Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched `Aatmanirbhar Bharat App Innovation Challenge` to facilitate the techies and start-up community to create world-class Made in India Apps.

The challenge is an endeavour of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Atal Innovation Mission. Taking to Twitter, Prime Minister said that there is immense enthusiasm among the tech and start-up community to create world class Made in India Apps.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/chinablockswion-readers-stand-in-solidarity-with-us-310490">Also read|&nbsp;#ChinaBlocksWION: Readers stand in solidarity with us</a>

"Today there is immense enthusiasm among the tech &amp; start-up community to create world class Made in India Apps. To facilitate their ideas and products @GoI_MeitY and @AIMtoInnovate are launching the Aatmanirbhar Bharat App Innovation Challenge," he tweeted.

In another tweet, Prime Minister Modi urged tech community to participate. "This challenge is for you if you have such a working product or if you feel you have the vision and expertise to create such products. I urge all my friends in the tech community to participate. Sharing my thoughts in my @LinkedIn post," he tweeted attaching LinkedIn post.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This challenge is for you if you have such a working product or if you feel you have the vision and expertise to create such products. I urge all my friends in the tech community to participate. 
 
Sharing my thoughts in my <a href="https://twitter.com/LinkedIn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LinkedIn</a> post. <a href="https://t.co/aO5cMYi4SH">https://t.co/aO5cMYi4SH</a>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1279353810897387520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2020</a></blockquote>
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In his LinkedIn post, PM Modi wrote, "Nowadays, we are seeing huge interest and enthusiasm among the start-up and tech ecosystem to innovate, develop and promote homegrown apps. Today, when the entire nation is working towards creating an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, it is a good opportunity to give direction to their efforts, momentum to their hard-work and mentorship to their talent to evolve Apps which can satisfy our market as well as compete with the world."

He wrote that this challenge will run in two tracks--Promotion of existing apps and development of new apps.

"Track-01 will work in mission mode for identifying good quality Apps for the leader-board and shall be completed in around a month. Track-02 initiative will work to help create new champions in India by providing support in ideation, incubation, prototyping and roll out along with market access," he wrote in the post.

The outcome of this challenge will be to give better visibility and clarity to existing Apps to achieve their goals, and to create tech products to find solutions to tech conundrums with the help of mentorship, tech support and guidance during the entire life-cycle, he wrote.

Prime Minister Modi in his post said that there is tremendous scope among these sectors for new Apps that solve specific issues for India and the world."Can we think of making traditional Indian games more popular via Apps? Can we develop Apps with targeted and smart access to the right age group for learning, gaming, etc? Can we develop gaming apps for people in rehabilitation or getting counselling to help them in their journey? There are many such questions and technology alone can give answers in a creative manner," said PM Modi.

Recently, the government has banned 59 mobile apps linked to China including Tik Tok, UC Browser, Helo, YouCam makeup and Mi Community in view of the information available that they are engaged in activities which are "prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity and defence" of the country.

Almost all the apps banned on Monday have some preferential Chinese interest and the majority have parent Chinese companies.The ban came amid border tensions with China in Eastern Ladakh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched `Aatmanirbhar Bharat App Innovation Challenge` to facilitate the techies and start-up community to create world-class Made in India Apps.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched `Aatmanirbhar Bharat App Innovation Challenge` to facilitate the techies and start-up community to create world-class Made in India Apps. The challenge is an endeavour of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Atal Innovation Mission. Taking to Twitter, Prime Minister said that there is immense enthusiasm among the tech and start-up community to create world class Made in India Apps. Also read| #ChinaBlocksWION: Readers stand in solidarity with us "Today there is immense enthusiasm among the tech & start-up community to create world class Made in India Apps. To facilitate their ideas and products @GoI_MeitY and @AIMtoInnovate are launching the Aatmanirbhar Bharat App Innovation Challenge," he tweeted. In another tweet, Prime Minister Modi urged tech community to participate. "This challenge is for you if you have such a working product or if you feel you have the vision and expertise to create such products. I urge all my friends in the tech community to participate. Sharing my thoughts in my @LinkedIn post," he tweeted attaching LinkedIn post. This challenge is for you if you have such a working product or if you feel you have the vision and expertise to create such products. I urge all my friends in the tech community to participate. Sharing my thoughts in my @LinkedIn post. https://t.co/aO5cMYi4SH — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 4, 2020 × In his LinkedIn post, PM Modi wrote, "Nowadays, we are seeing huge interest and enthusiasm among the start-up and tech ecosystem to innovate, develop and promote homegrown apps. Today, when the entire nation is working towards creating an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, it is a good opportunity to give direction to their efforts, momentum to their hard-work and mentorship to their talent to evolve Apps which can satisfy our market as well as compete with the world." He wrote that this challenge will run in two tracks--Promotion of existing apps and development of new apps. "Track-01 will work in mission mode for identifying good quality Apps for the leader-board and shall be completed in around a month. Track-02 initiative will work to help create new champions in India by providing support in ideation, incubation, prototyping and roll out along with market access," he wrote in the post. The outcome of this challenge will be to give better visibility and clarity to existing Apps to achieve their goals, and to create tech products to find solutions to tech conundrums with the help of mentorship, tech support and guidance during the entire life-cycle, he wrote. Prime Minister Modi in his post said that there is tremendous scope among these sectors for new Apps that solve specific issues for India and the world."Can we think of making traditional Indian games more popular via Apps? Can we develop Apps with targeted and smart access to the right age group for learning, gaming, etc? Can we develop gaming apps for people in rehabilitation or getting counselling to help them in their journey? There are many such questions and technology alone can give answers in a creative manner," said PM Modi. Recently, the government has banned 59 mobile apps linked to China including Tik Tok, UC Browser, Helo, YouCam makeup and Mi Community in view of the information available that they are engaged in activities which are "prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity and defence" of the country. Almost all the apps banned on Monday have some preferential Chinese interest and the majority have parent Chinese companies.The ban came amid border tensions with China in Eastern Ladakh.

PM Modi launches 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat App Innovation Challenge' for techies, start-up community

Tech billionaires' different views on COVID-19 lockdown. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg praises the lockdown, meanwhile Tesla CEO Elon Musk sees 'facism' in lockdown.

Tech billionaires' different views on COVID-19 lockdown

Tech events cancelled across the world over coronavirus concerns

The annual trade show Mobile World Congress (MWC) was cancelled on February 12 after a mass exodus by exhibitors due to fears over the coronavirus outbreak. While Spanish health officials said that there was no reason to cancel the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona over coronavirus fears, despite major companies pulling out of the event.

Catalonia Health Minister: There is no public health reason to suspend any event

Imagine how wonderful it would be to have fresh air around you even when you are at your workstation. It’s now possible with a quirky desk device. Designed by an Indian company, the Xech Growstation appears to be interesting, but do we really need this? Let’s find out.

