Dynamic World

Amazon, the world's largest online retailer, has quietly introduced a new feature on its India website. Dubbed 'Local Friends,' the feature lets users buy and sell second-hand goods from/to people living in their locality. The feature is similar to those found in services like OLX and Quikr. At present, the service is only accessible via website and cannot be used through the app. The company is testing 'Local Friends' in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad for now, but it will be soon rolled out to other cities as well. The service includes ten categories of products which include - mobiles, tablets, books, video games, movies, jewelry, mobile covers, clothing, much and home. Interested sellers can select any category from the drop-down menu and post an ad for the item they wish to sell. The unique feature of 'Local Friends' is that Amazon suggests a price, after a product's details have been submitted by the seller. The seller has the option ...

Apple may unlock new NFC features with the upcoming iPhone 8. The new NFC features are spotted inside the iOS 11, which is likely to debut with the Apple iPhone 8. As spotted by Macrumours, iOS 11 enables apps to detect Near Field Communication or NFC tags. This means that iPhone 8 users will be able to perform more functions using NFC, instead of just Apple Pay. The expanded feature lets the handset prompt a "Ready to Scan" dialog box, after which users would need to hold the iPhone near the item with NFC tag. Once detected, the display then shows a check box. An app with Core NFC will then be able to provide the related details. Cybersecurity company WISeKey has announced that its CapSeal smart tag will support the iPhone as it will now use Core NFC. The firm, in a press release said, "When placed on a bottle of spirit or a bottle of lubricant oil, for instance, and tapped by an NFC phone, the chip is able to securely authenticate and track the bottle like an ePass...

After making a comeback with Canvas 2, Microsoft is back another phone, Micromax Canvas 1. This is the first smartphone of the company to come with a 100-day replacement promise on any hardware issue (which is a part of the one year product warranty). Price The Micromax Canvas 1 comes with a price tag of Rs 6,999 and is available across offline stores in the country. Going by the price, the smartphone will face a tough competition from the recently launched Xiaomi Redmi 4 and Infocus Turbo, which are available at the same price tag. Specifications The Micromax Canvas 1 features a 5-inch 2.5D curved glass HD display with 720x1280 pixel resolution. The device runs Android Nougat 7.0 Nougat operating system and is powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek processor. The smartphone comes with dual SIM support and offers 2GB of RAM and 16GB internal storage. Users can further expand the storage up to 32GB by adding a microSD card. The smartphone includes an 8MP primary camera with dual ...

The company has made it mandatory for sellers to furnish brand authorization letters. Sellers will undergo strict quality and service audits that will include their registration number, shop location, shop photos and GSTIN in order to lists their products on the platform Paytm Mall makes it mandatory for sellers to furnish brand authorization letters.Sellers will undergo strict quality and service audits, which will include their registration No., shop location, photos and GSTIN.The move is aimed at weeding out dubious seller profiles and fraudulent practices. Paytm Mall, the e-commerce arm of Paytm, has delisted about 85,000 sellers from its platform as it gears up to take on bigger rivals like Flipkart and Amazon.The move comes at a time when the Noida-based company is trying to enhance its customer experience on the platform as it has to fight established rivals. The company has made it mandatory for sellers to furnish brand authorization letters. Sellers will undergo strict qu...

Xiaomi  is speculated to soon introduce a new sub-brand. Rumors had speculated that Xiaomi X1 could be the name of first smartphone under this sub-brand. However, a leaked poster that has surfaced from China has revealed that indicates that Xiaomi would be soon launching a phone called Xiaomi 5X. Speculations indicate that first phone under Xiaomi’s new sub-brand will be this Xiaomi 5X phone, and not Xiaomi X1. The leakster had already appeared in the previous week. However, only the part showing its pricing was revealed. The poster reveals that the Xiaomi 5X would be coming with a 5.5-inch display that will probably support full HD resolution. The Snapdragon 625 chipset will be powering the phone along with 4GB of RAM. As it can be seen that the Xiaomi has struck a deal with popular Chinese celebrity, Kris Wu for promoting the Xiaomi 5X. It seems Wu has ended his previous contract with Huawei Honor and is now with Xiaomi to probably advertise the new sub-brand from Xiaomi. Th...

 Reliance Jio has moved Bombay High Court against Bharti Airtel and global broadband tester Ookla for running advertisements proclaiming Airtel to be India's fastest network. Jio says it lost reputation and money on the campaign that amounts to conspiracy, defamation and breach of trust, among others. It also named Ziff Davis, a digital media company that acquired Ookla in 2014, in the complaint. In an emailed statement to ET, a spokesperson said Airtel has not received a copy of Jio's complaint. Airtel labelled the allegations as "frivolous and baseless" and reflecting the "growing frustration of a competitor that has been unable to make a dent despite offering free services and predatory pricing." Jio and Ookla did not respond to ET's queries. Ziff Davis could not be reached for comment. Bad blood is brewing between the two telcos — owned by Mukesh Ambani and Sunil Bharti Mittal — as Jio asked for trial under Sections 204, 406, 420, 465, 499 and 12...

