Gmail even more inaccessible in China

Its been a hell for Google in China and this time gmail is targeted.Gmail users in China are now blocked from accessing their emails.This means to say that people in China can access gmail only using a VPN service.

People could download through Apple Mail and Microsoft Outlook.Its also said that even these have been blocked by China's Great Firewell.
Although Google was subject to censorship since its function in 2006(in China),China has imposed more restrictions to Google in the recent time.

Pricing mistakes that companies make

Pricing strategy is one of the most important factor for a company's success.A good pricing strategy will mean more number of customers and more sales for its products.But,there are cases where companies lose out because of their pricing strategies.Here are some of the mistakes that the companies make while pricing their products.

• Optimizing the prices:Companies call for a last minute meeting for a final pricing of the product.This way a proper pricing for the product will not be done and therefore companies face a lot of losses.
  
• Relying too much on the sales persons:A company must stop relying on its sales persons and the staff on pricing and sales of the products.Instead,it must directly involve with the customer.Mind that a customer will rarely tell a "complete truth" unless and until he is comfortable with the sales parson.Thus,if there is a direct interaction between the customer and the company,the customer will obviously feel the comfort.
  
• Improper price management:Many companies assort to reducing the price of the products by compromising on some features of their product.This may lead to an in-satisfaction of the customer.Because of the compromise,the product's sales will be threatened and customer will end up with a product better than it.
   
• Basing price on manufacturing costs but not on customers value:Profit is what a company wants.
  1. If a company prices on its manufacturing cost but not the other way around(pricing more than the customer's perceived value),cost of the sales will definitely go up but the sales will also come down.
  2. If the price is on the customer's choice,there is no doubt that the price will go up.
  This is one of the most important factor that has really affected the company's profit.

• Pricing on market value: Its common that the companies mark their products on the market value.Although market value is safer for a company's existence,it can affect the company's profit as well.
   
  

A sigh of relief of Oneplus for now in India

The drama between Oneplus and Micromax is halted for while as the Indian Court(Delhi High Court) allowed the Oneplus to sell the remaining stock(Oneplus One phones) through Amazon's Indian Portal.
Oneplus can now sell its Oneplus One phone with Cyanogen OS.Note that only the remaining stock can be sold.
Source:Android Police

Cyanogen and Oneplus-what really is happening?

Looks like nothing is going Oneplus way.Here is an article on Android Police 

Google back to track on Android One program

 

Yes,Google is back to its Android One program by expanding it to 3 new countries.Following its launch in India in September,Google has now expanded the program to Bangladesh,Nepal and Sri Lanka.By this,another 200 million Android One potential users were added to the existing users in India.
Android one is Google's program to improve the Android experience by selling the Android smartphone at around $100.It has worked with the India's providers-Karbon,Spice and Micromax.
Besides improving the Android experience on low-end phones, Android One also gives Google an answer to issues it faces in China, where handset makers such as Xiaomi have forged ahead with custom Android ROMs and apps distributed without Google Play.
A lot is expected with the expansion of the program.Hope that it would be a great success.!!

ICANN-How many of us really know about this?

Internet Corporation For Assigned Names And Numbers(ICANN) is an organization(not for profit) that ensures the network's stable and secure operation.It is responsible for maintenance of  databases unique identifiers related to namespaces of the internet.
To say in simple words,it assigns the IP addresses whenever you want to access the internet.Not to forget that it also works on DNS system as well.
ICANN was created on 18 September,1998 and started its operation on 30 September,1998.It has its headquarters in Los Angeles,USA.

Whats inside the bead at the end of the laptop charger?

The Bead at the end of the charger or any other devices like the mouse

You guys might have observed the bead at the end of the laptop charger.But have you wondered whats inside it?So here it is.
It is actually a choke(to talk in general) or the ferrite bead.These chokes(ferrite chokes) will ensure that signals are sent only in the intended directions and no EMI is transmitted between the peripherals. The choke dampens these EMI waves by acting as an EMI blocker. The blocking is most effective when it is near the source of the EMI, thats why you will only find these ferrite beads near the end of the cables.These tiny cyst-like beads make sure that our computer peripherals work properly and don’t cause any issues for the computer itself. 
Source:http://goo.gl/cFZhk7

Android apps:Are they really affecting your privacy?

