vivo V20 Pro, a true high-end device from the brand #Slimmest5G

I am writing this review after using the Vivo V20 Pro over 6 days in Bangalore, India. Vivo V20 Pro , is the latest addition to the Vivo V20 series signing off with a high-end phone in 2020 which enhances the exceptional front-camera performance and a benchmark in smartphone design.

Design: 

What's noticeable is an a high-end device from the brand, design with a refresh rate of 60Hz display. The power and volume buttons are on the right. At the bottom, USB-C charging port is centrally placed and on either sides is SIM tray, for 2 nano Sims (no microSD) & the speaker, and a mic for (in-call) noise canceling. There's "no" 3.5mm jack . The  Vivo V20Pro also sports an ultra-slim and trendy dual tone step design, measuring 7.39 mm thin and weighing only 170 grams,FHD+ Notch Display in the front, a new record for the Vivo V Series The AG Matte Glass finish and adds subtle luxury to the aesthetic and also improves overall ergonomics. Finally, the (AF)anti-fingerprint coating protects the phone from fingerprint smears.The front camera unit houses 44MP eye auto focus dual selfie in the centre with an 8 MP super-wide angle (105 degrees) lens and the rear camera is on the top left corner arranged chronologically, flash, the 2MP mono-camera, depth sensor, the main 8MP Multi-function camera( 120 degree Super wide angle and bokeh and super macro , right above on the top is 64 MP Night Camera.

Sunset Melody and Midnight Jazz break the color monotony.

Performance, Gaming & battery:

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 5G 's low energy consumption with 8 GB RAM and 128GB ROM variant provides a powerful and seamless performance with "Vapour Chamber Liquid Cooling. I was completely blown away with the "out of the world visuals", which Qualcomm offers. Hopefully, starting 2021 SoC support for 5G, can be tested as it's been over a year or two for 5G taking off and base variant starting off at ₹29,990 (8+128GB)comes along with , 8+256GB and 12+256GB RAM ROM configuration. With a massive 4000mAh battery, as promised, the Vivo V20 Pro lasts over 6 hours of SOT (screen-on-time) and with 33W FlashCharge inside the box to replenish the battery to 65% within 30 minutes. Vivo V20 Pro shipes with latest Android 11 out of the box, forked Funtouch OS 11 is simple and smooth and I was particularly in awe with the newest UI design, desktop icons, improved dark mode, new live wallpapers, improved Jovi virtual assistant. Ultra-Game Mode offers you to block SMS notifications to minimize disturbances, Accidental Touch Prevention an adaptive frame rate and allocation of required resources for seamless gaming. 

Vivo V20 Pro Camera 

The front camera 44MP (f/2.0 primary shooter) Eye Auto-focus Dual Selfie, comes with an 8MP ultra wide-angle lens, with 105-degree field of view, with a distortion correction algorithm is certainly a next level upgrade to Vivo V20. The 'Double Exposure' provides two stories for one image,with a professional level output effortlessly. Dual View Video is an excellent feature for Vlogging, unleash one's creativity by recording with the front and rear camera at the same time. There are also two modes to view your creations: Picture-in-Picture and Dual View. Pairing options include: front + rear main camera; front camera + rear wide-angle camera; or main rear camera + wide-angle rear camera with 4K selfie video @60fps. 

The Camera housing offers an array of features including HDR mode, ISO control, Face detection. I was quite impressed with the selfies shot at night with 'Super Night Selfie 2.0' with Aura Screen Light. I am currently exploring the Steadiface Portrait Video and Art Portrait Video. The Rear Camera is built for night photography and comprises of a 64MP Night Camera, 8MP Multi-function Camera (120 degree Super Wide-Angle & bokeh and a 2.5cm Super Macro) and a dedicated 2MP Mono module. It's a win win for both telephoto and wide angles (which most of the times is a challenge) somewhat(less)noisy, however dynamic range seemingly impressive. The details are better captured with better edge detection, including the colour reproduction and face exposure in portraits. 

