Amazon’s Fire TV Stick is finally available in India for ₹3,999

Fire TV Stick lets you access Prime Video, Hotstar, Netflix, and other on-demand services.

Amazon has launched the Fire TV Stick in India for ₹3,999. The streaming dongle is now up for sale on Amazon India, and you’ll also be able to pick up the accessory from 24 retail stores across seven cities.

With the Fire TV Stick, you’ll be able to access Amazon’s Prime Video, along with a slew of other on-demand video streaming services like Hotstar, Netflix, YouTube, Sony LIV, Eros Now, Spuul, and more. The dongle plugs into your TV via HDMI, and comes with a voice-enabled remote that lets you search for content with your voice. You’ll also be able to search for TV shows and movies in Hindi.

At ₹3,999 ($60), the Fire TV Stick is $20 costlier than its U.S. counterpart, and Amazon is incentivizing the dongle by rolling out several offers:

• Amazon Pay cashback: If you’re a Prime subscriber in India, you’ll get ₹499 as cashback in your Amazon Pay wallet.
• Airtel broadband offer: Airtel broadband customers will receive a total of 100GB free data spread out over three months for picking up the Fire TV Stick.
• YOU broadband offer: Similarly, if you’re a YOU broadband customer, you’ll receive 240GB free data, delivered in 80GB chunks over three months.
• Eros Now deal: Everyone buying the Fire TV Stick in India will receive a three-month subscription to Eros Now premium for free.
• Gaana: You’ll also get a six-month subscription to Gaana’s ad-free tier by picking up the Fire TV Stick.

The dongle runs the latest version of Fire TV UI, and is powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core CPU. It also offers 1GB of RAM, 8GB storage, and Bluetooth 4.1, allowing you to connect to game controllers. Interested? Head on down to Amazon India from the link below to buy the Fire TV Stick.

See at Amazon

Instagram users on Android can now use the app offline

At Facebook’s F8 developer’s conference, Instagram, the incredibly popular photo sharing and messaging service owned by Facebook, announced offline support for Android devices.

• Facebook F8 (2017): All the announcements that matter

While it doesn’t mean you can constantly use the app without an internet connection, you will be able to view any post that have previously loaded when you had a Wi-Fi or data connection, like and comment on them.

Any profiles that you’ve previously visited can still be viewed, along with any posts you’ve loaded in the Explore tab.

You will be able to save any posts to your own personal collection, as well being able to create your own new posts and save drafts. As soon as your phone connects back to the internet, anything you’ve created, commented on, liked or saved, while offline will be instantly sent to Instagram’s servers and uploaded or carried out.

There’s no word on if and when the offline functionality will work with Stories, as for now they do still need an internet connection to load, nor has an iOS version been confirmed. TechCrunch has been told by Instagram that an iOS version is being “explored”.

• Instagram tips and tricks: How to master the app and post amazing pics
• Instagram albums: How to share multiple pics in one post

Offline functionality is good news for anyone that lives in a country where internet isn’t great, developing countries for example, where Facebook Lite user number stand at around 200 million. It’s also good if you know you’re heading somewhere without signal, the Underground for example, as you’ll still be able to get your Instagram fix.

Panasonic Lumix TZ90 adds tilt-angle touchscreen to 30x pocketable zoom party

When it comes to pocket-sized cameras with all the zoom, the Panasonic Lumix TZ-series rules the roost. And the new TZ90 (that’s ZS70 for our US friends) adds a tilt-angle touchscreen to the established 30x zoom stable.

The power of touch means the TZ90’s 49-point autofocus system can be engaged with by hand for the first time, making this do-it-all travel zoom even more capable than every before.

Key to the TZ90’s specification is its 30x optical zoom lens. This ranges from a wide-angle 24mm that can stretch all the way through to a 720mm equivalent to cover wide scenes or capture far-away subjects with ease. 

That’s the very same lens that established itself in the previous TZ80 model. However, the TZ90 updates the sensor, bringing 20-megapixels of resolution for even more detailed shots than previous TZ models.

