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In Talks With – Siddharth Kanan

Ex. You have made a name for yourself in the hosting space. When did you first know you had this in you?

Siddharth Kanan: My Amma (Radha Kannan) and Appa (V. Kannan) were ahead of their times and always encouraged me in debates, elocution & sports.

In fact, my father used to write my debates and train me in how to say my lines. Since then, I had an inner feeling that I would not choose a conventional field in the long run.

I started very young, at the age of 14. I am in the Limca Book of Records for being the youngest RJ in the country. So, I guess I was always made for this. And since I always think that I am a mazdur in my head, I keep working hard and evolving every day.

Ex. You have interviewed almost every celebrity in the county. Who according to you is the most interesting personality among all?

SK: Honestly, I can’t pinpoint one person, since I have done thousands of interviews in my career. But I have been inspired by the biggest superstar our country has ever seen, Mr Amitabh Bachchan. His work ethic, his discipline, how he is the first person to reach the sets always, constantly learning and reinventing himself. My interviews with him have always been motivating, and inspiring and I get a renewed vigour after interviewing him. In fact, he always says that I get him to share anecdotes like never before.

Ex. Who is the easiest and the most difficult to talk to?

SK: I would like to rephrase this question. How do you get your celebrity to bring out their most unheard stories? Well, there goes a lot of research behind it. Whenever I speak to a celebrity, even though he/ she has been a friend for years, when I speak to them, I think like the audience. I want to know what the audience would want their favourite star to talk about. What would the audience like the celebrity to confess about? And when you think like that, the magic happens. And that’s been my mantra since the beginning of my career.

In fact, I feel the audiences feel ‘I am their voice’ and relate to me and my chat shows. Maybe that’s why I have crossed 1.12 million subscribers, 350 million views and have loads of trending videos on youtube throughout the year.

Ex. Hosting is a difficult arena to step into and requires an excellent presence of mind. Do you feel anxious before stepping up on the stage?

SK: My parents have taught me to not be ‘Scared to Lose’! Hence, I am fearless in my approach. I have a tremendous amount of inner confidence and self-belief. The only thing I have always been hopeful of is giving the best show each time to the audience and giving an experience to them that they have never seen or felt.

When the audiences feel on top of the world, I feel the happiest. I am extremely well prepared for my shows, and my team and I work throughout the year on my content, I am well-read and have been blessed with spontaneity. I feel like a student every day of my life, hence I do not take a minute of mine for granted and maybe that’s my shows have been extremely successful and am blessed to booked throughout the year with brands and agencies and have clients who keep giving me repeated business

Ex. What are the apps that you use the most?

SK: Instagram and YouTube

Ex. How tech-savvy are you? What is the most expensive piece of gadget that you own?

SK: My iPhone 13 Pro Max and Apple MacBook Pro

Ex. What is that one event you dream of hosting once in your life?

SK: I dream of an event where millions and millions of people are watching me and I have touched every single person’s life in that event with humour, inspiration and soul.

Ex. How has worked for the radio changed and shaped you in your professional journey?

SK: Radio shaped my professional career in the biggest way. Even though I have left the radio and have gone independent, I still owe a lot to the radio! Radio taught me to be spontaneous, think on my feet, and be real. When I started radio, there were no radio software, so I learnt the art of ‘One Take’ which means there was no chance of retakes. The ability me doing scripts in one take and ad-libbing has helped me in events, digital content, voice-overs and in every walk of life.

Ex. One thing that you often say to your guests is, ‘tu mera bhai hai’. Who exactly in Bollywood is your bhai in the true sense?

SK: I have been around for a long time. My biggest asset is my relationships with people which have withstood the test of time…hence, I have made loads of solid relationships within and outside the industry. People have faith in me and value my ethics and believe in my integrity.

I am proud to say that I have a number of people in Bollywood that have a love for me and vice versa but I choose not to name them because those friendships are extremely dear and sacred to me.

Ex. Tell us something about yourself no one knows about.

