Your Tech Story

Athulya

Being a cinephile with a love for all things outdoorsy, Athulya never misses a chance to chase inspiring stories or poke fun at things, even when the subject is herself. Currently pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering, she is someone innately interested in technical and scientific research. Music reviews and op-eds define her as they allow her to explore different perspectives. Though sometimes she thinks she makes more sense playing the guitar than she does while writing.

Flipkart Big Billion Day 2020

All You Need to Know About Flipkart Big Billion Day 2020

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India’s biggest online sale is back, and it’s here right in time for your Diwali Shopping. Over the last few years, Flipkart has been gaining a large following in India due to its mega shopping bonanza known as the Big Billion sale. This annual online shopping extravaganza features mind-blowing offers on a variety of products. Flipkart recently released updates regarding the dates of the sale, and what offers users can expect this time around. Here’s a look at everything you need to know about the Big Billion sale, and the deals that come with it.

When is Flipkart Big Billion Sale?

Flipkart finally published dates for its annual shopping bonanza – the Big Billion Sale. This year, the sale will go live between October 16th and 21st. During the course of these six days, the e-commerce giant will offer huge savings plans and deals to shoppers. The sale will feature massive price-cuts and savings schemes on a variety of products from different categories. While the sale officially starts on October 16th, Flipkart Plus members will receive early access. As per the announcement, Plus members can begin their shopping from 8 PM on October 15th, getting first preference on a slew of products. Since their sale goes live roughly four hours before it does for others, they will be able to make the most of the e-commerce sale. Furthermore, Flipkart Great Indian Festival sale will also kick off shortly, making this a great time for shoppers across the country.  

What deals can users expect?

Flipkart live page suggests that users will receive an extra 10% instant discount if they leverage SBI debit and credit cards. Furthermore, shoppers will also be eligible for cashback on purchases made using Paytm. Users will also be able to access several no-cost EMI plans for those who use Bajaj Finserv. Several other deals will also be made available for shoppers who use ICICI, HDFC, and SBI banks. Electronic devices will see a maximum discount of 80%, whereas laptops will feature a 60% price-cut. Additionally, appliances such as TVs will have a 75% discount, along with several exchange offers and no-cost EMI options. 

Flipkart Big Billion Day 2020
Image Source: trak.in

Clothes and other accessories will feature discounts between 60% and 80%, giving users a chance to update their wardrobe. Everything from men’s wear to women’s ethnic wear will be available on these discounts. Day one of the Big Billion sale will introduce an extra 10% discount, giving users an incentive to finish their shopping early. Another highlight of the sale will be the discounts that Flipkart provides on its own products. Various appliances, furniture, and other accessories will have 60% price-cuts. The e-commerce giant will introduce new deals every day, with home appliances having discounts between 50% and 80%.

Other Deals to Watch Out For

Flipkart also announced that new deals would be out every eight hours, much to the delight of online shoppers. The Walmart-owned e-commerce giant will be offering mind-blowing deals on everything from mobiles to sports shoes from October 16th. New deals will come out at 12 AM, 8 AM, and 4 PM during the days of the sale. Furthermore, Flipkart will offer even better deals through its SuperCoins. The e-commerce platform announced that it would be offering over 2000 SuperCoins as a part of several riveting and exciting deals.  

Flipkart Big Billion Days 2020 Schedule

  1. Offer Period                                       October 16th – 21st October 2020
  2. Plus Members                          October 15th, 8.00 PM 
  3. Other users                                       October 16th, 12.00 AM (Midnight)
  4. Mobile Offers for Plus Members     October 17th, 8.00 PM 
  5. Mobile Offers Others                        October 18th, 12.00 AM (Midnight)

Flipkart Big Billion Sale Deals

  1. Fashion                                                60%-80%
  2. Home and Kitchen                              50%-90% 
  3. Televisions and Appliances                 Up to 80%
  4. Beauty and Baby care                         Starting at INR 79
  5. Mobiles                                               Up to 90%
  6. Electronics Sale                                   Up to 80% 
  7. Gaming Laptops                                 40% Off
  8. High-Performance Laptops                 20%-30% 
  9. Trimmers and Personal Care               Up to 80% 
  10. Power Banks                                       50% to 80% 
  11. Headphones                                        Up to 50%
  12. Bluetooth Speakers                             Up to 50% 
  13. Pen drives                                           Up to 80% 
  14. Data Storage Device                           Up to 80% 

Everyone planning to upgrade their laptop or smartphone should mark their calendar for the Big Billion sale. Every product, from mobiles to apparels, will be available at never-before-seen prices and will be up for grabs for all users. So, are you ready for Flipkart’s Big Billion Sale? Let us know what category of products you are most excited to see on sale in the comments below!

