Amazon India today announced its first-ever ‘Amazon Customer’s Choice Smartphone & Smart TV Awards 2021’. This annual property is aimed at celebrating and recognizing the best in the Smartphone and TV products that are available on Amaozn.in. The nominations for these awards will be open from December 6, 2021 and the winners will be announced on December 27, 2021 through live streaming on the Amazon.in app.
Starting today, customers can participate and vote to choose their winners in 12 categories in smartphones and 9 categories in television. The various categories and the nominations have been mentioned below:
Award categories for Amazon Customer’s Choice Smartphone Awards 2021:
Award categories for Amazon Customer’s Choice Smart TV Awards 2021:
“The Amazon Customer’s Choice Awards 2021 is a great platform to connect with customers and know their true preferences when it comes to the wide smartphones and Television range available on Amazon.in. We are enthralled to launch this property and hoping to see some great participation from our customers. May the most loved and preferred product win,” said Nishant Sardana, Director-Mobile Phones & Televisions, Amazon India.
Easy steps to follow and vote:
Step 1: Participants to click on Amazon Customers Choice Awards on Mobiles page and TV page on Amazon.in
Step 2: On the page, click on the vote now button
Step 3: Fill up the form
Step 4: Customers can vote for up to 2 products under each category
Step 5: Click on submit
Also Read: WhatsApp launches incubator programme for healthcare issues
WhatsApp announced the launch of the WhatsApp Incubator Program (WIP), an initiative that will support organisations in constructing digital solutions for a healthier future.
WhatsApp Incubator Program aims to facilitate constructive and measurable health outcomes at scale by leveraging the WhatsApp Business Platform.
The new program announced by WhatsApp aims to identify 10 organisations that are tackling critical health issues. They will be guided through a design thinking-led process to build a deeper understanding and applicability of their WhatsApp-powered solution. The selected organisations will be provided with technical support in order to design, prototype, and pilot their health use cases.
Head of WhatsApp India, Abhijit Bose, said, “During the pandemic we have seen several innovative use cases of the WhatsApp Business platform by government organisations, civic actors, city administrations, and many more NGOs, both large and small, across sectors and locations.”
Also Read | Uber, WhatsApp announce partnership to launch ride-booking via WhatsApp in India
“We feel honoured to have had the opportunity to work alongside some of these organisations to help drive effectiveness and impact during the pandemic for various communities in India. We hope the WhatsApp Incubator programme brings forth more such innovative and unique solutions that will help solve India’s healthcare needs,” he added.
Registrations for the newly announced incubator programme are open for NGOs, entrepreneurs, start-ups, and any other organisations that have ideas to tackle issues of mental health, general immunization, maternal health and equitable access to healthcare.
“Participating organisations would get the opportunity to be mentored by industry experts, access on-ground ecosystems, receive support with impact measurement guidance, and a chance to network with funders to scale their use cases,” said WhatsApp.
The applications are now open until December 24, 2021. Besides, a webinar will be hosted to address questions from interested applicants on December 14, 2021.
Also Read: Flipkart Mobiles Bonanza Sale starts today: Check top 10 smartphone deals here
Flipkart is back with yet another sale event ‘Mobiles Bonanza.’ The sale event is now live in India. It will be a two-day sale, which will continue till December 8, 2021. During the sale, about a dozen smartphone brands like Apple, Realme and Samsung are getting great discounts and deals.
As a part of the Mobiles Bonanza sale, customers can enjoy deals like no-cost EMI, exchange offers, and screen care plan. If you are planning to buy a new smartphone, here’s a list about deals and offers of the sale:
Realme 8s 5G
Realme 8s 5G is the world’s first smartphone, which comes with Dimensity 810 chipset support. Also, it is the world’s first smartphone to come with 64 megapixels. The phone has been made available for sale with a discount of Rs 2,000. The Realme 8s 5G has a triple rear camera system that includes a 64-megapixel primary camera, a 2-megapixel macro lens and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. Also, it is equipped with a 16-megapixel selfie cameras.
iPhone SE
Apple iPhone SE smartphone has been made available on sale for Rs 27,999. An exchange offer of Rs 16,050 is being given on the purchase of the phone. It has a 4.7-inch display. The phone will come with 7 megapixel front and 12 megapixel rear camera setup.
Oppo Reno 6 5G
It is an ultra slim flagship smartphone, priced at Rs 29,999. The phone has a 6.4-inch Full HD Plus display. A 32-megapixel lens has been given as a selfie camera. Also 64 megapixel triple camera setup has been given.
