Do you really know the NPU in Huawei Kirin970?

Huawei, the global technology leader has unveiled a new era in smartphone innovation at the IFA 2017. Alongside with revealing Huawei's vision for the future, CEO Richard Yu launched the all new Kirin 970 and the Artificial Intelligence (AI). The Kirin 970 will be launched in October, with the upcoming flagship device – HUAWEI Mate 10.

The Neural-network Processing Unit (NPU), embedded in the revolutionary Kirin970 will focus on artificial intelligence tasks linked to the cloud and on the device for real-time calculations from end to end. This NPU is also dedicated for Huawei's first mobile AI computing platform. By combining the power of the cloud with the speed and responsiveness of native AI processing, HUAWEI is going to bring AI experiences to life.

The NPU will let us have faster responses since there won't be a need to uploading data from the device to cloud, computing of data, and send it back. The NPU will also be secure since we can safeguard user privacy. It will also decrease the overall power consumption since it is just a processing unit in SoC.

Compared to Central Processing Unit (CPU), the NPU's performance is 25x more, whereas its efficiency is 50x. The NPU makes the Kirin 970 process 2,000 images per minute, considerably more than other chips with similar capabilities. Basically, the NPU can make a smartphone truly know and understand its users, supporting real-time image recognition, voice interaction and intelligent photography with ease. The NPU will promote the development of innovative apps that use on-device AI.

Huawei is rapidly emerging as an innovative industry leader within the electronics and telecommunications arena, aiming to deliver exceptional services to the rapidly expanding segment of smartphone users in Pakistan, who seek powerful global connectivity.

Huawei surpasses Apple to be the Second Largest Smartphone Brand

 

In the latest research conducted by Counterpoint’s Market Pulse, HUAWEI has surpassed Apple in global smartphone sales consistently for June and July 2017. With the sales in August looking strong for the Chinese vendor as well, a hat-trick for HUAWEI could be possible.

Peter Richardson – Research Director of Counterpoint states: “This is a significant milestone for Huawei, the largest Chinese smartphone brand with a growing global presence. It speaks volumes for this primarily network infrastructure vendor, on how far it has grown in the consumer mobile handset space in the last three to four years. The global scale Huawei has been able to achieve, can be attributed to its consistent investment in R&D and manufacturing - coupled with aggressive marketing and sales channel expansion.”

Talking about future prospects and other findings, Counterpoint’s Associate Director - Tarun Pathak states: “The growth of Chinese brands is an important trend which no player in the mobile ecosystem can ignore. Chinese brands are growing swiftly, not only because of smartphone design, manufacturing capability and rich feature sets - but also by out-smarting and out-spending rivals in sales channels, go-to-market and marketing promotion strategies.”

Mr Pathak further stated: “Chinese vendors have become as equally important as Samsung or Apple to the global supply chain, application developers and distribution channels, as they continue to grow in scale more rapidly than the incumbent market share leaders.”

Counterpoint Technology Market Research is a global research firm specializing in Technology products in the TMT industry. It services major technology firms and financial firms with a mix of monthly reports, customized projects and detailed analysis of the mobile and technology markets. Counterpoints key analysts are experts in the industry with an average tenure of 13 years in the high tech sector. Counterpoint’s Market Pulse is based on tracking monthly model-level sales for more than 300 brands across more than 40 countries globally.

Huawei is rapidly emerging as an innovative industry leader within the electronics and telecommunications arena, aiming to deliver exceptional services to the rapidly expanding segment of smartphone users in Pakistan, who seek powerful global connectivity.

Samsung Pakistan begins pre-orders of Galaxy Note 8 with 20% Discount on Etihad Airways

Samsung – the global leader in convergence technologies has now began its Pre-ordering for the latest - Galaxy Note-8, in Pakistan. Once again, Samsung is promising a little extra for all pre-ordering customers, by offering them a 20% discount and Free Wi-Fi Access on Etihad Airways, along with Unlimited Access of Iflix Membership for 1 year.

This new flagship phablet with an infinity display is priced at Rs.108,999 in Pakistan, and Samsung will start shipping the device from 26th September. The customers can Pre order the new device from 04-September to 24-September-2017. It can be either pre-ordered online via TeleMart or by physically visiting Samsung’s stores.

The President of Samsung Pakistan and Afghanistan Mr. Y. J. Kim stated that: “We are proud to introduce this new power-packed device, which promises tremendous infotainment and instant global connectivity for the discerning consumers, who aspire to live a fast-paced lifestyle and excel in today's highly-competitive professional world. Moreover, they will also be able to enjoy fabulous discounts for travelling around the globe with the world’s leading airline – Etihad Airways”.

