gadgets

Washington, June 30 (IANS) Researchers have developed a unique, multifunctional smart material that can change shape from heat or light and and also heal its scratches. Smart materials that can react to external stimuli, like light or heat, have been an interesting novelty and look almost magical as they mysteriously fold and unfold themselves. They have a variety of potential applications, such as for actuators, drug delivery systems and self-assembling devices. For instance, smart materials could change shape to unfold a solar panel on a space satellite without need of a battery-powered mechanical device. But smart materials haven’t come into widespread use because they are difficult to make and often can only perform one function at a time. The Washington State University research team developed a material that allows multiple functions at once with the potential to add more. A paper describing the material was published in Applied Materials & Interfaces, a journal of...

"The Power Wallet features a 4,000mAh battery and integrated micro-USB and Lightning cables" We've all faced the impending doom of our smartphone's battery running out of juice. While power banks do save the day, it's not possible to always haul around a hefty battery pack in our pockets. Recognising - and rectifying - this conundrum is the Power Wallet from VoltNow, which comes in the form factor of a premium leather wallet. The Power Wallet comes in two form factors - a leather wallet, and a leather folio holder. Both variants offer a power capacity of 4,000mAh, and built in micro-USB and Lightning adapters for charging most mobile devices on the go. While the Folio holder comes with six card slots and two stash pockets, the wallet comes with three card slots and a separate ID card slot. The company claims that the inbuilt battery within the wallets can charge a device twice. The battery can last for up to 1,000 charge cycles, which is pretty decent f...

Facebook hoax busted: 'All your posts can become public tomorrow' privacy notice is fakeReuters Facebook users are being treated to another legit-looking privacy notice on their feeds for the last few days. The privacy notice, which users are sharing on their walls to prevent Facebook from making their privacy posts public, has been around for years now, but for some reason has started making the rounds. Over the last few days several updates on Facebook claimed that users will have to pay a fee, and that the company has apparently released the new "price grid." However, the update is a hoax as Facebook has made no such announcement. Since 2012, similar reports stated that Facebook issued a "legal"-sounding message about user's privacy, as the company was planning to make private posts public, the Indian Express reported. Facebook's privacy notice is a hoax. Below is the latest "copyright declaration" by Facebook: All your pos...

Yesterday, the world saw the newest operating systems and features coming to the Apple ecosystem at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). But tweaks to the software could still happen up until its official release this fall. Developers can already install a beta version of iOS 10, but it’s not yet a good idea for most users. If removed, the app won’t be available elsewhere i.e. you won’t see stock info in the Notification Center or as Glances or Complications on your Apple Watch. iOS 10 will allow iPad and iPhone users to delete stock apps from the home screen of their devices. However with iOS 10, Apple has introduced a ton of changes that will make 3D Touch more compelling than ever, and one of those changes is the introduction of rich notifications. Since these apps are baked inside the iOS 10, their binary application remains inside the device itself. This may be disappointing for a lot of people who loath Apple’s built-in apps, but this distinction will surely go ...

NEW DELHI: The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is closely following its Indian counterpart's steps on the globally relevant but controversial subject of net neutrality, which guarantees free and unbiased access to the web for all. A letter dated June 15, 2016, from the US regulatory authority chairman Tom Wheeler's office to Ram Sewak Sharma, chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, apprised the latter of the FCC's recent win in the net neutrality debate with the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upholding net neutrality rules passed by the regulator last year. "Chairman Wheeler wanted me to let you know that today the US Court of appeals affirmed the FCC's open internet order (net neutrality). It was a great victory for the Commission and we hope it will help our friends around the world as they debate their own net neutrality frameworks," Mindel De La Torr, chief, International Bureau, Federal Communications C...

With an ambition to drive data usage amongst its customers, Idea has now launched the Internet for All program. Idea Cellular has announced the launch of the Internet for All program with the aim to connect millions of internet non-users and bring them online. The program allows prepaid Idea subscribers and retailers to offer one month of free Internet access to non-internet users. The user can gift 100 MB free data valid for a month to non-internet using subscriber. Idea would also send the non-internet user periodic information on how to use free data and offer various ways to latch onto the internet. The notifications are also sent to the initiator on the progress of internet usage made by the person nominated by them. As a token of appreciation, the initiator would also get 100 MB of free data credited into their account. To gift the data to non-internet users, Idea prepaid subscribers can visit http://i4all.ideacellular.com or visit retailer for VTOP. Customers can also ...

