What are Smart Rings? How are they different from other wearables?

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Aug 10, 2023

Wearable devices have become a crucial part of our daily lives in a world where technology is connecting us more and more. From fitness trackers to smartwatches, these devices offer a variety of functions. However, a new and fascinating form factor has recently emerged in the world of wearable tech: Smart Rings.

In this comprehensive article, we delve into what smart rings are, how they work, their advantages and disadvantages, and how they differ from other wearable devices.

What Are Smart Rings? How Do They Work?

A smart ring is essentially a miniature wearable computer that fits on your finger. Despite their small size, these gadgets are powerful, equipped with various sensors, and can perform a myriad of functions similar to larger wearable devices.

Smart rings work by connecting to other smart devices like smartphones via wireless communication protocols such as Bluetooth or NFC (Near Field Communication). The ring’s sensors collect data, which is then processed and relayed to an app on the connected device. The data, depending on the smart ring’s purpose, can range from tracking your heart rate and sleep patterns to recognizing hand gestures to control smart home devices.

What Does a Smart Ring Do?

Smart rings have a wide range of functionalities, which are primarily based on the sensor types and software algorithms they use.

Here are some common uses:

Health and Fitness Tracking: Like other wearable fitness trackers, smart rings can monitor physical activity, heart rate, sleep patterns, blood oxygen levels, and stress levels.

Smart Home Control: Some smart rings are capable of controlling other smart home devices, enabling users to adjust their thermostat, turn off lights, or even change TV channels with a simple hand gesture.

Contactless Payments: Certain smart rings come with built-in NFC that allow users to make contactless payments, adding to their convenience.

Notification Alerts: Many smart rings have the capability to alert you to incoming calls, messages, or other important notifications.

Smart Ring Advantages

Discreet and Convenient: Smart rings are less obtrusive than smartwatches or fitness bands. Their compact form makes them a convenient and discreet wearable tech option.

Extended Battery Life: Due to their smaller size and specific functionalities, smart rings often offer extended battery life, with some models lasting up to a week on a single charge.

Fashionable Accessory: Smart rings blend technology with fashion. They come in a variety of designs, often indistinguishable from regular jewelry, allowing users to flaunt their tech without compromising style.

Smart Ring Disadvantages

Limited Display Capabilities: Due to their compact size, smart rings typically don’t have screens. This means users must rely on a connected smartphone for any data viewing or interaction.

Limited Storage and Processing: Given their size, smart rings don’t have the extensive storage or processing capacities of other wearables. They rely more heavily on paired devices for data processing and storage.

Price: Smart rings can be more expensive than other wearable devices due to the advanced technology packed into a tiny form factor.

Adaptability: As a relatively new technology, some users might find it challenging to incorporate smart rings into their routine or to find the right size and style for their preferences.

How are Smart Rings Different from Other Wearables?

While smart rings and other wearables like smartwatches and fitness bands share similar functionalities, there are several aspects that set smart rings apart:

Form Factor: Smart rings are significantly smaller and less noticeable than other wearable devices. Their compactness and subtlety can be a selling point for those who prefer minimalistic devices.

Purpose-Specific Uses: While smartwatches and fitness bands strive to be all-in-one devices, smart rings tend to focus on specific functionalities. Whether it’s tracking vital signs, making contactless payments, or controlling smart devices, each smart ring caters to particular user needs.

Fashion Factor: In the aesthetics department, smart rings score higher. They fit right in with other jewelry and can be worn for fashion as well as function.

Comfort and Ease of Use: For those who find wristbands irksome or distracting, smart rings offer a comfortable alternative.

Discretion: Smart rings offer a level of discretion that larger wearables can’t match. Their alerts are subtle, and their ability to blend in as regular jewelry makes them less conspicuous.

Smart rings create a fascinating fusion of fashion, functionality, and subtlety, establishing a distinctive position among wearables. They embody the true essence of wearable technology, seamlessly integrating into our daily routines.

Smart Rings are Gaining Popularity as a Category

Several brands, both established and emerging, are venturing into this space, offering innovative products and solutions. Each smart ring tries to set itself apart. For example, the Oura ring has been on the market for a while and is a pretty well known name in the industry right now. But there are emerging ones too, like Ringconn, which is reportedly designed by a medical professor and also provides detailed and accurate sleep tracking and other health metrics. Some smart ring brands even focus on specific functions, like payments.

Ringconn smart ring — Most smart rings like this one from Ringconn looks like regular ring on the outside

So let’s look at some of the popular rings.

Popular Smart Rings

Oura Ring: Known for its sleep tracking and health insights, providing detailed information about sleep quality, readiness, and activity levels.

Ringconn: Designed by a medical specialist, providing detailed and accurate sleep tracking and other health metrics in this industry.

