CTC BLOG

Nandini YadavMar 31, 2021 17:08:48 IST

One of biggest tech trends of 2021 was the skyrocketing popularity of the audio-only app Clubhouse. From 2,000 downloads in September 2020, the app’s monthly downloads jumped to 2.4 million in January 2021. In February 2021, Clubhouse crossed 10 million downloads globally on the Apple App Store.

Unless you took social distancing a little too far and were living in a cave, you would know that Clubhouse is a social platform built around the “drop-in audio chat” model. It features ephemeral real-time voice conversations that any user can listen to and nobody can record.

From Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Oprah to Lindsay Lohan, Clubhouse has gathered a legion of high-profile users.

What’s so attractive about audio-only conversation?

For starters, the pandemic, the quarantine, the one-year of WFH, the hordes of people desperate for social connection, all of that together may have created the ideal conditions for the audio-only model to thrive.

Stanford professor Jeremy Bailenson, founding director of the Stanford Virtual Human Interaction Lab (VHIL) recently shared a study, according to which, ‘Zoom fatigue’ is real. Bailenson says these video calls are tiring people out more than usual.

Constant Zoom calls and meetings, longer work hours (than usual) have worn people down over time, and with so much fatigue, text-based social media can only go so far; audio is a natural alternative. Live conversations transmit more empathy than text chat, while needing less screen and seat-focused than video.

To some extent, the popularity of podcasts have laid the foundation for the audio-only model.

The audio-chat model also creates the excitement and unpredictability around eavesdropping on a conversation, which can be thrilling.

I also spoke to Amit Doshi, the founder and CEO of IVM podcast about what makes audio conversations so attractive. He says: “Conversations are something we all do everyday. It’s different from writing or addressing a group of people, conversations can be casual, deep, emotive, funny and everything in between. As the oldest mode of communication and something that comes very naturally to us, it’s a medium that allows for a deeper level of intimacy and authenticity.”

Audio conversations are slower, more considered, garners more engagement by design. Image: Nandini Yadav

Essentially, the audio conversations work well because they offer the best of the both worlds — of podcasts and webinars. You can drop in and out of a chat room, you can choose to be a passive listener or an active speaker. On Clubhouse, in particular, I also find the randomness very interesting – a conversation on Bitcoin can be followed by one on how to kick off a startup, or a discussion on women entrepreneurs, as opposed to the social media echo chamber we are by now accustomed to.

“Any content that is relayed via a single sense, in this case, audio, does not require our full attention in the sense that you can listen to something while sending emails, or cooking, or working out or any other task. This means that while you’re fully engaged and consuming the content, you are also able to devote your time to other tasks making it very easy to incorporate into your existing routine,” Doshi adds.

In effect, the audio-only medium is like the Goldilocks zone. It’s not as invasive as a video chat, but it’s also not as impersonal as a text; it’s voice, it’s intrinsic, it’s just right!

It’s made other social media platforms want a slice

Within weeks of Clubhouse’s popularity shooting up, other social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook jumped at the chance of gaining back the audience that Clubhouse may have lured away from them.

Earlier this month, Twitter started rolling out a feature called Spaces on the platform, which lets users join in on an audio-only conversation. You can choose to join as a listener or a speaker or switch between the two. The feature is now rolling out for most Android and iOS Twitter users globally, including India. While still an experiment, it is impossible not to see the inspiration.

Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, LinkedIn are also reportedly dabbling with a similar offering.

Is audio the future?

Audio doesn’t fit neatly into the always-on, hit-and-run, race-to-the-bottom formats of online content. It’s slower, more considered, garners more engagement by design and has taken a while to really gather steam. With the current renaissance in podcasting and sudden interest by big tech in ephemeral audio content, it appears that we’re on the cusp of something.

However, current social media platforms continue to struggle to regulate and make their spaces safe for its users. And considering audio moderation is harder to manage than text or images, platforms like Clubhouse and Twitter Spaces will have to do a lot more to keep harassment at bay. Twitter spokespersons have spoken at length about the evolving experiment that is Spaces, and how health and safety are top priorities going forward.

Abigail BanerjiMar 31, 2021 21:42:00 IST

After rumours of the report being scrapped, political jibes, demands of a new investigation from scientists and countless delays, the World Health Organisation (WHO) released its eagerly awaited joint report on COVID-19 with China. This report looks into the origins of the virus that has taken a toll on life on a global scale. After all the hype, this 120-page report has fallen short in so many areas. Going by the methods used to gather physical evidence and the way the report has been written, a report by National Geographic states that experts are questioning its credibility.

The report lacks a definitive conclusion on where exactly the SARS-CoV-2 virus emerged from. With the WHO chief calling the report an “important beginning” and the US, EU, Japan, Australia and other countries saying it’s lacking’, these questions beg an answer:

Will there be another investigation?

Will we have to wait another three-four months only to receive a report where China has hidden crucial information?

Will this pandemic see a logical end?

One reason to conduct this visit was to better understand the virus, and in turn, help curb the spread.

For now, let’s dive into the WHO-China report we have at hand.

A mission filled with struggles

While the first COVID-19 cases were detected in late 2019 in China, it was only in May 2020 that talks about investigating the origins of the virus began. This was long after the epidemic had turned into a pandemic, and it was only in January 2021 that the team of WHO-led investigators and scientists set foot in China.

The 34-member team comprised 17 Chinese and 17 international experts from 10 other countries and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and WHO. Doctors and scientists trying to get to the bottom of the pandemic spent nearly a month in China, interacting with people in the Wuhan wet market.

One reason to conduct this visit was to better understand the virus, and in turn, help curb the spread. However, another reason was also to ensure future pandemics are dealt with severely and with greater ease.

Report highlights

Site of origin

From the beginning of the epidemic in China, the Hunan wet market in Hubei province was thought to be the place where the virus first cropped up. However, after studying the transmissions, the report is unsure about the market being the site of origin.

