How does NFC work? Near Field Communication (NFC) technology allows two electronic devices to communicate wirelessly when they are in close proximity, typically within a few centimetres. NFC works by using electromagnetic radio fields to enable the exchange of data between devices. It operates on the principle of magnetic induction, where one device generates a radio frequency field, and the other device, equipped with an NFC chip, detects and responds to that field. Those few centimetres of distance between the devices will no longer inhibit the small range of NFC technology. The NFC Forum, a collaborative group founded by industry giants Sony, NXP Semiconductors, and Nokia, has recently unveiled a roadmap that promises to reshape the landscape of NFC technology by 2028.
The mission is to expand the range of NFC by four to six times
Comprised of representatives from tech powerhouses like Apple and Google, the NFC Forum has outlined five primary initiatives to propel the technology forward within the next two to five years. At the forefront of these ambitions is the mission to extend the range of the connections, which currently operates within a small distance. The goal is to expand this range by four to six times, rendering contactless payments genuinely contactless. This significant stride would not only enhance convenience but also expedite transactions, relieving users of the need for meticulous antenna alignment.
Expanding the range of NFC connections represents just one part of the NFC Forum’s plan. Another important milestone would be the advancement of wireless charging capabilities over NFC. The group aims to elevate the wireless power and charging capacity from the current 1W to an impressive 3W. Such an upgrade would unlock wireless power possibilities for smaller devices and pave the way for innovative applications that were previously not viable.
In addition to these advancements, the Forum envisions enabling multiple-purpose taps, which would empower users to perform multiple actions with a single tap. This streamlined functionality would not only enhance user experience but also open doors for new and exciting applications. As thrilling as these prospects are, it is important to manage our expectations. While the NFC Forum’s roadmap promises an interesting future, these advancements will take time to come to reality and find their way into everyday devices.
Vivo’s next flagship phone for the Chinese market, the Vivo X90s, is scheduled to debut on June 26. The brand is now conducting reservations over the phone through its channels, such as its own online store, Suning, and Jingdong Mall. The listing available on JD.com has revealed the configurations and color variants of the X90s.
Vivo X90s variants, color options
Vivo X90s variants
As can be seen in the above screenshot, the Vivo X90s will arrive in three LPDDR5x + UFS 4.0 storage combinations in the Chinese market, such as 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage, 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage, and 12 GB RAM + 512 GB storage. The Dimensity 9200-powered Vivo X90, which debuted last year in November, was also made available with 128 GB of UFS 3.1 storage. With X90s, it appears that the company intends to launch it only in UFS 4.0 variants.
Like the X90, the X90s will come in black, red, and white shades. However, instead of blue, the company will make the X90s in a cyan variant. At present, there is no information on the price of the device. According to reports, the X90s will feature the all-new Dimensity 9200 Plus chipset and support Wi-Fi 7 connectivity. Its other specifications are said to be identical to those of the X90.
Vivo X90s color variants
The Vivo X90s is expected to feature a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with curved edges. It will offer a 1.5K resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and an in-screen fingerprint scanner. The phone will come preinstalled with Android 13 OS, which will have a layer of OriginOS 3.0 on top. To keep the lights on, it will have a 4,810mAh battery with 120W fast charging support. For photography, it will feature a 32-megapixel front camera and a 50-megapixel (main, with OIS) + 12-megapixel (ultra-wide) + 12-megapixel (telephoto) triple camera system on the back.
Everyone knows Razer. It’s one of the most gaming-synonymous brands that exist out there, and it is renowned for its cutting-edge gaming products. The Company is now expanding its horizons with the introduction of Razer Skins. This new lineup of decorative skins allows gamers to breathe new life into their devices, including the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S and X, Steam Deck, and more. By combining style and protection, the company wants to make a space for itself in this niche.
The skins also offer light protection against scratches during regular use
While high-quality skins have been popular for some time, with Dbrand (and its impressive marketing) leading the pack, Razer Skins aims to provide a superior experience. Produced in the United States, these skins are crafted using 3M’s high-quality vinyl materials, ensuring a perfect fit and exceptional durability. As per the company, applying the skins is a breeze, requiring nothing more than a careful pair of hands and eyes, although a blow-dryer can come in handy for near-perfect installation.
