Following the announcement that the federal government is prepared to conduct commercial exploration of the rare mineral lithium in Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka is eagerly anticipating good news regarding its lithium reserves in the Mandya district from the AMD (Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research).
India’s fortune is back: Karnataka also discovered lithium reserves
Following the hype surrounding the discovery of lithium reserves between 2020 and February 2021, there has been no progress by the relevant authorities. The latest event has given Karnataka a new cause for optimism. In the pegmatites of the Marlagalla-Allapatna area, Mandya district in Karnataka, preliminary assessments on the surface and restricted subsurface by AMD have revealed the presence of lithium deposits of 1,600 tonnes. In addition to Mandya, sources claim.
In some areas of the Karnataka district of Yadgir, AMD, a branch of the Department of Atomic Energy, is also doing lithium exploration in promising geological domains. Experts think that it is necessary to determine the project’s economic viability.
The government will benefit greatly if lithium exploration is successful because the Indian automotive industry is moving towards electric mobility. The significance and quantity of lithium deposits in the Marlagalla-Allapatna area, Mandya district, Karnataka, may only be established following the conclusion of exploration throughout the entire area, according to Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Atomic Energy and Space.
He went on to say that following technical, social, and economic feasibility evaluations of the area, plans for commercial exploitation of the lithium reserves might start. The Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) preliminary surveys on the surface and limited subsurface exploration have shown the presence of lithium resources of 1,600 tonnes (inferred category) in the Marlagalla area of Mandya district in Karnataka, according to the Union Minister of Mines Pralhad Joshi’s written reply to the Rajya Sabha.
Revenue officers from the Mandya district performed an inspection in the areas surrounding Srirangapatna in February 2020 in light of study papers on the existence of lithium.
Afterwards, after hearing allegations of deposits covering a few square kilometres, Deputy Commissioner Venkatesh travelled to Alapatna, which is close to Srirangapatna, with other government representatives.
The authorities visited a few communities and are still awaiting additional findings from the Department of Atomic Energy and other organizations. He claimed that Atomic Minerals Directorate researchers had discovered lithium reserves close to Mandya. In a tiny area of land studied in Mandya and reported in the journal Current Science, the reserves have been calculated at 14,100 tonnes.
Manchester United have won the 2023 Carabao Cup by defeating Newcastle United 2-0 in the final. The Premier League giants have ended their drought for silverware since 2017 with Erik Ten Hag’s first trophy.
It took the Dutchman 40 games to win his first trophy with Manchester United, with a goal from Casemiro and an own goal from Sven Botman proving to be the difference between the two teams.
Manchester United win the 2023 Carabao Cup
The first goal came from a free-kick situation, perfectly delivered by Casemiro to head past Loris Karius. Marcus Rashford forced the own goal from Sven Botman with his cross, doubling their lead in the very first half.
Newcastle United came out with a lot of intensity in the second half, but were unable to test David De Gea thoroughly. They reached a major final for the first time in 24 years, and will have to wait longer for winning a trophy.
Moreover, their losing streak at Wembley Stadium continues, with their ninth straight loss in front of the capacity crowd.
The Red Devils, on the other hand, have something to show for their massive improvement under Erik Ten Hag recently. The former Ajax boss has been persistent that winning trophies, not matches, is their main objective. And now that they have one in the bag already, they will be confident of challenging in the Europa League now that they are in the Round of 16.
Newcastle United, on the other hand, will have to bounce back and continue their Champions League challenge as they are fifth with two games in hand.
ISL 2023 : As the Indian Super League (ISL) 2022-23 season reaches its climax stage, fans eagerly wait for the playoffs to commence. The playoffs feature the top six teams from the league phase, and the playoff format has been revamped for the current season.
Odisha vs Goa ISL: ISL, unlike most football leagues, does not work on a league system, but rather follows an American-style playoff format. As a result, the top six teams at the end of league stage make it to playoffs https://t.co/RbuGSYbPpp
The Indian Super League (ISL) is India’s premier football league, featuring some of the best domestic and international talent in the country. The league has grown in popularity and stature over the years, and the playoffs are an exciting part of the season, where the top teams compete for a chance to lift the coveted trophy.
Let’s have a look at the playoff format in detail and the teams that will play against each other in which venue.
