Daily tech post Ep. 1

1.Tesla Model 3 Is Headed to India

 

American electric car maker Tesla is going to bring its most affordable car to India. Tesla Motors founder Elon Musk in a tweet on Thursday said the company has added more countries to the pre-order page for Tesla Model 3. The list of countries includes India, Brazil, South Africa, South Korea, Singapore, New Zealand, and Ireland.

Sure enough, the Model 3 pre-order page lets you book a Tesla by paying a $1,000 (roughly Rs. 66,000) fee. You'll need a credit card to make the payment, but the fee is refundable in case you choose to cancel later. The form also lets you sign up for test driving a Model S - the company's premium sedan.
In case you were worried about a network of chargers to power Tesla's electric cars, Musk tweeted that the car would come with an India-wide supercharger network. Superchargers can charge Tesla cars from 0 to 100 percent in roughly 75 minutes and are currently offered free of cost to those who own Tesla cars. It's unclear whether the network will be free for Model 3 owners in India.

Tesla had at an event on Thursday in California announced that the Model 3 will be available in 2017 with a starting price of $35,000 (roughly Rs. 23 lakhs). The company manufactures its cars in the US, which means that the price of a Tesla Model 3 will be much higher in India as it will have to be imported. Duties on imported cars are north of 125 percent in India.

The company announced that it plans to expand the number of Tesla stores across the world from 215 to 441. This means that we could see the opening of a Tesla store in India, if the company intends to ship cars to India.

Tesla founder Elon Musk said the car will be able to cover at least 215 miles (346 km) on a single charge and that the car will offer Tesla's autopilot feature. The car isn't expected to be available until late in 2017, but that hasn't stopped people from pre-ordering it. Musk said the car already has 115,000 pre-orders. Quite a few Tesla fans in the US had camped overnight to pre-order the Model 3.

2.Xiaomi Mi 5 Launched in India: Price, Specifications, and More

Display

5.15-inch

Processor

1.8GHz

Front Camera

 4-Ultrapixel

Resolution

 1080x1920 pixels

RAM

 3GB

OS

 Android 6.0

Storage

32GB

Rear Camera

16-megapixel

Battery capacity

3000mAh

Xiaomi has launched the Mi 5 flagship smartphone in India, priced at Rs. 24,999. The company has so far only brought a single variant of the smartphone in India, what was unveiled as the 'standard edition' in China, featuring 3GB of LPDDR4 RAM and 32GB inbuilt storage. The smartphone will be available in its first flash sale on Mi.com from April 6. It will be available via Xiaomi's e-commerce partners a few weeks later.

To recall, two other Xiaomi Mi 5 variants had been launched in China - the 'prime edition' with 3GB of LPDDR4 RAM and 64GB inbuilt storage, and the 'pro edition' featuring 4GB LPDDR4 RAM and 128GB inbuilt storage.

The dual-SIM (Nano + Nano) Xiaomi Mi 5 features a 5.15-inch full-HD (1080x1920 pixels) with curved 3D Ceramic glass, and a pixel density of 428ppi. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor coupled with Adreno 530 GPU. It sports a 16-megapixel Sony IMX298 camera sensor with PDAF (phase detection autofocus) and LED flash. The rear camera also sports 4-axis OIS (optical image stabilisation) and sapphire glass protection lens. The smartphone supports 4K video recording. It also sports a 4-UltraPixel front camera, with 2-micron pixels. Both cameras feature an f/2.0 aperture.

It measures 144.5x69.2x7.25mm and weighs 129 grams. The Mi 5 packs a 3000mAh battery and supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0. The company says that the Quick Charge 3.0 is 20 percent faster than its predecessor, the Quick Charge 2.0. Also onboard is a USB Type-C port. Connectivity options include VoLTE support, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/ac, 4G, Bluetooth 4.2, Glonass, and NFC.

