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2022 Rewind: Best Tech Accessories of 2022

It doesn’t matter if you’re a tech enthusiast or not, having good accessories is the need of the hour in today’s world. While some people enjoy keeping up with the changing landscape of the tech industry, others merely want good accessories as they represent a part of themselves. Be it Bluetooth speakers, keyboards/mouse, or smartwatches, 2022 saw a range of products launching. Some were cool, and others were practical, but the tech accessories listed below were definitely the ones that took me by surprise!

Here are the best tech accessories launched in 2022 –

Noise IntelliBuds

Perhaps one of the best TWS launched in 2022 was the Noise IntelliBuds. While the IntelliBuds were perfectly fine as an everyday driver for your music need, it added an extra touch with the smart features. One can simply shake their head to receive a call or skip to the next track with the IntelliBuds. Features like hot voice commands and gesture controls are also present here. The Noise IntelliBuds is priced at Rs 4,999.

6 mm drivers
BT 5.0 up to 10m
Hot Voice Commands
Smart Gesture Control
Transparency Mode
Music Sharing

Portronics UFO Pro

In today’s age, even people who are not tech enthusiasts carry around at least three tech devices that need charging. A lot of devices need charging simultaneously and there are only a limited number of sockets in a person’s house. This is where the Portronics UFO Pro comes in handy as it comes with the capability of charging six devices at the same time! This UFO-shaped charging station comes with 4 USB-A 2.0 ports, 1 QC 3.0 Port, and 1 Type-C PD. It also comes with 60W power output that can juice up your devices with ease. The Portronics UFO Pro Charging station is priced at just Rs 879.

Charge up to 6 devices
Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 Port
Overcharge Protection
60 Watts

Zinq Technologies 5 Fan Cooling Pad

If you’re lucky enough to still be working from home then we know you don’t sit at your designated desk the entire day. Humans like to move around thus taking your laptop to bed to work is something we do normally. However, keeping your laptop in any other space than a flat surface leads to it quickly heating up and affecting its performance. Hence, the 5-fan cooling pad is the perfect choice for you. The cooling pad does not just keep your laptop cool but is also height adjustable. The Zinq Five Fan Cooling Pad is priced at Rs 1,382.

Cooling pad with metal panel
Mute motor
Four cooling fans
Red LED lights

OnePlus Nord Watch

Gone are the days when watches just served one purpose. Now, the smartwatches strapped around your wrist can track your fitness, your blood oxygen, your heart rate, and much more. While the OnePlus Nord Watch misses out on two key features like Bluetooth calling and an always-on display, it is a solid device nonetheless. It comes with ample features, a vibrant AMOLED display and 100+ watch faces that are a treat to look at! The OnePlus Nord Watch is priced at Rs 4,999.

4.52 cm AMOLED display
Bluetooth 5.2
230mAh battery
Up to 10 days of battery life
IP68 rating

Logitech MX Keys

A comfortable keyboard is something everyone needs even if they are not content writers like me! This smart MX keyboard is capable of connecting and switching between three devices at the same time thanks to its Bluetooth functionality. The fluid mechanical keyboard gives a classic feel while typing and does not hurt your fingers even with prolonged use. It comes with smart illumination which allows the backlit kets to adjust to changing lighting conditions. Multi-device connectivity is also present thus connecting on Android, iOS or Windows devices simultaneously will not be an issue. The Logitech MX Mechanical Wireless keyboard is priced at Rs 18,995.

Customisable Keys
Smart backlighting
Dual colour keycaps
USB-C quick charging
Wireless connectivity

Special Mentions –

Logitech MX Master 3 Wireless Mouse
DIGITEK Portable Mini RGB Light
Sony WF-LS900N
boAt Bassheads 242

‘Top G’ Andrew Tate detained by the Romanian authorities

The internet is full of controversial personalities gaining a platform to voice their opinions and forming a great fan following. it was only a few weeks back when fitness influencer ‘Liver King’ admitted using steroids all while building a $100 million empire propagating against the use of steroids and eating raw meat. On the other hand, Logan Paul’s CryptoZoo NFT Game was exposed to be a ‘total scam’ by YouTuber CoffeeZilla. Now, another social media personality who garnered a massive following for his controversial and misogynistic takes, Andrew Tate, has been taken into custody by Romanian authorities for an alleged human trafficking case.

