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Now access Wikipedia on Aircel For Free

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 26 Jul 2013 04:10:00 +0530

Wikimedia Foundation has announced a partnership with Indian mobile operator, Aircel, to offer free access to Wikipedia on mobile phones. This essentially means that the operator would not levy any data charges when its customers access Wikipedia's mobile websites.

It's the first Wikipedia Zero rollout in the Indian market, and as per the Wikimedia Foundation, this partnership will help provide Wikipedia to 60 million new users in the Indian region.

Following the rollout, Aircel customers will be able to access versions of Wikipedia in English, Hindi, Tamil, and 17 other Indic languages on their mobile phones.

Customers will be able to access m.wikipedia.org, Wikipedia's mobile site for free, in addition to zero.wikipedia.org, which is a text-only version of Wikipedia's mobile site, optimized for slower connections.

Anupam Vasudev, Chief Marketing Officer for Aircel, said, "Through our alliance with the Wikimedia Foundation, Aircel is not only making internet services reach a wider audience, but also helping to encourage and enrich the lives of our customers by offering access to knowledge and information free of cost. We are excited about this partnership and hope this initiative will benefit all our customers from various age groups."

"We hail Aircel's commitment to enhancing and expanding access to free knowledge for their mobile customers. With the partnership, we extend our program to India where we potentially reach millions of people for the first time." said Kul Takanao Wadhwa, Head of Mobile with the Wikimedia Foundation. "Aircel is one of the operators across the globe that has contributed towards expanding free access to Wikipedia Zero to 470 mn mobile users."

Wikimedia Foundation's partnership with Aircel is valid for a period of 3 years. Wikipedia Zero was first rolled out in Uganda in April 2012 with mobile operator, Orange.

Top 10 Features : Android Jelly Bean 4.3

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 26 Jul 2013 03:52:00 +0530

Google has officially announced Android 4.3 24th july, and it’s another gradual update to Jelly Bean, but what’s really new about it? We've broken down the 10 biggest new features including the ones that made it into the highlights - the new multi-user system and the fact that with 4.3 Android should run even faster and smoother.

In reality, it’s clear that Android 4.3 is not a huge update from a user perspective. Google has already done the interface polishing with Android 4.0 and its beautiful Holo UI language and Roboto font.
Now, with 4.3 it is focusing on features that developers will appreciate and the ten innovations listed below will be of most interest to devs, not average users. With over 1 million applications in the Google Play store, Android now can finally say that it has the largest app catalog, bigger than Apple and needless to say multiple times bigger than Windows Phone.

Android 4.3 makes it possible for developers to bring really console-grade games with support for Open GL ES 3.0 graphics and many under the hood improvements in the way the system handles visuals. It is adding tons of possibilities for accessory makers with Bluetooth Smart and Low Energy support. It is opening a new realm for those that want to implement location in their apps with hardware geofencing. All of that is right below, with a quick explanation of each new features in Google’s own words, take a look.

1. Restricted profiles
Google added multi-user profiles in the last iteration of Android and it seems the search engine giant wants to enhance that experience through restricted profiles. With the new feature, users can restrict app usage and content consumption on an Android device. So you'll be able to set profiles for each user of the device in case of multiple users. For instance, parents can control what apps or games their kids have access to on their tablets. However, it's worth pointing out that the new restricted feature is only available on Android tablets.

2. Bluetooth Smart Ready
Google seems to be making way for wearable technology by introducing the Bluetooth Smart Ready feature in Android 4.3. Devices running Android 4.3 will now support low-energy Bluetooth Smart accessories like heart rate monitors, pedometers, thermometers and many others. Users can now sync the low energy devices without these affecting the battery usage of the device, as per Google. This feature was missing on Google's mobile operating system, till now. This would also make way for Android friendly wearable tech.

3. Dial-pad Autocomplete
Android 4.3 now adds the autocomplete feature in the dial-pad suggesting contact names or phone numbers when users start keying-in something. This is not a new feature as OEMs like Samsung and HTC had already introduced this feature on to their UI skins running on top of Android, but devices running stock Android were missing it. Users can initiate the feature by going to the app settings and enabling 'Dial Pad autocomplete'

4.Notification Access
The Notification bar has been a popular feature on Android and with Android 4.3, you can control and interact with the status bar notifications. This would allow users to control how notifications are pushed to the primary and connected devices(smart watches, fitness bands). Users will also be able to see all the notifications at one place.

5. OpenGL ES 3.0
If you are a gaming junkie, the new update will definitely excite you. This feature would let Android devices render high quality graphics in games and other apps. Google claims that Android 4.3 supports the new version of the industry standard for high performance graphics. Google also gave a demo of a game showing detailed textures, lens flare, and reflections. This was missing in Android 4.2.

6. Simplified Setup Wizard
Android Jelly Bean now supports corrections to user inputs while signing-in to the device, the first time. This is due to more streamlined user agreements. Now a user can change the information that was keyed-in during the first boot of the device. Google has also introduced faster user switching from the lock screen in case of multiple users.

7. Bluetooth AVRCP
Google devices running Android 4.3 Jelly Bean can sync with Bluetooth enabled car stereos and offer additional functionality. The Bluetooth AVRCP 1.3 version allows stereos to display metadata such as song names when music is being streamed from an Android 4.3 device.

8. Location accuracy features via Wi-Fi scan only mode
Google has now increased the location accuracy of Android devices by allowing location scanning via Wi-Fi.
It now allows apps to get location data through Wi-Fi even when Wi-Fi is set to off and not being used for data access.

9. Keyboard & input
Android 4.3 comes with an upgraded algorithm for tap-typing recognition that makes text input easier while chatting via messages or even while composing emails. It also brings a new emoji keyboard, which we've previously seen in iOS. The update also adds lower latency input for gamepad buttons and joysticks.

10.Hindi support lands on Android 4.3
Google has introduced native local language support to its operating system for Africaans, Amharic, Hindi, Swahili and Zulu. Hindi has finally reached the stock Android operating platform.
With the update, Google has also added support for Hebrew and Arabic (right-to-left) in the home screen, Settings, Phone, People, and Keep apps.

Bonus - New Camera UI
Android 4.3 also offers a new updated Camera app that features a new arch based menu which makes it easier to control and switch camera settings.

Source:NDTV

Facebook Disallowed kids younger than 13 years old

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 21 Jul 2013 00:39:00 +0530

Facebook directed to prominently say kids younger than 13 years not allowed.

The Delhi High Court Tuesday asked social networking site Facebook to upload a disclaimer on its home page that children below the age of 13 years cannot open an account on it.

A division bench of Acting Chief Justice B.D. Ahmed and Justice Vibhu Bakhru asked Facebook to not allow children under 13 years from opening an account.
Senior advocate Parag Tripathi appearing for Facebook assured the court that the site "will upload the disclaimer on its home page that children 13 years can not open the account".
"You (Facebook) can write on the home page in bold letters that children below 13 are not allowed. There is no harm in doing this," the court said.
The court also asked the central government to tell it as to what law it had for the online protection of children from being abused throught the social networking sites.
The judges also asked the government to inform them on provisions in the law related to a minor using a social networking site.
"In India what is the law for a minor to use Facebook? Is it 13, 16, 18 or no law? What is the requirement under Indian law for Facebook?," the court asked from the central government's counsel who in turn told it that in US the age to use social networking sites is 13 years.
"You don't have a law for protection of minor on social networking sites? You are behind the time...the world has gone much ahead," the court said.
The court was hearing a plea that said minors were allowed to open an account with social networking sites, including Facebook, which was illegal as Indian laws don't permit it.
The public interest litigation was filed by former Bharatiya Janata Party ideologue K.N. Govindacharya.
Appearing for Govindacharya, lawyer Veerag Gupta told the court that the recent incident in Gurgaon where a police found children involved in a sex and smoke party was the latest outcome of the non-compliance of guidelines by Facebook.
He added that hundreds of minor children gathered through Facebook for the party.
He said that Facebook and Google did not even have any email account to lodge complaint about minors misusing social networking sites.
Facebook also filed a reply on the plea and said that its terms and conditions "specifically prohibit children under 13 years of age from registering a Facebook account and using Facebook services".
"The condition forbids users from providing any false information on Facebook, creating an account for anyone other than him/herself without permission, or creating more than one personal account," the reply added.
Minors can only share content with friends, friends of those friends, and network (such as the school they attend, whereas adult can share content with all the Facebook users, the reply said, adding that the site has different privacy settings for minors.
Google, in its reply, said that before opening an account with social networking sites, one had to open an email account and for opening that he or she had to mention the age and if the user was below 13 years, he could not open an account with social networking sites.
It added that Google had already put in place a plethora of steps on the issue of safe usage of Internet.