The report also addressed speculation that frozen food or cold chains played a part in the spread of the virus. It believes this could be a possibility, since it was found the virus can be carried by cold-chain products.

The report suggests further examinations on frozen products sold in the market from 2019, if any are still available.

Animal of origin

Similar to the SARS outbreak in 2003 in China, bats are thought to be the main reservoir of this virus. Data has also shown the coronaviruses “highly related to SARS-CoV-2” have been detected in bats and pangolins. However, they aren’t similar enough for bats and pangolins to be squarely blamed for the pandemic. There are other animals thought to be involved in the transmission of the virus; you can see all of them on the list here.

The report concludes by stating the virus most probably jumped from an infected bat or pangolin to humans via an intermediary animal. However, it isn’t sure which animal acted as the intermediary.

When and where the first cases began

First reports of a virus spreading in China emerged in January 2020, and later on, we found out that cases had actually begun in late-December. A few more months and a few dozen studies later, doctors began to find similarities in cases that were previously thought to be run-of-the-mill pneumonia patients.

Now, one year later, the WHO team is still not certain when or where the initial cases of COVID-19 first emerged. Some samples collected from the Hunan market show they were part of the same cluster, and other cases show the virus already had some mutating genomes.

Even the month when the virus first started to spread is missing from the report, with data showing cases started either mid-November or early-December, or from late-September to early-December. It states more investigations are needed.

The findings from this report were inconclusive and failed to provide any information that we might not have already known or speculated about. The main takeaway from this report is that more studies and analysis should be conducted in order to get to the bottom of this.

But, I can’t help but wonder – is it too late? Will we ever understand how this virus began? Or will it go on to be another unsolved mystery?

Most travelers these days use their phones to navigate. Perform a simple Google search on an address, and a detailed map with voice directions, nearby attractions, gas stations, restaurants, hotels and more is just a tap away. Still, there are companies that build additional features into mapping to try to stand apart from the reliable, but maybe not-so-sexy Google Maps. Wayze and Tripit are two examples, while Roadtrippers is still another. So is it worth adding Roadtrippers to your crowded app drawer? Maybe.

The major benefit of Roadtrippers is its friendly, easy-to-navigate interface. When opening the app, you can tap the “Nearby” button and you’ll be presented with large icons ranging from “Breakfast” to “Take a Walk.” Tap one of those and you’ll see what’s in your location in that category on a map. Tap further and you’ll get a description of the destination along with reviews and hours of operation, if available. In our tests, the app provided useful information just about 40 percent of the time. 

Once you have your destination chosen, you can choose to “Start Trip,” which will take you to your phone’s mapping app, or “Navigate,” which leads to a screen asking you to download Roadtripper’s beta turn-by-turn navigation system. We can’t imagine why you’d do that when your native mapping app should be just fine.

Where Roadtrippers really shines is through the use of its “Start A Trip” function. Here you simply enter a destination and choose which attractions you’d like to highlight along your route. You can choose to focus on pretty much anything you’d find on a road trip from national parks to nightlife. You can add and remove different categories to suit the focus of your trip, and the “nearby” function is still available to show you what’s in your immediate area as you drive.

Roadtripper allows you to add up to seven destinations along your route in the free version; any more than that and you’ll need to upgrade to Roadtrippers Plus, which costs $29.99 per year. 

Another standout feature of Roadtrippers is the free guide section. These are articles built around a theme such as “48 Hours in New York City,” or “007’s America.” They can help you plan a unique vacation or you can just enjoy them as fun armchair travel adventures.

Roadtrippers is available online and as an iOS and Android app.

Download The Roadtrippers App Here

FP TrendingMar 31, 2021 18:11:50 IST

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Curiosity rover has snapped a selfie with a majestic rock formation on Mars, known as Mont Mercou. The Mars rover also captured a pair of panoramic pictures, providing a three-dimensional view, of the stark cliff face of the landmark. The selfie, created from 60 individual images, was taken on 26 March 2021 – the 3,070th Martian day (sol) of Curiosity’s mission, by two cameras on the rover. The first is the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI), located on Curiosity’s robotic arm. Eleven of the images were also contributed by the Mastcam, taken on a 16 March photo-spree.

Mont Mercou is about 20 feet (6 meters) tall. Curiosity has drilled a sample of the rock, which the team has nicknamed ‘Nontron’, NASA said in a statement. The nomenclature gives the science team leeway to examine and explain the composition and origin of the rock on the Red Planet. The spot at which Curiosity snapped its selfie with Mont Mercou is at the transition between the ‘clay-bearing unit’ in the Gale Crater – from where the rover is departing, and the ‘sulfate-bearing unit’ in Mount Sharp, to where the rover is headed.

The Curiosity rover used two cameras to create this selfie in front of Mont Mercou, a rock outcrop that stands 20 feet (6 meters) tall on Mars. Image: NASA-JPL/Caltech

Earlier in March, Curiosity had taken some more panoramas with its Mastcam instrument. Studying these images from more than one angle helps scientists understand the 3D geometry of the sedimentary layers that make up Mount Mercou.

NASA is parallelly gearing up to deploy the first helicopter to fly on another world. The Ingenuity Mars helicopter was carefully deployed from the belly of the Perseverance rover, the mission team at JPL shared in a recent tweet.

We’re in the home stretch. The #MarsHelicopter has lowered all four legs and is in position to touch down on the Martian surface. Once it’s fully ready, @NASAPersevere will release it gently to the surface. https://t.co/TNCdXWcKWE pic.twitter.com/K3fqt2X2q3

— NASA JPL (@NASAJPL) March 31, 2021

Swing low, sweet helicopter…@NASAPersevere is slowly and carefully deploying the #MarsHelicopter, Ingenuity. The tech demo is currently unfolding from its stowed position and readying to safely touch down on the Martian surface. See upcoming milestones: https://t.co/TNCdXWcKWE pic.twitter.com/3AyaiHOH2k

— NASA JPL (@NASAJPL) March 30, 2021

“It [the helicopter] is stowed sideways, folded up and locked in place, so there’s some reverse origami to do before I can set it down. First though, I’ll be off to the designated ‘helipad,’ a couple days’ drive from here,” the Perseverance rover team tweeted.