There’s also 4K video capture and Panasonic’s 4K Photo mode. New this time around is a 4K Selfie mode and Panorama Selfie, the latter which promises to put you at the centre of sweeping landscapes.

If you’re looking for a pocketable camera with a built-in viewfinder, tilt-angle screen and touch controls then, based on spec alone, few can compare to this Lumix compact.

Available from June, the TZ90 will cost £399.

Xiaomi Mi 6 launches with dual rear camera system “superior to the iPhone 7 Plus”

Less than two weeks after the specs leaked online, Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi has unveiled the Mi 6 flagship smartphone. The Mi 6 doesn’t quite compete with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S8 or LG G6 when it comes to screen-to-body ratio, nor does it follow in the design footsteps of Xiaomi’s own Mi MIX.

• Xiaomi Mi MIX is a bezel-less concept phone that you can actually buy

The Mi 6 instead has a four-sided curved glass screen, with bezels top and bottom and slim ones flanking the 5.15-inch full HD display.

But while it may not have the screen to compete with 2017’s best flagships, the rest of the specs list makes for some impressive reading. Xiaomi has fitted the Mi 6 with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 processor, which so far has only been confirmed for the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Sony Xperia XZ Premium, so the Mi 6 is in good company there.

Xiaomi even says the Mi 6 will technically be the first phone to be released with the processor fitted, albeit in the company’s native China.

Other specs include 6GB of RAM, 64/128GB storage options, a 3350mAh battery and a dual rear-camera setup comprising 12-megapixel wide-angle and 12-megapixel telephoto lenses.

Xiaomi says this combination is superior to the camera system on the Apple iPhone 7 Plus, and is able to deliver 2X optical lossless zoom and impressive depth-of-field effects.

There’s no 3.5mm headphone port onboard, so you’ll need to either connect a pair of headphones to the USB Type-C port, or use a wireless Bluetooth pair. It’s worth noting that the USB-C port, along with all other ports on the phone, including the SIM tray, are water-resistant, so can handle the odd splash.

As with other Xiaomo devices, the Mi 6 is unlikely to make its way to Europe or the US, instead being reserved for countries such as China and India. The Mi 6 will be available for 2,499 Yuan ($360) for the 64GB model, for 2,899 Yuan ($420) for the 128GB variant. A third version with ceramic back panel and 128GB storage will be available for 2,999 Yuan ($435)

Kickstarter seeks creators to launch more ambitious projects

If you look at what’s trending on Kickstarter, you’ll see a bunch of gadgets, games and quirky knickknacks. While they all look fun and promising, it seems Kickstarter wants to see grander campaigns much more creative and forward-thinking than usual. The crowdfunding website has published its first request for projects that focus on innovative designs and revolutionary technologies. Its design and tech team is looking for three types in particular, starting with ones that push the envelope.

Perhaps the best examples for that category are LightSail, the Bill Nye-helmed campaign that brought Carl Sagan’s “solar sailer” to life, and the Oculus VR headset. Oculus raised $2.4 million on the platform, which is impressive, but what the campaign really did for the team is bring it to Facebook’s attention — the social network ended up buying Oculus for a cool $2 billion. There’s also OpenROV, the underwater drone that raised over $800,000 on the platform.

In addition to technologies that push the limits, the team is also looking for campaigns featuring tools that can help bring other people’s projects to life. A couple of good examples are Particle’s electron board that people can use to make IoT devices and Artiphon’s Instrument 1, which can function as several types of musical instruments. Finally, they’re also looking for campaigns that feature avant-garde designs, such as Lumos the next-gen bicycle helmet and a shapeshifting modern lamp called Lumio.

Kickstarter says it decided to publish its request, because it was inspired by Y Combinator’s call for startups. It’s also part of staying true to its promise to support arts and creativity as a public benefit corporation, which was also the reason why the company hosted a special STEM event for kids last year. So, what can you expect if your project fits any of the three categories Kickstarter is looking for? The company says it will work with you one-on-one to help make your campaign shine and “spotlight it for [its] community of 13 million backers.”

