HUAWEI Band 6 changes the game and becomes more than a band with large display, SPO2 monitoring

 Back in the day, smartwatches and smart bands were two completely different products. While one brought about all the smarts, interactivity and functionality, the latter was a plain wearable with no display and just a vibration or two to act as alerts. While these fitness or smart bands served a purpose of tracking, they were never fully fledged when it came to user interactivity, usually limiting to smartphone apps or at the most a minimal and monochrome display. But not anymore, decided Huawei, bringing together all the capabilities of a smartwatch into an all new smart band, enabling it to do more than what a smart band can, all while not needing the budget for one. This is the new HUAWEI Band 6.

For instance, let’s take a look at what smart bands are known for. As mentioned earlier, they are smaller, not really big on displays and focused mainly on just notifications and health alerts, all while depending on an app to display everything. With the new HUAWEI Band 6, you get all of these, but with the added bonuses of smartwatch like design and features at the more affordable smart band price.

HUAWEI Band 6

In terms of the health indicators for example, the HUAWEI Band 6 is capable of constantly monitoring your blood oxygen (SpO2) levels. An important health indicator, a drop in an individual’s SpO2 levels can result in fatigue while prolonged lower levels are more adverse. What Huawei does here is, instead of having the users scan their SpO2 levels when they feel down, the HUAWEI Band 6 monitors it all day long in the background and even alerting the wearer if there are any drops. The health monitoring doesn’t end there, because the HUAWEI Band 6 takes on board all of Huawei’s strong health monitoring systems, which allow for accurate heart rate monitoring with HUAWEI TruSeen TM 4.0, HUAWEI TruSleep TM for accurate sleep tracking and HUAWEI TruRelax TM for stress measurement and management.

Health and fitness tracking is what smart bands are supposed to do, however, what people don’t expect from a smart band actually comes down to its display, something most variants lack thereof. With the HUAWEI Band 6, you get a full-fledged 1.47” AMOLED display with a bezel less design and screen to body ratio of 42%, which means the overall experience is more immersive than ever before. This display not only gives a more interactive experience akin to smartwatches, but also gives the overall look and feel of one. Huawei maintains its promise of long battery life with the HUAWEI Band 6 as well, implementing 2 full weeks of use on a single charge with all the health and fitness features running.

If there is one thing that is constant with smart bands and trackers, is the attention to fitness monitoring and tracking data to evaluate progress. The HUAWEI Band 6 is no stranger to this either, capable of tracking up to 96 workout modes that are automatically detected and tracked to get the most accurate data. This is further complemented by the HUAWEI TruSport TM algorithm, which deeply analyzes user’s exercise capabilities based on heart rate variability and exercise data and provide detailed assessments such as oxygen intake levels, recovery time and training effects. All of this pairs well with the HUAWEI Health app, which can be used to view all the data, view breathing exercises, set goals and monitor progress and even set smart alarms and event reminders.

What truly sets the HUAWEI Band 6 apart is how it has taken the evolutionary cues from smartphones and smartwatches, to result in a device that not only provides all the stellar features one has to come to expect from the likes of a full-fledged smartwatch, but offers it all at the price point of a smart band, thereby changing the game for the product line.

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TVs that are revolutionizing Indian market

 The Indian television business is in the midst of a major transformation. When compared to the past, watching television today is an entirely different experience. Similarly, what we see on television tomorrow will be different from what we see now. The television industry has undergone a significant transformation, and today's television is more than just a television; it serves a variety of functions.

So, what has caused this rapid technical change? Growing disposable income, tailored programming, superior technology, changing consumption patterns, and increasing internet penetration are just a few of the significant themes that have altered the Indian television market. The TV industry is going through a similar period as the mobile industry, where the future will be defined by ‘Innovation as a key to success.' After that, let's take a look at a few recent launches that have proven these points.