Motiv Ring: A fitness tracking ring that monitors heart rate, steps, and even has security features for online accounts.

McLEAR Ring: Popular for its contactless payment feature, allowing users to make transactions with a simple tap.

Ringly: Designed mainly for women, Ringly offers notifications and tracks basic activities, merging style with functionality.

Noise Luna Ring: A recent entrant in India, the Luna Ring offers over 70 health metrics, including heart rate monitoring, temperature sensors, and more.

boAt Smart Ring: Indian brand boAt is also set to release the boAt Smart Ring with health-related functions. Made from metal and ceramic, it includes sensors for heart rate, SpO2 levels, sleep monitoring, and more.

Another popular ring is currently in its development phase, and since the company is a tech giant, it is likely going to make the smart ring category mainstream.

We are talking about none other than the Samsung Galaxy Ring. According to recent reports, Galaxy Ring’s development stage is almost at its end, and it is likely to go into mass production very soon. But since these wearables need a lot of certifications, the Galaxy Smart Ring is expected to launch in 2024, probably alongside the Galaxy S24 series.

A World Turning Smart

Smart rings are just the tip of the iceberg in the rapidly expanding arena of smart devices. From smart glasses that provide real-time information overlays to smart shoes that track your steps and running posture, everything is becoming ‘smart.’ These devices not only offer convenience but are also paving the way for a future where technology is seamlessly integrated into our daily routines.

As we enter a world where everything is connected, expect more smart categories like smart rings to evolve in the coming years.

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Infinix Zero 30 5G With A Curved AMOLED Display To Launch In India By The End Of August

By

Viraj Gawde

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Aug 10, 2023

Infinix is set to launch a new smartphone in India. It will be a new addition in the company’s Zero series. The upcoming offering is confirmed to be the Infinix Zero 30 5G. The brand has revealed some key details of the device as well as shared images revealing its design and color options. The Infinix Zero 30 5G has already appeared on Geekbench, Bluetooth SIG, and Google Play Console certification websites.

Infinix Zero 30 5G to launch in India, key specs teased

Infinix has confirmed that the Zero 30 5G will debut in India by the end of this month. It will sport a 10-bit AMOLED display with 60-degree curvature. The teaser image of the phone reveals a rectangular camera module housing three sensors along with an LED flash. We could also spot OIS text confirming its presence. The back panel flaunts a gradient pattern and it will is seen in Gold and Blue color options. Infinix says that the Zero 30 5G will arrive in glass as well as leather finish back panel options. Both the display and back panel will be shielded by Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for protection against accidental damages.

The core specifications of the Infinix Zero 30 5G have not been revealed. The Google Play Console listing of the smartphone revealed a 1,080 x 2,400-pixel display resolution. The same certification as well as the Geekbench database mention that the upcoming offering will be powered by a MediaTek MT6891Z/CZA SoC which corresponds to the Dimensity 1100. It will pack 8GB RAM and run on Android 13 OS out of the box.

We should learn more details about the Infinix Zero 30 5G in the coming days.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 durability test shows surprising results

By

Sean

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Aug 10, 2023

Foldable smartphones are known to offer some innovative tech but also have its own share of drawbacks. These models are typically classed among the most expensive mobile devices and are not very durable either. But while the pricing issue will likely take some time, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 takes on the latter notion with its Herculean build.

Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 just built different?

In a recent JerryRigEverything video, the South Korean tech giant’s Galaxy Z Fold 5 garnered a positive review in the durability test. The video shows Zack putting the foldable phone through a number of different endurance tests. This ranges from a scratch test, a dust folding test, and a burn test. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 survived all of these tests and managed to work normally for the most part.

However, the most interesting part of the video was the bend test. To check if the ultra-premium device can survive bending in the opposite direction, Zack bent the device when it is closed and opened. This is the test that the Google Pixel Fold and the Motorola Razr+ didn’t survive. On the other hand, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 managed to get through this test without breaking a sweat.

The device didn’t break from anywhere or face any major crack or snap. So safe to say, this foldable phone will not let you down. In his own words, the device defies all expectations since its beyond what Samsung intended the phone to survive.

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Lenovo Xiaoxin 12.7-inch learning tablet available for pre-order with special offers

By

Chetan

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Aug 10, 2023

The Lenovo Xiaoxin Learning tablet has been launched in China and is available for pre-order starting today. The tablet will have a 12.7-inch display that resembles paper and TUV Rheinland-certified eye protection for students to meet their educational needs.

The device is ideal for educational purposes as it has a Student Mode, a dedicated learning mode giving options to limit certain apps, adjust night display settings, and daily screen time. The display has a paper-like screen and hardware of low-level blue light, reducing strain on the eyes. Xiaoxin rolls out over 50,000 worth of courses and is backed by a two-year warranty. The tablet also supports IPv6 and manageable parental controls with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity options.

