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Tech layoffs hit Dell as it plans to slash 5% of its workforce

It was back in 2022 when the significant headlines coming from the tech industry revolved around layoffs. Major tech players like Google, Twitter, Microsoft, and more decided to let go of a big chunk of their employee force due to plummeting stocks and economic slowdown. It was expected that the tech industry would make a considerable recovery in 2023 but the first quarter of 2023 paints a different picture. Now, joining other tech players is the PC giant Dell, which is gearing up to lay off 6,650 or roughly 5% of its employees.

Dell layoffs

Dell Technologies is going through massive changes as the PC and infrastructure giant has laid off 6,650 of its employees. This amounts to roughly 5% of its global workforce of 133,000. Jeff Clarke, vice chairman and co-COO of Dell Technologies wrote a letter to employees announcing layoffs stating that the steps taken to stay ahead of the downturn impacts that enabled strong quarters in a row are now no longer enough. The message was titled ‘Preparing for the road ahead’ where Clarke revealed that growth has been declining in Dell’s primary PC business. Dell reported PC sales plummeted by nearly 30 per cent in the third fiscal quarter.

While it is confirmed that Dell will layoff a big chunk of its employee force, it is still unknown where they will occur inside the company. The structural changes being implemented are still unknown and the founder, Chariman, and CEO Michael Dell not making the layoffs announcement has raised eyebrows too.

It was previously reported that Dell was implementing several cost-cutting measures like pause on hiring and limits on travel. However, the recent letter by Dell’s COO states that the measures are no longer enough. The letter viewed by Bloomberg also states that the company views department reorganization and job reductions as an opportunity to drive efficiency. After the reduction of employees, Dell will reach its lowest employee force in about six years. According to a March 2022, only one-third of the company’s employees are US-based. The company is expected to provide further information on the financial impact of the job cuts during the fiscal fourth-quarter results on March 2.

Redmi Note 12 Pro Review: Midrange Winner?

The Redmi Note series has undoubtedly been Xiaomi’s trump card in the Indian market. The series has been beloved by Indian consumers for the longest time as it is usually placed in the budget segment and offers great value for the price. This time around with the Redmi Note 12 series, things were a little different. While the Redmi Note 11 Pro was introduced at ₹16,999 in India, its successor was introduced at a hefty asking price of ₹24,999 pushing it to the midrange section. So, does the Redmi Note 12 Pro justify its price? Let’s find out –

Design and Display

The Redmi Note 12 Pro sports a 6.67-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with 2400 x 1080 pixels. It sports a 120Hz refresh rate and 240Hz touch sampling rate. Running the device on 120Hz offers a buttery smooth experience. The display is also equipped with HDR10+ support that works beautifully for YouTube, Netflix and other OTT platforms. A rarity in this price segment is the Dolby Vision support which is a treat to the eyes while streaming content on YouTube. Adaptive refresh rate allows the device to switch between 30Hz, 60Hz, 90Hz, and 120Hz depending on content. I watched hours’ worth of content on the Redmi 12 Pro and there was never a dull moment. The display produces punchy colours and ample brightness for an immersive viewing experience. The tiny punch-hole camera sits at the top of the screen which doesn’t intrude while watching content. Above the display rests the earpiece that also doubles as a secondary speaker. The in-hand feel of the device is superb and it’s built like a flat brick. It is just 76mm wide and 7.98mm thick weighing 187 grams which makes it easy to hold.

Performance and Camera

The Redmi Note 12 Pro runs on an octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 1080 SoC chipset. The D1080 is paired with 6 or 8GB of RAM, the device we used was the 8GB RAM variant coupled with 256GB storage onboard. The 12 Pro also gets RAM expansion of up to 5GB of virtual memory. Sadly, the device sports Android 12 out of the box which is a disappointment. However, Xiaomi has promised an Android 13 update. With the D1080 and 8GB of RAM, day-to-day tasks like social media and streaming content on the device were a smooth ride. While playing graphics-heavy games like COD on the Redmi Note 12 Pro, some frame drops were experienced but they were negligible. Overall, the device provided a stable performance overall. It packs a large 5000mAh battery that can be juiced up with a 67W charger.

