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  • Vacationing Trends That You Will Not Believe

    Vacationing Trends That You Will Not Believe

    When it comes to going on holiday, you would think the excitement would be enough on its own, without needing to follow the latest trends, however, you might just be surprised! It turns out that there are lots of surprising trends that are happening in the world of vacations. From matching luggage to personal photographers, there are trends sweeping through the world of celebrity and the general public alike. If you want to find out more about some of the trends that are starting to appear this year then keep reading.

    Earlier this year reality television star Ifu Ennada shared sultry vacation photos that made us all envious. Not only did the star look breathtaking, but that white sandy beach in the Maldives looked like heaven on Earth. Of course, it is surprisingly easy to portray a perfect life on social media. We are able to curate our feeds to show the highlights of our life and edit out the struggles. Of course, this is made a lot easier when you’ve got such a jet-setting lifestyle, but did you stop to think about who might be behind the camera? One of the trends that is sweeping the world of celebrity, is hiring photographers to take snaps of your vacation!

    Many of us who love holidaying with our spouse but wish they could take better photographs will understand this trend, though some will be left scratching their heads. Often the most treasured photos from a vacation are the candid photographs that captured a moment when nobody was even looking for the camera. Looking back on these authentic memories is often more special than the posed photographs that we ask strangers to take for us. Whilst Ifu is clearly ready for the camera in her shots, other celebrities have asked their photographers to capture candid photos to share with fans. The photographer follows the celebrity around for the whole holiday, taking snaps at the most opportune moments. This has lead to the creation of some breathtaking photos and a potentially lucrative opportunity for anyone who is skilled at capturing moments that look both natural and spectacular all at once.

     

    If you don’t like the idea of a personal photographer documenting your holiday, then perhaps you can save some money and skip out on this trend.
    If you don’t like the idea of a personal photographer documenting your holiday, then perhaps you can save some money and skip out on this trend.

    If you can’t quite afford to hire a professional photographer to come along on your next vacation, then there is another trend that you can definitely get on board with, the virtual vacation. Both celebrities and the general public have reacted to the recent restrictions around traveling by taking part in virtual vacations. These holidays can range from an hour spent walking around a museum, or playing at a virtual casino, to a whole week posting photoshopped images of you in exotic locations. How far you take it is entirely up to you!

    If you’re interested in a virtual vacation because you want to have a great time and aren’t too bothered about getting those snaps for your social media, then you could consider taking part in an online activity. The two most popular options for this sort of virtual vacation are visiting tourist destinations online, and playing virtual games on iGaming sites. If you’d like to take part in the former then there are plenty of museums across the world that have opened their virtual doors to the public. They have provided guided tours around the highlights of their collections that you can view usually for free, but occasionally for a small donation.

    If you prefer the hands-on approach to your virtual vacation then a trip to one of the best slots casinos in South Africa could be more your style. iGaming has been a popular choice for the virtual vacationer, not just because it’s interactive, but because you can make the most of deals online that you just couldn’t find in the real world. For example, many iGaming sites will offer exclusive deals to new sign-ups to their sites, meaning that you get extra money to play with. In a brick-and-mortar casino, it’s very unlikely for anyone to get offered free money to play with, so you could get a lot more bang for your buck by visiting in a ‘virtual’ capacity.

    A final mini-trend that people are starting to notice has been brewing for a long time now. Many of us will have matching luggage sets for when we go traveling. Some of us go for the Louis Vuitton suitcase and carry-on bag combination, others just a smart matching shade for our luggage. One group of trendsetters that have taken this even further though are those who match their mask to their luggage. People have been spotted with customized LV face masks to match their carry-on bags! Although the trend seems a bit strange, if you’ve got to wear a mask to fly then it was only a matter of time before someone made it fashionable.

     

  • 21st Century Technologies okays $75m digital project

    21st Century Technologies okays $75m digital project

    Information Communication Technology (ICT) firm, 21st Century Technologies Limited ((21CTL) has set aside $75 million for the execution of Ogun State Digital Economic Empowerment Project (OGDEP).

