WhatsApp on web: 5 things it can’t do

NEW DELHI: With more than 700 million monthly active users, there's no doubt that WhatsApp is one of the largest mobile-focused messaging service. A large number of these users have been demanding a PC interface for the service to stay connected with their favourite people even when they switch devices. After a long wait, WhatsApp has finally introduced a way to access the service on a PC. However, there are several limitations attached to it as the interface is limited to a web browser.

Here are five limitations of WhatsApp for web...

1. It doesn't support iPhone: WhatsApp for web essentially syncs messages between your smartphone and browser via its servers. At this time, the service does not support the iPhone. According to WhatsApp it's unable to provide the web client to iOS users due to Apple's platform limitations. Reports indicate that it intends to support the iPhone in the future but till then, if you use WhatsApp on an iPhone, you'll need to peep into your phone every time you get a WhatsApp message even if you're in front of your computer.

2. Needs your phone to be on and connected to the internet: After pairing your smartphone with WhatsApp's web client through a QR code image, you'll be able to send and receive messages through your browser. But what if your phone loses the data connection or runs out of charge? Sadly, the WhatsApp web version will also go offline. Your phone needs to stay connected to the internet for the web client to work.

3. Doesn't support browsers other than Google Chrome: WhatsApp's web interface only supports Google Chrome. So if you use Firefox, Safari or Internet Explorer, you're out of luck. A number of IT environments restrict the use of applications not approved by admins. If you're part of one and can't use Chrome, you'll not be able to use WhatsApp for web. WhatsApp's justification is that Chrome's push technology is better.

It's surprising that the service doesn't support Internet Explorer given Microsoft's investment in Facebook which owns WhatsApp. Also, it's worth pointing out that Google (the developer of Chrome) competes directly with Facebook.

4. You can't block users: To block users, you still need to go to the WhatsApp mobile app. The number of spam messages on WhatsApp has gone up considerably and the only way to deal with these, is to block their number. Unfortunately, the web version does not offer the block feature.

5. You can't create and leave groups: While you can send and receive messages from groups you're a part of, the WhatsApp web client doesn't let you create new groups or leave existing ones. You also can't send broadcast messages via the web client.

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Government plans free Wi-Fi in 2,500 cities, towns in mega internet push

NEW DELHI: The government will roll out free high-speed Wi-Fi in 2,500 cities and towns across the country over three years and the programme, involving an investment of up to Rs 7,000 crore, will be implemented by state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL).

However, the free ride will be only for a limited time, after which one would have to pay for further access, a model similar to what is being offered at airports and other places by private operators. For those having a BSNL or MTNL connection, the switch-over to Wi-Fi will be similar to roaming "at very nominal costs" once the free usage is over.

"The services will begin in the next financial year (2015-16) and we plan to offer these to subscribers of all mobile operators," BSNL chairman and managing director Anupam Shrivastava told TOI here.

The measure seems to be in line with the Modi government's ambitious 'Digital India' programme that aims at boosting internet connectivity across the country. Also, it is being seen as a measure that will give a boost to struggling BSNL, which has been in the red for the last nearly four financial years and suffered a loss of about Rs 7,000 crore in 2013-14. Telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has already listed revival of BSNL and MTNL among his top priorities.

Shrivastava, who recently took over as the CMD of the ailing PSU, said that most of the top cities around the country will be getting the Wi-Fi facility that aims to provide fast internet speed. "The cities where it will be rolled out include Kolkata, Chennai, Lucknow, Dehradun, Hyderabad, Varanasi, Bhopal, Jaipur, Patna, Indore, Chandigarh and Ludhiana."

The BSNL CMD said the Wi-Fi speed will be "of 4G levels" as the company will develop it around its vast optic fibre and cable network. "Around 50,000-60,000 Wi-Fi hotspots will be set up as part of the programme."

BSNL is hoping that a favourable tariff plan offered for Wi-Fi services will help it gain mobile subscribers. Stiff competition from private operators and slow pace of infrastructure upgrades have seen flight of mobile customers from BSNL at a time when its landline base is also shrinking.

"We are sitting on the verge of a data revolution and BSNL has a huge potential here on the back of our landline base and capability. Data capability will be a game changer in the next few years and we will gain a lot through such measures," Shrivastava said.

Data is significant for the PSU's revenues. Data business is expected to generate Rs 1,500 crore out of Rs 13,500 crore revenue estimated through mobile business. "And, of nearly Rs 14,000 crore from fixed line business, half will be through broadband and data services," Shrivastava said.

