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Google Is Planning To Launch Atleast Five Products in 2019
Google started launching devices with its branding with the first generation of Pixel smartphones. Some praiseworthy devices that the company has launched since then include the Google Home smart speakers and Pixel range of smartphones. However, the company has only had a handful of devices to its credit. Fresh Reports claim that Google is working on several new devices, and it might launch a total of five products this year. These are expected to be the Pixel 3 Lite series, the Pixel 4, a new version of Google Home, Pixel smartwatch and a Google Security Camera.

This news arrives after numerous leaks of the Pixel 3 Lite and Pixel smartwatch have surfaced on the internet. Other products, like the Google Home refresh and a cheaper Pixel smartphone, also have been due for a while now. These products are expected to make their way to the markets in the coming months.

Google’s Product Lineup For 2019

One device that company is likely to launch is the Pixel 4 smartphone which will succeed the Pixel 3 lineup from yesteryear. The handset is expected to launch in the month of October this year. It is assumed to have an improved design and upgraded cameras. Going by the company’s past chipset selection, the future Pixel smartphone is likely to run on the latest Snapdragon flagship SoC which is the Snapdragon 855. In terms of memory and storage, the device is expected to be offered in the following storage variants:
- 6 GB RAM + 64 GB ROM
- 6 GB RAM + 128 GB ROM
The Google Pixel 3 Lite series is also expected to be unveiled this year. This includes the Pixel 3 Lite and the Pixel 3 Lite XL. The devices have been leaked countless times online and are expected to launch at the Google I/O in May. The leaks suggest that Pixel 3 Lite will feature the Snapdragon 675 while the Pixel 3 Lite XL will feature the Snapdragon 710. Google is expected to target the mid-range smartphone market with these devices. The anticipated smartphones will be available in the following storage variants:
- 4GB RAM and 32GB ROM
- 4GB RAM and 64GB ROM
Another product that Google may launch this year will be a revised version of its Google Home speakers. They may launch alongside the Pixel 4 in October and are expected to have an updated design and refined audio quality. The Pixel Smartwatch is another product that is expected this year. It has been leaked several times and will compete against the likes of Apple Watch. Interestingly, it will be the first smartwatch that the company releases.

Also read: Xiaomi Mi 9 Full Specs and Images Leak Before Launch

Google is also planning to launch the Google Home Security Camera later this year. It will be made in collaboration with Nest, which is an American company best known for making smart home products. The Nest products may be rebranded as the company got integrated into Google early last year. So the Google Home Security Camera could be part of the Google Home range of devices or feature the Nest branding. The device is expected to be announced in October at the Pixel 4 launch event.
February 16, 2019
Xiaomi Launches The Mi Home Security Camera In India

Xiaomi has launched the Mi Home Security Camera Basic in India after teasing it on social media for a long time. Xiaomi plans on expanding its home security portfolio. The security camera offers a plethora of features and will be available on sale starting tomorrow on Xiaomi India’s website. It is priced at Rs 2299 but will be on a discount for a limited time.

Mi Home Camera Basic

The Mi Home Security Camera Basic has a 130-degree lens which is capable of recording in 1080p. The maximum frame rate captured by the device is 20fps. The camera is capable of sensing motion through Artificial Intelligence(AI). It is also capable of capturing images and videos in the dark by using 10 940nm infrared dimming lamps. When paired with its app, the security camera offers a talkback feature with voice calls with full duplex voice call design. The camera’s app also has features like picture-in-picture mode for easier multitasking on the phone.

It also lets users pair multiple cameras and view all of them in one screen with a multiple view feature. This functionality will be supported on some mainstream phones running on iOS and Android. Other features include secure local storage via microSD cards, and cloud NAS storage as well. As far as specifications go, the Mi Home Security Camera Basic has a 5V-1A power input, a microSD card support up to 64GB (above class 10), and a Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n 2.4GHz support.

Also read: HP Spectre Folio Unboxing And Hands-On

This is the second security camera Xiaomi has launched in the country. Last year, Xiaomi launched the Mi Home Security Camera 360 which had a 360-degree lens. The Mi Home Security Camera Basic will be available starting February 14 in white color on Xiaomi India’s official website for a price of Rs 1,999 for a limited time.

