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Pulchowk Robotics Club representing Nepal in ABU Robocon Festival 2020

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This year’s ABU Robocon 2020, which was supposed to take place in Fiji, has been suspended because of the situation caused by the ongoing pandemic. However, the organizer has decided to host an online Robocon Festival instead. Though it’s not an official contest, the ABU Robocon Festival provides participants from different countries to showcase their robotics skills. Representing Nepal in the ABU Robocon Festival 2020 is a team from the Robotics Club of Central Campus, IOE (Pulchowk Robotics Club).

ABU Robocon in brief

ABU Robocon or the Asia-Pacific Robot Contest is an annual robotic competition in which participants from different colleges from the Asia-Oceania region compete against each other. The contest is hosted by the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union and hence the name ABU Robocon. The competition that we know today evolved from NHK Robocon which was first held in 1991.

ABU Robocon Festival 2020

In ABU Robocon, participants are asked to build robots, usually two, that will complete certain tasks in a game. The game is played in two between a red team and a blue team for a duration of three minutes. The ABU Robocon Festival 2020 has replaced the official ABU Robocon 2020 which was supposed to take place in Fiji.

ABU Robocon Festival

The theme of this year’s contest is Rugby which is also the national game of Fiji. Participants are asked to build two robots – Pass Robot and a Try Robot. These robots can either be manual or automatic. The game is played in a pre-determined field which consists of two halves divided. Each half consists of a passing zone, kicking zone, and receiving zone.

Rugby Field for ABU Robocon 2020 Fiji

The Pass Robot (PR) and Try Robot (TR) start from their respective start zones. The PR picks one ball at a time and passes it from the Passing zone to TR which is at the receiving zone. The TR then scores the ball into one of the five Try Spots by avoiding obstacles. After a successful Try, the ball is to be kicked from any of the three kick zones towards the conversion post. The game lasts for 3 minutes but can end early if a team utilizes all of its seven balls.

Pulchowk Robotics Club in ABU Robocon Festival

Pulchowk Robotics Club has been representing Nepal in the ABU Robocon since 2002. It was chosen by National Broadcaster and ABU members. This time too, Team Nepal has sent videos of its take on Pass Robots and Try Robots.

The Pass Robot built by Team Nepal features an arm that is capable of pulling the ball from the rack. The ball is then pushed to a roller by a guide and passed using rotating rollers which provide the necessary momentum to the ball. It has been designed to take the kick as well. The kicking mechanism of the Pass Robot has two sections that mimic the human leg. Each section of the leg has a pneumatic actuator.

Try Robots and Pass Robots from Team Nepal

On the other hand, the Try Robot is capable of catching the ball and dropping it in the try zone. The robot resembles a basket with its front and the top left uncovered. After the robot catches the ball, the horizontal guide stops it from rolling off. When the robot reaches the try zone, the guide is lifted with respect to a pivot causing the ball to fall to the try spot.

The demonstration video sent by the Pulchowk Robotics Club has already been listed on the official page of the ABU Robocon Festival. The video will now be evaluated by other participating teams. The teams will be asked to vote to pick the top three teams. The participating teams will also be able to interact with each other in December through a planned Zoom event.

Dell G5 5500 launched in Nepal with up to RTX 2070 Max-Q GPU

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Dell has updated its G-series of budget gaming laptops in Nepal with the introduction of the G5 5500 gaming laptop. Let’s take a look at the specifications, features, price, and availability of the Dell G5 5500 in Nepal.

Dell G5 5500 Overview:

Processor and Memory

Dell G5 5500 comes with the 10th Gen Intel Core processor with the option to choose between Core i5 – 10300H and Core i7 – 10750H. Both are Intel Comet Lake processors based on Intel’s 14nm++ CPU architecture. But the Core i7 offers six core and eight threads, and a higher clock frequency (2.6GHz to 5.0GHz) compare to 4 cores / 8 threads and 2.5GHz to 4.5GHz clock frequency in the Core i5. The device can have up to NVIDIA RTX 2070 Max-Q GPU.

Users can choose between 8GB and 16GB of DDR4 RAM. The RAM is user-upgradeable to up to 32GB as well. The laptop will come with at least 128GB SSD, which can go up to 1TB in the high-end model. Similarly, for dual storage options, you get to choose up to the combination of Teton Glacier 512GB SSD and 32GB Intel Optane memory.

As of now, only the Core i7 model of the Dell G5 5500 is available in Nepal. Here, you can get configure the laptop with up to 16GB of RAM, 1TB SSD, and RTX 2070 Max-Q.

Dell G5 5500 2020Display

The G5 5500 features a 15-inch Anti-Glare panel with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The display is LED-backlit and has a brightness level of 300 nits. There is also an expensive model with a 144Hz WVA panel with the exact resolution and brightness level.

You can choose from a basic full-size keyboard up to a 4-zone RGB backlit keyboard. The latter has a Game Shift key at F7. You even get 12-zone chassis lightening on variants with GTX 1660Ti and RTX GPUs.

Battery, Ports, and Others

All the variants feature 1 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x SD card reader, wedge lock port and a headphone/mic combo port. The variants with GTX 1650 Ti come with a USB-C Display port and RJ45 port (Gigabit Ethernet). The models with GTX 1660 Ti or better GPU include 1 x Thunderbolt 3 port, mini Display Port, and RJ45 port (Gigabit Ethernet with Killer Ethernet E2500V2).

