ASUS on Wednesday (21 January) launched its budget Notebook, the EeeBook X205, in the Indian market. The notebook is priced at Rs 14,999 and comes with a 11.6 inch display. It will be sold exclusively on Flipkart Wednesday onwards. Peter Chang, Regional Head, South Asia & Country Manager, System Business Group, ASUS India said, “We are persistently focusing towards delivering value products with premium feel and functionality and the introduction of EeeBook is testimony of the same fact. Streamlined curves, compact dimensions and a tactile finish; it will complement all your on the go computing requirements. We are elated to bring EeeBook which is lighter than any 11 inch notebook and employs simple yet elegant design.” The ASUS EeeBook X205 is powered by Intel Atom quad core prcoessor and 2 GB of RAM. It runs on Windows 8.1 operating system. The best thing about the notebook is that weighs less than 1 kilogram and is extremely portable. ASUS claims that the EeeBook can last upto 11 hours with a single 100 percent charge. The standby time is a massive 14 days and the EeeBooks backs up the data automatically once the battery drops below 5 percent. The device is designed to give users a smartphone-like computing experience, keeping them socially connected by allowing them to receive emails, updates, notifications,and messages from social media platforms, even with the notebook in standby mode, or with the lid closed.The total storage space on the ASUS EeeBook X205 is 32 GB. ASUS is offering free 500 GB of storage on its own cloud servers for a period of 2 years. Further, 1 TB of storage is available on Microsoft's Onedrive for a period of one year. After the first year, one would need to pay in order to avail the service. Apat from the above menitoned features, the EeeBook X205 boasts of a full-size, one-piece seamless chiclet keyboard with 1.6 mm of key travel for extremely-comfortable typing. Aesthetically, it boasts smooth curves and tactile surfaces and is available in four chic colors: black, white, gold, and red.
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The year 2015 will bring accelerated disruption in terms of technology. The industry's rapid adoption of next-generation platforms and services will be centered on cloud, mobility, big data and the Internet of Things. From ‘computing anywhere’ mobile to risk-based security, and from the Internet of Things (IoT) to cognitive analytics, the gap between digital leaders and digital laggards will be widening significantly over the next twelve months. As we are in 2015, here’s a look some emerging and disruptive technology trends that are poised to take off in a big way.The Digital Data Supply Chain In 2014, businesses continued looking for technology to assist in compiling the droves of data being delivered about a customer’s every movement. The success factor in 2015 for many organizations hinges on their ability to close the gap between available data and actionable insight. CMO’s are continuing to take the lead in promoting the use of data to fuel customer engagement improvements. Analytics spending will increase, but less of it will be visible in the CIO's budget. Marketing and other business departments will drive analytics investments to address specific challenges and opportunities.Hence, 2015 will be a year of increased fragmentation as reliance on analytics spreads across organizations. More cloud-based and mobile analytics, more demand for interactive and responsive analytics, and more use of specialist and niche BI are monopolizing the trends. Digital Data Chain Gets Stronger: While big data and analytics persisted as buzzwords over the last few years, actual adoption by enterprises has been limited. In 2015, we’ll see more enterprises moving away from traditional investments and switching focus to big data. The quantum of data analyzed for actionable insights will increase dramatically over the next five years and this will be reflected in 2015 with the ‘context’ dimension becoming even more important in the big data stack.The Rise of Cognitive Intelligence: Capable of understanding the subtleties, idiosyncrasies, idioms and nuance of human language, cognitive analytics mimic how humans reason and process information. With the advancement of data science, future systems will have a ‘built-in’ cognitive ability to decipher the meaning from large data and answer queries based on hypothesis and confidence from data. IBM Watson is one such example.Mainstreaming of Analytics: While there has been limited acceleration towards Predictive & Prescriptive Analytics, this is set to change in 2015, with the former heading towards mainstream adoption, particularly in areas like retail banking, CPG and the weather industry.Infrastructure and Analytics: The world of big data is expanding quickly and adding value requires establishing speed and confidence in every decision, interaction and process. Thus, analytic infrastructure - the applications, services, utilities and systems that are used for either preparing data for modeling, estimating models, validating models, scoring, or related activities – will become critically important in 2015. Organizations are currently forced to think about how to usher in more intelligence in infrastructure