Author: Aneesha Kochar

TikTok is The Best Social Platform for THIS Reason

So what’s trending? That’s what everyone wants to know about, especially on TikTok. While a lot of you use it, the ones who don’t might possibly have some preconceived notions about it. By that we mean the ‘not very good’ notions. The platform has been judged by many and while that has been for all the right reasons, there’s something about TikTok that no other platform has. Let’s figure out what that is.

We have Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and the not-so-popular-anymore Twitter when we want to post content. We love to portray a specific image of ourselves in order to be ‘liked’, literally. Here’s why TikTok is the breath of fresh air amidst all the ‘good looking’ social media platforms. 

  • It breaks stereotypes

Not only is the platform very unique with it’s 15 sec and 60 sec short video format but is also unique in its audience. It is open to ALL and the audience literally welcomes ALL. The platform is used as much by a rickshaw puller as is used by a doctor. It is used as much by a fitness model as is by those with imperfect bodies who promote a message against ‘body shaming’. While a lot of people are of the opinion that the platform is full of generation Z showing off their multicolored hair and grooving an odd move to a sexually explicit song, you need to dive in to actually see what the generation Z is actually doing. They’re promoting messages of anti-racism, love for the LGBTQ community and a lot more that we all can learn from. There’s no other platform that authentically breaks stereotypes without any pretence than TikTok.

  • EVERYONE is the audience

From 14 year olds to 80 year olds and everything in between can be seen doing their thing. There’s an audience for everyone because literally, everyone is the audience. This makes TikTok’s content very very broad and there’s always something for everyone. From makeup artists to phenomenally talented dancers from small villages in some corner of the world, everyone has a voice that can be heard by everyone. Isn’t that a really good thing? 

  • EVERYONE is allowed to be who they are?

While there’s so much pretence and so much care taken about how you look and appear before you switch on your expensive DSLR to capture one picture for Instagram, TikTok audience doesn’t care. They only want to see good content. If you’re talented or have something good to offer, they don’t care how you look or if you’re rich or poor. That makes the platform free of judgement. Status, gender, appearance no bar. You’re free to be who you are and you’ll not be shamed but accepted with open arms. Makes you feel at home, doesn’t it? 

  • The Talent you see will put your Judgements to Shame

While most platforms are about pictures and videos, the formats, sound effects, music and filters you see on TikTok allow you to do much more. So if you thought a Rashmi from Jaunpur can’t rap because ‘Does she even know English?’, you’re so wrong. This is one place where you’ll see so much talent from every corner of the world that it will urge you to showcase what you can do too! The energy and positivity is phenomenal. 

These are the four major reasons why you should download TikTok and check it out. Now before you think ‘TikTok is for kids who want to show the new pair of red and yellow sneakers they bought’, read point number 3 again. It’s only when you put your judgement aside will you be able to see all that we just told you. After all, it’s not only unfair but also dangerous to live with assumptions! 

Microsoft is Replacing Employees with AI

Until yesterday (not literally but almost) AI was a fancy word that was too far fetched to be true so soon. I mean robots and the likes were only a thing in the movies, right? Replacing humans? You must be kidding me!

No, we aren’t kidding you because not only has Artificial Intelligence – AI started rooting itself in our minds but has also begun to create waves in the real work world. Now, these waves are pleasant for some while a Tsunami for many others. 

For instance and for news, Microsoft has taken over the job of taking everyone’s job. We mean that they’ve replaced dozens of journalists with artificial intelligence. This means that journalists have been fired. We are talking about the employees who maintained the homepages on Microsoft’s MSN website and its Edge browser. They have been told (indirectly, of course) that robots will most definitely do a better job than them. Is there really a subtle way to say this? We aren’t sure. 

Around 27 employees at PA Media were told that they have only a month’s time to say goodbye after Microsoft decided to make AI the star employee of the month, year, decade and so on.. and to stop employing real people to select, edit and curate news articles on all the homepages.

