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Ananya Birla Is Raring To Build Her Own Unique Legacy

Interviewed | April 2017

One of our most anticipated shoots, we knew instinctively, was going to be replete with a lot of youthful vibe despite the location (which is popularly said to be one of the most haunted places of Mumbai) and we couldn’t have been more right. Ananya Birla and her youthful entourage totally justified the theme of our issue. The banter, Ananya’s quirky yet honest responses to our questions and her being a total pro at striking just the right poses all made for a great shoot.
And finally, Ananya was everything she stands for – humble, charming, gentle and genuine, and we were in awe. As we caught her in between shots, she bared her thoughts showing us why she is not just her father’s daughter but her own unique identity that’s ready to propel the Birla legacy to greater heights.

Ex: “What’s in a surname?” Tell us about the stress that comes with being a Birla.
Ananya Birla: I see myself as a girl following her passions and pursuing her vision. I feel very blessed for the emotional strength parents, siblings, grandparents lend. My biggest challenge is to live up to my own expectations which, at times, can be stressful.

Ex: You can’t take the Birla out of Ananya – is it so? Or the other way?
AB: I would like to believe that both complement each other to distinctly make me who I am today.

Ex: From Businesswoman to Popstar – what’s the transition about and why?
AB: I don’t see it as a transition. It is just a parallel career path that I have taken up. I have always been composing my own music and at one point decided that I wanted to share it with the world. Soon after, I started to pitch my work to music labels and in due time, eventually after the struggle, saw acceptance at Universal Music Group – India.

Ex: Does your childhood dream and present reality match when career is concerned?
AB: Yes absolutely! I always wanted to be a singer-songwriter, but always doubted myself. As soon as I was able to break out of those shackles and become more self-aware, it all started to fall into place.

Ex: Tell us something about Svatantra and MPower.
AB: Svatantra is a Microfinance company, a mini lending-bank of sorts. I started Svatantra when I was 17, so I am very emotionally attached to it. We lend loans to women in rural and semi-urban areas in India to financially support their businesses. In a sense, being an entrepreneur myself, I wanted to fund rural entrepreneurs given the vast potential and confidence these women have.
Svatantra means ‘freedom’ in Hindi and the organization is one of the fastest-growing microfinance organizations today in India. The key aim is to encourage entrepreneurship, self-sufficiency, and financial literacy and inclusion.

While studying at university in England, I interacted with people about my own age who were suffering from anxiety and depression. The experience stirred something familiar in me. In fact, when someone breaks a leg or has a surgery, they get flowers and get well soon cards. But to someone who suffers from mental health related illness, the empathy is sporadic just because they don’t see an actual wound!
I co-founded MpowerMinds as it is a cause very close to my heart, to increase public awareness about mental health and diffuse the social stigma associated with those suffering quietly. At the Mpower center, we let people know that they are not alone and offer a range of confidential services including therapy and psychiatric help.

Ex: What are the other business ideas that Ananya is brewing up in the days ahead?
AB: At present, creating music is my main aim and personal focus. However, we have many leaders in our team and together, we are working on a few other ventures as well. You will hear about this soon enough. They all have a larger vision of creating a positive impact and I hope that as a community, it enables conversations and sees participation on various levels.

Ex: Ananya – the Businesswoman or Ananya – the Popstar – which one do you like more personally?
AB: This is a very tough question as I fancy both the facets in different ways. The business woman keeps my mind going. However, I think being able to create music for myself and the world is probably closer to my soul. I see them both cross pollinating eventually and thus the time I invest would be prioritized as such. Having said that, presently I am investing more of my time in music.

Ex: What have been your lowest lows and highest highs?
AB: I had a phase in my life while studying at Oxford where at times I wasn’t able to get out of my cottage. There was a lot brewing inside me then, which at times saw an outlet in composing and writing my music. That time, feeling stifled was probably one of the lowest I have been. Even though there have been speed bumps after the launch of my music career, I have had my highest highs during this journey. I would say peaking on #11 on Shaazam was one of them. Being the first Indian to have DJ Afrojack’s remix of Livin’ the Life being backed by PM:AM – one of the largest dance labels in the world – was another one. I find making history, however small or large that maybe, quite contagious.

Ex: Who is your inspiration to reach where you are now?
AB: A larger vision; a wish to impact people’s lives through my work is what keeps me inspired. If you ask of a person, it will have to be my grandfather.

Ex: Do you think your age comes in the way at any point?
AB: Only in a positive way. Retrospectively, if I wasn’t 17 when I had started my first company, I would not have made certain decisions that have led up to it being successful today. Having more experience under my belt now, I have learnt a lot from my mistakes and my achievements. I am now in a position where I stand strong and plough my knowledge to excel further in all my other ventures.

Ex: What’s Ananya’s definition of “Livin’ the Life”?
AB: Spreading love and seeing people smile. I question whether true altruism exists, however having pure intentions is all that matters. Enjoying everything I do, making the best of every moment that we have been offered, is also what Livin’ the Life means to me.

Ex: Ananya Birla – give us the unknown story.
AB: I am an explorer, a writer, a singer and just a girl who believes in following her dreams and wishing to make a change in this world. At the end of our time here, we are all just stories and I would like mine to make an interesting read. I love the energy each new day brings.
Some days are spent in board rooms leading strategy, other days are more creative and spent ideating on music. Mostly all my hours are hi-performance driven and crazy but it is that energy that I enjoy. With all that goes on through the week, I try and take a break and choose to be lazy on Sundays. These are spent in bed with my comfortable blanky, reading a book and fighting for space with Skai, my Yorkshire Terrier.Ex: How do you keep a balance between business, music and personal life?
AB: I don’t. I am learning to. I don’t truly see it as ‘work’, reason being both the businesses and my music have become a part of my lifestyle. Where my personal life is concerned, I am lucky to have found friendships within my core team itself. Outside of this, my circle is very close knit, very supportive, always there for me and very understanding.Ex: What is the impact of social media?
AB: I think anything powerful has both boons and banes. Where social media is concerned, I think one must be absolutely honest and authentic to themselves. That is how I choose to run my social media handles as well. I think it is a great platform, and if used correctly to voice our thoughts and opinions, we can bring about a collective positive change to make the world a better place.Ex: Your take on relationships.
AB: Always be yourself. Don’t compromise on who you are.

