Ashok Srivastava

Stories By Ashok Srivastava

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  Streaming

  Streaming By Ashok Srivastava

  Netflix and the Future of Digital Content Services

  We all know that traditional viewership has declined massively as individuals have resorted to several video streaming services for satiating their hunger for entertainment. The likes of Instant Video from Amazon, Hulu and Netflix have been adding onto the number of subscribers as movie theaters continue to feel the burn of empty seats. The question, however, is whether these digital content resources have reached their saturation point or do they have more to offer, in terms of innovation and original programming. One needs to accept that these individual players like Netflix are altering the basics of the entertainment industry but the extent needs to be gauged for the traditional networks to stay in the hunt and continue their services. Then again, an untapped growth of these streaming services will mean extinction of the mainstream television viewership. Netflix and the House of Cards House of Cards did reveal a different side of Netflix and turned the entertainment industry, right on its head. As much as it disrupted the traditional industry, Netflix catered directly to the users, via the House of Cards. This is what enhanced its reputation as a perfectly marketed video streaming organization. The Fate of Other Conventional Media Giants The idea is regarding the content bubble where things are created and catered cohesively. Netflix and other tech giants with similar goals have created their respective bubbles owing to the technological advances. Traditional cable services can only prosper if they can create a bubble of their own and offer services within the radar. If this isn't feasible, the best idea would be to coexist with the likes of Hulu and Netflix— with a smaller portion of uptick. The reason why services from Google, Amazon and Netflix have been popular is that all of them have their own data sets which are exclusive to their own services. They sell what they create or host. Tailored Content or Binge Watching This is what determines the future of entertainment in days to come. Firstly, both are equally important as customers have a diverse taste when it comes to consuming content. While Binge watching is more of the option that is available, curated or tailored content is something that is based on the habits of the customer. The likes of Netflix offer both these options and therefore have been able to surpass the traditional operators. Apart from that, many online resources like showbox for pc have also been targeting the concepts of tailored content— displaying options based on the search history. Future of Entertainment Industry As we are moving away from hour long movies owing to the reduced attention span, Netflix and Hulu are gaining popularity with each passing day. However, gauging the nature of consumer behavior and technological advances— we can determine that this market is far from being saturated. There will be an influx of smaller players into the market and the costing is also expected to reduce upon encountering competition. Apart from these ideologies we are also looking at internal consolidations within organizations— leading towards a host of individual platforms. Lastly, technology has an important role to play as better antennas, receivers and other advancements will be instrumental in enhancing the range of these video streaming service providers— including Netflix.

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  Wearables

  Wearables By Ashok Srivastava

  Are Fitness Trackers Capable Enough to Gauge Indoor Cycling Regimes?

