Home Blog Page 1288

Belkin Wireless Charging Stand 10W + Speaker: A perfect desk companion with multiple use cases

0

With wireless charging evolving as a new trend in flagship smartphones, accessories players are leaving no stone unturned to cash in on this opportunity. Belkin, which is mostly known for making accessories for iPhones and premium devices from other brands such as Samsung and Google, has been a trend-setter in this technology ever since it became a key feature in high-end smartphones. Keeping up with the trend, the California-headquartered accessories major has come up with the 10W Wireless Charging Stand + Speaker in India. Priced above Rs 7,000 (after discounts) on different platforms, the all-new gadget offers a multitude of functions which we’ll discuss in this review. But do these make sense for you? Let’s find out.

Design and Build

The Belkin 10W Wireless Charging Stand + Speaker comes in Black and White colour options, and we got the latter for review. It looks simple yet stylish and is ergonomically designed. The device is made of a good quality plastic and has a strong build. However, it’s lightweight and has a dimension of 110mm x 102mm x 106mm.

While most of the wireless charging pads available in the market are flat, this one is a bit different. The design of the frame holding the smartphone is a little angled backward which helps the smartphone to rest properly on the charging pad and just behind it, is the enclosed speaker and mic with a nice round cup-like design. The angled design lets you place your smartphone in both vertical and horizontal positions and helps you to see your messages, take calls, or even do video conferences while the smartphone is charging.

Up front, there is a brand logo in the middle of the charging pad. There is a speaker grill on the top and a huge button to switch on/off Bluetooth behind the Qi charging pad with a nice round cup shape. The device comes with a power adapter and you have to attach the charging pin into it and to use the product.

The all-new Belkin offering is just not a wireless charger and speaker. It’s basically also a smartphone holder that keeps your handset firmly either vertically or horizontally. In the vertical position, you get all the updates without actually touching the phone and it is of great use while working on the desk, whereas the horizontal mode is helpful in watching videos or movies.

Wireless Charger

As the name suggests, wireless charging capability happens to be the main functionality of this Belkin device. It offers up to 10W of wireless charging which starts immediately without any delay.

I used iPhone 11 with a case on and there wasn’t any sort of interruption while charging. Since the power rating is limited to 10W, it took much longer time to charge my phone when compared to the conventional charger. Thankfully, my phone didn’t get hot while charging, as it’s the case with wireless charging.

Bluetooth Speaker

Doubling up as a Bluetooth speaker, the device comes with a mono speaker that punches above its weight by producing fairly loud sound. The speaker performed very well on treble and mids as the highs and vocals were very clear and crisp but it lacked in-depth or the rumble of the bass

Although its audio quality is not that impressive when compared to a high-end Bluetooth speaker, it’s a good listening device, especially on calls and video calls.

Keeping up with the trend, the speaker is very intuitive in functionality. Once you pair it with you phone, it just connects and disconnects with just a touch of a button.

Conclusion

The Belkin Wireless Charging Stand 10W + Speaker gels well with today’s trend of a device with multiple benefits. It’s something made for the working table and for the people who are on continuous calls and require frequent smartphone charging. Its angle design too is of great use that will help you keep the smartphone vertical or horizontal. You can do video calls or watch video content for a longer duration without holding the phone. It’s a value for money product, is safe, and can be your perfect desk companion.

ESPL 2021: Deputy CM Sisodia launches team Delhi Dukes

0

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has unveiled the second team of Esports Premier League (ESPL) 2021. The Delhi-based franchise has been named as Delhi Dukes. Earlier, ESPL had announced the first franchise side Hyderabad Hydras.

Sisodia also launched the official jersey of the team, which will be representing the national capital in the country’s first-ever franchise-based esports league. “I congratulate India Today Group for their efforts to grow esports in the country. I hope the Delhi team wins the tournament,” Sisodia tweeted after the launch.

Apart from Delhi and Hyderabad, an eight-team league will see other teams representing Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and states Punjab and Rajasthan competing in the final stage of the event.