Lenovo Xiaoxin Learning Tablet Key Specs

The tablet runs on a 2.6GHz speed 8 CPU core processor and 8GB RAM with a 16:10 LCD display with a resolution of 2944 x 1840 pixels, providing users with an appealing visual experience on its 12.7-inch screen. It also has reduced its screen light reflection by 80 percent for a safe user experience. The device is known for its multitasking and learning abilities, and having a storage capacity of 128GB is the cherry on top. The battery capacity is over 10,000 mAh, allowing users to watch videos for roughly 8 hours on a single charge. It runs on an Android-based operating system and is relatively lightweight, weighing just around 1kg. The tablet has a USB-C port, which is used for charging, as well as an audio port. For sensors, it features a compass, gyroscope, light sensor, and GPS navigation.

Pricing And Availability

You can reserve the tablet now for just 2499 Yuan (roughly $346) in China. If you pre-order, you’ll also get a bunch of learning content worth 50,000 Yuan (roughly $6936). This will include AI learning tools, a tablet stand, and a protective case.

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Samsung Galaxy S24 Series Spotted On IMEI Database

By

Viraj Gawde

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Aug 10, 2023

Samsung follows a ritual of launching its flagship Galaxy S-series in February every year. There are still months to go for the next-generation Galaxy S24 lineup. However, the S24 series devices have already been doing the rounds of the rumor mill for the past few months. Now, the phones have been spotted on GSMA’s IMEI database along with their model numbers.

Samsung Galaxy S24 series appears on the IMEI database

This year’s Samsung Galaxy S23, S23+, and S23 Ultra have model numbers S911B/DS, SM-S916B/DS, and SM-S918B/DS respectively. They will get their successors next year. On the IMEI database, the Galaxy S24 has a model number SM-S921B/DS. The Galaxy S24+ and S24 Ultra are listed with model numbers SM-S926B/DS and SM-S928B/DS respectively. The appearance of the Galaxy S24 series on IMEI confirms that the devices have undergone testing and are expected to arrive in the market in Q1, 2024.

The Samsung Galaxy S24+ US variant recently appeared on the Geekbench benchmarking platform with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, 8G RAM, and Android 14 OS. As per multiple reports, the Galaxy S24 series will be powered by the unannounced Snapdgraon 8 Gen 3 and Exynos 2400 chipsets depending on the market region. The Plus and Ultra variants are also expected to support faster charging speeds potentially maxing at 65W thanks to the stacked battery tech.

The Samsung Galaxy S24+ and S24 Ultra are tipped to be backed by 4,900mAh and 5,000mAh batteries respectively. On the imaging front, the Ultra model will reportedly sport a 50MP 3x upgraded telephoto camera compared to the current S23 Ultra.

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Porsche Boxster EV to Take on Tesla Model 3 with 80+ kWh Battery

By

Oğuz Çakır

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Aug 10, 2023

Porsche is developing an all-electric version of its popular Boxster sports car, which is expected to go on sale in 2024 or 2025. The new EV will be based on a dedicated electric sports car platform that Porsche is developing in collaboration with Audi. It will be the first all-electric Porsche sports vehicle, and it is expected to be a key part of the company’s plan to electrify its entire lineup by 2030. Most recently, the Porsche Boxster has been spotted charging, revealing some details about its battery pack. Here are the details…

Porsche Boxster EV to Have 80+ kWh Battery, 400 Horsepower

The Porsche Boxster was seen plugged into a 200 kW charger, which suggests that it has an 80+ kWh battery. This would be in line with other electric sports cars, such as the Tesla Model 3 Performance and the Audi e-tron GT. Even though an 80+ kWh battery might seem like a small detail at first, it’s actually very important. It can give a car a longer driving distance.

This matters for people who want to drive far without worrying about their car losing power. For instance, a Tesla Model 3 Long Range with an 82 kWh battery can go over 350 miles. But, a Nissan Leaf with a 40 kWh battery can only go a bit over 150 miles. Also, if you think about the speed of a Porsche Boxster, you can see why a big battery is crucial. You can watch the entire video in German below.

Überraschend: Porsche Boxster Elektro Ladekurve #porsche #elektroauto #eauto #strombock #boxster #porscheboxster #boxstere #porscheboxstere pic.twitter.com/kDGTlvaMdM
— Strombock | Nino Zeidler (@Strombock) August 7, 2023

The Boxster EV is expected to have a single electric motor that powers the rear wheels. It is rumored to have a power output of around 400 horsepower, which would make it comparable to the current gas-powered Boxster GTS. The EV is also expected to have a range of over 200 miles on a single charge.

