Google’s Android Auto technology would soon make its way in Mahindra & Mahindra SUVs. As per a top company executive, M&M plans to offer Google Inc’s Android Auto technology in its XUV 500 and Scorpio.
While the company hasn’t specified any timeline by when this technology would be available on its SUVs, they have divulged what it would let its owners do. For instance, the technology will help
owners link their smart phones and tablets with the in-vehicle infotainment system.
Over that the driver can also access applications like maps through voice command or by using controls on the steering wheel.
The company, part of the $17 billion Mahindra Group, also said it has become a member of the Open Automotive Alliance (OAA), a global group of automakers and technology companies working to bringing the Android platform to cars.
The domestic smartphone manufacturer Micromax has expanded its product portfolio with the launch of Canvas Tab P690. The voice calling tablet features an 8-inch HD display with 1280×800 pixels resolution. The tablet runs on Android 4.4 KitKat operating system which is further upgradable to and is powered by a 1.3 GHz quad-core Intel Atom processor.
The Canvas Tab P690 offers 1GB of RAM and 8GB on internal storage which can be further expanded to 32GB using a microSD card. The device sports a 5.0-megapixel rear camera and a 2.0-megapixel front facing camera to facilitate video calling. The connectivity options of the tablet include 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS.
Talking about the device, Vineet Taneja, CEO, Micromax Informatics, said, “Today, we are launching our new Canvas Tab P690-a perfect family tab. Our research has made it clear that there is a large segment of consumers who would value a technology device that can be shared between the family members, and so we’ve created a powerful yet affordable Tablet powered by Intel, aimed at helping family members enjoy the big screen of the Tablet for the things they love, including Movies, Games, Music, Reading and so on. More such products with sharply defined positioning will follow in the next few weeks and months.”
The company has priced the Canvas Tab P690 for Rs 8,999 and it will be available in brushed metallic grey color along with a free flip cover worth Rs 1,500. The company is also offering various freebies with its such as 1GB of free data for 2 months for Vodafone customers, 6 free Kindle E-books, 6 months of free premium Truecaller subscription, 3 months of free Saavn premium subscription, free 1 month Hello TV subscription and many others.
Guess what the state-run operator is planning to do to fetch more customers? It is planning to offer roaming services to its customers for free. Yes, we ain’t kidding!
While presenting the one-year report card of the Narendra Modi government in the telecom sector, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad announced that BSNL will offer free national roaming from June 15. This offer would be applicable to all BSNL users and would be effective for at least one year. BSNL will reassess the scheme after a year to decide if they should continue or discontinue the scheme.
This is the second attempt from the state-run operator’s end to get more users onboard. Earlier, it had reduced its roaming tariff by 40% for incoming calls.
The Indian smartphone manufacturer Intex has expanded its Aqua series of smartphones with the launch of two new budget smartphones the Aqua 3G Pro and the Aqua 3G Strong. The smartphones are similar in terms of specifications except for the storage. The Intex Aqua 3G Pro offers 512MB RAM and 4GB of internal storage which can be further expanded up to 32GB. On the other hand, the Intex Aqua 3G Strong comes with 256Mb of RAM and 512MB internal storage which can also be expanded using microSD card.
Talking about the other specifications, both the smartphones flaunts a 4.5-inch display (800x480pixels) protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 on top. The dual SIM devices runs in Android 4.4 KitKat operating system and are powered by a 1GHz Spreadtrum SC7715 processor. The smartphones sports a 2.0-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a 0.3-megapixel front facing camera. On the connectivity front the smartphones offers, 3G,WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS and houses a 1,400 mAh battery.
Speaking about the two new smartphones, Sanjay Kumar Kalirona, Mobile Business Head, Intex Technologies said, “The dual announcement cements our purpose of creating the economically attractive and technically luring smartphones. These two new offerings are almost identical in nature and come with the Corning Gorilla glass and the stunning brush metal finish. These two new offerings are designed for the mass market and are a great package of features, design and the right pricing.”
The company has priced the Intex Aqua 3G Pro for Rs 3,666 and the Intex Aqua 3G Strong for Rs 3,333. Both the smartphones will be available in Black, Silver and Champagne colour options.
Intex Aqua 3G Pro specifications
4-inch (800 x 480 pixels) display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection
1GHz Spreadtrum SC7715 processor with Mali 400 GPU
512MB RAM, 4GB internal memory, expandable memory up to 32GB with microSD
Android 4.4 (KitKat) OS
Dual SIM
2MP rear camera with LED Flash
0.3MP (VGA) front-facing camera
3.5mm audio jack, FM Radio
Dimensions: 125.2×63.3×10 mm
3G,WiFi 802.11 b/g/n,Bluetooth, GPS
1400mAh battery
Intex Aqua 3G Strong specifications
4-inch (800 x 480 pixels) display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection
1GHz Spreadtrum SC7715 processor with Mali 400 GPU
256MB RAM, 512MB internal memory, expandable memory up to 32GB with microSD
It seems that the Chinese smartphone manufacturers are seeing huge potential in the Indian smartphone market. Last month companies like Nubia and Meizu entered the Indian smartphone market. Now, another Chinese firm Phicomm has entred the Indian market with the launch of their flagship device the Passion 660.
