Xiaomi Now Targets Laptops

 The leaked specs allegedly reveal that it would have an Intel Haswell i7-4500u processor with 2 x 8GB dual channel memory. Further, it would have a large 15-inch 1080p display up front and would run on a linux OS customized by Xiaomi. Additionally, it is expected to be priced at approximately $480 (Rs. 30,000).

 If these specs are anything close to reality, then this seems to be a device worth every Dollar, Yuan or Rupee spent on it; which would make the Chinese a superpower in the Laptop category as well.

 In the past, Xiaomi has been quite successful in selling their devices in India through flash sales via Flipkart. Rumours also surround the market that Xiaomi is working on a dual edge smartphone known as the Xiaomi Arch, a device in direct competition with the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge.

 Unfortunately nothing has been officially declared by Xiaomi regarding the Notebook and the fans would have to wait a while before the company announces the same. This device, if and when released, could be a game changer destroying many domestic companies which are presently enjoying the benefit of the lower and middle-end consumers.

[Via]

New Browser For Windows 10

 If there is one internet browser that has gathered immense online infamy, it’s the Internet Explorer (IE). As one of the oldest browsers, it helped Microsoft win the browser game as it was provided for free with its Windows OS. It’s competitors, like Netscape Navigator couldn’t compete, because of the massive reach of Windows. But lately with the emergence of browsers like Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome, the Internet Explorer has taken a back seat. However, Microsoft hasn’t lost out of hope with one of its oldest product yet. It is planning to create a whole new browser for the upcoming Windows 10 operating system.

 According to ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley, The project is apparently code-named “Spartan”. Microsoft’s top competition Apple introduced multiple features in this year’s version of its browser Safari. With the Spartan, Microsoft hopes to create a light-weight browsing experience similar to that on Firefox and Chrome. This browser will be available for both the desktop and the mobile versions.

 It is also being reported that Microsoft will ship Windows 10 with Internet Explorer 11 for the sake of backward compatibility. Microsoft wishes to reignite the browser wars that it started back in the 90’s. The winner in this battle would be the consumer who will get improved functionalities thanks to the fierce competition.

 Microsoft is going to hold a press event on January 21st where we will get to know more about the consumer aspects of the Windows 10. Maybe we’ll get to know more about Spartan too. The previews of Windows 10 have been appreciated and so we have some hopes with this new browser. Windows 10 is expected to come to the market by next September; only then we’ll finally know whether Microsoft’s Spartan forms a formidable opponent to the three ruling forces of the browser game.

[Via]

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Meets PM Modi to Discuss the Digital India Project

 Narendra Modi has a long list of high-profile guests flying over to India to meet him. The recent addition to the list was Microsoft’s Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella.

 Nadella after meeting the PM at his office on Friday commented, “it’s always fantastic for me personally to be in India and the conversation I had with the minister was wide ranging,”

 Nadella is the third major tech executive to meet PM Modi, after Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg. While it is largely being dubbed as a personal visit for the India-born chief executive of the American software giant, he was also supposed to address Microsoft’s employees in India on Friday.

 Earlier in the day Nadella met PM Narendra Modi and communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. “I have an aspiration that in this mobile and cloud world, we can empower every individual citizen of India and every business organization and institution in India to be able to try with new technology. So, I am looking forward to be a part of both the Digital India and Make in India,” he said.

 One of the major highlight of this high-profile meeting was the talks between Nadella and telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad where he urged the telecom minister to allow Microsoft to pilot its ‘White-Fi’ technology to provide internet connectivity in remote villages in the country.

 Microsoft India, since last month, has been seeking approvals to deploy a project that will enable Internet connectivity using ‘White Space’ spectrum that is currently used for television transmission by Doordarshan. White space technology has previously been deployed in South Africa, Ghana, and the UK, although to this point, white space broadband hasn’t been deployed at a commercially meaningful scale.