Depending upon the model, you will get either of 51 WHr (3-celled) or 68 WHr (4-celled) battery. It comes with 2 x speakers tuned with Nahimic 3D audio and an HD webcam with dual array digital microphone.

Dell G5 5500 Specifications:

  • Dimension: 21.6H x 365.5W x 254D-mm, 2.34 kg (starting ) / 24.5 x 365.5 x 254-mm (1660 Ti and above)
  • Display: 15.6″ Anti-Glare LED-Backlit, 300 Nit, 60 / 144 / 300 Hz
  • Resolution: Full HD (1920 x 1080)
  • Keyboard: up to 4-zone RGB keyboard
  • Processor: 10 Gen Intel Core i5 – 10300H / i7 – 10750H
  • RAM: 8 / 16GB DDR4 – 2933MHz (up to 32GB)
  • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti (4GB GDDR6), GTX 1660 Ti (6GB GDDR6), RTX 2060 (6GB GDDR6), RTX 2070 Max-Q (8GB GDDR6)
  • Battery: 3-celled 51 Watt-hours / 4-cell 68 Watt-hours
  • Storage:
    – 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB PCIe M.2 SSD (single configuration)
    – up to Teton Glacier 512GB PCIe M.2 SSD + 1TB 5400 RPM HDD (double configuration)
  • Webcam: Widescreen HD 720p Web-cam with two digital array microphone
  • Audio: 2 x speakers tuned with Nahimic 3D audio
  • Connectivity: up to 2 x 2 Gigabit Ethernet with Killer Ethernet E2500V2
  • Ports:
    – 1 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x SD card reader, wedge lock slot and a headphone/mic combo port (all models)
    – USB-C Display port and Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 port (GTX 1650 Ti)
    – 1 x Thunderbolt 3 port, mini Display Port, and Gigabit Ethernet with Killer Ethernet E2500V2 port (GTX 1660 Ti or better GPU)
  • AC adapter: 130W or 240W AC adapter

Dell G5 5500 Price in Nepal and Availability

The price of Dell G5 5500 in Nepal is NPR 205,105 for the Core i7 variant with RTX 2070, 8GB RAM, and 512GB SSD. You can buy it from Neostore, which is the official distributor of Dell laptops in Nepal. Other variants of the Dell G5 5500 are currently out of stock.

Dell G5 5500 Variant Price in Nepal Available at
15.6″ FHD 300Hz, Core i7-10750H RTX 2070, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD NPR 205,105 Neostore
15.6″ FHD 300Hz, Core i7-10750H, RTX 2070, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD NPR 242,250 Neostore (Out of Stock)
  • Watch our review of the MSI GE66 Raider gaming laptop.

Everything you need to know about the Clean Feed Policy

On June 24, 2019, every TV channel in the Nepali household suddenly went blank or included a request to contact their cable operators. It was a protest by the cable TV operators in the country, following a warning 24 hours beforehand. The 24-hour cable-blackout was an attempt to show us what the new Advertisement Bill, if enforced would look like, according to Sudhir Parajuli, the then-president of the Federation of Cable TV Association of Nepal. This is a bill regarding the “Television Clean Feed Policy“.

Actually, the clean feed policy dates back to 2073 B.S. It was then published in the “Advertisement Regulation Act 2076” on Kartik 8, 2076 B.S for implementation.

But first, what is the Television Clean Feed Policy?

Clean Feed, in its most basic form, means Television feed without any additional digital on-screen graphics or text in their transmissions. A TV station with a clean feed does not carry any television advertisements or breaks, or even underlying marquee texts on the screen. This is different from the Free Air Policy. For the record, under this, foreign TV channels require no subscription charge as they serve ads on their feed.

Here, the Television Clean Feed Policy is a part of the aforementioned Advertisement Regulation Act 2076. This rule implies that all foreign TV channels should stream without any advertisements since the viewers pay for the channels already; which is what makes it different from the Free Air Policy. In other words, the TV operators in Nepal that downlink foreign channels have to deliver an ad-free viewing experience.

Indian channels under Entertainment category at Dish Home
Dish Home’s selection of “Entertainment” channels

The fundamental of the Clean Feed Policy is that foreign advertisements shouldn’t be fed to the Nepali people. Since we’re already paying for the channels themselves, having to watch their ads on top doesn’t align with consumer rights. Also, most of these ads bear no relevance at all in Nepal. And if foreign channels want to broadcast advertisements, they should make advertisements in Nepali language and local settings, so that it’s relevant for us viewers.

Of course, that’s not really feasible in a jiffy. Hence, the Clean Feed Policy. So, the government is vying for foreign channels without any ads. And if Nepali broadcasters so want, they can insert their own commercials in them, just like the Clean Feed Policy prevalent in India. If we are to receive the clean feed, i.e. foreign channels without any ads, we will have to pay an extra amount of money.

The Preparation & Implementation

As the Advertisement Regulation Act 2076 implies, technically, the television clean feed policy was already implemented in 2019. However, since its implementation was practically impossible just then and there, the Nepal government had prepared for a year’s buffer period. Under this, the clean feed policy was instantly applicable to all the new TV channel operators established on Kartik 8, 2076 B.S, or later.

