Ex: What is one truth you believe in that most people disagree with you on? Vikram:Innovation comes from Anthropology and not Technology
Ex: What is the one subject you think aspiring leaders should learn? Vikram: Psychology
Ex: One thing you believe is absolutely necessary for sustained growth? Vikram:Ability to take a risk, which is possible only when fear of failure vanishes
Ex: One book you keep coming back to? Vikram:Life
Ex: Leadership quotes that you live by (Can be multiple) Vikram: 1. Ruk Jana Nahin, Tu Kahin Haar Ke.
2. Kanton pe chal ke, milenge saaye bahar ke.
Ex: How difficult is it to maintain a work-life balance? Vikram: Make your passion your work, and suddenly you don’t have to balance between the two
Ex: What has been your biggest learning in the pandemic? Vikram: Self-driven people contribute irrespective of whether their bosses are hovering over them or not
Ex: Some productivity apps and technologies you use in your daily life? Vikram:Trello
Ex: What is your technology detox like? Vikram:Travel with no access to emails and messages
Ex: What’s coming next from Saregama? Vikram: 1. Carvaan Karaoke for everyone stuck at home
2. Carvaan Kids for all bachchas who are stuck in front of screens
3. 50 new songs in Gujarati and Bhojpuri
4. Movies: Bahut Hua Samman, Comedy Couple, Zombivali
Ex: How do you see the industry shaping up in the post COVID world? Vikram: People will spend more time at home, thus pushing entertainment consumption through the roof!
Ex: What is one truth you believe in that most people disagree with you on? Anupam: I believe there are a lot of truths out there waiting to be discovered. Even if most people deny this, there are indeed many things that we are yet to know and yet to figure out. The truths that we believe to be true, aren’t necessarily true. Historically speaking, we always have a perspective of many historical events. But as they say, history is a narrative of the victorious. So it is quite possible that the historical events we know today could simply be propaganda.
Ex: What is the one subject you think aspiring leaders should learn? Anupam:The most important one is, you have to lead by example. Surprisingly, I have seen this more in India than abroad. A lot of times we start assuming that the rules that apply to us may not apply to others. I feel that is a big shortcoming. For
youngsters, it is important to understand that the rules that apply to others, apply to them as well. Secondly, leadership has to be about learning. It should not be about dictating. Leadership is about being humble and vulnerable and accepting that just because you are in a leadership position, you are not invulnerable.
Ex: One book you keep coming back to? Anupam: There was a book that I read in 1995 called 2020 Vision by Stanley Davis and Bill Davidson. If you read through that book, it gives you a systematic approach to the way things happen in the contemporary world. Everything written in that book has unfolded verbatim. So I find that quite fascinating and I keep revisiting it frequently.
Ex: Leadership quotes that you live by? Anupam: There are many quotes that I follow since all of them point out to a different aspect of life. While it is difficult to pinpoint a single one that I adore the most, there is one by Roosevelt that goes, “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of
deeds could have done them better.” I also draw a lot of lessons from the Gita.
Ex: What has been your biggest learning in the pandemic especially, with dependency on apps and the digital medium increasing drastically? Anupam: The biggest thing that I am most amazed by, is our adaptability. The way we have adapted to the new way of life, new technologies and whatnot have really surprised me. To me, it is a deeper statement about the human spirit and our need to conquer everything that is thrown our way. So I think that is the biggest lesson for me in the pandemic.
Ex: Shaadi.com must have seen an influx of activity on the platform in the lockdown, what was the key trend that you noticed during this phase? Anupam: Unfortunately, finding a life partner in India is seen as a very high-pressure situation. The way matchmaking or marriage works in India is completely different from how it works in the West. All our intent is to take away the pressure that is created by Indians during this phase. We saw a huge upsurge in engagements and marriages during this lockdown period. When people logged on to shaadi.com, they realised it is not just a matrimonial site, but a platform for planned marriages and lifetime commitments. So that worked significantly in our favour.
Ex: What is one truth you believe in that most people disagree with you on? Devita:It is a wonderful world.
