Author: Aparajit Shastri

Automotive journalist and tech fanatic. Take him out for a drive, and you will notice him nit-picking even the minutest of details in a car.

Canon unveils EOS R10 in an experiential #FindYourStory event series

Inspiring content creators across India, Canon unveils EOS R10 in an experiential #FindYourStory event series

The multi-city campaign aims to empower content creators not only with the knowledge of Canon’s latest vlogging camera but also upskill them.

Canon has introduced its one of a kind immersive event series titled #FindYourStory for content creators powered by its latest vlogging camera, the EOS R10. This multi city initiative is aimed to not only familiarizing creators with Canon’s avant-garde vlogging technology, but also upscale the skills required to create exceptional content through specialized workshops by industry leading mentors.

With the tremendous rise of digital technology and proliferation of social media across the globe, content-creation has witnessed a pivotal growth empowered by local storylines. In an endeavor to unlock the potential of creators across India, the event will take place across top 20 towns in the next few months

Appealing to the millennial audience, the first leg of the series was kickstarted at the Museo Camera Centre for Photographic Arts in Gurugram. To curate an exclusive preview for the EOS R10, the invite only event provided customers with a hands-on experience and included riveting workshops by Canon EOS Ambassadors, leading influencers Isa Khan and Niki Mehra and workshops by Sennheiser and Instagram.

Mr. Manabu Yamazaki, President and CEO, Canon India and Mr. C Sukumaran, Senior Director- Consumer Systems Products and Imaging Communication Business, Canon India unveil the vlogging heartthrob EOS R10 and kick-start the #FindYourStory event series at Museo Camera Centre for the Photographic Arts, Gurugram

Commenting on the activation, Mr. Manabu Yamazaki, President and CEO, Canon India, said “At Canon, we lay great impetus on the growth of photography and videography culture through our innovative product line-up and customer centric market activations. In recent times, we have seen social media democratize the field of content creation across regions and borders. Catering to this segment, we are extremely elated to unveil the latest EOS R10, the perfect companion for content creators and further bring forth initiatives that can help their career grow manifold. Understanding the huge potential that content creator/vlogger segment holds in today’s time, our vision is to empower and upskill the influencer community with focused products and workshops that help them conquer the world of creativity.”

Speaking about the #FindYourStory initiative, he further adds, “This experiential activation is in sync with our larger focus of striking the right chords with the millennial customer group. With the EOS R10, we aim to meet the diverse needs of content creators while serving as an affordable entry-point into Canon’s EOS R system mirrorless technology. Compact and powerful, the Canon EOS R10 is best suited for content creators to #FindTheirStory and narrate it in unique ways through everyday vlogs, reels and shoot in any given environment.”

While the workshops at the event helped enhance product knowledge, it also entailed a number of Instagrammable thematic zones where creators could put their skills to test. Content shot exclusively on the newly unveiled EOS R10 was projected across the event, enticing customers to witness a world of unimaginable creation now possible with the lightweight EOS R10.

Its compact size, built-in popup-style flash and microphone make the EOS R10 the finest choice for vloggers and photo enthusiasts. Whether you are a parent looking to capture precious moments of your child’s milestones; an avid traveller looking for a compact shooting experience; or someone hoping to start your own YouTube channel; the EOS R10 is designed to help create captivating photos and videos with ease.

Superior Image Quality: EOS R10’s new 24.2 megapixel APS-C sensor is designed to provide additional telephoto effect by increasing the focal length by approximately 1.6x while retaining its resolution of 24.2-megapixels, allowing even more creative freedom for post-processing. With a wide normal ISO speed range of 100 to 32 000, the EOS R10 can deliver clean low-noise images even in low-light situations.

High Speed, High Precision: It can perform high-speed continuous shooting at up to 15 fps with the mechanical shutter with AF/AE tracking. The high-speed burst of up to 23fps with the silent electronic shutter* is useful for situations such as concerts, interviews, and wildlife photography. Shutter sound can be activated for electronic shutter if required.

Intelligent Tracking and Recognition: Accurately tracks what matters most. The EOS R10 inherits EOS R3’s ability to differentiate elements within the frame and determine which subject to track. The EOS R10 can recognise people, vehicles and animals – such as cats, dogs and birds – tracking them as they move anywhere in the frame.

Vlog on the Move: The EOS R10 records uncropped 4K UHD movies processed from rich 6K RGB data for higher image quality with less moiré and minimal colour distortion and noise.

In-Camera Panorama: For the first time in EOS cameras, the Panorama Shot (SCN mode) feature is now available in the EOS R10. Create breathtaking panorama shots in-camera. Capture up to 200 shots at a time and let the camera merge them to form a high-resolution, high-quality panorama shot.

In-Camera Focus Bracketing: By using the Focus Bracketing feature in the EOS R10, users can set a range from 2 – 999 shots to achieve wider depth of field within a scene.

Portable Build: Designed to be lightweight and compact, the EOS R10 uses a sturdy aluminum alloy body for its internal structure to keep the weight at only 429g.

 

About Canon Group

Ever since its foundation in 1937, Canon is guided by the ‘Kyosei’ philosophy of living and working together for the common good. Canon strives to create and deliver world-class products, becoming a top global corporation by diversifying into new business fields throughout the world. Focusing on optical technologies, Canon produces office equipment, consumer and professional imaging devices, network cameras, healthcare, and industrial equipment. Through the close connection between its global head office in Tokyo and regional headquarters in America, Europe, Asia, Oceania, and regional headquarters in Japan, Canon combines its global and local operations organically. In 1996, Canon launched its Excellent Global Corporation Plan to serve society with advanced technologies and become a trustworthy and responsible corporate citizen. The year 2016 was the first year of Phase 5 of the Plan. Currently, Canon boasts a strong global presence of 376 subsidiaries all over the world, supported by 197,776 employees. (Data as of December 31, 2017)

 

