Google has been our ‘go to’ search engine ever since we started knowing about the internet. Whenever we are to search something, Google is the word we type in the browser’s search bar. That’s how inclined we are to searching through google.
Throughout years, Google has been adding to its features to make the experience better. And it has recently made some changes to the searching experience.
Followed by the complaint filed to European commission by Getty images in 2016, Google has made some changes to the image search this week.
1. It has removed the ‘view image’ option.
2. It has removed the ‘search image’ option.
Google tweeted: “Today we’re launching some changes on Google Images to help connect users and useful websites. This will include removing the View Image button. The Visit button remains, so users can see images in the context of the web pages they’re on. The Search by Image button is also being removed. Reverse image search *still works* through the way most people use it, from the search bar of Google Images”.
Apparently, such changes have been made because of the copyright issues. As the images have been used without citing the source time and again.
Now, with the ‘visit’ option, people will be directed to the website from where the image is sourced. The copyright disclaimer has also been re-written in bigger fonts.
This has provided Getty images with some relief. “This agreement between Getty Images and Google sets the stage for a very productive, collaborative relationship between our companies,” said the CEO of Getty images, Dawn Airey.
This has made the users angry. At least, some tweets indicate so. A tweet reads, “Worst change in the history of mankind.” Others have found why they should opt for Bing or similar search engines where they have ‘view image’ button.
While this makes the legality part stronger, the convenience of people has been compromised with. People can still view the pictures in isolation by the help of ‘open image in new tab option’. But this definitely requires extra clicks.
Google’s search liaison, Danny Suvillian tweeted, “they are designed to strike a balance between serving user needs and publisher concerns, both stakeholders we value.” Since the users don’t seem to be happy, ‘serving user needs’ part is still in question while publisher concerns have definitely been addressed.
“Congratulations, You’ve won an iPhone 7”. You might be familiar with the pop-ups like that, which starts with a spinning wheel and gives this amazing good but fake news with a vibration or an annoying sound. If you were ever irritated with the pop-ups like that and with annoying ads in the website pages, then there is good news for you. Google Chrome is killing such annoying online ads and pop-ups as an attempt to improve the users’ experience while surfing the internet.
Needless to say, the online ads are excruciatingly annoying. While browsing the content on a website, the ads increase the load time of the pages. And sometimes because of the enormous size of the ad banners, it hides the content and acts as a speed breaker at times. To add more, some websites include irritating pop-ups notifying about the flash sales or sales campaign, which sometimes begins with auto-play videos in the startup. These are some of the ways to make income by the publisher. However, such irksome behavior of the publishers has given rise to the use of a number of Ad-blocker plug-ins to get rid of those ads and pop-ups.
With that being said, the main purpose of the Google here is to brutally obliterate the intrusive ads. But all the ads on the web are not going to be removed from their respective websites.
To get better insights, Google conducted a survey among the group of 40,000 internet users and took a test of the user experiences over the certain types of ads. And in the survey, the majority of people had found the prestitial ads to be most intrusive of all.
So, starting with February 15th, Google started blocking all the intrusive ads, which does not follow the Google Ad guidelines. And only the Ads that follow the Better Ads Standards will be welcomed on any website. However, despite the inclusion of non-intrusive Ads on the website, one should also take note of the Ad density. Users usually find the sites with higher high ad density displeasing, so Google evaluates the website by examining a sample of pages from the site. After the evaluation, Google checks if the website complies with the guidelines and takes necessary actions.
This campaign by Google looks like a devoted gesture for an improved user experience. However, it might bring black clouds over the income of the publishers. This is just a presumption, so how will this campaign fares and how will it bring improvements in the users’ behaviors, there is more yet to see.
Oppo has brought a special limited edition of Oppo F5 featuring Dashing Blue which perfectly mirrors the color of an eye-catching effect on the rear of the body.The Oppo F5 Dashing Blue is a classic and bold color that stands out for itself or indeed can blend in with your fashion style. The Oppo F5 Dashing Blue Limited Edition is introduced in Nepal targetting the romantic couples for this love season.