February 14, 2019
Xiaomi Launches Mi Home Projector Lite

Xiaomi has a vast array of products from home electronics, smart home, kitchen appliances, smartphones, televisions, computer appliances – almost everything imaginable. Xiaomi also has had launched projectors in the past, one of which had also won Japan’s 2017 Good Design Award! Now, the company has launched a small portable projector called the Mi Home Projector Lite that can be a perfect fit if you are a movie buff or like to consume your entertainment larger than life. This will be the company’s second projector after the Mi Laser Projector 150 which was released in early 2017.

Specifications

The projector is a compact long-throw projector which is perfect for smaller houses with relatively smaller rooms. However, the small size does not mean that it is less powerful. The projector can project 1080p images between 40 and 200 inches in size with a native aspect ratio of 1.2:1. It also features 500 ANSI LED lamp that has a life of 30,000 hours. The projector supports HDR10 which is great for viewing quality videos.

The projector also features a built-in speaker, along with Dolby Atmos and DTS support which are all handy features to have. But the most impressive feature is it’s built-in Mi TV functionality along with voice control. The projector supports different kinds of wired input connections and has HDMI, USB and aux inputs. It is quite understandable from the name of the product that Xiaomi is aiming to sell these projectors for homes and not necessarily for workplaces.

The projector however will be only available only in White colour and will be sold in China for the moment. It will be amazing to see this sold in India, but there is no news of that yet. The projector is currently up for crowdfunding and will be available for CNY2199 ($320) which will later increase to CNY2499 ($364).

January 16, 2019
Arlo Goes Overboard With 4K Ulta High Definition Security Camera

The Arlo Ultra is a security camera but it isn’t your everyday security camera. It has a 4K sensor and is wireless. The Arlo Ultra features HDR image processing. But the question is do we really need a 4K security camera? It depends. There are several downsides to recording in 4K but there are a lot of great things too. Arlo’s 4K footage can help you to uncover critical information by getting better video quality when you zoom in. This may include information such as license plates, clothing, or other telling details or suspicious activities. The camera also features an integrated spotlight. It can illuminate an area in the night with a powerful LED light to see colour footage in the dark. This was previously not possible with most security cameras. The older cameras shot black and white night vision images in the dark. The camera also has dual-microphones.

It also includes a newly designed rechargeable battery. It comes with a weather-resistant, magnetic charging cable for indoor and outdoor use. The camera has a panoramic 180-degree diagonal field of view. The Arlo Ultra also has a magnetic mount which makes it easy to attach in different surfaces. Arlo Ultra also has a built-in siren that can be automatically triggered by motion, audio detection, or manually activated remotely from the Arlo App for added protection.

Also Read : Apple Music Finally Coming To Amazon Echo Devices

Free Arlo’s Smart Premier service

The camera also comes with a free one-year subscription to Arlo’s Smart Premier service (worth $120), along with the Arlo SmartHub, for connecting to home Wi-Fi. This allows the user’s router to provide extended Wi-Fi range to Arlo cameras. It also manages data traffic to and from the camera out to the user’s cloud account. The Arlo Ultra records 4K images locally and stores it in a micro SD card. But you can pay an additional subscription fee if you want to store your security clips in maximum resolution in the cloud.

The Arlo Ultra will set you back around $400 and will roll out to the market in the first quarter of 2019.

December 1, 2018
Top Room Heaters To Power You Through The Winter

Winter is coming! And it is time to get your jackets out. But some cities in India are just too cold for jackets, hoodies and scarves to save you when you go to sleep. We list the best room heaters that will help you sleep well at night in the peace and comfort of your heated room.

Eveready Room Heater

This heater is a little pricey but is a lifesaver. It features dual side air inlet vents for maximum air intake with dual heat settings. It also has an adjustable height which can be great if you wish to place it on a desk or on your bedside table according to your needs. The heating indicator is also quite handy. The fan is a little noisy but if you are a heavy sleeper then that should not be an issue. The power consumption is also on the higher end at 2000 watts.

