CTC BLOG

FP TrendingSep 30, 2021 19:36:39 IST

Amazon recently held its 2021 hardware event and launched a number of products such as the Amazon Echo Show 15, Halo fitness band, Amazon Glow, Astro robot, Amazon Blink video doorbell and more. Here’s a closer look at the new Amazon devices.

Amazon Echo Show 15

The Amazon Echo Show 15 smart speaker comes with a 15.6-inch Full HD display and is powered by Amazon’s latest AZ2 Neural Edge processor. It features a redesigned home screen and comes with customisable Alexa widgets.

The Amazon Echo Show has a 15.6-inch Full HD screen and the AZ2 Neural Edge processor. Image: Amazon

It comes with the new visual ID feature for the device to recognise and display content for a particular user, and also the ability to control other compatible smart home devices. It also supports 1080p Full HD content from Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, and soon, from SLING TV as well. There’s support for a number of privacy features as well such as microphone and camera controls, the ability to view and delete your voice recordings and a built-in shutter to cover the camera.

The Echo Show 15 is priced at $249.99 (around Rs 18,500).

Halo fitness device

Amazon has introduced three new products to the Halo lineup: the Halo View fitness tracker, Halo Fitness service and Halo Nutrition service.

The Amazon Halo View fitness band is equipped with sleep-tracking and can also detect workouts. Image: Amazon

The Halo View fitness tracker comes with an AMOLED coloured display and comes with a SpO2 monitor, heart rate monitor, skin temperature monitor, accelerometer and the ability to track activity and workouts. It also allows people to monitor sleep, is swim-proof and comes with a battery life of up to seven days. It can fully charge in under 30 minutes and comes in Active Black, Sage Green, and Lavender Dream colours.

Halo Fitness is a service that provides people access to hundreds of exclusive, studio-quality workouts for all fitness levels that are led by popular coaches such as Michael Hildebrand, Elena Cheung, Elizabeth Andrews and trusted industry experts. Halo Nutrition is a tool for people to get personalised, time-saving tools to discover delicious, nutrient-rich recipes or plan out a week of healthful eating. Both these services are available to Halo View and Halo Band users via the Halo app.

The Halo View is priced at $79.99 (around Rs 5,900).

Amazon Glow

Amazon Glow is a new interactive device meant for kids to connect with their loved ones over video calls by indulging in activities together. Kids can use the device to read, play games, and do more things fun via the eight-inch display and others can use the Glow app to participate in the same.

The Amazon Glow is meant to enrich virtual interactions between kids and their loved ones. Image: Amazon

It is priced at $249.99 (around Rs 18,000) and comes with a mat, a mat case, 1-year of Amazon Kids+, and is bundled with Tangram Bits.

The Amazon Astro robot will guard homes and provide a portable Alexa experience. Image: Amazon

Astro Robot

There’s also a new Amazon Astro robot that guards people’s homes, monitors individuals and offers a portable Alexa experience. It comes with mics, cameras, and more features. It is priced at $999 (around Rs 74,200).

Amazon Blink video doorbell

The new Blink video doorbell comes with a two-year battery life, 1080p HD day and night video, two-way audio and more. It comes with support for Alexa, can withstand any weather conditions, can be controlled via the Blink Home Monitor app, and has more features.

The Amazon Blink doorbell comes with a battery life of two years. Image: Amazon

It is priced at $49.99 (around Rs 3,700).

Additionally, Amazon has introduced the AZ2 CPU Chip and has collaborated with Disney to introduce the “Hey, Disney” voice assistant.

FP TrendingSep 30, 2021 20:12:40 IST

Popular Google apps such as Gmail, YouTube and Google Maps will soon stop working on a number of smartphones. Read on to know if your device will be affected by this, too.

Google app ban on select phones

Google has revealed that individuals using smartphones running Android 2.3 aka Gingerbread or older will no longer be able to access Gmail, YouTube and Google Maps on their devices. This has already come into effect from 27 September.

Image: tech2/Abhijit Dey.

Hence, if your smartphone runs Android version 2.3.7 or older, you won’t be able to sign into the aforementioned Google apps. If you try to sign in, Google will return an error and will continue to do so until the device is updated. For the uninitiated, these Google apps require users to sign in to their Google accounts to easily access them, as well as their app history.

Google, in a previous statement, said, “As part of our ongoing efforts to keep our users safe, Google will no longer allow sign-in on Android devices that run Android 2.3.7 or lower starting 27 September, 2021. If you sign in to your device after 27 September, you may get username or password errors when you try to use Google products and services like Gmail, YouTube, and Maps“.

While people can still access these apps on older phones via the in-built browser, they won’t be able to enjoy the app-specific features. Therefore, it would make more sense for them to upgrade their devices.

Such users can update the Android OS on their phone by updating the software (accessed via the Settings menu) on their smartphone. In case the smartphone no longer supports an updated version of Android, it would be best for them to switch to a newer smartphone.

One thing worth noting is this change won’t affect a lot of users, as not many still use a phone with a 10-year-old Android OS.

tech2 News StaffSep 30, 2021 13:30:17 IST

Having unveiled prices for entry-level versions in August, Mahindra has now announced the full variant line-up and introductory variant-wise prices for its brand-new SUV, the Mahindra XUV700. What will be of interest to potential buyers are prices for the top-spec XUV700 AX7 variants, which were under wraps until now. The Mahindra XUV700 AX7 petrol-manual is priced at Rs 17.59 lakh, while the automatic version costs Rs 19.19 lakh. The XUV700 AX7 diesel-manual on the other hand, is priced at Rs 18.19 lakh, and the diesel-automatic is the most expensive version of them all, costing Rs 19.79 lakh (all prices, ex-showroom).

Deliveries of the XUV700 petrol will begin first. Image: Mahindra

As standard, the XUV700 AX7 versions come with space for seven passengers with three rows of seats, and an optional ‘Luxury pack’ – which adds the segment-first flush-fitting door handles, 360-degree cameras, Sony 3D sound system, blind spot monitor, wireless phone charging and electronic parking brake – is available for an additional Rs 1.80 lakh on the AX7 automatic variants. Additionally, buyers of the XUV700 diesel-automatic can also opt for all-wheel-drive by paying an additional Rs 1.30 lakh.

Variant-wise introductory prices for the Mahindra XUV700. Image: Mahindra

The XUV700 is being offered in two main trim lines – MX and Adrenox (AX). The MX line is essentially the entry point to XUV700 ownership, and misses out on most of the goodies, featuring 17-inch steel wheels, a smaller 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, power-adjustable ORVMs and Android Auto connectivity. Prices for the MX variants are Rs 11.99 lakh for the petrol-manual version and Rs 12.49 lakh for the diesel-manual variant. Mahindra has announced these prices will be valid only for the first 25,000 buyers, post which they may witness an upward revision.

The AX line is further divided into three variants: AX3 (which packs Adrenox infotainment with twin 10.25-inch screens, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Alexa voice operations, a six-speaker sound system, connected car features), AX5 (panoramic sunroof, curtain airbags, diamond-cut alloy wheels, LED headlights) and AX7 (dual-zone climate control, ADAS, six-way power-adjustable driver seat, driver drowsiness detection, side airbags and more). As standard, the AX3 and AX5 are five-seaters, but buyers can opt to add a third row of seats for an added Rs 60,000.