Motorola Edge 20 Pro
It has a 108MP rear camera setup. The phone’s 8 GB RAM and 128 GB storage variant costs Rs 34,999. The phone comes with a 6.7-inch HD+ display and 4,500mAh battery support. The phone has a 32MP selfie camera.
Vivo X70 Pro
The phone comes with quad rear camera setup. It has a 32MP front camera setup with 50MP primary camera. The phone has a 6.5-inch display. Its price is Rs 46,990.
Also Read | Vivo X70 Pro Review: The camera king that’s worth recommending
Realme GT Neo 2
The Realme GT Neo-2 smartphone has a 16MP selfie camera. The smartphone boast 5,000mAh battery support. For the optics, a 64-megapixel triple camera setup has been given on this device. The phone sports a 6.2-inch display support.
iPhone 12
The price of Apple iPhone 12 smartphone is Rs 55,999. The phone will come with Bionic A14 chipset support and OLED display panel.
iPhone 12 Mini
The Apple iPhone 12 Mini smartphone is priced at Rs 55,999. An exchange offer of Rs 16,050 is being given on this smartphone. The phone comes with 12MP front camera.
Realme GT Master Edition
The phone’s 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage variant costs Rs 25,999. The front camera of 32-megapixels has been given in the phone. It comes with 6.43-inch Full HD Plus display support.
Poco X3 Pro
The phone’s 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage variants have been made available for sale for Rs 18,999. The main selling point of the Poco X3 Pro is its Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 SoC, which is a slightly faster version of the erstwhile flagship Snapdragon 855. The full-HD+ screen has a 120Hz refresh rate.
Also Read: Paytm Travel launches special flight fares for armed forces, students, senior citizens
With wearables increasingly becoming a part and parcel of our life, the number of companies making smartwatches have also proliferated. Homegrown brand Play is among the latest in the fray to have come up with yet another smartwatch called Playfit Slim, which comes equipped with features like full-touch display, multiple sports modes, heart rate and fitness tracker, sleep and SpO2 monitor, etc. Priced at Rs 3,999, the smartwatch comes in Galaxy Black and Mystic Blue colour variants, and I had the former for review. Although it looks good on paper, let’s find out how it fares on different parameter of excellence.
Design and Build
The Playfit Slim smartwatch wears a classic and sophisticated look, featuring a circular dial with TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) straps attached to it. The round-shaped case consists of aluminum alloy, giving it a very solid build, whereas the back of the watch consists of plastic with a matte finish that makes the watch look polished. The interchangeable straps (having a stainless-steel buckle painted black) paired with the dial are a bit hard and not very skin-friendly, however it’ll not cause any sort of discomfort to your wrist.
Talking about the dial, it’s quite slim, offering a body dimension of 46.7×9.9mm. The company has used an LCD IPS display that sports a bit thick bezel on the edges, which definitely is a downside of this timepiece. The 1.3-inch display with 240×240 pixels resolution will offer you a good viewing experience indoors. The left side of the dial is basic, whereas on the right there is a tactile button that performs multiple functions and help you navigate the UI. It will take you to the menu and different modes.
Comfort-wise, the watch offers you a perfect dial size – it is neither too large nor too small and is made for all wrist sizes. It hangs on to the wrist perfectly and will not make you feel heavy. Although the straps are a bit stiff, the smartwatch is comfortable to wear for hours and will not irritate you.
In terms of protection, the all-new Playfit smartwatch offers a IP67 rating that makes it withstand dust, water and dirt, which definitely is a very important feature for any wearable. Overall, it’s a decent looking smartwatch justifying its price.
Also Read: Jabra Elite 3 Review: It does the job well with handy features
Features and Functionalities
In terms of user interface, the main screen shows you the time, steps, heart rate and calories burnt, however none of them is clickable. Pairing this watch to your smartphone is very easy and will not take much of your time. First of all, you need to download the Playfit app. The application can be used for getting a detailed view of your activities. Although the device already has four integrated watch faces, the app offers you a number of customisable, cloud-hosted watch faces.
Starting with the SpO2 monitor which happens to be one of the most sought-after health-tracking features in a smartwatch (especially in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic), the results were somewhat accurate, although there was a minute difference of one or two per cent, which is not bad. Moving on to the heart rate sensor, there was consistency in count while measuring my heart rate. The BP (blood pressure) monitor happens to be another important health tracker the smartwatch comes equipped with. The results were fairly convincing with the BP tracker. Sleep tracker, which is present on almost all the smartwatches, wasn’t much convincing. The results were unacceptable many times.
