How would it feel like, if you could build your own phone? For which you could decide what you want & what you wanna skip? You’ll no longer need to choose between a Samsung and a Motorola; instead, you will be able to create your own device. Sounds unreal, right?
This may soon be a reality – Google’s Project Ara might come to India early next year.

The actual belief behind the whole concept was to reduce e-waste. Why throw a phone when it becomes outdated, when it could be updated? This was the philosophy behind the original idea of ‘Phonebloks’ – a phone whose hardware blocks can be replaced. Then came in Google, which seeked to create a new device category of modular smartphones and rebranded the whole experiment as Project Ara. Showcased in June early this year at Google I/O, Project Ara was still in it’s rudimentary stages – the phone didn’t go past the boot screen! However, the latest buzz is that on 14th January 2015, a fully functional Project Ara prototype will be officially displayed at a media event.

Project Ara phone’s are a collection of Lego-like blocks. These blocks contain hardware pieces – cameras, processors, battery, RAM, display, etc. There are three sizes – mini, medium and large – which can be achieved through a combination of magnetic blocks of different sizes. The blocks are removable & replaceable as well.

Now what seems to be the height of customisation is that you can choose your own specifications and design for your phone! And since they are replaceable, you can simply buy a new component instead of buying a whole new device! For example, you may build a phone with a 5MP camera and may require a 13MP shooter after a year. Instead of buying a new phone with the required specification, you could simply buy a 13MP ‘camera block’ and swap it with the current one. If reports are to believed, this swapping would be in realtime, i.e. no need to reboot your phone! You can even carry spare blocks with you & change them on the go!

Though it’s an amazing concept, it has its own set of drawbacks.

Firstly, you will have to compromise on your phone’s aesthetics in lieu of the customisations. Since the phones are made of colourful, magnetic blocks, the phone might look like toy! Also, the phone is thicker & heavier, as all hardware is on the exterior.

Secondly, though Google plans to make Ara affordable for all, building a high-end device might be more expensive than buying one from the market. The reason being, smartphone makers produce their devices in bulk, which reduces the per-unit pricing of each component significantly. Hence, building a single device may increase the price. (Though Google says, it starts at $50!)

This seems to be the next big thing in the world of technology. Creating your own phone seems dreamlike! Also the hardware being offered is very versatile, like the resolution range from average to full HD. We will have to wait for January to get the exact details on hardware, software, availability, etc. However, if trends are to be believed, Google may launch the product by the next Google I/O. By early 2015, you shall be able to create your own devices online, order them and use them. Start planning your devices!

Arguably the most renowned game on handheld devices- the Angry Birds, is back! This time, they have teamed up with your favorite convertible robots – the Transformers (Angry Birds + AutoBots = Angry Bots?!) With each addition, Rovio has added a new flavor to the game, yet has always managed to retain the simplicity & familiarity in the gameplay. Angry Birds: Transformers, however seems to be an attempt of renovating the whole franchise – it’s not the same game! Does Rovio succeed in its effort?

The only thing familiar about this new version is the title (Angry Birds), apart from that it has been revamped in its entirety.  The slingshot pull-release gaming style of throwing birds on complex structures to kill the evil pigs in minimum attempts has been completely reconstructed.

The birds and the pigs have now transformed into shape changing robots – Autobots and Decepticons respectively.

The gameplay now involves your character continuously running sideways across the screen, while shooting at pigs & other objects in his way. You need to tap on screen to guide the direction of his shot.  The better your aim, more points you win at the end of each run. There are multiple characters including Optimus Prime & Bumblebee, each with his unique weapon, vehicle and target lock. . The pigs are (again) in various structures and you can shoot strategically, causing maximum damage in minimum shots. The cutscenes are funny and along with comic strips, now have videos.

