Nobody desires to go out these days, and you know why, but what if you want to renew your license or ask for permission for festivals or register a complaint? You must have to get out, right? Until last Friday, we didn’t have an option, but now we have a platform to do all of these things online, at least in Mumbai, where BMC (BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation) launched a WhatsApp chatbot to digitize citizen engagement.
Last Friday, Chief Minister of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray launched a dedicated WhatsApp chatbot – MyBMC Assist – and became India’s first city administration to launch a helpline on WhatsApp. Well, they said it right – Politicians and ruling bodies never disappoint you whenever the elections are nearby, and BMC is no different. Nevertheless, whatever it is, it will surely help Mumbai residents, especially during these hard to go out times.
The Chatbot has been developed by Infobip technologies and is available for free. It will provide information about over 80 services/facilities provided by the civic body and allow people to use WhatsApp to reach out to the administration. Mumbai Residents and tourists can directly avail themselves of the benefits of Chatbot services through WhatsApp number 8999228999. The services are available in two languages, English and Marathi.
WhatsApp is the most widely used application, and by launching such services through WhatsApp, BMS has done a tremendous job. To access the bot, WhatsApp users simply need to send ‘Hi’ or ‘Namaste’ to the number https://wa.me/918999228999. While launching the application virtually, CM Uddhav Thackeray praised the civic body and said, “This day is written in golden letters. It can be described as a revolutionary day.”
CES is the most influential tech event globally, and just like ordinary people await a new year, tech enthusiasts wait for the CES event, which offers them a head start to begin the new year on a good note. The 2022 edition unveiled numerous out of the box products for which it has been known since its inception. Due to the ongoing Covid situation and fear of new variants like Omicron, many publications (including us) were unable to attend the CES 2022 physically.
However, the technology came in as a rescuer, as most of the publications preferred to participate in the world’s largest electronics expo remotely, making the show kind of Hybrid. The event was vast like always, but we’ve mustered up the things in categories and top picks to make things easier for you. The 52nd edition of the event spotlighted the latest innovations from leading companies such as Google, Qualcomm, Sony, Samsung, LG, BMW, and many more.
Top TVs at CES 2022
CES is known as a battleground for TV makers, and every year the show floor looks packed with several top-notch TVs, and this year was no different. Amongst the top TVs revealed at CES, the one that grabbed our attention was the Sony A95K QD-OLED, world’s first consumer QD-OLED TV which can display the full spectrum of colours even in the brightest settings.
Though, the display panel of A95K is made by none other than Samsung. We expected Samsung might come up with QD-OLED 4K TV, but the South Korean tech giant had other plans. Samsung launched its 65″ QD-Display TV with quantum dots that combines a groundbreaking new QD-OLED display. The decision went well as the TV won the Best of Innovation award at CES 2022.
Besides Sony and Samsung, LG TVs were the ones that held our attention. The company presented a number of 8K and 4K OLEDs, several new QNED mini-LED TVs, and even a MicroLED TV at CES 2022 to compete with its rivals. Along with these companies, Panasonic announces a sound-focused OLED TV to attract all the audiophiles out there.
Top Laptops at CES 2022
CES 2022 introduced several new top-notch laptops, which means the year is going to be a busy one in terms of laptop launches. The 2022 event of CES witnessed a vast number of laptops with full-HD (1080p) webcams, thanks to the work-from-home culture. The event also became a launching platform for new components like Intel (12th Gen CPUs) and Nvidia (GeForce RTX 3070 Ti and 3080 Ti laptop GPUs).
Design is the first thing we notice when looking at the techie things, and Dell XPS 13Plus is something else in terms of design. The futuristic laptop has a remarkable design, decent specs, and it directly competes with the MacBook Air lineup. The minimalist laptop comes with the OLED touchscreen option and offers snappy performance, making it more premium than ever.
The next one on the list is Acer Predator Triton 500 SE, which has a roomy 16-inch high-refresh display, and it comes with 12th Generation Intel Core i9 processors and Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3080 Ti GPU. The top tier gaming laptop offers a 2,560 by 1,600 pixel resolution, a 240Hz refresh rate and a wide-colour-gamut panel with 550 nits of brightness.
TCL, a company known for its TV’s launched itself in the laptop industry with its first laptop called the TCL Book 14 Go. The Windows 11 laptop is packed with 12-hour battery life, 4G LTE connectivity, and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c platform. The entry-level laptop offers a 720p video camera, 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of built-in storage and stereo speakers, along with a built-in microphone.
Top Audio Gears at CES 2022
CES is not all about big players; sometimes, a few underdogs create hype and amaze everyone. One such company is Noveto, which launched the N1 3D Audio Smart Speaker, a device with built-in Alexa intelligence and Noveto’s proprietary innovative audio beaming technology. The speciality of N1 soundbar is that it offers spatial 3D audio, and only the listener can hear the music.
HyperX Cloud Alpha is one of the most favourite headphones of gamers, and CES 2022 unveiled the wireless version of it with a massive battery said to last for a whopping 300 hours of use, which means you don’t have to worry about charging anymore. We’re not sure whether 300-hours is a marketing strategy or not, but even if it works 50% of what is promised, it would be a great move.
If you’re one of such people who own an iPhone and an Android phone but find it challenging to carry different earbuds for each of them, Belkin has something for you in-store to make your life easier. Belkin launched Belkin SOUNDFORM Immerse Noise-Cancelling Earbuds at CES 2022, which has three mics to shush the world and 8 hours of playtime for the earbuds plus 28 hours in the charging case.