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Rise in your profession: Tips on how to utilize an alumni network

Why do you need to network with the alumni? Unlike the personal front, where the family is a readymade set of relationships, the professional front does not offer a starting point.

To move up professionally, you need to build a support system of friends and allies among like-minded people. Your network of alma mater friends and the alumni from companies with a strong culture provide a pool of people seeking to connect and help.

However, this is not available on tap and you will need to build it. Here's how.

Don't take alumni for granted

Invest in relationships. Harsh Sapru, a sales manager, applied for an advertised role with a leading Indian FMCG firm. When he found that a regional manager was an alumnus from his MBA school, he sent him an e-mail, requesting to be short-listed to the interview based on their common background.

The manager forwarded the e-mail to the HR, which promptly moved Sapru's resume to the trash folder. Sapru had taken the alum for granted and had called for an unreasonable favour from a stranger. This irritated the alum, who had Sapru removed from the selection. The right way to work with alumni is to build relationships early in life.

Don't cold call them when you are serving your notice period. Start by committing three hours a week to relationship building.

Call up alumni in your immediate circle and speak to them with no other agenda but to connect. Or, fix up a dinner with a group of alumni friends and count that time against the three hours. Thereafter, widen your network and reach out to people through social media like Linkedin and Facebook.

Drop in a line and make that odd call to speak and share common stories or interests. Over a year, you would have invested more than 150 hours and built a strong web of ties.

Be visible

People will know who you are. After graduating from school, Delhi-based Gaurav Verma became the unofficial connecting point for batchmates.

From compiling and sharing contact details and job/education updates to organising well-attended school reunions in his city, he seemed to be always there for everyone. In his late thirties, when Verma decided to become an entrepreneur, he reached out to his network for investors, distributors and customers.

They responded immediately and his venture took off. Being visible is not too challenging. Try attending all alum meets and events, visit your alma mater to greet your teachers and professors, and walk into your old hostel to host an interactive business session for students.

Similarly, get involved in discussions on social network groups and become an organiser. Create Facebook discussion groups over common interests and organise meet-ups where you invite speakers of interest.

First give, then receive

Offer to help people without any transaction involved. For instance, you could lead your firm's recruitment drive to your engineering college, or coach unsuccessful students on clearing aptitude tests, group discussions and interviews, even offer unpaid internship to students to help them gain experience.

Adopt a giving attitude in your alum network and it will build goodwill that will pay you back with interest. Offer to host alumni for the night when they are passing thro ugh your city.

Connect fledgling alum entrepreneurs to potential customers. Donate money to your alma mater for scho larships to needy students. Meet alumni who request advice and share references when asked.

Help out students with applications for higher studies. The opportunities for giving back to your network are endless, and the returns huge.

Research on alumni

Know your alumni well. When connecting with them and building a network, it pays to conduct detailed research. Moving to a new location? Find and reach out in the area to the alum who share similar interests, including hobbies, friends, industry, etc.

Similarly, to grow within your industry or profession, use your social networks to find and connect with alums who are working in the same sector. Then share information, help and form connections. Don't forget to maintain an Excel sheet for your research.

Seek advice, not jobs

During your job search phase, ask for references or advice only. If you are not close friends with the concerned alum, you do not have the space to ask for a job vacancy or offer on the strength of a nonexistent relationship.

Walking up to an alum and requesting a job makes him feel cornered and helpless. Recognise that an individual in the corporate world cannot hire without due process.

A better way to approach is to share that you are looking for a job and then ask for advice on the industry/firm/role, or for references you can talk to for advice. Now the alumni can easily share inputs and walk away satisfied from the interaction.

Avoid cold calls where possible and seek to meet face to face through mutual contacts or alumni/industry functions. You may then leverage the advice to find a suitable opportunity.

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10 Reasons to Pick the HTC One M8 Over the Galaxy S5

With the introduction of the HTC One M8 on March 25, the number of true contenders for the honor of top Android smartphone of 2014 has doubled. The other contender made its debut at Mobile World Congress in February when Samsung introduced its Galaxy S5. With the Android market this year now a two-horse race, all the other competitors will either have to introduce beautiful, well-crafted devices like the HTC One M8 and the Galaxy S5 or see their wares languish on store shelves. For now, though, it's just between those two handsets. However, deciding between the two might not be as difficult as some would argue. The Samsung Galaxy S5 is undoubtedly a good-looking device with great features, but it's not as attractive as the HTC One M8. Granted, the Galaxy S5 does have some features that HTC's alternative doesn't, like a fingerprint sensor, but such features won't be enough to put that device over the top for the vast majority of consumers and enterprise customers looking to get their hands on an Android handset this year. Here are the reasons why the HTC One M8 is the better choice over Samsung's Galaxy S5.