The ISL 2022-23 playoffs comprise two one-legged Eliminators, two-legged Semifinals, and the Final. The top two teams on the points table at the end of the league phase qualify directly for the Semifinals. The teams finishing in third, fourth, fifth, and sixth will battle it out in the Eliminators to book a spot in the last four.
Eliminator 1: The third-placed team will host the sixth-placed team.
Eliminator 2: The fourth-placed team will host the fifth-placed team.
The winner of Eliminator 1 will meet the team that finished second in the table in Semifinal 1, while the winner of Eliminator 2 will clash against the table-toppers in Semifinal 2. The semifinals will be contested over two legs, with each team getting a chance to play one of their matches at home. The winner from the two-legged semifinals will meet in the final.
The playoffs for ISL 2023 will be held in March, and the qualified teams for the Eliminators and Semifinals are:
Mumbai City FC (Q)
Hyderabad FC (Q)
ATK Mohun Bagan (Q)
Bengaluru FC (Q)
Kerala Blasters (Q)
Odisha FC (Q)
The first Eliminator will be played between Bengaluru FC and Kerala Blasters, with the winner facing ATK Mohun Bagan in the second Eliminator.
Eliminator 1: Bengaluru FC vs Kerala Blasters Venue: Bengaluru
Eliminator 2: ATK Mohun Bagan vs Winner of Eliminator 1 Venue: Kolkata
The first legs of the semifinals will be played on March 7 and 9, with the second legs on March 12 and 13.
Semifinal 1: Mumbai City FC vs Winner of Eliminator 2 Venue:Mumbai
Semifinal 2: Hyderabad FC vs Winner of Eliminator 1 Venue: Hyderabad
The winner from the two-legged semifinals will meet in the final.
Final: Winner of Semifinal 1 vs Winner of Semifinal 2 Venue: Goa
Can someone explain how @IndSuperLeague accurately predicted and posted the playoffs fixtures one day ago, before the final group stage match even kicked off? If KBFC had won the game by 7-8 goals, they was supposed to go to the third position naa? So how bro how!? 😇 #HeroISLpic.twitter.com/gfbhqahKE6
Here is a look at the ISL 2022-23 playoff fixtures, dates, kick-off times :
Date
Day
Round
Fixture
Venue
Kick Off Time (IST)
March 3
Friday
Eliminator 1
Bengaluru FC vs Kerala Blasters
Bengaluru
7:30 PM
March 4
Saturday
Eliminator 2
ATK Mohun Bagan vs Odisha FC
Kolkata
7:30 PM
March 7
Tuesday
Semifinal 1 (1st Leg)
Mumbai City FC vs Winner – Eliminator 1
Mumbai
7:30 PM
March 9
Thursday
Semi-Final 2 (1st Leg)
Hyderabad FC vs Winner – Eliminator 2
Hyderabad
7:30 PM
March 12
Sunday
Semifinal 1 (2nd Leg)
Winner – Eliminator 1 vs Mumbai City FC
TBC
7:30 PM
March 13
Monday
Semifinal 2 (2nd Leg)
Winner – Eliminator 2 vs Hyderabad FC
TBC
7:30 PM
March 18
Saturday
Final
Semifinal 1 Winner vs Semifinal 2 Winner
Goa
7:30 PM
The playoff schedule is subject to change, and the venues for the matches are yet to be confirmed. Fans can expect the playoffs to be played in a bio-secure bubble, given the current pandemic situation.
The ISL 2022-23 playoffs promise to be an exciting affair, with some of the best teams in the league battling it out for a spot in the final. With a revamped format and some nail-biting fixtures lined up, fans are in for a treat. So mark your calendars and get ready to witness some high-octane football action in the coming weeks!
OnePlus Buds Pro 2 review is here! Yes, you have been waiting for this and here finally we have brought a detailed review of the same and we will discuss why OnePlus is back in its real sense. Already it has launched the OnePlus 11 5G and OnePlus 11R, this Buds Pro 2 TWS earbuds is kind of overshadowed but it deserves its praise.
I got to try out the TWS earbuds for over a week now and can say this is better than some of the JBL or Sony’s and even comparable to AirPods Pro. Priced at ₹11,999, there’s only an Rs.2k price increase from its predecessor, but, with the new Spatial Audio feature, we feel it’s worth paying so.
