Google Duo — an alternative to Skype, FaceTime, and Hangouts?

After unveiling it at Google I/O 2016, Google on Tuesday announced the launch of Duo, a 1-to-1 video calling app for Android and iOS. Duo aims to take the complexity out of video calling and make it more interactive with features like ‘Knock Knock’, and also improve video and audio quality over unstable network connections.

Google notes that Duo will not require users to create separate accounts — they can sign in using just their phone numbers and access everyone on their contact list. From there, users can instantly begin a video call. While there are multiple video calling apps in the market, Google aims to make Duo stand out by focusing on a few USPs:

No more call drops?

Google claims that Duo has been tweaked to work in areas with limited bandwidth by adjusting call quality according to the dynamic nature of network conditions. Duo aims to ‘gracefully reduce’ the resolution to keep the call going smoothly. For video calls on the go, Duo will switch between Wi-Fi and cellular data automatically without dropping the call. So users can start their call at home and continue seamlessly when they head out the door. Google notes,

We all know how it feels when a call fails to connect or when video gets choppy. We’ve built Duo to be fast and reliable, so that video calls connect quickly and work well even on slower networks.

Human design with ‘Knock Knock’

To make calls feel more like invitations than interruptions, Duo comes with a feature called Knock Knock, letting users see live video of their caller before answering the call. This aims to give users a sense of what they’re up to and why they want to chat. With Knock Knock, Google aims to make video calling more spontaneous and welcoming.

Security

Duo has been built with an emphasis on privacy and security. Google claims that all Duo calls are end-to-end encrypted. Amit Fulay, Group Product Manager, Google, said,

Video calling is the next best thing to being with someone in person. We have designed the interface to be simple, easy, and welcoming. In places like India, it has been designed to adapt to the network connectivity conditions. We hope to make the experience of video calling more personal, inviting, easy, and smooth.

Duo will be rolling out on Android and iOS starting today, and will be live worldwide in the next few days. At the time of publishing this story, Google Duo was only open for pre-registrations on Android and unavailable on iOS.

Never too late?

Google was late to the search engine party, but still went on to annihilate the competition, gaining unbeatable market share and revenue. With Duo, it now looks to be aiming for an encore in the video messaging space. Google was already active in this space with Google Hangouts and Apple too has FaceTime, its own proprietary video calling app.

Then there are multiple third-party services too that are extremely popular. Microsoft-owned Skype is one of the pioneers in the space, while Facebook Messenger, Viber, and WeChat are some of the other popular choices worldwide.

The video messaging space is still in its infancy in many markets worldwide because of the high cost of cellular data and unstable networks. But the situation is slowly improving and there seems to be tremendous opportunity in this market for startups and enterprises to cash in on.

SOURCE:YOURSTORY

Nextbit's Robin is going to gain the talk next year.

Here is our comeback with the details of pretty good mobile which is to be launched early next year.

The smartphone space is quite cluttered right now. It might not seem like it in major markets, since Apple and Samsung dominate the smartphone industry, but there are dozens of companies around the world fighting for space in consumers’ pockets. Different companies use different strategies to try to separate their products from the pack, but by and large, most companies hit the same notes. Since Samsung and Apple dominate the high end, other companies compete on price.

Interestingly, no smaller smartphone makers have made a real effort to break through by addressing one of smartphone users’ top pain points in a new and creative way… until now.

Nextbit has been buzzing over the past few months and we all knew something fun was coming, but I’m not sure anyone expected the Robin. This sleek but unassuming smartphone isn’t an iPhone killer or a Galaxy killer, and it won’t kill any other smartphones on the market. Instead, it’s a problem killer, and it has its sights set on what is constantly listed near the top of smartphone users’ chief complaints with their phones: Storage space.

How many times have you gone to capture a video on your iPhone or Android phone and seen that dreaded storage full message? How many times have you tried to transfer new movies or music to your phone ahead of a trip and had to clear out space before you were able to?

Most of us have run into issues with free storage on our phones, and that’s why storage is consistently listed along with battery life as a top complaint in studies that look to determine users’ biggest problems with their phones.

Using some cloud-based software wizardry, the Robin solves the problem of storage in a brilliantly simple way. Well, it’s simple for the end user, but it’s a wonderfully complex engineering feat behind the scenes.

Nextbit calls the Android-based Robin the word’s only “cloud-first” smartphone, and that’s an accurate description. The handset ships with 32GB of internal storage, but that memory is completely dynamic and is supported by an additional 100GB of cloud storage.

Here’s how it works: you have apps, movies, music, photos, videos and all sorts of other files on your phone, but you don’t ever need to access all of that data at once. So, when your phone is nearing its 32GB local limit, the Robin begins intelligently deleting apps and files from your device to make room for new data.

But “deleted” isn’t the right word. Everything pushed off of your device is backed up to the cloud, complete with all user data and settings. So, for example, if the Robin removes Angry Birds from your phone to clear space as you capture some video at your daughter’s soccer game, you can pull it back down from the cloud on demand and you’ll be able to pick things up right where you left off.