Step by step, the #MarsHelicopter Ingenuity is getting ready to drop to the surface. Once it’s all unfolded, with four legs down, I’ll be able to cut it free. https://t.co/SDfGrUvoGL

— NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) March 30, 2021

The helicopter is expected to take flight on 8 April this year.

There are almost as many travel apps out there as there are travel destinations. In general, they all do some things well, and some things not so well. WikiCamps is certainly in the same, erm, camp. With a focus on – you guessed it – camping, the app can help you find nearby places to pitch your tent, park your RV, or take in some local sites. And while it can certainly be helpful, the app also suffers from so not-so-great features that might make it not worth paying to own it.

Like many apps, WikiCamps comes with a 14-day free trial. After that, it costs a one-time payment of $1.99 for lifetime access. The free trial period is well worth it because you can try out different destinations to see just how well it will work for you. Many users report a lack of data on local attractions and campsites, while our tests were data rich, so it might just depend on where you’re looking. It seems WikiCamps has a strong following in Australia, so the crowd-sourced information it relies on might just take some time to fill in around the rest of the world.

Beyond the actual data it contains (or doesn’t contain), WikiCamps has a wealth of smart features. Tap the hamburger button in the top-left of the screen, and you’re presented with a list of nearby attractions, campgrounds, hotels and more. Or you can enter a destination to see what might be in the area where you intend to travel.

Tap on any one attraction and, if available, you’ll find contact details, photos, web links, user ratings and a mapping button that lets you load directions into your favorite mapping app such as Wayze, Google Maps or TomTom Go. You also get a week-long weather forecast for the site. Plus, because this is a Wiki built by members, you can edit the site if you notice that something is wrong or if you want to add additional information or photos, and you can also leave and read reviews from other users.

A filter button lets you sort sites according to what you’re looking for and helps clear the clutter. You can for example, switch the toggles to include only free campgrounds that accept pets and have water facilities. You can see results either on the map or the list. One unfortunate thing is that the app seems to use Google Maps, so you wind up seeing all of the destinations that Google provides, but they aren’t all clickable so things can get a bit confusing. 

Another nice aspect of WikiCamps is the ability to download offline data on a state-by-state basis, so you can access sites even in remote areas where you might not be able to get online. Also, there is a travel forum where you can ask others any questions you might have about destinations.

While the app offers a trip-planning function, we found it difficult and confusing to use. You can search on your destination, but there seems to be no easy way to indicate that you want to add it as the end point in your trip. Instead, you can try to build a trip by tapping on sites and tapping “Add To Planner,” but it’s a cumbersome way to go about things. 

Because WikiTrips is built by the community, it can be hit or miss in terms of the information it provides. Some spots have lots of entries, while others are fairly bare. And the Trip Planner doesn’t seem to have much utility. But, for just $1.99 it might be a worthwhile tool to add to a frequent-camper’s resources, and it’s certainly worth taking the two-week free trial out for a spin.

Download WikiCamps Here

Agence France-PresseMar 31, 2021 10:52:37 IST

The cost of global warming will far outweigh the cost of rapidly cutting greenhouse gas emissions, more than 700 economists from around the world said on Tuesday in an unprecedented call to climate action. A major international survey found that nearly three-quarters of the economists responding believed that “immediate and drastic” action was needed to limit the climate change fallout, warning that the costs of failing to slash carbon pollution would rapidly balloon to reach trillions of dollars every year.

Nearly nine out of 10 economists said they believed climate change would worsen global inequality, and they were nearly unanimous in believing that the benefits of net-zero emissions by mid-century would vastly outweigh the costs.

“People who spend their careers studying our economy are in widespread agreement that climate change will be expensive, potentially devastatingly so,” said Peter Howard, economics director at the Institute for Policy Integrity at NYU School of Law, which conducted the survey.

“These findings show a clear economic case for urgent climate action.”

Currently, there’s no way to tell or track where climate refugees will go, which is an added pressure on a steadily–worsening situation. Image: Getty

For years economists have been divided on the cost-benefit equation involved in funding climate action, with even Nobel Prize-winning academics such as William Nordhaus arguing that strong actions should be balanced against costs.

Most traditional models of climate cost focus on changes to GDP in a specific year — that is, a so-called “level impact.”

But more and more research has shown that climate change will reduce economic growth below what has been projected globally.

The consensus reached by survey respondents suggested that the projected economic fallout from climate change would reach US$1.7 trillion annually by 2025 and roughly US$30 trillion per year by 2075.

By contrast, 65 percent of respondents said that the costs of renewable energy technology such as wind and solar would continue to fall over the next decade and estimated that half of the world’s energy mix would be green by 2050.

Nearly 80 percent of respondents said their level of concern over climate had increased during the last five years.

Hackers maintained that the database is of Mobikwik and uploaded several pictures of Mobikwik QR code along with documents used for ‘Know Your Customer’ compliance mainly the Aadhaar and PAN card

tech2 News StaffMar 30, 2021 20:41:39 IST

The Starship SN11 prototype rocket from SpaceX has joined the ghosts of its brethren in rocket heaven, after a mid-air explosion during a test flight on Tuesday, 30 March. The uncrewed test flight of SN11 saw the interplanetary prototype rocket from SpaceX take flight from the development facility in Boca Chica, Texas, at 8 am local time (6.30 pm IST) on Tuesday amid heavy fog, with little-to-no visibility. It flew up 10 km (6.2 miles) before a loud explosion was heard, and pieces of debris were seen flying near the launchpad.

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, tweeted an update minutes after the explosion occurred, citing an engine issue. “…engine 2 had issues on ascent & didn’t reach operating chamber pressure during landing burn, but, in theory, it wasn’t needed,” he said. A physical examination of the debris will be important to piece together “something significant” that happened soon after the engines were fired for landing, he went on to say. In an earlier tweet, Musk made light of the catastrophe, saying “at least the crater [was] in the right place.”