1.     The Gaming Champion – Gaming QLED 4K Android 11 TV C728

Engineered for superior gaming on bigger screen, C728 is a premium offering by TCL for all gamers out there. It features Game Master backed by HDMI 2.1 and premium tech-driven elements such as Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), eARC, and the company’s proprietary software algorithm, thus giving best-in-class gaming experiences to gamers. It has QLED Display Technology ensuring over 100% color volume for enhanced visual impact. And with Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision IQ, and Dolby Atmos, the C728 transforms entertainment with incredible picture and sound.

The device also offers 120Hz MEMC and offers hands-free voice control for seamless user control through simple and direct voice commands to the TV. Available in 55, 65 and 75 the TVs are priced at INR 79,990; INR 102,990 and INR 159,990 respectively.

2.     Daiwa D50F58S Smart TV

The Daiwa 49-inch TV ships with a Super Smart Remote with mouse for point and click navigation. The TV comes with a ‘Movie box’ app that offers 7,000+ free movies and is also equipped with other apps like Hotstar, Zee5, Sony Liv, Jio Cinema, Sun Nxt, Voot, and more. As for the new Big Wall UI, it will also be available on all new Daiwa Smart TVs soon. The brand claims that the new user interface offers a user-friendly display that provides intuitive navigation. It comes with the machine learning that stores users’ viewing patterns to provide relevant suggestions.

Big Wall UI supports over 1,700,000+ hours of content, including trending trailers, music, movies, TV shows and more on the home screen along with dedicated powered AI and OTA updates. The Daiwa’s new 49-inch D50F58S smart TV is priced at Rs 26,990, and the brand is offering one year of warranty.

3.     Sony A90J OLED

The best Sony 4k TV with an OLED panel that we've tested is the Sony A90J OLED. It's the premium 4k OLED from their 2021 lineup, sitting above the Sony A80J OLED. It delivers exceptional picture quality as it can turn off individual pixels, resulting in perfect blacks. This means that there's no blooming around bright objects in dark scenes. Since each pixel emits light in all directions, it has wide viewing angles, which is great if you have a large seating area because the image remains accurate when viewing from the side. Like most Sony TVs we've tested, it has excellent out-of-the-box color accuracy, and it doesn't have any issues upscaling lower-resolution content.

4.     OnePlus 55-Inch U Series 4K LED Android TV

The OnePlus TV U Series 55U1 is the latest television from the electronics manufacturer best known for its 'flagship killer' smartphones. The new television has a 55-inch 4K LED screen, with support for HDR up to the Dolby Vision format. The television runs on Android TV 9 Pie, with additional software features such as Oxygen Play and OnePlus Connect offering an enhanced smart experience to users. OnePlus also has a proven record of improving its products through frequent software updates. In terms of other specifications, the OnePlus TV 55U1 has a rated audio output of 30W though a four-speaker setup, and also supports various audio formats up to the Dolby Atmos standard.

Although black levels are less than ideal, the OnePlus TV U Series 55U1 makes up with good colours, smooth and detailed pictures, and excellent motion. It's also pretty good across resolutions, with particularly impressive upscaling of Full-HD content. Although a bit expensive for a smart 4K LED TV, the OnePlus TV 55U1 does offer additional benefits to justify the price. However, competing options are much more affordable and nearly as good, while it's also possible to buy a decent QLED TV for just a bit more money.

5.     Mi TV 4X 43-inch

The Mi TV 4X 43-inch is a TV with good build quality, relatively slim bezels, fantastic panel for its price and clear sound. Then there is the Netflix and Amazon Prime Video support directly built into the TV. The Mi TV 4X 43-inch runs Android 9.0 out-of-the-box and there's PatchWall 2.0 that accesses more content than what users would get with the last generation PatchWall.

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MG introduces Astor SUV with India’s First Personal AI Assistant and First-in-Segment Autonomous Level 2 Technology

 MG Motor India today unveiled the industry-first personal AI assistant and first-in-segment Autonomous Level 2 technology, to be featured in their upcoming mid-size SUV – Astor. MG aims to further its auto-tech focus by building on the concept of Car-as-a-Platform (CAAP) of possibilities and services.