SK: I might look very outgoing, flamboyant and bindass but there is a huge part of me which is very emotional and sensitive and only the ones very close to me know and see that side.

Ex. What was the last time you were surprised or shocked?

SK: Nothing shocks or surprises me. The only thing that I look forward to each day is a great experience! I am an eternal optimist!

Ex. What is that one book you recommend?

SK: I recently read The Secret. And I love Suits, the show. Highly recommended.

17 wardrobe essentials for men

Being well-dressed is the easiest way to show who you are. However, in a world of fast fashion, we often ignore the ever-green track and follow the trails of seasonal trends. We know fashion is fickle and going to stay for a short time, but the urge to have that trendy piece of clothing controls our minds, and we end up overstuffing our wardrobes.

FASHION Vs STYLE

Two broadly used phrases by the young generation even though they are baffled about them. Let’s make it easy, fashion is more about dressing as per the trends, while style is more about being yourself. Being in style and having certain wardrobe essentials will always help you to stay fresh, no matter the time of year.

Essentials no. 1

Pale Blue Oxford Shirt

The button-down long-sleeve Oxford shirt in a pale blue hue is a timeless option. The shirt will serve as a smart casual for any occasion, and it’s the perfect accompaniment to black or white trousers, a navy-blue suit, dark blue jeans, shorts and even a light brown chino.

Essentials no. 2

Pair of Black T-Shirts

Black colour brings confidence and is often associated with intelligence and sexuality. When styling a black t-shirt, only the sky is the limit, as it looks elegant on everyone and everything; it doesn’t matter whether you are heading to work, a party, or a date.

Essentials no. 3

Statement Jewellery

When our country was abundant and prosperous, we had men who liked to wear pieces of jewellery. Even today, we have men who like to wear a modish bracelet and a stylish ring as it adds a statement to their already hyped look.

Essentials no. 4

Grey Jeans

Black colour suits best with grey and when you’re having the heft of black coloured clothes such as shirts, and t-shirts, then you can’t avoid grey coloured jeans. When you wear black and grey together, it brings a soothing vibe to your look.

Essentials no. 5

Chelsea Boots

Many people perceive that Chelsea Boots or any boots are only made to suit cool weather, but it’s not true. One can wear Chelsea Boots on a day-to-day basis, as they’re easy to wear and look good on casual as well as formal outfits.

Essentials no. 6

Denim Shirt or Denim Jacket

When you add layers to your clothes, you automatically look dapper, and denims are best to add layers, be it a denim shirt or denim jacket. They won’t weigh you down, as they are made for all seasons, always in style, and on-trend and add a look you’ve been looking for.

Essentials no. 7

Leather Belt

Now that you have seen most of the wardrobe essentials, it’s time to hold them together with something and what’s better than a leather belt? Wearing a leather belt helps accentuate your figure, style an outfit, or add colour to an entity.

Essentials no. 8

Black or Navy Suit

Don’t underestimate the power of a suit. We often avoid buying a suit as it costs a lot of money, but it is a versatile staple for your collection. You might need a suit on a few occasions as no one really wears it casually, which sums up the value of a suit.

Essentials no. 9

Grey Joggers

You must have seen Hollywood celebrities getting papped in grey joggers. Yes, that’s where they emerge as essential. Grey joggers are easy to style and look classy when paired with mid-top sneakers, bright-coloured hoodies, sweatshirts, or even t-shirts.

Essentials no. 10

Pair of Sweatshirts

Sweatshirts are one of the must-have wardrobes in men’s essentials as they are comfortable to live in. They’re soft, warm, lightweight, and made to be a part of your lazy laundry schedule. The comfortable athletic wear can be paired with denim, shorts and joggers.

Essentials no. 11

Blue and Brown Chinos

Chinos are the preppiest legwear option out there in the market, and whether you agree or not, we all need to get a little formal in life, and chinos are best to have a business casual look. They look best when combined with sneakers or boots.