The company will be selling the smartphone exclusively through Amazon.in at a price of Rs 10,999. The smartphone will be up for grab starting 9th June and will be available in Black and White colour options.
Speaking at the launch, Zheng Min – CEO of PHICOMM, said, “PHICOMM Passion 660 is an innovative smartphone which reflects the distinctive needs of the Indian consumers. Indian smartphone market is constantly evolving and consumers here are looking for unique smartphones with advanced features and high standards to gain the maximum experience. Our strong in-house research and development team have helped in customizing the smart phone especially for the Indian consumers.”
Talking about the specification, Passion 660 flaunts a 5-inch full HD display with 1080×1920 pixels resolution. The display of the device is protected by a coating of Corning Gorilla glass 3. The smartphone comes with dual SIM functionality and runs on Android KitKat 4.4 operating system topped with company’s Expect UI.
Powering the device is a 1.5 GHz Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor coupled with 2GB of RAM. The inbuilt storage of the device stands at 16GB which can be expanded up to 64GB via microSD card. The smartphone offers hybrid SIM support which enables the user to use the second SIM slot for expanding the storage.
The Passion 660 comes equipped with a 13.0-megapixel rear camera and a 5.0-megapixel front facing camera for clicking selfies. On the connectivity front, the smartphone offers 4G, LTE, 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS. The company also states that the device is capable of supporting global 4G roaming. The smartphone also comes with an inbuilt pedometer that tracks how much you walk in a day and the calories burnt. It also has gesture recognition and built-in barometer.
TV’s these days are becoming bigger and better. Samsung just launched two new curved SUHD (basically ultra high definition TV’s, we are still unclear what the S stands for) TV’s in the Indian market with 65-inch and 55-inch screen size.
Besides being able to run UHD content these LED TV’s have smart features. Both the TV’s run Tizen Operating System on which viewers can watch YouTube videos and browse applications.
Mr. Alok Pathak, Head-Retail Sales, Samsung India Electronics, said, “Samsung has set a new industry standard for the best picture quality available today. As the first ‘S’ branded TV, Samsung’s SUHD TV is designed to offer an outstanding viewing experience with sensational picture quality, seamless interaction and ultra-stylish design. We will continue our innovative heritage and push the boundaries of the home entertainment experience to new possibilities.”
Some key features of the Samsung curved SUHD LED TV’s:
The new user interface for Samsung’s Smart Hub is more responsive and playful, allowing user’s easier access to the content they want. It is simplified to just one screen, displaying your most recent content and tailored content recommendations for even more entertainment options.
Consumers can share video content from their Samsung smart phone to their Smart TV with the press of a button and users can watch TV through their mobile devices without any apps or complicated pre-settings.
Samsung Smart TV owners can wake-up a bit easier with Briefing on TV. Samsung Smart TVs now act as an alarm, and sync up with Samsung mobile devices, to turn on and display important items such as the time, weather and your schedule for the day.
The TV’s will be available at all Samsung Plazas and leading electronics stores throughout the country. The price of the 65-inch Samsung curved SUHD LED TV is Rs 4,40,900 and the 55-inch one can be bought for 3,14,900. These are definitely built for the ultra-rich and Samsung should be happy to sell a handful of units in this side of the world.
The Chinese smartphone manufacturer Meizu has announced the successor of last year launched m1 note smartphone. The new m2 note smartphone bring a major change in both the designed and specifications department.
The Meizu m2 note features a 5.5-inch display with 1920×1080 pixels resolution protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The dual SIM smartphone offers 4G support and runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop with Flyme OS on top. Powering the device is a 1.3GHz 64-bit Octa-Core MediaTek MT6753 processor with eight Cortex-A53 64-bit CPUs paired with 2GB of RAM.
The company has introduced two variants of the m2 note in terms of the storage capacity. There is a 16GB and a 32GB variant which can expanded up to 128GB using microSD card. The smartphone comes equipped with a 13.0-megapixel camera with LED flash at the rear end and a 5.0-megapixel front facing camera to facilitate video calling.
On the connectivity front, the Meizu m2 note offers 4G, 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS. The device houses a 3,100 mAh battery and is available in Grey, Blue, Pink and White colour options. The company has priced the 16GB version for $ 129 (Approx. Rs 8,220) and the 32GB version $ 161 (Approx. Rs 10,284). However, the company has not yet revealed any details about the global roll out of the device.
