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India jumps to fourth place in computing capacity for weather forecasting

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7 years ago

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~By Sunderarajan Padmanabhan

India on Monday, January 8, took a major step ahead in upgrading computing capacity in the area of weather forecasting and climate monitoring. Union Minister for Earth Sciences Dr Harsh Vardhan inaugurated a super computer system at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune on Monday, taking its total high performance computing (HPC) power to as high as 6.8 Petaflop.

A Petaflop is the ability of a computer to execute one quadrillion (10 to the power 15, or 1 followed by 15 zeroes) floating point operations per second (FLOPS).

With this, India will now occupy the fourth position, next only to United Kingdom, Japan and USA in terms of dedicated capacity for HPC resources for weather and climate proposes. The UK leads with a capacity of 20.4 Petaflop, followed by Japan with 20 Petaflop and USA with 10.7 Petaflop. India had till now occupied the eighth position with a capacity of 1 Petaflop. With the new system, it has now jumped over Korea (4.8 Petaflop), France (4.4 Petaflop) and China (2.6 Petaflop).

The augmentation in the computing capacity would result in major improvements in various services offered by institutions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) for weather, climate and ocean state forecasts. The new supercomputer has been named ‘Pratyush’.

For instance, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) would be able to predict extreme weather events such as Mumbai floods of 2005, Kedarnath deluge of 2013 or Chennai floods of 2015 more accurately. It would also be able provide more exact forecast for cyclones with longer lead times and more precise estimate of where it would cross the coast.  It would also help farmers get better seasonal, extended range forecast of active, and break spells of monsoon and fishermen better input on the quality of the marine water all along the Indian coast.

Of the 6.8 Petaflop, four Petaflop has been set up at IITM and the balance 2.8 Petaflop at the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecast (NCMRWF) at Noida. The computing capacity will be available to all user institutions. Among other things, the Tsunami Warning Centre under the Ministry’s Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services will make use of the system to improve upon its tsunami forecast.

Dedicating the supercomputer set up at a cost of Rs. 450 crore, Dr Harsh Vardhan, said the improvement in the computing capacity would go a long way in delivering various societal applications committed by MoES. It will also give a major fillip to research activities not only in MoES but also in academic institutions working on earth science related issues.

“MoES endeavours to provide world class services in the areas of weather, climate, ocean and seismology and constantly strives to upgrade its research activities and other infrastructure facilities. In order to provide useful services, it runs several computationally intensive applications on high performance computers. In the last 10 years, the HPC infrastructure at MoES had grown from 40 Teraflops in 2008 to one Petaflop in 2013-14. Now, it has gone up further,” the minister added.

Speaking to India Science Wire, MoES Secretary Dr Madhavan Nair Rajeevan agreed that upgradation of the computing capability was only a necessary condition and was by itself not adequate to improve various forecasting services offered by MoES. “We are aware that there is a need to also have more effective models, larger data at different levels and well qualified manpower to make use of the increasing computing capacity. We are working on them in parallel. The benefits of the supercomputer would keep growing over time”. (India Science Wire).

-India Science Wire

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Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max: A comparative look at prices and specs in India

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4 days ago

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January 23, 2025

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Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra with car crash detection feature

Samsung has introduced its latest high-end flagship, the Galaxy S25 Ultra, in India, igniting a new chapter in its ongoing rivalry with Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro Max. Both phones represent the pinnacle of smartphone technology, but they come at distinct price points and offer different specifications that cater to various user preferences.

Price comparison in India

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is available in three variants: the base model with 256GB of storage is priced at Rs 1,29,999; the 512GB model at Rs 1,49,999; and the 1TB version at Rs 1,65,999. These variants are offered in four color options: Titanium Silver Blue, Titanium Gray, Titanium White, and Titanium Black.

In contrast, the iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at Rs 1,44,900 for the 256GB model, with the 512GB and 1TB versions priced at Rs 1,64,900 and Rs 1,84,900, respectively. Samsung’s offerings are notably less expensive across similar storage options, with the 1TB model being nearly Rs 19,000 cheaper than its Apple counterpart.

Specifications face-off

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra boasts a 6.9-inch display, slightly larger than its predecessor, and features a more contemporary design with rounded edges. Despite its larger size, it maintains a lightweight feel at only 218 grams and includes a robust 5,000mAh battery. The camera setup has been significantly upgraded, featuring a 200-megapixel primary sensor paired with a 50-megapixel ultra-wide and a 50-megapixel telephoto lens. It is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, enhancing both efficiency and performance.

