ITV

Tag: Microsoft

  • Google buys new startups-Emu and Directr

    Google buys new startups-Emu and Directr

    MUMBAI: Google recently acquired two start-up companies; a movie making app Directr and a messaging app Emu. The acquisitions were made to augment its messaging technology and its video advertising business.

     

     The move was confirmed by the Emu team on its website. The announcement said, “As of 25 August 2014, we’ll be shutting down the Emu app. It will no longer be available in the App Store and existing users won’t be able to send, receive or download messages.”

     

    Founded by a former employee of Apple and Google Gummi Hafsteinsson and Dave Feldman, who previously worked for Microsoft and Yahoo, Emu, the instant mobile messaging app also integrates Siri or Google Now-like virtual assistant.

     

     “We know it’s an inconvenience and we regret that,” Emu said on its website.

     

    The Emu messenger app made its debut on Android in October last year, while the Emu for iPhone app began in April this year.

     

    Google’s YouTube unit acquired a mobile-video app Directr- a two-year old company used by small businesses to create marketing promotional videos. According to an announcement by the company, the app will now be available free without the in-app fees, which was up to $500 for the premium offering.

     

    Corroborating the acquisition, the Directr team said “We are incredibly excited to take the next step on that journey and announce that we are joining the video ads team at YouTube. For now, everything you love about Directr is staying the same and we’ll continue to focus on helping businesses create great video quickly and easily. One immediate bonus: Directr will soon be all free, all the time.”

     

    Directr offers a mobile app for Apple iOS platform that makes it easy for small businesses to shoot, edit and upload short videos. It assists users with frame selection and building a storyboard, adding background music, and subtitles. The Directr iOS apps come in two variants; one for personal use and one for business.

     

    YouTube also declared the acquisition on Google+ saying, “Directr is joining the YouTube ads team, where they’ll help us make it easier for advertisers to create and upload awesome videos.”

  • Nokia MixRadio broadens the horizon for music lovers in India

    Nokia MixRadio broadens the horizon for music lovers in India

    MUMBAI: Nokia MixRadio, the popular global music streaming service today announced its collaboration with talented musician and popular artiste, Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. Ustad Khan joins a long list of celebrated artistes such as Lady Gaga and India’s very own Priyanka Chopra to collaborate with the popular music app – Nokia MixRadio.

     

    Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan will also be exclusively curating playlists for Nokia MixRadio giving music lovers across 31 countries exclusive access and insight to the singer’s renditions and musical tastes. This service will be available across popular ranges such as the Nokia Lumia and the Nokia X family.

     

    Mr. Viral Oza, Director Marketing, Nokia India Sales, a subsidiary of Microsoft Mobile Oy says, “As Nokia MixRadio expands into the emerging market of digital global music streaming in developing markets, it is slated to see an upswing of growth resulting in one in every fifteen users coming from India. To cater to this rising user demographic we are slated to position Nokia MixRadio as the ultimate gateway to not only offer diversely curated domestic music but also the best of international music. Through our collaboration with an iconic artiste like Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan we look to give our consumers across different platforms the best music experience at their fingertips”

     

    Speaking ahead of the occasion, Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan said, “It is great to experience what Mix Radio is all about and being part of such a project is overwhelming. I want my album “Back 2 Love” to reach out to the masses and global audience. Mix Radio is surely the best way forward for this. The producer of this album, Salman Ahmed and MD of UMI, Devraj Sanyal both have been instrumental in making this happen. There are two amazing videos as well which I am sure will be loved by all my music lovers”.

     

    Devraj  Sanyal, Managing Director, Universal Music/EMI Music, South Asia said; “The long awaited new album ‘Back 2 Love’ from the legend Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is a collection of ten stunning new soulful songs and is easily his best work to date. Being his first new album in seven years, it needed a launch platform that will do justice on a global scale and we believe that there is no better place than to launch on MixRadio.”

     

    “Nokia has been and continues to be one of our most valued partners. After just launching Priyanka Chopra’s new International single globally on MixRadio, we are now ready to take our partnership with MixRadio further with the launch of Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s new album ‘Back 2 Love’ to a worldwide audience”, concluded Sanyal.

     

    MixRadio is also equipped with a unique PlayMe feature allowing users to discover 30 million tracks and at the touch of a button, taking playlists offline. When data connection is not available, the feature offers users the opportunity to enjoy music anytime anywhere, by taking hours of music and mixes offline, perfect for commuting and avoiding data costs.

