Intex launches 11,000mAh power bank at Rs 1099 in India

Intex has announced its latest power bank with a powerful 11000mAh Li-ion battery at a cheaper price. The power bank is priced only at Rs 1099. With this power bank the users will never need to wait for charging their smartphones. Its 11000mAh battery is capable of backing up your device for days.

The Intex power bank (PB11K) weighs 280gms and measures 4.2 x 6.3 x 2.6 cm. It has three USB 2.0 ports with different output (5V 1A, 5V 2A & 5V 2A). We can connect three devices simultaneously to it. It has small power buttons and four LED indicators to show remaining power. The power bank consists of a torch function and with a one-year warranty, it is available online at PayTM, Snapdeal, and Amazon at Rs 1099.

Speaking at the launch, Ms Nidhi Markanday, Business Head, Consumer Durables & IT, Intex Technologies said, “At Intex, we always focus on consumer needs and try to meet their expectations by delivering the best of products at affordable prices. Keeping today’s young consumer in mind, we have launched our latest addition in Power Bank segment - PB11K exclusively through e-commerce portals. The device is a blend of latest technology with elegant looks, for the customers who want style with substance and that too within anyone’s budget.”

Changing Your Facebook Profile pic means to support Digital India Initiative, Not Internet.org

Facebook has recently added the SupportDigitalIndia campaign that changing one's profile photo to the Indian tri-color to support the Digital India initiative. Facebook even released a tool where anyone can show they are 'helping transform India into a digitally empowered society' by simply changing their Facebook profile pic. Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, and Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, have already changed their profile pics for supporting Digital India Initiative. But, there was a controversy by saying that changing the profile pic means to support Facebook's Internet.org campaign. The controversy has arised due to the usage of the words 'Internet.org profile picture' in the web code.

Facebook basically said as much, saying it was a mistake by the engineer who used the wrong shorthand name in the web code. The company's statement reads:

"There is absolutely no connection between updating your profile picture for digital India and Internet.org. An engineer mistakenly used the words 'Internet.org profile picture' as a shorthand name he chose for part of the code. But this product in no way connects to or registers support for Internet.org. We are changing the code today to eliminate any confusion."

Google's Pixel C Tablet in Development

A new report has claimed that Google is working on a new tablet with Pixel branding. The company has previously launched two Chromebook Pixel laptops. Now google is planning to bring the Pixel branding for its new tablet.

The upcoming Pixel C Tablet is expected to feature 10.2-inch display with a ppi of 308. The device is expected to use a quad-core Nvidia Tegra X1 processor coupled with Maxwell GPU. The tablet is likely to include 3GB of LPDDR4 RAM. Instead of Chrome OS, the Pixel C Tablet is expected to run on the latest Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The device is likely to be released in November.

Huawei to add panic button across all devices from October

Chinese telecom firm Huawei will add panic button or SOS option in all its Honor brand smartphones in India from October.

"Government wants all mobile phones to have panic button option or SOS feature. We are the first one to do it. The SOS feature will be available in all our phones selling in India from next month," Huawei India Research and Development Lead Architect Valluri Kumar said on first anniversary event of Honor in India.

The Ministry of Finance in December 2013 had approved a Nirbhaya Fund, following gang-rape of a student in Delhi, under which integration of the police administration with mobile phone network to trace and respond to distress calls with minimum response time was to be done. Government decided to instruct all mobile phone manufacturers to introduce an SOS alert button in all the handsets as well as launch SOS alert system in the existing handsets through free downloading of suitable software.

"The SOS feature will be an application which can be configured by the user as per her or his convenience. It can be activated by pressing power button and shaking the phone as well as other combination of buttons," Kumar said.

Once the SOS function is activated, it will immediately send out the message to three people whose number has been configured in the application by the user along with GPS location. This function will automatically switch on the GPS and send out the location detail. The SOS feature also has an option to make loud sound to attract attention of people nearby.

The SOS feature will be available from second week of October in Honor series smartphones including Honor 4C and Honor 6. The feature will be available on other models by the end of October.

Samsung Pay went live in the US

Samsung's mobile payment service Samsung Pay went live in the US on Monday. Samsung Pay lets users pay for items using their phones or upcoming Gear S2 smartwatch. Samsung Pay works with Galaxy S6, S6 Edge, Note 5 and S6 Edge+ smartphones.

Samsung Pay is accepted almost anywhere you can swipe or tap your credit card. It makes transactions super easy. Just swipe up to launch the app, secure with your fingerprint, and hover over the card reader to pay.

Samsung Pay uses several layers of security. It keeps your payment information separate and doesn’t store or share it, so you can pay without worry. It’s simple, secure and works in more stores than any other mobile payment service. It works even at older retail terminals that don't accept Apple Pay.

Samsung Pay will use a Near-Field Communication(NFC) chip to talk with compatible registers. It also uses a LoopPay technology called Magnetic Secure Transmission that works by holding the phone near a traditional card swipe reader, essentially making it backward compatible for nearly all payment terminals.

Vivo Y27L Available at Rs 12,980

Vivo on Monday officially launched its Vivo Y27L smartphone for the Indian market priced at Rs 12,980. The smartphone is already available via online and offline retailers. The company has also announced its Y31 smartphone, set to launch next week, without pricing and specifications.

Vivo Y27L is powered by an 1.2GHz 64-bit quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor coupled with Adreno 306 GPU and 1GB of RAM. The processor is designed to achieve a top speed on 4G network. The device comes with 16GB of built-in storage which can be expandable upto 128GB via microSD card. The device features a 4.7-inch HD IPS display with resolution 720x1280 pixels.

The Vivo Y27L sports an 8-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. The camera features Night, Panorama, Bokeh and Face Beauty modes. Bokeh mode takes a photograph that highlights the focused subject and blurs the background. Artistic photos can be shooted by this mode. Children mode allows you to capture sweet smiles of your children. 

