Apple iOS 13 has sever security flaws including zero click hack in its mail app - Researchers

A new potentially serious software vulnerability has been discovered in iOS 13 that works via the default Mail app on iPhone and iPad. Security researchers say the iPhone has a severe flaw in the native iOS Mail app that makes it vulnerable to hackers.

 

Representation image only

Commenting on this Satnam Narang, Principal Research Engineer at Tenable said, "The recent disclosure that multiple zero-days in the Apple iOS Mail application were exploited in the wild is significant and noteworthy. One of the flaws can be exploited without user interaction (also known as zero click) on iOS 13. The vulnerabilities also affect iOS 12, though interaction is required in most cases.

Exploitation of these flaws would allow an attacker to leak, modify or delete emails within the Mail application. However, the researchers note that combining these flaws with an unpatched kernel vulnerability would provide an attacker with full device access, though that information has not been identified as of yet.

While Apple has issued fixes for these flaws in the beta version of iOS 13.4.5, devices are still vulnerable until the final version of iOS 13.4.5 is readily available to all iOS device owners. In the interim, the only mitigation for these flaws is to disable any email accounts that are connected to the iOS Mail application, and use an alternative application, such as Microsoft Outlook or Google's GMail."

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Ericsson launches customized network solutions for the Indian market

Ericsson announced that it is bringing the best of technology innovations to the Indian market to enable a smooth evolution from 4G to 5G. The company has introduced a new category of radio products called Street Macro; a new site type that addresses the need of operators to grow in cities with limited available radio locations. The company has also launched new radio products that support Massive MIMO technology. These products enable a smooth evolution from 4G to 5G and address the need for increased capacity, while simplifying use for wider adoption.

All installed base of radios from the Ericsson Radio System delivered since 2015 will be 5G NR-capable by a remote software installation. Ericsson recently completed its 5G platform with the launch of 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) commercial software, based on the recently approved first 3GPP 5G New Radio (NR) standard. The 5G radio network software complements Ericsson’s already launched baseband and 5G radios. Operators can simply activate their 5G networks and take the first steps with commercial 5G capabilities and new applications leveraging advanced mobile broadband services.

This will cater efficiently for growing data traffic and enable access to multimedia content, such as 4K/8K video streaming and virtual reality/augmented reality. According to Ericsson’s new economic study of enhanced mobile broadband, evolution to 5G will enable 10 times lower cost per gigabyte than current 4G networks. To help operators capture growth opportunities presented by new 5G use cases, Ericsson has expanded its 5G Core System offering with new capabilities to support 5G NR and also enhanced its Distributed Cloud solution.

Nitin Bansal, Managing Director, Ericsson India said, “Operators today are looking at ways and means to increase network capacity especially in urban areas. It is here that Ericsson’s Street Macro adds a new layer in the network layer to boost capacity enabling service providers to cater to the growing demands of data users. Our studies in fact indicate that Enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) will be the first large-scale global 5G use case, driven by a need for more efficient networks and better user experience.”

The announcement came on the sidelines of Ericsson’s annual technology roadshow in India, where the company recreated a “Do Zone” to showcase the highlights from Mobile World Congress 2018. Over 20 state of the art proof points were displayed at the ‘Do Zone’ to give a glimpse of the future that will be enabled by 5G.

Build your 5G Future on Today’s 4G – Efficiencies and business innovation can be created today on 4G. By running scenarios on a city model, we showcase Centralized and Decentralized Radio Architecture, Core and RAN Virtualization, Network Slicing, 5G deployment scenarios, Transport Evolution, among other technological deployments on the road to 5G.

VR Experience Optimization – As networks evolve to 5G, issues in the E2E scenario will need to be addressed to ensure best end-user experience. The demo deals with scenarios where ‘App Experience Optimization’ detects issues like latency spikes and low throughput, suggests and implements actions to improve end-user experience.

NFV here and now – NFV is a prerequisite for 5G. It is crucial to enable efficiencies and agility to support new business. The demo showcases Ericsson’s complete distributed NFV-based core network, ready for delivery for 4G and 5G platform. It enables shorter TTM for new services and higher efficiency with short upgrade cycles.

Cellular for Massive IoT – NB-IoT and Cat-M1 leverage existing network infrastructure, open up great business and revenue growth potential for mobile operators with new services and applications. This proof point addresses the potential use cases with the new technologies and Ericsson e2e Massive IoT solutions.

Mixed Reality Mining – This demo displays the future concepts on AR and VR which can be adapted for a mining use case. It offers users a chance to experience what could be done with great connectivity, i.e. 5G, precise positioning, and augmented, mixed and virtual reality (AR/MR/VR) in a mining context.

Insight Driven Automated Operations – Data-driven network analysis in real time enables more precise service operations and Customer Experience Management, thereby creating more value. Ericsson Expert Analytics makes analytics-driven CEM a reality by creating insights based on unique real-time network correlations across different domains. After many years of work with standards and technology, 5G is moving into the commercial phase. To date Ericsson has signed 39 memorandums of understanding with service providers for trials. Even more importantly, Ericsson has signed several commercial contracts with deliveries already by the end of this year.

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Philips Lighting introduces LiFi: broadband data through light

Philips Lighting, the world leader in lighting, is now offering Light Fidelity(LiFi), a technology in which high quality LED lighting provides a broadband Internet connection through light waves. As the lighting company for the Internet of Things, Philips Lighting is the first global lighting company to offer LiFi-enabled luminaires from its existing office lighting portfolio.

"LiFi has enormous potential for today's digital age and as the world's leading lighting company we are proud to pioneer new and innovative services for our customers," said Olivia Qiu, Chief Innovation Officer, Philips Lighting.

"While radio frequencies are becoming congested, the visible light spectrum is an untapped resource with a large bandwidth suitable for the stable simultaneous connection of a vast array of Internet of Things devices. Being a lighting company, we ensure that our customers benefit from the finest quality energy efficient light along with state-of-the-art connectivity," she added. 