But, to the existing companies, it had provided 1 year for making necessary preparations; like bringing in new technology, equipment, etc. And now, the allocated one-year-long preparation period has ended, therefore resulting in a widescale implementation of the said policy.

Why Television Clean Feed Policy in Nepal?

According to The Kathmandu Post, the Clean Feed Policy states that “Apart from a few exceptions, almost all of the foreign channels carry commercials made by multinationals and conglomerates for which Nepali viewers are paying monthly charges, while the domestic advertising industry is shrinking. Hence, the need for implementation of clean feed.”

Center Fruit Ad - Indian
A screenshot from an Indian ad for “Center Fruit”

The fact that companies do not need to pay anything to air their advertisements has downed Nepal’s advertisement industry by a great margin. Nepali TV viewers have a fascination with the Indian channels, as they are the major source of our entertainment. And this leads us to watch Indian advertisements, but we don’t really mind as they’re kinda entertaining although irrelevant. So, it’s obvious that those companies don’t really think of advertising on Nepali channels.

Without advertisements, TV channels can’t create better content. So, to tackle this issue, the Government is moving forward with the Clean Feed Policy. It wants to ensure that Nepali TV channels develop and make contents that attract Nepali viewers. Without foreign ads, international companies will have to invest their money in Nepal, so there’s that too.

Clean Feed Policy 2024 Update

Yes, the clean feed policy is still applicable in Nepal as of now. However, you will still find ads from foreign TV channels from time to time.

  • Watch: Which one’s the best TV operator in Nepal?

iPad 10.2 (2020) with A12 Bionic chip Launched in Nepal

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Apple announced the eight-generation iPad during the “Time Flies” event. It’s the cheapest iPad you can buy right now and is the successor of the last year’s 7th gen iPad (2019). Let’s check out the specs, features, official price, and availability of the iPad 10.2 (2020) in Nepal.

iPad 10.2 (2020) Overview

Design and Display

Apple iPad 2020 Color Options

There is nothing new about the design and looks of the 8th generation iPad. The body of the new iPad measures 9.8 x 6.8 x 0.29-inches. The Wi-Fi-only model weighs around 490 while the WiFi + Cellular model is slightly heavier at 495 grams.

Its 10.2-inch IPS display has multi-touch support. The display has a pixel density of 264 PPI. Apple is claiming up to 500 nits of brightness. The panel supports the first-generation Apple Pencil and has an oleophobic coating on top to avoid fingerprints.

Performance

The biggest talking point of the device is its performance. It features the A12 Bionic chip that offers up to 40% faster performance than its predecessor which had A10 Bionic. Similarly, graphics performance has been boosted by up to two times. Apple claims that the new iPad is twice as fast as the top-selling Windows laptops, up to three times faster than top-selling Android tablets, and up to 6 times faster than the top-selling Chromebook. The new iPad 2020 is also the first in the lineup to come with a neural engine. It enables the device to run machine learning algorithms and AR apps.

iPadOS 14

The new iPad ships with iPadOS 14. It now comes with redesigned widgets, new sidebars, a streamlined toolbar, an Universal Search feature, and a new compact design for FaceTime and calls. It also improves the Apple Pencil experience and supports an external keyboard as well. For example, the new iPad 2020 supports Smart Selection that uses Machine Learning to differentiate handwriting from drawing. Similarly, it also supports Shape recognition and Data Detectors. The other change is the introduction of the Scribble feature. With this users will be able to handwrite directly in any field text using the Apple Pencil.

iPad 2020 and Apple Pencil

Rest of the Specs

The 8MP rear camera has an aperture of f/2.4. It can record 1080p videos at 30fps. Similarly, the 8th generation iPad can shoot 720p slo-mo videos at 120fps. There is also the Touch ID for security purposes. It has a 32.4 Watt-Hour battery that can last up to 10 hours on web surfing (on Wi-Fi) or up to 9 hours on a cellular data network.

Apple iPad 10.2 (2020) Specifications:

  • Body: 9.8H x 6.8W x 0.29D-inches; 490gm (WiFi), 495gm (+ Cellular)
  • Display: 10.2-inches LED-backlit IPS Retina Display; 500 nits, Fingerprint resistant
  • Resolution: 2160 x 1620 pixels; 264 PPI; 4:3 aspect ratio
  • OS: iPadOS 14.2
  • Chipset: Apple A12 Bionic chip with Neural Engine
  • Rear Camera: 8MP f/2.4 aperture
  • Front Camera: 1.2MP f/2.4 aperture
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.2, A-GPS/GNSS (Cellular variant) /iBeacon, 3G, 4G LTE
  • Sensors: Accelerometer, Ambient Light, Barometer, Three-axis Gyro
  • Battery: 32.4Wh (non-removable); 12W charger inside the box

Apple iPad 10.2 (2020) Price in Nepal and Availability

Apple iPad 10.2 (2020) is now available in Nepal with a starting price of NPR 58,000. It is available from resellers like Olizstore and Evostore.

iPad 2020 Model Price in Nepal
Apple iPad 10.2 (2020): 32GB, Wi-Fi Out of Stock
Apple iPad 10.2 (2020): 32GB, Wi-Fi + Cellular NPR 75,000
Apple iPad 10.2 (2020): 128GB, Wi-Fi Out of Stock
Apple iPad 10.2 (2020): 128GB, Wi-Fi + Cellular Out of Stock
  • Check out our review of Galaxy Tab S6 Lite and iPad 10.2 (2019).

