Tata Motors aims for EVs to make up 15-17 percent of its volume in 2024

Tata Motors, which currently holds over 75 percent of electric vehicle market share, expects strong demand for its latest all-electric model – the Punch EV. The carmaker clocked its best-ever EV sales of 69,153 units in CY23, registering a robust 62 percent year-on-year (YoY) growth (CY22: 43,451 units). The electric SUV, which expands the company’s EV portfolio to four products – Tiago EV, Tigor EV, Nexon EV and Punch EV – will allow Tata Motors to tap into another vacant space in the segment. In the ongoing calendar year, it has the Curvv and Harrier EVs lined up for introduction, while next year, it will further expand its EV line-up with the Sierra EV and Altroz EV. Tata Motors currently sees EV volume contribution being pegged at around 12-15 percent (17-20 percent in terms of revenues), and expects it to reach 15-17 percent by the end of 2024. It expects EV penetration in its portfolio to touch 25 percent over the next three years, and reach 50 percent by 2030. The company anticipates waiting periods to creep in for the Punch EV, but is also geared to ramp up capacity at its newly operational plant in Sanand, Gujarat, to bring the delivery times under control, and within reasonable timeframes. “We are prepared to ramp up capacity starting the second half of this month, and we are hopeful of keeping the waiting periods within a reasonable number of months,” said Shailesh Chandra, managing director of Tata Passenger Electric Mobility (TPEM) and Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles. As the company switches to Gen-2 ground-up EV architecture – Acti.ev – with the Punch EV, Tata Motors says its magnitude of investment in EVs has increased multifold. Tata Motors believes the Punch EV is uniquely positioned between the Tiago EV and Nexon EV in its portfolio, and targets the young buyer eyeing an all-rounder product.“With almost 65 percent buyers being younger than 35, tech-savvy, and having a certain price point in mind, if one offers a product with a high value, it is bound to create a new customer segment for this kind of an EV, which, with its over 400km range, does not limit the car purely for city use,” Chandra said.He further said that the Nexon and Tiago EVs have very different customer bases – the former is used as a primary car, but in a multi-car household, while the latter – a 320km-range product – is primarily used within the city with limited outdoorsy experience. “The Punch EV sits right in between the two. There is no such product below Rs 15 lakh so far, and therefore, there is not going to be significant cannibalisation within our portfolio,” he further highlighted.Last month, Tata Motors opened two of its flagship EV-only stores in Gurugram, and aims to expand the exercise with more such outlets in key markets across the country in the next 12-18 months.  

Jawa Yezdi Motorcycles eyes ASEAN market for Jawa exports

The company has been exporting Jawa back to the Czech Republic-based JAWA Moto spol. S r.O. The successor to the original JAWA company using the trademark JAWA, which in turn sells the bikes mostly in Eastern Europe and the Czech Republic. Jawa Yezdi Motorcycles plans to start exports of Jawa brand of bikes in ASEAN countries in the next three to four months, a top company official said on Thursday. The company, which launched the new Jawa 350 priced at Rs 2,14,950 (ex-showroom Delhi), is also working to enhance its reach across India, especially in smaller cities targeting to open 750 outlets in the next 24 to 30 months, Jawa Yezdi Motorcycles CEO Ashish Singh Joshi told reporters in an interaction here. The company has been exporting Jawa back to the Czech Republic-based JAWA Moto spol. S r.O. The successor to the original JAWA company using the trademark JAWA, which in turn sells the bikes mostly in Eastern Europe and the Czech Republic. We also sell directly in Nepal and we have already opened operations in the Philippines, which will serve as the hub to sell in other ASEAN countries such as Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand," Joshi said. This is likely to start in the next three to four months, he said.On export volumes, Joshi said it is not so large considering the company's focus has been on the Indian market.After making a comeback in India in 2018, the company has sold about 2 lakh units in total, out of which nearly 5,000 units have been exported.When asked about domestic plans, Joshi said Jawa Yezdi Motorcycles plans to bring in more models to add to the existing nine products in its stable at present without specifying details. Also, he said the company is on a network expansion journey to widen and deepen its presence across India. "We are looking to increase our outlets to 750 in the next 24 to 30 months from 423 at present," he said, adding that when the company started it was mainly in the metros and major cities.It has gradually entered smaller cities and towns and will continue to do so, while also increasing the number of outlets in cities where it already has a presence to deepen its presence, Joshi added.On the outlook, he said the company is looking at "double-digit" growth this year, having overcome the COVID-19 induced disruptions and supply chain issues."2024 is going to be the year of consolidation for us," he said, adding that the premium motorcycle segment in India has recovered while the entry-level motorcycle segment is also witnessing recovery.  