    It said its support was in expectation that the project would see the state’s economy grow by additional $100 billion.

    Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, who flagged off the project virtually, commended the state for taking a bold step towards digital economy.

    He acknowledged the urgent need to democratise  internet acess, adding that digital technology is the future of all aspects of human existence.

    He said: “This project is a critical component of Mr. President’s objective of broadband connectivity for all by 2023. This ambition is now enshrined in our Economic Sustainability Plan. As part of the national commitment to make broadband connectivity available to all, you would recall that in 2017, the state governors under the auspices of the National Economic Council (NEC) in 2017 agreed to harmonise right of way charges which is presently being worked on.

    “In another demonstration of the government’s commitment, the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy launched the National Broadband Plan, which is designed to deliver data download speeds across Nigeria of a minimum 25Mbps in urban areas and 10Mbps in rural areas, with effective coverage available to at least 90per cent of the population by 2025 at affordable prices.”

    Osinbajo also commended 21st Century Technologies for its huge commitments to the project , adding that this would revolutionize every aspect of the socio-economic life of the state.

    In his remarks, Vice Chairman/CEO of 21st Century Technologies limited, Wale Ajisebutu said the project would see businesses and citizens of the state operate digitally, using fibre networks infrastructure, knowledge infrastructure and marketing and network.

    “ The network infrastructure will facilitate GSM services, financial inclusion , data storage, development of innovative ideas by start-up and universities.

    “This would also enable industries while placing the state in the heart of the 4th industrial revolution where science, technology and social media are rapidly transforming the world,” he said, urging all hands to be on deck to ensure the success of the project.

    Earlier, state governor, Dapo Abiodun, said the strategy of OGDEP was to provide broadband connectivity to every corner of the state.

    “This is a joint project between our administration and our partner, 21st Century Technologies Limited , to deliver fibre-optic cables and mechanics across all our 20 Local Government Areas within the next two years.

    “The first phase of OGDEP will establish a fibre optic network ring around the entire State that will ensure connectivity particularly for key educational institutions, government agencies and residents in unconnected and under-connected areas,” he said.

    Also in attendance were the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof Garba Danbatta, representatives of the National Assembly and other industry stakeholders.

     

  • Secure ID: local smart card production possible

    Secure ID: local smart card production possible

    By Lucas Ajanaku

     

    The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of  SecureID, a leading smart card manufacturing firm, Kofo Akinkugbe, has said domestic production of quality smart card is possible with the high level of investment in the company.

    Speaking during a brief ceremony when the company bagged the Global System of Mobile Associations (GSMA) certificate, Akinkugbe said the firm has committed a lot resources and manpower to attain the certification.

    The occasion was graced by the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami (represented by the CEO, Nigerian Communication (NCC), Prof Garba Dambatta),  Managing Director/ChiefExecutive, GalaxyBackbone Limited, Prof Muhammad Bello Abubakar, and representative of GSMA in Africa, Adewale Goodluck.

    She expressed delight on the significant milestone the company has attained.

    “With the tour around the factory, I think people have seen for themselves that local production of smart cards at the highest quality is possible in Nigeria.

    “They were very impressed with what they saw and we took them round, intimated them with the quality protocols and also emphasised the importance of the GSMA certification.

    “Furthermore, we took them to the subsidiary of the company called SID Digital to look at the several digital solutions we proffer in our portfolio,” she said.

     

    “We are very pleased that this is a local company that will continue to uphold and espouse high quality standards. We will continue to show that in Nigeria, certain things are possible, and we are able to provide jobs for people.

    “The SID Digital is a smart card manufacturing company. We also have a newly established subsidiary, solely focused on proffering digital solutions to various sectors of the company.

    “We basically focus on payment solutions and we also have electronic solutions for the company, targeted at the public sector as well.

    “The government has seen it, and the volume of value and growth that we are able to contribute is something we would showcase and further prove that this can be done locally.

    When asked to speak about the security aspect of the product, Akinkugbe said: “The certification attests to the fact that all the mandatory security protocols are followed.

