Microsoft Band Fitness Tracker

 

 Microsoft on Wednesday unveiled its much-anticipated fitness tracker, dubbed Microsoft Band, priced at $199 (approximately Rs. 12,000). The Microsoft band is available starting Thursday on the company's online and retail store in the US.

The Redmond giant's Band fitness tracker is compatible with Android, iOS, and Windows Phone devices. Along with features like text, email, and Twitter alerts accessible on the slim touchscreen (size unspecified), the Band includes 10 different sensors to track steps, heart rate, and more.

The built-in UV sensor on the Microsoft Band helps identifying stress levels, sun exposure and a galvanic skin response measurement, according to Microsoft. Windows Phone 8.1 users can ask Cortana to take notes or set reminders with their voice from the Band. Using built-in GPS on Microsoft Band, Cortana will also be able to provide driving directions, traffic information, sports, stocks, weather, and more.

Search Third-Party Apps With 'Ok, Google' on Android Soon

Search Third-Party Apps With 'Ok, Google' on Android Soon

Google is now encouraging third-party app developers to integrate the 'Ok, Google' voice command for their in-app searches as well.
The search giant has provided a small code on Wednesday and is suggesting Android app developers with existing searchable activity in their app.

The blog post also notes that this feature is available for English locale Android devices running Jelly Bean and above with the Google Search v3.5 or greater.
The company says that with the integration of this feature to a third-party app search, users will be able to use 'Ok, Google' voice command following the search query and the app name will eliminate extra efforts of opening and searching from the app.

As announced back in June, 'Ok, Google' search can also be performed from any screen if the device has hotword detection enabled on it. Users with Search app version 3.5 or higher can go to Google Now > Settings > Voice > Ok Google hotword detection, and check if the feature is rolled out to them or not.

SignEasy App

If you've ever had to sign a stack of documents, you know it's a tedious process .  is having to first print out the document,  and then scan it back in to send on email. With more and more services now accepting electronic signatures.

SignEasy is a universal iOS app that lets you sign documents without having to print them. These electronic signatures are now accepted by a number of government offices in India; for example, you can do this to file your IT returns. 

You can unlock more documents using in-app purchases - a one-year pro subscription for $30 (Rs. 1,850) that lets you sign unlimited documents and a pay-as-you-go subscription that costs $5 (Rs. 300) for 10 documents.

The app is also available for Android and BlackBerry
SignEasy on the iTunes Store (Free).

 First, tap the hamburger icon  at the top-left and select Signature & Initials. Now tap Add Signature to get started. You can draw your signature using your fingers or a stylus. Hitting another button confirms the signature. You can also draw your initials in a separate tab in the same menu.

Once your signature is saved, you can easily add it to documents simply by verifying your thumbprint. The app itself has a pleasant looking blue-white theme, and stored documents are colour coded for easy recognition - original documents have a black icon, drafts are light red, and signed documents are green.The app lets you import documents (it supports PDF, Word, Excel, Text, Open Office, HTML, Apple Pages, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, GIF, BMP formats) from your photo library, email, and from popular cloud storage services such as iCloud, Dropbox, Evernote, Box, OneDrive, and Google Drive. Once imported, the documents show up in the app's main screen. Tap any document to open it and tap the big blue button at the bottom and tap signatures to select your signature.
 
Up to three people can sign any document using this app, which is very convenient in case you have documents that require witnesses' signatures. Witnesses signatures can be saved, but only for the document you've got open - they aren't saved once you seal the document.

Made in India Apps

 

The Made in India page on the App Store shows Apps, Games, Popular Services, and also lists Bollywood Beats .

Each of the categories can be expanded to see all items, or filtered to sort by featured, name, or release date.Featured apps include NDTV, Hike Messenger, and Camera Plus, while featured games include Flick Tennis, Real Cricket 14 and Parking Frenzy India.

Notably, two years ago almost to the day, Apple introduced rupee pricing for the Indian App Store. Little over a month later, it brought the iTunes Store to India, allowing users in the country to purchase music and buy or rent movies with local content prominently featured.

 

How to increase RAM on MacBook Pro

How to increase RAM on MacBook Pro

Step 1: Find out what kind of RAM you need

Once you determine that your MacBook can be upgraded, you'll need to find out how much RAM it can handle, and what type. To do that, go to this Apple help page and make note of:

• The number of memory slots (usually 2)
• Maximum memory (such as 8GB)
• Memory card type (such as 1,600 MHz and DDR2 or DDR3)

You can also get these details by going to the Apple menu > About This Mac > Memory.
With that info, you can head out and buy your RAM. If your computer can handle 8GB of RAM total and has two slots, for example, you'll buy two 4GB memory cards.