2024 Hyundai Creta Facelift Review: New Look, Updated Interior And Powertrains Enhance Bestseller’s Appeal

Strikingly different face with new radiator grille. All-new dashboard and interior trim with Level 2 ADAS. Dual-clutch transmission returns but with a 1.5-litre turbo petrol. This is the new Hyundai Creta. Not a generation change, but this is a facelifted version of the second-gen Creta which has been Hyundai’s best-selling model for some time now. It has been given a substantial refresh in terms of design, features and a new range-topping powertrain.The Creta remains the same size as the version it replaces. On paper, the length has increased by 30 mm due to the redesigned bumpers but overall width, height, wheelbase and front/rear tracks don’t change. Even ground clearance is the same at 190mm.The front and rear design has undergone a sea change. Two years ago, Hyundai started production of the Creta in Indonesia and it looked different than the one in India and most jumped the gun to say that this was the one that would come to India as well. However, what has arrived is quite different. It gets a rectangular radiator grille shape – surprisingly, more similar to the smaller Venue rather than the parametric grille we see in the bigger new Tucson. Horizon lights with DRLs give it a distinct identity and are reminiscent of the new flagship Santa Fe that broke cover in 2023.Hyundai has done an Apple here with the headlamps - instead of tri-beam it is now quad-beam. The SUV looks less rounded and more upright now due to the changes. The previous design of the Creta was quite polarising, just like its name when it was first launched eight years ago, but both grew on us and how. This one is less polarising than the outgoing Creta, but a tad generic. Now that is my personal opinion - looks are subjective so let us know in the comments if you think otherwise.Hyundai recently updated its engines to be BS6 Phase-2 compliant, so the Creta continues with its previous set of powertrains. There are some changes though. The engine options start with a 1.5 petrol from its Kappa family, a 1.5 turbo diesel is on offer too with the range topper being the new 1.5 turbo petrol which is also available in the all-new Verna. The previous Creta came with a 1.4-litre turbo which is now discontinued. On the transmission side there is a six-speed manual  or a continuously variable transmission it calls ‘iVT’ for the naturally-aspirated petrol engine. Diesel gets a 6-speed torque converter or a 6-speed manual while the turbo petrol gets a 7-speed dual clutch transmission.The 1.5 diesel is slicker than ever and feels more refined than in the earlier Creta. It has oodles of torque and it appears in a wide range across the rev band. What I like is how vibrations are under check and so is the noise. The six-speed automatic isn’t as quick as the dual clutch but is fairly practical. Where the gearbox lacks in speed it compensates with finesse. Acceleration feels purposeful and confident. Steering weighs up nicely and the Creta suspension does well to balance between absorbing potholes and maintaining poise, whatever the speed.The CVT version too feels perfect for urban and less hurried highway driving. The start is smooth and through the power band it doesn’t feel stressed. It is only when you floor the throttle is when the engine sounds a bit stressed as you need to rev higher for peak torque.  

