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- Neckbands, Headphones and Dongles Are Alternatives for Your Audio Needs
- Apple Watch Is One of the Best Smartwatches Available, Here’s Why
- Realme, Redmi, Oppo and Motorola Ramping Up Offerings Under Rs 15,000
- Bharti Airtel Giving Rs 49 Pack for Free and Doubling Benefits With Rs 79 Plan
- eMBB: Understanding Enhanced Mobile Broadband for 5G
- Vodafone Idea Growing Broadband Business Is a Good Sign
| Neckbands, Headphones and Dongles Are Alternatives for Your Audio Needs Posted: 16 May 2021 08:30 AM PDT
I recently wrote an article listing the key issues that a user can face if they choose to buy truly wireless buds. From poor battery life to limited audio quality with certain devices, the issues that plague them have been long ignored. If you read that article, you might have thought about what the next best option is. Since 2016, headphone jacks have become rarer each passing day, with most devices opting to remove them outright in favour of their own truly wireless earbuds that can form an ecosystem for the company in question. Now, with all that done and dusted, if you own a flagship or even a mid-range device, you might be curious about what other options you have to fulfil your audio and content consumption needs since most of the devices have removed the headphone jack one or two generations ago. Before we begin, I do recommend reading the initial article which I wrote to know about just how many flaws a truly wireless earphone may have, potentially helping you when it comes to the decision to buy one. That being out of the way, let us discuss the three key alternatives to catering to your audio needs if you do not own a truly wireless earphone. Do note that these are in no specific order, so the positioning is not indicative of the prospect that these alternatives have. What Are Some Alternatives For Your Audio NeedsIn total, to fulfil your audio needs, there are three options on offer, the first one being the use of a dongle, the second one being over the ear headphones, and the third and most apt option being that of a neckband. So, without further ado, let us do a deep dive on all three alternatives. 1. Using a Dongle: That Dongle Life
The first option is the use a dongle. This will be applicable if you already own a pair of wired earphones or headphones that you love dearly or spent a lot on since they might still be in working condition and offer great sound quality. The mechanism is quite simple, buy a USB-C or Micro-USB (depending on your device) to 3.5mm jack for your phone; if there is no 3.5mm headphone jack, plug in the headphone or earphone and listen away. Key concerns are usually in two different situations. The first is that of lack of convenience since you will have to keep on plugging the dock into the Type-C port, blocking the ability to charge your device while listening to your favourite tunes. Second is the cumbersome process of carrying the aforementioned dongle wherever you go and, if you are a frequent traveller like me and accidentally forget the dongle or lose it, say goodbye to your audio and video needs, since the only option that will remain would be to use the phone speakers. Overall, whilst this is a feasible method, it's more of a trouble and a hassle than a good alternative; hence I would recommend this only if you own an amazing pair of headphones or earphones that are wired and you would not be able to afford to see them go to waste. Note: USB-C based earphones are not being considered as alternatives as they are not as common and block the charging port, not providing the best medium of use for the user. 2. Neckband: Minimal Wires, More Battery
The best alternative, in my opinion, Neckbands cater to both sort of needs, ease of use and good audio quality. They are also offered by most major companies, so that sense of trust is also maintained. A Neckband is basically the middle ground between wired and truly wireless earphones. They offer decent sound quality, class-leading battery life, lasting around 20-30 hours and have minimal wires that are usually resting on the back of your neck, which is not as distracting as it may seem. There are thin wires that connect the earbuds to the body, but they too are nothing to worry about and, having been a neckband user for over two years, I have to say that the battery life is one of the key reasons to consider purchasing them, even if you have regular wired earphones. Faster charging is another pro for the neckband, with 1hr or 1.5hrs of charge providing 20-30 hours of battery life, even if you listen to tunes for the entire duration on one stretch. In comparison, most truly wireless earphones take time to charge as they have to charge the buds and the case and, at best, the buds themselves will provide 5-6hrs of battery life, after which you would have to dock them back into the case. The only con that one might face is with these wires since if the lack of wires is your primary concern, they might not cater to your needs. Fret not, however, since the final option should be able to meet your needs. 3. Headphones: Big, Brawny, Wireless
