Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Karnataka Now on ShareChat to Create “Voter Awareness Campaign”

Ahead of Lok Sabha elections 2019, Chief Electoral Office, Karnataka has joined ShareChat, India’s #1 regional social media platform.

With social media being a primary source to impart information, @CEO_karnataka on ShareChat is currently sharing informative posts, caution posts and are appealing to voters to go and vote this election. Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Karnataka has also tied up with Sakkath Studio as their digital and creative partner to create short form videos to disseminate information on elections.

In order to facilitate easy search of election content, ShareChat has built a separate category for elections where people can read all about elections 2019. In order to show support to the Election Commission, people can also post their selfies with election filters.

A.V Surya Sen, Joint Chief Electoral Officer said, “We are very excited to announce that we are now on ShareChat and we will be able to spread the importance of voting and create awareness amongst ShareChat audiences in kannada language. We learn that ShareChat users in Karnataka are present even in the remotest part of the state and hugely consists of a young audience who will be probably voting for the first time. Therefore, it became imperative for us to be present on ShareChat to get maximum reach.”

“We are very thrilled to welcome Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Karnataka on ShareChat. We have seen a lot of traction on their profile and ShareChat users are actively engaging with their content. As an Indian social media platform, we feel the need to be a responsible platform and we feel that with the presence of @CEO_karnataka on the platform, we will be able to reach out to millions of ShareChat users in Kannada and help them consume information on responsible voting”, said Ankush Sachdeva, Chief Executive Officer, ShareChat.

About ShareChat:

ShareChat, India’s #1 regional social network platform is a technology led start-up based out of Bangalore. Founded by three IIT Kanpur alumni, it is a home-grown platform developed keeping in mind the needs of Indian audience across the country.  The app is aimed at providing users with an unmatchable networking experience in their native language.  ShareChat has scaled up its user base on the back of one the widest content across genres and great user experience driven by an intuitive user interface and other innovative features. The user generated content platform has an established a base of over 45 million monthly active users spread across the country and is available in 14 Indian languages including Hindi, Malayalam, Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi, Telugu, Tamil, Bengali, Odia, Kannada, Assamese, Haryanvi, Rajasthani and Bhojpuri. Spearheading India's internet revolution, ShareChat is changing the way in which the next billion Indian users consume the internet. The ShareChat app can be downloaded from the Google Play Store.

Data Threats (Health) and How They Could Be Mitigated Globally?

We’ve never had more information about our health stored electronically than we do today, and the quantity being generated is steadily increasing. Wearables track our every step and heartbeat, test results can be viewed online, hospitals are using more IoT devices to help with our care – the list goes on. Protecting that data has been a struggle for some time. The United States passed legislation called HIPAA in 1996 to help keep medical information private. In 2016, a string of ransomware attacks across the United States and Canada frequently made the news for locking down hospital systems and patient data.

Between the data generated within medical institutions and the data we generate on our own through medical devices, apps and at-home test kits, there’s no shortage of privacy and security challenges. This is reflected in the statistics: a popular paper from IEEE Access points out several reports, one of which found that 40% of the 43 health and fitness apps they inspected “imply high risk” to users’ privacy. Another found that of 24,000 health-related apps for iOS and Android, “95.63% of the apps pose at least some potential damage through information security and privacy infringement.” For hospitals, the threat surface is varied and hard to manage.

According to Kayne McGladrey, IEEE Member and Director of Security and Information Technology at Pensar Development, “Medical institutions are deploying an increasing array of IoT devices from a variety of vendors. This is not always by choice of the medical institution; rather, as vendors have connected all of their products to the Internet, it forces buyers to adopt heterogeneous IoT technologies.”

Features that are meant to make life easier can also contribute to the issue. Karen Panetta, IEEE Fellow and Dean of Graduate Education, Tufts University, says “Third-party modules, add-ons, guest accounts and remote accessibility continue to be the access points of choice for these attacks.”

A main reason ransomware attacks have continued is that they’re still profitable. It’s easy to get hung up on the injustice – after all, incapacitating a hospital’s computer system when people are receiving life-saving treatment isn’t easy to stomach. But hospitals often pay the asking price that the hackers set. Why? McGladrey’s answer is simple: “The costs associated with paying a ransom in these environments would be considerably lower than the litigation and fines if people were to be harmed by the lack of availability or the destruction of medical data.”