While the watch comes with a number of Workout modes (such as basketball, football, badminton, cycling, cricket, dancing and more in terms of sports tracking), counting the footsteps happens to be on everyone’s mind while using a smart wearable. Amusingly, the Plafit Slim recorded some extra steps, however it’s not that a big issue as it happens with many of the devices.
The smartwatch also comes with some other interesting features, such as weather tracking, remote photography, find your device and smart notifications, which are a must for today’s lifestyle. Bluetooth Calling, which happens to be a much-sought-after feature nowadays is missing on this smartwatch. The company should have included this feature as it has become a trend now.
Also Read: Vivo X70 Pro Review: The camera king that’s worth recommending
Performance
The touch response on this smartwatch is overwhelming. It’s very smooth, and will easily take you from one option to the other. There is no issue with icons as they are big and bright. Similarly, the display is bright and readable indoors, however you’ll have to struggle a bit under direct sunlight to read content on the smartwatch. Thankfully, there’s an option to increase the brightness. Overall, it’s a very easy to use smart wearable.
Battery Life
The Playfit Slim is powered by a 180mAh li-polymer battery, offering a working capacity of 7 days with 15 days standby time, which is really amazing. The device comes with two-pin magnetic charger. Following one complete charge, it lasted me for a week, standing tall to its claim. It takes around 2 hours to charge fully.
Conclusion
The smartwatch offers a great display, a sturdy and durable design, good comfort on the wrist, and somewhat accurate health-tracking statistics and SpO2 measurement. It looks quite decent and is stylish. The dial pad is pretty readable and battery life is outstanding. Although the Bluetooth calling feature is not over here, there’s enough substance to own Playfit Slim at an affordable price.
Paytm today announced special discounted fares for flight bookings for armed forces personnel, students and senior citizens. The discounts will be available for bookings in IndiGo, Go Air, Spicejet, and AirAsia.
To facilitate ease of booking, the discounts are in the range of 15% to 50% and to bring further convenience, students will also be able to avail extra baggage of up to 10 kgs. The fares come at a considerable discount than the normal prices available and will be in addition to the already existing offers being offered by Paytm and banking service providers.
Paytm users can simply search for flight options after entering their details and discover the applicable discount and offer.
Paytm spokesperson said, “Travel ticketing is an important segment for us and we always aim to facilitate ease of booking for our users and also plan their trip more economically. With our airline partners, we are able to do that for users from the armed forces, students and senior citizen.”
Also Read | Paytm Payments Bank leads digital payments, UPI in India at Digital Payments Utsav
Paytm App enables users to book flight, inter-city bus and train tickets. The company has partnerships with all major domestic airlines and is an International Air Transport Association (IATA) accredited travel agent. It has direct integration with over 2,000 bus operators. The platform leverages its transactional and behavioural insights to suggest relevant travel ticketing options to users on the Paytm app. It has innovated in the travel ticketing vertical for customer convenience by launching new products such as a nearby airport feature, EMI-based loans for flight travel, PNR confirmation status and live running status for train travel as well as contactless ticket-buying on buses.
Also Read: Scosche launches ‘BTTWT-SP FlyTunes’ Bluetooth Audio Transmitter in India
While most devices today are Bluetooth-enabled, there are a few that still lack the capability. Non-smart TVs, game consoles and even airplanes entertainment do not feature Bluetooth connectivity, and hence using wired headphones is your only choice. Why not give your older gadgets a second chance with Scosche’s BTTWT-SP FlyTunes BT Audio Transmitter?
BTTWT-SP FlyTunes Bluetooth Audio Transmitter is a simple, yet powerful device that allows you to transmit audio from almost any device with a 3.5mm audio jack over Bluetooth. Scosche Industries is an accessories brand and debuts in India through TekkiTake.
The Scosche BTTWT-SP FlyTunes is a highly portable Bluetooth transmitter that accepts analog audio inputs, converts them into digital data and transmits it over Bluetooth to a connected device. It has a very simple one-button (MFB) operation and can be plugged in and set up in a matter of seconds.
Housed within a rugged ?polycarbonate body are some powerful electronics that make your life easier when you need it. It features dual input mono and stereo folding prongs (connectors) that allows you to use it with almost any audio device out there. All you need to do is lift the required connector, plugin and switch on the device to instantly stream audio over to your BT headphones.