The highlight inside the Mahindra XUV700 is twin 10.25-inch ‘Superscreen’ layout, which is quite reminiscent of a modern Mercedes. There’s a fully digital instruments display, a bespoke Sony 3D sound system with 12 speakers, with the touchscreen unit running a new OS that Mahindra terms ‘AdrenoX’. This system integrates Alexa-based voice commands, a Sony 3D sound system and drive modes named ‘Zip’, ‘Zap’ and ‘Zoom’ (exclusive to the diesel XUV700).

Also available on the top-spec AX7 are a large panoramic sunroof, a driver fatigue alert system, an air purifier and personalised safety messages. The XUV700 also packs segment-first advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including adaptive cruise control and autonomous emergency braking.

There are two engine options – with segment-leading power outputs – to choose from with the XUV700: a 2.0-litre Stallion turbo-petrol with 200 hp and 380 Nm, and the 2.2-litre mHawk diesel with close to 185 hp and over 420 Nm of torque.

Both engines come with a choice of a six-speed manual and a six-speed torque-converter automatic, and the diesel-auto version actually gets 30 Nm more torque, taking overall output to 450 Nm. It must be noted, however, the diesel engine will be offered in a lower state of tune in the entry-level MX version, producing a considerably lower 155 hp and 360 Nm of torque. Mahindra has also confirmed an AWD system will be available as an option.

Bookings for the Mahindra XUV700 will open on 7 October, and Mahindra will reveal the date of start of deliveries on 10 October. Deliveries of the XUV700 petrol will happen first, and Mahindra will commence test drives for the XUV700 in 11 cities (Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Indore, Lucknow, Coimbatore and Vadodara) on 2 October.

Amaan AhmedSep 29, 2021 13:24:24 IST

The Bajaj Chetak has witnessed yet another substantial hike in price – the third such increase in 2021 – that has made it the most expensive electric scooter on sale in India today. The ex-showroom price of the Bajaj Chetak in its home state of Maharashtra is now Rs 1,87,390; a significant increase on its ex-showroom price of Rs 1,44,987 up until a few months ago. Compared to its price at launch in 2020, the Chetak’s price has risen by well over 60 percent in less than two years’ time.

The latest price hike was introduced after the Central government increased the FAME-II subsidy for electric two-wheelers, and under the revised national scheme, the Chetak is eligible for a substantially higher Rs 45,000 incentive. However, despite the increase in subsidy, the latest price hike means customers still pay roughly the same amount of money for the Chetak on-road as before.

The price of the Bajaj Chetak has risen by over 60 percent since its launch in 2020. Image: Bajaj Auto

Even with the higher FAME-II subsidy factored in, the Chetak’s on-road price in Maharashtra is Rs 1,48,452, which isn’t too far off its old on-road price (Rs 1,51,680). Once the additional subsidy (including both base and early bird incentives) is taken into account, the Chetak’s on-road price in Maharashtra comes down by a further Rs 25,000 to Rs 1,23,452. However, even at that price, the Chetak is a little more expensive than its main rival, the Ather 450X, with the latter priced at Rs 1,22,741.

In the three other states where it’s on sale at present (Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu), the Chetak’s ex-showroom price is around the Rs 1.90 lakh mark, and with the FAME-II subsidy factored in, the on-road price is a little over Rs 1.50 lakh, which makes it a tad more expensive than the Ather 450X in these states as well.

The base Bajaj Chetak Urbane has been discontinued. Image: Bajaj

Additionally, Bajaj has discontinued the base Urbane variant of the Chetak electric scooter. Available in just two colours (which have also been withdrawn) and equipped with a drum brake up front, the Chetak Urbane offered limited choices to the buyer. With the Urbane being cheaper by only a few thousand rupees, most Chetak buyers ended up opting for the better-equipped Premium variant, following which Bajaj decided to pull the plug on the base model and retail the Chetak in a single variant, a source told Tech2.

The Chetak packs a 3.8kW/4.1kW (continuous/peak power) electric motor, which draws power from a 3 kWh lithium-ion battery. Range is pegged at 95 kilometres in Eco mode (85 kilometres in Sport mode), and the company says a full charge takes five hours. The Chetak’s battery comes with a three-year/50,000-kilometre warranty. Waiting periods for the Chetak are in the range of two to three months at present, Tech2 has learned.

At a time when rival Ather Energy is pursuing an aggressive expansion strategy and disruptor Ola Electric is offering the S1, a more feature-rich electric scooter with better performance and range at a lower price, progress for the Bajaj Chetak has been relatively slow, with Bajaj rolling it out in other cities in phases. It remains to be seen if nostalgia will continue to draw buyers to the Chetak or if the substantially increased prices will repel them, as the reborn icon faces fierce competition from newer, better-equipped e-scooters available for around the same price or even less.

Also read: Maharashtra EV policy 2021 finally goes live, EV prices set for substantial drop

tech2 News StaffSep 29, 2021 18:25:30 IST

In a major announcement, Rolls-Royce has confirmed it will completely phase out internal combustion engines and switch to an electric-only vehicle portfolio by 2030. At the unveil of its first production electric vehicle (EV), named the Rolls-Royce Spectre, company CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös said that by the end of this decade, the luxury marque will “no longer be in the business of producing or selling any internal combustion engine products.” This decision mirrors that of Rolls-Royce’s rival-in-chief, Bentley, which is owned by the Volkswagen Group and has also committed to having an all-electric portfolio by 2030.

The all-electric Rolls-Royce Spectre will be launched in 2023. Image: Rolls-Royce

The world has also gotten its first glimpse of the two-door, fastback-style Rolls-Royce Spectre, which is said to be based on the same ‘Architecture of Luxury’ as the Phantom sedan and Cullinan SUV, and will have nothing in common with any existing models from parent company BMW. Rolls says the Spectre showcased today – which does look a lot like the now-discontinued Rolls-Royce Wraith – is not a prototype but the ‘real deal’, and confirmed deliveries of the Spectre will commence globally sometime towards the end of 2023, so it’s quite likely that the super-luxury EV will make its world premiere sometime in 2022 or early in 2023.

The Spectre will be tested for over 2.5 million kilometres; note fastback-style silhouette. Image: Rolls-Royce

The Spectre will be subject to what is “the most demanding testing programme in Rolls-Royce’s history”, in the words of Müller-Ötvös. Testers will begin on-road trials shortly and will cover over 2.5 million kilometres in the Spectre, said to be akin to over 400 years of use for a Rolls on average, all over the world.

The Spectre runs on aero-focused alloy wheels and has suicide doors. Image: Rolls-Royce

Quotes emblazoned all over the camouflage on the Spectre previewed today means design details are neatly hidden, but you can expect to see a fresh take on the iconic Rolls ‘Pantheon’ grille as well as the Spirit of Ecstasy mascot. The Spectre in the official pictures runs on rather cool-looking aero-focused alloy wheels, has a hunkered-down stance, suicide doors, prominent side skirts and taut surfacing.

No specifications have been shared at this time, but it’s almost certain that Rolls will opt for nothing less than the best electric powertrain around, so Spectre buyers don’t miss the soon-to-be-discarded twin-turbo V12 petrol engine. Müller-Ötvös went so far as to say that electric powertrains are “uniquely and perfectly suited to Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, more so than any other automotive brand.” This is true to a certain extent, as Rolls-Royces are expected to be eerily quiet but also have a stunning amount of power on tap. Expect to see a fairly large battery and a multi-motor setup with the production-ready Spectre.

