Advertisement Feature: Garmin India brings more joy to this festival with the all-new Venu SQ Smartwatch

Garmin India, a unit of Garmin Ltd. today launched their pocket-friendly yet feature-loaded latest GPS smartwatch: Venu Sq and the Venu Sq Music Edition. The Venu Sq is built with bright colour display, sleek design and best suited for every part of your day while keeping a track of your health and fitness activities.
The new Venu Sq series boasts over 20 built-in indoor and outdoor sports apps including Pilates, yoga, strength training, running, pool swimming, cycling, golf and many more supporting its users with extensive workout required to inspire movement. Adding more to it, the Music edition features on-device music storage for phone-free listening.

Garmin India Smartwatch -  Exhibit Tech Magazine
Apart from the sports app, the smartwatch also comes loaded with health monitoring features including advanced sleep with Pulse Ox2, respiration tracking, abnormal heart rate alerts (high and low), menstrual cycle tracking, stress tracking with relax reminders, hydration tracking and more. Bringing more convenience to the users, the Venu Sq supports battery life of up to six days in smartwatch mode and up to 14 hours in GPS mode.
Ali Rizvi, Director of Garmin India said, “We at Garmin have always focused on fulfilling the needs of our customers with the best of quality products and high-end technological innovations. Today, with the launch of Venu Sq, we are now entering into a new market segment under which people can buy a Garmin smartwatch at a competitive price with premium features including 20 built-in sports apps, on-device music storage, advanced sleep with Pulse Ox2 with the broadest range of 24/7 monitoring features available on the market.”


Venu Sq’s robust suite of workout options also includes preloaded workouts on the watch, preset workouts available to download from Garmin Connect, and “create your own” customizable workouts. Whether training for a 5K or something longer, the Venu Sq is compatible with Garmin Coach, free training plans adapted to a runner’s goals and performance, complete with a virtual personal trainer for added motivation.
Innovative Body Battery energy monitoring also lets users monitor their energy level which can help with scheduling workouts, rest times and sleep. The Venu Sq series provides all-day connection and convenience with a host of smart features including notifications, music storage, safety and tracking, and more.
The new series of Venu Sq will be available for ₹ 21,090 and the Venu Sq Music will be available for ₹26,290.

The Vu Masterpiece TV | First Impression

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?

Must Watch –  https://www.exhibit.tech/vu-masterpiece-tv-launch-ms-devita-saraf-takes-us-through-the-idea-behind-it/

Move over traffic! The flying car is here.

A flying car: Something that fans of The Jetsons and tech freaks have always been pining for. After all the fantasizing and day-dreaming, finally, it is one step closer to reality. The AirCar, an experimental prototype by KleinVision has recently taken its maiden flight!

Developed by the aforementioned KleinVision, which is a Slovakian company founded by Stefan Klein, the AirCar is predominantly built from advanced composite materials that were produced by the certified Slovak company SKMODEL, s.r.o. All construction parts were manufactured meeting the highest quality standards using high-tech methods. It was tested successfully at Nitra airport in October 2019.

To test a number of aerodynamic and flight control characteristics predicted by digital simulation and analyses, a Flight Demonstrator Testbed (FDT), a model in the scale 1:1, had been built and used in flight mode. All the results measured and observed with the FDT confirmed the theoretical predictions. Currently, the FDT has been donated to and is displayed in the Aviation Museum in Košice.

The AirCar comprises several functional units. Its aerodynamic fuselage provides enough space for the passengers and simultaneously contributes to better lift characteristics during the flight. Among advanced technologies are retractable wings, folding tail surfaces, and a parachute deployment system, among others. The folding tail surfaces contribute to better longitudinal stability and take-off characteristics, just like in a conventional aircraft. However, in the car mode, the retracted tail results in a more compact size.

A fully functional flying of the AirCar prototype has been developed, from an initial idea to final product in the experimental category within 18 months. Experimental categories support the complete research and verification of all technical and design tasks.

