Tech enthusiasts from around the world gathered in Berlin, Germany, for the IFA 2022 tradeshow. The consumer tech tradeshow was opened to the public on September 2, 2022, after a hiatus of two years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the fair was restricted to professionals in 2020, it was entirely called off last year. As a result, exciting new tech products have now been unveiled by tech giants like Samsung, Lenovo, Nokia, etc. The following is a comprehensive look at the new tech products introduced at IFA 2022:
Nokia
HMD Global announced four new Nokia-branded devices at IFA 2022. While two of the smartphones announced at the event are 5G Snapdragon devices, the other two consist of a budget-friendly tablet and a phone based on the Unisoc chipsets. The Nokia X30 5G and G60 5G are both based on the Snapdragon 695 SoC, and both the devices sport Android 12 out of the box, with the company promising 3 years of major updates. The affordable Nokia C31 is a 4G device packing a powerful 5,050mAh battery coupled with a 10W wired charging prowess.
The budget-friendly Nokia T20 tablet also saw an upgrade with the announcement of the Nokia T21. The tablet houses a Unisoc T612 chipset along with an 8,200mAh battery. Besides this, Nokia has introduced a new subscription model called the ‘Nokia Circular’. The subscription model enables users to hold on to their respective Nokia devices for longer in return for eco-friendly rewards. The subscription model also offers accidental damage coverage, theft/loss coverage, and replacements for no additional charge.
Samsung
While Samsung launched its new mobile devices earlier this summer, the tech giant used IFA 2022 as an opportunity to showcase connectivity and sustainability through its electronic devices. Samsung aims to build an ecosystem that promotes product lifecycle and prioritizes sustainability from manufacturing to disposal. The company showcased a washing machine in collaboration with Patagonia, a global outdoor brand. The company claims that its newly introduced washing machine reduces the impact of microplastics. The most impressive showcase of Samsung at the IFA 2022 tradeshow was the Odyssey OLED G8 gaming monitor. The monitor has a slim thickness of 3.9mm and a 34-inch form factor.
Lenovo
Lenovo had one of the most impressive showcases at the IFA 2022, where the company introduced a bunch of new devices. The most innovative of the bunch was a pair of AR glasses called Glasses T1. The AR glasses can connect to any smartphone and give users a virtual display. Besides, Lenovo introduced the ThinkPad X1 Fold model jumping on the foldable tech trend. It sports a large 16-inch OLED display which can fold down to a small 12-inch laptop. The laptop also includes up to 12th Gen Intel Core U9 i7 and i5 processors, 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and 1TB of PCle Gen 4 SSD storage.
Other exciting tech
IFA 2022 gave tech giants an opportunity to showcase exciting tech products, one of which is the JBL Tour Pro 2 TWS earbuds. This device is claimed by the company to have the ‘world’s first smart charging case’. The case features a 1.45-inch LED touchscreen display which can be used to perform multiple functions like checking calls, notifications, and controlling the playback. LG, on the other hand, introduced the world’s first bendable OLED television. Sony also followed suit and announced the Xperia 5 IV, their compact flagship phone.
LG Electronics (LG), one of the leading consumer durable brands, is bringing its lineup of new upgraded Gram laptops. Ultra-light, ultra-portable and boasting exceptional performance and long battery life, the new upgraded models continue the brand’s legacy of go-anywhere computing convenience. Stylish designs with additional new features have made the laptops faster and even more powerful.
The diverse lineup includes four exciting new models with 16:10 aspect ratio screens: LG Gram 17 (model 17Z90Q), LG Gram 16 (model 16Z90Q), LG Gram 16 (model 16T90Q- 2in1), and LG Gram 14 (model 14Z90Q). With more screen space than most laptops’ 16:10 displays, the latest LG Grams can display more information at once. The new anti-glare panels further prevent screen reflections during the day or outdoors while the full HD IR Webcam transforms the video conference experience.
To cater to the most demanding users’ needs, LG Gram laptops are Intel® EvoTM Platform verified, powered by a 12th Gen Intel® CoreTM with i7 processor with faster LPDDR 5 RAM and NVMe Gen 4 SSD unlock high processing speed. LG Gram models 17Z90Q and 16Z90Q feature 80Wh high-density batteries to ensure longer periods of use between charges, giving users the freedom to roam around while still staying connected.
LG Gram 17 and 16 feature a high resolution of WQXGA (2560×1600), and LG Gram 14 features WUXGA (1920 x 1200). The new displays are ideal for both entertainment and work, delivering stellar picture quality with vibrant, accurate colours, excellent contrast and sharp details with a wider angle. The four-sided super-slim bezel design enhances viewer immersion and adds to the premium product’s sleeker, more sophisticated appearance. The DCI-P3 99% (Typ.) Wide Colour Gamut brings content to life, providing a more precise, colourful and detailed display on a big screen.
The all-new LG Gram laptops feature the latest AI sensing technology like Face Login, LG Glance by Mirametrix and AI Noise cancellation. The AI-based reactive software helps the users by protecting privacy, and boosting productivity as it maximizes convenience while minimizing user actions.
The new upgraded LG Gram comes with a more intuitive UX for easy use. LG has introduced fresh and original wallpapers with trendy and attractive colours, making the display more appealing. As part of LG’s efforts toward environmental protection, the LG Gram comes in with recyclable packaging material.
Providing a big-screen experience without sacrificing portability, the flagship LG Gram 17 boasts a large 17-inch screen while only weighing 1,350 grams. Equally transportable, the new LG gram 16 and 14 tips the scales at just 1,199 grams and 999 grams, respectively. With LG’s ultra-narrow bezels and a hidden hinge design, all four models achieve an impressive screen-to-body ratio (STBR) of 90 per cent.
