Also Read: iPhone 7 vs. iPhone 6 – What’s The Difference?

iPhone X, 8 and 8 Plus – All The Changes

Design, Body, Storage and Colors

While the iPhone X is the most radically different of the new triumvirate of iPhones, the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus are similar to previous iterations, and evolutions of the classic iPhone design. What’s different this time around though, is that Apple has gone with a glass front and back on both the 8’s, in contrast to the aluminum seen on the previous generation iPhones. Apple has also finally adopted the Qi Wireless Charging standard, which is in part made possible by the switch from aluminum to glass back. IP67 certification is back as well, which means that all the 3 phones are water resistant up to 1 meter and 30 minutes. The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are only going to be available in 64GB and 256GB variants though, and in 3 colors – Gold, Silver and Space Gray. We’re guessing more color variants will be introduced later on in the life cycle.

Performance

The biggest change however, is the new Apple A11 Bionic SoC, which powers all 3 new phones. This new hexa-core CPU comes with 2 high-powered cores (‘Monsoon’) and 4 power-saving cores (‘Mistral’). Apple claims that the high-powered cores are 100% faster than the ones on the A10 and the power-saving cores are 70% faster than their last generation counterparts. Benchmarks also indicate the same, the A11 performs extremely well and shows a significant advantage over its closest Android competition, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835. Combined with iOS 11, we’re sure that performance won’t be an issue on either of the phones. The iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X come with 3GB of LPDDR4 RAM, while the iPhone 8 comes with 2GB of LPDDR4 RAM.

Display, Camera and Battery

Both the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus have pretty much the same displays as the previous generation iPhones (4.7 inch,1334 x 750-pixel resolution, 326 PPI for the 8 and 5.5 inch, 1920 x 1080-pixel resolution, 401 PPI for the 8 Plus). What’s new, however, is that both of them are now True Tone displays, which in simple terms adjust white light according to the surroundings. This was first introduced in the iPad Pro, and also makes an appearance on the iPhone X display.

The camera units are also very similar from last year, with the iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X getting dual 12MP sensors at the back and a 7MP front facing unit. The iPhone 8, meanwhile, gets a single 12MP camera at the rear and the same front facing camera. All phones now will be able to capture 2K video at 24, 30 and 60 FPS, and 1080P video at 30, 60, 120 and 240 FPS. The quad LED flash and optical image stabilization make a return as well.

In true Apple fashion, the exact battery capacity of the phones weren’t revealed in the presentation, but intrepid tech reporters have found out the the iPhone 8 houses a 1820 mAh battery and the iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X come with a 2675 mAh battery. Battery life, however, is claimed to be the same as last year, with the smaller of the units claiming 14h talktime and 40h standby, while the larger phones are reporting 21h talktime and 60h standby.

iPhone X – What’s New?

The start of the show, however, was the new iPhone X. Featuring a mostly bezel-less display and a couple of new tricks, the iPhone X is Apple’s most premium offering and will retail for higher than even the iPhone 8 Plus. The biggest new change, obviously, is the departure from the classic iPhone design. Apple has ditched the Home button for a complete edge to edge screen, which means that TouchID is gone, that’s now only available on the 8 and 8 Plus. Now featuring the highest ever screen-to-body ration of an iPhone, the X also ditches the LCD unit for an OLED one, which producers richer and more vivid colors. Interestingly made by Samsung, the OLED unit is also Dolby Vision and HDR 10 compatible. Apple has bumped up the resolution to 2436 x 1125 pixels for the 5.8 inch unit, which means that the pixel density is also higher at 458 PPI. It’s still not close to Android flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S8 though, which comes with a 570 PPI display. The interesting design choice of having only a small cutout on the center of the top part of the screen for the sensors and such could be an issue however, and iPhone users will find it difficult to watch anything truly fullscreen.

In terms of internals, the iPhone X basically features the same SoC and amount of RAM as the iPhone 8 Plus, as well as shares the camera and battery. On the front side though, it comes with a new depth sensing camera that basically scans your face, for the new unlock mechanism, FaceID. The new technology, as claimed by Apple, apparently stores a 3D model of your face on the phone, and can’t be fooled by a photo of you. It’s also supposedly smart enough to understand it’s still you despite hats, facial hair, glasses or anything similar. Privacy concerns aside, Apple seems to have gone all in on this technology, because there’s no more TouchID to unlock the phone anyway. The new depth sensing camera also adds a fun new Animoji feature, which lets the iPhone X scan your face to create customized animated emojis.

Since there’s no home button, you’ll have to swipe up from the bottom of the phone to unlock it, and a couple of gestures here and there are reworked to accommodate for the different screen and layout. While all 3 phones come with iOS 11, the iPhone X will ship with iOS 11.1, a slightly tweaked version that’s customized for the iPhone X.

Which One Should You Buy? – Pricing, Release and Conclusion

In any other year, the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus would probably just be called the iPhone 7S and iPhone 7S Plus. The only difference between them and the previous phones are wireless charging and the new A11 chip; which, for the average user, won’t make too much of a difference. Previous iPhone users, however, might find the new iPhones worth it, specially if moving from the iPhone 5S or iPhone 6. Now, the iPhone X is definitely a great new smartphone, but the steep pricing is definitely a concern. You’re essentially shelling out about 200 USD more for a bezel-less screen and better front camera, over the iPhone 8 Plus, which itself isn’t affordable to begin with. Our recommendation? If you’re coming from an older iPhone than the 6 and want to upgrade, the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are great buys. The iPhone X is a great phone, but the high price means that you really have to be an enthusiast to shell out that kind of money. The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus will be available from September 22 in US and Canada, and the iPhone X will be available from November 3, with preoders starting from October 27.

iPhone 8 (64 GB) – $699
iPhone 8 (256 GB) – $849
iPhone 8 Plus (64 GB) – $799
iPhone 8 Plus (256 GB) –  $949
iPhone X (64 GB) – $999
iPhone X (256 GB) – $1149

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iPhone 7 vs. iPhone 6 – What’s New?

Since the iPhone 7 is a numbered release, it’s more about feature introductions than improvements, and there’s enough new stuff to talk about. To begin with, both the new iPhones get a brand new processor named the A10 Fusion. Apple has constantly upped the game in terms of performance and despite its numbers disadvantage, finds itself leading the pack in benchmarks. This year, Apple has finally embraced a quad core processor, which has two high performance cores paired with two low power cores. It’s a similar model to what’s used on most mobile phone processors today. In true Apple fashion, no specific numbers were released, but it’s been claimed that the A10 delivers 40% faster CPU performance and 50% faster GPU performance. While the iPhone 7 has 2 GB of RAM, the iPhone 7 Plus comes with 3 GB.

The screens on both the new iPhones are pretty much the same resolution as the previous year’s, but are touted as being 25% brighter. Unlike the competition, Apple is still sticking to LCD, instead of going the AMOLED way.

On the design front, there isn’t much to talk about apart from minor changes, but the biggest new change externally would be the addition of IP67 dust and water resistance. What that means, basically, is that your iPhone 7 or 7 Plus can survive being fully immersed in upto 1 meter of water for about 30 minutes. It’s a boon for users in adverse conditions, and this change is possible mostly because of another fairly significant change, which is the removal of the home button. It’s been replaced with a force sensitive surface similar to the Force Touch trackpads in MacBooks, and also borrows the Taptic Engine haptic feedback system from the Apple Watch. There’s different levels and types of vibration feedback now possible, which can also be used by notifications.

The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus will be available in 5 colors, namely Silver, Gold, Rose Gold, Black and Jet Black. Jet Black will only come in 128 GB and 256 GB variants though, and is the most premium looking of the bunch, boasting of a glossy finish unlike the matte ‘regular’ black. Speaking of storage, Apple has also finally raised the minimum storage option available, and even the least expensive iPhone 7 will come with 32 GB of storage. In fact, storage is being increased all across the board, with each model getting double the number for the same price. So the range is now 32 GB, 128 GB and 256 GB, instead of the older 16 GB, 64 GB and 128 GB.

iPhone 7 vs. iPhone 6 – The Big Changes

The two biggest changes in the new iPhone will probably draw sharply contrasting reactions. As rumored for the past couple of months, Apple has gone ahead and removed the beloved 3.5mm audio jack on the iPhone. This means that there’s only the proprietary Lightning connector on the phone, which will function as both the charging and extension port. Apple is however bundling a pair of new EarPods with the phones, which use the Lightning connector instead of the good ol’ 3.5mm audio jack. They also announced new earphones called AirPods, which are completely wireless, have mics built in, and a couple of sensors to detect when they’re in your ears. The AirPods are admittedly expensive at $159, so in case you’re not interested in using them or the bundled Lightning EarPods, Apple also announced a simple Lightning connector with a 3.5mm audio jack. Despite rumors, it’s quite inexpensive at $9, but still is an extra set of hardware you need to buy and use to not render your earphones and headphones obsolete. The removal of the audio jack also means that you won’t be able to listen to music or use the EarPods while charging, unless you pick up the much more expensive AirPods.

The other big change is on the camera front, and applies more to the iPhone 7 Plus. It’s also pretty much the biggest factor to consider if you’re not sure about shelling out the extra moolah for a Plus. The iPhone 7 Plus comes with a dual camera system, with one normal lens and one telephoto lens. Both cameras are 12 megapixels, but the 7 Plus will allow users to capture better zoom and depth of field. The iPhone 7 doesn’t get a dual camera system, but still gets the same improved camera. The aperture is now f/1.8, so that means low light photography will be better, and the LED flash (quad, this time) has been reworked as well. Additionally, both phones get optical image stabilization built in as well as a 7 MP front facing camera.

Another change that’s bound to make some people happy is the addition of dual speakers. Interestingly, the secondary speaker isn’t located at the top of the phone, but in the speaker earpiece, which doubles up and has been upgraded internally.

iPhone 7 vs. iPhone 6 – The Final Word, Pricing and Release

So should you upgrade? The answer is yes and no. If you have an iPhone 6 or older, the iPhone 7 is a pretty big upgrade, but it probably doesn’t bring much to the table if you’re already rocking an iPhone 6S Plus. The iPhone 7 Plus obviously offers the most reason to upgrade with the dual camera, but the lack of an audio jack in both phones might pose a problem. As for someone looking to get into the Apple ecosystem, this is a good time as any to do so, as long as you can stomach the price. You might also want to consider holding out for another year, because the 10th anniversary of the iPhone might be the year where Apple makes some radical changes. But then again, smartphones have sort of reached a plateau and unless there’s some really big changes, everything is going to seem like an incremental improvement.

The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will hit stores in major markets on September 16, with preorders opening September 9. Here’s the pricing:

iPhone 7 (32 GB): $649
iPhone 7 (128 GB): $749
iPhone 7 (256 GB): $849
iPhone 7 Plus (32 GB): $769
iPhone 7 Plus (128 GB): $869
iPhone 7 Plus (256 GB): $969

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Microsoft Office 2016 Review – What’s New?

Office 2016 is the first version that embraces the cloud fully. The very first thing you might notice when you fire up a program from the suite will probably be the ‘Share’ button on the top right. It allows you to share the file with any collaborators so that you can work in real time. It’s a much welcome feature that has been in Office 365 since a while, and now makes its way to the offline suite. All collaboration can be done seamlessly in real time, so you can have multiple people working on a document at once. It works best on Word as of now, but seamless PowerPoint, then Excel support coming in a few months. You’ll also probably notice the search bar on the top ribbon with a little bulb that says ‘Tell me what you want to do’. Upon clicking, it shows a drop down list of some of the most common queries, which you can then click to get a contextualized menu related to what you wanted to do. You can also search for your query and the program will display a list of solutions.

As mentioned earlier, the UI hasn’t changed much, but there are a few touches here and there that make it look much better. For example, every program now gets a colored top bar according to its theme, as in blue for Word, orange for PowerPoint and so on. You can, however opt for different colors depending on preference. Another welcome addition is the integrated ‘Smart Lookup’ feature. You can now highlight and search for terms and phrases directly in the program, which makes working with internet support far easier. For example, if you want to search for ‘Microsoft’, simply highlight the word and you can get information about it in a panel that appears on the right side. If needed, you can click on the links and expand it into your browser as well. This, of course, is powered by Bing. Skype is also better integrated into the whole suite, so you can start off a call or conference right within the program. The branding has also now been applied to what was formerly known as Lync. Now called Skype for Business, it combines features from the popular VoIP service with Lync.

Outlook, the popular mail client has also picked up a few improvements apart from the common ones, most notably support for Office 365 groups, and a feature called Clutter. Office 365 groups allow you to have all your shared resources, including inboxes, calendars and notebooks displaying seamlessly. Clutter is a new feature that over time, learns your behavior and understands what mails you read, and what mails you ignore. It also automatically categorizes spam, promotions, social media updates and other low priority stuff, and moves it to a folder called clutter. So you’re basically left only with important mails you really could use, instead of an inbox full or relevant yet useless, or irrelevant and useless mail. The clutter folder acts something like a filter, so it’s up to you to clear it periodically, like a spam folder. This feature can also be disabled though. In general, Outlook has also gotten smarter, and offers options to attach a recently used file or folder, both from local disk or OneDrive, with OneDrive links and permissions being generated automatically.

Each program also gets their share of new templates, charts and whatever else they work with, with new designs and layouts available by default. As always, online templates will also be available, and Microsoft is looking to expand their library over the years. Access and Publisher, however, remain largely unchanged, and get only the new UI and common features like Tell Me. But that’s not all, there’s actually some new additions to the Office family, called Sway, Delve and Planner.

Sway

Sway is perhaps the most interesting new addition to the lineup, and can be most accurately described as a combination of Word and PowerPoint. It’s a presentation app that’s completely free, and usable on both desktop and mobile devices. You can create interactive webpage like presentations using written content, pictures, embedded video and more, usable across a wide range of devices. These ‘presentations’ function like individual interactive webpages, and are tied to your Microsoft Account. It can be viewed from there, or you could just upload it to Microsoft Docs, an online work sharing platform, and get a unique URL. Sway is still in its infancy, but lets you create some really cool looking webpages/presentations with custom content in a matter of minutes.

Delve

Delve is an online Pinterest like platform that helps connect projects and people in an organization. The graph like interface can be used to share regular updates or collaborate with a few clicks. It can also be called something of a limited social network, with profiles, specific details, work done together and the like. For example, there’s a list of people on the left apart from the regular public updates, from which you can click a person’s name and get to a profile with details about common projects, files shared, current work and more. Aimed at fostering more connection in the workplace, Delve is an interesting tool that might not find a home in many organizations, but is noteworthy nonetheless.

Planner

Planner is exactly what it sounds like, a tool that lets you perform task and project management, with additional features. Since it’s obviously integrated into the whole Office suite and Microsoft services, organizations who’ve already adopted Microsoft’s productivity platform will find it much easier to work with. Planner gives you a glance of projects and tasks with deadline tracking, so you can understand immediately where problems are arising, and what’s lagging behind. This of course, will work best with teams that work collaboratively with project and task based breakdowns. For the others, it might not be as useful, but is still a damn fine tool.

All in all, you probably won’t find a huge difference between the last release and this one, which can be both a good and bad thing. Good, because it’s familiar enough for any longtime Office user to jump into, and perhaps bad, because it might not justify the purchase. What it does do, however, is make Office a far more robust and consistent product across platforms. Microsoft’s push for one consistent experience seems to be heading in the right direction, and Office is all the better for it. They’ve promised quicker updates, more features being added periodically and more efficient security fixes. Office 365 subscribers will be the biggest winners, because they’re slated to get all updates and features first, over traditional perpetually licensed copies.

Price: 

Office 2016 Home & Student – $149.99 (or) Rs. 5,999
Office 2016 Home & Business – $229.99 (or) Rs. 18,499
Office 2016 Professional – $399.99 (or) Rs. 30,999

CoolPCTips Rating: 9/10

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Top 5 High Speed 3G and 4G LTE Universal Dongles

3G Only Universal Dongles:

Huawei E3531

First up, we have the infallible E3531 from telecommunications giant Huawei. Now, it’s been around for a while, but still remains a fantastic option even today. It’s also the most affordable option on our list, but doesn’t compromise on features or build quality. You get voice call support, SMS support, soft WiFi for upto 5 devices, SD card support and there’s no need to use a disc to install software. A very good option if you don’t want to spend too much but still want all the features and speed.

Price: Rs. 1270

ZTE MF70

The ZTE MF70 is another affordable yet great option if you want a lot of features but are on a budget. The product of another globally known Chinese telecommunications manufacturer, the MF70 is simple and packed with features. It has pretty much everything the Huawei E3531 mentioned above does, but bumps up WiFi support for upto 10 devices, has external antenna support, plug and play functionality and MicroSD card expandable storage. For the price, it’s an excellent deal!

Price: Rs. 1470

Digisol DG-BA3321

The Digisol DG-BA3321 is our final pick for an affordable yet fast and feature packed 3G universal dongle you should consider buying. It’s the no nonsense kind of dongle that a lot of people would like, coming with call support, SMS support, 32 GB built in but non expandable storage and 3 years warranty on registration. Like the other two universal dongles on the list, it also supports download speeds upto 21.6 Mbps, so if you have the network for it, speed will never be an issue.

Price: Rs. 1500

3G and 4G LTE Universal Dongles

Huawei E3276

Now we come to the really fast 4G LTE dongles, starting with the Huawei E3276. One of the most popular 4G LTE dongles available and for good reason, the E3276 is surprisingly affordable. Other than the mentioned 4G LTE sim support, the E3276 also comes with an expandable storage slot for a MicroSD card and external antenna support. There’s no call or SMS support, so it’s mainly meant for browsing the internet. If that’s what you need, then this should be your dongle of choice. It will work on current Airtel 4G LTE networks in India.

Price: Rs. 1800

Micromax MMX444L

If you’re looking for a no compromises 4G LTE universal dongle, then the desi Micromax MMX444L is the best choice right now. It’s got 4G LTE SIM support as promised, has expandable storage upto 32 GB via MicroSD card and supports both calling and SMS. Plus, you get TDD-LTE and FDD-LTE band support, so it will work perfectly well even on future non TDD-LTE networks in India, and some abroad. The only downside is that there’s no WiFi connectivity. Otherwise, it’s pretty much the best high speed universal dongle you can buy right now.

Price: Rs. 2499

Those were our picks for the best 3G and 4G LTE universal dongles worth buying this year. Do let us know what you think about the article and if you need any help choosing!

The post 5 Best 3G and 4G LTE Universal Dongles For 2015 appeared first on Latest Tips and Tricks - Computers, Mobiles, Gaming, Internet and Windows.

Top Windows 10 Tips and Tricks

Set File Explorer To Open ‘This PC’

Windows 8/8.1 got rid of the ‘My Computer’ icon we’ve all been used to for years, but it did give you the option to place an icon that leads to ‘This PC’, which was basically the same. You can also get that icon back on Windows 10 by the following process: Right Click Desktop>Click ‘Personalize’>Click ‘Themes’>On the right side, click ‘Go to Desktop icon settings’, then click whatever icons you want to be shown on the desktop. You can then pin these icons to the Start Menu.

Instead, if you prefer not having more icons, you can simply make the ‘File Explorer’ button on the Start Menu lead to ‘This PC’. To do this, you need to:

Step 1 – Open any Windows Explorer window and click the ‘View’ tab on the top ribbon.

Step 2 – Click ‘Options’ on the extended ribbon, on the top right.

Step 3 – In the ‘General’ tab, use the dropdown menu next to ‘Open File Explorer to:’ to select ‘This PC’.

Remove Search Bar and Task View Button From Taskbar

Microsoft is betting big on their virtual assistant Cortana for all devices, and even though she’s pretty awesome, some people might not like the extra clutter caused by the Search Bar on the Taskbar. You can always just open the Start Menu and type anything to do the same. To remove it, you need to right click the Taskbar, then under ‘Search’, select either ‘Hidden’ or ‘Show Search icon’.

Similarly, the new Task View feature on Windows 10 also gets a separate button that many might not like. To remove it, again right click the Taskbar and untick ‘Show Task View button’.

Customize Command Prompt

The spartan looking Command Prompt can finally be customized in Windows 10. You can select from options like text color, background color, font, size, opacity and more. Just open the Command Prompt and right click the top bar, then select ‘Properties’.

Background Scrolling

It’s pretty annoying when a popup takes away your attention and deactivates the window you’re using so you need to click on it again to scroll through the page. Windows 10 gets rid of this problem by a feature called Background Scrolling. Now even if the window isn’t active, if your cursor is on it, you can scroll through the page. Pretty cool, right? Here’s how you enable it:

Step 1 – Go to All Settings, Devices, then Mouse & touchpad.

Step 2 – Turn on the option that says ‘Scroll inactive windows when I hover over them.’

Resize Start Menu

Windows 10 is a departure from the full screen Start Menu found in Windows 8/8.1, but if you want, you can still set it to be full screen. Now what isn’t immediately apparent is that the Start Menu can be resized as well! All you need to do is move the cursor to the edge of the Start Menu and drag it to the size you want.

Background App Manager

Similar to Windows 10 Mobile, the full desktop version also gives you the option to restrict which apps run in the background. So you can stop say, Weather or Sports from running if you don’t need them. Simply navigate to All Settings>Privacy>Background Apps and then select which apps you want to stop running in the background.

Timed Screenshots

Windows 10 adds the very cool feature of taking timed screenshots. Basically you can add a small delay in seconds, after which the screenshot is taken. Just open the Snipping Tool, click ‘Delay’, select your desired delay period and then take the screenshot.

Desktop Shortcuts on Command Prompt

Customization isn’t the only feature that’s been added to Command Prompt. You can now use desktop shortcuts like CTRL + C, CTRL + V and more on it. This is an absolute godsend for someone who needs to type out a long list of commands, now you can copy paste it just like any other text.

So there you have it, small yet pretty cool and unknown features that Windows 10 has brought with it! We’ll keep updating the list if anything else comes up, so stay tuned and do let us know what you thought of the article!

The post The Best Windows 10 Tips and Tricks You Must Know appeared first on Latest Tips and Tricks - Computers, Mobiles, Gaming, Internet and Windows.

Must Read: E3 2015 Microsoft Xbox Briefing Roundup – Everything You Need To Know

Sony PlayStation E3 2015 Briefing Highlights

The Last Guardian

Originally announced way back in E3 2009 as an exclusive for the PlayStation 3, The Last Guardian is the next game from the makers of the groundbreaking Ico and Shadow Of The Colossus. It’s been in development since 2007 and was considered vaporware for a while since there were no announcements, but it was fantastic to see a definite release date along with a gameplay demo. The Last Guardian will incorporate elements from both Ico and Shadow Of The Colossus, and follow a protagonist trying to escape from the ruins of a castle, with the help of a giant feathered gryphon like creature called ‘Trico’. Team Ico has an amazing track record, and this could turn out to be one of the best games on the PlayStation 4, so we have our fingers crossed! The Last Guardian is tentatively set to release in 2016.

Horizon: Zero Dawn

Guerilla Games, developers of the Killzone series also debuted their brand new exclusive IP called Horizon: Zero Dawn. This amazing looking third person action game is set sometime in a post apocalyptic future where mankind has gone back to their hunting and scavenging roots, and technology runs amok. The trailer showed off inengine and gameplay footage, which looked nothing short of jaw dropping. Guerilla has a reputation of creating great looking games, and Horizon looks like a game every PlayStation 4 owner should get! However, there’s no release date yet.

Hitman

The Hitman series has been languishing in the background for quite a while now, the last game in the series released just about 3 years ago, so the announcement of a new installment was quite welcome. Simply titled ‘Hitman’, players get to once again step into the shoes of Agent 47, a genetically enhanced assassin, and will take place all around the world. IO Interactive has called it their most ambitious effort yet, and it’s supposed to hit stores December 8. While not exclusive to PlayStation 4, gamers on Sony’s platform will get 6 unique contracts in the year after launch. It’s also the first in the series to be constantly expanded, so the game you’ll play a couple of months after December 2015 will not be the same. The best part is that all the content will be free.

