Tag: Exhibit Magazine India

The First-Ever M8 Coupe – The Wild child of  the BMW Stable

When you get a car like the first-ever M8 Coupe, for a couple of days, what do you do? You plan a short trip. Hence we zeroed in on Alibaug since the M2M ferry ride with the M8 was an exciting proposition, and we had an invitation from my friend Devita Saraf who owns Vu Televisions for her 85-inch Armani clad TV launch. They called and she promised me we could shoot anywhere in the artistic villa where the launch was taking place. Just like you are always in search of water in the desert, we are forever looking for backdrops, clean roads to drive, and something new. So this kind of invitation was tempting and we booked our seats on the M2M ferry. But we didn’t read the finer lines, unfortunately (more of that later.) The M8 is such an exclusive car that when you go to book online amongst the choices of cars under BMW, it has everything including M2 but not M8! Anyway,  the ferry starts at 7.30 am from Mumbai to Mandwa [ port of Alibaug]  and you have to reach 30 mins earlier. That’s what we missed and then we tossed a coin and chose heads to take the roads, and heads it was. As they say, when you start your voyage, you do not return unfinished. Later, we realized the pathetic state of roads towards Alibaug will test our manoeuvring skills and mind control to the fullest and we had to pull over, measure the craters and anticipate the ground clearance with our imaginary inch tape, step back inside and glide over it, without any ground touches that is. Imagine when you are strapped inside a machine that has 600 horses under it and you are driving at 15-20 kmph for a bad patch of stretch, you will just be cursing heavens up for everything. This makes me give the judgment that the ground clearance of M8 which is 128 mm (About 5 inches) and is lesser than the Lamborghini Huracan Evo RWD which is 135mm, but slightly higher than the Ferrari  Portofino which is 120 mm can surprisingly make its way through our specially pothole-riddled Indian roads. And they say supercars are not practical!

First impressions:

Now let’s get the context: in 10-20 years when roads will be silently driven by the onslaught of electric cars, some cars will bring internal combustion engines (ICE) back from the grave. One of them is the BMW M8 Coupe. 600 HP and 750 Nm torque makes it a complete animal and also the most expensive BMW M car in the market. The M8 Coupe is a car that rides beautifully, offers plenty of usabilities, and is technically super-skilled, but still, it doesn’t thrill me as much as the 5-bench, more practical  Audi RS 7 Sportback did. But there is something about the M8 that mesmerizes you and goes beyond its shortcomings especially the rear two seats. The Exhaust noise which is an aural delight and the way it is designed, it’s a stunner of a machine, which on roads gets the “neck swivelled” attention. Also, the RS 7 has a ground clearance of 109 mm, which means there would be a bloodbath with underbelly scraped by the rough patch underneath and we could have been putting stones and sand on the roads to Alibaug. The M8 Coupe is available in the country as a completely built-up unit. The vehicle body looks more powerful, refined, and luscious with the sportiness that is typical to BMW. It is the petrol variant in the M8 lineup and is priced at ₹2.15 Crore (ex-showroom). So, if you want to buy an M8 Coupe, double-check on your accounts and obligations and don’t ever drive it to the Income-tax office which you can do with the Audi RS 7 Sportback and keep it parked there and silently gallop to 0-100 in 3.6 seconds. The M8 can do that in 3.3 seconds but won’t be a silent process.

The design:

The M8’s muscular lines are broad enough to threaten all the cars from the highway, at 4,867 mm long and 1,907 mm wide, it’s quite a large coupe, and yes, it’s weighty- 1,955 kg; it has aggressive bumpers, two exhaust pipes, new alloy wheels, and the version we were given had 20-inch profile tyres, normal is 19inch. The large, extended hood and tight-fitting roof raise its charm and grab your attention. It is available in Automatic (Torque Converter) transmission and offered in 6 colours. Gray being the most boring until you step on the pedal. It has a small number of precisely drawn lines and sweeping surfaces which is modern and aerodynamic. The slim twin LED headlights on either side of the BMW kidney grille, encapsulate the focused look reminiscent of BMW stablemates past and present.

The athletically sculpted rear wheel arches and flared shoulders flow into a powerful rear end, whose width is emphasized by vertically stacked reflectors. On the rear, there are trademark quad-pipes of all full-M models and a gloss black rear overskirt.

Inside the M8:

The interior design is a harmonious blend of racing flair and luxury ambience. The M8’s every little part is luxurious as you’d expect from a 2-Crore car. But it will also remind you that the newly launched 2 series also has the same interiors and the instrument cluster, which is where I have a problem. In a flagship car, you need flagship interiors and not homogenous interiors which cut across all range of cars. Period.

