Google's 5 Recent Innovations

Google has turned 15. Over the years, the internet giant has charmed us with its cool products. While some of these have changed the way we work, some the way we interact, and some others our lives. Though long past its startup days, the 'search company' still retains its innovative zeal.

Here is a look at 5  hottest Google innovations of recent times.

 

Google Glass

aGoogle unveiled its first wearable computing device Glass in 2012, bringing a product that had been relegated only to science fiction till now. This gadget is an extension of Android smartphones and tablets and can be used to capture photos and videos, make phone calls, check out maps, read emails and text messages and perform various other tasks with just voice commands.

First of its kind, Google Glass has captured the imagination of not just the tech community but also the fashion fraternity.

 

Google driverless cars

Driverless cars are said to be the next big thing in the world of automobiles and Google is taking this big idea out to the real world. An idea from Google’s X Lab, driverless cars are currently being tested by the company in Nevada, Florida and California in the US.

While Google has not announced any plans to commercialize these driverless cars, reports have said that the company may roll out the unmanned Robo-Taxi to ferry people.

 

Google Street View

Google’s Street View project started in 2007 and has gone in full swing over the past few years, with several innovative features. Under this project, the internet search company shows panoramic imagery of various places around the world right on their desktop. You can even view the Street View images in 3D, provided you have the requisite red/cyan glasses.

Not only are the Street View photos available from desktops and mobile devices, but also on the Nintendo Wii U.

 

Android

The Android mobile operating system has taken the world by storm and approximately 80% of smartphones today are powered by it. Though it is not an original product (Google has acquired the company that made the OS), it did add its own twist to the software. Android was meant to be an operating system for digital cameras, but Google decided to turn it into a mobile software even before Apple came out with the first iPhone.

Android has grown in popularity on the back of its easy-to-use interface, open source nature and wide range of free apps. Google offers the OS to manufacturers for free, giving them the option to update Android versions on their devices as and when they like. This free-to-use nature of Android has propelled the rise of several mobile companies, such as Samsung, Huawei, ZTE, Micromax and Xiaomi.

 

Password alternatives

Google has stepped up its efforts to kill passwords completely over the past few years. The company has announced its support to Fast IDentity Online Alliance (FIDO) and is working new novel means to verify users’ identity when they sign into their online accounts.

Dennis Woodside, CEO of Google’s Motorola unit, has spoken about flexible electronic circuits that are embedded into people’s skins much like tattoos and act as passwords. Motorola is also exploring the application of the Proteus Digital Health pill, which a unique ECG trace that can be used to identify users by external devices.

 

Thank You...

Fairfax to buy BlackBerry for $4.7 billion

BlackBerry has agreed to a $4.7 billion sale to a group led by its largest shareholder, Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., after new smartphones failed to turn the company around.

BlackBerry Ltd. said Monday that a letter of intent has been signed and that its shareholders will receive $9 in cash for each share. The deal comes just days after the Canadian company announced plans to lay off 40 percent of its global workforce.

The BlackBerry, pioneered in 1999, was once the dominant smartphone for on-the-go business people and other consumers. It could be so addictive that it was nicknamed "the CrackBerry." President Barack Obama couldn't bear to part with his BlackBerry. Oprah Winfrey declared it one of her "favorite things."

But then came a new generation of competing smartphones, starting with Apple's iPhone in 2007. The BlackBerry, that game-changing breakthrough in personal connectedness, looked ancient suddenly.

Although BlackBerry was once Canada's most valuable company with a market value of $83 billion in June 2008, the stock has plummeted from more than $140 a share to less than $9, giving it a market value of $4.6 billion, just short of Fairfax's offer.

Anaylsts say that although BlackBerry's hardware business is not worth anything, its service business and patents are still valuable. At the end of the second quarter, the company also had total cash and investments of about $2.6 billion and no debt.

The deal follows a $7.2 billion offer that Microsoft Corp. made this month for the phones and services business of another troubled phone maker, Nokia Corp.