Hero Motocorp Unveils Customer Benefit Scheme to Encourage Citizens to Vote During Ongoing Polls

Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, today launched a unique nationwide customer benefit initiative to encourage its over 80 million customers in the country to vote during the upcoming 2019 General Elections.

To support the world’s largest democratic elections, the Company has rolled-out an exciting vehicle maintenance scheme for customers who exercise their Right to Vote.

After casting their vote, customers can come to Hero MotoCorp dealerships and workshops, with the voter’s ink mark on their finger, to avail a free two-wheeler wash and get their vehicles serviced at Rs. 199/- only. The scheme will be available up to two-days after the polling day in every city during the months of April-May 2019.

Customers can also pre-book the vehicle-servicing package. To know more about the initiative, customers can visit the nearest Hero MotoCorp dealership in their city.

Twitter Lights Up with 45.6 Million Tweets as India Kicks Off the World’s Largest Democratic Exercise

Twitter is the best place to find out what's happening and to join the public conversation. With the #LokSabhaElections2019 having just begun, the platform is buzzing with conversation.

Polling started on Thursday morning for 91 seats in 18 states and 2 union territories and the conversation on the platform reflected this. Twitter recorded 45.6 million Tweets related to the Lok Sabha Elections from 11th March 2019, the day elections were announced, until 11th April 2019. Of the 45.6 million Tweets recorded during that period, 1.2 million were Tweeted on April 11th, 2019 during phase one of the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections.

Throughout the campaigning period, politicians and political parties have been using Twitter to communicate with citizens all over the country. Campaigns, manifestos and announcements around policies and key social issues have accounted for some of the top-Tweeted moments as voters got ready to go to the polls.

Along with politicians and parties, citizens have been using the platform to address their queries directly to contesting leaders. Prime Minister Modi (@narendramodi) has emerged as the most mentioned figure during this first phase of the #LokSabhaElections2019 conversations on Twitter.

Indians in India and across the world have been engaging in dynamic conversations around the elections with relevant Hashtags, Replies and Retweets, to discuss the topics that matter most to them. In the past month, leading up to elections, national security has emerged as the most talked about election-related topic on Twitter.

With several phases to go, Twitter is encouraging healthy democratic participation by giving citizens a voice and a platform to be heard in the national conversation online. To that effect, Twitter India also launched their latest video in the #PowerOf18 series to encourage young Indians to participate in civic discourse, understand the significance of their right to vote and contribute to public debate on Twitter.

TVS Motor Company Introduces Two New Colours Celebrating its 25 Years of TVS Scooty

TVS Motor Company, a reputed manufacturer of two-wheelers and three-wheelers, today celebrated 25 years of its iconic brand TVS Scooty, with introduction of two new colours – Revving Red and Glittering Gold for TVS Scooty Pep+.

TVS Scooty, is an iconic Indian automotive brand.  The scooter has been a fun experience for 25 years, a significant milestone which has been made possible by its attractive range of products along with an unwavering focus on quality and target group – the young Indian woman. This consumer connect has made TVS Scooty, synonymous with female mobility in The evolution of its consumer has been matched by TVS Scooty, every step of the way.  Today, the brand has two solid products under its umbrella – TVS Scooty Pep+, India’s most economical scooter offering with best total cost of ownership, and TVS Zest 110.

Most women drivers on the road today, not limited to two-wheelers, had their first taste of independence astride the TVS Scooty.  To ensure this phenomenon of personal mobility spread far and wide, TVS Scooty, initiated “Women on Wheels” - India’s first two-wheeler Rider Training Institute for women.  Over the years, this journey of staying relevant has also been backed by multiple innovations from TVS Scooty like the introduction of India’s first mass customisation program “99 colours”, or celebratory special series like the Wimbledon edition. TVS Scooty has also earned its place in the record books with TVS Zest 110 becoming the first 110cc scooter to scale the highest motorable road in the world, Khardung La, (India Book of Records) leading to one of the most loved social media and experiential campaign – Himalayan Highs. Over the last three years, this campaign has further built on the popular brand franchise while creating brand advocates.

