Apple Music services crosses 11 million subscribers mark
The Cupertino based giant Apple has announced that the company has more than 11 million subscribers using its Apple Music service. The company is overwhelmed with the response they have received just one month after the launch of its music streaming service. Apple senior vice president of Internet software and services, Eddy Cue, told USA Today, “We’re thrilled with the numbers so far.”
The firm has also revealed that 2 million people have signed up for the family plan which incorporates accounts for up to six people at a discounted price. The service is free for the first three months after the sign up and then it will charge $9.99 per month.
This music streaming service from the house of Apple is considered to give a blow to the rival services Spotify, Pandora and Rdio. The company is geared up to excel from all the other music streaming services by providing a seamless user experience.
Airtel launches its high speed 4G LTE services in 296 towns across India
Bharti Airtel Limited is a leading telecommunications company of India. They have finally launched its high speed 4G LTE services in 296 towns across India. This is by far the largest 4G rollout and comes as a surprise to many. Now, Airtel 4G is available to customers across a range of smart devices including mobile phones, dongles, 4G hotspots and Wi-Fi dongles.
Airtel has also launched an all new carrier agnostic mobile application called Wynk Movies that offers customers thousands of movies and other video content. They have also announced a range of strategic initiatives as part of its 4G rollout.
Gopal Vittal, MD & CEO, Bharti Airtel (India & South Asia) said, “At Airtel, the customer is at the heart of everything we do and therefore we first opened our 4G network to some of them for their valuable feedback. With the help of the feedback received from the beta launches, we have now built India’s first commercial 4G network that will make high speed mobile broadband a reality. The national roll-out today is another small step in our journey to be the most innovative and customer focused brand. We also believe that an open platform is critical to developing an ecosystem that nurtures innovation and enabling our consumers to access a myriad set of possibilities on their mobile phones.”
Airtel users can now get 4G data at 3G data prices with packs starting at Rs 25. Users can instantly swap their old SIM for a 4G SIM. With every 4G SIM swap, Airtel is giving six months of unlimited music streaming and downloads on Wynk Music. Along with that, they are also providing five free movies per month for six months on the Eros Now channel of Wynk Movies. Airtel also offers home delivery of SIMs and postpaid connections in just four hours.
They have also announced Flexpage. This is an automated platform that allows customers to track their data usage and get real time usage alerts. With Flexpage, users can upgrade their mobile plan starting at Rs 100.
Airtel is putting its best foot forward in delivering blazing fast 4G speeds to its customers. One can easily walk into their nearest Airtel store and switch to a 4G SIM to avail these amazing offers.
Microsoft rolls out its Outlook app for Apple Watch
The tech giant Microsoft has rolled out its email app Outlook for the Apple Watch. The users will now be able to check and revert to their mails directly from their wrist at a single glimpse. The app provides Focused Inbox Watch notifications which enable the users to know about their emails along with the various calendar events.
The users will also be able to browse and read the complete email and also performs functions such as archiving, deleting, flagging or scheduling, right from the watch. The users will also be able to see the unread mails and also next calendar appointment on the screen. Along with this, the app also let the users to get Quick Replies, with pre-written responses and voice dictation.
The Outlook app will be available for download form the App Store.
Micromax Canvas Xpress 2 Review: A stylish budget smartphone at an incredible price
Micromax, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer has got yet another budget smartphone in the Indian market. Called the Micromax Canvas Xpress 2, we got to review it recently and it surprised us quite a bit. Here is our take of the phone.
Design
The Micromax Canvas Xpress 2 is available in black colour. The phones black rubberised back panel is grippy and one can hold the phone nicely. The black panel has a golden metal rim along the sides that gives this phone a stunning and stylish look. Even the Micromax logo on the back, is in golden colour. Over that, the circular camera ring at the back also has a golden thread around it that shines under the light. Together, the gold does add to the theatre of the device. Overall, the design is pretty competitive.
The Micromax Canvas Xpress 2 screen has Corning Gorilla Glass 3 over a 5-inch HD IPS display. This HD IPS capacitive display comes with 16 million colours. The mobile phone is not that heavy and is very comfortable to use, even with just one hand.