Well are the android apps really safe to use?Do question yourselves before downloading any app cause most of the android apps have been collecting your data to such an extent that you guys will be shocked.
A new study from the French organizations- French National Institute for Informatics Research (INRIA) and the National Commission on Computing and Liberty (CNIL)-reveal that apps collect the information way beyond the limit.
During their research,they installed a monitoring app to android phone of the people who voluntered for the research.Shockingly,every time it was accessed,one of the apps accessed the personal data that included the phones location,identifier,photos,messages and other critical info.
Almost two-thirds of apps accessed at least one identifier, 25% of them accessed at least two identifiers and a sixth of apps three or more, the study found. However, it’s not clear what kind of devices were used, or what Android OS version they were running.
The study also revealed that it was easy for the developers to access and track users using the phone's internet or wifi state.
More details:Infoworld
 

Oneplus one faces for Cyanogen Caption in India

After Xiomi,its Oneplus to face now as Micromax was able to secure the injunction from the Delhi High Court.The problem was with the Cyanogen seen at the back of the Oneplus handset which Micromax says it to be the violation the exclusive partnership(with it).It was earlier revealed that Micromax would partner with Oneplus in launching a series of cyanogen handsets.
Oneplus One is now banned in India.

The Cyanogen caption on Oneplus One

Things to learn for mobile manufacturers from Oneplus

This startup company has gained fans all over the world.People are preferring the phones from Oneplus more than other phones from other manufacturers.So,how could Oneplus do it?

Making it affordable

This is one of the main strategy that Oneplus has been following since it started functioning.If the gadget is affordable and high ended,people will throng and buy more products.Who will stop from buying a high ended phone at $200-$300?This way Oneplus has gained a lot of fame due to which the company is motivated to build more and more.

Minimize profits to build a brand

Oneplus is not concentrating on making profits at present.Instead,it is working on making affordability so that everyone can afford the phones.
Profits can come once the brand is recognized.Actions suggest that the company is not concentrating on making profits at present.

Making customers into fans

 The strategy of Oneplus is to make its customers its fans.With its affordable gadget and not compromising ability,Oneplus has gained a lot of fans from its own customers.After all,the phones was designed with public in mind.

Social Media

Gone those days of advertisement on TVs or any mainstream advertisements.The world of social media and the online campaign has changed the whole scenario.Since day 1,Oneplus has been advertising and hyping on it products.Words quickly spread and this way it has gained a lot of followers.
 

Facebook drops bing from its search results

It was reported on December 12 when the Bing results search stopped appearing within Facebook.Yes,Facebook has dropped the Bing from its search results.Instead,it has started using its own search(technology) and it has been confirmed by both Facebook and Microsoft's officials.
Bing still continues to provide yahoo's search results. 

Favorite apps,movies,games-2014

Hey guys!!!Want to know the best favorite apps,best games and most searched movies this year?Here it is

 

New Android Wear update now comes with brightness boost and ease in use

A new update is now coming to the wear devices this week.The new update come with easier navigation,a set of new modes which adds up the brightness of the device.The app improvements enables you to control the smartwatch for notifications.The new update comes alongside the Google Play update in which a new category was included-Watch faces in which you can change the face your watch with new design.You will also be able to block unwanted notifications from any app(without the use of your phone).

Users want "Modern Transparency" in Windows 10

With the aero themes taking up a lot of space from the system thereby affecting the performance and the speed of the computer,users now are asking to replace the aero themes with "Modern Transparency".
Yes,users are expecting Windows 10 to be more eye candy.Here is the link guys.Read it
Source:http://news.softpedia.com/news/Users-Want-Modern-Transparency-in-Windows-10-467309.shtml

New virus hits Android users

Cyber security experts have discovered a new virus which is capable of not only steal your password(passwords may be) but can also send illegal SMSs to those in your contacts.It has been classified as a Trojan virus.
The new virus 'AndroidSMSsend' has its source from android applications.Once the device is infected,it sends text messages to any number in your contact list.Not to forget that it can affect the premium rate numbers as well.
According to reports by Computer Emergency Response Team of India(CERT-In),once the device is successfully affected,basic information of the phone like the IMEI number,Device ID and the Device Type will be compromised.The virus also has the ability to install spyware in the affected devices.
The notorious nature of the virus is such that it can "steal contacts  and pictures,track the location of the device,crash the complete system of the device and also steal all the active logins in the device and can also steal your banking details".It also has the ability to disable the firewell and the antivirus programs.

