Upcoming Moto Mod to support interchangeable lenses

Some of the currently available Moto Mods

It seems like Motorola’s Moto Mod portfolio is getting some really cool additions this year. A Reddit user, who has seen the development of upcoming Moto Mods first-hand, spilled some juicy details about the upcoming Moto Mods.
According to this Redditor, Motorola is developing a new camera mod, a speaker mod, a projector mod and even a drone mod for the Moto Z-series of phones.

Upcoming Moto Camera Mod

Redditor claims that the upcoming camera mod will support interchangeable lenses from manufacturers like Sony, Canon and Nikon. This will be huge deal, given that this mod will massively increase the scope of photography from the Moto Z phones. No specifics are known as this point, but this camera mod will most likely be quite bulky and expensive.
To remind you, Motorola already offers a camera mod from Hasselblad, which adds 10x optical zoom support and a xenon flash.

Upgraded Moto Projector Mod

Motorola’s existing projector mod is reportedly getting an upgrade. The new mod will be 35% brighter than the existing mod as well as pack an even bigger battery. The existing Moto Insta Share Projector Mod offers 50 lumens of brightness and includes an 1100 mAh battery.

Moto LCS Mod

The LCS stands for low-cost speaker. As the name suggests, this will be an affordable speaker mod for the Moto Z-series. There is already a $80 JBL speaker mod in the company’s portfolio, but this upcoming mod will most likely be cheaper than that.

Drone Mod

Lastly, this very weird Moto Mod basically attaches a drone to the back of the phone. This drone can fly, take photos and fly back on its own. It is clear if a controller is going to be in tow or everything is autonomous. This mod was said to be coming soon, but the manufacturer backed out at the last moment, so its fate is unclear at this moment.
No other details about any of these upcoming Moto Mods are available right now, but hopefully we will hear from the company soon.

Google’s $1.1 billion acquisition of 2,000 HTC employees is complete

Update (January 30, 2018): Google has officially closed the deal with HTC. The company on Tuesday announced the news on its official blog. The search giant stated that with the newly integrated team from HTC, Taipei will now become the largest Google engineering center in Asia Pacific.
As per reports, over 2000 HTC employees from the smartphone team have joined Google and they will be working on the company’s Pixel devices and other related products.
Earlier (September 21, 2017): Google has inked an agreement with Taiwanese manufacturer HTC to acquire part of the company’s smartphone team. The deal, which is valued at $1.1 billion, will also get the search giant a non-exclusive license for HTC intellectual property (IP).
HTC explained in a press release that the company’s certain employees, many of whom worked on Pixel smartphones, will be joining Google.
“A team of HTC talent will join Google as part of the hardware organization. These future fellow Googlers are amazing folks we’ve already been working with closely on the Pixel smartphone line, and we’re excited to see what we can do together as one team,” wrote Rick Osterloh, Senior Vice President, Hardware at Google in a blog post.
With this deal, HTC lives to fight another day. The company has just got another lifeline with $1.1 billion cash infusion, which will help it to develop the future smartphone portfolio and enhance the Vive virtual reality business.
The limited and specific nature of the current deal also makes sense of Google given their experience with Motorola Mobility. This move could bring Google closer to achieving the hardware/software synergy that has worked so well for iPhone, however the Mountain View-based company will still use off-the-shelf processors (unlike Apple) in its smartphones.

LG G6 and LG Q6 get new colour options

LG is expanding the available colour options for its G6 and Q6 smartphones. The company on Tuesday announced that the G6 will get three new colours – Moroccan Blue, Lavender Violet, Raspberry Rose, and the Q6 will get two new colours – Moroccan Blue and Lavender Violet. LG had earlier released these colours on its V30 phone. 