Essentials no. 12

White Sneakers

Nothing to say about white sneakers, as most of us already own one. The white sneakers trend started back in the 20th century as a street style look, and it landed in the 21st century as a wardrobe classic, and indeed, they’re not going off the trend anytime soon.

Essentials no. 13

Pair of Polo T-Shirts

If you are looking for a middle ground between button-down shirts and t-shirts, then Polos are the best, as they’re professional and offer relaxation at the same time. While shopping for polos, buy only the ones that equip you well.

Essentials no. 14

Socks and Innerwears

We often ignore the reality that socks and underwear are as crucial as outer clothing and don’t invest much time and money in them. One should own at least three pairs of socks and inner wears and should not go on with the same after 6 months.

Essentials no. 15

Bomber Jacket

Bomber jackets were initially designed as flight jackets for pilots to wear during World War II, but over the years, they earned a spot in the wardrobe essentials of men. They are warm, versatile and can be worn across the year.

Essentials no. 16

Shorts

Shorts are one of the most favoured outfits of the year as they offer the comfort you want. As a tropical country citizen, comfort and airflow are more important than the protection of the legs, and that’s where shorts get the spot in our wardrobe.

Essentials no. 17

Suede Loafers

Suede Loafers are your solution to smart-casual footwear problems, as they are comfortable and a wiser choice than sneakers as they are simple to get on and off. Suede Loafers keep your feet comfortable all day long and look stylish with both casuals and formals.

17 AI tools to explore in 2023 – Time to get smarter with technology

Artificial intelligence (AI) leapt forward in 2022, reaching the masses. It’s everywhere! In 2023, a wide variety of AI tools will be available for exploration, each with unique capabilities and applications. With the right approach, these AI tools are significant for businesses and individuals. This article will look at 17 AI tools worth exploring in the upcoming year.

TensorFlow: This open-source software library is one of the most popular tools for machine learning and deep learning. It’s widely used for image recognition, natural language processing, and other tasks.

Keras: Another popular open-source library, Keras, is a high-level neural networks API that can run on top of TensorFlow. It’s easy to use and is well-suited for prototyping and experimentation.

PyTorch: This open-source machine learning library is similar to TensorFlow but is more focused on research and experimentation. It’s often used for computer vision and natural language processing tasks.

Scikit-learn: This library is built on top of NumPy and SciPy and is one of the most popular tools for traditional machine-learning tasks. It’s well-suited for regression, classification, and clustering.

OpenCV: This library focuses on computer vision and is widely used for object detection, image classification, and video analysis.

NLTK: The Natural Language Toolkit is a library for natural language processing tasks such as tokenisation, stemming, and sentiment analysis.

Gensim: This library is designed explicitly for topic modelling and document similarity analysis. It’s widely used for natural language processing tasks.

spaCy: This library is similar to NLTK but is focused on speed and efficiency. It’s often used for natural language processing tasks such as named entity recognition and part-of-speech tagging.

Hugging Face: This company provides a wide variety of pre-trained models for natural language processing tasks such as sentiment analysis and question answering.

DeepMind: This company, now a subsidiary of Alphabet (Google), is one of the leading research organisations in AI. They are known for creating AlphaGo, the AI that defeated the world champion of the Go game.

OpenAI: This company is also a leading research organisation in AI, focused on developing and promoting friendly AI. They released Chat GPT-3, one of the most powerful language models.

IBM Watson: This suite of AI tools from IBM is focused on natural language processing, computer vision, and other cognitive computing tasks.

Microsoft Azure: This cloud-based platform provides a wide variety of AI services, including machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing.

Amazon SageMaker: This platform is specifically designed for machine learning and provides a wide variety of data preparation, model training, and deployment tools.

Google Cloud AI: This platform provides a wide variety of AI services, including machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision.

Alibaba Cloud AI: This platform provides a wide variety of AI services, including machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision, and is especially popular in Asia.