Source: Kickstarter

Logitech’s sub-$100 deck tempts new mechanical keyboard fans

Mechanical keyboard aficionados may extol the virtues of their chosen device like speed and feel but often downplay how much that luxury will cost you. Many good mechanical keyboards run between $150 and $200, with gaming-centric models jacking up the price thanks to features like RGB lighting and programmable keys. Logitech’s new G413 hopes to indoctrinate the less hardcore by eschewing most of the bells and whistles, delivering a quality gaming deck that will cost you only $90/£99.

The G413 is a solid piece of kit, with an aluminum plate underneath the keys and a thick braided cord providing USB pass-through so you can plug stuff into it and reduce cable clutter on your desk. Even the feet feel pretty solid and are hard to pull off — and yes, I tried, as I’ve had a few go missing in the past. The keys are easy to remove, which makes the deck super simple to clean, as well as allowing you to swap out buttons if you have replacements on hand.

However, getting new keys isn’t as easy as it would be on rival peripherals that use the fairly common Cherry-brand switches. Like Razer, Logitech uses its own proprietary switches, known as the Romer-G. They don’t feel as sharp as Cherry switches or Razer’s brand, with a slightly soft impression on each key press. But the actuation point is only 1.5mm deep (with a force of 45g), so they’re just as responsive. They’re a huge improvement over the keys in Logitech’s low-cost G213, which was aimed at the same audience with a similar price point. That model wasn’t mechanical, using what the company called “Mech Dome” keys instead. That’s a fancy name for what are essentially high-quality membrane buttons.

Logitech at least supplies a set of contoured WASD replacement keys in the box for more serious gamers. Further customization is also offered via Logitech’s software, allowing users to program the function keys with macros. The ability to customize the lighting is not available, though — Logitech left out multicolored LEDs to bring the price down. This leaves users with an ominous red backlight under each key instead (it can be turned down or off). I was glad to see macro buttons omitted as well, as I have a bad habit of accidentally hitting those extra keys when trying to type. But I admit that I wouldn’t have minded some dedicated media controls at least — I’ve grown rather fond of them after using Corsair’s K95 for so long.

The black keys with their red glow contrast rather nicely with the G413’s backplate, but there’s also a pretty sweet-looking silver version available — however, it’s a Best Buy exclusive. Whatever your preference, both colors will run you $90/£99 and can be picked up today.

Instagram on Android works without an internet connection

If Facebook has Lite to cater to users in the developing world, Instagram has offline mode for Android devices. The Facebook-owned company has revealed at F8 that most of its Android app’s features now work offline. People can browse their feeds and their Explore tabs even if they have no mobile data, as is the case for many users in developing nations. However, they can only see the images and profiles they’ve previously loaded while they were connected to the internet. They can Heart photos, leave comments and unfollow others like usual, but those obviously won’t go through until they reconnect.

While Instagram only activated the feature for its Android app since Android devices are more common in the developing market, offline mode is present to an extent on its iOS application. It also caches previously loaded posts and comments, but users can’t interact with them without an internet connection. The photo-centric social network said it plans to make more feature available offline, which could make it a bigger hit in places where getting postpaid plans with mobile data isn’t the norm. Further, Instagram told TechCrunch that it’s exploring the idea of making offline mode available on iOS in the future.

Source: TechCrunch

The best movies on Amazon UK Prime Video

One of the most comprehensive Netflix rivals around, Amazon Prime Video is packed with a varied selection of films to choose from including cult classics, documentaries and new releases. Here’s our pick of the best films to watch for free with your Amazon Prime subscription.

Interstellar

Christopher Nolan’s visually stunning 2014 sci-fi epic sees a team of astronauts blasting off into deep space in a desperate bid to ensure the survival of the human race. Unsurprisingly, Matthew McConaughey steals the show as former NASA pilot Cooper, and his intense ugly crying scene has even been immortalised as a meme.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Director Michel Gondry is famous for his dream-like films and this one doesn’t disappoint. Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet play a former couple who have both undergone a procedure to erase each other from their minds, before a chance meeting rekindles their initial attraction. Bagging a couple of Oscars along the way, the film has become a cult classic.