The dual-SIM dual standby supporting Vivo Y27L runs its native FunTouch OS 2.0 UI based on Android 4.4 KitK. Vivo Y27L supports Indian 4G LTE bands (2300MHz and 1800MHz) along with GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Micro-USB connectivity. It also includes different sensors such as ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, gravity sensor, and E-compass. The device is backed by a powerful 2260mAh Li-Polymer battery.

Y27L has a Hi-Fi chip AK4375, which is exclusively developed by Vivo and AKM, for better sound experience. The super screenshot feature helps you capture multiple screenshots that can be saved as one extended picture. Screen recording and smart wake are also included in the smartphone. Smart wake lets users access different applications directly from the lock screen with a simple finger swipe.

Vivo Y27L comes with a high quality design. The device measures at 136.9x68.1x6.99mm and weighs 137 grams.The design of the 6.99mm thin body, made of magnesium alloy, and a metal back cover gives you a comfortable touch.

OnePlus plans to launch Budget Smartphones

The Chinese smartphone manufacturer OnePlus is planning to launch its new budget smartphones in India. The price of the new device would be kept between Rs 12,000 and Rs 20,000. The previously launched OnePlus smartphones are priced at above Rs 20,000. Comparing to that, they are now planning to launch devices in the affordable segment at a lower price. The new smartphone will be more of a lifestyle and fashion product than a flagship device. They are also going to start its own full-fledged e-commerce website next year.

"We're introducing a new device by the end of this year. Diwali would be the ideal time, but next quarter for sure," said Vikas Agarwal, General Manager of OnePlus India. "It would be a global launch, but India will be the biggest focus," Agarwal said, adding that the Indian market is set to become the largest for the company from its present position among the top three markets, as its growing faster than any other market. Its other top markets are the US and Europe.

India contributed about 7% of OnePlus' overall sales last year, within just one month of operations. In the quarter to March, over 40% of global sales came from India without any major marketing activities, Agarwal had told ET after the launch of OnePlus Two, the company's second flagship device launched in June.

In the first quarter, over 40% of global sales came from India without any major marketing activities. Also India contributed about 7% of OnePlus' overall sales last year within just one month of operations.

Currently, OnePlus One and OnePlus Two devices can be purchased via Amazon or Flipkart by using invites. But after the launching of its own e-commerce website, the company could allow consumers to buy the devices from its own site.

Apple CEO gets Make in India Invite from PM Narendra Modi

In his meeting with Apple CEO, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited Apple to set up a manufacturing base in India. Apple's CEO Tim Cook responded it positively. According to the informations, Foxconn, which is Apple's largest manufactures, has decided to set up a manufacturing base in India.

Ministry of external affairs spokesman Vikas Swarup said "Cook responded positively. I think India does fits into his long term plans. He particularly was interested in the whole App development economy, which he said could be a very very important factor for entrepreneurship where individual app developers can just become part of the app universe,"

Prime Minister Modi has been mentioning that there is the public sector, there is the private sector and there is the personal sector. Personal sector he has been talking about people who can be self-made entrepreneurs, Vikas Swarup noted. Tim Cook said, by using the app development tools people can really become part of this huge industry. He gave the example of China where they have created 1.5 million jobs.

Indian Ambassador to the US Arun K Singh said that during the meeting there was a sense that a lot of design innovation is happening in India. He also said that there will be more opportunities for app development related to the apple platforms if Apple expands its presence in India including a manufacturing presence.

There was also some discussion on Apple Pay, how this can be part of Jan Dhan Yojana for instance and other such initiatives, Swarup said. During the meeting, Cook said India has a very special place in the heart of every Apple employee for the simple reason that its co-founder Steve Jobs went to India when he was a young man for inspiration. It was what he saw in India that inspired him to launch Apple.

Microsoft plans to take technology to 5 lakh villages

Intending to become a partner in the ambitious Digital India programme, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, said his company will take low-cost broadband technology to some five lakh villages across the country.

Speaking at a dinner hosted in the honour of visiting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr. Nadella said that Microsoft wants to make things and make things happen. Mr. Nadella said Microsoft’s plan is to partner with the Indian Government to bring in low-cost broadband connectivity to 500,000 villages in India.

“We believe that low-cost broadband connectivity coupled with the scale of cloud computing intelligence that can be harnessed from data can help drive creativity, efficiency and productivity across governments and businesses of all sizes,” the first Indian-American Microsoft CEO said.

“This is a big milestone. A key part of both Make in India and Digital India, bringing world class infrastructure into India, respecting India’s digital security, sovereignty and privacy is a key milestone for us,” Mr. Nadella said.

Nadella also added that Narendra Modi’s vision is absolutely right and he is pushing the right agenda. Citing an example, Mr. Nadella said Microsoft is working with the Andhra Pradesh government to take the enrolment data of schools and using machine learning to understand which students and schools have higher drop out rates.

Zuckerberg Announces Project to Connect Refugee Camps to the Internet

Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, promoted access to the Internet as “an enabler of human rights” and a “force for peace” on Saturday. He announced that Facebook would help the United Nations to bring Internet connections to refugee camps.

“It’s not all altruism,” Mr. Zuckerberg said later, in an implicit acknowledgment that drawing new users to his service is also good for Facebook’s bottom line. “We all benefit when we are more connected.” He did not say where and how Facebook would work with refugee camps.

Read more at The New York Times.

Google celebrates 17th birthday


Google has turned 17 years today and is celebrating its birthday with a special doodle on the homepage. The doodle, which features on Google's homepage, shows a retro, plastic PC, lava lamp and even 1998's "Google!" logo.

The Linux penguin peeps from behind a CRT monitor displaying the first Google home page. Humming on its side is a server made of Lego bricks. Google looks back at its early days in its '17th birthday doodle.'

