This event aims to strengthen the Indian mobile phone and component manufacturing ecosystem in sync with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Digital India’ programs. India is poised to become another global manufacturing hub for Mobile phones and Components, particularly with the help of Chinese companies. We are targeting 500 million mobile phone manufacturing by 2019, along with a robust component industry. Our Chinese partners will help us in achieving this,” said Mr. Pankaj Mohindroo, National President, Indian Cellular Association (ICA), while supporting the event Do Savor.
More than 200 mobile phone brands from China & India, 1000 dealers, 10 000 professional visitors per day, 500 million for the site order scale, 200 enterprises in the supply line, 100+ Under the great support of Indian Government DeitY, Trade association, grand mobile brands and many members of the mobile industry chain, ‘India Mobile Diwali’ is being promoted jointly for the development of India’s mobile industry from the industry chain to the final product and supplying customers with better ‘India made’ products. A high-level delegation comprising senior officials from the entire gamut of Chinese & Indian Mobile Handset Companies / Component Manufacturers are likely to participate in India Mobile Diwali Expo with a distinct objective to collaborate and explore Manufacturing / JV / Investment opportunities in India.
Major Chinese & Indian players like Techno, Gionee, Coolpad, Holitech, Micromax, Lava, Videocon, G’Five, Karbonn, Spice, Vodafone, Intex Galaxy Core, Poxiao, Vivo, Sprocomm, Nubia, ZTE, Meizu, Water World, Miki, Acer, Essline, Nuwei, Ramos, Huawei, a large number of exhibitors, dealers, industrial parks, consumer groups and China’s intelligent hardware manufacturers, enterprises in the mobile phone industry chain and enterprises of mobile phone accessories are expected to be part of the Expo & Summits which will explore opportunities to collaborate and may lead towards possible investments.
Under the great support of the Indian Government DeitY, Trade association, grand mobile brands, and many members of the mobile industry chain, ‘India Mobile Diwali’ is being promoted jointly for the development of India’s mobile industry from the industry chain to the final product and supplying customers with better ‘India made’ products. A high-level Investment Delegation from China’s Mobile Phone Industry will be on a six-day India visit from October 21st to 26th to participate in India Mobile Diwali Expo. The High-Level Chinese delegation will have meetings with the Indian distributor; will have a detailed understanding of Indian law, tax, customs, etc. This is an opportunity for the Chinese investors to know India’s brands better and therefore invest wiser to achieve a win-win situation.
Imphal, Oct 24 (PTI) In a first-of-its-kind service, the Centre plans to launch a mobile air dispensary for the Northeast, with a helicopter fitted with medical equipment and doctors on board, flying in remote areas for the benefit of people. Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jitendra Singh said the mobile air dispensary with a doctor, necessary equipment, and medicines would fly to remote and far-flung areas regularly, especially where patients find it difficult to reach a doctor and basic health center.
The experiment, which would possibly be the first of its kind in the country, can also be replicated in other hill states and remote areas with poor connectivity like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh reporters here.
On the first day of his two-day visit to Manipur, Singh had a review meeting with the state administration and appreciated Governor Najma Heptulla for endorsing this idea by citing the example of Royal Flying Service of Australia, popularly known as Flying Doctors, which is meant to provide aid and primary health care service in rural and remote areas Give Sunlight.
The Minister said this idea has already been discussed with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and MoS Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha, who has indicated the feasibility of such a scheme, according to an official release. Singh said he has already held discussions with some of the leading helicopter companies in the country. He said soon, the DoNER Ministry, North Eastern Council, and the Government of Manipur will discuss the issue with officials of the Union Ministry of Health to work out the modalities.
Singh also discussed issues related to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement to set up a sports university in Manipur and sought an expeditious decision to set up the institute. This will help in professionally grooming the Northeastern youth, he said. Singh said the central government accords high priority to the north-eastern states. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the state governments to extend full cooperation in implementing the central schemes. He said athe DoNER Ministry might develop a methodology monitor and point out the lapses on the part of the state governments in implementing the central schemes. PTI ACB KIS
If you plan to use dating apps in your relationship, you should avoid sharing too much personal data and photos on your dating profiles. It is also advisable to be careful about what you post on your dating profile, as some dating apps have features that allow people to see who has viewed your profile. Have you ever thought about using dating apps to find someone to date? If you haven’t used them yet, this is the perfect time to start. But what if you’re not ready to get involved yet?
Whether you’re looking for love or just someone to hang out with, there are many dating apps. Some are free, while others cost money. But before you sign up and spend your money, you should think about some things. What if you found someone who was wrong for you? What if your new partner doesn’t respect you? We’ll discuss all of those issues and more in this article. We’ll show you how to use dating apps safely so that you won’t have any regrets when you eventually meet someone. Dating apps can be a big part of our lives today. They allow us to meet people we otherwise wouldn’t have met. It’s pretty easy to get a date with one of these apps, as long as you know how to use them properly. Many people have trouble using dating apps safely in their relationships. I’m here to explain what you need to know about using dating apps safely in your relationship.
