President of Journalists Association of Korea (JAK) Kim Dong Hoon has said science and digital technology are evolving faster than ever and journalism may face “unprecedented crises” if they do not prepare for the future. “This is why we must reflect on issues and develop solutions now,” he said while speaking on the first day of the five-day World Journalists Conference-2023 that began in Seoul on Tuesday, seeking collaborative efforts for a brighter future for journalism globally. Kim said although participants from around the world have different nationalities, races, genders, and ideas, they all share the same identity as journalists who strive for truth, freedom and peace with sharp reasoning and warm hearts. “We now live in an era where we can access the news and information we need anytime, anywhere with a single smartphone. Things that were unimaginable just a few years ago have become a reality,” he said. Under the topic of “The Challenge of Journalism for Regional Development”, journalists discussed solution case studies that examine local community issues and propose solutions.    

Vivo launched its Y22 smartphone in Bangladesh on March 2. The mobile phone started selling in the market from March 7 and can be purchased from any authorized showroom and also from E-store. It is priced at Tk 19,999, said a press release. The smartphone features a 50 mega-pixel rear back camera. The front camera consists of 8 Mega-pixel with F/2.0 lens. Other than that, it has also a super night camera. Vivo Y22 has side-mounted fingerprint scanner in the power button. Which means, this button can be used as a both power button and a fingerprint scanner and can scan a fingerprint for 15 lakh, said the release. The phone comes with an 18 watt type-C charger for its 5000 mAh battery, it added.

Global smart device manufacturer Oppo recently celebrated the O'Fans Fest with the theme "making memories." All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and other celebrities joined the celebration event at a Narsingdi resort. OPPO launched the O'Fans Festival last month. Read More: 10 Top Budget Smartphones Released in 2022 There were six teams at the O'Fans Festival, and each team was led by a celebrity team leader with five fans in each team. Every game had different activities which required different kinds of capabilities. The team that received the highest points won. Also, the winning team got the opportunity to play a match with Shakib. All participants received gifts; the winning team received a trophy. Read more: Oppo Reno 9 Pro 5G Review: Build for Efficiency

Global smartphone maker Xiaomi has brought different offers on the purchase of certain models of its smartphones as part of a nationwide campaign. Under the campaign, one can buy Redmi 10 (2022) 4+64GB variant at Tk16,999 with a discount of Tk1,200, according to a media statement. Read More: 10 Top Budget Smartphones Released in 2022 Redmi 10 (2022) 6 +128GB variant can be bought at Tk19,999 instead of Tk20,999, it added. The device has different features, including a 50-megapixel high-resolution camera and an FHD+ resolution display with a 90Hz refresh rate. The campaign, which started on December 21, will continue till January 31, 2023. Read more: Xiaomi Redmi K50i 5G Review: Performance Centric Mid-range Phone

Bangladesh and Japan can develop “ICT bridges” as the latter faces shortage of young ICT engineers, says a Japanese expert. “The two countries can support each other. I hope young Bangladeshis go to Japan and have some experience… It is not a one-way support,” Dr Kano Tsuyoshi, co-founder and CEO of ICT for Development (NPO), Japan, told UNB today. Responding to a question, Dr Kano, also an associate professor at Kanazawa Institute of Technology, Japan said he is eager to support young Bangladeshi ICT engineers. Read Present world is not of competition but collaboration: Palak While talking to this correspondent at Jatiya Press Club (JPC), the Japanese expert said digital human resources are one of the important factors for the ICT sector’s development in Bangladesh. “Digital human resources in Bangladesh can be ICT bridges between the country and Japan,” said the Japanese expert. He said if young Bangladeshi professionals go to Japan and come back to Bangladesh after 10 to 20 years, both countries will be benefitted.   Dr Kano said Japan has a big challenge — shortage of ICT engineers — because it is becoming an “aging society” and the number of young people is inadequate. Read: Bangladesh gets drug, precursor test kits from Japan through UNODC “Young ICT engineers are not many in Japan,” he said, adding that in Bangladesh, many young people do not get jobs immediately after graduation, even in the ICT sector, due to lack of required skills. The Japanese expert said these two challenges — shortage of ICT engineers in Japan and shortage of good jobs in Bangladesh — can be addressed through cooperation and collaboration. Dr Kano, who is visiting Bangladesh at the invitation of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Japanese Embassy in Dhaka, is scheduled to leave Dhaka on Tuesday. Read IBBL ICT wing holds discussion, hosts iftar party He said both soft and hard skills can be obtained through global experiences and the two countries can make ICT business relationships stronger. The number of Japanese companies operating in Bangladesh has tripled in the past 10 years with an increased attention from ICT companies (offshoring, development center, recruitment, etc.).  On Sunday, he delivered a lecture on “ICT Bridge between Bangladesh and Japan” at ICT Division, joined by more than 100 people – government officials, industry people and students. Read KUET partners with Huawei to set up ICT academy

