India is a country of festivals and colors and we will celebrate Holi in just a few days. On every single festival, the market is flooded with deals and offers on different consumer goods and this year’s Holi isn’t different. E-commerce giants and offline brick-and-mortar stores have already announced exciting sales on are the best time to gift something memorable to loved ones. If you are planning the same, we are making it easier for you. Check out the list of best gadgets that you can gift your loved ones this Holi:
Product
Category
Price
Playfit Champ 2
Smartwatch
Rs. 1,799
Infinity (JBL) Fuze 100
Portable Speaker
Rs. 1,299
OPPO Enco Air3 TWS Earbuds
TWS Earbuds
Rs. 2,999
Redmi Smart Band Pro
Smartwatch
Rs. 3,299
Philips All-in-one-trimmer 7000 Series
Trimmer
Rs. 4,295
Playfit Champ 2 Smartwatch
A smart wearable such as a fitness band or a smartwatch is an apt gift on any occasion. The Playfit Champ 2 is a budget friendly smartwatch that flaunts a 1.69-inch TFT display with touch compatibility. This Playfit smartwatch is IP68 certified for dust and water resistance which makes it suitable for outdoors. The Champ 2 smartwatch comes with multiple health features such as a blood oxygen meter (SpO2) and Heart Rate. This Playfit Watch 2 smartwatch costs Rs. 1,799 and can be purchased via Amazon and Flipkart.
Portable speakers makes an ideal gifting solution. And you get a plethora of options in budget. The Infinity Fuze 100 portable Bluetooth speaker with 4W audio output is one of the coolest gifts for holi. The wireless speaker has IPX7 certification to get the party going outdoors or poolside. It is available in blue, black, and red color options and can be purchased at Rs. 1,299 via both Amazon and Flipkart.
Another best gifting solution in this list is also a wireless audio device. The OPPO Enco Air3 TWS earbuds at Rs. 2,999 is an ideal gifting solution for Holi 2023. This budget TWS earbuds feature 13.4mm audio drivers and have a dedicated gaming mode with a 97ms low latency rate. The Enco Air3 TWS earbuds offers up to six hours of backup on a single charge. Similar to the aforementioned products, the Enco Air 3 TWS earbuds can be purchased via Amazon and Flipkart.
The Redmi Smart Band Pro Sports smartwatch is another cool gifting solution for Holi. This smartwatch is packed with a 1.47-inch AMOLED display and has up to 5ATM water resistivity. Additionally, the Redmi Smart Band Pro sports smartwatch is integrated with SpO2, Heart rate, and sleep monitors. The price of Redmi Smart Band Pro smartwatch is Rs. 3,299 and availability is via Amazon and Flipkart.
The Philips All-in-one trimmer 7000 series is a high-end grooming kit for facial and body hair. This trimmer has 14-tools for styling and is priced at just Rs. 4,295 on Amazon and Flipkart.
Sony India has announced special offers on select audio products
Sony Audio Days sale starts from March 1 and is valid till March 5
The products are available across Sony retail stores
As part of the Sony Audio Days, Sony India has announced exceptional discounts on a variety of audio items, including headphones, the Truly Wireless Earbuds Series, portable Bluetooth Speakers, party speakers, and soundbars. For music enthusiasts wishing to purchase high-end audio products, working professionals, and students looking for audio devices for their work-from-home and learn-from-home requirements, the sale day offer provides a wide choice of audio products at special prices. Also Read | List Of Best Bluetooth Party Speakers To Buy In India
Sony Audio Days Sale Date
For audiophiles to take advantage of these amazing deals, the exciting offers begin on March 1 and run through March 5, 2023, at Sony retail stores (Sony Center and Sony Exclusive), the www.ShopatSC.com portal, major electronics retailers, and exclusively on Amazon and Flipkart e-commerce sites.
OnePlus Buds Pro 2 was released earlier this month in India
Offers ANC and other premium audio features
Zen Mode Air allows White Noise audio playback with simple swipe gestures
OnePlus launched its most premium audio product for the Indian and global audience at the Cloud 11 launch event held earlier this month. Called OnePlus Buds 2 Pro, the latest TWS earbuds from the company offers ANC, an improved dual-driver module, and more. The Buds 2 Pro is by far the most advanced truly wireless earbuds from OnePlus that comes as a treat for audiophiles.
One of the coolest features offered by the OnePlus Buds 2 Pro is the Zen Mode Air. This nifty feature allows users to enable white noise using a simple gesture. With this one can keep all distractions and noise at bay while doing any specific task.
