Top Trending Gadgets News & Highlights
Before its launch in India, the Realme 12 5G was teased with a dynamic button.
On March 6, the Realme 12 5G is expected to debut in India. It will be released in the nation concurrently with the recently unveiled Realme 12+ 5G model in a few markets. Pre-orders for both phones were made available by the company last week. Prior to the models' release in India, Realme has also disclosed a few of their most important features. The Realme 12 5G's design, camera, and color options have been verified. There are now hints that the phones will have a dynamic button.On March 6, the Realme 12 5G is expected to debut in India. It will be unveiled in the nation concurrently with the Realme 12 5G, which has been hinted at to feature a Dynamic Button that functions similarly to Apple's Action Button. According to the teaser, the button can be used to access a number of custom actions that control various features, including the flashlight, do not disturb (DND) mode, silent mode, airplane mode, shutter on the camera, and more. This has a similar purpose to Apple's Action button, which lets users personalize which actions activate the flashlight, camera, focus modes, and other features. The button, which is located on the right edge beneath the volume rocker, has not been given any information by the company.The Realme 12+ 5G variant,The Realme 12 5G will have a 108-megapixel primary sensor with a 3x in-sensor zoom, as the company had previously confirmed. It has also been hinted at in a purple hue. Large circular rear camera modules are featured in the teasers, which also feature designs similar to those of the Realme 12+ 5G, Realme 12 Pro 5G, and Realme 12 Pro+ 5G.In India, the Realme 12 5G and Realme 12+ 5G will go on sale simultaneously. It is anticipated that the phone's Plus version will resemble its international counterpart. The company has stated that the MediaTek Dimensity 7050 SoC, a 120Hz AMOLED display with rainwater smart technology, and a 50-megapixel Sony LYT-600 OIS-supported primary camera will be included in the Indian version.
Published 04 Mar 2024 05:48 PM
Global Release of Xiaomi 14 With Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC and Leica Adapted Cameras
The Xiaomi 14 was released worldwide on Sunday, February 25, one day prior to the start of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024 in Barcelona. The flagship phone from the Chinese company has an LTPO AMOLED display with a 120Hz dynamic refresh rate and is powered by Qualcomm's most recent Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. The Leica-branded triple rear camera unit with a Summilux lens is a feature of the Xiaomi 14. The phone is compatible with 90W HyperCharge wired charging and has an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. Alongside the Xiaomi 14 Pro, the Xiaomi 14 was introduced in China last year. The Xiaomi 14's single 12GB RAM + 512GB storage model is priced at €999. It is available in White, Jade Green, and Black colors. According to reports, the phone will cost less after bank offers and will retail for less than Rs. 75,000 in India. On March 7, Xiaomi 14 is expected to officially launch in the Indian market. In addition to being offered for sale on Flipkart, it will be sold on Amazon. It is anticipated that the Indian version will have comparable specs to the international version. With an adaptive refresh rate ranging from 1Hz to 120Hz and a 6.36-inch LTPO AMOLED (1,200x2,670 pixels) display with 460ppi pixel density, the Xiaomi 14 dual SIM (nano +e-SIM) runs on the HyperOS interface, which is based on Android 14. The screen is rated to provide up to 240Hz touch sampling rate, support for HDR10+, and a peak brightness of 3,000 nits. Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection is applied to the screen, and 3D curved glass is coated on the back. It is powered by a 4nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, coupled with 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage.
Published 26 Feb 2024 10:42 AM
Launch Date of OnePlus Watch 2 in India
Prior to its eagerly anticipated launch at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024, the OnePlus Watch 2 has been unveiled. According to the company, it will debut on February 26 at 8:30 p.m. IST (4:00 p.m. CET). Three years have passed since the 2021 launch of the OnePlus Watch, the smartwatch's predecessor. The consumer tech brand did disclose some information about its design and battery life, but not many important specifications. Unusual for OnePlus, a community post on the company's website disclosed the launch date and gave a sneak peek at a few of the Watch 2's features. A pre-reserve pass has been used to open early reservations, and a microsite for the smartwatch has also been developed. As of the writing of this article, all 1500 of the passes were sold out. The OnePlus Watch 2's sapphire crystal glass and stainless steel chassis were highlighted in the announcement post. There will be two color options: radiant steel and black steel. The smartwatch will have up to 100 hours of battery life in "full Smart Mode," according to the company. If accurate, this will surpass the battery life of the Apple Watch Series 9, which in our review we discovered to provide about 2.5 days when in low-power mode. Since the post mentioned recently released products like the foldable OnePlus Open, OnePlus Buds Pro 2, and OnePlus Tab, some attention was also paid to ecosystem building. But no mention of ecosystem features was made. Additionally, the term "meticulous health monitoring" surfaced, suggesting that there may be significant improvements to the health tracking system. Some more important details about the upcoming smartwatch have leaked according to earlier reports. The Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 chipset and a 1.43-inch AMOLED display are possible features of the OnePlus Watch 2. Although Wear OS is anticipated to run on it, it is unknown if Wear OS 3 or Wear OS 4 will be used. To confirm that it might be available in India at the same time as its global launch, a landing page has also been created on Amazon mentioning the same launch date and time.