Simulation methods and design optimization have been used throughout the entire R&D stage. A simulation, based on the CFD analyses was carried out at VUT Brno in close cooperation with experts in aerodynamics. The team has performed extensive analyses using state-of-the-art simulation methods such as FEM to achieve the best overall outcome. The load and stress calculations were conducted by Dalibor Vlček, MSc., who also contributed with his experience gained while acting as a Compliance Verification Engineer within several projects overseen by EASA.

The AirCar prototype is currently subject to intense ground and flight tests in the experimental category since October 2019. The flying prototype of AirCar was introduced to the general public on November 5, 2019, at CIIE in Shanghai, China. Thorough testing will continue in the next months to come. Variations of two engines will be included in the tests, along with an amphibious version.

Though there is no news of the official launch of the AirCar in the Indian or international market, its research is expected to conclude soon, which will lead to the initiation of its commercial production.

QUIBI | QUICK BITES, BAD STORY

From the day Quibi was launched, I had my eyes fixated on it. Firstly because it was Meg Whiteman who raised an eye popping USD 1 Billion, secondly it was trying to enter a space where the grand daddies like Apple, Google, Netflix, Amazon are heavily invested and willing to lose billions for their share of eyeballs. Literally this time. Back in India, I used to get these OTT platform startup pitches and my reply was simple: it is the airline business which will make you a millionaire from a billionaire. There is no way under the sun that any new OTT platform without any strategic bundle can be a profitable and sustainable business. Case in point, Netflix – Early mover advantage and the man Reed Hastings is simply outstanding. Let’s look at Amazon- Its prime membership and e-commerce play is big to keep churning content and throwing it for free. Imagine in future while you are watching an Amazon original and a pop up comes selling you any of its products. They are building their own advertising audience ready to be monetized in a few clicks Disney + Hotstar – For them the stakes are too high not to be in this space and even MX player for The Times of India is backwardly integrated with their own production jungle and their media muscle. Zee5 – Similarly if they don’t have their own OTT they will not be relevant any more, and if you are still not tired of all the above then there’s YouTube with billions of hours worth of free content which you can keep watching with your next generations ahead.

Coming back to Quibi, with its 10 minute – 5 USD service, on the face of it is a great idea. We want smackable content and just like 20/20 cricket matches, they are the need of the hour. But how many will pay for it? 10 minutes is a free spot served by YouTube. At first, the idea of mobile-first content, 10 minutes content and a great team led by Meg Whitman who has been associated with HP, Procter & Gamble, Walt Disney and that this will succeed was a no-brainer. But having attempted many startups myself and failed in many I can vouch that what looks on the surface as a brilliant idea, sometimes does a somersault once it goes on the floor. The project faced skepticism from the beginning, but there was a Hollywood heavyweight of Katzenberg’s reputation involved. As former chairman of Walt Disney Studios and a co-founder of DreamWorks Animation, it seemed that if anyone could disrupt the OTT shape in mobile viewership patterns, as Quibi was trying, it would be Katzenberg.

It’s easy to blame the present times for any failed business, but OTT and streaming apps have seen a huge uptick. But possibly, for Quibi dearth of content production since they were new in the business and the content factory was slammed with hard “Covid brakes.” In spite of shows like 50 states of fright and a dream team with 1.7 billion dollars in funding , streaming is a complicated space to disrupt. It’s almost like the e-commerce business after Amazon, Flipkart. That is where your search ends.

Ujjwal Chaurasia | Gaming | Influncex’20

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?

Ujjwal: Rise of Mobile gaming as compared to PC gaming and competition.

Ex: What would be your calling in a parallel universe? (Alternate career options) 

Ujjwal:  App Developer/ programming.

Ex:  If you were stranded on an island, what are the 3 gadgets you’d take along?

Ujjwal: Phone, Internet, and computer.

Ex:  A technology you wished you’d invented?

Ujjwal: Mobile Gaming.

Ex:  What’s been your favorite encounter with a fan so far? (DMs included!)

Ujjwal: One of Ujjwals fan started crying on Discord live call.