Measures to overcome these threats: 

Never download and install any apps from untrusted sources.Install them only from the trusted and reputed providers.Before installing any application,check for the permissions that you provide them.Use the device encryption feature available in your phone(don't forget to encrypt your SD Card as well).As a safety measure,run a full device scan to protect yourself.

Computer Emergency Response Team of India

Computer Emergency Response Team of India

Computer Emergency Response Team of India

Computer Emergency Response Team of India

Microsoft Cortana out in 4 countries

Four European countries-Spain,Italy,France and Germany-can now have have their hands on Cortana,Microsoft's intelligent personal assistant for Windows Phone.
Source:http://goo.gl/4KWy6g

 

Apple to host free workshops for 'Hour Of Code'

This time,Apple is participating in the Hour Of Code,the second annual worldwide event to help and provide free access to education(coding) among the youth.With this,a free one hour workshop will be held at Apple Retail Store Locations.There will be an introduction on basic computer concepts.You can register on Code.org to participate in the event.
To say about Code.org,it is a non-profit organization in which big tech giants and corporations are working to educate(coding education as I told you) not only the youngsters but everyone who are interested in coding.With a goal of reaching over 100 million students,the event is scheduled on 8th of December.


 

iPhone 6 launch slows down Windows Phone growth

Yes,the iPhone 6 release has significantly brought down the of Windows Phones.
 In September 2014,Windows phone's growth in Europe was slowed down,according to new statistics,the reason being the release of iPhone6.Windows Phone indeed lost approximately 2 percent of its users in certain markets,some of which decided to give iPhone 6 a try.Significant drop was also observed in UK as Windows Phone lost 4.3% .

Statistics according to Kantar Worldpanel

China,the biggest smartphone market,has not been the good place for a Windows Phone which holds only 0.5% of local smartphone business.The only positive signs of Windows market is from Italy with 13.8% devices in the country.

Google Messenger update:Now rollout with custom colors and custom animations

The Messenger update has just started to roll out for the users and it may take a day or two to make it available for every user.
With the new update,you can customize your messenger with the colors and animations.Its not just applicable to the messenger but you can customize the conversations as well.You can hit the People and Options button in the overflow menu and decide who gets to be what color in your world.

You can customize your conversation windows with the new update

As for the animations are concerned,some users have complained for the delay and lag in the old sliding animation when they enter the conversation.So now,Google has re-tooled Messenger to utilize the Material Design techniques.

Security Breaches.!!!!

In spite of fully securing ourselves from hackers and their web,they still find a way to breach.Here is a video by Jayce Broda.
Do watch it guys.

 

Android has more users than iOS but its Black Friday sales drop 

Android may be the user-friendly OS and much affordable by everyone.It may have more users than iOS.But this Black Friday,Apple iOS has beaten Android OS.
Here is the source:http://goo.gl/5m700c

Apple lights up red logo at Sydney

In a move in support of World AIDS Day,Apple has brought up the red logo at the Flagship Sydney Store.With this move,Apple becomes the first store in the world to show a commitment in support of the AIDS initiative for an AIDS-free future.Also,Apple has changed to red logo at key stores in United States,Japan,China,Hong Kong and Europe as the clock at respective time zones ticked to Monday.The 24-hour campaign, which raises awareness for the AIDS pandemic across the world, has been an initiative run by Apple since 2012.

Red Logo at Flagship Store,Sydney

Microsoft Lumia 535 hits the market.

Its not Nokia Lumia 535,its Microsoft Lumia 535.Yes,Microsoft launched its first Lumia phone after buying Nokia.Now,lets get a hands-on Microsoft Lumia 535.