Ex: What kind of boys would you like to go out with?
AB: Blonde hair, blue eyes…haha! On a serious note, someone who I connect with on a spiritual level is important to me.

Ex: Quote that gets you motivated.
AB: ‘Fall down for 7, Stand Up 8’ and ‘Try your best and leave the rest to God.’

Ex: Any closing thoughts or positive vibes for our readers?
AB: Wake up in the morning and seize each day. Believe in yourself no matter what anyone says because they don’t know the entirety of your life and story – let’s not judge. If you have the right values, work hard, be self-reliant and self-aware, you can do and achieve anything you set out to do no matter what the circumstance.

ANANYA BIRLA – UP AND CLOSE

1) What’s your favorite:
• Gadget?
Boring answer but it has to be my iPod
• Outfit?
Torn Boyfriend jeans, White shirt and Havaianas. I need to be comfortable when not at events or the red carpet.
• Vacation?

Rishikesh and Florence
• Cuisine?
Lebanese
• Music?
Rap and mainstream pop. Acoustic renditions always touch my soul.
2) Music idols:
Eminem and Kurt Cobain
3) You would tag him on a #ManCrushMonday:
Zac Efron. Honestly though, I think I have a new man crush everyday.
4) Your guilty pleasure:
I chew way too much gum to the point that my jaws start hurting.
5) Food item you hate the most:
Cucumbers
6) One gadget you have your eyes on:
A drone
7) New Year resolution for 2017:
To be less critical of myself.
8) One thing on your Bucket list:
I want to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for Mpower.

Also Read:

Avicii on How He Wanted His Music To be A Tool Of A More Connected World

Cosmic Gate on How Their Musical marriage Only Grows Stronger

Irrfan Khan In Our Fondest Memories

My life is more like a blank page. I would like to fit myself in other people’s biography. I would like to take their color in mine.

A master in his art of acting, storytelling and making you feel, Irrfan Khan was one of the most treasured actors that Indian cinema had seen. His simplicity oozes out of his personality that will always leave you with a smile. From being a letter writer in his first movie, Salaam Bombay! to his latest, Champak Bansal in Angrezi Medium, we will remember Sahaabzaade Irrfan Ali Khan in our fondest memories, always.
Till then, here is a peek into his life back in 2016. We couldn’t help breaking into the make up room and have a tech chat with this superbly skilled personality. What makes him so perfect in whatever he does?
Lets find out.

Ex: What is next in line for Mr. Khan?
IK: Next in line are surprises, hopes and expectations.

Ex: Currently, any project you are working on?
IK: I would probably come to know in a weeks’ time. I might be going out of the country for a shoot.

Ex: You seem to disappear into characters you play; do you put in a lot of research into every role?
IK: Not always. It depends. If the role requires research, I do. I also get into discussions with my director. But most of my work, I do by instinct. I go by my instinct. Sometimes however, I do prepare for certain roles.

Ex: Which has been your best project till date and why?
IK: I have no idea. Shooting wise there are few which gave me pleasure but coming to the output, what will be the best, I am no one to judge. I think it’s the audience, which can claim that. For me, there are lots of films, which didn’t do well but they gave me immense pleasure.

Ex: Are you a very brand conscious person when it comes to buying gadgets? Do you follow particular brands for phones or laptops?
IK: Not at all. I see the features and go by that. However I do have a concern about the services. Sometimes a product could be great, but the services are not there, so I wouldn’t go in for that. For me, reliability is the ultimate.

Ex: Android or Apple?
IK: I have used both. The thing is I don’t like the business model of the Iphone. Things become redundant after a while. That is a philosophy that I detest. I still use an Iphone but then as a philosophy it’s alluring.

Ex: Would you invest in a not so fancy phone just because it has a better battery life?
IK: Battery does matter, but just for the battery, no. You need to have combination of features. But again, battery does matter a lot. If there is a very good product but the battery life is bad, then the product is useless.

Ex: Do you use a smartwatch?
IK: I have used an apple watch and it’s really not convenient. There is a battery issue with it.

Ex: Are you an online shopper?
IK: Yes, I used to buy DVD’s online but definitely not clothes or fabrics. Sometimes, I do order super foods online. There are various gadgets too, which I buy online. In India trust is a very shaky thing, but abroad, online shopping is a very reliable thing.

Ex: Are you into reading? Is there any book you consider as an inspiration?
IK: I am not a junkie but I do read up on things, which interest me.

Ex: Can you envisage what kind of environment it will be 10 years from now?
IK: See, we would only go forward towards convenience, not something that is totally going to change our life. Things will be alluring us again and again. I wont be surprised if somebody brings out a chip to put in your eyes or your hair with a switch on and off button.

Ex: In a biographical film of your life, who would you like to play you?
IK: I have never ever thought of writing my biography. I am not ready for it. I don’t think my life is that great enough to make a movie on. My life is more like a blank page. I would like to fit myself in other people’s biography. I would like to take their color in mine.

Ex: Tell us why do you love Exhibit?
IK: We don’t have that many magazines about technology. Its keeps you updated with new things in the market.

Ex: What does your tech wardrobe consist of?
IK: My iphone, desktop and laptop.