3.Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro With 4GB of RAM, 5000mAh Battery Launched

Display

6.00-inch

Processor

1.8GHz

Front Camera

 8-megapixel

Resolution

 1080x1920 pixels

RAM

 4GB

OS

 Android 5.1.1

Storage

32GB

Rear Camera

16-megapixel

Battery capacity

5000mAh

Samsung last year in December launched its metal-clad Galaxy A9 aka Galaxy A9 (2016), soon after which rumours and leaks for the more powerful Galaxy A9 Pro started brewing up. The handset passed certification websites and went through benchmarking websites as well. However, the South Korean tech giant has reportedly finally made the device official by launching it in China.
The Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro aka Galaxy A9 Pro (2016) is available to purchase from an e-commerce website in China at CNY 3,499 (roughly Rs. 35,700). Samsung is yet to reveal the availability details of the device outside the region, or even list the smartphone variant on its China-specific website. The China launch was first reported by MyDrivers. To recall, the Galaxy A9 was launched in China at CNY 3,199 (roughly Rs. 32,600).
The dual-SIM (Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM) Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro (SM-A9100), as compared to the Galaxy A9, features a better rear camera, more RAM, and a larger battery. Rest of the specifications remain the same. While the Galaxy A9 comes with a 13-megapixel rear autofocus camera with LED flash, f/1.9 aperture, and optical image stabilisation (OIS), the Galaxy A9 Pro features a 16-megapixel camera with the same specifications. The 'Pro' version also houses 4GB of RAM with 5000mAh battery as compared to Galaxy A9's 3GB RAM and 4000mAh battery.

The Android 5.1 Lollipop-based handset sports the same metal frame and glass body design as seen in other premium Galaxy handsets such as Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6, and more. It features a 6-inch full-HD (1080x1920 pixels) resolution Super Amoled display with 2.5D curved glass and is powered by a 64-bit octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 SoC, formerly known as Qualcomm Snapdragon 620 clocked at 1.8GHz, clubbed with Adreno 510 GPU.
Also included is an 8-megapixel front-facing camera with few specific modes such as wide selfie mode, self-portrait mode, palm selfie mode and others. As seen in majority of the Galaxy devices, the Galaxy A9 (2016) Pro camera app can be fired by double pressing the home button, which also houses a fingerprint sensor with Samsung Pay support. Connectivity features housed inside the smartphone are Bluetooth v4.1, GPS, Beidou, NFC, Wi-Fi, and USB 2.0. it is available in White and Gold colour variants.

 

4.Kung Fu Panda 3, Batman, and More for Your Weekend

 