About Canon India

Canon India Pvt. Ltd. is the sales and marketing subsidiary of Canon Inc., a world leader in imaging technologies. Set up in 1997, Canon India markets a comprehensive range of sophisticated contemporary digital imaging products and solutions in India. The company today has offices in 10 cities across India with warehousing facilities at 6 locations and employs over 1000 staff and over 850 channel partners. Canon India enjoys a vast retail presence across the country through Image Square stores, PIXMA Zones and BIS Lounges. Canon India’s service reach extends to over 632 towns covering 19,118 PIN codes across India – which comprises of 188 Camera collection points, 15 Camera repair centers, 294 Printer repair centers, 191 Copier, Scanner and Large Format Printer Sales & Service dealers. (Data as of 19 April 2022)

 

In sync with its corporate tagline- ‘Delighting You Always’, reinforced by World-class technology, Canon offers an extended product portfolio, including Digital Production Printers, Large Format Printers, Commercial Printers, Multi-Functional Devices, Managed Document Services, Inkjet & Laser Printers, Document and Cheque Scanners, Digital Cameras, DSLRs, Mirrorless cameras, Cinematic Imaging Products, Surveillance cameras and Medical Imaging products catering to the multiple market segments of consumer, SME, B2B, Commercial, Government & PSUs.

 

MSI Vector GP76 Is it a game-changer or a deal-breaker!

Starting nearly above a couple of lakhs, the Vector GP76 hosts a massive 17.3-inch, 1080p display with a 360Hz refresh rate which is phenomenal. An Intel Core i7 CPU paired with a Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and 16GB of RAM.

It’s an enticing collection of specs at this price point, but that’s not nearly enough to land you with the best gaming laptop. While there are some serious caveats to consider before you pick one up.

Stealth looking!

If DC comics were to design this laptop, the MSI Vector GP76 would likely be the Batman. While the MSI GS76 earns that name with its “discreet yet stealth design,” that would be a fitting name for the Vector. 

Blacked out and with a robust metal finish and from the prominently raised hinges to the angled vents on the back and sides of the laptop, it gives the otherwise minimalistic laptop an aggressive look. The matte black lid is only broken by MSI’s dragon logo, which is also in black, but it draws the eye thanks to its glossy finish. There’s no flashy exterior lighting to make the Vector scream that it is a gaming laptop, yet its bulky form, makes it look like it’s meant to do some serious stuff. 

 

The Display everyone’s been talking about!

The MSI Vector GP76’s display definitely prioritizes speed over the resolution with its 17.3-inch, 1920 x 1080 screen delivering a blisteringly fast 360Hz of refresh rate that will overwhelm pro-gamers that favour fast-twitch FPS titles or racing games.

The colours are excellent with their brightness and HDR capabilities. The solid performance of the RTX 3070 Ti with its 150-watt TGP is also reflected in gaming. All games run at high FPS. Even at maximum settings and with a corresponding external monitor, 4K resolutions are flawless.

 

Can take a good beating!

Typing on the Vector GP76 is a pleasure with the RGB-backlit keys offering solid key travel and a springy response which is both comfortable and quick to type on. The tactile feedback is confidence-inspiring and fast typing is as buttery smooth as it can get. For gamers, the rigidity will make sure that the keyboard can take a good beating. 

The keys are generally well-spaced, with the exception of the cursor keys on the right.

You have complete control over the per-key RGB lighting from the aforementioned Steelseries GG app and it allows sample light to get through the keys without excessive light bleed at the edges. 

 

Is it a Gamers delight?

The specs make it clear, that the Vector GP76 is real gamers’ delight with its 360 Hz display and super-fast response times. In addition, the Core i7-12700H has double the power of the CPU in its predecessor and another highlight is the Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti with a real power consumption of 150 watts. 

The MSI Vector GP76 gives gamers a lot of what they want with outstanding performance, a great sturdy keyboard and an incredible 360Hz refresh rate display, but the painfully poor battery life and overall poor thermal performance make it dicey to recommend over some of its competition. 

 

Now if you never, or rarely, use your laptop away from a charger and you do all of your gaming with a headset on, that changes the equation significantly. But acknowledging a few drawbacks, the rest of the package offered is solid and unquestionably delivers an excellent gaming experience.

 

Star Rating – 4

Good

Near class-leading performance and graphics with 360Hz refresh rate  

 

Bad

Loud fans and excessive heat

 

Ugly

Weak battery life

 

Specs

MSI Vector GP76 12UGS-434 (GP76 Series)

Processor : Intel Core i7-12700H 14 x 1.7 – 4.7 GHz

Graphics adapter : NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Laptop GPU – 8192 MB, Core: 1585 MHz, 

Memory: 1750 MHz, 150 W TDP ( including 15 W Dynamic Boost), GDDR6, Nvidia 512.15, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs

Memory: 16384 MB, Dual Channel DDR4-3200

Display : 17.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 127 PPI, AUO B173HAN05.4, IPS, glossy: no, 360Hz

Mainboard: Intel Alder Lake-P PCH

Storage: Micron 2450 1TB MTFDKBA1T0TFK, 1024 GB  , 867 GB free

Weight: 2.85 kg 

Price: Rs. 2,23,000/- (Prices may vary online)

Baybot Live360° – Surveillance Simplified

The Future of connected devices looks promising with the kind of new tech arriving on the market almost every day. And using this driving force, manufacturers and innovators are adding intelligence to our everyday devices to make them connected so as to make our lives better. Connected devices demonstrate limitless possibilities as it opens up a vast horizon for convenience.

What is it?

Baybot, a home-grown tech brand has introduced the “Baybot Live360° which is its first smart wireless security camera that aims to keep a watchful eye on you in absence of your physical presence. Be it keeping an eye on your kids, family, and property, even when you are away, be it night or day. Baybot Live360° is a Smart Full HD (1080p) Wireless Security Camera that can be plugged into a power source and once connected to a wifi network, can live stream the footage across to you.

Key Features:

Full 360-degree View — 

The Baybot Live360° is a compact wireless camera with a 360° rotating head with a revival movement that can be configured to automatically cover every nook & corner of the space or switch to manual mode to watch a particular area. Controlling the camera’s angle with the app’s interface is pretty easy and lag-free. One can pan or zoom into the desired area you want to watch within seconds. The camera has a wide-angle lens and can pan up to 355° horizontally and 80° vertically to maximize coverage of the area being monitored.