Broadband Internet connection and quality illumination at the same time

LiFi is a two-way, high-speed wireless technology similar to WiFi but uses light waves instead of radio waves to transmit data. Philips Lighting's office luminaires enabled with LiFi technology provide broadband connection with a speed of 30 Mb per second (Mb/s) without compromising lighting quality. With 30Mb/s a user can stream simultaneously several HD quality videos while having video calls.

Icade, the French real estate investment company, is piloting the ground-breaking technology in its smart office in La Defense, Paris. "LiFi has the potential to be a real game changer in offices. As the leader in our market we wanted to explore the possibilities of this technology for existing and future clients. We plan to showcase the technology in our smart office in La Defense, so aside from stable connectivity, light quality is crucial to us," said Emmanuelle Baboulin, Head of the Commercial Property Investment Division at Icade.  

Benefits of LiFi

LiFi offers benefits over WiFi as it can be used in places where radio frequencies may interfere with equipment, such as in hospitals, or where WiFi signals cannot reach or are weak, such as underground. Other user cases include environments demanding high security; for example, the back office of a financial institution or government service. LiFi adds an extra layer of security as light cannot pass through solid walls and a line-of-sight to the light is needed to access the network. 

How does LiFi work?

Each luminaire is equipped with a built-in modem that modulates the light at speeds imperceptible to the human eye. The light is detected by a LiFi USB key/dongle plugged into the socket of a laptop or tablet (in the future such technology will be built into laptops and devices). The LiFi USB dongle returns data to the luminaire through an infrared link. With Philips LiFi-enabled luminaires, customers get the double benefit of quality, energy-efficient LED light and a highly secure, stable and robust connection as LiFi has 10,000 times the spectrum of WiFi.

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ICC Women’s World Cup Final Creates a New Record on Hotstar

India's leading video on demand platform, Hotstar today announced record viewership for the ICC Women's World Cup 2017 final match played between host England and India. For some it may be surprising to hear this news but for me it is something which was expected and I have my reasons for that. Let me take you 12 years back  to 2005 when India was in Finals, Mithali Raj led the team and lost to Australia in the pen ultimate match. Next day we woke up to the news, not covered with great depth but many of  us came to know that India is represented in Women Cricket as well and not only that we have reached till finals. May be that was the only peak point of popularity at that stage. But 2017 is different, its different in many ways, the advertisements are  at the par of the men tournaments, the internet penetration is way too high and the accessibility is again one another factor. Thanks to apps like Hotstar which have made it possible to seamlessly stream live matches on the go.

Indian Women Cricket Team posing for cameras

From the very first match when India beat England by 35 runs, it was part of the discussion even though the Indian fans were just coming out the shocker of Champions Trophy defeat in Finals. The players were now being called by name, they were no longer discussed as statistics. Smriti Mandhana became national crush and Harmanpreet Kaur's 171 run made her a household name. Mithali Raj became the highest ODI scorer in women's cricket. India defeated the defending champions Australia in Semi-Finals. All this was not going to go un-noticed. 

The match peaked in the contentious 48^th over with India needing 11 runs to win off 12 balls, recording a peak concurrency of 1.9 million simultaneous viewers. This was higher than the average concurrency of many of the marquee men’s cricket tournaments on Hotstar in the last year, a feat in its own right and an inflection point in women’s sports. While Vivo IPL 2017 saw a predictable list of state-wise tune-ins, consistent with team loyalties, the Women’s World Cup saw a surprise entrant in UP, which along with Maharashtra, contributed to 25% of total viewership.

This is just the beginning, the sports has already garnered much support and recognition from local audience with this tournament we believe and wish there is more to this success story.

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Hotstar brings premiere of 'Game of Thrones' minutes after US telecast, sets right tone for campaign "Torrent Morghulis"

Winter has finally arrived for GOT fans on Sunday night when the premiere episode of pen-ultimate season was aired originally on HBO in US. For those who have somehow missed the GOT train, GOT stands for 'Game of Thrones' a series which is arguably most watched, downloaded, admired series of all time. We just can't stop admiring G R R Martin's brilliance in spinning up a world with 7 kingdoms, a new language known as High Valyrian. When we say that the show is most viewed in the world it also means that it is also one of the most pirated series which worries its creators a lot.

Hotstar, India’s leading video-on-demand platform, and the exclusive online destination for award-winning HBO content in India, launched the highly anticipated premiere of Game of Thrones Season 7 on Monday, 17 July. The first episode of the new season was available for audiences to view within minutes of its US telecast, under the Hotstar Premium service.

In response to the burgeoning audience for international content in India, Hotstar has partnered with the world’s largest studios, like HBO, Disney and Showtime, to bring the most celebrated international movies and shows to India.

Taking a humorous lens to this, Hotstar has launched a bold marketing campaign, intended to upend the behavior of illegal downloading. Titled ‘Torrents Morghulis’, a play on ‘Valar Morghulis’, as fans of the show will instantly recognize, the theme translates to ‘All Torrents Must Die’. The campaign lightheartedly highlights the trouble people put themselves through for finding and downloading illegal content, and how redundant these pains are in the current day and age where shows are readily available, at the user’s fingertips.

Leading with the promise of ‘Minutes after America, hours before Russia’, the campaign takes Torrents head on with 4 TV commercials, an outdoor campaign in key cities, and high impact digital activation. The films features two characters, one, who still labours through the process of procuring his content illegally, and another, who’s got a Hotstar Premium subscription and is able to enjoy the Game of Thrones experience the way it is meant to be – available to watch with the world, ad-free, unbeeped and unblurred.

Based on George R.R. Martin's best-selling 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series, Game of Thrones has run for six extremely acclaimed seasons and holds the record for the highest Emmy wins for any Primetime TV show. Watch Game of ThronesSeason 7 immediately after the US telecast, Monday 17^th July onwards, on Hotstar - http://www.hotstar.com/tv/game-of-thrones/8184

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Honor 8 Pro To Be Available with Exclusive Deals on Amazon Prime Day, Rs 2000 cashback on HDFC Cards

Honor today announced special offers on its latest launch Honor 8 Pro on upcoming Amazon Prime Day which will be held on 10th July,2017.