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?

Ujjwal: Always be attentive, think twice before clicking on links from unknown/corrupted sources.

Ex:  What does success mean to you?

Ujjwal: Owning my own gaming company.

Ex:  Do you think Influencer Marketing is a fad? Where do you see this space in years to come?

Ujjwal: Influencer marketing is doing wonders for Brands and Influencers both. It has a great future as digital modernization is rapid.

Ex:  Which three things does someone starting in the gaming industry need to know?

Ujjwal: Consistency, New trend, Content quality.

Ex:  What would you say is the biggest challenge for a gaming influencer?

Ujjwal: Making your identity at the beginning because the competition is too much, a concern of gaining followers and family pressure at the same time.

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Madan Gowri | Break Through Talent | Influncex’20

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!

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Travel buffs! Feast upon the new avatar of KOGO 2.0 with automated trip content creation & discovery!

Everyone loves travelling. As humans, we possess a natural tendency that makes us meet new people. We don’t realize it, but we all need it. While listening to an adventurous travel story, have you ever thought of telling one yourself? 

Well, what if someone tells it on your behalf? In an arranged manner without missing out on the slightest detail that we often tend to forget. This is where things get serious. Meet the KOGO TripTracker, the most intelligent device that you’ll witness while travelling! KOGO is a device-app combo that allows you to track your road trips precisely and create stories that include every moment you capture. An app that tells you the nearest local stores, food-points, chai tapris, and even talk and meet with other travelers on the same route for a better experience.  

 

Speaking on the development, Mr Raj K Gopalakrishnan said, “While Corona brought the world to a grinding halt, we worked overtime to add the maximum value to the product for our users. The result is 7 new features and 41 feature enhancements in KOGO 2.0, which I can confidently say is at par with the best platforms in the world today, in terms of performance, features, and architecture. But the big delight for users is AI trip videos. Creating Trip videos (amateur or vlogs) has plagued travelers globally. They never did it, because it required skill and time. We have completely automated the process with our proprietary AI Video Engine. Finish a trip and it’s like magic. A freshly minted video created automatically, with pictures, routes, stats, animation, graphics and music. I truly believe we have opened the floodgates to a boom of user-generated videos.” 

KOGO includes two pieces of an intelligent system. The hardware piece being the KOGO TripTracker with a built-in GPS tracker that tracks one’s position and the software is the KOGO App which eventually puts things together for you to see them. Whether you’re riding, cycling, driving, or hiking, KOGO records everything. It’s like a personal storyteller.  

LOOKS & FEATURES OF KOGO 2.0

The KOGO TripTracker is a little black box with a GPS tracker, a data SIM card, and its own battery. The device needs to be charged once every seven days. Additionally, don’t worry about travelling in no-network areas; the TripTracker stores up to 20 days of offline content. The device never interferes with your phone’s battery. The device can be mounted on to a motorcycle, a car’s dashboard, or can be put in your backpack. Once the app is enabled and synced with the KOGO TripTracker, it’s magic.  

However, the KOGO 2.0 version of the App has brought new enhancements along with 7 new features. The app is designed to work LIVE, while you enjoy your journey. The features include Kogo Carousel, a part of the new UI that gives a unified view of stories, videos, maps, and live features simultaneously. The AI Video Engine creates completely automated trip videos. Along with all this, you can be a part of the rich global community of travelers by discussing, suggesting, or asking for recommendations. You can participate in KOGO Quests, or create your own, giving yourself another reason to travel.  

KOGO 2.0 tracks every single detail of your trip capturing routes, halts, places of interest, weather, and more. You don’t even have to stop at times. The app does it automatically if you happen to miss an event or place of interest on the way. It finds an unlicensed photograph of the event for you to remember. Through the KOGO TripTracker, you’ll have automated sync of your photos, videos, and text with the route, stops and moments.  

