Tech News Stop - Sharing by Wasim Akhtar

::::Survey says: Apple customer service a secret weapon::::

<div class="custm_img_blk"><img src="http://www.techgig.com/files/photo_1337280078_temp.jpg" border="0" align="left" /></div>Tragedy struck just after 8 p.m. ET last Wednesday. Bounding down my apartment’s outside steps, I stumbled slightly, and in what resembled one of those slow-motion sequences you see on film, my iPhone 4 went flying out of my hand and over a balcony, landing three floors below with a plasticky smack and spray of glass shards.You could say I was shocked, stunned and horrified. To clear a few things up: No, as I told my inquiring editor, tequila shots were not involved. Yes, I realize it’s just a phone. But I don’t make a habit out of carelessly destroying expensive things — especially when I’m so close to the end of my AT&T two-year contract and looking forward to a no-penalty upgrade to a new phone circa, say, October.I’ll jump forward to the end: this is a happy story. I walked out of the Apple Store in Center City Philadelphia at 7 p.m. the following day with a brand new iPhone 4. But the journey was very impressive considering the level of service I received for a product that is not a refrigerator or pricey household appliance. Remember, we’re talking about a phone. (Note: I did not disclose my profession to the Apple Store staff for obvious reasons. Nor do I think every customer does or would have the same experience I did — your mileage at the Genius Bar may vary.)Apple is famous for customer satisfaction — it scores tops among cell phone owners andcomputer owners, according to the American Customer Service Index. It’s probably no coincidence that high customer satisfaction scores – and offering professional and prompt technical help goes a long way towards ensuring satisfaction — are happening at the same time as the historic expansion of Apple’s business and the ascendance of its stock price.After my Genius Bar appointment, Apple sent me its standard follow-up customer survey asking me about my experience. And since I write about Apple, I figured I’d share my answers here, in survey form. I was asked to rate my satisfaction with various aspects of Apple’s service on a scale of very dissatisfied to very satisfied.Overall, how satisfied were you with your in-store repair experience?Very satisfied. The morning after the fateful accident, I walked into the Center City store without an appointment. I was immediately greeted and told to come back for the next available time slot at the Genius Bar in 20 minutes. When I returned, I waited about a minute and 30 seconds before my designated Genius, Dan, walked up.That wait was the only thing about my experience that was short — but we’ll get to that in a minute. Despite a somewhat complicated situation due to a failed iCloud backup, I was consistently updated on what was going on with my device. And the employees acted like they cared about solving my problem. Customer service isn’t necessarily the most rewarding job, so it’s gratifying when an employee understands that your presence means there is a problem and that getting it fixed is important. (Apple has just over 34,000 retail employees, with about 100 assigned to each store. Horace Dediu at Asymco calculated that Apple retail sales employees make from $9 to $15 per hour, but Genius Bar workers can make up to $30 per hour.)Overall, how would you rate the professionalism and technical ability of the store employees responsible for your repair?Very satisfied. This was somewhat of an emergency situation for me — it’s hard to get work done as a reporter when your only phone is unusable for calls or apps you might be writing about. The Apple Store employees made me feel like getting a new iPhone right away was a priority for them.They also were very straightforward with me. They made sure I knew what my options were from the start: I could use my AT&T upgrade for a new iPhone 4S, which would start my two-year contract over again (no thanks), purchase a new iPhone 4S off contract for $500 (eek); or, if I left my broken device with Apple, they’d replace my same model with a new iPhone 4 for $149. I chose the latter.They also let me know that this is fairly routine. Dropping a phone three stories? Not weird at all — they’ve seen and heard worse. The phone’s screen had a lot of scary-looking shards of glass sticking up from it, and when I apologized for its state, my designated Genius shrugged: “I have chefs’ fingers. I deal with cracked screens like this all the time.”How many times were you contacted about the state of your repair?At least 10 times, and I hadn’t even left the store. While my new phone was re-syncing Dan would attend to his other Genius Bar appointments, but he’d continually pop back over to update me on the status of my phone. This went a long way toward making me feel like the situation was resolvable and that they cared about getting me a satisfactory outcome.Once your repaired product was returned to you, what happened?This actually wasn’t a simple get-a-replacement-phone-and-resync-it-with-my-latest-iCloud-backup situation. Turns out, after 25 minutes of syncing my new phone, none of my roughly 3,000 photos copied over. This was, you might say, problematic. After some troubleshooting, Dan said iCloud was the culprit: my last iCloud backup had failed. He said I should bring my computer that my phone was synced with in and he’d try again, and made me another appointment later that day.When I returned with my MacBook Air and my new iPhone, he battled further issues: iPhoto kept crashing, and the latest iTunes backup wouldn’t sync. He tried a few different approaches, and finally ended up finding a solution. This troubleshooting took almost an hour, again, thanks to the sheer number of photos I had on my device. Then once he figured out the fix, it was a least another 45 minutes of syncing.From the start of the discussion, how long was your interaction at the Genius Bar?Over the course of two different appointments, I spent just under four hours getting in-person tech support from the Apple Store. While that might sound excruciating, Dan was seriously heroic, never got flustered, and even took time to discuss one of my favorite topics while we were waiting: where to procure Philly’s best pizza. (Osteria on North Broad Street, if you’re wondering.) As someone who works from home or remote locations regularly, it wasn’t really a problem to be nearby the Apple Store all day. But that might be harder for people who have to report to offices.Plus, when his shift ended at 6 p.m., he found another Genius to check in on me while we waited for my syncing to finish so they’d be sure my problem was entirely fixed before I left the store.In the end, yes, it took a while, and iCloud has some serious issues to work out. But I left with a new phone, only $160 and some change poorer. And, perhaps more importantly, a lot of customer goodwill — an asset that even the most valuable company in the world can’t put a price on.