All four variants feature ThunderboltTM 4, which can be used to transfer, charge, and display data simultaneously, and has USB 4 compatibility. The device is charged using a USB C port.
The full metal body made from magnesium alloy used as aircraft material is lightweight and strong. Its durability is tested by passing the demanding MIL-STD-810G military standard of durability and reliability.
Commenting on the occasion, Hak Hyun Kim- Director- Home Entertainment- LG Electronics India said, “LG Gram has been designed to maximize consumer usability. The new models with additional features like facial recognition and noise cancellation aim at transforming the user experience. We provide our customers with the latest cutting-edge technology to enhance their lifestyle. We believe this new 2022 LG Gram lineup will set new standards in user experience, and we are confident our customers will love it.”
Sharing his views on the launch, Mr. Akshay Ahuja – Director, Consumer Electronics, Amazon India said, “We are happy to launch LG’s new and exciting range of LG Gram laptops during the much awaited shopping event – Amazon Prime Day which is on July 23 & 24th this year. I am confident that our customers will appreciate the best-in-class features the laptops have to offer. At Amazon we continue to build a strong portfolio in the laptop category providing customers with a vast selection, unmatched value, fast and reliable delivery and a great shopping experience. Amazon Prime is designed to make your life better every single day. Prime offers the best of shopping and entertainment. Go to www.amazon.in/prime to join Prime today!”
The new range of Gram laptops will be available both online & offline channels. LG Gram’s new range will be priced starting at INR 94,999 in India and will be available in three sizes 14inches, 16 inches and 17 inches.
Deepak Bansal has more than two decades of experience in diversified business verticals, and through this conversation, we got to know insights about his business and personal life.
Ques. What do you feel about the launches you have done in 2022 and the varied range of LG products?
A. When we talk about the product launch, it is not just a product launch; instead, it is an experience that we want to give to our consumers in the form of a product. We study consumers day in and day out and try to identify the four pillars of consumer insights in terms of their comfort, convenience, look and style, and health. We understand that they are looking for a core performance in a product, and this is why we talk about the key features such as hygiene-fresh features, UV nano features, etc. If it’s a product like an air purifier, we make sure everything about health and hygiene falls into place. We also talk about the AI, which is inbuilt in almost every product, be it purifiers, washers, or refrigerators. Since marriage is a big thing in India, we have a marriage range and house-warming range, among many others, in which we make sure that the design and the core performance are not compromised.
Ques. Could you tell us your biggest competitors in the home-appliance segment?
A. In the home-appliance segment altogether, we have our biggest competitor in the face of Samsung, although we are the leaders with almost 33% share in the home appliance segment.
Ques. What are the business challenges you have faced and the ones you have overcome?
A. While we say that many of the low-end brands or Chinese players are creating disruptions in the price, LG moves with a completely different thought process. We are not motivated by the price but by the value proposition we create for the customers. It is all about knowing consumer insights in advance. We believe that any consumer who buys a home appliance does not buy it for a day or a year, but he looks for a long-term relationship with the product. And as far as long-term investments are concerned, prices do not play a significant role but the quality.
Ques. What is unique to LGs growth and success?
A. The uniqueness of LGs growth and success is being humble and closer to the ground. We understand the consumer’s needs and aspirations, and we are true to our tagline ‘Much Faster than Others’.
Ques. What is one book that you would recommend to your fellow entrepreneurs?
A. The book that I’ll be suggesting is ‘The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell’. I have seen that there is a certain level of effort that you need to make continuously and that there will be a tipping point where the effort explodes to the unforeseen impact on the initiative you took. With the perseverance of constantly striving to make our product better, we see one tipping point where the product explodes with the benefit we persevere. Our inverter AC is a live case study for that.
Ques. What is your definition of success?
A. My definition of success is where you see the outcome coming as a part of the inputs you are making. The output comes in a very steady way with a long-term perspective when the efforts put in are proper.
Ques. What is unique to your work-life balance?
A. There is no difference between work and life. When you like your work, it becomes your life. Whether you or inside or outside LG, and you love your organization and your family, both go in tandem with each other.
Ques. What is your most significant learning in the pandemic on personal and professional levels?
A. On a professional level, one of the biggest learnings is that there is a relentless drive for convenience and comfort, and this is something I felt while working from home. On the lighter side, I feel schools should open up as it is getting difficult at home with children without schools.
Ques. What smartphone do you use, and what are the most used apps on your phone?
A. I use an LG Electronics smartphone, and I am not very fond of applications, but the routine ones would be the social ones.
Ques. How do you go on a digital detox?
A. I usually switch my phone off after 10 o’clock, which is my detox.
Ques. What do you hate about technology?
A. I’ll say there’s nothing to hate about technology. My philosophy is to do everything in moderation. I don’t believe in obsessive love or obsessive hatred.
Ques. How do you see the world shaping up post-covid?
A. People are now seeking convenience and comfort along with health and hygiene. These have left a profound impact on the consumers and will not go away anytime soon.
Ques. How do you personally see LG performing in India in the next five years?
A. LG has been a leader, and our vision is to be absolute number 1, I mean, our competitor should be 10-15% behind our market share, and with the new lineup and the products we are about to introduce, the time does not seem far enough.
CES is the most influential tech event globally, and just like ordinary people await a new year, tech enthusiasts wait for the CES event, which offers them a head start to begin the new year on a good note. The 2022 edition unveiled numerous out of the box products for which it has been known since its inception. Due to the ongoing Covid situation and fear of new variants like Omicron, many publications (including us) were unable to attend the CES 2022 physically.
