India is one of the countries that was hit very adversely with the arrival of the COVID-19, and with the second wave of the deadly virus unleashing destruction upon the nation, it is unmistakably evident that the lone answer for keeping away any more waves is to get as many individuals inoculated as soon as possible.
Recently, the government opened the vaccination slots for the population of the age group 18-44, but the enrolment process of getting yourself vaccinated is another massive challenge due to the unavailability of vaccines at some locations. The primary battle is some do not get arrangements and don’t have the foggiest idea about the cycle. With the government unveiling the application programming interface (APIs) for the CoWin entry, techies have developed their own third-party agents and interfaces that help people track all the vaccination centers near them and the interfaces also help them in booking a slot.
This list comprises five such platforms that have helped people grab a slot at the vaccination centres.
VaccinateMe by HealthifyMe
HealthifyMe has launched a platform called VaccinateMe that acts as a notification to people about the availability of slots. It comes with various filters which help the users search for a slot in real-time. These automated filters have several categories, you can search for slots available for different age groups for Covisheild and Covaxin both. It is very easy to access the portal through the web or the HealthifyMe app.
Paytm
Computerized payment monster Paytm has additionally dispatched a ‘Covid-19 Vaccine Finder’ apparatus, which is incorporated inside the application to help residents check the accessibility of inoculation spaces for a particular date. The immunization locator is accessible on Paytm’s smaller than normal application store that was dispatched a year ago. Clients need to enter postal codes or region names, select their age gatherings. In the event of inaccessibility, click on the ‘inform me when spaces are free’ alternative to get constant updates.
Signzy
They have launched a very simple application that allows the users to be notified about available vaccine slots nearby. The clients can basically check for space accessibility or subscribe to get notifications by just entering a few personal details such as postal code, email address, and year of birth.
BANKIT
BANKIT is a company that helps people with a platform for easy, fast, and reliable digital transactions and services under one roof. They have a goal to provide these services to even the most remote locations of the county. With the arrival of the second wave of the virus, they have helped the people of tier 2 and 3 cities of India who are not aware of the appointment process. BANKIT agents present in those areas at their stores are helping them getting a slot faster. Similarly, they are also helping people book a slot through their app and website portal. They have more than 50,000 stores in the corresponding areas for assistance in registration and booking slots.
Under45.in
The Under45.in site is created by software engineer Berty Thomas to help individuals between 18-44 discover Covid vaccine slots and openings close by. The site presently guides clients to a Telegram station for updates, given that the authority CoWin APIs have been restricted by the public authority. The Telegram stations are made for each region separately.
These are tough times for everyone around the world. A free-flowing life is now restricted and lockdowns are the need of the hour. Life becomes extremely monotonous when we are confined to closed doors, however, it might get a little exciting with Creative Monkey’s new Ludo Emperor. Creative Monkey has taken the game of Ludo to another level with the launch of Ludo Emperor.
Creative Monkey is one of the fastest-growing mobile games development setups in the country. They have previously proven their worth with their flagship game ‘World Cricket Battle 2’. With a wonderful track record of creating free games for all age groups, they once again enter the market with another masterpiece in Ludo Emperor. A game that will rule the hearts of people with its innovative ideas and efficiency. It is a revolutionary Ludo game with exciting rules and the most engaging gameplay, designed to entertain all age groups.
Downloading the app
Ludo Emperor is exclusively available on the Google Play Store and will soon be available on the Apple App store. You can download it from there. Then you need to open the product page for Ludo Emperor and press download. The downloading and installation process will start immediately.
Getting started
Once you download the app, a screen will appear asking you to login via Facebook or as a guest. Once selected, it will then take you to the Homepage where you need to fill your details like age, gender and country. Once you fill the details and claim the daily reward, you can enjoy the game.
You can also play with your Facebook friends and add anyone as your buddy which helps you to add them instantly while you play.
Features
Creative Monkey has beautifully converted a simple Ludo Board into a Ludo World with a very beautiful environment and lively animations that give a pleasant gaming experience. The game currently has 3 different worlds, the Forest, the Atlantis and the Dragon nursery. More worlds will be introduced in the forthcoming updates, as per the company. The game has four most popular modes, Play Online, Play with Friends, Play with Computer and Pass & Play.