The rear panel of the phone happens to be reflective, giving off a mirror-like effect when exposed to light. While the other specifications of the blue edition remain the same as the variants of OPPO F5 phones.
The F5 Dashing Blue has a 6-inch full HD+ display which blends beautifully with its thin frame of 7.5mm. It possesses near bezel-less display, an 18:9 aspect ratio, 2.5D curved glass laid on top of it. Oppo F5 runs on Colors OS 3.2 based on Android 7.1.1 Nougat. It is powered by octa-core processor which is ready to heat up your activity and experience keeping a steady temperature of the device.
In terms of memory, Oppo F5 houses on 4GB/6GB RAM and has an internal memory of 32GB/64GB (expandable to 256GB). And unlike phones nowadays, it has a total of 3 slots for Dual Nano Sim cards and a micro SD. However, the main highlight of the limited edition F5 is its camera. Oppo F5 Dashing Blue has a 16MP rear-facing shooter and a 20MP selfie camera. It is designed to personalize beautification of subjects in selfies. The phone has a fingerprint sensor as well as a Facial Unlock which is quick and convenient. Also, Oppo F5 offers a battery of 3200mAh.
OPPO F5 Dashing Blue Specifications
6-inch Full HD+ (2160X1080 pixels) display
Dimensions: 156.5 x 76 x 75.5 mm
Octa-core MediaTek MT6763T processor
4GB RAM, 32GB internal memory, expandable with microSD up to 256GB
Android v7.1.1 (Nougat)
16 MP Rear Camera with LED flash
20 MP AI-powered Selfie camera
3200 mAh battery
Dual Nano Sim Card & micro SD (Dedicated slot)
Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, Wifi 2.4/5GHz 802.11 a/b/g/n, OTG
Distance, Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Ambient light and Gyroscope sensors
It could be a dream of an uncountable number of people to find a smartphone that has stupendous potential in the camera department and still available at an affordable price. And focusing the people with such mindset, Colors had brought the Colors S11 which had an impressive dual selfie camera up front. It was launched in the mid-January and had been the first online exclusive smartphone in Nepal back then. The same smartphone has now expanded its territory and is available for the offline purchase.
Colors S11 comes with a 5.2-inch display, which offers an HD resolution. At this size, the smartphone feels comfortable to hold and is even easy for the single-handed use. Since the smartphone being the camera-centric handset, it comes with remarkable 8MP twin cameras on the front end. With this kind of setup, users can get a wide-angle shot of 120-degrees. So one should not worry about having a friend or family member to be out of the frame even while taking a selfie in a large group of people. On the back, there is a single 8MP shooter.
Powering the Colors S11 is MediaTek MT6737W chipset backed by 3GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. And there is a dedicated slot for the Micro SD card if the onboard storage turned out to be insufficient. The smartphone is fueled by a 3000mAh battery and comes with Android Nougat OS out of the box.
Colors S11 Specifications
5.2-inch IPS LCD display, HD (720 x 1280 pixels) resolution @282 PPI
Finding a good budget smartphone is cumbersome these days. To keep the prices low, compromises are made here and there. However, the Moto E4 seems quite somewhat promising in terms of specs even at the budget price point. But how will the smartphone fare in the real-life scenario? Let’s find in this Moto E4 review.
Motorola Moto E4 Specifications
5.0 inches(720 x 1280) @294ppi
Corning Gorilla Glass 3 Protection with Oleophobic Coating
Android 7.1.1 Nougat
Fingerprint sensor
MediaTek MT6737 Quadcore
2GB RAM
16GB Internal Storage, Expandable up to 128 GB.
8MP Rear Camera with f/2.2 aperture.
5MP Front Facing Camera with f/2.2 aperture.