An Elegant Design

The HTC One M8 comes with a beautiful design that the Galaxy S5 can't match. The smartphone has an all-aluminum shell that meets the front of the device at the perfect spot to deliver an elegant finish. While the Galaxy S5 is not an ugly device, it's by no means as good-looking as the M8.

Excellent Sound Quality

Just about every review surrounding the HTC One M8 indicates that the handset has the best sound quality of any smartphone on the market. That has been achieved by bundling dual front speakers into the device. It also helps that for a while, HTC owned Beats Audio, a top music device provider that likely helped the company work on its speaker technology over the years. Sound quality is extremely important for those who want to listen to music or watch videos from their smartphones.

A Beautified Sense

Sense 6, the latest version of HTC's mobile software skin for Android, is a major upgrade over the previous version. The software is simpler and cleaner, making users more productive. What's more, it comes with support for multiple home screens and widgets, ensuring users have everything they want at the ready. Samsung has updated its TouchWiz with the Galaxy S5, but overall, that experience is slightly inferior to Sense 6.

The Dual-Lens System

Although the Galaxy S5 would be the winner in terms of actual picture quality, the One M8 wins out for those who want to take selfies, courtesy of the device's front-facing camera and accompanying software, as well as those who want to get artistic with pictures. The back of the One M8 comes with two lenses that snap the same photo. On the device's software, users can decide what parts are blurred and what are not to create truly artistic pictures. It's a neat offering.

More Damage-Proof

The nice thing about having a device that's aluminum is that it's a little more damage-proof than those that are plastic. Most people don't like to think about dropping a handset, but an aluminum smartphone would survive a fall a bit better than the plastic option found on the Galaxy side. Those with slippery fingers should keep that in mind.

Fewer Gimmicks, More Value

The Galaxy S5 is chock-full of gimmicks. The device has a fingerprint sensor for security that those who have used it say doesn't work as well as Apple's TouchID. The device is also heavily focused on health-related apps that might or might not appeal to users. The One M8, meanwhile, comes with gesture-based controls that can detect when the device is picked up or brought to the ear. In fact, many functions can be achieved with the One M8 without even hitting the power button to turn it on.

A Slightly Better Display

Although the Galaxy S5 and One M8 come with nearly identical screens—HTC's option has a 5-inch display and Samsung's comes with a 5.1-inch screen—the One M8 is ever so slightly better. HTC claims that its screen packs 440 pixels per inch, compared with 431 for the Galaxy S5. For the average person, the difference between the two displays might be negligible, but for movie viewers, that might be something to keep in mind.

You're Tired of the Samsung Experience

Another reason someone might buy the HTC One M8 over the Galaxy S5 is that perhaps they're tired of the Samsung experience. Although TouchWiz has been updated, it's not that much different from previous versions. Plus, the Galaxy S5's design is not a major upgrade over that of the Galaxy S4. Samsung has stayed the course with the Galaxy S5. HTC, meanwhile, has tried to push the envelope.

You're Already an HTC Owner

HTC owners who are happy with their current HTC One handsets will find a multitude of reasons to buy the One M8. From the smartphone's better specs to its improved design to its downright gorgeous Sense 6 software, current HTC owners would be foolish to go elsewhere to find a new device.

HTC's Sense of Urgency

HTC is in trouble. There's no doubt about it. The company has watched its smartphone sales fall over the last few years and is relying on the One M8 to fix its myriad issues. That's a good thing for consumers. Upon buying a device that is already impressive, one can expect that HTC will keep a close eye on the One M8 to ensure security issues are patched, new software versions are quickly brought to the device, and customer-support issues are promptly handled. HTC's desperation could work in the owner's favor.

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New technology that can 'replace' internet

A new project has been launched that could replace the internet.

The ambitious project, Bitcloud, aims to provide services currently controlled byinternet service providers ( ISPs) and corporations. The project is based on the same methods used to mine bitcoins.

According to the BBC, individuals would perform tasks such as storing, routing and providing bandwidth, in return for payment.

