Airtel's Wynk Music is India's answer to iTunes

Airtel's Wynk Music is a carrier agnostic music application, which basically means you don't have to be using Airtel as your cellular provider to use the app. The application offers an integrated mobile music experience with full track audio streaming, cache downloads, mp3 purchase, internet radio and caller tunes. You get a library of 1.8 million songs to choose from, delivered using an ad-free interface. Wynk even curates playlists for you by moods, artists and genres.

Airtel's Wynk's latest version also features support for Google Chromecast allowing you to cast your music from your phone or tablet straight to the TV. Wynk users also enjoy exclusive music previews from time to time under the Sony Music label. The film Ungli by Dharma Productions starring Emraan Hashmi and Kangana Ranaut was available first and exclusively on Wynk. Additionally, the label also made available popular EDM DJ David Guetta's brand new album 'Listen'. App download and streaming is free on Wynk Music, although operator data charges will apply. Song and album mp3s can be purchased, starting as low as five rupees. Airtel users can set a caller tune for any song for fifteen rupees.

With a monthly subscription, users can cache download unlimited songs to play offline. You can do this by availing one of the two payment plans. Wynk Plus gives users unlimited downloads. Data charges apply on streaming and the first time a song is downloaded. The pricing differs depending on which platform you use. It's available for Rs 99 on Android where there is also a special price of Rs 29 for Airtel users. On iOS the same plan is priced slightly higher at Rs 120, Airtel users can get the same for a special price for Rs 60. Wynk Freedom on the other hand is an all-inclusive plan with unlimited downloads and no additional data charges on streaming or downloading, up to 500 songs per month after which data charges apply. It is available only for Airtel customers at a monthly price of Rs 129 in 3G markets. The first month subscription is offered free to all users.

The app also allows for human curation, with playlists by genres, artists and moods created by music experts. The app is also accessible to those who aren't well-versed in English via the vernacular language option, using the app in Hindi.Wynk Music has crossed a momentous feat of 5 million downloads in just 6 months of launch. The award winning music app is today one of the most popular destinations for music lovers in the country and has received the unique distinction of being featured by Google in the 'Favourite Apps' section on Google Play Store.

BlackBerry says bye bye to Pakistan after fight with govt

BlackBerry has said it would pull out of Pakistan after the government there made demands that have left it "no choice but to exit the country entirely". The problem, according to BlackBerry is that Pakistan wants "unfettered" access to the information of all those who use BlackBerry Enterprise Services (BES).

"Remaining in Pakistan would have meant forfeiting our commitment to protect our users' privacy. That is a compromise we are not willing to make," Marty Beard, BlackBerry's chief operating officer, wrote in a blog post on Monday.

"The truth is that the Pakistani government wanted the ability to monitor all BlackBerry Enterprise Service traffic in the country, including every BES e-mail and BES BBM message. But BlackBerry will not comply with that sort of directive. As we have said many times, we do not support backdoors granting open access to our customers' information and have never done this anywhere in the world," explained Marty.

While BlackBerry describes Pakistan as its important market, the possibility is that the company's exist from the country may not affect the smartphone market much. The company is losing market share -- and importance -- at least in the consumer market for quite some time as people have shifted to Android devices and iPhones.

Though, given the focus of BlackBerry on security and privacy, organisations and government bodies still use BlackBerry phones. Because of the company's this focus on the security and privacy, it has often run into trouble with governments across the world, including in India.

A few years ago, the Indian government and BlackBerry had some disagreement on how to monitor and intercept calls and messages made using BlackBerry devices. In 2013, the issue resolved, probably after BlackBerry agreed to some of the demands made by the Indian government.

However, BES wasn't reportedly part of it. In a statement issued at that time, BlackBerry had said, "BlackBerry has delivered a solution that enables India's wireless carriers to address their lawful access requirements for our consumer messaging services, which include BlackBerry Messenger and BlackBerry Internet Service email... We also wish to underscore, once again, that this enablement of lawful access does not extend to BlackBerry Enterprise Server."

Source : Indiatoday

DJI prices Osmo, the 4K handheld camera, at Rs 69,990 in India

DJI has launched the Osmo camera in India and has priced it at a whopping Rs 69,990. The camera is priced at $649 in the US, which makes it almost Rs 26,000 (approx) more expensive here in India. Osmo is an integrated camera and handheld stabiliser that makes use of DJI’s three-axis gimbal stabilisation technology. It removes the shake of traditional handheld devices and helps create cinematic shots.
In India, the DJI Osmo will be available for purchase scross 10 cities and will retail exclusively with SSTPL, the official distributor of DJI products in India.

The Osmo handle is also available separately without a camera. It comes in a modular format that makes it fully compatible with DJI’s Zenmuse camera series. It has a 12MP camera, a 1/2.3” sensor with a 94 degree field of view and can record 4K videos. Intelligent controls are built into the handles. These help make the transition between shooting angles, capturing photos, or recording videos simpler. Osmo handle also comes equipped with an on-board stereo microphone along with a 3.5mm audio jack for recording professional-quality sound. It also comes with a universal mount that works together with a smartphone holder as well as additional optional accessories like a tripod, bike mount, and an extension arm.
 
Last year, DJI had launched a drone called the Inspire 1 at a price of $2,800. It has a transforming design as it can lift its carbon fiber arms after lift-off so that the user gets an unobstructed 360 degree view. The Inspire 1 comes with a 12MP camera and a 9 element lens that is capable of shooting 4K videos at 30fps. The camera also has a 94 degree wide-angle view and is mounted on an auto-leveling gimbal for stability.

Microsoft's Display Dock, priced at Rs 5,999, can do all this & more

Today, Microsoft launched the Lumia 950 and 950XL in India. Along with the phones, Microsoft has also launched the Display Dock, which allows for Continuum support at a price of Rs 5,999. With the Continuum feature, users can mount their Lumia 950 and 950XL on the Mirosoft Display Dock, which connects to any monitor, keyboard and mouse, allowing users to have a Windows 10 PC like experience. The Dock comes with three USB ports, a USB Type-C port and a HDMI and DisplayPort. Here's all you can do with the Microsoft Display dock and Continuum.

From a phone to a PC

When plugged into the Display Dock, the display of the Lumia 950 and 950 XL can be viewed on a larger screen. Users can see a Windows 10 PC like start menu along with apps displayed on the large screen as tiles, and can choose to work on Windows 10 apps such as Microsoft Office. Attaching a keyboard and mouse to the Display Dock gives users ease of typing, browsing and creating documents just like they would on a Windows 10 PC.

