We’re living in the digital era which means the human experience is now deeply connected with the digital world. Be it food or clothes, all things required are now just a few clicks away making our lives easier. On the other hand, there are a plethora of applications designed to help people from every walk of life be it kindergarten rhymes or senior citizen support. The digital landscape has undoubtedly changed how people lived their lives but a few grave concerns remain the same. One such concern is that of women’s safety.
If you’re an Indian reader then I do not need to reiterate the horrors women go through in our country. Robbery, domestic violence, assaults and rapes are over the news in India at a disturbing rate which begs us to ask the question of whether women are truly safe in the country. In our women’s special edition, we wanted to get our readers acquainted with these women’s safety applications in case of an unfortunate event. Check them out now
112 India
Perhaps the most important application when it comes to women’s safety in the country is the 112 India app. It is an all-in-one women’s safety app that can be used to issue SOS alerts with only one single tap in any situation. The application is available on both Android and iOS devices in 23 states and Union Territories across India. Users need to simply register themselves using their phone number and add the necessary information. In addition, users may also be asked to enter an emergency contact number to notify that person in case of an emergency. The app’s functionality is pretty straightforward too as it automatically sends the user’s details like name, age, emergency contact, and location to nearby volunteers and generates an automated call to 112 which is the state emergency control room.
My Safetipin: Complete Safety
In today’s age, women and men function on an equal footing. This means, more and more women are now stepping out of the house to work and provide for their families. However, the unfair threat of safety looms over women which has been effectively addressed by the My Safetipin application. This app’s goal is to make cities safer by generating safety scores for places around the country by collecting massive data. The application sports features like GPS tracking, emergency contact numbers, direction to safe locations around cities, pins and alerts for unsafe areas and also provides the safest route options for women.
Sheroes
Sadly, social media is also not an entirely safe place for women. Receiving threats and unsolicited pictures is a common occurrence women face around the world. This is where Sheroes comes into the picture, it is a leading social media platform exclusively for women. At Sheroes, women can share their passions through posts and videos in a safe digital environment. Sheroes is not just limited to being a social media platform for women but also a helpline where women can chat anonymously and share their feelings. Community legal support and Mahila Kanoon support are also available at Sheroes.
bSafe
bSafe is a comprehensive safety app for women that boasts a wide range of features. It’s equipped with the bSafe alarm which broadcasts the exact location and an audio-video from the location for ease with your emergency contact. It also features the ‘Follow Me’ feature which allows users to virtually track GPS until their loved ones have arrived at the location. An interesting feature in the application is the fake call feature which helps people escape an unwanted situation by pretending they’re on a call with someone.
Chilla
Chilla is a unique application that serves the singular purpose of triggering an alert message. Women can be stuck in situations where they are unable to press the emergency button on their phone during an attack, in such cases, they can shout loudly and activate the SOS alert on their device.
Samsung’s Galaxy S series is the top-tier smartphone offering competing with the best smartphone market leaders. Each year, this series has refined its offerings, and this time, it’s the S23 series matching the year of launch numerics. Launch impressions aside, I have been using the Galaxy S23 twins, the S23 and S23+, as my daily drivers for over a month and here are my impressions on living with Samsung’s flagship series.
Premium and sturdy design
This year, Samsung bought the Galaxy S23 Ultra design for the rest of its siblings. It’s a neat design to begin with and a welcome change from the camera island on other phones. The most significant difference between the Galaxy S23 and S23+ is their size and battery life. Everything else remains the same. The S23 has taken a few drops with ease in my usage, and the new Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection is absolutely on point. Polished metal edges are great for holding the phone and inspire confidence, albeit being a literal fingerprint magnet. Overall build has shown little to no signs of heavy use throughout rigorous testing on flights, destinations and work runs.
When it comes to phones, size matters!
