Tag: Exhibit Magazine

BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe now available in petrol!

The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé has been launched in a new petrol variant in India. Introduced in an attractive “M Sport” package, the new BMW 220i is locally produced at BMW Group Plant Chennai. It is available at dealerships today onwards in addition to the two existing diesel variants.

Mr Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India said, “BMW India continues to expand its product range as per evolving trends in the luxury car segment. We believe in offering the power of choice when it comes to fulfilling the mobility needs and desires of BMW enthusiasts.

Designed with a focus on performance and sportiness, the new BMW 220i M Sport demonstrates a powerful uniqueness that suits the requirements of motorsport fans. With the dynamics of a petrol engine, first-class driving characteristics and the highest comfort, ‘Sheer Driving Pleasure’ is guaranteed every time.”

The BMW TwinPower Turbo petrol engine melds maximum power with exemplary efficiency and offers spontaneous responsiveness even at low engine speeds. The two-litre four-cylinder petrol engine produces an output of 190 hp and a maximum torque of 280 Nm at 1350-4600 rpm. The car accelerates from 0-100 km/hr in just 7.1 seconds.

The eight-speed Steptronic sport automatic transmission comes with shift paddles on the steering wheel. The quick-shift control has been updated once again in the interest of rapid manual gear changes. The long seventh gear keeps revs low, helping to cut fuel consumption when out of town or on the motorway.

The transmission can also allow the car coast in neutral in certain situations, while a special low-viscosity oil brings about a further reduction in CO2 emissions.


The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé seamlessly transfers the elegant aesthetics of its larger stablemates. The exterior embodies a modern and athletic design with precise lines and sculpted surfaces creating a fascinating interplay of light and shade.

The standout characteristic is its stretched silhouette, four frameless doors and prominent shoulders with a side taper at the C-pillar which gives it a sporty, low and broad-set stance. Slightly angled full-LED headlights form the prominent BMW four-eyed face and draw attention to the BMW kidney grille, giving a fresh interpretation of the classic BMW icons.

The full-LED taillights extend into the centre of the rear end and provide an all-new take on the familiar BMW ‘L’ shape with a single slim light element and a distinctive sweep to the side.

Despite its sporty appearance, the interior is designed to accentuate cabin spaciousness and the driver-focused cockpit with exquisite materials. The newly designed Sport Seats with electrical memory function offer greater long-distance comfort.

The elegant coupé form with generous cabin space welcomes the rear passengers with easy entry and ample knee room. Adding to the sense of space is the standard large panorama glass sunroof. The large 430 litres luggage compartment can be expanded by folding down the 40/20/40 split rear seat backrest.

The rear seat can be folded down completely to create more space. The illuminated trim, segment-first, retains a normal appearance in daylight but functions as decorative lighting elements with a space-shaping effect in the dark. Ambient lighting with six dimmable designs creates an atmosphere for every mood.

The car has front-wheel-drive architecture in which the engine is positioned transversely, thereby saving space without compromising on the driving dynamics.

To reduce understeering, an ARB technology (actuator contiguous wheel slip limitation system) works in combination with DSC (Driving Stability Control). The BMW Performance Control system increases the stability of the car by targeting the braking of the wheels.

BMW 220d Model M Sport

The BMW TwinPower Turbo petrol engine melds maximum power with exemplary efficiency and offers spontaneous responsiveness even at low engine speeds. The two-litre four-cylinder petrol engine produces an output of 190 hp and a maximum torque of 280 Nm at 1350-4600 rpm. The car accelerates from 0 -100 km/hr in just 7.1 seconds.

The BMW TwinPower Turbo diesel engine melds maximum power with exemplary efficiency and offers spontaneous responsiveness even at low engine speeds. The two-litre four-cylinder diesel engine of the BMW 220d produces an output of 190 hp and a maximum torque of 400 Nm at 1,750 – 2,500 rpm. The car accelerates from 0 -100 km/hr in just 7.5 seconds.

The eight-speed Steptronic sport automatic transmission performs smooth, almost imperceptible gearshifts. At any time, in any gear, the transmission collaborates perfectly with the engine, enabling it to develop its full power and efficiency.