Removable Li-Ion 2800 mAh battery with Fast Charging
Moto E4 Price in Nepal: Rs. 16,290
Design and Build
The smartphone is a miniature version of its sibling, the Moto E4 Plus. The plastic body provided with a metallic finish and the texture on the power button is barely distinguishable. However, the smartphone gives the vibe of metallic build and feels cold quite often in this chilly weather.
Bezel-less displays are quite trendy these days. However, the Moto E4 has not adopted that alluring design. The smartphone has pretty generous bezels on the forehead and the chin. The forehead has been the habitat for the ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, and the earpiece. Likewise, there is a secluded fingerprint sensor on the chip. The sensor is oblong in shape and has fiercely pushed the touch buttons to the screen. There is also a notification LED on the phone but barely serves the purpose. The only time I found the LED lit was while charging handset during the switched off condition.
And talking about the buttons, the Moto E4 has accumulated all the buttons on its right edge. With the power button positioned at an absolute middle and the volume rockers placed just above it, they are easily reachable and provide good haptic feedback on the press. On the top, there is a 3.5mm headphone jack and micro USB slot lies meticulously on the button. The speaker, on the other hand, lies on the lower back of the phone.
Display
The smartphone possesses a 5-inch HD display with 2.5D glass on the top. The pixel density of 294PPI may not seem top-notch in the papers but on the use, the display is satisfyingly crisp and users will barely have an issue. Users would rather enjoy its smooth touchscreen crafted with 2.5D glass and a sensational oleophobic coating. Viewing angle is also fairly decent with an impressive color reproduction. To add more, the display is shielded with Gorilla glass 3 to evade the vulnerabilities regarding the scratches. However, the screen is a notorious smudge magnet and needs cleaning quite often although having an oleophobic coating.
Software and UI
On the software side, Moto E4 is gifted with clean Android Nougat on its system. With just the home-baked Moto app on the shelf, the smartphone lacks the additional touch from the manufacturer. And this is the major advantage with the Moto E4 as the additional customizations and presence of bloatware make the device sluggish and devours the RAM and internal storage of the phone.
The Moto app has Moto actions and Moto display options inside. With the one button navigation option in the Moto action, the fingerprint sensor can be used as a trackpad to replace the on-screen buttons with gestures. There is also swipe to shrink the screen, which narrows down the content in a smaller screen and assists in single hand usability. Likewise, the Night display in the Moto display turns on the blue light filter during the night hours and helps to regulate the sleep cycle.
Performance
Moto E4 is powered by MediaTek 6737 processor aided by 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. The presence of 16GB of onboard storage is nothing out of ordinary at this price point. But the presence of a dedicated slot for the storage expansion definitely is, which lets the users boost the storage without sacrificing the SIM2 slot.
Talking about the performance, I find no issues on loading and running of light apps and games. None of the apps ever crashed or stopped with error messages. However, there was a slight delay while loading heavier games and few stutters were evident on the play. Some heavy titles like Dead Trigger 2, Into the Dead 2, and PES were still playable even with the minor hiccups. And the most praiseworthy of all was the device did not heated much even while playing the games for hours.
Talking about the camera, the smartphone gives the vibe of a camera phone with its protruded camera bump on the back and LED flash on both ends. However, on the use, I had mixed feelings about it. The 8MP camera on the back was not too shabby and took some decent shots. Photos were fine on the phone’s screen but lacked the sharpness when zoomed or viewed in larger screens. There was also decent color accuracy most of the times but in some images, I noticed yellow tints. Low light shots were satisfactory if not better. Except for few noises and grains, there were no issues on low light shots and the details within the image were easily traceable.
The 5MP front camera was not bad either. It pulled out some social media ready selfies without a fuss. And for the ones, who crave for the beautified selfies in the real time, there is an inbuilt beauty mode. Skin tones are made fairer and facial skins are smoothened in the beautified selfies. Such effects make you look better at times but the facial details are obliterated in most of the cases. And talking about the low light selfies, I was quite disappointed with the front LED flash because of its blinding light. Additionally, the skin looked washed out, which was pretty devastating.