The increase in the colour options takes the total number of colours available for LG G6 to eight, whereas Q6 will now be offered in a total of seven colours.
According to LG, the new colour options for both phones will first go on sale in South Korea, the company’s home market, in February, followed by release in other countries. The pricing of the new colours will be same as the existing variants.
“LG is focusing on producing smartphones that are both high quality and emotionally expressive. We want customers to be able to express their distinct personalities through LG’s unique and diverse range of color options,” said Park Hee-wook, VP and head of product planning for LG Mobile, in a statement.
To remind you, LG G6 was originally unveiled at last year’s Mobile World Congress in February and the Q6 debuted in July. Here is a quick recap of the specifications of both smartphones.

LG G6 full specifications

• 5.7-inch 18:9 FullVision display with 2880x1440p resolution
• 2.35GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 quad-core processor
• 13MP dual rear cameras, 5MP selfie camera
• 3300 mAh non-removable battery
• Android 7.0 Nougat operating system
• 4GB of RAM, 64GB of internal storage, microSD card slot
• IP68 water and dust resistance, fingerprint sensor
• USB Type C port, 4G VoLTE, Wifi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC
• Dimensions: 148.9mm x 71.9mm x 7.9mm; Weight: 163 grams

LG Q6 full specifications

• 5.5-inch 18:9 FullVision display  with 2160x1080p resolution
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 processor
• 3GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, microSD card slot
• 13MP rear camera with LED flash, 5MP front shooter
• 3,000mAh battery
• Android 7.1.1 Nougat operating system
• Dimensions: 142.5mm x 69.3mm x 8.1mm; Weight: 149 grams
• 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2

In related news, LG Italy recently revealed that the G6 will receive the Android Oreo update in the second quarter of this year.

How to connect OnePlus 5/5T with TV

OnePlus 5 was launched in 2017 and later in the year end was joined by 5T with some awesome features. But both have a small catch that they are just 5.5-inch which is a good size indeed but how about 40, 55, 65, 85 inches display? Here we are talking about your TVs, no matter whether they are smart or not. Today, we will let you know how to connect your OnePlus 5/5T with TV.

The device has a display of 1080p which we would say is fine but then again not very impressive. So if you are the one who loves to watch videos, play games etc on phone and want to play on the big screen. Screens like your TV, monitor or projector, then here’s a guide to connect your OnePlus 5/5T with TV.
W know most of the users know that it can be done, but how?, is the question. I faced the same dilemma. But don’t worry we are here to help you. Here, we will share with you three simple ways in which you can connect your OnePlus 5 to big screen i.e TV. Whether you have a wired or wireless TV  we are here for you.

Ways to connect OnePlus 5/5T with TV:

1. Android Miracast

One of the best way to mirror your OnePlus 5 device to your television screen. So be it your TV, projector or monitor you can use Miracast to connect it. Though the option of connecting Miracast is available in most of the latest TV’s, but if you don’t have the option then we have an answer to that too.
2. Fire TV stick or Amazon’s Fire TV
Now let us tell you how to cast your device.

1. You need to simply pull down the notification panel.
2. Then in the quick setting shade press the cast option.
3. You need to turn on the wireless display option by clicking the three dots.
4. Under the list of the devices you will get the option of your TV which you need to select.
5. And then you can simply mirror your screen.
6. There can also be a chance under the results option your dongle or TV does not appear.
7. Then you need to enable the mirroring mode on your TV or dongle.

Once done you will be able to enjoy over the big screen.

3. Option of HDMI, MHC or USB-C

We know this one is a much easy option. But the bad luck is that you guys can’t use it as this option isn’t supported on OnePlus 5. So you need to buy a wireless device through which you can cast your device. Not to worry guys if we get a solution we will be the first to update you. But for now you need a wireless device.

4. Chromecast

The best part about using Chromecast is that it is a Google branded device and is available and used across the world. The device is pretty stable too and it makes using Chromecast as the best option. There are other features too, supporting the views above. One such is that you once connected to Chromecast you can use your OnePlus 5 like a remote.
So if you want to watch a video on Youtube or a movie or show over Netflix then you just need to select the one on your device. Chromecast will directly play the video or movie on your TV through the internet. This feature cuts the role played by the phone as a middlemen.
You just need to simply download the Google Home app and set up the chromecast. And it’s done, so whenever you on the video you get the cast option just need to click it to mirror it.
Overall, I would suggest Chromecast is a good option and easy to use too. Though users can even prefer Miracast depending on the availability and choice.

