ITV

Category: Technology

  • Tinyowl Homemade expands platform offering to Bengaluru

    Tinyowl Homemade expands platform offering to Bengaluru

    MUMBAI: The food ordering app, Tinyowl has launched Tinyowl Homemade in Bengaluru. The company is expanding this platform in Bengaluru after the good response in Mumbai.

     

    Tinyowl Homemade has attracted over 500 orders a day across the three localities of Powai, Andheri and Bandra in Mumbai.

     

    Tinyowl co-founder & CEO Harshvardhan Mandad said, “We have seen immense growth in this segment. Tinyowl Homemade will be able to provide more options to our consumers and other stakeholders in the food eco-system. We aim to take Tinyowl Homemade to other cities as well in the near future.”

     

    “We also believe that today’s chef is tomorrow’s restaurant and there is huge dormant talent and opportunity lying with the housewives of today. Tinyowl Homemade is the right opportunity for empowering such talented homemakers,” Mandad added. 

     

    Tinyowl Homemade did a pilot project at Bangalore in August with three cuisine options and one dessert option. The responses within the first month have been extremely encouraging for the company. 

     

    Tinyowl Homemade currently offers only lunch in Bengaluru and is live in BTM, Koramangla, HSR, and Indira Nagar. Homemade works with 150 chefs in Mumbai and 15 in Bengaluru will gradually increase to over 100 in the next few months. 

     

    The app lists 30 – 40 dishes a day, 74 per cent being vegetarian. The home-chefs are charged a commission of 15 – 30 per cent of dish value, average order value being Rs 250.

     

    The company was launched in 2014 by five IITians.

  • Amazon Web Services acquires video solutions company Elemental

    Amazon Web Services acquires video solutions company Elemental

    MUMBAI: Amazon Web Services (AWS) has agreed to acquire Elemental Technologies, Inc., which is a software-defined video solutions company for multiscreen content delivery.

     

    The acquisition brings together Elemental’s video solutions with the AWS Cloud platform to provide media and entertainment (M&E) companies with integrated solutions to scale video infrastructures as the media industry increasingly moves to internet based delivery.

     

    Elemental software makes it easy for M&E companies to take live and on-demand video destined for traditional networks like cable, satellite, or over-the-air broadcast and re-format that content for distribution to PCs and smart phones, tablets, and TVs. 

     

    “Elemental shares Amazon’s passion for invention and putting the customer first. Together, we’ll collaborate on deeper technology integrations and new infrastructure offerings so that media and entertainment companies can evolve their hybrid and cloud models as they continue to innovate their services for viewers,” said Amazon Web Services SVP Andy Jassy.

     

    Elemental will continue to operate its business under its existing brand, delivering the full range of solutions for pay TV operators, content programmers, broadcasters, governments, and enterprise customers. Elemental will also expand the integration of its offerings with AWS, and through close collaboration with AWS, accelerate the innovation of next-generation services that feature a range of solutions for customers leveraging on-premises assets, hybrid architectures, and cloud.

     

    “The media and entertainment industry is at a unique inflection point, and as a part of Amazon, we will be in an even stronger position to help our customers delight their viewers globally. We’re thrilled to have Amazon supporting our growth and ongoing commitment to our customers’ success,” said Elemental co-founder and CEO Sam Blackman.

     

    Elemental has more than 700 media franchise customers and powers over-the-top (OTT) TV applications like the BBC’s iPlayer, CNNGo, ESPN Score Center, HBO Go, MSNBC Shift, and Sky Go & Sky Now. Additionally, Elemental is supporting the world’s first 4K Ultra HD services including those that were delivered by the BBC during the 2014 World Cup.

  • Lookup joins hands with Roadrunnr for deliveries across three metros

    Lookup joins hands with Roadrunnr for deliveries across three metros

    MUMBAI: Hyperlocal mobile messaging app Lookup has joined hands with Bangalore based startup Roadrunnr to introduce deliveries across Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi. 

     

    With this association, any store keeper who wishes to provide deliveries can now do so when they get an order through Lookup.

     

    Lookup CEO Deepak Ravindran said, “Logistics has time criticality and optimum routing challenges and this can be solved only through an approach augmented with excellent operational skills. By partnering with Roadrunnr, we can enhance our technology platform, expand nationally and build a dense delivery network that will benefit all our retailers and customers with quick access to everything.”

     

    “We see Lookup as a serious player in the hyperlocal e-commerce space. Lookup’s customer experience coupled with Roadrunnr’s p2p logistics is a game changer,” added Roadrunnr co-founder and CEO Mohit Kumar. 

     

    The company now plans to take this model across India and develop the largest fleet of on demand hyperlocal delivery carriers in the country.