In trademark M style, there are red strokes on the start/stop button and the M leather steering wheel’s M buttons. The interior also features an eye-catching cutout with integrated “waterfall” lighting for additional emphasis. The standard interior trim strips in Carbon Fibre also accentuate the high-performance models’ sportscar feel.

 

The M Sport seats, M leather steering wheel, M specific displays in the instrument cluster, and ergonomically optimized arrangement of all controls give the driver everything they need to enjoy an exciting driving experience. An interactive head-up display and a 12.3-inch device cluster; While the dual-zone climate control, an easy-to-use 10.25-inch infotainment screen, and Harman Kardon 16-speaker audio system will keep you smiling. Apple CarPlay, No Android – Again strange, SiriusXM with HD Radio, a 32GB drive, two USB ports, and WiFi with voice-activated navigation is available as standard. Bowers & Wilkins Diamond surround sound system is optionally available only with the flagship model, which is the one we had.

It has only 6 colours of ambient lighting, and none of them suits its two-tone interior. The position of the USB cable port is a little bit awkward when the USB is connected with some other device, it’s not easy to get your phone back from the wireless charging pad, it snugs most of the time.

The M Mode button on the centre console making its debut in the new BMW M8 Coupe can be used to alter both the responses of the driver assistance systems and the information shown in the instrument cluster and Head-Up Display. A simple press of the M Mode button engages the SPORT setting, in which the active driver assistance systems now can transmit alerts on speed limits and overtaking restrictions.

The digital drive display is not visually clear and sometimes you miss the much-needed information because of its dark tone nature and satellite navigation is not as accurate as google maps and it can lead you to unwanted roads.

Seats:

The M8 technically has four seats, but the rear seats are supremely compromised by the slanted roofline, and a wheelbase shorter than the old M6. Alcantara and leather encapsulate all occupants, but those in the rear would prefer to sit in an Audi RS 7, and it would look like a limousine in comparison. No legroom and headroom; it’s best for toddlers or pre-teens at best! Meanwhile, the front seats are magical, the driver and front-seat passenger will have a roomy cabin space adorned with extrinsic elements and ambient lighting.

Getting in and out of the front seats is easy, indeed for the driver, as the steering wheel will automatically elevate itself out of the way of your knees when you unlock the door or shut off the engine. Sweet.

The Boot:

It offers 420 litres of boot space and comes along with Automatic tailgate operation of the tailgate as standard. The trunk in the M8 is simply huge for this class and can swallow a pair of suitcases. In the cabin, the glovebox will easily contain a few necessary things, and the door cards can fit a couple of water bottles. There are a pair of cupholders in the centre console and another two slots in the back seating area.

Performance- It’s a wild child:

The M8’s 4.4-litre V8 is identical to the one found in the M5, and a development of the motor from the M850i, housing a pair of turbochargers within the V of the engine’s banks, improving responsiveness and shortening consumption and exhaust piping. The first-ever model draws the potential for its outstanding performance from the most powerful engine. The high-revving V8 unit with M TwinPower Turbo technology develops 441 kW/600 HPin the all-new BMW M8 Coupe, with 600 HP, acceleration in any gear, at any speed, is powerful and smooth. The high and rich performance power unit teams up with an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic, and the engine’s power is channelled to the road via the M xDrive all-wheel-drive system.

The default mode in the M8 is the four-wheel-drive, which is good for maximum traction and control driving, but the four-wheel-drive sport mode turns M8 into a more wicked car. Here, the system transfers the maximum slice of the engine power to the rear wheels and which is what you need for control drifting, but when you deactivate the DCS mode that’s when it allows you to convert this into a ballistic rear-wheel-drive and converts the M8 into a monster.

The usual M8 also features dynamic damper control to soak up road imperfections and pockmarks, brake drying for increased wet-weather stopping power, brake-fade compensation, and cornering brake control systems alongside a standard active differential that takes more than just available grip into account to get the big-body coupe through turns more efficiently.

The engine stock is distributed between the front and the rear wheels, and it is fully variable using the transfer case electronically controlled multi-plate clutch before the active m differential splits it again between the two rear wheels as appropriate. It’s a four-wheel-drive, a rear-wheel-drive, and front-wheel-drive all rolled into one for a better drift, glide, and rev.

The new chassis technology clubbed with BMW M xDrive offers the variable distribution of the drive torque between the front and rear wheels. It also helps in optimized friction and driving durability depending on road surfaces. Overall, this is a brilliant and spacious powerboat, just not an analogue sprinter, and can manage Indian roads better than the RS 7.

The Last Words:

The First-Ever M8 Coupe is an exciting package, you can only have it with other cars in your garage and not just the solo one. It scores over the RS 7 on ground clearance and performance on road and is quicker than the RS 7 with an exhaust noise which is an aural delight. But the RS 7 is a practical performance car, 5-bench and you can just have one car parked in your garage and live your daily life.