Xech Growstation: Hit or miss? | Tech It Out

If you are unsure about which app to use for editing your beautifully-captured moments, check out our list of top 3 video-editing apps and pick any of them.

Coming soon: Gadgets of 2020 | Tech It Out

The end of one year of technology means looking forward to the next and better one. The year 2020 has brought another year filled with amazing game-changing technology trends.

Here is the list of upcoming technologies that could change the game in 2020.

Foldable phones

We now have phones that come with foldable screens. Last year, a handful of companies teased us with their models. In 2020, the trend is expected to grow manifold. More companies are expected to design phones with screens that can fold. So new warriors such as Xiaomi and Oppo will march into the battleground with their foldable designs. And existing players will improve their products. If all goes as expected, 2020 could truly be the year of foldable phones. 
&nbsp; 
5G is coming to India! 
&nbsp; 
Next-gen 5G technology has been a talking point for years. But it was only in 2019, that the world finally witnessed the launch of 5G phones, that too only in a handful of countries. But in 2020, 5G will be the catalyst to a digital revolution in more countries, including India. Indian telecoms have been conducting 5G tests and are implementing 5G-ready equipment, so it's quite plausible that 5G will finally take off in the country this year. And we'll get to enjoy the benefits of even faster internet speeds! 
&nbsp; 
The rise of video streaming 
&nbsp; 
Over the last 12 months, there has been a significant rise in the consumption of media on video streaming platforms. Many people now avoid going to cinema halls and wait for the movies to stream on OTT platforms. Companies are creating content exclusively for video-on-demand services, which are popular within all age groups. And this trend will be seen in 2020, OTT services will continue to adversely impact the business of cinema. 
&nbsp; 
Voice assistants - What's next? 
&nbsp; 
Voice assistants have been around for a few years now. Every year, they get better and are packed with new functionalities. Today, services like Alexa and Google Assistant can do a lot of things, answer our queries and make suggestions based on our schedules. But as anyone who uses a voice assistant knows, there's a huge scope for improvement. In 2020, voice recognition software will improve, so it will get better at understanding different accents. Artificial intelligence technology behind voice applications will continue to be a focus area in the space of technology.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
&nbsp;Connected retail 
&nbsp; 
Tech companies are working on making our shopping experience better.&nbsp;We have seen connected shopping devices in India and other countries.&nbsp;Amazon has set up a checkout-free grocery store. Facial recognition is improving payment systems. But all of these services are yet to go mainstream.&nbsp;

Price of privacy

After a series of data leaks at facebook and hacking attempts on apps like WhatsApp in 2019, there are increasing fears about privacy. &nbsp;But at the same time, many of us are knowingly trading our privacy for convenience.&nbsp;

For instance, users are granting app permissions without even giving it a second thought.&nbsp;

Devices like smart speakers, that have been accused of eavesdropping, are still flying off the shelves. And how many of us have stopped using Facebook despite knowing that it's in the middle of multiple data privacy rows?

We do think that these tech giants will continue profiting from invading our privacy, so let's hope we see better consumer protection and privacy laws in 2020. 
&nbsp;

The end of one year of technology means looking forward to the next and better one. The year 2020 has brought another year filled with amazing game-changing technology trends.

The end of one year of technology means looking forward to the next and better one. The year 2020 has brought another year filled with amazing game-changing technology trends. Here is the list of upcoming technologies that could change the game in 2020. Foldable phones We now have phones that come with foldable screens. Last year, a handful of companies teased us with their models. In 2020, the trend is expected to grow manifold. More companies are expected to design phones with screens that can fold. So new warriors such as Xiaomi and Oppo will march into the battleground with their foldable designs. And existing players will improve their products. If all goes as expected, 2020 could truly be the year of foldable phones. 5G is coming to India! Next-gen 5G technology has been a talking point for years. But it was only in 2019, that the world finally witnessed the launch of 5G phones, that too only in a handful of countries. But in 2020, 5G will be the catalyst to a digital revolution in more countries, including India. Indian telecoms have been conducting 5G tests and are implementing 5G-ready equipment, so it's quite plausible that 5G will finally take off in the country this year. And we'll get to enjoy the benefits of even faster internet speeds! The rise of video streaming Over the last 12 months, there has been a significant rise in the consumption of media on video streaming platforms. Many people now avoid going to cinema halls and wait for the movies to stream on OTT platforms. Companies are creating content exclusively for video-on-demand services, which are popular within all age groups. And this trend will be seen in 2020, OTT services will continue to adversely impact the business of cinema. Voice assistants - What's next? Voice assistants have been around for a few years now. Every year, they get better and are packed with new functionalities. Today, services like Alexa and Google Assistant can do a lot of things, answer our queries and make suggestions based on our schedules. But as anyone who uses a voice assistant knows, there's a huge scope for improvement. In 2020, voice recognition software will improve, so it will get better at understanding different accents. Artificial intelligence technology behind voice applications will continue to be a focus area in the space of technology. Connected retail Tech companies are working on making our shopping experience better. We have seen connected shopping devices in India and other countries. Amazon has set up a checkout-free grocery store. Facial recognition is improving payment systems. But all of these services are yet to go mainstream. Price of privacy After a series of data leaks at facebook and hacking attempts on apps like WhatsApp in 2019, there are increasing fears about privacy. But at the same time, many of us are knowingly trading our privacy for convenience. For instance, users are granting app permissions without even giving it a second thought. Devices like smart speakers, that have been accused of eavesdropping, are still flying off the shelves. And how many of us have stopped using Facebook despite knowing that it's in the middle of multiple data privacy rows? We do think that these tech giants will continue profiting from invading our privacy, so let's hope we see better consumer protection and privacy laws in 2020.

Technology trends of 2020: What to expect?

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fate-of-wto-top-court-threatened-with-trump-administrations-move-to-block-new-appointments-267597">Trump administration</a> is finalising a set of narrow rules to limit exports of sophisticated technology to adversaries like China, a document seen by Reuters shows, in a boon to US&nbsp;industry that feared a much tougher crackdown on sales abroad.

The Commerce Department is putting the finishing touches on five rules covering products like quantum computing and 3-D printing technologies that were mandated by a 2018 law to keep sensitive technologies out of the hands of rival powers.

Before drafting the rules, Commerce sought industry comment last year on a raft of high-tech sectors that it could cover under the law, from artificial intelligence technology to robotics. That fuelled concerns among US&nbsp;businesses the department would craft broad, tough regulations that would stymy a host of exports to key customers.

But the internal status&nbsp;update seen by Reuters shows for the first time that Commerce is finishing a first batch of rules that touch on just a few technologies that will be proposed to international bodies before taking effect, a reprieve for US&nbsp;companies.