Audio Quality

Vivo V20 Pro comes with a Hi-Res audio certification, bringing the true audio-visual experience to Hi-Fi enthusiasts ( sound reproduction and amplification performance >40kHz) 

AI-Powered Album 

The Dynamic Sky divider algorithm recognizes and separates content in the image and replaces a specific zone with preset footage to make changes in the sky. You can drag and draw in a locked zone, add motion effects to the sky and replace the original effect, and thus create a perfect fit in the AI-powered sky. This feature meets the consumer demand for having pleasure from an album app and sharing topics. With the Memory Recaller feature, consumers can re-live their old pixelated dull images by improving the resolution, clarity, noise reduction, and face detailing. 

Consumers will also get an array of attractive launch offers Offline as well as Online 

About Vivo India: 

vivo, a premium global smartphone brand, entered India in late 2014, vivo has established itself as one of the top smartphone brands in India. Manufacturing in Greater Noida, the coMPany has a robust distribution network across the country both online and mainline, catering the best in class quality services to approximately 550 cities, in 27 states and 5 union territories backed by more than 600 service centers in India. The organization is dedicated to the pursuit of perfection and is continuously creating surprises for users through constant innovation. Through smartphones, vivo offers users a professional-grade photography solution, taking mobile photography to the level of an art form, witnessing, and recording all of life's beautiful moments.

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Poonam - love in hindsight "Marry"-go round! 2nd innings at Love

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hundreds of thousands of seniors are intentionally neglected by family members and caregivers each year. Some may not even realize they are being neglected..India is still a conservative although 'supreme court rule' in 2015, institutionalized, Human Rights of the Elderly. Just that the majority of society turns a blind eye to a deluge of facts, which at best are hidden in the closets!

No one grows up with a right to be loved. It's a privilege you earn for yourself. It doesn't come naturally. You earn it. And very often, love comes. And love goes. And love comes back. And goes again. And so on.

Social stigma remains, as woman look up to it as additional responsibility & unwilling to sign up for. The International Day of Older Persons is an opportunity raise awareness of the opportunities and challenges of ageing in today’s world.

I personally feel, that the 'Poonam Shortfilm' , breaks the norm of social embarrassment, expectations & the new reality of dating, live-in, & reinvent 'sociology', psychology, vein of agelessness that runs within & refuses to feel "old" in relation to a new love. The casting Meeta Vasisht Rajat Kapur, is well thought of for a fresh representation of today's elderly!

In the words of the producer Shilpi Das Chohan said, “Elderly Care and the loneliness that comes with its negligence is a cause that needs to be addressed by society, organizations and authorities with sensitivity and sense of responsibility. It is high time much care is taken in streamlining simple facilities and revisiting policies for the ageing population. We decided to use the medium of film to tell the story of Poonam and Suraj to evoke a wave of introspection.”

 

The protagonists:

‘Poonam’ is a very simple story that revolves around two characters - Poonam and Suraj.Our Poonam is Meeta Vasisht – ‘Poonam’ personifies a strong, contented woman who is warm, passionate, forgiving and forthright who decides to live life on her own terms. She emerges stronger through life’s experiences. It was decided that Poonam’s title role had to be played by none other than the elegant actress Meeta Vasisht. She lived her part not just as the protagonist - her expertise, experience and demeanour were well-suited to portray these attributes. 

Our Suraj is Rajit Kapur - ‘Suraj’ represents a parent who has performed all his duties as a father and husband within the social norms. Yet, when it is time for him to be cared for, he finds himself abandoned and lonely. Suraj our metaphor, ends up feeling lonely and dejected, finding himself at the brink of giving up on life. Rajit Kapur is forever cherished as our very own Byomeksh Bakshi, and we knew the audience would connect with him. He connected with the cause, the character, and the film compassionately. 