The characters upgrade as you progress further and gain new powers & capabilities. The first upgrade lets you transform into vehicles and that where the game get more fun.  Being a free game, it also features paid upgrades, time restrictions, video advertising and other freemium features, all of which are available through optional in-app purchases.    The game now features superior graphics, infact, they are too good for an Angry Birds Game. The minimalistic feel of the game is gone and this can be a little counterproductive.

The game is now heavier at around 100MB ,Angry Birds: Space was under 50MB

Angry Birds: Transformers isn’t like any of its predecessors. It could have easily been a different franchise. However, the game though different, is still addictive. Unusual in the beginning it slowly grows on you and once you get comfortable with this new reality of Angry Birds, you would love it. The game may not appeal to everyone, especially the conservatives, as the sling based game has been transformed into an auto-running shooter.

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Install without expecting any resemblance and you are in for a treat.

Angry Birds : Transformers has been available on Android (from 30th October) & iOS (15th October) for FREE!

WhatsApp, iMessage, Viber, BBM, Line, WeChat,, SnapChat, Hike, Kik: there seems to be an overflowing number of messaging apps in the market these days. This article itself is about one! But what’s special about this? This is no ordinary messenger – this one is from Skype! Known worldwide for its VOIP & video calls, Skype is now entering the world of IMs. But can Qik separate itself from the herd?

Qik is not an instant messenger-it’s an instant video messenger! The messenger allows you to interact with your friends ‘Face to Face’ by recording and exchanging short video messages. The app also supports group messaging. Now video messaging is nothing new. The feature is already present in all popular messengers. The novelty, however, lies in the fact that unlike others, Qik supports only videos – no photographs, no texts, no audio. Though this may seem limiting, once you get the hang of it, keyboards begin to feel ancient!

Positives

Where Qik really scores is its simplicity. The app is very (VERY) easy to use. Just swipe a finger down and start recording! It also doesn’t require any registration or signup, just a simple number verification and you are good to go. An excellent feature, not yet available across other IMs, is the ability to switch between front & rear cameras while recording a message. Another cool feature (and my personal favourite) is Qik Fliks – a better way to share emotions. Qik enables you to pre-record upto 12 short clips, which you can insert anytime during a conversation. From a smile or a frown to a wink, hello, bye, it aims to make emoticons more personal!

Qik also respects your privacy. If you want to erase any of your chats, simply delete it from your device and it will automatically get deleted from the receiver’s device too!

Also, old messages (two weeks or older) get deleted automatically, to keep your conversations (and the phone) clutter free. The app itself doesn’t allow saving of any messages on the device.

Negatives

Talking about the limitations, there are a few. Though the app provides a great ‘video chatting’ experience, sometimes you want to type instead of talk. The lack of text messaging (or file sharing) would require you to still keep WhatsApp around. Also, Qik feels like a better version of Snapchat, but then, even Snapchat offers text and pictures!

Another drawback is that the length of each clip must not exceed 42 seconds.

Though it’s more than optimal for daily use, you can’t broadcast long video messages. The storage space might be an issue as well (as videos are bound to be heavier than images and texts).

Verdict

To be honest, Qik is not for everyone. But that’s how it’s supposed to be. It’s not a WhatsApp, Viber or BBM alternative. Instead, it approaches the whole concept of instant messaging from a different perspective which seeks to merge video calling with instant messaging. It’s not a ‘must have’ app but is definitely worth a try.

Happy Video Messaging!

Qik is available on Android, iOS & Windows for FREE.

Here’s an introductory video:

One of the most popular pastime for smartphone owners these days is watching YouTube videos. And why not? These pocket-sized PCs equipped with high-resolution displays, large screens and ultra fast performances no doubt provide a great video watching experience. With these portable devices you are no longer bound to sit in front of your computers, you can enjoy your videos on a couch, bed, balcony or bathroom! But, wouldn’t it be nice to have your favorite videos available to you at all times, even when you can’t access the internet?

On September 15th, in an event at New Delhi, Google revealed its intention to make YouTube videos available at your disposal without the need of connecting to the internet.