15 everyday words whose full forms you might not know!

What if I told you the words you casually throw around every day have a significant meaning? Well, there are many acronyms that serve a meaningful purpose but are often overlooked. These acronyms might sound like words themselves, but they are better understood in their fullest forms (pun intended). So without further ado, here are 15 everyday words whose full forms you might not know!

  • Automobiles:

  1. BMW– Bavarian Motor Works

  2. FIAT- Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino

  3. CEAT- Electrical Cables and Allied Products of Turin

  4. KTM- Kraftfahrzeuge Trunkenpolz Mattighofen

  • Technology:

  1. JBL- James Bullough Lansing

  2. AMD- Advanced Micro Devices

  3. BENQ- Bringing Enjoyment N Quality

  4. JIO – Joint Implementation Opportunity

  5. CAPTCHA- Completely Automated Public Turing Test to tell Computers and Humans Apart.”

  6. INTEL- Integrated Electronics

  7. YAHOO- Yet Another Hierarchical Officious Oracle

  8. GIF- Graphics Interchange Format

  9. IMEI- International Mobile Equipment Identity

  • Generic:

  1. DHL- Dalsey, Hillblom, and Lynn

  2. BPL- Below Poverty Line

Wasn’t it surprising to know the full forms of these acronyms? Well, I was definitely amused by some of the names they represented. It just goes to show that when we say we can play with words, we really mean it!

HP introduces esports scholarship at OMEN FanFest 2020

 

HP India today announced the inaugural ‘esports Gold Quest’ scholarships at the OMEN FanFest 2020, in support of the rise of PC Gaming culture in India. The ‘esports Gold Quest” scholarship is a program that will provide gamers with the necessary financial support, equipment, skills, and exposure to help them in their quest to compete on the global stage and become future esports stars. 

With esports becoming a global phenomenon, HP recognizes the need to provide Indian talent with the right set of tools and guidance to compete at the world stage and bring the country its recognition in esports. The esports Gold Quest scholarships will select three applicants and will offer them an annual scholarship worth Rs 12 lacs each, which will include a full esports kit from OMEN, a monthly salary of 50k and an international training stint. 

The scholarship will be open to Indian applicants in the 16 – 20-year age group. The nationwide talent hunt program for selection will roll out in Jan 2021 with final selections in June 2021.

With gaming breaking down boundaries and merging seamlessly with popular culture, a platform was needed to showcase its rise. The OMEN FanFest accomplishes this by bringing together influential figures in the world of esports, contemporary culture and gaming enthusiasts on a common stage, and celebrates PC gaming in a manner never seen before. 

Ketan Patel – Managing Director, HP India Market said, “Gaming and esports are among the fastest-growing competitive pursuits in India and globally. It is a stage on which Indian talent has the potential to compete with the best in the globe. As a market leader, we are working towards making the gaming ecosystem more inclusive for everyone, fueling the passion for gaming, and providing a launchpad for budding esports talent in the country. The scholarship program announced today is in line with our philosophy of ‘Play to Progress’ and we hope to see champions at the world stage from India soon.”

As a confluence of gaming and popular culture, the OMEN FanFest will bring together some of the biggest names in the world of esports and entertainment. These include Tirth Mehta, India’s first esports medalist; Ulrich Schulze, SVP, Product  Management at ESL; Akshat Rathee, MD & Founder, NODWIN gaming, Abish Mathew- Standup Comic and other enthusiast gamers among many more. 

The OMEN FanFest will also feature a contest that will offer participants the chance to become the fifth member of the HP OMEN Squad – which brings together people of diverse origins with one unifying goal to merge gaming with mainstream culture. Current members of the OMEN Squad include esports pro gamer Hellranger, professional live streamer Manasvini, gamer and content creator Ocean Sharma and stand-up comic Abish Mathew.

To further enhance the gaming ecosystem, HP is also announcing the ‘OMEN Crib’ – an entire gaming setup designed for the ultimate gameplay experience. The OMEN Crib comprises a dual monitor desk, keyboard, headset, mouse, mousepad, speakers and the OMEN gaming chair – all in a minimalist but stylish package. 

Gamers stand a chance to win one OMEN Crib every week through a contest all through December exclusively on Flipkart.

The OMEN FanFest follows the recent unveiling of the brand-new range of OMEN laptops and accessories, updates to OMEN Command Center, and the HP Pavilion gaming 16. The OMEN range offers “First of its kind” hardware technologies in the industry enabling Gameplay experience to the next level and offers unmatched power without any compromise. OMEN and Pavilion PCs, and accessories provide an immersive experience to the gamers helping them stay connected, relaxed, and entertained while at home.