Published 22 Feb 2024 02:29 AM
Launch Date of Realme 12+ 5G in India
The Realme 12+ 5G will go on sale in India the following month, the company said on Wednesday. The smartphone's back camera has also been made public by the company, which claims that it will be the first in its price range to launch in the nation with a 50-megapixel Sony LYT-600 sensor that features optical image stabilization (OIS). The Realme 12+ 5G's alleged retail boxes were leaked by a tipster earlier this week, and the company hinted at the release of a new phone.Meanwhile, tipster Ishan Agarwal released a picture of the alleged retail box of the Realme 12+ earlier this week via X (previously Twitter). According to the box, the smartphone will have an AMOLED screen with a refresh rate of 120 Hz and be powered by MediaTek's Dimensity 7050 chip. Also, according to the leaked picture of the Realme 12+ 5G retail box, the phone will have a 5,000mAh battery that supports 67W wired charging. Additionally, it was disclosed that the smartphone will have a Sony LYT-600 sensor with OIS; the business has verified this information. The price of the smartphone is blurred on the part of the box where the sticker is located. Some of the Realme 12+ 5G's specifications have already leaked online, providing fans with a preview of what to anticipate from the upcoming phone. A 50-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 2-megapixel macro camera are reportedly part of the phone's triple camera setup. It is anticipated to include a 6.7-inch full-HD+ (1,080 x 2,400 pixels) AMOLED screen, up to 1TB of internal storage, and up to 16GB of RAM.
Published 22 Feb 2024 02:24 AM
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.
How to Revolutionize Your Company Using Facebook Advertising.
Facebook provides advertisers with a range of ad formats to select from when promoting content on the network. Depending on the target demographics and campaign goals, choosing the appropriate ad format can assist increase engagement and conversions. An overview of the primary Facebook ad formats that will be accessible to marketers in 2024 is given in this article. Popular choices including carousels, collections, slideshows, narratives, and more are covered. Facebook has a large user base and precise targeting capabilities, so having a high-level grasp of the formats can assist guide efficient ad tactics.Facebook Ads Content Guidelines Facebook has tight guidelines that all ads, regardless of format, have to abide by. These rules are essential for legal and successful Facebook advertisements. The primary goals of the standards are to stop misleading, improper, or damaging advertising experiences. Important prerequisites consist of: Advertisements are not allowed to make unfounded claims or to be deceptive. Advertisements have to be appropriate for the audience's age and geography. Images, videos, and other content must have the appropriate rights to be utilized. Political advertisements, regulated sectors, and product rules need to be adhered to. Certain restrictions forbid statements about one's bad self-perception, vulgarity, nudity, and COVID-19 disinformation. Ads concerning cryptocurrencies, dating, gaming, alcohol, and other topics are likewise subject to restrictions.
Why Are They Hurrying To Purchase This Chic New SmartWatch? The Incredible Health Benefits
The smartwatch industry was dominated for a long time by a small number of powerful companies that were able to set their own prices and continue to defraud consumers. However, a new tech startup is upending the $45 billion smartwatch market. Even the biggest tech geeks agree that CrossFit Watch has figured out a way to offer a far superior product at a fraction of the cost.With the CrossFit Watch, you can get the advantages of a hands-free headset, digital watch, fitness band, and health monitor all in one. It is pleasant to wear around the wrist. Superior to a few of the high-end smartwatches I own from other major tech brands. strenuous exercise and outdoor activities? No worries, even if you try to scratch or break the tempered touchscreen glass or the hardened aluminum shell, it won't break. The CrossFit Watch, in my opinion, is the smartwatch of the future.
Apple Reduces Prices On The iPhone 15 In China With An Unusual Discount.
Hong Kong: In response to increasing competitive pressure in the largest smartphone market in the world, Apple is offering unusual discounts on its iPhones in China, slashing retail prices by as much as 500 yuan ($70). On Monday, the US tech giant's Chinese website displayed a 5% price reduction on select iPhone models. The time-limited promotion, branded as a Lunar New Year event, will last from January 18 through January 21 in a lead-up to the holiday in mid-February. In China, sales of Apple's most recent iPhone 15 series of phones have been significantly lower than those of earlier models.Local competitors like Xiaomi and Huawei Technologies provide competitive models, and according to sources, some businesses and government agencies have been restricting employees' use of Apple devices, which is similar to the US government's ban on Chinese apps due to security concerns. According to a client note from Jefferies analysts, Chinese iPhone sales fell 30% in the first week of 2024 compared to the same period the previous year. Sales had already decreased 3% for the entire year of 2023. Analysts predict that this year will see more competition. For years, Apple has not lowered the cost of its most recent iPhone models. The cuts come after it surprised the market by not raising prices for the iPhone 15 series at its September launch.