Top Car-tech at CES 2022
BMW knows how to cure boredom, and that’s why they created a colour-changing car, to keep us sane from the boredom of having one coloured vehicle. The BMX iX fully electric car debuted at CES 2022, and it has body panels made from E Ink displays. The vehicle comes with luxurious features, an elegant design, and an impressive estimated 450-480 km range.
Following the footsteps of EV culture, Sony introduced their all-electric vehicle, Sony Vision-S-02. The company stated in a blog post that they will establish an operating company, ‘Sony Mobility Inc.’ in the spring of 2022, which means Sony could take on Tesla with its EV’s. The car allows you to play PlayStation games through a remote connection to a console at home; what more could you ask for in a car?
Top Wearable at CES 2022
CES 2022 was marked as a launching platform for many wearables, but only a few exciting launches stayed with us even after the event. The subtle looking Garmin Venu 2 Plus was launched at the event, an updated version of the Venu 2. The watch is compatible with Siri, Google Assistant, Bixby, and it is the first Garmin watch with a microphone, allowing you to make and take calls from the wrist.
Along with the Venu 2 Plus, Garmin launched a minimalist looking Garmin Vivomove Sport, which comes in various colours, has a five-day battery life, and offers plenty of fitness and health tracking features. Besides Garmin, Skagen launched a special limited edition version of Fossil gen 6 X Razer with three unique watch faces. It has a 1.28-inch AMOLED display, Snapdragon Wear 4100+ and 8GB of storage.
We’re in the first month of the year, and it’s gonna be a busy month as many tech giants are waiting to launch their best smartphones and have already lined up in the queue. Due to the pandemic, the previous two years were one of the worst years for tech launches, particularly for smartphones. Nevertheless, the companies managed to launch their smartphones, but they dealt with some losses too, which they would like to detour in 2022.
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Set to launch today in India, Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, the successor to the Galaxy S20 FE 5G, has been available for pre-order in India through Samsung India’s official website. The exact pricing details of the phone are not available yet, but it could be priced around 48k-52k. The smartphone sports a 6.4-inch full-HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display with a 120Hz refresh rate and runs on Android 12-based One UI 4. Galaxy S21 FE 5G arrives with the Snapdragon 888/Exynos 2100 SoC and is available in four colours- Graphite, Lavender, Olive, and White. The phone is available in up to 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage, and if you pre-order it now, you’ll get a Galaxy SmartTag free.
Xiaomi 11i Series 5G
This week another smartphone set to be available in India is the Xiaomi 11i Series 5G, whose Hypercharge variant offers a full charge in just 15 minutes and is advertised as Indias fastest charging smartphone. The regular variant, Xiaomi 11i, has 67W fast charging support, not bad, but you can get 120W fast charging if you’re ready to put a few more thousands. The series has a 6.67-inch full HD+ display with 1080×2400 pixel resolution and offers a 120Hz refresh rate. In terms of camera, it has a triple camera setup with a 108MP primary sensor, 8MP ultra-wide shooter and 2MP macro shooter. The sale of the 11i Series smartphones will begin on 12th Jan at 12 PM on Flipkart.
OnePlus 10 Pro
Whenever discussing the upcoming launches, we should always begin with the one who’s confirmed or at least have vast chances to appear soon, which makes us put the OnePlus 10 Pro on top of the list. The flagship smartphone is expected to arrive in January 2022, with an LTPO OLED display, a 120Hz refresh rate, and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset. A recently launched teaser of the phone shows it will have a redesigned camera module but in a new layout.
Xiaomi 12 & Xiaomi 12 Pro
Nobody likes to stay behind, especially in terms of business and to tackle the situation, Xiaomi has decided to launch their flagship smartphone Xiaomi 12, a little later in 2022, possibly in March 2022. Along with Xiaomi 12, the Chinese smartphone making giant also plans to launch Xiaomi 12 Pro, with a 2K AMOLED display. Both the smartphones would be a few of the first smartphones to come up with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Samsung’s upcoming flagship smartphone series, Galaxy S22, is already the talk of the town, but the one device that is grabbing the most attention is Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. The upcoming smartphone S22 Ultra is expected to have a minimum of 12GB RAM, while the other 2-phone from the series will start from 8GB of RAM. As per the insiders, the S22 Ultra will include an S Pen slot, while some reports also suggest the S22 models will come with two variant options, an Exynos 2200 chip and the new Qualcomm 8 Gen 1.
Apple iPhone SE 3rd-Gen
Apple launched one of the most awaited smartphones of the company, the iPhone SE, in 2020, and the phone gained a lot of praise from critics and audiences, which made sure Apple would come up with the next generation. According to industry analysts, Apple might launch the third-gen iPhone SE by March 2022. The affordable smartphone will have Apple’s speedy A15 chip, but again, it might arrive with the home button and bezel styling of the 2nd-gen SE or with a notched display. Let’s hope for the best.
Asus ROG Phone 6
Asus ROG Phone 5 was launched in India somewhere around the last week of March 2021, and it created a lot of hype. Since then, the hardcore gamers have been dreaming about experiencing Asus ROG Phone 6, which has been stimulating rumours all over the internet. The recent hypotheses showcased the possible design of the ROG Phone 6, and according to them, the handset flaunts the prominent gamer-esque look, similar to Asus ROG Phone 5. The sketch also reveals that it might feature a small display at the back and is expected to come with the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC.
