Nokia 3310 (2017) 3G Variant Spotted on Certification Site
Thursday 27 July 2017
Nokia 3310 (2017) 3G Variant Spotted on Certification Site
Nokia 3310 (2017) 3G Variant Spotted on Certification Site
Disney Research Makes Augmented Reality a Group Experience
Disney Research Makes Augmented Reality a Group Experience
Have you ever wanted to sit and drift through a magical world with your friends? Disney Research has developed a 'Magic Bench' platform that actualises this dream by combining augmented (AR) and mixed reality experience.
In this platform, wearing a head-mounted display or using a handheld device is not required. Instead, the surroundings are instrumented rather than the individual, allowing people to share the magical experience as a group.
"This platform creates a multi-sensory immersive experience in which a group can interact directly with an animated character. Our mantra for this project was: Hear a character coming, see them enter the space, and feel them sit next to you," said Moshe Mahler, Principal Digital Artist at Disney Research.
The Magic Bench shows people their mirrored images on a large screen in front of them, creating a third person point of view."The scene is reconstructed using a depth sensor, allowing the participants to actually occupy the same 3D space as a computer-generated character or object, rather than superimposing one video feed onto another," the researchers said in a paper that will be presented at 'SIGGRAPH 2017' event in Los Angeles on July 30.
According to the researchers, a colour camera and depth sensor were used to create a real-time, HD-video-textured 3D reconstruction of the bench, surroundings and participants.
"The bench itself plays a critical role. Not only does it contain haptic actuators, but it constrains several issues for us in an elegant way. We know the location and the number of participants, and can infer their gaze. It creates a stage with a foreground and a background, with the seated participants in the middle ground," Mahler explained.
"It even serves as a controller; the mixed reality experience doesn't begin until someone sits down and different formations of people seated create different types of experiences," he added.
AMD Announces India Prices and Availability of Low-Cost Ryzen 3 CPUs
AMD Announces India Prices and Availability of Low-Cost Ryzen 3 CPUs
AMD has launched its low-cost Ryzen 3 CPU series, rounding out the mainstream desktop Ryzen lineup for 2017. There are two models, the Ryzen 3 1300X and the Ryzen 3 1200, both of which will be available around the world starting from today. The Ryzen 3 1300X is priced at Rs. 8,899 in India while the Ryzen 3 1200 will cost Rs. 7,599. GST of 18 percent is applicable, which pushes these figures up to roughly Rs. 10,500 and Rs. 8,966 respectively, though street prices can still vary.
The company hopes to use low prices to challenge Intel's Core i3 series, which dominates the budget PC space. Both Ryzen 3 models have four physical CPU cores whereas Core i3 CPUs have two cores plus HyperThreading to simulate two more. The formula of more cores at lower prices has worked well for AMD at the high end and mid-range with its Ryzen 7 (Review) and Ryzen 5 (Review) lines respectively, where performance differences can be significant. AMD has called this an intentional disruption of the cores-per-dollar equation. However, Ryzen CPUs lack integrated graphics which could still leave the balance in Intel's favour when total system cost is calculated for budget desktops.
Consistent with the company's initial Ryzen 3 announcement, the Ryzen 3 1300X has a base speed of 3.5GHz and a boost speed of 3.7GHz, but can use AMD's XFR technology to go all the way up to 3.9GHz if the thermal envelope allows it. The Ryzen 3 1200X runs at 3.1GHz but can boost itself up to 3.4GHz on demand. The new CPUs are based on the same Zen architecture as their more expensive siblings and use the same basic design, with two cores enabled per core complex and all the same features. Both have 64W TDPs and ship with AMD's compact Wraith Stealth cooler. Both are also multiplier unlocked and overclockable. Ryzen 3 CPUs will work with the same AM4 platform motherboards as the rest of the mainstream Ryzen lineup.
AMD will also sell eight new A-series and three new Athlon CPUs based on the Bristol Ridge architecture, targeting extremely low-cost PCs. Some of these have already been seen in OEM systems and select markets such as China. Finally, the company announced retail availability of its popular Wraith Max cooler for high-end CPUs, which has so far only been shipped to OEM partners and used for demonstrations. The Wraith Max has an RGB LED ring around its fan, which will work with lighting control systems from all major hardware manufacturers including Asus, Gigabyte, MSI, Biostar and ASRock. The maximum retail price for the Wraith Max in India is Rs. 3,799 plus 18 percent GST (effectively Rs. 4,483).
Later this year, AMD will ship its high-end enthusiast-class 12-core and 16-core Ryzen ThreadripperCPUs and Vega graphics architecture. Mobile Ryzen CPUs with integrated graphics aimed at laptops and ultraportable devices are also expected to be announced shortly.