The TVS Scooty has always stayed true to its consumer of the New Age Indian women making their every ride Comfortable, Affordable, Safe and Fun.

Commenting on this occasion, Mr. Aniruddha Haldar, Vice President (Marketing) – Commuter Motorcycles, Scooters & Corporate Brand, TVS Motor Company, said, " TVS Scooty Pep+, is much more than just India's No. 1 economical scooter catering to over 4.5 million customers. In its journey of 25 years, it has always evolved to stay relevant to its purpose of being the most viable mobility option for the New Age Indian women, making their commute affordable, comfortable, safe and fun. A TVS Scooty is passed down in the family and seldom resold, this is a measure of love that the brand has enjoyed. We are humbled and grateful to the generations of proud TVS Scooty owners, who built this brand to its iconic status, and made it synonymous with female mobility in India."

TVS Scooty now comes equipped with Synchronized Braking Technology (SBT) across the range.  The new edition of TVS Scooty Pep+ sports a special 25th year-anniversary edition logo along with new graphics to mark the milestone.

TVS Scooty comes in 2 major variants:

TVS Scooty PEP+ Powered by an 87.8 cc, air-cooled single cylinder Ecothrust engine that develops 4.9 PS of power and 5.8 Nm of torque, the Ecothrust engine ensures long-lasting, trouble-free and comfortable rides to consumers. With best-in-class ground reachability and a telescopic suspension that makes bumpy rides comfortable, TVS Scooty Pep+ promises an ultimate peppy comfort ride. TVS Scooty Pep+ is equipped with smart features like mobile charger socket, side stand alarm, under-seat storage hooks, DRLs, an open glove box and TVS's patented ‘Eazy’ Stand technology, which reduces the effort to put the vehicle on the centre stand by 30%.

TVS Zest 110 is powered by a single cylinder, four-stroke, air-cooled 109.7cc CVTI engine and a top-notch overall ride handling. Targeted at the New-age Indian Woman of today, the TVS Zest 110 stands true to the DNA of a scooter, while maintaining a fun look, coupled with vibrant colours, elegant design and a remarkable initial pick up of 0 - 60 kmph in mere 11.1 seconds. TVS Zest 110 holds the record for being the first scooter to reach the highest motorable road at Khardung La.

Apart from the new colours, TVS Scooty Pep+ comes in a range of 5 colour themes grouped under three sets. The Starlet Series is available in Frosted Black and Vivacious Purple. The EcoSmart Series includes Nero Blue and Nero Brown themes while the Babelicious series is available in Princess Pink shade.

Priced at Rs. 42,397, TVS Scooty Pep+ is available across TVS Motor Company dealership in the country.

Acer Expands Chromebook to the Enterprise with Two New Durable, Premium Models

Acer has introduced two new premium Acer Chromebook lines, the Acer Chromebook 715 and Acer Chromebook 714, designed to help employees work in the cloud more securely and efficiently. Both new Acer Chromebooks have a premium all-aluminum chassis that delivers military-grade (U.S. MIL-STD 810G[i]) durability, as well as an integrated fingerprint reader, and Citrix Ready Certification.

In addition, both new Acer Chromebooks give cloud workers the productivity-boosting features that will help them work more efficiently, including Full HD displays and up to 8th Gen Intel® Core™ processors for exceptional mobile performance, and up to 12 hours of battery life[ii].

“The addition of a premium durable chassis and integrated fingerprint reader onto the latest Acer Chromebooks enhances the security and reliability of these devices,” said James Lin, General Manager, Notebooks, IT Product Business, Acer Inc. “Employees of all types — whether in a corporate office, small business, or an educational setting — need reliable, powerful PCs that help protect their data, perform well, and look great. These new Acer Chromebooks fit that bill.”