Ex: Do you believe in staying updated with technology all the time?
IK: If something attracts your attention, then I would mostly go for it but I don’t have a phobia. If a new phone comes into the market, I wouldn’t be dying to have it. I completely detest that. When a company allures you with nothing new, it’s the same invention with just 2-3 more features, then its pointless. If something new comes up which is different altogether and is also user friendly, I would prefer that.

Chapter 1 – The Experts Roundtable | The Changing Times

The outbreak of Coronavirus had halted human activities worldwide. While the pandemic has harmed the national economy by a hefty extent, it has forced individuals to sit back- staying confined within their houses and compelled companies to rethink their operational strategies, workforce management, and infrastructure configurations.

The Experts Roundtable, a forum conceptualized by teams at Exhibit & BBC TopGear India whilst working from home, was successfully orchestrated in its first form – bringing together leaders from the consumer electronics and automotive domain together to share some purposeful insights on how companies are dealing with the pandemic and their thoughts. For its first form, the panelist talked about the changing times- through and post COVID-19. It was a 45 minutes discussion and we have curated the video here to 12 minutes and the below are the key takeaways.

PanelistS for Chapter 1:

Devita Saraf- Founder & CEO, VU Technologies
Madhav Sheth- CEO, realme India
Yadvinder Singh Guleria- Director Sales & Marketing, Honda2Wheelers India
Tarun Garg- Director, Sales, Marketing and Service, Hyundai Motor India

and moderated by Ramesh Somani- Chief Editor & Publisher, Exhibit & BBC TopGear India.

Ramesh Somani: “Media launches are very important for the smartphone industry. Would you go back to on-ground launches or continue with web-based launches?”

Madhav Sheth: “I think this lockdown has given us a new mantra for doing our launches online- which is mainly because of social distancing, but I still believe on-ground launches give us a connection point with media and also with core fans, where we can demonstrate what the product is all about and obtain real feedback whether customers like the product or what are the shortcomings of the product. That is important, however, there is a new mantra in the new age of technology that we keep up with by trying to do online video launches and still keep the rhythm going on. I would love to go back to on-ground launches, maintaining a stricter SOP.”

Ramesh Somani: “Two-wheeler showrooms typically have the highest footfall – what are the changes you are planning at a dealer level, especially with regards to social distancing and sanitization?”

Yadvinder Singh Guleria: “Of course it is going to be a big changer because typically in the auto business it is less of online and more of offline engagement. While online maybe the tracking part, knowing more of the specifics of the product, etcetera, the real experience starts at the showroom once the customer walks in, touches, and feels the product. This is what differentiates auto buying, and the reason why India did not go so far with online. Two-wheelers have more number of inquiries because of the total percentage of the conversion and volumes, that’s why we have a large number of customers walking in. We need to look at online platforms that provide a social 360-degree viewpoint of the product. Virtual test rides could be something that the future could offer, but nothing that’s coming immediately. As far as hygiene and sanitization are concerned, not just the dealerships and showrooms but also the manufacturing plants will be expensive to run and operate because of the kind of guidelines the government will impose when the lockdown is lifted.”

Ramesh Somani: “What according to you is going to be the ‘new normal’?

Tarun Garg: “New shifts will emerge- in attitude, in policy, in work culture, in consumption patterns, and these will be the new normal. More emphasis on compliance will be the new normal, civic sense will be the new normal.

All of us have learned new things, which will be new normal. Digital is not very successful with the automotive industry, however, the click-to-buy website has been getting good traction. Infact, the number of visitors has surpassed the visitor count of the corporate website. The entire sales process is not complete without the consultant as such, but there is a big plus in online platforms that the world will see, and this transition will be the new normal. The second new normal would be consumers realizing the importance of their own vehicle. In the last two years, there were a lot of speculations on shared mobility being the new thing. But the pandemic has made me realize that now my car is going to be my third personal space, in addition to home and office, which I believe is going to bring a very big change in the market demand. The current average usage of cars in India is limited to around 800 to 1000 kilometres a month- with a lot of usage being confined to weekends as people use public transports for their daily commute. The usage of cars will increase, people will start commuting more in their own vehicles. From a marketing perspective, we will see how to leverage these patterns and motivate customers towards better choices.”

Ramesh Somani: “We are in a situation that, to say the least, was unexpected. What was your first response when you heard about the lockdown?”

Devita Saraf: “We were prepared, we had our notes taken on how to work from home. Before it started, I called my management team for a meeting and asked them in case of a lockdown, what is the contingency plan for the next one week or one month. We checked and sorted out connectivity and a tech team was put in place. Luckily we were prepared. So when the PM announced the lockdown, the team and I were ready. If you think the lockdown was a shock, then you generally were living in denial.”

Ramesh Somani: “The Government is promoting a lot of apps to be downloaded on smartphones. If these apps are mandated to be hard-bundled, as a smartphone manufacturer, what powers do you have to deny this as data privacy is a huge concern.”

Madhav Sheth: “Technology gives a lot of awareness, these apps prevent a lot of incorrect and fake news flowing around as people will gain access to the genuine news. So far, we have not been asked to force bundle any such apps. Over time, this can be more helpful to the masses and any app which promotes public health, well-being, and safety will be happily forced bundled in our devices.”

Ramesh Somani: “How does electric cars’ future look like when fuel becomes so cheap? Almost free?”

Tarun Garg: “The progress of electric cars, if you try and link it with fuel prices, it is a very myopic view of things. Electric cars are much more than the comparison of cost of ownership. If anything, COVID-19 has taught us the power of nature, we are all seeing some clean air and benefits of not taking nature for granted. The world will continue to move towards electric cars- we have to see how much funds are being channeled to the electric R&D divisions and OEM investment issues could come in, but as far as the world goes and India goes, we would continue to move towards a cleaner mobility, and we are already headed in the right direction.”