Paytm Sets Up Mobile Gaming Company with Alibaba-Owned AGTech Media
Paytm Sets Up Mobile Gaming Company with Alibaba-Owned AGTech Media
Payments company Paytm has entered into a joint venture with Alibaba Group-owned AGTech Media to set up a gaming company in India. As per AGTech’s regulatory filing with the Hong Kong stock exchange, Paytm will have a 55 percent stake in the company with AGTech owning the remaining 45 percent.
Together AGTech and Paytm will invest $16 million (around Rs. 103 crores) in the venture. This new company will offer mobile games to Indian consumers with AGTech creating content and Paytm providing distribution. User engagement activities are also part of the feature offering.
“This will help Paytm drive deeper consumer engagement as customers can now earn exclusive rewards and discounts on the platform,” AGTech said in a filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Monday. This venture is AGTech’s first significant strategic international expansion.
“The Group believes that international markets represent an untapped and enormous opportunity, and this joint venture is a significant breakthrough which lays the foundation for further international expansion in the future. As the leading mobile payment platform in India, Paytm is the ideal local partner for this key collaboration,” the filing said.
This isn’t Paytm’s first stab at gaming in India. In the past it has tried its hand at publishing smartphone games but India developers weren’t impressed with the revenue split offered at the time and it did not take off as planned. Furthermore, AGTech’s specialty appears to be in gambling and lottery games rather than well, actual video games. By the company’s own admission, it only has all of only two proper games available on Alibaba’s own Taobao platform.
Nonetheless, with investment in gaming in India drying up and consumer monetisation via app stores not meeting projections, forcing some to consider e-sports as a revenue stream, it will be interesting to see how this pans out.
Truecaller for iPhone Update Brings Google Duo Integration
Truecaller for iPhone Update Brings Google Duo Integration
Truecaller on Wednesday released an update for iOS that introduces Google Duo video calling from within the app, a feature the caller ID service had announced back in Marchfollowing its tie-up with Google. With the latest update (v7.70), users will now be able to make video calls to contacts from within the Truecaller app.
On updating the Truecaller app for iPhone to the latest version, users will now notice the Google Duo video call option in the Contacts section under a selected contact. You already have the option to type messages and make voice calls, but with the new video calling feature, Truecaller hopes to create a service that's more than just a caller ID app, and more along the lines of WhatsApp.
There are a few things to note here. The Google Duo service inside Truecaller will only work after separately downloading the Google Duo app, which seems a bit convoluted, but is perhaps Google's way of adding more numbers to its video calling app. Secondly, the feature is yet to make it to Android, which means iOS users can only use the Duo feature in Truecaller with other Truecaller iOS users on the latest update.
As we mentioned, Google Duo's integration with Truecaller requires users to download the Duo app separately. On trying to make a Duo call within Truecaller, the user is redirected to the standalone Duo app, and one wonders whether users are willing to go through the long process via Truecaller rather than simply doing so via the Duo app. The partnership allows Google to expand the reach of its Duo video calling app to a 250 million strong Truecaller user base, which is perhaps the biggest takeaway for the tech giant here. One will have to wait and see how well the Duo integration works once the feature rolls out to Android as well.
Truecaller earlier this month also rolled out flash messaging for the iPhone that lets users send and receive flash updates that include emojis, clickable links and phone numbers. The feature was first launched with Truecaller 8 for Android in late-March. Notably, earlier this month, Google Duo was integrated with the Android call log.
Jio Phone Shakes Up Cheap-End of India's Billion Strong Market
Jio Phone Shakes Up Cheap-End of India's Billion Strong Market
At first glance, Indian telecom upstart Jio's bet on 'free' Internet-enabled phones to win over poorer customers is a near-fatal blow for low-end handset makers, most already struggling with paper-thin margins on some of the world's cheapest devices.
But industry executives and analysts say Jio's crossover feature phone - not quite a smartphone, not quite a no-frills handset - could, in fact, be a boon to the lower end of the market and suppliers that feed it, creating a new in-between category and getting more people online for the first time.
The JioPhone, they say, creates a new phone segment aimed at millions of low-paid Indians, currently caught between basic, calls-and-text devices and fancier smartphones.
Reliance Industries, led by India's wealthiest man Mukesh Ambani, waded into India's cut-throat telecoms industry last year with its $30 billion (roughly Rs. 1,92,404 crores) bet on Jio, upending the sector with its cheap smartphones and data plans.Last week, it announced a new phone, which allows digital payments and will come effectively free. Buyers can get a device for a refundable fee of Rs. 1,500.