The inefficient HDR mode, sluggish autofocus and the lack of pro mode is a bummer on the phone. And in a nutshell, there is nothing to brag about the cameras in the E4.
Moto E4 camera samples
1 of 10
Low light shot
Image with yellow tint
Image with yellow tint
Selfie with beauty mode off
Selfie with beauty mode on
Battery
Beneath the removable back of the Moto E4, there is a 2800mAh removable battery. On my normal daily use, the phone usually backed me up for one complete day. Back up was satisfactory to me but charging the device was a pain in the neck. Although it supports fast charging, I’m disappointed that Motorola provides a stock charger of 5V, 1A, which takes around 2 and a half hours to get it fully charged. You have to spend few extra bucks to buy a separate fast charger. I tried to charge the device with a fast charger of 5V, 2A, and the charging was fast with 0 to 100 within one and a half hour. But the fastest charge would be to buy a separate battery and swap it whenever the other is empty.
Conclusion
To keep the prices low, compromises are inescapable in the budget smartphones. And the Moto E4 has not broken that streak. However, considering the price, the smartphone has not opted in for middling performance on any major fields. The stock Android, sturdy design, and the inclusion of snappy fingerprint are duly remarkable. And the overall performance of the device looks balanced. A better processor and a slightly bigger battery would have been icing on the cake but nonetheless, the Moto E4 is still one of the rockstars in the arena of budget smartphones.
Instagram was launched in 2010 exclusively for the iOS users. The aim was to make it a platform through which people could communicate through pictures. It gained massive popularity (100,000 users) just within a week. The number has consistently grown through years.
The platform which was limited to just being a photo sharing app slowly upgraded with various updates. The first one was hashtags. Both Instagram and hashtags contributed to each other’s popularity. Then the updates like Insta-filters, tilt-shift, and acceptance of high-resolution pictures were made.
Instagram made its way to the Android Play store in April 2012. The popularity reached its peak with a million downloads within a single day. Insta-direct, a few editing functions, boomerang, new icon, Insta-stories, image zoom, live streaming, uploading multiple photos at a time etc. are the updates Instagram has come up with throughout the years.
Just when we feel like that’s all, Instagram has come up with multiple new updates to our surprise. This time, the update that Instagram is intending to come up with might/might not be as exciting to the users.
Following Snapchat’s footsteps, Instagram is now coming up with an update which will notify the creator of the story if we take screenshots. It is similar but not the same.
The notification part is definitely similar but the notification will only be visible to the uploader once they go to the ‘story views’ section. Beside the name of the person who took a screenshot of the story will be a camera-shutter logo. While in Snapchat, the notifications are instantly pushed to devices.
If seen from a security point of a view, this keeps the uploader aware. But at the same time, it is not as secure as we think of it to be. Or, we could say, this update will not be fully functional. Why? Because notifications can be prevented if the screenshots are taken while putting the phones on flight-mode. This makes the update kind of futile.
Hence, how effective or necessary this update is, will be known once it is available to everybody. For now, waiting is the key.
Chinese smartphone brand Gionee has slashed the price of its latest selfie oriented smartphone, Gionee A1 Lite. Launched for Rs. 25,999, the A1 Lite is now available for Rs. 20,570. You can redeem the offer from the nearest retail outlets.
This price drop will definitely lure selfie lovers as the phone is equipped with a high-res 20MP camera. It also features a whopping 4000mAh battery which provided excellent backup on our review. The 5.3-inch display has an HD resolution which might turn off few users, but the IPS LCD screen is satisfactory. The 1.3Ghz octa-core processor from MediaTek and 3GB of RAM gives smooth experience in day-to-day use, but the gaming performance is average at best.
