Technology

Internet Streaming Snapshot

In a digitized, fast-paced universe like the one we live in today, Internet Streaming is most valuable and widely used. According to www.webopedia.com, “streaming or media streaming is a technique for transferring data so that it can be processed as a steady and continuous stream.” The latter part indicates why exactly it’s such a hit – having a steady and continuous stream has become a necessity today; consumers no longer have the time or patience to wait for a media file to be downloaded in its entirety. To add to it, streaming has extended to most technological devices, making it possible for users to stream anytime and anywhere – whether on-the-go or from the comfort of their couch – as per their convenience.

For streaming to work effectively, however, the receiver needs to have a fast enough internet connection. Slow internet disrupts streaming, leading to problems with buffering. The buffer fills up with the content needed next; therefore, any disruption in the connection would either stop the stream or compel one to compromise on the quality of the file.

Although streaming is the quickest and most convenient way to access media on the internet, it has not always been in existence. Traditional downloads were a lot more popular earlier, where one is required to download the entire media before using it. For instance, LimeWire – a free P2P sharing software through which users could download unlimited music, movies and games – was one such hot platform earlier. After it was shut down, however, people turned to BitTorrent; and a number of torrent sites sprang up because of its increasing demand.

Progressive downloads are popular today (where the file is downloaded and saved to the device), but it has a streaming equivalent in the form of a website or an app. Although YouTube has been popular for a while now, there are a number of other websites that allow for streaming of TV shows, movies and music. Netflix is the most popular example in the USA (it is yet to gain popularity in India). It started out as a DVD rental service, but 13 years after its inception, streaming began to become more than an add-on, eventually taking over and becoming the main feature of Netflix, and then moving out to other devices as well. Today, Netflix is the world’s leading Internet television network with over 98 million members in 190 countries. Similarly, there are a number of websites/apps today – both free and paid – through which people access their favourite TV show/movie like WatchSeries, Hulu, CouchTuner, TVPlayer and so on. Despite the competition, Netflix continues to enjoy topmost position in the US, adding more than 1.5 million members in the last quarter of 2016 and 4.9 million members internationally.

With TV streaming on the rise, it is only natural that cable TV is no longer indispensable to the people. This is especially evident in India, where Star India’s Internet equivalent Hotstar is gaining more popularity than their actual TV channels. It started off as an app to allow users to watch cricket matches live since most cable services had discontinued the free availability of the Star channels. Because of its huge success – the app garnered 340 million views for all 49 matches during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 – it expanded, offering content from the entertainment, movie and sports channels owned by Star India. An article by Livemint cites Hotstar as the top of all other video streaming apps in India (with a user base of 63.4 million as of January 2017) like Voot TV, JioTV, Netflix, Amazon Prime (in terms of their monthly usage) indicating the Indian consumer’s preference for local content.

Gone are the days when people went out and bought CDs, or even downloaded tracks off the internet – music streaming has revolutionized the way people listen to music today. SoundCloud (175 million monthly users), Spotify (50 million paid subscribers), 8tracks are popular examples – users can not only discover and listen to music across different genres, but also create their own playlists and share them with others. Additionally, SoundCloud allows users to upload their own audio tracks. Music streaming is also popular in India, with apps like Saavn (20 million monthly users, 70% of which are from India), Gaana finding favour. What sets these apart from all other music streaming apps is that regional and Bollywood music is available too, along with the popular English songs worldwide.

As can be observed in any of the aforementioned sites, when streaming first started off, it was a mere add-on to the other services offered by these sites. But with the advancement in technology, it has become easier for streaming to branch out and reach wider audiences, consequently resulting in its massive growth and popularity all around the world. While it is hard to say if this would eventually lead to elimination of the traditional forms of media consumption, it is fair to say that streaming is slowly but surely taking over.

Streaming on smartphones is most popular not only because it is convenient, but more so now because social media apps like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter have introduced live streaming, allowing users to create videos and transmit them to their followers/watch similar videos in the same instant that it is taking place. Also, all of the websites mentioned above have their very own apps (in fact, some are available only as an app), further advocating streaming on smartphones.

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https://youtu.be/M-NXOYgMhkA

ZTE Zmax Pro Update Fix

So here’s the solution to the ZTE Zmax Pro update problem which I encountered while on Build Version B14, trying to install B20. The B20 update would always abort during the installation process. Here’s the fix, straight from ZTE Tech Support.