The greatest USP of the Scosche BTTWT-SP FlyTunes is its dual pairing option — simultaneously pair two Bluetooth headphones. Now imagine a scenario where you are travelling on an airplane or camping with your loved one and want to watch a movie together on your laptop with a 3.5mm jack. A wired headphone is your only option where you can share an earbud each. With the Scosche BTTWT-SP FlyTunes, you can now pair two BT headphones and both can enjoy the complete stereo audio experience of the movie together. Speaking of a flight, the Scosche BTTWT-SP FlyTunes’s dual prongs can work together to connect to your airplane’s seat too. Now enjoy in-flight entertainment with your own precious Bluetooth headphones or Airpods /TWS earbuds, instead of the cheap quality earphones provided by the flights.
The Scosche BTTWT-SP FlyTunes is powered by a fairly large rechargeable battery that can last you a good 8 hours on a full charge. Now you can enjoy non-stop gaming, or pull through that entire boring flight without a break, charging the Scosche once.
The Scosche BTTWT-SP FlyTunes will be available in India for an MRP of Rs 3,999 and can be purchased from Amazon, FlipKart, and Tekkitake, with a 1-year warranty period.
Also Read: Western Digital associates with Red Chillies Entertainment for ‘Bob Biswas’
Do you often find yourself forgetting important things? Well, we’ve all been there and realize how frustrating it can be. Understanding this challenge, SanDisk, a brand from Western Digital and trusted by professional content creators worldwide, has partnered with Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt. Ltd for their recently released crime thriller film – ‘Bob Biswas’. The movie revolves around the protagonist, who suffers from memory loss and has difficulty recalling his criminal past.
In line with this, Western Digital has announced an exciting digital marketing campaign #SolveWithSanDisk in the form of a contest on social media, engaging consumers across India and Middle East to solve a series of clues to help the protagonist uncover his past with the help of SanDisk— a brand known to preserve memories.
A live online session for selected winners will be held with the lead star cast and the Western Digital leadership on December 9, 2021.
Jaganathan Chelliah, Senior Director, Marketing – India, Middle East & Africa, Western Digital said, “SanDisk is trusted by consumers to preserve and share their valuable memories in life. #SolvewithSanDisk is an interesting digital campaign that highlights our brand story through a contest created based on the movie’s central character.”
Also Read | Western Digital offers pocket-sized WD Elements SE external SSD to Mac and PC users
As the official storage partner, Western Digital provided SanDisk Professional premium, pro-grade storage solutions for editing, post-production, and backup requirements during the making of this crime thriller. SanDisk products helped the filmmakers to create, curate, and conserve their art by offering scalability to expand for any production level and the durability to help protect the content and avoid the tedious, time-consuming hassle of storing and transferring hefty files- in this case, over 400TB with ease and speed.
SanDisk Professional storage solutions are the go-to brand for Bollywood’s media and entertainment industry and are purpose-built to empower the biggest inspiration.
Also Read: Tech NewsWrap: Samsung Galaxy A03 Core launched… and more
Samsung Galaxy A03 Core launched in India. The entry-level smartphone sports a 6.5-inch HD+ Infinity-V display. It features a Unisoc SC9863A SoC, which is paired with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage that can be expanded via a microSD card. As far as the cameras are concerned, Samsung Galaxy A03 Core gets an 8-megapixel rear camera along with a 5-megapixel selfie camera. The newly launched Samsung Galaxy A03 Core is priced at Rs 7,999 for the sole 2GB RAM + 32GB storage variant and will be available in Black and Blue color options.
Moto G31 now available in India
Moto G31 will go on sale in India for the first time. The affordable G series device was launched in the country on November 29 and will be sold exclusively on Flipkart. The smartphone is powered by a MediaTek Helio G85 SoC paired with up to 6GB of RAM and up to 128GB of onboard storage. Moto G31 further features a triple rear camera setup headlined by a 50-megapixel primary sensor. Moto G31 is being sold in two configurations, with the base model priced at Rs 12,999 and is available in Baby Blue and Meteorite Grey color options.
Acer Predator Helios 500 (PH517-52) launched in India
PC brand Acer announced the launch of Predator Helios 500 armed with desktop caliber gameplay 11th Gen Intel Core i9 processor with up to 5.01 GHz on multiple cores and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080. Other key highlights of the latest Helios 500 include 4K Mini LED 120Hz display, 5th Gen AeroBlade 3D Fan Technology, Predator Pulsar lighting, patented mechanical MagTek Switches, Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, and DTS: X ULTRA surround sound system for an exceptionally high-performance and immersive gaming experience.