Dreams

Dreams is a new exclusive title by Media Molecule, masterminds behind the excellent LittleBigPlanet series. It’s a crowd driven game that lets players use the DualShock controller to create ‘Dreams’, and share their experiences with each other. Think of it as something like Project Spark, only more artistic. It looks very interesting, and considering the fact that the LittleBigPlanet series used player creativity to the fullest, this could be a title to look out for. Check out the trailer to understand what we mean.

Firewatch

One of the most intriguing and quirky indies we’ve seen, Firewatch is a new game that follows Henry, a fire lookout in the Wyoming Forest, set in 1989. He’s guided by a a female named Delilah over walkie talkie, and is tasked with investigating mysterious disappearances in the forest. He later finds out that his lookout tower has been taken over by an unknown character, and must unravel the mystery. It all sounds very dark and heavy, but the witty banter between Henry and Delilah is one of the highlights of the game. Firewatch will make its console debut on PlayStation 4.

Final Fantasy VII Remake and World of Final Fantasy

Final Fantasy VII is considered to be one of the best RPG games of all time. Originally released in 1997 for the PlayStation, it was the first in the series to feature 3D graphics, and has built a legacy for the ages. So when Square Enix announced a remake with a CG trailer, the prayers of thousands of gamers around the world were answered. Coming first to Sony’s platform, Final Fantasy VII will hit the PlayStation 4 as a timed exclusive.

And that wasn’t all the Final Fantasy news this briefing, Square Enix also announced a new game called World of Final Fantasy, featuring the protagonists from the series in a more fun and cartoony avatar. Not much was revealed apart from a short trailer, but its set to release on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita in 2016, then on rival platforms later.

Shenmue 3

The biggest surprise of the evening was when legendary developer Yu Suzuki announced the Shenmue 3 is real! One of the greatest franchises in gaming history is all set to return in 2016 for the PlayStation 4 and PC. Yu Suzuki announced a Kickstarter campaign for 2 million USD to fund the epic third installment in the Shenmue saga, and made half that amount in just 1 hour 40 minutes. As of now the goal has already been crossed, so we’re definitely going to see Ryo Hazuki’s story being continued. For the uninitiated, Shenmue was a pioneer in the open world adventure genre, and featured amazing cinema quality immersion, and a plot that has everything you’d ever want. There was mystery, drama, action, romance and a world that truly felt alive. With the power of Unreal Engine 4, we can’t wait to see how the series will be concluded!

Exclusive Content

Bungie Studio’s Destiny will get a new expansion this fall, called The Taken King, and allow players to fight current raid boss Crota’s father, Oryx. Along with this announcement, it was also revealed that PlayStation 4 players will get exclusive content, just like the original game. Speaking of exclusive content, it was also revealed that Assassin’s Creed Syndicate and Call of Duty Black Ops III will bring exclusive content first to PlayStation 4 gamers, with the Call of Duty series signing a deal with Sony to bring all forthcoming content first to its platform. It was also revealed that the Black Ops III beta will hit this August, first for PlayStation 4.

Star Wars Battlefront

EA also took to the stage to show off some gameplay from the much anticipated Star Wars Battlefront, and boy it looked awesome. This multiplayer only game set in the Star Wars universe will let players face off against each other as part of classic factions such as the Rebel Alliance or the Galactic Empire, and will also feature playable hero characters such as Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker. Battlefront will release on PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 on November 17.

PlayStation Vue

Sony’s cloud based TV service called PlayStation Vue was also talked about, where it was revealed that users will be able to subscribe to individual channels instead of bundles, and it includes channels like Showtime and Fox Soccer at launch. The service is being rolled out to Los Angeles and San Francisco first, with PlayStation Plus subscribers getting discounted rates.

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

Even though it’s been pushed back to 2016, we were extremely excited to see more footage from the much awaited Uncharted 4. The next installment in the Uncharted series was revealed almost 2 years ago, so the gameplay footage was much welcome. As expected, it was action packed and truly gorgeous, showing Nathan fight his way through a crowded city. Despite all the action, the game was buttery smooth, so we can’t wait to see how the final product turns out!

No Man’s Sky

And finally, we got to see more of the extremely ambitious No Man’s Sky, from Hello Games. This console exclusive adventure game allows players to explore uncharted and randomly generated worlds, which means that there’s theoretically endless possibilities and worlds to explore. Now know what we mean by ambitious? A new live gameplay demo was shown off on the floor with a space battle. Check out the demo for more!

So there you have it, everything you need to know about the Sony PlayStation E3 2015 Briefing! What did you think about it? Was it better than Microsoft’s, or was it lackluster? Let us know via the comments below!

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Must Read: E3 2015 Sony PlayStation Briefing Roundup – Everything You Need To Know

Microsoft Xbox E3 2015 Briefing Highlights

Halo 5: Guardians

Of course Microsoft kicked off the proceedings by showing off their biggest first party property, the hotly anticipated Halo 5: Guardians, developed by 343 Industries. We’ve seen a lot of CG trailers over the past few months, but this was the first time gameplay was shown off in detail, and as promised, a brand new multiplayer mode was revealed as well. The gameplay demo featured Agent Locke and his team of Spartans on a Covenant planet in search of the Master Chief, and also marked the return of Buck from Halo 3: ODST, played by TV veteran Nathan Fillion (Castle, Firefly). The new multiplayer game mode is called Warzone, and will introduce massive 24 player and AI team based battles on maps as much as 4 times larger than regular ones. Halo 5: Guardians is set to release on October 27.

ReCore

ReCore is a brand new exclusive IP from Kenji Inafune and the ex-creators of one of the best videogames of all time, Metroid Prime. The Mega Man co-creator’s surprise reveal was just a CG trailer as of now, but it’s a gorgeous and intriguing one at that. Recore follows a female protagonist in some sort of post apocalyptic desert wasteland, accompanied by a robot dog with a glowing blue core. After the dog heroically sacrifices itself, the protagonist uses the leftover and undamaged core to activate a much larger robot, which looks like a mechanic that will be implemented in the game. It looks very interesting, and we’re looking forward to a gameplay reveal soon. ReCore is set to release in Spring 2016.

Backward Compatibility

Perhaps one of the biggest announcements in this briefing was the Xbox One getting backward compatibility. Both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 were famously announced not to feature native backward compatibility because of the vastly different hardware, so this announcement came as a pleasant surprise. Not all games will be compatible though, some 100 or so games are set to work, since the developers and Microsoft have to collaborate on some sort of undisclosed software trickery. You just need to pop in the disc and download the game to start playing, sometime this Fall. Xbox Preview Program members however, can try it out right now with a handful of games. This will work for both digital downloads and disc based games, so you should be able to see Xbox 360 games on the store pretty soon. A live gameplay demo of Mass Effect was shown off on the floor, and it looked pretty cool.

The Elite Controller

Another huge surprise was the announcement of a new ‘Elite’ controller, different from the standard controller’s minor upgrade. This new controller features four new paddles on the back to replicate the usual buttons, as well as swappable thumbsticks, paddles and D-Pad. Apart from the different styles and lengths of thumbsticks and paddles respectively, the new controller also features a brand new pressure sensitive D-Pad. You also get the ability to have custom configurations, quick swap between them, and set button and trigger sensitivity to your liking, among other things. It’s an absolutely staggering piece of hardware that nobody saw coming, and we can’t wait to try it out! The Elite controller is set to release this holiday season for 150$, and will be compatible with Windows 10 PCs.

Fallout 4 Mod Support

The third big announcement was regarding the highly anticipated and much hyped Fallout 4. The next installment in the long running and critically acclaimed RPG series is all set to launch by the end of this year for PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4, but what no one could have imagined was mod support. That’s right, just like PCs, Fallout 4 will support mods on Xbox One, and PC mods can be shared and used on the Xbox One, for free! It’s a huge step in console evolution, since mods were always a PC thing. Honestly, it was one of the most exciting announcements of the briefing, and we really can’t wait to see how it all works out.

Forza Motorsport 6

Although announced earlier, Forza Motorsport 6 made another appearance, with a new trailer. The 2016 Ford GT40 featured heavily in it, and the actual car was brought onto the floor and introduced by none other than Henry Ford III. Forza Motorsport 6 looks suitably gorgeous and will feature over 450 cars, night racing and huge cities. It’s been pegged for a September 15 release.

Dark Souls 3, The Division and Rainbow Six Siege

While not exclusive to the Xbox One, Dark Souls III had its trailer world premiere at Microsoft’s briefing, with the CG trailer revealing an early 2016 release date. It’s supposed to be the last in the series, with Hidetaka Miyazaki returning to direct.

Ubisoft also showed off The Division, the oft delayed action RPG hybrid MMO shooter that promises to seamlessly blend single and multiplayer. The new trailer looked cool as always, and it was announced that Xbox One players would get an exclusive beta this December. Ubisoft also talked about Rainbow Six Siege, the next installment in the team based tactical shooter series. A trailer was accompanied by the announcement that it would release this holiday season along with Rainbow Six Vegas and Rainbow Six Vegas 2 for free. Both these games aren’t remasters however, they’ll simply be backward compatible, they’re the original Xbox 360 versions.

Gigantic

A new free to play Xbox One and Windows 10 cross platform game called Gigantic was also revealed, it features cel shaded and colorful heroes fighting against each other, using ‘guardians’, huge monsters they can command. No release date was announced, but the beta will begin this August.

ID@Xbox

Microsoft is betting big on indies, and revealed a whole load of games slated to hit the Xbox One in the coming months. Apart from what we already know, a lot of new and interesting games were revealed, like Tacoma, a lonely space adventure featuring a protagonist in a space station; Ashen, a bleak action RPG featuring players trying to find home; Beyond Eyes, a platformer featuring a blind protagonist who must rely on her other senses to navigate the amazing looking world, and Cuphead, a platformer made in the style of 1930 Disney cartoons.

Xbox Game Preview

Apart from mods, PC gamers have also enjoyed the ability to play games that are still work in progress and give feedback to shape the final product. Xbox One gamers will now have the same ability, with the Xbox Game Preview feature. Gamers will now be able to play work in progress games and provide feedback for select indie titles, with a free trial. As of now, the games available for testing are DayZ, Sheltered, The Long Dark and Elite Dangerous.

Rise Of The Tomb Raider

The console exclusive sequel to the amazing 2013 Tomb Raider reboot was also shown off with a gorgeous live gameplay demo that showed off Lara’s athletic skills. It also finally got a release date, and will be out November 10th.

Rare Replay and Sea Of Thieves

Rare is one of the most respected videogame developers in the world, responsible for classics such as Battletoads, Perfect Dark, Banjo-Kazooie and more. Today it was announced that 30 of their classic games would be bundled in one collection called the Rare Replay, in honor of the studio’s 30th anniversary. So whether you want a trip down memory lane or just want to experience the classics for the first time, this is the perfect deal!

Sea Of Thieves is Rare’s new exclusive IP, an open shared world adventure played in first person, with a pirate theme. Featuring ship battles, exploration and swashbuckling action, Rare is calling it the most ambitious game they’ve made, and honestly it looks really cool. No release date was announced, but in Rare we trust!

VR and HoloLens

Microsoft is investing in a VR and AR future quite heavily, and today we saw them bring that vision to gaming. Apart from the already big deal with Oculus (they’ll be bundling the Xbox One controller with all Oculus Rift headsets), they’re also working closely with Valve to make Windows 10 a viable VR gaming platform. With two giants like those onboard, the future looks quite promising.

But perhaps the most jaw dropping moments of the briefing happened when the HoloLens was brought out for a Minecraft session. Microsoft has been touting its workplace capabilities for a while, but this was the first time it was shown off in a strictly gaming setting. The live onstage demo showed how a version of Minecraft developed specifically for the HoloLens works, cross platform with the regular versions. Using just voice control and gestures, the Minecraft world was replicated and controlled on a tabletop, with amazing precision. In one part, the HoloLens wearer simply looked at an area and said ‘lightning strike’, and a bolt came down! The revolutionary HoloLens was really the star of the show, and you’ll have to see the demo to truly understand how awesome it was.

Gears Of War: Ultimate Edition and Gears 4

One of the Xbox’s most popular and acclaimed franchises is finally coming to the Xbox One, first in the form of a remastered version of the original Gears of War game, and then in the form of a totally new chapter in the series, simply called ‘Gears 4’. Although this announcement was expected, a live gameplay demo was not, and series hero Marcus Fenix was nowhere to be found in it. Fans will also notice that the baddies aren’t the Locust they’ve fought in all previous installments. Gears 4 is set to release in Holiday 2016.

And that’s all folks, everything you needed to know from the E3 2015 Microsoft Xbox briefing! Stay tuned for more E3 coverage, including the Sony PlayStation briefing, and do let us know what you think about the time ahead for the Xbox One!

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Must Read: Windows 10 Launch and Upgrade Details

Steps To Remove The Windows 10 System Tray Icon

Step 1 – Go to Control Panel.

Step 2 – Open Windows Update, and then click ‘Installed Updates’ on the left.

Step 3 – Search for ‘KB3035583’ in the search bar on the top right. Note that you need to input the whole string for it to show up.

Step 4 – Once you’ve located it, click on the update and select ‘Yes’ when you’re asked if you want to uninstall the update.

Now, this should remove the actual upgrade notification and application, but if you’ve set Windows to automatically download and install Windows updates, it may come back again. So we recommend you manually hide the update after selecting the option to just notify you about available updates instead of install them directly. You should be able to then select what updates you want to install, which is where you can also select to hide this particular update.

Note that removing the concerned update will also stop you from getting notifications upon Windows 10 release as promised, but since you’ll probably hear about it anyway, this shouldn’t be a problem. If you just need to temporarily get rid of the icon  though, you can just open Task Manager and shut down the process called ‘GWX.exe’. The process will startup again when you restart your computer, so if you’re going for this option, you’ll need to do it every time you want to get rid of the icon. Do let us know if these methods worked for you, and if you need any help!

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Windows 10 Launch and Free Upgrade Details

Okay so let’s clear it right off the bat, no, you won’t get a free copy of Windows 10 if you’re running a pirated version of Windows. You can get the upgrade, but it will simply update the OS, and your copy of Windows will still remain unlicensed. However, you can purchase an upgrade license and get rid of the limitations directly. So instead of completely reinstalling the OS, even pirates can get the upgrade, but their copy will still remain illegal. Legitimate users will get an upgrade to the new operating system if they’re running Windows 7 or 8.1, and the upgrade path differs based on the edition you’re currently running. Here’s the upgrade paths:

• Windows 7 Starter, Windows 7 Home Basic, Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 8.1 With Bing, Windows 8.1 —-> Windows 10
• Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 8.1 Pro —-> Windows 10 Pro

What this means, is that once you’re on the Windows bandwagon, you’ll receive updates and upgrades for life, without needing to purchase any new licenses or versions. This critical move will allow Microsoft to put the latest version of their operating system on computers and devices worldwide, without having to go through multiple upgrade cycles. Basically, users will have no reason to run older and more vulnerable versions of Windows, simply because updates will be installed automatically. This would directly address the fragmentation problem and allow Microsoft to give all users a unified experience.

Note that the July 29 release date is only for the free upgrade, and not the boxed copies. They’re supposedly supposed to be available a month or so later, at $119 for Windows 10 Home and $199 for Windows 10 Pro. If you happen to Speaking of upgrades, you should be able to reserve yours starting today. You might notice a Windows icon on your taskbar, which will let you get in line for the upgrade by one click. This mini app also includes some information about what’s new in Windows 10. Finally, you can also check if your PC meets the minimum requirements to run Windows 10. The minimum requirements are extremely modest, and even computers from years ago should be able to run Windows 10, no problem. You can run Windows 10 if your computer has at least the following hardware:

• Processor: 1 GHz or faster processor or SoC (system on a chip). 64-bit versions of Windows 10 require a processor that supports CMPXCHG16b, PrefetchW, and LAHF/SAHF capabilities.
• RAM: 1 GB for 32-bit or 2 GB for 64-bit
• Hard disk space: 16 GB for 32-bit or 20 GB for 64-bit
• Graphics: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver
• Display Resolution: 1024 x 600

Pretty much anything from the past few years will run Windows 10, so most users should be covered. So will you be upgrading this summer? Do let us know what you think of the new Windows via the comments below!

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Android M New Features and Details

Google Now On Tap

Now On Tap is a significantly smarter evolution of Google Now. It basically adds contextual recognition to the service, which makes it far more useful than it ever was. Now you can search for anything and perform tasks without leaving apps. For example, if a friend texts you about dinner outside, a long press of the Home Button will tell you all you need to know about the restaurant, including reviews, how to book a table, its menu and location. Plus, it can also understand events and reminders. Another cool thing that it’s able to do is work by voice, as shown in the keynote demo. So while listening to your favorite artist, you can simply ask “where was he/she born?”, and Google will give you the answer because it understands who “he/she” is referring to.

App Permissions

Permissions in Android were always tricky. It used to be either allow or block everything, which didn’t really give the user much choice. With Android M, the OS will now ask for permissions for certain actions, like using the camera. Additionally, all permissions will be handled separately through the settings, and will be categorized in a more understandable and intuitive manner. This is good news if you want to allow and block only certain actions on apps.

Native Fingerprint Authentication

If everything goes well, in a couple of years we could probably get rid of PINs and passwords. Android M will introduce new APIs that will allow apps to make use of a phone’s fingerprint scanner, so you can probably make a purchase on Google Play or unlock a vault app using your fingerprint. If implemented properly, it could mean the end of password leaks from apps.

Android Pay

Google’s attempts to break into the mobile payment arena haven’t been all that successful, so they’ve now overhauled their system and given it a new name. Android Pay is Google’s answer to Apple Pay, and will allow devices with NFC (running Android 4.4 KitKat and above) to store credit card, loyalty card and all payment information on their device via the service. A lot of big names have already signed on for Android Pay, such as Visa, MasterCard, McDonald’s, GameStop and more.

App Links

Remember how clicking on a weblink from a message gives you a prompt whether you want to open it via browser or an app? Yeah, that’s not going to happen anymore. Android M is going to introduce smarter app linking, so when you click on, say a YouTube link anywhere, the app will automatically open instead of presenting you with a prompt asking you what should Android open it with. It’s a small change, but a welcome one.

Doze

Android devices that stay on standby for long periods of time, like tablets, will benefit most from a new feature called Doze. It’s basically a way to put the device to a deeper sleep and save battery. You’ll still get priority notifications and alarms will still be active, but your device will require less charging, since it stops a lot of background processes. Google claims that a Nexus 9 with Doze can last upto 2 times longer than one without it. Android M will also support USB Type-C, which brings faster charging and the ability to charge other devices from their device.

RAM Manager

As evident from the name, the RAM manager lets you understand what apps and services are using the most memory and slowing down your phone. It will give users a much better idea about background performance, and of course, get battery battery life.

Adoptable Storage

For media hoarders, Adoptable Storage is probably one of the best new additions. Android M will now be able to use MicroSD cards and USB OTG Drives as internal memory, which will allow the OS to transfer app and personal data back and forth as if it was part of phone storage. Adopted storage media will come with an extra layer of encryption, so you don’t have to worry about security either.

New App Drawer

Google is finally doing away with the horizontally scrolling app drawer and introducing a new and more organized app drawer that categorizes apps and scrolls vertically. It also features a new white backdrop.

Direct Sharing

If you’re the sort of person who loves sharing things with your friends and family, the new Direct Sharing feature will make it much easier to do so. Android will recognize your usage patterns and offer a single button to share what you use the most. For example, if you frequently share media with your best friend via WhatsApp, you’ll find a direct link to do so for all subsequent media, since Android recognizes that as a priority. Pretty neat!

Independent Volume Controls

And finally, we have the much required independent volume controls. Google sort of screwed up volume controls in Lollipop by unifying sounds, and is finally fixing it by allowing users to control ringer, media and alarm sounds separately. Heck, even Google admitted it was a bad decision, so this is a more than welcome change.

As evident from most of the changes, Google is now going for a more user friendly and intuitive experience instead of just changing how things look, which is of course, a great thing. Google also spoke a lot about the Internet of Things and introduced Brillo, it’s new platform for the same. Also, Google still hasn’t revealed what the version number for Android M will be. So what do you think about Android M? Let us know via the comments below!

The post What’s New In Android M? – New Features In The Next Android Version appeared first on Latest Tips and Tricks - Computers, Mobiles, Gaming, Internet and Windows.

Need for Speed Reboot – Details and Teaser

According to released information, the new Need for Speed Reboot will return to arguably the most loved era of the series, and include extensive customization and ‘authentic urban car culture’. If you’ve played the earlier games in the series, you’ll know that it sounds like Need for Speed Underground reincarnated, and that can only be a good thing, provided they pull it off, of course. It’s also going to be open world, so you can probably explore the city after tricking out your ride. Developed by Ghost Games, a new studio dedicated to the Need for Speed franchise, Need for Speed will be out sometime between October and December this year, for PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4. According to the official website:

“With over 20 years of history in its rear view mirror, Need for Speed returns with a reboot that delivers on what Need for Speed stands for – rich customization, authentic urban car culture, a nocturnal open world, and an immersive narrative that drives your NFS game.

Fuelled by our very own car culture community, Speedhunters has helped deliver a NFS experience that is grounded in authentic car culture by diving into the world of past, present and emergent trends of the urban car scene, NFS will unleash the passion for cars and speed when it releases this Fall, 2015.”

If this game offers gamers the chance to experience the customization and culture from Underground with improved graphics and mechanics, it could turn out to be one of the biggest hits of the year. Check out the first, rather short, teaser below and do let us know if you’re looking forward to the new Need for Speed!

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ZTE Nubia Z9 Mini – Specs, Features and Details

Okay so let’s first get this out of the way, even though it’s called a ‘Mini’, there’s nothing small about it. There’s a 5 inch full HD screen, and phone is quite large. The only reason there’s a ‘mini’ in the name is because its not got the specs its siblings have. That isn’t to say that the Z9 Mini is a slouch though, for the price it’s a great deal. Since it’s supposed to go head to head with the Xiaomi Mi4i, it’s got pretty much the same specs, with a few additions. First of all, unlike the Mi4i, there’s expandable storage support and secondly, it has a pair of better cameras. So if you’re someone who really wants a better set of cameras, the Nubia Z9 Mini should be a no brainer. There’s also dual SIM 4G support, and unlike its competition, the phone is available right now to buy without any of that registration hoopla. But what really sets the phone apart from the others in this price range is the build quality and look. The phone comes with a metal frame and polycarbonate back, with a reflective, glass-like finish. Interested? Here’s the full specsheet:

• SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 615
• CPU: 1.5 GHz Quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 and 1 GHz Quad-core ARM Cortex-A53
• GPU: Adreno 405
• RAM: 2 GB RAM
• Screen: 5 inch IPS LCD, 1920 x 1080 px resolution (441 PPI)
• Camera: 16 MP rear facing (1080P video recording), 8 MP front facing (1080P video recording)
• Storage: 16 GB, expandable upto 128 GB via MicroSD
• OS: Android 5.0.2 Lollipop
• Battery: 2900 mAh
• Price: Rs. 16,999

The ZTE Nubia Z9 Mini has entered a pretty crowded segment, already populated by the likes of the Xiaomi Mi4i, Huawei Honor 6, Asus ZenFone 2 and more, so it’s not going to be easy to capture the market, but the premium look and feel, along with no registration sales should help it along. If it does sell well, ZTE will probably get the rest of the Nubia range to India, which would be great. Do you think it will be a success? Let us know what you think of the Nubia Z9 Mini via the comments below!

