Technology news

The RLV-TD being transported. (Source: isro.gov.in)
On Monday, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) embarked on a first-of-its-kind test — hoisting into space what is essentially a scale model of what would be India’s indigenously designed space shuttle. The 6.5m-long Re-usable Launch Vehicle–Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD) weighs about 1.75 tonnes and is the result of more than a decade of development costing around Rs 95 crore.According to ISRO, the RLV-TD lifted o

OnePlus 3 launch will be the “world’s first global shopping experience in VR” with visitors to The Loop being able to order the OnePlus 3 before anyone else.
Virtual Reality is becoming all the craze among smartphone makers. After Samsung’s much publicised Galaxy S7 launch powered by VR headsets at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, OnePlus is getting ready to do another VR launch for its third flagship expected in a few weeks. The OnePlus 2 too got a VR release las

OnePlus 3 launch will be the “world’s first global shopping experience in VR” with visitors to The Loop being able to order the OnePlus 3 before anyone else.
Virtual Reality is becoming all the craze among smartphone makers. After Samsung’s much publicised Galaxy S7 launch powered by VR headsets at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, OnePlus is getting ready to do another VR launch for its third flagship expected in a few weeks. The OnePlus 2 too got a VR release las

Alcatel Popstar is powered by a 64-bit quad-core processor clocked at 1.0 GHz, with 1 GB RAM and 8 GB internal memory.
Alcatel has announced its smartphone range called the POP series with Pop Star smartphone at Rs 6,999. The device will exclusively available at Gadgets 360° in metal silver and metal gold colour variants.
Alcatel Pop Star has a 5-inch HD IPS display. It features an 8 MP rear camera and a 5 MP front camera. Backed by a 2,000 mah battery, Pop Star is also available in 4G vari

ISRO is by no means the only space agency to be developing reusable systems. (ANI photo)
Almost everything that ISRO has accomplished in the last few years, has already been done before although by only one or two other countries. Monday’s test of a reusable satellite launch vehicle (RLV) is no different. What distinguishes each of ISRO’s missions, however, is the cost: almost all the missions, including the Moon and Mars missions, have been executed at a fraction of the cost of simi

The moment you take the V-Moda Crossfade Wireless out of the box, you will see how well built it is.
V-Moda’s flagship over-ear model, the Crossfade M-100, is still one of the best overall headphones when it comes to choosing great sound, design and performance as a package. But with competition from premium wireless headphones like Beats Studio Wireless and Sennheiser Momentum, V-Moda has launched the Crossfade Wireless.
V-Moda Crossfade Wireless
V-Moda Crossfade Wireless is basically a

“We’ve now gotten to a point where we can secure a baseline profit even if the market stagnates,” says vice president Kim Gae-youn. (Reuters Photo)
From the way it chooses smartphone components to the models it brings to market, Samsung Electronics has undergone a painful process of breaking from its past to reverse a slide in its handset business.
For example, the world’s largest smartphone maker agonised over camera specs for its flagship Galaxy S7 until the last momen

OnePlus 3 launch will be the “world’s first global shopping experience in VR” with visitors to The Loop being able to order the OnePlus 3 before anyone else, in VR
Virtual Reality is becoming all the craze among smartphone makers. After Samsung’s much publicised Galaxy S7 launch powered by VR headsets at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, OnePlus is getting ready to do another VR launch for its third flagship expected in a few weeks. The OnePlus 2 too got a VR relea

ISRO is by no means the only space agency to be developing reusable systems. (ANI photo)
Almost everything that ISRO has accomplished in the last few years, has already been done before although by only one or two other countries. Monday’s test of a reusable satellite launch vehicle (RLV) is no different. What distinguishes each of ISRO’s missions, however, is the cost: almost all the missions, including the Moon and Mars missions, have been executed at a fraction of the cost of simi

Google has finally announced the winners of its first-ever ‘Google Play Awards’ for apps and app developers on Android across a variety of category.
Google has finally announced the winners of its first-ever ‘Google Play Awards’ for apps and app developers on Android across a variety of category. Google, at its annual developer conference declared the awards during a special ceremony.
“During a special ceremony last tonight at Google I/O, we honored ten apps and gam

The smartphones is powered by a 64-bit quad-core processor clocked at 1.0 GHz, with 1 GB RAM and 8 GB internal memory.
Alcatel has announced its smartphone range called the POP series with Pop Star smartphone at Rs 6,999. The device will exclusively available at Gadgets 360° in metal silver and metal gold colour variants.
Alcatel Pop Star has a 5-inch HD IPS display. It features an 8 MP rear camera and a 5 MP front camera. Backed by a 2,000 mah battery, Pop Star is also available in 4G vari

The HoloLens traces its lineage to Kinect, an add-on for Microsoft’s Xbox gaming console that was introduced in 2010. (Reuters) When Google introduced its Google Glass smartglasses four years ago, it turned to Glass-sporting skydivers buzzing a San Francisco convention center, Glass-adorned models at a glitzy fashion show and a Twitter campaign to notify early “Glass Explorers” of their luck in snagging a pair.
This year, when Microsoft showed off an early edition of its HoloL

