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LG G2 OLED TV Hands-On: A Window to the Future

Everyone loves to watch movies on a larger screen, and experiencing a theatre-like atmosphere is everyone’s biggest desire. One of the TVs we received was the massive 97-inch slim OLED TV at our office! The picture quality is fantastic and looks sleek and modern. However, we were surprised to learn about its cost. The TV we received costs more than a modern-day top-of-the-line family car, with a whopping price tag of ₹20,49,990. You may be curious about the luxury TV and the company that manufactures it. The TV is created by a well-known brand that dominates the market. It is from LG, specifically the top-of-the-line G2 OLED model. I made sure it had the giant 97-inch OLED panel in the thinnest body, which transformed the office/home into a movie theatre and improved the aesthetics of the space.

The problem with reviewing such massive premium TVs is you get lost while experiencing content, so you forget that you’re supposed to be working and end up just watching TV for hours. That’s what happened to me with the LG G2 OLED TV. Perhaps not my most productive work moment, but it says a lot about this TV.

LG’s G2 OLED TV is its top-of-the-line model, featuring a 97-inch OLED panel. LG is a big proponent of OLED technology, and the G2 aims to be the best 4K TV available from LG. It is likely the most expensive 4K TV on the market. G2 is the second generation OLED TV from LG, and the most significant improvement is the brightness level, which has been upgraded over the previous generation G1.

Although the TV shares the same ‘Gallery’ design name as its G1 predecessors, it actually looks completely different: gone is the dark frame and chamfered edges, it is a nifty two-layer effect with a thin black rear ‘slab’, and the screen encased in an opulent-looking silver metal coat. The bezel is so thin that LG decided not to put any logo on the front.

The television stands out due to its OLED panel. The panel offers a nearly infinite contrast ratio that displays deep blacks, which makes it an excellent choice for watching movies in a dark room. Additionally, the panel is exceptionally bright for an OLED TV, making it a perfect choice for watching TV shows in a brightly lit room. Because of its OLED technology, the TV provides an incredibly wide viewing angle, making it a suitable option for a place with a broad seating arrangement. With a 120Hz refresh rate, it’s also an excellent choice for use as a PC monitor and provides an outstanding gaming experience overall. Furthermore, it supports GeForce Gsync, making it the preferred choice for gamers.

Performance-wise, LG decided to give it a powerful (alpha)α9 Gen5 AI Processor with AI Picture Pro & AI 4K Upscaling. The processor delivers a few extra improvements to LG’s picture quality for good measure. Upscaling of sub-4K video to actual 4K video without adding noise, and the results look remarkably more polished and sharp.

Like other LG TVs, it uses the webOS smart interface. It is one of LG’s most reliable operating systems on its smart TVs. It does support major streaming apps like Netflix and Apple TV+. So you don’t have to rely on a 3rd party smart dongle.

Audio performance is among the most impressive features of the LG G2 OLED TV. It encourages the setup of AI Sound Pro, which upgrades the set’s standard 2.1 stereo to virtual 5.1 surround sound, effectively adding dimension and height to the audio. Listening to Songs with AI Sound Pro emphasized the vocal’s megaphone effect, creating a stadium concert atmosphere in our testing studio.

In conclusion, the OLED G2 is undoubtedly LG’s best OLED TV to date. It has shown a significant improvement over its predecessor, the G1. The added brightness enhances everything from standard HD videos to stunning 4K HDR and the latest graphically advanced games on consoles and PCs. The best part is that the increased brightness is not forced or unnecessary. It blends in seamlessly without making anything look artificial.

India restricts import on laptops, tablets and PCs

India has imposed restrictions on the imports of laptops, tablets, and personal computers with immediate effect. A government notice was shared not too long ago which announced the restrictions, in a bid to push local manufacturing. The notice revealed that the import of laptops, tablets, and PCs “would be allowed against a valid licence for restricted imports.”

India restricts imports of laptops and more

In 2023 April-June, electronic imports including laptops, tablets, and personal computers were $19.7 billion. This was an increase of 6.25% year-on-year. As per reports, electronics imports range between 7% to 10% of the country’s total merchandising imports. The former director general at MAIT, Ali Akhtar Jafri said that “The move’s spirit is to push manufacturing to India.” Jafri also added that the move was not just a mere nudge, but a major push towards bringing manufacturing in India.

