Google.org expands grant to support education in India

NEW DELHI: In an effort to further support education and learning efforts in India, Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google, has announced additional grants of $3 million to two non-profit organisations -- Central Square Foundation and The Teacher App.

With online video emerging as a popular medium of learning, Google.org will provide a $2 million grant and technical assistance from the YouTube Learning team to Central Square Foundation -- a policy think tank focused on improving the quality of school education.

The grant will support a minimum of 20 content creators to produce at least 200 hours of quality science, technology, engineering and Math content in Hindi and vernacular languages.

With $1 million grant to The Teacher App, Google.org aims to empower teachers with the right training and resources on concepts of Math, science, language and pedagogy. The funds will be used to scale the platform to reach 500,000 teachers in two years.

"We strongly believe that technology can play a powerful part in solving the learning gap in India, and we are expanding our investments in India to ensure that all teachers and students are able to benefit from it," said Nick Cain, Education Lead, Google.org.

These new projects are in addition to Google.org's existing projects that were funded last year in India.

With the additional grants, Google.org's total grant for NGOs in India to support learning and education efforts stands at $11.4 million.

Four NGOs -- Learning Equality, Million Sparks Foundation, Pratham Books StoryWeaver, and Pratham Education Foundation -- received total grants of $8.4 million to add scale to their existing efforts and help provide access to quality education and learning for all.

Since receiving Google.org funding last year, the grantees have reached more than 800,000 students and teachers with their tools and programs across India.

"These new funds will help contribute in building more locally relevant solutions and content for students and teachers," Cain added.

"Globally, learning and educational content drives over a billion views a day and we believe there is a huge opportunity for creators in India to enhance education and learning through YouTube," said Satya Raghavan, Head of Entertainment for India at YouTube.

India was among the first country to receive grants from Google.org's global $50 million commitment to support nonprofits who are building tech-based learning solutions.

Samsung tops global smartphone market; Huawei biggest gainer: IDC

The smartphone market globally witnessed a decline in the first quarter of 2018. According to a report by market research firm IDC, smartphone vendors shipped a total of 334.3 million units during the first quarter of 2018 (1Q18), resulting in a 2.9% decline when compared to the 344.4 million units shipped in the first quarter of 2017.

“The China market was the biggest driver of this decline with shipment volumes dipping below 100 million in the quarter, which hasn't happened since the third quarter of 2013,” said IDC in its report.

One of the key reasons for the drop in smartphone shipments is due to the fact that people not willing to buy expensive mobile phones. “The abundance of ultra-high-end flagships with big price tags released over the past 12-18 months has most likely halted the upgrade cycle in the near term. It now looks as if consumers are not willing to shell out this kind of money for a new device that brings minimal upgrades over their current device,” said IDC research manager Anthony Scarsella.

Samsung remained the leader in the worldwide smartphone market, grabbing 23.4% share despite experiencing a 2.4% decline from Q1 2017. The new Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ are among the most popular devices while Samsung’s A series and J series continued to drive most of the key volume in both developed and emerging markets.

Apple's first quarter saw the iPhone maker move 52.2 million iPhones representing a modest 2.8% year-over-year increase from the 50.8 million units shipped last year. Despite reports of an underperforming iPhone X in the quarter, Apple stated that the iPhone X was the most popular model each week in the March quarter.


Huawei climbed to a new market share high of 11.8% even as it remained in third overall. While its high-end smartphones are popular in China, the bulk of its shipments are of the more affordable class of smartphones, and it also introduced a few new models in the low-end and mid-range segments. Outside of China, Huawei is growing and gaining market share across the Western Europe region, an otherwise declining market, and is particularly strong in Spain, Germany, and Italy.

Xiaomi has managed to take the fourth spot, courtesy its strong growth outside China. The company continued its retail expansion in India and Southeast Asia, with online channels remain the key contributor in India, its second largest market. Its low-end Redmi 5A made up almost two-fifths of its volume in India. Xiaomi also recently announced PCB assembly in India, becoming the second vendor after Samsung to do so.

Oppo stood at the fifth spot, recording year-over-year decline of 7.5%. However, this is more a result of the China slowdown than of its performance overseas, as both share and shipment volumes abroad increased in the first quarter. To counter Xiaomi's strong growth in the India market, Oppo has also shifted some focus to online channels where it had been solely focused on offline channels in the past.

OnePlus 6 Avengers Infinity War retail box image leaks online

NEW DELHI: While OnePlus is getting ready for the launch of its OnePlus 6 smartphone, leaks and rumours continue to pour in. Recently we saw the smartphone being listed on HDFC Bank’s website. Now, the handset’s Avenger Infinity War version retail box has showed up on Chinese microblogging website Weibo.

The box has a huge Avengers symbol on top with ‘OnePlus 6’ written on the side. We also expect the particular limited edition device to come with some extra goodies. If you have an account on Weibo, the image can be seen there.




This shouldn’t come as a surprise given that OnePlus recently confirmed that it will be launching a OnePlus 6 Marvel Avengers Limited Edition handset. The firm even released a teaser video giving users a glimpse of the particular device.