Beyond aesthetics, Razer Skins also offer an added layer of protection, safeguarding devices against light scratches and scuffs. And when the time comes to switch to a new skin or remove it altogether, the tech brand claims that the skins leave no residue behind. Furthermore, as new gaming consoles and devices enter the market, Razer Skins could potentially adapt and evolve to offer personalized designs and protection for these devices
Available for purchase on the company’s website, in physical Razer stores, and with select retailers, Razer Skins will be initially offered for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S and X, and Steam Deck. The product lineup doesn’t stop there, though. Razer also caters to owners of Razer Blade laptops, MacBooks, Razer Edge, and Razer Kishi V2. Furthermore, the company has plans to expand its skins to cover even more products, including the popular Nintendo Switch, in the near future.
Nubia has announced its mid-range gaming phone, the Nubia Neo 5G, in Thailand. What’s interesting about the device is that it is not powered by a Qualcomm or MediaTek chipset. Instead, it features a new Unisoc chip. Here is a look at the specifications, features, and price of the device.
Nubia Neo 5G specifications and features
Nubia Neo 5G
The Nubia Neo 5G features a 6.6-inch ISP LCD panel with a waterdrop notch. The screen produces an FHD+ resolution of 2408 x 1080 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate. Under the hood, the gaming phone features the 6nm Unisoc T820 chipset that clocks at up to 2.7GHz. The SoC is paired with 8 GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 8 GB of virtual RAM.
Nubia’s mid-range gaming phone packs a 4,500mAh battery with 22.5W fast charging. It offers 256 GB of UFS 2.2 storage and a microSD card slot for additional storage. The device comes preloaded with Android 13 OS.
Nubia Neo 5G
The Nubia Neo 5G has an 8-megapixel front-facing camera, and it is fitted with a 50-megapixel (primary) + 2-megapixel dual-camera system on the back. The other features available on the Nubia Neo 5G include dual SIM, 5G, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, NFC, a USB-C port, a microSD card slot, a multi-layer heat dissipation unit, face unlock, and a side-facing fingerprint scanner. Lastly, the device measures 163.7 x 75.0 x 7.98mm.
Nubia Neo 5G price and availability
ZTE’s online stores on Lazada and Shopee are now receiving pre-orders for the Nubia Neo 5G. The device is priced at THB 6,999 (~$199) and comes in two shades: Phantom Black and War-damaged Yellow.
Gmail is one of Google’s biggest assets. The company has introduced various updates to its Gmail app for Android. This time, a new update is finally bringing dynamic theming to the app icon in email notifications. With the release of Android 12 and its revolutionary UI design called Material You in the year 2021, Google introduced dynamic theming, allowing UI elements to borrow colours from the active wallpaper for a more layered, connected experience. While many apps have adopted this feature, the app icon in Gmail’s notification shade remained without a theme, looking out of place. However, with the latest version of the Gmail app (2023.05.28.54044.3362), this issue has been addressed.
Users can download the APK file and sideload it if they want the update earlier
Google is known for being an early update provider to its own first-party apps, which makes sense. Gmail has been no exception. The app embraced Material You in September and introduced dynamic color for its widgets shortly after. However, the app icon in the notification shade retained its traditional red colour for unread emails. It is important to note that this is different from the status bar icon. This is the Gmail icon that accompanies the email notification in your status bar when you pull it down.
The new update now allows the Gmail app icon in email notifications to dynamically match the accent colours of the Quick Settings toggled on. These accent colours are derived from the user’s active wallpaper, resulting in a more harmonious visual experience across the Android system.
To get this update, users can choose to sideload the APK file from APKMirror since the exact timing of its availability on the Google Play Store is uncertain. By manually installing the updated APK, users can enjoy the new dynamic theming feature for the Gmail app without having to wait for it to be pushed as an update or auto-update.
This development showcases Google’s commitment to fixing even the tiniest flaws in the UI, contributing to a better user experience and staying true to Material You. With the Gmail app now blending in with the colour scheme, users can now enjoy an aesthetically appealing notification experience on their Android devices.
Realme GT 3 has gone official in Russia. The flagship phone is now listed on Realme Russia’s website and is available for purchase through multiple retailers, such as DNS, Mvideo, Ozon, Wildberries, and Yandex Market. As it is already known, the GT 3 is a rebranded version of China’s Realme GT Neo 5 240W. In the home market, the GT Neo 5 comes in purple, white, and black shades. However, the GT 3 is available in white and black colours in the Russian market.
Realme GT 3 price in Russia
Realme GT 3
In Russia, the Realme GT 3 is priced at RUB 69,990 (~$865). Realme is offering its flagship phone in a single configuration of 16 GB RAM + 1 TB storage in the country. Here is a look at the specifications of the device.
