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Most reliable SSD storage brands in Indian market

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Solid-State Drive aka SSD is one among the new generation of storage devices that is engineered to replace the traditional mechanical hard disks. What’s better about SSDs is that they make use of flash-based memory, which is not just faster but also more reliable. The virtues of fast throughputs and low read-access times result in the SSDs making computers or laptops faster than ever. Measured in nanoseconds, the SSDs store files in different grids so that any information sought is readily obtained, thanks to the smart segregation of information. While a number of SSD storage brands have come in the recent past, there are just a few names that can be relied completely for the purpose.

Acer

The Taiwanese multinational hardware and electronic corporation is a global leader in storage products, offering a bouquet of memory and storage solutions for professional as well as home users. Acer SSDs are designed to support S.M.A.R.T and GC & TRIM features that maintain maximum performance of systems and LDPC ECC technology for data integrity. Acer has introduced an SSD portfolio that includes 2.5-inch SATA, M.2 SATA, and M.2 PCIe NVMe drives. While the entry-level 2.5? SA100 SATA SSD is available in capacities from 120 GB to 1.92 TB, the RE100 is available in 2.5” SATA and smaller M.2 form factor.

Intel

Another global giant in the segment, Intel has over the time offered multiple SSDs that cater to varied needs and purposes. Recently, the brand introduced P5800X SSD that is touted by many experts as the fastest SSD ever. The SSDs offered by Intel are known to possess better consistency, enhanced latency characteristics and a more predictable performance. However, considering the higher price range, most of Intel SSDs are considered best for big enterprise-level customers. The brand has conventionally focused on upping the sequential speeds dramatically.

Western Digital

Western Digital, also referred to as WD, is a key player in the segment offering Solid State Hard Drives ranging from 250 MB to a whopping 32 TB. Innovation has been at the core of the brand, as besides being one of the first manufacturers of hard drives, it has made some significant advancement in 3D NAND in the recent past. One of the flagship offerings by the brand is zoned storage that functions on a unified software framework that places data intelligently to maximize storage capability, lower TCO and improve QoS.

Samsung

South Korean multinational conglomerate Samsung is a major global manufacturer of electronic appliances as well as components, including SSDs. While Samsung SSDs such as 970 Pro are engineered to handle intensive workloads on personal computers, there are gaming SSDs for full gaming immersion and Terabyte SSDs to enhance the overall computing process. The Samsung SATA interface SSDs promise to readily and dramatically improve the overall computing experience.

Crucial

Crucial SSDs vow to deliver superior performance and proven Micron quality. One of the flagship offerings, NVMe SSDs boasts of being the latest and fastest in performance SSD technology. While Crucial P5 and P2 drives ensure speed and reliability, its SATA SSDs come with affordable and efficient storage for day-to-day use. These SSDs load files quicker, boot up faster and enhance the overall system responsiveness, thanks to MX500 and BX500 drives. Besides, there are external SSDs that deliver compact performance for on-the-go storage needs.

PLAY steps up in the Indian headphones market to launch PLAYGO BH47 and PLAYGO BH22

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PLAY, an Indian company, is gearing up to launch two new wireless headphones PLAYGO BH47 and PLAYGO BH22, in India. The devices will be available with their offline retail partners as well as online on Amazon, Flipkart, and the company’s official website www.theworldofplay.com from Wednesday, July 14, 2021.

These brand-new headphones from PLAY come with their proprietary Enhanced Bass Extra Loud (EBEL) drivers for a superior audio experience. In addition, the PLAYGO BH47 headphone is equipped with an advanced Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) feature, whereas PLAYGO BH22 comes with a dual equalizer that shifts between deep bass or normal mode and offers distinctive and elevated bass output based on the user’s mood and choice of music. Both devices also provide dual connectivity with the latest Bluetooth 5.0 for lossless audio, along with braided AUX cable with an in-built mic.

