YotaPhone 2 to Debut at December 2

Dual screen e-ink display might be the future

Smart phones nowadays offer better softwares and greater performance variables but very little innovation has happened in how the smartphone looks or functions.

The YotaPhone 2 from Russia is set to change it all.

The YotaPhone has an LCD screen on side and an e-ink display on another. As we all are aware, the e-ink display consumes much less power than an LCD Display. This innovative phone can spell the start of a new generation of smart-phones that are smarter about consuming battery power.

Generation 1 of the YotaPhone was based on the same premise of the LCD and e-ink display. But it was flawed. The second generation of YotaPhone which has already been delivered to journalists as early as February 2014 looks promising and might herald the start of a revolution.

On December 3, the YotaPhone 2 will be unveiled to the world in London. The major innovation of the YotaPhone 2 is the touch-sensitive e-ink display (the e-ink display for YotaPhone 1 was not touch sensitive). The user can access many of the phone's core functions on the e-ink display, including making calls, writing texts, emails etc.

For many users, it might be possible to access the device entirely on the e-ink display without powering up the LCD screen.

We're looking forward to the YotaPhone 2 launch on December 3. Stay tuned to our blog for updates.

Viber Introduces Video Calls

You can now use Viber to make video calls.

Early this year, Viber was bought by Japan's e-commerce giant Rakuten. Since then it has spread its wings by implementing voice calling on mobile. Now it is outdoing itself by introducing video calling on its Android and iOS apps.

 Viber had previously offered video calling facility from its desktop apps, but this is the first time it is taking the plunge in the video calling on mobile space. Viber CEO Talmon Marco says that it took two years of work and testing to bring this experience to mobile. He says that while the service will support video calling on even the most basic connections, it is obvious that a weak signal will not product HD-videos.

Another new feature of Viber 5.0 introduced for Android and iOS is sharing of contact details through QR codes. If you meet someone new and you want to share contact details with you, you can simply scan their QR code using your phone.

It's a bracelet... It's a watch... No, It's a Charger!

Smart watches and fitness bands are passé. It is time for the QBracelet. The QBracelet is a portable charger that you can wear on your wrist and that will charge your iPhone or Android device.

While we have had a lot of portable charges, what makes the QBracelet truly unique is that it is a portable charger that looks like a pretty piece of jewellery. When you unfold the bracelet, you find a hidden charging connector- a micro USB connector for Android devices and a Lightning connector for the iPhone.




Q Designs, the company that has conceptualized the QBracelet, claims that the Lithium-ion battery of the QBracelet will charge your device upto 60%. The bracelet takes 90 minutes to charge and lasts 30 days on standby.

We tested Apple Pay in the real world and this is our report

Apple released iOS 8.1 yesterday and with that came the opportunity for us to use Apple pay on iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

We were very excited to try out Apple's new Apple Pay. But first we had to get our Apple 6 Plus ready for the NFC-powered mobile payment. Here is how you can go about it:

1. Open the Passbook app
2. Tap the 'Add' button
3. Select the Credit/Debit Card menu (this has been introduced in iOS 8.1)
4. Fill the form by entering your card's number, expiration date and security code. Optionally you can also scan the details of your card with the phone's camera.

That's it, you're set!

When we visited a business outlet that accepts Apple's Pay's NFC payment, we had the opportunity to see Apple Pay in action. At the billing counter, when everything has been rung up, you have to hold your thumb (or any other finger that you have registered on your phone) to Touch ID and tap it against the part of the payment terminal with the Apple Pay symbol.

This entire process at the checkout counter takes a few short seconds. We really enjoyed the process. Let us know about your experience in the comments.

Find a parking spot in Dubai on your smartphone.

If you drive around in Dubai, you might be a little frustrated with traffic tailbacks and the lack of parking space.

The Road and Transport Authority Dubai (RTA) have taken the initiative to solve your traffic and parking problems with a little help from technology.

The RTA will release an array of apps at Gitex 2014 that will give drivers and motorists live traffic updates across Dubai and also help them find places where they can safely park their vehicles. Visitors at Gitex had the opportunity to see a live demonstration of the apps.

“The app offers users real-time, accurate and direct information about road conditions in Dubai and, accordingly, enables them to pre-plan their trips, use alternative roads and avoid congested routes. The application is also fitted with a prompt reporting feature that provides real-time updates about traffic conditions, traffic jams, and accidents, among other surprises, so that users can avoid these,” said Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of RTA.

The very popular Smart Parking app by RTA Dubai has also been updated with a parking availability feature that will show users available parking space on their cell phones. Currently the service is in beta phase and only covers a section of Shaikh Zayed Road in the direction towards Abu Dhabi.

“We are adding features that will come in handy for motorists when looking for vacant parking spaces in busy areas. We have started the service at all RTA’s parking buildings and by the end of the year we will have the service at some parking lots as well,” said Adel Marzouqi, Director of Parking at RTA’s Traffic and Roads Agency.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai launched the Smart Dubai initiative early this year. The Smart Parking app is an brainchild of this initiative. This initiative aims to make Dubai the smarted city in the world by providing live service 24/7 to users on their mobile phones.