"Based on their titles, the rules appear to be narrowly tailored to address specific national security issues, which should go a long way to calming the nerves of those in industry concerned that the administration would impose controls over broad categories of widely available technologies," said Kevin Wolf, former assistant secretary of commerce for export administration. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Commerce declined to confirm any details but said it has a number of proposed rules in the review process.

Despite the apparent reprieve, Commerce could issue more rules in the future regulating sales abroad of cutting-edge items. The document failed to outline when the rule proposals would be made public or what the controls would look like for specific countries, buyers and&nbsp;uses.

In a move that should appeal to US&nbsp;firms, the rules will be submitted to international bodies for approval so that they may be implemented overseas, not just by the United States. That would establish a level playing field for US&nbsp;companies abroad, but would also take much longer to review and go into effect, likely until mid-2021 at the earliest.

Commerce is expected to seek industry comment on the rules before submitting them to the groups, a source said, adding that a sixth rule, covering artificial intelligence, will go into effect in the United States without a comment period.

The revelations come amid growing frustration from Republican and Democratic lawmakers over the slow pace of the rule roll-out, with Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer urging the Commerce Department to speed up the process.

In a statement to Reuters, Republican Senator Tom Cotton said he was "disappointed at the lack of political will" at the Commerce department, accusing it of a "troubling" lack of urgency.

"While bureaucrats and industry shills twiddle their thumbs, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/standing-up-to-chinas-alleged-human-rights-abuses-265914">Chinese Communist Party</a> continues to purchase sensitive US&nbsp;technologies with clear military applications," he said. "I will be digging deep into the Commerce Department's actions."

"China firmly opposes the US' generalisation of the concept of national security and abuse of export control measures to interfere with and restrict the normal communications and cooperation between businesses," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular briefing in Beijing on Wednesday, when asked about the rules.

Limiting tech exports will not disrupt China's innovation or development, said Geng.

According to the status&nbsp;update, the agency plans to regulate exports of quantum diluted refrigerators, which are&nbsp;used to keep qubits cold in some quantum machines. Qubits are&nbsp;used in quantum computers to perform calculations that would take conventional computers thousands of years.

Major makers of the refrigeration devices include UK-based ICE Oxford, Finland-based Bluefors and US-based Janis Research. The rules would apply to exports of goods from the United States as well as shipments of items made abroad that contain a significant amount of US&nbsp;technology or components.

That rule was sent to the Commerce Department's Office of Policy and Strategic Planning on November&nbsp;19, along with another rule regulating 3-D printing for explosives, the document shows.

Another regulation on exports of the so called "Gate-All-Around Field Effect transistor technology, which is&nbsp;used to manufacture semiconductors, was awaiting comments from other agencies on December&nbsp;5.

The transistors are expected to play a major role in newer, faster semiconductors that are under development by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/samsung-electronics-board-chairman-jailed-on-union-busting-charge-268655">Samsung Electronics</a> Co Ltd&nbsp;and Intel Corp.

Two other rules would regulate chemicals&nbsp;used to make Russian nerve agent Novichok and single-use chambers for chemical reactions.

The Trump administration is finalising a set of narrow rules to limit exports of sophisticated technology to adversaries like China, a document seen by Reuters shows, in a boon to US industry that feared a much tougher crackdown on sales abroad.

The Trump administration is finalising a set of narrow rules to limit exports of sophisticated technology to adversaries like China, a document seen by Reuters shows, in a boon to US industry that feared a much tougher crackdown on sales abroad. The Commerce Department is putting the finishing touches on five rules covering products like quantum computing and 3-D printing technologies that were mandated by a 2018 law to keep sensitive technologies out of the hands of rival powers. Before drafting the rules, Commerce sought industry comment last year on a raft of high-tech sectors that it could cover under the law, from artificial intelligence technology to robotics. That fuelled concerns among US businesses the department would craft broad, tough regulations that would stymy a host of exports to key customers. But the internal status update seen by Reuters shows for the first time that Commerce is finishing a first batch of rules that touch on just a few technologies that will be proposed to international bodies before taking effect, a reprieve for US companies. "Based on their titles, the rules appear to be narrowly tailored to address specific national security issues, which should go a long way to calming the nerves of those in industry concerned that the administration would impose controls over broad categories of widely available technologies," said Kevin Wolf, former assistant secretary of commerce for export administration. Commerce declined to confirm any details but said it has a number of proposed rules in the review process. Despite the apparent reprieve, Commerce could issue more rules in the future regulating sales abroad of cutting-edge items. The document failed to outline when the rule proposals would be made public or what the controls would look like for specific countries, buyers and uses. In a move that should appeal to US firms, the rules will be submitted to international bodies for approval so that they may be implemented overseas, not just by the United States. That would establish a level playing field for US companies abroad, but would also take much longer to review and go into effect, likely until mid-2021 at the earliest. Commerce is expected to seek industry comment on the rules before submitting them to the groups, a source said, adding that a sixth rule, covering artificial intelligence, will go into effect in the United States without a comment period. The revelations come amid growing frustration from Republican and Democratic lawmakers over the slow pace of the rule roll-out, with Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer urging the Commerce Department to speed up the process. In a statement to Reuters, Republican Senator Tom Cotton said he was "disappointed at the lack of political will" at the Commerce department, accusing it of a "troubling" lack of urgency. "While bureaucrats and industry shills twiddle their thumbs, the Chinese Communist Party continues to purchase sensitive US technologies with clear military applications," he said. "I will be digging deep into the Commerce Department's actions." "China firmly opposes the US' generalisation of the concept of national security and abuse of export control measures to interfere with and restrict the normal communications and cooperation between businesses," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular briefing in Beijing on Wednesday, when asked about the rules. Limiting tech exports will not disrupt China's innovation or development, said Geng. According to the status update, the agency plans to regulate exports of quantum diluted refrigerators, which are used to keep qubits cold in some quantum machines. Qubits are used in quantum computers to perform calculations that would take conventional computers thousands of years. Major makers of the refrigeration devices include UK-based ICE Oxford, Finland-based Bluefors and US-based Janis Research. The rules would apply to exports of goods from the United States as well as shipments of items made abroad that contain a significant amount of US technology or components. That rule was sent to the Commerce Department's Office of Policy and Strategic Planning on November 19, along with another rule regulating 3-D printing for explosives, the document shows. Another regulation on exports of the so called "Gate-All-Around Field Effect transistor technology, which is used to manufacture semiconductors, was awaiting comments from other agencies on December 5. The transistors are expected to play a major role in newer, faster semiconductors that are under development by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and Intel Corp. Two other rules would regulate chemicals used to make Russian nerve agent Novichok and single-use chambers for chemical reactions.

US finalising rules to limit sensitive tech exports to China, others: Report

India's IT hub Bengaluru is hosting the 22nd edition of the Bengaluru Tech Summit, this year robots are in the limelight.

