Exhibit Magazine online Archives - Page 2 of 16

How to protect your privacy in a digital era

In an increasingly digitized world, protecting one’s privacy may, essentially, be an impossible task. It is no longer a mystery that we are being watched with every move we make on the internet. As small and accessible as our worlds are now, it comes at the cost of losing autonomy over who has access to our private information and what they do with it. So, how do you reap the benefits of a technologically advanced planet while ensuring that you are safeguarding sensitive information, sufficient downtime, and your sanity? WhatsApp is a popular internet-based text and voice messaging service with over two billion users worldwide. It is possible to use their privacy features to minimise visibility and disruptions.

Open WhatsApp, go to Settings, tap Account, and then Privacy to customize who has access to your ‘Last Seen’, ‘Status’ and who is allowed to add you to WhatsApp groups. You can block or report contacts by clicking on the contact name and scrolling all the way down and tapping Block Contact or Report Contact. Instagram is a popular social networking and photo-sharing app that allows you to connect with celebrities, brands, family and friends. There are multiple ways that you can be discreet on Instagram.

You can change the settings to make your account private thereby controlling who has access to your photos and videos. You can do this by going to Settings, Privacy and then tapping next to Private Account.You can block users by tapping on their username, scrolling all the way down and tapping on Block. If what you really need is a break from social media then you can temporarily disable your Instagram account by logging onto www.instagram.com, clicking on your profile and tapping on Edit Profile. You can scroll down and connect Temporarily Deactivate Account.

These privacy considerations are the bare minimum in times when the fear of losing oneself to the peculiar ways of the internet is looming large. As users become more vigilant, there will be a need for more intricate privacy settings such as time-specific visibility on social media and instant messaging applications.

Everything on the Upcoming Smartphones of July 2022

Nothing Phone(1) – July 12th

The upcoming Nothing Phone(1)’s design was recently revealed to a private audience at Art Basel, finally lifting the covers on the long-anticipated unique transparent phone design. The phone is expected to come with the new Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 at the helm, with up to 8GB of RAM and a dual-camera setup on the back, housing a 50MP shooter with an ultrawide second camera with no confirmation on the lens or sensor. The device is expected to come with a centre hole punch design and a 6.55-inch 90hz FHD+ OLED panel. Interestingly enough, with the open back of the phone, wireless charging is confirmed, along with a standard USB C port. Lastly, the phone will come with Android 12 based on the all-new NothingOS.

The product is expected to launch in the under $500 (39k INR) range.

Realme GT Neo 3T 5G – July 7th [unofficial]

Realme’s latest instalment of the GT series, the Neo 3T 5G, will come with the Snapdragon 870 platform, with up to 8GB RAM, featuring a 6.62 inch 120hz AMOLED panel. On the back is a triple camera setup with a 64-megapixel primary shooter, 8-megapixel ultrawide and 2-megapixel Macro camera. With a whopping 80W charger, the phone is expected to top out the 5000mAh cell in 36 minutes.

The Realme GT Neo 3T 5G is expected to launch at about 36,599 INR.

Moto G62 5G – July 20th [unofficial]

The Moto G62 is a mid-range offering from the Lenovo-based brand for about 20k INR. The phone features a slightly upsetting Snapdragon 480+. The phone will feature up to 4GB of RAM, which is considerably less, slightly made up by the fact that the phone sports a 120hz IPS FHD+ panel. The product also comes with a 15W charger. The phone comes in two colourways – Midnight Gray and Frosted Blue, shipping with a close-to-stock Android 12 experience of Moto’s MyUX.

Oppo Reno 8 Pro [Early July]

After the success of the Reno 7 Pro, the 8 Pro carries heavy excitement, and so far, it seems to be delivered. Along with a unique curved class camera module design, the phone will feature the MediaTek Dimensity 8100 Max with up to 12GB of RAM onboard. Furthermore, the phone will be packed with a 4500 mAh cell with up to 80W of fast charging. The phone is expected to be priced at about 35K INR and ship with RealmeUI over Android 12.