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The foggy-weather launch was unusual for a Starship prototype, with the spacecraft hardly visible from cameras set up near the launchpad. Cameras captured SN11’s flaps catching wind above the clouds before its ill-fated descent. SpaceX’s own cameras froze just as the spacecraft’s powerful Raptor engines reignited for a planned soft-landing. With the poor visibility on-ground, the only thing that seems clear so far is that SN11 exploded mid-air.

The test flight of SN11 is the latest in an aggressive series of back-to-back tests for the SpaceX Starship prototype. In the last four months, the world has witnessed SN8, SN9, and SN10 take flight – all followed by explosions during landing (except for SN10, which exploded minutes after making a safe landing).

Future iterations: SN15, SN20 and beyond

The next batch of spacecraft are upgraded versions of the current prototypes, starting with SN15, according to a CNET report. In his subsequent tweets, Musk shared that SN15 was due to roll out to the launch pad in the days to come, sporting “hundreds of design improvements across structures, avionics/software & engine” that might overcome the issue that ended in SN11’s mid-air explosion.

The next major leap in Starship technology, however, will be seen with SN20, Musk clarified. The series starting with SN20 will be “orbit-capable”, featuring the heat shield & stage-separation system that bring it considerably closer to being a human-rated spacecraft. Musk predicts that these vehicles will need “many flight attempts” to survive re-entry in the atmosphere & safe landing.

Starship was built to fly humans to Mars someday, but will also be used in the dearMoon mission, SpaceX’s “first civilian mission to the moon” slated for no earlier than 2024. The only confirmed member of the dearMoon crew, Japanese billionaire-entreprenuer Yusaku Maezawa, is on the hunt for eight fellow crewmembers that will fly around the moon and back on Starship.

The New York TimesMar 30, 2021 13:36:52 IST

Google tried to copy Amazon’s playbook to become the shopping hub of the internet, with little success. Now it is trying something different: the anti-Amazon strategy.

Google is trying to present itself as a cheaper and less restrictive option for independent sellers. And it is focused on driving traffic to sellers’ sites, not selling its own version of products as Amazon does.

In the last year, Google eliminated fees for merchants and allowed sellers to list their wares in its search results for free. It is also trying to make it easier for small, independent shops to upload their inventory of products to appear in search results and buy ads on Google by teaming up with Shopify, which powers online stores for 1.7 million merchants who sell directly to consumers.

But like Google’s many attempts during its two-decade quest to compete with Amazon, this one shows little sign of working. Google has nothing as alluring as the $295 billion that passed through Amazon’s third-party marketplace in 2020. The amount of goods people buy on Google is “very small” by comparison — probably around $1 billion, said Juozas Kaziukenas, founder of Marketplace Pulse, a research company.

Google logo. Image: AP

Amazon is a fixture in the lives of many Americans. It has usurped Google as the starting point for shoppers and has become equally essential for marketers. Amazon’s global advertising business grew 30 percent to $17.6 billion in 2020, trailing only Google and Facebook in the United States.

But as the pandemic has forced many stores to go online, it has created a new opening for Google to woo sellers who feel uneasy about building their businesses on Amazon.

Sellers often complain about Amazon’s fees — which can account for one-quarter of every sale, not including the cost of advertising — and the pressure to spend more to succeed.

But since 2002, when it started a price comparison site called Froogle, a confusing play on the word “frugal” that required a rebranding five years later, Google has struggled to chart a cohesive vision for its shopping experience.

Last year, Google brought in Bill Ready, a former chief operating officer at PayPal, to fill a new senior position and spearhead an overhaul of its shopping strategy.

Daisuke Wakabayashi [c.2021 The New York Times Company]

The new initiatives are part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 plan to diversify the kingdom’s oil-reliant economy.

Prince Mohammed said Saudi Arabia and the region face “significant climate challenges”, including desertification, which poses an “immediate economic risk”. Image credit: ESA

Adjuvants have been lending a helping hand to vaccinologists for many decades. Yet a lack of a clear understanding of how they work has tainted their reputation, leading to epithets such as “alchemy” and “the immunologist’s dirty secret”.

Gaston Ramon, a French vet, discovered vaccine adjuvants. Wellcome Collection/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

Not everyone develops immunity after the infection – nine percent didn’t have detectable antibodies, seven percent didn’t have T cells that recognize the virus.

COVID–19 vaccines generate both antibody and T cell responses – but this is much stronger and more consistent than immunity from natural infection.

A few weeks ago, a message popped up in the corner of my screen. “What do you think about people who have recently had COVID–19 getting the vaccine?” A friend of mine was eligible for a COVID–19 vaccine, but she had recently gotten over an infection with SARS–CoV–2. More people are becoming eligible for vaccines each week – including millions of people who have already recovered from a coronavirus infection. Many are wondering whether they need the vaccine, especially people who have already been infected.

I study immune responses to respiratory infections, so I get a lot of these types of questions. A person can develop immunity – the ability to resist infection – from being infected with a virus or from getting a vaccine. However, immune protection isn’t always equal. The strength of the immune response, the length of time that the protection lasts and the variation of the immune response across people is very different between vaccine immunity and natural immunity for SARS–CoV–2. COVID–19 vaccines offer safer and more reliable immunity than natural infection.

Immunity after infection is unpredictable

Immunity comes from the immune system’s ability to remember an infection. Using this immune memory, the body will know to fight if it encounters the disease again. Antibodies are proteins that can bind to a virus and prevent infection. T cells are cells that direct the removal of infected cells and viruses already bound by antibodies. These two are some of the main players that contribute to immunity.