The final option in this list is a proper Bluetooth headphone since that would cater to all your needs but might not be the most ideal for travelling and overall portability. A Bluetooth headphone would provide great battery life, good sound isolation, ANC or Active Noise Cancellation, great audio quality, given that you are willing to spend a certain amount and do not go for a bass-heavy sound signature. The price is also not a major concern since most good headphones should be priced around Rs 5-10k, and they should last much longer than a TWS that may cost twice as much. The only issue is that of portability. A headphone is usually larger than a neckband or a pair of earbuds, and travelling with them is not the easiest job. Placing them inside a bag or tucking them into your pocket is not a possibility, which might not provide the ease of use that you would get from a neckband. All three options listed here are quite decent and will get the job done, and, at the end of the day, it is your choice which one you should choose, with your priority being the deciding factor. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Apple Watch Is One of the Best Smartwatches Available, Here’s Why Posted: 16 May 2021 05:30 AM PDT
Apple, the Cupertino based tech giant has been known for a lot of things, from the colourful iMacs to the iPhone, most of its products have been bestsellers. One of the more recent examples of a new product from the company that took the world by storm was the Apple Watch. You would be compelled to believe that companies such as Garmin, Samsung, Fossil would offer better smartwatches since Samsung has always offered great watches and the other two companies are known for being watch manufacturers, but, if you go out on the street and ask someone what smartwatch you should buy, the primary option will be the Apple Watch. So, what gives the Apple Watch the status that it holds and, is there no competition that comes close? Also, what actually sets the Apple Watch apart, is it the design or the features or both? Find out in the latter part of the article, but, for now, let us dive into the brief history of the Apple Watch. The History of The Apple Watch
The Apple Watch is not as old of a product as you would think, as it made its debut in 2015, with three models on offer. All three variants offered Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and heart-rate sensing as their standard features. The first-generation Apple Watch was replaced by two new versions, namely the Series 1 and Series 2. Interestingly, the Apple Watch began taking shape after the Series 4, as the prior models were decent but not earth-shattering. Now, the watch is in its 6th gen, with another variant on offer that promises key features for a lower price in the form of the Apple Watch SE. Key changes that we saw over the course of the Apple Watch's journey were the improvements that accompanied it, from a better display to Always-On functionality to faster processors, all these changes led to the Apple Watch that we have today. What Sets The Apple Watch Apart?
First of all, the Apple Watch makes sure that its basics are decent, from tracking the activities of the user, be it running, cycling, walking or showing their daily activity, the Apple Watch nails all of them, with the accuracy being one to compare other watches to. The recent version of the Apple Watch also added a fan favourite feature that was later pushed to older variants, which was sleep tracking. Certain differentiators that Apple can boast of are ECG and heart rate monitoring, as well as a SpO2 sensor, which Apple states are a fitness feature and are not to be used as a medical tool. The ECG sensor has usually been one of the highlighting features and the heart rate tracking has proven to be life-saving in multiple instances, wherein the user was prompted in case the watch saw something odd happening to the user's heartbeat. Emergency assist is another feature that is life-saving, promoting emergency services in case the user has a hard fall or are not active, has been a lifesaver more than often to not take note of. All in all, without going too in-depth, the Apple Watch does not differentiate itself on hardware or looks, since there are many better alternatives on offer, at times for cheaper, but the features that it packs within itself is what sets the Apple Watch apart. To add to this, certain features like handwashing and idle alert are features that have helped users lead a hygienic and energetic life. Are There Any Cons?Yes, the Apple Watch has minor cons that can be overlooked, but the major issue is the ecosystem tie-in. To use the Apple Watch to its full potential, you need to own an iPhone, even an iPad will not allow you to achieve the full potential of the watch. Whilst this is not illegal, the system tie-in can cause issues to many people, since they might have had money to buy the watch but not the phone, but the ecosystem issue will make them look elsewhere for alternatives. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Realme, Redmi, Oppo and Motorola Ramping Up Offerings Under Rs 15,000 Posted: 16 May 2021 03:30 AM PDT
Realme, Redmi, Oppo and Motorola have taken a very aggressive approach to offer smartphones under Rs 15,000 in India. All four companies have launched new devices targeting customers looking for a budget smartphone. One particular device under Rs 15,000 that has spectacular specifications and is value for money is the Moto G40 Fusion. There are many devices under Rs 15,000 in India currently, but there is hardly any device that comes with the features that the Moto G40 Fusion comes with. The other devices that can also be value for money under Rs 15,000 are the Realme 8, Realm 8 5G, Redmi Note 10, Oppo A53s 5G and Redmi Note 10S. Let's take a look at all of the devices below. Smartphones Under Rs 15,000 From Realme, Redmi and MotorolaIt is worth noting that none of the devices mentioned above, apart from Moto G40 Fusion, come with support for a 120Hz refresh rate display under Rs 15,000. However, the only 5G