Unfold the future: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 reviewed

It might seem that we have seen it all this year. Highs and lows, latest in tech and automobile and whatnot. But just when we thought we had seen it all, Samsung dropped a spectacular piece of the future. Why do I say that? Because anybody who has used the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 will agree that it does not belong to this century. Well, here is my review of the latest smartphone from the Korean giant.

Touch and Feel:

The experience of using the Galaxy Z Fold 2 begins right out of the box. Quite literally. The box includes a pamphlet that says, “Change the shape of the future” and rightly so. There is also an extremely important and unmissable care instruction pamphlet, which I went through in spite of reminding myself to be absolutely careful.

The box offers a sleekly unfolded piece inside, along with the standard accessories of a 25W charger, USB cable with C-type plugs on both sides, and USB C-type earphones from AKG. Obviously, the phone is the highlight of the box and it feels lavish in the hand even before booting it up.

What’s new and what’s newer:

The Galaxy Z Fold 2 is a considerable upgrade over its predecessor. Its hinge has a lesser gap when folded and it now offers better structural rigidity. It also contributes to something that Samsung calls “The Flex Mode”, but more on that later. Samsung also mentions an “advanced engineering marvel,” which is essentially a brand-new internal mechanism that employs advanced elastics and a cam design. The hinge also features an internal bristle layer, which keeps it free from any foreign contaminants. Talk about being a stickler for cleanliness!

Samsung has also redesigned the phone to make it look boxier with straight-cut lines as opposed to the curvier design of the previous generation. The Z Fold 2 is also offered in a better colour palette, in a manner of speaking. The main body comes in two options that include Mystic Bronze and Mystic Black. The hinge can also be customized in different colours, including Mystic Black, Metallic Silver, Metallic Gold, Metallic Red and Metallic Blue. However, choosing that option could delay delivery.

Display(s) galore!:

Needless to say, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is incomparable with regards to the display. Look at it one way and it feels like a mini foldable tablet in your palms. Look at it in another way, and you would get the feel of using three phones simultaneously! Well, that’s considering you use the main screen in split mode.

The 6.23-inch front cover display is protected well by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus finish, while the back panel along with the main camera module gets Gorilla Glass 6 protection. Regardless, the phone is relatively fragile but that is understandable given the intricacy of design and the minuscule components.

Open the phone and a 7.6-inch display greets you. It is a Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel that offers bright colours and a crystal clear display. Its brightness is also pretty significant and using it on full brightness could make your eyes water after a while. This time around, Samsung has incorporated “glass-like” materials, which although offer better durability, make the screen sensitive to pointy objects. The main screen offers 120Hz refresh rate, while the outside screen maxes out at 60Hz.

Display settings can be altered between two modes- the default “Vivid” mode or a “Natural” mode. Users can also alter intricate parameters separately using advanced sliders. The phone also has full HDR10+ support, though it is limited to the main screen only. Samsung also got the device  Widevine L1 certified, implying that apps like Netflix and Amazon Prime can offer their fullest HDR quality!

Samsung has also reinforced the screens with a soft protective layer on top of both the displays, though it is a simple external protector and not an integration of the screen itself. This, in turn, leads to trails and grooves being left behind from fingernails, which potential buyers should understand. It also leads to a little more finger traction while sliding across the screen, unlike a smooth and glossy glass finish that you would expect.

Z Fold 2’s Flex (Mode)

Coming to the aforementioned Flex Mode, it allows you to prop the phone up like a laptop and use it so. Naturally, it won’t replace the feel of using an actual laptop, but it does come with its set of UI and UX solutions. A growing number of apps are also offering extensive support for the use of the Flex Mode, but that still left me wanting for more. I would much rather prefer propping up the phone while it is entirely unfolded, a feat that I am yet to achieve. That said, the Flex Mode also allows you to use the external display for content consumption, while the rest of the phone acting as a stand.

But using the Flex Mode does call for some sacrifices. There is no way of propping the phone in a way that exposes both the main cameras as well as the outside display, in case you ever need to click a high-definition selfie. This can only be achieved if the phone is fully open, which makes it impossible to fit in a majority of the gimbals or selfie stick rigs. It is also cumbersome to hold it in that manner for a long period of time.

UI and UX:

Given that the Z Fold 2 is Samsung’s latest product, it also runs on the company’s latest One UI 2.5 Android, based on the core of Android 10. This, coupled with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage implies the phone is not only a beauty but also a beast. There is virtually no force that can stop or even slow down the phone and it can handle the heaviest of apps or tasks without breaking a sweat. Well, extensive gaming will heat the phone up slightly, but that is a universal problem that smartphone manufacturers are yet to resolve. First things first, I was greeted with Samsung’s Always-On display feature,  albeit in a slightly altered manner. Now, users get the option of glancing at the display only after double-tapping on it, while its usual features of setting up a daily schedule and choosing different clock styles remain unchanged.

