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Microsoft

MICROSOFT ANNOUNCED THAT IT WILL BE RELEASING THE MICROSOFT 365 PERSONAL AND FAMILY PLANS

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Keeping in mind the outbreak of novel coronavirus, we still have to keep up our pace. Almost every company has declared work from home and the educational institutions are also teaching through online classrooms. In this time of sheer need, we need proper resources to carry out our work smoothly. So, Microsoft declared the news of new plans for Microsoft 365 subscription yesterday. It will be of great benefit to access all features, especially for students, teachers, and employees. This will also attract many new subscribers as it will allow using Premium office apps, extra cloud storage, advanced security, and many more such features. Microsoft will make these plans active on 21st April.

What Microsoft is providing?

The Microsoft 365 plan is not new to consumers. But, now the company is releasing a more enhanced version of it along with many new features. The new Microsoft Personal and Family Plans will be charging $6.99 per month for Personal subscribers and $9.99 per month for the Family pack. The family pack allows a maximum of six people. Everything will be available from 21st April. The subscribers will have access to all the new and existing features, which the company has not revealed yet.

Microsoft through its powerful set of features and services will not help us create and organize. We can share our works and connect with family and friends as well. So, it is just trying to build a stronger community through the web and collaborate across the world. Any user with this subscription plan can access it from Windows, iOS, macOS, and Android. The applications like Office, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Skype, Outlook, OneNote, and OneDrive are also available in these plans.

Moreover, all the applications will be up-to-date. Every subscriber will get 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage. For a single person, it is more than enough to store all the important files. Apart from this, Microsoft 365 will provide 60 Skype minutes and not to mention constant technical support.

What are the new features of Microsoft 365 plans?

Microsoft is planning to add two new features to its subscription plans. The first feature is the Microsoft Family Safety app. It is very important for parents to track their children’s location. Moreover, every family member can get a notification when another family member leaves for work, etc. The app will generate notification along with a sharing location. The family members can also manage screen time across multiple devices.

The Safety app is not only limited to this feature. The company has also incorporated a driving report feature in it. This feature is especially to track a new driver in the family to keep updated about the driving habits. This is a not-so-good-news for the kids but it is beneficial for the parents. This safety app can be accessed through Windows PCs, Android devices, and Xbox consoles. The limit has to be set centrally. It will also add some new features to the Microsoft Team of Consumers.

Communication through Microsoft

Skype has always been the most important application for communication. But, Microsoft is adding some new home features for the Microsoft team which will help connect one’s friends and family. It can be via a group chat, video calls, and anything from one location. All these new features will be available as a preview in this summer and then will be launched as a completed package later this year.

Microsoft Editor

This feature is for anyone who loves writing to anyone for whom it’s a job. With the enhancement of 365 plans, Microsoft is making an expansion to its Editor. It is now available in twenty different languages and most importantly can be accessed through Word, Outlook.com, Microsoft Edge, and Google Chrome. The paid subscribers will be experiencing additional features like advanced grammar, style refinements, etc.

Other features 

PowerPoint is also getting a makeover with the advancement in Presenter Coach Feature. Another most important feature that Microsoft is adding is finance management. It will connect your bank and credit card details and Microsoft Money will act as your finance manager. It will help you track and analyze transactions in Excel and will also send alerts for monthly spending. This feature will be first available in the US and then other locations.

Currently, 38 million people are subscribers to Office 365 Personal and Home. Microsoft is currently trying to make existing things better rather than launching something completely new.

oneplus8

A Look at the Specifications of the New OnePlus 8 Smartphone that has Excited Fans Around the World

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OnePlus is a leading smartphone manufacturer in India, with a loyal fan base. The smartphone maker has done well for itself in India, thanks to affordable handsets which boast high-end capabilities. Most of their phones are highly anticipated by the Indian audience, as they always seem to shake things up when it comes to launches. Recently, Roland Quandt, who is a famous industry insider working for WinFuture, released official specifications relating to the OnePlus 8. The OnePlus 8 will be the newest flagship from the highly successful Shenzhen-based brand. Here’s a look at everything you need to know about the latest specifications, and why it has made smartphone enthusiasts excited.

