DNEG Group Raises $200M to Boost Innovation in Visual Entertainment Technology

DNEG Group

BENGALURU, July 2, 2024 – The DNEG Group (“the Group”), the London headquartered world leader in visual entertainment technology and services, announced today that United Al Saqer Group (“UASG”) will make a strategic investment of $200 million in the Group, at a total enterprise valuation over $2 billion.

The DNEG Group has a consistent 25-year track record of innovating to lead in the visual effects (VFX) segment and strong profitable growth. Like all parts of the media & entertainment sector, the market in which The DNEG Group operates is undergoing a rapid evolution. The investment by UASG will accelerate The DNEG Group’s strategy of innovation and diversification to evolve from a pure visual effects services provider to a sector-agnostic content production and AI-powered technology partner, ensuring continued technology and creative leadership. In particular:

The DNEG Group will fully activate its technology division, Brahma, which is developing the industry’s most comprehensive AI-powered, photo-real CGI creator, including Ziva, to which DNEG recently acquired the exclusive license from Unity. Brahma will democratize photo-real content creation in a wide range of applications and will be built on over 25 years of industry-leading proprietary data to create a product of unique quality.
The DNEG Group’s intellectual property (IP) and content creation arm, Prime Focus Studios, will be enabled to expand its investment in, and production of high-quality content, following its recent successful co-production of The Garfield Movie.
The DNEG Group will open a new office and visual experience hub in Abu Dhabi, with plans to develop a world-class ecosystem in the Middle East for content production, storage, and distribution. This will support the creation of highly skilled jobs across the media and technology sectors, strengthening the region’s place as a creative powerhouse.

DNEG Chairman and CEO Namit Malhotra will continue in his current role. He will be joined on the Group’s Board of Directors by Nabil Kobeissi and Edouard Zard from UASG, and by Prabhu Narasimhan from NaMa Capital, a leading investor in The DNEG Group, who will also become Executive Chairman of Brahma. Prabhu Narasimhan will take a leave of absence from NaMa Capital to oversee the launch and expansion of Brahma.

The DNEG Group consists of:

  • DNEG will continue providing its Academy Award® winning visual effects, animation, and associated creative services to Hollywood and global visual entertainment creators. DNEG is known for its work on numerous high-profile movies and animations, such as Dune, Oppenheimer, Interstellar, Tenet, and Blade Runner 2049, as well as the Harry Potter, James Bond, Fast and Furious, Mission: Impossible, and Marvel Cinematic Universe franchises.
  • Brahma, which will be fully activated and will provide the industry’s leading AI-powered, photo-real CGI creator.
  • Prime Focus Studios, will increase its content and IP investment and development across live-action, animation, and gaming. Prime Focus is currently co-producing several high-profile feature films, including Animal Friends, the Indian epic Ramayana, and The Angry Birds Movie 3.
  • Prime Focus Technologies, is a leader in cloud-based software and artificial intelligence (AI) technology, including the CLEAR® AI content creation, content management and content marketing and distribution suite.

His Excellency Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development said, “The strategic investment by United Al Saqer Group in The DNEG Group is a testament to Abu Dhabi’s emergence as a global powerhouse for creativity, innovation, technology, and investment. This partnership not only accelerates technological advancements in the media and entertainment sectors but also underscores our commitment to fostering a robust ecosystem for content creation. By establishing a new visual experience hub in Abu Dhabi, we are creating numerous job opportunities and enhancing our ecosystem that supports high-tech industries and creative excellence. This move reaffirms Abu Dhabi’s status as a prime destination for groundbreaking investments, visionary enterprises, and a thriving environment where creativity and technology converge.”

Nabil Kobeissi, CEO of UASG said, “We are thrilled to join forces with Namit, Prabhu, and the DNEG Group. Namit’s visionary approach to revolutionizing the media and entertainment industry through cutting-edge technology is unparalleled. This strategic partnership not only turbo-charges the development of Brahma, the Group’s ground-breaking AI-powered CGI creator but also, under Namit’s leadership, demonstrates Abu Dhabi’s positioning as a global epicenter for content creation and distribution. By championing advanced AI technologies and expanding Prime Focus Studios, we are set to drive innovation and generate significant job opportunities across the UAE.”

DNEG Chairman and CEO Namit Malhotra said, “My career has been built on investing in and leading visual creativity with technology. Our partnership with UASG, the launch of Brahma, and the success of our content creation platform are all being fuelled by the power of our technology. We are redefining our business model as a leader in top-end solutions across the world, raising the bar in storytelling by using the latest technology and creative capabilities.

“This investment will accelerate our plans to further drive The DNEG Group’s existing activities and enable the Group to expand its offering, both in terms of the services we provide and the markets we operate in. We are building on our success with the opening of a studio in Abu Dhabi, bringing content creation and technological capabilities to the region, positioning us as a leader there, and allowing us to leverage our global capabilities like no other.”

Prabhu Narasimhan, Executive Chairman, Brahma said, “We aim to enable every storyteller to translate their imagination to screen faster, cheaper, and better, by equipping them with Brahma, which we are developing to be the most comprehensive AI-driven photo-real CGI creator. In the coming months, we will add to the leadership team of Brahma, fusing top technology and AI talent with visual effects creatives to make Brahma available to everyone with a story to tell.”

