Page 614 – GadgetByte Nepal

Sastodeal accused of stealing promotional content from Thulo: How serious is the issue?

Nikhil Shrestha

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April 10, 2020

Sastodeal accused of stealing promotional content from Thulo: How serious is the issue?

Desperate times call for desperate measures. The supply of essential goods has been the prime issue of concern during the country-wide lockdown against the spread of COVID-19. And to meet those demands, big businesses and even small entrepreneurs have shifted their business model from selling one type of product to those essential goods. That’s absolutely commendable on their part – doing what needs be. Relating it all to the matter at hand, Sastodeal being one of the leading e-commerce platforms in the country, has also ventured in the mission to fulfill people’s current demands.

Let me remind you that Sastodeal isn’t typically the one to deal with products like foods, groceries, and others. The company has crossed paths with certain items like induction cookers in the past, but that’s only because electronic and other lifestyle products are its primary business. And its ability to adapt to the current trend deserves all the praise. After all, they do have resources to facilitate deliveries, from their online portal to the employees – all you gotta do is introduce suppliers of such commodities into the system.

Everything was going fine, and by fine I mean how every online shopping platform facilitating the essential deliveries including Sastodeal are being overwhelmed with orders. But we came to stumble upon the news of how Sastodeal was, without permission, using the product photographs and their description of such goods on their website from Thulo.

Sastodeal Thulo watermark on product — Left: A product with Thulo’s watermark (circled) on Sastodeal.com (now removed) | Right: Same product on Thulo.com

Here, Thulo.com is another prominent e-commerce platform in Nepal that has been serving all kinds of products including essential goods right from the start. As a result, they have a large catalog of product images and descriptions accumulated throughout the years. In terms of the content itself, there’s no way to secure the exclusivity. But the team at Thulo has been implementing a watermark of the company’s logo into many of the product images photographed and edited using in-house resources.

What Thulo’s co-founder says

Bibek Karki, (co-founder, Thulo), after noticing the “mistake” from Sastodeal’s end had apparently contacted Amun Thapa (founder & CEO, Sastodeal) about the issue. However, after feeling a lack of reciprocation on the gravity of the situation, Mr. Karki took it to Entrepreneurs for Nepal (Facebook) to vent about the absence of a proper response.

The primary complaint here seems to be how Sastodeal was handling the whole ordeal. Mr. Karki had messaged Mr. Thapa regarding the matter at hand about a week ago but was met with zero progress. If you follow-up on that Facebook thread, you’ll even find Mr. Karki vowing that he’d provide Sastodeal and other similar platforms with their existing photographic resources if asked. These are trying times and our collective co-operation will only get us through this. However, that simply isn’t a valid justification against unauthorized usage of some else’s property.

The harsh truth about copyright regulations in Nepal’s context is that it’s almost non-existent.

We have been in Thulo’s shoes ourselves and understand how the blatant copy of one’s property can be disheartening. It is clear that every single one of the e-commerce platforms in Nepal currently facilitating the delivery of essential goods is operating at capacity and how this may have outweighed the evident copyright issue. But that’s a fairly avoidable complication right there.

Also read: E-commerce platforms offering delivery of essential goods during the lockdown

The other side of the story

Before decisively putting blame on Sastodeal, you gotta remember that it’s a marketplace as well, meaning the company allows third-party sellers (vendors) to sell their products alongside Sastodeal’s own arsenal of offerings. According to them, those vendors are given backend panel to upload product images, descriptions, etc. while a team performs a moderate level of quality check, especially in terms of pricing.

Moving on, many of us may have an inaccurate mental image about the operational size of Sastodeal. After all, it goes head-to-head against Daraz, Nepal’s leading e-commerce platform and a company backed by Alibaba itself. Therefore it must have similar resources, no? Sadly no. Apparently, Daraz’s system doesn’t allow any watermarked or similarly altered images to be uploaded by its vendors. Maybe that’s a simple thing to program, maybe not. Still, impressive!

Speaking strictly in terms of customer experience, it may seem similar. But the sheer volume & resources of Sastodeal is nowhere near that of Daraz. It is a Nepali startup (can we still call it a startup after all these years?) company with local investments, working with local talents. And while they are already jam-packed with orders for essential items, the copied contents and images of Thulo may have gone unnoticed in the eyes of its QC team.

The vendor in question here is “SupplyBox“, who has copied images (with Thulo’s watermark) and description in their products up for sale at Sastodeal. These have since been removed from the site and Sastodeal has even issued an apologetic statement on it, but you get why Thulo is upset with it. We’re not saying the vendor is exclusively to blame because being a mediator, Sastodeal should have a clear control regarding what goes on in its platform.

It all boils down to this!

Unauthorized usage of someone else’s work is simply not acceptable – no argument there. Thulo is right to call out Sastodeal on its lack of swift and appropriate response. They are absolutely swamped but the company should figure out how to delegate its resources properly so that one’s way of operation doesn’t come at the expense of others.

People have been spitballing ideas like taking a legal course of action or just leaving it be. In a sensitive time like this, companies should be working together to help out the needy in any way they can, by co-ordinating & sharing their resources. However, that can’t be a just ground for what’s happened here.

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Samsung Galaxy A51 5G launched – Samsung’s cheapest 5G Phone

GadgetByte

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April 10, 2020

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Samsung Galaxy A51 5G launched – Samsung’s cheapest 5G Phone

After the Galaxy S20 lineup, Samsung is now strengthening its mid-range offerings. Among the company’s latest offerings in this price segment is the newly announced Samsung Galaxy A51 5G which will be available later this summer.

Samsung Galaxy A51 5G Overview

Samsung Galaxy A51 is the company’s take on affordable 5G smartphones. It comes with a few upgrades to the specs of the regular Galaxy A51. You can also compare it with the new Samsung Galaxy A71 5G which comes with a similar set of features that includes the 5G connectivity options.

Design and Display

Samsung Galaxy A51 5G comes with a 6.5-inch Infinity-O display. The screen is slightly smaller than that of Galaxy A71 5G, but still based on Super AMOLED technology. It retains the circular punch-hole cut out on the top center of the screen.

