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In accordance with the Inter-Services Organizations Act, the center notifies
Greater unity and command efficiency in the armed forces are made possible by the Center's notified regulations, which were developed under the Inter-Services Organizations Act.In accordance with the Inter-Services Organizations Act, the Center has issued regulations that improve military unity and command effectiveness. This measure avoids duplication of proceedings, speeds up disciplinary actions, and gives heads of ISOs more authority.The official notification states that personnel from any of the three services posted or attached to Inter-Services Organizations (ISOs) will now be subject to full disciplinary and administrative authority from the Commander-in-Chief of a Joint Services Command, the Officer-in-Command of an inter-services establishment, and the Commanding Officer of an inter-services unit.By facilitating quicker decision-making and effective treatment of disciplinary problems, the implementation of these rules completely operationalizes the Act and is anticipated to improve ISO effectiveness. Given the upcoming theater command structures, this development takes place against the backdrop of continuous efforts to encourage greater unity among India's military services. The action is regarded as a crucial reform in India's defense management system and enhances the power of ISO chiefs. Center Notifies Rules for Unified Command Under Inter-Services Act 1881764 https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/
Published 28 May 2025 07:46 PM
India announces a port limitation measure for shipments from Bangladesh.
New Delhi: The Indian Gazette has announced a port restriction on the import of specific commodities from Bangladesh into India. Monday was the official date of the gazette notification, which was published today.Following contentious comments made by Bangladesh's interim chief advisor Muhammad Yunus regarding the northeastern region of India during his visit to China, India has placed restrictions on the entry of Bangladeshi ready-made garments (RMG) and other products through its northeastern land ports, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, as well as Fulbari and Changrabandha in West Bengal.In a lecture in China, Yunus, the chief adviser for Bangladesh, referred to the northeastern provinces of India as a "landlocked region with no access to the ocean." Since Indian officials see this remark as undercutting the region's status and connectivity, it has caused diplomatic tension. Bangladesh was forced to reroute exports, including ready-made garments (RMG), plastics, melamine, furniture, juices, carbonated drinks, bakery goods, confectionery, and processed foods, through Kolkata port in West Bengal or Nhava Sheva port in Maharashtra due to the new restrictions, which were imposed on May 17 and went into effect immediately. This resulted in a significant increase in logistics costs.Previously, 93% of Bangladesh's exports to India went via these land routes, so the impact on the country's ready-made clothing industry, which sends around USD 740 million worth of clothing to India each year, might be significant. It is anticipated that the action will upend Bangladesh's apparel sector, increasing prices and restricting access to markets while opening up new prospects for Indian producers.
Published 20 May 2025 04:59 PM
OnePlus Open 2 with Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 SoC is expected to launch in Q1 2025.
The company's first folding smartphone, the OnePlus Open, debuted last year with triple back cameras bearing the Hasselblad name and a high-resolution cover display (Read our Review). There are already rumors that a foldable's replacement is in the works. Thanks to a tipster, we now know some additional information regarding the impending foldable. The OnePlus Open 2, which may be a repackaged Oppo Find N5, is rumored to operate on the unreleased Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 SoC.A well-known Weibo tipster named Digital Chat Station (whose username is translated from Chinese) stated that the OnePlus Open 2 is expected to launch in 2025's first quarter. It is rumored to be powered by Qualcomm's upcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 SoC. In October of this year, Qualcomm is anticipated to introduce the chipset.The anticipated OnePlus Open replacement is expected to include a slim design, a high-resolution cover screen, an updated hinge to minimize weight, and a "ultra-flat" inside screen. It is probably going to be slim, and it might keep the OnePlus Open's periscope camera. It is very likely to launch as the Oppo Find N5, rebranded. The Find N3 was rebranded as the predecessor.In October 2023, the OnePlus Open made its debut in India, retailing for Rs. 1,39,999 for the 16GB RAM + 512GB storage model alone. It sports a 6.31-inch (1,116x2,484 pixels) 2K LTPO 3.0 Super Fluid AMOLED cover screen and a 7.82-inch (2,268x2,440 pixels) 2K Flexi-fluid LTPO 3.0 AMOLED inner display. It is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC and has 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM.The Hasselblad-branded triple rear camera arrangement on the OnePlus Open is powered by a 48-megapixel primary camera. Its two front cameras include a 32-megapixel secondary camera and a 20-megapixel primary selfie camera. The 4,800mAh battery within the foldable allows for 67W SuperVOOC charging.
