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MG Unveils Astor SUV with AI Assistant and Autonomous Level 2 Tech

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MG Motor India today unveiled the industry-first personal AI assistant and first-in-segment Autonomous Level 2 technology, to be featured in their upcoming mid-size SUV – Astor. MG aims to further its auto-tech focus by building on the concept of Car-as-a-Platform (CAAP) of possibilities and services.

MG is working on emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enable the development and application of services and subscriptions to support the ‘on-demand in-car’ needs of the customers. Astor is the first car to get a personal AI assistant in the company’s global portfolio.

The personal AI assistant is designed by the acclaimed American firm ‘Star Design’. It depicts human-like emotions and voices and can give detailed information on every topic through Wikipedia. It will engage with people in the car and is powered by i-Smart Hub. It is a platform on which the partnerships, services, and subscriptions of CAAP will reside. It will allow customers to personalise their set of services.

Speaking about India’s first personal AI assistant and the first-in-segment Autonomous Level 2 car Astor, Rajeev Chaba, President and MD, MG Motor India, said, “As an auto-tech brand, we have always introduced breakthrough technologies and now, we are moving forward with Artificial Intelligence. Astor is a step further and a catalyst for disruption with first-in-the-industry and best-in-class features that customers only get in premium/luxury segments. With a relentless pursuit of innovation and software at the heart of the production, our vehicles will continue to provide a smarter and safer driving experience by leveraging AI.”

The Autonomous Level 2 MG Astor is powered by mid-range radars and a multi-purpose camera that can realize a series of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). These include Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Departure Prevention, Intelligent Headlamp Control (IHC), Rear Drive Assist (RDA) and Speed Assist System amongst others. These functions can significantly improve driving safety and comfort, and they have been further optimised for Indian traffic conditions.

The name Astor is derived from Raytheon Sentinel, an airborne battlefield and ground surveillance aircraft formerly operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF), UK. MG Astor shares the popular ZS platform sold by MG across the globe in countries such as the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Middle East, Norway, Netherlands and other countries in Asia too.

For the first time in India, MG recently showcased CAAP with endless possibilities. Building an ecosystem of various in-car services, it hosts subscriptions and services, including maps and navigation with MapMyIndia, Jio connectivity, the first-of-its-kind Blockchain-protected vehicle digital passport by KoineArth and more. MG car owners will also get access to music on the JioSaavn app along with the industry-first feature of reserving a parking slot through a head unit (powered by Park+ – select cities to begin with) in the car. CAAP will create various possibilities which will evolve with time, creating a safer and smarter driving experience.

Lava Offers You a Chance to Design the Next Indian Smartphone

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Indian mobile handset brand, Lava International Limited, has announced the launch of the second season of its ‘Design in India’ (DII) challenge. Lava’s DII contest invites entries for designing the next Indian smartphone. The contest is open to students and working professionals either presently pursuing or graduated in B.Tech/B.E., Bachelors in Design Program or Masters in Design Program from any institute across India in select specialisations. The registrations will be open from 15th August to 25th August 2021.

Talking about the contest, Tejinder Singh, Head – Product, Lava International said, “As the nation focusses on Atmanirbhar Bharat, the telecom industry can play a pivotal role in facilitating this mission. India has a fantastic talent pool waiting to be tapped. Through the ‘Design in India’ challenge, Lava seeks to offer the country’s youth and other talented professionals a platform to showcase their skills for this nation-building process. Therefore, Lava’s call for entries offers them an excellent opportunity to showcase their creative skills by providing fresh perspectives in our endeavour to come up with the best smartphone prototype for the country.”

Registrations will be via Lava’s website, using the team leader’s email ID and mobile number. Students/professionals can participate in a team with a minimum of one and a maximum of three members. Any plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification of the team.

The contest will be conducted in three rounds – ideation, prototype creation and presentation to the jury. After registering, eligible candidates will receive an email intimation and gain portal access to submit a solution according to predetermined timelines. All submissions will be evaluated by a panel comprising Lava International’s senior leaders. The top 10 teams will then be shortlisted for the Prototype development round.

