Tech NEWS { 20-Feb-2015 }

1. Motorola set to launch its costliest phone in India

It looks like Motorola is all set to introduce Moto Maxx, its high-end smartphone in the Indian market. Flipkart, which is Motorola's exclusive retail partner, has started teasing the phone via its social network accounts.

2. YouTube paid music service goes into beta

            Google Inc's YouTube is set to launch its long-awaited paid monthly subscription service called YouTube Music Key in a few months, said Robert Kyncl, the online video service's head of content and business operations, at the Code/Media conference.

3. Samsung buys Apple Pay competitor LoopPay

            Samsung Electronics Co Ltd has bought US mobile wallet startup LoopPay, signaling its intention to launch a smartphone payments service to compete with a recent offering from rival Apple Inc. 

4. Pinterest eyes $11 billion valuation with new funding

Pinterest, a photo pin-up site, is in talks to raise $500 million in a round of funding that would more than double its valuation to $11 billion.

5. At $8.7 billion, TCS fastest-growing IT brand globally

            The brand value of the country's largest software exporter TCS grew to $8.7 billion in 2015, clipping at a growth of 271% from $2.3 billion in 2010, making it the fastest growing software brand in the world over the past five years.

6. OnePlus One 16GB coming to India soon

Chinese manufacturer OnePlus is bringing the 16GB variant of its One smartphone to the Indian market next week.

7. Microsoft offers Rs 7,000 discount on Lumia 830, 930

            Microsoft Devices has announced a cash back offer of Rs 7,000 on its premium devices - Lumia 830 and 930 as part of its Holi promotions. The cash back amount will be offered upfront to all consumers who walk in to a retail store starting February 20. 

8.  Apple removes sensors from smartwatch

            Apple reportedly had some sensors removed from its new smartwatch after discovering that arm hair was obstructing its functioning.

9. Videocon to launch 68Mbps 4G service in UP, Bihar

            Videocon Telecom has plans to invest Rs 1,200 crore over three years on high-speed 4G mobile services to be launched in UP and Bihar by December at rates close to 2G and 3G internet services. 

10. Lenovo accused of exposing own laptops to hacking

Lenovo Group, the world's largest PC maker, had pre-installed a virus-like software on laptops that makes the devices more vulnerable to hacking, cybersecurity experts said on Thursday. 

Gopinath TB, 

CEO, Meteora Gaming

www.meteoragaming.com