The back panel flaunts the new Prism cube design but the color option on this one varies from the A71 5G – Black, White, Blue. The back panel houses the rectangular camera module which we have been seeing in recent Samsung devices. Since the fingerprint sensor has been integrated inside the display, there is nothing else on the back expect for the Samsung logo.

Check out our impressions of the Galaxy A51

Performance and Memory

Everything leads to the inclusion of Exynos 980 in the new Samsung Galaxy A51 5G. Unlike the Exynos 9611, this one comes with an integrated 5G modem. Performance-wise, it is expected to go head to head with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 765G which is popular in the price segment. But we will have to wait and see if Exynos 980 is actually a challenger to 765G.

In the memory front, users can choose between 6 or 8GB of RAM. The 128GB internal storage, too, remains the same with an option to expand it up to 1TB via MicroSD card slot.

Camera

A51 5G borrows the same camera setup as that of the regular A51. It comes with a 48MP primary sensor with an aperture of f/2.0. It is accompanied by a 12MP ultra-wide sensor, a 5MP depth sensor, and a 5MP macro sensor. On the front, Samsung has included a 32MP sensor for your selfie needs.

Battery and others

Samsung Galaxy A51 5G comes with a massive 4,500 mAh battery which is an upgrade from the 4,000mAh battery in the regular A51. It supports 15W Adaptive Fast Charge. A71 5G comes with the same battery size but with a slightly better 25W fast charge. The device will ship with Samsung’s One UI 2.0. The device is protected by Samsung Knox and will come loaded with other services like Samsung Pay, Bixby and Samsung Health.

Samsung Galaxy A51 5G Specifications

Body: 73.6 x 158.9 x 8.7mm ; 187gm
Display: 6.5-inches “Infinity-O” Super AMOLED
Resolution: Full-HD+ (1080 x 2400pixels);
Chipset: Exynos 980 (not confirmed)
CPU: Octa-core (2×2.2 GHz & 6×1.8 GHz )
RAM: 6 / 8GB
Storage: 128GB (expandable up to 1TB via a microSD card)
Software & UI: Android 10 with Samsung’s One UI 2.0 on top
Rear Camera: Quad-camera;
– 48 MP, f/2.0 primary shooter
– 5MP, f/2.4 macro lens
– 12MP, f/2.2 ultra-wide lens
– 5MP, f/2.2 depth sensor
– Single LED flash
Front Camera: 32MP, f/2.2 aperture
Security: Optical Fingerprint-Scanner (under-display)
Audio: 3.5mm headphone jack
Battery: 4500 mAh with 15W Adaptive Fast Charge

Samsung Galaxy A51 5G Price and Availability

Samsung A51 5G will first be available in the US in the Summer with an expected price of around $500 for the 8/128GB variant. It is a cheaper alternative to Samsung A71 5G and will face competition from phones like ZTE Axon 11, Mi Note 10 lite, TCL 10 5G, and Nokia 8.3 5G in the international market. We are skeptical if the Galaxy A51 5G arrives in Nepal. If it does, it should be available for the price of Rs. 50 – Rs. 55,000.

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Model Name	Expected Price	Availability
Samsung Galaxy A51 5G (8/128GB)	$500 (~Rs. 63,000 in Nepal)	US (Summer 2020)

Check out our Galaxy A51 impressions

Huawei Vision X65 TV with pop-up camera, 4k 120Hz OLED display Launched

GadgetByte

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April 10, 2020

0

Huawei Vision X65 TV with pop-up camera, 4k 120Hz OLED display Launched

The days of high-end LCD TVs are numbered, OLED panel is the way to go. Last I heard, even Samsung is planning on dropping most of its LCD TV lineup for OLED ones. So, it is only natural that other TV makers too are jumping on this bandwagon. Among the forerunners in this race is the Chinese tech giants Huawei. And with the launch of their first OLED TV, the Vision X65, Huawei has made a statement. The Huawei Vision X65 is a lavish 65-inch TV whose price in Nepal or elsewhere for that matter will likely be very high.

Huawei Vision X65 Overview

The Huawei Vision, which launched last year, marked the entry of Huawei in the world of smart televisions. It sported a host of great features and among them was the custom HarmonyOS. Now, they have come up with the successor to the aforementioned Huawei Vision in the form of Huawei Vision X65.

As mentioned above, the TV has a 65-inch customized 4K OLED display. And HDR support falls under its list of features. Talking about the HDR feature, the supported HDR peak brightness is of 1000nits. Furthermore, according to Huawei, the display on Vision X65 is the largest display to have received the German TUV Rheinland Certification. Similarly, the device has a response time of 1ms and a refresh rate of 120Hz.

The Vision X65 packs in a total of 14 speakers inside its ultra-thin body of only 24.99mm. Out of the 14 speakers, 7 are located on the right side and the other on the left. The resulting output of the speakers is 75W and they are driven by Huawei’s Histen sound algorithms.

One of the biggest improvements on the Vision X65 from its predecessor is the camera setup. It is a motorized pop-up camera that features a 24MP ultra-wide lens. The FOV of the camera is 95-degree horizontal and 75-degree vertical. This TV is designed as a part of Huawei’s IoT devices and thus the camera module acts as an interface for the users to interact with the TV. The camera is powered by HiSilicon Hi3559C chipset that comes with an improved AI. It is capable of tracking users’ movements while dancing and yoga. Furthermore, it also supports hand gestures for volume adjustment, play pause, etc.

To optimize the display, Huawei has used the Honghu 898 chipset on this TV. It has an AI image quality engine that helps to optimize image quality for OLED screens. And for the better performance of the device, it comes equipped with 6GB RAM and 128GB onboard storage.

Huawei Vision X65 Price and Availability

The pre-booking for Huawei Vision X65 began on April 8. However, its official sale will commence from April 26 and that too in China only. Talking about the price, this lavish device will cost CNY 24,999/$3500. At this moment in time, we can comment on neither the international availability of this set nor its world-wide pricing.

