How to Get Refunds on iTunes, App Store, Google Play, Windows Phone Store, BlackBerry World

Ever bought an app and then wondered - "what was I thinking!" Buying apps is easy, almost frictionless, and with credit card details saved on devices and purchases sometimes not even requiring authentication, there's a good chance people have made purchases they've come to regret later. If you've ever been in those shoes, we are here to help.

Follow these steps to get a refund on any device - and it's not just apps, you can also use this to get refunds for books, movies, music, and more.

iTunes and Mac App Store
Apple has a website dedicated to resolving refund-related issues. This website covers paid apps (on both iOS and Mac), in-app purchases, books, films and music. You can use this website to request a refund for purchases made in the last 90 days. Here's how.

1. Open Apple's Report a Problem website and sign in with your Apple ID.
2. You'll see a list of apps sorted by date of purchase. Use the search box to search for the purchase and click the "Report a Problem" button next to the app.
3. Select a reason for seeking a refund from the drop-down menu and write your reason in the message box. This can include your not authorising the purchase, or an item not downloading or installing, and more. Click Submit.
4. Now you'll have to wait. If Apple decides that your grievance is legitimate, you'll get a refund within 48 hours. You'll be contacted via mail on your Apple-registered email id, letting you know whether you are getting a refund or not. Members in our team have gotten refunds in this way.

Google Play
Android users have access to a great refund feature - Google reportedly lets you get a refund up to two hours after you bought the app, though the official documentation still lists the refund window as 15 minutes. During this period, you can get a refund by following these steps:

1. Open Google Play Store on your Android device > tap the Play Store icon > My Apps.
2. Choose the app you want a refund for and tap Refund. The process is automatic and works without a hitch.

Given how easy it is to get a refund this way, you should definitely try out any new apps as soon as you download them, to see if they are worth the money.

1. If it has been more than two hours since you bought the app, you need to request refunds via a Web browser. Check these steps.
2. Open Google Play and sign in.
3. Now hover your mouse over the app you want a refund for > click the three dots icon (next to the name of the app) > Report a problem.
4. Select "I'd like to request a refund" from the drop-down menu and write your reason in the message box below. Click Submit.

Now you have to wait for Google to judge whether your refund request should be accepted or not.

Windows Phone
Unlike iOS and Android, Windows Phone doesn't seem to have a clear-cut refund policy. We checked and all we could find on Windows Phone forums was a repeated suggestion to chat with the Windows Phone support team and ask them to refund.

1. Click this link and click on Chat. Sign in to to your Microsoft account.
2. Now describe your problem and click Submit. Once again, you'll have to wait for them to respond and depend on the company judging whether your grievance is genuine.

BlackBerry
BlackBerry has an official consumer support webpage where you can request refunds for apps by filling up a small form. You don't need to give a reason for asking for a refund in the form, just simple details like the order number and your phone PIN number:

1. Just open this page, fill the form and click Submit.
2. You're still dependent on BlackBerry to judge your case worthy of a refund. You will be contacted via email within 48 hours, where you can give more details about the reason for the refund request, and after that it is up to BlackBerry.

However, people seem to have mixed results with this. A lot of people have written in online forums saying that the refund was rejected. Most of the posts we found about successful refunds mention that the email from BlackBerry came within a few hours. We initiated an app refund of our own nearly 48 hours ago, but there has been no response from BlackBerry so far. We will update this if and when we get a response.

If all else fails, there is one more option you can try, though there is no guarantee that it will work. You can try writing to the developer of the app you want a refund for - in many cases, the developers themselves prefer to refund an app if there is a genuine problem, so it is always a good idea to ask. It's probably best to try the official methods first though, especially since developers don't have a way of 'refunding' money back to the card you paid with, and anything they can do will be a bit of a workaround.