India has been working tediously to push local manufacturing by giving production-linked incentives in over two dozen sectors which also include electronics. The country also extended the deadline for companies to apply for the $2 billion manufacturing incentive scheme to attract major investments in IT hardware manufacturing. This covers products like laptops, tablets, PCs and servers. Dell, Acer, Samsung, LG Electronics, Lenovo, Apple, and HP Inc. are some of the key companies selling laptops in the Indian market, a big chunk of this portion is imported from countries like China. This restriction by India triggered a rise in shares by over 5% for Indian electronic maker Dixon Technologies. As per government reports, laptops, tablets, and personal computers makeup about 1.5% of the country’s total annual reports and nearly half of these imports are brought from China.

28% GST slapped on online gaming industry

The Indian government plans to impose a major 28% tax on the fund that online gaming firms collect from consumers. This is a massive blow to one of the fastest-growing industries in India. This move is already being labelled as catastrophic and unconstitutional by online gaming company leaders. The government is planning to facilitate this by bringing a legal amendment in this monsoon session. It is decided that a uniform 28 per cent tax will be applicable on full face value for online gaming, casinos, and horse racing.

Online gaming takes a hit

A group of ministers were designated to look into the matter of taxation surrounding online games. This group submitted its first report in June 2022 which was taken up by the GST council in June last year. After the submission of the report, multiple discussions and debates around the implications of taxes on online games were held. Reportedly, the discussions were centred around two major questions: whether the activities of race courses and online gaming directly translate to betting and gambling or not and secondly how should the supplies of casinos, race courses, and online gaming be valued?

What does the taxation on the online gaming industry imply?

The implications of the 28% GST on online gaming in India are monumental as it entirely changes the landscape of the industry. Firstly, taxation directly translates to increased business costs for online gaming companies. The high taxation rate could result in difficulty for smaller gaming companies to compete with larger rivals. Additionally, the government can use taxation as a way to increase regulation of the online gaming industry. This could lead to stricter rules and requirements for gaming companies. The higher tax rate could lead to consumers shifting to offshore gaming platforms which are not subject to GST.

Tech Start-up Growth in India Surges with 27,000 Active Companies

India has emerged as a thriving hub for the start-up ecosystem in recent years. With the government’s push towards digitisation and the rise of a young and tech-savvy population, the country is witnessing a surge in entrepreneurship, particularly in the tech sector. As per the latest reports, India added over 1,300 active tech start-ups last year, which took the total number of active tech start-ups to 27,000, and the number is only expected to grow in the coming years.

After the United States and China, India is currently the third-largest tech start-up ecosystem globally. The growth of India’s start-up ecosystem can be attributed to several factors. The government has taken several initiatives to promote entrepreneurship, such as the Start-up India program, which aims to create a conducive ecosystem for start-ups to flourish. Additionally, the availability of funding from investors, both domestic and foreign, has also played a significant role in the growth of the sector.

One of the most significant advantages of India’s start-up ecosystem is its cost-effectiveness. Start-ups in India can operate with significantly lower costs than their counterparts in other countries. This has attracted a lot of foreign investors looking to invest in promising start-ups at a lower cost. Indian start-ups have also gained popularity for their ability to provide innovative solutions to real-world problems, making them attractive to investors and customers alike.

The tech sector is one of the most active segments in India’s start-up ecosystem. Start-ups are leveraging the power of technology to create innovative products and services that cater to various sectors, including healthcare, education, finance, e-commerce, and logistics. The country has produced several successful tech start-ups, such as Flipkart, Ola, Zomato, Paytm, and Byju’s, to name a few. However, the start-up ecosystem in India still faces several challenges.

Defeating all the challenges, India’s start-up ecosystem has come a long way in recent years, and the growth of the tech sector has been awe-inspiring. With the government’s continued support and funding availability, the country is poised to become a global leader in the start-up space. However, more needs to be done to address the challenges that start-ups face, such as infrastructure and skill development, to ensure that the ecosystem remains robust and sustainable in the long run.