     

    Users can order anything from their local stores ranging from food, groceries, medicines, electronics amongst others and there is no minimum order.

  • Masstech to spotlight latest innovations for advanced workflows, media asset management and newsrooms at IBC2015

    Masstech to spotlight latest innovations for advanced workflows, media asset management and newsrooms at IBC2015

    MUMBAI: Masstech — the trusted provider of innovative, advanced workflow and media asset management solutions — will showcase the company’s latest software offerings and enhancements at the IBC2015 Conference and Exhibition, taking place September 11-15 in Amsterdam.

     

    Masstech will co-exhibit in the stand of partner MOG Technologies, number 7.K28. The two companies have worked closely together to integrate MOG’s mxfSPEEDRAIL ingest systems with Masstech’s media management solutions, enabling efficient, cohesive, automated workflows from production and ingest to archive and distribution.

     

    Through a combination of technology demonstrations and insightful one-on-one discussions with Masstech experts, attendees can learn how Masstech’s solutions and expertise enable media organizations to efficiently and easily manage their valuable digital media content and all of its related information throughout its lifecycle.

     

    Masstech media asset management solutions will also be featured in the Disk Archive Corporation stand (number 8.B38f), working in conjunction with the ALTO-II secure, high-performance, disk-based media archive.

     

    Masstech’s latest solutions address the evolving challenges of media management, from exponentially growing volumes of content, to increasing collaboration, to the expanding processing and storage requirements of higher-resolution formats such as 4K Ultra HD. Built on the latest generation of the powerful and flexible MassStore software engine, Masstech solutions bring tangible operational and business benefits to applications including:

     

    * Advanced Workflows — Unparalleled third-party integrations seamlessly streamline even the most complex environments spanning disparate vendors, products and versions. Direct integration interfaces with popular production, automation, playout, storage and distribution systems eliminate workflow barriers to maximize efficiency and simplify operations.

     

    * Media Asset Management — With an intuitive new HTML5 user interface, rich support for unstructured metadata, search engine enhancements, embedded player and more, the latest version of MassStore makes it faster and easier than ever before for media organizations of any size to store, find, reuse, move and manage their valuable content and all of its related information.

     

    * Newsrooms — Masstech enables effortless archiving and sharing directly within journalists’ familiar newsroom system interface, eliminating workflow barriers to let them focus on producing content-rich stories in less time. Already deployed in newsrooms spanning 10 station groups that cover the U.S. from coast to coast, significant recent orders are continuing the solution’s rapidly expanding adoption.

     

    * Archive — Masstech’s scalable content storage management delivers unmatched ROI with no storage capacity-based fees. Intelligent tiered storage management is ideal for the larger file sizes involved in 4K workflows, and Masstech supports a broad range of online, nearline and deep storage options, from disk drive based storage to Sony Optical Disc Archive and LTO data tape libraries.

     

    “Our solutions have always excelled at addressing complex workflow challenges and simplifying media operations, and the need for media organizations to streamline their file-based workflows is greater than ever,” said Joe French, President and CEO of Masstech. “Today’s media environments, built up over time, are often a complicated mix of poorly-coupled products from different vendors. Evolving business and operational requirements such as increased multi-site collaboration and the integration of 4K processes with existing HD pipelines threaten to further compound this situation. We’re excited to show IBC attendees how we can solve these challenges while reducing complexity and making their lives easier.”

     

    Leading media companies worldwide depend on Masstech to deliver superior user experiences, exceptional ROI and frictionless media asset management workflows that enable them to maximize their efficiency, monetize their content across multiple platforms, create better productions, enhance their competitive position, and save time and money.

  • Hoppr & Tiny Mogul integrated under Hike Messenger

    Hoppr & Tiny Mogul integrated under Hike Messenger

    NEW DELHI: Hoppr & Tiny Mogul Games (TMG) have been integrated under the Internet company Hike Messenger.

     

    In the last year itself, Tiny Mogul Games amassed five million downloads including hit games like Shiva: The Time Bender, the first Indian game to be featured by Google Play globally.

     

    With the integration, Hike will bring quality gaming to the platform, with the aim of building it into a service that goes beyond simple messaging.

     

    In addition to games, the integration will bring coupons from a host of 200 brands to Hike.

     

    Hike Messenger founder and CEO Kavin Bharti Mittal said, “We’re excited to take a big leap forward in our mission to bring India online as we bring everything under the Hike brand. From Day 1, we’ve believed that messaging will be a gateway to the internet for the masses in India and this move reflects just that.”

     

    He added, “By the end of the year we’ll truly see Hike, India’s first messaging application emerge as the platform that will bring India online in a big way. We’re just getting started.”

