Ramdev’s Patanjali takes on WhatsApp with ‘Swadeshi Messaging app Kimbho’

Kimbho application is touted to be a competitor of the messaging app WhatsApp. The tagline of Kimbho is kept as “Ab Bharat Bolega”.

 

Latest News India : Yoga guru Ramdev launched a new messaging application called Kimbho under his flagship company Patanjali.

Patanjali’s spokesperson SK Tijarawala tweeted, “Now Bharat will speak. After launching sim cards, baba Ramdev has launched a new messaging application called Kimbho. Now Whats App will be given a competition. Our own #SwadeshiMessagingplatform. Download it directly from Google Play store.”

Kimbho application is touted to be a competitor of the messaging app WhatsApp. The tagline of Kimbho is kept as “Ab Bharat Bolega”.

अब भारत बोलेगा…!
पूज्य @yogrishiramdev @Ach_Balkrishna के मार्गदर्शन में उनके शिष्य नवदीक्षित साधुओं और राष्ट्रनिष्ठ विशेषज्ञों ने #स्वदेशी तकनीक से इजाद कर बनाया यह #KIMBHO एप#भारत #स्वाभिमान

Patanjali’s new app to challenge WhatsApp @bst_official https://t.co/hxBCbwdrnV
— tijarawala sk (@tijarawala) May 30, 2018

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 Also Read : Patanjali SIM Card

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Patanjali’s entry into telecom sector:

Patanjali on Sunday entered the telecom sector. Ramdev launched Swadeshi Samriddhi SIM cards, in alliance with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL).

Initially, only the employees and office bearers of Patanjali will be able to avail the benefits of the SIM card.

After its full-fledged launch, people will get discount of 10 per cent on Patanjali products with this card. Just with the recharge of Rs 144, one would be able to make unlimited calls across the country, get 2 GB data pack and send 100 SMSs. Apart from this, people will also get health, accidental and life insurances. Speaking on the occasion, Ramdev said government-owned BSNL is a ‘Swadeshi network’ and the motive of both Patanjali and BSNL is the welfare of the country.

“There are five lakh counters of BSNL and from there people can soon get Patanjali swadeshi-samradhi card,” Ramdev said.

Talking about the company’s motive “prosperity for charity”, he further said that in addition to attractive data and call package, the card also comes with the medical and life insurance covers of Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 5 lakh, respectively.

However, the covers could only be availed in the case of road accident. Sunil Garg, BSNL Chief General Manager, who was also present here also praised the tie-up of Patanjali and BSNL.

“Patanjali’s plan is BSNL’s best plan. In Rs 144, one can make unlimited calls from any part of the country. We are giving 2 GB data pack, 100 SMSs. The members of the Patanjali has to just show their identity and there SIM will be activated soon after some paper work,” he said.

Read More → Kimbho

New update allows users to access Instagram and Facebook content within WhatsApp

In its latest update rolled out for select iOS users, WhatsApp support will allow users to play Instagram and Facebook videos within the app, without exiting the chat.

Technology News : In a bid to increase user engagement, popular instant messaging platform, WhatsApp, has rolled out an update by which users can view content from Facebook and Instagram within the app itself.

In the present day, a user who receives videos or images from Facebook, Instagram or any such app would be redirected to these apps to view the content. However, this is set to change with the new update, reports The Verge.

In its latest update rolled out for select iOS users, WhatsApp support will allow users to play Instagram and Facebook videos within the app, without exiting the chat.

Apart from this, the new update also introduces the ability to add and revoke admin privileges from users in a group chat and empowers admins to edit the subject, description and icon of a chat that is already underway.

In November last year, WhatsApp had announced an update through which one can view YouTube videos directly inside the messaging app, in picture-in-picture mode.

If a YouTube link has been sent on a conversation, then users can directly view the video through the link on WhatsApp itself, as it will no longer be redirected to YouTube. Instead, the YouTube clip will appear within a small floating window on your screen, thus implying that you can watch YouTube videos and message at the same time.

On a related note, the latest update is expected to be rolled out to Android users as well in the coming weeks.

Read More about the Latest → WhatsApp Update

Facebook data breach giving you panic attacks? Here are some desi options

Amid data breach talks and the recent instance of Cambridge Analytica scandal, where unauthorised access to user data apparently caused election meddling, there have been calls to delete Facebook.