Baidu AI: This one is for people from China. This platform provides a wide variety of AI services, including machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision, and is especially popular in China. China might not allow other AI tools, but Baidu AI is impressive. These are just a few of the many AI tools available today. As AI continues to evolve, it’s essential to stay up-to-date on the latest tools and technologies to take full advantage of AI opportunities. By exploring these tools and others, businesses and individuals can gain a competitive edge and stay at the forefront of the AI revolution.

Pixel 6a – A good phone, hard to recommend-Best of Google Pixel ‘a series

The Pixel ‘a series is one of Google’s most loved products. The last Pixel ‘a series from Google in India was the Pixel 4a, a good value proposition back then. Thanks to our overall population, India is one of the world’s largest smartphone markets. Companies value this market to a point where midrange smartphone categories introduce flagship-level features and more. Google takes a safe calculated approach with their latest Pixel 6a, hardware that has stood the test of time paired with the newest Tensor processor optimised for the phone and the latest Android software. Our test results are a mix of impressive and unimpressive opinions.

Cut to curve

The Pixel 6a is unmistakably a Pixel, thanks to similar design choices as the elder siblings Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. The front is protected with a tried and tested Gorilla Glass 3 coupled with matte finish metal edges, while the back of the phone is good quality multi-tone plastic. The camera bump is less pronounced thanks to older sensors used on earlier Pixels. Thanks to the clever choice of materials, with a comparatively mid-size 6.1-inch FHD+ 60Hz OLED display, this phone can be wielded in one hand with ease. Don’t let the images fool you. This may look like a rectangle but holding the phone reveals neat curves around the edges, making it pleasing.

Heart of the matter

With the elimination of the 3.5mm headphone jack, the new Pixel 6a brings better SOC in the form of a 5nm Tensor chip. Consider this to be equivalent to Snapdragon 860, if not better. The processor performs decently with 6GB RAM and 128GB UFS 3.1 ROM. Android 13 promises to optimise the processor further, but as with Android 12, the 6a is not the best ideal napper. It drains the battery like everyday light use when idle. The battery performance is average but could have been better, considering this phone only supports 60Hz or 60FPS display refresh rate on an OLED that can do decent HDR content viewing.

Apart from pure Android OS with regular fixes and security updates, the highlight of using the Pixel algorithm-based camera sensors and added features in Google apps like a magic eraser, an AI-powered erase and fill tool in Photos. It uses the reliable 12MP sensor used in the past Pixels and another 12MP ultra-wide sensor. Like in the past, these sensors are ultra-reliable when taking a shot and 9/10 times, you will get a perfect shot with mindboggling software trickery that converts noisy night shots into miracle light captures. The pictures and videos with OIS and software stabilisation are one of the best. Colours, contrast, details, saturation and brightness are spot-on and absolutely social-media or memory worthy.

The gaming performance is decent, but the software lacks optimisation on Android 12. The phone’s metal circumference dissipates heat evenly but can get uncomfortable over 45mins of continuous gaming. The display may be 60Hz, but the colour reproduction, contrast at all brightness levels and viewing angles are apt for regular users. If you’re using a 90Hz or above display, it might feel stuttery at first until your brain retrains itself. Call quality is good, and speakers perform better with crisp audio quality. Also, charging a 4410mAh battery with a maximum of 18W charge capabilities is not fast charging in this era. The compatibility issue adds to the frustration, where the Pixel 6a refuses to charge with most smartphone chargers or after-market chargers and cables. Haptic feedback and physical button presses have fantastic feedback.

Verdict – If you are looking for a good camera phone or a significant decent additional phone apart from your iPhone, the Pixel 6a is a timeless pick. With nineteen 5G bands and support for years to come, this is an excellent midrange phone from Google.