In short, Creative Monkey’s Ludo Emperor is a complete package with a high-quality experience for the users. It is a completely fresh game with high-quality animations. The idea behind it is highly creative and will create a lot of interest amongst the users. It is easy to play, vibrant, full of life recreation bundled with more exciting and fun elements. It is not a regular board game and it will attract people for some of its unique features.
Conclusion
Ludo Emperor is a unique and interesting game which will attract those who are bored with playing just a digital version of a regular board game. Creative Monkey has converted the Ludo Board into a Ludo World with a beautiful environment and lively animations that gives a pleasant gaming experience. The game has four most popular modes, Play Online, Play with Friends, Play with Compute and Pass & Play. You can also play with your Facebook friends and add anyone as your buddy which helps you to add them instantly while you play. Till now, the game has 50,000+ downloads and 7+ rating.
A burning continent, an impeached president, a global pandemic, countrywide lockdowns, tragic shifts of powers and whatnot, the year 2020 has been anything but regular. Many media companies (primarily operating at small scales) viewed this period as one filled with uncertain losses. However, the publishing houses examined this very turning point in the consumers’ consumption patterns as a vital opportunity to capitalise on.
Updates on the latest health and safety recommendations, keeping up with the political unrest, battling the sides to pick and be on – the world seemed to be in turmoil. The social media and entertainment industries were too in a disruption nevertheless, not necessarily bad. Interestingly, when most of the stadiums and movie theatres were shut, July, August and September 2020 showed a 25% increase in app usage overall. The watch time and viewership of the traditional linear television were also witnessing a significant fall.
Now, someone who understands the importance of mobile advertising – mostly publishers, content creators and brands – these numbers are of enormous value. Recent surveys project statistics on an introduction of over 5 billion unique mobile users, which is noteworthy considering the total population to be around 8 billion. This information highlights the undiscovered capacity of dispatching advertisements that appeal to individuals who invest quite a bit of their time on mobiles.
The year 2020 already predicted much of the trends that surged in the year 2021. An average of 5-9 video streaming apps are installed on a regular user’s smartphone. Short-video platforms like TikTok in the international market excluding ours (since major Chinese apps were banned by the Govt. of India) and Instagram Reels soared and are expected to continue this way for a long time. Advertisers today realise that video is an essential segment of any fruitful marketing effort. Any regular business on the internet publishes around 18 videos every month. That substance is met with great support by users on the internet; their potential consumers– most of the individuals, say they’d prefer to see more video content from brands in 2021. This pattern isn’t easing back down; indeed, we see expansions in the video advertising budget. 95% of video advertisers intend to increase or keep up their spending on record in 2020.
Video can help several advertising and business objectives. A few brands have thought it was hard to quantify the ROI of their video endeavours, which is likewise evolving. The video trends that soared up last year, still are relevant and are most likely to continue being the same are short-form videos like Reels, TikTok, webinars and explainer videos, to name some. Let us now dive into the gains that publishers get when using these video trends effectively:
Increase website traffic
Video is a successful instrument for acquiring new site traffic and keeping visitors on your site longer. Brands frequently advance video clips via online media and other relevant platforms to drive buyers to a site.
Winning new users
Marketing and advertising professionals are utilising videos to stand apart from contenders and convert possibilities. While email campaigns and advanced ads are helpful, video is a compelling, dynamic media that assists brands with recounting a superior story – such a lot of advertisers say videos have helped them expand their sales. On the other side, 4 out of 5 individuals say a brand’s video has persuaded them to buy an item or service. Video can show and advance items in manners text and photographs can’t, making it a critical instrument in the business interaction.
“While email campaigns and advanced ads are helpful, video is a compelling, dynamic media that assists brands with recounting a superior story – such a lot of advertisers say videos have helped them expand their sales. On the other side, 4 out of 5 individuals say a brand’s video has persuaded them to buy an item or service. Video can show and advance items in manners text and photographs can’t”
Educating users and generating awareness
Video is the ideal device to help imminent clients and new clients see how to utilise a product or a service while supporting the worth it adds to their lives. 97% of advertisers say video has helped their clients better comprehend their products; almost every individual has watched an explainer video to get familiar with a product at least once.
