IND

Trending Now

Tech

OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G gets a Significant price cut in India, now available under ₹20,000.

by Leave a Comment

OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite runs on OxygenOS 13, Snapdragon 695 chipset, up to 8GB RAM, and 256GB storage, features 16MP front camera, and supports 3.5mm headphone jack.

OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G

OnePlus has significantly slashed the price of its budget Nord CE 3 Lite 5G smartphone, making both the 128GB and 256GB variants of the smartphone available under the ₹20,000 price segment.

OnePus Nord CE 3 Lite new price:

The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite was launched last year at a price of ₹19,999 for the 8GB RAM/256GB storage base variant while the 256GB storage variant was unveiled at ₹21,999. However, after the latest price cut, the 128GB version of the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite is now available at a price of ₹17,999 while the 256GB storage variant starts from ₹19,999.

The smartphone is available in 2 colour options: Chromatic Gray and peppy Pastel Lime.

OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G specifications:

OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G comes with a 6.72-inch LCD display with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate. The smartphone comes powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset and is available with up to 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage.

The phone runs on the company’s own OxygenOS 13 based on Android 13 operating system. It includes a 200% ultra-volume mode. In terms of optics, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite features a triple camera setup to the back with a 108MP primary camera, a 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth camera. The budget smartphone also houses a 16MP shooter to the front to handle all the selfie and video call-relat requirements.

OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite is backed by a 5,000mAh battery that supports 67W SuperVOOC fast charging, and it includes both a Type-C port for charging and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Pastel Lime and Chromatic Gray are the colour variants of the phone.

This Article Was Originally Published on Hindustantimes News!

Also Read : PM Modi launches Multiple development Projects in Jammu, says ‘Article 370 was main hurdle!

Some OnePlus 12R users can get a full refund on their phones but only for a limited time

by Leave a Comment

OnePlus has announced a limited-time opportunity for OnePlus 12R buyers to receive a full refund due to an inadvertent error in the handset’s storage configuration listing. Here are the details, including when this offer will expire.

In Short

  • OnePlus has announced full refund for the OnePlus 12R smartphone.
  • Customers who want to claim the refund have time until March 16.
  • The OnePlus 12R was recently announced in India for Rs 39,999.

OnePlus has announced a limited-time opportunity for OnePlus 12R buyers to receive a full refund due to an inadvertent error in the handset’s storage configuration listing. Customers who opted for the higher storage variant (256GB) of the OnePlus 12R are eligible for this refund offer, valid until mid-March. Here is everything you need to know.

The confusion arose when OnePlus accidentally advertised the recently launched OnePlus 12R with UFS 4.0 storage instead of the intended UFS 3.1 specification, aligning with the base storage option. The OnePlus 12R, which was introduced alongside the flagship OnePlus 12 model, boasts of impressive specifications including a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, a top-notch screen, a massive battery with fast charging support, and more.

In a statement issued by OnePlus President and COO Kinder Liu, it was clarified that customers who purchased the 256GB storage variant of the OnePlus 12R have until March 16 to initiate a refund request. Liu emphasized that the company’s customer service teams are fully briefed on the matter, ready to assist buyers through the refund process.

Those who want to claim the refund offer will have to reach out to OnePlus’ customer service to discuss the file system discrepancy and initiate the return process. This one-month refund window provides affected customers with an opportunity to rectify the situation and obtain full reimbursement for their OnePlus 12R purchase. This is a really good decision as many companies fail to provide a resolution to customers’ issues.

To recall, the OnePlus 12R was launched in India with a starting price of Rs 39,999 in India. It runs on Android 14-based OxygenOS 14. The device packs a 6.78-inch LTPO 4.0 AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection. The new 5G phone is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, which is backed by up to 16GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage.