Using the Zen Air Mode can benefit students or even professionals trying to concentrate and complete tasks without any distractions with surrounding or background noise. The option to activate this nifty feature with a simple swipe gesture is what makes it unique. However, in order to use the Zen Mode Air feature on OnePlus Buds Pro 2, you would need to follow a specific set of steps that we have listed in this article:
How To Activate And Use OnePlus Buds 2 Pro Zen Mode Air Feature
To use the Zen Mode Air feature on your OnePlus Buds Pro 2 TWS, you must first activate it using the Hey Melody app. You can also enable this feature using the Earbud function setting when paired with a OnePlus phone.
Step 1: On your OnePlus or any other Android smartphone that is paired with the OnePlus Buds 2 Pro earbuds, open Bluetooth settings
Step 2: Select the Earbud function option
Step 3: Once you are on the Earbud function page, select the Zen Mode Air option
Step 4: Toggle on the Zen Mode Air setting to activate this feature
Step 5: Now, tap on the White Noise option to customize the white noise audio
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 is among the many gadgets OnePlus recently unveiled at its Cloud 11 event. These second-generation wireless earphones support adaptive noise cancellation, dual audio drivers co-created by OnePlus and Dynaudio, lossless Hi-Res audio, head-tracking features, and wireless charging.
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2, a successor to the OnePlus Buds Pro, seems to be a step in the right direction. While I’ve had a lot of fun with the audio quality itself, the inclusion of spatial audio truly takes the cake. I’ve been plugging it in for a while, so let’s see whether it made me dance to its tunes or not. Let’s find out in this review:
Ear tips in small and large sizes (Medium sized tips pre-installed)
USB Type-C charging cable
User guide
Safety and warranty card
Red Cable Club Welcome Card
Design
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 come in a familiar rectangular charging case with rounded corners. The case is light and compact that can easily fit in your pocket. It has a matte finish which makes it less likely to scratch and attract fingerprints or smudges. The Dynaudio logo is inscribed beneath the OnePlus logo on the top of the case and on the case’s underside as well as. A tiny LED indication that glows in the red and green color on the front serves as a guide for pairing and charging. At the back, there is a USB Type-C charging port.
When you open the case, you can see the marked slots for the Left and Right earbuds. At the center, there is a function button. Strong magnets are used to hold the buds in place.
Just like the case, the earbuds’ design is similar to that of the earlier model. These are in-ear buds with a small stem sticking out of the earbud. The headset is made of plastic; however, it has two types of finishes. It has a matte finish on the top half and a glossy surface on the bottom half that is easily fingerprinted. The matte finish makes the earbuds easy to use and handle.
On the stems of the earpieces are pressure-sensitive controls. Compared to basic touch controls, this is far more accurate. You can access the playback controls and noise cancellation settings by quickly squeezing the stem. As you take the earbuds out of your ears, they automatically pause and resume playing thanks to an optical sensor for wear detection. The earpieces have a comfortable in-canal fit that ensures proper passive noise isolation. They’re also lightweight and, in my opinion, definitely one of the most comfortable in-ear buds I’ve used in the last year.
The icing on the cake is the Arbor Green color that we received as a review unit. It looks really great on both the earbuds themselves and the case. The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 also comes in a matte black finish but the green really stands out.
Overall, the earbuds offer great build quality and fit perfectly in ears, so they won’t fall out easily during outdoor activities like running, cycling, or while boarding a crowded metro. Besides, the earbuds have IP55 ratings for dust and water resistance. Therefore, it can withstand splashes and light rain. The case is also IPX4 rated for water resistance.
Audio Performance
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 is powered by Dolby Atmos. This delivers a wide soundstage experience enabled by the Spatial audio feature which can be configured for either a fixed position or head-tracking. With audio streaming services like Amazon Music, Spotify, and YouTube Music, the spatial audio feature is compatible. The finest audio streaming platform, however, is Apple Music because it is the only one that natively supports Dolby Atmos and lossless audio for a Hi-Fi spatial sound experience.
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 nonetheless dazzles with a rich sound signature. With crystal-clear vocals and a good amount of powerful bass, the audio quality is crisp. Highs are good, but the mid-range is average.
With a strong bass, fine trebles, and clear vocals, it has a balanced output. OnePlus and Dynaudio collaborated to develop dual audio drivers for the earphones. In addition to the default graphic equalizer, Dynaudio also tunes three more custom graphic equalizers. The outcome is a top-notch experience.