In a blogpost, google said "In the world of computer programming, 17 is widely considered the least random number. To assume we made it this far without a little luck, though, would be like assuming lava lamps, turtlenecks, and servers held together by building blocks are harbingers of success. For our 17th birthday, we offer a glimpse into our humble beginnings, when branded hockey jerseys were cool and Savage Garden had a number-one single."

However, not even Google seems to really know when it was formed. Since 2006, it has celebrated its birthday on September 27, but the year before that, had it on September 26.
In 2004, its 6th birthday Doodle went online on September 7 and in the year before that, it was September 8. 

Google has celebrated its birthday with a Doodle every year since its fourth birthday in 2002.

Micromax Canvas Blaze 4G, Canvas Fire 4G and Canvas Play 4G launched

Canvas Blaze 4G
The Micromax Canvas Fire 4G, Canvas Blaze 4G and Canvas Play 4G have officially been launched in India and will be out in stores soon.

Micromax also announced it has partnered with Airtel to offer a LTE double data scheme to its customers.The plan is valid for 6 months and will be applicable across the entire lineup of the company’s 4G-ready handsets.

Canvas Fire 4G
Canvas Blaze with model number Q400 features a 4.5 inch IPS screen with HFWVGA (480x854) screen resolution. The Canvas Blaze 4G was recently listed on the brand’s website and is already selling through an e-commerce portal. Micromax has granted the smartphone nearly identical features compared with the Canvas Fire 4G, except for an 1.1GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 SoC and a higher capacity 2000mAh battery.

Canvas Fire 4G has a 4.5-inch FWVGA (480 x 854) screen and is powered by a 64-bit quad-core 1GHz MediaTek MTK6735 processor coupled with 1GB of RAM. It comes with 8GB of internal storage. The device is equipped with a 5MP rear camera with flash and a 2MP front-facing camera. Also, it features a 1850mAh battery.

Canvas Play 4G
The newest and the most expensive of the three handsets, the Canvas Play 4G features a 5.5-inch IPS display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. Screen resolution is of 720×1280 pixels. The handset is powered by 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor coupled with 2GB of RAM. It has an internal storage of 16GB expandable upto 32GB. It features a 13MP rear camera with autofocus and a 5MP front-facing camera. The dual SIM Canvas Play 4G offers 4G LTE & 3G connectivity only through SIM 1. The device is packed with a 2820mAh battery.

The Micromax Canvas Blaze 4G, Canvas Fire 4G and Canvas Play 4G all come with Android 5.1 Lollipop. While the first two Micromax Canvas Fire 4G and Canvas Blaze 4G have a similar set of specifications and are priced at Rs 6999, the last one Canvas Play 4G has slightly better features and costs Rs 12499.

BlackBerry to launch Android smartphone named Priv


BlackBerry today announced its Q2 Fiscal 2016 results while putting an end to the rumours surrounding a BlackBerry-made Android smartphone. BlackBerry has confirmed the launching of it’s first Android smartphone, BlackBerry Priv.

“Today, I am confirming our plans to launch Priv, an Android device named after BlackBerry’s heritage and core mission of protecting our customers’ privacy. Priv combines the best of BlackBerry security and productivity with the expansive mobile application ecosystem available on the Android platform,” said Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Chen.

The company announced the main features of BlackBerry Priv in a statement that its flagship slider device- Priv will run on the Android operating system, bringing together the best of BlackBerry security and productivity with the expansive mobile application ecosystem available on the Android platform. In combination with BlackBerry’s efforts to support Android for work on the BES12 platform, the new device will offer best in class security for enterprise customers. BlackBerry expects the device to be available late in this year in major markets in-store and online, and will release further details in the coming weeks. While the new device will provide a choice in OS to new and existing customers, the company remains committed to the BlackBerry 10 operating system, which enables industry leading security and productivity benefits.

BlackBerry Priv is expected to run on a Snapdragon 808 CPU with 3GB RAM along with an 18MP rear camera. The device is expected to run on the latest Android Lollipop.

Microsoft announces three new Xbox one bundles to celebrate one year anniversary

Microsoft India on Friday unveiled three new Xbox one console bundles that will launch on October 2, to celebrate their first anniversary. Customers can pre-order from September 25 on Amazon.in.

Xbox One Forza Motorsport 6 limited edition console is the first of its kind with a racing theme. The bundle includes a 1TB hard drive, matching wireless controller with rubberized diamond grips, and a digital copy of Forza Motorsport which features spectacular cars with a custom livery and tuning package, all for Rs 39,990. The Xbox One 1TB EA Sports FIFA 16 Bundle features a full game download of FIFA 16 game and one year of EA access and three FIFA Ultimate Team Loan Legends.

"Games and gamers are at the center of everything we do and we’re always looking to offer the best ways to play on Xbox. With the launch of these bundles, we have taken into account the feedback that we received from our fans in India and added more storage to their consoles.This year, we're delivering the greatest games lineup in Xbox history and we're committed to delivering gamers the experiences and value they can't find on any other platform."said Anshu Mor, Director Interactive Entertainment Business, Microsoft India.

Microsoft announced a third gaming console Xbox One Gears of War: Ultimate Edition Bundle. This Ultimate Edition bundle includes an Xbox one 500 GB console, wireless controller, full digital download of One Gears of War: Ultimate edition, early access to the 2016 Gears of War 4 Multiplayer Beta, and the Superstar Cole multiplayer skin. This bundle will be available at Rs 34,990.