Published 06 Jun 2024 11:26 AM
Wipro CEO promotes veterans and relies on internal talent
In an attempt to curb the outflow of internal talent that had afflicted the company under former CEO Theirry Delaporte's leadership, and as a show of confidence in the depth of its current senior leadership, which has been with Wipro for many years, new CEO Srini Pallia has promoted at least five Wipro insiders, including three veterans, in the last 1.5 months.A few days after Pallia assumed leadership of the company, Wipro named 28-year veteran Malay Joshi CEO of Americas 1, which is the company's biggest market. Hari Shetty, a 31-year Wipro veteran, was named chief strategist and sales excellence officer of Wipro early this month.Once more this month, Wipro saw the departure of two previous leaders from Capgemini and the hiring of Amit Choudhary, the chief operating officer, and Anis Chenchah, the CEO of APMEA, by Delaporte. While Vinay Firake, a Wipro veteran of roughly 26 years, succeeded Chenchah, Sanjeev Jain, who joined the IT giant in April of last year, succeeded Choudhary. By relying on internal talent, the company continued to demonstrate its faith in its bench.Shreyas Bhosale was also named by Wipro last week as the company's engagement leader for the joint GTM with Nokia on private wireless. By combining Nordics and Benelux into a new Northern Europe region, the company also granted Sarat Chand, the managing director of Wipro-Benelux at the moment, extra responsibility for the Nordic region. Chand has spent the last fifteen years working for the IT company as a Wipro veteran as well. Analysts have praised the action, stating that it gives the right signals to all parties involved, including employees and.
Published 04 Jun 2024 10:33 PM
Gadgets
Gadgets are of different type and there is all new advancements coming on regular basis be it Mobile phones or Laoptops of Consumer appliances. Everything is rapidely changing gloablly.
Electric kettles under ₹1500 can be a great Valentines Day gift
Choosing the perfect Valentine's Day gift requires a blend of thoughtfulness and functionality. Electric kettles, especially those under ₹1500, offer an excellent choice for those wanting to add a touch of care to their partner's daily routine. These kettles come in sleek designs and boasts of features that make morning rituals or evening wind-downs more enjoyable. With the ability to quickly boil water for coffee, tea, or instant meals, they serve as a practical yet intimate gift, showing consideration for your loved one's comfort and needs. High-end models within this price range not only offer rapid boiling, but also precision temperature control, allowing for the perfect brew every time. Some are equipped with keep-warm functions, ensuring the water remains at an ideal temperature for longer periods. Their stylish designs enhance kitchen aesthetics, making them more than just a utility item, but a statement piece that reflects your partner's taste and style. An electric kettle under ₹1500 combines luxury with everyday utility, making it a thoughtful Valentine's Day gift. It's a way to say you care about the small moments in your loved one's day, from that first cup of morning tea to a soothing nightcap, enhancing both their kitchen and their daily experiences. The Butterfly EKN Electric Kettle combines elegance with efficiency. Its 1.5-litre capacity and 1500 watts power ensure rapid boiling for your daily beverages and meals. The auto cut-off and dry boil protection features enhance safety, while the 360-degree swivel base adds convenience. Its spout filter ensures a clean pour every time, and the ergonomic design makes it comfortable to use. This kettle is perfect for those seeking a blend of style and practicality in their kitchen appliances.