Apocalypse Now

This 1979 masterpiece from Francis Ford Coppola borrows the plot of Joseph Conrad’s book Heart of Darkness, setting it during the Vietnam War, with the addition of Marlon Brando in an unforgettable turn as the rogue Colonel Kurtz. Not only is it the best ‘Nam film by far – with the best soundtrack – it’s one of the greatest films ever made.

Amy

From the maker of the outstanding Senna – which chronicles the tragic death of the Brazilian racing driver – this heartbreaking documentary tells the tale of Amy Winehouse’s rise and fall. The ridiculously talented singer-songwriter was found dead from alcohol poisoning in 2011, joining the infamous ’27 Club’ alongside Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison.

Four Lions

The excellent Riz Ahmed stars in this razor-sharp satire about four comically incompetent jihadists planning a suicide attack. The setting is sometimes uncomfortable, and the humour is about as dark as it’s possible to get but the directorial debut from Brass Eye genius Chris Morris is absolutely pitch perfect and still sadly topical.

The Deer Hunter

Everyone knows the scene where Robert De Niro plays Russian roulette in a Vietnamese prisoner of war camp but there’s so much more to this epic drama about three Pennsylvanian steel workers and how their service in ‘Nam affects their lives back home. At 2.5 hours long, it’s not an easy watch but it’s well worth your time.

Paddington

Ben Whishaw provides the voice for the young Peruvian bear who travels to London and is taken in by the kindly Brown family while trying to avoid the clutches of a sadistic museum taxidermist. A great family film with enough wit to keep the grown-ups interested – the script-writers even managed to slip in a couple of timely quips about immigration.

Lost In Translation

Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson star is this incredibly self-indulgent yet endearing yarn about the unexpected friendship between an ageing actor and a young graduate stuck in a lonely marriage. But the real star of the show here is Tokyo – the gorgeous city panoramas will make you yearn for a stay at the Park Hyatt hotel, where most of the film’s indoor shots were filmed.

’71

Set during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, this exceptional thriller sees the superbly cast Jack O’Connell as a young British soldier who is accidentally left behind by his unit following a riot, leaving him to spend the night alone on the streets of Belfast. Not one for a relaxing afternoon.

Lego Movie

Warner Bros.

Lego Movie

This daft but enjoyable animation sees an average Lego construction worker, voiced by the ever-awesome Chris Pratt, recruited to stop an evil tyrant from glueing everything in Lego World into a permanent state. The incredibly strong voice cast includes Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson, and Will Arnett as Lego Batman.

Inglorious Basterds

Quentin Tarantino’s bonkers war thriller, centres on an audacious plot to assassinate Hitler in Nazi-occupied World War II France. The assault is led on two fronts – by a young French Jewish woman whose family were murdered by the SS and a ragtag team of Jewish-American soldiers headed up by Brad Pitt.

They Live

Satirical sci-fi at its best, John Carpenter’s cult hit from 1988 sees the late wrestler-turned-actor ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper as a drifter who chances upon a pair of sunglasses that enable him to see the world as its really is – with an alien government keeping its human subjects subdued with subliminal advertising.

The Imitation Game

Benedict Cumberbatch stars as legendary computer scientist Alan Turing who is tasked with cracking the Enigma code during World War II. The film plays a little fast and loose with the historical facts but it’s a fitting tribute to Turing, who was prosecuted for his homosexuality in the 1950s and only posthumously pardoned in 2013.

Brighton Rock

Brighton Rock

It’s hard to believe that psychopathic gangster Pinkie Brown is played by the same man that gave us the lovably deluded John Hammond from Jurassic Park, but this adaptation of Graham Greene’s dark seaside novel is Richard Attenborough at his very best. This 1947 crime thriller (forget the 2010 remake) is essential viewing.

Gravity

This superb sci-fi thriller kicked off a new trend for space films and stars Sandra Bullock as a scientist who ends up stranded alone in space after disaster strikes on her first mission aboard the space shuttle. London-based effects firm Framestore won an Oscar for its special effects and it’s not hard to see why. Watch it on as big a screen as possible.

