HUAWEI Y8p is the Ultimate Champion with its 48 MP AI Triple Camera

In the photography department, HUAWEI Y8p outshines in its price segment with a true 48MP camera priced at PKR 37,999/-

Huawei’s newest mid-level smartphone the HUAWEI Y8p is finally here and we have had a detailed look at it. Starting with its camera and moving to its performance, design and smart user experience the HUAWEI Y8p shines. Here are three reasons why we love it!

A camera setup that does all the tricks – Powered by AI

Let’s be honest most of us check out the camera first on every new smartphone that comes out. Well, for starters HUAWEI Y8p comes with a 48MP AI Triple Camera, which consists of a 48MP main camera that takes all-day high quality photos. Also, an 8MP ultra wide-angle camera is perfect for capturing landscapes, city skylines and group photos without leaving anyone out of the frame, up to a staggering 120-degrees (that’s quite a lot of view!). Lastly, there is the 2MP Bokeh camera, which adds professional and beautiful Bokeh effects to all your photos. This combined setup helps you take excellent photos as you go about your day and night as well. Yes, night! HUAWEI Y8p’s camera setup comes with an AIS Super Night Photography that lets you take stunning night photos from the comfort of your palms with clear and vivid results because it can effectively stabilise images. HUAWEI Y8p comes with Master AI photography, allowing you to effortlessly take beautiful photos within your reach. Master AI can recognise objects in an image and provide you with dedicated optimisation (Yes, it can fix your photos on your behalf!) It can also identify object size, positioning, and its centre point on the screen and then adjust accordingly through AI algorithms. Master AI can recognise more than 500 scenes across 21 categories including blue skies, snow, plants, cats, dogs, food, fireworks, stage performances and more!

Do you think we would forget about selfies? I mean we all want our profile pictures on social media to standout out, or when sharing selfies with friends on an instant messaging platform. HUAWEI Y8p comes with a 16MP front-facing camera that supports HDR selfies. Not only clear selfies, but it also gives nice backlighting effects. Under lighting from different directions such as front-on lighting, backlighting, or from the side, the camera uses AI algorithms to compensate the interference brought by different lightings. Do you know what is even better? This phone supports selfie Night Mode, so that you can take selfies even in low-light settings – like how cool is that!?

Store all your photos and videos and see them at anytime

You want a phone with enough storage space for all your photos, videos and files. A phone with a large and powerful battery that will live with you during your hectic long days and nights! A smartphone with an intelligent processor for smooth and efficient processing be it for video streaming or gaming. HUAWEI Y8p comes with a large 6GB RAM for slick and smooth processing of all your videos and games, in addition to 128GB of internal storage, which is adequate space for storing all your audio, and video. Moreover, HUAWEI Y8p comes with a large battery of 4000mAh (typical value). It also supports AI Power Saving 7.0 that prolongs battery life, with this battery all the files you download plus the video calls you make won’t be a problem whatsoever! The phone also comes with Kirin 710F which provides smooth and high performance at all times with low power consumptions. Therefore, whether you are watching your favourite show, listening to your most loved podcast, or even playing that highly intense game, with this processor in hand all experiences will be smooth. HUAWEI Y8p comes running on EMUI 10.1, which comes with a brand new UI (User Interface) design, which focuses on every detail to create a premium sense.

Stylish and elegant design

Of course, a smartphone with amazing camera, outstanding performance is even better with an exquisite design. HUAWEI Y8p comes with a 6.3-inch HUAWEI Dewdrop OLED Display. Together with a resolution of 2400x1080, the smartphone can display vibrant colours and crisp details. Whether you are gaming, watching videos or browsing images, HUAWEI Y8p will bring you unbeatable visual immersion and enjoyment. For your security, this beautiful display incorporates an In-screen fingerprint sensor for quick unlocking. The smartphone adopts a 3D Arc design for a compact body, while its back panel with vivid colours is fascinating and eye-catching. HUAWEI Y8p comes in two colourways, the novel Breathing Crystal and classic Midnight Black.