Google Renames Bard to Gemini, Launches Gemini Advanced
Google has officially launched Gemini Advanced. After multiple reports and Google CEO Sundar Pichai's statements during the company's quarterly earnings call confirming its arrival, the subscription tier of the tech giant's most powerful AI model is now live. Alongside Bard, the free version of the generative AI chatbot, which now runs on the Gemini Pro model, has also been renamed Gemini. As a promotional offering, Gemini Advanced is currently being offered for no charge for two months.Pichai announced the launch of the subscription tier of the AI in its newsroom and said, “The version with Ultra will be called Gemini Advanced, a new experience far more capable at reasoning, following instructions, coding, and creative collaboration.” He also revealed that the Gemini Advanced subscription will be called the Google One AI Premium plan and will be bundled with Google One. As a result, users who subscribe to it will also get all the other benefits of Google One and 2TB of cloud storage space.Highlighting its features, a separate post mentioned that Gemini Ultra could " create step-by-step instructions, sample quizzes or back-and-forth discussions” and become a personal tutor for a user seeking guidance for academic purposes or looking to upskill. The Ultra model is proficient in advanced coding and can help users in generating, analysing, editing, as well as debugging complex coding tasks. Further, digital creators can benefit from Google Advanced subscription as it can generate content, analyse recent trends, and offer ideas and inspiration for engagement and audience growth. The free version of Gemini (which is trained on Gemini Pro) and Gemini Advanced will be available on the website, and an Android app. iOS users can try out the AI assistant through the Google app. The monthly subscription price for Google Advanced has been set at Rs. 1,950 a month. However, the tech giant is currently running a promotional offer where users can try it out for two months without a charge. Alongside the launch of the subscription tier, Google also officially renamed Bard to Gemini. “Bard has been the best way for people to directly experience our most capable models. To reflect the advanced tech at its core, Bard will now simply be called Gemini,” added Pichai.
TCS sounds final call for staff to work from office
MUMBAI: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has extended the period by which employees should return to office by another quarter, to March end, but has informed them that this will be the last deadline for doing so. Failure to resume work from office (WFO) by then will lead to "consequences," chief operating officer NG Subramaniam, told ET, citing work culture as well as security issues. "We are exercising patience but have taken a principled stand that employees have to get back to offices," he said. "We have sent employees the final communication on this and if they do not, there will be consequences to face." He said working from home made employees and employers vulnerable. With the kind of cyberattacks in today's context, an organisation can inadvertently get into trouble," he said. "One cannot have the kind of controls at home and there can be security risks to businesses. In the fiscal third quarter, India's second largest IT firm Infosys said one of its US units was affected by a cyber security issue, resulting in the unavailability of several applications. In December, HCLTech reported a ransomware incident, adding that it had made no impact. TCS is aiming to revive the pre-pandemic work culture in a shift away from the 25-by-25 hybrid model it had announced during the Covid-19 outbreak. It had said in 2020 that once all employees returned to office, a fourth of them would work from home by 2025. At the December quarter earnings announcement on January 11, the company said 65% of the workforce had been coming to the office up to three days a week.
Court relief for Byju’s in TLB lenders’ suit
Byju’s won a legal reprieve on Monday when a civil court in Bengaluru declined to grant a plea by its lenders challenging Manipal Group Chairman Ranjan Pai’s acquisition of a 40% stake in the embattled edtech firm’s subsidiary Aakash Institute, two people aware of the development said. The lenders of Byju’s $1.2 billion term loan had moved the city court last Thursday seeking an ex-parte injunction on the transaction allowing Pai to convert a loan of about $250-$300 million he had advanced to the brick-and-mortar coaching network into equity in Aakash Institute. Thursday’s legal challenge by the TLB lenders caught both Byju’s and Pai “by surprise” the sources said. The lenders were petitioning the court about Pai's conversion of debt into equity at a lower valuation of $600 million compared to the valuation of $950 million ascribed to Aakash Institute when it was acquired by Byju’s parent Think & Learn in 2021. As such, the proposed deal hurts the lenders of Think & Learn, the lenders contended. This lender group controls 80% of the term loan raised by Byju's in November 2021. According to people present at the hearing on Monday, the court did not grant the injunction to block the deal as per the lenders' plea while also adding that the jurisdiction for the case was not correct. The lenders had cited the credit agreement which they said bars Byju’s parent Think & Learn from selling any asset without prior approval from the lenders, the sources said. Byju’s made its arguments over the weekend at the city civil court, they added.