MG is working on emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enable the development and application of services and subscriptions to support the ‘on-demand in-car’ needs of the customers. Astor is the first car to get a personal AI assistant in the company’s global portfolio.

 

The personal AI assistant is designed by the acclaimed American firm ‘Star Design’. It depicts human-like emotions & voices and can give detailed information on every topic through Wikipedia. It will engage with people in the car and is powered by i-Smart Hub. It is a platform on which the partnerships, services, and subscriptions of CAAP will reside. It will allow customers to personalize their set of services.

 

Speaking about India’s first personal AI assistant and the first-in-segment Autonomous Level 2 car Astor, Mr. Rajeev Chaba, President and MD, MG Motor India, said, 

"As an auto-tech brand, we’ve always introduced breakthrough technologies and now, we are moving forward with Artificial Intelligence. Astor is a step further and a catalyst for disruption with first-in-the-industry and best-in-class features that customers only get in premium/luxury segments. With a relentless pursuit of innovation and software at the heart of the production, our vehicles will continue to provide a smarter and safer driving experience by leveraging AI."

 

The Autonomous Level 2 MG Astor is powered by mid-range radars and a multi-purpose camera that can realize a series of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). These include Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Departure Prevention, Intelligent Headlamp Control (IHC), Rear Drive Assist (RDA) and Speed Assist System amongst others. These functions can significantly improve driving safety and comfort, and they have been further optimized for Indian traffic conditions.

 

The name Astor is derived from Raytheon Sentinel, an airborne battlefield and ground surveillance aircraft formerly operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF), UK. MG Astor shares the popular ZS platform sold by MG across the globe in countries such as the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Middle East, Norway, Netherlands and other countries in Asia too.

 

For the first time in India, MG recently showcased CAAP with endless possibilities. Building an ecosystem of various in-car services, it hosts subscriptions and services, including maps and navigation with MapMyIndia, Jio connectivity, the first-of-its-kind Blockchain-protected vehicle digital passport by KoineArth and more. MG car owners will also get access to music on the JioSaavn app along with the industry-first feature of reserving a parking slot through a head unit (powered by Park+ - select cities to begin with) in the car. CAAP will create various possibilities which will evolve with time, creating a safer and smarter driving experience.

 

MG ASTOR DESIGN TEASED

Astor gets an all-new Bold Celestial Grille that is inspired by cosmic lines and forms which adds dynamism to the front of the car. The radial pattern concentrates the epicenter of the entire front face. The tungsten steel electroplated material forms a distinct appearance like the sun. The contrast of light and dark further highlights the three-dimensional effect of each flashing cell. The British automaker also revealed the unique ‘Dual Tone Sangria Red’ interior of Astor, which is one of the three interior themes, signifying state-of-the-art craftsmanship.]

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JBL Launches Wave 100 TWS earbuds for everyday sound companionship on Flipkart

 Features award-winning ‘topless’ design for ease of use and dual equalizer to enhance the listening experience

Available on Flipkart at an introductory price of Rs. 3,499 from August 21, 12 Noon

BL is expanding its true wireless (TWS) line up of earbuds with the launch of the brand new JBL Wave 100 on Flipkart, India’s homegrown e-commerce marketplace. Named after its unique design, the headphone has an uber-cool look with a stylish topless case having no edges or top cover and a wave-like free-flowing form.

 

Listeners can just pop in the earbuds using a single hand and start enjoying the sound. The product’s design, hands-free calling, and voice assistant compatibility makes for convenient user-friendly headphones. The unique topless design is a Red Dot Award winner providing ease of use without the need to even read a manual.

The JBL Wave series of headphones, is a tribute to the 75 year anniversary of JBL. The market leader in audio excellence celebrates its legacy of quality sound and superlative customer experience by delivering unmatched sound and convenience to its consumers anytime and anywhere. JBL Wave 100 TWS ups the ante for everyday headphones with Dual Equalizers delivering JBL Pro Sound, for the consumers to choose their sound mode.