smartphones amongst all of them are the Realme 8 5G and the Oppo A53s 5G. Further, both the Redmi Note 10 and Realme 8 come with a 60Hz refresh rate display, while the Realme 8 5G can support a 90Hz refresh rate display. So if you want a 5G smartphone under Rs 15,000, you can go with the Realme 8 5G. There is also the Oppo A53s 5G that is priced at Rs 14,990 for the 6GB+128GB variant but doesn't offer a 90Hz refresh rate display like the Realme 8 5G. There are two variants of the Realme 8 5G under Rs 15,000. The first one is the 4GB+128GB variant priced at Rs 14,999 and the second one is the 4GB+64GB variant that launched recently for Rs 13,999. The newly launched variant of Realme 8 5G with 4GB+64GB will go on sale from May 18, 2021, via Flipkart. If you want a smartphone with a Snapdragon processor, you are left with only two options which are the vanilla Redmi Note 10 and the Moto G40 Fusion. The Redmi Note 10, however, is powered by a less powerful Snapdragon 678 SoC, while the Moto G40 Fusion comes with Snapdragon 732G. In Redmi Note 10's defence, its price is much lower than the Moto G40 Fusion. Further, only the base variant of Moto G40 Fusion with 4GB+64GB is priced at Rs 13,999 (under Rs 15,000), while its superior variant with 6GB+128GB is priced at Rs 15,999. Both the Realme 8 5G and the Oppo A53s 5G are powered by the same MediaTek Helio Dimensity 700 SoC. While both the Redmi Note 10S and the Realme 8 come powered by the MediaTek Helio G95 SoC. It is worth noting that the price of the Realme 8's base variant was reduced by Rs 500 by the company upon the launch of the Redmi Note 10S. In terms of camera performance, Moto G40 Fusion, Realme 8 5G, and Redmi Note 10S are very similar. Frankly, one can't expect a lot of differences in the cameras of the devices if they are all priced under Rs 15,000. Check out the below table to compare the prices of the devices.
If you care a lot about the internal storage you get with the price you pay, the Redmi Note 10's superior variant will be the perfect choice for you. It also comes with a Snapdragon processor. However, in terms of performance, there's no beating the Moto G40 Fusion. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Bharti Airtel Giving Rs 49 Pack for Free and Doubling Benefits With Rs 79 Plan Posted: 16 May 2021 02:02 AM PDT
Bharti Airtel recognises the pain that the low-income customers of the country must be going through during lockdowns when there is no work. On top of that, customers who don't know how to recharge their phones online are stuck and can't call and connect with their loved ones. To help such customers, Airtel will be giving the Rs 49 pack totally for free to the low-income customers who might be facing financial troubles because of the lockdowns. Further, the company will offer the Rs 79 plan to the users with double benefits. This will only be a one-time gesture from the company, but it stands to help millions of customers living in India. Airtel Rs 49 Pack and Rs 79 Plan BenefitsThe Rs 49 pack from Bharti Airtel comes with Rs 38 worth of talktime and 100MB of data for 28 days. This pack will be offered to the users without any charges. Further, the company will be doubling the benefits of the Rs 79 plan. The Rs 79 recharge plan comes with Rs 128 worth of talktime and 200MB of data. This plan is valid for 28 days, and after consuming the voice calling benefits, each minute of voice call would attract a charge of 60 paise. Further, post-consumption of 200MB of data, each MB data would attract a charge of 50 paise. Through this initiative, the company aims to help around 55 million low-income customers living in India, especially in rural areas. The total benefits that Airtel is giving out to the customers are worth Rs 270 crore. This initiative will help the affected users stay connected to their loved ones and also be updated about what's going on in the country. Reliance Jio also recently announced an offer for the JioPhone users in association with the Reliance Foundation to help them stay connected with their loved ones. JioPhone users will now get up to 10 minutes of free calling every day for a month, and the company will give users a 'buy-one-get-one-free offer with each of its JioPhone plans. So if a user recharges with one of the JioPhone plans, he/she will get the same plan for free as well, which will be queued. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| eMBB: Understanding Enhanced Mobile Broadband for 5G Posted: 15 May 2021 11:21 PM PDT
If you are familiar with the key terms associated with 5G, you would have heard of Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB). It is one of the use cases that was defined for 5G long-back. The role of eMBB was to simply enhance the 4G broadband services so that users could experience a faster network with lower latency. But how did it come into existence, and what role does it play in the development of 5G networks? Let's find out! What is Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB)?Before jumping to what eMBB is, let's think about 5G for a second. Remember the time when the world considered 4G/LTE as the next big thing? Well, at that point in time, the engineers at the 3GPP were thinking about what should come next. The 3GPP engineers were trying to find out how 5G should look like so that it overtakes 4G as the next big thing. The 3GPP came to a conclusion that 5G should pave the way to enable virtual connectivity for everyone and everything, including Internet-of-Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and more. 5G was divided into three main use case scenarios.