Is this notice too short? Of course. Besides the fact that AI has been in the news since quite some time now and there has been a lot of talk around how it will replace humans in so many ways, employees didn’t expect it to happen this fast. They also didn’t expect Microsoft to give such a short notice. They’re not surprised as they knew this would come sooner or later but they’re startled because it’s too sudden. 

Humans over Artificial Intelligence AI

In defense of humans over Artificial Intelligence, one employee deemed the decision extremely risky, as the AI might not be able to deliver results as per the “very strict editorial guidelines” which can only be adhered to by humans at all possible times. Use of AI could lead to violent or inappropriate content being presented on opening the browser and there could be an underage person sitting on the other end of the screen. 

Well, only time will tell who beats whom but we know one thing for sure. The fight is real. With so much happening across the world where we have a fight against racism and a pandemic, here we are in a fight against tech too! Human beings or AI? Who do you think will be the real winner here? 

Smartphone Launches during Lockdown

While the lockdown put a stop to everything in India, 5 Smartphone makers didn’t let the virus affect their plans. While on-ground events and gatherings were of course, a big ‘no’, the online world was ready to be the platform and the audience. 

If purchasing a new Smartphone is on your to-do list right now, here’s a list of recent launches that could help you make a quick decision. 

 

1. OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro

Picture credits: www.oneplus.in

The launch of the much awaited 8 was a global online event on 14th of April. On 19th, the pricing for India was announced. OnePlus has never disappointed with the quality and with the 8, it has only gone a step further with the premium feel and smooth experience. If you’re willing to shell out 41,999 INR and up, then the OnePlus 8 series is good for you. 

 

2. Xiaomi Mi 10

Picture credits: www.mi.com

Who doesn’t love Xiaomi? With great quality and affordable pricing, Xiaomi has always kept its fans happy and increasing in number with every new launch. Xiaomi Mi 10 is no exception. It was launched on 8th of May and directly competes with the OnePlus 8 series. The biggest plus with Xiaomi Mi 10 is that it offers 5G support too. So, it is future-ready! It could set your bank balance back by 49,999 INR which is the starting price. If budget is your constraint, OnePlus 8 is worth considering but if the features are what you’re looking at and are willing to shell out the extra bucks, Mi 10 is worth every penny. 

 

3. Apple iPhone SE

Picture credits: www.apple.com

Nothing has ever stopped Apple from doing its thing, then how could the lockdown ruin its plans to launch the SE? The Apple A13 Bionic chipset is what Apple fans have been waiting for and the wait got over on 15th of April. The display is quite small at 4.7 inches only so if you’re okay with that, then the size won’t be any problem. A budget iPhone is rare so this is for grabs if you’re wanting an Apple iPhone but can’t afford the other variants. The price of the SE starts at 42,500 INR and is quite a steal for an Apple product. 

 

4. RealMe Narzo Series

Picture credits: www.realme.com

RealMe has so many fans. There are plenty of reasons for that. Great quality and features at very affordable prices. Who wouldn’t want to bet their money on RealMe Smartphones? The Narzo 10 series is the latest one that you can set your eyes on. The prices start at only 8,499 INR and the Smartphones are too good for the price. The Narzo series was launched on the 11th of May. Both, the Narzo 10 and the Narzo 10A are available for purchase. Take a pick! 

 

5. Poco F2 Pro

Picture courtesy: www.xiaomitoday.com

The newfound love Poco has been popular ever since the very first release. When everyone knows that the brand has been derived from Xiaomi, it becomes easy to assume that the quality will always be top-notch. It has been true and the new Poco F2 Pro that was launched globally on 12th of May lives up to all the expectations. It is all set to launch in India on the 19th of June. While everyone is eagerly waiting for it to be available for purchase, let us tell you that for all that it offers, it is quite affordable. The expected price is around 41,000 INR. Just like the F1, the F2 fails to disappoint. If you haven’t made up your mind yet, wait for this one to launch and then you can make your final decision. 