For even greater driving pleasure, it comes with steering wheel paddle shifters and cruise control with braking functions. Using Launch Control, ambitious drivers can achieve maximum acceleration with optimized traction from a standstill. Using the Driving Experience Control switch, the driver is able to choose between different driving modes to suit the driving conditions – ECO PRO, Comfort and Sport.

A host of BMW ConnectedDrive technologies continue to break the innovation barrier in the automotive industry. The BMW Live Cockpit Professional includes 3D Navigation, a 12.3-inch digital instrument display behind the steering wheel and a 10.25-inch Control Display.

The occupants can operate several car functions simply by speaking to their BMW Virtual Assistant. Hands do the talking with BMW Gesture Control, which recognizes six pre-defined hand movements for control of many functions. The smartphone holder integrated into the centre console allows inductive, Wireless Charging for mobile phones.

Parking Assistant with Rear View Camera makes parking in tight spots easier. The Reversing Assistant provides unmatched support in reversing out of a parking spot or through narrow driveways. It keeps a record of the last 50 metres driven and assists by taking over the steering. Wireless Apple CarPlay ensures seamless smartphone connection with the car to access several functions.

BMW 220d Model M Sport

BMW EfficientDynamics includes features such as 8-speed Steptronic Sport Automatic Transmission, Auto Start-Stop, Brake-Energy Regeneration, Electronic Power Steering, 50:50 Weight Distribution and ECO PRO mode in Driving Experience Control.

BMW Safety technologies include six airbags, Attentiveness Assistance, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Brake Assist, ARB technology (actuator contiguous wheel slip limitation system), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) including Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) and Electronic Differential Lock Control (EDLC), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), electric parking brake with auto hold, side-impact protection, electronic vehicle immobilizer and crash sensors, ISOFIX child seat mounting and integrated emergency spare wheel under the load floor.

ViewSonic India and Ingram Micro boost Indian LCD technology

ViewSonic Corp. recently collaborated with Ingram Micro for the exclusive distribution of ViewSonic’s LCD monitors in the Indian market.

The LCD monitor business in India is at a matured state and high-end professionals and gaming professionals have been the key players in fostering its growth. Mr Eric Wei – Senior Director, Asia Pacific ViewSonic said, “We are glad to cooperate with Ingram Micro, a reputed national distributor, to jointly develop business in India. With Ingram’s strength and ViewSonic’s advantage, I believe we can create the value and share the value with partners and customers. Then eventually make life more convenient and make business more efficient.”

“We are excited to expand our offerings from ViewSonic to their LCD business. This partnership further strengthens the relationship between the two organizations and gives an opportunity to offer LCD monitors to our channel partners. It complements our existing portfolio. The best-in-class products from ViewSonic and Ingram Micro’s wide channel footprint will be mutually beneficial to both the organizations in advancing the business”, said Mr Sanjay Achawal, Executive Director, Ingram Micro India.

Commenting on the association with Ingram Micro, Mr Sanjoy Bhattacharya, IT Business Head, ViewSonic India said, “We are happy to welcome Ingram Micro as National distributor for ViewSonic range of LCD monitors in India. Ingram Micro is India’s largest distributor, and they have a vast product portfolio of computer peripherals/hardware, with ViewSonic monitor they have completed the basket.”

He also added, “ViewSonic is a global leading display brand with a futuristic product line up. I am sure this association will do wonders and together we give the best display solution to the Indian consumer & commercial customers.”

The exclusive distribution partnership with Ingram Micro will strengthen ViewSonic’s LCD business in India. The company has been steady in developing ergonomically designed LCDs in pursuit with the latest technology and best in class smart features for its end users. In this year, ViewSonic will be adding new and innovative products in its portfolio compelling with its end customers. This sole partner will ease the distribution process benefiting both. Ingram Micro has commenced its business with ViewSonic from 1st January 2021.

Epidemic, Endurance, and Exhibit!