Ex: What is the one subject you think aspiring leaders should learn? Devita:Public speaking
Ex: One thing you believe is absolutely necessary for sustained growth? Devita: Reinvention
Ex: One book you keep coming back to? Devita:The Prince – Niccolo Machiavelli
Ex: Leadership quotes that you live by (Can be multiple) Devita: “The height of intelligence is the ability to conceal it.” – Francois de la Rochefoucauld
Ex: How difficult is it to maintain a work-life balance? Devita:For bosses, work is life
Ex: What has been your biggest learning in the pandemic? Devita:Looking internally at the state of affairs
Ex: Some productivity apps and technologies you use in your daily life? Devita:Our latest, video conferencing product, Meeting by Vu
Ex: What is your technology detox like? Devita: Connecting with people
Ex: What’s coming next from VU? Devita:A range of products focusing on consumers’ workstyles
Ex: How has the ban on imports affected VU? Are you planning to start manufacturing India in a full-fledged manner? Devita:Yes it has affected us, and yes, we plan to manufacture locally
Ex: What inspired you to enter the conference special segment? Devita: When we make new products, we don’t just look at the hardware or the competition. We look at the consumers and see how we can make their lifestyle better. We realized there is a huge demand for a new category that we call “work style.” So we began work a year ago, focussed on making televisions and screens a major part of productivity. After the lockdown happened, it was evident that people had to run their businesses without going anywhere. So we researched some more, came up with our own proprietary hardware, and launched a new company called “Meeting by VU.” That’s how we landed in this segment.
Ex: Knowing you, how are your marathon runs going, we somehow feel your passion for fitness and running must have instigated the birth of Goqii?
Vishal:Yes , certainly now I am practising headstand and handstand now and getting good at it, running is always there but missing marathons now and that can certainly wait.
Ex: Has the lockdown been a blessing in disguise with uptick in the app downloads with the fitness wave sweeping across the country?
Vishal:Yes we have seen a 300% rise in our downloads and revenues also and because travel costs are reduced by team, so it’s going to be an interesting year.
Ex: How much revenue does the smart wearable vs the fitness coaching and consulting business share amongst each other?
Vishal:It’s a joint plan, we believe in the complete ecosystem.
Ex: Is WFH better or working in the office?
Vishal:WFH is not an option now, but when meetings are in person you get 100%
mindshare, another issue is that people mute and switch the video off and play video games at times!
Ex: Book/s that you read, and re-read?
Vishal:Bhagwad Gita
Ex: What are the productivity apps or technology that you use?
Vishal:I have hacks like I use my morning time for important decisions and have not been having breakfast, just coffee with ghee and wearing red shoes and red t-shirt. This saves me a lot of time thinking about what to wear and what to eat etc. So normally by the time people reach office they are already exhausted.
Ex: What do you read of the pandemic and how it will change humanity and the environment in the years ahead?
Vishal: 95% of people will come back to their previous self, human beings are lazy and social animals. But the important thing is how organizations change, like after 9/11 airport security was beefed up everywhere. Whether the government takes care of health care and provides more in that department is yet to be seen.
Ex: What’s your ultimate vision for Goqii in the next 5 to 10 years?
Vishal: To be the largest healthcare company in the country. Healthcare as such is flawed and it’s more of “sick care”. The challenge is to make people fit and healthy with healthy habits so that we progress towards a healthier nation.
Ex: Akshay Kumar signing up for GOQii is a big bold step? How much of that has helped Goqii?
Vishal: Before signing him up, we researched for a while. Baba Ramdev and Akshay Kumar came out on top of whom people have trust and listen to. Baba Ramdev was out of our league, of course, so we went to Akshay and deduced that our visions are the same. He is a vegetarian and is an example of idealistic living, early waking up, etc, which marries well with GOQii. So, as a brand, we are totally wired in together and it’s a great compliment!
As promised here is our First Impression about the extravaganza gadget, the Vu Masterpiece TV. Well, we believe that this TV can totally fulfill the luxurious aesthetics of your home. Tell us in the comments below what do you think about this masterpiece?