The magic doesn’t end here. KOGO 2.0 enables enhanced discovery of trips, people, and quests with different filters such as Nearby, Trip Duration, Distance, Tags and Recommended. It also enables you to ask for Live help from other travelers and the community while on a trip. It also comes with a direct messaging feature between users. The AI storytelling Engine of KOGO turns your trip timeline into amazing trip videos and rich travel stories with maps, images, videos, and text. You can revisit and share your experiences through your stories across social media. It even creates customized cards of your content while you share.  

The KOGO App is free to download on Android and iOS and the device is available at an introductory price of INR 7,749. The one-year subscription cost for premium features of the app is INR 1,499. You can buy it on Amazon or across 125 points of sale in India.  

 

 

Tech This Week: A Recap of Global Tech News for the Week

Tech fans from around the world are always looking for the latest updates and features that technology has to offer. Be it the launch of a new product or the update of an existing one, the excitement is the same either way. To quench your thirst for tech news and events here is a gist of all the major happenings from around the world:

Segment 1: Global Launches 

LG Velvet for the USA

  • LG’s Velvet just got launched in the US on 22nd July following its launch in South Korea and several European countries. It is now available in the US market for $599, from AT&T.
  • It has a striking new look for LG, complete with a 6.8-inch OLED screen and IP68-rated waterproofing. The Velvet will be offered in Aurora Gray, Aurora Silver, Aurora Red, and Pink White. There’s just a single configuration of the Velvet that has 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage with microSD card support. 
  • It comes with the Snapdragon 765G, which has a built-in 5G modem, much like the new OnePlus Nord.

Oppo Reno 4 Global Launch Date Announced

  • The Oppo Reno4 & the Pro version has hit  China in June and in India has been announced as July 31, 12:30 pm. 
  • Meanwhile, a notable tipster has suggested that the Oppo Watch will likely arrive in India on the same day. However, the company is yet to confirm this development. 
  • Oppo tweeted that the Oppo Reno 4 Pro will come with a 6.5-inch display with a 90Hz refresh rate and “3D borderless sense screen.” The display offers a near bezel-less experience with its 92.01 percent screen-to-body ratio. 
  • The Oppo Reno 4 Pro that was launched in China comes with a triple camera setup at the back with a 48-megapixel primary camera, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and a 13-megapixel telephoto camera. 
  • The phone has a 4,000mAh battery include an in-display fingerprint sensor, 5G, 32-megapixel selfie camera, is powered by Snapdragon 765G Chipset paired with up to 12GiG  of RAM and up to 256GB of storage.
  • The Oppo Reno 4 Pro will be available to purchase via Flipkart and Amazon. While you have to wait for the announcement in its pricing and availability details.

Segment 2: India Launches

HP Powerhouse Gaming Portfolio

    • HP unveiled its new OMEN Laptops and accessories on Wednesday. It also introduced the first 16” Pavilion Gaming laptop.
    •   It also made updates to the OMEN Command Center, all designed for today’s gamer to play their best while pushing the limits of what their devices can do. It offers “First of its kind” hardware technologies with unmatched power without any compromise.
  • OMEN 15 (Intel) is available at a starting price of Rs. 79,999 and OMEN 15 (AMD) is available at a starting price of Rs. 75,999.
  • Pavilion Gaming 16 (Intel) is available at a starting price of Rs. 70,999, while the pavilion gaming 16 (AMD) is available at a starting price of Rs. 59,999.

One Plus Nord

  • OnePlus just had a one-of-its-kind Augmented Reality launch for its much talked about –  OnePlus Nord which starts at Rs. 24,999 
  • The base model offers 6GB RAM and 64GB storage, while the 8GB RAM 128GB storage option carries a price tag of Rs. 27,999 and the top-end 12GB RAM 256GB storage model is priced at Rs. 29,999.
  • The Nord houses a quad-camera set-up on the back consisting of a 48MP main lens, along with 119-degree ultra-wide, depth, and macro lenses of 8MP, 5MP, and 2MP, respectively. 
  • It also has a 90 Hz Fluid Display for faster and more reactive touch and swipe and is  available in two colour variants – Gray and Blue
  • The phone will sport a 4100 mAh battery, and Warp Charge. The device also comes with 5G support and runs on the android 10-based OxygenOS.