Google Allo Messaging app announced at I/O 2016 is facing criticism over privacy concerns. (Source: AP)
Days after Google announced its new Allo messaging app at the annual I/O 2016 conference, the yet-to-launch messaging app is already under criticism over privacy concerns.
Allo is a new text-based messaging app, and Google’s hopeful challenger to more-established players like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Snapchat. Allo will be powered by Google’s new and upcoming AI chatbot Google

Nissan Motor Co, which plans to spend $2.2 billion on a one-third controlling stake in Mitsubishi Motors Corp, aims to place its former global tech chief in charge of reform at its smaller rival, which is mired in a fuel economy data scandal.
According to two individuals with knowledge of the matter, Nissan and Mitsubishi are in final stage talks over an appointment of Mitsuhiko Yamashita as Mitsubishi’s tech chief.
Yamashita was Nissan’s executive vice president in charge of product

Asus Zenfone Max has been launched in India and will be available on Flipkart and Snapdeal.
AsusZenfone Max with a new processor and two storage options has been launched, starting at Rs 9,999. Asus Zenfone Max is backed by a large 5,000 mAh battery. Zenfone Max with 2GB RAM costs Rs 9,999 and can be pre-ordered on Flipkart. The 3GB RAM variant is available for Rs 12,999 on Amazon, Snapdeal and Flipkart.
Asus Zenfone Max is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 octa-core processor and comes with

Le 1s Eco will come with a one-year free LeEco membership programme worth Rs 4,900 where the users will have access to over 2,000 movies (in 10 languages) and over 100 live TV channels. Chinese internet and technology conglomerate LeEco on Monday announced that the sale for its supertainment-loaded device Le 1s Eco will begin on Flipkart’s big shopping days from May 25 to May 27.
Consumers planning to buy a Le 1s Eco device will be offered LeEco earphone worth Rs 1,300 on every purchase,

Apple CEO Tim Cook with Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Here are the top announcements from Tim Cook’s visit.
Apple CEO Tim Cook was in India last week and he had quite a schedule; meetings India’s top business leaders, partying with SRK, watching an IPL cricket match in Kanpur, and of course the final meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
While there’s a fair bit of analysis going around on what Tim Cook’s visit means for India, there were some significant announceme

A depiction of magnetic charge ice. Nanoscale magnets are arranged in a two-dimensional lattice. (Source: Yong-Lei Wang/Zhili Xiao)
A team of US scientists has created a new material, called “rewritable magnetic charge ice”, that permits an unprecedented degree of control over local magnetic fields and could pave the way for new computing technologies.
With potential applications involving data storage, memory and logic devices, magnetic charge ice could someday lead to smaller and

Motorola Moto Razr, the popular flip phone, might just make a comeback.
Moto Razr was a flip phone unrivaled in popularity, and a device everyone wanted. Moto Razr was the world’s most popular flip phone thanks to its ultra-slim phone.  Motorola sold close to 130 million of these devices during the four year period of its availability. Now it looks like the Moto Razr could make a comeback.
Motorola Mobility has put out a video showcasing Moto Razr being used in a high school. Towards

Kent’s Aura Air Purifier review: This Air Purifier claims to get rid of all PM 2.5 particles in your home.
If the latest WHO report is believed Delhi might no longer be the world’s most polluted city in terms of air quality. But it is still a grim picture if you look at the daily numbers for PM 2.5 and PM 10 particles. Delhi continues to cross the annual 10 and 20 micrograms per cubic metre mark (WHO guidelines) in both PM 2.5 and PM 10 pollutant matter on a daily basis.
The only pe

The model also comes with Honeycomb panel sheet for protection of front panel from transit damage.
Intex Technologies today announced the launch of its new 55-inch LED TV priced at Rs 69,990.
The 55-inch LED 5500FHD TV Full HD LED TV is equipped with the Eye Safe T-Matrix technology that removes undue lag and balances other features.
Read MoreGionee Marathon M5 Plus with 5020mAh battery launched at Rs 26,999Gionee S6 #ExpressReview: When a good smartphone is not good enoughGionee Marathon M5 Li

Asus Zenfone Max has been launched in India and will be available on Flipkart and Snapdeal.
AsusZenfone Max with a new processor and two storage options has been launched, starting at Rs 9,999. Asus Zenfone Max is backed by a large 5,000 mAh battery. Zenfone Max with 2GB RAM costs Rs 9,999 and can be pre-ordered on Flipkart. The 3GB RAM variant is available for Rs 12,999 on Amazon, Snapdeal and Flipkart.
Asus Zenfone Max is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 octa-core processor and comes with

Aiming to tap regional languages, funkhel.com on Monday announced a free contemporary Hindi wordgame app for smart devices — the first in a series of apps to be soon launched in other Indian languages too.
The Hindi FunKhel app is based on the “shabdkoshish” wordgame, an innovative system developed in 1990s that introduced universal symbols for “maatras” and half consonants and a proper frequency distribution of all letters and symbols based on their popularity in v