In terms of imaging capabilities, the OnePlus 12R features a 50-megapixel Sony IMX890 sensor primary camera. It is accompanied by an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera and a 2-megapixel macro camera. Additionally, you will see a 16-megapixel front-facing selfie camera as well. There is also a typical 5,000mAh battery with 100W SuperVOOC charging support. It is worth noting that OnePlus is one of the few top brands that is still bundling a charger in the retail box with all smartphones. And the OnePlus 12R is not an exception here. You get a fast charger in the box along with the device.

This article was published on India Today.

Also, read Farmer protest: Live updates: Farmers will march on Delhi after rejecting the Center’s five-year MSP plan!

OpenAI Sora creates videos: What is it, how you can use it, is it available and other questions answered

by Leave a Comment

OpenAI has generated significant excitement with the unveiling of its latest AI model, Sora, capable of producing minute-long videos from text prompts. While the results are intriguing, many questions remain unanswered. In this article, we address all of them.

OpenAI Sora

In Short

  • OpenAI unveils Sora, a new AI model that creates realistic videos from text prompts.
  • Sora builds on DALL·E and GPT models, can animate static images and generate complex scenes.
  • Currently, Sora is accessible only to red team members and select artists for feedback.

OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, created some big waves on the internet on Friday as it unveiled its new AI model, Sora, which can create minute-long videos from text prompts. But why is Sora creating such a buzz when there are so many other AI tools available that do the same? It is because of how well Sora is able to do it –– or so it seems from the results that have been shared by Open AI Sam Altman and other limited testers of the AI model. So far, the videos generated by Sora that we have been seeing are super-realistic and detailed.

“We’re teaching AI to understand and simulate the physical world in motion, with the goal of training models that help people solve problems that require real-world interaction,” says OpenAI in a Sora blog post.

What is OpenAI Sora?

Sora is an AI model developed by OpenAI –– built on past research in DALL·E and GPT models –– and is capable of generating videos based on text instructions, and can also animate a static image, transforming it into a dynamic video presentation. Sora can create full videos in one go or add more to already created videos to make them longer. It can produce videos up to one minute in duration, ensuring high visual quality and accuracy.

OpenAI says Sora can generate complex scenes with various characters, precise actions, and detailed backgrounds. Not only does the model understand the user’s instructions, but it also interprets how these elements would appear in real-life situations.

“The model has a deep understanding of language, enabling it to accurately interpret prompts and generate compelling characters that express vibrant emotions. Sora can also create multiple shots within a single generated video that accurately persist characters and visual style,” OpenAI said in a blog post.

Also read: Honor X9b review: A mid-range smartphone with ‘super’ display!

Is it available, and how can you use it?

Sora is currently only accessible for red team members –– experts in areas such as misinformation, hateful content, and bias –– to examine critical areas for potential problems or risks. Additionally, OpenAI is granting access to visual artists, designers, and filmmakers to collect feedback on enhancing the model. However, the company definitely has the intention to make the model available to all users eventually. A statement from the blog reads, “We’re sharing our research progress early to start working with and getting feedback from people outside of OpenAI and to give the public a sense of what AI capabilities are on the horizon.”

Is OpenAI Sora safe?

OpenAI has addressed the elephant in the room. If Sora is able to generate videos that are so realistic, is it safe to rollout to the public?

OpenAI says that it plans to implement several important safety measures before integrating Sora into OpenAI’s products. This involves working closely with red teamers, who are experts in fields like misinformation, hateful content, and bias. They will rigorously test the model to uncover potential weaknesses. OpenAI will also create tools to identify misleading content, such as a detection classifier capable of recognising videos created by Sora.

Additionally, OpenAI will adapt existing safety procedures developed for products like DALL·E 3, which are relevant for Sora. For example, their text classifier will screen and reject input requests that violate usage policies, such as those containing extreme violence, sexual content, or hateful imagery. The company has established robust image classifiers to review every frame of generated videos to ensure compliance with usage policies before user access.

OpenAI is also actively collaborating with policymakers, educators, and artists worldwide to address concerns and explore the positive applications of this new technology.