monitoring and how to perform ‘deep dive’ analytics on the barrage of infrastructure data they have access to. The Maturity of Cloud Computing and the new role of DevOpsCloud computing made significant strides in 2014 and has become an integral, perhaps even the most vital part of an enterprise’s IT Strategy. It has helped free-up a huge chunk of IT from the constrictions of legacy software and hardware licensing data center models, and has opened, revolutionized and to an extent democratized the way IT delivers services and how the users access information, applications and business services. When our clients ask “Where do we go with Cloud now?,” here are three cloud computing trends that will be responsible for driving cloud strategies through 2015 and enterprise organizations should factor into their cloud-planning processes in order to run at the speed of change.Hybrid Computing: As cloud services continue to expand in number and sophistication, gaps in managing cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-core portfolios are beginning to appear, leading to new and smarter ways to operate in this hyper-hybrid IT environment. As a precursor to application virtualization, hybrid computing combines and coordinates multiple cloud services, internal network and application resources to form a unified environment for businesses. Containerisation of Cloud: Containers are a bit like virtual machines in that they make it possible to bundle up several different pieces of software and run them on a single server without interference. Yet, unlike a traditional virtual machine created with tools from companies like VMware, a Docker container doesn’t require its own operating system. All cloud majors (Google, Amazon, Microsoft, etc.) are heavily investing in Docker and Open Source Container tools as containerization has the potential to finally bring interoperability between cloud platforms. DevOps and Cloud: As cloud adoption accelerates, collaboration between development and operations teams becomes even more important. For organizations adopting Agile development methodologies and cloud computing, DevOps and continuous delivery practices enable agility for infrastructure, providing organizations with the rapid deployment of new functions and features. Cloud-based DevOps is paving the way to leverage the full potential of cloud application development and the closer integration of various process areas quickly and cost effectively. The Internet of Things – The Connected World “In 2015, there will be roughly 25 billion "things" connected to the Internet. By 2020, the number of things connected to the Internet will be approximately seven times greater than the number of people on earth today. And by 2050, that number is projected to reach 50 billion,” according to the PricewaterhouseCoopers annual Digital IQ study.IoT’s Chapter Two: The IoT trend is about to enter a second stage in development, focused on software application platforms that provide prebuilt connectivity, security, management, and analytics capabilities. As the IoT focus shifts away from devices and networks - toward platforms and applications - CIOs and CTOs will play a key role in facilitating their business units to better understand how to incorporate the IoT into business technology agendas.IoT Gets Real: After months, if not years, of IoT hype, we’ll finally see a focus on actual customer success stories about improved machine uptime, better customer experience, and new as-a-service business models. IoT's impact on the supply chain is beginning to demonstrate sustainable business practices and business intelligence (BI) will also have a greater play, as we finally extract meaningful results out of the data collected and not the data itself.It’s All About Software: IoT software platforms will become the rage, displacing the hardware. Much of the early hype has been about cool new sensors, high-tech wearables, and new wireless technologies. Now, in 2015, we’ll see increased focus on the software and especially the cloud services, to make all these sensors connect, upload data, and drive analytics that generate insights and enable business improvements.The Year of Bolt-On/ Wearables: In this era of the digital world, we predict that we’ll see huge actions happening in the region on extracting data from everything (Humans, Machines, utility devices) and in making BOLT-ONs or Standalone intelligent wearables. This forms the base for the IoT to become a real-world actionable item in a humongous way. With the amalgamation of the real and virtual worlds, connectivity everywhere, the inundation of intelligence everywhere, and the accumulative technological impact of the digital business shift, businesses are asking – if not demanding – their technology partners to run faster with a disruptive frame of mind. These technology partners need to focus on finding new ways to participate, harness, and advance early adoption and innovation at the edge. As our customers continue to leverage technology for digital transformation, the year 2015 will definitely push the limits of where technology can go - as a way to bridge the gap between existing and new solutions, between business and IT - to create real value and genuine growth for customers.
