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#101
Winter Olympics 2022 Opening Ceremony Celebrated by Google With Animated Doodle

Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony is celebrated by Google with an animated Doodle on its search homepage. The Google Doodle features animals playing different games on ice. Being hosted by Beijing, China, the 17-day multi-sport event will conclude on February 20. It will feature as many as 109 events in seven sports and 15 disciplines. Winter Olympics 2022 will see a participation from over 2,800 athletes from 91 nations. The new Google Doodle aims to portray that convergence through a mix of animation effects and graphics.



To give a glimpse of the games being played at the Winter Olympics 2022, the Google Doodle features competitive critters playing games such as Bobsleigh, Ice Hockey, and Snowboard.

Hovering over the mouse over the animated Doodle shows a message that reads, "Winter Games 2022 Begin!"

Once you click the Google Doodle, it takes you to the search page carrying the query "winter olympics" to show the latest updates from the ongoing games. The search page also lists featured events on top to help you with the games schedule and decide what you can watch.

As per the details available on the Doodles page, the fresh Google Doodle is visible in various parts of the world, including India, Australia, Canada, Russia, and the US, among others.

The opening ceremony of Winter Olympics 2022 — also called Beijing 2022 — is taking place at the Beijing National Stadium.

India has decided to not participate in both opening and closing of the event at the diplomatic level over the Galwan Valley clashes in June 2020. As a result of the decision announced by the External Affairs ministry, Doordarshan will also not telecast the opening and closing ceremonies of the games.


Source: https://gadgets.ndtv.com/internet/news/winter-olympics-2022-beijing-opening-ceremony-google-doodle-animated-critters-2748541
#102
Microsoft has reportedly killed its plans for the HoloLens 3

The future of Microsoft's HoloLens is reportedly uncertain as the company struggles to put together a coherent mixed reality strategy. According to Business Insider, the tech giant has scrapped its plans for what would've been the HoloLens 3 in recent months. At least one of the publication's sources believes it's the end for the headset. In addition, the sources said Microsoft inked a deal to team up with Samsung to develop a brand new mixed reality device, which has caused an internal divide within the mixed reality division.



Microsoft spokesperson Frank Shaw denied that the HoloLens is dead, however, calling it a "critical part of [the company's] plans for emerging categories like mixed reality and the metaverse." Shaw added: "We remain committed to HoloLens and future HoloLens development." The company declined to talk to Business Insider about the reported Samsung partnership.

The employees within the mixed reality unit that the publication talked to said different factions within the team are arguing about which area to focus on. Some believe the team should double down on its own hardware, while others think it's better to develop a software platform for the metaverse other companies can use, like the Windows OS.

There are also people arguing whether Microsoft should continue focusing on creating products for enterprise customers or whether the tech giant should also create products for consumers. Some also argue that Microsoft's mixed reality team should fulfill military contracts. Rubén Caballero, the former Apple executive Microsoft hired to head up device engineering for the HoloLens and other projects back in 2020, reportedly wants to focus on consumers and the metaverse. There's apparently such a confusion on what the team's focus should be that Microsoft lost 25 mixed reality employees to Meta in 2021, including veterans who'd been with the company for over 20 years.

One thing's clear, though: Microsoft has big plans for the metaverse. When it announced that it's purchasing Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion, it said the acquisition will provide building blocks for the metaverse. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said: "Gaming is the most dynamic and exciting category in entertainment across all platforms today and will play a key role in the development of metaverse platforms.


Source: https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-reportedly-killed-plans-for-hololens-3-080308825.html
#103
Tesla recalls more than 817,000 cars over faulty seat belt chimes

Tesla is once again grappling with large-scale software quality issues. The Associated Press reports Tesla has issued a recall for 817,143 cars over a flaw in seat belt chime functionality. All Model 3 and Model Y cars, as well as 2021 and newer Model S and Model X cars, have a "software error" that prevents the chime from sounding on startup if the chime was interrupted and the seat belt wasn't fastened. You could run into the problem just by closing the door just after leaving the vehicle, according to the recall notice.



The automaker plans to fix the seat belt chime bug by releasing an over-the-air update sometime in early February. There are no reports of injuries, and the visual seat belt alert still appears properly. South Korean testers first discovered the problem on January 6th, and Tesla decided a recall was necessary on January 25th following an investigation.

While this recall is relatively minor, its timing couldn't be much worse for Tesla. It comes just a few days after a recall for a Full Self Driving bug, and while the NHTSA is investigating a string of incidents where cars using Autopilot crashed into emergency vehicles. A driver is facing felony charges for an Autopilot-related crash, too. That's on top of recalls for physical problems like camera, trunk and suspension defects. Tesla doesn't have a stellar reputation for quality at the moment, and the seat belt chime fault only reinforces that image.


Source: https://www.engadget.com/tesla-seat-belt-chime-recall-model-3-s-x-y-141642137.html
#104
Apple's AirPods Pro are on sale for $180 today only

The AirPods Pro may not have received the major update that the standard earbuds did last year, but they're still the model with the best sound quality. Plus, they now come with a MagSafe charging case, which is a great perk. Today only, you can grab a pair of AirPods Pro for $180, or 28 percent off their normal price. While not the all-time low we saw last Black Friday ($159), it's still a good deal for this time of year — and lower than Amazon's current going rate of $197.



You probably know the deal about AirPods Pro by now, but in case you need a refresher: these earbuds have a more comfortable design thanks to their interchangeable tips and the sound quality is much better than other Apple earbuds. They have a built-in amplifier and support Adaptive EQ, which automatically tunes frequencies to each user's ear. Their active noise cancellation does a good job of blocking out most surrounding noises and you can use Transparency mode to jump in and out of conversations when necessary. We also like that audio automatically pauses when you take one of the buds out of your ear, so you won't miss a beat.

And like other Apple earbuds, the AirPods Pro have the H1 chip inside, which enables things like hands-free Siri access and quick pairing. If you use a lot of Apple devices, the AirPods Pro will also automatically switch to the gadget you're currently using — that means you can take a call from your iPhone and go back to listening to music from your Mac seamlessly. You can expect the Pros to last about five hours before needing a recharge, and their MagSafe case lets you use magnetic wireless chargers to power them up.

They may not be as cheap as they were on Black Friday, but those deep discounts are hard to come by outside of the holiday shopping season. Woot's one-day sale is a good one to consider if you've had your eye on the Pros for a while. Just remember to check out the site's return policy, as it differs greatly from that of its parent company, Amazon.


Source: https://www.engadget.com/apples-airpods-pro-are-on-sale-for-180-today-only-134009421.html
#105
Adidas' FWD-02 Sport earbuds are now available for $170

Last October, Adidas partnered with Swedish headphone maker Zound, best known for its work with Marshall, to announce three sets of new true wireless earbuds. One of those was the FWD-02 Sport earbuds, which were supposed to launch last year. Following a delay, however, they're finally available starting this month.



As a refresher, the FWD-02 Sport are a pair of runner-friendly earbuds with swappable ear tips and wings, and a force sensor so you can control them while wearing gloves. They're also IPX5 certified so they're resistant to sweat and water. Adidas and Zound claim you can expect up to 6 hours of playtime from the earbuds, with the charging case providing another 19 hours of battery life before you need to head to an outlet.

The case features a mesh top layer, which Adidas said helps the buds dry faster when you need to store them. The FWD-02 also include an Awareness mode that allows ambient sounds to filter through so you can stay safe while using them for outdoor workouts.

At $170, the FWD-02 earbuds face some stiff competition, particularly from Apple's Beats Fit Pro. While they're $30 more expensive, they include active noise-cancellation, a fit a lot of people like and Apple's H1 chip for hands-free access to Siri, one-touch pairing and other iOS-specific features. The lack of ANC isn't a dealbreaker for a pair of sport-focused earbuds like the FWD-02, but it's a feature that more and more people are looking to get on their next pair of headphones.


Source: https://www.engadget.com/adidas-fwd-02-now-available-173048738.html
#106
Ford starts 2022 with its highest EV sales numbers to date

If the bonkers preorder numbers for both the hybrid Maverick and the EV F-150 Lightning weren't enough of an indication, Ford's Q4 earnings results are plenty proof that the company's electrification efforts are already paying dividends.



"Financial performance is obviously critical," President and CEO Jim Farley said in a release Thursday. "We're also proud that customers see how Ford is taking EVs mainstream, and have already ordered or reserved more than 275,000 all-electric Mustang Mach-E SUVs, F-150 Lightning pickups and E-Transit commercial vehicles – and we're breaking constraints to deliver every one of them as fast as we can."

"We started moving with real speed of ambition to build a modern Ford," he added during Thursday's investors call. "Our true breakthroughs are still ahead of us."

In fact, the company reports that sales of its EVs in January "grew almost 4 times faster than the overall electrified segment" (13,169 units in total), making Ford the current number 2 retailer of electric vehicles in the country behind Tesla (and the country's top-selling automaker overall), prompting a promise from Farley to double the company's global production capacity for EVs "to at least 600,000 by 2023." He expects EVs to "represent at least 40 percent of its product mix by 2030." What's more, China is now Ford's largest market for Lincoln-brand vehicles, Farley noted.

In all, Ford saw revenue of $37.7 billion, a net income of $12.3 billion and $2 billion in EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) in Q4 2021. The company sold 6,513 Mavericks in January alone — with 3,549 of these sold as hybrids — along with 2,370 Mach-Es, 27 percent of which were of the GT variety. Ford also saw strong interest in its new Transit line of commercial EVs with more than 300 American businesses placing orders for 10,000 vehicles.

"We plan to take full advantage of our first-mover position in the fully electric pickup truck market starting with lightning," Farley declared. "But there's much more to come. In the coming months, we'll break ground on the Blue City electric truck plant in Tennessee."

"It will be the largest, the most advanced manufacturing complex in our history," he added. "And it will produce Ford's second generation of full size electric pickups in high volumes starting in 2025. At the same time, we have three large-scale battery plants in Tennessee and Kentucky, which will be coming on stream with capacity to produce enough battery cells for more than 1 million vehicles a year."

And, while not wholly electrified, Ford did point out that its pickup lines — the F-150, Ranger, and Maverick — with combined sales of 62,293, outsold GM's pickups in January. The company's mobile Ford Pass and Lincoln Way apps saw their US memberships grow to nearly 8 million uses total.

Due to the strong order and sales numbers, Ford CEO John Lawler said in Thursday's statement that the company "expects full-year 2022 adjusted EBIT to be even stronger [than 2021] – $11.5 billion to $12.5 billion, an increase of 15 to 25 percent over 2021."

"The velocity of change at Ford is increasing," Farley concluded. "We're not seeking half measures.Fear of change and risk has never served legacy automakers well in the past couple of decades. We're done with incremental change."


Source: https://www.engadget.com/ford-starts-2022-with-its-highest-ev-sales-numbers-to-date-215524187.html
#107
Senate bill targeting Apple and Google in-app payments moves forward

A bill targeting Apple and Google's app store restrictions has taken a step forward. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 20-2 to advance the Open App Markets Act, with only Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis opposing. The vote showed once again that there's bipartisan support for the bill.



Should the legislation become law as it stands, it would prevent app marketplace owners with more than 50 million users in the US from locking third-party developers into their payment systems. The App Store and Google Play Store, which require third-party apps to use their respective payment systems, pass that threshold.

They wouldn't be able to block or punish developers from offering apps at other prices on different platforms, and they'd have to let developers contact their users with "legitimate business offers, such as pricing terms and product or service offerings." Another provision would force Apple and Google to let users install third-party app stores or sideload apps. This would have a bigger impact on Apple, since Android already allows sideloading.

