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Showing posts from September, 2021

Apple iPhone 13 series reportedly facing production issues

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  Apple iPhone 13 series is reportedly facing production issues because of a Covid-19 wave in Vietnam which has limited manufacturing capacity for the devices' camera systems. According to people familiar with the matter, the disruption is mainly associated with constrained supplies of camera modules for the four iPhone 13 models because a significant number of its component parts are assembled in Vietnam, reports Nikkei Asia. The iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max all feature sensor-shift optical image stabilisation. In 2020, the technology was only available on the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Bringing it to every model has reportedly put a strain on Apple's suppliers. Click Here

Vivo launches X70 series in India: Check features, price, availability

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  Vivo today launched its X70 series in India featuring ZEISS T coating and Ultra-Sensing Gimbal Camera. The X70 lineup consists of two smartphones -- X70 Pro and X70 Pro+. The Vivo X70 series will go on sale starting October 7, though pre-bookings will open from today. The X70 series is co-engineered with ZEISS for imaging, and on top of that the line-up has certified compliance to ZEISS T* Coating, which guarantees imaging brilliance by enhancing light transmissions and reducing unnoteworthy image artifacts, the company said. Vivo X70 Pro+ : Specifications Vivo X70 Pro+ features a 6.78-inch UHD+ (1,440×3,200 pixels) AMOLED display with 120Hz dynamic refresh rate. The smartphone is powered by the Snapdragon 888+ processor and the device comes in 12GB RAM + 256GB storage variant only. Read More

Noise ColorFit Ultra smartwatch review: A good mix of looks and performance

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  Homegrown fitness accessory maker Noise recently launched a smartwatch called ColorFit Ultra, a feature-heavy budget smartwatch with impressive on-paper specifications. Noise ColorFit Ultra smartwatch review Priced at Rs 4,499, Noise ColorFit Ultra looks like a promising entry in the cluttered budget smartwatch market. I used the device for a little over a month to see how it stacks up against other budget wearables, here's my review: Noise ColorFit Ultra : build and design The Noise ColorFit Ultra comes with a 1.75-inch TruView colour display with 320x385 pixel resolution. The display is large and crisp with punchy colours. The display is good but the touch response lags at times. However, it's still one of the best displays we have seen in this price range. Read More

Amazon launches robot to roll around house, Disney resort voice assistant

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  Amazon.com Inc on Tuesday announced a household, canine-like robot called Astro and a deal with Walt Disney Co to imbue its voice-controlled tech in resort hotels, striving to make its virtual aide Alexa a bigger part of consumers' lives. The home robot is designed to take up tasks such as home monitoring, setting up routines and reminders, and can play music and TV shows while rolling around the house. Amazon Home Robot The device, which has digital eyes on a rotating screen mounted on wheels, is available at an introductory invite-only price of $999.99 and regular price of $1,449.99. Among other launches in its latest lineup were a smart thermostat, smart display Echo Show 15 and a new health-tracking band called Halo View. The Echo Show 15 can be mounted on a wall and is powered with AZ2 Neural Edge, a processor that helps users personalize the screen. Click Here

DHFL corruption case: HC refuses bail to Yes Bank founder's wife, daughters

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  The Bombay High Court on Tuesday refused to grant bail to Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor's wife and two daughters in a corruption and cheating case involving private sector lender Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Ltd (DHFL). A single bench of Justice Bharati Dangre rejected the bail applications filed by Kapoor's wife Bindu and daughters Roshini and Radha. DHFL corruption case The three had approached the HC last week, challenging a special CBI court order of September 18 which refused them bail while noting that they had, prima facie, caused a loss of Rs 4,000 crore to the Yes Bank through illegal acts. The lower court had remanded them in 14-day judicial custody and said they did not deserve any sympathy for being women. Click Here