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COVID–19 vaccines produce a strong immune response in terms of both antibodies and T cells, like the T cell in this photo. Image credit: National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/National Institutes of Health

After a SARS-CoV-2 infection, a person’s antibody and T cell responses may be strong enough to provide protection against reinfection. Research shows that 91 percent of people who develop antibodies against the coronavirus are unlikely to be infected again for six months, even after a mild infection. People who had no symptoms during the infection are also likely to develop immunity, though they tend to make fewer antibodies than those who felt ill. So for some people, natural immunity may be strong and long-lasting.

The problem is that not everyone will develop immunity after a SARS-CoV-2 infection. As many as nine percent of infected people do not have detectable antibodies, and up to seven percent of people don’t have T cells that recognize the virus 30 days after infection.

For people who do develop immunity, the strength and duration of the protection can vary a lot. Up to five percent of people may lose their immune protection within a few months. Without a strong immune defence, these people are susceptible to reinfection by the coronavirus . Some have had second bouts of COVID–19 as soon as one month after their first infection; and, though rare, some people have been hospitalized or even died.

A person who is reinfected may also be able to transmit the coronavirus even without feeling sick. This could put the person’s loved ones at risk.

And what about the variants? So far, there isn’t any hard data about the new coronavirus variants and natural immunity or reinfection, but it is certainly possible that immunity from one infection won’t be as strong against infection with a different variant.

Vaccination leads to reliable protection

COVID–19 vaccines generate both antibody and T cell responses – but this is much stronger and more consistent than immunity from natural infection. One study found that four months after receiving their first dose of the Moderna vaccine, 100 percent of people tested had antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. This is the longest period that has been studied so far. In a study looking at the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, antibody levels were also much higher in vaccinated people than in those who had recovered from infection.

Even better, a study in Israel showed that the Pfizer vaccine blocked 90 percent of infections after both doses – even with a variant present in the population. And a decrease in infections means people are less likely to transmit the virus to the people around them.

The COVID–19 vaccines aren’t perfect, but they produce strong antibody and T cell responses that offer a safer and more reliable means of protection than natural immunity.

Infection and vaccination together

To my friend’s message, I instantly replied that she should absolutely get the vaccine. After getting vaccinated, my friend could be comfortable knowing that she has long-lasting, effective immunity and less of a chance of spreading the coronavirus to her friends and family.

But more good news has emerged since I sent that message. A new study showed that vaccination after infection produces six times more antibodies than a vaccine by itself. This isn’t to say that anyone should try to get infected before they get vaccinated – vaccine immunity alone is more than strong enough to provide protection and the dangers of a fight with COVID-19 far outweigh the benefits. But when my friend and the many others who were already infected get their vaccines, they’ll be well protected.

Natural immunity from infection is simply far too unreliable in the face of such a devastating virus. Current COVID-19 vaccines offer incredibly strong, consistent protection to the great majority of people. So, for anyone eligible, even those who have already had a SARS-CoV-2 infection, COVID-19 vaccines offer immense benefits.

Jennifer T. Grier, Clinical Assistant Professor of Immunology, University of South Carolina

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Ameya DalviMar 29, 2021 10:09:51 IST

Expect the latest (or a generation-old) flagship devices in the sub-Rs 50,000 segment with powerful processing hardware, ample RAM and storage, excellent cameras, sharp displays and other features one looks forward to from phones in this price bracket. Let’s jump straight into the action and get acquainted with the top five smartphones you can purchase with a budget of Rs 50,000, this month.

Best phones to buy under Rs 50,000 in India

Asus ROG Phone 5

Technically, the Asus ROG Phone 5 will not be available for purchase till 15 April, but since we already know more than a thing or two about it, we thought of giving you a heads up in case you are looking to buy a gaming phone soon. Asus’ ROG series of phones have become synonymous with high-end mobile gaming over the last couple of years, and the latest iteration is no different. As always, it puts together the fastest processing hardware around with tonnes of optimisations and enhancements to give you a smooth gaming experience. The phone runs Android 11 with ROG UI.

Asus ROG Phone 5

The Asus ROG Phone 5 is powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 888 SoC. You get the 8 GB RAM and 128 GB storage variant in this budget. The screen has become even larger, with a 6.78-inch Full HD+ 10-bit AMOLED display on offer for gaming in full glory. It retains the 144 Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ compliance and can now get up to 1,200 nits bright. The camera department at the back is similar, with a 64 MP primary camera, a 13 MP ultra-wide shooter and a 5 MP macro camera. Just like the ROG Phone 3, this, too, has a 6,000 mAh battery. However, the 30 W fast charging has now been bumped up to 65 W, which means its gigantic battery can be charged in under an hour.

Asus ROG Phone 5 price in India: Rs 49,999 for 8 GB RAM / 128 GB storage

Asus ROG Phone 3

Asus ROG Phone 3. Image: Anirudh Regidi

The ROG Phone 5 may be a fortnight away, but that has resulted in a big price drop for its predecessor. The Asus ROG Phone 3 (Review) is still a great phone for gamers and power users alike. It is powered by Qualcomm’s previous flagship SoC, the Snapdragon 865+, which is a force to be reckoned with. Both, 8 GB and 12 GB RAM variants with 128 GB of UFS 3.1 internal storage are now comfortably within the Rs 50,000 budget. The ROG Phone 3 has a 6.6-inch Full HD+ AMOLED screen with a 144 Hz refresh rate and 270 Hz touch sampling rate. It also supports 10-bit colour gamut with HDR10+ compliance and a rated maximum brightness of 650 nits. The phone runs Android 10 with ROG UI.

The 5G-compliant ROG Phone 3 has a mammoth 6,000 mAh battery for long, uninterrupted gaming sessions. The bundled 30 W fast charger with QuickCharge 4.0 support doesn’t take too long to recharge the battery. The phone has a pair of stereo speakers with dedicated amplifiers along with an array of gaming features and optimisations. The camera department is more than decent, with a 64 MP primary camera, a 13 MP ultra-wide camera and a 5 MP macro camera. Though this is more of a gaming phone than one for photography enthusiasts, it can capture some impressive shots and record videos in up to 8K resolution.

