Apple partners with Flipkart to sell iPhone 7 online in India

Apple partners with Flipkart to sell iPhone 7 online in India

In an attempt to better control the pricing of its products, Apple has partnered with Flipkart, India’s largest e-commerce website. Though Flipkart has always sold Apple’s products, this is the first time it will directly source inventory from Apple's distribution channel in the country.

Apple does not sell products directly in India and has a network of distributors and authorized resellers. Unlike the US and other markets, where one can buy Apple products directly from the company's website, buyers in India are directed to third-party retail stores as Apple does not have the license to sell products directly.

Prior to the partnership, Flipkart relied on third-party retailers for selling Apple products via its marketplace. This enabled (and sometimes forced) Flipkart to give heavy discounts on iPhones and other Apple products to match the offering by rivals Amazon India and Paytm among others in gaining GMV, or gross merchandise value.

"Partnering with Flipkart means Apple will have a better control on pricing unlike what happened last year when pricing for Apple products across leading ecommerce players was largely unstable. This might also be a good move for Flipkart from value perspective when whole focus has been shifted from GMV lately," Tarun Pathak, Senior Telecom analyst with marketing research firm Counterpoint Research told Mashable India. 

Though Flipkart might lose on those customers who are looking to purchase an iPhone at discounted prices, the company will get two things that its rivals won’t — better supply chain and marketing support from Apple. The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will launch in India on Oct. 7, and they are likely to be in short supply during the first few weeks. 

Apple also has a partnership with Infibeam, another ecommerce company in India to directly sell iPhones. Its new tie-up with Flipkart however includes plans to sell products such as iPads and Mac lineup as well. Flipkart is the biggest player in online smartphone sales. It sold roughly half of all the smartphones sold online in India last year, according to Counterpoint Research. 

For a Company that is known for its high priced products, Apple was on the receiving end of the ecommerce price war in India. Last year, Amazon India, Paytm, Flipkart and Snapdeal offered the iPhones with enticing discounts. As a result, the iPhone 6s base model, which was officially priced at Rs 63,000 ($945), was selling on e-commerce sites for as low as Rs 45,000 ($675) days after its availability.

Ecommerce sites are steadily becoming a major platform for smartphone sales. For instance, sales through online shopping portals amounted for 32 percent of the overall smartphone sales by volume in Q2 2016, according to Counterpoint Research.

Apple’s partnership with Flipkart comes weeks ahead of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus launch in India, which is scheduled for Oct. 7. The iPhone 7 starts at Rs 60,000 ($900), whereas the base iPhone 7 Plus model is priced at Rs 72,000 ($1,080). The company has also revised prices of its last year’s iPhones, with the iPhone 6s now starting at Rs 50,000 ($750).

This blog was first published on: http://mashable.com/2016/09/23/apple-flipkart-partnership-india-iphone-7-launch/

5 Most Important Things to Consider Before You Buy a Small Business Security System

 As your small business grows, you’ll likely consider investing in a security system to protect employees, customer data, inventory, computers, and equipment

While the advantages of having a business security system are many, it’s also a sizeable investment, so it’s best to analyze what you potentially need and how much you can expect to pay for each type of monitoring before choosing a provider.

Here are the five most important things to consider when choosing a security system to protect your business.

Related Article: Stay Secure: 5 Key Steps to Taking a Proactive Approach to IT Security

1. DIY Installation vs. Professional Installation

Do you want to have someone come to your business and install a security system, test it for proper functionality, and ensure that the system is operational? Or, do you feel confident enough in your technological abilities to tackle installing the equipment yourself? For most wireless systems, DIY installation is a breeze, but it might be less of a headache to pay a professional.

This depends entirely on how protected you want your business to be, and how complex you want your permissions to be for employees. For instance, if you want to incorporate secure entry at each external door, or to limit access to sensitive areas inside the business that house data or products, it might be wise to hire a professional. This is a much more complicated process, and might require specialized equipment and additional wiring.

If you simply want to monitor your business with wireless cameras and sensors to keep out after-hours intruders and prevent theft, then it might be more economical for you to install the equipment yourself.Consider the time you’ll spend vs. the price you’ll pay for installation.Installation fees run anywhere from $100 to thousands of dollars, so it greatly depends on the type of business property you’re securing and what equipment you require.