Porsche has not released any official details about the Boxster EV’s design, but spy photos have revealed that it will have a similar overall shape to the current Boxster. It is expected to have a more aerodynamic body with a sloping roofline and a wider stance. The interior is also expected to be updated with a more modern design and new technology features.

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Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G launched in new 12GB RAM & 256GB storage configuration

By

Sean

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Aug 10, 2023

Xiaomi is rolling out a new variant of its popular Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G smartphone. The latest model includes higher RAM and storage capacity. This new variant will now sit as the top-end version, so let’s have a look.

Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G 12GB + 256GB Pricing & Availability

The Chinese tech giant is rolling out the new Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. This model carries a price tag of 28,999 INR, although users can avail an instant discount of 3,000 INR if they have an HDFC bank credit card, ICICI bank credit card, or from the ICICI net banking. Furthermore, the brand is also offering the Redmi Buds 4 Active that is worth 1,399 INR for 1,199 INR if purchased with the smartphone.

The smartphone can be bought with up to 9 months of No Cost EMI and even brings exchange offer discounts as well. Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G 12GB + 256GB variant will go on sale via offline retailers, Flipkart, and the company’s official website. It is available in multiple color options, namely Glacier Blue, Onyx Black, and Stardust Purple.

Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G Specifications

The Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G sports a 6.67-inch AMOLED display that has a Full HD+ resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and HDR10+. Under the hood, it is equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 1080 SoC and is powered by a large 5,000mAh battery pack that supports 67W fast charging. The rear features a 50-megapixel triple camera setup, while the front houses a 16-megapixel selfie shooter.

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Vivo Pad Air pre-orders start on August 14, configurations revealed

By

Sudhanshu

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Aug 10, 2023

Vivo introduced the Vivo Pad Air yesterday, showcasing both its design and specifications. The brand has revealed that pre-orders for the tablet will commence from August 14. Interestingly, Xiaomi is set to launch its Xiaomi Pad 6 Max tablet on the very same day.

Aside from disclosing the pre-order date, the JD product listing for the smartphone has also unveiled its complete range of configurations. The Vivo Pad Air is set to be offered in four different options: 8 GB of RAM with 128 GB of storage, 8 GB of RAM with 256 GB of storage, 12 GB of RAM with 256 GB of storage, and 12 GB of RAM with 512 GB of storage. The tablet will be obtainable in three color variations: Free Blue, Brave Pink, and Easy Silver. It seems that the starting version of the Pad Air might have an approximate price of 2,000 yuan ($273).

Vivo Pad Air specs

The Vivo Pad Air presents an expansive 11.5-inch 2.8K display with a 3:2 aspect ratio, DCI-P3 color gamut, and an impressive 144Hz adaptive refresh rate. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 processor guarantees seamless performance, accompanied by 8GB of RAM and a spacious 128GB storage.

Vivo’s Pad Air also boasts a large 8500mAh battery that rapidly charges with 44W fast charging. It has four speakers with large sound chambers. The device also includes support for the vivo Pencil 2 stylus. The device runs on OriginOS 3, based on Android 13, which is tailor-made for tablets.

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Motorola partners with Microsoft to bring Windows 365 and Teams features to ThinkPhone

By

Rajesh Regmi

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Aug 10, 2023

Lenovo ThinkPhone by Motorola, a phone designed for business users, is getting two new features thanks to a partnership with Microsoft. The two companies have teamed up to bring ThinkPhone users Windows 365 and Teams Walkie Talkie functionality.

Windows 365 is a cloud-based version of Windows that allows users to access their work files and applications from anywhere. That means, with Windows 365 now available on ThinkPhone, users access a full-fledged Windows Cloud PC directly on their phone.

You can also stream the Cloud PC experience to a larger display, keyboard, and mouse using Moto Connect. This integration will help IT administrators reduce costs by provisioning only ThinkPhone devices and displays to employees, along with a Windows 365 license. In the upcoming weeks, Motorola says that the Lenovo ThinkPhone by Motorola will be able to access Windows 365 support via Moto Connect.

Moreover, Motorola has expanded the functionality of the ThinkPhone’s Red Key button to include integration with the Walkie Talkie app in Microsoft Teams. Now, pressing the Red Key will enable the phone’s push-to-talk (PTT) capabilities, so users can quickly start a conversation with just one click. This new feature will also be available in the coming weeks.

ThinkPhone’s two new features will be a boon for business customers. However, it’s important to note that both features require users to have specific accounts or subscriptions. Windows 365 support requires a Windows 365 cloud subscription, while Teams Walkie Talkie only requires a free Microsoft Teams account.