Step 2: Install the new RAM

Installing RAM is simple -- even someone who's not tech-savvy can complete the task. To install the RAM, do the following:

1. Shut down your computer.
2. Flip your laptop over so that the bottom cover is facing up. Using a Phillips-head screwdriver, unscrew the 11 screws that keep the cover fastened.
3. Set the cover aside. Touch a metal part on the inside of your laptop to release any static electricity.
4. Locate the RAM slots (see photo gallery). One at a time, push the levers in an outward direction to release the card, then gently remove it.
5. Install the new RAM by inserting them into the slots, with the gold contact strip facing in. To secure the RAM in place, push down and listen for a click.
6. Replace the bottom cover and power up your computer.

Step 3: Test the RAM

Before you pat yourself on the back, you'll need to make sure the new RAM is healthy. In some cases, bad RAM can negatively affect your system and even result in data loss.

Canon PowerShot N2

Canon PowerShot N2

 

 

The PowerShot N was a small square camera with a 8x f3.0-5.9 28-224mm lens and 2.8-inch tilting touchscreen. The thing it, though, the screen only tilted up 90 degrees. That made it fine for low shots and you could flip the camera over and shoot above your head, too. 

The PowerShot N2, however, does go up 180 degrees letting you see yourself in front of the camera. To go along with this is a self-portrait mode that will adjust exposure compensation, smooth skin, and add background defocus, and you can tap the screen to start a shutter self-timer.
 

 

This mode automatically creates five different versions of a single shot using different color and tone settings, crops, and styles in addition to saving the original photo.

The N2 is the first to have the option of a Creative Shot movie mode that combines several movie clips automatically with special effects including super slow motion, quick motion, and various filters.
It include a new 16-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor and NFC for easier setup of Wi-Fi connections to Android smartphones and tablets.
The Canon PowerShot N2 shows up in December in a choice of black or white versions for about $300. Region-specific pricing was unavailable, but that $300 price translates to roughly £185 or AU$333 in the UK and Australia, respectively.
 

Lenovo's N20p Chromebook

 

Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 11e Chromebook received high marks from us for its sturdy hybrid design and for pairing a touchscreen with Google's Chrome OS.

The Lenovo N20p is a consumer-friendly alternative, and Lenovo's first Chrome OS not aimed at either business or education buyers. It's a slim, lightweight ultraportable laptop that takes the central idea of a Chromebook -- a low-cost, simple clamshell for online use -- and adds better keyboard and touchpad than Chromebook users may be used to.

At $330 for a configuration with an Intel Celeron processor, 2GB of RAM and a 16GB SSD, the N20p is still more expensive than many other Chromebooks, which usually run $250 to $300.

The system will be coming to the UK as well, and is listed on Lenovo's UK site, but without price or availability information, but converted pricing would be about £200. As for Australia, no price or release information was available, but converted pricing would be about AU$370.

Google Nexus 6 with Android 5.0

Google Nexus 6 with Android 5.0

Availability

US carriers that will stock the Nexus include T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and US Cellular. Google reported that in the next few weeks, the device will be available in 28 other countries as well. Nexus 6 variants for both the Americas and other countries will be 4G LTE-enabled.

Hardware and key components

Nexus 6 is now manufactured by Motorola. With its curved backing, flowing aluminum trim, and dimpled Motorola branding on the rear.
At 6.27 inches tall, 3.27 inches wide, and 0.4 inches thick (159 by 83 by 10.1mm), it will also be the biggest Nexus phone to date. The handset now sports a 5.96-inch display with an ultra-sharp 1440p resolution and a density of 493 pixels per inch.
Powering the device is a quad-core 2.7GHz Snapdragon 805 processor from Qualcomm, and an Adreno 420 GPU for smooth gameplay.
The 3,220mAh battery has a reported talk time of up to 24 hours and a standby time of 300 hours. 
Nexus 6 has a 13-megapixel camera with a dual LED flash that encircles the camera lens and a 2-megapixel front shooter.
  
Outlook
Google has elevated its once scrappy, pure Android handset to a sophisticated, top-tier level. What reflects this change the most is its price tag -- the 32GB capacity variant is now $250 more than last year's. True, $649 is pretty standard for an unlocked high-end smartphone these days, but this higher price will mean the Nexus won't be as accessible as it was before.

Lenovo's Yoga Tablet 2

Lenovo's Yoga Tablet 2





The devices sports a quad-core Intel Atom processor and 4GB of RAM, and feels really smooth. My hands-on time was limited by a lack of Wi-Fi and installed apps, but zipping around the Windows 8 and flipping through the tablet's various modes was very smooth.