Facebook Launched Atlas to Compete with Google's DoubleClick

Facebook has officially announced its ad planner, the new Atlas.

Facebook/Atlas promises "people-based marketing" and measurement across devices and even offline.

On its blogpost Facebook/Atlas Solutions wrote:

Atlas delivers people-based marketing, helping marketers reach real people across devices, platforms and publishers. By doing this, marketers can easily solve the cross-device problem through targeting, serving and measuring across devices. And, Atlas can now connect online campaigns to actual offline sales, ultimately proving the real impact that digital campaigns have in driving incremental reach and new sales.

Atlas has been rebuilt on an entirely new code base, with a user interface designed for today’s busy media planners and traffickers. Targeting and measurement capabilities are built-in, and cross-device marketing is easy with new ways of evaluating media performance centered on people for reporting and measurement. This valuable data can lead to better optimization decisions to make your media budget even more effective.

Atlas has been described as an ad-serving platform that enables media buyers and advertisers to "create, buy, measure and optimize digital campaigns... across devices and the entire internet, at massive scale - something that's never been available before."

Google's DoubleClick that currently is the leader in display ad serving is its main competitor.  Atlas takes its offering one step further by offering audience-based targeting and shunning cookies. It also includes cross-device and offline measurement.

Atlas has also partnered with Kenshoo, Marin Software, Social.com, Jivox, Celtra, Medialets, AdMarvel/OperaMediaworks, InMobi, Millennial Media and several others.

Facebook bought Atlas from Microsoft for an estimated $100 million in 2013. Microsoft had bought Atlas for $6 billion in 2007.

A new mid-range Stylus-enabled phone from LG: G3 Stylus

LG announced a new phone, the G3 Stylus, a variant of its flagship G3 smartphone with only a little difference: it comes with a stylus.

The device is 5.5inches with a 13mp camera, 1GB RAM and 8GB memory. It will run Android KitKat.

The G3 Stylus will be optimized for 3G markets and will be available in single-sim and dual-sim option. It will come in black, gold and white.

The LG G3 was the first smartphone to boast a Quad HD display. The G3 Stylus will have the same screen size as the G3 but it features a 960-by-540 resolution which is not as awesome as that of the G3. It is also expected to have mid-range pricing.

The G3 Stylus will be available in Brazil this week and soon in other countries. Would you go for this phone?

Rise of the Phablets: iPhone 6 Plus Sold Out

The new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are already a hit. Although the phones have not been shipped yet, the 5.5 inch iPhone 6 Plus is sold out, well ahead of the 4.7 inch iPhone 6.

The verdict is clear: the big screen is a hit.

There is definitely a chance that there were more iPhone 6 phones on offer than the 6 Plus. But early buzz on the internet shows equal interest in the Plus model.

Large-screen phones, often called Phablets (Phone+Tablets) have become wildly popular in the last few years. Their demand has been steadily growing. Buyers look for a Phablet to negate the need for a standalone tablet. Apple's closest Android rivals are Samsung, HTC and LG. Their flagships phones are popular in the phablet marketplace.

It was natural for Apple to respond with a bigger size phone. We are slowly getting to a world where people prefer screens larger than 4 inches but still want their phones to not weight as much as tablets and easily manageable with one hand.

The Phablet is here to stay. It should come as no surprise if you see more iPhone 6 Plus phones on the street than the smaller iPhone 6.

Cloud FX with Mozilla OS selling for $33 in India

Mozilla launched its inaugural smartphone with the Mozilla Firefox OS in late August. It was launched in India and it cost only $33.

It is retailing as the Intex Cloud FX and is a partnership between Mozilla and Intex Technologies. The phone has 4GB memory capacity and Bluetooth. It supports Hindi and Tamil and is available only on snapdeal.com.

Intex director of marketing Keshav Bensal said, "With the launch of Intex Cloud FX, we aim to enable the masses to get smartphone experience at the cost of a feature phone."

India has the third-highest number of smartphone sales on the planet after U.S. and China. This cost effective phone model is expected to accelerate India's position to the top of the global smartphone market.

Mozilla is not the only one that is aspiring to get a key share of the lower-end of the Indian smartphone market. Google is gearing to entering the space too with its Android One program that will bring an Android device in India for less than $100. This mobile phone will have a 4.5 inch screen, dual-SIM, FM radio and Android OS.

How Macbook Predicts the Future of Apple

Two products are synonymous with Apple's future: the iPad and the iPhones. Together, the iPad and iPhone generate about 70% of Apple's sales. With the increase in sale of Android powered phones, people are worried about the future of Apple devices.

Android devices are priced at half or one-third of Apple devices. Technology market watchers think that the way forward for Apple is to lower their prices and win back their customers who have converted to Android.

They are not wrong. In the near future, we will reach a point where the iPhone and Android phone will be exactly matched on specifications. And with their rapid launch cycle, Android phones may end up getting better than Apple on specs and mobile software.

When that happens, buys will choose Android because it is the same product with a better price. What will be Apple's fate then?

To get a possible answer to that question, let's turn our attention to another Apple product that has defied market logic: The Mac. Apple’s Mac business has been performing better than the consumer PC business for years. The Macs competitors are devices that are cheaper with comparable specs from companies like Dell, Samsung, Lenovo etc. Yet Mac sales have been rising slowly and steadily.