Usha Quartz Room Heater

This is a relatively inexpensive heater which is ideal for a small room only. It works well with a room size up to 120 sq. ft. It features a safety tip-over switch, which cuts off the heater in case it tilts or falls which is a great feature to have. The powder coated finish to prevent corrosion is also great for cities where the device will not be used during long summers. Designed for low power consumption, the heater features two heating positions to suit your comfort. The power consumption is 400 and 800 watts and operates at 230 volts.

Orpat Fan Heater

This is another room heater that is ideal for a small and medium room only and works in rooms upto 250 sq. ft, when operated at 2000 watt heat setting. This heater also makes some noise due to the fan. It works with a 15A plug. Make sure you don’t plug it in the standard 5A or 6A socket. But there is a way around it. You can use a 3 pin plug or extension cord to act as a 5A-15A convertor. However the heater cannot be used for a long time with the extension cord. The heater also features a safety cut-off and thermal cut-off for added safety. It has two heat settings of 1000 watts and 2000 watts. Given it’s price, it is a great value for money if you have a small room.

Singer Fan Heater

This 2000 Watt heater is great for its price as well. This is also a fan type heater that blows hot air out. It is small, lightweight, portable and has a plastic body that does not heat up in itself, thus preventing burns. The heater has two heating positions, a thermostate and thermal cut-out and can be positioned both vertically and horizontally. It also has an easy to carry handle for greater portability.

Bajaj Room Heater

This heater has two heat settings of 400 watts and 800 watts and can also be great for a small room. It is relatively noiseless and has dual safety with safety tip over switch and thermal fuse. It is also BIS approved which is a good sign for any buyer! The heater comes with a 2 year warranty on product as well.

November 27, 2018
Xiaomi Launches MIJA Air Quality Detector

MIJA, a sub-brand of Xiaomi has launched an Air Quality Detector. This detector is a part of Xiaomi’s smart home ecosystem. Xiaomi has previously launched an air purifier as well. With a growing need for such products in cities across the world, the Chinese tech giant is expanding its portfolio in this segment. The detector is available only in China as of now.

The Air Quality Detector

The MIJA Air Quality Detector has 5 parameters which it follows for air pollution detection. These include PM 2.5, TVOCs, Carbon Dioxide, humidity and temperature. With this, it not only tells you about the quality of the air. But also about the temperature and humidity levels in your surroundings. Most of us are familiar with PM 2.5, which is a scale to measure the atmospheric particulate matter that have a diameter less than 2.5 micrometer. TVOCs refer to Total Volatile Organic Compounds, which includes a group of chemical compounds including natural gas.

To display the information, it has a 3.97 inch touchscreen display with a 400 x 800 px resolution. The device is paired to your smartphone using the MIJA app. After pairing it with your phone, you can then synchronise it to other smart home devices. Such as the Mi Air Purifier or Mi Humidifier.

Also Read: Smartphones To Scooters; Xiaomi’s Ever Expanding Portfolio

As of now, the device has been launched in China at a price of RMB 399, which is around Rs 4,200. The Air Quality Detector is available online via Xiaomi Mall, Xiaomi Youpin and Tmall. With the addition of this device to the Xiaomi ecosystem, the company is launching more and more products which are becoming essential to our lifestyles. From toothbrushes to cameras to smartphones, it is slowly building itself to be one of the most prevalent brands in our homes.

November 12, 2018
Top 5 Air Purifiers To Buy This Diwali

With Diwali right around the corner, everyone is decking up their houses to welcome guests to celebrate this auspicious occasion. But with Diwali comes a natural hazard that can cause a lot of harm to the human body and sometimes can even be fatal. Air pollution is a massive problem in India with metropolitan cities such as Delhi and Mumbai being hit hard. So, we are listing five air purifiers that are great in their own ways and we will explain how each one has features that can be useful for your home. These air purifiers range from as low as Rs 8000 to as high as Rs 38000 and can make for a considerate Diwali gift as well!