The aforementioned 64GB of storage is joined by a microSD card slot that supports up to 64GB of expandable storage; that brings the grand capacity total to 128GB. Bluetooth 4.0 and 802.11n Wi-Fi are joined by a Micro-HDMI and Micro-USB port, and there's a 1.6-megapixel camera up front. The tablet also packs a pair of speakers sitting on either side, and a subwoofer right on the back. I didn't have a chance to really appreciate the audio in our packed venue, but Lenovo claims it'll be rather capable for something so small -- I'll reserve judgement for when I can get my hands on a review unit.
The tablet is slightly heavier than most at 2.27 pounds (about 1kg, and not including the detachable keyboard), but it actually feels really light. It's also rather thin: a scant 0.6 inches (15mm) wide at the hinge, tapering down to 0.2 inches (5mm). Lenovo also claims the 13-inch Yoga Tablet will eke out up to 15 hours of battery life, care of a 12,800mAh battery. Last year's Android-based model packed a 9,000mAh battery and saw just over 12 hours of life in our battery tests.

360-degree video capture in your pocket

 

Ricoh's Theta is a slim stick of a camera that, with a single press of its shutter release, captures the entire scene around you -- top to bottom -- in one shot.
The shots played with on a Windows or Mac computer, or iOS or Android devices, are pretty awesome all things considered.

The new second-generation Ricoh Theta M15 is capable of capturing spherical videos up to three minutes long that Ricoh says have no stitch lines when processed with its video-creation tool that's part of the Theta's Windows or Mac application.

Like its photos, the Theta's image size, shape and composition can be changed simply by pushing it around with your fingers on a touchscreen or with your mouse. You'll also be able to share up to six seconds of video using Ricoh's dedicated site, which can then be pushed out to Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr.

Ricoh is also opening up its API and providing a SDK so others can develop apps for the camera.
The Ricoh Theta M15 arrives in November for about $300 in the US ($100 less than the original) and around £270 in the UK. Australian pricing wasn't announced, but it converts to roughly AU$338.

LG isai VL

LG isai VL

LG has expanded its isai Android smartphone range in Japan for KDDI with the launch of the refreshed version of the isai FL, called the isai VL.
Much like the isai FL, the new LG isai VL smartphone will be exclusive to Japanese carrier, KDDI, and is expected to go on sale in the country starting early December.

The new LG isai VL features upgraded specifications such as 3GB of RAM, when compared to 2GB on the isai FL. The new isai-series smartphone will be available in different colour options - Aqua, Black, and Pink Gold than its predecessor. The company also touts that the isai VL is one of the first smartphones in Japan to support Voice over LTE (VoLTE) that ensures high quality voice, video and multimedia services. It also supports 4G LTE networks with a maximum speed of up to 150Mbps.
Other specifications listed for the LG isai VL smartphone are identical to the isai FL, which was launched ahead of the LG G3 and provided hints of what was to come.

The LG isai VL runs Android 4.4 KitKat; sports 13.2-megapixel rear camera; 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera; 32GB of inbuilt storage (microSDXC support up to 128GB), and 3000mAh battery capacity.
The company has not revealed the chipset for the LG isai VL but the smartphone most likely is powered by the quad-core 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 MSM8975AC chipset. The connectivity options include IR, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/c/ac and 4G LTE. Additionally, it supports LG's Knock Code feature and is listed as dust and waterproof. The LG isai VL measures 145x76x10.5mm, the same as the isai FL.

Share Multiple Photo Options on Facebook for Android and iOS.

Share Multiple Photo Options on Facebook for Android and iOS.
Facebook on Monday upgraded its Android and iOS apps to enable users to share multiple photos on the social network in a single post, as part of the new collage layout.

The new Facebook apps for Android and iOS will let users choose the order in which multiple images will be visible to friends once uploaded, listing the order in a number format. After choosing the images, users would be able to see a preview of the post, and also "write an introduction for the story, and add captions to individual photos."
The Facebook blog post also explains that users, right before finalising and tapping on the 'Post' button, can also rearrange the images with a simple drag and drop. Once the images have been posted, the uploader's friends would see the images in a new collage-style instead of an horizontal group of photos, with the first few featured more prominently. Once friends click an image, they will be shown the multiple photos in the order the uploader has specified.
The updated Facebook apps for Android and iOS are scheduled to roll out later in the day, and are currently not listed on the India-versions of the App Store and Google Play.

Lumia 930, Lumia 830, and Lumia 730 Dual SIM Launched in India

 

Microsoft has launched the Lumia 930, Lumia 830 and Lumia 730 Dual SIM in India, priced at Rs. 38,649, Rs. 28,799, and Rs. 15,299, respectively. The Lumia 930 will be available from October 15, while the other two will be available from October 8.

