Samsung on Wednesday launched its affordable Galaxy A03s smartphone for Indian consumers that comes in two storage options starting at Rs 11,499.

The Galaxy A03s is priced at Rs 11,499 for 3GB+32GB variant and Rs 12,499 for the 4GB+64GB variant. It offers three colours — black, blue and white and will be available across retail stores, Samsung.com and leading online portals.

Galaxy A03s features a 6.5-inch HD+ Infinity-V display with a 20:9 aspect ratio that provides vivid clarity.

The smartphone offers an immersive viewing experience and is a delight for binge-watchers to enjoy their favourite content on the go, the company said in a statement.

Galaxy A03s is equipped with a triple camera setup that lets you take sharp and clear shots, it added.

On the rear, it has a 13MP main camera, 2MP macro and 2MP depth camera. There is a 5MP front camera that comes with live focus, built-in filters and different camera modes so you can take the best possible selfies.

The smartphone is powered by the advanced Octa-Core MediaTek Helio P35 processor and 5000mAh battery.

Galaxy A03s supports Android 11 and One UI 3.1 Core that offers separate viewing and interaction along with the Night Mode for a comfortable viewing experience at night time. It comes with a side fingerprint sensor.

The smartphone also supports premium Samsung services that include Samsung Health, Samsung Members, and Smart Switch for a smooth experience.

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Expanding its product portfolio in India, Realme forayed into the consumer PC segment with the launch of the Realme Book Slim laptops on Wednesday. The laptops boast 14-inch fullHD resolution screen stretched in 3:2 aspect ratio, Harman-tuned stereo speakers with sound by DTS, and 65W fast-charging support. Powered by 11th Gen Intel Core processors, the Realme Book Slim comes in Core i3 and Core i5 models. The laptops will be available in real grey and real blue colours on Realme online store, Flipkart, and select retail stores from August 30.

Realme Book Slim: Price and specifications

The Realme Book (Slim), both Core i3 and Core i5 models, sports a 14-inch 2160 x 1440 resolution screen, stretched in 3:2 aspect ratio. Made of metal, the Realme Book (Slim) is 14.9 mm thick and weighs 1.38 kg.

The laptops boot Windows 10 Home edition, preloaded with Microsoft Office 2019. The Realme Book (Slim) boasts HARMAN-tuned stereo speakers, powered by DTS HD sound. Both the laptops are powered by a 54Wh battery. As for the ports and connectivity, the Realme Book (Slim) features PC Connect for easy connection between Android smartphone and laptops, Thunderbolt 4 Port (in Intel Core i5 model), and Wi-Fi 6 (in Core i5 model) – there is Wi-Fi 5 in the i3 mdoel. The Realme Book (Slim) will be eligible for free upgrade to Windows 11. It supports power delivery charging protocol; can be charged through PD-based smartphone chargers and powerbanks.

Realme Book (Slim) Core i3 (8GB RAM/256GB SSD): Rs 46,999

Realme Book (Slim) Core i5 (8GB RAM/ 512GB SSD): Rs 59,999

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Tech giant Google on Wednesday announced the launch of its Buds A-Series, priced at Rs 9,999, marking its entry into the personal wireless audio segment in the country.

The Pixel Buds A-Series features custom-designed 12 mm dynamic speaker drivers that deliver full, clear and a natural sound, with Bass Boost for amplifying deep frequencies. The device sports an ‘Adaptive Sound’ that increases or decreases the volume based on the surroundings.

It also allows users to quickly switch back to their music after the call is over with a simple ‘Ok Google, play my music’ command.

Pixel Buds A-Series deliver up to five hours of listening time on a single charge or up to 24 hours using the charging case.

“Google Assistant is built right into the Pixel Buds A-Series. Users can get quick hands-free help to check the weather, get an answer, change the volume, or have notifications read to them with a simple ‘Ok Google’.

“It also allows users to get real-time translation in more than 40 languages (including Bengali, Hindi, and Tamil) right in their ear while using Google Pixel or Android 6.0+ phone,” it added.

Pixel Buds A-Series will be available from August 25.

According to Counterpoint Research, India’s TWS market registered a 68 per cent year-on-year growth during the June 2021 quarter, driven by new launches in the affordable price segment along with improved features.

The competition in the TWS (true wireless stereo) segment has been heating up. More than 40 brands have entered this market since 2020.

As per Counterpoint Senior Research Analyst Anshika Jain, the third quarter will see the entry of more brands (like Nothing Ear, Dizo and Micromax) across price-tiers to grab a larger share of this untapped market.

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If any rival player tries to sledge one of ours, the remaining 10 would only come hard at the opposition and that’s exactly what had happened with England during their 151-run defeat in the second Test, said India opener KL Rahul.

The on-field altercations started after Mark Wood dished out short-pitched stuff targeting Jasprit Bumrah’s head, resulting in an argument with England skipper Joe Root and Jimmy Anderson. Even rookie Ollie Robinson was having a go at the Indian batters.