Some of the fascinating features of the Galaxy Note 8 include; a 6.3-inch Quad HD+ (2960×1440) Super AMOLED display, 10nm Octa-core Exynos 8895 processor, 6GB RAM, 64GB internal storage expandable via MicroSD card.

It is enriched with a Dual 12MP back-camera with OIS and Wide-angle f/1.7, telephoto and a f/2.4 8MP f/1.7 front-camera. It is powered by a 3300 mAh battery and an Android 7.1.1 Nougat Operating System. This powerful new smartphone will be available in three attractive colors; Maple Gold, Midnight Black, and Orchid Gray.

Maximizing ecommerce penetration via digital payment solutions

Online payments are a cornerstone of e-commerce activity. And consumer trust, a crucial barometer of its health. The payment methods consumers turn to are indicative of their levels of trust in the security of online shopping. Data from Daraz.pk’s recent Independence Day sale opens a window into consumer trust in prepaid transactions. While prepayment is an emergent player in the ecommerce landscape, Cash on Delivery still predominates.

This article gives an overview of several payment instruments available on Daraz.pk. While far from widespread, these online payment solutions are growing in influence.

In Prepaid We Trust

Daraz.pk’s Black Friday sale in November 2015 raised the benchmark for prepaid payments. The percentage of customers relying on prepaid transactions spiked to 33% from 5% during this sale alone.

Since then, the ecommerce company has been building partnerships with leading banks the likes of HBL, Standard Chartered Bank, UBL, Meezan Bank, Silk Bank and more. It has started offering easy monthly installments, made its portal 3D Secure and inducted mobile wallets and bank transfers into the mix.

The most recent HBL Independence Day ShopFest continued this upward trend. In MD Zain Suharwardy’s words: When you’re Pakistan’s largest online marketplace, it isn’t enough to simply set up shop. The digitization of commerce has to work in tandem with payment solutions in order to truly effect a paradigm shift. We’ve made progress to this end and aim to convert greater numbers of customers to prepaid.”

Trust by Numbers
70% of Independence Day ShopFest sales were prepaid: 47% of these were new customers and 25% were old customers opting for prepayment for the first time.

“It’s encouraging to know that almost half our prepayment customers during the Independence Day sale were brand new customers to Daraz, making first-time Daraz orders. Prepaid is a vote of confidence in an increasingly sophisticated ecosystem,” ads Suharwardy.

While the peaks in Daraz’s prepayment graph can be accounted for by major sale events such as Black Friday and Independence Day, the overall trend telegraphs growing trust in prepaid over time.

Daraz.pk’s payments ecosystem has grown to accommodate a range of electronic payments solutions. Cash on Delivery is no longer a foregone conclusion: Daraz has adopted a range of special offers, security features and payment options to give customers greater latitude and ease-of-use when shopping online.
Trust by Method

Online payment solutions ensuring maximum coverage

Daraz has actively been working with payment partners to ensure the maximum number of people can avail online payment facilities.

To this end, Daraz has onboarded Easypay and JazzCash - online payment solutions for ecommerce sellers and customers. There are several ways of paying via these payment solutions. One of these solutions allows any local or internationally issued Visa/MasterCard Credit or Debit card holder to pay online using these portals. Compliance with International Data security standards and stringent security checks ensure these solutions optimize online shopping for millions of end users nationwide.

Pakistan is a country with limited bank account penetration, and so, to bridge this gap, mobile wallets on Daraz - the Easypaisa Mobile Account and the JazzCash Mobile Account - empower customers without bank accounts to make payments online. Between January and July 2017, orders fulfilled using Easypaisa Mobile Account increased 168%. Including JazzCash Mobile Account transactions, the overall increase in Mobile Wallet payments in the first seven months of the year is at 243%.

Daraz also facilitates bank transfers through Keenu NetConnect - an innovative card-less service in Pakistan custom-designed for online stores. It is a secure way for customers to pay online from their bank account.

3D Secure Payments

According to State Bank recommendations, growing numbers of banks are adopting 3D Secure.

Daraz is a 3D Secure enabled website. 3D Secure, the latest technology powered by Verified by Visa (VBV) and MasterCard SecureCode, adds an additional layer of security and secondary verification when using credit cards for internet-based transactions. It provides customers added protection from unauthorized internet-based transactions by requiring them to provide a One-Time Password (OTP) when they shop on 3D Secure enabled websites, such as Daraz. Secondary verification is completed via SMS and/or email.

Easy Monthly Instalments on Daraz

Daraz offers easy monthly instalments, letting customers shop off Daraz through a deferred payment plan. The innovative online financing option, a breakthrough in the ecommerce space, makes online shopping more affordable for customers - it is free of markup, processing fee, down payment or other hidden costs. The zero-cost easy monthly instalment lets customers shop through over 300,000 products available on Daraz with a total cart value equal to or greater than Rs 10,000. Repayment can be scheduled in 3, 6 or 12 month tenures on checkout.