TikTok surpasses 1 billion monthly active users; US, Europe biggest market

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  Short video-making platform TikTok has crossed one billion monthly active users around the world. The video-sharing platform, owned by ByteDance , said it had about 55 million global users by January 2018. That number grew to more than 271 million by December 2018 and 507 million by December 2019. "On behalf of the TikTok team, I want to say thank you," TikTok COO Vanessa Pappas said. "Wherever you are in the world, we definitely couldn't do this without you." Social media giant Facebook in comparison in the second quarter had 3.51 billion monthly users across its family of apps, up from 3.45 billion in the first quarter. Meanwhile, Youtube has over two billion monthly active users, having crossed the one billion mark in 2013, eight years after the company launched in 2005. Read More

Clubhouse launches new feature to invite friends into audio chats

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  Popular audio chat app Clubhouse has officially launched a new way to invite people to audio chats called "Wave". The company announced the news at a surprise town hall on Thursday and is enabling the feature for all users on iOS and Android, reports The Verge. With Wave, users can invite friends to a live audio room just by tapping a waving hand emoji. Once they receive their invitation, they can choose to join your call and immediately get added to an audio room. To send a Wave, users can swipe right on the Hallway or tap the dots icon at the bottom left of the screen. Then tape the wave button next to the person they would like to chat with. They will get a notification that you said hello and know that you are open to chatting. If they are too, they can join a private room with you -- open just to the people you waved at. Read More

Microsoft launches Surface Duo 2 with better performance, cameras

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  Tech giant Microsoft has launched its second folding smartphone -- the Surface Duo 2 along with the next-generation Surface devices. Available in glacier or a new obsidian, Surface Duo 2 starts at $1499.99 and is available for pre-order in select markets. "Surface Duo 2 brings new and improved design to the Surface Duo line. Still emphasizing the ability to multitask, Surface Duo 2 features larger screens, increased durability, a dynamic triple-lens camera, lightning-fast 5G, and a spine that displays notifications when the device is closed," the company said in a statement. The OLED display, each, measures 5.8-inches in size, screen resolution of 1344 x 1892 pixels, is connected by a hinge and is protected by Corning's Gorilla Glass. Read More

Alzheimer's Day 2021: What causes it? What we know, don't know and suspect

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  Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, which is an umbrella term used to describe general loss of memory, thinking skills and other day-to-day functions (such as cooking, paying bills, cleaning and even dressing). A hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease is gradual deterioration of memory. But it is a biological disease, which means that, besides seeing outwards symptoms such as memory loss, we can also measure the breakdown that occurs in the brain as a consequence of disease progression.  world alzheimer's day 2021 Alzheimer’s is identified by the presence of two proteins in the brain, known as amyloid and tau. Amyloid proteins aggregate into sticky clumps called “plaques”. And tau proteins tend to form “tangles”. While it is still unclear how amyloid and tau interact to cause the disease, these plaques and tangles seem to play a role in blocking messages between brain cells. They induce inflammation wherever they accumulate, and may gum up the transportation

Samsung Galaxy A52s review: Upgrade brings 5G, performance boost, and more

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  Samsung has been upgrading its budget and midrange smartphones to make them ready for the upcoming 5G network. Fresh in the South Korean electronics maker’s 5G smartphone portfolio, the Galaxy A52s is based on the Galaxy A52. The upgraded model is powered by a newly launched Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G system-on-chip, which brings with it 5G network support and a boost in performance over the predecessor’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G SoC. Samsung Galaxy A52s Starting with 5G, Samsung says the Galaxy A52s has support for up to 12 network bands. What it means to the phone’s network capability, however, cannot be judged until the 5G network becomes available in India. Therefore, though the 5G network support makes the Galaxy A52s future ready, it is a novelty with little actual benefit for now. Read Full Article Here