Motion Detection — 

Set up the Live360° to automatically detect motion in the surveillance area. The camera keeps monitoring till it senses any motion in its frame vicinity and instantly alerts you on your smartphone about the happening.

Smart Motion Tracking — 

One cool feature of the Baybot Live360° camera is the intelligent motion tracking feature which can also be set up to automatically track a moving figure, be it a human or pet, or even an object.

Night Vision — 

Just like the camera records during the daytime, it automatically switches to night vision mode the moment the light in the given space goes off. It is also equipped with InfraRed LEDs that capture even in pitch darkness.

2-way Audio Communication —

A built-in microphone and speaker allow you to speak to anyone in close proximity from your smartphone at the push of a button in the Baybot App. Talk in real-time to the other end with ease and almost minimal delay. Be it at work, home or any other place, you can speak to the person on the other end clearly.

24×7 Monitoring — 

One can even slide in a microSD card (up to 128GB) and get up to a month of footage even if there’s no internet connection, or securely save unlimited footage to Baybot’s cloud service for a nominal monthly fee (optional subscription).

Hassle-free Installation— 

Featured with an easy-to-install mounting plate, you can place the Baybot Live360° camera in desired location or space. Simply place the camera on your table, mount it on a wall or secure it to a ceiling and gain a complete view of your environment from anywhere in the world.

Verdict :

Suppose at all you are looking for a portable security solution, and want to avoid the hassle of getting a complete security system which is wired and uses physical servers to store data. In that case, the Baybot Live360° is a gadget worth considering. Its affordability and feature-packed attributes make it a desired tech to keep your surroundings under surveillance.

Price on the web: Rs 2,849

Good

Wide Field of view and real-time broadcast

Bad

Feels fragile

Ugly

Needs to be plugged into a power socket all the time.

KEY SPECS :

  • Alexa and Google voice compatibility

  • Real-time view on App

  • Advanced night vision

  • 2-Way Audio

  • Motion detection and tracking

Star Rating – 4

Tecno Pova 3 – A new Workhorse

Tecno has expanded its product portfolio in the Indian market to cater to a larger audience with smartphones at different price ranges. The Pova series still happens to be sitting at the sweet spot of the budget segment smartphone, a hot category among young buyers. So, does this latest iteration live up to its hype, and should you consider it? 

How does it look and feel?

Tecno Pova 3 is a little hefty considering the battery it packs within. The phone feels sturdy with substantial character around it. It is also fairly big, with a 6.9-inch display. We had the tech silver model which definitely looks premium and feels above its category. The phone is IPX2 splash resistant, which protects it from drizzle and light splashes of water. It’s a handy feature to have on a phone that costs this much. Keeping up with its gaming-centric approach, there are subtle yet practical touches that have been given to the smartphone. For instance, the sides of the Pova 3 have inverted edges for placing your index fingers while you are gaming. 

A design feature missing in the Tech Silver variant is an LED strip that chimes in three different colours for notifications and battery capacity. Other design elements are generic, we get a volume rocker on the left, which is tactile, and right next to them is a SIM tray. It is a hybrid slot that supports 2 Nano SIM cards and a micro SD card. To the right, you will find the power lock and unlock button with an integrated fingerprint sensor. The fingerprint sensor is quick in its response. The bottom comprises the USB type-C charging port, speaker grill and an old-school headphone jack. 

How’s the screen?

Tecno Pova 3 features a 6.9-inch FHD+ display with a 1080 x 2460 pixel resolution which is pretty nice considering the category of the phone. Most colours on the Pova 3 look natural, and the screen is able to project decent clarity. 

The display has a peak brightness of 500 nits, which is sufficient for indoor usage but moves outside on a good sunny day and one might find it difficult to glance at the screen. 

But all’s not bad, especially if you are a gamer. Tecno Pova 3’s screen has a max refresh rate of 90Hz. These figures might not be as phenomenal as the 120Hz that we see on other phones, but combined with the 180Hz touch sampling rate, the performance is pretty satisfactory.

A good highlight of the Tecno Pova 3 is the haptic feedback on the device which you receive while playing games. It is apt and adds a lot of character to your gaming experience. It won’t numb your hands, but the subtle vibration adds a more of personalized touch.

How does it sound?

While the display makes up for gamers, a casual user will be engrossed in consuming content. Packing in dual speakers, the Tecno Pova 3’s hidden USP is its audio prowess. The audio output is loud, sharp and clear. Be it the effects while playing games or binge-watching on social media apps or simply streaming a YouTube video, it sounds well.

 

What’s inside?

Tecno Pova 3 runs on Android 12 out of the box which is paired together with HiOS 8.6. It is powered by a Mediatek Helio G88 processor, an almost a year-old SoC, the G88 is a 4G chipset. The variant we tested, packs in 6GB of RAM which can be bumped up to 11GB using RAM fusion if you are gaming intensively. That being said, the default 6GB of memory is sufficient for most of the tasks and holds up applications pretty well. The internal storage on the device is 128GB out of which 20GB is used by the OS. This is ample for most of the users. But you can expand it to 1TB with a micro SD card if you need more storage.

The massive 7000 mAh battery is very well optimized and for light usage, should easily last well over 2 days.For gamers, playing graphic-intensive games continuously won’t affect much and the battery will last for at least a day. The 33W power adapter in the box charges the Pova 3 to 50% in about 45 minutes. But a full 0-100% charge needs at least 2.5 hours, which is considerable given the battery size.Tecno also provides a reverse charging feature on the Pova 3, which means it can charge up other devices with a 10W voltage. The best practical usage is charging your TWS or Bluetooth headphones if they run out of juice during a commute. 

How’s the camera? 

Tecno Pova 3 features a triple rear camera set-up with the primary one being a 50MP shooter with F1.6 aperture. The second one is a 2MP depth sensor and finally an AI lens for all the gimmicks it packs within. The colour grades can go off sometimes, especially if you have the AI beauty filter on. Dark colours like Red, or Navy blue look undersaturated and with the AI filter and seem to shift further away from the natural tones a bit. There is a super night mode on the camera, which aids when you are clicking pictures at night. There is no ultra-wide lens on the phone, so you cannot open up the frame and are just limited to zooming in.

