Now when you leave the application or put your telephone to rest, Shazam will listen for music. There ought to be a dynamic notice for the application telling you that the application is listening for songs

Shazam's dynamic warning will refresh each time it distinguishes a tune. To perceive what the tune is, however, you should go into the application. It, tragically, doesn't demonstrate the tune title on your lockscreen 

To turn Auto Shazam off, head once more into the application, tap on My Shazam in the upper left corner, select the rigging symbol in the upper left corner, and flip Auto Shazam off

Pakistan’s most advanced internet platform VEON was launched in the country by VEON Limited, with Jazz as its first telco partner.

Unveiled at an event in Lahore, VEON aims to radically redefine the personal internet experience in the country by offering diverse services to its subscribers completely revolutionizing the digital landscape of the country and how Pakistanis communicate.

Subscribers will avail unparalleled services offered by VEON even when they are out of balance.

It simply uses your phone’s mobile network or Wi-Fi (where available) to let you call, chat, send pictures and videos for free, so you don’t have to pay for every message or call.

The launch of VEON marks a new era of connectivity for the country, which allows users to experience contextualized, personalized internet experiences and opportunities, enabling them to access information and services and engage with the world.

“I am proud to announce Jazz, as the first telco partner of VEON, supporting a complete digital ecosystem. We have consistently strived to invest in innovative technologies that would deeply impact the lives of millions of people and enhance the digital economy of Pakistan,” according to Aamir Ibrahim, Jazz’s Chief Executive Officer.

The platform will help develop a complete internet eco-system in the country and facilitate smartphone adoption in Pakistan, in addition to radically increasing Internet adoption.

Christopher Schlaffer, VEON’s Chief Commercial & Digital Officer while speaking on the occasion said, “We are proud to announce the launch of VEON, a most unique and innovative platform that holds the answer to all our communication needs.”

“From calls to messages, personalized content for our users, to offers and deals, mobile wallet and contextual internet services, VEON holds the power to radically alter consumer behaviour vis-à-vis mobile communication.”

This advancement can also lead to socially beneficial trends. For instance, blind people can use it for Braille, and access smartphones like everybody else.

2. Speech-to-Speech Translation: Communicating with the World Through a Fingertip

In 2012, Microsoft demonstrated impressive speech-to-speech translation and now, real-time multi-language conference calls may finally become a commercial reality in 2017. IBM has also mentioned that it will open its Watson supercomputing platform to third-party developers. This will allow natural language processing features to be built into apps. Imagine discussing important matters across the globe with just a tap, in multiple languages without the aid of a translator or a mediator.

3. The Brain-Computer Interface: When Your Thoughts Become Commands

Every thought that occurs in our brain has its own brainwave pattern. Hence, no two electrical signals are the same. These unique electrical signals can be mapped out to carry out specific commands. So basically your smartphone with its brain-computer interface can detect the brainwaves emitted with your thoughts and execute the set command.

This is a futuristic technology that could see some commercial application  in smartphones in 2017. Think if your phone could simply detect that you need the curtains drawn, and you are too sleepy to get out of bed. And before you know it, it is done. The potential for such an amazing user interface that allows you to control your smartphone with your mind is limitless.

4. Wireless, Speedy Charging Becomes a Reality

Running out of battery power is one of the most persistent and frequent complaints of most smartphone users. We use our smartphones for multiple purposes simultaneously. The result is a drained battery. Most users reveal that they need to charge their device every day. However, there has been a buzz in the tech world for some time now that smartphone users will be able to charge their cellphones through day-to-day motions like walking or tapping the screen. Your body heat could also aid in charging your phone.

Another revolution we are keenly awaiting is the availability of the ultra-rapid charger that comes with an advanced battery technology that will allow you to charge your phone completely in just 30 seconds. Besides these, another futuristic trend that will hopefully go mainstream in 2017 is where one gadget can be used to charge another without connecting them through any wires.

5. Flexible and Wearable Smartphones

Today represents a new era in which flexibility and wearability are becoming keywords in the dynamics of mobile phones. Screens will soon be able to be folded and unfolded, owing to Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) technology. So you can watch your favorite movie and game on a large screen and the fold it to pocket size and put it away without any hassle. This technology will also enable the prevalence of paper-thin screens that can project from both sides of the screen. What this translates for users is the ability to show pictures or videos to your friend on one side, while using the other side as a control to maneuver videos and images as you like.

With the introduction of physical flexibility in smartphones, companies are also working toward manufacturing wearable smartphones. Use it as a handset as and when you like and then it turns into a wristwatch you can sport. While this will not be a pioneering concept in mobile technology, it is something that should be made available to the masses by 2017.

6. Augmented Reality

The future of mobile technology closely revolves around two words: “augmented reality” (AR). AR in simple terms means an advanced and unseen version of what we can see with our naked eyes. A regular sight when perceived through our smartphone infused with the AR technology will be enhanced through the use of computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics and GPS data.

A surgeon performing a complicated procedure or a firefighter trying to find his way out of a burning building can visualize a much more accurate and safe course of action with the help of augmented reality. Similarly, you can see a particular place through your augmented reality incorporated smartphone camera, and immediately find out the nearest cafes, bookshops, dining places.

