Wireless earbuds have become increasingly popular in recent years, and for good reason, as they offer the convenience of not having to deal with wires while still delivering high-quality sound.
TWS (True Wireless Stereo) earbuds have taken the market by storm, and there are plenty of options available in India under the Rs 12,000 price range.
Here are the top 5 TWS earbuds that one can consider while buying under the Rs 12,000 price range in India.
1. Samsung Galaxy Buds 2: Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 are a great option for those looking for a premium TWS earbuds experience under Rs 12,000. They offer excellent sound quality, comfortable fit, and can deliver up to 20 hours of playback time per charge (including the case). The Galaxy Buds 2 also comes with active noise cancellation (ANC), which can block out up to 98 per cent of background noise.
The earbuds are priced at Rs 7,999 on the company’s official site and come in multiple colours — Graphite, Onyx, White, Olive and Lavender. However, the earbuds also available in online and offline stores at a discounted price.
2. OnePlus Buds Pro 2: The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 is another great option in this price range, with impressive sound quality, active noise cancellation, and a long-lasting battery life of up to 39 hours with the charging case. The earbuds also deliver spatial audio, that will give you a sense of music coming from all around you.
As per the company’s official website, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 is priced at Rs 11,999 and comes in Arbor Green and Obsidian Black colours.
Top 5 TWS earbudsIANS
3. Nothing Ear (2): The Nothing Ear (2) earbuds are a popular choice for their unique transparent design, excellent sound quality, and active noise cancellation. They also offer an impressive battery life of up to 36 hours with the charging case. The earbuds also support fast charging, offering up to 8 hours of playback with just 10 minutes of charging. The earbuds and the case are water-resistant with the earbuds rated at IP54 and the case at IP55.
The Ear (2) is priced at Rs 9,999 and can also be purchased at discounted price from online and offline stores.
4. Oppo Enco X2: The Oppo Enco X2 are another great pair of TWS-style, with excellent sound quality, active noise cancellation, and a comfortable fit. The earbuds can last for up to 40 hours after a full charge of the charging case. With two fast charging methods, you can enjoy up to 2 hours of music playback on a 5-minute charge. The earbuds also support wireless charging.
The Oppo Enco X2 is priced at Rs 9,999 on the company’s official site and comes in White and Black colour.
Sony LinkbudsIANS
5. Sony WF-XB700: The Sony WF-XB700 are another premium option for TWS earbuds under the 12K price range. They have 12mm drivers that deliver excellent sound quality with deep bass. The earbuds are also equipped with an IPX4 rating, making them sweat and splash-resistant. The battery life is decent, with up to 18 hours of total playback time with charging case.
The Sony WF-XB700 is priced at Rs 11,990 on the company’s official site and is available in Blue and Black colours.
In response to the Indian government’s announcement of its intent to send a notice to the platform over the escalating threat of international scam calls, WhatsApp, owned by Meta, declared on Thursday that it has taken decisive measures to address this issue.
With over 500 million users in India, the platform has leveraged its advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) systems to significantly reduce such incidents.
“Our latest enforcement initiatives will slash the current call frequency by a minimum of 50%, and we anticipate successfully managing the current occurrence. We will persist in our tireless efforts to ensure our users enjoy a secure experience,” asserted a spokesperson for the company in a statement.
pixabay.com
Earlier today, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Minister of State for Electronics and IT, affirmed that the IT Ministry will dispatch a notice to WhatsApp regarding the problem of spam calls originating from unknown international numbers. He emphasized that social media platforms bear the responsibility of ensuring users’ safety and trust.
The influx of spam calls, originating mostly from African and Southeast Asian countries, and the deluge of false messages from unfamiliar sources, have inundated Indian WhatsApp users.
Apple iOS 10: Truecaller integrates with CallKit Extension API for better spam call filteringTrueCaller
Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Ethiopia are some of the countries that have been detected as the sources of spam calls with country codes appearing on WhatsApp. Notably, these calls often begin with +251 (Ethiopia), +62 (Indonesia), +254 (Kenya), +84 (Vietnam), and other similar codes.
According to WhatsApp, scammers have devised this novel method of scamming through international calls. They lure unsuspecting users by placing missed calls, prompting the recipients to initiate contact or respond with a message, only to fall prey to the scam.