A smartphone is something we carry as our tech pokemon. For large-screen lovers, gaming, multimedia and insane battery life make sense on the Galaxy S23+, and many mistakenly believe it to be the Galaxy S23 Ultra thanks to the sheer size. The Galaxy S23, on the other hand, is a moderately sized 6.1-inch phone, and both these phones have slim symmetrical bezels making the design neat from front to back. I preferred the S23 as my primary and the S23+ as my secondary (mostly gaming/multimedia) smartphone, and the experience was nothing but the peak of current-era smartphone performance. With an improved 3900mAh battery on the S23, the battery life coupled with powerful yet efficient hardware is significantly better than the S22.
Display prowess
Samsung is one of the pioneers of display technology. Both these phones get super bright and dim without any noticeable shift in colour saturation, balance or contrast. Under direct sunlight, the Galaxy S23 series shines with maximum brightness and viewing in any condition was never a problem. In fact, these displays could be categorised as top-tier in their price range. HDR content, high-resolution videos, adaptive S-AMOLED goodness and crisp touch response make these displays a charm to use daily. Both these phones get 120Hz adaptive refresh rate displays with peak brightness similar to the Galaxy S23 Ultra at 1750nits!
Performance – Finally, they cured the Achilles’ heel!
Samsung Galaxy S series always had an Achilles heel, the processor. This was addressed in last year’s S22 series, but gen 2 is usually always better than gen 1. The made-for-galaxy Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is a game-changer for the Samsung S23 series. Most flagship processors tend to heat, throttle and consume more battery, but the tables have turned this year. The custom-made (read overclocked) Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 finally brings a beautiful balance of performance and efficiency. Couple that with LPDDR5 RAM, UFS 3.1 / 4.0 blazing fast memories, and the seamless wireless connectivity of WiFi 6E and BT 5.3 standards; these newer Samsung Galaxy S23 series offer nonstop performance with loudspeakers and impressive displays. Haptic feedback, call quality and mic quality are better than most iPhones and professional mics. Samsung has done wonders with the mic on the S23 series. Add water and dust protection with durable materials and wireless charging with reverse wireless charging capabilities, and the S23 series simply works in every situation.
Vibrant memories
The 50MP OIS primary sensor works wonders in day and night conditions. The 12MP ultra-wide and 10MP 3X telephoto also manage decent colour accuracy similar to the primary sensor. The selfie camera is an autofocus 12MP wide angle, and all the sensors are capable of shooting at 4K, while the main sensor can do 8K 30FPS! The Galaxy S23 series has serious improvements in the end results despite almost equivalent hardware as last year, thanks to the improved SoC. 8K and 4K videos maintain frames throughout with no time limits. Memories are captured on point with great details and Samsung level saturation, pleasing most eyes. The camera performance is so good you could keep your mirrorless camera at home for your next travel.
One UI, many updates
Out of the box, the Galaxy S23 and S23+ run Android 13 based on One UI. There is some bloatware, but the memory management is excellent. Apps run flawlessly in the background, and I was surprised when I paused a game in the evening a day before, used the phone for an entire work day and went back to the game, only to find it paused and managed brilliantly by the S23+. The software is dense and filled with customisations, from colour palettes to unique edge panels that house split-screen apps in an instance, always-on display, and many more. Samsung also includes Galaxy stores for adding more customisations and themes and allows you to change fonts; personalisation is available in plenty. Over just a couple of weeks, my review units got four security and software updates.
Flagship justice
Samsung has improved the Galaxy S23 series to become a mature flagship performer, unlike the S series of the past. Over a month of use, the updates have only improved my experience with these flagship siblings. The improved battery life on the newer series with improved hardware has polished the Samsung Galaxy S23 and S23+ experience. Samsung promises four major android updates and five years of security updates. This market has stiff competition, but there is barely a no-compromise smartphone. These are undoubtedly the ones.
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.