Samsung announces $99 Gear VR headset

Virtual reality is taking a few steps closer to the mainstream with Samsung unveiling a headset that brings the technology to its latest smartphones at half the price of its previous model. The newly announced Gear VR is a milestone for Samsung and Oculus. It's the first virtual reality headset either has released without the safety net of an "Innovator Edition" or "Development Kit" label. It opens the platform up to anyone who owns one of Samsung's four new flagship phones: the Galaxy Note 5, the Galaxy S6, the Galaxy S6 Edge, and the Galaxy 6S Edge+.

The announcements at a developers conference in Los Angeles for virtual reality technology company Oculus represent attempts to push the platform beyond a video-gamer-focused niche. Samsung said its new virtual reality headset will be 22% lighter and cost $99, half the price of its previous model. The Gear VR, which requires users to insert the latest version of a Samsung smartphone into the headset, will ship in November.

Netflix content is available to be viewed in Oculus or Samsung headsets starting September 24, while Hulu said it would also bring its app to the Oculus platform where users can stream 2D content as well as an original virtual reality short film called "The Big One,'' from YouTube star Freddie Wong's RocketJump production company. A Hulu launch date wasn't announced.

Meanwhile, Oculus said it would begin a certification program so consumers can look for a sticker that will identify which computers support its Oculus Rift headset, which is due to come out early next year. Asus, Dell and Alienware will have certified models that cost less than $1,000.

Gionee has launched Pioneer P3S in India


Gionee has launched the Pioneer P3S in India priced at Rs 5,999. The Gionee Pioneer P3S is an upgrade over the existing Pioneer P3 model that was launched in December 2013. The Pioneer P3S comes with slightly bigger and better display, more RAM, and more inbuilt storage. The device is powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core processor and has a 4.5-inch FWVGA display. The phone runs on Android Lollipop 5.1 with Amigo 3.1 OS layered over it. It will be available in White, Grey, Red, and Golden colour variants.

Display

Gionee Pioneer P3S features a 4.5-inch(11.43cm) FWVGA Display with 854x480 resolution. Display supports 16M colors.

Processor

The device is powered by MediaTek MT6580 chipset with a 1.3GHz quad-core processor coupled with 1GB of RAM. It has an internal storage of 16GB which can be expandable upto 32GB. The device runs on the latest Android OS, V5.1 Lollipop.

Camera

Gionee Pioneer P3S sports a 5MP rear camera with LED flash. The camera features include Face Beauty, Horizontal Panorama, Geo-Tagging, Touch Focus, 20 Snaps In One Click, Pic Note , Filters, HDR Mode. it also supports HD video recording. The device also has a VGA front-facing camera.

Connectivity

The dual-sim smartphone Pioneer P3S supports 3G connectivity. Other connectivity options include includes Wi-Fi, GPS/ A-GPS, GPRS/ EDGE, Bluetooth, and Micro-USB connectivity.

Battery

The device packs a 2000mAh battery. It provides a talk time of 9hr (3G) & 22.5hr (2G) and standby time of 200hr (3G) & 240hr (2G). The device also comes with different power saving modes.

InFocus launches M812 smartphone at Rs 19,999

InFocus, the US based company has launched its M812 smartphone in India at Rs 19,999. The InFocus M812 features a 5..5-inch full HD display and is powered by Snapdragon 801 processor. The handset comes with 3GB RAM and 16GB internal memory expandable up to 128GB. The InFocus M812 sports a 13-megapixel rear camera with dual LED flash and 8MP front camera with f/1.8 aperture and 80 degree wide angle lens. The smartphone supports 4G LTE and is loaded with Android 5.0 Lollipop. The handset is backed by a 2,900mAh battery and comes with ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, gyroscope and magnetic sensor for smart cover accessory. The registration for InFocus M812 starts from September 23 and will be available exclusively on Snapdeal starting from October 1.

Design

Infocus M812 welcomes you to an awe-inspiring world of aesthetic excellence and exquisite design. Cased in a metal unibody, the M812 is a classic symbol of sophistication and elegance you would love in your smartphone. Its metallic luster shines through the ultra-slim edges and the attractive back. At the heart of its perfectly chiseledcurves lies the precision of an advanced laser cutting technology. Every curve of this timeless phone is crafted to perfection with 1000+ CNC Cuts. The anodized aluminum frame, a metal crown, and superb fine polishing add a touch of distinction to the M812’s elegance. And at 7.38mm ultra-thin,the M812 has the fabulous looks to turn heads wherever you go.

Display

Infocus M812 sports a high resolution display. The 5.5-inch Full HD screen of the M812, with 1920x1080 resolutions is an attempt to adopt future ready mobile displays to give you a stunning viewing experience.

Processor

The device is powered by Snapdragon 801 processor coupled with a powerful 3GB RAM and 16 GB internal memory. The 2.5 GHz Qualcomm Quad-core processor makes your phone fast when you’re toggling between your favourite apps. The M812 also has the LTE-capability with Dual Sim, Dual 4G option so that you get super fast 4G Internet speed on both your sims cards.

Camera

Its 13 MP rear camera with the bright 1.8 Aperture lens lets you capture breathtaking shots in any lighting conditions. The advanced Dual Tone Flash gives the perfect white light balance for snapping high quality pictures. The crystal clear 8 MP front camera is coupled with an 80 degree viewing angle so that you never have to crop any of your friends from those stunning group selfies.

User Interface

They have created a new In Life User-Interface for Infocus M812, which allows you to easily manage, organize and execute your everyday work. It also runs on the incredibly dynamic Android 5.0 Lollilop, Google’s latest and greatest Android version making it more efficient and useful.

Connectivity

The M812 is 4G ready. Whether you are downloading a game, streaming music, watching HD videos on YouTube or simply uploading an image, everything will be a breeze. And the best of them all- 4G LTE makes buffering obsolete so that you can enjoy your online videos without having to wait. It allows super fast 4G Internet speed on both your sims cards. Other than 2G, 3G and 4G it also provides connectivity options such as WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS/A-GPS and GLONASS.