What is a dating app?
A dating app is an online service where you can find potential matches based on similar interests, personalities, and preferences. Dating apps also provide tools for communication, allowing users to chat, email, and send flirty messages. Some apps are free to download and use, while others cost money to use. While some apps focus on a specific type of relationship, such as casual dating, others are used by people of all ages and relationships.
Why do people use dating apps?
In short, people use dating apps for a variety of reasons. Some look for a casual hookup, while others look for serious relationships. And, of course, some use them just to have fun. Whether looking for a casual hookup or a long-term relationship, dating apps have pros and cons. Let’s take a look at the most common reasons people use them. For Casual Hookups, Most people use dating apps. This is a simple process: You open the app, type in your desired criteria, and see who’s nearby. It’s fast and easy. However, it can be dangerous. While there are many benefits to using a dating app, it can also be used for many bad things. Here are some common ways people use dating apps for casual hookups: Casual sex is always risky. You never know what someone else is going to be like.
How to choose the best dating app for you?
You have a choice when choosing the best dating app for you. There are several options available on the market. You can target a niche dating app if you’re looking to date a specific type of person. For example, if you’re only interested in dating Asian women, you should try out an app like Tinder Asia. Cupid Latin is the way to go if you’re into Latinos. Alternatively, you can opt for a global app. This means you can meet people from all over the world, regardless of gender, religion, or sexual orientation. Some apps allow you to filter based on specific categories, such as LGBTQ or Mormon.
How to find your ideal partner on a dating app?
While apps help us find potential partners, they can also be a huge source of stress and anxiety. Some people are hesitant even to try dating apps, while others use them daily. In this guide, I’ll show you how to use dating apps safely in your relationship. You’ll learn how to find your ideal partner, set up filters, and avoid the common mistakes that make people unhappy. I’ll also teach you how to use dating apps safely and avoid dating apps that can cause relationship problems.
What should you look for in a dating app?
A good dating app is like a good pair of jeans; it fits you perfectly and makes you look good. So, what should you look for in a dating app?
First, make sure the app is free. Some free dating apps ask for your phone number and email address to access the app’s full features. These are not safe.
Second, make sure the app is safe. There are many fake dating apps out there. So, it would help if you were careful.
Fourth, make sure the app is fun. The point of dating apps is to have fun and meet new people.
Fifth, make sure the app is secure. While it’s nice to be able to connect with new people, you don’t want to be at risk of getting scammed.
Frequently asked questions about dating apps.
Q: Do you use any dating apps?
A: I’m on OkCupid, but I haven’t had a date since 2013. I was using it all the time before I signed with IMG Models, but now I feel like it’s taking too long to meet someone, and I’m not getting the responses I want.
Q: What’s the best part about dating apps?
A: You can set up a profile and decide what kind of person you’re looking for.
Q: What’s the worst part about dating apps?
A: I would say the people looking for one-night stands or people who are only interested in meeting someone and then never calling them back.
Q: Is dating a model more difficult than normal dating?
2. You should not use dating apps to find a boyfriend/girlfriend.
3. Online dating apps are the same as Tinder or OKCupid.
Conclusion
There are many reasons why people use dating apps. Some use them to meet new people, while others to find love. I use them to find friends. It might seem like the obvious choice, but many different options exist. I recommend going with those with more users because you can find more people to connect with.
Amid a controversy over alleged use of mobile phone by beedi tycoon Muhammed Nisham, serving term for killing a security guard, a senior prison official on Saturday denied the allegation and said he had not made any mobile calls from jail.
DIG of prisons (north zone) Sivadas K Thaiparambil visited Kannur Central Prison, where Nisham is lodged, and said the convict had not made any mobile calls from the jail.
However, on October 20, he was taken to a Bengaluru court in connection with a case and while on transit he had made two calls, the DIG told PTI.
His statement came hours after chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan took note of media reports about Nisham allegedly getting various facilities in the jail and sought immediate action on the matter from the prison authorities.
The DIG said Nisham had admitted that he had made two calls to his brothers while on transit, he said.
Earlier, the brothers filed a complaint with Thrissur rural superintendent of police R Nishantini, alleging that Nisham had threatened them from jail in Kannur by calling on their mobile phone. A search was conducted in the prison cell where Nisham is lodged, but no mobile phone was found, the DIG said.
When asked about reports that Nisham was regularly in touch with his wife and business associates, he said the convict was entitled to use the coin phone in the jail premises. The DIG also said he has filed a report with the DGP Prisons stating that no mobile calls had been made by the accused while inside the prison.
Reports had alleged that Nisham was in possession of two mobile phones and he was frequently making calls.