These sorts of explainer recordings assist clients with understanding an item or administration and its advantages without passing through dry instructional documentation. It improves the client experience consistently and can likewise enhance maintenance – a client who doesn’t have the foggiest idea of utilising an item will not be a client for long.
How celebrities are using the latest video trends
The impeccable hike in the recent trend and how the definition of being a celebrity is going through a change isn’t hidden anymore. The whole last year and ongoing has curated multiple new ways through which content is consumed, and the same pattern isn’t going to fade anytime soon. When most people were tied to their homes, it was because of the mobile devices that they had a way to escape the ultimate boredom. Many celebrities joined in the trend to maximise their reach with their followers, and many brands invited celebrities to their platform to get them the closest to their admirers. There are numerous apps in collaboration with stars to come and join their admirers in their most intimate phases, like imagine getting yourself a birthday wish by the celebrity you’ve had a crush on, something which couldn’t have been possible a few years earlier.
A mobile experience that delivers richness
Most of us share a TV or a computer, or better put, these devices demand a sense of collective participation to enjoy the experience better. However, a mobile device reaches consumers directly and that too on the device most personal to them. The anticipation of faster networks only hints at the demand for richer mobile experiences. The change in the consumption pattern regarding the content may vary limited to predictability, though choosing how to consume the same has changed for sure. The consistent expansion in time spent on mobile devices suggests that the demand for a better experience, be it any media, has been fulfilled mainly through mobile content.
Marketing teams got to ensure that they are providing consumers with the choice on the way they want to engage with advertisements. The only correct and most efficient way to deliver advertisements on mobile devices is through methods that do not hinder a user’s content consuming experience. These determinants also make publishers and content creators aware of their content and demand them to focus on curating content that enhances user experiences. But there is still a lot for the publishers to learn before benefiting from this recent trend. Rather than tie mobile video ads straightforwardly to a transaction, advertisements should be incorporated into a bigger picture surrounding awareness around the brand’s values and integrity.
As long as marketing gurus perceive mobile video ads as comparatively lower value, the case for them is not improving any time soon, as they will keep on making ads with no investment of thought or empathy that blatantly focus on creating ads a sale. Mobile video ads need to be created in a fashion which cater to the concerns and the tastes of their targeted consumers.
The author, Raminder Singh, is CEO, Celebfie, a celebrity-fan engagement platform.
Bengaluru-based The Esports Club today announced a first of its kind event called TEC Gauntlet, which is set to be South Asia’s largest Valorant event with a prize pool of Rs 52 lakhs.
This unique format of the TEC Gauntlet will be spread over 4 seasons. Each season is further split into a regular season followed by a playoff featuring the top teams who will compete for the championship. After every season, new teams will have an opportunity to join the league via independent qualifiers with their own prize money. With the TEC Gauntlet, The Esports Club will provide a long-term roadmap for Valorant esports in the region, while continuing to create additional opportunities for players and teams around the event.
The TEC Gauntlet powered by WD BLACK and AMD Ryzen is set to run from June 2021 till January 2022. The registration for qualifiers are now open on The Esports Club website.
In addition to the main competitive event, the TEC Gauntlet will also feature special All Star Tournaments during the mid-season break to spice up the action with its own prize pool. The TEC Gauntlet will also award outstanding individual players each season through their exciting partnership with WD BLACK for Tournament MVP and Rookie of the Season.
Ishaan Arya, Co-founder, The Esports Club, said, “The TEC Gauntlet truly is the crown jewel for us at The Esports Club. We’ve been working hard over the past year running some of the largest Valorant events in the region, understanding what the players and fans are looking for and of course coming up with a great competitive format that enables us to create something that is truly exciting without a dull moment.”
Jaganathan Chelliah, Director Marketing India, Western Digital, said, “We at Western Digital, are deeply focused and connected with the gaming community. Our innovative WD BLACK portfolio is built ground up for gamers and offers them lightning-fast speed. We are excited to work with The Esports Club on the TEC Gauntlet and to provide gamers with an amazing opportunity to kick start their esports careers.”