“It’s an honour for us to reveal the team’s name and official jersey by the state’s Deputy Chief Minister Mr Manish Sisodia. Delhi’s fans have now got a chance to stand by the team through their journey and cheer for them, so it is imperative for us to make them feel special. It’s also a very proud moment for all of us at ESPL to see the logo of the first franchise-based esports league on the arm. We cannot wait for the final phase of the league where all eight state teams will battle it out to get the crown. I wish the team all the very best,” said Vishwalok Nath, Director of ESPL, who was also present during the launch in a closed event at the Delhi Chief Minister’s Residence.

ESPL 2021, which crossed a massive one million mark during the registration phase, was kicked off on June 16 and has been hosted virtually due to the ongoing pandemic.

The ongoing second phase of the competition has been witnessing a strong competition between 96 teams, as eight will progress into the final stage.

The league, which has Infinix Mobile as its presenting sponsor, aims to give esports ecosystem a complete makeover in the country and also grow esports in the Indian market.

In order to take thrilling action of the league to esports enthusiasts from every corner of the country, it has been streamed live on OTT platform Disney+ Hotstar, Free Fire official streaming platform Booyah and Malayalam OTT platform Koode alongside official YouTube and Facebook channels of India Today and AajTak and its websites.

Tech NewsWrap: Realme 8i, Realme 8s India launch confirmed… and more

0

Realme 8i, Realme 8s India launch confirmed

Realme 8i and Realme 8s smartphones are confirmed to launch in India soon. Realme CEO Madhav Sheth, in the latest episode of Ask Madhav, confirmed that the company will be soon launching two more devices as the new additions to the Realme 8 series. He didn’t reveal the launch date in India, though one of them might release ahead of the other. As of now, nothing has been made official about the two latest handsets, though some information about the Realme 8s had recently leaked.

WhatsApp rolls out Snapchat-like View Once feature

Facebook-owned WhatsApp, in June this year, introduced a new feature called ‘View Once’ to take on Snapchat. The feature has now started rolling out for all on Android, iOS, Web, KaiOS, and Desktop. The ‘View Once’ feature enables you to share videos and photos that disappear from the chat after they are opened. Also, any video or photo that users send using ‘View Once’ will not be saved in the camera roll of the recipient.

Kumar Mangalam Birla steps down as Vodafone Idea chairman

Kumar Mangalam Birla has stepped down from struggling carrier as Vodafone Idea chairman. The board has accepted his request to resign from the post of Vodafone Idea non-executive director as well as non-executive chairman from August 4, said telecom operator in the exchanging filing. A nominee, Himanshu Kapania has been elected as Aditya Birla Group non-executive chairman. Also, Sushil Agarwal, an Aditya Birla Group nominee has been appointed by the board as additional director.

Xiaomi confirms Mi Mix 4 launch date

Xiaomi has officially announced that the Mi Mix 4 will be launched in China on August 10. The company, on its Weibo page, posted a teaser with the save-the-date. The new device is expected to have a list of upgrades over the existing Mi Mix 3 and Mi Mix 3 5G. Additionally, Xiaomi is launching some other devices like – new smartphones and tablets – at its large-scale August 10 event.

Google announces Pixel 6 series

Google, recently, confirmed that a Pixel 6 series was in the pipeline. Rather than releasing all the details on its new Android phones, the tech giant is instead putting the focus on the new system on a chip that will be inside – Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. It is called Tensor SoC, and the company has hyped up everything the new phones can do with the new custom silicon.

Noise announces launch of ColorFit Pro 3 Assist, Buds VS103 on August 5

0

Noise, the Indian aspirational connected lifestyle brand, has announced the launch of ColorFit Pro 3 Assist and Buds VS103. The homegrown brand has released these products at an affordable price tag, and is scheduled for August 5 to come live on sale via Amazon India and official website of Noise.