In many sectors of modern life, technology has made things easier (we’re looking at you robot lawn mower). But when it comes to travel, it can be a little more complicated these days to get where you’re going without having to open multiple emails, scan multiple bar codes, and use your phone’s navigation feature to figure out how to get where you need to be. The TripIt app attempts to make all of this easier for you by aggregating your travel information in one place. And the free version of the app certainly does that. But to make TripIt really sing, you will likely want to upgrade. 

When you sign up for a free TripIt account, you’ll be asked whether or not you want to populate the app automatically as your travel confirmations hit your inbox, which you can do if you have a GMail, Yahoo or Outlook mail account. Say yes, and the app will scan your email box every 24 hours and add any flight, hotel or car reservations it detects. If you don’t want the auto-fill feature to work, all you need to do is forward any confirmations you receive to [email protected] and they will automatically be added to your itinerary. If that still feels too nosey, you can also enter trip details manually. 

You can access your itineraries from the main screen, and when you click into an upcoming trip, all your data will be displayed in a list organized by the time of the events involved in your travel. TripIt makes it easy to share your plans with a click or a tap and offers some fun additional features like integration with your maps app and a summary of how much your trip will cost.

While those are all handy features, upgrading to TripIt Pro juices things up a bit.

One of the biggest challenges to modern travel is the fact that schedules are often changed due to delays. In the basic TripIt app, you won’t be automatically alerted to these changes, so you’ll still have to monitor things through the individual providers’ apps or websites, which kind of defeats the purpose of having TripIt in the first place. 

Upgrading to Pro, which costs $49 per year integrates automatic schedule changes. 

The Pro level will also let you know if the price of your flight has changed after you book or even if a better seat becomes available, and it will send automatic schedule changes to your “Inner Circle,” a group of people you choose to share your plans with. It also sends check-in reminders, shows the wait times at security gates, tells you where to get your bags, helps you navigate the airport itself, and even gives you a bit of country-specific travel information.

If you only travel occasionally, the free version of TripIt can certainly make things easier for you. Having an at-a-glance itinerary is certainly nice, and being easily able to share your plans is handy. If, however, you take more than a few trips a year, the Pro version seems worth the extra $50 per year – if for nothing else than having the peace-of-mind of knowing that you’ll get instant alerts to any changes in gates, flight times, or other glitches in your schedule. Both apps are available in desktop and mobile versions for Macs and PCs.

 Download TripIt Here

Chandrakant IsiSep 29, 2021 15:42:36 IST

Smartphones and the features they’re equipped with are improving with each iteration. Every generation change brings better cameras, faster processors, and impressive screens for smartphones. However, we are yet to see a disruptive change in the vein of the introduction of the iPhone all those years ago. Sure, a few companies have experimented with new, foldable form factors. However, due to the lack of mature hardware and prohibitively expensive price tags, these devices are yet to go mainstream. Samsung is planning to change that perception with its Galaxy Z Flip 3. Let’s find out if it is worth its Rs 84,999 price tag.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 turns heads everywhere you take it. Image: Tech2/Chandrakant Isi

Design

The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is a fine balance of incredible engineering and impressive style. Its unique hinge and flexible display won’t go unnoticed wherever you go. Usually, when I switch to a review unit, a few friends ask me about the device, and that’s that. However, with the Flip 3, almost every person I met was astonished by its futuristic looks.

Such fascination towards this handset is understandable, since the last time anyone saw a popular phone bend was the iPhone 6, and that wasn’t meant to happen. In addition to extreme engineering, the handset is also a triumph in ergonomics. Its compact form factor is a breath of fresh air in a sea of large and unwieldy smartphones.

Flip it open, and the Z Flip 3 is as slim as any conventional flagship phone. Owing to the use of aluminium alloy and perfectly-tuned hinge resistance, the Flip 3 feels incredibly sturdy. What’s more impressive is that Samsung has made the device water-resistant.

Display

The flexible display on the Z Flip is the star of the show. Developed in-house by Samsung, it is a 6.7-inch Full HD OLED panel with a resolution of 2640 x 1080 pixels. The company has tuned the screen for a 120 Hz refresh rate. With a peak brightness of 1,200 nits, the display has HDR10+ support. It has a punch-hole design to accommodate a selfie camera. The crease is noticeable whenever you swipe in the middle, but it is barely a distraction.

The Flip 3 comes with a secondary cover display. It is a pill-shaped 1.9-inch panel with a resolution of 260 x 512 pixels. The panel has a neat mirror finish that creates a dual-tone look. Samsung has done a great job of making this screen useful. You can check messages, call notifications, and control music from this screen. It can also be used as a camera viewfinder to shoot when the device is folded. There are also several ways to customise the cover display.

Experience

The Z Flip 3 is a futuristic device that brings back the charm of yesteryear’s clamshell mobiles. Flipping the device open and answering a call takes you back to the 2000s. Samsung has been thoughtful with software customisation, too. Based on Android 11, the highlight of Samsung’s OneUI skin is the Flex Mode.

Flex Mode kicks in when the device is partially opened like a laptop. For example, if you open the camera in Flex Mode, the live frame moves to the top half of the screen, and camera settings slide down to the bottom half. It is a neat feature, but currently, only a handful of apps support this mode. Samsung claims its software team is working towards making more apps compatible over time.

If you don’t mind diving down into settings, you can head over to Advanced Features – Labs – and activate Multi windows for more apps. However, doing this merely adds brightness, volume, and screenshot controls for more apps. Since this feature hasn’t graduated from Labs yet, expect to put up with a few bugs.

Performance

While the Flip 3 is more about the style, Samsung hasn’t compromised on performance. The South Korean brand has gone with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 chipset. It goes without saying that the phone handles any game you throw at it, at the highest settings. However, this sleek phone lacks effective thermal management. As a result, the Flip 3 doesn’t deliver sustained performance. It won’t be noticeable under normal usage; however, if you are planning to play COD: Mobile for hours, the thermal throttling is going to make its presence felt.

The Flip 3 is 5G-compatible, but for obvious reasons, we couldn’t test that. That said, the phone had no issues with 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. Moving on to other features, the side-mounted fingerprint scanner is quick, and the onboard stereo speakers deliver surprisingly good sound.

Camera

The Galaxy Z Flip 3 comes with a dual-camera setup. It comprises a 12 MP standard and a 12 MP 123-degree wide lens. Owing to its unique form factor the Flip 3 opens up many possibilities in photography. For starters, in the partially open position, the bottom half of the phone works like a tiny tripod. It is perfect for capturing time-lapse videos. Similarly, you can also place it on a car’s dashboard.

Moving onto the image quality, both the standard and wide-angle lens produces great results in daylight. The wide camera has noticeable barrel distortion at the edges, but that’s not really a deal-breaker. In low-light conditions, the primary camera holds up quite well. It is worth noting that you have to hold the phone steady for two to three seconds to get good results. While it captures a good amount of detail, the dynamic range is where it truly shines. The wide camera struggles in low-light with visible noise in almost every shot.

Samsung’s latest phone also offers an interesting twist on selfies. While the 10 MP camera that sits in the punch-hole is quite good. However, if that doesn’t cut it for you, the phone’s external display enables you to frame a selfie shot using the primary 12 MP camera.

The Galaxy Z Flip 3 can record 4K videos at up to 60 fps. The results are great with plenty of detail. Moreover, thanks to Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS), the videos turn out quite smooth.