The Robin also learns as you use it, so apps and files you use often will be kept on the device, while other items you rarely use will be the first to be kicked off to the cloud when you need more storage.

This smart solution effectively allows Robin owners to forget about storage space and just… use their phones. And in a meeting ahead of the phone’s debut, Nextbit was careful to point out a number of times that the magic behind this innovative cloud solution was designed with data caps in mind.

Data is used as sparingly as possible, and WiFi is favored heavily by 
Nextbit’s software. Since the handset backs up data frequently while connected to WiFi, it can delete unchanged apps, videos or photos on the fly without having to back them up on the spot when a WiFi network isn’t available. That said, it is not yet clear exactly how much cellular data Nextbit’s solution will use in practice.

Now, for the bad news: you can’t buy a Robin yet. The phone is slated for launch in the first quarter of 2016, but pre-orders go live on Kick-starter beginning immediately. 

The first 1,000 Robins will be made available at just $299, and then the phone will be $349 for the duration of Nextbit’s 30-day campaign. When the phone launches early next year, it will cost $399.

The phone comes with a simple design that uses concave circles and color accents to separate itself from the pack. There is also a set of LED's on the back to let you know when Robin’s cloud magic is working.

Then, the software is unmistakably Android.The software has a very “pure Android” look and feel that enthusiastic Android fans will love.Moreover the design of this phone is what that makes it interesting.Here are the specs.

 Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 
•    Memory: 3GB RAM / 32GB onboard / 100GB online 
•    Screen: 5.2in IPS LCD 1080p, Gorilla Glass 4
•    Rear Camera: 13Mp with phase detection autofocus, dual tone flash 
•    Front camera: 5Mp 
•    Battery: 2680 mAh
•    Dual front facing stereo speakers 
•    Fingerprint sensor 
•    NFC 
•    Quick charging 
•    Bluetooth 4.0 LE 
•    Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac 
•    Dimensions: 149x72x7mm 
•    Weight: Approx. 150g
•    GPS enabled

Offical CyanogenMod 13 is arriving this Christmas

Cyanogen Inc. has been spilling the beans on its plans for 2016 today and there appear to be plenty of projects on the way, including new hardware, developer support and a Marshmallow version of its custom Android operating system.

Being a software company, we’ll start with CyanogenMod 13. The OS will be based on Android Marshmallow and the company is planning to have a stable build ready before the end of the year, but that could slip into early 2016. The new version of Cyanogen OS for retail products will then follow in the New Year. Interestingly, the OS will make use of common APIs and SDKs to tie into partner apps directly, meaning that the OS developer doesn’t have to provide and preload a lot of apps itself. These apps can also then presumably vary slightly depending on the region or handset manufacturer, without providing overlapping software.

This new operating system will play a key role in company’s vision for future hardware, which will be produced in partnership with a selection of currently unknown manufacturers in a number of regions. Cyanogen plans to offer inexpensive handsets with a bloatware free experience and an up-to-date OS, sort of like Android One intended. Cyanogen is sticking to the budget segment of the market for now though, with prices targeted at the $75-$100 range. The entry-level segment is already highly competitive, but Cyanogen is hoping that its streamlined, bloat free experience will make its phones stand out.

Cyanogen’s Steve Klondik also briefly mentioned that the company may release a flagship smartphone as well. Although, he didn’t explicitly confirm the existence of such a device or a release time frame, so this all appears to still be in quite the early planning stages right now.

Cyanogen didn’t really manage to hit the mainstream in 2015, but perhaps the company’s ambitious plans for 2016 will see its custom flavour of Android land in a few more hands next year.

Xiaomi adds heart-rate monitoring to its incredibly cheap $16 fitness tracker

How much extra does it cost to buy a heart-rate monitor for a wearable? If you looked at Fitbit's products, you'd say $20 — that's the difference in price between the $129.95 Charge and heart-rate sensing $149.95 Charge HR. For Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi, however, the cost is just $3. The company's new Mi Band Pulse, which incorporates an optical sensor to measure blood flow, will sell for $16 — just $3 more than the original Mi Band fitness tracker it released last year.

XIAOMI CLAIMS THE MI BAND IS THE THIRD MOST POPULAR WEARABLE GLOBALLY

It's incredibly low prices like these that are helping Xiaomi succeed in the wearables market. Although the company's products are only available in China and some neighboring countries, it's already the third biggest wearables vendor in the world, according to estimates from IDC. Market analysts claim that Xiaomi shipped some 3.1 million units in the second quarter of 2015, behind Apple (3.6 million) and Fitbit (4.4 million), but ahead of Garmin (0.7 million) and Samsung (0.6 million). Of course, comparing the pricey Apple Watch and the $16 Mi Band Pulse ignores how much more revenue Apple is making, but in terms of pure volume, Xiaomi is still doing extremely well.