Samsung unveils the new Galaxy S24 lineup, which includes AI-powered search and photo-editing capabilities.
Unexpectedly, Samsung unveiled its new flagship Galaxy S24 smartphone lineup on Wednesday, showcasing cutting-edge AI capabilities as the company aims to start 2024 strong. There are three versions of the S24 range available: the S24, S24+, and S24 Ultra, as is currently the norm with Samsung's flagship line. The S24 Ultra starts at a price of $1,300, the S24+ will cost $1,000, and the S24 will retail at $800.Before the announcement, the South Korean electronics behemoth unveiled the new devices at its Kings Cross offices in London earlier this week. During a press briefing, Samsung showcased the phone's artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, demonstrating its ability to alter photos and perform object searches. Samsung is utilizing an optimized version of Qualcomm's most recent Snapdragon Series 8 Gen 3 for use with its flagship S24 Ultra, the company's largest of the three smartphones with punchier specs and features. For its S24 and S24+ models, the company uses a combination of internal Exynos chipset and Qualcomm systems-on-chips (SoCs).
Once more, Apple is not allowed to sell watches with blood oxygen sensors in the United States.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit announced on Thursday that Apple will once more be prohibited from selling watches equipped with blood oxygen sensors. Apple's attempt to overturn an ITC ban on the company selling the impacted watches in the US was not addressed by the court order issued on Wednesday. However, while that appeal is pending, it lifted an injunction that had prevented the ban from going into effect. An intellectual property dispute with the medical device company Masimo is the reason for the ban. In October, the International Trade Commission found that Apple’s blood oxygen sensors had infringed on Masimo’s intellectual property.During Wednesday afternoon trading, Apple shares saw a slight decline. Apple is not allowed to import the aforementioned devices, which include the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2. Retailers who still have the impacted watches in stock may continue to sell them, but Apple decided in December to temporarily remove them from both its online and physical stores. Earlier this week, court filings suggested that Apple had received approval from U.S. Customs for a modified version of its Apple Watches that lack the blood oxygen feature and therefore no longer infringe on Masimo’s intellectual property. It could open a path for a modified Apple Watch to return to U.S. store shelves. An Apple representative earlier this week declined to comment on the Customs decision.After turning down a partnership, Masimo had claimed that Apple had stolen some of its top executives and replicated its technology. Last month, Masimo CEO Joe Kiani told CNBC that his company is willing to reach a settlement with Apple. If Apple must continue to keep its latest smartwatches from U.S. stores, it could complicate repairs at Apple stores, which often swap broken devices with replacements. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the denial.
This soil-powered fuel cell, according to scientists, can "run forever."
A group out of Northwestern University in Illinois has created a novel fuel cell that they say can draw energy from soil-dwelling microorganisms. The fuel, which is about the size of a book, may be utilized to power subterranean sensors for precision farming and green infrastructure. It might develop into a viable, renewable replacement for batteries made of hazardous, flammable chemicals that seep into the earth when buried. Additionally, the resources needed to make batteries are obtained through supply chains impacted by conflict and add to the waste generated by electronics.The new fuel cell was tested by the researchers by powering touch and soil moisture sensor sensors. The results were published in the Proceedings of the Association for Computing Machinery on Interactive, Mobile, Wearable, and Ubiquitous Technologies. One can track passing animals with the former capability. In order to relay data to a nearby base station by reflecting pre-existing radio frequency signals, the researchers additionally equipped the soil-powered sensor with a tiny antenna. “The number of devices in the Internet of Things (IoT) is constantly growing. Even if we envision a world where trillions of these devices exist, we are unable to construct each and every one of them using hazardous materials like heavy metals, lithium, and environmental pollutants. We need to find alternatives that can provide low amounts of energy to power a decentralized network of devices. In a search for solutions, we looked to soil microbial fuel cells, which use special microbes to break down soil and use that low amount of energy to power sensors. As long as there is organic carbon in the soil for the microbes to break down, the fuel cell can potentially last forever,” said Northwestern alumnus Bill Yen, who led the work, in
The Rabbit R1 is a tiny device that can be used for any purpose.
