With another busy week in the world of tech coming to a close, we at IndianWeb2 bring to you the ten top things that happened in the tech world this week.
1) India’s Tata Owned Jaguar To Launch Tesla Rival
The automobile battle of the year is here. Jaguar and Tesla are at it again, and this time the trophy for the best electric car is on the line. Though Tata-owned Jaguar’s model is slated to officially release next year, but the company recently did give the world a preview of what all can we expect from its first ever electric concept car, Jaguar I-PACE.
When it comes to electric cars, Elon Musk’s Tesla has acquired a reputation of its own and has in fact spurred the biggest of the automakers in the world to accelerate their electrification plans. Jaguar’s I-PACE, which is being pitted as the automaker’s answer to Tesla’s Model X, is an SUV model.
According to Jaguar, for I-PACE, they decided to dump their rule book altogether and worked hard to come up with a model that could boost of having the best of looks, performance and space. Plus, they made sure that the electric car could be charged easily at home from the power derived from the domestic main power supply.
2) Microsoft Launches New Email Tools for Small Businesses and Startups
Global software giant Microsoft recently unveiled three new tools that would help small businesses and startups grow. Launched on the sidelines of Microsoft’s Inspire event that took place in Washington, D.C. this week, the main idea behind launching the three tools is to make Microsoft users more involved in its Office 365 ecosystem. In order to make it available to as many people as possible, the company has decided to make the tools available free of cost through Microsoft’s Office 365 First Release program.
The three new tools: Microsoft Connections, Microsoft Listings and Microsoft Invoicing will be a great addition to the company’s existing rack of tools like the Outlook Customer Manager and Microsoft Bookings.
While the Microsoft Connections tool will allow its users to create email marketing campaigns similar to the popular Mailchimp, the Microsoft Listings tool will give its users the ability to keep a tab of their business’ listings on online platforms like Google, Bing, Yelp, Facebook and monitor online reviews and views.
Microsoft Invoicing as the names suggests is an invoicing tool that allows users to easily create invoices and estimates. The thing that makes it stand out from the rest of such tools available in the market is the fact that it comes integrated with PayPal which makes it easier for small businesses to accept credit card payments.
3) Elon Musk Buys His Old X.com Domain From PayPal
Elon Musk is an entrepreneur with a difference. The man isn’t just trying to win the rat race but has been actually trying to redefine transportation both on earth as well as in space since a long time now. Musk’s Tesla and Space X are his contributions in that very direction. And now, Musk has bought the domain name X.com from his former company, PayPal. Though it still hasn’t been specified what he aims to do with it, but since its Musk, it ought to be something big.
4) Google, Amazon Join Online Protest of Net Neutrality Change
Big names in the technological world like Google, Amazon, Facebook have all come together for a common cause. An online protest that aims to counter Republican’s plan of rolling back net neutrality rules has got the support of over 70,000 supporters.
The sites and organisations that have joined their hands in this mission includes Twitter, Amazon.com, Google and Facebook. The week saw these commercial big weights joining forces with several of the online activists and businesses and tell users about the change in plans at the White House and ask the visitors to start contacting Congress and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), where Republican Chairman Ajit Pai, who was appointed by President Trump himself, and is fighting to get the rule axed once for all.
5) In The US, Drones Will Begin Delivering Blood and Medicine
Zipline, a California-based startup which uses drones to deliver medicine and blood to remote areas, has decided to start its delivery program in the United States. A lot of people in the world lack adequate access to essential medical products, such as blood and vaccines, due to challenging terrain and gaps in infrastructure. Zipline improves access to these supplies by flying over impassable mountains and washed-out roads, delivering directly to clinics. It makes sure that every human gets access to basic health amenities irrespective of where they live.
Keeping in mind the nature of the service they’re providing, Zipline makes it services available 24×7 in all weather conditions. A Zipline Distribution Center is capable of delivering medical supplies to any site within 75 km (150 km round trip), even with high winds, downpours, and tall mountains. Its custom-designed fixed-wing airplane, called “Zips,” can fly farther, faster, and in more inclement weather conditions than a quadcopter can, enabling service to facilities 10 times as far.
6) India Might Impose Tax on Bitcoin Purchases
In what could be considered as a discouraging move for bitcoin users in India, a report in The Hindu points that the Indian government is contemplating introducing a regulatory regime for virtual currencies that would enable them to levy Goods and Services Tax (GST) on their sale.
The government’s idea behind the whole initiative is to treat virtual currencies to the similar rules and regulations that are in place for gold being sold digitally. This will allow Bitcoin to be traded on registered exchanges and promote a formal tax base, while also keeping a close watch on their usage for illegal activities such as money laundering, drug trafficking and terror funding etc.
7) Blockchain-based Music Sharing Platform Aurovine Launches in India
Blockchain is nowadays everywhere, from banks guarding our financial transactions to voting ballets guarding the future of our democracy. And now, the emerging tech has also found a way to make our music listening experience better than ever. Aurovine, a music sharing platform supported by Blockchain development company BlockPool launched this week in India.