Global brand ViewSonic recently made its debut in Metaverse by launching its latest gaming monitors and display products in Bangladesh.  The event was headlined by the new Viewsonic ELITE series gaming monitors.  ELITE XG320U gaming monitor features a 32-inch pixel-dense 4k UHD screen with quantum dot technology and a hyper-responsive 150 Hz refresh rate for ultra-smooth gameplay.  ELITE XG251G gaming monitor has a 25-inch full HD IPS panel featuring a pro-level 360 Hz refresh rate along with VESA DisplayHDR 400.  Budget-friendly Viewsonic OMNI series gaming monitors were also launched.  Read:Motorola Moto G62 5G Review with Pros, Cons XG2431 gaming monitor features a 24-inch 240Hz full HD fast-IPS display with VESA DisplayHDR 400.  XG2705 gaming monitor brings with it a 27-inch full HD IPS display with a 144Hz refresh rate. VX2405-P-MHD gaming monitor has a 24-inch full HD IPS display and a rapid 144Hz refresh rate.  VX3418-2KPC gaming monitor features a 34-inch 21:9 ultra-wide display with a rapid 144Hz refresh rate and a 1500R curved screen for immersive visuals. Darren Low, country manager for all emerging markets at ViewSonic, said: "We are very excited to enter the Metaverse space and showcase ViewSonic's commitment to engaging the latest technology." The ViewSonic products are now available at all leading computer stores around Bangladesh.

Bangladeshi tech entrepreneurs Sonia Bashir Kabir, Afeef Zaman, and Morin Talukder have been named on the Rest of World (RoW)'s 100 Global Tech's Changemakers' list. RoW had set out to find 100 of the most influential, innovative, and trailblazing personalities in fintech, e-commerce, policy, digital infrastructure, and a range of other sectors that intersect with and influence technology. From tech leaders, innovators, and investors to activists, it identified those people outside Silicon Valley and the West, whose efforts directly impact countries where the majority of the world's population lives. Also read: Sonia Bashir to serve UN Technology Bank for another term Among the three Bangladeshis, Sonia Bashir Kabir is the founder and managing director of SBK Tech Ventures, a Bangladesh-focused venture capital fund, which invests in startups that support the digital development of rural areas. SBK's portfolio includes Dmoney, Solshare, and Praava Health. Previously, as the country manager of Microsoft Bangladesh, Sonia partnered with donor agencies, banks, telecommunications companies, and students, to mobilise and grow the company's initiatives. Read Legendary Women in Bangladesh with Pioneering Contribution in Diverse Fields She also worked to provide microloans to women to start IT businesses. Afeef Zaman is an expert in problem-solving in emerging markets, especially in Bangladesh. He is the CEO of ShopUp, the country's largest full stack business-to-business commerce platform for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. Afeef bootstrapped Ice9 – a venture builder providing solutions for emerging economies – to success in his 20s. Following this, he decided to help the entrepreneurs who run the country's 4.5 million popular mom-and-pop stores but struggle to access its formal financial system due to a lack of digital presence. Read 10 Greatest Female Scientists of All Time Thanks to ShopUp, they can now access digital credit, B2B sourcing, logistics, and business management solutions. After closing South Asia's largest funding round worth $75 million in 2021, the company has added to its funds with a $34 million series B extension round. Morin Talukder is the co-founder and CEO of Pickaboo, a Bangladesh-based e-commerce platform. Though still in his 20s, he is a seasoned expert in the booming e-commerce industry, having founded the online shopping platform ehatbazaar.com in 2015, which he sold a year later to focus on Pickaboo. During its six years of operation and five funding rounds, it has gained the confidence of its customers. Read 10 Greatest Female Entrepreneurs of the 21st Century To stay competitive, Morin has prioritised offering a high-speed delivery service with turnarounds of as little as three hours and has turned Pickaboo into one of the first e-commerce retailers in Bangladesh to introduce monthly payment plans and customer membership plans. "Together, the individuals featured on our Global Tech's Changemakers list influence how products are made and distributed, how entrepreneurs are funded, and how tech is regulated and its users protected far beyond their local markets," RoW said. "As a result of the extraordinary headwinds they face, our editorial team believes these leaders are more innovative, more thoughtful, and better at sharing new ideas than most people in the Western world understand." Read Top 10 Richest Women in the World in 2021

