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Huawei Unveils Band9 and FreeBuds SE2

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Huawei has unveiled its latest innovations in the wearable segment—the Huawei Band 9 and FreeBuds SE2, designed to redefine fitness tracking and audio experiences for modern consumers.

Huawei Band 9

Priced at INR 4,499 and available on Amazon and Flipkart, the Huawei Band 9 offers a sleek and lightweight design, weighing just 14g, ideal for all-day comfort. With an impressive battery life of up to 14 days on a full charge and 9 days of typical usage, it ensures uninterrupted performance.

The Band9’s vibrant 1.47-inch AMOLED touchscreen and 2.5D glass lens provide a sharp, immersive display for health stats and over 100 customizable watch faces. Its advanced features, such as Huawei TruSeen™ 5.5 technology, offer precise heart rate monitoring and Pulse Wave Arrhythmia Analysis, ensuring real-time health insights.

The upgraded TruSleep™ 4.0 enhances sleep tracking, detecting abnormal breathing patterns and providing actionable insights to improve rest and recovery. Designed for fitness enthusiasts, the Band9 supports 100 workout modes, including swimming, with 5ATM water resistance and accurate performance tracking through its 9-axis sensor. The Activity 3-Rings feature gamifies fitness goals, motivating users to stay active and maintain vitality.

Huawei FreeBuds SE2

The Huawei FreeBuds SE2, priced at just INR 2,999 and available on Flipkart, deliver an exceptional listening experience. With up to 9 hours of playback on a single charge and 40 hours with the charging case, these earbuds are perfect for life on the move. A quick 10-minute charge provides 3 hours of playback, ensuring users are always connected.

Crafted from insights into over 300,000 ear canal samples, the SE2 offers a secure and comfortable fit. Its IP54 dust and splash resistance make it suitable for any adventure, while Bluetooth 5.3 ensures stable connectivity. Intuitive touch controls provide seamless navigation for music, calls, and voice assistant activation.

The SE2 also features advanced tools like “Find the Earbuds” via the AI Life app and SGS Grade I certification for eco-friendliness, reflecting Huawei’s commitment to sustainability.

Availability
The Huawei Band 9 is available for pre-order on Amazon and Flipkart starting 16th January 2025, in a variety of colors, including Black, White, Pink, Blue, and Yellow, to suit every style. The FreeBuds SE2 will also be available on Amazon at INR 2,999.  

ECS to Unveil AI-Enhanced Education Laptops and Mini PCs

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Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS), will participate in the renowned Bett 2025 education technology exhibition in London from January 22 to 24, 2025. ECS will showcase its new series of education laptops integrated with AI technology and multifunctional mini PCs, designed to enhance teaching efficiency and the learning experience. These products not only offer exceptional performance and portability but also incorporate innovative solutions to provide smarter technological support for the education sector.

A New Series of AI-Powered Education Laptops, Delivering Smart Learning Solutions

At Bett 2025, ECS will feature a series of lightweight AI laptops tailored for higher education, including the 14-inch UP40ML ,UP42PW models, as well as the 15.3-inch UP52PW model. These laptops are focused on improving the teaching and learning experience by offering powerful computing capabilities and advanced features. They support multiple processor platforms, such as Intel, AMD and Snapdragon, providing flexibility to meet various needs while maintaining a high-quality metal chassis for durability in campus environments.

The UP40ML is equipped with an Intel® Core™ Ultra processor and the latest NPU technology, enhancing AI processing capabilities. Paired with Windows 11 Copilot AI Assistant, it provides a smarter interface for teachers and students. This laptop is just 16.3mm thin and weighs 1.4kg, making it highly portable and ideal for use in classrooms, libraries, or any learning environment. Its QHD display (2560 x 1600) delivers detailed high-definition visuals, with 100% sRGB color gamut to meet both design and academic needs. The backlit keyboard is perfect for low-light conditions. Supporting PCIe™ Gen 4 x4 SSDs and DDR5 5600 MT/s dual-channel memory, it ensures high-performance computing. The 70Wh high-capacity battery provides over 10 hours of battery life, catering to all-day learning needs. Additionally, the 180-degree lay-flat screen design facilitates screen sharing, enhancing collaboration and interaction. This makes it an ideal learning and teaching tool for both students and educators.

UP42PW is powered by the Snapdragon X Plus 8-core processor and Oryon CPU, reaching a turbo frequency of up to 3.4GHz with a 30MB cache. It offers excellent computational performance to handle various multimedia courses. Its NPU AI capability of 45 TOPS and high-speed LPDDR5 memory ensure optimal efficiency and energy-saving performance, allowing smooth performance even after extended usage, with over 12 hours of battery life—perfect for all-day learning needs. The 14-inch 1080P FHD display, with 100% sRGB color gamut, provides a vivid and accurate representation of educational content. The 180° flat-folding screen hinge design allows teachers and students to easily share content, encouraging interaction and discussion. The UP42PW also supports Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC features, including Recall, real-time translation, Cocreator AI, and Windows Studio effects, all of which help enhance learning and teaching efficiency—making it the ideal choice for modern educational environments.