Vikas Jain, Chairman and Managing Director of PLAY, said, “We are extremely excited to announce the latest additions to our long list of new-age devices equipped with elegant design and top-notch audio experience. With pandemic still looming, the devices will prove to be perfect companions both for work-from-home professionals as well as audio fanatics. PLAYGO BH47 is a premium device with Active Noise Cancellation, making it just perfect for your online classes, conferences, video calls, or immersive gaming experience, because of zero latency. Similarly, the PLAYGO BH22 is equipped with dual equalizers that enhance the bass output, thus making the overall music-listening experience far more immersive. It also has the latest Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity for a crystal-clear audio experience. Both devices pride themselves on a stellar battery performance which provides for more than 30 hours of PLAYtime for either device.”

He further added, “Since the inception of the brand we have been working towards one goal, to unite the millennials, Gen Z, and future generations with the help of modern technology and superior designs. The culture we live in today requires us to stay updated in terms of technology, and we at PLAY aim to assist the future generations in doing that.”

PLAYGO BH47: Price, Specifications, and Availability

Available in the Galaxy black color variant, the PLAYGO BH47 is powered by the Qualcomm Chipset with active noise cancellation, for clear voice and enhanced communication. It also comes with quick charge support and offers music usage time of up to 30 hours while only needing three hours to juice up completely.

PLAYGO BH47 also offers the option of a multi-point connection enabling consumers to pair up to two devices simultaneously. Furthermore, with dual connectivity supporting both Bluetooth 5.0 and AUX cable, the device comes with a power pack speaker size of 40mm, making the overall audio experience genuinely mesmerizing.

Packed with sleek styling, foldable design, and new-age voice assistants including Google Assistant, Siri, and Alexa that allow users to change track or accept & reject calls, PLAYGO BH47 is the new best friend every young professional needs today to ensure better digital communication and entertainment.

PLAYGO BH47 is available at a premium-affordable price of just INR 6,999. Consumers can pick it from a nearby retail store or order it through the aforementioned e-commerce sites or the company’s official website https://theworldofplay.com/.

PLAYGO BH22: Price, Specifications, and Availability

Available in vibrant Champagne and Lush Lava colors, the PLAYGO BH22 is also powered by advanced processors so that users can experience trouble-free and crystal-clear communication. It also comes with power-packed performance and offers up to 35 hours of PLAY-time while only needing four hours to charge fully. The device is also equipped with a dual equalizer and can operate up to a distance of 10 meters.

The PLAYGO BH22 packs a powerful punch with a multi-point connection enabling consumers to pair up to two devices simultaneously along with dual connectivity that supports both Bluetooth 5.0 and AUX cable. It also comes with a dynamic speaker size of 40mm, making for an exceptional audio experience.

Sporting a fashionable, premium, foldable design and new-age voice assistants such as Google Assistant, Siri, and Alexa that allow users to change track or accept & reject calls, PLAYGO BH22 is the latest essential young professionals require for better digital communication and entertainment needs.

PLAYGO BH22 is available at a price of INR 2,999. Consumers can pick it from a nearby retail store or order it through the aforementioned e-commerce platforms or the company’s official website https://theworldofplay.com/.

MediaTek launches drive to educate retailers and consumers on latest chipset technology

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MediaTek is launching an innovative drive to educate retailers and consumers around the latest chipset technologies, MediaTek solutions and the latest 5G smartphones being powered by them. The six-week awareness campaign beginning on July 14 will cover 500 retail outlets across states like Delhi-NCR, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka. Additionally, mobile training vans will be deployed on the ground to engage with consumers and showcase live product demos.

“The industry has seen a seismic shift in demand for digital solutions and devices. While 5G technology promises super-fast connectivity and disruptive network capacity, MediaTek’s Dimensity 5G chips offer OEMs and consumers bold, progressive and innovative thinking, along with brilliant technology. We aim to overcome the training and knowledge gap that the retailers and their frontline staff currently face making them better prepared to address queries and create better consumer experiences. Our goal is to ensure that consumers are aware of these chipset technologies which form the heart and brain of new-age smartphones so that they can make better-informed purchase decisions in the long run,” said Anuj Sidharth, Deputy Director Marketing and Communication, MediaTek India.