Redmi Note 9

  • Redmi Note 9 has been launched in India as the latest affordable smartphone by Xiaomi. The new model is the third in the Redmi Note 9 series — after the Redmi Note 9 Pro and Redmi Note 9 Pro Max.
  •  The new member of Redmi family comes in three storage variants – 4GB + 64GB at Rs 11,999, 4GB + 128GB at Rs 13,499 and 6GB + 128GB at Rs 14,999.
  • It’s available in three colours – Pebble Grey, Arctic White, and Aqua Green.
  • The dual-SIM Redmi Note 9 runs on Android 10 with MIUI 11 on top.
  • It features a 6.53-inch full-HD+ Dot Display with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. 
  • Inside, the phone has an octa-core MediaTek Helio G85 chipset, coupled with up to 6Gig of RAM.
  • It has a quad rear camera set-up  With a 5,020mAh battery with a 22.5W fast charger in the box. The company claims a two-day battery life, 
  • Amid Indo-Sino border tension, the Chinese smartphone maker claims that the all-new Redmi Note 9 is  NOW  ‘Made In India’.

Jabra Elite 45h

  • Danish wearable gadget-maker Jabra launched the Elite 45h on-ear headphones on Wednesday. The headphones aim to offer a long battery life of up to 50 hours and claim to offer up to 10 hours of battery life within just 15 minutes. They are priced around Rs 10,000.
  • The device features Jabra MySound to optimize and personalize sound experiences based on individual hearing profiles.
  • It has an on-ear form factor and features ear cushions made of PU leather material. There is also the single-fold design that lets the headphones lie flat and fit easily into a bag. 
  • The speakers enable music to be delivered while the dual-mic design removes noise around so one can enjoy crystal clear calls. 

Nikon Z5 Camera

  • The Nikon Z5 entry-level full-frame mirrorless camera has just been launched in India. This is currently Nikon’s most affordable Z-series camera with a full-frame sensor.
  • The new camera fills an all-important void between the Nikon Z6 and the Nikon Z50. With this lens, the Z5 will be available at a bundled price of Rs. 1,36,995.
  • The Nikon Z5  has a five-axis stabilizer and all feature a new, 24.3-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor that is not a backlit unit.

 You get a 3.6 million dot resolution electronic viewfinder and a tilting rear 3.2-inch LCD display with touch support.

Samsung to launch 5 new devices on August 5

  • Samsung is all set to host its Galaxy Unpacked event on August 5 and has now confirmed that it will unveil as many as five products at the event next month.
  • the company, via a recent teaser, has already confirmed that the Galaxy Fold 2 will launch at the event. 
  • There may be three variants in the Galaxy Note 20 series this time around – the Samsung Galaxy Note 20, Galaxy Note 20+, and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

Vivo S7 price and specs leaked

  • Vivo S7 price and specifications have been leaked online. While the Chinese company is yet to officially confirm the existence of the device, a tipster has leaked the specifications of the alleged Vivo S7 device on Weibo.
  • The source claims that the Vivo S7 will launch with a price label of approximately Rs. 32,100. This price will reportedly be for the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant. The company is also said to offer the 256GB storage option, which will be available for roughly Rs. 35,300).
  • As per the leaked details, the new Vivo phone will have a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chipset and dual selfie cameras. It is also likely to feature an in-display fingerprint sensor. 
  • If rumors and leaks are to be believed, the Vivo S7 will launch with a 44-megapixel Samsung ISOCELL GH1 primary selfie sensor. It will be assisted by an 8-megapixel secondary sensor along with a super-wide-angle lens. The upcoming Vivo S7 smartphone might be a successor to the current Vivo S6 phone.

