TeamViewer opens Mumbai office, eyes strong growth in India

Teamviewer, a global leader in secure remote connectivity solutions, has announced the opening of its first India office in Mumbai as key driver for its long-term growth initiative in the South Asia region. TeamViewer’s Mumbai office will act as a sales, marketing, and support centre to provide best-in-class remote connectivity solutions for a dynamically growing local user base on the subcontinent with more than 100m installations to date.

“Opening an office in India is integral part of our APAC growth ambitions with a strong focus on going multi-local to be closer to our existing customers and even better understand the market, client, and partner needs,” said Oliver Steil, CEO of TeamViewer, speaking to the media in Mumbai. “With our strong commitment to India we aim to address the substantial opportunities of work-style reform and the strong demand from businesses of all sizes for secure remote connectivity solutions at scale. We are very excited to further strengthen our footprint in one of the fastest growing economies in the world that is at the forefront of digital transformation.”

“We aim to support India’s agile SMB, large enterprises and government space through secure and reliable remote access, remote support, and collaboration in one integrated solution,” said Konstantin Ebert, Vice President Sales EMEA, APAC, and Global Channels at TeamViewer. “Our cutting-edge yet easy-to-deploy solutions address the use-cases of modern organizations looking for the ability to connect anything, anywhere, anytime. TeamViewer’s solutions could also help the Indian government with its Digital India and Smart Cities programs as their essence is transparency and interconnectedness between government and citizens.”

“With the growth of India’s digital footprint, more and more industries in the country are developing and implementing IoT, AR, and AI innovation. TeamViewer offers best-in-class connectivity enabling our customers to securely tap into these megatrends,” said Krunal Patel, TeamViewer Head of Sales India and South Asia. “Our channel partner fraternity will play a pivotal role in driving this growth with sector specific solutions. We already have Ingram micro signed up as our first distributor in India and are quickly expanding our existing reseller network.”

Haier celebrates with the new Quantum Dot 4K LED TV Range in India

Haier, the global leader in Home Appliances & Consumer Electronics and World’s Number 1 brand in Major Appliances for 9 Consecutive Years*, today announced the launch of its new range of televisions during this festive season – Quantum Dot 4K Slim LED and Quantum Dot 4K Curved LED TVs.

Augmenting its premium range of LED TVs in India, Haier has designed the new series to deliver the best in class experience in TV viewing. The new televisions will comprise of all features of a Smart TV, powered by an Android operating system. Equipped with the latest Quantum Dot display technology with HDR, that delivers perfect colours, the new Haier TVs produce a more vibrant and colourful picture, giving a much brighter and clearer display. 

The new range includes two new models X7000QUA (165cm (65) & 140cm (55)) under Quantum Dot 4K Slim LED TV series and Q9800QUAG (165cm (65) & 140cm (55)) under Quantum Dot 4K Curved LED TV series.  

The X7000QUA Slim LED TV, with 13mm Ultra slim bezel comes with a bezel-less frame, for a larger than life full vision experience and Q9800QUAG Quantum Dot 4K Curved LED TV has a curved display that offers a greater sense of immersion. The two series comes with 4K UHD (Ultra High Definition) - the next generation of HD and Full-HD with a resolution of 3840*2160, 4 times the resolution of 1080P. 

Commenting on the launch Mr. Eric Braganza, President, Haier India, said: “We, at Haier constantly innovate to create solutions that are inspired by the evolving lifestyles of our customers and their unique requirements. With the launch of Haier Quantum Dot televisions, we are augmenting our premium LED TV range to deliver the best picture quality and an immersive experience that never fades. With options to choose from Slim and Curved displays, this range is designed to offer brilliant design, richer colours and deeper contrasts to bring to life the true colours of India!” 
For a seamless access to all your favourite shows, movies and other content, the TVs are armed with a built in Wi-Fi system, bringing home the smart world for the consumers. The new range comes equipped with Smart Share feature that allows users to connect their smartphones wirelessly to the TV and enjoy their mobile content like videos, photos, etc. on large screen. Furthermore, for an enhanced audio experience, the new LED TVs feature Dolby Decoder to deliver a theatre like experience at home. Adding more to the smart features, the new TVs come with a Smart Remote with a “QWERTY” Keypad, offering a unique “Shake the remote” feature in order to access the desired titles swiftly. 

Pricing & Availability: 
The new Haier X7000QUA Quantum Dot 4K Slim LED TVs in 165cm (65) & 140cm (55) sizes are available across India at an MRP of Rs. 2,69,990 and Rs. 2,19,990 respectively.
The new Haier Q9800QUAG Quantum Dot 4K Curved LED TV in165cm (65) & 140cm (55) sizes are available across India at an MRP of Rs. 2,59,990 and Rs. 2,09,990 respectively. 

Huawei Launches HUAWEI WATCH GT and HUAWEI Band 3 Pro

Huawei Consumer Business Group (BG) has announced two new wearables: HUAWEI WATCH GT and HUAWEI Band 3 Pro. Launched alongside the flagship HUAWEI Mate 20 Series, the new wearables offer novel and sophisticated ways for consumers to track their activities and receive fitness coaching that is based on scientific research. 

Featuring the classic wristwatch design, ultra-high battery life, low power consumption, sophisticated activity tracking and fitness coaching features, the HUAWEI WATCH GT is one of the most hotly anticipated wearables of the year. The new HUAWEI watch bears the GT name to call attention to its high performance and reliability—just as grand tourers, or high performance automobiles, are trusted for their prowess. 

Spurred by technical advancements and improving living standards, people are becoming keener to explore the world around them. As an extension of smartphones, wearables complement the feature sets of today’s handsets to help consumers get more out of their devices. Designed for today’s urban explorers, the HUAWEI WATCH GT addresses one of the most common pain points of wearables: battery life.

The HUAWEI WATCH GT uses an innovative smart power-saving algorithm that enables it to dynamically switch between performance and efficiency modes, depending on user activity, for maximum battery life. This allows the smart watch to stay powered for up to two weeks for frequent use mode  . Furthermore, the dual-core architecture of the HUAWEI WATCH GT lets the wearable user enjoy the best of both worlds—it is simultaneously a powerful and highly efficient smart watch. 