At the time of the release of Avengers: Infinity War, the company even gave out 6000 movie tickets to users in India.

OnePlus has been teasing the OnePlus 6 smartphone since quite some time. The handset will see the light of the day on May 16 in London and on May 17 in India. Rumours indicate that the device’s upper variant to cost over Rs 40,000. As has been the case since past couple of years, OnePlus 6 will be exclusive to Amazon India. OnePlus will also be holding an exclusive OnePlus 6 sale for Amazon Prime members beginning at 12:00 IST on May 21, 2018.

Some of the features confirmed to come with the device is a ‘notch’ on the display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, 8GB RAM model, Alert Slider integration in the camera, water resistant build, iPhone X-like gestures and 3.5mm headphone jack. We also expect it to come with dual rear cameras, Dash Charging support and 256GB inbuilt storage. Based on teaser images, the back panel of the smartphone also seems to be the same as the OnePlus 5T.

Indian-American owned IT company Cloudwick Technologies fined for H1-B visa violations

An Indian-American owned IT company in California was today asked to pay US$ 173,044 in wages to 12 of its foreign employees, most of them from India, who were paid salaries well below the levels required under the H-1B programme.

Investigations carried out by the US Department of Labour's Wage and Hour Division revealed that some of the H-1B employees that information technology provider Cloudwick Technologies Inc. brought from India with promised salaries of up to USD 8,300 per month instead received as little as USD 800 net per month.

Based out of Newark in California - in the famed Silicon Valley - Indian-American Mani Chhabra is the founder and CEO of the Cloudwick Technologies, as per the company's website.

It describes itself as leading provider of bimodal digital business services and solutions to the Global 1000. Its services include big data, cloud, advanced analytics, business intelligence modernisation, data science, big data pilot-to-production, IoT, mobile application development.

According to the company, its clients include the likes of Bank of America, Comcast, Home Depot, Intuit, JP Morgan, NetApp, Target, Visa, and Walmart.

Investigators found that the company paid impacted employees well below the wage levels required under the H-1B programme based on job skill level, and also made illegal deductions from workers' salaries.

"The intent of the H-1B foreign labour certification programme is to help American companies find the highly skilled talent they need when they can prove that a shortage of US workers exists," said Susana Blanco, Wage and Hour Division District Director in San Francisco.

H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.


"The resolution of this case demonstrates our commitment to safeguard American jobs, level the playing field for law-abiding employers, and protect guest workers from being paid less than they are legally owed," Blanco said.

In addition to the recovery of back wages, the IT employer has also signed an enhanced compliance agreement requiring them to hire an independent third-party monitor to help ensure future compliance, a media release said.

To further deter and detect abuse, US Citizenship and Immigration Services has established a dedicated email address which will allow individuals (including both American workers and H-1B workers who suspect they or others may be the victim of H-1B fraud or abuse) to submit tips, alleged violations and other relevant information about potential H-1B fraud or abuse.

Silicon Valley companies and high-tech ventures are among the largest employers of foreign workers with H-1B visas. The number of visas awarded each year is capped at 85,000.

The action against the company comes as the Trump administration had tightened the noose on firms violating H-1B visa rules. President Donald Trump has himself accused many IT companies of abusing the work visas to deny jobs to American workers.

Xiaomi launches Mi TV 4A Youth Edition: Price, specifications and more

Xiaomi has announced a new mid-range television in its home country China. Called the Mi TV 4A Youth Edition, the television has been priced at CNY 1,699 (approximately Rs 17,800).

The Mi TV 4A Youth can be considered a toned-down version of the Mi TV 4A that was launched in March in India. Launched in two screen sizes, 32-inch and 43-inch, the Mi TV 4A is available on Flipkart and Mi.com, and offline through Mi Home stores. The 32-inch model costs Rs 13,999 and 43-inch model costs Rs 22,999.

Coming back to the Mi TV 4A Youth, this device has a 43-inch full HD display of 1920x1080 pixels resolution. It has a refresh rate of 60GHz and offers 178-degree viewing angle. It is powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core Amlogic Cortex-A53 processor paired with Mali-450 GPU and 1GB RAM and 8GB in-built storage.

In terms of connectivity, the Mi TV 4A Youth offers Wi-Fi, two HDMI (one ARC) ports, two USB ports, one Ethernet port, one AV component port, and one S/PDIF audio port.

Xiaomi had launched its first television in India in March with Mi LED Smart TV 4. It was launched at Rs 39,999 and has recently got a price hike of Rs 5,000 due to Rs 44,999. As per Xiaomi, the appreciation of prices is being attributed to "changes in tax structure on PCBA (Printed Circuit Board Assembly) imports and the depreciation of the rupee." It has a 55-inch of 4K HDR display of 3840x2160 pixel resolution. It has a PatchWall UI that Xiaomi has customised specially for the Indian market and features Dolby+DTS Cinema Audio Quality with two 8W duct inverted speakers. With just 4.9mm thickness, the Xiaomi Mi smart TV is being claimed as the thinnest television in the world. At its thickest point, the TV is 48mm thick. The weight of the TV without including the base is 17.2kg. 