Hyundai has become a popular brand among automobile lovers. When one thinks of Hyundai, they unanimously agree on an impressive feature list, the absolute unit of value propositions on roads and a reliable customer service network. Let’s not forget the era demands larger, sassier-looking cars that meet not just one’s demand but eventually everyone connected with the one. Adhering to modern automotive demands, Hyundai’s global best-selling product is now available in India – Hyundai Tucson. A question arises, what makes this product an international bestseller? What other way to find out than driving this beauty on a road trip? Where are we headed? We’re heading towards the answers.
Is it the bold, premium and sporty design?
Hyundai designers were briefed to make Tucson an iconic and bold design. Thanks to the brief, Tucson now feels angular, humongous and beautiful. The front fascia feels like a sizeable smiling grille. Kudos to the clever engineering covering the five-point dark chrome parametric DRLs with nickel metal coating. Turn them on, and Tucson gets a distinct identity like no other car on Indian roads. Sharp creases on the body neatly camouflage the enormous length of the Tucson and bring a contemporary design language familiar to supercar manufacturers making a large vehicle. If that was not enough, the tail section is a piece of art with connected LED taillamps finished in mesmerising lit textures and a neatly hidden rear wiper underneath the spoiler. Complementing the design are 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, purpose-built for tackling any road. Overall the new Tucson feels refreshing and eye-pleasing from the outside.
The ivory-clad interior and plush ventilated seats with unique metal accents add a sense of space and splendour, coupled with a voice-enabled panoramic sunroof. The lines inside the cabin flow in a minimalistic design, adding to the definition of opulence. The LWB enables oodles of legroom and headroom with deep recline angles for the rear passengers and a boss mode found in premium sedans a segment or two above Tucson’s asking price. The interior of the Tucson makes it a comfortable, spacious abode with a focus on comfort, the luxury of a serene driving experience and class-leading safety features, including ADAS level 2 aided by front and rear radars with a front camera. This makes Tucson one of the safest cars available in India.
Is it the features, performance, luxury, safety or something else?
Available in multiple engine options – a 2L petrol (156PS and 192Nm) and a 2L diesel (186PS and 415Nm) with an AWD variant featuring multi-terrain modes (snow, mud and sand), the Tucson offers versatility. The transmission options include a 6-speed automatic on the petrol, while the diesel variants have a sleek shifting 8-speed automatic. The engines and transmission options offer linear, smooth power delivery, with the diesel tickling the enthusiast’s senses. The NVH levels are so darn impressive; they’re unlike any Hyundai we’ve experienced. Couple that with the ivory-clad spacious interiors, customisable seat positions on the front row and deep recline angles on the rear along with passenger walk-in mode, amplifying the sense of sumptuousness, unlike most competitors. With 4 disc brakes on all 4 tyres, level 2 ADAS with 19 class-leading features safeguard you, pedestrians, other cars and the precious Tucson from any nuances on the road. The braking performance is also linear despite all discs on all tyres and adds to the overall experience of plushness.
Hyundai Tucson is one of the safest cars on Indian roads. The level 2 ADAS makes it almost impossible to collide the car with anything on the road. There are tonnes of customisations to customise the ADAS aids as per personal preference. Here’s a list of all the advanced driving-assistance system safety features for your reference. Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), Car/Pedestrian/Cyclist + Junction Turning, Front collision warning (FCW), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BCW), Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM), Safe Exit Warning (SEW), Driver Attention Warning (DAW), Smart Cruise Control with Stop & GO (SCC with S&G), Lane Following Assist (LFA), High Beam Assist (HBA), Leading Vehicle Departure Alert (LVDA), Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA), Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning (RCCW) and Surround View Monitor (SVM). The 360-degree cameras offer high resolution and enable dynamic parking assist lines for added convenience. The considerable safety net with numerous features cocooned in luxury makes this car seem much more valuable than its asking price.
Why is Tucson Hyundai’s global bestseller?