Ramesh Somani: “The total TV consumption has increased in India in the last one month. Do you think this could convert into sales once the lockdown is over?”

Devita Saraf: “With the lockdown in place, people have realized they need TV, in fact, more than one TV per household. The realization and appreciation for the product have gone up. People need more than one TV in their house because you can choose the kind of content you want. It gets difficult to watch entertaining content on mobile screens and laptops. But then, the demand also depends on the liquidity and cash crunch in the market. Once the lockdown is lifted, distributors might go back in savings mode, which might affect the business. It is difficult to predict, and any speculations should be kept aside as these are unprecedented times which we have not encountered before.”

Ramesh Somani: “Do you think Honda 2Wheelers will ramp up the online experience for customers?”

Yadvinder Singh Guleria: “We cannot hit a moving target with fixed strategies. It’s a lockdown time, not look downtime. We can always go back, go inside, reinvent and re-imagine and look for a new way of reaching the customers and engaging them. We started with the first online product in 2015- to book products online, with the back-end for money to go to the respective account of dealers depending on the location of the showroom that the customer chooses. After some time, we realized the platform needs to be engaging, giving more reasons to the customer to come back, and we have identified the need of creating a platform beyond the benefit of booking or selling point of view. We are already in the process of it, seeing the market and situation. Standardization of digitization should be picked up rather than standardization of dealerships.”

Ramesh Somani: “Do you think people would be more comfortable working from home, and companies would be happy to allow working from home?”

Yadvinder Singh Guleria: “Depends on the vertical and area of work. Manufacturing cannot happen from home. But the traditional working practices, traditional mindsets will evolve. Companies will be able to identify some areas of operations where flexibility to work from home can be tried in the future.”

Devita Saraf: “Work from home will be useful in emergency situations. Earlier in case of bad weather or national strike, companies would just give an off. But with work from home, it opens an opportunity of working at the comfort of home, and meetings can happen as usual over video conferencing and all.”

Ramesh Somani: “What is the biggest challenge you are facing working from home?”

Madhav Sheth: “Planning and planning, no actions. You just get tired of planning. I miss my office as much as I love working from home. I wish it could be a mix of both, but I would prefer working from my office.”

Yadvinder Singh Guleria: “Agreeing with Madhav, there are a ton of ideas that are coming in, and we are putting them in the basket. The fire of execution and seeing the results is missing. We have found some good opportunities and great ideas, but until and unless we do not practice or execute them, we do not know the real results.”

Tarun Garg: “Miss giving a pat on the shoulder to the employee, we are very result-oriented people. Currently, we are occupied the whole day making strategies, and the revision of the lockdown dates has brought in a lot of inefficiencies as plans are made and then remade. Effects need to be seen. Key is to see how to see the strategies developed while working from home pick up once the lockdown extends.”

Ramesh Somani: “One book or show you have picked up during the lockdown.”

Madhav Sheth: “Currently reading JW Collins, From Good to Great. Getting into the spiritual side, controlling my adrenaline rush.”

Devita Saraf: “Right now is a good time to be a customer and see what customers doing

Customers have a whole different taste, and I am sitting back and living a life observing and understanding my customers.”

Tarun Garg: “My millennial twins have come back home after 5 years. We talk about customers, about millennials, and we think we know them- we want to believe that, but that’s never the case.”

Yadvinder Singh Guleria: “I reserve books for travelling, my bookmark is still between the pages that I was last reading while travelling. I am currently watching NDTV Food, trying dishes that can be prepared in 10 minutes or less. Prepared 15 dishes, and 90 percent were up to my satisfaction level.”

Ramesh Somani: “How has the impact been for you in terms of big bike sales – you have quite a range of big bikes on sale in India.”

Yadvinder Singh Guleria: “As far as they are concerned, they are a different set of customers. They enjoy riding in groups, they enjoy riding solo, they enjoy riding on the weekends. It is a lifestyle product. It won’t have a big impact on sales, as these customers love to feel and experience the adventure or ride further. We have a new vertical which looks into this. This class of buyers or consumers will not change much, as for them it is all about experience and adventure. We are upbeat about this business to recover and pick up the pace, quicker than the mass segment which would suffer from the economic slowdown.”

Ramesh Somani: “Do you think there will be a big spike in car buying post the lockdown is lifted?”

Tarun Garg: “Looking at the China example, there is enough evidence to suggest people will look for safer mobility and maintain a sense of hygiene and social distancing. We believe our subscription model will get more traction. Hyundai will have a complete range to cater to- right from the entry-level first-time buyers to the range-topping SUVs. Many customers who used to take shared cabs to work will think about buying or subscribing to our products.”

CONCLUDING NOTE

Ramesh Somani: “The whole panel has been very positive about the lockdown amidst the pandemic. We cannot predict the future, not even the government. Instead of speculations, all we have to do is stay home and spend time with our parents, kids- and take up new skills and learn something new and wait for this to get over and come out all stronger. A big Thank you to all the panelists for their time.”

Hrithik Roshan On His Love for Tech and his Undying Life Mantra

Take a Greek God and strip him of his immortality and superpowers. And what have you now is a mortal human being — Hrithik Roshan!
The moment he stepped into the industry, he literally set hearts on fire with his looks. Be it a movie promotion event or red carpet appearances, Hrithik always looks a class apart. Women want him. Men want to be like him. Kids look up to him. Its awe-inspiring to see the level of love and respect Hrithik has earned not just from his fans, but also from the whole film fraternity. Apart from giving stunning performances in super hit films like Agneepath, ZNMD, War, Hrithik has also proved his acting skills with unconventional films like Guzaarish, Jodha Akbar, Super 30 and Kaabil. His work prowess speaks about his versatility as an actor, be it comedy, action or romance.
In a candid interview, Harsha Prerna attempted to cut down the chase while discovering the techie inside this desirable and drool-worthy masterpiece.