But how will it work? What about video piracy? What’s the catch? – Here’s all you need to know.

As of now, the feature will be available exclusively for India, courtesy – YouTube’s astronomical popularity in our country! In 2013 YouTube’s Indian audience grew by a whopping 70%.  Also, the feature is accessible only through the company’s mobile app.

The users will be able to save videos and playlists by using the ‘Add to Device’ feature on the application.  And here comes the catch- it can be saved for 48 hours only! After which, the video won’t work, until the device is reconnected to the Internet. Once reconnected, the user shall be able to watch the video again!. The clips will also incorporate ads and the views will get added to the total views of the video.

For the uploaders, you may disable offline access to your content during or post uploading. The existing videos will also be converted; you will have to select your preference from your dashboard, if and when notified.  However, by default, the feature will be enabled for all videos.

The feature is not available for YouTube’s TV & movie rentals. Also, there’s no mention of music videos offered through subscriptions. Though no “release date” was announced, according to Google’s official mailers (being sent to the partners), the update is slated for November.  Will it be available across all platforms or only restricted to Android, is something no one has a clue about.

Users are welcoming the move, as it would surely revolutionize the way we watch YouTube, for better.  The company in its presentation focused specifically on easing long boring morning trips to workplace & colleges.  The service shall be soon available in other countries as well.

So next time when you plan a journey, do take your favorite videos along! Happy Watching.

The day has finally arrived, Microsoft on September 30 announced a successor to its Windows lineup. Nope! It’s not Windows 9. It’s Windows 10.

Since Windows 8, despite its capabilities failed to captivate consumers, the fate Windows 10 should be a deciding factor in the post PC era (spearheaded by Apple).

If we glance through the Windows series chronologically, the past decade has shown a surprising pattern – XP was extremely popular, Vista disappointed, 7 was a blockbuster, while Windows 8 received mixed reviews & tepid response. Then there was an updated version of Windows 8 named Windows 8.1 which tried to fix all issues users had with Win8.  Though still the most popular OS in the world (90% market share!), people have started exploring other operating systems as well.

Can Windows 10 do it? Let’s dive in & find out!

Start Menu

One of the biggest complaint users had with Windows 8, was the disappearance of traditional Start menu. The Metro UI & live tiles replaced the old trustworthy Start.

But now, its back! Windows 10’s Start menu is more like a fusion between Windows 7 & 8. There is a list display (like 7) along with the live tiles, web search, app search, etc (Windows 8)  – giving you the best of both worlds!

Multi Tasking

Another issue with Windows 8 was its crappy multitasking. Though you could run more than one app on screen at the same time, it got squeezed in one corner of the screen. Hence it didn’t offer any real life productivity ( and aesthetically speaking, looked rather annoying!).

But now, the applications get arranged in usable windows of visible sizes. You may now add up to four applications in a quadrant layout, thanks to the new Snap function.

Visual Changes

Windows 10 also brings multiple desktops, a feature earlier found only in unix & linux. If you are unfamiliar with linux, imagine an Android home screen. You can now have home screens on you computer and different screens can have different shortcuts, hence no more cluttering of the desktop!

There’s an improved Task View layout. For those who don’t know what it is, it’s the way you switch between apps, usually using Alt+Tab or Windows+Tab. The new task view has a very pleasing appeal, where all you open windows, apps and desktops appear in horizontally stacked block structures, making it easy to jump across.

And one of the most important change, apps now open in resizable windows, unlike full screen orientation in Windows 8. You can now easily close, minimize or maximize store apps.

Compatibility, Apps & Development

Windows 10 would not just be restricted to the PC, the same OS will run on tablets (the interface shall be different), phones and computers. There will be one Store for all devices & developers can create cross-platform apps. This also brings mobile apps to desktop!