Banks await RBI nod on KYC challenges at Paytm before moving business
Digital payments player Paytm is awaiting the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) approval to start moving its settlements business from Paytm Payments Bank to other lenders. But issues around KYC (Know Your Customer) of the accounts could be a major hiccup holding up the process. Two senior bankers in the know told ET that given Paytm was involved in issues around KYC of its user base in the past, bankers are looking for directions from the RBI before taking on the business. KYC is a process that requires a potential customer to submit original identity documents to a bank before being able to access its services. The central bank allows digital KYC through video verification. “We have to be careful about who we are doing business with. In this case, we need to be sure of the KYC of the merchants as well as the customers, so the central bank will need to take a call on that,” one of the bankers said. This will take time, and the banking regulator will only take the call after detailed consideration and thorough scrutiny of its own. The actual number of proper KYC-ed users of Paytm will be scrutinised too, the bankers added. The RBI did not respond to emailed queries from ET. On January 31, the RBI asked Paytm Payments Bank to stop offering basic banking services from February 29. It has effectively asked its customers to move all their funds from the payments bank or use up their available balance.The language and the directive from the banking regulator came as a shock to the banking and fintech industry. Several industry insiders said that coming back from this situation might be a huge challenge for the bank promoted by Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma.In 2020, a similar incident occurred when Yes Bank was put under an embargo by the regulator and PhonePe, a major digital payments player already by then, was left with no settlement system. Almost overnight, PhonePe moved its banking business to ICICI Bank -- with the regulator’s blessings. Another banker that ET spoke to pointed out that unlike the case of PhonePe — where the transfer was primarily UPI handles — in this case, it is about accounts of merchants and customers, making the process more time-consuming.
Apple CEO Tim Cook Reveals Generative AI Features Will Be Unveiled ‘Later This Year’, Mentions India too
Apple could soon bring generative artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to its devices, revealed CEO Tim Cook during the company's quarterly earning calls. While speaking about the Cupertino-based tech giant's achievements in the last quarter, Cook mentioned that it has been spending a “tremendous amount of time and effort” on AI. Without disclosing any details, he also hinted that these features could be released later this year. If Apple does step into the generative AI space, it will be competing with the likes of Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI.During the call, Cook alluded to AI multiple times and specifically mentioned generative AI once. Presenting his prepared remarks, the Apple CEO said, “ As we look ahead, we will continue to invest in these and other technologies that will shape the future. That includes artificial intelligence, where we continue to spend a tremendous amount of time and effort, and we're excited to share the details of our ongoing work in that space later this year.”While there is no way to know how Apple may innovate with generative AI, some have speculated that one of its main impacts will be seen in Siri, which might be able to handle more complex verbal commands and tasks. Other possible features remain unknown at this time. Despite name-dropping the emerging technology, Cook never revealed any information on exactly what Apple was working on or which devices were likely to receive AI features. While answering an analyst's question regarding any thoughts on the potential upcoming announcements on AI, Cook said, “In terms of generative AI, which I would guess is your focus, we have a lot of work going on internally as I've alluded to before. Our M.O., if you will, has always been to do work and then talk about work and not to get out in front of ourselves, and so we're going to hold that to this as well. But we've got some things that we're incredibly excited about that we'll be talking about later this year.” Cook may not have revealed a lot, but rumours about Apple entering the generative AI space have been surfacing for a while. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman recently reported that Apple's iOS 18 update, which is expected to arrive with the launch of the iPhone 16 series in September-October, could be one of the biggest in Apple's history. Cook's statements align with the same. Apart from AI, another highlight during Apple's earnings call was the mention of India. The country made an appearance during the prepared remarks of both the Apple CEO and Luca Maestri, the Chief financial officer of Apple. Both of them mentioned India highlighting Apple's quarterly records in the country. Notably, the iPhone maker surpassed the ten million mark in revenue for the first time in a calendar year in India, leading the category, as per a Counterpoint report.
Apple unveils AI image tool that lets you make edits by just describing them
The researchers highlighted the model's ability to derive explicit visual-aware intentions, leading to meaningful image enhancements. Apple researchers have introduced an AI model enabling users to write desired changes to a photograph using simple language, eliminating the need for traditional photo editing software. The groundbreaking model, named MGIE (MLLM-Guided Image Editing), is the result of a collaboration between Apple and the University of California, Santa Barbara. Capable of executing various editing tasks including cropping, resizing, flipping, and applying filters solely through text prompts, MGIE represents a significant advancement in image editing technology. This innovation can handle both straightforward and intricate editing requests, such as altering specific objects within a photo or enhancing brightness levels. MGIE harnesses the power of multimodal language models, first deciphering user prompts and then generating corresponding edits. For instance, a request for a "bluer sky" translates to adjusting the brightness of the sky portion of an image. This approach ensures precise interpretation and execution of editing instructions. For example, a prompt to "make it more healthy" when editing an image of a pepperoni pizza results in the addition of vegetable toppings. Similarly, instructing the model to "add more contrast to simulate more light" enhances the brightness of a dark image, such as tigers in the Sahara.