We scouted out with the Tucson, searching for answers to why it is Hyundai’s global bestseller. Tucson’s unaccountable features, extensive safety net with the best-in-class package, and plush feel of the ivory-clad interiors make it a fantastic premium SUV for anyone looking to upgrade their driving experience into grandeur daily drives. Hyundai designers and engineers have hit the ball right out of the park regarding the new Tucson. No wonder this car is a global bestseller featured in blockbuster cinemas and is now available as a blockbuster in our daily drives.
Smartphone launches have been a never-ending epidemic for the past few years. Smartphones have become so good that most phones, irrespective of their price tag, are sufficient for most users. The number of smartphone users is still astounding in China at 865.04M. India is the second largest smartphone market in the world, with 606.57M active users. This makes smartphone manufacturers value our shores more than ever. Here is a list of all recommended smartphones under each price category.
Under INR 10K
Redmi A1
Performance
Quad Core, 2 GHzMediaTek Helio A22 2 GB RAM
Display
6.52 inches (16.56 cm)269 PPI, IPS LCD
Camera
8 MP Primary CameraDual LED Flash5 MP Front Camera
Google has finally launched the Pixel 7 and the Pixel 7 Pro in India. When was the last time we saw the flagship Pixel devices in India? We tested both these phones, and here are our impressions on the 60K Pixel 7 and the 89K Pixel 7 Pro.
Finessed design
As Indians, we did not get a chance to experience the immediate predecessor to these newer Pixel devices apart from the Pixel 6a, which is a brilliant smartphone for the price. The Pixel 7 is a more mature design than the 6a, with a brush metal finish on the uniform camera housing, albeit with a noticeable depth. Put these phones anyhow, and they will never wobble, infact they rest at a very comfortable glance for anyone who uses the Pixels. The Pixel 7 Pro takes a modern approach and brings curved edges on the relatively larger display with improved hardware.
The interesting parts include the symmetrical band design on the metal edges of the camera bands and a contrasting finish on the buttons. The glossy metal band of the Pixel 7 Pro has matte-finished buttons, and the matte-finished camera band on the Pixel 7 has shiny metal buttons. We still miss the accented buttons, but this is a nice touch nonetheless. Overall the design is very well thought out and brings a level of sophistication expected from a tech giant. We still are unaware of the abrupt cutout on the Pixel 7 Pro. Let us know if you know anything about it, as we cannot access the same.
Gorilla glass Victus and IP68 ratings protect both these phones, allowing flagship-grade protection. The OLED display differs on both these phones as the Pixel 7 has an FHD+ 90Hz panel, whereas the Pixel 7 Pro gets a QHD (1440P) LTPO display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Both these displays can get sufficiently bright with 1000+ nits brightness and, even more, viewing HDR content. Both felt super smooth in their leagues with the beauties of Android 13 optimisations and added features on the Pixel devices. For flat-screen lovers, the Pixel 7 makes a compelling choice. Still, a slightly curved larger display with additional camera hardware and software turns the Pixel 7 Pro into a flagship competitor from the house of Google. Surprisingly, the Pixel 7 packs a smaller battery than the Pixel 6a at 4355mAh, while the Pixel 7 Pro packs a 5000mAh battery. Both these phones support 20-23W charge speeds with wireless and reverse wireless charging capabilities. Battery life is decent and lasts through a day with ease. AI Adaptive battery optimisation increases battery life within a week of usage.
Balanced performance
Google has updated the Tensor SoC with a new processor named G2. Compared to the earlier 5nm chip, this new chip brings an updated privacy core T2 with slightly overclocked cores and a better GPU. We found that the Mali GPU upgrade from G-78 to G-710 brings stable performance even when gaming. Even when gaming, smooth animations and balanced performance make these genuinely feel like flagship contenders. The fingerprint sensor is quick to identify, and Google allows basic face unlock like most Android devices.