ECS is also introducing the 15.3-inch UP52PW model, which features a consistent design with the UP42PW and a larger screen, enhancing productivity and user experience during the learning and teaching process. The UP52PW also comes with the Snapdragon X Plus 8-core processor, offering powerful computing capabilities and multiple connectivity options, making it perfect for the diverse needs of the campus environment. It ensures smooth and efficient performance while meeting various requirements in modern educational settings, helping to achieve the best results in teaching and learning.

High-Performance and Durable Laptop Designed for K-12 Education

ECS next-generation 11.6-inch convertible laptop, EP20AN2, is powered by the latest Intel® Alder Lake N series processors. Featuring a streamlined design that meets MIL-STD-810H military-grade standards, it offers exceptional durability, making it ideal for extended learning sessions. Equipped with a multi-touch screen and delivering up to 8 hours of battery life, the EP20AN2 ensures uninterrupted learning throughout the day.

To address remote teaching needs, the EP20AN2 includes dual microphones and an HD webcam for clear audio and video, making it suitable for one-on-one teaching and laboratory settings. Additionally, it supports a Microsoft MPP 2.0-certified stylus with 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity, providing precise pen input for smooth note-taking and creative expression on the screen. This makes it the perfect tool for both learning and creativity.

LIVA Mini PC for Educational Solutions

The LIVA Mini PC lineup offers a range of models designed to meet diverse educational application needs, from entry-level to high-performance computing. These versatile devices support classroom digital boards, e-learning in computer labs, experimental classrooms, long-distance learning at home, and much more. The LIVA Q3H is equipped with an energy-efficient Intel® Pentium processor, up to 128GB of storage and multiple USB ports, making it an ideal choice for smooth, high-quality performance. The LIVA Z5 PLUS is powered by Intel® 13th and 14th Gen Core™ processors, offering expandable memory and storage for exceptional computing performance. It provides versatile connectivity options to meet various needs, including two HDMI ports, one DisplayPort, and four USB ports. Enhanced network performance is ensured with dual 2.5GbE ports and WLAN6, delivering multi-gigabit speeds for seamless, uninterrupted connectivity. The LIVA One H610 takes performance to the next level, supporting Intel® 12th, 13th, and 14th Generation Core processors (up to 65W) and offering up to 64GB of memory. With triple display outputs supporting up to 4K resolution, this compact, energy-efficient system is perfect for even the most demanding educational applications.

ECS is committed to providing innovative solutions for the education sector, helping teachers and students explore new possibilities in the rapidly advancing digital age. Stay tuned for more highlights at Bett 2025!

Exhibition Information:
Date: Wednesday, January 22, 2025 – Friday, January 24, 2025
Location: ExCeL London
ECS Booth No.: NJ03

ASUS NUC 14 Essential hits markets

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ASUS announced ASUS NUC 14 Essential, an ultracompact, entry-level mini PC powered by the latest Intel® Core™ N-series processor. Designed for exceptional performance and enhanced power efficiency, the capabilities of NUC 14 Essential are further boosted by a versatile array of ports including Bluetooth® 5.3 and Intel Wi-Fi 6E (Gig+). Support for up to three 4K displays provides users with smooth multitasking experiences, allowing them to stream videos, create content, and analyze data with ease.  

  

The latest Intel Core N-series processor enables ASUS NUC 14 Essential to make light work of daily office tasks. Featuring up to eight E-core architectures, the processor offers a perfect balance of energy efficiency and performance, offering a 42% improvement over previous-generation processors. NUC 14 Essential lets users browse the web, attend videoconferences, stream videos, or create content with ease, making it ideal for office workers and students. 

The easy-access design of NUC 14 Essential takes upgradability to another level, facilitating simple and effortless memory and SSD upgrades. What’s more, the compact NUC 14 Essential includes a VESA mount kit so it can be attached to the rear of a monitor, to digital signage, or to a kiosk for field deployment. Its compact 0.56-liter chassis blends in well in any workspace, office, or classroom.

ASUS NUC 14 Essential features Intel Wi-Fi 6E (Gig+) and Bluetooth 5.3 for smooth and secure data transfers. Even in congested environments, WiFi 6E offers great performance and flexibility by accessing high-speed 6GHz channels, making applications more responsive for file sharing, backups, and updates. Meanwhile, Bluetooth 5.3 provides more immersive audio for clear videoconferencing, music listening, and video-streaming experiences. 

ASUS NUC 14 Essential is engineered for robust reliability and platform security. Surpassing industry standards, this mini PC has been subjected to over 1000 hours of bake testing at 100°C and 1400 hours of humidity testing at 70°C.

