Tag: samsung

Qualcomm plans to launch an exciting new feature for Android users

Qualcomm Snapdragon has been on a roll lately. Various devices are being launched in India daily that have 5G capability. The new device is getting positive reviews due to its efficiency and good performance. As a result, Snapdragon chipsets in mobile devices are getting positive feedback.

This year Snapdragon is preparing to launch new features on its flagship chipset. One of those features is satellite communication. Recently, some devices have been launched with the current flagship chipset Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. 

It has also been revealed that the devices that have the flagship chipset will have satellite communication features. The feature will enable people to communicate in areas where there is a weak or no mobile network.  

The new chipsets are blurring the lines between what a smartphone can do and what it cannot do. The new features that are being introduced in the latest and the most eye catchy devices are noteworthy. The implementation of Qualcomm chipsets in various devices like smartwatches, and even laptops are making it more relevant that Snapdragon is going global in every way. The new devices that have Snapdragon chipsets already do have a great battery life that is making the Snapdragon a better choice for device manufacturers. 

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Other than that, it is also facing stiff competition from Media Tek. There is also some serious heat from the likes of Apple, who are now trying to manufacture chipsets for their devices. The same has been the case with Google which now has its chipset for the Pixel line of mobile devices. Samsung is another company which already has a chipset for the devices. There are other Chinese manufacturers also like Huawei that also have chipsets for their devices. So, competition is tough for Snapdragon. 

The chipset is also gaining importance due to the popularity of electric vehicles and the implementation of internet-related services in various vehicles. This is also creating a lot of buzz in the chip market and is also increasing demand for chips.

Shortly, there is also a rumour that Apple will move away from Qualcomm chips. This is also bad news for Qualcomm, as Apple is one the biggest users of its modems on Apple devices. In the future, if the trend goes on then Qualcomm will have to rethink its business strategy. It is because all the companies will probably have their chip for their respective devices. 

The devices in the future will need chips. Qualcomm, being a major chip manufacturer, needs to stick to its position, if it wants to stay relevant in the field. The implementation of 5G and 6G in quick succession, and that of many other technological revolutions is making it dissect for such big companies to implement such changes so quickly.

Now, we will have to wait for a few years before we can see the effect Qualcomm will have on the 5G and the 6G network era. The new networks are going to bring new challenges for Snapdragon. So, these steps may bring along good results for Qualcomm.

Samsung prepares to launch its new devices

Samsung has been able to get the attention it deserves after every flagship launch. It has also been able to launch devices that cater to the needs of the people. Now, they are already making plans for 2023.

They are planning to launch their next flagship on February 1, 2023. Within the next few days, they are going to even launch a budget device for the market. The device specifications have been leaked and the pricing is also out.

The budget device is named Galaxy F04. It will be launched at an approximate price of 7500 rupees. It will likely have a memory of 8 GB. It will also have various models and will be available in two different colours purple and green and will be available for sale on Flipkart.

The specifications of the device also look impressive on paper. The device is speculated to have a Mediatek chipset. The display segment has a 6.8-inch HD + screen. The display will also have a refresh rate of 60 Hz. The device has a battery power of 5000 mAh.

It appears to be an upgrade for the Galaxy A04e model. In terms of the camera, it appears to have a 13 MP main camera. There will also be a depth 2 MP camera. The device will have Android 12 out of the box. 

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On the other hand, S23 Ultra will also launch with some bells and whistles. It will be a worthy successor to the S22 Ultra. The new flagship is likely to have a better zoom quality. The smartphone will likely have the same shooter as the S22 Ultra.   

These devices are also going to have satellite communication. There are also rumours of an increase in battery capacity in some models of the S23 series. Along with these, there seem to be very slight changes to the design of the device. 

There will also be some drastic improvements in terms of the performance of the device as the devices will have the latest Snapdragon chipset. The chipset will be top-of-the-line. The new chipset will also help in providing better battery life to the device along with a smooth performance. 

In terms of colour, the devices are going to be available in beige, light pink and black colour. These colours are the probable ones and can also be different in the final product. 