When SpaceX’s latest launch, the SN8, burst into flames, millions of dollars evaporated but there was not a single wrinkle on Elon Musk’s forehead. In fact, the mad scientist went on to congratulate his team on the failure! That’s how the man is built; taking failures into his stride and on a mission to do the impossible. The idea of building a colony on Mars is the wildest and weirdest dream anyone can have, and if anyone has the ability to execute it in our lifetime, it is probably Musk. I have always been fascinated by him, his journey, his tweets, the hero of startups, and one crazy soul who does first, think later, and goes all in. Read his book, Elon Musk by Ashlee Vance and you will start believing even in Spiderman and Superman. Why Elon Musk, you ask? Because it’s that time of the year when you will be making new year resolutions, and in that it’s a must that you should slide in after you have browsed through our take on 31st parties in these Covid times.

The turn of the year always brings positivity, aspirations, and hope. 2021 will definitely go down the century as the year where hope for 7.5 billion people are all glued in for the vaccine, for the skies to open, to live freely, to stay alive! By this time, the preparations for CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas are in full swing, like many things now it’s a ritual which will be missed massively in fact for the first time ever since the first edition of Exhibit came about – 15 years ago.

Since then, we have seen a lot of highs and lows, though nothing as radical and life-changing as this pandemic. Nevertheless, it is our Nature to bounce back harder than we are hit and that’s exactly what we have done. We persevered through the toughest of times and faced the highest of pressures. But as they say, only the coal that can sustain the highest pressure turns into a diamond. It’s a wrapping issue of 2020, and we have just dropped our podcasts on Spotify and other platforms, next time give us a thumbs up, we will have plenty of conversations, tech hacks coming up there. Moving forward to the next year, all we can wish to carry forward from this year are the learnings, the lessons, and the alterations that we have voluntarily done to our lives. Otherwise, I think you all would pretty much agree that 2020 should have never existed!

Survive in Style! Luminox Bear Grylls Survival MASTER Series 3749 Watch Review

Often luxury is confused with comfort and survival is mistaken to be bare-boned. Well, Swiss luxury watchmaker Luminox seems to be adamant on changing that notion. It recently collaborated with survival expert and everything-eater Bear Grylls to debut a series of new Bear Grylls-branded watches. Called the “Bear Grylls Survival” series, it comes in six varieties based on Luminox’s Land, Sea, and Master series ranges. I got a chance to review the Luminox Bear Grylls Survival MASTER Series 3749 watch and this is how it went:

First impressions:

Okay, practically speaking, there are hardly any chances that a person who buys a watch north of Rs 70,000 will ever find him/herself on a deserted island, in the middle of nowhere or just stranded in general. Nevertheless, Luminox has ensured that even if such a disaster occurs, you are well-equipped to face it. Right from basis SOS Codes to Bear Grylls’ signature statement of “never give up”, everything has been smartly yet artistically inscribed on the watch. Such is the inclusion of Grylls in the watch design that I felt that the former British SAS agent would swoop in anytime and whisk me away on an adventure!

I might have exaggerated there a little, but there is no exaggeration in the opulence of the Luminox Bear Grylls Survival MASTER Series 3749 Watch. Yes, that is a long name and still, I feel like using it in its entirety. The bright orange strap that has been produced from natural rubber hold the watch firmly on your wrist but does not make it uncomfortable. Wearing the watch for the whole day and going for outdoor activities didn’t bother me much, and that is saying something as I can sometimes get extremely sweaty.

Usage:

Being an office-goer and living right in the heart of Mumbai means you don’t find much adventure around (unless you count travelling in bumper-to-bumper traffic every day as an adventure!) Nevertheless, I found many small bits of useful tech on the watch to increase your chances of survival. I was enamoured by the watch dial itself, which glows in the night. Despite being 45mm wide and 14mm thick, I did not feel its weight on my wrist at all. Even its 24mm wide straps did not cause trouble, which I was frankly surprised by. One of the main contributing factors to this was the lightweight of 98 grams, thanks to “Carbonox”, a special type of forged carbon material from Luminox.

