With HUAWEI Sound X, Great Music is Just a Tap Away

          

Music is a fantastic way to unwind, particularly after a stressful day at work. Listening to your favorite songs emanating from a high quality audio system is one of life's great pleasures, and a surefire way to forget about the hustle and bustle of everyday life. But many Bluetooth speakers are too finicky, and you have to reconnect to them every time you want to play a song.

HUAWEI Sound X claims to address this issue with what it calls OneHop Audio Sharing. With this feature, all you need to do is tap your phone against the speaker, and it will “take over” whatever you’re listening to on your phone. But how well does this work in practice, and how does the speaker actually sound? 

Don't stop the music

Let's say you want to play a song on your audio system, but it's already connected to your TV. You'd have to fiddle around unpairing the audio system from the TV, going through what seems like hundreds of menus in the process, and only then can you pair it with your phone. Annoying, right? Or maybe one of your friends wants to play a playlist, but has to connect their phone to the audio system first, which can take ages and completely kills the mood. Well, having had some time getting to know the HUAWEI Sound X's OneHop Audio Sharing feature, I can confidently say that these issues are a thing of the past. So how does it work?

On the top of the speaker, you'll see a light gray logo. This is the NFC area. When you tap it with an NFC-enabled smartphone, the music playing on your phone immediately switches to the speaker, so you don't have to bother with a manual Bluetooth connection. This means that if you've got friends over, anyone can play their tunes by just tapping their phone against the Sound X.

You can use this feature for calls too. If you get a call, you just tap your phone against the speaker's NFC logo, and it takes over the audio. This is really handy when you want to hold a conference call with a client. Usually, when you dial into a conference call with your phone, the sound played from its speaker is muffled and tinny. With Sound X, every person in the room will be able to hear the call clearly.

The Sound X also has a user-friendly feature that lets you mute the speaker by simply covering its top with your hand, so you don't have to fish your phone out of your pocket when you need to pause.

A stunning music experience co-engineered by Devialet

But it's no use a wireless speaker having all these fancy features if it can't deliver sound quality to match. So what kind of audio does Sound X produce?

Let's look at the hardware first. The speaker is equipped with two 3.5-inch subwoofers which produce deep, surging bass. Huawei has teamed up with Devialet, the audio expert who has brought their exclusive patented SAM® (Speaker Active Matching) bass enhancement technology to the HUAWEI Sound X. This means the speaker can consistently deliver high-fidelity audio.

To put the speaker through its paces, I started off with the Arctic Monkeys' Do I Wanna Know, a complex undulating riff underscored by gut-punching drumbeats. The thud of the bass drum which kicks off the track had real feeling, and when the riff came in, the Sound X demonstrates it's more than capable of handling low frequencies. Transitions between frequencies were seamless too, and medium range sound is rich and layered. Alex Turner sounded like he was right there in the room.

Next, I used both the Sound X and another Bluetooth speaker with a price tag of over $400 to play the Eagles' 1976 classic Hotel California. Despite the price tag, this high end speaker could only produce a sound which was dull and feeble, and was unable to capture even a glimpse of the song's original magic. The Sound X, on the other hand, demonstrated a vast sound field and remarkable analytical capabilities, conveying the breathtaking subtlety of Joe Walsh's guitar playing.

Sci-fi appearance

The Sound X looks nearly as good as it sounds. The design features a sleek black body, for a robust sound that seems to emanate from a bottomless well. The bass units on either side of the body are visible too, so you can see the diaphragm churning away.

The upper two-thirds of Sound X's body is crafted using an advanced electroplating process which creates a smooth, glossy finish. This is contrasted nicely by the lower portion of the speaker, which has a mesh cover.

Abdul Razak Dawood Praises Dawlance and Arcelik as they launch a new indigenously designed localised Split AC

      

Dawlance – Pakistan’s No. 1 brand of home appliances in Pakistan and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Arcelik, Turkey, initiates its new localized AC production line built with European Standards. Arcelik – the second largest manufacturer in Europe (based in Turkey), has facilitated the design and manufacture of this product through the transfer of technology and design know-how to Pakistan in its efforts to facilitate and support the Government of Pakistan’s Make in Pakistan thrust and to facilitate its subsidiary in to strategically serve its large consumer base in Pakistan and in other countries.