Apple and Google have opposed the bill, claiming that it would put user security and privacy at risk. They said the same things about the American Innovation and Choice Online Act, a more sweeping tech reform bill that the committee passed last month. Both bills will go to the Senate floor for debate and a vote.

The stakes are high for both companies. The App Store and Google Play Store each take a 15 percent cut of in-app purchases up to the first $1 million developers make in annual revenue. After that, the fees rise to 30 percent.

Google parent company Alphabet reports Play Store revenue under "Google other revenues," which also includes hardware and non-ad income from YouTube. That business segment brought in $8.2 billion last quarter, a year-over-year increase of 22 percent. App Store revenue falls under the Apple's services segment, which raked in $19.5 billion in Q4.

Apple was last year ordered to allow developers to direct users to other payment methods as a result of its legal battle with Epic Games. An appeals court judge granted a last-minute delay before the change was supposed to take effect.


Source: https://www.engadget.com/open-app-markets-act-senate-committee-apple-google-app-stores-play-store-185302569.html
#108
The new Moto G Stylus adds a 90Hz display, a big battery and not much else

Motorola is once again kicking off a new year with a new Moto G Stylus, and this one still offers solid value — if you're willing to make a couple of sacrifices. The newly introduced Moto G Stylus 2022 model still has a 6.8-inch 1080p display (albeit with a centered hole-punch camera) and an otherwise mostly fmiliar design, but makes the leap to a faster 90Hz refresh rate. You also won't be hurting for longevity with a sizeable 5,000mAh battery in place of last year's 4,000mAh pack.



While those are appreciable improvements, this latest Moto G Stylus is oddly conservative in some places. For one, there's no 5G — slightly odd for a 2022 budget phone when devices like Samsung's A32 5G already managed the feat last year. It ships with Android 11 instead of Android 12, for that matter. You do get 6GB of RAM and a higher-resolution 50MP main rear camera (up from 4GB and 48MP respectively), but Motorola has ditched the Snapdragon 678 in favor of MediaTek's Helio G88. That's more of a step sideways in performance than a leap forward. You still get a ultra-wide and macro cameras, though, and the 128GB of expandable storage plus water resistance should help the phone last.

The 2022 Moto G Stylus is available to pre-order now through Amazon, Best Buy, Motorola and Walmart for $300. That still makes it a good value, but it's not an easy choice between this and last year's Moto G Stylus 5G. You'll have a better display and processing power, but you'll lose 5G and the extra built-in storage. The better value could depend on sale prices for each handset, too. Until there's an updated Moto G Stylus 5G, you may need to shop carefully to find the best device.


Source: https://www.engadget.com/moto-g-stylus-2022-release-date-price-191144555.html
#109
Amazon is raising the price of Prime to $139 per year

Amazon Prime is increasing in price for the first time since 2018. The company used its latest earnings to reveal that it's raising the fee to $15 per month (previously $13), or $139 per year (previously $119). The higher rates kick in February 18th for new customers, but they won't take effect for existing customers until they renew March 25th or later — if you were thinking of trying Prime, you might want to sign up now to lock in the current price for a year.



Amazon pinned the increase on the "continued expansion" of Prime perks along with higher wages and transportation costs. As with the last time around, you can likely blame Amazon's ever more ambitious Prime Video plans for some of the increase. According to Hollywood Reporter, the upcoming Lord of the Rings series is expected to cost $465 million just for its first season — and that's not including other big productions. Throw in the MGM acquisition and Amazon has plenty of media-related expenses.

The company can't blame the hike on financial hardship, at least. Amazon's net profit jumped nearly 57 percent in 2021 to $33.4 billion — the lingering COVID-19 pandemic has been good for Amazon's core shopping business. A surge in profit from EV maker Rivian's initial public stock offering (Amazon has a 20 percent stake) helped mask lower income in the last calendar quarter of 2021, but it's evident the company doesn't need the Prime hike in the near future.

The Prime increase might also irk people beyond Amazon's customers. The company is raising rates even as it fights workers' efforts to improve working conditions, and as it faces increasing government scrutiny of its pricing and other practices. There won't be much sympathy from some corners, then, even if Amazon does use the extra revenue to help staff.


Source: https://www.engadget.com/amazon-prime-price-hike-222742421.html
#110
HitPiece takes its NFT music platform down following artist outrage

A website called HitPiece that has been selling music-related NFTs has temporarily closed after artists accused it of appropriating their work without permission, Rolling Stone has reported. Outraged social media posts were issued recently from artists including Jack Antonoff, Eve 6, and Sadie Dupuis. "Any [Bleachers] NFTs are fake," Tweeted Jack Antonoff. "I do not believe in NFTs so anything you see associated with me isn't real."



The HitPiece website is apparently built on top of Spotify's API. Before shutting down, it appeared to be offering NFTs of songs and albums from the likes of John Lennon and BTS, including photos and album artwork, according to the Internet Archive.

Like many other NFT business models, however, it's not clear what HitPiece was selling, exactly. "This particular grift doesn't really affect artists in that HitPiece wasn't even selling files of the songs — just the receipt of purchase to the general idea of them," Infant Island guitarist and grad student Alex Rudenshiold told Rolling Stone. "It's still copyright infringement. It's re-commodifying the metadata (art, song and album titles, etc.) to make money without permission."

HitPiece, founded by former indie label owner Rory Felton, issued a statement. "Clearly we have struck a nerve and are very eager to created the ideal experience for music fans," it said on Twitter. "To be clear artists get paid when digital goods are sold on Hitpiece. "We are continuing to listen to all user feedback and are committed to evolving the product to fit the needs of the artists, labels and fans alike."

However, artists are skeptical of HitPiece's claim that they will be paid. "They steal your music, auction NFTs of it on their site, and when they get caught they say don't worry you 'get paid,'" the group Deerhoof tweeted. "I get that corporate types are simply greedy and cruel on principle but what kind of mind could even imagine that doubletalk like this could somehow make it OK?"


Source: https://www.engadget.com/music-nft-site-hit-piece-temporarily-shuts-down-following-artist-outrage-110929645.html
#111
Netflix will release at least 70 movies in 2022

Just like it did last year, Netflix will release at least one movie a week in 2022. There are currently more than 70 films on the docket for this year, and the company offered a peek at some of them in a teaser.



The three-minute sizzle reel is packed with footage from upcoming films, including a first glimpse at Knives Out 2, the sequel to Rian Johnson's terrific 2019 comedy-mystery movie. There are looks at Enola Holmes 2, Jason Momoa as a half-man/half-beast in fantasy flick Slumberland and a stop-motion take on Pinocchio from Guillermo del Toro. You can also get your first peek at The Gray Man, a big-budget thriller from Avengers: Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo.

Expect to see projects from filmmakers including Judd Apatow, Noah Baumbach, Niki Caro, Sally El Hosaini, Louis Leterrier, Richard Linklater and Tyler Perry, as well as Dev Patel's directorial debut. Among the other films in Netflix's pipeline are sci-fi movies starring Halle Berry (The Mothership) and Adam Sandler (Spaceman) and a new version of Matilda. There is, as always, a broad range of offerings on this year's slate, including action, comedy, drama, horror and family movies. So, there should be something for everyone as Netflix seeks to make sure subscribers are getting their money's worth from its increasingly expensive plans.


Source: https://www.engadget.com/netflix-movies-2022-teaser-knives-out-2-172019657.html
#112
Toyota Temporarily Halts Bookings Of The Hilux In India

Toyota Kirloskar Motors unveiled the Hilux pick-up in India in January this year and while we were quite looking forward to knowing the price of the car, Toyota kept that information under wraps. However, it did announce that bookings for the utility vehicle were open and that attracted a lot of attention. Toyota today announced that because of the overwhelming response received by the Hilux in India, the company has had to temporarily halt bookings of the pick-up truck in the country.



The company said in a statement, "We are delighted with the overwhelming response that the Hilux has received from our customers within a fortnight of its launch. However, in light of various factors impacting our supply, we are unable to meet the heightened demand. Thus, we deeply regret our temporary halt of bookings for the Hilux with a view to avoid any further inconvenience to our customers."


Toyota, however, gave no indication on the number of bookings received for the Hilux in the country and we unable to provide you with a number either. The Toyota Hilux will be offered only in the double-cab variant and it shares its underpinnings with the current Toyota Innova Crysta and Fortuner. It is spawned by the IMV-2 platform and in fact there are quite a few identifiable bits that have been borrowed from the Fortuner.

Under the hood, the Toyota Hilux will source the same 2.8-litre, four-cylinder, diesel engine from the Fortuner that develops 201 bhp and 420 Nm of peak torque in the manual variant, while the automatic variant makes 500 Nm of peak torque. The carmaker will be offering the Hilux only in the 4x4 versions and the SUV comes equipped with all drive-assist features that we expect in an off-roader including hill-assist, brake assist, hill descent control and electronic stability program (ESP), limited-slip differential, differential lock and has water wading capacity of 700 mm.


Source: https://www.carandbike.com/news/toyota-temporary-halts-bookings-of-the-hilux-in-india-2746492
#113
Vivo Y7x 4G With MediaTek Helio G96 SoC Tipped to Launch in India Soon, Said to Rival Redmi Note 11 5G

Vivo Y7x 4G, tipped to be a mid-range phone that could rival the upcoming Redmi Note 11 5G, has leaked. Vivo recently launched a handful of smartphones as part of its Y-series. This rumoured handset is tipped to be powered by a MediaTek Helio G96 SoC under the hood. Vivo Y7x 4G is said to sport a 6.44-inch display with a refresh rate of 120Hz. Vivo, however, is yet to officially announce any details regarding the smartphone.



According to a report by PassionateGeekz, Vivo Y7x 4G could be launched in late February or early March, and will be powered by a MediaTek Helio G96 SoC paired with up to 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of inbuilt storage. The smartphone is tipped to sport a 6.44-inch full-HD+ display with a refresh rate of 120Hz. It is currently unknown whether Vivo Y7x 4G will sport an AMOLED or an LCD panel. There is also currently no word on Vivo Y7x 4G's camera and battery specifications.

The smartphone will reportedly feature a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, integrated with the power button on top. Vivo Y7x 4G is tipped to run on Android 11 out of the box, with the company's FuntouchOS running on top.

The Vivo Y7x 4G smartphone could be priced under Rs. 18,000 and compete with the upcoming Redmi Note 11 5G handset, according to the report. However, Vivo hasn't revealed anything related to the rumoured handset yet.

Vivo is currently gearing up to launch its Vivo T1 5G smartphone in India. The phone was launched last year in October in China with a Snapdragon 778G SoC paired with up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM. The smartphone features a triple rear camera setup, with a 64-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide angle camera, and a 2-megapixel macro camera. Vivo T1 5G is the first smartphone in the company's T-Series in India and will be launched on February 9.


Source: https://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/news/vivo-y7x-4g-india-launch-specifications-mediatek-helio-g96-120hz-display-report-2746423
#114
League of Legends spinoff game 'Hextech Mayhem' is now available from Netflix

It took a few months, but Netflix is now offering its first high-profile mobile game. The streaming service has broadly released Riot Games' League of Legends spinoff Hextech Mayhem for Android and iOS. This isn't a MOBA like League, as you might have gathered — instead, it's a "rhythm runner" that has you playing LoL champion Ziggs as you light bomb fuses, disarm enemies and dodge obstacles in sync with the beat.

https://youtu.be/YqgCESVWNNI

Netflix has also released Dungeon Dwarves, its first "idle" game. Hyper Hippo's title (available on Android as we write this) lets you explore monster-laden dens even when you're not playing, and upgrade abilities when you are.