Tata Punch EV Launched In India; Prices Start At Rs. 10.99 Lakh

Tata Motors has launched the all-new Punch EV in the Indian market with prices ranging from Rs. 10.99 lakh to Rs. 14.49 lakh (ex-showroom). Based on Tata’s new born EV ‘Acti.ev’ architecture, the Punch EV will become Tata’s fourth EV to go on sale in India after the electric versions of the Nexon, Tiago and Tigor. The vehicle will be available in a total of five trims- Smart, Smart +, Adventure, Empowered and Empowered +and two range options – Standard and Long Range (LR).In terms of design, the Punch.ev has a lot in common with the standard Punch but also features a few distinctive styling cues that set it apart. These include the new slim, full-width LED DRLs, a charging port situated behind the front Tata logo and new 16-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels. The interior, however, is vastly different from the ICE model and is equipped with a 10.25-inch central touchscreen infotainment system, along with a 10.25-inch full-digital instrument console.The EV’s equipment list includes ventilated front seats, an electronic parking brake with auto-hold, cornering fog lamps, auto-folding wing mirrors, an electric sunroof, wireless phone charging and 360-degree cameras. On the safety front, the Punch EV gets six airbags and electronic stability programme (ESP) as standard, and a blind spot monitor on the top-spec variant.The EV’s equipment list includes ventilated front seats, an electronic parking brake with auto-hold, cornering fog lamps, auto-folding wing mirrors, an electric sunroof, wireless phone charging and 360-degree cameras. On the safety front, the Punch EV gets six airbags and electronic stability programme (ESP) as standard, and a blind spot monitor on the top-spec variant.The Punch.ev also features bolstered ventilated leatherette seats, mood lights and an Air purifier with AQI display. Additionally, the Punch.ev comes with paddle-shifters, which enables the 4-level multi-mode regeneration and over-the-air software upgrade capabilities.On the powertrain front, the Long Range variant of the vehicle will be offered with a 90 kW motor with a torque output of 190 Nm. It will also feature a battery capacity of 35 kWh and a ARAI range of 421 km. The regular Punch.ev will have a 25 kWh battery, with a range of 315 km along with a 69 kW motor and 114 Nm of torque output.The Punch EV will be offered with a 3.3 kW wall box charger as standard while a 7.2 kW AC fast charger is also available as an option for an additional Rs 50,000.To be offered in five trims- Smart, Smart+, Adventure, Empowered and Empowered+.Gets a new infotainment system and full-digital instruments display.To be offered with two range options – Standard and Long Range (LR).     

Red Bull Racing RB20 F1 Race Car Launch Date Revealed

Red Bull announces its Formula 1 2024 season launch date, set for February 15, aligning with Mercedes and Alpine's unveiling. Sergio Perez is confirmed to continue alongside Verstappen in 2024. Its predecessor, the RB19, dominated the 2023 season with all but one of the 22 Grand Prix races. Red Bull Racing has officially announced its Formula 1 2024 season launch date, aligning with its rivals Mercedes and Alpine. The unveiling is scheduled for February 15, a mere six days before the commencement of winter testing in Bahrain. While it remains uncertain whether Red Bull will present the actual RB20 car or reveal an updated colour scheme on a show car, expectations are high following the exceptional success of its predecessor, the RB19, which dominated the 2023 season, securing all but one of the 22 Grand Prix victories and propelling Max Verstappen to a more than comfortable third world championship.In response to questions about the team's prospects in the upcoming season, Christian Horner, Red Bull team boss, drew parallels with Mercedes' dominance in 2020 and emphasised the dynamic nature of Formula. Despite subtle rule changes, Horner acknowledged the evolving competition and expressed the team's commitment to adapting lessons learned from the RB19 to the development of the RB20, aiming for a competitive car to defend their titles.Sergio Perez is confirmed to continue alongside Verstappen in 2024, facing a crucial year to secure a contract extension with Red Bull. The team's launch follows announcements from Mercedes and Alpine, with Mercedes revealing its new W15 on February 14. Alpine, Renault's brand, is set to unveil its 2024 motorsport season, encompassing both F1 and the World Endurance Championship teams, on February 7. The launch dates for AlphaTauri, McLaren, and Haas are yet to be disclosed, completing the lineup of F1 teams preparing for the upcoming campaign.  

2024 Bajaj Chetak review, first ride 

Where every other electric scooter in the mainstream has aspired to carve a niche for itself in the market as a futuristic next-generation mobility solution, Bajaj has attempted to authentically replicate an experience in electric with their Chetak. The all-metal body, the rounded design and the minimal technological intervention. All of which meant that up until now the Chetak was left to an ever-diminishing demographic of people familiar with the original Chetak. For 2024, without really making too many big changes, Bajaj has upped their ante and expanded the reach of the updated bike to new demographics with a slight rejig of the equipment list.But before we jump into what's new. Let us talk about the design and build of the new Chetak for a second. The design hasn’t changed from the first generation of the Chetak. The rounded fascia with the round headlamp and the svelte body section set in an all-metal body make for a very premium-feeling scooter. It also gets all LED lighting as standard. However, while the build on the paint and the bodywork do feel premium, the plastics and the body mouldings do seem a little off-brand for the premium electric scooter. Switchgear, though, is a premium touch and feels solid, although we did notice a few times when buttons on the instruments would not respond momentarily. But before we jump into what's new. Let us talk about the design and build of the new Chetak for a second. The design hasn’t changed from the first generation of the Chetak. The rounded fascia with the round headlamp and the svelte body section set in an all-metal body make for a very premium-feeling scooter. It also gets all LED lighting as standard. However, while the build on the paint and the bodywork do feel premium, the plastics and the body mouldings do seem a little off-brand for the premium electric scooter. Switchgear, though, is a premium touch and feels solid, although we did notice a few times when buttons on the instruments would not respond momentarily.  

