LG's Watch Urbane smartwatch is as close to the real thing as possibleBy Mala BhargavaWhen LG’s third smartwatch was first showcased, it caused quite a bit of a stir. At the time, everyone was looking for a smartwatch that didn’t have that disturbing bar at the bottom of the screen like the Moto 360. And they were looking for something ultra fashionable and not unlike the watches we used to love. On both counts, LG delivered with the Watch Urbane.It’s ironic that having abandoned ‘real’ watches, people now look for smartwatches that are as close to the real thing as possible. The Urbane does look like a regular watch, but an expensive one. Which it is. There’s a silver steely version and a rose gold one. Unfortunately, it was the rose gold I had the luck to receive. The silver looks pretty good from all the pictures I’ve seen, but the rose gold is garish and probably something only rich guys named Pinky will take to.All around the round face of the watch, where the glass is recessed to protect it, there’s a lot of curved stylisation to give it a classic look. There’s even a winder type knob which acts as the power button.Extending the classic look is a genuine leather strap with proper stitching on the edges. It is strong looking and attractive. How one appreciates the way something looks is very subjective, so I’ll leave it at that. Essentially though it looks like a man’s watch and spills off my small wrist on both sides. It’s not as heavy as it looks, but you’ll not fail to notice its presence all day and I’d be worried about bumping into something with this Rs 30,000 worth of gadgetry.You heard me right. Rs 30,000 is a lot of money for a device that still very much belongs in the nice-to-have category and not the must-have. But well, if Apple didn’t shy away from pricing its watch at sky-high levels, why should anyone else? Or at least, one can put forward that argument, theoretically. The only problem is LG doesn’t have swooning fans like Apple does and there’s also the little point that any other Android Wear watch can do what the Urbane does. And that would be the usual stuff — Google Now alerts, counting your steps, measuring your heart rate, letting you do some of what you’d do on the phone so that you don’t have to pull it out of your pocket, etc.It’s running the latest Android Wear which is seeing many improvements, but is most often described as being “not quite there”.You don’t need an LG phone, specifically, to use it and though you have a microphone, you don’t have a speaker on it. When you finish connecting it to your phone, the Wi-Fi and so on, you get to choose from many watch faces, some of which go well with the Urbane’s stately look. The screen is a 1.3-inch OLED and it’s bright and has enough contrasts and crispness to be quite easy to see. It also works very smoothly though when you swipe, your fingers bump into the outer rim, which is a bit awkward. You can draw emojii’s on it to send to friends — if that’s what you think a smartwatch should be doing.The Urbane has a wireless charger, perhaps taking a cue from Motorola’s, and the charge lasts about two days. Interestingly, the watch is water resistant at a P67 rating, which means you can dip it in water for a bit — though I wouldn’t or it would be quick goodbye to Rs 30,000. mala.bhargava@gmail.com(This story was published in BW | Businessworld Issue Dated 24-08-2015)
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Asus is on a smartphone launching spree, just earlier this year it announced an updated range of smartphones under the ZenFone 2 series and today the company showcased some more models along with two new tablets at its ‘Zen Festival’ in New Delhi.All of the smartphones are quite identical in design looking similar to the ZenFone 2 series but have been updated with some new hardware and features which can certainly confuse potential consumers.Firstly there is the ZenFone 2 Laser which is basically the low-end variants of the ZenFone 2 fitted with a laser guided auto-focus system. With this the camera is faster and way more accurate when focusing in pictures and videos. The smartphone features a 5.5-inch 720p display and instead of using the Intel processors, Asus has used Snapdragon processors from Qualcomm. User will have an option of a Snapdragon 410 quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM or a more powerful Snapdragon 615 octa-core processor with 3GB of RAM. Both of them will have 16GB of internal storage with a memory expansion slot. In the camera department there will a 13MP rear camera with a dual-LED flash and a 5MP front camera, both of which are backed up with Asus’ Pixel Master 2.0 software. The ZenFone 2 Laser is priced at Rs. 9,999 for the 2GB version and Rs. 13,999 for the 3GB version. There will also be a 6-inch version priced at Rs. 17,999. All of the versions will also be 4G enabled and come with dual-SIM card slots.Then there is the ZenFone Selfie, which is obviously for the selfie lovers and features a front and a rear 13MP camera with dual-LED flash aiding both of them. The rear camera also comes with laser auto focus system just like the ZenFone Laser. Apart from that the smartphone features a 5.5-inch full HD display, a Snapdragon 615 octa-core