Box office receipts were major news during the week. February's Deadpool toppled 2003's The Matrix Reloaded - the second film in the trilogy - to become the highest grossing R-rated film of all time, while Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice crossed $530 million in its first week world over.
In other comic book film news, well-known composer Hans Zimmer said he had decided to retire from the superhero business. "I did Batman Begins with Chris [Nolan] 12 years ago, so The Dark Knight Trilogy might be three movies to you, to me it was 11 years of my life," he told the BBC. He added that it had been difficult to find something new for Batman v Superman.
Also, Robin Wright - who plays Claire Underwood on the Netflix series House of Cards - will (mostly) be a part of the sequel to 1982's Blade Runner. The film, slated for a January 2018 release, is being directed by Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners, Sicario) and is set multiple decades after the original's plot. Wright will be joining Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling.
And finally on Friday morning, Kanye West gave in and released his album - The Life Of Pablo - on Apple Music and Spotify. It's yet to show up on Apple Music in India. Fret not though, this is still The Weekend Chill and we have other recommendations for what to do with your weekend:
TV:
Archer
The FX comedy show came to life after series creator Adam Reed was unable to come up with the perfect line to approach a beautiful woman while on holiday in Spain, and has now been on air for six seasons. The titular character, Sterling Archer, works as a spy for an organisation called ISIS - International Secret Intelligence Service. While Archer is considered "the world's most dangerous secret agent comparable to James Bond", his only motivation to do his job remains sex, alcohol and fast cars. Just like any teenager.
The seventh season started on Thursday, which is why the Blu-ray for season six is now available. For people who have never seen the show, if you like the style of early James Bond films and The Man from U.N.C.L.E - the 1960s television series, not the 2015 film - you'll find yourself right at home with Archer.
H
Humans
Based on a Swedish drama that ran for two seasons before running into budgetary issues, Humans is a sci-fi drama set in an alternative present wherein highly-developed robotic servants are the new in. Called "Synths", these android robots look just like their human owners and now fully conscious, desire a life of their own. The American remake follows the Hawkins family who purchase a Synth to help with issues in the household, and talks about the social and cultural impact of these new sentient beings on the larger human society.
What the show tries to say doesn't classify as truly groundbreaking, but it's a well-written show which offers something different from all the thrillers out there. If you're a fan of dystopian anthology series Black Mirror, you should definitely check out Humans. And if you're okay with subtitled drama, consider the Swedish original Real Humans as well.
How to access: Available on Blu-ray, iTunes US and Amazon Video
Time commitment: 5 hours and 44 minutes
Movies:
Kung Fu Panda 3
Po - voiced by all-around funny man Jack Black - learnt in Kung Fu Panda 2 that he was adopted, and that Mr Ping the goose isn't his real father. Kung Fu Panda 3 expands on Po's past, and introduces Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) as his biological father, Li. At the same time, Po and the Furious Five have a new enemy to contend with: a powerful yak by the name of Kai, who has been brought to life by J.K. Simmons (Whiplash). Kate Hudson is the third new entrant to the franchise and will voice a panda called Mei Mei. Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Joie, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, and David Cross return to reprise their characters from earlier entries.
The third Kung Fu Panda released back in January around the world, and has been well received by its audience and critics equally. It has already grossed over $400 million (approximately Rs. 2,600 crore) and holds an 85 percent "Fresh" rating on aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.
(Also see: New Year 2016: All the Movies We Are Looking Forward to This Year)
How to access: Out in cinema halls
Time commitment: 1 hour and 35 minutes
Video games:
TrackMania Turbo
A little more arcadish than its predecessors, TrackMania Turbo continues the series' love for stunts and high-octane racing. The game features over 200 tracks across four locations - called Rollercoaster Lagoon, International Stadium, Canyon Grand Drift, and Valley Down & Dirty - which are variations of the environment found in all TrackMania editions.
There are a couple of things that are new to the TrackMania franchise. First is a mode called Double Driver that allows two players to control the same car. It's an insanely fun mode that requires co-operation and co-ordination. Second is the game's support for virtual reality. In October last year, Ubisoft said that the game would be compatible with both the Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR. So in case you're one of the early adopters of Oculus' virtual reality technology, be sure to try TrackMania Turbo on the Rift.
It is also the first TrackMania game to release outside the PC since 2009's TrackMania Wii. TrackMania Turbo is available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Windows PCs.
(Also see: All Upcoming Xbox Exclusive Forza Games Coming to Windows 10: Turn10 Studios at Build 2016)
How to access: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, or Steam for Windows PCs
Time commitment: 1-2 minutes per race
Music:
We Disappear by The Thermals
Hutch Harris and Kathy Foster have been The Thermals from the band's beginnings in 2002, but there was concern after the release of their last album in 2013 - Desperate Ground - that the duo might put an end to their punk project. Thankfully, January 2016 put an end to that discussion with the announcement of their latest album. Released last Friday, We Disappear is a 30-minute record that's powerful and enjoyable from start to finish. The Portland, Oregon-based band has managed to carve a place and sound which defines themselves in the crowded lo-fi scene, and the new album is more proof of the same.
Hey You and My Heart Went Cold showcase The Thermals at what they do best, but there's a different side to them revealed through songs such as Always Never Be.
How to access: Apple Music/iTunes or Spotify
Time commitment: 29 minutes
Comics:
Batman (2011) #50
If you were disappointed by Zack Snyder's nihilistic take on the Dark Knight in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and have since been craving a story that restores your hope in the Bat again, we have got the right thing for you. As part of DC's relaunch of all its titles, Batman restarted under the capable hands of writer Scott Snyder (American Vampire) and artist Greg Capullo (X-Force, Spawn) in 2011. The two have given comic readers and Batman fans some fantastic issues since then, and last week saw the release of Batman #50, the penultimate issue for the duo. It also brought the "Superheavy" arc started by Snyder and Capullo to an emotional close, even if the actual finale will happen in the next issue.
We understand that getting through 50 issues isn't everyone's cup of tea, so if you're looking for a shorter investment, begin with Batman #41. That was the beginning of the "Superheavy" story. Here's a piece of trivia before you pick up #41: Bruce Wayne isn't the Batman.