The Lumia 930 , Lumia 830  and Lumia 730 Dual SIM run Windows Phone 8.1. The Lumia 830 will get the new Lumia Denim update out-of-the-box, while the Lumia 730 Dual SIM will get it sometime in Q4 2014. All 3 handsets get 1TB of free cloud storage via OneDrive for 6 months, as well as the Lumia 1520. After 6 months, users will have to pay Rs. 100 per month.

The Lumia 930, unveiled back in April alongside the Lumia 630 and Lumia 635, features a 5-inch (1080x1920 pixel) display with a pixel density of 441ppi. The display boasts of a Gorilla Glass 3 screen, the 'Super Sensitive Touch' feature, and 'a near 180-degree viewing angle'. The Lumia 930 is powered by a 2.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 SoC coupled with 2GB of RAM, and 32GB of built-in storage (7GB free OneDrive cloud storage).

The Lumia 930 also sports a 20-megapixel PureView camera, which has optical image stabilization (OIS) and Carl Zeiss optics. A front-facing 1.2-megapixel wide-angle camera is onboard as well, apart from four directional microphones and integrated Dolby Surround Sound. A LTE quad-band chip and Bluetooth 4.0 LE support is featured.

Featuring an aluminium frame with metallic accents, and a curved polycarbonate back with Bright Orange, Bright Green, Black and White colours, the Lumia 930 runs on a 2420mAh battery, and boasts of built-in wireless charging.

Microsoft is billing the Lumia 830, which was launched at IFA 2014, is the company's "thinnest and lightest Lumia to date." It will be available in Green, Grey, Orange, and White colours. It sports a 10-megapixel PureView camera with Carl Zeiss optics, LED flash, and also comes with what the company touts is the "thinnest" Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) set-up seen on a Lumia smartphone. It also packs a 1-megapixel front-facing camera.

Other enhancements added to the camera on the Lumia 830 include Nokia Rich Recording - with three mics offering true 5.1 surround sound, and Nokia Camera is claimed to offer distortion-free and full bandwidth stereo recording. The company confirmed that an over-the-air (OTA) update of Lumia Camera on the Lumia 830 will bring even quicker camera start-up and shooting speeds, and will also add new features such as Rich Capture and Moment Capture.

Microsoft notes the Lumia 830 also includes the low-power motion-sensing technology, dubbed SensorCore, for fitness fanatics.

The Lumia 830 features a 5-inch HD (720x1280 pixels) ClearBlack IPS LCD display offering a pixel density of 296ppi. It is powered by a quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor clocked at 1.2GHz alongside 1GB of RAM. There is 16GB of inbuilt storage which is further expandable up to 128GB (via microSD card). It is backed by a 2200mAh battery that offers a standby time of up to 22 days, and talk time of up to 14.8 hours on 3G. The Lumia 730 Dual SIM, which was launched alongside the 4G-capable single-SIM Lumia 735 at IFA 2014, on the other hand will come in Bright Green, Bright Orange, Dark Grey and White colours. It features a 6.7-megapixel rear camera with LED flash, and a secondary 5-megapixel front-facing camera with a 24mm wide angle lens. The Lumia 730 Dual SIM, like its name is a dual-SIM (Micro-SIM) smartphone, and features 3G connectivity.

The Lumia 730 Dual SIM features a 4.7-inch HD (720x1280 pixels) display with a pixel density of 316ppi and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. It is powered by 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor coupled with 1GB of RAM.