Although Microsoft bought Nokia,it was obvious that the concept of the phone would change.However,Microsoft has maintained the old concept that was followed by Nokia.Just as Nokia used to give a choice of different colors to the users,Microsoft has done the same thing.Orange,White,Green and Black will be the colors that will be available to the users.On the back panel,one would see the brand name-Microsoft.

Coming to the specifications,the phone is powered by 1GB RAM with an internal storage of 8GB and around 3GB available for the user.The plus point is that Lumia 535 is provided with a microSD slot.The phone also has a 5MP camera with LED flash and a 540×960 pixels 5-inch display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3.The phone runs on Windows 8.Another thing is that the apps tagged as nokia is removed and is renamed as "Lumia"-Lumia Camera,Lumia Beamer,etc.

Priced at Rs.9199,this can be one of your choices if you are planning to buy a budget Windows phone.

Source:http://goo.gl/Lg0wgR 

Whats next for Firefox?

Lets go 10 years back.When Firefox was launched it was the only browser.As time passed, Firefox began losing itself and its future was at stake.But today,its not easy to predict the future of Firefox.
Around 2010/11,Firefox had owned almost 3/4th of the US market and was rated the third best in the Europe and in fact a lot of Germans prefer Firefox even today.
Google Chrome was launched at a stage where Firefox was under development.As Chrome offered faster browsing,people began to prefer Chrome browser.Much as changed after them.Firefox is now comparable to Chrome.I feel comfortable with Firefox not just because of the browsing speed but also because it is much easier to use.With more add-ons,its now easier to customize the browser.
Firefox has also extended itself to the mobile version of the browser which is gaining users.Not to forget that it has its own Firefox OS that runs on mobile phones.
To say,Firefox is able to convince people that its better than it was.Their effort has really payed them.To say, can really hope for the best from Firefox.

Firefox has truly achieved the web

Android One hits UK but faces stiff competition

Indian brand,Karbon has released its first smartphone-Sparkle V that follows Android One specifications has hit UK or any other developed country.But the thing is the stiff competition 
During the Black Friday deals at Amazon,the phone is priced at £99.Afterwards,it will be marked at £130.The 4.5 inch phone with 1.3Ghz quad core processor not only fails to have an outstanding specification but also is priced at a big sum.The EE Kestrel, for example, is only £100 ($160, AU$185) on pay as you go, but has better specs all round -- particularly 4G LTE connectivity for fast data. The HTC Desire 510 has a 4.7-inch display, a capable 1.2GHz quad-core processor and 4G as well, and is only £80 ($130, AU$150) on pay as you go with the O2 network. For only £10 more than the Sparkle's asking price, the superb 4G Motorola Moto G can be yours -- and that's one of CNET's all-time favorite budget phones.Although Android One was not intended to for UK ar any other developed countries,Karbon is hoping to extend its market across Europe with Sparkle V as its flagship product.

Karbon Sparkle V

Google-The Most Valuable brand of 2014

Want to know the most valuable brands of 2014???Here it is.

Google is the most valuable brand of 2014.By dethroning Apple Inc. and Microsoft,after its brand value surged up by 40% reaching $158.8 billion from $113 billion in 2013.So what made it to the top???Google is taking innovation to the next level, be it combining technology with apparel that has resulted in Google Glass, bringing in GoogleX that is making WiFi available globally by putting satellites tied to balloons over the earth.
On the other hand,Apple is losing its stance on its products with not being to the brim of innovation as it recorded a decline in almost 20% with its brand value reaching $147 billion from $185 billion.
IBM has been placed third beating Microsoft(placed at 4th).
Source:http://goo.gl/rnb7TX

Lollipop still need fixing of bugs

Lollipop is the best android that is release till now.But it still needs the fixation of some serious bugs.
In on of my posts,I told you on the bugs in Nexus phones.Now,some users are facing a bug that is causing the connectivity issues on wifi.The bug so far doesn't seem to be affecting non-Nexus devices.Not to forget that some users are also having the issue on the battery.
I also came across a person who had a problem in accessing gmail.He also pointed at the bugs that he faced in hangout,Google Play Music including the Google Newsstand.
Unless the bugs are cleared,you guys have to try your best to overcome the bugs.