    “So, for instance, in the banking sector, we are certified by Visa and Mastercard. It all comes with security protocols that we have to comply with. In Nigeria, any entity certified by these international bodies has basically met the standards used in developed countries around the world.

    “I believe very strongly that they are incredibly imperative as they have been utilised by even Nigeria’s biggest by mobile network operators, including MTN, Globacom, Airtel and 9mobile.”

    Dr Pantami congratulated the company, saying this would mark the first time a Nigerian is meeting the requirements to receive this certification in the whole of Africa, and the third facility on the continent.

    He said: “I am very happy and on behalf of the minister, congratulate this company. It was a delight to learn that an indigenous company has been certified by the GSMA. This is a momentous milestone indeed.”

    The minister urged Nigerians to patronise the company’s products, which have evidently met the same international standards like their counterparts abroad.

    “We must patronise our own products, especially when they are produced to meet the same international standards, which counterparts abroad comply with. I think this bears eloquent testimony to the high standards that they operate at, which in itself is worthy of emulation,” he said.

  • Taupe ready to build online varsity for marketers

    Taupe ready to build online varsity for marketers

    By Ibrahim Adam

    A young entrepreneur and Co-founder of Movement Gamechangers, which deals in network marketing in Austria, Tino Taupe, has expressed willingness to help people understand sales and influencing.

    In a virtual meeting with reporters from his office in Austria, Tino said he is building an online University to help people succeed as marketers.

    He said the goal of his company is to make financial knowledge accessible on a digital platform for people to learn more about trading.

    “I’m planning on building my own Online University which is an online course that will help people succeed in Network Marketing and profit from my 8 years of experience,” he said

    When you flip through Austrian-born Tino Taupe’s Instagram, the first feeling you get is that he is a man who is always on the move.

    It is an idea he confirms quite easily as he claims to have freed himself geographically, meaning that he is constantly on the move.

    READ ALSO: How graduates can get jobs, by VCs

    The genesis of this can be traced to his decision to become a network marketer in 2012.

    As a child, he had not wanted to be involved in a typical 9 am to 5 pm job and sought to create a niche that allowed him maximise his potential.

    “When I started my entrepreneurial journey in late 2012, I was not financially buoyant as a student.

    “I had no clue on what I wanted to do with my life and didn’t have a perspective on how to become successful.

    “I always knew since I was a child that I wanted to do something extraordinary and that a 9 am to 5 pm job wasn’t the right fit for me,” he said.

    Movement Gamechangers has over 70,000 partners and customers across the world giving credence to Tino’s life as a global influencer.

    “Hard work, dedication, and sacrifice brought me to the point that I am at today. In the last years, I traveled the whole world, spoke in front of hundreds of thousands of people, helped more than ten thousand people create a part-time income, thousands to create a full-time income and helped another 25 people to create a six-figure income,” he stated.

  • MTN pushes for financial inclusion target of 95%

    MTN pushes for financial inclusion target of 95%

    MTN is pushing ahead to realise the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) financial inclusion target of 95 per cent by 2024.

    The telecoms firm said pursuant to this, it has, through its mobile money service provider, Y’ello Digital Financial Services (YDFS), expanded its MoMo Agent cardless cash withdrawal service to over 40 banks and other financial institutions nationwide, providing seamless financial solutions to more people. Initially exclusive to Access Bank, the service has now been extended to include First Bank of Nigeria, Zenith Bank, GTBank Plc, United Bank of Africa and other tier-one commercial banks.

    Chief Executive Officer at Y’ello Digital Financial Services, Usoro Usoro said, the firm will play its part to ensure the success of the scheme.

    He said: “We all must play our part in the Federal Government’s financial inclusion drive, which we know is essential for every Nigerian. With this, more MoMo users can walk up to the nearest MoMo Agent to withdraw cash from their bank account without visiting a bank or an ATM.”

    He said using the service, customers can visit MoMo Agents nationwide to access funds in their bank accounts without requiring an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) or ATM card. The service utilises a secure gateway that protects customers against fraudulent transactions and requires transaction validation using their bank PIN.