The R1, a tiny pocket-sized AI-powered gadget created by a startup called Rabbit, may one day be able to take the place of your smartphone. The square device has a rotating camera that can take back-and-forth photos and videos in addition to a 2.88-inch LCD touchscreen. Additionally, the R1 comes with a clickable scroll wheel that allows you to interact with the built-in voice assistant and navigate the user interface. The device, which was created in partnership with Teenage Engineering, resembles a half-flip phone but uses voice commands to operate instead of apps, akin to Humane AI Pins.The gadget also has a speaker and two microphones. Like the Humane AI Pin, you can use the Rabbit R1 to interact by holding down the "Push-to-talk" button, which activates the device's built-in voice assistant and allows you to ask any question you have without using an app. Similar to Humane, Rabbit brags that the R1 has a "all day" battery, but it withholds information regarding its capacity.In a video demo, company CEO Jesse Lyu says that the Rabbit R1 is powered by an in-house developed operating system called RabbitOS that uses a ‘Large Action Model’ instead of a large language model like ChatGPT. He says that they wanted to “find a universal solution that can trigger services”
Amazon's Great Republic Day Sale 2024: The Best Offers on Wireless Charging and Power Banks
For a few more hours, Amazon's Great Republic Day Sale 2024 will be offering discounts on a variety of electronic products. For all Amazon India customers, the sale began on January 13 and would last for a week. In addition to savings on smartphones, tablets, and laptops, the Great Republic Day Sale features promotions on popular brand power banks and chargers for mobile accessories. Additional discounts on a selection of devices bought through the online marketplace are offered by bank offers as well. Additionally, customers can use coupons to receive discounts.Customers of State Bank of India (SBI) can receive extra instant discounts on purchases made with their cards and EMI options, up to a maximum of 10%. Amazon is providing bundled offers that include free EMI payment options and exchange. Meanwhile, Flipkart is also running a discount sale, which means you should compare prices across both platforms to ensure the best deal. Power banks and wireless chargers that will simplify and enhance your travel experience, such as those from Ambrane and Mi, are available on Amazon during the Great Republic Day Sale at reasonable prices. The price of Xiaomi's Power Bank 3i has dropped from Rs. 2,199 to Rs. 1,899 at this time. Additionally, interested customers can receive discounts of up to Rs. 300 when making purchases with EMI and SBI cards. Amazon Pay ICICI credit card users can avail of Rs. 300 cashback as well. The Xiaomi Power Bank 3i packs a large 20,000mAh lithium polymer battery and supports Quick Charge 3.0. Similarly, Portronics's Freedom Fold 15W wireless charger is available for Rs. 799, down from Rs. 1,999.
US Pre-Orders for the Apple Vision Pro begin on January 19 and the device will go on sale on February 2.
"The Vision Pro, Apple's first mixed reality headset, will go on sale in the US in February, the company said on Tuesday. On January 19, preorders for the headset will go live. The headset will be available at all US Apple Store locations as well as through the company's web store. The Apple Vision Pro was announced in June last year at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2023. The headset supports both augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies and runs on the visionOS operating system. On February 2, the company officially announced on its newsroom website that the Apple Vision Pro would go on sale in the United States. The US Apple Store online and at all of its physical locations will both sell it. At the company's retail locations, customers can register to test the headset out for themselves. The gadget will go up for preorder on January 19 at 5:00 am PST (6.30 pm IST).With 256GB of storage, the Apple Vision Pro starts at $3,499, or approximately Rs. 2,90,000. A Solo Knit Band and a Dual Loop Band are included with the device. A polishing cloth, a battery, a USB Type-C cable, a Light Seal, and two Light Seal Cushions are also included in the package. "ZEISS Optical Inserts are available as readers that magnetically attach to Vision Pro or with a prescription for people who need vision correction. According to Apple, readers will run you $99, or about Rs. 8,000, while prescription lenses will set you back $149, or about Rs. 12,000, for them. For nations other than the US, the Apple Vision Pro's release date and price have not yet been disclosed. The company first entered the spatial computing space with the release of the Apple Vision Pro, which was unveiled at last year's WWDC event in June. It has two high-resolution micro-OLED displays and is powered by visionOS. With an R1 chip to handle input from 12 cameras, 5 sensors, and 6 microphones, it runs on Apple's M2 chips. With its three-dimensional user interface, the headset
Xiaomi 15 Series Tipped to Run on Qualcomms Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 SoC
Xiaomi 14 series with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC and HyperOS operating system was launched in Chinese markets in October last year. They are yet to make their India debut, but ahead of it, rumours about the next-generation flagship smartphones from Xiaomi have already started surfacing online. The Xiaomi 15 series is tipped to be powered by next-generation Qualcomm flagship processor. The Xiaomi 15 and Xiaomi 15 Pro are said to go official in September. Tipster Smart Pikachu (translated from Chinese) on Weibo claimed that the Xiaomi 15 series will be equipped with Qualcomm's unannounced Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 SoC. The displays of the purported devices are said to offer a 1.5K resolution. The Xiaomi 14 series was the first handset to feature Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. Previous leaks suggested that mass production of the Xiaomi 15 lineup will kick off in September. The regular model is expected to retain a flat display and have the same screen size as the Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 13. The Xiaomi 15 Pro is rumoured to come with a slightly curved 2K display with 0.6 mm narrow bezels. Since there's no official announcement from Xiaomi about the 15 series yet, these details should be taken with a pinch of salt. Xiaomi's 14 and Xiaomi 14 Pro were launched in China in October. The price of Xiaomi 14 Pro starts at CNY 4,999 (roughly Rs. 56,500) for the 12GB + 256GB RAM and storage model whereas the Xiaomi 14 is priced at CNY 3,999 (roughly Rs. 50,000) for the 8GB + 256GB RAM and storage variant. There is no official word yet on their debut in markets outside China. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC powers Xiaomi's 14 series. They run on Xiaomi's HyperOS interface and feature up to 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. They also have an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. The Xiaomi 14 series has LTPO OLED displays with up to 2K resolution and 120Hz dynamic refresh rate. They have a Leica-tuned triple rear camera setup as well.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review: The most feature packed flagship