The 10X zoom can be considered a feature, but it is better to be left off. The video performance is decent. The camera shoots a maximum resolution of 2K. The video stabilization is not impressive and the output can be shaky sometimes. So if you are a creator looking for a device to Vlog or just shoot in general then this camera can be considered but for a light usage. Audio recorded by the in-built mic though is pretty decent. The real charm is actually the 8MP front camera. Unlike the primary camera which can deceive you sometimes, the front camera is pretty consistent for that matter. The images look sharp and are worthy of your social media selfies. The front camera also features dual flashlights which are a talking point. 

How much on my Pocket? 

The Tecno Pova 3 is available in 2 variants. The base variant with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage is priced at ₹11,499 and the other variant packs in 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage and retails at a price of ₹12,999.

Xiaomi pad 5-Challenger or a complete iPad Rip-off

Xiaomi Pad 5 specifications: 

  • 10.95-inches 2.5K LCD display | 
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 processor | 
  • 6GB RAM+ 128GB or 256GB storage | 
  • 13MP rear camera + 8MP front camera | 
  • 8720 mAh battery with 22.5W charging | 
  • MIUI for Pad on Android 11|

Design 

The design is no doubt spectacular and sleek. It feels rigid and weighs around 511 grams, which does make it slightly heavier than the iPad 9th gen, but it doesn’t feel much heavy. This tablet has a polycarbonate back, though at first glance it certainly doesn’t look and feel like one. This does not mean that the build quality is compromised in any way. All in all, with its sharp edges and curves, it does feel premium to hold. The leatherette keyboard, which is an added accessory, turns into a nice case for the pad, which accentuates the overall appeal of the pad 5. 

Functionality

The Xiaomi Pad 5 comes with quad speakers at the top and bottom, there’s a Type-C USB port, and a magnetic pin on one side to connect it with the keyboard. The Xiaomi Smart Pen can be attached to the side where the volume buttons are placed. There’s no headphone jack. Xiaomi is also limiting the Pad 5 to just WiFi-only variants in India. There’s no cellular option, and presumably, those would have cost extra as well. 

In terms of controls, you’ll only find a power button and volume rocker on two sides of the same frame corner. Elsewhere there’s a USB-C port and a POGO connector for Xiaomi’s accompanying keyboard.

Display

This is a panel with a meaty 2.5K resolution (1600 x 2560). 

The tablet has a 10.95-inch LCD and this is a 2.5K resolution with a 16:10 format. Although it’s IPS LCD – rather than OLED – you still get excellent colour range and support for both HDR10 and Dolby Vision. The maximum refresh rate is 120 Hz, though you can also stick with the base 60 Hz.

 

Audio

The entertainment use case is further helped by the loud and rich audio churned out by the quad speakers – two on each side. These speakers support Dolby Atmos, and what’s more, they can even map and adjust stereo sound automatically as you switch tablet orientation between horizontal and vertical. All this might look pointless for a tablet, but these tiny details at the end of the day all add up and help make a difference to the overall experience.

Software

The Xiaomi Pad 5 comes with the Snapdragon 860 processor, 6GB RAM and 128GB or 256GB storage version. In terms of daily performance, there were really no complaints as such. Yes, this tablet is powerful enough to run your daily quota of games, productivity or casual browsing and entertainment. But wait, it still runs an android OS, which makes it have its own limitations. 

Keyboard and Stylus

Xiaomi is also offering a stylus pen and a keyboard folio cover as optional accessories in a bid to add functionality and increase the Pad 5’s appeal. The keyboard is sleek and the leatherette texture surely feels premium to hold, but considering the size of the keyboard, it just fulfils its dire need. The Xiaomi Smart Pen is an active stylus that connects with the tablet over Bluetooth and attaches magnetically with the slate on its top spine. Attaching it to the tablet also charges its built-in battery. The use cases are as expected – the pen can be used to scribble notes, draw, annotate etc. The only drawback to which is that the two buttons on the pen cannot be customized, but rather have predefined functionalities. 

Verdict

If you are looking for an Android tablet that offers a good display and performance while fulfilling daily entertainment and basic productivity needs, the Xiaomi Pad 5 delivers well. The Xiaomi Pad 5 is an exceptional Android tablet – but it is still an Android tablet, which has many limitations. But, considering the cost it is available, it really does serve a purpose. 

Rating: 4 star

Good :

Capable display

Smooth performance

Audio output

Bad : 

Misses out on the 3.5mm headphone jack & fingerprint scanner

Odd placement for the front camera

Ugly: Software limitations

LG Puricare Wearable Air Purifier The future of face masks ?

What is it all about?

Since the onset of the pandemic, facemasks have become the new norm when going out in public but donning them represents its own sets of challenges. 

The new LG PuriCare Wearable Air Purifier is a literal breath of fresh air as it aims to resolve all these conundrums while adding a modicum of technological chic. The LG PuriCare Wearable Air Purifier is an electronic face mask and has a number of updates compared to the last version.

The second-generation LG PuriCare comes with added tech, in addition to being smaller, lighter at 94g, and a much more efficient motor. It features dual fans that control airflow automatically by sensing the user’s breathing patterns to enable easy breathing. According to LG, the mask can be worn comfortably for up to 6-8 hours, while its 1,000mA recharges in 2-3 hours with the included Easy Charge USB cable.

 

What’s new? 

The wearable air purifier is Bluetooth enabled, which allows you to connect it to the LG PuriCare Wearable Air Purifier app for Android. Once connected, the app allows you to adjust voice volume and airflow, view respiratory data reports, manage filter duration and replacement cycle, check real-time battery information, turn the unit ON/OFF and perform firmware updates. The LG PuriCare Wearable Air Purifier Gen 2 uses the same H13 HEPA Filters and professional-grade filters found in all other premium air purifiers.

What’s in it?

The new LG PuriCare comes in a compact form package. Inside the box are two PuriCare HEPA filters, a packet consisting of 15 inner covers and a face guard packed in separate packaging.

The design of the wearable air purifier is cleaner and more streamlined and makes it comfortable to wear. The smart, ergonomic design was designed to fit any face. It fits and seals the face, comfortable for everyday wear while minimizing air leakage. It also uses medical-grade silicone that has been checked for safety. However, you’ll start to feel the strain of wearing the purifier after an extended period of time.