“As we build both high performance Ryzen CPUs and Radeon GPUs – the quintessential building blocks for the ultimate gaming experience, the esports industry is a significant part of our ecosystems,” said Mukesh Bajpai, Marketing Head – India, AMD.“Our strong ties with OEM partners, game developers and the esports community has enabled us to elevate and deliver immersive experiences. The TEC Gauntlet is a fantastic platform to strengthen our connection with the gaming community in the region as esports gains significant momentum in India,” he said.
The world’s second-largest memory chip maker, SK Hynix Inc, has requested talks to acquire South Korea-based Key Foundry, a chip contract manufacturer, said Reuters quoting a South Korean newspaper report.
SK Hynix has expressed intention to negotiate for the full acquisition of the 8-inch wafer foundry, Korea Economic Daily reported on Monday citing unnamed sources in the tech and investment banking industries, as per Reuters.
According to the report, SK Hynix said that it is considering various measures to expand its foundry business, but nothing has been finalised.
SK Hynix is already a minority investor in Key Foundry, having infused about 207 billion won ($181.93 million) into a private equity fund last year that owns the chip contract manufacturing firm, and now is interested in buying out the rest, Korea Economic Daily said.
Key Foundry has a chip manufacturing capacity of 82,000 8-inch wafers per month, and is the only pure-play foundry in Korea, with the ability to make chips for applications in the consumer, communications, computing, automotive and industrial industries, according to its website.
SK Hynix has reportedly said that it is considering doubling its chip contract manufacturing capacity from a low base in ways that could include M&A. Currently, memory chips make up almost all of SK Hynix’s business, with logic chips including chip contract manufacturing only taking up 2% of revenue, as per Reuters.
The global future of 5G is at risk if governments fail to align on licensing 6 GHz spectrum, the GSMA said.
The full speed and capabilities of 5G depend on the 6 GHz mid-band spectrum. Yet governments are already diverging: China will use the entire 1200 MHz in the 6 GHz band for 5G. Europe has split the band, with the upper part considered for 5G, but a new 500 MHz tranche available for Wi-Fi. Africa and parts of the Middle East are taking a similar approach.
At the other extreme, the US and much of Latin America have declared that none of this valuable resource will be made available for 5G, but rather will be offered to Wi-Fi and other unlicensed technologies.
The 6 GHz band is essential not only for mobile network operators to provide enhanced affordable connectivity for greater social inclusion, but also to deliver the data speeds and capacity needed for smart cities, transport, and factories. It is estimated that 5G networks need 2 GHz of mid-band spectrum over the next decade to deliver on its full potential.
“5G has the potential to boost the world’s GDP by $2.2 trillion,” said John Giusti, Chief Regulatory Officer for the GSMA.“But there is a clear threat to this growth if sufficient 6 GHz spectrum is not made available for 5G. Clarity and certainty are essential to fostering the massive, long-term investments in this critical infrastructure,” added Giusti.
The World Radiocommunication Conference in 2023 will provide the opportunity to harmonise the 6 GHz band across large parts of the planet and help develop the ecosystem.
5G is accelerating the digital transformation of all industries and sectors, unleashing new waves of innovation that will benefit billions. This technology is crucial for the environment and climate goals as connectivity replaces carbon. In order to reach all users, however, industries will require the extra capacity that the 6 GHz band offers.
Therefore, GSMA calls on governments to – make at least 6425-7125 MHz available for licensed 5G; ensure backhaul services are protected; and depending on countries’ needs, incumbent use and fibre footprint, the bottom half of the 6 GHz range at 5925-6425 MHz could be opened on a license-exempt basis with technology neutral rules.
GSMA has also published a statement with Ericsson, Huawei, Nokia and ZTE that further details the importance of the 6 GHz band for the future of 5G.
Close on the heels of Hot 10 Play, Infinix is all set launch another device in the Hot series called Hot 10S in India. It’s slated to be unveiled on May 20 and will be available via Flipkart.
According to the current listing on the ecommerce platform, the Infinix Hot 10S is coming up with a 48MP triple-rear camera setup, with 240fps slo-mo videos, video bokeh and timelapse. The smartphone will have a waterdrop-like notch on the front. The screen is confirmed to come with a 90Hz display.
The company promises that Hot 10S will have no screen-tearing and no heating and will come with a responsive touch panel. The phone will come equipped with MediaTek Helio G85 SoC along with XOS 7.6. There is also a Dar-Link technology, which is said to deliver a superior and smooth gaming performance.
