TechTalks Now

Google  has announced the rollout  of  Android  6.0 Marshmallow, which means that eligible Nexus devices will get it via an OTA update soon. Some manufacturers such as Motorola might ensure that the update reaches your phone sometime soon, but most people will have to wait for quite some time to get this update. However, if you are lucky enough to own a Nexus smartphone or tablet, you can manually download and install  Android 6.0 Marshmallow  on your device. We still recommend the OTA update but if you can't wait, then try this method at your own risk, after you  backup all your data . (Also see:  Six Superb Android 6.0 Marshmallow Features ) Android 6.0 Marshmallow is currently available for the following devices -  Nexus 6 ,  Nexus 5 ,  Nexus 9 Wi-Fi ,  Nexus 9 Cellular ,  Nexus 7 (2013) Wi-Fi ,  Nexus 7 (2013) Cellular , and Nexus Player.. Here's how to manually install Android 6.0 Marshmallow on t...

Most smartphones today pack huge, high-resolution screens, powerful processors and lots of memory to multitask and handle really complex tasks. This also unfortunately means that they struggle to handle a full day's worth of heavy usage, and so power banks are now a must-have accessory. The same can be said for our laptops, and the need to tether them to the plug point grows as the battery ages. Most of our consumer electronics devices come with Lithium ion and Lithium Poly batteries that are geared for quick recharging, and not for long term life. Often, you're better off replacing your battery instead of upgrading your laptop, because of how quickly the battery ages. Whether you're using a smartphone, tablet, or laptop, here are some general purpose tips on prolonging its lifecycle and usage between recharge cycles. 1) Keep it cool Exposing the battery to high temperatures can be more stressful than cycling. According to  Battery University , which r...

  In case you missed the earlier online festive season sales, the Amazon Great Indian Diwali Sale is back. You'll find offers across all categories on Amazon from 26th to 28th October. We've got the best deals in technology from the first day of the Amazon Diwali sale right here. Here are a few tips to help you make the most out of the Amazon Great Indian Diwali Sale: 1) Almost all decent deals would be a part of Lightning Deals. This means a limited set of products will be available at a special price and you'll have just 15 minutes to checkout. 2) In case you miss a Lightning Deal, it's always wise to join the waitlist. 3) Most Lightning Deals are renewed once they end, so make sure you don't give up easily. 4) Use a Citibank card to make a payment to get an additional cashback of 10% on the items available during Amazon Great Indian Diwali Sale (maximum cashback of Rs. 1750). 1. Apple iPhone 6S Apple's iPhone 6S may have been the m...

Perhaps the world could do without a new Web browser. Google's Chrome, despite being a resource and battery hog, manages to get the work done for most, while Windows 10 continues to help Microsoft Edge be the default browser for millions of users. Jon S. von Tetzchner, co-founder and former CEO of  Opera , believes that his Web browser dubbed Vivaldi can compete with the likes of Chrome  and find its own user base. Ten months and over two million downloads since the release of Vivaldi's first technical preview in January, Norway-based  Vivaldi  Technologies announces on Tuesday that its Web browser has grown mature to enter the beta phase of its life. It is available for download by anyone from the  company's website . Vivaldi's beta version label brings with it several features and improved stability, the company tells Gadgets 360. We've been testing the beta version for a week now and can recommend our readers to give it a try. It's fast, it's ...

One of the nation's most storied tech companies will split in two this weekend, another casualty of seismic shifts in the way people use technology - and big-company sluggishness in responding. Hewlett-Packard was an early pioneer of what became the model for Silicon Valley startups: Founded in 1939 by two Stanford graduates in a Palo Alto, California, garage, HP was long celebrated for its engineering know-how and laid-back corporate culture. It made hefty profits as it grew into a multinational giant that sold a wide range of computer gear and commercial tech services. But after struggling to keep pace with recent trends like the rise of smartphones and cloud computing. HP's board decided last year to create two smaller companies, each with a narrower focus. HP  Inc. will sell personal computers and printers;  Hewlett Packard  Enterprise will sell commercial computer systems, software and tech services. Starting Monday, each will trade separately on the New ...

Google, after  launching its first OnHub Wi-Fi router  in August this year, on Tuesday introduced the device's next generation model made by Asus. To note, TP-LINK made the first router. The  Asus  OnHub Wi-Fi router is priced at $219.99 (roughly Rs. 14,300), $20 (roughly Rs. 1,300) more than its predecessor, and can be pre-ordered from Google's own online store, Amazon and Newegg. While Google and Amazon have not yet mentioned when the router would be shipped, Newegg clearly states the devices to start shipping on November 3. Like the first router, the cylinder-shaped Asus OnHub links with the  Google  On app on Android and iOS devices. To recall, the app lets users know who is connected with the particular  OnHub  router and how much Internet data they are consuming. The new router brings the Wave Control feature, to boost the Wi-Fi speed for a particular device by simply waving a hand over the router. In addition, Google promi...