Sharp Air Purifier

This air purifier is available for Rs 16,690 on Amazon and is in the mid-range price bracket. The Sharp air purifier promises to eliminate smell, toxic gases, VOC, pathogens (mould, virus, dust mites, fungi etc. particles up to 0.01microns) from both air and surface. It features a passive HEPA system that traps PM 2.5 particles, smoke, house dust and pollen. PM 2.5 is the most hazardous particle and that is what is measured when testing for pollution. The Sharp filter has a pre-filter that traps heavy dust particles. It also promises to combine active and passive purification systems much better than only filtration systems. Measuring a mere 73.2 x 35 x 27.1 cm and weighing at 6.66 Kg the purifier is easy to tuck-in, in a corner of your house.

Mi Air Purifier 2S

The Mi Air Purifier is one of the cheapest purifiers available in the market and is sold quite a lot. It features a PET primary filter, Ultra dense EPA filter and Activated Carbon. It has a range of 400 sq. ft. / 37 sq. metres. The 3- layer filtration is meant to remove harmful PM 2.5 and clean the air 400 square feet around, in 10 minutes. The air purifier also features smart control through the Mi Home App and Alexa which is a blessing as you can turn it on and off with just your voice. The OLED display allows you to check PM 2.5 levels in the room and keeps track of how clean your air is.

It also shows the temperature and humidity levels which is great for someone who is health conscious and wishes to monitor the air quality constantly. The filter for this air purifier costs Rs 2,199 on their website and requires to be changed once every 6 months at least, depending on the use. It has a CADR (Clean air delivery rate) of 310 m³/hr.

Philips 1000 Series Air Purifier

The Philips 1000 series air purifier has a range of 677 sq. ft. / 63 sq. mtrs. The air purifier works on 11 to 50 watts depending on the fan speed. It filters out PM 2.5, viruses, harmful gases such as formaldehyde and TVOC. It also has a very useful night sensing mode that prepares your room with clean air for your sleep. The air purifier has a CADR (cigarette smoke) of 270 m³/h and filters out bacteria as well. At a price of Rs 8,799 on Amazon this air filter is definitely a great deal!

Philips Series 3000 Air Purifier with Humidifier

If you are looking for a much more powerful air filter or you have a bigger room then you will need to shell out a little more. Priced at Rs 30,500 currently on Amazon, this air filter has a larger range and is more powerful. This filter claims to remove 99.97 percent of common pollutants and traps particles as small as 0.003 microns. It has a range of upto 861 sq. ft./80m² which is useful for common living rooms and halls or office spaces. It features three auto modes: General, Allergen and Sleep. The CADR is the same as that of the Mi air purifier at 310 m³/hr.

Also Read: Lenovo Z5 Pro With 95 % Screen-To-Body Ratio Launched

Dyson Pure Cool Air Purifier

Dyson is known for its quality home products and is infamous for it’s prices but the Pure Cool air purifier is worth every penny. It automatically senses and reports air quality levels (PM 2.5, PM 10, VOC, NO2 & overall AQI) on an LCD screen and Dyson Link App in real-time. The company also claims that it is the only purifier to report all of these separately. According to the company, the 350 degrees oscillation ensures proper circulation throughout the room. It is a 40W air purifier with Air Multiplier technology. This technology projects over 360 litres of purified air per second across the whole room.

It also boasts of a 360 degree Glass HEPA Filter and a Tris Impregnated Activated Carbon Filter capture of 99.95% of harmful ultra-fine pollutants & allergens as small as PM 0.1. It has nine different sensors that collect air quality data throughout the room. Another useful feature is the night-time mode that monitors and purifies using the purifier’s quietest settings, with a dimmed display. It also has a remote. The purifier is priced at Rs 37,900.

November 2, 2018
The Apple HomePod Is Getting 5 New Features

Although the highlight of the Apple Special event last night was the lineup of new iPhones, Apple did manage to slip in a little bit extra. The Apple HomePod is going to be receiving a few new features. These will probably bring it up to speed with its competition in the smart speaker segment.

The update involves increasing the capability of Siri with respect to the HomePod. Other than these features, Apple has also added support for a few languages in the HomePod. The device now supports Spanish in the US, Spain and Mexico and expands support in Canada with Canadian French.