Take calls and work on the PC simultaneously

You would think that if your Lumia 950 or 950 XL are connected to the Display Dock they wouldn't be able to function independently. Well, you'd be wrong. While connected to the Display Dock, the phones can be used independently, without interrupting any work that is in progress on the larger screen. Users can take calls, send text messages, play videos and also use other apps on their Lumia smartphones while simultaneously working on the larger screen without any interruptions or lag.

Use your Lumia phone as a Track Pad 

If you don't have a mouse, your Lumia 950 and 950 XL can also work as a trackpad for the larger screen. One can use their Lumia smartphones to open apps and work on documents on the full-size monitor incase a keyboard and mouse are not available.

Universal Apps

Apps developed for Windows 10 can scale up on a larger screen and will work identically on the phone as well as the large screen. The app content will be formatted to fit any screen size and users will also have the ability to switch between running apps using the task view button.

Most keyboard shortcuts work

Yes, Microsoft claims that most of your keyboard shortcuts such as Ctrl C, Ctrl V, Ctrl X, will work similarly, using Continuum. You can also switch between apps with the Ctrl + Tab shortcut.

Play videos on full screen

Another great feature of Continuum is that you get to view all your movies, trailers and other videos on the full-screen monitor, while your phone is free to perform other tasks.

Connect USB drives 

Most USB flash drives can also be connected to the Display Dock. Although, if the USB drive requires some special drivers, you may not be able to connect it, as it needs to be compatible with your phone.

Charge Your phone

While you play videos, work on documents, answer your mails and take calls, the Display Dock will keep charging your Lumia 950 or 950 XL. That ways, you will not be compromising your battery life while working your Lumia device like a PC.

So, these were all things cool you can do, using Microsoft's Continuum feature. Stay tuned to our website and YouTube page, for the complete review of Continuum and the Lumia 950, 950XL.

Source : Digit

Samsung Galaxy S7 SoC Delivers Record-Breaking Score in Leaked Benchmark

The anticipated Samsung Galaxy S7 has gone through AnTuTu benchmarks, revealing the scores delivered by Samsung's newly unveiled Exynos 8 Octa 8890 SoC. The unannounced Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016) also appears to have hit the US FCC certification website, tipping its dimensions and battery capacity.

A Samsung smartphone with model number SM-G9300, thought to be the Galaxy S7, is seen in a leaked benchmark running the Exynos 8890 SoC, via GSMArena. The smartphone reportedly posted a record-breaking high score of 103,692. Unfortunately, nothing more has been mentioned about the smartphone.

The Samsung Exynos 8 Octa 8890 processor was launched earlier this month. The new processor has been built on 14nm FinFET fabrication process and features Samsung's first custom-designed CPU based on 64-bit ARMv8 architecture. From the past leaks and rumours, Samsung Galaxy S7 will run Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 SoC under-the-hood in some markets, and the newly unveiled Exynos 8890 SoC in other markets.

The Galaxy S7 is also tipped to house a 5.2-inch display. It is also said to sport 3D Touch-like pressure sensitive display, similar to what we have seen in Apple iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.

As for the Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016), the smartphone according to the US FCC listing measures 151.5x73.95x6.95mm and weighs 155 grams, something we saw in the recent Tenaa listing. A battery capacity of 3300mAh is also mentioned for the smartphone. Notably, the current Galaxy A7 handset packs a 2600mAh battery.

As per the recent Tenaa listing the Galaxy A7 (2016) features a 5.5-inch (1080x1920 pixels) full-HD display; powered by a 1.7GHz octa-core processor; 3GB of RAM; 16GB inbuilt storage; expandable storage via microSD (up to 128GB); Android 5.1.1 Lollipop; a 13-megapixel rear camera with LED flash; a 5-megapixel front-facing camera; and 4G LTE support.

Source : NDTV

Microsoft Lumia 950 Dual SIM, Lumia 950 XL Dual SIM Launched in India

Microsoft, as promised, launched its first Windows 10 Mobile handsets - the Lumia 950 Dual SIM and Lumia 950 XL Dual SIM in India. The new Lumia flagships will be available from December 11 with 'best buy' prices of Rs. 43,699 and Rs. 49,399 respectively. Pre-order bookings start Monday, and the smartphones will be available to buy both online and via physical retail stores.

The Microsoft Display Dock, which has been launched at Rs. 5,999, will be bundled free with both phones while stocks last.

To recall, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced at recently concluded Future Unveiled conference in Mumbai had announced plans to launch both its newly launched Windows 10 Mobile-powered handsets in India by December.

The company also showcased Windows 10 Continuum feature which makes smartphones essentially computers with a different operating system and interface. The two new Lumia handsets can be called mini-computers - in the traditional PC sense. With the Windows 10 Continuum feature, they can be hooked up to a monitor along with a mouse and keyboard, using the Microsoft Display Dock. Once connected, the phone's user interface switches to an interface that looks like a Windows 10 desktop with Start menu and other elements.

The Microsoft Lumia 950 Dual SIM features a 5.2-inch QHD (1440x2560 pixels) ClearBlack Amoled display, offering a pixel density of 564ppi and also featuring Corning Gorilla Glass 3. Under the hood, the handset is powered by a hexa-core Snapdragon 808 processor clocked at 1.8GHz coupled with 3GB of RAM. There is 32GB of inbuilt storage and is expandable up to 200GB via microSD card. Backed by a 3000mAh removable battery, the handset sports a 20-megapixel rear camera with autofocus, OIS (optical image stabilisation), an f/1.9 aperture, and a triple-LED RGB flash module. There is a 5-megapixel front-facing camera as well. It measures 145x73.2x8.2mm and weighs 150 grams.

The Microsoft Lumia 950 XL Dual SIM, on the other hand, features a 5.7-inch QHD (1440x2560 pixels) ClearBlack Amoled display with a pixel density of 518ppi. It is powered by a 2GHz octa-core Snapdragon 810 processor coupled with 3GB of RAM. It packs 32GB storage and is expandable via microSD card (up to 200GB). The Lumia 950 XL Dual SIM features the same camera and flash module from the Lumia 950 and both the devices also sport a dedicated camera button as well. The Lumia 950 XL Dual SIM packs a large 3340mAh battery. It packs 151.9x78.4x8.1mm and weighs 165 grams. Both the Lumia 950 Dual SIM and Lumia 950 XL Dual SIM also support dual standby with Nano-SIM card support. The Lumia 950 XL also comes with liquid cooling.

The dual-SIM dual standby 4G-enabled smartphones support dual Nano-SIM cards and come with USB Type-C ports (USB 3.1). Both smartphones also support fast charging, capable of achieving 50 percent charge in 30 minutes.