Fairfax head Prem Watsa, who owns 10 percent of BlackBerry, stepped down as a board member because of potential conflicts when BlackBerry announced it was considering a sale last month. The company would no longer be traded publicly once the sale goes through.

"We believe this transaction will open an exciting new private chapter for BlackBerry its customers, carriers and employees," Watsa said in a statement. "We can deliver immediate value to shareholders, while we continue the execution of a long-term strategy in a private company."

Watsa is one of Canada's best-known investors and is founder of Toronto-based Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. BlackBerry founder Mike Lazaridis recruited Watsa to join the company's board when Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie stepped aside as its co-CEOs in January 2012.

BlackBerry shares plunged 17 percent after the company announced Friday a loss of nearly $1 billion and layoffs of 4,500 workers. It gained 9 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $8.82 Monday.

BlackBerry said the general terms of the deal have been approved by its board and a special committee set up to look at options. The company said it will negotiate and execute a definitive transaction agreement with Fairfax by Nov. 4.

During that time, BlackBerry is entitled to continue to find other buyers, but if BlackBerry backs out of the deal, it would owe Fairfax about $157 million.

"The special committee is seeking the best available outcome for the company's constituents, including for shareholders," BlackBerry chairwoman Barbara Stymiest said in a statement.

Watsa is likely to keep current CEO Thorsten Heins in the job. He said in April that he's a big supporter of Heins and has called his promotion the right decision. He also said he's excited about the company's new BlackBerry 10 operating system.

This year's launch of BlackBerry 10 and fancier devices that use it was supposed to rejuvenate the brand and lure customers. But the much-delayed phones have failed to turn the company around. At their peak in the fall of 2009, BlackBerry's smartphones enjoyed global market share of more than 20 percent, says Mike Walkley, an analyst with Canaccord Genuity. That is now just 1.5 percent.

BlackBerry said Friday that it will lay off 4,500 employees as it tries to slash costs by 50 percent and shift its focus back to competing mainly for the business customers. That will bring its global headcount to 7,000. The company cut 5,000 jobs last year.

A week earlier than expected, BlackBerry surprised the market by reporting Friday that it lost nearly $1 billion in the second quarter. The company is booking over $900 million in charges to write down the value of its unsold smartphones.

The company also said Friday it plans to focus on offering only two high-end devices and two entry-level phones going forward, with emphasis on the business market.

The decline of BlackBerry, formerly known as Research In Motion Ltd., is evoking memories of Nortel, another Canadian tech giant, which ended up declaring bankruptcy in 2009.

But BGC analyst Colin Gillis said taking BlackBerry private is the right move and said it's possible that BlackBerry could survive in a much smaller form. He noted that the $9-per-share offer is lower than the $12.32 average price that the stock traded over the past six months.

Anthony Michael Sabino, a professor at St. John's University's business school, said going private removes the burden of pleasing shareholders with short-term results, just as Michael Dell hopes to do with Dell Inc. after winning a bid to take the troubled computer maker private. He said Fairfax is known for patience in its investments, which would give BlackBerry time to regroup.

"In all honesty, its fate is still uncertain, but at least now it has a fighting chance," Sabino said.

Samsung Note 3(Rs. 49,900), Galaxy Gear Smart Watch(Rs. 22,990) Launched in INDIA

Note 3 is a successor to Galaxy Note 2, which was launched last year and was received very well in the market. The new Note has a 5.7-inch screen with a SuperAMOLED panel. It has the FullHD resolution with 1920 x 1080 pixels. It is the first smartphone to pack in 3GB RAM. It comes with 32GB internal storage as well as supports microSD card. While the body is made of plastic, in a first for a Samsung smartphone, the back cover uses a leather-like material to give it a more premium finish. The device sports a primary camera that can shoot 13MP images while the front camera comes with a tag of 2MP.

Note 3 weighs 168 grams. The Indian version of the device is powered by Exynos Octa 5420 processor. The processor has two set of cores. One set of four cores based on A15 architecture runs at 1.9GHz. The other set of low-performance cores based on A7 architecture runs at 1.3GHz. For now the processor can utilize only one set of cores at a time. But Samsung is likely to release a software patch by the end of this year that will make device use all 8 cores in various combinations for the best balance between performance and battery life.