“We’ll be engaging policymakers, educators and artists around the world to understand their concerns and to identify positive use cases for this new technology. Despite extensive research and testing, we cannot predict all of the beneficial ways people will use our technology, nor all the ways people will abuse it. That’s why we believe that learning from real-world use is a critical component of creating and releasing increasingly safe AI systems over time,” OpenAI said in a blog post about Sora.

Honor X9b review: A mid-range smartphone with ‘super’ display!

by Leave a Comment

The Honor X9b has a great screen and excellent battery life but it makes some compromises in other departments. How does the phone fare against it competitors?

After being away from the Indian market for three years, Honor came back in 2023 with a mid-range phone. Now, the company is launching its mid-tier Honor X9b.

The Honor X9b comes at a time when the smartphone market is quite mature and fairly saturated. If you want to spend around Rs 25,000 on an Android phone, it is very unlikely that you will be stuck with a truly bad one unless you are intentionally deciding to make poor choices. That puts most smartphone makers in a quandary — how do you convince your customers that your slab of glass is better than the ones sold by everyone else?

Honor X9b: Display is king

With the X9b, Honor has seemingly decided to pin its hopes on what it is calling the “ultra-bounce anti-drop display,” which the company claims can withstand “1.2 times the impact of a drop, whatever that means.

The truth of the matter is that I am not quite equipped to do the kind of specialised testing to see if those claims are true. Honor says that the X9b is the “first phone to get a five-star overall drop resistance certification from Switzerland’s SGS.”Certifications like this are meaningless unless they provide a benchmark to compare against. What I can say for the phone is that my clumsy self dropped it twice — once from my bed a foot or two above the ground and one from my table that is less than a metre above the ground. There was no damage.

Also, my friend’s pet cockatiel Kiwi took a liking to perching on the phone when I held it up around him. Kiwi’s sharp claws scratch my shoulder when he sits on it, but it did nothing to the phone. Of course, I am not sure how much of that can be attributed to the applied screen protector and the free transparent case that comes with the phone.

Also Read: Find the Best SmartPhones of 2024!

But there is one thing that I can say about the screen. It is brilliant.

The massive 6.7-inch screen has a 2652×1200 (1.5k resolution), giving it a very high pixel density of 429 pixels per inch. The sides of the phone’s screen curve away from the user in a way that reminds me of the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. Maybe that is not what you remember that phone for.

I am usually sceptical about phones that have a curved display because I am not sure how well they deal with palm rejection but that did not seem to be an issue here. That may be because the actual screen does not really curve as much as the glass’s design makes it appear.

The hole punch cutout for the selfie camera is centred on the top, and the bottom bezel or the “chin” of the phone, is only slightly larger than the one at the top. But that did not distract me from the screen that I was glued to for hours on an end. Everything from Instagram reels to movies on Amazon Prime and anime looked crystal clear on the sharp display. It also seemed to be more than capable of reproducing colours very accurately.

Honor X9b: Performs honourably enough

The phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset. That is a bit of a disappointment considering that the Realme 12 Pro Plus, [which is similarly priced] comes with a Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset. The Honor X9b comes with 8GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage.

But that was more than capable of handling most of the mundane tasks I was able to throw at it. It got a score of 4,97,480 when I ran version 10.2.1 of the AnTuTu benchmark, which is far from impressive. But benchmarks don’t always give the full picture and the phone was more than sufficient for the mundane tasks that I threw at it.

Also Read: Ishan Kishan misses another round of Ranji Trophy despite BCCI secretary Jay Shah’s ‘red ball cricket’ directive

While it was good enough for things that most average users would need a smartphone for, I would not recommend it if gaming is a major concern for you. The phone sometimes struggled with SimCity, a relatively light game, when I played it for extended periods of time or even switched between it and other apps. The back of the phone also got warm to the touch.