However, the technology came in as a rescuer, as most of the publications preferred to participate in the world’s largest electronics expo remotely, making the show kind of Hybrid. The event was vast like always, but we’ve mustered up the things in categories and top picks to make things easier for you. The 52nd edition of the event spotlighted the latest innovations from leading companies such as Google, Qualcomm, Sony, Samsung, LG, BMW, and many more.
Top TVs at CES 2022
CES is known as a battleground for TV makers, and every year the show floor looks packed with several top-notch TVs, and this year was no different. Amongst the top TVs revealed at CES, the one that grabbed our attention was the Sony A95K QD-OLED, world’s first consumer QD-OLED TV which can display the full spectrum of colours even in the brightest settings.
Though, the display panel of A95K is made by none other than Samsung. We expected Samsung might come up with QD-OLED 4K TV, but the South Korean tech giant had other plans. Samsung launched its 65″ QD-Display TV with quantum dots that combines a groundbreaking new QD-OLED display. The decision went well as the TV won the Best of Innovation award at CES 2022.
Besides Sony and Samsung, LG TVs were the ones that held our attention. The company presented a number of 8K and 4K OLEDs, several new QNED mini-LED TVs, and even a MicroLED TV at CES 2022 to compete with its rivals. Along with these companies, Panasonic announces a sound-focused OLED TV to attract all the audiophiles out there.
Top Laptops at CES 2022
CES 2022 introduced several new top-notch laptops, which means the year is going to be a busy one in terms of laptop launches. The 2022 event of CES witnessed a vast number of laptops with full-HD (1080p) webcams, thanks to the work-from-home culture. The event also became a launching platform for new components like Intel (12th Gen CPUs) and Nvidia (GeForce RTX 3070 Ti and 3080 Ti laptop GPUs).
Design is the first thing we notice when looking at the techie things, and Dell XPS 13Plus is something else in terms of design. The futuristic laptop has a remarkable design, decent specs, and it directly competes with the MacBook Air lineup. The minimalist laptop comes with the OLED touchscreen option and offers snappy performance, making it more premium than ever.
The next one on the list is Acer Predator Triton 500 SE, which has a roomy 16-inch high-refresh display, and it comes with 12th Generation Intel Core i9 processors and Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3080 Ti GPU. The top tier gaming laptop offers a 2,560 by 1,600 pixel resolution, a 240Hz refresh rate and a wide-colour-gamut panel with 550 nits of brightness.
TCL, a company known for its TV’s launched itself in the laptop industry with its first laptop called the TCL Book 14 Go. The Windows 11 laptop is packed with 12-hour battery life, 4G LTE connectivity, and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c platform. The entry-level laptop offers a 720p video camera, 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of built-in storage and stereo speakers, along with a built-in microphone.
Top Audio Gears at CES 2022
CES is not all about big players; sometimes, a few underdogs create hype and amaze everyone. One such company is Noveto, which launched the N1 3D Audio Smart Speaker, a device with built-in Alexa intelligence and Noveto’s proprietary innovative audio beaming technology. The speciality of N1 soundbar is that it offers spatial 3D audio, and only the listener can hear the music.
HyperX Cloud Alpha is one of the most favourite headphones of gamers, and CES 2022 unveiled the wireless version of it with a massive battery said to last for a whopping 300 hours of use, which means you don’t have to worry about charging anymore. We’re not sure whether 300-hours is a marketing strategy or not, but even if it works 50% of what is promised, it would be a great move.
If you’re one of such people who own an iPhone and an Android phone but find it challenging to carry different earbuds for each of them, Belkin has something for you in-store to make your life easier. Belkin launched Belkin SOUNDFORM Immerse Noise-Cancelling Earbuds at CES 2022, which has three mics to shush the world and 8 hours of playtime for the earbuds plus 28 hours in the charging case.
Top Car-tech at CES 2022
BMW knows how to cure boredom, and that’s why they created a colour-changing car, to keep us sane from the boredom of having one coloured vehicle. The BMX iX fully electric car debuted at CES 2022, and it has body panels made from E Ink displays. The vehicle comes with luxurious features, an elegant design, and an impressive estimated 450-480 km range.
Following the footsteps of EV culture, Sony introduced their all-electric vehicle, Sony Vision-S-02. The company stated in a blog post that they will establish an operating company, ‘Sony Mobility Inc.’ in the spring of 2022, which means Sony could take on Tesla with its EV’s. The car allows you to play PlayStation games through a remote connection to a console at home; what more could you ask for in a car?
Top Wearable at CES 2022
CES 2022 was marked as a launching platform for many wearables, but only a few exciting launches stayed with us even after the event. The subtle looking Garmin Venu 2 Plus was launched at the event, an updated version of the Venu 2. The watch is compatible with Siri, Google Assistant, Bixby, and it is the first Garmin watch with a microphone, allowing you to make and take calls from the wrist.
Along with the Venu 2 Plus, Garmin launched a minimalist looking Garmin Vivomove Sport, which comes in various colours, has a five-day battery life, and offers plenty of fitness and health tracking features. Besides Garmin, Skagen launched a special limited edition version of Fossil gen 6 X Razer with three unique watch faces. It has a 1.28-inch AMOLED display, Snapdragon Wear 4100+ and 8GB of storage.
CES is the most influential tech event globally, and just like ordinary people awaits a new year, tech enthusiasts wait for the CES event, which offers them a head start to begin the new year on a good note. The event is underway and has unveiled numerous out of the box products for which it is known. Due to the ongoing pandemic and fear of new variants like Omicron, many publications, including us, are not physically attending the CES 2022, making the show kind of Hybrid. However, after spending many months in lockdown, we’re now getting used to the new normal.