Noise ColorFit Pro 3 Assist: Specifications and features

The Noise ColorFit Pro 3 Assist offers a 1.55-inch Full touch colour HD TruView display with customizable watch faces. The swappable bands are the additional touch on its overall look. Powered with built-in Alexa, users can set the alarm, book a cab, check the weather reports, and more with just their voice commands. The smartwatch contains 24X7 SpO2 monitoring, sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring, and stress level monitoring. The Noise ColorFit Pro 3 has industry leading design and long-lasting battery that provides up to 10-days of battery life, as per the company claim.

Noise Buds VS103: Specifications and features

The Noise Buds VS103 is designed to offer an unparalleled sound quality to Noisemakers. The latest wireless earbuds features 10mm audio drivers and passive noise cancellation with secure fit ear fitting design. It comes with full touch controls, offers total playtime of 18 hours (including the backup of the charging case) and Hyper Sync Technology for instant connection. Packs with Type-C charging, users can also manage calls, tracks, volume, and voice assistants.

Fire-Boltt launches Ninja smartwatch with SPO2, touch-to-wake features

0

India’s fastest growing wearable and audio brand Fire-Boltt has now announced the launch of yet another smartwatch called Ninja. The full touchscreen smartwatch with an industry first touch to wake feature, is packed in a full metal body. The inaugural price of this smarwatch is just Rs 1,799 and will be available on Flipkart.

The smartwatch is equipped with key health-related monitors such as SPO2 sensor for tracking blood oxygen level, 24×7 Optical Heart Rate Sensor and Blood Pressure Tracker. Fire-Boltt Ninja is further loaded with a number of health and fitness-related features such as Accelerometer Sensor, Barometer Sensor, Gyro Sensor and Light Sensor. Ninja comes with 1.3 inch HD Display and as many as seven Sports Modes to choose for different purposes. It includes modes for activities like Running, Walking, Cycling, Basketball, Badminton and Football.

Fire-Boltt co-founders Aayushi and Arnav Kishore said, “Donning this smartwatch would be no short of wearing fashion on your sleeves, thanks to its light weight and stunning look. Loaded with multiple health-related and Touch-to-Wake features, we have made it available in the most affordable price range so that everyone can keep a tab on their key health parameters while enjoying the perks of wearing a smartwatch on the wrist.”

Besides, one would never miss any notification while wearing Ninja on the wrist, as it accesses and shares all notifications received on the connected smartphone. The water resistant smartwatch also offers multiple watch faces. The smartwatch functions on a lithium ion battery that lasts for at least five days when charged fully for nearly120 minutes. Equipped with Bluetooth technology, it relays all incoming calls on the connected phone via vibration alert.

Best 5 smartphones with 108-megapixel camera to buy in India

0

These days, when people go, may be to a wedding, a get-together, or concerts with family or friends, clicking pictures have become a trend. Then again, like in the old days, nobody uses cameras to take these photos; instead smartphones which are installed with high-quality cameras are used. Today, a mobile phone without a camera is unthinkable. And the latest trend in the smartphone market is 108-megapixel cameras, which is one of the key selling propositions. There are a number of devices available in the country right now and we are here with the list of 5 best phones that sport 108-megapixel cameras.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

Cameras are the primary focus of the recently launched Galaxy S21 Ultra. It has a mighty impressive set of rear cameras, and each camera have important roles to play. The main sensor of this device is 108-megapixel primary camera along with 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, a 10-megapixel Telephoto 3x and a 10-megapixel Telephoto 10x sensors. On the front, it sports a 40-megapixel camera for selfies. Some other key features includes Samsung Exynos 2100, 12GB RAM, 128GB internal storage, 5000mAh battery and more. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra price in India is set at Rs 105,999.

Mi 11X Pro

Mi 11X Pro

Mi 11X Pro is a mid-range offering from Chinese phone maker Xiaomi. The handset has triple rear cameras which includes – a 108-megapixel Samsung HM2 primary sensor, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 5-megapixel macro sensor. There is a 20-megapixel camera on the front for selfie lovers. Other important specs of the device is Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, 8GB RAM, 128GB internal storage, 4520mAh battery and more. The Mi 11X Pro price in India starts at Rs 39,999.