Source: NDTV

Google to launch Moto X phone on August 1 with Motorola

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 21 Jul 2013 00:30:00 +0530

Google Inc's Motorola division appears set to unveil its much anticipated Moto X phone on August 1 at an event in New York City.
Email invitations sent to the media on Friday displayed the Moto X name in bold letters. The invitation depicted several youths holding the Moto X, the first smartphone Motorola has developed since its 2012 acquisition by Google.
Email invitations sent to the media displayed the Moto X name in bold letters. The invitation depicted several youths holding the Moto X, the first smartphone Motorola has developed since its 2012 acquisition by Google.
Motorola, which Google bought for $12.5 billion, has steadily ceded market share to Apple Inc and Samsung Electronics Co, with most of its latest phones garnering relatively lukewarm receptions.
The Motorola business has been a drag on Google's profit margins, with Motorola's second-quarter losses totaling $342 million.
A Web page to respond to the invitation said, "Come experience the new Motorola. No Stage. No crowds." The page asks guests to select one of several "sessions" to attend at different times at an address in mid-town Manhattan.
In May, Motorola CEO Dennis Woodside said at the AllThingsD technology conference that the new Moto X phones would be built in the United States.

Source: NDTV

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Series launched in India

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 21 Jul 2013 00:17:00 +0530

Samsung has launched the Galaxy Tab 3 range of the tablets, namely the Galaxy Tab 3 211, Galaxy Tab 3 310, and Galaxy Tab 3 311.
Samsung Electronics on Thursday launched a range of Galaxy Tablet 3 in India, priced between Rs 17,745 to Rs 21,945.
The company introduced the Galaxy Tab 3 series in three variants in 8-inch and 7-inch screen. All devices go on sale from Sunday.

The 7-inch Galaxy Tab 3 211 was announced in April. Under the hood, Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 211 is powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core processor alongside 1GB of RAM. The 7-inch screen has a rather disappointing 1024x600 resolution at a paltry 169ppi. The tablet will be available in 8GB/ 16GB storage options, expandable by another 64GB via microSD card. Connectivity options on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB and A-GPS/ GLONASS. The tablet runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and is priced at Rs. 17,745.

The 8-inch Galaxy Tab 3 310 and Galaxy Tab 3 311 are powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core processor alongside 1.5GB of RAM. They come loaded with a 5-megapixel rear camera and a 1.3-megapixel front facing camera. The tablets have a 8-inch WXGA TFT display with a resolution of 1280X800 pixels. Available in 32GB and 64GB variants, the tablets also offer expandable storage up to 64GB via a microSD card. The tablets come with a 4,450mAh battery. The device runs Android Jelly Bean 4.2 and come pre-loaded with Samsung applications and services such as Samsung Hub, ChatOn, S Translator, S Travel, Pop up Video and WatchON.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 310 is the Wi-Fi version of the tablet priced at Rs. 21,495 and Galaxy Tab 3 311 is a Wi-Fi + 3G tablet that will be available for Rs. 25.725.

The 7'' Galaxy Tab 3 runs Android Jellybean 4.1 operating system and is powered by 1.2 GHz Dual Core processor and 1 GB RAM. the device sports WSVGA display (168 ppi) with 3MP rear camera and 1.3 MP front camera. The tablet, which packs a 4000 mAh battery and has 8 GB internal storage that can be expanded to 32 GB.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 311 and 310 key specifications

8-inch WXGA TFT display with 1280X800 pixels (189ppi)
1.5GHz dual-core processor
1.5GB RAM
32GB, 64GB internal storage, expandable by up to 64GB
5-megapixel rear camera
1.9-megapixel front facing camera
4,450 mAh battery
Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)
Weight: 314 grams (Galaxy Tab 3 310)
3G (Galaxy Tab 3 311 only): HSPA 21Mbps DL, 5.76Mbps UP, Quad 850/900/1900/2100
Wi-Fi a/b/g/n (2.4/5GHz)
Bluetooth 4.0, USB 2.0

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 211 key specifications

7-inch WSVGA TFT display with 1024X600 pixels (169ppi)
1.2GHz dual-core processor
1GB RAM
8GB, 16GB internal storage, expandable by up to 64GB
3-megapixel rear camera
1.3-megapixel front facing camera
4,00 mAh battery
Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)
Weight: 302 grams (Wi-Fi variant)
3G: HSPA 21Mbps DL, 5.76Mbps UP, Quad 850/900/1900/2100
Wi-Fi a/b/g/n (2.4/5GHz)
Bluetooth 3.0, USB 2.0

Why Nokia chose Windows Phone over Android

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 20 Jul 2013 23:58:00 +0530

There are many who till date feel that Nokia should have taken the Android way instead of entering into an exclusive partnership with Microsoft. Tech experts and analysts alike have been constantly recommending it to the company. Well, Nokia has finally cleared its stand.

Nokia’s CEO, Stephen Elop told The Guardian, "What we were worried about a couple of years ago was the very high risk that one hardware manufacturer could come to dominate Android. We had a suspicion of who it might be, because of the resources available, the vertical integration, and we were respectful of the fact that we were quite late in making that decision."

While Nokia has continued to innovate when it comes to developing new hardware and software, supporting the Windows Phone platform like a lone ranger, the apparent lack of interest from Microsoft, specially with updates being far and few has led to disappointing smartphone sales for the Finnish handset giant.

It goes back to early 2011 when Nokia CEO when Nokia realised that it needed something more than Symbian to march ahead in a world which was switching to Apple's iPhone and phones based on Google's Android operating system. Stephen Elop chose his former employer Microsoft as the company's saviour in a bid to become a competitive third alternative. That, unfortunately, hash't happened even after being in transition for the last two years. A number of technology evangelists and Nokia loyalists have questioned Elop's motive in choosing Windows Phone over Android, adding that the steady pace at which Nokia develops new hardware, it would have made perfect sense for the company to have adopted Android, adding its own apps on top and customising it to its own choice.

At a recent round table with journalists, Nokia CEO Stephen Elop responded to this question, saying that he still feels that the company made the right decision. Elop said at the time of making the switch, he was worried that a particular hardware manufacturer (read Samsung) could have dominated Android due to its resources, vertical integration and because Nokia would have been a late entrant in the Android space. The comment was first reported by The Guardian.

Elop even said that there are a number of Android devices in the market capable of replacing the top phones but Samsung manages to overshadow its Android counterparts.

"Examine the Android ecosystem, and there's a lot of good devices from many different companies, but one company has essentially now become the dominant player." Elop even said that he doesn’t want Nokia to be a company struggling with finances like HTC. They would rather be the ‘third alternative’.

"As an operator [AT&T] wants to negotiate with different people and keep pressure on everybody and have the best range of options, [and] wants that third alternative. So strategically we have an opening with AT&T and every other operator in the world - because we've taken that path as the third ecosystem."

Elop also said that it's been difficult, as Nokia's use of the Windows Phone platform makes it a credibility-seeking challenger with phones like the new Nokia Lumia 1020 running Windows Phone 8, reports Tech Radar.

Elop still maintains that the company’s agreement with Microsoft was the right move. He added, "It was the right decision. You look at a number of other Android providers right now and they're in a tough spot."