Over the past couple of years, Samsung has consistently launched flagship devices at the beginning of the year, and these devices often maintain their top positions in the market throughout the year. The latest addition to this trend is the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, unveiled at the global 'Galaxy Unpacked' event in San Jose. After using the device for the past 10 days, it has left a positive impression. The device is priced at ₹1,29,999, slightly higher than last year's S23 Ultra. But is it worth the investment? Let's delve into the details. I have hands-on experience with previous Ultra models, including the Note series, and the S24 Ultra has made significant advancements. Samsung has slimmed down the sides for this year's model, making it a delight to hold. The titanium frame adds a touch of sophistication, and the phone feels slightly lighter compared to last year's device. On the right edge, you'll find the power and volume buttons, while the bottom edge features the lone USB-C port and a slot for the S Pen. The S Pen employs the tried-and-tested push mechanism for easy ejection, making it convenient to grab even when not directly looking at the screen. Despite its lightweight feel, the stylus appears to be durable. The S Pen is very responsive to the S24 Ultra's display. I appreciate its versatility for note-taking, colouring, drawing, and the added functionality of using the S Pen button as a remote camera shutter. The phone features a 120 Hz adaptive refresh rate and a 6.80-inch touchscreen display, protected by Gorilla Glass Armor. Let’s just say the 6.8-inch 1440 x 3120 OLED screen is the centrepiece of the S24 Ultra. It is perfectly sharp and crisp and with the huge screen, the viewing experience is delightful. The display is exceptionally bright, providing no difficulty in reading emails and messages outdoors, even under direct sunlight. With a brightness of 2,600 nits, a 40% upgrade over the S23 Ultra, and the added protection of Gorilla Glass Armor with an effective anti-reflective coating, the S24 Ultra's screen ensures both durability and visual clarity.
Amazons video advertisement push aims to turn TVs into shopping carts
Amazon.com Inc., joining streaming peers like Netflix, Disney and Peacock, will start running ads on its US Prime Video service on Monday. Beside generating new revenue for its $50 billion-plus advertising business, the e-commerce giant is betting it can persuade viewers to shop from their televisions. For decades, TV commercials have inspired and influenced future buying decisions rather than impulse purchases, and that hasn’t changed in the streaming era. Flo from Progressive still dukes it out with Geico’s gecko to peddle car insurance. She’s just increasingly seen on YouTube or Hulu rather than NBC. Amazon has the potential to upend the status quo because it’s the world’s largest online retailer, with detailed shopping profiles on Prime Video viewers. The company has an unrivaled delivery network that can ship millions products to much of the US population in a day or less. That combination could make the living room TV screen more than a place to spotlight brands. It could compel people to make purchases via smartphones, remote controls or voice-activated devices. “Prime Video might be Amazon’s best hope to make shoppable TV actually happen,” said Sky Canaves, an analyst at Insider Intelligence in New York. “Shoppable video ads will be part of its strategy to get brands that are already selling products on Amazon to advertise on Prime Video.” Selling billions of dollars in advertising will be the easy part. Brands for years have been shifting their marketing budgets from traditional TV to streaming services, and Amazon is offering low rates to reach a US audience second only to Netflix Inc. But training viewers to use their televisions as shopping carts and compelling advertisers to rethink an 80-year-old format will take time and effort—and could well fail as it has so many times before. Prime subscribers will see commercials in movies and TV shows unless they choose to pay an extra $3 a month for an ad-free service. In an effort to avoid alienating viewers, Amazon plans to air fewer ads than linear television and other streaming providers. (The company prohibits election and alcohol commercials.) In part because the video service is included in a Prime subscription that offers speedy shipping, music and other perks, most viewers are expected to accept the ads without much protest. Bank of America analysts estimate that 70% of Prime subscribers will opt to watch commercials rather than pay the extra fee to avoid them.
Apple opens iPhone ecosystem in EU: What it means for consumers, developers
Apple has announced that it will bring changes to iOS, Safari browser, and the App Store in the European Union (EU) to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA). With the new changes, iPhone users in the EU will get access to third-party App marketplaces, ability to change default browser, and set preferred payment method other than Apple’s for in-app purchases. Apple said the new changes will be limited to the 27 EU member countries and will roll out with the iOS 17.4 update in March. Here is a roundup of the changes coming to Apple iPhone platformplatform. With the iOS 17.4 update, users in the EU will get the option to install apps from a third-party app stores that Apple is calling “alternative app marketplaces”. Users will be able to download alternative app stores from the respective developer’s website. Apple said, the alternate app marketplaces can install and support software on iOS devices, access data across a catalogue of apps, manage user’s purchases and subscriptions, and more. However, developers managing these app marketplaces would need to meet Apple’s “Notarization” requirements, like other iOS apps. Apple said notarization is its review system for apps that ensure that the iOS apps are free of known malware, viruses, or other security threats. It includes a combination of automated checks and human review. Notarized apps will undergo checks during installation to check for user’s authorisation. If the app fails to comply with the Notarization regulations, the app will be prevented from launching and new installations will be halted.With the update, users will be able to manage the list of allowed app stores and installed apps from settings. Removing a third party app store will prevent app installations and updates from the developer’s website. Users can also set a third-party app store as their default app installation source.