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Model Name	Price in Nepal [Expected]
Huawei Vision X65	$3500 (Rs. 4,25,000)

Samsung announces Galaxy A21 with Quad Cameras, Infinity O display

GadgetByte

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April 10, 2020

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Samsung announces Galaxy A21 with Quad Cameras, Infinity O display

Samsung has finally announced the successor to last year’s Galaxy A20 – Galaxy A21. It is the latest addition to Samsung’s mid-range price segment offering. Samsung revamped the A-series last year and now is looking to add to the success it achieved. Check out the specs of Galaxy A21 and the price we can expect when it launches in Nepal later this year.

Samsung Galaxy A21 Overview

Display and Design

Samsung Galaxy A21 comes with a 6.5-inch HD+ panel. Because of the circular cut-out on the top left corner of the screen, Samsung is calling it the Infinity-O display. Punch-hole is rare in this price segment, so that’s a positive move from Samsung.

Check out our review of Samsung Galaxy A20

On the back, there is a quad-camera setup arranged vertically like the one we saw in the Galaxy A11. But the LED flash is shifted from the bottom to the side of the camera module. A capacitive fingerprint sensor is mounted on the back panel.

Processor and Memory

Samsung hasn’t disclosed the processor that is in the device but earlier leaks have suggested it could be MediaTek’s Helio P35. The 12nm mobile platform is quite popular these days with brands like Oppo, Huawei, and Honor including it in their budget devices. The device comes with 3GB of RAM and 32GB internal storage onboard. There is a dedicated microSD card slot that you can use to expand the storage.

Camera

The quad-camera setup on the back consists of a 16MP primary camera which is accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera, a 2MP macro camera, and a 2MP depth sensor. On the front, there is a 13MP selfie camera enclosed inside the circular punch-hole.

Battery and Others

The device comes us a massive 4,000mAh battery which supports 15W fast charging technology. Galaxy A21 will ship with Samsung’s One UI 2.0 on top of Android 10. For biometrics, Samsung has included a capacitive fingerprint sensor on the back.

Samsung Galaxy A21 Specifications

Display: 6.5-inches Infinity-O Display
Resolution: HD+;
Chipset: Helio P35 (not confirmed)
RAM: 3GB
Storage: 32GB (expandable via microSD card)
Software & UI: Android 10 with Samsung’s One UI 2.0 on top
Rear Camera: Quad-camera;
– 16 MP primary shooter
– 2MP macro lens
– 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens
– 2MP, depth sensor
– Single LED flash
Front Camera: 13MP, f/2.2
Security: Fingerprint-Scanner (rear-mounted)
Audio: 3.5mm headphone jack
Battery: 4000 mAh with 15W Fast Charge

Samsung Galaxy A21 Price in Nepal (Expected)

As of now, Samsung has announced the device for a price of $249.99 for the 3/32GB variant and it will first be available for in the US. The availability of Galaxy M21 and M31 have already been delayed due to the lockdown, so we think the device won’t be launched in Nepal anytime soon. We expect Samsung Nepal to unveil the Galaxy A21 at a later date at a price tag of Rs.22,000.

Model Name	Expected Price in Nepal
Samsung Galaxy A21	~ NPR 22,000

Honor announces budget Play 4T and 4T Pro smartphones

GadgetByte

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April 10, 2020

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Honor announces budget Play 4T and 4T Pro smartphones

Honor has had a very busy past couple of months. Just last month, they launched their upper mid-ranger Honor 30S. And now, they have launched two new handsets in the form of Honor Play 4T and Play 4T Pro. It is really commendable that the ongoing pandemic has not been able to stop smartphone makers from releasing new smartphones. Both of them are going to be a budget offering and from the looks of it, these are some powerful devices. Having said that, hopefully, the price of Honor Play 4T and Honor Play 4T Pro in markets like Nepal would be reasonable too.

Honor Play 4T Overview

Talking about the standard Play 4T, it has a 6.4-inch IPS LCD with HD+ resolution. As per the trend these days, the front camera is housed in a punch-hole cutout. The housed selfie shooter is of 8MP. On the back, there’s a dual-camera setup. It features a 48MP primary sensor and a 2MP secondary sensor.

Under the hood, the Honor 4T uses Huawei’s Kirin 710A SoC. This mid-range chipset is paired with 6GB of RAM and internal storage of 128GB. However, there is an option to expand the storage up to 512GB via a microSD card. On the software side of things, it will run on Magic UI 3.1 on top of Android 10. And the power source of the device is a 4,000mAh Li-Po battery.

Specifications

Display: 6.4-inches IPS LCD, 720 x 1600 resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio
Chipset: HiSilicon Kirin 710A; 12nm Mobile Platform
GPU: Mali G51 MP4
RAM: 6GB
Storage: 128GB (expandable)
Rear Camera: Dual; 48MP f/1.8 primary sensor, 2MP f/2.4 depth sensor
Front Camera: 8MP
Fingerprint sensor: Physical, rear-mounted
Connectivity: WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, AGPS/GPS/GLONASS/BDS, USB Type-C, 3.5mm headphone jack
Battery: 4000mAh battery
Colors: Black, Blue, Green

Honor Play 4T Pro Overview

Moving on, the pro version brings in some significant improvements over the vanilla Honor Play 4T. It sports a 6.3-inch OLED display with FHD+ resolution. There’s an upgrade in terms of the camera setup and the chipset. The selfie shooter is a 16MP lens and on the back, there’s a triple camera setup. It features a 48MP primary lens, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and a 2MP depth sensor.

The chipset used in the Honor Play 4T Pro is the Kirin 810 SoC. It consists of two Cortex-A76 Cores running at 2.27GHz and six Cortex-A55 Cores running at 1.88GHz. The RAM options, in this case, is of either 6GB or 8GB. However, the on-board storage is still of 128GB only. Power and OS are the same as that of the Play 4T. That means, it also uses a 4000mAh Li-Po battery and runs on Magic UI 3.0.