2. DIY Monitoring vs. Professional Monitoring

You also have the option to privately monitor your security system or pay a monthly fee to have it monitored professionally. If your business is very small, you may be able to effectively monitor it remotely by connecting the system to your smartphone or tablet. You can accomplish this by buying the necessary equipment online, installing it, and linking it your devices.

Professional monitoring is definitely the better bet if you’ll be using more than a few types of sensors, and more than one or two cameras at your property. Providers like FrontPoint and Protect America allow you to save money by installing equipment yourself, then having their technicians remotely test the system to make sure it’s operational. You’ll pay a fairly reasonable monthly fee for professional monitoring, and can still control your system and receive security alerts to your connected devices.

Related Article: How Cloud-Based Security Can Protect You Against Data Theft

3. Internal vs. External Security

Will your business require internal and external monitoring? Most security experts recommend external monitoring since it not only deters criminals from victimizing your business, but alsoaids in catching criminals after-the-fact. Internal cameras and sensors aren’t as necessary, but might prove helpful if your business involves expensive inventory that you’d like to secure from employees and visitors.

To get an accurate idea of how much you’ll pay for external monitoring, consider the number of external doors your building has, as well as windows and other points of access. You’ll want to secure all entryways with sensors, and monitor all doors with outdoor-grade security cameras, which have more built-in resistance to weather.

You can also choose to install motion sensors to alert you of any movement inside your business after-hours. One of the most economical and reliable types available are Passive Infrared Sensors, which detect body heat. Some security providers may also suggest ultrasonic, area reflective, or vibration. Vibration sensors are associated with the most false alarms since they can be easily triggered, so if you’ll be purchasing security equipment a-la-carte avoid this type of sensor.

4. Equipment Types and Quality

Besides motion sensors and internal and external security cameras, you can also choose from glass-break detectors, window and door sensors, and environmental sensors. Do your research, and know which of these you’ll need before contacting a security company or buying equipmentfor self-installation.

Glass break detectors are especially useful for retail spaces that include a large display window, or offices with glass sliding doors or picture windows. These sensors can detect strong vibrations that some window and door sensors might not pick up on, and are generally inexpensive. However, these won’t help you if an intruder picks a lock or uses sophisticatedequipment to gain entry.

Window and door sensors consist of two interlocking pieces one that rest on the door or window, and one that remains on the frame. An alert is triggered when they separate when the system is armed, so this type of sensor combined with as glass break detector ensures that your doors and windows are absolutely secure.

Many security companies also offer smart environmental detectors that alert you of fire, flooding, and extreme temperatures. While protecting your business from theft is important, it will do no good if your building burns to the ground, or your product is damaged by water from a burst pipe. Also, think about less-common sensors like a carbon monoxide detector that will protect your employees during the day and maintain a healthy air quality in your retail space.

Related Article: Information Wars: Privacy vs. National Security

5. Training and Employee Security Clearances

Once you choose the right installation, equipment, and monitoring option for your business, don’t forget to consider how you will train your employees to use the system, who will have access to restricted areas, and who will have the ability to arm and disarm the system.

If you are using a security provider and will purchase professional monitoring, make sure the provider will train your employees on how to properly arm and disarm the system, and educate yourself about what fees, if any, you might accrue due to false alarms.

Also, determine if you will need separate access codes for each employee. This is important because you will want to be able to grant and revoke access when you gain new employees or an employee moves on to work elsewhere.

The price of a business security system varies greatly based on factors like the location and size of your office or retail space, as well as what type of equipment and monitoring package youdecide to purchase. It can be a large investment, especially if you decide to go with professionalinstallation and monitoring, so it’s important to know what you realistically need and want before signing on the dotted line.

This Blog was first published on: http://thinkdebug.com/blog/5-most-important-things-to-consider-before-you-buy-a-small-business-security-system/

5 Reasons We’re in the Midst of a Technological Golden Age

There’s no question we’re in the middle of a technological revolution. In the span of two decades, we’ve gone from the internet being a rarity for residential homes to being able to access the web from handheld devices practically everywhere. Thousands of new apps are created every day, and Moore’s Law continues to drive our computing power forward in bursts. But why are we seeing such advanced development in this age?