While Elop might defend the company's move by highlighting Samsung's current domination of the platform, Windows Phone is still not doing as well as the company expects. Nokia managed to sell 7.4 million Lumia devices in the last quarter, up 32 percent compared to the previous quarter but its revenues decreased inline with the Average Selling Price of its smartphones. Also, it's only budget devices like the Lumia 520 which are contributing to the surge in sales, which was recently confirmed as the most popular Windows Phone in the world.

Watch with a built-in breathalyzer

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 20 Jul 2013 23:45:00 +0530

Most of us tend to keep track of how drunk we are by how many drinks we've had and it's usually a good measuring stick. If you want to get a more accurate reading, however, using a breathalyzer should prove a whole lot more effective. If you'd rather not carry another gadget, though, just wear this Kisai Intoxicated watch and you'll be sufficiently-equipped for the job.
Made by Tokyoflash, it's a digital watch with a built-in breathalyzer, allowing you to check the time and your blood alcohol level at the same time. That way, even if you forget how many shots you've downed (let's be honest, we often lose track after half a dozen), you can still get a pretty clear picture of your intoxication level any time you need it.
The Kisai Intoxicated is a digital timepiece housed in a stainless steel case and strap , so you can look dignified even while you're drooling over the bar with your eyes crossed. The watch face is divided into two sections -- the left side displays the time in the the typically obscure Tokyoflash fashion, while the right side shows your blood alcohol level using a 10-level diagram. Since you might end up too drunk to read what's onscreen, the onboard LED also changes color depending on your reading: green when you're perfectly sober, yellow when it's between 0.41 and 0.60% (buzzed), and red when you're drunk.

To use, simply open the sensor cap, press the designated alcohol button, and blow into the sensor for five seconds. After that, just wait to see your results. Features of the watch include a USB-rechargable battery that can hold for an entire month on a single charge, a built-in sobriety test game, and 3ATM water resistance.
For More Details..
Slated to ship July 8, the Tokyoflash Kisai Intoxicated is available for pre-order. Price is $100.

Aakash IV Comes With New Features-4G

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 9 Jul 2013 04:20:00 +0530

Aakash is igniting the hopes of Indians for the past few years. But it is still remain a dream for Indians due to a number of technical problems. Now, the manufacturers are again infilling the minds of people with lucrative tech specifications of Aakash IV. Indian government has declared that the next model of low cost Akash tablets will have high speed 4 G service support with voice calling facilities.
The next model of low-cost tablet under Aakash project will possess calling facility and high speed 4G services support, as per specifications released by government.

Aakash was the brain child of Telecom minister Kapil Sibal. He put forward the idea of providing low cost laptops to Indian students when he was the HRD minister. As Mr Sibal dreamt, Aakash hit the Indian market on October 5, 2011 with a cost of around Rs 2,276. Later, the government upgraded the tablet with some advance features without changing the price of the product.

Now, the government is planning to introduce next model, Aakash IV with multiple features. However, the price of this advanced tablet is not disclosed yet.

The specifications released by government suggest it will have "Driver for Phone Functionality with external dongle" and support "Data functionality with external 2G or 3G or 4G dongle".

The Aakash project was Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal's brainchild when he was the HRD Minister. The idea is to provide low-cost computing device at subsidised rate to students so that they can access Internet for educational purposes.

The first version of the tablet was launched on October 5, 2011. The tablet PC then launched had basic feature and costed government around Rs. 2,276. Government later upgraded the tablet with some advance features at the same price.

The latest version will have multiple new features but the the final price of the tablet has not been disclosed.
The new version of the tablet will have Bluetooth in-built which was missing in the previous versions. Other specifications included in the document posted online include minimum 1GB RAM, 4GB internal storage (expandable up to 32GB), 7-inch 800x480 display, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n.

The document says the Aakash IV tablet should be able to minimum 3 hours of 720p video on a single charge and the battery should be able to hold at least 90 percent of its charge after 30 days of standby time (tablet is turned off).

Software wise, the document mentions the tablet should come with Android 4.2.1 (Jelly Bean) or above, and should be able to dual-boot Linux stored on an external card.

Aakash 4 tablet: Top 5 things we want to see

1. Processor, battery and storage: Though it might be too much to wish for the Aakash 4 to be powered by a quad-core processor, a powerful dual-core processor will also suit the slate fine - as long as it is able to handle all of Android's multi-tasking with ease.
Aakash has traditionally been designed for students across the board, and nothing is more frustrating for students than a device that takes ages to boot and lags in its functions. For the same reason, we wish the slate could be built with a long lasting battery, 1 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage, along with support for external memory expansion.
2. Operating System: We would like to see the Aakash 4 run on the latest build of the Android operating system. With technology changing speedily, a device that is up-to-date with the newest innovations is always preferred to one that is out dated and lags behind in updates. The Aakash 4 should ideally be given software updates as soon as possible too.
3. Cameras: A good primary camera like a 5-megapixel one will serve the new Aakash slate well. Students using the tablet can click pictures and videos on the go and use them in projects and field trips. Not only will that make learning easy, it will make it fun. Additionally, a decent front snapper, like a 1.2-megapixel one, will aid kids in holding video conferences which in turn will facilitate quick and efficient team work.
4. Screen: If Aakash 4 launches with a clear HD screen, it will be a coup like no other! At its price point, however, it is unreasonable to expect the tablet to pack in a 1080 pixel display. If not a 720 pixel screen, the slate should be equipped with a screen that lends it decent clarity and sharpness. Since students are expected to spend long hours reading on the slate, it should be designed in a way that doesn't strain the pupils' eyes.
5. Connectivity: If students are to take the Aakash 4 everywhere they go and use it for everything from reading and researching to compiling assignments and project work, the tablet should be able to connect to the internet anywhere and at anytime. Bluetooth, NFC, Wi-Fi, 3G and USB connectivity options are ideal for the device.

Ouya The Gaming Console:review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 6 Jul 2013 01:37:00 +0530

Ouya raised $8.6m on crowdfunding site Kickstarter to fund its Android-powered games console: a device that it hoped would provide an affordable alternative to Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo's big guns of the gaming world.
Now it's available to buy as a console that's less about playing games like Call of Duty, FIFA and Halo, and more about taking the kind of quirky, independent games that have proliferated on smartphones and tablets and bringing them to the television.
There's a market out there to be targeted. Mojang's Minecraft game has sold more than 22m copies across all platforms; Rovio's Angry Birds ended 2012 with 263m active players; and King's Candy Crush Saga has helped the publisher reach 70m daily players.

The ongoing explosion in independently developed, low-budget video games has been a boon for players who travel. Whether I'm on the road with an iPad, an Android smartphone or a laptop, I know there's a huge library of games to play.
When I get home, though, I want to play on a bigger screen. That's where the Ouya comes in. It promises to deliver the best in inexpensive indie gaming on a high-resolution screen, through a small device that runs the Android operating system designed for phones and tablets.

Ouya costs just $100, a few hundred dollars less than what you'd pay for a major game console. Thousands of gamers and game developers got Ouyas over the past few months after contributing at least $95 to Ouya's creators through the group-fundraising site Kickstarter. The device went on sale more broadly on Tuesday.

Ouya runs Google's Android system and is built around Nvidia's Tegra 3 processor, used mostly in smartphones and other mobile devices. That should make it easy to port over the thousands of games already made for Android phones and tablets, but for now you're limited to software specifically designed for Ouya. Nearly 180 games are available so far through Ouya's online store, with many more expected.

Each game has a version you can download for free. If you like what you see, you can download a full version for a few bucks. By contrast, games for one of the big three consoles can cost as much as $60 each - usually with no free trial.

The device itself is a cube measuring 3 inches on each side, with slightly rounded corners on the bottom. The controller is a bit chunkier. It resembles what's available with Microsoft's Xbox and Sony's PlayStation, with two exceptions: The Ouya controller has a touchpad in the middle (although none of the games I sampled took advantage of it), and its grips are longer, each accommodating an AA battery. One controller comes with the Ouya, and extra ones cost $50 each.