The spokesperson for WhatsApp clarified that, while the platform continues to provide safety measures such as “Block and Report” and user safety education, the company proactively expunges bad actors from its platform. Despite this, these scammers persist in their fraudulent activities, requiring vigilance and caution from users.
Several celebrities refuse to pay Musk $8 for Twitter Blue badge
As Elon Musk broke his silence on who will take over from him as Twitter CEO after a “painful” acquisition, all eyes are now on Linda Yaccarino, NBC Universal’s chairman of Global Advertising and Partnerships.
Although Musk is yet to reveal the name of the upcoming female CEO who will take over in six weeks, according to The Washington Post, Yaccarino “could serve to calm advertiser fears while balancing Musk’s demand for sweeping changes to Twitter’s policies on content moderation”.
Who is Linda Yaccarino, the possible female CEO of Twitter?IANS
Musk’s role will transition to being executive chair and CTO, “overseeing product, software and system operations”.
Musk joined Yaccarino for an onstage interview at a marketing conference in Miami Beach in the US.
Yaccarino oversees about 2,000 workers in her role, similar to the current reduce Twitter staff after massive sacking by Musk after his $44 billion takeover late last year.
Her team oversees the monetisation strategy for Peacock, the network’s streaming service.
Elon MuskIANS
Yaccarino’s team has also generated more than $100 billion in ad sales and entered partnerships with companies including Apple, Snapchat, BuzzFeed, Twitter and YouTube, according to her bio.
When his followers asked him about Yaccarino’s appointment, Musk replied: “The commitment to open source transparency and accepting a wide range of viewpoints remains unchanged”.
In a Twitter poll last year, Musk asked his millions of followers: “Should I step down as head of Twitter?”
“I will abide by the results of this poll,” he had posted.
The poll amassed more than 17 million votes, with 57.5 per cent of respondents calling for him to step aside.
Dyson is synonymous with innovation and this time, the disruption comes to the favourite hair care product — the hair straightener. At an event in New York, Dyson launched its latest beauty product and its calling it the Dyson Airstrait. The name does drop a few hints, but you could only guess so much.
Dyson Airstrait has many features, some more worthy of others. What’s most fascinating about the Airstrait is that it can straighten even wet hair. With its tech, Dyson addressed the most-annoying issue of heat damage and having to deal with hot plates.
“Having a strong understanding of how to manipulate and realise the potential of powerful airflow is fundamental to the performance of the Dyson Airstrait straightener. This expertise, which we’ve gained over the last 25 years, is what has enabled us to deliver our first wet to dry straightener, with no hot plates, and no heat damage. Delivering the ease-of-use that people love about straighteners but with high-velocity air blades, saves time, maintains hair strength and achieves an everyday natural straight style.” James Dyson, Founder and Chief Engineer, said launching the new product.
Though the new way to straighten hair from wet to dry – all with just air – sounds cool, what does it take to deliver that. Airstrait looks like an ordinary straightener with two 1.5mm apertures, through which the airflow is accelerated creating two high-velocity downward blades of air projected at a 45-degree angle. As they converge, one focused jet of air forms a downward force to straighten the hair, giving a smooth and shiny finish.
The Airstrait is powered by the Hyperdymium motor, which is at the core of Dyson’s Hair Care technologies. It is small, light and powerful enough to generate the airflow needed to dry and straighten hair simultaneously, from wet. A 13-blade impeller spins up to 106,000rpm, propelling over 11.9 litres of air through the machine per second. This generates up to 3.5kPa of air pressure, enough to straighten hair as it dries. At 27mm, the motor is small enough to fit in the handle – with no sacrifice on power.
To answer the heat issue, the Airstrait features an intelligent heat control. Glass bead thermistors measure the temperature of the airflow up to 16 times per second to prevent heat damage and protect hair’s natural shine. This data is sent to the microprocessor which regulates the heating element, ensuring airflow doesn’t exceed the temperature required.
You’re in control
Dyson Airstrait has Wet and Dry modes and a Cool mode that helps set the style. The ‘Wet’ and ‘Dry’ modes are pre-set with the specific heat and airflow combination with three heat settings of 80°C (175°F), 110°C (230°F), and 140°C (285°F). In ‘Dry’ mode, you get to choose between 120°C (250°F) or 140°C (285°F) or a top up “boost”. There are two speed settings, low flow and high flow, as well as a cold shot and root drying mode.
Dyson Airstrait will be available this year in select markets.