OnePlus also launched the Buds Pro 2R at ₹9,999 but we will ask users to spend that extra money on this because it’s worth paying for the Spatial Audio feature! Now, is it worth going for the new Buds Pro 2 over the AirPods (3rd Generation)? Let’s find out in our detailed OnePlus Buds Pro 2 review:
In the Box
OnePlus Buds Pro 2 TWS earbuds, Red Cable Club membership, Extra ear tips (antibacterial), USB Type-C charger
OnePlus Buds Pro 2 Specifications
Spatial audio: Enjoy Spatial Audio with the Dynamic Head Tracking feature that helps you experience sounds on a whole new level. Co-created with Dynaudio: Helps you achieve optimal listening experience.
Smart Scene Noise Cancellation 2.0: Up to 48dB Ultra-wide frequency noise cancellation system with personalized ANC Worry-free Battery Life: Up to 40 Hours Battery with quick charging 10 minutes for 3 hours of use with ANC on.
Full charged earbud: up to 6h(music playback; ANC ON); up to 9h(music playback; ANC Off). OnePlus Audio ID 2.0: Personalize your audio via a simple listening test at a first-time setup. This unique hearing profile ID allows one to enjoy the most optimal listening experience best suited to him or her by compensating for mild hearing loss and related aural deficiencies.
Powerful, Punchy Bass with clear vocals: Drop the bass and listen to clear vocals with dual 11mm + 6mm dual drivers, delivering a precisely boosted sound profile designed to move you. Seamless connectivity: Instantaneous pairing with the OnePlus smartphone, as soon as you open the charging case lid. It also has Google Fast Pair that helps to connect any android phone easily.
3Mic AI for better call and noise cancellation. IP55 Water, Dust and Sweat resistant.
Design, Build Quality and Comfort
In terms of design, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 didn’t see much of a change and that makes sense because the predecessor OnePluds Buds Pro already looked fantastic. However, this new Arbor Green color looks fantastic, even cooler than the Obsidian Black, and we will encourage buyers to go for it undoubtedly.
The case is still smooth, curved at the edges easy to hold and carry, and glossy, feels premium from the moment you hold it in your hands to open the lid. If you talk about the buds individually, that Green color suits the Buds Pro 2 a lot and it’s easy to take it out of the case and seamlessly fits back when you’re done listening. As OnePlus says, the tactile NCL matte coating and polished indium stocks enhance the visual appeal substantially.
Talking about build quality, it’s strong, tactile and has that sense of premiumness, should withstand physical pressure, but one should handle it with care to keep its glossiness intact. Overall, I do feel, in this OnePlus Buds Pro 2 review, the design will be a key for anyone who is spending Rs.12k on TWS earbuds like this.
Also, if you ask about how this OnePlus Buds Pro 2 fits into ears, this has been meticulously designed so that it fits into most ears, though it may be big to some, you have adjustable ear tips to customize from. For me, during the Buds Pro 2 review, I faced no issues wearing them for hours and it was damn comfortable I would say.
Though it was only falling off if you are laid in bed for most of the time, even during running or walking, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 stayed intact with its mushy fit that doesn’t hurt your ears. Lastly, both the case of this Buds Pro 2 and the earbuds themselves are IP rated, for the case it’s IPX4 and for the buds it’s IP55, so, you don’t have to worry about water or dust while you carry this around.
Connectivity
For a TWS earbuds, connectivity plays a big role, this Buds Pro 2 comes with the latest Bluetooth 5.3 which ensures the best connectivity and you can pair with two devices simultaneously and switch between them easily. Often unheard of but the LHDC 4.0 codec works behind the scenes to ensure seamless Bluetooth audio streaming with magnificent tone and clarity.
This does make a difference and unless you use it you won’t understand the subtle difference even a high-res codec brings, also, OnePlus says an update to LHDC 5.0 will be coming soon. The best connectivity feature OnePlus has been maintaining is the addition of Google Fast Pair on the OnePlus Buds Pro 2, helping you to connect the earbuds seamlessly if you have a OnePlus phone.