Control

Shot in black and white by music video director Anton Corbijn, this 2007 biopic tells the tragic story of Ian Curtis, the singer of Joy Division who suffered from depression and took his own life at the age of 23. It’s exactly as dark as it sounds but an absolute must-watch for any music fans.

Dallas Buyers Club

Another film marking Matthew McConaughey’s epic comeback – or the McConaissance – this fascinating drama is based on a true story about a Texas man who sets up a drug-smuggling service to provide AIDS sufferers with vital meds after he himself is diagnosed with HIV.

Spotlight

Spotlight

This sensational movie tells the true story of how the Boston Globe’s ‘Spotlight’ investigations team uncovered a pandemic of child molestation and systemic cover-ups within the city’s Catholic Church, kicking off a wave of similarly disturbing revelations around the world. A timely lesson on the importance of investigative journalism.

Drive

Ryan Gosling stars as a Hollywood stuntman moonlighting as a getaway driver and manages to look cool AF despite wearing a preposterous satin jacket for most of the film. Boosted by a superb electropop soundtrack and a slick neo-noir look, this crime thriller is well worth taking for a spin.

The Raid

This low-budget Indonesian martial arts flick from Welsh director Gareth Evans sees a SWAT team trapped in a tenement building after a failed mission to eliminate a drug lord and his ruthless gang. Stars Iko Uwais and Yayan Ruhian took care of the incredible fight choreography resulting in some of the best fight scenes we’ve seen in years.

Spotify Half-Price Student Subscription Plan Rolls Out to 31 More Countries

Spotify today expanded its half-price student subscription plan to 31 more countries around the world.

The music streaming service has offered the discounted premium subscriptions to students based in the U.S., the U.K., and Germany for some time, but starting today Spotify is adding several more countries to the list of eligible nations.

The list now includes Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Latvia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey.

The student plan includes all premium features, such as ad-free listening, improved audio quality options, and downloadable tracks for offline listening. To qualify, students must attend an accredited institution. The discounted plan can be used for the entirety of the subscriber’s student life.

In the U.S., users get at least a one-year discount, that can be renewed up to three times for a total of four years, but regional variations may apply. Students can head over to Spotify.com/student to sign up to the offer.

Tag: Spotify
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Apple CEO Tim Cook Accepts 2017 Free Expression Award in Washington, D.C.

Apple CEO Tim Cook attended the Newseum’s Free Expression Awards in Washington, D.C., last night to accept the institution’s 2017 Free Expression Award.

Cook was named in February as the recipient of the award in the Free Speech category, which recognized the Apple CEO for having a “profound impact” on communication and for using his position to “take a public stand” on issues like racial equality, privacy, the environment, LGBT rights, and more.

According to AppleInsider, Cook used his acceptance speech to highlight the challenges involved in ensuring First Amendment rights remain a fundamental cornerstone in an increasingly technology-driven world.

Image via Religious Freedom Center

“We know that these freedoms require protection,” Cook said of First Amendment rights. “Not just the forms of speech that entertain us, but the ones that challenge us. The ones that unnerve and even displease us. They’re the ones that need protection the most. It’s no accident that these freedoms are enshrined and protected in the First Amendment. They are the foundation to so many of our rights.”

“This is a responsibility that Apple takes very seriously,” Cook said. “First we defend, we work to defend these freedoms by enabling people around the world to speak up. And second, we do it by speaking up ourselves. Because companies can, and should have values.”

Other winners on the night included U.S. Rep. John Lewis, who received a Lifetime Achievement Award, and Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, who received an Arts and Entertainment Award shared with Hatch Beauty chairman Christie Hefner.

The Newseum aims to explain and defend free expression and the five freedoms of the First Amendment through a range of interactive museum exhibits. Its annual awards ceremony is used to celebrate positive work achieved by individuals across the occupational spectrum, including government, civil rights, and journalism.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Tag: Tim Cook
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