Currently over 60 percent of India's roughly 750 million mobile users use phones that allow only calls and basic texts, making so-called feature phones the country's single largest segment. But many will soon move up the chain.
"The concept of 4G feature phones is not new, and most Indian firms have already done their R&D," said Jaipal Singh, analyst with tech research firm IDC. "Brands such as Micromax, Lava, Intex and Karbonn will launch similar devices to either compete or partner with Jio."
Micromax, one of India's largest brands, said it was working on a 4G feature phone that would rival Jio's compromise offering. Lava, which launched India's first low-cost, 4G-enabled phone this year - selling for about $50 - said it could launch more if there was demand.
Samsung Electronics, the largest player in India thanks to its range of offerings, from high-end smartphones to basic $15 (roughly Rs. 1,000) handsets, expects the new offerings to expand the whole market and "boost Samsung's mobile phone sales in future".
But the industry will still face tough times for now, as Jio's deep pockets still squeeze rivals - and its suppliers.
"The low-cost JioPhone will place pressure on Indian feature phone leaders such as Samsung, Intex and Lava, and make life harder for ambitious new entrants like HMD," said Neil Mawston, an executive director at tech research firm Strategy Analytics.
HMD Global, a Finnish company that owns the rights to the Nokia phone brand, this year launched a revamped version of the Nokia 3310, which retails in India for about $50 (exactly Rs. 3,310).
A senior Reliance executive said the company plans to have 5 million phones available each week, but is concerned its supply chain may not be able to keep up with demand.
Ambani's bet is not just business. The deal is also a boost for two of Prime Minister Narendra Modi'skey campaigns: "Digital India", which aims to get more Indians online, and "Make in India", to encourage local manufacturing.
The Reliance executive said it aims to have all the assembly of its JioPhone devices done in India by the year-end, by the likes of Foxconn Technology Co and Flextronics Corp.
Smartphones remain popular in India's cities, but the JioPhone will allow Jio to connect millions of new clients in smaller towns and the countryside, who prefer a simpler user interface, local language scripts and chunkier batteries, said Tarun Pathak of Counterpoint Research.
The JioPhone will give them a first taste of high-speed web browsing and is likely to gradually boost online shopping in the world's fastest-growing internet services market, analysts said.
Reliance plans to weave NFC (near field communication) - a wireless technology that allows two devices to connect - in the JioPhone later this year, a move likely to accelerate the adoption of digital payments.
Jio has acquired more than 125 million customers since its launch last year, primarily by offering free voice and unlimited data plans, but a further expansion of its customer base hinges largely on the availability of entry-level 4G-enabled devices.
Meizu Pro 7, Meizu Pro 7 Plus With Rear Display, Dual Cameras Launched: Price, Specifications
Meizu Pro 7, Meizu Pro 7 Plus With Rear Display, Dual Cameras Launched: Price, Specifications
Wednesday 26 July 2017
Jio Phone, Free With Rs. 1,500 Deposit, Unlimited 4G Data, Launched by Mukesh Ambani at Reliance AGM
JioPhone made a splash at the Reliance AGM on Friday as Mukesh Ambani took the covers off the long-rumoured 4G feature phone. The handset, introduced as "India ka Smartphone" and launched at an "effective price" of Rs. 0 (though buyers will have to shell out a refundable, upfront deposit of Rs. 1,500 for the device). JioPhone will be crucial for the company in tapping the estimated 50 crore feature phone users who have not been able to join the Jio 4G bandwagon because of the high costs associated with smartphones.
Although Reliance Jio launched in India in September, the company's offering has been restricted to smartphone users as it is a 4G only network, and to make calls, a phone has to support the VoLTE technology, which is usually not found on basic phones. The company aims to change that with the JioPhone, which comes with 4G VoLTE support. The JioPhone will include access to apps like JioCinema, JioTV, and JioMusic.
JioPhone release date and other availability details
The phone will be available from August 15 - for testing, in beta, and will be up for pre-booking from August 24 from the MyJio app and Jio offline stores. Users who pre-book will be able to buy the phone from September, on a first come first serve basis. It will come with a couple of different data packs.
JioPhone plans
Users can either pay Rs. 153 per month, for which they will get free voice and SMS, and unlimited data (high-speed data FUP is 500MB per day), along with Jio apps. They can also choose to pay Rs. 309 per month to get all this, plus the support for mirroring your screen on a TV, via a cable that can even be plugged into CRT TVs. After three years, you can return the phone, and get a full refund on the deposit. Aside from that, the company will also have two sachet packs, at Rs. 24 for two days, or Rs. 54 per week, for users who don't want to commit to Rs. 153 as an upfront payment.