HUAWEI Y8p provides you with an immersive gaming experience. GPU Turbo in EMUI 10.1 comes with enhanced touch responsiveness, which allows the user to stay a step ahead of the other players in the game. The improved GPU Turbo provides for immersive visuals with a consistently high frame rate, and buttery smooth gameplay.

The HUAWEI Y8p comes with HUAWEI Mobile Services and its own app platform, the HUAWEI AppGallery, which boasts a wide range of global and local apps making it the third largest app marketplace in the world.

So yeah, if you’re looking for a smartphone with an astonishing camera, powerful performance, chic look and one that can also provide you with a smart user experience then look no further. Go on and grab the HUAWEI Y8p retailing at PKR 37,999/-.

Pandemic hurts domestic demand and recession hits exports

Economic analysis reveals the impact on Pakistan’s employment and confidence

ACCA’s Q2 Global Economic Conditions Survey (GECS) published today, reflects the scale of the global recession now under way. Globally, employment indices plummeted to record lows in the latest survey, consistent with the most severe recession in decades.

Pakistan is heading for economic contraction this year as pandemic mitigation measures hurt domestic demand and global recession hits exports. There is also a massive hike in unemployment – the Employment Index stands at -86.95 compared to 57.14 in Q1 and confidence is at an all-time low in Q2 at -78.26 compared with -28.57 in Q1. But the inflation-prone region has seen a dramatic fall in inflationary pressures – inflation concerns index fell by 25 points to just 20 in the Q2 survey – the long run average is 51. It also transpires that public spending expenditure has lowered from -33.33 in Q2 from 20 in Q1.

Michael Taylor, ACCA’s Chief Economist said: ‘Confidence in South Asia fell further in Q2, possibly reflecting that the region was late to see the spread of COVID-19. Also, activity indicators also remain weak, despite a slight improvement in the orders balance and it is worth noting that it is the only region to do so.’

He added: ‘The change in the GECS global index of measured concern about customers and suppliers going out of business underlines the current extremely poor global economic situation.  Both these series had trended sideways at relatively low levels in recent years but shot up to record highs in Q2 – to 23% for suppliers and 47% for customers.’

Special Covid-19 related questions in this GECS show an approximate 50-50 split between those expecting economic recovery in the second half of this year and those expecting it sometime in 2021.

Sajjeed Aslam, Head of ACCA Pakistan, said: ‘ACCA members have played a crucial role in the first phase of the pandemic – supporting businesses and organisations to keep trading. At this time of economic turbulence, accountants are both value creators and value protectors, helping their clients and the businesses they work in to make informed economic decisions. They will now undoubtedly play a crucial role in the recovery phase.’

The latest edition of GECS is here: https://www.accaglobal.com/gb/en/professional-insights/global-economics/GECS_Q2_2020.html

ACCA, ICMA Pakistan to deliver IPSAS training to public sector professionals

ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and Institute of Cost Management Accountants of Pakistan (ICMA Pakistan) have now joined forces by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly train the public sector professionals in Pakistan on IPSAS®, the international accrual-based accounting standards, to enhance the quality, consistency and transparency of public sector financial reporting in Pakistan and help rebuild the public trust.

The announcement was made at a Virtual MoU signing ceremony on the theme ‘'The Importance of Strengthening of Public Sector Institutions'. The ceremony was attended by senior members of both the professional bodies, as well as by senior public sector leaders including Abdul Ghafoor Khan, Rector, Pakistan Audit & Accounts Academy, Dr Jawad Zaka Khan, Deputy Military Accountant General Pakistan, Sumaira K Aslam, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Umar Banoori, DG Accounts, Controller General of Accounts Pakistan, Zia Ul Mustafa, President, ICMA Pakistan, and Sajjeed Aslam, Head of ACCA Pakistan.  

Under this partnership, a certificate in IPSAS, will be delivered jointly by ACCA and ICMA Pakistan to finance professionals working in the public sector or aspiring to join the sector in the near future. 