Riot's decision to launch Hextech through Netflix isn't surprising. The two unveiled the game just as Arcane began streaming — even if it's not really connected to the animated series, it serves as a plug for both companies. Riot also hasn't been shy about gaming crossovers, having dropped League of Legends characters into games like Fortnite. It's just a question of whether or not a game like Hextech will be popular enough to grow Netflix's fledgling game business and encourage other big-name projects.


Source: https://www.engadget.com/league-of-legends-game-hextech-mayhem-available-netflix-220025975.html
#115
WhatsApp Desktop Users May Soon Be Able to Request for Report on Account Information It Collected

WhatsApp Desktop has reportedly added a feature to let users ask the Meta-owned instant messaging app to generate a report of their account information and settings. Called Request Account Info, the dedicated option has so far been available to mobile users on both Android and iOS. It allows users to submit a request to WhatsApp and export the report that contains their activity information, privacy settings, and information about the devices from where they are accessing the messaging app.



According to a report by WhatsApp features tracker WABetaInfo, WhatsApp Desktop beta version 2.2204.1 carries references about the Request Account Info option. The addition has, however, not yet been made available to beta testers.

By bringing the request account information feature, WhatsApp looks to allow desktop users to generate a report carrying their account information and settings.

Similar to what has now been found on its desktop version, WhatsApp added the same Request Account Info option on Android and iOS devices in 2018. It was introduced ahead of the passing of European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) law and is aimed to let users see all the information WhatsApp has collected through their account.

Once requested, WhatsApp typically takes three days to make your report available for download and export. Users on mobile devices have the option to permanently delete the downloaded copy.

It is important to note that the report generated using the request account information feature does not allow users to access messages and conversations that they have made on WhatsApp, as highlighted in an FAQ page.


Source: https://gadgets.ndtv.com/apps/news/whatsapp-desktop-request-account-information-feature-beta-release-wabetainfo-2746349
#116
Realme 9 Pro, Realme 9 Pro+ India Launch Date Set for February 16; Price, Specifications Teased

Realme 9 Pro and Realme 9 Pro+ India launch date is set for February 16, the Chinese company confirmed on Thursday. The Realme phones have been a part of the rumour mill for the past few months. The February 16 launch date was also tipped recently. In addition to the official launch date announcement, Realme Vice President Madhav Sheth has indicated the possible Realme 9 Pro series price in India during an ask-me-anything (AMA) session. Realme has also teased some of the key specifications of the Realme 9 Pro series. The phones will come with triple rear cameras and a Light Shift Design.



Realme 9 Pro, Realme 9 Pro+ India launch date
Realme sent out media invites to confirm the India launch date of Realme 9 Pro and Realme 9 Pro+. The launch will take place virtually at 1:30pm on February 16, as per the invite. The company is also teasing the launch on its social media channels. The India launch is aligning with the global schedule of Realme 9 Pro series as the phones are debuting in other markets on the same date.

Realme 9 Pro, Realme 9 Pro+ price in India
Realme Vice President Madhav Sheth held an AMA session, called AskMadhav, on YouTube on Wednesday, where he suggested that the Realme 9 Pro series price in India will be set at above the Rs. 15,000 mark.

"As the brand aims to go premium in 2022, we aim to expand the 9 Pro series above the 15,000 segment, with all the devices in the Pro series being 5G enabled and built an overall enhanced and more premium mid-range experience," he said.

Sheth indicated the same move in a media interview last month.

The AMA session also confirmed that alongside the Realme 9 Pro series, Realme is working on the regular Realme 9 series that would debut at a later stage. Sheth also teased the plans to launch the Realme Buds Air 2 successor this quarter. Further, he suggested the development of a 65-inch Realme TV.

Realme 9 Pro, Realme 9 Pro+ specifications
Realme 9 Pro and Realme 9 Pro+ specifications will include the triple rear camera setup and the Light Shift Design that will change colours in sunlight, as per the details available on a dedicated webpage available on the Realme India site. The webpage also shows that Realme 9 Pro+ in the series will have a primary 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 sensor with optical image stabilisation (OIS) and an octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 920 SoC.

Aside from the details available on the Realme India site, the company's Indonesia site shows that Realme 9 Pro+ will have 60W SuperDart Charge fast charging, Super AMOLED display, under-display fingerprint sensor, and NFC support.

In contrast, Realme 9 Pro is mentioned to have a primary 64-megapixel Nightscape camera, Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 SoC, and a 120Hz display. The phone is also teased to have a 5,000mAh battery with 33W Dart Charge fast charging and NFC support. Moreover, Realme 9 Pro will feature the same Night Shift Design that will be available on Realme 9 Pro+.


Source: https://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/news/realme-9-pro-plus-india-launch-date-february-16-price-specifications-features-2746219
#117
2022 Audi Q7 Facelift Launched In India; Prices Start At ₹ 79.99 Lakh

The 2022 Audi Q7 facelift has been launched in India after a hiatus of two years and its prices start at ₹ 79.99 lakh (ex-showroom) for the base variant, going up to ₹ 88.33 lakh for the range-topping trim. The German brand had discontinued its flagship SUV in 2020 and it has now returned with bolder looks, updated cabin, more features and a BS6 compliant engine under its hood. Audi India is offering the new Q7 facelift in two variants - Premium Plus and Technology. It comes to India as a completely knocked down (CKD) unit and it will be manufactured at Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Pvt Ltd.'s (SAVWIPL) plant in Aurangabad.



The new Audi Q7 facelift is quite a departure from the pre-facelift model in terms of looks. The new model has a more macho and outdoorsy demeanour rather than a sophisticated business class appeal. The face particularly looks bold courtesy the massive grille with wide chrome slats. It is flanked by full LED headlights that are standard, while customers also have the option of the HD Matrix LED technology with Audi laser light. The SUV also get larger intakes, new alloy wheels, new sleeker LED taillights and sharper bumpers.

On the inside too the new Audi Q7 facelift is a decent step up than its predecessor and takes inspiration from the Q8's cabin. It now features two new large touchscreens that provide haptic and acoustic feedback and the system also comes with LTE Advanced connectivity, a Wi-Fi hotspot, natural voice control and the extensive Audi connect portfolio. The SUV also comes with a new steering wheel and premium upholstery among a host of other creature comforts.


Source: https://www.carandbike.com/news/2022-audi-q7-facelift-launched-in-india-prices-start-at-rs-79-99-lakh-2745911
#118
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Series Design, Specifications Leak via Alleged Marketing Material Ahead of Launch

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 series is expected to launch next week at a Galaxy unpacked event alongside the company's flagship Galaxy S22 series smartphones. The upcoming Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 series is likely to be comprised of three models — Galaxy Tab S8, Galaxy Tab S8+, and Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. And ahead of the launch of the company's flagship smartphones and tablets expected on February 9, official-looking images along with detailed specifications of Samsung Galaxy Tab S8, Galaxy Tab S8+, and Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra have been leaked online, giving enthusiasts an idea of what to expect from Samsung's upcoming flagship tablet models.



Images of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Tab S8, Galaxy Tab S8+, and Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra were leaked by tipster Evan Blass, shared by GSMArena. The text on the images is in Italian, suggesting that they could have been sourced from Samsung's regional website. The leaked images tip the dimensions, display size, specifications, and accessories for Samsung Galaxy Tab S8, Galaxy Tab S8+, and Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. The tipster recently shared similar images of the Samsung Galaxy S22 series smartphones, which tipped the specifications of the company's next flagship phones.

The upcoming Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 is tipped to feature a 11-inch (2,560x1,600 pixels) WQXGA LCD TFT display with a refresh rate of 120Hz. Meanwhile, Galaxy Tab S8+ is said to sport a 12.4-inch (2,800x1,752 pixels) WQXGA Super AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz. Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is tipped to get 14.6-inch (2,960x1,848 pixels) WQXGA Super AMOLED display. The leaked images also suggest that all three tablets will ship with an S Pen and USB Type-C to USB Type-C cable in the box, but not a charger.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8, Galaxy Tab S8+, and Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra are claimed to be powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC under the hood. Previous leaks suggest the tablets will be paired with up to 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB of inbuilt storage. The leaked images also suggest that the upcoming tablets will offer expandable storage. Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 is said to be equipped with an 8,000mAh battery, while Galaxy Tab S8+ and Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra are tipped to get 10,090mAh and 11,200mAh batteries, respectively — all three models will support 45W charging.

The tablets were recently spotted on some European e-commerce websites, listed for pre-orders ahead of the official launch expected at the Galaxy Unpacked event scheduled for February 9. Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 has a pre-order price of EUR 970 (roughly Rs.82,100), while Galaxy Tab S8+ and Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra are priced at EUR 999 (roughly Rs. 84,500) and EUR 1,699 (roughly Rs. 1,43,700) on the websites, respectively.



Source: https://gadgets.ndtv.com/tablets/news/samsung-tab-s8-ultra-plus-specifications-design-images-leak-price-preorder-launch-date-february-9-event-galaxy-2746239
#119
Samsung Galaxy A53 Specifications Tipped via Multiple Certification Listings, 25W Fast Charging Expected

Samsung Galaxy A53 has reportedly been spotted on Thailand's National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) website and the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) platform. The listings have suggested some key specifications that the rumoured smartphone will feature. The handset was earlier spotted on various other certifications websites, including Bluetooth SIG, China's TENAA, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), and Compulsory Certificate of China (3C). Samsung Galaxy A53 is expected to be the successor to Samsung Galaxy A52, which was unveiled in March 2021.



The NBTC listing of the alleged Samsung Galaxy A53 has been notified by tipster Mukul Sharma via a tweet, and a report by MySmartPrice has shared some images of the FCC listing. Both the platforms show a smartphone with SM-A536E/DS model number, which is said to belong to the Samsung Galaxy A53. The FCC certification reveals that the rumoured Samsung A-series device will have 5G support and NFC, and come with a 25W charging adapter that will have the model number EP-TA800.

Interestingly, Samsung Galaxy A53 with the same model number was spotted on BIS website, suggesting the upcoming India launch of the phone. The reported Bluetooth SIG listing of the Samsung Galaxy A53 showed two variants with model numbers SM-A536B and SM-A536E. It revealed that both models have Bluetooth v5.1 connectivity.

The 3C certification of the rumoured Samsung Galaxy A53 suggests the phone has SM-A5360 model number, while the Geekbench listing shows model number SM-A536U, suggesting multiple models can be expected. Geekbench also suggests that the phone will be powered by an octa-core Exynos 1200 SoC paired with 6GB of RAM.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G specifications (expected)
As per the TENAA listing, the alleged Samsung Galaxy A53 will feature a 6.46-inch full-HD+ (1,080x2,400 pixels) display with an AMOLED panel. It is tipped to sport a fingerprint sensor under the display. It is listed with a triple rear camera unit, carrying a 64-megapixel primary camera, a 32-megapixel secondary camera, and a 5-megapixel tertiary camera. The handset is tipped to pack a 32-megapixel camera for selfies and a 5,000mAh battery.



Source: https://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/news/samsung-a53-nbtc-fcc-listing-specifications-features-galaxy-2746266
#120
Apple-Accusing Lawsuit Over iPhone Water Resistance Claims Dismissed by US Judge

A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed a proposed class-action lawsuit accusing Apple Inc of misleading consumers about how resistant its iPhone handsets are to water exposure.