VinHMS Ramps Up Global Expansion with Strategic Acquisition

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, July 1, 2024  — VinHMS – an innovator in hospitality technology, has been actively pursuing its strategic plans for international expansion. Established in December 2018 as a member of Vingroup, VinHMS specializes in providing high-quality technology products, and aims to optimize business operations for enterprises. After 5 years of establishment, VinHMS is actively expanding its presence in the domestic market, and plans to extend its footprint out of the borders. This expansion strategy underscores VinHMS‘s commitment to becoming a leading provider of hospitality technology solutions in Southeast Asia and the international market, with operations in Vietnam, Singapore, Cambodia, and Thailand. By leveraging native cloud-based platforms, VinHMS aims to reduce overall costs, streamline processes, enhance operational efficiency, accelerate innovations, improve guest experiences, and increase financial performance for hotel operators using AI, machine learning, and proprietary advanced algorithms.

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The expansion of VinHMS extends beyond Asia following its successful acquisition by Vemanti Group, Inc., a leading technology holding company. This strategic move positions VinHMS as a frontrunner in digital solutions for the hospitality sector. Leveraging its expertise in digital transformation solutions, VinHMS aims to revolutionize the American hospitality industry. With a strong track record in Southeast Asia, VinHMS brings its innovative solutions to U.S. hotel operators. This strategic move underscores VinHMS’s commitment to global innovation and customer-centric solutions. VinHMS’s acquisition represents a pivotal moment in the Company’s collective history, setting the stage for a future defined by innovation, market leadership and ambitious path to NASDAQ.

A recent highlight for VinHMS was its participation in HoSkar Night Bangkok hosted by WeHub, this is the most vibrant networking event for hospitality and real estate in Southeast Asia. This event provided a platform for VinHMS to showcase its latest innovations and network with industry leaders in Thailand. VinHMS’s involvement in HoSkar Night reinforces its status as a key player in the hospitality technology sector and highlights its ongoing efforts to stay at the forefront of industry trends.

VinHMS offers a range of products designed to meet the diverse needs of the hospitality industry. As a member of HTNG and compliance with international standards, such as ISO 27001:2013 and PCI/DSS, proves the reliability of its solutions in satisfying the most stringent requirements when integrating with leading hotel chains worldwide. This commitment remains VinHMS’s orientation as it builds prestige with international partners. Its flagship solution, the comprehensive hospitality management platform, has been successfully implemented in major hotel brands such as Vinpearl, Melia Hotel International, Marriott, Sheraton, CityHouse and more. Specifically, VinHMS provides offers a suite of innovative solutions in the hospitality technology sector, including:

  • CiHMS: VinHMS’s flagship hospitality management solution. It helps hotels streamline operations, maximize revenue, and enhance guest experiences.
  • CiAMS: A solution for managing hotel assets efficiently, optimizing resource utilization, and ensuring operational effectiveness.
  • CiTMS: Designed for theme parks, this system assists in managing operations, ticketing, and guest experiences.
  • CiTravel: A digital transformation solution tailored for small hotels, enabling them to enhance their services and improve guest satisfaction.

The vision of VinHMS is to lead the digital transformation in the hospitality industry, providing innovative solutions that drive operational excellence and customer satisfaction. Mr. Hoang Nguyen, CEO of VinHMS, said: “We want to provide an open platform that acts as a foundation for hotels to do innovations. All standard hotel operation tools are there, but the most important thing about our platform is that we can easily connect and integrate with many technology providers to improve cost, increase revenue, and enhance hotel customer experiences.”

Trinasolar and Universidad Politécnica de Madrid join forces on solar technologies research

MADRID, July 1, 2024  — Trinasolar has announced the signing of a long-term collaboration agreement with the Institute of Solar Energy at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (IES-UPM). The agreement, signed on June 26, is a milestone in Trinasolar’s involvement with leading universities, highlighting the commitment of all concerned to education, research and innovation in solar energy.

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The agreement was signed on the campus of IES-UPM, with Helena Li, Executive President of Trinasolar, and Ignacio Anton Hernandez, Director of IES-UPM, attending. Through this partnership Trinasolar and IES-UPM will pool their expertise to advance research in photovoltaic sciences and technologies. The collaboration aims to innovate in areas such as solar panel efficiency, the resilience and robustness of solar trackers and improving solar energy management.

With 27 years’ experience in solar, Trinasolar regards research and development as critical to the industry’s progress. Last year the company allocated $768 million to R&D, 19.7% more than in 2022, and Trinasolar’s R&D teams work closely with research institutes and universities worldwide.

IES-UPM, the world’s oldest active institution in PV research, was founded in 1979. The institution is a pioneer in solar energy research, dedicated to looking into the fundamentals and practical applications of photovoltaics, especially in exploring new strategies to optimize the efficiency and performance of photovoltaic plants, drawing on scientific data and practical experience.