     

    As digital revenues show an increase of 43% in 2013 globally and are set to top $5.9 billion in 2014, MixRadio will deliver its personalized, unique listening experience, allowing listeners across the globe to access the most popular playlists created by musical experts and celebrities that are free of adverts, sign ups or subscriptions.

  • Microsoft launches Nokia XL in India

    Microsoft launches Nokia XL in India

    MUMBAI: Last week after launching Nokia 630 in the affordable category, Microsoft Devices today announced that Nokia XL. Nokia XL is considered to be the flagship large screen offering under the Nokia X family of affordable smartphones that run Android apps, will begin selling in India soon. The device is priced at Rs 11,489.

     

    Commenting on the launch of the product, Nokia India Sales (subsidiary of Microsoft Mobile Oy) Director Marketing Viral Oza said, “With the Nokia X Family we look to offer a variety of choices to our consumers at different price points.  After receiving a great response with the Nokia X, which introduced the category to this market, we are now bringing the much awaited Nokia XL and X+ to our consumers. Nokia XL, our flagship offering within the Nokia X family, comes packed with a large screen experience with a superlative front camera and a wide array of apps, offering a great Smartphone experience at an affordable price point. This will be further amplified through the X+ which will be simultaneously launched with the XL completing the Nokia X family serving as the perfect introduction to the world of Android apps, coupled with signature Nokia experiences, and the most popular Microsoft services.”

     

    To allow consumers to enjoy apps on Nokia XL, Microsoft Devices has tied up with Airtel to give users free unlimited download of Android Apps for six months. The plan allows upto 500MB of free usage through which consumers can download the apps via the Nokia Store and the 1Mobile store.

     

    The Nokia XL device is the next offering in the Nokia X family which includes Nokia X, launched earlier this year in India, and the Nokia X+  launched simultaneously  comes armed with an enhanced RAM (768MB) for even faster multitasking and is  priced at Rs. 8,399. The new Nokia X family is the perfect introduction to the world of Android apps, coupled with signature Nokia experiences, and the most popular Microsoft services. 

     

    Consumers can access and download a wide array of Android apps, which can be side loaded as well as downloaded through Nokia’s own store and several popular third-party apps. Leading global apps will be available at launch for the Nokia X family of devices, including Facebook, LINE Free Voice and Messages, LINE Camera, LINE Bubble, Picsart, Plants vs. Zombies 2, Real Football 2014, Skype, Spotify, Swift key, Twitter, Viber, Vine and WeChat, among others. Additionally, as a first for Nokia customers around the world, BBM, a premier mobile messaging platform, will also be available on the Nokia X family of devices.

  • Microsoft to go aggressive on digital

    Microsoft to go aggressive on digital

    MUMBAI: After acquiring Nokia, Microsoft has lost no time in launching the Nokia Lumia 630 in India in the affordable segment. Single SIM and dual SIM variants of the smart phone are available for Rs 10,500 and Rs 11,500, respectively.

     

    An Economic Times report earlier this month said that Microsoft was targeting the $50-billion affordable handset market globally, with special focus on emerging markets, including India, where 80 per cent of the market leans towards smart phones priced below Rs 10,000. With the launch of the Nokia Lumia 630, Microsoft is certainly prepping to give other handset makers a run for their money.

     

    Nokia Lumia 630 is the first device in India with the latest Windows Phone 8.1 OS. This is significant as various media reports have said that Windows Phone is the fastest growing ecosystem in the smart phone market and research firm IDC has even said it was the third biggest OS in the fourth quarter of 2013.

     

    Not surprisingly, expectations from the Nokia Lumia 630 are much higher as compared to the price at which it is positioned. To attract consumers, the brand has rolled out special offers which include 3G data for 2 months (1GB limit) from Vodafone, a 2 month subscription for Box TV and eBooks worth Rs 2,000 from Flipkart.

     

    Nokia India Director-Sales Raghuvesh Sarup mentioned that the brand will soon roll out a television and print campaign to market this product. Apart from this, Sarup said that the brand is expected to push around 50 per cent of its communication via digital. Interestingly, the blogger community will be involved frequently in the coming days.