BlackBerry has rolled out a Material Design update for BMM for Android platform. The update will introduce a more colourful and attractive UI and some new features in order to improve the chatting experience of the users.
BlackBerry has also added the feature of Private Chats, which will enable the users to chat privately. Moreover, the private chat will automatically get deleted after sometime. The app has also received a new replace button, which will let you to edit the sent message.
After the update, the users will be able to share the status updates directly from the news feed. BlackBerry said that the BBM for Android is still in the beta version and can be downloaded for the Google Play store.
Last month, BlackBerry updated the BBM app for Windows Phone and added BBM Channels which enables the users to connect in real-time and discover the content with each other.
Panasonic has launched a mini version of its popular Selfie smartphone the Eluga S. Named as the Eluga S mini the smartphone features a 4.7-inch HD display with 720×1280 pixels resolution. The dual SIM device runs on Android 4.4.2 KitKat operating system topped with company’s FIT HOME UI.
The smartphone is powered by a 1.4GHz octa-core processor paired with 1GB of RAM. The internal storage of the device accounts to 8GB which can be expanded up to 32GB using a microSD card. The Eluga S mini flaunts an 8.0-megapixel snapper with LED flash at the end and a 5.0-megapixel front facing camera for clicking selfies. The front camera also offers the eye-definition BLINK PLAY, which allows the users to click flawless selfies or groupies.
The connectivity options of the device include 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS and its houses a 1,980 mAh battery.
Talking about the Panasonic Eluga S mini, Manish Sharma, Managing Director, Panasonic India said, “With the launch of the new smartphone, we are here to offer a new dimension to the Eluga S category; wherein the model has been targeted at the younger generation – the always-on-the-go college youth. Keeping in mind the affordability aspect, this device is perfect for consumers looking for innovation, design, superior build quality and advanced features.”
The company has priced the Panasonic Eluga S mini for Rs 8,990. The company launched the the Eluga S last year in November at a price of Rs 11,190.
We knew it was coming but we weren’t expecting it here to be in the Indian market so early. We are talking about Micromax’s Canvas Doodle 4, the fourth variant to the Canvas Doodle line-up. The company has launched the smartphone soon after it sent out a teaser message to media.
So, what new does the Micromax previous Canvas Doodle 4 bring to the table? Not much, which would help it overcome the competition that already exists in the under 10k price range.
Canvas Doodle 4 is a dual-SIM phone running on Android 5.0 Lollipop OS. With its 6-inch qHD display, it falls into the phablet category and has enough power under its hood. You’d get a 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek (MTK6582M) processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB internal storage and an 8MP rear camera and a 2MP front camera. For connectivity, it has Bluetooth, GPS and Wi-Fi.
But would these specs alone help the Canvas Doodle 4 take on the likes of Xiaomi, Asus and Lenovo phones available in the same price range? Please stay tuned for an in-depth review of the device very soon!
After a long while we have held a phone that has so much potential to be a market leader in its segment. Asus Zenfone 2 is a phone that has the qualities to give any smartphone, around the 20K mid segment category, a run for its money.
Design
The Asus Zenfone 2 is a bulky yet well-built phone. Looks-wise the phone is not bad at all. Available in an array of colours we got to play around with the grey one. The plastic body has a brushed metallic finish, which just feels nice to hold. You get a large 5.5-inch touchscreen display that will display full HD 1080 graphics.
At the rear users get a nice volume rocker under the camera. This is somewhat similar to the one we got on the LG phones. The body is slightly curved from the back so that one can grip the phone in a better manner. The rear 13 MP camera comes with Dual LED flash. Users will also get the feather touch buttons under the screen for going to the homescreen and back to the previous place or menu.
Performance
The Asus Zenfone 2 excels when it comes to under the hood performance. Asus gave this baby everything except the bathroom tub. To start with, this phone runs an Intel Atom 2.3 GHz Quad-Core processor with 4 GB RAM. Yes, you read that correctly the Asus Zenphone 2 has 4 gigs off RAM. This not only makes the phone boot up quickly, but also makes all the apps and games run smoothly.
The phone also has 64 GB on board memory that can be expanded by a MicroSD card. The phones battery cannot be removed, but Asus does give you a large 3,000 mAh battery. This lasted for about 20 hours of use with 3G on and scattered Wi-Fi use.
The cameras on this phone are not bad. The 13 MP rear camera did give us good pictures in well lit areas. However, we had to make use of the flash once the lights died down. The camera performance goes down considerably when clicking in low light. The same goes for the front shooter. You get brilliant selfie shots in daylight, but not so much at night.