Issue on Google Play Services

Milestones for Windows 10 in 2015

This is what you can expect from Microsoft in 2015

1. Windows Phone:Microsoft is working to roll out its first Windows 10 phone along with its desktop version.But before the desktop version is released,the mobile version is expected to be the first to roll out by early 2015.
2. Windows 10 Consumer preview:The consumer preview of the windows is expected to roll out by the mid 2015 or the spring of 2015.The consumer version is expected to feature the new Internet Explorer 12.
   To say,Windows 10 is expected to roll out by mid 2015.

Overall,the new Windows is expected to bring in a lot of new things.Hope that it doesn't bring in bugs as in Windows 8.

Moto X at $359 off contract on Cyber Monday

Ever wondered the best android phone priced at around $550 being sold at $359.Yes it is!!!!!
Motorola has decided to sell Moto X 2nd Gen. at $359.Whats amazing is that it is sold on off contract basis.
Source:http://goo.gl/E0QmFP

Moto sold 2.5 million handsets via flipkart 

Can any one imagine this number 2.5 million????You have to cause this is not a dream,its real.Motorola has sold 2.5 million phones in India with full credits to flipkart.
With Xiomi taking over  the budget phone market,Motorola cannot be stopped at the moment. With their high end and low budget phones- Moto E and Moto G- you cant stop the buyers.
In order to celebrate this milestone,Flipkart has announced a cash prize of 
Rs 50,000 to 5 lucky winners.The offers also includes a 100% cash back to 100 customers for those who purchase Moto phones from 24 November to 7 December.So what are you guys waiting for???just order a Moto phone now.

Moto G

Moto E

Source: http://goo.gl/dzAWrZ

Hidden LED notification light on Nexus 6 

Nexus 6 has an ambient screen mode but it fails to provide a tap to wake functionality.The way people get to know the notifications is by the presence of the LED.It seems that this facility is absent in Nexus 6.
Hang on!!!!!!!!its not.There is a physical LED that is present behind the speakers/ear piece.It is capable of producing red,blue and green light.However this feature is not enabled by default.You will have to root the phone.

Source:Android Police

Samsung phones to face problems on Android 5.0

Android 5.0 Lollipop has got an amazing material design and is expected to provide an amazing android experience.But there is a bad news for Samsung users.Samsung's devices may not be able to render the apps on the Android 5.0 and may cause frequent crashing of the device.The reason behind it is that Samsung has older versions of the support library that it is using in its smart phones. 
If you use the new material support library, you’ll see this crash on those Samsung devices: java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError:


Source:Koushik Datta

The guardians of Microsoft!!

Want to know the real ones who guard Microsoft???Here is a report on it
http://guardianlv.com/2014/11/microsoft-robot-guards-keep-campus-safe/

Microsoft Lumia 730 creates a largest selfie

I am not kidding guys.Its true.Microsoft Lumia 730 has created the world's largest selfie.Its 5MP front camera allows users to take High-Quality selfies without missing out any person on the frame.
The selfie took place at Bashundhara shopping mall in Bangladesh.The Microsoft Lumia Bangladesh page on facebook claims that around 1151 people took part in the selfie event.Also not to forget that the selfie might enter the world's record of a selfies with "most number of people with recognizable faces".
Here is the selfie.

Microsoft's first smart phone all set to be launched

Microsoft is expected to launch its first smart phone Microsoft Lumia 535 at an event on November.
Lumia 535 is said to feature a 5 inch LCD screen along with 5mp dual front and rear camera.It is powered with 1.2Ghz quad core processor paired with 1GB RAM.The smart phone has an internal storage of 8GB which can be extended up to 128GB via an microSD Card and is all set to run on Windows 8.1.
The smart phone is equipped with 1905mAh battery that is expected to run for 11 hours on call on a 2G network and 23days on standby.This dual sim phone is expected to be priced at Rs 8000-10000/-
 

 

iPad Air 2 now with a golden touch

Its definitely not a tablet that everyone can afford but it is the thinnest tablet that is on the planet till date.The iOS-powered device is gold plated with 24k gold.Vietnamese jeweller Karalux are the ones behind this device that comes covered with gold.The 64GB variant is priced at $1,315 while the 16GB and 128GB variant stands at $1,174 and $1,644 respectively.