Sony launches Alpha ZV-E10 mirrorless camera starting at Rs 59,490

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  Sony on Monday announced a portable mirrorless camera ' Alpha ZV-E10 ' with a feature-set optimized for vloggers and content creators. The new ZV-E10 camera will be available across all Sony Centers Alpha Flagship stores, www.ShopatSC.com portal, major electronic stores as well as ecommerce websites (Amazon and Flipkart) for Rs 59,490 for only body and Rs 69,990 with lens. The Alpha ZV-E10 features a 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS sensor and BIONZ X image processing engine which aims to produce high-quality imagery with high-sensitivity, detailed texture depiction and beautiful natural bokeh. "The new Alpha ZV-E10 is an amalgamation of the versatility and excellence in image quality of a larger-sensor interchangeable lens camera that offers user-friendly features, specifically designed for still and video, making it an ideal tool for creators looking to transition to a more advanced set up," Mukesh Srivastava, Head of Digital Imaging Business at Sony India, said in

Realme Watch 2 Pro review: A low-cost smartwatch to watch out for

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  Xiaomi needs to be credited for popularising low-cost wearables in the mass market. The first Xiaomi band priced under Rs 1,000 attracted a fair number of users in India. However, the market has changed. Fitness bands have given way to watches that are also replacing traditional timepieces. Apple’s revolution is becoming familiar at lower rungs, with players like Realme, boAt and Amazfit. Realme Watch 2 Pro review Realme earlier launched its Watch and Watch S versions and followed them up with second iterations. Now it has launched a pro version of the Watch 2. The screen size has increased, and battery life has got a bump. And Realme is also trying to improve its tracking features. All of these under Rs 5,000. Design There is not much to complain about design. Most other companies have either copied the Apple or Samsung model. The rectangle or the square can vary from one manufacturer to another. For the new Realme offering, an improvement is in screen size. Read More

Ola Electric sells e-scooters worth Rs 1,100 crore in just two days

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  Ola Electric, the ride-hailing firm's electric vehicle arm, on Friday said that it sold e-scooters worth over Rs 1,100 crore in just two days, during its sale of Ola S1 and S1 Pro scooters. The SoftBank-backed company said this was unprecedented not just in the automotive industry, but also represented one of the highest sales in a day (by value) for a single product in Indian e-commerce history. “Day 2 of the EV era was even better than Day 1. Crossed Rs 1,100 crore in sales in 2 days,” tweeted Bhavesh Aggarwal, co-chairman and group chief executive officer, Ola, on Friday. Thursday was the second and final day for the purchase of the Ola S1 and S1 Pro, the first in Ola's range of electric scooters. The company had sold scooters worth over Rs 600 crore in just 24 hours. Click Here

GoPro announces Hero 10 Black action camera, India launch set for early Nov

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  American technology company GoPro on Thursday announced the Hero 10 Black. The action camera will be available in India from early November for Rs 54,500. Powered by the company’s flagship GP2 processor, the camera brings improvements with respect to image quality and video frame rate. Besides, the action camera gets a new user interface for ease of use. In terms of features, the Hero 10 Black boasts 5.3K resolution video recording at 60 frames per second (fps), 4K resolution video recording at 120 fps and 2.7K resolution video recording at 240 fps. The new processor also enables HyperSmooth 4.0 video stabilization for shake-free video recording. According to GoPro, the new GP2 processor enables improved video algorithms featuring local tone mapping (LTM) and 3D noise reduction (3DNR) that capture finer detail, realistic textures and better contrast—even in low light. Read More

Apple unveils Watch Series 7 with redesigned display, new features

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  In a bid to help users improve overall wellness, tech giant Apple has announced Watch Series 7 that offers new apps, including Mindfulness app and Tai Chi along with other new features. Apple Watch Series 7 will start at $399, Watch SE starts at $279 and Watch Series 3 starts at $199 in the US. The watches are available to order from apple.com/store and the Apple Store app, with availability in stores beginning September 16. "Apple Watch Series 7 delivers significant improvements -- from our largest and most advanced display to enhanced durability and faster charging -- making the world's best smartwatch better than ever before," Jeff Williams, Apple's chief operating officer, said in a statement late Tuesday. Read More