processor, 4G, dual SIM and will be arriving in two variants; 16GB with 2GB of RAM and 32GB with 3GB of RAM. Prices will start at Rs. 15,999 and the smartphone will certainly be a great option for selfie lovers.The ZenFone Deluxe is their flagship device which is technically the same as the most high-end version of the previously announced ZenFone 2 series, but with a new back panel that will have a polygon pattern finish. The specs, like the ZenFone 2, include an Intel quad-core processor, 4GB of RAM, a 5.5-inch full HD display, 4G, dual SIM, 13MP rear and 5MP front camera (no laser autofocus) a 3000mAH battery and Android 5.0 Lollipop. It will be offered in a 64GB version and a 128GB version with prices starting at Rs. 22,999.Asus also made a global announcement of the ZenFone Max smartphone which will be definitely something to look out for. It will have a large 5000mAH battery in just a 5.2mm thick body and is expected to arrive to India in the month of October.Apart from the smartphones, two new tablets were also announced namely the ZenPad 7.0 and 8.0. The tablets come with a chic design and will be offered with bunch of accessories like a clutch case and also a speaker equipped case. The tablets will feature a 1280x800 resolution display, 16GB of storage with memory expansion, 2GB of RAM, an 8MP rear and 2MP front camera combo and 3G support. They also come with DTS surround sound speakers. Apart from the screen size difference, the processors are different with the 7-inch model running on an Intel Atom x-3 chip and the 8-inch version running on a Snapdragon processor. The ZenPad 7.0 is priced at Rs. 11,999 and the ZenPad 8.0 for Rs. 14,999. For an additional Rs. 3000, Asus is bundling the speaker equipped case along with the tablets.The smartphones and tablets are certainly interesting and will be giving a good competition in the budget and mid-range segment. Sadly Asus has created a lot of confusion ever since it announced the ZenFone 2 series with the same name along with different models and variants. While it could be a good strategy to fill the market and offer consumers a good variety, it can also confuse the consumers at the same time.
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Tarun Kaura on what SMBs should look into this Information Security DayLast year saw a record number of headlines made by data breaches and targeted attacks, driving home the impact cyber-attacks have on enterprises today. We witnessed some of the biggest names in the industry, including financial institutions, retail chains and large media companies at the receiving end of large-scale data breaches - indicating that with the growing digitization, there are now more avenues for cybercriminals to attack critical data. While the big names continue to grab headlines, when thinking about small and medium-sized businesses, what cybercrime threats are they facing? A recent report from Nasscom revealed that increasingly the small and medium businesses in India are using newer technologies. While, small businesses benefit greatly by using the latest technologies that aim to improve operational efficiency and innovation, in the process they could end up opening doors to a host of unsolicited activities resulting in loss of data, identities and intellectual property and in some cases pawns in larger plot to target large enterprises. According to Symantec’s Internet Security Threat Report (ISTR) Vol. 20 - Small- and medium-sized businesses in India also saw an uptick in attacks, with 34 percent of targeted attacks in 2014 aimed at them. These businesses also received twice as many phishing and virus-bearing mails compared to large corporations reiterating that almost no company, whether large or small, is immune from cyber attacks. One of the most common threats that are faced by organisations today are targeted attacks. These include spear-phishing emails, exploit of unpatched systems or software and crypto-ransomware attacks. This World Information Security Day 2015, let us specifically focus on security challenges faced by small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) who often lack awareness and have fewer resources to invest in security. This opens up big avenues for cybercriminals, putting businesses and their partners at higher risk. Sophisticated Attack MethodsThe SMB business owners need to be aware of spear-phishing, or an email spoofing fraud attempt that will target a specific organisation. It is one of the most lethal ways that a hacker can compromise a small business, or any business for that matter. In addition to spear-phishing, another common incursion method is to exploit unpatched systems and software. Unpatched systems provide a popular means for hackers to penetrate businesses’ networks and then potentially expose sensitive customer information. The outcomes of an attack, particularly the exposure of vendor and customer information can have serious impacts on a businesses’ reputation. Another growing trend is ransomware. In 2014, India ranked third highest in the Asia Pacific region for ransomware attacks with over 60,000 attacks received per year or about 7 attacks per hour. Of these, 86 percent were crypto-ransomware. These attacks are a type of