Saregama is a name synonymous with music, such that these syllables can define Indian music. In a bid to appeal to the generations of fans that it has garnered over the years, the company has ventured into the audio device segment with its Carvaan lineup. Among its latest offering is the Carvaan musicbar, which we recently got a chance to review. Along with a sleek, minimalistic body, the soundbar offers a plethora of features that we tried out. Here’s what we think so far:
First impressions:
The soundbar comes in a rather large box. Still, it includes various accessories such as a remote, table and wall mounting holders, a USB cable, and the general paperwork (user manual and warranty card). Saregama has also included a subwoofer with the soundbar, making the overall deal quite valuable. The audio output is more than satisfactory at its price point, and there are hardly any points to complain about. Both the soundbar and the subwoofer sport minimalistic black bodies with nothing but basic controls on top of the soundbar. The subwoofer is practically a black box with a speaker on one side and a rat-protection mesh.
Usage:
The company states, “It’s more than a soundbar, It’s a Musicbar!” This is a testament to the soundbar’s capabilities and what it has to offer. It comes pre-loaded with 500 evergreen Hindi songs and inbuilt FM. It has multiple connectivity options like HDMI ARC, AUX-IN, USB 3.0, Bluetooth V 5.0 and Coaxial IN. A stereo sound output of 120W is offered through four powerful full-range active drivers, two passive drivers and a subwoofer. It also provides four dedicated modes (3D, Music, Movie and Vocal) for a customised listening experience. Users can also adjust the bass and treble level as per the preference of the listener.
The sound quality may not offer a Dolby surround effect, but the speakers are sufficiently loud to immerse anyone who listens to the songs at maximum volume. Even with the bass turned up, there was hardly any disturbance or compromise in the sound quality. The remote also includes all the features present on the body of the soundbar, such as switching its modes and controlling the bass and treble volumes. However, the remote is slightly unresponsive, and the soundbar takes some time to register its commands. This can prove intrusive for those who prefer lazing around on their couch instead of getting up to make alterations.
Verdict:
Saregama is offering the Carvaan musicbar for Rs 6,990. Potential buyers can compare it with hardly any other soundbar or music system at this price point. The musicbar is undoubtedly a viable option for people looking for a complete package without expecting too much out of it.
Nowadays, all leading smartphone brands are offering 5G ready devices. Not only do these smartphones make your network access faster and better, their greater bandwidth and lower latency compared to 4G and 3G networks often translate into redefining the way all of us live, work and play. While many may assume that 5G ready devices are exorbitantly expensive owing to their excellent features and 5G support, nothing can be farther from the truth. You can grab a 5G phone with Avantgarde features for as little as INR 30,000. Let us have a look at some of the best 5G Smartphones under INR 30,000 available today.
OPPO Reno6 5G: Taking the smartphone videography benchmark a notch ahead OPPO recently announced the launch of the most awaited Reno series, the OPPO Reno6 Pro 5G and Reno6 5G along with Enco X True Wireless Noise Cancelling earphones in a new blue colour variant. The Reno6 5G would be available on Flipkart at INR 29,990.
The phone has a 6.5-inch 3D curved display with a 90Hz refresh rate and up to 180Hz touch sampling rate, ensuring a smooth feel and comfortable viewing experience. The display is HDR10+ certified for a more vivid visual experience. Paired with this display is 360-degree Light-Sensing enabled by two ambient light sensors, which improve the accuracy of auto-brightness adjustments, making the viewing experience more comfortable. The display is also Netflix HD and Amazon Prime Video HD/HDR certified for high-quality visual content. Like its predecessors, the OPPO Reno6 series continues with a trendy, thin, and lightweight design.
