T3 India

Wearables

T3 interviews Sandeep Banga, co-founder, World of PLAY

by

PLAY is an Indian consumer technology brand with a range of stylish and state-of-the-art wireless audio devices and wearables. Their products include TWS earbuds, wireless neckbands and headphones, 2 fitness trackers and a chic waterproof smartwatch.

The groundwork of the company was laid down when the founding-trio Vikas Jain, Sandeep Banga and Hamish Patel realised the growth potential of innovative wearable technology given the exponentially increasing number of smartphone users and growing internet penetration. T3 India got the chance to interview Sandeep Banga and here are few excerpts from the interview.

T3: Could you elaborate a little on the products you plan to roll out in the remainder of 2021 and the first half of 2022?

Sandeep Banga, Co-Founder, World of PLAY

SB: We will continue to announce fresh line of wireless audio & fitness products throughout the rest of the year 2021. Our most recent launches include PLAYGO BH22, a sleek and foldable wireless headset design with dual equalizer and also PLAYGO BH47, Active Noise Cancellation Headphones. Both come with excellent battery life >30+ hrs of
continuous PLAYtime with balanced sound output across high, low & mid frequencies, its low latency technology makes them suitable for watching movies and provides for depth in sound when listening to music also.

T3: What makes PLAY’s wearables stand out from the plethora of other wearables in the market? When it comes to health and wellness, how much emphasis do you also put into streamlining and making the PLAYFIT app immersive and to some degree, rewarding?

SB: PLAY wearables have evolved from being fitness trackers to being a lifestyle product which is technology rich. We have adapted the advances in sensor and Bluetooth technology and provide rich & accurate data to consumers who want to be self-aware not only about their health & fitness, but are also style conscious. We are confident that our
consumers will love our next-gen smartwatches.
All this is supported by our companion App, PLAYFIT for Android and Apple users and developed in-house by our engineering team. We store all user data on secured servers in India, this way if anyone decides to upgrade to a newer PLAYFIT model smartwatch, their previous fitness data & achievements updates to the new PLAYFIT smartwatch seamlessly. You never lose your historic data when using PLAYFIT devices.

T3: What do you think the future of the wireless audio market is and how is PLAY equipping itself to take that into account?

SB: We live in an era where the most exciting advances to future technology has changed our world and will continue to amaze us. Whether it’s improving health, security, Artificial Intelligence or just making entertainment better. We, at PLAY, have embarked on a journey to continuously look for ways to transform these technologies and make it
accessible to common people. We collate all consumer inputs received from our outreach be it, customer care, social platforms, advertising platforms as well our retail store fraternity and indigenously improvise our product and hence the experience accordingly. We have already started seeing fruits from our R&D & Innovation Centre and the industry has never been more exciting in the types of technologies that we can work with to bring forth a never-before consumer experience.

T3: Do you plan to expand your portfolio in the smartwatch/fitness band segment? If so, what new features do you wish to integrate in them and what do you consider their USPs to be?

SB: There is only one USP in all our products, that is “User Experience”. Our goal is to simply wow our customers. Our leadership, engineering & marketing team works diligently to up that Wow-factor. Our expansion goal is not simply to churn out models, but to carefully understand the market gaps and consumer preferences and plug the gaps. As we gradually plug those gaps, we expect to grow our portfolio accordingly.

T3: How does PLAY’s customer service stand out from the rest? Or rather, what are your views on the existing strategy and would you like to see any improvements?

SB: After-Sales service is the backbone of any brand. It is the most underrated and yet most effective tool to earn consumers loyalty. By providing good after-sales service you are not only thanking the consumer for already putting his/her trust in the product & brand, but also using it as gateway to learn what consumers think of your product which feeds directly into our quality control, continuously improving the future products. With the launch of PaHS (PLAY at Home Service), we commit to our consumer that we value their precious time. In an unfortunate case, if a PLAY device malfunctions, we pick up the faulty device right from the home of the consumer, repair or replace it back to the
consumer (within an agreed SLA) and right back to his home. We don’t ask the consumer to necessarily visit our after sales center to enjoy free service repairs or replacement during the warranty period.