The display of the phone is outstanding. We enjoyed every bit of the gaming and movie experience. The sound of the loudspeaker is right up the alley. We would have appreciated a tad more bass.
Verdict
The Asus Zenfone 2 is built for performance and does not clinch a muscle even when the most demanding games and applications are thrown at it. The mobile comes with the latest Android Lolipop OS and some neat apps right out of the box. Asus Zenfone 2 smartphone supports dual SIM cards, which is another plus in its report card. Overall, for a price of 22,990 we quite liked the phone as it showed great results and potential.
The home-grown smartphone companies seem to be doing decent business in the Indian market. Why else would they be launching one phone after another and that too at a price which leading smartphone brands can never match. Lava is one such brand and they have now come up with an affordable 3G smartphone, which is named Lava Flair P1.
Priced at Rs 3,399, the Flair P1 is an Android phone running on 4.4 KitKat. Its other specs are just basic; you get a 4-inch WVGA screen, 1 GHz processor, 2 GB internal memory expandable up to 32 GB, a 2MP rear camera along with a VGA front-shooter. What we really find strange is the inclusion of just 256MB RAM; how on earth would the phone perform on 3G with this low-powered innards, we wonder. No, we are not writing it off yet as we haven’t checked its performance but…
In terms of connectivity, Flair P1 offers 3G, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and USB 2.0, and draws power from a 1,400mAh battery. On the connectivity front, Flair P1 comes with (apart from 3G connectivity) 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v2.1, and USB 2.0.
We still remember the time when the world saw Steve Jobs showcasing the first iPod. The music player industry has come a long way since then. The latest to enter the Indian music market is FiiO X3 second generation music player.
This player has got a new design and upgraded circuit system that will give better resonance to its listeners. FiiO X3 music player supports popular playback formats such as WAV, FLAC, APE, WMA, ALAC, and AIFF. It weighs 135 grams and has 2,600 mAh battery, which can be charged using the micro USB port. For storage users can insert up to 128 GB MicroSD card in this music player. FiiO X3 second gen also has a 2-inch colour screen on it.
The FiiO X3 has two crystal oscillators, one each for the 44.1kHz and 48kHz frequency multiples. The no-compromise design on this music player ensures least crackling and uppermost accuracy for playback of melody at all sample rates. The FiiO X3 second gen is available on most offline and online stores for Rs 14,599.
SnapDeal celebrated the Indian Mobile Day on 25 May, where they sold hundreds of mobiles to Indian customers through their app and website. They sent out an infographic that shows Micromax and InFocus mobiles were the most popular brands in North and South India respectively (during the sale). 70% of the mobiles purchased ran Android OS and selfie phones were exceptionally popular.
Other Key Findings:
75% of sales were for budget phones priced below INR 10,000
34% of sales accounted by tier III cities
40% of sales occurred on APP platform
Sold 10X more than the average day’s sales
80% customers bought selfie phones
40% share of sales in Punjab were accounted for by iPhones
55% sales in Bihar were driven through APP
45% of sales in Delhi were for premium phones
40% of Tier III sales were driven through APP same as Tier I
Inside, the Sony Xperia C4 has a MediaTek 1.7 GHz Octa-core CPU combined with 2 GB RAM and 16 GB on-board memory. Like the M4 this phone also has an additional slot to upgrade storage. However, the Sony Xperia C4 is not water proof. The phone is powered by a 2,600 mAh battery, which is supposed to give the users over 12 hours of talk time. A 13 MP auto focus camera comes as part of the package. The price is still not out.
Finally, we see HP back at the front of the table. They launched two new laptops in India. The first one is called HP Omen, which is built specifically for gamers. The main USP of this laptop, besides being built for extreme performance, is that it has Bang and Olufsen speaker system within.
Made for the ultimate gaming experience HP Omen comes with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M 4GB gaming graphics and an Intel Core i7 Quad Core processor, along with a 1920 x 1080 full high definition display. The HP Omen features a customizable back-lit keyboard with six programmable function keys and weighs just 2.12kgs. The HP Omen is also 19.9mm thick.
“By introducing new range of notebooks with Bang and Olufsen, HP is looking to blend high end technology seamlessly into the lifestyle of the new age consumer enabling the consumers enjoy rich and immersive audio experience,” said Ketan Patel, director personal systems, Printing and Personal Systems, HP India. “We are thrilled to work with Bang & Olufsen to create exceptional sound experiences for customers through HP Notebooks.”
The next notebook is for the music lovers. Called the HP Pavillion 15 with B&O play, this notebook comes with a Full HD display, fifth generation Intel Core CPU’s and gradient dual tone finish.