What do we do when we go to the restaurant for lunch or dinner? We skim through the complete menu card for a couple of minutes, and then except for the foodies, the rest of the people order the same favorite food they have ordered in the last few yea₹ But, we can not apply this logic when we're looking for a nice pair of earphones, earbuds, or headphones . The confusion starts from there and we will stick to True Wireless earbuds which are all having some great deals going on on Amazon and Flipkart around the world. I have kept a few parameters in mind while choosing these, such as:
Great Battery life , it’s a must and all of them have 20-30 hours of juice.
Water & sweat resistance. Don’t need to go swimming underwater but anywhere near a pool is ok.
Descent to great sound quality.
Should work with Android and iOS both.
All of them have magnetic properties and won’t fall off accidentally while
opening.
All of them have C type Charging and a wireless charging case to hang
around with.
OPPO Enco W51 True Wireless Headphone Good:
Premium Design
Wireless Charging Support
Excellent Call Quality Bad:
Audio Lacks Refinement
Customization Is Limited To Oppo Smartphones
Oppo has been contributing to the Indian market with some excellent audio
products and W51 is one of them. These headphones are available in two colors, one in starry blue and another one is in floral white; the price of these earbuds is ₹4,999, but now have deals going on in e-commerce sites.
Just 15 minutes of charge can entertain you for 9 hours of music playback/calls with ANC (active noise cancellation) on. Connect them once with your device, and then you don’t have to repeat that ever. Open the case, and the buds will connect with your device automatically, and they’ll disconnect when you put them back to the case.
The Enco W51 earbuds are half in-ear buds with soft silicone tips. The buds feel comfortable in the ears and offer a reliable fit. They stay at their place and do not fall off even while running or cycling. Weighing only 3.95 grams, these earphones are professionally designed and are certified IP54 dustproof and waterproof. The sound quality is not so refined, but at this price range, they are one of the best and can pass off as Apple buds. Verdict: It's going to be my pick at sub 5k level and is the only one amongst these five which comes with wireless charging and is light in your ears.
OnePlus Buds
Good:
Looks good especially the Nardo blue. Bad :
No advanced Bluetooth codec support
The sound quality is below the oppo w51
Does not have rubber tips , and it might just slip out of your ears.
OnePlus is like that excited teenager who wants to try his hands at everything; First, they started with smartphones, then they moved on to accessories and audio products, and then last year, they launched their television sets. Launched alongside the OnePlus Nord smartphone, these OnePlus buds are priced at ₹4,990, and are the company’s first true wireless headset.
Giving a loud and clear output, they are equipped with a unique noise cancellation algorithm and three microphones to improve clarity. They have a powerful sound and allow you to enjoy up to 30 hours of listening time. The case we get alongside these buds work like a power bank. Charge it for 10 minutes and you can enjoy up to 10 hours of listening. You can experience 3D stereo with Dolby Atmos or stunning sound quality with Dirac Audio Tuner support. I quite liked the Nord blue colour buds that were sent for review, but you also have another option for buying the OnePlus Buds, they are also available in white. These buds are said to work best when used with an OnePlus smartphone, but to our surprise, they work just fine with other devices too. The charging case is tiny and easily pocketable. The USB Type-C port for charging is at the bottom, and the pairing button is at the back. Verdict: Once paired, it’s easy to connect and reconnect and the same silicon tip might just work best for some ears If you are a OnePlus user its best recommended.
Creative Outlier Air TWS
Good: IPX5 water resistance
Almost 50% discount on the e-com sites now. Bad:
Slippery charging case
Poor isolation
The cylindrical shape is a little bulkier to tug along and not pocketable.
The Creative Outlier Air earbuds and its charging case are lightweight and compact, making it easy to transport them in a purse or pocket. Like their name their manufacturing is also a little creative, they come with IPX5 certification, they are sweatproof, water-resistant, and can handle all that hard-earned sweat, accidental splashes, and even rain very easily.