Realme GT 3 specifications
The Realme GT 3 has a 6.74-inch OLED panel that offers a 2772 x 1240 pixels resolution, a 144Hz refresh rate, 10-bit colors, a contrast ratio of 5,000,000:1, and a 100 percent DCI-P3 color gamut. It is equipped with an under-screen fingerprint sensor and offers a screen-to-body ratio of 93.69 percent.
On the front, the Realme GT 3 has a 16-megapixel Samsung S5K3P9SP04 selfie camera. The back panel of the device features a 50-megapixel Sony IMX890 main camera with OIS support. It is paired with an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens and a 2-megapixel microscope camera. The phone boots to Realme UI 4.0-based Android 13.
Under the hood, the GT 3 features the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset and 16GB of LPDDR4x RAM. It offers 1 TB of UFS 3.1 storage and packs a 4,600mAh battery. According to the brand, the in-box charger can fully charge the GT 3 in just 9.5 minutes. Last but not least, the device features a C-shaped LED flash unit on the back that can glow in different colors for notifications, charging, and more.
In January of this year, details about the JioPhone 5G were made known, unveiling its complete specifications. The phone is anticipated to be released as India’s most budget-friendly 5G device. Recently, an unannounced JioPhone 5G unit was obtained by a Twitter user, who not only shared live images of the device but also provided some insights into its expected launch date and price.
The new leak reveals that the JioPhone 5G will be released in India between Diwali and the New Year. This indicates that the phone will be available for purchase in the country in the last quarter of this year.
It is likely that the JioPhone 5G will be priced under Rs 10,000 (~$122), which means that it may arrive as the most affordable 5G phone in India. The source is not clear whether the device features a Unisoc chip or a MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC. However, the leak states that the phone is equipped with a 5-megapixel front camera and a 13-megapixel + 2-megapixel dual-camera system on the back.
The handset shown in the leaked live shots appears to be a prototype of the JioPhone 5G. On the front, it features a waterdrop notch display, and its back panel has a vertical dual-camera setup followed by an LED flash and a Jio logo towards the centre. The text “ultimate speed, unlimited experiences” is imprinted at the bottom of the back panel.
JioPhone 5G specifications (rumored)
According to an Android Central that surfaced at the beginning of this year, the JioPhone 5G has a 6.5-inch IPS LCD HD+ (1600 x 720 pixels) resolution display, a side-facing fingerprint scanner, an 8-megapixel front camera, a 13-megapixel (main) + 2-megapixel (macro) dual-camera system on the back. Under the hood, the device will feature the Snapdragon 480 chip, 4 GB of RAM, 32 GB of storage, and a 5,000mAh battery that supports 18W charging. The handset will have a microSD card slot, dual SIM slots, and support for n3, n5, n28, n40, and n78 5G bands.
Asus Zenfone 10 is all set to go official on June 29 for the global market. Earlier this week, reputed tipster Evan Blass leaked press renders of the smartphone to showcase its design and color variants. The specifications of the phone have also been leaked in bits and pieces. Now, a new report that has surfaced on WInfuture.de has revealed almost everything about the Zenfone 10. Here is a look at its entire specifications and new renders.
Asus Zenfone 10 specifications (rumored)
Asus Zenfone 10
According to the report, the Asus Zenfone 10 has a 5.9-inch AMOLED display that supports Full HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The corner punch-hole houses a 32-megapixel selfie camera. The dual-camera setup available on the back has a 200-megapixel Samsung camera and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens.
The Zenfone 10 will draw power from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. The report states that the device will ship with 8 GB / 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB / 512 GB of native storage. It will house a 5,000mAh battery. However, there is no information on the phone’s fast charging capabilities. It will come preloaded with Android 13 OS.
Asus Zenfone 10
The report further states that the Zenfone 10 will have an IP68-rated dust- and water-resistant body featuring a metal frame and plastic rear. It will come with other features, such as dual speakers, a 3.5mm audio jack, a USB-C port, and an in-screen fingerprint scanner.
Asus Zenfone 10 price (rumored)
According to the publication, the Zenfone 10’s base variant will be priced at $749. As can be seen in the renders, it will be available in shades like red, black, grey, green, and white/silver. For more renders, please visit the source link below.