Business News : After the scandal broke, there has been a growing scepticism around safety of personal data on social media. There was a frenzy among netizens to delete their social media account in order to protect their personal information.

The safety of your personal information cannot be guaranteed, but if you are looking for some ‘desi’ alternatives to Facebook, here is a list:

Hike

Hike Messenger is a cross-platform instant messaging service that provides users with a platform for text messaging, sending each other graphical stickers, emoticons, images, videos, audios, documents, voice messages, contacts and users’ location. The app can also be used to book Ola vehicles directly and has also enabled Hike ID, through which users can chat with each other without sharing their mobile numbers.

Roposo

Roposo is an app that offers filters and editing tools, and an option for social media sharing that allows users to instantly publish pictures on other social media channels.

The camera in the app helps edit and stitch videos to perfection; reducing the editing time. And users get to edit the videos on their phone itself. With the introduction of augmented reality feature on the app, users can create better content and post it on the platform.

Sharechat

Backed by SAIF Partners and Xiaomi, Sharechat is a leading social networking platform in India which enables users to watch and share videos on other platforms as well. Available in 14 vernacular languages, Sharechat is meant for all the users who love to share videos and photos in their own regional language.

SyncYu

SyncYu is an Indian pro-social networking application which focuses on connecting with friends and family by providing a spam-free platform. It is advertisement-free and claims to show how its users truly are to the world. This app comes with a lot of features like messaging, games, shoutouts, wordsmash, news and much more.

Mooshak

An attempt to make Hindi and Devnagiri relevant for the Next Gen, this app enables users to post content in Hindi. For the users who are not quite good at writing in the language, the app helps to translate your content into Hindi. Simply upload images, videos and audios and share it with people around the globe.

For the unversed, Cambridge Analytica, the political data firm with ties to United States President Donald Trump’s 2016 election campaign, is under fire for allegedly gaining access to private information of more than 50 million Facebook users, and influencing elections by using this stolen data.

Full Updates on  → Facebook Data Breach

Is your phone safe? Google detects Tizi app that steals FB, WhatsApp data

Tizi steals sensitive data from social media apps like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Viber, Skype, LinkedIn, Telegram.

Technology News : Google has detected an app ‘Tizi’, which has been stealing information from call records and also from social media apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, and also take pictures from mobile phones without even displaying them on the screen of the device.

“Tizi is a fully featured backdoor that installs spyware to steal sensitive data from popular social media applications. The Google Play Protect security team discovered this family in September 2017 when device scans found an app with rooting capabilities that exploited old vulnerabilities,” a post on Google security blog said.

The company has removed the app from Play Store, notified all known affected devices and suspended the account of the app developer, the post dated November 27 said.

The post said that earlier variant of Tizi did not have rooting capabilities but it developed later on and thereafter started stealing sensitive information from devices.

“The rooting capabilities give an app full control of the device. It can bypass all restriction posted on it by the Android security system. An app with rooting is like a user using the device. Presence of such app on Google Play Store raises concerns about secure apps on the app store,” cybersecurity expert Jiten Jain said.

The post said that after gaining rooting capability, Tizi steals sensitive data “from popular social media apps like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Viber, Skype, LinkedIn, and Telegram.”

Click to Read → Mobile Apps that Steal Data

UMANG: From checking PF to applying for PAN, things you can do on the app

You can also apply for gas cylinder refill, check CBSE results, hunt for jobs, access passport and pension details.

Technology News : From provident fund (PF) details and National Pension System to booking a gas cylinder, accessing over 100 government services is now a click away with Unified Mobile Application for New-Age Governance (UMANG) application.

Upon downloading the UMANG app, you will be asked to link Aadhaar with the app, however, the same is optional.

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Here are some of the services you can avail through the app:

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Applying for a new PAN: Attaining a new PAN (permanent account number) is minutes away with the UMANG app. If you have already done so, you can also check the status of the application or do e-KYC by providing your Aadhaar number.

Looking for a job? If you are seeking employment opportunities, register yourself under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, which will send you job alerts. States such as Gujarat has integrated Online Job Application System with UMANG app to alert people on government job openings.

Gas cylinder refill: Currently, Bharatgas, Hindustan Petroleum, Indance subscribers can book a refill or place an order for a double cylinder. Additionally, users can also keep track of their order history. However, you must register the same mobile number with the app that you have with the agency.

Passport Seva service: Calculate the fee, locate a centre, check appointment availability and get advice on the documents needed to be submitted for your passport.