All Amazon Prime members who shop on Prime Day will get assured offers worth INR 1100 from
MakeMyTrip, BookMyShow and Swiggy.com. When members use their Amazon Pay balance they can enjoy fast and easy checkouts, quicker refunds coupled with a secured shopping experience on
Amazon.in. They can avail a 15% cashback of upto INR 2000 cash back on the purchase of Honor 8 Pro using an HDFC credit or debit card. Members who had been topping up their balance since June 29 will also be awarded with an extra 20% cashback upto INR 200.

Honor 8 Pro

The Honor 8 Pro which was launched on Thursday, 11 th May 2017, featuring a 14.47cm 2K display in a thin 6.97mm metal body with 12+12-megapixel dual-lens camera, with RGB and Monochrome lens along with an 8-megapixel front camera backed by 4000 mAh battery has received rave reviews for its cutting-edge technology and performance by experts and consumers.

Running on the latest premium flagship Kirin 960 octa-core processor, supported by 6+128GB and all new EMUI 5.1 software, the device which also supports 4K video recording, will be bundled with a 9V/2A fast charger, standard USB-C cable in a box that can be used as a VR headset.

Honor has also partnered with Gameloft, GoPro, and Jaunt VR to enrich digital lifestyles through enhanced smartphone experiences. Honor 8 Pro will come with 12 months service warranty along with Honor’s best-in- class after sale facilities.

Amazon Prime Day starts on the 10th of July at 6 PM and goes on till midnight of the 11th of July.

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ASUS Zenfone Live Review: Only suitable for frequent live broadcasters on social media

ASUS has been doing well with its Zenfone Series in market especially after the launch of Zenfone 2 Series with multiple models to cater (confuse as well) different needs of different type of customers. With Zenfone 3 the company has definitely upped its ante with doing away with the bulky plastic body and larger size phones to slim and beautiful metallic phones, though charged a bit higher the series still made a break through change in product design language and sturdiness. Apart from these phones ASUS has time to time also tried to cash on different features or requirements which are already popular or are required by the smartphone users. ASUS Zenfone Selfie, Zenfone Deluxe, Zenfone Max series phones are good examples for such criteria. These devices had performed good in market as well. A couple of months ago ASUS had launched another such 'required' phone named ASUS Zenfone Live , as the name suggests this phone is specially launched keeping in mind the increasing trend of broadcasting live videos on social media among the users. So is this the phone we really need or it is just another marketing gimmick? Let's find out.

ASUS Zenfone Live

Build and Design:

The first thing you notice when you pick the phone is that the phone is very light in weight at just 120 grams, second the phone is comfortable to hold and gives a good grip along the curved edges, though the color treatment makes it feel like a metallic body phone but it is actually plastic.On the front side there is 2.5D glass on top of the display which is generic across almost all models from ASUS, there are three capacitive navigation buttons on bottom which are back, home and multi tasking from left to right. On the top however you will notice a front camera along with LED flash apart from ALS and proximity sensor.

On the back the camera is on top left corner supported by an LED flash light. The ASUS branding goes in the center of the phone. On the right edge of the phone you will find volume rockers and power button. The feedback from all the buttons is tactile and we didn't faced any issue in our 2 weeks usage. On the left edge of the device you will see a SIM tray, on the top there is a headphone jack and bottom houses the speakers and micro USB port.

Specs and Features:

On the specifications part we are bit disappointed as at this price point you will get far superior hardware specification devices from other brands. The phone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 quad core processor clocked at 1.4 GHz and Adreno 305 GPU. The device comes with 2 GB RAM and has 16 GB internal storage on board which can be further expanded via micro SD card if you don't use the hybrid second SIM slot.

On camera side, the front camera has a 5 MP resolution accompanied by an LED flash for clear selfies in low light , rear camera is of 13 MP resolution with LED Flash. The display is  5 inch IPS LCD with a resolution of 1280x720 pixel.

For connectivity the device offers 4G LTE, GPS, FM Radio, Wifi, Bluetooth 4.0, microUSB 2.0.

On the software front the device runs on Android Marshmallow 6.0.1 with familiar ZenUI skin on top. One of the constant feedback ASUS keeps receiving is number of pre-installed apps which can not be un installed by user that amounts to a lot of bloatware in your phone. This can be a turnoff for people who like to see their phone clean of any non-used apps. The ZenUI however provides lots of customization options such as wallpapers, themes, icons, locking apps etc. 

There is a dedicated app named BeautyLive pre-installed on the phone which is basically a live beautify app. This app can help you post live videos on social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. The app also helps in reducing background noise so that the sound experience is better than what we see in regular live videos.

The camera of the phones are rather mediocre in performance, the rear camera shoots good images in bright settings however in low light it struggles to capture the details required from the shots. The camera app comes with familiar modes such as Auto, HDR, panorama, night mode, high resolution mode etc. The front camera is somewhat satisfactory and the beautification features (can be controlled on a scale of 1-10) enhances the overall image by fine tuning the skin tone and facial features.

Verdict:

ASUS Zenfone Live seems to have a single objective to help users broadcast themselves live on social media when it comes to 'smart phone' features. The hardware from processor to battery doesn't really stand in line with the price (INR 9.999/-) for two reasons first the hardware is not the latest and second competition is offering way too much for this price point. Having said that the phone can be a good buy for those who post a lot of live videos on Instagram or Facebook like Fashion bloggers or bloggers who do a lot of self-videos on YouTube.

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Link Aadhaar with PAN Card in 2 Simple Steps

So, if you are one of those who have not linked your Aadhar with PAN card or you have relatives or friends who were unable to do so, you can now help yourself and others in just two simple steps. As it was rumored earlier that if you don't link your Aadhar with PAN till 30th June, 2017  the PAN card becomes invalid. We would first like to clear that , it is not the case. Your PAN card is still valid and no need to panic. However, make sure you link the both at earliest possible opportunity, which can be well; right now while reading this blog post. It won't take more than 5 minutes of yours.

Pre-Requisite:

Keep your PAN Card Number and Aadhar Number handy.