Besides improved performance and new features, the HUAWEI WATCH GT also sports a unique design. The 1.39-inch 454x254 AMOLED high resolution display presents information cleanly on the wrist. The smart watch body incorporates a dual-crown design with stainless steel and ceramic bezels, and is treated with a DLC diamond carbon coating to provide users with durability that will last for decades. The 10.6mm case body is compatible with two band options—a dual-color silicone band and an elegant leather-rubber band—giving users more choices to customize their HUAWEI WATCH GT for any occasion.

Powerful New Features
In addition to the ultra-long battery life, the HUAWEI WATCH GT features industry-leading positioning capabilities. The smart watch can simultaneously tap into GPS, GLONASS and GALILEO, three of the major satellite positioning systems, for precise positioning. A tracking algorithm then optimizes the tracking data to achieve one-to-one positioning even in areas with numerous disparate signals. 

The HUAWEI WATCH GT also addresses the needs of active users. Based on its strength in positioning, HUAWEI WATCH GT also supports all-round sports activity tracking. Working with professional sports organizations, Huawei enables tracking for a range of sports, including indoor exercises, outdoor running, mountain climbing, cycling and open water swimming.  The watch also supports fitness coaching features. By analyzing the heart rate of users with scientific methods, this feature lets users exercise more safely and healthily than ever before.

The TruSeen™ 3.0 heart rate monitoring technology tracks the user’s active and resting heart rate. Combining innovative PPG optical and hardware design and AI algorithms, the solution can monitor the heart rate of users in real time with high precision. In Sport mode, the HUAWEI WATCH GT can be set up to notify users to adjust the intensity of their workout based on a pre-set target heart rate interval. In Rest mode, the smart watch automatically monitors and records the resting heart rate of users. The HUAWEI WATCH GT uses invisible lights to monitor the user's heart rate during sleep, which is more intimate than other traditional methods.


HUAWEI Band 3 Pro: A Sports Wristband with Full Touch Screen
While smart wristbands on the market today often feature simple health monitoring functions, the lack of standardization made a lot of the data unsuitable for medical use. In view of that, Huawei launches HUAWEI Band 3 Pro, a new smart wristband supporting a range of precise and professional monitoring capabilities, including improved heart rate and sleep monitoring.

With HUAWEI TruSeen™3.0, HUAWEI Band 3 Pro accurately monitors the heart rate of a user throughout the day. Huawei also pioneered the use of IR (infrared) sensors to accurately track the user heart rate without using the obtrusive lights of conventional trackers.

Leveraging the same technology powering TruSeen™ 3.0, HUAWEI Band 3 Pro can also track sleep patterns with HUAWEI TruSleep™2.0. Moreover, the solution uses big data analysis to provide personalized services and suggestions to improve sleep quality. All of the aforementioned technologies were developed by Huawei in collaboration with authoritative organizations around the world, ensuring that the wearables are highly functional and professional.

The HUAWEI Band 3 Pro features a 0.95-inch HD AMOLED color touch screen that offers an expansive space to display data. The controls are easy and intuitive—users can navigate the various options on the screen by swiping vertically or horizontally, or by tapping the screen to return to Home.

The HUAWEI WATCH GT Sport edition is €199, HUAWEI WATCH Classic edition is €249 and the HUAWEI Band 3 Pro is €99.

Airtel launches #AirtelThanks to delight customers with exclusive benefits

Bharti Airtel (“Airtel”), India’s leading telecommunications services provider, has launched #AirtelThanks – its biggest digital program to delight its valued customers with exclusive benefits. 

Under #AirtelThanks, all Airtel customers who commit a monthly ARPU of Rs. 100 and above (for mobile) will receive exciting additional benefits at no extra charge. These benefits will include access to premium digital content, great offers on smartphones and online shopping vouchers. The higher the monthly ARPU commitment, the more benefits a customer gets.

#AirtelThanks customers will also get red carpet customer care for service and network related issues to add to their experience.

All these benefits will be digitally delivered through MyAirtel App, Airtel TV, and Wynk Music, making the experience completely seamless. Customers will receive regular offer updates round the year under the newly created #AirtelThanks section on MyAirtel App and Airtel TV.    

Airtel is partnering with the best of brands across product categories to enable #AirtelThanks. The digital program gives brands the ability to engage with a vast base of smartphone customers. By leveraging its deep customer insights, Airtel will work with partners to co-create custom made offerings for Airtel customers.    

Vani Venkatesh, Chief Marketing Officer, Bharti Airtel said, “We are obsessed with delighting our customers and our aim is to enable a differentiated experience for them. #AirtelThanks is our biggest initiative to celebrate our relationships with customers by making them feel extra special. This is a win-win program for our customers and partners. It offers brands the opportunity to reach customers with highly targeted offerings. We have received very enthusiastic response from our partners and look forward to building #AirtelThanks into a large scale ‘telco-brand’ collaboration property.”

Exclusive Content benefits under #AirtelThanks

Netflix three months subscription gift worth Rs. 1500

To mark the launch of #AirtelThanks, Airtel said that its mobile customers on Infinity Postpaid plans of Rs. 499 and above will get three months Netflix subscription gift worth Rs. 1500 at no extra charge. Existing Netflix subscribers will also be eligible for this gift and will receive a credit of Rs. 1500 in their Netflix account. Eligible customers can avail the three month Netflix subscription gift on Airtel TV app or MyAirtel app.

Access to Premium content from ZEE5

All Airtel Prepaid and Postpaid customers with monthly ARPU commitment of Rs. 199 and above will get complimentary access to premium ZEE5 content including original series and movies. This benefit can be accessed by eligible #AirtelThanks customers via Airtel TV app

Sameer Batra, CEO – Content & Apps, Bharti Airtel said: “With smartphone becoming the preferred screen in today’s digital world, access to exclusive bundled content is a big differentiator for the #AirtelThanks program. Customers can look forward to discovering all the premium content they need right here on Airtel TV and Wynk Music and that too at no extra cost.” 

Exclusive offers on Smartphones

As part of Flipkart’s Big Billion Day sale, Airtel Prepaid customers can get special benefits of up to Rs. 4500 plus 100 GB bonus data on all Flipkart exclusive smartphones as part of #AirtelThanks program. The offer will be available to customers who have or will recharge with unlimited bundled pack of Rs. 199, Rs. 249 or Rs. 448.