Redmi Note 12 Pro houses a 50-MP Sony IMX766 primary sensor which is its highlight. The same sensor was present in yesteryear’s multiple devices with impressive results. It also includes an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 2MP macro camera. It houses a 16MP camera in the front for selfies. The primary camera of this device is capable of clicking some awesome photos with crisp details. Some over-saturation could be witnessed during low-exposure shots. Check out the camera samples of the Redmi Note 12 Pro below –

Verdict

The Redmi Note 12 is a capable device that can pretty much handle everything you throw at it. There are some features like Dolby Vision and adaptive refresh rate that are usually not present in devices at this price point. While it is a solid option for people looking for a device under ₹30K, I am not sure about it being the best value for your money.

What’s Good

Amazing screen with adaptive brightness
Battery life
Smooth performance
Dolby Vision

What’s Bad

Android 12
Bloatware

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐½

Xiaomi India announces long term partnership with German camera maker Leica

Mobile photography is an ever-growing landscape in the tech industry. over the years, we have seen a number of smartphone brands collaborating with mainstream camera makers worldwide to take mobile photography to the next level. There is no denying that mobile photography in its current state does not compare to the quality of DSLR cameras and there is a big gap to bridge. However, smartphone manufacturers making efforts to make phone photography better with collaborations with camera pioneers is definitely a step in the right direction. Xiaomi India has now announced a long-term strategic partnership with German camera maker Leica to develop innovative solutions in the smartphone camera module segment.

Xiaomi x Leica

Xiaomi India and Leica Camera have announced a long-term partnership revolving entirely around mobile imaging. According to an official statement, the aim of this collaboration “is the joint development of innovative solutions in the smartphone camera module segment as well as the optimization of optical performance. The strategic alliance between Xiaomi and Leica Camera AG demonstrates the passion to continuously push the limits of what is technologically possible. In addition to innovative strength and premium standards, the two companies are united by the commitment to uncompromising quality. The collaboration between Xiaomi and Leica provides fantastic opportunities. Both are global brands with a clear focus on the entire customer journey and successfully engage with their customers across multiple languages, cultures, channels, and devices.”

According to the official statement, Xiaomi and Leica’s partnership aims at bringing advanced camera capabilities to the smartphone photography arena. The partnership aims at pushing the boundaries of mobile photography with Leica providing expertise in optical engineering, design, imaging software, and consumer experience to help Xiaomi achieve the best imaging prowess. The statement reads – “Xiaomi has been making breakthroughs in the smartphone photography space and has extensive experience in the research and development of imaging systems and AI algorithms. Leica brings its comprehensive expertise in optical engineering, design, imaging software and consumer experience related to the art of photography to the partnership. Leica supports Xiaomi in its efforts to achieve the best possible imaging results in the field of smartphone photography – and to take it to the next level of quality. The globally recognised expertise of Leica is based in large parts on its ability to guarantee the tightest tolerances on the market. This justified claim to excellence is of course also an integral part of the technology partnership with Xiaomi and is implemented in the production processes of the camera modules to ensure supreme quality.”

Samsung S23 Series launched with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2

After multiple speculations, leaks and massive hype, the Samsung S23 Series has finally launched globally and in India. Tech giant Samsung held its first ever in-person event in three years in San Francisco titled ‘Unpacked’ where it unveiled its flagship S23 series. This time around the S23 series consists of three smartphones: Galaxy S23 Ultra, Galaxy S23 Plus, and the standard Galaxy S23. Here is everything you need to know about the Galaxy S23 series launched by Samsung –

Samsung S23 Ultra

Starting off with the ‘Big Daddy’ in the S23 series: The S23 Ultra. The powerful Ultra variant in this latest series comes with a 200MP F1.7 Super Quad Pixel camera. It houses the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 series processor which enhances both the gaming and day-to-day performance with more than 40% faster GPU. The S23 Ultra houses a 6.8-inch QHD display with a 3088×1440 resolution. This Dynamic AMOLED 2X display comes with a 120Hz refresh rate. When it comes to storage options the S23 Ultra is available in 8+256/ 12+256/ 12+512/ 12+1TB variants respectively. It houses a 5000mAh battery with Super Fast Charging 2.0 support. Talking about the cameras, there’s a 12MP Dual Pixel camera capable of night selfie and spring an AI Object-aware engine. Besides the mammoth 200MP lens, the S23 also comes with a 10MP (3X) Telephoto lens, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 10MP Telephoto (10x) lens respectively. It’ll be available in Phantom Black, Green, Cream, and Lavender colour options.