Realme GT 2 & GT 2 Pro
Realme recently launched its flagship smartphones, Realme GT 2 and GT 2 Pro, in China with the Snapdragon 888 5G Processor and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, respectively. The GT 2 Pro arrives with a 2K LTPO AMOLED screen, runs on pre-installed realme UI 3.0 based on Android 12 OS, and is backed by a 5000mAh battery. On the other hand, the GT 2 comes with almost similar features to GT 2 Pro, including design, battery, realme UI 3.0 and RAM. The GT 2-series handsets are available in four colour variants- Paper White, Paper Green, Steel Black and Titanium Blue.
Vivo X80 Series
Being one of the most trusted brands in the world, Vivo has entered a game of flagship smartphones in the last couple of years and wants to expand a little more into it. The Chinese smartphone giant is expected to launch three devices- X80, X80 Pro and X80 Pro Plus, as part of the X80 series in the first quarter of 2022. The X80 series smartphones will guarantee a faster and lag-free performance while watching videos and playing intense graphics games, thanks to the Octa-core Processor.
Apple iPhone 14
Now, it’s been like a tradition that Apple will unwrap a fresh batch of next-generation iPhones every year around the third quarter of the year and we’re addicted to it. We’re only in the first month of the year, and the buzz around iPhone 14 has already begun. The upcoming flagship iPhone 14 will bring an iOS 16 chipset, and it is also expected to come up with a 120Hz refresh rate and hole-punch display. Also, the iPhone 14 family is likely to drop the mini version because people didn’t show much interest in buying the mini versions of the previous iPhones.
Google Pixel 6a
In the world of the smartphone industry, Google phones are best known for their cameras as they’re unmatchable. Google launched their anticipated smartphones, Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, back in October 2021, but unfortunately, they didn’t launch these phones in India due to chip shortage, which disappointed their Indian fan base. But according to the recent rumours, Google is planning to launch Pixel 6a in India, and that too with a few exciting changes in design, chipset, and other specs. The upcoming Pixel 6a might have a 90Hz or 120Hz refresh rate along with a 4800mAh battery and similar camera specs like Pixel 5a.
iQOO 9 & iQOO 9 Pro
The Chinese smartphone brand recently launched the iQOO 9 Series lineup in China. It is powered by the recently launched Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, the same chipset that powers devices like the Xiaomi 12 Pro and Realme GT 2 Pro. The lineup has two devices – the iQOO 9 and the iQOO 9 Pro, paired with up to 12GB RAM and 512GB inbuilt storage. iQOO 9 sports a 6.78-inch full-HD+ (1,080×2,400 pixels), while the pro model features 6.78-inch Quad-HD+ (3,200×1,440 pixels) display with a refresh rate of 120Hz.
CES is the most influential tech event globally, and just like ordinary people awaits a new year, tech enthusiasts wait for the CES event, which offers them a head start to begin the new year on a good note. The event is underway and has unveiled numerous out of the box products for which it is known. Due to the ongoing pandemic and fear of new variants like Omicron, many publications, including us, are not physically attending the CES 2022, making the show kind of Hybrid. However, after spending many months in lockdown, we’re now getting used to the new normal.
BMW iX – The Color Changing Car
Invention arises directly from idleness, sometimes out of laziness to save oneself from troubles, and that’s human nature, which BMW grasped and created a colour-changing car, which will keep you sane from the boredom of having one coloured vehicle. The BMX iX fully electric car debuted at CES 2022, and it has body panels made from E Ink displays, similar to the ones we find on the screen of a Kindle e-reader. The demo version only allows two colour-changing patterns, Black and White, but more colours will be added to excite the customers in the future.
Freestyle TV Projector by Samsung
Drive-in theatres were one of the fascinating approaches towards entertainment as they allowed people to enjoy the cinema from the comfort of their car. Unfortunately, it lapsed out from our lives, but if you’re one of those people who likes to stay on the road and enjoy movies on the go, particularly on big screens, then Samsung has launched something for you, the all-new Freestyle TV projector, which weighs less than a kilogram and comes with a 180-degree cradle stand. Get an additional USB-C battery, a waterproof case, lens caps, and the projector allows you to project anything onto walls, screens or anywhere else from 30 to 100 inches.
LG Omnipod – World on Wheels
LG has always been a company that introduced humanity to many unbelievable products and ensured we would stay on the line of innovation. Micro apartments are already creating hype worldwide due to the shortage of space and ever-rising prices. And now, to make things easier for us, LG has introduced an Omnipod – a connected car concept that blurs the distinction between home and car. Fundamentally, it is an entire world on wheels with lights, windows and even seems to have a driver’s seat. The Omnipod has a refrigerator, drink dispensers, TV panels, a virtual assistant “Reah” to help you and access Metaverse via the giant floor-to-ceiling screen.
Noveto N1 – Invisible headphones
We often find people exaggerating the size of the headphones or even earbuds, and to cure that problem, Noveto has launched N1, an audio device with built-in Alexa intelligence and Noveto’s proprietary innovative audio beaming technology. The premium soundbar works on ultrasonic waves and offers a headphone-like experience with spatial 3D audio, and the speciality of N1 is only the listener can hear the music. The company has recorded up to 90% (20dB) audio drop when it is 1 meter away from the listener means only 10 per cent of the N1’s audio can be heard beyond 1 metre, more like a whisper.