However, the tables turned when England were bowled out for paltry 120 in their second innings with India captain Virat Kohli leading the battle of sledges.

“It showed how badly both teams wanted to win. That’s how Test cricket is played. We as a team are never shy to say a word or too,” player-of-the-match Rahul, who scored 129 in the first innings, said after the match.

“Someone comes after our player and rest of the 10 guys get pumped as well. That’s the kind of atmosphere and team bonding that we have. If you go after one of our guys that means you are going after whole team,” Rahul said.

He, in fact, made it clear that all the four fast bowlers were ready to give England a test of their own medicine.

“Bowlers were really keen to have a go and have a crack out there in the middle and give it their all in 60 overs. This is what people come to watch and it only speaks about how badly each team wants to win.”

He lauded Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami’s record 89-run ninth-wicket stand, which set up the game nicely for the bowlers to do the job inside 60 overs.

“Partnership between Bumrah and Shami was so so good and after they put up a fight like that, bowlers were waiting to have a crack at them. We knew after lunch the declaration is going to come.

“We knew each of them would have to bowl 10 or 12 overs. The pitch was behaving a bit up and down and opportunity like this to win a Test match always doesn’t come. We were all very keen and excited and to go out there and put out a performance like that was very special,” said Rahul, who has till now scored 244 runs in the series.

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I spent last week studying the 26,000 words of privacy terms published by eBay and Amazon, trying to extract some straight answers, and comparing them to the privacy terms of other online marketplaces such as Kogan and Catch (my full summary is here).

There’s bad news and good news.

The bad news is that none of the privacy terms analysed are good. Based on their published policies, there is no major online marketplace operating in Australia that sets a commendable standard for respecting consumers’ data privacy.

All the policies contain vague, confusing terms and give consumers no real choice about how their data are collected, used and disclosed when they shop on these websites. Online retailers that operate in both Australia and the European Union give their customers in the EU better privacy terms and defaults than us, because the EU has stronger privacy laws.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is currently collecting submissions as part of an inquiry into online marketplaces in Australia. You can have your say here by August 19.

The good news is that, as a first step, there is a clear and simple “anti-snooping” rule we could introduce to cut out one unfair and unnecessary, but very common, data practice.

Deep in the fine print of the privacy terms of all the above-named websites, you’ll find an unsettling term.

It says these retailers can obtain extra data about you from other companies, for example, data brokers, advertising companies, or suppliers from whom you have previously purchased.

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Read more: It’s time for third-party data brokers to emerge from the shadows

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eBay, for example, can take the data about you from a data broker and combine it with the data eBay already has about you, to form a detailed profile of your interests, purchases, behaviour and characteristics.

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Beginning Tuesday, WhatsApp users in India will be able to add Payments Backgrounds while sending money to friends and family through WhatsApp.

Designed in partnership with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), on the Unified Payment Interface (UPI), the payments feature on WhatsApp is an India-first, real-time payment system that enables transactions with over 227 banks.

Built for India, this new feature is relevant, exciting, and memorable as it helps people easily convey a feeling along with sending money.

“With Payments Backgrounds, our effort is to bring excitement to everyday payments through WhatsApp and enable our users to express themselves if they wish, through a range of emotive themes denoting celebrations, affection, warmth or fun. We believe that sending and receiving money is so much more than just a transaction,” said Mahatme, director of WhatsApp Payments.

Conversations involving payments are often imagined to be simply transactional.

WhatsApp has created this thematic range of artful expressions to complement sending payments on birthdays, holidays, or for gifts and travel.

The core idea of this feature update is to create a more personalised experience for the sender as well as the receiver by adding an element of expression when friends and family exchange money.

Whether it is friends splitting the bill after a meal, sending money to near and dear ones as a token of your love or gifting your sister on the occasion of Rakshabandhan, payment backgrounds make sending money personal and brings alive the story behind every payment, WhatsApp said.

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Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) became the second listed company and the first information technology (IT) company to cross the Rs 13 trillion market capitalisation (market-cap) as the stock hit a new high in intra-day trade on Tuesday.

Shares of TCS hit a new record high of Rs 3,520, up 1.4 per cent on the BSE in intra-day trade. In comparison, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 0.09 per cent at 55,632 points at 11:21 am.

TCS’ stock, part of the Tata group of companies, was quoting higher for the ninth straight trading day. Thus far in the month of August, in 12 trading days, TCS has rallied 11 per cent, against a 6 per cent rise in the S&P BSE Sensex.

A sharp rally in stock price helped TCS’ market-cap rise to Rs 13.02 trillion. Currently, with a market cap of Rs 13.01 trillion, TCS stands at the number two position in the overall market cap ranking. Reliance Industries, which has a market-cap of Rs 13.80 trillion, stands at the number one position, BSE data shows.

