The Fenix 3 is a multi-sport training GPS watch from Garmin which comes with a rugged and sturdy design while maintaining the look of an everyday sports It comes in two versions, the normal version with a rubber strap and a Sapphire edition which comes with an additional stainless steel metal band. The latter versions costs an extra Rs. 6,000, which is lot to ask for just an extra metal bandThe straps are held together by metal links which can be opened with the supplied screwdriversThe watch comes with two tiny screwdrivers so you can easily swap the wrist straps. Pretty handy if you quickly want to change the look of your watch.The back of the dial has a metal finish with some engraving along with four contact points for chargingThe watch is charged by clamping the charging dock at the bottom of the dial. The dock has a standard USB cable which you can plug into the supplied wall charger.The watch charges from 0-100% in just about 2 hours.The watch relies on five keys around the dial since there is no touchscreen. The display is also seems of low resolution and even though you get some colours on the display, it is mostly black and white. This also helps in a longer battery life. The display is also trans-reflective which means sunlight readability is great which can be further improved with an inbuilt backlight.The watch is loaded with a number of features including a compass, altimeter, barometer, GPS, and can track a number of sports activities like hiking, running, biking, swimming, skiing and even climbing. Apart from that it can also be connected to your smartphone to get notifications, check the weather, get calendar alerts, and control music
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By Puneet Mehrotra Just back from a vacation in Uttarakhand, I was surprised to find the visibility of iBall far surpassing Samsung, Micromax and or even Lava (all three which claim leadership in this part of India). Almost every mobile shop had iBall products on display. Their brand ambassador, Kareena Kapoor's flashing smile combined with rock bottom prices seems to be working well for iBall. Having said that the visibility of mobile phone brands is as fast changing as the speed of the multiple models that are launched almost every week. iBall Andi HD6The recent offering from iBall is Andi HD6. Priced at Rs.6,999 Andi HD6 is looks like a phone for almost triple its price. As the saying goes looks can be deceptive, don't set very high expectations from it, the kind you would have from a Rs.20,000 device, just because it looks like one. Having said that for Rs,6,999 it does have some great features. Here are the pros and cons ProsDesign - It looks really wonderful. Doesn't look like a Rs.6,999 phone 1.3 GHz Quad Core processor and 1GB RAM gives faster and smoother execution of tasks. Puneet MehrotraPacked with 8GB ROM (expandable up to 32GB). A statement from iBall says "promising exceptionally fast performance, smoother transitions and a fluid experience for the heaviest of users." Battery is a good 3000 mAh. It should be good even for the heavy users. One of the great things about iBall are the accessories they give in the box. For example this one has a modish protective case. It's good for users resisting dirt, stains and has an easy access to all phone functions without spending additionally on accessories. I wish other manufacturers follow iBall in this area. Motorola, Xiaomi and others don't even give basic headsets now forget accessories. Additional features include Advanced Security Options, Auto Call Recording, G-Sensor, Proximity Sensor and also comes with Regional Language Support for more than 15 Indian languages. ConsThe phone comes with 8MP AF rear camera with LED Flash and 5MP front camera. iBall please take note of the camera. The quality of pictures is not upto the mark. While trying out the results of this phone with a Xiaomi Redmi 2 which has just a 2 megapixel camera in front, the results of the latter were better. The phone has a 6-inch HD 720x1280 pixels IPS display. The resolution quality could have been better. The Last WordiBall Andi HD6 is a decent phone for a basic Android user for the price it is being offered Rs.6,999. For this price the phone has a great processor, battery life besides a user friendly interface. One of the advantages going for iBall is the penetration of support centres even in the smaller towns besides of course physical availability with your neighbourhood mobile shopkeeper. That's really a huge "touch feel availability" advantage iBall has over lot of Chinese manufacturers like Xiaomi, Oneplus and even MotoG amongst others. Puneet Mehrotra is a columnist on Life & Technology. puneet.im puneet@tbe.in