Asus ROG Phone 3 price in India: Rs 41,999 for 8 GB RAM / 128 GB storage; Rs 45,999 for 12 GB RAM / 128 GB storage

OnePlus 8T

Yes, the OnePlus 9 is here and available in this budget, too, but that is not a phone we would advise you to blow up 50,000 bucks on. We strongly feel the OnePlus 8T (Review) offers much better value for money overall, even without a price drop or a discount. The 8T’s pricing is a lot more sensible in comparison to the OnePlus 8 or 9. The top variant of the OnePlus 8T (with 12 GB RAM and 256 GB storage) fits comfortably into this budget, and that’s a good Rs 9,000 cheaper than the OnePlus 9 with similar RAM and storage. Enough of money talk – let’s take a look at the key specs.

OnePlus 8T. Image: Tech2/ Ameya Dalvi

Just like the OnePlus 9, you get a 6.55-inch Full HD+ Fluid AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ support. There’s a 16 MP selfie camera located in a tiny punch-hole at the top. The phone has an elegant design with a metal frame (its successor has a plastic frame) and a glass body protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5 at the front and back. You get a quad-camera setup at the back with a combination of a 48MP primary camera with OIS (no OIS on OnePlus 9), a 16 MP ultrawide camera, 5 MP macro camera and a 2MP depth sensor. The cameras manage to shoot some impressive images in different lighting, and the main camera is smartly used to capture zoomed shots, too.

The 5G-enabled OnePlus 8T is powered by Qualcomm’s previous flagship Snapdragon 865 chip, which is potent enough for any task. Its 4,500 mAh battery lasts comfortably well over a day of moderate use, and the bundled 65 W Warp charger recharges it in a mere 39 minutes. It runs OxygenOS 11 based on Android 11 out of the box. You often get Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 off on Amazon India, making it an even better deal. Keep an eye out for that if you’re interested in the 8T.

OnePlus 8T price in India: Rs 42,999 for 8 GB RAM / 128 GB storage; Rs 45,999 for 12 GB RAM / 256 GB storage

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE. Image: Tech2/ Sheldon Pinto

Samsung’s budget flagship, the Galaxy S20 FE (Review), remains another good option in this budget. This phone has a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and is HDR10+ compliant, too. The stylish phone is IP68 dust- and water-resistant and is powered by Samsung’s high-end Exynos 990 chip that also powers other phones in the Galaxy S20 series. The 8 GB RAM and 256 GB internal storage variant is currently selling for close to Rs 40,000, which makes it a great buy. Internal storage can be expanded further up to 1 TB using a microSD card.

In the photography department, the S20 FE is quite versatile and packs a 12 MP primary camera with dual-pixel PDAF and OIS, a 12 MP ultra-wide camera and an 8 MP telephoto camera with autofocus and OIS for up to 3X optical zoom. As is the case with most Samsung S series phones, camera quality is excellent. There’s a 32 MP camera at the front for selfie enthusiasts. The battery life is good, too, thanks to a 4,500 mAh battery that can sail through a day and a half of moderate use. The phone launched with Android 10 with Samsung’s One UI on top, and one can expect an Android 11 update soon.

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE price in India: Rs 40,999  Rs 43,850 for 8 GB RAM / 256 GB storage

Apple iPhone 11

iPhone 11

Yes, you read that right. The price of the Apple iPhone 11 (Review) has dropped under Rs 50,000 at present. You can pick up the 64 GB storage variant of the iPhone 11 in this budget. It is powered by Apple’s previous-generation A13 Bionic chip that’s still powerful enough. You get a 6.1-inch Liquid Retina IPS LCD display with the typical 326 PPI pixel density that you get on most iPhones, along with scratch-resistant glass and oleophobic coating.

You get dual 12 MP cameras at the back; the main camera supports OIS while the second lets you capture ultra-wide shots. Do I really need to elaborate on the performance of iPhone cameras? You also get a 12 MP camera up front for selfies. The 3,110 mAh battery lasts a day of moderate use, and supports 18 W fast charging and Qi wireless charging. The IP68 rated dust-and water-resistant phone launched with iOS 13, and is upgradable to the new iOS 14.

Apple iPhone 11 price in India: Rs 44,999 – Rs 48,999 for 64 GB storage

FP TrendingMar 26, 2021 18:42:38 IST

ASUS has launched a new all-in-one PC, the AiO V241 in India. The AiO V241 comes with a 23.8-inch NanoEdge IPS display with a screen-to-body ratio of 88 percent. It comes with a wide 100 percent sRGB colour gamut. It is powered by an 11th Generation Intel Core i7 processor, along with Intel Iris Xe graphics, along with 8 GB oDDR4 RAM. The PC also supports dual-storage ability: up to 1 TB HDD and up to a 512 GB SSD of storage.

Read our review of the ASUS AiO V241 all-in-one PC here.

ASUS AiO V241 all-in-one PC

The PC also comes with an HD camera and dual array mics. On the connectivity front, there are four rear-mounted USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, a USB 2.0 port, and the HDMI-in feature that allows people to connect other HDMI-out devices with the AiO V241 for added functionalities. Additionally, the ASUS AiO V241 comes with 3W stereo speakers, a 90W power output, and runs Windows 10 Home. There is also support for Wireless Keyboard and Mouse for better usability.

ASUS AiO V241 price and availability

The ASUS Aio V241, joining the AiO V222, comes with a starting price of Rs 61,990. It will be soon available to buy via the company’s exclusive stores and leading channel partners.

The PC comes in Black-Gold and White-Silver colour options.

FP TrendingMar 26, 2021 18:57:43 IST

Apple Music has teamed up with record label Warner Music and Rothco to compile a series of playlists called Saylists, which has over a hundred tracks. The feature will reportedly help young listeners with the speech-sound disorder (SSD), also known as an articulation disorder or a phonological disorder. Saylists will help in analysing and recognising song lyrics and phrases in songs that may be challenging for SSD-affected children. A total of 10 different playlists are there with a focus on a certain letter or sound. The idea is to help in improving the pronunciation of a particular word or sound by singing along.