About Poonam 

Poonam is a simple and short story of two elders, who drifted away in the past, to fulfil social responsibilities. At an age when they expect to be taken care of, they find themselves at a catch-22 crossroads, abandoned and alone. Quite relevant and prevalent in today’s world when grown up children look to greener pastures and abandon their parents due to circumstances or pure neglect. The objective of ‘Poonam’ is to spread the much needed awareness on what such elders go through and to ask their children to introspect and if possible, change the way, life goes on today. The Producers Shilpi’s Voice and Visuals (a voice-over entity and a marcom agency, catering to clients across the globe. https://shilpisvoiceandvisuals.com ) & Epicreel (A division of Precipio Technologies Private Limite, committed to creating awesome videos) .

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Amazon Alexa & Echo, my ubiquitous companions during the lockdown

As the pandemic sweeps the world, we are dealing with greater concerns, such as the health of family, friends & our own selves. 

Working from home has become the new norm for everyone. In a casual conversation with my wife during the lockdown, we were discussing how my meetings are being postponed indefinitely, how classes have been cancelled and how schools and colleges remain shut. It’s here that we questioned ourselves, “What is it that we need to do?” or “How do we engage our little one?” and came to the realization that it’s time that we align ourselves to the new way of life, which is mostly going to be driven on digital platforms.

Amazon Echo (3rd Gen) Bluetooth Speaker with Alexa (Blue)

As a techie, I need to plan my day effectively, even before the software gets to me, other engineers test the individual components of the software to make sure each part is working correctly. Similarly, I start my day with a task list. Thanks to Amazon Alexa I am able to manage my tasks with the Echo smart speaker. Well, you know interruptions are inevitable, maybe something personal that I might have to take care of, etc,. Personally, I do have disruptive periods during the day, one mid-morning where I answer emails and any questions from team members.

As you can see, Voice assistants are getting more ubiquitous. Amazon Echo (3rd Gen) isn’t just for listening to music, scheduling, running our smart home or setting reminders, it has brought some "sense of excitement", in our life, which has now been confined to four walls. Amazon Echo smart speaker has made the morning drill easier. Right from reminding me of important meetings, to reminding me to take a break, Amazon Alexa has been very helpful. Listed below are a few requests that I have asked Alexa throughout this lockdown.

Wake up to your favourite tunes and listen to soothing music with Amazon Alexa

Music can not only boost your mood in the morning but can also give a great kick start to your day with positive energy. “Alexa, wake me up at 7 AM to Kishore Kumar Songs” or ‘’Alexa, set an alarm for 5 AM to devotional songs’’. Also, I like listening to music whenever I take a break or I am not able to focus on work ‘’Alexa, start Focus Music’’ or ‘’Alexa, start mind music relax’’. I also enjoy listening to popular music across the country by saying “Alexa, play the music that is trending in Bangalore”.

Alexa can remind you for important things and bill payments

"Alexa, set a reminder for my meetings at 11 am and the perfect time to wiggle my way out. "Alexa, remind me to take a break at 5 pm’’. Many times, I forget to pay utility bills, why not have this reminder set? "Alexa, remind me to pay my utility bill", "Alexa, remind me to wish my teacher, it’s her birthday".

Working from home with a kid. What was giving you joy?

One upside of our home confinement is that I no longer need to spend time commuting back and forth to work. So, I reallocate that time to doing something that will bring me joy, spend time with my kid, play games & have fun stuff. I need to be wary of multi-tasking. "Alexa, launch math quiz”, “Alexa, ask Tic Tac Toe for a game", "Alexa, play Stone Paper Scissors, "Alexa, open Amazon Storytime ".

Taking care of ourselves, we have been living a sedentary life. Don’t neglect health.

"Alexa, start a 7-minute workout ", "Alexa, set a 30-minute workout timer", "Alexa, help me do yoga ", "Alexa, start a five-minute plank", "Alexa, start five-minute jumping jacks"

COVID 19: Stay up to date Since we are struggling with social isolation at home, then social media might also help with that. 