You can access almost all the functionalities of this Buds Pro 2 right through the Bluetooth settings from your OnePlus device else you have to install the HeyMelody app. Having an ultra-low 54ms latency helps if you are gaming or watching something exciting and that low latency will help increase the thrill.
Another useful feature I found during this Buds Pro 2 review, has to be this OnePlus Audio ID 2.0, this is a functionality that is found in the settings of the earbuds, that customizes the music as per your ear via a short tutorial, we will surely cover on that specifically in our upcoming guides. The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 has you covered with activity level and posture reminders generated by the built-in IMU sensors.
Here are the various touch controls of this OnePlus Buds Pro 2:
Press once: Pause playback/Answer incoming calls/Hang up calls
Press twice: Next song/reject the call
Press triple: Previous song
Long press for 1 second: Noise reduction switching
Long press for 3 seconds: Earbuds focus
Noise Cancellation
The greatest improvement this OnePlus Buds Pro 2 brings onboard has to be the improved Noise cancellation support. Users can enjoy up to 48dB Smart Adaptive Noise Cancellation and which is a significant improvement, making this TWS earbuds comparable to the expensive Sony or Apple earbuds.
Literally, if you go outside and use this TWS earbuds, as I did repeatedly for this Buds Pro 2 review, the noise cancellation quality has been elevated to the next level. You have various modes to customize the amount of ANC you require: Faint, Smart, and Extreme, each profile works very accurately, and even the loudest of noise is easily eliminated.
Even at home, I used the ANC most of the time and fan noises or I barely could hear if anyone was speaking in front of me if I played some music. The noise cancellation is damn good and flagship quality undoubtedly, however, I would suggest people use Transparency mode to save battery life and of course if you are walking outdoors.
With TÜV Rheinland Noise Cancelation Certification, OnePlus is dedicated to providing the best ANC experience with this OnePlus Buds Pro 2 and deserves its praise.
Audio Quality
Now, with an 11mm woofer + 6mm tweeter dual drivers, the sound experience is elevated as per OnePlus, but the difference is very minute. This setup utilizes liquid crystal polymer diaphragms with separate edges and domes for enhanced balance, tough the difference this brings is subtle but I did enjoy my music or everyday YouTube or Netflix sessions.
The new 6mm drivers help you experience that shrill low tones and once you customize the listening as per your ear’s sensitivity, you are all good to go. I loved playing music on the go and thanks to the BassWave™ algorithm, a feature brought with the latest update, the highs and lows are very accurate.
Until now this OnePlus Buds Pro 2 will feel like any other good TWS earbuds even comparable to its predecessor but what actually brings a significant difference is the inclusion of new Spatial Audio functionality! Yes, this feature is no longer reserved for AirPods only, thanks to Google and Dolby who developed Spatial Audio jointly exclusively for the new OnePlus 11 series.
So, unless you have a new OnePlus phone you won’t experience this special feature which I think again is a strategy of the brand to buy you a new phone anyways. However, with Dolby Head Tracking, Dolby Atmos, and OnePlus’s special rendering algorithm, you get a wider field of clear, natural sound and pristine vocals for a listening experience.
It did make a difference during the Buds Pro 2 review, while you listen to music or even watch movies, but, Spatial Audio is restricted to a few apps as of now like Netflix, Google TV, YouTube, Disney+ and HBO Max. These apps are specially tuned for Spatial Audio, but, music apps like Spotify do make a difference to some extent, we wait for official support undoubtedly.
In terms of overall audio quality & experience, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 TWS earbuds do satisfy even an audio addict like me and anyone who wants a reliable option and can afford up to Rs.12k, this is a great choice when it comes to audio.
Call Quality & Microphone
For a lot of us, the call experience and microphones do really matter and so I have covered this separately, much like other OnePlus TWS earbuds, this one too feels good for everyday usage. Each bud of the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 consists of 3 mics per side that ensure excellent sound reception on the other end during calls.
Having those 3 mics at each end of the buds helps pick up vocals, enhance noise cancelling, and work in tandem with OnePlus‘s improved AI call anti-wind algorithms. This is even more evident when you take calls outdoors, so, overall in terms of sound reception, microphone and call quality, this Buds Pro 2 review is surely positive.