Technically, with its premium price range, the Mac should have been history. Or it should have been cheaper to deal with the competition. But Mac shipments were up 18% last quarter. Former Apple executive Jean Louis Gassee wrote, "Naysayers will continue to contend that the prices of competing tablets are preordained to crash and will bring ruin to Apple's Affordable Luxury product strategy ... just as they predicted netbooks would inflict damage on MacBooks."Naysayers will continue to contend that the prices of competing tablets are preordained to crash and will bring ruin to Apple's Affordable Luxury product strategy ... just as they predicted netbooks would inflict damage on MacBooks."

But Apple does not sell Macbooks alone. It also sells the iPhone, iPad and the iPod. These high-performing ‘affordable luxury’ products along with their ecosystem of apps and media make for a great what are awesome!

The iPhone might occupy the same space for mobile phones that the Macbook does for laptops. And it might steadily churn out profits while at it.

Apple is also planning to launch the iWatch in fall 2014. It might not be a big revenue maker like the iPhone but it will be a part of an ecosystem that work and compliments other Apple devices. As Gassee puts it, "The sweet spot on Apple's racket is the set of customers who, like Tim Cook, use MacBooks and iPads. It's by no means the broadest segment, just the most profitable one."

Social networking habits of Middle East users might surprise you

Facebook is the most popular social networking site in the Middle East according to this survey conducted by Northwestern University in Qatar in partnership with Doha Film Institute. Almost 90% of internet users in the Middle East are active on Facebook.

Internet users from Egypt, Lebanon, Qatar, KSA, Tunisia and UAE were taken into consideration for this survey.

Some of the results of the survey were truly unexpected:

• Google+ is more popular than Twitter in Egypt, Lebanon and Qatar. 
• Only 70% of Internet users in Qatar use Facebook. The percentage is well above 90% for other areas surveyed. 
• The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has the most number of Twitter users with 79% of Internet users who use Twitter on daily basis.
• Almost 50% of Internet users in Lebanon use Google+.

Uber to Launch its Much-Awaited API

Uber's "Request a Ride" button has been a hit with its customers and extremely profitable for Uber. It seems fairly obvious that the next step for Uber would be to place its button everywhere. Sources confirm that Uber is gearing up to launch an API soon.

Integrating the Uber API in Google Maps was just the first step. While, sources have not confirmed the exact functionality of the Uber API, we think that the API will allow developers to ass the "Request a Ride" button to their apps. It might be allow support for creation of full-fledged Uber clients. Uber plans to be for taxi rides what Kleenex is for tissues.

As of now, Uber does not have a public API. Sources confirm that Uber has been in talks with Facebook to integrate it into their Messenger.

Currently, Uber appears as a pedestrian and public transportation option inside Google maps. This option is available for people who have downloaded the Uber app. The "Get an Uber" button is displayed next to the other public transportation options and shows the travel time and distance if you opt for an Uber ride. Tapping the button will switch you to the Uber app with your destination pre-loaded.

Google Ventures is a major stakeholder in Uber and this system is a win-win for both Uber and Google. It subtly reminds a person that getting an Uber cab is easier and less taxing that walking or getting public transportation.

The reason Uber API makes so much sense is because Uber is an impulse purchase. A quick tap to Uber can cost one $20. Uber survives when people surrender to comfort and luxury by tapping the button. The more Uber buttons there are out there, the more taps which finally converts to more money for Uber!

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook: The First Android e-Reader

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook that was launched recently was the first full-features Android tablet that was designed for reading.

Instead of the Google Play or Samsung Hub installed on this tablet, you will get the Barnes & Noble Store pre-installed. This is no surprise as this tablet is a tie-up between Samsung and the US bookseller Barnes & Noble.

At $179 we think it is quite affordable too, especially as it comes with $200 of free Nook content. With this tablet one also gets lots of freebies: books, trail subscriptions to magazines and free episodes of TV shows.

Samsung has not compromised on the hardware. The screen is the same as the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 - 7-inch screen with 216 ppi, the 1.2GHz quad-core processor and 1.5GB of RAM, 3MP rear camera and 1.2MP front camera.

Currently the Nook has only released in the United States. Will you prefer this tablet over the Kindle of the Nook? Answer in comments.

A Machine That Reads Minds and Moves Objects

Ever thought it was possible for you to move objects with your mind? We're here to tell you it is possible with the Emotiv.

The Emotiv is a cutting else technology that clips on to your hear and gives you the ability to move a toy car just by thinking about it. It can also help quadriplegic mix music like a DJ by only just using their brain power.

The Emotiv is an EEG device that scans your brain for signals and using those signals can detect your emotions, interests and lot of other things. When you train with the Emotiv, you can actually move objects with just the power of thought.

All of that sounds fun, but the real value of this technology is in its uses. People with disabilities can perform tasks that were earlier impossible for them. Emotiv can help people with epilepsy, sleep disorders and ADHD to relax their minds and focus. It might also help you drive safely, as was demonstrated in a recent study by the Automotive Club of Australia.