How to change OnePlus 5 Font style and Font size

OnePlus the chinese smartphone maker has made a great name in the industry with it’s awesome features and quality. OnePlus launched about just in total 6 phones which have been better and fast every time. Today, Let’s see how to change OnePlus 5 font style in the guide below.

The device OnePlus 5 which was launched last year was not only a good looking one but also with some powerful features and fast processor. When it comes to camera it will click some real awesome and clear pictures. For this the camera of OnePlus uses 2 lenses which actually differentiates between you and the environment. This means the device will focus on you more than the surroundings. And well the device also has 8GB RAM, enough to run about number of apps in the background. This enhances the speed of the device. We also have OnePlus 5 Soft Gold review, showcasing its full potential.
Also check: Fix OnePlus 5 Issues: Adaptive brightness, MTP not working and Performance problems
Along with that wireless charging and Android Nougat 7.1.2 makes this device even more awesome. But nowadays along with these features we also love to design out smartphone with some pretty wallpapers, themes and font. These internal features give a daily new feel and refreshing feel about our device even if it is an year old.

Change OnePlus 5 font style

Here we will help you with how to change the OnePlus 5 font style as well as the size. And trust me it isn’t a difficult task.

1. First step is that you need to simply click on the menu button and then directly go to settings.
2. Once you enter the settings option, the next step is you need to go to the customisation. After the you will get the option of Fonts.

And if you are reading this you can follow the guide and do it now itself.
3. After you click on the font you will get couple of fonts to choose from:

• Roboto
• OnePlus Sans

You also have the option of selecting each of them and checking how will the font look. I know both of them are awesome ones. And we can’t select both of them so the best option is select the one you like the most.
And after sometime when you are bored of it, you can select the next one. Further, from Play Store you can change font from the set of apps which will help you change the font on OnePlus 5.
Also check: How to fix OnePlus 5 not turning on or booting issue

Change OnePlus 5 Font Size

Well, apart from changing the font style, you also have the option to change the size of the font. You just need to check it under the Font options in the settings under display.
You can change the font size and even preview it so you will get an idea the one you want to prefer.

• Head over to Settings
• Open Display tab
• Change the Font Size

And then you can select your favorite font style and even comment below and tell us which one is you liked the most. So others can try that and get a refreshing feeling.
If you want more customisation, you can flash custom ROM as we have picked some best custom Roms for OnePlus 5.
That’s it from the Guide to change OnePlus 5 Font.

Temple Run 2 crosses the 500 Million Download mark

Temple Run 2 crosses the 500 million download mark. Temple Run 2 is very popular game and it was launched back in January 2013.
After the launch of this app in Play store it becomes the fastest growing game. As it has been downloaded 50 million times in just 13 Days which is quite remarkable at that time.

Imangi Studios which developed this game still updating it with new features time to time. In Result Temple Run 2 is still very popular among the kids even now.
Temple Run redefined mobile gaming. In this game you have to do running, jumping, turning and sliding.
You have to Navigate perilous cliffs, zip lines, mines and forests as you try to escape with the cursed idol.
While doing that you will get Score and gems based on your performance.
Moreover, on the 5th anniversary update Temple Run 2 gets some new objectives and features go try those.

Microsoft Bing Search for Android gets new update

Microsoft is rolling out new updates for most of its apps to match the new trend of User Interface in its apps.

Last week, Microsoft Edge browser received an update along with extending the support in many new countries.

Coming back to the Bing for Android update,which packs some new features and improvements.

Bing search is evolving and now many new features are getting into the fold of Bing Search for Android App.

Microsoft rolls out new incremental updates with new features and fixes.