Rating = 4/5

5nm Octa-core Tensor SoC with TPU

6GB DDR5 RAM

128GB UFS 3.1 Storage

Android 12 (Android 13 Update)

12MP Primary and 12MP Ultrawide cameras

8MP Front camera

4410mAh battery (18W charging)

Baybot Live360° – Surveillance Simplified

The Future of connected devices looks promising with the kind of new tech arriving on the market almost every day. And using this driving force, manufacturers and innovators are adding intelligence to our everyday devices to make them connected so as to make our lives better. Connected devices demonstrate limitless possibilities as it opens up a vast horizon for convenience.

What is it?

Baybot, a home-grown tech brand has introduced the “Baybot Live360° which is its first smart wireless security camera that aims to keep a watchful eye on you in absence of your physical presence. Be it keeping an eye on your kids, family, and property, even when you are away, be it night or day. Baybot Live360° is a Smart Full HD (1080p) Wireless Security Camera that can be plugged into a power source and once connected to a wifi network, can live stream the footage across to you.

Key Features:

Full 360-degree View —

The Baybot Live360° is a compact wireless camera with a 360° rotating head with a revival movement that can be configured to automatically cover every nook & corner of the space or switch to manual mode to watch a particular area. Controlling the camera’s angle with the app’s interface is pretty easy and lag-free. One can pan or zoom into the desired area you want to watch within seconds. The camera has a wide-angle lens and can pan up to 355° horizontally and 80° vertically to maximize coverage of the area being monitored.

Motion Detection —

Set up the Live360° to automatically detect motion in the surveillance area. The camera keeps monitoring till it senses any motion in its frame vicinity and instantly alerts you on your smartphone about the happening.

Smart Motion Tracking —

One cool feature of the Baybot Live360° camera is the intelligent motion tracking feature which can also be set up to automatically track a moving figure, be it a human or pet, or even an object.

Night Vision —

Just like the camera records during the daytime, it automatically switches to night vision mode the moment the light in the given space goes off. It is also equipped with InfraRed LEDs that capture even in pitch darkness.

2-way Audio Communication —

A built-in microphone and speaker allow you to speak to anyone in close proximity from your smartphone at the push of a button in the Baybot App. Talk in real-time to the other end with ease and almost minimal delay. Be it at work, home or any other place, you can speak to the person on the other end clearly.

24×7 Monitoring —

One can even slide in a microSD card (up to 128GB) and get up to a month of footage even if there’s no internet connection, or securely save unlimited footage to Baybot’s cloud service for a nominal monthly fee (optional subscription).

Hassle-free Installation—

Featured with an easy-to-install mounting plate, you can place the Baybot Live360° camera in desired location or space. Simply place the camera on your table, mount it on a wall or secure it to a ceiling and gain a complete view of your environment from anywhere in the world.

Verdict :

Suppose at all you are looking for a portable security solution, and want to avoid the hassle of getting a complete security system which is wired and uses physical servers to store data. In that case, the Baybot Live360° is a gadget worth considering. Its affordability and feature-packed attributes make it a desired tech to keep your surroundings under surveillance.

Price on the web: Rs 2,849

Good

Wide Field of view and real-time broadcast

Bad

Feels fragile

Ugly

Needs to be plugged into a power socket all the time.

KEY SPECS :

Alexa and Google voice compatibility
Real-time view on App
Advanced night vision
2-Way Audio
Motion detection and tracking

Star Rating – 4

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

Epson Ecotank L6490-A precise functional AIO printing tool

Epson Ecotank L6490, a mainstream all in one copying, printing, scanning, and fax with ADF solution from Epson is quite impressive. Let us take a look at what were the aspects that made us conclude on the first line.

Casually professional:

Design is conventional yet modern thanks to its compact footprint and functional yet professional look. There are multiple paper inlets and outlets. Semi-transparent CMYK colour levels also give clarity to the consumption of Espon’s Durabrit 008 ink. Refillable and easy to operate. The printer also gets a bright touch panel with capacitive touch for easy operations. Epson has loaded the Ecotank L6490 with wifi and wifi direct and Epson smart panel enables a host of print options directly via your smartphone. There’s also USB, LAN, fax and line-in connectivity for robust wired connections and easy clean options with detachable compartments.