Internet sharing on Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 8.1

Internet sharing on Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 8.1
Here are the steps to setup your Windows machine as a Wi-Fi hotspot:
1. Download Connectify and install it. The installation is pretty straightforward and when installation is complete, restart your computer.
2. After restarting the computer, check whether it is connected to the Internet. If it is, run the Connectify Hotspot app.
3. You'll see two tabs in the app - Settings and Clients. In the Settings tab, under "Create a..." click Wi-Fi Hotspot.
4. Under Internet to Share, you'll see a drop-down menu. Expand it and select the connection you want to share. We tested this app with a wired and a wireless connection and found that it worked perfectly with both.
5. Under that, you'll see some more options. Add a Wi-Fi password. Click Start Hotspot.
That's all you need to do. Now other devices will detect a Wi-Fi network labelled Connectify-me. Key in the password and you're good to go.
Connectify is a paid app, but it has a stripped down free version. You can create a hotspot with the free version, but the main limitation is that it automatically disconnects every 30 minutes and shows pop-ups asking you to buy the pro version. You'll have to re-enable the hotspot manually to start using it again.
The Pro version has more features and costs $25 (Rs. 1,550) for a year and $40 (Rs. 2,450) for a full licence. Apart from unlimited hotspot uptime, you get features such as custom hotspot naming, the ability to share Internet from 3G and 4G networks (for sharing USB Internet dongles), and advanced firewall controls (choose which devices can access Internet and personal files on your LAN).
Internet Sharing on OS X
Mac users have it a lot easier. Here's how to share your Mac's Internet connection.
1. Open System Preferences > Sharing > check Internet Sharing on the left.
2. On the right, expand the drop-down menu next to Share your connection from: and select the connection you want to share. You can share Internet connections from Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or even iPhone USB.
Typically, you'd want to select Ethernet, if you are using a wired Internet connection iMac, Mac Pro, or MacBook Pro. If you are using an external Ethernet adapter with a MacBook Air, you'll want to select USB Ethernet or Thunderbolt Ethernet, depending upon the kind of dongle you are using (usually it's USB).
3. Just below that, there's a box next to To computers using: where you should check the box next to Wi-Fi.
4. Click the Wi-Fi Options button below the box. Pick a Network Name, Security Type and enter the password twice in fields named Password and Verify. We strongly recommend you choose a password, instead of leaving the Security option has None. You can leave Channel as the default value unless you know what you are doing. Click OK.
5. If the connection is active, you'll see a green icon and text Internet Sharing: On under System Preferences.
That's all. You'll be able to use the Internet on other devices now by connecting to the network you specified under Network Name.
That is how you turn your PC or Mac into a Wi-Fi hotspot.

How to recover deleted data from a memory card

You will need a card reader, a computer, the memory card in question and nerves of steel.

Step 1: Don't do anything to your memory card once you realise photos have been deleted. This means, don't take any more photos on the card and remove it from the camera immediately.
Step 2: Select a recovery suite. The software mentioned in this tutorial is Recuva for Windows and PhotoRec for Mac, which are both free options.

Bear in mind that there are plenty of other options out there, and you may already have one that was included with your memory card, if it was from vendors such as Lexar or SanDisk.


Step 3: Install and set up the software on your PC or Mac.
Step 4: Let's start with Recuva first. Start up the program and choose what sorts of files you want to try and retrieve. In this tutorial we're looking for photos, but Recuva also gives you the option of finding a number of other file types.
Step 5: Run the scan and see what files it turns up. Hopefully you will get some results here, which means the software has found your images.
In Recuva, click "Switch to advanced mode", which will show you what file types the software is looking for. All you have to do is add the file extension of your camera's raw format. This is typically something like .CR2, .NEF or .ARW depending on your camera brand. If in doubt, check your camera manual.


Step 6: For Recuva, select all the images you want to restore, and click the "Recover" button. Choose a place you want to restore the files to. You will want to choose somewhere you can access easily, like the desktop or your pictures folder. It's best not to save them back to the memory card.
For PhotoRec, you will have already chosen a recovery location in a previous step. Navigate to the folder in Finder to see what's there.
Step 7: Check the files that have been recovered, then back them up!

 

Spider-Man App

Spider-Man App

Spider-Man is - obviously - the coolest superhero in Marvel's stable and it's a shame that business deals prevent us from seeing Nick Fury getting Peter Parker to help the Avengers on missions. But thanks to Spider Man Unlimited - a new game from Gameloft that is available free on iOS, Android and Windows Phone - you can play the experience yourself.

The story mode missions have certain objectives - beat 10 henchmen, collect 10 medpacks, and so on. You keep running and playing the way you would Subway Surfers, and once you've reached your goals the level ends and you earn your vials, experience and ISO-8. In the endless mode, you're playing for experience and vials.
It's not the most innovative set of controls but it comes together well to make a good game nonetheless. But that's not to say that the core game is perfect, even without taking into account the aggressive monetisation tactics.

These are just some of the currencies you need to play Spider-Man Unlimited. Aside from these three, there is also energy, which is needed to start a run or a story mission. At first, the game has unlimited energy, but you level up quickly, and after you hit level ten, each run starts to cost energy.

Died and need to restart? One energy. Reached an experience gate and need to grind the free play mode? One energy please. Replenishing the energy bar takes around ten minutes and this breaks the flow of the game quite badly.

You can speed things up by spending some ISO-8, the game's premium currency. You also need experience - missions have a minimum level requirement, and you can spend ISO-8 to improve your character's level. You can also unlock different Spider-Man costumes by spending vials, but this unlocks "common" costumes, and so you can end up with two or three of the same costume. You could spend ISO-8 to get better heroes, of course.

If you get stuck with identical costumes then you can combine them to make one higher level Spider-Man, which doesn't sound like such a bad deal after all - but to do that also requires - surprise, surprise - ISO-8.