1. Eject the MicroSD (MSD) Card (DON’T REMOVE THE MSD CARD WITHOUT READING THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW)
   • Go to settings –> storage –> click storage and then click MSD card, then click eject SD card
   • After the MSD Card Eject process completes, use the SIM ejector tool to eject the SIM Tray to physically remove the MSD Card.
   • Remove the MSD card and push the SIM tray back into the phone
2. When you push the sim tray back into the phone, you’ll be prompted to restart the device. Go ahead and click restart device
3. Go to Settings -> About Phone –>System Update –> Click Update and download the update file –> after its downloaded, click install update.
4. Phone will restart and you’ll see the Green Android robot with its chest open and a spinning diamond shaped line drawing as well as a status bar below which tells you the % progress of the installation.
5. After this completes, the phone will restart and you’ll see the Android is updating notifcation ribbon across the center of the screen telling you its updating and optimizing your installed apps.
6. The process may take about 10-15 minutes depending on the number of apps installed on your phone

See below excerpt from my chat with ZTE Tech Support:

Andrew C: Have you tried removing that microSD card then attempting the update?
rajiv jadhav: no i haven’t
Andrew C: If that doesn’t work, I would advise you to wipe the cache partition.
Andrew C: If wiping the cache partition doesn’t resolve the issue, a factory reset maybe necessary.
Andrew C: To wipe the cache partition, just follow the instructions in the link below.

Answer Title: How do I wipe the cache partition?
Answer Link: http://zte-iqorsupport.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4685
rajiv jadhav: ok
Andrew C: If that doesn’t resolve the issue Rajiv, just contact us back so we can show you how to reset your device.
rajiv jadhav: so let me try the 1st thing
rajiv jadhav: i need to eject the sd card?
Andrew C: Correct.
Andrew C: Eject the microSD card.
rajiv jadhav: ok let me try that
Andrew C: I would probably do this after powering on the device.
Andrew C: Then attempt an update.
Andrew C: If that doesn’t work, try wiping the cache partition.
Andrew C: If that doesn’t work, a reset maybe necessary.
Andrew C: I would just contact us back if issues are still persistent.
Andrew C: Is there perhaps anything else I can do for you?
rajiv jadhav: do i need to physically remove the SD card or just do the eject process?
Andrew C: Remove it from your device.
rajiv jadhav: ok
Andrew C: Anything else I can clarify for you?
rajiv jadhav: can be standby while i do these steps?

rajiv jadhav: can you*
Andrew C: These steps may take a while. That’s why i was advising you to contact us back if issues are still persistent.
rajiv jadhav: o ok

This is the link I used to contact ZTE Technical Support: https://www.zteusa.com/zte-zmax-pro-mpcs#support 

Virtual Reality (Immersive experience for customers)

Over the years the ever-changing realm of technology has taken the world by storm and virtual reality is known to be one of them. As stated by Arkenea it is a glimpse into the future or where people are cut off from the real world, opting instead to spend their time in VR or what you would imagine the future to be and it is truly fascinating. This invention will increase the marketplace if produced properly. Virtual reality, according to Wikipedia, is a genuine and immersive reproduction of a three-dimensional environment. It is generated using interactive software and hardware, and is controlled by movement of the body over a computer. A person using VR is typically able to look around and interact with the artificial world with either a screen or goggles. Over the years the technology VR uses gets more advanced and significantly started looking even more realistic.
A very interesting Ocean Descent VR Google Cardboard Video 3D SBS Virtual Reality Video:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yrh0Nb8JTAM&feature=youtu.be

If we focus more strictly on the scope of virtual reality as a means of creating the illusion that we are present somewhere we are not, then the earliest attempt at virtual reality is surely the 360-degree murals (or panoramic paintings) from the nineteenth century. They used holographic recordings to portray real life experiences including smell and touch. This technology was fascinating from the very beginning. This was now being used in video games, training and education, media, therapy, architectural designs and many more. According to TechRepublic, Ford Motor Company currently uses Virtual Reality in its Immersion Lab to help get a sense of how customers experience their cars.

Virtual reality has multiple applications for healthcare. One use, is the use of VR in therapy. For example, psychiatrists at the University of Louisville use VR in cognitive behavior therapy to treat patients with social anxieties or phobias of things like flying, public speaking, or heights. The controlled environment allows doctors to expose their patients to simulations and direct them on how to cope with how they’re feeling.

It has sky rocketed the marketplace and it’s so beneficial to the business place because it is a very cost effective way of developing a product and/or service. Business places can use it for an immersive experience for a customer to test drive a new product and use feedback to improve.
With new technologies such as 360 videos and other innovative advancements, it is hard for companies to remain on the modern frontier of brand promotion. Thus, many are turning to creative marketing companies to ensure effective brand promotion in today’s age. Rsquare Media is a Creative Content and Design company which forms customized media marketing strategies, creates original content, and helps businesses stay ahead of their competition through following innovative marketing trends. On the forefront of modern advertising technology, Rsquare Media is the first step in ensuring that target audiences are given the complete immersive experience.Rsquare Media can assist you with making Webpage design, YouTube Commercial Production, Infomercials, Video Production, Graphic Design and Printing Services, Screen Printing and Embroidery Services, Indoor and Outdoor Signage Design & Fabrication. Call (646) 249-3561 or email help@rsquaremedia.com for a Free Quote and Free Consultation. Se Habla Español. Consulta Gratis. We’re open Monday-Sunday – 10am-7pm EST. Our headquarters are 626 RXR Plaza, Uniondale New York 11556 (opposite Nassau Colleseum and near Hofstra University).