Hackers targeting govt officials with tailored clickbaits for phishing attacks
A UK citizen accused of hacking Twitter accounts as part of a Bitcoin scheme has pleaded guilty to his role in cyber stalking and computer hacking that targeted numerous high-profile social media accounts, including the July 2020 Twitter hack.
Joseph James O’Connor, a.k.a. PlugwalkJoe, 23, was extradited to the US from Spain last month, where he awaited trial for harassing, threatening, and extorting his victims.
According to Gizmodo, the first time O’Connor was arrested was in 2021 for attempting to take control of 130 Twitter accounts, including — US President Joe Biden, American socialite & model Kim Kardashian, and Tesla & Twitter CEO Elon Musk.
IANS
O’Connor, in July 2020, wrote on Biden’s account, “All Bitcoin sent to the address below will be sent back double! If you send $1,000, I will send back $2,000. Only doing this for 30 minutes. Enjoy!”
Twitter then responded at that time by deactivating all verified accounts and disabling the tweet feature in an attempt to target the hackers.
“We detected what we believe to be a coordinated social engineering attack by people who successfully targeted some of our employees with access to internal systems and tools,” Twitter’s support team wrote in July 2020.
According to the US Department of Justice (DOJ), an FBI investigation found that O’Connor and his co-conspirators were able to transfer control of some Twitter accounts to unauthorised users for a fee.
FBIFBI- Federal Bureau of Investigation Official Facebook Page
Moreover, the investigation uncovered that in certain instances, the group exploited the control they had over certain Twitter accounts for personal gain, and engaged in fraudulent activities that impacted other users of the platform.
As part of this, it was discovered that O’Connor had made an agreement to purchase access to a specific account for a sum of $10,000.
“Like many criminal actors, O’Connor tried to stay anonymous by using a computer to hide behind stealth accounts and aliases from outside the US. But this plea shows that our investigators and prosecutors will identify, locate, and bring to justice such criminals to ensure they face the consequences for their crimes,” Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A Polite, Jr of the DOJ’s Criminal Division said in a statement.
As part of his guilty plea, O’Connor has agreed to pay restitution to all of the victims and forfeit just over $7,94,000. His sentencing is scheduled for June 23 in a district court in New York.
Garuda Aerospace, a leading provider of advanced drone solutions, successfully distributed kisan drones at an event on May 9th at the Mananthanvady Valliyurkavu Ground in Kerala, where Mr P. Prasad, Honourable State Minister of Agriculture, and Shri O.R. Kelu, Honourable MLA of Mananthavadi distributed 7 DGCA approved Garuda Kisan Drones to farmers. The distribution of these drones was made possible under the SMAM (Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization) scheme, with the issuance of a 100% approved sanctioned letter.
Kisan Drones launch
The event witnessed an enthusiastic gathering of farmers, agricultural experts, government officials, and industry leaders who were eager to witness the transformative potential of these kisan drones in revolutionizing the farming landscape. Mr P. Prasad and Shri O.R. Kelu, in their speeches, emphasized the significance of technological advancements in agriculture and praised Garuda Aerospace for its commitment to supporting the farming community. The kisan drones are equipped with advanced features such as high-resolution cameras, multispectral sensors, and real-time data analysis capabilities, enabling farmers to make informed decisions and optimize their crop yields effectively.
Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and CEO of Garuda Aerospace said, “Garuda Aerospace’s Agri Kisan Drones mark a significant milestone in our mission to empower farmers with innovative solutions. Through the integration of cutting-edge technology and precision agriculture, we aim to revolutionize farming practices and enhance productivity. We are proud to partner with the government in bringing these advanced drone solutions to farmers in Mananthavadi under the SMAM scheme.“
” Drones were used for events and in photography for weddings, but are now used for agriculture purposes. I want to see drones in every household of farmers. Garuda Aerospace’s Agri Kisan Drones marks a significant milestone in our mission to empower farmers with innovative solutions. These kisan drones have the potential to revolutionise agricultural practices by enabling precise crop monitoring, targeted pesticide application, and efficient water management. Under the SMAM scheme, we are proud to provide farmers in Mananthavadi with access to this state-of-the-art technology.” said Mr P. Prasad, State Agriculture Minister.