Setup is easy once you connect the Ouya to your high-definition television set using a supplied HDMI cable. When you turn on the console, it automatically searches for Wi-Fi connections. You can also connect to the Internet through an Ethernet cable, which you have to provide yourself. Once connected, you need to create an account and supply credit card information.

Then you're taken to a simple menu with four options: play, discover, make and manage. "Make" takes you to an area for potential game developers, while "manage" lets you tinker with system settings.

"Discover" takes you to Ouya's game store. You can find games by genre, such as role-playing, sim/strategy and "meditative." You can also check out showcases such as "couch gaming with friends."

Download speeds aren't bad; it took about 20 minutes for me to transfer a 725-megabyte file over Comcast high-speed Internet. Smaller games are, of course, much faster. The device has 8 gigabytes of internal storage, and you can add more by connecting an external hard drive to the Ouya with a USB cable.

Once you have your game, clicking "play" on the home page takes you to your personal library. Compared with the sometimes daunting menus on the Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3, Ouya's displays are clean and elegant.

The offerings on the Ouya store vary wildly in quality and ambition. Android is an open platform, so anyone can write software for it. That means you have professionally executed games such as the beloved "You Don't Know Jack" competing head-to-head with the sloppy trivia game "Quizania." Some popular console games, including "The Bard's Tale" and "Final Fantasy III," have been adapted for the Ouya, but it isn't the place for blockbuster titles such as the latest "Call of Duty" and "Grand Theft Auto."

More prevalent are games that have been cult hits on PCs and smartphones, including "Canabalt," "Saturday Morning RPG" and "Organ Trail." There are a few Ouya exclusives, including the 3-D puzzler "Polarity" and the multiplayer archery game "TowerFall."

Ouya offers high-resolution displays in 1080p, comparable to the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii U. Most of the Ouya's offerings are fairly low-def, though, and if you're looking for the wide-screen majesty of "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim" or "BioShock Infinite," you won't find it here. If your video-game habit dates back to the 1970s, you'll notice a distinct retro feel to the Ouya's library. That's not a complaint; there's something refreshing about taking on a simple running-and-jumping game such as "Canabalt" after you've survived a grueling epic like Sony's PS3 hit "The Last of Us."

Indeed, some of the more satisfying indie releases of the last few years - say, "Fez," "Hotline Miami" or "Monaco: What's Yours Is Mine" - have combined old-school graphics with game play that's more sophisticated than most big-budget console releases offer. Nothing currently on Ouya matches the quality of those games, but if the system can attract that level of talent, it will be a console to be reckoned with. If you're a hardcore gamer, it won't replace your Xbox or PlayStation, but for $100 it's a worthy supplement.

Ouya's mission: to persuade a decent proportion of these people that they a.) want to play these kinds of games on their televisions, and b.) that they should buy a £99 console to do it.

Source:NDTV

Top 10 Most anticipated games of the year

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 6 Jul 2013 01:09:00 +0530

At E3 last year, we saw gaming franchises share with us with some of the most awaited games across platforms. While some games were mere teasers, others were shown off through interesting gameplay footages. This year we expect to see some of these games arriving on store shelves. So which ones are they going to be? Here's a list of the top 10 games that are likely to launch this year and make 2013 memorable.
1. The Last of Us (PS3 exclusive)
The Last of Us is a survival horror action-adventure game developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Computer Entertainment exclusively for the PlayStation 3. It was officially revealed on December 10, 2011 during the Spike TV Video Game Awards and released worldwide on June 14, 2013. It was released in Japan on June 20, 2013.
The player takes control of Joel (voiced and motion captured by Troy Baker), who is trekking across a post-apocalyptic United States in 2033, in order to escort the young Ellie (voiced and motion captured by Ashley Johnson) to a friendly resistance group, the Fireflies. The player defends the characters against zombie-like creatures infected with the Cordyceps fungus, as well as hostile humans such as bandits and cannibals, employing the use of firearms and stealth aided by capabilities such as a visual representation of sound in order to listen for locations of enemies. The player can also craft weapons or medical items by combining items scavenged in the world.
The Last of Us received critical acclaim, with reviewers praising multiple aspects, including its choice-enabling gameplay, realistic action, emotional depth in the plot, sound design, and environments. Many publications gave the game perfect scores and declared it a masterpiece, hailing it as one of the significant titles of the seventh console generation.The Last of Us scored the biggest video game launch of 2013 so far, selling over 1.3 million units in its first week.

2. Tomb Raider (PS3, Xbox 360, PC)

Developer Crystal Dynamics has planned to reboot the franchise with a young Lara Croft embarking on a quest for survival that unfolds her identity as the Tomb Raider. Players will get a chance to play various side quests, explore the island and face other challenges. In-game graphics of this open-world action adventure game look stunning and so do the interesting bits revealed in gameplay footage so far. Will this game prove successful as other games in the Tomb Raider franchise? Find out on 5 March 2013 when the game releases across platforms.

3. Dead Space 3 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
Dead Space 3 is a third-person shooter survival horror video game developed by Visceral Games and published by Electronic Arts. Announced at E3 2012 on June 4, 2012 and released internationally in February 2013,it is the sequel to Dead Space 2 and the third main entry in the Dead Space series.
Primarily set on the frozen planet of Tau Volantis, the game follows protagonists Isaac Clarke and John Carver as they attempt to end the Necromorph threat once and for all.

4. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (PS3, Xbox 360)
A spin-off in the Metal Gear series, this action-paced game from Platinum Games is set to take place several years after Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of Patriots. The game focuses on cyborg Ninja Raiden fighting cyborg enemies while attempting to rebuild an unknown country and is expected to include more action sequences. Get ready to slash enemies and objects at will in 19 February 2013.

5. God of War: Ascension (PS3 exclusive)
God of War: Ascension is a third person action-adventure video game developed by Santa Monica Studio and published by Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE). The game was first released on March 12, 2013, for the PlayStation 3 (PS3) console. It is the seventh installment in the God of War series and prequel to the entire series. Loosely based on Greek mythology, the game is set in Ancient Greece with vengeance as its central motif. The player controls the protagonist Kratos, the former servant of the God of War, Ares, who tricked Kratos into killing his wife and child. Kratos renounced Ares, breaking his blood oath to the god. For this act, Kratos was imprisoned by the three Furies, the guardians of honor and enforcers of punishment. Helped by the oath keeper Orkos, and learning that Ares and the Furies plan to overthrow Mount Olympus, Kratos escapes his imprisonment, defeats the Furies, and reluctantly kills Orkos. Although free of Ares' bond, Kratos begins to suffer the nightmares that will plague him throughout his adventures.

6. Beyond: Two Souls (PS3 exclusive)
Heavy Rain developer Quantic Dream unveiled its newest and upcoming game titled 'Beyond: Two Souls'at E3 last year, narrating the story of Jodie Holmes played by Ellen Page. Players get to journey through Jodie's life to discover the true meaning of the entity, Idan, alongside her throughout the story. The plot revolves around question about what happens after humans die and promises an experience never like before. Want to find the answers? Beyond: two Souls releases this year.

7. Gears of War: Judgment (Xbox 360 exclusive)
Gears of War: Judgment is a third-person shooter that the American company Epic Games and Polish company People Can Fly developed as the fourth entry to the Gears of War series, a follow-up that Microsoft Studios published for the Xbox 360 in North America on 19 March 2013, with subsequent regions following later that month.
On 4 June 2012, Microsoft officially announced the development of Gears of War: Judgment at the company's press conference during the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2012, before releasing a debut trailer and demonstrating the upcoming multiplayer features.Prior to Microsoft's announcement, video game journalists had already determined that the chronology of events in Gears of War: Judgment would pre-date that of the other releases in the franchise, and that the prequel would feature Damon Baird and Augustus Cole as protagonists.