How to Install Android 11 on your Smartphone

The Android 11 Developer Preview is out and we can’t even! First things first. If you have a compatible pixel Smartphone then you can get it right now. You’re all excited and waiting for the steps involved but a word of caution here. This is a beta version so expect a lot of bugs and incomplete features. Also, if anything goes wrong, your device might go Kaput. So, while you have all the anticipation of the great stuff it has to offer, be also aware of the risks you’re taking. It is advisable to try this on your second device. We advise you against downloading android 11 on your main Smartphone. 

Which Android phones are compatible for Android 11?

  • Google Pixel 2
  • Google Pixel 2 XL
  • Google Pixel 3
  • Google Pixel 3 XL
  • Google Pixel 3a
  • Google Pixel 3a XL
  • Google Pixel 4
  • Google Pixel 4 XL

If you own any of these smartphones, you can go ahead with downloading Android 11. Here’s how you can do that. 

  1. Enable the developer options on your Pixel smartphone. How to do that? Go to Settings > About Phone > Tap on Build Number 10 times. This enables the developer options for your android phone.
  2. Go back and tap System > Advanced > Developer options. Enable OEM unlocking here. After that, scroll down and enable USB debugging.
  3. Now for the work on your computer. Open Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge version 79 or above, and visit the Android developer preview website.
  4. If you’re using a Windows 10 computer, download the Google USB Driver for Windows for the flashing process. No additional drivers are needed for Mac.
  5. Connect your phone to your computer and on the Android developer, preview website click on the Android Flash Tool Link next to your device name.
  6. Click OK on the pop-up page that asks for permission. On your android phone, tap ‘allow’ for USB debugging. This will authenticate your device and your smartphone is now connected. In case your phone isn’t connected, click on Add New Device > a pop-up will appear, click on your phone’s name > click Connect. Tap Allow on the pop-up on your android phone. Your phone is now connected.
  7. After your phone is connected, click on the box where your phone’s name appears. On the next page you’ll see the pencil icon that you need to click, next to Selected Build. Here you will be able to enable the Lock Bootloader option if you want to ensure that your phone’s bootloader is locked once the process is finished. And it’s finally time to hit install!
  8. You’ll now be asked to avoid interacting with your phone. Confirm and click ‘I Accept’.
  9. You’ll be asked to Factory reset your phone. Click ‘yes’ on your computer and Tap ‘Allow’ on your android phone.
  10. Your Smartphone will now reboot to its bootloader screen. You’ll also see the current status of your phone on your computer screen.
  11. While waiting you might see a pop-up on the computer screen asking you to reselect your device. This is a possibility if you’re flashing your phone for the first time. Click ‘Reselect device’. You’ll see another pop-up. Click Android > Connect > you’ll see one more pop-up asking you to unlock the bootloader, click Start.
  12. On your phone’s screen, navigate to unlock the bootloader with the volume keys and select it by hitting the power button. The Android 11 download will now start. You can track the progress on your computer’s screen.
  13. Once Android 11 is downloaded and finished installing, you’ll be asked to lock your phone’s bootloader. Click Start and select ‘Lock the Bootloader’ on your smartphone. Navigate with the volume keys and select by clicking the power button. Lastly, tap done on your computer’s screen.
  14. Now you have to wait till your phone reboots. Once this is done, your computer shows a message that reads ‘Software successfully updated’. (Yayyy!!) You can then start setting up your device and unplug it from the computer.

Now that your device is set up, you now have a Pixel phone that runs Android 11 along with the latest security patch!

These steps might look like they’re a lot of work but believe it or not, the whole process is really simple. Once you download Android 11, you can enjoy testing it out! Are there any bugs? Are the features good? We will be happy to know from you! After all, you’re the early birds to enjoy Android 11 right now. Throw some light on what can be expected. We are waiting! 

