Microsoft launches app to control PCs via mobile

Microsoft is set to release a preview version of its 'Remote Desktop' app that lets Windows Phone users control their PCs.

According to The Verge, Microsoft allowed Android and iOS users to control desktop PCs from their smartphones last year, Windows Phone support was missing

The app is available for free, but only for mobiles running windows 8.1.

Windows Phone 8.1 will be out for devices within months but users can gain access to the update using a developer preview option.

RJio signs pact with American Towers for mobile network

Telecom arm of Reliance Industries Limited, RJIL, Monday signed an agreement with American Tower Corporation for utilising the mobile towers for its telecom network.

"...We are committed to creating a cutting edge network for high speed 4G. Our relationship with ATC will accelerate the roll-out of these services across India," Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited Managing Director, Sanjay Mashruwala, said in a statement.

ATC has a portfolio of 11,000 towers in India.

Facebook adds new features to iPhone app 'Paper'

The social networking giant has added new features like birthday and event reminders and photo comments to its two month old iPhone app called Paper.

According to CNET, Facebook's Paper is meant to be a standalone app that caters to every desire such as News Feeds, messaging, photos, groups and more.


Product manager Michael Reckhow said that a lot of people wanted Birthdays and events to be added in Paper.

He added that this app is something users would want to check in the morning for news, sports or other events .

App to protect your kids' privacy on social media

London: Want to share your kids' vacation or wedding photos just with friends and family on Facebook? This new parent-friendly app would make your life easy.

Named Yoovi, developed by an an Israeli startup, the app is challenging Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat with family-friendly photo-sharing and printing. Many parents are afraid to share their kids photos on social networks. Many do not want to share their family trip photos with others. With Yoovi, this can be solved, said the developers.


Yoovi lets you choose who can see your images and saves the images in full resolution.

Nokia phones to be renamed Microsoft Mobile

When the USD 7.2 billion Nokia-Microsoft deal officially comes to a close by end of April, the once leading mobile phone of the world, Nokia mobile, will be renamed Microsoft Mobile.

According to reports, while no official announcement has been made, a letter by the company to suppliers, which leaked, revealed that Nokia's phone division will be renamed Microsoft Mobile Oy.

The leaked mail is said to have read, "Please note that upon the close of the transaction between Microsoft and Nokia, the name of Nokia Corporation/Nokia Oyj will change to Microsoft Mobile Oy. Microsoft Mobile Oy is the legal entity name that should be used for VAT IDs and for the issuance of invoices."

Google Camera app for Android devices is here

This camera is really cool. Although Google's Nexus smart phones do not come on top of your mind when you think of buying one, this all new camera app may force you to reconsider your plan.

Called Google Camera, the new app has cool features and makes it easier for you to click quick, easy photos.


One great addition is the Lens Blur mode.

With Lens Blur, you can play around with the blur intensity for the background or foreground.

Sony`s PlayStation 4 sales top seven million

Sony says it has sold seven million PlayStation 4 worldwide since its launch last year and admitted it can`t make them fast enough, in a welcome change of fortune for the Japanese consumer electronics giant.

"The response from the global gaming community for PS4 (PlayStation 4) has been overwhelming and we are truly humbled that gamers are selecting PS4 as their next generation console of choice," Andrew House, president and group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., said in a statement.

Samsung's messaging app ChatOn now available for Android, iOS, Windows Phone

Samsung Electronics launched 'ChatON Version 3.5', a free messaging application, across all major mobile platforms - Android, iOS, Windows and Blackberry - with largest file sharing capacity of 1 gigabyte.
"ChatON Version 3.5 is available on all major operating systems-- Android, Apple's iOS, Windows and Blackberry - from today and for use across different kinds of devices. Users need not pay for it at present," Samsung Director, Media Solutions Centre, South West Asia, Tarun Malik said here.
He said the company may think of monetising 'ChatON' in the future depending on company's policy but at present there is no such plan.

Samsung has added a message translation feature that can facilitate people speaking different languages to chat with each other.

Uninor opens 367 exclusive retail stores in one day

Mobile operator Uninor on Tuesday said it has opened 367 new exclusive retail stores in one day, taking the overall footprint to 1,480 stores in the six circles, where it offers services.

Uninor, controlled by Norwegian firm Telenor, offers services in the circles of UP West, UP East, Bihar (including Jharkhand), Maharashtra and Goa, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat.

TATA DOCOMO offers special schemes for TN customers

Telecom service provider Tata DoCoMo has launched special schemes coinciding with the completion of five years in Tamil Nadu across voice and data plans offering more talktime and recharge options.