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Must Read: Top 5 4G LTE Smartphones in India Under 10,000 INR

Airtel 4G in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam

Airtel’s 4G is available in 19 cities in India including Kolkata, Pune, Bengaluru and Chandigarh, and has been getting pretty good reviews. Speeds range from 5-7 Mbps for downloads and 2-3 Mbps for uploads on an average, which is actually quite good. However, because of spectrum bidding, Airtel doesn’t have access to the same frequencies everywhere, so what works in one state might not work in another. While Chennai and Hyderabad get 4G LTE on the FDD-LTE (1800 MHz) band, Mumbai will get it on the TDD-LTE (2300 MHz). You can read more about the differences between FDD-LTE and TDD-LTE here.

Basically, most smartphone chipsets are meant to either connect to FDD-LTE networks, or TDD-LTE networks, there are only a few phones that come with chipsets that can connect to both, such as iPhones. If you have a smartphone bought from outside India, chances are you can connect to the FDD-LTE networks, but not TDD-LTE networks, since they probably run on a chipset that isn’t global LTE compatible. So if you’re good to go on the compatibility front then you should seriously consider switching, because there’s basically no extra costs. 4G plans are equivalent to 3G, here’s the details:

Once you’ve crossed the limit, data costs will be 50P/MB.

Airtel has also tied up with Flipkart and Samsung for the service, and will offer double the data for the same cost if you purchase select smartphones, like the Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy A7, Galaxy A5, and the Galaxy Core Prime 4G. Now that 4G LTE compatible devices are available under 10,000 INR, we think it’s a great time to switch!

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5 Best Wearable Action Cameras For Sports and vLogging

GoPro Hero

Okay so we really can’t have a list of action cameras without a GoPro. In fact, a lot of actions cameras today are simply referred to as ‘GoPros’, they’ve almost become a generic name! The entry level GoPro Hero is still a perfect way to get into the world of action cameras, and offers far better image and video quality than its nearest competitor. Most ‘cheap’ action cameras out there skimp on a lot of things to get to that price point, and there’s nothing worse than skimping on image quality. The other plus point is that there’s a wide range of GoPro Hero accessories and mounts available, so there’s a very good chance of you getting the exact setup you want without much hassle. The best part is that the camera is as rugged as they come, and water proof until a staggering 40m. For this price, it just can’t get better!

• Maximum video resolution: 1080P @ 30 FPS, 720P @ 60 FPS
• Maximum image resolution: 5 MP
• Aperture range: F2.8
• Expandable storage: Up to 32GB
• Weight: 111 gm
• Battery: 1180 mAh (2.5 hours of continuous 1080P video)
• Price: Rs. 12,400

Garmin VIRB

Garmin is known the world over for their GPS devices, but the VIRB, their first action camera is quite a good product too. It’s getting long in the tooth and will be replaced this summer with a brand new successor called the VIRB X (list will be updated upon release), but until then, it’s still a good choice. The Garmin VIRB is a neat looking action camera that offers everything you’d want from an action camera. Apart from the usual video shooting modes, there’s also a small LCD screen and quite decent anti-shake capabilities. Video and image quality is crisp in good lighting, and if you want to invest a little bit more for GPS, ANT, Altimeter and Barometer capabilities, there’s also the VIRB Elite, which is basically the same device with the previously mentioned features.

• Maximum video resolution: 1080P @ 30 FPS, 720P @ 60 FPS
• Maximum image resolution: 16 MP
• Aperture range: F2.3
• Expandable storage: Up to 64GB
• Weight: 135 gm
• Battery: 2000 mAh (3 hours of continuous 1080P video)
• Price: Rs. 15,800

Sony HDR AS-100V

Sony’s action camera really ups the ante when it comes to capturing audio. Well known for its excellent audio capturing capabilities, the AS-100V can also capture slow-mo 240 and 120 FPS footage in 480P and 720P respectively, has a built in GPS, 170 degrees wide angle capturing, Sony’s SteadyShot technology and a wide range of accessories. If you’re okay with spending a little more, you can also grab a wrist control unit to make it easier to capture your experiences. But even if you don’t want the watch, you can control it by your smartphone. But what makes the AS-100V really stand out is its ability to record in XAVC, a high quality proprietary format that offers crisper compression and higher color depth, at 12-bit. It is usually available only in high end professional recording equipment, so this is quite the addition.

• Maximum video resolution: 1080P @ 60 FPS, 720P @ 120 FPS
• Maximum image resolution: 13.5 MP
• Aperture range: F2.3
• Expandable storage: Up to 64GB
• Weight: 92 gm
• Battery: 1240 mAh (3 hours of continuous 1080P video)
• Price: Rs. 23,000

GoPro Hero4 Silver

There’s a very good reason that GoPros are still the action cameras of choice for most users around the world, and that’s because they offer unparalleled quality at excellent pricepoints. Of course, that price doesn’t really translate very well into Indian rupees, but if you can grab one from the United States, it’s more than worth it. The GoPro Hero4 Silver is the second best offering from the Californian firm, and really pushes the envelope by offering 4K resolution video recording. Apart from the fantastic recording quality, you get an LCD touchscreen, WiFi + Bluetooth, the ability to control the camera from a smartphone, and waterproofing up to 40m. Just like the GoPro Hero, you’ll also find a wide range of accessories for whatever you want to use it for. One of the best action cameras money can buy!

• Maximum video resolution: 4K @ 15 FPS, 2.7K @ 30 FPS, 1440P @ 48 FPS, 1080P @ 60 FPS
• Maximum image resolution: 12 MP
• Aperture range: F2.8
• Expandable storage: Up to 64GB
• Weight: 83 gm
• Battery: 1160 mAh (1 hour of continuous 4K video, 3 hours of continuous 1080P video)
• Price: Rs. 34,900

GoPro Hero4 Black

Yes, another GoPro tops this list as the very best action camera you can buy. If you’re looking for cutting edge, it just doesn’t get better than the GoPro Hero4 Black. It’s got basically the same sensors as the Hero4 Silver mentioned above, but comes with a faster processor, which allows you to capture 4K video at a 30 FPS! There’s also 1080P recording at 120 FPS, which means you can capture full HD video slowed down to 24 FPS at perfect quality. The only other difference is that while the Silver comes with an LCD screen, the Black requires an accessory. It’s a minor hitch since the Hero4 Black is basically an enthusiast camera with unbeatable quality. If you’ve got the money for it, the Hero4 Black is the absolute best action camera out there!

• Maximum video resolution: 4K @ 30 FPS, 2.7K @ 60 FPS, 1440P @ 80 FPS, 1080P @ 120 FPS
• Maximum image resolution: 12 MP
• Aperture range: F2.8
• Expandable storage: Up to 64GB
• Weight: 88 gm
• Battery: 1160 mAh (2 hours of continuous 4K video, 3 hours of continuous 1080P video)
• Price: Rs. 43,850

Action cameras are still pretty much dominated by GoPro, so most of our recommendations will still be their products, but we’re hoping to see new offerings from Sony, Garmin, JVC, Contour and Drift either by the end of this year or early next year. Until then however, these are our picks for the best wearable action cameras for sports and vLogging. Do let us know what you think, and if you’re planning on buying one!

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5 Best Power Banks Under INR 1500

Ambrane P-1000

Ambrane may not be a particularly well known brand compared to the others on this list, but it definitely is worth a buy. This power bank has a capacity of 10400 mAh, features cells made by Samsung, and comes with multiple attachments, so it’s not just smartphones you can charge. There’s attachments for Apple devices (non Thunderbolt), older Nokia phones, and of course, micro USB. Dual ports let you charge two devices at once, with one port offering 5V 2A output, and the other offering 5V 1A. Plus, it also has a torch and an LCD display. Quite a lot to offer for the price, isn’t it?

Price: Rs. 999

Mi 10400 mAh Power Bank

Xiaomi does one thing best, and that’s offer excellent products for very affordable prices. The Mi Power Bank is no exception. Almost a year ago it was probably the highest capacity power bank you could buy that actually performed well, and it still remains one of the best. It’s actually pretty simple, and doesn’t feature multiple ports or an LCD display, but is very stable and well built. As promised, 10400 mAh capacity is on offer, and even with multiple charge cycles performance is quite good. There’s just one catch though, it’s available only through Flipkart, and is rather difficult to get because of stock issues. You might find one on other eCommerce sites, but those aren’t original ones. Do not purchase it from other sites, because you’ll probably get a sub par product and waste your money, or worse, risk damaging your smartphone.

Price: Rs. 999

ADATA PB-PT100

ADATA is known for manufacturing mainly memory and storage devices, but their power banks are pretty good too! This particular one is one of those no-frills durable devices that will last you for long and not cost a bomb either. It’s got a charging capacity of 10000 mAh, so even the biggest smartphones can be charged thrice when its fully charged. There’s also 2 USB ports, offering outputs of 5V 2A and 5V 1A. Just like the Mi Power Bank, you can check remaining charge via 4 LED lights. If simple and durable is what you want, go for this power bank.

Price: Rs. 1200

Huawei AP007 Honor

The AP007 Honor is the highest capacity power bank on our list of the best power banks under Rs. 1500, and comes courtesy of Chinese giant Huawei. Huawei has recently found success with its affordable and powerful Honor line of smartphones, and is looking to expand that success into the accessories market as well, with this new power bank. Yes it looks quite similar to the popular Mi Power Bank, but it offers a couple of things most other power banks don’t. First of course, is the higher capacity, which basically guarantees another full charge on even larger smartphones, and the second is dual charging ports, both of which have an output of 5V 2A individually. This means that even if you connect two devices together, both will charge at the same higher speed. An excellent option if you’re looking to get a power bank!

Price: Rs. 1399

OnePlus 10000 mAh Power Bank

Finally, we have the OnePlus 10000 mAh Power Bank to round off our list. Perhaps the best looking device among the 5, the OnePlus Power Bank was launched to immediate success, and is now finally available in India. It did run into some trouble because it was launched originally at a lower price, after which the price was increased, but it doesn’t change the fact that this is one of the best power banks out there. Apart from the excellent build quality, you also get dual USB charging ports which both have an output of 5V 2A, just like the Huawei AP007 Honor. It comes in two color variants, and basically mimics the finish found on the OnePlus One, which is a great thing if you want something to match your phone. It’s slightly pricey, but worth it!

Price: Rs. 1399

We think it’s a great idea to keep a power bank charged in your bag just in case of emergencies, because you never know when you’d run out of battery, and it’s always good to be prepared right? Pick up any one of the 5 best power bank devices we’ve listed out here and cover all your bases!

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The International 2015 Compendium – What’s New?

Unlike the last few years, you’re not granted new items immediately as you buy and use the Compendium. The fancy new immortal treasures will be unlocked only after the prize pool has reached $3 million, which of course, won’t take too long. As always, you can also purchase points to unlock bonuses, which include new animations, treasures and emoticons. Additionally, Valve has added a new currency called Compendium Coins, which are earned by completing challenges, and can be used to earn more items. The level rewards include:

• New Enigma artifact (Custom Black Hole effect)
• Almond the Frondillo pet (Usable on Axe, Bristleback, Centaur Warrunner, Earthshaker, Juggernaut, Legion Commander, Riki, Slark and Sven only)
• New teleport effects
• New loading screens (Portfolio of Heroes Envisioned)
• New taunts (Manual of Fearsome Moves)
• New fountain effects
• Emoticon pack
• Immortal treasures
• New Dagon effects
• New Bottle effects
• Higher coin rate
• New Blink effects
• Solid gold effigy block

The stretch goal rewards this time might disappoint some though, because what used to be simply given with the purchase of a Compendium are now stretch goals, such as The International 2015 HUD and Immortal treasures. Stretch goal rewards this time go upto a crazy $15 million, which actually doesn’t seem that far-fetched, considering last year’s prize pool. Here’s what the stretch goal rewards are:

• $1,600,000 – Compendium Coins, Coin Charm
• $2,000,000 – Cursor Pack
• $2,500,000 – All Star Vote
• $3,000,000 – Immortal Treasure I
• $3,500,000 – Arcana Vote
• $4,000,000 – Compendium Effigies
• $4,500,000 – Loading Screens (Portfolio of Heroes Envisioned)
• $5,000,000 – Emoticons
• $5,500,000 – The International 2015 HUD Skin
• $6,000,000 – Taunt Treasure (Manual of Fearsome Moves)
• $6,500,000 – The Watcher Below Ward
• $7,000,000 – Immortal Treasure II
• $8,000,000 – Dota 2 Short Film Contest
• $9,000,000 – Wyvern Hatchling Courier
• $10,000,000 – Immortal Treasure III
• $11,000,000 – Desert Terrain
• $12,000,000 – Music Pack
• $13,000,000 – Announcer Pack
• $14,000,000 – New Weather Effects
• $15,000,000 – Special Axe Immortal and Longform Comic

The actual tournament will be held in Seattle from August 3rd to August 8th, and we’re pretty sure that like last time, it will be the biggest tournament in eSports history! Honestly though, we’re a little disappointed that there’s no shiny new items immediately granted upon Compendium purchase, but considering how fast stretch goals are being smashed, we’re going to get them anyway. Here’s to a great tournament!

The post The International 2015 Compendium Launched – Dota 2 Global Tournament Details appeared first on Latest Tips and Tricks - Computers, Mobiles, Gaming, Internet and Windows.

The 5 Best To-Do List Managers on Android

Google Keep

Want something simple to just keep track of tasks and get reminders? Like sticky notes? Google Keep is the app for you. It’s the no nonsense to-do list manager that you always wanted, and the best part is that it comes with Android by default. You can save pictures as well, and it syncs with all your Google devices and PC. For someone really invested in the Google ecosystem, Google Keep is one of the best options to keep yourself organized. Plus, the UI is pretty neat too, built on Google’s Material Design principles.

Wunderlist

There are a couple of companies that have to-do list managers as their bread and butter service, and Wunderlist is one among them, for good reason too! One of the most popular to-do list managers worldwide, Wunderlist is a powerful tool that offers a whole host of features, with both free and paid versions. The USP of Wunderlist is its uniquely intuitive UI and the ability to share lists, tasks and reminders with others, so you can actually use it as a sort of project management app as well. You’ll need an account to sign in, which can be used to login to Wunderlist on smartphones, tablets, PCs, you name it. If a universal app is something you’re looking for, and if you need sprinkles of project management software, look no further than Wunderlist.

Todoist

Todoist is another really popular to-do list manager used around the world. It stands in contrast to Wunderlist, and has a very minimal and sophisticated look, while providing all the essential features including custom scheduling, reminders, tasks, filters, labels, repeats and much more. The Premium version adds even more features, and is available for just $29 a year. You’ll find features like improved filters, automatic backups, location based tasks, attachments and much more in the premium version. For home users, however, the free version is more than enough.

Any.do

Any.do is another fantastically minimal and powerful to-do list manager available on Android, iOS and PC. Along with the usual tasks, reminders and filters, you’ll find it has the ability to share tasks, add comments, create custom recurring tasks, perform certain third party functions from within the app, and create notes for the tasks themselves, among many others. Again, there’s both a free and premium version of the app, with the latter adding project collaboration, themes, file uploads, location reminders and much more.

SplenDO

SplenDO is probably one of the most straightforward apps on this list. It’s simple, good looking and robust, plus doesn’t really need an account to get going. You can sync it with your Google account to add tasks, use a quick menu to add tasks or just speak what you want to do. Oh did we mention, the widget is really good looking too! The quick pulldown menu from notifications is very handy and lets you organize things without digging too deep, so the whole process is actually really quick. If you would prefer a lot of features but don’t want to bother with accounts, go for this app!

Using any one of these apps, according to your requirements, is sure to make you much more organized and efficient, take our word for it. Let us know what you thought of our list of the best to-do list managers on Android, and if you think any other apps should be considered too!

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How To Schedule An Automatic Wake Up From Sleep On A Windows PC

Getting your Windows PC to wake up from sleep is actually quite easy. All you need to do is set up a scheduled task through the built in Task Scheduler in Windows and perform a task. Technically, your PC is waking up to perform a task, so if you want it to start a particular program, it’s all good, but if you just want it to wake up and do nothing, there’s a trick to do that as well. Here’s what you need to do:

Step 1 – Go to Control Panel>Administrative Tools and click on Task Scheduler. Alternatively, you can also search for it through the Start Menu or Start Screen.

Step 2 – In the newly opened windows, click on ‘Create Task’, on the right side. Name the task as you like, something like ‘Wake up from sleep’ should do.

Step 3 – Under the ‘Security Options’ section, enable ‘Run whether user is logged in or not’ and check ‘Run with highest privileges’.

Step 4 – Now click on the ‘Triggers’ tab, and then click ‘New’ to add a trigger. Here, you can set the task to run when you want. Set the time and date (if applicable), and set how frequently you want it to repeat. You can also set whether you want the task to repeat that task in that timeframe, and if you want it to expire after a set amount of time. Click ‘OK’ to finish up.

Step 5 – Once you’ve set all your time parameters, go to the ‘Conditions’ tab. This is where you can make your computer actually wake up. Check ‘Wake the computer to run this task’, and if you think it’s necessary, ‘Start the task if the computer is on AC power’. Note that for laptops, this option can prevent the computer from waking up unless plugged in.

Step 6 – Finally, go to the ‘Actions’ tab to set what should happen when your PC turns on. Click ‘New’, then select ‘Start a Task’ from the dropdown menu and then ‘Browse’ to choose the program you want to start as the computer wakes up. Just browse to the executable of the program and you’re good to go. However, if you just want the PC to wake up and do nothing else, type cmd.exe in the ‘Program/Script’ space, and /c “exit” in the ‘Add arguments’ space. Make sure you use the quotes in the argument, or else it won’t work. This string of commands basically just starts up command prompt and immediately closes it, thus fulfilling the condition of starting up some or the other program.

If you follow the instructions correctly, your computer should wake up from sleep and do what you’ve told it to! Of course, if it isn’t apparent already, the computer has to be on ‘Sleep’ mode and not shut down. The latter option will make the task completely irrelevant. Do let us know if you were successful in setting up a scheduled task to wake up your computer from sleep, or if you need any help doing so.

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Google Project Fi – The New Universal Mobile Phone Service

Project Fi was created with uninterrupted connectivity in mind. Why compromise on connection speed just because you aren’t at home or in an optimally covered network area from your provider? And it just isn’t about internet either, even calls will be switching between different types of networks, depending on strength. Assume that you start a phonecall at home, and while traveling move to an area where another supported network is stronger. The connection will automatically and seamlessly switch, and everything will be curated by Google. So technically, there’s no new infrastructure or anything that’s usually associated with new mobile phone networks. Instead, Google will act as a conduit between mobile phone networks and public WiFi hotspots. For now, Project Fi will be using Sprint and T-Mobile’s infrastructure, which includes both cellphone networks and public WiFi hotspots.

As you can expect, Project Fi is still in a nascent stage, and isn’t available everywhere. For now, it’s available only on an invite basis, for Nexus 6 users. And of course, only in the United States. If you fit in all the criteria and want to score an invite, you can sign up here. Now, the hybridized network model is interesting in itself, but what’s more interesting is how much you can save on data costs. If you’re connected to WiFi most of the time, there’s not much need for mobile data, which is exactly what Project Fi is looking to do. The unique model lets you pay for (admittedly cheaper) data plans which include LTE, and unused data can be refunded the next month! Everyone who signs up for Project Fi, at a cost of 20$ gets unlimited domestic calls, unlimited United States and international texting, WiFi tethering and free data coverage in over 120 countries (the same ones that Sprint and T-Mobile provide roaming services for). Additional GB of data costs 10$, so you can pretty much wrap up your month’s phone expenses for less than 50$, and get faster connectivity. Project Fi’s model is practical yet affordable, and we can’t wait to see where it will go in the future. Of course, it requires a lot of infrastructure already set up, so in countries without common public WiFi hotspots, it might just turn into a network sharing service. So what do you think about it? Is it a game changer or just an experiment? Let us know!

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The Best 4G LTE Smartphones in India Under Rs. 10,000

Nokia Lumia 638

The Nokia Lumia 638 is one of the most affordable Lumia smartphones available, and also supports 4G LTE networks, so if you’re a Windows Phone fan, it can’t get any better than this! Packing in pretty decent specs for the price, the Lumia 638 also has excellent battery life and technology called SensorCore, which is basically a built in pedometer for health freaks. It doesn’t come with a front facing camera though, so selfie lovers might find that problematic. Apart from all this, you get a guaranteed update to Windows 10 for Phones, and the phone supports expandable storage upto 128 GB, so you probably won’t have space problems. Oh also, did we mention that if you pick one up, you can use the Windows 10 for Phones Technical Preview right now?

• SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 400
• CPU: 1.2 GHz Quad-core ARM Cortex-A7
• GPU: Adreno 305
• RAM: 1 GB RAM
• Screen: 4.5 inch IPS LCD, 854 x 480 px resolution (218 PPI)
• Camera: 5 MP rear facing (720P video recording)
• Storage: 8 GB, expandable upto 128 GB via MicroSD
• OS: Windows Phone 8.1, upgradable to Windows 10 for Phones
• Battery: 1830 mAh
• Price: Rs. 6,799

Moto E (2nd Gen) 4G

The Moto E is one of the best, if not the best budget smartphones available today. Combining excellent build quality, specs and priority updates in one neat and affordable package, the Moto E was a runaway success. The second generation of the phone didn’t change much, not that there was much to change, and that’s definitely a good thing. Specs were upgraded of course, but the big new addition was 4G LTE capability, bringing super fast networks to the masses. You also get a pretty big battery, dual SIM capability (only one is LTE enabled though), a front facing camera and Android 5.0.2 Lollipop built in. For the price, it’s a steal!

• SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 410
• CPU: 1.2 GHz Quad-core ARM Cortex-A53
• GPU: Adreno 306
• RAM: 1 GB RAM
• Screen: 4.5 inch IPS LCD, 960 x 540 px resolution (245 PPI)
• Camera: 5 MP rear facing (720P video recording), 0.3 MP front facing
• Storage: 8 GB, expandable upto 32 GB via MicroSD
• OS: Android 5.0.2 Lollipop
• Battery: 2390 mAh
• Price: Rs. 7,999

YU Yureka

This curiously named phone comes courtesy of Indian manufacturer Micromax, who created the YU brand as a spinoff to appeal to the youth. It’s the smartphone with some of the best specs on this list, so if that’s your thing, the Yureka should be one of your top options. It’s also got Micromax’s mammoth customer support network behind it, so any issues, if they do arise, shouldn’t be difficult to deal with either. The specsheet will probably tell you what you need to know about the phone, but it’s also worth knowing that the Yureka runs Cyanogen OS 12 and not pure Android, which can be either a good thing or a bad thing depending on what you think of it. Cyanogen OS 12 offers a few extra features and tweaks over base Android, but you’ll probably have to wait longer for updates. Strictly speaking, it’s a great phone, but the registration based sale on Amazon can be a bummer. But then again, an octa-core 64-bit processor with LTE at this price is hard to get anyway!

• SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 615
• CPU: 1.7 GHz Quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 and 1 GHz Quad-core ARM Cortex-A53
• GPU: Adreno 405
• RAM: 2 GB RAM
• Screen: 5.5 inch IPS LCD, 1280 x 720 px resolution (267 PPI)
• Camera: 5 MP rear facing (720P video recording)
• Storage: 16 GB, expandable upto 32 GB via MicroSD
• OS: CyanogenMod 11S (Android 4.4.4 KitKat), upgradable to Cyanogen OS 12 (Android 5.0.2 Lollipop)
• Battery: 2500 mAh
• Price: Rs. 8,999

Lenovo A7000

Another smartphone to be sold via registration, the Lenovo A7000 is actually nothing short of a beast. The specs are fantastic, and initial benchmarks show that the phone punches well above its weight. It’s also the first smartphone to feature Dolby Atmos sound enhancement, which allows for better channelized sound and broader dynamic range. Plus, it runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop out of the box, so you don’t have to worry about being behind the times either, which has traditionally been the case with Lenovo smartphones. In short, the Lenovo A7000 is another fantastic mid-range phone that offers a lot for very less price.