This time also, they have improved the browser experience on Android.

They have added ability to find text on the page. There’s also improved the experience of both the video, images tab.

Further, developers have also improved the maps and local awnsers integration in the search.

Some features are limited to the US but most of the features are available worldwide.

Bing search update is now available in the Play Store and can be download with any hiccup.

If you are using Bing search, then you should update your app to get the latest features and improvements.

The update to the app link is embedded in the source below.

The post Microsoft Bing Search for Android gets new update .

UAE INNOVATION
MONTH

February 2018

 

 

 

INNOVATION ON THE GO

 

 

 

 

UAE Innovation Month

Following the success of UAE Innovation Week 2015 and 2016, UAE Innovation Month was announced to celebrate “innovation” across the nation. The Month-long festival aims to:

• Contribute to strengthening the country's position as a global hub for innovation
• Enhance the development of innovative ideas and capabilities, and creates a widespread culture of innovation
• Celebrate innovation in the UAE and supports the national innovation strategy

UAE Innovation Month is one of the largest innovation festivals in the world and a consolidated effort by government, the private sector and individuals to help create a widespread culture of innovation in the UAE.

Visit :- https://www.uaeinnovates.gov.ae

 

 

 

 

Copyrights 2017 - 2018 UAE Prime Minister's Office.   

MI TV 4A Online Booking Flipkart @ Rs 23800 – 50 Inch MI 4K HDR TV Price & Release Date, Specifications

Xiaomi MI TV 4A Online Booking Flipkart :Xiaomi presents the MI TV 4A in India with 4K HDR 50 Inch @ Rs 23,880. The Xiaomi MI TV 4A Flash sale has been started on Flipkart, Amazon and other e-commerce portals within this affordable price range. Own one MI TV Online through pre-booking it from Flipkart, Amazon and other portals. Check more details of MI TV 4A 50 Inch Features, specifications and more details from the following article.

 

MI TV 4A Online Booking @ Rs 23800 – 50 Inch MI 4K HDR TV Price & Release Date, Specifications

MI TV 4A Online Booking/ Registration Pre Order : MI TV 4A is the 50 Inch Smart TV launched by Xiaomi with an affordable price. The TV has packed with incredibly good features. The MI TV can be pre-booked online through Flipkart, Amazon and other portals. Check the features, specifications of MI TV and proceed to book MI TV Online. You can Check Xiaomi MI 4A TV Release Date, MI 4K HDR TV Specifications & Features. Xiaomi Mi TV 4A Buy Online @ RS 23,800.

 

Xiaomi MI 4K HDR 50 inch TV Features, Specifications Details

Most of the people are eager to order MI TV 4A online just because of the features and detail it has. The Xiaomi MI TV has got huge craze in India for its MI 4A HDR and other best features incorporated in it.
Xiaomi MI 4K HDR TV with 50-inch Big Display. It gives the best experience in watching movies, shows, and others on MI TV. you can check How to Order MI 4A TV Online. Xiaomi Launches MI 4K HDR 50 Inch TV at Cost Effective Price. MI 4K TV Pre Booking and Registration Online.

 

Also Read : Jio Coin Buy Online

MI TV Packed with High-Quality Engine with 50-inch LCD Screen:
MI TV 4A is accessible online which has a 50-inch screen with quality screen LCD screen and you can even choose MI 4A TV Flipkart booking or some other shopping website like Amazon, Snapdeal, and eBay.
Voice Remote Announced and Bluetooth:

 

Voice remote included the MI 4K 50-inch display TV and Bluetooth sensor got the in addition to the purpose of fascination, Touch replaces and substantially more. Television got many and different choices, where clients can enjoy the interface promotion engage themselves with the alternatives accessible with the MI TV 4A.
Video Format and Audio Supports:
When you discuss the help which can access to the MI TV 4A 50 inch, at that point it covers all the maximum parameters like Wi-fi, Stereo speaker with boisterous sound ability of 2*5 W
Protection Mode- Safe for Eyes
The MI TV 4A is having the eye protected mode that is safe for eyes. With this protected feature, children will have no damage to their eyes while watching the television.