Global Landscape – Countries Leading the AI Race

The adoption of AI has been growing across the globe at a rapid scale. Right now, many countries have a stake in the AI revolution. The current exciting developments in the AI field are sweeping the globe off its feet and influencing all businesses around the world. AI enables face recognition, corporate development, self-driving vehicles, and better online outcomes that influence the decision of many if not every business out there.

Reportedly, the global AI market will be valued at a staggering $360bn by 2028, growing at an annual rate of 33.6%. The use of AI can be seen across a number of industries be it the transportation, manufacturing, finance, and even education sectors. Due to this extensive influence of AI on multiple sectors, many countries have now jumped in to invest heavily in AI research and development. The reason behind this heavy investment is to sustain long-term growth and the protection of national security. There is simply no denying that AI will develop to the point in the future where it will directly influence our lives (Hopefully not like an episode from Black Mirror!) AI will play a huge role in the corporate environment in the near future thus it is not a surprise that many countries are now deeply invested in the technology. It is time to have a look at all the countries currently making a big splash in the AI race –

China

I am sure you’re not surprised to see China on this list to any degree! China has long been an aspirational world leader in artificial intelligence. According to China’s own State Council, it will become the global leader in AI by 2030 having a reported market capitalization of $150 billion. Another thing to note here is that the country has published more deep-learning research papers than any other country from around the world. But, China’s high population is also a factor responsible for its growth in the AI sector. The most significant factor for AI’s growth in China is its internet-using population which amounts up to a massive 75 million which generates a gigantic amount of digital data to handle and for AI algorithms to learn from (Data Privacy is a myth, my friends!) Another factor here for China’s lead in the AI sector is its government’s transparent ambitions and objectives with the technology. Baidu, Tencent, and Alibaba are only some of the Chinese AI companies that are leading the AI sector.

USA

When it comes to conquering AI technology, the United States has been one of the leaders. The country has a well-established tech culture with some of the prominent tech giants based out of it. Whereas, the country has also profited from $10 billion in complete venture financing which is directed toward artificial intelligence. The USA has been a well-known player when it comes to offering technological advancements in manufacturing robots to the world. It also plays a crucial role in the manufacturing and industrial industries. Be it Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Facebook, and IBM, these are all big parts of the development of the AI industry and are based out of the USA. The United States currently has all the components required to dominate the field of AI and robotics thus it makes number two on our list.

Canada

With some of the world’s most talented brains and creators of AI technology, Canada has paved its way to becoming an AI leader. The Canadian government is heavily invested in AI and plates a significant role in its advancement in the country. It was back in march 2017 when the Canadian government announced a total investment of $125 million in the field of AI. Canada mainly focuses on two AI components like Machine Learning which is based out of Montreal and Toronto and Reinforcement learning which is based out of Alberta. Waterloo is Canada’s big AI hub having over 90 firms dedicated to AI development.

Germany

Germany ranks number sixth globally when it comes to the number of AI research articles published. The country is known for its precision and technological advancements. Be it self-driving cars, quantum computing, or robots, Germany has placed itself as a leader in AI development. Germany, similar to China has the ambition to become the global leader in AI. For this reason, two of its top technology universities and its top exporting state are currently collaborating with corporations like Porsche, Bosch, and Daimler to develop rich artificial intelligence.

India

Yes, India is also a pioneer when it comes to artificial intelligence. Our rapidly growing nation is currently going through a massive digital transformation thanks to the cost-effective internet provided here. This digital revolution has a direct impact on the growth of AI in the country. The government of India may not have granted any funding or allocation to the AI sector but the country is still covering a massive ground in AI thanks to various initiatives taken by individual companies.

15 breakthrough Indian inventions that transformed the world

Do you know who invented zero? Well, zero as a ‘digit’ was first introduced by Aryabhata in his place value system, and as an Indian, I’m proud of it cause without zero, everything falls apart. Today, on the event of India’s 75th Independence day, I’m going to oblige you with the top 15 Indian inventions that we’re proud of. Also, I hope you have participated in the “Har Ghar Tiranga” campaign.