Ex: It’s your first with us, let’s start with your love for technology.
HR: Technology is here to make our lives easier, sometimes, unfortunately, it doesn’t. I think the world and all of us are more indebted and dependent now on technology. And, there are a variety of options out there. So, it’s very important for us to be able to look through the crowd of things out there and actually source out the stuff that’s most suitable for our individual lifestyles. I am very particular about this and I genuinely don’t have too much. I just have enough that makes my life easier. Because it’s very easy to get addicted to technology and keep getting the latest stuff.

Ex: Even social media is a big addiction these days, don’t you agree?
HR: Yes, that’s true. I don’t mind the addiction, but you have to be very careful because it can drive you a bit crazy. But if used properly, it can serve as a great tool.

Ex: We know you are into music in a big way and the world will follow your playlist if the tunes go public. We want to “exhibit” that playlist through us. Fill us in with what music is to your ears?
HR: Well, right now I am training very hard and when I am in the gym, I listen to the music that suites me and what really energizes me are these high octane background scores of movies. There is this one song I am currently in love with, it’s by Audio Machine and the album is called ‘Existence’. They have about some 21 tracks in that album. Also, there’s another song called ‘Remember I told you’ by Nick Jonas.
I am a person who can listen to classical Hindi as well as old Hindi songs while working out. The slower the music in my head, the faster I go. It’s almost like doing something in 500 frames. You take all that energy and just pace it out.

Ex: I am actually imagining you doing chest press on a slow number.
HR: (Laughs) Yes sometimes slow music can really make u focus. It is very powerful. Almost meditative…

Ex: You are the brand ambassador of Zebronics currently, whose philosophy resonates with yours “always ahead”. Name some gadgets & tech you think keep you ahead in life?
HR: ‘Staying ahead’ to me means never running out of battery. And, for that I think the power bank is something, which is a ‘must’ in today’s time. Because more battery means more power and in turn staying ahead.

Ex: What was your first impression on Zebronics Products? What are your personal favorites from Zebronics Audio Series and why?
HR: I love the look and feel of all the Zebronics products. The products are very light; cleanly designed especially the headphones range. They are good looking, clean, strong, light and designed really well. You feel like you’re buying a good product. I think, the visual appeal is very important. The sensibility of technology is definitely at par with the best and I am very happy and excited to be associated with the brand.

Ex: What would be the Future of Technology? Would you invest in technology or any startup idea?
HR: The Future and scope of technology is limitless Virtual Reality I feel is going to be the future. About startups, personally I don’t have an idea, that’s not my background. But I am always looking for interesting, innovative and bright ideas. If I can back an idea, I would be very excited to do so, because it’s the idea I invest in. My most recent such investment is Curefit.

Ex: That’s great to hear that you are with us in supporting innovative ideas. Tell us more about ‘CureFit’?
HR: CureFit is a Bangalore based startup and is all about wellness & lifestyle. Along with that, it has also got a fitness focus as well. So, I like that idea of being able to impart fitness online. It’s a one stop shop where you can find solutions for all the health and fitness needs. Whether it’s a mental health challenge or a diet issue, you will find everything under one roof.

Ex: Let’s be straight and honest, you have a physique to die for, and that is definitely a specimen of your love for fitness. In fact, you have also started your own line of fitness clothing.
HR: Yes, the physique is to die for and I am dying to get it back (laughs). About the fitness clothing line, apparel and footwear is one of the branches of HRX. It makes me really proud and humbled that people have responded to HRX so well. It has really empowered us to put more power behind the HRX movement. I call it a movement because its more than just a brand or a business. HRX is a way to enable and empower people to be the best version of themselves. I am very happy that HRX is slowly and steadily turning into one of the most incredible business opportunities for me as well; there is Myntra, CureFit and many more in the pipeline. It is slowly and steadily, spreading its wings.

Ex: When you are on the go, which is the most important gadget to you?
HR: It’s the Zebronics Powerbank to stay in power all day.

QUICKIES

Undying mantra of life:
Be the very best version of myself.
Books that you can read again and again:
Which has some kind of self learning like ‘Who moved my cheese’ and ‘The monk who sold his Ferrari’.
Your very first gadget:
The big bulky Walkman
Message for Zebronics fans:
Keep listening to music, keep dancing and swaying to the tunes. It’s time to pump up that volume a little bit more with Zebronics.
One Quote that comes to your mind:
Whether you think you can, whether you think you can’t, you’re right.

Watch More:
Hrithik Roshan walked the ramp for Tech fashion Tour 3.0
Check out what’s inside Hrithik Roshan’s garage!

Akshay Kumar – The Ever Charged, Power Packed ‘Khiladi’

Akshay Kumar is a name that has been ruling the box office with every new project that he takes up. A common visitor of the 100 crore club, Akshay Kumar has had a trajectory of a winner from his first movie, Sugandh, to his latest hit, Good Newwz. With each movie, he gives his audience something to think about and view the world from a different perspective. His films like The Padman, or Toilet: Ek Prem Katha are a direct hit on people’s mentality and is helping change people’s mindsets and age old societal norms. A Padma Shri awardee, Akshay Kumar, in a free flowing conversation with Harsha Prerna, gives an insight about how he maintains his drool worthy physique, his upcoming projects and a lot of tech trivia, obviously!