8. GTA V (PS3, Xbox 360)
A first major title in the Grand Theft Auto series since 2008, the 15th game in the overall series, GTA V is set in Los Santos in the state of San Andreas and its surrounding areas, based on modern-day Los Angeles and Southern California. Developer Rockstar says that the game will focus on "the pursuit of the almighty dollar". For the first time in the Grand Theft Auto series, GTA V will feature three playable protagonists. The multiplayer mode will feature "Crews" similar to Max Payne 3. A new Social Club functionality will connect play across multiple titles, starting with Max Payne 3 and GTA V. Playing the multiplayer mode in both games allows crews seth up in one game to be carried over to the other. Race your way in the sec on quarter of this year with GTA V.

9. Star Trek (PS3, Xbox 360, PC)
Developed by Namco Bandai Games in association with Paramount Studios, little details are known about this epic action action adventure. What is known is that it features an original storyline and offers immersive co-op gameplay featuring Kirk and Spock, who lead up the fight against the Gorn, an enemy not seen since the days of Star Trek The Original Series. Hop on-board the adventures of the U.S.S. Star Enterprise in Q1 2013.

10. BioShock Infinite (PS3, Xbox 360, PC)
BioShock Infinite is a first-person shooter video game developed by Irrational Games, and published by 2K Games. Previously known as "Project Icarus" in development, it was released worldwide on the Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 platforms on March 26, 2013. BioShock Infinite is the third installment in the BioShock series, and though it is not part of the storyline of previous BioShock games, it does feature similar gameplay concepts and themes. The game's concept and setting were developed by Irrational's creative lead, Ken Levine, who took inspiration from both historical events at the turn of the 20th century, as well as more recent ones at the time such as the "Occupy" protests.

Gamers protest about EA's hike PC game prices in India

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 6 Jul 2013 00:32:00 +0530

The leading gaming brand Electronic Arts (EA) has increased prices of its PC and console games in India, with PC games witnessing a hike of as much as 133% over last year's prices.

Popular PC racing game, Need for Speed:Most Wanted - 2012 was priced at Rs.1,499, last year. The game's latest edition, Need for Speed: Rivals, has been priced at Rs. 3,499. Similarly, FIFA 14 is priced at Rs. 2,499 for the PC edition, while FIFA 13 was priced at Rs. 1,799. Both titles were available for Rs. 999 on the PC the year before.

Dramatic price hikes on EA games in India will see titles like Battlefield 4 cost more than double the launch price of their predecessors.

It was revealed earlier this week that new titles in some of EA's most popular franchises would see dramatic price increases in India. The forthcoming Battlefield 4 and Need for Speed: Rivals, for instance, are listing for Rs3499 ($58) on PC, compared to launch prices of Rs999 for their predecessors Battlefield 3 and Need for Speed: Most Wanted; the PC version of FIFA 14 will see its price increased by 66 percent over FIFA 13, from Rs999 to Rs2499. Non-EA games are going up as well but not nearly dramatically: The PC versions of Watch Dogs, Assassin's Creed IV and Splinter Cell: Blacklist are all being listed for preorder at Rs1499.

As noted by gaming-focused website Indian Video Gamer, it seems the rationale behind this price hike is not the the weak Indian rupee, but EA's intent to have prices of PC games on its Origin Web store and for Box packs, in India, close to international prices. It notes that EA is now pricing PC games at $60, even in the Indian market.

If the Rupee rises again, the prices may fall marginally, but will perhaps be still too high for PC gamers used to popular titles from the likes of Ubisoft and Warner games being priced around Rs. 999. With these increased prices for PC games, they're now at par with console games which have always been priced higher, upwards of Rs. 2,499.

The article also tries to introspect why EA has also increased prices of Boxed games in India. It assesses that illegal re-exporting is very prevalent in the Indian market which essentially means that users, distributors, and resellers sell codes for Origin store that are supplied with box packs internationally at higher prices, which has resulted in the price hike.

On its part, EA feels that PC game sales are not increasing even at the Rs. 999 or Rs. 1,499 price points, so it's not worth sticking to lower prices. The report quotes Jayont R Sharma of Milestone Interactive, the company that distributes EA's PC and PlayStation games in India as saying that volumes are increasing even at higher prices as evident from pre-orders and that volumes did not change much when the company dropped prices.

Following this situation, it's feared that PC gamers will resort to piracy as these games have become extremely unaffordable.

To reach out to EA, the site has even started an #EAPCIndia movement on Twitter through which gamers can tag @EAIndia in their tweets and speak their minds out on the rising PC game prices in response to EA's move.

Youtube Ban Continue In Pakisthan

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 6 Jul 2013 00:09:00 +0530

Pakistani court has refused to issue an interim order to restore the services of banned video-sharing website YouTube in the country.
Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah of Lahore High Court sought suggestions from experts of Ministry of Information Technology about "removing blasphemous and undesirable material" from YouTube and other websites for July 25.

Shah was hearing a petition filed by NGO - Bytes for All - for lifting the ban.
The Pakistan Peoples Party government in September last year, had banned YouTube across the country following refusal of its parent company Google to remove a blasphemous film from the site, which had triggered violent protests in the conservative Islamic nation.
The petitioner's counsel urged the court to pass an interim order to the PML-N government for restoring the access to YouTube.
The deputy attorney general opposed the plea contending that it was a "sensitive matter" and allowing access to YouTube might trigger protests in the country.
Advocate Dasie Hamdani, counsel for the petitioner, maintained, "All internet curbs are counterproductive and deprive Pakistanis of the right to access information as well as the right to counter any propaganda against the country or against their beliefs. Taking away the access to YouTube is tantamount to taking away a scholar's pen."
The ban amounted to infringement of fundamental rights to reading and knowledge as a large number of people of Pakistan had been affecting by the ban, he argued.

Source: NDTV

Firefox-OS Smartphone First Launched in Europe

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 5 Jul 2013 03:07:00 +0530

Mozilla and Partners Launch First Firefox OS Smartphones In Europe.Deutsche Telekom and Telefonica will release the first Firefox OS devices, the ALCATEL ONE TOUCH Fire and the ZTE Open.

Spain's Telefonica is offering the world's first smartphone with the Firefox operating system to compete with devices running Google Android and Apple iOS.The ZTE Open smartphone goes on sale in Spain this week for 69 euros (about $90) and will soon be available in several Latin American countries.

The device is aimed at the youth market and at people who are new to smartphones, Telefonica's chief of product development, Carlos Domingo, said during a Madrid press conference where he was joined by executives from Mozilla and telephone-maker ZTE.

Equipped with a 3.5-inch 320x480-pixel touchscreen, the ZTE Open includes a 3.2-megapixel camera, 256MB RAM and 512MB flash storage enhanced with a 4GB microSD card that comes as part of the package.

The purchase price includes 30 euros ($39) of pay-as-you-go credit.

The ZTE Open is fully integrated with Facebook and the Spain-based social network Tuenti and talks are on about incorporating the WhatsApp instant-messaging service, Telefonica said.

Commenting on the launch, Luis Miguel Gilperez, CEO of Telefonica Espana, said, "We believe that smartphones need to be more open and that the web is the platform for making this possible. Consumers should not be locked to any one system but have the choice to consume the content they want and the flexibility to be able to take it with them when they change devices. This first open web device marks a significant milestone in making this possible. This is just the beginning as we plan to bring a wide range of Firefox OS devices to our customers."

The ZTE Open is the first of a number of Firefox OS devices that will be launched by Telefonica this year, offering the benefits of this new open operating system across a range of different price points. Other device manufacturers supporting Firefox OS include Alcatel OneTouch, LG, Huawei and Sony.

Mozilla executives said the ZTE Open is the "first chapter" in what they expect to be a long project, one that is already attracting interest from many other telecommunications companies.

Source: NDTV

Nokia has unveils 3 new phones in this year

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 4 Jul 2013 03:34:00 +0530

Nokia has unveiled three new feature phones, which will start retailing from the third quarter of 2013. These handsets are dubbed Nokia 207, Nokia 208 and Nokia 208 dual-SIM. These smartphones will be available for $68 (before local taxes and operator subsidies) and will support 3.5G HSPA.