Oppo Reno 8 [Early July]

The Oppo Reno 8 is the younger sibling of the aforementioned 8 Pro, featuring a slightly clunkier display, featuring the MediaTek Dimensity 1300 instead, and up to 8GB RAM, with a 50MP primary shooter, but a disappointing dual 2MP setup for the Macro and Depth cameras. The phone will feature a 4500 mAh cell with their VOOC standard charging for up to 80W going from 0-100 in 26 minutes. The price of this phone is expected to be around 25k INR, 10K less than its Pro variant.

The Biggest Upcoming Technologies of 2022

The beginning of every New Year is no doubt exciting for a variety of reasons. However, among these reasons, is the unveiling of new technologies. This unique opportunity creates a unique platform for companies far and wide to introduce what they will be working to launch in the upcoming year. It also provides each company a unique look into what their competitors are trying to get out there.

Whether you use this platform just as an observer or a competitor, it is hard not to be left oohed and awed by some of these technological adventures. Here is just a shortlist of some of the most exciting things tech companies are working toward this New Year.

3D Home Printing

Could the old methods of home-building be about to change forever? What if you could do away with your hardhat and toolbelt and wear a suit and tie while carrying a briefcase to work every day? This might not be a sacrifice everyone is willing to make, but 3D home printing technology could forever change the world of homebuilding. You’d be surprised at just how applicable it is to feed concrete, sand, and plastics into massive 3D printers.

You might be surprised by this, but you likely be even more surprised at how cost affordable this solution is. It might end up even being less costly than the older, traditional ways of building homes. There is, however, one thing still holding the industry back. That is the lack of infrastructure to transport printing materials to parts of the world where they would be most impactful.

Self-Fertilizing Crops

When you look at all the wealth in the world, it is almost hard to believe that there are still suffering and struggling out there. Indeed, there are entire countries and regions of the world lacking, but it just seems like some people have so much. Not only this, but you combine all this excess with the waste that goes on today, and the fact that there is one starving person in the world seems kind of ludicrous. That might be about to change. And it won’t have anything to do with less spending or less wasting.

It will be thanks to self-fertilizing crops. Most people just don’t realize how harmful current farming practices are. With the use of massive commercial fertilizers, nitrogen and other harmful chemicals are just eating away at the earth daily. Nitrogen is a highly used crop production chemical that accounts for 1 to 2 percent of yearly, global carbon dioxide emissions.

While nitrogen has proven to be an effective fertilizer, it is also doing untold harm to the world.

A world that is in limited supply. Soy plants and members of the legume family like peas and lentils might be about to transform the entire industry. Scientists are already immediately working on getting corn and other cereals to self-fertilize.

Advancement Of Cryptocurrencies

Cryptocurrencies have been a slowly trudging technology that’s for the most part stayed on the fringes of mainstream finances. Consumers have seen this shift a bit in the online sports betting market. So, it is possible to play สล็อตแตกง่าย ฝากถอน ไม่มีขั้นต่ำ with specific digital currencies.

There are now a few online platforms willing to accept and payout in cryptocurrencies. Some e-commerce sites also accept digital currencies.

El Salvador has just recently become the first country in Central America to make Bitcoin the most popular cryptocurrency in the world.

Sweden, Canada, The European Union, and The United Kingdom are already a few of the global leading giants that are considering implementing financial changes. Unfortunately, there are some still not embracing this digital currency and all the potential it offers, but that could possibly change in 2022. It is the concerns and potential risks for digital fraud in countries like China, Bangladesh, Qatar, Egypt, and Morocco that have been deterring many.

Anti-Aging Drugs

Who doesn’t want to stay looking and feeling like a teenager? It seems these hopes and dreams might come to fruition in the upcoming years. At least the part about looking like a teenager.

While there are plenty of exciting and ground-breaking things going on in modern medicine, it seems that anti-aging medications are the exclusive talk of the town.

The first wave of new class anti-ageing drugs has already been shipped out and implemented in controlled testing environments. While these medications are not yet designed to make one live longer, they remove certain cells that accumulate during the aging process.

iOS 16 Not available for iPhone 7 or lower

In the recent WWDC 2022 event on June 6, Apple inc finally announced its iOS 16 update, which will be released in September 2022. Although this is excellent news for all the tech followers and smartphone enthusiasts, this is also bad news for some previous iPhone users.

https://twitter.com/AslanMarius/status/1533950503243096064?s=20&t=Xgp590wZ3lX5IWP2Je0ZPA

With iOS 16, Apple also announced that some devices wouldn’t be receiving these updates, specifically the iPhones starting from 7 Plus to the bottom will not be receiving these updates. The announcement shocked many people because the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus were released in September 2016, which isn’t a long time for smartphones not to receive further updates.