MI TV 4A Release Date in India& Price Expectation :

Most of the Xiaomi fans are desperately waiting to book MI TV. The Xiaomi has announced that the MI TV will be accessible in India from the month end. The TV will be accessible to buy on various online portals such as Flipkart, Amazon, Snapdeal, eBay, and others shortly. The MI has opened the pre-booking for MI TV in India. Interested persons can pre-order MI TV 4A by visiting the portals.

Xiaomi MI 4A TV Price in India

The MI TV is expected to be priced @ Rs 23,880 in India. Pre-Order MI TV 4A 50″ HDR ON Amazon, Flipkart, eBay, and Snapdeal. In China the new Xiaomi 50-inch Mi TV 4A has been priced at CNY 2,399 (it Appproximately Rs. 23,800 in india).
Xiaomi MI TV 4A Pre-Booking Registration Form Online
Xiaomi MI TV 4A pre-booking through online Flipkart/Amazon/MI and other portals. The 50 Inch TV is now accessible to pre-order. Visit Amazon, Flipkart, eBay, Snapdeal and other portals and search for Xiaomi MI TV 4A on the portals. Place the order on Xiaomi Mi TV.
At same time, Mi TV 4A Pre Order Booking reportedly begin on Friday and will go on sale on January 23. Xiaomi is also said to be offering a CNY 100 (roughly Rs. 1,000) discount when sales begin. Xiaomi also has a Mi TV 4, which is an upgrade to the Mi TV 4A series.

Hitman Sniper is free in Google Play Store [Deal]

Square Enix is offering the Hitman Sniper game for free in the Play Store for a limited period. You can grab the game from here. There is no word on how long this promotion is going to last, so if like sniper games, get it as soon as possible.
Hitman Sniper was originally released back in 2015 with a $4.99 price-tag and has since received multiple price-cuts. These days, it is sold for $0.99 in the US and just INR 30 in India.

Xiaomi rumoured to be working on Mi Mix 2s phone

When your fancy new smartphone doesn’t sell well, fix the issues and launch a new version in a matter of months. This seems to be the philosophy of the Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi right now. If rumours coming out of China are to be believed, the company is working on a new phone called Mi Mix 2s. As the name suggests, it will be a variant of the company’s much touted Mi Mix 2 phone.
Although it has been just over four months since Xiaomi unveiled the Mi Mix 2, the lacklustre reception to the phone seem to have forced the company to work on this new variant.
The reports suggest that Mi Mix 2s may make it début ahead of the next month’s Mobile World Congress.
No specifics are known at this point, but it is possible that Xiaomi will upgrade the processor from Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 in Mix 2 to Snapdragon 845 in Mix 2s. Additionally, the company is likely to include an upgraded camera sensor in the new phone because camera was one of the weak-points of the Mix 2. Other specifications of the Mi Mix 2 were quite decent, so I am not expecting any major changes in them.
To remind you, the Xiaomi’s Mi Mix-series includes the best of what the company has to offer to its consumers. The original Mi Mix smartphone was one of the first device to feature bare-minimum bezels.
Considering the specs of Mi Mix 2, here is what we may see in the Mi Mix 2s

• Operating system: Android 8.0 Oreo-based MIUI 9
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 octa-core processor
• 6 or 8GB of RAM, upto 256GB of internal storage
• 5.99-inch 1080×2160p IPS LCD
• USB Type-C port
• Fingerprint sensor

In related news, Xiaomi is also reportedly bringing Redmi Note 5 in the coming weeks. The phone will have two versions and it has already been certified in China. Contrary to earlier rumours that Redmi 5 Plus may be released as Redmi Note 5 outside China, the Note 5 is expected to be a completely new phone.