The case is not only water-resistant to 300 metres, but it is also protected by an anti-reflective (AR)-coated sapphire crystal. The dial is surrounded by a uni-directional Carbonox-made rotating bezel and gets a protected tritium gas tube at the midnight position. This, along with self-illuminating tritium gas tubes on the hands and hour markers accounts for the effortless and sufficient nighttime illumination.

The dial itself is quite easy to read and the chronograph subdials are not at all intrusive. The watch runs on a Swiss-made RONDA 5030.D analogue quartz movement. It includes the time, date, and 12-hour chronograph that also gets a split-second function. The watch offers over 50 months of battery life, meaning you don’t have to worry about it faltering for quite a while.

Conclusion:

The Luminox Bear Grylls Survival MASTER Series 3749 isn’t a watch for everyone, but then again, not everyone will be able to afford it. For those who do, I recommend you try it out first, especially if you have a smaller wrist. Considering its sheer features, it has a justifiably large size as compared to usual watches and might look odd on the wrong wrist. Also, it will be a value for money deal only if you are an ardent adventurer or just like the look of rugged things on your person. Nevertheless, Luminox watches are a delight to use and the Luminox Bear Grylls Survival MASTER Series 3749 is no exception.

Specifications:

| Origin | Swiss Made |

| Always Visible | Constant glow for up to 25 years |

| Size/Diameter | 45mm |

| Water Resistance | 300 meters, 30 ATM, 1000 feet |

| Movement | Ronda 5030.D |

| Case material | CARBONOX™+ |

| Bezel | CARBONOX™+, uni-directional turning, count-up and compass |

| Case back | 316L stainless steel, screw-in |

| Crystal | Sapphire crystal, anti-reflective coating |

| Crown | 316L stainless steel, screw-on |

| Case Height | 14mm |

| Weight | 98g |

| Standard Strap | Orange rubber EPDM strap, stainless steel buckle |

Tara Sutaria | December 2020 Issue | A New Star On The Horizon

We’re wrapping up this year with our Blazing Star ‘Tara Sutaria’! So much has changed since the last time she had taken over our September ‘19 Issue. We were shooting in an amazing outdoor location on the outskirts of Maharashtra and she had just stepped into the showbiz with the mega-hit Student of the Year 2 & was preparing for the release of Marjavaan. Since then, we’ve seen her career graph reach new heights and how she has evolved as an artist too.

In conversation with Arshi Naqvi, Tara shared her journey from wanting to become a singer to stepping into acting, stories from the lockdown period and how she went back to her artistic hobbies.

Ex: You made your debut in the industry starring opposite Tiger Shroff, you are now reuniting with him for ‘Heropanti 2’, tell us something about your relationship with him on sets & are there any new projects coming up?

Tara: Shooting for Student of The Year 2 was a really special experience for me because it was my debut and of course, I got to share that experience with Tiger and he was so giving as an actor and such a wonderful person to work with, so dedicated. So that was something that was really nice to see and something that I, you know sort of drew from him as a quality and he’s a dear friend of mine and I’m really really really excited to work with him again and in Heropanti 2, I think it’s special because that was the first film that was his de0 but so it’s special for many reasons and I can’t wait to reunite with him.

I have just begun filming the last chunk of the RX-100 remake that I’m doing with Sajid Nadiadwala, Milin Lutria & Ahan Shetty, I’m really excited because we’re almost done with the film, I can’t wait to see the final cut and I have Heropanti 2 coming up and of course the prep for Ek Villain 2 as well.

 

Ex: We all went #AtmaNirbhar during the lockdown period which also resulted in some disastrous moves but we also learnt so many new things. Staying home, what new things have you learned?

Tara: I learned how to bake and cook and I was cooking almost every day at the beginning of the lockdown now of course work has picked up and I’m filming again but I had lots of time to spend at home with my twin sister, so we were training in dance together because she’s a ballet teacher so she was teaching me and I was getting back to my dancing and of course my music and I was getting back to my charcoal sketching so it was really nice to get back to all these things and learn so many new things as well.

Ex: You’ve always wanted to be a singer, but what made you consider acting & how satisfied are you with this decision?