Samsung S23 and S23+

Both the S23 and S23+ are pretty much the same devices except for the size and battery capacities. While the S23+ houses a 4,700mAh battery, the S23 is limited to a 3,900mAh capacity. Whereas, S23 comes with a 6.1-inch FHD+ display and the S23+ sports a bigger 6.6-inch FHD+ display. Both devices come with 2340×1080 resolution with Super Smooth 120Hz resolution. The Plus and standard variant house the same camera modules that include a wide 50MP F1.8 lens coupled with an Ultra-Wide 12MP and 10MP Telephoto (3X) lens. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset rocks both devices for optimum performance. However, the devices are limited to 8GB RAM variants ranging from 128GB to 512GB storage variants. The refreshed camera module puts emphasis on night photos/videos as all three models come equipped with Night Selfie, Night Portraits, and stable Night Video capabilities.

Budget 2023: Mobile phones and televisions to get cheaper

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Budget 2023 today i.e February 1, 2023. The new budget announced major changes in various duties and taxes which results in some items getting cheaper and others being costlier. A major development in the new budget includes the government’s plans to boost the production of smartphones and TVs in India by incentivizing manufacturers. However, it’s not just the manufacturers who’ll benefit from the incentivizing as it will also translate down to the end consumers receiving cheaper tech products like mobile phones and TV. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharamam revealed that the govt plans to provide relief to both smartphone and TV manufacturers by reducing customs duty on key components.

Relief for smartphone and TV manufacturers

In the budget speech, Sitharamam revealed that mobile phone production in India has seen a major increase from 2014-15. As per the minister, mobile phone production in India reached 31 crore units valued at Rs 2,75,000 crore in the last financial year. This is a significant increase from 5.8 crore units valued at Rs 18,000 crore in 2014-15. In order to accelerate smartphone production in India, govt will reduce custom duty on the import of certain parts along with camera components of the phone. The relaxation of customs duty for lithium-ion cells is also being retained for 2023-24.

Here is what Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharamam said during Budget 2023 –

“As a result of various initiatives of the Government, including the Phased Manufacturing programme, mobile phone production in India has increased from 5.8 crore units valued at about ` 18,900 crore in 2014-15 to 31 crore units valued at over ` 2,75,000 crore in the last financial year. To further deepen domestic value addition in manufacture of mobile phones, I propose to provide relief in customs duty on import of certain parts and inputs like camera lens and continue the concessional duty on lithium-ion cells for batteries for another year.”

Additionally, the Finance Minister also revealed that customs duties on several parts of open cells of TV panels will also be slashed by 2.5 per cent. Whereas, basic customs duty on electric chimneys has been upped by 7.5 to 15 in order to boost domestic manufacturing of the product.

Top 10 interesting facts about the semiconductor giant TSMC

TSMC has always been at the cutting edge of the latest semiconductor technologies and has invested heavily in research and development to ensure it stays ahead of the curve. Despite its massive size and impact on the technology industry, TSMC has some unknown facts that are worth exploring. Let’s have a look at it.

TSMC was founded in 1987 by Morris Chang, known as the “Father of Taiwan’s semiconductor industry.”
TSMC was the first foundry to manufacture chips commercially using the cutting-edge 7nm process technology.
TSMC has a diverse range of customers, from small startups to large multinational corporations, and has over 1,000 clients worldwide.
The company operates multiple manufacturing sites in Taiwan, as well as facilities in China, the United States, and Europe.
TSMC has a solid commitment to sustainability, with initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve energy, and promote environmental protection.
TSMC is one of the largest employers in Taiwan, with over 65,000 employees as of 2021.
The company has a long-standing commitment to research and development, investing heavily in new technology and process innovations to maintain its position as a leader in the semiconductor industry.
TSMC has a well-established reputation for high-quality manufacturing and is known for its rigorous quality control processes, which help to ensure that its products meet the highest standards of reliability and performance.
The company is a key player in the global semiconductor supply chain, with products used in various applications, from smartphones and laptops to servers and data centres.
TSMC has a strong track record of innovation, with numerous patents to its name and a reputation for being at the forefront of new developments in the semiconductor industry.