How to access: Comixology or Read DC Entertainment
Time commitment: 55 minutes
What are you planning to do this weekend at home? Tweet your suggestions to us @Gadgets360 with #WeekendChill and we'll retweet the best ones.

5.Xiaomi Mi Note 2 Tipped to Sport Snapdragon 823 SoC, '3D Touch' Display

 

Xiaomi is rumoured to be working on its second-generation Mi Note smartphone. An earlier report said that the Chinese company may use Samsung-made curved Amoled display on its Mi Note 2.
Now, a new leak claims pricing details of the handset, and also suggests that the Xiaomi Mi Note 2, similar to its predecessor, will pack top-notch specifications. A tipster on Weibo (via Android Headlines) claimed that the Mi Note will be priced at CNY 2,999 (roughly Rs. 31,000) which if compared to the original Mi Note is costlier. To recall, the Xiaomi Mi Note phablet launched in January 2015 was priced at CNY 2,299 (roughly Rs. 23,000) for the 16GB model, while the 64GB model came at CNY 2,799 (roughly Rs. 27,900).
Some of the rumoured specifications of the Mi Note 2 claim that the handset will pack either a Snapdragon 820 or a Snapdragon 823 SoC. This could also mean that the Mi Note 2 may have two variants similar to the Xiaomi Mi Note and Mi Note Pro. Other leaked details suggest 4GB of RAM; 64GB of storage; 16-megapixel Sony sensor; OIS, and a 3600mAh battery. The tipster also claims that the handset will come in a 256GB inbuilt storage model. One of the biggest highlights of the handset is said to be the '3D Touch'-inspired pressure sensitive display made popular by Apple with the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.
However, all these leaks should be taken with a pinch of salt as Xiaomi has not mentioned anything about the upcoming device and the leaks legitimacy remains questionable.
The Chinese company earlier this week unveiled a variant of its Redmi 3 smartphone in China, called the Redmi 3 'Pro' or 'high version', featuring some upgrades in the memory, inbuilt storage, and sensor areas. The new Xiaomi Redmi 3 variant is priced at CNY 899 (approximately Rs. 9,000) and will be available in China next month.
In other news, Xiaomi is all set to launch the Mi 5 flagship smartphone on Thursday in India and with the launch, India will become one of the first markets with Xiaomi Mi 5 outside China.

6.Samsung Galaxy J3 (6) With 'S Bike Mode' Launched in India

Display

5.00-inch

Processor

1.5GHz

Front Camera

 5-megapixel

Resolution

 720x1280 pixels

RAM

 1.5GB

OS

 Android 5.1

Storage

8GB

Rear Camera

8-megapixel

Battery capacity

2600mAh

Samsung Galaxy J3 aka Galaxy J3 (6) aka Galaxy J3 (2016) smartphone has been launched in India. First unveiled last year in China, the smartphone has been priced in India at Rs. 8,990, and will be available exclusively via Snapdeal from Thursday.

The Samsung Galaxy J3 (6) variant launched in India features dual-SIM support. It sports a 5-inch HD (720x1280 pixels) Super Amoled display. The handset is powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core processor coupled with 1.5GB of RAM. It packs 8GB of inbuilt storage which can be expanded via microSD card (up to 128GB). The Android 5.1 Lollipop-based Galaxy J3 features the Samsung TouchWiz UI on top.

It sports an 8-megapixel rear autofocus camera with LED flash. There is a 5-megapixel front-facing camera also on board. The smartphone measures 142.3x71x7.9mm and weighs 138 grams.