Hyundai Creta 2024 facelift vs Kia Seltos vs Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara vs others: Price comparison

India Today was the first news organisation to confirm that Hyundai Motor India will launch the Hyundai Creta facelift in the country in 2024. We also maintained that the Hyundai Creta facelift price will range from Rs 11 lakh to Rs 20 lakh (ex-showroom). Well, it seems that we are bang on the target so far as the price of the vehicle is concerned.Among the other rivals, the Elevate's price ranges from Rs 11.58 lakh to Rs 16.40 lakh (ex-showroom), the Urban Cruiser Hyryder's price from Rs 11.14 lakh to Rs 20.19 lakh (ex-showroom), that of the Kushaq from Rs 11.89 lakh to Rs 20.49 lakh (ex-showroom), the price of the Taigun from Rs 11.70 lakh to Rs 20 lakh (ex-showroom) and the Astor from Rs 9.98 lakh to Rs 17.90 lakh (ex-showroom). In the ever-evolving landscape of the automotive industry, the SUV segment continues to witness fierce competition with manufacturers constantly upgrading their models to meet the changing preferences of consumers. In this comparison, we will focus on the recently launched Hyundai Creta 2024 facelift, the popular Kia Seltos, the established Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, and a few other noteworthy contenders. Let’s delve into the key aspects, specifications, and prices to help you make an informed decision.The Hyundai Creta 2024 facelift arrives with refreshed aesthetics and upgraded features. Packed with cutting-edge technology, the Creta continues to be a strong contender in the compact SUV segment. The price for the base variant starts at $XX,XXX, making it a competitive option in its class.The Kia Seltos, known for its stylish design and feature-packed interior, remains a top choice for SUV enthusiasts. With a starting price of $XX,XXX, the Seltos offers a compelling mix of performance and comfort. Its diverse range of engine options and trim levels allows buyers to tailor their purchase according to their preferences.    

JLR India launches Discovery Sport 2024 at Rs 67.90 lakh

JLR India today launched the Discovery Sport 2024 in the country at a starting price of Rs 67.90 lakh (ex-showroom). The 2024 model comes with a price cut of Rs 3.49 lakh over the 2023 model.The Discovery Sport 2024 is available in Dynamic SE with two engine options - 2.0-litre petrol (245hp and 365Nm) and 2.0-litre Ingenium diesel (201hp and 430Nm). Both engines are mated to an automatic transmission. The new Discovery Sport gets subtle exterior updates. There is a contrast roof and exterior accents, including Discovery script, grille, lower body sills and lower bumpers, all having a distinctive Gloss Black finish. There is Gloss Black front claw detailing on the bumpers and wheel arches. There are 19-inch diamond-cut alloys. The SUV also gets a new Varesine Blue exterior paint option.JLR India today launched the Discovery Sport 2024 in the country at a starting price of Rs 67.90 lakh (ex-showroom). The 2024 model comes with a price cut of Rs 3.49 lakh over the 2023 model. JLR India today launched the Discovery Sport 2024 in the country at a starting price of Rs 67.90 lakh (ex-showroom). The 2024 model comes with a price cut of Rs 3.49 lakh over the 2023 model.The new Discovery Sport gets subtle exterior updates. There is a contrast roof and exterior accents, including Discovery script, grille, lower body sills and lower bumpers, all having a distinctive Gloss Black finish. There is Gloss Black front claw detailing on the bumpers and wheel arches. There are 19-inch diamond-cut alloys. The SUV also gets a new Varesine Blue exterior paint option.You now get a digital instrument cluster and steering wheel-mounted gearshift paddles as standard, while the redesigned centre console boasts a new floating 11.4-inch curved glass touchscreen. The latest Pivi Pro infotainment set-up features permanently accessible sidebars, which provide shortcuts to key vehicle controls and functions, such as media, volume, climate and navigation. There is a panoramic glass roof as well.The SUV has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard and a wireless charger. A natural shadow oak trim finisher surrounds a new gear shifter. Discovery Sport Dynamic SE features DuoLeather interiors with up to two colour options.    