Samsung Galaxy A52 5G: The smartphone boasts a 6.50-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1080×2400 pixels and an aspect ratio of 20:9. Samsung Galaxy A52 5G is powered by a 1.8GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G processor with two cores clocked at 2.2GHz and six cores clocked at 1.8GHz. It comes with 6GB of RAM and runs Android 11. A 4500mAh battery powers the phone. In terms of the camera, the phone rear packs a 64-megapixel primary camera with an f/1.8 aperture; a 12-megapixel camera with an f/2.2 5-megapixel camera with an f/2.4 aperture, and a 5-megapixel camera with an f/2.4 aperture. The rear camera setup has autofocus. It sports a 32-megapixel camera on the front for selfies with an f/2.2 aperture. It offers 128GB of inbuilt storage that can be expanded via a microSD card (up to 1000GB). The phone is humbly priced at INR 26,499.
VIVO V21 5G: This smartphone comes with a 6.44-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1080×2404 pixels and an aspect ratio of 20:9. Vivo V21 5G is powered by an octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 800U processor, and it has 8GB of RAM. The Vivo V21 5G runs Android 11 and is powered by a 4000mAh battery. The Vivo V21 5G also boasts proprietary fast charging. In terms of camera, the phone on the rear packs a 64-megapixel primary camera with an f/1.79 aperture, an 8-megapixel camera with an f/2.2 aperture, and a 2-megapixel camera with an f/2.4 aperture.
The rear camera setup has autofocus. It sports a 44-megapixel camera on the front for selfies with an f/2.0 aperture. It runs on Funtouch OS 11.1, based on Android 11 and packs 128GB of inbuilt storage that can be expanded via microSD card (up to 1000GB) with a specific slot. Vivo V21 5G price in India starts at INR 29,990.
Realme X7 Max 5G: The device comes with a 6.43-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1080×2400 pixels and an aspect ratio of 20:9. An octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 1200 processor powers Realme X7 Max. It comes with 8GB of RAM. The phone runs Android 11 and is powered by a 4500mAh battery. The Realme X7 Max is equipped with proprietary fast charging. As far as the cameras are concerned, the Realme X7 Max on the backpacks a 64-megapixel primary camera with an f/1.8 aperture; an 8-megapixel camera with an f/2.3 aperture, and a 2-megapixel camera with an f/2.4 aperture. The rear camera setup has autofocus.
It sports a 16-megapixel camera on the front for selfies with an f/2.5 aperture. The Realme X7 Max runs Realme UI 2.0, is based on Android 11, and packs 128GB of inbuilt storage. The Realme X7 Max measures 158.50 x 73.30 x 8.40mm (height x width x thickness) and weighs 179.00 grams. Available colour variants are Asteroid Black, Mercury Silver, and Milky Way colours. Realme X7 Max costs INR 26,999.
One Plus Nord CE 5G: The OnePlus Nord CE retains the Nord’s 6.43-inch full-HD+ AMOLED display. It gets a pixel density of 410ppi, a 20:9 aspect ratio and a screen resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. The smartphone offers a refresh rate of 90Hz, which translates to smooth app run and gaming. A 30W fast charging enabled powerful battery ensures that the device is always on. It features a triple rear camera with a foray into the 64-megapixel smartphone arena. An 8-megapixel sensor backs the primary camera with an f/2.25 ultra-wide lens and a 2-megapixel mono sensor with an f/2.4 lens. At the front, it offers a 16-megapixel Sony IMX471 selfie camera with an f/2.45 lens and EIS support.
The device is powered by Snapdragon 750G 5G SoC at its core. Comparing the phone to its predecessor, the One Plus Nord CE 5G weighs surprisingly low at 170gms with a 4500 mAh battery under the hood.
There is no doubt that PC gaming requires more dedication and a lot bigger paraphernalia than other kinds of gaming. There is just the choice of a TV, extra controllers, or VR headsets at the most on a console. In mobile gaming, the options further dwindle as there is already a screen present on all smartphones. For PC gamers, however, there are a lot of parameters to be considered. Not only what goes inside the cabinet, but what peripherals surround it as well.
Mousing away!
A keyboard and mouse set is considered perhaps the most crucial component of PC gaming. After all, controllers have only limited functionality. Many different kinds of hardware differentiate the peripherals, such as mechanical keyboards, optical mice, etc. But there is a hidden contributor to the game, which often proves to be the turning point for a player.