Sony Vision-S-02 EV
The one conference that surprised everyone was Sony, as they bring a reasonable interest in their electric vehicle, the Vision-S, and its further development and production. The company stated in a blog post that they will establish an operating company, ‘Sony Mobility Inc.’ in the spring of 2022, which means Sony could take on Tesla with its EV’s. The newly introduced all-electric SUV model, Sony Vision-S-02, is definitely for a future commercial release. Along with advanced sensors and safety systems, it allows you to play PlayStation games through a remote connection to a console at home; what more you could ask for in a car?
When you travel with friends, you spend most of the time either waiting for them to get ready or deciding where to go first! And when you get bored with such lousy holidays, the thought of solo travelling hits your mind. But did you follow through with it? If you answered yes, you’re already a part of the solo travel fraternity, but if you answered no, you need a hit.
Travelling solo is one of the most pleasant experiences you can have. It helps you build confidence, self-love, and mental health, along with the freedom to take all the shots. People usually turn their back on solo trips due to a fear of loneliness, but solo travelling doesn’t necessarily mean being alone, and you never know who’ll come across your path?
The Benefits of Solo Backpacking
People will not believe in what you’re trying to convince them unless they know the beneficial part of the narrative. We work hard to fulfil our needs, but along with our needs, we need to focus on ways to reclaim our mental health and much-needed headspace. Solo backpacking provides you with both of these essential things, which helps you clear your mind.
It makes you focus on yourself.
Sometimes being selfish is not a bad approach, especially when planning a solo trip. Travelling with others means you have to stick to the itinerary, but what if you want to spend 6-hours in a single museum, staring at the artefacts or start your trek when light first appears in the sky? To experience such things, you have to be selfish and go on a solo trip.
When you travel solo, you unconsciously start thinking about yourself, which gives you time to reflect on your life, to think about your actual likes/dislikes and where you want to go in the future. Solo trips don’t promise to solve your problems, but it certainly helps you get ready to face anything as it makes you confident, strong, smart and self-reliant.
It helps you in making new connections.
Being a solo traveller, I’ve met marvelous people whilst travelling alone, be it fellow travellers or locals. When you travel alone, you are more likely to reach out to people you meet on the road and interact with them, which helps you make new connections. Sometimes, it leads to building meaningful relationships, even if they’re locals.
A conversation over a cup of tea or at a breakfast joint can broaden your knowledge about many things, such as trying different food, understanding the local language, different cultures, art and indulging yourself in those experiences you could not do while travelling in a flock. Also, in my experience, it is easy to strike up friendships on the road.
It reduces your stress levels.
Everybody is dealing with some stress, which you can’t speak out in front of people. It is a silent killer, living inside your body like a parasite and feeding on your health. In such cases, travelling solo is one of the best antidotes to relieve your senses. Breaking free from the group, deadlines, and chaos of mundane routine will help you reduce the stress and come back strong.
Travelling solo boosts your confidence and releases happy hormones in your body, taking your mind off stressful thoughts. Also, taking time off from work makes you feel calm and composed as it relieves the tension and stress of your work life. Once the stress is gone, you’ll have a more productive and focused work life.
It improves your mental health.
I travel by myself most of the time. When I went on my first solo trip, it initially seemed challenging, but soon I realized how the solo trip helped me enhance my mental health, and since then, I haven’t turned my back on it. Backpacking solo and living someplace where your heart belongs or you feel excited about can help you toughen up mentally and emotionally.
When you travel solo, there’s no one to judge you, making you try your hands on the wildest things. You suddenly become more adventurous and start attempting more unexpected things, which helps reset your body and mind. Travelling solo brings mental peace, which benefits you from quickly getting over stressful situations and teaches you to handle such situations calmly.
It increases your creativity.
Solo travel is particularly constructive for people who’re dealing with creative blocks. It helps people to boost their creativity and come up with diverse ideas. Travelling solo is beneficial for improving brain function as well as creativity, and kicking yourself out of your comfort zone is an excellent way to embrace your artistic imagination.
New colours, patterns, sounds, food and immersing yourself in the local environment will help you enhance your creativity. When you explore new places and experience other cultures, it opens your mind and activates positive energies. So, once you’re home, you can channel the energy from your adventure to reactivate your creative subconscious.
It helps you to discover the real you.
People often ask me why do you travel alone, don’t you have any friends? I do have friends, and I travel with them, but backpacking solo has a special place in my life. Over the years, it has helped me discover the real me, and the one-on-one time is beyond priceless, you can’t have that when you travel in a group.
When you travel alone, from booking a hotel room to deciding what to eat, you regulate everything, which helps you learn more about yourself than you ever imagined. Solo travelling acts like therapy and provides you with a perfect time for deep introspection, which assists you in increasing your mental resilience and discovering the real you.
It improves your adaptability.
“Some beautiful paths can’t be discovered without getting lost”, and to discover such paths, you must have to be adaptable. The mundane routine forces you to stay within the comfort box, weakening your adaptability skills. In contrast, you understand your strengths, weaknesses, and adaptability skills when you go on solo trips.
Travelling alone comes with greater responsibility and gives you greater flexibility. While travelling solo, you learn things you couldn’t learn anywhere else, and it helps you become more flexible and responsible. Also, when you travel without a plan, it gives you incredible flexibility and can lead you to exciting and unplanned adventures.
It helps you grow as an individual.