UI animations and memory management are on par with most flagship devices, with no performance hiccups. Overall, the performance is better than the older SoC and brings a balanced performance update. Camera sensor performance and clicks process faster, and the overall experience of using a Pixel is slightly overclocked. An additional rear light sensor makes the sensor count 35 compared to 34 sensors on the Pixel 6a.
Best camera algorithm on any phone
Apart from iPhones, Samsung and other flagships, the only series of phones that prove to be excellent camera-centric options is the Pixel series from Google. More than the hardware, the years of machine learning and AI algorithms make a Pixel phone appealing. Google has finally moved from the 12MP sensors to improved hardware with a 50MP primary sensor on both phones, a slightly better 12MP ultra-wide sensor, and an additional 48MP telephoto sensor on the Pro. Google hardware and software algorithms work in tandem to click some mind-blowing images in any lighting conditions. All the images and videos are top-notch, with improved post-processing and better hardware. These are one of the best camera-centric smartphones of the year. Pixel post-processing retains details and contrast, sometimes better than phones that cost almost twice as much. For photos, these are top-tier, but for videos, although better with additional Cinematic blur (portrait mode in videos) and OIS with EIS options, Google needs to bring a few OTA updates to improve video quality.
Verdict
At the prices for the Pixel series, these phones are definite contenders for your money. If you are someone who wants a no-nonsense, iPhone-like experience using an Android, the Pixel series brings the best of Google hardware and software experience. Additional features are built-in smaller packages across the UI of these Pixel phones. Software features like unblur a blurred photo, magic eraser, location tagging other Android devices and dozens of small but intuitive animations and unique Pixel features hard to find on a feature-loaded flagship are interesting, to say the least. The Pixel 7 Pro brings the best of all worlds in a stylish package. It’s an entire Pixel experience enhanced for Android users.
Specs:
Pixel 7 – 6.1-inch 90Hz AMOLED FHD+ up to 1400nits
Pixel 7 Pro – 6.7-inch 120HZ LTPO AMOLED QHD up to 1500nits
Tensor G2 SoC
Android 13
Camera Pixel 7 – 50MP primary, 12MP Ultrawide, 10.8MP front camera
Camera Pixel 7 Pro – 50MP primary, enhanced AF 12MP Ultrawide/Macro, 48MP 5x Optical telephoto, 10.8MP front camera
Price – Pixel 7 – INR 59999
Pixel 7 Pro – INR 84999
Good – Best Pixel iteration, upgraded cameras
Bad – Limited memory options
Ugly – Tensor G2 falls short against SD 8+ Gen 1 and Apple Bionic SoC
Lexus ES 300h, a self-charging hybrid electric luxury sedan, is one of many electrified cars from the luxury car maker Lexus, a pioneer in the field of hybrid electric technology. Lexus has over 2.3 million electrified vehicles on the roads globally as of today. Powered by Lexus Hybrid Drive, a seamless, optimal combination of electric power and fuel, this luxurious sedan was our abode on wheels on the beautiful roads of Kovalam, Kerala, where the Exhibit InfluencEX Awards 2022 was held to felicitate the best of best influencers across India.
Kerala, well known as God’s Own Country, is one of India’s most beautiful states with lush, scenic landscapes and a rich culture that befits the title. Adding inimitable charm to the experience was the Lexus ES 300h, which took us in luxurious comfort through picturesque Kovalam, stopping at the arts and crafts village, Shiva Stupa and finishing off with a magnificent Sadya feast at Taj Green Cove Resort and Spa, Kovalam. As we found out, the Lexus ES 300h was indeed a refined companion to explore this stunning city.
A Masterpiece of Craftsmanship
Kovalam is an idyllic destination, the perfect setting for the elegant Lexus ES 300h. Starting in absolute silence in pure EV mode, the car is capable of unleashing all its power with a simple toggle of the drive selector. Courtesy of the MacPherson Strut suspensions upfront and rigid rear double-wishbone suspension-member braces on the ES 300h, changing direction while on the highway or in the streets of Kovalam was a breeze. Add to that, the signature Lexus spindle grille design, and slender and beautiful silhouette, made the ES 300h a true head turner.