In terms of noise cancellation, the ANC muffles background noise which generally helps in most cases. The change is noticeable when you are listening outside. It performs admirably given the price. Also, this features a Transparency mode that enables you to hear background noise so that you can identify the environment and any potential dangers. When you take out a single earbud, it can turn on the transparency mode automatically.
Coming to the call noise cancellation, it combines three ENC microphones and an AI-powered noise reduction algorithm to reduce outside noise. This does a good job in reducing wind and road/traffic noise.
Connectivity And Fast Pairing
For HD sound quality on supported devices, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 supports Bluetooth 5.3 with LHDC 4.0 Hi-Res audio codec and AAC codec. For OnePlus phones (6 and later), pairing is quite simple. Just open the charging case for the earbuds, put it close to the OnePlus phone, turn on Bluetooth, and then follow the onscreen instructions. Besides, non-OnePlus users can download the OnePlus HeyMelody app for pairing.
There is also a fast pair option that works on the latest Android phones. If you have multiple devices connected to the same account, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 can connect to them with little to no effort. Additionally, the Buds Pro 2 features multipoint pairing that allows you to connect to two devices simultaneously. All in all, this has worked out pretty well.
The battery life of the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 is decent, offering up to 10 hours of playback time on a single charge. The overall battery life is increased to 38 hours when combined with the charging case. Since I don’t use ANC frequently, I can get away with nine hours on a single charge. You’re estimated to be approximately six with it on, which is still good. Despite not being plugged in consistently every few days or so, they haven’t actually died on me in the days that I’ve been using them.
Final Verdict
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 are some of the first Bluetooth earbuds on the market to support Google’s new spatial audio surround sound technology for Android. Support for simultaneous connections to two devices is a rare but welcome feature. The comfortable fit, decent battery life, and nice, compact body make it easy to carry around. The lack of onboard volume control is a bit of a disappointment though. Overall, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 is one of the best TWS buds for Android device users in this price range (Rs. 11,999).
If someone knows your Amazon password, they can access your Alexa recordings
Alexa users can change and reset their passwords
Amazon Alexa is a smart virtual assistant that allows you to manage your daily tasks and routines with just your voice. However, like any other online account, it is important to ensure that your Amazon Alexa account is secure. Changing and resetting your Amazon Alexa password regularly is one way to ensure your account’s security.
Step 2: Enter the email address or mobile number linked to your Amazon account when required, then click Continue. To authenticate your request, it will send you an email or SMS containing a One Time Password (OTP). This depends on the verification option you’ve selected.
Step 3: Enter the received OTP and choose Continue.
Step 4: Create a new password.
Step 5: A new password is activated as soon as you generate it. All Amazon-related accounts linked to the same email address must use your new password.
Once you have completed these steps, your Amazon Alexa password will be reset, and you will be able to access your account with your new password. This will also change the password for your Amazon account.
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Nokia Game Controller 5000 leaked on retailers and official platforms
StreamView has the device listed on its official website
It has a microphone, a Hey Google button, and more features
The Nokia Game Controller 5000 (GC5000) has been leaked on retailers and official platforms before its official release. It is the first-ever Nokia-branded game controller. Prior to its debut, StreamView has the product mentioned on its official website. StreamView is a licensee of the Nokia brand, but the listing is now hidden. Here’s everything you need to know:
Nokia Game Controller 5000GC Leaked Specifications
The Nokia GC5000 has an ergonomic design that improves grip when playing games. With a 14-hour battery life, it provides improved comfort for prolonged use. The controller’s battery can be fully recharged over USB-C in two hours. The Nokia Gaming Controller 5000 is compatible with Android TVs, Android streaming devices, and Android smartphones. It works with Google Assistant to help users browse menus and find games. Also Read | Best Train Simulator Games For PC Gaming Enthusiasts
The Nokia GC5000 features haptic feedback for a realistic gaming experience. Additionally, a 6-axis gyroscope is provided for quick turning and easy control. The GC5000 also features a microphone, a Hey Google button, and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity. A USB adaptor is included in the packaging, and the battery capacity is 650mAh.
Some product images and specifications of the Nokia GC5000 have been added to the listing. However, neither a price nor release information for the Nokia GC5000 has been disclosed by StreamView.
Nokia Game Controller 5000GC Launch And Price Details
The Nokia Game Controller 5000 was listed by the retailer with a price tag of €52.90 ($57). Details about the official release date of the product are not yet available. However, we expect the launch of the Nokia Game Controller 5000 to be imminent.