Want to enjoy some fried chicken and get your smartphone charged along with it? KFC has you covered with its 5-in-1 meal box called Watt a Box. Created in collaboration with its Mumbai-based digital agency, Blink Digital, the limited edition Watt a Box can only be won through contests held at select stores in Delhi and Mumbai, or through an online contest on KFC India’s Facebook page. The box comes with magnetic flaps and contains your usual meal but has a power bank integrated on its side. The box also comes with micro-USB and Lightning cables to charge your iPhone or Android smartphones. The best thing is the power bank is removable, so you can carry it along. The power bank claims to have a 6,100mAh battery but the claims fell short during our brief test. We put an iPhone 5s to charge, which gained 17 percent battery after charging for half-an-hour. But the downside was that the power bank was drained during this process. We recharged the power bank to 100 percent and tried ...

Researchers at the University of California have created the world's first, true 1000-core processor. But what does that mean for us and should we even care? Let's find out. To understand what a 1000-core processor really means, we need to understand what a processor is. Back to basics Let's get back to basics. A processor manipulates data in binary form—ones and zeroes. Think of it as Morse code, a pattern of dots and dashes that represent something. A short tone is a dot, a long one is a dash. A particular pattern of dots and dashes represents information. In the case of a processor, a high voltage is a one and a low voltage is a zero. A stream of varying voltages translates to a stream of data. Now come algorithms. These are a particular sequence of steps that must be followed to get a desired output. In a processor, these steps are usually hard-coded, i.e. the transistors are arranged in patterns that will replicate the function of the algorithm. You can'...

Bluetooth is one of the most universal connectivity options found on smartphones, tablets, wireless speakers and even on IoT (Internet of Things) devices such as smartwatches, fitness trackers and more. While Bluetooth 4.0 (and subsequent 4.1 and 4.2) brought Low Energy protocol, Bluetooth 5 which was recently announced in London, brings major upgrades to the communication technology. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) expects the new version to be finalized by late 2016 or early 2017. Bluetooth 5.0 will offer double speed and four times more range compared to the existing Bluetooth 4.2. It will also increase the connectionless data broadcast capacity by eight times. The IoT capabilities of Bluetooth 4.2 will also be expanded further to Bluetooth 5.0. According to Bluetooth SIG, the increased range and broadcasting capabilities will help in transferring richer data, more intelligently. It will also redefine the way Bluetooth based devices transform information. The new s...

Everyone is familiar with the Wi-Fi router that has its special place in your home and provides every family member with that much-needed internet pleasure. Whether you want to watch your favorite YouTube video or comment on your friend's FB photo, the router is one guy you can depend upon.If you don't do much with your Wi-Fi router, chances are that you might miss out on some additional features. Here is a 10-pointer guide to help you increase the speed of your WiFi router. Source: www.gizbot.com Most latest router models are self-sufficient and don't need to be rebooted that often, but you have definitely come across situations where rebooting the router makes it work just fine. Also, the first thing that your ISP's support will tell you is to reboot the router. #1 Schedule automatic reboots Most cost-effective and consumer router models have god-awful antennas, and these can be easily tampered with. To improve your router speed and connect...

Most of you must be having Facebook Messenger installed on your smartphone since Facebook has made Messenger a standalone app now. If you want to chat with your Facebook friends, you need to have Facebook Messenger installed on your device. While Facebook does keep rolling out new features to keep the users hooked, it also brings in something which adds a little fun to your experience with the Facebook Messenger. The latest element of fun is soccer game. Yes, you can now play soccer game in Facebook Messenger. Today we show you how to play soccer game in Facebook Messenger. Read on. How to play Soccer Game in Facebook Messenger Step 1: Make sure the Facebook Messenger app on your Android or iOS device is updated to the latest version. Step 2: Open Facebook Messenger and then open a chat. Tap on the ‘emoticons‘ located at the bottom right of the screen and then tap on the ‘soccer icon‘. Search for ‘soccer emoji‘ and send it to your friend. Step 3: Once you send the ‘socce...

At the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2016, Apple launched its latest iOS 10 mobile OS for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices. Although still in beta, the official public roll-out is expected to happen later this year with the launch of iPhone 7 in September. If you have upgraded to the latest software, which is still not entirely stable for regular use, and wish to go back to the earlier stable build of iOS, here's a guide to assist you. Before downgrading to an earlier version of an iOS, it is important that Apple is still signing that particular firmware. Currently, Apple is signing the iOS 9.3.2, which is also the latest stable firmware. The steps are pretty standard same as downgrading from any new OS to an older version. In order to downgrade software from the current version on your iPhone, you must manually force the iOS 9.0.2 software to the device. Make sure you follow the guide correctly to avoid any midway trouble. Disclaimer: This is a guide that assi...

