Tech Predictions Of 2014 - Guest Post By Sanjay Deshmukh, Citrix

The following is a guest post by Sanjay Deshmukh, Area Vice President, India subcontinent, Citrix.

Our workplace is going through a rapid transformation led by change in the way we work. Today "work" is no more a place we go to. It's what we do when ever and where ever business needs to be done. Given the impact of globalisation and also focus on customer majority of workforce prefers a flexible working environment which is not restricted within office premises and devices, and the tech savvy millennial generation is actively driving the evolution of IT consumerization at workplaces in India. In addition, widespread smartphone penetration in India coupled with strong convergence between mobile and internet, provides enterprises a convenient medium for improving access to technology and mobility solutions to their customers, employees and contractors. As a result, mobility has become one of the key drivers for business transformation and growth and a topmost priority on the boardroom agenda. As we progress into the future, there will be a need to redefine the purview of mobility from being restricted to devices and the security to a more overarching vision of enabling employees to work from anywhere and thus mobilizing all the aspects of business viz Data, enterprise and native applications, Collaboration and Support which are required to fulfil this vision’ In this context of the new found imperatives of Indian organisations we anticipate the following top technology trends in 2014.

ViewSonic Launches VP2772 Adobe Color QHD 27" Professional Display

While most companies focus on consumer-centric monitors, they also cater to the niche professional segment sometimes. ViewSonic, the company famously known long for its PC monitors, has launched the VP2772 Adobe Color QHD monitor with a 27" IPS screen promising excellent viewing angles and great colours. Meant to be used in photography, graphic design, media creation, publishing, and other colour-critical applications, this monitor features a 10-bit panel capable of displaying 1.07 billion colours. It boasts of being able to display 99% of the wider Adobe RGB colour space, thanks also to its advanced 12-bit colour engine and 14-bit LUT that processes up to 68.7 billion colours, thus being capable or rendering accurate colours. The SuperClear IPS panel with 2560x1440 pixel dimensions (Quad HD) is calibrated with a Delta E≤3 value.

Amar Chitra Katha App Launched For Microsoft Windows 8 Devices At Comic Con India

If you say that you didn't grow up reading Tinkle and other Amar Chitra Katha comics, you're probably lying. Now the same comics are available on your Windows 8 devices, thanks to the launch of ACK Comics app from the publishers of Amar Chitra Katha. The launch happened aptly at the Comic Con India convention being held at Goregaon, Mumbai. The event started with a small interactive skit where actors dressed as characters from ACK comics (Akbar, Birbal, Rani Lakshmibai, Kalidasa, and Chanakya) interacted with the audience to draw the conclusion that the audience does not recognise them anymore. They then discuss the matter and arrive at a solution that an app would be the best way to reintroduce them to people.

BenQ Launches Two Flicker-Free Monitors With MHL Connectivity, Starting At Rs 18,000

BenQ has added to its portfolio of flicker-free monitor with two new models in the EW40 series. The EW2440L and the EW2740L come with 24" and 27" Full HD VA panels featuring LED backlighting. It claims to be able to show true 8-bit images for better colour shades as against the 6-bit done by run-of-the-mill panels. They claim to provide wide viewing angles of up to 178 degrees in any direction. The monitors sport thin bezels that result in a better visual appeal.

MobiKwik Celebrates 1 Million Android App Downloads By Giving Away 1 Million Rupees

MobiKwik, the service that lets you pay almost any utility bill or recharge mobile phones and DTH services, has crossed 1 million downloads of its Android app within a year of its launch. The service, which is also available via a web browser, SMS, and phone, is quite popular in the form of apps for Android, iOS, and Windows Phone devices. In order to celebrate this milestone achievement, the company is rewarding its users by giving away 10% cash back for transactions carried out via its Android app. It has actually allocated 1 million rupees for this purpose to ensure that the cash back really happens as intended. Users can avail this offer by using the promo code MILLIONCLUB. The last date of this offer is 31st December, 2013.

Lenovo Launches ThinkPad S1 Yoga And Three Haswell-Powered Ultrabooks

Lenovo has launched the ThinkPad S1 Yoga convertible Ultrabook along with a new range of ThinkPad Ultrabooks powered by Intel's fourth generation Haswell CPUs in India. The other three Ultrabooks are named ThinkPad T440, ThinkPad T440s, and ThinkPad X240s, which are all primarily for the enterprise segment. The new range claims to have better performance, reliability, durability, and battery backup.

Sharp Unleashes The World's Largest "3D Internet LED TV" For Rs 20,00,000

Sharp has launched the LC-90LE740X, which is the largest 3D LED TV in the world with 4-colour Quattron Technology. In case you are wondering, what about the Samsung UN110S9 TV with a 110" screen that was launched at CES this year; that is a 4K TV, while the one from Sharp is Full HD, which is a quarter of the number of pixels as on a 4K TV. As mentioned, the Sharp TV supports active shutter 3D at 120 Hz, making it compatible with every 3D Blu-ray player, 3D game console, and NVIDIA 3D Vision products. Of course, the 1920x1080 pixel dimensions are somewhat of a let-down at such a large screen size as the pixels would be large enough to be readily visible, unless you view it from quite afar. With an aluminium frame, this TV is a real looker that should dominate any room.

BlackBerry Offers Q10 QWERTY Smartphone At Rs 38,990 For A Limited Period

Even as the world has moved to full touchscreen phones, BlackBerry still continues to sell smartphones with QWERTY keyboards. BlackBerry loyalists will certify that the famed keyboard made by the Canadian company is incomparable to a touchscreen with its ergonomics and ease of use, and I must agree that it is really true. The company's top-of-the-line Q10 handset sports such a keyboard and runs the latest BB10 OS. BlackBerry is currently offering the Q10 at a limited period offer price of Rs 38,990. This offer will last till India's upcoming Republic Day, 26th January, 2014.

Amazon India Slashes Kindle Fire HD 8.9" Prices By Rs 4000

Amazon India has announced a cut in the pricing of its flagship eBook reader - Kindle Fire HD 8.9". The 16 GB version now costs Rs 18,000 as against the earlier 22,000, while the 32 GB variant is available for Rs 22,000 down from the earlier Rs 26,000. At the new price-point, the Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9" will become a really attractive option for consumers because of its superior capabilities as an Android tablet, in addition to being a formidable eBook reader.