Andrew Tate in custody

British social media influencer Andrew Tate was detained in Romania on Friday in a human trafficking and rape investigation. This development came only a day after he and climate activist Greta Thunberg got into a social media beef. Tate, a former kickboxer and his brother Tristan Tate were detained. Reports suggest that the Tate brothers have been under criminal investigation since back in April for being linked with an organised crime group.

yes, please do enlighten me. email me at smalldickenergy@getalife.com https://t.co/V8geeVvEvg

— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) December 28, 2022

Tate is famously known to flex his cars and mansions on social media asking his naysayers ‘How Many Bugattis Do You Own?’ which quickly became a rage among his fans. During his social media feud with Greta Thunberg, Tate was flexing the number of cars he has and received a witty reply from Thunberg. In a response to Thunberg’s reply, Tate posted a video where he could be seen receiving pizza boxes and smoking a cigar. Interestingly, the pizza boxes shown in the video became a vital hint for Romanian authorities to grab Tate as they had the Pizza chain’s address on them which was in Romania. To sum it all up, Andrew Tate doxed himself on the internet while trying to shit-talk a 19-year-old and was taken into custody!

Andrew Tate’s audience is what is popularly known on the internet as the ‘Alpha Male’ community that looks down upon women. Tate caters to a large group of incel men who believe women are below them and should be of service to them. In his videos, the former kickboxer often talks about domestic abuse and how men should ‘control’ women. Several domestic abuse charities have come forward and stated that his videos are capable of radicalising his audience which consists of young men and boys. If anything else, his radical narrative against women is enough for him to be kept away from social media altogether.

2022 Rewind: best tablets of the year

While smartphones cater to your everyday needs and laptops cover your functionality and professional needs, tablets are a different ball game altogether. Not everyone needs a tablet but can surely benefit from one. One really does not need to blow up past the 1 or 2 lakh price point in today’s age in order to get the best performance from a computing device and tablets are definitely the optimum choice. Lighter than a laptop and a larger screen as compared to your mobile devices, tablets sit at the sweet middle point between the two device categories.

The trend of work-from-home and homeschooling might have come to an end as a sense of normalcy returns to the world post-pandemic. However, tablets have continued to go from strength to strength offering power-packed performance at a relatively low cost. Here are the best tablets in 2022 –

Xiaomi Mi Pad 5

Starting off with what I believe to be the best value-for-money tablet in 2022, the Xiaomi Mi Pad 5. This tablet packs an 11-inch 2K LCD display, 6GB of RAM, and the powerful Snapdragon 870 processor all at a price of just under Rs 30K. The Mi Pad 5 also comes with a 13MP primary camera and an 8MP front camera that is good enough for your video call needs. It packs a massive 8720 mAh battery and fast charging support to juice up the device in no time. The base variant sports 128GB of storage which cannot be expanded via an SD card. The only gripe with this tablet is the missing 3.5 mm audio jack. The Xiaomi Pad 5 is priced at Rs 26,999 for the base variant.

Snapdragon 860
11-inch IPS LCD 2K display
13MP Primary & 8MP Front Camera
120Hz refresh rate
8720mAh battery

Apple iPad Air 2022

One cannot talk about tablets and miss out on Apple’s iPad offering. The Apple iPad Air 2022 is no less than a powerful laptop as it comes with the Apple M1 chip that powers the company’s flagship MacBooks. Besides a powerful chip, the iPad Air 2022 comes with a 10.9 inches IPS LCD screen coupled with a 12MP primary and 12MP front camera. While it supports USB Type-C charging, it does not come with fast charging which could be a deal breaker for many. The cellular variant of the Apple iPad Air 2022 comes with 5G support. The Apple iPad Air 2022 is priced at Rs 52,999 for the 64GB Wi-Fi-only variant.

Liquid Retina IPS LCD Display
Apple M1 chipset
8GB RAM
Fingerprint sensor
USB Type-C charging

Realme Pad X

The Realme Pad X was yet another gem in this year’s best tablets. This tablet is powered by the capable Qualcomm 695 chipset which is 5G-capable. It packs a massive 10.95-inches TFT LCD full-view display and an 8340mAh battery that can be charged up with a 33W dart charger. It features a 105-degree wide-angle camera that is powered by machine-learning algorithms that keep you in the centre of the frame during video calls. The 6+128GB variant of the Realme Pad X is priced at Rs 27,999.