  Indoor cycling in no less a workout as it burns as much calories as any challenging physical activity. Moreover, these indoor bikes offer varied options to choose from, in terms of steepness, cycling speeds and several other metrics. In simpler words, indoor cycling is the stepping stone towards HIIT or 'High Intensity Interval Training' albeit a less convoluted setup. Fitness tracking has evolved over the last few years with companies bringing out different breeds of smartwatches. Amidst these pricey devices, simple fitness trackers can still hold their own as they are actually perfect when it comes to measuring indoor training activities. While a smartwatch serves several purposes, a fitness tracker is a targeted device— destined to do a particular job. When it comes to spinning or cycling indoors, fitness tracking devices are actually the best options in hand— owing to the portability and feathery aesthetics. Moreover, these trackers are highly targeted towards achieving definite goals and are way cheaper as compared to the smartwatches. Therefore, most fitness trackers are capable enough towards measuring calories, heart rate and several other vitals when it comes to spinning. In this post we will be addressing some of the key areas covered by these fitness trackers— helpful towards zeroing in on the perfect gadget. We will also be suggesting the best ones for the job, based on each criterion: Compatibility This has to be the first criterion while selecting a fitness tracker. Most of us prefer trackers which can be strapped on to areas other than the wrist as riding spin bikes can actually involve a lot of handwork. This is where the likes of 'Misfit Flash Cycle' Edition and 'Wahoo Tickr X' comes in handy. While the former boasts of a cadence sensor and a clip holder, the latter straps onto the chest for a more cohesive hold. Tracking Here is why we purchase fitness trackers and for better coverage the best one should flaunt the latest set of sensors. When it comes to a slew of options, Fitbit Blaze is the way to go. Apart from offering GPS for outdoor activities, this tracker comes with 'Optical Heart Rate Technology' for a near perfect evaluation. The calorie burn is calculated precisely but for specialist insights we would suggest 'Moov Now' as it comes with a pretty evolved hardware, sans a dedicated heart rate monitor. However, if you are searching for a Smartwatch like gadget for satiating the aesthetic digger inside, Garmin Fenix 3 might be good option. This gadget comes enabled with ANT+ and boasts of a dedicated spinning mode. We also get a heart rate sensor, footpods, power meter and lot more for a fat price point. Price Now when you have already spent a fortune on the indoor bike, looking for a less-expensive tracker should be prioritized without compromising on the performance. If you already have a pretty powerful smartphone, most metrics can be determined using a simple app i.e. Motive.cc as it pairs well with ANT+ compatible devices, power meters and everything that is even remotely associated with fitness tracking. If you are seriously into wearables, 'Misfit Flash Cycle' Edition is a pretty good bet. While it offers bike support, one can even use it for tracking sleep. The flash link is one of its major USPs, allowing the rider to strap the same onto the shoes. Moreover, this gadget is also compatible with iBiker, Wahoo and almost every cycling app. Do let us know if you have any other metrics to share. Also suggest some other fitness trackers which you found useful— in the comments section.

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  News

  News By Ashok Srivastava

  s Technology Impacting Globetrotting and Travel Sentiments?

  "I wish to be a free bird" was once quoted by an avid traveler who took to seas for satiating his wanderlust. Things have changed since as technology has seemingly overpowered our love for globetrotting. Ironically, it was technological advances which made travelling popular, in the first place. In this post we will be enlisting the factors that have impacted our love for travelling courtesy the intrusion of technology: The Emergence Travel technology is one of the better terms to explain the emergence of internet and its effects on globetrotting. Be it the interfaces or live feeds, travelling far and wide was and still is easier than we can even imagine. Next in line was the introduction of ecommerce transactions which made travel brochures easier to get hold of. Lastly, it was technology that bred social networking— making us believe that planet earth is a beautiful place to travel around. Be it the emergence of Uber, Airbnb and even Tesla— it is the willingness to move that has paved way for these innovations. However, I wouldn't be taking sides when it comes to travel technology. Things have improved massively even though the surprise element is missing. There was a time when we could travel anywhere without even expecting how things would turn up. But now, with Google Maps and even Google Street View, we can pinpoint the remotest of shops at our destination. While this makes things easier to manage, complications can sometimes make way for powerful memories. Finally, it all comes down to the visual penetration which has been enhanced by the emergence of streaming applications. Most prospective travelers can interact over live streaming platforms like Periscope which actually shrinks the world for them. Nowadays, gadget launches can be readily covered over Facebook Live and other similar platforms, making travelling an elusive trait. Apart from that, there are streaming applications like showbox which offer movies and other TV shows— helping us know the countries and continents better. This way entertainment has played a big role in minimizing the ecstasies of globetrotting. Virtual Reality?? This concept sounds familiar and has been at the forefront of travel technology. While people are usually implementing the same in the entertainment industry, wanderlust is something which can be mildly satiating on making the best use of VR. Be it the sunbathed Andes or the gleaming Nile, everything can actually be experience without even going out in open. While this has killed the emotional connect, VR happens to be a great option for the disabled. VR headsets can offer panoramic viewing experiences by capturing 360-degrees, in terms of field of view. One such example has to be 'Try before you Fly' approach from Thomas Cook. Many parks and famous travel destinations are also opting for virtual reality for keeping tourists engrossed. Knowing VR Platforms Better It is appropriate to know Google Daydream and Cardboard better as these VR platforms have been influential when it comes to changing the travel sentiments. While these renditions will soon be available for general use, the likes of Oculus have already created ripples, online. With technology interconnecting the world in a far more cohesive manner, the responsibility lies in the hands of scientists to offer better VR techniques for the travelers and prospective tourists. Future Prospects With technology growing the way it is, nothing seems impossible to achieve. While we are already looking at skype and other video calling services to minimize workplace distances, the future holds several aces for multi-locations meetings— conducted in real-time. Apart from that, we are still waiting for augmented reality to grow bigger as it promises way more than the virtual reality. Bottom line Travelling seems a lot easier and far less adventurous with technology into the scheme of things. However, the lack of globetrotting excitement can be compensated by the scientific milestones in store for the prospective tourists. Do let me know if there are more faces to travel technology which I might have skipped, via the comments section.