Valentine’s Day is the perfect occasion to shower techy gifts to your loved ones
An ideal Valentine’s Day gift option can be a cool gadget for your tech-savvy sweetheart
There are many cool gifting options from Noise, Qubo, and more that you can consider
Valentine’s Day is a special occasion to express love and affection to your loved ones. And what better way to do that than by gifting them the latest tech gadgets? Whether it’s a smartwatch, wireless earbuds, smart speaker, VR headset, or fitness tracker, these gifts will not only show how much you care but also help your partner stay connected and be more productive in their daily life. Here are some of the best tech gifts that you can consider for your partner this Valentine’s Day.
The new Noise Intellibuds, which is developed with the goal of disrupting the TWS segment, make an ideal gift for your companion. For the first time in India, the device features industry-leading features like “Gesture Control,” “Hot Voice Command,” “Music Sharing” directly from earbuds, “Transparency Mode,” and “Customized Equalizer”. These features add a completely new audio experience and change how your significant other interact with their devices.
Qubo Car Air Purifier
Qubo Car Air Purifier has an effective, quick-responding, and robust air filtering system. The innovative 3-stage filtration system fits in practically every automobile, filters up to 125 hazardous pollutants and exhaust gases, and removes up to 90 percent of pollen allergens through its HEPA and HESA layers. It is the ideal gift for your driving-addicted companions.
Tecno Spark Go 2023
The Tecno Spark Go 2023 features a 6.56-inch HD+ IPS display with a 90 percent screen-to-body ratio, and 120Hz Touch sampling rate. The smartphone is powered by the Helio A22 SoC with 3GB of RAM, has IPX2 Splash resistance, and features a 13MP AI Dual rear camera. Also, the device has a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner and packs a 5,000mAh battery with support for 10W charging over a USB Type-C port.
The Mivi Roam 2 has an aluminum body and comes with up to 24 hours of playtime at 70 percent volume. The wireless-Bluetooth feature allows for easy connectivity with mobile devices, laptops, and even televisions. And with four different color options to choose from, you can pick the one that best fits your partner’s style.
itel Smartwatch 1GS
The itel Smartwatch 1GS sports a 1.32-inch IPS display with 360 X 360 pixels resolution and connects via Bluetooth 5.1. It comes in a unique aluminum alloy frame and stylish metallic texture. The device is equipped with an infrared blood oxygen monitor, 24 X 7 heart rate, and sleep monitor.
Bluetooth Speaker
This Valentine’s day gift your special someone a Bluetooth speaker and set the mood whenever and wherever! Wireless Portable Bluetooth Speaker by Tizum is a great option as it is a beautifully designed lamp that comes with integrated speakers which makes it a unique table lamp.
Bluetooth Headphone
Don’t underestimate the power of a pair of good headphones. A good pair of headphones can make someone’s day. From Apple AirPods third gen in the premium range to Tizum, Boat, and more in the affordable segment, you can get several options to pick from.
Sony announced the latest addition to the Walkman series family, NW-A306
Designed for audiophiles with Hi-Res Audio
The NW-A306 Walkman will be available in India from February 9 onwards
You might have heard about or even owned a Walkman if you grew up in the 1990s. As it turns out, Sony announced the latest addition to the Walkman series family, NW-A306. Designed for listeners to enjoy music the way the artist intended with high-quality audio in a compact form factor. Here are some of the features of the newly launched device. Also Read | Are You A Music Lover? Here’s The Best Music Apps In India
Lightweight And Compact Design
The new Sony Walkman NW-A306 is a stylish and compact music player. It lets users download and stream more of the music they love. The device is lightweight featuring a 3.6-inch touch screen and haptic physical music controls that is only 199 grams in weight.
The native DSD format is compatible with the S-Master HX digital amp technology, which was independently designed for Walkman. It decreases noise and distortion throughout a wide frequency range which is further improved by new, high-quality sounding lead-free solder. It makes use of Edge-AI and DSEE Ultimate to instantly upgrade compressed digital music files.
The premium aluminum milled frame on the NW-A306 provides superior rigidity. It uses a gold-containing reflow soldering technology, which has a substantial impact on the overall enhanced sound localization and expanded sound space. A dual clock, film capacitor, and fine sound register have been precisely placed within the Walkman to realize the evolving sound of both music players.
The new Sony Walkman NW-A306 has a battery life of up to 36 hours for the playing of 44.1kHz FLAC, up to 32 hours for playback of 96kHz FLAC high-resolution audio, or even up to 26 hours while using streaming service apps.