Five essential add-ons for your television

So you’ve finally brought home the television of your dreams, the one you’ve been eyeing for the longest time. Congratulations! However, just buying the Smart TV you’ve had on your radar is not entirely enough if you want to get the best viewing experience. But worry not as we have you covered, here are five essential add-ons for your television-

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K

Most Smart TVs in the market come equipped with Android features. However, the native OS experience may not be up to the mark for every user. The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K comes at a price that challenges the competition by a big margin while offering top-notch features like 4K Ultra HD streaming with Dolby Vision for the best viewing experience.

Price – ₹ 4,999 – Buy Here

Sony HT-A3000 Soundbar

Who does not enjoy a crystal clear sound experience while watching content on their TV? The Sony HT-A3000 is not only a capable soundbar for loud and clear sound but also provides an immersive experience with its 3.1 channels. Users can also boost their surround sound experience by adding optional rear speakers and subwoofer respectively.

Price – ₹57,990 – Buy Here

Sony PlayStation 5

While everyone does not have the gaming bug, people interested in immersing in graphic-rich games cannot stay away from the best gaming consoles. Right now, the Sony PlayStation 5 holds that spot in the market. The PS5 comes with fast loading speeds thanks to an ultra-fast SSD. It also allows higher immersion with the help of haptic feedback and 3D audio.

Price – ₹49,900 – Buy Here

Nutcase Designer Wooden Remote Stand for Home

If you’re bumping your television up with a soundbar and/or the Amazon Fire TV Stick then I am sure you will have a lot of remotes to deal with. It is easy to misplace and lose your remotes when you have multiple of them to control multiple devices. This is where the Nutcase Designer Wooden Remote Stand for Home comes in handy.

Price – ₹599 – Buy Here

Daybetter TV LED Backlights

Smart LED TV backlights allow your television to get the smart party look. The lights come with a Bluetooth control and remote control both in order to ease its controls. However, the cherry on the top is the mic that syncs the lights with the music/films for an immersive experience.

Price – ₹4,999 – Buy Here

ViewSonic X2 Projector Review: Versatile King

It was in late November 2022 when the ViewSonic X2 projector launched in India, five months after its global release. The projector is placed sweetly right over the entry-level segment for a price of Rs 1,43,517, however, its launch price was up to Rs 2,25,000. With the X2, ViewSonic has put heavy emphasis on smart features for viewing content and gaming thanks to its low input lag. So, does the ViewSonic X2 actually make up for a capable entertainment experience? The answer is definitely yes! Check out the detailed review below –

Features

The ViewSonic X2 is a native 1080P projector with a short throw lens. It is packed with 3100 Lumens on the 1080P resolution that allows it to produce bright images under even fairly lit room conditions. It is packed with HDR10 and ViewSonic’s native Cinema SuperColor+ technology that allows the projector to produce vibrant colours. In the title of this review, I’ve called the ViewSonic X2 a ‘Versatile King’ and that is due to its flexible installation settings, connectivity options, and ample ports like USB-C, USB-A, and HDMI. However, what seals the deal to make it one of the best overall performers in the projector market are the premium Harman Kardon speakers that are loud and crisp. The software experience on the other hand is fairly average as the X2 houses an app store of unknown origin. Users can sideload app stores like Aptoide which works with no issues. However, the native app store does offer apps like Netflix for your streaming pleasure. Special mention for its included remote as the backlit feature is aesthetically pleasing.