Also Read: Honor Mobiles Price in Nepal [Updated]

Specifications

Display: 6.3-inches OLED display, 2340 x 1080 resolution, 19.5:9 aspect ratio
Chipset: HiSilicon Kirin 810F; 7nm Mobile Platform
GPU: Mali G52 MP6
RAM: 6GB, 8GB
Storage: 128GB (expandable)
Rear Camera: Triple-camera; 48MP f/1.8 primary sensor, 8MP f/2.4 ultrawide lens, 2MP f/2.4 depth sensor
Front Camera: 16MP, f/2.0 aperture
Fingerprint sensor: Optical, in-display
Connectivity: WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, AGPS/GPS/GLONASS/BDS, USB Type-C, 3.5mm headphone jack
Battery: 4000mAh battery with 22.5W Fast Charging
Colors: Black, Blue, Green

Honor Play 4T & Honor Play 4T Pro Price in Nepal and Availability

These devices have launched in China and will be available for pre-order starting from April 14. However, the official sale will commence only from April 21. There’s still no word about when they will be available in the international markets. Talking about the prices, the price of Honor Play 4T is CNY 1,199/€155. Similarly, the base variant i.e 6GB/128GB variant of Honor Play 4T is priced at CNY 1,499/€195 and the cost of 8GB/128GB model will be CNY 1,699/€220.

As there is no word right now about the international availability of these two devices, we cannot really guarantee what their prices will be in Nepal. However, My guess is that the price of Honor Play 4T in Nepal should be around Rs. 22,000 and the price of Honor Play 4T Pro (6GB/128GB) in Nepal should be around Rs.26,000. Similarly, the probable cost of the 8GB/128GB Honor Play 4T in Nepal is Rs.30,000.

Model Name	Price in Nepal (Expected)	Availability (Expected)
Honor Play 4T	NPR. 22,000	May 2020
Honor Play 4T Pro (6GB/128GB)	NPR. 26,000	May 2020
Honor Play 4T Pro (8GB/128GB)	NPR. 30,000	May 2020

Also, watch our review of Honor 9X here:

Samsung Galaxy A71 5G announced – Cheaper S20 Alternative?

Nikhil Shrestha

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April 9, 2020

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Samsung Galaxy A71 5G announced – Cheaper S20 Alternative?

Before the start of the year, everyone was waiting for the major smartphone brands to pull the curtain off their top-of-the-line 5G flagship devices. However, a few months into the year, the focus has now shifted to 5G mid-rangers that are more affordable than their flagship counterpart. Earlier we saw Xiaomi reveal the Mi 10 Lite and now Samsung has announced Samsung Galaxy A71 5G.

Samsung Galaxy A71 Overview

Design and Display

Samsung Galaxy A71 5G comes with a 6.7-inch Infinity-O display just like the regular Galaxy A71. The panel used here is Super AMOLED Plus and comes with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. There is an optical fingerprint sensor integrated under the display. The back panel demonstrates what the company calls the Prism Cube design. It is available in three different color options – Black, Silver, and Blue.

Design-wise, the new Galaxy A71 5G doesn’t look any different than the regular Galaxy A71. Both have circular cut-outs on the top-center for the front camera and rectangular camera bumps on the back.

Performance and Memory

Samsung hasn’t officially confirmed, but it is believed the chipset used in the Samsung Galaxy A71 5G is Exynos 980. It is an SoC built on the 8nm FinFet process. The octa-core chipset comes with Dual-core Cortex-A77 and Hexa-core Cortex-A55 CPU alongside the Mali-G76 MP5 GPU. The SoC comes with an integrated 5G modem.

Exynos 980 is comparable to Snapdragon 765G which we have seen in other affordable 5G smartphones such as the Mi 10 Lite, Nokia 8.3 5G, and ZTE Axon 11 5G. Galaxy A71 comes with AI-powered Game Booster to compensate for the Elite Gaming Features in the Snapdragon 765G. You can choose between 6 and 8GB of RAM but both come with 128GB of internal storage. You can expand the storage up to 1TB using a microSD card.

Also read: Samsung Mobile Price in Nepal [Updated]

Camera

Although Exynos 980 has support for up to 108MP camera sensor, but that is something you don’t expect Samsung or any other brand to include on their mid-range device. The camera setup on the A71 5G is the same as that in the regular A71 device. The 64MP primary camera is accompanied by a 12MP ultrawide angle camera, a 5MP macro camera, and a 5MP depth sense. The four cameras are arranged in an L-shaped inside a rectangular camera bump which also houses an LED flash.

On the front, there’s a 32MP selfie camera with an aperture of f/2.2 enclosed by the circular punch-hole.

Battery and Others

The device gets its juice from a 4,500mAh battery which supports 25W Adaptive Fast Charging. The phone is likely to ship with OneUI 2.0 on top of Android 10. The device is packed with Samsung’s services such as Knox, Samsung Pay, Bixby, and Samsung Health. The phone supports both the mmWave and sub-600MHz 5G spectrum.

Samsung Galaxy A71 5G Specifications

Body: 75.5 x 162.5 x 8.1mm; 185 gm
Display: 6.7-inches “Infinity-O” Super AMOLED Plus panel
Resolution: Full-HD+ (1080 x 2400pixels);
Chipset: Exynos 980
CPU: Octa-core (2×2.2 GHz & 6×1.8 GHz )
RAM: 6 / 8GB
Storage: 128GB (expandable up to 1TB via a microSD card)
Software & UI: Android 10 with Samsung’s One UI 2.0 on top
Rear Camera: Quad-camera;
– 64 MP, f/1.8 primary shooter
– 5MP, f/2.4 macro lens
– 12MP, f/2.2 ultra-wide lens
– 5MP, f/2.2 depth sensor
– Single LED flash
Front Camera: 32MP, f/2.2 aperture
Security: Optical Fingerprint-Scanner (under-display)
Audio: 3.5mm headphone jack
Battery: 4500 mAh with 25W Super Fast Charge

Galaxy A71 5G Price and Availability

Samsung is yet to disclose the markets where the Galaxy A71 5G will be available but it has already confirmed that the device will land in the US in the summer at an expected price of $600 for the 8/128GB variant. We are not sure if the Galaxy A71 5G will launch in Nepal or not. If it does, we can expect the price to be around Rs. 65,000.