Lenovo on Friday launched its affordable hybrid laptop series with the new Yoga 700. The 2-in-1 laptop is available in 11-inch and 14-inch screen sizes with starting prices of $649 (roughly Rs. 42,400) and $799 (roughly Rs. 52,200) respectively in the US. The India pricing and availability details are not yet known. The Yoga 700 can be used in four different modes - laptop, tablet, tent, and stand. The audio on both Windows 10  (64-bit) laptops is powered by Dolby DS1.0 Home Theatre tech. The  Lenovo  Yoga 700 (14-inch) features a full-HD 10-point multi-touch IPS display with 700:1 contrast ratio and runs up to sixth generation Intel Core i7 processors with Intel HD Graphics 520 and 8GB DDR3L RAM. Users also have the option to include Nvidia GeForce GT 940M discrete GPU as well. It comes with up to 256GB SSD inbuilt storage  and features a HD (720p) webcam as well. The connectivity options include Wi-Fi 802.11 ac (dual band), Bluetooth 4.1, USB 3.0, USB...

Canon on Monday marked its entry into the field of ink tank printers with the launch of 4 products as part of the new Pixma G series of printers. The Pixma G Series range starts at Rs. 9,595 for the basic model (Pixma G1000) and goes up to Rs. 16,795 for the model (Pixma G3000) with Wi-Fi connectivity. The replacement ink bottles are priced at Rs. 499 per unit, for colour as well as black. The printers will be available across the country later this month. Regular inkjet printers come with a design where the ink tank is situated on the printhead, which means the ink volume in such tanks is usually pretty low and has to be replaced frequently. Ink tank printers - which have been available from the likes of  HP  and Epson until now - solve this problem by moving the ink tanks to a separate physical location, which means you can now have bigger, independent ink tanks. This design also minimises the wastage associated with tank-on-printhead design in terms of head-cleaning...

Internet giant Google is working with the Indian government on a pilot project for providing Internet connectivity by using large balloons. Google, under its 'Project Loon', is using big balloons floating at a height of 20 kilometres above the Earth's surface for transmission of Internet services. It has already tested this technology in New Zealand, California, and Brazil. "Google approached [the] government to set up the Loon project and drone-based Internet transmission. Government has approved testing of Loon project only as of now. A committee under chairmanship of Secretary, DeitY, has been formed to work on it," an official source told PTI. Google  may initially partner with  BSNL  for testing this technology by using broadband spectrum in 2.6GHz band. When contacted, a Google spokesperson refused to comment. The technology, used for 4G services, has potential to replace mobile towers as it can directly transmit signals on 4G mobile phones. ...

A large number of Facebook employees are shunning their iPhones and switching to Android devices. And they are doing it - not necessarily willingly - under strict instructions from chief product officer Chris Cox! "I am mandating a switch of a whole bunch of my team over to Android, just because people, when left up to their own devices, will often prefer an  iPhone ," Cox was reported as telling mediapersons by Wired.com  on Friday. If you thought Facebook has suddenly developed some sort of vendetta against  Apple , it is not the case. Nor is there a new bonhomie with  Google . This is a practical decision, according to Cox. Actually, a large chunk of Facebook's expanding user base in emerging markets in the developing world access the social network on  Android  devices, and not iPhones. As  Facebook  seeks to reach more people around the world, Cox said he wanted his team to switch to the world's most popular mobile platform "s...

Philips has added two new smartphones in its growing mid-range offering. The company in China announced the Sapphire S616 and the Sapphire Life V787.  Phillips  says that it has utilised a new technology called 'SoftBlue' in both the smartphones that reduces the blue light coming from a screen by up to 86 percent, thus reducing eye fatigue that most electronic displays today are credited with. Other features of  Philips Sapphire S616  sports a 5.5-inch full-HD display with a 1080x1920 pixel screen resolution. It is powered by octa-core MediaTek MT6753 SoC clocked at 1.3GHz and a Mali-T720 GPU, paired with 2GB of RAM. As for storage, the phone offers 16GB of inbuilt storage and supports microSD card for up to 128GB of additional storage. Other features of the Sapphire S616 include a 13-megapixel rear camera with an aperture of f/2.0, and a 5-megapixel wide-angle selfie shooter placed on the front. It also features a removable 3000mAh battery. The dual-SI...

Samsung is sending invites for a New Delhi launch event on Tuesday, and the company is expected to launch its new Galaxy On smartphones series in India - specifically, the Galaxy On7 and Galaxy On5. While the invitation does not mention exactly what Samsung will announce at the event, it does mention "the latest addition to its smartphone portfolio," indicating the launch of the recently unveiled Galaxy On series of smartphones. The invitation, seen below, also features the word 'On' placed in isolation, lending further credence to the launch of the Galaxy On series of smartphones. Both the Galaxy On7 and Galaxy On5 were recently listed on the company's India and China websites. The  Samsung Galaxy On5  and  Galaxy On7  smartphones sport a lot of similar specifications, with the biggest difference being the screen size. While the Galaxy On5 features a 5-inch display; the Galaxy On7 comes with 5.5-inch display. Both the handsets come with TFT touchscr...