The 13MP Sony lens on the A1 Lite has f/2.0 aperture, Phase Detection autofocus, and dual-LED flash. It has 32GB of internal storage which you can expand it via microSD card up to 128GB. It runs on Android 7.0 Nougat with Amigo 4.0 UI layered on top. Connectivity option includes dual SIM with 4G LTE, 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, and USB OTG. You can check out our full review here:
Gionee A1 Lite Specs:
Display: 5.3 inch IPS display with 1280*720 pixel (282 ppi)
Protection: 2.5D curved glass with Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Processor: 1.3 GHz Octa-core 64 bit MediaTek MT6753 Soc with Mali-T720MP3 GPU
One of the very anticipated occasions as soon as the new year arrives is Valentine’s day. Of course, we hear a lot of stories about how Valentine’s day was named Valentine’s day or the reason for its existence. Nevertheless, what’s important is it’s still celebrated.
There are again, two schools of thoughts. Some say it is completely absurd and some celebrate it with all their heart. Similar to the concept of love, there’s no right or wrong. There are only perspectives and experiences, which we cannot differentiate as right or wrong.
Same is the situation of lovers, some are pro giving and accepting presents while some completely deny that its needed. Well, the debate will keep going on. We are here with some of the tech gifts on a budget, through which that you can express your love to your better half.
Gone are the days when we used to take technology as being guys cup of tea. Now, we can see girls paying attention and using tech stuff more often and the number is only growing. One of the things that give my point a validity is the writer of this article itself, who is a girl.
This Valentine’s we bring you the list of tech or tech related stuff you can gift to your partner this valentine’s day. To make the struggle of finding a valentine’s day give easier. Let’s proceed.
Bluetooth Speakers
What better than a Bluetooth speaker for a partner who is a music enthusiast. they can carry it along with them wherever they go. At times when you can’t accompany them, the speaker will. As music has replaced books and has become our new best-friend while we are alone. We present you a list of speakers:
The speakers included here are not just portable but also convenient as the majority of these come with built-in carabiner. These are available in various shapes and colors. It gives the customers a variety of choice.
2. Powerbank (For the Always Online partner)
We all have successfully entered a time on earth where nothing hassle-free feels like an accomplishment. Addressing this success, we need objects that make our lives easier, one of which is powerbanks.
If we need our cell phones all the time, powerbanks to cell phones are exactly like the nebulizer to humans. These have become one of the necessities in our busy lives where we need to be on the phone all the time. Plug them together and add life to the battery. Also, keep the communication going with your loved one. Nothing annoys us more than not being able to keep a track of our loved ones. Guess what? ‘The battery went low’ excuse would have validity no more.
Let’s have a look at some of the powerbanks to add power to the communication going on:
Mi Powerbank 2:
Charging: Bi-directional fast charge
Battery: 10000 MAh
Price: Rs. 2,499
3. Smart-band (For the Gym/Health Conscious Enthusiast)
We are not unknown to the fitness wave going around and the fitness bands being produced along with them.
If your partner is a fitness enthusiast, smartband is exactly what you would want to gift them. Nothing makes a partner happy than knowing that the other partner is equally involved in the things they love. Smart bands are also convenient for going to the gym or a morning walk or exercising when it’s not possible to take your smartphone along as smartphones these days are smart enough in the fitness category as well.
Making it easier for you, we suggest some of the best working smart-bands on a budget:
Mi Band 2:
Display: OLED
Battery-life:
Sensor: time, heart-rate, steps, sleep assistant, buzz when sitting for too long, incoming call and message alert
Resistance: splash, dust, cosmetics, sweat
Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.0
Price: Rs. 4499
Earphones make the audio/visual experience much better. I found a good one, they help us get involved in the world the sound is playing in. It makes us a part of that world. And by gifting your loved one with a pair will surely make them closer to your world.