Amazon

Amazon Announces Ring – A New Indoor Security Camera Drone That Flies

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Amazon has been a significant player in the indoor home security space for a while now. The tech giant has also been growing within the smart devices space with several entries, such as smart cameras and speakers. However, it recently announced that its indoor home security camera drone named Ring would literally be taking flight soon enough. This new Always Home Cam will serve as an autonomous indoor drone that flies around your home, helping you keep an eye out while outside. Here’s a quick look at everything you need to know about the Ring and its expected launch date.

Always at Home with Amazon Ring

Amazon new indoor Home Cam will enable users to keep an eye on their homes at all times. Furthermore, once the drone is done flying and taking a look everywhere, it will return to its charging dock to power up again. The new drone will start shipping next year and will cost their buyers a whopping $249.99. Ring’s founder, Jamie Siminoff, said the inspiration for such a drone came as a way to receive multiple perspectives of your home without the need for several cameras. With such an autonomous drone, the owners can gain a look into all their rooms, without paying for several separate security cameras. According to Jamie, the company spent the last two years working on this device.

Taking to the Skies

The Always Home Cam is an “obvious” product, according to the parent company Ring, but one which took a lot of effort to develop. Jamie credits recent advancements in the field of drone technology, for helping his team build a product like this. The autonomous drone carries a camera on it to help provide users with live-footage of their houses. The owners also have the option of telling the drone where they want it to go, and which patch to take. After buying the product, the owners will help set up a map of the home, and also set viewpoints, such as a bedroom or kitchen. The drone starts flying either on command or when it detects a disturbance though its linked Ring Alarm system.

Amazon Ring
Image Source: cnbc.com

Other Features and Details

Since the charging dock blocks the drone’s camera, it will record only when in flight. Also, the device makes an audible noise while flying so that the people are aware that footage is being recorded. Ring states that the drone can help check anything from a stove being left open to whether a door is shut properly. The drone comes packed with obstacle detection and avoidance technology to help avoid collisions and other mishaps. Furthermore, it has shrouded propellers to help prevent damage to things in the room, pets, and other humans if there is a collision.

The project is Ring’s most ambitious yet and seems to be one from the future. It will be interesting to see whether the project kicks off and how effective it proves to be. Amazon, through such collaborations, is trying to bring the future to us, and it will be exciting to see how the drone performs next year. For years now, experts have debated whether such intrusive technology might hinder our privacy. The introduction of such a drone raises various questions, such as; 

  1. Where do the pictures regarding the mapping of the house go?
  2. Could someone at Ring fly the drone around?
  3. How safe is the system against hacking and other such threats?
  4. How long can it fly, what is the average flight speed, and what is the battery life?
  5. What happens when it runs out of charge?

While these questions remain unanswered, it looks like Amazon will have to clarify regarding the privacy issues related to the product. That being said, it will be exciting to see such cutting-edge drone technology being accessible to ordinary people. Also, since the new system collaborates with the Ring Alarm system, users are unsure regarding the systems that can be used individually. All the systems in place might also lead to the Ring H having a bird’s eye view of our homes. How safe will people feel in such an atmosphere? Only time will tell whether such autonomous drones help make us feel safer and in control, but it sure is an exciting time for techies and enthusiasts!

Realme Logo

Look at Realme UI 2.0 Features and Expected Timeline

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The recent months have been witnessing the massive unveiling of tech and smartphone plans and programs. Several big companies, from Apple to Oppo, have unraveled their projects which include online stores and new UI releases. Not wanting to be left far behind, Realme too has unveiled its latest Android 11-based UI named Realme UI 2.0. The UI focuses heavily on customization and comes packed with a slew of new features. Here’s a look at everything you need to know about the Realme UI 2.0.

Realme Launching New OS

Realme’s UI 2.0 features options to customize your notification bar colors, several different dark modes, and comes with a Dual Music Share. The company is in the process of unraveling the update in steps, with the Realme X50 Pro being the first device to receive the upgrade. The phone had already received a preview version of the new OS and will be their first device to become available with the newest UI. Also, the company unveiled the UI 2.0 through an online event, which also led to the launch of the latest Realme Narzo 20 series. 

What’s New?

The Realme UI 2.0 allows users to pick colors for their interface, notification bar, shortcut button, and other interfaces. It also comes with a Global Theme Colour function which features five pre-set schemes and ten individual and unique single colors for users to choose from. The Always-on Display function also comes with five different themes, allowing users to customize their visual experience truly. The Realme X50 Pro was the first phone to receive a preview version of the OS, and will also be the first to the market with the new UI. A beta version of the device will release on Thursday (24th September), with the open market version hitting stores by late October. The stable version is expected to go on sale by the end of November after enough testing on the beta version.