Since the corporate acquisition of Dawlance in 2016, this resourceful global enterprise has consistently invested in Pakistan in building capacity, upgrading products, and transferring technology to Pakistan.

The progressive move to set up a state-of-the-art production line in Pakistan for split air-conditioners aims not only to facilitate the consumers to benefit from the latest technology of indigenously-designed ACs but also pave the way for increased foreign exchange earnings through a noticeable increase in the export of the country and paving the way for sustainable economic growth within the sector.

Chief Executive Officer, Dawlance, Mr. Umar Ahsan Khan met the Advisor to Prime Minister on Commerce, Mr. Abdul Razzaq Dawood, in Islamabad to discuss this progressive step which has been taken in the interest of benefitting the consumers as well as the country’s economy via a vision aimed at boosting the exports of the home appliances sector of Pakistan.

“This assembly line will not only serve the consumers locally but also carries a vision to reach consumers around the globe via a noticeable surge in the exports from Pakistan”, he added while discussing the vision of his organization.

Appreciating the progressive efforts taken in the interest of consumers and the country’s economic growth, The Adviser to Prime Minister of Pakistan for Commerce and investment Mr. Abdul Razak Dawood said, “I congratulate Dawlance, Arcelik, and the whole Pakistani nation, on successfully executing this revolutionary project that will open new vistas for Foreign Direct Investments (FDI), Commercial-Collaborations, and Technology-Transfers, between Pakistan and Turkey, while the two brotherly nations pursue the vision to work together, for enriching the global home appliances and electronics industry.”

Through this venture, Arçelik has transferred product-design technology for capacity-building in Pakistan. This production line will not only cater to local Pakistani consumers but will also add great value to exports of Pakistan thereby adding to the foreign exchange earnings of Pakistan. Dawlance now has more than 60 engineers, working exclusively on Research & Development in Pakistan, to design world-class environmentally sustainable products, while the company’s Design-Services are now also being exported to other subsidiaries of Arcelik in many countries.

Standard Chartered And TPL Insurance Collaborate To Offer Customized, Digital Solutions

            

Standard Chartered Bank (Pakistan) Limited is a leading global bank which has partnered with TPL Insurance Limited (TPLI), the leading Insurtech in Pakistan. Using Standard Chartered Bank’s digitally integrated platform, the bank’s customers can now purchase TPLI’s tailored insurance solutions, including health and travel products, promising end-to-end convenience and transparency.

 This resourceful alliance will create a one window solution catering to the customers’ evolving needs, including features like instant Policy issuance. This revolutionary solution promises to lodge instant claims through TPLI’s mobile app. It has disrupted the traditional concepts of insurance, to achieve growth, by digitally enabling TPLI’s business partners and customers.

 The signing ceremony for this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was recently held at the Standard Chartered Head Office in Karachi. The event was chaired by the CEO of Standard Chartered Bank, Rehan Shaikh and the CEO of TPL insurance, Muhammad Aminuddin. Others representing the bank included Faheem Elahi, GM Affluent Segment, Kailash Kumar, Head of Wealth Management and Mohammad Ali, Head of Wealth Management Products. The guests representing TPL Insurance included Syed Ali Hassan Zaidi, Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer and Aurangzeb Javed Siddiqui, Head of Financial Institutions Group (FIG).

 Speaking on the occasion, Rehan M. Shaikh, CEO, Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan said: “This alliance is yet another great milestone on our journey towards digitization and unmatched customer care, offering a complete eco-system of products and solutions to our clients. We are inspired to enrich our offerings through strategic engagements and create synergies with leading progressive enterprises. Today, we feel honoured to partner with a premium insurance provider, TPL Insurance to continue this momentum.”