Currently offered to Standard Chartered Bank customers under Asaan Instalments, several other banks are expected to introduce this payment solution on the website in the near future.

Special offers and regular incentives to improve online payment utilization

In the last year and a half, Daraz has consistently grown the incidence of online payment through special offers and incentives on a regular basis. Mega events such as the Easypay Online Shopping Gala, JazzCash Festival and the HBL ShopFest and the scheduling of regular Bank Partner days - Standard Chartered Super Sundays (15% additional discount) and UBL Wednesdays  (20% additional discount) are cases in point. Silk Bank Tuesdays and Meezan Fridays are expected to go live in the coming week. These bank partnerships allow customers to avail bank-exclusive additional discounts on their cards, further incentivizing card payments and promoting prepayment culture on a regular basis.

Availability of payment systems has changed the e-commerce dynamic. As merchants know only too well, COD (cash on delivery) is not sustainable in the long-run. It has to move to a more formal, prepaid environment, as is the norm in other countries around the world. The role of a payment solutions is crucial - it imparts sellers security, and also extends that security to customers and clients like Daraz.pk, all the while contributing to customer confidence.

Samsung Electronics Expands Premium TV Lineup at IFA 2017

Samsung Electronics Co.,Ltd. announced today that it will introduce new flat screen 55- and 65-inch QLED TV models, the Q8F, and a 43-inch version of The Frame at IFA 2017.Samsung will also hostthe QLED and HDR10 (High Dynamic Range) Summit at IFA on September 1 at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Berlin, Germany to offer insights into the advancement of quantum dot (QLED) displays as well as developing the full potential of the HDR10/HDR10+ ecosystem.

The Q8F is theflat screen counterpart to the previously launched curved screen lineupQ8C. Samsung is expanding its QLED TV line-up in Europe as it seeks to solidify its leading position in the global premium TV market.The new 43-inchversion of The Frame combines both technology and art to provide consumers with design value that enables them to personalize and elevate smaller living spaces.

“We are proud to introduce a flat version of the Q8 in response to demand from European consumers seeking premium, flat and mid-size TVs,” said Sang-hoCho, Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “Our extendedQLED TV lineup as well as 43-inch version of The Frame ushers in new possibilities for televisions with their innovative technology and beautiful design, reflecting consumer lifestyles.”

Fortifying its Leading Position in the Premium TV Market

With the addition of the Q8F models, Samsung’s 2017 QLED TV lineupin Europe has been expandedto 14 models.Samsung’soffering, with the Q9, Q8, and Q7 QLED TV models, represents the most comprehensive line-up of premium TVsranging from 49 to 88-inches in sizeand includes eight flat and six curved screen sets. The Q8F models, in particular, are the first flat screen models in Samsung’s QLED TV Q8 line-up.

Using metal quantum dot technology, Samsung QLED TVs produce the most accurate colors regardless of scene brightness level. This unique characteristic was verified with a“100 percent Color Volume” byVDE (VerbandDeutscherElektrotechniker),the global standard certificate authority in Germany.The QLED TV’s Invisible Connection, a transparent optical cable that is only 1.8 mm in diameter, eliminates the tangled clutter of cables, and itsNo Gap Wall-mountallows the television to be mounted flush against awall and fit seamlessly into variousspaces.

Thenew 43-inch model of The Frame completes the lifestyle TV’s lineup, which currently consists of 55- and 65-inch models.Through its Art Mode function, The Frame, in addition to serving as a TV, doubles as a home décor element displaying both works of art as well as personal photographs. ThroughThe Frame’sArt Store, users will soon be able to access about 1,000 prominentart pieces from world famous galleries and museums including the LUMAS, Saatchi Art, Seditionand Prado Museum.

The Q8F models will be immediately availablefollowing itsintroduction at IFA, andthe 43-inch version of The Frame will be available in Europe starting in October, with the products to be introduced elsewhere on a phased basis. The new Q8F is available ata suggested retail price ofEUR 2,599 (55-inch) and EUR 3,599(65-inch), and the 43-inch The Frame at EUR 1,499.

Catching the Eyes of IFA Attendees with EnhancedHDR10+ Technologies

Samsung will demonstrate its QLED andHDR10+TV technologies at the QLED and HDR10Summit,which is being co-hosted bydisplay market research publisher Insight Media. HDR10+ provides unprecedented picture quality for displays with brightness, color and contrast automatically optimized for each scene. The Summit will detail how with HDR10+ dynamic tone mapping, every scene is individually enhanced to bring-to-life vibrant visuals and colors that allow viewers to enjoy content just the way the filmmaker or director intended.