The OS also brings to the table three different Dark Modes, namely Enhanced, Gentle, and Medium. The OS supports intelligent light adjustment, which leads to the screen, adjusting the contrast levels according to the amount of ambient light. The new OS also allows users to customize their icons and also provides them with a slew of font options. The UI enables third-party launching apps to access its desktop design providing further compatibility and customisability to users.

Image Source: rmupdate.com

Further Features

The Realme UI 2.0 also promotes digital wellbeing, including modules such as the Sleep Capsule which allows users to track their sleep cycle. Other features include a Floating Windows function which enables you to multitask, by allowing the usage of multiple windows. Hence, using the Realme UI 2.0, you can text your friends while watching videos on YouTube. The interface which the company will shop atop Android allows for better performance and higher efficiency. The company claims that its interface has led to a 45% improvement in resource utilization, leading to increased productivity. Furthermore, the OS also helps in increasing system speed by 32% and increasing the stability of frame rate rendering by 17%.

The new OS also comes packed with better security and privacy features, including a Deep Sea Privacy Plan.  This plan features a Security Shield, Invisible Door, and Private Space helping keep the user’s information safe and secure. To enable users to share links easily, the new system comes with a subtitle stitching feature. Other methods to share information and photos include the Dual Mode Music Share and Realme Share. Furthermore, the operating system also has additional features such as Bubble notifications, output switcher for media outlets, and media controls.

It is safe to say that these are exciting times for the smartphone manufacturer.  The company unveiled four phones and a new OS within hours via its two special virtual events. While the Realme C17 came first, a trio from the Narzo 20 Series followed suit, right after it unveiled the new Realme UI 2.0. It will be interesting to see whether the UI delivers with regards to its areas of improvement, which include sociability, productivity, and creativity.

While the addition of new colors and themes improve creativity by allowing users to express themselves, the company has also pushed sociability via its sharing options. The upgraded Realme Share feature allows for seamless file transfer over Wi-Fi, whereas the Dual Mode Music Share enables quick sharing of audio tracks, much to the delight of music-lovers. The sociability features also allow high levels of privacy with the help of security drawers which require PINs to open and functions like Call blocking and Pseudo Site blocking. The Realme UI shares a lot in common with the Oppo ColorOS, which recently launched a new version. It will be interesting to see how the Realme UI 2.0 stacks up against its competitor, and how much freshness this new OS can infuse into Realme devices.

Apple

Apple launching its online store in India on September 23.

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There’s some good news coming the way of Apple fanatics in India! The tech giant announced today that it would be unveiling an Apple Store in India on the 23rd of September via online means.  The online store will feature a slew of Apple products. While Apple products mostly sell online in India via Amazon and Flipkart, Bloomberg reported that the company was planning on establishing a unique store in time for Diwali. Furthermore, for the first time, the store will offer customers directly to clients throughout the country. Here’s a look at everything you need to know about the announcement, and why Apple fans are excited.

Apple Online Store in India

Apple’s online store will go live on 23rd September and will offer its full range of products. The store will offer all clients the premium experience that clients around the world receive. The model will try to replicate the service delivered at Apple stores worldwide with the help of an experienced online team. Deirdre O’Brien, who serves as the VP of Apple Retail and People, said that the company is proud to be expanding in India. He also said that the team is looking forward to serving its Indian customers in the best way possible. Since the COVID-19 pandemic has left everyone relying heavily on technology, the company felt it was the right time to make the transition. Brien said that the team hopes bringing the Apple Store to India would help their customers during such a vital time.

Apple Online Store
Image Source: techcrunch.com

Digital Transformation

The Apple online store will serve as a convenient one-stop shopping destination for all fans of the American tech company. The shop will have Apple Specialists in place to help customers with choosing the right products and explaining technical details. They will also help customers with configuring their devices and setting up newly bought ones to suit their requirements. The store will also help customers get advice, learn about new products, and receive guidance on a variety of matters in both Hindi and English. 

Special Features

The Apple Store also features various financing and trade-in programs, helping make their products more affordable. For instance, students can shop for iPads and Macs at exceptional prices, and also receive discounts on AppleCare+ plans and other accessories. By October, clients can expect the store to start free Today at Apple sessions online. The sessions will be led by Creative Pros from local areas and will focus on music and photography. Also, the store will make gift wrapping options and personalized engraving available by the festive season. Engravings on AirPods will be available in the following languages;

  • English
  • Hindi
  • Marathi
  • Kannada
  • Gujarati
  • Bengali,
  • Tamil
  • Telugu

For engraving on the iPad and Apple Pencil, the language available will be English for now. To keep with modern requirements of health and safety regulations, the Apple team will enable contactless delivery for all services. Orders which do not need a signature to complete will be left at the door, while the ones that do will be completed via verbal confirmation. BlueDart will handle the delivery fulfillment within 24 to 72 hours of order placement by following all the required safety protocols.