It is the humble mousepad. Hidden beneath the mouse and often covered by the player’s hands, a mousepad is relatively easy to overlook when watching your favourite gamer battle it out in a teeth-grinding match. The mousepad is what keeps the mouse going, consequently helping the player play better.
Logitech Mousepad
Is a mousepad necessary?
But what would happen if you were to game without a mousepad? To answer this question, let’s look back at the good old days of the trackball mouse. During its early days, the computer mouse had a rubber trackball underneath it, which the mouse used to track the user movements and translate them into on-screen pointer movements. Due to the rubber ball’s presence, it was okay for the user to keep the mouse on any surface as long as the ball could move freely.
In modern mice, the rubber ball has been replaced with an optical sensor. The sensor has enabled the manufacturers to make the mice smaller, sleeker, and much precise. However, due to the optical sensor being a light-based device, it needs a stable surface to work best on. While optical mice can also be placed on most screens, they work best when placed on a mouse pad. The mousepad has a uniform and dark surface that allows the mouse to get accurate user movements.
Trackball mouse
Although a mouse can function reasonably well without a mousepad, it’s not ideal. A good mousepad is usually black, soft, and sturdy. They have to be thick enough to compensate for any irregularities below them. Professional gaming mousepads are designed to work seamlessly with optical sensors, as most gaming mice use them. Gaming mousepads are dark and made of cloth material which is ideal for optical sensors. The soft cloth surface also gives slight friction when moving the mouse, so your aim won’t suddenly swing off unexpectedly due to an overly smooth desk surface.
No mousepad, no good!
Using your mouse without a mousepad over a long period can cause a lot of wear and tear, not only to your mouse but also to the surface below. A mouse can start to scratch or chip away at a cover when continuously used in the same spot. You could think of a mousepad as a coaster for your mouse. Mousepads are often soft and made of cloth, which can act as a cushion for your wrists. This wrist support allows you to use your mouse for longer hours with less strain.
Logitech Powerplay
Mousepads can have different surfaces, but the texture is the most crucial aspect for optical mice. Pads eliminate the imperfections of your desk, which can otherwise interrupt mouse movement. Thus, there is no denying that a mousepad is one of the most crucial components of PC usage. Not just in gaming, but mousepads also contribute to mouse health.
How often do you feel that your laptop is lacking a second screen? For those who do, Asus has come up with the perfect solution. With the new ZenBook Duo 14, Asus aims to fill the gap that the market didn’t know existed. But is it a value addition or a marketing gimmick? We got a chance to find out when we reviewed the Asus ZenBook Duo 14. Here’s how it went:
First impressions:
Asus is known for offering uber luxury and distinction, which the ZenBook Duo carries forward seamlessly. The laptop gets two almost same-sized screens that provide a ton of information without taking up a ton of space. Asus is offering the ZenBook Duo with two Intel processor options, both of which promise to handle large performance requirements.
Along with a plethora of connectivity options, the laptop also gets audio equipment certified by Harman Kardon. Surprisingly, all this hardware is packed in a compact shell and weighs 1.6 kg!
Usage:
The ZenBook Duo 14 gets a 14-inch LED-backlit Full HD display. It offers an immersive viewing experience with a four-sided frameless NanoEdge display that’s super-bright and has ultraslim bezels for an expansive 93% screen-to-body ratio. Asus has also given it the new 12.65-inch tilting ScreenPad Plus, a secondary touchscreen that automatically tilts up to a 7-degree angle, reducing glare and reflections for improved readability. It is equipped with the new ScreenXpert 2 software and offers a plethora of built-in apps. It also provides a new Control Panel app, enabling you to change brush size, saturation, adjust layer opacity, and much more. The control panel is fully customisable, and it works with Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom Classic, Premiere Pro and After Effects.
Connectivity options include a pair of the latest Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, a USB 3.2 Gen 1 port, an HDMI 1.4, an audio jack and a microSD card reader. The Thunderbolt 4 ports support Power Delivery and DisplayPort, and with their 40 Gbps bandwidth, you can connect an external 8K display or two 4K UHD displays.