Battery

If there’s one department where the Flip 3 drops the ball, it has to be the battery life. The Flip 3 is a compact device, so it is no surprise that it holds a small 3,300 mAh battery. Having used this device for two weeks, I can tell that it does not last over 12 hours on a single charge. While this may not be a problem in the current WFH scenario, once the offices start opening up, you’ll probably have to carry a power bank.

Samsung could have alleviated the situation with fast-charging tech. So that you can quickly top up the device during the downtime. However, the brand has settled for 15 W charging, which is slower than peak-hour Mumbai traffic.

Verdict

The Galaxy Z Flip 3 sports a futuristic look without compromising on elegance. It is unique enough to trigger a sense of astonishment among people, yet never looks out of place. Sure, it is held down by its underwhelming battery life. Additionally, most people won’t find it practical. However, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 – with its unique clamshell design – is like the Jaguar E-Type of the smartphone world. It has its share of quirks and may not be for everyone, but is undeniably awesome.

Pros

Stunning design
Excellent build quality
Water-resistance
High-quality OLED screen that folds
Tuned for 120 Hz refresh rate
Charming secondary screen
Onboard stereo speakers

Cons

Small battery
Fast charging capped at 15 W
Doesn’t ship with a charger

Rating: 4/5
Design and build 5/5
Display 4.5/5
Performance 4/5
Camera 4/5
Battery 2.5/5
Software 4/5
Value for Money 3.5/5

FP TrendingSep 28, 2021 17:41:48 IST

Samsung has launched the Galaxy M52 5G in India, the most powerful offering in its M series of smartphones. According to the press release, the phone packs Snapdragon’s 778G processor and offers support for 11 5G bands for a seamless 5G experience. It also features Android 11 OS as well as the One UI 3.1 interface.

The phone is set to be available at Rs 29,999 for 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage version, and Rs 31,999 for the 8 GB and 128 GB variant at select retail stores as well as on Samsung India’s website, Amazon and other leading online portals.

The Samsung Galaxy M52 5G has a triple-camera setup. Image: Samsung

The Galaxy M52 5G is the slimmest smartphone from the company’s M series of devices, and measures in at just 7.4mm thick. The smartphone comes in two vibrant colours – Blazing Black and Icy Blue. Samsung says the phone is 21 percent ‘sleeker’ than its predecessor, weighing a mere 173 grams.

The Galaxy M52’s Snapdragon 778G processor is said to provide enhanced performance and better power efficiency thanks to its 6nm chipset. Compared to its predecessor, the new processor is said to improve CPU performance by 55 percent and GPU performance by 85 percent.

The Galaxy M52 packs Samsung Pay (NFC) for contactless digital payments. It will also include Samsung Knox, the company’s defence-grade security platform for data privacy and malware protection. Users can easily switch between public and private modes with a double-click of the side button with the Alt Z feature.

It also promises a fulfilling entertainment experience with Dolby Atmos surround-sound tech and a 6.7-inch FHD+ sAMOLED+ Infinity-O display with a 120 Hz refresh rate.

The phone comes with a 5,000 mAh battery and support for 25 W quick charging. It has a triple camera set-up, including a 64 MP main camera, 12 MP ultra-wide lens and a 5 MP macro lens. It also boasts of a 32 MP front camera.

The Galaxy M52 5G will also be available at the start of Amazon’s Great Indian Festival sale on 3 October, where consumers will be able to get the phone at a special introductory price of Rs 26,999 for the 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage variant and Rs 28,999 for the 8 GB RAM variant.

tech2 News StaffSep 28, 2021 18:22:51 IST

As it readies to launch its first electric scooter, electric two-wheeler rental firm EBikeGo has announced it will install at least one lakh EV chargers across India over the next 12 months. The company has already begun setting up its Internet of things (IoT)-enabled chargers in Mumbai, and will continue to add more such chargers across six other cities – Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Indore, Pune and Amritsar – as it gears up to introduce the Rugged G1 electric scooter for purchase in the coming months.

EBikeGo says it will install its connected EV charger every 500 metres. Image: Irfan Khan/EBikeGo

What will grab attention is the fact that EBikeGo says it will install these IoT-enabled EV chargers – which can be used by both electric two- and three-wheelers – every 500 metres. A dense charging network will help alleviate range anxiety to some extent and boost buyer confidence in the everyday practicality of riding an electric two-wheeler.

Users of the ‘EBikeGo Charge’ station will be able to make payments using EBikeGo’s app, which will also offer predetermined recharge plans as well as real-time stats on the charging, and the charger has an in-built cut-off function when it detects the battery is fully topped up. Additionally, the app will let users plan their route according to the availability of chargers along the way, and will also provide real-time information on charger availability.

The EBikeGo charger is a 16-amp unit with an output of up to 3.3 kW, has a three-pin power socket, LED indicators to denote state of charge, and features Wi-Fi and RFID functionality.

The Rugged G1 will be available in single- and dual-battery versions. Image: EBikeGo

As for the scooter itself, the EBikeGo Rugged G1 (equipped with a 1.9 kWh lithium-ion battery) will be available in two versions – the single-battery G1 (Rs 84,999) and the dual-battery G1+ (Rs 1,04,999); the first 1,000 buyers will get an additional discount of Rs 5,000. These prices include the FAME-II subsidy of Rs 27,000 for the G1 and Rs 54,000 for the G1+.

Power comes from a BLDC hub motor – that EBikeGo claims is the first indigenous hub motor for an Indian electric two-wheeler – that has a nominal output of 1.5 kW (2 hp) and a peak output of 3 kW (4 hp). In Eco mode (top speed restricted to 35 kph), the Rugged G1 has a claimed ‘true’ range of over 80 kilometres, while the Rugged G1+ has a range of over 160 kilometres. In Power mode (top speed raised to 75 kph), range for the G1+ drops to 135 kilometres.

Pre-orders for the EBikeGo Rugged G1 are open now, with the reservation amount set at Rs 499, and EBikeGo is aiming to commence deliveries of the scooter from November this year.

Anirudh Regidistudio18Sep 28, 2021 18:57:52 IST

As much as I love digital cameras, and the freedom and flexibility they afford, I sometimes miss film. While there is certainly comfort to be found in the whirr of winding motors and the slap of massive mirrors, it’s the creativity born of adversity, so to speak, that I miss.

See, shooting film is restrictive. You only get 36 shots per roll, a reload takes time, and you won’t get to see your shots till days later. Shooting film teaches you to plan your shots ahead of time, to compose your shots better, to be a better photographer out of necessity. There’s no spray and pray here.

Powerful smartphone cameras make it easy to capture great images, but the quality of your images depends on how much thought you put into composition and framing. It’s partly for this reason that I’m intrigued by the OnePlus-Hasselblad partnership, and the introduction of an XPan emulation mode via an OTA for the OnePlus 9 series.
XPan, introduced by Hasselblad in 1998, was, and still is, unique. Images at the time were primarily captured on 35 mm film measuring 36 x 24 mm (a 3:2 aspect ratio).

Hasselblad took this a step further by widening the frame to 65 mm (65:24 or 2.7:1), exposing a larger area of film and creating an image that was very similar to cinema’s ultra-wide anamorphic aspect ratio of 2.39:1, but without the oval bokeh and lens flares.
With such a wide canvas to work with, and much like cinema, XPan quickly became a means for telling stories via stills. It’s not a format that’s easy to adapt to, but it’s a rewarding one once you do.