Model Name	Expected Price	Availability
Samsung Galaxy A71 5G (8/128GB)	$600 (Rs. 72,786 in Nepal)	US (Summer 2020)

Check our review of Samsung Galaxy A71

Nintendo Switch & Switch Lite Price in Nepal [Updated: December 2021]

GadgetByte

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April 9, 2020

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Nintendo Switch & Switch Lite Price in Nepal [Updated: December 2021]

So you finally narrowed down all the available options in the market and decided to buy yourself a Nintendo Switch? Well, you still have a choice to make. You can go with the standard Nintendo Switch or settle with Nintendo Switch Lite. Compared to the former, the latter comes with limited features. However, these limitations may not be as significant for some as they will be for the rest. So, we are going to compare the Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite along with their price and let you know which one suits you better and form where you can buy them in Nepal.

Nintendo Switch – The History

Nintendo Switch was officially released on March 3, 2017, and it was followed by the Nintendo Wii U. The latter was a disaster in terms of sales figures and Nintendo didn’t want the subsequent release to follow the same fate. Instead of going head to head with the available home consoles and hand-held devices, Nintendo worked on an entirely new concept that would bridge the gap between the traditional home console and hand-held devices.

The “Switch” in the Nintendo Switch

The moniker Nintendo Switch was used only during the later period of its development, before that, the company called it the NX. For most people, it’s Nintendo Switch because cause it can switch between home console and hand-held device. But in a broader sense, it was meant to imply the switch to change the way people perceived entertainment through gaming. It’s also a switch from Nintendo’s tradition – A third-party SoC in a Nintendo console? No one saw that coming.

Nintendo Switch Lite, on the other hand, doesn’t switch like the original Switch. It is fairly a new console that went official in September of 2019. It is a handheld device that is meant to serve as a cheaper alternative to the Nintendo Switch for people who don’t want their console to switch.

Nintendo Switch vs Nintendo Switch Lite

Design

From far, the two consoles may look very similar but the Lite is actually smaller and lighter for added portability. The design also serves different functionality. The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid console that you can play has a portable console as well as a regular console like the PS4 and Xbox One. The display on the Nintendo Switch is detachable and so is the Joy-Con (Switch’s game controllers).

In contrast, the Switch Lite is enclosed in a single body and it can’t be detached like the original Switch. On the contrary, the controller on the Switch Lite has an actual D-pad on the left side instead of four discrete buttons.

Also Read:

Display

Nintendo Switch comes with a 6.2-inch LCD panel with touch support. The resolution here is 1280 x 720 pixels. But the size of the screen shouldn’t be a problem as you can always detach the screen and dock it into a television with a larger screen.

The screen on the Lite is the same except for the size which is reduced to just 5.5-inch. The type of panel and the resolution remain the same but you won’t have the privilege of docking it into a larger screen. The color and the brightness level are the same on both the consoles.

Battery

Talking about the battery, Nintendo Switch comes with a bigger Lithium-ion battery of 4310mAh capacity compared to the 3570mAh Lithium-ion battery on the Lite console. But that latter has a smaller screen to power so let’s check the battery endurance in little more detail.

At the time of its release, the Nintendo Switch had terrible battery life. In the best scenario, it lasted only 6.5 hours and could be dead within 2.5 hours depending upon the game being played. However, it has been solved in the later releases and the newer Switch promises a battery life of between 4.5 to 9 hours. So, you would want to check the original packaging properly before you cash in your money for a second-hand Nintendo Switch. A small hint to help you guys check – newer batches come on red packaging instead of white. On the other hand, the Switch Lite battery run can last anywhere between 3 to 7 hours.

Game and Gameplay Modes

The Nintendo Switch Lite supports almost all of the games of the regular Nintendo Switch except for the multiplayer games or those that can only be played in television or tabletop mode. These include games like 1-2-Switch, Ring Fit Adventure, Mario Party among others. In order to play some of these games in the Nintendo Switch Lite, you will have to wirelessly connect another Joy-Con to the console. And even if you do so, it’s not guaranteed that the games will work so you would better not take that risk.

Specifications

	Nintendo Switch	Nintendo Switch Lite
Dimension	4 x 9.4 x 5.5 inch	3.6 x 8.2 x 5.5 inch
Weight	0.88lbs	0.61lbs
Screen	6.2-inch touch screen	5.5-inch touch screen
Processor	NVIDIA Custom Tegra Processor	NVIDIA Custom Tegra Processor
Storage	32GB	32GB
Connectivity	WiFi(IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 4.1 Supports LAN Adapter in TV mode	WiFi(IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 4.1/NFC
Controllers	Joy-Con with HD Rumble and IR Motion Camera	Integrated Joy-Con with D-pad
Switch Dock	Yes	No
Battery	4310mAh	3570mAh
Game Compatability	All Switch Games	Only Switch Handheld Mode
Game Modes	TV mode Tabletop Mode Handheld Mode	Handheld Mode

Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite Price in Nepal

The latest price of Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite in Nepal is Rs. 52,000 and Rs. 32,000, respectively. You can buy the two from Allure International, located at New Road Complex.

Nintendo Gaming Console	Price in Nepal	Availability
Switch (v2)	NPR 52,000	Allure International
Switch Lite	NPR 32,000	Allure International

So which one would you go for? If you are tight on budget, you should go for the Switch Lite. But even in that situation, we recommend you to wait and go for the regular Switch. It makes more sense to spend the additional 10K for versatility and extra features.

OnePlus announces Warp Charge 30 Wireless charging in the OnePlus 8 Pro

GadgetByte

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April 8, 2020

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OnePlus announces Warp Charge 30 Wireless charging in the OnePlus 8 Pro

It’s only a matter of a week before OnePlus unveils the much anticipated OnePlus 8 series via an online-only event. With rumors and confirmations surrounding the devices emerging on the internet every now and then, we have ideas about how the devices will look like when they will be unveiled. The latest news about the OnePlus 8 Pro is its support for Warp Charge 30 Wireless (a 30W wireless charging technology). Let’s take a deeper dive into the technology and understand how OnePlus has made it possible.

OnePlus Warp Charge 30 Wireless

Up until now, we have never seen an OnePlus device with wireless charging support. While the other major brands have been integrating the technology into their latest flagships, OnePlus has been sticking to its proprietary wired Warp charger. After years of development, the company believes it now has an exceptional wireless charging technology that can charge the upcoming OnePlus 8 Pro from 0 to 50% inside 30min.