Robots attract eyeballs at Bengaluru Tech Summit 2019

China has officially started researching sixth-generation telecoms technology, state media reported on Thursday, a move it described as aiming to promote the latest wireless innovation.

Chinese government ministries and research institutes met this week in a "kick-off" meeting to establish a national 6G technology research and development group, according to a report by the Science and Technology Daily, which is published by China's Ministry of Science and Technology.

Technologies related to ultra-fast mobile services have become a key conflict point between the United States and China in recent months.

Countries around the world have been racing to roll out <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/huawei-pushes-5g-in-southeast-asia-brushing-off-tech-war-with-us-259636">5G next-generation</a> wireless networks, which can provide data speeds at least 20 times faster than 4G and promises to support new technologies such as self-driving cars and augmented reality.

In April, Reuters published a story quoting South Korean officials declaring victory over the United States and China as the site of the world's first commercial launch of a 5G telecoms network.

They made their assertion on the basis that the new network connected to an actual 5G phone. US&nbsp;carriers disputed South Korea's claims to be first.

The race has also embroiled China's Huawei Technologies, the world's largest telecoms equipment vendor, which is heavily involved in building many of these networks.

The US&nbsp;government, fearing that Huawei's equipment could be used by China for spying, has placed Huawei on a blacklist in May that banned the company from buying American-made parts. The US&nbsp;government led a campaign to convince its allies to bar it from their 5G networks. Huawei has repeatedly denied the claims.

Meanwhile, US&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ahead-of-impeachment-hearings-trump-may-expand-communications-team-to-bolster-defense-260440">President Donald Trump</a> in February tweeted that he wanted 6G technology in the United States as soon as possible, urging US&nbsp;firms to step up their efforts or get left behind.

Beijing's move to kickstart research into 6G comes days after the country's top three telecos rolled out 5G mobile phone services nationwide.

China had originally said it would launch the ultra-fast mobile internet service early next year but accelerated its plans as tensions with the United States heated up.

China has officially started researching sixth-generation telecoms technology, state media reported on Thursday, a move it described as aiming to promote the latest wireless innovation.

China has officially started researching sixth-generation telecoms technology, state media reported on Thursday, a move it described as aiming to promote the latest wireless innovation. Chinese government ministries and research institutes met this week in a "kick-off" meeting to establish a national 6G technology research and development group, according to a report by the Science and Technology Daily, which is published by China's Ministry of Science and Technology. Technologies related to ultra-fast mobile services have become a key conflict point between the United States and China in recent months. Countries around the world have been racing to roll out 5G next-generation wireless networks, which can provide data speeds at least 20 times faster than 4G and promises to support new technologies such as self-driving cars and augmented reality. In April, Reuters published a story quoting South Korean officials declaring victory over the United States and China as the site of the world's first commercial launch of a 5G telecoms network. They made their assertion on the basis that the new network connected to an actual 5G phone. US carriers disputed South Korea's claims to be first. The race has also embroiled China's Huawei Technologies, the world's largest telecoms equipment vendor, which is heavily involved in building many of these networks. The US government, fearing that Huawei's equipment could be used by China for spying, has placed Huawei on a blacklist in May that banned the company from buying American-made parts. The US government led a campaign to convince its allies to bar it from their 5G networks. Huawei has repeatedly denied the claims. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump in February tweeted that he wanted 6G technology in the United States as soon as possible, urging US firms to step up their efforts or get left behind. Beijing's move to kickstart research into 6G comes days after the country's top three telecos rolled out 5G mobile phone services nationwide. China had originally said it would launch the ultra-fast mobile internet service early next year but accelerated its plans as tensions with the United States heated up.

China kicks off work on 6G research: State media

A brief look at Israel's thriving hacking industry

Diwali, the festival of lights, is just around the corner; and while all of us must stay away from crackers, there's no harm in pampering our loved ones with some gifts! Here&nbsp;we hand-pick some of the best products in our tech gift guide! So get set, there are plenty of options to suit all kinds of budgets coming your way.

<h3>Under Rs 5000</h3>

Are you looking to buy a present under 5,000 rupees? Here's a list of four gadgets that cost about that much. These quirky yet handy devices are sure to make Diwali more memorable for the lucky receivers.

Xech iSoothe eye massager 
This gift idea is for those who spend a lot of time peering into screens. The Xech iSoothe is an automated massager for the eyes. It claims to relax and rejuvenate tired eyes within minutes. Priced at Rs 4,999, it is designed by an Indian company Xech. The headset looks sturdy and has a good build quality. Also, the controls are neatly placed on one side. It is comfortable to wear and the foldable design makes it portable. Xech iSoothe massages the area around the eyes and forehead and stimulates blockages. The user can feel the&nbsp;difference within ten&nbsp;minutes. It uses a combination of intelligent air pressure, vibration techniques, and gentle infrared heat to soothe away stress, strain and aches. The iSoothe comes with five different massage modes, automatic, fresh, smart, lenses and sleep mode. Users can choose the mode as per their requirement. And that’s not all, it comes with embedded speakers which means you can enjoy music along with the massage.

Carvaan Go 
This one is for those who love the golden era Hindi songs. The Carvaan Go is the most compact music player Saregama has released so far. Like other Carvaan audio players, this one can also play your favourite evergreen Hindi songs, but its USP is that it’s portable, lightweight and slim; which means you can easily slip it into your pocket and take it wherever you go which makes it the true companion for travellers. Encased in a metal body, the Carvaan Go has premium looks. &nbsp;There are a few buttons to control the different features of the device and they are neatly designed and aesthetically placed. It is priced at Rs 3,990. The Carvaan Go comes pre-loaded with 3000 evergreen Hindi songs from celebrated artists like Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar, and Mohammed Rafi.

Songs are categorised not just by the name of the singers but also, as per moods such as happy, sad or romantic. It also has 50 curated playlists to match your activities like driving, walking and travelling. The Carvaan go also includes FM, as well as a MicroSD card slot so that you can tune into your own playlists too. The user also can easily connect the player to earphones or external speakers via Bluetooth and Aux.

We say it’s a good gift item for those who love to collect all things retro.

Mi soundbar 
Next up in our list is Xiaomi's Mi soundbar, which is touted to offer a home theatre-like experience at an affordable price. Priced at Rs 4,999, the Mi Soundbar has a slim and minimalistic design and you can either mount it on the wall or just keep it on a table; either way, it nicely blends with the aesthetics of the living room. This compact soundbar includes multiple connectivity options such as Bluetooth, S/PDIF, aux-in, and line-in connectivity ports that allow you to connect it to any television or mobile device. Not just the design, the audio quality is also very good and gives the surround sound experience. The Mi Soundbar can be a good addition to your friend’s living room this Diwali.