BMW iX – The Color Changing Car
Invention arises directly from idleness, sometimes out of laziness to save oneself from troubles, and that’s human nature, which BMW grasped and created a colour-changing car, which will keep you sane from the boredom of having one coloured vehicle. The BMX iX fully electric car debuted at CES 2022, and it has body panels made from E Ink displays, similar to the ones we find on the screen of a Kindle e-reader. The demo version only allows two colour-changing patterns, Black and White, but more colours will be added to excite the customers in the future.
Freestyle TV Projector by Samsung
Drive-in theatres were one of the fascinating approaches towards entertainment as they allowed people to enjoy the cinema from the comfort of their car. Unfortunately, it lapsed out from our lives, but if you’re one of those people who likes to stay on the road and enjoy movies on the go, particularly on big screens, then Samsung has launched something for you, the all-new Freestyle TV projector, which weighs less than a kilogram and comes with a 180-degree cradle stand. Get an additional USB-C battery, a waterproof case, lens caps, and the projector allows you to project anything onto walls, screens or anywhere else from 30 to 100 inches.
LG Omnipod – World on Wheels
LG has always been a company that introduced humanity to many unbelievable products and ensured we would stay on the line of innovation. Micro apartments are already creating hype worldwide due to the shortage of space and ever-rising prices. And now, to make things easier for us, LG has introduced an Omnipod – a connected car concept that blurs the distinction between home and car. Fundamentally, it is an entire world on wheels with lights, windows and even seems to have a driver’s seat. The Omnipod has a refrigerator, drink dispensers, TV panels, a virtual assistant “Reah” to help you and access Metaverse via the giant floor-to-ceiling screen.
Noveto N1 – Invisible headphones
We often find people exaggerating the size of the headphones or even earbuds, and to cure that problem, Noveto has launched N1, an audio device with built-in Alexa intelligence and Noveto’s proprietary innovative audio beaming technology. The premium soundbar works on ultrasonic waves and offers a headphone-like experience with spatial 3D audio, and the speciality of N1 is only the listener can hear the music. The company has recorded up to 90% (20dB) audio drop when it is 1 meter away from the listener means only 10 per cent of the N1’s audio can be heard beyond 1 metre, more like a whisper.
Sony Vision-S-02 EV
The one conference that surprised everyone was Sony, as they bring a reasonable interest in their electric vehicle, the Vision-S, and its further development and production. The company stated in a blog post that they will establish an operating company, ‘Sony Mobility Inc.’ in the spring of 2022, which means Sony could take on Tesla with its EV’s. The newly introduced all-electric SUV model, Sony Vision-S-02, is definitely for a future commercial release. Along with advanced sensors and safety systems, it allows you to play PlayStation games through a remote connection to a console at home; what more you could ask for in a car?
Since the last couple of years, we have witnessed many top-notch companies launching their audio sunglasses, which ultimately helped the audio sunglasses section to grow and have a category of their own. The original Bose Frames delivered surprisingly pure sound, and with the arrival of three new models, Tempo, Tenor, and Soprano, Bose stands tall in the audio sunglasses market. Bose Tempo is a sporty looking gadget, while the other two, Rectangular shaped Tenor and Cat Eye shaped Soprano, are best for everyday use. The company has done a lot to improve the sound quality, which helps the sunglasses to deliver crisp and clear sound. The audio sunglasses are the best gift option for the person who likes listening to music while riding a bike, resting by the pool/beach, walking, running, or hiking.
Apple MagSafe Battery Pack – Price: ₹10,900
Apple is one of the top-ranked smartphone manufacturing companies in the world, but at the same time, it is infamous for its battery backup. However, the company has understood the issue and has come up with a solution in the form of an Apple MagSafe battery pack. The rectangle-shaped and white coloured MagSafe battery pack fits perfectly on the back and is compatible with iPhone 12 series and iPhone 13 series. The slim and sturdy battery pack is small enough to slide into a pocket or bag. The MagSafe Battery Pack offers a 1,460mAh capacity which sounds low, but the numbers are deceiving as the battery pack easily adds a few hours of use to your iPhone. If you have experienced frequent cries related to battery backup from your loved one who uses an iPhone, then the MagSafe battery pack is a must-buy gift option.
Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen) – Price: ₹13,999
Amazon has been a leading company in manufacturing smart speaker displays over the years, and its recent launch, the Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen), is the best smart display in the lineup. The 2nd gen Echo Show 8 offers a superior 13-megapixel wide-angle camera for enhanced video calls along with a faster processor and an auto-framing feature, which lets the device pan and zoom automatically to adjust the frame while making video calls. The Echo Show 8’s sound output is way better than the top trim Echo Show 10, but the flagship smart home device Echo Show 10 steals the show when it comes to other features. If the person you’re planning to gift this Christmas is a newcomer to the smart home space, then Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen) would be a great gift choice.
Ember Mug² –
Price: Various options available from ₹16,000* on amazon.in or get it from ember.com for $129.95 USD
The winter is coming, and all we need to survive the chilliness is a cup of hot tea or coffee by the table, but every time we plan to enjoy the hot drink, it turns cold before we finish it and ruins our mood. Well, if you know someone who is a big-time hot tea or coffee lover, then gift them the Ember Mug² temperature control smart mug, and it will never let their tea or coffee go cold again, at least for up to 1.5 hours with Ember Mug² 10 oz and up to 80 minutes with the Ember Mug² 14 oz. The smart mug is designed for home or office use, and it allows you to set an exact drinking temperature so your coffee is never too hot or cold. The washable smart mug allows you to set and control your prefered temperature with your smartphone via the dedicated Ember app.