T3: Where do you see PLAY placed in the market in the next 5 years, given how the pandemic has not been kind to most businesses in the world? What would you like to expand into? Would you like to share a part of your anticipated journey and/or growth strategy?

SB: It is argued that without communication and modern digital electronics, many people would not be able to work during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Likewise, modern consumer technology is extremely dependent upon connectivity, processing, and memory/storage. Generally, the economic impact resulted in lower overall consumer technology sales in 2020, but people are more dependent than ever before on their personal devices to connect with others and continue to work from home. The reliance on web-based meetings, online education, and cloud-based services, in general, will increase as time goes on. After the pandemic ends, people are more likely to participate
in a virtual event and to look for virtual experiences to replace some physical experiences. This should drive increasing demand for consumer electronics and cloud- services industry. As PLAY, we surely should be second to none and also enjoying more and more customer adulation at that point.

For more information on PLAY, please visit their website.

Adidas launches its most technologically advanced flagship store of the country in Delhi

by

‘The Home of Possibilities ‘ – that’s what adidas are calling their newest flagship store which was unveiled two days ago in Delhi’s prime location: Connaught Place. The sportswear giant’s new store is a blend of multiple digital touchpoints, sustainability zone, and is a perfect example of what the future retail experience holds for customers.

The 5900 sq-ft. retail store is spread across 4 floors and adidas’ ‘Own The Game’ strategy strives to focus on 3 important aspects which are Experience, Sustainability, and Credibility. The store has 32 digital touchpoints which are powered by green energy, and the store utilises immersive screens, digital plinths, and ceiling screens to give customers a scintillating new shopping experience.

The store’s flooring is also made with upcycled carbon tiles made of carbon collected from environmental pollution. This large sprawling store is also the first LEED-certified store in the country, and it also includes the aforementioned ‘Sustainability Zone’ thereby aligning with adidas’ long-term vision and commitment towards sustainability. It also displays the End Plastic Waste logo.

Commenting on the new flagship store launch, Mr. Sunil Gupta, Senior Director, Brand adidas, India said, “We are thrilled to open our first flagship store in India in the heart of the capital -CP. ‘The Home of Possibilities’ is the very best of our brand in an unrivalled way, that brings a global shopping experience under one roof. Our aim is to reimagine the physical experience through innovation, creativity, and design which further offers our consumers a unique shopping experience. We have also brought in local flavours and elements, through the artwork in-store, the zones featuring our national athletes, and quirky local prints in the customization zone.”

The new flagship store in CP also has a dedicated section for ‘Customisation, Personalisation, & Localisation’ which is being called The Delhi Print Shop which offers the consumers a digital DIY experience, by aiding them to get their tees customised and personalised.

An ‘Outdoor’ collection zone for hiking and trail running sportswear features a skylight ceiling. The new store also houses a dedicated ‘Originals’ section in the ‘Collection’ concept along with Men’s performance and Basketball section. The store also has an entire floor dedicated to the football collection for the football fanatics. It features a digital footwear wall, victory mannequin, lit crest and LED field lines on the ceiling.

The press release further mentions that shoppers ‘will find the very best of the brand across Sport Performance apparel and footwear as well as the latest Originals designs and collaborations including YEEZY, adidas by Stella McCartney, Y-3 and IVY PARK.

Review: Fire-Boltt Talk Smartwatch

by

Price: ₹4,999

After smartphones and TWS, it is the turn of smartwatches to go affordable, and the Fire-Boltt Talk exceeds expectations with the ability to take and make calls hands-free using a connected smartphone.

The Fire-Boltt Talk smartwatch has its origins in China, and the pedigree shows in the build quality. From the top, the device looks quite similar to the Huawei Watch GT 2 except for the classic analogue-watch-style single button. Even the straps are made similar to its popular original. However, turn the watch around and you will notice the not-so-perfect cheap plastic cover glass on the sensor and the Fire-Boltt logo screen-printed at the bottom, which, in our device, was misaligned and tilted towards one side. The watch uses an app called Da Fit to pair with both Android and iOS phones. The watch faces are quite basic, with flashy colours, but extensive. Of course, there are a handful that are subtle and ‘decent’.