What’s interesting is that OnePlus with its Hasselblad partnership has sought to emulate not just the field of view, but also the experience of shooting on black and white film stock from that era. Switching to XPan mode in the OnePlus camera app crops the frame to a 65:24 aspect ratio, emulating an XPan viewfinder, and replaces the regular shutter button with a Hasselblad-esque orange one. Using either the wide or the ultra-wide camera, the app also attempts to emulate the 65 mm and 45 mm focal lengths of the original XPan lenses.

Pressing the orange shutter button captures the image, but you’re first presented with a colour negative that quickly transforms into the final image. For some, this might seem like a gimmick and an unnecessary delay at a time where instant feedback is the norm, but that delay can also be thought of as a means of forcing you to consider a more measured approach to your photography.

You could use the XPan mode as just a filter, but it can be more than that. As a medium for honing your skills as a storyteller and for recapturing the charm and thrill of a bygone era, it’s a step in the right direction.

Ameya DalviSep 28, 2021 09:35:26 IST

Our list of phones under Rs 75,000 this month is loaded with superstars. Courtesy some new launches and price drops this month, we also have a couple of options that weren’t available in this price bracket earlier. Without further ado, let me introduce you to the best of the lot in this budget currently.

Best phones to buy under Rs 75,000 in India

Apple iPhone 12

Cometh the iPhone 13, cometh a better deal on the Apple iPhone 12. To the best of my knowledge, never before was the iPhone 12 available in India for under Rs 70,000, and that too the mid variant with 128 GB storage. While it’s not as compact as the iPhone 12 Mini, it is just the right size for single-handed operations. You get a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen that is compliant with HDR10 and Dolby Vision. It is protected against scratches and smudges by a ceramic glass and oleophobic coating.

Apple iPhone 12

At its core is Apple’s previous flagship A14 Bionic chip that is still powerful enough. It was their flagship chip about a fortnight ago! You get two 12 MP cameras at the back with the primary lens offering OIS, while the secondary lets you capture ultra-wide shots. Needless to say, the performance is top-notch in different lighting conditions, and the phone can shoot some impressive videos, too. It runs the latest iOS 14, and is upgradeable to iOS 15.

Apple iPhone 12 price in India: Rs 68,999 for 128 GB storage on Amazon India

Apple iPhone 13 Mini

Did I say you cannot get an iPhone 13 series phone in India in this budget? Well, you can get your hands on the smallest of the latest Apple iPhones comfortably in this budget. It is good to see Apple continue with the Mini series, and just like its predecessor, the Apple iPhone 13 Mini is refreshingly compact. Again, it’s not just about a small phone, but the availability of a proper flagship device in this form factor without skipping any key feature. Having that choice is a good thing when smartphones are getting larger by the year.

Apple iPhone 13 mini.

The Apple iPhone 13 Mini is pretty much the iPhone 13 in terms of design, processing power and most of the features, but in a smaller shell. It has a sharper, 5.4-inch Full HD+ Super Retina XDR OLED screen, again compliant with HDR10 and Dolby Vision. At its heart is the latest A15 Bionic chip that powers the entire iPhone 13 series. The two 12 MP cameras at the back are similar to those found on the iPhone 12 but aligned differently (insert meme on Apple’s creativity here). The output quality is at least as good, if not better. It runs the latest iOS 15, and one can expect OS updates for the next five years.

Apple iPhone 13 Mini price in India: Rs 69,990 for 128 GB storage

Samsung Galaxy S21/ S21 Plus

Continuing the theme of compact phones, another option on this list is the Samsung Galaxy S21. Other than its plastic back, this S series phone ticks all the right boxes. It has a 6.2-inch Full HD+ Dynamic AMOLED display with a rated peak brightness of 1300 nits, HDR10+ compliance and a 120 Hz refresh rate. It is powered by Samsung’s Exynos 2100 chip which can be found in most of the top-end Samsung phones. The S21 is bundled with 8 GB RAM and 128 GB of internal storage. You get Android 11 out of the box with Samsung’s One UI 3.

Samsung Galaxy S21.

Photography is handled by three cameras at the back with a 12 MP primary camera with OIS, 12 MP ultra-wide camera and a 64 MP telephoto camera with OIS that facilitates 3X Hybrid zoom. The camera performance is excellent with great detail, close to natural colours and wide dynamic range. Its low-light performance is commendable, too. This phone can also record high quality videos in up to 8K resolution. Its 4,000 mAh battery keeps the phone running for over a day of moderate use. Just like the iPhones above, the Samsung Galaxy S21 also has IP68 rated dust and water resistance.

If the plastic back bothers you or if you find its screen too small, you can now get the Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus in this budget, too. You get a glass back here and a much larger 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED display. The battery capacity is also 20 percent higher at 4,800 mAh. Rest of the features and specifications are pretty much the same as the S21.

Samsung Galaxy S21 price in India: Rs 61,900 for 8 GB RAM/128 GB storage
Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus price in India: Rs 69,999 for 8 GB RAM/128 GB storage

OnePlus 9 Pro

The OnePlus flagship holds on to its spot on this list. Like the S21 Plus, it has a similar-sized 6.7-inch LTPO Fluid AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate, but with a higher resolution of 3216 x 1440 pixels. The HDR10+ compliant screen can display a billion colours and can get up to 1300 nits bright. The phone design is elegant with a metal frame and a glass body protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5 front and back.

OnePlus 9 Pro

The rear camera department is highly versatile with a combination of a 48 MP primary camera with OIS, a 50 MP ultrawide camera with auto-focus, 8 MP telephoto camera with OIS for 3.3X optical zoom and a 2 MP mono camera. The Hasselblad colour tuning makes the colours look a lot more natural as compared to its predecessors. The cameras manage to capture some impressive images in different lighting and modes. The 16 MP front camera located in a tiny punch-hole at the top of the screen is good enough for selfies and video calls.

The 5G-ready OnePlus 9 Pro is powered by Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 888 SoC, and you get 8 GB or 12 GB RAM variants of the phone with 128 GB and 256 GB of UFS 3.1 storage respectively in this budget. Its 4,500 mAh battery lasts over a day of moderate use, and the bundled 65 W Warp charger juices it up insanely fast. The phone also supports fast wireless charging. It has IP68 rating for ingress protection and runs OxygenOS 11 based on Android 11.

OnePlus 9 Pro price in India: Rs 64,999 for 8 GB RAM/128 GB storage; Rs 69,999 for 12 GB RAM/256 GB storage

Vivo X60 Pro Plus

Vivo’s flagship X60 Pro Plus is another fully-loaded option in this budget with a high style quotient. The rear camera department has Zeiss optics, and the primary unit has a 50 MP sensor with OIS. Giving it company are a 48 MP ultra-wide camera with Gimbal stabilisation and 32 MP and 8 MP telephoto cameras that provide 2X to 5X optical zoom. All cameras do a commendable job across various modes and lighting, and record equally impressive videos. The 32 MP front camera is bound to impress the selfie enthusiasts.

Vivo X60 Pro Plus.

The Vivo X60 Pro Plus has a vibrant 6.56-inch Full HD+ HDR10+ compliant Super AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate. This flagship phone, too, is powered by Qualcomm’s top-of-the-line Snapdragon 888 SoC. It is accompanied by a generous 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage. It packs a 4,200 mAh battery that lasts for a day of moderate use and the bundled 55 W fast charger refills it quickly. The phone runs Android 11 with FunTouch 11 UI.

Pro tip: The Vivo X70 series is expected to be launched within a week, so you might want to delay your purchase decision till then.