Battery

It packs a powerful 2900mAh non-removable battery. The battery is efficient for normal use.


Cybersecurity firm offers $1 million for Apple hack

Computer security firm Zerodium on Tuesday offered a $1 million (890,000 euros) bounty to hackers who can find a way to breach Apple's latest iOS 9 mobile operating system.

Zerodium, launched early this year in the United States by French online security expert Chaouki Bekrar, said it would pay out $1 million each to as many as three people or teams who manage to break into iPhones or iPads equipped with the iOS 9 software.

To win the money, hackers must use a web page or text message to remotely bypass the iOS 9 security and discretely install an application on the iPhone or iPad by October 31, the company said in an online statement.

Instagram hits 400 million users

Instagram, the photo-sharing app Facebook bought for a modest $1 billion in 2012, now has more than 400 million users, the company said on Tuesday. It had only 300 million users 9 months ago. According to the number of users, Instagram is far larger than rival Twitter Inc with 100 million more users.

The photo-sharing app has grown rapidly over the past three years, faster than many of its social app competitors, including Twitter and Snapchat. The Facebook unit has rolled out a number of products and features this year aimed at getting users to spend more time in the app.

More than 75% of Instagram's users are outside the United States, the company wrote in a blog post. More than half of the 100 million newest users living in Europe and Asia with Brazil, Japan and Indonesia adding the most users.

Facebook bought Instagram in 2012 for $1 billion and has been slow to monetize the app. It recently expanded its platform to all advertisers, rather than a select few, and is expected to make up to $2.8 billion in advertising revenue in 2017.

Opera introduces new logo

Opera is off to a fresh start with its new logo. Opera Software has now introduced a new logo and brand identity. They have redesigned their logo with the familiar red “O”. With the extended range of products and services, the company has grown beyond the bounds of a software company.

The company noted in its announcement that Opera Software may have started out as a browser vendor, but it now offers a far wider range of products and it wants its new brand to reflect that. Opera Mediaworks, the company's ad business, now reaches 800 million people per month. The company's apps reach 350 million users across all supported platforms. The company said in its announcement that they see Opera more as an internet company providing great experiences online and not just as a traditional software company.

The company says its new three-dimensional "O" logo symbolizes a gateway that leads the users to more content, more discoveries, more answers, more communication, more fun, more data savings, more of life, whatever they seek online, Opera helps them do more.

Its first product to feature the new logo is Opera Mini for iOS and other products will follow soon. Over the next few months, the company will be rolling out the new brand across the Opera family, including their entire product portfolio, Opera for Android, Opera Mini for Android and Opera for computers.

Asus launches Zenfone Go smartphone, priced at Rs 7,999

Asus has launched its budget smartphone in India, Zenfone Go, priced at Rs 7,999. The smartphone will be available on Flipkart, Asus' own stores as well as major retail outlets.

Asus Zenfone Go comes with a 5-inch HD (720x1280) IPS display. The device is powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core Mediatek MT6580 processor coupled with 2GB RAM. It packs 8GB internal storage which is expandable upto 64GB via micro SD card. It also provides 100GB of free Google Drive cloud storage for two years.

This dual-sim smartphone runs on the latest Android 5.1 Lollipop. The Zenfone Go features an 8MP rear camera with LED flash and a 2MP front-facing camera. The connectivity options include 2G, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and microUSB 2.0. Zenfone Go doesn't support 4G. The model packs a 2,070mAh battery. The handset is available in white, black and red colour variants. It weighs 135 grams and measures 10mm in thickness.

Peter Chang, regional head of South Asia & country manager of system business group, Asus India, said, "We are excited to announce the availability of ZenFone Go for our Indian users. Being the third largest home to smartphone users, India is a critical market for us and we intend to bring cutting edge products to consumers here, who seek power packed design sensibilities of a high-end smartphone at competitive prices."

Microsoft Office 2016 officially launched

Microsoft Corp said it began the worldwide roll-out of Microsoft Office 2016, the latest addition to its cloud-based subscription service Office 365, on Tuesday, September 22.

Microsoft said Office 2016 brings new versions of desktop apps for Windows including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook and Access and allows people to collaborate and work together. The latest version of Microsoft Office comes with a number of new features including the ability to co-edit documents at the same time, sync files to One Drive in the cloud, and more.

New features in the Windows release include the ability to create, open, edit, and save files in the cloud straight from the desktop, a new search tool for commands available in Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook named "Tell Me", and co-authoring in real time with users connected to Office Online.

New features in the Mac release include an updated user interface that uses ribbons, support for Retina Display, and new sharing features for Office documents. In Word, there is a new Design tab, an Insights feature, which is powered by Bing, and real-time co-authoring. In Excel, there is a Recommended Charts feature, and PivotTable Slicers. In PowerPoint, there are theme variants, which provide different color schemes for a theme. In Outlook, there is a Propose New Time feature, the ability to see calendars side by side, and a weather forecast in the calendar view.

"These latest innovations take another big step forward in transforming Office from a familiar set of individual productivity apps to a connected set of apps and services designed for modern working, collaboration and teamwork," Chief Executive Satya Nadella said in a statement.

The new Office 2016 apps are available in 40 languages and require Windows 7 or later versions. Starting Tuesday, Office 365 subscribers can choose to download the new Office 2016 apps as part of their subscription, Microsoft said.

Apple's iOS App Store Suffers First Major Attack

Apple Inc said on Sunday it is cleaning up its iOS App Store to remove malicious iPhone and iPad programs identified in the first large-scale attack on the popular mobile software outlet. The company disclosed the effort after several cyber-security firms reported finding a malicious program dubbed XcodeGhost that was embedded in hundreds of legitimate apps. It is the first reported case of large numbers of malicious software programs making their way past Apple's stringent app review process. Prior to this attack, a total of just five malicious apps had ever been found in the App Store. Apple said that the hackers embedded the malicious code in these apps by convincing developers of legitimate software to use a tainted, counterfeit version of Apple's software for creating iOS and Mac apps, which is known as Xcode.

