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Appy Pie clocks 5 million app downloads on Android

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Cloud-based no-code app building platform Appy Pie has clocked more than 5 million downloads for its android app named App Maker by Appy Pie.

The download share for India is about 45% of the total number registered, and it assumes significance in the wake of the country’s no-code boom ushering in a new wave of entrepreneurs by simplifying the launch of app-based businesses. While App Maker by Appy Pie had hit the one million download mark in 2019 itself, the maximum surge was witnessed post the outbreak of the pandemic, with the number reaching three millions in 2020 and over five millions at present.

“The outbreak of the pandemic severely impacted the offline business model by disrupting the supply chain and distribution networks, compelling more and more businesses to resort to online channels and app-based business. With the widespread acceptance of no-code, which does not require anyone to acquire coding skills, several businesses have gone for rapid online transition, with apps being the hot favourite. India’s app economy is thus definitely bound to further grow multifold in the new normal,” says Appy Pie founder Abhinav Girdhar.

Also Read | Appy Pie buys design applications company Flyerly

Notably, Appy Pie offers a wide product portfolio with which businesses irrespective of their budgetary constraints can create a 360-degree digital footprint. In addition to development of tools like apps, chatbots, websites etc, App Pie also assists in submission of apps on both Google Play Store and App Store. The company has off late generated interest among a few reputed educational institutions and varsities to consider app development as part of their curriculum.

The five-million app downloads milestone comes close on the heels of Appy Pie introducing a Virtual Assistant and Conversational AI-powered Answer Chatbot that could be customized as per the need of different industries and sectors such as healthcare, banking and human resource management, among other. In addition to it, Appy Pie also offers no-code development courses for students and professionals, wherein they are trained about app development as well as its publishing on app stores.

Also Read: New-age super-app Evobee set to enter as India’s Hyperlocal marketplace

New-age super-app Evobee set to enter as India’s Hyperlocal marketplace

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Leading ITES Company Plaxonic today launched one-of-its-kind hyperlocal super app Evobee to address various challenges of the conventional logistics sector, while connecting local businesses to customers digitally.

The super app ‘Evobee’ will be available for download on Google Play Store and ‘IOS’ App Store. Over 1,800 vendors have already registered to serve their customers ensuring timely and seamless 24/7 customer support. Soon to become a PAN Indian app, Evobee in the first phase of launch is set to offer its services in Delhi-NCR focusing on the areas of Noida, Ghaziabad (Vaishali, Indirapuram, and Vasundhara), and East Delhi.

To keep up with customers’ product and service based needs, Plaxonic’s hyperlocal app Evobee will be helping small and big businesses adapt to digital solutions. In addition, consumers will get everything delivered at their doorstep. Evobee would enable same day, fast and hassle free delivery enhancing customer’s buying experience. Home delivery of grocery or food, booking cabs, doctor’s appointments, AC repair, apparel, shoes, and many other services available within a radius of 30 km, would be available on Evobee. If a customer wants to replace a product, they can do it in real time as delivery will be done by business providers. In case of any grievance, users will get 24/7 customer support.

Also Read | The front-runners of ‘Super Apps’ race in India

Shaan Rizvi, CEO & Founder, Plaxonic said, “We are excited to introduce EVOBEE to the Hyperlocal marketplace which has taken the ecommerce space by storm. EVOBEE is an application which will connect local businesses with local customers offering both accessibility and efficiency to the seller and the customer. It will be a one-stop shop where sellers can deliver the products and services to the customers, thereby negating the need for multiple applications for specific purposes.”

Aditya Sharma, CTO, Plaxonic said, “Today, Plaxonic is more than happy to have launched an application like Evobee that is technologically rich to support the thought behind its innovation. Backed by a creative user interface and a dynamic user experience, the app is available to be downloaded from Google Play Store or App Store. Through a multi-faceted mechanism, the application can provide the users with genuine information about the listed vendors, real time delivery, credible reviews and prices of the products and services. With EVOBEE, users need to install only one application for purchasing multiple products and using multiple services.”

Before the launch, Evobee had created a great buzz around its creative OOH advertisements. Through its logo reveal campaign, it has created a lasting impression in the minds of the consumer and has received multiple new business sign-ups and inquiries about the app launch.

Also Read: HyperX Cloud Earbuds are now available in new yellow colourway

HyperX Cloud Earbuds are now available in new yellow colourway

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HyperX, the gaming peripherals team at HP Inc. and brand leader in gaming & esports, now launched the new colour variant (Yellow and Grey) of its existing Cloud Earbuds at INR 4,490. Already available in red color, the launch is in line with the company’s objective to re-energize the demand and love for Cloud Earbuds in India.

Debuted in 2018, HyperX Cloud Earbuds boast a long list of features that benefit budding and experienced gamers alike. These earbuds are perfect for Nintendo Switch gamers, who demand immersive gaming audio (with enhanced bass and crystal-clear highs, mids & lows) for a classic gaming experience on the go. The earbuds are specially optimized for handheld mode and come with a 90-degree angled plug and tangle-free rubberized cable in a travel case to enhance portability and give secure storage.

HyperX Cloud Earbuds Yellow

HyperX Cloud Earbuds sport three sizes of patented silicone ear tips to offer signature HyperX comfort for longer gaming sessions. Its in-line mic with multi-function button empowers gamers to answer calls, control streaming media, and easily communicate with their squads in Switch games. Besides this, the earbuds come with a two-year warranty and free technical support to give their users the best and long-lasting gaming experience.

Also Read: Top engagements that are keeping gamers charged up

Top engagements that are keeping gamers charged up

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Indian gaming companies are increasingly gaining momentum in the country while presenting a whole new career in esports.