  • HDS creates ‘#TheBigShot’ campaign for Bing

    HDS creates ‘#TheBigShot’ campaign for Bing

    MUMBAI: Hungama Digital Services has created a unique and one-of-its kind photography led social media campaign for Bing, one of the leading search engines by Microsoft.
     

    Bing’s homepage displays spectacular images across genres that people like to engage with; keeping this as the driving thought, HDS designed Bing’s #TheBigShot campaign that aims to bring together budding photographers to share their images with Bing and MSN to become part of Bing’s homepage imagery. The 6 week contest kick started on 10th March, 2014. Weekly themes will be unveiled by the Jury, thus inviting entries for submission in each of the categories.
     

    “We are very pleased to partner with Hungama Digital Services for this initiative. The Bing search engine is steadily gaining momentum and its visual richness is one of its top features. We are therefore excited about reaching out to top photographers across the country with our joint campaign”, says Vinay Kumar, APAC Head, Bing Partnerships.

    A celebrated jury comprising leading photographers of India such as Hari Menon, Rathika Ramaswamy, Venky of Photriya Photography and Dr. Ceaser Sengupta will not only be screening the entries, they will also aid amateur photographers with tips and tutorials to hone their photographic skills. The jury will declare a weekly winner in each of the categories, who will have their image featured on the Bing homepage for a day. Bing will also enlarge the image to poster size and send it across to them. Besides being featured in the downloadable wallpaper pack of the Microsoft website, the winning entries will be featured prominently on Bing and MSN India Facebook pages.

     
    “Images can have a very deep and lasting impact. Bing is a pioneer in this space with the beautiful imagery that goes on every day on the search engine. It makes for a beautiful experience! So we thought, why not involve our fans and ask them to contribute? Through #TheBigShot campaign, we want to nurture budding photographers and provide them with a platform to showcase their work, making it a one of its kind social media campaign”, says Kunal Arora, Head Digital Services, Hungama Digital Services.
     

    Bing’s #TheBigShot campaign reaches out to anyone and everyone who is interested in photography including amateur photographers. It will include all forms of photography across categories and themes such as People and Cultures of India, Emotions, Wildlife, Birds, Landscapes, Cityscapes and Night Life, In the lap of Nature, Macro, Micro, flora and fauna as well as Abstract.
     

    In order to participate in the contest, fans have to follow Bing India’s official Facebook page and submit their images for various themes suggested by Bing India over a span of 6 weeks.

  • Xbox One becomes an instant hit

    Xbox One becomes an instant hit

    MUMBAI: Microsoft Corp that launched its new gaming console Xbox One on Friday was an instant hit with the gaming fans. One million consoles were picked up within 24 hours of its launch 13 countries.

     

    Xbox One that is available at $499, offers improved graphics for realistic effects, processors that allow faster game play and a slew of exclusive video games.

     

    Looking at the instant popularity that it has got, Microsoft has reportedly described it as the biggest launch in Xbox history, setting a new sales record at the company.

     

    The consoles were sold out at most retail shops, according to reports.

  • Google, Bing join hands to eliminate illicit searches

    Google, Bing join hands to eliminate illicit searches

    MUMABI: While the availability of information online has turned out to be a blessing for almost everybody, it is also disturbing for parents who fear their kids getting exposed to unwanted data. Coming to their rescue are two of the world’s leading search engines — Google and Bing, who will jointly handle the menace of illicit searches made by under age kids on the cyber space.

     

    Now about 100,000 search keywords are going to be listed as illegal words. Moreover, someone searching for those keywords will not only be prohibited from viewing the search results but also be informed that his or her search is illegal. Soon, the strategy will be extended to 150 languages on global scale to make a huge difference.

     

    According to Google CEO Eric Schmidt, child sexual exploitation can be eliminated by terminating such keyword searches.

     

    The parent company of Bing, Microsoft has also stated that they have had zero-tolerance policy for any such material but now they are going to make it stricter.

     

    UK’s National Crime Agency and Internet Watch Foundation will help the internet giants in this initiative.   

  • Microsofts Xbox One aimed at greater linkage between PC and live TV

    Microsofts Xbox One aimed at greater linkage between PC and live TV

    NEW DELHI: Microsoft has created an extensive video walkthrough of the Xbox One dashboard, taking one through the general UI and how to access video games, apps and the new integration with live TV.