digital extortion that encrypt data and demand a ransom in return. Not only does this put huge strain on small businesses operations, but it increases the risk of data and file loss. Smaller companies that do not invest in to back-up solutions are forced to pay the ransom to restore operations. The ransom instructions usually include the purchase of non-traceable currency like Bitcoin or MoneyPak and, in many cases, payment of the ransom does not result in the return of data. How business owners can determine their vulnerability to cybercrime threatsFirstly, business owners need to recognize that it isn’t just the large organisations that are targeted. In most cases, large organisations have dedicated resources for cybersecurity, making them much harder and more complicated targets. But in determining vulnerabilities, small businesses should assess the security measures they already have in place. For example, by conducting an audit, business owners can determine what information they host, what points of weakness exist and where they need to invest more security support. Items that are on this security checklist should include employee device use behavior, information storage locations and online payment practices. Once aware of current security practices, business owners should then develop a plan with a security consultant or vendor to fortify their security and better protect their business, their staff and their customers. Best suited approach for SMBs: Multilayered security: Today’s advanced threats call for multi-layered protection that goes beyond just basic anti-virus.Keep it updated: Small business owners should take the time to update operating systems on an ongoing basis. This will protect against recently discovered vulnerabilities, as well as unexpected attacks. Businesses should also keep an eye on who has access to sensitive data and update authorisations to reflect staffing changes. Embrace mobility: Mobile devices are becoming a cornerstone of the enterprise, and securing mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones to secure corporate data should be a priority. Consider limiting unnecessary mobile access to customer information and keep an eye on who has permission to access data. Train your staff: Many owners underestimate the damage a single, untrained employee can do to a business. So, business owners should clearly define expectations for how employees will handle customer data, from requiring password use to maintaining up-to-date security software on all devices. Additionally, train employees to recognise phishing schemes and understand the dangers of downloading software and apps from unknown sources. Talk to third-party vendors: Business owners should ask about how vendors are protecting their information and look for ways to limit unnecessary vendor access to sensitive information. Norton Small Business is specifically designed to make it easy for business owners to provide quality protection to a contractor or vendor while they work on a project and then revoke that protection when the job is done.The biggest mistakes small and medium-sized businesses make in this area, and how they can avoid them- Awareness. They may not think about the implications of hosting sensitive customer data when they purchase a product or service online, or when they create profiles online to use a website. Similarly, they often have to cut certain items from their business plan due to restrictive budgets, and sometimes the owner may let cybersecurity fall by the wayside. Protecting your business from data breaches is not free, but falling victim to an attack is far more expensive than proactive protection. Also, while the right security can offer a high degree of protection, one mistake many businesses make is choosing a security software package or hardware device without first performing a gap analysis to identify the threats they need to mitigate. A thorough analysis can help businesses get the protection they need along with the best return on their cybersecurity investment. The author, Tarun Kaura, is Director, Technology Sales, India, Symantec
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E-commerce companies are developing mobile apps to tap shoppers on the go, targeting customers in the 18-34 age group. The number of smartphone owners using mobile apps of e-commerce companies has gone up from 1,680 (21 per cent) in May 2014 to 4,320 (54 per cent) in May this year, based on real-time mobile usage data across 8,000 handsets in the country, said Nielsen Informate Mobile Insights. However, the growth in popularity of shopping websites has been moderate, increasing from 28 per cent to reach 45 per cent. Surprisingly, the data also shows users in non-metros are slightly more engaged with shopping apps than those in the metros—they clocked an average of 116 minutes per month, compared with 109 minutes per month by users in smaller towns and cities. With traffic from mobile devices on the rise, e-commerce businesses are pushing users to download apps by offering app-only discounts or discontinuing mobile phone websites. India’s largest e-commerce firm, Flipkart, led the pack for mobile shopping apps both in terms of penetration (35 per cent) and