But otherwise, the smooth UI animations and the 120 Hz refresh rate combine for a very fluid daily usage experience. I am not the greatest fan of Honor’s MagicOS after using Samsung’s OneUI and OnePlus’s OxygenOS for years. However, this disdain was something I got past within just days of receiving the phone.

Another thing that impressed me was the one-and-a-half day’s worth of usage I got out of a full charge of the 5,800 mAh battery. I removed all the app timers I usually use, and this meant multiple hours spent watching media on Instagram and scrolling through Twitter and Reddit. Thanks to this phone, I am no longer worried about leaving my phone charger back at home or at the office. I know the phone can get me through the day

Honor X9b: Big and unwieldy

So, the phone has a great screen and a great battery and gives a good software user experience. But after that, things slowly start unravelling for the Honor X9b. To begin with, there is the sheer size of it. I don’t have small hands by any means but I really struggle to use the smartphone one-handed. Also, the lock button and the volume button are placed absurdly close together for a phone of this size, and I found myself hitting the wrong button many times, even after using the phone for a week.

Also Read: Viral video: Zookeeper dares to sit amongst boxful of massive pythons, internet is shocked

It is not that the phone is particularly heavy. It is not. It is also not too thick. But reaching small UI elements on different parts of the massive screen can get quite inconvenient without shuffling the phone around your palm. It also got quite uncomfortable in my front pocket whenever I rode my motorcycle, restricting my movement a fair bit.

Then there is the design. The review unit I got is called the “Midnight Black” variant. This gives you a black plastic back that is fairly reflective. I do not mind the colour or even the use of plastic, since there is no way I will use any phone without a case. The problem is the camera bump.

The camera bump is dominated by two concentric gold circles that dominate the top half of the back of the phone. In the middle of the inner circle are printed the words “Matrix AI Vision Camera.” (We will get to that in a bit. Honor claims that it incorporated “high-end watch design” on the phone. I do not see any way that can be true unless the high-end watches were found in Palika Bazaar. Overall, the gold circles and the printed text combine for a very tacky look in my opinion. But looks are subjective and I am sure many will like the aesthetic that Honor is going for. Also, even though I haven’t seen it in person, the faux leather back of the Sunrise Orange variant might work better with the bling on the back.

Also, because of the way in which the cameras are placed on the island in the back, if you switch from the normal telephoto lens to the wide-angle module, you get a completely different angle, especially if you are very close to the subject in question. That brings us to the camera.

Also Read: Treasurer Ajay Maken explains why the IT department blocked the bank accounts of Congress!

Honor X9b: Average cameras

The 108 MP “AI Vision Camera” on the phone gives me full faith that artificial intelligence or even artificial general intelligence will never take over the world. The camera system on the phone is quite a hit or miss, with an emphasis on the latter.

That is quite heartbreaking for me because the main 108 MP camera seems formidable in some situations. The image below was taken at  5.43 PM in the evening, and the lighting conditions were ideal. I love how it reproduced many of the colours faithfully despite so many things happening in the image.

But the camera is not good even when conditions are ideal. The image of the white flower below was taken with natural light at around 8 AM. Again, the lighting conditions were ideal. I even tapped on the flower in the viewfinder and dragged down the exposure. But despite that, the flower was overexposed and the image lost most of the details of the subject. The built-in AI mode on the camera identified that a flower was the subject but seemed to be unable to do anything about it. The results were pretty much equally as bad with AI on or off.

You can see the same thing happening again in this photo I took just ten minutes later. If you ignore the blur caused by the pigeons’ movements, you will see that the white pigeon once again seems to be overexposed, having nowhere near the amount of detail that you can see for the darker-coloured pigeon right next to it.

Also Read: Today’s stock market: An explanation of the 13% increase in SpiceJet’s share price!

Honor X9b verdict

Many of the Honor X9b’s shortcomings are put into context by its price tag. At an event in Noida on Thursday, the company launched the phone on Amazon, at a starting price of Rs 25,999. If you have an ICICI bank card, you can get a Rs, 3,000 discount to take the price to Rs 22,999.