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::::Are you ready for iTV-Commerce?::::

<img src="http://www.techgig.com/files/photo_1337278646_temp.jpg" border="0" alt="Image" width="300" height="200" align="left" />One in four people will regularly use interactive TV - something we're dubbing iTV-Commerce - to shop by the end of 2014, generating direct sales worth nearly £750m.The rise of the Internet connected TV will make it the most influential of five emerging new technologies identified in an eBay-commissioned study carried out by retail experts Conlumino.Conlumino has identified five new technologies that it expects could boost the retail industry by £2.4bn by 2014. The technologies; interactive TV, augmented reality, in-store technologies, image recognition and smart devices have been nicknamed "third-wave technologies" and are also anticipated to indirectly influence £9.1bn in retail sales in the same period."We are entering a period of transformation in the retail sector," said Angus McCarey, UK retail director for eBay. "Consumers are driving this as they demand more choice, more interactivity, specialist knowledge and price transparency.""Third-wave technologies are about meeting those demands and presenting information back to consumers in ways that haven't been possible before: using virtual reality to try clothes on, or watching your favourite show on TV and buying the box set at the same time.Of the five technologies Interactive TV will have the most influence, and by the end of 2014 one in four (25%) people will regularly use interactive television to shop generating nearly £750m worth of direct sales by the end of 2014.The other technologies that will come to the fore over the next two years in order of influence are:Augmented Reality — enables consumers to bring the real and virtual worlds together by overlaying digital information onto real products, spaces and places. This will range from allowing shoppers to view 3D projections of products that aren't physically present or allowing them to virtually try on clothes.In-store technologies — this cluster of technologies will enrich the consumer experience and improve store efficiency. Innovations such as iPads replacing tills and electronic shelf labelling will boost productivity.Image recognition — allows devices to identify consumers or objects based on their attributes. Consumers could perform visual searches for products they point their devices at, and more significantly micro QR codes could replace barcodes and help retailers bridge the gap between tracking on and offline behaviour.Smart devices — everyday appliances become intelligent and empowered, for example a fridge making recommendations on what food to order. Retailers could develop greater personalisation and gather deeper insight into their customers.

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::::Google to launch Android 5.0 Jelly Bean with multiple lead devices?::::

<div class="custm_img_blk"><img src="http://www.techgig.com/files/photo_1337278069_temp.jpg" border="0" align="left" /></div>Google is reportedly working on a new strategy for its forthcoming mobile operating system, Android 5.0 Jelly Bean. According to a Wall Street Journal report, the Internet giant is going to give mobile device manufacturers an early access to the new mobile operating system in an attempt to come up with a more robust ecosystem and to take on arch-rival Apple.The WSJ report, citing unnamed sources, says the new strategy could be launching the new operating system with multiple devices, doing away with current practice of working with single manufacturer on a "lead device" based on a new Android release. The report says Google may collaborate with up to five device-makers to produce "Nexus” lead devices, which could be either smartphones, tablets or both.Google has changed its strategy for Android operating system quite often, it's learnt. Back in 2010, Google came up with its self-branded Android-based smartphone, Nexus One; but soon the venture was shut down.Earlier this year, reports said Google was once again looking to launch co-branded Android devices manufactured by third party device makers through its online store. Another round of reports said Google would come up with own Android tablets this year via Motorola Mobility, the consumer arm of Motorola that Google acquired for $12.5 billion in 2011 and sell them through its online store.

