Samsung Galaxy S8 and the sad state of smartphones 

Devices from the stables of Apple, Samsung, LG, HTC, among others sure make great companions, are they really the "innovations" as the companies dub them to be? After the exploding Galaxy Note 7 fiasco, Samsung needed a smartphone that could thrust it back into reckoning and inspire confidence in customers. The company's answer —  Samsung Galaxy S8 that was unveiled on Wednesday — marks the progression in smartphones, but isn't a technological marvel. Barring Bixby, Samsung's virtual assistant, the Galaxy S8 is just an upgrade. It may not necessarily mean that the smartphone wouldn't give you bang for the buck, but the Samsung Galaxy S8 is the latest indicator of a malaise that the smartphone industry is dealing with

Ericsson partners IIT Delhi for 5G technology in India

Telecom gear maker Ericsson has signed an agreement with IIT Delhi to jointly work on a programme for 5G technology development in India. Telecom gear maker Ericsson has signed an agreement with IIT Delhi to jointly work on a programme for 5G technology development in India "Ericsson and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly roll out a '5G for India' programme," Ericsson said in a statement. Under the agreement, Ericsson will set up a Centre of Excellence with a 5G test bed and incubation centre at IIT Delhi and use this facility to drive the development of the country's 5G ecosystem. The first series of tests under this programme are due to begin in the second half of 2017 and will place India on par with other developed countries in terms of 5G network and application deployment.

T-Fiber project to be completed by mid-2018:

 KTR Telangana Fiber Grid (T-Fiber) project, aimed at providing Internet connection to every household in Telangana, will be completed by mid-2018, state IT Minister K T Rama Rao said today. Fiber project to be completed by mid-2018: KTR" Telangana Fiber Grid (T-Fiber) project, aimed at providing Internet connection to every household in Telangana, will be completed by mid-2018, state IT Minister K T Rama Rao said today. "We are laying 47,000 kms of fiber optic network, (which is) in addition to BharatNet programme. We are laying optical fiber cables along with 'Mission Bhagiratha' pipelines to provide drinking water," Rao said at an event here. Telangana Fiber Grid (T-Fiber) is envisioned to establish a state-of-the-art network infrastructure to facilitate the realisation of 'Digital Telangana' objective by piggybacking on Drinking Water Project – Mission Bhagiratha.

Each one of us owes debt of Rs 54,000.

 Here's how According to a Finance Ministry report, per capita debt (calaculated on basis of Union Government debt) is at Rs 53,796 as on March 31, 2016, as against Rs 49,270 on March 31, 2015. Each one of us has a debt of Rs 54,000. Wondering how? Here’s the answer. The government borrows funds from external agencies for development purposes, which it divides by the total number of citizens to get the per capita debt. Since the funds borrowed are for the people and hence, the government calculates per person average cost. And this is the debt that comes on each person’s head. According to a Finance Ministry report, per capita debt (calculated on basis of Union Government debt) is at Rs 53,796 as on March 31, 2016, as against Rs 49,270 on March 31, 2015. Analysts expect that the debt figure will only rise each year as the country’s development model is based on borrowing. In a reply to a question asked in Parliament on March 10, Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal said that per capita debt has risen by 9.2 percent in per capita total debt (internal and external debt) as on 31st March 2016.

India may question its poor ranking in World Bank's ease of doing business index 

The government believes the methodology may not have truly reflected many reforms, particularly in tax rates and administration, hammering down the overall rankings and creating an impression that India continues to remains a dodgy place to do business in The government may contest some of the conclusions of the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business rankings that places India at a lowly 130 among 190 countries. The government believes the methodology may not have truly reflected many reforms, particularly in tax rates and administration, hammering down the overall rankings and creating an impression that India continues to remain a dodgy place to do business in. For instance, the World Bank placed India at 172 in the “payment of taxes” parameter in the latest report released in October 2016, according to which Indian businesses are required to pay an average of 25 number of taxes. A survey-based report by the industry department, however, found that Indian businesses actually pay 9 (nine) number of taxes. Likewise, the World Bank has given India a score of 4.3 out of 100 for the indicator ‘post-filing index’, which is based on components such as the time to comply with VAT or GST, corporate income tax audit.

Samsung plans to sell refurbished Galaxy Note 7

 Samsung's Note 7s were permanently scrapped in October following a global recall, roughly two months from the launch of the near-$900 devices, after some phones self-combusted. Tech giant Samsung Electronics Co Ltd said late on Monday that it plans to sell refurbished versions of the Galaxy Note 7 smartphones, the model pulled from markets last year due to fire-prone batteries. Samsung's Note 7s were permanently scrapped in October following a global recall, roughly two months from the launch of the near-$900 devices, after some phones self-combusted. A subsequent probe found manufacturing problems in batteries supplied by two different companies - Samsung SDI Co Ltd and Amperex Technology Ltd. Analysis from Samsung and independent researchers found no other problems in the Note 7 devices except the batteries, raising speculation that Samsung will recoup some of its losses by selling refurbished Note 7s

Bitcoin faces 'civil war' that may split it into two, but it may be good for currency 

Andreas Antonopoulos said that an issue with the bitcoin block size does exist but it is being sensationalized and inflamed by those who want to establish some control over the decentralized network. Hardcore bitcoin watchers may have lately come across a major issue facing the digital currency: a 'hard fork' that threatens to split it into two. At the core is an argument that as technical as the currency itself: put simply, the digital currency's increasing popularity is putting load on its underlying infrastructure -- the blockchain -- that is slowing down transaction speeds and is in need of an upgrade. Developers, miners and technical experts of the cryptocurrency are locked in a heated debate -- a 'civil war' according to some reports -- on how to make the currency’s software protocol to allow it to meet the increased demand and handle more transactions