 This was the second courtesy call of the Microsoft CEO to PM Narendra Modi. Nadella met the Prime Minister earlier during his first India visit after taking charge as boss of the top software company.

[image] [source]

Google fibre services in India soon

NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 24:  

Internet giant Google is in talks with the IT Ministry to roll out optical fibre-based broadband services as part of the Digital India programme. Google plans to roll out a fibre network in a small area as a showcase project.

According to top officials in the IT Ministry, the discussions are at an initial stage. “We are keen to partner a company like Google in furthering the Digital India plan. Modalities have to be worked out,” the official said. One of the issues being discussed is whether Google can be allowed to do the project without having to acquire a telecom licence.

Google has launched a similar programme in the US called Google Fiber where it provides broadband internet and television to a small area. The service was first introduced in Kansas City. In February 2014, Google announced that it had chosen another 34 cities as candidates for expansion.

When contacted, Google India spokesperson said that the company continuously engages with the Centre on various programmes. The spokesperson did not comment specifically on the fibre project. However, IT Ministry officials said that some experts from Google’s US operation are expected in India to evaluate the project.

In a 2012 blog post, Google had said that Google Fiber will offer a different experience from other internet and TV providers.

“Our internet is 100 times faster. Our TV has hundreds of channels in crystal clear HD. And we’re offering quality service plans that are affordable,” Google had said while launching in Kansas.

For players like Google, internet proliferation is key if it wants to reach the next billion consumers.

However the big challenge is that telecom companies are cash strapped to quickly roll out infrastructure that supports data services. In India, for example, most of the telecom operators are struggling under huge debt and high spectrum costs.

Therefore players such as Google and Facebook have been experimenting with balloons and solar-powered drones to address the need for cost-effective connectivity. The more people are connected on the Internet the more money can be made by selling advertisement space on websites and mobile portals.

This strategy fits in very well with the Indian Government’s agenda of taking internet and digital technologies to the masses.

[Source]

Samsung Finally Brings Out the Note Edge in India for Rs. 64,900

 Samsung has brought its edgy new device, the Note Edge to India. The company unveiled the device at the IFA Berlin earlier this year, alongside the Note 4. It was quite a surprise when it was launched as Samsung had done a good job at keeping it a secret. This is a unique device as it has a slightly curved screen on the side that acts a second display and which can be used for viewing notifications without unlocking the main display.

 The device carries pretty much the same specs as the Note 4. The device gets its processing might from a quad-core, 2.7 GHz Snapdragon 805 processor which is supported by 3GB RAM. It has 32 GB internal storage that is expandable up to 128 GB.

 Just like its un-curved sibling, the Note Edge also sports a Quad HD display. The 5.6 inch primary display is coupled with a curved display also known as the edge display. This display can be used to access frequently used apps, check alerts and notifications, news and more. This display stays on even when the main display is covered, so it’s convenient to catch on with the essentials without disturbing the main screen.

 The camera was one of the highlights of the Note 4, and it is true for the Note Edge as well. It carries almost all the features of the Note 4 including wide selfies and OIS. The main camera on the device is a 16 MP shooter that comes with optical image stabilization. The camera on the front has been designed keeping selfies in mind. It gives you the option to shoot 90-degree selfies and an option to take even wider 120-degree selfies by panning the device around.

 The S-pen, that separates the Note family from the rest of the smartphones in the market, is incorporated in this device too. Samsung has added improved functionalities to the S-pen this time around. You can use it like a mouse to click and drag multiple files, use smart select to combine multiple files together and it offers better handwriting recognition than previous generation S-pens.

 Samsung claims that the Note Edge has improved battery life. The device has a 3000 mAh battery which is 220 mAh less than the Note 4. Samsung claims that using its adaptive charging feature; the device charges 30% faster than conventional methods.

 The device is priced at Rs. 64,900 and will go on sale in January 2015. It will be available in ‘Charcoal Black’ and ‘Frost White’ color variants in the India.