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The Yotaphone, no relative of Star Wars’ Yoda, is based on a really cool concept. It has two screens. Think about it: why shouldn’t we be putting the back of a phone to good use? And that’s the premise the Russian mobile broadband provider worked on when it came up with the YotaPhone. It’s been two years since the YotaPhone first made an appearance and since then, actual production and roll out has been gradual, with the company testing out markets across the globe, launching in India recently.The second screen on the Android-based YotaPhone is an e-ink display, much like the one on Amazon’s Kindle. That means it soaks up much less battery than the main display. A lot of content can be pushed on to the e-ink screen, leaving the rest of the phone with more overall battery life. The e-ink display can stay always-on, which again has implications for what you can do with it. For example, you could have a map on it if you’re going somewhere, leaving the rest of the phone free for use. You could put a book there, turning the phone over to read any time you want to, including say when you’re commuting or waiting somewhere. Your social media feeds could go on the e-ink side, really saving you battery power and being easily accessible at the same time. You could use the second display for reading news feeds. Your notifications could go on the back as well making them visible without having to do anything. The possibilities are endless and all that’s needed is the apps that will make these uses happen. And some of them are there on the YotaPhone already. The problem is that the second generation of this device is already in existence and being showcased in the US and elsewhere and there are clearly many improvements and applications over the first- gen device which is selling on Flipkart for Rs 23,499, a bit of a hefty price for a product that is mid-range other than its dual display and that still needs much development. Anyone interested in the two-screen concept would probably want to wait for the second-gen Yota to come into the market.While the original Yota is not really about specs, there are many usability issues, with both hardware and software, that come in the way of quick smooth functioning. Let’s take the power button to begin with, for example. Sitting in one tiny corner on the top, it takes a specific hard press in a certain position to wake the phone up. Other than volume, there are no other buttons and the phone uses a touch area under the screen for the back display that is very slow to respond. It takes a number of determined swipes for it to do anything, again because of a specific movement being required. On top of that, the specs belong to 2012 and will not satisfy that large chunk of the young early-adopter audience that likes to max out on hardware. There needs to be easier, more intuitive use, a greater number of apps for the e-ink screen, and a lower price if it’s to compete with the low-cost powerhouses flooding the market today.All the same, the basic idea is compelling and one hopes the company will continue to develop what is really a unique phone. HTC ReAn asthma inhaler, a bathroom faucet, a baby periscope — think what you like but the HTC Re is an action camera. It's an odd looking thing, that's for sure, but that also means people come up to ask what you've got there. But it's very easy to hold and small enough to carry and whip out quickly, giving it that slight advantage over a smartphone camera. There's a big button on the device for shutter release and indicators. Otherwise, the Re is extremely simplistic.You connect the Re to the smartphone wirelessly. You also download an app to add some management features. The phone acts as a viewfinder, should you want one, but it's an awkward format for shooting unless, of course, you're using a tripod, which you can. But if you're going to go to all that trouble, you may as well be carrying a bigger camera.The concept of the Re is interesting though not altogether new. Sony has QX lenses that work with a smartphone and there's the famous GoPro camera. This sort of product is meant for creative shareable photos. But there may not be too many who will want an unattached camera at about Rs10,000 when there's a perfectly good one on the phone. The Re is a 16MP f2.8 shooter. The lens is Sony's. But it's still got limitations in size and the photos are certainly no better than you'd get from your phone camera. There's also no direct view finder, no zoom, no flash and it drains both its own and the phone's battery. If you're not careful and don't turn it off from the app's settings the Re will stay on and finish off its battery. With all of this, it's difficult to make a strong use case for a product like the Re, fun though it may be. (This story was published in BW | Businessworld Issue Dated 09-02-2015)
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Access to the internet is growing to be one of the essential needs of society, particularly in India which has approximately 259.14 million internet subscribers. Today, internet is not merely an instrument of technology, but is increasingly becoming an economic and social necessity. It is critical to the strengthening of democracy and free expression and in this context the debate on open internet access and net neutrality is an inevitable one. What is Net Neutrality?