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::::5 apps to help you save money::::

<div class="custm_img_blk"><img src="http://www.techgig.com/files/photo_1337277911_temp.jpg" border="0" align="left" /></div> Your smartphone occupies a considerable space in your life today. From the moment you wake up to the minute you go to sleep, your smartphone is your one stop shop for all your needs like email, news, navigation and of course, making the occasional call and sending a text message.Social networking, reading news, uploading pictures or just managing your routine affairs, you smartphone is not only consuming your time and battery, but your money as well.So here are 5 apps that will help you save money while taking care of routine work on your smartphone. Skype:<img src="http://www.thinkdigit.com/FCKeditor/uploads/skype.jpg" border="0" width="522" height="255" />Making calls costs money, making video calls, even more. If you are someone who needs to talk over the phone a lot, then Skype on your smartphone is one of the best options to reduce call cost. The app works over Wi-Fi as well as 3G networks. So what’s unique? Well, users can make free Skype-to-Skype video calls, and call phones at Skype rates on the move. Users can also make free voice and video calls to anyone else on Skype, whether they’re on an Android, iPhone, Mac or PC, as well as IMs to your friends and family. WhatsApp Messenger<img src="http://www.thinkdigit.com/FCKeditor/uploads/whatsapp.jpg" border="0" width="522" height="255" />If you are an SMS junkie, then there is no reason for you not to look at this app. WhatsApp Messenger is a smartphone messenger available for all operating systems including Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, Windows Phone and Nokia phones. WhatsApp uses 3G connectivity or WiFi (when available) to message friends and family. The app lets you send and receive messages, pictures, audio notes, and video messages. The app is free for the first year that you download it but after that you need to pay $0.99 (Rs. 53) per annum. The app however is not free for iOS users. 3G Data Monitoring<img src="http://www.thinkdigit.com/FCKeditor/uploads/3g%20monitor.jpg" border="0" width="522" height="255" />If you are someone who needs to be connected to the Internet all the time on the go, then you need an app that will monitor you 3G data consumption. We have seen instances where people have gotten hefty bills for their data usage. Not a pretty site! Hence, we present to you data monitoring apps. These apps monitor your data consumptions and warn you when you are about reach or cross your limit. You can also restrict the use of data on your device with these apps. There are many apps in this field but we are going to recommend one app per platform for you to check out!Tax Calculator<img src="http://www.thinkdigit.com/FCKeditor/uploads/tax%20saving%20app.jpg" border="0" width="522" height="255" />There are two things certain in life – death and taxes, the former may be unavoidable but we can certainly monitor the amount of tax we pay and do our best to reduce the amount of money that flows from our hands to the government. One disadvantage is that a lot of people are unclear about the taxable amount and the calculation methods. Luckily, there is an app for that. The taxation apps help users determine their tax liability and well, once you know how much tax you are going to pay, you may as well find a nice CA to save you! Account tracker<img src="http://www.thinkdigit.com/FCKeditor/uploads/account%20tracker.jpg" border="0" width="522" height="255" />You check the cash balance in your bank account and all you can think is, “Where did all my money go?” Well if you are a spendthrift or just want to monitor your spending’s, there is an app for that. These apps help you keep track of you expenditures and earnings and manage your money more effectively.  

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::::Samsung launches smart TV at Rs 37,700 in India::::

<div class="custm_img_blk"><img src="http://www.techgig.com/files/photo_1337277187_temp.jpg" border="0" align="left" /></div>South Korean consumer electronics major Samsung is bullish on the flat panel TVbusiness in India, and is eyeing a 35 per cent market share in the segment that is expected to touch 50 lakh units in the current year. The company which is present in India through its wholly- owned subsidiary, Samsung India Electronics, has a market share of around 30 per cent of the 38 lakh units of flat panel televisions in the country. "We have over 30 per cent share in the business, which is more than the industry growth, and this year it should increase by five percentage points to 35 per cent," Samsung India Audio Video Business Vice-President Raj Kumar Rishi told reporters here. The firm is also betting big on the LED TVs and expects to garner a market share of close to 40 per cent this year from 34 per cent in 2011. "Consumers are showing a strong adoption of LED TVs. It has better technology, lower energy consumption and the better picture performance. We will also launch new products in LED and drive the transition from LCD to LED," Rishi said. "Samsung's contribution to LED TVs is expected to grow to 70 per cent this year compared to 25 per cent sale of flat TVs in 2011," he added. The company today launched its interactive smart TV priced at Rs 37,700 to Rs 2,73,000. With the new launch, the company is targeting a market share of 65 per cent in this category. Samsung also plans to sell 1.5 lakh units of smart TV units as their market is projected to reach 2.5 lakh units in 2012 as compared to over 1.1 lakh units in 2011.