With Siri on HomePod, you can also access these new features:

Search by lyrics: Until now, users could ask Siri to play a specific song. Now, you can ask Siri to play any song. Even if you can’t remember the name. Just say “play the song that goes like this…” and Siri will do the needful.

Set multiple timers: This is a big boon for those who are working on a project with multiple steps or someone setting up for a big dinner party. With multiple timers, you can ask Siri to keep you on track for getting that cake out of the oven, making sure you switch on those new lights and much more.

Make and receive phone calls: Now, HomePod lets you make and receive calls directly. You can also ask Siri to know who called incase you missed a call. To make a call, you can speak out a number or the name of the person you want to call.

Find my iPhone: This feature lets you ping for your iPhone in case you cannot figure out where you left it. This is already available in the Apple Watch.

Siri Shortcuts: HomePod users will now be able to set multiple actions into play with just one command. This is pretty similar to Alexa and Google Routines. What this means is you can program Siri to perform multiple actions using a single command. For example, “Hey Siri, good morning” is a single command. With this Siri could order your morning coffee, turn on your kitchen lights and share your calendar appointments for the day.

The launch date for this update is not known. It is expected around the time the iOS 12 is rolled out. That is on 17th September. Apple has not announced the update for India.

September 13, 2018
Xiaomi Mi AI Speaker Officially Launched

Xiaomi has launched one of the most affordable Mi A1 Speaker in China. The accessory has been launched along with the Mi MIX 2s and the Mi Gaming Laptop. The Mi AI Speaker comes with a cubical design with rounded corners. The speaker is priced at 169 Yuan (Rs 1,699) in China. The speaker has a shiny white plastic build quality, which is acceptable for the price tag. As of now, the company has not made any announcement on the global availability.

The mini speaker is powered by AI, which has an access to more than 35 million songs. Additionally, the speaker can also work as a smart alarm clock, with the ability to schedule a memo or a reminder. Similarly, the speaker can also voice-dictate news, information, or even you can make enquiries about upcoming and popular movies.

Xiaomi Mi AI Speaker Specs

The smart speaker is powered by the Cortex -A7 Quad-core chipset with 1.2 GHz clock speed. It supports 2.4Hz Wi-Fi band, Bluetooth 4.1 and has a total of 4 microphones. Like most of the Smart speakers, the device has to be connected to a power source using a micro USB port.

On the top, it has volume and navigation buttons surrounded by four microphones. Additionally, the device has a tiny RGB LED, which changes colour according to the task. The Xiaomi Mi A1 Speaker can work with either Android or iOS smartphone running on Android 4.4 KitKat and iOS 8.0 or the latest OS.

March 27, 2018
ACT Fibernet To Launch An Amazon Fire TV Stick Competitor Streaming Device

Buying an Amazon Fire TV Stick is one of the best ways to convert your standard television into a smart television. The only competition it has is the Google Chromecast. However, both devices suffer over copyright issues, as the Chromecast does not have access to Amazon Prime Video and the Fire TV Stick misses out from native YouTube support. ACT Broadband is getting ready to launch the Android-powered ACTTV+ streaming device, which might solve these problems.

Buying an ACTTV+ might be a one-stop solution, as ACT being an internet service provider (ISP) has partnered with different streaming services. The company has partnered with online content providers like HOOQ, Hungama, ALTBalaji, Yupp TV, and Fastfilmz. As of now, the company is offering a free trial for all these services.

As this is an Android-powered streaming device, users should be able to install apps like Prime Video and YouTube using Google Play Store. Services like ALTBalaji is already available for ACT Broadband users for a free trial. The company is beta testing the ACTTV+ in some of the metro cities, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai. The brand is also inviting the existing customers to take part in a trial run. The company is yet to announce the price of the device and additional charges to access different services.

Conclusion

The recent launch of smart televisions from companies like Xiaomi and Vu might threaten the OEMs of streaming devices. However, the Smart TV market is still at a nascent stage. Existing TV owners are likely to choose an add-on accessory, instead of buying a new Smart TV.

This would be a huge blow to Amazon and Google. As ACT being ISP can offer ACTTV+ stick at a discounted rate to its existing customers. However, Reliance Jio is also gearing up for its’s broadband service launch, which includes free live TV streaming, Movies, and Music. However, pricing of the ACTTV+ will also play an important role in the adoption of this streaming device.