Other Efforts and Investments

Apple has been a presence in India for over two decades now. The American tech giant has invested in creating and sustaining over 900,000 jobs across the country. Furthermore, Apple’s App Design and Development Accelerator provides frequent support to local developers in Bengaluru. Indian apps have become crucial now, with ones like AI-based Wysa helping provide mental wellness support to millions. Similarly, YogiFi has become quite popular due to its innovative use of computer vision to help with posture-correction. The app also makes use of Machine Learning to curate personalized yoga plans and programs, helping and encouraging people to stay fit during this pandemic.

While the COVID-19 threat looms over the country, Apple is doing all it can to provide local support to organizations promoting remote learning. It will be interesting to see how big a hit this store becomes as Indians will now get a taste of the exemplary Apple service for the first time. Also, with reports stating that the tech giant plans on unveiling physical stores in Mumbai and Bengaluru from next year, this will act as a test to see whether the idea holds true.

Oppo ColorOS 11

Look at the Key Features and Expected Timeline of the OPPO ColorOS 11

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The beginning of this month saw Google rolling out its newest Android version- Android 11. Now wanting to be left behind, Oppo too recently announced that it would be releasing its new OS shortly. Soon after, the smartphone maker launched the ColorOS 11 on a few of its flagship models on a testing basis. With this new OS, Oppo wants to provide its users with the best of both worlds by merging the traditional and modern. While the ColorOS retains a conventional outlook of older Android OSs while delivering a cleaner and more efficient performance. Here’s a quick look at everything you need to know about the ColorOS features and the expected timeline for release.

Customization is Key

According to Lynn Ni, who serves as the Design Leader for the OPPO ColorOS 11, the UI focuses a lot of customization. Since users want a more personalized user experience, the UI promises to deliver the same. Furthermore, it offers a unique experience by catering to the varying desires and needs of the customer. The team took customer feedback to improve their customization further, allowing the UI to encompass a large variety of features. Ni says that this allows their users to demonstrate their creativity and build a user interface they enjoy working on.

Oppo ColorOS 11
Image Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Key features of the OPPO ColorOS 11

  1. OPPO provides further enhancements with regards to performance through the ColorOS 11. This combines the Quantum Animation feature, which helps reduce lag and RAM usage by 45% with a feature to improve the response rate by over 32%. Furthermore, the enhancements also help in improving the frame rate by 17%.
  2. The OS allows for significant customization, with users having the choice to enable the Dark Mode and customize their display. They can also set their own wallpapers, fonts, themes, and icons as usual, while also creating their unique white mix. The mix will feature a combination of sounds and audio clips from cities across the world. 
  3. An India-only feature allows users to mass-text a specific number of contacts in their current location when their battery falls below 15%. 
  4. The OS significantly favors and improves multitasking by allowing users to watch videos and text at the same time. They also get to pick out six apps that should run even when the battery is low to enhance the phone’s overall battery utilization.
  5. OPPO has also added more security features and privacy measures, allowing users to lock apps. The OS also features fingerprint scanners, facial recognition support, and more control over what apps can access their data.

The new features that have been added are a part of OPPO’s Make Life Flow concept. The OS also introduces unique contrast and color schemes, helping enhance the Dark mode.  Furthermore, OPPO is working on a three-finger capture mechanism for screenshots, and collaborating with Google on a translation capability for their OS. The new update will allow users to translate texts within screenshots with the help of Google Lens. The OS also comes with a feature called Flexdrop to allow users extended multitasking capabilities. Also, the new OS enables users to switch between their smart home devices with the help of a new Device Control menu. The Battery Guard feature also enables users to stop the charging of their phones when it reaches 80% at night to prevent the damages caused due to overcharging. After waking up the next day, the charging will start again till it reaches 100%.

Expected Timeline

Here’s a brief look at the anticipated release of the ColorOS for various OPPO phones.