Xiaomi Mi A1 Android 8.0 Oreo update roll-out restarted

Xiaomi Mi A1 Android 8.0 Oreo update roll-out restarted Update (Jan 26): Xiaomi has restarted the Android Oreo update roll-out for the Mi A1 smartphone. You can go to settings > software update to look for the OTA update now. In addition to all the Oreo goodies, the update includes January Android security patches and the following fixes and improvements. Optimized audio parameters. No more “quick charge” on the lock-screen when charging. Performance optimizations from MIUI Fixed bluetooth power consumption issue and missing dialer icon Fixed camera connection issues and network problems Updated Feedback app Faster fingerprint unlocking Update (Jan 13, 2018): Xiaomi has suspended the roll-out of the Android Oreo update for Mi A1. It is expected to restart in the next few weeks. Update (Dec 31): Barely keeping its promise of providing the Android 8.0 Oreo update for Mi A1 before the end of this year, Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has released the final Oreo update for the smartphone. The update is now automatically reaching the Mi A1 owners over-the-air (OTA). As the software update are released in batches, it will take a few days in reaching all the consumers. “We’re ending the year with an O! #MiA1 users, stay tuned as we’re rolling out your long-awaited update in batches but make sure you’re already on the latest December update (7.12.19) to receive Android O!,” Xiaomi wrote in a tweet. The update is over 1107MB in size. The complete changelog is not available at this point, but you can expect to see the usual Oreo goodies like notification dots, autofill for passwords, picture-in-picture support, faster boot times, new emojis and more. Earlier (Dec 12): Mi A1 getting Android Oreo beta Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has released the Android 8.0 Oreo beta update for the select Mi A1 owners, who had signed up to be a beta tester. The update is rolling out now over-the-air (OTA) and will reach your Mi A1 unit if you had registered for the beta. You can read more about the Mi A1 beta update participation at this link. As per the reports on MIUI forums, the Oreo beta is over 1104MB in size.  If everything goes well, we will probably see the stable version roll-out before the end of this year. If you have already installed the Oreo beta on your phone, do let us know about the experience in the comments section. Also read: Best Android Oreo features To remind you, Mi A1 is Xiaomi’s first Android One smartphone. It was launched in September this year with Android 7.1 Nougat on-board. Apart from Oreo, the Mi A1 will receive at least one more major Android ‘release (Android P). It features a 5.5-inch full HD screen and is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 octa-core processor. It also packs 4GB of RAM, 64GB of internal storage, dual rear cameras with 12-megapixel wide-angle and 12-megapixel telephoto lens and 5MP selfie camera. In related news, Xiaomi India recently announced the first price-cut for Mi A1. The phone is now available at INR 13,999 in India. It is offered in Black, Gold and Rose Gold colour options.

Nokia 8 getting Android 8.1 beta update

After a successful roll-out of the Android 8.0 Oreo update in November last year for the Nokia 8 smartphone, HMD Global has released the beta of the Android 8.1 update for the phone. According to the company, the beta update is now available and can be installed by joining the Nokia beta labs.
If you are already a member of the Nokia beta labs, your phone will automatically receive the Android 8.1 beta OTA update notification.
“Be our guest as we serve Android Oreo 8.1 beta for Nokia 8. Updating your device today will enable a host of new features. And most importantly – the hamburger emoji fix with cheese now on top of the patty,” wrote Juho Sarvikas, Chief Product Officer, HMD Global, in a tweet.
Last line of Juho’s statement takes a dig at the Android hamburger emoji episode, when someone pointed to Google CEO Sundar Pichai that the hamburger emoji on Android has cheese below the patty rather than on top of the patty. Pichai had replied that he will drop everything else and get right on that. The emoji fix was one of the changes introduced in Android 8.1 release.
Android 8.1 Oreo was announced in December, 2017 and includes a number of new APIs and other improvements. Among the consumer-facing changes, the update brings settings revamp, quick settings update, notification shade changes, final Oreo easter egg, and more. You can read the full list of changes in this report.
Nokia 8 was the first Nokia phone to get Android 8.0 and now, it seems to be all set to become the first Nokia to get Android 8.1 as well. The company has said that Nokia 2 will directly jump to Android 8.1 and the phone could be next in line to get the 8.1 update after Nokia 8. Among other Nokia Oreo updates, the company has already released the update for Nokia 6 (2018) and Nokia 7 phones. Nokia 6 (2017) and Nokia 5 are currently undergoing the beta testing and should be getting the final update soon.