Tecno Spark 20 Key Specifications, Price Teased via Amazon Microsite Ahead of Debut
"Tecno Spark 20 is set to debut in India soon and the company has started to tease the key specifications of the smartphone via a microsite on Amazon. The firm has also suggested the price of the handset in India and its colour options. The Tecno Spark 20 will also be equipped with the company's Dynamic Port feature — an Android implementation of Apple's Dynamic Island on its latest iPhone models. It has an IP53 rating for dust and splash resistance. A microsite for the Tecno Spark 20 on Amazon claims that the handset will be priced under Rs. 10,499 as the company claims it will offer a set of specifications in that price segment. The phone will be available in Cyber White, Gravity Black, Magic Skin Blue, and Neon Gold colour options. The price of the Tecno Spark 20 is expected to be announced by the company in the coming days, when the phone is launched in the country. The microsite also teases some of the key specifications of the Tecno Spark 20. It will be equipped with a MediaTek Helio G85 chipset paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of inbuilt storage. The Tecno Spark 20 will also feature an LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh rate and the company's Dynamic Port feature for notifications and other animations, built around the selfie camera. According to the company, the Tecno Spark 20 will be equipped with a 50-megapixel rear camera and a 32-megapixel selfie camera. Both the rear and front-facing cameras are accompanied by an LED flash. The fingerprint and volume buttons are located on the right edge of the phone, while the SIM tray is found on the left edge.The handset will also feature a dedicated microSD card slot that allows the inbuilt storage to be expanded up to 1TB. It will have stereo speakers with DTS audio. The Tecno Spark 20 also features an IP53 rating for dust and splash resistance, according to the company. "
Infinix Smart 8 Pro With 50-Megapixel Camera, 5,000mAh Battery Launched
"Infinix Smart 8 Pro has been silently launched by the company. The latest addition to the Smart 8 series is equipped with a 50-megapixel rear camera and sports a 6.6-inch IPS LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 500 nits. It is powered by a MediaTek Helio G36 SoC paired with up to 8GB of RAM and runs on Android 13 (Go edition). The handset packs a 5,000mAh battery that can be charged at 10W. While the company is yet to reveal the price of the Infinix Smart 8 Pro, the details of the smartphone published on Infinix's website confirm that the handset will be available with 4GB or 8GB of RAM, and 64GB or 128GB of inbuilt storage. It will go on sale in Galaxy White, Rainbow Blue, Shiny Gold, and Timber Black colour options. We can expect to hear more about pricing and availability of the handset in the coming days. The dual SIM (Nano) Infinix Smart 8 Pro runs on Android 13 (Go edition) out-of-the-box. It sports a 6.66-inch HD+ (720x1,612 pixels) IPS LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh rate and 500 nits of peak brightness. The phone is powered by a Mediatek Helio G36 chipset, paired with up to 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM. Infinix has equipped the Smart 8 Pro with a 50-megapixel rear camera with an f/1.85 aperture, along with an unspecified AI lens with an f/2.0 aperture that might be used to collect depth information. On the front, the phone has an 8-megapixel selfie camera. You get up to 128GB of storage on the Infinix Smart 8 Pro that can be expanded up to 2TB via a microSD card slot. Connectivity options on the handset include 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5, a USB Type-C port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Sensors on board include a gyroscope, e-compass, accelerometer, ambient light sensor, and a proximity sensor. The phone is equipped with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for biometric authentication. It packs a 5,000mAh battery with support for 10W wired charging. The Infinix Smart 8 Pro measures 163.60x75.60x8.5mm and weighs 189g."
Fossil exits smartwatch market, ceding ground to tech giants
American watchmaker Fossil Group has decided to stop producing smartwatches, ending its years-long endeavour of bringing stylish tech timepieces to the market. The company said on Friday that its latest Gen 6 watch using Google’s Wear OS software will be its final release in the smartwatch category. Fossil’s exit comes as the landscape has evolved, with tech giants like Google and Samsung taking over with their own branded devices. “We have made the strategic decision to exit the smartwatch business and redirect resources to our core strengths,” a spokesperson for the Texas-based firm told reporters. Fossil’s sub-brands like Michael Kors, Skagen, and Diesel will also discontinue smartwatches. The company said it will provide support for existing models for a few more years. Fossil was one of the few traditional watchmakers trying to adapt to the new smartwatch trend over the past decade, even as big players ignored the struggling Wear OS platform. But the category finally gained momentum in 2021 when Google and Samsung partnered on a major software update. Industry analysts say Fossil struggled to compete with the tech giants’ marketing power and resources. The company had not released a new smartwatch model since 2021, already signaling its retreat. Fossil provided a unique focus on fashionable design in the smartwatch space. With its exit, there is an opening for other players to fill the void in sleek, designer tech watches. For now, Fossil says it will concentrate on its traditional watches, jewelry and leather goods. Even as smartwatches go mainstream, old-school timepieces still make up the vast majority of Fossil’s business.