 Muhammad Aminuddin, CEO, TPL Insurance expressed his commitment to nurture this new relationship with Standard Chartered Bank to protect and empower the consumers. He stated, “At TPL Insurance, we are singularly focused on digitizing the process of buying and servicing of insurance. We have a vision to exceed the expectations of the customers of Standard Chartered and other prestigious banks, who can access our

services through multiple platforms. Hence, we have deployed cutting edge technologies to provide seamless services through our first ever Insurance Mobile Application in Pakistan, backed by a 24/7 call-centre.”

 TPLI offers all lines of general insurance, including Health and Travel, while providing both Conventional and Takaful (Islamic insurance) solutions, to match the needs of every retail segment, along with creating awareness about the advantages of reliable insurance services for the socio-economic wellbeing of the masses.

PSDF to lead skill development in Koh e Suleman, DG Khan and Rajanpur under the Koh e Suleman Improvement project (KISP)

         PSDF (Punjab Skills Development Fund) has signed an agreement of PKR 150 million with Koh e Suleman Improvement project (KISP) to lead its skill trainings for residents of Tehsil Koh e Suleman, DG Khan and De-excluded area of Rajanpur. These areas comprise primarily of tribal communities with low literacy levels and until now have had limited opportunities for personal and economic development. During the first phase of this project, 2000 residents will receive training and are aimed to include at least 20 percent female trainees. The residents will gain trainings across four key industries: Light Engineering, Construction, Services and Textiles. The trainings will be the first of their kind in these districts and PSDF will use its skill expertise to equip residents with market-relevant professional knowledge to commence their skill development and open career opportunities for them.

To mobilize this project, training centres will also be established in the tribal areas to execute the trainings and create ease of access for the residents. A stipend of Rs 3500 monthly, will also be provided to the trainees to facilitate their learning journey.

The on-ground trainings are scheduled to commence in July of this year.  During the contract signing ceremony Maqbool Ahmed (Project Director, KISP) remarked, “We look forward to working with PSDF on this project, PSDF’s expertise in executing quality skills trainings will bring a lot of value for these communities and prepare them to access income-generating opportunities”.  PSDF COO Ali Akbar Bosan also echoed this sentiment, “These trainings are aimed at developing the local resident’s skillsets in professional fields that are growing and employers are actively seeking to hire workers in. PSDF will utilize its experience to ensure that our trainees receive the right technical knowledge and develop valuable skillsets, so they can confidently pursue employment opportunities throughout the country”.

PSDF is the country’s largest skill development fund and has established itself as a skills expert by training more than 500,000 women and men in 250 plus trades.  It has also successfully implemented trainings on behalf of FCDO, World Bank and the Government of Punjab.

CBD Punjab Assists Al Qaim Foundation To Combat Thalassemia

Lahore Central Business District Development Authority (LCBDDA) also known as Central Business District Punjab (CBD Punjab) arranged a blood donation drive at CBD Punjab house, to assist Al Qaim Foundation in combating Thalassemia. This initiative is a testament to CBD’s corporate social responsibility agenda. Al Qaim Foundation has been doing remarkable work for the treatment of patients suffering from Thalassemia, Hemophilia and Blood Cancer.

CBD Punjab employees & even apprentices volunteered in the noble cause and donated blood for the Thalassemia patients.

Sharing his view on this collaboration the Executive Director Commercial, CBD Punjab – Mohammad Omer said: “CBD Punjab has always been at the forefront when it comes to supporting social causes. Through this assistance, we aim to encourage and actively take part in philanthropic activities for Thalassemia patients that they are not alone in this fight”.

CBD Punjab, being a responsible entity, has always shown strong dedication towards the well-being of society and continues its support such causes in spreading awareness about thalassemia.

Jazz shines at Effie Awards Pakistan 2022 with 5 awards

         Pakistan's leading digital operator Jazz has won five awards at the Effie Awards Pakistan 2022 held last night in Karachi.

