The 10 biggest announcements from Google I/O 2016

At I/O this year, Google displayed its vision for a more ubiquitous and conversational way of interacting with technology. Its Assistant is chattier, answering natural language queries with a more human voice, and it’s found its way into several new Google products: the messenger Allo and the Echo-like speaker Home. Both are areas where other companies have a lead, but Google’s strength in AI gave these services some nice twists, doing things like automatically generating surprisingly specific reactions to photos.

Google also announced improvements to Android — though N, out of beta this summer, still needs to be named — as well as a mobile VR platform that will come with the new OS. There’s a FaceTime rival Duo as well, and a way to run Android apps without downloading anything. Below are the 10 biggest announcements.

Google has a new VR platform

DAYDREAM IS GOOGLE’S VR PLATFORM OF THE FUTURE

Google now has a mobile virtual reality platform. It's called Daydream, and it's built on top of Android N. That means it's not going to compete with the likes of the PC-powered HTC Vive or Oculus Rift (at least not yet, anyway), but looks much more powerful than Cardboard and represents a huge step in the push to advance VR out of its early stages.

From the sound of it, Daydream is a lot like Android for VR. It's a backbone of software inside Android N (simply known as "VR Mode") that provides users with an entire ecosystem to play around in. There will be a home screen with apps (which looks a lot like the Gear VR's home screen, to be honest), and Google has apparently already created special VR versions of its own apps like YouTube, Street View, the Google Play Store, Play Movies, and Google Photos. Other companies, like The New York Times, HBO, Netflix, Ubisoft, and Electronic Arts are already developing for Daydream as well.

The biggest limitation for Daydream seems to be that it will only work on new phones that have special sensors and screens. Google says that those Daydream-ready phones will be available this fall, and that we can expect to see them from Samsung, HTC, LG, Huawei, and more. The company is also releasing reference designs for headsets as a way of encouraging phonemakers to get on board with the platformhttp://www.theverge.com/2016/5/18/11701030/google-io-2016-keynote-highlights-announcements-recap

NEW DELHI: Chinese smartphone maker Lenovo has mocked bigger rivals Apple and Samsung in a YouTube video and a full-page ad in New York Times. The campaign titled 'Skip the Sevens" urges people to go for the company's flagship Moto z smartphone instead of iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, Galaxy 7 or Galaxy Note 7.

In their praise for Moto Z, Lenovo touts Moto Mods as the key feature. Moto Mods are primarily cases that add functionalities like better camera, battery and more. In the 2-minute video, Lenovo convinces iPhone loyalists to switch to Moto Z handsets with Moto Mods.Titled 'Moto Mods Presents: Skip The Sevens (Focus Groups)', the YouTube video targets so-called iPhone loyalists, makes them sit in a room and shows them the Moto Z smartphone. The twist here is that the presenter initially tells the iPhone users that it is a prototype of the next iPhone model. The handset is then shown acting as a projector, playing loud music and more using interchangeable Moto Insta-Share Projector Mod and JBL SoundBoost Mod.

In the video, the company takes indirect potshot at iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus' battery life by showing the Moto Incipio offGRID Power Pack mod, which is claimed to give 22 hours of additional battery life. For those unaware, the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus give 2 hours and 1 hours of extra battery life as compared to the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus.
In the video, before introducing the 'so-called' iPhone prototype, the presenter also asks users what they think about the latest iPhones. While some are shown saying that they really don't offer much of a difference. The others say that the new iPhones have 'little better' camera and 'little' faster processor.http://www.gadgetsnow.com/tech-news/Lenovo-to-Apple-fans-Moto-Zs-better-than-new-iPhones/articleshow/54358872.cms

Envent Launches Two Wireless And Spill Proof Speakers

 

Envent World Wide Pvt. Ltd. launches two futuristic speakers LiveFree 320 and 325. These are portable bluetooth speakers, powered by 3W drive for the ultimate sound, flaunting an ultra-stylish body which makes it a perfect music accessory. These are available at leading e-commerce websites such as Flipkart and Amazon.

These speakers are equipped with 3W drive to produce crystal clear sound. The built-in battery allows you to enjou music for 5-6 hours. International IPX4 rated water-resistant technology design, with seamless surface treatment. Perfect for those shower dances, poolside parties, outdoor hikes. With stylish and compact build, you can carry these with you easily anywhere, especially when you out for bike riding, beach, camping or indoor for shower.