It also has a vast set of uses in the world of advertising and market research. Often during market research surveys, participants have to verbally express how they feel about a product. With Emotiv, market researchers can detect the reaction of your brain to a particular product you see in a store. They will know whether or not you like a product just by reading your brain signals on a computer.

An important thing to note is that this technology could come with its own set of risks. The Emotiv has the potential to be used as brain spyware, especially in video gaming. An EEG signal can be used to decode your bank card number and even determine the state of your mental health.

Emotiv sells both the EPOC($299) and EEG($750) Version of their system. Both headsets allow developers to create their own applications using the licensed SDK software. The EEG headset goes further by allowing users to collect raw EEG data and conduct research.

While this technology may have its pros and cons, it is noteworthy and is sure to make one sit up and take notice. What do you think? Will you buy the Emotiv?

John Oliver's Scathing Review of Native Advertising

John Oliver who hosts the talk show "Last Week Tonight" never misses a beat when it comes to making an observation on funny situations in our daily life. This week the hit show took on the topic of "Native Advertising".


Native Advertising is advertising that is partially disguised as editorial content. In the segment, John Oliver takes sensible yet utterly funny look at this new advertising format. He did not pull at punches and took on media moguls like Jonah Peretti whose website BuzzFeed draws all of its revenue from native advertising. He also took on Joe Ripp, CEO of Time Inc. Time Inc. has recently built a new native advertising unit. The segment is thought-provoking and funny, especially when John Oliver draws a parallel between maintaining a separation of Church and State and maintaining a separation between advertising and editorial content.

New Facebook messenger app is #1 in app stores. Still has a low rating!

In April Facebook announced that it will eliminate chat features from the Facebook app on iOS and Android. Users will be forced to send messages via a newly created Facebook Messenger app.

This news comes in succession after Facebook acquired WhatsApp for $19 Billion in February 2014.
Now the Facebook messenger app has officially arrived on all the major app stores (iOS, Android, Windows) and is forcing the users of the Facebook app to download it. But the users are not happy about having to download another Facebook app, especially for their messaging service.

Because of this, the app is the in the unique position of being the #1 free app on almost all app stores, but at the same time having a dismal rating.

Here are the app ratings on iTunes:

Here are the app ratings on the Google Play:

The Messenger app has better ratings on the Google Play Store because the ratings here are cumulative for all versions of the app.

The reviews on both sites are mixed, with several users complaining about being forced to install another app for messaging on Facebook.

Google Fit SDK to Help Developers Build Fitness Apps

Google is the latest player in the fitness market with Google Fit.

According to the Google Fit website, Google fit is 'an open platform that lets users control their fitness data.'

The Fitness app market is already populated with third party apps like Nike+, LF, Adidas, Basis, Runtastic, RunKeeper and more. These apps help fitness enthusiasts keep track of their workouts and fitness. Although these apps find a place on Google Play, iTunes as well as Windows Store, they are not affiliates with either of these telecom giants.

Google Fit has tied up with a lot of partners to make the experience better and to integrate a lot of fitness software into their own. Here are a few of their partners: Adidas, Asus, Basis, HTC, intel, LG, Motorola, Nika, noom, Polar, Runkeepper, Runtastic and Withings

According to the website, Google Fit will officially release in Fall 2014.

The Google Fit Software Developer Kit will help developers create fitness apps by granting them access to the app user's fitness history. Apps built by developers can use that data for personalized coaching, recommendations and fitness insights.

Download the software development kit for Google Fit here: https://developers.google.com/fit/

Microsoft will launch its SmartWatch in October

Rumors suggest Microsoft will launch its latest piece of technology in October 2014. It will have 11 sensors and come with a Nike FuelBand-style design. Reportedly the Microsoft SmartWatch will have fitness skills and it will work cross-platform.

Sources also claim that this SmartWatch will be a thinner and flatter than the Nike FuelBand.

Image Source: Nike.com.

The display will also be on the inside of the device rather than the outside as most SmartWatch manufacturers prefer.

The Microsoft SmartWatch will reportedly go on sale in October. Will you buy this?

FASTER Undersea Cable to Connect US and Asia at 60Tbps

USA and Asia will soon be connected with an Trans-Pacific undersea cable that will transmit data at - wait for it - 60 Terabytes per second.

This super network will be called FASTER and it will connect the United States to two landing locations in Japan. The total amount of investment for the FASTER system is estimated to be approximately USD $300 million. This investment will be made by 5 Asian telecom companies (China Mobile International, China Telecom Global, Global Transit, KDDI, and SingTel) and Google.

Trans-Pacific route of FASTER

Google's senior vice president of technical infrastructure wrote on his Google+ page:

At Google we want our products to be fast and reliable, and that requires a great network infrastructure, whether it's for the more than a billion Android users or developers building products on Google Cloud Platform. And sometimes the fastest path requires going through an ocean. That’s why we’re investing in FASTER, a new undersea cable that will connect major West Coast cities in the US to two coastal locations in Japan with a design capacity of 60 Tbps (that's about ten million times faster than your cable modem). Along with our previous investments - UNITY in 2008 and SJC (South-East Asia Japan Cable) in 2011, FASTER will make the internet, well, faster and more reliable for our users in Asia.