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  Apps

  Apps By Ashok Srivastava

  5 Apps that Justify Rooting an Android Device

  Reading this post means you have already taken the pain to root your Android device. Now it's time to justify this effort by getting hold of a few applications that will certainly test the unshackled power of your handset. While most of these will amplify the overall performance of your smartphone, some will readily open new opportunities for the enthusiasts. Before starting off with the list, I would like to mention that rooting actually voids the warranty of the gadget as per the company policies. However, we do get hold of endless possibilities once the rooting process concludes. Lastly, one must be very careful while rooting the device and must abide by the android root guide for keeping the smartphone healthy and unbricked. Here are the applications which actually fit in: Flashify Once the device is rooted, it is always tempting to flash it with a custom ROM. Even if you aren't looking to throw in a custom UI, tweaking with the filesystem is always on the priority list. However, manual flashlight calls for expertise and anything erroneous might have consequences. This is where Flashify comes to rescue as it can handle literally everything that concerns flashing— including boot.img and recovery.img. Lastly, it can also unzip custom ROMs and flash the same— automatically. Greenify High-end smartphones have applications that usually eat into the battery, making it drain faster than usual. Moreover, rooting a smartphone can further accentuate the drainage but we are also given the power to minimize clock speeds and core performances for saving battery. Greenify, is a pretty functional app which is quite good on an unrooted smartphone but works best when the device is rooted. We can easily access the hibernation feature while killing most resource-intensive applications. Background apps are automatically killed and the drainage is stopped. SuperSU Better termed as an assistant app, this can certainly beef up the power of your handset. This application helps a rooted device make system level changes. However, this is often pegged as a companion application which is too small a name for this. Most users who have already rooted their handsets might be knowing what SuperSU permissions look like. Having these permissions can readily unlock a world of possibilities for the user. One must note that most rootable kernels have made it imperative to install SuperSU, beforehand. Titanium Backup Opt for the root version of this application which can help achieve a slew of feats concerning the smartphone. This is one mobile app development marvel that offers myriad backup options, depending upon necessities and preferences. Apart from that Titanium Backup also helps install the stable ROM if something goes wrong with the process. Lastly, it also offers you the ability to freeze apps on demand. DiskDigger Backups are good but retrieving deleted data is something that makes more sense. This is where DiskDigger comes in as one efficient option for the users. With this app on-board there will be nothing like permanent deletion of files, photos or data. Nothing goes out of the radar and things can be recovered instantaneously. Here are my picks when it comes to the rooted handsets. Do let me know if you have come across some more apps which are as useful as these.

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  News

  News By Ashok Srivastava

  Is Business Intelligence the Latest Buzzword for Technology?