Apart from 4G (with support for Indian 4G bands), other connectivity options include 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and Micro-USB. The handset is backed by a 2600mAh battery.

The biggest feature of the Galaxy J3 (6) that the company is touting is 'S Bike Mode', meant to help ensure minimum distraction while riding a two-wheeler. The feature once enabled automatically replies to calls with pre-recorded messages in 14 languages, and doesn't notify the rider.

Riders can also mark a few contacts as important, so that they can be notified even while riding. In case the call is urgent, the caller may choose to press 1, which allows urgent calls to go through.

The company said S Bike Mode will be available across all 4G-enabled Galaxy J series devices "over a period of time." To enable the S Bike Mode feature, Samsung has included NFC connectivity in its budget Galaxy J3 (6), allowing users to activate the mode with a tap on the NFC tag - recommended to be placed on the two-wheeler's fuel tank or the rider's helmet - that ships with the smartphone. The feature can also be enabled via Quick Settings.

Another feature of S Bike Mode is Motion Lock, which ensures that if the user decides to take an urgent incoming call, they will need to bring their vehicle to a halt to be able to answer it. 

Users will be able to see a log of call notifications received while S Bike Mode is enabled. A Smart Reply feature allows selected contacts to receive an automated SMS with an estimate of when the user is likely to be available for a call basis a trip destination entered by the user. The company is further trying to promote safety by including a gamification system - logging the amount of time and distance travelled using the S Bike Mode, and giving users a chance to win up to Rs. 1,500 per month from Freecharge "for being a responsible rider."

 7.What's Inside the iPhone SE? Teardown Reveals Exact Specifications

Apple says the newest addition to its smartphone lineup - the iPhone SE - is largely the same as last year's iPhone 6s, only in a 4-inch form-factor. It has detailed a few specifications of the iPhone SE, but characteristically, not all. If the little information we had wasn't good enough for you, good thing the hard-working souls at Chipworks have cracked open the iPhone SE to reveal all the innards.
So what are we looking at? The PCB that sits at the heart of the iPhone SE looks very different than its older sibling that fuelled the iPhone 5s, says Chipworks. And that's because plenty of things have changed. The A9 SoC is the same as found in the iPhone 6s, having its manufacturing roots linked to TSMC facilities.
There's a 2GB RAM module, compared to 1GB in the iPhone 5s, a figure confirmed earlier with a AnTuTu benchmark listing of the smartphone. It's made by SK Hynix, and again, it appears to be the same memory modules as used in Apple's flagship smartphone from last year - the iPhone 6s. For storage, we're looking at 19nm process chip made by Toshiba. Chipworks notes that Toshiba's latest offering include a 15nm process chip, implying that Apple didn't go for the latest module.
The touchscreen controller is quite old, however. According to Chipworks, Apple is using the Broadcom BCM5976 and Texas Instruments 343S0645 that were also used back in the iPhone 5s. The NFC chip inside the iPhone SE - NXP 66V10 - and 6-axis intertial sensor, on the other hands, are same as the ones used in the iPhone 6s. So are the Qualcomm MDM9625M modem, WTR1625L RF transceiver, 338S00105 and 338S1285 audio ICs.
If you're having a hard time coming to terms with these innards that are at least a year old, Apple has at least one new thing in the iPhone SE, says Chipworks. It has used a 338S00170 Apple/Dialog power management IC.