Speaking at the event, ACCA’s Head of Pakistan, Sajjeed Aslam, said,

“The Public Sector is facing a dizzying array of challenges, from declining public trust to technological disruption, that require innovative responses. The current pandemic has added an unprecedented pressure on the sector to deliver public services in the most effective manner. Therefore, there's an urgent need for radical reforms and improved capacity. ACCA as a global force for public good is delighted to have signed this MOU with ICMA Pakistan. This is just another example of our commitment to strengthening the public sector in Pakistan, working in partnership with all the stakeholders, and upholding the public trust in the accountancy profession.”

Addressing the ceremony, Zia Ul Mustafa, President, ICMA Pakistan, said:

“ICMA Pakistan is pleased to partner with ACCA to train public sector organisations in IPSAS with the goal of improving transparency and accountability, as well as the adoption of an accrual-based public financial reporting framework. The objectives are to be met by strengthening existing financial institutions within the Government of Pakistan and delivering knowledge to public sector accountants while developing the country’s public sector accountancy capacity. This MoU with the objective of enhancing public financial management will assist public sector set ups in gearing up to meet the new demands of the augmented role of the public sector organisations in providing development finance solutions for effective performance.”

Issued by the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB), IPSAS® are cash-based standards and accruals standards used for the preparation of general purpose financial statements by governments and other public sector entities around the world.

The All New Feature-rich HUAWEI Y6p & Y8p Are Here: Which One to Choose and Why?

The smartphones were launched after a very successful pre-order phase. Consumers can get their hands on these amazing devices for PKR 20,899/- and PKR 37,999/- for HUAWEI Y6p and HUAWEI Y8p respectively

With the recent availability of Huawei’s stellar Y Series line-up, youngsters all across the country have some amazing smartphones to choose from. The HUAWEI Y6p and HUAWEI Y8p both embody the youthful essence amalgamated with the flagship Huawei experience that is synonymous with its Y Series.

While these devices fall within entry-level to midrange segment, both of them are completely unique in their own ways making them one of the best choices for different kinds of users. Confused in making the choice between the two? Let us help.

For those who do more with their phones

If you are someone who does a lot more with their smartphone on a daily basis, then you are going to need one that will last even during extended use. This is where the HUAWEI Y6p steps up with its massive 5000 mAh battery that will last you three days on a single charge! That’s not all, because it can also act as a power bank to charge up other devices and even function as a secure backup device. The HUAWEI Y8p meanwhile also packs a large 4000 mAh battery for all your needs.

For every music lover

While the HUAWEI Y8p can provide you with a great entertainment experience, the HUAWEI Y6p can step it up with its powerful audio features. Get ready to have a party even when you’re locked down with the HUAWEI SuperSound which uses a combination of hardware and software innovations to increase volume levels, improve audio quality and enhance sound effects. This is further improved with 9.1 channel sky surround sound for an even more immersive experience. Additionally, the HUAWEI Y6p comes with a FM Radio that does not require earphones to act as antenna, making it easier to listen to radio on the go. To top it off, the HUAWEI Y6p also supports the Party Mode feature, which will allow you to connect with multiple devices in the same network to play different notes of the same song, further enhancing your listening experience.

For those who love photography

If you are someone who uses their smartphone frequently for photography, then you might want to opt for the HUAWEI Y8p. Packing a 48MP AI Triple Camera setup consisting of a 48MP main camera, 8MP Ultra-Wide angle camera and a 2MP Bokeh camera, you can rest assured that every photo you take will be of stunning quality. To top it off, this camera setup also comes with support for AIS Super Night Photography, which basically means, with a single tap, you can get a well-lit photo even in low-light situations. The HUAWEI Y8p also brings an improved front camera for all you selfie lovers as well. Upfront the 16MP AI Selfie camera not only promises beautiful selfies, but also ensures stunning portrait effects, support for low-light selfies and even backlit HDR selfies!