Battery Life
Lastly, talking about this Buds Pro 2 review, this TWS earbuds has been upgraded, now with a 60mAh battery per bud and 520mAh in the charging case. This helps it deliver a total of up to 39 hours of battery life, which is astounding, and much better than AirPods as well.
Now, with ANC on, that decreases to only 25 hours, which is again enough to last for a few days of regular usage, personally I used ANC mostly and got about 3-4 days of battery life on average, now without ANC this increases to 5-6 days which is really good. This OnePlus Buds Pro 2 TWS earbuds is no doubt a flagship thanks to wireless charging support, however, with a Type-C port, the charging speed is decent.
With 10 minutes of charge, you get up to 10 hours of playtime, impressive undoubtedly, wireless charging takes more time, but a good-to-have feature.
Verdict
Finally, why is this OnePlus Buds Pro 2 a good choice for you and should spend Rs.12k for it? Well, definitely according to us if you are a OnePlus fan and if you are planning to buy a new OnePlus 11 series phone then this TWS earbuds should be a priority as you can only then enjoy the flagship Spatial Audio feature.
However, the OnePlus team should work to bring the feature to its previous devices I feel, to happy for the fans who aren’t looking to buy the new OnePlus 11 or 11R anytime soon. In our Buds Pro 2 review, it’s clear that this TWS earbuds is a worthy successor to the original Buds Pro and the company has carried forward its legacy to surprise fans who had been eagerly waiting for this.
Buy this OnePlus Buds Pro 2 from Amazon India with free & fast delivery: https://amzn.to/3IvBh20
Manchester United take on Newcastle United in the final of the 2023 Carabao Cup today. The Premier League giants have the opportunity to end a six-year wait for silverware by winning the League Cup at Wembley Stadium.
Newcastle, on the other hand, have lost their last eight matches in a dismal run of form at the big ground. But this time around, something could finally give for the Magpies against one of the best teams in the country right now.
Carabao Cup 22/23 preview: Who takes the trophy?
Newcastle United will be without Nick Pope in goal, due to suspension. The English goalkeeper was sent off against Liverpool in the Premier League but will miss the game against United since it is the very next domestic game.
Loris Karius will play his first game for an English club since that fateful Champions League final against Real Madrid. The German has not been the same since his error-filled game against Los Blancos, but now has a huge chance to make amends in the Carabao Cup final.
Manchester United’s talisman, Marcus Rashford, has been named in the squad after doubts about his fitness. The forward limped off during the midweek win against Barcelona at Old Trafford, and there were concerns about whether he would be available. He has made the trip to London, but whether or not he starts is what remains to be seen.
With both teams expected to give it their all to end their droughts for silverware, it should be a very entertaining watch for neutrals. And all things considered, the Wembley Stadium final could be decided on the finest of margins.
In a recent trailer, the Resident Evil 4 remake confirmed the return of a fan-favorite mode, as well as the impending release of a special demo. The build-up to the highly anticipated remake of the critically acclaimed survival horror action game Resident Evil 4 has been filled with news about what is set to return, as well as what is new or changed.
wccftech
When a player beats the original Resident Evil 4, they are given some additional options.
There’s also the New Game Plus option, which allows them to replay the game with all of their previous gear and items. Separate Ways and Assignment Ada, two side stories starring the game’s side character Ada Wong, followed her during and after the events of the main game. Finally, there was The Mercenaries mode, which served as a game mode in which players battled Ganados with various Resident Evil characters for higher scores.
wccftech
A new trailer was shown for the Resident Evil 4 remake during the latest State of Play, ending with the announcement that The Mercenaries is coming back. While no footage of The Mercenaries game mode was shown, its announcement is exciting. The trailer also confirmed that a “Special Demo” is coming soon.
The new Resident Evil 4 Remake showed Leon and Luis fighting monks together in the Castle area, including a shot of Leon, duplexing a monk. It also featured Krauser, a boss from the original game, with the iconic knife fight between him and Leon now being gameplay rather than a QTE. Because QTEs will not be present in the Resident Evil 4 remake, it will be interesting to see how the knife fight will unfold without them. Along with that, there was a lot more in the trailer, such as mine cart rides, Garradors, and a better look at the main antagonist, Lord Saddler.
Resident Evil 4 will release on PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S on March 24.