    With the cardless cash withdrawal service, MoMo Agents’ sustained innovation aligns with the CBN financial inclusion target of 95 per cent by 2024. This target was reviewed in 2019 as part of a five-year strategy to sustain inclusive economic growth.

    To achieve this, Nigeria must attain an inclusive financial sector that has closed the gender gap. As at 2018, Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access (EFInA) revealed that only 59.1 per cent of women compared with 67.5 per cent of men were financially included representing a gender gap of 8.4 per cent.

     

  • Xiaomi ships 200m devices

    Xiaomi ships 200m devices

    Original equipment manufacturer (OEM), Xiaomi, at the weekend said it has shipped over 200million of its Redmi Note series devices across the world, promising to continue to innovate to be on top the market.

    Its Marketing Director Mr. Somoye Habeeb, who spoke at the unveiling of Redmi Note 10 and Redmi Note 10 Pro in Lagos, said the firm has also sold 37million units of its Redmi Note 9 series, arguing that it is the third largest in terms of market size in Nigeria and other African countries.

    He said as the Goldilocks model of the series, the Redmi Note 10 represents the ideal mobile experience Xiaomi hopes to bring to the masses.

    According to Habbeb, the phone has a 6.43-inch AMOLED DotDisplay with display that offers FHD+ resolution, with 20:9 aspect ratio, and dual speakers. Inside is an entry-level Qualcomm Snapdragon 678 chipset (a 2021 release, without the performance of a Snapdragon 888).

    It also packs a quad rear camera configuration led by a 48MP main lens, alongside an 8MP ultra-wide, 2MP macro, and 2MP depth sensor. Together with a built-in Night Mode (improved) and time-lapse features, the phone covers just about every common shooting scenario, save for optical telephoto imaging.

    “As an everyday driver, the phone comes with IP53 water resistance. Other important numbers include its battery capacity (5,000mAh) and fast-charging capabilities (33W),” it said.

    Notably, it lacks NFC, so it’s ideal if you’re not into cashless payments beyond personal transfers or QR codes,” he explained.

    He said Redmi Note 10 series consists of four models: the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10, Redmi Note 10S, Redmi Note 10 5G and the Redmi Note 10 Pro.

    Habeeb said as the name implies, the Redmi Note 10 Pro offers everything that the regular version above already has, but more. For starters, it has a bigger display at 6.67-inch at the same resolution and aspect ratio but it also packs in 120Hz refresh rate and 240Hz touch sampling rate. Put together, the Pro variant would be suitable to both gamers and video-watchers.

    Instead of Corning Gorilla Glass 3, the Pro variant uses Gorilla Glass 5 on the front. It’s expectedly IP53 water-resistant, too.

    Even the chipset comes with a slight upgrade. The Redmi Note 10 Pro’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G mobile platform is just half a step away from the chipset brand’s mid-range offering, but it’s still a more powerful variant next to the SD678 on the regular model.

    He said: “The quad rear cameras are slightly more capable too. The main lens is a 108MP shooter instead, with 9-in-1 pixel-binning (likely a Samsung ISOCELL HM2 sensor since the sensor size and capabilities tally). There’s also an 8MP ultra-wide camera, a 5MP telemacro camera, and a 2MP depth sensor. Unlike the regular variant, the Redmi Note 10 Pro has telephoto shooting covered under its telemacro lens, Somoye said.

    “The 108MP shooter isn’t just there for show – the choice of sensor allows Xiaomi to offer dual-native ISO, high dynamic range, and Night Mode 2.0 powered by RAW multi-frame algorithm for low-light use. Time-lapse video recording is available in Pro and Telemacro modes. Photo-taking frills include Photo Clones, Video Clones, Dual Video, and Long Exposure, Somoye said.

    “While the 33W fast-charging remains the same, the Redmi Note 10 Pro has a slightly bigger battery at 5,020mAh. Another feature is NFC, which the regular version doesn’t have.

    “Both Redmi Note 10 and Redmi Note 10 Pro use a USB Type-C port, are 4G/LTE devices, and have its iconic multi-purpose IR blaster. Both also have dual speakers and a 3.5mm audio port to cover your listening needs.”