Factors for Our Success

These are just five of the biggest reasons why we’ve come so far:

1. Emphasis on entrepreneurship. Though a number of individuals with passionate pursuits have driven technology forward, most advancements have come from major research departments, businesses, and organizations. As Jay Suites illustrates, entrepreneurship is something patriotic that feeds into the idea of the American dream. As a country, we still idolize this notion and the ideals behind it, and thanks to that entrepreneurial favoritism, more people are driven to innovate, create businesses, and compete to bring newer, better solutions to the market.
2. Exponential potential. Technology has the potential to develop exponentially, rather than linearly. That is, rather than marching forward one step at a time, technology takes two steps, then four steps, then eight steps forward. The most popular description of this advancement pattern is Moore’s Law, which stipulates that the number of transistors capable of being placed per square inch of surface area doubles every year. However, this rate has slowed to approximately every 18 months, and may taper off completely within the next few years.
3. Technology for technology. There’s also the idea that technology can be used to create other technology. Because we can design machines that build other machines, and now—as with Google’s RankBrain—algorithms that modify other algorithms automatically, our potential increases even further. With every leap forward in technological advancement, we’re actually increasing our own abilities to create even more technological advancements.
4. Mass-market potential. Though somewhat cynical to say, it’s fairly obvious that one of the biggest motivators in the world is profit. We’ve experienced a massive surge in technological potential, in part, because of high consumer demand. Developers realize that there’s money to be made in finding a new, ingenious technological solution, and are thus driven to create it better and faster.
5. Genuine human curiosity. Don’t discount the genuine human quality of curiosity that’s gotten us this far as a species. There’s something innate in human nature that drives us to try new things, explore new areas, and indulge our creativity; it’s suspected that this could be an evolutionarily advantageous quality that leads us to discover more about our environments and gives us greater chances for survival. In any case, many of us find ourselves hungry for new gadgets, more advanced tech, and revolutionary new breakthroughs precisely because of this quality.

How Far Can We Go?

These are the factors responsible for getting us to this point, but what about the next point, or the point after that? We’ve come an impressive way in the past 30 years or so, but what does the future hold for the next 30 years? Will our momentum begin to decline?

Examining these factors specifically, we can venture to make a guess. Our curious nature, the fact that technology can lead to the better development of future technology, and our hunger for entrepreneurship and profit are unlikely to wane anytime soon. However, as pointed out earlier, Moore’s Law is already declining and could decline further in the coming years. Some financial authorities have also pointed out that another “tech bubble” has formed; essentially, we’ve placed more value on tech companies and developments than they’re actually worth, and the repercussions of this dissonance could lead to a collapse of the sector.

Still, Moore’s Law only applies to one feature of computing technology and the collapse of the financial sector would only hold us back for so long. The primary drivers of technological ingenuity—entrepreneurship, exponential growth patterns, and curiosity—will likely allow us to preserve our momentum uninterrupted, and for the indefinite future.

This Blog was first published on : http://smarterware.org/2016/09/5-reasons-midst-technological-golden-age/

Three Technologies That Unexpectedly Changed How We Live

Most people think that technology is a linear process. It starts off along one avenue, and then it takes one step at a time, gradually improving. As a result, we expect that in the future, we’ll have better phones and plusher cars. But is this how technological progress actually works? When one looks back over the last few decades, one begins to realize that technology doesn’t go in a straight line at all. It progresses in leaps and bounds. And most of what ends up happening is entirely unexpected. Here’ are three technologies that unexpectedly changed our lives.

The Digital Camera

Back in 1975, Steven Sasson showed off Kodak’s and the world’s first digital camera. It was a big uglygadget, about the size of a coffee machine. And when Sasson showed it to executives at the company, they laughed. How on Earth could something so unwieldy ever take off and make money?

True, at the time, the potential of digital cameras wasn’t obvious. But over the years, circuits got smaller and processes more refined. Forty years later Sasson’s first prototype had evolved into modern DSLRs, like the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-RX100 IV.

Digital cameras went on to change the world. Citizens became journalists. Everybody turned into an archivist, with a massive trail of photographic information. And we all started sharing photos that would once have been destined for an unloved family photo album.