Source : NDTV

Black Friday Sales: These Websites Offer Free Shipping to India

Often you'd have noticed that the price of a product - especially during sales like Black Friday and Cyber Monday - is great, but international shipping costs are high, often more than the price of the product itself. Package forwarding services can help but many times, after factoring in Custom duties and shipping, that fancy gadget you found for 50 percent off, would probably end up costing you more than its MRP. That is why we decided to scout for international websites that offer free shipping.

Free shipping usually means the goods will be sent by the cheapest means, which typically means no tracking ID and a long waiting period for your product. Having said that, some items like educational books are exempt from Custom duty in India, which means you end up paying just the price of the deal, which can be too hard to resist. We generally don't recommend free shipping because we feel it's more important to get the product quickly than to save some money. However, if you'd rather opt for free shipping, these retailers offer it.

1. Abe Books

Abe Books doesn't offer free shipping on all of its books, but it lets you search for books with free worldwide shipping. Head to the Abe Books free shipping page to find what you need, from a collection that included plenty of science fiction and fantasy books you won't easily in India.

2. Watchismo

Watch enthusiasts might want to check out Watchismo, which offers free worldwide shipping if the total order amount exceeds $199 (roughly Rs. 12,500). It says the delivery times range from 14 to 28 days.

3. Born Pretty Store

If you want clothing or fashion accessories, you might want to check out Born Pretty Store, which offers free worldwide shipping with no minimum order limit. Its product range includes nail art, jewelry, and smartphone cases.

4. Swarovski

Swarovski has quite a few retail outlets in India, but if any of its products aren't available in India you can order them from the website by selecting a different region. Free shipping on orders over €75 (roughly Rs. 5,300).

5. Chicwish

Another website that offers free shipping on clothing and accessories is Chichwish. If you want to track your shipment, you can pay $3 (rougly Rs. 200).

If these websites don't have what you are looking for, there are other websites that offer free worldwide shipping.

Book Depository

Book Depository is an Amazon-owned website that sells - you guessed it - books. Books are duty free in India, which means that you can import books without paying any Customs fee.

AliExpress

China's Alibaba group owns AliExpress, which sells just about anything, from automobile accessories to jewellery. This website is a good option if you want to order goods from China and many of its sellers offer free shipping (via China Post) to India.

Dealextreme

From desktop computer components like RAM to 3D printers, Dealextreme stocks pretty much any gadget you'll need. This website is a good hunting ground for people looking for cheap accessories such as headphones and battery packs.

Micromax's Yu Yutopia Teased to Sport Large Battery Capacity

Yu has once again made Apple its target in the latest teaser for its upcoming Yu Yutopia smartphone. The image hints towards the smartphone's battery capacity as compared to those found in iPhone models.

The teaser shows the Apple company logo with low battery indication and a caption stating, "Would you enjoy an apple that doesn't last long?" The teaser directly hints at the size of the Yu Yutopia's battery to be greater than the latest iPhone models. The image however, says nothing more about the smartphone.

The company tweeted the teaser image saying "High on price, low on juice! High time; #ThinkDifferent #RaiseTheBar! #Yutopia." Yu Televentures has also started letting interested users register for the Yutopia on its dedicated website.

So far, the company has confirmed that the Yu Yutopia will include 32GB of inbuilt storage instead of 16GB, which is still the minimum inbuilt storage given by Apple in its iPhone models. Previously, the company confirmed a Quad HD display on the Yu Yutopia smartphone. If true, this would be the company's first smartphone featuring a QHD display. The company also hinted that the Yutopia would sport a metal build which would be company's first smartphone made out of metal. It recently took dig at the OnePlus 2 smartphone, which doesn't support the Quacomm Quick Charge feature.

To recall, ahead of the Yu Yunique launch in September, a high-end smartphone from dubbed Yu550 was spotted in Geekbench listings as well as at an Indian import/ export manifest site. The Yu550 may be the high-end smartphone the company has been teasing.

To recall, the Yu550 smartphone spotted at Geekbench listing showed few specifications including a 1.5GHz octa-core Snapdragon 810 (MSM8994) processor coupled with 4GB of RAM. The smartphone was said to feature a 5.2-inch full-HD display and run Android 5.1.1 Lollipop-based build of Cyanogen OS. The Yu5050 scored 1353 in single-core test and 4622 in the multi-core test.

Vodafone launches meal offer for new subscribers in Mumbai

 India's No 2 telecom operator Vodafone Thursday launched value offer for new postpaid subscribers in Mumbai in partnership with McDonald's.

On purchase of a new Vodafone post-paid connection from Vodafone stores in Mumbai, customers will receive a free pocket card which can be redeemed for great deals at all McDonald's outlets across Mumbai, the telco said in a statement.

The offer, company said, is applicable on all new postpaid connections in Mumbai purchased from Vodafone stores and Vodafone mini stores or through doorstep. Vodafone operates 44 stores and 150 mini stores in Mumbai.

The card is valid at McDonald's outlets in Maharashtra and Gujarat, till 30th April, 2016, the telco said.

"The free pocket card offers great value for our customers to enjoy mouth watering meals with their loved ones each time they visit a McDonalds outlet in Mumbai," Ishmeet Singh, Business Head - Mumbai Circle, Vodafone India.

China launches latest remote sensing satellite

China has successfully launched a remote sensing satellite which will focus on experiments on survey of land, crop yields and disaster relief. The satellite named Yaogan-29 was carried by a Long March-4C rocket after it was launched yesterday from Taiyuan in the country's northern Shanxi province.

This is the 219th mission for the Long March rocket family. China launched the first "Yaogan" series satellite, Yaogan-1, in 2006. The satellite will be used for experiments, land surveys, crop yield estimates and disaster relief, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

However, western analysts believe the series of satellites are of a military nature, using electronic intelligence, electro-optical and synthetic aperture radar sensing equipment.

How to Root Windows Phone and Unlock the Bootloader to Install Custom ROMs

Yes, Now it is possible to unlock a Windows Lumia Phone for Root Access and run custom ROMs.

Both Microsoft as well as Nokia have made Windows Lumia smartphones difficult to break into at a low-level by locking down their bootloaders, but a software hacker, who go by the name HeathCliff, has just proven that it is not impossible.

HeathCliff has released an excellent tool called "Windows Phone Internals" that allows Windows phone owners to unlock their smartphone's bootloaders, gain root access and even create and run custom ROMs.

What’s more interesting is the tool supports "most versions of Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows 10 Mobile".

HeathCliff is very well known XDA Developer and one of the Windows Phone legends. On Windows Phone part, HeathCliff is loved mostly for the WP7 Root Tools.