‘Net neutrality’ or ‘Network neutrality’ refers to the impartial, unrestricted movement of data on the internet without regard to content, website, application platform, kinds of devices that may be attached, designation or source. It contemplates a network design paradigm, where internet service providers are detached from the data/ information transmitted through their networks. The Net Neutrality DebateWith the increasing popularity of a variety of services and applications such as the ‘Over the Top’ (OTT) services, the concept of net neutrality has stirred up a heated debate.OTT services refer to the delivery of content and information (such as video or voice) by entities directly to the end customer, without the service provider having any role to play in the content or information being distributed.OTT services such as Skype, Whatsapp, Facebook Messenger, WeChat, etc. are perceived to be fast replacing native modes of communication like traditional voice, SMS, MMS, etc., causing inter alia a burden upon the network over which individuals access the internet.The internet service providers (ISPs) i.e. the entities who are licensed to provide internet services, argue that OTT entities: (i) tend to utilize large amounts of the available network resources and bandwidth in the network often creating congestion and consequently poor quality of service; (ii) do not pay connectivity charges either to the ISPs or to the government for using the network, whereas ISPs are highly regulated and have to pay license fees, spectrum usage charges, etc; (iii) make no investments towards the underlying network infrastructure whereas the ISPs incur massive costs towards developing and maintaining the network infrastructure; (iv) impinge upon the revenues of the ISPs by shifting the customer base from the native services provided by the ISPs; and lastly (v) ISPs believe that there should be a level playing field for services that are similar in nature.At the core of this, the ISPs hold that building a network infrastructure is highly capex intensive, with returns coming over a long duration of time. In their view, there is no financial incentive for them to maintain and expand their networks unless they can tap additional revenues by way of either levying fees or entering into priority arrangements with OTT entities for use of the network infrastructure. On the other hand, ‘net neutrality’ proponents believe that if ISPs are allowed to charge OTT entities for use of the network infrastructure: (i) ISPs would have the power to prioritize their own services over the services provided by third parties; (ii) traffic could be categorised into ‘fast lanes’ and ‘slow lanes’ based on commercial incentives; (iii) data over the network could be blocked, controlled or throttled; (iv) such arrangements could result in a non level playing field for start-ups and hinder competition; and (v) permitting such arrangements will challenge the entire edifice of the internet structure which is built on the premise that the “internet is a neutral network”. Consumers on the other hand, essentially need unhindered access and an open internet that is transparent, powerful and easily accessible platform for innovation, equality of data, freedom of speech and economic growth, at highly affordable prices. Global DevelopmentsThe regulatory framework on net neutrality in various nations is still at a nascent stage, with very diverse views. For instance in the US, President Obama has advocated the following four principles: (i) no blocking of content by ISPs except if the content is illegal under applicable law; (ii) no throttling i.e. ISPs should not be able to intentionally slow down some content or speed up others based on the type of service or your ISP’s preferences; (iii) increased transparency; (iv) no paid prioritization i.e. no service should be stuck in a ‘slow lane’ because it does not pay a fee and (v) make net neutrality rules be applicable to broadband as well as mobile internet service providers. In his opinion, the net neutrality regulations could have clear, monitored exceptions for reasonable network management and for specialized services such as dedicated, mission-critical networks like serving a hospital. Pursuant to the same, the Federal Communications Commission is slated to come up with draft rules early this year. Whereas, Vietnam has recently revoked its decision of banning foreign OTT entities which was initially introduced when the ISPs complained of network congestion and loss of revenue. The Vietnamese government is now devising a legal framework wherein OTT entities will fall under regulatory purview of the government and could require the OTT entities to set up domestic servers or enter into arrangements with the local ISPs for use of their networks for a consideration. The government is of the opinion that such a structure would benefit the end consumers, service providers as well as the OTT entities. Meanwhile in the Philippines, two major telcos (PLDT and Globe Telecom) have announced their plans for providing its subscribers free internet services by allocating larger bandwidth and free access to Facebook. The EU is also renegotiating its draft regulations on net neutrality. On the home front, currently there is no regulatory framework in place governing the concerns around net neutrality. However, for the first time the Centre has adopted a public stand on this subject with the telecom minister Mr. Ravi Shankar Prasad stating that the internet is for the masses and showing his support for net neutrality. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recently indicated that it will soon be releasing a consultation paper on open internet and net neutrality. It is hopeful that the framework adopted by the TRAI will strike a balance between (i) addressing the consumer’s need for open internet access; (ii) making available a neutral and level playing field for entities providing services over the internet; and (iii) granting the ISPs fair compensation for the cost of investing in and maintaining the network that enables delivery of services over the Internet.The author, Jyoti Pawar, is a Partner at Economic Laws Practice (ELP), Advocates & Solicitors. She can be reached at jyotipawar@elp-in.com for any comment or query. The information provided in the article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal opinion or advice. Readers are requested to seek formal legal advice prior to acting upon any of the information provided herein.