“Bang & Olufsen and B&O PLAY have had an unprecedented legacy of delivering great music and audio experiences to its patrons via various forms of media. We are extremely thrilled to partner with a global IT brand like HP to deliver seamless audio experience through their latest Pavilion notebooks. Having integrating Bang & Olufsen systems with luxury automotive brands such as Aston Martin, BMW, Audi & Mercedes AMG; this new collaboration is the hallmark and extension of Bang & Olufsen’s philosophy of engaging with consumer’s lifestyle at a new levels.” said Gaganmeet Singh, MD, Bang & Olufsen India.
The HP Omen does demand the users to shell out a lot. One can get it for Rs 1,59,990. However, the HP Pavillion 15 with B&O play is available for a modest Rs 44,490.
After long we saw Sony holding a press conference to launch a phone. Today they launched not one but two phones in the Indian market. The first one to come from their factory is the Sony Xperia M4 Aqua. This phone is the mid-segment smartphone, which is water and dust proof. One can dunk the phone in water and nothing will happen to it.
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua was showcased first at MWC 2015 and got some rave comments from reviewers all over the world. This phone has a 5-inch IPS display, which supports HD graphics. Sony Xperia M4 Aqua is powered by a 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 Octa-core 1.5 GHz CPU that comes with 2 GB RAM and 16 GB Memory. Memory can be upgraded with the help of a microSD card. The Sony Xperia M4 Aqua also has 13 MP rear camera as well as 5 MP front shooter. Sony claims that this phone is exceptional when it comes to low light and dark room photography.
The next phone in line is the Sony Xperia C4. This is the upgrade the C3 and Sony emphasised on the fact that the C4 is built for selfie lovers. The Xperia C4 has a 5.5-inch touchscreen that has 5 MP front clicker with LED flash on top. Now this is the first of its kind that we have seen on a mainstream phone.
Inside the Sony Xperia C4 has a MediaTek 1.7 GHz Octa-core CPU combined with 2 GB RAM and 16 GB on-board memory. Like the M4 this phone also has an additional slot to upgrade storage. However, the Sony Xperia C4 is not water proof. The phone is powered by a 2,600 mAh battery, which is supposed to give the users over 12 hours of talk time. A 13 MP auto focus camera comes as part of the package.
The Sony Xperia M4 is available for Rs 23,990 as MOP and the price of Xperia C4 is still being set.
Not many of you might have heard of a Celkon smartphone, but it does exist. Based in Hyderabad, this company has launched couple of devices in the Indian market so far, and Campus Q405 is the most recent one. Celkon Campus Q405 is a 3G-enabled, dual SIM smartphone currently retailing on Snapdeal and is priced at a modest Rs 3,199. The phone would be available exclusively on the e-commerce website.
It is an Android device running on the Android 4.4.2 version. It is not a powerful machine as far as its specs are concerned, but for the price it is offering an okay-ish configuration. You get 4-inch HVGA display, 1.2 GHz quad-core processor, dual cameras, expandable memory up to 32 GB, and 1500mAh batter. For connectivity it has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. For the basic user who wants jump onto the smartphone bandwagon, this phone could be the right stepping stone
Free Wi-Fi was one of the promises that the Aam Aadmi Party made when it contested the Delhi Lok Sabha elections for the second time. But, no concrete steps were being taken to give Delhiites what they were promised; and no, we are not talking about other amenities but just the Internet. Now, it seems Mr Arvind Kejriwal has decided to gift Delhiites free Wi-Fi access by February next year.
Really? Next year? That’s a long wait right, but better late than never. So, hopefully we will all be accessing free Wi-Fi at prominent public places in and Delhi. But, before you start jumping with joy, we would like to tell that this facility would be given to residents on the basis of limited data usage.
The government might float an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the project by the end of this month, and ask companies to submit their Request for Proposal (RfP) in June.
So, while the infrastructure gets up and running, what Delhi government would let you access for free using Wi-Fi includes: browsing, social media websites (Facebook/Twitter), email, WhatsApp and other basic services. However, you might have to pay for watching videos, video chat and downloading content.
“We will work on ensuring a minimum speed of 512Kbps to each user to make it a better experience. We will be very strict on user experience and uninterrupted service,” Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of IT, Adarsh Shastri told PTI.
The government is considering fixing the data usage to 50MB per day but a call is yet to be taken in that regard.
Cloud storage along with its wide range of software applications has paved its way to new digital era. Both businesses and personal users are enraptured with the idea of having access to their digital baggage at any point of time from any location. Indian Cloud Computing market is at the threshold of escalation and is anticipated to increase its market share manifold, leading to Cloud Wars.
The many players in the market can make decision making to the right cloud a tedious task. The factors that need to be evaluated depend upon the need of the user, integration with various operating systems and mobile apps, security, speed, storage space, pricing of additional cloud, apps available etc. Below are alphabetical listed, ten popular cloud vendors with their strengths and weaknesses.