Here are our suggestions to make your earphones search easier while we have thousands of them to choose from:
JBL T210
Price: Rs. 2,300
OnePlus Bullets V2
Price: Rs. 2,750
Mi In-Ear Headphones Pro
Price: Rs. 3,299
5. VR Box
Technology is ever-evolving. The next big thing in this revolution may be virtual reality (VR). Stay at home movie or game experience. It makes you feel like you are actually inside the world of game you are playing or the videos you are watching. One-time investment and a long-time payback.
If your partner is a gaming freak or a movies freak, you should definitely think of it as an option this valentine’s day. It would be as unique and as useful. Something that very fewer people would gift their loved ones.
We have come up with a couple of VR boxes under a budget, let’s proceed:
Samsung Gear VR
Price: Rs. 11,000
Mi VR
Price: Rs. 2000
6. Electric lamps
The time when load shedding was a problem is long gone. Now, everything that runs on electricity is back to its form. The influence of YouTube and various room makeover videos have made us want to have a makeover of our own. We have been longing for the commodities as seen on those videos. But, the availability is still a problem.
If you have a partner who is interested in aesthetically pleasing commodities for their rooms or if they are a geek you can gift them some unique, ‘futuristic’ looking lamps.
Not only are these good to look at, they are unique in their own ways. We suggest you some lamps that would give the romantic vibes
Getting a present is always an amazing feeling and if it is well thought of, it makes it priceless. No matter how cliché it might sound but merely giving a present would mean nothing if you don’t truly respect or value them. Make your loved one feel special with gifts with added respect and importance which will bring the present to life.
It has not been so long that the brand Lava used to focus on producing budget smartphones. But now that trend seems to be lost in the oblivion. Since the announcement of Lava A3, Lava has been toiling to pack superior features and raising its standard. Residing in the mid-range section, A3 had kept us awe-struck with elegant cameras, snappy fingerprint sensor, and many more features. And now another smartphone is has come to keep this new Lava tradition alive. Lava has brought a new smartphone, which is crafted elegantly and packed with some awe-inspiring features. It is none other than the Lava R3.
Lava R3 possesses a charming 5.7-inch IPS LCD display. The display is elegantly surrounded by narrow bezels across the borders. With the 18:9 aspect ratio prevailing in the market, Lava had been quite hesitant to ignore the trend. And finally, Lava R3 is going to be the first Lava smartphone with bezel-less display and18:9 aspect ratio. The display comes with 2.5D glass on the top to offer a seamless experience while viewing the display.
The smartphone comes in two color variants: Black and Blue. Although the device is wrapped in a plastic body, the metallic finish on the top of it gives the vibe of a premium smartphone. And the accented colors of blue or black has given it an enticing looks.
One of the features that are praiseworthy on the device is its superior camera. Although it lacks the fancy dual-camera setup, the 13MP rear camera shoots images with real-time Bokeh effects. So even with a single camera on the action, users can get some nifty shots with a vibrant subject and the blurred background. And this capability crawls to the selfie side. The 8MP camera upfront is also smart enough to identify the subjects and background. After segregating the subjects and the background, the selfie shooter intelligently blurs the background imitating a Bokeh shot. The front camera also has a wide field of view of 84-degrees. So while taking selfies even in a large group of people, there will be less chance of having someone out of the frame.
To improve its capabilities while capturing the images in the low light condition, there is an LED flash both on the front and on the back. The smartphone also has Night Shot master feature, which removes the noises in low light shots and portrays clearer and brighter images.
Lava R3 has also added biometric means to unlock the device adding an additional layer of security option. The smartphone comes with the FaceID feature to unlock the device. It is also one of the best features in the iPhone X and was hailed all around the globe. With the FaceID feature on the play, the device unlocks in less than a second (0.8 s to be precise). And talking about the fingerprint sensor, Lava R3 is quite snappy in that department with the unlocking time of mere 0.2 seconds.