As the issue heated up, Vijayan said appropriate action would be taken if it was found that Nisham had been provided undue facilities at the central prison. In a Facebook post, the chief minister said he had already sought immediate intervention and action in the matter Give Us Life.
“Media reports about Nisham getting various facilities in Kannur jail came to my notice. Details have been sought from the department,” he said in the post.
Jail authorities have informed him that they had intervened and were taking appropriate action, he said. Reacting to the reports, Leader of the Opposition in Assembly Ramesh Chennithala said it was a matter of concern that Nisham was getting “VIP treatment” in prison and demanded stern action against officials who gave him “silent support”.
Nisham had run over 51-year old security guard Chandrabose with his Hummer SUV after brutally beating him for delay in opening the main gates of the posh residential complex ‘Shobha city’ in Thrissur in the early hours of January 29 last year.
At a Thursday haat in Awapalli village in the heart of the largely-tribal Maoist violence-hit Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, almost everything comes at a price. You get roosters for cockfights for Rs 1,000, mahua liquor for Rs 5 a glass and Rs 10 a bottle and red ants to make chapura (chutney made with red ants crushed with garlic, ginger and chilli) for Rs10 a fistful. But health checks and medicines are for free, courtesy a travelling clinic and medical staff who often hail from the community.
Chhattisgarh’s travelling clinics go where no doctors have gone before. Dr Shailendra Kumar, block medical officer at Usoor block bordering Telangana, runs a makeshift clinic under a mahua tree at village haats (market) such as this one each week with a health assistant, a staff nurse, an auxiliary nurse midwife and two volunteers in tow. They take healthcare to people too scared to go to government hospitals and clinics because of real or perceived left-wing extremism (LWE) threats against using state-run hospitals, schools and civic services. Their fears aren’t unfounded.
Among all Indian states, Chhattisgarh is the worst affected by Maoist violence. Till September 30 this year, 845 incidents of LWE violence claimed 226 lives in India. Of these, 85 people died in 313 attacks in Chhattisgarh, with Jharkhand being a close second with 265 incidents and 71 deaths. Many villagers still go to traditional medicine men for cure and don’t get the free health services available to them,” says Dr Kumar. “When people don’t come to us, we go to them. They come to haats with their families, this is the perfect place to vaccinate the children and treat those who look ill.
Shot of health
Sitting under a tree where tribals gossip and haggle over roosters, goats, food and chattel, doctors and nurses from the Usoor Primary Health Centre (PHC) screen pregnant women, vaccinate children, treat boils, skin lesions and diarrhoea, and treat people for malaria. Those who need tests are referred to the closest primary or community health centre.
Visibly pregnant Sunita Yalam, 28, was buying a bucket when she was brought to the makeshift health camp for an ante-natal check. She has a difficult pregnancy history – she had a miscarriage last year – and though she is eight months pregnant, she’s not had a single health check when she should have had at least three. Dr Kumar gives her iron and folic acid and asks her to come to the PHC for a sonography later that week to check the development of her unborn baby.
We vaccinate children, screen pregnant women, treat people for infections and use a rapid test to diagnose malaria, which is common in this region, and give medicines to treat it,” says Kumar, who treats around 70 people between 10am and 4pm in his makeshift camp each week. “Over the last two hours, of the dozen people with people with fever, five have tested for the more deadly malaria falciparum and two for vivax malaria.
Camps such as the one at Awapalli haat have become a mainstay for healthcare delivery in a region where government hospitals (both PHCs and community health centres) have been under-utilized for decades because of missing staff, poor infrastructure and people scared of Maoist or distrustful of the government.
In the absence of private hospitals – there are no private hospitals in Bijapur and Sukma districts , only tribal medicine men and unqualified “bengali” doctors – makeshift clinics are set up at each week at different haats across the affected districts,” says Bijapur district collector Ayyaj Tamboli. “We have to build people’s trust so that people use government health systems instead of going to the unorganised sector where they are overcharged for services that are often unreliable,” said Chhattisgarh health minister Ajay Chandrakar.
It’s vital that these services (health, education and other social services) should be seen as a humanitarian non- political activity of the state administration,” says Dr Srinath Reddy, president, Public Health Foundation of India, which is partnering with the state government to take healthcare to the people.
What also kept people away was the absence of services. “We need to offer people quality services to get them to trust state services with their lives and the lives of their families. If government doctors cure them once, they will come back because now they know they will get treated well,” says Chandrakar.
Localising care
Helping integration with the community is the hiring of medical staff from the community, who not just speak the language but also have a stake in local development. “Tribal girls are being trained and hired so each PHC gets an additional ANM (auxiliary nurse midwife), and the target is to have 50% PHCs running 24×7 in six months, beginning with the ones furthest from a district hospital or primary health centre,” says Subrat Sahoo, principal secretary health,
Chhattisgarh.