"We've removed the apps from the App Store that we know have been created with this counterfeit software. We are working with the developers to make sure they're using the proper version of Xcode to rebuild their apps", Apple spokeswoman Christine Monaghan said in an email. She did not say what steps iPhone and iPad users could take to determine whether their devices were infected.

Palo Alto Networks Director of Threat Intelligence Ryan Olson said the malware had limited functionality and his firm had uncovered no examples of data theft or other harm as a result of the attack. This attack showed that the App Store could be compromised if hackers infected machines of software developers writing legitimate apps. Other attackers may copy that approach, which is hard to defend against, he said. "Developers are now a huge target," he said.

Researchers said infected apps included Tencent Holdings Ltd's popular mobile chat app WeChat, car-hailing app Didi Kuaidi and a music app from Internet portal NetEase Inc. Ryan Olson said that the tainted version of Xcode was downloaded from a server in China that developers may have used because it allowed for faster downloads than using Apple's U.S. servers. Chinese security firm Qihoo360 Technology Co said on its blog that it had uncovered 344 apps tainted with XcodeGhost.

Tencent said on its official WeChat blog that the security flaw affects WeChat 6.2.5, an old version of its popular chatting app, and that newer versions were unaffected. A preliminary investigation showed there had been no data theft or leakage of user information, the company said. Apple declined to say how many apps it had uncovered.

LG unveiled its new Class mid-range smartphone in Korea

LG unveiled its new Class mid-range smartphone in Korea priced at SKW 399,300 (approximately Rs. 22,500). Unfortunately, the South Korean company has not revealed plans to launch the LG Class smartphone in other markets as of now. It will be available in Gold, Silver, and Blue Black colours.

The device is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor coupled with 2GB of RAM. The handset packs 16GB of internal storage which is expandable upto 2TB using micro SD card. It comes with a 13-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and an 8-megapixel front-facing camera with the image sensor from the LG G4 flagship. The LG Class features a 5-inch HD (720x1280 pixels) IPS display. It offers a pixel density of 294ppi. The handset features a curved glass design which offers a 3D-effect. One of the highlights of the Class smartphone is its metal body, and like other recent LG handsets, it features power and volume buttons on the rear panel, just below the primary camera. The handset sports LG logo on both front and back panels. The handset runs on Android Lollipop.

The LG Class supports 4G LTE and 3G connectivity. Other connectivity options include Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS, NFC, and Micro-USB. The smartphone packs a 2050mAh embedded battery.

Swipe to launch new 4G tablet- Ace Strike

Swipe Telecom is an innovative top Indian startup offering the budget tablet pcs and dual sim android enabled tablets. It is home to the latest android technology. The Pune based tablet and smartphone manufacturer Swipe Telecom announced that it will launch a new 4G tablet, named Ace Strike, at an affordable price. The new 4G tablet is expected to launch in the last week of September at a price range of Rs.8,000 to Rs.10,000. According to Swipe, it is going to offer the new device at a more aggressive price point in contrast with rivals who are offering increasingly sophisticated devices at continually higher price points. Swipe's current market share in the tablet category is approximately 10 percent.

Shripal Gandhi, founder and chief executive of Swipe, said "Today's youngsters believe in living life on their own terms and keeping that in mind, we bring to you India's first and most affordable 4G technology to push internet usage to an unprecedented level," He also added that their new tablet, to be launched under our much successful #LiveYourFaith tagline, will be positioned in a way that will find instant connect with the youth of the country.

The 4G tablet, Ace Strike, will be powered by a 64-bit 1.3 GHz quad-core processor along with 2GB of RAM. The company said the highlight of the new tablet will be its 'one-hand operation' mode. It will come with an internal memory of 16 GB, which will be expandable up to 32 GB using micro sd card. The new tablet will have a 6.98-inch HD display. According to the camera it will be packed with a five-megapixel rear camera and a two-megapixel front camera. The device will use a 4000 mAh battery which is expected to provide a decent battery backup.

Google sends out invites for an event on 29 September

Google has sent out an invitation for an event on September 29 in San Francisco .The company is rumoured to unveil the next Nexus phones, which are said to be manufactured by LG and Huawei during this event. In addition to that Google might also unveil the second-gen Chromecast streaming device. Google is also planning to showcase the final version of Android Marshmallow in the event.

This upcoming event is the first big event of google under Sundar Pichai since the reorganization. This will be the first time that Huawei will manufacture a smartphone for Google, while for LG, this would be the third time that the company will make a Nexus smartphone for Google, following the Nexus 4 and Nexus 5 smartphones. In addition, these phones might the first to run Android 6.0, nicknamed Marshmallow.

Recently, details of the Nexus smartphone, made by LG, were leaked. The new smartphone by LG will offer a rear fingerprint scanner along with a metal frame and plastic rear. In addition, the front panel will showoff dual-stereo speakers. Other rumoured specifications include a 3D camera along with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chipset. The report also suggests that the screen will be offered in 5.2 inches and will be 146.9mm high, 72.9mm wide and 8mm thick.On the camera front, it is expected to come with a 12.3MP sensor and a front-facing 5MP sensor. The device will be made available in 16GB and 32GB models. The report also suggests type C USB port and a 2700mAh battery. The Huawei Nexus smartphone is rumoured to sport a 5.7-inch QHD screen with 2560 x 1440 pixels, a metal body, Snapdragon 820 SoC, 3 GB of RAM, 12 MP rear camera, 8 MP front camera and a fingerprint reader.