Windows Phone Internals or WP Internals is completely free to download though HeathCliff welcomes donations by those who have found the tool useful.

Here's the List of Things Windows Phone Internals can Do

You can unlock the bootloader of the specific Lumia Windows Phone models, and then enable Root Access

You can load your custom apps with higher privileges and without sandboxing in Windows Phone OS.

You can create Backup images of your phone and can also access the file-system in Mass Storage Mode.

You can even install your custom ROMs.

You can also watch the video provided by HeathCliff, showing what the tool is capable of doing.

Models Supported by Windows Phone Internals Tool

Here's the list of Lumia Phones Supported by the tool right now:
Lumia 520, 521 and 525
Lumia 620, 625
Lumia 720
Lumia 820
Lumia 920
Lumia 1020
Lumia 1320

How to Get Started?

Here's the introduction video for you to get started with Windows Phone Internals:

So, if you are ready to tinker with your Windows Phone then Download Windows Phone Internals for Free from here.

Should You Root Your Phone?
However, I would caution against using this tool for those who do not understand the underlying architecture of their Windows Phones and Windows 10 Mobiles.
Rooting your phone gives you complete control over the OS, but that power can also be misused if you're not careful.
Heathcliff also states that after a tweak is completed, you should unroot your device to reduce the chance of malware or other bad stuff making their way on.
Using the tool without proper inspection could also result in damaged and unrecoverable data, for which neither The Hacker News nor I will be responsible. So please be careful before rooting your phone.

Your LED bulbs may soon replace your WiFi routers

LiFi, a wireless technology used to transmit high speed data, was first invented in Scotland by scientist Harald Haas, who demonstrated that by flickering an LED lights at extremely high speeds, one can transmit more data than a cellular tower. Scientists have tested LiFi in their labs and have been able to chieve speeds upto 224 GB/s! Now, for the first time since its inception in 2011, LiFi has been tested outside a lab situation, indicating that the technology may be available for consumer usage sooner that we hoped. Currently, LiFi is being tested in office and industrial work environments in Tallinn, Estonia. Why Estonia? Well, for those of you who don't know, Estonia is one of the world's most tech savvy country.

The tiny country situated in Northeastern Europe boasts of one of the most functional forms of Digital Governance. Estonians have rebuilt their complete IT infrastructure from ground-up in terms of citizen services, privacy and security, making it one of the most efficient governance models globally. So, when they tested LiFi in an office environment, speeds of 1GB/s could be achieved. That's like downloading one movie every second! Now you are listening!

Coming back to LiFi, here is how the technology functions-

LiFi uses something called VLC. No, we are not talking about the video player but VLC in this case stands for Visible Light Communication. The technology is similar to Morse code. LiFi essentially flickers light at extreme speeds which forms a kind of binary code (just like Morse code) used to write and trasmit data. In simpler terms, LiFi talks to other devices in a code that is generated by LED lights going on and off at a really high speed. Cool eh?

Another great feature of Lifi is that unlike WiFi, the reach of this technology is limited to the space it covers. As light cannot penetrate through walls, the network is way more secure, when used in an enclosed office or home environment, making it tough to hack. With ballooning growth in the mobile and IoT space, WiFi will soon become reduntant, considering the exponential increase in data exchange. Cisco predicts that by 2020, a total of 50 billion devies will be talking to each other. It is also expected that by 2019, 35 quintillion bytes of information will be exchanged between devices, every month. Our current WiFi networks cannot handle such a huge demand due to frequency congestion and interference, making LiFi a more sustainable option. Since LiFi uses light as a medium of transmiting information, cutting out the usage of Radio and Microwave frequencies (which is what WiFi works on) will make for a healthier alternative. Various studies done in the past indicate that WiFi is the cause of health problems such as insomnia, damaged cell growth, concentration issues, and even reduced sperm count! Worried yet?

LiFi is not a new concept though. Companies such as Pure LiFi are already providing enterprise grade LiFi solutions such as Li-Flame. Li-Flame provides 10Mbps downlink and 10Mbps uplink over a range of up to three metres with standard light fixtures. This results in a data rate density of 2Mbps per square meter. It has two variants, one that is a ceiling unit and connects to LED light fixtures and the other that is a desktop unit, which connects to a user's device via USB and offers a 10Mbps infrared uplink to ceiling unit.

So yes, the next time you underestimate your light bulb, think again.

How to safeguard yourself from cyber-risks of the future

As cybercrime is constantly on the rise businesses and individuals need to be well informed in order to protect themselves.

Companies need to focus on cybersecurity education for staff, implement mature, multi-layered Endpoint protection with extra proactive layers. Although it's a no brainer companies still don't regularly patch vulnerabilities early and often in order to affect usability, if companies decide to automate the process, they will experience a few changes every once in a while but will be much better protected. Companies also fail to notice the importance of securing everything that is mobile. Communications must always be encrypted and protection should enabled wherever possible.

"Caution is needed when sending information via the Internet. For instance, you shouldn't connect to communication channels that are known to be unsecure, such as a public Wi-Fi network, because information may be intercepted. It is also important that consumers are careful when choosing online tools for personal communication, and only use a device reliably protected by a password and an Internet security solution," comments Elena Kharchenko, Head of Consumer Product Management, Kaspersky Lab.

Companies that are able to safeguard themselves from cyberattacks are the ones that deploy a complete security strategy, from the prediction of possible dangers and risks to the prevention of ongoing threats. Cybersecurity and IT often require different skillsets and the complexity of cybersecurity is often too much for generic IT staff to handle. Investing in a dedicated Security team is not a luxury in today's world, it is a necessity and even if you go for a smaller IT team and one or two dedicated security guys it is better than having a big IT team where everybody knows very little about cybersecurity.

"Financial cyberattacks are evolving into sophisticated, state-of-the-art campaigns," said Ross Hogan, Global Head of the Fraud Prevention Division at Kaspersky Lab. "Unfortunately, too many businesses are a step behind cybercriminals and are not doing enough to improve their protection against fraud. When a weak cybersecurity strategy is faced with the current sophisticated cyberattacks, financial loss becomes inevitable; however, this does not have to be the case. By implementing a comprehensive fraud prevention strategy, businesses are able to provide a secure environment for their customers to conduct various online payment methods used today."

"It's no secret that a security solution alone is not enough to protect a company's data. And the results of this study confirm that," comments Konstantin Voronkov, Head of Endpoint Product Management, Kaspersky Lab. "What's required is an integrated multi-level approach powered by security intelligence and other supplementary measures. These measures may include the use of specialized solutions and the introduction of security policies, such as restricting access rights."