Performance

During my extensive testing of the ViewSonic X2, I watched hours’ worth of content. Its lightweight form factor made it easy to be carried from the office to my home and back from time to time which was definitely a plus point. The Full HD content produced by the ViewSonic X2 is clear, sharp, and vibrant. However, the out-of-the-box colour calibration did need some work before it was a smooth ride. It has six picture modes for both HDR and SDR which are labelled as Brightest, TV, Gaming, Movie, User 1, and User 2. Most of the content I watched on the projector was done through streaming applications. The highlight of my streaming experience on the ViewSonic X2 was binge-watching the original Home Alone trilogy on Christmas Eve. The in-built Harman Kardon speaker is surely a treat to the ears as it is capable of producing rich and loud sound even in outdoor settings.

Verdict

There is a lot to love in the ViewSonic X2 projector as it provides a number of features at a reasonable price. There is surely a lot of room for improvement in its apps and app store functionality but can be looked over thanks to its overall cinematic experience.

Rating – ⭐⭐⭐

Cyber crime hit a new peak in 2022

the world is turning digital as more and more people start spending the majority of their online. Be it playing online games, social media, watching YouTube videos, or streaming films, there are a number of avenues for users now to spend their time on the internet. Not just that, platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed have even allowed people to find jobs online. While it’s all well and good when it comes to the general public using the internet, there is always a flip side to the coin where some malicious people use the internet with the intent of harming others and committing cyber crimes. It looks like the cases of cyber crimes have reached a new peak according to a new Mumbai Crime report.

Cyber crime hits new peak

As a big chunk of people become tech-savvy and use the internet for their benefit in an ethical manner, the number of cyber crimes has also hit a new peak. The registration of cyber offences, which include online frauds under the pretext of offering job opportunities, gifts, and/or payment of electricity bills or EMIs rose by a whopping 63.7%. In total, the number of reported cyber crimes rose to a total of 4,718 in 2022 when compared to 2021’s 2,883 cases, according to an official report by the Mumbai Crime branch. If compared to the pre-COVID period in 2019, the cybercrime cases in Mumbai rose by an alarming 112%.

During the COVID period, the majority of people be it students, working individuals or the general public made their way to the internet. Post the pandemic times, crimes such as part-time job fraud, crypto scams, insurance fraud, sextortion, and electricity bill fraud have risen significantly.

So what can you do at an individual level to save yourself from falling prey to cyber crimes? For starters, set a strong password! Make sure your passwords do not include your birthday, phone number, Astro sign, partner’s name, etc. Besides having a strong password, users can also opt for 2-step verification for their social media accounts. Using a VPN while surfing the internet is also advised. The most important to not entertain any calls that ask for your banking details. If you wish to report a cyber crime then you call the governing authorities at – 1930.

Apple launches second generation HomePod at ₹32,990

In what can only be called Apple’s biggest gap between upgrades, the tech giant has now launched the HomePod (2nd Generation) While the smart home speaker market has predominantly been synonymous with Amazon’s Alexa, Apple has not been out of the race in any degree. As they say, later is better than never and with the launch of the Gen 2 HomePod Apple brings in a number of features to the smart speaker experience. Read on to know about what’s new with the latest Apple HomePod –

Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) features

It is no doubt that the second-gen HomePod is marginally better than its previous version. While it features a similar 4-inch high excursion woofer as before, the new five horn-loaded tweeters have now replaced the original seven tweeters. Whereas, four latest far-field mics have replaced the six microphones of the original HomePod. A new internal low-frequency calibration mic has been added for automatic bass correction. It is powered by the Apple S7 SoC to process computational audio and real-time tuning of sound.

A singular HomePod in itself is a capable product but Apple has also introduced stereo pairing where if two of the HomePods are placed together then you will be asked if you want to pair them. However, it should be noted that a first-gen and second-gen HomePod cannot be paired together for a surround sound experience. The latest HomePod also comes with temperature and humidity sensors. The HomePod comes equipped with real-time information reporting of your surroundings and trigger functions such as turning the AC on or closing the blinds.

Price and Availablity

Apple HomePod (2nd Generation) is priced at ₹32,990 in the Indian market. It is compatible with iPhone SE (2nd Gen) and above or the iPhone 8 and above. The device is up for pre-orders right on the Apple Store and will go on sale in the country on February 3, 2023.