Tara: I think I always wanted to be a singer but when I was in my teens I was the ambassador of Disney in India and I was doing a lot of musical theatre productions and just theatre in general and I think that obviously involved a lot of acting as well so I think you know that that’s sort of struck me that I could do that as well and of course when I graduated from college I met Karan and Student of The Year 2 happened for me and that really changed my perspective toward what I wanted to do and for me now acting and singing are on power with each other and I’m really excited to get to sing in the Ek Tha Villain sequel that I’m doing so I get to do both the things that I really love to.

Ex: What’s one part of our society that you wish you could change?

Tara: One part about the society that I wish I could change would be the amount of judgment that everyone has on everyone else in our society. I think you know everyone has their own journey their own struggles and so much in life that they’re dealing with that I think we should all cut each other some slack focus on what’s really important in life and you know especially with the lockdown and so many stresses and so much newness and all of our lives I think we should really like I said to give everyone a break, give ourselves a break cut everyone and ourselves some slack and just reduce this constant judgment I think we have that is I don’t know whether it’s media-induced or what it is but I think in our society we can really do without that.

Ex: How do you stay mentally and inspirationally aligned?

Tara: I think I stay mentally and inspirational aligned because I have an amazing support system and I always and that’s what sort of always reminds me to stay who I am, keeps my morals, values and beliefs in place and I think that’s all any individual really needs to stay aligned as a human being I think you just need to remember where you come from, stay grounded and just enjoy every minute of what you’re doing.

Ex: What do you wish people were talking more about in today’s time?

Tara: It’s really important to encourage people in today’s time to talk about what their feeling because I think especially to do with this whole Covid-19 situation we’ve all been cooped up in our homes we’re all very confused, we’re a bit lost and I think we should be encouraged to talk about it rather than hide it and keep it in because I find so many people are scared to talk about how they feel and I think that we could all do with talking to each other and giving each other that support so I just you know would like to urge people to stop talking about how they feel rather than keeping it in a because we’re all going through the same thing in the whole world and that in itself is soothing so if we just talk about it rather than hiding it and keeping it in that will probably be much better.

Ex: What’s the first thing you notice in a person?

Tara: I think the first thing I notice in a person would probably be if they can have a laugh about themselves. I think a sense of you one life is really important and it’s something that I get very excited about but I see it and someone else.

         Quickies : 

A gadget/app you can’t live without?

  • My phone.

The most favourite gadget you’ve gifted yourself?

  • My record player.

A slang that you’re using the most lately?

  • LOL

Who should everyone be following on Instagram right now?

  • Everyone should follow Chrisy Teigan, she is such an amazing human being and so funny, just incredible and supports girl power so I think she rocks.

If you could raid one woman’s closet who would it be?

  • I think I would like to raid Elizabeth Taylor’s closet for her jewels and Jennifer Lopez.

Dream road trip destination?

  • The south of France and Italy.

What does your travel playlist include?

  • My travel playlist might sound a little boring, it’s mostly music from the 50s, 60s & 70s.

What’s your favorite show to binge-watch?

  • There are two shows, 1 is Friends which I think everyone loves and the other one is Who’s line is it anyway.

A male actor you wish to work with?

  • It would be the amazing Rajkumar Rao.

What was your first red carpet look?

  • I think most of my red carpet looks are my favorite, I really love to dress up and show up.

 What are you too much of?

  • I think I’m too much of just being sensitive.

If you had to describe yourself in a hashtag?

  • #Scorpio

Kingston launches three new OTG USB Flash Drives in India

Strengthening its endeavour of bringing best-in-class storage experience, Kingston Technology, a world leader of memory products and technology solutions, today announced the launch of three new compelling USB flash drives- Kingston DataTraveler Kyson, Kingston DataTraveler 80 and Kingston DataTraveler Duo in India. The new USB flash drives aim to provide versatility, flexibility and ultimate connectivity on-the-go.