Not Everything Chinese is a Virus

Well, the halt of Chinese products and the promotion of ‘Make in India’ was not just a hype after all. Looking at the current scenario, who would want to invest in Chinese businesses? We’d rather sustain our own economy right now. Since, China is very much the centre of attention for all the wrong reasons right now, we have another legit reason for you to say good bye to all things Chinese. These Chinese apps could be spreading a pandemic in your phone right now. Get rid of them, we suggest. It’s not only us but the government agrees too. 

Caution: There’s not five or ten of them. There’s a whopping 42 Chinese apps that could be spyware or malware. 

There are also some alarming and ironic facts that we will talk about but first let’s see which are the apps in your phone that need to go to trash right now.

  • Weibo (Time to say ‘We Go’)
  • WeChat (Time to sing We don’t Chat anymore)
  • SHAREIt (Shares more than you want it to)
  • UC News (gives your news to spies)
  • UC Browser (knows what’s happening in your house while you browse)
  • BeautyPlus (Minus privacy of course)
  • NewsDog (Don’t be the dog)
  • Viva Video (We ‘no’ video)
  • Parallel Space (And parallel spying)
  • APUS browser (Read again. It’s not ASUS) 
  • Perfect Corp (with imperfect intentions)
  • Virus Cleaner (more like virus installer?)
  • CM Browser (Chief Malware browser?)
  • Mi Community (Of spies!)
  • DU Recorder (Ewww Recorder)
  • Vault-Hide (Sensitive Details SHOW)
  • YouCam MakeUp (You CAN’T)
  • Mi Store (of Malware)
  • CacheClear DU Apps Studio (Cash clear?)
  • DU Battery Saver (Data drainer?)
  • DU Cleaner (Wiping out your private data!)
  • DU Privacy (not so private after all)
  • 360 security (against your info!)
  • DU Browser (click bait!)
  • Clean Master – Cheetah Mobile (Maybe, as fast as a Cheetah when it comes to compromising your data?)
  • Baidu translate (translating your data for cyber attacks)
  • Baidu Map (tracking all your moves)
  • Wonder Camera (makes you wonder where your info got leaked)
  • ES File Explorer (ES File Destroyer)
  • Photo Wonder (All those selfies aren’t private to you)
  • QQ International (International spies)
  • QQ Player (playing with your data)
  • QQ NewsFeed (feeding someone else with your news)
  • WeSync (Your data with our intentions)
  • QQ Security Centre (Securing Malware on your device)
  • SelfieCity (Selfish City?)
  • Mail Master (Malware Master)
  • QQ Launcher (Launching viruses on your phone)
  • Mi Video call (Your and everyone else’s video call is in trouble)

That’s a very long list there. These Chinese apps aren’t banned but it is advisable to delete them if you have installed them on your phone. If you haven’t, we have you reasons enough to not install them. 

Do you see a strange and ironic finding?

Most of these apps are anti-virus apps. It definitely makes you less suspicious of them. Who can imagine that an app that’s supposed to rid your phone of viruses will end up infecting it instead? Now that you know that these apps could be a threat, there shouldn’t be a doubt. 

The one that’s caught off guard in this controversial and factual news is Xiaomi. We all love Xiaomi and all its offerings to us but since this has instilled some amount of fear against the use of Mi apps, it could mean ‘crisis’ management time for Xiaomi. For those who trust the brand, continuation of use will be seen but it will be hard to instill the same trust in new buyers. Let’s see how Xiaomi handles the situation.

Another brand that everyone was shocked to see on the list is TrueCaller. However, before things got out of hand, Sweden based TrueCaller said in their defense: “In response to certain reports, we would like to clarify that we are a Sweden based company. We are not sure why the app is on this list, but we’re investigating. Truecaller is not a malware, and all our features are permission-based and are disabled by default.” This statement is believable because TrueCaller is a Swedish brand but it does make everyone wonder why it was on the list. 

