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Samsung partnered with Axis Bank

Samsung partnered with Axis Bank to launch their credit card in India

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Samsung India declared its first ever credit card in India on Monday 26 September 2022. Samsung partnered with Axis Bank and visa to launch this credit card that will offer the users a 10 percent cashback on all Samsung products and services around the year.

Samsung partnered with Axis Bank
Image Source: indiatoday.in

It has entered a crowded category that sees about 50 firms compete for users’ attention in the world’s second-largest internet market.

“The Samsung Axis Bank Credit Card, powered by Visa, is our next big India-specific innovation that will change the way our customers buy Samsung products,” said Ken Kang, President and CEO, Samsung South-West Asia.

Source: siasat.com

The South Korean tech giant, Samsung partnered with Axis Bank headquartered in Mumbai, and Global payments processor Visa to launch the cards known by the name ‘Samsung Axis Bank Credit Card’.

There is a monthly cap of 2500 INR (roughly $31) on the signature card. However, the infinite card extends that limit by four times.

The cashback is capped at 10,000 INR ($123) yearly on the signature card and 20,000 INR (about $246) on the infinite card.

The second largest smartphone seller in India, Samsung, has claimed that it will provide its customers with exciting financing options on credit cards. These cards are especially aimed at serving users in smaller Indian cities and towns.

Even if the space that Samsung is entering is really crowded and narrow but the opportunity here is undoubtedly large. According to industry estimates, Indian banks have issued about a billion debit cards to customers in the country but only fewer than 25 million unique individuals in the nation have a credit card.

Users will receive rewards on their spending through their cards and get access to deals from local companies such as food delivery platform Zomato, fashion e-commerce Myntra, grocer Bigbasket, online pharmacy Tata’s 1 mg, and Urban Company.

The announcement made on Monday underscores smartphone makers growing attempt to expand their services. Chinese giant, Xiaomi, which dominates the smartphone market in the country, rolled out a payment service powered by UPI in India in 2019 and started to lend customers last year.

Co-branded cards are generally beneficial for both the partner brand and the customers as it enables power users of a brand to get higher benefits as they spend more time with the brand.

“We realize that 70 percent of consumers are upgrading their devices within 12 months of purchase in the country. This co-branded credit card will help them save their hard-earned money while enjoying new devices with this industry-first offering,” Raju Pullan, Senior Vice President, Mobile Business, Samsung India, told IANS.

“The card is RBI-complaint and meets all the latest requirements of the central bank, including on tokenisation. The consumer electronics and technology space is open for disruption and we are the first, along with Samsung, to distrust this space,” Sanjeev Moghe, President and Head, Cards and Payments at Axis Bank, told IANS.

Source: siasat.com

On the signature card, the annual fee is $6.13 before taxes. However, the infinite card levies a charge by 10 times the current value. The firm claims that it will soon begin accepting applications from customers for the card.

The card also provides complimentary airport lounge access, dining offers, a fuel surcharge waiver, and access to a bundle of offers from Axis Bank and Visa.

MD and chief executive officer of Axis Bank, Amitabh Choudhary, said that their main focus is to provide product prepositions and cares for the customers’ evolving needs and offer them a seamless experience.

iPhone 14 in India

iPhone may get cheap as Apple starts manufacturing iPhone14 in India.

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Apple Inc. revealed on Monday that it will make the newest iPhone 14 in India as the tech giant moves some of its manufacturing out of China. Since 2017, Apple has been producing iPhones in India, however often they were older models. Apple recently introduced the newest iPhone 14 model in its collection.

iPhone 14 in India
Image Source: macrumors.com

The device is being produced in the Sriperumbudur factory near Chennai by the company’s international partner Foxconn. Apple will sell phones made in India both domestically and internationally. In the next few days, users in India will start receiving the iPhones manufactured locally.

Apple continues to produce the majority of its iPhones primarily in China. Even while the majority of the world works to open its communities, Beijing has continued to use the tactic of lockdowns to quell Covid revivals. Production has been halted at facilities across China due to lockdowns caused by the zero-Covid policy, and certain possible weak links in Apple’s supply chain have been revealed.

Apple has been working to increase revenues in India, the second largest smartphone marketplace in the world, in the interim. According to Counterpoint Research, Apple only held a 3.8% market share in the country last year while cheaper rivals like Samsung and China’s Xiaomi continued to rule.

However, in the second quarter, Apple was the best top seller in the ultra-premium( phones over Rs. 45000) category. That’s because its iPhone 13 devices from the previous generation had good sales.

By 2025, according to analysts, Apple will gradually reduce its dependence on China, where it has been manufacturing the large bulk of its gadgets for more than a decade, and develop India into a worldwide hub for iPhone production.