The Bluetooth 5.0 earbuds have a 10-meter wireless range, and the 380mAh
charging case it comes with provides an additional two charge cycles, carrying you through nearly a full day of listening. Charging takes up to two hours, and the same applies to the USB-C charging case. They have stunning 30 hours of battery life and graphene-powered audio excellence, and dual voice calls along with controls. One can hear audio out of both earbuds when making a call and enjoy convenient access to Siri or Google Assistant with Outlier Air.
They are said to be graphene drivers, but I’m not sure these drivers are completely built from graphene. I found the sound output to be playful and more tuned towards bass response. It prioritizes the bass response over clarity, but still, the sound output is appreciable. It has a decent design with IPX5 certification but also fragile in terms of the structure of the case. Verdict: Not the best bet; If the charging case was not so bulky, it would have made a perfect cut.
Jabra Elite Active 75t True Wireless ANC Bluetooth Earbuds
Good :
Fantastic Carrying Case.
More comfortable, smaller design.
Good sound quality with thumping bass.
Easy to pocket, looks premium Bad :
Average Jabra ANC.
Controls can get confusing
At ₹13,999 Jabra hits the second place in our list. They are claimed to be the best-fit earbuds yet in the market. Jabra says they have scanned thousands of ears to create these best-fitting sport earbuds with a special grip coating to make sure they stay in while you work out, and I guess Jabra is right. You can run, jump, you can do any physical activity while wearing them, and they will stick with you all the time like they are one of the parts of your body. Although entirely plastic, the earphones look and feel good. The Jabra Elite 75t is available in a single color – titanium – and is IP55-rated for dust and water resistance. This is the biggest difference between the Elite 75t and Elite Active 75t; the latter is IP57-rated for better water resistance. That said, the Elite 75t will be able to handle reasonable amounts of exposure to sweat, water, and dust, making them appropriate for standard everyday use.
The earphones each have a physical button, an indicator light, and a motion sensor. The sensor is used to automatically pause music when either earphone is removed, and resume when it is worn again. The buttons can be used to control everything on the earphones, including volume, playback, hear-through mode, and the voice assistant on a paired smartphone. However, the button-press combinations are a bit complicated, and I often pressed the wrong button because to remember each function with the tap will not be easy and anyways our memories are all gone to surf the internet.
The headset uses Bluetooth 5 for connectivity, with support for the SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs. 6mm dynamic drivers power the earphones, with a frequency response range of 20-20,000Hz. Up to two Bluetooth source devices can be actively connected to the earphones at a time, and up to eight devices can be remembered. The earphones have four microphones (two on each earbud) for calls and noise reduction on calls. Verdict: It’s the best premium TWS earbuds that you can buy and has practicality, style , quality all mirrored in. And through the Jabra Sound App you can customize controls and hear through.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless Earbuds
Good:
Excellent sound Quality, best in its class.
Customizable controls.
Solid ANC performance. Bad:
High price
Unintuitive default controls
No wireless charging on the case
Charging Case bulky
Weight of the buds is on the heavier side.
Now, it’s time to know about the last one but the best one in our segment, when it comes to sound quality: The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless in-Ear Bluetooth Headphone with Multi-Touch Fingertip Control. With these advanced headphones, you can control your music, calls, and voice assistant simply through intuitive touchpad technology built into both earbuds.
It doesn’t come with many accessories, but they cover the basics. You get the
earbuds, the charging case, a piddly 20cm USB-C cable to charge the case, and four different sizes of silicone ear tips, ranging in size from extra small to large. There are no extra little wings to hold the earphones in your ear’s cartilage, but thankfully, I didn’t find them necessary. I popped the MTW2s in my ears, and they fit snugly the first time.
In fact, whether I was exercising or out on a cycle ride (with noise-cancelling turned off, naturally), the earbuds stayed snugly in my ears The only time I had to take them out mid-exercise was when I couldn’t remember if they were IP rated high enough to deal with my sweat. I needn’t have worried; they’re IPX4 rated, meaning they should survive light splashes. They protrude a little more from your ears than the smallest of earbuds like the Jabra Elite 75ts.But the important thing was that they still felt snug, and they didn’t feel like they were dangling at all. I tried wearing them while eating, and they held firm.