The Nokia 207, Nokia 208 and Nokia 208 dual-SIM are candy-bar phones that come with Nokia Xpress Browser, which as per the company claims helps in compressing data by up to 90 percent.
In addition to this, popular social networking apps such as Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp will come pre-installed on these mobile phones. Users can also download apps from the Nokia Store. One of the interesting applications that is available the new phones is the Transfer app. With the help of this app, users can easily import contact details from other phones, including Windows Phone 8 and most of Android smartphones.
Mail for Exchange functionality is fully supported on the Nokia 207, Nokia 208 and Nokia 208 dual-SIM. The phones also comes with Bluetooth 3.0 with Slam sharing, that lets people share stuff over Bluetooth without the need of pairing phones first.
The Nokia 207, Nokia 208 and Nokia 208 dual-SIM come with 2.4-inch QVGA display and support expandable storage via microSD card up to 32GB. These phones come with a 1020mAh battery, which as per the company's claims gives 12 hours of talk time on a 2G network for the single SIM variant, and standby time of more than a month. The Nokia 208 and Nokia 208 dual-SIM come with 1.3-megapixel rear camera.
It's worth noting that Nokia 207, Nokia 208 and Nokia 208 dual-SIM use a micro SIM and not a standard SIM. All the three smartphones will be available in Red, Cyan, White and Black colour options.

Source: NDTV

Google added Crisis Response on google India homepage to help Uttarakhand flood victims

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 2 Jul 2013 04:58:00 +0530

The World major search engine Google has started an online resource facility to help people affected by the devastating floods in parts of Uttarakhand.
Google has started an online resource facility to help people affected by the devastating floods in parts of Uttarakhand.

One can also get details of those rescued, cleared rescue zones and people stranded. In addition, details of mobile access locations, road information and locations of donation boxes are also made available on the page.

Google has also started a unique facility person finder to get or give details of a stranded person. "You can request status via SMS by sending an SMS to 9 77 33 00 000 with the message Search person-name," according to the information posted on the page. So far the application is tracking 19,300 records, it said.

The Google crisis centre also features news related to Uttarakhand floods in a separate window on its home page. It has also put details of helplines Uttarkashi: (+91)1374-226461,Chamoli: (+91)1372-251437, 9411352136, Rudraprayag: (+91) 1364-233727,9412914875, and Control Room (Uttarakhand): (+91) 135-2710334, 9557444486, to facilitate easy exchange of information related to stranded people.

"Widespread flood damage continues to ravage Uttarakhand, India. This page contains a short summary of resources relating to relief and rescue efforts in the region," the message on the home page reads.

Uttarakhand Floods Information

Uttarkashi:	(+91) 1374-226461
Chamoli:	(+91) 1372-251437, 9411352136
Rudraprayag:	(+91) 1364-233727,9412914875
Control Room (Uttarakhand):	(+91) 135-2710334, 9557444486

Source:NDTV

Android 4.3 Releases soon

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 1 Jul 2013 00:48:00 +0530

Google was rumored to debut a new version of Android earlier this month at its I/O Developers Conference. The event has come and gone, however, without a single mention of the operating system. Recent reports suggest that an update will be available in the coming months with support for a more power efficient Bluetooth standard, but little is known about the update. A forum member on XDA-Developers recently posted images of a Nexus 4 that appears to be running a test build of Android 4.3. The images reveal the new version will retain the “Jelly Bean” name, similar to Android 4.2, and will be only a minor update consisting of small changes and bug fixes. One change appears to be a slight cosmetic update to the Android camera software with the controls being relocated from the center to the side.
Alleged screenshots of an early version of Android 4.3 running on Samsung Galaxy S4's Google edition variant have appeared online.

Spotted first by Samsung focused website, Sam Mobile, the screenshots of the phone's 'About phone' page show the model number as GT-I9505G, which hints that the phone is the Google edition of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 600-powered Galaxy S4. The phone's build number is JWR66N.S005.130625 in which JWR66N depicts the Android build while S005.130625 is Samsung's internal naming convention for test builds.
This SS is also from a camera application software.

We had earlier seen the same camera app when a Nexus 4 running Android 4.3 was spotted at the Thailand Mobile Expo, last month. So, it's possible that the Android 4.3 will bring the updated camera app, and Samsung was given early access to include it in Android 4.2.2 build of the Galaxy S4.

Besides the updated camera app, Android 4.3 is also expected to feature native support for Bluetooth Smart Ready technology. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group in a press statement earlier confirmed that Google had committed to bringing support for Bluetooth Smart to future versions of the operating system. Bluetooth Smart allows compatible phones to take advantage of low power consumption with Bluetooth Smart ready devices like the Fitbit Flex or Pebble mart watch. The statement had said that the newest version of Android OS natively supports Bluetooth Smart Ready technology.

While Google was expected to announce Android 4.3 during the Google I/O keynote, it chose to skip the announcement and instead made a slew of service and developer related announcements including new features for Google+, the Hangouts unified messaging app, updated Maps, Google Play for Education, a music streaming service,and updated Search among others. Another report had claimed that Google would release Android 4.3 on June 10 along with the White colour variant of the Nexus 4 phone, but that did not materialise either.

Source: NDTV

Micromax Canvas 4 pre-bookings Started-Specification on July 8

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 1 Jul 2013 00:34:00 +0530

The Micromax Canvas 4 has gained a huge following with large amounts of consumers seriously thinking of purchasing the device before the full specs are even known, and now the handset has gone live to order.
Micromax Canvas 4 is now available for pre-bookings on company's website, though the official specs of the phone are nowhere in sight.

Micromax has announced that it will formally launch the Canvas 4 on July 8, when the specifications and other details of the phone, including the price, will be revealed. However, as promised earlier, Micromax is now letting customers interested in getting early access to its forthcoming flagship pre-book the device online for Rs. 5,000.
When the official price of the phone is revealed, users will have seven days to pay the rest of the amount or cancel the pre-booking. In case of a cancellation, Micromax says it will process the refund within 7-10 days. Canvas 4 will start shipping on July 10, and Micromax is promising to deliver your unit within 7 business days thereafter. You can check out the rest of the terms of pre-booking on Micromax's website.

The only thing we know for sure so far is the Micromax Canvas 4 will come with a 13-megapixel camera, since that bit is apparent in the teaser videos that Micromax posted earlier. Another interesting bit that is official, is the "Can life be endless?" line that Micromax is using to tease the Canvas 4. The line obviously seems like a reference to the battery life, and one wonders if one of the highlights of the Canvas 4 will be a big battery.

For order Online
Micromax Website

How to use the internet to make money

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 1 Jul 2013 00:07:00 +0530

There are several ways to make money using internet. And there are some effective ways to get through it quickly.As long as you have the inclination, a little bit of expertise and some free time, you can earn some money on the Internet from the comfort of your own home.

Self publish books
If you love writing and want to get a book published, Amazon offers a free service called Kindle Direct Publishing. The service allows anyone to self publish books on the Kindle (electronic) bookstore and earn royalties from sales. There are two plans you can choose from — the 35% royalty works across any book sold in any country) while the 70% royalty plans works if you sell in a few select countries. Indian authors can choose to set prices specifically for the Indian bookstore and receive royalty payments in Indian currency as well.

Make & sell your apps
With so many smartphones and tablets, app development can be a very lucrative business. You can learn about developing apps online — there are various tutorials available for free. That's the easy part — the hard part is coming up with an idea that 'clicks'. Once you make an app, submit it to the respective app store, set a price and choose whether you want to earn from inapp advertising. Your earnings, after deducting the appropriate fees, will be paid monthly.

Sell your photos Online
Numerous stock websites like www.shutterstock. com, www.shutterpoint.com and www. istockphoto.com host photographs submitted by members. Depending on the site's policy, you can earn between a 15 to 85% royalty on each sale. The better the quality of photos and the larger your online portfolio, the more you will sell. Usually, each photograph you want to upload will have to be 'selected' by them first — and they usually have strict requirements of what can or cannot go on sale.