According to research released earlier this month by JP Morgan analysts, Apple would increase its production capabilities in India to manufacture 25% of all its iPhones by 2025 and relocate 5% of worldwide iPhone 14 production there by late 2022. In recent years, India has drawn investments from Apple’s production partners Wistron and Foxconn by providing generous subsidies as Delhi works to establish the nation as a manufacturing hub.

JP Morgan analysts claim that India is a suitable location due to the presence of global production giants as well as “ample labor resources and competitive labor prices.”

As its capacity for domestic production of iPhone 14 in India grows, many people would anticipate a decrease in the price of Apple’s mobile devices there. The standard iPhone 14 model costs Rs. 79,900 which is equivalent to $799 in the United States. The entry-level iPhone Pro Max has a retail price of $1,099 in the United States, but it costs $1,717 in India.

Apple has boosted its investment in India during the past five years, despite the fact that it only has a small share of the country’s market. It introduced the country’s online Apple Store two years ago, and it has since announced that it’s working on the inauguration of the first-ever physical Apple Store in the nation.

Samsung, a rival to Apple, has already established one of its largest plants in India and views it as a crucial global manufacturing base. The market leader in smartphones, Xiaomi from China, as well as rivals Oppo, Vivo, and OnePlus all, assemble some of their products locally.

The Information recently reported that Google also plans to move some of the manufacturing of its Pixel products to India. The business announced last week that it would introduce the next Pixel 7 devices in India after forgoing shipping flagship models there for two generations.

Apple’s emphasis on production in India demonstrates the tech giant’s intention to spread production outside of China and grow its client base in India, which is currently a minor market for the business.

Google Tasks

Google is combining Google Tasks with Assistant and Calendar reminders

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Tech Giant, Google, is integrating Google Assistant and Calendar reminders in its Google Tasks App in its latest step of the application clean-up drive. The firm took this decision to make it seamless for users to manage their tasks and reminders from any of these three applications by unifying its to-do systems.

Google Tasks
Image Source: neowin.net

Currently, you can create several types of ‘reminders’ in the Google Assistant, Calendar, and Tasks apps. However, they are not utilized in the same way from every app or stored within all three.

As of now, Google Tasks, which was first released as a standalone application in 2018, operates in its box. Users can create tasks and subtasks as per their requirements. They can also set reminders in the iOS and Android apps using a side panel in Gmail or Google Drive on the web. Even though, those don’t get displayed on Assistant’s reminders. Besides this, Google Calendar has two distinct options to create tasks and reminders which could create confusion for users.

Google is focusing on changing this with an update that will be launched in the upcoming months. Once this feature is incorporated, it will display in both the Tasks and Calendar lists when the user sets a reminder with Google Assistant. They will also receive notification for the task completion reminder at the set time.

All they have to do is open the notification to move their reminders into Google Tasks so that they can oversee all their to-do items in one place. Google will question the users if they want to ‘try the new Tasks experience’. When they tap on this notification, the user will be allowed to move their currently existing reminders into the Tasks application.

In the coming months, Google claimed that the users will see a prompt to try out this whole new integrated task experience when they use the Calendar or Assistant application. To add to this, the firm will also eliminate the Calendar reminders options once the transition is completed.

“Soon, we’ll be simplifying our task management solutions by migrating Assistant and Calendar Reminders to Google Tasks. This means you will now have an easy way to view and manage all your to-dos in one place through Google Tasks, regardless of whether you create them using Assistant or Calendar,” the company said in a blog post.

Source: techcrunch.com

Product Manager, Ilya Brown wrote in a blog post, “We are continuing to invest in Google Tasks and expand its capabilities to help you capture, organize and accomplish all you have to get done. Moving reminders into Google Tasks is one step closer to helping people effortlessly get things done, and we are so excited to bring it to you.”

Source: metro.co.uk

What are Google Tasks?

You have heard of the integration of the above-mentioned app. But do you know what is tasks app and how it works? You might not know but it will be home to your Google reminders soon. Well, here is the detailed explanation below.

You can utilize the tasks app to create a central to-do list when you are using a particular Google app. If you are using Gmail or Sheets, you can create a ‘task’ by tapping on a circled checkmark logo.

On your desktop, it will show a sidebar where you can fill in the details of your task like name, time, and date. Your new task will be generated after clicking on the ‘Save’ option.

Every user initiates his Task experience with one task list by default while you can create more if you find them helpful.

Nvidia corporation

Nvidia Corporation releases new gaming chip with AI features

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Nvidia corporation has declared new flagship chips on Tuesday, 19th September 2022. This chip is specially developed and focuses on Video gamers that utilize Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the advancement of graphics using Taiwan Manufacturing Semiconductor corporation’s cutting-edge four-nanometer technology with 80 billion transistors to produce these processors.