Telenor Research, a scientific research unit of Norwegian technology conglomerate Telenor Group, has unveiled the seventh edition of "Tech Trends," highlighting how technology and digitalisation can enable a green transformation which it believes will define the upcoming year. Grameenphone revealed the research findings at an event in the capital Monday. The five anticipated tech trends for 2022 were revealed in a keynote and an expert reflection session. The core impression of the predictions for 2022 revolves around global climate change and its impact on the ecosystem. Read Vivo showcases tech trends for 2022 The trends predict how new-era advanced connectivity, climate-friendly energy-efficient modern hardware, edge cloud, and 5G technology will be more eco-friendly, increased demand for green job skills with institutions and digital learning platforms offering climate micro-degrees, an optimisation war between companies to make devices more energy-efficient and environmental-friendly, a surge in climate aware influencers and taking the next generation's expectations with importance to mitigate potential threats of the "great resignation." The report also has three tips on how businesses can avoid this threat once the pandemic is over. The trends are primarily influenced by the ongoing global pandemic and its consequences. Read Apple’s holiday iPhone sales surge despite supply shortages Trend 1: Green clouds on the horizon Due to the immense growth in data usage, there is higher energy demand. Hence, cloud computing has seen exponential growth, and also edge computing is expected to take over by an acceptable margin in the coming year. "We predict that 5G networks worldwide will have the capability to do local breakout of data traffic to and from Edge data centres," said Bjørn Taale Sandberg, head of Telenor Research, during a virtual keynote presentation." "Energy-efficient Edge data centres reachable from mobile devices over 5G networks will start popping up, at an increasing rate, in 2022. As a result, energy will also be saved in data distribution networks since part of the data traffic and electricity will be transferred locally only." Read Realme 9 Pro Series soon to be launched globally Trend 2: Big appetite for climate micro-degrees With modern careers requiring employees and employers to be climate-friendly, there is a need to adapt to lifelong learning on sustainability. Environmental policy and regulation will also increase the demand for green job skills in 2022. "A growing number of businesses will implement green micro-degrees and courses as part of their 'curriculum' to slake the green knowledge thirst among employees. The businesses that fail to facilitate opportunities to acquire green online learning credentials on-the-job risk being perceived as less attractive in the eyes of new talent," predicts Sandberg. Read OPPO recognizes unsung heroes of Bangladesh Trend 3: Optimise everything The global need for greater energy efficiency has the chance to trigger the "optimisation of everything" battle between consumer electronic manufacturers. Devices consuming electricity now outnumber humans by four, and they will become even more dominant in the future. "Since transforming our energy supply will take time, we need to optimise everything – not least the use of energy by our devices," warns Sandberg. "Going forward, more companies will put enormous sums of money on the table to acquire the knowledge and assets needed to come out on top of the optimisation battle." Read Samsung Electronics' revenue hits record high in 2021 Trend 4: Here come the greenfluencers It has become imperative for influencers to acknowledge the young people's climate engagement, especially through social media. With the recent disappointments from the UN's Climate Conference (COP26) and a grim outlook in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report fresh in memory, there is now an expectation of seeing a new movement shape the world of social media, that is coined "greenfluencing." "An undergrowth of climate-aware influencers and activists has emerged across niches on social media, and we believe their growing follower bases will be duly noticed by the influencer universe's established elite," explains Sandberg. Read Walton brings new model of Toronggo Wi-Fi router "Influencers who appear oblivious or indifferent to climate challenges will be perceived as outdated. Instead, followers will flock to influencers who demonstrate climate awareness regardless of niche. Marketers will turn their attention in the same direction." Trend 5: Don't lose out on the 'lost generation' With work-from-home and such trends reshaping organisational preferences and cultures, companies must take the next generation's expectations seriously to avoid facing great resignation. During the continuation of the pandemic, it will be tough for the young to establish and grow a personal network and acquire a general understanding of the corporate lingo and culture, as forming new social relations using only digital communication is much more challenging. Read 2022 Samsung QLED, Lifestyle TVs recognised by top global certification institutes "Many companies will in 2022 find that large groups of young employees who never got proper onboarding are likely to struggle – unless good leadership is exercised," says Sandberg.