Apple's advertisements had made various claims about the iPhone's resistance to damage when submerged or otherwise exposed to water, including that some models could survive depths of 4 metres (13.1 feet) for 30 minutes.

The named plaintiffs, two from New York and one from South Carolina, claimed that Apple's "false and misleading" misrepresentations let the company charge twice as much for iPhone models than the cost of "average smartphones."

US District Judge Denise Cote in Manhattan said the plaintiffs plausibly alleged that Apple's ads could mislead consumers, but did not show their iPhone units were damaged by "liquid contact" Apple promised they could withstand.

The judge also found no proof of fraud, citing a lack of evidence that Apple intended to overstate its water resistance claims, or that the plaintiffs relied on fraudulent marketing statements when buying their iPhone handsets.

Spencer Sheehan, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said his clients are disappointed with the decision, and no decision has been made whether to appeal.

Neither Apple nor lawyers for the Cupertino, California-based company immediately responded to requests for comment.

In the quarter ended December 25, 2021, iPhone handsets accounted for $71.6 billion (roughly Rs. 5,35,955 crore), or 58 percent, of Apple's $123.9 billion (roughly Rs. 9,27,441 crore) of net sales.

The case is Smith et al v Apple Inc, US District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 21-03657.


Source: https://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/news/apple-iphone-water-resistance-lawsuit-sue-us-judge-dismiss-2746326
#121
2022 Skoda Enyaq Coupe iV Breaks Cover, Adds High-Performance RS Version With 300 bhp

Following the Enyaq iV electric SUV, Skoda adds a coupe version to the range along with a high-performance, sporty Enyaq Coupe RS iV variant. This would be the first time that the Czech carmaker introduces an RS version to its flagship electric SUV, which is equivalent to the Volkswagen ID.5 GTX. Along with two battery sizes, four power outputs, and rear‑ or all‑wheel drive, the 2022 Skoda Enyaq Coupe iV also receives organic seat covers made of wool and recycled PET bottles, and ecologically tanned leather.



The 2022 Skoda Enyaq Coupe iV will be available in four levels with power output ranging between 132kW (179bhp) with the rear-wheel-drive equipped with a 62kWh battery, to 150kW (203bhp) from its 82-kWh battery, also available with the rear-wheel-drive system. In addition to this larger battery, the Enyaq Coupe iV also features an all-wheel-drive variant, with a power output of 195kW (265bhp), and 220kW (300bhp), and a maximum torque of 460Nm for the Enyaq Coupe RS iV. What this means is that the Enyaq Coupe RS iV can accelerate from 0-100kmph in 6.5 seconds and reaches a top speed of 180kmph. Skoda also claims that the Enyaq Coupe iV boasts a drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.234, with a significant impact on the vehicle's maximum range, which is up to 545km in the WLTP cycle.

Like the Enyaq iV, the new Skoda Enyaq Coupe iV is also based on Volkswagen Group's MEB modular electric car platform, and so measures 4,653mm in length, 1,879mm in width, 1,622mm in height, sitting on a 2,765mm long wheelbase. While 19 to 21 inches wheels offer an athletic look to the Enyaq Coupe iV, Phoenix Orange, Graphite Grey, and Mamba Green exterior colour schemes offer extravagance. Now, aesthetically, the Enyaq Coupe iV remains largely like the earlier model, however, a few changes to the Enyaq Coupe RS iV help it differentiate from the standard version.

And so, these changes include- a sports chassis which is 15mm lower at the front and 10mm at the rear, contributing to its dynamic stance, whereas surrounds around the Skoda grille, window trim, and rear diffuser are all gloss black, as are the model designations, tailgate lettering and air curtain trim on the front apron. The air curtain trim is C-shaped on the Sportline trim and comes with an additional centerpiece forming an E on the RS variant, along with a full-length red reflector on the rear bumper of the latter. The two variants can also be identified by their model-specific wing badges either displaying Sportline lettering or an RS emblem.


Source: https://www.carandbike.com/news/2022-skoda-enyaq-coupe-iv-breaks-cover-adds-high-performance-rs-version-with-300bhp-2744788
#122
Meta in Focus After Strong Report by Alphabet Boosts Confidence

The holidays were a gift to Alphabet's Google, quarterly results showed. Next up: Facebook owner Meta.



Alphabet's internet advertising, cloud computing, and hardware businesses helped the Google owner soundly beat Wall Street targets for the holiday quarter, sending shares up as much as 9 percent in after-hours trading.

Brian Wieser, global president of business intelligence, at the ad-buying giant GroupM, said Alphabet's results reinforce that the advertising industry as a whole is in a strong position, despite changes by Apple that prevent advertisers from tracking iPhone and iPad users without their consent. That has been a concern for social media companies including Meta and Snap.

Unlike the previous quarter, during which marketers low on product and tech industry privacy changes led to lost sales, Google did not note any particular challenges this time around.

"It sets up well going into Meta Platform's earnings," after the market close on Wednesday, said Gene Munster of investment firm Loup Ventures.

Alphabet's results drove a rally across internet advertising companies. Shares of Trade Desk, Magnite, PubMatic, and several more companies that both compete and work with Google all rose in after hours trading late Tuesday.

Recent revenue beats by Alphabet, Apple, and others in the tech industry come amid concerns that software and equipment makers alike cannot hold on to gains in usage from earlier in the pandemic. In a generally jittery market, as inflation kicks in, shares fell last month.

Still, "When you look at markets, when the big companies are doing well, you know it's hard to say that there's a problem with the economy," said Paul McCarthy, president at investment firm Kisco Capital.

In the fourth quarter, Alphabet's advertising revenue rose 32.5 percent to $61.2 billion (roughly Rs. 4,64,634 crore), $4 billion (roughly Rs. 29,928 crore) above Wall Street targets, according to Refinitiv data.


Source: https://gadgets.ndtv.com/internet/news/meta-earnings-quarterly-google-alphabet-record-sales-profit-2745348
#123
Rahul Gandhi To Visit Chhattisgarh Today; Lay Foundation Stone Of 'Amar Jawan Jyoti'

Raipur: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will visit Chhattisgarh's Raipur today to lay the foundation stone of 'Amar Jawan Jyoti' and inaugurate Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Bhumiheen Krishi Mazduur Yojana.
According to an official statement, Amar Jawan Jyoti will be constructed on the premises of the 4th Battalion, Chhattisgarh Armed Forces Mana, Raipur. The flame of Chhattisgarh Amar Jawan Jyoti will continue to be lit in honour of the martyrs.



"We will honour the martyrdom of the sons of Chhattisgarh who sacrificed their lives for the country by joining uniformed services, as well as the Bravehearts of the country who sacrificed their lives in Chhattisgarh through 'Chhattisgarh Amar Jawan Jyoti'," said Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.

A wall with names of Martyrs, memorial tower and VVIP platform will also be set up at Amar Jawan Jyoti in Chhattisgarh. The wall will be constructed with brown marble with the names of Martyrs engraved on the same. This crescent-shaped wall will be about 25 feet high having a length of about 100 feet, and the thickness of this wall will be 3 feet.

The memorial tower will be set up of sandstone, brown white marble granite in front of a crescent-shaped wall. A memento will be made on its top. Rifle and helmet will be in the form of insignia on the base in front of the memorial tower. The flame of Chhattisgarh Amar Jawan Jyoti will be lit in front of this symbol which will be ignited 24 hours by fuel supply through underground pipelines.

A fort-like two-storey building will be constructed just in front of the memorial tower, the length of the base of which will be 150 feet and the width will be 90 feet. The height of this building will be 40 feet.

Gandhi will also inaugurate the Chhattisgarh government's Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Bhumiheen Krishi Mazduur Yojana.

Under this scheme, the Chhattisgarh government will give annual financial aid of ₹ 6000 to rural landless families. The registration for the scheme was started last year in September.


Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/congress-leader-rahul-gandhi-to-lay-foundation-stone-of-amar-jawan-jyoti-in-chhattisgarh-today-2745984
#124
Logitech G435 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Headset Review: The Lightweight Champion

The gaming industry is ever-growing, with people clocking in thousands and thousands of hours in different types of games. Millennials and Gen-Z alike have found solace in gaming, especially during these hard times. At the start of the lockdown in 2020, we saw multiplayer games such as Among Us grow in popularity, and going into 2021, the next-generation PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and Series S consoles were launched.



This is an industry that keeps on rising and one of the many companies that have made their mark here is Logitech. The Swiss manufacturer is well known in the gaming beat for products such as gaming mice, headsets, and keyboards. The company recently launched the Logitech G435 gaming headset in India, priced at Rs. 7,495. Is this the best pair of gaming headphones you can buy under Rs.10,000 right now? I spent around two weeks with the headphones, and here's my full review.

Logitech G435 Lightspeed design and specifications
The headset follows your usual gaming aesthetics for ear cups and the headband, but without much flashiness. Personally, I am not a big fan of RGB on headsets, but many buyers want this feature and may be disappointed to find it absent. The headset is available with online retailers such as Amazon India and Flipkart, and comes in three colour variants – Off White and Lilac, Blue and Raspberry, and Black and Neon Yellow. I have the Black and Neon Yellow colour variant for review. The entire headset is black, while the buttons are neon yellow.

The left earcup has all the buttons and controls built into it, including the power on/off button which is placed just below a battery level indicator light, followed by the Volume Up and Down buttons and a Mute button. You also get dual microphones on the left earcup. Unlike most gaming headsets, Logitech has gone for beamforming microphones instead of a boom arm. There is also a USB Type-C port on the left ear cup for charging. The right earcup only has a Logitech logo and nothing else.

Gaming peripherals, particularly headphones, are notorious for being heavy, and in some cases, almost as big as your head. The G435 aims to be the opposite of that. This is probably the lightest gaming headset I have used, weighing in at 165g; for context, the HyperX Cloud Core 7.1 weighs about 300g without the boom microphone.

The entire headset is made of plastic and that is what helps keep the weight in check. Logitech also states that a minimum of 22 percent post-consumer recycled plastic content has been used in the G435. It has a frequency response ranging from 20Hz to 20KHz with an impedance of 45 Ohms. Inside the box, you can find a Lightspeed USB dongle, a USB A to USB-C cable, some user documentation, and the Logitech G435 headset itself.

The ear cups are adjustable and are installed on rails, so they can be adjusted up and down for comfort and a proper fit. However, there is no swivel. It's worth mentioning that these rails feel a bit too finicky and fragile. The headset did survive some accidental falls from a reasonable height, but I am concerned about whether it will hold up in the long run.

The memory foam on these ear cups is very comfortable, and I did not face any issues with them during long gaming sessions. The inner plastic covering the drivers isn't fabric-coated and has large openings, so you'll need to be careful about dirt entering them. The headband frame is made of plastic and does not have any cushioning, only a smooth cloth covering that pads it slightly.

While this could have been an issue if it was a heavy headset, I never faced any discomfort during my time with the Logitech G435 Lightspeed. It did fit well for me and I didn't have any comfort issues.


Source: https://gadgets.ndtv.com/audio/reviews/logitech-g435-lightspeed-price-in-india-review-wireless-gaming-headset-2745309
#125
Sensex Slips Over 150 Points, Nifty Trades Below 17,750; Tech Mahindra, IndusInd Bank, Bajaj Finserv Top Drags

New Delhi: The Indian equity benchmarks on Thursday paused a three-day winning run and traded lower in opening deals amid weak global cues. As of 9:20 am, the benchmark BSE Sensex slipped 178 points or 0.30 per cent to 59,380, while the broader NSE Nifty moved 50 points or 0.28 per cent lower to 17,731.
Asian shares were mostly weak as Japan's Nikkei index plunged 1.11 per cent and the Shanghai Composite index fell 0.97 per cent.