Dell G3 15 (3500) with Intel Comet Lake CPU now available in Nepal

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The G series by Dell is dedicated to users who want a decent gaming laptop on a tight budget. The new Dell G3 3500, aka G3 15 3500 (2020) is the least expensive among Dell G series laptops. Compared to the last generation, the new G3 features an upgraded processor and GPU. For those interested, the new lineup is now available in Nepal. Let’s check out the Dell G3 3500 in more detail, including its specs, features, availability, and official price in Nepal.

Dell G3 3500 Overview

Design and Display

Design-wise, the new Dell G3 3500 doesn’t offer anything new to the table. It looks strikingly similar to its predecessor. Users can choose between two options – Eclipse Black and Alpine White. Both of them feature a subtle blue finish on top that enhances the look of the device.

Dell G3 3500 2020 design specs price nepal launch availability

The G3 features a 15-inch Anti-Glare WVA panel with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The panel is backlit by LEDs and has a refresh rate of 60Hz. It is offered with two brightness levels – 220 nits and 300 nits. There is also a model with a 144Hz refresh rate.

Processor and Memory

Under the hood, G3 3500 packs in 10th gen Intel processors. The base variant comes with i5 – 10300H that features 4 cores / 8 threads and has a turbo boost of up to 4.5 GHz. Spending a little extra will you get i7 – 10750H, which comes with more cores (6 cores / 12 threads) and a clock frequency of up to 5 GHz. It also has a bigger cache size of 12MB compared to 8MB of 10300H. You can get up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (6GB GDDR6).

Dell G3 3500 2020 keyboard specs price nepal launch availability

The laptop is available in two RAM configurations – 4GB and 8GB, both of which are based on DDR4 technology. The G3 3500 comes with at least 128GB of PCIe M.2 SSD (Class 35). On top model bumps it to 1TB (Class 40). One can also opt for dual memory configurations, which start at 128GB SSD (Class 35) plus 1TB HDD (5400 RPM) combo. The top model offers 512 GB SSD (Class 35) paired with 512 GB SSD (Class 40).

However, not all variant of the laptop is available in Nepal. Here, the minimum you can get is 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD and can be configured up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD.

Battery, Ports, and Others

All the variants feature 1 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x SD card reader and a headphone/mic combo. The ones with GTX 1650 Ti come with a USB-C Display port and RJ45 port (Gigabit Ethernet). whereas the models with GTX 1660 Ti or better GPU include 1 x Thunderbolt 3 port, mini Display Port, and RJ45 port (Gigabit Ethernet with Killer Ethernet E2500V2).

Depending upon the model, you will get either of 51 WHr (3-celled) or 68 WHr (4-celled) battery. It comes with 2 x speakers tuned with Nahimic 3D audio and an HD webcam with dual array digital microphone.

Dell G3 3500 Specifications:

  • Display: 15.6″ Anti-Glare WVA LED-Backlit, 220 / 300 Nit, up to 144Hz
  • Resolution: Full HD(1920 x 1080)
  • Keyboard: up to 4-zone RGB keyboard
  • Processor: 10 Gen Intel Core i5 – 10300H / 10 Gen Intel Core i7 – 10750H
  • RAM: 8 / 16 DDR4 – 2933Mhz
  • Graphics: NVidia GeForce GTX 1650 4GB / GTX 1650 T 4GBi / GTX 1660 Ti 6GB /  RTX 2060 6GB
  • Battery: up to 4-cell 68 Watt-hours
  • Storage:
    – up to 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD (single configuration)
    – up to 512GB Class 35 PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD + 512GB Class 40 PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD  (double configuration)
  • Webcam: Widescreen HD 720p Web-cam with two digital array microphone
  • Audio: 2 x speakers tuned with Nahimic 3D audio
  • Connectivity: up to 2 x 2 Gigabit Ethernet with Killer Ethernet E2500V2
  • Ports:
    – 1 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x SD card reader and a headphone/mic combo port (all models)
    – USB-C Display port and Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 port (GTX 1650 Ti)
    – 1 x Thunderbolt 3 port, mini Display Port, and Gigabit Ethernet with Killer Ethernet E2500V2 port (GTX 1660 Ti or better GPU)
  • AC adapter: 130W or 240W AC adapter

Dell G3 15 3500 Price in Nepal & Availability

The price of the Dell G3 15 3500 in Nepal starts at NPR 125,000 for the Core i5 variant with GTX 1650 Ti, 8GB RAM, and 512GB SSD. But it can cost you up to NPR 189,000 depending upon the configuration. However,

Dell G3 3500 Model Price in Nepal
FHD 120Hz, Core i5-10300H, GTX 1650 Ti, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD NPR 125,000
FHD, Core i5-10300H, GTX 1660 Ti, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD NPR 135,000
FHD 120Hz, Core i7-1065G7, GTX 1660 Ti, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD NPR 189,905(Out of Stock)

  • Watch our review of the MSI GE66 Raider gaming laptop.