    The 12-minute tour by Microsoft’s Marc Whitten and Yusuf Mehdi is a thorough and accurate representation of the general Xbox One user experience. The pair show what is available on the Home tab, as well as how to save favourite content in the Pins area over on the left-hand edge.

    Visually, it does not look too different from the Xbox 360 but the customisation option and personalisation offered by the Xbox One appears impressive, says thewebnext.com. The dashboard will change automatically depending on who is signed in; the updated Kinect will identify who is in the room and then adjust the on-screen tiles and pins accordingly.

    It does not matter which console is being used as all preferences will carry over as soon as one logs in with an Xbox Live account. If multiple players are logged-in simultaneously, one can also switch between custom dashboards using the phrase: “Show my stuff”.

    App switching also looks snappy and responsive. Whitten calls out a series of oral commands to alternate between Hulu, Netflix, Internet Explorer and live TV, and the Xbox One appears to handle it all with only a minimal amount of lag.

    The video walkthrough also shows how notifications will be presented over live TV. One can be completely removed from the dashboard experience, but the Xbox One will give an alert whenever Skype or multiplayer requests come through on the system.

    Most of the focus and media coverage around the Xbox One has concerned its launch line-up, hardware specs and controversial DRM policies (all of which have now been reversed). As Microsoft ventures further into the casual market however, it’s increasingly important that the Xbox One offers an accessible, stress-free user experience. If owners are frustrated or confused by the new dashboard, the chances of them using their Xbox One as the default input for all of their games, streaming and live TV will be nil.

  • Microsoft to Skype in China later this month

    Microsoft to Skype in China later this month

    NEW DELHI: Microsoft, which had officially acquired Skype in 2011, is taking over Skype’s operations in China from 24 November.

    Skype China is still being run by TOM Online – part of Tom Group – a mobile internet company in the country. Skype describes TOM as a majority joint venture partner that helps to provide access to Skype for Chinese customers, “using a modified version that follows Chinese regulations, called TOM-Skype.”

     

    TOM-Skype’s website says that TOM will be handing over Skype to Microsoft on November 24.

     

    In the announcement, it was also revealed that Skype has currently surpassed 100 million users in China.

     

    When Skype turned 10 earlier this year, it announced that the service has helped connect more than 300 million people around the world, letting them talk for more than 1.4 trillion minutes (2.6 million years of conversations). It is not clear if the 300 million figure refers to registered users, but China’s users stand at one-third of the number of people Skype has ever connected.

    There is growing usage of messaging apps in China including WeChat, China Telecom’s Yixin and Alibaba’s Laiwang. 

  • ‘Play with Chhota Bheem’ on Windows smartphones and tablets

    ‘Play with Chhota Bheem’ on Windows smartphones and tablets

    NEW DELHI: The animation character Chhota Bheem is coming on the Windows platform with his gang on the ‘Play with Chhota Bheem’ app.

    With the introduction of the brand new app on Windows 8 and Windows Phone, children can interact with Chhota Bheem via fun games and other interactive content.

    The app has been designed as children love the eminently lovable Chhota Bheem. It will show Chhota Bheem’s mood change with each tap of a finger, dancing and singing, and will help kids hone their learning skills along the way with games like ‘Memory game’, ‘Bulls-Eye challenge’ and a set of jigsaw puzzles. With every level that they complete successfully, kids can unlock Chhota Bheem’s most popular moves – ranging from juggling and eating laddoos to pulling the moon down to earth. 

    Talking about the app, Green Gold Animation VP – business development Govinda Talluri said, “Our association with Microsoft goes a long way and we are committed to work more closely with them in future to bring our hugely popular kids icon Chhota Bheem closer to kids. We are confident that our latest offering for Windows 8 and Windows Phone – ‘Play With Chhota Bheem’ will be loved by all the kids.”

    On the partnership with Green Gold Animation, Microsoft Corporation India director – Evangelism Harish Vaidyanathan said, “We are proud to partner with Green Gold Animation to create this engaging and interactive app for children. This app is available exclusively on Windows 8 and Windows Phone, underlining our commitment to bringing unique app experiences on the Windows platform. We are sure that kids will enjoy the app greatly.”

    This app can be downloaded on the Windows Phone 8. The Kid’s Corner feature on Windows Phone 8 allows you to store apps and other content meant for children separately that can be accessed by swiping left from the lock screen of the phone.