MediaTek’s Dimensity 5G series brings smartphones an unrivalled combination of connectivity, multimedia, AI, imaging innovations and gaming support with the latest generation MediaTek HyperEngine Game Technology – powering premium and flagship devices with MediaTek Dimensity 1000, 1100 and 1200 series, as well as a premium smartphone experiences with the Dimensity 700, 800 and 900 series for a broader market segment.

The latest awareness and education drive is in sync with MediaTek’s ongoing “Incredible In. Incredible Out.” campaign which is aimed at highlighting how modern-day smartphones powered by MediaTek’s innovative chipsets. Some of these brands powered by MediaTek include Xiaomi, Poco, OPPO, OnePlus, realme, OPPO, Samsung, Vivo, Motorola, Infinix, Tecno, Lava, Micromax to name a few.

Besides educating retailers around the MediaTek Dimensity series chipsets, the drive will also include various online and on-ground interactive events and contests for both retailers and consumers.

Top 5 compact smartphones to buy in India

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There was a time when small mobile phones were common or even the norm in India, that’s not really the case anymore. Over the years, good smartphones have irreversibly also become bigger. While the bigger screens do offer a better media experience, they tend to be too big for some users with smaller hands or pockets. If you are looking for a good phone that can be easily operated with one hand and doesn’t stick out of pockets, our list for the best compact smartphones is for you.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip

It’s a folding smartphone that offers a convenience of a small form factor with a large screen when you need it. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip comes with a 6.70-inch touchscreen primary display with a resolution of 1080 x 2636 pixels. It also features a 1.10-inch as its second display, with a resolution of 112 x 300 pixels. The smartphone has 8GB RAM and runs Android 10. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip price in India starts from Rs 70,550.

iPhone 12 mini

iPhone 12 mini

The iPhone 12 mini is not only genuinely small, but also genuinely high-end. It has a small 5.4-inch 1080 x 2340 OLED screen combined with the Apple A14 Bionic chip. The smartphone comes with a 5G support and its MagSafe tech lets you attach accessories magnetically. It sports a 12-megapixel dual rear camera powered by 2227mAh battery. Comes with 64GB starting size, the mobile phone is a superb small phone. The iPhone 12 mini price in India starts from Rs 66,400.

Samsung Galaxy S10e

Samsung Galaxy S10e

As a member of the S range, the Samsung Galaxy S10e is reasonably high-end with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM and an Exynos 9820 or Snapdragon 855 chipset. The smartphone has a 5.8-inch 1080 x 2280 AMOLED screen and a decent built with a metal frame and a glass back. It has a dual-lens camera, which include 12-megapixel primary camera and 16-megapixel ultra-wide snappers. This is a superb compact smartphone for price. The Samsung Galaxy S10e price in India starts from Rs 44,990.

iPhone SE

iPhone SE

This is a budget-friendly option from Apple. It also happened to be a compact device since it uses the body dimensions of the iPhone 8. The iPhone SE comes with 4.7-inch screen with the A13 chip from the iPhone 11 series. The smartphone packs a single 12-megapixel rear camera and powered by 1821mAh battery capacity. The iPhone SE price in India starts from Rs 39,900.

Google Pixel 4a

Google Pixel 4a

The Google Pixel 4a comes with a 5.81 inch screen and uses OLED tech display. It has a 12.2-megapixel single-lens camera one on the back and an 8-megapixel camera on the front. Powered by 3,140mAh battery, the phone has Snapdragon 730G processor with a 6GB/128GB configuration. It runs stock Android and has a headphone jack which is an increasingly rare feature in phones. The Google Pixel 4a price in India starts from Rs 29,999.