Nvidia corporation
Image Source: telecomlead.com

Nvidia corporation has received attention in recent years with its thriving data center business, which trades chips used in artificial intelligence tasks such as natural processing. Even though the corporation’s roots are in graphics chips, the other products yet accounted for 59 percent of its most recent fiscal year’s 26.9 billion USD in revenue.

Graphic Processors of Nvidia have become highly popular chips for AI applications. Previously, they were only used to push and enhance the quality of movies in the gaming industry. The latest graphics processor known as the H100 can help reduce the computation time for some tasks containing AI model training from weeks to days and it is a very big change.

Chief executive officer of Nvidia corporation, Jensen Huang, released the company’s newest “Ada Lovelace” series of graphics chips on Tuesday, named for the 19th-century British mathematician who was regarded as an early innovator in the computer science field. There was also online streaming of the keynote speech.

Nvidia Chief Executive Officer, Jensen Huang, called the H100 processor the “engine” of AI infrastructure, said in a statement, “Data centres are becoming AI factories – processing and refining mountains of data to generate insight.”

Source: content.techgig.com

Even though Nvidia corporation designs its graphic chips and its partners develop or manufacture them, Jensen Huang uncovered that the “4N” chip manufacturing technology utilized by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing will be used to develop the chips. This will be a different approach or a departure from Samsung Electronics Corporation Limited which developed the previous gen of flagship gaming chips of Nvidia.

Artificial intelligence is used in the latest Lovelace chips for the advancement of video game graphics. Nvidia Chip is using Artificial intelligence to anticipate the appearance of some pixels without carrying out the full set of computations because it is difficult to calculate what every pixel on the screen should look like. By using these Lovelace chips, it is now easy to generate any game’s entire frame using Artificial intelligence.

Matt Wuebbling, vice president of worldwide GeForce marketing at Nvidia corporation, said in a media report that the Lovelace chip series will be available for sale all over the world and will not get affected by a new ban imposed by the U.S on trading Nvidia’s top data center artificial intelligence (AI) chips to China.

The chips will not consist of a so-called hash-rate limiter which is a technology Nvidia added in its previous gen of chips to limit their use in mining the Ethereum cryptocurrency because of the recent changes made in the tracking of the currency, Matt Wuebbling also stated.

Price and Availability

The GeForce RTX 4040, The predominant and most expensive version of the graphics chip, will be priced at 1599 USD and go on sale on 12th October 2022. Two RTX 4080 versions having lower initial prices will be available for purchase in November and will cost 899 USD and 1,199 USD, respectively.

Besides this, Nvidia also disclosed the Grace CPU super chip which is a new processing chip that complements the GPU chip and is based on Arm technology. It is claimed to be the first new Arm-based processor unveiled by Nvidia since the firm’s contract to acquire Arm limited fell through last month consisting of regulatory issues.

This Grace CPU Sperchip will be launched in the first half of next year and is said to be a bridge between two CPU chips that concentrate on AI and other activities demanding plenty of processor power.

QuietComfort Earbuds 2

Are Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 worth the hype?

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The QuietComfort Earbuds 2 are unveiled now after weeks of leaks. Bose’s latest flagship wireless earbuds feature various upgrades which include adaptive Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), sound calibration technology and Bluetooth 5.3 for enhanced sound technology.

QuietComfort Earbuds 2
Image Source: techaudiophile.com

First and foremost, Bose has developed the new variant which is one-third smaller than the original QuietComfort Earbuds side. Besides this, it is also making new ear-tips to help reach optimal wear for more customers.

This next generation QuietComfort Earbuds 2 has built on traditional Bose hallmarks while also struggling in the areas they have underperformed in the past such as battery life, touch controls and special features.

Despite their shortcomings, their Active Noise cancellation and sound Quality performance take the QuietComfort Earbuds 2 to a whole new level, on the top spot on our best noise-cancelling earbuds list.

Design and Comfort

Bose has claimed to reduce the size of the QuietComfort Earbuds 2 by 30 per cent which is a considerable redesign that portrays the QuietComfort Earbuds 2 as more practical and captivating. The outer plastic is more enhanced than the original so you can expect these QuietComfort Earbuds 2 to survive even hard knocks and also trials of regular use.

These black Earbuds 2 show a mix of glossy and matte finishes, which is a smooth touch. Also, their IPX4 rating enables protection from water and sweat. The charging case also has a slender design and sturdy design

Sound Quality

QuietComfort Earbuds 2 uses the latest proprietary technology known as CustomTune that mechanically calibrates active noise cancellation and the sound frequency profile to the unique properties of the year.