The upcoming device will run on Android 11 and will be available in 4GB + 64GB and 6GB + 64GB RAM/ROM variants. Both the models will support storage up to 256 GB via a microSD card.
The Infinix Hot 10S will come in four colour options- Heart of Ocean, Morandi Green, 7-Degree Purple and 95-Degree Black.
Icing on the cake is its price i.e., it’s going to be a sub-10K device with an array of top-notch features to ensure a smooth experience for users.
Chess is ancient and one of the most popular indoor games played in the world. Although it is said to be the game of brainiacs, chess can be played by anyone irrespective of the age. It has high involvement of all parts of the brain in every single move of the game, thus helping in better functioning, a benefit that no other sports on the Earth can ever offer you. To make it even more exciting, WowChess, an online gaming app recently came into being to cash in on the growing popularity of the sport among youngsters in the country. With lakhs of chess players unable to compete in offline tournaments due to the pandemic-induced lockdowns, WowChess aims to bring this offline behaviour to online space. Besides enabling the conduct of tournaments online, the app will empower players across India for now – and eventually the world – to play tournaments in different formats such as arena blitz, bullet, puzzles, storylines, among others. The platform offers around 25 tournaments each day and claims to be the only chess app in the world, which allows players to enter into competitions with an entry fee and win prizes. Kartikeya Rao, CEO, WowChess, speaks more about this app, the way it functions and its future prospects, in a conversation with Ramesh Kumar Raja. Excerpts:
What exactly is WowChess? Is it like any other platforms offering online gaming or esports tournaments? What is your USP?
WowChess is an online gaming application, available for both Android and iOS through our website www.wowchess.com. Chess is played all across the country with an estimated 100 million Indians who know how to play the game. The team at WowChess has come together to re-imagine chess and add fun to this fantastic game. We aspire to offer exciting and different forms of chess competitions, tournaments, and gameplay with a user experience that is unlike any other chess app. Simply put, we want to make playing chess a wow experience and the USP of the WowChess is “this is a made in India” application. Our mission is to make chess more democratic and enjoyable and to give everybody a chance to compete, win and be recognized.
How many types of gameplays and competitions do you offer?
We have traditional gameplay formats like tournaments, single combat as well as puzzles. But to give a wow experience, we have also introduced a mini tournament format called Battle Royale and puzzle tournaments/ challenges. In Battle Royale, a player can set up a tournament for up to 5 more people with bespoke parameters to play with their friends and colleagues. We have also introduced puzzle tournaments and challenges that brings a competitive angle to puzzles and that has been a major hit with our customers.
How do you organise tournaments online?
So far, we have organized more than 1,800 tournaments and distributed over 7.50 lakh rupees in prizes. On a daily basis, we cater to over 25-plus tournaments between regular arena and puzzle tournaments.
We have also conducted corporate tournaments as well as tournaments with a club of current and former students of IIT/IIM/ BITS.
With the fear of COVID-19 pandemic still in the air, how do you look at the growth prospects of WowChess in India?
WowChess is seeing a 30% growth month on month and our average user spends almost 48 mins daily to play the game on the application. The pandemic has changed the way we live our day-to-day life and the way we live, work, play or interact with each other. When we look back, what we see today are two very different worlds, a pre-Covid and a post-Covid. We are just happy to keep entertaining in this difficult time. People are taking to different forms of hobbies and routines, and chess has always been played and valued in India. This has definitely led to a growth in our database and reaching out to new people and bringing them onto our platform.
How is the gaming industry transforming in these tough times?
It’s going to keep growing and who knows: maybe it will begin to get more eyeballs than cricket in the near future. Chess is a game that is ancient. And in India, we have produced champions like Vishwanathan Anand. India is also home to many prodigies, boys and girls. Chess streaming is seeing a huge surge globally, so it’s very exciting to see how chess transforms in lockdown.
“We are just happy to keep entertaining in this difficult time. People are taking to different forms of hobbies and routines, and chess has always been played and valued in India. This has definitely led to a growth in our database and reaching out to new people and bringing them onto our platform”
How many installs you have earned till date on both Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store?
In the few months since we went live, we have under 10,000 users but we are expecting to hit 2 lakh or more by 2022. Our app is available for download through our website www.wowchess.com and on the Apple App Store.