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Lenovo Xiaoxin Pad Pro 12.7 now on sale, Offers Snapdragon 870 and large display for just $235

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Aug 10, 2023

At the end of July, Lenovo unveiled Xiaoxin Pad Pro 12.7 in China. It is the succesor of the Xiaoxin Pad Pro 12.6 from 2021.

The latest model arrives with minute upgrades over the original. A few days after its announcement, the device is now finally up for sale.

Let’s check out how much this tablet costs. Also, let’s go through its specifications.

The Lenovo Xiaoxin Pad Pro 12.7 carries the following price tags in China.

8GB + 128GB – ¥1,699 (~$235)
8GB + 256GB – ¥1,899 (~$265)

For a limited time, both memory configurations are discounted by ¥100 (~$15).

The Xiaoxin Pad Pro 12.6 was released as Lenovo Tab P12 Pro outside mainland China. Unfortunately, at the moment, it is not known whether the newer Xiaoxin Pad Pro 12.7 will be launched in global markets.

Coming to the specs, the tablet sports a 12.7-inch Dolby Vision-supported display with a resolution of 2944×1840 pixels, 144Hz refresh rate, and 400 nits peak brightness level. It features a metal body and comes in gray and green color options.

Further, the device is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 chip. It is backed by a 10,200mAh battery with support for 20W charging.

The tablet has a 13MP front-facing camera and an 8MP rear camera. It houses JBL-tuned quad speakers with support for Dolby Atmos and dual microphones.

Other features include a USB Type-C port (supports video output), a fingerprint sensor, a MicroSD card slot, and optional keyboard/stylus accessories.

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Honor India shares new teaser, could be the upcoming Honor 90 series

By

Sean

-

Aug 10, 2023

Honor has just released a new teaser that hints at an upcoming launch. The teaser was shared for the Indian market and is likely a part of the company’s comeback in the region. So let’s have a look.

Honor India Teaser: What’s in store?

Looking at the official tweet, Honor India shared a short message and a teaser image poster. It states “Hello” to a new era of innovation. Stay tuned for more updates.” The short message and image don’t divulge any finer details, although, it does mention getting ready for awaited news. This teaser could be hinting at the launch of the Honor 90 series in India.

Based on our earlier report, the Chinese smartphone maker is planning to re-enter the Indian smartphone market with the new 90 series. A couple of weeks ago, we covered a report that talked about the Honor 90 lineup being unveiled in India in the middle of next month. So, the social media post could be warming up the teasers that will drop in the coming weeks.

Keep in mind that this is still just speculation at the moment. The previous report also hinted at the Honor 90 series pricing. The devices could be priced around the 50,000 INR price mark. So stick around for more as we will be providing updates when additional information regarding Honor’s upcoming announcement.

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Banks Fined $549 Million for Using iMessage and Signal to Hide Business Communications

By

Oğuz Çakır

-

Aug 10, 2023

Apps like WhatsApp, iMessage, and Signal have become essential in our lives. We like them not just because they’re easy to use and popular, but also because they’re secure and can’t be easily monitored from the outside. But sometimes, privacy might not always be a good thing, especially when used by bank managers. Several US financial companies are being fined a total of $549 million because they couldn’t show company chats from apps like iMessage and Signal. Here are the details…

Banks fined $549 million for hiding messages in iMessage and Signal

Several US financial firms, including Wells Fargo, have been fined $549 million by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for using encrypted messaging apps like Signal and iMessage to hide messages about company business. The SEC found that the firms failed to preserve these messages as required by law, which could have prevented regulators from investigating potential wrongdoing.

The SEC’s investigation began in 2019, after a whistleblower reported that some financial company employees were using encrypted messaging apps to discuss sensitive topics, such as regulatory compliance and customer complaints. The SEC’s investigation found that Wells Fargo employees used iMessage and Signal to send and receive messages about a variety of topics, including:

Bankruptcies
Trading strategies
Customer complaints
Regulatory compliance
Hiring decisions

The SEC found that failure to preserve these messages was a violation of the federal securities laws, which require companies to keep records of all communications about their business. The SEC also found that this financial companies use of encrypted messaging apps created a “culture of secrecy” that discouraged employees from reporting potential wrongdoing.