The Lava R3 smartphone is powered by MediaTek MT6737 chipset backed by 3GB RAM and 32GB of onboard storage. In terms of software, Lava R3 is privileged with Android Nougat 7.1.1 with Lava’s home-baked ColorOS 4.2 on the top. And there is 3000mAh battery, which keeps the device running.
Lava R3 Specifications
Display: 5.7 inches IPS LCD HD+ display with 18:9 aspect ratio
OS: Android v7.1.1 Nougat with StarOS 4.2 on the top
Chipset: MediaTek MT6737
CPU: Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex- A53
GPU: Mali T720
RAM: 3GB
Onboard Storage: 32GB
Front camera: 8MP, with LED Flash; Real-time Bokeh effects & Night shot master
Rear camera: 13MP with LED Flash; Real-time Bokeh effects
Fingerprint Sensor: Yes (unlock time 0.2 seconds)
FaceID (Face Recognition): Yes (unlock time 0.8 seconds)
Battery: 3000 mAh Non-removable battery
Color Options: Black and Blue
Lava R3 Price in Nepal
In terms of pricing, Lava R3 comes carrying a price tag of Rs. 18,499. At this price, the device has to compete against the Micromax Canvas Infinity, which too comes with the near bezel-less display and an 18:9 aspect ratio. Considering the specs sheet, Lava R3 might have an upper hand over the Canvas Infinity but how will it fare in real life, there is more yet to see.
Lava R3 is being promoted all over. The Facebook page of Lava has also been creating quite a buzz. FullView display, FaceID, snappy fingerprint sensor, and dual Bokeh cameras would obviously be pleasing. But we need have our hands on the device and review it to confirm if it genuinely possesses the promised specs. So till then, we are just obliged to wait.
“If aliens did visit us, I’d be embarrassed to tell them we still dig up fossil fuels from the ground as a source of energy.” The internet went crazy after Neil deGrasse Tyson tweeted this a few years back. And why would it not, fossil fuel is the major source of pollution in the world right now and on top of that, it is drying up at a fast pace. So, to tackle this issue, various manufacturers are launching electric vehicles around the world and here in Nepal too. And looking to pioneer the movement is Niu, a startup from 2015, which is turning a lot of heads right now. The company has already launched three scooters in Nepal with the Niu N1s leading the campaign.
The N1s is the first electric scooter that carries a number plate on its back, and it has already passed the “White Gumba” uphill test as well. Niu is currently offering the scooter at an initial price of Rs. 265,000 and a discounted price of Rs. 198,888. So, why is the scooter this expensive? And can it really change the ongoing trend of vehicles running on petroleum products here in Nepal? Let’s find it out.
Design
The Niu N1s is a compact scooter with a futuristic look. The vehicle certainly has a unique design that can catch anyone’s eye. The front of the N1s has a curved and non-traditional look. There is a headlight on the front right below the company’s emblem. An official at Niu Nepal told me that the headlights have been specially made to signify the logo of Niu. It has dual smart LED bulbs which automatically light up sensing the environment a person is riding the vehicle around. There is a LCD display up front which shows the remaining battery charge, the speed you are riding the scooter in and the power mode you have chosen to ride it in.
Right under the seat is a storage compartment which is quite spacious considering how compact the N1s it. It can easily house your helmet and few other objects. There is also a lock that opens the battery compartment which is right below the footboard. One feature that got me confused at the start was the way you open the storage compartment lock. You will have to unlock it from the scooter’s primary lock itself.
Performance
Yes, this vehicle has three levels of power mode rather than gears. And basically, the higher the level you choose, the faster the scooter goes. It can easily speed up to 50-52 km/h in the city roads. However, this scooter suffers a little from the unfinished roads as the ride is bumpy due to its lightness and suspension. And continuing with the cons, the scooter lacks ample ground clearance, so its base constantly hits the bumps. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it can’t handle Kathmandu’s roads. The N1s easily breezes through the roadway of the city and I also had no problem riding it on the muddy roads. It has double disc brakes, so you can trust the braking system at the time of need.