Mid- and small-cap shares were in the negative zone as Nifty Midcap 100 index was down 0.54 per cent and small-cap shares were trading 0.08 per cent lower.

On the stock-specific front, Tech Mahindra was the top Nifty laggard as the stock cracked 1.26 per cent to ₹ 1,464.30. IndusInd Bank, Bajaj Finserv, Bajaj Finance and HCL Tech were also among the laggards.

In contrast, Tata Consumer Products, Titan, Asian Paints, Indian Oil Corp and BPCL were among the gainers.

On BSE, the overall market breadth was positive as 1,511 shares were advancing while 967 were declining.

On the 30-share BSE platform, HDFC, Bajaj Finserv, Bajaj Finance, HCL Tech, Tech Mahindra, Infosys and IndusInd Bank attracted the most losses with their shares sliding as much as 1.52 per cent.

Also, shares of Mahindra and Mahindra Financial Services (Mahindra Finance) fell as much as 5.18 per cent to ₹ 160.25 after posting weak third quarter numbers on a sequential basis. Mahindra Finance has a profit of ₹ 992 crore for the December 2021 quarter against ₹ 1,103 crore posted in the September 2021 quarter.

Meanwhile, Titan, GAIL India, ITC, Lupin, Aditya Birla Capital and Adani Power are among the companies which will announce their December quarter results later in the day.

Sensex had rallied 696 points or 1.18 per cent to close at 59,558 on Wednesday, while Nifty had moved 203 points or 1.16 per cent higher to settle at 17,780.


Source: https://www.ndtv.com/business/stock-market-india-sensex-slips-over-150-points-nifty-trades-below-17-750-tech-mahindra-indusind-bank-bajaj-finserv-top-drags-2746091
#126
YouTube adds easy-to-access controls to its video player on iOS and Android

YouTube has started rolling out a redesigned interface for mobile that includes quick access to Like buttons and other controls. In the past, when you watch full-screen on Android and iOS, you'd have to exit landscape mode to be able to see the thumbs up and down buttons, the option to share the video and the option to add it to your playlist. It was pretty troublesome having minimize what you're watching to see those controls. As The Verge has noticed, though, you can now simply tap on the screen for all those buttons to show up at the bottom of the full-screen video. What you're watching wouldn't stop playing either.



The new controls at the bottom also give you an easy easy way to access the comments section. There's now no need to go back to portrait mode and to scroll down — just tap the comments button and the section will pop up right next to the video in landscape view. You can keep watching while scrolling viewers' comments, as well.

Google spokesperson Allison Toh told The Verge that the new user interface started making its way to Android and iOS devices on Monday, so it'll likely hit your phones soon if it hasn't yet.


Source: https://www.engadget.com/youtube-easy-to-access-controls-landscape-android-ios-102525428.html
#127
Worms NFTs were a great idea for Team17, until they weren't

It didn't take long for Team17 to cancel its NFT plans after they were announced. The British video game developer and publisher has released a statement that it's no longer working on the MetaWorms NFT project after listening to "Teamsters, development partners, and [its] games' communities, and the concerns they've expressed." It added that it has "taken the decision to step back from the NFT space."



As EuroGamer notes, the MetaWorms project was supposed to produce "limited edition" computer-generated collectibles of the company's Worms IP. They were supposed to be sold by the Reality Gaming Group that claims the ability to mint NFTs in an environmentally friendly way. One of the biggest controversies surrounding NFTs is their environmental impact due to the energy needed to sustain their blockchain activity. Team17 said that if it sold 100,000 Worm NFTs, the energy used to register them would equal "the average annual kettle usage of just 11 households."

The backlash against the project came swiftly regardless — because, really, environmental impact is just one of the many issues surrounding non-fungible tokens — and from developers Team17 had worked with in the past. Among the developers that published statements distancing themselves from NFTs are Playtonic, which published Yooka-Laylee titles under Team17, and Overcooked developer Ghost Town Games. Aggro Crab, developer of roguelike game Going Under, released a scathing statement saying it'll never work with Team17 again.

The statement did, however, implore fans not to harass Team17 employees, because they were most likely caught off guard, as well. According to Eurogamer, that's indeed the case. Several teams within the company reportedly didn't know that it had plans to release NFT collectibles, and those who did know voiced their opposition.


Source: https://www.engadget.com/worms-nft-team-17-canceled-132506893.html
#128
Google Maps explains how it tackles review bombing

Review bombing is a practice in which many people (or a few aggrieved folks with multiple accounts) barrage a product, business or service with negative reviews, usually in bad faith. That can severely damage a small or local business that relies on word of mouth. Google says millions of reviews are posted on Maps every day, and it has laid out some of the measures it employs to stamp out review bombing.



"Our team is dedicated to keeping the user-created content on Maps reliable and based on real-world experience," the Google Maps team said in a video. That work helps to protect businesses from abuse and fraud and ensures reviews are beneficial for users. Its content policies were designed "to keep misleading, false and abusive reviews off our platform."

Machine learning plays an important role in the moderation process, Ian Leader, product lead of user-generated content at Google Maps, wrote in a blog post. The moderation systems, which are Google's "first line of defense because they're good at identifying patterns," examine every review for possible policy violations. They look at, for instance, the content of the review, the history of a user or business account and whether there's been any unusual activity connected to a place (like spikes in one-star or five-star reviews).

Leader noted the machines get rid of the "vast majority of fake and fraudulent content" before any user sees it. The process can take just a few seconds, and if the models don't see any problem with a review, it'll swiftly be available for other users to read.

The systems aren't perfect, though. "For example, sometimes the word 'gay' is used as a derogatory term, and that's not something we tolerate in Google reviews," Leader wrote. "But if we teach our machine learning models that it's only used in hate speech, we might erroneously remove reviews that promote a gay business owner or an LGBTQ+ safe space." As such, the Maps team often runs quality tests and carries out additional training to teach the systems various ways some words and phrases are used to strike the balance between removing harmful content and keeping useful reviews on Maps.

There's also a team of folks that manually evaluates reviews flagged by businesses and users. Along with removing offending reviews, in some cases, Google suspends user accounts and pursues litigation. In addition, the team "proactively works to identify potential abuse risks." For instance, it might more carefully scrutinize places linked to an election.

Google often updates the policies depending on what's happening in the world. Leader noted that, when companies and governments started asking people for proof they've been vaccinated against COVID-19 before being allowed to enter premises, "we put extra protections in place to remove Google reviews that criticize a business for its health and safety policies or for complying with a vaccine mandate."

Google Maps isn't the only platform that's concerned about review bombing. Yelp prohibits users from slating businesses for requiring customers to be vaccinated and wear a mask. In its 2021 Trust and Safety report, which was released this morning, Yelp said it removed more than 15,500 reviews for violating COVID-19 rules last year.

Before it killed user reviews, Netflix dealt with review bombing issues. Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic have taken steps to address the phenomenon too.


Source: https://www.engadget.com/google-maps-review-bombing-machine-learning-153740932.html
#129
'Ghostwire: Tokyo' will arrive on March 25th

With Horizon Forbidden West, Gran Turismo 7 and Sifu on the docket for the next couple of months, PlayStation owners already had a bunch of console exclusives to look forward to in the near future. You can now add another one to your calendar. The delayed Ghostwire: Tokyo at last has a firm release date: March 25th.



The paranormal action-adventure game, which is coming to PS5 and PC, was initially supposed to arrive in late 2021, but publisher Bethesda and developer Tango Gameworks pushed it back until this spring. As spotted by Wario64 on Twitter, PlayStation noted the release date in a YouTube video description.

That video, in case you were wondering, is a Ghostwire: Tokyo showcase, which will premiere at 5PM ET on Thursday (for those keeping tabs, that's 24 hours after a State of Play focused on Gran Turismo 7). We'll soon learn much more about the game, in which you'll team up with a spirit to save a desolate Tokyo from a supernatural threat. Those who pick up the deluxe edition will get three days of early access, as well as some bonus items.

Once it's live, you'll be able to watch the showcase below.


Source: https://www.engadget.com/ghostwire-tokyo-release-date-ps5-pc-showcase-184551721.html
#130
Purdue University sues Google over mobile power management tech

Google is once again facing claims it copied others' code in Android. Purdue University has sued Google over allegations the company is knowingly violating a patent for detecting power management bugs in code. The internet giant purportedly saw an article about Professor Y. Charlie Hu's research on the subject in 2012 and incorporated related infringing code into Android Lint, an error-catching tool in what would become the Android Studio development kit.



The USPTO granted the patent in August 2019. Purdue said it notified Google of the claimed violation in August 2021, but that Google had continued to incorporate the disputed code in Android Studio as recently as this month. The school is asking for unspecified "past and future" damages from Google.

In a statement, Google told Engadget it was still examining the lawsuit, but that it would "vigorously defend" itself and "independently develop


Source: https://www.engadget.com/purdue-patent-lawsuit-google-193639790.html
#131
A new competitor to AppleCare offers cheaper insurance for smartphones

Given the steep costs, it's easy to see why some customers forgo AppleCare+, Preferred Care or similar protection plans. Dropping your phone down a stairwell or spilling liquid on it is no longer the end of the world – the newest devices are more resilient. But accidents still happen, and an out-of-warranty fix can set you back several hundred dollars. As an alternative, Zagg, a smartphone case company, unveiled a plan this week that covers repairs on most mobile devices for $99 a year.



Zagg Protect includes a $49 deductible, which you will need to pay any time you take it in for repairs. It covers both accidents and internal failures, including cracked screens, liquid damage, battery failure, power failures and more.

But the third-party plan is still much cheaper than other such device protection plans, such as AppleCare+ and Samsung Care Plus. Samsung offers one year of Samsung Care Plus for free after you purchase your device; after that the cost ranges anywhere from $4 to $13 per month. Even with that plan, a cracked screen for any Samsung mobile phone will set you back $249. The free year of AppleCare that comes with any new iPhone is extremely limited and essentially only covers malfunctions that are the manufacturer's fault. Two years of AppleCare+, which offers screen repairs on most iPhones for $29 and other accidents for $99, can still set you back anywhere between $149 to $199 for the latest models.

While Zagg's plan is significantly more extensive than most, it's not unlimited. The coverage only covers two repairs per 12-month period. You can also only use the plan at a list of authorized repair providers. Finally, the plan only covers repairs up to $500 and requires that you use a phone case.

Is a protection plan for phone repairs worth it? Thanks to the right to repair movement, consumers can opt for cheaper options like third-party repair shops and self-repair kits. While it's harder nowadays to completely obliterate your phone (see this video of a still-functioning iPhone X found in the bottom of a river), any eventual mishap can pose a serious annoyance to your daily life.

That $1,000+ device that most of us carry on our person at all times became our credit card, transportation access and vaccine passport, not to mention our sole means of contacting other humans. All told, whether or not you cough up the extra bucks for AppleCare+ or another protection plan like Zagg largely depends on your lifestyle, as well as how often you plan to upgrade.


Source: https://www.engadget.com/zagg-phone-protection-plan-applecare-alternative-215635273.html
#132
Two more AI ethics researchers follow Timnit Gebru out of Google

Google has two lost prominent members of its Ethical AI research group, reports Bloomberg. On Wednesday, researcher Alex Hanna and software engineer Dylan Baker left the company to join Timnit Gebru's Distributed AI Research Institute. Gebru founded the nonprofit in December following her controversial exit from the tech giant in 2020.