4/6GB RAM options
64/128GB storage options (Expandable up to 512GB)
10.95-inches 2000 x 1200
8340mAh battery with 33W Dart Charge
Reverse charging support

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8

Samsung has also established its strong footing in the tablet market with its Tab S series. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 builds upon a successful lineup of tablets by offering the best Android has to offer. It houses a powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor that is more powerful than you need for your daily digital activities. It also houses a 12MP camera with 4K recording capabilities to shoot crisp videos for your YouTube vlogs. Your entertainment will be taken care of effectively with the Tab S8 as it comes with a quad-speaker setup with Dolby atmos and a vibrant 2560 x 1600 LTPS TFT screen with a 120 Hz refresh rate. The 128GB Wi-Fi + 5G variant of the Galaxy Tab S8 is priced at Rs 75,890.

Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
8GB RAM
11-inch 120Hz refresh rate
13MP + 6MP dual primary camera
12MP front camera
8000mAh battery

Special mentions –

Nokia T20 Tab
Realme Tab 4
Lenovo Tab M10 FHD Plus Tablet

iPad Mini to not be replaced by the foldable iPhone

Since the past year, the rumour mills have been churning out details about the much anticipated foldable iPhone. However, there haven’t been any concrete leaks around the same. The world of leaks is full of bluffs and it is easy to fall prey to leakers pulling stuff out of thin air but the past few weeks have been hot for iPhone 15, the upcoming iPad series, and the inevitable foldable iPhone leaks. Several reports doing the rounds on the internet claimed that Apple would be discontinuing the iPad Mini series to fit the foldable iPhone in the lineup. Now, a new report from popular Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has presented a different picture.

iPad Mini to be discontinued?

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo in a set of tweets has rubbished the rumours about Apple discontinuing its iPad Mini lineup. Recent reports had suggested that the iPad Mini lineup will be cut off by Apple to accommodate the foldable iPhone lineup in 2025. However, Kuo believes that the eventual foldable iPhone will not replace the Mini lineup as doing so is not reasonable. One can simply understand that iPads and iPhones have a different customer bases thus replacing one with another could create conflicts in the market. Whereas, Kuo also revealed that the price point at which the foldable iPhone launch will be much higher than that of the iPad Mini.

Ming-Chi revealed furthermore that Apple is currently working on a new iPad Mini with a new processor. According to the analyst, the new processor will be the selling point of the upcoming iPad Mini which could start shipping by the end of 2023 or the first half of 2024. On the other hand, reports are suggesting that Apple will be working with notable companies like Samsung and LG in order to build a foldable 20.25-inch display. It will be interesting to see if Apple surpasses the previous foldable devices launched by major tech players.

Hello 2023: Emerging tech in the new year

The digital world evolves at a rapid pace. Only a few decades back, connecting to the internet required a dial-up modem and took a lot of time to load even the most basic website. Now people are constantly connected to the internet and practically live there thanks to social media and other engaging applications. As of now, with the help of UPI, even a local vegetable vendor is being able to support their business by connecting to high-end technology and big businesses definitely need to keep up with it to adapt to the rapid changes and stay competitive in the long run.

The major layoffs in the tech industry were clearly a hit to the advancement of new tech trends. However, the already-established tech trends are expected to thrive to a whole new degree in 2023. The latest and emerging technologies held more value than ever as the digital domain trumped over several others. Below is a list of what we believe will be the top tech trends of 2023 –

Smarter Devices

The computing prowess is growing at a rapid pace that enables us to create smarter devices. As of 2022, we have smart televisions, wearables, cars, and of course our beloved smartphones. However, there are also intelligent robots that work alongside humans to complete the majority of their tasks. Did you know that the Police Department of San Francisco, California has currently applied a proposal to deploy robots that are capable of deadly force including killing a person in extraordinary circumstances? Killer robots were only a thing we saw in sci-fi films but the proposal actually cements the fact that this technology is actually ready to be deployed! I do not intend to paint a dystopian picture where robots hold the strings to our lives but it is an interesting development nonetheless. In 2023, the momentum of smarter devices will only be moving forward at a rapid pace. The introduction of intelligent home robots is expected in 2023 which is yet another interesting development in the world of tech. Would you be interested in buying a smart robot for your home or do you think it’s too dystopian?