The new Mi Band Pulse will go on sale on Singles Day in China on November 11th. Although this isn't a well-known calendar event in the West, it's the largest online shopping day in the world, with sales that dwarf both Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It's a frenzy of shopping that's perfectly suited for cheap, impulse buys like the Mi Band Pulse, which, as well as monitoring users' heart-rate, can track activity, unlock their phones, and lasts up to 30 days on a single charge. Xiaomi hasn't announced any plans to offer the device worldwide, although on its Facebook page the company is asking: "Would you like to see this launched in your country too?

SOURCE: Xiaomi

YuPlayGod launched Yureka Plus with octa core CPU for Rs 9,999.

Yu, a subsidiary brand of Micromax, has announced the launch of a new smartphone. The new handset, named as Yureka Plus, offers plenty of features at a lower budget, carrying on the legacy of its predecessors like Yu Yureka and Yu Yuphoria.

The Yu Yureka Plus offers a 5.5 inch IPS display with full high definition resolution (1920x1080 pixels). Like Yureka, it too comes with Cyanogen OS 12 that is based on Android operating system. With Snapdragon 615 octa core processor and 2 GB DDR3 RAM, the smartphone also promises smooth performance.

The Yu Yureka Plus has 16 GB of internal memory but a press release issued by the company speaks nothing about expandable storage option.

This phone offers dual SIM slots with 4G connectivity. It has a 2500mAh battery and a 13-megapixel rear camera along with a 5-megapixel front camera.

Unveiling the new device, Rahul Sharma, founder YU said, "With Yureka we ushered in the revolution that's 'YUPlayGod' and we couldn't have asked for a better response from our community. We have been overwhelmed with the enthusiasm and cheer we received for the Zeus of phones, Yureka. Grateful for the encouragement and support we are returning the love by breaking our very own unprecedented benchmark with Yureka Plus. ”

As per the press release, the phone will be available in grey and white colours.

Moto E 2nd Gen Is Currently The Cheapest 4G Smartphone In India.

  In the race of 4G smartphones in India, Motorola seems to have taken a big leap, at least as far as the pricing goes. It has announced the all new Moto E with 4G support at a jaw-dropping Rs 5,499.

However, there’s a twist. The said pricing comes after ‘the special offer of Rs 500 off on limited stocks+ Exchange offer up to Rs 1500+ Flipkart e-gift voucher of Rs 500 with a new Airtel Connection.’

The Moto E second-gen sports a 4.5-inch display compared to the 4.3-inch display in the previous model and will have a 540 x 960 pixels resolution. 

The offer is applicable on 4G LTE variant that comes powered by quad-core processor and runs the latest Android Lollipop OS version. It is coupled with 1GB RAM.

It comes with an internal storage of 8GB that can be further expanded up to 32GB via microSD card slot. In terms of camera, the device has a 5MP rear snapper along with an auto focus sensor and includes features like geo-tagging, panorama, and HDR. It also comes with a front-facing VGA camera. The Moto E 4G variant runs Android 5.0 Lollipop.

In terms of connectivity, the device has WiFi, GPS, Radio and Bluetooth. The water resistant Moto E is fuelled by a 2390 mAh battery compared to the 1980 mAh seen in the previous model.

Android M Developer preview on nexus 5 sharply increased standby time!!

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Android M is going to have a few interesting and exciting features. One of them is called Doze and is activated when your Android handset is inactive for a period of time. With Doze, the phone goes into a deeper sleep than it currently does and and a result, standby times are more than doubled. Once Doze is disabled (which happens when you pick up the phone), syncs and open tasks which were halted are carried out by the model.

Another feature of Android M is App Standby. With this feature, once your phone is unplugged, apps deemed to be inactive are prohibited from receiving network support and any syncs and open jobs are suspended. Once you plug in your phone, the idle apps will regain network connectivity. Android M will most likely offer those who need specific apps to run at all times, the ability to disable the feature on certain apps.

To see how Doze and App Standby might work in real life, a Nexus 5 was loaded with the Android M Developer Preview and measured against the same model loaded with Android 5.1.1. The result? After 8 hours in standby, the Nexus 5 with Android 5.1.1 consumed 4% of its battery life as opposed to 1.5% with the Nexus 5 running Android M. After 24 hours, the Lollipopped version of the stock Android phone had burned through 12% of its battery life while on standby. The Android M powered handset had used just 4.5% of its juice during the same amount of time. After 48 hours, the Nexus 5 with Android 5.1.1 inside had devoured 24% of its battery power compared to the 9% used on the Android M powered version of the phone.

The Nexus 5 with Android 5.1.1 installed was projected to provide 200 hours of standby time. With Android M, the standby time was projected to jump to 533 hours. That means that Android M provided the phone with 2.7 times the standby time available with Android 5.1.1. This is an exciting bit of technology that Android users should be greatly looking forward to.