According to a recent KPMG report, India has the second-largest base of online gamers in the world after China. Gaming companies in India are investing heavily in different activities to engage with the community using various platforms to spread awareness and build engagement for mobile gaming and esports in India. Some of the initiatives that are building engagement for the gaming community are as follows:

Introducing new content formats

Gaming companies are exploring new forms of content to reach the audience and encourage them to take up an interest in online gaming and esports. For example, Loco, a live game streaming platform has partnered with Dice Media for India’s first esports web series “Clutch”. The entire series focuses on a powerful squad tackling hardships to win a tough Battleground tournament. Similarly, other companies too are investing in steam-in ads, partnering with influencers to create exclusive campaigns, and exploring new-age properties with the presence of a young audience.

Global Associations

Gaming companies have now started to partner with large-scale global events like Decathlons and Olympics which help them increase visibility among the sports and esports community in India. These events highlight the potential of esports and skilled gaming and motivate the young gamers to follow their passion and get the right training to reach those heights of professional gaming.

Also Read | BGMI wins ‘Best Game’ at Google Play Best of 2021 Awards

Building a gaming community

Most of the game streaming platforms have the facility of video chat and voice chat with other gamers from the community across the country which helps them communicate while they play. Gamers can leverage this facility to learn new techniques, hacks, and also discuss their gameplay. Gaming companies also host live streams and share expert advice from their top gamers. The companies also interact with gamers across the country through interactive social media activities to bring the community closer and make them stronger.

There is a constant evolution in this industry that is opening up enough and more opportunities for the gaming ecosystem to thrive and grow.

Launching custom made merchandise

As fans, people have always tried to show their love, appreciation, and support through branded merchandise. Many die-hard fans of Tony Stark aka Iron Man or FC Barcelona have worn their jerseys, hats, and masks with pride. Merchandise has always allowed fans to connect with their preferred team and support their character on a deeper level. Today, as the love for esports grows multifold, the rising demand for custom-made merchandise has also increased. It has become imperative for teams and gamers to connect with their fans and what better way to relate to them through truly customized merchandise that can represent not just their love for gaming but also their individuality.

Gaming and esports is the most dynamic and fast-growing industry at a global level. India too has seen an uplift in the number of professional gamers as well in-game streaming platforms. While the gamers are always on the lookout for something more interesting, the gaming companies are thriving to provide this to its game streamers and it has become imperative for them to broaden their horizons and keep the gamers engaged in one or another way. The above-mentioned initiatives are definitely a successful way forward for the industry.

Also Read: Tanla, Vi sign partnership to deploy patented block-chain enabled Wisely

Tanla, Vi sign partnership to deploy patented block-chain enabled Wisely

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CPaaS provider Tanla and Vodafone Idea Limited (Vi) today announced a partnership wherein Tanla will be the exclusive provider of solutions to secure, encrypt and enhance performance for the entire international messaging traffic on the Vi network.

This partnership centered on Wisely, a cloud-based platform co-developed with Microsoft, is set to lead the global enterprise market in digital interactions and is expected to go-live in Q4 21-22. This follows the success of ‘TRUBLOQ’- the largest implementation of block chain use case processing ~350 Bn transactions per year.

“Our partnership with Vi, powered by Wisely platform, is a massive step forward to lead the global digital interactions space. Wisely platform is a win-win proposition for all stakeholders – consumers, global enterprises, suppliers, and regulators, as we are committed to innovate with the entire ecosystem in mind. I am confident this partnership will help expand our global footprint by addressing the needs of global enterprises not just in India but across the world,” said Uday Reddy, Founder Chairman & CEO of Tanla Platforms Limited. “It gives me great inspiration to expand our long-standing partnership with Vi in our joint pursuit to move all digital interactions to a secure and trusted platform.”

“Vi Business is focussed at providing technology-based solutions to enterprises enabling digital transformation, productivity and efficiency enhancement. We are the early adopters of Wisely Platform from Tanla which brings critical capabilities for our enterprise customers. Over the years, our partnership with Tanla has had a great record of success and has enabled us to serve our customers better,” said Arvind Nevatia, Chief Enterprise Business Officer of Vodafone Idea Limited. “We look forward to building on our partnership and ensuring we are ahead of the curve in the business communication space.”

Also Read | Vodafone Idea hikes prepaid tariffs by 20%

Wisely offers a digital marketplace bringing together enterprises and suppliers connected by secure express routes and Microsoft’s global network, enabled by Tanla’s patented cryptographic technology. The platform powered by block chain ensures complete transparency and a single source of truth resulting in immutable audit trails and zero dispute settlements. Further, the platform will ensure compliance to all applicable regulations.

The Wisely platform is designed to deliver a manifold increase of ROI and conversions for global enterprises. These enterprises include large tech giants as well as OTT players amongst others. They will benefit from flexible business models and can develop bespoke solutions to help achieve their strategic priorities. Furthermore, Wisely will deliver enhanced experience for millions of mobile users in India through timely delivery of mission critical messages, also ensuring data security and data privacy.

Tanla and VIL are confident that this expansion of their long-standing relationship will reimagine the future of the messaging industry in India.

Also Read: Amazon announces Customer’s Choice Smartphone & Smart TV Awards 2021

Amazon announces Customer’s Choice Smartphone & Smart TV Awards 2021

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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:

Amazon Customer’s Choice Smartphone Awards 2021

Award categories for Amazon Customer’s Choice Smart TV Awards 2021:

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 launches incubator programme for healthcare issues

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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 Mobiles Bonanza Sale starts today: Check top 10 smartphone deals here

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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

Playfit Slim Review: Tailored for sophisticated wear with multiple features

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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 Travel launches special flight fares for armed forces, students, senior citizens

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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