Plastic Roads

Let’s start with the trending issue we all face during the monsoon season or perhaps throughout the year. We can buy a car or something, but we couldn’t have a comfortable ride due to potholes and broken roads. To overcome this problem, in 2006, an Indian scientist, Rajagopalan Vasudevan of the Thiagarajar College of Engineering, developed and patented a unique idea of Plastic roads.

The technique involves sprinkling shredded plastic waste to construct better, more durable, and cost-effective roads. The roads made of plastic-coated stones last longer and reduce road-laying maintenance costs by 50%, as plastic doesn’t allow water to saturate the road. The technology of making roads with plastic waste was adopted globally by many countries, including the United Kingdom.

Paper Microscope or Foldscope

Back in the 20th century, buying a microscope was out of the league, but today you can buy a microscope for less than 100₹. Looks like you’re stunned. Thanks to IIT-Kanpur alumnus Manu Prakash who developed a paper microscope, an optical microscope made from a sheet of paper and a lens. The invention was part of the “frugal science” movement and can be used in science education/medical diagnosis in rural areas.

Voice Prosthesis

Each year, tens of millions of people are diagnosed with cancer worldwide, and Laryngeal cancer is one of the topmost cancer categories in the world. In 2015, a Bengaluru-based oncologist, Dr Vishal Rao, invented a tiny voice prosthesis made of silicon to help cancer survivors talk again. The device is priced at a bare minimum cost of 50₹, far less than the other costly devices.

USB

Before the dawn of the USB, connecting your computer with something required a large variety of ports, such as a PS/2 connector, a serial port, a DIN connector or the Apple Desktop Bus. Then, in 1996, Ajay V. Bhatt, an Indian-born American computer architect, defined and developed the USB (Universal Serial Bus), a little removable storage device, making our data-carrying journey easier than ever.

Wireless Communication

The Google search for “wireless communication invented by” will take you to the phrase – Guglielmo Marconi invented wireless radio communication. However, the real credit for demonstrating the use of radio waves for communication belongs to Jagadish Chandra Bose, who is regarded as the father of wireless communication. The technology helped us to communicate quickly and transmit information over a distance without wires.

Diamond Mining

Have you ever thought that if the Koh-i-Noor diamond belongs to India, we must have mined several other diamonds too? Yes, we have! The diamond mining industry originated in India around 5000 years ago when the stones were found along the rivers Penner, Krishna and Godavari banks. India was the only source of diamonds in the world until the 18th century; no wonder our country was known as Sone ki Chidiya.

Pentium Chip

We, Indians are widespread for making our mark everywhere with our multi-tasking skills, be it a sports or in a field of science. Everybody knows the tagline Intel Inside, but nobody knows the name of the person who invented the first Pentium processor. The name is Vinod Dham, popularly known as the Father of the Pentium chip for his contribution to the development of Pentium processors.

Fibre Optics

Today, we have high-speed internet in our homes, office or perhaps, everywhere, thanks to Narinder Singh Kapany, an Indian-American who invented the technology of high-speed internet. The physicist considered the father of fibre optics was regarded as one of the unsung heroes of the 20th century by Forbes magazine for his Nobel Prize-deserving invention.

Hotmail

Being a part of the tech-led world, we can’t imagine our lives without Gmail or Apple Mail, but they’re not the first web-based email services ever invented. The world’s first web-based email service was developed in 1996 by Sabeer Bhatia and Jack Smith. Later on, in 1997, Microsoft acquired Hotmail for an estimated price of $400 million and relaunched it with several new names. Today, we know it as Outlook.com.

Crescograph

Did you know there is a device for measuring growth in plants? Well, most of us aren’t aware of this device called Crescograph, which Sir Jagdish Chandra Bose invented in 1928. Yes, the same person who invented Wireless Communication. Mr Bose used a series of clockwork gears and a smoked glass plate to record the movement of the tip of a plant and proved to everyone that plant has a life too.

Cataract & Cosmetic Surgery

Ayurveda originated in India a long ago, but along with it, we have invented several other inventions in the field of medicine, including Cataract and Cosmetic Surgery. The surgeon who invented cataract surgery was Sushruta, popularly known as the Father of Surgery. He invented and developed surgical procedures, which we can find in Sushruta Samhita, an ancient Sanskrit text on medicine and surgery.