According to reports, the network should be ready for service in the second quarter of 2016.

Facebook and Youtube Dominate Mobile Market Share

According to recent reports, Facebook and Youtube together, bite into a major chunk of online mobile traffic. Cumulatively, they account for one-third of all the mobile web traffic in North America.

The Top 10 services which take account for maximum web traffic comprise of many popular apps/services. Together the top 10 account for 77% of total web traffic. The remaining 23% percent are accounted for by mobile apps. The chart below lists the mobile traffic share of the top 10 web services.

Created by Statista 

Samsung to Launch its own Wearable Virtual Technology Device

2 years ago, Oculus Rift created a splash with gamers across the world. Amongst the first wearable virtual reality technology, the Oculus Rift raised that raised over $2 million in its Kickstarter campaign in 2012.
In May 2014, there were rumors of Samsung working on its own virtual reality headset, similar to Oculus Rift. A photo of the device has been leaked and now the rumors seem more substantiated. Here, have a look.

The device will be called Gear VR and will reportedly make its debut at the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin this September.

The side view of the Gear VR shows a black and red exterior with a touchpad on the side of the lens housing. Reports suggest, it also has a version that allows users to shift to a see-through mode.

Other rumors also suggest that the Gear VR will have a USB 3.0 dock that can be used to connect to a Galaxy mobile device and use the mobile device's accelerometer for head tracking — rather than embedding sensors in the headset itself — to achieve a virtual-reality effect.

Most interesting is the rumor that claims that while the hardware is manufactured by Samsung, the software will be provided by the innovative creators of the Oculus Rift.

Guess we will just have to wait and watch. Keep checking this space for more information.

The Backside of Your Phone Has a New Innovation

Smartphone case makers will need to think of an innovative option to come up with when it comes to covers because now phone makers are focusing on making the rear of the phone useful as well.

Hardware innovation that’s been forced to slow elsewhere, with the front of the phone becoming locked down with as near an edge-to-edge display as is technically possible, is moving in on the back of phones, an under-developed, mostly overlooked landmass ripe for spicing up.

Examples of interesting backside smartphone developments in recent times include some at the margins of the market, such as Jolla’s Other Half — an NFC-powered backplate that snaps onto the mobile-maker startup’s device to allow users to customise the look and feel of their smartphone theme, thanks to the NFC connection betwixt the two.

The NFC connection on the Other Half also allows users of the handset to get access to branded content, such as a news feed or product catalogue from an Angry Birds or Makia co-branded Other Half.

There are a lot of developments happening in this area of the phones. What would be the next best innovation is yet to be seen!

Mobile Orchestra: Creating Magical Music

South Korean mobile network, SK Telecom created a unique K-pop video using an orchestra of mobile phones. A completely innovative video, you can’t just get enough of this one! Advertising videos have never been so much fun. The concept, the music, the background complements each other perfectly to create magic!

The 2:06 minute video keeps you glued to your seat as you watch mobile phones over 30 years old create sweet sounds for you. The video is not only eye pleasing but also foot tapping.

SK Telecom boasts of having the fastest mobile network in the world. The video is a platform for SK Telecom to connect to the masses on a more personal level and to show that it is not only a business enterprise focused on speed but it also likes celebrating! 

So, watch this video today and enjoy the mobiles play for you once more! 

Samsung Galaxy S5 Launch Day Sales Breaks S4's Records

On Friday, Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone was launched and it is showing a great start than its former version.

The launch day sales of this phone are apparently double than those of the Galaxy S4’s launch day sales numbers from the last year in some markets.

The S5 was launched in 150 countries around the world and is sold on a great scale in a variety of global markets.

Though Samsung hasn’t really provided with a number that could represent its launch day sales, the report quoted a sportsperson claiming that the number went up in millions. The previous year, Galaxy S4 showed 10 million in sales in just a month and it made a record for the growth of Samsung smartphone growth.

The 5.1-inch device has a 1,920 x 1,080 HD display with a quad-core 2.5GHz chip and runs on Android 4.4.2 KitKat. Other bells and whistles include a fingerprint scanner, a heart-rate sensor and a battery-saving mode that can stretch out a few minutes of power over hours.

Get Your Google Glass Soon!

 Yes, you can finally get your Google Glass now the company has released the product for sales and will be available to the masses for purchase. 

 A Google spokesperson wrote: "The sale may go longer than a day; we just have to see how well everything works and how well we handle the demand."The plan was announced by Google last week itself. "Every day, we get requests from those of you who haven’t found a way into the program yet, and we want your feedback too," the company wrote in a blog post.

The Glass is priced at $1500 with taxes extra. The price is surely steep but Google will give you the frames and shades of your own choice.

The company has apologized for making it available in the U.S only currently. However, it has plans to expand its services in other countries on gauging the response from the users.

Amazon Smartphone to be Launched Soon?

This fall, the e-commerce giant Amazon will extend into the smartphone space with it launching a new handset, according to a recent report.

After years of talks, rumours, alleged leaks and analyst speculation, The Wall Street Journal made a claim that Amazon is planning to announce its own handset in June.