The home screen and app drawer are both a class apart and can be accessed from either the front screen or the main screen. As mentioned earlier, this gives the feeling of using multiple phones at once! Then there is the Bixby feed which is just a left-swipe away at all times.

Talking about dual screens, the phone has an innate ability to offer split-screen options for every application possible. This can either be had in a horizontal position or vertically.

Buttons and hardware:

When folded, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 will feel quite familiar in your hand. It has the usual volume rockers on the right side, just below which is the lock button and the fingerprint scanner. Speaking of, it has a lightning-fast response and reads my finger accurately even at the slightest touch. It is also a nice change from the usual Ultrasonic under-display scanners that most Samsung flagships currently have. Honestly, I prefer the one in the Z Fold 2 over under-display scanners any day. The phone gets a single tray for the nano-SIM card and while the phone offers full 5G support, it is obviously a long-shot in India as 5G is yet to be fully established.

The speakers are also present on one side of the phone which can get troublesome while holding the phone in one manner. However, it is easily rectifiable by simply flipping the phone over. The sound output is benchmark-setting and the phone speakers alone are capable of giving you a full surround sound effect. At full volume, there is hardly any noise that can dim the output of the Z Fold 2, sans a loud ruckus or a heavy-duty speaker. The speakers complement the main screen perfectly and both combine to offer an almost theatre-like experience. That is saying something, considering it is what every modern phone aims to achieve.

Camera quality:

While the Z Fold 2 is a leader in almost all aspects of a smartphone, it slightly lacks in the camera department. Not that there is anything to with for, of course, but it borrows its camera setup from other phones in the family. The main snapper is a 12MP unit that gets Dual Pixel Phase detection autofocus (PDAF) and OIS (Optical Image Stabilization). It is accompanied by a 12MP ultrawide lens, as well as a 12MP telephoto lens. The telephoto lens offers 2x optical zoom, along with PDAF and OIS. These goodies have been lifted straight from the Galaxy S20 though, and hence are not unique to the Z Fold 2.

However, what the phone does have unique to itself is the wide range of options available to click your perfect photograph. Not just for selfies and landscapes, but also for food photography and the likes. What’s more, the AR zone has a dedicated makeup mode with official products from leading manufacturers like Maybelline, which will allow women to preempt their perfect look without even owning the product! There is also food photography to allow you to click the perfect plate shot without letting the food go cold!

Talking about the selfie camera is easy, as there are two dedicated 10MP units for the same. One is on the cover display while the other is on the main, foldable panel. Both are housed inside snug punch holes which do not interfere with either display. They are nothing out-of-the-box but do a pretty decent job.

Power core (Battery):

Talking about the battery is a tricky one since it is basically split into two parts. Both halves of the phone have a battery pack, which totals up to roughly 4500mAh. Using the main screen for a significant amount of time on 120Hz will take a toll on the battery, but that is nothing to be concerned about. The phone lasts throughout the day regardless of the extent of the usage and lowering the settings or using battery saving options will only increase the duration.

The Z Fold 2 supports 25W fast charging, as well as 11W wireless charging. This means even if the battery somehow drains out, it won’t take long to juice right back up! The phone took slightly more than half an hour to charge up to 30% from nil, while it crossed the halfway mark within the hour. The phone will be completely charged and ready to go within a couple of hours, meaning you can binge-watch any series all night long and still go to the office with enough juice the next day.

Verdict:

While the Z Fold 2 will definitely burn a big hole in your pocket, there is hardly any other smartphone that can be considered a worthy alternative. Among all other accolades, it is the display and the sound setup that takes the biggest trophy. There is only one alternative in the form of the Huawei Mate Xs, but since both phones cost almost the same, it would be wiser to stick with the Z Fold 2.

With a price tag of ₹1,50,000, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 has to be an option to ponder over for some time. But after shelling out the bucks, it is definitely worth the price.

Warning: Razr sharp! Moto Razr 5G reviewed

2004 was the year when Motorola cemented itself as a mobile master. How did it do that? With the launch of the Moto Razr, which became a style and status symbol almost instantly.  Almost two decades later, the phone is back in an updated avatar. But does it have the grunt to re-establish its niche in the market, or will it fall prey to the continuously evolving and never-satisfied nature of smartphones? Let’s find out.

Prudent presence:

It might have seemed unnecessary for Motorola to launch an updated version of the already-recent Moto Razr. So why did it? To offer full 5G support! That is not all, the American manufacturer also amended some of the shortcomings of the previous Moto Razr, making it an even better phone than it already was!