Youth-centric smart phone brand realme has recently launched its first laptop ‘realme Book Slim’ for the tech-savvy youth in the Bangladeshi market to meet their rising technological needs.According to a recent report by Canalys, realme has become the top 1 smart phone maker in Bangladesh during Q2, 2021.Of late, realme has also entered AIoT 2.0 development phase with its advanced ‘1+5+T’ strategy to bring more AIoT products to young consumers, said a press release issued on Monday. Read realme Book Slim: Elegant Laptop with robust performance for Youths As part of it, they have recently brought its first laptop ‘realme Book Slim’ for the users to ameliorate their lifestyle. To know details, visit - https://cutt.ly/BuyNow_realme_BookSlim.  Tim Shao, Managing Director of realme Bangladesh, said on this occasion, “This is indeed a happy moment for us as we have taken another leap to live up to the expectations of the youth. Apart from smartphones, realme as a youth-favorite brand will bring more lifestyle-related products that will add value to the lives of the youth and enhance their lifestyle.”Realme Book Slim comes with 14-inch IPS fullscreen, 2K full vision display (the only laptop in this price range to come with such specification) and 3:2 screen ratio,offering a wide viewing angle to the users. Coming with only 14.9 millimeters thickness and a weight of only 1.38 kilograms, realme Book Slim is equipped with 11th Gen Intel® Core™ Processor. Read realme narzo 30: Efficient gaming phone with decent camera features With the help of 65W Super-Fast Charge, the users can enjoy up to 11 hours of battery life and it can be charged up to 50% in only 30 minutes. The laptop comes with pre-installed original Windows 10 that is upgradable to Windows 11 and the users can enjoy other exciting features such as 2 in 1 fingerprint power button, a three-level backlit keyboard and fast file interchange option.Facilitated with HARMAN DTS HD stereo sound effect, realme Book Slim comes with immersive and crystal-clear sound. It also has built-in HD camera to make the communication more convenient and effective for the users. With the help of a brand new function called PC Connect, the users can connect their smartphone and computer. This new laptop supports Wi-Fi 6 technology, which is 2.7 times faster than the previous generation. Read Realme bags top spot in Bangladesh, marks 100 million sales of handsets globally Coming with 8GB RAM and 512GB storage capacity, realme Book Slim is available in two colors - blue and grey and two variants. Tech enthusiasts can purchase the first laptop of realme at an exciting price of BDT 55,999 only (i3/8GB/256GB variant) and BDT 65,999 only (i5/8GB/512GB variant). To buy this laptop, click - https://cutt.ly/BuyNow_realme_BookSlim.