“Signing this agreement with IES-UPM is a major step forward for Trinasolar’s work with universities in Europe, and it plays a crucial role in Trina’s global collaboration with innovative partners,” Helena Li, Executive President of Trinasolar said. “This partnership will enable our R&D team to work closely with European academic talent, maintain our core competence, and provide more localized energy solutions to European market.”

Beyond the joint research project, Trinasolar will establish a state-of-the-art training center at IES-UPM, providing the latest solar products and systems. The center will be equipped with solar technologies, including solar modules, trackers and possibly storage systems soon. This initiative is Trina’s first in conjunction with a university in Spain, the aim being to support solar energy development in the region.

“We greatly appreciate this collaboration with Trinasolar for the long-term joint research program,” said Ignacio Anton Hernandez, Director of IES-UPM. “Trinasolar is a world-renowned solar company whose achievements in technology R&D and project experience can provide us with strong research backing. This agreement will not only benefit our students by providing access to the latest technologies but will also contribute to the advance of sustainable energy solutions.”

Cinema is Coming Home with Sony India’s revolutionary BRAVIA 7 Mini LED series

New Delhi, 1st July 2024: Sony India announced the launch of the new BRAVIA 7 series, offering an unparalleled viewing and audio experience with its advanced features and cutting-edge technology. The series further enhances the sense of reality in cinematic content and delivers outstanding picture and sound quality at home, allowing viewers to enjoy films with much of the same magic as the big screen. The BRAVIA 7 series combines the revolutionary Cognitive Processor XR, Mini LED, and XR Triluminos Pro technology to deliver lifelike visuals and immersive sound. This series also includes smart features like Google TV integration and SONY PICTURES CORE (formerly BRAVIA CORE), ensuring a premium entertainment experience for consumers.

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1. Bring Cinema Home with the BRAVIA 7 series, presenting films just as the creators envisioned

Sony is renewing its BRAVIA brand to enhance the ultimate home cinema experience, capitalizing on the growing popularity of watching movies at home due to the expansion of streaming services. Leveraging its extensive product lineup, including digital cinema cameras, professional monitors, and headphones, Sony has a deep understanding of the cinema industry and the creative intentions of filmmakers. The BRAVIA 7 series is equipped with Studio Calibrated modes and is IMAX Enhanced certified that replicate the image quality intended by content creators in a home setting.

Building on the established Netflix Adaptive Calibrated Mode and SONY PICTURES CORE Calibrated Mode, Sony is introducing the Prime Video Calibrated Mode. This new mode provides customers with optimal picture quality that is automatically calibrated for movies, series, and for the first time, live sports. The BRAVIA 7 series is IMAX enhanced and supports both Dolby Vision® and Dolby Atmos®, delivering incredible brightness, sharper contrast, richer colors, and immersive sound across favorite entertainment on Disney+, Prime Video, Netflix, and other popular streaming services.

2. Experience unmatched realism with the XR Processor for lifelike visuals and immersive sound, enhancing your cinematic home experience

The new BRAVIA 7 series is available in 140 cm (55″), 165 cm (65″), and 189 cm (75″) screen sizes and is powered by the revolutionary Next Gen Cognitive Processor XR, designed to replicate the way humans see and hear. This processor features a scene recognition system that detects and analyzes data with flawless accuracy, then optimizes the picture for ultimate realism. The processor’s ability to understand focal points within the scene ensures that every detail is highlighted, providing a truly transformative entertainment experience.

3. With XR Backlight Master Drive enjoy deeper blacks, brighter highlights, and supreme contrast similar to professional monitor core technology

The BRAVIA 7 puts you right in the scene similar to the backlight control core technology in our master monitors (professional monitors), the XR Backlight Master Drive with a unique local dimming algorithm precisely controls thousands of LEDs for truly authentic contrast to preserve shadow detail in the most demanding scenes.

With XR Contrast Booster adjusts brightness for deeper blacks, brighter highlights, and supreme contrast

The BRAVIA 7 series features a Mini LED panel with XR Contrast Booster, which enhances the depth and detail of images by precisely controlling the backlighting. This technology results in deeper blacks and brighter whites, giving a dynamic contrast that brings scenes to life. The Mini LED panel also improves viewing angles, ensuring consistent picture quality from any seat in the room.

4. See over a billion vivid colors with XR Triluminos Pro and true-to-life clarity with XR Clear Image technology

With XR Triluminos Pro, the BRAVIA 7 series can display a wider color spectrum than conventional TVs, producing more natural and precise colors. This technology ensures that every hue and shade is rendered accurately, making images appear true-to-life. Additionally, XR Clear Image technology minimizes noise and blur by utilizing zone division and dynamic frame analysis, ensuring that fast-moving scenes remain crisp and clear. Whether you’re watching a high-octane sports event or an action-packed movie, these technologies work together to provide an exceptional viewing experience.

5. BRAVIA 7 upscales non-4K content to near 4K quality with XR 4K Upscaling and ensures clear action scenes with XR Motion Clarity

The BRAVIA 7 series includes XR 4K Upscaling technology, which enhances content close to 4K quality regardless of the source. By analyzing and refining textures and details, it brings out the best in every image. Complementing this is the XR Motion Clarity technology, which keeps fast-moving scenes smooth and blur-free. This ensures that sports and action sequences remain clear and vivid, maintaining the brightness and detail of the original content. Together, these features deliver a superior visual experience, making every frame come to life with stunning realism.