Note 3 processor features the next-generation Mali chip called T628, which is one of the fastest mobile graphics chips at the moment.

But the highlight of the device is its multi-functional stylus. When used in combination with special software features, the stylus in Note 3 not only allows a user to scribble their thoughts into the notepad app but also offers additional options for better multitasking and switching between apps.

Samsung said it is expecting the Note 3 to contribute significantly to its bottom line during this festival season. Note 3 will be available with special EMI schemes from day one. However, for now Samsung has not planned any exchange offer for the device.

"Galaxy Note 3 represents the next evolution of Note experience. It meets the needs of consumers for a larger screen, makes everyday life easier with the S Pen... It is slimmer, lighter, and more powerful," said Vineet Taneja, country head for Samsung Mobile & It.

With Galaxy Gear, meanwhile, the Korean company is hoping to get in front of others in the area of wearable computing devices, which are expected to be part of the next big technology wave. Gear is a smartwatch with 1.63 inches SuperAMOLED screen. It has a single core 800MHz processor, 512MB RAM and 4GB internal storage. One of the big features of the watch is a 1.9MP camera that will allow a user to shoot images with a flick of his wrist.

The smartwatch will allow users to receive or make calls. It will also show them notifications from social media apps. It has a gyroscope, accelerometer and pedometer, which makes it suitable for tasks like monitoring of physical activity of a user in real time. Samsung said that a number of native apps will be available for Gear.

The device currently works with Note 3 and Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 edition), which will be launched in India in the coming weeks. Samsung said that support for additional devices, including Galaxy S4, will be added at a later date.

Gear is a new type of device. To make sure that consumers understand it and utilize it properly, Samsung is planning to demo the watch at its retail stores extensively. The company has also decided to feature and highlight Gear in all Note 3 advertisements and promotions to showcase its utility when paired a smartphone.

Apple Launches iPhone 5S and Cheaper 5C

Apple has, for the first time, unveiled a cheaper smartphone, named the iPhone 5C. It has almost the same specifications as iPhone 5, which was launched as the company's flagship device last year, but in a plastic body.

The iPhone 5C (with contract in the US) is cheaper than all new iPhones launched till now, and is said to be targeted at emerging markets like India and China. With the launch of iPhone 5S, Apple has discontinued the iPhone 5 that was rolled out last year and served as the flagship model till now.

Apple also launched its pricey new iPhone 5S, which will take over from iPhone 5 as the latest flagship device of the company. It will be available in three colours - gold, white and black.

But the wow appeal usually associated with Apple's launches clearly seemed to be missing from today's event. Unlike in the past when iPhone's newer models turned slimmer, lighter, glitzier each year, Apple seemed to have reserved most of its attention to what lies inside the body this time.

However, in a bold move aimed to take on rivals Microsoft and Google, Apple also announced that it was making its premium productivity suite iWork, which can be downloaded free with iOS 7.

Under the hood of iPhone 5S
Unlike the iPhone 5C, this device is made using aluminium and is powered by the A7 processor. The A7 chip is the only one in the world to feature the 64-bit desktop-class architecture and is twice as fast as previous processors in performing tasks and rendering graphics.

"With up to twice the CPU and graphics performance, almost everything you do on iPhone 5s is faster and better than ever, from launching apps and editing photos to playing graphic-intensive games," claimed the company.

The new iPhone 5S has an 8MP camera, which comes with dual-LED flash. The camera's sensor is 15% larger than that of its predecessor and offers better low-light performance.

Apple claims that this phone's camera can take 20 photos in two seconds, features auto image stabilization and records 720p videos at 120 frames per second (which is the highest for any smartphone). 1080p videos are recorded at 30fps.

iPhone 5S also has an all-new M7 chip that tracks motion data without waking the A7 chip and interacts with health apps to give fitness data. However, Apple claimed the two-chip system does not affect battery life of the device, which offers 250 hours on standby and 10 hours of talk time on 3G networks.