Vivo Y200e 5G Observed on the Website for BIS Certification
The Vivo Y200e 5G may soon be released in India. The smartphone has reportedly been spotted on the Indian BIS certification website, following its recent appearances on the Google Play Console and GeekBench listing. The phone is expected to be similar to the Vivo Y200 5G, which debuted in India in October 2023 and included a Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 SoC, a 4,800mAh battery, and a 64-megapixel primary camera with optical image stabilization (OIS). Although there are rumors that the upcoming phone will cost a little less than the Y200, leaks have indicated that it may come with a more recent chipset. MySmartPrice discovered that the model number V2336 and the brand name Vivo were listed in the BIS certification listing. According to a 91Mobiles report, the model number is the same as the one that was recently seen on the GeekBench V4.0 and Bluetooth SIG listings. It is noteworthy, though, that this model number—V2327—differes from the one found on the Google Play Console, which also goes by the name Vivo Y200e 5G for the handset. It's unknown why there is this disparity. The Vivo Y200e 5G's primary specifications don't change in spite of this inconsistency. The smartphone may come with an octa-core chipset (model number SM4450), according to reports. According to reports, the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset from Qualcomm is paired with an Adreno 613 GPU and 8GB of RAM. This is indicated by the serial number. There are currently no known variations of the handset in terms of RAM or storage. The device might also come pre-installed with Funtouch OS 14, which is based on Android 14. It might also have a Full-HD+ screen with a resolution of 1080x2400.
The February update for Pixel 8 Series and Older Models includes security patches and bug fixes.
The Pixel 5a through the Pixel 8 Pro are among the smartphone models that are eligible for Google's monthly Android 14 update. The February update will also be available for Google's first Pixel-branded tablet and foldable phone, the Pixel Tablet and Pixel Fold. With the most recent monthly update, the search giant fixed a few bugs and patched a few issues affecting the company's phones. On its most recent Pixel 8 series of smartphones, Google recently enabled new software features. According to the company's release notes, which were made public on Monday, the February Pixel update fixes a bug that occasionally caused the screens of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro to appear corrupted and brings general improvements for camera system stability and performance. Additionally, on the Pixel 5a, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel 8, and Pixel 8 Pro, Google has resolved problems with the Android system framework that impacted stability or performance when using third-party apps. With the February update, problems with the Pixel Fold's external display have also been fixed. In the meantime, a security vulnerability (CVE-2024-22012) with 'high' severity that affects the bootloader—the program that loads the operating system into memory when the device is started—has been patched, according to the company's February update bulletin.Six security vulnerabilities have been fixed, five of which were related to Qualcomm components (audio) and one of which affected a closed-source Qualcomm component. All six vulnerabilities have been categorized as "moderate" in severity. Owners of the Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet, as well as the Pixel 5a and later models, can open the Settings app and select System > Software updates > System update to download and install the update. The phone will be protected with the most recent security patches after installing the update and restarting the tablet or smartphone. The company advises owners of Pixel hardware to download and install the most recent February Pixel update.
Honor X9b Amazon India Microsite Goes Live; Honor Choice Earbuds X5 Launch Teased
Honor X9b is set to launch in India on February 15, months after its initial launch in October 2023 in select global markets. The Indian variant is expected to come with similar features to its global version. A key display feature of the smartphone was recently teased and its Amazon product page was also leaked. However, the Amazon microsite for the Honor 90 5G has now gone live officially. This confirms that the phone will be available for purchase in the country via Amazon. Some key details of the upcoming smartphone are teased on the page alongside the possible launch of Honor Choice Earbuds X5.The Amazon microsite for the Honor X9b claims that the curved display of the upcoming handset will be "unbreakable." An earlier teaser of the phone suggested that similar to its global variant, the Indian version of the Honor X9b will come with SGS-certified "360-degree whole-device protection." It is said to sport "India's first ultra bounce display" with 'Airbag' technology. Amazon's product page also teases a big battery, a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset, and a slim design for the upcoming Honor X9b. It does not list the exact specifications but hints at another key launch that is likely to occur alongside the smartphone. At the top of the microsite is a banner that shows a big, round silhouette of the rear camera module of the upcoming phone inside which the launch date, i.e. February 15, and the words "unlock the extra" are written.Upon looking closely, however, we can see the "x" in the word extra to be portrayed by two overlapping earbuds. These are quite possibly the Honor Choice Earbuds X5, which the HonorTech CEO Madhav Sheth had teased previously. This easter egg likely indicates the launch of these TWS earbuds on February 15, confirming a recent report. Since the Indian variant of the Honor 9Xb is likely to come with similar specifications as the global variant, the phone could be powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 SoC paired with up to 12GB of RAM. It may also get a 6.78-inch 1.5K (1,200 x 2,652 pixels) AMOLED display and run Android 13-based MagicOS 7.2. The phone is also likely to pack a 5,800mAh battery with 35W wired fast charging support. For optics, the Honor 9Xb may launch with a 108-megapixel triple rear camera system including a 5-megapixel sensor with an ultra-wide lens, and a 2-megapixel macro shooter. The front camera is likely to carry a 16-megapixel sensor.