I think that everyone should customize the controls of the MTW2s when they first get them because, out of the box, the controls are wildly unintuitive. By default, you tap the left earbud once to play/pause, twice to skip to the next track, three times for the previous track, and you hold it to turn the volume down. The right earbud summons your voice assistant, turns on transparent hearing, turns on ANC, and raises the volume using the same commands. It feels oddly one-sided. The transparent hearing keeps you aware of your surroundings, allowing you to easily listen and chat without having to remove your earbuds.
Their premium price (and, for some, the touch controls) mean they won’t be for everyone, but if you’re after a pair of truly wireless earbuds that come close to matching the quality of a premium pair of noise-cancelling over-ear headphones, then Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless 2 are easy to recommend. You can experience the good quality sound of these headphones which are made for every environment with durable, tough, splash-resistant materials.
Verdict: If it was not the weight of the earphones and the beautiful but bigger charging and carrying case. I would have put my money on it. But If you are an audiophile it’s the closest you can come in TWS. Period.
Ex: Tell us about a change you’ve seen in the digital blogging space since you started out your journey? How has this space evolved?
Sejal:Digital blogging space is constantly growing. Now, people are more accepting of this career path. Space has evolved immensely over the years as now, the audience is aware of the content they want to consume and thus, the creators are putting out as relatable, useful, and entertaining content they can. Earlier I would find it difficult to even explain my profession but now we are getting recognized even in traditional media which feels great!
Ex: A technology you wished you’d invented?
Sejal:Airpods! I think they are such a good device for anyone! Creators especially! I’ve used them in a million different ways to create content
Ex: What’s been your favorite encounter with a fan so far? (DMs included!)
Sejal:On a family trip on the train to Amritsar, this girl figured out which day I was leaving via my stories and somehow even my coach reading the names on the train! She came to our seats and said ‘yes finally found you!’ My grandparents were so shocked and I was too! She had an adorable scrapbook with her with my pictures that I signed and I was in complete awe. BUT thank god this wasn’t a creepy guy, I’ve been careful with my stories since then!
Ex: Social Media is known to expose vulnerabilities, with influencers being at the epicenter. How do you deal with the dark side that comes with the medium?
Sejal:It is not easy. I love my job and I am grateful for everyone that loves my work but there are people who will always want to bring you down. Most of the time, I try to not let the hate get to me. I think taking a break, meditating, and believing in yourself is the only way ahead!
What does success mean to you?
Sejal:A side product of doing something that fulfills me and keeps going every day, even if some days are bad.
Ex: As Fashion-Tech is on the rise, what is your take on this new style of couture? Do you think it’s here to stay?
Sejal:Fashion and Tech are the two things I love. I think it’s a beautiful combination. Yes, it is here to stay. I am continually impressed with how creative people get day by day.
Ex: Tell us about a change you’ve seen in the digital blogging space since you started out your journey? How has this space evolved?
Prajakta:I think the sheer magnanimity of the platform speaks for itself. When I started 5 years ago, we did not see this coming. Nobody knew the digital space would boom like this in every corner of our country. That is the biggest change I have seen. Now there are more consumers and even more creators coming on to the platform everyday.
Ex: Can you give us an insight into social media platforms that only an Influencer can know?
Prajakta:Know what is the best time to post that’ll give you the most engagement. Consistency is key and content is king at the end of the day. Also, engaging with your audience makes all the difference.
Ex: A technology you wished you’d invented?
Prajakta:An app that deletes your account if you baselessly spew hate at people on the internet.
Ex: What’s been your favorite encounter with a fan so far? (DMs included!)
Prajakta:Running into viewers at malls and airports or reading the amazing letters they write to me is by far the best thing about my job. But I remember, a viewer once came up to me at an event to talk about how she gave up on waxing her legs and accepted her body as is after listening to my song ‘SHAMELESS’. That was such an accomplishment!