Beats Studio Buds Wireless Earbuds – Price: ₹14,499
Apple purchased Beats in 2014, and since then, every product Beats launched was somehow tied up with the Apple ecosystem. Then Beats decided to ditch the traditional Apple H1 and W1 chips and launched Studio Buds Wireless Earbuds with MediaTek chipset. The change in the chip helped Beats to go beyond its competitors and suit Android phones along with Apple devices. The Beats Studio Buds are Beats’ smallest earbuds to date and the best-sounding earbuds Beats has ever manufactured. The wireless noise-cancelling earbuds fit perfectly in the ear, and the solid grip makes sure they’ll not fall out even during intense workouts. So, if you’re looking for a gadget to gift your gym-addict friend, then these stand-out earbuds are the perfect little thing.
GoPro Hero10 Black Action Camera – Price: ₹54,500
GoPro recently launched the new Hero10 Black, with a new faster custom processor. The Hero10 Black sports a 2.27-inch touch screen main display on the back and a 1.4-inch display on the front. It arrives with Incredible video stabilization and a new GP2 chipset, enabling new slow-motion frame rates, faster transfer speeds, and improved image quality. The camera can record smoother videos up to 5.3K @ 60fps, and for slow-mo videos, it can go up to 4K @ 120fps and 2.7K @ 240fps. The waterproof Hero 10 Black is powered by a GP2 sensor and packs a 1,720mAh battery. The GoPro Hero10 Black could be the best gift option if your loved ones are travel enthusiasts, vloggers or into adventure sports.
WD My Passport Go Portable SSD – Price: ₹11,469* (for 1TB on flipkart.com)
SSDs (Solid State Drives) are faster and more power-efficient than HDDs (Hard Disk Drives), and that’s the reason they’re always in demand. WD is one of the most popular SSD and HDD-making companies globally, and their recent addition, WD My Passport Go portable SSD, is one in a million kinds of devices. The My Passport Go portable drive has a shock-absorbing rubber bumper and no moving parts, making it drop-resistant up to 2 meters. The square-shaped, rugged SSD is 2 times faster than typical portable hard disk drives and compatible with both Windows PC and Mac computers. The Pocket-sized drive has a built-in cable for convenient portability and is available in three variants, 500GB, 1TB and 2TB. You can gift the SSD to the person who never feels satisfied with the in-built storage of their respective devices.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro – Price: ₹10,990*
Samsung has tasted success with the launch of exceptionally built Galaxy Buds Plus and failure with the launch of not so excellent Galaxy Buds Live, which helped the South Korean tech giant analyse the segment well and come back hard with the Galaxy Buds Pro, the best true wireless earbuds that the company has ever made. The Buds Pro includes active noise cancellation, wireless charging, speech detection mode, and support for the Scalable advanced Bluetooth codec. When paired with a Samsung smartphone or tablet, the earbuds offer the best sound quality and go beyond these key features. The Buds Pro also offers IPX7 water and sweat resistance features along with improved mic performance. So, if you’ve someone who owns a Samsung smartphone or tablet and likes to play along with music and calls, then go for these earbuds and make your loved ones happy.
E-book readers are reliable and handy instead of the traditional paper-based books because e-book readers offer thousands of books in one gadget, and when it comes to choosing the best e-book reader in the market, you’ll never find anything better than Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (10th Gen). The waterproof e-reader has a 6-inch e-ink display, and it is available in different variants that range from 8GB to 32GB of storage. The Kindle Paperwhite is one of the most popular e-readers on the market with good battery life, and if you have someone in your friend circle who’s an avid book reader, then this 10th Gen Kindle Paperwhite could easily replace your place in your friend’s life.
Budget Gifts (Below ₹10,000)
LG XBOOM Go PL2 Water Resistant Wireless Bluetooth Speaker – Price: ₹7,990
The LG XBOOM Go PL2 is the smallest and least expensive portable Bluetooth speaker from the PL range of speakers. The IPX5 water-resistant portable speaker offers a Sound Boost mode, USB-C charging, stereo pairing, and up to 10 hours of battery life. The PL2 speaker can be controlled with your smartphone’s voice assistant and can make any party fun in no time. The rounded design, compact and lightweight speaker has a good build quality and is best suited for travel enthusiasts. If you know someone who is a travel addict and likes to do weekend campaigning by the lake or hill, then LG XBOOM Go PL2 portable speakers can be a good companion for such personalities.
Oral-B Pro 2 2000N Electric Rechargeable Toothbrush – Price: ₹4,199
Technology has evolved our daily needs from smart home devices to electric toothbrushes. A decade ago, Oral-B was making regular manual toothbrushes, but then the company decided to take a look at the big picture and started manufacturing electric toothbrushes to cope up with the new age of connected tech. The Oral-B Pro 2 2000 electric rechargeable toothbrush offers only the necessary features for your dental health and works without any app support. The electric toothbrush helps you to remove more plaque and leave gums healthier than a manual toothbrush. The Oral-B Pro 2 200 electric toothbrush features two brushing modes and a pressure sensor, making it the simplest yet elegant electric toothbrush. It can be an excellent gift for people with sensitive teeth who have never experimented with an electric toothbrush.
Razer Kishi Mobile Game Controller – Price: ₹9,321* on amazon.in
Everyone has their own choice, and not all people want a regular PlayStation or Xbox controller. Some people go beyond the ordinary world and prefer exciting gadgets such as Razer Kishi Mobile Game Controller, which offers a seemingly lag-free gaming experience on the phone. The go-to mobile gaming controller has a split apart design, and it can connect directly through the USB-C charging port. The Razer Kishi Mobile Game Controller fits most smartphone devices and offers a solid grip that lets the gamer have great control over a device. If you’re friends with someone who follows mobile gaming like a devotion, in that case, you should consider gifting Razer Kishi Mobile Game Controller to them this Christmas as this killer gadget will not only please them mentally but will permanently change their mobile gaming experience.