• SoC: MediaTek MT6572M
• CPU: 1.5 GHz Octa-core ARM Cortex-A53
• GPU: Mali-T760MP2
• RAM: 2 GB RAM
• Screen: 5.5 inch IPS LCD, 1280 x 720 px resolution (267 PPI)
• Camera: 8 MP rear facing (1080P video recording), 5 MP rear facing (720P video recording)
• Storage: 8 GB, expandable upto 32 GB via MicroSD
• OS: Android 5.0.2 Lollipop
• Battery: 2900 mAh
• Price: Rs. 8,999

Redmi Note 4G

The Redmi Note 4G from Xiaomi is a big and rather good looking phone that packs in 4G LTE for an affordable price. It may not have the best internals on the list, but makes up for it with the custom skinned OS, large screen, great battery life and decent cameras. Xiaomi has been having a good run lately with smartphones, and the Redmi Note 4G is no different. Now available without registration, you can easily grab this phone without too much hassle and jump on the 4G bandwagon!

• SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 400
• CPU: 1.6 GHz Quad-core ARM Cortex-A7
• GPU: Adreno 305
• RAM: 2 GB RAM
• Screen: 5.5 inch IPS LCD, 1280 x 720 px resolution (267 PPI)
• Camera: 13 MP rear facing (1080P video recording), 5 MP front facing (720P video recording)
• Storage: 8 GB, expandable upto 64 GB via MicroSD
• OS: Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, upgradable to Android 4.4.2 KitKat
• Battery: 3100 mAh
• Price: Rs. 9,999

So those were our picks for the 5 best 4G LTE smartphones in India under 10,000 INR. If you’re looking to start using superfast mobile networks soon but don’t want to pay a bomb for flagship smartphones with 4G LTE chipsets, go for any one of these according to your requirements and you won’t be disappointed!

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The Best Upcoming PC, Xbox One and PS4 Games of 2015

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

There can’t be a list of the most anticipated upcoming games of 2015 without the much hyped third installment in the Witcher series. CD Projekt RED’s highly anticipated open world fantasy RPG is finally releasing this summer, after a lot of delays. It was supposed to hit stores in late 2014, then was pushed back to early 2015, and now will finally see the light of day in May (see what we did there?). The Witcher 3 continues Geralt of Rivia’s story from the first two games, and is one of those games aimed squarely at a mature audience. Complex mythos, gorgeous graphics, an open world and over a 100 hours of gameplay, the Witcher 3 seems to have it all! If you’re a fan of RPGs, this is THE game to get in 2015.

Release Date: May 19, 2015
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4

Project CARS

Developed by Slightly Mad Studios, a relatively new British studio specializing in racing games, Project CARS is a staggering simulation racer that’s been in development for the better part of 3 years. Adopting a community driven approach, this racer has been all over the internet for being amazingly realistic (no really, check out some real life and game comparison videos) and detailed. There was a time when racing games were a dime a dozen, and with the current drought of racing games, Project CARS will surely be lapped up by all motorsports fans.

Release Date: May, 2015
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Wii U

Batman: Arkham Knight

The Arkham series was one of the few that broke the curse of licensed games. Before it, pretty much all officially licensed games either turned out to be mediocre, or just complete duds (we’re looking at you, Superman 64). The series got everything from the tone, to the story, to the actors, perfectly right, down to the smallest details, and that’s what made it one of the best series ever made, comic-book licensed or otherwise. Arkham Knight is the followup to the highly acclaimed Arkham Origins, and will see Kevin Conroy reprise his role as Batman, much to fan’s delight. This time around, he has to deal with the threat of the Scarecrow and a mysterious new villain, known only as the Arkham Knight. The game is set to be much larger and more epic than previous entries in the series, and will finally let you drive the Batmobile, if that doesn’t get you preordering, we don’t know what will!

Release Date: June 23, 2015
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

Continuing the critically acclaimed and long running series, The Phantom Pain is the latest installment in the Metal Gear series. Even by itself, the release of The Phantom Pain would be significant, but its importance is perhaps increased by rumors of the departure of visionary director and creator, Hideo Kojima. Despite saying the same thing for the past few games, Kojima seems to be actually departing the franchise this time round, so The Phantom Pain could very well be the last Kojima directed Metal Gear. Set before the original Metal Gear, The Phantom Pain follows the story of Venom Snake, or Big Boss, and continues from the Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes prologue. If there’s one thing that defines this series, it’s the sometimes convoluted plot, so it’s difficult to summarize it here. Fans will immediately pick this up, but if you’ve not played any of the games in the Metal Gear series, do yourself a favor and start from the beginning, you have time until September to catch up!

Release Date: September 1, 2015
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

Halo 5: Guardians

After a highly successful open multiplayer beta, Halo 5: Guardians seems to be on the right track. The second independent effort from the recently opened 343 Studios, Halo 5 is the Xbox One’s killer app. Very little has been revealed about the plot, but the trailers and marketing point to a new character called Agent Locke tracking down the Master Chief, who’s presumed to be missing and hostile. Recently revealed trailers show a lot about two sides to the story, and seem very interesting. Since it picks up right after Halo 4, fans will know how much is at stake for the Master Chief, so without us veering us into spoiler territory, we’ll just say that the Master Chief is probably out to reclaim a piece of himself. This will be the second game in the Halo series that lets players don the armor of two characters during the campaign, this time around it will be the Master Chief and Agent Locke.

Release Date: October 27, 2015
Platform: Xbox One

Star Wars: Battlefront

Between the new Star Wars movie coming out and this game, Star Wars fans are going to have a good year. Star Wars: Battlefront, not to be confused with the first game in the series, is sort of a pseudosequel and reboot of the much loved franchise. It’s touted as ‘DICE’s interpretation of what Battlefront should be’, and will reportedly use elements from both the previous games, which is something fans would definitely love. While plot details are not revealed yet, we do know that we will be playing characters from all major factions in the Star Wars Universe, and will visit iconic places like Hoth and Endor. Set to be released with The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Battlefront is the reboot we’ve always wanted!

Release Date: November 17, 2015
Platform: PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4

Rise of the Tomb Raider

The 2013 Tomb Raider was nothing short of phenomenal. We loved it, critics loved it, and players around the world loved it. And not just for nostalgic reasons, Tomb Raider was an actually amazing game which attempted to tell us the origin story of the beloved heroine. Praised for its storytelling and gameplay, it was only natural that we’d see a sequel. What no one saw coming, however, was Xbox timed exclusivity. A game that had its console debut on a PlayStation seemed like a long shot for a rival console exclusive, but it happened nonetheless. Xbox One and Xbox 360 owners will be able to continue Lara Croft’s story sometime in late 2015. Rise of the Tomb Raider tells us more about how Lara Croft became the character we know since decades, and follows her quest to find the mythical city of Kitezh in Siberia, where she believes lies the secret to immortality. Expect action, adventure, platforming and of course, tombs!

Release Date: TBA 2015
Platform: Xbox One, Xbox 360

Tom Clancy’s The Division

The Division might not have a concrete release date yet and may have been in development for more than 2 years, but we just can’t help look forward to it. A team based third person shooter set in a future where a virus has ravaged the United States, The Division is a game where players not only have to battle an international conspiracy, but also the harsh environment. It sounds like a typical Tom Clancy plot, and we can’t wait to play it! Initial gameplay is both beatiful and exciting, so we’re quite eager to see what it brings to the table, specially since team based shooters, like racing games, aren’t as popular as they once were.

Release Date: TBA 2015
Platform: PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4

Just Cause 3

When you think of open world sandbox type action games, Grand Theft Auto is probably what comes to mind first. While we can’t argue that Rockstar’s series is amazing, we also think that there’s another series that just hasn’t been given its due, the Just Cause series. It’s wacky, chaotic, gorgeous, and above all, massive fun! Following in the footsteps of the criminally overlooked Just Cause 2, the third installment in the franchise is all set to be bigger and better than its predecessor. You once again get to step into the shoes of badass Rico Rodriguez, who’s out to fight against a dictator called General De Ravello on his home island of Medici, in the Mediterranean. Not convinced yet? Check out the screenshots and you will be!

Release Date: TBA 2015
Platform: PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4

Rock Band 4

The Rock Band series, along with the Guitar Hero series, was pretty much responsible for starting the new wave of rhythm and custom controller based games. There was nothing quite like belting out sweet riffs to your favorite songs right in your living room, and getting points for it! Harmonix, the developer responsible for both of these games went on a bit of a hiatus from the series for the past 3 years, but just recently announced they’ll be returning to create Rock Band 4. Focusing this time on core gameplay and less of the instruction introduced in Rock Band 3. There will also reportedly be a lot more social interaction, as is the norm with gaming nowadays. Harmonix will release new controllers for the game, but will also support peripherals from the last games, so if own them, don’t throw them away yet!

Release Date: TBA 2015
Platform: Xbox One, PlayStation 4

So what do you think of our picks for the 10 best upcoming PC, Xbox One and PS4 games of 2015? Agree? Disagree? Sound off in the comments below!

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Cyanogen OS 12 – New Features and Improvements

Now called Cyanogen OS 12 instead of CyanogenMod 12S according to the earlier naming convention, this is basically a standalone build specifically made for the OnePlus One, and includes exclusive features, such as 4K video recording, a customizable quick menu and gesture support. It unfortunately still runs on Android 5.0.2 and not the latest Android 5.1 build, which is reserved for the Cyanogen OS 12.1 update coming sometime in the future. Here’s the feature list, from the official OnePlus blog:

• Improved camera with continuous shot and improved low-light performance
• Enhanced look and feel
• Enhanced theme chooser
• Ambient display with lift-to-wake
• New lock screen
• Cleaner settings menu
• Multi-user support
• Enhanced A/V support (more codecs, high-res playback, high-res output over USB, low latency capture)
• Power and performance optimizations
• Smart lock
• Improved BT and WiFi compatibility
• Enhanced notification and privacy controls

Regular features from CyanogenMod 11S carried over include:

• Theme Engine
• PIN Scramble
• AudioFX
• Privacy Guard
• App protection

Another new addition is the email app, which is now replaced by the third party app Boxer. All Cyanogen OS 12 users will get the premium version of the app for free, which includes enhanced Exchange support, multiple accounts, customizable LED notifications and much more. There’s also the Baton app, one of the best Android app switchers, which lets you link apps to all your devices over the cloud.

Now, as we mentioned earlier, the OTA update will roll out in phases, so you may not get it immediately. Also note that it requires the previous incremental update to CyanogenMod 11S, and is a full update, weighing in at almost 600 MB. If you can’t wait, however, and are comfortable with flashing your phone you can download the full flashable ROM from here. You will need to be on CyanogenMod 11S, fully updated to receive the update, and if you’ve flashed Oxygen OS, OnePlus’ homegrown version of Lollipop, you’ll need to flash the full ROM to get Cyanogen OS 12. Do let us know what you think of the new OS, and if you need any help!

The post Cyanogen OS 12 For OnePlus One Now Available To Download appeared first on Latest Tips and Tricks - Computers, Mobiles, Gaming, Internet and Windows.

The 10 Best Smartphones In India Under 30,000 INR

Samsung Galaxy A7

The Galaxy A series of phones is a departure from Samsung’s usual design language, offering a slim, metallic smartphone with fairly good specs at a decent price. At just 6.3 mm thick and weighing in at 141 gm, the Galaxy A7 is a very good looking device. In comparison, an iPhone 6 Plus is both thicker and heavier, but of course in another league in terms of performance. The Galaxy A7 might not be the best performer on the list, but if you’re looking for a sleek and light smartphone with competitive specs from a well known brand, this should be your choice. Yes, the price is a little bit on the higher side, but it’s a welcome change from the usual Galaxy range.

• SoC: Samsung Exynos 5 Octa 5430
• CPU: 1.8 GHz Quad-core ARM Cortex-A15 & 1.3 GHz Quad-core ARM Cortex-A7
• GPU: ARM Mali T628 MP6
• RAM: 2 GB RAM
• Screen: 5.5 inch Super AMOLED, 1920 x 1080 px resolution (401 PPI)
• Camera: 13 MP rear facing (1080P video recording) and 5 MP front facing (1080P video recording)
• Storage: 16 GB, expandable upto 64 GB via MicroSD
• OS: Android 4.4.4 KitKat, upgradable to Android 5.0 Lollipop
• Battery: 2600 mAh
• Price: Rs. 29,999

Nokia Lumia 930

The current Windows Phone flagship might not have the best specs compared to its Android competition, but is still a solid smartphone, if you can’t wait for the Windows 10 for phones flagship. Packing in a gorgeous screen, a killer camera and the trademark Windows Phone snappiness, the Lumia 930 won’t disappoint. You can already use the Windows 10 for phones Technical Preview on it if you really must run the next version of Windows, but apart from that, you’re guaranteed timely and quite frequent updates. Oh and did we mention, you can get it in some really funky colors?

• SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 800
• CPU: 2.2 GHz Quad-core Krait 400
• GPU: Adreno 330
• RAM: 2 GB RAM
• Screen: 5 inch AMOLED, 1920 x 1080 px resolution (441 PPI)
• Camera: 20 MP PureView rear facing (4K video recording) and 1.2 MP front facing (720P video recording)
• Storage: 32 GB, non expandable
• OS: Windows Phone 8.1, upgradable to Windows 10 for phones
• Battery: 2420 mAh
• Price: Rs. 29,999

Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro

If you want a monster of a phone, both in terms of specs and size, the Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro is the smartphone for you! It’s currently the cheapest phone you can buy with a 2K resolution display, has a huge 4000 mAh battery and is dual SIM. Probably the only compromise you’ll need to make is on the storage front, because there’s no MicroSD card slot. Also, Lenovo has a spotty update record. Otherwise, we think it’s a fantastic phone for the price!

• SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 801
• CPU: 2.5 GHz Quad-core Krait 400
• GPU: Adreno 330
• RAM: 3 GB RAM
• Screen: 6 inch IPS LCD, 2560 x 1440 px resolution (490 PPI)
• Camera: 16 MP rear facing (4K video recording) and 5 MP front facing (1080P video recording)
• Storage: 32 GB, non expandable
• OS: Android 4.4.2 KitKat, upgradable to Android 5.0 Lollipop
• Battery: 4000 mAh
• Price: Rs. 29,999

Moto X 2nd Generation

Motorola’s recent comeback has been nothing short of glorious. Everything from the Moto E to the Moto X has been extremely successful, and the 2nd generation of these phones have only made things better. The Moto X 2nd Generation is a powerful phone that has guaranteed fast updates from Google, so if you want an Android smartphone that gives you the best close to stock Android experience, look no further. Build quality is top notch, and the added Motorola features are actually pretty cool as well.

• SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 801
• CPU: 2.5 GHz Quad-core Krait 400
• GPU: Adreno 330
• RAM: 3 GB RAM
• Screen: 5.2 inch AMOLED, 1920 x 1080 px resolution (424 PPI)
• Camera: 13 MP rear facing (4K video recording) and 2 MP front facing (1080P video recording)
• Storage: 16/32 GB, non expandable
• OS: Android 4.4.4 KitKat, upgradable to Android 5.0 Lollipop
• Battery: 2300 mAh
• Price: Rs. 26,999

Micromax Canvas Knight A350

Micromax has been doing a lot of things right over the past years, which is exactly why it’s now the 10th largest smartphone manufacturer in the world and the largest in India, beating the likes of Samsung! Originally focusing on more pocket friendly smartphones, Micromax now has some pretty good mid range offerings as well. The Canvas Knight is one such smartphone, with solid specs and a nice design to boot. We know that some might be skeptical about spending this much on a smaller brand, but we also can’t deny that it’s a good phone!

• SoC: MediaTek MT6592T
• CPU: 1.7 GHz Octa-core ARM Cortex-A7
• GPU: Mali-450 MP4
• RAM: 2 GB RAM
• Screen: 5 inch IPS LCD, 1920 x 1080 px resolution (441 PPI)
• Camera: 16 MP rear facing (1080P video recording) and 8 MP front facing (1080P video recording)
• Storage: 32 GB, non expandable
• OS: Android 4.4.2 KitKat, upgradable to Android 5.0 Lollipop
• Battery: 2350 mAh
• Price: Rs. 25,999

Xiaomi Mi4

Calling the Mi3 a success would be a gross understatement. The affordable yet powerful smartphone from Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi took the world by storm, and its successor is now here to carry on that legacy. Admittedly not a big success compared to its predecessor, the Mi4 is nevertheless a fantastic smartphone, with flagship level specs and an understated yet good looking design. Now available without the damn registration, it’s one of the best smartphones money can buy!

• SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 801
• CPU: 2.5 GHz Quad-core Krait 400
• GPU: Adreno 330
• RAM: 3 GB RAM
• Screen: 5 inch AMOLED, 1920 x 1080 px resolution (441 PPI)
• Camera: 13 MP rear facing (4K video recording) and 8 MP front facing (1080P video recording)
• Storage: 16/64 GB, non expandable
• OS: Android 4.4.4 KitKat, upgradable to Android 5.0 Lollipop
• Battery: 3080 mAh
• Price: Rs. 23,999

Apple iPhone 5C

Yes it might a little long in the tooth, but is still a phone to consider if you must get into the Apple ecosystem. The Apple iPhone 5C is not really the best value for money, but we can’t argue that performance, regardless of the specs, is still pretty good. Apple is good at getting the most out of their hardware, and the iPhone 5C is testament to that fact. The storage might be on the lower side, but if the Apple brand and its apps are all you want, this is the best way to get it.

• SoC: Apple A6
• CPU: 1.3 GHz Dual-core Swift
• GPU: PowerVR SGX543MP3
• RAM: 1 GB RAM
• Screen: 4 inch IPS LCD, 1136 x 640 px resolution (326 PPI)
• Camera: 8 MP rear facing (1080P video recording) and 1.2 MP front facing (720P video recording)
• Storage: 8 GB, non expandable
• OS: iOS 7, upgradable to iOS 8.3
• Battery: 1510 mAh
• Price: Rs. 22,990

OnePlus One

Another Chinese smartphone that redefined the term ‘value for money’, the OnePlus One is nothing short of fantastic. Dubbed the ‘flagship killer’ by OnePlus, it may not be equal to current Snapdragon 810 powered smartphones, but still remains a great device to buy, even now. Great specs, sleek design, good cameras, it’s got it all! OnePlus originally promised quick updates and hasn’t really lived up to it, but apart from that caveat, there’s not much else we can hold against this phone. You’ll need an invite to buy one though, but they aren’t really difficult to find these days.

• SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 801
• CPU: 2.5 GHz Quad-core Krait 400
• GPU: Adreno 330
• RAM: 3 GB RAM
• Screen: 5.5 inch LTPS LCD, 1920 x 1080 px resolution (401 PPI)
• Camera: 13 MP rear facing (4K video recording) and 2 MP front facing (1080P video recording)
• Storage: 16/64 GB, non expandable
• OS: Android 4.4.4 KitKat, upgradable to Android 5.0 Lollipop
• Battery: 3100 mAh
• Price: Rs. 21,999

HTC Desire 820s

The HTC Desire 820s features a similar design to the gorgeous HTC One, and that’s not a bad thing at all. Not to be confused with the Desire 820, which looks exactly the same but has different internals, the 820s is a good buy if you want a large screen but aren’t too bothered about pixel density. It’s got solid battery life, looks decent, performs well, has a large screen and dual cameras, so pretty much ticks all boxes for most people looking to buy a smartphone.

• SoC: MediaTek MT6752T
• CPU: 1.7 GHz Octa-core ARM Cortex-A53
• GPU: Mali-T760 MP2
• RAM: 2 GB RAM
• Screen: 5.5 inch IPS LCD, 1280 x 720 px resolution (267 PPI)
• Camera: 13 MP rear facing (1080P video recording) and 8 MP front facing (1080P video recording)
• Storage: 16 GB, expandable upto 32 GB via MicroSD
• OS: Android 4.4.4 KitKat, upgradable to Android 5.0 Lollipop
• Battery: 2600 mAh
• Price: Rs. 20,500

Nokia Lumia 830

Finally, we have the Lumia 830, the best Windows Phone 8.1 midranger money can buy. Again, on paper it might not look like much, but Windows Phone is an OS that runs perfectly well on a whole variety of smartphones. Just like its bigger brother, the Lumia 930, the 830 is also guaranteed a Windows 10 for phones update, with a Technical Preview available to download right now. It also looks fantastic, and features a PureView camera plus something called SensorCore, which is basically a pedometer, built in. If you’re looking to jump into the Windows Phone ecosystem, this is a great start!

• SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 400
• CPU: 1,2 GHz Quad-core ARM Cortex-A7
• GPU: Adreno 305
• RAM: 1 GB RAM
• Screen: 5 inch IPS LCD, 1280 x 720 px resolution (294 PPI)
• Camera: 10 MP PureView rear facing (1080P video recording) and 1 MP front facing (720P video recording)
• Storage: 16 GB, expandable upto 128 GB via MicroSD
• OS: Windows Phone 8.1, upgradable to Windows 10 for phones
• Battery: 2200 mAh
• Price: Rs. 20,000

So those were our picks for the 10 best smartphones under 30,000 INR you can buy! Do let us know if you have any queries regarding the specs or features, or think another phone should be added onto the list via the comments below.

The post Top 10 Smartphones Under Rs. 30,000 appeared first on Latest Tips and Tricks - Computers, Mobiles, Gaming, Internet and Windows.

So you shouldn’t have to go through extra portals or pay for any extra services that are based on the internet, simply because they are inherently the same type of data. Net neutrality means that:

• No websites should be blocked or rendered inaccessible.
• No websites should be given more or less priority based on any agreements with ISPs.
• No ‘zero rating’ policies, which means that no websites should be made free over the others.
• No internet based services should be charged for separately by ISPs.

India doesn’t have any particular laws for net neutrality, so we’re actually already seeing some of these rules being violated. Twitter access specifically free for one telecom provider? Yeah, that’s against net neutrality as well. Some of these smaller violations might not affect you directly, but when it happens on a larger scale, that’s where you will face problems. What if you’re forced to use a certain e-commerce website even if you don’t prefer it, simply because it pays for higher speeds to the ISP? In the end, not only are you being forced to use a service, you’ll bear the costs through higher pricing in some way or another. After all, companies run on profits.

Airtel Zero – The Not So Free Platform

According to Airtel, Airtel Zero is a B2B platform that lets companies pay it so that users can access their services for free. According to them, it’s similar to a toll-free telephone platform where users can access services for free or lower costs. Now, they’re also claiming same pricing for all companies that sign on, so that every company, even the smaller ones can get the sort of outreach the bigger ones have. In principle it probably sounds fair, but it’s really not. First and foremost, any portal or gateway that leads to ‘free’ services is in violation of net neutrality. Not to mention, the ‘free’ services won’t actually be free. The money that goes to the ISP will indirectly be taken from you in the form of increased data costs or higher product costs. A shopkeeper wouldn’t pay extra to a company so its products can be sold at a lower rate to consumers, right? It’s pretty much the same thing.

Then of course, there’s the pricing, which hasn’t been revealed. If this platform is offered to all companies, including smaller ones at the same cost, it’s pretty apparent that the platform is not equal. Smaller companies obviously won’t be able to put in as much money as the bigger companies can, and they will end up lagging behind because they cannot afford to keep up. Airtel’s claim that the Zero platform will offer lower marketing costs becomes completely irrelevant. In fact, an official statement from Srini Gopalan, Director of Consumer Business says that “I’m not going to talk on my pricing structure a year on. This will stay non discriminatory, but how it will evolve, I can’t comment on“. So somewhere down the line, the platform could become prohibitively expensive, even if it isn’t already now.