Mr P. Prasad and Shri O.R. Kelu, accompanied by representatives from Garuda Aerospace, personally handed over the drones to the farmers. The recipients expressed their gratitude towards the government and Garuda Aerospace for their efforts in promoting agricultural modernization and improving farmers’ livelihoods and contributing to the sustainable development of the agricultural sector in Kerala and beyond.
OnePlus 11 5G review: Meaningful improvements; camera steals spotlight
OnePlus is leaving a mark everywhere it sets foot in. After years of consistent growth in the smartphone space, the brand finally forayed into the tablet space. But its budget smartphones are remarkably popular, even more so after its premium phones have gone beyond Rs 50K mark. The latest entrant to the Nord series is Nord CE 3 Lite, which positions itself prominently in the budget-friendly 5G smartphone arena.
Succeeding the Nord CE 2 Lite, the new model gets notable improvements in the camera system, charging and design. Here’s our review of the Nord CE 3 Lite, which retails in the sub-Rs 25,000 category. The phone comes in two variants, 6GB+128GB and 8GB+256GB, priced at Rs 19,999 and Rs 21,999.
OnePlus India sent us the Nord CE 3 Lite unit for review purposes. The model we tested has 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, in Pastel Lime hue, and runs Android 13-based OxygenOS 13.1. The device received an update during the course of this review, post which slight improvement in the camera and charging was noticed.
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G
Display: 6.72-inch Full HD+, 120Hz LCD panel
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 695
RAM: 6GB/ 8GB
Storage: 128GB/ 256GB, expandable via microSD card
Camera: 108MP main + 2MP macro + 2MP depth; 16MP front sensor
Battery: 5,000mAh, 67W SUPERVOOC charging
OS: OxygenOS 13.1 based on Android 13
Dimensions: 165.5x76x8.3 (6.52×2.99×0.33in)
Weight: 195g
Colours: Pastel Lime & Chromatic Gray
Design and display
OnePlus’ design game is quite strong, with a few exceptions. Luckily, OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite gets the good stuff when it comes to its design. In fact, the new design, though minimal changes are made, is bold. OnePlus has traded the rectangle camera module for two large circular modules, housing the camera sensors. Though unique, it’s not odd to see this disruptive design. The rest of the phone is largely the same as its predecessor.
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite reviewIBT/Sami Khan
The rear panel in the pastel lime shade looks refreshing and quite premium, to be frank. The panel, being a plastic one, may not match the feel factor with the looks, but it does an excellent job of concealing the plastic material with its glossy finish. On the downside, the glossy finish picks up a lot of smudges and scratches along the way. A transparent case is recommended.
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite reviewIBT/Sami Khan
The power button that doubles as a fingerprint scanner is on the right, while the volume rocker and SIM tray can be found on the left. The benefit of the volume rocker being on the left instead of the right side above the power button is that it is easily reachable. At the bottom, there’s the USB Type-C button, speaker grille and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite reviewIBT/Sami Khan
The Nord CE 3 Lite gets a flat display protected by Gorilla Glass. The FHD+ LCD panel with 120Hz refresh rate excited us and delivered most of the time. The display is good enough for all use cases, even while using outdoors on a sunny day. But it’s not the brightest, falling behind phones with AMOLED panels in the same price bracket.
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite reviewIBT/Sami Khan
Though the 120Hz refresh rate sounded great on paper, the display strangely didn’t feel as smooth. While scrolling through the feeds of Twitter or even the phone’s menu, we didn’t quite get the feel of 120Hz smoothness. We set the refresh rate at High at all times, which meant it automatically switched to lower refresh rates depending on the apps on the screen, which we assume was the problem. There was no way to choose High as the default refresh rate. If you’re upgrading from a 60Hz panel, you won’t notice the difference, it’ll feel smoother. But having used phones with greater resolution and on AMOLED, we picked up on it. It’s not a deal-breaker in our view. The display is still great for consuming media content, browsing through apps and the internet, for games and more.
Camera
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite has a triple camera setup, but only the primary 108MP sensor has our interest. The 2MP depth and macro sensors aren’t noteworthy additions and do not deliver anything worth mentioning. The missing ultra-wide sensor is a missed opportunity. But all that’s compensated with the primary sensor. Well, sort of.
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite reviewIBT/Sami Khan
The 108MP shooter can deliver good results, with well-detailed shots in daylight, natural colours and good dynamic range. The shadows were well darkened without much noise and they maintained consistent colour accuracy throughout the frame. Shooting in broad daylight is the best option with the Nord CE 3 Lite.