Like the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, iOS 16 is not to be released for the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus, among other devices. Following Apple’s WWDC event on June 6, iPhone 7 customers rushed to Twitter to voice their frustrations over the lack of an update for their phones.

Cure for the Incurable?

Cancer is the second-leading cause of death globally. In 2020 alone, cancer was responsible for nearly 10 million deaths. Scientists have conducted ongoing research and experimented to find a cure for this disease throughout history. The first cancer patient was cured in 1898 using radiation, a method used to cure cancer in the current times, and this is called chemotherapy. Chemotherapy damages the genes inside the nucleus of the abnormal cancerous cells. Although this treatment has a five-year survival rate of 90%, it is often pretty dangerous for people because of the excessive radiation exposure to the patients. The dangers of excessive radiation have motivated scientists to find a safer and more efficient way of curing cancer through research and experiments.

In a recent trial on 18 rectal cancer patients in the US, cancer disappeared from each patient through a drug called Dostarlimab. Doctors at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York conducted the research published in the New England Journal of Medicine. “At the time of our report, no patients had had chemoradiotherapy or surgery.” researchers said in a media outlet study, which meant that the drug Dostarlimab didn’t require any surgery or chemotherapy to decrease the tumour.

The trial is a fascinating breakthrough since nothing like this has ever happened in the history of cancer, where the cancer tumour has decreased/faded from each patient. Experts applauded the study because not all patients had significant adverse effects from the pharmaceutical experiment.

Although this is exciting news, people should not be overly hyped about this because Dostarlimab is not 100% a cure for cancer and has significant side effects which make it undifferentiable from chemotherapy. “We do not know if it will work for other cancers, apart from rectal cancer, because testing and trials have not been done,” Dr Ashok Kumar Vaid. “(My) initial thoughts were that this was very exciting because patients were getting cured without any radiation, surgery, or chemotherapy. A deeper dive brings up questions,” Adds Dr Anil Heroor

Even though there are multiple drawbacks to this study, such as the cost of treatment, small sample size, and eligibility, this is an outstanding achievement for science. Everyone should hope for the best while being realistic.

Everything new in iPadOS 16

The iPad, iPad mini, and iPad Pro are Apple’s three iPad product lines. For tech products to thrive in the market, updates and changes are very important. Apple has done precisely that.

In the recent update, Apple Inc. introduced an entirely new multitasking experience with the Stage manager and full external display support, bringing in new ways to collaborate via the Messages app, significant updates to Mail and Safari, new apps and more.

Updates to Messages

The Messages application now has new capabilities that make it simple to collaborate and manage shared material across Apple-based applications like Files, Keynote, Pages, Notes, Reminders, Safari and other third-party applications. The document, spreadsheet, or project is automatically shared with all the members of the thread/group when users submit a collaboration invitation via Messages. Everyone will also be able to see live updates to a shared file right at the top of the Messages thread when someone modifies.

In addition to the improved collaboration, messages will also allow users to have a better messaging experience by enabling users to edit sent messages and recover recently deleted messages.

New Application: Freeform

Apple is introducing a collaboration application called Freeform during the iPadOS 16 updates. With this application, you can view, share, and collaborate all in one location without worrying about layouts or page sizes. Coming to iPadOS 16 later this year, Freeform will permit users to view others’ contributions as they add content or make edits while enjoying a real-time collaboration space by starting FaceTime sessions and getting updates from others on Messages.

New Application: Weather

In the new update, the long-awaited weather app is being added to the iPad. Users may access essential weather information with only a swipe or browse maps to check precipitation, air quality, and temperature. Users will also receive notifications when a severe weather alert is issued in their location and monitor the air quality using a colour-coded scale.

Updates to ‘Live text’ and ‘Visual look up.’