To upgrade facilities, a policy draft to outsource dialysis and radiology, including CT, MRI and X-ray is district hospitals is ready and tenders will be issued to have the units running by April 1, 2017. Hiring professional healthcare consultants to free up doctors to do clinical work is also on the cards at the district hospital level, as is setting up a public health cadre to manage hospitals. “Over the next six months, we plan to have an infrastructure policy where we will outsource diagnostics, dialysis and hospital administration to free up doctors to staff hospitals and health centres,” Chandrakar told HT.
The real challenge, of course, is ensuring that the localised success is replicated in other remote and LWE-affected districts in India. “Scaling up health services in these difficult areas is possible if trust of the communities is won through sustained attention to their health needs and confidence is built up among healthcare providers that their work is highly valued by both the people and the government,” says PHFI’s Dr Reddy.
If you’re buying a Samsung phone in India, it’ll be of the 4G variety. In a power move that seeks to catapult the fast-growing Southeast Asian nation into the modern mobile age, Samsung has announced that it will only be launching 4G smartphones in the burgeoning market. And because Samsung is such a major force in India, other players in the mobile space will likely be forced to make similar announcements, moving the entire game toward 4G.
There is a huge conversion happening from feature phones to smartphones at the entry-level. This migration will continue. All the future launches, including the entry-level segment, will have 4G facilities. We will sell 4G devices, Manu Sharma, Vice President of Mobile Business at Samsung India, told IANS. Some might say it’s about time this switch happened. According to Counterpoint Research, there are over 250 million smartphone users in India, yet fewer than 100 million use handsets that are 4G LTE compatible.
That isn’t because 4G is a new phenomenon in India. In fact, the network has been around for more than three years. But it was only when India’s Reliance Industries Limited made its Jio 4G-only network widely available last month that most citizens could access the technology. And not only was it made available, but it was made free for consumers to test out and will remain free until the end of 2016.
Now that people have tried the best, there’s no going back. As Tarun Pathak of Counterpoint Research told Mashable, Indian consumers are now “carefully evaluating the phone and checking if it has 4G-LTE support before purchasing it.” That means that 4G LTE support will soon become standard in every smartphone found in India — even the cheapest iterations.
CHENNAI: The arrest on Friday of a 24-year-old man for stealing more than 2,000 mobile phones in three years has exposed a lax system in which police discourage victims from registering complaints of stolen mobile phones.
S Praveen Kumar, the accused, told police that he initially targeted people sleeping on the beach who kept their mobile phones beneath bedsheets. He took to crime to meet his day-to-day expenses. After his exploits, Praveen would read local newspapers, looking for news related to mobile phone thefts. He assumed that his victims did not register a police complaint and started targeting more people on the beachfront when he found nothing.
He wore a lungi and a t-shirt and, after stealing the phones of those sleeping on the beach, would pretend to be asleep on the sand. He would leave in the morning to sell the phones, said an investigating officer. Police have arrested Praveen’s accomplice, a pawnbroker, Hanuman Ram, who would buy those stolen mobile phones. “Police entertain only if the mobiles are valued more than 10,000, and in some police stations in south Chennai, the margin is 20,000 and above. Even then, they may promise to register a case but never pursue them,” said V Prasad, a lawyer practicing at the Madras high court.
Earlier, complaints of mobile phone thefts were handled by the cybercrime wing of the central crime branch. Now, petitioners are told to approach a police station. Christopher of Ambattur, whose mobile phone was stolen, said: “I have procured a community service register for my complaint, but there has been no action so far. I can only hope that the phone will be traced.” Victims, too, are reluctant to involve themselves with police fearing they may be interrogated. Most bypass police stations and opt for a new mobile phone instead.
As a lifelong fan of the Ultima series, and I mean lifelong, way back to the early ’80s, I was as excited as I was skeptical when I heard Electronic Arts was going to make a new free to play cross-platform version based on Ultima IV called Ultima Forever, Quest for the Avatar. After nearly two years since it was announced, EA and its developer Mythic Entertainment are currently conducting a soft launch in certain markets to test out Ultima Forever’s mechanics with real players.
Obviously, much will change before the final version was released this July, as Mythic tweaks things like weapon damage, quests, and in-game purchasing. So please consider this a preview and not review some of the features we can expect in Ultima Forever when it officially launches. For this video, I will assume you have some basic knowledge of the Lore of Ultima and the relationship history between Origin Systems and Electronic Arts.
Mythic Entertainment is charged with the challenging task of being true to a franchise that is over 30 years old with legions of fans while at the same time setting out to bring modern gaming mechanics that today’s players expect in a game that can be played on mobile devices, all the while bringing those original fans and new players together in harmony, not an easy task.