Smartphone Shipments drop, Xiaomi worst affected 

  • Smartphone shipments have seen a drastic fall in the April-June period due to the coronavirus lockdown. Phone shipments fell 48 percent on the year, as mentioned in a report by Canalys. 
  • Around 17.3 million smartphones were shipped in the quarter, as compared to 33 million in the previous year. 
  • market leader Xiaomi saw a dramatic fall as its shipments fell 48 percent 

Google announces $10 billion tech fund for India

American tech giant Google officially announced a $10 billion digitization fund to help accelerate India’s digital economy. Sundar Pichai, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Silicon-based company took to Twitter to make the announcement today.

Pichai wrote, “Today at #GoogleForIndia we announced a new $10B digitization fund to help accelerate India’s digital economy. We’re proud to support PM @narendramodi’s vision for Digital India – many thanks to Minister @rsprasad & Minister @DrRPNishank for joining us.”

The company will focus its investments on four areas: 

  • First, enabling affordable access and information for every Indian in their own language, whether it’s Hindi, Tamil, Punjabi or any other
  • Second, building new products and services that are deeply relevant to India’s unique needs
  • Third, empowering businesses as they continue or embark on their digital transformation
  • Fourth, leveraging technology and AI for social good, in areas like health, education, and agriculture

India has more than 500 million people online everyday with more than 450 million smartphones in active usage. India is also a key overseas market for Google, due to its range of products and services getting deeply embedded in the Indian digital system. Services such as Google Search, YouTube and Android OS have almost become inseparable from the average Indian user.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also confirmed this news on Twitter. He stated, “This morning, had an extremely fruitful interaction with @sundarpichai. We spoke on a wide range of subjects, particularly leveraging the power of technology to transform the lives of India’s farmers, youngsters and entrepreneurs.” Modi also discussed the challenges brought by Covid-19 to areas like sports as well as the importance of data and cyber security.

Google joins the ranks of Facebook and Amazon in India to have made an investment of substantial amounts. Facebook made a $5.7 billion investment in Reliance Jio Platforms, the top telecom operator in the nation in April this year to digitize 60 million mom and pop stores in the country. During his visit to India early this year, Jeff Bezos said Amazon plans to invest an additional $1 billion in India, totalling the company’s to-date commitment to $6.5 billion.

Apple-Google COVID-19 Tracker Can’t Be Used in India

Google and Apple came together in April and developed tech that will help governments around the world to reduce the coronavirus spread. It is called the Covid-19 exposure notification or Covid-19 contact tracing tech. After months of hard work, the technology is now ready and is available on iOS and Android.

What is this tech all about?

This new tech is available as an Application Programming Interface (API) for Android and iOS Smartphones. The tech is smart enough to let the Smartphones log other devices they come in the vicinity of and enables “contact tracing” of the disease. It can’t function on its own and needs a supplementary app to work.

How does this contact tracing API work?

A public health app needs to use the API developed by Google and Apple for the technology to function. The app sends and receives data from nearby devices and keeps a record of people one may have come in contact with and their Covid-19 status. The app updates all the data on cloud. It regularly runs scans to check and notify people if they have unknowingly come in contact with any Covid-19 positive person. Health agencies are also notified so that the person can be tested and the spread of the disease can be curbed.

Why doesn’t it work in India?

Unfortunately, the Aarogya Setu App doesn’t use Apple-Google API. It needs a device’s location access and Bluetooth access to be able to function. The problem is that the Apple-Google API doesn’t give permission to public-health apps to access location data and that’s why it can’t be used by the Aarogya Setu app.

Apps built on Apple-Google API use only Bluetooth while the Aarogya Setu App needs location access too in order to collect information. If we compare the two, the Aarogya Setu collects more data in terms of location and numbers. It also stores data on the user’s phone, uploading it under certain circumstances. However, the Apple-Google API uses DP-3T (Decentralized Privacy-Preserving Proximity Tracing) protocol. This assigns randomised and anonymous unique IDs. Since these IDs change often, the tech can pick up data of corona positive people without any disclosure of identity or location.

We would’ve been happy to explore the two together but due to limitations in tech compatibility, it seems like we won’t be able to use the new Google-Apple API in Arogya Setup for now. 

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