Will the next mobile technology revolution kick in this year? Will the above technological trends permeate to the average smartphone user? Only time will tell.

The World Solar Challenge began on Sunday with 42 solar cars crossing Australia’s tropical north to its southern shores, a grueling 3,000 km (1,864 mile) race through the outback.

The race from the northern city of Darwin to the southern city of Adelaide is expected to take a week for most cars, with speeds of 90-100 kmh (55-62 mph) powered only by the sun.

The fastest time was achieved by Japan’s Tokai University in 2009, completing the transcontinetal race in only 29 hours and 49 minutes.

Belgian team Punch Powertrain started first on Sunday after recording a trial time of 2:03.8 for 2.97 km (1.78 miles), hitting an average speed of 83.4 kmh (51.5mph).

But reigning 2015 champions Nuon from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands believes it has a good chance of retaining the prize.

“All the cars look completely different (this year), and all we know is we’ve got a good car, we’ve got it running perfectly the last couple of days and we’re confident we’re going to do everything to win,” tour manager Sarah Benninkbolt said Sunday.

Race director Chris Selwood said the biennial event has attracted one of the best fields ever, with teams from more than 40 countries.

“This is the 30th anniversary of the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge and competitors want to be part of that. They have been drawn to the challenge of new regulations which reduced the solar array size without limiting the size of the solar car,” Selwood said.

Teams come from countries including the United States, Japan, Germany, Chile, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Malaysia, Belgium, Sweden, Iran, South Korea, India, Hong Kong, South Africa, Poland, Thailand, Turkey, Canada, Taiwan and Australia.

The Northern Territory Minister for Tourism and Culture, Lauren Moss said her government’s A$250,000 (US$194,150) sponsorship of the race showed it was committed to achieving 50 percent renewable energy for the territory by 2030.

“Innovation is at the heart of the event and the technology showcased this year will influence continuing solar innovation for vehicles and householders in the future,” she said.

“This event is a great promotion for the NT – it shows our ability to innovate to the world.”

Apple’s latest iPhone launch certainly matched expectations as the tech giant finally launched a device that was different from its predecessors.

The launch of the iPhone X gave Apple a much-needed boost but they aren’t the sole beneficiary of the new device.

Their greatest competitor Samsung also stands to benefit from iPhone X’s popularity particularly the OLED display as the South Korean giant is the exclusive supplier of the display along with the phone’s memory chips.

According to a report, Samsung is estimated to earn about $110 on every iPhone X sold. The analysis carried out by Counterpoint technology Market research for the Wall Street Journal shockingly revealed that Samsung will earn about $4 billion more in revenue making parts for the iPhone X than it will by making components for its own Galaxy S8 device.

The disparity is quite surprising given the neck and neck competition they give to each other.

Samsung makes about $202 per Galaxy S8 sold from components alone, according to Counterpoint. The business analysis firm projects sales of about 50 million units over the next 20 months, which adds up to about $10.1 billion in revenue. Meanwhile, the iPhone X could make Samsung $14.3 billion during the same period.

Samsung’s good fortune is down to the prices it was able to negotiate for its OLED displays with the company reportedly charging Apple about $120 to $130 per display panel, according to a report from trusted Apple source Ming-Chi Kuo.

This price is about $75 higher than what Apple typically pays per display from other suppliers.

Samsung’s reliance on component revenue certainly seems like a smart play as component businesses comprised of 35 per cent of the company’s $195 billion revenue last year.

With Apple solely depending on Samsung and the South Korean giant taking full advantage of that leverage, the only option for Apple is to find alternate supplies for the OLED screens.

They have been rumoured to be exploring screens from LG Display while some claiming Apple might eventually build its own OLED facility.

For now, though, Samsung will reap massive benefits from the iPhone X launch, and the company has the Note 8 on the market, too. When it comes to smartphone sales, Samsung has found itself in a win-win situation.

 Experts on Thursday have warned of negative impact about unchecked access of children to popular social media sites. 

A report aired by a private news channel, a legal expert named Dr. Huma Shaheen said that generations who were brought up spending time with family, neighbors and friends are now engaged with social media web sites.

Dr. Huma believes that this social media dependence is going to grow, but people should be more aware of the negative effects and minimize exposure to these social media platforms.

She said the younger generation believes that friends can be made with a click of a button and deleted just as easily.

In addition, students are attempting to multi-task. They are trying to check various social media sites while they study. This leads to reduced academic performance, she highlighted.

Besides, she also said their ability to concentrate on their task at hand gets significantly reduced due to the distraction that is brought by all these social media sites.

Javed Danish an IT expert added that the other negative effect on students is that they are spending too much time on social sites, and much lesser time on socializing in person.

He further said in fact, there is a lack of body signals besides other nonverbal cues, including tone and inflection in case of social networking sites.

Thus they cannot be considered as an adequate replacement for any face-to-face communication. Not only this, students who are spending a great deal of time on these social networking sites are not able to communicate in person in an effective manner, he mentioned.

He explained that these social media sites have become so popular in such a short time because the information gets published in a fast way.

This has actually created a lax attitude for using proper spelling as well as grammar, said, adding,  the students are unable to write effectively without the aid of the spell check feature of a computer.

Experts suggested this is where teachers and parents need to play a major role by making the students aware of what they are missing out while spending too much time on these sites.