The founders are searching for developers for the project, adding that they will start by decentralising the current internet, and then create a new internet to replace it.

According to the report, like bitcoin miners provide computing power and are rewarded for solving complex mathematical equations with the virtual currency, so individual net users would be rewarded based on how much bandwidth they contribute to the Bitcloud network.

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India to have 155 mn mobile Internet users by March: IAMAI

The number of users accessing the web on their mobile handsets in India is expected to reach 155 million by March this year, according to the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI).

This number is further expected to grow to 185 million by June, 2014.

"The number of mobile internet users is going to reach 155 million in India by the end of March 2014, and 185 million by June 2014, maintaining a quarter-on-quarter growth of 20 per cent," a report by IAMAI and IMRB International said.

At the end of December 2013, the number of mobile internet users stood at 130 million as against a userbase of 110 million in October 2013.

According to the report, the number of mobile Internet users in urban India is expected to grow from 103 million in December 2013 to 126 million in March 2014 and further touch 153 million by June.

Rural India, though accounting for the smaller share, is also expected to register strong growth to touch 32 million users (in June 2014) from 27 million in December 2013.

The report also found that the average revenue per user (ARPU) has dropped to Rs 387 from Rs 460 in 2012.

However, the percentage amount spent on mobile Internet has gone up to 45 per cent in 2013 from 43 per cent in the previous year.

Also, 35 per cent of the mobile Internet users are spending between Rs 100 and Rs 500 monthly on their phone expenses.

While nine per cent are believed to be spending over Rs 500, six per cent are spending less than Rs 100 every month, the report said.

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Unbreakable smartphones coming soon

Unbreakable rubber-like smart phones, roll able tablets and functional clothing have come closer to reality, thanks to new breakthrough research by scientists including one of Indian-origin.

Researchers from Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) RMIT University have developed a new method to transfer electronics with versatile functionality, which are usually made on rigid silicon, onto a flexible surface.

The ability of micro and nano-electronic devices to sense, insulate or generate energy is controlled by thin, transparent nanolayers of oxide materials, often much thinner than 1/100th of a human hair.

These oxide materials are brittle and their high processing temperatures - often in excess of 300 degrees Celsius - have until now prevented their incorporation in flexible electronic devices.

Lead author, Philipp Gutruf, said the new process could unleash the potential of fully functional flexible electronics, while providing a new way for the materials to mesh together.

"We have discovered a micro-tectonic effect, where micro scale plates of oxide materials slide over each other, like geological plates, to relieve stress and retain electrical conductivity," he said.

"The novel method we have developed overcomes the challenges of incorporating oxide materials in bendable electronic devices, paving the way for bendable consumer electronics and other exciting applications," said Gutruf.

Supervisor and co-leader of the research group, Dr Madhu Bhaskaran, said the new approach used two popular materials - transparent conductive indium tin oxide and rubber-like silicone which is also biocompatible.

"The ability to combine any functional oxide with this biocompatible material creates the potential for biomedical devices to monitor or stimulate nerve cells and organs. This is in addition to the immediate potential for consumer electronics applications in flexible displays, solar cells, and energy harvesters," said Bhaskaran.

The study was published in the journal Asia Materials.

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Microsoft offers Ahmedabad boy $180,000 package

An Amdavadi boy who attended school in Shahibaug and interned at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Ahmedabad, has landed one of the highest pay packages offered to an engineering postgraduate - $1,80,000 USD plus incentives. The offer was made by Microsoft to 23-year-old Priyanshu Kumar Jha, who earned a master's from Singapore. Priyanshu will work for Microsoft's Bing search engine as development engineer.

Priyanshu will head to the Microsoft headquarters in the US next week. He is the youngest of the batch of students who appeared for placements at the National University of Singapore this year, where he studied for the master's degree in software engineering. He has secured a bachelor's degree in information technology from UV Patel College of Engineering, Ganpat University, Mehsana.

Priyanshu's father, Prabhat Kumar Jha, is a zonal director (central zone) National Small Industries Corporation, ministry of medium, small & micro enterprises. Priyanshu's mother, Ranjana, is a homemaker. Priyanshu completed his schooling from Central School, Shahibaug.

"As an engineering student, I always aspired to work for Microsoft at some point in my career," Priyanshu said. "But to have my first job, at this age, as an engineer in Microsoft is a dream come true." Being the youngest achiever in his group has been Priyanshu's habit. He was the youngest to be chosen for the master's programme in Singapore. "I had to put in a lot of extra work to keep up with my batchmates, who had a minimum of two years of work experience," he said. "I was the only one with no work experience, but my top scores always gave me an edge over the others."