Best 5 smartphones under Rs 20000 in India

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When shopping around for a smartphone, people keep in mind a range of things, such as high performance modules, standout features and affordability. Getting all the features in the list can be tricky, but with the latest advancements in the market, one can easily access every specification of their choice in a pocket-friendly manner. To help cut through the clutter, we have come up with a list of 5 mobile phones under Rs 20,000 so that you can make the best choice for you.

Infinix Note 10 Pro

Infinix Note 10 Pro

If you are on a hunt for the best smartphone under Rs 20,000, the Infinix Note 10 Pro should definitely feature on your list. It comes with a 6.95-inch touchscreen display. When it comes to performance, the phone has a 2.0GHz octa-core MediaTek Helio G95 processor that is complemented by an 8 GB of RAM. The smartphone on the rear packs a 64-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel camera, and two 2-megapixel cameras. For selfies, it sports a 16-megapixel camera on the front. Powered by a 5000mAh battery, the mobile phone runs Android 11. The Infinix Note 10 Pro price in India starts at Rs 16,999.

Motorola Moto G60

Motorola Moto G60

Widely regarded as one of the best phones under 20,000, the Motorola Moto G60 flaunts a big 6.8-inch LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The device is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G processor to deliver good performance and offers 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The smartphone comes with 3 rear cameras – 108-megapixel camera, an 8-megapixel camera and 2-megapixel camera. For selfies, it sports a 32-megapixel camera on the front. Powered by 6,000mAh battery, it runs Android 11 with only the Facebook app pre-installed. Motorola Moto G60 price in India starts from Rs 17,499.

Samsung Galaxy A30s

Samsung Galaxy A30s

The Samsung Galaxy A30s is the perfect mid-range offering from one of the most trusted brands. The smartphone comes with a 6.4-inch super AMOLED display and has a resolution of 1080 X 720 X 1560 pixels. Comes with 4GB of RAM, it has octa-core Samsung Exynos 7904 processor to ensure a smooth and lag-free performance. The smartphone on the rear packs a 25-megapixel primary camera, a 5-megapixel camera and an 8-megapixel camera. It sports a 16-megapixel camera on the front for selfies. The Samsung Galaxy A30s packs 64GB of inbuilt storage that can be expanded via microSD card (up to 512GB). Powered by 4000 mAh battery, it runs One UI is based on Android 9 Pie. The Samsung Galaxy A30s price in India starts from Rs 16,900.

Realme 8 Pro

Realme 8 Pro

For a mobile phone brand, understanding their target audience means everything. This is where Realme has defined its audience segment and caters to them with excellent features in a budget-friendly rate. The smartphone sports a 6.4-inch AMOLED full-HD+ resolution display and an in-display fingerprint scanner. The Realme 8 Pro comes with Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G processor with 6GB or 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.1 storage. The mobile phone has 4 rear cameras – a 108-megapixel camera, an 8-megapixel camera and two 2 megapixel cameras. For selfies, the phone packs a 16-megapixel camera on the front. The Realme 8 Pro price in India starts from Rs 17,999.

Poco X3 Pro

Poco X3 Pro

The Poco X3 Pro has been condensed into a budget-friendly device. The smartphone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 SoC, which is a slightly faster version of the erstwhile flagship Snapdragon 855. With 6GB RAM and 128GB storage, the full-HD+ screen has a 120Hz refresh rate and has 5160mAh battery capacity. The smartphone comes with 2 rear cameras – a 48-megapixel and an 8-megapixel camera. For selfies, it sports a 20-megapixel camera on the front. The Poco X3 Pro price in India starts from Rs 18,999.

ATS SpaceMobile to build a broadband satellite system for mobiles

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Here is some important news for those mobile users who frequently face “no mobile network” or “no service” problem. ATS SpaceMobile Inc. is in the process of building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by standard mobile phones.

The company claims that a team of engineers and space scientists at ATS SpaceMobile is on a mission to eliminate the connectivity gaps faced by five billion mobile users today and finally bringing the broadband to the billions who remains unconnected.