Since refunds largely depend on the judgement of the person reviewing the request, it is best not to seek a refund when not justified. Some comments on forums mention that asking for refunds frequently led to emails from Apple which specifically state this as a reason for denying the request. If you've accidentally purchased an app, or an app doesn't work as advertised, you should of course apply for a refund, but it's best to exercise more caution before making a payment, than afterwards - don't use it as a way of 'try before buy' though.

We hope this helped you get a refund for apps you didn't intend to buy. Share your app refund experiences via the comments...

This Low-Cost Mobile Can Charge Other Phones Too

Maxx Mobile has launched a new feature phone at Rs. 1,848, the MX200, in the company's Power House phone category.

The highlight of the new Maxx MX200 is the large 5200mAh battery that can be also used as a power bank to charge other mobiles. In addition to the large battery that can deliver up to 10-11 hours of talk time, the MX200 also offers a rugged body.

The Maxx MX200 comes with 2.4-inch screen, expandable storage support up to 8GB; dual-SIM support, and support for multiple languages (English, Hindi and Gujarati). Other features in the phone include Bluetooth, GPRS, FM radio and multimedia support (audio player, video recording and player). The phone will be available in two colours - Black, and Orange with Black.

For those unaware, the Maxx MX200 is successor to the MX100 launched78]

in December last year. The Maxx MX100 came with a large 4400mAh battery, which 

could also be used as a power bank to charge other phones.

Commenting on the launch, Ajjay Agarwal, Chairman and Managing Director, Maxx Mobile said, "Our consumers in the semi-urban segment and in rural areas need phones with good battery life and rugged to sustain rough conditions. We reached out to these audiences with MX100 last year, with a powerful long lasting 4400mAh battery and which could also be used as a power bank to charge other mobiles. Encouraged by the huge response, this year we have enhanced the battery capacity to 5200mAh for Max100 and have also launched MX200 with similar specifications, but with a bigger 2.4-inch screen. We continue to remain committed to offer consumers products with best quality at attractive prices."

Maxx Mobile, not being limited to the feature phone segment, launched its first Android 4.4 KitKat-based smartphone last month, the AXD21 MSD7 Smarty, 

Google Launches Photo Sphere Camera App for iOS

Google on Tuesday released its Photo Sphere Camera app for iPhone and iPad devices. The 360-degree photo capturing Photo Sphere feature made its debut in Google Nexus 4 stock camera app, and was recently made available for non-Nexus Android devices (running Android 4.4 KitKat or higher) as the Google Camera app.

The standalone Photo Sphere Camera app for iOS has been optimised for iPhone 5 and can be installed on iPhone and iPad devices running iOS 7 or later, except the iPhone 4. On the App Store listing page, Google notes that "the iPhone 4 cannot create photo spheres."

The new iOS app lets users create a 360-degree panoramic image around an axis. Users will be guided with a dot as they start to capture a Photo Sphereimage. Once a user aligns the dot and circle together in the Photo Sphere Camera app, it automatically clicks the image and keeps on stapling them together. The final render of the stapled images results in a sphere. Although the Photo Sphere Camera app is pretty easy to use, users can also see an instructional video by Google for more details.

Once a photo sphere image is created users can either publish it to the Google Maps Views section via the Photo Sphere Camera app, or, share it via email, messaging or social networks.

In April, Google had released a camera app for non-Nexus Android devices(running Android 4.4 KitKat or higher), dubbed Google Camera. The highlight of the Google Camera app was the Lens Blur mode (apart from Panorama and Photo Spheres), which claimed to give SLR-like image results with shallow depth of field. After clicking a shot, users can even change the subject in focus.

The Google Camera update v2.2 in May had also brought two new Panorama capturing modes, fisheye and wide-angle mode. Last month Google had updated the app further with the remote shutter control for Android Weardevices and more.

iPhone 6 Leaked in New Images; Tipped to Feature 828x1472 Resolution Display

iphone_6

As the expected release of the next-generation iPhone nears, we are seeing more and more leaks each day. On Tuesday, new images of the alleged front and rear panels of the iPhone 6 (which is widely expected to come in 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch versions) appeared online, while a report pointed to lines of SDK code that indicated a new 828x1472 pixel resolution.