Kingston DataTraveler Kyson (DTKN) -It is a high-performance Type-A USB flash drive with extremely fast transfer speeds of up to 200MB/s read and 60MB/s write, allowing quick and convenient file transfers. With up to 256GB of storage, you can store and share photos, videos, music and other content on the go. The capless metal design will save you the trouble of losing a cap, and the functional loop makes it easy to be taken wherever you go. DataTraveler Kyson is a stylish, dependable USB-A Flash drive that comes with a limited 5-year warranty.

Kingston DataTraveler 80 (DT80)-It is a high-performance USB flash drive that supports next-generation Type-C laptops, desktops, smartphones and tablets. Designed for professional and business use, DataTraveler 80 features fast speeds of up to 200MB/s read and 60MB/s write which allows for quick and convenient file transfers. The compact and capped design has a durable casing and key ring loop making it ideal for on-the-go storage.

Kingston DataTraveler Duo (DT Duo)- It features dual USB connectors that work with both standard USB Type-A and USB Type-C ports to easily share files between laptops, desktops and mobile devices. The dual-interface drive is also ideal as extra storage with 32GB and 64GB capacities. The USB 3.2 Gen 1 speeds allow users to easily access and transfer documents, photos, videos, music and more. Dual sliding caps protect the connectors when not in use. DT Duo is the latest addition to the Duo family of plug-and-play drives that complement mobile needs:

  • DataTraveler microDuo 3C (DTDUO3C): Dual interface that works with both standard USB and USB Type-C with fast read speeds up to 100MB/s. Available with up to 128GB capacity providing plenty of extra storage for the latest smartphones, tablets, PCs and Mac computers. 
  • DataTraveler microDuo 3.0 G2 (DTDUO3G2): Dual interface micro-USB and USB Type-A for Android™ smartphones and tablets that support USB OTG (On-The-Go). DTDUO3G2 can be plugged into micro-USB ports that are used for charging devices as expanded storage (up to 128GB) for quick and easy file, photo and video transfers between mobile devices and PCs.

Kingston DataTraveler Duo, Kingston DataTraveler 80 and Kingston DataTraveler Kyson USB drives are backed by a five-year warranty, free technical support and legendary Kingston reliability. All three USB drives are now available on tatacliq.com. 

 

DataTraveler Kyson
Part Number Capacity MRP 
DTKN/32GB 32GB INR 850/-
DTKN/64GB 64GB INR 1350/-
DTKN/128GB 128GB INR 2250/-
DTKN/256 GB 256GB INR 4800/-

 

DataTraveler 80
Part Number Capacity MRP 
DT80/32GB 32GB INR 1200/-
DT80/64GB     64GB INR 1700/-
DT80/128GB 128GB INR 2900/-
DT80/256GB 256GB INR 4700/-

 

DataTraveler Duo
Part Number Capacity MRP
DTDE/32GB 32GB INR 750/-
DTDE/64GB 64GB INR 1100/-

 

Master Quality, Authenticated? ASUS ROG Delta S review

If you are confused about the reason behind this headline, I was in the same place a while ago. Taiwanese technology giant ASUS’s gaming division, Republic of Gamers (ROG) used this term to describe the quality of its latest gaming headset, the Delta S. It is supposed to be a considerable upgrade over its predecessor, the already excellent ROG Delta. But is it a significant upgrade or just an aesthetic makeover? I got a chance to confirm that.

Same same, yet different:

If you were to glance across the room at a person wearing the Delta S, you’d be forgiven if you thought it was its predecessor, the Delta. Aesthetically, apart from a few subtle updates to differentiate the newer model, the Delta and the Delta S are practically identical. However, there has been a considerable weight loss during the upgrade, with the Delta S now weighing just 300 grams. The headband has also been slimmed down but has apparently been made more durable.

While the Delta S is an update over the Delta, there are a few shortcomings. The default PU earcups have been updated with a cross-hatched texture, but the clamping force has somewhat lessened. This not only causes the bass to leak considerably but also has reduced the passive sound isolation.

Along with that, the RGB lighting has also gotten a modern touch. It is still as bright and seamless as the previous generation, but now gets an added “Soundwave” mode, which can be accessed via the lighting toggle switch on the left earcup. This Soundwave mode allows the RBG lighting to sync with your voice (if the mic is plugged in) or with the on-going soundtrack and flash according to the volume.