The WSJ said that Amazon has been demonstrating the smartphone for developers in Seattle and San Francisco in recent times. The developers were reportedly needed to visit hotel suites with high security to be able to view the demonstrations.

The phone apparently features four front-facing cameras or sensors to track the user’s gaze and offer a glasses-free 3D-viewing experience. The previous rumours of an Amazon phone have talked about its mobile ecommerce possibilities, but this particular report talks about specific details. The first order of these handsets is going to be for 000 units. The Japan Display is serving as at least one of the device's component manufacturers.

Although many have criticized Amazon for going towards the hardware market, we have all seen how popular the Kindle has been. After about seven years of launching Kindle, Amazon appears to have taken up a challenge more difficult than the previous one. However it has to work hard to make a mark in the already cluttered smartphone space.

The WSJ has said that the production of this device could begin in the end of April.

Google Glass: The New Best Way to Livestream

Do you own a Google glass? Well, here’s something new for you! You will have a new way to live stream events through Google glass. Livestream.com has launched its very first app. The app enables the users to broadcast events to others via Glass in real time.

The app isn’t really complicated; in fact, it is simpler than the one available on iOS and Android systems. It allows the users to share everything they see in real time. Apart from this, the app also shows the viewers’ comments to the wearer.

To start broadcasting, all the users have to do is simply pair Glass with an event of their choice and say "OK Glass, Livestream” as they tap the side of the device to begin recording. The viewers can tune into the live broadcasts through the web or the company’s smartphone and Roku apps.

Google has its own live streaming platform for Glass which comes with the Hangouts app. However, Livestream's app is the first third-party live streaming app to come to Glass.

It first launched its broadcasting platform in 2007. It was launched under the name Mogulus. Later in 2009, the company was rebranded as Livestream and it released the first iOS and Android apps in 2012.

A Comeback for Blackberry?

Wall Street had a sweet surprise when Blackberry was seen beating the already admittedly low-end estimates for its fourth quarter. Blackberry’s numbers looked pretty gloomy. However, the situation wasn’t that bad. In fact, the company’s stock has risen about 24% over last three months, as some investors have been sold on to a comeback tale.

This leaves us wondering, does Blackberry have a shot?

Blackberry’s CEO, John Chen has given a 50% chance to the company to make a comeback. Some investors think those are good odds with Chen at the helm.

 "He's definitely smarter and better than the previous management, and he's got a good track record," Genovese said.

BlackBerry's messaging service, has 85 million monthly active users versus 450 million for WhatsApp. Facebook’s $19 billion acquisition of Whatsapp has also made it likely to buoy the stock.

So far, the company has been cutting costs to make Blackberry a leaner option. Chen has also made a deal with Foxconn to manufacture BlackBerry devices. BMM has a devoted following in the Asian and Latin American marketers, so, the plan is to produce cheap devices and hit these markets.

BlackBerry isn't abandoning the North American market, though: Chen said he's planning to have BlackBerry design high-end phones, and then produce them with a yet-unnamed manufacturer.

However, now, the company is pulling heavily from the past. Chen has outlined the plans to pump up the production and sales of Blackberry Bold. Even the company's new concept phone, the Foxconn-produced Q20, appears to be embracing legacy technology — in this case a physical keyboard and trackpad instead of a touchscreen.

Genovese doesn't think the plan will work. "Chen's done a good job controlling what he can," Genovese said. "My analysis would be he's got a year."

Telecom expert Roger Entner of consulting firm Recon Analytics, was similarly skeptical. 

Ted Schadler, an analyst with Forrester Research, dismisses such talk. "It's a big world," Schadler said. "It's not a winner-take-all market. There's a good chance they'll be around." Even app development isn't that big of a deal. Developers may not be flocking to the BlackBerry platform, but most Android apps can be easily ported to the OS, he said.

Analysts think that Chen has been making all the correct decisions and the leading Blackberry on the right track. To add to it, the company has enough cash on hand to ensure that the company bounces back.

However, in the end, it’s the customers who will decide the fate of this company. Are you ready to give Blackberry a second chance? 

Revealed: What Apple Biggies Think About the Future of the Company

A document which was presented in the federal court in Friday for the much talked about Apple v/s Samsung patent trial revealed that some Apple officials have serious concerns about the iPhone’s competitive position vis-à-vis the rising popularity of Android smartphones.

An email from Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice-president said: "I watched the Samsung pre-superbowl ad that launched today… It's pretty good and I can’t help but thinking 'these guys are feeling it (like an athlete that can't miss because they are in a zone), while we struggle to nail a compelling brief on iPhone."

This is one of the few times when Apple has been concerned about its competitors and that concerned has been revealed. Schiller also wrote that something drastic has to change when it comes to Apple.

Documents which have an email from late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs were also revealed earlier this week. The mail talked about what he had planned for the company’s future. The mail also spoke about an upcoming “Holy War with Google”, Apple being in danger of hanging onto an old paradigm too long and the plans for iPhone 4S and iPhone 5.

There are other competitive issues discussed like strategy to catch up to the Android, focus on notifications, tethering, speech and Siri. 