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::::Mahindra Satyam posts Rs 534.21 cr profit for Q4::::

<div class="custm_img_blk"><img src="http://www.techgig.com/files/photo_1337276889_temp.jpg" border="0" align="left" /></div> IT firm Mahindra Satyam on Thursday reported a net profit of Rs 534.21 crore for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2012.  The city-based company had posted a net loss of Rs 327 crore in the January-March period of 2011.  The company's income from operations during the quarter stood at Rs 1,666 crore as compared to Rs 1,375 crore for the same period last fiscal.  For the full year ended March 31, 2012, Mahindra Satyam has registered a net profit of Rs 1,306 crore as against a loss of Rs 1,472 crore in 2010-11.  The company's total headcount as on March 31, stood at 33,353, making a net addition of 4,087 year-on year.  The attrition level improved to 15 per cent in the January-March quarter, 2012 as compared to 22 per cent in the corresponding period last fiscal.  "We continued to make steady progress in our transformation journey. Our results in the past three years and the current quarter are a vindication of our growth strategy and fighting spirit of the team Mahindra Satyam despite uncertainties in the global market," Mahindra Satyam Chairman Vineet Nayyar said.  "Our team has proved its mettle to sustain volume growth, improve margin , key client addition and creation of innovative platform...," he added.

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::::Silicon Valley 2.0 is here!::::

<img src="http://www.techgig.com/files/photo_1337276744_temp.jpg" border="0" alt="Image" align="left" /> The Big Apple may not have California's weather, but tech fans at New YorkInternet Week say that in every other way the city is on course to become Silicon Valley 2.0.  The sense of an east coast rising raged in Manhattan this week, where some 45,000 people are expected to attend the festival through next Monday.  As David Karp, the 25-year-old, New York-raised founder of internet phenomenon Tumblr, said Wednesday: "I couldn't imagine doing this anywhere else."  New York already has 25,000 tech jobs and prides itself as the new hot spot for start-ups, whether Tumblr or Etsy, Foursquare, Gilt, OMGPOP, Boxee or Codecademy -- a sector that attracted almost $500 million in venture capital last year.  "New York City is the place to be if you're growing a tech start-up," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said on Tuesday.  The mayor, the multi-billion dollar founder of the high-tech Bloomberg media and data company, unveiled a website MappedinNY.com to show the location of city tech companies and those with job openings.  "Our tech companies are looking for talent and we want to make sure that everyone -- no matter where they live today -- knows about these jobs and is able to apply for them," he said.  And with the announcement last December of plans to build a brand new science research college with Cornell University and Technion-Israel Institute of Technology on an island in Manhattan's East River, the city is backing up the big talk with big projects.  Tumblr's Karp says the advantage of New York over northern California is twofold.  First, when it comes to recruiting ambitious, hard-living young staff, New York is cooler than Palo Alto, Karp said, prompting cheers from an audience gathered in a huge loft space in the trendy Manhattan neighborhood of SoHo.  "We can say, 'Hey, come over for a weekend,'" he explained. "We've had a fair bit of luck just bringing them to hang out here."  The business side to the equation is just as important. With web presence becoming ever more integrated in other industries, it does no harm to run your tech product just down the block from eventual clients. That's certainly true for Tumblr, which has forged close links with media giants like the New York Times and with the fashion industry, which, like publishing, has a major presence in the city.  Yes, the west coast is the unrivalled stronghold for geeks, but New York has variety and that "keeps us closer" to the public, said Karp, wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt, sneakers and jeans. "Being in a city that's at the heart of the creative world is wonderful."  Another New York start-up, Buddy Media, has gone from its husband and wife founders to a staff of 300 today with a headquarters in SoHo.  Focused on software to build social networks for another Big Apple mainstay -- the advertising and PR industry -- Buddy Media is thriving in New York.  "All our partners like Facebook and Twitter are here, they all have offices here. Our clients are here in New York, our investors are here," said Alexandra Rolnik, a spokeswoman for the company told AFP at Internet Week.  Although Buddy Media has now expanded to Singapore, London and San Francisco, "New York has everything you really need to grow a business. We have a great client base," she said. "We don't really need to be anywhere else."

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