients and customers.

Numerous other benefits are offered by VoIP that enables the SMBs into creating a robust communication system that is not only efficient but also offers higher flexibility. If you too are running a small business then it is imperative that you switch to VoIP because it would help you weed out any communication issues and help in raking in higher profits.


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