Metaverse

The metaverse has been quietly waiting for its time to become mainstream. If you ask me, the term metaverse in itself does not trigger my curiosity as much as the term ‘immersive technology’ does. We’re moving towards the next stage of internet usage where we work, play, socialize, maybe go on romantic dates, and do everything else on an internet platform. Forbes reports that the metaverse will be adding in $5 trillion to the global economy by 2030 and the next year is very crucial when it comes to the relevance and prominence of the metaverse for the next decade. As mentioned above, AR/VR technology has continued to advance at a rapid pace but the adoption of the metaverse is a key aspect for the technology to advance furthermore. The one arena where the metaverse will advance in 2023 will be more immersive meeting environments. People will be able to talk, meet, and co-create in a virtual environment. Microsoft and Nvidia are already working on creating individual metaverse platforms dedicated to collaborations on digital platforms. Another important aspect of the metaverse is the avatars present in the virtual world. If you’re familiar with the film ‘Ready Player One’ then you know the level of virtual avatars that are already present in pop culture and people expect something similar if not better. Sadly we’re not there yet. However, it looks like 2023 will mark the year when metaverse will be able to produce life-like avatars thanks to motion capture technology if it’s ever implemented at a larger scale for the general public to use.

Bringing together the digital and the real world

We are already at the state where we are seeing an increasing connection between the virtual and the real world. The one main component of bridging this gap has been virtual simulation technology known as digital twins. In this technology, real-world processes, operations, and products are rendered as virtual simulations to test new ideas in a much safer digital environment. Engineers use digital twins technology to recreate physical objects in the virtual world to test them under every possible outcome and condition without shelling out the big bucks of real-life experiments. In 2023, the digital twins technology will only be taking a more mainstream route and expanding into many industries like automobiles, machinery, cars, and precision healthcare.

2022 Rewind: Tech that made a big splash this year

2022 was surely a monumental year in the world of tech. While the tech industry like others is still recovering from the grappling hooks of the pandemic, it did manage to make major headlines besides the negative ones. As the year comes to a close, we wanted to look back at all the technological advancements and trends that made it mainstream in 2022. So without any further ado, let’s jump right in –

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)

It was only in November that we dedicated an entire edition to the emerging technology of artificial intelligence with our ‘AI Special’ The technology took a front foot in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of over 20% till 2029. There were many ways AI took over the world with its most prominent example being the healthcare industry during the times of COVID. AI’s demand in the healthcare space increased exponentially due to its models and tools capable of improving healthcare analytics and prediction tools. On the other hand, big companies are now using a big chunk of their commuting power to provide enhanced AI capabilities to the changing world.

As per Forbes, the biggest trend in the world of AI in 2022 was ‘machine vision’ where computers can now see and recognize objects in a video or photograph with much ease. Expect your ‘Are You a Human’ tests on the internet to get a little bit difficult as machines are now catching up quickly! Language processing was another big advancement in the field of AI where machines can now understand our voice, lingo, and accents much better and speak back to us. Another big trend in the field of AI was ‘AI Art’ which quickly became a rage on the internet and sparked a conversation amongst the artist community. Whether AI Art can be considered genuine art is a debate still ongoing.

Cyber Security

The world is becoming increasingly digital and with that cybersecurity will only become more and more prominent. Businesses and individuals both need to protect themselves from major cyber attacks. If the software on your mobile or computer device is compromised it could lead to great catastrophes like the leak of personal data and banking details. As of 2022, most of my data is stored on a cloud drive similar to a lot of people today. We like to have the convenience of being able to store data on the cloud and not on physical drives to preserve storage but it’s a double-edged sword as cloud drives could get struck by a cyber-attack anytime. 2022 saw an increase in public awareness about the topic of cyber security with an increased number of people using VPNs and other services to ensure their data is secured on the internet. Pro tip – Do use a VPN while surfing on the internet as you never know which site leads to a cyber attack!

Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR)

2022 saw a surge in interest in VR and AR technologies thanks to the metaverse boom. Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg has kept his stand solid on the metaverse being the next big thing in the world of tech even though current numbers paint a different picture. This year, we saw the launch of the Meta Quest Pro which is priced at a whopping $1,499. However, the VR headset has introduced the concept of mixed reality which looks like the perfect way ahead in the world of VR. Thanks to mixed reality technology, users can experience high-resolution engagement with the virtual world while maintaining a presence in the real world in high definition. A truly immersive and remake upgrade to the experience of VR was brought upon by Meta which can only be expected to be the gold standard of VR/AR in the near future. Do you expect to attend your work meetings via a VR headset as early as 2023? It doesn’t look like a stretch thanks to the advancements in VR technology.

