Microsoft on the first anniversary of Windows 10 i.e. July 29th  is planning to remove free upgrade option of  Window 10 from Window 7 and Window 8.1 enabled devices.

Upgrade remains free for user for complete 1 year. Upgrade was roll out in market previous year on July 29th free of cost.  Now, Microsoft has reminded everyone that free promotion for Window 10 is finishing soon.

In an announcement, Yusuf Mehdi, head of Microsoft's Windows and devices marketing efforts said, "Time is running out, The free upgrade offer will end on July 29th and we want to make sure you don’t miss out." After July 29th, Microsoft says you'll need to purchase a full version of Windows 10 Home for $119 or get Windows 10 on a new machine. 

Windows 10 is already running on 300 million machines right now and the company is expecting an ambitious target of 1 billion machines running on Windows 10 by next year.

If you still happen to be running on Windows 7 or 8 and have been thinking of making the jump to 10, you should make your decision fast.

Chrooma Keybord : A lightweight, fast keyboard that adapts itself to the app you are using, giving you a pleasant chromatic feeling.

The color adaptive Chrooma keyboard app is now free on Play store. The smart keyboard app brings lot of cool features like multi-language typing, dynamic Night mode, one hand mode, color themes, tons of emoji, etc. to your Android phone. It is lightweight and adapts itself to the app you are using, which will give you a pleasant chromatic feeling.

The keyboard app is an essential part of every smartphone, without it the phone is a useless device. The default keyboard on Android smartphone is enough for most uses. For example, the Google keyboard app brings almost all necessary features to users, however, if you are looking for some extra features like the auto-night mode, one-hand mode, etc. then you might like Chrooma Keyboard app.

Previously available for $1.49, the developer has now made Chrooma Keyboard a freemium app. This means you’ll be able to download it for free and pay a little extra money to unlock some premium features if you so choose.

All of the standard Chrooma features are available in the free version though, so you’ll still be able to take advantage of the adaptable colors, Night Mode, and more without paying a dime.

New in the version 2.0 update are some notable enhancements like a better color detection algorithm, a new battery saving color, new theme and font styles, an enhanced Night Mode and a split layout option. There’s also a brand new Material Design-themed settings menu that you’ll want to check out. For those interested, the full version 2.0 changelog can be found below:

Now free with IAP

The Chrooma Keyboard app belongs to premium category and offers features like one hand mode, split layout, swipe typing, resizable, custom color picking for app, number row (a most appreciated features of the latest keyboard apps), wonderful color styles, font styles, night mode (change color tone automatically based o ambient light), and more.

It also supports 60 different languages, including both standard and indic languages.

This big update is available now in the Play Store, so follow the link below if you’re interested.

Paytm has just disrupted the Indian eCommerce sector’s growth formula by offering free WiFi Internet access to all. For a period of 15 minutes, this free WiFi access would be provided to all Internet users; and the best part is that such access of Internet is neutral – You can open any website, app and not just Paytm app.

This makes Paytm as the first Indian eCommerce and Wallet company to offer free Internet via WiFi, and has set a precedent which will have far reaching consequences for every user.

Vijay Shekhar Sharma announced this via facebook post, when he said, “Launching Paytm WiFi beta. Ab Paytm karne ke liye free Internet. Coming soon!

 PS: it will be equal, open & free internet for apps not just Paytm”

Paytm’s free 15-minute WiFi would be offered at Metro Stations to start with, and this is already launched at Noida’s Sector 18 metro, which is considered one of the busiest metro stations due to proximity to various shopping malls and markets.

Now, Paytm is vigorously pushing their wallet for offline usage; and this free WiFi offer can perfectly compliment their efforts. Paytm wants their users, merchants and traders to use Paytm when the actual cash exchange takes place, and with this vision, Free WiFi at a Metro station makes perfect sense.

For example, commuters who about to pay auto fares can quickly use this service and make payment via Paytm app; and at the same time, auto-drivers can use the free Internet, and accept payment via Paytm wallet.

Vijay said, “We are building avenues for our merchants and consumers who do not have access to internet at all times to stay connected with Paytm. Initially we are looking at metros because they are key locations for our consumers and our merchants, especially the auto-rickshaw walas..”