As of now, there’s no concrete evidence or proof for the public at least. However, the government has listed these as threats and we must avoid the risk unless we want our phones to also be hit by a pandemic. Just saying. I mean it isn’t that important to take Selfies with a SelfieCity, right?

What is 5G? How does 5G technology work?

There is so much talk about 5G across the globe. It has been in the tech news for quite some time but a lot of us still don’t know all the details. What is this 5G technology? How does it work? Let’s decode this next-gen tech and see how it will revolutionize forthcoming mobile phone generations. 

For a simple start, 5G is the fifth generation of mobile networks. It is an evolution of the current 4th generation LTE networks. With the growing connectivity in the world, imagine billions of devices connected to each other with a network and mind of their own. The existing 4G network is fast enough already. Now imagine something faster than that, that too with a faster response time. Sounds cool! Doesn’t it? Now let’s see how all of it works. 

First, let’s understand a term called latency. It is the time taken by devices to respond to each other over a wireless network. Now if you thought all the celebration and hype around 5G isn’t worth your while, check this out:

  • 3G network response time – 100 milliseconds.
  • 4G network response time – 30 milliseconds. 
  • 5G network response time – 1 millisecond. 

Read that again. 1 MILLISECOND. Imagine an almost zero wait time, zero lag and everything happening in actual real time. 

So what will this ultra small wait time help us with?

  • Internet of Things! Machine to machine communication will become unbelievably fast and imagine a whole world of machines interacting with each other without any human intervention!
  • Unbelievably reliable low latency communications.
  • Enhanced mobile broadband. 

Imagine a world of smart farms, cities, schools, villages. 5G is about to shrink the world further and it seems to provide comfort to lives, businesses and communities like one has never imagined before. 

Now with so much to offer, how do 5G networks work? 

Initially, 5G networks will have to work with 4G networks to ensure a continuous connectivity. 

Getting deeper into the technical aspects; a mobile network has two main components, the ‘Radio Access Network’ and the ‘Core Network’.

The Radio Access Network – 

It comprises of an array of facilities that include small cells, towers, masts and home systems that connect mobile users and wireless devices to the main core network.

Small cells are a major feature of 5G networks especially at the new millimetre wave (mmWave) frequencies. Here, the connection range is very short. Small cells will be distributed in clusters to provide a continuous connection. 

5G Macro Cells will use MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) antennae which have multiple connections in order to send and receive more data simultaneously. The benefit to us is that more people can connect to the network at the same time while getting the same, rich output.

The Core Network 

This is the mobile exchange and data network which has the job of managing all of the mobile voice, data and internet connections. Most of the advanced features of 5G including network slicing for various applications and services will be managed in the core. 

Network Slicing 

This enables a smart way to segment the network for a particular business or application. 

Network Function Virtualization (NVF) 

This is the ability to instantiate network functions in real time for any location within the operator’s cloud platform. Network functions that used to run on dedicated hardware will now be able to operate on software on a virtual machine. NVF is extremely important for speed efficiency to support new business applications.

This is all the basic tech that goes into operations of 5G networks.

Now imagine a world where you don’t have to wait for a page to load. That’s just the tip of the iceberg and that’s the least of the best that 5G can do for you. Let our imagination dream big. Now imagine a world where you don’t have to operate anything in your house and all of those machines work on their own as and when needed. That’s what we’re talking about. Maybe even bigger and better things are in store for us with 5G. Only time will tell if it’s a boon or a bane. After all, we are all going to become super lazy with so much tech at our disposal. However, with all those perks, we aren’t really complaining. Are we? 

 

Touchless Technology Saves the Day

Since everything is revolving around Coronavirus, it’s treatment and the ‘new normal’, let’s think about what the world might look like if technology was to evolve too. I mean, if besides social distancing, we were to maintain a distance from gadgets too, yet operate them at the same time, how would it be?