Can Japan do what ISROs Chandrayaan-3 did? All eyes on first moon landing of 2024

A successful soft landing of the Smart Lander on the lunar surface would put Japan in exclusive company, with just the US, USSR, China and India managing the feat already. Japan hopes to shake off a string of major setbacks to its space ambitions with an attempt to land a lander on the moon’s surface early Saturday morning.A successful soft landing of the Smart Lander on the lunar surface would put Japan in exclusive company, with just the US, Russia, China and India managing the feat already.  Japan beat arch-rival China in launching its first satellite in 1970 but has since taken a back seat to a series of high-profile Chinese space successes. That includes the world’s first ever soft landing on the far side of the moon in 2019, and landing on Mars in 2021. India has eclipsed Japan, too, succeeding in a second attempt last August by landing near the lunar south pole. For Japan, landing on the moon has been even tougher to crack. Its space agency, JAXA, lost contact with a lunar lander in late 2022, while Tokyo-based Ispace Inc. also suffered a communication failure with a craft bound for the moon last April. Other setbacks include the botched debut of JAXA’s H3 heavy-lift rocket, which failed after takeoff last March and hasn’t flown since. Meanwhile, JAXA’s smaller Epsilon rocket is grounded, too, following an explosion in October 2022.   

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Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Pixel 8 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: The big 3 flagships compared

The heavyweight champions of smartphones go head-to-head! We compare the S24 Ultra, Pixel 8 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Samsung’s latest flagship, the Galaxy S24 Ultra, has finally arrived on the scene. For those of you scratching your heads over which flagship phone to invest your cash in, the choices available on the market today could not get much better. The Galaxy S24 Ultra, Pixel 8 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max are easily three of the most drool-worthy handsets out there at the moment.However, with more choices comes tougher decision-making. The short answer is that there’s no clearly superior option. In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into identifying the key features that make each of these three smartphone heavyweights stand out from the crowd. This way, you can better analyze which one aligns best with your preferences. Starting with the exterior, none of these three phone models go crazy overboard when it comes to flashy design elements, but instead feature sleek, minimalistic aesthetic looks. Through very savvy marketing and brand image building, they have also each managed to establish instant visual recognition for their rear camera modules. The simple yet iconic floating camera lenses immediately scream “Samsung!” to consumers, while the elongated horizontal camera bar is synonymous with the Pixel brand. And of course, the iPhone’s distinctive triple camera array meticulously arranged in a floral-inspired pattern is quintessentially Apple. However, there are some clear distinctions. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is designed to for stylus use and thus has a squarish design that maximises the screen real estate you get. The phone also features a massive 6.8-inch display, the biggest out of the three, and resultantly is the widest, thickest, and heaviest out of the three. Meanwhile, the Pixel 8 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max have very similar dimensions with their 6.7-inch displays. Ultimately, the Pixel 8 Pro comes up on top in terms of in-hand comfort thanks to rounded edges and a weight of 213 grams vs the boxier and heavier design of the iPhone 15 Pro Max. In terms of materials, it’s worth noting that both the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max feature ultra-sturdy titanium alloy frames, while the Pixel 8 Pro sticks with the more conventional but still durable aluminum composition. Titanium is well known for its unmatched strength, but in reality, the difference may not necessarily be noticeable during average everyday use. For those who prioritise display size over all else, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is the clear standout choice, as it offers the highest pixel density out of the three models, and can also blast out a downright dazzling peak brightness of up to 2600 nits. Despite the Galaxy S24 Ultra being outfitted with one of the fastest mobile processors currently available, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, it still can’t hold a candle to the power of the A17 Pro chip integrated into the iPhone 15 Pro Max. From synthetic benchmarks to real-world usage, the A17 Pro processor simply runs merciless laps around Qualcomm’s silicon, thanks in large part to Apple’s vertically integrated software and hardware optimisations from the chip level all the way up to the operating system. The Google Tensor G3 utilised by the Pixel 8 Pro comes in a distant third place out of the three when it comes to processing muscle. In day-to-day use, you may not notice much of a difference, but when it comes to gaming, most developers still heavily prioritise optimisation for the iPhone and Galaxy chipsets alone, often leaving the Tensor-powered Pixels with second-rate performance.Despite packing in a noticeably smaller sized 4,441 mAh battery compared to the chunky 5,050 mAh and 5,000 mAh units found in the Pixel 8 Pro and Galaxy S24 Ultra models respectively, the iPhone 15 Pro Max still manages to come out on top in terms of power efficiency and overall battery life. Although the S24 Ultra has not yet been independently tested, last year’s model suggests we can expect another extremely close matchup between the iPhone 15 Pro Max and S24 Ultra. The Pixel 8 Pro however is held back by its Tensor G3 chip which is known for running hotter than the competition and draining precious juice.  Calling a definitive winner here is a tough call, even though on paper the S24 Ultra appears to win when it comes to hardware specs, thanks in large part to its 200MP main lens. Samsung’s “Space Zoom” system on the S24 Ultra can even crop into an insane 100x zoom range. You’d be hard-pressed to find this unique zoom functionality on any other flagship phone sold in India today (with the exception perhaps being the Vivo X100). The tech industry is obsessed with generative AI. In fact, Samsung’s launch of the Galaxy S24 series was all about ‘Galaxy AI’. The S24 Ultra packs nifty AI camera tools like Generative Edit, which fills in background details using AI. Meanwhile, the Pixel 8 Pro sports a Magic Eraser to remove objects from photos and replace them with generated pixels. It also has Zoom Enhance to make zoomed shots more realistic.  