Apple Music (Representational Image)

After analysing lyrics of 70 million songs in the Apple Music catalogue, the algorithm chose tracks that repeat challenging sounds. So far, 173 tracks, including Lizzo’s Good As Hell, Dua Lipa’s Don’t Start Now, and Fatboy Slim’s Right Here, have been chosen, according to a BBC report. The rumour about the Apple Music Saylist has also been confirmed by MacRumors.

In the UK, stammering affects about 1.5 million adults and one in 12 children experience some form of SSD. Saylists feature is reportedly aimed at helping such users experience the Apple Music app.

FP TrendingMar 26, 2021 19:22:14 IST

A previously unknown form of basalt has been discovered in the Pacific Ocean. According to Forbes, a team of international scientists discovered it after drilling through the floor of the ocean. The findings of this research were published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Communications on 19 March. Speaking about their findings, co-author of the study Dr Ivan Savov said that the rocks that have been discovered by them are distinctly different to previously known rocks of the kind.

The newly discovered basalt is believed to have been formed by widespread eruptions that happened in the geological timescale of one to two million years. Image credit: Leeds University

He said, “In fact, they may be as different to Earth’s known ocean floor basalts as Earth’s basalts are to the Moon’s basalts.” Ivan is a researcher at the Institute of Geophysics and Tectonics, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds.

The volcanic rock basalt is formed when magnesium and iron-rich lava which is called ‘mafic lava’ gets cooled off rapidly. As reported by The Print, 90 percent of the Earth’s volcanic rock is basaltic in nature. This rock has formed large areas of land in regions like Iceland, Hawaii, and India’s Deccan Traps.

The new rock was found at the Japanese Sea’s Amami Sankaku Basin when scientists drilled almost 7.5 km down the ocean floor. Scientists from countries like Japan, UK, Germany, China, the US, Switzerland and Australia were involved with the research. The drilling happened with equipment present on the Research Vessel (RV) JOIDES Resolution.

The basalt, which has been discovered now, is believed to have been formed by widespread eruptions that happened in the geological timescale of one to two million years, reported Forbes.

The area where this research was conducted is known for regular earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Believed to have started forming 50,000 years ago, the area called ‘Ring of Fire’ stretches 40,000 kilometres around the Pacific Ocean.

FP TrendingMar 27, 2021 16:02:32 IST

The popular Indian festival of colours, Holi, will be celebrated on 29 March, this year. To celebrate the day, people usually get together, play with gulaal, consumer festive snacks like gujiya, drink thandai etc. However, due to the ongoing pandemic, most people will be practicing social distancing and may not meet their friends and loved ones on the day. In order to make the day exciting, and keep the spirit alive, one can send interactive stickers through WhatsApp on Holi. If you are an avid social media user, then you must also explore the quirky Holi avatars on Facebook.

How to download stickers and avatars for Holi 2021

For downloading Holi 2021 stickers on your Android device, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open Whatsapp

Step 2: Go to the chat window of the person you want to send stickers to

Step 3: Tap the smiley icon on the text bar

Step 4: You will see a sticker icon at the bottom, hit it

Step 5: Touch the ‘+’ icon you see on the right corner

Step 6: You will be directed to the sticker library

Step 7: Scroll till you find the ‘Get more stickers’ option. Once found, tap it

Step 8: Google Play Store will open, scroll till you find a suitable Holi 2021 theme sticker pack

Step 9: Download the sticker pack

Step 10: Once done, finish the installation by tapping on ‘Add to WhatsApp’ option

Step 11: Access the Holi 2021 sticker pack through your sticker library.

Facebook Holi-themed avatars.

Follow these to download Holi theme stickers on iPhone:

Step 1: Launch Whatsapp

Step 2: Open the chat window of the person you have to send the sticker to

Step 3: Tap on the text bar, and click on the sticker tab on the right

Step 4: All sticker options available on Whatsapp will open

Step 5: If a sticker pack pertaining to your need is available, download it

Step 6: Once done the stickers will be available in the library

It must be noted that in terms of variety, Android has more options and one can download different stickers available on Google Play Store. When it comes to iOS device, the user is restricted by the number of sticker packs available on the app itself.

Facebook is perhaps one of the most popular social media platforms across the globe. More than often people extend the greeting of a festival on Facebook, so that more people can see it. Since, Holi is a big festival in India, the social media giant has introduced theme centric avatar for its users.

Here is a step-by-step description of how you can get your Holi Avatar:

Step 1: Open Facebook or the Messenger app on your phone

Step 2: Go to the text bar on the comments section

Step 3: Tap on the smiley icon

Step 4: Go to the sticker tab

Step 5: Click on the “Create Your Avatar” or go to the avatar creator in the Bookmarks section of the app

Step 6: You will get your Holi theme avatar sticker from there

Meanwhile over four million people in India have made more than 6.6 million posts and comments about Holi on Facebook.

tech2 News StaffMar 27, 2021 15:54:35 IST

Amazon Smartphone Upgrade Days sale is now live in India and will end on 30 March. During the sale, the e-commerce platform will offer an instant discount of 10 percent on SBI Bank credit cards. Several smartphones by Redmi, Samsung, OnePlus, Apple and more will be available at a discount of up to 40 percent during the sale. Going by the Amazon sale preview, here are the best deals available during the upcoming Amazon sale.

(Also Read: Apple Days sale: Deals on iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone SE, M1 MacBook Pro, Apple Watch SE, more on Vijay Sales)

Redmi Note 9 Pro

Best deals on smartphones

Redmi Note 9 Pro

Going by the preview, the Redmi Note 9 Pro (Review), launched at a starting price of Rs 13,999, will now sell at Rs 12,999.

iPhone 12 Mini

iPhone 12 Mini will sell at a starting price of Rs 67,100 on Amazon. It was launched in India at Rs 69,900 back in October last year.