6. Bring the cinematic experience home, enjoy IMAX Enhanced movies included with SONY PICTURES CORE

The BRAVIA 7 series includes SONY PICTURES CORE (formerly BRAVIA CORE), a movie service offering a selection of Sony Pictures’ latest releases and classic blockbusters. With Pure Stream™, you can stream HDR movies at up to 80 Mbps, delivering picture quality comparable to 4K UHD Blu-ray. The BRAVIA 7 series is compatible with IMAX Enhanced, certified by IMAX and DTS® to meet the rigorous standards needed for the best possible IMAX movie experience from SONY PICTURES CORE. This service provides access to the largest collection of IMAX Enhanced movies, offering stunning visuals and sound quality. The BRAVIA 7 series comes with movie credits, allowing you to redeem up to 15 movies and enjoy up to 24 months of access to a curated selection of up to 100 movies, updated regularly.

BRAVIA 7 features Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos with adaptive brightness, bringing a cinema-like experience home

The BRAVIA 7 series supports advanced audio and visual technologies such as Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. Dolby Vision™ enhances HDR content with striking highlights, deeper blacks, and vibrant colors, creating a more immersive viewing experience. Dolby Atmos provides multi-dimensional sound, making you feel like part of the action.

7. BRAVIA 7 gives cinema like experience at home, perfectly matching pictures with Acoustic Multi-Audio and Voice Zoom 3

With BRAVIA 7, sit back and enjoy expansive cinema-like sound. With two powerful side-mounted speakers reproducing clear sound from the screen, experience theatre-like sound at home. With Acoustic Multi-Audio™, what you see and what you hear are perfectly matched; sound comes straight from the screen itself. Crystal clear voice. Precise dialogue. With the new Voice Zoom 3™ feature, no more muffled voices as it recognizes human dialogue through AI machine learning and amplifies or reduces its volume, making even small dialogue sound loud and clear.

8. With XR Sound Positioning and XR Surround technologies in BRAVIA 7 enjoy precise audio alignment and 3D surround sound for immersive cinematic experience

The BRAVIA 7 series offers an immersive sound experience with XR Sound Positioning and XR Surround technologies. XR Sound Positioning includes Acoustic Multi-Audio technology, which precisely places sound where it should be within the scene. This enhances the sense of reality by aligning audio with the on-screen action. Additionally, XR Surround provides 3D surround sound by creating virtual surround from above and the sides using just the TV speakers. Even 2ch and 5.1ch audio are upscaled to immersive 5.1.2ch sound. This feature ensures that audio is reproduced with depth and clarity, enveloping viewers in a rich, cinematic soundscape that complements the stunning visuals.

9. BRAVIA 7 is Perfect for PlayStation 5, bringing your favorite games to life like never before

The BRAVIA 7 series is optimized for gaming and is perfect for PlayStation 5. It features Auto HDR Tone Mapping, which automatically adjusts HDR settings for the best picture quality. Auto HDR Tone Mapping optimizes HDR settings instantly during your PS5’s initial setup. Even in dark shadows and bright highlights, one can see fine details and true colors. BRAVIA automatically switches into Game Mode with PS5 to minimize lag and maximize responsiveness. It switches back to Standard Mode when watching movies for more expressive scenes. With 4K/120fps, Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), our TVs give you smooth and clear movement for responsive gameplay. You can also control your PlayStation® remotely wherever you have a compatible BRAVIA connected to the internet. The PS Remote Play app lets you control your PS5® or PS4™ console from another room or location, like a friend’s house. These features make the BRAVIA 7 series the perfect choice for gamers, providing an edge in competitive gaming and a more immersive overall experience.

  • Game Menu in BRAVIA 7 provides quick access to gaming status, settings, and assist functions

The BRAVIA 7 series includes an easy-to-use Game Menu where gamers can tailor their settings to their preferences, such as turning on or off VRR or Motion Blur Reduction with quick access. The Game Menu also allows users to increase brightness in dark areas to easily spot objects and opponents with the Black Equalizer and can take aim on their opponents with six types of crosshairs. New this year is the ability to customize the screen size with the Screen Size feature to concentrate gaming on a smaller, focused screen.

  • Enjoy smart experience on BRAVIA 7 with Google TV, offering seamless integration, a vast content library, and voice control

The BRAVIA 7 series offers a smart user experience powered by Google TV, providing access to 400,000 movies and TV episodes, plus 10,000 apps and games. Google TV organizes all your favorite content in one place, making it easy to find and watch what you love. Voice search functionality allows for hands-free control, and integration with Apple AirPlay2 and HomeKit ensures seamless connectivity with your Apple devices. Personalized recommendations help users discover new content, and the watchlist feature keeps track of shows and movies across all devices. Connect your controller or gaming accessories to Sony Smart Android TV and enjoy your games.