Samsung teases the Galaxy Ring, its newest fitness device

At the recently concluded Galaxy Unpacked event, Samsung unveiled the name and design of the Galaxy Ring, an upcoming smart ring that might offer features similar to the Galaxy Watch. Here's everything we know so far about the new device After months of speculations and rumours, Samsung has officially confirmed the existence of the Galaxy Ring. Teased at the very end of the recently concluded Galaxy Unpacked event, Samsung said that the smart ring is a “powerful and accessible” health and wellness device.At the event, Samsung only revealed the name and design of the upcoming wearable. However, chances are that Samsung will follow in the footsteps of other smart rings and offer fitness tracking features like heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen level, sleep tracking and step counter. According to Dr Matthew Wiggins, a clinical research scientist at Samsung Research, the Samsung Health app will soon get features like monitoring potential sleep apnea symptoms using sleep tracking algorithms, maintaining heart rate alerts in sleep and some changes to blood oxygen powered by Galaxy AI. He also teased a Fitbit-like feature called ‘My Vitality Score’, which tracks users track their physical readiness and mental preparedness based on their heart rate data, activity and sleep. A future update to the app will also remind users about medications they need to take and warn them about potential interactions with foods and other medications they might be on, hinting that the Galaxy Ring will also get these features apart from the standard fitness tracking functionalities the company offers with its smartwatch.Samsung said that the Galaxy Ring will be “coming soon”, but did not reveal information about the price and launch date. But if we take a look at some of the most popular smart rings available in the market like the Oura Ring 3, the Galaxy Ring might likely cost somewhere around $300.  

US Pre-Orders for the Apple Vision Pro begin on January 19 and the device will go on sale on February 2.

"The Vision Pro, Apple's first mixed reality headset, will go on sale in the US in February, the company said on Tuesday. On January 19, preorders for the headset will go live. The headset will be available at all US Apple Store locations as well as through the company's web store. The Apple Vision Pro was announced in June last year at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2023. The headset supports both augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies and runs on the visionOS operating system. On February 2, the company officially announced on its newsroom website that the Apple Vision Pro would go on sale in the United States. The US Apple Store online and at all of its physical locations will both sell it. At the company's retail locations, customers can register to test the headset out for themselves. The gadget will go up for preorder on January 19 at 5:00 am PST (6.30 pm IST).With 256GB of storage, the Apple Vision Pro starts at $3,499, or approximately Rs. 2,90,000. A Solo Knit Band and a Dual Loop Band are included with the device. A polishing cloth, a battery, a USB Type-C cable, a Light Seal, and two Light Seal Cushions are also included in the package. "ZEISS Optical Inserts are available as readers that magnetically attach to Vision Pro or with a prescription for people who need vision correction. According to Apple, readers will run you $99, or about Rs. 8,000, while prescription lenses will set you back $149, or about Rs. 12,000, for them. For nations other than the US, the Apple Vision Pro's release date and price have not yet been disclosed. The company first entered the spatial computing space with the release of the Apple Vision Pro, which was unveiled at last year's WWDC event in June. It has two high-resolution micro-OLED displays and is powered by visionOS. With an R1 chip to handle input from 12 cameras, 5 sensors, and 6 microphones, it runs on Apple's M2 chips. With its three-dimensional user interface, the headset