While the wired 30W Warp Charger is rated 5V/6A, the company has raised the Voltage to 20V with the current at 1.5A in the Warp Charge 30 Wireless. When we talk about fast chargers, we need to keep in the heat produced into consideration because faster chargers produce more heat that can obstruct the charging process. To combat this, the charger will come with a fan. In an interview with The Verge, OnePlus CEO Pete Lau has told that the charger will come with a night mode so that the fan, that could reach as loud as 30db, could be turned off at night.

Check out the OnePlus’s digital wallet system – OnePlus Pay

OnePlus Warp Charge 30 Wireless leaked renders oneplus 8 pro rumors — OnePlus Warp Charge 30 Wireless leaked renders

Check out the display technology in the OnePlus 8 series

OnePlus has also included two isolated charge pumps in the charger. They will stop the charging in events of abnormal current and voltage levels.

As with the other wireless chargers in the market, the Warp Charge 30 wireless will also be Qi-compatible. Any-third party Qi-compatible chargers can charge the OnePlus 8 Pro at 5W.

OnePlus’ New Haptic Motor

The new OnePlus 8 series will also feature a haptic motor. It will provide an improved 15% more vibration to the previous motor in OnePlus devices. The new and improved haptic motor was first teased by the OnePlus in the Weibo microblogging site.

So, how excited are you about the OnePlus 8 series official unveiling next week? What feature of the upcoming OnePlus 8 series has amazed you so far? Let us know with your comments.

Sony unveils the DualSense controller for PS5: Comes with improved haptic feedback!

GadgetByte

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April 8, 2020

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Sony unveils the DualSense controller for PS5: Comes with improved haptic feedback!

As the launch date of the PlayStation 5 nears (cause that’s what Sony claims), the company has begun revealing more and more about this new console. Initially, Sony had bragged about the ultra-high-speed SSD, custom AMD GPU and what not. However, multiple reports started emerging online. And they stated that the upcoming Xbox Series X will be much more powerful than the PlayStation 5. On the back foot from the beginning, Sony is not one to take that. They had to do something. So, Sony has now officially introduced, the new wireless controller for the PS5 – the DualSense. And this is something that I think will be a major part of the PS5 experience.

Sony PS5 DualSense Controller Overview

If I remember correctly, the DualShock 4 was launched in the year 2013, and it was a revolutionary controller. It had haptic feedback, a touch-pad, a light-bar and what not. Truly a revolutionary controller. However, users over time have grown bored of it. As a result, for a long time now, fans of PlayStation had been demanding an upgrade in the controller. And finally, we have it.

The new DualSense controller for PS5 seemingly builds upon the legacy set by the DualShock 4. It retains some of the features of its predecessor but does bring in a couple of huge improvements. First and foremost, there’s a change in design and the color tone of the controller. At first glance, the build of the controller seems similar to that of the Xbox One. The cut-angles are similar. However, thankfully the buttons and the analog stick still remain in the same position. This design is primarily because Sony has brought in a lot of improvements. They have improved the haptic feedback on this one. Obviously, the sense of touch is something that affects the gaming experience. I would say it is as necessary as the audio. Thus, it is great that they have incorporated improved haptic feedback on the new DualSense.

Moreover, they have fit in the adaptive triggers into the L2 and R2 buttons too. This, along with an improved rechargeable battery and an added built-in microphone array has forced them to change the design of the controller. Furthermore, this new design supposedly fits any type of hand. Well, that is something we’ll have to see for ourselves, but I do hope it’s true.

Moving on, the Share button from the DualShock 4 is now gone. It has now been replaced by a “Create” button. Now, Sony has not yet revealed more about what exactly this create button allows you to do. However, they have mentioned that it will allow gamers to customize the content that they share at a more personal level. But its exact functioning still remains a mystery. Oh, and they have re-positioned the light bar too. This is something they have added for legacy support and it now sits on either side of the touchpad.

The color tone of the controller has changed too. Previously, all the PS controllers used to be of a single color tone. However, this time around they have opted to go with a mixture of black and white. I did read some comments where people complained about the contrast, but I personally welcome this change. I mean it was getting monotonous. Now we have something that looks funkier. Anyway, do comment below about how you feel regarding this change in color tone.

Overall, as with everything, the new DualSense controller on the first look has its own set of positives and negatives. I personally am glad that they have incorporated a built-in mic and adaptive triggers for L2 and R2. The shape of the controller could have been more subtle, but I guess it is something that will grow on after usage. That’s that about the design and the features of the DualSense. How it feels to use this controller and whether or not it robust is another matter. Well, we can reach a decision regarding it only after using it. But for right now, I cannot wait to get my hands on this new controller.

Online shopping platforms offering deliveries of essential goods during the COVID-19 lockdown

Nikhil Shrestha

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April 8, 2020

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Online shopping platforms offering deliveries of essential goods during the COVID-19 lockdown

While the entire world is facing a serious threat, it is our duty as a species, to help out in any way we can. Especially in Nepal, where we’re dependent upon other countries for most of our basic requirements including foods & medicines, the outbreak of COVID-19 adds to the severity of impending doom.

So here, we are listing out a bunch of online shopping portals that are still delivering goods in the time of lockdown. But remember, these platforms are only keeping their shop open for the most essential goods which include groceries, vegetables, fruits, and medicines. And sadly, in most cases, the radius of delivery is limited to the Kathmandu valley only.

Furthermore, you need not worry about a possible virus transmission because all of the companies in this list have been granted permission for operation by the Nepal government, and the delivery personnel will be equipped with all the safety gear (PPE) & other precautionary measures. Also, all of them accept online payment options like eSewa, Khalti, bank payments, etc. so you can stay worry-free about the spread of COVID-19 virus through physical currency.

Groceries & similar essential goods

1. Daraz (w/ Bigmart)

I don’t think I need to introduce Daraz to you guys. As the biggest e-commerce platform of the country, the company has now teamed up with Bigmart, which is a major player in Nepal’s brick and mortar shopping industry to deliver select essential items. These items include but are not limited to: rice, noodles, oil, sanitational utilities, etc.