Premium Protection: Durable Aluminum Design, Fingerprint Reader

The new Acer Chromebook 715 and Acer Chromebook 714 both feature a durable, all-aluminum, impact-resistant chassis that looks great on a front desk for customer-facing settings, as well as on the road with employees making client visits or sales calls. The reinforced design delivers military-grade protection (U.S. MIL-STD 810G compliant1) so it can handle drops from up to 48 inches (122 cm) and can withstand up to 132 pounds (60 kg) of downward force. The anodized aluminum chassis stands up to daily wear and tear, resists dents and bending, and wards off dings, chips and corrosion to maintain the high-end look and feel.

The Corning Gorilla Glass touchpad allows smooth navigation through apps, websites and projects. Plus, the touchpad features click-anywhere functionality and is also scratch- and moisture-resistant.

For further protection, the Acer Chromebook 715 and Acer Chromebook 714 feature an integrated fingerprint reader conveniently placed next to the keyboard. Ideal for shared environments, the fingerprint reader gives employees a quick and secure way to unlock the device and share with co-workers.

Citrix Ready certified, the new Acer Chromebooks are fully compatible with Citrix solutions that enhance business mobility, networking, and cloud platforms.

Acer Chromebook 715 – The First Chromebook with a Numeric Keypad for Easy Input

The new Acer Chromebook 715 is the first Acer Chromebook on the market to include a dedicated numeric keypad. The large display provides ample room for the keypad, which gives cloud workers in retail, finance, and service fields — as well as in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) — an efficient way to input data. In addition, the Acer Chromebook 715 has a backlit keyboard so productivity can continue in low-light conditions.

The 15.6-inch IPS[iii] display allows viewing of multiple apps and tabs in vibrant Full HD 1920x1080 resolution. The Acer Chromebook 715 comes in both touch-screen and standard display options.

Acer Chromebook 714 Features 14-inch Narrow-Bezel Display

Employees working remotely will appreciate the Acer Chromebook 714’s compact design and immersive 14-inch Full HD display. The slim bezels measure as little as 6.18 mm (0.24 inches) to reduce the overall footprint and keep the focus on the clear and vibrant visuals. Like the Acer Chromebook 715, the Acer Chromebook 714 has IPS3 technology and comes in touch-screen and standard non-touch options.

All-Day Battery Life and Enhanced Performance

The new Acer Chromebook 715 and Acer Chromebook 714 deliver industry-leading battery2 life of up to 12 hours, so they can be used for a full day of productivity on the road or in customer-facing environments. Both can be powered by a range of processors, including the 8th Gen Intel Core i5 and Core i3 processors as well as Intel® Celeron® and Intel® Pentium® Gold options.

Staying Connected

The new Acer Chromebooks have a USB 3.1 Type-C port on each side so they can be connected to devices and charged from the side that’s most convenient. The ports can be used for quick data transfers, connecting to an external display, and for charging other devices. Both new Acer Chromebooks also have a USB 3.0 port and a MicroSD card reader.

The Acer Chromebook 715 and Acer Chromebook 714 provide fast and reliable Dual Band Wireless-AC 802.11ac/a/b/g/n 2x2, while Bluetooth 4.2 delivers a convenient connection to peripherals.

The optional Acer USB-Type-C Dock can be connected via a single cable to the new Acer Chromebook 715 and 714, easily transforming them into powerful workstations that can connect to external displays, printers, and more. This convenient and compact dock enables high-speed video, audio, and data transfers, and keeps the front desk or work area clutter-free.

Chrome OS Speed, Simplicity, and Security

The new Acer Chromebooks work well with Google’s Chrome Enterprise solution that helps businesses manage devices at scale. Ideal for a range of business environments including those where employees share devices and are mobile — such as in health care and retail — Chrome Enterprise helps create a secure and productive environment for cloud-based workers.

IT departments will appreciate the comprehensive, integrated security coverage that is part of Chrome Enterprise. IT administrators will find it easy to control updates, configure apps, utilize extensions and policies, and more with web-based management[iv] that makes the new Acer Chromebooks easy to deploy and manage increasing their uptime and reducing their total cost of ownership (TCO).

Customers will have access to the latest Chrome apps and millions of Android apps for productivity, connectivity, services, and more. Both the new Acer Chromebook 715 and Acer Chromebook 714 fully support Android apps via Google Play.