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Introducing a range of smarter LED TVs to the world that lets consumers enjoy personalized content, watch visual details and stunning graphics come to life on the biggest screen at home, and satiate their hunger for infotainment through a world of content and apps, Toshiba India today launched its first LED TVs powered by Android 4.4 OS, certified by Google. The newest range of LED TVs from Toshiba empowers customers to stay updated and enjoy every bit of countless apps, games, videos on a range of Ultra HD 4K screens in L9450 series and HD and Full HD screens in L5400 series. Commenting on the launch of the Toshiba LED TV powered by Android OS, Sanjay Warke, Country Head, Toshiba India, DS Division said, “The Android interface has opened a world of possibilities for consumers. From connecting India, to offering a wide variety of performance tools and apps, to an array of entertainment option, Android™ has demonstrated its ambidextrous capabilities. We are trying to bring the same limitless experience by breaking boundaries on screen sizes. Our latest range offers the customers a choice to enjoy latest Android™ applications on a larger screen and in a higher image quality, than that of smartphones and tablets.” Lava Iris Alfa Launched At Rs 6550Lava International Limited, a fast growing company in the mobile handset industry, today announced the launch of LAVA Iris Alfa, a 5” 1.2GHz Quad Core processor smartphone with an elegant design. The smartphone with its 5” IPS Full lamination display makes every image look more real and gives an exquisite look to the device in sleep mode. With the launch of Iris Alfa, Lava aims to gratify the demands of consumers with heavy smartphone usage without compromising on their budget. Running on Android KitKat 4.4, LAVA Iris Alfa offers an improved user experience through an enhanced user interface, superior battery life and software performance. The smartphones comes bundled with Truecaller premium - a phone number search app, Rs 2000 worth free downloads offer on Hungama Music app, a multimedia app for entrainment & Adaptxt that supports 11 Indian local languages. The smartphone has FWVGA 854X480 resolutions which offers a bright display with rich colors & sharp images for a great viewing experience from all angles. Its width of 71.4 mm and thickness of 9.3 mm makes this an extremely handy smartphone. SmartWatch 3 & SmartBand Talk UnveiledSony India announced its new SmartWear Experience range, SmartWatch 3 and SmartBand Talk in the market. Both wearable devices connect with the popular Lifelog, the accompanying app designed to help you understand more about the way to live and move, so you can improve and enrich your life. After leading the market since 2007, SmartWatch 3 is Sony’s latest generation SmartWatch, but the first specifically designed for the latest Android Wear updates in close collaboration with Google. This partnership matches Sony’s leadership in smart, wearable products with Google’s software and platform expertise to create a unique wearable experience founded on both hardware and software innovation. Android Wear organizes your information, suggests what you need, and shows it to you before you even ask. You can get messages from your friends, appointment notifications, and weather updates at a glance. It could be flight information, tips based on your interests or messages of any kind, so user input is seldom necessary. But if you need to interact with Android Wear, voice is easiest way. Even without your Android smartphone, SmartWatch 3 is a fun and useful accessory with impressive standalone functionality. The built-in microphone, and Accelerometer, Compass, Gyro and GPS sensor technology means more accurate, more powerful lifelogging. Leaders Congregate At Inaugural Harvard US India Initiative ConferenceThe Harvard College US India Initiative (HUII), an undergraduate student organization, hosted the inaugural Harvard India Initiative Conference 2015. The two-day conference brought together 50 plus thought leaders from across the globe to foster targeted dialogue and academic critique on India’s future. Starting with a thought-provoking keynote address from Jairam Ramesh, Member of Parliament - Rajya Sabha and closing with an introspective and personal keynote address from Jayant Sinha, Hon’ble Indian Minister of State for Finance, the conference presented fresh ideas across diverse themes such as education, politics, culture, society, economics and social entrepreneurship. Some of the key speakers included Manish Sisodia, Indian activist and member of AAP; Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Minister of State with Independent Charge for Power, Coal and New & Renewable Energy in the Government of India; Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia, Member of Parliament; Supriya Sule, Member of Parliament - Lok Sabha; Nandita Das, Actor & Director, Advocate of Social Issues; Pramath Raj Sinha, Founder, Ashoka University, Founder & MD, 9.9 Media and Founding Dean, ISB; Amit Rajan, Founder, SlideShare; Tarun Tahiliani, popular Fashion Designer and Co-founder of Ensemble; Debasish Mitter, Country Head of Michael and Susan Dell Foundation; Saeed Mirza, Bollywood screenwriter and director; Prof. Rohini Pande, Economist and Professor of Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School; Zia Mody, Founder and Senior Partner, AZB & Partners and Pinky Anand, Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of India, Additional Solicitor General of India & BJP politician among others.