In round two, the top 10 teams will submit functional Smartphone prototypes/plans. The five top teams will be shortlisted for Round three – the Finale. Teams will be judged on three parameters – creativity, functionality and uniqueness. The final five teams will present their ideas to a panel constituting of Lava’s senior leadership. Sanjeev Agarwal, Chief Manufacturing Officer – Lava International will head the judging panel.

At the competition’s culmination, the top three winning teams will receive a pre-placement interview opportunity at Lava. They will also be awarded a cash prize of Rs. 50,000, Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 15,000, respectively.

Lava’s Design in India initiative is powered by MediaTek.

Kuldeep Malik – Director, Corporate Sales, MediaTek India, said “MediaTek is delighted to be associated with Lava for the Design in India initiative. At MediaTek, we believe this is a step towards empowering the entire design community in India and have always supported Make in India initiatives. Our chips are designed keeping in mind the indigenous requirements of our discerning customers, and Lava’s contest is also built along the same lines. We wish Lava every success for a splendid contest and look forward to witnessing innovative designs from talented individuals across the country.”

Lava launched the first season of Design in India challenge in July last year, which received an overwhelming response from across the country. The contest received more than 12000 entries out of which three teams- Ingenium, Magma and Invincible were declared winners. The company also offered placement to the top two performers- Syamala Dasika from Sir C.R Reddy College of Engineering and Nafih Ahammed from NSS College of Engineering. To register your team, please click here.

Hikvision Announces its Webcam Debut

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Hikvision, an IoT solution provider with video as its core competence, has announced the launch of its new webcam products to the global market. The product family currently comprises four series – Ultra, Pro, Live, and Value – designed for various scenarios and user groups, and with bespoke feature sets.

According to industry analyst firms, the global live streaming market is expected to continue growing significantly the coming years. The increase in video streaming among citizens and businesses in all verticals is reported as the main driver for market growth, with content creators diversifying their material and activities, and connecting with audiences in new ways. In addition, complete and partial lockdowns during the COVID-19 crisis also positively impacted the live streaming industry. To provide immersive video conferencing and streaming experiences, users need webcams that deliver high-resolution imaging and excellent-quality sound in a range of scenarios. Hikvision has designed and developed its new webcam range to meet this need.

Ultra and Pro webcams for remote conferencing

The Hikvision Ultra series of webcams are specifically designed for remote conferencing. The highlight of this series is its PTZ control capability, which offers 5x optical zoom capabilities. This means that users can see meeting presentations or discussions without straining their eyes. Additionally, PTZ control allows users to pan across 330°, helping them adjust their viewing angle easily, without missing a thing.

Hikvision’s new webcam range also includes Pro webcams for remote conferencing. These are ideal for business professionals, offering an outstanding, immersive sound and video experience, with a sleek design and an elegant, anodized finish. Pro webcams offer an Auto Focus feature and built-in dual-microphone, ensuring that audio and video is always crystal clear during presentations, conferences, or group discussions.

Live webcams for live streaming

The cube-shaped Hikvision Live series of webcams is designed for live streaming, eCommerce, and gaming applications. If a product is being presented in a live program, for example, the webcam view can be changed – both horizontally and vertically – thanks to magnetic mountings on all four sides of the casing. These webcams also offer Sharp Auto Focus, which ensures that images of people and objects are sharp and clear at all times. Importantly, the webcams’ ‘touchable supplemental LED light’ feature enables users to adjust brightness in accordance with the surrounding environment.

Value webcams for online education

The Hikvision Value series is our range of entry-level webcams. These have a compact design, making them perfect for online education applications that connect school teachers and students. The webcam comes with a built-in microphone, which incorporates advanced algorithms to reduce noise and improve sound quality. Its wide-angle lens provides maximum coverage, with no image distortion. This is particularly useful for teachers giving lessons in a classroom, where both the teacher and the blackboard, or wall-mounted screen, can be viewed clearly in a single frame.

All Hikvision webcams are driver-free, offering ‘plug-and-play’ installation via a standard USB interface. This allows users to begin conferencing or streaming in seconds. All Hikvision webcams can also be flexibly mounted on users’ equipment, on tables, laptops, monitors, or tripods. Importantly, Hikvision webcams are equipped with a dedicated PC-based client software, called HIKIN. Users can use this software for video previews, and to configure image and sound parameters. Notably, the webcams can be used with all the leading third-party conferencing platforms with video parameter configured using a simple drop-down menu. All Hikvision webcams are delivered with a standard 2-year warranty.