Verdict:
With a price tag of Rs 1.2 lakh, the Asus ZenBook Duo 14 might not be a casual buy. But for a purpose-oriented buyer who knows exactly what he wants from the laptop, there is hardly any offering better suited than the ZenBook Duo. A small size, coupled with two large screens, might be off-putting for some, and the considerably small keyboard size might also hinder some people with large hands. Nevertheless, Asus has once again offered a strongman in a kid’s body!
This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the 1971 war victory, and Jawa Motorcycles has come to the fore to offer a tribute to the gallantry of our Forever Heroes. Continuing its #ForeverHeroes initiative, the brand has introduced two new colours of its modern classic Jawa to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the 1971 war victory.
To further contribute to the ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh’ celebrations throughout the year, Jawa Motorcycles will be a part of various celebratory rides with the Indian Army that mark important landmark occasions like Kargil Vijay Diwas, Battle of Turtuk and Battle of Longewala, with the Jawa Khakhi and Midnight Grey leading the charge. What makes these motorcycles unique is the commemorative emblem that features the prestigious Indian Army insignia flanked by a ‘laurel wreath’ symbolising the 1971 victory.
The two new colours honour the spirit of courage, service, and sacrifice of the Indian Army and embody the brave and bold spirit. The Jawa Khakhi signifies the spirit of selfless service to the nation by the men in uniform. On the other hand, the Jawa Midnight Grey is inspired by the Battle of Longewala, fought in the western frontier along the Rajasthan border. This battle played an essential role in India’s victory in the ’71 war. Brave soldiers from the Indian Army and BSF thwarted the enemy attack and defended our motherland, fighting bravely through the night. Jawa Midnight Grey is an ode to the bravery of these soldiers and the victory that we achieved on this night. The wheel and tyre sizes remain unchanged from before, but these motorcycles ride on blacked-out spoke rims to go with the overall black theme.
Setting the context for this Tribute, Anupam Thareja, Co-Founder, Classic Legends, said, “How we measure success as a company is not by how many motorcycles we sell. It is by how much we’re able to give back.”
Picking up from the sophisticated styling of the Jawa, the new Jawa Khakhi and Midnight Grey add a dark sophistication and a more outdoorsy feel to the Jawa character. Both shades are finished in matte and feature an all-black theme that runs across the motorcycle’s mechanical parts. The engine now features brushed fins adding to the attention to detail. The 1971 War Victory commemorative insignia occupies the place of pride on the fuel tank flanked by tricolour stripes.
The entire Jawa range features a new 293cc liquid-cooled and fuel-injected engine that makes 27 bhp of maximum power and 27 Nm of peak torque. It is mated to a six-speed transmission. The engine now features a repositioned lambda sensor that monitors internal and external variables more efficiently to give consistent performance and cleaner emissions regardless of any road condition. The throttle response has been made crisper to respond to even the slightest inputs with precision through improved fuelling. The overall result is a more linear performance across the rev range, with a noticeable punch in the mid-range resulting in stronger acceleration.
Presenting the two new colours of Jawa as a tribute to the 1971 victory, Ashish Singh Joshi, CEO, Classic Legends, said, “We have a special place in our heart for the men and women who protect our nation. We call them Forever Heroes and it’s the cornerstone of Jawa’s existence. It gives us immense pride to dedicate the Jawa Khakhi and Jawa Midnight Grey to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the 1971 war victory. As a company we are honoured to carry the Indian Army’s insignia on our motorcycles that will forever remind the riders of the bravery and sacrifices made by our soldiers to keep our motherland protected.”
The Jawa Khakhi & Midnight Grey will be available across Jawa Dealerships and priced at Rs 1,93,357 (ex-showroom). The new colours will only be available in the Dual ABS version.
Colorful Technology Company Limited recently launched the COLORFUL X15-AT gaming laptop powered by the latest 11th generation Intel Core processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics. The gaming laptop comes equipped with a 15.6-inch display with a 144Hz refresh rate and 100% sRGB coverage for fluid gameplays and vivid colours. It also features Thunderbolt 4 connectivity and fast Wi-Fi 6. It uses a durable CNC milled aluminium chassis with an ultra-thin 23.9mm thickness and weighs just 1.93 kilograms.