Airtel will soon announce #AirtelThanks benefits for its ‘V-Fiber’ Home Broadband customers, who will be able to truly unlock the power of super high speed internet and get exceptional value.

#AirtelThanks is a part of Project Next – Airtel’s digital innovation program to transform customer experience.

MediaTek leads Discussion Series on Cutting-Edge technologies that are impacting our everyday lives

MediaTek is the world's 4th largest global fabless semiconductor company and powers more than 1.5 billion devices a year. A market leader in power-efficient systems-on-chip (SoC) for mobile devices, smart-home solutions and automotive MediaTek is leading the initiative on demystifying technology, making it more accessible and understandable for the common man, through ‘MediaTek Technology Diaries’ series. The second chapter in the series was led by MediaTek with participation of Malishka from RED FM making it interactive, informative yet a fun series aimed at demystifying the newest technologies that are transforming our daily lives. Also present were Mr. Kuldeep Malik, Director, Corp. Sales, India with Mr. Kevin Keating- Global Director, Marketing. 

The series is in tune with MediaTek’s philosophy of making great technology available to everyone so we can all connect more easily to the things that shape our everyday lives, enhance and enrich it, make us smarter and healthier. From the mobile industry and automobile sector to health, entertainment and next generation wearables, MediaTek’s innovations allow consumers and businesses to do more of what they want. The upcoming and current products of MediaTek use technologies like AI, 5G, NB-IoT to empower people to change the world. MediaTek is also empowering industries with innovative Bluetooth and cellular connectivity solutions to meet the needs of government, utility, retail, agriculture, transportation, asset tracking and many others. 

Some of the key segments that MediaTek is present in include 1. Mobile Technology: MediaTek Helio series platforms such as A22 and P22 are the latest additions to the Helio family of powerful and power-efficient chips for the mid-market segment. Redmi 6, Vivo Y81, Y83 and Y83 Pro are powered by Helio P22. The Helio P60 was recently released with OPPO F9, F9 Pro and Nokia 5.1 Plus. It focuses on providing the bestin-class camera hardware with intuitive light AI-enhancements such as Face ID, Smart Photo Album, simulated depth of field etc. The core peak-performance advantage is clearly visible in advanced productivity applications and the most popular games. It also features MediaTek's second-generation smart antenna technology (TAS 2.0). The CPU performance of Helio A series is up to 30% faster and GPU up to an incredible 72% faster than the direct alternative. Xiaomi Redmi 6A is one of the phones powered with a MediaTek Helio A22 chipset. 

2. MediaTek also powers an array of Amazon consumer products, including the Amazon Fire TV, and Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 10 tablets. These are the latest in a series of Amazon devices powered by MediaTek that offer consumers rich multimedia experiences with minimal power consumption.  

3. MediaTek has also partnered with the TV display manufacturer and Television Brand Vu Televisions to provide a high-end and cost-efficient 4K TV to the consumers. MediaTek is transforming how people interact with their home through leading connectivity and multimedia technologies fueling a revolution in home entertainment products through processors and chips powering the next generation of home entertainment devices, Smart TVs and connected audio devices. This makes MediaTek the leading company by unit volume in several segments, including digital television, optical storage, and DVD/Blu-ray/CD players.  

4. Another vertical in which MediaTek has been empowering lives is the automotive sector. MediaTek is powering the future of Self-Driving technology through a turnkey solution of hardware and software. Autus, the suite of automotive and automated driving solutions, uses artificial intelligence, mmWave, machine learning, and advanced visual processing solutions and technologies to deliver the latest in navigation and infotainment innovation. Automated driving is the next frontier for MediaTek and this chip changes everything under the hood.  

MediaTek continues to push the boundary with next-gen multimedia technologies that make UHD content shine. The MT5597 is the latest technology in Digital TV vertical, which enables high-quality, cost-effective and feature-rich 4K UltraHD digital TVs with a global application. Powered by four highperformance ARM® Cortex™-A53 ultra-efficient processors running at up to 1GHz and AMR Mali-450 MP4 GPU, it offers superior user experience and features at low power consumption. MediaTek also leads the industry in providing chipsets for UltraHD 4K Blu-ray, Blu-ray and DVD players, and continues to innovate in this space with recent Android set top box (STB) SoC's along with High quality audio support - including Dolby audio, DTS, Maxim, multi-channel capture and reproduction, and our own advanced digital signal processing solutions.  

Yoozoo Games partners with Bollywood Star Sunny Leone

Yoozoo Games, Shanghai headquartered Gaming giant has announced the company will partner with Bollywood Superstar Sunny Leone for a new game to be launched globally by year end.  

This celebrity association is the first of many associations for Yoozoo Games in India. The brand has cooperated with several Hollywood celebrities and superstars. One of the latest Hollywood association of Yoozoo is with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment for Game of Thrones. 

Talking about the association, Mr. Anuj Tandon, CEO, Yoozoo Games India says, “Sunny is one of the most powerful celebrities in the digital world with over 40 million followers on social media and she is also the top searched celebrity online in India. She personifies confidence & attitude, which is why she is the perfect fit for our game, which requires similar skills”.  

He further added, “Yoozoo Games is committed to delivering the highest game quality to entertain its consumers. We are building a robust portfolio of games which will target the gaming audience in India. 

Talking about the alliance, Sunny Leone said “Opportunities like these are always thrilling. I am excited to be working with Yoozoo Games. They understand the gaming market globally and are developing games which will be loved by the audience. I hope my fans will be eager to see the new game which is to be launched soon”. 

Yoozoo Games has partnered with Gamiana (a Mumbai based Game Development Studio) for the celebrity association with Sunny Leone. Gamiana will be part of this association helping the game achieve its goals. The game to be launched is in the Social Casino genre which will be launched by 2018 year end and will be available on Google Play, Apple App Store and Facebook. 

Vivo unveils the most advanced and powerful flagship ‘NEX’ with futuristic technology

Vivo, the global premium smartphone brand, today unveiled its latest flagship- NEX. With an almost bezel-less 91.24% screen-to-body ratio and benchmark-shattering features, the NEX breaks industry conventions for selfie cameras with the world’s first elevating front camera and Ultra FullView screen design. Embodying the “next” era in smartphone technology, NEX will usher in a new concept for smartphones, allowing users to experience the future and innovation beyond imagination.