On top of this, Daraz is also offering a bank discount of up to Rs. 500 when making payments using cards of banks like Nabil, Kumari, Sunrise, Sanima, NIC Asia, and Standard Chartered. In terms of delivery, Daraz is currently serving all areas inside Ringroad, plus following locations with free delivery on orders above Rs. 1,500:

Bhaktapur Area	Kathmandu – Outside Ringroad Area	Lalitpur – Outside Ringroad Area
Lokanthali	Golfutar	Nakhu
Gaththaghar	Budhanilkantha	Bhainsepati
Sano Thimi	Mandikhatar	Harisiddhi
Thimi	Boudha & Jorpati
Sallaghari	Gongabu
Kamalbinayak	Nepaltar
Suryabinayak	Sitapaila

You can place your order through Daraz’s website or app (Android | iOS).

2. Sastodeal

Sastodeal is another reputed online shopping platform in Nepal. Like Daraz, the company is also only dealing with delivering essential goods right now. Besides the food essentials, Sastodeal is also providing deliveries on items like sanitizers, induction cookers, personal hygiene essentials, etc. The minimum cart value of the order has been set to Rs. 1,000.

The company is currently delivering in select areas inside ring-road and about KM radius outside the ring-road too. In terms of payment, though the cash-on-delivery option is still available, Sastodeal has made the online payment more lucrative by introducing policies like:

15% of total purchase amount made through NMB Bank going to COVID-19 Aid fund
10 masks on every order using CellPay QR Payment on delivery
Rs. 250 on every payment made through IMEPay for the corona relief fund

For now, Sastodeal is delivering on the following locations:

Baghdole	ICIMOD Area	Nakhu
Bhainsepati (till Awas gate)	Imadole (KIST Hospital / United College)	Nayabazar
Dhapakhel (till GEMS school)	Kalanki (till certain range)	Sitapaila
Dhobighat outside Ringroad (till Sunrise Tower)	Koteshwor (till Pepsicola)	Soltee Dobato
Hattiban (till LA College)	Nakhipot	TU (till TU gate)

You can place your order through Sastodeal’s website.

3. Kirana

Next up is Kirana. Like others on the list, it is also accepting orders of essential products food, beverages, personal sanitation, etc. The company is only delivering for customers inside Kathmandu valley for now, which may take a couple of days. Also, the delivery charge is exempted for orders above Rs. 2,000, though a minimum order value hasn’t been set. Kirana customers can also enjoy discounts by making payments from mobile banking apps, or cards of select banks like Civil, NIC Asia, and Standard Chartered.

You can place your order through Kirana’s website or app (Android | iOS).

4. Nimbus Bazar

Nimbus Bazar is a relatively new venture that’s hoping to make a mark on Nepal’s grocery shopping. Currently, the system is in its beta stage and only offers its services inside the Kathmandu valley. You can order items like edible oil, flour, lentils, rice, masks, dog foods, etc. from the platform. So, something for your pet too! This one hasn’t set a minimum order value as well. In terms of the delivery charge, the company charges a whopping Rs. 200 for every order below Rs. 2,000.

You can place your order through Nimbus Bazar’s website.

5. SmartDoko

A product of IMS Group, SmartDoko is mostly known for electronic products, though it has been selling a wide variety of products. And right now, the company is only dealing with grocery and similar essential products. Like others on the list, the service is only available inside Kathmandu valley, with a minimum order value of Rs. 1,000. Moreover, people staying abroad can also have an order delivered to their loved ones in Kathmandu by making pre-payment using their Visa or Mastercard.

You can place your order through SmartDoko’s website or app (Android | iOS).

6. Thulo

Moving on, the next entry on this list is Thulo. Currently, the company is only accepting orders for grocery items like flour, rice, lentils, oil, poultry, etc. and certain electronic items like induction cookers. The minimum amount of order is Rs. 1,000, with free delivery. However, payment has to be made in advance. Talking about the delivery, Thulo currently delivers within Ringroad and 2km radius from the Ringroad and Kathmandu valley, on the same or next day.

You can place your order through Thulo’s website or app (Android | iOS).

7. Gyapu

Another online shopping platform offering its service during the lockdown is Gyapu. Like others, the company is also delivering food and other kitchen essential items during the lockdown. It includes goods like vegetables, flour, induction cooker, salt, biscuit, etc. Right now, they’re home delivering inside the Kathmandu valley; namely Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur. Here, the company has set the minimum order amount at Rs. 1,000 with zero delivery charge and 24-hour delivery.

You can place your order through Gyapu’s website or call or WhatsApp them on 9801888268.

8. SalesBerry

SalesBerry is a well-established retail store in Nepal. And because of the lockdown, it has closed shop in most of its branches, though a few of them are still open from 10 AM to 2 PM – SalesBerry Satdobato, Sitapaila, and Maharajgunj. However, we’re talking about home delivery options here. Using the company’s online portal, customers from Kathmandu and Lalitpur can order essential items like grocery, frozen food, snacks, dairy, etc. The minimum amount of order is set at Rs. 2,000 with Rs. 100 delivery charge levied on every order.

If possible, you can make your purchases visiting the open SalesBerry store, or place an order through its website.

Also read: Smartphone brands extend warranty period amidst the lockdown

9. Bhatbhateni

Bhatbhateni is one of Nepal’s largest retail chains with over a dozen stores spread throughout the country. As a result, it is one of the few companies delivering goods outside of Kathmandu valley too. Here, Bhatbhateni is also serving customers on Pokhara, Chitwan, Bhairahawa, Butwal, Biratnagar, and Nepalgunj. However, it isn’t exactly budget-friendly as only orders amounting to Rs. 5,000 or more are accepted with free delivery. Similarly, the company is providing a limited number of same-day deliveries of orders received between 9 AM and 4 PM. Therefore, if your order is not acknowledged on the same day, Bhatbhateni has stated that you should send a message the day after.

The company doesn’t have a web portal, so customers have been requested to place an order via text message, Viber, Instagram, or WhatsApp (only one) on the numbers: 9801241449 | 9801234861 | 9801246806 | or 9801118837.

10. Durbar Mart

Another online shopping platform delivering essential goods during the time of lockdown is Durbar Mart. You can find items like hand sanitizers, kitchen essentials (induction cooker), etc. on top of the regular grocery items. The company is only delivering inside Kathmandu for orders amounting to at least Rs. 1,000 or more.

You can place your order through Durbar Mart’s website.