Apple Vision Pro cost is about Rs 2.8 lakh, Tim Cook explains why it is priced so high
Apple's latest innovation, the Apple Vision Pro, hits stores today with a hefty price tag of $3,500 (around Rs 2.8 lakh). The sticker shock may leave some wondering why such a steep cost, but Apple CEO Tim Cook took the opportunity to shed light on the matter during a recent earnings call.He emphasized that the high price is a reflection of the incredible technological advancements packed into the mixed-reality headset. The Vision Pro, built on a foundation of 5,000 patents, stands as a testament to Apple's commitment to cutting-edge technology.During the earnings call, Cook addressed concerns about the steep pricing, stating, "If you look at it from a price point of view, there's an incredible amount of technology packed into the product." He went on to highlight the inclusion of two Apple Silicon chips and the availability of 600 new apps and games tailored for the device. The Apple Vision Pro introduces spacial computing, allowing wearers to integrate digital content into their physical surroundings. This technology is a result of years of innovation, from silicon advancements to displays, and significant strides in AI and machine learning.Cook elaborated on the role of AI, stating, "It's, of course, built on many innovations that Apple has spent multiple years on, from silicon to displays and significant AI machine learning — all the hand tracking, the room mapping, all this stuff is driven by AI. Despite the seemingly high price, many Apple fans didn't hesitate to grab their piece of the future when preorders opened on January 19 as there were reports that that the company has already sold around 2 lakh headsets. However, some analysts predict that the demand may taper off due to the niche nature of the headset.Interestingly, major corporations like Walmart and Nike are already exploring potential applications for the Vision Pro among their customers and employees, according to Apple's CFO Luca Maestri. This indicates that the headset's capabilities extend beyond entertainment. The headset is yet to be launched in India.
"ISRO On Space Platform POEM-3: ""All Payload Objectives Fully Met"" "
On Saturday, ISRO announced that POEM-3, its space platform, had successfully completed all of its payload goals. The PSLV-C58 rocket, which launched XPoSat on January 1st of this year, includes a spent PS4 stage that is used by POEM-3 (the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-3). According to ISRO, POEM-3 carried nine payloads from space start-ups, academia, the Physical Research Laboratory, and the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre. POEM-3, which the space agency described as a novel and low-cost platform, had completed 400 orbits by the 25th day of its orbit. Every payload was deployed according to schedule during this time, and performance was shown. It was mentioned that POEM-3 is a three-axis-attitude controlled platform that can support payloads with power generation, telecommand, and telemetry capabilities. POEM-3 is expected to stay in orbit for a further 73 days or so before returning to Earth's atmosphere. "With the likely re-entry of POEM-3 in the next 75 days, the PSLV-C58 XPoSat mission will be leaving zero debris in space" , stated ISRO.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai confirms Bard Advanced will be Google’s answer to Microsoft’s Copilot Pro
Microsoft recently announced Copilot Pro, an advanced version of its AI-powered tool for power users and content creators. The company said that this subscription-based tier offers 'advanced help’ in taking up various tasks. Google Bard Advanced will have similar capabilities but the search giant is yet to make it available to customers. Rumours were rife that this will be a paid version, and the company CEO has now confirmed a subscription-based model for the AI chatbot.During the company’s Q4 earnings call, Sundar Pichai said that Bard Advanced will be available to users as a subscription.“It’s [Bard] now powered by Gemini Pro, and it’s much more capable at things like understanding, summarising, reasoning, coding, and planning. It’s now in over 40 languages and over 230 countries around the world. Looking ahead, we’ll be rolling out an even more advanced version for subscribers powered by Gemini Ultra,” said Pichai, who is also the CEO of Google-parent company Alphabet. Google didn’t share any details about when it will be available or what subscription cost will be but the company previously said that it will release the powerful AI chatbot sometime this year.Bard Advanced is Google’s more powerful AI chatbot that will be powered by Gemini Ultra – the most powerful large language model (LLM) in the Gemini lineup of models. As per Google, Gemini Ultra is its largest and most capable model.It is “designed for highly complex tasks and built to quickly understand and act on different types of information — including text, images, audio, video and code. One of the first ways you’ll be able to try Gemini Ultra is through Bard Advanced, a new, cutting-edge AI experience in Bard that gives you access to our best models and capabilities,” Google said.