So eMBB was one of the primary use cases identified for 5G New Radio (NR) by the 3GPP. According to one of the older Ericsson reports, the world is expected to have around a billion 5G subscriptions for eMBB by 2023. For enabling a faster rollout of eMBB, the 3GPP RAN Group decided that they will go ahead with a Non-Standalone (NSA) 5G NR variant. With NSA, the existing 4G networks are integrated with the 5G NR carriers for enhancing the bandwidth and reducing latency. What Will eMBB Do For 5G in India?While eMBB is an advancement over the 4G networks, it is capable of doing much more than just providing a faster network experience. The application of eMBB will enable a truly immersive AR and VR experience, 360-degree video calling, and more. eMBB can deliver higher capacity networks for the urban and densely populated areas with strong connectivity indoors as well. Further, it will enable wide network coverage so that users don't have to worry about falling out of the connectivity area. Lastly, it will allow the world to move ahead with smarter technology which requires real-time connectivity and communication. eMBB can enable up to 100x more traffic capacity networks with a 10x better experience with 1/10th of the latency users get today with 4G. But eMBB won't just help the users consume data at faster rates for entertainment purposes; it will also enable cloud-native applications to work efficiently. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Vodafone Idea Growing Broadband Business Is a Good Sign Posted: 15 May 2021 06:30 PM PDT
Vodafone Idea (Vi) is investing and focusing on its broadband business which is a good sign for the company’s future. Investors worried about never getting their money back from the business can also relax since the company just showed a positive by adding net subscribers in February 2021. Note that the fixed broadband market is still in its early days in the country. India is a big market with millions of potential customers for Internet Service Providers (ISPs). All that the ISPs need to focus on is providing services at reasonable rates with an above-average quality of service, and they will literally make billions of rupees. Vodafone Idea might be getting around the fact that it needed to upgrade its broadband business when all the other private operators, including Jio and Airtel, were doing so for a long time. Why is Broadband Business Important for Vodafone Idea?Vi doesn't have the strongest 4G subscriber market share in India despite offering excellent plans. But the company does have the potential to reach a point where it can go head to head with Airtel and Jio. However, that time isn't anywhere near, and for Vi to keep going, it needs to focus on generating as much revenues as possible. The telco operates its broadband business through a subsidiary called 'You Broadband'. You Broadband used to offer low-speed plans for very high monthly cost in select circles of India where Jio, Airtel, Excitel, Hathway, ACT, and other local ISPs were offering cheaper plans with more benefits. But the company recently announced new broadband plans for multiple cities. What's interesting about these plans is that they are all standard, meaning all of them cost the same regardless of whichever city you are in. Further, they are head-on with the plans of other operators with more monthly fair-usage-policy (FUP) data. It is not like Vi can't improve broadband plans even further; there's always room for improvement. But what matters is the intent, and it is evident that Vi isn't going to ignore its broadband business anymore. The company is in the process of launching the new unlimited broadband plans for other cities as well. We don't have any word on how soon that will happen, but we expect it not to take a lot of time. Broadband Might be a Goldmine for ViSince broadband users are only expected to grow from here, Vi has a golden opportunity to introduce something in the market that no other ISP is offering to its users. The company has an opportunity and the resources to be the Reliance Jio of broadband business in India. The company can bundle in other benefits with its You Broadband plans, including Set-Top Boxes (STBs), postpaid/prepaid connections, or something we can't even think about. Vi's got the potential to launch amazing industry-unique offers such as 'Binge all Night' or 'Weekend Data Rollover'. We don't see why the company can't do this with its broadband business as well. One thing that needs to be considered though, broadband business is a slow journey. The company will have to invest heavily before it can get serious returns out of it. Nonetheless, the new plans from Vi stamps the intent it has for its future, which is a positive one, and the telco is ready to invest for the long term. |
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