Under the rear removable plastic panel, there is a battery that can be removed, two Micro SIM card slots and a Micro SD card slot. The power button is located on the right side of the phone along with the volume key. The USB port is located at the bottom of the phone and the 3.5mm headset jack is located at the top of the mobile phone. The primary camera is on the top right (rear) of the mobile phone, which comes with the LED flash. A neat pair of headphones also come in the box for music lovers.
Performance
The Micromax Canvas Xpress 2 has a 1.4GHz true Octa-Core processor that comes with 1GB of RAM. Hand in hand, the duo tries to make the applications and services run as smoothly as possible. The users also get 8GB of internal memory to store files. And there is also the option to add up to a 32GB microSD card to add more files. All this runs on the MediaTek MT6592M chipset.
For graphics a Mali-450 is also on board. Other features include accelerometer sensor, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor and gyroscope sensor. The primary camera of Micromax Canvas Xpress 2 comes with auto focus and can capture 13-megapixel still images. For selfies, there is a 2-megapixel secondary camera. The rear camera captures very decent pictures. Macro shots were also quite good. Other photography modes are also present in the smartphone like frontback which captures front and back images at the same time. Micromax Canvas Xpress 2 also has a Flipboard style feature called Quick Look, which aggregates news, weather and social media feeds.
We were able to play most apps and high-end games on the phone without any hassles. But, the games loudspeaker volume could have been better. Talking about which, we faced no problems when it came to audio and call quality on the Micromax Canvas Xpress 2. If you want good personal sound quality then we suggest you use the supplied headphones, as they are great for personal resonance. Screen, image and video quality is also above average and we quite liked what we saw.
Moving on to its battery life, the Micromax Canvas Xpress 2 has 2,500 mAh interchangeable battery inside it. It worked for 22 hours straight after a full charge (under nominal use). We tested the phone with Quadrant and it managed to score 11,648 that puts it right in the middle of the pack.
Verdict
The Micromax Canvas Xpress 2 is built for the youngsters. It has the Android 4.4.2 KitKat OS, which can get upgraded to Lollipop OS. It comes with a lot of preloaded apps such as Housing, CleanMaster, Apps Center, M!Live, Scandid, Start, SwiftKey, Chaatz, Newshunt, Quikr and Hotstar app. The experience was quite smooth throughout. The company has priced the Micromax Canvas Xpress 2 for Rs 5,999 and is exclusively available on Flipkart.
Pros
We were able to play most apps and high-end games on the phone without any hassles. But, the games loudspeaker volume could have been better. Talking about which, we faced no problems when it came to audio and call quality on the Micromax Canvas Xpress 2. If you want good personal sound quality then we suggest you use the supplied headphones, as they are great for personal resonance. Screen, image and video quality is also above average and we quite liked what we saw.
Moving on to its battery life, the Micromax Canvas Xpress 2 has 2,500 mAh interchangeable battery inside it. It worked for 22 hours straight after a full charge (under nominal use). We tested the phone with Quadrant and it managed to score 11,648 that puts it right in the middle of the pack.
Verdict
The Micromax Canvas Xpress 2 is built for the youngsters. It has the Android 4.4.2 KitKat OS, which can get upgraded to Lollipop OS. It comes with a lot of preloaded apps such as Housing, CleanMaster, Apps Center, M!Live, Scandid, Start, SwiftKey, Chaatz, Newshunt, Quikr and Hotstar app. The experience was quite smooth throughout. The company has priced the Micromax Canvas Xpress 2 for Rs 5,999 and is exclusively available on Flipkart.
Pros
- Quite affordable
- Stylish compact design
- Nice cameras
- Decent battery life
- Not a 4G phone
- Lots of bloatware
- Comes with Android KitKat OS
- Network supported: 2G and 3G
- Display size: HD IPS 5-inch display
- Operating system: Android 4.4.2 KitKat OS
- Chipset: Mediatek MT6592M
- CPU: Octa-Core 1.4 GHz processor
- GPU: Mali-450
- RAM: 1GB
- Memory: 8GB (memory can be expanded up to 32GB via micro SD card)
- Camera: Rear camera 13MP and 2MP secondary camera
- Battery: 2,500 mAh (removable)
Karbonn brings the new Titanium Mach Five at Rs 5,999 in India
Karbonn, the domestic smartphone manufacturer has just launched its latest Titanium Mach Five in India, which will be exclusively available on Amazon. Karbonn has partnered with Peel for its IR app to double up as a universal remote control for home appliances such as modern television sets, air-conditioner, set top box etc.