  • With BRAVIA CAM accessory enjoy gesture controls, ambient optimization, and video calls via Google Meet for interactive viewing

Enhance your viewing experience with the BRAVIA CAM, which is sold separately. The BRAVIA CAM recognizes your position in the room and adjusts the TV’s sound and picture settings accordingly. It also supports gesture controls, allowing you to interact with your TV without a remote. Additionally, you can use the BRAVIA CAM for video calls via Google Meet, bringing your friends and family into your living room. This accessory enhances the overall user experience by providing interactive and personalized TV viewing.

  • One Slate design of BRAVIA 7 exudes sophistication from every angle

The One Slate concept in BRAVIA 7 fuses screen and bezel into a single slate, minimizing distractions and maximizing your experience. Designed with an almost invisible bezel, its naturally warm, smudge-resistant texture blends seamlessly with interior decor, walls, and BRAVIA Theatre. Cleverly concealed, the Underlay Stand is a thin, flat steel plate to stack a Sony soundbar on top, making it virtually disappear. The 4-way stand gives you the choice of an outside position, an inside position for smaller shelves, or two soundbar positions to meet your viewing preference.

  • Balancing environment and accessibility in BRAVIA entertainment products

Sony has set forth an environmental plan called Road to Zero, which aims to achieve zero environmental impact through its business activities and product life cycles by 2050. To contribute to this vision, BRAVIA will pursue innovations that provide the best viewing experience with high picture and sound quality and a premium design, all while contributing to reducing environmental impact. BRAVIA 7 uses Sony’s proprietary signal processing to maximize the characteristics of the panel device (Mini LED), automatically optimizing brightness for each scene while achieving both high brightness and low power consumption.

Sony is working on multiple aspects of the product life cycle, such as reducing virgin plastic use, improving transportation efficiency, and reviewing energy consumption during use. From material development to exterior design, BRAVIA has succeeded in significantly increasing the use of recycled materials while maintaining a high-quality finish. SORPLAS™, a recycled plastic developed by Sony, is used for the back cover, which has the largest surface area on a TV, with approximately 65% of the total plastic used being recycled material. The compact, rechargeable Eco Remote is also made from approximately 79.7% recycled plastic.

Sony aims to contribute to an inclusive society through its business, increasing accessibility to enable those with diverse needs to utilize its products. BRAVIA develops products with accessibility in mind so that all customers can enjoy the movie experience, regardless of disability or age. The Talkback screen reader function allows you to check program listings and set up your TV without looking at the screen. It can also enlarge text and display it on the screen.

Color inversion makes it possible to invert the brightness of colors so that bright areas become dark and dark areas become bright. This feature can be turned on or off as needed. If the text is easier to read with a dark or bright background color, you can use color inversion to change the background color. Voice commands can be used to operate the BRAVIA TV, such as turning the power on/off and adjusting the volume. BRAVIA TVs are also equipped with shortcut commands that allow you to turn on/off accessibility features.

Ambrane Launches MagSafe 2-in-1 Wireless Charger Stand – Aerosync Duo

Ambrane AeroSync Duo 1.4

Delhi: Ambrane, a leading Indian brand in consumer electronics and mobile accessories, has announced its latest innovation – the AeroSync Duo MagSafe 2-in-1 Wireless Charger Stand. This cutting-edge product offers dual magnetic charging with a total output of 20W, enabling simultaneous charging of iPhone and Apple AirPods.

Lightweight and portable, the AeroSync Duo is an ideal dual charging solution for desks, enhancing workspace efficiency with its elegant design. Crafted from premium metal and featuring stylish LED indicators, it adds a touch of sophistication to any setup. Powered by Ambrane’s trademarked BoostedSpeed™ technology, the AeroSync Duo delivers up to 15W for MagSafe-compatible devices and 7.5W for other Qi-enabled devices, making it versatile for charging various gadgets, including mobile phones and TWS earbuds. Its high-powered 27W Type-C PD input ensures fast and efficient power transfer.

Equipped with SafeCharge Technology, Aerosync Duo ensures safety against over-voltage, over-current, overheating, and short-circuiting for reliable operation. The Charging Station offers versatile charging orientations with its rotating charging pad and adjustable wand, supporting charging in both landscape and portrait orientations for added convenience.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Ashok Rajpal, Founder of Ambrane India, stated, “With the increasing use of mobile and connected devices, charging solutions must be adaptable and efficient. The AeroSync Duo Wireless Charger Stand is a one-stop solution for organization and efficiency. Our goal is to enhance user convenience by integrating advanced technology with elegant design.”

Additionally, the wireless charger includes an extra magnetic ring, enabling any Qi-compatible Android device to become MagSafe-compatible.

Indian Institute of Technology, Bhilai Partners with TeamLease EdTech to Launch Advanced eMasters Programs

Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, 9th May 2024 : The Indian Institute of Technology, Bhilai, and TeamLease EdTech announced a significant partnership to launch three pioneering eMasters programs: ‘eMasters in Advanced Electrical Vehicle Systems’, ‘eMasters in Applied Mechatronics and Robotics’, and ‘eMasters in Data Science & Data Analytics’. This initiative, developed in collaboration with TeamLease EdTech, is designed to equip working professionals with advanced skills to lead innovation in these rapidly evolving fields.