This places it squarely against the Realme 12 Pro, which costs the same and has the same processor, and the Poco X6 Pro, which costs Rs 1,000 more but comes with what seems like a much better processor. Pitted against its competition, the Honor X9b clearly wins the aesthetics race. The camera island on the back and the muted Midnight Black shade looked tasteful and understated in comparison.

This Article Was Originally Published On indianexpress!

Also Read: Meet Tees Maar Khan, man whose name inspired popular idiom, he was royal from…

Honor X9b, Choice Watch, and Choice X5 earbuds launched in India: Price and other details

by Leave a Comment

The Honor X9b has been launched in India under Rs 30,000. This is the second 5G smartphone from the brand after Honor made its comeback in India last year. Here are the prices and other details.

Honor X9b

The Honor X9b has been launched in India under Rs 30,000. This is the second 5G smartphone from the brand after Honor made its comeback in India last year. The company has also taken wraps off its first smartwatch, which is called Honor Choice Watch. Alongside these two products, Honor also announced its budget Choice X5 wireless earbuds. Here is everything you need to know about the latest Honor products.

Honor X9b, Watch, Choice X5 earbuds launched: India prices

The Honor X9b is priced at Rs 25,999 in India, which is for the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage model. As part of the launch, the company has announced a bank offer as well. With ICICI bank cards, one will be able to buy the Honor smartphone at an effective price of Rs 22,999. The sale will take place on February 16 at 12:00PM. The Honor Choice Watch will be on sale for Rs 5,999, whereas its new set of wireless earbuds will be available with a price tag of Rs 1,999. The watch will be up for sale on February 24, and the earbuds will be available starting February 16.

Honor X9b: Specs, features

The newly launched Honor X9b has a curved panel and slim profile. There is a punch-hole cutout on the front for a single selfie camera. The back has a triple camera setup, which is accompanied by a flash. It even has a leather finish on the rear panel, which should offer a good grip on the device.

The Honor X9b features a 6.78-inch 1.5K curved AMOLED screen. It is powered by a Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 SoC under the hood, similar to the newly launched Realme 12 Pro. It is backed by 12GB of RAM. For optics, there is a triple rear camera setup, including a 108-megapixel main sensor, a 5-megapixel sensor, and a 2-megapixel camera. Under the hood, the device features a 5,800mAh battery. This is a bigger unit compared to the current industry standard, and if the software is well-optimized, then we can expect better battery life. You can wait for our detailed review to know more about it.

You don’t get a charger in the retail box along with the smartphone. As part of the launch, the company is offering a charger for free with the phone for a limited period. Additionally, there is a single speaker on this device, which one will find at the bottom side.

Honor Choice X5 earbuds: Features

The Honor Choice X5 earbuds offer 30dB Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and the company is also claiming that people will get up to 35 hours with the case. This one has an in-ear design and there will also be a companion app.

Honor Choice Watch: Features

The new Honor Choice Watch comes with a 1.95-inch AMOLED Ultra-thin display, built-in GPS, one-click SOS calling, and up to 12 days of claimed battery life. There is also a built-in Honor Health app, which the company says is designed to “monitor health benefits.” Here, one will also find outdoor and fitness activities with 120 workout modes, as per the details revealed by Honor. It also features 5 ATM water resistance, so the brand is claiming that users will be able to use the watch while swimming and surfing. The brand is claiming that consumers will get up to 12 days of battery life with this watch.

iQOO executive admits that the Neo 9 Pro prioritizes camera quality above lens count as launch draws near!

by Leave a Comment

iQOO prioritises camera quality in Neo 9 Pro with Sony IMX920 sensor, VCS colour grading, and AI night mode. Fewer cameras but better performance promised.

iQOO

As iQOO gears up to launch its next performance-oriented mid-range smartphone – the company is emphasising the camera capabilities of the device. This isn’t the case with many smartphones in this range. IndianExpress.com got in touch with Shankar Singh Chauhan, product manager at iQOO India, to understand more about the camera prowess of the Neo 9 Pro.