March 19, 2018
CES 2016: Panasonic Transparent Displays Give Us a Peek Into the Future

For most smart-homes a shiny looking, flat-screen panel in the living room is the heart of everything smart, and beautiful. Over the years, display manufacturers have gone to great extents to create gorgeous looking TVs that not only add a dash of class to your home, but also are an embodiment of the latest technology available in the market.

Panasonic, in a bid to take things in this already heavily competitive space to another level, has come up with a new experimental screen that fades to total transparency when not in use.The display technology has such potential, that when it eventually gets retail release, it could well turn out to be one of the biggest TV advancements since the advent of the flat screen.

The Japanese company revealed its transparent TV screen on the floor of CES 2016, and was greeted by never ending crowds gathered around it. The display on show was a thin LCD panel with adjustable dimensions.

According to reports, the display has a slight tint to it which the engineers at Panasonic aim to get rid of in the future. The display also for now cannot process resolutions over 1080p, but be that as it may, this concept display is still nothing short of amazing!

Just thinking about the real life applications of this tech brings a smile to our faces at iGyaan. Imagine a warm morning couple of years down the line, when you wake up to look outside your window, and lo and behold, a notification pops up on your windowpane intimating you of the weather forecast for the day, or plays a video of the goal you missed from last night’s Champion’s League game! Yes, all that, and more could well become real in the future.

January 8, 2016
Samsung Galaxy View Tablet Listed Online: Specs and Features

Samsung is trying to work its way into every section of your home. With a slew of smartphones, tablets and TVs being offered, the company wants to cater to the kitchen as well. Kitchen tablets are becoming a thing now after the recently launched Alcatel OneTouch Xess and Sony’s two-year-old Tablet Z Kitchen edition. Now Samsung is bringing its own kitchen device with the Galaxy View tablet.

The massive 18.3-inch tablet was first teased at IFA 2015 in September and has now been listed on Andorama with some key specifications. The listing suggests that the tablet sports an 18.4-inch full HD (1080p) display with a density of 120ppi, which means the tablet should not be used at arms length. It is powered by a 1.6GHz 64-bit Carmen2 (Exynos 7580) octa-core processor paired with 2GB of RAM. Carmen2 chip is a new moniker and very little is known about it as of now.

Further specs of the Galaxy View include 32 GB internal storage, expandable up to 128 GB via MicroSSD card slot. It also features a 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera. No word yet on the rear camera. It also features a rather modest 5,700mAh battery capacity, and Samsung promises up to 8.5 hours of video playback.

The tablet comes with the usual connectivity options such as Bluetooth 4.1, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, A-GPS and GLONASS, with quad-band 3G and Cat.6 LTE, and a Wi-Fi only option may be available too.

The Galaxy View is Samsung’s answer to what comes in between the Galaxy tablet and Samsung TV. The company has yet to announce a launch date. Pre-orders for the tablet had already begun on Andorama and was priced at $599 until the site took it down for unknown reasons.

October 27, 2015
VU Brings Affordable 4K TVs to India

You know that the market is slowly getting set for 4K TVs. You want those super high definition displays for your gaming and entertainment experiences, but when you see the price tags on these devices, you make the wise choice and decide you like food more than UHD displays. Well, now VU gives you a cheaper alternative to the highly priced displays from the big brands.

VU has launched 50-inch and 55-inch 4K TVs which it will be selling exclusively on Snapdeal. The 50-inch TV costs Rs. 89,900 while the 55-inch version is priced at Rs. 1,19,000.

These TV’s are great alternatives to high priced displays from big brands.

The company claims that they have integrated the world’s first quad-core graphics engines in their TV. This engine will assist in accelerated Ultra HD content delivery. The TVs can take the images from the set-top boxes and upscale it to give sharper, more detailed images.

Devita Saraf, CEO and Design Head, Vu Televisions said “The new 50-inch and 55-inch 4K Ultra High Definition televisions from Vu are priced at half the cost of similar models from Sony and Samsung. Samsung’s 48-inch 4K TV is priced at Rs. 1,59,556 while the 55-inch Sony’s equivalent model costs Rs. 2,18,000. The panels are made in Japan and Korea while the plastics are made in China.”