Step1: 

Go to Income Tax India's Link Aadhar webpage from below link.

https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/e-Filing/Services/LinkAadhaarHome.html

Link Aadhar with PAN Form

Step 2:

Enter your PAN Number, Aadhar Number, Name as per Aadhar

Enter the code shown in image as per captcha and Click on Link Aadhar button below the form.

Note: If your DOB and Gender matches in PAN records with that of Aadhar but Name doesn't exactly match in PAN records then user have to do extra validation in form of Aadhar OTP to verify and proceed with the Linking activity.

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Top 5 E-commerce Mobile App Builders That You Should Be Using

E-commerce is a booming industry. It’s important to adapt to new trends that the industry is adopting. The latest trend is the mobile app that e-commerce websites are using to get customers to stay with them and shop.

The success of your e-commerce mobile app largely rests on design. The app must be perfect in every way, with each feature carefully thought out. For this purpose, there are app builders that can help you with this. They have predefined templates, and most importantly, the expertise you need when it comes to app development.

With the user on the go and away from their computers, there are a few basic requirements when it comes to an app.

• The app must be easily accessible 
• The content must be readable and simple 
• Navigation through the app should be simplified 
• Checkout must be convenient 
• The app must be clear with products clearly visible to the user 

The best way to figure out how you’d like your app to look is by going through several others. There can be features that interest you. You can also take a look at mobile app review sites and see what catches your fancy. Place yourself in the user's shoes and think about what you want from the app. This kind of insight can help you go a long way.

Once you have a basic idea on how it should look, feel, and function, you can start looking at app builders. These are 5 of the finest e-commerce mobile app builders in the market today.

Contalog

This company provides mobile commerce app solutions to all kinds of businesses. They help create apps for companies that don’t have a website.

They create eye-catching and user-friendly apps that are totally customizable. They have the option to integrate new features of your liking onto an existing template.

This interface lets you update the app frequently so that you can stay ahead of the competition.

Jmango360

This app solution company develops the app for a monthly fee. This fee is collected for the usage of the app and maintenance. They include any changes or updates you want. This means that they’re here to ensure that your app stays ahead of the curve all the time.

They make apps compatible with iOS and Android. You can also have push notifications and global payment integration methods. You can also choose to make this app by yourself with assistance from their end.

Shopgate

Shopgate lets you reach your customer beyond your website right to their phones. This is also one of the app builders that provides services for both iOS and Android devices.

They have a GPS store locator feature. They have push messages, QR code scanners, and fast loading speeds.

Shopgate lets your app to integrate with established e-commerce platforms. They improve customer experience with their 3D cart feature.

Shopify is another app builder that helps you create your website and app.

Mobicommerce

Mobicommerce was an idea that came to its founder when he was facing a technical error with his mobile app. When the company he hired was unable to resolve it, he took it upon himself to create a better platform to create apps.

This is a popular app building company that has over 300 apps to its name. Their cutting edge technology and numerous features have made them one of the most preferred app developing companies in the market.

They have push notifications and store locator features. Apart from that, they provide integrations for over 20 payment gateways. They let you create your own layout as well.

Apphitect

This Dubai-based company was of one the first to get into the business of app building. They have created apps for several global brands. Their experience and employee strength make them the front runners in this market.

They have readymade solutions to complex app requests. Their apps are best known for these features

• Multi-lingual capabilities 
• Customizable templates 
• Rewards and loyalty points 
• Deep linking features in the app 
• Performance enhancing software 

The app you get will have a simple and professional look to it. Their apps are compatible with both Android and iOS platforms.

Approach app building companies only after you have a clear picture of how you want your app to be. Go through the apps they’ve created so far. Researching the best commerce websites out there will help you have a clear idea in mind.

The quality of your app will determine the success of your venture.

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5G Indoor Wireless Equipment to Represent Only 5% of $10 Billion Global Market by 2025 - ABI Research

5G deployments indoors and in venues may be delayed by one year or more when compared to outdoor 5G deployments starting from 2020. ABI Research estimates the global equipment market for in-building wireless, including active distributed antenna systems (DAS), passive DAS, and repeaters, for 2025, will reach close to $10 billion. The overall system revenue in 2025, which includes services and equipment, will grow at a CAGR of 15% to top $19 billion in 2025. Out of this market, 5G in-building wireless equipment will account for $509 million in 2025.

"As 5G nears full specification, mobile network operators will face challenges for indoor mobile coverage, including signal propagation, next-generation fronthaul/backhaul, and massive MIMO," says Nick Marshall, Research Director at ABI Research. "Early 5G deployments indoors and in venues will be a migration building on the features of LTE-Advanced and LTE-Advanced Pro. This will happen technology by technology and frequency by frequency, avoiding costly 'rip and replace' style deployments."

5G is a multi-technology HetNet, comprised of a combination of different cell types and access technologies to seamlessly adapt to an array of use cases and applications. NFV migrates cellular signal processing to a remote telco data center, while MEC, in a countervailing trend, migrates IT compute and storage to the network edge within the building or venue for low latency use cases and applications. Massive MIMO, a key challenge that 5G will face as it nears full specification, refers to the use of multiple antennas at the base station and mobile device.

"We believe that future 5G networks will rely on network functions virtualization, or NFV, and mobile edge computing, or MEC, to alter the architecture and topology of the RAN by leveraging telco data centers to virtualize signal processing in the cloud," concludes Marshall.

With 5G standards yet to be finalized, many equipment vendors are actively researching and developing 5G equipment with a variety of approaches. These companies include Nokia Mobiles with its AirFrame/AirScale Radio Access, Ericsson with its ERS, and CommScope with its OneCell.

ABI Research profiles these companies and more in its In-Building Wireless in the 5G Era report, which also includes a discussion on the challenges of 5G for in-building wireless.

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Reliance JIO Free Offer extended till 15 April, Summer Surprise offer for prime members on recharge of 303 or above

When every thought that they might be using the JIO freebies for the last time today, Mr. Mukesh Ambani yet again made it official that the offer is extended for last time. This time the offer is extended for 15 another days, i.e. you can enjoy the existing offer till 15th April, 2017. Along with that the members who have opted for prime membership will be entitled to first Surprise of many surprises to come. As 'Summer Surprise' Offer, prime members who recharge for Rs 303/- or more will get services for the initial 3 months on complimentary basis. That means you get Unlimited Data (28 GB at 4G speed, with 1 GB FUP per day) for 3 months with recharge of Rs 303/-.