Usability 

Using the air purifier requires a little bit of assembling. First, you need to open the filter case on the left and right sides to place it in the PuriCare filters. Then you insert the inner cover and finally the face guard by just sliding it into place and the built-in magnets hold the face guard in place. The magnets are strong enough to hold the face guard in place while wearing it, yet it’s easy enough to pull off when you have to remove it.

The LG PuriCare needs to be charged before you can start using it. It takes about two to three hours to fully charge up the device’s 1,000mAh battery. LG says that you can use the PuriCare for eight hours on a single charge, and based on real-world usage, we got about six hours of usage before plugging in to recharge.

 

Once the assembly is complete, the PuriCare can be turned on using the power button at the bottom. The fan inside the mask starts to kick in only when you inhale, as there is a respiratory sensor. It detects the cycle and volume of the wearer’s breath and adjusts the dual three-speed fans accordingly. The fans automatically speed up to assist air intake and slow down to reduce resistance when exhaling to make breathing effortless. You can even change the fan speed via the mobile application. 

Verdict :

From a purely functional standpoint, the LG PuriCare Wearable Air Purifier makes for a highly effective solution that directly addresses several of the traditional pain points seen when wearing normal surgical or fabric masks. Its application is more suited for individuals who suffer from breathing problems as it aids in purifying the polluted air. It makes breathing easier and is more comfortable to use while the VoiceOn feature helps with social interactions but the cost of expendables and the initial high cost of entry may be daunting factors. If your budget permits, this is definitely something worthy of consideration.

Star Rating: 3.5

Specs : ( Choose and pick any )

Colour Ocean Black

Creamy White
Operation Noise (dB) 35dB (Min) ~ 52dB (Max)
Bluetooth Yes (BLE 5.0)
Fan Dual Inverter Fan
Air purifier Filter HEPA13 (2EA) (99.95%)
Sensor Respiratory Sensor
Usage time 8hr (Max)
Recharge Time approx. 2 Hours
Battery  Built-in Li on Rechargeable (1000mAh) / USB C Type
Air Volume(LPM) 10~55 (Max)
Dimensions 142 × 109 × 52mm
Weight  94g (112g, including L size Face Guard)

Good :

  • Smaller and quieter Dual Fan motor.
  • VoiceON Technology
  • H13 HEPA Filters

Bad: 1000 mAh battery lasts less than 8 hours before having to be recharged.

          A little bulky over the face

Ugly: Expensive

Life Through Colored Glasses ft. Leonardo Del Vecchio

Almost everyone wears glasses at some point in their lives. In developed countries, the rule of thumb is that around 70% of adults need corrective lenses to see well. But what we see masks the underlying structure of the global eyewear business. Over the last generation, just two companies have risen above the rest to dominate the industry. The lenses in my glasses – and yours too, most likely – are made by Essilor, a French multinational that controls almost half of the world’s prescription lens business and has acquired more than 250 other companies in the past 20 years.

There is a good chance that your frames are made by Luxottica, an Italian company with an unparalleled combination of factories, designer labels and retail outlets. Luxottica pioneered the use of luxury brands in the optical business. One of the many powerful functions of names such as Ray-Ban or Vogue or Prada, Oliver Peoples or high-street outlets such as LensCrafters, the largest optical retailer in the US, John Lewis Opticians in the UK, or Sunglass Hut, all of which are owned by Luxottica is to make the marketplace feel more varied than it actually is.

Who’s the man behind?

Del Vecchio’s life is an accurate rags-to-riches tale. His father died before he was born, and the family was so poor that he spent time in an orphanage as a young boy. He apprenticed at a tool and die maker before moving to eyewear. He gained experience making components and soon started selling his frames. The company kept growing, and in 1988 started making glasses for fashion designer Giorgio Armani. It was the start of many very lucrative licensing contracts.

As founder, chairman and the biggest shareholder of EssilorLuxottica, he focused on transforming the global eyewear business by buying up companies and making hundreds of millions of pairs of expensive sunglasses, lenses and frames for prescription glasses. In 2020, the company added another 1,600 styles to its collection.

The company has factories, R&D sites and distribution centres in many of the 150 countries where it operates. Regarding spectacles, with thousands of trademarks, more than 10,000 patents and 140,000 employees, the company touches the lives of millions and is a clear-sighted mammoth that has cornered the market.

The multinational is not immune to the effects of the pandemic. Revenue for 2020 came in at €14.4 billion, down 17% compared to 2019. Gross profit was €8.4 billion as sales bounced back in the year’s second half. Over half of the total revenue was generated in North America.

At the same time, the company enhanced its e-commerce platforms and “got closer to customers and consumers during the pandemic,” according to its 2020 report. Last year direct online sales to customers brought in €1.2 billion, a 40% increase over 2019.

Notwithstanding a complicated year, the company’s stock is again close to its all-time high, reached in January 2020 — just before the pandemic was declared. With such an outlook, EssilorLuxottica is again willing to grow. In March, it got permission from the EU antitrust authority to buy GrandVision, a chain of opticians based in the Netherlands, for $8.5 billion. It is a long way from the tiny company Del Vecchio founded 60 years ago in 1961.

The company has been making glasses for Giorgio Armani since 1988

After going public in 1990, Del Vecchio used the cash infusion to buy brands and retailers to sell his glasses. The company now owns international retailer Sunglass Hut and optician chain LensCrafters. In total, it has nearly 11,000 retail stores and owns brands Ray-Ban, Persol and Oakley. It also makes glasses under license for big high-end brands like Chanel, Ralph Lauren, Prada, Tiffany and Versace.

Around the world, millions of people are taking eyesight more seriously than ever before.

On top of that is an increased awareness and ability for people to spend money on glasses, vision care and health in general. With populations ageing, bad indoor lighting and more screen time, there is plenty of room to grow. EssilorLuxottica claims that 4.7 billion people need help with their vision; 2.7 billion suffer from uncorrected poor vision in that group.

According to Tommaso Valletti, the head of the economics and public policy department at Imperial College Business School in London, the company’s dominance and market power bring two risks.