Xiaomi’s Redmi Note to Go on Sale on 30th December

 Xiaomi returned back today with fresh stocks of the Redmi 1S, its blockbuster low-cost smartphone. The sale went on longer than the usual Xiaomi flash sales, but the company did end up selling all of its stock as usual. The company has now revealed the date of the flash sale of the Redmi Note.

 Xiaomi will hold a flash sale for the 4G variant of the Redmi Note 0n Tuesday 30th December at 2pm. The device has a price tag of Rs. 9,999. It is powered by a Snapdragon 400 processor clocked at 1.6 GHz. The 5.5-inch 720p HD display will also be appreciated by multimedia enthusiasts.

 A 3G variant was also launched by the company and it was priced at Rs. 8,999. This variant of the phone has been banned from sale by Delhi high court following an infringement accusation from Ericsson India.

 So if you want to enjoy the big screen goodness of the Redmi Note, make sure you register for the sale on Flipkart by the 29th of December.

Sony Teases the New Xperia Z4

 January is the month when CES, one of the biggest consumer electronics trade show comes to town. CES 2015 is just a few weeks away, but the buzz around it is already heating up in this excruciating winter. Sony has put its foot forward and posted a new video which might be a teaser for the upcoming Sony Xperia Z4.

 Sony hasn’t had a good time with the market in the past couple of years, and they have seen their profits shrink year by year. The company is in a major re-invention period, and it is currently focusing on bringing itself back to profitability even if that means losing 25-30% of their market share in the smartphone business.

 The video posted by the company is titled ” Welcome to the New World”. It shows a girl licking a lollipop that seems to signify that the device will run on Android Lollipop. There have also been rumours that the new flagship device from Sony will feature a Snapdragon 810 processor which would make it one of the first devices to feature this latest chipset. The company had previously launched the Xperia Z3 at IFA Berlin last September and keeping with its six months update schedule; the new flagship is ready for the world. The Xperia Z3 was appreciated for its design and features but was berated for being too pricey.

YU Yureka vs The Rest : Quick Comparison

SPECS	MICROMAX YU YUREKA	XIAOMI REDMI NOTE	XOLO OMEGA 5.0	ASUS ZENPHONE 5
Display	5.5-inch HD	5.5-inch HD	5.0-inch HD	5-inch HD
Processor	1.5GHz  Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615	1.7GHz  Octa-core MediaTek MT6592	Octa-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A7	Intel Atom Dual-core 2.0 GHz
RAM	2 GB	2 GB	1 GB	2 GB
Storage	16 GB internal microSD upto 32 GB	8GB internal, microSD upto 32 GB	8 GB internal memory, microSD upto 32 GB	8 GB internal, expandable upto 64GB
Primary Camera	13MP	13MP	8MP	8MP
Front Camera	5MP	5MP	2MP	2 MP
Battery	2,500 mAh	3,100 mAh	2,100 mAh	Non-removable Li-Po 2110 mAh battery
Operating System	Cyanogen OS 11 based on Android v4.4.4	Android OS, v4.3 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to v4.4.2 (KitKat)	Android v4.4 KitKat OS with Hive UI	Android OS, v4.3 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to v4.4.2 (KitKat)
Price	Rs. 8,999	Rs. 8,999	Rs. 8,499	Rs. 9,999

 Newly launched brand YU unveiled its first smartphone, Yureka, a few days back. The new company has been born from a collaboration between Micromax’s Founder Rahul Sharma and custom ROM maker CyanogenMod. The arrival of the high-speced low-budget smartphone has created quite a stir. From day one it was off to a rocky start; it began by banning OnePlus from selling their popular handset in India.