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Technology startup OnePlus on Monday (02 November) associated with DAG Modern, which has one of the finest collections of 20th century modern and contemporary Indian art by Bimal Dasgupta, Sohan Qadri and Shanti Dave to bring exquisite modern art with its latest smartphone.The partnership between a smartphone company and a modern art gallery, marking the coming together of powerful technology and historic art, two varied forms of expression, reinforcing the belief that OnePlus X will enable people to rediscover and rejoice the art of craftsmanship.Vikas Agarwal, General Manager - India, OnePlus, said, “These artists are part of the DAG Modern stable and are all masters in their own right who established their credentials with their work. We are delighted that a technology company such as OnePlus has chosen to use art in such a creative fashion, linking the widely differing worlds of technology and art. I can only hope for more such sensitive collaborations in time to come," said Ashish Anand, Managing Director, DAG Modern.These works of art will be embedded as wallpapers in the OnePlus X. The device will include two artworks by Sohan Qadri, who settled down in Copenhagen and devoted himself to creating ink on paper works with a beautifully coloured palette; one artwork by Bimal Dasgupta, who worked in the abstract genre and is known as a brilliant colourist and a fourth piece of artwork will is by Shanti Dave, yet another abstract artist whose paintings reference the mysteries of unknown worlds and civilisations.OnePlus X is designed to offer a beautiful, powerful and holistic experience that allows users to express themselves. Now a new dimension to user experience will be introduced through wallpapers of famous works of Indian artists which will come exclusively integrated with the OnePlus X. The association is inspired to appeal to design-conscious audiences who like to explore their individuality and would naturally choose the OnePlus X as an extension of their stylish and creative selves.Karan Sarin, Head of Marketing, OnePlus India added, “We are hosting two pop-up stores at the DAG Modern galleries in Mumbai and New Delhi on November 2nd and 3rd respectively. The aim is to bring the design marvel - the OnePlus X - closer to people who appreciate art. At the pop-up stores, OnePlus fans and art connoisseurs will get an exclusive opportunity to experience the device which will be on display at the galleries before it goes on sale”.(BW Online Bureau)
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Integrated logistics platform Vamaship has launched in India on Monday (02 November) with aim to driving the most cost-effective, on-time shipment fulfillment for individuals and businesses.SMEs, e-commerce websites and individual shippers are expected to be the ones to benefit the most from this latest development.Bhavik Chinai, Founder and CEO - Vamaship, commented, “Globally, the shipping and freight industry has presented freight forwarders and shippers with a broken and expensive experience, owing to its unorganized and unintegrated processes. With Vamaship’s integrated logistics platform, we aim to change logistics forever by implementing tech-driven solutions to automate and facilitate shipping. This will ensure a cost-effective and seamless shipping experience for all stakeholders.” Through this technology, Vamaship helps shippers minimise costs through passing on bulk shipping rates and through automation of shipping processes. By leveraging state-of-the-art technology, deep knowledge of the industry and advanced logistics algorithms, Vamaship will facilitate shipping through all three channels – air, ocean and surface.Vamaship provides freight logistics solutions across all three channels of transportation – air, surface and ocean – within 8,000 pin codes in India and from India to the United States, UK, UAE, China, Hong Kong and Singapore. The company has tied up with India’s best shipping partners to ensure seamless fulfilment. “We are here to help our partners and shippers streamline shipping processes,” Rohit Chemburkar, Co-founder and CTO - Vamaship acknowledges. “By tackling the existing inefficient process through technology and real-time communication with various stakeholders, we enable the calculation of the most precise freight applicable for our users.”Centring its brand proposition on a strong team, excellent work culture, and quick expansion, the company is now evaluating the option of enabling more services to shippers and expanding their reach within India to 10 cities. When executed, Vamaship will become the world’s first platform to provide a automated shipping from 10 cities in India to the world.(BW Online Bureau)
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EsselWorld and Water Kingdom have introduced a new add-on feature of travel service on its websites for their guests. One can just click the new tab “Hotels & Flights” and book their travel & stay for trip to EsselWorld & Water Kingdom.EsselWorld has associated with Infibeam for integrating travel ticketing engine to offer special & customized travel service. EsselWorld & Water Kingdom is the largest amusement & theme park in the country for whom Infibeam has developed integrated online entry tickets platform to the park gate along with new and exciting range of all inclusive hotel and flight package.The new service provides end to end travel solution, better service and experience to guests. The platform allows EsselWorld to integrate marketing, sales, customer service and other back-end-processes and re-selling platform for agents to provide more seamless transitions throughout the customer life-cycle.Tarandeep Singh Sekhon, Marketing Head of EsselWorld said that “We have introduced flight and hotel booking on our websites as one-stop solution for visitors with convenience to plan their visit along with booking of entry tickets to our parks and make their experience better.”Mr. Ketan Mehta, Associate Vice President of Infibeam said that “Guests from all across the country can now simply click on the ‘Hotels & Flights’ tab and make desired bookings for EsselWorld and Water Kingdom. The new integration of Hotel & Flight ticketing will offer guests a one stop solution which makes booking very easy while planning a trip to Amusement and Water Park.(BW Online Bureau)