Priced at MOP INR 44,990, NEX will be available in Black colour across select offline stores from 21st July. The device will also be available online on shop.vivo.com/in and Amazon.in with exciting launch offers such as:

1.       Instant cashback of INR 4000 on HDFC Credit Cards (EMI & Non-EMI) & Debit Cards (EMI)*

2.       One Time free screen replacement*

3.       No cost EMI upto 12 months

Commenting on the launch, Kent Cheng, CEO, Vivo India said, “Vivo has always believed in exploring the unknown, undertaking new challenges and providing our consumers with smartphones that push the boundaries of both technology and user experience. We are optimistic about NEX’s capability to change the way the world perceives smartphone design, performance and ergonomics.

Recalling Vivo’s journey so far, he further added, “Creating an industry first with our Hi-Fi audio chip to launching the world’s thinnest smartphone, and providing consumers the first In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology, Vivo will continue to further introduce the best of technology in its products.”

Futuristic Design and display to impress

The Vivo NEX sets new industry standards with a 16.74 cm (6.59 inches) Ultra FullView™ screen resulting in 91.24% screen-to-body ratio and an in-display fingerprint sensor technology. The display is notch-free and offers an almost bezel-less 91.24% screen-to-body ratio with bezels of 2.16mm on the top; 5.08mm on the bottom; and 1.71mm on each side. Every millimeter of the 16.74 cm (6.59 inches) Super AMOLED display is devoted to creating an enhanced visual impact.

The smartphone comes with a premium glass back with curved edges and rounded corners, which rests comfortably in one hand. Ensuring a blend of futuristic design and ergonomics, a nano-precision laser has been used to engrave tens of thousands of dynamic color diffraction units onto the back cover.

Innovative and elevated photography experience

The smartphone introduces consumers to the world’s first Elevating Front Camera. The NEX is equipped with an 8MP front camera and a 12+5 MP rear camera set-up with Dual Pixel Technology, which enables superior shots every time.  Unique in its functionality, the front camera emerges from within a slot on the top of the smartphone and retracts once the selfie has been clicked. Meanwhile, the rear cameras are equipped with OIS technology enabling NEX users to shoot blur-free and well-focused pictures and videos even in conditions where the subject or the photographer is moving fast.

Leveraging the AI technology, the NEX’s camera is able to enhance each shot by detecting the photo conditions. Over time, the NEX’s artificial intelligence ‘learns’ to increasingly create accurate pictures. The AI suggests stylish filters after identifying photo scenes. Features such as Live Photo, Face Beauty, Backlight HDR, Portrait Bokeh, Panorama, AR Stickers, Filters,  Slow motion, Backlight, Time lapse etc. makes the photography experience varied and interesting. 

Exemplary Music and Sound

The Vivo NEX comes with the innovative Screen SoundCasting technology, where the speaker system is inbuilt, as part of the screen display with no visible apertures or speaker mesh. This technology results in reduced bezel size and enhanced sound quality, without any distortion, while listening to music or taking calls. The Vivo NEX is also packed with groundbreaking Hi-Fi audio technology, three amplifiers and a DAC. The smartphone also features an OLED panel which serves as an earpiece.

Power Packed Performance

The Vivo NEX is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Octa Core processor paired with 8GB of RAM and will run on Android 8.1 Oreo for a seamless usage experience. These powerful specs ensure a smooth user experience while running any application. The enhanced 128GB storage space offers ample on-device storage for applications and other content.

Jovi Artificial Intelligence – The route to future

NEX features a left-side AI button for Jovi strictly dedicated to a full range of AI services. Press and hold this button and the AI Assistant is at your service. For AI Image identification, just point out the camera at an object and push the AI button, it will then look up the object online and display related search results and information.

(Powered by Google Assistant and Google Lens)

Vivo NEX Specifications

·         16.74 cm FHD+ (6.59 inches)

·         Front Camera 8MP, Rear camera - 12MP + 5MP

·         Weight - 199g

·         Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Octa Core processor

·         8 GB RAM/128 GB ROM

·         4000 mAh battery

·         Type C Charging

·         Android 8.1

HUAWEI unveils the nova 3 & 3i in India

HUAWEI Consumer Business Group (CBG) has unveiled the HUAWEI nova series - nova 3 and nova 3i in India. Featuring advanced AI capabilities and a powerful AI quad-camera, the devices are well placed to deliver the greatest experience to the youth.

HUAWEI nova 3 and nova 3i come with a trendy design that puts the devices at the forefront of craftsmanship. The series combines elegance and innovative AI to usher in a new era of intelligent devices, offering not only a distinctive user experience but also enhancing the way consumers connect with each other. With unique features like ‘Huawei AI Shopping’ and ‘AI auto scene recognition’ the products will enable users to seamlessly embrace the AI-enhanced life.

Commenting on the launch of HUAWEI nova series in India, Mr. Allen Wang, Director, Product Centre, HUAWEI India Consumer Business Group, said, “Having operated in India successfully for 18+ years and with a key focus on enhancing our R&D capabilities, we are uniquely positioned to enrich the lives of our customers in India. Globally, Huawei is a leader in cutting edge technology and continues to work towards the best in class AI technologies as the next step in the smartphone evolution”

“With the promising response received for the HUAWEI P20 Series in India, we all are set for a great start and are very optimistic about the nova series in India” he further added.

Serves as the photography mastermind

Being in the forefront with their imaging technology, HUAWEI understands that progression is an innate part of innovation. In view of that, Huawei greatly improved the photography capabilities of the latest nova devices. HUAWEI nova 3 and HUAWEI nova 3i are not only equipped with high-performance cameras, but are also embedded with a SoC with AI capabilities, which accentuates the selfie experience to an unprecedented level. Post evaluating 100 million photos, to develop a database of best picture scenarios, Huawei defined algorithms to come up with best camera settings for a particular scene.  Both HUAWEI nova 3 and nova 3i support scene recognition. When the devices are used to take a selfie, the front-facing cameras can utilize its AI to optimize eight different categories of 200+ scenarios ranging from Blue Sky and Plant, to Beach and Night. The algorithm can distinguish between live subjects from scenery, and apply independent optimizations, producing photos with human subjects looking healthy and vibrant, and perfectly calibrated backgrounds.