While touchscreen technology has been around for more than a decade now, we can hardly imagine life without it. Touchscreen phones, tabs, laptops, everything. Since viruses (especially Coronavirus) and other microorganisms tend to live on surfaces, can we really control a breakout of the same by coming up with ‘touchless’ technology?

Fast-forward to 2025 and I’m leaving to buy some groceries. I simply wink at my car door to open it. A ‘wink and blink’ technology. Cool, quick and efficient. Isn’t it? I remember registering my eyelid for anti-theft certification. It was a long process and my eye did hurt but we have to be cautious. It is better to have my eye hurt than contract Coronavirus. Now I can be sure that neither will my car be stolen nor will I contract Coronavirus (at least not by touching the surface of my car). What a relief.

I am back home and it is time to check my phone. It is at my work desk and I only have to wave ‘hello’ to it for its screen to appear on my TV – the big screen experience! I feel super lazy for not even lifting my hand to touch the phone but that’s what all of this new Touchless technology is about! Besides, my hand already hurts from waving ‘hello’. And now that the display is on the big screen, I’d finish a few tasks and enter a Zoom call for my official meeting. Let’s go with checking my social media accounts first. To enter my Instagram account, I simply make a ‘duck face’, for TikTok I need to make an exaggerated dance move and for Twitter, I need to speak a strong opinion for a ’cause’. Touchless technology is that simple! Crazy, isn’t it? For the Zoom call thereafter, I simply make an ‘It’s Monday again’ face and there we go. I’m beginning to think that why wasn’t Touchless technology always a way of life?

The whole of my face and body hurt right now by making all those expressions and gestures so it’s a free workout session every day too! That’s quite a bonus. I’m not complaining. What I’m thinking about is just this, that if we were winking at our cars without this ‘touchless’ technology, it would be so odd. Think about making that ‘it’s Monday again’ face to login to Zoom meetings and getting fired by your boss.

Well, so much for avoiding pandemics. We’re afraid of the touch but I guess we should be more afraid of the ‘touchless’ unless we want to get weirder, looted by tech companies for the new technology and well, more susceptible to a mental care rehabilitation centre. We’re okay with building herd immunity for now, I guess?

Driving NASA to Space – Elon Musk’s SpaceX

While you all were thinking of all the controversies and downfall that Elon Musk must’ve seen in the last two years, he launched yet another milestone, literally. SpaceX successfully launched NASA astronauts into space! 

Elon Musk and the team have been working on this dream for the last 18 years and on 30th May of 2020, the automobile tycoon’s SpaceX launched astronauts beyond the skies. The Falcon 9 rocket left Launch Complex 39A carrying two astronauts, Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley. This marked history for Elon Musk as SpaceX became the very first private company to have launched astronauts for NASA. 

With all of this, if all goes well, SpaceX will also begin launching astronauts not only for NASA but other space agencies and private companies. The first operational Crew Dragon mission, called Crew-1, is expected to launch to the ISS on or around Aug. 30, with 3 NASA astronauts and 1 astronaut from the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency. 

A test dummy named Ripley was onboard Demo-1 that was launched previously in March 2019 with no real astronauts on board. This was for a week-long test. Elon Musk has been extremely overwhelmed with emotion and when someone’s hard work does pay off, it definitely is a victory worth all the emotions and celebrations. 

While the return is more important than entry, Musk and team are geared up to ensure that the reentry is safe and only then will he consider it to be a true victory. Elon Musk has earned quite a reputation over the years. Tesla fans are many and now SpaceX is all set to create a wave of new fandom. He has shown remarkable resilience even during tough times and his crisis management skills have proven to be unparalleled. After all, courage is the true virtue that one must live by. 

Amidst all the Coronavirus chaos that the world has been hit really hard with, there’s consolation here in this huge achievement that showcases what all a human being can do. It is all about setting goals and following through to achieve them. Elon Musk has set an example for all to follow. 

Leaving you with a positive note by Adidas – ‘Impossible is nothing’. 

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