  Technology is often presented raw, especially when businesses are concerned. Be it an isolated polymer or a large setup with high-end gadgets, technology is meaningless unless it is put to test. This is where Business Intelligence comes to the fore. BI is considered as an efficient conglomerate of techniques— aiding in seamless acquisition of raw data and transformation across usable channels. For starters, Business Intelligence is synonymous to Data Surfacing, to the truest of sense. Dawn of Business Intelligence To be precise, we can term this approach as BI technology which is capable of handling truckloads of data. There was a time when BI technology was pretty expensive and only blue-chip firms could afford the same. However, the things have changed with a slew of Business Intelligence tools at our disposal. The new breed of Business Intelligence comprises of multidimensional allocation, denormalization, real-time reporting, probabilistic simulation, open item management, version control and many more metrics. These entities have been incorporated over the past decade, owing to the growth of Smart Data which will be covered in a separate post. Business Intelligence harnesses the power of Smart Data in the user specific market— precisely the entrepreneurial charades. Therefore, it won't be surprising if the BI tools can make the business ROI shoot up the zenith. Aspects of Business Intelligence: Tools and Tips BI Tools are extremely specific and targeted. Besides delivering key business insights, these tools can help execute technological strategies as well. For a business to be successful, proper set of tools need to be offered. The trick here is to achieve the perfect balance between automated business and imperfect human processing. When it comes to Business Intelligence, companies generally reply upon the following tools for success: Spreadsheets Querying Software Digital Dashboards Data Warehousing Data Mining Local Systems offering Information OLAP or Online Analytical Processing Process Visualization Not necessarily in the same order, these tools can offer a lot of leverage to the modern day technologies. One such example would be Google's new 'Intelligent Search'— targeting the entrepreneurs. The concept of Springboard is certainly a new approach from Google which has been perpetuating machine learning in the best possible manner. This platform makes use of several BI Tools which will be discussed in the next section. Business Intelligence Tools for a Cohesive Machine Learning Experience Similar to Google, Apple and other companies have also adopted an approach cohesive to machine learning. However, taking over companies like Turi won't be of much benefit unless the Business Intelligence is sorted out. Here are some of the aspects that need to be checked in before strategizing the complete idea of an AI-powered platform: Smart Data or Contextual Discovery Every AI based platform needs to get past the older data models and this is where contextual discovery can help. This tool specifically segregates the areas to look into and keeps out the ones to be ignored. In simpler terms, this section focuses completely on the relevance. Advanced Analytics This tool deals with the most comprehensive issue of businesses i.e. accessibility. For a venture to be successful, it needs to cater to a wider audience. This is where advance analytics can help. Most machine learning software renditions offer visually intriguing data sets followed by dynamic infographics. Advanced tools and analytics are capable of handling and presenting them in a unified manner. The next iteration to this would be Embedded Analytics, deemed as the future of BI technology. In-Memory Business Intelligence Data isn't only about storing and relieving but needs to be loaded and offloaded on demand. In-memory computing is therefore an important aspect of AI empowered structures as they offer advanced levels of internal architecture albeit a lighter footprint. In-Memory BI is responsible for the likes of Siri and Cortana responding quickly to our queries. Collaborative BI This section brings forth the social connect and is the reason behind the interactive power of machine learning. Apart from codes, collaborative BI is an integral part of any functional technology— precisely machine learning. This involves the aspect of decision making which can be used by the companies— according to the user demands. Bottom Line Business Intelligence should not be confused with data science. While the former targets the core competencies of a business specific technology, the latter can be leveraged only for real-time benefits. In the future, more and more companies need to leverage BI technologies in order to get the most out of their scientific goals. Then again, the process resembles symbiosis and even the BI technologies are benefited by the latest technologies including mobile, ecommerce, IoT and Cloud Computing. More on these aspects in the next article.

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  Computing

  Computing By Ashok Srivastava

  Is Windows 10 too aggressive in suggesting updates?