The iPhone 16 Pro Max, also with a 6.9-inch display, utilizes Apple’s Super Retina XDR technology with Always-On and ProMotion features for a superior viewing experience. It includes a new gold color option and a novel Camera Control button, adding functionality exclusive to the Pro models. The device is equipped with the A18 Pro chipset and features a redesigned camera system with a 48-megapixel primary sensor and advanced video recording capabilities.

Performance and functionality

Both the Galaxy S25 Ultra and the iPhone 16 Pro Max are designed to offer top-tier performance. Samsung’s flagship includes 12GB of RAM, compared to the iPhone’s 8GB, potentially offering a smoother multitasking experience. The iPhone, however, continues to impress with its integration of hardware and software, leading to efficient performance in real-life usage scenarios.

This detailed examination highlights the strengths of each device, allowing consumers to make an informed decision based on their specific needs and preferences. Whether prioritizing camera technology, display features, or price, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max cater to all facets of premium smartphone requirements.

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Oppo Find N5 set to launch with 50W wireless charging and IPX9 water resistance

Published

6 days ago

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January 21, 2025

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Oppo Find N5 being tested underwater to showcase its IPX9 water resistance rating.

Oppo has officially confirmed that its latest innovation, the Find N5, will support 50W wireless charging and feature an IPX9 water resistance rating. The announcement comes as part of a series of teases highlighting the capabilities of this next-generation foldable smartphone, set to launch in February.

According to recent leaks, the Find N5 will be the first smartphone to incorporate the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC, signaling significant performance enhancements. Pete Lau, Oppo’s Chief Product Officer, has touted the device as the “thinnest foldable phone,” positioning it against leading competitors like the latest iPhone in terms of sleek design.

Zhou Yibao, head of the Oppo Find series, shared insights via Weibo about the Find N5’s advanced features. The device not only matches the wireless charging speeds of newly released models like the Oppo Find X8 Pro and OnePlus 13 but also integrates seamlessly with in-car systems from major electric vehicle brands such as BYD and NIO.

In a compelling demonstration of its durability, a recent video posted by Yibao showed the Find N5 being submerged underwater, showcasing its capability to withstand significant water exposure, evidenced by its IPX9 rating. This test included recording underwater videos, highlighting the phone’s versatile camera capabilities in extreme conditions.

The Find N5 also sports a refined design with slimmer borders and a larger overall form factor compared to its predecessors, which could attract users looking for a sleek yet robust foldable phone.

As anticipation builds, Oppo has begun sharing images of the Find N5, revealing a foldable design as thin as a USB-C port when opened. This device promises to merge aesthetic appeal with functional excellence, setting a new benchmark in the evolving foldable phone market.

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Realme 14 Pro series set to launch in India tomorrow: Expected specs, price, and more

Published

2 weeks ago

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January 15, 2025

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Realme 14 Pro series launch with AMOLED display, Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor, and advanced camera setup.

Realme is gearing up to unveil its latest mid-range smartphones, the Realme 14 Pro series, in India on January 16, 2025. The much-anticipated event will also mark the launch of Realme Buds 5 wireless earphones, adding to the excitement among tech enthusiasts.

When and where to watch the launch

The Realme 14 Pro series will be launched at 12 noon on Thursday, January 16. Fans can catch the live-streamed event on Realme’s official YouTube channel.

Realme 14 Pro series specifications (Expected)

The Realme 14 Pro series, including the Realme 14 Pro and Realme 14 Pro+, has already been introduced in China, offering a sneak peek into its features.

The Realme 14 Pro boasts a 6.83-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and an impressive 3840Hz PWM dimming for superior visuals. Under the hood, the smartphone is powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor, coupled with up to 12GB LPDDR4X RAM and 512GB UFS 3.1 storage. It is expected to run on Android 15 with Realme UI 6.0.

For photography, the device offers a triple-camera setup featuring a 50MP Sony IMX896 primary sensor with OIS, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and a 50MP Sony IMX882 periscope telephoto lens with up to 6x in-sensor zoom. The front houses a 32MP selfie camera.

Additional features include an in-display fingerprint sensor, IP66, IP68, and IP69 water resistance certifications, and a robust 6,000mAh battery with 80W SuperVOOC fast charging.

Realme 14 Pro+ pricing (Expected)

The Realme 14 Pro+ is expected to be priced at approximately Rs 30,000 for the 12GB RAM/256GB storage variant and Rs 33,000 for the 12GB RAM/512GB version, based on its Chinese pricing of 2,599 yuan and 2,799 yuan, respectively.

As more details about the Realme 14 Pro surface, all eyes will be on tomorrow’s launch event for official specifications and pricing.

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