Apple iCloud Drive
Free Storage – 5GB
Price – 20GB for 99 cents per month, 200GB for $3.99 per month and $19.99 per month for 1TB
File Size Limit – 15GB
Operating Systems – Mac, Windows, Web, iOS
Strengths – Well integrated with Apple office apps, easy to install on Windows computers, has a good Web interface, account included with an iOS or OS X devise.
Weaknesses – Expensive especially for increased storage, lacks ease of use, centralizing files gets difficult even with Apple apps.
Box
Free Storage – 10GB
Price – $5 per month per user for 100GB of storage space, $60 per annum.
File Size Limit – 250MB with free account, 2GB with starter account.
Operating Systems– Windows, Mac, Linux (partial), Android, BlackBerry, iOS, Web, Windows phone.
Strengths– Compatible with other services, quick responsive apps, efficient file syncing easy to use, well designed for collaboration, online tools for creating or commenting on documents, allows integration with a wide range of apps and services
Weakness – not a complete solution for an online office suite.
Certain Safe
Free Storage – None
Price – $8.77 per month per user for 5GB, $105.24 per annum.
File Size Limit – 2GB
Operating Systems – Windows, Mac, Linux, Web, Android, iOS.
Strengths – Security (safe messaging and secure file sharing), certified for HIPAA and other standards, easy to use, microEncryption technology, highly scalable, from individual to any size of business., Administrator console for user management.
Weaknesses – Entire folder needs to be shared and not just the file, File transfer protected only by SSL, possible to accidentally remove administrative power from all users.
Code42 CrashPlan
Free Storage – If storage is supplied by the user it is free (whether attached to your computer or on the internet).
Price – Unlimited storage for $59.99 per year, $149.99 per year family plan has unlimited storage.
File Size limit – None
Operating Systems – Windows, Mac, Linux, Web, Android, iOS, Windows phone.
Strengths – Backup to your remote computers, fast, easy to use, and very flexible, well designed interface, unlimited storage plan, fast file processing and uploading, strong security options
Weakness – Limited Web and mobile interface, no file sharing, no file explorer integration.
Dropbox
Free Storage– 2GB
Price – Dropbox Pro: $9.99 per month or $ 99 perb annum for 1TB of space. Business: $ 15 per month per user, with a minimum of 5 users.
File Size Limit – 10GB, unlimited with Desktop clients.
Operating systems– Windows,- Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Symbian, BlackBerry, OS, MeeGo Harmattan, Windows iPhone and web browsers.
Strengths – Compatibility with other services, dependable serve r(no downtime), Seamless file synchronization, wide array of apps for various operating systems, easy to install, file sharing, allows access to deleted files, tight OS integration.
Weaknesses – Collaboration of files and their location.
Google Drive Cloud Storage
Free Storage – 15GB
Price – $1.99 per month for 100GB, 1TB for $9.99 per month and $119.88 per annum.
File Size Limit – 5TB
Operating systems – Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Web, Chrome.
Strengths – Extremely efficient collaborative office suite, includes file syncing and offline access to documents, built in OCR technology searches PDF’s, images,etc.
Weaknesses – No de-duping tools for photos, privacy can be a concern, since it’s a Google product.
Hightail Cloud Storage
Free Storage -2GB
Price – $15.99 per user per month gives unlimited storage (professional account), unlimited for $191.88 per annum.
File Size Limit – 250MB with free account, 10GB with professional account.
Operating Systems –
Strengths – E- signature and provides confirmation of file delivery, includes simple file syncing, wide range of security features for file sharing.
Weaknesses – Integration with other services and storage repositories, need at least two apps and the web or a mobile app to use completely.
iDrive
Free Storage – 5GB
Price – 1TB storage for $59.50 per year
File Size Limit – None
Operating Systems – Windows, Mac, web, Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Linux/Unix
Strengths – Continuous backup, disc image backup, easy to set up, can use unlimited devices in one account, folder syncing, file archiving, file explorer integration, hard drive for mailing in data.
Weaknesses – Slightly slow in performance.
Microsoft’s Onedrive Cloud Storage
Free Storage – 15GB
Price – 1TB for $83.88 per year.
File Size Limit – 10GB
Operating Systems – Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Web, Windows Phone, Windows Tablet, Xbox..
Strengths – Collaboration, Microsoft office 365 included with 1TB purchase., clear interface, web interface to all files and media, can get any file from a PC, excellent photo presentation and slideshows and tagging, low cost. Flexible, clients for Mac, iOS, Android and Windows.
Weaknesses – Search in iOS and Android apps is not possible, No audio streaming or playing.
Sugar Sync
Free Storage – None
Price – 100GB for $9.99 per month or $74.99 per year, 500GB for $39.99 per month or $249.99 for the first year and discounted to $124.99 in the next year.