  Windows 10 Failed to Impress; even with the Anniversary Update Personally, Windows 10 has never been my favorite operating platform. However, I did give it a try after Microsoft's persuasive attempts at rolling out the same to the PC users. While I would be sharing my experiences later in the post, right now I will be expressing my feelings about the invasive approach from Microsoft. The notifications came in every possible format. While some suggested me to upgrade like others, some pop-ups guaranteed better firewalls and anti-phishing options. Just before the official termination of free rollout, I was bombarded with intimations— urging me to upgrade till the offer lasts. Although I was irritated, the 'Curiosity Gap' fooled me into installing the massive update. According to me, Microsoft pushed the envelope a bit too much in its quest to achieve the target of one billion devices by the conclusion of 2018. This was the reason Windows 10 was suggested too aggressively to the users, even when it hardly made sense on basic PCs without touch support. Microsoft's user adoption strategy did trample on the pertinent aspects of computing i.e. privacy and user-choice. There are many stories regarding people's year-long ordeal through these updates and one of them definitely involves me. Microsoft tried every possible trick to improve the Windows 10 user base but the approach disregarded many errands— on its way to conclusion. Violating User-Choice Microsoft's approach of installing system tray application was downright malicious. While the app could be removed, the company found its way around this loophole— bundling the same with varied security patches. I was personally thwarted when the Windows Update System was compromised and later Windows 10 was pushed as a recommendation— compelling users to install a brand new operating system with minimal knowledge. Finally, all hell broke loose when the same was offered along with the internet explorer, via the security patch. I actually evaded these but fell for the action designed for May, 2016. The dialog box was changed, in terms of behavior. Apparently, on being prompted for the update, a declination using 'X' was presumed to be a consent by Microsoft. I ended up downloading the same and had to install as I didn't know a lot about the nature of the new OS and also didn't want to waste the already compromised bandwidth. My Experience To be clear, I upgraded in May 2016 and downgraded to Windows 8.1 after a month's usage. I faced connectivity issues and many features won't work on my machine— a mid-range HP Pavilion model. Many features actually didn't work as expected. Frankly speaking, unless you own a Surface Pro or one of the Surface Books, there isn't a lot Windows 10 can offer as compared to its predecessors. This is simply on stylus-heavy OS. Ironically, these machines will automatically come with Windows 10 preinstalled— saving a lot of bandwidth and data. Cortana wasn't the most interactive personal assistant on the planet. Apart from a random joke and the usual weather update, things looked far more convoluted for my liking. I hear that Cortana has been improved with the Anniversary Update but I am too scared to try and fail again. The most infuriating aspect was how the 'Universal Windows Apps' behaved. It isn't a secret that Windows store is facing a shortage of good or rather great applications. Companies like PayPal, Amazon and Tumblr have already pulled out of Windows and are seen concentrating more on the likes of Apple and Google for making money. Streaming applications like Cinema box or Playbox and photo editing options like Picasa are best downloaded as EXEs and installed over the PC. Lately, the Windows app store has been infested with music and games which isn't the best option on-board. While most versions of Windows are affected by this problem, nobody wants to get the flagship operating system and go on facing issues. I faced issues with OneDrive as things were pretty sorted with file placeholders on Windows 8.1. Changing to Windows 10 meant that OneDrive could only be accessed properly by venturing into the website. That meant poor sync over the machine and a hell lot of work. Apart from adverts, I wasn't actually pleased by the Stat Menu. Moreover, I couldn't stop the updates even when I was on a metered connection. I had to change my settings and Windows would spare me of the freebies but the important ones still poured in. Back to Square One Things didn't work well with Windows 10 and I was forced to switch back to Windows 8.1. However, all wasn't bad with Windows 10 as I actually liked the task manager and the way it stacked up the list of updates, threats and everything that's important. The transition between Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 was actually good as I could get rid of the tiles. Then again, Windows 10 kind of killed my Wi-Fi and I had a lot of trouble accessing my web. Bottom Line It seems things haven't changed drastically as Microsoft did confess that a few devices froze on being supplied with the Windows 10 Anniversary Update. For individuals with minor PC needs, the free rollout has lived out its expectancy period. However, people using assistive technologies including cognitive issues, disabilities and impairments still qualify for the free upgrade. If given a chance I would like to stay away from Windows 10 for the moment, unless Microsoft offers a more cohesive operating system with things properly stacked in place. Even if the company fixes everything with Windows 10, I might still persist with Windows 8.1 or even a downgraded Windows 7. The reason being— Once Bitten, Twice Shy

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  News

  News By Ashok Srivastava

  What is Clickbait and How to Steer Clear?