Priyanshu told TOI that he had been exposed to computers since 1994. "My dream is to work for corporations for a while and use my learning to launch my own company after coming back to Ahmedabad," he said. "I want to give back to society which has given me so much."

As for the interview with Microsoft, Priyanshu said it consisted of six rounds with each one lasting six hours. But he said the interactions were always relaxed.

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True Caller hacked, 1 million Indians’ data at risk

Global phone directory app True Caller has been hacked by activist group Syrian Electronic Army (SEA). The hacking group announced this in a post on Twitter, along with an image that showed details of some users of the app.

Syrian Electronic Army broke the news via a tweet saying, "Sorry @True Caller, we needed your database, thank you for it." The hackers openly released True Caller's database host ID, username and password via another tweet.

True Caller app is available on Android, iOS, Windows Phone, BlackBerry and Symbianplatforms. The app's databases have access codes to Face book, Twitter, LinkedIn and Gmail accounts of millions of users globally. Reports say that True Caller website went down for a while but is now back online. In June this year, True Caller announced that its user base has touched the 20-million mark, representing growth of 100% in a period of five months. It said that it has 1 million users in India in March.

The Syrian hacking collective revealed that it exploited the TrueCallerwebsite as it is based on outdated Word press platform, which gave them access to the admin panel. Speaking to E Hacking News, the SEA hackers said that they have hacked into the phone directory's servers and downloaded more than seven databases. The biggest database has data worth 450GB.

Syrian Electronic Army is behind several high profile hackings, including those of Associated Press, BBC and The Onion.

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Yahoo! Hack India to be held in Hyderabad

NEW DELHI: Programmers, developers, designers across the industry and student stop technical universities in India will gather at Hyderabad for a two-day hacking event.

Over 1,000 developers across 20 states had signed up to participate in the sixth edition of "Yahoo! Hack India"July 13, of which 250 best hackers have been selected after an entry-level coding challenge.

"These hackers will now participate in the two-day event which brings forth a series of technical workshops, followed by a nonstop 24-hour coding Hackathon on July 13 and 14," a statement said.

For the first time, Yahoo! Hack India is being organized in cyber city Hyderabad. This will be Yahoo!'s first hack event in India hosted outside Bangalore,Yahoo! has its second largest research and development centre.

Due to overwhelming response developers across India in the last five years, Yahoo! had decided to expand this hack events to cover more Indian cities over the next few years.

"This year will see two external hack events by Yahoo! in India, one in Hyderabad and another in Bangalore later in this year. The event brings together programmers, developers, designers across the industry, start ups and students the top technical universities," it said.

"Hackers team up to turn their ideas into a working prototype, or hack, as it's called in just 24 hours. It gives developers a chance to work together and build applications and product ideas scratch using market-leading technologies Yahoo! as well as other technologies, to develop something cool that can potentially solve a real-world problem that impacts Internet users," it said.

The two-day event involves a hacking competition using a great collection of new web tools, services and APIsBSE 0.00 % ( Application Programmable Interface), as well as data around the web.

Yahoo! Open Hack was started as an internal event in 2006 at Yahoo! headquarters in Sunnyvale, US with an aim to bring the Yahoo! developers together. So far, Open Hack has been hosted in seven countries with representation over 30 countries.

The first Open Hack in India was hosted way back in 2007, which was attended by 180 developers in and around Bangalore.

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First look: Google versions of HTC One, Galaxy S4

NEW YORK: Two new Android phones will look and sound familiar to those who have been paying attention to phones. That's because these two devices are replicas of Samsung's Galaxy S4 and HTC's One, except they lack most of the bells and whistles added to the original models. 

And that's a good thing.

The modifications Samsung and HTC apply to Google's Android software are meant to be improvements. But I've complained before about how the changes actually make phones more complex to use. The S4 even has an easy mode for first-time Smartphone users, an admission that the normal mode is too confounding.

Google worked with both Samsung Electronics and HTC to come out with "Google Play" editions of the hit phones. Instead of customized software Samsung and HTC, the Google phones run a pure version of Android, just as it was developed by Google.

Google lets any phone maker use its Android operating system for free. To set themselves apart competitors, phone makers often add their own touches to devices. They rearrange the menu or load additional apps. Wireless carriers also to add their own apps. Before you know it, phones are bloated with features and apps you don't want and can't get rid of.