 "Alexa, what do I do if I think I have coronavirus", "Alexa, how many cases have been registered as COVID positive in Karnataka", "Alexa, start news flash briefing".

We all have to-do lists. As a family, we try to keep appending the list.

"Alexa, add follow-ups to my To-Do list", "Alexa, ask Byju’s for Physics Trivia", "Alexa, ask Khan Academy web for Electrostatics".

Why not be "entertained" by Alexa. I finally unwind my day, by listening to some songs and watching shows on Amazon Prime.

"Alexa, tell me a joke’’, "Alexa, Neha Kakkar ke gaane sunao", "Alexa, watch Paatal lok on Amazon prime”.

There are now more than 30,000 skills on the Amazon Alexa Skills store. Although, there’s plenty of competition in voice technology, Alexa is well-positioned for the decade to come.

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Echo Input Portable Smart Speaker made the competition "go wireless"

When the headlines read " Launched first in India, to be carried around our homes, built in rechargeable 4800mAh battery providing 10 hrs of continuous music play back time, answers questions, read the news, check the weather, and more...." 

Echo Input Portable Smart Speaker is one more addition to the "Amazon Echo" ecosystem & makes the competition"go wireless".

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@amazondotin introduces Echo Input Portable Smart Speaker , 4,800mAh battery delivers 10 hours of playback. Now, interact with Alexa in English or Hindi ₹4,999 . . . #alexa #echoinput #amazon #alexaamazon #amazonecho #speakeramazon #input #echo2019 #amazonechoshow #amazonechoinput

A post shared by Aravind Balakrishnan (@aravindbk) on Dec 31, 2019 at 4:36am PST

Design:

It is compact, exterior 'black fabric design' appreciated on most Echo speakers. On the top, a mute option (I find it useful, in the used case of the microphones & invoking Alexa & an LED to indicate whether the device is listening. Along the side of the cylinder is housed a set of four LED's that serve the purpose as a battery level indicator and a power switch, that's Echo Input Portable exclusive! USP is that it weighs just 448 grams and built in rechargable 4800mAh battery providing 10 hrs of continuous music play back time. What I miss the most is aux port, available on most of the Echo speakers. Unfortunately, it's not water proof, unlike the offerings from it's affordable competition.

Audio Quality: 

Portable is impressive in terms of delivering high audio quality (Also noticeably louder than 3rd generation Echo Dot) additionally making the voice assistance, sound better. Access Alexa from anywhere in the room using the same "far-field voice recognition" as other Echo devices. 

Control smart home: 

Control compatible smart home devices such as lights, plugs, and fans from Philips, Wipro, Syska, TP-Link and more by just asking Alexa. Just say “Alexa, turn on the geyser” or “Alexa, turn off the lights”. 

Battery: 

Amazon claims that it's built in rechargeable 4800mAh battery provides 10 hours of continuous music play back time. Fair enough was my usage, I had about 8 hours at decent volume and 3~4 hours of constant music playback and audio books listening. Adding to the 'Smart Home Capabilities as to answer questions (do it a lot from "Khan Academy") read the news, check the weather, stream music with Amazon Prime Music, Apple Music, JioSaavn, Gaana and listen to audio books et,al. 'Echo Input Portable' charges over a standard microUSB port, which allows you to use a powerbank too. Although every house would have witnessed multiple smart speakers, I love the idea of carrying it around. 

Alexa has skills:

With tens of thousands of skills and counting, Alexa is always getting smarter and adding new features and skills like booking a cab, ordering food, playing games, and more.

Summary: 

To speak to Alexa in Hindi, just ask, “Alexa, speak in English and Hindi.” I had a lot better experience than the Echo Dot & what makes it even better is that it doesn't have to be constantly plugged into a wall, for just ₹4,999 (wait till the item is back in stock) from amazon.