Our first destination was the Kovalam arts and crafts village, an 8-acre sustainable property dedicated to showcasing the vibrant art and skilled craftsmanship of the state. The Lexus ES 300h felt right at home as it cruised silently, enhancing the sense of serenity in the tranquil village. If you are yet to visit this place, the craftsmanship offered here is second to none – recycled wood, metals, textile, and many other elements of nature are beautifully carved into striking art pieces created by skilled and traditional craftsmen. Lexus draws a great parallel as the craftsmanship is at the brand’s heart. Consider the Lexus Takumi masters, the skilled craftsmen behind every Lexus. Takumi dedicates their lives to the perfection of an individual skill set, and precisely apply their highly trained senses to refining every detail.
“THE ARTISTIC ELEMENT & CLASS-LEADING JAPANESE CRAFTSMANSHIP MAKE THE LEXUS ES300h A PIECE OF ART ON WHEELS.”
This is apparent in the design of the ES, from the subtle touches of crafted luxury in the interiors to the distinctive and refined styling of the exteriors. This class-leading Japanese craftsmanship makes the ES 300h a perfect blend of elegance with luxury.
The Perfect Drive Partner
Our next stop took us across Kovalam to Kerala’s tallest Shiva sculpture, which stands at 58 feet in the form of Gangadeshwara on the cliff of Azhimala beach in Kovalam. This massive statue, which took six years to create, dwarfs the Azhimala temple and is visible across Kovalam’s expansive beaches from miles away.
The Lexus was a perfect partner for the journey, with a quality of excellence and a finish that stands tall. Everything in the ES 300h, including the extensive 12.3-inch widescreen crisp touch infotainment system with wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay, is oriented towards the owner’s comfort and within arm’s length for efficient operation. The multiple tones of pure luxury inside the cabin add to the experience cocooning you in comfort. The wireless charger and 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium surround sound system amp the cabin experience to even greater heights.
Just when you think you’ve seen it all, there’s more: the three-eye bi-beam LED headlamps, stylish rear L-shaped LED lamps, panoramic sunroof, acoustic glass on the windows which insulates the cabin from outside sounds along with active noise cancellation which further adds to the Lexus ES 300h experience. The engaging driver’s 7-inch MID and an even more astonishing heads-up display provide all the necessary information required by one in the driver’s seat. Pairing this opulence with active noise cancellation inside the cabin made the drive a truly serene experience that only a Lexus could deliver.
Luxury Made Personal
From Azhimala beach, our drive continued to the Taj resort consolidating further the driving pleasure the ES 300h is capable of. A dedicated drive mode selector features Eco, Normal and Sport modes for enhanced driving options making the most of both powertrains. The silhouette is not just attractive but also functional, with underbody and rear fins optimizing aerodynamics. The improved engine paired with batteries and motors makes for an unprecedented experience of instant acceleration and dynamic performance at all speed levels without any compromise on the fuel efficiency – along with a step towards a carbon neutral drive.
Along with our co-passengers, we were entranced by the Lexus climate concierge, 3-zone climate control with rear door and window shades for added privacy and luxury made personal. Further enhancing the back seat experience is an integrated central console, which lets you control the audio system, 8-degree rear seat recline, ambient illumination and other settings neatly integrated for a seamless experience. Reaching our destination, we were just in time to relish Kerala’s famous Sadya feast with multiple authentic signature delicacies served on a banana leaf.