Shifu Plugo 
Our gift guide isn’t just about adults, we have something in store for kids also. An augmented reality-based educational toy, Shifu Plugo can turn electronic devices into a great source of learning. It comes with different types of gaming kits and it’s targetted at children over the age of five. The price of this toy is Rs 2,499. Shifu Plugo is also very easy to set up. Just download the Plugo app unfold and set the gamepad, which houses a magnetic area to play games; and then just attach a compatible tablet or a smartphone.

Shifu Plugo allows children to play different games, such as the link game, which comes with hexagon-shaped building blocks. It's fun and challenging at the same time. There are several games too that are compatible with this kit. The Shifu Plugo claims to improve children’s logical reasoning, boost their mental abilities, and enhance their problem-solving skills. Quite a fun way to brighten up Diwali for children.

Under Rs 10,000

Huami Amazfit GTR 
There are many smartwatches available under 10,000 rupees, but the Huami Amazfit GTR is the one that ticks all the right boxes. In terms of design, the watch has very premium looks. The dial is made of aluminium and gives quite elegant looks. It is also slim and doesn't weigh much which makes it comfortable to wear for long hours. The watch is priced at Rs 9,999. The display of this watch is another highlight. It has a 1.2-inch AMOLED screen which is a treat to the eyes. The display is vibrant, highly responsive and offers a smooth experience. Most importantly, it’s visible in bright sunlight!

That’s about the look and feel.&nbsp;Huami Amazfit GTR is simple to use; just install the Amazfit app to pair the watch with your phone. Once that's done you can access all the data of the watch with the phone. Like many other smartwatches, the Amazfit GTR uses a set of sensors to track the number of steps, calories burned, heart rate and sleep patterns. It not only records but also offers smart analysis of all the activities undertaken. Also, you can receive call alerts and read messages on the watch. The user can also personalise the watch before strapping it on your wrist as it comes with a hundred watch faces to give you plenty of variety.

The battery life is also good. It can last for around a week with basic usage. The Amazfit GTR is also water-resistant which is a pleasant surprise for a watch at this price range. It is water-resistant to a depth of 50 metres which means and can be used for activities like swimming and snorkelling. 
 
Skullcandy Indy 
Wireless earbuds are all the rage these days. So why not surprise a loved one with a wireless audio device? Like most wireless earbuds, the Indy comes with its own storage case that doubles up as a charger. All you need is a micro USB cable. The sound quality is good and loud enough with decent bass. Its noise cancellation is also excellent.

It scores a perfect ten when it comes to comfort. The fit is snug enough to keep the buds in place without being tight. The case is pretty handy and lightweight and will fit easily in a small bag, or even a trouser pocket. You’ll keep looking for buttons on the earbuds and the case, but there are none as it has the tap technology. You can change songs, adjust volume, and manage calls just by tapping your earbuds. How minimalist is that!

The earbuds' battery lasts for around 3-4 hours. All in all, these wireless earbuds make a good present.

Under Rs 20,000

Fujifilm Instax Share SP-2 smartphone printer 
If you have dear ones who love to collect photographs, this would be a thoughtful gift. The Fujifilm Instax Share SP-2 smartphone printer can print smartphone photos with ease, to bring those heartwarming moments to life. The instant printer has a neat design with a few buttons. Just like a regular printer, it has a separate compartment to accommodate print sheets and outlet that dispenses the printed photos.

The led lights near the dispenser will update you about the number of sheets left inside. The printer is it’s light-weight and easy to use and it can be paired with your phone via wifi. Photos can be printed from the phone’s gallery or from social media accounts like Instagram and Facebook. The printer gives good photo quality and reasonably detailed. The colours and contrast are good as well. It is priced at Rs 13,499. All in all, we think the printer is value for money.

Kent CamEye 
Kent CamEye is an interesting product for your car. The device aims to ensure the safety of the vehicle as well as the passengers. The device has two cameras, one on each side, that record everything that's happening both inside and outside of the car while the entire footage is live-streamed to your phone. Since it's always on, Kent CamEye live-streams videos to your phone and keeps you up to date with the whereabouts of the car.

It also alerts you if your driver is being rash, over-speeding, or taking intentional detours for personal work. It also alerts you if the driver sleeps in the car with the AC on. The CamEye combines the work of a dash-cam, and a GPS tracker, making for a neat safety device. The security camera offers a lot of features and they work smoothly. It is also very easy to pair it with your phone. The CamEye is priced at 17,999 rupees and comes with a free subscription of 3 months.

&nbsp;

Diwali, the festival of lights, is just around the corner; and while all of us must stay away from crackers, there's no harm in pampering our loved ones with some gifts!