Operating the headphones:

The highlight of the headphones (and the possible reason for their name) is the triangular ear cups (Triangle is called Delta in Greek), which offer a snugger and more comfortable fit as compared to conventional round ones. The headphones are quite light and easy to wear and even extensive usage won’t cause too much discomfort. However, what is uncomfortable are the body-mounted volume controls. It is a rocker that doubles as a mute button, which can get quite irritating sometimes if you wish to adjust the volume in the middle of intense gameplay. It is not intuitive to handle and it took me some time to get used to, during which I was mostly unhappy with the volume control.

Above the volume control rocker is the lighting toggle switch. As mentioned above, it gets a new notch for the Soundwave mode that allows you to change the RGB lighting pattern on the go. The mic is the same AI noise-cancelling detachable unit as before and can be attached to the headphones via a 3.5mm audio jack. It does a splendid job of keeping the unwanted noise out and even has an LED indicator to tell you if you are muted. Funnily enough, I attached the mic to the 3.5mm jack on my phone and my phone detected its input! A rather fancy way of connecting an external microphone to your smartphone, don’t you think?

Case in Point: MQA!

ROG has emphasized significantly on the Delta S being the bearer of an award-winning audio technology called “Master Quality Authenticated” or MQA. It can connect to an MQA core signal on global streaming services and unfold a whole new level of audio quality. Long story short and to keep it simple, MP3 files are usually compressed to reduce their file size, which makes the song lose most of its finer elements. With MQA, the user is able to access the original file quality of the song or soundtrack and enjoy all its elements to the fullest.

However, the file size remains compact, meaning you won’t have to worry about filling up your storage after a few songs.
Confusing, right? Well, the important part is that MQA is supposed to let you enjoy “higher than CD-quality” audio on any device. When paired with an MQA decoder like the one in the ROG Delta S, the original master recording is revealed.

Honestly, there is hardly anybody who would feel a noticeable difference by the presence of MQA. For most, an immersive aural experience is satisfactory enough, regardless of the technical intricacies. Stress your ears long enough and you might begin to notice some difference (Like I did), but at that point, you’d begin to wonder if you really feel it or it is purely psychological (Like I did!). It might be a revolutionary update for ardent audio enthusiasts, but for the average gamer like me, it is just a reason to increase the price point.

Should you buy it?

There is no denying that the ROG Delta S is a masterpiece when it comes to gaming audio. However, the primary point of the Delta S being costlier than the Delta is the addition of the MQA. Now, the Delta is priced well above Rs 15,000 which implies that the Delta S will be priced even higher. Apart from that, there is no significant reason to choose the Delta S over the standard Delta. Regardless of the choice, going for a ROG Delta headset ensures that you are treated to some of the best gaming gear available in the market!

Creative Technology Launches Creative Stage V2 in India

Creative Technology today announced the release of Creative Stage V2, an upgraded successor to the well-received Creative Stage which packs some nifty new features. Debuting with new audio technologies powered by Sound Blaster and sporting bigger dimensions, it offers users not only better and clearer audio, but also wider surround soundstage that delivers more bang for the user’s buck with high-quality audio at a pocket-friendly price.

The Stage V2 packs a bigger audio punch and features better connectivity than its predecessor. With the new Clear Dialog audio technology, users can hear each syllable clearly without cranking up the volume as the spoken dialogue is extracted and amplified without compromising the ambient effects. On top of that, the Surround technology adds an expanded soundstage to offer the ultimate movie experience right at the comfort of one’s home. Fitted with two custom-tuned mid-range drivers along with a powerful subwoofer, the Creative Stage V2 can fill the living room with rich audio and impactful bass that will bring users closer to the action.

Creative Stage V2 also comes with a wide range of connectivity options —TV ARC, optical, AUX, Bluetooth, and even audio streaming via USB— making it a one-stop audio entertainment system for devices including TVs, computers, mobile phones, or even gaming consoles. In addition, the soundbar is conveniently accessible via remote control, and users can switch input sources, adjust treble and bass settings as well as toggle Surround and Clear Dialog on or off with a simple press of a button. With a sleek and minimalistic design, the Creative Stage V2 can fit right into any room and be wall-mounted to deliver a truly immersive audio experience.