M1 MacBook Air vs M1 MacBook Pro: Which one should you buy?

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Apple’s M1 MacBooks will release in Nepal within the next month. However, should you buy the M1 MacBook Pro or M1 MacBook Air? It is a real conundrum, right? After all, both of them share most of the specs. Yet, there are some notable differences such as the inclusion of fans and the superior GPU cores. But other than that, most of the specifications are the same. So, which one should you buy once it becomes available? Well, that’s what we are here to discuss. Let’s see how the two devices fare against each other on various front.

M1 MacBook Air vs Pro Specifications:

MacBook Air MacBook Pro
Processor M1 (8-core) M1 (8-core)
Storage 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB (SSD) 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB (SSD)
RAM 8GB/16GB 8GB/16GB
Graphics 7/8-core GPU 8-core GPU
Neural Engine 16-core 16-core
Thermals Fanless Active cooling with fan
Speakers Stereo speakers with wide sound, Dolby Atmos Stereo speakers with high dynamic range, Dolby Atmos
Display 13.3-inch (2560×1600 pixels resolution); 400 nits 13.3-inch (2560×1600 pixels resolution); 500 nits
I/O 2 x USB-C/Thunderbolt port, 3.5mm headphone jack 2 x USB-C/Thunderbolt port, 3.5mm headphone jack, Touch Bar
Weight 1.29 kg 1.4 kg
Dimension 0.63 (T) x 11.97 (W) x 8.36 (D) 0.61 (T) x 11.97 (W) x 8.36 (D)
Price in the US (Starting) $999 (8/256GB) $1,299 (8/256GB)

As the specification table shows, the two MacBooks share most of the specifications. But let’s dive deeper into what they have to offer.

Design, Battery, Keyboard, and Speaker

Both have them have a similar sort of weight and dimension measurements. Traditionally, MacBook Air is supposed to be more portable than the Pro variant. However, here we can see that though the Air is a tad bit lighter than the Pro, the M1 MacBook Air is thicker at the thickest point. Still, if weight is what concerns you the most, then the MacBook Air gets the point in this category. But in practical usage, things aren’t going to be radically different between the two MacBooks’ weight.

Talking about the I/O ports, they both sport a headphone jack and 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C (which support Thunderbolt 3), so no difference there. However, battery-wise, the Pro now offers around 3 hours more endurance than the Air. That’s somewhat of a diversion from what we have seen traditionally.

Faster charging

But given the fact that despite sharing the same chipset, the Pro variant gets a bigger battery. So, that’s kind of expected. Furthermore, the Air comes with a 30W charger while the Pro gets a 61W charger. Thus, the MacBook Pro not only offers better battery backup, but it also comes with faster charging. This would be a thing to consider between the two relatively similar laptops.

m1 macbook air vs pro internals

Both the devices have a Magic keyboard. However, the edges on the Air is slightly sloped. So, it might feel a bit comfortable to use M1 MacBook Air rather than the Pro which has flat edges. However, this should not be much of a concern to many. The main difference here is obviously the inclusion of the Touch Bar in the MacBook Pro. But, it is not an immediate advantage either, considering how many users don’t find it that useful, to begin with. Thus, it is up to the personal preference of the user, whether they want the Touch Bar or not.

From what I’ve seen till now, the MacBook Air has a considerably loud and clear sounding speaker than that of the MacBook Pro. Furthermore, personally, I would prefer a loudspeaker much more than the one which has slightly better bass. So, MacBook Air would be my go-to device in terms of the speaker.

Display and Performance

Unlike the past MacBook Airs, the M1 variant has the P3-white color gamut support. Thus, photo editors can now go for the much cheaper MacBook Air too. So, there’s not much of a difference as far as the display quality is concerned. However, the MacBook Air has a slightly lower brightness compared to the Pro. But other than that, you won’t find any difference.

The base M1 MacBook Air model comes with a 7-core GPU, whereas the Pro has 8-cores. However, Geekbench scores have shown that their scores vary by only the slightest of margins. So, you shouldn’t really find much of a difference while using the devices.

Now, the MacBook Pro does come with a fan. However, it does not really switch on until the device is pushed to its absolute limit, and that is rarely gonna happen. Most results have shown that you only get slightly better performance on the MacBook Pro.

MacBook Air (M1) vs MacBook Pro (M1): Verdict

All things considered, the M1 MacBook Pro only offers slightly better performance than the M1 MacBook Air. Now, the latter comes cheaper than the Pro version. So, unless you are a fan of the touch bar, I wouldn’t really recommend spending the extra $300 (according to international price) on the M1 MacBook Pro. But hey, in the end, it’s all up to the buyer.

  • Watch our review of the Acer Swift 3 2020 (Intel) Ultrabook.

Samsung announces cheaper Galaxy A02s alongside the A12

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Alongside the anticipated Galaxy A12, Samsung also launched the Galaxy A02s. It comes as a surprise since the company hasn’t released A02, to begin with, which would’ve been the successor to the Galaxy A01. And usually, we see an ‘s’ variant only after the vanilla model. Putting that aside, let’s take a look at the specs, features, expected price, and availability of Samsung Galaxy A02s in Nepal.