8.Vivo X6S, X6S Plus Music-Focused Smartphones Launched

Display

5.20-inch

Processor

 octa-core

Front Camera

 8-megapixel

Resolution

 1080x1920 pixels

RAM

 4GB

OS

 Android 5.1

Storage

64GB

Rear Camera

13-megapixel

Battery capacity

2400mAh

Display

5.70-inch

Processor

 octa-core

Front Camera

 8-megapixel

Resolution

 1080x1920 pixels

RAM

 4GB

OS

 Android 5.1

Storage

64GB

Rear Camera

16-megapixel

Battery capacity

3000mAh

Vivo has launched two new smartphones in China, the Vivo X6S and Vivo X6S Plus. Like their predecessors that were launched in December last year, the Vivo X6 and Vivo X6 Plus, the two smartphones are nearly indistinguishable with almost identical specifications.
Also like their predecessors, the Vivo X6S and Vivo X6S Plus are music-focused smartphones with DACs and signal processors, and bare much the same specifications as the previous generation. The smartphones are also one more nearly identical to the iPhone 6 in terms of looks. For now, no pricing or availability information has been provided by Vivo.
Coming to the differences between the two smartphones - Vivo X6S bears an AKM4375 32-bit DAC, while the Vivo X6S Plus bears an ES9028 DAC in its Yamaha YSS-205X signal processor. The Vivo X6S Plus also sports a high-resolution 16-megapixel camera complete with PDAF, while the Vivo X6S continues with the 13-megapixel camera of its predecessors.
The Vivo X6S Plus bears a 3000mAh battery, while the Vivo X6S bears a 2400mAh battery. The X6S keeps the 5.2-inch full-HD Super Amoled display of its predecessor, while the X6S Plus maintains the 5.7-inch full-HD Super Amoled display of the Vivo X6 Plus. The X6S is also marginally thinner than the X6S Plus, at 6.56mm compared to 6.85mm.
Common specifications between the smartphones are: Android 5.1 Lollipop, dual-SIM dual standby, octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 SoC, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of inbuilt storage with no expansion, rear fingerprint sensor, 4G connectivity (with support for Indian LTE bands), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, Micro-USB 2.0 with USB OTG, GPS, and FM radio.

9.India, US to Sign MoU for Building LIGO Project

India and US will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Thursday for building a state-of-the-art LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational - wave Observatory) project in the country, almost a month after the discovery of gravitational waves.
The MoU will be signed between the National Science Foundation USA and India's Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Science and Technology.
DAE secretary Sekhar Basu will be signing the agreement in USA Thursday.
The MoU also states of forming a Joint Oversight Group (JOG) with the scientists from NSF, DAE and DST for better coordination of the project.
The government last month gave an "in-principle approval" for establishing the LIGO-India project which will establish a state-of-the-art gravitational wave observatory in India in collaboration with the LIGO Laboratory in the US, run by Caltech and MIT.
The project will bring unprecedented opportunities for scientists and engineers to dig deeper into the realm of gravitational wave and take global leadership in this new astronomical frontier.
A meeting to decide the site for setting up the laboratory in India will be take place by April 10.
LIGO-India will also bring considerable opportunities in cutting edge technology for the Indian industry which will be engaged in the construction of an 8 km-long beam tube at ultra-high vacuum on a levelled terrain.
Indian scientists too played a crucial role in the recent discovery.
The machines that gave scientists their first-ever glimpse at gravitational waves are the most advanced detectors ever built for sensing tiny vibrations in the universe. The two US-based underground detectors are known as the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory, or LIGO for short.
One is located in Hanford, Washington and the other in Livingston, Louisiana.

10.World of Tanks Shows Belarus Potential Beyond Soviet-Era Farms

 