Chauhan said, “This time we have significant improvement in the camera performance of the iQOO Neo 9 Pro compared to its predecessor, especially in the main camera, which now uses the Sony IMX920 sensor, a sensor used on the flagship Vivo X100.” He also confirmed that the iQOO Neo 9 Pro will be priced under Rs 40,000, which will make it one of the most affordable Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC-powered smartphones in the country.

Also Read: An important test for the Marines’ underwater missile-delivery drone occurs this month!

When asked why the iQOO Neo 9 Pro has fewer cameras compared to its predecessor, Chauhan said, “according to the feedback we received, consumers didn’t want more low-quality cameras like the 2 MP macro. Hence, this time, we have reduced both the size of the camera module and the number of cameras, and this Phone is only includes a main camera and an ultra-wide-angle lens.” Last year’s iQOO Neo 7 Technology Pro had a triple camera setup with a 2 MP macro lens.

Talking about some of the prominent camera features of iQOO Neo 9 Pro, the spokesperson highlighted that the device comes with both hardware and software camera enhancements, which include Vivo’s VCS colour grading technology that reduces the noise and offers more natural-looking colours. The device also has AI-powered night mode, which helps capture clearer skies even in low-light situations.

Chauhan added that the iQOO Neo 9 Pro, with its dedicated Supercomputing Chip Q1, enables experiences like 144fps gaming through the game frame interpolation technique on select games, and it also enhances the gaming resolution to 900p.

This Phone is launching in India on February 22, and the device will compete against other performance-oriented smartphones like the recently launched OnePlus 12R (review), which is also based on the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC. This is already available for pre-order on Amazon, and the listing confirms that the smartphone will be available in at least two colour variants.

Other prominent features include a dual-tone design, Sony IMX920 sensor-powered primary camera, 5,160 mAh battery with support for 120W fast charging, 6.78-inch FHD+ 144Hz LTPO display with up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness, and up to 12 GB of RAM with 256 GB of internal storage.

Also Read: Court asks govt to retest samples of Ghaziabad-based firm’s polio Vaccine!

This article was originally published on indianexpress!

IPhone 16 Pro Max leaks: From longest-ever battery life to state-of-the-art camera, everything we know so far!

by Leave a Comment

The iPhone 16 Pro Max is rumored to have a larger battery, improved camera with a larger sensor size, and potential display sizes of 6.27 and 6.86 inches. It may also feature the Apple A18 bionic chipset and up to 8GB of RAM.

IPhone 16 Pro Max

There is still plenty of time for the launch of the iPhone 16 series, considering that the iPhone 15 series was unveiled at the Wonderlust event just over 5 months ago. However, the rumour mills have been filled with one leak after another about Apple’s upcoming smartphone series and the iOS 18 operating system that will power it.

According to a post by Naver user “yeux1122” cited by Macrumors, the iPhone 16 Pro Max will feature a larger battery and is expected to deliver the “longest battery life ever seen on an iPhone”.

The report while citing supply chain sources notes that the iPhone 16 Pro Max will house a 5% larger battery than its predecessor. Although the actual increase in battery size may not be that large, the report notes that efficiency boosts can help improve the device’s battery performance. 

Other rumours about the iPhone 16 Pro Max include the addition of the Apple A18 bionic chipset and up to 8GB of RAM. Moreover, the report claims that Apple has improved the manufacturing process for the Pro devices’ titanium frame while reducing costs. 

An earlier report by Macrumors had also hinted that the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max may boast larger displays, potentially reaching unprecedented sizes of 6.27 and 6.86 inches, respectively, setting new benchmarks for screen real estate on iPhones.