Don’t travel ‘for the gram’; travel to explore the inner you. Solo travelling is best for personal growth, as it lets you spend a lot of time with yourself, which allows you to figure yourself out and find peace within yourself. We often find it difficult to approach strangers, but when you’re on your own, you have no other choice than to ask strangers.
Travelling solo allows room for meaningful connections with strangers, which ultimately makes you humble and sharpens your troubleshooting skills. Sometimes you meet people and hear fascinating stories that help you to inspire in life. Also, when you venture out alone, you’ll bond deeper with yourself and come back as a different person.
It teaches you that setbacks are a part of life.
Whenever something terrible happens in our lives, we ask ourselves, “why is it happening to me?” and hold on to the point about what happened, which leads us to frustration. We can not alter life events, but we can always learn how to deal with the issues. Travelling solo helps you deal better with setbacks because we come across many while travelling alone.
Setbacks that arrive while you’re travelling solo add extra spice to your adventures and fill your pocket with experiences. It teaches you to go with the flow and not get plastered with the past life. So, if you’re wondering how to deal with setbacks, go on a solo trip, and you’ll come back as a solid person who knows how to stay patient and deal with the problems.
Travelling alone is often considered a risky venture, but the world is not what the media shows on TV. It still has great people with whom you can become friends in no time and even if you face some problems, they’re only going to help you in life. So, what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and take a solo trip to experience more by yourself.
Being an open social media platform, Twitter generally attracts several controversies very often, and it happens due to the nature of the platform. The popular social media platform allows users to post about everything except images or videos depicting graphic violence, hate-group imagery and pornography. Though Twitter’s latest policy on pornography permits users with verified accounts to share explicit content within their tweets by marking it “this media is sensitive.”
Also, in the last couple of years, we have witnessed many controversial tweets from all around the world, be it on #blacklivesmatter or #metoo movement and in the case of our country, most of these tweets are coming from a few celebrities and stand up comedians who tweeted their blunt views on patriotism or government strategies, but we’re not going to focus more on controversial tweets because, over the years, Twitter has blessed us with a few good tweets too and before walking into 2022, let’s take a look at the positive side of the platform.
Barack Obama
"No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion…" pic.twitter.com/InZ58zkoAm
Let’s begin with the tweet of Barack Obama, who’s a two-term President of the United States and the most followed individual currently on Twitter with over 130 million followers. The ex-president mostly tweets about his activities and work related to his Obama Foundation, but the tweet that went viral and caught everyone’s eyes was “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion…”
The tweet, which quotes a line from Nelson Mandela’s autobiography “Long Walk to Freedom”, came after the violence in Charlottesville where a 32-year-old woman was killed, and 19 others were injured when a man allegedly accelerated his car into a crowd of counter-protesters. The tweet stayed on the top as the most-liked tweet until Chadwick Boseman’s family disclosed the news of his demise with the tweet from his account.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk is known for his contradictory work, theories, tweets and comments. When coronavirus was at its peak in foreign countries like the United States, United Kingdom and China, a tweet from Elon Musk caught everyone’s attention. In a tweet, the SpaceX founder said, “The coronavirus panic is dumb,” even though he doesn’t have a background in medicine or virology. The tweet didn’t age well as globally coronavirus infections crossed over 27.5Cr while killing over 53.5L people and counting.
Breaking the news of Osama bin Laden’s Death
So I'm told by a reputable person they have killed Osama Bin Laden. Hot damn.
One of the reasons behind Twitter getting popular after 2010 was its news breaking culture. The platform has unveiled a number of top news’ through its wide base of users, and one of them was the news of Osama bin Laden’s death which came out from a tweet of Keith Urbahn, a former chief of staff to defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Before this tweet, one more tweet provided a hint of the news, and it came from a Pakistan-based IT consultant, Sohaib Athar, which reads, “Helicopter hovering above Abbottabad at 1 AM is a rare event”.
#BlackLivesMatter
“Racism isn’t getting worse, it’s getting filmed” – Will Smith
The hashtags #BlackLivesMatter first came into the limelight during 2013 as the movement to curb police violence gained steam but arose like a spaceship missile during May 2020, when George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was murdered in the Powderhorn Park. The protest was against incidents of police brutality and all racially motivated violence against black people.
While protesting physically, the protestors also started using the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter on social media platforms, especially on Twitter, to gain the world’s attention and support. Since 2013, more than 41 million tweets have been tagged with #BlackLivesMatter, but one of the tweets that went viral during this phase was from Femi Koleoso, and it mentions a quote from Will Smith, “Racism isn’t getting worse, it’s getting filmed.”
If you want to win at social media, you have to focus on creative marketing as people might usually don’t care about the brand, but if you do the marketing job well, they’ll surely remember your brand and then eventually end up having it. One such great marketing tweet came during a Super Bowl XLVII in 2013 when a surprise blackout delayed the game of the National Football League for 34 minutes. A quick-moving tweet from Oreo reads, Power out? No problem, followed by an image that shows a text, “you can still dunk in the dark.”
The iconic bird logo of the social media platform Twitter is named Larry as a tribute to NBA player Larry Bird, who played for the Boston Celtics, Twitter co-founder Biz Stone’s home-state team.
In 2009, Evan Williams and Biz Stone were listed in Time’s 100 most influential people in the world, even before Jack Dorsey.
As of January 2022, the most-liked tweethas over 7.2 million likes, and it was tweeted from the late American actor Chadwick Boseman’s account by his family, informing the world about his demise.