File Size Limit – None
Operating Systems – Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Windows Phone, BlackBerry, Simbian.
Strengths – Simplicity, ease of use, more intuitive than other file syncing services, able to access 5 previous versions of a file, good apps.
Weaknesses – No free account and pricing not very competitive to other players.
There are tons of cameras out there in the market for beginners. They come in all shapes, sizes and colours. Some can zoom as high as 30 times (30X), while some have a larger than life LCD screen to preview pictures on. The choice in cameras is pretty hard and one really does get confused on which one to pick. Now Wi-Fi has also been added to the cameras that enables the users to Geo tag the images, upload images et al. Here is our pick of top point and shoot cameras for beginners that also have the Wi-Fi functionality and will be a great vacation companion.
Canon Powershot S200 (Rs 19,995)
We just love this camera. It has everything that one wants to start with. The design is pretty cool as you get new dial control system around the lens on the Canon Powershot 200. This camera has a 10.1 MP sensor that can capture images at 3,648 x 2,736 pixels resolution. The lens can optically zoom 5 times (5X) and this camera also features a 3-inch LCD. The batteries within this camera can take up to 200 shots or can record 50 minutes of HD video.
Sony DSC-WX300 (Rs 17,990)
We still remember the first thin digital camera that we ever held. It was from the Sony T series called the T1. This was in the late 1990’s. Times have changed and new things have been thrown in the digital camera arena. However, what Sony has maintained to retain is the thin form factor. The Sony DSC-WX300 is an exceptional camera well-suited for beginners and amateurs. This digi-cam has an 18.2 MP CMOS image sensor and can zoom by up to 20X optically. This is good for outdoor shoots and wildlife photography as you can capture far away objects with ease. Of course we recommend the use of a tripod if you are clicking a picture above 8-10X zoom. It has lot shooting modes that will suit your daily and holiday requirements.
Nikon Coolpix S9700 (Rs 16,950)
This camera underwent a price drop recently and is now available for few thousand Rupees less. Nikon has managed to keep this camera very slim. Within the 1.4-inches thickness this camera is able to hide a 16 MP sensor powered lens, which can zoom 30 times optically. This is massive for a camera this small. With Wi-Fi users can control the camera with smart devices wirelessly. Battery life is quite good, as after a full charge S9700 is able to click 300 images or shoot over 1 hour of HD videos. Panorama mode is available too, if users want to capture the whole picture.
Nikon Coolpix AW130 (Rs 17,950)
We all know when we go outdoors, the chances of damaging the camera gets doubled. Here is a point and shoot camera that is dust proof, drop proof and water proof. You can take excellent images under water with this sleek camera from Nikon. Available in a wide variety of colours, including our favourite orange, the Nikon Coolpix AW130 has a 16 MP sensor with a lens that can zoom 5X optically. Users get a 3-inch screen at the back to preview images on. For storage the camera does come with an 8 GB SD card in the box. On board NFC and Wi-Fi is also available to make sharing and capturing an easy process. This one is a great camera for outdoors.
Samsung WB50F (Rs 15,900)
Samsung has been in the cameras market from quite some time now. A brilliant camera from their stables is the WB50F. This camera looks brilliant in white colour and has the latest machinery inside. WB50F has a 16 MP sensor inside supported by a decent 12X optical zoom lens. A 3-inch LCD comes at the back accompanied with quick access buttons. This camera is not super compact, however Samsung has managed to cramp all the good stuff in a small size. Wi-Fi and NFC are part of the package, to quickly take care of the sharing and uploading needs.
Panasonic has been in the tough mobility space since a long time now. To further cement its market lead in India the company has added 3 new devices that are definitely priced very steep, but do give you the edge when it comes to safety.
The first two devices showcased are the Toughpads E1 and X1. Both have very similar designs and would not break a sweat if they are dropped from as high as 10 feet. These are made to withstand almost any type of pressure and one can submerge them in 5 feet of water. However, do not keep them there for more than 30 minutes; otherwise the water will start seeping in.
The major difference between the two 5-inch touch screen driven Toughpads or rather rugged phablets is that the Toughpad E1 is powered by a 2.3 GHz quad-core CPU and runs Windows 8.1 mobile operating system. While the Toughpad X1 runs Android 4.2 OS and has a 1.7 GHz CPU. Rest of the specs are same, both have an 8 MP rear camera with LED flash, 32 GB on board memory with the option to load 64 gigs with a micro-SD card and 2 GB RAM. Both also have a whooping 6,200 mAH battery, which is hot swappable.