These two-year programs offer a comprehensive curriculum covering the essentials of each specialized field, tailored to meet the demands of today’s industry and delivered through TeamLease EdTech’s innovative learning management platform. Through this partnership, IIT Bhilai and TeamLease EdTech are committed to providing education that is not only relevant but also transformative, enabling students to excel in their careers and contribute to the advancement of their industries.

In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, the demand for skilled professionals in data science, robotics, mechatronics, and electric vehicle (EV) technology is experiencing significant growth across diverse sectors. Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and electric vehicles are creating a wealth of opportunities for those with advanced technical skills. As a result, the job market is expanding, particularly in industries such as automotive, manufacturing, healthcare, energy, and transportation. These Executive programs, through a mix of Virtual Live lectures, Hands-on practical experience, and Industry Projects, will equip mid-career professionals with the knowledge and experience to transition into these high-demand job roles.

Prof. Dr. Rajiv Prakash, Director of IIT Bhilai shared his vision, “Students entering these programs stand to gain immensely, not only in terms of acquiring advanced knowledge and skills in high-demand areas such as EV technology, robotics, mechatronics, and data analytics but also in enhancing their overall employability. Through this partnership, we intend to provide our learners with a highly immersive learning experience. These online eMasters programs are mainly targeted toward working professionals and those learners who cannot dedicate full time to undergoing master’s programs and their jobs. Also, eMasters courses include dedicated in-campus modules that offer students physical learning experience in an IIT environment and hands-on laboratory sessions. I believe these courses provide nearly a ‘full-time’ learning experience. Each course perfectly blends theory, practicals, and real-life industrial case studies. Moreover, as these courses cover cutting-edge and emerging technologies, they are delivered by esteemed IIT faculty members and industry experts.”

Shantanu Rooj, Founder & CEO of TeamLease EdTech, stated, ” This collaboration is geared towards upskilling seasoned professionals, aiming to refine their competencies in these high-demand fields. These Executive Masters Programs are meticulously designed to bridge existing skill gaps, transforming experienced professionals into industry leaders who are poised to spearhead innovation and contribute decisively to sectors crucial for India’s move towards sustainable transport solutions and technological advancements. Our partnership with IIT Bhilai is a milestone event in our efforts towards Making India Employable.”

Karnataka Innovation Technology Society to collaborate with Cisco

BENGALURU, India, March 13, 2024 – Cisco, a global leader in technology, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Karnataka Innovation Technology Society (KITS), Department of Electronics, IT, Bt, Government of Karnataka, to train 40,000 individuals in cybersecurity skills and cyber awareness. Women will represent half of the trained workforce to help meet the growing need for cyber talent as organizations look to bolster defences against an evolving and complex threat landscape.

According to Cisco’s Cybersecurity Readiness Index, 90% of organizations in India expect a cybersecurity incident to disrupt their businesses in the next 12 to 24 months. Moreover, as stated by an Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) report, with 40% of cybersecurity teams in Indian organizations understaffed, the urgency for skill preparedness is clear. This collaboration underscores a collective commitment to equip students with job-ready cybersecurity skills required to meet the ever-growing security demands of tomorrow.

Moreover, the collaboration will include a ‘Train the Trainers’ program to empower college faculties with the knowledge and skills required to create a robust cyber ecosystem. This program will also focus on promoting cyber awareness among citizens to bolster their defences and empower them to be safer and more secure online.

“As the digital-first world evolves, placing cybersecurity at the forefront, the imperative to equip individuals with the knowledge and skills to identify and respond to cyber threats has become increasingly crucial. Our collaboration with the Karnataka Innovation Technology Society and the Government of Karnataka Centre of Excellence for Cybersecurity underscores our commitment to empowering disadvantaged sections of society, including students, teachers, and senior citizens, with critical cybersecurity skills and awareness to protect against threats and be safer online. As we navigate the new world, we remain steadfast in our mission to enable individuals to defend digital domains and create a secure and sustainable future for all.’’ said Harish Krishnan, Managing Director and Chief Policy Officer, Cisco India & SAARC.

Additionally, Cisco will collaborate with the Government of Karnataka Centre of Excellence for Cybersecurity, to promote cybersecurity awareness and skill-building among students and professionals. Cisco will contribute to curriculum development by providing cybersecurity courses through Cisco Networking Academy – one of the world’s longest-running IT skills-to-jobs programs – and conduct webinar sessions and knowledge workshops for students, covering a diverse range of courses, from foundational to advanced levels.

Commenting on the announcement, Dr Ekroop Caur, IAS, Department of Electronics, IT, Bt, Government of Karnataka said, “The need for a cyber-resilient workforce is integral. We look forward to working with Cisco, to empower young professionals across the state with essential skills and job-ready capabilities to safeguard themselves and organisations from risks in an increasingly digital-driven world. Through this engagement, we will be imparting cybersecurity skilling for 40,000 individuals, aiming for 50% of the beneficiaries to be women.’’