Only the South Korean band BTS has more than three most-liked tweets in the top 30. The band has 21 tweets in the list of top 30 most-liked tweets.
Twitter is blocked in China because Chinese authorities prefer their homegrown social networks as they can have complete control over them, which Twitter doesn’t permit.
Justin Bieber is the most followed celebrity on Twitter with over 114m followers, only behind former United States President Barack Obama.
Twitter has enough money in the bank to survive approximately 412 years.
The official Twitter account of @Sweden is given to a random Swedish citizen every week to manage with the expressed goal to manifest Swedish diversity and progressiveness.
Twitter first made a profit in the fourth quarter of 2017, earning $91m (£65m).
Out of 1.3 billion Twitter accounts, over 391 million accounts have no followers at all.
Taylor Swift is the most influential person on Twitter, followed by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modiand Katy Perry.
The Face with Tears of Joy emoji “😂” is the most popular emoji on Twitter.
The hashtag was first brought to Twitter on 23rd August 2007. Chris Messina introduced it in order to filter the tweets and help the existing users connect with a particular theme.
The Twitter logo consists of overlaying 15 different symmetrical circles, which signifies giving everyone a voice.
Out of all the Americans on Twitter, 71% use the platform only to read the news, and 42% use the platform to discuss politics.
The statistical data shows over 75% of emojis tweeted on Twitter are positive, and the number increases by about 2% during Friday and Saturday.
Since the last couple of years, we have witnessed many top-notch companies launching their audio sunglasses, which ultimately helped the audio sunglasses section to grow and have a category of their own. The original Bose Frames delivered surprisingly pure sound, and with the arrival of three new models, Tempo, Tenor, and Soprano, Bose stands tall in the audio sunglasses market. Bose Tempo is a sporty looking gadget, while the other two, Rectangular shaped Tenor and Cat Eye shaped Soprano, are best for everyday use. The company has done a lot to improve the sound quality, which helps the sunglasses to deliver crisp and clear sound. The audio sunglasses are the best gift option for the person who likes listening to music while riding a bike, resting by the pool/beach, walking, running, or hiking.
Apple MagSafe Battery Pack – Price: ₹10,900
Apple is one of the top-ranked smartphone manufacturing companies in the world, but at the same time, it is infamous for its battery backup. However, the company has understood the issue and has come up with a solution in the form of an Apple MagSafe battery pack. The rectangle-shaped and white coloured MagSafe battery pack fits perfectly on the back and is compatible with iPhone 12 series and iPhone 13 series. The slim and sturdy battery pack is small enough to slide into a pocket or bag. The MagSafe Battery Pack offers a 1,460mAh capacity which sounds low, but the numbers are deceiving as the battery pack easily adds a few hours of use to your iPhone. If you have experienced frequent cries related to battery backup from your loved one who uses an iPhone, then the MagSafe battery pack is a must-buy gift option.
Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen) – Price: ₹13,999
Amazon has been a leading company in manufacturing smart speaker displays over the years, and its recent launch, the Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen), is the best smart display in the lineup. The 2nd gen Echo Show 8 offers a superior 13-megapixel wide-angle camera for enhanced video calls along with a faster processor and an auto-framing feature, which lets the device pan and zoom automatically to adjust the frame while making video calls. The Echo Show 8’s sound output is way better than the top trim Echo Show 10, but the flagship smart home device Echo Show 10 steals the show when it comes to other features. If the person you’re planning to gift this Christmas is a newcomer to the smart home space, then Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen) would be a great gift choice.
Ember Mug² –
Price: Various options available from ₹16,000* on amazon.in or get it from ember.com for $129.95 USD
The winter is coming, and all we need to survive the chilliness is a cup of hot tea or coffee by the table, but every time we plan to enjoy the hot drink, it turns cold before we finish it and ruins our mood. Well, if you know someone who is a big-time hot tea or coffee lover, then gift them the Ember Mug² temperature control smart mug, and it will never let their tea or coffee go cold again, at least for up to 1.5 hours with Ember Mug² 10 oz and up to 80 minutes with the Ember Mug² 14 oz. The smart mug is designed for home or office use, and it allows you to set an exact drinking temperature so your coffee is never too hot or cold. The washable smart mug allows you to set and control your prefered temperature with your smartphone via the dedicated Ember app.
Beats Studio Buds Wireless Earbuds – Price: ₹14,499
Apple purchased Beats in 2014, and since then, every product Beats launched was somehow tied up with the Apple ecosystem. Then Beats decided to ditch the traditional Apple H1 and W1 chips and launched Studio Buds Wireless Earbuds with MediaTek chipset. The change in the chip helped Beats to go beyond its competitors and suit Android phones along with Apple devices. The Beats Studio Buds are Beats’ smallest earbuds to date and the best-sounding earbuds Beats has ever manufactured. The wireless noise-cancelling earbuds fit perfectly in the ear, and the solid grip makes sure they’ll not fall out even during intense workouts. So, if you’re looking for a gadget to gift your gym-addict friend, then these stand-out earbuds are the perfect little thing.
GoPro Hero10 Black Action Camera – Price: ₹54,500
GoPro recently launched the new Hero10 Black, with a new faster custom processor. The Hero10 Black sports a 2.27-inch touch screen main display on the back and a 1.4-inch display on the front. It arrives with Incredible video stabilization and a new GP2 chipset, enabling new slow-motion frame rates, faster transfer speeds, and improved image quality. The camera can record smoother videos up to 5.3K @ 60fps, and for slow-mo videos, it can go up to 4K @ 120fps and 2.7K @ 240fps. The waterproof Hero 10 Black is powered by a GP2 sensor and packs a 1,720mAh battery. The GoPro Hero10 Black could be the best gift option if your loved ones are travel enthusiasts, vloggers or into adventure sports.