Apple iPhone 13 review: Better but it looks, performs like devices before

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  It is a story that now happens just about every September: Apple introduced new iPhones that have slightly bigger screens, faster speeds and better cameras--but no new major advances. In a prerecorded infomercial, Apple executives framed the improvements in the new iPhone 13 as significant innovations, but they result in a device that looks and performs much like the iPhones that Apple touted last year. iPhone 13 review Apple said the new iPhones have a brighter screen, longer battery life and more powerful cameras and computer processors. Having already pushed the screen nearly to the edge of the device, Apple slightly increased its size by reducing the small notch at the top of the screen. Apple kept the same flat-edge design of the phone that it has used in other recent models. Click Here

Court warns Kangana after she skips hearing in Javed Akhtar defamation case

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  A Mumbai court on Tuesday allowed actor Kangana Ranaut 's plea seeking exemption from personal appearance for the day in a criminal defamation complaint filed by lyricist Javed Akhtar , and said it will issue a warrant against her if she fails to appear on the next date of hearing on September 20. As the matter came up for hearing, Ranaut's lawyer sought that she be exempted from appearance for the day as she was not keeping well. The lawyer submitted a medical certificate before the court and said the actor has been traveling for the promotion of her film and has "developed COVID-19 symptoms". However, Akhtar's lawyer said this is an orchestrated tactic to delay the case proceedings. The lyricist's lawyer further said Ranaut has refused to appear before the court for one reason or the other since summons were issued to her in February this year. Click Here

Nokia launches budget smartphone 'C01 Plus' in India

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  HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, on Monday launched the 'Nokia C01 Plus', the latest addition to its C-series smartphones with a strategic partnership with Reliance Retail Ltd in India. The Nokia C01 Plus is available in India starting Monday in blue and purple colour variants for Rs 5,999 across leading offline retail stores, e-commerce platforms and Nokia.com. Customers who choose to avail the JioExclusive offer will get an instant price support of 10 per cent on the best buy price, and will have to pay Rs 5,399. In terms of specifications, the Nokia C01 Plus comes with a 5.45-inch HD+ screen with thick bezels on the top and the bottom. The smartphone houses a 2MP front facing camera. At the rear, it packs a 5MP HDR camera. Both cameras have dedicated LED flash. Read More

Apple to develop its electric car alone to avoid further delays

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  Cupertino-based tech giant Apple is reportedly developing its electric vehicle alone without the assistance of another automaker. According to Maeil Economic Daily (via MacRumors), the iPhone maker is currently selecting final parts suppliers Earlier, the tech giant contacted BMW, Hyundai, Nissan, and Toyota to explore joint development and contract production agreements. Apple has now gone through the process of sending a Request for Information (RFI), Request for Proposal (RFP), and Request for Quotation (RFQ) to global automobile part manufacturers. Apple recently hired two former Mercedes engineers with experience in mass production of vehicles, steering, dynamics, software and project management. Click Here

Apple's iPhone 13 Pro to have max storage ever of 1TB: Report

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  Tech giant Apple is set to launch the iPhone 13 series on September 14 and now ahead of the official announcement, reputable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has revealed the expected storage capacities for the iPhone 13 lineup. According to Kuo, the iPhone 13 lineup will start with 128GB of storage, with no 64GB option for any models. The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max will be available with up to 1TB of storage, which would be the largest capacity ever offered for an iPhone, reports MacRumors. Like other 2021 events, Apple confirmed that the September launch event will also take place virtually. The iPhone 13 lineup may mirror the iPhone 12 family of phones, with a 5.4-inch iPhone 13 Mini, 6.1-inch iPhone 13, 6.1-inch iPhone 13 Pro, and 6.7-inch iPhone 13 Pro Max. The devices are said to be powered by Apple's next-generation A15 chip manufactured based on TSMC's 5nm+ process. Read More