File Image

The letter from Mr. Ambani also states that over 72 million people have already enrolled for prime membership and they are still counting. As per the letter this 15 days window is to ensure smoother transition from free to paid services. The official letter reads:

"Jio’s free service period is COMING TO AN END. Users who do not recharge by the extended date of 15th April will experience degradation and/or discontinuation of services.

But, I am conscious that this is the largest migration from free to paid services in history.We are committed to doing this gradually, so that both Jio and Jio customers have the time to adjust, fine tune and perfect this transition."

The letter from JIO MD also touched upon the investment and efforts organization is putting into getting infrastructure ready for seamless experience for customers.Below is the text from the letter.

"Jio has created the world’s largest greenfield 4G LTE wireless broadband network, with over 100,000 mobile towers. And we will add another 100,000 towers to our network in the coming months. This greenfield investment – of over Rs 200,000 crores – is the largest anywhere in the world. We are acutely aware that we have small pockets of congestion on our network. With our investment in network expansion, you will see a dramatic improvement in service quality in the coming weeks.

Mobile Number Portability (MNP), which allows consumers to retain their existing mobile number when they switch to Jio, is available for all consumers. Lakhs of consumers have already used this facility. If you have not done so already, I invite you to do MNP and make Jio your permanent home. For International travellers, Jio’s International roaming is now available across the world, with best voice and data rates in industry."

The zest of today's letter is that JIO is in no mood to leave any stone un-turned to gain maximum market share in Industry. The dynamics have changed a lot since JIO's entry in market as rival companies are offering a great deal on data and voice plans to compete with JIO. Vodafone's merger with Idea also brings interesting twist in the tale. We must say its all good for the consumers and the best time after initial Reliance CDMA entry which ended charges on incoming calls.

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Alibaba's UCWeb looks to lead on Content with the launch of We-Media Reward Plan 2.0 investing initial amount of 5 Crore Rupees

UCWeb, now part of Alibaba group has announced the launch of We-Media Reward Plan 2.0 , a self creating content platform in India with an initial investment of Rs 5 Crores (50 Million INR). The group will be investing 2 Billion INR on driving content distribution in India in coming 2 years. It is worth noting that UCWeb's content distribution platfrom UC News which was launched last year in June has become one of the fastest growing app in country with a Monthly Active Users count of over 80 Million in India.

Announcing the initiative on his visit to India, He Xiaopeng, Co-Founder UCWeb and President, Alibaba Mobile Business Group said, “Dominance of mobile and digital proliferation is leading to an increased adoption of mobile internet and is making India ‘Digitally Ready’. UCWeb is realising its vision of “Serve half the population of the planet”, and we are moving forward to the era of “GUF” (Google, UCWeband Facebook). The investment falls under Alibaba Digital Media and Entertainment Group’s targeted investment of $7.2 billion in content over the next three years.”

“Content consumption on mobile is rapidly rising while the We-Media ecosystem is still at a nascent stage. According to our data, there are at least 400,000 self-publishers in India already with a huge scope to grow the market, especially in the niche categories. UC Browser was launched with an aim to solve browsing-related problems while UC News and We-Media program aim to meet the increasing demand of varied content by users and build a well-established ecosystem. With our strengths in technology like Big Data AI and vast experience in markets like China, UCWeb will augment its focus on digital content aggregation and distribution in the world’s second largest internet market, India. We aim for UC We- Media to open a gateway to more opportunities in India’s content industry and emerge as the No. 1 content generation and service platform in 2017.” Xiaopeng added.

UCWeb is also upgrading its content and services portfolio by adding more short video-related content. Short Videos are fast becoming the most popular form of content consumed in China today and UCWeb sees huge potential for this concept here in India as well. UC News aims to provide upgraded content and services to its users and, going forward, will make significant investment in this category. According to the company’s latest Content Consumption Trends Report, video content has risen 30% in the last quarter alone. The company is in the process of setting up a separate team to handle the Short Videos section and is scouting for relevant partners to support this for UC News India.

“The latest data on UC News shows that we generated over 3,100 million page views in January, 2017 alone, which translates to 100 million page views daily. Moreover, we are experiencing a fast rise in the average time spent on UC News. As of this quarter, an average user spends over 23 minutes on UC News. Our strong user base number indicates the success of our strategy of moving ‘From Tool to Content’. We had said that content is booming and 80 Million MAUs of UC News is a clear reflection of that. Users are embracing diverse -digital content and their appetite for such content is being met by UC News”, said Kenny Ye, GM-Overseas Business, Alibaba Mobile Business Group.

We-Media Reward Plan 2.0 - A game-changer in the content ecosystem

Besides an upgrade in Ad revenue sharing model, We-Media Reward Plan 2.0 will open the door of opportunity to the most talented writers in the country. 1000 We-media writers will be recruited in India and Indonesia who will be able to earn at least INR 50,000 per month through the UC News platform. UCWeb has been setting new trends under the UC We-Media program where people get an opportunity to create, to write, share thoughts and engage with their followers on UC News. The Program saw an increase of 200% and 350% (MoM) in its page views of English and Hindi We-Media content respectively in the past quarter.

UC News is a big-data powered content distributor, serving as a one-stop source of trending and curated news content covering all popular categories that Indian users can consume on the go, with featured channels including news, cricket, technology, entertainment, movies, lifestyle, health, humor, etc. UCWeb’s strength in technology is helping UC News process millions of data request and content of massive origins everyday with the help of its 3 big data clusters set-up in India. The cluster combines over 5000 machines handling millions of data-request with a response time of less than 10 milliseconds for each, thereby boosting the content generation and distribution on UC News to meet the demands of 80 Million MAUs.