Launch Dates and Specifications

The leaked specifications reveal that the new flagship might come with an OLED screen, which is 6.55 inches big. The hyperboloid screen will support FHD+ resolution and can process images at 90Hz refresh rate. The phone is also expected to come with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G chipset, which will be available in two different memory categories: 8GB/128GB and 12GB/256GB. The OnePlus 8 will run on an LPDDR4X RAM and is not expected to have functionalities such as wireless charging and IP rating. The phone will also have a 16MP front camera and a back camera which comes with a triple camera setup, supporting a 48MP primary camera. The OnePlus 8 will be powered by a 4300mAh battery, which luckily for the fans, supports 30W flash charge.

Also, as per the report, the phone will most likely be launched mid-April, and the company will announce the exact launch date by the end of this week. The phone will also be available in three different colour schemes, Onyx Black, Interstellar Glow and Glacial Green.

Visual Display

The leak also came with individual renderings of the expected launches, and the new colours make for an impressive visual display. The most talked about in the new array of colours is undoubtedly the purplish- Interstellar Glow, which honestly looks out of this world. Fans from around the world were quick in heaping praises on the new launches’ look, some even stating that the phone seems ethereal. However, no official report has been released which states whether both the OnePlus 8 Pro and OnePlus 8, will have the same colour palette.

Also, reports state that the OnePlus 8 Pro might have a 120Hz refresh rate, making for more in-depth and vibrant images. These reports also indicate that the new flagship’s pro version will have a larger screen size, with several experts touting it to as high as 6.78 inches. The Pro is also expected to run on an LPDDR5 RAM, and support a quadruple-camera setup. Furthermore, it will have an IP68 rating, which makes it both water and dust resistant. Also, the phone will run on a 4,510mAh battery, which to supports 30W wireless charging. Furthermore, the phone will also support reverse wireless charging for up to 3 Watts. Both phones will most likely run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 5G chip.

Both WinFuture and Ishan Agarwal have released these new colour variations and specs this morning. As no further updates have come from OnePlus themselves, these new renderings are the closest we will get to see what the new launches will look like. Furthermore, the company has not yet confirmed a release date or pricing for both these flagship phones. Much talked about has been the never-before-seen option of colour called the Interstellar Glow. This new shade is expected to shift its look depending on ambient light and surrounding natural light. Fans have begun to compare this new feature to Samsung’s Aura Glow functionality, which first came out through the Note 10. This unique shade will have the ability to shift between purple, red and orange hues with a matte finish. However, reports have also come out stating that this look might not be available on the OnePlus 8 Pro, though. The Onyx Black shade looks very glossy, whereas Glacial green appears to have a more matte finish. With more reports being expected to come in by April 15th, fans around the world are waiting for confirmation regarding their dream smartphone.

trivia

TRIVIA ANNOUNCES THAT IT IS BACK IN THE GAME ONCE AGAIN

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We are experiencing a situation of denial and despair and panic from the beginning of this month. The noble coronavirus outbreak has led to the shutting down of almost every business in the run. While we are spending this time locked up in our home, we are craving for entertainment. Though the situation is getting dangerous with every passing day, the human mind needs some peace as well. Trivia declared that it is back in business given that it announced its shut down a month ago. The shutdown of HQ Trivia took place all of a sudden in February. But, now the online quiz game is back again within a month. So, with an investor whose identity is not yet revealed, Trivia came back from the dead.

Trivia confirms the return

The return of the Trivia quiz was confirmed yesterday evening. After the struggle of one long month, Trivia announced its acquisition by a private investor. But, the name won’t be disclosed anytime soon. Trivia has also confirmed that it is not a one-off event. From now, Trivia will be hosting regular shows and new episodes will come along. But, since the company has just re-opened a day ago, it hasn’t released any schedule yet.

Rus Yusupov, co-founder and the CEO of HQ Trivia confirmed the company’s return with a tweet after the release of the big news. Trivia let their players know about this by releasing a push notification. It said about the online game that went live yesterday night at 9 PM. So, Trivia makes its comeback not only with a press release but it hosted an online day on the same day.