Vivo X60 Pro Plus price in India: Rs 69,990 for 12 GB RAM/256 GB storage

The World Health Organization recommends adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise a week (or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise).

The researchers found that those taking at least 7,000 steps a day had a 50 to 70 percent lower risk of dying during the study period compared with those taking fewer than 7,000 steps a day.

FP TrendingSep 27, 2021 17:47:36 IST

Samsung has announced exciting offers on Flipkart and Amazon India for its lifestyle TV, The Frame in India. The offers are valid for the upcoming Flipkart Big Billions Day Sale and the Amazon Great Indian Festival Sale that will commence on 3 October. People interested in buying The Frame can get a special discount of up to Rs 8,000 and a cashback of Rs 3,000 and no-cost EMIs (24 months) with leading banks. They can also get a chance to grab the recently launched Bezels up to Rs 9,900 complimentary with select models.

Samsung Frame

Additionally, buyers can get discount coupons worth up to Rs 1,000 by participating in a quiz as part of the sale. People can also get priority buying options and special updates on the TV during both the Amazon and Flipkart sales by clicking on ‘Notify Me’ and register for updates from 27 September – 2 October.

The offers are available on The Frame models, starting from 43-inch and going up to 65-inch. To recall, The Frame comes with a QLED display that comes with a Dual LED backlight and Samsung’s Quantum Dot technology. It comes with Quantum Processor 4K, intelligent sensors, SpaceFit Sound, multi-view, voice assistant support, and more features.

The 43-inch model is priced at Rs 59,900, the 50-inch model is priced at Rs 74,900, the 55-inch model is priced at Rs 89,900, and the 65-inch model is priced at Rs 1,21,900 during the offer period.

tech2 News StaffSep 27, 2021 12:58:12 IST

Toyota has announced the discontinuation of the Toyota Yaris sedan in India, as it gears up to launch a new model in the midsize sedan segment. The Yaris has been discontinued with effect from 27 September, with Toyota saying ‘preparations are underway to launch new models’ in 2022. Launched in April 2018, the Yaris was positioned as a premium-priced rival to the likes of the Honda City, Hyundai Verna, Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, Skoda Rapid and Volkswagen Vento, but failed to make a mark in the segment and has been pulled off the shelves in a little over three years since its launch.

To assure owners of the Yaris across the country of continued aftersales support, Toyota has said it will ensure availability of spare parts for the sedan in India for at least the next 10 years.

The Toyota Yaris failed to make an impact during its three-year-long stint in India. Image: Toyota

In its three-year stint, the Toyota Yaris couldn’t make an impact on midsize sedan buyers for several reasons. Prime among them was the fact that the Yaris was not an all-new model, but one that had been on sale in other markets for a while (sold under the Vios moniker), and its design was notably dated. Its interior – which was light on features – left a lot to be desired, and with a sole 1.5-litre petrol engine option, buyers didn’t have much in the way of powertrain choices.

It was also priced at a premium compared to its rivals, and with other models in the segment receiving extensive updates since, the Yaris started to look incredibly dated and was quickly resigned to the bottom of sales charts. Production of the sedan was stopped a while back as Toyota focused on clearing stocks.

The Yaris is making way for the launch of the Toyota Belta, which, in essence, is a badge-engineered version of the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz. Toyota and Suzuki share models in India as part of their global alliance, with the Maruti Suzuki Baleno and Vitara Brezza already being sold as the Glanza and Urban Cruiser by Toyota India. The next model to be shared with Toyota will be the Ciaz, which Toyota is expected to sell under the ‘Belta’ name. The Toyota Belta is expected to be identical to the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz in most respects, and is likely to be launched in the coming weeks.

FP TrendingSep 24, 2021 13:21:42 IST

Samsung has officially revealed that it will launch the much-talked-about Galaxy F42 5G in India on 29 September. The smartphone will be available on select retail outlets as well as Samsung.com and Flipkart.com. Samsung has also revealed certain details on the smartphone. It will be the fifth phone in the Galaxy F-series in 2021 and will support 12 5G bands. It will also be the first 5G smartphone in the F-series portfolio that will launch in the country.

Samsung Galaxy F42

Additionally, the phone will be backed by a 5,000 mAh battery and run on Samsung One UI, based on Android 11.

The phone is confirmed to be powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 700 chip. The processor will ensure smooth multi-tasking, optimised performance and reduced power consumption even if users are browsing and using multiple apps. By ensuring faster speeds and low latency, the F42 will be future-ready for the consumers.

Samsung has also revealed that the phone will come with a 64 MP main camera. The device will have three rear cameras in total and the other two could be an ultra-wide lens and a depth sensor. The camera will also include a night mode feature for clicking images even in low-light.

The device will get a Full HD+ display that will support a 90 Hz refresh rate. The Galaxy F42 5G’s microsite is now live, which also reveals its design.

Ameya DalviSep 24, 2021 14:15:27 IST

Overall Rating: 3/5 

Price: Rs 22,999

We have been fond of the OATH Pro series of TVs from Thomson. It happens to be Thomson’s flagship series with features such as 4K resolution, Dolby Vision and more. Then it has the PATH series, primarily targeted at budget-conscious buyers. Not too long ago, the company released a 42-inch smart TV model in the PATH series with a price tag close to that of 40-inch TVs from competing brands. Can this set Thomson on a path of glory? Let’s find out.

Thomson 42PATH2121 Smart TV – Design and connectivity: 7/10

Thomson 42PATH2121 Smart TV

Unlike the OATH Pro series, this Thomson TV sports a dated design with conspicuous plastic bezels around the screen, though they’re not too thick. The build quality doesn’t feel premium, but then, this is meant to be a budget TV, and not many may complain about it. A power LED is located at the bottom left of the screen. The TV can be wall-mounted or placed on a desk using the bundled plastic stands and screws. The stands are on the thicker side and do a good job of holding the TV firmly in place.

Two USB ports and two sets of analogue A/V inputs can be found on the left side of the TV, while three HDMI inputs are located along the bottom end, facing downwards. Image: Tech2/Ameya Dalvi

Two USB ports and two sets of analogue A/V inputs can be found on the left side of the TV, while three HDMI inputs (one of which supports ARC), an optical audio out, coaxial audio out, headphone jack and a LAN port are located along the bottom end, facing downwards. Connecting devices to the HDMI ports can be a bit of an exercise if you place the TV on a desk. But given the TV’s modest size, the side ports are not too difficult to reach. A voice enabled wireless remote control and a pair of AAA batteries to power it are present in the bundle.

Connecting devices to the HDMI ports can be a bit of an exercise if you place the TV on a desk. Image: Tech2/Ameya Dalvi

Thomson 42PATH2121 Smart TV – Features and specifications: 7/10

This TV has a 42-inch panel with a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and a 60 Hz refresh rate. While the spec-sheet mentions an IPS panel, I have my doubts given the poor viewing angles on this TV; more on that a little later. The panel has a rated brightness of 500 nits and there is no mention of support for any HDR formats, which is fine. None of the budget Full HD TVs are adept at handling HDR content anyway.