Consider my experience with the original S4 over the weekend. As I tried to adjust the camera's flash setting, I inadvertently made some postage stamp icon pop up. That activated the camera's dual-shot mode, which snaps a shot of you with the front camera to superimpose over whatever you're shooting with the camera on the back of the phone. I didn't want that, but I couldn't figure out how to get rid of it. My friend couldn't either. So we bagged the shot. Taking photos with a phone is supposed to be fun, not a chore.

With Google's version of the S4, I get a no-frills camera that is easy to figure out. It lacks gimmicks such as dual shots and the ability to combine several images of motion into a single shot. It offers about a half-dozen shooting modes, such as night, action and panorama, rather than the dozen or so on the original S4. But a half-dozen is about a half-dozen more than I need and use.

Google's S4 also lacks the original model's ability to pause video automatically when you look away the screen or to scroll down an article when you tilt your head. Those features may sound cool, but they often don't work properly.

The Google version of the S4 also has alarm sounds that I can actually wake up to. Samsung had substituted those sounds with soft, soothing melodies that I end up incorporating into dreams. I've overslept a few times as a result.

As for Google's version of the HTC One, you don't get a busy home screen filled with news articles and Facebook status updates your phone thinks you want to read. Instead, you get a clean page with few apps. It's up to you to add the ones you want to see and use.

Both Google phones feel spare and minimal, which is great because it makes me feel in control. If I want to constantly know the weather, it's easy to add a weather widget to the home screen of either phone. But it's not forced.

The same goes for apps. I get basic functions such as text messaging and the clock and a range of Google services such as Gmail and YouTube. If I want other apps, I can easily tap the Google Play icon to get them. With the original S4, Samsung tries to steer you into its own app store, as well as its own music and video players. You end up with too many ways to do the same things.

You might think it takes a lot of work to add the apps you want to Google's phones, but it actually takes more work to hide or turn off everything you don't need - that is, if you can at all- with Samsung's and HTC's versions.

Now for the bad news: The Google edition of the S4 sells for $649, while Google's HTC One goes for $599. You can typically get the original models for $100 to $200 through your wireless carrier with a two-year agreement. And unless you're on T-Mobile, your monthly bill won't go down just because you pay full price for the phone elsewhere.

In addition, both Google phones are compatible only with T-Mobile, AT&T and other carriers that use GSM cellular technology, not the CDMA networks used by Sprint and Verizon Wireless. The Google edition would have been great for Verizon customers who still have unlimited data plans. Verizon no longer lets you stay on that plan if you buy a subsidized phone, so you'd have to pay the full price anyway.

The Google phones are also ideal for people who want the latest Android system that Google has to offer. You'll be able to update your phone as Google releases new versions of Android. Normally, phone makers and wireless carriers updates by weeks or months, so you can only read about those new Android features.

There are a few useful Samsung and HTC add-ons that Google does bring to its versions of the phones.

Google's S4 is compatible with Samsung's S-View flip cover. Using a magnetic sensor, the phone detects when the cover is closed and switches to a special mode that gives you the current time and details about who's calling through a small window in the cover. You can answer or reject a call without flipping over the cover.

Google's HTC One, meanwhile, shares the original model's front-facing speakers, giving you great sound when you're watching a movie or listening to music. Both models also have cameras with larger sensor pixels for better low-light shots. Our tests show that the HTC One produces low-light images with less distortion than other Android phones, though images aren't particularly crisp because the resolution is lower.

There are a few things I wish Google would have brought to its phones and to Android in general.

In the original S4, the on-screen keyboard has a row of numerals to type in. With the Google S4, you have to hit a button to get another screen with numerals, then toggle back for the letters. The original S4 also has the ability to run two apps side by side in a split window. That's gone in Google's S4.

Meanwhile, the original HTC One has the ability to make calls, send texts and take photos by sliding icons the lock screen. With the Google version, you have to unlock the screen before getting icons to those functions.

On both phones, Google also adds one feature I could do without: a 360-degree panorama known as Photo Sphere. Neat as it is, it detracts what is otherwise a just-the-basics camera. It would have been better as a separate app for those who want it.

But that's no reason to shun the Google phones. The minimized feel of Google's versions underscores how busy software can detract good hardware. Take away that clutter, and you have excellent phones.

It's a bummer that you can't get the simplified phones through regular channels. You can get them only through Google's online Play store - for hundreds of dollars more.