     

  • Matters arising from USSD impasse

    Matters arising from USSD impasse

    The spat between the largest carrier in the country and its banking partner has brought to fore the need for the lendership of the two big sectors of the economy to close ranks to avert a repeat, writes LUCAS AJANAKU.

    “Dear customer, our bank recharge channels are currently unavailable. Kindly recharge using physical cards. We apologise for the inconvenience. Thank you,” read one of the messages sent  by MTN when things fell apart between its and its lender-partners.

    A  Lagos-based  Corporate Communication professional and public affairs analyst, Mr Elvis Eromosele, expressed  shock over what happened between the lenders and the largest carrier in the country that  precipitated the Friday, April 2, 2021, sudden suspension of USSD service.

    He was not the only one shocked by the develeopment. The Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Gbenga Adebayo and his counterpart, President, Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Ikechukwu Nnamani, were also stupefied by the development.

    While Adebayo said the reaction  of the banks was unexpected considering the impact of their action on the ecosystem, Nnamani said he thought the matter had long been settled by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    “One wonders about the sort of thinking that prompted the banks to cut off over 75 million MTN subscribers from recharging via the USSD platform. Did they consider the pain of the subscribers or impact on the economy? Or was it a case of all is fair in warfare? It was a brutal tactic, one that sadly appears, in the short term, to have won. Imagine disenfranchising close to 45 per  cent of the Nigerian telecom subscribers.There was no way that was not a reflection of a deeper problem. It was no surprise that everyday Nigerians questioned the system that allowed banks to unilaterally disconnect MTN subscribers without recourse to a regulatory body or care for the pains of the customers,” Eromosele said.

    Adebayo said he had expected that parties would have sat down and resolve the issues amicably before rushing to take the decision.

    Adebayo, who said he was not speaking in his capacity as the chairman of the group, said he had expected the banks to exercise restraints considering the significant impact of their action on the subscribers.

    He said when the telcos threatened to stop the banks from using USSD over the unpaid N42 billion debt, the decision not to do that was informed by the collateral damage the action could have on the entire ecosystem.

    He said if the action of the banks is an attempt to wrestle debt forgiveness from the operators, it definitely has failed as the debt will be collected because they have already collected the cash from the customers.

    He said it will be interesting to see how the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, reacts to the action of the banks against the largest member of ALTON, MTN Nigeria.

    Ministerial intervention

    The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Ibrahim Pantami, later stepped in to douse the raging inferno.

    “In an attempt to resolve the current USSD recharge impasse, given the intervention of our regulators, we hereby agree that the banks revert to the status quo of 4.5 per cent commission. However, the banks and MTN Communications Nigeria Plc shall sit to agree on various options that will result in the reduction in the costs on  April 6, 2021,’’ MTN CEO, Karl Toriola had said.

    The  meeting was convened as scheduled but remained largely dealocked.

    Enter fintechs

    MTN took advantage of the impasse to wear its thinking cap. It signed on new channel partners  such as Sparkle, Konga Pay, Barter By Flutter Wave, Jumia Pay, OPay, Kuda, Carbon, BillsnPay, MTN On Demand, MTN Xtratime airtime loans (*606#), myMTN Web http://mymtn.com.ng and Momo agent *223#.

    The CBN idenitifed fintech as critical element to achieve its financial inclusion target.

    Globally, ‘fintech’ is among the fastest growing and more appealing sectors for investors looking for the next wave of disruptive innovation. Digital “neo-banks” are expanding their market share, especially among younger consumers, while bespoke apps and platforms are taking once-elite financial services, such as stock market investing, into the mainstream.Total investment activity globally-combining venture capital, private equity and merger and acquisitions-reached a peak of $120billion in 2018, up from $51billion in 2017.

     

  • Diana Eneje: The new travel blogger on the block

    Diana Eneje: The new travel blogger on the block

    By Ibrahim Adams 

    Many know Diana as a teen social media influencer taking over the industry and blowing up the social media feeds with amazing content.