 “We have introduced the new range of offers not only to celebrate our fifth anniversary but also to reinforce our commitment to provide simple and best value for money proposition to our customers,” Tata Docomo Tamil Nadu and Kerala circles MBU Head, Rajan Gupta said in a statement. 

The special range of voice offers include TN-25 and India Express 30 where all local mobile calls can be made at 1.25 paise per three seconds and 25 paise per minute and all India mobile calls at one paise per two seconds and 30 paise per minute respectively, a company statement said. 

The company is also launching minimum 25 per cent extra talk time for every customers, it said.

The company currently has presence in over 13,690 villages and 660 towns taking the total network footprint to over 11,700 sites in Tamil Nadu, he added.

Amazon Appstore now includes over 2,00,000 apps

Amazon Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos has reportedly revealed that the company's Appstore has almost tripled in size in the past year, and now includes more than 2,00,000 apps.

Bezos, in a letter to shareholders, said that the Amazon Appstore now serves customers in almost 200 countries and includes over 2,00,000 apps and games from top developers around the globe.

Galaxy S5 joins race to monitor heart rate

Smart phones are increasingly becoming more than just phones and assuming bigger roles in users` lives.

The latest on the block is Samsung`s new flagship Galaxy S5 smart phone with heart rate monitor that would track your motions and monitor your steps.

The innovation comes after Samsung introduced eye-tracking technology last year to pause your phone when you looked away.

Device that texts you if your bike gets stolen

All of us have heard or seen trackers that would nail car or SUV thieves down but here comes a system that texts you if someone steals, or even touches, your motorbike in the parking!

The new Scorpio Ride 'Core' system from Massachusetts-based Scorpio Sounds uses an Apple or Android app to keep track of a module installed inside the bike.

Smart phones at greater risk of malware attacks

Imagine if smart phones are infected to the same extent as personal computers. The resulting damage would be much more severe.

In a first, Finnish researchers have measured smart phone malware infection rates and explored ways to identify infection with previously unknown malware.


The team, investigating the true extent of malware infection in Android devices, discovered that infection rates in Android devices at around 0.25 percent are significantly higher than the previous independent estimate.

Viber appoints Mark Hardy as CMO

Instant messaging and voice application Viber today appointed Mark Hardy as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO).

Based out of London, Hardy is tasked with the leadership of Viber's marketing teams in Brazil, India, Philippines and Vietnam.

Pay Rs 500 to restore phones disconnected for pesky calls:Trai

Sectoral regulator Trai has notified that phones disconnected for sending pesky communications could be restored on payment of Rs 500 per connection, a move that will bring relief to telemarketers.

In a bid to check pesky calls, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) had last year approved disconnection of their phones if rules of unwanted calls and messages were flouted by them, or on their behalf.

Nokia partners Airtel to offer free 3G data to Nokia X buyers

Finnish handset giant Nokia has partnered country's largest private telecom firm Bharti Airtel to offer 500 MB 3G data per month for three months for buyers of its recently launched Nokia X Android-powered smartphone.

Customers in non-3G circles can enjoy the same benefit on 2G data, the handset maker said in a statement.

Last month, Nokia had launched its phone 'X' in India for Rs 8,599, which is aimed at protecting its turf in the fiercely competitive Indian smartphone market.

A new device that charges a smartphone in 30 seconds : Watch

Isn't it great to have your smartphone fully charged in 30 seconds? Israeli startup StoreDot is working on a technology that can charge your smartphone battery in 30 seconds. The company unveiled a prototype of its device at Microsoft's Think Next Conference in Tel AvivWhile; the device is not expected to be commercially available anytime soon. The company gave a 30 second demo during the conference and a Samsung Galaxy S4 was fully charged within half a minute. The StoreDot prototype currently works only with Samsung's last-gen handset. The company says that it's focusing on making its technology compatible with other phones.

Vodafone and Disney India collaborate for a gaming portal

One of the leading telecom operators in India - Vodafone - is certainly looking to up its ante in terms of giving its subscribers the best in value added services.

Vodafone India recently teamed up with Disney India's Interactive business, to launch Vodafone Games & Apps. The announcement comes soon after the launch of Vodafone Music and Vodafone Sports by the company.

Lava Iris Pro 20: 4.7-inch IPS display, 8MP camera, quad-core CPU, Rs 13,999

Lava has launched another smartphone under its newly introduced Lava Iris Pro series. Named "Lava Iris Pro 20", the phone is a dual-SIM smartphone and weighs 112g. It is lighter than the Iris Pro 30 and has 4.7-inch (540x960 pixels) IPS display.