Samsung Galaxy A02s Overview

Design and Display

Like the A21, the new Samsung Galaxy A02s sports a 6.5-inch TFT panel, which is bigger than the 5.7-inch panel on the A01. As expected, it is an HD+ panel with an Infinity-V notch that houses the front camera.

Samsung Galaxy A02s Design

At the back, there is a rectangular camera module that encloses the triple camera setup. The device lacks a fingerprint sensor. Thus, the rear panel is clean except for the Samsung branding towards the bottom of the device.

Performance and Memory

Samsung Galaxy A02s is powered by an unspecified SoC. But we do know that it is an octa-core processor with a clock speed of up to 1.8GHz. However, the clock speed points particularly to Snapdragon 450. This entry-level SoC from Qualcomm features eight Cortex-A53 cores with a maximum clock speed of up to 1.8GHz.

The phone comes with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. The latter can be expanded up to 1TB using an external MicroSD card.

Camera

Galaxy A02s flaunts a triple camera setup on the back. It is not a major upgrade as Samsung has added a 2MP macro sensor to the A01’s dual-camera setup. The other two sensors have remained the same. We are talking about a 13MP primary camera joined by a 2MP depth sensor. Samsung also didn’t upgrade the 5MP selfie camera.

Rest of the specs

The biggest upgrade is in the battery. Galaxy A02s now features a massive 5,000mAh battery compared to 3,000mAh in its predecessor. The device also supports 15W charging. It will be available in two color options – Black and White.

Samsung Galaxy A02s Specifications:

  • Display: 6.5-inches HD+ TFT
  • CPU: Octa-core (1.8GHz)
  • RAM: 3GB
  • Storage: 32GB (expandable using SD card)
  • Rear Camera: Triple camera;
    – 13MP primary shooter
    – 2MP depth sensor
    – 2MP macro sensor
  • Front Camera: 5MP
  • Battery: 5000mAh with 15W fast charging

Samsung Galaxy A02s Price in Nepal and Availability

Samsung A02s will go on sale in Europe starting in February, where its price will be €150 for the 3+32GB variant. We expect the price of Samsung Galaxy A02s in Nepal to be around NPR 22,000 when it launched later on.

Samsung A02s variant Price in Europe Price in Nepal (Expected)
3+32GB €150 NPR 22,000
  • Watch our review of the Samsung Galaxy A21s.

The 2020 lineup of iMac is now available for purchase in Nepal

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The 2020 lineup of iMac is now available in Nepal. Let’s take a look at the specs, features, expected price, and availability of products under the latest iMac 2020 lineup in Nepal.

Apple iMac 27-inch 2020 overview

Display

Starting with the display, the 5K Retina display supports True Tone technology. It will adjust the color temperature of the screen automatically based on the ambient lighting. Similarly, the display features 1 billion colors, 500 nits of brightness, and support for P3 wide color. Users can now pay extra for a nano-texture glass coating. Apple says it is similar to Pro Display XDR, which was launched last year.

Performance

The new iMac 27 comes with the latest 10th Generation Intel processors. The base variant features a six-core Core i5 with a clock speed up to 4.5 GHz. Similarly, the top model comes with an eight-core i7 with a base clock reaching up to 5.0GHz.

Similarly, the base variant features AMD’s Radeon Pro 5300 GPU with 4GB of GDDR6 VRAM. The top model comes with Radeon Pro 5500 XT (8GB GDDR6).

Storage and Security

Apple has finally made the switch from Fusion Drives to SSD. SSDs are now standard across the iMac line. The 27-iMacs that are available in Nepal come with up to 512GB SSD storage. The company claims the SSD can offer up to 3.4GB/s speed for opening an application or a file. The base variant comes with 256GB of SSD.

For security, Apple has included its proprietary security chip. The second-generation chip can encrypt files and data stored on the iMac. During boot, it will make sure no one or nothing has tampered with the software.

Rest of the specs

Apple has upgraded the FaceTime camera to one with a 1080p resolution. The new image processor in the T2 chip has added tone mapping, exposure control, and better face detection. Similarly, the microphone and speakers have also been upgraded for a better experience. It features two Thunderbolt 3 ports, four USB Type-A ports, an ethernet port, an SDXC card slot, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a Kensington lock.

27-inch iMac 2020 ports and connection

Apple 27-inch iMac 2020 Specifications:

  • Display: 27-inch Retina 5K display, True Tone technology, P3 Wide color, 500 nits
  • Resolution: 5120 x 2880 pixels
  • Processors: 10th Gen Intel Core i5 and i7 (upgradeable to Core i9)
  • RAM: 8GB 2666MHz DDR4 (upgradeable to up to 120GB)
  • Storage: 256GB / 512GB SSD (upgradeable up to 8TB)
  • Graphics: Radeon Pro 5000 family
  • Webcam: 1080p FaceTme HD camera
  • Audio: Stereo Speakers
  • Ports: 2 x USB Type-C Thunderbolt 3, 4 x USB Type-A, 1 x RJ-45, 1 x SDXC card slot, 1 x 3.5 headphone jack, 1 x Kensington lock
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0

Apple 27-inch iMac Pro 2020

The Apple 27-inch iMac Pro 2020 is now available for pre-order in Nepal. It is powered by a 3.0GHz 10-core Intel Xeon W processor. With Intel’s Turbo Boost, the clock speed can reach up to 4.5GHz. Talking about the memory, it comes with 32GB 2666MHz ECC memory but can be configured up to 256GB. The graphics are handled by Radeon Pro Vega 56 that comes with 8GB of HBM2 memory.