All-in-one solution in a compact footprint:

With costs per print as low as 12paise (Black) and a little more for colours, the Epson Ecotank L6490 printer is efficient. If that wasn’t enough, 1-years warranty or 100,000 pages, whichever comes first, Epson has you covered for prints of usage. The Epson Ecotank L6490 print speeds are impressive at 17-ipm for black and 9.5-ipm for colour. These might get slower based on the details, print quality and print paper of use. Epson has an intelligent Auto-Duplex printing (up to A4 size) for automatic both side print on an A4 or lower size papers. Wi-Fi & Wi-Fi Direct enable remote connectivity and the app brings a host of other intuitive learning and features adding value to the Epson printer.

Epson smart panel app has easy wireless connectivity when both the printer and your phone share the same Wi-Fi connection. The app has a smooth and innovative UI with almost all the options on the physical touch panel and more. Document scanner for example allows a phone camera to capture documents, enhance them as per the user’s liking and print them like a normal document. There are tonnes of tutorials too and community links to learn more.

Verdict:

Powered by Epson Heat-Free Technology, the printer performs consistently with minimum downtime and not more than a few seconds lag on long printing sessions. We tried printing many documents, photos and random colourful pictures shot on phones and professional cameras. The colours, quality, contrast and tones were almost spot on. The only limitation this printer brings is the size, it’s compact and can only print up to Letter Max sizes. If you do not need anything more than this size, the Epson Ecotank L6490 is a precise, functional tool that enables, scans, copies, loads of in-app functions and quality yet efficient print solutions for homes, schools and offices alike.

Rating – 4/5

Good – Compact size, efficient, detailed prints and copies

Bad – Limited by the compact size

Ugly – Competition

Specifications:

Print, Scan, Copy, Fax with ADF

Cost per print 12paise (Black)

Print speeds – 17 ipm for black and 9.5 ipm for colour

Auto-Duplex printing (up to A4 size)

Wi-Fi & Wi-Fi Direct

Epson Heat-Free Technology

Optoma GT1080HDR DLP Projector – An Ambiguously Pleasing 4K/HDR DLP Projector

Don’t we all love large displays, why else would we want to watch movies on those large crisp projections in a movie theatre? LCD, and OLED displays as good as they may be and as large as they get, might not be the optimal solution when it comes to viewing content on a large canvas especially while saving some bucks. Do you know how much a 55-inch television with 4K HDR 120Hz refresh rate costs in India? You might want to google search and see for yourself! This is exactly why movie theatres use projectors rather than large AMOLED displays. Today, we have an alternative to something as large as a 300-inch crisp 4k HDR 120Hz display, powered by something so small, that we could carry it around. Meet the Optoma GT1080HDR DLP Projector.

Simply Optoma:

Design is simple yet lightweight and installation on a table or ceiling is easy. The front-facing projector is about a foot wide with 12.4-inches, 4.5-inches tall and 9.5-inches in length. The remote has all the necessary buttons and every button is illuminated. There’s also a lens cover that covers the short throw lens neat and complete.

More value than money:

Being DLP this projector is virtually maintenance-free, has better picture quality, wider colour range and greater contrast while also being capable of displaying up to 3800 Lumens of vibrant bright projection. Do not go by its name of GT1080HDR as the projector is able to project up to 4K HDR at 120Hz refresh rate. Optoma has packed the GT1080HDR DLP Projector with multiple I/O when it comes to connectivity. HDMI 2.0, HDMI 1.4a, VGA in and out, USB power in and out, audio in and out, RS 232 port, AC power and Kensington lock.