     

    According to the Ericsson Mobility and Quettra report, Hike is the biggest made in India app by active usage. The messenger is India’s first and only home grown messaging app and is extremely localized to the needs of the Indian market with over 35 million users sending 10 billion messages per month.

     

    Hoppr was launched in 2012 as a location based check-in service that works across all mobile devices, with the aim to build the hyper local commerce ecosystem in India, wherein consumers get to explore rewards and offers available with brands and merchants in their vicinity.

     

    On the other hand, Tiny Mogul Games was set up in 2013 and has been operational for over two years and launched more than twelve games for Android.

  • News Republic – Cricbuzz partner to bring cricket scores on mobile

    News Republic – Cricbuzz partner to bring cricket scores on mobile

    NEW DELHI: Global mobile media group News Republic has entered into a strategic partnership with Cricbuzz, which will allow its app users to access the latest cricket news and scores of all matches. 

     

    News Republic India country director Radhika Shukla said, “We want to ensure that our users have access to the news from all genres. Bringing the excitement of sports news to our readers is something we are delighted to do.”

     

    Cricbuzz.com CEO Pankaj Chhaparwal added, “Being a part of digital media, we understand the importance of expanding our user base continuously and with News Republic coming to India, we are excited to get on board and offer cricket updates to its growing audience.”

     

    News Republic app users can now read the Cricbuzz content that is, “news” and “latest scores” side by side with one easy tap, share it and save it to view later while travelling even when they are offline. They can also receive notifications every time there is a new article from Cricbuzz.

     

    The app provides a variety of content to its readers across all genres ranging from politics, business, sports, entertainment, technology etc.

     

    With 1,500 licensed news feeds worldwide, News Republic shares 50,000 unique articles every day from news organisations like Reuters, BBC, AFP, Bloomberg, Guardian, HuffingtonPost and Mashable amongst others.

     

    In India, News Republic has partnered with Hindustan Times, India Today, Aaj Tak, Business Today, Cricbuzz, New Indian Express, Oneindia, BBC, India.com and others. The apps also incorporate RSS feeds to cover specialized reader interests.

  • Cricbuzz hops on as title sponsor for 2015 Sri Lanka Vs India Test series

    Cricbuzz hops on as title sponsor for 2015 Sri Lanka Vs India Test series

    MUMBAI: Times Internet’s mobile cricket news and information venture Cricbuzz has hopped on board as the title sponsor for the Sri Lanka vs India 2015 Test Series.

     

    This sponsorship marks a major investment by the cricket information platform as it looks to build its association with the sport through the test series, which will take place between 12 August – 1 September, 2015.

     

    The 20-day tour includes three Test matches. The English feed will be shown live on Sony Six and Sony Six HD, while Sony Kix will be relaying the Hindi feed.

     

    Cricbuzz CEO Pankaj Chhaparwal said, “We are thrilled with the association, which represents a great opportunity towards scaling up our user base and operations. Cricket is the defining sport in capturing consumer interest and through this engagement, we will look to exponentially increase our global visibility and footprint. Through the years, we have built a sizeable, strong and loyal user base, and with Cricbuzz being the top cricket app in the world, we will look to consolidate our position as the preferred destination for cricket.”

  • Made-in-India STBs sale to witness 15% growth in DAS phase 4

    Made-in-India STBs sale to witness 15% growth in DAS phase 4

    NEW DELHI: With the government’s emphasis on Make in India, local manufacturing of set top boxes (STBs) that are built within the country is showing a steady increase, even as India continued to lead STB shipments for the quarter ended June 2015 accounting for about 94 per cent of the total shipments to the SAARC region (Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka).

     

    With digitisation in India and other countries in the region propelling the demand for SD STBs to HDTV and hybrid boxes, the STB market in major South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation countries is witnessing steady and robust growth.

     

    According to research from Dataxis, indigenous manufacturing had been merely five per cent in the Phase I and Phase II of Digital Addressable System (DAS). While this has seen a steady growth in the third phase, the sale of Made-in-India STBs is likely to witness growth up to 15 per cent in the fourth phase of digitization.

     

    “Local manufacturing in India, which got a shot in the arm with the Indian government’s Make-in-India initiative, is slowly picking up as indigenous brands are signing deals with MSOs in third and fourth stage. The local STB brands are opting to independent, regional MSOs than the pan-India MSOs or national players,” says Dataxis analyst Sreeja VN.

     

    STB shipments to SAARC countries have witnessed 20 per cent quarter-on-quarter growth during the second quarter of 2015. In Q2 2015, 4.38 million STBs were shipped in the SAARC region with an estimated value of $96 million.