Motorola Edge Plus

Motorola Edge Plus

Motorola is not far behind in providing the best-quality camera smartphones. Motorola Edge Plus houses a 108-megapixel primary camera along with a 16-megapixel camera, and an 8-megapixel camera. It further packs a 25-megapixel snapper on the front for selfies. The other specs of this device is – Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, 12GB RAM, 256GB internal storage, 5000mAh battery and more. The Motorola Edge Plus in India can be availed at Rs 64,999.

Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro

Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro

Xiaomi’s Mi 10T Pro highly impresses with its camera department in both day and night. The handset sports the first-gen ISOCELL HM1 sensor. It comes with a 108-megapixel primary camera along with 13-megapixel ultra-wide lens and a 5-megapixel macro unit at the back. The front camera of the smartphone gets a 20-megapixel snapper for selfies. Some other specs include Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, 8GB RAM, 128GB internal storage, 5000mAh battery among others. The price of Mi 10T Pro in India is set at Rs 36,999.

Moto G60

Moto G60

Moto G60 is one of the best phones in India that sport 108-megapixel camera. The handset has a triple camera set-up at the back that includes – 108-megapixel primary camera along with an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera and 2-megapixel depth sensor for portrait shots. On the front, it sports a 32-megapixel camera for selfies. Other specs of the phone is Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G, 6GB RAM, 128GB internal storage, 6000mAh battery among others. Moto G60 will cost you Rs 17,999.

WhiteHat Jr introduces coding curriculum in schools

0

An online learning platform WhiteHat Jr today announced the launch of a physical-digital blended coding curriculum for school children in the country. The program combines the power of WhiteHat Jr’s online platform with a classroom model, where children can learn and collaborate with their peers.

The edtech company has received a very positive response to the offering, with schools showing massive interest in introducing next-generation coding skills to their students. Leveraging the strong in-bound, WhiteHat Jr has signed up 500 schools across the country, representing more than 1.25 lakh students who will learn coding through the blended curriculum.

The program has been especially developed to support schools in India. It delivers three key features –

Proprietary curriculum – WhiteHat Jr has designed an activity-based structured coding curriculum from Grade 1-12. The curriculum is scientifically researched & based on age-appropriate learning outcomes.

Physical cum digital access – To maximize the benefits of peer classroom learning, the coding classes will be delivered in the school computer labs in person by a trained teacher using the WhiteHat Jr’s proprietary technology platform. All enrolled students will also have access to WhiteHat Jr’s online resources, including classroom tutorials and projects.

Teacher training program – WhiteHat Jr has developed a new teacher training program to prepare teachers for conducting the coding program in schools. It also has been empanelled by NSDC to build the capacity of coding trainers in the country. To date, 1,000 private school teachers have already been trained and will get certified under this initiative.

“We have to equip our children with 21st-century skills to help reap the demographic dividend in its truest sense. However, the big deterrent is that the majority of children in the country don’t have access to computers or broadband. We aim to bridge this critical gap with a unique physical-digital blended model leveraging schools to enable coding access to millions of children across the country,” said Karan Bajaj, Founder & CEO, WhiteHat Jr. “With the positive reception that we have received thus far since the launch of our physical-digital blended model, our vision of teaching Coding to at least 1 million school students in the next academic year is an achievable reality.”

“We are at the helm of a breakthrough with this initiative, to provide Coding education to students that otherwise would not have had the infrastructure to access these future skills,” said Nitin Kochhar, Chief Business Officer, New Channels, WhiteHat Jr. “500+ schools representing 245 cities, from 24 states and union territories across the country, is a testament to the trust that we have gained by leading educational institutions across the country. We have built a strong support infrastructure/ processes and team in place to delight each and every child studying Coding through our school’s initiative.”

ZinQ Technology develops 12V UPS for Router at Rs 1,499

0

Zinq Technology, a lifestyle gadgets and accessories startup, today has announced the launch of ZQ-6600 12V UPS for Router, Intercom, CCTV, and Set-top box. Priced at INR 1,499.00, it is available for the purchase on Amazon.