Countdown Starts for CES 2015 – Here’s What You Can Expect

 Consumer Electronic Show (CES) can simply be explained as a 3-day long extravagant exhibition of geeky stuff in Las Vegas. The event has been a launching pad for many concept devices and this year as well, we’ll be seeing some exceptional innovations for the first time. With new segments in the tech industry mushrooming and touching every corner of our lives. This year’s show is expected to be heavily focused on the Internet of Things (IoT) and latest automobile tech. Along with this, many global smartphone makers are expected to show off their devices including Huawei, Alcatel, Lenovo among others.

Here’s what you can expect from the Consumer Electronic Show 2015:

1. TVS

 Since the commencement of this annual show, televisions have been the primary focus. CES has been the wonderland of colour televisions, HD TVs and almost every new technology that has shaped the television industry. This year at CES, we can expect to see more 4K TVs from LG and Samsung. LG has already confirmed that it will be showing off the new quantum dot-enabled 4K LCD TV. The new display technology uses nanocrystals placed in front of the LCD backlight to increase the range of colours, saturation and brightness over traditional LD displays. Samsung is also expected to launch TVs with similar technology, considering the traditional rivalry between of both South Korean electronic giants.

4K content streaming is also expected to go big at this year’s show. With Sony expected to launch a new range of 4K TVs, Sony Pictures will surely be coming up with more of 4K content to use those extra pixels. Along with this, 4K disc format is also said to make its debut at the CES 2015. However, we are not sure if it’s the right time.

2. SMARTPHONES

 Probably, the biggest announcement in the smartphone segment will be the Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 810 processor. LG looks geared to continue its smartphone bending tradition by revealing the LG G Flex 2 at CES 2015. The original G Flex featured LG’s flexible OLED display, but the structure of the phone itself was rigid.

 Huawei, the Chinese firm, is trying mightily to break into the US market along with Alcatel and Lenovo. So, we can expect some big announcements from these companies. Also trying to get hold of the market is Microsoft. The company has avoided CES for the last couple of years, but Microsoft may make push its smartphones this time. And of course, there will be a vast amount of stages devoted to smartphone cases, headphones and other accessories.

3. WEARABLES

 Last year’s CES saw the introduction of wearables. Subsequent launch of Android Wear fuelled the wearable segment and exploded the market with strings of new wearables. This segment has now started to congeal into a more manageable market. This CES should bring heart rate sensors to the must-do list of every fitness bands, which earlier were restricted to counting stairs, steps and sleep.

Well, not much can be said about the launch of new devices. It is expected that Apple Watch may finally start to sell. Other than that, not too many wearables are expected to launch this year.

4. VIRTUAL REALITY

 Google’s much controversial Glass eyewear has proved to be a breakthrough in the VR segment, which encouraged more companies to join the race. A bunch of big names are expected to announce their VR devices at CES 2015 including Oculus Rift, Sony’s Project Morpheus and Samsung’s VR headset.

CES has a long history in the entertainment industry. There is no way big game makers will be losing the chance to show off their new VR headsets. We can expect new games, movies and apps to be announced at CES 2015.

5. AUTO TECH

 In 2010, Ford CEO Alan Mulally took the stage of CES. Since then, autombiles have become a significant part of the show. This year, many big brands like Ford, Audi, Mercedes, Hyundai, Toyota and more will be present at the CES. Toyota stole the show last year with its hydrogen-powered car  and we can expect to see more next-gen fuel cars this year; at least we hope to. Along with this, we can expect to see some driver-less cars too but not from Google, as it doesn’t usually drop by CES .

Also, with Android Auto and Apple’s CarPlay on full consumer mode, we can expect car-makers to show off some new models equipped with these automobile communication systems. Navigation systems and head-up display on windscreens are also expected to go big at the CES 2015. We can also expect a peek into the future of car infotainment system, which is somehow still in a nascent stage.

This CES is warming up to be quite an exciting event, from which we can expect many new launches and perhaps a few surprises.