Ex: What does success mean to you?
Prajakta:Seeing the people that matter to me happy.
Ex: Do you think Influencer Marketing is a fad? Where do you see this space in years to come?
Prajakta:Influencer marketing is definitely not a fad and is here to stay. Over the years brands have seen the connect influencers have with their audience. The brands are keen on tapping this bond and maximising visibility for their brand. So it is definitely here to stay wherein many brands are actively focussing on influencer marketing over mainstream conventional marketing techniques.
Ex: Tell us about a change you’ve seen in the digital blogging space since you started out your journey? How has this space evolved?
Madan: When I started 4 years ago, YouTube was just a hobby people had. Now, it has become a profession. In the process, everything from camera to content, everything has been upgraded by multi-folds. There is a lot more clutter too but the evolution has been amazing.
Ex: Can you give us an insight into social media platforms that only an Influencer can know?
Madan: The cover picture or thumbnail is equivalent to a movie trailer. Only when the trailer is good will the audience watch the movie. Likewise, a thumbnail invites or repels the viewer to watch the video.
Ex: What would be your calling in a parallel universe? (Alternate career options)
Madan: CEO of Jio. I am in all awe of Mukesh Ambani and the internet revolution he has brought to India.
Ex: If you were stranded on an island, what are the 3 gadgets you’d take along?
Madan: My phone, drone camera (better aerial view of the island), and bluetooth speaker (to scare the wild animals).
Ex: A technology you wished you’d invented?
Madan: Something that will convert my videos into multiple languages of choice.
Ex: What’s been your favorite encounter with a fan so far? (DMs included!)
Madan:I had a bad day in Qatar once when I was on a week-long trip. I got a bouquet full of flowers in my room from a fan. I have never got a bouquet in my life till that very moment. It was very sweet!
Ex: Social media trolling is seeing an upward rise. Do you think this only increases with the popularity of an Influencer? How does one tackle this situation?
Madan: Being part of the meme culture is very important for any creator across the world. It gives a marketing that is worth crores of rupees. Tackling it is simple, blocks toxic people, encourages healthy memes.
Ex: What does success mean to you?
Madan: Going to bed realizing that I did something meaningful today. Nothing feels better than adding some kind of positive value to people’s lives.
Tell us something we don’t know about the influencer’s content strategy?
The strategy is that, there is no strategy, we just ride the wave and believe in our content!
Ex: Tell us about a change you’ve seen in the digital blogging space since you started out your journey? How has this space evolved?
Sarah: I started 4 years ago, where the space of digital marketing was not so solid, and Instagram/YouTube bloggers were just treated with freebies and free lunches. However, no people like me are making it a career choice, people have started recognizing it, brands want their products to be endorsed by bloggers, and it works as a regular creative business.
Ex: Can you give us an insight into social media platforms that only an Influencer can know?
Sarah: I feel social media is one place for expression which gives every creator its chance to express their creativity. If you’re good at something the app can make you a star, you don’t need to be super rich or an influential person, social media recognizes talent faster than any other platform.
Ex: A technology you wished you’d invented?
Sarah: To make all my videos viral.
Ex: What’s been your favorite encounter with a fan so far? (DMs included!)
Sarah: There have been many really, but once a man msged me that he named her daughter Sarah, because he wants her to become like me, I was really touched by it.
Ex: What does success mean to you?
Sarah: Success is never a target, for me success is waking up everyday, making content, making my followers happy and having a good night’s sleep. It’s constant. I believe hard work is the way to success.
Ex: Do you think Influencer Marketing is a fad? Where do you see this space in years to come?
Sarah: I don’t think social media is going anywhere, it’s a super growing field. I see this field getting more popular than movies in the years to come.
Ex: Which is that one dish or cuisine that you haven’t tried yet but are looking forward to?
Sarah: I really want to try authentic Spanish and Andhra Food.
Ex: What do you do to make your content unique from others?
Sarah: Originality and just sheer love for what I do.