Audiobooks officially launched in Google Play Store

Audiobooks officially launched in Google Play Store

Google has announced the launch of the audiobooks in its Play Store. Although mostly known for hosting Android apps and games, Google Play is the search giant’s storefront for all of its content offerings like Movies, TV shows, Music, eBooks, and Magazines.
In a blog post today, Google revealed that audiobooks are rolling out today in 45 countries and nine languages. The audiobooks will be accessible to the users across Android, iOS and the web with Google Play Books, as well as on Google Assistant-powered devices, like the Google Home. However, the Google Assistant support will only work with English-language audiobooks right now. The Play Books app will also support casting of audiobooks on Chromecast as well as playback on Android Wear and Android Auto. The audiobook playback will also sync across devices, so you can just pick up where you left off no matter what device you’re using.
“With audiobooks on Google Play, you can turn your time stuck in traffic, on the treadmill, or waiting in line into reading time,” Google wrote in the blog spot.
Unlike Amazon’s Audible, which includes subscription as a key component, Google is going to sell individual audiobooks. According to Google, most of the popular titles are being offered for under $10 (at least for the time-being). For markets where Google currently offers Family Library, the users will be able to share their purchased audiobooks with other family members for free.
Google also notes that like eBooks, the consumers will be able sample the audiobooks before purchasing them by selecting the preview option.
To celebrate the launch of audiobooks in Google Play, the search giant is offering promotional pricing on many audiobooks. So, if you are into audiobooks, it will be a good time to grab a few for cheap.
Although India seems to among the supported countries, the audiobooks page us currently coming up empty for me in Google Play, but it may change in the few hours or by the morning.



Update: The legal view on VPN use in the UAE

TRA responds to hoax Dh5,000 VPN fine SMS

TRA responds to hoax Dh5,000 VPN fine SMS

A hoax SMS went viral this week, asking some residents to pay Dh5,000 fine at the nearest police station for illegal use of VPN.

UAE's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) responded to rumours regarding paying Dh5,000 fine at the nearest police station for using VPN.

Taking to Twitter on Sunday night, both etisalat and TRA rubbished the message as fake as it wasn't sent by them.

The hoax message was flagged on Twitter after UAE netizens tweeted a screen grab of the message to the concerned authorities.

The hoax message was flagged on Twitter after UAE netizens tweeted a screen grab of the message to the concerned authorities.

Dear Sumerah, please note that this message is not from Etisalat.

— Etisalat UAE (@etisalat) January 22, 2018

Update: The legal view on VPN use in the UAE

The UAE’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has said that the updated laws regarding VPN use in the UAE will not affect “legitimate” users of a virtual private network.

A new series of UAE laws regarding IT crimes were released earlier this month, with one stating that now anyone using a VPN or proxy server in the UAE ‘to commit or prevent the discovery of a crime’ can be imprisoned and/or fined between Dhs500,000 and Dhs2 million.

The fine for such an offence was previously between Dhs150,000 and Dhs500,000.

THE LEGAL VIEW

The new law regarding VPNs states that “whoever uses a fraudulent computer network protocol address (IP address) by using a false address or a third-party address by any other means for the purpose of committing a crime or preventing its discovery, shall be punished by temporary imprisonment and a fine of no less than Dhs500,000 and not exceeding Dhs2 million, or either of these two penalties.”

Andrew Fawcett, senior associate, TMT at Al Tamimi & Company told Gulf Business that they “are still working on determining the definitive position on last week’s amendment – but at this stage, our view is the reports [in the media] overstate its effect.”