Individuals need to invest in a robust security solution for all devices, especially mobile as it carries a lot of data and is not always the best protected. Experimenting with the additional features of the security solution you use can also make your entire computing experience more reliable. Learn and use whitelisting, encryption, and automated Backups.

"2016 will also see more players entering the world of cyber-crime. The profitability of cyber-attacks is indisputable and more people want a share of the spoils. As mercenaries enter the game, an elaborate outsourcing industry has risen to meet the demands for new malware and even entire operations. The latter gives rise to a new scheme of Access-as-a-Service, offering up access to already hacked targets to the highest bidder." added Juan Andrés Guerrero-Saade, Senior Security Expert, Global Research and Analysis Team, Kaspersky Lab.

"A new year of challenging developments lies ahead for the IT security industry. We believe that sharing insights and predictions will promote the necessary collaboration to proactively face oncoming challenges head-on."

5 technology initiatives that help ensure 26/11 never happens again

The 26/11 Mumbai attacks were one of the most grievous assaults on Indian soil, an incident that challenged the combined efforts of the US, British and Indian anti-terrorism agencies.

With the terrorists displaying unprecedented access and competence in electronic tradecraft, it opened a new need for government agencies to massively up the ante on strategies and practices that effectively monitor and utilise electronics and web technologies to counter this new capability. Post the attacks, the Indian government has launched numerous initiatives to help it better secure its own data, while introducing surveillance systems that can monitor potentially harmful activity:

1. National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID)

National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID), a post Mumbai 26/11 attack measure, aims to bring access to relevant, real-time information—a major obstacle in the path of detecting US terror suspect David Headley's movement across the country during his multiple visits between 2006 and 2009.

The grid has access to 21 sets of databases that are networked to achieve quick, seamless and secure access to key information for intelligence and enforcement agencies.

This ambitious counter terrorism programme uses Big Data and Analytics to study large amounts of information generated from various intelligence and enforcement agencies, simultaneously analysing events to get a better composite picture. This system enables law enforcement agencies to track suspects by monitoring their digital footprints.

2. Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS)

CCTNS has successfully tapped into the multiple crime-based networks to facilitate the collection, storage, retrieval, analysis, transfer and sharing of data and information at the police stations and between the police stations and the State Headquarters, syncing it with the Central Police Organisations.

This initiative facilitates effective policing and sharing data of crimes and criminals among 14,000 police stations across all the 35 states and Union Territories of India using a comprehensive and integrated system.

3. Lawful Intercept & Monitoring (LIM) Systems

Although electronic eavesdropping or hacking can yield valuable data, there is every possibility of missing a ‘tantalizing’ clue if the technology is not closely monitored.  Here’s where LIM comes to the rescue: it was deployed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) to closely monitor Internet traffic, emails, web browsing, Skype and any other Internet activity across Indian public data networks.

LIM systems have broad surveillance capabilities with access to all Internet activity that expands beyond IP addresses, email addresses, URLs or emails. It does an in-depth analysis of all Internet traffic using keywords and keyphrases.

4. Network Traffic Analysis (NETRA) system 

As company intranets are mushrooming rapidly, they provide a fertile ground for cyber-terrorism to tap into. It is increasingly important to intercept and analyse internet traffic using pre-defined filters.

NETRA, a software network developed by India's Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR), a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) laboratory, helps to gai insight into what type of traffic/network packets or data is flowing through a network.  Apart from detecting suspect keywords and keyphrases in social media, blogs, tweets, instant messaging services, emails, and in other online content, this software can also analyse dubious voice traffic passing through software such as Skype and Google Talk.

5. Central Monitoring System (CMS)

Every conversation you have on your landlines and mobile phones can be heard; some can be recorded too. You make a search on the Internet and it can be tracked. Fiction?

No, it’s now real. 

The CMS which ran multiple successful pilot tests in 2013 gives law enforcement agencies  centralised access to India's telecommunications network. Investigating officers can now listen to or record mobile, landline and satellite calls and voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) of anyone within the country. They can read private emails, SMS and MMS and geolocate people via their cell phones, all in real time.

Though this system had looped in several strong criticisms by media, this is a significant breakthrough that could potentially help stall terrorist intentions. 

Biohacking: Put a chip in me, please!

Before you think Biohacking is a long complicated thing you don’t want to be associated with, I’ll ask you to think again, or rather, let me break it down for you. Googling the definition of Biohacking can yield a wide variety of results from hacking into a person’s DNA to altering a person’s diet with a high metabolic rate, so that he or she can put on weight. But, these weren’t the points of conversation at the Kaspersky APAC summit held in Malaysia, in the third week of November 2015. What we are talking about here, is the ability to put an NFC enabled chip in a person. The chip is the size of a grain of rice and can store information you would otherwise carry physically with you, like your business card. You can’t store a lot of information on this chip. It can house approximately 880bytes of data on it.

If you are wondering how the information on the NFC chip implant works and how secure it is, Hannes Sjoblad said, “You can’t keep the information on the chip a secret because other people can read it. You must be aware of this. You don’t put the secret code to your safe where you have all your jewelry. You shouldn’t put it here but I say the kind of information you put on the implant is the kind of information you’d put on your t-shirt and walk down the street. Then you don’t really care if someone reads it." So Yes, it is clear that the data stored on this NFC chip isn’t secure. There is no encryption on it. Having said that, no one can simply come and touch a phone to the user’s hand and steal their data. At the event we tried it. The phone needs to be held close to the chip for roughly 10 seconds and touch the skin of the person with the implant.

Hannes Sjoblad said that he has replaced a lot of everyday things with the chip. He no longer carries his gym membership card, which is required to enter the gym. Rather, the data is stored on the chip in his left hand and he punches in using his fist – no pun intended here. Similarly, he doesn’t carry a business card anymore. The information is stored on the chip and just like you’d scan a business card to save the data on your phone, you can access it directly by simply tapping your phone onto the person’s hands where the implant is placed.

The use case scenarios for this kind of technology are limitless but the implementation is still some time away, in humans at least. We have seen similar chips implanted in animals. At the event Kaspersky quoted an example of a pet that has the chip implanted in it. When the pet approaches the trap door to exit the house, the chip and the lock sensor in the door communicate and the door opens for the pet. This not only secures the house from strange animals (since the door will remain locked till it is manually opened or the pet with the chip approaches it) but it also helps the owner of the pet, who doesn’t have to open the door for the animal every time.