‘Hot garbage’ and ‘total farce:’ Apple’s new App Store policies trigger strong reactions
Apple recently announced changes to its App Store policies in Europe to comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act. The new rules will allow sideloading and alternative app stores in Europe, as well as third-party payment systems. This has drawn mixed reactions from companies and developers who have long criticised Apple’s walled-garden approach. “We are still reviewing the technical details but are extremely disappointed with Apple’s proposed plan to restrict the newly-announced BrowserEngineKit to EU-specific apps,” Mozilla spokesperson Damiano DeMonte told The Verge. “The effect of this would be to force an independent browser like Firefox to build and maintain two separate browser implementations — a burden Apple themselves will not have to bear.” Mozilla argues that having to maintain an EU-only version of Firefox on iOS creates unnecessary complexity. “Apple’s proposals fail to give consumers viable choices by making it as painful as possible for others to provide competitive alternatives to Safari,” DeMonte added. “This is another example of Apple creating barriers to prevent true browser competition on iOS.”Music streaming service Spotify had harsh words for Apple’s plan. In a post on its website, Spotify said “As Apple has just shown the world, they don’t think the rules apply to them. Apple is nothing if not consistent. While they have behaved badly for years, this takes the level of arrogance to an entirely new place.”Spotify took particular issue with the new €0.50 fee Apple will charge developers for each annual install after 1 million downloads. “From our read of Apple’s proposal, a developer would have to pay this fee even if a user downloaded the app, never used it and forgot to delete it,” Spotify wrote. The post called the changes a “complete and total farce” and extortion. Spotify CEO Daniel Ek also stated with a post on X that the company cannot afford the new fees if it wants to be profitable.
Google Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro Get New Mint Colour Option; Available in Only 128GB Variant
Google Pixel 8 series has been launched in a new colourway. After teasing the new colour option last week, Google announced the availability of the Google Pixel 8 and the Pixel 8 Pro in a new Mint colour. This is the fourth colour option for both handsets. In October 2023, the Pixel 8 was launched in Hazel, Obsidian, and Rose colourways, whereas the Pixel 8 Pro was offered in Bay, Obsidian, and Porcelain colourways. The price of the new Mint colour is the same as other colour variants. Last week, Google posted a binary code along with a video of a mint green colour splash on the Pixel 8 Pro on its social media handles. The binary code translated to “fresh year, fresh drop,” hinting at the new colour option. Interestingly, the new colour option will only be available in the 128GB inbuilt storage variant for both Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. The higher storage variants will only be available in the original colour options. In India, the Mint colour option is only available on the vanilla Pixel 8. It can be purchased through Flipkart. The colour will be exclusive to the Google Store and Google Fi in the US. Those who have already purchased the Pixel 8 or the Pixel 8 Pro can still experience the new colourway, as Google also sells a Mint silicone case for both phones. Samsung Ties Up With Blinkit to Deliver Galaxy S24 Series in Select Cities Pixel 8 price in India starts at Rs. 75,999 for the 8GB RAM and 128GB inbuilt storage model and the Pixel 8 Pro starts at Rs. 1,06,999 with the 12GB RAM and 128GB inbuilt storage model. Google Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro specifications The Pixel 8 features a 6.2-inch full-HD+ OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. Under the hood, it is powered by the 4nm Google Tensor G3 SoC. For optics, the smartphone sports a dual rear camera setup comprising a 50-megapixel primary sensor and a 12-megapixel ultra wide-angle camera. It carries a 10.5-megapixel camera on the front. The handset is backed by a 4,575mAh battery with support for 27W wired charging. In contrast, the Pixel 8 Pro features a 6.7-inch Quad-HD OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Just like the base model, it also runs on the Google Tensor G3 chipset. The rear camera visor houses three sensors including a 50-megapixel primary camera, a 48-megapixel telephoto lens, and another 48-megapixel ultrawide camera. It is backed by a 5,050mAh battery with support for 30W wired charging.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Series to Be Available on Blinkit in Select Cities; Doorstep Delivery in 10 Minutes