Galaxy M51

Buyers will get the Galaxy M51 (Review) at a starting price of Rs 21,749, down from Rs 24,999.

Redmi 9 Power

Redmi 9 Power (Review) will also sell at a starting price of Rs 10,499, down by Rs 500.

Galaxy Note10 Lite

Galaxy Note10 Lite (Review) was launched in India last year at a price of Rs 38,999. During the Amazon sale, it will be available at Rs 27,999.

iPhone 11 Pro Max

The 256 GB storage variant of the iPhone 11 Pro Max (Review) will be priced at Rs 94,900 on Amazon.

Mi 10T Pro/Mi 10T

Mi 10T Pro (Review) will be available at Rs 37,999 on Amazon, down by Rs 2,000. Launched at a starting price of Rs 34,999, Mi 10T 5G will sell at Rs 32,999, down by Rs 2,000.

Galaxy S20 FE

The smartphone was launched in India at Rs 49,999. Galaxy S20 FE (Review) will be available at a price of Rs 40,998 on Amazon.

In addition to these smartphones, Amazon will also give discounts and offers on powerbanks, earphones, mobile cases, chargers, screen protectors and more.

tech2 News StaffMar 27, 2021 15:52:12 IST

This Holi 2021, several e-commerce platforms are hosting special sales. Realme is hosting ‘Realme Holi Days’, Amazon is hosting ‘Smartphone Upgrade Days’, and Flipkart is also hosting festive deals. Now, Vijay Sales has announced ‘Apple Days sale’ on its online website. The Apple Days sale on Vijay Sales begins today, 26 March and will be live till 31 March 2021. Besides on Vijaysales.com, these deals will also be available at the company’s offline stores across the country. The Apple Days sale includes offers on iPhones, Macbook, iPad, Watch, Airpods, Home Pods and Apple Care+.

(Also Read: Amazon Smartphone Upgrade Days sale to kick off tomorrow: Best deals on Redmi Note 9 Pro, iPhone 12 mini, Galaxy M51 and more)

Vijay Sales Apple Days sale: Offers on iPhones

During the sale, the Apple Phone 11 is available at a starting price of Rs. 51,999 with an additional cashback of up to Rs 5,000 on HDFC Bank Cards.

The iPhone 12 is available starting Rs 77,490, and the iPhone 12 Mini starts at Rs 65,499 with an additional cashback of up to Rs 6,000 on HDFC Bank Cards.

There is also an offer on the iPhone SE, which is priced starting Rs 37,499, and on the iPhone XR, which is priced starting Rs 45,499 with an additional cashback of upto Rs 4,000 on HDFC Bank Cards.

Additionally, buyers will be eligible for a 10 percent discount in stores on the purchase of any Apple Care+ with iPhone devices.

Apple Days sale on Vijay Sales will go on till 31 March. Image: tech2/Nandini Yadav

Vijay Sales Apple Days sale: Offers on iPads

The Apple iPad 7th Gen is available starting Rs 24,500 during the sale, and the iPad 8th gen is priced starting Rs 28,990. On both the iPads, buyers can available an additional cashback of up to Rs 3,000 on HDFC Bank Cards.

The iPad Air is priced starting Rs 52,490 and the iPad Pro is priced starting Rs 69,490 with additional cashback of up to Rs 4,000 on HDFC Bank Cards.

On purchase of any Apple Care+ with iPad devices, buyers can get a flat 15 percent off. This offers on Apple Care+ is applicable only on purchase made via offline stores.

Vijay Sales Apple Days sale: Offers on MacBooks

During the Apple Days sale, Vijay Sales also has deals on MacBooks. Apple MacBook is priced starting Rs 66,990 with an additional cashback of up to Rs 6,000 on HDFC Bank Cards.

There is also deals on the new Macbook Pro with M1 Chip, which is priced starting Rs 1,15, 900 with an additional cashback of up to Rs 7,000 on HDFC Bank Cards.

Additionally, buyers will be eligible for a 15 percent discount in stores on the purchase of any Apple Care+ with MacBooks.

Vijay Sales Apple Days sale: Offers on Apple Watch

In wearables, the Apple Watch Series 6 is available starting Rs 38,990 during the sale, with an additional cashback of up to Rs 3,000 on HDFC Bank Cards.

The Apple Watch SE starts at Rs 28,490 with an additional cashback of up to Rs 2,000 on HDFC Bank Cards.

Buyers also get flat 10 percent off in stores on purchase of any Apple Care+ with watches.

Vijay Sales Apple Days sale: Offers on AirPods, HomePod Mini

The sale also features offers on AirPods, which is priced starting at Rs 12,390 during the sale. The AirPods Pro starts at Rs 20,490.

The Apple HomePod Mini is also on offer during the sale. It is priced starting at Rs 9,490.

FP TrendingMar 26, 2021 19:24:18 IST

Skullcandy has introduced a new pair of truly wireless earbuds in its Indy series – Indy ANC – in India. It comes with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) as its main highlight, which also makes the pair the company’s first with the tech. The Indy ANC offers ambient mode, which can be enabled by tapping on the sensor. The pair also supports the Tile technology to help users locate the individual earbuds. It also comes with the ability to listen to music using only one earbud and users can customise their experience with Personal Sound via the Skullcandy app.

Skullcandy Indy ANC TWS earbuds

The Skullcandy Indy ANC earbuds feature a 12 mm dynamic driver and a frequency response range of up to 20 KHz. It supports Bluetooth 5.0 and is compatible with both Android and iOS. Furthermore, Skullcandy claims that the earbuds can offer 19 hours of playback time.

The earbuds are IPX4 water and sweat resistant.

Skullcandy Indy ANC price, availability

The Skullcandy Indy ANC is priced at Rs 10,999 and is now up for pre-orders via the company’s website. There is no word on its availability at the time of writing. The Indy ANC comes in a sole True Black colour variant.