Mi Notebook Ultra review: Xiaomi energises the boring consumer PC segment

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  I was planning to buy a midrange laptop and was amazed to see that every other legacy brand in the consumer PC market had products with similar features and specifications. Blame the oligopoly, but as a consumer I was almost convinced that the product offerings by the legacy PC makers were the best available in the market. And then was released the Mi Notebook Ultra by Chinese technology company Xiaomi. A premium laptop, the Mi Notebook Ultra challenged the conventions set by legacy consumer PC makers by democratising features and specifications usually seen in laptops that cost almost twice as much as the top-end model (review unit – Rs 76,999) on offer here. Starting with the design, the Mi Notebook Ultra boasts a unibody made of series 6 aluminium alloy. For a laptop with 15.6-inch screen, the Mi Notebook Ultra is appropriately built but does not meticulously fit in the thin-and-light category. Speaking of build, the Mi Notebook Ultra is spot on. From smooth edges to a sturdy

Realme Book Slim review: Tad expensive, but a whole lot better than peers

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  The laptop I had been using for on-the-go work stopped working soon after I, like many other Indian professionals, began work from home in early 2020. It was a 2016 model powered by Core i3 processor with integrated Intel graphics, 8GB RAM and 1TB hard disk drive storage. I thought it was a decent laptop for basic everyday use, but I was wrong. Since then I have not been recommending any Intel Core i3-powered laptop to anyone for work-from-home purpose. Recently, when I began testing the Realme Book Slim laptop for this review, I had my reservations, simply because it was powered by the 11th Gen Intel Core i3 processor. But I had to change my mind after a while, partly because Realme seemed to have changed the rules set by legacy consumer PC makers. The Realme Book Slim was unlike any other laptop in the entry-level thin-and-light segment. Everything about the Realme Book Slim appeared novel. No wonder the laptop delivered an unmatched experience. Click Here

Shoppers Stop ties up with Accenture for digital commerce transformation

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  K Raheja Group-owned retailing firm Shoppers Stop has collaborated with global IT and professional services company Accenture to accelerate its digital commerce transformation across retail channels, a joint statement said on Tuesday. The programme aims to enhance customer experience and profitability, as well as support Shoppers Stop's goal of being the go-to digital destination, it stated. Shoppers Stop Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Venu Nair said omnichannel commerce has been a huge focus area for the company. "By collaborating with Accenture, we want to further strengthen our digital commerce strategy for greater reach and access and also improve the overall shopping experience of our customers," he said, adding that the company aims to "achieve significant profitable growth" in the digital commerce revenues over the next three years. Read More

OnePlus Buds Pro review: Sound thrills but controls ruin user experience

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  Since its integration with OPPO, things are shaping up quite differently for OnePlus – mostly in a good way. Changes in the Nord 2 5G (review) smartphone were subtle yet apparent, and same is the case with the recently launched OnePlus Buds Pro wireless earbuds. On paper, the OnePlus Buds Pro comes across as an all-round package deal in the wireless earbuds segment. But how does it fare in real life? Let’s find out: Design This is one area where OPPO’s influence is apparent. The OnePlus Buds Pro looks similar to the OPPO Enco X in more ways than one, but with a better texture and design language. It boasts in-ear design with a tiny stem protruding from the earbuds. Made of plastic, these earbuds have a matte black finish (review unit) with a dual tone colour texture. The matte finish makes the buds easy to handle and use. As for quality, the earbuds seem to have a durable and sturdy build. They might withstand everyday abuse, but they do easily become dirty and require regular

Samsung Galaxy Wide5 likely to launch as 'Galaxy F42 5G' in India

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  South Korean tech giant Samsung is expected to unveil a new budget 5G smartphone Galaxy Wide5 and that might launch as Galaxy F42 5G in India. According to GizmoChina, ahead of its official unveiling, the smartphone has arrived on Geekbench certification, revealing its key specs. According to the Geekbench portal, the Samsung Galaxy Wide5 a.k.a the Galaxy F42 5G runs on the latest Android 11 out of the box. It scores 558 single-core points and 1513 multi-core points. The listing reveals that the phone will come powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC paired with 6GB RAM. Read Full Article Here

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3: Best clamshell foldable you can buy