Fire TV Stick 4K Streaming Device with Alexa Voice Remote – Price: ₹5,999
Amazon has acquired almost all crucial markets, from online shopping to smart house gadgets to streaming services and even streaming devices. The business strategies and tough competition in the market have made consumers’ lives easy as many widgets are available at affordable prices, and the list includes 4K streaming devices. Since the Fire TV Stick 4K launch, Amazon has emerged in this market, and the latest Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K includes the Alexa voice remote in the box. The latest 4K stick offers improved performance and is slightly larger than the standard Fire TV Stick but has the same colour and texture. The latest 4K stick features a guide button that can quickly take you to live TV and offer Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG like the standard stick. If you’re looking for a budget gift this Christmas, then the Fire TV Stick 4K streaming device with Alexa Voice Remote could be a perfect one.
Bellroy 3 Card iPhone Wallet Case – Price: from $68 to $88 (including $9 express shipping charges)
We often see people, mainly Indians having a 50 or 100 rupees/dollars note on the back of their smartphone cover. Some even put their credit or debit cards on the back of their smartphone cover, and when asked, they defend themselves in the name of emergency needs. Well, Australian accessories making brand Bellroy decided to provide a stylish look to the regular habit and created a multi-functional smartphone wallet case that holds up to 3 cards, slots devoted to a SIM tool and SIM card. The professional-looking case has a smooth, barely textured premium leather sheath covering the back panel, and you can even use the card compartment door as a kickstand to watch videos. So, if you know someone who prefers a luxury lifestyle and owns an iPhone from 12-series or 13-series, then Bellroy 3 Card iPhone Wallet Case will be a great gift and add a style statement to their life. Though the case is only available on the official website of Bellroy, if you want to purchase one, hurry up because it will take a few days or even a week to ship in India.
Noise ColorFit Pro 3 – Price: ₹3,999
Noise, India’s homegrown brand, has already acquired the top position in India’s wearables market. The budget smartwatch, Noise Colorfit 3 Pro, comes with many features and specifications, such as a SpO2 monitor for blood oxygen monitoring, a stress level monitor, and a bigger-better display. The lightweight smartwatch sports a 1.5-inch HD touchscreen colour display and follows the subtle design language like an Apple watch. The water-resistant smartwatch features about 14 workout modes, including Outdoor Walking, Outdoor Running, Outdoor Cycling, Pool Swimming, Open Water Swimming, Cricket, Hiking, Yoga and Workout. The Noise Colorfit Pro 3 comes in 6 colours and offers several high-end features, which we usually find on Apple & Samsung smartwatches. So, if you’re looking for a budget Christmas or new year gift, then Noise Colorfit 3 Pro could do the math.
Wagr’s GPS & Fitness Tracker for Dogs – Price: ₹3,499
The world is getting smarter with smart wearables, and along with us, our very canine best friend also needs smart wearables because about 6 lacs dogs get lost every year in India. The pain of losing our pooch friend can cause severe sickness to dog parents, and this thought made IIT alumnus Advaith Mohan and two of his friends, Siddharth Darbha and Ajith Kochery, come up with a solution. The trio created a dog wearable Wagr, India’s first GPS tracker for dogs which tracks the dog using high-precision GPS and even allows you to create safe zones. Once you attach the Wagr tracker to your pup’s collar, it will help you track your dog’s activity, walks, safe zones, and it will also alert you when they leave the safe zone you’ve created. If you have a dog of your own or someone from your friend’s circle who owns a dog, then Wagr’s location & fitness tracker is a must-have gadget.
If you’re one of those zealous people who are missing cinema hall escapades due to ongoing pandemic restrictions and can’t wait to watch your favourite movie star on a big screen instead of small smartphone/laptop screens. In that case, LG has something to cure your inner cravings.
The South Korean multinational electronics company have announced a new lineup of Direct View LED (DVLED) home cinema displays, ranging from a massive 108-inch HD panel to a humongous 325-inch 8K panel. As per the CNET report, the biggest one in the lineup weighs over 2,000 pounds and costs $1.7 million (roughly ₹12.5-crore).
What is DVLED?
Direct view LED video walls, also called DVLED display, is a video display technology that uses light-emitting diodes to produce bright, vibrant colours. Their pixel is the smallest element of a picture, creating a single part of the colour with true pixel and virtual pixel configuration.
All of the DVLED Extreme Home Cinema screens with the 0.9mm COB LED Package type use MicroLED, and they can adapt to any indoor and outdoor environment. DVLED’s are seamless, bezel-free, and a better place to install them is design rooms, museums, galleries, board rooms and hospitality.
LG DVLED TV’s
Earlier, people had only a few options, such as Samsung’s The Wall and Sony’s Crystal LED TVs, but now they have one more option to consider in the name of LG. The company has previously reserved these massive displays for commercial buyers, but now they’re making them available for regular buyers who are ready to spend lavishly.
According to a CNET report, LG is using small-sized LEDs, similar to what we’ve witnessed in Samsung’s The Wall and Sony’s Crystal LED TV’s instead of an LCD layer to create pixels and deepest black levels without the risk of burn-in, a challenging task for anyone in the business.
In general, most of the screens offer a regular 16:9 aspect ratio, but LG is also selling 32:9 versions if any consumer wants to watch two video feeds side by side at one time. The company has successfully executed one of their best innovations with the launch of LG’s massively priced DVLED TV sets, which now makes $1,00,00 rollable OLED TV sounds more affordable.