TRAI and The Indian Government On Net Neutrality

As mentioned above, India doesn’t really have any net neutrality laws. There have already been violations of the internationally accepted guidelines regarding net neutrality, and Airtel Zero is something that takes advantage of this fact. The TRAI is actually considering charging for OTT (Over The Top) services like WhatsApp, Viber, Skype and the like, because in the recent past their growth has resulted in lower traditional revenue through phone calls. There is currently a consultation paper out that might lead to allowing telecom operators to charge for these services. You can read this paper here.

According to them, OTT services directly result in lower revenue, therefore should be charged separately. Now that is again completely against the principles of net neutrality. Telecom operators meanwhile seem to think that like voice and data, OTT services should also be licensed and regulated, and not considered part of regular internet data. But since it’s a consultation paper, it’s still open to debate and discussion, and even you can send in your opinions at the email ID mentioned on the paper.

So theoretically, if telecom operators are allowed to go down this path, they can overcharge for internet access, prioritize access to certain companies, throttle bandwidths, block services and render it impossible for smaller companies to gain a foothold in the online arena. If that doesn’t sound like bad news, we don’t know what will. To make it simpler, here’s an infographic that depicts what it all means, courtesy of an Indian Redditor. Do visit SaveTheInternet for more, and to see what you can do!

The post What Is Net Neutrality And Should You Be Bothered In India? appeared first on Latest Tips and Tricks - Computers, Mobiles, Gaming, Internet and Windows.

Contrary to popular belief, gaming headphones are quite similar to music oriented ones, only it’s that they include a microphone for communication, and are often made to look funkier. If it’s only sound quality you want, even a pair of music oriented ones will be perfect. However, for gamers who play multiplayer games, a microphone is absolutely necessary. So if you’re looking to get yourself a new pair of gaming headphones and are confused about what to get, you’ve come to the right place! We’ve got 10 awesome gaming headphones listed that you can buy, at pretty much every price point, so there’s something for everyone.

The 10 Best Gaming Headphones You Can Buy In India

Audio Technica ATH-AX1iS

Remember when we said that normal music oriented headphones will do just fine even for gaming? Yep, they will. Kicking off our list is the Audio Technica ATH-AX1iS, an affordable pair of headphones with a built in mic, albeit not the attached to ear sort. On a budget, this offers excellent sound quality, and looks pretty cool too! They’re available in multiple colors as well, and are quite lightweight.

Price: Rs. 1700

SteelSeries Siberia V1

You can’t really talk about the best gaming headphones without mentioning the SteelSeries Siberia range. This legendary piece of hardware has been loved by gamers worldwide for years, and despite its age, still remains a fantastic choice even now. Available for a very affordable price, it’s the perfect way to get into the world of gaming headphones, and you won’t be disappointed with the investment at all. It’s comfortable and offers good stereo sound quality, and perhaps the only fault it has is that the mic is not the retractable sort, just like the first entry on this list.

Price: Rs. 2500

Cooler Master CM Storm Ceres-500

Cooler Master is one of those companies that has a great range of products under the CMStorm brand, but is criminally overlooked in favor of more popular companies like Razer and SteelSeries. They tend to offer products with similar features at a more affordable price, and that’s exactly why we’ve chosen the Ceres-500. It’s a good looking, comfortable and feature rich pair of headphones that has a surprisingly great range of sound output. You can also remove the microphone, turn the headphones inwards and fold them to carry around, so traveling LAN gamers will find it a good buy. The only downside is that it requires a USB connection to operate, to power the built in amplifier.

Price: Rs. 3450

Razer Kraken Analog

Think of gaming accessories, and Razer is probably the first company that comes to your mind. Along with a superb range of gaming mice and keyboards, Razer also has a pretty killer line of gaming headphones. One of our picks is the venerable Razer Kraken Analog, a bright green pair of headphones that looks and sounds awesome. But there’s also the catch, while the bass response and range is pretty sweet, it doesn’t come with a microphone. That’s reserved for the higher priced Kraken Pro. However, if you’re more of an offline gamer, you won’t find any faults in the Kraken Analog.

Alternatively, if you really do need a mic at this price range and must have a Razer, you can pick up the Razer Elektra, which sells for slightly less than the Kraken Analog at Rs. 3900.

Price: Rs. 4500

Logitech G430

One of the first things you’d notice upon laying your eyes on the Logitech G430 is the design. Quite honestly one of the most catchy looking gaming headphones available, the Logitech lives up to its legacy by offering killer sound quality. It’s the most affordable pair of gaming headphones that offers full 7.1 surround sound, so if you’re into atmospheric games, this is a must buy. The surround sound is actually impressive, bass response is excellent and the highs and lows are good as well. The only cons are that it’s available only in one color, blue, and it’s compatible only with PC.

Price: Rs. 5000

Roccat Kulo 7.1

Roccat Kulo is another fantastic pair of gaming headphones that offers full 7.1 surround sound support. It might be getting a little long in the tooth, but we can’t fault the performance even now. The good looking pair of headphones also come with a USB compatible virtual 7.1 sound card for best performance. You can also use the regular 3.5mm jacks, but you’d probably prefer the USB connection anyway. One pretty handy feature is the automatic mic mute, which turns off the mic if you fold it upwards. The surround sound also works pretty well, and is a boon while play FPS games, especially online. A great buy for the price!

Price: Rs. 5600

Tritton AX Pro Dolby Digital Precision

Owned by Mad Catz, the Tritton series of headphones is another range we think that isn’t given its due. Specifically, the Tritton AX Pro is one of the few headphones that features true 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround. Yessir, none of that virtual stuff, this here is the real deal. The big headphones aren’t just for show, because they house 4 separate speakers for individually channeled sound. Also included is a control device which allows you to adjust sound and change between Dolby Pro Logic and and Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound. As you can imagine, the sound is phenomenal, and unlike most headphones. Honestly, it’s more than awesome value for money.

Price: Rs. 7000

SteelSeries Siberia V3

The fact that this is the second Siberia series pair of headphones on the list speaks volumes about how good SteelSeries are at making gaming headphones. The newest member of the family offers the excellent sound quality for gaming made better, and is one of those no-nonsense headphones. No claims of super-extra-mega-whoopdeedoo bass and all that, but a crisp and clear sound perfect for gaming. It does come with custom software that allows you to tweak the sound, but that’s about it. In terms of build quality, the Siberia V3 still stands out, but a definite con is that the headband is non-adjustable.

Price: Rs. 8400

Sennheiser U320

When you think of gaming headphones, Sennheiser is probably not a company that comes to mind, but boy have they knocked it out of the park with the U320. As always the U320 features excellent build quality and doesn’t have any gimmicks, it’s purely great sound. It’s comfortable, compatible with all consoles and PCs, and features separate volume control for game and chat audio. The main USP is the universal compatibility, so if you’re a gamer who uses multiple platforms and wants the best aural experience from all, the Sennheiser U320 should be in your arsenal.

Price: Rs. 12,400

Razer Tiamat 7.1

The Razer Tiamat 7.1 is the big daddy of gaming headphones, featuring 7.1 surround sound (as you can imagine), supreme sound quality, excellent noise cancellation and comfort. The steep price is definitely something to consider, but if you’ve got the setup for it, the Tiamat 7.1’s sound quality is nigh unbeatable. Note that for the 7.1 surround sound experience, you’ll need a compatible soundcard, without which it will simply run in stereo mode, which is honestly a waste. There’s some pretty cool features like the microphone that can be hidden in the left ear cup, an in-line volume and sound control that lets you tweak individual channels and changeable ear cup backplates, as well as logos that light up. The ultimate gaming headphones available in India!

Price: Rs. 15,800

So those were our picks for the best gaming headphones you can buy in India! Note that there are more options and better ones, but unfortunately, they’re not sold in India. We’re talking about the Turtle Beach range, the Astro range and even the high end Creative range, so if you get the chance to have all these options, you’re choices might change. Do let us know what you thought of our list via the comments below!

The post Top 10 Headphones For Gaming In India For PC, Xbox One and PS4 appeared first on Latest Tips and Tricks - Computers, Mobiles, Gaming, Internet and Windows.

Facebook Messenger On The Web

On March 25, Facebook revealed the Messenger Platform and Businesses on Messenger, which basically allows developers to integrate Facebook chat within their apps and services, plus develop addons for it. This will allow developers to use the existing Facebook chat infrastructure, and enhance business to consumer interaction. Think of something on the lines of an e-commerce website telling you where your order is, on Messenger. So instead of just interacting with friends and other people, you will soon be able to interact with organizations as well, and get personalized updates. Combine this with the ability to use apps on Messenger, and you’ve got yourself quite a robust all-in-one messaging platform.

The Facebook Messenger Web reveal now makes much more sense, and even though is quite basic right now, will probably build into a much more feature rich platform down the line. As of now it’s pretty simple. You login to the Facebook Messenger website from your PC, and you can chat with all your friends, without seeing timelines, updates or the news feed. Think of it as a desktop version of the app, albeit with lesser features. You can still chat on the main Facebook page, but we wouldn’t be surprised if Facebook decides to redirect chat to this website sometime in the future. So if you use Facebook mainly to chat with friends and aren’t too bothered about the other aspects, you’d probably love this! But then again, there’s the very real possibility of you being forced to use it to chat sometime in the future, like how the Messenger app was separated from the Facebook mobile app. Is this something you’d love or hate? Let us know what you think!

The post Facebook Launches Standalone Messenger Web Service appeared first on Latest Tips and Tricks - Computers, Mobiles, Gaming, Internet and Windows.

Now, you’ll probably find a lot of ads and popups telling you to download software to speed up your PC, and in most cases, they’re all useless adware. There’s only a few good programs out there that cleanup your laptop or desktop, and even fewer that are free. The useless ones usually ask you to pay for cleanup after checking, and exaggerate problems, or install toolbars and adware silently, so it’s very important to get the right tool. We tell you 5 great free tools to speed up your laptop or desktop PC that actually work!

Top 5 Free Tools To Speed Up Your Laptop or Desktop PC

CCleaner

First up we have the extremely effective and no-nonsense CCleaner. Developed by Piriform, CCleaner is one of those rare tools that does exactly what it advertises, without any drama. You won’t find a flashy UI and fancy animations, but it does its job effectively. Included is a temporary and junk file cleaner, a registry cleaner, system restore tool, drive wiper, uninstaller and startup manager. The temporary and junk files as well as the registry cleaner are pretty much just ‘analyze and clean’, but the startup manager is manual. CCleaner just displays a list of the programs starting up with Windows, and it’s up to you to remove them. Discretion is advised, since it does not advise you on what to remove and what to keep. We think CCleaner is one of the best tools available, free, light and completely safe. A must have!

AusLogics Disk Defrag Free

The hard disk drives we use commonly in laptop and desktop PC’s are magnetic, and actually have something called a ‘platter’, where the data is stored. Several platters are used to increase storage capacity, but that doesn’t change the fact that the data is physically accessed by the spindle. Basically, data is written to a section of the platter, and if you want to access it, the spindle has to physically be at that section. Now, if the data is fragmented, and spread out all over the disk instead of being at one place, data access naturally becomes slow, because the spindle has to check multiple sections. Defragmentation is a process in which all the data is organized better, so that access is faster. Plus, free space is consolidated. Although Windows has a built in disk defragmenter, it’s not particularly great, so we recommend AusLogics Disk Defrag Free. This light and quick tool defragments your hard disk, optimizes file placement and keeps the MFT separate to reduce chances of corruption. It’s easy to use as well, so shouldn’t be troublesome for new users either. Fragmentation is usually one of the biggest causes of slowdown, so make sure you defragment your laptop or desktop PC regularly!

SlimWare Utilities SlimCleaner

If you’re the sort of person who doesn’t want to bother much with clicking around and checking what to do, SlimCleaner is for you. It’s a pretty great tool that optimizes and cleans your laptop or desktop PC without much intervention. Using data aggregated from its users, it recommends optimal settings for your computer. It’s got a junk file cleaner, startup manager, disk cleaner, registry cleaner, settings optimizer, file shredder, scheduled optimizer and much more. SlimCleaner is a fantastic piece of software that does almost everything, one of the few viable all-in-one tools out there. Highly recommended from our side!

Should I Remove It?

If you’ve got a new laptop, chances are that it’s come with software you don’t need or use. Known as bloatware, these programs are basically useless web applications, trials for expensive paid software or just unnecessary utilities. It might get difficult to understand what tools should and shouldn’t be kept, so if you’re unsure about what to do, Should I Remove It? is the tool for you. This lighweight application basically tells you, via user aggregation, about which programs you should let be, and which ones you should remove. Most of these unwanted programs startup with Windows or run in the background and slow down your computer, so getting rid of them is always a great idea. The ratings and percentage of removal tell you which programs are harmful, and which aren’t.

Autoruns

Finally, we have Autoruns, a super detailed tool that lets you manage, you guessed it, autorun programs. It’s the most comprehensive startup monitor tool you can find, but we have to say, it’s not for newer users. There’s no handholding or automatic scanning here, Autoruns aggregates all information about startup programs and sorts them into convenient categories for easier review. It won’t tell you about which ones are good and which ones aren’t, but what it does do is tell you which ones are from Windows. Apart from that, it also scans for BHOs (Browser Helper Objects), boot hijack images, Windows services, media codecs and more. One of the best tools to understand what’s going on under the hood. You’d be surprised about how much stuff is running in the background!

We guarantee, if you keep using these tools as recommended and regularly clean up your laptop or desktop PC, you won’t ever face problems of slowdowns. Do let us know if you had any problems, or need help using them!

The post How To Clean Up Your Laptop – 5 Free Tools To Speed Up Your PC appeared first on Latest Tips and Tricks - Computers, Mobiles, Gaming, Internet and Windows.

The Best Laptops of 2015 Under 35,000 INR

Fujitsu Lifebook A544

It may not be the most well known brand in India, but Fujistu is one of the most respected brands around the world. Their Lifebook series of laptops are well known for their durability and robustness, so if you have any apprehensions about picking one up, you can rest easy. The Lifebook A544 kicks off our list by being the most affordable laptop of the bunch, and pretty much the perfect office laptop. It’s one of the few to pack in a mobile processor that’s not power saving (the M range), so you can expect pretty good performance as well. There’s 3 USB 3.0 ports, a powerful battery and the option to upgrade RAM to 16 GB. For this price, we can’t ask for anything else!

• Processor: 2.4 GHz Core i3-4000M Dual Core Processor
• RAM: 4 GB RAM, expandable upto 16 GB
• Storage: 500 GB HDD
• Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4600
• Screen: 15.6 inches, 1366 x 768 px resolution
• Weight: 2.4 Kg
• OS: FreeDOS
• Price: Rs. 28,999

Dell Inspiron 3541

Next, we have the Dell Inspiron 3541, powered by the AMD A6 APU. It’s not much of a processing powerhouse, but should do for daily use and light gaming. Since the APU has a built in 2 GB AMD Radeon HD R5 M230, HD content should be a breeze too. It’s got pretty much everything you need, 4 GB RAM and a 500 GB HDD, plus has Windows 8.1 installed out of the box. Dell’s widespread service network and proven reliability are bonuses as well. All we can say is, if you’re looking for a value for money deal, there’s almost nothing as good as this!

• Processor: 2.4 GHz AMD A6-6310 Quad Core Processor
• RAM: 4 GB RAM, expandable upto 8 GB
• Storage: 500 GB HDD
• Graphics: 2 GB AMD Radeon HD R5 M230
• Screen: 15.6 inches, 1366 x 768 px resolution
• Weight: 2.4 Kg
• OS: Windows 8.1
• Price: Rs. 30,190

Dell Vostro 14 V3446

When we said there’s almost nothing as good as the previous laptop on our list, this was the exception. The Dell Vostro 14 is light, compact and packs a pretty mean punch at an extremely affordable price. Weighing in at 2 Kg and sporting a 14 inch display, the Vostro is perfect for office goers and commuters who travel around a lot with their laptops. The best part is that it will do just fine for casual gamers as well, because of the 2 GB Nvidia GeForce GT 820M dedicated graphics card. Only downside we see is that it doesn’t come with Windows installed, but if you’re not a Windows user or already have a license, this should be one of those eyes closed purchases.

• Processor: 1.7 GHz Core i3-4005U Dual Core Processor
• RAM: 4 GB RAM
• Storage: 500 GB HDD
• Graphics: 2 GB Nvidia GeForce GT 820M
• Screen: 14 inches, 1366 x 768 px resolution
• Weight: 2.04 Kg
• OS: Ubuntu
• Price: Rs. 30,240

Lenovo Flex 2-14D (59-436783)

Now, if you’re not looking for a performance powerhouse but want something light, portable and multifunctional, look no further than the Lenovo Flex 2-14D. The feature list is nothing short of phenomenal. You get a touchscreen with convertible functionality, a backlit keyboard, 8 GB SSD, Windows 8.1 built in and a pretty formidable graphics chipset. The Flex 2 lets you turn the screen backwards upto 270 degrees, and can be operated only by the touchscreen.  It’s also the lightest on our list, weighing in at just 1.9 Kg. Check out the full specsheet and the price, you’ll be as surprised as we are!

• Processor: 2.4 GHz AMD A8-6410 Quad Core Processor
• RAM: 4 GB RAM, expandable upto 16 GB
• Storage: 500 GB HDD, 8 GB SSD
• Graphics: 2 GB AMD Radeon HD R5 M230
• Screen: 14 inches, 1366 x 768 px resolution, touchscreen and convertible
• Weight: 1.9 Kg
• OS: Windows 8.1
• Price: Rs. 33,290

HP 15-r032TX

Next we have the simple yet functional HP 15-r032TX. It’s got decent specs, a dedicated graphics card and comes with Windows 8.1 installed. If you’re looking for a light gaming machine that you can just buy and start setting up, this one should be your pick. Honestly it doesn’t stand out in terms of much else, but you can’t find much fault with it either. You should be able to find similar specs at lower prices, but those laptops probably don’t have Windows installed, so this is a good all round pick.

• Processor: 1.7 GHz Core i3-4005U Dual Core Processor
• RAM: 4 GB RAM, expandable upto 8 GB
• Storage: 500 GB HDD
• Graphics: 2 GB Nvidia GeForce GT 820M
• Screen: 15.6 inches, 1366 x 768 px resolution
• Weight: 2.4 Kg
• OS: Windows 8.1
• Price: Rs. 33,490

Lenovo G50-70 (59-422406)

Lenovo’s offering’s tend to be on the slightly more expensive side, so it’s a little difficult to find Core i5’s under 35,000 INR, but if you’re not too concerned about that, there’s always this particular model. The G50-70 packs in a 4th generation Core i3 processor, 4 GB RAM and a dedicated 2 GB AMD Radeon HD R5 M230 graphics card. Combine that with Lenovo’s competent service network, it’s build quality and the included Windows 8.1, and you’ve got a pretty sweet deal!

• Processor: 1.7 GHz Core i3-4030U Dual Core Processor
• RAM: 4 GB RAM, expandable upto 8 GB
• Storage: 500 GB HDD
• Graphics: 2 GB AMD Radeon HD R5 M230
• Screen: 15.6 inches, 1366 x 768 px resolution
• Weight: 2.5 Kg
• OS: Windows 8.1
• Price: Rs. 34,400

Dell Vostro 3546 (354654500iGU)

The Dell Vostro 3546 is a great office machine, offering power enough for all tasks, at a fairly affordable price. It’s one of those no nonsense laptops that scores high on reliability and durability. Again, the Dell name should appeal to many office goers. The only downside is that it doesn’t come with Windows built in. There’s also no dedicated graphics card, but the Core i5’s built in Intel HD Graphics should do just fine for tasks other than gaming. Considering it’s aiming for a different demographic altogether, it’s not something we can fault it with. Again, another good all round pick.

• Processor: 1.7 GHz Core i5-4210U Dual Core Processor (Upto 2.7 GHz Turbo Boost)
• RAM: 4 GB RAM, expandable upto 8 GB
• Storage: 500 GB HDD
• Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4400
• Screen: 15.6 inches, 1366 x 768 px resolution
• Weight: 2.38 Kg
• OS: Ubuntu
• Price: Rs. 34,499

HP 15-r014TU

The HP 15-r014TU is an alternative to the Dell Vostro 3546 we mentioned above. If for some reason Dell’s don’t suit your fancy, there’s this laptop to consider. It’s got similar specs as the Dell, but has a larger 1 TB HDD instead of the 500 GB one on the former. It’s fairly light too, weighing in at 2.23 Kg, but doesn’t offer much else. Nevertheless, it is one of the cheapest 4th generation Core i5 laptops you can find. The only other con we see is the body, which is the same one used for a lot of other HP laptop models.

• Processor: 1.7 GHz Core i5-4210U Dual Core Processor (Upto 2.7 GHz Turbo Boost)
• RAM: 4 GB RAM, expandable upto 8 GB
• Storage: 1 TB HDD
• Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4400
• Screen: 15.6 inches, 1366 x 768 px resolution
• Weight: 2.23 Kg
• OS: FreeDOS
• Price: Rs. 34,680

HP Compaq 15-s106TU

HP bought out Compaq and rebranded their offerings as budget performers a couple of years ago. Although sporting similar designs and the same customer support network, the Compaq range tend to be more durable and better built. The 15-s106TU from Compaq is a good all round performer and features specs pretty much identical to the HP 15-r014TU. The only difference is that this particular Compaq model also comes with Windows 8.1 built in. Here’s the specsheet:

• Processor: 1.7 GHz Core i5-4210U Dual Core Processor (Upto 2.7 GHz Turbo Boost)
• RAM: 4 GB RAM, expandable upto 8 GB
• Storage: 1 TB HDD
• Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4400
• Screen: 15.6 inches, 1366 x 768 px resolution
• Weight: 2.23 Kg
• OS: Windows 8.1
• Price: Rs. 34,890

HP Compaq 15-s104TX

Okay so we cheated here a little bit, because the HP Compaq 15-S104TX is a shade above 35,000 INR, but that extra price is actually worth it. It’s the only laptop in this range that offers both a 4th generation Core i5 processor, and a dedicated 2 GB graphics card. Plus, there’s a 1 TB HDD thrown in, so it’s pretty much a budget gamer’s dream. The combination of the processor and graphics card should let you play some of the newest games at low-medium settings, and for the price, it’s a steal. Hence, the exception!

• Processor: 1.7 GHz Core i5-4210U Dual Core Processor (Upto 2.7 GHz Turbo Boost)
• RAM: 4 GB RAM, expandable upto 8 GB
• Storage: 1 TB HDD
• Graphics: 2 GB Nvidia GeForce GT 820M
• Screen: 15.6 inches, 1366 x 768 px resolution
• Weight: 2.23 Kg
• OS: FreeDOS
• Price: Rs. 35,990

So those were our picks for the best laptops you can buy in 2015 under 35,000 INR in India! We’ve tried to cover all types of users, but if you think something isn’t right, feel free to let us know via the comments below!

The post Top 10 Laptops Under 35,000 INR Worth Buying in 2015 appeared first on Latest Tips and Tricks - Computers, Mobiles, Gaming, Internet and Windows.

Microsoft Lumia Device with Camera Bump Leaked – Lumia 1020 Successor?

A recent leak shows a silver color device that looks very similar to the Lumia 1020, with a huge camera bump, possibly housing the next generation PureView sensor. The aluminum body, however, looks unfinished and could point to the fact that this is a Microsoft prototype, which could mean one of two things. One, could be that Microsoft is indeed working on a Lumia 1020 successor, and two could be that this is simply a failed experiment. There were rumors around mid 2014 of a device codenamed ‘McLaren’, which was apparently supposed to be the new Windows Phone flagship. That mantle, however, now belongs to the Lumia 930. The McLaren was supposed to introduce ‘3D touch’, a Kinect like feature that allowed users to interact with the phone without actually touching it. It was cancelled earlier this year, unfortunately.