HMD has worked with repair specialists iFixit to provide customers with the necessary replacement parts, tools, and guides for what it calls the most common smartphone repairs on its new Nokia G22. The Nokia G22 will be available in the UK on March 8th for £149.99 (€179 / around $180) and will be sold in select global markets such as Europe but not the United States.
The company joins a growing number of smartphone manufacturers in making replacement parts more accessible to end users. In recent years, Samsung and Google have partnered with iFixit to sell replacement parts, while Apple has launched its own Self Service Repair programme. These companies are making spare parts more accessible, but the ease with which you can repair their devices is hit-or-miss.
That is why HMD boasts about how quickly you can replace the G22’s battery or screen.
credit: theverge
During a press conference about the phone, Adam Ferguson, HMD’s head of product, successfully replaced the battery in the Nokia G22. Ferguson had to open the phone with a guitar pick-style piece of plastic and detach a delicate-looking cable to remove the battery, but the entire process took about five minutes. According to him, a similar battery swap on a previous-generation HMD phone or many competing handsets would take closer to 90 minutes.
Although it is an improvement over its competitors, HMD still has some work to do if it wants to catch up with Fairphone, which is currently in its fourth generation of long-lasting, repairable phones. While the battery on the Nokia G22 is easier to remove, it still requires tools.
Although HMD hopes that user repairability will extend the life of the Nokia G22 by stocking replacement parts for five years, it will discontinue software support before Samsung and Google. The Nokia G22 will receive Android updates for two years and security updates for three years.
In another unfortunate twist, it will ship with Android. Meanwhile, Google and Samsung provide up to five years of security updates, whereas Fairphone will have supported its 2015 Fairphone 2 for more than seven years when its final software update is released in March 2023.
South Korean semiconductor manufacturers Samsung and SK Hynix, two of the world’s largest, are likely to face additional restrictions due to China’s product manufacturing capacity. Samsung and SK Hynix specialise in memory chip manufacturing and have manufacturing facilities in China where they collaborate with local firms such as Yangtze Memory Technologies Co Ltd. (YMTC) and Changxin Memory Technologies (CXMT). Fresh comments for new restrictions were made by a Commerce department official on Thurdsay in Washington during a think tank session.
If they become official then the new regulations will be the latest in a long line of steps taken by successive administrations to counter China’s use of advanced chipmaking technologies for military purposes. The United States has already sanctioned China’s largest chipmaker, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), and chipmakers like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) are barred from supplying advanced chips with feature sizes smaller than 7 nanometers to the country.
The Commerce Department added new rules last year in a new set of sweeping regulations that prohibited US citizens and persons from developing or producing chips at certain facilities in China without a licence. These also made shipping chip manufacturing equipment to facilities producing chips smaller than 16 nanometers and 14 nanometers, as well as advanced memory chips, subject to a licence – a decision that shook the industry, as companies like Samsung and SK Hynix were concerned about their existing Chinese operations.
credit: wccftech
While the United States is only one of the world’s major chip manufacturing countries, it has a slew of different companies that ship critical chip design and manufacturing products.
Samsung and SK Hynix have manufacturing facilities in China, including Wuxi, Chongqing, Xian, and Tianjin.
When the new sanctions were announced in October, both Hynix and Samsung were able to apply for a temporary waiver, allowing them to continue operating in China. The US government’s goal now, according to Commerce Undersecretary for Industry and Security Alan Estevez, is to halt the growth of chip manufacturing in China.
In response to the report, the South Korean government stated that it intends to discuss the import waiver with the US, specifically whether it can be extended. Because of its massive population, China is a lucrative market for the world’s largest technology companies, and big ticket technology names like Apple and Qualcomm have a strong presence in the region. According to Apple’s earnings report for the quarter ending in December, China was the company’s second largest market, accounting for $24 billion of its $117 billion in revenue.
With the Agon AG455UCX, AOC introduces a new Ultra-Wide gaming monitor. AOC employs a large 44.5-inch VA panel with a resolution of 5120×1440 (DQHD), which is slightly smaller than its existing 49-inch DQHD monitors. This resolution is also used by the 49-inch Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 and the 49-inch MSI 491C, despite the fact that those monitors use Quantum Dot OLED panels.