Ola has introduced a new luxury category named 'Ola Lux' in Delhi NCR, which will feature high end luxury sedans and SUVs like Jaguar, Mercedes, Audi, BMW, Toyota Camry & Fortuner among other such offerings. The service will be available on the Ola app at a minimum fare of Rs 200 with a price tag of Rs 19/km and a ride time charge of Rs 2 per minute is also applicable. The launch of Ola Lux in Delhi NCR comes close on the heels of its launch in Mumbai. Raghuvesh Sarup, Head of Categories and Chief Marketing Officer at Ola said, “We have been constantly innovating to solve for every mobility need of our users, across the country. Delhi NCR is home to several top industrialists, bureaucrats and young professionals alike, who value the luxury experience. Ola Lux brings superior in-cab experience with unmatched style and comfort, at the touch of a button.” He further added, “The flexibility of not having to drive in heavy traffic or finding parking space, without compromis...

South Korean consumer electronics major LG Tuesday launched its new range 'Mosquito Away TV', which acts as mosquito repellent, in India priced between Rs. 26,900 and Rs. 47,500. "The LG Mosquito Away TV, developed as per the Indian insights by consumers, is equipped with an Ultra Sonic device which once activated, uses the sound wave technology and makes mosquitoes fly away without emitting any harmful radiations," LG Electronics India said in a statement. The company claimed the technology complies with the norms of global organisations and has been tested by International Institute of Biotechnology and Toxicology (IIBAT), India as well. "This technology does not use any chemicals, used in other toxic repellents, nor does it require refilling or any other maintenance," it said, adding the operation does not require the TV to be on to make the mosquitoes fly away. Commenting on the launch, LG Electronics Director - Home Entertainment Howard Lee sa...

Fingerprint scanners are becoming a common security hardware feature and have become one of the easiest way to secure a device. Even Microsoft has started supporting them through its Windows Hello authentication feature. But what if you have a PC that doesn't offer such mechanism? Synaptics Incorporated has announced a new ultra-small form factor USB module that can add secure fingerprint authentication to any notebook PC. Synaptics says that this USB dongle dubbed as ‘Natural ID', will help OEMs, ODMs and private companies to offer their customers a simple and inexpensive fingerprint alternative for PCs that don't come built-in with such feature. The dongle comes with a fingerprint module and is small enough to remain to always stay on your laptop, but of course that means sacrificing a USB port. It has a simple user enrolment procedure though and by a single touch of a finger users can access their PC and make full use of Windows Hello and Microsoft Passport. “...

Did you ever stop and think about the vibration motor on your phone? After today, you might want to. At the Electrical and Computer Engineering school of the University of Illinois at Ubana-Champaign, Associate professor Romit Roy Choudhury and PhD candidate Nirupam Roy, have discovered that you can be spied on using the vibration motor on your phone. The vibration motor is like a speaker, and any speaker can be used like a microphone. Choudhury and Roy wrote a paper about this. Re-arranging the applied voltage of the motor can turn the component from a speaker to a microphone. The good news is that this isn't something that can be done via remote control. Reversing the applied voltage requires someone to get into a phone and physically mess with the motor. However, it could only take a minute to set this up, soldering at "four critical junctions." The vibrations recorded really don't sound like they can be identified. But with voice recognition software, and a...

Are you going out of town, and little light on the luggage? Now, you can turn the unused baggage capacity into some extra cash. BeckFriends.com is a new peer-to-peer delivery service that pays you to carry parcels during a journey. All you have to do is log on to www.beckfriends.com, sign-up on the service, validate your identity, and share your travel schedule and weight carrying capacity. The moment a parcel becomes available on your route, you will be notified instantly. BeckFriends.com is currently available across the world, and can be used by anyone. “We, however, need links to their social profiles on Facebook or LinkedIn, and a valid document to authenticate their identify. It could be a driver’s license, passport, or an Aadhaar card,” says Deep Malhotra, who co-founded the company with Shikha Pandey and two BITS Pilani engineers, Rahul Basu and Mayukh Basu. Malhotra informs that there’s no specific size limit to parcels, but they are categorised on the basis of wheth...