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Sam HuntDisruption is everywhere and will affect all organisations. This disruption is being driven at a faster pace and with greater impact than ever before. Large organizations have learned how to survive in the battle for growth within their own segments but are not adequately prepared for the sort of disruption they are now facing.This disruption is coming from all sides:1. The technology giants of GAFA (Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple) that are rapidly entering adjacent markets2. The global community of start-up business, now with over 100 totalling greater than $1 billion, that are eating into the lunches of existing players3. The ever-present threat of new market entrants from emerging marketsIn the US this has resulted in 52 per cent of Fortune 500 companies having merged, been acquired or gone bankrupt since 2000. The traditional response of investing in R&D is not working; R&D investments are increasing while the returns are decreasing. Hardly surprising given a recent Forbes study that showed only 5 per cent of the R&D staff felt highly motivated to innovate3.What are organizations doing about this?The constant threat of disruption and R&D failure are causing more and more organizations to invest in innovation labs. A Capgemini study found that 38 per cent of the worlds' largest 200 organizations were already creating their own. Read the full report here.These labs all have important goals to help their organizations experiment with emerging technologies and to better understand their customers. However they do all feel very similar. Having visited a number of these labs, it is quickly apparent that they all have similar characteristics. Costly real estate in desirable tech global centers, decked out in bright colors and exposed brick. You can almost guarantee that a 3D printer is hiding somewhere!While recognising this disruption and making the investment in a lab is a good place to start, many companies are focusing on the lab rather than the end-to-end capabilities required to overcome the disruption and to make innovation a core competency within their business.We have learned that in addition to a lab, if an organization is serious about competing among all of this disruption it must also develop the following capabilities:1. Ecosystem stimulation and open innovation management - creating and managing a crowd of interested organizations, start-ups and SMEs engaged in your business problems.2. Dev, deploy, test: a DevOps delivery for all innovation projects. Managing the relationship between business critical legacy systems and the rapidly changing test and learn initiatives.3. The ability to align stakeholders and make collaborative decisions. This is key to moving out of the pilot phase and to deploy at scale.Developing and scaling these capabilities is essential to making the most of the investment in innovation labs, combating disruption and ensuring the future of your organization.The author is innovation lab director at CapgeminiTwitter: @Sam_W_HuntLinkedIn: http://uk.linkedin.com/in/samwhuntDisclaimer: Opinions expressed on this column reflect the writer's views and not the position of the Capgemini Group
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Simar Singh Remember Nintendo? The company that opened the doors of video gaming with Mario and a slew of hand-held Gameboys which were a must-have for any self-respecting kid in the 90s and 00s. Till, of course, Sony’s Playstation and Microsoft’s Xbox took their spot in the sun and now smartphones and tablets. Haven’t thought about them for a while have you? After months of speculation, the Japanese gaming company finally previewed its fist ever smartphone game in front of the media and investors in Japan on Wednesday. Named, ‘Miitomo’, Nintendo intends to make the game available for iOS users by March 2016. The company intends to release four more smartphone geared games by March 2017. The company says that Miitomo will be free to download with the option of add-ons that will be available to purchase via in-app purchases. The preview hints that Miitomo does not really fit the parameters of a game in the traditional sense. More of a communication-based app, it allows users to create their own avatars or ‘Miis’ which can communicate with each other in the virtual space. Nintendo says that this will help “to encourage people who are hesitant to talk to share things about themselves.” While we’ll have to sit tight till March while Nintendo engages itself in marketing efforts and “educating” people about the game, one can’t help but wonder if this will be the game maker’s catapult into mainstream consciousness.
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OnePlus has established itself as a well-known brand in the smartphone world in just about two years thanks to its high-end feature rich smartphones which come at a nominal price. While the handsets don't justify the 'Flagship Killer' motto, both of them were well received by consumers. Today OnePlus took a larger step and announced a whole new smartphone line with the launch of the OnePlus X. This is the first time the company has announced a smartphone with a 5-inch display along with a premium build quality which will also be the first handset that will be produced in India at the Foxconn facility in Andhra Pradesh
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