TCS is one of the leading IT service providers with a presence in BFSI, Communication, Manufacturing, Retail & Hi-Tech verticals. The company has posted consistent organic revenue growth and industry-leading margins (>25 per cent).

The company is a key beneficiary of multi-year growth (15-20 per cent) in digital technologies. An increase in outsourcing in Europe, vendor consolidation and deal pipeline will lead to revenue CAGR of 13 per cent over FY21-23E, analyst at ICICI Securities said in the June quarter result update. The brokerage further said industry-leading margins will continue and expects its margins to improve by 142 bps over FY21-23E.

“Strong order book along with execution capabilities and upward traction across the geography should support topline growth. Additionally, improved operating leverage and a healthy balance sheet should provide further growth visibility in the upcoming quarter,” Geojit Financial Services said in the result update.

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Swiss tennis maestro Roger Federer has confirmed that he would be undergoing more knee surgeries and he will miss the upcoming US Open.

Federer was last seen playing in the Wimbledon, and after that, he also gave Tokyo Olympics a miss due to knee issues.

“I just wanted to give you a bit of an update on what’s been going on since Wimbledon. As you can imagine, it has not been simple. I have been doing a lot of checks with the doctors as well on my knee, getting all the information as I hurt myself further during the grass-court season and Wimbledon. That’s just not the way to go forward, so unfortunately they told me for the medium to long term to feel better, I will need surgery. I decided to do it,” Federer said in a video posted on his Instagram account.

“I’ll be on crutches for many weeks and also out of the game for many months, so it’s going to be difficult of course in some ways, but at the same time I know it’s the right thing to do because I want to be healthy, I want to be running around later as well again and I want to give myself a glimmer of hope to return to the tour in some shape or form,” he added.

Further talking about his comeback, the 20-time Grand Slam champion said: “I am realistic, don’t get me wrong. I know how difficult it is at this age right now to do another surgery and try it. But I want to be healthy, I will go through the rehab process I think also with a goal while I’m still active, which I think is going to help me during this long period of time.”

Earlier, after losing to Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon 2021, the Swiss tennis maestro had said: “I really do not know if that was the last time I will play Wimbledon.”

Hurkacz stunned 39-year-old Federer to storm into the semifinals of the tournament. Hurkacz defeated Federer 6-3, 7-6, 6-0 in straight sets in the quarterfinals of the Grand Slam here at the Centre Court.

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The market is flooded with low-cost Bluetooth earphones with collar bands these days. Such is their appeal that Realme had to go ahead and launch an ultra-low-cost brand, Dizo, so as not to miss out on the opportunity. With this new brand launch, Realme also upgraded its wireless earbuds. When the phone manufacturer launched its first iteration of buds, there were only a few competitors in the space. The stylish design and battery life ensured that Realme stayed ahead of the competition. The company’s new offering seems to build on the previous gains.

Design

One thing that Realme had going in its favour with the first earphones was design. It had made the buds lightweight and attractive. While the company has kept to the colour aspect, the design element has been revised. Personally, the earphones have been made to look bulkier. Even though they are still lightweight and ergonomically better than the previous model, the bulky design makes them stand out, and not in a good manner. The buttons are neatly placed on one side and are customizable — that’s a big plus. And, there is a USB-C charging port. The earphones also have a magnetic lock, which stops the music from playing.

Fit

The ergonomics of Realme earphones have certainly improved. The fit is much better than the previous model once you find the right eartip, but changing the eartip, as usual, remains an issue. It takes a lot of patience and perseverance to change the eartips. With the right ear tip, the earphones sit comfortably in your ears for hours and even during intense workouts.

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Smartphone brand OPPO on Monday announced that it has set up a camera innovation lab at its R&D centre in Hyderabad.

The lab is designed to develop localised features, camera solutions using AI and focus on developing imaging software for a better user experience.

The camera lab will focus on building new solutions to resolve issues such as night videography, different surrounding light and light temperatures, and more, the company said in a statement.

“With this lab set-up, while we work towards elevating the overall camera experience for our users, our focus is on localisation of global solutions and developing new solutions which can be globalised,” said Tasleem Arif, Vice President and Head, R&D OPPO India.

The lab will also lead innovation for other countries, including Middle East Asia, South Asia, Africa, Japan and Europe.

Further, the lab will also work towards developing solutions for video, still photography, and research on Full Dimension Fusion (FDF) Portrait Video System technology.

“With the state-of-the-art equipment, we will tune and generate much realistic dataset and provide advance quality imaging and video shooting experience,” said

Kaushal Prakash Sharma, Head, Camera Division, R&D OPPO India.

As of June 30, OPPO has applied for over 8,800 image patents worldwide and owns over 3,500 granted patents.

The company said that the lab is dedicated to testing phone cameras in different artificially set scenes and analysing data produced from those samples.

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