Oh and if you hit an obstacle while playing, you can continue the game up to three times from where you were knocked out, for one, two and four pieces of ISO-8 respectively.

Earning ISO-8 by completing missions should theoretically balance it out, but the game gives you very little of the premium currency, while the charges are relatively high. Couple that with the energy mechanic, and you can't even keep playing until you've built up enough ISO-8 to progress to the next part of the game.

There are also henchmen to defeat - swipe up or down, depending on the type of bad guy, or just side-step them like other obstacles. There are wall crawling sections where you tilt the device to turn, and there are also web-swinging sections where you hold and release to determine how high Spider-Man goes.


For one thing, those bright and shiny visuals we talked about actually end up getting in the way of gameplay. There's so much animation and bright colours in the background that it makes it hard to focus on the game that you're playing. You will run right into obstacles at times simply because they were less noticeable than the random pipe burst the spewed toxic chemicals off to the side of the screen.

National Train Enquiry System (NTES) App Now Available for Android

Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) has launched a mobile app on Android platform for train enquiry.

The new National Train Enquiry System (NTES) mobile app for Android devices is free to download, and is listed on Google Play.
"With this launch, it has now become easier for the public to get information on expected arrival and departure timings of a particular train and other related information for the benefit of rail passengers," a senior Railway Ministry official said.
CRIS, an IT wing of railways, earlier launched the NTES app for Windows Phone 8 platform in August 2014. One of the best features of the app is "spot your train" which provides information such as its current position and expected time of arrival and departure at a particular station.
Other features are 'train schedule', 'trains between stations', 'live station' and 'information on cancelled rescheduled & diverted trains'. 'Live Station' query provides list of trains expected to arrive at/depart from any station in next 2 or 4 hours.
The National Train Enquiry System (NTES) is a comprehensive system which provides information to public about train running on near real time basis through various interfaces like nationwide unique rail enquiry number 139, website, mobile interfaces, touch screens, counter enquiry and display boards at stations. CRIS has now made available its app for the two most commonly used platforms - Windows Phone 8 and Android.

 

How to Quickly Access Contacts in iOS 8

How to Quickly Access Contacts in iOS 8

iOS 8 has made it easier to access the people you’ve recently been in contact with, straight from your home screen.

Just press your home button twice. As always, this launches the app switcher, showing you all the apps you have open and running in the background.

New in iOS 8, however, is a Recents category up top. It shows a list of the last seven people you’ve spoken to via text or on the phone.

When you tap one of your contact bubbles, a list of options of how to get in touch will slide out to the right. You can choose to give that person a phone call, send him a text, or FaceTime him.

How to Backup and Delete All Data on Windows Phone Device

How to Backup and Delete All Data on Windows Phone Device

Let's take a look at how to create backups on Windows Phone 8.

How to save data on the cloud

1. If you have an Internet connection, Windows Phone 8 lets you save backups online. For this you'll need a Microsoft account. If you've been using a Windows Phone 8 device, you should have created this during setup or while downloading apps, so this should not be a problem.

2. You will also need a OneDrive account for saving photos and videos. You can go to onedrive.com or just download the app to create this account.
3. To backup your settings, Internet Explorer favourites, and a list of installed apps, head to Settings > Backup > App list + settings > Backup > On. Tap back up now to start the backup immediately.
4. To backup text messages, head to Settings > Backup > Text messages > Text message backup > On.
5. To save your photos and videos, go to Settings > Backup > Photos. Under both sub-heads - Photos and Videos - pick either Good quality or Best quality. Photos will back up good quality on your cellular Internet connection, but best quality photos and all videos need WiFi to upload.

How to save data on your PC

1. If you prefer a local backup, you can copy paste data manually. This method doesn't save text messages or app data or settings.

2. Plug in the phone to your PC. Go to My Computer (Windows key + E) and the device will show up as a removable drive titled Windows Phone. Open it, double-click Phone and copy pictures, music, ringtones and videos from their respective folders.
How to securely wipe data
If you've locked your phone with a passcode, then it can't be unlocked by anyone who doesn't know the passcode. If someone tries to access your data, they will have to reset the phone to factory settings - which erases all of your personal content. You can also manually wipe all your data by resetting your phone. While this removes all the files it is still possible for someone to restore the deleted files. With just a few simple steps you can prevent this too.
1. Go to Settings > About > Reset your phone. Tap Yes twice to start the process.
2. When the process is complete, connect the phone to your PC and open it via My Computer as described earlier. When you double-click Windows Phone, you'll see an empty drive labelled Phone that will show the amount of free space on the device.
3. Copy large files such as HD movies and fill up the internal storage on your phone. This is similar to copying files to a pen drive.
4. Once you have filled the phone completely, delete those files. Repeat this a few times to offer yourself greater protection against someone recovering deleted data such as photos from your phone.
5. If your phone has a microSD card, repeat steps 3 and 4 with the card. When you double-click Windows Phone as described in step 3, the microSD card will show up as a separate drive labelled SD Card.