Using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Live Text identifies text in photos. This functionality has been extended to videos, allowing the reader to interact with stopped video frames. Users can now use this feature to convert currencies, translate different languages, or copy the text in a live video!

Updates to Safari & Mail

Shared Tab Groups allow users to collaborate on a set of tabs with friends and see updates instantly while they work together, share tabs and bookmarks, and start a conversation right from Safari.

Passkeys, a quicker and safer sign-in technique meant to replace passwords on the web and in applications, make browsing in Safari even more secure. Passkeys are stored on the iPad and are unique to the sites they were created for. Hackers can’t leak passkeys or fool users into providing them since they’re special digital keys that stay on the device and are never saved on a web server.

Mail introduces new smart tools; some are options to cancel the delivery of a message before it reaches a recipient’s inbox, schedule emails to be sent at the perfect moment and more.

New Feature: Powerful Multitasking

Stage Manager is a brand-new multitasking experience that organises programmes and windows for you, making switching between jobs a breeze. Users may now construct overlapping windows of various sizes in a single view, drag and drop windows from the side, or start applications from the Dock to build groups of apps for quicker, more flexible multitasking on the iPad for the first time.

Final Conclusion

These are the most significant updates coming to the new iPadOS 16. These changes will positively impact the user experience of iPads because additional features for multitasking were much needed, which now have been implemented to the iPadOS.

Moto G82 5G Launched in India

Motorola has made its mark in the Indian market hot on the heels of releases such as the Motorola Edge 30, G52, and Edge 30 Pro. The OEM recently announced the Motorola G82 for India, sporting the Snapdragon 695 5G and a 120hz display in the mid-range segment.

The build and design of the phone are fairly basic, with a PMMA Thermoplastic material on the back panel, and Gorilla Glass 3 protection on the front. The phone comes in two finishes – Meteorite Gray and White Lily. All this is topped off by a water and dust resistance rating of IP52.

The display is a 6.6 inch 120hz 10-bit pOLED panel delivering inky blacks and vibrant colours. With a 360hz touch sampling rate, gaming and general usage are more responsive to touch input, providing a snappier experience.

The G82 comes with 6 or 8GB of DDR4X memory, and 128GB of uMCP storage, with up to 1 TB expandable storage through the microSD card slot available on the sim tray.

The phone contains a 5000mAh cell, with an included charger for 33W “Turbo Power” fast charging, as the company calls it.

Moving on to the cameras, the triple camera setup on the back is a 50+8+2 MP effort for the Main, Ultra-wide, and Macro cameras respectively. The 50-megapixel main camera with an f/1.8 aperture supports OIS, a rare addition in this competitive segment, but definitely great for both stable video and improved Night Mode shots. Furthermore, video is capped to 1080p 60fps on the main lens. Towards the front, is a 16MP selfie camera with an f/2.2 aperture with the ability to capture up to 1080p 30fps.

The Moto G82 will be shipping with Android 12 with a light skin over an otherwise close-to-stock android experience, delivering a bloatware-free, smooth and unified experience powered by Google products. The phone will be available for purchase on Flipkart from the 14th of June.

Specs:

SoC: Snapdragon 695 5G [Octa-core]
Display: 120hz pOLED 6.6 inches FHD+
- 360hz Touch Sampling
- 700 nits (1000 nits peak)
- 10-bit colour, covering the DCI-P3 colour gamut
RAM: 6GB/8GB RAM LPDDR4X
Storage: 128GB + 1TB Expandable – uMCP
Battery: 5000mAh + 33W “Turbo Power” Fast Charging
Operating System: Android 12 My UX

Back Cameras:

50 MP f/1.8, Wide Angle, Primary Camera with OIS up to 1080p 60fps
8 MP f/2.2, Ultra-Wide Angle Camera
2 MP f/2.4, Macro Camera

Front Cameras:

16 MP f/2.2, Wide Angle, Primary Camera

Build and Design

PMMA Thermoplastic
IP52 Water and Dust Resistance
Stereo Speakers
Gorilla Glass 3 Protection
Headphone jack

BMW X4 MSport x30d-A supercool SUV Coupe

BMW has been on an update spree like most other manufacturers in the year 2022. This time around, it’s the X4’s turn to receive a stealthy yet worthy Shadow edition update, a limited edition! This vehicle is also offered in a standard edition, but the M Sport package amplifies the overall appeal as expected no matter which you choose. On a sunny afternoon, we drove a limited edition BMW X4 Shadow edition wrapped in a nardo grey suit, one of the best colours on automobiles. Rev along.