Sell old stuff online
An easy way to earn some money on the Internet is by selling old stuff that you have around the house. Websites like www.olx.in, www.quickr.com & http://craigslist.co.in provide a free classifieds platform. You need to create an account, enter the product details, location, the expected price along with some photographs — listing usually go live within a couple of hours. Interested buyers can directly contact you and finalise the sale.

Start an online shop
With some creativity, you can learn to make handicrafts or if you know a wholesale dealer, purchase unique things at low prices. Once you have some stock ready, you can set up an online shop to sell these goods on sites like www.ebay.in or www.indiebazaar.com.
Both sites have a simple signup process. After you get verified as a seller, they provide you with a step-by-step wizard to set your online store (how to add photos & details of items you want to sell).

Work online for money
The internet is full of bogus companies that promise to pay you for work but never will. For instance, all places that offer money to fill surveys or those that require payment up front are scammers. Two popular & reliable places to find work are www. odesk.com and www.elance.com.
Both have a similar system: set up a profile and take tests to prove your proficiency in certain areas. Once done, you'll be listed as a contractor/freelancer and people can hire you for an hourly rate. You can get paid more by working hard, getting better at what you do and getting good feedback (ratings) from your clients.

E-Tutoring
If you are fluent in any subject and have some tutoring experience, you can sign up on websites like www.2tion.net or www.tutorvista.com as an online tutor. The sites require you to create a tutor profile with details such as the subjects in which you are fluent, what classes/courses you want to teach, your experience level, preferred timings for tutions and the remuneration expected.
After verification, the site lists your profile on their portal where interested students can connect with you for tuitions. You can opt for virtual workspaces with built in teaching aids like live chat and collaborative whiteboards. Once you get better at tutoring, you can increase your monthly earnings by teaching multiple students simultaneously.

Earn from Advertising
A reliable way to earn money is from Google AdSense on your blog/website or ads on your YouTube channel. To get started, create a Google AdSense account at www. google.com/adsense. You can use the same account with your blog, website or YouTube channel. To maximise earnings from your blog or website, your objective needs to be to get the maximum number of visitors possible.
Write about what you know and what you're passionate about. On YouTube, make sure that your videos are original and interesting. Promote your channel to get more views. Apart from views, your objective should also be to get more people to like/favourite your video and to subscribe to your channel. The build up will be slow and Google only makes payments once your balance crosses $100, so don't get disheartened. Persistent efforts pay off in the long run.

Rough estimates of how much a newcomer can expect to earn in a month

Self publish books upto Rs 15,000
Make and sell apps upto Rs 50,000
Sell photos online upto Rs 10,000
Sell old stuff online upto Rs 50,000
Start an online shop upto Rs 25,000
E-tutoring upto Rs 10,000
Earn from advertising upto Rs 5,000
Work online for money upto Rs 30,000

Source:indiatimes

Idea launches free Facebook Messenger for three months

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 1 Jul 2013 00:01:00 +0530

Idea Cellular, the country's fourth largest mobile phone company by subscribers, Monday launched free Facebook Messenger for its subscribers for the first three months. Free Facebook Messenger will be available for download for all Idea prepaid users who use any Android and iOS device.

Users can activate the service by dialing *800*88# from any Android or iOS device to send messages, share pictures, locations and start group conversations with friends while on-the-move. The new offer is available for all Idea 2G and 3G prepaid subscribers for a period of 3 months from the date of activation. The offer on Idea network will be available for activation until July 31st, 2013.

Sashi Shankar chief marketing officer said, "With the increasing mobile broadband penetration in India, the mobile phone is becoming the most important device for accessing Internet and social networking platforms. Nearly 50% of data users on the Idea network access Facebook on their mobile phones. The free Facebook Messenger service will enhance their social networking experience and enable Facebook users to chat with their contacts while on the move."
Kevin D'souza, Country Growth Manager, Facebook said, "Messaging is a fun and useful way to share privately and connect with friends in smaller personal groups. We are happy that Idea subscribers can now enjoy free access to Facebook Messenger and experience new features such as Chat Heads and Stickers. This partnership allows us to connect people in new areas and offer them the Facebook experience on the Idea network."

Source: Times of india

Bharati Airtel Tie up with Google to provide free internet

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 02:47:00 +0530

Days after Idea Cellular teamed up with the social networking website Facebook to provide free Facebook access to its user, Airtel has now come up with a similar plan. According to a PTI report, Bharti Airtel has partnered with Google to launch its new service “Free Zone”. Under this scheme, the subscribers will be allowed free access to Google’s services like Gmail, Google+ and the Google search engine, but will be forced to pay for advance services such as attachment downloads and so on.

Leading global telecommunications company, Bharti Airtel has joined hands with Google to launch free internet service for mobile users in India.
They announced the launch of Free Zone, which will give Airtel mobile customers access to mobile web search and feature-phone-friendly versions of Gmail and Google+ in India for free.
According to a statement released by Airtel, Free Zone aims to make the web accessible and affordable to all mobile users.

Airtel+Google Page

The Internet services available via Airtel includes:
Gmail: Users have unlimited access to Gmail from their mobile browser. If users click on a link or attachment within the email they are directed to a page where they can purchase a data package.
Google+: Users can share online photos and messages with circles of family, selected friends or the public; follow updates on the things they are passionate about - from cricket to photography, music to news; and follow people they’re interested in.
Google Search: Users can search the entire Internet and access the first page of websites from the results for free. If they click further into a website after that, they are directed to a page where they can purchase a data package.

Rajan Anandan, VP and Managing Director, Google India said, “The mobile Internet user base is growing really fast in India. Working with Airtel on this exciting trial means that we can offer Internet services at no cost to anyone with a phone. This gives people easier access to information in a way that benefits everyone, whether it’s an individual or a small business that wants to reach more people on the web. We hope this initiative will encourage more Indians to experience the value of the Internet and gain from it. Students can easily look up for facts to work on their assignments, housewives will be able to easily check on recipes and connect with their friends and family from their mobile phones."
Free Zone aims to put the web in the hands of more people and empower first time Internet users with several useful services of the Internet.
Airtel mobile customers can access the service by visiting www.airtel.in/freezone and start using the Internet without having to sign in to the service.

“As the country’s leading telecom services provider, we at Airtel are constantly looking for new ways of exciting more and more of our 200 million plus customers in India about the data experience. In this market, where feature phones predominate, our association with Google to bring Free Zone to India will encourage millions of users to discover the power of mobile Internet for the very first time and leverage the amazing world of information search, email and social collaboration - at no incremental cost” said N Rajaram, Chief Marketing Officer – Consumer Business, Bharti Airtel.

Source: Times OF india

How To: Back up Android apps and data directly from PC

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 02:13:00 +0530

If you are an advanced user of Android-based smartphones, then you will definitely have a rooted device. And if you are anxious about installing speedy and updated custom ROMs, then you are likely to install a new ROM almost once a week. Installing a custom ROM is most often a time consuming job. The procedure involves taking backups of your installed apps using a backup utility such as Titanuim Backup or My Backup Pro. Then you need to restart the phone, enter the recovery mode and take a Nandroid backup. Then the phone has to be flashed with a new firmware and you have to configure it all over again to install your backup utility and restore your data.

Custom ROMs most often include file browsers, which might make work a bit simpler so that you can install the backup utility directly from the SD card. If not, you have to set up your Wi-Fi or 3G, set up the Google Play account and download the app all over again. Irritating, isn’t it? In adddition to this, there are sometimes issues with the backup utility not being able to restore across different ROMs and Android versions. This further demands your patience to select certain apps and restore only those to avoid issues with the new ROM.