The rise before the fall

HQ Trivia became a big hit as soon as it was released in 2017 for the first time. Within two years it became one of the famous online quiz platforms. Rus Yusupov and Colin Kroll designed this game show and released it for the first time on 26th August 2017. This was available for both iOS and Android smartphones. Scott Rogowsky hosted the online quiz show of HQ Trivia. Matt Richards replaced him in 2019.

Within a couple of years, after this quiz app went viral, HQ Trivia witnessed participants ranging from 100,000 to 125,000. In March 2018, the app marked its highest record of concurrent players and it was 2.38 million. This year the company also saw more than 2 million monthly installs of the game. Eventually, it expanded around the globe with the exception of Russia and India. But, the company turned upside down due to many reasons and finally Rus was forced to shut it down.

Why Trivia was forced to shut down?

The technical crisis hit the companies very early, but the damages weren’t beyond repairable. After a year, HQ Trivia started facing major technical troubles and it was getting pretty hard to say on top. The co-founders tried its best to fight back and take its early position as one of the most popular apps. But, it, unfortunately, didn’t happen. Moreover, the company’s growth strategy backfired when Colin Kroll, former CEO of HQ Trivia, died of a drug overdose.

This had a very big negative impact on the status of the company. Running on loss or not able to stay in the competition is a different matter. But, this news led to losing the company’s reputation as well. Rus went through a pretty tough time and he took over the position of CEO in the company.

Rus tried his best to put Trivia back on track. He launched many new games, introduced a music-themed show, HQ tunes, and a live photo competition, changed some of the game formats, etc. He also brought the idea of a subscription plan to find a new source of revenue. But, all these efforts went in vain when Rus realized nothing brought back the craze for Trivia anymore.

From 2 million monthly downloads, the monthly installs dropped to 67,000 in 2020. This is when Rus let his employees know that the existing investors are not willing to invest anymore. And, they needed to shut down the company immediately.

The strategic return

HQ Trivia made its return just when the noble coronavirus is creating panic within us. So, the online game show hosted yesterday came with a message on the spread of coronavirus. And, the comeback also includes donating $100,000 to World Central Kitchen to feed those in need in this emergency.

Louis-James Davis

How Louis-James Davis Is Providing Cyber Tech Security Through His Famous Vcode Platform (VST)

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Cybersecurity and the companies providing it are an integral part of today’s tertiary sector. Numerous transactions take place in a single day through many online platforms. And, with an increasing number of people using these platforms, it increases the chances of fraud. So, every company must use a cybersecurity platform to fight against fraud. Every person who is remotely related to the acreage of coding has heard of VCode. Not only programmers but also many companies as well. Because VCode has become very successful in carrying out financial transactions both online and offline. VCode is the product of the company VST Enterprises. Louis-James Davis founded the company in 2012.

About Louis-James Davis

Louis graduated from Longdendale Language College in 2004. His career in the technical sector properly started with becoming the CEO of The Media Creation Enterprises. He switched to another company called KMS Solutions (co-founder) after a couple of years. He founded VST Enterprises in 2012 and currently serves as the CEO of the same.

In July 2013, he became a Partner at the Longbow Venture Capital followed by Business Advisor at TechCluster Ltd. For five years, Louis was a Tech Innovation Consultant at Via Solidus Consultancy. He was also the Science & Technology Ambassador for the Government of Zimbabwe. Louis has also founded Davis Co. Holdings and Ambassador of Code Nation, Kidscan Children’s Cancer Research, and Manchester Metropolitan University.

Shifting to the technical world

Louis started his career as a passionate musician. But, he falls victim to a serious illness that changed the course of his life. After he left the career of a musician behind, he joined Carnival Corporation as the Entertainment Officer. For many years, he worked for different companies. But, it seemed like it is hard to provide a simple interaction with the customers.

QR codes and other sorts of codes have grown common by then. But, they decided to generate their code which led to the formation of VCode. VCode and VPlatform are the two products of VST Enterprises which successfully generate, track, and analyze VCodes. So, Louis finally came up with his whole ledger system by 2012 and launched the company.