Pension system service: If you have a National Pension System (NPS) account, you can check current holdings and account details, change address, submit request for an e-mail transaction alert and keep track of the contributions made. Pensioners can also avail digital life certificate or jeevan praman.

Click here to Know more services → Umang Mobile Application

BHIM: Aadhaar-based app launched to simplify digital payments (What is BHIM App & How does it work)

BHIM is biometric version of UPI, USSD and expected to minimise role of plastic cards, PoS machines

Breaking News -  Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched an Aadhaar-based mobile payment application called BHIM (Bharat Interface for Money).

On day 50 of the window provided by the government to citizens to exchange or deposit old currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denominations, the Prime Minister at a 'Digi Dhan Mela' event in the capital, asked citizens to make at least five digital transactions, so as to understand the concept behind e-payments, and then use it extensively.

What is BHIM App & How does it work

 

"Download it on a smartphone or on a feature phone. It is not necessary to have the internet for this app. In the next two weeks, one more work is being done, which will increase the power of BHIM so much that you would be able to withdraw money even with your fingerprints," he said.

BHIM is a biometric and rebranded version of UPI (Unified Payment Interface) and USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data). It is expected to minimise the role of plastic cards and point-of-sale machines, once believed essential for a less-cash society.

"In two weeks, we will make one more accomplishment; its security is being worked on. It will empower BHIM; you'll only require your thumb to pay," said Modi. He added this app would empower the poorest of the poor, with the thumb becoming the new identity.

 

Read Full Story>>>

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Be Updated on Stock Market News  &  Latest Business News  |  Business Standard

Facebook debuts 'Live Audio' on its platform, similar to podcast and radio

Android users will be able to continue listening to a Live Audio broadcast even if they leave Facebook app or lock their phones

 Breaking News - After successfully rolling out the facebook  live video feature, Facebook has now introduced "Live Audio" option — like traditional radio or podcasting — in your News Feed where users will be able to broadcast audio directly to the social network.

"We know that sometimes publishers want to tell a story on Facebook with words and not video. Our new 'Live Audio' option makes it easy to go live with audio only when that's the broadcaster's preferred format," said Shirley Ip, Product Specialist, and Bhavana Radhakrishnan, Software Engineer at Facebook in a blog post on Tuesday.

Facebook Introduces New Doodle Programme To Compete With Google

"One thing we've heard is that partners want new formats for going live. We announced Live 360 last week, and today we're excited to announce another way to go live on Facebook," they added.

Facebook has witnessed some Pages find creative ways to go live and reach audiences with audio only by using the Facebook Live API or by adding a still image to accompany their audio broadcast.

Read Article Source>>>

Be Updated on Stock Market News  & Latest Business News| Business Standard

Digital India: Why people are ignoring bank UPIs and flocking to Paytm instead

Post demonetization, people flocked to digital wallets for mobile payments instead of bank apps

Long before demonetization and a scramble to find alternatives to cash, India had laid out a unique tech infrastructure for a digital economy.

Bill Gates was so impressed with it on a recent visit that he exclaimed: “India is on the cusp of leapfrogging!”

But leapfrogging only happens with mass adoption. Although Aadhaar had identified and authenticated a billion Indians, and UPI made mobile payments as simple as sending a message or mail, banks dragged their feet over it.

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• Slip between the cup and the lip

• The Paytm tipping point

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To a question from Tech in Asia on how the Paytm app will be different from UPI-powered apps by traditional banks, Vijay Shekhar Sharma pointed immediately to customer experience. “Banks are not great at rolling out UPI,” he said. But for Paytm, “this is the truest opportunity to build something designed for unique Indian needs.

Read Source>>>

Your smartphone knows a lot about you, but what about your mental health?

The habitual nature of people means this data could be used to give insight into our mental wellbeing

Smartphones come with an assortment of sensors that can track behaviours such as our internet search and browse history, where we go, what music we listen to, who we speak to, just to name a few.

The habitual nature of people means this data could be used to give insight into our mental wellbeing. Acute changes in behavioural patterns may indicate a need for support, and the use of any health diaries on a smartphone may enable us to monitor chronic conditions more effectively.

Sleep, relax, track, anxiety, stress and depression: the most common keywords in mental health apps as found in the review comments. Only apps that advertised depression and mental health were considered. Author provided

Our smartphones have become access points for mental health support and therapy aids. It is not unrealistic that they could aim to take on a therapist role.