Apple extends agreement with Qualcomm for 5G modem chips until 2027: Report
Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon in an interview with CNBC has confirmed that Apple has agreed to extend its patent licence agreement related to 5G modem through March 2027. Last year, Apple extended the agreement for using Qualcomm’s 5G modems until 2026 which has now been extended further until 2027. Amon in his interview with CNBC said that after last year’s deal, Apple had an option to extend the deal further, which they have until March 2027. “We are very happy with the relationship with Apple right now, and we will continue to be supplying modems to them,” said Amon. Apple has been working on developing in-house modems since 2019 when the Cupertino-based company acquired the majority of Intel's smartphone modem business. However, there have been news reports alleging that Apple's attempt to produce in-house 5G modem chips has been hampered by major problems related to unrealistic goals, an inadequate understanding of the challenges involved, and unusable prototypes. Last month, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that Apple has shifted its attention to focus on the 6G cellular modem, while continuing to work on its first 5G modem chip. According to the analyst, Apple is racing to get its modem finished so it does not need to extend a contract with Qualcomm. He stated that the two companies have feuded over the years, and Apple really does not want to rely on Qualcomm for this vital iPhone component.Apple is yet to comment on the deal with Qualcomm, but with the new contract extension in place, it is highly likely that Apple’s attempt of producing in-house modem chips have been hindered further.
Xiaomi Rises to the Top as Smartphone Shipments to India Increase 25% YoY in Q4 2023: Counterpoint
According to a recent report by market research firm Counterpoint, smartphone shipments in India increased by a noteworthy 25 percent year-over-year (YoY) for the October–December period (Q4) in 2023. For the first time since Q3 2022, Xiaomi took the top spot during the quarter with 18% of the market share. The accomplishment was made possible by the company's entry into the low-cost 5G market with the Redmi 13C. Vivo held onto the second position, with Samsung falling to third after dominating the market for four straight quarters. Realme and Oppo, two Chinese smartphone manufacturers, took fourth and fifth place, respectively.One of the main drivers of the growth in the quarter, according to Counterpoint's report, was the 61 percent contribution from 5G smartphones. Notably, 24% of all smartphone shipments were made up of 5G phones priced between Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 15, 000. There was also a 51% increase in the premium smartphone market. Due to the release of the iPhone 15 series, Apple dominated the market with a 17 percent share. When comparing brands among the top five positions, Xiaomi emerged as the market leader with an 18% market share. For the second quarter in a row, Vivo maintained its impressive second place ranking and gained 17 percent of the smartphone market. Samsung only managed to secure 16.8% of the market share in third place, despite having a strong Q3 performance in which it led the industry. At number four with an 11 percent market share, Realme was present. With a 69 percent YoY growth, the company was the fastest-growing brand, according to the report. Oppo maintained its fifth-place position with a 10 percent share of the market. A different Counterpoint report noted that even with a strong quarter, the overall picture for smartphone shipments in India in 2023 stayed unchanged at 152 million units. The market research firm attributed the lack of growth to issues arising from macroeconomic turbulence, which led to low demand and an inventory build-up in the first half of 2023. The report also stated, "Better-than-expected holiday sales and 5G upgrades helped the market start recovering in the second half of the year." After capturing 18% of the market as a result of its impressive performance in the first three quarters, Samsung emerged as the market leader in 2023. Since 2017, this is the first time the South Korean tech giant has taken the lead in a calendar year. Notably, the business debuted the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 in 2023 along with the Samsung Galaxy S23 series. Vivo, with a 17 percent share, continued to perform steadily and held the second position. The next three positions were occupied by Chinese smartphone brands Xiaomi, Realme, and Oppo, with respective market shares of 16.5%, 12%, and 10.5%. Although Apple did not place among the top five in shipments, it led the category when revenue crossed the ten million mark for the first time in a calendar year.