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Tata Mutual Fund launches AI driven fund - Tata Quant Fund

Tata Mutual Fund launches AI driven fund - Tata Quant Fund

In this digital age, ‘Machine Learning’ & ‘Artificial Intelligence’ drive innovations as ‘product recommendations on e-commerce platforms’, ‘a maps app recommending the best route’ and the estimated time to reach the destination’ or ‘a music app knowing our favorite songs.’

Despite its pitfalls, AI has given us great tools and resources to lead more informed and convenient lives, with a lot of information at our fingertips.

TATA Quant Fund- Strategy Landscape 

TATA Quant Fund (Open Ended Equity Scheme): AI & ML driven mutual fund scheme - Stock Selection (market driven) Optimal Portfolio (weightage, eliminated) with efficiency of investing decisions. This Model has factors “Value, Quality, Alpha” for objective stock selection & portfolio allocation and analyze dynamically change based on Macro-economic indicators & market valuations such as GDP, Inflation, Interest Rate, Market Index and aims to create a momentum, quality, value, market capitalization of stocks from the Stock Universe (S&P BSE 200 Index & Equity derivatives) to perform well under prevailing market conditions .

Then, using machine learning algorithms, create an optimal portfolio & allocate stock weightage protect the downside risk and rebalance the portfolio based on the market optimizing the stock selection & accuracy over time, remove human biases & help in emotion free investing , follow fund mandate (Factor based Mandate, S&P BSE 200 Index Stock Universe, Market direction based portfolio management, well diversified ) Learn -> Unlearn-> Adapt back tested over the last 8 years data to understand the response to historical market situations & analyse resultant performance & has a potential to outperform S&P BSE 200 TRI Index over time. 

However under certain circumstances as unforeseen market events, political instability, sudden policy changes , the model may under perform the benchmark Index.

Tata Quant Fund is an 'open ended equity mutual fund scheme’ following quant-based investing theme. The fund would invest in equity and equity related instruments which form part of S&P BSE 200 and Equity Derivative Segment.

NFO opens on 03 January 2020 and closes on 17 January 2020 Fund Manager: Sailesh Jain. Benchmark: S&P BSE 200 TRI.

Tata Quant Fund is available with digital channel partners Paytm Money & Groww App. 

(Courtesy – Tata Mutual Fund)

Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning driven Advisor 

The predictive engines use more than past 20 years of market and macro-economic data to analyse hidden relationships and patterns. These correlations along with prevailing market and macro-economic data are then used by the engines for making monthly predictions. Thus, the investment decision making process of the fund is fully machine driven and free of human judgement. The machine learning framework predictive models also recalibrate and re-adjust at a fixed periodicity by using new and incremental data. This enables the models to factor in emerging patterns and relationships.

Future of  Personal Finance & Investing

AI and Machine driven financial apps analyse data on spending patterns, how customers use their accounts and are getting smart to spot a potential fraudulent behavior and have the ability to build a relationship of trust. Nevertheless, companies are excited and constantly exploring the possibilities of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning 

Social Media Links :

Tata Mutual Funds – Facebook Page 

Tata Mutual Funds – Twitter Page Tata Mutual Funds – Linkedin Page

Videos :

Tata Quant Fund- Twitter Explainer Video
Tata Quant Fund- FB Explainer Video

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Vivo V15Pro: "Raise your expectations"

Overview:

 We are just into 2019, an era of Elevating cameras !

The Vivo V15 Pro , just raises your expectations, with a mid-range a feature-packed smartphone that brings premium design with a sleek and slim bezel-less screen, a pop-up selfie camera, and a triple rear camera setup. 

The Ultra full view Super Amoled display results from the proximity sensors concealed, with a maximum screen to body ratio of 91.64%. The device elevating camera has been tested to elevate over 300,000 times without any glitch and battery life pretty impressive with Dual Engine Fast charging Technology with a power top up of 24% in just 15 mins.