Also, Microsoft has invited everyone to be a part of building this new operating system. Users can download beta builds, report bugs, suggest improvements and give feedbacks, for making the OS better before its final release.

Pricing & Availability

Microsoft didn’t mention the pricing. However, there are speculations that it may be a free upgrade for Windows 8 & 8.1 users through the store. As per the availability of the final version, Microsoft says it will be in “late 2015”.  If we go by trends, Windows 10 should be fit for retail in October 2015.

However, this doesn’t mean you can’t get a bite! Microsoft releases a series of free Previews before finally unveiling its Windows.  There are Technical, Consumer & Developer Previews, to be precise. These previews are just as capable & efficient, though not final are mostly stable. Till it finally arrives, it’s better to get hands set on these! The Technical preview is available onpreview.windows.com. Sign up for Microsoft Insider program to send your feedback across.

So get your computers ready and gear up for the next-gen Windows – Windows 10.

New devices are launched every day, but some devices are special. The day everyone was (eagerly) waiting for, arrived.  In its September 9 keynote at Cupertino, Apple unveiled its new products.

Here’s what all you need to know about the event.

iPhone 6 & 6 Plus :  Big and Bigger!

As previously speculated, Apple launched not one, but two new iPhones this year – iPhone 6 & iPhone 6 Plus. While the former sports a 4.7” screen the latter marks Apple’s debut in the phablet segment incorporating a huge 5.5” display.

The design has been completely revamped. With a glassy front and a metallic back, the phone curves around the edges making the phone somewhat ergonomic and distinct from the flat iPhone 5 (Personally speaking, the design seems to be inspired from iPad mini!).  The phones are visibly bigger than the previous generation and now feature the power button on the right side, instead of the top, making it more accessible. They also are thinner than the iPhone 5s –  at 6.9mm for iPhone 6 & 7.1mm for iPhone 6 Plus. In all the duo is very pleasing to the eyes, just like any other Apple product.

The display has also been updated. Though not Sapphire screen, an ion strengthened glass will protect the phone. But what makes the display gorgeous is the resolution.  With a resolution of 1,334×750 for iPhone 6 (326 DPI) and 1920×1080 for the iPhone 6 Plus (426 DPI), the screen is surely jaw dropping. The colors should be vibrant and the screen would be vivid, Apple calls this the Retina Display HD. The screen also has an ultra-thin back light and IPS liquid crystal layer which would provide better visibility outdoors.

While Apple sticks with its 8MP camera, it surely has added a few new features.  Apple has integrated Pixel Focus technology for improved auto-focus with phase-detection, found exclusively in professional cameras, whereby the focus on subjects dramatically improves. The video capturing has been bumped up to 60 frames per seconds and Slow Motion video up to an astonishing 240fps. iPhone 6 Plus also features Optical Image stabilization for steady frame capturing. The front camera also has its share of features like Burst Mode for selfies, HDR capturing with face detection and 2.2f aperture for more exposure.

Coming to the performance, the phones run on the new A 8 Chip which brings up to 25% performance improvements, 50% graphic enhancement and 50% battery efficiency compared to its predecessor A7. Though no information is available on the exact specification, some early benchmarks reveal it’s clocked at 1.4 GHz paired with 1 gigabyte of RAM. The storage options have also been revised, with 32 GB discontinued it comes in 16 GB, 64 GB and 128 GB models.

The phones come in three colors – Black, Gold & Silver and would be available on 19th September in 8 countries and by the end of this year in 115 countries. Though Indian availability and pricing are unknown, sources say it’s likely to come hit the Indian shores by October 17th. As for the pricing, going by the previous trends and UK pricing, iPhone 6 should start from Rs. 52,000 while iPhone 6 plus at Rs 60,000 for 16 GB models.