These speakers are equipped with built-in microphones, so that it can double up headset for those important group conversations. Equipped with the wireless Bluetooth technology, connect to your device from up to 32 feet away. Compatible with all Bluetooth-enabled devices such as phones, tablets, laptops etc. Now no more hassles over setting the speaker up.

HP ProBook x360 Education Edition Is a Rugged 2-in-1 Laptop Aimed at Schools

 

Highlights

• The laptop is aimed for schools and children

• It will be available worldwide from December 16

• The HP ProBook x360 Education Edition runs on Window 10 latest version

HP has announced a new convertible laptop aimed just for schools. The company touts the new ProBook x360 Education Edition to be military standard certified to withstand accidental spills and drops by kids, and it is going to be made available worldwide on December 16.

The American tech company claims that the HP ProBook x360 Education Edition is the world's thinnest, yet most rugged 2-in-1 laptop out there. It has a 360-degree hinge to rotate completely into a tablet, or even a tent stand for ease of viewing. Furthermore, there's a dual camera system which uses a 1080p HD camera embedded in the keyboard to let users take video in tablet mode as well.

The 11-inch laptop runs on the latest Windows 10 Anniversary Update and is encased in hard, industrial rubber. The display features optional damage-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass to withstand drops. HP claims that its engineers put the HP ProBook x360 EE through rigorous testing to ensure that it fulfils the MIL-STD 810G standard. The test involved dropping several laptops from an elevation of up to 30 inches to ascertain it durability in school environments.

The keyboard has also been designed keeping in mind the target audience. It is meant to protect the laptop form spills of about 12 ounces of liquid, and the keys are made in a way that it cannot be picked at. It has an inbuilt 'Take a Test' app that introduces modern and secure methods of test-taking. There's also an additional 'Set up School PCs' app so that the teacher can set up devices in three easy steps, even without professional help. It supports digital Pen writing as well, and HP will sell the Active Pen as an additional accessory.

 

Zotac VR GO Backpack Launched in India: Price, Release Date, Specifications

 

Zotac has announced the India price and availability of its VR GO backpack computer, which made waves across the world when it was unveiled in early November. The VR GO will be available online in India via Prime ABGB by the end of December, priced at Rs. 1,74,999. The mini computer went on sale in other regions priced at a hefty $1,999.99 (roughly Rs. 1,36,700), and the company has finally revealed complete specifications.

To recall, the Zotac VR GO is actually a mini PC that comes with detachable straps. This, alongside a removable battery pack, enables it to be carried like a backpack, and also enjoy virtual reality (VR) content on the go. The specifications of the system include the beefy Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 graphics card with 8GB of GDDR5 video RAM, making it more than capable of handling the demanding graphics required for the output of VR content

Canon Empowers Its Projector Portfolio with WUX6010/WUX450ST and LX-MU800Z

 

Canon India Pvt. Ltd. announces the launch of new models under their Projector series, thereby strengthening Canon’s projection portfolio. The new launch includes LX-MU800Z, XEED WUX6010 and XEED WUX 450ST, loaded with world-class technology and user-friendly features.

The LX-MU800Z projector comes equipped with new Laser Light Source technology which has been introduced by Canon for the first time for its range of projectors. A perfect choice for digital signage and art exhibitions, the products are ideal for a range of applications where excellent image quality and low maintenance are essential. The XEED series projector comes with new features like hardware edge blending that gives you effortless flexibility and control over image presentation. The XEED models are also equipped with Canon’s proprietary LCOS (Liquid Crystal On Silicon) technology to create projections free of the lattice effect.

 

BenQ Zowie XL2540 Gaming Monitor With 240Hz Refresh Rate Launched 

 

BenQ on Monday launched its Zowie XL2540 gaming monitor for the gaming enthusiasts in India. The most attractive aspect about the gaming monitor is that it features a native refresh rate of 240Hz that allows for a smooth gaming experience. The monitor has been priced by the company at Rs. 45,000 in India. The Zowie brand is dedicated to e-sports equipment.

Apart from the exceptional native refresh rate, Zowie XL2540 offers the Shield feature, which allows it to adjust according to the various environments. "This monitor's adjustable angle and removable design allows Shield to adopt various environments according to preference," the company said in its press release. The Black eQualizer feature of the monitor allows it to enhance visibility in dark scenes without overexposing the bright areas, as per the company.

The BenQ Zowie XL2540 sports a 24.5-inch TN display panel with a full-HD (1920x1080 pixels) resolution, 400 nits of brightness, and 1ms response time. It bears 1 DVI-DL port, 2 HDMI ports, 1 DP1.2 port, a headphone jack, and a microphone jack. It weighs in at 7.5kg