Audible launches 100 free Audiobooks on Alexa
Audible, the Amazon-owned audiobook company, has launched over 100 audiobooks completely free of cost on Alexa. The free audiobooks can be accessed on the Amazon Echo and Fire TV range, and other Alexa built-in devices. Customers will need to specify the name of the book which should be read out. Keep in mind that only 100 titles are free, for the rest of the audiobooks, you still need an audible subscription.
Also Read: Ubon supports social cause by associating with Jan Seva Sansthan
Gadget accessory & consumer electronics brand Ubon primarily dealing in headphones, speakers and power banks collaborated with Jan Seva Sansthan, an NGO working towards the eradication of backwardness in Indian society.
A team of professionals from Ubon, with a pro-active commitment to promote integral development of the underprivileged, visited the NGO and organised fun activities with the senior citizens and also children living in the community to spread happiness among them.
The team brought together all members associated with Jan Seva Sansthan including the management, elders, children, and also animals and engaged them in activities to boost their confidence and brighten their day. The activities were focused on team building, positivity and making everyone feel inclusive. The team also discussed the opportunities with NGO officials to extend its support and make a small, yet significant contribution.
Also Read | Ubon CH-99 4-in-1 Magic Charger launched at Rs 699
Mandeep Arora, Managing Director, Ubon quoted, “Our team had extreme fun, especially with the children, while serving them with everything possible from our end. The team had conversations with the children while they played with them and learnt so much about the kids. We are obligated to return to society as we believe in the same treatment philosophy. We are determined to take up every opportunity we get to promote social causes for people in need irrespective of any situation post pandemic.”
He further added, “We’re meeting our social commitments towards society as a regular feature. We will continue doing these activities with multiple non-government organisations focused on making the world a better place to live in.”
Also Read: Tamatem Games raises $11 million in Series B funding round led by Krafton
Arabic mobile games publisher Tamatem Games raises $11 Million in Series B funding round led by South Korean video game developer Krafton.
The round that was led by Krafton, makers of the popular battle royale game Battlegrounds Mobile India, also saw participation from Venture Souq, Endeavor Catalyst and existing investors.
Tamatem has seen great successes since its launch, leveraging over 100 million game downloads and gaining widespread international recognition for its publishing efforts in the region. With the investment in play and following its previous publishing successes, Tamatem plans on amplifying its efforts even further by bringing a wider selection of games with bigger and more popular titles to the Arabic speaking market.
“The demand for relatable and enjoyable mobile games is higher than ever and our mission is to provide our region with the best gaming experience possible,” CEO & Founder Hussam Hammo.
MENA’s leading publisher will also carry out its growth strategy of increasing its presence in the region by expanding offices in Saudi Arabia to hire local Saudi talent and have a stronger foothold in the country that harbors 70% of its users. Alongside its expansion efforts in Saudi Arabia Tamatem also plans to expand into more countries in the region. Plans of launching a gaming academy to train, educate and elevate employment in the industry are also on the horizon for Tamatem in pursuit of pushing market growth and maturity.
Also Read | Krafton kickstarts iQOO Battlegrounds Mobile India Series 2021
“Big things are happening for the mobile games industry in the region, we are reaping the rewards of our past successes and pushing forward with more experience and more grit. We are at the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the massive potential of mobile games in MENA and I am always super elevated when more people invest in the industry and the region,” said CEO & Founder Hussam Hammo. Tamatem is recognized as one of the most funded gaming startups in the region, raising over $17 million in funding since its establishment in 2013.
Anuj Tandon, Head (India and MENA), Corporate Development, Krafton said, “We see huge potential in the MENA region and are happy to have started our investment journey here with a prolific publisher like Tamatem. We are committed to the MENA region and willing to take more bets in the overall Media and Entertainment Sector, and this investment is aligned with our efforts to strengthen our commitment to the startup ecosystem. This is just the beginning of our many investments in this region.’ He further added, ‘As we continue our focus to provide the best experience for our MENA users of our various games including PUBG:NEW STATE, Tamatem’s deep understanding of the local landscape and this collaboration will be very helpful.”
Also Read: Acer announces all new Predator Helios 500 gaming laptop with 4K Mini LED panel