Up until the end of that year, Gebru was one of the co-leads of Google's Ethical AI research group. After publishing a paper the company said didn't meet its bar for publication, Gebru claims Google fired her. The company, however, has maintained she resigned. In February 2021, several employees left the unit in protest of Google's handling of the situation. Later that same month, the company fired Margaret Mitchell, the other co-lead of the Ethical AI research group. Hanna and Baker told Bloomberg the dismissals weighed heavily on them, and that they wanted to work with Gebru again.

"I am quitting because I'm tired," Hanna wrote on Medium after announcing her departure from the company. The post is in many ways a call to action. "In a word, tech has a whiteness problem. Google is not just a tech organization. Google is a white tech organization," Hanna writes. "More specifically, tech organizations are committed to defending whiteness through the 'interrelated practices, processes, actions and meanings,' the techniques of reproducing the organization. In this case, that means defending their policies of recruitment, hierarchization, and monetization."

The post also touches on the paper at the center of Gebru's dismissal from the company. Hanna says the claim Jeff Dean, the head of Google's AI division, made about the robustness of the company's publishing process was "laughable." She points to analysis the group Google Walkout for Real Change published in 2020. "Google management remained silent when an article on the Google Walkout page pointed out that there were many counterexamples, like how nearly half of papers in the system were approved within a day or less of the deadline," Hanna said.

Hanna and Baker told Bloomberg they also believe Google has become less willing to listen to employees in recent years. They specifically pointed to the company's pursuit of potential contracts from the Pentagon over the past and the very public objections of its workers.

"We appreciate Alex and Dylan's contributions — our research on responsible AI is incredibly important, and we're continuing to expand our work in this area in keeping with our AI Principles," A Google spokesperson told Engadget. "We're also committed to building a company where people of different views, backgrounds and experiences can do their best work and show up for one another."


Source: https://www.engadget.com/alex-hanna-dylan-baker-dair-233014682.html
#133
Aston Martin DBX707 Breaks Cover; Does 0-100 kmph In 3.3 Seconds

Aston Martin has revealed the ultra high performance DBX707 and claims that it is the fastest and most powerful iteration of the SUV. Aston Martin clearly states that the DBX707 gets 'world-beating power and pace matched by exceptional precision, dynamic flair' and we don't doubt that one bit because what's under the hood is simply exceptional.



The 4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 has been used to its full potential. Led by Aston Martin's Head of Powertrain Engineering, Ralph Illenberger, the DBX707's engine now features ball bearing turbochargers and a bespoke engine calibration to liberate more power and torque. Also new to Aston Martin's flagship high performance SUV is a 9-speed 'wet clutch' automatic transmission. Capable of managing much increased torque loadings compared with a regular torque converter automatic, this high-performance transmission allows output of the 4.0-litre V8 to be lifted to an immense 697 bhp and 900Nm, which is an increase of 155 bhp and 200Nm over the DBX (V8).

The adoption of the new wet clutch transmission brings further benefits. Most noticeably much faster gear changes compared to the torque converter transmission. The feel of the shift is more immediate and direct, which gives the driver an increased sense of control and responsiveness, and a dramatic character change from the DBX (V8). Launch capability is also improved, which contributes towards the DBX707's 0-100 kmph time of 3.3 seconds.

Integral to the DBX707's suite of performance enhancements is the standard fitment of Carbon Ceramic Brakes. Measuring 420mm front and 390mm rear, these CCB discs are gripped by 6-piston calipers and result in a 40.5kg reduction in unsprung weight. Revisions to the braking system's hydraulic sizing and booster tune improve pedal feel and braking response for greater precision and driver confidence. Improved brake cooling has been achieved by taking air from both the main cooling intake and the underfloor, with high performance brake pads delivering excellent friction consistency across a wide temperature range.


Source: https://www.carandbike.com/news/aston-martin-dbx707-breaks-cover-does-0-100-kmph-in-3-3-seconds-2744595
#134
watchOS 8.4.1 Released With Bug Fixes for Apple Watch Series 4, Newer Models

Apple is rolling out watchOS 8.4.1 update to Apple Watch users, a week after the company released watchOS 8.4. According to the company, the latest update will only be available to Apple Watch Series 4 and newer smartwatches. Apple's website reveals that watchOS 8.4.1 does not include security fixes but contains bug fixes for these Apple Watch models. The company previously released important security and bug fixes as part of watchOS 8.4 that was rolled out alongside iOS 15.3 and iPadOS 15.3 on January 26.



watchOS 8.4.1: What's new?
The Cupertino tech giant began the rollout of watchOS 8.4.1 to Apple Watch Series 4 and newer smartwatches on February 1 with the build number 19S550. With a size of 71.6MB, the update contains bug fixes for affected Apple Watch models, but the company has not specified which bugs have been fixed in the changelog for this update. Users will need to make sure their Apple Watch is charged to at least 50 percent and in range of their iPhone connected to Wi-Fi in order to install watchOS 8.4.1.

Apple has rolled out watchOS 8.4.1 just days after it released watchOS 8.4 on January 26. With the watchOS 8.4 update, Apple fixed an issue that prevented some third-party chargers from working with Apple Watch models. The previous update also included fixes for security issues on Apple Watch Series 3 and newer models, including ColorSync, Crash Reporter, iCloud, WebKit, WebKit storage, and the watchOS kernel.

Meanwhile, Apple has also been testing the latest watchOS 8.5 beta, which is scheduled to arrive alongside iOS 15.4 beta. While iPhone 12 and newer smartphones will reportedly gain the ability to use Face ID with a mask on (without an Apple Watch) with the iOS 15.4 update, watchOS 8.5 does not appear to have any notable features, according to a report by 9to5Mac.


Source: https://gadgets.ndtv.com/wearables/news/watchos-8-4-1-release-update-download-apple-watch-series-4-5-6-se-7-bug-fix-2744607
#135
Sony drops PlayStation 5 sales forecast again due to chip shortage

Sony is still struggling to make enough PlayStation 5 consoles to keep up with demand. During its key holiday fiscal quarter, it shipped 3.3 million units for a total of 17.3 million since launch, the company said in its earnings report. That's considerably behind the 20.2 million units the PS4 had managed at the same point in its life cycle.



Because of that, Sony reported 813.3 billion yen ($7.09 billion) in revenue for its gaming division, down from 883.2 billion yen ($7.703 billion) over the same quarter last year. However, operating profit rose 12.1 percent to $810 million, because Sony actually loses money on each PS5 console sold.

Sony CFO Hiroki Totoki said in an analyst webcast that people want to buy PS5 consoles, but partners can't supply components due to the ongoing chip shortage. Sony expects that situation to continue during the coming year, meaning PS5s may not be any easier to find, particularly in the first half of 2022.

Sony lowered its forecast for PS5 shipments for the fiscal year to 11.5 million units, down from 14.8 million. As such, it dropped its full year revenue estimate for its Game & Network Services (G&NS) division by 170 million yen ($1.48 billion). At the same time, it expects 6 percent more profit despite lower game sales, thanks to the aforementioned unprofitable consoles.

Sony's gaming division is its biggest money maker, accounting for around a quarter of its overall revenue and profits this quarter. However, its imaging division also fared well in fiscal Q3, with a 22 percent increase in revenue year-over-year, thanks to sales of its premium smartphone image sensors. Its movie division, meanwhile, saw a large jump in revenue to $4.02 billion due in large part to the success of Spider-Man: No Way Home.


Source: https://www.engadget.com/sony-ps5-forecast-down-chip-shortages-085523096.html
#136
'World of Warcraft' will finally let Alliance and Horde players raid together

There's always been a strict wall in World of Warcraft between Alliance and Horde players — you can only cooperate with people from your own side. Blizzard is ready to (partly) remove that barrier, though. As Polygon explains, WoW's 9.2.5 update will allow cross-faction dungeon crawls, raids and rated PvP matches. You won't be cut off from your friends just because they chose the 'wrong' allegiance for their characters.



You'll have the option to both directly invite people from an opposing faction or join premade groups in the Group Finder listings for a given event type. Group leaders can limit instances to same-faction players, however. And don't expect to be living in harmony with rivals outside of these controlled circumstances. Guilds, matchmaking-based events and the regular world will behave as usual, so you'll still need to be on your guard most of the time.

The feature is available regardless of level, although there will be a few old instances where multi-faction parties can't enter, such as Battle of Dazar'alor, Trial of the Crusader and Icecrown Citadel. They'll need to be "reworked" to eliminate single-faction elements, Blizzard said.

There's no release date for the 9.2.5 update at this stage. It's a long-requested update, and it's well-timed in a post-Battle for Azeroth environment where the Alliance and Horde have reached a delicate truce. Whether or not it boosts player counts is another story. Dexerto notes Blizzard's total monthly active base dropped by 20 million between 2017 and 2021, and WoW likely played a large role in that drop. Toss in an ongoing sexual harassment scandal and cross-faction WoW may only have a limited effect, even as it fulfills the hopes of many subscribers.


Source: https://www.engadget.com/world-of-warcraft-cross-faction-raid-214800786.html
#137
The creator of 'Shovel Knight' is making a new action-adventure game

Yacht Club Games, the developer behind the popular throwback platformer Shovel Knight, has announced a brand new IP. It's a top-down "bone-chilling action adventure" entitled Mina the Hollower that's inspired by Gothic Horror and is set in a bizarre world full of monster. The company has announced the new game at an event, where it has also launched the Kickstarter campaign to help fund its development. According to IGN, Yacht Club Games director and designer Alec Faulkner said the developer is financing a majority of the project, but it's returning to Kickstarter to build a community and get feedback from backers.



Faulkner said:

"We want your feedback, collaboration, and support in making Mina the Hollower the best game it can possibly be. That's why we're returning to our roots and kicking off Mina the Hollower's development as a Kickstarter campaign.

Though we're financing a majority of this project ourselves, we hope we can create a more expansive game this way. More importantly, we want to build a community around Kickstarter, much like we did with Shovel Knight."

Shovel Knight's Kickstarter campaign raised over $300,000 back in 2013. Yach Club has since released various DLCs, expansions and spinoffs for it and brought it to the Switch a few years after it was released.

Mina the Hollower will feature an 8-bit aesthetic in the style of Game Boy Color titles, with 60fps action combat. In it you play as Mina, an inventor who can burrow under her foes to pop up on the other side and take them down with her trusty whip. Mina belongs to Hollower guild, which is dedicated to studying the earth and its latent resources and which has members that can move faster underground.

Yacht Club has yet to reveal a launch window for Mina the Hollower, but it took over a year for Shovel Knight to make its way to backers. You'd have to pledge at least $20 for a digital copy of the game and at least $100 for a physical copy.


Source: https://www.engadget.com/shovel-knight-developer-mina-the-hollower-041336393.html
#138
Samsung Galaxy S22 Series Design, Specifications Leaked Ahead of Official Launch

Samsung Galaxy S22 series is set to launch next week, bringing the company's latest flagship phones to the market. The Galaxy S22 series includes Samsung Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+, and Galaxy S22 Ultra. Previous leaks and reports have given enthusiasts a fair idea of what to expect from Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S22 series smartphones. Official looking images of Samsung Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+, and Galaxy S22 Ultra have now been leaked online along with detailed specifications, ahead of the launch of the smartphone on February 9.