To ensure smooth deployment and exceptional user experiences, ASUS provides round-the-clock support, a three-year warranty in over 50 countries, and pickup, repair, and return services for NUC 14 Essential.

Additionally, NUC 14 Essential boosts platform security with a self-healing BIOS and improved manageability with ASUS Control Center that enables IT departments to remotely control the device.  

Triple 4K display support

ASUS NUC 14 Essential offers triple 4K display support via HDMI, DisplayPort 1.4, and USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C® (with DisplayPort support) for smooth multitasking experiences. 

Availability & Pricing

ASUS NUC 14 Essential will be available from Q1 2025.  Please contact your local ASUS representative for further information.

Philips TAX2208 speaker – Review

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WORDS VISHAL PIPRAIYA

Striking a balance between functionality and fun, the TAX2208 offers a feature packed experience for party lovers and casual users alike. Compact yet powerful, this speaker includes built-in LED lights and a sturdy carry handle, making it the ultimate portable entertainer. The 30W speaker and an 8-inch woofer, the TAX2208 delivers room-filling sound with punchy bass, dynamic low-end and balanced mids. Whether you are using it to play music out of your car, partying at a camp site or streaming your favourite playlist indoors, it’s got you covered. Customizable LED lights pulse, glow and flash in sync with your music, instantly setting the party vibe. Choose from different light modes or turn them off entirely if you prefer. Plug in a mic for karaoke nights or connect your guitar for an impromptu jam session.

The TAX2208 makes sure you’re always ready to perform. The speaker also comes with knobs to adjust for the Mic Volume and Echo effect. The Speaker allows for connections via Aux as well as Bluetooth. TWS allows two speakers to connect together for even better stereo output. It even doubles as a makeshift sound system for your TV if you connect it via the aux port. While the 3000mAh battery is rated for up to 7 hours, typical real-world usage may provide 4-5 hours, which is often sufficient for most gatherings. For discerning listeners, the TAX2208 may lack the clarity and punch they desire, especially at higher volumes where distortion can creep in. Additionally, while the Dynamic Bass Boost improves low-end performance, it remains moderate at best. That said, its price point more than makes up for these weaknesses.

Pricing and Availability

  • ₹ 3,449
  • philips.co.in

Asus ProArt PX13 – Review

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WORDS APURVA CHAUDHARY

 The Asus ProArt PX13 positions itself as a premium creator-focused laptop that combines portability with power. In a market flooded with creator-focused devices, Asus attempts to stand out with innovative features and powerful specifications. While it excels in many areas crucial for content creation, some compromises might give potential buyers reason to pause. The ProArt PX13 immediately impresses with its sleek, professional aesthetics. The aluminum chassis, finished in Nano Black, gives the device a premium feel while keeping it durable. At 13.3 inches, it’s remarkably compact for a creator-focused machine, making it easy to slip into a bag or carry between locations.

However, the black finish is a fingerprint magnet, requiring frequent cleaning to maintain its sophisticated look. While it offers 2-in-1 convertible functionality, the device’s weight makes it cumbersome to use in tablet mode. During testing, I rarely found myself using it as a tablet, particularly because the device tends to heat up at higher screen brightness settings, making it uncomfortable to hold for extended periods. The build quality is solid overall, with no flex in the chassis or creaking in the hinges, suggesting good longevity. Under the hood, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 365 CPU paired with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 GPU makes for a capable combination. The 24GB RAM and 1TB SSD ensure swift multitasking and quick file access.

The system handles multiple browser windows with numerous tabs, productivity applications, and creative software simultaneously without breaking a sweat. However, during intensive workloads, the laptop tends to heat up noticeably, triggering the cooling fans to run at full speed. The resulting fan noise can be quite disruptive in quiet environments, making it less than ideal for sound-sensitive settings like libraries or quiet offices. The 13.3-inch 3K (2800×1800) OLED touchscreen display is a mixed bag of impressive features and notable limitations. Colors are vibrant and true-to-life, with deep blacks characteristic of OLED technology. The touch response is accurate and smooth, though the experience is somewhat diminished by the display’s tendency to heat up during extended use. The 60Hz refresh rate feels restrictive, especially considering many competitors offer higher refresh rates at similar price points. Outdoor visibility can be challenging due to limited brightness, though the anti-reflective coating helps somewhat.

One standout feature is the DialPad, a touch-activated section of the touchpad that functions as a contextual dial. While initially seeming gimmicky, it proves genuinely useful for creative applications. The learning curve might deter casual users, but those who invest time in mastering it will find it enhances their workflow significantly. The LED indicator for activation is a thoughtful touch, though it can be a bit bright in dark environments. The 73Wh battery is the laptop’s main weakness. Getting only 6-7 hours of regular use falls below expectations, especially compared to competitors with similar specifications. The battery life drops significantly once you tweak for higher performance. This limitation essentially tethers the device to power outlets more often than one might like for a portable workstation

Pricing and Availability

  • ₹ 215,990
  • asus.com