Apple 27-inch iMac Pro 2020 Specifications:

  • Display: 27-inch Retina 5K display, True Tone technology, P3 Wide color, 500 nits
  • Resolution: 5120 x 2880 pixels
  • Processors: 10th Intel Xeon W
  • RAM: 32GB 2666MHz DDR4 ECC (upgradeable to up to 256GB)
  • Storage: 1TB SSD (upgradeable up to 4TB)
  • Graphics: Radeon Pro Vega 56
  • Webcam: 1080p FaceTme HD camera
  • Audio: Stereo Speakers
  • Ports: 4x USB Type-C Thunderbolt 3, 4 x USB Type-A, 1 x RJ-45, 1 x SDXC card slot, 1 x 3.5 headphone jack
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0

Apple 21-inch iMac 2020

The latest Apple 21-inch iMacs do not offer anything extra to call them a substantial upgrade over their predecessor. The only noticeable difference was the inclusion of the exclusion of Fusion Dive on the newer iMac. The new 21-inch iMac comes with up to 4096 x 2304 Retina display, up to 8th Gen Intel processor, and an option for Radeon Vega Pro graphics.

Apple 21-inch iMac 2020 Specifications:

  • Display: up to 21.5-inch Retina 4K display
  • Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels, 4096 x 2304 pixels
  • Processors: up to 8th Gen Intel Core i5
  • RAM: 8GB DDR4
  • Storage: 256GB SSD
  • Graphics: Intel Iris Plus / Radeon Pro 5000 family
  • Webcam: FaceTme HD camera
  • Audio: Stereo Speakers
  • Ports: 2 x USB Type-C Thunderbolt 3, 4 x USB Type-A, 1 x RJ-45, 1 x SDXC card slot, 1 x 3.5 headphone jack, 1 x Kensington lock
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.2

Apple iMac 2020 Price in Nepal and Availability

The 2020 lineup of Apple iMac is now available in Nepal. The starting price of 21-inch and 27-inch iMac 2020 in Nepal is NPR 1,75,000 and NPR 2,85,000, respectively. Similarly, the iMac Pro is available for pre-order for a price of NPR 7,70,000. You can find them at EvoStore and Oliz Store.

iMac 2020 model Price in Nepal
21-inch iMac (7th Gen Intel Core i5, IPS, Intel Iris Plus) Rs. 1,75,000
21-inch iMac (8th Gen Intel Core i3, Retina 4K, Radeon Pro 555X) Rs. 2,05,000
21-inch iMac (8th Gen Intel Core i5, Retina 4K, Radeon Pro 560X) Rs. 2,35,000
27-inch iMac (10th Gen Intel Core i5, Retina 4K, Radeon Pro 5300) Rs. 2,85,000
27-inch iMac (3.3GHz 10th Gen Intel Core i5, Retina 5K, Radeon Pro 5300) Rs. 3,15,000
27-inch iMac (10th Gen Intel Core i7, Retina 5K, Radeon Pro 5300) Rs. 3,60,000
27-inch iMac Pro (10-core Intel Xeon W, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, Retina 5K, Radeon Pro Vega 56) Rs. 7,70,000

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 (2020) launched in Nepal

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Samsung has been keeping the Android tablet dream well and truly alive. They have a great selection of devices for every price range. The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite was a great mid-range tablet. Similarly, they have the Galaxy Tab S7 and S7+ as their flagship tablet range. Finally, for the budget segment, they have the Galaxy Tab A7 (2020). Announced around early September, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 (2020) is finally available in Nepal. Let’s look at the specifications and price in Nepal of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 (2020) Overview

This metallic built tablet measures 9.8 x 6.2 x 0.3 -inches and weighs about 1 pound. It sports a 10.4-inch TFT display with 2000 x 1200 pixel resolution. The display has a peak brightness of 329 nits, so, the brightness might be an issue here. However, it does cover 102% of the sRGB color gamut, so, the colors will be fairly accurate.

The 5MP front camera is on the right-hand side bezel. That means you’ll have to place the device horizontally in order to use it for video calls and meetings. And on the back, it has an 8MP shooter. Not the greatest of specs in terms of camera, but then again tablets are not for photo-shoots so it’s still fine.

Samsung Tab A7 display

Under the hood, the device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 SoC and comes with 3GB of RAM. The storage options available are 32GB and 64GB. However, if you want more storage, there is a micro SDX slot available. Furthermore, the device also sports a huge 7040mAh battery that is certain to give a good battery backup.

On the software front, the Galaxy tab A7 comes with One UI 2.5 on top of Android 10. Other features include 4 speaker grills, USB Type-C port, 3.5mm headphone jack, and Dolby Atmos support. Similarly, the tab A7 also have SIM support for 4G mobile data. 