Images of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+, and Galaxy S22 Ultra were leaked by noted tipster Evan Blass, and shared by GSMArena. The images appear to be taken from the official Samsung Italy website and include images of the smartphones as well as their dimensions and screen sizes. The leaked images also show the display specifications of all three handsets, along with the chipset, camera, and charging specifications.

According to the leaked images, Samsung Galaxy S22 series will be powered by the 4nm Exynos 2200 SoC under the hood, along with the company's Xclipse GPU based on AMD RDNA 2 architecture. The Galaxy S22 series is also tipped to feature the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC in specific regions. Samsung Galaxy S22 will support 25W charging, while Galaxy S22+ and Galaxy S22 Ultra will offer 45W charging, according to the leaked images, which suggest that none of the phones will ship with an included charger.

Samsung Galaxy S22 will sport a 6.1-inch display, while Galaxy S22+ and Galaxy S22 Ultra will feature 6.6-inch and 6.8-inch displays, respectively, according to the leaked images. All three Galaxy S22 handsets will offer Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays with a refresh rate of 120Hz. Galaxy S22 Ultra's display will reportedly offer a peak brightness of 1,750 nits, while Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22+ offer a lower peak brightness of 1,300 nits.

On the camera front, Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22+ will feature a 50-megapixel primary camera, along with a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera and a 10-megapixel telephoto lens with 30x Space Zoom. Meanwhile, the flagship Galaxy S21 Ultra model will be equipped with a 108-megapixel primary camera, with a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera, a 10-megapixel telephoto camera, and a 10-megapixel periscope camera with 100x Space Zoom. Galaxy S22 Ultra will sport a 40-megapixel selfie camera, while Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22+ will come with 10-megapixel selfie cameras.

Ahead of the launch of the Galaxy S22 series, pricing details of the smartphones in the US have also been leaked. According to tipster Jon Prosser, Samsung Galaxy S22 will be priced at $799 (roughly Rs. 59,800), Galaxy S22+ will be priced at $999 (roughly Rs. 74,800), and Galaxy S22 Ultra will be priced at $1,199 (roughly Rs. 89,800) in the US.

Meanwhile, Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 has also been listed for pre-order on retail websites in France, as spotted by GSMArena, ahead of the launch of the tablet. Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 sports a 14.6-inch Super AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate. It is equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC, paired with up to 16GB RAM and 512GB of inbuilt storage and an 11,200mAh battery, and is priced at EUR 969 (roughly Rs. 81,800) for the base RAM and storage variant. Samsung is expected to launch the upcoming Galaxy S22 series alongside Galaxy Tab S8 at the Galaxy Unpacked event scheduled for February 9.


Source: https://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/news/samsung-s22-ultra-plus-display-specifications-leaked-website-tab-s8-pricing-february-9-event-galaxy-2744367
#139
OnePlus 10 Ultra Design Tipped via Alleged Patent Drawings; May Get a Periscope Lens, Secondary Display

OnePlus 10 Ultra will reportedly launch sometime this year. A fresh report suggests that the upcoming smartphone will get a periscope lens, basing the speculation off alleged patent drawings filed in September. The upcoming flagship smartphone is said to sport a secondary screen within the camera module. OnePlus 10 Ultra is also said to be powered by MediaTek Dimensity 9000 SoC, similar to the upcoming OnePlus 10R. Last month, OnePlus 10 Ultra was tipped to be in the engineering verification testing (EVT) phase signifying that it may launch soon.



As reported by MyDrivers, tipster TechInsider (@TechInsiderBlog) shared some alleged patent drawings — filed in September 2021 — of a smartphone with a different design than the OnePlus 10 Pro, and it's now being speculated it may be the upcoming OnePlus 10 Ultra. As per the report, the third sensor in the rear camera module will be a periscope lens — placed beneath the two primary rear sensors.

The report also mentions that OnePlus 10 Ultra may get a secondary display next to the periscope lens. It appears to be too small to display selfies — like on Xiaomi 11 Ultra — but it is speculated to have other users. It is also possible that it may not be a secondary display since the drawings are not very detailed. As per the drawings, the rest of the design of OnePlus 10 Ultra is quite similar to OnePlus 10 Pro.

The alleged patent drawings show the OnePlus smartphone with a curved display that has a hole-punch cutout on the top left corner and seemingly thin bezels. On the right spine, it is shown with an alert slider and a power button. The left seemingly houses the volume rocker. The bottom of the smartphone is shown with two speaker grilles and a USB Type-C port. The company has yet to announce any details about the OnePlus 10 Ultra, and we recommend readers take leaked patent drawings with a pinch of salt.

The report also mentions that OnePlus 10 Ultra may be powered by the newly launched MediaTek Dimensity 9000 SoC — also tipped to power OnePlus 10R. The upcoming OnePlus 10 Ultra is said to launch in the second half of 2022 and the rest of the specifications are said to be similar to OnePlus 10 Pro. The report also mentions that the price for OnePlus 10 Ultra will be significantly higher than OnePlus 10 Pro.

Last month, OnePlus 10 Ultra was reported to be in the EVT phase. EVT stands for engineering verification testing and is the first stage of testing a new smartphone. Post this, a smartphone heads to design verification testing (DVT) and product verification testing (PVT) phases, respectively. The report also mentions that a OnePlus smartphone may also get Oppo's in-house MariSilicon X NPU.


Source: https://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/news/oneplus-10-ultra-patent-design-leak-specifications-periscope-lens-mediatek-dimensity-9000-soc-2744372
#140
Oppo Watch Free India Launch Date Set for February 4, to Be Released Alongside Reno 7 Series

Oppo Watch Free launch date in India is set for February 4, the company announced on Tuesday. The upcoming smartwatch sports a 1.46-inch AMOLED display and features over 100 workout modes and is equipped with an optical heart rate sensor and blood oxygen saturation level (SpO2) sensor and was launched in China in September 2021. Oppo Watch Free was recently spotted on the official Indian website and will launch alongside Oppo Reno 7 and Oppo Reno 7 Pro that are also scheduled to launch on February 4.



The company on February 1 tweeted that it would launch Oppo Watch Free on February 4. Oppo is yet to reveal the pricing for the upcoming Oppo Watch Free in India. The smartwatch was launched in Quick Sand Gold and Silent Night Black colour options with a price tag of CNY 599 (roughly Rs. 7,100) in China last September.

Oppo Watch Free specifications
Oppo Watch Free is equipped with a 1.64-inch AMOLED touchscreen display with a resolution of 280x456 pixels, 2.5D curved glass, and a pixel density of 326ppi. The smartwatch packs a 230mAh battery that takes 75 minutes for a full charge and offers 14 days of battery life, according to the company. Oppo Watch Free supports smartphones running Android 6.0 or iOS 10 and later versions and supports Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) connections.

The smart wearable offers over 100 workout and sports modes including badminton, skiing, cricket, kayaking, and more. It is waterproof up to 5ATM, and can be used for swimming, according to the company. Oppo Watch Free also comes with an optical heart rate tracker and SpO2 sensor. It can automatically detect walking, running, rowing machine, and elliptical machine workouts.

Oppo Watch Free features an e-sports mode that delivers all notifications to the watch instead of the smartphone while gaming, which works on the company's smartphones such as Oppo Reno 6 series and Oppo Find X series. Users can also monitor their sleep, snoring, and track daily activity while receiving sedentary reminders. The wearable comes with over 100 watch faces and is housed in a polycarbonate and fibre frame with silicone straps. Oppo Watch Free measures 46x29.7x10.6mm and weighs 32.6 grams and 20.9 grams.


Source: https://gadgets.ndtv.com/wearables/news/oppo-watch-free-india-launch-date-february-4-specifications-features-2744496
#141
Realme Watch S100 India Launch Said to Be Planned for February, Colour Options Tipped

Realme Watch S100 alleged India launch in February and colour options have been leaked by a tipster. The rumoured watch is suggested to be a part of the Realme Watch S series that has the vanilla Realme Watch S and Realme Watch S Pro options available in the country. The latest development comes a month after a report said that Realme could launch the Realme Watch T1 in India as the wearable was spotted on the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification website.



Citing tipster Mukul Sharma, a report by MySmartPrice claimed that Realme could launch the alleged Realme Watch S100 in India later this month in Black and Grey colour options. It is expected to sport a circular dial. Other than this, there is no information regarding the wearable.

It is to be noted that Realme launched the Realme Watch S and Realme Watch S Pro in the country back in December 2020. These are the only two S series smartwatches available for purchase in India. Both the wearables have circular displays, multiple sports modes, 100 watch faces, heart-rate monitoring and blood oxygen level (SpO2) monitoring features.

Meanwhile, Realme Watch T1 was reportedly spotted on BIS last month. The listing suggests that the wearable with RMW2103 model number could make its debut in India soon. Launched in China in October, the wearable features a 1.3-inch round AMOLED display protected by a Corning Gorilla Glass. Realme has provided 4GB of onboard storage, and provides real-time heart rate monitoring as well as SpO2 monitoring. It comes with support for 110 sports modes 5ATM (50 metres) water-resistant rating. The Realme Watch T1 is claimed to juice up 90 percent of the battery in 35 minutes of charging.


Source: https://gadgets.ndtv.com/wearables/news/realme-watch-s100-launch-in-india-february-colour-options-2744526
#142
Noise ColorFit Icon Buzz Smartwatch With Bluetooth Calling, 7-Day Battery Life Launched in India

Noise ColorFit Icon Buzz has been launched in India as the latest model in the brand's ColorFit range of smartwatches. The new smartwatch comes with Bluetooth calling support that allows users to make and attend voice calls directly from their wrist, without taking out the connected phone from their pocket. The Noise ColorFit Icon Buzz also provides access to the preloaded voice assistant of your phone. Further, the smartwatch carries support for 24x7 heart rate tracking and blood oxygen monitoring.



Noise ColorFit Icon Buzz price in India, availability
Noise ColorFit Icon Buzz price in India has been set at Rs. 4,999, though the smartwatch is initially going on sale with an introductory price of Rs. 3,499. It comes in Jet Black, Midnight Gold, Olive Gold, and Silver Grey colours.

The Noise ColorFit Icon Buzz will go on sale through Amazon, Flipkart, and the Noise online store at 2pm on Wednesday, February 2.

Noise ColorFit Icon Buzz specifications
The Noise ColorFit Icon Buzz features a 1.69-inch TFT (240x280 pixels) colour display. The smartwatch is equipped with sensors to support SpO2 (blood oxygen) monitor and heart rate tracking. However, it cannot be considered as a replacement of medical equipment.

Similar to other smartwatches, the Noise ColorFit Icon Buzz is capable of delivering notification alerts for calls, text messages, emails, and weather alerts through a connected phone. The smartwatch also has Bluetooth calling that enables users to make and attend voice calls through the network available on your phone, but without requiring you to use the phone for making and receiving calls.

Users can also look at their recent call records and contacts directly from the Noise ColorFit Icon Buzz.
The Noise ColorFit Icon Buzz comes preloaded with Noise Health Suite that enables fitness tracking. The smartwatch also has nine sports modes, including cycling, running, walking, and yoga. Further, the ColorFit Icon Buzz includes two games that users can play while on-the-go.

Noise also has offered over 100 customisable watch faces that you can apply as per your preference. There is also an IP67-certified dust- and water-resistant build.

The smartwatch brings virtual music controls that you can use to control music playback from your phone. You can also use voice assistance via Google Assistant and Siri to give voice commands to your connected phone. Additionally, the smartwatch has an interchangeable 20mm silicone wrist strap.