    Diana’s sense of style is second to none as you’d be in awe at how this youngster selects fashion pieces to match and stuns with contemporary trends.

    “I choose to style myself most of the time because I’m quite aware of how I can put my personality to style with outfits.

    ” I find it fun and tasking at the same time, you’d find me trying to match my hair with my outfit,” she shared.

    Now what’s even more stunning is how Diana never forgets to stir things up with a little more fun as she explores travel vlogging, visiting top cities in the world one at a time and of course showing us the world through her lens.

    Diana’s recent visit to Cape Town, South Africa would have you add this fascinating city to the top of your travel bucket list.

    She describes the city as “peace of mind” as nature’s essence lies between the mountains and the oceans and Cape Town prides to be one of the most beautiful cities with natural views that are mind-blowing.

    Taking to her Instagram page (@diana_eneje), she shared beautiful photos at places to visit in Cape Town; spotting out The Table Mountain which is one of the seven wonders of the world, The Boulders Beach; a beautiful beach habitat for penguins, the breathtaking view of The Signal hill and so many more.

    Diana Eneje has also recently toured cities like Dubai and Accra Ghana. Tasting meals peculiar to different cultures and of course taking us along with these experiences.

    Not to omit that Diana’s YouTube channel (YouTube: Diana Eneje)is her most engaging space, showing more of her lifestyle and travel vlogs from different cities.

    Diana shares her excitement to continue exploring and making memories.

  • M36, Sankore Investment host webinar

    M36, Sankore Investment host webinar

    By Omolara Akintoye

    M36, a new digital lifestyle and investment platform powered by Union Bank, has announced the launch of a webinar series designed to equip participants with an in-depth understanding of wealth management, investment and savings.

    The first edition tagged: ‘Investing in these times’ is being organised in collaboration with Nigerian investment company, Sankore.

    m36-sankore-investment-host-webinar

    It holds on Wednesday, April 7, 2021, by 5:00 PM (WAT).

    Investing in These Times is tailored for individuals seeking to grow wealth in these unprecedented times and will be facilitated by Olayemi Agbe-Davies, Chief Dealer, Union Bank and Titi Odunfa-Adeoye, Founder and Chief Investment Officer, Sankore.

    READ ALSO: National Webinar on Social Protection Policy Review soon

    Deliberations will include an analysis of the financial markets and the economy, investment outlook for 2021 and much more.

    Head, Treasury at Union Bank, Chuka Emerole, said: “As the world adjusts to the ‘new normal’ brought about by the pandemic, it is no longer business as usual and questions remain around wealth generation and retention in the post-covid economy.

    “M36 was established to not only deliver a wide range of investment products but also to empower customers to make sound investment choices and with this webinar, we envision that the insights gathered will enable individuals to navigate the investment space and thrive financially in the post-Covid economy.”

  • Asus takes tech bull by horns

    Asus takes tech bull by horns

     

    The firm which unveiled the ZenBook Flip S (UX371EA) two-in-one ultrabook that can double as a tablet also transform into a full-fledged tablet with a stylus, said despite this unique form factor, the device does not feel bulky. It is, in fact, one of the lightest and most powerful portable computers at the moment.

    The ASUS ZenBook Flip S is an extremely well-designed device that comes with a 4K OLED display. Using a Red Copper diamond-cut on a Black Matte finish body, the device has hues of the colour Gold on the hinge, edges around the screen and the chassis.

    The lid has concentric ring patterns with ASUS logo on the left.

    The lightweight ultrabook, merely 1.2kgs, is very sleek at 14mm thickness and can easily fit in a bag; portable and easy to carry around without worrying about any noticeable weight in the bag.

    The laptop features a 360° ErgoLift hinge design which enables the display to be flipped to any position. This allows the ZenBook Flip S (UX371EA) to turn into a 2-in-1 convertible laptop, with a screen that can be swivelled full 360-degree.

    Once the display is flipped back, the laptop can be used in different modes, including a tablet with touch and pen support. This can also be used as a simple laptop, placed on a desk or lap while on the go. This feature ensures that there is sufficient airflow for the device’s heat management. Though almost unnoticeable, the design also lifts the keyboard a bit to raise the typing position. Asus has tested the hinge for over 20,000 open/close cycles to clear any doubt around durability.