8MP Super Wide-Angle {120°} lens 📸 especially wide field of view

Design:

Overall build quality is great, comes with a 6.39-inch Super AMOLED screen with Full HD+ resolution. Vivo has raised the bar with its in-display fingerprint sensor, with a screen resolution of 1080 x 2316 pixels, available on Topaz Blue (my favorite), Coral Red, and Ruby Red colours.

VivoV15Pro's : Super AMOLED screen

Camera:

Everyone is an expert and can shoot like a pro, with V15 Pro, that has the has a 32MP selfie elevating camera, which is safe & reliable with impressive bright and crisp images. It has a triple rear camera setup with 48MP wide-angle camera, 8MP ultra-wide camera, and a 5MP depth-sensing camera. The phone’s camera features an LED flash, HDR, and panorama.

A triple rear camera setup 

The front 32 MP selfie camera can fully elevate in just .46 seconds. It has impressive beautification feature which clicks beautiful selfies. You can make your face look slimmer and skin smoother, as well as add different portrait lighting effects while clicking pictures. With the Vivo V15 Pro clicking perfect selfies is just a breeze. You also get your favourite photography features like AI Body Shaping to AI Portrait Lighting.

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@Vivo_India 💙 #VivoV15Pro 8MP Super Wide-Angle {120°} lens 📸 especially wide field of view #GoPoP . . . . #whereistand #whatisee #sobangalore #bangalore #gardensofinstagram #passionpassport #incredibleindia #planetbestgram #wandersociety #exploreeverything #history #karnatakatourism #vivo

A post shared by Aravind Balakrishnan (@aravindbk) on Feb 21, 2019 at 11:02pm PST

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That was my morning meditation, it does stir a creative passion, where you’re just a little less than that shining star? I felt peaceful.... How do you feel ? 📍🏘️🕠 . . . #whereistand #whatisee #moonset #moonsetmeditation #GoPoP #VivoV15Pro #passionpassport #openmyworld #gameoftones #ig_today #inspiration #sky_sultans ✅💥

A post shared by Aravind Balakrishnan (@aravindbk) on Feb 18, 2019 at 8:00pm PST

Performance :

 It runs on Android 9 Pie OS out of the box with the company’s FunTouch OS on top. Under the hood, the phone has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 processor with 6GB RAM for faster processing. It has Adreno 612 graphics, which makes it easy to play games on the phone. It comes with Fingerprint (under display), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, and compass sensors. 

For gamers, the phone comes with a Game Mode 5.0. You can enjoy e-sports like a pro by entering Competition Mode, and use the Dual-Turbo mode to increase smooth gameplay. Battery and Storage The phone is backed by 3700mAh battery and comes with Dual Engine fast charging. The phone can charge to 24% power in just 15 minutes of charging. It has a microUSB 2.0 port. Connectivity options included in the phone are Bluetooth, USB, Wi-Fi, 4G, and GPS. It has 128GB internal storage that gives ample space for all your music, videos, etc. 

 The Vivo V15 Pro is available for Rs 26,990 in India. So When are you raising your expectation with #VivoV15Pro?

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ACT Fibernet re-branding : ‘Feel the Advantage'

ACT Fibernet, India’s largest fiber broadband high speed internet service provider (ISP) on 14th February launched its new brand identity with the unveiling of the logo and tagline ‘Feel the Advantage’. 

The logo symbolizes ACT Fibernet - It is sharp, focused, modern, The movement is upwards,  striving  for excellence always !

Bleeding edge of the technology, is the journey traveled, as ACT Fibernet are the leaders of the S-curve, providing "Speed, infrastructure, availability for the consumers & curate content for the right person."