Some indoor shots can be good, others just acceptable depending on the lighting conditions. For instance, in an indoor restaurant setting with warm lights, the camera tries to compensate by over-sharpening the images and increasing the saturation. Even then, the photos look desirable.
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite reviewIBT/Sami Khan
Since the camera offers 3x lossless zoom, it worked best in daylight. But in low light, the results are noisy and colours are all over the place. Even the 1x mode is not able to keep up with the low-light setting. The night mode does little contribution. So as long as you stick to the main sensor and in daylight or well-lit ambience, you’ll be just fine.
The phone’s 16MP camera on the front produces decent selfies. Without daylight setting, the selfies are also washed out. Of course, you can play with some filters and get desired results, but it’s not something you’ll be wowed by.
1/13
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G camera samplesIBT
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G camera samplesIBT
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G camera sample: MacroIBT
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G camera sample: MacroIBT
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G camera sampleIBT
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G camera sample: PortraitIBT
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G camera sample: PortraitIBT
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G camera sampleIBT
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G camera sample: 3XIBT
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G camera sample: PortraitIBT
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G camera sampleIBT
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G camera sample: Selfie with and without portrait modeIBT
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G camera sample: Night modeIBT
Performance
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite is packing a Qualcomm chipset. The Snapdragon 695 is a decent performer and delivered just that in the Nord CE 3 Lite. Our day-to-day operations were handled with ease, but putting too much pressure meant some burnout. This is particularly noteworthy for gamers, who’d be better off with OnePlus’ premium range or the higher-end Nord phones for that flawless gaming performance. Just not this “Lite” version as the name itself suggests. We did run some casual games, and with mild graphics, the phone is capable of gaming. It’s just not CoD-capable.
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite reviewIBT/Sami Khan
We regularly switched back and forth between 3-4 apps, and it seemed to handle it well. Though there were some stutters here and there, it’s just part and parcel of a budget-friendly phone. On the overall experience, you’ll the Nord CE 3 Lite just capable enough to get your essential tasks out of the way.
The fingerprint sensor is mounted on the side, which worked as intended. But we did encounter some instances where the biometric sensor didn’t respond to touch. It was random and rare.
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite reviewIBT/Sami Khan
On the software front, it runs OxygenOS 13.1, which doesn’t feel much different from ColorOS. There are a whole lot of customisation options, where you get to choose from different themes and work with features like Split Screen, and gestures for shortcuts. The OxygenOS also keeps the bloatware at a minimum, which is a good thing.
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite reviewIBT/Sami Khan
The speaker is great for watching videos on the go, and it can get extremely loud with volume levels set at 200%. We noticed issues with calling, where the person on the other end was unable to hear us on more than one occasion. Though we tried with different SIMs, the network issue persisted. We haven’t had the issue since the update, but it’s yet to be tested thoroughly.
Battery
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite is powered by a 5,000mAh battery, which is a saviour. Clearly, OnePlus gives the competition a tough fight with its battery setup. Though it packs a big enough battery to get users by the day, it also has fast charging that lives up to its reputation.
With casual use, the phone can easily last close to two days. But if you watch a lot of videos or play games, expect a full day’s worth of battery in any case. The battery is a strong USP, easily one that makes it easy to recommend.
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite reviewIBT/Sami Khan
With that long-lasting battery comes 67W fast-charging support, which can power up the phone in no time. On most days, we charged the phone for just 30 minutes and it would be sufficient for a whole day with some juice left. To go a full 100 percent, it will take less than an hour. So yes, if the battery is something you’re really looking up to in your phone, look no further than OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite.
Verdict
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite has some great qualities, but it is not devoid of flaws. You must realise that this is a budget phone and doesn’t have that “Never Settle” mantra rooted into the veins. One of the biggest reasons why the Nord CE 3 Lite makes sense is the bold design and excellent battery setup. Besides this, if you’re eager to jump on the OnePlus bandwagon, this may be your way in, but you don’t get the true taste of the OnePlus Experience. OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite doesn’t have the best camera setup even for its price range, particularly the secondary and third sensors. A lot is riding on the primary camera, in the ideal setting that is.