Apple Pay

After revolutionizing the computers, phones and tablets, Apple is now after your wallet . Apple Pay is the company’s dig at the traditional methods of monetary transaction – swiping the credit card. Users can now pay directly through their iPhone’s at the billing counters via NFC enabled billing machines. Since it doesn’t store any information and requires your fingerprint to work, the Apple Pay is a fast and secure way of making payments. However, for the time being, it’s restricted to the US, where Apple has partnered with various retail chains, restaurants, pharmacies, etc. including McDonald’s, Subway and Whole Foods among many more.  This would also be integrated in the Apple stores and would be embedded in various applications in the near future.

Apple Watch

Going with current market trend, Apple decided to launch a smart watch – Apple Watch (not iWatch!). Designed beautifully, the watch comes in various colors and customization’s among three categories – Watch, Watch Sport & Watch Edition.  Apple claims the watch is extremely durable and can be worn anywhere & everywhere as it features Sapphire display. Powered by a micro-chip called S1, the watch runs a different OS altogether. One highlight of the watch is its creative use of the digital crown, which helps you zoom, switch apps and scroll up/down. Like any other smart watch it’s loaded with sensors and monitors and is very useful for fitness junkies.

The watch is not a standalone device i.e. it requires an iPhone (5 or above) to work. You can read messages, make calls and navigate around without taking your phone out of your pocket. The watch also features Siri and even supports Apple Pay. It comes in two sizes 32mm & 44mm and includes various interactive time faces. It’s reaching the stores early next year and starts at $349. Apple didn’t mention anything about its specifications -screen size, battery life, etc.

P.S. Though the watch looks stunning, it would be interesting to see how it compares to its peers like Galaxy Gear S, which is loaded with more features and even sports a SIM slot!

The whole world is geared up to witness the future of gaming – the launch of Destiny. While most are excited, some are sceptical and the rest in denial – Destiny is destined to create massive ripples in the immense ocean of gaming. But why?

The buzz is partly due to its investment. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End  was estimated to be the most expensive movie ever, having a budget of $300 million. Destiny is a video-game with a whopping budget of $500 million (almost twice as GTA 5)! As is obvious, it is the most expensive video-game ever!

Apart from the economics, there are nostalgic reasons as well. Even if you are a moderate gamer, the name Halo would ring a few bells. Halo is the 3rd most popular gaming franchise, claiming to have sold over 3 billion copies! You may even be aware of the Call of Duty franchise as well – the bestselling videogame franchise ever (9 billion copies)! Halo’s developer studio Bungie & COD’s publisher Activision have teamed up to build this video-game masterpiece –Destiny.

However the real reason for the hysteria, is the game itself! The game aspires to fuse many diverse video-gaming genres into on virtual universe where players can interact with one another as they complete their missions. With magnificent VFX & futuristic gameplay,  It’s a synthesis of FPS & RPG gaming.

“The story is set 700 years in the future, where intergalactic colonization is prevalent.  Players need to choose their character from three castes – titan, warlock or hunter- each with its own skills and talents.”

 

You can personalize your character, learn new abilities and collect weapons as you go around. Gamers across the world need to work together to counter the evil aliens and protect humanity.

The biggest strength of the game is its visual appeal. Along with mind blowing graphics the game features a well-developed virtual infrastructure – the locations will take your breath away (Trust me!). Also, the game blends Halo’s action with the customizations of World of Warcraft – it’s delicious!

The game is available on PlayStation (3, 4) & Xbox (360, One). To add to the hysteria, even at a price tag of $60 (Rs 4000 in India) it has become the most preordered game ever! Hailed as “Game of the Decade”, Destiny will reach the stores on 9th September.

So pick up your controllers and get ready for battle, see what Destiny holds for you!

Game On.

Hello Moto!

In 1973 Motorola showcased the world’s first mobile phone, which marked the begin of “the revolution of hand-held telephony”. After reigning for almost two decades, Motorola was then outdone by the competition – first was Nokia, then came Apple and presently it’s Samsung who’s in front. Our poor King Moto was pushed down the ranks and even quality devices like the DROID series, couldn’t get it back up.  This was until last year.