5G Connectivity

2022 was the year India stepped into the 5G game with all guns blazing. Though it was in the last quarter of 2022, I am glad now I can surf the internet at lightning speeds on a cellular network thanks to 5G making its way to India. The fifth-generation wireless is currently the most advanced mobile broadband technology that already has giants like Samsung, Apple, Qualcomm, and other mobile network providers working on their toes to deploy the technology at a faster rate. It is reported that approximately 4 billion 5G subscriptions will be active around the world by 2025. 5G has the potential to change the way people perceive cellular networks and turn to them for their primary data needs. While 5G is still finding its footing in a country like India, 6G is already on the horizon which directly translates to more power in our mobile devices, cars, and wearables!

Quantum Computing

No, we certainly are not at the stage where we can travel through the ‘Quantum Realm’ and make big changes to the fate of the universe. That is only reserved for the fascinating world of Marvel films. However, the trend of quantum computing surely took over the world in 2022. So what actually is quantum computing? In simple terms, it is the processing of information that is represented by special quantum states that enable machines to handle data in a much different way from the traditional ways. Quantum computing has the potential to give humanity computing power that is a trillion times faster than what we’ve got today’s advanced supercomputers. Having such fast computing speeds allows humanity to unlock a different era of technological advancement. It could change the way we approach aspects like drug innovation, space exploration, and much more.

Meta settles Cambridge Analytica case for $725 million

It hasn’t entirely been a good year for Facebook’s parent company Meta. This year saw one of Meta’s biggest drops in share prices followed by the mass firing of employees. Now, Meta has agreed to pay $275 million to settle a class-action lawsuit claiming it inappropriately shared users’ information with Cambridge Analytica. For the unversed, Cambridge Analytica is a data analytics firm that was used by the Trump Campaign.

The settlement is a result of a revelations made back in 2018 that information up to 87 million people may have been accessed by third-party firm which filed for bankruptcy back then. On a court filing on last Thursday, the plaintiffs’ lawyers revealed that this is most Facebook has ever paid to settle a private class action. This also marks as the largest recovery ever in a data privacy class action lawsuit. On the other hand, Meta did not admit any wrongdoing and maintains that its users actually consented to the data sharing practices and ultimately did not suffer any damages.

Plaintiffs’ lawyers have now revealed that around 250 million to 280 million may be eligible to payments as part of the class action settlement. However, the amount of the individual payments will depend on the number of people who come forward with valid claims about their data getting compromised.

Facebook’s data leaks to Cambridge Analytica back in 2018 sparked major backlash around the world which later resulted in government investigations regarding the company’s privacy practices for nearly half a decade. This won’t be the first time Facebook has agreed to a monetary fine regarding its data privacy concern. Back in 2020, Zuckerberg had appeared in front of the Congress as a part of the Federal Trade Commission’s privacy case for which the company agreed to pay $5 billion in fine. The court has set a hearing date for March 2, 2023 when a federal judge will give the final settlement approval for the Cambridge Analytica case.

EU wants replaceable batteries on smartphones

Do you remember the time when you’d drop your phone and it would break open with the back panel and battery scattering like lego pieces? If you’re old enough, you’ll surely recall a time when cell phones were not the sealed metal and glass slabs they are today. They could be easily opened up and the SIM slots were actually inside as opposed to the SIM trays we have now. But most importantly, the battery of the smartphone devices could easily be swapped out for a new one. A battery replacement for newer smartphones is actually a task as wanting slimmer and water-resistant devices has made sealed phones a norm. However, it looks like the high of forcing global tech giants to shift the USB Type-C via a mandate has made the EU confident about having removable batteries in the future.

EU rules on replaceable batteries

The EU recently made USB-C mandatory on smartphones sold in the EU specifically. This move was later reported to be followed by a number of other countries. While the Type-C mandate will go into effect in 2024, the EU is now targeting batteries citing similar sustainability and e-waste control reasons. EU not just wants smartphones to feature easily replaceable batteries but is pushing for the entire life cycle of batteries to be changed. EU states that at least 16% of cobalt, 85% of lead and 6% of lithium contained in a battery should be obtained from recycled sources.

While it is impossible to implement a drastic change like this overnight, the EU has given companies 3.5 years after the legislation is passed to redesign batteries that users can easily remove and replace themselves. In today’s scenario, when a mobile user experiences their battery dying out quickly, replacing them becomes a hassle. Users have to pay exorbitant prices for a battery swap if their device is no longer under warranty which pushes them to buy a new device. Thus, adding on e-waste. It will be interesting to see how tech giants like Apple, Google, and Samsung respond to this change by the EU.