Gadgets Weekly: Portronics Beem 500 Smart LED Projector and more

Technology companies Samsung, Tecno, Portronics and others launched phones, TV projector, accessories, and more this week (December 2-8, 2024).

DH's Gadgets Weekly edition lists the latest personal technology products to keep you abreast of everything happening in consumer electronics.

Portronics Beem 500 Smart LED projector

Portronics Beem 500 Smart LED projector.

The new Portronics Beem 500 LED projector houses a 6700 Lumens LED lamp and can project up to 120-inch screen size on the wall. It supports full HD (1080p) resolution and, if required, it can scale up to 8K Ultra HD resolution.

It also boasts an auto-alignment feature. It comes with an ‘Intelligent Screen Alignment’ feature to detect the screen area and activate auto keystone adjustment for a perfectly rectangular viewing area, and automatic focus for sharp visuals.

It supports all the popular OTT apps including Hotstar, Netflix, Prime Video, and YouTube on the projector.

In addition to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, it supports an HDMI port for laptops or gaming consoles, two USB ports for media playback from external storage devices, an Ethernet (RJ45) port for stable wired internet connectivity, and an AUX audio output to connect to external speakers. It costs Rs 39,999.

Samsung launches TVKey Cloud feature to its OLED, QLED smart TVs in India

Samsung TVKey Cloud feature.

Samsung's new TVKey Cloud feature allows service providers to deliver high-quality content directly to the TV with its built-in set-top box functionality. This feature reduces the number of wires near the smart TV.

Most of the latest Samsung TVs come with built-in chipsets with advanced security features to deliver premium content, keeping intellectual property protected. This also ensures that content providers can protect their long-term content investments.

Samsung TVKey Cloud is currently available with cable & satellite television providers in India - GTPL and Dish TV. TVKey Cloud supports a variety of services – from live broadcasts to on-demand content – with minimal hardware. All that’s required is an internet connection (Broadband, 4G, or 5G) to authenticate the live TV signals fetched via Cable or DTH Antenna.

Tecno Phantom V2 series foldable phones

Tecno Phantom V2 series foldable phones.

The premium V2 Fold features a 6.42-inch cover display and a wide 7.85-inch 3D LTPO AMOLED main display inside.

The device is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ processor with 12GB RAM, 512GB storage, Android 14 OS and a 4,860mah battery.

It will come with a triple camera module-- main 50MP + 50MP + 13MP ultra-wide- LED flash on the back. It will feature a 32MP sensor on the cover display panel on the front and another 16MP selfie camera on the wide screen inside.

On the other hand, the V2 Flip sports a small 1.32-inch cover display and a 6.9-inch full-HD+ (1,080 x 2,640 pixels) AMOLED-based foldable display inside.

It comes with MediaTek Dimensity 8020 chipset, 12GB RAM, 128GB/256GB storage, a dual-camera module-- 64MP + 13MP- with LED flash on the back, a 32MP front camera, and a 4,000mAh battery.

The new Phantom V2 Fold and V2 Flip are priced at Rs 79,999 and Rs 34,999, respectively.

Winners of Samsung E.D.G.E Season 9 announced

Winners of Samsung E.D.G.E Season 9 contest winning team RSP from XLRI Jamshedpur.

Samsung earlier this week announced the winners of the ninth edition of Samsung E.D.G.E. (Empowering Dreams Gaining Excellence). It company's annual flagship campus programme that offers platforms for youngsters to showcase their business acumen, strategic thinking, and leadership skills.

This year, over 15,000 students from 40 premier campuses, including top-tier B-schools, engineering colleges, and design schools participated.

Team RSP from XLRI Jamshedpur emerged as the national winner. RSP’s idea included the use of brand mascots, geo-targeting, Gen MZ hotspot tagging, and mall activations — all tailored to build deeper consumer connections and drive engagement through innovative, localised, and personalised experiences.

The team -- Pranjali Bhatia, Siddhartha Dwivedi, and Rohan Bhardwaj-- were awarded a cash prize of Rs 4,50,000 in addition to Samsung’s flagship smartphones and pre-placement offers from Samsung.

Team Chevy67 from XLRI, Jamshedpur awarded the first runner-up position. Their idea was about optimising the smart home ecosystem. It focused on driving adoption and creating an interconnected, future-ready ecosystem that streamlines the user experience globally by guiding them in their purchase journey. The team -- Apurvaa Mittal, Chayan Banerjee, and Shubham Tripathy were awarded a cash prize of Rs 3,00,000.