Now, it remains to be seen whether these devices will perform well or not for Samsung in the market. But next year Samsung is also going to reduce its production. It is being done to clear out the current stock which has piled up over time. Apart from that, there is also stiff competition from Chinese players. The devices are now being launched with at least one USP by all the companies. The intense competition is keeping all the players on their toes. The devices need to be competitive to stay relevant in the market. Now, various devices can compel any other company to be the number one or number two smartphone maker in the world, in terms of popularity. So, Samsung needs to be careful now.

Apple iPhone will get the largest manufacturing unit in India

iPhones have been able to grab eyeballs everywhere. They have the best hardware for all users. For convenience, various form factors are available for the users. Every year, new iPhones give users something new to experience.

But pandemic has been able to affect the overall manufacturing of the iPhones worldwide. It has been mainly due to the disruption at the China plant. China has the largest iPhone manufacturing plant. It was due to the lockdown due to the COVID pandemic. The plant is the Zhengzhou plant.

On the positive side, India has started to gain due to this loss. Now, there is positive information that Hosur near Bangalore, will get the largest iPhone plant in the country. Now, iPhones will be manufactured at the new plant where approximately, 60000 people will get to work with new iPhones. Among these 60000 workers, 6000 are tribal women from the areas of Ranchi and Hazaribagh. These women have been trained to manufacture the latest iPhones. The new plant is under the control of Tata Electronics. Other than this, Apple also has other manufacturers in the country namely Foxconn, Wistron and Pegatron.

To reduce the stress on the parts supplier, Apple has given a contract to LG as a new display supplier. This will ensure that Samsung will have less burden in terms of display supply during and after the pandemic period.

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This new change has some major effects on the overall supply of the latest iPhones. The new devices will not face supply chain disruptions anymore. It will also ensure that India will be one of the major suppliers or exporters of iPhones to other markets.

But there have also been rumours that iPhones can get a price cut in India. But this is not true. As there will be no reduction in the prices of the iPhones in India. But there will be some relief to the availability of parts in our country. If the need arises, then there can also be a great market for refurbished iPhones. It will help in increasing the number of iPhone users in our country.

iPhones are also facing a little bit of a slowdown in terms of sales. This can be due to the weak financial conditions of several sections of society. So now, this kind of effect has also been seen in companies like Samsung. Samsung is currently planning to reduce the production of mobile phones by 30 million. The reduction of production will also enable the unnecessary stacking up of inventory in various warehouses.

All the above points depict that iPhones will have a great future. India will also play an important part in making a more user-friendly iPhone. The device will be more easily accessible to general users. Maybe there can also be a reduction in the prices of the iPhones. The newer models will also get the opportunity to be assembled or manufactured in countries like India. It will also help in increasing employment in the manufacturing field. The number of skilled people will also increase in terms of electronic manufacturing in our country.

ROLE OF INDIA IN QUAD

BY DAKSHITA NAITHANI

The Quadrilateral Dialogue was established in 2007 when four countries—the United States, India, Japan, and Australia—joined forces. However, it did not take off at first due to a variety of factors, and it was resurrected in 2017 after almost a decade due to factors such as growing country convergence, the expanding importance of the Indo-Pacific area, and rising threat sentiments toward China, among others.

Since then it has evolved into a platform for diplomatic discussion and coordination among participating countries, who meet on a regular basis at the working- and ministerial levels to discuss shared interests like ensuring a rules-based international order.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR INDIA

The Quad, ASEAN, and the Western Indian Ocean are the three groupings in which India participates as a partner in the Indo-Pacific area.

India as a Net Security provider

In the region of Indian Ocean India must be a Net Security Provider. Its supremacy in the IOR must be maintained and sustained if it is to claim this position as a Region. QUAD offers India with a platform to strengthen regional security through collaboration while also emphasising that the Indo-Pacific concept stands for a free, open, and inclusive area.( Inclusive here refers to a geographical notion that encompasses all countries inside it as well as those having a stake outside of it)

Countering China

The Quad offers India with a forum to seek collaboration with like-minded countries on a variety of problems, including maintaining territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as peaceful dispute settlement. It also shows a united front against China’s unceremonious and aggressive actions towards the nation which is especially important now, since ties between India and China have deteriorated as a result of border intrusions along the Tibet-India boundary in many locations. The Chinese policy of encircling India with the String of Pearls poses a direct threat to India’s maritime sovereignty, which must be addressed.