In 2013, Motorola suddenly got its sheen back!  With its powerful Moto X & more importantly the affordable Moto G, followed by Moto E, Motorola became an efficient flagship killer – by giving more (features) in less (price :P)!  In India, Flipkart claims it has sold over 1.6 million Motorola devices in the past seven months!

And now it’s ready to roll again! Today, at an event in New Delhi, Motorola unveiled three devices – Moto G (2nd Gen), Moto X (2nd Gen) and Moto 360 (smartwatch). While the Indian pricing & availability is yet to be known for the latter two, Moto G (2014) is here. Available exclusively on Flipkart, can this Moto outdo its ancestor?

Moto G (2014)

(Debatably) It was Moto G that shifted the whole focus on ‘premium budget smartphones’. It offered hardcore specs at a killer price with a superior design .It got sold like hot cakes and received rave reviews along with excellent reception from consumers, critics and the media. Moto G soon became the most popular budget smartphone in its price bracket.

And after 10 months, it has a successor! The new Moto G has the same name with its launch year sufficed at the end in a bracket :  Moto G (2014) a.k.a Moto G (2nd Gen).  A 5-inch screen, an 8 MP f/2.0 rear camera (720p HD), 2 MP front camera and even a MicroSD slot (upon 16 gigs of internal memory) which we dearly missed, the new Moto G is a fair update over its predecessor. All the other specs are same as before – 1.2 GHz Snapdragon processor, a gigabyte of ram, 720p display, dust-water resistance  and a 2070 mAH battery.  The phone now features dual front speakers, a feature generally found on superior devices,  that makes the phone boom louder.

As far as the flaws are concerned, the phone kinda disappoints with a 720p camera, considering what the peers offer. Also, Xiaomi Mi3 gives much (MUCH) more at the same price (though it’s difficult to get one!). However, with Pure Android experience, Motorola’s brand name, update features and superb build quality, Moto G compensates for its limitations. The phone runs on KitKat and has a promised update to the next version  of Android (Android L). The phone now comes in white as well and supports colorful back shells as well.

Moto G (2nd generation)  is available on Flipkart for 12,999 and the sales will begin at midnight. Flipkart would also be giving special offers for the launch day.Since Mi3 has temporarily been discontinued and Asus Zenfone 5 is “Out of Stock”, Moto G  (2014) can achieve high sales due to its popularity and more importantly its legacy.

With all our gadgets being Wi-Fi enabled there’s no reason to be offline, even in a market!

In an expensive yet progressive move, the New Delhi Municipal Council is introducing Wi-Fi zones in the city’s popular hangout spots!  The service is up and running in Khan Market and would be introduced in Connaught Place by the end of this month, followed by Karol Bagh market soon.  This facility is completely free for the first 15-20 minutes.

In Khan Market, Airtel & Vodafone have teamed up to provide this service whereas in CP, Tata Docomo has partnered to offer Wi-Fi over 4Kms, covering both inner and outer circles.  To use the facility, the visitor would be required to give his email address and mobile number, on which an OTP (One Time Password) would be received, required for successively connecting to the network.  The browsing should be smooth as 4G speeds are being offered. The security being a major concern, has been effectively taken care of with Tata & Vodafone passing the “Five Layers of security”.

The first 15-20 minutes each day are free, after which the users are required to purchase a plan, either online or from various outlets offering scratch cards. The plans are very reasonable starting from Rs. 20 for 40 mins and go up to Rs. 50 for 100 minutes!

Till now free Wi-Fi was only offered in cafes and restaurants. where the complementary connections had their own flaws – poor speeds, tedious registrations and expensive premium plans (to name a few!). The ambitious project is being welcomed by the traders of these markets, who believe it would help attract more crowds. Future locations may include Dilli Haat & Sarojini Nagar as well.

So the next time you are out shopping, don’t forget to update your status!