“The primary change is actually just an increase of the applicable fines (from the previous Dhs15,000 to Dhs500,000 to the new Dhs500,000 to Dhs2,000,000),” he explained.

“The change does not appear to make using a VPN on its own illegal – it still requires using a fraudulent IP address for the purpose of committing a crime or preventing its discovery (which was already the case under the “old” Article 9, which has been around since 2012).

“However a potential issue is what constitutes a “crime” may be broader in the UAE context,” Fawcett admitted.

For instance, as Gulf Business pointed out, using an information technology tool to “encourage, incite or promote sins” is considered a crime under Article 35 of the cybercrimes law. A service provider (not a user) supplying a regulated activity such as VoIP telephony (eg Skype) without a licence is also illegal under the UAE telecommunications law.

GOVERNMENT REPONSE

But the TRA has said on its Twitter account that the laws only “target those who misuse virtual network services and will not affect any legitimate activity consistent with UAE laws”

They go on to explain that the law does not affect banks, companies and institutions that use VPNs to gain access to internal networks for legitimate reasons.

“Using it for the purpose of manipulating internet protocols with the intent to commit any fraud or crime is punishable by law,” the authority explained.

MORE ON VPNS

This news comes after the country has started clamping down on online piracy: last month, a man in Abu Dhabi was jailed for stealing and illegally uploading a raft of television series and films from TV platform OSN.

The updated law was issued by President of the UAE Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and have been reported by the official government news service WAM.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with VPNs, they allow internet users to connect to a private network online, providing them with privacy and hiding their location.

A VPN can be used to bypass region restrictions – such as gaining access to British TV channels or services such as Netflix US all the way from the UAE.

TRA denies Dh5,000 fine for using VPN

Telecommunications Regulatory Authority dismisses rumour about Dh5,000 fine for anyone using VPN technology

Dubai: The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority has denied a viral message about imposing a Dh5,000 fine for using Virtual Private Network (VPN) technology.

The TRA called on the public not to circulate the message.

In the UAE, VPN services are used by some private individuals to access VoIP services, access some of the blocked websites and to watch geographically-restricted services.

Users with an American or a European subscription could watch any of the streaming services in the UAE with a VPN.

PM #Modi Has Merely #Renamed 19 Out Of 23 #Congress Schemes

PM #Modi Has Merely #Renamed 19 Out Of 23 #Congress Schemes

We found that 19 of the 23 programmes were indeed renamed versions of older schemes, as #ShashiTharoor claimed.

Claim 1: Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana = Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account

Claim 2: Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Yojana = National Girl Child Day programmes

Claim 3: Swach Bharat Abhiyan = Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan

Claim 4: Sardar Patel National Urban Housing Mission = Rajiv Awaas Yojana

Claim 5: Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (Gramin) = Indira Awaas Yojana

Claim 6: Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana = Rajiv Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana

Claim 7: Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation = Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission

Claim 8: Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana = Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme

Claim 9: BJP’s neem-coated urea = Congress’s neem-coated urea

Claim 10: Soil Health Card scheme = National Project on Management of Soil Health and Fertility

Claim 11: Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana = Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana and other programmes

Claim 12: Pradhan Mantri Matritva Vandana Yojana = Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana

Claim 13: Atal Pension Yojana = Swavalamban Yojana

Claim 14: Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana = Jan Aushadhi scheme

Claim 15: Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana = Comprehensive Crop Insurance Scheme

Claim 16: Make In India = National Manufacturing Policy

Claim 17: Digital India = National eGovernance Plan

Claim 18: Skill India = National Skill Development Programme

Claim 19: Mission Indradhanush = Universal Immunisation Programme

Claim 20: Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana = National Rural Livelihood Mission

Claim 21: PAHAL = Direct Benefits Transfer for LPG

Claim 22: BharatNet = National Optic Fibre Network

Claim 23: Sagarmala = National Maritime Development Programme

#NAMECHANGE