Ex: We all know your hard line disciplines, in fact, we were waiting for a 6 A.M call time, & fortunately you gave us an extra 2 hours of sleep – What keeps you going every morning without hitting the snooze button?
AK: In all honesty, I don’t even have an alarm clock.I tell myself what time I need to wake up, I trust my instincts to the point that a Snooze Button has never existed in my life. Don’t ask me how?! I always thought it was because I looked forward to the day that’s why I’ve always been so eager to start it. I sleep, as much as I need it, kinda slows me down, there are so many tracks running through my head, I like to get up early so I can sort out everything that means something to me.

Ex: In your fitness regime, does fitness tracker or any other tech have a role to play?
AK: Fortunately, enough for me, I like it old school, a blackboard full of reps & exercises, & a bit of chalk to tick them off along the way. I don’t want to be on my phone any more than I already am, I still want to be normal despite how much or how far technology has taken us. “Simple is as Simple does.”

Ex: Your social media following can easily form a country – Any experiences with trolls or anything wrong gone viral.
AK: “With Great Responsibility comes Great Trolling!” You can’t win them all, but I’m certainly not going to glorify them in a magazine. But as we’re on the subject I’d like to mention the incredible Fan following I have, & I’m not talking numbers, I’m talking Genuine Human Incredibleness. My fans aren’t just fans, they should be leaders in our society, they read to the elderly, help farmers, build toilets, encourage women’s self-defense, give out sanitary pads at schools, do charity, they spend time with homeless kids, organize blood donation camps, they even keep the local flower waala in business from all the garlands they make, every release I have, they are the kindest humanitarians in the World. They are literally stepping into every project I put my heart into, & they put their entire soul into it as well. They deserve so much in life for all they give, I will never stop giving my best for them!!

Ex: Tell us the secret multi-million dollar formula behind your movie selection which ultimately lands you with a pot of “Gold” leaving us entertained and socially awakened?
AK: I believe when a man or woman follow their heart, they can’t go wrong!It may not be perfect, it may not be everything you hoped, but the sheer fact that one does something with passion and with no other agenda like money, fame or fortune the chances of being content with yourself and choices are higher. Just the sheer reality of doing good, or showing a story that has never been told, changing lives of those you haven’t even met. Just the fact, that a subject touches me makes me think my fellow Indians would appreciate it as well and truly makes me grasp it tighter. It’s nerve-racking, especially in a country where commercial cinema works best, but sometimes it takes a leaping head first, over the fence of fear to become proud of one’s work. I love making comedies, but I’ve reached a point where I’d like to take movie making to the next social level. Not always just sometimes, because I say this as I’m filming Housefull 4, so for those that are worried, I still live for making people laugh.

Ex: One life turning event which changed your life?
AK: My first film changed my life, therefore, I was able to change my family’s and since childhood, that’s all I ever wanted to do. I wanted to give them all their heart desired. It may not be ground-breaking, I may not have saved World Hunger, but my family never went hungry again, & from there on, I’ve worked so hard so I can generate even more work for others so they can change their family’s lives as well. We get out of life what we put into it. I’ve been blessed with a lot, but that came at its own cost, we all have the ability to change our stars, it’s up to us though, for no one else will ever do it for us.

Ex: Since you are known to churn out films after films, how do you think Tech has helped the film industry evolve?
AK: Massively, in many ways! I remember the days when my manager would sit by his landline scheduling my dates making sure the 3 films I was shooting for that day shot according to plan. Mobiles have made us busier, Special Effects have made us look more impressive, monitors have made us more conscious, the days of the director asking the cameraman if the shot was good are sadly over, we now have an entire tech station judging whether we can move on or not. So much has evolved, we barely make posters anymore, we now promote our movies online, my industry grows in strength daily, and we just need to not become Robots pretending to be Humans only in films.

Ex: Do you remember the first piece of technology you ever bought and what had been your most treasured tech?
AK: My very first Walkman was my pride & joy which went on running because of Eveready’s long-lasting batteries. That Walkman went everywhere with me, it gave me more pleasure than any technology of today, music makes the world go round, & I could handle any day long as I had my Walkman.

Ex: Tech you wish you had invented or would like to invent?
AK: I want to make an at-home digital camera that detects cancer on the spot. One picture of each family member a week will save lives. So, no one will have to go through the agony I did, when I found out that we caught my Father’s cancer too late. Simple, easy, affordable and safe, that’s my tech dream!!

Ex: How do you associate yourself with Eveready other than being their Brand Ambassador?
AK: I like to be involved with brands that either has a past, present or future connected with me. I can’t sell something I don’t believe in, wouldn’t swallow, use or want my children to have. Eveready batteries have especially been a part of my life since my childhood because in my day there were no chargers, life was incomplete without batteries.

Ex: We are excited and can’t wait for you to walk the Tech Fashion Tour powered by Eveready? What do you think of the amalgamation of Tech and fashion?
AK: I actually can’t wait to see this amalgamation in action!!

QUICKIES

One thing that you just can’t stand:
Negativity.
Must have gadget that’s not your phone or laptop:
My Portable Speaker.
Any unusual App which we can find in your phone:
A plane landing game where I get to land all kinds of aircraft.
One gadget you can’t wait to get your hands on:
A Helicopter.
Apart from you, what differentiates Bollywood from Hollywood:
Budgets.
Sports you play:
Anything with a ball.
In cars do you like Sedan or SUV – Tell us the cars that you own and perhaps the jet or a seaplane you are planning to buy:
I’m an SUV kinda guy, they are light & I can get around Bombay traffic swifter & cheaper. As for my sea plane I’m waiting to see how my next movie pans out, then we’ll see!

Is Apple Still Leading the Forefront of Smartphone Innovation?

Smartphones have come a long way through. Small screen devices have been replaced by larger ones, single cameras by multiple, fingerprint scanners by face-id, single-screen by foldable and more. Trends in the smartphone industry are changing rapidly and innovation is the only way to survive this cut-throat competition.