At the launch, the company showcased the gaming prowess of the iPhone 5S, which supports OpenGL 3.0 standard. The new phone delivers more details and makes graphics more vivid.

Google had recently introduced the OpenGL 3.0 standard in Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean). It can render rich and complex visual effects, previously only possible on desktops and gaming consoles.

Apple has also introduced a new, hi-tech biometric feature called Touch ID, using which one can unlock the phone with the touch of a finger.

Setting up Touch ID to recognize your fingerprint is easy, and every time you use it, it gets better. The Touch ID sensor recognizes the touch of a finger so the sensor is only activated when needed, preserving battery life.

All fingerprint information is encrypted and stored on the chip itself. Touch ID can also be used as a secure way to approve purchases from the iTunes Store, App Store or iBooks Store.

"iPhone 5s is the most forward-thinking smartphone in the world, delivering desktop class architecture in the palm of your hand," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing.

"iPhone 5S sets a new standard for smartphones, packed into its beautiful and refined design are breakthrough features that really matter to people," Schiller claimed.

Pricey proposition
iPhone 5S ( with contract) will be available in the US for a suggested retail price of $199 for the 16GB model, $299 for the 32GB model and $399 for the 64GB model. The 16, 32 and 64GB unlocked variants have been priced in the US at a hefty $649, $749 and $849, respectively. This is the same pricing format followed by Apple for previous iPhones.

In first phase, iPhone 5S will start retailing in the US, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore and the UK on September 20. A new iPhone 4S 8GB model will also be available for free on contract.

Cooking old wine for Asia
Apple's move to launch a cheaper version is clearly aimed at boosting penetration in key Asian countries like India, China and Japan. However, many may be disappointed as iPhone 5C comes across as old wine in new bottle since it has received hardly any hardware update.

Instead of cutting the prices of its older models, Apple has adopted a different strategy this time. "In the past, we've lowered the price of the current iPhone, making it accessible to more people. This year, we're not going to do that," said Schiller teasingly.

"The business has become so large that this year we're going to replace the iPhone 5, and we're going to replace it with not one, but two new designs," he reiterated.

Of the two devices launched tonight, this is how Schiller described the cheaper variant made of polycarbonate: "iPhone 5C is beautifully, unapologetically plastic."

iPhone 5C will come in two variants and will have two-year contracts. It will come in five colours - green, grey, light blue, peach, and yellow.

It has a 4-inch screen and comes with Apple's A6 processor, which power the now-discontinued iPhone 5. This new cheaper iPhone has an 8MP camera with a five-element lens, similar to the one used in iPhone 5. Connectivity options in the new handset include 4G LTE, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi.

The 16GB variant of this smartphone will cost $99 on contract, while the 32GB version has been priced at $199. The unlocked 16 and 32GB versions of the iPhone 5C have been priced at $549 and $649, respectively. The company also announced cases in six colours for this handset, which will cost $29 a piece.

iWork now offered free
Earlier, Apple CEO Tim Cook kicked off the launch event at Apple headquarters in Califiornia, US, with an introduction of the company's new iOS 7 operating system. Cook surprised everyone by announcing that Apple was making available free with the new iOS 7 five of its premium paid productivity software apps such as iPhoto, iMovie. Pages, Numbers and Keynote are collectively known as iWork suite. The move clearly seems aimed at taking on Microsoft Windows Mobile and Android devices.

iOS comes on September 18
iOS7 will be available for downloads from September 18, which is in contrast to Apple's past practice of rolling out the iOS update on the day of unveiling the latest iPhone. The delay could disappoint Apple aficionados, as also the fact that iOS 7 updates won't apply to many older generation devices.

It is a bad news for many existing owners of Apple's mobile devices such as iPhones and iPad. The older generation devices won't get the iOS 7 update which will apply only to iPhone 4 and 5, iPad 2 and 3, iPad mini, and the 5th-gen iPod touch. This means the owners of the iPhone 3GS and iPad 1 would be left high and dry.