WD My Passport Go Portable SSD – Price: ₹11,469* (for 1TB on flipkart.com)
SSDs (Solid State Drives) are faster and more power-efficient than HDDs (Hard Disk Drives), and that’s the reason they’re always in demand. WD is one of the most popular SSD and HDD-making companies globally, and their recent addition, WD My Passport Go portable SSD, is one in a million kinds of devices. The My Passport Go portable drive has a shock-absorbing rubber bumper and no moving parts, making it drop-resistant up to 2 meters. The square-shaped, rugged SSD is 2 times faster than typical portable hard disk drives and compatible with both Windows PC and Mac computers. The Pocket-sized drive has a built-in cable for convenient portability and is available in three variants, 500GB, 1TB and 2TB. You can gift the SSD to the person who never feels satisfied with the in-built storage of their respective devices.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro – Price: ₹10,990*
Samsung has tasted success with the launch of exceptionally built Galaxy Buds Plus and failure with the launch of not so excellent Galaxy Buds Live, which helped the South Korean tech giant analyse the segment well and come back hard with the Galaxy Buds Pro, the best true wireless earbuds that the company has ever made. The Buds Pro includes active noise cancellation, wireless charging, speech detection mode, and support for the Scalable advanced Bluetooth codec. When paired with a Samsung smartphone or tablet, the earbuds offer the best sound quality and go beyond these key features. The Buds Pro also offers IPX7 water and sweat resistance features along with improved mic performance. So, if you’ve someone who owns a Samsung smartphone or tablet and likes to play along with music and calls, then go for these earbuds and make your loved ones happy.
E-book readers are reliable and handy instead of the traditional paper-based books because e-book readers offer thousands of books in one gadget, and when it comes to choosing the best e-book reader in the market, you’ll never find anything better than Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (10th Gen). The waterproof e-reader has a 6-inch e-ink display, and it is available in different variants that range from 8GB to 32GB of storage. The Kindle Paperwhite is one of the most popular e-readers on the market with good battery life, and if you have someone in your friend circle who’s an avid book reader, then this 10th Gen Kindle Paperwhite could easily replace your place in your friend’s life.
Budget Gifts (Below ₹10,000)
LG XBOOM Go PL2 Water Resistant Wireless Bluetooth Speaker – Price: ₹7,990
The LG XBOOM Go PL2 is the smallest and least expensive portable Bluetooth speaker from the PL range of speakers. The IPX5 water-resistant portable speaker offers a Sound Boost mode, USB-C charging, stereo pairing, and up to 10 hours of battery life. The PL2 speaker can be controlled with your smartphone’s voice assistant and can make any party fun in no time. The rounded design, compact and lightweight speaker has a good build quality and is best suited for travel enthusiasts. If you know someone who is a travel addict and likes to do weekend campaigning by the lake or hill, then LG XBOOM Go PL2 portable speakers can be a good companion for such personalities.
Oral-B Pro 2 2000N Electric Rechargeable Toothbrush – Price: ₹4,199
Technology has evolved our daily needs from smart home devices to electric toothbrushes. A decade ago, Oral-B was making regular manual toothbrushes, but then the company decided to take a look at the big picture and started manufacturing electric toothbrushes to cope up with the new age of connected tech. The Oral-B Pro 2 2000 electric rechargeable toothbrush offers only the necessary features for your dental health and works without any app support. The electric toothbrush helps you to remove more plaque and leave gums healthier than a manual toothbrush. The Oral-B Pro 2 200 electric toothbrush features two brushing modes and a pressure sensor, making it the simplest yet elegant electric toothbrush. It can be an excellent gift for people with sensitive teeth who have never experimented with an electric toothbrush.
Razer Kishi Mobile Game Controller – Price: ₹9,321* on amazon.in
Everyone has their own choice, and not all people want a regular PlayStation or Xbox controller. Some people go beyond the ordinary world and prefer exciting gadgets such as Razer Kishi Mobile Game Controller, which offers a seemingly lag-free gaming experience on the phone. The go-to mobile gaming controller has a split apart design, and it can connect directly through the USB-C charging port. The Razer Kishi Mobile Game Controller fits most smartphone devices and offers a solid grip that lets the gamer have great control over a device. If you’re friends with someone who follows mobile gaming like a devotion, in that case, you should consider gifting Razer Kishi Mobile Game Controller to them this Christmas as this killer gadget will not only please them mentally but will permanently change their mobile gaming experience.
Fire TV Stick 4K Streaming Device with Alexa Voice Remote – Price: ₹5,999
Amazon has acquired almost all crucial markets, from online shopping to smart house gadgets to streaming services and even streaming devices. The business strategies and tough competition in the market have made consumers’ lives easy as many widgets are available at affordable prices, and the list includes 4K streaming devices. Since the Fire TV Stick 4K launch, Amazon has emerged in this market, and the latest Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K includes the Alexa voice remote in the box. The latest 4K stick offers improved performance and is slightly larger than the standard Fire TV Stick but has the same colour and texture. The latest 4K stick features a guide button that can quickly take you to live TV and offer Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG like the standard stick. If you’re looking for a budget gift this Christmas, then the Fire TV Stick 4K streaming device with Alexa Voice Remote could be a perfect one.