If you closely keep a track of the smartphone industry, you would have noticed the fact that the baton of innovation has now been taken by new players in the industry. Manufacturers like Vivo, Oppo, Xiaomi are determined to bring new technologies to market. While Samsung and Huawei are still on the run Apple seems to be lacking behind. iPhone’s in recent years have felt iterative rather than innovative. The company that is known for creating trends has been dormant for quite a while on the innovation front. Which brings us to question, is Apple still leading the forefront of smartphone innovation?

Apple’s recent contribution to smartphone innovation

Apple, the company that has been the pioneer of the modern-day smartphone, is relying on technologies that people are already aware of. Even the newest iPhone’s “iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max lack innovation. Both these devices tout a triple camera setup and a glass back body, which is definitely not new. These are technologies that have been embraced by various manufacturers and Apple is really late to the party.

The most recent contribution by Apple was in the form of Face ID. First introduced in iPhone X, Face ID is a facial recognition technology built into the front camera system of the smartphone. It replaces Touch ID Apple’s fingerprint recognition system used in the previous generation of iPhones.

Face ID uses a “True depth camera system” consisting of sensors, camera and a dot projector to create a detailed map of the users face. The data is then used for authentication every time the user looks into the device.

The Face ID came out in 2017 since then the company has remained silent on the innovation front

Contribution of other manufacturers in the smartphone Industry

In-display fingerprint scanners

Major players in the smartphone industry like Apple and Samsung were in the run to bring In-display fingerprint sensors first to the market. But it was Vivo a Chinese firm that beat them to bring the first phone “Vivo X20 UD” with this technology at consumers disposal.

The technology was brought in to meet the growing need for bezel-less displays. Apple’s answer to the In-display fingerprint scanners is Face ID, abandoning the idea of fingerprint authentication altogether.

Foldable Phones

Another category where Apple is lacking behind the rivals is the foldable phones. While Manufacturers like Samsung, Huawei, Moto have taken considerable steps in this direction, Apple is yet to bring a foldable device. Samsung has already taken a lead bringing the “Galaxy Fold” to the market.

Steve Wozniak himself said during an interview with Bloomberg he is concerned about Samsung’s two-year lead. “Apple is not the leader in things like the folding phone and that worries me because I really do want a folding phone. You know, it’s one of those new technologies that does catch my attention,” Wozniak said. Goldman Sachs agrees and recently described the Galaxy Fold as “the main potential challenge” for Apple.

AI and Virtual Assistant

It is not just the hardware where Apple is lacking behind. Apple’s closest competitor Google has certainly taken a lead coming to virtual assistants. Google assistant is way smarter than Siri and Apple need to make a serious effort in order to match its competition.

It is evident that smartphones from Apple these days are not exemplary innovative modern devices as they used to be. There has been a sudden shift in the smartphone industry, we’re seeing innovative technologies from new brands rather than market leaders. It is disappointing to see a lack of innovation in smartphones from a brand like Apple.

The competition is getting tougher and certain tweaks, upgrades will not help them maintain their leadership as a technology innovator. It will be interesting to see what Apple brings to the table with its next-generation iPhones. But for now, it seems like Apple is losing its position as a smartphone innovator.

8D Audio – The Newest Trend In Music?

The latest trend in online music is 8D audio which has been making rounds. Often messages pop up asking to listen to some songs from YouTube with your headphones on. Claims of experiencing a sing with your brain, rather than your ears, for an out of body experience as the sound would seem not to come from the headphones but outside.

What is 8D audio?

After listening to an 8D audio song, if you wondered how sound is completely different from normal audio. The result is surprising as it feels completely out of the world. You can make out that the sound is in the environment around you rather than coming in from the headphones. The effect is very similar when you walk around in your city and all the ambient sounds that come from all around you giving you a sense of space. You can clearly say where the temple bells are ringing, how the police van siren approaches from far away and goes past you. The sound comes from all different directions. This is the similar effect that comes from 8D audio when you listen to it on your headphones.

8D audio as it might seem is new for most people. It seems to be like a futuristic technology that allows you to recreate the feeling of music being played by speakers distributed around us. This provides a sort of immersive and suggestive experience. So yes, this is definitely a new experience but not essentially a new technology. There is no real technology behind 8D audio and neither it has any true commercial applications. It is rather an effect that could be applied to any pre-existing songs and make them sound like 8D. Also, 8D would mean 8 dimensions which are not possible.

Is 8D audio for real?

The reality is that there’s no new technology but a technique that allows hearing sounds as if you were in the middle of it. That feeling of music that runs through your head, thanks to the use of headphones, is the result of equalization techniques, panning and effects combined together. In short, panning is the ability to distribute the sound on different audio channels. If you think about your earphones, they have two physical channels: left and right. You can pan the sound all the way to the left or the right or, you can choose a specific sound to be played by one or the other earphone.

The result is the so-called 8D audio (which has no sense as the physical space where we live is mapped on 3 dimensions) that let you appreciate sounds coming from different directions. You can find on YouTube or Soundcloud this kind of audio recordings from the lowest quality where the record simply moves from left to right without a real point or, you can find high-quality records where the sound is correctly located in a specific region of the 3D space and you can clearly hear it through your earphones.

The reality of the spatial audio

An even more advanced “8D audio” is the Dolby Atmos, a technology developed by Dolby that, instead of using audio channels uses sound objects. With this technology, the sound moves around you in three-dimensional space, so you feel like you’re inside the action.