The iOS 7 which will come pre-loaded on the two new iPhones, will feature new icons and ringtones; several new Siri features (including a male voice option); redesigned search and Safari browser; new multitasking layout in a 3D look; new camera features, including Sqaure (for Instagram photos) and better segregation of images as per location, occasion and time.

It will also have a new Control Center, besides Notification Center that can be opened even on a locked screen by merely swiping down from top to bottom of the screen. Other features include improved multitasking, AirDrop and iTunes Radio.

iOS and Android evenly poised
With Apple shipping its 700 millionth iOS device next month, it will become the most popular mobile operating system in the world. claimed Cook.

Interestingly, Apple and rival Google are neck to neck vis-a-vis app downloads. Apple's App Store had 900,000 apps and 50 billion total downloads according to the company's announcement made at the time of launch of iOS 7 on June 10. Google's Android had 1 million apps and same 50 billion downloads as announced by the company while launching the Android 4.3 on July 24.

Thank You

Sony Xperia Z1 with 20.7MP camera launched at Rs 44,990 & Review - Best of sony in a smart phone is now even better

Your hunt for a best gadget is over, Sony has wonderfully crafted the best gadget of the era which is the cocktail of smartphone and digital camera. I would like to introduce you the all new Xperia Z1 4GLTE smartphone with 21MP camera which slated to launch globally on 16th  Sept. 2013 priced at 649 Euros (Approx Rs. 47,944  in India) in Germany. It’s competitor are Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom with 16MP front camera with 10x Zoom and 41MP Nokia Lumia 1020.

The all new  Sony Xperia Z1  is powered by a  2.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm MSM8974 (Snapdragon 800) processor with 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage expandable up to  64GB via microSD card runs on  Android 4.2 Jelly Bean offers you a 5-inch full-HD TRILUMINOS display powered by Sony Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2 sporting a 20.7-MP Exmor RS sensor alongside BIONZ image processor engine with LED flash and  a 2-MP  front-facing camera comes with 3000mAh battery with Battery STAMINA Mode promising Talk time: Up to 14 hours and Standby time: Up to 880 hours weighting just 159gm.

Camera Performance:-

• QX10/QX100: High-performance ‘lens-style’ cameras designed for mounting on smartphones and operated through the smartphone screen – a perfect partner for the Z1.
• Smart Imaging Stand IPT-DS10M: An intelligent accessory that helps Xperia Z1 detect smiles and capture special moments without the need to hold the handset
• Smartphone Tripod SPA-MK20M: A versatile tripod perfect for extra stability when taking pictures or capturing video

Camera Applications:-

• Social live: Broadcast precious moments live from Xperia Z1 to Facebook and get your friends’ comments right on your screen.
• Info-eye™: Innovative visual search function that provides related information on landmarks and on items such as books or wine simply by capturing them with the camera.
• Timeshift burst: Capture the perfect shot every time – Xperia Z1 takes 61 images in 2 seconds – a second before and after pressing the shutter – so you can scroll back and forth to find the perfect image.
• AR effect: Overlay a selection of fun, customizable animations to create pictures using Sony’s SmartAR^TM augmented reality technology.

SPECIFICATIONS:-

• Display 5-inch 1080p  full HD resolution  Triluminos display, X-Reality™ for mobile picture engine
• OS Android OS – 4.2 Jelly Bean.
• Processor 2.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm MSM8974 (Snapdragon 800)
• RAM 2GB
• Internal memory 16 GB expandable up to 64GB
• Primary Camera 20.7-megapixel ExmorRS sensor paired with Sony G-Lens r, BIONZ image processor engine with LED flash
• Secondary Camera 2MP
• Battery 3,000mAh with Battery STAMINA Mode
• Talk time: Up to 14 hours**
• Standby time: Up to 880 hours**
• Music listening time: Up to 110 hours**
• Video playback time: Up to 6.6 hours**
• Weight 169 grams
• Dimension 144.4 x 73.9 x 8.5 mm
• Price 649 Euros (Approx Rs. 47,944  in India)
• “WALKMAN” application with Clear Audio+, Clear bass and Clear stereo
• Xperia™ Care, Xperia Business and Xperia Transfer
• 4G LTE and NFC