  1. Starting from September 14: Oppo Find X2, X2 Pro, and the Lamborghini Edition
  2. Starting from September 30: Reno 3 and 3 Pro along with the Oppo F17 Pro
  3. Starting from October: Reno4 Pro 5G
  4. Starting from November: Reno4 5G
  5. Starting from December: 
    1. Reno4 4G
    2. F11, 11 Pro, and the Pro Marvel’s Avengers Edition
    3. A Series- A9, A92, A72, A52
  6. Starting from 2021 first quarter:
    1. Reno10x Zoom,
    2. Reno2, 2 F and 2 Z
    3. Reno3 Pro 5G
    4. A91
    5. F15
  7. Starting from 2021 second quarter:
    1. Reno and Reno Z
    2. A5 2020
    3. A9 2020

The new OS seems to be the real deal, helping users retain their privacy and offering optimum performance. The ColorOS 11 has already gone into beta-testing on a few new phones on a batch-rotation basis. The new update will start hitting smartphones on a large scale from the end of this month onwards as stated above. It will be interesting to see how fans and users react to this new OS and what further updates the company will bring into force.

Nvidia Logo

Nvidia to Acquire ARM Holdings from Softbank at a $40 Million Valuation

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The coronavirus pandemic has made this a precarious time for companies of all kinds. As a result, we have been seeing quite a few mergers and acquisitions in recent months. The newest addition to that group is the collaboration between Nvidia and Arm Holdings. Through a shock announcement on Sunday, Nvidia has agreed to buy smartphone chip-designer Arm Holdings, from Softbank at a valuation of $40 billion. Here’s a look at everything you need to know about this acquisition and the lead up to it.

Details Regarding the Deal

The companies announced via a report on Sunday that they were near closing the acquisition deal. The deal, which values Arm at $40 billion will include $21.5 billion via Nvidia stock, $12 billion in cash, with a $2 billion payable at the signing of the deal. In 2016, Softbank acquired Arm at a $31.4 billion valuation, making it one of the most expensive acquisitions ever. Arm Holdings is a known chip-design and manufacturing company that focuses on the design of chipsets for smartphones.  They are also involved in the making of Qualcomm and Apple chips, making them a popular choice within the industry. Furthermore, Apple has also expressed plans to shift its MAC computers from Intel to Arm chips, opening new avenues for the company.

Nvidia’s Plan for Arm

Nvidia is a giant in the field of AI and graphic card design and manufacture. They also have operations that help with the design and creation of self-driving vehicles and other autonomous applications. The company stated that it would retain Arm’s licensing model which is largely open in structure. Furthermore, Nvidia also said that they would continue to uphold Arm’s customer neutrality. Nvidia has been doing quite well for itself due to a boom in the usage and sales of video games due to the global pandemic. The company is aiming to launch a new desktop graphics card that will help PC gamers play more intensive games. As per the last earnings report, the company has projected a 46% growth in revenue for the third quarter of this year.

Nvidia Arm Logo
Image Source: nvidia.com

Past Acquisition

SoftBank’s acquisition of Arm was a result of them entering the Internet of Things space. The company viewed Arm Holdings as a valuable investment in this field due to its work on wireless connectivity and smart devices. Arm Holdings also works on intelligent chipsets that could possibly help with the development of everyday smart devices, such as refrigerators, other appliances, and cars. At the time of the acquisition, Masayoshi Son, who serves as the Chairman of Softbank, had hailed the move. He went as far as to say that Arm was a company he had always admired and that the acquisition means a lot to him.

Tough Time for Softbank

However, over the years, Softbank has had to deal with financial troubles. A couple of intensive investments, in companies like Uber and WeWork, has led to them losing money. Furthermore, the company’s shares lost value recently due to it holding stock in tech companies that had fared poorly in the market in September. While it is unclear precisely how much Softbank will make through the Nvidia acquisition, it might help them take a capital-intensive company off their hands. However, experts are concerned about whether Softbank will be able to make a lot of money on the sale due to it having invested quite a bit on Arm.

Softbank also requires cash to help the start-ups that it has picked up via the Vision Fund initiative. This move will provide some relief to start-ups that are facing hardships due to the lockdowns brought in by the coronavirus pandemic. Earlier this year, it had also stated that it would sell about $21 billion worth of stock it holds in T-Mobile. The acquisition will see Arm working as an Nvidia division. The company will stay headquartered in the UK and follow the same licensing model and customer base. However, the deal might still face intense scrutiny with regard to regulations from the EU.

Microsoft has also signed on-board, making Arm-based Surfaces and using it on their Windows. Also, the two companies are not competitors per se as Nvidia does not do much of CPU design or mobile hardware manufacturing. Nvidia might be planning an entry into the next stage of AI computing with this acquisition. Reports are stating that Nvidia wants to invest in building a brand-new AI center for research in Cambridge. If this proves to be true, then the companies can align with each other enabling both to push ahead with regards to AI software develop