On the specifications front, this TV is powered by an Amlogic chip with four ARM Cortex A53 cores clocked at up to 1400 MHz and Mali-450 MP GPU. You get 1 GB RAM and 8 GB of internal storage, a chunk of which is taken up by the Android TV 9.0 OS. Sound output is rated at 30 Watts RMS. Wireless connectivity options include Bluetooth (version not specified) and surprise surprise, dual-band Wi-Fi with support for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks. Not many budget TVs can boast of 5 GHz Wi-Fi compliance. Like all certified Android TVs, it has Chromecast built-in and lets you cast content onto the screen from compatible apps on your phone or tablet.

The remote has hotkeys for Prime Video, YouTube and Sony LIV along with home and back keys, input selection, volume control, mute button, settings and a D-pad. Image: Tech2/Ameya Dalvi

Thomson bundles a different remote with this TV that I haven’t seen before with its other models. The design is clearly inspired by the Amazon Fire TV Stick remote, but with a few extra keys. The build quality is generally decent, but I cannot say the same for the D-pad, which feels flimsy. The remote operates over Bluetooth once paired and is voice-enabled. You can bring up the Google Assistant by pressing the corresponding key and issue voice commands. The remote has hotkeys for Prime Video, YouTube and Sony LIV along with home and back keys, input selection, volume control, mute button, settings and a D-pad.

Thomson 42PATH2121 Smart TV – User interface: 6/10

The Thomson 42PATH2121 runs Android TV 9.0 OS and has a stock user interface without any third-party launcher. It is easy to use with the usual row of frequently used apps, the shortcuts for which you can add, remove or shuffle around. Other rows display last played or suggested content from various online streaming services. The TV comes preloaded with Google Play Store and gives you access to thousands of popular apps. The Prime Video app comes preinstalled, but there is no support for Netflix on this TV. Probably, the company feels that the target audience for this TV may not be interested in Netflix.

While most of the UI elements are standard, options for Picture and Sound adjustments are missing. While on the Android home screen or when viewing content through any OTT service, you simply cannot adjust the picture or sound (other than volume). Pressing the Menu button does absolutely nothing. However, pressing the same button grants you access to basic Picture and Sound adjustments when using an HDMI input.

When not using an HDMI source, if you wish to access parameters like brightness, contrast, sharpness etc., you need to get off the home screen or the OTT platform and choose an HDMI input; even an inactive one is fine. There, you can bring up the picture settings, make the necessary adjustments and get back to what you were watching. If the picture is still not satisfactory, repeat the process. The same goes for audio settings. Wonder which UX genius thought of this twisted method!

Thomson 42PATH2121 Smart TV – Picture quality: 6/10

The picture quality of this Thomson TV is average at best, and nowhere close to the OATH or OATH Pro series. I know this is a more affordable model with Full HD resolution and not 4K, but still, I did not expect the difference in quality to be this great. The panel is bright, and colour reproduction is reasonably good, though a tad saturated. The contrast is below par, and despite multiple adjustments, I could not find the sweet spot to get the right balance. The picture would either look too bright or lose details in dark areas.

There’s also a significant amount of flickering in high-contrast scenes. Skin tones have a slight yellow tinge, and they look a touch flat even when viewing high-res content. While scenes with little to no motion look good on this screen, there was noticeable motion blur in scenes with significant movement. Picture adjustments aren’t just difficult to get to, but you only have basic options here, and not enough to eliminate the above shortcomings.

If you can look past these issues, Full HD content looks decent on this screen, especially the colours, and 720p content quality is acceptable, too. While this TV isn’t equipped to bring the best out of the high-quality content on Prime Video or Disney + Hotstar, it is better suited for watching DTH content or connecting your older devices (like a DVD player) as you have ample analogue inputs on this TV.

While apps for most popular OTT platforms are available on this TV, there is no support for Netflix at all. Neither can you download the app, nor can you cast the content to this TV from the Netflix app on the phone. Another drawback of this TV is its viewing angles. If it indeed has an IPS panel as stated on its product page, the viewing angles are shockingly poor. There is a noticeable colour shift when viewing from even 45 degrees.

Thomson 42PATH2121 Smart TV – Audio quality: 4/10

This TV has a pair of stereo speakers that claim to deliver a total output of 30 Watts RMS. The speakers are reasonably loud at 40 percent volume, but the sound is completely flat, devoid of any bass. Dialogues can be heard with reasonable clarity, but the overall audio feels lifeless. The audio quality is acceptable for watching news, sports or some basic soap operas at best. Music and action movies sound completely lacklustre on the speakers.

There are a handful of sound pre-sets and a five-band equaliser to tweak the sound, but even they don’t help improve the sound much. I would highly recommend plugging in a soundbar or some other external speaker system if you choose to go with this TV. Given the presence of multiple audio-out ports here, you can choose from a wide variety of options.

Thomson 42PATH2121 Smart TV – Overall performance: 6/10

The Thomson 42PATH2121 Smart TV can be purchased on Flipkart for Rs 22,999 with a one-year warranty.

The TV takes about 40 seconds to boot up when you switch it on from the mains, which is acceptable for an Android TV. Post that, if you switch it off and on from the remote, the TV comes back on in just a couple of seconds from standby mode. But wait, that doesn’t happen by default! For some reason, the TV is programmed to shut down if you hit the power button on the remote, and not go into standby mode. You need to enable that from the settings. And guess where that option is hidden? Not in the standard Android TV settings on the Home screen, but again, in the settings menu in HDMI mode.

The preinstalled media player is decent and managed to play almost all videos with various codecs I threw at it, including 4K videos (scaled to 1080p), which is a plus. However, it doesn’t let you use the D-pad to navigate through the video. You always have an option of installing a better player such as VLC from the Google Play Store. Again, there is no access to picture and sound settings in USB mode. Voice commands generally work well, but the voice assistant’s response is slightly on the slower side.

Thomson 42PATH2121 Smart TV – Price and verdict

The Thomson 42PATH2121 Smart TV can be purchased on Flipkart for Rs 22,999 with a one-year warranty. Despite its affordable price tag, it is hard to recommend given its average picture quality, poor sound output, lack of Netflix support and far too many quirks. If you are looking for an Android TV with older/analogue audio and video ports, this TV gives you that option to use some of your older gadgets with it, and is worth considering.

If that is not the use case, and even if budget is a constraint, you would be better served by a 40-inch Android TV with superior performance like the Hisense 40A56E or the Xiaomi Mi TV 4A. I would happily sacrifice two extra inches of screen space for better picture, sound and Netflix.

tech2 News StaffSep 24, 2021 15:19:26 IST

As India continues to push new energy vehicles in a bid to transform transportation in the country, Union minister Nitin Gadkari has announced the government will issue an order to all vehicle manufacturers – including those operating in the mass-market as well as premium segments – making flex-fuel engines mandatory for their vehicles in the next three to four months. Speaking at the stone-laying ceremony of a flyover in Pune, Gadkari said he hopes to see demand for petrol and diesel fall as more motorists switch to using vehicles powered by locally-produced ethanol.

” I have a wish. I would like to stop the petrol and diesel use in the country in my lifetime and our farmers can give the alternative to this in the form of ethanol. I am going to issue an order in the next three to four months, in which carmakers – from BMW, Mercedes to Tata and Mahindra – will be asked to make flex engines,” said Gadkari.

All vehicle manufacturers – including those in the premium segment – will have to offer flex-fuel engines for their vehicles in India. Image: Ford

Flex fuel, or flexible fuel, is an alternative fuel made of a combination of gasoline and methanol or ethanol.