The new Acer Chromebooks are not only easy to use, but also easy to share among employees, students, and others. Logging onto a Google account allows access to Gmail, Google Docs, apps, extensions, bookmarks, and more. Chromebooks run on Google’s Chrome OS platform, which automatically updates and uses multiple levels of security to guard against ever-changing online threats.

Pricing and Availability

The Acer Chromebook 715 will be available with 8GB or 16GB of DDR4 SDRAM and either 32GB, 64GB or 128GB of eMMC storage. It will be available in North America in July, starting at USD 499; and in EMEA in June in the approved Chrome OS territories, starting at EUR 599.

The Acer Chromebook 714 will be available with 8GB or 16GB of DDR4 SDRAM and either 32GB, 64GB or 128GB of eMMC storage. It will be available in North America in July, starting at USD 499; and in EMEA in June in the approved Chrome OS territories, starting at EUR 549.

Acer Introduces the Predator Helios 700 Notebook with Unique HyperDrift Keyboard for Increased Thermal Performance

Key Highlights

* The all-new Predator Helios 700 features a unique HyperDrift forward-sliding keyboard that helps maximize airflow to keep the system running cool and quiet

* It’s powered by the new 9th Gen Intel Core i9 processors, up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 GPU, and up to 64GB of DDR4 memory

* The redesigned Predator Helios 300 continues to set the bar for midrange gaming notebooks with a bold new look and up to new 9th Gen Intel Core i7 processors, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070, 2060, or the latest GeForce GTX GPUs.

Acer unveiled two new Predator Helios gaming notebooks today at the next@acer global press conference in New York. Both Windows 10 notebooks offer new technologies and innovative designs to keep gamers ahead of the competition.

The all-new Predator Helios 700 includes a unique HyperDrift keyboard that slides forward, allowing increased airflow directly through the top of the notebook, enabling gamers to push the powerful components to their highest potential. The redesigned Predator Helios 300 includes a sleek modern look and is powered by either up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 with Max-Q Design, or the latest GeForce GTX GPUs, yet still retains its budget-friendly price tag. It’s well-suited for task-heavy computing, as its high-end hardware provides the performance needed for gaming, streaming, and video and photo editing.

“Continuing to deliver best-in-class performance, gamers can look to Acer’s Predator Helios line for powerful and affordable gaming notebooks,” said James Lin, General Manager, Notebooks, IT Product Business, Acer Inc. “They are innovative, future-proof and reliable thanks to advanced thermal technologies that keep them cool during intense gaming sessions.”

“With the new 9th Gen Intel Core processors we have taken another big step forward in delivering premium performance and platform features powering the world’s best gaming laptops,” said Steven Long, Vice President, Sales and Marketing Group and General Manager, Client Computing Group sales, Intel. “The new Predator Helios laptops are a great example of the years of close collaboration between Acer and Intel to help raise the bar on the capabilities gamers and creators should expect in a laptop.”

“It’s great to see Acer bring such a wide portfolio of gaming devices designed to meet the needs of so many different types of gamers with their new Predator and Nitro series offerings,” said Mark Linton, General Manager, Consumer and Device Sales, Microsoft Corp. “Acer continues to innovate and bring great gaming experiences to market for consumers.”

Predator Helios 700 - Extreme Performance and Unconventional Design

Powering the uniquely designed Predator Helios 700 notebook is an army of the latest and greatest technologies ready to battle, including up to an all new 9th Gen Intel® Core™ i9 processor for top of the line overclockable performance, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 or 2070 GPU, up to 64GB of DDR4 memory, and Killer DoubleShot™ Pro with Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX 1650 and E3000 — delivering up to four times more network capacity in dense environments than previous generation wireless AC networks — while plenty of high speed storage keeps load times short. All that power makes games roar to life on the notebook’s 17-inch 144Hz FHD IPS[i] display with 3ms response time and NVIDIA G-SYNC™ technology. Five speakers and a subwoofer keep the games immersive and engaging with full and realistic audio.