Yu Yureka Cyanogen-powered smartphone launched in India for Rs 8,999, to go on sale next month on Amazon India

As expected, Micromax today launched the Yu smartphone brand in India. The first smartphone to come out of this new brand is called the Yureka. It runs on CyanogenMod and is priced at Rs 8,999. The smartphone will be exclusively available on Amazon India, and it will go on sale in the second week of January. Registrations for the sale will begin tomorrow on the ecommerce site. As far as specifications are concerned, the Yu Yureka features a 5.5-inch HD 720p display with pixel density of 267ppi, and is protected by Gorilla Glass 3. It is powered by a 64-bit 1.5GHz Snapdragon 615 octa-core processor paired with Adreno 405 GPU, and 2GB of RAM.

On the photography front, it features a 13-megapixel rear camera with Sony Xmor sensor, and features like time-lapse mode, and support for slow motion video recording at 60fps, and a 5-megapixel shooter upfront.

The smartphone also features 16GB built-in storage that can be further expanded using a microSD card, and a 2,500mAh battery, which the company claims is goog enough to survive up to seven hours on LTE, and up to 210 hours on standby mode.

Connectivity options include dual-SIM card support, LTE support, Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth.

One of the most noticeable features on the smartphone however is the Cyanogen platform. The smartphone runs on Cyanogen 11 based on Android 4.4.4 KitKat, and includes a bunch of features with increased focus on personalization and security. Some of these features include personalizing menu buttons and widgets, blacklisting phone numbers, and the ability to remotely locate and wipe your smartphone, among many others.

OnePlus One May Face Sales Ban in India

 After the dejection that set on Indian smartphone consumers after the ban on Xiaomi, a new development might infuriate them further. Micromax has filed an infringement complaint calling for a ban on sales of OnePlus devices as it now owns exclusive rights to sell Cyanogen devices in India. The fans of the flagship killer have waited for a long time to get their hands on the exclusive device, and this development might backfire on Micromax.

Micromax is going to launch its own brand of CyanogenMod powered devices called ‘YU’. The company states that it incurred massive costs to create an exclusive brand for selling Cyanogen powered devices in India. The devices are up for launch tomorrow, 18th of December.

According to Livemint, the complaint was registered at Delhi High court and Micromax secured a temporary injunction in the case. The court has ordered OnePlus to refrain from marketing, selling and shipping its popular handsets in India. But to give the Chinese company some relief, the judge allowed them to sell all the remaining stocks they have on hand. OnePlus began selling the handsets on 2nd of December.

OnePlus has a non-exclusive right to use CyanogenMod‘s trademark and software all across the world except China. While Micromax has an exclusive license for South Asia, this might become a major hindrance in the growth path of the OnePlus. The company had major plans for India, including bringing the next generation OnePlus Two in India, but it is yet to be seen what this development leads to. OnePlus also informed the court that Cyanogen intimated them about the exclusive agreement with Micromax just a fortnight before its India launch. The court told OnePlus that it could sue Cyanogen but that can only be governed by the laws of California where the agreement was signed.

It might not actually mean the end of the Chinese company’s India journey. OnePlus is already planning a new OS based on the latest Android L update, but this will lead to the demise of its most appreciated feature, the CyanogenMod.

Micromax on the other hand can gather a bad public reputation following this development. Though they are right in the technical and legal aspects of things, but the public opinion might shift against them and that too just a day before their brand launch. The company will have to bring something exceptional to take on the massive popularity of the OnePlus One.

Micromax if you don’t want to face immense public ire, you better bring something that blows our minds or else you’ll be seen as the killer of the flagship killer in India, and you really don’t want to be that company.

Slimmest Phone in the World ‘Vivo X5 Max’ Out in India for Rs. 32,980

 The world’s slimmest smartphone will be making its debut in the Indian market soon and today it was officially unveiled. The Chinese electronic giant announced the Vivo X5 Max, which has beaten the present record holder Oppo R5.