Digital Media

Built on top of the digital camera is the entire edifice of digital media. Before digital media, we had no idea what celebs looked like without their makeup, or who hated who on social media. But thanks to the ubiquity of information, it’s impossible for the elite to keep their shortcomings under wraps.

At the same time, digital media allowed our perception of reality to be dramatically altered. Photoshop was once just another Adobe product. Not it’s a bona fide verb in the English language. To “photoshop” something means to change its appearance.

Finally, digital media has changed how we consume music and movies. No longer do we go to the store and buy a CD or hire a movie. We just download them with a click of a button. And the industries themselves aren’t too happy about it.

Artificial Intelligence

At the moment, we’re in a Golden Age of artificial intelligence. AI is used from everything from face recognition to telling us the quickest route to work. In the future, we’ll no doubt laugh at how limited AI is today. But there’s no deny that it’s already making its presence felt.

Take the airline industry, for instance. Most people think that pilots are in control of aircraft. But the truth is that modern aircraft are now primarily piloted by software. Sure, pilots are there to take over should something go wrong. But 8 million flights a year are now guided and flown by AI systems.

In the future, we’ll have chatbots on our phones. They’ll be like Siri, except they’ll act more like people than computers. Perhaps that will be the biggest change of all.

This blog was forst published on:- http://www.techspooks.com/technologies-that-changed-how-we-live.html

7 Siri Hacks That Make Life Better

If you have an iPhone, you've no doubt met Siri. Although you're probably aware of some of her basic capabilities, you may not be taking advantage of all her potential.

Knowing these seven Siri hacks can make your life better and help make some of your chores and errands easier and more convenient.

1. Measurement Conversions

Siri is a master at just about any measurement conversion. If you are in Europe and want to convert Euros to Dollars, she can handle that without a problem. If you're in a country where you don't even know the currency, she can tell you, and then convert it for you.

You can also ask Siri to convert the temperature from Celsius to Farenheit or vice versa. She can also convert cups to gallons or ounces to cups.

As long as you ask her about measurements that are in similar units, then Siri will have no problem converting them for you.

2. Make Reservations

If you're a business person taking clients out, or just planning a date night, leave it to Siri to make a reservation for you. All you need to do is tell her the time and place, and she will use Yelp to show you restaurants with their ratings and locations, then you can click on the "make reservation" button to go to OpenTable to finish the process.

3. Reminders

You're probably aware that Siri can remind you of something at a certain time, but you may not realize she can also alert you based on your location as well. If you need to pick up wine for dinner, Siri can alert you when you are near a store that's in your contacts list. If you need to pick up something from the office, she can remind you while you're there. (Also read: 3 Superb IPhone Apps To Turn Your Photos Into Art Work)

Just make sure the spot is in your contacts, and Siri will remind you when you get close. With the help of the GPS in your iPhone 6 Plus, Siri won't let you drive by somewhere and completely forget you were supposed to stop as long as you always have your smartphone in hand.

4. Return a Phone

If you're a good Samaritan, and come across someone's iPhone that is password protected, Siri can help you find the owner.

All you need to do is press the home button and ask Siri who owns the phone. Siri will give you the contact information of the phone, which may include the email address. That way you can get the phone to its owner, and get some good karma in return.

5. Read Your Messages Aloud

If you're in a situation where you shouldn't be reading your phone, you can always have Siri read your messages to you. The best example is probably when you are driving, although you should limit all distractions in that situation.

Otherwise, whether your eyes are tired, you have your hands full, or you're just feeling lazy, ask Siri to read messages to you and she will be happy to oblige. (Also read: ​ This Is How You Can Quickly Grow Traffic On Pinterest)

6. Name That Tune

If you hear a song, and you want to know the title and artist, Siri can help. Just push down the home button and let Siri listen to the music. She can name the song, and then give you the option to buy it through iTunes.

You'll never again have to wonder what that song was that you heard on the radio, in a bar, or in a store.

7. Delete All Your Alarms

There are two types of people in the world: those who have one or two alarms on their list, and those who have alarms for every single event of the day. If you're the second type, and the thought of deleting every alarm is exhausting, Siri can help. All you need to do is tell her to delete all of your alarms, and you can start with a clean slate.