MSI’s Latest Laptop Line-up Merges Technology with Aesthetics

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MSI has unleashed its latest laptops featuring cutting edge technology enabled by the latest 11th gen Intel processors. However, this year’s products focus on the marriage between technology and design aesthetics.

Tech meets Aesthetic

MSI’s 2021 line-up draws inspiration from the design principles that emerged during the renaissance period and continue to influence modern artistic concepts. The finest artistic creations are based on precise calculation and design. Think about the Fibonacci sequence, also known as Golden Spiral, which defines the perfect proportion in terms of visual and aesthetic appeal. It is the golden rule to create harmony and beauty in visual art. A careful analysis of the world’s finest artworks, sculptures and architecture would reveal the use of Golden Spiral and Golden Ratio in various forms.

Modern technological innovations like laptops, wearables and other devices are part of our everyday lives and hence it is important for these to blend seamlessly with the décor of your room or workspace. These gadgets reflect the personality and taste of the user. Realising this, MSI has focussed their efforts to craft their latest premium laptops around the same design principles that inspire the world’s finest artworks, creating perfect blends of technology and aesthetics.

Evolution of Aesthetics

With the development of modern civilization, people invent and apply novel technology in life by learning from the rules of nature and the logic is then applied to user experience. Technology solves and improves the problems and quality of life. The rigid sound from the blacksmith when striking iron inspired Pythagoras to immerse in the beauty of the rhythm and form a mathematic sequence by the sound ratio which define aesthetics precisely. Aesthetics, the word was defined first by Alexandra in 1750 A.D, as the combination of sensor and emotion in Greek. St. Thomas Aquinas defined “beautiful” creation as one that had order, symmetry and definiteness. These rules were advocated by Aquinas in response to Golden Ratio in Renaissance.

Evolution of aesthetics

The Golden Ratio not only forms the fundamentals of modern art but also prompt the taste of art. The finest creations are often based upon precise calculation and design. Some of the most representative works comes from the Renaissance, the era that is known for mathematics and geometrical beauty formed by Golden Ratio. Golden Ratio comes from Fibonacci sequence, called mathematics code in Aesthetics, which was formed by Pythagoras. The law of mathematic and geometric beauty can often be observed in Mother Nature, and is applied in modern architecture and art creations. This forms the fundamental of modern day art. Da Vinci widely applied the Golden Ratio in his creations such as Mona Lisa and Uomo Vitruviano. We can also find Golden Ratio elements by mathematics applied on the “David Statue” by Michelangelo and the great works by Raphael.

Tech Meets Aesthetic – How Golden Ratio works

The Scientific Revolution brought the spirit of experimental science and the strict mathematical logic cultivated enlightenment. The golden age composed of the Renaissance, Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment, whether in ideology or technology, directly or indirectly impacted the Industrial Revolution, Modern Art, and Postmodern Art. In the process of each period, it can be found that science and aesthetics were inseparable and influenced mutually. MSI has now adopted human-oriented product design, merging Golden Ratio Aesthetics design with modern day technology, assisting users to solve problems in life, breaking through boundaries and exploring more potential. The company reiterates that this will remain firmly embedded in the values of MSI’s product design henceforth. MSI’s new line-up combines the Golden Ratio of the Renaissance period with post-modernist architectural aesthetics on product design. This perfectly conveys the concept of “Technology meets Aesthetic” through the appearance of products.

Creator Series

The Creator series of laptops, as the name indicates, are designed specifically for creative artists who are into Videos, Music or 2D/3D creation. These professionals require accurate colour reproduction with minimal colour deviation along with high performance and extreme mobility. This line-up features devices that offer the best colour accuracy with MSI’s True Pixel technology, capable of reproducing a wide colour gamut that conforms to graphic and video industry standards, and hardware optimised for creative applications. The series presents a mix of streamlined surface and sleek edges, merging postmodernist design with modern technology.