The company inaugurated its UK headquarters in Space Park Leicester complex, where space and space-enabled technology changes the world for the better. It is £100 million research, innovation and manufacturing hub for space-related high-tech companies. In partnership with Vodafone, the company has unveiled its plants to launch the first phase of its space based mobile network in 2023. The company claims it to be a move that will transform coverage for the 49 largest countries in the equatorial region where it plans to launch an initial 20 LEO satellites.

The Managing Director of AST SpaceMobile UK, Steve Gibson, said, “Our Space Park Leicester office will have business development, engineering and regulatory team members working to support the progress and manufacturing of critical subsystems for the SpaceMobile constellation.”

The Commercial Director of the University of Leicester, Will Wells, said, “The University has a well-established record in applying satellite technology and space-derived data to solve real-world problems. We are delighted that AST SpaceMobile has chosen Space Park Leicester as the base for their exciting plans.”

In addition to the UK, ATS SpaceMobile operates from other global locations including a corporate headquarters and 85,000 square-foot satellite assembly, integrating and testing facility in Midland, Texas, as well as operations in College Park, Maryland, Spain and Israel.

The Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of ATS SpaceMobile, Scott Wisniewski, said, “The opening of ATS SpaceMobile’s UK headquarters marks an exciting expansion of our international footprint. Building our space-based cellular broadband network is truly a global effort, and our growing presence allows us to access the best talent from around the world.”

As per the reports, it is a satellite system that, in the words of Abel Avellan, SpaceMobile founder and chairman, “extend the networks of existing wireless providers” who act as partners and buy wholesale time on the satellite system which bounces the signal back down to the user’s host network when the usual terrestrial service is not available.

The unique thing with the SpaceMobile business model is that it doesn’t compete with Bezos or Musk. It just fills in any temporarily lost local link in the cellular broadband network using its own technology and essentially splitting the revenue with the host cell network. So it offers service on a wholesale model with participating cell networks, no direct billing and no fuss.

Tech NewsWrap: Redmi Note 10T 5G price leaks in India… and more

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Redmi Note 10T 5G price in India leaks

Xiaomi’s sub-brand Redmi is all set to launch its Note 10T in India on July 20. It is going to be the first Redmi mobile with 5G in the country. While the Chinese smartphone manufacturer is yet to confirm details about this upcoming handset, several rumors and leaks have already revealed some crucial information about its pricing. As per the new leak, the Redmi Note 10T will retail for Rs 14,999 and there might be some launch offers for its first sale. The leak also suggests that the smartphone will come in only one variant with 4GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage.

WhatsApp rolls out joinable calls to iOS

For iOS beta users, WhatsApp has rolled out a feature that allows them to join an ongoing call they have been invited to. Currently, users cannot join a group call they have missed it. This new feature has been introduced with WhatsApp beta update 2.21.140.11 for iOS and is scheduled to arrive on Android devices too.

Apple releases $99 MagSafe battery pack for iPhone 12

Apple launches a new MagSafe battery pack for iPhone 12 that snaps on with a magnet to the back of one of the iPhone 12 models. It is designed to work with the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max. Available in a white color, the MagSafe battery has its own lightning connector for charging. Although Apple’s website doesn’t list exact dimensions, but it is roughly the same width as the iPhone 12 mini.

Amazon India announces ‘Back to College’ sale in India

Amazon India announced ‘Back to College’ sale in India. The sale started on July 13 and will go on until July 31. During the sale’s course, Amazon India will be offering up to 50 per cent discount on the purchase of headphones, laptops, speakers and accessories. Also, there will be no cost EMI options on the purchase of various devices.

Google Meet enforces group call time limit for free Gmail users

Google Meet, via an update on its support page, announced that free Gmail users can now host a group call for only 60 minutes at a stretch. “At 55 minutes, everyone gets a notification that the call is about to end. To extend the call, the host can upgrade their Google account. Otherwise, the call will end at 60 minutes,” the guidelines say.