Next in line is the semi rugged Panansonic Toughbook CF-54. Yes, it does weigh 2 Kg’s, but the safety and support this laptop gives is like no other. The Toughbook runs Windows 8.1 OS with the option to downgrade to Microsoft Windows 7 Professional. This is a good thing for an organisation who is still running Windows 7 OS on most of its machines. If the organisation that buys this notebook still has most systems running on Windows 7 then they can downgrade the Toughbook to the same level.
The CF-54 can be dropped from as high as 76 CM and nothing will happen to it. The hard drive is specially packed so that jerks and vibration do not affect the working of this machine. This Toughbook has a 2.3 GHz Intel i5 CPU that can be turbo boosted to 2.9 GHz, 4 GB RAM and 500 GB hard drive. The notebook is dust and water resistant as most ports are well tucked behind lids and clips. Wi-Fi, BT and couple of USB 3.0 ports are also available. Panasonic claims the battery of this bad boy lasts for around 11 hours on a single charge.
Speaking on the launch, Mr. Toru Hasegawa, Divisional Managing Director, Solutions Division, Panasonic India, said, “With the industry moving towards unification of enterprise and carrier networks, we are offering all-inclusive solutions to different market segments. The new products build on the legacy of nearly two decades of rugged devices from Panasonic to accomplish the mission of professionals in the most demanding work environments. With this launch, we are looking at increasing our presence in the Rugged IT devices segment from an existing 60% to almost 65%.”
The Toughpad X1 can be picked up for Rs 1,19,000 and the Toughpad E1 can be bought for Rs 1,09,000. The Toughbook CF-54 is available for Rs 1,39,000.
In the past few weeks a lot has been spoken and written about Net Neutrality and everyone is defending “Internet Freedom” in India. The critical question yet unanswered is, are we approaching the subject with a clear understanding?
Net Neutrality as explained widely is the Internet’s guiding principle: It preserves our right to communicate freely online. This is the definition of an Open Internet. Net Neutrality is the principle that data on the internet is moved blindly and impartially without regard to content, destination or source.
It is difficult to argue against the definition above as it would mean that subscribers can be charged separately for using various applications even if they have paid for the Internet Data pack and also enable ISP to regulate the speed of the sites and create fast pay lanes. It surely does not sound wise and therefore it is safe to accept that Net Neutrality should be adopted.
Now let us extend the logic of the activists’ argument and assess the issue. Isn’t preferential treatment given to customers a part of well-accepted business practices, which have been used by businesses big and small from time immemorial? Then why are we propagating net neutrality to be unethical.
My whole argument against net neutrality and the debate around the subject is based on the premise that we first need to make internet available to the huge block of population in India and then address the issue of price discrimination.
While I fully subscribe to the fact the that this so called info “highway” is crucial for not only small time business owners, start-ups and entrepreneurs who rely upon it to launch and monetize their offerings, create a market and distribute their wares, soft or hard. The highway is also equally important for the large businesses that could have a separate business need (read speed, type of connectivity, quality of service etc.) for the customers and services that demand a separate handling because of nuances of the business.
While the concept of free and open internet may sound right- In practice, it is important to understand that the impact of some sites/apps that demand great bandwidth can have an adverse effect on the overall user experience. For example, it makes sense to allow ISP/ telecom companies to charge extra for voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) services, which clog up a lot of bandwidth. These services end up slowing down access to the basic services that less economically-privileged citizens need more. This isn’t simply a matter of profitability; the question is how to maximize the efficiency of limited bandwidth. Therefore ISP should take a more active role in managing bandwidth for the sake of optimal experiences for users’ and services. This is also where a democratic regulation comes in with all interests being protected.
Hence the real need is of a Service level agreement (SLA) based regulation that governs and dictates various levels of quality of internet connectivity and mostly importantly service providers adhere to it. With regulations in place, I think it is fair to have a legitimate differential pricing regime for either the quality or the consumption of service.
The video camera market has been in a bit of a slump since a little while, as most users end up using the handy smartphone to capture any and every type of videos. However, a smartphone can never give you the same kind of experience and picture quality a standalone video camera can.
Panasonic has recently launched two new 4K ready video cameras that can knock your socks off (and maybe in the process burn a hole in your pocket). Called the WX970 and VX870, the new camcorders are capable of capturing videos in Ultra-HD.
So the major difference between the two is that the WX970 has an additional 180 degree rotating camera on the side of the screen that can capture picture in picture and also take selfies. This feature is missing in the the VX870. The rest of the features are pretty much even.
Both can zoom 20 times optically and have a camera action ring on the side. 18.9 MP sensor is available on both of them to capture videos and pictures in ultra high-def. Features like wind zoom shield MIC, Wi-Fi and NFC are also available on these video cameras. The rechargeable battery gives backup of 60 minutes approximately.
The price of the flagship model Panasonic WX970 is 84,990. The VX870 can be picked up for Rs 74,990.