iPhone 16 may not feature any major design changes, bring new gen AI features
It's only been a few months since Apple unveiled the iPhone 15 series at its Wonderlust event in California. However, there have been a lot of rumours about the iPhone 16. The iPhone 16, like other iPhone models before it, is expected to debut in September this year.According to a recent post by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo on Medium, Apple is unlikely to make any major design changes to the iPhone 16 this year. Furthermore, the company is not expected to make any major generative AI-based changes to its ecosystem until at least the launch of iPhone 17 in 2025. “It is expected that Apple will not launch new iPhone models with significant design changes and the more comprehensive/differentiated GenAI ecosystem/applications until 2025 at the earliest. Until then, it will likely harm Apple’s iPhone shipment momentum and ecosystem growth." Kuo wrote in a blogpost. Notably, previous reports have suggested that the iPhone 16 may follow a similar camera design to the iPhone 12, which isn't likely to be a major design change and seems compatible with the usual changes Apple makes every year.Other rumours about the iPhone 16 include the addition of a dedicated camera button, which will make it easier to take videos and photos. The iPhone 16 Pro series is also expected to have a larger display than the current generation, with the iPhone 16 likely to have a 6.3-inch display and the 16 Pro a 6.9-inch display.Kuo's blog post noted that Apple is likely to see a decline in iPhone shipments in 2024, due to the increasing demand for AI and foldable smartphones. Meanwhile, Kuo added that the decline in iPhone shipments in China could be a direct result of competition from Huawei.
Room Heaters Under Rs 2,000 To Keep Your Home Warm And Cosy
As temperatures drop, keeping our homes warm and cosy becomes a top priority. Room heaters offer a convenient solution, providing warmth and comfort during chilly days and nights. However, finding an efficient and budget-friendly room heater can be challenging, especially with so many options available in the market. Fortunately, there are several affordable room heaters priced under Rsafety. 0 that effectively heat small to medium-sized rooms without breaking the bank.In this article, you can check out some of the best room heaters available under Rs 2,000, ensuring that you can stay snug and comfortable without exceeding your budget. Bajaj RHX-2 Halogen Heater: The Bajaj RHX-2 halogen heater comes with two halogen tubes and high-quality reflectors to provide consistent and effective heating. It offers two heat settings, 400W and 800W, allowing users to adjust the temperature according to their preference. Moreover, it includes a sturdy mesh grill for hand safety from direct heat exposure, while its robust outer body is constructed from durable ABS material to ensure longevity.RR Calid Halogen Room Heater 1200 W: The room heater functions silently, delivering ample warmth without producing any noise. Its 180-degree oscillation ensures uniform heat dispersion across the room by moving from side to side, effectively covering a larger area. Additionally, the heater includes tip-over protection, ensuring automatic shutdown if accidentally knocked over for added safety.Crompton Insta Comfy 800 Watt Room Heater: The heater features a high-quality plastic body that remains cool even during operation. Its advanced Quartz tubes heat up rapidly, ensuring faster dispersion of warmth. Moreover, the inclusion of two advanced quartz tubes, each with a power of 400 W, enables you to adjust the heat level according to your preference.
From February 1, You Can Send More Money Through IMPS: Key Details
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) announced new changes for the Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) online bank transaction system in October 2023. As per NPCI’s circular shared in October, customers will be able to transfer up to Rs 5 lakh between bank accounts without adding a beneficiary starting February 1. The regulatory body has also asked all members to comply with the directive for initiating and accepting fund transfers via mobile number and bank name on all IMPS channels by January 31.What is IMPSIMPS is a 24x7 instant domestic funds transfer system. This online bank account transfer system has played a crucial role in transforming the financial landscape of India. To ensure both accuracy and speed, it facilitates real-time fund transfers with a deferred net settlement between banks. How this will help usersWith the new changes implemented, users will soon be able to transfer up to Rs 5 lakh using IMPS. For such transactions, users won’t need to input recipient details like mobile numbers, bank account names, account numbers or IFSC codes.The recent update is set to eliminate the need for users to input tedious beneficiary details during transactions. Users will be able to execute fund transfers with a simplified process that only requires the recipient's mobile number and bank name.