ACT Fibernet re-branded logo

ACT Fibernet: New Identity .. Striving for excellence

Speaking on the launch Bala Malladi, CEO, Atria Convergence Technologies Ltd. said, “We have always believed in providing our customers the best solutions through our products and services. Today, consumer needs and usage behavior is continuously evolving. Newer technologies are constantly being adopted and becoming mass-scale by the day, be it streaming or gaming or smart homes. It is therefore our responsibility to work in conjunction with the rapidly evolving customer’s expectations and find feasible ways to serve them. We strongly believe that our new brand identity reflects this value and commitment we have towards our customers”.

The Stalwarts in the Industry spoke about the time travel: how we have traversed the journey along with ACT Fibernet, megabytes to 100Mbps {average the population consumes 100Gbps} 100000 fold over the decade. Well, Speed, agility & rapidity society is changing so does the company align itself to stay ahead of the market place.

ACT Fibernet: Growth Average

ACT Fibernet re-branding :  ‘Feel the Advantage' 

🔌Advantage Speed: Plans to extend the incredible speed to Northern {North & North West} frontiers.

🔌Advantage Homes : Secure IPv6 for M2M devices.

 🔌Advantage Service: launching a 24*7 call center and a unified call center number to address customers queries in real time.

🔌Advantage Entertainment: ACT Fibernet will partner with content partners like ZEE 5 and Sony Liv  to strengthen its content offerings.

🔌Advantage Gaming: enriching the user experience, by extending partnerships with cafes &   publishers.

🔌Advantage Communities: jointly working with the state government of Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru to enable free wi-fi connectivity in public libraries and schools

🔌Advantage Cities:  In support to the government’s mission towards building a digital India and smart cities mission, ACT Fibernet aims to complete 5000+ wifi hotspots across Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Vishakhapatnam .

Team: with a new brand identity

The new logo represents the brands ethos– Sharp, futuristic, innovative, exciting, creative and modern.  The tagline ‘’Feel the Advantage” is simple but powerful expression of the brand’s mission, values and commitment. 

About ACT Fibernet:

ACT Fibernet is India’s largest fiber-focused wired broadband ISP as on September 30, 2017 (in terms of number of fiber broadband internet subscribers from residential homes) (Source: India Broadband Market Overview – 2017 dated February 19, 2018, prepared by Media Partners Asia). Headquartered in Bangalore, ACT Fibernet has operations in 15 Indian cities as on December 31, 2017 with approximately 1.28 million customers.

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Angsana Oasis and Spa Resort Bengaluru - Staycation

‘Staycations’ are here to stay – and with good reason . 

Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts is one of the world's leading international operators in the hospitality and spa industry that manages more than 40 resorts and hotels, 60 spas, 70 retail galleries and three championship golf courses in 28 countries, Angsana, Cassia , Dhawa. 

The company has created hotels and resorts to suit your needs and lifestyle built on a foundation of sustainability.Cassia seamlessly weaves living and holidaying together in the niche between hotel and apartment while at Dhawa, it’s all about you, a contemporary, casual and creative hotel .

Angsana Oasis Spa & Resort, Bengaluru 

Thanks to the true oasis in Namma Bengaluru, "Angsana Oasis Spa & Resort". Getting there is a breeze, as it's en-route KIAL (distance from Airport – 20.7 Kms)distance from City Center is 23 Kms! 

What's Nearby – Nandi Hills, Grover’s Vineyards, Embassy International Riding School.

"Banyan Tree provides naturally-luxurious, ecological, culture-sensitive experiences for the discerning, responsible traveler " . 

Stay, Rooms & beyond... 

At Angsana, everything feels a little different, although the property is 18 years old! The lobby, for starters, is far from traditional. Just loved the walk to the lobby, that keeps telling you that you are in the lap of nature! In all, there’s a focus on conservation during the development. With it's global presence in 14 Hotels & Resorts ,9 Countries and the Bangalore property, was sure a stunner! I am told that the #117 rooms are unique.We stayed at 'The Presidential Suite', which was exotic to offset the bright tones elsewhere.The suite comprised of one bedroom, a living room, a pantry & dining room. The living room has a sofa cum bed and has massage chair. It has a private pool too, adding to a stimulating staycation.