     

    The Dataxis research also finds that the quantity of the STB shipments in India the first half of this year has declined compared to the same period a year ago. However, the total number of STBs shipped in Q2 2015 registered an increase on quarter-on-quarter basis.

     

    Technicolor tops the STB shipments to SAARC in the Q2 2015. The company’s recent deal to acquire Cisco’s STB unit could further bolster Technicolor’s presence in the SAARC STB market.

     

    Airtel Digital TV, Dish TV and Videocon d2h, the three major DTH players have announced their plans to focus on deploying indigenous brands, which will give a boost to domestic manufacturing of STBs in India. The first half of the 2015 also witnessed DTH players partnering with Indian brands to source STBs manufactured indigenously.

     

    Another notable trend, according to Dataxis Research, is the increasing demand for HD STBs in the region. Dataxis’s analysis of STB shipment for the H1 2014 and H1 2015 depicts steady growth in the volume of HD STBs shipped to India. The rise in the number of HD STBs has also contributed to a rise in the average selling price of STBs shipped in the first half of 2015 compared to the same period last year.

     

    The report says that the key STB vendors for the quarter are: Technicolor, Skyworth, Changhong, Huawei and Coship (international vendors), and Mybox, One-eIGHT technologies, Trend Electronics, Ridsys, and Willet Communications (domestic vendors). 

  • Pulp Strategy Communications launches Hindu calendar app

    Pulp Strategy Communications launches Hindu calendar app

    MUMBAI: Pulp Strategy Communications has launched a utility lifestyle app called Hindu Calender. With this, the company has digitized all the information one needs pertaining to Hindu festive and religious dates, auspicious occasions and even astrology.

     

    The app gives ready access to the traditional Hindu calendar with a new digital UI. Based on the Hindu panchang, it marks out tithis, fasting days such as Sankashti, Ekadashi, Shivrathri as well as the Vedic Ritu, Paksha, Nakshatra, Mithuna (Sunsign), Dhanu (Moonsign), Yoga, sun rise and sun set time and Rahu Kalam. It highlights daily and pooja muhurat along with details on all the prominent Hindu festivals, legends, rituals, pooja vidhi and even customary recipes of traditional Indian delicacies.

     

    Keeping in mind how people are usually very keen on basing crucial decisions based on their astrological impact, the app provides information about important dates, daily Muhurats, important festivals and rituals.

     

    Pulp Strategy Communications spokesperson said, “Indians today reside across the world, in small nuclear families, many times the elders are away and there is no one to check for small rituals that possibly grandma or mom used to keep a track of, the app has those stories, popular folk lore, historical information as well as the complex religious rituals for those of our generation who want to follow traditions of their ancestors but may not have the information available on the how and when.” 

  • Former Microsoft India MD Srini Koppolu launches Veooz app

    Former Microsoft India MD Srini Koppolu launches Veooz app

    MUMBAI: In order to provide easy access to relevant news, former Microsoft India MD Srini Koppolu has launched a news app. Christened Veooz, the app will bring easy access to breaking news and important stories, selected from thousands of sources using patented algorithms.

     

    Those involved along with Koppolu are IIIT-Hyderabad dean R&D professor Vasudeva Varma and search, machine learning and natural language processing (NLP) expert Dr. Prasad Pingali. Veooz is the one stop solution for news with support for multiple languages, countries, cities, topics and personalization.

     

    “With a vision to provide easy access to relevant news to the widest audience across the world, we are making the Veooz app available in 10 languages in India along with the English versions for 40 countries,” said Veooz founder and CEO Koppolu. “Majority of the people from India can use the app in their language and stay current with important stories,” he added.

     

    Veooz enables users to experience stories in multiple ways. They can skim through the headlines, read a short summary, or the full story. Using 360 feature, they can get in-depth coverage on a story with related stories, pictures, videos, and live buzz. The app has the unique capability to pull ‘the buzz’ related to a story, filter out noise and show posts which are meaningful and from influential people.

     

    With more than 100,000 topics to choose from, users can follow general topics such as technology, business, sports, entertainment, fashion, travel or follow specific celebrities, companies, products, cities, hashtags and more. Veooz personalization engine will generate custom designed My Veooz news feed with the right mix of stories, so that user never misses any important story on their interests.

     

    “Veooz is powered by a highly scalable platform that continuously discovers and analyzes stories from thousands of news, magazine, blog sources and millions of posts, pictures, videos from all major social networks, and selects relevant stories using heuristics based on news and social media signals. Using patented algorithms, auto-curated feeds are generated in real time for 40 countries, 2000 cities, thousands of topics,” added Veooz founder, CTO Prasad Pingali.

     

    It is a free app that can be installed on Android and iOS devices.