Amazon's Great Republic Day Sale 2024: The Best Offers on Wireless Charging and Power Banks

For a few more hours, Amazon's Great Republic Day Sale 2024 will be offering discounts on a variety of electronic products. For all Amazon India customers, the sale began on January 13 and would last for a week. In addition to savings on smartphones, tablets, and laptops, the Great Republic Day Sale features promotions on popular brand power banks and chargers for mobile accessories. Additional discounts on a selection of devices bought through the online marketplace are offered by bank offers as well. Additionally, customers can use coupons to receive discounts.Customers of State Bank of India (SBI) can receive extra instant discounts on purchases made with their cards and EMI options, up to a maximum of 10%. Amazon is providing bundled offers that include free EMI payment options and exchange. Meanwhile, Flipkart is also running a discount sale, which means you should compare prices across both platforms to ensure the best deal. Power banks and wireless chargers that will simplify and enhance your travel experience, such as those from Ambrane and Mi, are available on Amazon during the Great Republic Day Sale at reasonable prices. The price of Xiaomi's Power Bank 3i has dropped from Rs. 2,199 to Rs. 1,899 at this time. Additionally, interested customers can receive discounts of up to Rs. 300 when making purchases with EMI and SBI cards. Amazon Pay ICICI credit card users can avail of Rs. 300 cashback as well. The Xiaomi Power Bank 3i packs a large 20,000mAh lithium polymer battery and supports Quick Charge 3.0. Similarly, Portronics's Freedom Fold 15W wireless charger is available for Rs. 799, down from Rs. 1,999.    

The Rabbit R1 is a tiny device that can be used for any purpose.

The R1, a tiny pocket-sized AI-powered gadget created by a startup called Rabbit, may one day be able to take the place of your smartphone. The square device has a rotating camera that can take back-and-forth photos and videos in addition to a 2.88-inch LCD touchscreen. Additionally, the R1 comes with a clickable scroll wheel that allows you to interact with the built-in voice assistant and navigate the user interface. The device, which was created in partnership with Teenage Engineering, resembles a half-flip phone but uses voice commands to operate instead of apps, akin to Humane AI Pins.The gadget also has a speaker and two microphones. Like the Humane AI Pin, you can use the Rabbit R1 to interact by holding down the "Push-to-talk" button, which activates the device's built-in voice assistant and allows you to ask any question you have without using an app. Similar to Humane, Rabbit brags that the R1 has a "all day" battery, but it withholds information regarding its capacity.In a video demo, company CEO Jesse Lyu says that the Rabbit R1 is powered by an in-house developed operating system called RabbitOS that uses a ‘Large Action Model’ instead of a large language model like ChatGPT. He says that they wanted to “find a universal solution that can trigger services” 

This soil-powered fuel cell, according to scientists, can "run forever."

A group out of Northwestern University in Illinois has created a novel fuel cell that they say can draw energy from soil-dwelling microorganisms. The fuel, which is about the size of a book, may be utilized to power subterranean sensors for precision farming and green infrastructure. It might develop into a viable, renewable replacement for batteries made of hazardous, flammable chemicals that seep into the earth when buried. Additionally, the resources needed to make batteries are obtained through supply chains impacted by conflict and add to the waste generated by electronics.The new fuel cell was tested by the researchers by powering touch and soil moisture sensor sensors. The results were published in the Proceedings of the Association for Computing Machinery on Interactive, Mobile, Wearable, and Ubiquitous Technologies. One can track passing animals with the former capability. In order to relay data to a nearby base station by reflecting pre-existing radio frequency signals, the researchers additionally equipped the soil-powered sensor with a tiny antenna. “The number of devices in the Internet of Things (IoT) is constantly growing. Even if we envision a world where trillions of these devices exist, we are unable to construct each and every one of them using hazardous materials like heavy metals, lithium, and environmental pollutants. We need to find alternatives that can provide low amounts of energy to power a decentralized network of devices. In a search for solutions, we looked to soil microbial fuel cells, which use special microbes to break down soil and use that low amount of energy to power sensors. As long as there is organic carbon in the soil for the microbes to break down, the fuel cell can potentially last forever,” said Northwestern alumnus Bill Yen, who led the work, in  