Siri's capabilities are almost like having your own personal assistant. Although she can't do everything for you, she will probably often surprise you with everything she is capable of doing, and all you have to do is ask.
This blog was forst published on: http://www.lifehacker.co.in/jugaad/7-Siri-Hacks-That-Make-Life-Better/articleshow/54309615.cms

Archos Drone launches

Archos has unveiled the ARCHOS Drone. Demonstrated later this week at IFA 2016, available in October 2016, this ready-to-fly little machine has an altitude of up to 50 meters at a speed that can reach 7.7 m/s during at least 7 minutes, for pure fun or exciting HD footage that isn’t possible any other way.

Thanks to its dedicated Controller or the Remote App, available on the Google Play Store and Apple iTunes Store, the ARCHOS Drone will satisfy beginners willing to gawk at the world’s beauty, for £79.99 (UK).

The ARCHOS Drone is light (135 g) and robust, with its eight propellers (four spares), two landing gears, and four protection guards. It offers great maneuverability and its propellers are even replaceable in case of damages, which is particularly suitable to newbies.

With its 6 axis gyroscope and its accelerometer, it features all functions for a nice flight, inside or outside: take off, landing, altitude hold, 360° flip, speed selection and headless mode.

It has a number of automated flying procedures as well as an emergency button in case something goes wrong, making the device less intimidating. In addition, its bunch of LED lightsallows night sessions.

The ARCHOS Drone achieves burst speeds of 7.7 m/s horizontally and 1.6 m/s vertically. It reaches its maximum speed in a few seconds and raises an altitude of up to 50 meters very fast.

Its 1 MP built-in camera is a real attraction. It takes all kinds of aerial videos, coming in an HD resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels that can be stored in its 4 GB’s Micro SD card (included) and, even better, broadcasts in real time on a smartphone.

It flies during a session from 7 to 9 minutes, making it the ideal companion for beginners. Spare batteries will also be available for purchase for the ones who wish to become drones enthusiasts.

The ARCHOS Drone comes with its own Controller, enabling a dedicated WiFi liaison and ensuring a perfectly stable connection.

The ARCHOS Drone will be exhibited on ARCHOS’s booth at IFA 2016 (Hall 25, Booth 206). It will be available for purchase in October 2016 on www.archos.com and through its distribution’s channel worldwide for £79.99 (UK).

This Blog was First published on: http://thinkdebug.com/blog/archos-drone-launches/

Live coverage of Apple’s iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus event

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, the event you’ve been waiting for is finally here. Apple is about to unveil its brand new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, which will instantly become the most popular smartphones on the planet when they’re released. There have been so many leaks and rumors at this point that we feel like we already know just about everything there is to know about these hot new handsets. Of course nothing is official until Apple executives announce it on stage, and they’re about to get the show underway.

We already told you how to watch the live stream of Apple’s big iPhone 7 event, and in this post you’ll find a continuously-updated live blog from the whole team here at BGR.

MUST SEE: This could be your first look at the iPhone 7 in Apple’s new black color

Apple’s next-generation iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are expected to be huge updates compared to last year’s models. Sure, they might look similar, but just about everything under the hood will be new.

If leaks and rumors pan out — and we think they will — Apple’s new iPhones will feature a 16nm Apple A10 processor, larger batteries, new True Tone displays, a redesigned 3D Touch home button, a new single lens camera on the iPhone 7 and a dual-lens “iSight Duo” camera on the iPhone 7 Plus, twice as much storage for each new iPhone model, dramatically improved water-resistance, 2GB of RAM for the 7 and 3GB of RAM for the 7 Plus, larger batteries and two new color options including a glossy black.

Apple has more planned for the event as well, of course. We’ll see the finished versions of iOS 10 and macOS in addition to watchOS 3, and Apple also reportedly plans to unveil a brand new version of the Apple Watch. Does that cover everything? Will Apple have a few surprises in store for us? It’s finally time to find out. Our live updates will appear below (no need to refresh the page) and you can see the rest of our Apple event coverage by following this link.

This blog was first published on: http://bgr.com/2016/09/07/iphone-7-plus-announcement-event-live-pricing/