In addition to Wells Fargo, the SEC also fined BNP Paribas, BNY Mellon, and Morgan Stanley for failing to preserve messages from encrypted messaging apps. The SEC’s actions send a message to all financial firms that they must comply with the law and preserve all records of their business communications, regardless of the platform they are using. Here’s the full list of banks and their settlements with the SEC:

Company Name	Penalty Amount
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC	$125 million
BNP Paribas Securities Corp.	$35 million
SG Americas Securities, LLC	$35 million
BMO Capital Markets Corp.	$25 million
Mizuho Securities USA LLC	$25 million
Houlihan Lokey Capital, Inc.	$15 million
Moelis & Company LLC	$10 million
Wedbush Securities Inc.	$10 million
SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.	$9 million
BNP Paribas S.A.	$75 million
Société Générale SA	$75 million
Wells Fargo Bank NA	$75 million
Bank of Montreal	$35 million

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Slack gets a makeover: Here’s what’s changed in the new design

By

Rajesh Regmi

-

Aug 10, 2023

Slack, the popular workplace chat app, is getting a major redesign. The new look and layout are designed to improve productivity by making it easier to navigate between channels and conversations, putting a greater spotlight on tasks, and providing rapid access to tools. So let’s explore how everything has transitioned to a new and hopefully more user-friendly setup.

Slack Redesign: Here’s everything to know

Slack’s new interface is a subtle but significant change for longtime users. Here, the most noticeable change is the left sidebar. Previously, if you were logged in to multiple workspaces, you would see a tile for each workspace. Now, the sidebar is collapsed into a single tile, and Slack is using this freed-up space for new navigation options. The sidebar now includes buttons for Home, DMs, Activity, Later, and More, along with a search icon and a new Create button.

The Home tab still features a central column of channels and unread direct messages. And when you click on a channel or unread items, it expands in the main space on the right. This makes it easier to see all of the messages in a conversation without having to scroll back and forth.

Meanwhile, the DMs list your direct message conversations, while the Later tab can be used to save messages and items that you want to revisit later. Likewise, Slack’s new Activity feed provides a consolidated view of all your activity on the platform. This includes everything from threads, and mentions, to reactions. You can also view each of these types of activities in separate tabs within the Activity section. The More tab is a catch-all for other tools and features in Slack, such as apps and workflows, canvases, and huddles.

Moreover, the Create button has replaced the draft message option. It allows you to quickly create a new message, huddle, canvas, or channel. Another update for Slack is the Search. Users can now click on search results to see the full context for an item. This means that users can see the message or conversation that the item is from without having to open it in a separate window.

What else has changed in Slack?

Besides new functionalities, Slack has updated its color scheme to make it easier to distinguish between the different parts of the interface. The leftmost column of tabs is now a darker shade of purple, while the central channel column is a lighter shade of purple. This helps to create a visual hierarchy and makes it easier to scan the interface.

The update also brings more theme color choices, so users can customize the look of Slack to their liking. This is a great way to make Slack feel more personal and inviting.

Slack’s new redesign is designed to help users stay focused and less distracted. The designers have made the interface as simple and intuitive as possible, with a focus on reducing clutter and noise.

Notably, Slack has made over 100 changes to the software in the past 12 months. The new redesign will be rolled out to new teams starting today, and will be available to existing customers ‘in the coming months’.

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New Nokia 130 Music and Nokia 150 feature phones launched in India with a 2.4-inch display and expandable storage

By

Chetan

-

Aug 10, 2023

HMD Global has just announced new feature phones in India namely the Nokia 130 Music and the Nokia 150. These phones are built to fulfill the demands of the various users in India. Nokia 130 Music is for music enthusiasts, whereas the Nokia 150 will focus more on durability.

Notably, these entry level devices were revealed earlier in August, but today Nokia has shared more details about their India availability and pricing.

Nokia 130 Music

For those looking for a powerful loudspeaker MP3 player, the new Nokia 130 Music will not disappoint. It will come with MicroSD card support up to 32GB allowing the user to store their favorite songs just a few clicks away. The device supports FM Radio (Wired & Wireless), Micro USB 1.1, and a standard 3.5mm audio jack. Under the hood, the phone is equipped with a removable 1450mAh battery, providing hours and hours of immense talk time with 34 days on standby mode. Regarding storage, the Nokia 130 Music will allow users to store 2000 contacts and 500 SMS.

Moving to the exciting part, the device will come in three available colors- Light Gold, Dark Blue, and Purple allowing users to choose according to their personality and style. The Nokia 130 Music will be available near your online partner stores and on the official website at ₹1,849 (roughly $22) for Dark Blue and Purple colors. On the other hand, the Light Gold color will be available at ₹1,949 (roughly $23).

Nokia 150

The new Nokia 150 will come up with an upgraded 1450mAh removable battery, which means you can enjoy nearly 20 hours of talk time and 34 days when idle. The device will feature a VGA rear camera with flash, allowing users to take photos when needed, and an MP3 player providing up to 30 hours of playback music on a 2.4-inch display. The phone will have internal storage that is expandable up to 32GB via MicroSD.

The device will be available in 3 significant colors: Charcoal, Red, & Cyan, which will be available for just ₹2,699 (roughly $32).