Shashin Devsare, Karbonn Executive Director said, “While the actually sales of Karbonn smartphones are mostly happening through brick and mortar stores, the brand has slowly increased the sale on e-commerce websites as well. Over 30 per cent of our smartphones are now sold on online shopping sites. We want to strengthen our presence in stores as well on online websites. Karbonn Titanium Mach Five comes with infrared emitter and Peel application that enables it to function as remote control for TV, STBs, and ACs of about 400 brands. At Rs 5,999, it is value for money.”
The Karbonn Titanium Mach Five features a 5-inch 720p HD display. Powering the smartphone is a 1.3GHz Quad-Core processor paired with 2GB of RAM. The onboard storage of the mobile phone accounts to 16GB, which can be expanded by up to 32GB using a microSD card. The smartphone runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system.
The smartphone comes equipped with an 8-megapixel rear sensor camera with LED flash alongside a 5-megapixel front camera with LED flash. This smartphone offers 3G, Wi-Fi, microUSB and Bluetooth as connectivity options. The device packs a 2,200 mAh battery.
Karbonn Titanium Mach Five will exclusively be available on Amazon at Rs 5,999. It shall arrive in stock on August 7.
Techs Specs of Karbonn Titanium Mach Five
- Network supported: 3G
- Display size: HD 5-inch 720p display
- Operating system: Android 5.0 Lollipop OS
- CPU: Quad-Core 1.3GHz processor
- RAM: 2GB
- Memory:16GB (memory can be expanded up to 32GB via microSD card)
- Camera: Rear camera 8MP and secondary camera 5MP
- Battery: 2,200 mAh
- Dimensions:143 x 73 x 8.7 mm
- Weight: 159g
Asus launches Asus Zenfone 2 Deluxe in India for Rs 22,999
The Asus Zen festival did seemed like a huge hit, as there was not a seat in the huge JLN indoor arena that was not occupied. The first phone that the company has launched at the event is the Asus Zenfone 2 Deluxe, which is an upgrade to the Asus Zenfone 2.
Asus Zenfone 2 Deluxe sports a 5.5 inch HD IPS display. The screen is supported by the latest Gorilla Glass 4 that is twice as tough as before. Underneath the touchscreen Asus has installed an Intel 2.3 GHz 64 bit CPU, 4GB RAM and up to 128 GB of memory is available. The rear camera has a 13 MP sensor and the front one uses a 5 MP one. Dual SIM card slots are available that support LTE and 4G technology.
Powering the device is a 3,000 mAh battery that can be quick charged up to 60% in 30 minutes. Not bad for a mid range smartphone. As far as the operating system is concerned Android Lolipop has been installed on this smartphone. Asus has priced Zenfone 2 Deluxe well at Rs 22,999 and this flagship phone does bring you the bang for the buck. Do check out the first look video of the Asus Zenfone 2 Deluxe (above).
Intel to set up Intel India Maker Lab in Bengaluru
Intel India has recently declared its plan to set up Intel India Maker Lab in its Bengaluru campus, which will be operational soon. The Intel India Maker Lab have two goals. First, to accelerate hardware design innovation by increasing product revolution. Second, to improve maker capability for innovators and startups in India.
Kumud Srinivasan, President, Intel India, said “Intel India is committed to the Government’s Digital India vision. Intel’s philosophy has always been to inspire, imagine and realize innovations that enhance lives. With the Intel India Maker Lab, we are offering a strong platform to India’s vibrant start-up ecosystem, and encouraging young innovators to turn their ideas into exciting and relevant products for India.”
This Lab will provide resources such as infrastructure, development kits, reference boards, and hardware/software tools. Using these resources, the innovators and sartups can test their ideas and develop proof of concepts. Later, they can finally shape those resources into products and solutions.
In tandem with the ‘Make in India’ initiative, Intel India will help the innovators to connect with the local technology ecosystem like Electronic Manufacturing Service providers, Original Design Manufacturers, Independent Software Vendors and System Integrators.
It seems like Intel India is working really hard to bring new tech to life from Indian innovators. It does look like a good step to boost quality innovations and help Make In India campaign.