Besides, as per Vijay, this free WiFi can be used to access any Internet and Mobile based service, not just Paytm; and this effectively protects the principles of Net Neutrality and Free Internet. In case Paytm would have forced the user to only use their app, then it would have been Free Basics type enforced and monitored Internet ‘trap’.

We had earlier covered how Vijay Shekhar Sharma is a staunch supporter of Net Neutrality in India

Meanwhile, in a related news, Google has announced that their WiFi service has now been extended to 9 more stations, which are: Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, Ernakulam Jn, Kacheguda, Pune, Raipur, Ranchi, Vijayawada and Vishakhapatnam .

They had earlier started their free WFi service from Mumbai Central Station, where 1,00,000 people are using their service every week.

With Paytm becoming the first ecommerce/wallet firm to launch free WiFi, we may soon see other ecommerce biggies jumping into this ‘growth hack’ strategy.

Do you think offering free WiFi is a good idea? Do let us know by commenting right here.

HitFilm3 from the UK company FXHome is a bit of an enigma. It acts perfectly well as a very capable stand-alone package, very well indeed in fact as it has many features others don’t, but when installed, it also acts as a plugin to a host NLE, thus making all those extra features available no matter what NLE you use (as long as it is supported of course).

Now there is HitFilm3 Express, which as you’d expect is the ‘Lite’ version of its bigger brother, and to all intents and purposes is free. There are some things missing from the fully blown version,, including 4K capability, ‘only’ 157  included effects (you buy extras in ‘Packs’ at USD$9.95 each) and it is purely stand alone (no Vegas, Premiere etc plugin-in support). FXHome has also seen fit to take out ‘professional’ chroma-keying, the de-noiser and rendering is limited to 8 bit.'

Add on

Additionally, the AVCHD and Dolby 3 licences are not included due to licencing restrictions, so they will be available in a ‘Premium Pack’ along with others as mentioned.

Like its bigger brother, there are in actual fact two components to the core of HitFilm 3 Express, those of the editor proper, and second, the compositing/effects side. For the first time user, this aspect could be very confusing with due respect to the HitFilm 3 designers. But make no mistake, even though HitFilm 3 Express is to all intents and purposes, free on both the Mac and PC, compositing abilities add hugely powerful features to the program and make the slog of learning it well worth the effort.

To assist in this, there is a very good PDF manual available – much better than an online help system in my books as it can be printed off, bound and read or perused at leisure as well as on-demand as needed. Better still fxHome has put together more than 40 tutorial videos explaining the basics of editing and how to put together specific features to make effects.

One of these, and the project files are available, is called “Portal Combat” and is a sequence of tutorials showing how this movie, developed by production company Film Riot, was put together.

So how does this compositing work?

As is to be expected these days, HitFilm 3 Express is a multi-tracked system, letting different clips be placed on tracks, including audio, transitions, still images etc. However, a track can be converted to a special compositing track. This is in turn able to be broken into multiple layer tracks.

To each layer track an effect can be added and fine-tuned, and there is a huge library of possibilities from correction filters to effects and even 3D options so you have clips and objects in x, y and z space.

Due to its roots – the first thig I remember from fxHome was a plugin for adding muzzle flashes to guns – there is a strong element of effects in the library and indeed, two of the two main tutorials run through creating a “portal” in space / time as well as the aforementioned muzzle flashes to simulate gun fire of all different sorts.


As mentioned, there are a number of add on packs you can purchase to supplement these supplied effects, and some examples of these include Damage, Colourist, Destruction, Pro Light Flares, Sci-Fi Adventure, Particle Simulator, 3D Modelling Toolkit and Film Looks.

If your filmmaking is heavily involves the use of effects, and many aspiring filmmakers do seem to tend towards the genres of zombie, high action and dystopian Earth type stuff, then HitFilm 3 Express will be of very great interest. Of course, it can be used for less effects driven material as it is a very able editor in its own right, and the price tag is of course attractive.

For the first time user, the learning curve may be a bit steep and daunting beyond basic editing. But persisting with the tutorials will certainly pay off in the long run. Just don’t expect to install HitFilm 3 Express and to be creating your version of Star Wars within minutes. But take your time, learn the application and the sky is certainly the limit.

You can download Hitfilm 3 Express from its dedicated website.