engagement (60 minutes per month). Snapdeal was second with a penetration of 20 per cent and user engagement of 35 minutes a month. Amazon India Shopping, a recent launch from Amazon India, has quickly climbed up the ladder to reach the third spot with a reach of 17 per cent and user time of 37 minutes per month. There are now reports that Indian e-commerce is ahead of China and the US in sales from mobile phones and apps. Alibaba, the Chinese e-commerce giant, receives around 30 per cent of its gross merchandise value from mobile phones and apps. The majority of Indian e-commerce firms report over 60 per cent sales on non-desktop platforms. With more than 900 million mobile phone users, India is the second-largest mobile phone market in the world. Only around 10 per cent of the phones used in India are smartphones, but that number is growing rapidly. By 2020, analysts expect the number of smartphone users in India to jump five times and bolster the country’s nascent online retail industry, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. A recent report by consultancy firm KPMG states that mobile commerce is likely to overtake e-commerce in India in the next few years. "It is estimated that mobile app downloads will grow six-fold by the end of this year to 9 billion apps," it says. While the Web vs App debate rages, many industry insiders are sounding the death knell for the Web. Research also shows that customers find apps more engrossing. Analysts are of the view that running three separate sections — a website, mobile site and apps — requires financial and human resources. With people opting for apps, the companies believe that is the area they need to focus on. These developments mark a trend that experts say is here to stay. Being app-only has many benefits as well. Consumer behaviour research done in India has shown that consumers prefer to use mobile apps on smartphones rather than a mobile browser. The key reason is: the customer is no longer required to remember the store specific URL or make an effort to log in. Users just click the app icon and they see products or deals based on their preferences. At present, many e-commerce and retail industry analysts see online companies’ decision to go mobile app only is risky at a time when India’s e-commerce industry — and consumers’ habits of online shopping — is nascent.
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The time for cyber security is now and any delay in securing this Digital India will result in tremendous financial losses to the cyber community as a whole, writes Nikhil KaduskarAt a time when just over 20 per cent of India's population is using the Internet, online sales have already surpassed over $11 billion. Analysis by Morgan Stanley, a private equity firm, indicates that the Internet market in India could grow to $137 billion by 2020. Although the business environment is favourable for this growth, cyber security and consumer protection could throw a spanner in the works for the Internet market in India.E-commerce business has been characterized with short go-to-market time and strategic focus on customer acquisition. Prioritization of product launch inevitably leads to relegation of information security and consumer privacy. Typically, the e-commerce industry follows the iterative or agile approach to software development with the initial iterations aiming to deliver crude, but working solutions to the consumer. With this, security is pushed to late-stage iterations or deprioritized indefinitely. Lack of secure coding practices for the website or app provides many back doors for hackers to gain access to the sensitive data. To make matters worse, e-commerce companies collect an enormous amount of data, including device contacts, GPS location, email IDs, passwords, and financial information. Recent alleged hacks of Ola Cabs and Housing.com showcase the ease with which the attackers could exploit these vulnerabilities and gain access to the treasure troves.The big players in the e-commerce market do take certain measures to protect consumer data. Many of them follow the recommendations from the Data Security Council of India (DSCI), a Self-Regulatory Organization (SRO) established by NASSCOM to promote data protection. They also aim to achieve the Payment Card Industry - Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) certification to protect card data. These standards being voluntary and unenforceable, only a limited number of market players adhere to them.Nikhil KaduskarFrom a regulatory point of view, e-commerce companies are required to adhere to the Information Technology (Amendment) Act of 2008 (ITAA 2008), especially clause 43A "Compensation for failure to protect data". The clause lays down penalties for negligence or failure to implement security controls that results in loss of sensitive personal data. This regulation is a great start for forcing companies to consider data security, but falls short of prescribing minimum required controls and laying down the specific responsibilities of the business. Being too open-ended, the ITAA is vulnerable to interpretation and potential misuse by unethical businesses. Government's oversight responsibilities are not clearly defined