Diwali, the festival of lights, is just around the corner; and while all of us must stay away from crackers, there's no harm in pampering our loved ones with some gifts! Here we hand-pick some of the best products in our tech gift guide! So get set, there are plenty of options to suit all kinds of budgets coming your way. Under Rs 5000 Are you looking to buy a present under 5,000 rupees? Here's a list of four gadgets that cost about that much. These quirky yet handy devices are sure to make Diwali more memorable for the lucky receivers. Xech iSoothe eye massager This gift idea is for those who spend a lot of time peering into screens. The Xech iSoothe is an automated massager for the eyes. It claims to relax and rejuvenate tired eyes within minutes. Priced at Rs 4,999, it is designed by an Indian company Xech. The headset looks sturdy and has a good build quality. Also, the controls are neatly placed on one side. It is comfortable to wear and the foldable design makes it portable. Xech iSoothe massages the area around the eyes and forehead and stimulates blockages. The user can feel the difference within ten minutes. It uses a combination of intelligent air pressure, vibration techniques, and gentle infrared heat to soothe away stress, strain and aches. The iSoothe comes with five different massage modes, automatic, fresh, smart, lenses and sleep mode. Users can choose the mode as per their requirement. And that’s not all, it comes with embedded speakers which means you can enjoy music along with the massage. Carvaan Go This one is for those who love the golden era Hindi songs. The Carvaan Go is the most compact music player Saregama has released so far. Like other Carvaan audio players, this one can also play your favourite evergreen Hindi songs, but its USP is that it’s portable, lightweight and slim; which means you can easily slip it into your pocket and take it wherever you go which makes it the true companion for travellers. Encased in a metal body, the Carvaan Go has premium looks. There are a few buttons to control the different features of the device and they are neatly designed and aesthetically placed. It is priced at Rs 3,990. The Carvaan Go comes pre-loaded with 3000 evergreen Hindi songs from celebrated artists like Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar, and Mohammed Rafi. Songs are categorised not just by the name of the singers but also, as per moods such as happy, sad or romantic. It also has 50 curated playlists to match your activities like driving, walking and travelling. The Carvaan go also includes FM, as well as a MicroSD card slot so that you can tune into your own playlists too. The user also can easily connect the player to earphones or external speakers via Bluetooth and Aux. We say it’s a good gift item for those who love to collect all things retro. Mi soundbar Next up in our list is Xiaomi's Mi soundbar, which is touted to offer a home theatre-like experience at an affordable price. Priced at Rs 4,999, the Mi Soundbar has a slim and minimalistic design and you can either mount it on the wall or just keep it on a table; either way, it nicely blends with the aesthetics of the living room. This compact soundbar includes multiple connectivity options such as Bluetooth, S/PDIF, aux-in, and line-in connectivity ports that allow you to connect it to any television or mobile device. Not just the design, the audio quality is also very good and gives the surround sound experience. The Mi Soundbar can be a good addition to your friend’s living room this Diwali. Shifu Plugo Our gift guide isn’t just about adults, we have something in store for kids also. An augmented reality-based educational toy, Shifu Plugo can turn electronic devices into a great source of learning. It comes with different types of gaming kits and it’s targetted at children over the age of five. The price of this toy is Rs 2,499. Shifu Plugo is also very easy to set up. Just download the Plugo app unfold and set the gamepad, which houses a magnetic area to play games; and then just attach a compatible tablet or a smartphone. Shifu Plugo allows children to play different games, such as the link game, which comes with hexagon-shaped building blocks. It's fun and challenging at the same time. There are several games too that are compatible with this kit. The Shifu Plugo claims to improve children’s logical reasoning, boost their mental abilities, and enhance their problem-solving skills. Quite a fun way to brighten up Diwali for children. Under Rs 10,000 Huami Amazfit GTR There are many smartwatches available under 10,000 rupees, but the Huami Amazfit GTR is the one that ticks all the right boxes. In terms of design, the watch has very premium looks. The dial is made of aluminium and gives quite elegant looks. It is also slim and doesn't weigh much which makes it comfortable to wear for long hours. The watch is priced at Rs 9,999. The display of this watch is another highlight. It has a 1.2-inch AMOLED screen which is a treat to the eyes. The display is vibrant, highly responsive and offers a smooth experience. Most importantly, it’s visible in bright sunlight! That’s about the look and feel. Huami Amazfit GTR is simple to use; just install the Amazfit app to pair the watch with your phone. Once that's done you can access all the data of the watch with the phone. Like many other smartwatches, the Amazfit GTR uses a set of sensors to track the number of steps, calories burned, heart rate and sleep patterns. It not only records but also offers smart analysis of all the activities undertaken. Also, you can receive call alerts and read messages on the watch. The user can also personalise the watch before strapping it on your wrist as it comes with a hundred watch faces to give you plenty of variety. The battery life is also good. It can last for around a week with basic usage. The Amazfit GTR is also water-resistant which is a pleasant surprise for a watch at this price range. It is water-resistant to a depth of 50 metres which means and can be used for activities like swimming and snorkelling. Skullcandy Indy Wireless earbuds are all the rage these days. So why not surprise a loved one with a wireless audio device? Like most wireless earbuds, the Indy comes with its own storage case that doubles up as a charger. All you need is a micro USB cable. The sound quality is good and loud enough with decent bass. Its noise cancellation is also excellent. It scores a perfect ten when it comes to comfort. The fit is snug enough to keep the buds in place without being tight. The case is pretty handy and lightweight and will fit easily in a small bag, or even a trouser pocket. You’ll keep looking for buttons on the earbuds and the case, but there are none as it has the tap technology. You can change songs, adjust volume, and manage calls just by tapping your earbuds. How minimalist is that! The earbuds' battery lasts for around 3-4 hours. All in all, these wireless earbuds make a good present. Under Rs 20,000 Fujifilm Instax Share SP-2 smartphone printer If you have dear ones who love to collect photographs, this would be a thoughtful gift. The Fujifilm Instax Share SP-2 smartphone printer can print smartphone photos with ease, to bring those heartwarming moments to life. The instant printer has a neat design with a few buttons. Just like a regular printer, it has a separate compartment to accommodate print sheets and outlet that dispenses the printed photos. The led lights near the dispenser will update you about the number of sheets left inside. The printer is it’s light-weight and easy to use and it can be paired with your phone via wifi. Photos can be printed from the phone’s gallery or from social media accounts like Instagram and Facebook. The printer gives good photo quality and reasonably detailed. The colours and contrast are good as well. It is priced at Rs 13,499. All in all, we think the printer is value for money. Kent CamEye Kent CamEye is an interesting product for your car. The device aims to ensure the safety of the vehicle as well as the passengers. The device has two cameras, one on each side, that record everything that's happening both inside and outside of the car while the entire footage is live-streamed to your phone. Since it's always on, Kent CamEye live-streams videos to your phone and keeps you up to date with the whereabouts of the car. It also alerts you if your driver is being rash, over-speeding, or taking intentional detours for personal work. It also alerts you if the driver sleeps in the car with the AC on. The CamEye combines the work of a dash-cam, and a GPS tracker, making for a neat safety device. The security camera offers a lot of features and they work smoothly. It is also very easy to pair it with your phone. The CamEye is priced at 17,999 rupees and comes with a free subscription of 3 months.

Smartwatch to soundbar: Your complete Diwali gift guide suiting all kinds of budget ranges

The world is getting technologically advanced. From China to the US to India, Tech It Out gets you all latest trends from across the globe. This time, we decided to travel to the world’s most wired city - Seoul. Check out the most-exciting inventions from South Korea where technology is at play literally everywhere.

Tech It Out visits South Korea

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is the fastest-growing field of employment in the world, and also one of the largest fastest growing sectors.

Traditionally, STEM sector industries have been male-dominated, but in recent years, there has been a rising interest in hiring women for these jobs. One of the underlying reasons for the opening up of the technologically advanced employment sectors for women is the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technologies.

The evolution of AI-based automation has made technology capable of performing an ever-increasing number of applications. We are not only witnessing enhanced automation, but also superior ease of usage. With machines becoming smarter, faster and highly intuitive, the time is ripe for women to master them to their advantage in the world of employment.

For example, coding is getting simpler by the day. Today, it is easy to find apps and training options online, which make it easy for women from non-tech backgrounds to easily code and create programmes.

The globally-renowned MIT in the USA has been focusing on developing learning and training facilities that help attract more girls towards technology. &nbsp;Under the MIT Solve initiative, a game titled Erase All Kittens (EAK) has been developed. This game is designed to inspire girls to learn coding with professional languages such as HTML and CSS in a fun-with-learning style.&nbsp;

Until now, women had been less involved with technology since their traits like intuitiveness, adaptability, and social etiquettes made them better suited at skilled non-tech jobs. However, technology and smart machines are taking over almost all areas of operations, including STEM.&nbsp;

Being adaptive to change gives women unique dynamics that can help them master AI-based technologies in a better way than men. When it comes to mathematics or logical reasoning, there might not be much difference in capabilities of men and women, but when it comes to problem-solving, creative or intuitive thinking, women have proved their mettle time and again.&nbsp;

Back in the 1960s, Jean E Sammet developed Formula Manipulation Compiler or FORMAC, which was an early stage FORTRAN-based computer algebra system.&nbsp;

It went on to become the first large-scale computer language that helped in symbolic manipulation of mathematical formulas. The creator of Domain Name System (DNS) that is used globally was also a woman: Elizabeth Feinler.