In a market crowded with multiple options from leading manufacturers, what sets the Moto Razr apart? It’s not the folding screen or its sleekness. It is its versatility. Hiding under a rather old-school design is some of the most modern and cutting-edge technology available. It all begins with the boxy design and sharp edges. These have been replaced with curved glass, aircraft-grade aluminium, and a sweet, sweet chin bezel. Unlike Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip, which looks more of a compromise than a technological masterpiece, the Moto Razr 5G offers a properly foldable screen and looks good while doing it.

Since the phone has practically two modes, let me break it down for you. When folded, the primary display is a 2.7-inch unit with an 800 by 600 pixels resolution. But is that all? Of course not! The front display offers an on-screen keyboard, though any person with average or larger fingers will prefer the voice-to-text feature much more. The screen also allowed me a decent amount of app operation, though it will obviously make more sense to just flip open the phone, won’t it?

Display and dazzle:

The main screen is a 6.2-inch Plastic OLED unit with a 2K display and a 21:9 aspect ratio. It offers quite a satisfactory array of colours, and the anti-glare was sufficient for me to display all the contents even under a bright midday sun. With the fingerprint scanner moving to the back, the chin has become a lot slimmer and honestly, much more appealing as well. Even the back panels have been upgraded from plastic to Gorilla Glass 5, with the frame getting 7000 series aluminium and the hinges being manufactured from stainless steel.

Performance, par excellence:

Logically speaking, this is a purely business-oriented phone which will mostly be bought by suit-wearing, chauffeur-driven gentlemen. But did that stop us from playing games on it? Of course not! Right from Call of Duty to Candy Crush, this phone can handle it all. Not that it is meant to, but it can. Why won’t it, too? With 8GB of RAM supported by 256GB of storage, it is practically impossible for the phone to run out of, well, storage.

Eyes of the prize:

A 48MP Quad Bayer type setup acts as the primary camera, while a 16MP single camera is offered for selfies. Images are obviously of pretty decent quality, something you would expect from such a premium smartphone. The battery has also improved to 2800mAh,  which is not a significant figure considering today’s standards but offers decent backup.

Smartphone, smart box!

Such a premium smartphone requires intelligent manufacturing. And that is exactly what Motorola has done. Apart from the smartphone itself, its retail box also has some unique features. For example, the plastic bottom of the box can be used as a volume booster, while the woven fabric box which contains all the accessories also doubles up as a sunglasses case! Talk about versatility! In conclusion, a price point of ₹1,24,999 means that the Moto Razr 5G won’t be a birthday gift for a 15-year-old kid. But what it definitely is, is one of the best-looking and best-performing business phones in the market, something which will immediately make people say, “The Boss is here.”

Creativity unleashed! Acer ConceptD 7 reviewed

When was the last time you let your imagination run wild? When did you feel you were at your creative best? And when did you last get the chance to unleash your creativity to its fullest extent? If you are like me, the answer to the first two questions will be “many times” and for the last one, “rarely”. But after I spent some time with Acer’s ConceptD 7 laptop, my perception has definitely changed.

Initial impression:

To begin with, Acer has dedicated the laptop to designer and illustrators and it shows! It might give away its family lineage in some ways, such as its slim design might remind you of the Predator Triton or its foldable screen might remind you of the Spin 5, but let ME remind you, this is an entirely different deal! Now, Acer might offer a lot of features in its laptops but trust me, the ConceptD gets it all.

Display and Processor:

For starters, the laptop comes with a 15.6-inch 4K display, 32GB RAM, a hexacore Intel Core i7 processor, 2 TB SSD, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 graphic card with 6GB memory! That packs a serious performance punch! However, that takes a slight toll on its portability as the laptop weighs north of 2 kilos. However, these specs are enough to put it miles ahead of the MacBook Pro, which is pricier than the ConceptD and offers the same, if not better features.

Post usage:

Setting itself apart from the other Acers, the ConceptD comes in a suave white colour scheme, with a warm yellow RGB backlit keyboard. This is just to bring a more comforting and professional look to it, as opposed to the wild and in-your-face design of the Predator series, or the minimalistic look of other laptops. With Acer’s claim of adding a stain-resistant coating, which protects the laptop from yellowing and getting dirty, inked or otherwise stained, there is one more reason to not be worried about the pristineness of the laptop.

Verdict:

There are hardly any laptops that can be considered as an alternative to the ConceptD 7 or even put in the same league as it. However, it is also a laptop which can never be considered a casual buy. With a price point north of ₹2 lakh, anybody purchasing this laptop must have a clear intention of its usage. Nevertheless, it will definitely be a faithful buddy at any required time and will fulfil all its duties without the slightest hesitation. If you are a creator looking to unleash your creativity, this is your chance!

 

All-new BMW X5 M Competition launched in India!