The Uphill Test
One of the frequently asked questions about the scooter is whether it passes the uphill test or not. Well, even when galloping through a busy steep uphill roadway, this scooter easily climbs up, and that too with a pillion behind me. The FOC in the scooter, which acts as the brain, monitors the electricity demand to power the BOSCH motor effectively whenever necessary.
Battery
The BOSCH Motor is powered by a portable 60V 29 Ah Lithium-Ion battery which alone costs a whopping Rs. 80,000. This battery is placed right below the footboard and is easy to carry around as it weighs 10kgs. It took me around 6 hours and Rs. 52 to fully charge it up. You can charge the scooter directly from the port placed at the under-seat storage or take out the battery and charge it wherever you want to. Niu has claimed that the N1s can provide a mileage of 80km. On my test, I got around 36 km of mileage when the battery consumption was down to 50%. However, a few days back, when I tried to go from 100 – 0%, the N1s ran only for around 60 km. So, even though you can travel a lot on a minimum price of Rs. 52, you cannot expect the N1s to be consistent with its mileage.
Experience
Now talking about the riding experience, the N1s is as smooth as silk and the seats are really comfortable. If you can ignore the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu City and focus on the ride, you will really enjoy it. Well, I did!
And the first thing you notice while riding the scooter is the lack of sound. The engine doesn’t make any sound at all, so it will take a few minutes to get used to the noise-less experience. Niu has not only focused on tackling air pollution but has also worked to minimize the noise pollution.
App Integration
One of the best features of the Niu N1s is its app integration. There is a unique SIM number in the scooter which when entered into the Niu App, shows each and everything regarding the vehicle. I had a hard time registering my scooter though as the app still seems to be in a developmental phase. But once I got the registration, I was amazed at how useful the application is. It shows real-time battery life and the location of your Niu scooter. So, with the N1s, you will have that extra security if you ever happen to lose your vehicle. It also has a different tab to check the statistics of your travel in a single day.
Warranty and Customer Service
According to Eco Infinity, the NIU Bosch Motor and LG/Panasonic lithium ion carry two years warranty. The company offers free “Roadside Assistance” if you ever happen to need some help with your scooter. Also, the service centers and charging stations are attached to Niu’s showrooms as well. Eco Infinity has also installed free charging stations at Evo Store (Labim Mall, Sherpa Mall and Mercantile Plaza).
Currently, the following warranty offers are available on the Niu N1s (courtesy: Eco Infinity):
Electronics
Charger
Performance failure and irreparable caused by defective product.
24 months
FOC Controller, Smart Controller, Dashboard, Throttle Handle, main Harness, Horn, Remote Immobilizer, Flasher, Ignition Lock (inc secondary lock and keys)
12 months
DC-DC Adaptor
9 months
Combination switches, USB charger assembly, Cable hall sensor, Turning signal lights, Front light, Rear light
6 months
Motor
Motor
Missing Phase, Burned, Demagnetization
24 months or 20000km
Battery
Lithium Battery Pack
Only use the battery pack under operational environment after charged (charging temperature range 0 degree Celsius to 35 degree Celsius. Operational environment).
24 months or 20000km
Conclusion
At last, you’re probably wondering whether the Niu N1s is worth the huge price tag. Yes, maybe Niu Nepal will do better if considers decreasing the initial price of Rs. 265,000. But still, it is a comfortable and a powerful machine that can handle everything you throw at it. And on top of that, with everything going electric, and pollution already crossing WHO’s limit, it’s about time we switch to a vehicle that can actually help control the environmental issues. The Niu N1s is an elegant, powerful and unique device that is made up of state of the art products. So, if you want a scooter that offers quite a bit of mileage, and also want to go green, you should definitely get a new Niu N1s.
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