The entry of women in technology and automation-oriented workplaces is not only beneficial from a gender perspective, but also from the commercial standpoint.&nbsp;

It has been observed that companies with a diverse workforce, which include a substantial number of women, perform 15 per cent better than companies that are male-dominated. It is amply clear that the lack of women in technology-dominated fields like IT is not due to lack of capability, but because of mental and social blocks.&nbsp;

In fact, it is quite interesting to observe that the percentage of women in tech in India (35 per cent of total workforce) is much higher than countries like United Kingdom (17 per cent) and United States (20 per cent). This is an indicator of the fact that women in India are taking to technology better than their western counterparts.&nbsp;

A report by Brookings Institution states that women (48 per cent) scored better than men (45 per cent) when it comes to handling digital technology.

According to me, one of the main reasons why women can and should dominate the future of automation and technology is the transformation towards design thinking. The AI-powered technologies of today are rapidly becoming simplified and with voice and gesture-based automation, the role of complex UIs will keep getting diminished.

The need of the hour is going to be women-driven and women-oriented design thinking and that’s where women are inclined to excel. Using AI-based tools, women can master digital technology better, as already evidenced by the Brookings Institute report.&nbsp;

About 70 per cent of young girls show interest in STEM (US data) and there is a need to convert that interest into a career in today’s automation-driven environment.&nbsp; 
 
(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-indian-women-more-tech-savvy-than-western-counterparts-2785144">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is the fastest-growing field of employment in the world, and also one of the largest fastest growing sectors.

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is the fastest-growing field of employment in the world, and also one of the largest fastest growing sectors. Traditionally, STEM sector industries have been male-dominated, but in recent years, there has been a rising interest in hiring women for these jobs. One of the underlying reasons for the opening up of the technologically advanced employment sectors for women is the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technologies. The evolution of AI-based automation has made technology capable of performing an ever-increasing number of applications. We are not only witnessing enhanced automation, but also superior ease of usage. With machines becoming smarter, faster and highly intuitive, the time is ripe for women to master them to their advantage in the world of employment. For example, coding is getting simpler by the day. Today, it is easy to find apps and training options online, which make it easy for women from non-tech backgrounds to easily code and create programmes. The globally-renowned MIT in the USA has been focusing on developing learning and training facilities that help attract more girls towards technology. Under the MIT Solve initiative, a game titled Erase All Kittens (EAK) has been developed. This game is designed to inspire girls to learn coding with professional languages such as HTML and CSS in a fun-with-learning style. Until now, women had been less involved with technology since their traits like intuitiveness, adaptability, and social etiquettes made them better suited at skilled non-tech jobs. However, technology and smart machines are taking over almost all areas of operations, including STEM. Being adaptive to change gives women unique dynamics that can help them master AI-based technologies in a better way than men. When it comes to mathematics or logical reasoning, there might not be much difference in capabilities of men and women, but when it comes to problem-solving, creative or intuitive thinking, women have proved their mettle time and again. Back in the 1960s, Jean E Sammet developed Formula Manipulation Compiler or FORMAC, which was an early stage FORTRAN-based computer algebra system. It went on to become the first large-scale computer language that helped in symbolic manipulation of mathematical formulas. The creator of Domain Name System (DNS) that is used globally was also a woman: Elizabeth Feinler. The entry of women in technology and automation-oriented workplaces is not only beneficial from a gender perspective, but also from the commercial standpoint. It has been observed that companies with a diverse workforce, which include a substantial number of women, perform 15 per cent better than companies that are male-dominated. It is amply clear that the lack of women in technology-dominated fields like IT is not due to lack of capability, but because of mental and social blocks. In fact, it is quite interesting to observe that the percentage of women in tech in India (35 per cent of total workforce) is much higher than countries like United Kingdom (17 per cent) and United States (20 per cent). This is an indicator of the fact that women in India are taking to technology better than their western counterparts. A report by Brookings Institution states that women (48 per cent) scored better than men (45 per cent) when it comes to handling digital technology. According to me, one of the main reasons why women can and should dominate the future of automation and technology is the transformation towards design thinking. The AI-powered technologies of today are rapidly becoming simplified and with voice and gesture-based automation, the role of complex UIs will keep getting diminished. The need of the hour is going to be women-driven and women-oriented design thinking and that’s where women are inclined to excel. Using AI-based tools, women can master digital technology better, as already evidenced by the Brookings Institute report. About 70 per cent of young girls show interest in STEM (US data) and there is a need to convert that interest into a career in today’s automation-driven environment. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Indian women more tech-savvy than western counterparts

Tips to spot the hidden cameras

Upwardly-mobile, tech-savvy young professionals from across the globe are swapping their briefcases and brogues for backpacks and sneakers, setting themselves up as digital nomads who can operate from wherever their laptops can go. 
 
Jobbatical and Teleport, two recent tech start-ups, promise to take the guesswork out of digital job hunting on a global scale. 
 
Both hail from tiny tech titan Estonia and are part of a crop of cutting-edge online sites catering to digital nomads, typically young males who work remotely and move around regions like Southeast Asia every few months. 
 
Their creators insist the start-ups have the potential to shake things up on the global job market, similar to how Estonians previously transformed global communications with Skype and digital international money transfers via Transferwise. 
 
Tallinn-based entrepreneur Karoli Hindriks said she launched Jobbatical two years ago to fill the growing gaps she noticed in global recruiting. 
 
With employment offers from Greece, to Thailand and Costa Rica among others, it takes just a few clicks of the mouse for product or account managers, programmers and other tech professionals to land a dream job, whether programming in Malaysia&#39;s tropical paradise of Penang or managing an adventure travel operation in Bali. 
 
Jobbatical targets &quot;adventurous tech, business, and creative professionals with over five years of working experience,&quot; Hindriks said at the Latitude59 technology conference in Estonia&#39;s capital Tallinn. 
 
She points to &quot;a generational mindset shift&quot; as key to her client base of 70,000 unique users each month across 150 countries. 
 
&quot;The millennial&#39;s view of success isn&#39;t necessarily a house, a well-paying job and a picket fence,&quot; she said. 
 
&quot;There&#39;s a huge shift towards defining success as working in terms of things that one truly believes in, and appreciating experiences over material possessions.&quot; 
 
New technologies, less expensive international travel and easier communications mean that moving around to work is &quot;becoming smoother and cheaper than ever&quot;, she added. 
 
Most Jobbatical offers involve positions that, like sabbaticals, last around 12 months, creating a revolving client base. 
 
The company takes a &quot;success&quot; fee of five per cent of the annual salary upon hiring. 
 