Creative Stage V2 is priced at the MRP of Rs 17,999 but will be available at the attractive marketing operating price (MOP) of INR 9,999 on Amazon and Flipkart around the third week of December 2020.

Green with Envy! HP Envy 15 reviewed

Hewlett Packard, or HP as it is most commonly known, has always been the go-to brand for style, functionality and reliability. Among its wide range of laptops is the latest Envy 15, which targets the professional users such as video editors, creators, and graphic designers. While it is loaded with top-notch specs, it does have its share of shortcomings. Will the HP Envy 15 make your colleagues green with envy? Find out.

Aesthetics and first impressions:

One glance at the HP Envy 15 is enough to conclude that it is indeed a professional laptop and it carries that badge with pride. Thanks to its aluminium build in a silver-metal finish, the laptop oozes subtlety and elegance. That is complemented by the stylish chrome HP logo on the display lid, while the slim bezels on the top and sides of the 15.6-inch full HD IPS display panel further enhance the sleekness of the laptop.
The bottom bezel, however, takes away some of the glamour with its rather large design. The backlit keyboard is flanked by speaker grilles on both sides (From Bang & Olufsen, particularly) that give out quite decent audio output, while the arrow keys are accompanied by a nifty fingerprint scanner. The touchpad is also quite smooth (more on that later).

Two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 3 support, a full-size HDMI 2.0 port, a USB-A 3.1 port and a microSD card reader constitute the left side of the laptop. The right side houses a headphone jack and another USB-A 3.1 port. All this is housed in a sleek case measuring 14.1 x 9.3 x 0.7 inches (LxWxH) and weighing 2.14 kg. This does seem like a lot, but it can be seen as a compact design if you consider the specs it comes loaded with.

Video and Audio:

As mentioned above, the laptop gets a 15.6-inch full HD (1920×1080 pixels) IPS, anti-glare display. Its 60 Hz refresh rate might not be in the same league as 144Hz screens, but the display is clear, crisp, and colourful nevertheless. Most colours on-screen pop out vibrantly, but it isn’t too abrasive to the eye.

HP has added a 720p webcam to the mix, which does its job as it should but is nothing to ponder over. However, the highlight of the webcam is the external shutter and microphone mute keys on the keyboard. Coming to the B&O speakers, a decently stereo surround sound can be experienced, though an immersive experience is not guaranteed.

Hardware:

I can safely say that the HP Envy 15 gets one of the best keyboards to work on. Comfortable, intuitive and well-lit, the keyboard looks as pleasing as it is to work on. The trackpad also does its job well and there is hardly anything to complain about here. If you had to be nitpicky, you could wish for a bigger trackpad, but that will only be an occasional woe rather than a regular complaint. The keys are not only well-spaced, but the back-lighting also ensures that every individual key can be clearly seen. The layout is overall quite symmetrical and pleasing to the eye.

Internals:

Armed with an Intel Core i7-10875H CPU, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q GPU, 16GBDDR4 RAM and 1TB NVMe SSD, the laptop can take on anything that you throw at it. Be it heavy files, complex designs or intense gaming, there is nothing that the HP Envy 15 can’t handle. However, the laptop isn’t immune from heating, which it does after a while of extensive usage. It isn’t unmanageable, however, and can be overlooked as well. For the average commercial user, this laptop will fulfil all purposes and will still have the capacity for more. Nevertheless, it could offer a better performance had it been equipped with better internal components such as an Nvidia RTX series graphics card or 32GB of RAM.

Should you go for it?

Priced well above the Rs 1.50 lakh mark, the HP Envy 15 is not a casual buy for sure. But if you are willing to invest that kind of money, you will definitely be pleased with the outcome. There is not much that is left to desire for after owning an Envy 15, but that is only if you are a jack of all trades. Purpose oriented buyers such as gamers or professional video creators might want something more from it, but the Envy 15 will still carry all the tasks given to it diligently.

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