BMW India has announced the launch of the all-new BMW X5 M Competition in India. The supremely powerful Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) is designed and engineered to offer unrivalled performance and signature attributes of BMW M. The all-new BMW X5 M Competition is now available across BMW dealerships in the country as a completely built-up unit (CBU).

The hallmark BMW M design and striking exterior features lend to an extrovert appearance exuding supreme authority in any environment. It has an immediately recognizable large front bumper air intake openings to feed additional air to the coolers. It features both a roof and lower tailgate spoiler as part of their aerodynamic enhancements. The car features exclusive ‘M’ light-alloy wheels in a 21-inch format at the front axle and 22-inch at the rear with Star-spoke style 809 ‘M’ Bi-color. The optional BMW Laserlight offers selective beam and no dazzling high beam function with a range of around 500 meters.

The interior cockpit design draws inspiration from the racetrack and combines it with impressive spaciousness and luxurious flair. The classy, contemporary style of the cabin is complemented by displays and controls with the familiar M treatment – the bespoke M controls and the red splashes of colour adorning the M leather steering wheel’s M buttons help the driver to dial fully into the dynamic driving experience. The integrated headrests on the M multifunction seats offer electric adjustments, head restraint height, thigh support, backrest and angle plus pneumatic lumbar support. Hands-free Comfort Access facilitates easy loading and unloading of luggage. The all-new BMW X5 M Competition features a 12.3-inch Multifunction Display touchscreen, iDrive Touch Controller, multifunction steering wheel’s buttons, the voice control feature along-with the optional BMW Gesture Control. The BMW Live Cockpit Professional with a navigation system and the BMW Virtual Assistant is offered as standard. It also gets wireless charging and Harman Kardon Surround Sound System. Interior ambience can be enhanced further by opting for Panorama Glass Roof Sky Lounge, Acoustic glazing and Ambient Air Package. The optionally available Rear Seat Entertainment Professional and Bowers and Wilkins Diamond surround sound system produces a superior entertainment experience. High-quality options from BMW Individual create a bespoke character with exclusive paintwork and interior trims.]

Mr Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India said, “BMW M is driven by a single-minded passion for creating authentic motorsport functionality with everyday usability. The all-new BMW X5 M Competition inherits this DNA and heralds a new dimension in the Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) segment. It is a sublime mix of exclusive ‘M’ elements, an imposing thirst for forwarding progress, supreme power, captivating presence and an ultra-modern interior that epitomizes luxury. The powerful V8 engine and an array of comfort and safety features promise a unique, sporty and exclusive driving experience. The all-new BMW X5 M Competition fulfils the highest customer expectations, not only for agility, dynamics and power but also the expression of individuality.”

The latest-generation V8 engine stands out with its high revving character and unmistakable performance of the M TwinPower Turbo technology with a racetrack-proven cooling system. With a maximum output of 460 kW/600 hp at 6,000 rpm and a peak torque of 750 Nm between 1,800 – 5,600 rpm, the all-new BMW X5 M Competition sprints from 0-100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds and achieve a top speed of 250 km/h (electronically limited). The high-performance engine teams up with the latest version of the 8-speed M Steptronic automatic transmission. The transmission adjusts from smooth to aggressive with the three-stage Drivelogic shifting system. The steering wheel paddle shifters, cruise control with braking function as standard and launch control function offers even greater driving pleasure. The M xDrive all-wheel-drive system and Active M Differential ensure extremely dynamic on-road performance and masterful off-road ability.

The M-specific chassis always ensures precise handling. The M-specific adaptive suspension with electronically controlled dampers, active roll stabilization system and M Servotronic steering support sporty driving along with high comfort levels on long journeys. ‘M’ compound brakes offer outstanding stopping power. The integrated braking system developed for BMW M models offers two settings for brake pedal feel – COMFORT and SPORT.

The M Mode button on the centre console features a TRACK mode in addition to ROAD and SPORT mode settings, which is exclusively designed for use on race circuits. In SPORT / TRACK mode, the amount of information appearing in the displays is reduced offering a focused, high-performance experience.

The vehicle is loaded with cutting edge BMW Safety technologies such as front, side and head airbags, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) including ‘M’ Dynamic Mode, Cornering Brake Control (CBC), Dynamic Brake Control, Dry Braking function, Cruise Control with braking function along with Collision and Pedestrian Warning with City Braking function. As a part of the standard package, Adaptive LED headlights, High Beam Assistant and Parking Assistant with Reversing Assistant. M-specific display content can also be shown on BMW Head-Up Display, projecting driving information onto the windscreen and right into the driver’s immediate field of vision. Comfort and safety can be enhanced by opting to Driving Assistant Professional package that provides Steering and lane control assistant, the Lane Keeping Assistant with active side collision protection, the Lane Change Assistant, the Evasion Assistant, the Emergency Stop Assistant and the Crossroads warning, Wrong-way warning and Front Cross Traffic Alert systems.