The HUAWEI Y6p also packs a good camera setup, with a 13MP Triple camera setup consisting of a 13MP main camera, 5MP wide camera and a 2MP Bokeh camera. This setup also works quite well for lighter photography use, which is also complemented by the 8MP Selfie Camera up front.

Let’s talk about performance then

A smartphone’s capability for powerful and efficient performance is a key factor when it comes to purchasing a new smartphone. In fact, both the HUAWEI Y6p and HUAWEI Y8p are quite capable of providing solid performance, backed with ample amounts of storage. The HUAWEI Y8p for example, comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage and uses the Kirin 710F processor with EMUI 10.1 for a smooth and efficient user experience. Gaming on the HUAWEI Y8p is further boosted by GPU Turbo, which enhances graphics and gameplay for a more immersive gaming experience.

The HUAWEI Y6p meanwhile, comes with 3GB of RAM with 64GB of storage along with the MTK Helio P22 chipset and EMUI 10.1, which is also capable of running multiple intensive tasks together.

Display and Design

Both smartphones continue the Y series tradition and shine when it comes to display and design. The HUAWEI Y8p, packs a 6.3 inch HUAWEI Dewdrop OLED Display with a resolution of 2400x1080. This display also brings an In-Display Fingerprint unlock feature, allowing users to easily unlock their phone with a tap. Meanwhile, the HUAWEI Y6p comes with a 6.3 inch HUAWEI Dewdrop display with an HD+ resolution of 1600x720, but with a rear mounted fingerprint sensor instead. Both displays have minimal bezels as well, further enhancing the viewing experience.

In terms of design, both HUAWEI Y6p and HUAWEI Y8p boast beautiful back panel designs complete in unique nature inspired colors that stand out from the crowd. The HUAWEI Y6p comes in shades of Emerald Green, Phantom Purple and Midnight Black while the HUAWEI Y8p boasts color ways of Breathing Crystal, Deep Sea Blue and Midnight Black.

For app-lovers

Both phones come with HUAWEI AppGallery pre-installed. Huawei’s official app marketplace, HUAWEI AppGallery offers a wide range of global and local apps that enhance the Huawei device user experience. In addition to apps, users can also enjoy a rich library of quality entertainment media on HUAWEI Video, HUAWEI Music and HUAWEI Reader, which is frequently updated with new content from top providers.

It not easy to make a choice between these two stunning phones. Both phones deliver fantastic specs when it comes to performance, display and design, making it a great option when considering a phone upgrade. However, photography lovers can opt for the HUAWEI Y8p priced at PKR 37,999/-, while those who want longer battery life and improved audio can opt for the HUAWEI Y6p instead for PKR 20,899/-.

realme X3 SuperZoom with snapdragon 855+, 64MP Quad camera & Dual punch selfie camera available nationwide in the unbeatable price of 79,999

realme has just announced its X3 SuperZoom, a flagship-class smartphone that boasts up to 60x SuperZoom from its periscope telephoto camera. In addition, it also comes with an ultra-smooth 120Hz display and is being offered at an amazing price of Rs. 79,999 only. The X3 SuperZoom 12GB/256GB variant is going on sale starting of July exclusively in offline market at all dealers nationwide.

The realme X3 SuperZoom gets a 6.6″ Full HD+ LCD display that has a high 120Hz screen refresh rate. The screen has a wide-punch-hole on the top left corner that houses its 32MP main and 8MP ultra-wide-angle selfie cameras.

Under the hood, it runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ processor with up to 12GB of LPDDR4x RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 3.0 storage. Instead of an in-display fingerprint sensor, the device uses a side-mounted unit for instant unlocking.

In the camera department, the rear comes with a quad-camera setup that features a high-resolution 64MP f/1.8 main camera that utilises Samsung GW1 1/1.72″ sensor. The key highlight is its 8MP periscope telephoto camera with OIS that offers 5x optical zoom and up to 60x digital. Also included is an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera plus a 2MP macro camera.