Samsung Galaxy S23, S23 Plus first look and impressions
Samsung’s aggressive smartphone moves are hard to ignore. From entry-level to flagship, Samsung has marked its presence everywhere. As 5G gains momentum, it’s only fitting to see its adoption on a mass scale. Samsung is doing its bit by bringing 5G to its budget phones. To that extent, yet another affordable 5G phone in Samsung’s portfolio is here to appease the masses.
Here’s a look at the key specs of the Samsung Galaxy M14 5G:
Display: 6.6-inch Full HD+ PLS LCD 90Hz panel
Rear camera: 50MP + 2MP + 2MP
Front camera: 13MP
CPU: Exynos 1330 5nm chipset
RAM: 4/6GB
Storage: 128GB, expandable up to 1TB
Battery: 6,000mAh
OS: Android 13-based OneUI Core 5.1
Weight: 206 grams
Dimensions: 166.8 x 77.2 x 9.4mm
Price: Rs 13,990/ Rs 14,990
Samsung Galaxy M14 5G reviewIBT/Sami Khan
First impressions
Samsung Galaxy M14 boasts a refreshing design in the budget space. We’ve seen Samsung bring its floating camera lens design to almost every other model, and now we’ve seen the S23-esque camera module in the affordable Galaxy M14. This is a welcoming move and a bold attempt by Samsung to establish a signature. But that’s as far as premium as it gets in the Galaxy M14.
Samsung Galaxy M14 5G reviewIBT/Sami Khan
The rear panel is made of plastic, which is a natural choice given the price range, but at least the build quality is not cheap. At first glance, the phone does have an appeal with its sober selection of colors. While we got the Icy Silver shade, which has a slight gradient tone, there are Smoky Teal and Berry Blue with a striking appeal.
Samsung Galaxy M14 5G reviewIBT/Sami Khan
The M14 5G has a USB Type-C port alongside a speaker and a 3.5mm jack at the bottom and the volume controls alongside the power/lock button on the right side. The buttons do offer good tactility. Instead of going with an under-display fingerprint scanner, Samsung chose the power button to house the biometric sensor, which works as intended.
Samsung Galaxy M14 5G reviewIBT
The rounded edges offer a good grip. But the rear panel does pick up some smudges, which can be avoided with a clear phone case. Having chosen light materials, Samsung has managed to keep the phone’s weight in check despite housing a massive 6,000mAh battery.
Samsung Galaxy M14 5G reviewIBT/Sami Khan
As for the display, Samsung often delivers its best. For the price, we’d say the display is suitable, but the LCD panel falls short in case of outdoor use on a sunny day. Even the colors are not as punchy, but the 90Hz refresh rate seems to make up for these shortcomings. Finally, the display is protected by Gorilla Glass 5, a step up from Gorilla Glass 3 and a welcoming move. But the bezels are hard to miss and so is the water-drop notch.
Samsung Galaxy M14 5G reviewIBT/Sami Khan
Samsung’s bid to contribute towards suitability has meant that all phones come without an adapter and the packaging is done in a greener way. Samsung Galaxy M14 buyers won’t get an adaptor, which means they will have to spend extra if they already don’t own a compatible adapter. Not to mention the earphones are long gone from phones, so that’s an added expense too. Many may argue that it defeats the purpose of having aggressive pricing.
The highlight of the phone may be its triple camera setup at the back. The primary sensor is a 50MP shooter, while the other two are 2MP lenses – one for macro and the other for portraits. We don’t expect much action here, except we have some hopes with the primary lens.
A few shots we’ve taken from the phone show some good results. Photos taken during the day in well-lit scenes appear more detailed with natural colors and good dynamic range. Even in artificial lighting, the phone manages good results without overexposure or over-saturation issues. The low-light shots aren’t as great, but there’s night mode to the rescue, which makes some contribution to the betterment of photos. The lack of an ultra-wide sensor is a disappointment as it serves more than the macro in this phone’s case.
Samsung Galaxy M14 5G reviewIBT/Sami Khan
Interacting with the phone has been decent, complete with Samsung’s familiar One UI Core running the show. It’s actually a stripped-down version of One UI, which can be felt if you’re downgrading from a higher-end phone. With this, you get only two years of major Android OS updates and four years of security updates.
Samsung Galaxy M14 5G reviewIBT/Sami Khan
On the performance front, the phone does get a lot done, but it can be tardy sometimes. Given the price difference between the 4GB and 6GB is only Rs 1,000, it is better to go for the latter. It’s only slightly better. We don’t expect the phone to run high-end games, and if that’s your requirement, you’ll be disappointed.