Jobs' bullet points on "Apple TV 2" include a strategy to "stay in the living room game and make a great 'must have' accessory for iOS devices," adding content from NBC, CBS, Viacom and HBO, as well as a possible TV-subscription service.

This information came from the Apple’s treasure chest on the second day of the Apple v/s Samsung trial. Well, this could also mean that there are more revelations coming up! Apple's patent lawsuit against Samsung aims to get the South Korea-based electronics giant to pay $2 billion in damages related to the sale of millions of allegedly patent-infringing Samsung smartphones.

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iPhone 6: Coming Real Soon- Screen Production Begins

The rumours to the much awaited iPhone 6 get stronger with a news report that says Apple is all set to begin production on new screens for its upcoming phone.

The technology giant from Cupertino plans to begin with the production of the new screens in May is what Reuters reported.

Apple is apparently beginning its production of the 4.7 inch screen phone by the next month; the work on 5.5 inch screen could face a delay.

If sources are to be believed, Sharp, LG Display and Japan Display are some of the companies could make screens.

An increase in size from the current one in the iPhone 5S would put an end to the concern for iPhone fans and analysts who were wondering if the company was missing out on the consumers interested in more screen real estate.

Due to complications related to problems with in-cell production technology, there was a delay in production of the 5.5 inch screen. This may result in a shift to film-sensor technology rather than in-cell technology for the larger screen.

See and Text: iPhone’s Transparent Texting is here!

12% of people have approved of walking and texting with the heads down and eyes glues to their smartphone. Well, are you one of them? If yes, there’s good news for you! Apple has a solution for all the phone addicts!

Apple secured a patent with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a “transparent texting” technology. This technology would enable users to look at whatever comes their way even when they are glued to their iPhone.

The device’s rear-facing camera would replace the current background that the phone has for messaging app and there would be a live video from the camera. The users would be able to see what’s behind their phone after they have turned on the feature. How would this feature work and would it be successful in preventing accidents? Well, that’s still debatable.

The patent for this technology was filed way back in September 2012. This feature could be used in many other apps as well apart from messages. However, the company hasn’t announced what its plans for the “transparent texting” are.

Apps and patents like these do not take guarantee for absence of accidents. It could be quite distracting to walk and talk like together. We suggest you to be careful while doing the same!

Oculus VR Now is Facebook's Baby

On Tuesday this week, Facebook announced that it acquired Oculus VR, the company behind the Oculus Rift gaming handset in a cash and stock deal. The deal was valued $2 billion.

The terms of deal include $400 million in cash and 23.1 million shares of Facebook common stock.

"Oculus has the chance to create the most social platform ever, and change the way we work, play and communicate," Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a statement.

Facebook says that Oculus will remain headquartered in Irvine and it will also continue with the development of the Oculus Rift platform. The Oculus team was never really committed to bring out a consumer version of the VR headset to the market. However, more than 75,000 developers had already ordered developer kits for the technology.

Oculus is the social media giant’s second major acquisition in less than two months’ time. Last month, Facebook acquired Whatsapp for a whopping sum.

In a conference, Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook said that it was a move taken keeping into mind the future, Buying Oculus is a long term bet on the future of computing for Facebook.

The idea that Oculus represents the future of computing isn't relegated to just investors. Shane Hudson, a London-based web developer, says he thinks that Oculus has the ability to offer up a “fully immersed experience." Hudson thinks that experience could extend from tasks such as "playing a game, watching a film, reading a book or even chatting your friends 'face-to-face' despite being on the other side of the world."

Hudson works with data visualizations and he sees the Oculus Rift as giving an entire new way of working with that kind of data. "It's a very interesting technology that could go in any number of directions, much as the web did," Hudson says.

That's what Zuckerberg thinks too. He sees Oculus's current focus around games and entertainment as just the beginning. 

"Oculus has the potential to be the most social platform ever,"

"Oculus has the potential to be the most social platform ever," he said. "Imagine not just sharing moments with your friends online but entire experiences."

Zuckerberg also said that buying Oculus was a way of investing in the best and brightest players in computing. He said Oculus is "years ahead in terms of technology" but that "all the best and brightest in the space already work there."

Over the last two years, the Oculus team has amassed tons of talent, including many of the best minds in virtual reality and in gaming. John Carmack, the co-founder of id Software — and the lead programmer of Wolfenstein 3D, Doom andQuake, joined Oculus in Aug. 2012 as its CTO.

Facebook has faced backlash before. After Facebook announced it was going to purchase Instagram, users threatened to leave the service en masse. However, the users did not leave and Instagram has been on the rise ever since!  

Zuckerberg is clearly hoping the same situation will take place with Oculus VR. He would definitely not mind a bit of a backlash for a better future!

Umeng: 700+ Million Smartphone Users in China

An analytics firm named Umeng has reported that China has over 700 million of active smartphone users. Moreover, out of all the devices that were sold 41% of the buyers were purchasing their first ever smartphone. Rest of the customers were upgrading to a better model.

In November 2011, China had become the world’s largest smartphone market. However, the sales gradually dropped down after the mobile penetration rates increased. As per a report from the IDC, shipments decreased in 2013 for the first time in two years. The first –time users are buying their smartphone devices after prices have drastically gone down.