Samsung Tab A7 design

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 2020 Specification:

  • Dimension: 9.8 x 6.2 x 0.3 -inches
  • Display: 10.4-inch TFT display, 2000 x 1200 pixel resolution
  • Rear Camera: 8MP
  • Front Camera: 5MP
  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 662
  • CPU: Octa-core (4x 2.0Ghz Kyro 260 Gold + 4x 1.8Ghz Kyro 260 Silver)
  • GPU: Adreno 610
  • RAM: 3GB
  • Storage: 32GB (expandable via a microSD card slot)
  • Audio: Quad stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos
  • OS: Android 10, One UI 2.5
  • Security: Face recognition
  • Battery: 7040mAh, 15W fast charging
  • Color Options: Dark Gray, Silver, Gold

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 (2020) Price in Nepal

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 has been launched in Nepal for NPR. 34,999. This price is for the 3GB RAM and 32GB storage variant. It will be available through Samsung retail store starting 24th November all over Nepal.

DJI Mini 2 with improved video capability, performance launched in Nepal

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DJI Mini 2, the successor to last year’s Mavic Mini launched just a couple of weeks ago abroad. And now, Oliz Store has already made it available in Nepal. Let’s learn more about the DJI Mini 2 drone along with its specs, features, official price, and availability in Nepal.

DJI Mini 2 Overview

Design and Controller

From a distance, one can mistake the new DJI Mini 2 for its predecessor. The two drones sport a similar design. DJI Mini 2 even weighs around 249 grams, which is what its predecessor Mavic Mini weighs. This makes the drone portable. One can also notice a tiny difference in the dimensions. When folded, the new Mini 2 measures 138 x 81 x 58mm. Unfolded and with the propellers on, the drone measures 245 x 289 x 56mm. DJI Mini 2 design

The controller for the DJI Mini 2 looks like the one that came with the Mavic Air 2. It packs in a 5200mAh battery and can support devices with a maximum length of 92mm.

Flight performance and transmission

The biggest upgrade in the DJI Mini 2 has to be the inclusion of OcuSync 2.0, which improves data transmission. The Mini 2 now has a maximum transmission range of 10km. Because of its dual-frequency technology, the drone can switch between two channels to avoid getting affected interference. Similarly, DJI has also improved on the flight performance. Mini 2 boasts a flight time of up to 31 minutes and can resist wind of up to 24mph.

Camera Performance

DJI Mini 2 uses a 1/2.3” CMOS sensor with an effective pixel of 12MP. Users can save images in DNG (RAW) format in addition to the standard JPEG format. It can now record 4K/30 fps video at 100 Mbps. When shooting in FHD, the drone can zoom up to 4x. That reduces to just 2x when recording 4K videos. There is a 3-axis gimbal for video stabilization. It comes with the following pre-set QuickShots modes:

  • Drone: It makes the drone fly back and up with the camera tracking the subject. The selectable height limits are 40, 60, 80, 100, and 120 feet.
  • Helix: It makes the drone fly up and away with a spiraling motion around the subject. The height limit is the same as that of Dronie mode.
  • Rocket: Here, the drone flies straight up with the camera focused downward on the subject.
  • Circle: The drone circles around the subject maintaining a certain altitude and distance.
  • Boomerang: The drone follows a boomerang-like oval path around the subject.

Companion App and Battery

DJI has also added to what users can do with the DJI Fly app. Users can now download images and shareable videos on their smartphones directly without the need of the remote controller at a speed of 20MB/s. They can also edit images in the app or use the Enhance photo option for quick results. There is also a trimmed download feature that lets users trim the video before downloading the video, saving both time and bandwidth.

DJI Fly App

The 2250mAh LiPo 2S battery in the DJI Mini 2 is rated for 31 minutes for flight time. That is only slightly better than Mavic Mini’s 30 minutes flight time. Though the drone has a maximum charging capacity of 29W, it comes with a charger that is rated for just 18W.

DJI Mini 2 Specifications:

  • Dimension: 159 x 203 x 56mm (unfolded); 245 x 289 x 56mm. (Unfolded with propellers); 138 x 81 x 58mm (folded)
  • Weight: 249 grams
  • Battery Capacity: 2,250 mAh with 29W Max Charging Power
  • Camera: 12MP 1/2-inch CMOS, f/2.8 aperture, 83° field-of-view
  • Flight Time: 31 minutes (flying at 4.7m/s without wind)
  • Ascent Speed (Maximum): 4 m/s (S mode)
  • Descent Speed (Maximum): 5 m/s (S mode)
  • Video Transmission: OccuSync 2.0 (up to 10km)
  • Stabilization: Yes, 3-axis (tilt, roll, pan)
  • Mechanical Range:
    — Pan:-20° to + 20°
    — Tilt: -110° to + 350°
    — Roll: ±35°
  • Max Controllable Speed: 100°/s
  • Videos: 4K videos up t 30fps
  • Companion App: DJI Fly (Android | iOS)

DJI Mini 2 Price in Nepal and Availability

DJI Mini 2 is now available in Nepal at Oliz Store for the price of NPR 65,000. Similarly, DJI Mini 2 (Fly More Combo) with three batteries, a charging hub, and a carrying case is up for pre-order at the price of NPR 86,000 in Nepal.

DJI Mini 2 Drone Price in Nepal
Standard NPR 65,000
Fly More Combo NPR 86,000

  • Check out our review of the Poco X3.