Framing post-COVID-19 international order

QUAD can assist India in not just recovering from the pandemic’s impacts through a series of integrated measures, but also in securing a part in the modern international order. Enhancing such cooperation was one of the first actions made in 2021. The vaccination initiative will serve as a good litmus test for the QUAD administrations’ ability to work together.

Convergence on other issues

On a range of topics, India shares common interests with other Quad members, including connectivity and infrastructure development, security, especially counter-terrorism; cyber and maritime security; multilateral institutions reform, and so on. Assistance from members on these problems might help India achieve its strategic and economic objectives.

Supplementing India’s defence capabilities

Assistance in the sphere of defence among Quad countries, such as joint patrols, strategic information exchange, and so on, can help India overcome its disadvantages in terms of naval capabilities, military reconnaissance, technology, and surveillance systems.

Ensuring a free Indo Pacific

The Indo-Pacific region must be accessible and vibrant, regulated by international norms and bedrock values such as freedom of navigation and peaceful resolution of conflicts, and the nations involved must have the right to make decisions, free of coercion.

Counter-terrorism Table top Exercise for QUAD nations to improve collaboration and common capabilities in dealing with potential terrorist threats, as well as examine CT response systems.

INDIA’S ROLE IN THE INDO-PACIFIC

In the Indo-Pacific, India’s geographic and geopolitical importance provides a counterbalance to China’s rising influence in the Indian Ocean. India’s security concerns, centred primarily on China’s encirclement policy through port facilities in India’s neighbourhood mainly Gwadar and Hambantota and the desire to maintain and protect open and free sea lanes of information exchange against concerns about China’s chokepoint in the South China Sea and increasing maritime presence in the ocean

India’s critical significance in the Indo-Pacific may be seen as a multiple framework. First, unlike the Asia-Pacific architecture, the Indo-Pacific architecture allows New Delhi to move above its long-held standing as a middle-power. This is bolstered by India’s admission to the League of big powers especially the United States and Japan and the development of tight strategic ties with Washington and its regional allies. This promotes India’s great-power ambitions and force projection capability inside the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

Second, India’s Act East Policy and Extended Neighbourhood Policy benefit from New Delhi’s strong participation in the Indo-Pacific. New Delhi’s stronger relations with ASEAN members have also bolstered this boost.

Third, the development of India-US strategic relations, particularly in military, works as a significant counterweight to India’s adversaries. Increased engagements between New Delhi and Washington are exemplified by the four foundational contracts signed between the two countries, which include the General Security of Military Information Agreement, Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement, Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement, and Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement—all of which promote in-depth partnership Most significantly, the improved partnership boosts India’s military capacity, particularly when it comes to striking targets with precise accuracy.

Fourth, under India-Australia ties, which were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2020, India’s strategic position is bolstered yet further. In fact, Canberra and New Delhi inked nine agreements, the most important of which are the Australia-India Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement and the Defence Science and Technology Implementing Arrangement, both of which provide a framework for the two nations’ security cooperation.

Fifth, and most significantly, during COVID-19, India demonstrated its ability to be a first responder to a regional disaster by giving medical assistance to its near neighbours, including the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Seychelles. In addition, India sent medical quick response teams to Comoros and Kuwait to help them prepare for the epidemic. In addition, nine Maldivians were evacuated from Wuhan, China, the site of the pandemic.

In addition, India pushed for virtual summits like the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation web conference on March 2020 and the “Extraordinary Digital G20 Leaders’ Summit” to help develop a worldwide reaction to the epidemic on 26 March 2020. In addition, New Delhi established a SAARC Emergency Response Fund for Coronavirus, with India contributing an initial 10 million USD.

In addition, as countries attempt to move manufacturing away from China, India is viewed as one of the world’s new “favoured” investment destinations. The enormous scale of India’s marketplace as well as the low labour costs, make it a desirable destination. Apple, for example, created a production facility in India in partnership with Foxconn, while Samsung, of South Korea, ceased operations in China and moved manufacturing units to India.

There is little dispute about India’s rising position in the Indo-Pacific, not just as a significant participant but also as a responsible actor.  As a result, India’s manoeuvring room in the post-COVID international order is anticipated to expand, as India is seen as one of the major movers in guiding policy and protecting allied interests in the Indo-Pacific. COVID-19 has, in fact, expanded the Quad framework, allowing important parties to play a more active role in addressing critical conventional and unconventional regional issues.