Lava launches Iris X5 4G with 13MP camera, 2GB RAM for Rs 10,199 via Amazon
The Indian smartphone manufacturer Lava has added yet another member to its 4G smartphones with the launch of Iris X5 4G. The company has priced the device for Rs 10,199 and it will be available in Icy white and Royal Black colour options exclusively via Amazon.
Talking about the specifications, the Lava Iris X5 4G flaunts a 5-inch display with 1280×720 pixels resolution protected by Asahi Dragon Trail Glass on top. The smartphone offer dual SIM capability and runs on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop operating system based in Star OS. Powering the smartphone is a 1.3 GHz Quad-Core MediaTek MT6735 processor paired with 2GB of RAM. The internal storage of the smartphone accounts to 16GB which can be expanded further using a microSD card.
The smartphone sports a 13.0-megapixel rear snapper with dual LED flash and an 8.0-megapixel front facing camera for clicking perfect selfies. The connectivity attributes of the smartphone include 4G, LTE, 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS and packs in a 2,500 mAh battery.
Gionee launches Marathon M4 smartphone with 4G support at Rs, 15,499
The Chinese smartphone manufacturer Gionee has expanded its product portfolio with the launch of Marathon M4 smartphone for Rs 15,499. The smartphone will be available in White and Black colour options.
Speaking about the device, Timir Baran Acharyya, GM, Gionee India said, “Marathon M4 is a result of Gionee’s consistent understanding of the rising demand for a device that not just looks great on the specs sheet, but also demonstrates an impeccable performance. Consumers today love to be connected on the go and are always on the lookout for powerful devices and M4 answers exactly that. With an exceptional battery life and powerful multimedia experience, M4 is sure to set the bar a notch higher.”
Talking about the specifications, the Gionee Marathon M4 features a 5-inch HD Super AMOLED display with 1280×720 pixels resolution. The smartphone comes with dual SIM functionality and runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system topped with Amigo UI. Powering the device is a 1.3 GHz quad-core processor paired with 2GB of RAM. The inbuilt storage of the smartphone accounts to 16GB which can be expanded further using a microSD card.
The smartphone flaunts an 8.0-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a 5.0-megapixel front facing for clicking selfies. Connectivity attributes of the smartphone include 4G, LTE, 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, USB OTG and houses a 5,000 mAh battery.
The Lexus Hoverboard has taken flight, watch this really cool video of the nifty levitation device
Most of us geeks grew up with fantasies about Hoverboards from the Back to the Future series of movies. We never thought that the device would actually hit reality one day. Well, Lexus has proved us wrong and they have introduced a Hoverboard that actually works. Take that Sci-Fi and fantasy movies haters.
Before we tell you more about this nifty little device, watch the video of the Lexus Hoverboard below.
A month or so ago the global car maker had starting sending teasers of what is to come. A mysterious device came into the picture that seemed like a Hoverboard, but we were still sceptical at the time about the gimmick. Now looking at this video where skateboarders are using the Lexux Hoverboard to skate around the park and on water, yes you read that right – on water!, this contraption which once felt like a fantasy is now a reality.
The Wired.co.uk reports that the board measures 92x22x9cm and can carry weights of up to 200 Kg. The The Lexus Hoverboard levitates thanks to superconductors made from the catchily named compound Yttrium barium copper oxide that are fitted within the body. Sitting in two cryostats (or reservoirs), the superconductors need to be cooled to below -181C in liquid nitrogen to work. Therefore, you see vapours coming out of the board.
Well, we quite like the whole spectacle of the vapours from the Lexus Hoverboard. It just adds to the show, unless they pollute the environment in some way (then that is not cool). Once the compound has reached the -181C cooled state it can store a magnetic field. In this case the 200 meter magnetic track under skatepark helps the board levitate. That is why you see the skateboarder swiftly moving over water as well.
However, there are instances in the video showcasing some sloppy movements. This just illustrates that the Lexus Hoverboard is still in its Beta/testing phases, nonetheless exhilarating to see. This tech is exciting to watch as it brings lot of childhood memories and fantasies to existence. Kudos to Lexus and the team for bringing this Sci-Fi tech to life, Marty McFly would be proud of you guys.