When it comes to implanting the chip in humans, security threats are plentiful. Talking about medical implants like a pacemaker being hacked, Rainer Bock said, “We have seen a number of hacks of medical implants. I was thinking about that today and I haven’t seen any big news about that for a while now but 2 or 3 years ago there was news coming up all the time. Like with every technology, every technology can be hacked. There is no secure technology. With pacemakers nobody ever thought about the idea of somebody wanting to hack a pacemaker so nobody thought about how you would make that technology secure. That’s the difference now. We now know, everybody knows everything can be hacked be it a fridge or an implanted chip or a pacemaker. I think the awareness is far higher and if you look at what we are doing here now, Hannes and Kaspersky working together is because we are aware of the fact and we can both work together for making this chip secure. If we get these chips secure, then we can get pacemakers secure.”

Hannes Sjoblad said, “We have been putting artificial objects in humans for a long time like pacemakers, or hearing aids. We have been putting chip implants in animals for many years, but what is happening now is that people are putting technologies in their bodies who are healthy. This is a new step. It’s not just a tattoo for aesthetic purposes but a smart function technology inside your skin. Why we biohackers think this is interesting because it’s a very useful platform. We want to explore it because we don’t know what it can be used for. There are probably a lot of things we didn’t think about yet”.

So yes, even though the idea of implanting chips in our bodies is tempting, we still aren’t there yet from a security standpoint. Nonetheless, the video below will give you a glimpse at the process of implanting an NFC enabled chip, the size of a grain of rice, in a person.

HTC Desire quick review: HTC's One X gets 2015 makeover

HTC launched two phones on Wednesday -- the flagship One A9 and the mid-range Desire 828 -- in the Indian market. Note that the company hasn't revealed pricing of both the phones yet, so the monikers that we've given to them are based entirely on how these phones are stacked in terms of hardware. The A9, which has been the talk of the town more because of its uncanny resemblance to the iPhone 6 has been designed to replace the One M9, meaning HTC is touting this as a flagship (sort of). The Desire 828 on the other hand is a humble Desire offering, a series known for its upper and lower mid-range phones.

While a full review of the Desire 828 will come up at a later date -- once HTC reveals the price of the phone for the Indian market -- here's what we think about it based on first impressions:

While the A9 has been criticised left, right and centre for its resemblance to a certain iPhone, the Desire 828 takes you down memory lane. It looks a lot like the company's 2012 flagship phone, the One X. Only that it has been re-designed to make it more Desire-like. It's certainly a departure from what the Desire phones generally look like - they all look more or less the same -- which is a welcome change for buyers.

The front of the Desire 828 is a wedged structure and the main display area lies on a raised platform, much like the One X. Meanwhile, it retains the Desire-range's dual-tone design with white back (and front) and copper sides. It is an all-plastic phone. Build material is much like what we saw in the Desire Eye which was a top-end Desire phone on launch. Basically, it is premium plastic that has a smooth matte finish to it that feels good in hand.

The Desire 828 is not a remarkably curvy phone, but it's huge in terms of dimensions (not in terms of weight though). Although it is a 5.5-inch phone, it feels wider than other 5.5-inch phones in the market. At 7.9mm it is quite thick too. At the same time, chunky bezels add up to make one-handed operability quite challenging on it. This is not a phone for people with small hands.

If that wasn't enough, the volume rocker and power button are part of the edge (on the right) and look like they are one single entity. There will be instances when you'll end up searching for them particularly in low/no light. In times like these, the phone's broad frame becomes even more frustrating. The kind of button scheme employed here is best suited for phones with narrow screens.

The phone comes with a 5.5-inch FullHD IPS LCD display with a 1080 x 1920 pixels resolution and 401 ppi pixel density. Colours are a bit off-balance on the Desire 828 and peak brightness leaves a lot to be desired.

It is powered by a 1.5GHz octa-core Mediatek MT6753 processor with Mali-T720MP3 and 2GB RAM. On paper, the Desire 828 seems a little underpowered when compared with some of the popular mid-range phones like the OnePlus 2, Asus ZenFone 2, Meizu's MX5, OnePlus X and others. In our brief usage we found the Desire 828 to be a fairly capable performer, although it did get a little warm on playing games and clicking photos. A detailed verdict on this will follow in our full review. The phone comes with 16GB of internal memory which is expandable by up to 2TB via microSD.

The 4G LTE-capable device runs Android 5.1 Lollipop-based Sense 7 UI on top, which is HTC's custom take on Android. It follows the traditional Android approach of multiple home screens and app drawer. You get access to HTC's proprietary Sense home and BlinkFeed news aggregator along with its new theme engine for quick customisation.

The Desire 828 comes with a 13-megapixel camera with autofocus, optical image stabilisation and LED flash. There's also a 4-megapixel 'UltraPixel' camera on the front. HTC is touting the Desire 828 as among its better camera phones ideal for low-light photography. We clicked some photos with the phone -- in low light -- and results came out pretty standard. The camera was quick to focus and shutter speed was good. Low-light photos had some detail, but there was noise associated with these photos.

At the same time, having an UltraPixel camera on the front is a clever move. These 'UltraPixel' cameras although low on traditional megapixel count have the ability to take in more light. This means better and brighter selfies. Whether or not it translates into better results (than completion) is yet to be seen.

The Desire 828 is backed by a 2,800mAh battery which is non-removable. The phone however doesn't support any fancy fast charging features.

The Desire 828 -- like most HTC Desire phones -- looks 'good enough' on paper. That being said, the competition is intense and there are pretty good phones out there that give you complete value for money experience. The Desire 828 looks promising. But can it sustain in the longer run? Watch this space for our full review of the HTC Desire 828.

Source : indiatoday

Tablet Battle: Xiaomi Mi Pad 2 versus iPad Mini 4

Chinese tech giant, Xiaomi, launched three products yesterday – the Mi Pad 2, Redmi Note 3 and the Mi Air Purifier. We aren’t sure if the Mi Air Purifier will be launched in India, but the other two may be launched. In the past one year, tablets have seen a steady decline in sales, and tablet-makers like Apple, Samsung, Microsoft and more are trying to innovate, to revive the market.

Xiaomi's first generation tablet, the Mi Pad, was a great offering in India. Despite its plastic build, it had great specifications, a good display, and was a value for money proposition. Now in its second generation, the device is available in two variants – Windows and Android. The Windows version makes sense, since Windows 10 is an OS that works well on tablets, laptops and hybrids. Borrowing more from the design of Apple’s iPad Mini, the new Mi Pad 2 has an all-metal body. Coming to the price of the tablet, the 16GB Android variant will be priced at RMB 999 (Rs. 10,400 approx.), and the 64GB variant at RMB 1299 (Rs. 13,500 approx). The Android variants of the tablet go on sale in China, on November 27. The Windows 10 variant of this tablet will go on sale in December, and the 64GB variant will be priced at RMB 1299 (Rs. 13,500 approx).