How to recover your data

To recover the photos, app settings and other files you backed up to the cloud, you need to do the following:
1. Boot your recently wiped or new Windows Phone device. Sign in with your Microsoft account.
2. Wait for some time while your Microsoft account data synchronises with the device.
3. You'll be prompted to restore your phone and be shown a list of backups available. Select the backup you want and tap Next.
4. Key in the security code, then tap Next.
5. Now just wait for the restoration to complete. Tap Next.
6. You'll be asked to enter passwords for your email and social accounts. Tap Skip (you can do it later) and then tap Done.
7. To find your saved photos and videos, just open the OneDrive app and sign in.
Transferring media files from your PC back to the phone is also simple:
1. Connect the phone to your PC via the USB cable.
2. Go to My Computer on your PC and open the Windows Phone drive as described earlier, and copy the various media files you had backed up.

Solving Maths Equations by Taking a Picture using PhotoMath App

Solving Maths Equations by Taking a Picture using PhotoMath App

PhotoMath is making waves on the App Store across several countries, an iOS (and Windows Phone) app that can solve equations users scan in via the device's camera, and even provides the steps taken to solve.

PhotoMath app is limited to a middle school level of math, as noted by the company's blog post celebrating the app's success, "At this stage it can solve basic arithmetics, fractions, decimals, powers, roots, linear equations and functions like log, exp, sin, cos. It can recognize printed characters only, not handwritten text. The app doesn't solve word problems, geometry, or calculus."
The PhotoMath app is currently available for iOS and Windows Phone users via App Store and Windows Phone Store. Android users would have to wait until 2015 to get their hands on the equation solving app.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Duos 

 

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Duos is now listed on the company's China site and is currently available in three variants - SM-N9109W for China Telecom; SM-N9106W for China Unicom, and the SIM-free (unlocked) SM-N9108V.
Sammobile reports that the unlocked version of the Galaxy Note 4 Duos is priced at CNY 5,199.

(Also Read :-Samsung-galaxy-note-4)

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 runs Android 4.4 KitKat, and features a 5.7-inch Quad-HD (1440x2560 pixel) Super Amoled display with a pixel density of 515ppi. It comes with 3GB of RAM. The Galaxy Note 4 comes in two versions based on chipsets - 2.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 805 processor and a 1.9GHz octa-core Samsung processor.
The Galaxy Note 4 features a 16-megapixel autofocus rear camera with Smart OIS, and a 3.7-megapixel front-facing camera with an f/1.9 lens. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, GPS/ Glonass, NFC, Bluetooth v4.0, IR LED, USB 2.0, and MHL 3.0. The Galaxy Note 4 features an accelerometer, geo-magnetic sensor, gyroscope, RGB, IR-LED, proximity, barometer, hall sensor, finger scanner, UV, heart rate monitor.

Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro

The Vibe Z2 Pro has flagship device , including a high-end quad-core processor, loads of RAM, a decent amount of internal storage space, a fairly powerful camera, and a big screen. With all this, the phablet is available at a sweet price of Rs. 32,990.

Look and feel

Featuring a brushed aluminium unibody design and really thin bezels around the display, the Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro looks impressive and feels good to hold as well. At the point where the glass front ends, the edges curve nicely into the rear. One thing we don't really like is the fact that Lenovo made the camera protrude. Despite its dimensions of 156 x 81.3 x 7.7mm  

Specifications and software

Lenovo goes all out with the the innards of the Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro. It uses Qualcomm's Snapdragon 801 SoC with a quad-core processor clocked at 2.5GHz and Adreno 330 GPU, as well as 3GB of RAM. 

The Vibe Z2 Pro has a 16-megapixel rear camera with dual-LED flash and optical image stabilisation (OIS). This camera can capture 4K videos as well. The front camera can capture 5-megapixel images.
Vibe Z2 Pro can connect to Wi-Fi networks, other devices over Bluetooth and also supports NFC. The phablet can connect to 4G LTE networks.Vibe Z2 Pro has a QHD (1440 x 2560) IPS LCD panel. This translates to an ultra-sharp 490ppi on the 6-inch screen.