The Creator Z16 is the flagbearer of this series with a body crafted from a single metal sheet employing precise CNC machining process to make it thinner and sturdier and creating an elegant curve at the sides. The laptop is available in Lunar Grey, a unique and subtle shade that reveals its splendour when light bounces off the surface and the laser-etched logo. The 16:10 display with QHD+ resolution follows the Golden Ratio so that it provides you the most comfortable visual experience. A 11 percent increase in viewing area and Touchscreen allow better productivity. The display is hardware-calibrated at the factory to reproduce 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut and offers Delta E<2, which indicates minimum colour deviation. The display standards have been verified by Calman, a professional colour calibration solution designed for experts.

Gaming Laptops

To bring the vision of Tech meets Aesthetic to life,  MSI collaborated with two highly acclaimed artists, resulting in laptops that deliver the utmost in performance with revolutionary designs.

The design of the Katana GF has been developed on the concept by Tsuyoshi Nagano, a Japanese illustrator, famous for his cover artwork on “The Romance of the Three Kingdoms” video game series since the 1980s. He has dedicated his career to gaming series for a long time his art style of realism has influenced many other series such as “Dynasty  Warriors”. The device has been inspired by the craftsmanship of the artisans who forged the blades of legendary Samurai warriors. Like the sharp and flawless blade and exquisitely carved hilt of the swords, the Katana GF encompasses the concept of blade and armour in the legend of the Dragon Island and the Dragon Clans — a blade as sharp as thunder, powerful and durable. One of the most powerful laptops ever released in the GF series, the Katana GF boasts a gaming-red backlit keyboard, redesigned keyboard layout, intuitive hot-keys and better key travel to make your gaming sessions intuitive and immersive.

Similarly, the Pulse GL  carries a visual identity developed in cooperation with Maarten Verhoeven, acclaimed digital concept artist and Zbrush World Champion. The design, as the name indicates, has been inspired by the armed super warrior carrying pulsed energy guns in modern futuristic sci-fi games. The claw blades overflowing with electric current hum in the background as the Dragon Clans traverse the galaxy provide inspiration for the futuristic design of the Pulse GL. The device features laser patterns and a sturdy titanium grey body, encompassing the concept of technology and strength. MSI’s 2021 line-up of laptops offers cutting edge technology combined with style and design options appealing to a wide spectrum of users. It is indeed heartening to see a brand considering visual appeal and aesthetics on equal footing with technology and functionality.

MultiTV appoints Padamjit Sandhu as VP, Sports and E-gaming Division

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MultiTV, which pioneers video-tech platforms that bring innovative and high-quality impactful solutions to the world, today announced the appointment of Padamjit Sandhu as Vice President for Business Development, Global Sports and E-Gaming.

With the pandemic forcing the sports and gaming industry to innovate around its virtual and digital capabilities, MultiTV, with Padamjit Sandhu’s leadership, will help build a strong, innovative, customisable, and qualitative system to cater to the global sports and e-gaming sector. Sandhu will be heading the sales and business development division of the company for its video-tech platforms for the sports and gaming vertical. In a career of sport and business management of close to three decades, Sandhu was the Chief Executive Officer at Mumbai Rockets. (Mumbai Team at The Premier Badminton League).

Padamjit Sandhu

Vikash Samota, Founder and CEO of MultiTV, said on the appointment, “We have selected and onboarded an industry leader at a time when businesses, cities and countries around the world are focused on innovation in the video-tech space, particularly sports and e-gaming. We are excited to have Padamjit join us with his vast, specialised experience in OTT and live sports technologies.

Padamjit said, “Video technology, sports and e-gaming decision-makers need to collaborate with innovative platforms for the active and rapid growth of the new-age viewer’s consumption needs. We believe there will always be a need to create upgraded platforms and disrupt the existing ones. I am delighted to drive the innovation quotient for the sports and e-gaming business at MutiTV and be a part of the company’s next phase of growth.”

As Director of the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), Sandhu is credited with building and growing professional golf in India by over 500 per cent and expanding the tour to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal. He signed the New Asian Tour, European Challenge Tour and European Tour events in India and built strategic partnerships for PGTI with brands like Rolex, Volvo, Qatar Airways, LG, Taylormade, Callaway, Incredible India and Ten Golf. Sandhu has also served on the President’s Cup Committee (Team USA vs International Team), the India Golf Tourism Committee (Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India) and the Executive Committee of the CII Asia Golf Industry Show.