Paytm Money rolls out feature to apply for IPOs even before they open

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Digital brokerage platform Paytm Money has introduced an innovative feature that allows users to apply for IPOs before the actual IPO opening in the markets.

Paytm Money is the first digital broker in India to offer this functionality and expects this to significantly increase the participation of retail users in IPOs via its platform.

A user can now place an IPO order 24×7 on days when the “pre-Open IPO application” Feature is enabled. The order is recorded on Paytm Money’s system and sent to the exchange for processing whenever the IPO opens.

The user is notified of his/her application status throughout the journey, to ensure a seamless experience. Zomato is the first IPO on Paytm Money launched with this feature, and thousands of applicants on the platform have already placed their orders over the last two days.

There is also the issue of congestion in servers/networks experienced by some market participants during popular IPOs, driven by high demand during a short time span. As this feature gains traction, it might be possible to spread out the Pre-Open IPO applications evenly during the market hours, reducing the load on exchanges and payment gateways, and ensuring a better experience for broad market participants.

Here’s how to pre-apply for IPO through the Paytm Money app:

– Login to your Paytm Money app or website and tap on the IPO icon on the home screen

– Once you reach the IPO dashboard, click on any upcoming IPO

– Click on the “Apply Now” button and pre-apply for the IPO

-Paytm Money will send your application once the IPO opens. You will receive the mandate as soon as the application is sent to exchange.

Battlegrounds Mobile India launch party records 25mn-plus views across platforms

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The launch party of the exclusive Indian game, Battlegrounds Mobile India, garnered over 25-million views across all platforms. The country’s 18 prominent gamers, content creators and known personalities in the world of esports came up with their exclusive squad and became the part of this virtual launch party which was held on July 8-9.

While accumulating the numbers, 97,19,493 and 79,14,400 views came on the first and second day respectively across Hindi and English language on BGMI’s official YouTube channel, the engagement throughout the launch party proved the potential of the game as well as it lived up to the hype created in the whole esports and gaming community.

Some of the country’s prominent content creators were featured in the BGMI launch party tournament, led by 18 squad captains—Dynamo, Kronten, Mortal, Ghatak, Shreeman Legend, Maxtern, Gaming Guru, Classified YT, Antaryami, Alpha Clasher, K18, Snax, Sangwan, Godnixon, Ronak, Jonathan, Bandookbaaz and Clash Universe. This ultimate stand-off showcased in-game skills of India’s finest gamers and Hindi casters Animesh ‘Thug’ Agarwal and Ocean Sharma with their host Varun Thakur and English casters Icybaby12, Experiment, FYXS with their host Super Jonny was very enthralled to see their favourite streamers back in the action after a gap of several months. The launch party tournament was live-streamed on the Battlegrounds Mobile India’s Facebook and YouTube channels in Hindi as well as English.

The tournament, which boasted a whopping prize pool of INR 6,00,000, saw Team Snax emerging as the winners and securing prize money of INR 3,30,000 while Team Kronten and Team Ronak took home INR 1,50,000 and INR 1,00,000 with their second and third-place finish respectively.

Abhishek Aggarwal, Co-Founder and CEO at Trinity Gaming, who manages most of these talents, said, “This launch was a huge step in the space of Esports as it gave the players a new arcade to explore and compete. We are very proud to be associated with Krafton as their Official Talent Partner and initiated the first-ever Battlegrounds Mobile India launch party in the country and the event received more than 25 million views combining official YouTube, Facebook platforms of BGMI and the streaming channel of the content creators who were invited on this launch party. We have witnessed some of the best content creators and gamers battling it out and displaying their skill set with their exclusive squads.”

Battlegrounds Mobile India has been receiving an overwhelming response, within a week after its release; the game has surpassed 34 million registered users. The game also recorded the highest of 16 million daily active users and 2.4 million peak concurrent users.