AOC uses a 1500R curvature on a monitor this large to increase immersion, while viewing angles are the standard 178 degrees. However, gamers will likely be seated front and centre with this display and won’t be sharing it, where light/color fall-off can occur towards extreme angles with VA panels.
The Agon AG455UCX is designed to compete with the best gaming monitors, with a 165Hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time.
credit: tomshardware
The monitor is listed as supporting AMD FreeSync, but we imagine it also supports Nvidia G-Sync. The average contrast ratio is 2,400:1, with a maximum of 3,000:1. The maximum brightness is 400 nits, which is about average for a VA panel of this size.
AOC equips the Agon AG455UCX with three HDMI 2.1 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4 port, and a USB-C connector for connectivity. A four-port USB 3.2 Gen 1 hub is also included for connecting all of your peripherals. An integrated KVM switch and dual 5-watt speakers round out the package.
The Agon AG455UCX also has a wide base to support its 22-pound weight. The stand is also height, tilt, and swivel adjustable. There’s even a stand sprouting from the monitor’s left side to hold your headphones.
At this time, AOC has not announced pricing or availability for the Agon AG455UCX. However, we expect it to be slightly less expensive than the 49-inch Agon AG493UCX2, which retails for around $1,000.
Just 18 months after its peak valuation of $47 billion, WeWork has seen a drastic drop to just $1 billion. The reasons for this massive devaluation range from lack of profitable growth to ineffective management.
WeWork, started by Adam Neumann, provides co-working spaces, both physical and virtual ones, a unique prospect that ended up having a nightmare. In this article, we explore the key factors that led to WeWork’s dramatic decrease in worth.
The Rise and Fall of WeWork’s IPO
After a cancelled IPO in late 2019, WeWork was eventually able to make its long-awaited public debut on the New York Stock Exchange in December 2019. Despite much fanfare and hype surrounding the release, within just months of the listing, the company’s share price cratered by over 80%. With its valuation tumbling from $47 billion prior to listing to just $1 billion shortly after, this massive drop offers valuable lessons into how quickly investor sentiment can turn and speaks volumes as to why cold-hearted facts mustn’t be overlooked in assessing potential investments.
Increasing Financial Struggles
WeWork‘s financial situation had been worsening long before the company went public. Struggling to turn a sustainable profit, the company was forced to take on hefty amounts of debt in order to finance its ambitious expansion plans. Additionally, after its abortive attempt at going public, it became increasingly clear that the company’s repeated losses and doubtful outlook meant that much larger investments were needed if it hoped to survive as a publicly traded entity.
Leadership Crisis in WeWork’s Management Team
One of the main factors leading to the company’s drastic drop in valuation was the leadership crisis within their management team. Questions were raised over whether co-founder and ex-CEO Adam Neumann had used his position of power to gain personal financial advantage, particularly concerning his past corporate governance issues. The influx of new leadership failed to quell growing investor concerns, leading many to abandon their positions in the company and drastically reduce its valuation.
Lack of Confidence from Investors and Changing Investment Strategies
The waning trust of investors in WeWork‘s leadership highlighted the urgent need for a change in their corporate strategy. Investors, who had initially been confident that the company could turn its seeming potential into success, began to retrench and reassess their positions in the rapidly changing market conditions. This decrease in confidence was further compounded by shifting investor investment approaches, causing many to reduce or liquidate their investments in WeWork altogether.
In a reflection of this quickly deflating confidence, SoftBank, WeWork’s largest investor, has written down its shares in the company to approximately $1 billion from their previous valuation of around $10 billion. Many investors have followed suit and adjusted their share values or axed investments entirely, reflectingWeWork’s severe lack of financial security. This decreased trust in WeWork’s operations highlights the need for the company to change both its corporate strategy and executive leadership, doing whatever it takes to bring back investors’ much-needed confidence.
Unanswered Questions About Corporate Governance Structures and Business Model Changes
The implosion of WeWork underscored the importance of carefully reviewing corporate governance structures in order to identify potential problems and areas of risk. Investors began asking some hard questions about how the company was managing its business model changes and how that might impact their investments going forward. As many started to reassess the viability of WeWork’s rapidly expanding business, these same unanswered questions contributed greatly to a drastic decrease in investor confidence.