BMW X4 MSport x30d-Wiser and meaner with time

Launched back in 2014, BMW last updated the BMW X4 in 2019. This year, the BMW X4 gets an updated, versatile chassis shared with older and younger X siblings from the family. The shadow edition accentuates this car’s appearance with all black and nardo grey contrast. BMW equips the X4 in x30i or x30d configurations, both standard in the M Sport package. Visually, both are identical, with sharper fascia and slim M Sport BMW adaptive LED lights front and rear. While the X6 is the original SUV Coupe beauty, the X4 symbolises this design in the midsize SUV Coupe silhouette making it one of the most handsome SUVs for its asking price.

Standing on M Sport dual spoke M light run-flat 20-inch tyres and adaptive suspensions, the X4 looks stunning in proportion. Shadow edition masks all the chrome elements of the standard car in gloss and matte black combinations. First seen on the M4, the adaptive air intakes sit neatly behind the more proportionate BMW grille. Sharper angles make this update feel modern and apt for this year and the future. M Sport batches all around the car, red M Sport brake callipers and wider tyres with 245 section up front and 275 at rear heighten the car’s road presence compared to its predecessor. This time in sharp geometric shapes, the rear black diffuser and M Sport dual exhausts add a sense of sporty appeal to the overall X4 package.

On the inside, our shadow edition featured all-black interiors with red stitching on good quality leather finishes and soft-touch leather on the dash, doors and centre consoles. Nothing much has changed since its last update in 2019, apart from the 12.3 BMW live cockpit touch infotainment system featuring wireless Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and gesture controls with M Sport animated dials to display gravitational acceleration, lean angles and more. M Sport three-spoke steering feels sturdy and acts sharp, making this SUV coupe feel more like a typical coupe than a midsize SUV. There are some misses, like the lack of wireless charging and 360-degree cameras, especially in a day and age when affordable cars are loaded with such sensors and more. The quality of leather and fit-finish levels are one of the best in the premium segment, and everything feels tactile. Being an SUV Coupe, the X4 packs a healthy electric-operated boot space of 525L with a space saver tyre.

BMW X4 MSport x30d-M Sport package as standard

The X4 is offered in twin-turbo combos of a 4-cylinder 252 bhp and 350 Nm petrol x30i engine, and our review (absolute) unit is provided in 6-cylinder 262 bhp and 620 Nm diesel x30d engine. BMW has got rid of other xDrive offerings. We test the better of the two – x30d, and its various drive modes include Eco, Eco Pro, Comfort, Comfort what-not, Sport and Sport Plus, with individual configurations for all settings. Truth be told, our dials were usually red with the Sport plus mode activated for most of our drive. What was surprising was the sheer opulent drive in comfort modes. The diesel engine is engineer-aged like a fine wine and feels refined, and the gearbox is smooth, mated to sophisticated NVH levels on a chassis developed for the X7!

Despite the larger shoes with 20-inch wheels, the adaptive suspension, brilliant chassis with minimal to no body roll, refined diesel engine and class-leading NVH levels give the BMW X4 a duality. It can be calm in comfort modes, and when you are in the mood for some paddle shifting fun, this bimmer can surprise you. A 0-100kmph sprint is achievable in 5.8s! This car is quick, considering the size and volume. To put it in perspective, this midsize mammoth is almost as fast as the newly launched BMW i4, and that is an all-electric sedan! Different modes aside, this car can perform a wheel spin on ECO mode if demanded. SPORT plus modes aggrandise the power, steering feel, suspension feedback and overall responsiveness of the BMW X4. BMW M sport package amplifies this car’s appeal by many folds. In an era dominated by midsize SUVs, this brilliant SUV Coupe does not just stand out with its design but also its mean twin-turbo M spec power.