because of which many irregularities within security implementations are never uncovered.India currently ranks in the top 5 countries with most malware infections . At the same time, India is also in the bottom 3 in terms of preparedness for cyber security. The government's cyber security budget for FY 2014-15 was just $7 million. Compare this to the $13 billion cyber security budget of the US for FY 2015 , the magnitude of the issue is clearly evident. With a lack of commitment for cyber security, enforcing regulations and auditing e-commerce companies is a mammoth task that the government may not be capable of performing.A methodical approach is required to tackle cyber security issues within India. First, a strong regulatory framework must be established as a foundation to provide protection to consumers as well as businesses. Regulations provide guidance for deploying security controls and define the level of efforts which businesses should take to secure the data. Regulations should also stipulate high monetary fines for lack of security controls, thereby increasing the average cost of data breach from Rs. 3,396 per compromised record, which is one of the lowest in the world. For highly regulated countries, the cost is around Rs 13,900 ($ 217) . A capable cyber task force, along with a grievance mechanism and compensatory rules, may instil confidence in consumers.Secondly, businesses should become self-aware and define their risk posture. Ownership of security should be internalized and dedicated teams established to enable secure development of applications. In the long run, businesses may reap the benefits of having a mature cyber security program which helps in reducing security incidents and increasing customer loyalty and trust.Finally, consumers need to be made aware of security issues and their role in the changing marketplace. The banking industry in India runs awareness campaigns for their customers with special focus on phishing, sharing of data, and customer's responsibilities in terms of online banking. A similar campaign must be initiated to make consumers aware of the risks of transacting online and also inform them of their digital rights.In the ambitious Digital India initiative , slated for completion by 2019, our Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi dreams of a Digital India where cyber security becomes an integral part of national security. The time for cyber security is now and any delay in securing this Digital India will result in tremendous financial losses to the cyber community as a whole.The author is a cyber security consultant with five years in the domain and writes India-focused security articles for Infosecbyte
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Are we ready to accept any other social media app than the existing ones? Yes, we can give it a chance, because in today's day and age, there isn’t a single technology platform that seamlessly connected locals and neighbourhoods together. This led to us building Cityscape, a modern-day mobile-first local technology platform designed to excel at just that - bring locals together for a better today & tomorrow, said Vishal Shah, Founder- V-Star Labs.It has already lauched on Android Play Store platform, it will soon be followed by IOS and Windows in the future. Currently users will be able to select one neighborhood, though in future versions, it will be expanded till three - for example around their home, work and another place of interest.Cityscape, The app enables people to report, alert & raise local awareness by following and connecting with their local area and other locals. With features to share tpictures, check-ins, selfies and fun content with those around as well as share and consume local news and events from the local community, the app helps users engage with their locals.They see other social networks as complementary to what Cityscape offers. Facebook is a great to stay connected with friends and family, LinkedIn for professionals, Twitter for the wider world. It has carved as a space that's left unexplored by some of the early social networks.The great part of Cityscape is that nobody needs to create a profile, by simply downloading the app and using it for the first time, an anonymous profile is automatically created. "We want to make it seamless and dead-simple for everybody to give us a shot," company said.Give it a spin, no need to share any private information to start using the app - email, facebook, twitter, contacts, nothing. Just install, choose your locality and get going. It is that simple.Anyone can use it. "We are targeting anyone who gets excited about local communities and socialising with other locals regardless of where they live and work. If you like checking out a place, finding out whats going on, what are some of the upcoming events, where people are hanging out are what active discussions they are having, you should check out Cityscape. Even though we have seen so much excitement from our early users, we really think this is just the beginning," said Shah.Cityscape is available exclusively in India, with plans to be launched globally in the near future.(BW Onlinen Bureau)
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