 With just 4.75 mm thickness, the phone has given slim a new definition. The device is announced at a price of Rs. 32,980, which is a bit more than expected. The X5 Max comes with a 5.5-inch Full HD display and has a screen resolution of 1080x1920p. It runs on 64-bit octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 and is packed with 2 GB of RAM and Android 4.4 KitKat. On the camera front, it has a 13MP rear camera and a 5MP front snapper. The device offers dual-SIM card slots with support for 4G LTE and TD-SCDMA. It holds Hi-Fi 2.0 audio and a Yamaha YSS-205X chip as well.

 Oppo confirmed that its upcoming release, the R5, would not be that expensive and will come in a price bracket of Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 30,000. The R5 will launch later this month.

 As told previously, BBK Electronics has partnered with Viacom 18 to promote the device. Through this joint venture, the Vivo X5 Max will be advertised on the following platforms: MTV, VH1, Colors and Comedy Central. Also, the company is likely to launch more smartphones in the market within the range of Rs. 7,000 to Rs. 40,000.

[Sources]

Indians Can Now Watch YouTube Videos Offline on their Smartphones

YouTube received an enthusiastic response when it announced that it will soon facilitate audience with viewing videos offline. The company kept its word and recently launched its offline feature during a press event.

With this new feature, users can watch videos even when offline through the YouTube app. However, to make it possible, one has to first download the video using thier data pack or Wi-Fi. Once the desired video is taken offline, it can be watched buffer-free within the time frame of 48 hours.

The Vice-President of Engineering, YouTube commented:

Already, we’re seeing over 40 per cent of our traffic in India come from mobile devices. By launching this offline experience on YouTube in India today, we hope to help people move past the challenges of data connection, speed and cost to enjoy a smooth, buffer-free version of YouTube.

The offline video service works like when you chose to download a desired video, it asks you for the playback quality of the same. One you chose the quality of the video, it downloads and automatically adds it to the offline section for you to watch it later.

 Ajay Vidyasagar, Regional Director of YouTube commented that India is the fifth-largest market for partner revenue in the world. Features like this will just make this stronger. He believes that we could get into the top three markets very soon.

 The online video channel has partnered with different music companies and production houses in India like Saregama, T-Series, Shemaroo and Yashraj Films to provide content. The service has also been launched in Indonesia and the Philippines, along with India.

[SCREENSHOT-1] [SCREENSHOT-2]

Bracelet Which Converts Your Skin Into a Touchscreen

 Wearable technology has got a sort of Adrenaline boost in the recent past. Following the almost saturation of the smartphone market, the technology industry is looking for the next cash cow and smart wearables seem to be the answer. We have seen a lot of different kinds of wearables coming to the market specializing in health, navigation and even drone controls. Now a new bracelet brings the wearable and smartphone experience together.

 Cicret has introduced a small bracelet that projects an image on your skin that is touch accessible. The best possible response to that sentence is “sweeeet”. By simply twisting your wrists, the device projects an Android interface on your forearm after which it’s the usual smartphone experience.

 The central bit to the Cicret bracelet is the pico projector along with eight proximity sensors. These sensors track the movement of the fingers on the projected image to give you the same experience as on the phone. You can pretty much take care of any task that you would normally do on your phone including sending emails, browsing, multimedia files and more.

 The device is available in two storage options, i.e., 16 and 32GB. The connectivity options on the device include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Micro-USB port. It also features an accelerometer, vibration module and LED notification. The bracelet connects to your Android device using the Cicret App.

 The one major drawback of this device is that it is not yet as responsive as the smartphone touch surface. The developers are working on the issue and will put the device up for pre-order in the coming future. This device shows the potential of wearables in bringing an ease in dealing with the massive screen menace around us. Maybe projectable displays will finally give us the convenience we are yearning for and will empty some of this load from our pockets. Also, as these devices are easier to insulate from water and dirt in comparison to the screen devices, they’ll probably be easier to carry around. This bracelet looks like a good first attempt; we shall now wait for Pranav Mistry’s sixth sense technology to become a reality. if you don't know what sixth sense technology is then here is a video for you as follows.