Recently MIUI 8 Beta version has made some change, some operation is different from previous, The changes will leak the some new features of MIUI 9. Therefore, we can see some details and small functions from MIUI 8 beta to see through  MIUI 9  difference. First, three fingers operation cancelled. In MIUI 8 beta version, it has cancelled three fingers operation, which means users can not use this operation to change the screen order to set up the main screen. Hope MIUI 9 OS will recover this function. Although it is used less, when it necessary, the operation will be not easy. Right now the new-created desktop only allows to add on the most right, when you want to create a desktop on the left, it will be not easy, if wrong operation, you may remove all of icons on the desktop. Second, the desktop icons put in order in batch. Two fingers operates the screen to enter into the interface of putting in order. After clicking App icon, the icon will be moved to the below drawer, a...

India's media and entertainment industry is forecast to touch $34.8 billion by 2021, logging a CAGR of 11.8 per cent in the preceding five years, paced by significant growth in digital platforms that would increasingly draw more eyeballs than competing outreach vehicles. According to EY's report on the industry, released at the FICCI-IIFA Global Business Forum in New York, growth in digital media businesses would far outpace TV, print, radio or music concerts at 26 per cent CAGR between 2016 and 2021. With an economy of $2.3 trillion and expanding at a rate north of 7 per cent, India remains an under-advertised country, compared with OECD economies. Total advertising spends across all segments in India, which stood at $8.18 billion in 2016, will double to $16.7 billion in 2020. While print media and TV together accounted for 76.2 per cent of the total revenue from advertising in 2016, mobile advertising has emerged as the third largest advertising medium. The report, titl...

The world's most-popular messaging application WhatsApp has received permission from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to enter into partnership with multiple banks to allow users to make in-app payments and money transfers using the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). UPI enables account-to-account transfers from a mobile app without having any details of the beneficiary's bank. A.P Hota, MD and CEO, NPCI, confirmed that WhatsApp has received a nod from the apex payments institution. The Facebook-owned WhatsApp had been in talks with banks for a while now.The approval for multi-bank partnership could put its payments business ambition on a fast track. Some of the banks WhatsApp is in talks with are Axis Bank, ICICI Bank and Punjab National Bank, among others. This is the first time that NPCI, an umbrella organisation for all retail payment systems in India, has approved a mobile app to enter into multi-bank partnerships."Players like WhatsApp and Google...

It’s evident from the mergers and acquisitions happening in the telecom industry that every incumbent operator is feeling the heat of predatory plans offered by  Reliance Jio . Every telecom operator is trying to lure customers by providing attractive recharge plans. Going forward the quality of service along with cost effective pricing will play a significant role in deciding the champion of the race. Reliance Jio recently announced the extension of Jio Dhan Dhana Dhan offer by offering a few more new plans of Rs. 399 and Rs. 349. Besides that, Jio has recently launched three new data booster packs priced at Rs.11, Rs.91, and Rs.201. The Rs.11 pack offers 100MB of data, the Rs. 91 pack offers 2GB and Rs. 201 gives 5GB. All these data booster packs will have validity same as that of the existing plan on the subscriber’s number. Reliance Jio’s existing data boosters of Rs. 51 and Rs. 301 now offer 1GB and 10GB of data respectively. The data booster packs have been designed taking...

​ features missing in WhatsApp that rivals have. In the last few years, WhatsApp has become the de facto mode of communication for most of us? Family, workplace and friends, WhatsApp keeps us ‘connected’ with all. But, there are still some features that the world's top messaging app lacks -- features that it rivals boast of. Here are 8 features missing in WhatsApp that you may find in its rivals. StickersWords are slowly being replaced by emoticons. Why type “this is so funny” when you can use a “smiley” emoticon, right? Emoticons, however, aren’t being replaced by stickers though they might be feeling the pressure from stickers. Stickers have become an essential part of most messaging apps available. It does come as a surprise that this feature remains missing from arguably one of the most popular app – Whatsapp. Other popular apps, including, Facebook Messenger, Viber, Hike and others offer a sea of stickers to the users to make conversations more interesting. GIF SelfieIt’s n...