Whether someone works, plays or shops, the ZinQ UPS ensures to keep all the activities un-interrupted and gives an absolute freedom from power cuts. This handy and noiseless UPS router boasts of high compatibility and is suitable for most digital products in the market. Its USB output is used as a normal power bank for digital products such as a smartphone, iPad, etc. This UPS even comes with Overcharge Protection and Intelligent Charging to keep the UPS as well as the router safe all the time. Apart from that, with its 6600mAh battery capacity, the battery backup offered by this UPS lasts about 4 hours, which is pretty great considering the price tag.

Arnav Mutneja, Founder, ZinQ Technologies said, “With the new addition of ‘Made in India’ UPS for routers to our product portfolio, we aim to combat the loss of power and give sufficient backup time to our customers while satisfying other requirements. It is very important to have a reliable UPS, especially in a country like India where power surges are so frequent. Our innovative UPS for router, intercom, CCTV and set top box helps in keeping the internet access going during power outages”.

Additionally, the UPS consists of an intelligent battery management system that ensures the UPS charges itself during the availability of electricity, but on the occurrence of an electrical failure, the UPS toggles itself into battery mode.

OPPO unveils next-generation under-screen camera technology

0

Leading global smart device brand OPPO today unveiled its next-generation under-screen camera (USC) technology for smartphones. By combining the best in hardware innovation and OPPO’s proprietary AI algorithms, the new under-screen camera solution discreetly places the front-facing camera under the smartphone display in a way that maintains the integrity and consistency of the entire screen, both during use and while in standby. Offering the perfect balance between consistent screen quality and camera image quality, it is an under-screen camera solution with no comprises.

This new under-screen camera solution solves many technical and manufacturing-related challenges that have plagued under-screen camera technology since the beginning of its development. Breakthroughs include resolving issues such as inconsistent display quality in the screen area above the under-screen camera, poor image quality caused by obstruction of the camera by the screen, as well as issues with product reliability and lifespan. Thanks to advances in these areas, OPPO has been able to deliver an upgraded under-screen camera solution that takes end-to-end, full-screen experience to new levels.

On the display, OPPO’s next-generation under-screen camera solution introduces several new innovations in structure design and AI algorithms:

Innovative pixel geometry: the new solution shrinks the size of each pixel without decreasing the number of pixels to ensure a 400-PPI high-quality display even in the camera area.

Transparent wiring and new design: OPPO has replaced the traditional screen wiring with an innovative transparent wiring material. Combined with a high-precision manufacturing process that reduces the width of the wiring by 50%, this result in much finer display quality with a smoother visual experience.

Improved control of screen accuracy, color, and brightness: in contrast to the current industry standard of using 1 pixel circuit to drive 2 pixels (“1-to-2”) in the screen area above the camera, OPPO has introduced a new solution using proprietary screen technology, with each pixel circuit driving only 1 pixel (“1-to-1”). When combined with OPPO’s precise algorithmic compensation technology, this allows the chromaticity and brightness of the entire screen to be precisely controlled with a deviation of about 2%. For uses such as reading e-books, browsing the news, or navigating with maps, OPPO’s next generation under-screen camera technology allows for the accurate display of smaller fonts and better preservation and representation of textural details and colors, resulting in a more consistent and immersive experience.

Improved reliability and lifespan: with the introduction of the “1-to-1” pixel circuit and dedicated optimization algorithm, OPPO’s next-generation under-screen camera solution is able to provide display compensation in the under-screen camera area of screen, improving the screen’s lifespan by up to 50%.

With regards to the camera, OPPO’s U.S. Research Institutes has developed a series of imaging AI algorithms – including diffraction reduction, HDR and AWB – to reduce some of the negative side effects typically found in under-screen cameras, such as blurry images and image glare. OPPO has also trained its AI diffraction reduction model using tens of thousands of images to control problems caused by diffraction at the light source, allowing users to capture clearer, more natural-looking images.