Camera upgrades: 

Meanwhile, another report from Sparrownews suggests that the iPhone 16 Pro Max will feature a 1/1.14-inch Sony IMX903 primary sensor. The report notes that the increase in sensor size will lead to a significant improvement in the detail and clarity of images, even in difficult lighting conditions.

The camera in iPhone 16 Pro models may also feature the use of 1MG+7P moulded glass-plastic modules, which are expected to lead to an improvement in the optical performance of the lens.

Another notable design shift is expected to be the introduction of a vertical camera layout in the base iPhone 16 series models. This move away from the diagonal camera arrangement seen in the iPhone 15 could pave the way for innovative features such as Spatial Video Recording.

This article is part of Hindustantimes News!

Also Read : Ashok Chavan likely to join BJP, day after quitting Congress!

WhatsApp gears up for third-party app Integration ahead of EU’s Digital Markets Act: Report!

by Leave a Comment

WhatsApp is reportedly preparing to introduce third-party messaging app integration on its platform in compliance with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) by March. The parent company Meta is also working on integrating support for additional chat apps into Messenger!

In anticipation of the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), WhatsApp, a Meta-owned messaging platform, is reportedly gearing up to introduce third-party messaging app integration on its platform. The move aims to comply with the EU’s directive, which mandates dominant platforms, including WhatsApp and Messenger, to open their services to other chat applications by March.

In a conversation with Wired, Dick Brouwer, an engineering director at WhatsApp, talked about the company’s preparedness to enable interoperability for third-party applications while upholding rigorous standards in terms of privacy, security, and integrity. Brouwer conveyed satisfaction with the current strategy, expressing, “I believe we are quite pleased with the position we’ve reached.”

Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, is also actively working on integrating support for additional chat apps into Messenger. The initial focus will be on one-on-one chats, allowing users to exchange text, audio, video, images, and files across different apps. This feature will be accessible through a new sub-menu labeled “Third-party chats,” according to earlier reports by WABetaInfo.

Brouwer, who played a key role in implementing end-to-end encryption for Messenger last year, emphasized that the integration will be opt-in to mitigate potential issues with spam and scams. Users will have the choice to participate in exchanging messages with third parties, addressing concerns related to unwanted communication.

Companies seeking interoperability with Meta’s platform will be required to enter into agreements, although specific details remain undisclosed. WhatsApp will enforce end-to-end encryption for the integration, with the terms possibly influenced by Apple’s recent modifications to the App Store.

During a talk, Matthew Hodgson, the founder of the open-source messaging protocol Matrix, revealed that Matrix has collaborated with WhatsApp on an “experimental” basis to maintain end-to-end encryption. However, it remains uncertain if other messaging platforms such as Telegram, Viber, and Google are planning similar interoperability with WhatsApp.

Brouwer cautioned that achieving feature parity between third-party chats and WhatsApp’s native chats might be challenging, as interoperability introduces potential new privacy and security concerns. As the enforcement of the EU DMA approaches, WhatsApp aims to strike a delicate balance between openness and safeguarding user experience.

This article is sourced from Hindustantimes News!

Also Read : Mobile Services Suspended in Pakistan due to Security threats!

Lava launches New Smartphone with 128GB storage, 6.5-inch display!

by Leave a Comment

Starting at Rs 6,799, Yuva 3 will be available in three colour variants — Eclipse Black, Cosmic Lavender and Galaxy White across Lava’s retail network and Lava e-store starting February 10!

Lava launches New Smartphone

Domestic smartphone brand Lava on Friday launched a new smartphone — Yuva 3, with 128GB storage, a 6.5-inch HD+ Punch Hole display and stylish design.

Starting at Rs 6,799, Yuva 3 will be available in three colour variants — Eclipse Black, Cosmic Lavender and Galaxy White across Lava’s retail network and Lava e-store starting February 10.

Customers will be able to buy the latest Yuva 3 starting from February 7 on Amazon. It will be available for customers with two storage options 64GB and 128GB.