The BMW X4 does feel like an SUV in all its elements. Still, it drives like a sedan thanks to an enthusiastic engine coupled with a smooth 8-speed Steptronic transmission, sharp steering inputs and M sport black magic on the limited shadow edition. Interiors, too, are sumptuous and accommodating despite the M sport seats with ample lumbar support. The adaptive suspension has made a world of difference to the overall drive quality of the updated BMW X4. There is almost no body roll despite the sheer size of this SUV, and high-speed stability has to be one of the best ammunition in its arsenal, coupled with solid but progressive braking.

BMW X4 MSport x30d- The sporty SUV styled as a Coupe

We drove spiritedly all day long in a limited Shadow edition BMW X4 x30d, and not many will be available in India. The black treatment on the exterior and interior with subtle M Sport badges makes the BMW X4 a handsome car. Newer details make the X4 look sharp and modern, ready to age with poise. Limited editions not just age with grace but sometimes appreciate with time. This beautiful monstrosity is a worthy set of wheels in your garage if you are tired of the ordinary-looking SUVs on our roads. Not only is it sporty in its drive appeal, but also composed in a way. BMW X4 has matured into a stunning midsize SUV Coupe update from BMW.

Design elements and specifications

BMW X4 shadow edition Specs

Price – 71.90 lakh onwards (Ex-Showroom)

Length (mm)	4751
Width (mm)	2138
Height (mm)	1621
Wheel Base (mm)	2864

Displacement (cc)	2993
Max Power	261.49bhp@4000rpm
Max Torque	620Nm@2000-2500rpm
No. of cylinder	6
Turbo Charger	twin
TransmissionType	Automatic
Gear Box	8-speed
Drive Type	4WD

Anunay Sood – Influencer of the Month

Exhibit: What does travelling mean to you?

Anunay Sood: Travelling in my life does not hold a specific meaning as it is impossible for me to ever fit what it means to me in words. Rather I would say travelling is what defines a major element of my existence and gives me a way ahead in life. I owe all my confidence to each and every journey that I have ever taken as a traveller.

Ex: Can you describe your worst travelling experience?

AS: Though there’s no worst experience in travelling, every journey either gives us happy memories or teaches priceless lessons. However, one experience that I can never forget is this one time when we were travelling back from Spiti in 2017 in an endeavour car. It lost control and fell into a ditch in one of the remote areas. We were lucky enough to escape and save ourselves from the devastating state of the car, and the entire experience still gives us chills down the spine.

Ex: Since you have travelled to a lot of places, what is that one place in India you wish you had visited but didn’t get enough time for?

AS: As a traveller, I haven’t honestly explored a lot of planes, most of my trips are to the mountains and hilly regions. So this year, in March, I visited Jaipur with one of my friends and was left spellbound looking at the heritage and beauty of the place. We just had 2 days there, so I wish I had enough time to explore more in Jaipur.

Ex: What is your favourite memory of a place?

AS: My favourite memory is from our trip to Iceland, as that trip was very close to my heart for multiple reasons. I had saved for almost one year to take that trip, and the entire experience was surreal.

Ex: Since places are made up of people, what is the one place you visited that had the most interesting set of people?

AS: I met the most interesting set of people in Norway. The people in Norway were so humble and welcoming that, for once I forgot that I had come to a new place for the first time.

Ex: People travel in their free time usually; what do you do in your free time or, to put it across better, what are your hobbies?

AS: I honestly don’t get free time with all the travel, work commitments and content creation, but anytime I am able to find some time, I love to play the guitar and spend some amazing time with my nephew and niece as it is a delight to see them grow.

Ex: What gadgets do you use while making a vlog?

AS: I use my Sony α7S III camera, iPhone 13 Pro and a microphone plugged into my gear.

Ex: Give us some tech tips on making content?

AS: Always record in 60fps so that the visual control of altering the content in terms of speed and transition remains in your hands while editing.

Ex: What are the apps that help you while travelling?

AS: One amazing app is Star Walk, and it helps me spot stars every time we plan to stargaze on a trip. Other than that, Google Maps with offline downloaded maps is the best travel partner on any road trip. Lastly, I love “make my trip” to make all the travel bookings hassle-free.