As consumer demand for larger screen-to-body ratios and novel smartphone form factors has grown, OPPO has invested heavily into research and development in these areas. It has released three generations of under-screen camera solutions to date since it began its development of the technology in 2018, applying for over 200 related patents in the process. In 2020, OPPO also made further contributions to the development of the technology with the submission of its first proposed standards for under-screen camera technology to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Included in the submitted proposal were recommendations for 7 key technical metrics including display transmittance, reflectance, uniformity, Gamma correction, color shift, and brightness decay.

OPPO will continue its research and development into hardware design and algorithmic processing capabilities to further optimize its under-screen camera technology, with the end goal of bringing a more immersive, true full-screen under-screen camera system to users worldwide.

Western Digital expands Purple Pro product line for AI-enabled workloads

0

Western Digital Corp. today announced the expansion of the WD Purple family with the WD Purple Pro product line for a new generation of advanced AI-enabled recorders and back-end servers.

The worldwide video surveillance camera market is estimated to grow to $44 billion by 2025, up from $23.6 billion in 2019, according to IDC. Emerging smart video architectures that capture, store and analyze massive amounts of video data and perform heavy deep-learning video analytics, are putting an unprecedented level of stress on storage subsystems. The new WD Purple Pro line is designed to handle these workloads with optimized storage performance, capacity, workload capability and reliability for a myriad of devices, including AI-enabled network video recorders (NVRs), video analytics servers, storage arrays and storage/server solutions, including those that perform deep-learning analytics.

Jaganathan Chelliah, Director, Marketing, India, Western Digital, said, “With the addition of WD Purple Pro product line, our WD Purple portfolio of  smart video storage products are well positioned to harness the capabilities of Artificial Intelligence. Unlike the traditional CCTV cameras, smart CCTV cameras today capture and transfers multiple video streams for AI based real time and batch analytics. Our WD Purple Pro HDDs with All frames AI tech has the capability to handle intense workload and enable users to derive deep insights.”

Khalid Wani, Director, Sales, India, Western Digital, said, “With the emerging AI workloads and video feeds with 4K resolution, there is a strong requirement for a smart video storage solution to address the high-capacity and reliability needs. Several large infrastructure projects are looking at AI based smart video solutions for use cases beyond safety. WD Purple Pro with up to 18TB capacity is the ideal solution to enable original equipment manufacturers and system integrators to solve this growing market requirement.”

WD Purple Pro hard drive benefits include:

  • Enhanced AllFrame AI technology enabling video streams from up to 64 HD cameras to be recorded concurrently, while simultaneously handling up to an additional 32 AI streams for AI functions, whether cameras are directly connected to advanced recorders or to cloud-based servers.
  • High performance and workload capability, supporting up to 550TB a year workload rating, provides for the additional demands of AI functionality, including pattern matching and object/event recognition, while writing a multitude of video streams.
  • High reliability and capacity solutions help retain and feed thousands of hours of training video to enable effective deep-learning and AI algorithm development. Capacities range from 8TB to 18TB with a five-year limited warranty.
  • Enterprise-class durability to work seamlessly in large-scale, high-density video analytics servers and cloud solutions. Offers ongoing HDD health monitoring in compatible systems with Western Digital Device Analytics support.

Western Digital’s full family of WD Purple solutions for smart video surveillance includes up to 1TB WD Purple microSD cards for cameras and edge devices to 1TB-8TB WD Purple HDDs for NVRs; and now, WD Purple Pro drives from 8TB to 18TB to support a range of systems for AI-heavy workloads, including back-end enterprise servers. WD Purple Pro solutions will be available this quarter from Western Digital resellers.

Availability and pricing

The WD Purple Pro HDD in 4TB is priced at INR 8999, 8TB at INR 25999, and is available in capacities up to 18TB. The current range of Western Digital Purple Pro HDDs are available at Isha Enterprise, Ace Metro, ADI and other leading IT partners across the country.