Bellroy 3 Card iPhone Wallet Case – Price: from $68 to $88 (including $9 express shipping charges)
We often see people, mainly Indians having a 50 or 100 rupees/dollars note on the back of their smartphone cover. Some even put their credit or debit cards on the back of their smartphone cover, and when asked, they defend themselves in the name of emergency needs. Well, Australian accessories making brand Bellroy decided to provide a stylish look to the regular habit and created a multi-functional smartphone wallet case that holds up to 3 cards, slots devoted to a SIM tool and SIM card. The professional-looking case has a smooth, barely textured premium leather sheath covering the back panel, and you can even use the card compartment door as a kickstand to watch videos. So, if you know someone who prefers a luxury lifestyle and owns an iPhone from 12-series or 13-series, then Bellroy 3 Card iPhone Wallet Case will be a great gift and add a style statement to their life. Though the case is only available on the official website of Bellroy, if you want to purchase one, hurry up because it will take a few days or even a week to ship in India.
Noise ColorFit Pro 3 – Price: ₹3,999
Noise, India’s homegrown brand, has already acquired the top position in India’s wearables market. The budget smartwatch, Noise Colorfit 3 Pro, comes with many features and specifications, such as a SpO2 monitor for blood oxygen monitoring, a stress level monitor, and a bigger-better display. The lightweight smartwatch sports a 1.5-inch HD touchscreen colour display and follows the subtle design language like an Apple watch. The water-resistant smartwatch features about 14 workout modes, including Outdoor Walking, Outdoor Running, Outdoor Cycling, Pool Swimming, Open Water Swimming, Cricket, Hiking, Yoga and Workout. The Noise Colorfit Pro 3 comes in 6 colours and offers several high-end features, which we usually find on Apple & Samsung smartwatches. So, if you’re looking for a budget Christmas or new year gift, then Noise Colorfit 3 Pro could do the math.
Wagr’s GPS & Fitness Tracker for Dogs – Price: ₹3,499
The world is getting smarter with smart wearables, and along with us, our very canine best friend also needs smart wearables because about 6 lacs dogs get lost every year in India. The pain of losing our pooch friend can cause severe sickness to dog parents, and this thought made IIT alumnus Advaith Mohan and two of his friends, Siddharth Darbha and Ajith Kochery, come up with a solution. The trio created a dog wearable Wagr, India’s first GPS tracker for dogs which tracks the dog using high-precision GPS and even allows you to create safe zones. Once you attach the Wagr tracker to your pup’s collar, it will help you track your dog’s activity, walks, safe zones, and it will also alert you when they leave the safe zone you’ve created. If you have a dog of your own or someone from your friend’s circle who owns a dog, then Wagr’s location & fitness tracker is a must-have gadget.
The Chinese smartphone maker Vivo is on fire, yesterday the company launched its new OriginOS Ocean user interface and today, iQOO confirmed its upcoming Neo 5s is set to debut on 20th December 2021. The smartphone will feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor with the brand new Android 12 based interface.
The iQOO Neo 5s is tipped to have an AMOLED display with a hole-punch design alongside 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. Along with these specs, it is rumoured to have a 48MP IMX598 primary camera with OIS and a 16MP selfie camera. In addition to the Neo 5s, the company is also expected to launch an affordable NEO series model, iQOO Neo5 SE, with the Snapdragon 778G+ chipset.
The company has only confirmed that the device will feature OriginOS Ocean and arrive with a new lock screen design, live wallpapers, nano notifications, a nano music player, and several other changes in the user interface. The leaked images of the smartphone suggest the phone will sport a flat display of 6.56-inch along with an OLED panel.
The upcoming device is said to have an in-display fingerprint scanner, 120Hz refresh rate support, and a 4,500mAh battery with 66W fast charging support. The official launch of the smartphone will take place on 20th December, and we’ll be waiting to have more details of the device as we get closer to the event date.
We’ve witnessed several launches of foldable smartphones in the past couple of years, including Moto Razr 5G, Microsoft Surface Duo, and the most recent one is Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G. The foldable smartphones are new-age toys, and every smartphone manufacturing company wants at least one such smartphone in their purse.
Oppo was left little behind in this segment, but with Oppo Find N, the company is now ready to launch its first foldable smartphone in the market. Oppo Chief Product Officer Pete Lau recently revealed a glimpse of the new foldable smartphone on which the company has spent about 4-years to finish the research and development work.
The upcoming foldable smartphone from Oppo is teased with a tagline, “a small enough, big enough folding screen phone,” and is expected to offer a proprietary software experience to deliver a distinctive user experience. The phone’s layout is very similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3, and the design is claimed to be simple, practical, and easy to use.
The teaser video shows the inward folding design of the Oppo Find N and appears to have a hole-punch design, at least for its foldable display. The smartphone has the main folding screen on the inside and another smaller one on the outside, similar to the Galaxy Z Fold series. The video also hints that the foldable smartphone would come with a USB Type-C port and a side-mounted fingerprint sensor.
In his letter, Lau further claimed, “With the Find N, we have solved the main pain points in previous foldable smartphones, such as the crease in the display and overall durability of the device, by inventing perhaps the best hinge and display designs available today.” The first foldable smartphone from the house of Oppo, the Find N, is set to be launched on December 15, 2021.