Moving on to the iPad Mini 4, it is one of the best small-screen tablets available in the market, with the perfect combination of hardware and software. Here is a quick look at the specifications of the Xiaomi Mi Pad 2, when compared to the iPad mini 4. We have also thrown in the first generation Mi Pad, to get a perspective of how Xiaomi’s tablet has evolved.

Particulars	Xiaomi Mi Pad	Xiaomi Mi Pad 2	iPad Mini 4
Thickness	8.5mm	7mm	6.1mm
Weight	360 grams	322 grams	299 grams
Display Size	7.9-inch	7.9-inch	7.9-inch
Display Type	IPS LCD	IPS LCD	LED backlit IPS LCD
Display Resolution	1536 x 2048 pixels	1536 x 2048 pixels	1536 x 2048 pixels
OS	Android OS, v4.4.4 (KitKat)	Android/Windows (64GB Only)	iOS 9
Chipset	Nvidia Tegra K1	Intel Atom X5-Z8500	Apple A8
CPU	Quad-core 2.2 GHz	Quad-core 2.24 GHz	Dual-core 1.5 GHz
RAM	2GB	2GB	2GB
Built-in storage	16/64 GB	16/64 GB	16/64/128 GB
Expandable storage	microSD, up to 128 GB	microSD, up to 128 GB	NA
Rear camera	8MP	8MP	8MP
Front camera	5MP	5MP	1.2MP
Battery	6700mAh	6190mAh	5124mAh
Price	Rs. 12,999 approx.	RMB 999 (Rs. 10,400 approx.) for 16GB	Starts at Rs. 28,900 for the 16GB Wi-Fi only

Compared to its predecessor, the Mi Pad 2 has become slimmer and lighter, but display size and resolution remains the same. All the three tablets here have the same display size and resolution. The iPad mini 4 is the lightest and thinnest of the three. Both the Mi Pads offer expandable storage, whereas the iPad Mini 4 is limited to its built-in storage. How the Mi Pad 2 fares in real world usage is something we will comment on, later.

Lenovo strengthens Make In India plans

Lenovo became the world's third largest mobile manufacturer when it acquired Motorola. Now, Lenovo plans to ramp up production of its devices in India. The company is hoping to almost double its local smartphone production to 10 million units a year, at their Chennai manufacturing unit. Currently, Lenovo produces around 6 million units annually, but now the company will increase the number of models produced at the Chennai facility. Besides smartphone production, the company is also aiming to export both Lenovo and Motorola branded smartphones from India. Lenovo is also bringing its customisation programme- Moto Maker, to India.

Moto Maker has already been up and running in the US. Moto Maker allows users to customise their Motorola smartphones and the Moto 360 Watch. Using Moto Maker, customers can build their own Motorola devices in the colours of their choice along with an option of engraving them with a personal message. One alos gets of selecting the material of the smartphone or watch and adding memory to the devices. In India though, the initial launch of Moto Maker will aloow users to start by customising the back panel of their Motorola devices.

This year, we have seen a lot of smartphone manufacturers pushing for the Make In India agenda. Andhra Pradesh's Sri City has become a hub for most mobile makers such as Xiaomi and Gionee while others like Lava and Vivo have set up base in Delhi-NCR.

QiKU Q Terra Smartphone India Launch Set for Friday

QiKU, a joint venture between Chinese Internet company Qihoo 360 and handset maker Coolpad, will launch its first smartphone Qiku Q Terra in India on November 27, the company told Gadgets 360.

With the Q Terra, QiKU will become the latest Chinese company to enter the Indian market. Chinese smartphone manufacturer Coolpad debuted in India in May earlier this year with the launch of the entry-level Dazen 1, and the high-end Dazen X7.

The Qiku Q Terra offers high-end specifications with a fingerprint sensor. It sports a 6-inch full-HD (1080x1920) IPS display with a pixel density of 386ppi. It is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon MSM8992 808 SoC clocked at 2GHz with Adreno 418 GPU, 3GB of RAM, and 16GB of internal storage with support for additional storage up to 128GB using a microSD card.

On the photography front, the QiKU Terra sports dual 13-megapixel rear cameras with dual-tone LED flash, and features like 'Fast Focus', geo-tagging, and support for 4K video recording. There's an 8-megapixel front facing camera with f/2.4 aperture also on board, capable of shooting videos in full-HD resolution. The dual-SIM capable handset (Micro-SIM and Nano-SIM) supports 4G LTE, Bluetooth 4.1, Wi-Fi, and other standard connectivity features. It bears a 3700mAh battery with support for faster charging.

The handset runs Android 5.1 Lollipop-based Qihoo 360 OS with additional security features. The company will reveal the retail price of the handset at the event on Friday.

Telegram Gets Supergroups With 1000-Member Capacity, In-App Notifications

Instant messaging app Telegram, which recently came under scrutiny for being used by the terrorist group Isis, has announced new features aimed at improving group conversations.

The encrypted messaging platform now allows as many as 1,000 people to be a part of the same group. The company says that the groups that have reached the capacity of 200 users, previous high limit, can now upgrade their group to "Supergroups" to add five times as many members.

The company in a blog post wrote that new members will be able to see the entire message history when they join the group. Deleted messages, however, will disappear for all members. These groups will be muted by default, and will send 'fewer' notifications about people who have joined or left the Telegram Supergroup.

In addition, Telegram now also allows a group to have multiple admins, and offers the ability to edit the name of the group, logo, and these newly appointed admins too can add or remove members.

The features are live on both Android and iOS clients. Telegram for Android, which has been updated to version 3.3, in addition also offers a 'Quick Share' button in channels, right next to each message.

Telegram for iOS on the other hand is getting in-app notifications, allowing a user who is talking to a person to respond to messages from other friends without leaving the current conversation thread. A user can send text or respond with a sticker, the company said.

As of May 2015, Telegram had 62 million monthly active users. The app is known for its sophisticated encryption technology. It still doesn't show ads to its users, has a desktop client, and is completely free to use.

New York City Launches Anti-Terror Reporting App for Citizens

Following terror attacks in Mali, Paris and Beirut, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has unveiled a new mobile app designed to help keep his citizens safe.

Called See Something, Send Something, the app encourages citizens to report any suspicious activity through a simple mobile app on their smartphone, Digitaltrends.com reported.

Not only does the app allow users to instantly send tip-offs to law enforcement officials, it also attempts to educate its users on "what to look for and when to submit suspicious activity reports".