Samsung Galaxy M14 5G reviewIBT/Sami Khan
Finally, the USP of the phone is its battery. The M14 can easily last two days and more if you’re not an avid user. Even heavy users will see the phone easily crossing a 24-hour threshold. But the real issue is with the charging, which takes a really long time. Even with a 25W charger, you’ll need to spare around 90 minutes for a full charge.
Key takeaways
Samsung Galaxy M14 5G is surely a good choice for the price it retails in, especially considering it offers 5G, excellent battery life, decent performance and a good enough camera. But there are some downsides too, like the display is not Samsung’s best work, the OS can be refined, and the overall camera setup is not the ideal one.
On the cost front, the fact that you don’t get an adaptor and earphones adds to the extra expense.
Apple gave $320 billion to developers on App Store since 2008
Apple has introduced a new Pride Edition Sport Band accompanied by a matching watch face and iOS wallpaper, as the company celebrates the ongoing movement to protect and advance equality for the LGBTQ+ communities around the world.
The Pride Edition Sport Band will be available for Rs 4,500 from May 23 on apple.com and at Apple Store locations beginning May 24.
The Pride Edition Sport Band is available in 41 mm and 45 mm sizes, and is compatible with Apple Watch Series 3 and later.
Apple introduces Watch Pride Edition Sport BandApple
The new Pride Celebration watch face and iPhone wallpaper will be available next week, and requires watchOS 9.5 and iOS 16.5.
The new Sport Band design showcases the original pride flag rainbow colours and five others � black and brown symbolise Black and Latin communities, in addition to those who have passed away from or are living with HIV/AIDS, while light blue, pink, and white represent transgender and nonbinary individuals.
Apple introduces Watch Pride Edition Sport BandApple
This year’s design integrates a joyful rainbow of geometric shapes on a white base, which are compression-moulded into the final band.
In the forming process, the base material flows around each individual shape, creating small variations in their layout.
No two bands are exactly alike, reflecting the individuality of all members of the LGBTQ+ community, said the company.
Cisco starts laying off over 4,000 employees; affects 5% workforce
Global networking giant Cisco Chair and CEO Chuck Robbins on Wednesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and discussed how the company has doubled down on manufacturing to boost exports from the country.
Cisco has announced strategic investments in Indian manufacturing capabilities as the next step in delivering cutting-edge technologies to our customers in India and across the globe.
“Thank you for your leadership, Honorable PM of India, @narendramodi! Thrilled to announce @Cisco is investing in manufacturing in India, with an aim to drive over $1B in combined domestic production and exports,” Robbins tweeted.
Cisco CEO meets PM Modi, doubles down on local manufacturingIANS
On his part, PM Modi tweeted: “Delighted to meet you @ChuckRobbins and good to see @Cisco harnessing the wide range of opportunities available in India”.
Cisco has announced it will start manufacturing in India, with an aim to drive more than $1 billion in combined domestic production and exports in the coming years via offering a robust and secure device ecosystem.
India is a key market for Cisco and its second largest R&D centre outside the US.
Earlier in the day, Robbins also met government’s think tank NITI Aayog’s CEO, B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, with whom he discussed Cisco’s plan to manufacture products for Indian and global markets.
“Great to meet B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, CEO, @NITIAayog to discuss @cisco_in’s plans to manufacture products for Indian and global markets as well as our commitment to #cybersecurity, #skilling & promoting #entrepreneurship in India,” he tweeted after the meeting.
A sign marking a Cisco office is pictured in San Diego, California November 12, 2012.Reuters
He also had a meeting with Telecom Secretary K. Rajaraman, during which both the officials discussed the company’s future plans.
“Great meeting with India’s Telecom Secretary K Rajaraman on @cisco_in’s plans to manufacture in India for India and the world. Hearing about India’s efforts in #5G, rural broadband across the country was inspiring!” Robbins tweeted.
Since commencing operations in India in 1995, Cisco has focused on helping the country digitise at scale and speed, including accelerating the transformation of critical sectors like transport, agriculture, including through the Country Digitisation Acceleration programme, and building a skilled workforce through the Cisco Networking Academy programme.
“Fuelled by a rapidly developing digital economy, India is a focal point of innovation and business for Cisco, and we remain deeply committed to our partnerships here,” according to Robbins.