The device in the pictures supposedly runs on Windows Phone 8.1 as evident from the onscreen keys, and packs in a 5 inch full HD screen, an undisclosed chipset and 2 GB of RAM. Those are definitely flagship specs, but the LED flash and lack of mechanical shutter could mean that this prototype doesn’t have as powerful of a camera unit as the Lumia 1020. Here’s hoping that Microsoft is indeed developing a Lumia 1020 successor for the current generation of devices, and that this prototype is just an early stage of the same. As of now there are no other details available, so if anything turns up, we’ll keep you updated!

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10 Best Upcoming PlayStation 4 Games of 2015

Tekken 7

Kicking off our list is the next installment in the trademark PlayStation fighting series. Tekken 7 is all set to release next year for the PlayStation 4 after its arcade release in Japan around February 2015. It will continue the Mishima Saga, and throw light on the events that lead to the fight between Heihachi Mishima, his son Kazuya and grandson Jin Kazama. You can also expect to find out more about the Devil Gene from the series. Tekken 7 will introduce a couple of new mechanics to the game series and feature only one on one fights like the classic games instead of the Tekken Tag Tournament team based fights. New characters, an updated graphics engine and classic Tekken gameplay together? Yes please! Don’t forget to check out the kickass trailer as well.

The Order: 1886

When The Order: 1886 was revealed by Sony, it looked so gorgeous that everyone thought it was a CGI trailer. If that doesn’t gun your gears, we don’t know what will. Billed as a showcase for the PlayStation 4’s graphical capabilities, The Order is a third person action game set in an alternate history London, where an order of selfless Knights keeps the world safe from half human, half animal monsters. This centuries old conflict carries forward to the industrial revolution, where inventors go all steampunk and invent technologies far ahead of their time to battle the monsters. Throw in some internal conflicts and a mystical liquid that grants extended life, and you’ve got yourself a cracker of a storyline. Initial gameplay impressions made it seem a bit too linear, but only time will tell how the full release turns out, so we’re hoping for the best.

Bloodborne

Bloodborne is one of those must play console exclusives. Directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki, the same visionary behind classics like Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls, it looks and plays very similar to its spiritual predecessors, which is definitely a good thing. Bloodborne is more fast paced and frantic though, features firearms and varied weapons, and has a gothic setting, compared to the medieval one of Dark Souls. The story follows a traveler who makes a pilgrimage to a city called Yharnam, famous for curing illnesses. Upon arrival, he discovers that the city has been run over by monsters created by a plague, and has to fight for his life. Look for Bloodborne in stores in March 2015!

No Man’s Sky

No Man’s Sky is an extremely ambitious open-world space exploration adventure game. According to developers Hello Studios, since the game world is procedural generated via a 64-bit algorithm, there are over 18 quintillion possible planets to explore! Along with exploration, players will engage in large scale space battles as well as combat threats on each planet. Think of it as a universe given to you to explore, with millions of possibilities. Players will also be able to document and share information about discovered worlds with others, creating a cohesive universe. The interesting part is that it will still be playable offline, and will make its way to PC sometime after the PlayStation 4. No Man’s Sky has already won several pre-release awards, and something tells us it will continue to win accolades after release.

The Tomorrow Children

The Tomorrow Children is something of an oddity. Very less information is available about it, but what we do know is that it’s a charming looking sandbox style action-platformer set in a Soviet Union themed post-apocalyptic dystopia. That sure is a lot of words, but it still doesn’t begin to describe how unique the game looks and feels. Communism, live building, destructible environments, cute characters, action, there’s just so many things that The Tomorrow Children incorporates. It looks like one of the most interesting and innovative titles of 2015, we can’t wait to play it!

Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture

If that title hasn’t already got you interested, we don’t know what will. Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture is the next effort from the developers of the excellent Dear Esther and Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs. It’s an exclusive title that follows six characters from a small British county called Shropshire (yes, that’s a real place) during the apocalypse. Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture is one of those quiet and beautiful games like Gone Home and of course, Dear Esther, that places an emphasis on the experience of exploration and influencing events around you. Are you tired of the usual action fare populating most game stores these days? Then you should really look to pick this up, and while you’re at it, do give Dear Esther a try too!

Until Dawn

Until Dawn features an abandoned cabin in a forest, 8 teenage friends and a crazed serial killer. Sound like a typical cliched slasher movie? Don’t write it off just yet, because Until Dawn looks and plays nothing like what it sounds like. It’s a third person survival horror game, with a firm emphasis on horror and survival. Initial impressions are overwhelmingly positive, citing a great balance between horror and meaningful branching paths. Consider this, you control the fates of all 8 protagonists, you decisions could result either in all of them living, or all of them dying, and everything in between. It was originally slated to release for the PlayStation 3, but was pushed to the next generation for a much better experience, and frankly, it shows. Until Dawn features the talents of Hayden Panettiere (Heroes), Rami Malek (Night at the Museum series) and more.

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

Does the Uncharted series even require an introduction? Naughty Dog’s action-adventure third person game gets a fourth and finally true next generation installment next year on the PlayStation 4. Uncharted 4 will see the return of Nathan Drake, protagonist of all previous games, who embarks on a journey to uncover a centuries old conspiracy around a legendary pirate treasure. It will undoubtedly be the blockbuster release of the year for the PlayStation 4 in 2015, and considering how all previous games were critical and commercial darlings, we can’t help but be excited! Oh and did we mention, The Last of Us game directors Neil Druckmann and Bruce Straley will be leading the project, can it get any more awesome?

Hellblade

Hellblade is, as described by developers Ninja Theory, an ‘independent AAA’ title for the PlayStation 4. The makers of DmC: Devil May Cry and Heavenly Sword haven’t revealed too much about the title, but it’s supposed to be a third person hack and slash game similar to its previous efforts. Hellblade follows a heroine called Samua in a hellish underworld, whose story is based on a Celtic myth. It’s tentatively set to release in 2015, but there are no other details available other than the fact that it will also make its way to the Xbox One soon. Check out the trailer to get a glimpse of the badass heroine and setting.

MLB 15: The Show

If you’re a console gamer and love baseball, the PlayStation 4 is the only way to go. Sony’s exclusive official MLB game series will have its next installment on the PlayStation 4 sometime next year. Again, not too many details are available, but we do know that it looks fantastic, will feature dynamic commentary and will of course feature licensed MLB players. Screenshot attached is from MLB 14. Play ball!

And there you have it, the final piece in our feature of the top upcoming games of 2015. Do let us know what you thought of our picks for all three platforms, PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4!

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10 Best Upcoming Xbox One Games of 2015

Halo 5: Guardians

There’s really no other way to put it, Xbox and Halo are almost synonymous. The original killer app for the Xbox still remains so and is perhaps the most anticipated Xbox One game of 2015, if not the most anticipated game of the year overall! Developed by 343 Studios, a new Microsoft studio that also helmed the excellent Halo 4 and Halo: Master Chief Collection, Halo 5: Guardians is the next chapter in the Reclaimer Saga and continues the story from Halo 4. Guardians will introduce a new character called Agent Locke, who’s also the protagonist of the Halo: Nightfall webseries. The multiplayer beta bundled with the Halo: Master Chief Collection looks and plays nothing short of awesome, and if there’s one thing the Halo series has revolutionized, it’s online multiplayer. Halo 5: Guardians will be available November 2015. Halo fans, rejoice!

Rise of the Tomb Raider

We loved the new Tomb Raider reboot and so did pretty much all of the gaming world. Lara Croft’s gritty origin ticked all the right boxes and reinvigorated a dwindling franchise, and brought the character right back on the map. In a surprise announcement at E3 2014, it was revealed that Rise of the Tomb Raider would be a timed Xbox console exclusive, which was surprising because the franchise originally made its console debut on Sony’s machine. This will be a true next generation Tomb Raider, and will continue from the previous game, chronicling how Lara Croft became the woman she is. Not many details are known about the plot or new features, but considering the previous game, we’re pretty sure it’s going to be fantastic.

Quantum Break

Quantum Break is the next action-adventure game from Remedy Entertainment, developers of the hugely successful Max Payne franchise. It features time manipulation and a tie in TV series, basically blending live action and gameplay to create a seamless experience. It’s nothing like anything done before, and the gameplay footage is nothing short of amazing. You get to play as three characters who get time manipulation powers after a time travel experiment goes awry. The trick is using the environment and everything in it to your advantage while controlling time. Shawn Ashmore (Iceman in the X-Men series) and Dominic Monaghan (Meriadoc Brandybuck from the Lord of the Rings series) are playing undisclosed roles in the TV series, so we can’t wait to see how it turns out! There’s no release date as of now though.

Scalebound

From the Bayonetta series developer Platinum Games, comes Scalebound, an action-RPG featuring monsters, dragons, epic battles and did we mention, DRAGONS! Not much is known about the title as of now, but the reveal trailer has kept us captivated. Game director Hideki Kamiya said that the Dragon will fight alongside the player against monsters in the game, and that the game will be ‘large scale, epic and dynamic’. Despite all the allure around the title, we can’t help but anticipate it, because almost every other effort from the Japanese studio was fantastic. Fingers crossed!

Crackdown

Crackdown is an open world third person shooter in which players assume the role of a biologically enhanced Agent tasked with defeating crime lords in the fictional Pacific City. The original two games were well received on the Xbox 360, and a third game was announced for the Xbox One, but simply called ‘Crackdown’, omitting the number 3. The interesting part is that it’s supposed to be a sequel to Crackdown 1, more than Crackdown 2, and will feature the same signature art style, frantic fights, destructible environments and multiplayer. The highlight of the Crackdown, however, would be its cloud powered rendering, which will allow for much larger scale battles and destruction. It’s in the early stages, but is one of the showcases Microsoft promised for in a cloud powered gaming machine. Again, details are scarce, but with the original creator and developer Dave Jones working on it, we can surely be hopeful! Meanwhile, check out the badass reveal trailer for the game.

Fable Legends

The original Fable, a fantasy roleplaying game by Peter Molyneux was one of the most well received and hyped games for the first Xbox back in 2004. While sequels didn’t fare that well, they were still among the best roleplaying games around. Xbox One will see the release of the fifth installment in the series, called Fable Legends. The gameplay is very interesting, following players taking charge of one of 5 characters, 4 heroes and 1 villain. They can choose to be one of the heroes, each with different skills and abilities to fight against the forces of evil, or be the villain and control the outcome of the heroes quest, controlling things like enemy spawn places as well. It’s a mix of turn based combat and RPG and runs on Unreal Engine 4, so we’re definitely looking forward to it.

ScreamRide

ScreamRide is a super fun looking rollercoaster simulation that lets you also blow up stuff. You read that right, not only do you get to build different types of rides and solve puzzles, but you also have a mode where you gain points by demolishing rides. There’s also something called the ScreamRider mode, where you get to go on the rides. It’s been called a spiritual successor to RollerCoaster Tycoon, and as big fans of the series, ScreamRide looks like a ton of fun. The best part is that there’s so much more to the game than just simulation and management, for those times you just want to cut loose.

Below

If you haven’t tried any indie games yet, this is the perfect time to start, with both Microsoft and Sony backing indie developers to create exclusive games. Below is a new top down adventure game by Capybara Studios, which stars a nameless protagonist stranded on a remote island. Your objective is simple, to survive. The gorgeous art style and ‘brutal but fair’ gameplay, along with randomly generated environments is sure to enthrall and challenge gamers, specially those who enjoyed Dark Souls. Why, you ask? Because death in the game is permanent. If you enjoy a challenge and indie games, Below looks like something right up your alley!

Ori and The Blind Forest

Ori and The Blind Forest is a beautiful looking adventure platformer from indie developer Moon Studios. It will make its way to the Xbox 360 and Windows as well, but was showcased extensively in the Xbox One reveal. Ori and The Blind Forest follows Ori, a white guardian spirit who has to rescue his adopted mother in a forest, kidnapped by a malevolent entity called Kuro. Initially, Ori is weak, but gains experience and abilities throughout the duration of the game, and teams up with a blue orb called Sein. Platformers are scarce in number these days, and for fans of the Rayman series, Ori and The Blind Forest should be a must buy. Not convinced yet? Have a look at the amazing trailer.

Cuphead

Last but by no means the least is Cuphead. This curiously named indie game is perhaps the most unique on the list, incorporating an art style reminiscent of 1930’s Max Fleischer cartoons. In case you’re not aware, he was the man behind classics such as Popeye and Betty Boop, founding the legendary Fleischer Studios. Cuphead is a surreal and unique run n’ gun game that follows the titular protagonist who has to repay a debt to the devil. It features a branching level structure and boss fights, who can also be defeated by two players in cooperative mode. Developers Studio MDHR say that Cuphead will constantly keep getting new content in the form of levels and bosses. But that’s enough of that, to really get a hang of what we’re talking about, check out the trailer.

10 more games done, this time for the Xbox One. Stay tuned for our feature on the top 10 upcoming PlayStation 4 games of 2015, and until then, don’t forget to tell us what you think of the list!

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10 Best Upcoming PC Games of 2015

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The third installment in the immensely popular Witcher franchise is all set to release on February 24, 2015. This highly ambitious title claims to have the largest open world in modern RPG history, and has been in development for over 4 years. Wild Hunt will be the concluding chapter chronicling the saga of series protagonist Geralt of Rivia, and continues from the story of its predecessor. Highlights include adaptive AI, dynamic environments and a realistic day and night cycle which will affect the world and its inhabitants, of which there are far more than in the earlier games. CD Projekt RED, the Polish developer behind the release says that the game will take over 100 hours to complete, and from what we’ve seen, it looks nothing short of breathtaking. Definitely a must play for RPG fans!

Update: The game has been delayed to May 19, 2015.

Dying Light

From Polish developer Techland comes Dying Light, an action game with survival horror elements featuring, you guessed it, zombies! Techland is widely known for the Dead Island series, which also had a similar premise. In fact, it apparently started out as a Dead Island sequel, but was made into a completely new game because of all the new features. Dying Light will incorporate a day-night cycle crucial to gameplay, and also features parkour. The day-night cycle feature in the game is very interesting and quite unlike other zombie games. By day you’re supposed to scavenge for resources and set traps since the zombies are slow and can be spotted easily, but by night it’s a whole new ballgame because the zombies become far more aware, can sprint, have increased damage and have ‘parkour’ skills similar to yours. It’s bloody, fast paced and looks great, what’s there not to like?

Evolve

Evolve is a cooperative/squad based shooter videogame published by 2K Games and developed by Turtle Rock Studios, known for developing Left 4 Dead 2 DLCs. The idea of the game is very cool, 4 players are pitted against 1 monster controlled by a 5th player, and the objective is to eliminate each other. What’s really interesting is how the monster can consume smaller AI controlled creatures to evolve and get stronger, while the 4 players have their own unique abilities. There’s different kinds of monsters as well, although as of now only 2 types have been revealed. It’s set to release on February 10, 2015 and will feature free DLCs for all players, which is a fantastic move on the developer’s part. Evolve is built on the 4th generation of CryEngine, so you can bet it looks amazing too.

Grand Theft Auto V

Grand Theft Auto V released on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 last year, but it’s still one of the most anticipated games of 2015. It’s a direct sequel to Grand Theft Auto IV, and is set to release on PC on January 27, 2015. Just like the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions released on November 18, 2014, the PC version will feature updated visuals and a brand new first person mode which pretty much changes the whole game. Grand Theft Auto V follows three protagonists, unlike the previous installments of the series, and features an even larger world with a wealth of story and side missions. Review scores have been nothing short of stellar, and the game has won several Game of the Year awards already. PC gamers will obviously get the best visual fidelity and modding capabilities, so calling this a must play is an understatement!

Battlefield Hardline

If there’s one thing the Battlefield series is known for, it’s huge open battlegrounds in an army/special forces setting. That’s all set to change with the next installment in the long running Battlefield franchise, dubbed Hardline. It’s the first in the series to focus on cops and robbers, so to speak, and will see players take part in the ‘war on crime’. The single player campaign will follow Nick Mendoza, a SWAT officer involved in criminal activity, and features multiple ways to complete objectives, either by stealth or the slam-bang route. Multiplayer has been refreshed as well, with four new modes called Heist, Blood Money, Hotwire Mode and Rescue, all related to the police versus criminals setting. From what we’ve seen, it looks pretty fun, and the shift in focus is sure to breathe new life into the series. It’s set to release on March 17, 2015.

Project CARS

Project CARS has been in development from a while, and ever since it has been revealed to the public, one word gets tossed around very often, ‘gorgeous’. Developed by British developer Slightly Mad Studios, Project CARS is a racing simulator featuring lifelike recreations of tracks and cars, down to the tiniest details. If you’ve been following its development, there are some jaw dropping real versus ingame videos that are almost indiscernible from each other. Funding and development was assisted by players via something called Tool Packs, and those who assisted in the development will be entitled to a portion of the game’s profits for 3 years. Whatever way you see it, that’s a sweet dead. It will be distributed by Namco Bandai Games and is set to release on March 17, 2015.

Tom Clancy’s The Division

Announced during E3 2013, The Division is a third person shooter developed by a triumvirate of studios under Ubisoft. It follows a specially assigned military group called the ‘Strategic Homeland Divison (SHD)’ or just ‘The Division’, established to combat threats caused by a virus that brought down the United States. Players are pitted against AI controlled units and other players in a massively multiplayer online situation, and are equipped with futuristic weapons and gadgets. Another unique feature is how players on tablets can control drones to assist players on consoles and PC. It looks fantastic, runs on the custom Snowdrop engine designed for next generation consoles, and from what we’ve seen, plays well too. A release date hasn’t been announced yet, but it should release  in 2015.

Batman: Arkham Knight

The fourth installment in the highly acclaimed Batman Arkham series is also set to release on June 2, 2015. It marks the return of original developer Rocksteady Studios, and continues the story from Batman: Arkham City. Batman fans will be happy to know that series veteran Kevin Conroy will reprise his role as the caped crusader too! Arkham Knight is set one year after the events of Arkham City, where Scarecrow is looking to end the Dark Knight once and for all by uniting all his enemies. There’s also a mysterious new villain called the Arkham Knight, who looks like a technologically superior and militarized version of Batman. The Arkham Knight is an entirely new character created for the game series. Gotham City from this iteration of the series is said to be 5 times larger than the area playable in Arkham City. Considering the track record of these games, we can’t help but be excited!

RollerCoaster Tycoon World

It may not be a huge title and probably won’t get as much press as some of the other games on this list, but damned if doesn’t hold nostalgic value for a huge chunk of PC gamers. RollerCoaster Tycoon World is the fourth game in the park management videogame series, and is exclusive to PC. It will be the first to feature multiplayer and ‘Park Pulse’, a new way to see what visitors think of your park. Similar to RollerCoaster Tycoon 3, it will feature 3D graphics and will let players ‘ride’ the rollercoasters in either first or third person view as well. Apart from the quintessential rollercoasters, there will be a host of new rides and attractions, and a much more efficient management system. If you’re an old school gamer, RollerCoaster Tycoon should be at the top of your to-buy list the next year!

Shadow Realms

Think of RPGs and the one of the first words that comes to mind is BioWare. The genre stalwarts announced a brand new IP called Shadow Realms after a cryptic marketing campaign, and boy does it look good! Shadow Realms hasn’t got a concrete release date yet, but we can’t help but be hopeful of a 2015 release. It’s set in both modern day Earth and a parallel magical world called Embra, where players take part in a war against a malefic enemy called the Shadow Legion. Similar to Evolve, it also features a 4v1 scenario where players can choose to be either part of the band of 4 Heroes with different classes and abilities, or the 1 powerful Shadowlord. The environment, missions and world are all dynamic, and will change according to updated content. Sounds cool, doesn’t it?

So those were our picks for the top 10 upcoming PC games of 2015, got any suggestions or questions? Think another game deserves a spot on our list? Do let us know via the comments below!

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In a complete surprise move teased only yesterday, Nokia has launched a new tablet running on Android 5.0 Lollipop, called the Nokia N1. The N1 is Nokia’s first device after the split of its devices business, and is a return to the well known ‘N’ series nomenclature. Smartphone fans everywhere would remember the beautiful N8 as one of Nokia’s last great devices before the Lumia era. From initial impressions, the Nokia N1 looks like a gorgeous device, and has the specs to match, along with Nokia’s trademark build quality. Here’s what we know about the Nokia N1!

Nokia N1 Specs and Features – First Android Tablet from Nokia

The Nokia N1 is a beautiful device. It looks something like an iPad Mini, but one ups even Apple’s effort on several fronts. There’s a lot of firsts on the device too! It’s the first device to include a Type-C reversible USB port (although the USB 2.0 flavor, not USB 3.1), and one of the first with the new Intel Atom Z3580 SoC. Initial benchmarks show that the new Moorefield processor beats the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 handily in both the CPU and GPU department, and leaves even the Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 behind in the CPU test. The Snapdragon 805 seems to have a slight advantage in the GPU department though. Nonetheless, it’s a powerful processor, packing in 4 cores and a 64-bit architecture, another first for Nokia devices. This is the full specsheet:

• SoC: Intel Atom Z3580
• CPU: 2.3 GHz quad core Intel ‘Moorefield’
• GPU: PowerVR G6430
• RAM: 2 GB RAM
• Storage: 32 GB, non expandable
• Screen: 7.9 inch IPS LCD screen with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, 1536 x 2048 px (324 PPI)
• Camera: 8 MP rear facing, 5 MP front facing
• Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, MicroUSB 2.0 port, Type-C Reversible USB
• Battery: 5300 mAh
• OS: Android 5.0 Lollipop

Quite honestly, other than the non expandable storage, those are some killer specs. While real world performance of the new Intel SoC hasn’t been seen yet, the benchmarks do seem promising, so we’ll give it that. Coming to the design, yes, at first glance it is very similar to the iPad Mini, but has several differences. First of all, it’s thinner and lighter than Apple’s offering, at just 6.9 mm thick and weighing in at 318 gm. With a zero air gap screen and an aluminum finish, it looks impressive and very upmarket indeed. The Nokia N1 will launch with Android 5.0 Lollipop, with something called the Nokia Z Launcher on top, which is an Android launcher that lets you perform tasks by making letter based gestures on the screen. It’s pretty neat, and if you want to give it a try, you can find it for Android phones on the Google Play Store now. The tablet version, however, is exclusive to the Nokia N1.

But here’s the best part, the suggested retail price for the Nokia N1 is just 249$, a whole 50$ less than the iPad Mini 2 and a whopping 150$ less than the iPad Mini 3. It’s slated to launch first in China on the Chinese New Year (February 19, 2015) and will make its way to select European countries after that. No word on a global launch yet, but it should be soon after. So Nokia now has a fantastic looking, powerful and yet affordable tablet on the way for 2015, could this be a revival of the venerable Nokia brand? Sound off in the comments below!

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Windows 7, however, didn’t allow USB recovery drives and only supports recovery discs, which we will also cover. Windows 8 and above, can do both. With a recovery drive or disc, you can start afresh anytime your computer runs into problems. Windows files corrupted? Registry busted? No boot up? Need to start over? You can solve these and many problems by creating a Windows recovery drive. It’s always better to be prepared, and it won’t take too long either, here’s how to create a Windows recovery drive!

Creating a Windows Recovery Drive for Windows 8/8.1

Step 1: Go to the Control Panel.

Step 2: Click “Recovery” and then select “Create a recovery drive”.

Step 3: At the first screen, click Next, and if your computer came with a recovery partition, you can copy that to the USB drive as well. However, this will take up much more space.

Step 4: Select the USB drive you want to use as a recovery drive and click next. Note that all other data will be erased from it.

Step 5: You may be asked if you want to delete the system recovery partition, we recommend you keep it. And you’re done!

Creating a System Repair Disc for Windows 8/8.1

Step 1: Go to the Start Menu and type “recdisc”, then press enter.

Step 2: In the new dialog, select the disc drive where you have an empty disc inserted and click “Create Disc”. That’s it!