JioPhone features and specifications
The JioPhone was introduced by Akash and Isha Ambani, revealing the phone’s support voice commands, along with standard feature phone functionality. Isha Ambani said that the phone looks familiar by design, to ensure that it is easy to use. The phone comes with a number of apps and browser installed aside from Jio’s offerings too. On stage, we caught glimpses of the JioPhone browser, Facebook, and also PM Modi’s Mann Ki Baat broadcast.
JioPhone features revealed at Reliance AGM
The company will also be adding NFC support to the JioPhone to allow tap and pay solutions with a linked bank account, Akash Ambani said. This will also support UPI payments, and debit and credit card payments, similar to Samsung Pay, he said. The company confirmed the phone will have a 2.4-inch display, panic button, expandable storage, and FM radio, among other features.
"There are 78 crore mobile phones in India," Mukesh Ambani pointed out. "However, in this 78 crore, there are more than 50 crore feature phone users, who have been left out. They can neither afford the cheapest LTE smartphone, nor the exorbitant cost of data."
"Data is the oxygen of digital life, and no Indian should suffer because of unaffordability," he added. "Sadly the vast majority of mobile users are starved of data. This unfairness must end, and Jio is committing to ending it today."
To accomplish this, the company needs to deliver on three pillars, Ambani said - connectivity, data affordability, and device affordability. "Jio is a data strong network built for the Internet from the ground up," he said. "The TRAI speedtest portal has consistently ranked Jio as the clear 4G network leader in coverage, usage, and data speeds."
"Our network continues to rapidly expand. Jio, in the next 12 months, will cover 99 percent of the population. India's 4G coverage will be more than its 2G coverage," he added. To meet the need for device affordability, the company realised it would have to release a 4G VoLTE feature phone, as even an entry level smartphone costs between Rs. 3,000 and Rs. 4,500, Ambani said.
Vivo India Says Greater Noida Unit Layoffs Part of Right-Sizing Operations
Vivo India on Wednesday said that the layoffs at its manufacturing unit in Greater Noida are in line with the company's business decision.
Reacting to earlier media reports, the China-based smartphone maker said: "We look at staffing the right size in various divisions to improve productivity. The layoff is in line with this business decision."
"We have strictly adhered to the rules and regulations and the contract, and are taking all the right measures to ensure a peaceful transition keeping their best interests in consideration," Vivo India said in a statement.
Media reports on Tuesday said employees from Vivo India's Greater Noida unit were laid off without any prior notice.
They were asked to wind up their work and leave post lunch as there was not enough work from them, the reports added.
The move led to a scuffle between the sacked employees with the security guards on Tuesday. There were reports that office property was damaged as well.
Vivo recently extended the title sponsorship contract with the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament by five more years.
Besides the IPL, the mobile company also has acquired the rights of becoming the title sponsors of the Pro-Kabaddi League for a period of five years. The deal was announced in May 2017 and it is valued at Rs. 300 crores.
Nokia 3310 (2017) 3G Variant Spotted on Certification Site
While we wait for HMD Global to unveil the Nokia 8 next month, we've got two more Nokia-related stories for you in the meantime. A recent US FCC certification hints that you may just see a 3G variant of the recently revamped Nokia 3310 (2017) alongside the launch of the Nokia 8. Meanwhile, the Silver colour variant of the Nokia 6 is once again available for pre-orders in the US after going out of stock.
The Nokia 3310 (2017)(Review) was launched by HMD Global as a way to pay rekindle our love for the Nokia brand. Keeping the nostalgia associated with the classic 3310 aside, working with a feature phone with 2G connectivity in this day and age can wear out even the most patient of us. This is perhaps why HMD Global is working on a 3G-supported Nokia 3310, according to an US FCC certification of the phone with model designation TA-1036, spotted by NokiaPowerUser. Note that the current Nokia 3310 (2017) goes by TA-1030. The size specifications revealed by FCC hints at a 3G Nokia 3310 (2017) going by the height and width.