World of Tanks, one of the five most popular PC video games in Europe and the United States with 100 million players joining virtual battles in World War II-era tanks, started in a kitchen in the capital of Belarus.
In a country better known for its Soviet-era collectivized farming and run by President Alexander Lukashenko, seen by some as "Europe's last dictator", the software industry is thriving thanks to highly-educated and low-cost engineers.
Despite its international success, World of Tanks developer Wargaming has kept a major operation at the high-tech park in Minsk, along with a dozens other companies including US-based EPAM Systems, founded by two Belarusians in 1993. Belarusian software engineers are also behind Japanese-controlled Viber messenger and the MSQRD selfie app bought by Facebook earlier this month.
The sector has flourished despite a wider economic slump, raising hopes that it could set an example for an overhaul of the mostly state-run economy, and attracting foreign workers, expatriate Belarusians and locals to jobs that pay about five times the average wage.
World of Tanks software developer Andrei Safronov's hobby is drawing 3D models of tanks.
"I was noticed, invited, and now I work here," the Russian said, showing off tank models on his computer screen in a shining 16-storey building in the industrial park where workers relax playing table football or video games on big screens.
World of Tanks, owned by Cyprus-based Wargaming, is the fifth most popular PC gaming title behind League of Legends, Counter-Strike, World of Warcraft, all produced by US publishers, plus Minecraft, the Swedish game now owned by Microsoft Corp.
Companies at capital's high-tech zone contribute 1.5 percent of Belarus's GDP, employ 24,000 people and last year had exports worth $700 million (roughly Rs. 4,640 crores). By contrast, the state-run Gomselmash, employing 14,000, sold just one combine-harvester in the month of December, contributing to 2015 exports of just $90 million (roughly Rs. 596 crores).
The economy shrank 4 percent last year, hit by a recession and international sanctions in neighbour Russia but the software park grew 20 percent and is expected to do the same in 2016.
Proud president
Such growth has been helped by the low levels of government interference, raising hopes that it could be used as a model for transforming the state-run economy.
Lukashenko came to power in 1994 after the collapse of the Soviet Union and his country until February was under EU sanctions for his human rights record that included concerns about freedom of speech.
Some opposition media outlets broadcast from nearby countries to evade censorship and the state telecom monopoly is the exclusive provider of Internet connections to the outside world. Reporters Without Borders ranked Belarus 157th out of 180 countries in the 2015 press freedom Index.
But Lukashenko, who once called the internet "garbage", has left the technology sector alone and now seems proud of his country's IT prowess.
Commenting on an episode when Belarusian hackers stole hundreds of thousands of dollars, he told parliament: "Of course it is a disgrace. But sometimes you look and you are proud that our people know how to do this."
Aleksander Klaskovskii, a Belarusian political analyst said Lukashenko is not scared that access to sophisticated technology and the Internet will bring political ideas that could undermine his rule.
"The Belarusian authorities are not so primitive. They are not Internet-phobic. Lukashenko is a rational person," he said.
"Revolutions do not occur due to the fact that someone writes something on the Internet."
The industry has succeeded because it has been independent, he said, showing the government what could be done in other moribund sectors if it makes structural reforms to allow more freedom.
Cheap and educated
Initially, Belarusian software specialists won business from Western companies by offering cut-price programming services for businesses and websites. Now they are making headway developing name-brand products known around the world.
Set up ten years ago, the park was the brainchild of former Belarusian ambassador to Washington and Lukashenko supporter Valery Tsepkalo who met successful Belarusian engineers in the United States and wanted them to be able to work at home.
The park does not get money from the state but benefits from tax breaks and the ability to tap an educated workforce.
Belarus has a strong tradition of science and engineering education, as do many other former Soviet states - Tetris, the popular cube game was invented by a Soviet programmer working at Moscow's Academy of Sciences in 1984. Belarus's 54 universities produce 4,000 software engineers every year.
"The most important factor (for being in Belarus) are strong schools of training for professional engineers," said Jaroslav Tomilchik, EPAM's human resources director in Minsk.
The low cost of living and the country's position outside the European Union also helps keeps wage costs down compared to nearby EU members.
But success may bring pay rises, particularly as engineers move away from contracts and develop their own companies.
EPAM, one of the first residents of the park, has enjoyed years of consistent 20 percent plus growth and seen its stock jump fivefold since floating on the New York Stock Exchange in 2012. Nearly one-third of its global technical staff remain based in Belarus.
EPAM has benefited from technology outsourcing by European companies, outpacing Indian and US rivals based on its proximity to Western Europe and its focus on new product development for customers including investment bank UBS, Liberty Media and cosmetics brand Sephora.
Now, a second generation of technologists is taking shape, many of whom started with EPAM, but now are looking to build their own products and apps for start-ups.
"Look at these people...They can't remember the Soviet Union," said Tsepkalo. "This is new technology, created from scratch."
Some Belarusians like Elena Shkarubo, who studied in London and worked in Moscow, are coming home. She returned to start the online platform MeetnGreetMe in March which allows people travelling to another country to find a local host.
"I wanted to do business in Belarus...I'm not going to change my nationality," she said.