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  For the last couple of years, foldable smartphones have been the most talked-about tech topic in India for the smartphone industry as well as for users. Now, Samsung which initiated the new-age foldable war with Galaxy Fold is back with Galaxy Z Flip 3 that folds into the size of a wallet. The smartphone has been launched with top-end features in two variants including 8GB RAM + 128GB of storage and 8GB RAM+256GB of internal storage. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G 8GB RAM +128GB storage model comes at a price of Rs 84,999 while the 8GB RAM + 256GB storage model has been launched at a price of Rs 88,999. The smartphone comes in two colour options Phantom Black and Cream. We used the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage Phantom Black model for around a week and here is what we think about this new device. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 features a 6.7-inch main screen on the inside, which is vertically foldable. Read More

Samsung emerges as India's no. 1 smartwatch brand, says IDC

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  Samsung emerged as India's biggest smartwatch manufacturer in the second quarter ending June 2021, a new report said on Thursday. According to International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker, Samsung's smartwatch shipments registered 860 per cent year-on-year growth, catapulting the company to number one position in India. Samsung Smartwatch Riding on the popularity of Galaxy Watch Active 2 and Watch 3 Series, Samsung ended the June quarter with 41.2 per cent volume market share. "Over the years, Samsung has been working tirelessly to pioneer smartwatch features that enable consumers to lead a healthy and rewarding life. Samsung recently opened pre-bookings for Galaxy Watch4 and Galaxy Watch4 Classic in India. Galaxy Watch4 series will start a new era of smartwatch innovation to drive holistic health and wellness," the company said in a statement. Read More

Sidharth Shukla, 'Balika Vadhu' star, 'Bigg Boss 13' winner, dies at 40

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  Popular television and film actor Sidharth Shukla , best known for his role in the long running TV show Balika Vadhu, died on Thursday, an official at the Cooper Hospital here said. He was 40. Shukla suffered a massive heart attack in the morning, accoridng to media reports. He is survived by his mother and two sisters. "He was brought dead to the hospital some time ago," the senior Cooper Hospital official told PTI. Sidharth Shukla's early life Shukla attended St. Xavier's High School, Fort, Mumbai and holds a bachelor's degree in Interior Design from Rachana Sansad School of Interior Design. He played against Italian football club, AC Milan’s under-19 team, on their Mumbai visit as part of Festa Italiana. After completing bachelor's degree in interior design, Shukla worked in an interior designing firm for a couple of years. Read More

Google Pixel Buds A-Series creates ripples with rich sound

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  As the Indian earwear market witnesses a massive growth, Google has forayed into the true wireless stereo (TWS) category with launching Pixel Buds A-Series in India, that features Google Assistant hands-free support and real-time translation. Packed with custom-designed 12 mm dynamic speaker drivers that deliver full, clear and a natural sound, with Bass Boost for amplifying deep frequencies, the Pixel Buds are available on Flipkart, Reliance Digital and Tata Cliq for Rs 9,999. Google Assistant is built right into the Pixel Buds A-Series. Users can get quick hands-free help to check the weather, get an answer, change the volume, or have notifications read to them with a simple "Ok Google". According to Counterpoint Research, there has been a phenomenal change in India's TWS market with the entry of new players and frequent new launches. More than 40 brands have entered this market since 2020. Click Here

Vivo X70 Pro+ likely to be unveiled with 50MP camera: Report

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  Global smartphone brand Vivo is likely to launch its upcoming smartphone -- Vivo X70 Pro + -- with 50MP primary camera and Snapdragon 888+ chipset on September 9. According to GSMArena, the shooters, developed alongside Zeiss, will include a 50MP 1/1.31" main snapper and a periscope lens. The main camera will have a Samsung ISOCELL GN1 sensor. The ultra-wide-angle snapper will come with Sony IMX598 48MP sensor behind, while the third cam will be a dedicated shooter for portraits. Its sensor will be 12MP Sony IMX663 and will offer 2x magnification. The periscope cam will have an 8MP sensor and will support 5x zoom. Three of the four shooters will also support OIS for video stabilization, with only the ultra-wide-angle shooter missing it, the report said. Read More