LG’s new DVLED displays can easily replace the decade-old high-end projectors, but only if you’re ready to deal with its expensive price. Clearly, these massive home theatre displays won’t be making it into the living rooms of most households, but we have to appreciate the efforts as creating such an enormous display is not everyone’s cup of tea.
After hearing the news of its launch at CES 2021, everybody was excited that they will get to see a more compact OLED panel this year, as LG promised to release it in mid-2021.
However, the Korean Economic Daily says it has been postponed to 2022 instead of releasing it this year. Though the resources also told that it is not delayed due to any problem related to its production. According to the Korean Economic Daily, it is one of LG’s marketing strategies to market its 42-inch compact OLED panel this year and then bring it to the market later in 2022.
Delaying the launch for the advertising purpose could be one of the solid reasons for LG’s other OLED TVs, as it will be a bit difficult for LG to compel its customers to buy this TV, which is smaller in size; As compared to the A-1 series or the LED G-1 Evo and C-1 lineups.
LG’s new OLED TV will ideally have a 120HZ refresh rate display with multiple HDMI 2.1 ports that allow 120 frames per second. It would also support the features that can make gaming appear better and more comfortable. Therefore, it should also provide auto-low latency mode and support variable refresh rate(VRR).
After talking about the properties of this TV, if we think about the price, one should not expect it to be quite affordable. Compared to the LG C-1 48 inch price, which is originally priced at $1499.99, this TV can be expected to cost less than this due to its small size.
The TV’s 42-inch size with OLED panel stands between TV and gaming monitor. And there are plenty of ample gaming monitor options with good features, but none have an OLED panel. So it will be an ideal option for a gamer with desk space.
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed society by disrupting our day-to-day life and triggered a massive economic slowdown throughout the world. The forced lockdown leads to the inability for companies to run normally, which eventually results in the highest percentage of unemployment and dramatic shutdowns of some of the well-known companies.
Some of the companies survived the situation by filing for bankruptcy, but going down the route doesn’t help them bounce back fully as the financial fallout from Covod-19 continues with the second wave. While the term bankruptcy doesn’t remarkably suggest that these companies are shut permanently, they only shrink some of their wings, which causes them a massive amount of loss. Here’s the list of companies that have gone bankrupt during the COVID-19 phase.
Hertz
The Estero, Florida-based Hertz Corporation is a popular American car rental company that operates about 12,000 franchises worldwide and has served people for more than 100 years in the car rental business. The novel coronavirus pandemic that has crippled the global travel scenario made Hertz sink drastically in the business and forced them to ask for support from its lenders.
Unfortunately, it failed to convince the lenders and did not reach an agreement with top lenders, which resulted in filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Along with zero business, Hertz has also been plagued by management outbursts and changed its CEO, its fourth in six years.
Hertz financed itself mostly by taking out loans secured by its fleet of cars, but it decreased the value and sales of used cars along with most of its customers. After a year full of struggle, on 1st July 2021, Hertz emerged from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy with backing by new investors to eliminate the debt.
Aldo
Aldo Bensadoun founded the Canadian shoe retailer Aldo in Montreal, Quebec, in 1972, which operates nearly 3,000 stores and employs 8000 people across 100 countries. The company was already struggling with the business for the last few years, and then the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, forcing them to shut down the stores and make the situation worse than ever.
The Canadian company has asked for protection using the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act and is looking forward to stabilising business that has suffered due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company has moved its base to a nearby location in Saint-Laurent, Montreal, and more than half of the employees at its headquarters have been furloughed.
Gold’s Gym
If you’ve ever considered joining a gym to get back in shape, you must have penned down a list of nearby gyms and being one of the oldest ones in the gym business, Gold’s Gym would’ve topped the list. Former American bodybuilder Joe Gold founded Gold’s Gym at Venice Beach, California, in 1965, with weight-lifting equipment he built himself.
The American chain of international co-ed fitness centres has various franchise based gyms across the six continents. The company has been in the business for the last 50 years, and during all of these years, the founder would have never imagined in his wildest dreams that something like the COVID-19 pandemic will destroy his business, but unfortunately, it happened.
The fitness centre saw its business drop during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in April 2020, the company said that it would permanently close 30 of its locations. On 4th May 2020, Gold’s Gym and its 14 affiliated debtors filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Later on, in August 2020, Gold’s Gym was bought out of bankruptcy by European fitness giant RSG Group GmbH, which also owns the McFit fitness brand. Luckily, the bankruptcy doesn’t impact its centres in most countries, including India.
Avianca
Humans have been flying since the Wright Brothers invented the world’s first successful motor-operated aeroplane, but the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic locked us inside our beloved homes, which harshly impacted the airline business. Avianca, the oldest airline in the Western Hemisphere and the second-oldest extant airline in the world after KLM grounded their aeroplanes and filed for Chapter 11 protection bankruptcy for the second time in its history as the aviation industry suffered a heavy blow due to COVID-19.
The Columbian airline company was founded in 1919 and certified as a 3-Star Airline for the quality of its airport, onboard product and staff service. The 101 years old airline company was already in massive debt when COVID-19 struck the world, forcing the airline to stop scheduled flights for 2 months. The situation made 20,000 employees suffer without pay scale throughout the crisis. The company was expected to emerge from the Chapter 11 bankruptcy process during 2021, but wistfully it starts 2021 with a $311 million net loss.
Digicel
The Caribbean mobile phone network and home entertainment providing company were founded in 2001 by Irish billionaire Denis O’Brien. Digicel is a sponsor of Caribbean, Central American and Asia-Pacific sports teams, including The West Indies cricket team, which collaborated with Digicel for 13 long years from 2005-2018. The Caribbean region’s top network providing company suffered severely during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic and filed for bankruptcy with $7.4 Billion in unsustainable debts.