Once more, Apple is not allowed to sell watches with blood oxygen sensors in the United States.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit announced on Thursday that Apple will once more be prohibited from selling watches equipped with blood oxygen sensors.   Apple's attempt to overturn an ITC ban on the company selling the impacted watches in the US was not addressed by the court order issued on Wednesday. However, while that appeal is pending, it lifted an injunction that had prevented the ban from going into effect. An intellectual property dispute with the medical device company Masimo is the reason for the ban. In October, the International Trade Commission found that Apple’s blood oxygen sensors had infringed on Masimo’s intellectual property.During Wednesday afternoon trading, Apple shares saw a slight decline.   Apple is not allowed to import the aforementioned devices, which include the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2. Retailers who still have the impacted watches in stock may continue to sell them, but Apple decided in December to temporarily remove them from both its online and physical stores.  Earlier this week, court filings suggested that Apple had received approval from U.S. Customs for a modified version of its Apple Watches that lack the blood oxygen feature and therefore no longer infringe on Masimo’s intellectual property. It could open a path for a modified Apple Watch to return to U.S. store shelves. An Apple representative earlier this week declined to comment on the Customs decision.After turning down a partnership, Masimo had claimed that Apple had stolen some of its top executives and replicated its technology.   Last month, Masimo CEO Joe Kiani told CNBC that his company is willing to reach a settlement with Apple. If Apple must continue to keep its latest smartwatches from U.S. stores, it could complicate repairs at Apple stores, which often swap broken devices with replacements. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the denial.

Samsung unveils the new Galaxy S24 lineup, which includes AI-powered search and photo-editing capabilities.

Unexpectedly, Samsung unveiled its new flagship Galaxy S24 smartphone lineup on Wednesday, showcasing cutting-edge AI capabilities as the company aims to start 2024 strong. There are three versions of the S24 range available: the S24, S24+, and S24 Ultra, as is currently the norm with Samsung's flagship line. The S24 Ultra starts at a price of $1,300, the S24+ will cost $1,000, and the S24 will retail at $800.Before the announcement, the South Korean electronics behemoth unveiled the new devices at its Kings Cross offices in London earlier this week. During a press briefing, Samsung showcased the phone's artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, demonstrating its ability to alter photos and perform object searches. Samsung is utilizing an optimized version of Qualcomm's most recent Snapdragon Series 8 Gen 3 for use with its flagship S24 Ultra, the company's largest of the three smartphones with punchier specs and features. For its S24 and S24+ models, the company uses a combination of internal Exynos chipset and Qualcomm systems-on-chips (SoCs).

Apple Reduces Prices On The iPhone 15 In China With An Unusual Discount.

Hong Kong: In response to increasing competitive pressure in the largest smartphone market in the world, Apple is offering unusual discounts on its iPhones in China, slashing retail prices by as much as 500 yuan ($70). On Monday, the US tech giant's Chinese website displayed a 5% price reduction on select iPhone models. The time-limited promotion, branded as a Lunar New Year event, will last from January 18 through January 21 in a lead-up to the holiday in mid-February. In China, sales of Apple's most recent iPhone 15 series of phones have been significantly lower than those of earlier models.Local competitors like Xiaomi and Huawei Technologies provide competitive models, and according to sources, some businesses and government agencies have been restricting employees' use of Apple devices, which is similar to the US government's ban on Chinese apps due to security concerns. According to a client note from Jefferies analysts, Chinese iPhone sales fell 30% in the first week of 2024 compared to the same period the previous year. Sales had already decreased 3% for the entire year of 2023. Analysts predict that this year will see more competition. For years, Apple has not lowered the cost of its most recent iPhone models. The cuts come after it surprised the market by not raising prices for the iPhone 15 series at its September launch.