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Beyond weddings, it’s time to celebrate art and more in Italy’s fashion capital (Travelogue)

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By Simran Sethi
Milan, Dec 25 (IANS) Italy has, no doubt, become a popular wedding destination for Indians after the Virat-Anushka and Ranveer-Deepika nuptials, but the southern European country has a lot more to offer. It is also an ideal vacation spot this time of the year as several cities, especially Milan, are oozing with the festive spirit.

Be it streets or shops or houses, each nook and corner of Milan is decorated with sparkling, colourful lights and Xmas trees, bringing joy and happiness to people this Christmas and New Year.

From old forts to gothic churches to famous Milanese restaurants and museums, the city offers everything one would seek during a vacation. And its diverse population makes it even more special.

Though the city is the habitat of people from every different social strata of Italy, it is their style statement which unites them. Be it local commuters or chauffeurs or tourists, everyone knows how to look elegant and classy. No wonder it is called the fashion capital of the world.

The fashion affair begins the moment you land in the city centre, especially Montenapoleone, also known as the fashion district. Full of designer boutiques, antique shops and retail outlets in neoclassical mansions, Montenapoleone is considered one of the favourite shopping hubs of fashion aficionados.

Thus, this beating heart of Milan is an essential stop for luxury shopping.

Whether you fancy Gucci or Prada, you just have to name a brand and you will find its huge store in front of your eyes.

Apart from fashion, Milan is also famous for its intricate architecture. And Duomo di Milano is an epitome of the city’s architectural splendour. The construction of the Duomo began in 1386.

Ranked as the fifth-largest in the world and third-largest in Europe, the Duomo cathedral is no less than heaven as it treats visitors with breathtaking panoramic views of Milan from its rooftop.

Also, if you are in Milan and you don’t get to see Leonardo da Vinci’s paintings, then your trip is incomplete. The manner in which Leonardo da Vinci brought to life the ceiling of the Sforza Castle is quite wonderous, making it a “must go” place in Milan. And for Da Vinci’s admirers, 2019 would be a great year to visit as Milan will observe his 500th death anniversary by showcasing his work all over the city.

If you think Milan has just rich history to offer, then think again. It also has an amazing night life. And the best place to spend your evenings with your loved ones is near the canals, where bars and cafes of various hues flourish.

Talking of bars and cafes, it won’t be fair if we don’t also talk about Italian cuisine. Although pasta and pizza are two dishes popular among Indians, there are other food items to be added to your list. Risotto and traditional panettone cake are among them — and Italian red wine, of course.

And if you are thinking of where to stay in Milan, without a second thought, you can find good reasonable accommodation near the central railway station.

So, not just for weddings, one can visit Milan anytime. And this festive season is the best time to experience the beauty of this Italian city — a rare snowfall may surprise, which can be a treat to the senses.

And to make Milan easy and accessible for Indians, Air Italy has recently launched thrice-a-week direct flights from Delhi and Mumbai to get you to the city of art in just eight hours.

(Simran Sethi was in Milan on an invitation from Air Italy. She can be contacted at simra.s@ians.in)

–IANS
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Casino Days Reveal Internal Data on Most Popular Smartphones

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CasinoDays India

International online casino Casino Days has published a report sharing their internal data on what types and brands of devices are used to play on the platform by users from the South Asian region.

Such aggregate data analyses allow the operator to optimise their website for the brands and models of devices people are actually using.

The insights gained through the research also help Casino Days tailor their services based on the better understanding of their clients and their needs.

Desktops and Tablets Lose the Battle vs Mobile

The primary data samples analysed by Casino Days reveal that mobile connections dominate the market in South Asia and are responsible for a whopping 96.6% of gaming sessions, while computers and tablets have negligible shares of 2.9% and 0.5% respectively.

CasinoDays India

The authors of the study point out that historically, playing online casino was exclusively done on computers, and attribute thе major shift to mobile that has unfolded over time to the wide spread of cheaper smartphones and mobile data plans in South Asia.

“Some of the reasons behind this massive difference in device type are affordability, technical advantages, as well as cheaper and more obtainable internet plans for mobiles than those for computers,” the researchers comment.

Xiaomi and Vivo Outperform Samsung, Apple Way Down in Rankings

Chinese brands Xiaomi and Vivo were used by 21.9% and 20.79% of Casino Days players from South Asia respectively, and together with the positioned in third place with a 18.1% share South Korean brand Samsung dominate the market among real money gamers in the region.

 

CasinoDays India

Cupertino, California-based Apple is way down in seventh with a user share of just 2.29%, overshadowed by Chinese brands Realme (11.43%), OPPO (11.23%), and OnePlus (4.07%).

Huawei is at the very bottom of the chart with a tiny share just below the single percent mark, trailing behind mobile devices by Motorola, Google, and Infinix.

The data on actual phone usage provided by Casino Days, even though limited to the gaming parts of the population of South Asia, paints a different picture from global statistics on smartphone shipments by vendors.

Apple and Samsung have been sharing the worldwide lead for over a decade, while current regional leader Xiaomi secured their third position globally just a couple of years ago.

Striking Android Dominance among South Asian Real Money Gaming Communities

The shifted market share patterns of the world’s top smartphone brands in South Asia observed by the Casino Days research paper reveal a striking dominance of Android devices at the expense of iOS-powered phones.

On the global level, Android enjoys a comfortable lead with a sizable 68.79% share which grows to nearly 79% when we look at the whole continent of Asia. The data on South Asian real money gaming communities suggests that Android’s dominance grows even higher and is north of the 90% mark.

Among the major factors behind these figures, the authors of the study point to the relative affordability of and greater availability of Android devices in the region, especially when manufactured locally in countries like India and Vietnam.

“And, with influencers and tech reviews putting emphasis on Android devices, the choice of mobile phone brand and OS becomes easy; Android has a much wider range of products and caters to the Asian online casino market in ways that Apple can’t due to technical limitations,” the researchers add.

The far better integration achieved by Google Pay compared to its counterpart Apple Pay has also played a crucial role in shaping the existing smartphone market trends.

 

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