Ultima Forever is set 21 years after the events of Ultima IV Quest of the Avatar. The eight virtues that were so pinnacled in that game to heal Britannia are now being attacked by the Black Weep, a plague that corrupts them and infects those its contacts. Lady British has summoned you and others to find its source and stop it. In a clever nod to older Ultimas, you’re told that people who are infected turn, and many often come back to life without their heads, which possibly explains one of Ultima’s most bizarre monsters, the Headless.
As in most of the Ultima series, the Gypsy character is back, this time taking on more of a supportive role. She still presents you with several moral dilemma questions to choose your path initially and the omnipresent voice during the game, which begs the question, is she more than she really seems to be.
At this time, your class selection is limited to just the Fighter or Mage archetypes, with more promised at the release. It’s not known if there will be eight classes to match the eight virtues as in other Ultimas, but I’d assume it’s a safe bet. The landscape of Britannia is all there with all the major cities and towns we remember, along with many new points of interest like towers, caves much another potential entry point to dungeons.
There is a brief tutorial that introduces you to the basics and kickstarts the plot. Combat is as simple as clicking an enemy but depending on your position to your enemy; you can increase your damage and possibly doing critical damage. Plus, as you progress, you’ll get a special attack that has a cooldown meter attached to it.
Let’s talk about the visuals of the game. It’s a top-down isometric view more reminiscent of Ultima 6 than Ultima IV. I’m really impressed with the 2D landscapes and town interiors. Everything has a nice watercolor-painted look to it; it’s wonderful to take in. However, I haven’t noticed any lapping waves or rustling trees overlay on the 2D art. It’s not a huge deal, but even Ultima IV had wave tiles. To Mythic’s credit, I did see some real rain in the opening intro title screen.
The portrait art is also very appealing and keeps in with the style of the overall game. Characters, NPCs, and monster sprites look really good, though the fighter’s top-heavy proportions took me a little while to get used to.
Music has always been a big part of Ultima, and it still is. I was happy to hear familiar melodies set to a full orchestral score. Though I confess, I have all the original Ultima synthesized music on my iPhone.
Ultima Forever is a freemium game setup with in-game purchases. Mythic has stated that you can play the game without ever spending a cent but if you want you can purchase nearly anything except virtue points which is their new take on the old experience point system that other games use. They’ve also got rid of the old gold coin system and uses various keys, bronze, silver, and gold. Keys are used to opening chests, and depending on which key you use, your chances of finding uncommon, rare, or epic items rise.
Bronze keys can be found in dungeons as loot, or you can craft them. Combining 15 bronze keys yields 5 silver keys, and gold keys can be purchased with real money or awarded in certain situations. Keys are also used to buy in-game items and repair damaged weapons and armor. And you will be doing that a lot. Your equipment deteriorates over time and must be repaired, and the good news is it doesn’t require you to visit a blacksmith shop, spend your keys for an easy fix. In fact, Mythic has used the soft launch to gauge costs and has recently reduced repair costs significantly due to user feedback.
Of course, the eight Virtues are at the heart of Ultima. Throughout the game, moral dilemmas are presented to you that don’t have any real right answer, but your choices will direct your character’s virtue path. For instance, leaning towards honest deeds will increase your reputation in the town of Moonglow; Justice earns reputation in the town of Yew, and the higher your reputation, the better you will be received in those towns, unlocking new areas and new quests. All virtuous deeds are tallied and are translated as a purple bar beneath your health. When the bar fills, your character advances a level. It’s a clever new take on the old experience point system.
If you’re like me, you like playing solo, but Ultima Forever is a multi-player game where parties of up to four friends can band together. Another creative solution to the problem of players with vastly different levels forming a party is addressed by temporarily lowering certain stats on high-level characters; the game counts this as a sacrifice for their deed. Clever reward systems are peppered throughout the game.
It’s important to keep in mind this is a reimagining of the classic Ultima 4, not a sequel to the original timeline. Sort of like a Hollywood reboot as in the recent Batman and Superman films. Mythic does try to keep old school fans happy by pointing to certain people, places and things from the original and you can’t help but smile when stumbling on them. Though it never detracts from the plot to annoy new first-time Ultima players.
Though hundreds of dungeons to conquer, people to help, and quests to complete, it’s laid out in little accomplishable chunks. You could pick up and play a quick 15 minutes and actually complete something instead of a continuous chain of quests that does on and on. Ultima Forever is meant to be quick and light, perfect for mobile gaming.
The more I experience this game, the more I find I like it, though my old Ultima prejudices are really hard to fight back. The fact that the original Ultima IV used so much of the player’s imagination to fill in the blanks that the technology of the time couldn’t do, gave us an incredibly invested feeling in the game. Ultima Forever is a modern game with portability, touch screen, mouse-driven, social media connected, multi-player game; it’s not 1985’s Ultima IV. If you want vast super immersive gameplay with full economies and sociopolitical relationships to dive into, they’re on the horizon but what EA and Mythic have done here is create an enjoyable and respectful reimagining of a beloved classic. I’m looking forward to the July 2013 full launch Journey Onward again to Britannia.
