TecQ: Facebook Free Basics, WhatsApp, Sphero, Salman Khan and More
Here’s the best from the world of technology for this week.
advertisement
1. Facebook Free Basics: What the Hell Is It & Why You Should Care
If you’re good at something, never do it for free. In fact, as we’ve grown up hearing, nothing in life is free. There is always a cost involved.
Facebook’s internet.org may have sounded philanthropic, but in 2015, it sparked a big net neutrality debate in the country. Now, Facebook users have begun to receive notifications to send Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) a message in support of ‘Free Basics’.
But before you send TRAI a support message for Free Basics, think about it for a moment. You could be signing a death warrant for the same Internet access you think you’re fighting for. How? Find out here.
2. Review: Sphero BB-8, the Force Is Strong with This One
You have to say, R2-D2 has had a great run. For the past 38 years, the little astromech droid first seen in Episode IV A New Hope has booped, clicked and beeped his way into the hearts of Star Wars fans around the world. But now, there is a new droid in town, and those of you who have watched the trailers or the early rushes of Star Wars: The Force Awakens know the little rolling-ball-with-a-floating-head as BB-8.
No surprise then that when Sphero announced the app-controlled intelligent BB-8 droid (albeit in a baseball-sized version), Star Wars fans jumped at the chance to own a piece of the movie magic. Here’s our take on the hottest movie toy this holiday season, and quite possibly, the coolest movie tie-in… ever!
3. Salman Khan and Sunny Leone India’s Top Searched on Google in 2015
Google India announced its 2015 Year in Search results, a look at the top trends and searches through the collective eyes of the world on the web.
The top searched personality of the year was Sunny Leone, followed by Salman Khan. India’s undying love for cricket showed no sign of cooling as the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 and Indian Premier League ensured that cricket fans were always close to their browsers for instant updates.
Virat Kohli and Lionel Messi were among the top-searched sports personalities of the year, followed by Sachin Tendulkar. Read the full details here.
4. Watch Honor India’s Top Boss Talk Candidly About His Love for Dosa
In December 2015, Huawei celebrated its second anniversary of the Honor brand at their company headquarters in Shenzhen, China. The company announced that they will be investing their resources heavily in building an ecosystem for the Internet of Things (IoT) in 2016.
We caught up with Allen Wangguodong, President, Consumer Business Group, Huawei Technology (India) Co Pvt Ltd and Honor India. Watch his candid conversation about what Honor as a brand means, why he loves dosa and why he thinks that his wife is a good driver.
5. WhatsApp Aims To Rival Skype With Video Calling on Mobile
You’ve tried the voice call support on WhatsApp and there is a good chance that video-calling feature will be available on the popular messaging platform soon.
According to recent reports, WhatsApp is said to have privately tested the video calling feature that supports both the cameras of a smartphone. If and when WhatsApp manages to officially release the video calling feature, the social networking giant will directly compete with Microsoft’s Skype.
Here’s all that you need to know.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)