Team Phoenix from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Calcutta finished as the second runner-up. Their forward-thinking ideas involved ‘Spin to Win’ Smart QR Codes, and Infinite Experiences with Sustainable Design, aimed to elevate brand engagement through experiential retail and sustainability. The core idea was about leveraging innovative marketing and product strategies to create deeper connections with consumers while ensuring a future-ready experience for a global audience. The team—Varun Goyal, Umang Jain, and Saksham Jain—was awarded Rs 1,50,000.

Vivo-CMR's 'Impact of Smartphones on Parent-Child Relationship' report released

Vivo-CMR's 'Impact of Smartphones on Parent-Child Relationship' report.

Vivo in collaboration with CyberMedia Research worked on a study on the impact of phones on children-parent relationships in India.

The study has revealed an interesting fact that children have a greater awareness of the negative impact of excessive use of phones compared to their parents.

8 out of 10 children said they wanted more 'parental controls' to regulate their parents’ smartphone habits.

Here are other key aspects of the report:

--Almost 94 per cent of children said that camera, calling and messaging as the three main features they use on phones. And, they refrain from using social media platforms, OTT apps for entertainment and gaming on their parents’ phone

--Excessive smartphone usage emerges as a key friction point in family dynamics, with 69 per cent of children identifying it as a significant source of conflict with their parents.

--Although 75 per cent of parents express concern about their children's ability to build meaningful relationships, many fail to recognize how their smartphone dependency impacts their connection with their kids.

--A mutual yearning for deeper relationships is evident, as 76 per cent of children and 84 per cent of parents express a desire for more meaningful family time by reducing distractions caused by smartphones.

OnePlus kicks off December 2024 Community Sale in India

OnePlus Community Sale December.

Ahead of the Christmas festive holiday, OnePlus has announced lucrative deals on OnePlus phones, tablets, smartwatches and earphones from December 6 to December 17, 2024.

OnePlus 12: Customers can avail a sale-exclusive price drop of Rs 6,000 along with an instant bank discount of Rs 7000 on ICICI Bank, OneCard & RBL Bank Credit Cards along with No-cost EMI of up to nine months on select bank cards.

OnePlus Open Apex: Customers who purchase this model can get an instant bank discount of Rs 20,000 on purchasing via ICICI Bank, OneCard & RBL Bank Credit Cards.

OnePlus Nord 4: Customers can avail a sale-exclusive price drop of Rs 3,000 along with an instant bank discount of Rs 2000 on ICICI Bank, OneCard & RBL Bank Credit Cards along with No-cost EMI of up to six months on select bank cards.

OnePlus Nord 4 CE: Customers can avail a sale-exclusive price drop of Rs 2,000 along with an instant bank discount of Rs 1000 on ICICI Bank, OneCard & RBL Bank Credit Cards along with No-cost EMI of up to three months on select bank cards.

OnePlus Nord 4 CE Lite: Customers can avail a sale-exclusive price drop of Rs 2,000 along with an instant bank discount of Rs 1000 on ICICI Bank, OneCard & RBL Bank Credit Cards along with No-cost EMI of up to three months on select bank cards.

OnePlus Pad 2: Customers can avail a sale-exclusive price drop of Rs 2,000 along with an instant bank discount of Rs 3000 on ICICI Bank, OneCard & RBL Bank Credit Cards along with No-cost EMI of up to nine months on select bank cards.

OnePlus Pad Go: Customers can avail a sale-exclusive price drop of Rs 1,000 along with an instant bank discount of Rs 3000 on ICICI Bank, OneCard & RBL Bank Credit Cards along with No-cost EMI of up to nine months on select bank cards.

OnePlus Watch 2: Customers can avail a sale-exclusive price drop of Rs 3,000 along with an instant bank discount of Rs 3000 on ICICI Bank, OneCard & RBL Bank Credit Cards along with No-cost EMI of up to six months on select bank cards.

OnePlus Watch 2R: Customers can avail a sale-exclusive price drop of Rs 2,000 along with an instant bank discount of Rs 3000 on ICICI Bank, OneCard & RBL Bank Credit Cards along with No-cost EMI of up to 12 months on select bank cards.

OnePlus Buds Pro 3: Customers can avail a sale-exclusive price drop of Rs 1,000 along with an instant bank discount of Rs 1000 on ICICI Bank, OneCard & RBL Bank Credit Cards along with No-cost EMI of up to 12 months on select bank cards.

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