Top 5 inverter ACs (1.5 Ton) available under Rs 35,000

Air conditioners are no longer considered as a luxury in most parts of India with the mercury soaring high with every summer in India. Also, with the likes of Intex and Micromax venturing into the white goods segment in the country, the market has become fiercely competitive. Buyers are spoilt for choice, especially in the affordable range. While power bills are a major concern, consumers are also confused as to whether to opt for the traditional fixed-speed AC models or go for the newer inverter ACs.

Typically, inverter ACs are costlier when compared to its traditional counterpart but promises greater power saving in the long run. Having said that power savings are almost equivalent to the traditional ACs with Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) 4 star rating or above. Also, note that servicing of inverter ACs costs more due to its parts being more expensive than normal ACs.

As far as the capacity (or tonnage) of ACs are concerned, it is always better to opt for a minimum of 1.5 Ton model, given the summers in our country. Split ACs are usually preferred over window ACs as they look good, make less noise and don’t occupy any window in the room.

So, if you are looking to buy an inverter air conditioner with 1.5 Ton cooling capacity for under Rs 35,000, here are five models to look out for. Note that the prices vary from seller to seller. Also, there is an additional cost for installation of split AC models and it is recommended to buy a voltage stabiliser to safeguard the electrical functioning of the compressor.

1) Kenstar 1.5 Ton 3 Star Inverter Split AC, Model- KS4O54.WS1-MDA: Rs 29,999
This Kenstar 1.5 Ton inverter AC with 3 Star BEE rating was launched in 2017 and is available for a best buy price of Rs 29,999. The company claims a low functioning noise level of 35dB and comes with five years warranty on the compressor and a comprehensive one year warranty. The condenser coil is made of copper.

2) BPL 1.5 Ton 3 Star Inverter Split AC, Model- A18KI3C8A: Rs 29,990
Launched in January 2018, the BPL 1.5 Ton Inverter Split AC comes with 3 Star BEE rating and a copper coil-based condenser. It is available for a best buy price of Rs 29,990 with one year warranty of the unit and five years warranty on the compressor. The company claims indoor operating noise levels of around 47 dB.

3) Mitashi 1.5 Ton 3 Star Inverter Split AC, Model- INA318K50: Rs 29,490

Consumer electronics brand Mitashi had launched this AC with model number INA318K50 in January 2018. It is available for a best buy price of Rs 29,490. It offers a dust filter and dehumidifier and has a 3 Star BEE rating. With a copper condenser pipes, there is one year warranty of the unit and five years warranty on the compressor.

4) Godrej 1.5 Ton 3 Star Inverter Split AC, Model- GSC-18-AMINV-3-RWQM: Rs 33,990

The Godrej 1.5 Ton 3 Star Inverter Split AC is among the few models that come with seven years warranty on the compressor. It is available for a best buy price of Rs 33,990. The company claims indoor operating noise levels of around 33 dB. Launched in December 2017, this one too has a copper pipe-based condenser.

5) IFB 1.5 Ton 3 Star Inverter Split AC, Model- IACC18IA3T4C: Rs 34,990

Available for a best buy price of Rs 34,990, the IFB 1.5 Ton 3 Star Inverter Split AC (Model- IACC18IA3T4C) is launched in 2018 and offers one warranty year on product and fives years on condenser and compressor respectively. This IFB model offer free standard installation and has a 3 Star BEE rating. The indoor operating noise level is 36dB. 

Nokia X With iPhone X-Like Notch Launching on May 16, Nokia N8 Relaunch on the Cards Too

Nokia X6 was expected to unveil yesterday in China, but HMD Global did not make a splash with its iPhone X-lookalke. Apparently, the Nokia X6 launch will be held roughly 2 weeks from now, with the company posting a photo of the handset, showing the notch above the display. The handset, however, may be called the Nokia X instead of the X6, going by a HMD Global post. Apart from this, the company seems to be working on a relaunch of the Nokia N8-00 smartphone.

Two posts on Weibo by HMD Global confirm that the company will be unveiling its next smartphone - the Nokia X - at an event scheduled for May 16, going by the loose translation. The photo shown in the post reveals Nokia's first smartphone will sport a notch and an edge-to-edge display. Apart from that, there is a slight chin on the bottom that comes with Nokia branding.

As per previous reports, the upcoming Nokia X (or Nokia X6) is expected to run Android One-based Android 8.1 Oreo out-of-the-box. It will most likely sport a 5.8-inch full-HD+ (1080x2280 pixels) display with a 19:9 aspect ratio. In terms of internals, the smartphone might arrive with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 or a MediaTek Helio P60 SoC, coupled with 4GB/ 6GB RAM and 64GB/ 128GB inbuilt storage. On the back, the phone might get a dual camera setup with a 12-megapixel Carl Zeiss lens.

Apart from this, a teaser posted on Weibo, HMD hinted towards the launch of a modernised version of a phone from the N series. The teaser states that the Nokia N series made its debut on April 27 in 2005, exactly 13 years back. The image shows the Nokia N8 so it wouldn't be entirely wrong to assume that this is the phone that will be relaunched between April 27 and May 2.

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