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Lenovo on Friday (16 January) introduced its phone for the masses: the Lenovo A6000. The phone is priced at Rs 6,999 and comes with 4G connectivity. Such an aggressive pricing is sure to start an aggressive battle in the Indian mobile market. The Lenovo A6000 supports both LTE bands in India FDD 1800MHz (Band 3) and TDD 2300MHz (Band 40). At the heart of the device is Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor with 64-bit, quad-core CPU each running at 1.2GHz. The phone boasts of a 5 inch HD display and a battery of 2300 mAh. Another premium feature of the phone is the Dolby digital certified dual speakers making it a perfect multimedia companion on the go. The A6000 is running Android KitKat 4.4.4 out of the box. "Lenovo as a leader in smart connected devices is committed to staying ahead of the curve ", said Sudhin Mathur, Director, Smartphones, Lenovo India. "The A6000 is the perfect choice for the youth/millennials who want a trendy phone loaded with future proof features and yet not being heavy on the pocket", he added. "We are happy to partner with Lenovo again for the launch of A6000. The response has been very good to their last 2 phones we partnered on-Vibe Z2 Pro and Vibe X2. With the A6000 we are again providing a leading edge device at a great price", said Amitesh Jha, Vice President, Retail, Flipkart. Like Xiaomi, Lenovo too is aiming to make its mark through the flash sale model. The registrations will start on Flipkart at 6 PM on Thursday (16 January). The total number of units which will be offered to the users has not been disclosed by the company. It is now a three way battle amongst Lenovo, Xiaomi and Micromax Yu. It will be interesting to see how the consumers respond to these new generation handsets.
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Samsung Electronics on Wednesday (14 January) announced the launch of the first Tizen powered smartphone for India, the Samsung Z1. Appealing to millions of potential users in India, the Samsung Z1 offers exclusive benefits for localized entertainment apps and a simple user interface that makes mobility easier and more enjoyable, even for the first-time smartphone users. Built on the lightweight Tizen platform, the Samsung Z1 delivers a faster boot time and quick access to apps, along with enhanced web performance to offer users faster page loading times with decreased data usage. The Samsung Z1 is equipped with long-lasting battery performance and also features ‘Ultra Power Saving Mode’ to ensure users can always stay connected, even at the minimal battery levels. “The smartphone market in India is rapidly evolving, with many consumers using their device as their screen of choice for content including videos, television programs and video games, as well as a range of apps,” said Hyun Chil Hong, President and CEO, Samsung India Electronics, “We have customized the Samsung Z1 to meet these unique, entertainment-focused needs of local Indian consumers for a personal and reliable mobile experience." Ringo App Launched In IndiaCommunicating internationally with friends and loved ones relies on one of two things: an expensive calling plan or a stable Internet connection - until now. Ringo, which has now launched in India, is the first international calling app that delivers high quality and low cost calling without using the Internet. Ringo is meant for anyone looking to save big on high-quality international calls, from families trying to keep in touch, to companies conducting global business. “We believe our app will change the way India communicates with the world,” said Bhavin Turakhia, CEO of Ringo. “In this country, reliable internet connectivity that can support VOIP calling is still far away. Ringo provides the perfect solution for Indian consumers who want to stay in touch with their family, friends and colleagues abroad reliably and at a low-cost” Unlike other OTT voice apps, Ringo calls do not use the Internet, Wifi, data or carrier minutes. Making a call using Ringo is identical to making a call through your carrier, in terms of quality, and yet costs 70 per cent less than standard rates offered by most Telcos. Ringo uses a unique call flow to convert international calls into local calls. When a Ringo user from India contacts someone in the United Kingdom, Ringo will automatically dial out a local call to the Indian user and another local call to the UK user and connect the two over reliable carrier circuits. UC Browser Brings Real-Time Facebook Notifications UC Browser, the world’s largest third party mobile browser according to StatCounter, is working with Facebook to provide it’s users with real-time Facebook notifications for a richer, more complete Facebook experience. Now, users can access Facebook on UC Browser to get instant Facebook push notifications on their phone, just as they would be using the Facebook app. This is the first time Facebook has teamed up with a mobile browser to allow real-time notifications outside of its native app without the need to install a new add-on, since the feature is activated within UC Browser. This is a plus for those who prefer to use one app to address all their browsing needs. The tie-up reflects the deepening of UC Browser‘s commitment to giving users a fast, all-in-one mobile web experience. To access Facebook notifications, all the user has to do is log in to their Facebook account on the latest version of UC Browser via “Menu - Add-on - Facebook - Facebook Notification”. Once logged in, the users will start receiving real-time notifications, even after they exit the browser. Further, they can also manage the type of notifications they receive so they only get the ones that are most important. Lapcare Sizzles Audio Market With Lapcare YoLapcare, one of India’s leading brands in smartphone, tablet and laptop accessories and peripherals, has announced the launch of its first and unique Bluetooth speaker-cum-stand under the ‘YO!’ lifestyle series: the Lapcare YO!