Objectives of Louis-James Davis

When Louis established the company, his main focus was to incorporate this technology in various government bodies. Because they are most vulnerable to fraud and counterfeiting. Louis also claims that the features that his products can provide and not very common in the market. The ideas of Louis have become rivals to the blockchain community to some extent. Because, when Louis did some market research he received a few feedback regarding blockchain solutions. It wasn’t working anymore for many companies and Louis’s ledger system could have easily provided the solution.

Many big clients were interested in the products of VST Enterprises which includes the Bank of England, accountancy firms like KPMG and EY, etc.

The Big Success

Louis and his team started writing their code because they simply weren’t satisfied with the solutions of other companies. And, after they launched their product they barely knew how effective it was in the market. They realized the importance of their product when a researcher incorporated their technology. The EU Commission reported that it was the only product in the market that could record end-to-end traceability and eradicate counterfeiting. This was the huge success that took VST Enterprises to a whole new level.

About VST Enterprises 

VST Transaction has been trying to provide excellent experience of the financial transaction both online and offline. The products of VST Enterprise are used by diversified sectors of the economy. For example, it is used for fighting against fraud in government sectors to car park payment systems. From instant payments to document transfer, everything is secured through the platform of VCode.

AI played a very significant role in building Vplatform. Once the VCode is scanned, the user gets access to all the information that is online about a particular product or service. The products of VST are so versatile that it has received many awards for excellence. In 2016, it has become the Best British Mobile Start-up (KPMG) and Most Innovative Mobile Technology Company (TMT News). The company is also the recipient of the CEO Award 2017, Tech Entrepreneur of the Award 2018 by UK Business Tech Awards, etc.

IBM

IBM AND THE WEATHER CHANNEL ARE MAKING MORE CITIZENS AWARE OF COVID-19

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Mayhem has come down to the entire world. And, every nation is currently fighting off the same enemy, COVID-19. It was only yesterday that the total cases in India surpassed 600. The rise of panic is everywhere but it is a blessing than many patients are recovering from near death. The world has come together to find a cure for this infectious virus at the earliest. In the meantime, as a responsible citizen, we can only take precautions and stay home. But, it is also important to keep track of the number of cases globally. So, we have a right to know updated facts about this virus, for example, where it is spreading more, and the number of reported active cases. To help stay more informed about the statistics, IBM and The Weather Channel has launched new tools.

The New Tool and its use

It has become impossible for us to take a step out of your house. The Internet feels like a blessing in these days of quarantine mostly to keep ourselves updated. Given that we all use a smartphone, IBM has launched new tools that will help us keep a record of reported COVID-19 cases in our area. The mobile application is free and anyone from anywhere can access it.

The users can see the information from The Weather Channel app (an IBM business). The company has designed this new tool in a way that will help the users get all the information from trusted sources. The application also has a dashboard where the statistics will be displayed. Previously, many sites provided with updated information about COVID-19 like active cases, death cases, and total cases. But, it is easier to gain this information from a mobile app.

Features of the App                                            

The data we received so far was from the World Health Organization (WHO), Johns Hopkins University, and other official sources. This Weather Channel app will merge all these information. And, apart from these reports, it will show reported cases at both state and national levels. Combining all these data, the app will show it on an “incident map”.

In this incident map, reported cases will be color-coded to show different areas, states and at the national level as well. Not only the maps will be generated but also graphs will be provided the state-wise reported cases. This app will also provide the percentage increase of COVID-19 cases weekly.

Trend visualization and interactive mapping are the two best features of this app. The app will also provide news and videos related to this pandemic. This will be thoroughly looked into by The Weather Channel Editorial team. As one should be reported about the cases, the citizens of the U.S. will also be able to locate the nearest healthcare clinics and testing centers. IBM is trying its best to include as much informative and important data as possible.