Trigonometry

We all have faced difficulties while understanding the sin-cos-tan table or perhaps everything that comes under the trigonometry belt. The trigonometry sine, cosine and arctangent were discovered by an Indian mathematician and astronomer named Madhava of Sangamagrama. Along with trigonometry, he has pioneered the study of infinite series, calculus, trigonometry, geometry, and algebra.

Shampoo

The word Shampoo is derived from the word chāmpo, which comes from the Sanskrit word Chapayati, meaning massage. Shampoo, comprising of natural oils and herbs, was invented in the eastern parts of the Mughal Empire.

Buttons

We have a history in civilization, and Indians are the first human beings who added buttons as an ornament on clothes. The buttons were invented in Mohenjo-daro, one of the settlements of Indus civilisation and they were made of shells and had two holes in the middle.

Water on the Moon

Several countries have successfully conducted their Missions to the Moon, but India’s Chandrayaan-1 was the first to discover water on the Moon. And with that, it’s time to say ba-bye! Happy 75th Independence day to you; stay safe, stay healthy.

Drones Rules 2021: Reviewing Modern-Age Entity

The usage of drones will increase for sure. And, India is adopting this new change. As of now, Exhibit has discussed the defence prospects of drones. But, with the new Liberalised Drone Rules, 2021, Exhibit will set up a new agenda for you with this blog. Through this write-up, you will get to know more about the newly formulated regulations related to UAVs. In addition to this, Exhibit will lay down its review on this executive order passed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Let’s get started!

Why has the concerned ministry brought such rules?

If you want to operate drones for any specific purpose in India, you need to have permission for it. And, for this purpose, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) becomes important. Hence, if you are a collector who wants to do an aerial and unmanned survey of the district under your control, you cannot simply procure a UAV and start using it. With the new regulations, MoCA has tried to liberalize in terms of getting permission, registering your device with the nodal portal.

Key Takeaways from Drones Rules, 2021

The number of forms related to registration and other purposes got reduced to 5 from 25.
The quantum fee got delinked with the size of the UAV. Hence, a bigger or smaller drone will cost similar unless the functionality differs in any case.
The yellow zone near the airport got shrunk to 12 km from 45 km. It means if you are somewhere within a radius of 20 km from that place’s airport, you can fly the UAV without any hassle.
The mandate for remote pilots regarding micro and nano drones got scrapped.
No need for import clearance from DGCA, meaning you got relief on buying foreign UAVs.
Now, you can fly a drone up to 500 kg.

All these regulations showcase that such steps will surely bolster the drone ecosystem flourish in the country soon.

Lacunae in the Picture

The Liberalized Drones Rules, 2021 has no doubt opened gates for many who want to enter this domain. However, MoCA should work closely with other ministries, especially the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to regulate its sale in the country. A nation like India can become vulnerable if such gadgets reach the hands of left-hand extremists in any way. For this purpose, nodal agencies should set up local centers or give power to the local administration. In addition to this, reducing the perimeter of flying a drone near the airport needs more cautious surveillance as it becomes necessary to keep track, considering the weight of drones has increased.

Conclusion

The Government at this stage has set up an easy policy for the people to get a conducive environment and harness drones as per their usage. Some clauses that have a word like non-commercial depicts prudence, but some remain unchecked. Drones can no doubt change this country’s economic and social realm, but it needs better regulation to keep things stable. If you want to check other defence blogs at the Exhibit platform, click here. For my other article, check out here.

Indian Army Will Start Using AK-203 Assault Rifles Soon!

Many of you have remembered the movie – Sarfarosh. A line comes there regarding AK-47 that even if someone keeps it underground for years, it will fire smoothly once taken out. The AK-47 gun always made news whenever there was some sort of serious assault going on. Our Indian army, too, used this in their combat operations. But, this time, the Indian army will get an upgraded assault rifle – AK-203. India has decided to buy 70,000 of these rifles from Russia in a recent defence procurement deal. Let’s get more ideas on this new assault gun through this Exhibit blog.