“With its Premium Design, seamless user experience powered by stock Android 13 (with a guaranteed upgrade to Android 14), and 2-year security updates, it caters to the evolving demands. The Triple AI Camera make Yuva an all-inclusive solution, perfectly aligned with the needs of today’s users,” Sumit Singh, Product Head, Lava International Limited, said in a statement.

The new smartphones come loaded with features such as a Premium back design with a side fingerprint sensor, 4+4(Virtual) GB RAM + 64GB/128GB UFS 2.2 ROM, 18W Fast Charging with Type-C USB Cable, 13MP Triple AI rear camera with 5MP front camera for a superior photography experience and selfies, bottom-firing speaker, stock Android 13 and face unlock feature for enhanced security, among others.

The device also comes powered by a UNISOC T606 Octa-core Processor, a 5000 mAh battery, and a 90Hz refresh rate.

It also offers two years of assured security updates and a guaranteed Android 14 upgrade, according to the company.

This article is sourced from DNA India News!

Also Read: India vs England Live Score 2nd Test, Day 1: Rajat Patidar out but Yashasvi Jaiswal nears 150!

Google spent ₹17,500 crore to lay off 12,000 employees!

by Leave a Comment

Google parent Alphabet announced plans to cut 12,000 job in January 2023, biggest in its history.

google

Google incurred $2.1 billion (around ₹17,500 crore) in severance and related expenses during its 2023 layoffs, which affected over 12,000 employees. In this month alone, the company has already spent $700 million on severance charges for additional layoffs, encompassing more than 1,000 roles. Alphabet, the parent company of Google, disclosed these figures in its fourth-quarter earnings release on Tuesday.

In January 2023, Alphabet announced plans to cut 12,000 jobs, or 6 per cent, of its global workforce. This was the biggest layoff in the history of Google, but was “essential” for the company, chief executive Sundar Pichai had said earlier.

Alphabate posts double-digit revenue growth in 4th quarter

Google’s parent company reported a noteworthy return to double-digit revenue growth in the last quarter of the previous year, with a boost from video-sharing platform YouTube and its cloud computing unit.

The results, announced on Tuesday, marked Alphabet’s third consecutive quarter of increasing revenue growth, primarily driven by Google’s dominance in search and online advertising. This rebound is significant, considering the unprecedented drop in Google’s ad revenue following almost two decades of uninterrupted growth, especially during the initial stages of the pandemic.

Also Read : Bihar Deputy Chief Minister’s jab at Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on Nitish Kumar, “Born with golden spoon!

Google

However, while Google’s ad sales demonstrated growth, it lagged behind increases in other areas, such as cloud computing and YouTube subscriptions.

Despite the fourth-quarter results exceeding analysts’ expectations, Alphabet’s shares faced a dip of nearly 7 per cent in extended trading.

The company attributed its profit boost in the final quarter to the positive impact of artificial intelligence (AI).

Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai said: “Each of these is already benefiting from our AI investments and innovation.”

More job cuts ahead in Google

CEO Sundar Pichai has alerted employees to anticipate further job cuts in the upcoming months, aiming to “simplify execution”.

In a memo, Pichai said that the layoffs will concentrate on streamlining operations by “removing layers” from various departments to enhance the company’s efficiency, according to the report. He clarified, “These role eliminations are not at the scale of last year’s reductions, and will not touch every team.”

This article was published on Hindustantimes News!

Also Read : Maldives Prosecutor General brutally stabbed amid political crisis: Report!

Todaysheadlinesnews is your news, entertainment, music fashion website. We provide you with the latest breaking news and videos straight from the entertainment industry.

POPULAR POSTS

RECENT POSTS
Todaysheadlinesnews is your news, entertainment, music fashion website. We provide you with the latest breaking news and videos straight from the entertainment industry.

FOLLOW US:

Copyright © 2024 ·  TodaysHeadlines.News