Summary list of online shopping platforms delivering groceries and similar essential items during the COVID-19 lockdown

S.No.	Company	Minimum order value	Link
01	Daraz (w/ Bigmart)	Rs. 1,500	Website \| Android \| iOS
02	Sastodeal	Rs. 1,000	Website
03	Kirana	N/A	Website \| Android \| iOS
04	Nimbus Bazar	N/A	Website
05	SmartDoko	Rs. 1,000	Website \| Android \| iOS
06	Thulo	Rs. 1,000	Website \| Android \| iOS
07	Gyapu	Rs. 1,000	Website \| 9801888268 (WhatsApp)
08	SalesBerry	Rs. 2,000	Website
09	Bhatbhateni	Rs. 5,000	Instagram \| 9801241449, 9801234861, 9801246806, 9801118837 (Text / Viber / WhatsApp – only one)
10	Durbar Mart	Rs. 1,000	Website

Vegetables, fruits, & poultry

1. Foodmandu

Foodmandu is typically known for its on-demand ready-to-eat food delivery services from a wide selection of hotels and restaurants across the Kathmandu valley. However, the company has shifted its service to taking orders for vegetables, poultry, dairy, and bakery items right now under the “Foodmandu Fresh” banner. With the delivery period set within 4 days, Foodmandu is taking orders from 12 noon and has set the minimum order value at Rs. 1,500 while the delivery charges vary according to the customer’s location.

You can place your order through Foodmandu’s website or app (Android | iOS).

2. Bhojdeals (w/ KK Super Mart)

Like how Daraz partnered up with Bigmart, Bhojdeals (a well-established food delivery platform like Foodmandu) has teamed up with another popular retail chain in the country – KK Super Mart. The company is currently delivering essential items like food, groceries, personal sanitation, induction cooker, on top of fresh vegetables and dairy products. As of now, Bhojdeals is serving customers on Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur for orders amounting to at least Rs. 1,000. The company says delivery could take somewhere between 2 and 3 days with the first-come-first-serve rule applied. Rs. 100 is levied for each order.

You can place your order through Bhojdeal’s website or app (Android | iOS).

3. Kathmandu Organics

Kathmandu Organics is another company that deals with fresh vegetables, fruits, eggs, poultry, and other local grocery items. Its operational area is within the Kathmandu valley. Right now, the company is taking orders for cart values of Rs. 1,500 or more with Rs. 150 added as the delivery charge. Kathmandu Organics says the delivery could take up to 4 days as they are operating with limited resources.

You can place your order through Kathmandu Organic’s website.

4. Kheti

Next up is Kheti. Dealing in locally produced fruits, vegetables, and vegan dairy items, Kheti has partnered up with Upaya:CityCargo for delivering those products to its consumers at the time of this crisis. The company is currently accepting orders valued at Rs. 500 and more with a delivery charge of Rs. 70. Moreover, Kheti is providing its services within select areas inside Kathmandu valley and Pokhara.

You can place your order through Kheti’s website or app (Android).

5. Farmers’ Market at Le Sherpa

As one of the most prominent farmers’ markets in the country, Le Sherpa is the home to some quality produce from local farmers. Though it is a local establishment operating at Lazimpat, you can now order items like fruits, vegetables, dairy products, honey, etc. The company is operating from 10 AM to 5 PM and is providing free delivery within 7km from Ringroad, with minimum order amount set at Rs. 1,500.

You can place your order through Le Sherpa’s website or via Viber/WhatsApp message on 9802028777 | or 9801159482.

Summary list of online shopping platforms delivering vegetables, fruits, and poultry items during the COVID-19 lockdown

S.No.	Company	Minimum order value	Link
01	Foodmandu	Rs. 1,500	Website \| Android \| iOS
02	Bhojdeals	Rs. 1,000	Website \| Android \| iOS
03	Kathmandu Organics	Rs. 1,500	Website
04	Kheti	Rs. 500	Website \| Android
05	Farmers’ Market at Le Sherpa	Rs. 1,500	Website \| 9802028777, 9801159482 (Viber / WhatsApp – only one)

Medicinal supplies

1. Jeevee

E-pharmacy is gaining a lot of buzz in Nepal and Jeevee is among the top players in it. With people unable to get out of their house due to the ongoing lockdown, the demand for medicinal supplies is through the roof. Though many local pharmacies are open for business, at the same time, many of them are not.

Here, Jeevee offers a wide selection of medicines, equipment, wearables, child-care items, and more. For prescription medicines, the user is required to scan and upload the prescription for further processing. The company also facilitates online counseling and setting appointments with NMC (Nepal Medical Council) verified doctors. In terms of orders, there is no minimum order value set and the company is delivering on Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur. The delivery charge, on the order hand, is Rs. 50 for customers inside Ringroad, Rs. 100 for outside Ringroad and free on orders above Rs. 500.

You can place your order through Jeevee’s website or app (Android).

2. EPharmacy

Another online shopping company fulfilling your medicinal needs during this lockdown is EPharmacy. Though the company has a great selection of medicinal supplies from medicines, fitness supplements, beauty care products, etc. EPharmacy says that it’s currently only taking orders for medicines. Customers from Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur can place their orders, whose delivery could take up to 48 hours (between 1 PM to 4 PM). There is no minimum order amount set, but a delivery charge of Rs. 50 (inside valley) and Rs. 100 (outside valley) is applied.

You can place your order through EPharmacy’s website or app (Android).

Summary list of online shopping platforms delivering medicinal supplies during the COVID-19 lockdown

S.No.	Company	Minimum order value	Link
01	Jeevee	N/A	Website \| Android
02	EPharmacy	N/A	Website \| Android

Final words

With demand for essential goods soaring high like never before, a need for effective utilization is at hand. The online shopping platforms can only do so much during the time of this lockdown. Many wards (वडा) throughout different districts of the country have already started distributing rations which include rice, salt, onion, beaten rice, cereal, and potato. Such donations should only go to the ones most affected by the lockdown, people and families who depend on daily wage for their livelihood. I appeal to every one of our audience to not exploit the system and thus if you are financially capable of affording commodity purchases this time around, maybe consider imparting your half of the ration to someone needy instead.