Ex: What are the necessary gadgets that you keep with yourself while travelling?

AS: My drone, camera with all the lenses, battery backups, mobile gimbal and shot stick.

Quickies

Beaches or mountains? – Mountains

Train or Flight – Flight

Best travel destination? – Iceland

Next place you want to go? – Antarctica

Places with the best food? – I have travelled around the world, but trust me nothing is better than Indian street food.

Longest distance you have travelled in a go? – 17 hours drive to Srinagar – in one go.

Asus BR1100-A small laptop with a small price

In 2022, everything is expensive, especially computers and computing parts. Thanks to an ongoing pandemic, most of us work from home, and kids learn from home too. There has never been a better demand for computers as in this era and although your phone is yet another computer with a smaller display and different OS, the need for a full-fledged computer has increased many folds. Add the fact that most laptops are easily over the price of 30K. Asus launched their BR 1100 series, one with (BR1100FKA) and one without a touchscreen (BR1100CKA), for as low as 25K! We review the latter.

Design – Small chassis, smaller screen

A 180-degree opening hinge on something like a 13-inch laptop chassis with an 11-inch 1366×768 anti-glare display makes this little wonder usable from many angles. The keyboard is not backlit but has tactile feedback and does the job for countless hours of typing. It is definitely a little cramped and takes time to familiarise. The trackpad is also smaller than most current laptops but supports gesture recognition and decent multi-touch support. The design is enforced with steel connectors, military-grade MIL-STD-810H certified with soft rubber circumference and a beautiful matte texture on the front and comes in a dark grey, light grey highlights and black keyboard accentuating the appeal of this budget laptop.

Made for connectivity

The chassis on both the FKA touchscreen and CKA non-touchscreen models are the same, and thus both enjoy some diverse utility and connectivity. The front and back panels are neat while the LHS houses a Kensington lock, 45W barrel charge port, USB (G3.2 with charge support) Type-C, USB (G3.2) Type-A, full HDMI 1.4 port, a blank cutout of the FKA stylus while the RHS has a full RJ45 port, USB (G2.0) Type-A port, another blank cutout, 3.5mm headphone jack, power button and volume rocker like most phones. Couple that with Intel wireless AC-9560 WiFi connectivity, and the laptop supports high-speed dual-band connectivity with Bluetooth 4.2, an impressive connectivity package for the price.

Performance – Not bad but too limited

At this price, Asus has packed the chassis with consistent ruthless usage in mind like students and field operators. The laptop comes with a dual-core Intel Celeron N4500 (1.1 – 2.8GHz) paired with a generic 4GB DDR4 RAM, and a 64GB internal memory marks a limit to this laptop’s usage. Chrome with multiple tabs pin this laptop’s RAM and at times processor use at alarming levels. 4GB and 64GB are the bare minimum, but somehow our unit received and ran Windows 11 Home 21H2 update with ease. What seems to limit everyday use are the RAM and internal memory. Assigning more virtual memory did little to nothing. Tabs refresh more often than expected, and memory management only loads the tab you are accessing at the moment. The processor does a decent job of keeping things snappy overall.

The laptop has multiple shortcuts assigned to FN keys and one-touch software-enabled buttons to disable the noise-cancellation enabled mics and camera. The 0.9MP 720p camera is clear and decent for video connectivity with support for 720p 30fps recording. Viewing angles on the LED-backlit display are good, but outdoor display brightness could be an eye strain. The user-facing speakers are impressively loud and clear and make a great companion for online classes, conferences, videos, and multi-media. The efficient internals aid this laptop’s 45Wh battery to last as long as 7+ hours of use. At 1.26Kgs and 25K starting price, the Asus BR1100CKA is an interesting laptop. It does all justice to its form factor, and despite being chunky, it feels trustworthy to wield.

Verdict – Not bad for the price

Laptops are expensive this year, and Asus BR1100CKA proves a great companion for someone interested in regular text use with occasional multi-media consumption. It offers a whole Windows experience at the cost of low-tier hardware with good connectivity, but products like the Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 with an external keyboard offer a much more versatile package at similar prices. Think before you choose!

Good – Price, military-grade protection, connectivity

Bad – Low-tier hardware

Ugly – Better competition