About AK-203

The recent Indian army requirement will help to replace the existing Indian Small Arms System (INSAS) 5.56mm × 45mm assault rifle. If one properly observes this weapon, this gun has 30 rounds in a magazine. Without a magazine, the weight of this gun is somewhere around 3.8 kg, and the firing range of AK-203 is 800 m. The best part of this weapon system is that it is 100% accurate and highly reliable. Hence, such guns will help the Indian army to strengthen their deterrence, apart from Carbine and Tavor guns.

India-Russia Deal

The current deal is a part of the project to build almost six lacs AK-203 rifles in India. This joint venture production is among Ordnance Factory Board, Kalashnikov Concern, and Rosoboronexport. The proposed deal also talks about 100% localized sourcing of materials during production. Russia is one of the biggest defence partners when it comes to getting defence technology products from India. India has been developing BrahMos missiles in collaboration with Russia. The current import of these guns will happen within three months after the payment of this deal gets completed.

Roadblock in the Deal & its Resolution

This defence deal of indigenous production hit a roadblock when OFB quoted a higher price than importing them to India. What happened was that OFB stated that it would take extra hours to build such ammunition if the transfer of technology takes time or gets delayed. Earlier, it was a bit of a perplexing situation, but once OFB came out with the reason, the Defence Ministry set up the committee to work on its amicable resolution. After the solution came out, the Russian President’s visit in late 2020 was the final nail to this procurement process.

Final Remarks

AK-203 ammunition will prove to be a boon for sure for the Indian army. Considering the deal and observing it showcases how the Indian contingent has worked on ensuring that indigenous production will help them lower the procurement price. Exhibit has covered more articles on defence technology that you can check by clicking on this link.

Drone Swarms & Future of Defence Technology

Ever heard of Kamikazee or Blitzkrieg? If not, check out your history books and go through World Wars chapters. It is no less than a flock of weapons giving a surprise attack. But, considering the modern radar technology, making such surprise attacks on aerial space is impossible. So, what to do then? The answer is drone swarming. Drone swarming is a concept that aims to enable autonomous drones to work together as a group for a certain goal. This technology holds the reputation to change how we live and how we work in the near future. Let’s know more about drone swarms through this Exhibit blog.

What are drone swarms?

Many claims that it was they who introduced this drone swarming technology. But, it was Russians who witnessed it during the year 2018. Russians were able to crack down on this flock through their EW&SHORAD system. Drone swarms became a favourite when it comes to destroying oil facilities present in West Asian nations (being an Indian, we will use this term instead of Middle East, coined by Americans and other European countries) like at Aramco unit in Abqaiq and Khurais. And, when the world got hit by COVID-19, a region near Central Asia went through double turmoil conditions, with Azerbaijan and Armenia going to war. This war also witnessed the use of such acumen by Azerbaijan at that time.

Working of Drone Swarming

Drone swarms are the best example of how UAVs coordinate with each other and follow a pattern. It seems that there is a communication line existing between each of them whenever they are maneuvering in any area. During their movement, each of them exchanges information and accordingly follows the pattern. If you hit any of the drones, they will again interact and make a new formation to keep the entire system stable. Hence, these UAVs not only have functionalities of monitoring the rotor and its speed, but it also has to send signals through their network. If any entity gets shot down, the intelligence algorithm among them will bring changes. The following pattern has got its inspiration from a bunch of flies moving in a specific direction. The one controlling these drones, or even if not controlling them, will observe the alignment, separation, and cohesion among these UAVs.

Does India possess Drone Swarming technology?

When we are talking about Drone swarms in other countries, it also becomes important whether we also hold such elements in our campaign or not. And, yes, we do have. Feeling a sense of pride within you? I am sure you may somewhere feel relaxed that we have such modern techniques of warfare with us. A public sector undertaking, HAL, has recently showcased the Air-Launched Flexible Asset (ALFA -S) air-launched swarming drone system. ALFA-S was developed under the Combat Air Teaming System project. Seeing its potential, the US Air Force has also collaborated with India to work more on it.

Final Remarks

Drones are future weapons of warfare, and drone swarms are inevitable. Even a follower of realism will consider such induction of technology as a big achievement. And, having drones swarming will also provide a better edge in terms of displaying our smart power. To follow other defense-based tech articles on the Exhibit platform, click here.