Samsung Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra were unveiled at the company's Galaxy Unpacked event last week. The latest flagships are currently up for pre-orders in India and are set to go on sale for the first time starting Wednesday, January 31. Ahead of the sale, Samsung has joined hands with hyper-local delivery company Blinkit to offer doorstep delivery of the Galaxy S24 series in select cities. The company is claimed to deliver new handsets to buyers within 10 minutes of receiving the order. Samsung, via a press release on Thursday (January 25), announced a tie-up with Blinkit to deliver its recently launched Galaxy S24 series in India. Customers in Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR, and Mumbai can order Galaxy S24 Ultra, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 smartphones on the instant delivery platform for doorstep delivery. The handsets will be delivered in less than 10 minutes of receiving the order, claims Blinkit. Meanwhile, other online retailers will take at least one day to deliver the handsets. Customers buying the Galaxy S24 series through the Blinkit app or website can avail of an instant cashback of Rs. 5,000 for payments made using HDFC Bank credit cards.Samsung's Galaxy AI Features Are Coming to These Older Devices: Report. The Galaxy S24 has a starting price tag of Rs. 79,999 for the base 8GB + 256GB variant, the Galaxy S24+ pricing starts at Rs. 99,999, and the Galaxy S24 Ultra has a starting price tag of Rs. 1,29,999. Samsung Galaxy S24 series run on Android 14-based One UI 6.1 and boasts Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays with up to 120Hz refresh rate. The Galaxy S24 packs 8GB of RAM, while the top-end Galaxy S24+ and Galaxy S24 Ultra offer 12GB of RAM. The Galaxy S24 Ultra runs on a tweaked version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC called "Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC for Galaxy" in all regions. The India variants of Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+ smartphones have Exynos 2400 SoC under the hood. All three phones have IP68-rated dust- and water-resistant build. Samsung has equipped the Galaxy S24 Ultra with a quad camera setup led by a 200-megapixel primary camera. The regular models have triple rear cameras led by a 50-megapixel wide-angle camera. Samsung to Make Galaxy S24 Series in India for Local, Global Markets The Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with a 5,000mAh battery with support for 45W wired charging and Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 that offers 15W charging speeds. The Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+ pack 4,000mAh and 4,900mAh batteries with 25W and 45W wired charging support, respectively.
"Moto G24 Power India Launch Set for January 30; Teased to Offer 6,000mAh Battery, Helio G85 SoC "
Moto G24 Power is confirmed to be offered in Glacier Blue and Ink Blue colours. Moto G24 Power will be launched in India next week. The Chinese smartphone vendor has announced the arrival of a new Moto G series smartphone through its official social media handle. Motorola has also listed the Moto G24 Power on its India website revealing its design and specifications. It is confirmed to come in Glacier Blue and Ink Blue shades. The Moto G24 Power is teased to run on the MediaTek Helio G85 SoC. Dual rear cameras, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, and a 6,000mAh battery are other key specifications of the handset. It will be sold via Flipkart. Motorola, through its official X account, confirmed that the Moto G24 Power will launch in India on January 30 and will go on sale via the company's official website, Flipkart, and other leading retail stores. The Lenovo subsidiary and Flipkart are both teasing the key specifications of the smartphone via a dedicated microsite. The price details of Moto G24 Power are not known at this moment. However, we can expect the handset to be priced at around Rs. 10,000. The Moto G24 Power is confirmed to be offered in Glacier Blue and Ink Blue colours. It is listed to run Android 14 and feature a 6.56-inch HD+ display with 90Hz refresh rate. The handset will be powered by a MediaTek Helio G85 SoC, coupled with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Moto G04, Moto G24 With 5,000mAh Battery Unveiled: See Price For optics, the Moto G24 Power gets a dual rear camera unit, comprising a 50-megapixel primary camera with Quad Pixel technology alongside a 2-megapixel macro shooter. Selfies and video chats will be handled by a 16-megapixel front camera. It gets stereo speakers supported by Dolby Atmos and a side-mounted fingerprint scanner for authentication. It will offer an IP52-rated build and pack a 6,000mAh battery with support for 33W fast charging.
Oppo, Nokia Resolve All Pending Patent Disputes via Cross Licencing Deal
Nokia said that Oppo will make royalty payments, along with catch-up payments to cover the periods of non-payment as part of the cross-licencing deal.Finnish telecom gear maker Nokia said on Wednesday it had signed a 5G patent cross-licencing deal with Chinese device maker Oppo that resolves patent litigation between the companies. Nokia has been involved in legal disputes with several Chinese tech firms, including Oppo and Vivo, over patent payments. The Finnish group recently signed an agreement with Chinese smartphone maker Honor."Under the agreement Oppo will make royalty payments, along with catch-up payments to cover the periods of non-payment," Nokia said in a statement. "The agreement resolves all pending patent litigation between the parties, in all jurisdictions."OP Corporate Bank analyst Kimmo Stenvall said investors had expected the parties to reach an agreement "sooner or later". Nokia' shares were roughly flat at 1049 GMT (4:19pm IST).Inderes analyst Atte Riikola said it was good uncertainty was now lifted about the timing of the deal, after the process had taken longer than expected. Nokia in December warned it would not meet its financial outlook for 2023, saying talks over unspecified licence renewals would continue into this year.