Coming to the interface, the watch uses a 44mm display. At first, the display was perfectly aligned, but after a few days of use, I noticed a prominent tilt in the display, which even a reset failed to correct. The watch uses a standard 22mm strap, which was comfortable to wear for long periods. We cannot expect a high-resolution display on a budget watch, and the Talk is no exception. Having said that, we should stress the fact that the watch offers the most advanced option available on an advanced smartwatch, including heart rate sensor, accelerometer, step counter, sleep monitor, workout stats and SpO2 measurement. There is also a BP monitor, which we found to be unreliable.

Coming to the main USP of the watch, the device paired readily with both Android phones and an iPhone 12 Pro Max, allowing us to make and attend calls in addition to controlling music. In fact, this is something that most of these similar devices fail to do, especially when paired with an iOS device. The call quality was decent enough for an under-10,000 watch. The one feature I missed in this device was a standby watch face, which I find difficult to live without. However, this conserves a lot of battery. Even with some heavy use like tracking my workouts and sleep, I could get more than 10 days of battery life at medium brightness. The battery charges in approximately two hours. The charger magnetically latches on to the contacts, and the magnet is strong enough to hold it in place.

Overall, we were quite satisfied with the features and functions of this device, especially at a price that is highly competitive. However, the build and overall quality need much improvement, even at this price. The misaligned display is certainly a deal-breaker at the mid-level market, but then, there is certainly a section of potential buyers who are not bothered about aesthetics.

★★★

WE’RE IMPRESSED Bluetooth calling, Packed with features

WE’D IMPROVE Overall finish, Glitchy software

THE LAST WORD The Fire-Boltt Talk smartwatch caters to the lower strata of the smartwatch buyers and the OEM has made too many compromises to pack this device with features exceeding its scope.

Review: Fastrack Reflex Tunes F02 Headphones

by

Price: ₹7,995

This around-the-ear headphone isolates noise with tight-fitting earmuffs and provides ANC as an add-on

Fastrack had its beginnings as Titan’s urban youth brand, initially establishing itself in watches and sunglasses. Since then, the brand has expanded into various other accessory segments. Reflex Tunes wireless audio devices include TWS earbuds, neckbands, and over-the-head headphones. The F02 is an over-the-head, around-the-ear headphone that offers an affordable solution to high-quality audio.

The Reflex Tunes F02 retails at a price that is within the reach of most people looking at an over-the-head headphone, and at this price, it is feature-packed, offering Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and quick pairing. The device has a typical design, that looks uninspiring, yet provides a comfortable fit with large and well-cushioned earmuffs that efficiently cuts off most of the background noise even without ANC. The adjustable headband also offers soft and thick cushioning. The plastic used in the band and ear cups does not provide much confidence and appears flimsy. Hence, we would advise you to be cautious while bending it. However, we can vouch for its longevity in normal use. The headphones have a foldable design. The ear cups flex a little, helping you fix it properly over the ears. The device is IPX4 certified and hence splashproof. At 260 g, the F02 is quite lightweight. The headphones are available in black and grey colours.

The F02 has all the controls and ports on the right side including a multifunction button for power, pairing, play/pause, and call answer/hang up, a volume up/next track button, a volume down/previous track button, an ANC button, status LEDs for power/pairing and ANC, USB Type-C charging port and a 3.5mm AUX jack. To use the device in wired mode, you only need to plug in the AUX jack irrespective of whether the headphones are powered on or not. Similarly, ANC works even in offline mode. Just flip the ANC switch and it gets active, cutting off most background noise even when the audio signals are off. The Reflex Tunes F02 uses five microphones for audio pickup and ANC. The device houses a 580 mAh battery, and Fastrack claims up to 15 hours of battery life with ANC and up to 20 hours without it. Though our music listening was erratic on this device, thanks to the number of headphones and speakers on review, our estimate was close to what is claimed. The battery takes three hours to fully charge.