The Aqua Marine Deck is a private dining venue that can cater for every special occasion, that 's weaved into the suite!

The Management made sure, that the vibe was perfect to renew vows , as we clocked 9 years of being Mr. & Mrs.

Angsana, has won itself Asia Pacific Hotel Awards & the Pevonia AsiaSpa Awards, that are a world-renowned mark of excellence. The Landscape is so soothing & stimulating that one can't get enough reasons to fall in love with the property.

Angsana Spa

 A visit to the Angsana Oasis & Resort is incomplete, without a detox/ Spa at their renowned Angsana Spa! ( Managed by Banyan Tree Group of Hotels,Singapore) The serene open-air ambiance takes the treatment to an all new level . We did experience a Thai Spa, by an expert Therapist and masseur. I went there after enjoying, the Lounge! One can consider hydro therapy, hydro massage baths, Ayurvedic treatments, offered at the Spa. 

Recreational Facilities: 

 Angsana Oasis Spa & Resort, offers a good number of recreational facilities like a swimming pool, tennis courts, and accessories for table tennis, a glass-backed squash court, a gymnasium, an aerobics center, a yoga room, and a library. Business travelers can use the Business Center for conferences and business meetings.

 Eats 

 Mirage BAR - An All-day Bar 

 I particularly liked the al fresco seating ! Mirage Bar offers a wide range of all-day drinks & stylized drink infusions.I loved the handcrafted cocktails sitting at the communal tables. Saturday afternoon & evening was taken care of! A Shout out to the bar’s beautiful piece of bling, featuring classy walls & cocktail shakers.

SUNDACNE – The Bistro

Cuisine : Continental, Italian. One can enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner overlooking the potted palms & classic lampshades. Chef Rana was so kind to have a customized dinner menu, a toast to our wedding anniversary, that was tandoori dominated!

Soup : Tomyam Kai, Sweet corn vegetable Salad : Watermelon feta cheese, Insaleta De Caprese Starters: Flaky Cheese, Kalami kebab Mains: Dal makhani/Paneer Butter Masala, Mutton Dum Biryani,Hakka noodle/wok tossed chili fish,Chicken Kofta Skewer with veggie , Tandoori bread basket! Dessert: Thiramisu 

 Tangerine Restaurant :

Cuisine: Indian, International specialties. 

This is also where you come for daily breakfast, and the very variety of eateries meant we could skip the usual eggs, toast, yogurt and juice, opt for some spicy curries and dishes of South Asian warmth. Here, there are numerous menu choices to suit every palate. Our Sunday Lunch affair was Chef Rana recommended Coorg delicacies! Starters: Papdi Chat, tangy cooling traditional salad, Paneer Pe Taap (Saffron scented cottage cheese, finished with garlic),Tandoori fish was made with a thick marination of authentic Indian spices was super-delicious, I was told by my better half. It was a perfect fish appetiser(my better halt loved it) , with a melange of spices, serve with green chutney. 

Mains : 

 We did have a conversation, with Chef Rana, about the South Indian Flavors & our love for Akki Roti, that goes with perfect accompaniments. It was then we were in for a surprise! "Kodava specialties" Murgh Makhani (marinated chicken roasted in clay pot, cooked to perfection) Coorg Koli Curry, a famous delicacy from Coorg was so flavor packed perfect with Akki Roti Kodava style palya: a delicious spinach leaves (tender shoots taken from various wild ferns that can be seen growing in Coorg) stir fried with crunchy onions and grated coconut.

Dessert: Christmas Cake

At the end of the staycation, we did feel completely rejuvenated,as a family and restored to a vitality. Thank you team Angsana for an experience of happiness like our lives dawn anew. 

 Angsana Contact Details:

 Angsana Oasis Spa & Resort Northwest County, Main Doddaballapur Road, Rajanakunte, Bangalore – 560 064 Mobile: +91 98452 11036

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