The rumor says that there is a brand new Chromecast hardware is set for debut at the Google event. In terms of design, the new hardware will be completely different from the older Chromecast. It will no longer be a dongle form factor.Apart from a different design, the new generation Chromecast is expected to come with features such as support for Wi-fi 802.11ac as opposed to previous generation’s support for Wi-fi 802.11n. There will also be support for ‘content feeds’ which could probably be your social media feeds or image feeds, which can play when your Chromecast is in the screensaver mode.

Users will be able to see the live event on the 29th at 9AM PST.

Micromax launches Bolt Q338


Micromax has launched a new smartphone Bolt Q338. The device has been listed on the company website, but there is no information about the availability or pricing.

The phone has a 5-inch HD (720x1280 pixels) IPS display and it comes with 8MP rear camera with flash and 5MP front facing camera.The phone is powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek (MT6580) processor coupled with 1GB RAM. The smartphone comes with 8GB internal storage and expandable up to 32GB using microSD card. The smartphone, runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop and it supports dual sim. The connectivity options of Bolt Q338 include 3G, GPRS/EDGE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, micro-USB and GPS. The phone packs a 2000mAh battery, which is relatively less for a 5 inch smartphone

The smartphone comes pre-loaded with the First Touch launcher and apps such as Amazon Kindle, Amazon Shopping, App Center, Chaatz, Clean Master and Newshunt.

Microsoft has built Linux-Based Operating System - Azure Cloud Switch

Microsoft has built its own Linux-based operating system called Azure Cloud Switch (ACS). Under Satya Nadella, Microsoft is more open than it has ever been before.
Kamala Subramaniam, Principal Architect, Azure Networking, on Thursday wrote in a blog post that Microsoft has built Azure Cloud Switch (ACS), a cross-platform modular operating system for data center networking. This will power network components such as switches. She wrote "The Azure Cloud Switch (ACS) is our foray into building our own software for running network devices like switches. It is a cross-platform modular operating system for data center networking built on Linux. ACS allows us to debug, fix, and test software bugs much faster. It also allows us the flexibility to scale down the software and develop features that are required for our datacenter and our networking needs."

ACS also allows us to share the same software stack across hardware from multiple switch vendors. This is done via the Switch Abstraction Interface (SAI) specification, the first open-standard C API for programming network switching ASICs, of the Open Compute Project (OCP). Microsoft was a founding member of the SAI effort and remains a leading contributor to the project as we view SAI as an instrumental piece to make the ACS a success.

"We're talking about ACS publicly as we believe this approach of disaggregating the switch software from the switch hardware will continue to be a growing trend in the networking industry and we would like to contribute our insights and experiences of this journey starting here," she added.

Apple TV adds Plex and VLC apps


The VLC developers announced that while it's still early days, they've achieved video playback. The Plex co-founder was also quoted as saying, "There is no question, we will be able to offer Plex on the platform. We are now evaluating the best path for Plex and will begin work in earnest once we have evaluated the options."A tvOS version of Plex is in development. Currently, Plex works with set-top boxes like the Chromecast and the Fire TV, and it is a popular choice with jailbroken Apple TVs, but it is not available to Apple TV users in any official capacity. Plex is designed to organize personal media libraries consisting of video and music files, allowing them to be easily streamed to TVs and other devices, either locally or remotely.


The new Apple TV announced last week has been overhauled with Siri search and its own App Store. Apple's latest fourth-generation Apple TV includes a dedicated App Store, which will allow users to access many apps and features that were not previously available on the older Apple TV. Popular media streaming apps Plex and VLC are both coming to the Apple TV, with tvOS versions already in the works. 

These were predictable developments, but are still hugely important news; these apps allow you to stream your local content to the Apple TV from different devices, and free you up from depending only on the online streaming services that the Apple TV supported up until now. This is particularly relevant in a country like India, where the absence of services like Netflix takes away the usability of something like the Apple TV, or the Amazon Fire TV.

It's worth pointing out that these apps have been available on most Android set-top boxes for a while now. And in India at least, they're a very big part of the typical usage. One Android set-top box manufacturer recently told that the most used app on its device is YouTube, but that's immediately followed by a number of different video playback services, including Plex, XBMC, and VLC. The user pattern in India is going to be different from that in the US, or Europe, but it's a good sign for Apple, particularly as the company starts to focus more on markets like India and China.

Facebook is planning to launch low-cost Wi-Fi service in India

In San Francisco, Facebook has declared their opinion regarding the wifi facility in India. Social networking site Facebook has remained defiant about its free internet service providing initiative Internet.org and said it was looking at innovative ways to provide connectivity in the country.

At the India Economic Convention 2015, Facebook vice president for mobile and global access policy Kevin Martin said that they are planning to launch a low cost wifi service in India. He also said that Facebook's connectivity lab has been working with drones and unmanned aerial vehicles to lower the cost of service to people without infrastructure.

He also added that the social networking giant supports the concept of net neutrality and Internet.org initiative was to enable people to realize the importance of internet by providing access to basic web service free of data cost.

Google Play gift cards launched in India at Rs 750 onwards


Google has announced the rollout of physical gift cards in retail outlets across India. Google Play gift cards are available in 3 denominations (Rs 750, Rs 1000 and Rs 1500) and can also be purchased online on Snapdeal.com .Google has launched Google Play prepaid vouchers in June and now they are come up with google play gift cards across India at Rs 750 onwards.
Users can use Google Play gift cards to purchase favourite apps and digital content, as well as in-app purchases in their favourite apps and games. As part of the announcement, Google has put together a range of offers on Google Play Apps, Games, Books and Movies.
"We hope the increased availability of Google Play gift cards will make it easier for users to enjoy their favourite movies, books, magazines, apps, and games across all your devices. Users in India can buy games like Prince of Persia at Rs 10 or get big discounts on movies like The Great Gatsby or Sherlock Holmes during this promotion," Saurabh Agarwal, head of retail partnerships - Google Play, India said in an official blog post.
Google Play gift cards are available in the stores of Spice Hotspot, Vijay Sales, Planet M, Planet Mobile and Sangeetha Mobiles

Sony to launch Android-based small screen TVs

Sony India will roll out smaller-screen size televisions that run on Google's Android operating system to lower prices and drive the adoption of smart TVs. The company is working with its Japanese headquarters to develop a 32-inch screen for its Android televisions. It currently offers 43-inch models that start at Rs 66,900. Sony said 32-inch televisions still account for 45-50% of sales. Android's presence in this segment is vital to win market share and success, said Sony India head sales Satish Padmanabhan. Sony plans to start the second phase of its India manufacturing operations next quarter, which will allow new models to be added to its portfolio, more localization of features and faster replenishment of the supply chain.