MIUI V5 Developer Version Suspended. MIUI 6 Timeline for Redmi, Mi 2 & Mi 1

Hey MIUI fans,

As you may know, it's been over a year since MIUI V5 was released. With the release and upgrade of MIUI 6, Developers would like to focus on MIUI 6 feature development and optimization. So they have
decided that the developer version of MIUI V5 will be suspended after release of 4.12.5. The last stable
version of MIUI V5 is being tested now and will be released within this month.

And here is the timeline of MIUI 6 :

1) All Redmi phones will get MIUI 6 developer version and stable version; developers will try their best
    to release some beta versions by the end of Dec.2014;

2) MIUI 6 Special Edition for Mi 2 series is available for now, and they will also work on developer
    version and stable version in the future;

3) The developer version for Mi 1 suspended, so 4.12.5 is the final version. And there will be no MIUI 6
    Mi 1 in the future.


Please note that the above mentioned ROM versions all refer to China ROM
(Both Chinese and English officially supported), not global ROM.

[Source]

First Look at Cortana Running on Windows 10

Well, it has been a month since the technical preview of Windows 10 is out; although, it doesn’t run Cortana as for now. Cortana is Microsoft’s obvious response to Apple’s Siri, and with Apple looking to integrate Siri into OS X, Microsoft desperately needs to do it right. Right now, Cortana doesn’t have much of a personality in Windows 10, but we expect that it will be there by the time the company rolls it out to the public.

 Anyway, it is pretty much clear and evident that Cortana be will coming to desktops once Windows 10 is available commercially. We are still waiting to see Cortana in action on desktops.

 In a recent video post, WinBeta got access to Cortana on Windows 10. The early version of the Microsoft’s virtual assistant isn’t pretty, however, we can expect Microsoft to tweak it before the roll out of public version.

 This early version, which the popular publication got hold off, got most of the basic stuff in place, such as calling Skype contacts, reading out your calendar and setting reminders just like on Windows Phone. The hard truth is, there are not many Windows Phone users out there and so, this might be the golden chance for the company to push out Cortana to a larger user base.

 Google Now has been available on Chrome and other platforms for some time now. These companies’ devotion towards virtual assistants shows how important they have become. The mere fact that all the big names have come up with their virtual assistants and are looking out to integrate them into desktops defines the future of personal computing.

Bluetooth 4.2 Core Arrives, the sky's the limit

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) has officially announced version 4.2 of the Bluetooth core specification. The most significant update since last year’s 4.1 version, this one promises greater speed and privacy.

According to SIG, the new update will increase the transfer rate between two devices connected over Bluetooth by 2.5 times. The recent development in the area of Bluetooth Smart Data packets lets it hold ten times as much data as before, hence the increased speed.

Also, Bluetooth 4.2 will improve the features of Bluetooth Low Energy which allows low-power IP connectivity over Bluetooth, with a new profile which supports low power wireless personal area network. As a result, Bluetooth devices will be able to directly access the internet through a router or an edge device, rather than have to be bound to a smartphone or any other devices with IP connectivity first.

The SIG said the latest standard will compliment the market and let developers make devices that can easily connect with each other, making Bluetooth 4.2 “the foundation for the Internet of Things”. The update also brings some privacy features. Currently, Bluetooth Beacons can be utilized as a way to track people. However, for privacy conscious people, the new 4.2 will allow the MAC address of Bluetooth devices to be masked unless connecting to a trusted device.

Well, unlike 4.1 standard which was a software upgrade to 4.0 Bluetooth, 4.2 will require hardware improvements. Some features like privacy controls can still be added to older devices via software, but other capabilities including speed and IPv6 features will require hardware upgrades.