Late last year, Alibaba Holdings announced its new digital media arm, Alibaba Digital Media and Entertainment, in a major reorganization of the company's entertainment assets. The transformation marked a total consolidation of Alibaba's media businesses, including video website YoukuTudou, UCWeb and Alibaba Pictures Group as well as the company's sports, games, literature, music, and the digital entertainment divisions. 

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Gurugram becomes second city after Hyderabad where Swiggy will make deliveries post mid-night

Swiggy, one of the most popular food delivery services in India announced extending its services in Delhi-NCR. Swiggy will start operations in Faridabad, Noida Expressway and Greater Noida. However, Gurugram where Swiggy is already operational since 2015 will be the second city in India after Hyderabad where Swiggy will start post mid-night deliveries up to 2 AM as opposed to 11 PM operational end time as of now.

Swiggy Food Delivery App

Srivats TS, Vice President, Marketing at Swiggy said, “Customers from NCR who travel to Delhi have experienced the customer-friendly benefits of Swiggy, like choicest restaurant options, lightning fast delivery, no minimum order among others. As we introduce Swiggy in Faridabad, Greater Noida and Noida Expressway, these customers can now enjoy the benefits of Swiggy delivery in their areas as well. At the same time, restaurant partners in these locations will benefit from Swiggy’s growing customer base and increased order volume.”

Swiggy deliveries are fast, hassle-free and reliable. The new service allows Swiggy to deliver from some of NCR’s favourite restaurants across various price points. “Greater Noida and Faridabad have a lot of good restaurants. Customers love the food variety here. But both were constrained by quick and reliable delivery limitations. We have seen our Delhi and Gurugram restaurants expand their reach with Swiggy. Now, we also get the Swiggy advantage to connect with our patrons in Faridabad,” said Kabir Advani, MD of Berco’s, known for its delectable Chinese and Thai cuisine restaurants across NCR.

This is part of Swiggy's ongoing plan to expand service area and extend service timings in the National Capital Region. Hundreds of restaurants from Noida, Faridabad, Greater Noida, Noida Expressway and Gurugram have come on board to reach customers, who have come to prefer Swiggy for its reliability and experience. 

In Gurugram, where Swiggy has been available since 2015 and connects food lovers to over 800 restaurants, there has been a growing demand from customers to extend delivery timings. In response to their love and appreciation for Swiggy, the company has extended its operating hours from 11 pm to 2 am. Many restaurants, that deliver orders post mid-night, have joined hands with Swiggy to leverage the assurance and experience Swiggy delivers to customers. This is the second location, after Hyderabad, where Swiggy will make deliveries past mid-night.

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QNAP TS-453 Pro, 4 bay NAS - Features and Specifications

Taiwan based QNAP is known for its product in network attached storage (NAS) market. QNAP TS-453 Pro is among its latest offerings and we got a chance to play around it for a while. The QNAP TS-453 Pro is a multi functional machine with many facets. We will be detailing about its specifications and features in this post.

Build: QNAP TS-453 Pro is a light weight easy to install NAS machine. The machine has 4 bays for attaching HDD which comes with a unique circular lock to lock the Hard Drives in Bays. On the Front, the body has QNAP branding on the top left and at the bottom left there is a Power button to switch the machine on/off, below that you will find a USB 3.0 Port labeled as Copy. This port is used to connect any HD via USB and get the backup done instantly on NAS. The right side of the front is dominated by 4 bays to hold your storage hard drives. On top of Hard Drive bays you can see LEd indicators for Status, USB and LAN. above which on left side there is a small display where important information can be seen.

Any guesses what's this product here? #TechBlogger #NAS..

A photo posted by Rahul Kasana (@kasanarahul) on Feb 1, 2017 at 9:12am PST

On the back side you will see a large Fan for cooling, the power cable slot, On the right side there is a tiny Reset button on top, A HDMI output port (This is great, you can use your NAS as a multimedia player as well) , There are 2 Ports each of USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 for data usage and connecting peripherals. At the bottom right you can see 4 GbE ports.

Specifications: 

• HDD Bays: 4 x SATA III – 6Gb/s
• HDD Form Factor: 4 x 3.5″/2.5″
• CPU: Intel Celeron J1900 2.0GHz
• RAM: 2GB or 8GB DDR3L
• Flash Memory 512MB DOM
• External Connectivity:
• 1 x HDMI
• 4 x Gigabit Ethernet
• 2 x USB 2.0
• 3 x USB 3.0
• Cooling: 90mm fan
• Max. Power Consumption: 21W (HDD in stand-by), 33W typical
• Dimensions: 180mm (W) x 177mm (H) x 235mm (D)
• Weight: 3.65 kg

In case you end up using all the space in your all 4 HDDs then you get the option to expand your storage using UX-500P a 5 bay external unit or UX-800P an 8 bay external unit.  

As TS-453 Pro comes with the USB connectivity options, it can be used just as a normal PC by attaching your peripherals ( Monitor via HDMI Port and Keyboard, Mouse via USB connection). When you do that the NAS loads QTS like interface. With QTS 4.2 looks like a modern mobile operating system with intuitive apps like browser and multimedia. When you set up your NAS first time you are asked if you are a business user or Home user. Based on the selection it installs the recommended apps such as multimedia apps for Home setting and other productive applications for Business settings. QTS 4.2 update updates Virtualization center and introduces Container Station with LXC and Docker so its now possible to run different versions of Linux on your NAS.  The NAS is not just another NAS it has lots of functionality associated with itself. TS 453 Pro can be used as a Virtualization server, FTP Server, Backup Server, Surveillance Stations, Printer Server, Web Server, VPN Server, MYSQL Server, RADIUS Server, LDAP Server and Remote access.

The QNAP TS-453 Pro is very easy to install and use even for a layman in NAS. You just need to install the Hard Drives in Bays by screwing them in caddy. Once you install the QTS software then you just leave it to QNAP to do all the work.  

QNAP is known for #DrivingInnovation in its products and QNAP TS-453 is a Taiwan Excellence Award winner, QNAP TS-453 Pro will be on display from 8th to 10th February at Convergence India 2017 Expo. 