HUAWEI nova 3 and nova 3i support dual front facing cameras with a 24MP primary camera and 2MP secondary camera. The former captures photos and videos with vivid clarity, whereas the secondary camera takes care of the depth data. The two sensors work in concert to focus on the subject and captures images with a field of vision that is similar to the human eye, resulting in truly immersive photos. Furthermore, the artificially intelligent device would make sure the light falls in just the right places to accentuate facial contours and conceal imperfections, as well as adjust skin tones and facial details by age and gender.

HUAWEI nova 3i features a powerful rear camera as well. The rear-facing camera combines a 16MP primary sensor and a 2MP secondary sensor. The former captures vivid images and videos, while the latter records depth data to create a professional bokeh effect, resulting in more natural-looking images. The rear camera on the HUAWEI nova 3 comprises a 24MP monochrome and 16MP RGB senor with dual f/1.8 wide aperture 6p lenses. Combined, they allow the device to not just capture crisp images, but also provide greater control over the photos.

Enters the era of intelligent smartphone with AI

On the hardware front, both HUAWEI nova 3 and nova 3i are equipped with Huawei’s proprietary Kirin SoCs. Ideal for bold, daring youth, HUAWEI nova 3i sports Kirin 710 SOC, Huawei’s first 12nm chip. It features an improved image signal processor (ISP) as well as an all new discrete digital signal processor (DSP) for video processing, enabling HUAWEI nova 3i to deliver superb photography capabilities. HUAWEI nova 3 sports a Kirin 970 SOC, a new generation of hyper-fast mobile chip with a key new feature: A Neural Processing Unit (NPU). HUAWEI nova 3 and nova 3i are equipped with an ambient light sensor and a proximity sensor, allowing its face unlock feature to work at any lighting conditions. To realize true 24/7 fast unlocking, an infra-red sensor is placed beside the camera to help read the face of users in dark environments. 

For the gaming-loving audience, the HUAWEI nova 3 features Kirin 970 and Huawei nova 3i supports Kirin 710, with support for Huawei’s proprietary GPU Turbo graphics processing technology, enabling a high-quality gaming experience. If a user encounters a network problem in a game, the devices can optimize the connection by switching to a network with the lowest latency. In addition, both SIM slots support 4G and VoLTE, allowing users to game and make calls simultaneously. The latest EMUI 8.2 features enhancements that can greatly improve the quality of life of its users. The built-in AI can identify objects from the camera and query the web for information, as well as a link to purchase it online.

A perfect piece of craftsmanship

HUAWEI nova series features a trendy minimal-bezel display, a trendy 6.3-inch FHD+ Full View Display, whose 19.5:9 aspect ratio. In addition, the precise engineering techniques employed by Huawei ensure that the four corners of the screen are the curved identically, so that the screen connects with the mid-frame seamlessly and in an aesthetically pleasing manner. Bringing a refreshing shade of the summer to the masses, acting like a contrast to the stuffy weather, the devices are available in available black and Iris Purple. To realize this breathtaking gradient effect, Huawei covers both devices with glass panels. Both sides of HUAWEI nova 3 are covered with a smooth double curved glass panel, and the back panel lets the gradient effect come out with exquisite texture. On the other hand, HUAWEI nova 3i features a nano-textured film which, when put under light, produces semi-circular curves that subtly express the dreamy gradient effect.

Power and Performance

The Huawei nova 3 & 3i are equipped with the power, connectivity and speed that today’s high-end smartphone user expects from Huawei. The dual-SIM (Nano) Huawei nova 3 and nova 3i run EMUI 8.2 based on the Android 8.1 Oreo. Huawei nova 3 has a 6GB RAM & 128GB ROM while the nova 3i has a 4GB RAM & 128GB ROM. Priced at INR 34,999, Huawei nova 3 is powered by Kirin 970 with a 3750mAh battery. The nova 3i is priced at INR 20990 and is powered by Kirin 710, sporting a 3340mAh battery.

Offers & Pricing

Starting today at 2 PM, the HUAWEI nova 3i is available on Amazon for pre-booking with an exclusive cashback offer of Rs.1000.  An exclusive exchange offer is also applicable where customers can avail an additional Rs. 2000 for their old device. Additionally, other exciting deals, including a no cost EMI will be available at the time of the sale.

Celebrate 🎉 World Emoji Day 📆 with Tinder 🔥

Indian users seem to be using Emojis to communicate aspects of their personality, their interests and especially, their allegiance to pets and pizza! It appears users gravitate towards some emojis more than others for self-expression. Emojis for coffee, cars, pets and pizza that round off the top 5, could indicate user’s likes and dislikes, while also being suggestive of date ideas building off common interests.

Dr. Sonali Gupta, a leading psychologist believes that the Emoji is a reflection of how language is evolving and the growth of visual communication in today's world. “Millennials prefer using emoticons, as it becomes a tool to add substance to their narratives and allows them to provide a context in communication. Emojis naturally bring about a certain comfort. It is no wonder that Emojis find their space even in a Tinder bio where they may become a simple reflection of today's visual culture, bringing ease and a starting point for conversations. This ease is often perceived positively as someone being approachable or friendly across context,” she says.

The Emoji of hands raised also seems to get high praise from Tinder users, as does the car. A show of hands for long drives?

The Laughing Smiley slides into number one position and could be a great way to convey light-hearted banter and an affable personality through your bio. Various studies have shown a direct correlation between an individual’s humour and their intelligence quotient, and an emoji is a great cue to indicate a good sense of humour.

“Emojis are a fascinating aid in the context of providing nonverbal cues to any conversation that exists. When it comes to communicating an emotion, intention or even the seriousness of a matter at hand, Emojis work brilliantly. How the text is used intelligently with the Emoji can say a lot about the person and their personality too,” points out Sonali.

If you want to step up your Tinder bio game, communicate in the universal language that we all know and love. Pick your favourite emoji, add it to your bio and keep swiping!

UC Browser’s Miss Cricket Campaign Makes Debut on billboard at New York Times Square

After almost 2 months of fierce competition, UC Miss Cricket Contest, an exciting campaign from UC Browser, has come to an end, with the winner Nishi Singh featuring on a billboard at New York Times Square. The 21-year old new rising star has also received cash prize of Rs 10 lakh, while the first runner-up Pari Sharma and second runner-up Aishwarya Singh have won Rs 5 lakh and Rs 2 lakh respectively. The 3 winners have also made an appearance on the Indian edition of Vogue magazine.