The alleged front and rear panel iPhone 6 images were posted by Feld & Volk, which makes customised luxury variants of the iPhone and iPad devices.

First spotted by MacRumors, the alleged front and rear panel iPhone 6 images of the anticipated 4.7-inch variant are in-line with what has been widely expected based on earlier leaks, with rounded corners and buttons indicating the iPhone 6 will take design cues from Apple's current generation iPod touch.

Further, the alleged iPhone 6 images again show the power button positioned on the right panel of the device, instead of on the top panel seen on existing iPhone models. Also seen are the new speaker holes at the bottom of the phone, alongside the Lightning port and 3.5mm audio jack. MacRumors also refers to an unlisted Feld & Volk image of the rear shell depicting the a 'round True Tone flash', and 'embedded Apple logo'.

A new screen resolution of 828x1472 pixels for the next-generation iPhone 6 has been tipped via iOS 8 files inside both the Xcode 6 beta 5 and the latest Xcode 6 beta 6 SDKs.

9to5mac notes the mention of a screen resolution of 414x736 pixels (16:9) was found inside the iOS 8's Springboard app, which refers to the iPhone home screen.

This particular file outlines for the system where icons, by default, will be placed on an iPhone's Home screen. This particular file, which was added in Xcode 6 beta 5 earlier this month and still exists in yesterday's Xcode 6 beta 6, is optimized for an iPhone with a resolution of 414 (width) x 736 (height). The iPhone SDK parses hardware resolutions via "point values," so the actual "Retina" resolution is in fact double (or potentially triple) whatever numbers the SDK presents.

Considering that iOS devices currently renders texts, images and other elements at '2X' the resolution in the SDK, the report speculates that Apple might debut the new iPhone 6 with 828x1472 pixels screen resolution.

If true, this resolution on the expected 4.7-inch display would give a pixel density of 359ppi, and on the expected 5.5-inch display a pixel density of 307ppi. As 9to5Mac notes, this fits in with Apple's 300ppi Retina threshold, first mentioned by Steve Jobs at the iPhone 4 launch. It would also mean more real estate, which as the report notes, translates to roughly two additional rows and 1 additional column at current iOS icon sizes.

A '3X' 'pixel-tripling' resolution, while previously considered possible, is now being considered unlikely to be implemented on the iPhone 6 - as it would indicate what's being called an unfeasible 1242x2208 pixel resolution in terms of battery life and developer adoption.

Further, the report notes the 2X Retina 'pixel-doubling' resolution implementation by Apple in previous generation iPhone devices, and the corresponding SDK values. The iPhone 5, iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s - all sport 4-inch (640x1136 pixel) displays, however, the SDK files only presented the half value - 320x568 pixels.

Previously, it was said that the Cupertino-based company was testing a higher screen resolution of 960x1704 pixels on at least one of the two iPhone models. This may still be implemented in the larger 5.5-inch iPhone 6 variant, and is in line with the current 16:9 aspect ratio (as is the newly-rumoured 828x1472 pixel resolution).

Of course, all such leaks must be taken with a pinch of salt, from alleged iPhone 6 component images to extrapolations from lines of SDK code, and much will become clear once Apple officially unveils its next iPhone. The Cupertino giant is expected to do so at a September 9 event.

How to Prevent Eye Strain When Using a Computer

Many people are required to spend several hours every day staring at a screen as part of their jobs - and after they go home, this carries on with tablets and televisions. Couple that with bad lighting and bad posture in offices, and most people complaint about tired eyes and headaches.

These are your body's way of telling you that your eyes need rest, so stop ignoring these signals and try these methods to reduce eye strain if you can't get away from the glare of screens:

Improve Your Posture
The way you are sitting could be the reason behind your tired eyes, according to the American Occupational Safety and Health Association. Before looking for software or hardware solutions to your problem, check if your posture is correct. In many cases, the display is either above or below eye level, which leads to incorrect posture.