But are people really ready for this? Do consumers and end users actually want this development? Would it meet needs without causing harm?

None of this is easily answered. History has shown any tool being developed must integrate consumers, health professionals and technology experts, along with rigorous testing, to provide an ethically sound and evidence based approach, and this is no less true for smartphone technologies.

Read Source>>>

Facebook makes Workplace app available for all

Buoyed by the positive response from over 1,000 companies that are currently using Workplace (formerly known as Facebook at Work) including in India, the company has announced it will make the app available to all.

This means you can chat with a colleague across the world in real time, host a virtual brainstorm in a Group or follow along with your CEO's presentation on Facebook Live.

"People have created nearly 100,000 groups and the top five countries using Workplace are India, the US, Norway, UK and France," Facebook said in a statement on Tuesday.

"We're announcing that Workplace will now be available to any company or organisation that wants to use it," it added.

Large multinational companies like Danone, Starbucks and Booking.com, international nonprofits such as Oxfam and regional leaders such as YES Bank in India and the Government Technology Agency of Singapore have all embraced Workplace.

"It's a whole new paradigm in employee engagement! L&T @Work is leading our thrust to digital.Technology is nothing without people and this platform reflects the perfect synergy of people driving technology," said SN Subrahmanyam, Deputy Managing Director and President, Larsen & Toubro.

Facebook also announced a competitive pricing model that is based on a monthly fee per active user.

Read Source

YouTube announces 'YouTube Go' for next generation users

World's most popular online video community YouTube has announced a brand new app, YouTube Go, designed and built from insights gathered from India.

The new mobile app is completely re-imagined from the ground up for the next generation of YouTube users to fully discover all that YouTube has to offer.

YouTube Go is result of extensive research done across 15 cities in India by teams of engineers, designers, and researchers collecting ideas and testing prototypes with hundreds of people. Over the next few months, YouTube will be rolling the app out gradually to more testers, getting their feedback and improving the product before launching it to the general public.

"We've always believed that connectivity should not be a barrier to watching YouTube. In 2014 we launched YouTube Offline so you could watch videos without suffering from buffering. A few months ago we rolled out Smart Offline, a feature that allows you to schedule videos to be saved offline later at off-peak times, when there's more bandwidth so data is faster and cheaper. But we realised that for the next generation of YouTube users to fully discover all that YouTube has to offer, we had to re-imagine the YouTube mobile app from the ground up," said YouTube Vice President for Product Management, Johanna Wright.

"With YouTube Go, we're bringing the power of video to mobile users in a way that is more conscious of their data and connectivity, while being relatable and... Read full Story

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Twitter launches app to stream its videos on TV

Micro-blogging website Twitter has launched a new version of its app for digital media players -- Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and for Microsoft's video game console Xbox One -- allowing users to see live streaming video available on Twitter.

The app is free and users do not have to create a Twitter account and will feature all the live streaming video available on the network.

"NFL's Thursday Night Football games will all be streamed free via the app as well as content from MLB, the NBA, and media organisations including Bloomberg News," technology website The Verge reported on Wednesday.

Twitter's Apple TV app will have a unique feature that allows users to watch live video and Tweeted video clips, side by side.

The app will be available globally via the App Store for Apple TV.

For the Xbox One, the app will be available in the US, Britain, Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico.

For Amazon's Fire TV and the Fire TV Stick the app will be available only in read full story

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Zuckerbergs lead $50 mn investment in BYJU's

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's investment arm for education and healthcare, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, has made its first investment in Asia in BYJU's, a Bengaluru-based education technology firm.

The $50 million commitment saw funding from investors such as Sequoia Capital, Sofina and Lightspeed Ventures, and Times Internet. The investment would be used for expansion, BYJU's said in a statement.

Vivian Wu, who manages Zuckerberg's education venture, will join BYJU's board. This is the first investment in Asia from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, which was founded by Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan. It was launched to advance human potential and promote equality and funds non-profit organisations.

"Education can give young people and their families a path to a better future, and families in India work hard to give their children that chance. BYJU's represents an opportunity to help even more students develop a love for learning and unlock their potential," said Vivian Wu.

The BYJU's app has been downloaded more than 5.5 million times and reached 250,000 annual subscribers across India. It has an average engagement rate of 40 minutes per day and 90 per cent of  read more..