How is Apple’s iOS 6 Passbook App Going to Impact Other Electronic Wallets?
Apple has entered the cell phone wallet enterprise with a brand new utility in iOS 6 referred to as Passbook, a prelude to what would possibly soon grow to be a fully-fledged electronic wallet. With the Apple logo in the back of it, it is predicted that all aspects of cellular bills, ticketing, and discounts will alternate for all time.
Introducing Passbook
On Monday, June 11, 2012, at the Worldwide Development Conference (WWDC), Apple introduced its own mobile pockets application known as Passbook. Passbook is an iOS 6 app, a good way to be completely incorporated into the ultra-modern iPhone running system. It is expected to be launched sometime in October. It is maximum possible to launch in conjunction with the iPhone 5 launch. Apple presents an API to permit developers to create, manipulate and distribute Apple-authorised boarding passes, praise playing cards, present cards, incentive playing cards, and extra in an unmarried vicinity. In a similar style to the iOS Books and Newsstand apps, Apple supplies a native platform that lets commercial enterprise owners get their business and carrier services in front of iPhone customers.
A Beautiful User Interface
Apple’s development of Passbook establishes a cozy-widespread for helping and setting up virtual tickets, save playing cards, coupons, and offers within the cellular iOS devices. A magnificent array of functions will appear at the time of the preliminary release, with plenty greater to comply with as builders start to combine the gadget somewhere else. Before its reputable launch, Apple has already built a current listing of massive stores that want to combine the Passbook technology into existing iOS packages, together with Starbuck’s famous barcode bills app. More small and large companies are anticipated to announce how they intend to apply Passbook to their benefit toward the launch date.
Passbook provides a great-searching easy-to-use card-fashion consumer interface (UI) that updates stay as the shop playing cards, or passes are used. Apple has taken care of how a user and the business interact with the virtual Passes. There are positive constraints, just like the length of the Pass, or the variety of fields allowed, or how the user can select to be informed, and so forth. But Apple is attempting to provide an honestly open gadget. A software that can be utilized by any store wishing to provide digital passes. There will also be a rich set of features, including time and location primarily based facts, admission to prior shopping records, and access to non-public records.
Passes within the Passbook app itself are very appealing. They, without a doubt, experience brilliant to take a look at and play with. It feels a lot extra 21st century than a crammed wallet or purse complete with paper and plastic. Each sort of bypass has a slightly distinctive style that permits the user to be speedy to finds the right one. For instance, a retail coupon has a serrated edge to graphically illustrate a reduction, or a movie price ticket has a 1/2-circle clipped on the pinnacle to illustrate the likeness of a ticket stub. These Passbook standards and the API shows Apple is growing their foundation for how they might want to integrate their generation with Visa, MasterCard, or comparable fee card processing networks.
Built-in Features
Passbook is a fully functioning software, and any business developing and dispensing those passes can make the most of the Passbook functions right now:
Geolocation
Push Updates
Calendar Updates
Geolocation: The skip will mechanically appear whilst the iPhone consumer reaches a selected place. When the tool is near a store or anything region the Pass creator chooses, a message seems on the lock screen to alert the person that they have a Pass (perhaps a discount coupon or a loyalty card) that can be redeemed. Not best is this very convenient for the iPhone consumer; however, it also lets in outlets the option to push gives and incentives primarily based on several standards and location.
Examples: A large chain espresso employer provides their loyalty card via Passbook to open mechanically as soon as a consumer gets close to a selected shop. Instant get entry is given to the barcode device, which the user surely scans at the terminal, and then they revel in their cup of espresso. They don’t even need to kind in their password to release the smartphone.
A digital store ‘pushes’ a discount the immediate they come at the store; Passbook notifies the consumer of their contemporary balance and the discount to be had. A mass transit railway business enterprise trouble Passbook Passes to show the number of rides or credits to be had, with a scannable barcode to be used in the price tag workplace. A ticketing company problems Passbook tickets if you want to pop up right away on the time of the live performance, and once more while the tool holder receives near the venue, building up excitement and maximizing target audience engagement.
Push Updates: All coupons, cards, and tickets include the ability to replace dynamically. Updated facts may be instantly driven to the iPhone lock screen, opening up the precise Pass in Passbook. The observe is pushed to the lock display screen, the applicable bypass then seems, and the updated records are rotated, with some cool animation, quickly informing the consumer what’s changed.