 

 

 

Apple CarPlay

 

Though announced way back in March 2014, Apple's CarPlay software has remained elusive. With the exception of the Ferrari FF, the partnered automakers are still in the "coming soon" phase of their rollouts, and the aftermarket has remained mostly silent.
Mostly, that is, with the exception of Pioneer, who announced this summer that it would be bringing Apple CarPlay to the masses via its NEX series of multimedia receivers. Today, we take a look at the Pioneer's flagship AVIC 8000NEX, a fully featured navigation and multimedia receiver that is, so far, the only way to get CarPlay in your car short of buying a new Ferrari.

AVIC hardware, NEX software

The AVIC user interface starts with a 7-inch capacitive touch display, where the driver and passengers will have most of their interactions with the system. The screen runs at a WVGA (800x480) resolution -- which sounds low in a world filled with 720p and 1080p smartphones, but isn't bad at all in practice. Graphics for the various parts of the NEX and CarPlay interfaces are rendered smoothly and sharply, but DVD video was just a bit pixelated. 

The first Apple CarPlay receiver

As opposed to Pioneer's own App Mode, which required additional hardware, all that you'll need to get running with CarPlay is the latest version of Pioneer's NEX firmware, an iPhone 5 or 6 running the latest version of iOS 8 and a USB to Lightning adapter.

 

Facebook tries a different way to chat with Rooms app

Facebook's next communication advancement harkens back to the Internet's earliest days.
Facebook's new Rooms app harkens back to the way the Internet used to be. Facebook
The company's new Rooms app, unveiled Thursday, will allow people to chat in groups. Users can sign in to the app with an email address or use a pseudonym, and they don't need a Facebook account to join. Users can post photos, movies and text, and they can even change the company's iconic "like button" to say whatever they want. Facebook expects users will create Rooms based on various themes, such as snowboarding pictures, great classical music, or a love of the animated television show "My Little Pony."
Rooms is just the latest example of Facebook's continued focus on refining how users send messages to one another. Facebook already has apps called Messenger, WhatsApp and Slingshot, which help users send messages to one another or groups. Its photo-sharing app Instagram allows largely anonymous users to share photos and have conversations. And Facebook already has software for group message boards through its website. Most of the features in Rooms already exist throughout Facebook's website and other apps.
But Facebook believes this chat app has a place in that already busy lineup. Rooms allows anonymous postings, for instance. It also was designed for mobile devices -- a departure from cramming Facebook's website features into a small program that fits on a screen nestled in the palm of your hand.

 

Amazon's 7-inch tablet sells for $100

Amazon's 7-inch tablet sells for $100

The Dallas telecommunications provider will begin selling the Kindle Fire HDX 7, Amazon's latest tablet. By itself, the Fire HDX 7 costs $100 with a two-year contract, or $10 a month over 20 months.
AT&T is also offering the Fire HDX 7 for $50 when purchased with the Fire Phone, which starts at 99 cents with a two-year contract. The promotion runs through November 20, and both devices will require two-year contracts.
Amazon may boast the largest online storefront in the world, it hasn't had the same success with the Fire Phone. After debuting in July with a contract price of $200, the Fire Phone was discounted to 99 cents two months later.

HTC Desire 516C Launched at Rs. 12,990

HTC launched the budget Desire 516C smartphone in India, calling it a dual-SIM and CDMA-enabled version of the successful HTC Desire 516 Dual SIM. The handset has been made available to buy from Saturday at a price tag of Rs. 12,990 exclusively via website Snapdeal.

The HTC Desire 516C is a dual-SIM device (CDMA+GSM) that supports regular SIM cards. It runs the now-dated Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean out-of-the-box. Unfortunately, there is no word on whether the Desire 516C will be receiving any software updates. It notably features the HTC BlinkFeed home screen, a feature usually reserved for higher-end handsets from the company.

It sports a 5-inch qHD (540x960 pixels) LCD display, which offers a pixel density of 220ppi. The Desire 516 is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor coupled with 1GB of RAM. It comes with 4GB of inbuilt storage, which is further expandable via microSD card (up to 32GB).
It sports a 5-megapixel rear camera with LED flash, while it also houses a 0.3-megapixel front-facing camera. The HTC Desire 516 packs a removable 1950mAh battery that is rated to deliver up to 9 hours of talk time (3G) and up to 220 hours of standby time (3G).

The smartphone is currently available in its Gray colour variant only. It comes with dimensions 140x72x9.7mm and weighs 160 grams. Connectivity options on the HTC Desire 516C include GRPS/ EDGE, 3G (HSPA+), Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Micro-USB, and 3.5mm audio jack.

"HTC Desire 516C dual sim has been created for users who care for quality, features and a great value for money product," stated Chia-lin Chang, Global President of Sales and Chief Financial Officer, HTC Corporation in a press statement. "The latest addition inherits renowned HTC Desire range's legacy of super-fast processing and premium features, at a lower price. This new exciting device will offer the best possible experience in its category."