So if you want to experience the product first hand for your own use then do plan to attend the Convergence India 2017 Expo between 8-10 February and visit Taiwan Excellence display area to first hand review of the device.

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How Artificial Learning Shapes The e-Learning Scenario

AI in today's E-Learning scenario

The modern day life is changing fast at an unimaginable pace that the process of learning has to be simplified as one could easily forget how far we have gone.  The technological development has come up to a level where a lot of exciting changes would happen in the near future. One of the best indicators of human progress viz. learning is exposed to these technological advancements. The affordability of technology has come to a level where one could not ignore the rising popularity of e-learning. The below reasons would validate the argument that e learning would get a facelift from the end of artificial learning.

Improves team building and social connectivity

The advent of online games like puzzles, Sudoku and so on creates a platform where we get the chance to bond and connect well with people with similar interests and this forms the foundation for building team to achieve greater heights.  This would pave way to more social interactions and connections that would help learning new skills and ideas more effective in the long run. In the days to come, the domain of education would benefit from the union of games with social connectivity.

Promotes the learning process by practice

Learning process improves only when the learners are able to apply the things they had learned in the right manner and this objective is rightly accomplished by the implementation of artificial learning. This modern style of learning blends the content of training like the Pythagoras theorem with an environment to practice with real world examples. Learners would gain ample exposure by being part of the assembly line of production, learn the steps of the manufacturing process and so on.

Creates simulated environment for learning

The fascinating element of learning in the artificial manner is the use of simulations which would seem as if the learner is facing a real test where actually he or she is just doing a virtual practice. Also this gives the added advantage of practicing without having to suffer the consequences of making mistakes. The cost to purchase materials like gadgets and tools could be reduced to a great extent as the training experience would seem like a real one and the training environment could be changed by using editing the virtual elements.

Turns learning into a fun activity

Unlike the conventional way of learning, the virtual way of learning makes the activity into a joyful experience as the activity itself would look like a game which everyone wants to be a part of. The reward based system of gaming is applied in the same manner for learning activities for learning topics like algebra. The learners engage with the learning activities with such intensity that positive results are ensured as the learning outcome. This could be achieved only through learning in virtual mode.

The above points would have given you enough clarity on why virtual learning would shape the e-learning domain like never before. Thus we could say that virtual or artificial mode of learning would take the learning processes into highly efficient ones in the years to come.

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Master of Project Academy Celebrates 50K Users with 50% off Online Certification and Training Courses

Master of Project Academy, provider of flexible online certification courses for the busy IT and business professionals, recently surpassed 50,000 successful sign ups in their wide range of career development courses. In celebration of the work and success of the many professionals who have accelerated their careers through Master of Project Academy courses, the company is offering lifetime and monthly course subscriptions for 50% off by using coupon code 50K50OFF. Affordable certification courses are available worldwide for any professional seeking professional development and career advancement.  

Courses are offered to students and professionals worldwide who seek to expand their knowledge base or need help preparing for a variety of professional certification exams. Courses are self-paced and conducted entirely online, with access to 24 hour support. Designed and led by seasoned industry professionals with a deep well of academic and field knowledge, Master of Project Academy courses guide professionals easily and effectively through certification exams.

"We are the most affordable and ultimate online training platform for the IT and business professionals," said Resit Gulec, Founder and CEO of Master of Project Academy. "Wherever you are in the world, wherever you are in your career, if you have an internet connection, we can prepare you for your professional certification exams."

Professionals from worldwide corporations have enrolled in Master of Project Academy's courses, including but not limited to, Ericsson, Moody's, Volvo, KPMG, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Roche.

Flexible, Affordable, Invaluable

Advanced certifications are often critical for IT and business professionals who want to further their career. According to popular employment site Indeed.com, professionals with certification command income 14% higher than their uncertified counterparts. Many organizations seek to get their existing employees certified in their field as well, yet face daunting training costs.

Master of Project Academy offers the best solution, with flexible online courses at a fraction of the cost of other certification training courses. The online platform offers a variety of courses starting at only $9 per month, allowing busy professionals to learn at their own pace and in the comfort of their own home or office. What's more, Master of Project Academy offers a unique lifetime course package to allow professionals to keep their certificate and their industry knowledge up to date with current technology and practices.

Master of Project Academy offers courses for at least 40% less than its competitors, making continuing education and advanced certification accessible to all professionals. At these rates, companies can support the enrichment and advancement of employees and entire departments without impacting the bottom line. Master of Project Academy's online courses lower the operational cost of training and development and introduce the most flexible road to advanced knowledge and certification.

Courses can be taken from anywhere, anytime, with just an Internet connection. Master of Project Academy allows professionals to advance their training at a schedule that fits their busy life. No set dates, no set number of hours. No need to take time off to accommodate a course schedule in a physical classroom. And with 24 hour assistance, professionals have access to help whenever they need it.

Master of Project Academy also offers a 30-day full refund guarantee, allowing professionals to test the course content and instructor style to ensure maximum satisfaction and compatibility.

Professional Development in IT and Business

Since launching its first online training in 2014, Master of Project Academy has offered over 40 certification courses for IT and business professionals, with new courses published monthly. Courses can be purchased individually as a monthly or lifetime access subscription, with bundled packages available for professionals seeking to take multiple courses within their field.

Current course topics include but not limited to:

Project Management

IT Service Management

Quality Management

PMP – Project Management Professional

CAPM – Certified Associate in Project Management

ITIL Foundation

Microsoft Project

Agile Project Management

Scrum Framework Certification Prep

Cisco Certifications (CCNA)

Cyber Security (Ethical Hacking, CISSP)

If you are still wondering what are these courses all about, then you should think of attending full time courses from well known colleges such as IEC Greater Noida to opt for a full time professional course and then above mentioned courses would add weightage to your resume.

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FreeCharge and Indus OS partners to launch Recharge 2.0 ; a payment solution integrated in OS itself

World's first Regional Operation System Indus OS and India's  leading digital payments platform Freecharge unveiled Recharge 2.0 which is unique in itself as it is a digital payment product integrated within the smartphone dialer interface. Recharge 2.0 on the Indus Dialer will enable users to have a seamless and simplified recharge experience powered through FreeCharge.