Examples:
An airline problems Passbook boarding passes. In the ultimate hour, they want to exchange departure gate, so push a replace to all of the Passbook boarding bypass holders who fast get hold of the updated notification. The Boarding Pass is routinely updated. A massive retail shop, problems it is loyalty cards thru Passbook. When a person spends over a certain quantity, and they pass to ‘Platinum fame,’ Passbook presents them a little ‘congratulation update,’ and the Pass Image changes coloration to indicate their new fame. Integration with Calendar and Reminders: The Pass may be tagged with a positive date and time. If activated, the reminder can seem within the user’s iOS calendar. At the proper time, the reminder will appear on the person’s device, and they can, without delay, go instantly to the relevant Pass in Passbook.
Examples:
An airline price tag is purchased with date exclusions, and alerts are dispatched to the Pass proprietor whilst a to be had open date provides itself. Someone sends his birthday invitations via Passbook. The calendar invite function of the app will permit event tickets to be driven directly to pals to accept and attend. By combining Geolocation, Live updates, and Reminder functionality, the stop user can stay up for a wonderfully rich experience. And the way to Apple’s ingenuity, the person may not be annoyed by way of the little matters that might destroy the enjoy. For example, the display doesn’t rotate when a Pass is open;
So not like whilst the usage of Safari, Passbook maintains your barcode in one orientation. Also, the screen remains lit whilst a Pass is open; not anything would be more disturbing than looking to test your skip, and the display saver comes on! Using Passbook is a genuinely engaging, interesting, convenient, and useful revel in. So a good deal extra a laugh than antique paper tickets or plastic membership cards that clog up wallets. As Apple offers the advanced capability and developers combine greater impressive options, the Passbook platform will emerge as an outstanding system for store playing cards, tickets, and payment improvements.
Bar Codes
Initially, Apple is introducing Passbook with a combination of 2D barcodes. This easy barcode facility allows the consumer to redeem the voucher and permits the store to affirm the Pass’s validity. Apple chose 2D barcodes instead of the older 1D barcodes, as there have been a few troubles with scanners recognizing 1D barcodes on an LED display. The Pass creator can choose to generate a 2 Bar Code in any of the maximum popular formats; Aztec, PDF147, or QR Code.
Near Field Communication (NFC)
Despite plenty of speculation, it doesn’t appear like Apple will launch Passbook with NFC (Near-field conversation) integration, although longer-term, there appears to be light doubt that this upgrade in hardware is on its way. When NFC is released in a subsequent generation of Apple iPhones, it’ll provide the ability to integrate much better with outlets present charge processing systems. NFC systems are installed at many stores (in most cases larger institutions) as a part of MasterCard’s and Visa’s mandate on having a great extent of NFC and EMV transactions through the year 2014. Apple is anticipated to be at the front of the cue with the NFC technology once it’s integrated into the iOS as greater of the NFC bills structures emerge as had at traders.
Payment Integration
It’s just a be counted of time before Apple positioned its complete weight at the back of the Passbook app to combine payment card facilities. Although, given the regulation and the general complexity of the charge area, we can’t see Passbook fully substituting present price playing cards (MasterCard and Visa). However, as a substitute, integrate using both of those services.
Apple is wisely imposing a wallet app that works with existing infrastructure in place of against. Many businesses have tried to completely transform the cellular charge space at the same time as ignoring the wonderful weight and power of the corporations they were looking to do war with, particularly the banks and credit score card agencies. With Passbook, Apple is clever to maintain these guys onside by working with them and now not against them. Passbook is, in the end, a platform for innovation, allowing any organization to easily be a part of the cellular payments space while not having to invest in their very own wallet software closely.
Business Opportunity
Passbook is expected to have an instantaneous effect on all companies involved in bills, loyalty cards, keep cards, present playing cards, ticketing (airways, trains, and so forth.), and incentive cards. Getting equipped for Passbook now could not be any more apparent for small or large businesses alike. History has proven to us that every person aligning themselves with the Apple eco-device advantages vastly. You only ought to think about how many people will be dashing to the store for a brand new iPhone 5.Zero and when they need to fill their empty Passbook, wherein are they going to turn?
In a comparable fashion to the app store, Apple objectives to seed 1000s of recent thoughts and begin-ups. Companies that might be already running to examine this technology can be the first to announce and gain from this new eco-system. If you’ve got pursuits for developing extraordinary pocket ideas, then Passbook is a super-platform for your creativity. Businesses don’t need to overly put money into a standalone utility or try to resolve all the interface-demanding situations that Apple has labored out for them.
Apple has a long-standing history of transferring the course of a group’s enterprise plans, even the most successful ones. Passbook has the ability to make dozens of merchandise besides the point or redundant shortly. Some critics have counseled that Passbook is only a fundamental pockets application and no longer a required addition to the iOS. And it seems those humans are ignoring the true opportunity. History will show that by creating Passbook, all mobile bills, ticketing, and discounts will exchange all the time. Time to get on board.
Podcasting has been a popular medium for taking note of radio, and net publicizes for years now. The idea is straightforward: each time you plug your MP3 player into a computer, load it with the cutting-edge episodes of your favored podcasts and concentrate on them later, while you’re out and approximately. However, many phones now act as MP3 gamers, and many MP3 players are now internet-enabled. Shouldn’t or not it’s possible to load the modern podcasts without a connection to a pc?