UC Miss Cricket is India’s first online beauty contest driven only by users vote, without intervention from judges. Winner Nishi Singh, TV beauty from Mumbai, got the maximum “likes” on UC Browser for her warm and friendly personality.

On winning the UC Miss Cricket contest, Nishi Singh said: “Not just winning the competition, it has been a great journey altogether during the entire campaign of UC Miss Cricket 2018. I would like to thank UC Browser from the bottom of my heart for giving me this platform and helping me reach so many people. I have been able to connect with all my new-found fans over multiple social media platforms and I would also like to thank them for their votes and support. Winning the First Prize has been a dream come true, and getting my face on NY Times Square has been an icing on the cake.”

UC Miss Cricket Campaign is driving increased Content Consumption and Engagement on UC Browser by Young Users

UC Browser witnessed a jump of 50% unique visitors during the recently concluded IPL 2018. Having transformed itself into a leading content distribution platform, UC Browser provided cricket fans with over 2.5 lakh articles, to meet the increased demand for specialized content from users. The total page views saw a jump of 24% this cricket season and the users spent 10% more time catching up on cricket news versus last year. With more interesting voting and engagement brought by the first edition of UC Miss Cricket Contest this year, the campaign contributed towards the highest single day page views of 220 million for the IPL Cricket related content and total engagement of 45 million on UC Browser.

“In line with our ‘faster speed, richer content’ strategy, we want to add more interactive content by introducing contests such as UC Miss Cricket. We hope to continue with this contest every year. India’s millennials love to express their voice by participating in online activities. With high content consumption and engagement, UC Miss Cricket is not only a platform for young girls but also for young mobile users to express what they like. We believe more and more advertisers will see the great value and potential on such a platform that reaches millions of young audiences across India. ” said Damon Xi, General Manager - India & Indonesia, UCWeb, Alibaba Digital Media and Entertainment Group.

The success of the first UC Miss Cricket Contest also created buzz on social media platforms. YouTubers Lalit Shokeen, Round2Hell and Madras Central added to the craze with their videos, generating combined views of a whopping 7.8 million.  Hashtags #MissCricket and #KeepScoring were also trending on Twitter while the video from Lalit Shokeen trended No. 1 on YouTube and Round2Hell’s video trended at No. 2.

Introducing the HTC Desire 12 and HTC Desire 12+

Your favorite YouTuber looks better in widescreen, your phone is a fashion statement, and your photos have to look amazing for Instagram. The digital generation expects a lot from a smartphone, and today HTC unveiled two new phones that deliver the goods: the HTC Desire 12 and HTC Desire 12+.

The HTC Desire 12 and HTC Desire 12+ will be available in Cool Black and Warm Silver color variant. Pre-order of HTC Desire 12 and HTC Desire 12+ starts on 7th June 2018 at a price of INR 15800/- and INR 19790/- respectively. Pre-order will be done exclusively on HTC India E-Store. Both the products will be available in retail from June 11, 2018 onwards.
For more information, please see the following pages or visit http://www.htc.com/in/
* Dual cameras available on HTC Desire 12+ only.

Offering similar experiences in two different packages, the 5.5” HTC Desire 12 and 6” HTC Desire 12+ are both surprisingly slim and comfortable to hold despite their big, 18:9 edge-to-edge screens. Features of both phones include:
•    Big screen that’s easy to handle. More YouTube, richer gaming experiences, more immersive movies. A bigger and better viewing experience lets you enjoy the things you love while the swipe anywhere feature keeps everything you need just a thumb tap away.
•    Hold on to special moments. Capture vivid photos, day or night, with the 13MP main camera, including Phase Detection Autofocus for extra clarity on the go. The HTC Desire 12+ even offers dual cameras, letting you refocus photos after the shot to add a gorgeous, artistic bokeh effect.
•    Always looking out for you. HTC Sense Companion helps make life easier with Smart Alarms that intelligently respond to your calendar, Battery Saver to remind you to power up before you leave your home, and performance enhancements to clear junk files and free up valuable space.
•    Inherent beauty with premium style. Paying tribute to the U11 series’ exquisite Liquid Surface, the HTC Desire 12 and HTC Desire 12+ incorporate a durable acrylic glass back surface with a new, streamlined look that will catch everyone’s eyes. The seamless frame and beautifully curved edges have a luxurious feel, and the dynamic colors add to your own unique style.

HTC Desire 12+ boasts our biggest 6” display in the Desire series, and along with a 5.5” display on HTC Desire 12, you will be surprised how elegantly they both fit in your hand. The modern and sleek design exhibits the beauty of the U series with the iconic liquid surface wrapped around the most compact and lightweight 18:9 phones we’ve ever made.

With stunning 18:9 and 2.5D glass screens, the HTC Desire 12 and Desire 12+ gives you a bigger and better viewing experience to enjoy the things you love. The slender frame along with the swipe anywhere feature offers a comfortable single-handed experience that is easier to use.

Capture beautiful and vivid photographs, day or night, with the 13MP main camera on the HTC Desire 12 and HTC Desire 12+. And the Phase Detection Autofocus will ensure you get clear details even if your subject is on the move

Dual cameras on HTC Desire 12+ capture multiple focal points simultaneously letting you refocus photographs after they are taken or add a bokeh effect. Bokeh mode gives you sharp foregrounds and naturally blurred backgrounds for more artistic photography.

KINGSTON UV500 FAMILY OF SSDS LAUNCHED IN INDIA STARTING FROM INR 5,850

Kingston Digital has announced the launch of its UV500 family line of SSD products. Available in multiple form factors, UV500 will be Kingston’s first 3D NAND-enabled SSD featuring full-disk encryption. UV500 is powered by the Marvell 88SS1074 controller, and combined with 3D NAND Flash, delivers incredible read/write speeds of up to 520MB/s and 500MB/s, making it 10x faster than a 7200RPM hard drive. All form factors of the UV500 SSD family are available in retail and e-tail stores with MRPs of INR 5,850/-, INR 10,250/- and INR 19,450/- for 120GB, 240GB and 480GB variants respectively. The complete family of SSDs is backed by a limited five-year warranty and legendary Kingston support.