YouTube has starting rolling out video thumbnail previews for its primary desktop website. The popular video sharing service announced the availability of the feature via its global Twitter handle. Video thumbnails work by hovering the cursor on the thumbnail of a YouTube video, which then creates a 3-second preview thumbnail from the first half of the video. As confirmed by YouTube to a user on Twitter, video thumbnails are currently only available in Google Chrome and Opera browsers. In reply to another user, the company confirmed that the feature is automated and content creators have no role in selecting clips for thumbnails. Last year, when the company launched YouTube Go (which is specially designed for India), it had a video preview feature that let users take a sneak peek before deciding to watch a video. Back in April, YouTube rolled out a beta version of YouTube Go app on Google Play Store in India. Recently, YouTube rolled out a new update for its Android app. The update i...

Size Option 1 ₹200.00 INR Option 2 ₹600.00 INR Option 3 ₹800.00 INR Option 4 ₹50.00 INR Option 5 ₹100.00 INR Option 6 ₹150.00 INR

 Vodafone, one of India's leading telecom operator, has launched a new service called 'Vodafone Sakhi Pack' for its female subscribers in UP West and Uttarakhand. This is a free-of-cost service, which enables users to conveniently recharge their mobile phones, without sharing their mobile numbers with retailers. To avail the Vodafone Private Recharge option, customers need to send a toll-free SMS -- 'Private' -- to 12604. This will allow subscribers to make a Private Recharge through an OTP code, without sharing the mobile number. This OTP can also be used for all recharges done over a 24-hour period. As part of the service, Vodafone is also offering three new plans -- Rs 52, Rs 78 and Rs 99. Vodafone users will get a talk time of 42 minutes and 50MB of 2G/3G data for a period of 30 days on the recharge of Rs 52. When recharged with Rs 78, subscribers will get 62 minutes of talk time and 50MB of 2G/3G data. Lastly, the users will get 79 minutes of talk time and ...

biggest gadget launches of this week. This week has so far seen the launch of some hot gadgets across categories. Luxury fashion brand Louis Vuitton made its entry into the smartwatch segment, world's first wireless laptop launched also though per se not a gadget, but surely in another big technology launch Facebook Lite for Android finally made its India debut. So here's over to five top launches of the week so far. Louis Vuitton smartwatch: Apple watch gets its most expensive rivalLuxury brand Louis Vuitton launched its first Android Wear smartwatch named Tambour Horizon. The smartwatch offers 30 detachable straps along with cases in Gray, Black and Brown colour options for both men and women. Priced at $2,900, Black version is the costliest variant; the steel version is the cheapest with a price tag of $2,450. As for specs, the watch runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon 2100 processor. The Android Wear 2.0 smartwatch sports a 1.2-inch AMOLED display with a 390 x 390 pixels, has 5...

Apple has been working feverishly hard on its upcoming iPhone 8 -- not only on the face scanning feature but also a rear-facing 3D laser sensor. According to the Fast Company website, this feature will help enhancing the augmented reality and rear camera autofocus experience. The 3D laser system is reportedly manufactured by VSCEL laser system. The technology's integration on the iPhone 8 depends on the pace of Apple engineers. For now, the ARKit introduced by Apple at the WWDC 2017 conference, depends on a single rear camera to measure the real world object and overlay animations on it. The laser system is said to dramatically improve the AR experience. The report adds that the VSCEL laser systems cost about $2 per phone. As for the autofocus, it has been revealed that the laser system will send out light beams that bounce off objects to deliver precise depth of field. Companies like Google, Huawei, OnePlus and Asus already use laser autofocus systems in the smartphones. The c...

Its for all intents and purposes, the Windows Phone era is over. Microsoft has  ended support  for  Windows Phone 8.1  just over 3 years after its April 2014 debut. From now on, your WP8.1-toting device won't get software updates or technical help. This doesn't mark the end of Microsoft's mobile ambitions ( Windows 10 Mobile  is still hanging around), but it does finish a long, sad story in the company's history that reflects the tech giant's shifting priorities. Windows Phone 7  was launched in 2010 as Microsoft's formal response to the iPhone and Android. This was the release that was going to prove Microsoft could make a truly consumer-focused mobile platform instead of catering primarily to the business crowd. The tile-based home screen and other interface elements were breaths of fresh air, but the so-so device lineup ( HTC Surround  anyone?) and lack of feature parity (it launched  without copy-and-paste text ) set the tone. It wa...

Asus has finally unveiled its Zenfone AR smartphone in India. It is the world's first smartphone with 8GB RAM, Google Tango and Google Daydream support. Exclusively available on Flipkart starting today at 4PM, the Asus Zenfone AR comes with several offers. Price and offers Flipkart is offering Rs 2,500 off on Google Daydream View VR (original price Rs 6,499) if purchased along with the Zenfone AR. Interested customers can also avail no cost EMI offers on the smartphone for nine months. In addition, Reliance Jio is also offering Zenfone AR customers up to 100GB additional 4G data and a complimentary Jio Prime membership as well. Users can avail 4G data in the form of one additional 10GB data voucher per recharge or Rs 309 or above for up to 10 recharges by March next year. Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality support The highlight of the Asus Zenfone AR is its virtual reality and augmented reality support. Both Google Daydream and Google Tango platforms use the thre...