While India might have seen the platform go live this week, Aurovine originally took birth five years ago in 2012 as a music discovery platform built on Blockchain technology. The platform has acquired a great popularity in helping artists, writers and anyone else who might be involved in the production of a piece of music to have a fair share in the revenue. The platform’s Blockchain feature ensures that each time a particular music track is listened, all of those who have contributed towards making the track get their due credited in real time.
8) Makers of India’s UPI App Is Bringing Ripple Technology To India
Embracing change is difficult, but it is what we have to do in order to move forward. One such change that the world is currently warming up to is Ripple technology. Bridging the gap between traditional finance and blockchain technology, Ripple has been successful in making a lot of flurry in Asia. And now, the technology is all set to take over the Indian subcontinent.
According to latest developments, National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), a Mumbai-based startup closely guided and promoted by the RBI and the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) as an umbrella organisation for all retail payments across India and credited for making the UPI app, is the one that is most likely to bring Ripple to India.
For the uninitiated, Ripple is a distributed financial technology that enables banks to send real-time international payments across networks. It has become a major hit in a short period of time because it helps banks meet growing demands for faster, low-cost, on-demand global payment services for any payment size and results in new revenue opportunities, lower processing costs, and better overall customer experiences.
9) State of Machine Learning and AI – McKinsey 2017 Report
McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) recently published an article, How Artificial Intelligence Can Deliver Real Value To Companies, discussing the state of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the year 2017 and unfurnished a lot of statistics. The article included findings from a recent McKinsey Global Institute Study, and a discussion paper, Artificial Intelligence, The Next Digital Frontier published in June.
For the study, McKinsey carried out interviews of more than 3,000 senior executives on the usage of AI technologies, and how their companies plan on deploying them in the near future. They also asked them about how AI can impact individuals, markets and governments. The institute also utilised McKinsey Analytics for the study and discussion paper.
Read Here to know more about the key points highlighted in the study.
10) This Startup May Soon Bring India’s First Robot Police
Indian lanes might soon have a robot guarding them. Telangana-based H-Bots Robotics Pvt. Ltd. is currently in the process of making a “police robot”. This means, after a food serving robot and a Mall robot, India is now getting a police robot.
The design of the police robot, which be able to walk, recognise people, take complaints and even diffuse bombs if a such a situation arises, was unveiled recently by Jayesh Ranjan, Telangana IT Secretary in a programme held in the city. Once the robot is completed, it will be deployed at the city’s Jubilee Hills check post.
The Telangana police robot will be second such robot after Dubai. The robot deployed in Dubai was made in France. But, the one being made for Telangana’s Jubilee Hills is a fully Indian made humanoid robot. Further, the Dubai robot moves only wheels, unlike the Telangana police robot.
1) India’s Tata Owned Jaguar To Launch Tesla Rival
The automobile battle of the year is here. Jaguar and Tesla are at it again, and this time the trophy for the best electric car is on the line. Though Tata-owned Jaguar’s model is slated to officially release next year, but the company recently did give the world a preview of what all can we expect from its first ever electric concept car, Jaguar I-PACE.
When it comes to electric cars, Elon Musk’s Tesla has acquired a reputation of its own and has in fact spurred the biggest of the automakers in the world to accelerate their electrification plans. Jaguar’s I-PACE, which is being pitted as the automaker’s answer to Tesla’s Model X, is an SUV model.
According to Jaguar, for I-PACE, they decided to dump their rule book altogether and worked hard to come up with a model that could boost of having the best of looks, performance and space. Plus, they made sure that the electric car could be charged easily at home from the power derived from the domestic main power supply.
2) Microsoft Launches New Email Tools for Small Businesses and Startups
Global software giant Microsoft recently unveiled three new tools that would help small businesses and startups grow. Launched on the sidelines of Microsoft’s Inspire event that took place in Washington, D.C. this week, the main idea behind launching the three tools is to make Microsoft users more involved in its Office 365 ecosystem. In order to make it available to as many people as possible, the company has decided to make the tools available free of cost through Microsoft’s Office 365 First Release program.
The three new tools: Microsoft Connections, Microsoft Listings and Microsoft Invoicing will be a great addition to the company’s existing rack of tools like the Outlook Customer Manager and Microsoft Bookings.
While the Microsoft Connections tool will allow its users to create email marketing campaigns similar to the popular Mailchimp, the Microsoft Listings tool will give its users the ability to keep a tab of their business’ listings on online platforms like Google, Bing, Yelp, Facebook and monitor online reviews and views.
Microsoft Invoicing as the names suggests is an invoicing tool that allows users to easily create invoices and estimates. The thing that makes it stand out from the rest of such tools available in the market is the fact that it comes integrated with PayPal which makes it easier for small businesses to accept credit card payments.
3) Elon Musk Buys His Old X.com Domain From PayPal
Elon Musk is an entrepreneur with a difference. The man isn’t just trying to win the rat race but has been actually trying to redefine transportation both on earth as well as in space since a long time now. Musk’s Tesla and Space X are his contributions in that very direction. And now, Musk has bought the domain name X.com from his former company, PayPal. Though it still hasn’t been specified what he aims to do with it, but since its Musk, it ought to be something big.