Reaching out to more people

IBM has also announced that this same data will be used by officials, researchers, data scientists, media, and medical professionals. So, the citizens should not worry about the clarity and preciseness of the data. It is their responsibility to let people aware of the right details. The app will also provide fact-checking resources and a proper guideline in this period of crisis. It will consist of detailed guidelines about the preventive measures that should be taken by normal people. And, it is also for the people who have tested positive for COVID-19. Though the patients will be immediately taken under medical supervision, prevention is better than cure.

Spreading the right message

This new tool will help the U.S citizens both prevent and remain informed about COVID-19. The app will not only show statistics of the U.S but also the cases of global COVID-19. There are around 45 million active users of The Weather Channel App. So, people can ignore the use but they will surely stay tuned with an application, a very common feature of a smartphone. The company also said that apart from all the information it provides, the message of social distancing is the top priority. Because that is the most important and the only way to prevent COVID-19.

flipkart

Flipkart has Temporarily Shut down its Services Responding To The 21 Days Lockdown

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The victims of COVID-19 are rising at an alarming rate throughout the world. The Indian government is taking many steps to put an end to this outbreak. And, responding to the emergency lockdown of 21 days, Flipkart has temporarily put an end to its services. Though the demand for online services has recently increased, in the need of utter crisis it has come to a pause. Flipkart has never stopped its services before. But, now distancing is the best solution. In this journey of thirteen years, Flipkart has always given its best to give its customers the priority. Even a few days back also, Flipkart was taking orders and the delivery staff was working. But, after yesterday, everything has come to a sudden halt. It is expected to get over after 21 days. But, this is a vulnerable point where saving lives is more important in online shopping.

What has been shut down?

One of the biggest e-commerce platforms of India, Flipkart has announced the deactivation of its services. In response to the lockdown for 21 days, Flipkart has informed on its website and mobile phone’s application as well. It will be shutting down the online ordering, buying and selling of goods. Because home delivery is a huge risk both for the customers and the delivery men as well. And, the risk of spreading the virus grows exponentially if either of has it. Many people were relying on the services of Flipkart for daily basic needs. But, for the time being, the alternate way should be considered.

The Other Services of Flipkart

Though the company has shut down the delivery services, other activities are still online. Flipkart has not closed other services like video streaming, playing online games, online payment transactions, etc. They can be accessed online. Paying bills are also very crucial. So, Flipkart has still kept online the platform of bill payment so the users can pay their electric, phone, water bills, etc.

The social distancing has also gathered numerous audiences for the Flipkart Video Streaming platform. The Game Zone is also active as it is one of the most preferred things to do during this quarantine. The company has also come into a joint partnership with Give India to donate health kits to those who are in need.

Reassurance to resume

Flipkart will not be receiving orders anymore. And, the company has also reassured that it will be back as soon as possible. Customers should cooperate with them to fight off COVID-19 and they will resume at the earliest. On the other hand, Amazon has declared that it will be providing the services. But, the company in this crisis will only prioritize the basic needs of the people. Ordering anything except the essential products won’t be entertained for the time being.

Some of the important highlights 

Here are some important details about the sudden shutdown of services. Flipkart has around 30,000 delivery staff who will stop working temporarily. The crisis has affected every sector of our nation both economically and socially. Survival has become questionable, but somewhere down the line fear of unemployment is growing roots.

Delivery of extreme necessities like food essentials, pharmaceuticals, and medical types of equipment is the only exception. Apart from these, the lockdown applies for anything and everything and from anyone and everyone. It is not only Flipkart shutting down its services, but e-commerce platforms like Grofers and BigBasket are facing the same problems. After the analysis of the financial year 2018-2019, it is noted that the worth of the Indian e-commerce market sums up to $38.5 billion. And, the sudden destruction of this supply-chain market will bring one big loss for the business. The online grocery store of India, BigBasket has also declared about shutting down its services. Though they are receiving a tremendous amount of orders, they are helpless right now. Millions of customers rely on Flipkart, Amazon for their daily essentials. So, this 21-day lockdown will have a major effect on their lives. But, if doing this gives some positive feedback by eradicating COVID-19, then everyone should cooperate. Every big e-commerce companies in India are taking necessary actions in response to yesterday’s speech of our Prime Minister.