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PUBG creators Krafton bet big on India’s gaming ecosystem

By

Sean

-

Aug 10, 2023

Krafton, the publisher behind the massively successful PUBG franchise, is looking to empower the Indian gaming ecosystem. The company will invest in local gaming startups, betting on the region’s growth potential.

Krafton investing in India’s gaming future

Earlier today (10th August 2023), the company announced that it will be investing a sizeable sum of 150 million US Dollars in India for gaming and interactive entertainment startups. This investment will be across the next two to three years. The move from Krafton is likely to expand its presence in the region, which has immense potential in the gaming market. Its hefty investment also follows after its initial 140 million US Dollar investment across 11 Indian startups back in 2021.

In other words, Krafton has poured 290 million US Dollars into the country so far, making it one of the major investors in recent times. The publisher first began its investment with the esports gaming firm Nodwin. It invested in Series A to Series B stage startups for gaming and entertainment like esports, multimedia entertainment, content creation, and more.

As of right now, Krafton has invested in various game development studios like Nautilus Mobile and Lila Games along with the game streaming platform Loco, and others. Now, a third of its 150 million US Dollar investment will be for deep tech companies while another third will go towards new startups.

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Mysterious Vivo phone with curved display and 44W charging arrives on TENAA

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Aug 10, 2023

Last week, a mysterious Vivo smartphone with model number V2313A was certified by 3C. The listing revealed the handset to be 5G-ready and its charging speed.

Now, the device has been listed on TENAA with its images. Let’s go through what the latest certification for the phone has to say.

TENAA listings are known for disclosing the product’s design with pictures and its entire specs. But the details are not always populated before the official introduction of the device.

Hence, the listing for Vivo V2313A only has the images. As per them, the smartphone will look like the Vivo Y78 Plus from April.

This means it will sport a centered punch-hole curved display on the front and a curved panel on the back. The back of the phone will house a rectangular island on which there will be two cameras sensor and an LED flash module.

As of now, we only know that the handset supports 5G connectivity and 44W fast wired charging. Since it resembles the Vivo Y78 Plus, it could share some of its features as well.

For the unaware, the Vivo Y78+ (official branding) comes with a 6.78-inch FHD+ 120Hz curved OLED display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chip, a 50MP main camera, an 8MP selfie camera, Android 13, 4,500mAh battery, and 44W fast charging support.

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Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro display specs and software features revealed before August 14 launch

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Aug 10, 2023

Xiaomi will be hosting a conference on August 14 in China. The company’s CEO Lei Jun will give his annual speech at this event.

Following the speech, the company will unveil a number of new products. One of them was confirmed to be Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 yesterday.

Earlier today, the firm revealed the second device would be Xiaomi Pad 6 Max 14. And now, it says the third product will be Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro.

As the name suggests, the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro is the successor of the Xiaomi Smart Band 7 Pro from last year. It is a larger and better version of the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 (review) from a few months ago.

The company has disclosed some features of this upcoming wearable. As per the official teasers, the device will sport a 1.74-inch rectangular display compared to a 1.62-inch elongated pill-shaped screen on the regular version.

Xiaomi hasn’t revealed the panel type but it will be likely OLED. However, the company has confirmed that the screen will support 16.7 million colors, 336 PPI, and 60Hz refresh rate.

On the software front, the wearable will come with new customizable widgets and portrait watch face functionality. Both of these features are clearly inspired by Apple Watch.

We expect Xiaomi to disclose more about the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro in the next few days leading up to the launch. Finally, the product may also release in select global markets like its predecessor.

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Apple iPhone 15 Pro leak hints at an additional GPU core but retains 6GB RAM

By

Sean

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Aug 10, 2023

The Apple iPhone 15 series announcement is just around the corner. But as we edge closer to the launch event, new rumors and reports have surfaced online. Now, the latest leak hints at the iPhone 15 Pro models chipset upgrades and memory capacity.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro chip upgrades

The news arrives from tipster Unknownz21, who shared the information on Twitter. Apparently, the A17 Bionic chipset on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will feature six CPU and GPU cores. The previous generation A16 Bionic featured six CPU cores, but only five GPU cores. So, the next-gen processor will feature an additional GPU core, which will likely help in offering improved performance in various tasks like gaming.

That’s not all, the A17 Bionic will even see a rise in clock speed from 3.46GHz to 3.7GHz. The new A-series chipset will be based on the more advanced 3nm process, which brings upgrades in energy efficiency as well as overall performance. However, the tipster claims that Apple’s upcoming iPhone 15 Pro series will only feature 6GB of RAM. Previous rumors had hinted at the memory rising to 8GB RAM, but Unknownz21 states otherwise.