The first risk is a focus on preserving market share at the cost of innovation. The second risk is antitrust abuses, which “typically follow market power,”. Indeed, the company has often been accused of using its position to drive out competitors and drive up prices.

So the obvious question arises, is Luxottica a monopoly?

The company was featured on TruTV’s Adam Ruins Everything, with host Adam Conover claiming it holds 80 per cent of the market. Snopes and other online fact-checkers put the company’s market share as low as 10 per cent. Still, its vertical integration and aggressive business tactics have gotten it into trouble over the years.

In fact, its hostile takeovers of Ray-Ban and TIL Oakley in the 1990s and 2000s made the brand name infamous in North America. At the time, Oakley was at the height of its popularity and seemed unstoppable. But Luxottica strangled the company out of its retail stores over a pricing dispute and acquired the brand.

What Are Brands Owned by Luxottica?

Luxottica is a vertically integrated company. This means that it owns eyeglass manufacturers, retail stores, optometrists, and even a vision care insurance company that pays for it all.

In 2017, it added to its product line through a $49 billion merger with French company Essilor.

We’ll break their brands down into those three categories.

Eyewear Brands

Luxottica-owned eyewear brands include the aforementioned Oakley, Ray-Ban, Oliver Peoples, Persol, Costa Del Mar, Eye Safety Systems, Vogue Eyewear, Alain Mikli, Arnette, and Sferoflex.

In addition to its proprietary brands, it also has eyewear licensing deals with a wide slate of fashion houses, including Ralph Lauren, Giorgio Armani, Brooks Brothers, Prada, Chanel, Versace, Coach, Tiffany & Co, Bulgari, Michael Kors, Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, and more.

Retail Stores and Optometrists

Luxottica also has a large retail footprint that prescribes and sells eyewear. This includes Sunglass Hut, LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Target Optical, Ray-Ban, Oakley, Glasses.com, EyeMed Vision Care, and Spectacle Hut. It also did Sears Optical when that was a thing.

 

Yamaha MT-15 A Japanese Katana Slicing through Indian Bread.

From the land of the rising sun! 

Naked streetfighting machines have always adorned the Indian roads and have had a sweet spot in my heart. So when Yamaha first launched the MT-15 in India, expectations were outraged because it was almost the same motorcycle as the R15 underneath, but with less weight to carry around and an extra-terrestrial fascia that could even make an alien contemplate its existence. The Yamaha R15 might have been a raging success but the same couldn’t be said about its street counterpart. 

However, Yamaha has now equipped the MT-15 with enough ammunition to go all-guns-blazing on its competition. The prime weapon of choice has to be the inclusion of golden USD forks and a few other key upgrades, but would these updates suffice in making the MT-15 2.0 better than its predecessor? 

The Japanese connection

Now that the R15 V4 is finally bestowed with the addition of golden USD forks, it was child’s play to assume that the MT-15 would receive the same upgrades. And it has! The USD forks have certainly added a lot of drama in the front, apart from lending the MT-15 with sharper riding dynamics. The MT-15 has never been lethargic when it came to maneuvering it, but the second generation has kicked up the handling characteristics by several notches. The front end is now more reactive and the rider now feels a lot more connected to the tarmac than before. This particularly makes the MT-15 2.0 a perfect motorcycle for shuttling around in city traffic where you can just slice through the moving traffic like a Japanese Katana. A cast aluminum swingarm has now replaced the box-section unit of the previous motorcycle. This addition has affected its stability by a fair margin and the MT-15 2.0 now feels a lot more pliant on the road than before. Be it highway straights or leaning bends and corners, the MT-15 for sure feels like a Yamaha in all its glory.

This hooliganism and reactive handling is further accentuated by its comfortable ergonomics. Its riding stance is like that of a true-blue streetfighter with a low-set flat handlebar and rear-set footpegs which provide a more comfortable posture than the R15. But the downside to the suspension front is that it feels way too stiffer on city road potholes and over the undulations of the road. 

Ninja technique 

Yamaha has also slightly tweaked the engine, the official spec sheet reveals that the overall power output from this 155cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine is down by 0.1PS but the torque has gone up by 0.2NM. These mild revisions have made the MT-15 a lot more tractable than before as it can chug along as low as 25kmph in the sixth gear which is a formidable feat for an engine that is renowned for its high-revving nature. This 155cc motor is an absolute gem, no wonder Yamaha has milked the cows out of this engine by deploying it in a variety of products. All thanks to the magic woven by the VVA tech, the MT-15 2.0 is a lively machine but in particular power bands. From a standstill, it gets off nicely, taking all the assistance from the VVA but the actual feast commences when you breeze past the 6000 rpm mark on the tachometer. At around 7000 rpm, the VVA kicks in yet again, breathing a new life into this engine. After that, it keeps pulling ahead like its tail’s on fire and keeps pulling with a feisty force till it hits its redline. This is exactly what makes the MT-15 2.0 a joy to blast around. Keep the throttle pinned in every gear and it delivers in spades. The ideal cruising speed is around 100kmph with the engine humming happily at 8000 clicks.

The simplistic LCD instrument cluster is now a goner and has paved way for a Bluetooth-enabled unit that displays Call, E-mail, and SMS Alerts along with Smartphone battery status available through the Bluetooth-Enabled Y-Connect App. 

It is now time to shed some light on its dark side.

As rude as pointing a finger at a Japanese! 

Life is like a perennial barter deal as you have to trade something to receive something in exchange for it. Those glitzy golden USD forks might have made the MT-15 2.0 sharper than before but the stiff ride quality comes out as major trade-off. Since the front end now chatters a lot more than before, you can feel everything that is happening on the road. The braking feels adequate at best but more feedback and bite would have rounded off the rough edges. We still cannot wrap our heads around the fact that it still misses out on dual-channel ABS. 

The cramped proportions of the MT-15 become even more pronounced when you invite someone to ride as a pillion. The pillion seat is borderline non-existent because even the number plate holder at the back is longer than the pillion seat. It might make the MT-15 look uber-cool but be prepared to get hurled with curses if you take someone along with you on a long ride. 