- LBS999 . This development also marks the foray of the brand into the fast growing Bluetooth accessories segment. Targeted at the upwardly mobile youth, the sizzling new LBS999 blends superior audio performance with elegant design. The compact size and its unique ability to act as a smartphone/tablet stand, make the new range of speakers, a truly great multi-functional travel companion! Delivering great audio output in its segment, the sassy Lapcare YO! – LBS999, is foldable and features a 1050 mAh Li-On battery, which keeps it going for upto 4 hours. So, don’t forget to pick it up for that next outing! The Bluetooth+NFC connectivity, easily pairs with any Bluetooth enabled device and provides a range of upto 10 meters. Additional features include an USB Port, LED indicator, volume adjusting function and an in- built microphone for hands free call receiving. Truly a cool and useful accessory for on the move user. Commenting on the launch, Sandeep Popli, COO, Lapcare India said “Lapcare as a brand has been synonymous with care, trust and continuous customer centric product innovations, since our inception. Lapcare’s latest YO! lifestyle series, reflect the youthful demographics of India and their evolving preferences. The new LBS999 Bluetooth speaker cum stand embodies the attitude of the youth and is the first Bluetooth speaker to be launched under the YO! range. Designed with great emphasis on elegant design, multi -functionality and superior audio performance, the new range of speakers, also serve as a smartphone/tablet stand. We truly believe that the LBS999 with its array of useful features is geared to meet the needs of our customers.’ New OLX TVC LaunchedBorrowing humorous snippets from everyday life scenarios, the two new OLX Ads, SushilBachcha and PatiParmeshwarNOT give persuasive yet intriguing reasons to people for selling more actively, highlighting that there are a plethora of buyers out there for everything. The TVCs end with a closing line that says, “Aise bahot se log intezar kar rahe hain aapki cheezon ka…Ab toh OLX pe Bech De”. Said Amarjit Singh Batra, CEO, OLX India, “OLX has seen a substantial surge in online buying and selling of used goods between individuals. Our users have been excited about being able to sell their items in a day, sometimes even minutes. This has proved to us that there is tremendous liquidity on our platform with buyers for all kinds of regular as well as unique items browsing OLX. ASUS Keyboard With Multi-lingual Support IntroducedASUS, a leading international brand that combines technological innovation with design perfection for the ultimate life enhancing and computing experience unveils its latest multilingual ASUS Keyboard. This is a state-of–the-art keyboard that enables its users to type as per their preference and comfort in English, Hindi & Tamil as well. One caneither type by tapping with finger and thumbs or by swiping smoothly across the key board to spell out each word. The key board is structured in a way that assists in speeding up one’s typing. “The ASUS keyboard is a very user friendly device that supports only ASUS gadgets. We are constantly working towards devising techniques that make use of our gadgets smoother for our customers irrespective of the language. Our new innovation enables finger flicking, fast swipe typing and intelligent learning and word suggestions that simplifies your typing needs significantly,” said Peter Chang, Regional Head, South Asia & Country Manager, System Business Group, ASUS India commented. The ASUS keyboard allows you to just flick your finger downwards to type a special symbol, or flick upwards to type in capital letters. It gives your fingers the freedom to make selection on the fly.It makes editing quick and convenient as it comes equipped with a personal dictionary; that is easily edited. ASUS Keyboard also offers accurate next-word prediction and suggestions, auto-correction and a learning capability. IAMAI & NetNames Launch White PapersIAMAI, the body in India representing the online and mobile value added services industry, and NetNames, the global leader in online brand protection and corporate domain name management have published two white papers with the view that the current restructuring of the Domain Name System (DNS), and the introduction of thousands of new domain name endings, is the biggest change to the Internet since its inception. The launch was held at the 9th India Digital Summit and also supported by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI). The white papers were launched on the first day of the India Digital Summit by Ajay Kumar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Communications & Information Technology, Government of India. Present at the launch were St. John Gould, Director, UK Trade, Investment & Prosperity, British High Commission India, Govind, CEO, NIXI, David Franklin, Global Director of Brand Protection Sales and Stuart Fuller, Director of Commercial Operations at NetNames. Entitled “Staying one step ahead in the digital world” and “Internet 2020 – An analysis of how gTLD’s will transform the Internet”. The white papers will be supported by seminars which look at how to be present, protected and prosperous on the internet through the use of new gTLDs, domain name management and online brand protection.