What exactly is your business model?
The most compelling task immediately for us is to continue adding value to our customers. Value in terms of a great app experience, unique gameplay and the ability to be champions.
We are focusing on customer acquisition and are optimizing that at all the time. We are committed to creating engaging competitions, unique IPs and content as we look at revenue generation.
Do you have any app expansion plan?
We aim to improve the customer experience. The idea is to keep the platform growing by enhancing the interface and making it accessible to more players across the country. Globally, chess is acknowledged as a game and we are happy to do our part in enabling players to enjoy, win and succeed in every way. We are committed to investing in AI/ ML and continue to wow our players.
The second wave of the ongoing pandemic in India has brought upon a situation completely unprecedented and overwhelming. As the country continues its battle to defeat the virus, Huawei, a leading global ICT solutions provider, is undertaking initiatives to provide care, support, and ensure the wellbeing of all employees. Huawei Technologies India, the company’s Bangalore R&D Centre, which is also Huawei’s largest overseas R&D facility, has launched several programs to aid its people and continues to further identify ways to support them.
With an endeavour to sensitize all employees and provide emergency aid to those affected by the virus, Huawei has set up an emergency team to handle all concerns of employees around the matter and provide hospitalization support to them. The company has also set up a dedicated portal for COVID-19 care, as a one-stop solution for employees to address any related issue or clarification. Additionally, Huawei has opened a national support facility in association with medical service providers to offer medical and hospitalization support, and doctors’ consultation for employees and dependents.
As the number of daily cases continues to stretch the limits of the country’s health infrastructure, Huawei has arranged an exclusive 24*7 ambulance service available to all employees and their dependents in case of emergency. The company has also arranged for emergency beds with oxygen support in partnership with leading hospitals in case any employee or their dependents are unable to find a bed at the time of need.
Huawei has been a strong advocate for vaccination ever since the government had launched the inoculation drive. With an aim to encourage employees and their dependents get vaccinated, the company is preparing to build a facility to administer vaccines onsite at the Bangalore R&D Centre. Further, considering many of its employees are currently working remotely from various parts of the country, Huawei will also be tying up with hospitals pan India to make vaccination more accessible to its people and their families.
The pandemic, in addition to taking a toll on physical health, has also significantly affected the mental health of individuals. In an effort to ensure the overall wellbeing of its people, Huawei has partnered with senior doctors and psychiatrists to conduct regular sessions to ensure mental wellness, while also regularly organizing yoga and meditation sessions for improving physical health.
Bi Yunfeng, CEO, Huawei Technologies India, said, “As a people-centric organization, employee health and safety are Huawei’s top priority and the company will support and aid every member of the Huawei family.”
Homegrown mobile accessories brand VingaJoy has launched its new heavy bass wireless headphone BT-5800 in India. Priced at Rs 2,999, the VingaJoy BT-5800 offers you up to 40 hours of play and talk time. It’s lightweight and comfortable to wear due to its soft ear pads
The all-new headphone supports Bluetooth v5.0. Dedicated to sound and comfort, it also supports hands-free calling and an impressive bass with high stereo feature. The VingaJoy BT-5800 features multiple pairing mode options, such as wireless/TF/SD card/Aux function.
The headset has a built-in dual microphone which provides 360-degree surround sound support. The VingaJoy BT-5800 is easy to carry and offers hand-free calling experience while performing sports activities or driving. The biggest benefit of this wireless headphone is that it has a lightweight structure and foldable design, making it a great companion while commuting.
Lalit Arora, Co-founder, VingaJoy, said, “VingaJoy has been at the forefront of innovation and has evolved into developing some of the finest audio peripherals in the market right now. We have always been fascinated by sound and wanted to make the music experience better by discovering new technologies. We developed Smart Sound – audio that automatically adapts to the surroundings, to ensure our consumers get a consistent and superior experience of voice, audio and music in every environment. Aligned with that, the VingaJoy BT-5800 is a revolutionary headset that will change the way we experience sound and cope with noise in the future. We strongly believe that the product will have a strong appeal to our customers.”
The all-new VingaJoy BT-5800 wireless headphones are available in Golden, Green and Black colours. You can purchase it at offline retail stores.