But hold on, there is a superb Windows utility called APK Batch Installer Tool developed by a Malaysian guy called Hamsteyr (code name on XDA) that can make things easier for you. The developer created this software simply because he would often flash his handset with newer ROMs. It is a simple little Windows utility that is packaged with adb.exe and all it needs is a new folder to store the apps and its data. The utility has the ability to back up all user apps, its data and restore them all with or without data in batch mode. You can also choose where the app is installed (internal memory or SD card). It can back up and restore SMS too. Additionally, using the utility, you can batch rename apps using their app names or readable names, whichever suits you best. All it needs is the USB cable and a rooted Android phone with USB Debugging enabled. The utility also can greatly help those who need to reset their phones and redo all the applications again. If you don’t have root enabled on your phone, then you will be able to restore only applications and not the data. In order to root your phone, please check out how it can be done for your phone on the XDA forums.

Download the APK Batch Installer Tool by clicking here. It is a zip file and all you need to do is extract it to a folder on your desktop or in the C: drive. Inside the folder will be the self executable file, which does not need installation. Run it and a window will open up with the simple GUI interface. The rest of the program is self explanatory. Connect your phone to the PC using the USB cable and select the appropriate function command from the drop down list. Click on next and the procedure begins. You don’t need to restart your phone once the backup or restore has been completed. The process will take some time depending on the amount of data to be backed up or restored and the speed of your data transfer. Here are the screenshots demonstrating the steps you need to follow for each process.

Army launches A new website for Uttarakhand victims

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 02:02:00 +0530

LUCKNOW: The Indian Army launched a website - suryahopes.in -- to provide updates on the whereabouts of people stranded in disaster-hit Uttarakhand.

The site also provides information about the location of people, helpline numbers, lists of those rescued and their current location.

A spokesman for the Central Command told IANS that the web site was a one-stop helpline for people in distress following the natural calamity in Uttarakhand.

suryahopes.in

Source: Times of India

Indian Govt Strict about porn : makes ISPs ban sites

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 01:45:00 +0530

NEW DELHI: The government has decided to put a blanket ban on several websites that allow users to share pornographic content.

In an order dated June 13, department of telecom (DoT) has directed internet service providers (ISPs) to block 39 websites. Most of them are web forums, where internet users share images and URLs to download pornographic files. But some of these websites are also image hosts and file hosts, mostly used to store and share files that are non-pornographic.

The Government of India is all set to make discovering and sharing pornographic content difficult online. It has decided to impose a blanket ban over websites that allow users to share such content over the Internet.

In an order dated June 13, the Department of Telecom (DoT) has directed Internet Service providers to block access to about 39 such websites, reports The Times of India. These websites encompass forums where explicit images are swapped and downloaded and URLs to such images shared. The list also contains image hosts and file hosts that are used to save and share images of the sort.

Watching adult porn is not been banned in India but watching or distributing child pornography is illegal. The websites that have been blocked are hosted outside India and claim to be operating under the 18 USC 2257 rule enforced by the US that requires producers to maintain records that the actors were over 18 years of age at the time of the video being shot.

A senior DoT official told the publication that the department was merely following orders issued by the cyber security coordination committee and was unable to talk about specific reasons behind the block.

The President of Internet Service Providers Association of India, Rajesh Chharia says that it isn’t possible for the ISP providers to pushback DoT orders. “But I feel ideally the government should ask the people who have produced objectionable content to remove it from the web if these people are in India,” he adds. “If they are outside, the websites should be blocked at the international cable landing stations. Involving 150-odd ISPs to implement an order is not the right way to do it.”

Source: Times Of india

Samsung beats Micromax In Indian tablet market

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 01:21:00 +0530

Samsung is No 1 & Micromax is in No 2 position in Indian Tablet market.
There is no doubt that India is moving at a brisk pace towards becoming the worldwide leader in the tablet market. A recent report by the International Data Corporation (IDC) suggests that India has shown a rapid progress in terms of tablet sales within a span of one year. It recorded a total shipment of 2.66 million tablets in 2012, which amounted for 901 percent year-on-year growth when compared to 2011.

This growth was made possible as the South Korean smartphone giant Samsung amounted for 15.76 percent for the sales, while the Indian smartphone firm Micromax came a close second as it had a share of 13.33 percent in the sales. Other firms like Apple, HCL and Karbonn mobiles amounted for 9.92 percent, 7.05 percent and 6.17 percent respectively. However, it should be noted that it was the low-cost 7-inch tablets that comprised almost 78 percent of the total sales during this period.

Windows 8.1 : What's new in it (preview)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 01:07:00 +0530

Windows 8.1 Preview

Windows 8.1 brings together everything you do – from new mobile apps for your business, to Office productivity work, to searching and browsing, to accessing all your data from anywhere.Your Windows experience works across all your devices – from the best business tablet, to a thin and light notebook, to your high-performance workstation or all-in-one, whether you are at home, in or around the office, or working on the road.And Windows takes care of the essentials – now letting you manage personal devices in your organization, utilize your investments in your enterprise infrastructure, and enhancing the security of your environment.

The most highlighted feature is the return of the “Start” button, the new update brings a lot more to the table. It isn’t a mere update that fixes bugs along with some cosmetic tweaks, rather it offers a long list of significant changes. The leaks have been showing off Windows 8.1 a little before earlier this week, and the public preview will be available today. Let’s take a look at what’s new with the Windows 8.1.

Start button
One of the biggest disappoints of Windows 8 was the missing “Start” button that we all loved so dearly. Probably Microsoft has realised it, as the new update brings back the “Start” button. However, if you are expecting a Windows 7-style Start menu, then you’d be disappointed. Nevertheless, Microsoft lets you shutdown or restart the PC with a right click on the Start button. As we know, if you right click on Windows 8′s bottom left corner, a quick-access menu for Control Panel, Run, and other power user features pop up. With the Windows 8.1 update, Shut down and Restart will be added to this menu. This will ensure that you no longer have to go through the multi-click procedure of using the Charms menu. No matter where you are in Windows 8 or Windows RT, the Charms menu helps you do the things you do most often, like search, share links and photos, connect devices, and change settings. However, left clicking the Windows 8.1 Start button will still take you to the Metro interface.

Apps
For the preview release, which is slated for today, all Microsoft authorised apps will come with significant updates. However, the communications suite (Mail, Messaging, People, and Calendar) will be an exception here. It will be updated for the final release of Windows 8.1. Talking about improvements, users can easily resize apps to almost infinite-sized windows, share the screen between two apps, and also open up to three apps on each monitor.

Microsoft has also introduced changes to its music and camera apps too. The music app comes with three main links - quickly play music from their collection (local or online), play streaming music by tapping the Radio link, and “Explore” to search and shop from the Xbox Store. The Camera app gets newer controls including Microsoft PhotoSynth technology’s real-time implementation to create and stitch together panoramas. Microsoft will also be adding several new apps with the Windows 8.1 update such as Calculator, Reading list, Alarms, Health & Fitness and Food & Drink.

SkyDrive
With the new SkyDrive app, users can access their files on the device or in the cloud. This isn’t all, Microsoft claims that users can access files even when offline. Some more features for SkyDrive will include auto picture uploads, making SkyDrive the default location for files and it will suggest to backup our Windows 8.1 mobile devices to SkyDrive.

Other improvements
Microsoft also brings in “NFC Tap-to-pair Printing” option which will allow users to tap the Windows 8.1 device against an enterprise NFC-enabled printer to begin printing. It also supports “Wi-Fi Direct printers” which will allow connecting to printers without adding additional drivers or software on your Windows 8.1 device. Microsoft has added support for a wider range of VPN clients for Windows as well as Windows RT devices. Microsoft also reveals that device encryption

previously found on Windows RT and Windows Phone 8 is now available in all editions of Windows. It can be further configured with additional BitLocker protection and management capability on the Pro and Enterprise SKUs. Windows 8.1 RT, Windows 8.1 Pro, and Windows 8.1 Enterprise, get a new feature called “Assigned Access” that allows enabling a single Windows Store application experience on the device. This can be helpful for educational use (kids will be able to use only educational apps) or to the customer service industry to ensure that the device delivers just the intended experience.
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