Apple A17 – t8130 – Coll

6 CPU Cores + 6 GPU Cores
3.70 GHz
6GB LPDDR5 DRAM – Micron/Samsung
TSMC 3nm Process

LPDDR = Low Power Double Data Rate SDRAM

The A17 is used by both the D83 and D84, also likely planned for D47 and D48 (16 series), as the D9x will use t8140 (A18).
— Unknownz21 🌈 (@URedditor) August 9, 2023

The memory is an LPDDR5 RAM module that will reportedly be supplied by Samsung and Micron. The tipster states that the bump to 8GB RAM on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max is not completely impossible but rather unlikely. Keep in mind that this is still just an unconfirmed report, so take this news with a pinch of salt for now.

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Xiaomi Pad 6 Max August 14 launch officially teased, design unveiled

By

Sudhanshu

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Aug 10, 2023

Yesterday, Xiaomi confirmed that a major launch event will be held on August 14 in China. The star of the show will be the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3, however, other devices will also likely be launching alongside it like the Redmi K60 Ultra, the Redmi Pad SE, and the Xiaomi Pad 6 Max.

The brand has now confirmed the launch of the Pad 6 Max, revealing what the tablet will look like. The new teaser shared on the brand’s official Weibo account reveals that the Xiaomi Pad 6 Max will be a 14-inch tablet. It will likely debut as a competitor to the recently launched Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra by Samsung which has a 14.6-inch display. That being said, the Pad 6 Max will likely be a lot cheaper than the Tab S9 Ultra.

Besides the difference in size, the tablet’s design closely resembles the Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro. It’s expected to share similar specifications. The battery might be larger in this case. The teaser also shows that the tablet will have a keyboard that works with it, making it function like a laptop. While more details about its features are not yet known, we already have a basic idea of what to expect.

Xiaomi Pad 6 Max specs

The upcoming device is said to sport a 14-inch LCD display, boasting a 2.8K resolution and a high 144Hz refresh rate. According to certifications, a 67W fast charging capability is present, which makes sense given the larger size of the device’s likely battery.

Beneath the surface, it’s anticipated to be powered by a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip, coupled with 12GB of RAM, as indicated by a recent Geekbench listing. Storage options are likely to extend up to 512GB. In terms of camera capabilities, we can anticipate a 50MP primary camera, accompanied by a 2MP depth sensor. For video calls and selfies, a 20MP front camera is expected.

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(Source)

Lenovo Xiaoxin 365 Smart Projector with a HiSilicon 4K chip, 1500ANSI lumens brightness launched

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Aug 10, 2023

Lenovo has unveiled its latest innovation, the Xiaoxin 365 Smart Projector. The portable projector is designed to revolutionize your viewing experience, combining state-of-the-art technology with user-centric features that redefine what a projector can do.

The Lenovo Xiaoxin 365 Smart Projector is equipped with 450CVIA brightness, equivalent to a powerful 1500 ANSI lumens, meaning image output will shine with stunning clarity even in well-lit environments. The device boasts a native 1080P resolution and compatibility with both 4K and 8K resolutions. It also features support for HDR 10 high dynamic decoding technology.

The portable projector is powered by the Hi-Imprex VI AI image quality engine bringing optimal image enhancement. It also comes with features such as automatic screen light control and color recognition that adapts to your content, providing optimal visual quality in every scenario. Additionally, the hardware-level low blue light mode takes care of your eyes, reducing strain during extended viewing sessions.

In addition, the Xiaoxin 365 features a HiSilicon Hi-V560 high-performance 4K decoding chip. The processor pairs with 2GB of RAM while there is 16GB of internal storage It also comes with dual-channel Wi-Fi, supporting both 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz frequencies, ensuring stable and high-speed connectivity for uninterrupted streaming and content sharing.

The Xiaoxin 365’s non-destructive optical off-axis design, combined with its built-in compact head, makes setup a breeze. The projection angle can be adjusted by 5 to 8 degrees to match the user’s preferences. It is also compact enough to fit into any space, providing a stunning display without the need for additional accessories.

The Xiaoxin 365 Smart Projector features a customized fourth-generation fully-sealed optical engine, designed for longevity and optimized performance. With an IP5X dustproof rating and a compound cooling system that keeps operational noise as low as 28dB, your focus remains on the content, not the hum of the projector. For audio, there is a built-in 400cc super-large sound cavity speaker that delivers powerful, rich sound, turning your living room into a home theater.

For connectivity, the Xiaoxin 365 is equipped with HDMI 2.0, USB 2.0 ports, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The projector effortlessly interfaces with a variety of devices. It runs on the ZUI smart projection version system, making it easy to navigate features and content.

The Lenovo Xiaoxin 365 Smart Projector is presently available in China via Jingdong (JD.com) for just 1499 yuan ($208).

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