That’s in which Podcaster comes in. Podcaster changed into the first feature-wealthy podcast download customer to seem for the iOS platform, first as a jailbroken app. In decreased capability inside the App Store as RSS Player, then eventually as the full-fledged legitimate Podcaster iOS app. Read on to find out just how nice it really works.
Features
Podcaster has a wide sort of novel and handy functions, consisting of:
Supports iPod-well suited wi-fi and stressed out remotes
Supports Bluetooth audio system
Share through email, Facebook, Twitter, and Dropbox.
Imports and exports OPML backup documents
Imports podcasts from iTunes or the iPod app
Supports outside shows
Accessible with VoiceOver
Sleep Timer
The History of Podcaster
I’m going to stray from the standard evaluation here to get into Podcaster’s tumultuous history as I apprehend it. Podcaster became first written in the early days of the App Store but turned into summarily rejected by using Apple. Apple’s excuse for this changed into that Podcaster violated App Store guidelines by duplicating functions protected with Apple’s running device. While it is proper that the iTunes app then (as it does now) had the ability to download podcasts at once to the tool, it was a completely cumbersome technique that involved searching up and downloading podcast episodes separately, every time you wanted to grab new ones.
This turned into a terrible solution. Believe me; I tried it for some time. I sooner or later got fed up, and this was one of the matters that led me to jailbreak my very own device, but I digress. After a failure in the app store, Podcaster’s writer released it as a jailbroken app, and there it remained for a long time. Eventually, the author advanced any other app referred to as RSS Player.
RSS Player becomes an app designed to track internet RSS feeds and permit audio content material in the ones feeds to be played on the tool. It is crucial to be aware here that a podcast is defined (in technical phrases) as a listing of audio files encoded into an RSS feed; the writer had discovered a sneaky manner to get a podcast player into the app store by way of redefining what the app became intended to do. However, RSS Player changed into not quite.
It becomes the sort of stripped-down version of Podcaster that frequently barely functioned at all. It went via several replacement cycles, however at the same time, as the one’s updates constant some of its issues, they usually introduced greater. I wouldn’t have endorsed RSS Player to all and sundry but the most die-tough podcast fanatics.
Then after what regarded like for all time, the day, in the end, came that Podcaster becomes allowed into the App Store. The author needed to make some compromises (one among which I’ll explain later), and the app was given rejected a pair extra times earlier than it became eventually customary. Still, matters were much higher ever considering that.
Operation and Ease-of-Use
Some of Podcaster’s interface has a chunk of a learning curve; however, it can be spotless to apply when you discern out the fundamentals. The first component you will, in all likelihood, want to do is add your preferred podcasts to the feed. To do this, faucet the listing icon on the lowest of the app. There, you have got several options to find your podcasts. However, the most useful are ‘Search via Title’ and ‘Import.’ Search with the aid of title searches a directory of podcasts. This listing is incomplete and occasionally contains unreliable records. This is not the fault of Podcaster’s creator;
The podcast directory needed to be set up in a manner that does not violate Apple’s App Store policies. A directory maintained through Podcaster’s creator is one among Podcaster’s few ultimate meant functions that Apple disapproves of. Therefore, Podcaster draws upon a listing generated via the app’s customers; thus, the improper data. If you find yourself not able to find a podcast there or need to get the right of entry to a password-included feed, use the ‘Import’ section. There, you may load feeds from a web cope with or import them from an OPML record.
Reliability
Reliability has been traditionally sketchy with Podcaster, and even as it is worlds of improvement over its predecessor RSS Player, there are plenty of bugs and hiccups available. While the app tries to save the place you have been at on your podcast whilst you close it or get a smartphone name, it does not always be successful. The download mistakes from preceding versions appear to be lengthy-long gone, but there are still a few continual corruption bugs that you can get. I’ve gotten caught right into a mode in which Podcaster could play each audit record, in reality, rapid, making each person sound like chipmunks.
I needed to reset the settings to default to restore that. I’ve gotten caught right into a mode in which it wouldn’t improve to the next episode after one was completed unless I did it manually. I couldn’t restore that without reinstalling the app. Updates always seem to restore some insects but introduce more. And each once in a long while, something will cross incorrectly with my podcast listing, which once more requires me to wipe everything and start from scratch. The lesson: Podcaster is an awesome device, but in case you use it, lower back up your podcast list frequently using the Backup icon (within the ‘More’ phase).
Conclusion
Podcaster has persevered via sketchy records to turn out to be the superb app that it’s far today. Though there are nevertheless a few snags that crop up on a reasonably regular foundation, I would advocate it to any avid podcast listener. I’ll supply this app a four out of 5.