Later on, in May 2020, the company announced plans to restructure its debt. The restructuring plan was approved by Digicel’s bondholders and concluded in June 2020. As part of the exchange, the founder of the company contributed $50 million in assets to Digicel, consisting of the company’s Jamaican headquarters and $25 million in cash, but all of these attempts couldn’t help the company to get back in the business as its earnings proceeded to drop deep in the black hole.
Intelsat
Intelsat Corporation is the world’s largest satellite service provider, which was founded in 1964. The Virginia headquartered company provides services to the BBC, 21st Century Fox, Warner Media, and the Walt Disney Company. On the verge of the new 5G spectrum auctions, the company filed for a voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy in US courts during the mid of May 2020, with over US$15 billion in total debt.
The company has been delisted from the New York stock exchange after filing for bankruptcy. According to a few reports, the company is anticipating restructuring to raise requisite capital to launch new satellite technology in 2022/2023, at the cost of some US$1.6 billion. Now, it’s been a year since the company is in bankruptcy, struggling to gain the support of a group of creditors to seize control of restructuring.
Brooks Brothers
Brooks Brothers have defined the American way of dressing for success since its foundation in 1818. It is the oldest clothing retailer in the United States, producing clothing for men, women and children, and home furnishings. The company faced a dramatic low in the business during the COVID-19 pandemic as people dressed down executive/formal wear and preferred athleisure clothes with the rising of work from home culture.
The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a disturbing economic impact on the oldest ready-to-wear clothing retailer of the United States, and due to declining sales, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July 2020 and planned to close 51 of its 250 locations in North America. A brand development firm Authentic Brands Group and SPARC Group LLC won court approval to acquire Brooks Brothers for $325 million and agreed to continue operating at least 125 Brooks Brothers retail locations in the US and worldwide.
Ultra Petroleum
Ultra Petroleum Corporation is an independent oil and gas company founded in 1979. The Centennial-based natural gas producer focuses on developing its natural gas reserves in the Green River Basin of southwestern Wyoming, Utah, Pennsylvania and Bohai Bay, China.
Ultra reached an influential turning point in 1996 when it bought 130,000 acres in the Rocky Mountains, and the company never looked back until 2016. Ultra Petroleum became a major victim of depressed oil and gas prices, which forced the company to file petitions in the United States Bankruptcy Court.
The Oil and natural gas drilling corporation emerged from chapter 11 in 2017 but shifted its headquarters from Houston in 2018. The company moved on from the bankruptcy chapter and generated $742 million in revenue from its natural gas operations in 2019, and soon it faced business disruption from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The oil and gas company filed for bankruptcy for the second time in 4 years on 14th May 2020, when the Natural gas prices had been at historic lows. Though the Covid-19 pandemic didn’t stop the company from bouncing back, Ultra Petroleum completed its financial restructuring by eliminating approximately $2.0 billion of indebtedness from its balance sheet, which helped the company emerge from bankruptcy.
LG
The last company that knocked our list of bankrupt companies is LG. However, LG didn’t file for any bankruptcy; it still created big news when the South Korean electronics giant withdrew itself from the market of smartphone makers. The company has been producing mobile devices since the 90s, rolled out the first capacitive touch screen phone in the market and introduced us to slow-motion video recording, failed to impress the fast-fashioned millenials and couldn’t keep up with the current pace of the technology revolution.
LG phones faced stiff competition from rival Samsung and Chinese budget brands such as Oppo and Xiaomi, resulting in occupying only 2% of sales share over the past year. The company has been figuring losses over the sale of smartphones since 2015, and in 2020, it recorded almost 4.5 billion losses, forcing them to shut down the mobile manufacturing division. The company will release its last smartphone on 31st July 2021 and continue to provide service support for already sold devices and regular software updates.
The list of bankrupt companies doesn’t end here as many other well-known companies filed for bankruptcy during the Covid-19 pandemic creating stress for their owners and leaving behind their workers jobless.
The COVID-19 pandemic is still pretty much ongoing. While many industries have suffered heavy losses due to financial and operational risks, tech firms have found ways to seize the market through their technological innovations.
LG has announced a handful of updates to its high-tech, air-purifying mask, named LG Puricare Wearable Air Purifier. The product that was launched last year initially had air filters and built-in fans to filter the air. The new version will now witness upgrades such as a more efficient motor, built-in microphones and speakers.
The technology, which LG calls VoiceON, automatically recognizes when the wearers are speaking and amplifies the voice through built-in speakers. However, the mask will continue to use HEPA filters, which purifies almost 99% of the particulates down to 0.3 microns in size.
The company has yet to announce its pricing and availability. Still, it plans to go ahead with the launch in Thailand next month “with other markets to follow once approved by local regulators.” Pandemic is a perfect opportunity to roll out products that will remain in demand for this period.
According to LG, the new sound system hit a 0.75(excellent) Korean Electronics Technology Institute’s Sound Transmission Index. This means that we will be able to conveniently hold conversations without taking the mask off.
The company is targeting athletes prominently with the new PuriCare mask. The Thai Olympic Team even wore the gadget for a photo session on their way to this year’s Olympics. LG claims that the athletes could comfortably wear the PuriCare for hours at a time.
What is notable is that the company did not mention COVID-19 in its announcement. It is nowhere claiming that the PuriCare Mask will protect against the Novel Coronavirus in any way. It’s true that most purifiers can target particles the size of the virus, yet without any scientific study on the mask, we cannot and shouldn’t take a stand on the efficiency of the mask.