The overall effect features a punchy and sharp soundstage. 3D audio is not available. CustomTune emits a tone used to map the contours of the ear canal for more enhanced active noise cancellation. You can select from the two standard modes which are Quiet (acoustic noise cancellation) and Aware (transparency mode) modes and other 2-10 custom modes.

Another option you can use is setting the ANC level 3 on the custom modes. It is one of the best earbuds with a mic voice and video calling. Bose’s QuietComfort Earbuds 2 features superb vocal capture, making conversations loud or clear on your end.

Bose Music App and features

Another attractive thing is its Bose music app, the hub for almost all special features. It consists of ActiveSense, EQ, Eartip Fit test and shortcut. One big feature that it sports is Self Voice to adjust how loud the user’s voice sounds on call. Battery life is 6 hours per charge and a 20-minute quick charge gives two hours of playtime.

Price and Availability

The QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have an MSRP of 299 USD consisting of a $20 markup from the first-generation entry. It is available in only one colour which was displayed at the launch. However, it is claimed that a soapstone colour option will be unveiled later this year.

The charging case, USB-C type charging cable, three sets of different size tips, three sets of different size bands and safety instructions are provided inside the box.

It is selling these new buds at a higher cost than the recently announced AirPods Pro 2 which costs 249 USD or its market competitors like the Sony WF 1000XM4 which is priced at $279 and Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 whose price is $249.

If you find this expensive, you can always buy the previous model of QuietComfort Earbuds which are available at amazon on a discounted price of 199 USD.

Conclusion

The QuietComfort Earbuds 2 are outstanding follow-up that offers better sound, great call quality and unrivalled active noise cancellation. Sound balancing technologies like ActiveSense and CustomTune also provide Noise neutralization extremely well.

Lava Blaze Pro

Lava Blaze Pro debuts in India with a 6.5-inch display and 90Hz refresh rate

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Lava has introduced the Blaze Pro, a new smartphone that costs Rs that can be purchased from Flipkart, offline stores, and the Lava website. In addition, Lava also revealed that it had appointed Kartik Aaryan as its brand ambassador to support the smartphone industry as it introduced the Lava Blaze Pro.

Lava Blaze Pro
Image Source: gsmarena.com

It is, as its name implies, an improved version of the Lava Blaze, which made its debut in July of this year. The smartphone is in the under Rs. 12,000 pricing range. It competes in the market with smartphones like Realme C35, Redmi 10 Power, etc. The brand-new phone from Lava has a 50MP triple camera configuration in addition to a redesigned design. It boasts a big 5,000mAh battery and an expansive IPS panel.

There are two storage options available for the Lava Blaze Pro: 32GB and 64GB. The 32GB storage capacity’s cost has not been disclosed by Lava, however, the 64GB model is priced at Rs. 12,999. The device has 4GB of RAM. Lava Blaze Pro is available in the colors Glass Green, Glass Gold, Glass Orange, and Glass Blue. The product is available for purchase on the company’s website at the price of Rs. 9,999. The Lava Blaze Pro has a 6.5-inch 2.5D IPS screen with a 20:9 aspect ratio and HD+ resolution of 720×1600 pixels.

The phone has a 90Hz refresh rate. The smartphone comes with a Premium Frosted Glass Back Design. On its front, the smartphone bears a waterdrop notch design on the top, containing the front camera. The smartphone has an octa-core MediaTek Helio G37 processor, 4GB of RAM, and up to 64GB of internal storage. Additionally, Lava Blaze Pro supports 3GB of virtual RAM. The company obviously intends to provide users with improved performance and gaming by supporting expandable RAM storage.

The dual SIM phone has a slot for microSD cards that enables capacity to be increased by up to 256GB. The smartphone has three cameras set up at the rear for optics. A 50MP main/back camera plus a macro and a portrait detector make up the camera system. The phone’s camera has a variety of features, including HDR mode, Beauty mode, Panorama mode, Night mode, and others. The front camera is 8MP. The phone has connectivity features like Bluetooth v5.0, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm headphone jack, OTG, and GPS compatibility.

Along with face unlock, customers will also receive a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for security. A 5,000mAh battery with a USB Type-C connection powers the gadget. The smartphone runs on Android 12 OS and supports FM radio.

Lava, an indigenous brand, is working to increase its visibility in the low-cost smartphone market in India. Lava Blaze Pro is aimed at those looking for a low-cost smartphone with a faster refresh rate display, a good front camera, extendable memory/storage, and a powerful battery.

Lava is an Indian electronics company that makes phones, computer hardware, consumer electronics, etc. It was established in 2009 as a spinoff of a telecom company by Amit Singh, Sunil Bhalla, Shailendra Nath Rai, and Vishal Sehgal. Its headquarters are in Noida, India, and it operates in a multitude of other nations abroad. In India’s feature phone market during the fiscal year 2021, the company had a 13.4% market share.