Source: https://gadgets.ndtv.com/wearables/news/noise-colorfit-icon-buzz-price-in-india-rs-4999-3499-launch-sale-date-february-2-specifications-features-2744338
#143
MK Stalin Urges Sonia Gandhi, Other Leaders To Unite, Fight For Social Justice

New Delhi: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote a letter to several leaders across the country urging all those who believe in equality and social justice to come together. He addressed the letter to Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and 36 other leaders.
"As I write this, our unique, diverse, multi-cultural federation is under threat of bigotry and religious hegemony. These forces can only be fought if all who believe in equality, self-respect and social justice unite together," Mr Stalin wrote in the letter.



He said that the time had come to stand together in order to achieve these objectives.

"I firmly believe that the time has finally arrived to stand together as a true Union of States to achieve the aforesaid objectives. We must unite with the same conviction and purpose as we did in order to establish the Mandal Commission," he wrote.

In his Republic Day address, the DMK Chief had announced the launch of 'All India Federation for Social Justice'. This federation will be adequately represented by leaders of the depressed classes from all the states, he had said.
The path for social justice, Stalin said, was not made in a day but "painstakingly laid over the decades, stone by stone, with the sweat and blood of various trendsetters like Dr Natesanar, Dr T M Nair, Sir P Theagarayar, A T Panneerselvam and Panagal Arasar." Pointing out that the concept and need for social justice is the same, the Chief Minister said he was glad that the "seeds of social justice sown by the Dravidian movement has sprouted across the country."


Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/mk-stalin-urges-sonia-gandhi-other-leaders-to-unite-fight-for-equality-2744276
#144
Five Reasons Why HUAWEI P50 Pro and HUAWEI P50 Pocket Should Be On Your Buying List for 2022

If you are looking to buy a premium smartphone that offers innovative features while offering a great value for your money, then HUAWEI has something for you. The new smartphones by HUAWEI have everything packed to the brim that will truly impress you, and everyone around you. A smartphone in today's times isn't just about specs and features anymore but also about the design. And, HUAWEI P50 Pro and P50 Pocket boast about many major improvements in technology and user experience.



Let us look at their features closely and tell you why these flagship phones should be on your buy list.

A significant camera changes to capture detailed images

HUAWEI P50 Pro sports a Dual-Matrix camera design that supports 4K video recording and gives high-resolution images that are brighter and cleaner with more details. The camera setup in P50 Pro supports a zoom of up to 200x, which is more than one needs and is quite impressive, as one can capture faraway objects.

On the other hand, the HUAWEI P50 Pocket's camera module supports True-Chroma Image Engine and Ultra Spectrum Image Technology, which will produce clear and bright images even if you are shooting at night.

Design that will make you stand out

The P50 Pocket Premium Edition comes with a 3D micro-sculpture design which you can show off at gatherings and parties. To get such fashion chops instead of a flat surface, HUAWEI joined forces with prominent haute couture designer, Iris Van Herpen, who showcased the shadows and texture of the earth through the back panel.

HUAWEI P50 Pro comes with a bold new design which sets it apart from other smartphones. P50 Pro sports a rounded-corner design on the display and at the back, an aluminium-lithium glass that gives a premium and striking look.

Large battery which supports SuperCharge

P50 Pro packs a 4,360mAh battery which supports 66W HUAWEI SuperCharge and 50W Wireless HUAWEI SuperCharge and will charge your phone's battery fully in less than an hour.

The HUAWEI P50 Pocket packs a 4,000mAh that may last for a day. P50 Pocket supports 40W HUAWEI SuperCharge, with which you can be on the go faster and more often without hunkering down to charge.

Innovative features

The HUAWEI P50 Pocket comes with an all-new Sunscreen detection feature. This feature functions as the name sound and can be accessed easily through the Mirror app. This feature allows users to, actually, and we mean literally, check whether they have evenly applied sunscreen. Users can access this feature by double-tapping the screen to enable Pro (MONO) mode.

The HUAWEI P50 Pro comes with Super Device features which you can access with a simple swipe. The Super Device menu enables the user to explore the Control Panel, get quick access to audio playback, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth settings and easily connect to multiple devices like tablets and HUAWEI Matebook. Thanks to the Distributed File System feature, the HUAWEI P50 Pro can also function as a wirelessly connected external storage unit for the PC. If you own a HUAWEI Vision smart TV, you can transfer the MeeTime calls on it and conduct the entire call on the larger display, camera, and speakers.

Smooth user experience

Both the flagship phones run on EMUI 12 that offers a straightforward, smooth, safe and reliable experience for every kind of user, be it a working person, a kid, or a creator. Users will also get access to HarmonyOS inspired features. These features will focus on improved performance and privacy. EMUI 12 supports stepless weight adjustment, which allows users to adjust the size and weight of the font for a comfortable viewing experience.


Source: https://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/sponsored/five-reasons-why-huawei-p50-pro-and-huawei-p50-pocket-should-be-on-your-buying-list-for-2022-2744245
#145
Google Boss Sundar Pichai, On Investor Call, Shares New Focus

Alphabet Inc. Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai made his first public comments on web3, saying he is watching the blockchain space and looking at how Google's parent company can add value to development of the technology that's being embraced by many of his Silicon Valley peers.
"Any time there is innovation, I find it exciting," Mr Pichai said on Tuesday in response to a question about the technology on Alphabet's earnings call. "I think it's something we want to support the best we can."



Investors have plowed money into companies working on web3, a vision of the internet model built around cryptocurrencies and digital ownership. Many other technology companies, such as Block Inc., Meta Platforms Inc. and Twitter Inc., have embraced this fervor with plans for payments, coins or services that incorporate digital tokens. Google has largely stayed quiet on the topic.

"We are definitely looking at blockchain," Mr Pichai added. "It's such an interesting and powerful technology with broad applications." He cited a recent announcement Google's cloud division made to win more contracts with companies working on "digital assets." Google has also started its own team working on blockchain. Mr Pichai didn't mention cryptocurrencies, which the company currently doesn't accept for its ads or payments service.


Source: https://www.ndtv.com/business/google-boss-sundar-pichai-on-investor-call-shares-new-focus-2744244
#146
'Bloodborne' PC demake reimagines the game as a PS1 title

Bloodborne, a game famous for being notoriously difficult to beat, was released in 2015 for the PS4 with modern graphics and visuals. Over the past 13 months, though, game programmer Lilith Walther created a version of the title that makes it look like it was released way back in the 90's for the first PlayStation. Bloodborne PSX reimagines the Victorian city of Yharnam in the art style commonly seen in games from that console era. The blocky and pixelated graphics with the colored health bars would sure look very familiar to a generation of gamers who used to play on the PS1.

https://youtu.be/9Pz_T6Kog6k

The demake only covers some parts of the whole game, but it does give players access to 10 hunter weapons they can use to slay enemies — some even slow down the game's frame rate as one would expect to happen on a real PS1 title. As Polygon notes, Walther posted updates about the undertaking on Twitter for over 13 months, including one wherein she revealed that the music creator for the project remade the Cleric Beast boss music using a real Roland SC-88 Pro for authenticity.

Bloodborne PSX is now available as a free download for Windows PC. Players can use a keyboard and a mouse for controls, but they can also dust off their old PS1 controllers and use that instead. Those interested can get a glimpse of the demake below.


Source: https://www.engadget.com/bloodborne-demake-psx-123542004.html
#147
Apple's M1 Pro and Max chips are living up to the hype

It's now been three months since Apple brought its own silicon to its pro-grade laptops. As we said in our review, the M1 Pro and Max are fantastically capable chips that offer more than enough performance for the vast majority of users.

https://youtu.be/APbYu5QxiXI

But for our explainer show Upscaled, we wanted to go a little deeper, with a suite of benchmarks that really push the Pro and Max to their limits, as well as some requests that our readers really wanted to see. Ever wondered how long it takes to open a 100MB Excel file?

Watch the video above for the full story, and we'll see you for the next episode soon.


Source: https://www.engadget.com/apple-m1-max-pro-benchmark-suite-upscaled-video-130001189.html
#148
HBO Max will expand to 15 more European countries on March 8th

HBO Max will soon be available in 15 more countries as part of the platform's gradual global rollout. Folks in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia can start using the service starting on March 8th.



Once WarnerMedia flips the switch in those locations, HBO Max will be officially accessible in 61 territories across Europe and the Americas, following its debut in Spain, Andorra and four Nordic nations in October. The service will arrive in six more European countries, including Greece and Turkey, later this year.

Word of the second phase of the HBO Max European rollout comes as AT&T announced more details of its plan to spin off WarnerMedia as a separate company as part of the proposed merger with Discovery. AT&T's shareholders will still own 71 percent of Warner Bros. Discovery (as the new company will be called). They'll receive 0.24 shares for each share of AT&T they own. Existing Discovery shareholders will own around 29 percent of the new endeavor.

AT&T expects the move to be completed in the second quarter of 2022. There's talk that HBO Max and Discovery+ may be combined into a single service after the deal closes.


Source: https://www.engadget.com/hbo-max-europe-rollout-warnermedia-att-151735951.html
#149
Google Messages begins displaying iMessage reactions as emoji

Pretty soon, you'll no longer have to see those weird reaction texts from your iPhone-using friends. Google has started rolling out a feature for Messages that translates iMessaging "Tapbacks" as emojis, according to 9to5Google. The publication first discovered the experimental feature in a deep dive of the Google Messages beta app last year. It's unclear where it'll come out for the stable version, but If you're using the beta app, you'll get the update that enables it soon enough.



When iPhone users react to messages sent from an Android device, the recipient gets text interpretations of that reaction. A "thumbs up" to a text that says "see you in ten?" will be translated to "liked 'see you in ten?'", for instance. It can make the chat thread a bit cluttered and confusing.

With this new update, the Android user receives emojis instead, though as 9to5Google notes, they're not exact translations of the actual reactions. A "heart" reacts yields the "face with the heart eyes," for instance, while the exclamation mark reaction sends the recipient the "face with the open mouth" emoji. When you tap on the emoji, a note pops up explaining that it was "Translated from iPhone," along with the sender's name.

The feature is enabled by default, but users can toggle it off if they want by going to Advanced under the Messages' Settings and switching off "Show iPhone reactions as emoji."


Source: https://www.engadget.com/google-messages-imessage-reactions-emoji-134015919.html
#150
Gmail's new 'integrated view' is coming to Workspace users February 8th

You'll soon have a chance to try Google's simplified, integrated Gmail update in the (virtual) workplace. Google is making the new "integrated view" available to Workspace users as an opt-in choice starting February 8th. Don't expect to hold out for long if you prefer the existing view, though. Users will start seeing the new look by default no later than April, and by the end of the second quarter (that is, June), it will be the "standard experience" with no chance to go back.



The second quarter will also bring the "streamlined" web-based Chat client. Google has promised more exact timing in the months ahead.

The integrated view is meant to help you jump between mail, chats and meetings without switching tabs. You'll eventually have unified email and chat search results. Google is counting on notification "bubbles" to alert you to issues that need prompt action. This ideally provides a clearer focus, not to mention a less cobbled-together interface than you see today — albeit without the convenience of having everything on one screen in some cases.

Google's move also appears to be a partial response to rivals like Microsoft Outlook. The rework casts Gmail as a more cohesive, do-it-all app that helps replace Outlook for recent converts to Workspace. It's not clear the update will have that effect, but Google is at least confident enough that it's willing to transition its work customers within several months.


Source: https://www.engadget.com/google-gmail-workspace-integrated-view-release-date-173204584.html