Creating a System Repair Disc for Windows 7

Step 1: Go to the Control Panel and click “System and Maintenance”, then select “Backup and Restore”.

Step 2: Click “Create a System Repair Disc” on the left side of the window.

Step 3: In the new dialog, select the disc drive where you have an empty disc inserted and click “Create Disc”. That’s it!

It’s just that easy, so we recommend everyone to have a recovery drive or disc ready in case of emergencies. Using it is pretty simple as well, you can simply boot from it, or insert it when prompted to get everything up and running again.

If you have any questions regarding the process or need any help using the recovery media, don’t hesitate to reach out to us via the comments below!

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The 5 Best Earphones Under Rs. 1500

Sennheiser CX-380

You just can’t have a list of best earphones or headphones without products from the German stalwart. Coming in at the most affordable on the list, the Sennheiser CX-380 is definitely for active users. Featuring an extra long cord, sweat proof design, lightweight build and very comfortable earbuds, this is a perfect fit if you want to play sports while listening to music. Sound quality is pretty great, with decent highs and middles and good bass as well. For best quality, you’ll need to break it in for 48 hours though, so don’t judge it by the first listen. The only con we see is the bright orange design, which may not appeal to everyone. Otherwise, it’s a great buy!

Price: Rs. 1250

Skullcandy Smokin’ Buds S2SBFY

Another popular offering from the American manufacturer, the Skullcandy Smokin’ Buds S2SBFY hits the sweet spot in terms of price and performance. It comes in a bunch of funky designs and has decent sound quality, although it’s more geared towards hip-hop and dance music aficionados. Bass levels are slightly higher than the competition, while mids are decent. It doesn’t have the best clarity for instrument based music, but if that’s not your thing anyway, you can’t go wrong with this pair.

Price: Rs. 1350

JVC HA-FX101-A Xtreme Xplosives Series

For a pair of earphones with such an in your face name, the JVC HA-FX101 actually does pretty well. It’s again geared towards the EDM and hip-hop listening crowd, with good bass and decent treble. Note that for optimum sound quality you’ll need to burn in these earphones for around 48 hours, playing music above normal listening level. With a proper equalizer, you can get a lot out of these earphones, and they look pretty cool too!

Price: Rs. 1375

Audio-Technica ATH-CK323M

The Japanese aural experts recently launched a whole range of new headphones and earphones in India that fit almost every budget. While their lower range isn’t anything to write home about, the ATH-CK323M makes a pretty good case for itself at this budget. According to us, it’s one of the best looking on the list, and does well for rock music listeners. The bass is a little muddy, but the treble levels are quite good. It will sound better after burn in, and you’ll notice better mids and lows.

Price: Rs. 1450

SoundMAGIC PL30

SoundMAGIC has made a name for itself recently for creating great quality earphones at really affordable prices. In fact, the more expensive SoundMAGIC E10 has been making waves for offering sound quality equivalent to earphones almost double its price! This pair, on the other hand, has been around for a while, but is still one of the best. It’s not flashy looking or anything, but offers some pretty cool features. You can convert the pair into sports earphones with the provided clips, and it also has a little dial behind each earpiece that lets you adjust bass. Clarity is great and so are the mids and trebles, but it isn’t the bassiest of the bunch. Nevertheless, a very good buy!

Price: Rs. 1499

So those were our picks for the best 5 in ear headphones under Rs. 1500. Got any suggestions or queries? Let us know via the comments below!

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Overwatch Details – Blizzard’s New Franchise

Since a couple of years, there were rumors of a new IP from Blizzard codenamed ‘Titan’, an MMOG. After going through a reboot, it was cancelled in September 2014 for apparently not going the direction in which they wanted it to go. It was described as an MMORPG in a futuristic sci-fi world where players were heroes by night and commoners by day. Overwatch caught everyone completely by surprise because there weren’t any rumors about it floating around either. Chris Metzen, Senior Vice President of Blizzard Entertainment confirmed that Overwatch incorporates some elements and art from Titan, such as maps, but the two were otherwise unrelated.

Overwatch is basically a team based multiplayer shooter along the lines of Team Fortress 2, with unique classes and an art style reminiscent of the same. In the newly released trailer and gameplay footage, we’ve seen some of the characters, which really do look diverse and have cool powers. What’s interesting is that even though it’s a first person game, there’s melee based characters too! From the first look, the game seems to be very fast paced and fun, with a focus on team diversity.

As of now there’s no particular story, but it has been described as a 6v6 shooter on a future earth with an ‘elite international task force’ fighting to restore balance and liberty in all nations. It also isn’t clear whether the game will be free to play or subscription based. And although Blizzard said they want to see Overwatch ‘played wherever it can be played on’, we’re guessing this is a PC only affair for now. Here’s the official press release:

The action of Overwatch takes place in a technologically advanced, highly stylized future earth. In a time of global crisis, an international task force of soldiers, scientists, adventurers, and oddities known as Overwatch had come together to restore peace to a war-torn world. After many years, the group’s influence waned, and it was eventually disbanded. Overwatch might be gone now . . . but the world still needs heroes.

With an emphasis on accessibility and pure fun, Overwatch brings Blizzard’s signature easy-to-learn, hard-to-master gameplay to the FPS genre. Harnessing the power of their hero of choice, players will join forces in teams of six and battle each other across a range of futuristic global locations, from the hologram-lit streets of London to a bazaar in the shadows of a high-tech Egyptian pyramid. Every battlefield is iconic and built to highlight each character’s unique abilities, and fights can shift from streets to rooftops to open skies within the span of a breath.

“Overwatch is our take on a vibrant, near-future universe with amped-up characters and action-packed team-based gameplay,” saidMike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. “With every new Blizzard game, we look at our favorite aspects of a genre and put our own spin on things. Our goal with Overwatch is to create an awesome FPS experience that’s more accessible to a much wider audience while delivering the action and depth that shooter fans love.”

The heroes of Overwatch each bring their own distinct weapons and superabilities to bear. Here’s just a glimpse of the numerous heroes that will ultimately fill Overwatch’s rosters:

• Tracer, a former British test pilot who shrugs at danger, can execute impossible acrobatic assaults thanks to her ability to teleport, drop energy bombs, and even reverse time.
• Reinhardt, a hulking German soldier in battle armor, can charge great distances and pin his enemies to a wall or slam the ground with his rocket hammer to knock them off their feet.
• Hanzo, a bow-wielding Japanese mercenary, has the ability to scale walls with his bare hands, fire off a tracking device that illuminates nearby enemies for his team, and unleash a huge spirit dragon that does grievous damage to all enemies in its path.
• Symmetra, an Indian architech, manipulates light and energy to shield her allies and damage her enemies—and she can turn the tide of any battle by building a device that instantly transports her teammates to the front lines.

As seen above, there seems to be representatives from multiple countries, which is a great thing. Check out the video below for a preview of the characters and do let us know what you think of it!

The post Overwatch Announced – Blizzard’s First New IP in 17 Years appeared first on Latest Tips and Tricks - Computers, Mobiles, Gaming, Internet and Windows.

India is one of the biggest market for smartphones, and it would be folly to not tap into the budget segment where most of the sales happen, thus was born Android One. It’s basically a range of smartphones curated by Google, which standardizes specifications and uses only certain hardware for the best price to performance ratio. Since Google is aware of the exact hardware running under the hood, it’s offering priority updates just as it would to flagships, thus bridging the gap between premium and budget segments. It’s a fantastic initiative that would keep a huge number of buyers happy, because there’s no more asking “will my phone be updated?” So here’s the range of Android One smartphones in India you should be considering, starting from the very affordable price point of Rs. 6000!

As mentioned earlier, it’s only specified hardware, so all these phones have the same specifications. The only things you should consider while buying them are the build quality, service network and price, although they’re only Rs. 200-400 apart. Here’s their specifications:

• SoC: MediaTek MT6582
• CPU: 1.3 GHz quad core ARM Cortex-A7
• GPU: Mali-400
• RAM: 1 GB RAM
• Storage: 4 GB, expandable upto 32 GB via MicroSD
• Screen: 4.5 inch IPS LCD screen, 480 x 854 px (218 PPI)
• Camera: 5 MP rear facing, 2 MP front facing
• Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, MicroUSB 2.0 port, 3G, Dual SIM
• Battery: 1700 mAh
• OS: Android 4.4.4 KitKat, Upgradeable to Android 5.0 Lollipop

Range of Android One Smartphones from Rs. 6000

Karbonn Sparkle V

Probably the best looking of the Android One bunch, the Karbonn Sparkle V comes in blue, red and white, and features a minimalist yet good looking design. The build quality is solid, and there’s really nothing to complain about at this price. The speakers, however, stand out, and are better than the other Android One smartphones. That’s not to say they’re significantly better, but less tinny than others. And finally, there’s the price. You can grab a red or white Karbonn Sparkle V for just Rs. 5999, which makes it the best value for money.

Spice Dream UNO Mi-498

The first Android One smartphone to be launched and available widely, the Spice Dream UNO Mi-498 is the second one on our list. We think that it’s not the best looking of the bunch, but build quality is quite decent. Spice has a decent service network around India as well, so if anything happens to go wrong, you shouldn’t have too much trouble fixing it. The rubbery finish on the back may not appeal to many, but you can’t argue that it’s one of the most pleasant to hold among its Android One brethren. You can grab one for Rs. 6299.

XOLO One

Then there’s the XOLO One, which looks and feels the most premium among the bunch. Featuring a faux leather back like the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, it feels the best in hand. It has one distinguishing feature though, unlike other phones which feature 4 GB internal storage, this features 8 GB. It’s not a huge difference, but should count for some brownie points nonetheless. The XOLO One is available for Rs. 6350.

Micromax Canvas A1

Finally, there’s the Micromax Canvas A1, which should win over a lot of people because of the brand name and widespread service network. After all, it is the largest Indian mobile phone manufacturer. Looks and build wise we think that the A1 is more on the ‘good’ rather than ‘great’ side. Nonetheless, it’s neither significantly better nor worse on other counts compared to the others, so you won’t really go wrong buying one. It’s available for Rs. 6399.

Bottom line? You get a fantastic smartphone for less than Rs. 6500 that will run the latest Android version and be supported for at least a year and a half. Whatever way you see it, that’s a fantastic deal. Considering the fact that a majority of smartphones bought in India are from this segment, the holiday season going on and Android 5.0 Lollipop set to release by the end of the month, this is a great time to buy a new smartphone from the Android One range!

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The Xbox One Bundle Deals

On paper the price may be 349$, but we’d say it’s actually lesser than that. Even the starting bundle comes with a game (or two!) so effectively you’re getting the console for 300$, which is a fantastic deal, whatever way you put it. There’s 4 console bundles available, all of which come with free games. The regular Xbox One without Kinect will also be available for 349$, but with these bundles, we’re pretty sure no one’s going to buy just the console! Speaking of bundles, these aren’t just the regular consoles either, the Sunset Overdrive bundle includes the gorgeous white Xbox One, which some might remember was the special developer console color. The Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare bundle, on the other hand, includes a limited edition design console and a 1 TB HDD instead of the stock 500 GB one. Interested? Here’s details of each bundle and where you can buy them!

• Xbox One Assassin’s Creed Unity Bundle – 349$ (Includes black Xbox One, 1 controller and copy of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag and Assassin’s Creed Unity each)
• Xbox One with Kinect Assassin’s Creed Unity Bundle – 449$ (Includes black Xbox One with Kinect 2.0, 1 controller and copy of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag and Assassin’s Creed Unity each)
• Xbox One Special Edition Sunset Overdrive Bundle – 349$ (Includes special edition white Xbox One, 1 controller and copy of Sunset Overdrive)
• Xbox One Limited Edition Call 0f Duty: Advanced Warfare Bundle – 449$ (Includes limited edition Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare design console with 1 TB HDD and 1 controller, with a copy of Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare)

Those are pretty sweet deals, we think, and while the Xbox One may be far behind in sales to the PlayStation 4, this will help close that gap a little bit at least. Some of its so called killer apps are still yet to come, but if you’re looking for a game console to buy this holiday season, there’s nothing that beats the value offered here!

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Must read: Xbox One vs. PlayStation 4

Sony at Gamescom 2014 – The Essentials

The Big Exclusives

The conference started off with a bang, showing off the first ever gameplay trailer for the fantastic looking action RPG Bloodborne. Developed in house at SCE Japan Studios and directed by Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls director Hidetaka Miyazaki, Bloodborne looks slick, brutal and will most probably have gamers tearing their hair out in frustration. In short, we’re loving it!

There was also a trailer for the new Infamous: Second Son DLC shown off, along with a look at LittleBigPlanet 3.

10 Million PlayStation 4’s Sold Worldwide

As far as sales are concerned, Sony is well and truly ahead, announcing that a whopping 10 million consoles have been sold worldwide since launch. Microsoft hasn’t officially revealed any numbers yet, but most sources say that it has sold somewhere around 6-7 million units, far behind Sony’s number. But then again, the Xbox One is all set to enter 26 new markets this September, so there could be an improvement there.

Indies!

Sony’s got some pretty great backing from indie developers, and games like Journey have actually defined the last console generation. This time around, there’s a lot more to look forward to, with Rime, The Tomorrow Children, Volume, Hollowpoint, Runemaster and a nifty looking mystery game called the Vanishing of Ethan Carter. If indies are your thing, then the PlayStation 4 seems to be the way to go!

Hellblade

When the Devil May Cry reboot was announced, it was met with a fair share of criticism for reinventing a beloved character and changing the tone of proceedings. Upon release, however, it was met with positive response from both gamers and critics, and praised for its graphics, story and of course, action. Developers Ninja Theory announced their new action game called Hellblade with a brutal looking CGI trailer, and announced that it would be a timed exclusive to the PlayStation 4.

DayZ Coming to the PlayStation 4

It began as a mod for ArmA, and quickly grew into something of a phenomenon on Steam. This cooperative zombir survival shooter is available on PC right now, but will be coming to the PlayStation 4 with improved visuals, which will also benefit PC users.

Destiny

Bungie’s new project may be coming to other platforms as well, but will offer exclusive content to PlayStation owners. GameStop’s most preordered new IP in history has been receiving rave reviews from all corners of the web, and Sony fans will be able to get early access to a map and two expansions. Looks like the creators of the much loved Halo franchise are well on their way to making another iconic series!

Far Cry 4’s Exclusive Content

Apart from Destiny, PlayStation owners will also get exclusive Far Cry 4 content, along with a new feature called ‘Keys to Kyrat’, which will let players send upto 10 friends keys that let them play Far Cry 4 online even if they don’t own the game. The only catch is that they can play only for 2 hours. Nevertheless, it’s an interesting mechanic that might just catch on in the near future. Far Cry 4 is all set to release this November on Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3 and PC.

Trailers for Metal Gear Solid 5 and Shadows of Mordor

Apart from a new story trailer for the excellent Shadows of Mordor, there was a showing from Hideo Kojima of Metal Gear Solid 5, which involved Snake stealth killing enemies using boxes (with sexy pictures, might we add) and then putting a PlayStation 4 box on his head. We aren’t joking.

The Firmware 2.0 Update

Last year’s promised feature, Share Play will finally be making its way to the PlayStation 4, and will let friends jump in and play games online even if one of them doesn’t own the game. Described as a ‘virtual couch’, it will allow gamers to share games and play multiplayer no matter where they are, and even if one of them hasn’t bought the game. It will also allow friends to take control of another console, say when you need help killing that one difficult boss. An amazing feature, we think!

Until Dawn and Alienation

Until Dawn is a new IP from Supermassive Games that follows a bunch of teenagers stuck in a storm and stalked by a psychotic masked killer. Sound familiar? This Friday the 13th-esque horror game will feature all you’d expect from the genre including tons of gore, decapitations and of course, teens making wrong decisions. It looks fantastic, seems to be non-linear, and will allow players to decide the fate of the gang. Bring it on!

If you were an early adopter of the PlayStation 4, Resogun was probably one of those games that pushed you to go the Sony way. Coming up from the same devs is a suitably brutal and crazy looking shooter called Alienation. This top down action shooter is a PlayStation 4 exclusive as well.

Wild, Revealed

The most interesting reveal of the whole conference for us, however, was Wild. A new indie game from Michel Ancel, director of absolute gems like Rayman and Beyond Good & Evil, Wild is an open world adventure-cooperative game that lets you play as both animals and cavemen in a prehistoric setting. Not much was revealed about the game as such, but the trailer showed off some amazing environments, and had that trademark Ancel touch to it. Considering his past track record, this could be one of the best games of next year.

Thus ended both big press conferences at this year’s Gamescom. We say that both camps had s0lid presentations all around, and there’s no clear winner. Let us know what you think!

The post Gamescom 2014 Sony PlayStation Roundup – All You Need to Know appeared first on Latest Tips and Tricks - Computers, Mobiles, Gaming, Internet and Windows.

Must read: Xbox One vs. PlayStation 4

Microsoft at Gamescom 2014 – The Essentials

Assassin’s Creed Unity

One of the two Assassin’s Creed games set to release this year, Assassin’s Creed Unity is the ‘next gen’ of the pair, and is set to release on the Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC on October 28th. Microsoft kicked off their press conference with a new trailer that showed off the great visuals and some gameplay as well. Unity definitely looks fantastic and will probably be one of the must have games of this year. It’s set in Paris during the French Revolution, following a new character called Arno Dorian, who’s working to expose the secrets behind the revolution.

The FIFA 15 Bundle

It would be blasphemy if nothing related to football was revealed at the home of the FIFA World Cup 2014 winners, and Microsoft didn’t disappoint. Europeans get an exclusive bundle with FIFA 15, in addition to the fact that both of Microsoft’s consoles get an exclusive ‘Ultimate Team Legends’, which lets you play as stars from yesteryear. If you’re looking for the definitive FIFA 15 experience, looks like Xbox is the way to go!

Call of Duty – Advanced Warfare Bundle and Footage

The new Call of Duty looks radically different from its predecessors, runs on a new engine (thankfully) and features exosuits, a la Titanfall. Debuting fresh single player footage from the campaign, Activision seems to be mighty friendly with the folks at Redmond, because there’s also an exclusive Call of Duty bundle coming this November. What does it include, you ask? An Xbox One console with a 1 TB hard disk and some nifty decals, a custom controller and headset, as well as a copy for the game. All this for $499!

Evolve Disappoints

The E3 Game of Year 2014 had a gameplay demo at Microsoft’s conference today, but was rather underwhelming, with a random map being played. It’s been pushed to 2015, so there’s still time for polish, and hey, it looks pretty fun. Here’s to hoping that it won’t turn out to be a dud.

Rise of the Tomb Raider – Exclusive to Xbox!

Perhaps the biggest surprise this time around was the announcement that the next installment in the much loved Tomb Raider series, sequel to the amazing reboot (Read our review here), will be an Xbox exclusive. This isn’t timed exclusivity either, you can play it only on either one of the Xbox consoles, ever! There’s word on the street that it might hit PCs as well, but PlayStation 4 owners are sadly, out of luck. Considering the fact that it debuted on the PlayStation, this is quite the snag, and after the success of the last game, could turn out to be one of the best games of 2015.

Quantum Break’s First Gameplay Footage

Remedy Entertainment’s new game, revealed last year, looked intriguing in the trailers, but we couldn’t really say anything about it unless and until we actually saw it in action. And today, we did. The makers of Max Payne and Alan Wake have outdone themselves with this slick looking and fun third person action game with a time travel twist. Footage shown today showed off some of the the time control powers, action sequences and cover mechanics, which looked pretty rad in that atmospheric setting. A definite must have, from what we’ve seen today!

Indies, new games, and Forza Horizon 2

This generation has been a lot about indies, and Microsoft’s got some pretty great ones coming to the Xbox this year and the next. There’s real doozies like Smite, Below and the absolutely stunning Ori and the Blind Forest among others, which should really shake up the catalog usually dominated by shooters.

Then there’s Screamride, an absolutely nuts rollercoaster game that encourages players to build the craziest rollercoasters they can think of, and defy the laws of gravity. You get to put innocent people through some crazy death defying (or not so defying sometimes) rides while building your themepark. If that doesn’t pique your interest, we don’t know what will!

Forza Horizon 2, sequel to Forza Horizon on the Xbox 360, something of a more accessible spin off of the original series, is all set to hit stores by the end of September. A true open world mode, along with new AI and shiny cars were shown off in the short demo.

Sunset Overdrive Bundle

The wacky looking third person action game from Insomniac Games was shown off as well, in addition to a new bundle. Remember that nifty looking white Xbox One that was given out to developers? You can now get your hands on one of those, with Sunset Overdrive included for $399 this November!

All things Halo

Last, but by absolutely no means the least, was the Halo showcase. The most recognizable franchise on Xbox had a great showing this Gamescom, with a preview of the classic Halo 2 map Sanctuary, announcement of the Halo 5: Guardians beta, and the Halo Channel reveal. The Halo 5: Guardians beta is all set to roll out by the end of this year to those who’ve bought the Halo: Master Chief Collection, and will run from 29 December 2014 to 18 January 2015. The lucky folks will get to sample 3 modes, 7 maps and 11 weapons, with exclusive rewards that will carry over to the full release. And finally, we were shown the Halo Channel, a new hub for all things Halo, including videos, exclusive content and rewards. It will come to Windows 8.1, Windows Phone 8.1 and of course, the Xbox One.

So what did you think of Microsoft’s Gamescom this year? Did it convince you to get an Xbox One or is it another dud? Let us know what you think!

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The inductive charging used in such devices and charging pads was part of a worldwide standard called ‘Qi’, which is supported by biggies like Nokia, Samsung, LG, Sony, Blackberry and Motorola Mobility. Enter uBeam, a new contender to the wireless charging throne, who have developed technology that lets you charge your device anywhere in the room, with no need for charging pad contact! Here’s more about the revolutionary technology.

uBeam – The Future of Wireless Charging

Introduced over 3 years ago, uBeam was just a concept that made something almost impossible seem possible. Cut to the present, and they’ve actually presented a working protoype. uBeam, first and foremost, uses ultrasound technology to juice up your devices. Similar to WiFi, it can even use repeaters or multiple transmitters to amplify signals around your house, so you can basically charge your phone no matter where you are. There’s of course a limit to the range, and even though a particular value isn’t revealed yet, it’s supposed to have the range of ‘a whole room’. The best part? The emitter is hardly 5mm thick, so it can be actually embedded into the wall or any other place without making it look out of place.

So how does it work? It’s pretty simple actually, the emitter converts electricity into ultrasound waves, which is caught by the device and then converted back into electricity. Since ultrasound waves have almost no penetrative abilities, it will require larger emitters or repeaters for larger areas. But according to CEO Meredith Perry, range won’t be an issue, since the technology scales really well. In fact, she’s confident that uBeam will one day become as ubiquitous as WiFi.

The working prototype of uBeam is apparently ready and will form the base for commercial and business applications in the future. We’re extremely excited in this development and can’t wait for it to be actually implemented! Looks like the Qi Alliance will have to step up their game, their resonance charging technYour thoughts?

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Instagram Bolt – The Snapchat and Taptalk Killer?

The premise of Instagram Bolt is very simple, it lets you share photos and short video clips with a single tap that will disappear once viewed. It’s essentially the same thing that Taptalk does, only with a different UI and the Instagram name on it. Tapping on a friend’s picture lets you send them a picture, and long tapping lets you send a video. Once the recipient swipes it away after viewing, it’s gone. Apart from the very obvious ‘private’ chats that will happen, Bolt is aiming to fulfill sharing the need for sharing pictures or videos that aren’t worth putting up on Instagram or Facebook. Also, despite being owned by Facebook, you can only import phone contacts, and not Facebook friends. But then again, it’s just launched, so you can expect that to change soon.