They have multiple convenient connectivity options

The TV’s have multiple connectivity options which include four HDMI and three USB ports for the 50-inch model and three HDMI and USB ports for the 55-inch variants.

VU promises quality service from its certified customer service center. Saraf also said that customers buying the TVs from Snapdeal will get free shipping, and if there is any damage to the product during delivery, VU will replace it for free. So if you were looking for a 4K display for cheap, the VU seems like a good affordable option for you. Get it for some excellent visual experience and of course, some insane gaming visuals.

September 13, 2014
Bang & Olufsen Unveil an Outrageously Priced 85-inch 4K TV

Danish equipment manufacturers Bang & Olufsen have brought out an 85-inch 4K TV which, like its 55-inch sibling, comes with a motorized stand that helps it move around. The TV is called Beovision Avant 85in 4K TV.

Using the motorized stand you can adjust the angle of the TV up to 90 degrees and this can be done through a single push of a button. It will also automatically select the viewer’s favorite channel and sound settings. When you are done, the speakers will automatically fold and return to their original position.

The BeoVision Avant 85 has six HDMI inputs, two USB and an Ethernet port for internet connectivity. The remote provided with the device is called the BeoVision One remote control. It’s a metal bodied universal remote control made of Aluminum. The BeoRemote app is available for iPad and Android tablets too. The remote is capable of controlling your entire entertainment system.

For the audio, the TV comes with eight integrated drivers: three for treble, three for mid and two for the bass. There is an option for three channel surround sound output. Buyers can also connect to B&O speakers wirelessly.

The TV costs a whooping £16,595 (Rs. 16,39,000), and the motorized stand comes separately for an additional £1500 (Rs. 1,48,000). You can be better off buying a Samsung 4K TV which comes at half the price of this TV and buy a mid-segment sedan, with loads of money left on you.

September 12, 2014
From Fish Poop to Plant, Right in Your Drawing Room with Ecofarm

The human population is massive. It is currently estimated to stand at 7 billion. Environmentalists state that the optimum number of humans on the planet should have been 2 billion; we are a resource intensive species. Unlike the animals, we are used to a regular supply of food and water apart from clothing and other resources. Providing food for all of us is a massive affair. Our fertilizer induced lands have lost most of their natural nutrients, and they are overburdened. In these times, it is necessary to find farming alternatives that can help to bring a sustainable change in our food production mechanisms. One such method is Hydroponics.

Hydroponics is a plant growing technique which produces plants using limited water. The technique is so efficient that it saves almost 90% water in comparison to traditional farming methods. It is also space saving so you can get maximum growing potential out of a tiny place.

The makers of Ecofarm

Now a Dutch startup called Ecobird has brought a Kickstarter campaign for their Ecofarm. Ecofarm is a mini-loop ecosystem in which the nutrients from a Goldfish’s excrements are used to grow plants in the grow tank above. As the fish poop is extracted from the water, the water is cleaned too. All that needs to be done for the fish is to feed it.

The triangular shaped Ecofarm’s grow tank will allow you to grow small herbs like basil and thyme. You can also grow small tomatoes in the Ecofarm. The makers claim that the Ecofarm is capable of providing enough nutrients for these plants to grow.

This is a good start and hopefully will engage more people to come up with similar products that will expand their capacity. Hopefully, someday your septic tank will be capable of fueling your food garden making you self-sufficient as well as saving you money for important things in life like beer.

The campaign has a goal of 125,000 Euros which is a big sum. The developers have gotten 13,520 Euros till the writing of this article with 16 days to spare. The idea of the Ecofarm is great, it also shows how a symbiotic relation with nature can help us clean the evil from the world that is hunger. As Charlie Chaplin said in The Great Dictator, “In this world there is room for everyone. And the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful.”

Inventions like the Ecofarm if supported and taken further by the people will help to make a society free from menace like world hunger. It will also help us concentrate on undertaking more intellectual adventures like a self-sustained space colony.

September 12, 2014