    Asus ZenBook Flip S (UX371EA) comes with an edge-to-edge keyboard design. It is backlit to ensure smooth typing even in dark environments. The keys are well-spaced and do not squeeze. The keypad is integrated into the touchpad with NumberPad 2.0, an LED-illuminated numeric keypad. The touchpad functions smoothly and is glass covered for added protection. Brightness regulator and a calculator that pops-up with a simple touch and gestures are smart controls available on the touchpad.

    Considering its slim form factor, Flip S (UX371EA) also offers a lot of connectivity options, two Thunderbolt 4 USB Type-C port, one USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port and a standard HDMI port. The ports offer “ultrafast speeds” and also support USB-C Power Delivery. The notebook also gets support for connecting external 4K UHD displays and provide up to 40 Gbps data-transfer speeds for high-performance peripherals. On the right edge is the power button while the LED indicator is placed on the left edge. The laptop comes with USB Type-C to 3.5mm dongle for those who want to use a 3.5mm audio device with the device.

    As for the display, the ASUS ZenBook Flip S features a 13.3-inch 4K OLED touchscreen with support for a high resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels. The display offers high colour reproduction with 100 per cent DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage. This OLED panel is calibrated to accurately reproduce colours in a 3D colour volume – ensuring that the panel covers 100 per cent DCI-P3 colour gamut regardless of the brightness level. Also, the panel features a high 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio and is certified to supports up to 500 nits of brightness and 0.0005 nits of deep black levels for an immersive viewing experience.

    Content, both videos and images on this 4k resolution screen are sharp and rich. Viewing angles are fine and the screen is bright enough to use even in the broad daylight. For movies and game lovers, when it comes to the display, size and quality of the panel, the ASUS ZenBook Flip S emerges as an ideal choice with decent viewing angles.

    The hardware inside the ZenBook Flip S is also equally impressive. This new laptop packs within its sleek frame the latest 11th Generation Intel Core Tiger Lake processors – i7-1165G7 CPU. If purchased for general use, the Flip S (UX371EA) processor can handle pretty much anything you throw at it. For gamers, it can handle most e-sports and AAA titles decently well.

    The processor comes paired with Intel Iris X integrated graphics and can deliver up to 20 per cent higher computing performance than previous generation laptops. There is also a 1TB PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD on-board, as well as a Gen 3 PCIe X4 storage for a fast read, write speed and load time. The Flip S also packs an ultrafast PCIe 3.0 x4 SSD, up to 16GB of 4266MHz LPDDR4X RAM and hardware for Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) connectivity. It functions without any lag even with multiple tabs opened.

    The ultrabook ZenBook Flip S (UX371EA) offers a 67Wh battery power pack which is rated to provide up to 10 hours, with a minimum runtime of around 6-7 hours, usage on a single charge. It supports fast charging and can charge to full capacity in an hour, using the supplied charger. It comes with a 65watt fast charge adapter which charges the battery up to 70 per cent in 50 minutes. The laptop comes with USB Type-C Easy Charge support which means it can be used with any standard USB Type-C chargers with a range of 5V-20V.

    ASUS ZenBook Flip S (UX371EA) runs on Windows 10 Home. Its touch screen has a 0.2 ms response time and it comes with TUV Rheinland certification for low blue light and flicker-free visuals. This is to ensure less strain on the eyes even after long hours of use.

    Sound output levels are loud enough despite the speaker being placed at the bottom side. The laptop comes with Harman Audio certified audio system which delivers rich sounds. ASUS ZenBook Flip S (UX371EA) is equipped with AI-noise cancelling mic which will come in handy during video calls and meetings. There is also an in-built fan to dissipate excess heating.

    The ASUS ZenBook Flip S is, undoubtedly, a delightful machine that looks as good as it works. It is packed with more power and primed for work on the go as well as casual gaming. It is definitely among the top picks. The powerful design, great display and impressive performance justify the price tag.