Majority of the smartphone devices sold in China were Androids that cost less than $350. However, the demand for these devices is very strong today as well. A lot of high-end smartphones were sold as well. 80% of the same were iPhone smartphones.

iPhone users are also now less likely to jailbreak their phones, thanks to China’s new status as one of Apple’s launch markets; tools like Kuaiyong Apple Assistant, which offers free versions of paid iOS apps; and security concerns about jailbroken devices. Last year, the percentage of jailbroken iPhones in mainland China fell to 13% from 30% at the beginning of the year.

Samsung and Xiomi highly dominate the Android marketplace though it is fragmented with more than 100 manufacturers. In 2013, the top 10 Android devices came from these two phone giants.

Mostly, people who are owners of smartphones costing less than $150, stick to casual games. However, many people spend a lot of time in every title thanks to the improvement in hardware like the processors and memory and graphic cards.

In fact, Umeng writes that “the term ‘casual games’ is becoming a misnomer as users are spending large blocks of time playing these games rather than dipping in and out as was once the case.”

Players are also starting to demand the official versions of games, instead of clones or pirated versions. Last year was the first year “Chinese developers took IP seriously with many developers licensing IP from rights holders,” said Umeng. He further continued saying that, “With the loyalty of fans, game developers realized a well-known, officially licensed IP/brand will help them easily attract IP fans and get promoted in the app store and potentially acquire more high value users.”

 A lot of social networking services like WeChat, Sina Weibo, QQ and Renren should be integrated into social networking services. The amount of app content shared over social media platforms has been increasing ever since; it has tripled over the last six months. 48 per cent of it has come from games.

WeChat was especially popular–the amount of app content shared through the messaging app grew by a whopping 8,600% between March and November 2013.

Umeng said non-game developers should keep an eye on the other five fastest growing mobile app categories, which are news, health and fitness, social networking, business, and navigation. Popular social networking apps included photo- and video-sharing apps, as well as app targeting niche markets, like dating and parenting

Apple Apparently Adds a New Feature to iAd

After updating its mobile operating system to iOS 7.1, Apple seems to have added a new feature to its iAd program. The feature is designed to allow the company, not only to take credit for the app downloads driven by its ads, but also allows advertisers to get a better sense of whether their campaigns are paying off or not.

While there is no such mention about the change in Apple’s documentation, there is API code, which seems to indicate a change. Here’s how HasOffers interprets the code:

Based on our interpretation, we believe this method will provide insight into whether a user engaged (impression or click) with an ad from iAd, in specific, prior to installing the app. If the user did engage with an ad specifically from iAd, then the “determine App Installation Attribution with Completion Handler” method will return a value of 1 for yes. If the user didn’t engage with an ad from iAd (perhaps the user engaged with an ad from another channel like Google Adwords or didn’t even engage with any ads at all), then the function will return a value of 0 for no.

Whether this interpretation is completely true or not, has to be known yet from the Apple officials.

WeChat Better than Whatsapp?

It was a surprise to everyone when Facebook bought the messaging service giant Whatsapp for $19 billion and people were even more surprised when Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook went on to say that Whatsapp was worth even more. What has happened now is that the analysts at Credit Lyonnais Securities Asia have evaluated several messaging apps and have come up with a statement which says that WeChat, a Chinese competitor, owned by Tencent, is worth at least $60 billion. They claim so because according to their study, WeChat has more active revenues streams incorporated into its service than Whatsapp does. CSLA ranges the valuation between $35 billion and $64 billion this year.

Though the users of WeChat are less as compared to Whatsapp, it has more revenue streams. Analysts Elinor Leung and Terry Chen write, “WhatsApp only generates US$1/download. WeChat could generate revenues from mobile games, advertising, eCommerce, O2O, mobile payment and Internet financing. Asia leads the global smartphone game market especially Korea, Japan and China. eCommerce, online to offline payments and mobile payment are unique business opportunities in China given the poor offline infrastructure. Tencent has also invested heavily and made aggressive acquisitions such as JD and Dianping to secure the business opportunities.”

Also, it seems like WeChat is likely to hit 450 million users this year, with each subscriber worth some $142. Whatsapp has been maintaining for a while now that it will continue to operate under Facebook in the same way without advertisements. On the other hand, WeChat has taken a quite delicate approach when it comes to advertising for now at least.

 “While most online and offline corporates are eager to tap WeChat users, Tencent has been careful controlling the promotional activities by its public accounts,” the CLSA analysts write. “Users can only find and follow the public accounts unless they know the name. Tencent doesn’t provide a list of public accounts for users. Tencent has also limited the daily promotional messages sent out by public accounts.”

However, CLSA goes on to note that Tencent “will likely turn more aggressive on monetizing through social advertising once user penetration is mature. Display ads may not be the best advertising format on mobile social messaging platforms.”

WeChat has made some interesting developments in terms of incorporating some additional features like payments. Tencent has launched apps like red envelope and taxi apps which will also be integrated with WeChat to complete transactions for things like paying bills, buying things, red envelopes and subscriptions.

“WeChat payment registered users reportedly jumped 5 times given the viral effect of the red envelope app,” CLSA writes.