About the Google phones

The new phones are existing Samsung and HTC phones loaded with Google's version of the Android operating system. That's the version that Google makes, before phone makers and phone carriers load Android up with their own features and apps.

These phones are good options for those who don't all the bells and whistles in the original models. They are cleaner and easier to use. But they are also more expensive, as you have to pay full price through Google's online Play store rather than a subsidized price that wireless carriers offer with two-year agreements.

These phones aren't compatible with Verizon's or Sprint's CDMA networks. If you're on AT&T, you'll be paying more for the phone without any reduction in monthly phone bills. If you're on T-Mobile, though, expect to save $20 a month, or $480 over two years. You're still paying about $70 more overall for Google's S4 and $20 more for Google's One, but it's not the hundreds of dollars you'd be paying on AT&T.

The one-time, upfront cost is $649 for Google's S4 with 16 gigabytes of storage and $599 for the One with 32 gigabytes. Both phones are available in the US only through Google's online Play store, with shipments expected by July 9.

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Infosys is my life: SD Shibulal

Despite the solid performance in first quarter of the current fiscal year, Infosys has adopted a "cautiously optimistic" stance and left its full-year growth forecast unchanged. In the third quarter of the last fiscal also, the Bangalore-based company delivered a surprisingly robust performance, only to slump back in the quarter after that.

Acknowledging the volatility in performance, in an interview with N Shivapriya and Akanksha Prasad, chief executive officer SD Shibulal cautioned against drawing conclusions about a secular trend based on a single quarter's performance. While he described analysts as "experts", Shibulal refused to comment on why they are getting Infosys estimates wrong quarter after quarter. Edited excerpts:

In the last three quarters, including this one, analyst forecasts have failed to get Infosys' performance right. In your view, why is this happening?

Our performance has been volatile in the last few quarters. Even at the end of Q3, we said that a single quarter's performance cannot be taken as a secular trend. This quarter we have done reasonably well and we have not changed our guidance. We have a few challenges which we are trying to address - high quality growth is one of them, plus there are also challenges on the cost side because salary increases will have an impact. We have to mitigate these through various methods. I do not want to comment about why analysts are getting it wrong; they are the experts. I do acknowledge that our performance has been volatile. This is one of the reasons why we are optimistically cautious and have not changed our guidance. Our guidance is a statement of fact and not a statement of hope.

Does this quarter's performance feela vindication for you?

If we look at this quarter, we have achieved 2.7% growth. On constant currency, the growth is around 3.4%, which means we lost around $40 million due to currency volatility for the quarter.

You referred to certain steps the company undertook earlier that are showing results now. What are they?

Part of the overall Infosys 3.0 strategy was to grow the consulting and system integration business, which is now strong. The second aim was to achieve balanced growth. The Business IT Services division was growing below the company's average, so we brought in a lot of focus into that segment. Our target is to bring it on a par with the company's growth rate although as a percentage of the overall revenue it may not increase because other divisions are growing faster.

What is your strategy to win large deals?

We are working on multi-tower solutions and alliancesthe one we have with IPSoft. Since business IT services is price sensitive, we need to ensure that we bring tools, automation, and operational efficiency. It is tough to balance margins and growth, but we have done it for many years and we will do it again.

What are some of the changes you are making?

There have been changes and it is part of the overall strategy. Despite competition getting aggressive and poaching people, in the last two years, we increased our sales force800 to 1,200. It depends on the way you look at the glass - half full or half empty.

For Narayana Murthy, Infosys isa middle child. What is Infosys to you?

For me, Infosys is life. Most of my life has been spent here.

With your term ending in 2015, has the company set in motion the succession planning process?

We have a nominations committee, which has the responsibility for it. They are looking at it.

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Free laptop scheme: UP govt owes HP Rs 900 crore

Four months after the Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav began distributing free laptops to students, it now turns out that Hewlett Packard, the supplier, has not been paid for more than 5 lakh laptops it has so far delivered. With a Rs 900-crore bill pending, HP has threatened to stop further supplies till dues are settled, government sources said.

In June 2012, the Samajwadi Party government had announced a budget of Rs 2,721.24 crore for distributing tablets and laptops tomeritorious students of classes X and XII. Of this, while Rs 400 crore was earmarked for tablets, the remaining was to be spent on laptops.