Powerful Configuration
The COLORFUL X15-AT gaming laptop comes with an 11th generation Intel Core i7-11800H 8-core, 16-thread processor with a boost clock of 4.6GHz. It is paired with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics. It comes with 16GB of DDR4 3200MHz memory – upgradeable up to 64GB memory. It also packs high-speed storage with a 512GB NVMe SSD rated with up to 2400MB/s speeds. It also features a Thunderbolt 4 port with up to 40Gbps transfer speed.
Gaming Display
The COLORFUL X15-AT is fitted with a 15.6-inch display with a 144Hz refresh rate for fluid gameplays. The display also has 100% sRGB coverage and 300 nits peak brightness for accurate colours and sharp images. It features a micro-edge screen design with an 86% screen-to-body ratio.
Storm Blade 3.0 Cooling with Freezing Mode
COLORFUL fitted the gaming laptop with the new Storm Blade 3.0 cooling technology with Freezing Mode. The thermal design features dual turbo fans, 10nm Superfans, and a high-performance heatsink with five heat pipes. The gaming laptop has a total of four cooling vents that improved airflow and cooling efficiency. For extreme cooling, users can activate Freezing Mode by pressing FN+1, which ramps up the cooling fans to turbo for maximum heat dissipation.
Anti-Skid RGB Backlit Keyboard
The X15-AT gaming laptop features an anti-skid RGB backlit keyboard with 15 RGB colour options with a 1.8mm travel distance and tactile feedback. It comes paired with a large trackpad – 30% larger than most gaming laptop trackpads.
Pricing
The COLORFUL X15-AT gaming laptop is expected to be launched at a starting price north of Rs 80,000. It should be available on e-commerce websites as well as retailers.
Nature has always inspired technology, and there is no denying that all our advancements are shameless mimics of Natural aspects. Nevertheless, “imitation is the best form of flattery,” and copying Nature is all too beneficial for humanity. To achieve a balance between technological advancements and our innate connection to nature, many automobile manufacturers worldwide are researching ways to blend natural processes with technology. Among them is Hyundai Motor Group, which recently announced a research collaboration Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). It explores new relationships between advanced technologies, public environments and personal experiences.
These interactions are defined as “adaptive ecologies”: the technological interfaces that exist between beings (such as living organisms and machines) and their surroundings (the vast spatial and material structures of nature). The joint study examines how artists and designers can use technology to build connections and shared experiences, covering topics ranging from community design and biomimicry, cellular life and biosensing to natural resource systems and infrastructures. Through RISD’s Research & Strategic Partnerships program, the partnership with Hyundai elevates the expertise of faculty and the experimental creativity of students to conceive of future realities.
“This collaboration aligns with Hyundai Motor Group’s vision of becoming a future-shaping innovator via open innovation. Last year, we collaborated with RISD to apply the school’s biomimicry solutions to the question of future mobility, and this year, we expanded our scope to the future city and pursued Group-wide collaboration with the participation of both Hyundai Motor and Kia’s global design centers. Our plan is to explore solutions developed from the outcomes of this partnership and apply them to tangible opportunities such as innovative vehicle design and smart city development,” said Dr Youngcho Chi, President and Chief Innovation Officer of Hyundai Motor Group.
This joint research project builds upon the new collaborative research platform created by RISD solely for Hyundai in 2020. In this second year of partnership, five faculty members at the world-renowned design school leveraged their expertise to explore study areas supported by 32 students. Students were selected through a highly competitive process involving 16 departments at RISD. The ten departments ultimately represented in the cohort include Architecture, Global Arts and Cultures, Graphic Design, Illustration, Industrial Design, Interior Architecture, Jewelry + Metalsmithing, Liberal Arts, Painting and Textiles. This year, a Hyundai task force created to support the students’ research included Hyundai Motor and Kia’s global design centres.