Projector distance can be adjusted from as low as 1.3 feet to 11.3 feet. Being a short-throw projector the Optoma GT1080HDR DLP Projector can produce a crisp 4K 120inch display from a mere 4 feet. The remote is illuminated, a clever trick especially for a projector. Active and passive 3D is offered with the right content and glasses at a rapid refresh rate of 144Hz, mighty impressive for a product that costs less than a 55inch 4k television with similar specs. The contrast is 50000:1 and thanks to DLP, the projector lamp is easily replaceable by a claimed viewing time of 10 years as per normal usage of 4 hours per day. If all of this wasn’t enough, Optoma has loaded a 10-watt speaker inside the projector to have an audio and video experience right out of the box.

We played a couple of games at a 4K HDR high refresh rate and the projector pleasantly surprised us. Colours and contrast are amazing in games and games look more immersive with naturally punchy colours. The speaker too performs decently for a built-in speaker and no complaints here. The built-in fan is relatively silent and never audible. Next, we tried a couple of movies, youtube songs and the audio-video experience left us mesmerised. Optoma colour reproduction is one of the best when it comes to projections. Colour tones are natural throughout ECO and ECO+ modes. HDR performance was at par with expensive projectors and overall, the Optoma GT1080HDR DLP projector seems to have more value than money for what it provides.

Verdict:

If you are looking for a capable 4K display and own a new-gen console like the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, definitely consider auditioning the Optoma GT1080HDR DLP Projector. With the right panel, proper sources and innate capabilities like impressive colour tones, passive 3D, and keystone correction with +/- 40 degrees, this Optoma projector is definitely a great value addition to your display arsenal.

Rating – 4.5/5

Good – Short-throw projection, display customisation

Bad – Manual keystone correction, old UI

Ugly – Bright mode distorts colours

Projection – Upto 300inch 4K Signal / HDR Compatible

Shorter installation distance with short throw lens design

Bright 1080p projector – 3,800 ANSI Lumens

High contrast outcome – 50,000:1

Easy connectivity – HDMI, VGA, R232, 10W speaker

Low ownership costs – up to 15,000 hours of lamp life (Eco+ Mode)

26dB Quiet Operation

Motorola Edge 30, Edging The Balance Just Right!

Motorola has been on a launching spree ever since it promised to deliver a new smartphone every month last year. This time around, it is the Motorola Edge 30, and Motorola claims this to be the slimmest and lightest 5G smartphone in India. We tested the brand claims and the phone only to witness surprised by our findings.

Display – POLED goodness

Motorola has retained the FHD+ pOLED panel from its predecessor, the Edge 20, with one of the fastest refresh rates at 144Hz on Edge 30. This display is bright, has punchy colours and has an extended edge to edge design, making the bezels as narrow as physically possible in 2022. The display also gets 10-bit HDR10 capabilities and content support for the same. There’s a fast in-display fingerprint sensor, and a hole punch camera makes this look amazing, especially at the starting price of 27999.

Is it the slimmest and lightest 5G phone as per Motorola claims?

Motorola has taken inspiration from the new generation of iPhones, which is visible in the design. Buttons are on the RHS ends, and despite the lack of a headphone jack, this time around, the phone features a Dolby Atmos algorithm on dual stereo speakers. Acrylic back and sides and a pOLED panel make the Edge 30 feel lighter than its visual appeal. At 155gms, this is one of the most lightweight phones available in India.

Specs – Balanced performer

Snapdragon 778+ 5G SOC is one of the most balanced SOCs made by Snapdragon. It easily handles the Android 12 based UI; scrolling is super smooth and fast and supports 13 5G bands, with none available to test. Overall, the WiFi 6E capable SOC with the latest Bluetooth 5.2 and support for multiple bands with carrier aggregation make this a good phone for a connected lifestyle. We played a couple of games, and the processor handled them all at the highest graphic settings with smooth gameplay at 360Hz touch sampling. Also, the standby time on Snapdragon 778, including this plus variant phone, is one of the best in Android smartphones.

Cameras – A decent pair of shooters

Motorola has included a 50MP OIS primary with 50MP ultra-wide sensor and a 2MP depth sensor for aiding camera algorithms. The shots from this phone are decent, and the best part is the colour consistency between cameras. Low light photography, too, has improved many folds compared to its predecessor, the Edge 20. The ultrawide sensor doubles as the macro shooter. The front 32MP camera is above average. All the sensors support 4K video recording, making it future proof and great for content creation.