Do watch out for this tablet.

 

Google to breakup

Yes,the EU parliament draft could call for Google's breakup.This new development is looking to be more aggressive than an obstacle and is the biggest threat that a company has ever faced.Here is a report on this
http://www.androidauthority.com/eu-parliament-break-google-569012/

The NotCompatible Malware-So Beware!!!!!

In my previous post,I told you about the about the malware on Android 5.0 .Now,I will let you guys know about this virus,called NotCompatible,which is the most sophisticated till date.

So how is it going to affect and who is at loss?Of course its the users at the backseat.Its mainly based on phishing scam wherein the victims are lured to an infected website causing your phone to automatically download a file called update.apk and if the user accidentally installs that file,then its the end of that phone.

Once installed,there will be no application icon or any user interface on the screen.The malware has the ability to install it as a background service.This service runs when the screen is unlocked by the user or when the device is rebooted.

So how do you stop it??Pretty simple-just download the lookout app to prevent such a thing.Here is a video by lookout which first reported this malware.

Android 5.0 bugs for Nexus 4,Nexus 5 and Nexus 6 Users

I am not kidding guys.Many nexus 4,nexus 5 and nexus 6 users are facing some critical bugs after the update.Want to know the bugs???Here it is:

• SMS bug:This bug is limited to only a few networks that include Vodafone Netherlands, India and Belgium.These users are not able to send an SMS after the update.
• Flashlight bug:If you turn it on leave it,then the flashlight will stop working unless and until you reboot your phone.So don’t do this as it might affect your phone.
• Some users are also complaining about the battery drain.So that might stop you from updating your phone.

Solution:Patience is all that you need my friend.Do not update your phone unless this issue is resolved.

Nexus 4 running on Android 5.0

Google to offer 1TB Drive storage with holiday chromebook

Yes,Google is offering 1TB Google Drive storage for a period of 2 years to those who purchase a Chromebook which means that you can save around $230-$240.
This offer is available to anyone on Samsung Chromebook,HP's Chromebook 11 and many more.

Mac Users can now use Visual Studio and build .net applications.Read this article on msdn
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/uk_faculty_connection/archive/2014/11/19/are-you-a-mac-user-who-wants-to-use-visual-studio-and-build-net-applications.aspx

5-Year-Old becomes youngest qualified person to install Windows

This guy named Ayan Qureshi is just amazing.How can a 5 year old kid do it???Yes,he has done it.

Ayan is now the youngest Microsoft certified professional and this means that he can troubleshoot internet explorer bugs or encrypt a removable drive using the Encryption software(Bitlocker).

Just Amazing...!!!!!!

Moto G Camera Update:

The new Moto G update for the camera brings in the new timer options and the wrist flick gesture for camera switching.This update has rolled out today by Motorola for its Moto X, Moto G and droid devices.If you have not yet received the update do it now.Its just awesome and you guys will just love it.
 Update link:https://play.google.com/stor/apps/details?id=com.motorola.camera

 

Investers hoping for a recruiting revolution

Read this article
http://techcrunch.com/2014/11/21/investors-are-backing-a-recruiting-revolution/?ncid=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=sfgplus&%3Fncid=sfgplus

Windows 10 consumer review expected in January-February 2015

The Microsoft Windows 9 which was scheduled to be released on September 2014 was later renamed as Windows 10 and the released was postponed due to leaks of its preview.Now,Microsoft is expected to release the consumer preview of Windows 10 early next year.
 The new Windows version brings in new features such as the new start menu,Modern User Interface Apps and much more. 

 Windows 10 Consumer Preview features: 

The consumer version is expected to bring a new start button with the cortana personal assistant.

Although it is unclear about the public appearance of cortana,Microsoft could unveil the cortana alongside the Consumer preview of Windows.