The all-new BMW X5 M Competition combines high-performance power with the versatility of an SAV. Its unique attributes combine with the renowned prowess of the BMW X range to bring an even greater degree of dominance, fueled by performance and visual appearance.

The ex-showroom price of the all-new BMW X5 M Competition is Rs 1,94,90,000.

 

Leadership Series | Jitendra Chouksey – Founder, FITTR

In today’s episode, we are in conversation with someone who considers himself an Accidental Entrepreneur. From giving fitness tips to his colleagues in a small WhatsApp group, he has blossomed to be at the helm of a global fitness community. We are talking about Jitendra Chouksey, founder of the world’s largest online fitness & nutrition community, FITTR.

HyperX Cloud Stinger Core: Redefine gaming audio

It is no surprise that HyperX is dedicated to offering the best gaming experience in every way possible. With a plethora of gaming accessories in its stable, it offers not only one of the most diverse options to choose from, but also has something for everybody across a wide price range.

This time around, the gaming expert of Kingston Technologies is offering a chance for gamers to enhance their aural experience. As many would agree, an immersive sound experience is vital for enjoying any game thoroughly. Keeping this in mind, HyperX has released the Cloud Stinger Core series in India.

There is a particular reason for calling it a series of headphones. While fundamentally identical, they do have some peculiar differences. Primary of them is their distinguishing parameter between console and PC: The colour around the earcups!

Well, jokes apart, these headphones offer a class-apart aural experience regardless of the game or the gaming console. However, since HyperX does not like to discriminate, it has segregated the Cloud Stinger lineup. While all headphones are wired, there is a separate model for Xbox gamers as well as PlayStation owners. Microsoft lovers can opt for the Cloud Stinger that is officially licensed for Xbox. It comes with fabric padding and green accents around the earcups. Sony loyalists would want to opt for the PlayStation oriented headphone, which gets blue accents around the earcups.

Overall, using the HyperX Cloud Stinger Core headphones is an experience in itself. It has many easy-to-use features which further enhances the gaming experience, simply by reducing the peripheral hassle. Small features like a swivel-to-mute mic and a simple rotary dial for volume control goes a long way in helping gamers elevate their experience. Since I am a fan of fabric padding against rubber cups, I’d have to say that the rubber padding on the PC-based headphones made my ears a little sweaty. But that’s just me being nitpicky!

A starting price tag of ₹3500 might seem a little steep for some, but considering that it is a price to pay to enter the big league of gaming and use equipment preferred by gaming professionals, I’d say it is a pretty value-for-money deal!

To sum up, wearing the HyperX Cloud Stinger headphones will surely isolate you from your surrounding, as it did to me. Turn up the volume if you wish to let go of the physical world and enter the world of gaming and turn up the mic to mute your sound when your mom comes shouting from the back!

 

Ritesh Agarwal | Top Leaders In Tech & Auto

Ex: 3 habits you think are most important in order to be an effective leader?
Ritesh: For me, it is important to always invest in staying ahead of the curve, learning about things, preparing for meetings, so that I am able to add value to every conversation. Again, super important to be adding purpose to the job of every employee in the organization by driving their passion in the right direction. To be an effective leader, therefore, it is important to be open to new ideas, trust one’s instincts and surround yourself with people who bring more to the table in terms of insights and ideas.

Ex: The next product on your tech-wishlist?
Ritesh: My phone and laptop are my go-to gadgets and I like to keep them updated with time.

Ex: The best tech innovation according to you?
Ritesh: I would say the coming together of technology and hospitality is among the biggest examples when it comes to tech-driven innovation. The hospitality industry, till a few years ago, was human-intensive with every big and small player striving to provide quality services and amenities through its vast resource pool. However, things are taking a major turn and the hospitality landscape is transforming With technology further touching the hospitality experience, both locals and travelers can book a standardized and predictable accommodation in minutes at the touch of their phone in 2-3 simple steps. For companies, this is a great time to innovate and unleash their potential to not just meet the changing requirements of customers, but also to revolutionize old industries to make them relevant to the 21st century.

Ex: Your ideas and views on sustainable technology?
Ritesh: In terms of sustainable technology, we have enabled technology to power every aspect of hospitality from housekeeping to a simplified check-in and check-out process, further resulting in optimum utilization of resources. Our sophisticated renovation process helps in transforming a building within 14 days that saves resources while ensuring sustainable growth in the hospitality sector. We are ardent followers of ‘recycling and reusing’ and many of our assets have design aspects that are powered by this approach. Also, instead of a huge mass of construction work to create properties and thereby add to pollution levels, we acquire existing properties, renovate, and upgrade them.

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