“Studying sustainability and taking responsibility for future generations is now a universal task. To keep a fundamentally new approach from the ground up through the Collaborative Research with RISD, the process of studying nature adapting and surviving changes allows us to draw a new optimal blueprint for our future,” said Mr Sangyup Lee, Senior Vice President and Head of Hyundai & Genesis Global Design Center.
“Cooperating and working with the brilliant staff and students at RISD is not only a mutual inspiration. We hope it can be the beginning of a new way of looking at design in general and integrating the lessons learned from nature in our industrial processes,” said Mr Karim A. Habib, Senior Vice President and Head of Kia Global Design Center.
Offering different perspectives and technological tools, four distinct areas of “adaptive ecologies” were examined: surfaces, societies, futures and textile research.
Adaptive Ecologies: Bio-Interactive Surfaces
Faculty lead: Katia Zolotovsky, Digital + Media
This group examined the applications of programmable living cell technology and biosensing. Designs include interactive surfaces to facilitate communication between humans and their surroundings for a healthier and sustainable future. Researchers experimented with various material systems to host biochemical interactions, such as microfluidics, biomaterials and fabrics—interactive surfaces range from responsive textiles to urban displays.
Faculty leads Soojung Ham, Industrial Design and Ryan McCaffery, Architecture.
In studying the reciprocal relationships between natural ecosystems and the infrastructures of our built environments, this group worked with models and scenario-based planning, examining how designs can transform these technologically mediated environments into new experiences and forms of social value.
Adaptive Ecologies: Envisioning Futures
Faculty lead: Rafael Attias, Illustration
This group explored how to visualise complex information by developing multidimensional concepts, exploring new modes for narrative through simulation, crossover experimentation, collaborative processes and connective environments. Student researchers used the visual expression, interactive media, sound, animation and spatial concepts.
Adaptive Ecologies: Fabric Connections
Faculty lead: Joy Ko, Textiles
This study is a personal, critical exploration of the interactions between information technology and aspects of everyday life: our bodies, the textiles in which we envelop ourselves, communities in physical and networked mediated space. This group looked at analysing and understanding human behaviour through tracking, sensing and mapping tools to guide the generation of “fabric” in its broadest sense ranging from textiles that empower personal data to community design in virtual reality.
At RISD’s Edna W. Lawrence Nature Lab, staff worked with Hyundai and RISD faculty and students on design topics, including biomimicry, biomaterials, and biosystems applications. Additional support in research activities came from Co-Works, RISD’s interdisciplinary research lab focused on emerging technologies.
This summer, 18 researchers who have previously participated in the Hyundai Research Collaborative will spend eight weeks of intensive, continued activity on expanding Future of Cities research from spring 2021 through collaboration with the design team at Hyundai Motor and Kia. An exhibition is tentatively planned for fall 2021 to share the results of these collaborations.
Today, Jaguar Land Rover India announced that following a successful Defender 110, Defender 90 is now available in India. The Defender 90 is available in three powertrain options. These include a 2.0 l petrol delivering 296 bhp and 400 Nm of peak torque, a 3.0 l petrol producing 394 bhp and torque of 550 Nm and a 3.0 l diesel delivering 296 kW and 650 Nm.
Rohit Suri, President and Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover India, said, “Demand for Defender 110 continues to be strong and introduction of Defender 90 will further enhance the appeal of Defender and the Land Rover brand. We are extremely excited to introduce the epitome of iconic Land Rover design, the Defender 90. It is the toughest and most capable Land Rover ever made and provides new age connectivity with unstoppable off-road performance.”
The Defender 90 offers six-seat practicality thanks to the innovative front central jump seat. It embraces 21st-century technologies and features Land Rover’s Pivi infotainment system with an intuitive interface and backup battery for always-on responses. Advanced software-over-the-air updates also ensure customers benefit from the latest software at all times, wherever they are in the world.
Configurable Terrain Response allows drivers to fine-tune the vehicle’s set-up to suit the precise off-road conditions like never before. The Terrain Response 2 system also includes a new Wade programme to provide the ultimate reassurance when driving through water by optimizing all vehicle systems accordingly.