At the Summit, Samsung will also discuss its new partnership with 20th Century Fox and Panasonic Corporation to create an open, royalty-free dynamic metadata platform for HDR10+. The three companies will form a licensing entity in January 2018 and offer royalty-free metadata to content companies, UHD TV, Blu-ray players/recorders and set-top box manufacturers, as well as SoC(System on Chip) vendors.

“Our goal is always to provide consumers with the best possible viewing experience through the latest technology and innovation,” said Jongsuk Chu, Senior Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “With our latest advanced HDR10+ technology and QLED TV, we hope to make enhanced picture quality with richer colors and deeper contrast easily accessible to users across a variety of content.”

Huawei Reveals the Future of Mobile AI at IFA 2017

CEO Richard Yu Unveils the Kirin 970, Huawei’s first mobile AI computing platform

Today at IFA 2017, Huawei Consumer Business Group unveiled a new era in smartphone innovation. As part of CEO Richard Yu’s keynote address, he revealed Huawei’s vision for the future of artificial intelligence with the launch of the Kirin 970. By combining the power of the cloud with the speed and responsiveness of native AI processing, Huawei is bringing AI experiences to life and changing the way we interact with our devices.

“As we look to the future of smartphones, we’re at the threshold of an exciting new era,” said Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei Consumer Business Group. “Mobile AI = On-Device AI + Cloud AI. Huawei is committed to developing smart devices into intelligent devices by building end-to-end capabilities that support coordinated development of chips, devices, and the cloud. The ultimate goal is to provide a significantly better user experience. The Kirin 970 is the first in a series of new advances that will bring powerful AI features to our devices and take them beyond the competition.”

After years of development, Cloud AI has seen broad application, but user experience still has room for improvement, including latency, stability, and privacy. Cloud AI and On-Device AI can complement each other. On-Device AI offers strong sensing capabilities, which are the foundation of understanding and assisting people. Sensors produce a large amount of real-time, scenario-specific, and personalized data. Supported by strong chip processing capabilities, devices will become more cognitive of user needs, providing truly personalized and readily accessible services.

Kirin 970 is powered by an 8-core CPU and a new generation 12-core GPU. Built using a 10nm advanced process, the chipset packs 5.5 billion transistors into an area of only one cm².  Huawei’s new flagship Kirin 970 is Huawei’s first mobile AI computing platform featuring a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU). Compared to a quad-core Cortex-A73 CPU cluster, the Kirin 970's new heterogeneous computing architecture delivers up to 25x the performance with 50x greater efficiency. Simply put, the Kirin 970 can perform the same AI computing tasks faster and with far less power. In a benchmark image recognition test, the Kirin 970 processed 2,000 images per minute, which was faster than other chips on the market.

New developments in AI require joint effort across the entire value chain, involving tens of millions of developers, and the experience and feedback of hundreds of millions of users. Huawei is positioning the Kirin 970 as an open platform for mobile AI, opening up the chipset to developers and partners who can find new and innovative uses for its processing capabilities. 

HUAWEI Y7 Prime – The best camera in smartphoneWith larger Pixel Sensor

Huawei, the global technology-leading company in telecommunications has once again swept away the game with its latest revolutionary device – HUAWEI Y7 Prime. Huawei is keen on delivering a ground-breaking experience in smartphone-photography with the innovative HUAWEI Y7 Prime.

                                                                

This device boasts a 12MP rear camera with big-pixel; F2.2 aperture, featured with PDAF technology, improves the focus time in 0.3s, whereby helping the camera to capture fast-moving scenes. The 1.25μm big pixel size lets users capture the perfect lighting, even in dim conditions, whereby letting one take sharp photos in an instant. With the HUAWEI Y7Prime, get the best camera experience in your live scenes, regardless of day and night.

HUAWEI Y7 Prime also features an 8MP front camera with 2.0 aperture, also boasting the “perfect selfie” mode. The “Perfect selfie” feature encompasses the beauty mode and panorama selfie; letting users capture wide-angle photos, for a perfect selfie which fits all your friends in the selfie. For blurry or bokeh effect, the HUAWEI Y7 Prime is equipped with a wide aperture having a range from f/16 to f/0.95.

A few of other brilliant camera related features in the HUAWEI Y7 Prime include; Professional photo & video, HDR, Time-lapse, Audio note, Document scan, Panoramic photos, Slow motion, and abundant filters lets the users be as creative as they want. HUAWEI is dedicated to providing more capture modes and keeping them up-to-date via internet. All these camera features accumulated lets the consumers to simply enjoy the HUAWEI Y7 Prime camera experience.

Huawei is rapidly emerging as an innovative industry leader within the electronics and telecommunications arena, aiming to deliver exceptional services to the rapidly expanding segment of smartphone users in Pakistan, who seek powerful global connectivity.