Microsoft’s Siri rival Cortana caught on video

We already caught a glimpse of Microsoft’s voice-based virtual personal assistant Cortana through some screenshots earlier, but today we have a video which shows what it will look and work like.

Cortana will ask users for permission to scan their account before it gets working. You have to let look at your email, browser and search history, text messages and calendar. Cortana will need you to have a Microsoft Account and doesn’t work without one.

After you sign in with your Microsoft account, the app asks you your preferred name and will then practice saying it till you feel it’s right. It will then ask you a series of questions to determine some things about you. It will ask you things like the most enjoyable part of your evenings, your eating preferences, your motivation in life to do things, reading habits and your leisure activities.

When it’s done absorbing all this information, Cortana asks “What can I help you with?”. The video goes on to show a new feature called Quiet Hours, where Cortana will handle incoming text messages and calls when you have a meeting scheduled or are snoozing off.

While we are not any certain about this being the final build of Cortana, Microsoft has a very interesting product at hand and could revitalize the Windows Phone platform, just as Siri brought new possibilities for iOS. Cortana and Windows Phone 8.1 areexpected to be revealed at Microsoft’s Build Conference next month.

Courtsey: techfirstpost

Moto G officially launched in India, goes up for sale for starting price of Rs 12,999

The Motorola Moto G smartphone has arrived in India and it is slated to be up for grabs exclusively via Flipkart, initially at least. All the homegrown companies who deal in economically-priced phones have a reason to worry as the Moto G has been priced at merely Rs 12,999 (8GB version) and it has a huge demand in the market.

Snapdeal is another e-retailer that had the gadget up for pre-order in India and it received as many as 1000 pre-orders within the first 2 hours. This shopping portal has already run out of stock for the Motorola phone and it will start shipping in the third week of January.

Flipkart, which is exclusively selling the Moto G in the country has a lot of offers for users who purchase it on the launch day. These include discounts on eBooks, clothing and covers for the smartphone. Customers also have a chance of getting 100 percent cash back.

In case you have made up your mind to lay your hands on the gadget, you would like to know about its specifications. So here they are. The phone’s entire front panel is dominated by a 4.5-inch multi-touch screen that has a resolution of 720 pixels. A 5MP camera complete with LED flash and video recording capability has been fitted on the rear panel, while a 1.3MP webcam stays on the front. It brings Android 4.3, a quad core processor and 1GB of RAM as well.

The 8GB version of the Motorola Moto G has been priced at Rs 12,999 and its 16GB version has been pegged at Rs 14,499.

Moto G Key specs at a glance:

- 4.5-inch 720p touchscreen

- 5MP camera, 1.3MP webcam

- Android 4.3, upgradeable to KitKat 4.4

- 1.2GHz quad core Snapdragon 400 processor

- 2070mAh battery

Courtesy: mobiletor.com

Google to bring Shoppable Hangout to India

Search engine giant Google will unveil its 'Shoppable Hangout' in the country on January 20, which will allow users to interact with each other and shop online simultaneously. Google has partnered with e-Commerce Myntra.com and Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan to bring Shoppable Hangout on Google+ to India, a statement today said. 

Google+ Shoppable Hangout On Air enables up to 10 people to interact with each other on a multi-person video chat that is broadcast live to millions online, while allowing all the viewers to simultaneously shop, chat and comment. Also read: Google, other big cos to pay to use San Francisco bus stops Using this Hangout, designers or retailers can publicly broadcast a multi-person video chat about their products while customers simultaneously browse through the exclusive catalogue. "The Shoppable Hangout will provide users with a brand new online shopping experience, which will be like shopping Hrithik's clothing line with him at your side, except from participants' living rooms," 

Google India Industry Director Nitin Bawankule said. Besides products hosted on Myntra.com, the Hangout will also feature Hrithik's clothing line, HRX. It will allow fans to shop and chat with Hrithik online. "Marrying the power of technology, social media, and e-commerce, we will provide our customers a novel, more personal, and interactive way to shop online on Myntra.com," Myntra CMO Vikas Ahuja said. Roshan said he will use the opportunity to interact with his fans and shoppers to showcase his clothing line.

Courtesy: moneycontrol

Email Your Google+ Contacts; Redesigned Galaxy S5; Snapchat Update, Apology

Topping tech headlines on Thursday, Google found a new use for Google+: The search giant is allowing Gmail users to contact any Google+ connection, regardless of relationship.

The update means you can just type a connection's name into the email's recipient field, and send your message. Your address will not be visible to a Google+ connection until you actually respond, and vice versa. Of course, users can also adjust their settings to control people's level of access.

Meanwhile, Samsung revealed that its next flagship smartphone—the Galaxy S5, set for a March or April release—will be a departure from the current GS4. Without providing too many details, Mobile Executive Vice President Lee Young Hee said that the display and feel of the cover will be noticeably different. Additionally, the next-gen Galaxy Note might incorporate a wraparound display, expected later this year.

In other news, Snapchat released an app update that it says fixes a vulnerability with its Find Friends feature, and issued a somewhat belated apology for the recent leak of data from 4.6 million member accounts. Version 6.1.1 of Snapchat is now live via the App Store and Google Play, with the improved functionality that allows users to opt out of linking their phone numbers with their use name. Those who still want to use Find Friends must now verify their phone numbers before it will work.

Courtesy: pcmag.com