Wi-Fi Compatible
Users can experience DSEE Ultimate for upscaling their music in NW-A306 whether it is downloaded or streamed via Wi-Fi, building on the lessons learned from its preceding models.
Sony NW-A306 Walkman Price And Availability
The NW-A306 Walkman is priced at Rs. 25,990. From February 9 onward, it will be available at all Sony Centers, significant electronics retailers, Headphone Zone, and e-commerce websites in India.
OnePlus at its Cloud 11 launch event today introduced a slew of products. The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 and the OnePlus TV 65-inch Q2 Pro smart TVs debuted alongside the OnePlus 11 5G smartphone series. The latest product lineup from OnePlus has been introduced with upgraded features for a refined user experience. The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 also has brought along several new hardware upgrades over the previous-gen OnePlus Buds earbuds. Let’s dive into the details:
OnePlus Buds Pro 2 TWS Specification Upgrades
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 TWS earbuds have a slightly similar design to its predecessor. The wireless charging case and the earbuds have the same form factor as the previous-gen model. The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 TWS earbuds have been introduced in a dual-tone shade. Speaking of the specifications, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 TWS earbuds have an integrated MelodyBoost dual-driver audio system.
It packs an 11mm dynamic driver that helps with powerful audio delivery which is combined with a 6nm planar diaphragm driver to enhance the default audio. Amongst the top highlight features of the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 TWS is the ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) support which will allow for disturbance-free listening during commute and in noisy backgrounds.
This is the first TWS earbud from OnePlus that comes with an ANC feature. Furthermore, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 TWS earbuds also offer a Cinematic Spatial audio system for surround sound effects and Hans Zimmer-inspired Master EQ (Equalizer) called Soundscape. It has Bluetooth 5.2 wireless technology and Google Fast pair for seamless connectivity with Android phones.
Speaking of battery backup, the OnePlus Buds TWS earbuds are said to last up to 5.5 hours with playback on a single charge. This backup is with ANC mode on. However, without the ANC mode activated, the earbuds can deliver up to 9 hours of backup per charge. If we include the charging case, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 TWS earbuds can get up to 39 hours of backup.
Also, there is fast charging support with which the pair gets up to 10 hours of backup with just 10 minutes of quick charge.
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 has been launched in India with a price label of Rs. 11,999. The earbuds can be purchased via Flipkart in Black, Arbor green, and silver shades starting February 14 via Amazon and OnePlus India official website.
Emphasis on Digital Payments and Make in India program
Mobiles and EVs to get cheaper
TVs will be affordable too
Electric chimneys to be expensive
India’s Union Budget 2023 is out. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced this year’s budget for different industries and sectors in the Parliament yesterday. Approx Rs. 45,03,097 crores have been proposed by the Indian government to be spent as budget in 2023-24 out of which Rs. 16,549 crores have been allocated to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. We are listing down the key takeaways of the Union Budget 2023 for the tech industry including what’s got cheaper and what all got expensive.
Emphasis On Digital Payments
Digital payments became a success in India ever since the government introduced UPI services. This year too, a major focus will be on digital payments where banks will be facilitating services to develop an enhanced digital payment ecosystem for the Indian market. Both BHIM UPI and RuPay debit cards will be promoted for digital transactions in India.
Approx 100 Digital Labs To Develop 5G Apps, New AI Centres
Digitization seems to be the prime focus for the Indian government during this year’s budget. The government has announced that around 100 Digital apps will be set up to aid the budding 5G industry in the country. These 100 digital labs will be established in engineering institutions where applications will be developed for smart classrooms, precision farming, smart transport system, and health care. Additionally, three new AI excellence for AI will also be developed for Indian educational institutions.
The Union Budget 2023 came as a respite for smartphone OEMs and users. Mobile phone production will not only be increased but also relief on custom duty will be lowering down the costs of camera and other parts imports. Additional duty concessions on li-ion cells for batteries will be continued for this year. This will possibly allow manufacturers to launch cheaper electric vehicles in the country.
In addition to smartphones, smart TVs and LED TVs will also get cheaper this year. A 2.5 percent reduction has been announced on basic customs duty on open cell TV panels. This will effectively reduce the cost of manufacturing directly impacting the pricing in the wholesale and retail market in India.
Electric chimneys will be selling at a higher cost compared to the current market. This can be deduced following the announcement of an increased 15 percent custom duty on electric chimneys. This is almost double the previous custom duty charge of 7.5 percent. However, the government suggests the increased rate is to encourage the Make in India program.