To capture the night sky, it has Starry Mode and it also boasts superior low light photography with its AI-assisted Super NightScape 4.0 feature. The X3 SuperZoom can record 4K videos up to 60fps and it has UIS Video and UIS Max Video stabilisation.

Powering the device is a 4,200mAh battery and it supports 30W fast charging via USB-C. The bundled charger is rated to push 70% charge in 30 minutes and a full charge in just 55 minutes.

The capabilities of the SuperZoom X3 realme camera are also strengthened by other specifications. The device comes with the best 4G platform from the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus processor that can easily handle a variety of activities on smartphones, including playing games, launching heavy applications, editing photos, or watching high-definition movies.

realme X3 SuperZoom is also equipped with 120Hz Ultra Smooth Display that truly spoil the eyes and is able to produce realistic and smooth visuals every time the user touches the screen.

realme X3 SuperZoom specs

Body: 163.8x75.8x8.9mm, 202g; Gorilla Glass 5 on the front, glass back, plastic frame; Glacier Blue, Arctic White color options.

Screen: 6.6" IPS LCD, FHD+ (1080x2400px) resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, 399 ppi.

Camera: Primary: 64MP Quad-Bayer, 0.8µm pixel size, 1/1.72" sensor size, 26mm equivalent focal length, f/1.8 aperture, PDAF; Ultra-wide: 8MP, 1.12µm, 1/4.0", 16mm, f/2.3, fixed focus; Telephoto: 8MP, 124mm periscope lens, f/3.4, PDAF, OIS; Macro: 2MP, 1.75µm, f/2.4, fixed focus.

Front camera: Primary: 32MP, 0.8µm, 1/2.8", 26mm, f/2.5, fixed focus; Ultra-wide: 8MP, 1.12µm, 1/4.0", 16mm, f/2.2, fixed focus.

Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ (7 nm): Octa-core (1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) CPU, Adreno 640 GPU.

Memory: 12GB/256GB.

OS: Android 10, realme UI.

Battery: 4,200mAh, 30W Dart Charge.

Connectivity: 4G LTE; Dual SIM; Dual-band Wi-Fi, Buetooth 5.0, dual-band GPS, USB Type-C 2.0.

Misc: Side-mounted fingerprint sensor; single, bottom-firing loudspeaker.

World’s First Mediatek Helio G80 powered realme 6i is available at discounted price on 29,999 only

realme one of the most exciting brands in Pakistan’s smartphone market today, with its stellar devices that have dominated the budget and mid-range segments. realme, has recently launched its 6 series smartphone -- the realme 6i -- with the first Mediatek Helio G80 processor in a smartphone. With the tagline 'unleash the power,' realme 6i promises to smoothen gaming experience and boost up everyday smartphone performance. With 4GB RAM and 128GB ROM, realme's 6i comes in two vibrant colors -- Green Tea and White Milk --  is now available at Rs. 29,999, which is an amazing discount offer for realme fans.

Battery king for long lasting support

6i comes with a massive 5,000 mAh battery, which will facilitate 29 hours of call time, or 21 hours of online video streaming, or 9 hours of gaming on a full charge. The phone comes with a USB Type-C charging port, which supports 18W quick charge -- the phone can reverse charge as well.

Powerful processor for faster and smoother experience

As today's youth are vastly dependent on their smartphones for projects, socialising, gaming and watching movies, these devices need a powerful chipset like the Helio G80 to process multiple tasks seamlessly. With the phone's 4GB RAM, the octa-core processor can work at fast speeds of 2.0 GHz, which offers 35% better single-core performance and 17% better, smoother multi-core performance than its predecessor.

On top of that, The Mali G52 GPU also delivers 25% better performance. The result is greater image quality and a more stable frame rate that makes the realme 6i stand out while gaming. The 6i comes with realme UI, which is based on Android 10 -- a light, fast system further optimised in terms of fluency, power consumption and performance.