If you're craning your neck or slouching to look at the screen, you're straining your eyes. Try using a laptop stand or even just a pile of books to raise the screen to eye level. If the screen is above eye level, try raising your chair to bring the screen to eye level. Once you've done this, try some apps that will further help you reduce eye strain.

20-20-20
The 20-20-20 rule is quite effective at reducing eye strain. Simply put, after every 20 minutes of looking at the screen, look at an object that is at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Following this rule has helped us at NDTV Gadgets, so we can vouch for it.

Keeping track of those twenty minute breaks isn't easy though, particularly when you're in the middle of work, so we suggest you try a free Web app calledProtect Your Vision. Here's how to use it.

1. Open the Protect Your Vision website > click 20-20-20 > select your break schedule from the drop-down menu. You may go with 20-20-20 (recommended) or 60-5 (five-minute break every hour) or Custom (where you can choose the duration of each break and the interval between breaks).

2. Once your break schedule is selected, click the black button labelled "Request permission and test notification" > Allow (Chrome) or Show for this session (Firefox) > Start PYV. The website requires desktop notifications because that's how it reminds you to take a break. Desktop notifications are supported on Firefox, Chrome and Safari.

3. Now a timer will appear, showing you the time till your next break. You may disable sound notifications by clicking the volume icon next to the timer. Once you see a notification, click it and then click Start break. Now your screen will turn dark for the duration of the break. You should look at a point at least 20 feet away. Alternatively, you may click Start Eyes Gymnastics on your screen and the app shows you some eye exercises (move eyes up and down, etc.) that you can quickly go through to reduce eye strain.

Protect Your Vision is a nice app but if you want something that automatically darkens your screen every 20 minutes, then try FadeTop on Windows or TimeOuton Mac. They accomplish the same result, and don't require you to click on any button to start the break.

Cut Out The Blue Light
According to the Vision Council, one of the largest groups of manufacturers and suppliers in the optical industry, blue light is one of the causes of digital eyestrain. To make your monitor eye-friendly, you can go into the settings and tweak the various options to reduce eye strain.

The first thing you should do is set the brightness and contrast to a comfortable level. If your workplace doesn't have plenty of natural light, then you might want to cut out the blue light on your display to give your eyes some much-needed relief. You can do this manually by changing your display settings, but that isn't for everyone.

An alternative is F.lux - a free program for Windows, Mac, Linux and jailbrokeniPhones and iPads. Here's how to use it.

1. Download F.lux and install it on your computer.

2. Once it is installed, a window will open, where F.lux will try to determine your location. If it can't do so, click Settings > Change > type the name of your city > click OK. That's all you need to do. F.lux will take care of everything else.

3. F.lux runs in the background and adjusts your monitor's display settings to reflect the time of the day. This might make your screen look strange, but you will get used to it soon enough. It runs in the system tray, so you can right-click the icon and disable it for an hour, or for a particular app if you are doing colour-sensitive work such as image editing on your monitor. If you're watching films, it has a movie mode that makes colours look better.

Hardware
While the solutions mentioned above should be good enough for most situations, you might want to consider buying gadgets with anti-glare screens to reduce the strain on your eyes. If you haven't done this, you can buy yourself an anti-glare screen coating. We tested an anti-glare filter from 3M on our laptops and found it to be quite effective.

If you are using a device with a reflective screen, you may find it hard to see your screen if it is facing the light. Anti-glare filters are useful in these situations and the one from 3M does the job as advertised. It takes some time to attach to your screen but that's a one-time hassle. Good quality anti-glare coatings cost anywhere between Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 2,000.

If that isn't an option, we suggest you visit an ophthalmologist and get yourself a good pair of anti-glare glasses. Some brands (like Gunnar) also make glasses that are supposed to be particularly helpful for "computer vision syndrome." While we have no first hand experience with these products, you can check our various reviews on the Web.

These tips should have helped you reduce eye strain. In case you have any other tips or if you liked our suggestions, please let us know via the comments