Indus OS and Freecharge - Recharge 2.0 launch

The Recharge 2.0 will help prepaid users which makes 95% of the India's mobile subscriber base. A majority of prepaid users also use fixed monthly charge for limited amount of data usage, however mostly they don't have clue how their money is spent. Recharge 2.0 aims to bridge this gap and gives features such as comprehensive analysis of usage pattern alongside real-time updates to offer more control in the hands of users. 

The OS-integrated payment innovation on Indus Dialer is seamless and accessible in the most natural interface, the phone dialer - moveing beyond the app and web interfaces as claimed. The new Indus dialer allows users one-touch access on the phone dialer to recharge through FreeCharge. Recharge 2.0 also allows users to set thresholds for low balance alerts. With detailed insights you can get to know talking to whom you spent most of your balance and on what day you spent most. Users can Recharge in just one touch. 

Responding to a question on Security of user's balance as anyone with access to dialer can misuse already configured Freecharge wallet, Mr Govind Rajan, CEO, Freecharge told that they do have more than 500 anomaly checks on Freecharge side which tracks parameters such as user's location, past transactions, recharge amount etc and reject if the transaction parameters doesn't confirm with these checks. However, on OS side there is no such protection which can be deal breaker for many.

Recharge 2.0 will be exclusively accessible to the existing 6 million plus Indus OS user base and new users of Indus OS powered devices. Indus OS is currently the #2 mobile OS in India, with a 7.6% market share. By catering to Indus OS user base via the OS-integrated brands, FreeCharge expects to scale up its recharging transactions and volumes by nearly 20%. FreeCharge currently sees a major chunk of its transaction coming through the recharge's category.

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Pebble signs deal with leading technology distribution chain Ingram Micro

Pebble (not to be confused with Pebble , smartwatch maker), a known name in power banks and other branded mobile accessories has announced a partnership with Ingram Micro, world's largest technology distributor and a leading technology sales, marketing and logistics company. The partnership will give a further boost to Pebble’s existing market presence over 18 states in India. Through the partnership with Ingram Micro as its National Distributor, Pebble has started Pan-India operations on a large scale across various states and is soon to delve into LFRs and Modern Retail.

Pebble Accessories for Mobile

Pebble, one of the fastest growing brands in India, was launched in the year 2013. A leader in organizing and branding the highly cluttered unbranded Mobile Accessory Industry that had no clear quality standards until now, Pebble stays a step ahead by offering a blend of user friendly elegant design and top-notch quality products. Headquartered in Delhi, Pebble is part of a group of companies that has been leading provider of various power back-up devices and other electronic products for the past 16 years. A one-stop shop for any and every electronic and portable mobile accessory, Pebble is the ‘Go-to’ brand offering an array of exciting range of products such as chargers, cables, charging cases, BT speakers, headphones, headsets, earphones, OTG pen drives, fitness bands and VR headsets along with superior quality power banks.

Commenting on the partnership, Komal Agarwal, Director-Marketing, Pebble, said, “We are extremely happy to have partnered with Ingram Micro as our national distributor, the world leader in technology distribution. With this association, we hope to strengthen the relationship with our consumers by making our products widely available throughout the country. As a brand, Pebble’s philosophy has been “Convenience with Quality” which is well reflected in all its products such as Power Banks, USB Cables, Bluetooth Speakers and others. For instance: Pebble power banks are among the most efficient in terms of output and quality, and sleekest in terms of design which make them extremely portable and convenient to use.”

It is the only brand in India to be well placed and established across all possible channels including General Trade (Retail stores), Modern Trade (Retail Chains), Online Portals, In-Flight and Airport Shopping & Corporate Gifting. Pebble products are also available on leading ecommerce portals including Amazon, Flipkart and Snapdeal.

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Lenovo and LXG Presents Indian LAN Gaming (ILG) Cup with Prize Pool of worth 20 Lakhs INR

LXG and Lenovo presents Indian LAN Gaming (ILG) Cup , Season 1, Powered by HyperX. ILG Cup is a celebration of competitive LAN Gaming in India. As part of the series there will be multiple tournaments spread across Gaming Cafes across seven cities in India. ILG Cups aims to rejuvenate the LAN gaming culture in the country. The Cities with Participating Gaming Cafes are Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Pune, Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi. 

ILG Cup Schedule(Click to Enlarge)

Games to be played as part of the tournament are:

• DOTA2
• CS:GO
• Overwatch

There will be a total of 27 Tournaments broadly divided into two categories. Out of 27, 21 Tournaments will be Minors comprising of 7 Tournaments each of DOTA2, CS:GO and Overwatch. Similarly remaining 6 Tournaments will be Major comprising of 2 Tournaments each of DOTA2, CS:GO and Overwatch.

As far as the prize is concerned the total pool prize is INR 20,00,000. Which is to be distributed as below:

1.       Minors – 21 Tournaments X 28,500 INR

a.       First Place       : 18,500 INR

b.      Second Place : 10,000 INR

The Winners and Runners-up of the minors get a slot in both the Majors.

1.       Majors – 6 Tournaments X 1,50,000 INR

a.       First Place       : 75,000 INR

b.      Second Place : 50,000 INR

c.       Third Place     : 25,000 INR

2.       Contests and Giveaways : 5,00,000 INR

Venues/Partnered Gaming Cafes

1.       League of Extraordinary Gamers(LXG), Bangalore

2.       League of Extraordinary Gamers (LXG), Chennai

3.       Playmax Interactive, Hyderabad

4.       Havok Nation, Pune

5.       Gearup Gaming, Mumbai

6.       INFI Lounge, Kolkata

7.       Xtreme Gaming, Delhi

Schedule

1.       Minors – January to July 2017

2.       Majors – September & October 2017

Registration Fee

There is No registration fee for any of the ILG cup tournaments. However all the participants will have to recharge Café time for their respective tournament games.

Website

Ilg.lxgindia.com

Facebook Page

facebook.com/Indian-LAN-Gaming-ILG-Cup-187180695089762

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