The Fastrack Reflex Tunes F02 uses a 40 mm driver that reproduces audio with good separation. Though the bass is enhanced, the headphone offers competent treble also, unlike the bass-boost devices flooding the market. The mid frequencies are a bit suppressed, and vocals felt somewhat less refined to our liking. However, considering that this is not a premium device at the top end of the market, Fastrack has done a great job with these headphones. ANC is not overwhelming, and you might not feel much difference when you are listening to music because it cuts off only the most disturbing noise such as the hum of air conditioners and ceiling fans. That being said, these are the only disturbances you feel after the tight-fitting earmuffs cut off most outside noises. Call quality was excellent, both in listening and being listened to. The headphone supports voice assistants including Google Assistant and Siri.

★★★★

WE’RE IMPRESSED Value for money, Comfortable fit, Excellent passive noise isolation

WE’D IMPROVE Build quality

THE LAST WORD The Fastrack Reflex Tunes F02 offers excellent value for money with balanced output, active and passive noise cancellation, and superior call quality in a low-to-mid priced headphone. We would certainly recommend the F02 to anyone looking for affordable over-the-head headphones with ANC.

Personal Audio: Sony Witnesses Surge in Demand

by

Sony has been at the forefront of personal audio space and the Covid-induced lockdown has certainly pushed this segment forward in over a year. T3 caught up with Gyanendra Singh, Head of Audio Business, Sony India, on the sidelines of World Music Day.

The extended lockdown has largely confined everyone to their homes. Apart from OTT platforms and gaming, music is something that keeps people engaged and helps maintain their sanity. What are the major trends experienced by Sony’s audio division during this lockdown period?

During this lockdown as well, we are witnessing a surge in both Personal Audio products like earphones and headphones and the home entertainment products like the Soundbars. We are experiencing that consumers are moving towards products with features that are helpful for their work from home, learn from home activities and products that enhance their consumption of entertainment at home. The demand upsurge is like what we experienced during the last year unlock.

Could you elaborate on some of the products that drove the maximum business during this time? What are the buying trends that emerged during this lockdown phase?

While there continues to be an overall good traction for both personal audio and home entertainment products, for personal audio products, in terms of form factor, the truly wireless segment and the headphones with Active Noise Cancellation are showing very strong demand. We continue to have very good traction for our flagship 1000X series in headphones and truly wireless earbuds form factor, followed by affordable Bluetooth headphones WI-C200, WI-XB400 & WH-CH510. On the home entertainment front, the consumer is displaying the desire to upgrade his home audio-video environment. Consequently, there is demand for soundbars to enjoy cinematic audio experience at home for flagship products with Dolby Atmos like HT-Z9F and HT-G700, followed by affordable range models like HT-RT3 and HT-RT40.

With service centres and other points of service shut, how did you manage to connect with customers?

Since the beginning of lockdown, Sony has been actively supporting consumers via e-mails and live chat to ensure uninterrupted entertainment. 24×7 assistance is being offered to customers through AI-assisted Chat Bot. Our Call Center (1800 103 7799) was operational and our customer service executives were available for resolving customer queries by offering Remote assistance through DIY videos and video calls. We also offered special Warranty extension for customers whose product warranty lapsed during the lockdown period.

What were the major learnings from the extended lockdown period for Sony in the audio space? How has it changed the way you did business? How do you look forward to the post-Covid and post-lockdown scenario?

There are multiple factors that have evolved due to this extended lockdown phenomenon. Firstly, the usage of audio products has increased whether it is for work from home (WFH), learn from home (LFH) or home entertainment. It has given consumer a greater opportunity to experience the product and enjoy its features. Secondly, for many consumers this has led to a situation of higher disposable income and hence consumer spending on premium audio products has increased and we expect this to continue in the post-lockdown scenario as well. Lastly, it has increased the use of online as a medium of communication for both our consumers and for us as well. Consumer traffic has significantly increased to Sony India’s website and to our products on other e-commerce portals. Consequently, our modes of reaching out to the consumer has also seen a greater shift towards the online medium and we expect this to continue.