Surf more than just the internet 
 
Vicente Gracia, a much-travelled 28-year-old business strategist from Chile, has been surfing more than just the internet since he began using Jobbatical. 
 
Dissatisfied with the terms he was being offered by South American companies, Gracia used it to find a job based in Bali. 
 
&quot;New generations are looking for more than just a paycheck,&quot; Gracia said via Skype. 
 
A keen surfer, he now enjoys riding the waves on a Bali beach every morning during a break in his commute to work. 
 
&quot;For me, being able to prioritise my career and a healthy lifestyle is crucial.&quot; 
 
Insisting that Jobbatical is unique, Hindriks shuns comparisons to online job sites like Monster, insisting that &quot;it&#39;s like comparing Craigslist to Airbnb&quot;. 
 
Describing Jobbatical as a &quot;matchmaker for companies&quot;, Hindriks insists that short-term &quot;jobbaticals&quot; encourage professionals to choose countries off the beaten path - like her own Estonia - that they may not have considered were the positions permanent. 
 
&quot;If you look at the reality, there are no permanent jobs any more, so in that sense we&#39;re bringing honesty to the conversation,&quot; she said. 
 
Peace of mind 
 
Teleport meanwhile takes stock of the personal preferences and expectations of digital job-seekers and then suggests ideal places for them to live and work. 
 
Teleport &quot;scouts&quot;, or local experts, are just a click away to iron out any wrinkles. For a modest fee, they can help with everything from visas to finding the right apartment or the nearest vegan restaurant. 
 
A veteran tech entrepreneur who headed up Skype&#39;s Estonia operations from 2005-12, Teleport CEO Sten Tamkivi insisted his startup goes further than competitors like NomadList, which essentially works like a traditional travel guide. 
 
Tamkivi said that aside from calculating ideal locations based on personal preferences and its &quot;scouts&quot;, its &quot;flock&quot; service also locates the nearest co-working spaces. 
 
Anthony Lapenna, a Frenchman working in New Zealand, is one happy Teleport user. 
 
The service meant he could keep his job, but change hemispheres, shifting from Paris to Auckland, New Zealand, where he continues his role as a software engineer. 
 
&quot;I wanted to go to an English-speaking country in order to improve my English, plus I was kind of sick of the big city of Paris,&quot; he said via email. 
 
&quot;New Zealand is located at the world&#39;s end, which is pretty exciting. I also had a curiosity about the landscape, because I&#39;m fond of hiking.&quot; 
 
&quot;I&#39;ll probably move again, but not before I&#39;ve explored as much of New Zealand as I can.&quot; 
 
And Lapenna is not alone. As Google predicts the world&#39;s online population will double to five billion by 2020, digital nomads are likely to be a growing tribe. 
 
(AFP)

Tech start-ups from Estonia are catering to a growing number of young, laptop-carrying professionals who travel and work remotely

Upwardly-mobile, tech-savvy young professionals from across the globe are swapping their briefcases and brogues for backpacks and sneakers, setting themselves up as digital nomads who can operate from wherever their laptops can go. Jobbatical and Teleport, two recent tech start-ups, promise to take the guesswork out of digital job hunting on a global scale. Both hail from tiny tech titan Estonia and are part of a crop of cutting-edge online sites catering to digital nomads, typically young males who work remotely and move around regions like Southeast Asia every few months. Their creators insist the start-ups have the potential to shake things up on the global job market, similar to how Estonians previously transformed global communications with Skype and digital international money transfers via Transferwise. Tallinn-based entrepreneur Karoli Hindriks said she launched Jobbatical two years ago to fill the growing gaps she noticed in global recruiting. With employment offers from Greece, to Thailand and Costa Rica among others, it takes just a few clicks of the mouse for product or account managers, programmers and other tech professionals to land a dream job, whether programming in Malaysia's tropical paradise of Penang or managing an adventure travel operation in Bali. Jobbatical targets "adventurous tech, business, and creative professionals with over five years of working experience," Hindriks said at the Latitude59 technology conference in Estonia's capital Tallinn. She points to "a generational mindset shift" as key to her client base of 70,000 unique users each month across 150 countries. "The millennial's view of success isn't necessarily a house, a well-paying job and a picket fence," she said. "There's a huge shift towards defining success as working in terms of things that one truly believes in, and appreciating experiences over material possessions." New technologies, less expensive international travel and easier communications mean that moving around to work is "becoming smoother and cheaper than ever", she added. Most Jobbatical offers involve positions that, like sabbaticals, last around 12 months, creating a revolving client base. The company takes a "success" fee of five per cent of the annual salary upon hiring. Surf more than just the internet Vicente Gracia, a much-travelled 28-year-old business strategist from Chile, has been surfing more than just the internet since he began using Jobbatical. Dissatisfied with the terms he was being offered by South American companies, Gracia used it to find a job based in Bali. "New generations are looking for more than just a paycheck," Gracia said via Skype. A keen surfer, he now enjoys riding the waves on a Bali beach every morning during a break in his commute to work. "For me, being able to prioritise my career and a healthy lifestyle is crucial." Insisting that Jobbatical is unique, Hindriks shuns comparisons to online job sites like Monster, insisting that "it's like comparing Craigslist to Airbnb". Describing Jobbatical as a "matchmaker for companies", Hindriks insists that short-term "jobbaticals" encourage professionals to choose countries off the beaten path - like her own Estonia - that they may not have considered were the positions permanent. "If you look at the reality, there are no permanent jobs any more, so in that sense we're bringing honesty to the conversation," she said. Peace of mind Teleport meanwhile takes stock of the personal preferences and expectations of digital job-seekers and then suggests ideal places for them to live and work. Teleport "scouts", or local experts, are just a click away to iron out any wrinkles. For a modest fee, they can help with everything from visas to finding the right apartment or the nearest vegan restaurant. A veteran tech entrepreneur who headed up Skype's Estonia operations from 2005-12, Teleport CEO Sten Tamkivi insisted his startup goes further than competitors like NomadList, which essentially works like a traditional travel guide. Tamkivi said that aside from calculating ideal locations based on personal preferences and its "scouts", its "flock" service also locates the nearest co-working spaces. Anthony Lapenna, a Frenchman working in New Zealand, is one happy Teleport user. The service meant he could keep his job, but change hemispheres, shifting from Paris to Auckland, New Zealand, where he continues his role as a software engineer. "I wanted to go to an English-speaking country in order to improve my English, plus I was kind of sick of the big city of Paris," he said via email. "New Zealand is located at the world's end, which is pretty exciting. I also had a curiosity about the landscape, because I'm fond of hiking." "I'll probably move again, but not before I've explored as much of New Zealand as I can." And Lapenna is not alone. As Google predicts the world's online population will double to five billion by 2020, digital nomads are likely to be a growing tribe. (AFP)

Backpacking digital nomads land dream jobs on the go

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