UV500 dramatically improves a system’s overall responsiveness with incredible boot, loading and transfer times; and, with no moving parts is far less likely to fail compared to mechanical hard drives. UV500 protects sensitive data with 256-bit AES hardware-based encryption and supports TCG Opal 2.0. It is available in three different form factors (2.5″, M.2 2280 & mSATA) to accommodate any client system. UV500 is perfect as a boot drive or for primary storage as it is available in 120GB, 240GB, 480GB, 960GB and 1920GB* capacities.

“We are proud to bring the UV500 family of SSDs featuring self-encryption to market,” said Vishal Parekh, Marketing Director, Kingston Technology India. “The combination of a powerful controller, 3D NAND and data encryption in multiple form factors makes UV500 perfect for both consumers and enterprise users looking for a performance boost on existing systems.”

UV500 Features and Specifications:
•    Form factor: 2.5″/M.2 2280/mSATA
•    Interface: SATA Rev. 3.0 (6Gb/s) – with backwards compatibility to SATA Rev. 2.0 (3Gb/s)
•    Capacities2:
•    2.5″: 120GB, 240GB, 480GB, 960GB, 1920GB*
•    M.2 2280: 120GB, 240GB, 480GB, 960GB*
•    mSATA: 120GB, 240GB, 480GB
•    Controller: Marvell 88SS1074
•    NAND: 3D TLC
•    Baseline Performance1: Data Transfer (ATTO)
120GB — up to 520/320MB/s
240GB — up to 520/500MB/s
480GB — up to 520/500MB/s
960GB — up to 520/500MB/s
Maximum Random 4k Read/Write (IOMETER)
120GB — up to 79,000/18,000 IOPS
240GB — up to 79,000/25,000 IOPS
480GB — up to 79,000/35,000 IOPS
960GB — up to 79,000/45,000 IOPS
•    Power Consumption:
0.195W Idle / 0.5W Avg / 1.17W (MAX) Read / 2.32 W (MAX) Write
•    Storage temperature: -40°C~85°C
•    Operating temperature: 0°C~70°C
•    Dimensions:
100.1mm x 69.85mm x 7mm (2.5″)
80mm x 22mm x 3.5mm (M.2)
50.8mm x 29.85mm x 4.85mm (mSATA)
•    Weight:
120GB – 480GB — 41g (2.5″)
960GB — 57g (2.5″)
120GB — 6.6g (M.2)
240GB — 6.7g (M.2)
480GB — 7.7g (M.2)
120GB — 6.2g (mSATA)
240GB – 480GB — 6.7g (mSATA)
•    Vibration operating: 2.17G Peak (7–800Hz)
•    Vibration non-operating: 20G Peak (10–2000Hz)
•    Life expectancy: 1 million hours MTBF
•    Warranty/support3: Limited 5-year warranty with free technical support
•    Total Bytes Written (TBW)3:
120GB — 60TB
240GB — 100TB
480GB — 200TB
960GB — 480TB

Vivo X21 with in-display fingerprint sensor launched in India At Rs 35,990

Vivo launched its much awaited X21 smartphone in India at Rs 35,990. The smartphone will be available via Flipkart and the company’s online store.

Vivo X1 stands out for its in-display fingerprint sensor and the smartphone can be unlocked with just a tap on the screen. Unbelievable but true. Also, this is the second smartphone from Vivo to feature an under-display fingerprint scanner.

Vivo X21 features a great 6.28-Inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display with 19:9 aspect ratio. It is powered by the Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 660 processor coupled with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The Vivo X21 sports a dual-camera setup at the rear with 12-megapixel and 5-megapixel sensors. It has a decent 12-megapixel camera for selfies.

Vivo X21 runs on Android 8.1-based on FunTouch OS 4.0. it also comes with support for Android P public beta. The smartphone houses a neat 3,200mAh battery. Vivo X21 has this great feature of  facial recognition technology which works in low light conditions as well using an infrared light sensor.

Vivo X21 is available in India at Vivo.com and Flipkart.com for Rs 35,990.

Vivo X21 full specifications:
Display:6.28-Inch FHD+ Super AMOLED with 2280*1080 pixels resolution
OS: Android 8.1
SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 660
Camera: 12MP + 5MP on the back, 12MP on the front
Battery: 3200mAh

Source: HT

Comio C2 Lite - A Decent Budget Smartphone

Display & Design:
Comio C2 Lite smartphone was launched in India in February 2018. The phone comes with a 5.00-inch touchscreen display with a HD resolution of 1280x720 pixels. Comio C2 Lite price in India starts from Rs 5999. The phone ships in Royal Black, Metallic Gray and Sunrise Gold colors.  

Performance, Storage & OS:
The Comio C2 Lite is powered by a MediaTek MTK6737 1.3GHz quad-core processor and it comes with 1.5GB of RAM. The phone packs 16GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 128GB via a microSD card. The phone also support USB OTG (On The Go). You can directly attach an OTG pendrive to the phone and expand your storage even further. COMIO S1 Lite runs the company’s custom UI based on Android 7.0 Nougat.

The phone works well for day to day normal usage but struggles sometimes during gaming. Light gaming works well though.

Camera:
As far as the cameras are concerned, the Comio C2 Lite packs a 8-megapixel primary camera at the rear and a 5-megapixel front shooter for selfies. While we took this phone out for testing, photos came out decent enough under good light. The camera did struggle a little in low light creating some noise in the pictures. But that's what you get in phones in this budget.

The Company focuses on customer support and hence gives an extra 100 days of warranty which is wonderful.

Connectivity:
The Comio C2 Lite is a dual SIM (GSM and GSM) smartphone. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, USB OTG, FM, 3G and 4G (with support for Band 40 used by some LTE networks in India). Sensors on the phone include Proximity sensor, Accelerometer and Ambient light sensor.
Battery:

Fueling the smartphone is a 3,050mAh user-removable battery. We are yet to test the battery backup of this device but it should easily go for at least 1 to 1.5 days of normal use with a standby time of 350 hrs.

Verdict: All said and done, this is not a phone that will break any performance records but then no phone in that budget would. It is a simmple phone that takes care of your basic smartphone needs well and you get your money's worth.