4) Google, Amazon Join Online Protest of Net Neutrality Change
Big names in the technological world like Google, Amazon, Facebook have all come together for a common cause. An online protest that aims to counter Republican’s plan of rolling back net neutrality rules has got the support of over 70,000 supporters.
The sites and organisations that have joined their hands in this mission includes Twitter, Amazon.com, Google and Facebook. The week saw these commercial big weights joining forces with several of the online activists and businesses and tell users about the change in plans at the White House and ask the visitors to start contacting Congress and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), where Republican Chairman Ajit Pai, who was appointed by President Trump himself, and is fighting to get the rule axed once for all.
5) In The US, Drones Will Begin Delivering Blood and Medicine
Zipline, a California-based startup which uses drones to deliver medicine and blood to remote areas, has decided to start its delivery program in the United States. A lot of people in the world lack adequate access to essential medical products, such as blood and vaccines, due to challenging terrain and gaps in infrastructure. Zipline improves access to these supplies by flying over impassable mountains and washed-out roads, delivering directly to clinics. It makes sure that every human gets access to basic health amenities irrespective of where they live.
Keeping in mind the nature of the service they’re providing, Zipline makes it services available 24×7 in all weather conditions. A Zipline Distribution Center is capable of delivering medical supplies to any site within 75 km (150 km round trip), even with high winds, downpours, and tall mountains. Its custom-designed fixed-wing airplane, called “Zips,” can fly farther, faster, and in more inclement weather conditions than a quadcopter can, enabling service to facilities 10 times as far.
6) India Might Impose Tax on Bitcoin Purchases
In what could be considered as a discouraging move for bitcoin users in India, a report in The Hindu points that the Indian government is contemplating introducing a regulatory regime for virtual currencies that would enable them to levy Goods and Services Tax (GST) on their sale.
The government’s idea behind the whole initiative is to treat virtual currencies to the similar rules and regulations that are in place for gold being sold digitally. This will allow Bitcoin to be traded on registered exchanges and promote a formal tax base, while also keeping a close watch on their usage for illegal activities such as money laundering, drug trafficking and terror funding etc.
7) Blockchain-based Music Sharing Platform Aurovine Launches in India
Blockchain is nowadays everywhere, from banks guarding our financial transactions to voting ballets guarding the future of our democracy. And now, the emerging tech has also found a way to make our music listening experience better than ever. Aurovine, a music sharing platform supported by Blockchain development company BlockPool launched this week in India.
While India might have seen the platform go live this week, Aurovine originally took birth five years ago in 2012 as a music discovery platform built on Blockchain technology. The platform has acquired a great popularity in helping artists, writers and anyone else who might be involved in the production of a piece of music to have a fair share in the revenue. The platform’s Blockchain feature ensures that each time a particular music track is listened, all of those who have contributed towards making the track get their due credited in real time.
8) Makers of India’s UPI App Is Bringing Ripple Technology To India
Embracing change is difficult, but it is what we have to do in order to move forward. One such change that the world is currently warming up to is Ripple technology. Bridging the gap between traditional finance and blockchain technology, Ripple has been successful in making a lot of flurry in Asia. And now, the technology is all set to take over the Indian subcontinent.
According to latest developments, National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), a Mumbai-based startup closely guided and promoted by the RBI and the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) as an umbrella organisation for all retail payments across India and credited for making the UPI app, is the one that is most likely to bring Ripple to India.
For the uninitiated, Ripple is a distributed financial technology that enables banks to send real-time international payments across networks. It has become a major hit in a short period of time because it helps banks meet growing demands for faster, low-cost, on-demand global payment services for any payment size and results in new revenue opportunities, lower processing costs, and better overall customer experiences.
9) State of Machine Learning and AI – McKinsey 2017 Report
McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) recently published an article, How Artificial Intelligence Can Deliver Real Value To Companies, discussing the state of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the year 2017 and unfurnished a lot of statistics. The article included findings from a recent McKinsey Global Institute Study, and a discussion paper, Artificial Intelligence, The Next Digital Frontier published in June.
For the study, McKinsey carried out interviews of more than 3,000 senior executives on the usage of AI technologies, and how their companies plan on deploying them in the near future. They also asked them about how AI can impact individuals, markets and governments. The institute also utilised McKinsey Analytics for the study and discussion paper.
Read Here to know more about the key points highlighted in the study.
10) This Startup May Soon Bring India’s First Robot Police
Indian lanes might soon have a robot guarding them. Telangana-based H-Bots Robotics Pvt. Ltd. is currently in the process of making a “police robot”. This means, after a food serving robot and a Mall robot, India is now getting a police robot.
The design of the police robot, which be able to walk, recognise people, take complaints and even diffuse bombs if a such a situation arises, was unveiled recently by Jayesh Ranjan, Telangana IT Secretary in a programme held in the city. Once the robot is completed, it will be deployed at the city’s Jubilee Hills check post.
The Telangana police robot will be second such robot after Dubai. The robot deployed in Dubai was made in France. But, the one being made for Telangana’s Jubilee Hills is a fully Indian made humanoid robot. Further, the Dubai robot moves only wheels, unlike the Telangana police robot.
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