Microsoft may Cut approx 2,850 More Jobs in Phone Business

Microsoft says it is cutting 2,850 jobs, about 2.5 per cent of its workforce, as it further scales back its troubled smartphone business.

A spokeswoman says the layoffs will mostly affect workers in the company's smartphone hardware operation and related sales teams. They declined to say which geographic locations would be affected but added many of the laid-off workers had already been notified.

Microsoft disclosed the planned job cuts in a regulatory filing, which said they're in addition to 9,250 previous layoffs, primarily affecting the company's phone business, over the last 12 months.
The giant tech company reported earlier this month that its revenue fell 9 per cent in the previous 12 months, but its net income grew 38 per cent as it shed unprofitable operations like the phone business.

Microsoft bought Finland-based handset-maker Nokia in 2014 in an ill-fated attempt to take on market leaders Apple and Samsung Electronics.

Chief Executive Satya Nadella, who took the helm just two months before the deal closed, has since focused on restructuring the struggling phone business.

Microsoft had about 1,14,000 full-time employees as of June 30.

Google Play Store to Get 8 New App Categories

In a bid to help users access apps easily, Google is going to further expand its Android app categories on the Google Play Store in the coming two months.

The Google Play Store currently has apps widely categorised into Android Wear, Games, and Family. Under these, further sub-categories include apps from Social, Music & Audio, and Books & Reference.

Now, the search giant has decided to add eight new categories to make app-finding specific and easy. These categories include apps from 'Art & Design', 'Auto & Vehicles', 'Beauty', 'Dating', 'Events', 'Food & Drink', 'House & Home', and 'Parenting'.

These apps will not only make it easy for users to find specific apps but also improve the browsing experience.

Google aims to let you block all spam calls with Android app

Google is taking action against spam callers with a new version of its phone app for Android devices that identifies and helps blocks spammers.

The phone app update, which is part of Google’s efforts to separate core phone features from operating system updates, is available for the company’s Nexus line of smartphones and Android One devices, including the Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X.

The new spam-blocking feature is an extension of Google’s caller ID system, which helps identify businesses not stored in your address book, and has been available for several years now. The phone app checks incoming call numbers against an updating database and flags those that appear to be from spammers with a big red banner.

This isn’t the first time that apps have been able to scan incoming calls and help users avoid answering spam calls, but it’s the first time Google has integrated it into a default app on Android devices. Third-party apps such as Truecaller promise to perform similar duties and have been available on both Android and iOS for several years.

Amazon to test drone delivery in the UK

The e-commerce giant announced Tuesday that it has formed a partnership with U.K. aviation regulators that will allow it to test and develop new drone delivery systems.

The Civil Aviation Authority has given Amazon the go ahead to explore drone flights that extend beyond a pilot's line of sight in both rural and suburban settings -- crucial permissions that the company has not been able to secure in the U.S.

In addition to allowing drones to fly beyond a pilot's vision, the U.K. regulator has given Amazon permission to test censors that will allow drones to avoid obstacles. It is also allowed to conduct trial flights where a single person operates multiple drones.

The company has been able to conduct some test flights -- but not with the special permissions granted by the U.K.

Apple picks north Bengaluru for design accelerator

Apple has identified a location in North Bengaluru, closer to the airport, to set up its design and development accelerator. It joins rivals such as Google and Microsoft in harnessing local talent in the country's technology capital.

Through this centre, Apple hopes to encourage more developers to build applications for its iPhone, a strategy for it to justify the high sticker prices for its devices. Globally, such apps are considered of gold standard because of the customers' ability to pay more.

India, the world's second largest smartphones market, is dominated by Google's Android software. Apple expects to wean a slice of the high-paying customers of Android to its own ecosystem.

Apple is also looking at India as a strategic market since iPhone sales in China and the US stagnate. "India is home to one of the most vibrant and entrepreneurial iOS development communities in the world," said Tim Cook, Apple's chief executive officer. "With this new facility, we're giving developers access to tools which would help them create innovative apps."

The decision to locate in Yelahanka in Northern Bengaluru goes against the conventional grain for global technology majors.

Apple to sell limited-edition Apple Watch bands w/ country flags for Olympics.

Apple will be offering a limited-edition set of Apple Watch bands for the 2016 Olympics. Apple will begin selling Apple Watch bands that depict the flags of 14 different countries when the games kick-off in August.

The different flag designs are shown off on the Nylon bands Apple originally introduced earlier this year. The bands are made of the same material, so the only thing different is the design. As for the countries, bands are available with the flags of the USA, Great Britain, The Netherlands, South Africa, New Zealand, Mexico, Japan, Jamaica, Canada, China, Brazil, Australia, Germany, and France.

These limited-edition Apple Watch bands will surely be a hit at the games in Brazil and will likely fetch high resell values online as collectors and Apple fanatics itch to get their hands on them. The bands will retail for $49 a piece at the Village Mall Apple Store.

An Interactive AI lets you speak in real-time with a World War I soldier..

The rise of the bot has been one of the dominant tech trends of 2016, but apart from ordering you flowers or an Uber, the automated systems could also deliver a history lesson.

News Corp Australia has launched a chatbot on Facebook Messenger that allows users to interact with Tasmanian soldier Archie Barwick, who fought in World War I. The chatbot was created by AnzacLive, an interactive project that helps users learn more about the personal experiences of Australians on the frontline.

While the project has so far allowed people to interact with veterans, including nurses and soldiers, via Facebook posts, the chatbot will allow for a more private conversation with Barwick as he battles on the Western Front.

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