48MP AI quad camera for creating crystal clear memories

The realme 6i comes with a quad-camera setup consisting a 48MP main camera with a huge aperture of f/1.8, an 8MP (f/2.23) 119° ultra-wide-angle lens, a 2MP (f/2.4) black and white portrait lens and 2MP (f/2.4) 4cm macro lens (2MP). Each camera meticulously carries out its respective function and collaborates closely with the others, resulting in a striking photo experience that is fun and dynamic.

Its better aperture will help capture more light even in darker environments -- the upgraded algorithm and Super Nightscape enables you to capture bright photos in the dark even in wider view, without losing any detail. Combination of AI technology and multi-frame technology lets you take photos without noise, giving the opportunity of handheld anti-shake and tremendous dynamic range improvement. The black and white portrait lens has the customisation of 5 universal and sustainable advanced portrait styles. By calculating background distance from the subject, the camera will also render amazing bokeh effect. The ultra-wide-angle camera captures more details even when taking a photo or shooting a video at a 4 times wider angle. The 4cm macro lens can capture the wonderful details in small things all around. The 16MP selfie camera supports Quad Bayer smart pixel four-in-one technology, achieving a new level of selfies taken at night.

Trendsetting display with Eye Care

realme 6i comes with a 6.5-inch HD+ mini drop fullscreen which is 30.9% smaller than the normal dewdrop, making the screen to body ratio as high as 89.8%. This big screen will give users an immersive experience when watching videos or playing games. The eye care mode helps users who stay on the phone for a longer period of time by significantly reducing eye-strain. The realme 6i adopts classic design from Naoto Fukasawa, and has adopted a rare spray coating process. The phone has been polished hundreds of times -- as a result, the back of the phone shows an advanced matte visual effect.

Two thirds of businesses need to look beyond the financial imperative in post Covid-19 world

Research from ACCA and PwC shows two thirds of organisations need to embed finance business partnering further into strategy and decision making

Companies are being urged to look beyond the financial imperative as economies around the world look to kickstart as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Finance Insights – Reimagined, a new report from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and PwC, surveyed more than 3,400 firms on the changing role of the finance professional and how they can influence companies’ future direction.

The report highlights the greater focus on the finance business partner (FBP): individuals, or a group of individuals, who are the conduit between finance and its stakeholders. It outlines how they can help companies navigate turbulent economic times.

Results show finance business partnering was a proactive role in organisations, a fundamental part of decision-making and strategy. However, only 37% reported that it was truly embedded and that the remaining 63% are compromising their agility to support and influence business decision-making at this critical time.

The report outlines the FBP will be more commonplace than other finance roles as a result of automation and process efficiency. It also envisages the role of the partner will become more strategic and collaborative to support operational decision-making across the organisation.

Clive Webb, senior insights manager at ACCA, says finance business partnering is a key consideration for firms seeking survival and a more sustainable future ahead of an impending recession.

He said: ‘There is a temptation in responding to the COVID-19 events, as organisations and economies seek to recover, that the sole focus is on the financial imperative.

‘This approach could ignore the dangers society will continue to face and may lead to narrow responses to broader issues that are connected to the financial performance. To respond to this, accountancy and finance professionals need to have a robust skill set and must show they can play an ever-important role in driving business performance.’

Mr Webb concluded: ‘The two most valued aspects in the role were the support of business strategy and the analysis of current performance; this suggests that finance professionals might not yet be achieving the forward-looking view on which the future of the finance function depends.

‘The six hypotheses generated in this report allow businesses, both large and small, to explore the opportunity for finance insights and the role of business partners in generating sustainable value creation.’

Brian Furness, Partner at PwC, underlined the importance of the six capitals identified in the report in future planning.

He said: ‘The six capitals - financial, manufactured, intellectual, human, social and responsible, and natural - which are outlined in the report, provide a unique framework to evaluate how any finance function is performing.

‘In response to COVID-19, and by using this framework, CFO’s will be able to make sense out of the current situation, and plan successfully for the future.’