We might adore the 155cc mill to death but it has its own set of shortcomings. Although the top-end performance of the MT-15 is to die for, the mid-range is rather bleak. There’s absolutely no juice in the mid-range so you are left with no other option than to wring it through all the gear ratios. Moreover, mild vibrations start spoiling the fun at around 7000 rpm and they keep get surfacing higher up in the rev range. 

The MT-15 2.0 definitely looks more radical than its competition, thanks to that unique fascia. But it sort of comes out as a missed opportunity that Yamaha didn’t play around with the aesthetics of the MT-15. A revamped overall design inspired by the bigger MTs would have justified this generational upgrade even more.

Usually, we save the best bits for the last but this time around, we are sliding away from the regime to pinpoint the most irritating ergonomic feedback of the MT-15 2.0. The horn is placed usually where we find the indicator toggle and vice versa. Its more of an intuitional defect than an ergonomic one. I mean,  why Yamaha? I had the MT-15 with me for a week and even after riding it for a considerable amount of time, I found myself cursing at this placement every single time I reached out to operate either the horn or the indicator. I could have dug deep in the thesaurus to find a better word than ‘irritating’ but it fits the bill perfectly. It actually is irritating. It also loses out on turn-by-turn navigation which could have proved to be a lot more useful than SMS and call alerts.

Yes Yamaha ! Why Yamaha ?

The new MT-15 2.0 has seen a price bump of INR 12,000-13,000 as it now retails at INR 1.60 Lakh. The pricing might sound a little steep but when you factor in the R15 V4 and KTM 125 Duke into the equation, it starts making sense. It looks dope! Even criminal in some sense! Handles like it is supposed to and being an urban commuter, its top-end performance will make your urban ex-girlfriend curse you more. But the MT-15 2.0 could have been so much more! It lacks the mid-range grunt we usually associate with streetfighters and the lack of dual-channel ABS is still not quite understandable. Overall, the Yamaha MT-15 2.0 might be a better bike than before but it still needs another generational upgrade to evolve to be the best version of it. 

 

TVS Apache RR310 BTO ! Build it before you buy it

Introducing TVS Built To Order (BTO)

Unique for everyone. Unprecedented for the industry.

TVS Built To Order is a first-of-its-kind customization platform and a much-needed revolution in the performance motorcycling segment. This translates into the whole process of interacting with the platform as well. 

With TVS BTO, your vision for your motorcycle is brought to life with world-class engineering and state-of-the-art technologies. Every aspect of your machine is now in your control, right from the performance to your preferred aesthetic that truly represents you. The power to be unique on your own terms is now in your own hands.

The company’s BTO platform lets the customers customize their bikes as per their needs and requirements after which their unit is built directly in the factory. This time around, TVS has introduced a new, industry-first, factory built-to-order (BTO) system, where customers can specify their RR 310 as per their needs and requirements via the TVS ARIVE app or the online configurator. The BTO also allows the customers to track the journey of their bikes in real-time and finally get it delivered from their nearest TVS dealership.

The official TVS ARIVE app and web configurator can be used to select the preferred variant, package option, make a booking, and even complete the payment – all in just a few clicks. Following this, an authorized dealer from a preferred showroom will complete the delivery process.

In the highly exciting wait for their machine, one can also track and preview the machine in the ARIVE app. The bike can be visualised both in AR and a 3D model, giving one access to the even most minute details of the machine.

Be unique on your own terms.

TVS offers two customization kits with the Apache RR 310 – Dynamic and Race kits. The dynamic kit consists of a fully adjustable front fork set-up, full adjustable rear monoshock and an anti-rust brass-coated drive chain. The front fork gets 20-step compression damping and 20-step rebound damping and 15 mm of preload adjustment. 

Similarly, the rear monoshock gets 20-step rebound damping and 10-step preload adjustment. Similarly, the race kit includes a new handlebar which is lowered by 8 degrees and tucked inwards by 5 degrees. It offers a more aggressive and committed riding posture. The footpegs too have been raised by 30 mm and offer increased clearance of up to 4.5 degrees. They are knurled as well, offering better grip for the riders.

<iframe src=”https://www.pearltrees.com/futureex/tvs-apache-rr310-build-before/id53665531?embed=2&d=202205301129″ width=”560″ height=”413″ style=”border:0px;” allowtransparency=”true”></iframe><span style=”display:block; padding-top:2px; color:#818181; font-size:13px;”><a href=”https://www.pearltrees.com/futureex/tvs-apache-rr310-build-before/id53665531″ style=” color:#818181; font-size:13px;” target=”_blank”>TVS Apache RR310 BTO ! Build it before you buy it</a>, by <a href=”https://www.pearltrees.com/futureex” style=” color:#818181; font-size:13px;” target=”_blank”>futureex</a></span>

 

Dynamic Kit

Crafted for those who race off the beaten track, Dynamic kit offers superior performance on every terrain with adjustable front suspension and rear monoshock and brass coated drive chain. Let your performance speak for itself and make a statement with the special race edition graphics.

 

  • Fully Adjustable KYB Front Suspension

Race into the unexplored, with a fully adjustable KYB suspension with 20 sets of damping and 15mm of preload in the front forks, which can be adjusted by the rider for firmness or flexibility depending upon the terrain and riding style.

 

  • Fully adjustable KYB rear suspension

The enhanced KYB suspension allows for adjustment of the rear monoshock. The adjustable rear suspension features 20 sets of damping and 10 steps of preload adjustment, to adjust the level of stiffness for a race experience. 

 

  • Brass coated Drive chain

With the factory fitted brass coated drive chain, you will always find an excuse to push the limits on the racetrack. The anti-rust brass coated chain delivers superior performance output from this race machine. 

Race Kit 

Crafted for those who aspire to clip every apex, and burn rubber on every straight, the race package features an aggressive racing stance and ergonomics. The tuck down racing handlebar, raised footrest and race footpegs make your track weapon an unforgettable force.

 

  • Racing ergonomics – Handlebar 

The race ergonomics turn your race machine into a formidable force on the track. The lower set handlebars at 117.1 degrees enable a highly aggressive and committed stance, facilitating tighter corners and faster straight-line speeds. This also delivers a superior grip on the racetrack.

 

  • Race Designed footpegs

The knurling on the footpegs provides for superior grip and great stability while attacking corners.