  Clickbait is an extremely relative term. If internet is to be believed, Clickbait isn't actually good as it generally signifies provocative content or something that holds back a substantial amount of information. For me Clickbait isn't all bad. It is a necessary evil that needs to be incorporated at times. To be precise, it is more of a pejorative term, targeted towards online revenue generation. In simpler words, Clickbait brings forth sensational headlines, sensual thumbnails and breeds on the curiosity gap of the readers. It holds back a lot and still offers enough to pique interests. Lately, I have come across several YouTubers who have been opting for clickbait-y titles for generating views. While this isn't actually wrong, I am certainly against misleading titles and falsified bits of information doing rounds of the internet. Definition If the rules of yellow journalism are revisited, Clickbait is a twisted derivative of the same. If the conventional resources are accounted for, this approach hardly offers legitimate news pieces and thrives on eye-catching titles. While exaggerations are undesirable, sensationalizing something isn't all bad if it abides by the guidelines and morality of ethical journalism. Some marketers prefer leveraging Clickbaits for better Click-throughs but recently Facebook has taken a big stride towards eliminating them— almost completely. Facebook attracted mix opinions on its latest stand as many think banning Clickbaits will only reduce the curiosity quotient associated with the posts. The headlines like "You will never believe......" and "One weird trick" are easily distinguishable but there are some posts which generally live up to the hype and offer all that is teased (mostly listicles)— even more. Adam Mosseri, Vice President Product Management, Facebook said, "We want publishers to post content that people care about and we think people care about headlines that are much more straightforward." However, there have been mixed reactions on what Mosseri said to the New York Times. More often than not, straightforward topics sound boring and a bit of Clickbait comes in handy. However, it is hard to draw the lines based on an algorithmic change as the set of codes can hardly distinguish between black-hat and reasonable Clickbaits. Avoiding Clickbait It depends upon the nature of your business. If you are marketer who is trying to go sane and avoid Clickbait— opt for keyword specific titles. This is the first tip to avoid being called a Clickbait-er. Refrain from hooking readers with an ambitious listicle. Lastly, opt for shorter titles and reasonable levels of sensationalism— which can be justified by the concerned post. However, for readers looking to avoid Clickbait— things aren't as straightforward as they seem. Not clicking on links and titles isn't a long term solution for combating Clickbaits. The trick is to stay away from articles and sumptuous links that look too tempting. Marketers often get a hold of your search habits and send out related links which need to be avoided. Do follow 'Betteridge's Law' of headlines for sensational headlines. It states that any title that ends with a question mark can be automatically answered with a 'No'. Upon encountering such headlines, there isn't any need to click further as more often than not— it will be a Clickbait. Next step would be to evaluate the GIFs before clicking on the same. A cute rabbit might be too gullible to click on but it can actually be a lab rat of sorts. It would be advisable not to fall for topics which are relatable to the real-life. Clever writers draft titles like "Don't Like this Page" which actually propel our levels of curiosity and we end up doing what isn't right. Finally, the trick is to stay ahead of the reverse psychology thrown at you. Steer clear of titles like "Fight between a wrestler and a 17-year old: See who wins". Headlines like these often offer the exact opposite of what is being expected and it is advisable to stay away from such links. Clickbait on Engadget This isn't out of hatred but I did come across an article which seems to have delved into the territory of Clickbaits. 6 iPhone Hacks You Didn't Know About is a pretty good article with a great heading. Being an iPhone user, I was tempted to click on the same. However, the enumerated points are something which any regular iPhone user would know about. This is the reason I consider the title to be slightly sensationalized and treading on edges of Clickbait. Proposed Changes The article on the whole is pretty good and acceptable but I would like to propose a change in the title— in order to make it more believable. Something like "6 iPhone Hacks You Tend to Overlook" or '6 Common iPhone Hacks You Barely Notice". This will only require a minor tweak in the introductory paragraph and things will be back on track. Bottom Line Clickbait isn't that bad when the publisher is able to live up to the hype generated via headlines and titles. The only issue I have is with the information provided by the misleading Clickbait-ers who show off a lot more than what they can offer. With Facebook tying up the loose ends, it will be a refreshing change to see concise and clearer titles for the concerned posts. Do share your Clickbait experiences and we can discuss more!

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