Battery – Lasts long, really long.

Edge 30 comes with a 4020mAh battery coupled with a 33W fast charger inside the box. The best part is that Snapdragon 778+ is a very balanced SOC and thereby provides good performance and pairs it with good efficiency. This phone can last a heavy usage day with ease, thanks to the efficient SOC onboard.

Motorola features

Speakers are decently loud at this price range, and they sound richer than the competition. Moto Gametime allows for overclocking the processor when you play games and some optimised software settings to aid gaming on this phone. Motorola secures your data on the phone with Thinkshield technology, a gift from its parent company Lenovo. Motorola also equips the Edge 30 with ready for functionality, allowing straightforward phone content sharing with TV, computers and other devices. The whole package is available in two RAM trims and two colours of your choice. There’s quite a bit of functionality provided by Motorola for the price alongside the usual moto gestures.

Verdict – A good mid-range smartphone.

Motorola Edge 30 is one of India’s lightest, if not the slimmest 5G smartphone. Overall ad-free UI, capable low-light cameras, lightweight construction, and pOLED goodness powered by one of Snapdragon’s best SOC make the Motorola Edge 30 a good recommendation for anyone who wants the best of all worlds in the Android smartphone universe.

Good – Lightweight and balanced performance

Bad – Does not feel the slimmest

Ugly – Limited internal storage options

WHERE IS THE INVENTION & INNOVATION?

When was the last time you were enthralled with any new tech innovation? Are all the problems solved yet? Let’s Airbnb, let’s Uber it, let’s google it, what’s next? Indeed Cryptocurrencies and NFTs are all good, but they are not really solving any significant problems. When did the last excellent smartphone innovation happen? Flip phones and fold phones – yes, different form factors and promising but this Invention I saw several years back at the CES. When the new iPhones are announced, the upgrades are minimalistic so much that if you have an iPhone 12 series and unless you want a flaunt factor, there is no real need for an upgrade to the iPhone 13. Android smartphones from Samsung, Vivo, and Oppo, Oneplus make changes mostly around camera, RAM & resolution upgrades and maybe some surface material improvements. Is anyone really thinking about profound inventions? Something like a smartphone that doesn’t need to charge for 30 days is a good starting point or a solar-powered one.

Robotics innovation though promising has not pushed the boundaries and really can’t do much more than dance and get a can of coke. What about medical innovation? A deadly virus like Covid can paralyse the whole world and suck everything out of us; what were the world scientists doing. The last time the deadliest invention happened was when nuclear bombs were invented, which resulted in giving destructive powers to heads of state to bring the countries to an end. What if Vladimir Putin loses it entirely and does a nuclear strike on Ukraine, whose only fault is that it gave up its nuclear arsenal and doesn’t possess those weapons of mass destruction, to have a counterthreat ready. Where is the invention which can save the world from an accidental nuclear explosion? Are we really working on it or waiting for another pandemic type phenomenon.

The dark web and digital currency are both a reality. A parallel universe exists in the dark web even before we got acquainted with Meta Verse. Oculus VR, invented by Palmer Luckey, which Facebook later acquired, has opened a string of norms where Digital land, digital avatars, and all sorts of virtual-real world thighs are happening, so much so that Facebook changed its name to Meta. Just like bitcoin in 2008 made cryptocurrency a reality and opened the flood gates of the token and NFT industry. But it’s 2022 and in the last decade, nothing which can change the world for good and make living more beautiful has come out. It’s symbolic that iPod has taken a bow giving way to the streaming industry, and storing music is historical. As long as it progresses, technological changes are good. Just like iPod did its job and changed the way music was consumed, we need technological breakthroughs that can change a lot of things, make the air we breathe better again, keep check on global warming and provide drinkable water to all. Just the basic things we need!