For the longest time, the watch served as not only an accurate timekeeper, but an extension of the wearer’s identity. Especially for men, watches were appreciated for its intricate movement (harnessing kinetic energy), bezel and lug make up, along with its ability to fit into various occasions. The smartwatch on the other hand is less diverse in its range of cosmetics, but it makes up for it with cutting edge software that is designed to meet the needs of the wearer at any given time. Tracking sleep, counting steps and measuring heart rate are just some of the utilities provided. But can smartwatches replace traditional watches? The Appeal Of Traditional Watches Design Range As mentioned, traditional watches are widely appreciated for the representation it has of the wearer. Designs are by the thousands and identifying the perfect combination of size, material, dial, movement, shape and brand can create something truly unique to the wearer. Certain designs like the Diver watches are a decent blend of formal and informal, while dress watches are clearly for the former. Rubber and nato straps typically gravitate towards casual settings, which allows consumers to have the luxury of starting a collection based on their needs, rather than getting a smartwatch which is made to be used everywhere. Read: COLMI P8 Pro Smartwatch Review: Health Fitness Tracker with calling option Class and Status Sometimes, watches serve as more of a flex than a personal timepiece. Getting a Rolex on the wrist can be equivalent to getting an expensive car in the fashion world, and many have gravitated towards this style of watch collection which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. When prestige and luxury are thrown into the mix, precious metals, crystals and movement start elevating the watch’s overall quality that can compete with the accuracy and image of smart watches. Like its appeal on the design front, the traditional watch is all about making a statement - with precise timekeeping still being important, but not at the forefront. Read Is the Playstation 5 Worth It? The Appeal Of Smart Watches Good For Almost Every Situation In terms of practicality, it’s hard to argue against a watch that gives you the time, along with a million other benefits to boot. Pedometers, sleep trackers, music, calls and alot of other applications are crammed into the little device and it’s hard to appreciate a traditional watch if you’re an incredibly practical person. Fitness aficionados, music lovers, avid planners and all sorts of categories of people will find a place for this watch in their lives. Samsung and IPhones occupy the majority of the mobile market and there are dedicated smartwatches for the respective brands; however if you do not own either mobile phones, Garmin and Fitbit have selections for you too. Also Read: 'Huawei Watch Fit' coming to Bangladesh Accuracy When Apple built their smartwatch line, they also created a Network Time Protocol (NTP). This operates through a server that is placed in different locations all over the world. This server emulates the time of Stratum 1 which sets the benchmark of accurate timekeeping digitally. Stratum 1 servers are directly linked to dependable sources of UTC time such as CDMA transmissions, GPS and WWV. Without the need to manually wind the watch ever, it’s easy to see why many consumers are gravitating towards the most accurate timepiece on the market, rather than an outdated mechanical tool that is slowly becoming a thing of the past. Read Books VS Kindle: Which Is Better For You? Defining A Watch While smartwatches are mentioned in the same breath as traditional watches in the market, it is arguable that both could be interpreted as two different pieces of equipment altogether. Both certainly meet the definition of being timekeepers, with even the likes of Samsung’s watch using a bezel just like any other watch. Straps and lugs are other staple watch components, however, the two main aspects that are in a traditional watch that are not in smartwatches are dials and movement. Some may argue that the heart of the watch is in its movement and dials that can come with subdials, moonphase, cyclops and other features are truly defining characteristics that set watches apart from each other. Read How to buy men’s watches: A beginner’s guide In the same debate, some have also argued that smartwatches are more of a wrist-mounted smart device rather than an actual watch. With apps that are parallel to the mobile phone and a reliance on bluetooth (as well as other technology), it’s easy to draw these similarities away from traditional watches. It emulates the appearance of a watch, but its function completely differs from its traditional counterpart. Which segways us to the most important question. Which Watch Is Right For You? The smart watch is an affordable (relatively) option for the contemporary consumer that addresses almost every practical need out there. Despite its array of straps, “dial” interface and colour options, smartwatches are gated behind its specific dimensions to house the delicate hardware inside to ensure protection and efficiency. Because of this, it is barred from the customizability that traditional watches have. If you’re indifferent about craftsmanship, identity and status symbols, the smartwatch is the perfect pick for you. Read FPS On Mobile: Is It Worth It? Traditional watches on the other hand may not always hit the mark when compared to the smartwatch in timekeeping, but its place as an accessory with function allows it to be a niche of its own. Composed of intricate movements, a variety of designs and even extra functions;(depending on the category), there will always be a timepiece that perfectly resembles your personality and artistic taste for any occasion. In conclusion, the essence of a traditional watch has never only been about timekeeping and there is no direct answer as to whether a smartwatch can truly replace everything a traditional timepiece represents. If you want accuracy and practicality, go smartwatch. If you like flare, style and meaning, the traditional watch will still be relevant for years to come. Read Effects of Video Game: Benefits, and risks of too much gaming