Hong Kong-based TCL Communication-owned Alcatel on Monday launched the 4G-enabled Alcatel ‘Pop Star’ smartphone in India which is available on ecommerce portal Gadgets 360 priced at Rs 6,999.
Alcatel ‘Pop Star’ 4G smartphone is powered by 1GHz quad-core processor paired with 1GB RAM and runs on Android Lollipop 5.1 operating system. It has 8GB of internal storage that can be expanded to 32GB.
“Pop Star is our fashionable yet affordable range of smartphones. The laun

India’s RLV (Reusable Launch Vehicle) was launched successfully. Here’s why the mission matters.
India on Monday successfully launched a Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) space shuttle, the first ever for the country. The ‘dummy’ RLV was launched from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh into the orbit around Earth, and then glided back onto a virtual runway in the Bay of Bengal, some 500 kilometres from the coast.
The 6.5 metre long ‘aeroplane’-like structure weighing

MAXIMUS to Share Insights on Using Technology to Enhance Long-Term Services and Supports at Iowa Governor's ...
Business Wire (press release)
RESTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MAXIMUS (NYSE:MMS), a leading provider of government services worldwide, announced today that Barbara Selter, Vice President, Health Services, an expert in the coordination of long-term services and supports (LTSS), ...and more »

Asus Zenfone Max 2016 is available in black, orange and blue colour variants. It has a textured leather pattern at the back and metal-like edges. Asus Zenfone Max runs Android Marshmallow 6.0.1 on top of company’s ZenUI. (Source: IE) Taiwanese company Asus India has launched the Asus ZenFone Max 2016, a beefed-up variant of the ZenFone Max smartphone in India – prices start at Rs 9,999. While the 2GB RAM variant is on sale now (pre-order) on Flipart, Snapdeal and Amazon. The higher

Inquirer.net
Dep't of Information and Communications Technology created
Inquirer.net
President Benigno Aquino III signed on Monday a law creating a Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Malacañang said. Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said Mr. Aquino signed Republic Act no. 10844, which ...
PNoy signs law creating Department of Information and Communications TechnologyGMA Newsall 7 news articles »

Google Allo Messaging app announced at I/O 2016 is facing criticism over privacy concerns. (Source: AP)
Days after Google announced its new Allo messaging app at the annual I/O 2016 conference, the yet-to-launch messaging app is already under criticism over privacy concerns.
Allo is a new text-based messaging app, and Google’s hopeful challenger to more-established players like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Snapchat. Allo will be powered by Google’s new and upcoming AI chatbot Google

Asus Zenfone max has a textured leather pattern at the back and metal-like edges.
Asus has announced a new version of Zenfone Max with a new processor and two storage options starting at Rs 9,999. Asus Zenfone Max is backed by a large 5,000 mAh battery. Zenfone Max with 2GB RAM costs Rs 9,999 and can be pre-ordered on Flipkart. The 3GB RAM variant is available for Rs 12,999 on Amazon, Snapdeal and Flipkart.
Asus Zenfone Max is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 octa-core processor and comes w

Inquirer.net
Aquino signs law creating 'Department of Information and Communications Technology'
Inquirer.net
President Benigno Aquino III signed on Monday a new law creating a Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Malacañang said. Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said Aquino signed on Monday Republic Act no.
PNoy signs law creating Department of Information and Communications TechnologyGMA Newsall 5 news articles »

Selfie lovers were asked to take selfies and were then photographed by one of the team members. (Reuters) If you are never tired of posting selfies on Facebook and Instagram, it is time to sit back and look at your face carefully. According to the researchers, most people who post regular selfies are not attractive and overestimate their beauty which may make them narcissists.
According to the team from University of Toronto, participants ranked frequent selfie takers as less attractive and les

U C Browser, a product of the Alibaba Group, today announced it has crossed the 400 million MAU (Monthly Active User) mark worldwide, making it the largest mobile browser in Asia and the second largest mobile browser in the world according to 3rd party web traffic analytics service StatCounter .
Achieving such a firm base and emerging as the leader, especially in Asian markets, UC Browser is now at par with social networking sites Twitter and Facebook’s Instagram which have also the surpas

The RLV-TD is described as “a very preliminary step” in the development of a reusable rocket, whose final version is expected to take 10-15 years.
The Indian Space Research Organization on Monday joined the race to develop a space vehicle that can fly numerous times into space like aeroplanes by successfully conducting the maiden test flight of a Reusable Launch Vehicle-Technology Demonstrator at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
“Today, May 23,

The plane is expected to make at least one more stop in the United States, in New York, before crossing the Atlantic Ocean to Europe or northern Africa.
A solar-powered airplane has touched down in the Ohio hometown of two of America’s most well-known aviation pioneers on the latest leg of its around-the-world journey.
The Swiss-made Solar Impulse 2 landed late Saturday in Dayton, Ohio, where inventors Wilbur and Orville Wright grew up. The plane took off from Tulsa International Airport