Sony is committed to provide the best TV experience and the introduction of Sony’s Android TV is based on extensive mapping of customers’ expectations and technology advancements. Sony’s Android TV uses the official Google Android OS- 5.0 version, offering a variety of TV apps from the Google Play Store. Customers can now experience the ultimate gaming thrill with their favorite games and app, which are specially optimized for the TV screen size. Gaming enthusiasts can connect their gamepads and indulge in superior gaming experience on Sony’s Android TV.

The top three television makers-LG, Samsung and Sony- have been trying to push sales by rolling out internet features in the 40-inch segment. However, cautious consumers have cut discretionary spending and poor experiences have limited the adoption of such televisions in India. Sony expects that rolling out smaller-screen sizes of Android televisions will lower prices and is betting on superior user experience of the operating system."We are seeing good demand for Android televisions even in the smaller towns. Even if smart televisions grow up to 15% of industry volume in 12-18 months, that's a commendable achievement," said Padmanabhan.Sony’s Android TV excels in uniqueness and comes with exclusive Sony features like Serial Abtak and Notify BRAVIA. It offers a vast variety of Google features like Google Play Store, Voice Search, Google Cast and connectivity with accessories


Google launches donation-matching campaign for refugees


Google announced a donation-matching campaign for refugees. Google aims to raise $11 million for humanitarian organizations aiding the thousands of refugees who have fled war-torn and impoverished countries. The search giant, which has already donated about $1 million to human rights organizations working to help refugees, is now publishing a banner ad, urging its users to give, with a “Donate” button. Click the button, and it leads you to a website, where Google explains it will match 100 percent of donations it receives until it reaches its goal of $11 million.
Donations will be distributed to four nonprofit organizations providing aid such as food, water, shelter and medical care to refugees and migrants- Doctors Without Borders, International Rescue Committee, Save the Children and UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Google said it will match the first $5.5 million worth of donations globally at google.com/refugee relief until it raises $11 million.
Google announced its matching plan in a blog post this week, written by a Google employee named Rita Masoud who is also a refugee from Afghanistan.
Rita Masoud wrote on the blog post as 
  "My name is Rita Masoud and I am a refugee. I was born in war-torn Kabul, Afghanistan. When I was seven, my family and I fled to Europe with our belongings in a single suitcase, hoping for a safer and better future. Our journey involved many dark train and bus rides, as well as hunger, thirst, cold and fear. Fortunately, we received asylum in The Netherlands, where I grew up in a safe environment and was able to find my way in life. Today, I work for Google in California.
I was lucky. But as the refugee and migrant crisis has grown, many people like my family are desperate for help. Last week, Google announced a €1 million (~$1.1 million) donation to organizations who are providing front-line humanitarian relief to refugees and migrants around the world. Today, we're inviting you to join us. To double the impact of your contribution, we’ll match the first €5 million (~$5.5 million) in donations globally, until together we raise €10 million (~$11 million) for relief efforts."

Skype Introduces movie-based emojis called Mojis


Skype is a well known video calling and messaging platform. Recently, they have introduced new design for both iOS and Android in Skype 6.0. Now, Skype has started to roll out its own version of emojis for its applications across different operating systems such as Windows, Mac, Android and iOS. They have named this new emojis as Moji. Moji can be sent as messages to your friends. Mojis are short moments from film segments from Movies and TV shows in a GIF form. Skype has collaborated with famous movie studios such as Universal Studios, Disney Muppets, BBC among others for its Moji collection. According to Skype, the first Moji release will have content from movies such as Despicable Me, Jurassic Park, The Muppets and so on.
To send a Moji, you need to open the emoticon picker or tap on the J button. There you can find different types of mojis. You can then browse through sections such as movies, TV shows or expressions and preview the Moji before sharing it with your friends.

Google Introduces Android Pay


Google introduced Android Pay, the simple and secure way to pay with your android phone. Android Pay should serve as a good replacement for Google Wallet. It is simple to use Android Pay. Forget fumbling through your wallet and handing over a card next time you’re in a store. With Android Pay you can simply unlock your phone, place it near a contactless terminal, and you’re good to go. You don’t even need to open an app. Tap and pay is that fast, that easy. And when you tap at select merchants, your loyalty points and offers are automatically applied at checkout too.
Android Pay comes with an extra layer of security. When you shop at a merchant, Android Pay doesn’t send your actual credit or debit card number with your payment. Instead we use a virtual account number to represent your account information. So your card details stay safe. Android Pay keeps track of your purchases. As soon as you make a purchase, you’ll see a payment confirmation that shows you exactly where a given transaction happened, along with the merchant’s name and number. So it’s easy to catch any suspicious activity. No more frantically canceling your credit cards. If your phone is ever lost or stolen, you can use Android Device Manager to instantly lock your device from anywhere, secure it with a new password, even wipe it clean of your personal information. Android Pay is accepted at over one million stores across the US, and will soon be available in thousands of Android apps. Google is adding more every day.