 

“JBL Wave 100 TWS is the first product of the WAVE series, a true wireless in-ear headphone designed for easy day-to-day use. This product is aimed at consumers who use their audio devices all day long, each day for a variety of activities. The JBL W100 TWS, features an eye-catching design, built to meet the ergonomic requirements of the users, providing easy accessibility, different audio modes and a long battery life,” said Vikram Kher, Vice President, Lifestyle Audio, HARMAN India.

 

From commuting to chores, the JBL W100 TWS is a pocket-friendly sound companion providing all day comfort. For the infrequent headphone users, JBL W100 TWS comes with a Dual Connect feature which allows use of one earbud or both. With up to 20 hours of battery life, consumer can enjoy the headphones day to night while benefiting from its intuitive controls.

 

"As the preferred destination for millions of customers across the country, Flipkart is at the forefront of fulfilling the evolving requirements of customers with collaboration with brand partners. Today, the greater focus on health and increasing number of virtual meetings have necessitated the need for quality audio solutions which are also in line with the evolving lifestyle of customers and also offers an attractive combination of durability and fine aesthetics. The launch of the JBL Wave 100 TWS fulfils these evolving requirements of the customers and we are happy to expand our existing relationship with JBL with this launch as we continue to offer the best-in-class technological solutions for our customers across the country," Rakesh Krishnan, Senior Director, Electronics at Flipkart.

 

Features of JBL W100 TWS

• Free flowing, easy to access stylish topless design
• Dual EQ – Two Sound Modes for the consumers to choose from
• Hands free crystal clear calls
• BT 5.0 & Dual Connect
• Up to 5 hours battery in the earbuds + 15 hours in case 
• Easy to clean and maintain
• Comfort fit and portable
• Compatible with voice assistants

The JBL W100 TWS video and visuals have been unveiled on Flipkart and will be available in three colours – black, white and blue for an introductory price of Rs. 3,499. The JBL W100 TWS will be available on Flipkart from August 21, 12 Noon. 

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Truecaller appoints Jijendran Ravindran as Vice President of Global Business Development

Truecaller announced the appointment of Jijendran Ravindran as Vice President of Global Business Development. Jijendran joins Truecaller from Xiaomi, where he was the Associate Director and Lead for MIUI India. He was responsible for managing and driving the overall business strategy for the brand. His work involved customisation of apps for India, app promotion, portfolio growth, managing partnerships & revenue across the MIUI properties and handling a large team of talents.

Jijendran has extensive experience of working across varied sectors spanning telecom operators, smartphone brands & Start-ups. His rich experience of over 16 years includes new partnerships, strategy, business development, operations, marketing, advertising & customer insights.

Jijendran will lead the business development function and will report to Kari Krishnamurthy, Chief Commercial Officer. Jijendran will be working towards expanding business and growth across markets. He brings to the table an innate knack for understanding consumers, a bias for action and people development experience. Prior to Xiaomi, Jijendran was heading app partnership for Micromax in India, Sri Lanka, Russia & Bangladesh. He has also been associated with Airtel and Vodafone in the past.

Welcoming Jijendran, Kari Krishnamurthy, Chief Commercial Officer, Truecaller, stated: 

“I am excited to have JJ on board. And I am confident that he will push our ambitions of having Truecaller in every connected device globally. His extensive experience and accomplishments in his recent past stints will definitely take our efforts to another level.”

Jijendran Ravindran, Vice President – Brand Development at Truecaller, added: 

“I feel both honoured and humbled on being appointed by Truecaller. I firmly believe in Truecaller’s mission and it has been a service I have relied on myself for many years now. I’m also excited about the journey ahead. Truecaller has become an integral part of hundreds of millions of consumers across the world and I look forward to taking up this challenging and exciting new role to create long term sustainable value for all stakeholders in the company.”

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