 

  • Raised footrest assembly

The raised footrest assembly provides the rider with an aggressive and committed posture, making room for a higher lean angle to achieve higher speeds while cornering. 

 

  • New Race Replica Graphics

Racing is inherent to every TVS Apache RR310 that leaves the assembly line. The glorious heritage of TVS Racing since 1982 is now etched on your race machine. The eminent TVS Racing wreath graphic imparts an exclusive identity and the TVS Racing OMC inspired livery makes your track weapon stand out. The Race Replica edition enlightens the racer within you, making for memorable podium finishes.

 

  • Personalized Race Number

The number on the machine is more than just a figure!! It is an identity that is owned by you and defines you. With the option of getting your favourite number on the visor, you can carve your own legacy through your track weapon.

Xgimi MoGo Pro Plus :  Wieldy Amusement

A feature-packed versatile portable projector which actually lives up to expectations and sometimes, even more.

–The biggest limitation in the portable projector market right now is that there are a lot of options to choose from, but not all deliver performance as advertised. One quick search on the internet will reveal a plethora of inferior results, many impersonating as 720p, 1080p or even 4K projectors when their true display resolutions don’t even score close. All those who aren’t as tech-savvy, therefore, end up getting tricked into buying something that’s more of a kid’s toy than an actual home entertainment device.

The world of portable projectors is fraught with tawdry plastic tat. You’ll find countless Amazon listings for small cuboidals that claim to “support HD” with a brightness similar to any cinema projector that costs ten times the price.” Lumens” or “lux” is an entirely made-up metric. Instead, you need to look for “ANSI lumens”, which is a standardized metric.  This is why we’re rather skeptical about approving any review of a portable projector. Thankfully, the Xgimi Mogo Pro+ is not one of those.

Xgimi, unlike other brands, does not lie about the brightness of its projectors. It’s about one-tenth the luminance of a similarly priced home cinema projector, and we appreciate this honesty. XGIMI is a brand that has yet to create a distinction that the likes of Epson or BenQ carry when it comes to business projectors. And yet, despite its relative anonymity, this brand has won the prestigious Reddot and IF design awards several times.

Design :

Measuring just about 5.8 inches of height, with curved edges and a cuboidal profile, and weighing just under a kg, the Xgimi Mogo Pro+ is a truly portable device.

The top houses basic touch sensitive play/pause, volume up, and volume down buttons which  are very responsive – a light tap is all it takes. You have to press and hold just to turn the device on or off.

The top frontal frame consists of a glass panel which shields the projector lens housed inside. 

Near the front bottom is the Xgimi MoGo Pro+’s perception system responsible for its auto keystone correction and autofocus system. Beneath all that is an integrated stand that’s beautifully simple yet extremely effective. When the situation calls for it, simply pop it back out and adjust it up to 30-degrees for the most ideal position. On this same panel is a 1/4-inch tripod female thread for mounting it on a tripod, but there’s no carry case included. Onething which bothered us was there isn’t any lens cover, which is a little more concerning for something designed to be carried around.

 

Features :

The XGIMI runs actual Android TV 9.0, and is Google certified.The remote even has a dedicated button to summon the Google Assistant, and the system is Chromecast compatible, making the process of casting content from your other devices pretty seamless.

In fact, setting up the device was not a hassle either, with a simple “set up my device” voice command on my phone. It all just worked, which was nice, and avoided having to use an on-screen keyboard on the projector, which is usually awkward and time-consuming on these kinds of devices.

There are two video input ports here: HDMI and USB. The USB 2.0 port is tremendous for connecting the device to an external drive to play downloaded movies, even those in older video file formats. There’s also a 3.5mm audio jack for hooking it up to a pair of speakers or headphones. While we’re on the subject of connectivity, it not only has dual-band 2.4/5Ghz Wi-Fi for linking up to an existing wireless network, but also Bluetooth 5.0 for pairing it with other Bluetooth.

  • Auto-Focus and Auto-Keystone

Able to correct for up to 40-degrees of horizontal or vertical angle projection, the auto-keystone and the auto-focus feature worked well, and it kicks in automatically whenever it detects a slight movement or shift in position. You can disable this if you want, but there’s no point to, as it is just an aided advantage. A micro-switch on the base of the remote control enables manual focus using the volume keys.

  • Throw Ratio and Brightness

As mentioned, the device claims to run at a maximum 300 ANSI lumens of brightness. The throw ratio—which is the relationship between the size of the projected image and the distance you place the projector from the surface—works out at about 1:1. Which is to say, if you want a 6-foot diagonal projection, you’ll need to place the Xgimi Mogo Pro+ around 6 feet away from the screen.

  • Battery Life

Claiming to have a battery-run of around 3 hours, we for an extreme test, fully charged and ran the battery down by streaming live over Wi-Fi, at full brightness and full volume. The battery lasted about an hour and a half before forcefully switching to Eco brightness.

  • Audio Quality

With Harman Kardon on the box, you expect some good quality audio. The laws of physics put a slight damper on that. You simply can’t get deep bass from something so small.

The Xgimi Mogo Pro+ definitely gets loud enough for any impromptu movie night without distortion creeping in, and across the rest of the spectrum it sounds clean, crisp, and well balanced.

Supporting Bluetooth 5.0 or AUX stereo out, you’re free to connect your favorite pair of headphones or external speakers for an even better auditory experience.

Verdict

If you’re looking for a mini projector that you can take and play just about anywhere, have the money to spare, the Xgimi Mogo Pro+ is certainly one of the best in class options. The audio is clear and loud but lacks bass. The projection is bright and true HD and the software experience with Google integration makes it easy to use. 

Good

  • -Snappy and easy to navigate interface
  • -Auto Keystone Correction

Bad

  • Slightly expensive compared to the competition and no card reader.

Ugly 

  • Battery life is a little short and the speaker has Lackluster bass.

KEY SPECS : 

  • ANSI Lumens: 300
  • Connectivity: HDMI, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
  • Throw Ratio: 1:1
  • Audio: Dual 3W Harman Kardon tuned
  • OS: Google Android TV 9.0
  • Lamp Life: 30,000 hours
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