By: Vineet Kamath
                                                                                                                    

Top 3 MOBA Games in India: The Genre That Keeps on Giving

India is a market ripe for MOBAs. Gaming parlours, all-night gaming sessions at these parlours, and personal PCs are firmly entrenched in the entertainment landscape. Gamers in the subcontinent have taken to MOBAs like fish to water, with genre staples like Dota and League of Legends being fan favorites.

Here are the MOBAs that have Indian gamers hooked.

Dota 2

Dota, short for Defence of the Ancients, has a storied history behind it. It was first conceived and developed as a custom map for the Blizzard title Warcraft III: Frozen Throne by a group of designers. Dota is widely credited with popularising the MOBA genre.

The game received a complete overhaul when, in 2013, it was released as a standalone title by Valve—released as Dota 2. The game still enjoys widespread popularity in India.

Arena of Valor

This game is a fairly recent addition to the Indian MOBA player’s repertoire, having released in the subcontinent in 2018.

With the wide (and steadily growing) adoption of smartphones in the country, the genre is seeing a shift that would have surprised many a mere few years ago—a shift to mobile. The surge in players clearly shows that smartphones can be a feasible and lucrative platform for MOBAs, which are a fair bit more complex to play than most smartphone titles that gamers are used to.

Developed by Timi Studio Group and published by Tencent Games, Arena of Valor has had a massive player base from its original global release in 2015. Now, this gaming phenomenon has arrived in India to a resounding reception.

It’s a breeze to pick up and play even if you’re not a seasoned gamer, and it manages to achieve this without sacrificing the complex gameplay that is a mainstay of the genre.

MOBAs offer a satisfying gaming experience, with emphasis on skill and teamwork. Games like Arena of Valor are immensely enjoyable even if you’re a casual smartphone gamer, and even more so if you have a competitive streak

League of Legends

Popularly known as LoL, this title by Riot Games has held the lion’s share of the global MOBA market since its release in 2009. It offered a streamlined, visually pleasing, and viscerally satisfying experience when Dota was still being played as a Warcraft custom map.

With over 130 champions to choose from, players are spoilt for choice. The game features a much easier learning curve and faster gameplay than other popular MOBAs on the market, which also contributes greatly to its success both in India and globally.

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Fitbit Versa Launched In India At Rs 19,999

Fitbit, leading global wearables brand, announced the availability of Fitbit Versa in India across major retailers and online for INR 19,999. Versa is our lightest smartwatch, featuring a modern design, advanced health and fitness features, power packed 4+ day battery life,  smart features people want most and cross platform compatibility – all at a competitive price.  

Beginning in May, these new Fitbit features will be available:
●    Quick replies: Android mobile device users can respond to messages on the go using Fitbit Versa and Fitbit Ionic ™ smartwatches. Create and send up to five custom pre-populated quick replies of 60 characters or less to text messages and messenger apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.
●    Female health tracking: Available to all adult users who identify as female in the Fitbit® app to track their menstrual cycle and symptoms.i Makes it easier to manage their cycle with a more complete picture of health and fitness data all in one place. Versa and Ionic users will also be able to view female health tracking information on-device.

Powered by Fitbit OS 2.0, Versa makes your daily and weekly health and fitness data even more accessible on the go with a redesigned dashboard, which delivers action-oriented motivational messages, tips and tricks and support to help you stay on track to reach your goals. Advanced health and fitness features include personalized on-device workouts with Fitbit Coach,  enhanced 24/7 PurePulse® heart rate tracking, 15+ exercise modes including automatic SmartTrack™swim tracking with water resistance up to 50 meters, and automatic sleep stages tracking.

In addition to new quick replies for Android users, smart features you need include: app, calendar, call and text smartphone notifications; access to Fitbit’s growing App Gallery now with more than 650 popular brand, developer and Fitbit Labs apps , and customizable clock faces; wallet-free payments via Fitbit Pay, supported by more than 60 banks and card issuers in 15 countries and on-device music for more motivation with access to Deezer,  and personal music playlists. All of these features come with 4+ days battery life,iii and like all Fitbit devices, Versa is compatible across Android, iOS and Windows devices .

Fitbit Versa will be available in black with a black aluminum case, grey with a silver aluminum case, or peach with a rose gold aluminum case. Fitbit Versa will be available in India from May 13, 2018 across Reliance Digital, Croma, Helios and other major retailers offline and exclusively online on Amazon India for INR 19,999. Fitbit Versa Special Edition will also retail for INR 21,999 and accessories range from INR 2,499 to INR 8,999.

Truecaller Reaches 100 Million Daily Active Users

Truecaller today announced that it has reached over 100 million active users who use the app on a daily basis. In less than a year, the app has leapfrogged from 100 million monthly active users (MAUs) to 100 million daily active users (DAUs), and is growing faster than ever.

In a company blog post Alan Mamedi, CEO & co-founder shared a letter to express his delight on the milestone:

It was so big, in fact, that Truecaller is pleased and excited to announce that we now have more than 100 million daily active users using our app for their daily communication. There are only a handful of mobile-only services that impact as many users each and every day, and we are humbled to be able to join this exclusive group.

The world has come a long way

From people mostly using Nokia and BlackBerry phones years ago, to a wide array of Androids and Apples, technology is constantly evolving around us and the world of communication has come a long way. The cost of both mobile phones and data continues to plunge, which allows more and more people to come online with just their phone.

In emerging markets, we’re seeing the importance of smartphones in peoples’ daily lives. It’s their primary gateway to the internet, their connection with family and friends, people abroad, and increasingly their main banking and finance tool. Smartphones and Truecaller have become indispensable in the lives of our 100 million daily users.

Making your communication safe and efficient

With technology evolving, Truecaller has also come a massively long way since the day we founded the company. From simple beginnings as a Caller ID and spam blocking app, to a full-fledged communications platform with calling, SMS, Flash Messages and payment services.

We could never have predicted that Truecaller would become a resource for women’s safety in many countries; or that it would be used for e-commerce and courier services around the globe to facilitate the difficult last mile of delivery, or allow more people to experience a data-only product in offline mode. Truecaller is more than just an app on your phone, it has aided in bridging the digital divide between the urban and growing semi-urban/rural markets in India, and has even enabled more African businesses to accept online payment.

We’re continuously working to make your communication more safe and efficient and the fact that so many of you have joined us validates our mission. We’re excited to see what the next decade and 100+ million users bring us.