Even two-wheeler manufacturers will be asked to work on flex-fuel engines for their scooters and motorcycles, with Gadkari saying he has asked Bajaj and TVS to not approach him until they have made progress on this front, according to PTI. Interestingly, TVS did launch an ethanol-powered variant of its Apache motorcycle – named the Apache RTR 200 Fi E100 – in 2019, but was made available in only three states: Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka.

TVS had introduced an ethanol-powered Apache in 2019. Image: TVS

He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated three ethanol pumps in Pune.

“I would like to ask you (Ajit Pawar) to take up the work of setting up multiple ethanol pumps in Pune as well as in western Maharashtra districts as it would help farmers and the sugar industry,” he said.

The target date for achieving 20 percent ethanol blending with petrol in India has been advanced to 2025, in a bid to cut pollution and reduce import dependence.

Gadkari has previously said ethanol is a better fuel than petrol, and it is an import substitute, cost effective, pollution-free and indigenous. He had also mentioned the use of ethanol as a fuel would boost the Indian economy because India is a “corn surplus, sugar surplus, and wheat surplus country”.

Recently, Gadkari had urged vehicle manufacturers in India to stop the production and sale of diesel vehicles, and instead make the switch to alternative fuel technologies.

With inputs from PTI

Also read: What is ethanol blending in petrol?

Anirudh Regidistudio18Sep 24, 2021 17:50:40 IST

The MSI GF63 Thin is a gaming laptop, but unlike most other devices of its ilk, it’s slim, light, and doesn’t make a tonne of noise. Plus, because it’s packing an Intel Core i7-10750H CPU, an Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU, 16 GB of RAM, and 512 GB of NVMe storage, this device has as much potential as a content creator’s machine as a gamer’s.
The laptop is finished in brushed aluminium, on the lid and on the inside, and it has a metal chassis. The left and right sides are covered in ports, including USB-A, USB-C, ethernet, and dual audio jacks, not to mention a full-size HDMI port on the rear.

If you squint through the bottom grill, you’ll spot the copper heat pipe and cooling fan solution called CoolerBoost that MSI uses to keep this slim — it’s barely 20 mm thick — chassis cool and the components running at full tilt with no throttling.

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This RTX 3050 variant is great for gamers because it supports features like RTX and DLSS, where the former allows for realistic lighting and the latter is an AI upscaler that dramatically improves frame-rates, as well as Nvidia Reflex, a tool that reduces input lag. Content creators and streamers benefit from support for NvEnc for hardware encoded livestreams, and CUDA and RTX features for 3D rendering and other workloads. If you’re a coder, there’s that fast 6-core CPU to help you out.

Then there’s that 15-inch panel, which operates at a gamer-friendly 144 Hz, ensuring that you remain competitive no matter what you play. In a device retailing under a lakh, these are killer features.
Lastly, the box contains a bracket for a 2.5-inch SSD or HDD, meaning that you can upgrade the internals yourself, should you run out of space. A big win for everyone.

This is a powerful package at a reasonable price, and worth checking out no matter what you’re doing.
Pricing for the i7 variant is set at Rs 95,990, while the i5 variant can be had for Rs 83,990. GTX 1650 variants are also available. Discounts of up to 35% will be available in the festive season.

This article has been created by studio18 team on behalf of MSI

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FP TrendingSep 24, 2021 16:23:43 IST

Microsoft recently held an online event to launch the Surface Pro 8, Surface Go 3, Surface Duo 2, and more. Other products include the Surface Pro X, the Surface Slim Pen 2, Surface Duo 2 pen cover, Microsoft ocean plastic mouse, Microsoft Surface Adaptive Kit, and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio.

Starting with the Surface Pro 8, it is the latest 2-in-1 laptop that comes with a 13-inch PixelSense touchscreen display with support for a 120Hz refresh rate and Dolby Vision and Adaptive Colour Technology. It is powered by an 11th Gen Intel Core processor and supports up to 32 GB of RAM.

It also comes with two Thunderbolt 4 ports and is built on the Intel Evo platform. There is support for a 10-megapixel 4K rear camera, a 5-megapixel front camera, Dolby Atmos sound, up to 16 hours of battery life, the charging capability for the new Surface Slim Pen 2, and more.

It is up for pre-orders in select markets from a starting price of $1099.99 (around Rs 81,000).

The Surface Laptop Studio ensures portability with the new ultra-durable Dynamic Woven Hinge for various modes such as Laptop, Stage, and Studio. It runs Windows 11, gets a 14.4-inch PixelSense touchscreen display, Surface Slim Pen 2 support, and is powered by the 11th Gen Intel Core H35 processor with NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs. It starts at $1599.99 (around Rs 1,17,000).

Microsoft has also launched the new Wi-Fi model of the Surface Pro X, which comes with Microsoft SQ2 ARM silicon, Windows 11, 64-bit emulation built-in, better app optimisations, a sleek design, all-day battery life, and more. It starts at $899.99 (around Rs 66,300).

The Surface Slim Pen 2 includes zero pressure force, as well as ultra-low latency for better control and accuracy. It gets a built-in haptic motor for a natural feel while making notes or drawing and charges when connected to the Surface Laptop Studio or stored in the Surface Pro Signature Keyboard. It is priced at $12.99 (around Rs 9,500).

The Surface Go 3 is a 2-in-1 product that is powered by an Intel Core i3 processor and features a 10.5-inch display. It comes with 1080p cameras, Windows 11, studio microphones, Dolby Audio, LTE support, and more. The Wi-Fi model starts at $399.99 (around Rs 29,400) while the LTE model will be available in the coming months.

As for the Surface Duo 2, it is the company’s latest foldable phone that is powered by a Snapdragon 888 chip and comes with 8.3-inch PixelSense Fusiondual displays. It supports 5G, NFC, triple rear cameras, and Microsoft 365 for better productivity. It comes in Glacier and Obsidian and starts at $1499.99 (around Rs 1,10,000).

tech2 News StaffSep 24, 2021 17:09:12 IST

Witnessing a rise in demand for its electric scooters, Hero Electric is in the process of ramping up production at its plant in Ludhiana to five lakh scooters per annum by March 2022. To go with this, Hero Electric has now announced it will set up a total of 20,000 EV charging stations across India by the end of 2022 as it anticipates a corresponding rise in customer requirements for charging infrastructure.

To this end, it has partnered with Delhi-based start-up Massive Mobility, which will collaborate on setting up 10,000 such charging stations. At present, Hero Electric has already set up 1,650 charging stations.

Hero Electric says its charging network will be open to use for other electric vehicles as well. Image: Hero Electric

More encouragingly for the electric vehicle industry, Hero Electric’s charging network will also be open for use to owners of other electric vehicles as well, which the company believes will promote standardisation of charging infrastructure among all EV manufacturers.

“Announcements by the government of India over the last few months have helped propel the EV industry onto the next level. We continue to expand our reach, setting up charging points and reskilling mechanics to create an ecosystem,” Hero Electric CEO Sohinder Gill said in a statement.

Along with production capacity, Hero Electric is also set to expand its product line-up in the coming months. Image: Hero Electric

Massive Mobility is a start-up working to design a smart connected network of charging solutions catering to three-wheeler and two-wheeler EVs. Through its cloud-based solutions it enables parking and charging point owners to offer charging services to users.

Owners of Hero Electric scooters will be able to set up their profile within the Massive Mobility charging app, book a charging station slot, make payments utilising the UPI framework and monitor usage.

Also read: State EV policy impact – Hero Electric’s mid-speed scooters priced from under Rs 40,000 in Maharashtra and Gujarat