These strategic partnerships represent a significant step forward in Cisco’s mission to help bridge the gaps in digital skills and prepare India’s workforce for the jobs of the future.

Hikvision India Introduces Turbo HD Lamp Camera for a wide range of use

Hikvision India has introduced Turbo HD Lamp Camera (DS 2CE18D0T-LFS) for a wide range of use in the market. This latest product in the Hikvision India product portfolio has been introduced to meet the customer requirements. These Turbo HD Lamp Cameras are applicable in various application scenarios.

HIKVISION

 Prefer colorful imaging
As ColorVu-enabled cameras continue to gain popularity, people are becoming accustomed to the supplemental visible light that accompanies their use during nighttime.

  Require a product for two purposes: In poor infrastructure areas without street light and security cameras, they have strong demand for security monitoring and lighting.

 Require the function of deterrence: Some scenarios require security products with strong deterrence, such as large bullet, and bright light.

 Hikvision’s Lamp Camera meets the customers’ needs. It serves the dual purpose of Camera as well as light. The Smart Hybrid technology helps to meet various needs. It has low power consumption, max. 9 Watt.

 The Dual Use (2 –In-1 Camera) has the 2 MP camera with 60 meter IR , Buit in Camera and 9 white Lights.
It has 3 Supplemental lighting modes i.e IR Mode, Smart Mode and White light Mode.

  •  Before a car or person enters the area, IR gets on
  •  When a car or person appears, the white light turns on
  •   The a car or person goes out, IR gets on

 Audio Over Coaxial: Built-in mic (up to 10 m) to record audio as an important
evidence.
IP67 Ingress Protection: This camera has the IP67 Ingress Protection, which means one does not need to worry about bad weather conditions for its indoor and outdoor use.
Low Power Consumption: The power supply requirement is maximum 9 watt for lamp camera, while 12 Volt 1 Amp power supply is enough.
Application Scenarios: The application scenes include the perimeter scenes. The bright light gives strong warnings and provides colorful key information. In the inadequate infrastructure scenes, it is used as both a security camera and a lamp.

ASUS strengthens pan India retail strategy with the launch of Exclusive Store in Sangli

Sangli, 6th March 2024: As a step towards strengthening the brand’s retail footprint across the country, ASUS India, Taiwanese tech giant today announced the launch of an exclusive store in Sangli. The new exclusive store is spread across 410 sq. ft. and is set to host an extensive range of electronics and computer hardware, including the ASUS flagship products such as Vivo book, ZenBook, Republic of Gamers (ROG) laptops, Gaming Desktops, All-in-One Desktops, and accessories. This is the brand’s 1 st exclusive store located in Sangli taking the total count of 21 AES stores in Pune Branch (West Region), 6 th  AES Store & 1 st Pegasus store in South Maharashtra region.

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 Talking about the expansion, Jignesh Bhavsar, National Sales Manager – PC & Gaming Business, ASUS India, said, “We are delighted to announce the expansion of our retail footprint in India. West India being an important market for us, the inauguration of the new brand store in Sangli will play a pivotal step towards empowering consumers across different regions of the country with a unique experience of our latest innovation. With a strategic retail expansion approach, we will continue to create more interaction and new touchpoints for our users.”

OPPO Launches F25 Pro: Slimmest IP65 rated 5G smartphone with 4K Recording on both Front & Back cameras

New Delhi, March 1, 2024: OPPO India has launched the F25 Pro 5G in two storage variants—retailing at INR 23,999 (128GB) and INR 25,999 (256GB) respectively. This smartphone—available in a new Lava Red colour—features a 64MP rear triple-camera setup with 4K video recording on its front and rear shooters, a 6.7-inch borderless AMOLED display, the octa-core Dimensity 7050 SoC, and a 67W 5000mAh fast-charging battery. It carries an IP65 rating and sports a slim 7.54mm profile while tilting the scales at a mere 177g.

OPPO F25 Pro Lava Red

Commenting on the launch, Savio D’Souza, Director of Product Communications at OPPO India, said, “The OPPO F25 Pro 5G packs a punch with premium features like 4K video recording on both the front and rear cameras, a crisp, vivid borderless display, and smart AI technologies for segment-leading photography and efficiency. Add to that its slim, lightweight, durable build, and the F25 Pro 5G becomes the perfect choice for anyone who wants a powerful and stylish upgrade that is #BornToFlaunt.”

Borderless Design in a sleek and stylish frame

The F25 Pro 5G’s 120Hz AMOLED display comes with super-narrow bezels for a 93.4% screen-to-body ratio for an almost borderless viewing experience. Its 10-bit colour technology allows for over 1 billion hues and tones for natural gradients in visuals, while its peak brightness of 1100 nits ensures HDR content with vivid details.

The screen is protected by Panda Glass, which is doubly reinforced to enhance its durability and scratch resistance, and its body is fabricated out of PC-GF – a polycarbonate resin mixed with glass fibre as a reinforcement material. Its IP65 rating means it comes with the highest level of dust protection and withstands water jets from all directions. So, whether it’s a few splashes by the poolside or droplets of water in the rain, the F25 Pro 5G is built for endurance.