Instagram Bolt is available for Android and iOS devices now, but only in 3 countries, South Africa, New Zealand and Singapore, a rather odd mix. Since more than half of Instagram users are from outside the United States, it’s safe to say that Bolt will be launched in other countries as well soon, but we can’t say when. It is quite interesting to note that it wasn’t launched first in the United States, its country of origin. So what do you think of Instagram Bolt, will it fade into oblivion or become the next big thing?

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Nokia Lumia 530 – Specs and Features

Dethroning the Lumia 630/635 as the cheapest Windows Phone running the latest version, 8.1, the Lumia 530 may not boast of of crazy specs, but does get Microsoft’s latest mobile experience to the masses. Considering the stiff competition it faces from the excellent Moto E, Asus ZenPhone 5 and its own sibling, the Lumia 630/635, the Lumia 530 has a more difficult task at hand this time around. Sporting a trademark brightly colored new body, a slightly improved screen, a dual SIM version and expandable storage support upto 128 GB via MicroSD, the Lumia 530 is a fairly close competitor to the Moto E. However, the Moto E still boasts of double the RAM and a slightly higher resolution screen. Here’s the full specsheet:

• SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 MSM8212
• CPU: 1.2 GHz quad core ARM Cortex-A7
• GPU: Adreno 302
• RAM: 512 MB RAM
• Storage: 4 GB, expandable upto 128 GB via MicroSD
• Screen: 4 inch IPS LCD screen, 480 x 854 px (245 PPI)
• Camera: 5 MP rear facing
• Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, MicroUSB 2.0 port, 3G
• Battery: 1430 mAh
• OS: Windows Phone 8.1

With Indian manufacturers launching great Windows Phones at low prices, like the Micromax Canvas Win W121 and W092 and the XOLO Win Q900S, the Lumia 530 may not be the budget buyer’s first choice, but then again, the Nokia brand does appeal to many. The Lumia 530 will be available worldwide in August for $115.

The post Nokia Lumia 530 Announced – Cheapest Nokia Windows Phone 8.1 Device appeared first on Latest Tips and Tricks - Computers, Mobiles, Gaming, Internet and Windows.

Nvidia Shield Tablet – Specs and Features

First things first (I’m the realest?), the Nvidia Shield Tablet is called the most powerful because of the Tegra K1 chip inside, successor to the Tegra 4 chip, which is still not a bad option among all the Snapdragon 800’s and such. The Tegra K1 runs 4 ARM Cortex-A15 cores just like its predecessor, but the bulk of the power comes from the 192 core Kepler based GPU, the same micro-architecture used on the GeForce 700 series graphics cards. This means that it supports standards and technologies usually reserved for full size computers and consoles, and in fact, benchmarks show that it blows away every tablet in the market (yes, that includes iPads) and can run the Unreal Engine 4 demo without breaking a sweat. And that’s not all, it can stream games to your television via HDMI, at upto 4K UHD resolution, if your television supports it, of course. Similar to Project Shield, there’s also Nvidia’s GameStream technology, which lets you stream games from a computer equipped with a compatible GeForce GTX card. Here’s the full specsheet:

As mentioned above, there’s currently a library of 16 titles available that are remastered for the tablet, which include classics like Portal, Half-Life 2 and Trine 2. And that’s not all, apps like Hulu Plus, Netflix, Evernote and Nvidia’s own Dabbler, a hardware accelerated image editing app come pre-installed. There’s also handwriting recognition by way of the built in stylus, and an option for 4G LTE. Any compatible Bluetooth controller can be used to game, but there’s a specific and rather nice controller designed for the tablet (to be sold separately) that uses WiFi Direct and includes headset ports. With super powerful innards, a great full HD screen, so many ways to play and multiple features, battery life is definitely a concern, but Nvidia claims that the Shield tablet will be able to run for 10 hours while playing video, and about 3-4 hours playing games, which is actually pretty decent.

So all this sounds pretty pricey right? It actually isn’t! The Nvidia Shield Tablet will retail at $299 for the 16 GB WiFi version, and $399 for the 32 GB 4G LTE version. The Shield Controller will retail for $59. All of this will be available in the US and Canada by the end of the month, by August 14th in Europe and sometime in the Fall everywhere else. The future for gaming, or at least mobile gaming, is looking pretty bright indeed! Could this be the bridge between console/PC gaming and mobile gaming? Do let us know what you think in the comments section below!

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Check out the updated article for 2015, featuring 4G dongles: 5 Best 3G and 4G LTE Universal Dongles for 2015

The 5 Best High Speed Universal 3G Data Card Dongles

D-Link DWP-157 

The most affordable 3G universal data card dongle on our list comes courtesy of D-Link, a well known networking device manufacturer from Taiwan. The DWP-157 (not to be confused with the DWP-156) is a budget device, but packs in pretty much all the features you will need. As mentioned above, it supports HSPA, has a phonebook facility, memory card support upto 32 GB and even has call support! With a 3 year warranty and solid build quality, there’s really nothing to complain about at this price!

Price: Rs. 1199

Netgear AC329U

This rather brightly colored universal 3G dongle from Netgear may not appeal to some users, but if you don’t mind the color, it’s one the best out there! Again, it supports high speed 3G networks and also includes memory card and call support like most of the devices on this list, but what makes it stand out is the compatibility with Windows, Mac OS X and Linux alike. The 1 year warranty period might also turn off some potential buyers, but it’s a great device nonetheless.

Price: Rs. 1449

Micromax MMX210G

Next up is our very own desi offering, the Micromax MMX 210G. Now one of the largest mobile phone manufacturers in the world, Micromax has been steadily gaining popularity and has even roped in Hollywood star Hugh Jackman as their brand ambassador! The MMX 210G is a fully loaded yet affordable universal 3G data card dongle that packs in features like call support, expandable storage support, a phonebook and SMS memory. It’s slick looking and well worth the price!

Price: Rs. 1595

Lava 21G

Our second Indian manufactured device on the list, the Lava 21G is a premium looking universal 3G data card dongle that supports HSPA networks for super fast internet where available. It has a Qualcomm 8200A chipset, includes phonebook and expandable storage support, but unfortunately doesn’t have calling support. But if you’re going to use it only for browsing the internet, the Lava 21G is definitely a device to look out for!

Price: Rs. 1899

Huawei E8231

Last but definitely not the least is the Huawei E8231, product of the largest communications equipment maker in the world. The E8231 is a fantastic device, pretty much made for sharing internet. It’s the only one here with mobile WiFi support, and can share internet with upto 10 devices, with external power. There’s SMS support, but unfortunately no calling or expandable storage support, so if you’re planning to use it to call, you’re out of luck. What it does really well, however, is create a mobile network for business on the go. A great pick for business users!

Price: Rs. 2049

Those were our picks for the refreshed universal 3G data card dongle list for 2014, with HSPA support! If you think there’s another device that should be on this list, do let us know. And as always, queries are welcome!

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Must Read – How To Recover Lost or Deleted Files – Free Data Recovery

The 5 Best Free Data Recovery Tools

Recuva

First up is the tried and tested Recuva. One of our favorite data recovery tools, Recuva is developed by Piriform, the same folks who gave us the also excellent PC cleanup tool, CCleaner. It supports Windows 8.1 as well as older operating systems until Windows 98, so even if you’re an old timer, you’re in luck! The interface is clean, easy to use, and it even allows data recovery from discs and iPods. Another great addition is the portable version for quick use on USB drives. If you’re looking for a free data recovery tool, Recuva should be at the top of your list!

Download Recuva

SoftPerfect File Recovery

The smallest and simplest looking tool on the list, SoftPerfect File Recovery doesn’t even require you to install it to hard disk. It runs on all versions of Windows from XP to 8.1, and also supports 64-bit systems. Pretty much anyone with minimal tech knowledge can use it, since file scanning and recovery is just a couple of clicks away.

Download SoftPerfect File Recovery

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free

A product of the same developers who created the excellent EaseUS Partition Master range, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free is a slick looking and easy to use program that lets you ‘undelete’ your files. Since it’s from a larger developer, the polish really shows. It features a preview mode as well, so you can see what photo or video you’re recovering, and also has a Mac version, apart from the usual Windows version. Keep in mind though, that the free version allows you only to recover up to 2 GB of data. For recovering more, you’ll have to pay up.

Download EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free

Puran File Recovery

Puran File Recovery is an extremely versatile software that can be used by tech amateurs and veterans alike. It has a wealth of options and often detects the most ‘deleted’ files. It’s supported on Windows XP through Windows 8.1, including 64-bit versions and even allows you to recover lost partitions, as long as they haven’t been overwritten. Plus, there’s a portable version as well, what’s not to like?

Download Puran File Recovery

CD Recovery Toolbox

While all the above tools let you recover data from disk drives, there’s only a few that let you do so from optical media. Considering the fact that a lot of users still use discs to store their data, we give you CD Recovery Toolbox. This is a specialized tool meant for data recovery only from optical media like CDs, DVDs, Blu Ray Discs, you name it. You won’t be able to recover data from your hard disk, but in certain situations, CD Recovery Toolbox is probably the way to go. You can run it on Windows 98 through 8.1

Download CD Recovery Toolbox

If you’re still facing problems with recovering data, it’s probably because its been overwritten and cannot be recovered any longer. Paid tools like Stellar Phoenix Windows Data Recovery might be worth a try, but there’s a good chance that even it can’t do anything if you’re looking for data from weeks or months ago. Do let us know what you think of the list, and queries are always welcome!

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XOLO Win Q900S Specs and Features

Even though it’s super light, the XOLO Win Q900S has a pretty large screen, and that tooHD resolution! Camera lovers will be happy to know that there’s an 8MP snapper on the back with LED flash as well as a 2MP front facing camera. Like the Lumia 630/635, there’s no hardware capacitive keys on the front, there’s optional expandable storage too! It had gone up for preorder exclusively on Snapdeal for Rs. 9999, and is now sold out, the lucky few were able to grab it at a lower price. When the phone comes back in stock, it will retail for Rs. 11,999. Going head to head with the Moto G at this price point definitely isn’t an easy task, but the XOLO Win Q900S doeshave its advantages! It should be available by the second week of July. Here’s the full specsheet:

• SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 MSM8212
• CPU: 1.2 GHz quad core ARM Cortex-A7
• GPU: Adreno 302
• RAM: 1 GB RAM
• Storage: 8 GB, expandable upto 32 GB via MicroSD
• Screen: 4.7 inch IPS LCD screen with Dragontrail Glass, 720 x 1280 px (321 PPI)
• Camera: 8 MP rear facing, 2 MP front facing
• Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, MicroUSB 2.0 port, 3G
• Battery: 1800 mAh
• OS: Windows Phone 8.1

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Google I/O 2014 Keynote – The Highlights

Android One

Google has always faced a little bit of a problem with fragmentation, and even though a lot of it has disappeared in the recent years, there’s still a vast difference between the sort of Android experiences you see on flagships and budget phones. Being open source and all, you couldn’t really expect much from Android budget phones, but now that’s all set to change. Google introduced the Android One program, where instead of OEMs designing and manufacturing phones to meet costs, Google will design budget handsets and all OEMs have to do is actually make them. In other words, Google sets a couple of minimum guidelines for quality devices and experiences, while not compromising on the affordability factor. The best part is that like the Nexus line and Google Play Edition range, the Android One range will also get stock Android and priority updates, which is a fantastic thing, considering how many budget phone buyers are left in the lurch. Aimed squarely at developing markets, Sundar Pichai named Indian OEMs like Micromax, Karbonn and Spice, which will be making some of these devices. It may not be the rumored Android Silver line to replace the Nexus line, but it’s quite similar, only aimed at the opposite end of the market.

Material Design

Perhaps the biggest change to Google’s services as we know them, at least visually, came this year with what they call ‘Material Design’.  Quite in line with Microsoft’s push for a consistent UI across platforms and the recent shift into flat, minimalistic, skeumorphic and solid color based design, ‘Material Design’ is a new visual language all set to come to Android, Chrome and online services. With improved typography, animations and transitions, Google’s new visual language aims to cut down the clutter and present an easy to use and attractive interface that looks great without being intrusive. There’s also a measure of elevation and real time shadows to give it that extra oomph, and we really dig it, since Microsoft’s Modern UI, arguably a trendsetter, has proven that clean and simple is the way to go. Apart from that though, there’s nice little touches of visual flair everywhere, like ripple effects on touch, dynamic shadows and more.

Android L

The next version of Android will of course come with Material Design, and needless to say, it’s going to be a pretty major update. Android 5.0, or Android L as of now, will release sometime in Fall 2014 with a whole bunch of new features. Google’s convention of naming Android versions after desserts will probably be followed this time around as well, so feel free to speculate on what tasty treat Android 5.0 will be named after. Android L is still a developer preview, and even though it wasn’t extensively detailed in today’s keynote, there was quite a lot revealed about it. It wouldn’t be much of a major release if there was only a visual change, and this is where all the new features come in.

First up are the changes to notifications. They’re not completely interactive from the lockscreen, you can either double tap to open the relevant app, or simply swipe them away. Also, notifications are now sorted by importance and relevance, and aren’t in chronological order, so you know you’re getting the important stuff first. There’s also new dynamic notifications, which pop up while you’re doing something else, and are interactive as well. For example, you’ll get a call notification while browsing the internet without the whole screen filling up with it. Second is the new secure lockscreen feature. If you’re wearing an Android smartwatch like the new LG G Watch or Moto 360, as long as both the devices are close to each other, the phone remains unlocked. This will help with using your phone uninterrupted while still keeping the snoopy folk at bay. But then again, if both your smartwatch and smartphone get stolen, it’s easy pickings.

Then we have the deeper integration of Chrome and Android. As mentioned above, even Chrome is getting a makeover, and will now feature a more card based design compared to earlier.  Apart from some pretty cool visual flairs, Chrome can now pull data from your desktop and other Google services as well to offer customized cards, and now developers can place links on webpages that directly open apps, such as a movie ticket booking app. A newly introduced runtime called ART will be implemented in Android L, which has been written from the ground up to support multiple architectures, is 64-bit and more memory efficient. This means that apps will now launch and run much faster, while still consuming less power than earlier. Speaking of which, there’s also a new battery saver mode that uses resources more efficiently to extend battery life by upto 1 and a half hour. Finally, there were new graphics APIs introduced which apparently brings console and desktop level of graphics to mobile devices. There was an Unreal Engine 4 demo shown off which admittedly looked fantastic, and apparently ran on Nvidia’s new mobile chip, coming this fall. While the demo looked great, tech demos always do, and actually implementing it in games will be a tad more difficult. Nevertheless, it’s promising to see the sort of power we can expect from our future mobile devices.

Business users will be happy to know that there’s a new feature called Android for Work that will let them use one device for work and personal use, while keeping data, files and apps secure and separate from each other. Workplaces can easily deploy and remove apps from phones while maintaining a secure environment, courtesy of Samsung Knox, which is now a part of the Android OS.

Android Wear

According to Google, we spend way too much time checking our smartphones instead of being with the people around us, hence, Android Wear. This new line of smartwatches from manufacturers like Samsung, LG and Motorola will seamlessly integrate with Android smartphones, carrying over the same visual design, while letting you interact with and glance at important notifications from your wrist. It actively syncs with your phone, so swiping away a notification there will get rid of it on the phone, and vice versa as well. With a couple of visual designs on the watches, an always on display and interactive notifications, Android Wear is a promising new development that might appeal to many. The Samsung Gear Live and LG G Watch are available to order now, while the Moto 360 will be available this fall. Google also showed off voice integration, cards and apps for the smartwatches, which looked pretty nifty. If you’re planning to jump on the Android Wear developers bandwagon, the SDK is available to download now!

Android Auto

We all know that people using their smartphones behind the wheel cause thousands of accidents every year, and Google’s apparently come up with a way to combat this. They say that we spend a lot of time traveling in cars, and even though they’re such a big part of our lives, they’re essentially disconnected from the digital world. Not anymore though! Android Auto, a new platform to be used in, you guessed it, automobiles was introduced. It will be a new connected experience that expands your Android smartphone’s services into the car’s navigation/entertainment system. A select number of manufacturers are on board with this project, which will allow this seamless connection. So by connecting your Android smartphone to your car, the native UI is replaced by Android Auto, a Material Design and card based UI that allows you to perform essential functions like calling, texting, music and navigation. It will run from your phone, is voice activated and can run third party apps. Of course, Google services like Maps and Music are integrated, and so is voice based search. Android Auto supporting vehicles will be out by the end of the year, and the SDK will be available soon.

Android TV

With all those devices getting the Android treatment, it wasn’t going to be long before Google turned their eye to TVs! The Android TV platform is a new offering, different from the ill fated Google TV introduced 4 years ago. Similar to it’s now popular Chromecast dongle, Android TV will add a UI over your TV and let you access the Play Store to get apps and content. Again using a simple card based UI, Android TV will bring voice based search, context aware content delivery and even gaming to TVs. It will give users the ability to play Android games on their TVs while using an Android device or joystick as controllers, and even allows multiplayer gaming! The promising looking Android TV is all set to debut by the end of this year and will come built in on Sony’s and Sharp’s 2015 UHD TV range. Other manufacturers like Razer and ASUS will create set-top boxes/game consoles that will run Android TV as well, if you’re not planning to buy a new TV anytime soon but want in on this. Developers, the SDK is available now!

Chromecast’s Coming of Age

When first released, Google’s little dongle was praised for all its features, but now it’s going to get even better. Google Cast, now available on Chrome, Android and iOS, is getting a lot more easy to use, with Chromecast not even required to be on the same WiFi network as your device to use it! There’s also the much anticipated screen mirroring, which will be available on a select number of devices as of now. There was a demo of Google Maps being used on a big screen, it looked very impressive indeed. Finally, Google introduced a new feature called Backdrops. They’re basically something like dynamic screensavers that scrolled pictures from multiple curated sources, including your own albums if selected, onto your TVs. With real time syncing, you can even find out more about a picture while its scrolling from your phone or tablet, a nice little feature!

Chromebooks and Android Integration

Google’s online OS might be far from popular, but is definitely gaining traction around the world, mostly in educational institutions. This I/O, we were treated to efforts of bringing Android and Chrome OS closer together, making both easier to use. Similar to the above feature where an Android Wear device in the vicinity would keep your phone unlocked, a Chromebook will do it as well. Apart from this, Chromebooks now have the ability to run Android apps from a paired phone, natively, and even use Chromebook hardware. For example, you can open the Instragram app on your phone and use the Chromebook’s camera to snap a picture, upload it, tag it, and whatever else your phone would let you do. Also, Chromebooks will now display notifications for calls, texts, mails, and even battery alerts from your phone, for one unified Google experience.

Google Drive and Office Suite

Google Drive users will be happy to know that for an amazing 10$ per month, they will be able to avail ‘Drive for Work’, and get unlimited storage as well as online encryption. For establishments depending on Google Drive, this is a definite stand out from this years I/O keynote. But for consumers, what will probably be more interesting is the introduction of Google Slides, their answer to Microsoft PowerPoint. With the acquisition of OpenOffice, Google seems to have stepped up to offer a more complete online productivity experience. Finally, Google Docs now supports native Office editing, which means that there’s no more internal conversions of filetypes, all editing and saving will be done natively.

Google Fit and Google Play Games

With the recent craze for wearables, it’s only logical that health based wearables get some love too. Google Fit is a new set of APIs, similar to iOS 8’s HealthKit, that allows health and fitness tracking devices to natively communicate with Android and third party apps for expanded experiences. This means that data from these devices will be used much more efficiently and you’ll probably see some awesome health and fitness information courtesy of number crunching going on in the background. Bigwigs like Adidas and Nike are already on board, and Google Fit should be more widely used by the end of the year. What’s interesting to see is that unlike Apple, there’s no baked in app to track all this information, everything will go to third party apps.

Finally, we have Google Play Games, which, according to Google, is the fastest growing game network of all time. Users will now have an all new profile with achievement tracking as well as ‘quests’, time based tasks to complete for extra rewards.

So that was our round up of everything that happened at the Google I/O 2014 keynote. What are your views on Android expanding into multiple devices? What about Android L and the new look? Do let us know what you think via the comments below, feedback is always welcome!

The post Google I/O 2014 Keynote Recap – Everything You Need To Know appeared first on Latest Tips and Tricks - Computers, Mobiles, Gaming, Internet and Windows.

In the Facebook revamp, whatever position, workplace or school/college you updated last would appear as your primary network, even if it wasn’t one you wanted to display. The option to join a network or change your primary network may have been removed, but there’s still an easy way to change what network appears next to your name. Read on to find out how to change your primary Facebook network!

Changing Your Primary Facebook Network in 3 Easy Steps:

Step 1 – Go to your Profile and click the little Pencil icon on the top right of the ‘About’ section and click ‘Update Info’.

Step 2 – Update your profile information with all your details, add dates attended as well. Now click ‘Done editing’. By default, the most recent detail will be your primary network.

Step 3 – Now, hover over the workplace/school/college name that you’re a part of and want to appear next to your name, and click ‘Edit’. Update any details if you want to, or if there’s nothing to update, simply click ‘Save changes’.

Now when you hover over your name anywhere on Facebook, the last edited part of your Work and Education section will appear next to your name. Even if it’s not the most recent position you’ve acquired, simply clicking ‘Save Changes’ as mentioned above will trick Facebook into thinking it’s the most recent, and will be featured next to your name as a primary network.

There’s two things to keep in mind here. The first is that despite what appears as your primary network, the About Me section on your timeline will still show the most recent positions or places of education, and the second is that every time you want to add another piece of information to your Work and Education section, you’ll have to follow the above process to change your primary network to whatever you want, assuming the last added one isn’t what you want to be displayed.

Do let us know what you think about this trick, and if you’re facing any problems, we’re happy to help!

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Micromax Canvas Win W121

Among the two, the Canvas Win W121 is the more powerful, packing in a 5 inch IPS LCD HD screen, 8 MP camera, dual SIM functionality, expandable storage and a 2 MP front camera. For the price, it’s offering quite a lot, more so than its closest counterpart, the Nokia Lumia 525. It runs Windows Phone 8.1 out of the box, and looks pretty good, with a faux leather finish on the back, and a Nexus 5 like front. Here’s the full specs:

• SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 200
• CPU: 1.2 GHz quad core ARM Cortex-A7
• GPU: Adreno 302
• RAM: 1 GB RAM
• Storage: 8 GB, expandable upto 32 GB via MicroSD
• Screen: 5 inch IPS LCD screen, 720 x 1280 px (294 PPI)
• Camera: 8 MP rear facing, 2 MP front facing
• Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, MicroUSB 2.0 port, 3G
• Battery: 2000 mAh
• OS: Windows Phone 8.1

Micromax Canvas Win W092

The Micromax Canvas Win W092 is all set to become the most pocket friendly Windows Phone device on the market, and still packs quite a punch. Using the same chipset as its big brother, the Canvas Win W092 will instead come with a 4 inch WVGA screen, a 5 MP rear snapper, expandable storage and also features dual SIM functionality. It will also run Windows Phone 8.1 out of the box. Here’s the full specsheet:

• SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 200
• CPU: 1.2 GHz quad core ARM Cortex-A7
• GPU: Adreno 302
• RAM: 1 GB RAM
• Storage: 8 GB, expandable upto 32 GB via MicroSD
• Screen: 4 inch IPS LCD screen, 480 x 800 px (233 PPI)
• Camera: 5 MP rear facing, 0.3 MP front facing
• Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, MicroUSB 2.0 port, 3G
• OS: Windows Phone 8.1

Micromax has plans to launch even more Windows Phones in the near future, and will supposedly launch a more powerful device in the coming months. For now though, the Canvas Win W121 and Canvas Win W092 seem like a really great alternative to budget Android phones, and is sure to win over some consumers who are apprehensive about moving to a lesser known mobile operating system, at least in India. The great pricing is a definite strength here, and in a price conscious market such as India, it’s an important first step.

Priced at Rs. 9500 and Rs. 6500 respectively, the Canvas Win W121 and Canvas Win W092 will be available from next month at most retailers.

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