The certification also reveals the 2G/3G bands that it will support in the US:
GSM850: 824.2 MHz - 848.8 MHz
GSM1900: 1850.2 MHz - 1909.8 MHz
WCDMA Band II: 1852.4 MHz - 1907.6 MHz
WCDMA Band V: 826.4 MHz - 846.6 MHz
Meanwhile, the Silver colour variant of the Nokia 6, which went on sale in the US earlier this month, is now back and up for pre-orders in the country via Amazon. The phone was launched in the US in Black, Silver, Copper and Blue, but the Silver variant in particular went out of stock soon after. The Amazon Prime-exclusive model (that comes with lock screen ads) will start shipping from August 18, while the non-Prime variant will ship within 1-3 weeks
Jio Phone Booking Registration Process, Launch Date, Price, and All Other Questions Answered
Reliance Jio announced the launch of the Jio Phone at the annual Reliance Industries AGM on Friday. The effective price of the phone is zero - you need to pay a Rs. 1,500 deposit up front, which is refundable after three years. Jio Phone users can enjoy Reliance Jio services like free voice calling and SMS, as well as access to Jio apps like JioTV and JioMovies at Rs. 153 per month, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani said. This Jio plan also gets you 'unlimited' Internet data, with a daily high-speed data cap of 500MB.
So is the Jio Phone going to be the phone that gets the next set of Indians on the Internet? What are its limitations? Does the Jio Phone run WhatsApp? Read on for the answers to these, and other questions.
Jio Phone launch date and booking
The Jio Phone will be made available starting August 15 in a beta programme, and it will be up for pre-booking from August 24 onwards. Pre-orders can be made using the MyJio app or Jio offline stores. Customers who pre-book the phone will be eligible to purchase it from September onwards, on a first come first serve basis. Mukesh Ambani said Jio is targeting to have 5 million Jio Phones available every week.
Jio Phone cable TV and plans
There are two prepaid plans that you can sign up to with the Jio Phone. Both have a one month (28 days) validity, and include 'unlimited' data, unlimited calling, and SMS. The plans are for Rs. 153 and Rs. 309 respectively, and on the surface look very similar, but there's one difference. With the Rs. 309 plan, users will be able to use the Jio Phone-TV cable to mirror their phone screen onto any TV, so that Jio's streaming services can be enjoyed by the whole family. The Rs. 153 plan come with 500MB daily FUP for the high-speed data.
At the same time, Ambani also noted that for users who don't want to commit to a monthly plan, Reliance Jio also has a couple of sachet plans that give shorter term access to data. For two days, Jio Phone users can get the Rs. 24 pack, or they can opt to spend Rs. 54 for a week of usage. Note that these plans are exclusive to Jio Phone users and cannot be subscribed by other Jio users.
Jio Phone features and price
Introduced as "India ka smartphone", the Jio Phone will be effectively free. Of course, it's not quite as simple as that - you will have to make an upfront payment of Rs. 1,500 in order to get your hands on the Jio Phone. However, this sum is fully refundable, but you can claim the refund only after three years of purchasing the mobile.
Introduced as "India ka smartphone", the Jio Phone will be effectively free. Of course, it's not quite as simple as that - you will have to make an upfront payment of Rs. 1,500 in order to get your hands on the Jio Phone. However, this sum is fully refundable, but you can claim the refund only after three years of purchasing the mobile.
ALSO SEEWhat is the Jio Phone TV-Cable?
In his AGM speech, Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani pointed out the majority of phone users in India do not have smartphones, pegging the figure at 50 crore (out of 76 crore mobile phone users). Because of the high smartphone prices, they are unable to access the 4G-only Jio network, meaning not only are they unable to get access to high-speed Internet and free voice calls, but also that they are out of Jio's reach as a monetisation opportunity. The Jio Phone is meant to address this audience, and thus is an affordable, 4G VoLTE-capable feature phone with 'smart' apps.
Yes, the Jio Phone's got all of the Jio apps - that means Jio Music, Jio Cinema and so on, and access to these is bundled with the prepaid plans for the phone, so even on a feature phone you'll be able to enjoy streaming services. It supports other apps as well, including Facebook, though WhatsApp is not supported at the moment. The phone also supports 22 Indian languages, and voice commands. You can send messages, place calls, search the Web, and so on, using voice commands.
Another interesting feature of the Jio Phone is NFC support - with this, users will be able to make payments from a linked bank account via UPI, or through POS machines in place of a debit card. This will be enabled later via a software update, although the hardware is already present. The mobile also comes with an integrated panic button.
ALSO SEEJio Phone Launch in Pictures
Jio Phone features revealed at the Reliance AGM
The Jio Phone will also be able to mirror content from apps such as JioTV and JioCinema on TVs (including old CRT TVs) using a cable that the company has developed. Users will need to subscribe to the Rs. 309 Jio pack to avail this feature.
While company went in detail regarding the features, there was not as much focus on Jio Phone specifications. As a feature phone, the device has an alphanumeric keypad, and a small 2.4-inch colour screen. Apart from the presence of a rear camera, FM radio, Bluetooth, NFC, and of course 4G VoLTE, not much is confirmed at the moment.
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