But funds got entangled in red tape and only Rs 312 crore was released into the accounts of district magistrates, who, in turn, are responsible for releasing funds to HP representatives in districts. Even this amount, though, has not been paid in full. "There is no clarity on why there is a in the release of funds. The government has already allocated the funds.that is needed is an order for its release," a senior government functionary said.

So far, UP has taken delivery of 5,19,600 laptops, running up a total bill of Rs 998.41 crore, according to senior government sources. According to the contract inked with HP, the government is liable to pay 90% of the total cost at the time the laptops are delivered. This amount touches Rs 900 crore.

In addition, while 5% will be paid after the company finishes conducting the training and demonstration to teachers and students at tehsil or school levels, the final 5%, the contract mandates, must be settled after a one-year maintenance period.

Of these, 79,491 have been distributed to beneficiaries. HP has also created an additional inventory of 1,41,866 laptops that can be made available to the state government immediately once a purchase order is issued. Though the complete distribution pattern of the computing gadgets had to follow a seven-month delivery schedule, HP has met the delivery targets of ahead of time.

In fact, with the rate of delivery far exceeding the rate at which the gadgets are being distributed, the company has also raised concerns about the availability of storage space for the laptops.

When contacted, HP officials confirmed delivery of more than 5 lakh laptops. They, however, refused to comment on pending payments.

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Your car may soon talk to your mobile

CHENNAI: An entertainment and communication console that seamlessly connects the phone with the car? The mobile phone-enabled 'integrated' system is a given in many high-end luxury cars but after the Ford EcoSport, the trend is now finding converts in mass market cars as well. As the mobile becomes a one-stop entertainment-cum-communication device, car companies are looking at ways to extend that connectivity to the vehicle too.

Not a cheap technology, this has so far been the premise of high-end cars including the just-launched Mercedes-Benz A-Class. But after the Ford EcoSport's SYNC system, more volume car makers are starting to wonder if the technology can come to less pricey brands in India.

Said Kenichiro Yomura, president & CEO, Nissan Motor India: "We are studying that kind of possibility and will definitely try to introduce those sort of features in India. In Japan we have the 'CarWings' (vehicle telematics) system which allows you to communicate between the car and the service centre for example. We provide this option in many models in Japan because scale makes the technology affordable and we are studying to see if it will work for India as well."

Ford and Nissan aren't the only volume car brands that are looking at bluetooth and telematics as the ultimate bells and whistles for car buyers. General Motors India packs in bluetooth, USB port and an MP3 (though no telematics) player as part of its entertainment package for the Sail hatchback and notchback and the Cruze and Captiva. Vehicle telematics is already a favoured option in a number of high-end cars. The Honda CRV and Accord for instance come with bluetooth interface.

Ditto for the Mercedes-Benz A-Class on which the iPhone can be synced seamlessly offering music playback on the head unit, audio streaming and text messages are displayed in the CD display if the bluetooth message access profile (MAP) is supported by the mobile phone.

Said Mercedes-Benz MD & CEO Eberhard Kern: "The bluetooth and phone compatibility option is standard in the A Class and it allows you to play musicyour iPhone and use the contact list to make calls etc. It's a seamless integration of entertainment and communication between the phone and the car."

Car manufacturers have been tying up with software makers to integrate the mobile with the car, making the car an extension of the entertainment-cum- communication devise . Ford for instance is working with Microsoft globally which has powered its SYNC integrated communication and entertainment technology for the EcoSport. Apple reportedly announced at its developers' meet last month that it plans to link its iOS7 mobile operating system with the techentertainment systems of passenger cars.

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See, what makes your Android phone vulnerable to hackers

LONDON: A 'master key' has been reportedly discovered by a security research firm which could potentially give cyber attackers access to almost every Android phone.

According to BBC, security research firm BlueBox has discovered the loophole which is present in every version of the Android operating system released since 2009.

The bug emerges as a result of the way Android handles cryptographic verification of the programs installed on the phone

The report said that Android uses the cryptographic signature as a way to check that an app or program is legitimate and to ensure it has not been tampered with.

Jeff ForristalBlueBox and his colleagues have found a method of tricking the way Android checks these signatures so that malicious changes to the apps go unnoticed.

Forristal said that the implications of this discovery could be 'huge' as it can take over the normal functioning of the phone and control any function thereof.

Security expert Dan Wallach said that in order to catch Android users, malicious hackers would have to get their booby-trapped version of a legitimate application on to the Google Play store.

According to the report, BlueBox had reported finding the bug to Google in February.

Google denied commenting on BlueBox discovery, the report added.

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