The Defender 90 is available in several models, including Defender, X-Dynamic and Defender X. Furthermore, Defender and X-Dynamic will come with S, SE and HSE Specification Packs.
Customers will be able to personalize their vehicle in more ways than any previous Land Rover with four Accessory Packs. These include the Explorer, Adventure, Country and Urban Packs, giving each Defender a distinct character with a specially selected range of enhancements. Prices of the Defender 90 start from Rs 76.57 lakh, ex-showroom in India.
BMW Motorrad recently launched the updated 1250 GS twins in India. Along with aesthetic updates, the off-roaders also get a host of electronic and mechanical updates. Here are some of the most interesting ones:
The new BMW R 1250 GS and R 1250 GS Adventure get light white solid paint and ice grey solid colour in their respective basic colour versions.
The optional Style Triple Black enhances the two motorcycles with the Blackstorm metallic/black / agate grey colour combination.
The limited ‘40 Years GS’ edition scheme is dedicated to the ‘40 Years GS’ anniversary. It honours the iconic BMW R 100 GS and comes in black and yellow.
New lighting functions, cruising light, and function-integrated turn indicator bulbs are available as optional equipment.
Both models feature the powerful 1254cc, twin-cylinder in-line Boxer engine, producing 136 bhp with a maximum torque of 143 Nm.
The variable camshaft control BMW ShiftCam is a new technology that increases power across the entire engine speed range.
It also offers reduced emission and fuel consumption levels, optimised running smoothness and refinement.
The standard Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) ensures the best possible traction.
The set-off assistant Hill Start Control Pro (HSC Pro) is a standard feature in both models and noticeably improves the starting function in all conditions.
Comfort features now include heated grips, two power sockets as standard for charging smartphones and other compatible devices.
A 12-volts onboard socket is installed under the rider’s seat. A USB-A socket with a 5-volt power supply is also available for quick charging.
Both motorcycles are equipped with a 6.5-inch full-colour TFT display. Integrating operation via the BMW Motorrad multi-controller gives the rider quick access to vehicle and connectivity functions.
Riders can use phone and media functions without having to install an app.
In addition, the BMW Motorrad Connected app offers everyday-suitable and practice-oriented arrow navigation directly via the TFT display.
The new BMW R 1250 GS and the new BMW R 1250 GS Adventure will be available as Completely Built-up Units (CBU) and can be booked at BMW Motorrad dealerships with a base price of Rs 20.45 lakhs (ex-showroom)
If there is a brand synonymous with variety, it has to be Samsung. Right from bank-breaking technological marvels to pocket-friendly mobiles, the Korean tech giant has something for everyone. Its latest offering is the Galaxy M32, which we recently got our hands on. With a price tag comfortably below the 20k mark, let’s see if this smartphone is yay or meh.
First impressions:
The box it comes in is quite simplistic and not extravagant, which is evident for a smartphone in this price range. Apart from the smartphone, users will also get a charger, ejector pin and manual.
The phone itself is Light Blue and gets 4GB RAM and 64GB of storage. Although it has a 16.21 cm display, its rounded corners reduce the overall size to 15.87 cm. Not that it is terrible, but it is still a compromise. That said, the Super AMOLED Display does ensure all details are vividly seen.
Usage:
Holding the phone is a breeze due to its ergonomic design. That said, I have always been against fingerprint sensors on the lock screen, but that’s just my personal opinion. The phone doesn’t make its weight felt despite being packed with intensive hardware.
The Galaxy M32 gets a quad-camera setup at the back, with a 64-megapixel primary sensor, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide shooter, a 2-megapixel macro shooter, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. A 20-megapixel front camera ensures the most explicit selfies with bright colours. The camera quality is not the best-in-class, but it offers everything to desire in its segment.
Verdict:
Samsung Galaxy M32 packs a 6,000mAh battery claimed to deliver up to 130 hours of music playback, 40 hours of talk time, or 25 hours of video playback on a single charge. The phone also supports 25W fast charging, though it is bundled with a 15W charger in the box.
With a starting price tag of Rs 13399, the phone seems like a good offer. But we’ll have to use it for a while before passing the final verdict!