IT’S ASTONISHING TO WITNESS A SELF-CHARGING HYBRID ELECTRIC LUXURY VEHICLE SEDAN AS POWERFUL AND YET EFFICIENT
The ES 300h offers the best of the best driving pleasure and excitement served in a sustainable package. Kerala was a great destination to test the Lexus ES 300h, and a beautiful hybrid-electric sedan explored the best each had to offer. Kerala’s lush greenery, beautiful clean beaches, and great food and culture are mesmerizing. The ES 300h reflects that ethos and class perfectly, the absolute partner to wow your senses in a tranquil, luxurious experience. Brilliant and trusted by millions, the hybrid-electric technology makes this car a joyous driving experience while contributing toward carbon neutrality.
Lexus is redefining the meaning of abundance with comfort, technology and a sustainable approach to crafting a better tomorrow. Lexus plans to go carbon neutral by 2050, and if the ES 300h is the starting point of that journey, we are very excited to see what the future holds.
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.
Ex: One book you keep coming back to. Shashank: “Thinking, fast & slow “ by Daniel Kahneman
Ex: When will you say you have fulfilled all your goals? Shashank:When I reach heaven and get all the secrets of the universe from God!
Ex: When have you failed and how did you overcome it I fail every day. Shashank:The way to overcome it is to realize that every day is a new day. Ha ha ….. that’s complicated.
Ex: How difficult is it to maintain a work-life balance? Shashank: Very difficult to maintain that balance . Optimization is what one can hope for at best.
Ex: What has been your biggest learning in the pandemic? Shashank:Nothing can be assumed as a given.
Ex: One futuristic feature that you can’t wait to introduce in your vehicle. Shashank: Can I ask for two please … Biometric Car Access & 3D Gestures control.
Ex: Which old-school car/bike design inspired you the most? Shashank:Porsche 911
Ex: How has the shift to only petrol options affected sales? Shashank: Not much actually. But missing the Diesel option in B Segment.
Ex: By when can we expect a production-ready electric vehicle from Maruti Suzuki? Shashank: Sometime in the future!
Ex: What is one truth you believe in that most people disagree with you on? Shashank:That people don’t really know what they want till you show them the infinite possibilities.
Ex: What is the one subject you think aspiring leaders should learn? Shashank:Psychology
Ex: One thing you believe is absolutely necessary for sustained growth. Shashank:Ability to maintain a learning environment.
Ex: Leadership quotes that you live by Sunil: A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality. – John Lenon John Quincy Adams, a former US president once said, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader”.
Ex: What is the biggest change in customer relationship management you have seen in the past decade? Sunil: Computing is evolving. It began with systems of record, which hold your customer data in silos that are not user friendly nor easily accessible. It moved to systems of engagement, which are systems like email, collaboration systems, and new social networking and learning systems. More recently, we’ve entered an era of more intelligent systems, where artificial intelligence and reporting bring the data we need to life. Now, we’re in the era of a single source of truth. There must be one singular place that has all of your customer data, from your CRM and other parts of your organization to the data that lives outside your organization completely.
Ex: With e-commerce gaining prominence and WFH becoming the new culture, what changes do you plan to bring to your system? Sunil: Over the last few months, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the need to enable distributed and remote work almost overnight. Now, as we slowly but surely turn to recovery and ensure business continuity, technology will play a key role in enabling this transition while ensuring the safety and wellbeing of employees. With all of our employees currently working from home around the world, our top priority is ensuring their safety. To this effect, we have brought in some changes in our system. As employees continue to work from home, one of the biggest challenges for organizations will be to ensure productivity. With the right setup, individuals tend to be more available, more productive, and happier.
Ex: What is one truth you believe in that most people disagree with you on? Sunil:This is indeed an interesting question. I would have to say, the ability to take risks and leap forward with conviction irrespective of the doubts that plague your mind while making an uncertain decision.
Ex: One book you keep coming back to? Sunil: I have always been an avid reader. Two books which have particularly had a great impact on me are – Playing to Win by A.G.Lafley by Roger L Martin and Factfulness by Hans Rosling. Both these books have predominantly shaped my outlook on a professional and personal front.