In conclusion, does the 8D audio exists? Yes, but no. Yes because there is the ability to hear sounds all around you on a 360° space; no, because it’s not a new technology and it’s definitely not called 8D audio but, we can call it more properly spatial sound or 3D audio. If you don’t own a 7.1 system or a Dolby Atmos supported system, use your earphones/headphone or you won’t be able to hear the effect.

It is no new technology but simple panning and equalization techniques that give to the sound a spatial feeling and that is what this 8D trend is all about.

https://www.exhibit.tech/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Audio-8D.wav?_=1

Is 5G Responsible For COVID-19?

5G has been in works for quite a while but it is still to be known when it will come into force completely. It is the next generation of mobile internet connectivity that will offer faster speeds and more reliable connections.

This faster network will bring about a huge change in the way we use smartphones and other gadgets. Consumers will get to experience internet speeds like never before, with average download speeds of about 1Gbps.

5G network deployment has already begun in a few countries like the US, UK, South Korea and China. But India is still too far away from 5G rollout.

Network transitions like these require time and infrastructure. For instance, 4G phones appeared much before 4G networks were made available for consumer use. This is the reason why the smartphone industry has shifted its focus towards bringing 5G ready devices to the consumers.

There’s a lot of confusion around 5G and its future. Also, several theories have originated from 5G and Coronavirus. So let’s dive in to clear the air around.

What is 5G?

5G is the next-generation wireless network that will replace the existing 4G LTE connection. It will offer extremely fast download, upload speeds and more reliable connections. We will see a multitude of tech products that will be quicker and smarter than ever before. These networks will work in conjunction with existing 4G networks before transforming into completely standalone networks. 5G will completely reshape how we work and live our lives today.

How 5G works?

A 5G network system consists of two main components

Radio Access network
Core network

Radio Access network

A Radio Access Network includes 5G Small Cells and Macro Cells that form the core of the 5G wireless technology as well as the systems that connect the mobile devices to the core network. The 5G Small Cells have to be available in large numbers cause millimetre wave frequencies can only travel over short distances. These Small Cells help Macro Cells in wider coverage.

The Macro Cells use MIMO (Multiple Input, Multiple Output) antennas which offer multiple connections to send and receive large amounts of data.

Core Network

The Core network is responsible for the management of data and internet connections for the 5G network. It is designed to integrate with internet and cloud-based services. Moving further, features like network virtualization and network slicing for different applications is also managed by the core.

4G vs 5G

Speed

Speed is a major differentiator between two different generations of networks. 5G is expected to be 100 times faster than 4G. Meaning movie download times would reduce to secs from minutes. Streaming movies or games will not be a pain anymore.

Speeds like those are possible because most 5G networks are built upon super high-frequency airwaves, also known as high band spectrum.

But these high-frequency waves cannot travel long distances and can be easily barred by hard objects, buildings, walls, etc. In order to overcome this challenge, a large number of Small Cells are installed in close proximity to one another.

Latency

Latency is the time taken by devices to communicate with each other. For instance, the time difference between sending a signal and it is received on the other end is latency. 4G network service offers low latency but with 5G there will be almost no latency at all. Lower latency will benefit technologies like autonomous driving, cloud gaming and more.

Capacity

A lot of devices connected to a network can cause congestion. Which results in slower data speeds and longer lag times while watching videos or downloads.

With 5G we can expect significantly higher capacity than 4G. Which means more devices can be connected together without compromising with data speeds.

Myths around 5G and Coronavirus

The Coronavirus is spreading like a wildfire and with that is the misinformation surrounding it. One such myth gaining lots of traction is that 5G is spreading Coronavirus.

Several social media posts, tweets are claiming that 5G is the sole reason for the outbreak of Coronavirus. While some other theories on the internet say that 5G technology brings Coronavirus by sucking human oxygen. But all these claims are false as radio waves do not carry viruses that cause COVID-19.

The outbreak of Coronavirus started from the city of Wuhan in China, somewhere around December last year. And a month before that China had begun 5G operations in the same region. Which has led to beliefs like these?

Keri Hilson an American singer made several tweets which attempted to relate 5G and Coronavirus. She wrote: “People have been trying to warn us about 5G for YEARS. Petitions, organizations, studies…what we’re going through is the effects of radiation. 5G launched in China. Nov 1, 2019. People dropped dead.” Keri’s theories were questioned by people and she was unable to justify her wild claims. Soon after which her management team stepped in and asked her to delete the tweet.

A post in a Facebook group called ‘Stop 5G UK’ said that 5G tech weakens the immune system of a person, and Wuhan people tend to be the first ones that experienced this viral disease as they are the ones that got the first access to 5G.

5G health concerns?

5G is new to the tech industry and concerns are being expressed about the technology’s effect on people’s health. These concerns are valid too, as a version of 5G runs on very high-frequency radio waves called millimetre wave. Millimetre waves cannot travel long distances, which requires more no towers to be placed in close vicinity. There are concerns that radio waves could produce harmful radiation resulting in brain cancer, reduced fertility and other illnesses.

The FDA and FCC say there’s nothing to be worried about. Most studies haven’t found a link between radio frequency signals from cellphones or cell towers and disease, the agencies say. But because 5G is so new, there’s no definitive way to know if it will cause long-term health problems.

“It’s a ridiculous concept,” said John Bucher, a senior scientist with the National Toxicology Program, a US Health and Human Services interagency program dedicated to testing and evaluating substances in our environment. “Each year, you get a new strain of flu that goes around. That’s what viruses do – mutate and move around that way, probably as long as there’s been life.”

As per Coronavirus is concerned it is a virus that spreads from physical contact. It doesn’t travel through radio waves. So you will not get it by using your smartphone, TV or FM radios.

ANANYA BIRLA – UP AND CLOSE

PanelistS for Chapter 1:

QUICKIES

What is 8D audio?

Is 8D audio for real?

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