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Continuing its efforts to democratise technology, Micromax Informatics Limited, India’s leading handset player, on Monday (12 January) announced the launch of Canvas Hue in India. Designed for the astute new age consumer, the new smartphone equipped with an AMOLED HD display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 and a super power saving mode offers a perfect amalgamation of innovation, style and efficiency promising a superior uninterrupted mobile experience.Commenting on the launch, Vineet Taneja, Chief Executive Officer, Micromax said, “At Micromax, customer centricity has always been at the core of developing products. With an AMOLED HD screen, users are guaranteed of a life-like viewing experience through more vivid colors and a crystal clear display. The Canvas Hue is a perfect blend of premium design, seamless efficiency and superior technology that supports the needs of the ever evolving consumers.”Equipped with a 5-inch AMOLED HD display which is more touch sensitive and fortified with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, the smartphone offers a captivating and immersive experience with an HD resolution of 1280X720 pixels.IDC India Receives Best Advisory Service AwardIDC the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services has been awarded with the prestigious CIO Choice 2015 award for best IT Advisory Services. The CIO Choice awards 2015 were held amongst a gathering of CIOs and ICT decision makers on January 9th 2015 and are one of the most acclaimed accolades in the industry as it is regarded as the voice of the customer, the CIOs verdict for recognizing and celebrating preferred products, services and solutions.CIO CHOICE recognizes and honors products, services and solutions at the back of stated preferences of CIOs and ICT decision makers.Jaideep Mehta, Managing Director, IDC South Asia says, “We are elated to receive the CIO Choice Award 2015 and are humbled by the CIOs’ stamp of approval for second time in a row. CIO Choice is a reiteration of our strength in the domain and has further validated our trust in the inherent value of advisory focused on the practical implications of IT, which gives a realistic picture and ensures delivery of fact based business value to our clients.”Dassault Systemes Partners With Indus UniversityDassault Systemes, the 3DEXPERIENCE Company, world leader in 3D design software, 3D Digital Mock-up and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, on Monday announced that it has signed an MoU with Indus University, Ahmedabad. The MoU will facilitate the set-up of a Collaborative Learning and Innovation Centre (CLIC) at the University. CLIC will allow students to use Dassault Systèmes V6 Technologies along with LEGO Mindstorms, and ARDUINO Micro-Controller to build cyber-physical projects that will answer problems through inter-disciplinary engineering and management approaches.CLIC will encourage students to experiment with real life and industry scenarios by creating an environment of experiential learning through ‘problem-based-learning’ among students, faculty members and working professionals. It will make use of world-class resources that promote multi-disciplinary engineering for efficient product and process development. CLIC will comprehensively offer skills-enhancement and academic projects on Product Designing & Engineering, Systems Engineering, Modern Materials (Plastics & Composites), Manufacturing & Process Engineering, Casting & Forging Technology, Robotics & Automation and Ergonomics.Accenture To Expand Smart Grid OperationsAccenture has entered into an agreement to acquire Structure, a provider of consulting, system integration and customized solutions and services to energy and utilities clients. The transaction will expand and enhance Accenture’s deep experience and capabilities in smart grid solutions, especially grid operations, as well as energy commodity trading and risk management (CTRM).Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, and the acquisition is subject to regulatory review and other customary closing conditions.“Bringing together two very similar cultures with deep skills in the utilities and energy industries reinforces our ability to help our clients solve some of the most complex and critical challenges that lie at the heart of the digital transformation,” said Omar Abbosh, senior managing director, Accenture Resources operating group. “Structure’s capabilities in grid operations and power systems engineering, combined with Accenture’s global strengths in information technology (IT), will provide our clients with comprehensive end-to-end solutions and services to support the integration of operational technologies with IT systems, forging a path toward a smarter, more digital grid. LANXESS Business Unit Gains New StrengthLANXESS, the global specialty chemicals company is currently undergoing strategic realignment within the organization as part of its ‘Let’s LANXESS Again’ project. One of its largest business units Advanced Industrial Intermediates (AII), which until now catered to intermediates for agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, dyes, coatings among others, will now also take over the antioxidants and accelerators businesses previously managed by the Rubber Chemicals (RUC) business unit at LANXESS.“In the AII business unit we operate a chemical business that has long-term perspectives. This is based largely on sustainable customer relations and trust built up over many years in the markets in question. Similarly, we want to develop strong relations with the customers of antioxidants and accelerators previously served by BU RUC. It is very important to me that we maintain long-term customer relationships in the future as well. We would continue to leverage these relationships and our market experiences for reaching out to customers with the rubber chemicals products” said Hubert Fink, Head – Business Unit, Advanced Industrial Intermediates, LANXESS AG.
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