"These new efforts are essential pieces in our fight against terrorism," Cuomo was quoted as saying.

"We have stepped up our preparedness in the aftermath of the Paris attacks, and we continue to remain vigilant against those who seek to spread fear and violence," he added.

Cuomo said he was aware that such apps can easily be abused a" particularly in times of extreme tension, users have been known to send in "tips" that are based more upon their own prejudices than legitimate concerns.

"When you ask for anonymous tips, you very well could get false information or information the person believes is true, but turns out not to be correct," Cuomo admitted.

As such, significant vetting will be needed in order to ensure that the information being passed along holds water, and doesn't simply flood the system with racist comments.

See Something, Send Something is already used in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Louisiana, Colorado, and Virginia.

Raspberry Pi Zero Is a Tiny Computer That Costs Just $5

Raspberry Pi Foundation, the company that makes miniature computers, has just made an addition to its affordable computer lineup. The company has announced the launch of the Raspberry Pi Zero, its cheapest computer to date. Priced at just $5 (roughly Rs. 320), the Raspberry Pi Zero is also the smallest Pi computer, measuring just 65mm x 30mm x 5mm.

As for the specifications, the Raspberry Pi Zero comes with Broadcom's BCM2835 application processor clocked at 1GHz ARM 11 core. The company says that this chipset is 40 percent faster than its counterpart at Raspberry Pi 1. Other specifications include a 512MB of LPDDR2 SDRAM, and a microSD card slot for storage.

On the connectivity front, there's a mini-HDMI socket that supports 1080p60 video output, a 40-pin GPIO header, and a composite video header. Do note that there isn't a standard USB or Ethernet port, so you will have to purchase an additional hub to be able to connect your peripherals or devices to it.

On the software front, the device can run Raspbian, a Linux-based operating system. The processing power should be enough to be able to handle apps such as Minecraft. It is available for purchase in the United Kingdom from element14, The Pi Hut and Pimoroni, and in the United States from Adafruit. There's no word on its Indian availability, though based on the previous launches, it should be available in the country via authorised resellers soon enough.

Interestingly, a Raspberry Pi-powered product called Poco Supercomputer, is currently up on crowdfunding platform Indiegogo , which promises to offer an open source, completely hackable device. It has three Micro-USB ports, microHDMI-out, microSD expansion, two joysticks inlets, and a range of sensors. The company says that Poco Supercomputer can be used as a portable media player, a fitness tracker and a range of other things, as users see fit.

8 tools to change the way you use Gmail

If you only use Gmail to send and receive emails, you're barely scratching the surface of what it actually does. Here are some tools that will help you integrate multiple cloud storage providers, enable experimental 'labs' options and adding super-cool features by third-party developers and much more.

So, over to 8 tools that will change the way you use Gmail.

1. MailTrack: Know when was your email read

You're probably using WhatsApp ­- you get two little tick marks on your message once it's been delivered and they turn blue once your message has been read. Wouldn't it be great if you could find out when your email has been read in the same way?

You can do this with a free Chrome extension called MailTrack.Once you install it, you'll get free email tracking, desktop and email notifications and a history (data is stored for 6 months).

The only catch is that there's a 'Sent with MailTrack' signature added to all your email. If you'd rather not have that, you can upgrade to the pro account for $3.50 per month. This also gives you unlimited history and the ability to track if links in your email were clicked.

2. Dmail: Self-destructing email

It's the stuff of science fiction and action movies ­ send your message (which is encrypted, by the way) to the recipient and you can choose when it 'self destructs'. After the message destructs, the recipient will no longer be able to read it ­ it will just read like garbled text.

Get the free Dmail (Delicious Mail) Chrome extension.The service is currently in beta stage and completely free. In every message compose window, you'll see the toggle for Dmail.You can revoke access to any mail, you've sent, at any time.

It's important to note that the recipient does not need to have Dmail installed. Once it goes out of beta, there will likely be some paid plans with extra features ­ a basic service should remain free though.

3. Mail2Cloud: Schedule your email

The free Mail2Cloud extension on Chrome adds a small button to your compose window -­ right next to the send button. Just compose an email like you normally do. You can then choose a date/time when to automatically send it. The Save & Share feature can make a PDF of any email and save it to your cloud storage box.

Third, you get features like email tracking and self destruct. And for anyone who's using Gmail for work, you can do stuff like set reminders for follow up email and set a timeout (be notified if an actionable email hasn't elicited a response). This is free for 10 users while plans start at $2.50 per month.

4. Rapportive: Get more info about your contacts

Not everyone uses a detailed signature. Rapportive is a free add-on for Firefox and Chrome that gets information like a photograph, alternate email, Twitter ID and so on (basically whatever information they add to their public LinkedIn profile) -­ and it adds this information in a box where the ads normally appear.

That's a double advantage: The ads are removed and you get useful information right alongside the email.

5. Cloudy: Enable all the Cloud providers

What if the files you want to attach are saved on cloud storage? What if you want to attach multiple files from different cloud service providers -- all in the same mail? A free Chrome extension called Cloudy can help -- it integrates with SkyDrive, Dropbox, Box, Google Drive, SkyDrive, Github and Gmail itself.

If you like, you can also attach photos from Facebook, Instagram, Flickr or Picasa (these will be real attachments -- not just links to those photos. This means your recipient will instantly see the attachments).

If you use Evernote, you can also attach notes and if you need to attach images from the web, you can search and attach right within Gmail -­ rather than search, download and attach individually.

6. WiseStamp: Make your signature stand out

There are limitations to what you can do with your email signature. With WiseStamp, you can create a custom signature: Add details from your visiting card, plus your social profiles (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn), a photograph and many extras.

Extras include buttons or widgets with your latest tweet or a random quote. You will need to create an account and download the free add-on (Firefox and Chrome). Once you do that, the signature will automatically be added to every mail -­ all the features you added.

The free version puts branding under the signature -­ 'Free email signature by WiseStamp' ­- and a link. If you want to remove that, it's $4 per month (though at the time of writing, there's a special offer of $2 per month).

7. http:unroll.me: Cut the spam

You get subscribed to many services and newsletters without your consent. Head to http:unroll.me and grant the service access to your Gmail inbox.

It will scan through your inbox and list all your subscriptions -­ you can choose to keep the ones you want and it only takes a few minutes.

8. BatchedInbox: Helps deal with email glut

If you're constantly distracted by new email throughout the day, try BatchedInbox (http:www.batchedinbox.com).

It's completely free and delivers new email in batches, at a time and frequency of your choosing. It works by diverting all your email to a new label called BatchedInbox.

These will be moved to the inbox when you choose. You can peek at the undelivered email at any time.