The F25 Pro 5G has also undergone rigorous tests and quality checks to ensure 1,00,000 volume key presses, 2,00,000 power button presses, and 20,000 instances of plugging and unplugging the USB-C cable for long-term reliability.

Besides the Lava Red colour that transitions from rich burgundy colour to deep sunset tones, the F25 5G is also available in Ocean Blue that looks like rippling waves in a clear and tranquil azure colour.

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Powerful Camera Setup with 4K capabilities

The Ultra-Clear Triple Camera on the device comprises a high-resolution 64MP OV64B 1/2” sensor, which provides exceptional clarity and detail in every shot, an 8MP Sony IMX355 112° ultra-wide camera for expansive landscape shots and group photos, as well as a 2MP OV02B10 macro camera that captures intricate details from as close as 4cm away.

It also sports a 32MP IMX615 camera sensor with a 21mm focal length—housed in a punch-hole display—for detailed selfies, group shots, and high-resolution portraits.

The device brings 4K video recording to both front and rear cameras for razor-sharp clarity. The 4K@30fps video output is detailed in well-lit daytime and static environments, making the F25 Pro 5G ideal for cinematic content, vlogging, and sharing on social media platforms.

AI & Photography

The OPPO F25 Pro 5G introduces AI Smart Image Matting—a segment-first feature—that enables one-tap extraction of subjects from photos and turns them into a transparent PNG that can be inserted into other images for effortless recreation and sharing as memes and photos. The AI can also handle multi-subject recognition within a single photo with precision and efficiency.

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The photography AI recognises the race, gender, and age of the subject to provide customised beauty effects, including brightened and smoothened skin, touch-up effects (lips and cheeks) and removal of facial imperfections. It adjusts the brightness in photos based on the environment to prevent overexposure and ensure natural skin tones and makeup colour.

Photography AI also removes facial imperfections in portraits by the 32MP front camera; it minimises pores for a polished skin effect while algorithms accurately identify and remove blemishes such as spots, acne, and acne marks.

Face clarity is optimised through OPPO’s AI portrait super-resolution algorithm, based on the aesthetic opinions of a global team of portrait experts. It is automatically activated in medium-lit/dark environments to reduce noise and improve face clarity in portraits.

The Performance Powerhouse

The OPPO F25 Pro 5G packs the octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 7050 SoC that comprises Arm Cortex-A78 cores clocked up to 2.6GHz for performance and Arm Cortex-A55 for efficiency.

Its Arm Mali-G68 MC4 GPU is optimised to provide smooth everyday gaming experiences and demanding tasks like 4K video recording without compromising battery efficiency.

The smartphone comes in storage capacities of up to 256GB based on the UFS 3.1 standard and 8GB LPDDR4X RAM, expandable up to 16GB through RAM Expansion to handle multiple apps and games without closing background processes prematurely.

All of this is supported by a 5000mAh battery with 67W SUPERVOOCTM Flash Charge that juices the smartphone to 30% with a 10-minute charge, while it reaches 100% in just 48 minutes. The battery is designed for approximately 1600 charge-discharge cycles with OPPO’s proprietary Battery Health Engine, which translates to around four years of use without considerable deterioration.

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Smart Experiences Powered by ColorOS 14

The F25 Pro 5G runs on ColorOS 14 based on Android 14. It includes smart AI features, upgraded proprietary technology, and user-friendly tools for enhanced safety and privacy…

LinkBoost: OPPO’s LinkBoost ensures 100% faster transmission and 58.5% stronger reception, which provides a stable signal with minimal downtime. It combines AI network selection and a 360° surround antenna design to facilitate swift reconnection in scenarios such as exiting elevators and travelling in fast-moving vehicles.

Trinity Engine: ColorOS 14’s Trinity Engine optimises computing resources, memory, and storage efficiently with features like ROM Vitalization, RAM Vitalization, and CPU Vitalization. It ensures smooth operation with up to 28 apps running in the background without lag. ColorOS is recognised by third-party organisations such as ISO, ePrivacy, and TrustArc for safety and privacy.

File Dock: The new File Dock on the Smart Sidebar streamlines content-sharing across apps through split-screen, floating windows, or directly from the Dock. Content saved in the File Dock syncs across devices running ColorOS 14, boosting productivity.

Smart Touch: AI-powered Smart Touch allows users to select and organize text, images, and videos from the system and third-party apps effortlessly. Content can be stored in the File Dock or consolidated into a single note with simple gestures.

The OPPO F25 Pro 5G will get three years of OS updates with four years of security updates.

Offers:

Customers can avail the following offers for pre-order of OPPO F25 5G:

– Enjoy up to 10% instant cashback with leading bank cards, including SBI Cards and ICICI Bank.

– Avail of no-cost EMI for up to 9 months.

– Customers have the flexibility to choose their EMI installment and tenure at their convenience.

– Benefit from zero down payment schemes.

– Access low down payment options from top financiers like Bajaj Finserv, TVS Credit, Home Credit, HDB Financial Services, and IDFC First Bank

– Receive 180 days of screen damage protection for added peace of mind.