The company received three silver awards under the following categories: ‘Corporate Reputation’ category for its ‘Super Nahi Tou 4G Nahi’ campaigns showcasing the brand’s impact on creating an inclusive digital ecosystem, ‘Positive Change: Social Good – Brands (Services)’ category for its women’s day campaign, and ‘Seasonal Marketing (Services)’ category for its ‘Creating a Digital Pakistan’ campaign.

Jazz also bagged two bronze awards under the ‘Marketing Disruptors’ and ‘Topical Marketing’ categories for its drive-in cinema initiative.

“Being recognized for our unique marketing approach to build trust and inspire change feels tremendously special. This is an endorsement of the hard work our teams and partners put in to drive growth and create a brand legacy,” said Jazz CCO Asif Aziz.

These accolades are a demonstration of Jazz’s continued focus on marketing communications that is social, rooted in a collective purpose and is able to change culture. This is in line with its business and sustainability objectives of driving digital and financial inclusion, especially for women.

HUAWEI Sound X: A Treat for the Ears

            

With their connectivity and ease-of-use, wireless speakers are quickly replacing traditional Hi-Fi systems as the go-to device for anyone looking to get the most out of their music. This has naturally led to more and more brands churning out all kinds of products to meet demand. But many of these new devices produce disappointing audio, particularly at low frequencies. To try and buck this trend, Huawei has collaborated with Devialet to launch the Sound X, an Wi-Fi speaker which claims to deliver impressive audio quality.

 Superb audio quality and powerful bass

The audio industry has undergone massive changes over the years, but when all's said and done, a speaker is still defined by its audio quality. This basic tenet doesn't seem to be shared by all brands though, as the wireless speakers in today's market often strive for portability at the expense of audio quality. Fortunately, the HUAWEI Sound X does not fall into this trap.

 The unit's speakers boast dual subwoofers and six full-frequency tweeters, which cover an expansive frequency range of 40 Hz to 40 kHz. They deliver high fidelity sound by accurately reproducing original music recordings. The Sound X is crafted from highly magnetic rare-earth materials (NdFeB, or Neodymium Iron Boron), which contains more magnetic energy than common iron oxides. This means that even though the Sound X is compact, its speakers are remarkably sensitive and have great transient response, so the audio produced is powerful and surging.

 Collaboration with Devialet

Huawei has teamed up with Devialet, one of the world's leading audio brands, to provide the Sound X with two key features which raise the sound quality far above what you might expect from a wireless speaker.

First, there's the SAM® (Speaker Active Matching) bass enhancement technology. This setup includes an efficient compensation algorithm which deals with any signal distortion, so low-frequency sound is completely stable. This means the Sound X can hit deeper, fuller bass tones. With the symmetrical Push-Push acoustic configuration, each subwoofer cancels out the backwave vibrations of the other, while superimposing the sound energy from both to suppress noise and distortion at any volume, while producing larger than life sound.

 

Now, let's put the speaker through its paces with some music. In Linkin Park's Numb, Chester Bennington's husky voice weaves with a rich, synthetic soundscape, peppered with guitar and piano notes. Reproducing such a complex song can be a real challenge, particularly when it comes to the bass.

The Sound X reproduces the vocals fantastically, giving full expression to the angst in Chester's raspy voice. As we approach the climax of the song, the track transforms into a breathtaking mix of sounds, including instruments, electronic sounds and vocals. The Sound X captures the power of the drum beat and produces a layered and nuanced sound driven by surging bass.

User-friendly innovations

As well as its sound quality, the HUAWEI Sound X includes a range of innovative features to address problems found all too often in wireless speakers.

Pairing your phone with most Bluetooth speakers can be a needlessly complicated and frustrating process. That's why the Sound X features OneHop Audio Sharing. With this feature, you can connect your phone to the speaker by simply tapping it against the NFC icon. So when you're listening to a song on your phone, but want to get really immersed in the music, you just give the Sound X a tap, and it will instantly take over.

When you want to pause, you can cover the top of the speaker with your hand to mute it, then cover the top again to resume playing.

The top of the Sound X has 12 RGB tri-color indicators, which provide great visual effects and also help you distinguish the different speaker statuses.