Introducing HyperDrift for Enhanced Cooling and Ergonomics

One of the Helios 700’s most interesting features is also incredibly useful. Its HyperDrift keyboard is part of the notebook’s thermal architecture, which consists of two of Acer’s custom-engineered 4th Gen AeroBlade 3D Fans, five copper heat pipes, a vapor chamber and Acer CoolBoost Technology. By simply sliding the keyboard forward, two additional air intakes are uncovered above the keyboard and below the display, giving the powerful heat-generating components extra air flow for maximum cooling and unleashed overclocking. The glass panel also provides a view of the notebook’s heat pipes.

The HyperDrift keyboard improves ergonomics; with the keyboard closer now, gamers can keep a good distance to the 17-inch screen without over extending hands. It provides desktop comfort in a notebook form factor. The keyboard also features per-key RGB lighting, anti-ghosting and MagForce WASD keys. The MagForce Keys use analog-like linear switches that trigger actuation immediately upon the initial press, and increase up to 100 percent to give players more control over precise movements in the game. A Precision Touchpad is outlined with blue lighting and features two discrete mouse buttons below the pad for easy clicking.

A Turbo hotkey quickly engages overclocking while the new PredatorSense hotkey provides immediate access to CPU and GPU temperatures, fan control, RGB lighting, and more. Per-key RGB lighting also enhances online gaming with Predator RGB Assault-League of Legends (LoL) [iii], by tying in the keyboard’s lighting to the action on the screen while battling in LoL.

Predator Helios 300 — Raising the Bar for Midrange Gaming Notebooks

The best-selling Predator Helios 300 gaming notebook just got better with the addition of powerful technologies and features, along with a new sophisticated design. Gamers will be most excited about the combination of up to the newest 9th Gen Intel Core i7 processors for premium performance of with the addition of the latest of a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 GPU with Max-Q Design supported by a Turbo key for one-punch overclocking and Killer DoubleShot™ Pro for fast and lag-free networking. With up to 32GB of DDR4 2666MHz memory and up to two PCIe NVMe SSDs in RAID 0 plus a hard drive, it’s the powerhouse gamers crave for playing today’s AAA games.

But most noticeable is the notebook’s new look. Its metal chassis now rocks the stylish teal blue accents and keyboard backlighting found on other Predator notebooks. A narrow bezel around the display and a redesigned keyboard with contemporary looking Predator fonts give it a hip and edgy look.

Praised for being one of the first notebooks in its class to feature a 144Hz display, the new Helios 300’s bright 15.6-inch or 17.3-inch Full HD IPS1 display is now framed by a narrow border and includes 3ms overdrive response times for a tear-free, seamless gaming experience.

Cooling Technology Inspired by Nature

Keeping the notebook running cool and at peak performance is an advanced and efficient thermal design that unlocks the true potential of the Helios’s powerful hardware. Most critical to keeping temperature low is a dual-fan cooling system that includes one of Acer’s 4th Gen AeroBlade™ 3D Fans. This latest generation fan design was inspired by bionic silent owl flight mechanics that maximize airflow and minimize noise. The new 0.1mm-thin fan blades include a serrated edge, winglets along the top and bottom, as well as a curved fin along the inner portion of each blade. This results in up to a 45 percent improvement in airflow. Coupled with strategically placed intake and exhaust vents and Acer CoolBoost technology, the Helios 300 stays calm under pressure and handles intense overclocked gaming sessions with ease.

Last but not least is a completely new keyboard featuring distinctive Predator fonts and 4-zone RGB lighting. Usability and functionality are improved with new PredatorSense and Turbo hotkeys, an enlarged spacebar, and concave-shaped, highlighted WASD keys, arrow keys, and hotkeys.

Price and Availability

The Predator Helios 700 gaming notebooks will be available in North America in April starting at USD 2,699.99; in EMEA in July starting at EUR 2,699.00; and in China in June, starting at RMB 19,999.

The Predator Helios 300 gaming notebooks will be available in North America in April starting at USD 1,199.99; in EMEA in June starting at EUR 1,499.00; and in China in May, starting at RMB 11,999.

Exact specifications, prices and availability will vary by region. To learn more about availability, product specifications and price in specific markets, please contact your nearest Acer office via www.acer.com.