LG has just unveiled its Q-series of mid-range smartphones , with three handsets having 'FullVision' displays like the company's flagship smartphone - G6. But that's not all. The company has been rumoured to be working on a new phablet - V30 - for quite a while. And even though no details have been officially revealed about the device, a new leak highlighting its design has popped up online. According to a YouTube video posted by popular tipster OnLeaks, the V30 is shown as having an extended 'FullVision' display, similar to that of the G6. It also showcases the CAD design of the smartphone, highlighting the USB Type-C port and speakers placed at the bottom. The SIM tray and the 3.5mm audio jack are on the right and top respectively, while the left has the volume rocker. A dual rear camera setup is visible on the back, along with a fingerprint sensor below it. The antenna lines are also present on the top and the sides. One of the prominent...

  Lenovo-owned Motorola is set to launch the Moto E4 Plus smartphone in India on July 12. The company sent out media invites saying, "Motorola invites you to witness the launch of the powerful new Moto E4 family on July 12, 2017 at Hyatt Regency, New Delhi, 11.30AM." The company has been teasing the launch of the device for a while now and has already revealed that the smartphone will be Flipkart exclusive. The Moto E4 Plus has a 5.5-inch 2.5D curved glass HD display of 720x1280 pixel resolution. Running Android 7.1 Nougat operating system, the smartphone is powered by a 1.4GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 427 processor. It offers 2GB of RAM and 16GB/32GB of internal storage, with support for microSD cards. The smartphone comes with water-repellent coating, and has a 13-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and f/2.0 aperture. There's also a 5-megapixel front shooter with LED flash for selfies. The highlight of the smartphone is its massive 5,000mAh battery, which als...

Reliance Jio announces new plans: All that has changedWith Dhan Dhana Dhan offer coming to an end, Reliance Jio has revamped its tariff plan for both pre-paid and post-paid users. Though the new plans still start at Rs 19, the data offered and validity of most plans has been increased. The daily FUP limit and other offers including free voice calling remains same for all plans. Here are Reliance Jio's revamped plans for prepaid users: SEE ALSO Rs 309 plan : No. of days doubled along with dataEarlier valid for 28 days with 28GB data on offer, the Rs 309 plan's validity has now gone up to 56 days and is now offering 56GB data. This means users get 56GB data for 56 days. Rest of the offerings including FUP limit remains same. Rs 349 plan : No. of days doubled with dataThe Rs 349 plans offers users 10GB + 10GB 4G data for 56 days (28 + 28). Post the exhaustion of 20GB in 56 days, the internet speed is reduced to 128kbps. There is, however, no cap on daily data usage in this pl...

PhonePe, the UPI-based payment app from homegrown e-tailer Flipkart’s stable, has rolled out a payment solution for offline commerce. Following a soft launch last month, PhonePe is now being used as a payment option at over 2,600 Apollo Pharmacy stores and all Barista outlets in Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi and Ahmedabad, the spokesperson added. Retail store chain Spencer’s, fast-food chain KFC and Café Coffee Day will also start accepting PhonePe soon. Prior to this, PhonePe could only be used to send and receive money, pay utility bills, and recharge mobile phones. It’s also the primary wallet and payment system promoted on Flipkart’s platforms, including apparel e-tailers Myntra and Jabong. “We are first launching in a bunch of chains, testing the platform. We will then scale it out to a much larger base pan-India. We currently have over 25,000 offline merchants (including from unorganised sector) live on our platform. In unorganised retail, we have started experimenting with specifi...

Xiaomi Mi Note 2 was first launched in OctoberIts highlight feature is its dual-edged curved glass designIt has been priced at CNY 2,899, and is available to buy Xiaomi was  expected to launch  a smartphone with 6GB of RAM, a Snapdragon 800 series SoC, and a 4000mAh battery on Tuesday. Speculation had pointed to the launch of the Mi 6 Plus variant, however,  Xiaomi  had something else up its sleeve. The company on Tuesday instead launched a new variant of the Mi Note 2, sporting 6GB RAM and 64GB of inbuilt storage, putting all rumours to rest. To recall, the  Xiaomi Mi Note 2  had been  launched  in October last year, with dual-edged curved glass on both the front and back. The smartphone was launched in three variants: a 4GB RAM/ 64GB inbuilt storage model, a 6GB RAM/ 128GB storage model, and a Global Edition 6GB RAM/ 128GB storage model with support for global LTE brands. The newest variant completes the lineup, adding a 6GB/ 64GB storage mo...