Apple Vision Pro is still scheduled for release in 2024, but people are eagerly awaiting it. Occasional leaks have only made users more impatient. Recently, we talked about features that Apple wanted to showcase at WWDC 2023 but couldn’t because they weren’t ready yet. Now, the “Visual Search” feature of the headset’s operating system, visionOS, has been revealed. Here are the details…
Apple Vision Pro ‘Visual Search’ Feature Can Identify Items, Text, Translate and More
Apple’s eagerly anticipated headset is getting more and more interesting. The latest news is that it will have a feature called “Visual Search” that uses the power of visionOS to let users interact with their environment in new and innovative ways. With Visual Search, users can easily scan an object or piece of text to get relevant information. For example, if you’re walking down the street and you see a plant you don’t recognize, you can scan it with your headset to instantly learn more about it. This is just one example of how Visual Search could be used.
Visual Search can also be used to interact with text in the real world. This means that you can select, copy, and paste printed text into apps, just like you would with text in a digital document. Another great feature is that it can translate text between 17 different languages in real time. This makes it easy to communicate with people who speak other languages, even if you don’t know their language yourself. ‘Visual Search’ can also be used to convert units of measurement.
So, if a recipe calls for ingredients in grams, but you’re more familiar with ounces, you can use this new search method to convert the units for you. ‘isual Search is still under development, but it has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with our surroundings. By blending the digital world with our physical reality, the new feature can make our lives easier, more convenient, and more enjoyable.
In a major development, Tesla has announced that its highly anticipated Dojo supercomputer, designed to revolutionize the company’s self-driving technology, will commence production next month. Dojo represents Tesla’s foray into custom-built supercomputing platforms dedicated to AI machine learning, with a specific focus on video training utilizing data from its expansive fleet of vehicles.
While Tesla already possesses one of the world’s most powerful supercomputers, based on NVIDIA GPU technology, the introduction of Dojo signifies a significant leap forward. This cutting-edge supercomputer, meticulously crafted by Tesla from the ground up, incorporates purpose-built chips and an entire infrastructure tailored to the automaker’s unique requirements.
Dojo’s bespoke architecture is poised to enhance Tesla’s ability to train neural networks using video data, a crucial component of the computer vision technology that underpins the company’s ambitious self-driving initiative. By leveraging the vast amounts of visual information captured by its fleet, Tesla aims to refine and expand the capabilities of its autonomous driving systems.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, has long touted the importance of powerful machine learning hardware in advancing the company’s autonomous driving capabilities. With Dojo’s imminent entry into production, Tesla is signaling its commitment to stay at the forefront of technological innovation in the electric vehicle and autonomous driving sectors.
The Dojo supercomputer represents a significant step towards achieving Tesla’s goal of building a fleet of fully autonomous vehicles capable of navigating roads with unrivaled precision and safety. By utilizing its in-house computing power, Tesla aims to reduce its dependence on external suppliers, thereby gaining greater control over the development and deployment of its self-driving technology.
As the automotive industry intensifies its focus on electric and autonomous vehicles, Tesla’s advancements in AI and supercomputing technology place the company in a favorable position. The successful implementation of Dojo has the potential to accelerate Tesla’s self-driving roadmap, bolstering its competitive advantage and further solidifying its position as a trailblazer in the electric vehicle market.
In a significant development, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) has made an official announcement regarding the release of a comprehensive categorization and legal framework for AI services. Alongside this announcement, the CAC has also published a list comprising 41 companies operating in various AI-related fields. The newly implemented regulation mandates that all Chinese companies involved in the generation of AI-generated content must promptly apply for categorization.
The introduction of this framework by the CAC represents a major step forward in regulating and overseeing the rapidly expanding AI industry in China. By establishing clear categories and guidelines, the CAC aims to ensure that AI services are developed and utilized responsibly, in compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
Under the new regulation, Chinese companies engaged in the creation and dissemination of AI-generated content are required to undergo a categorization process. This process involves assessing the nature and potential impact of their AI services and aligning them with the specified categories outlined by the CAC. It is crucial for these companies to comply with this requirement to ensure transparency and accountability within the AI sector.
In conjunction with the categorization framework, the CAC has released a list featuring 41 companies involved in various AI-related fields. This list serves as a reference for the public, providing insight into the companies operating in the AI domain and the services they offer. By publishing this list, the CAC aims to foster greater transparency and awareness in the AI industry, allowing stakeholders and the general public to have a clearer understanding of the players involved.
The list of AI algorithms encompasses a wide range of categories, including large models, image generation, video generation, voice synthesis, intelligent customer service, and facial simulation. Notably, half of the listed companies are prominent Chinese enterprises, with affiliations to industry leaders such as ByteDance, Alibaba, Baidu, Tencent, Meituan, and iFlytek. This comprehensive compilation reflects the significant presence of these influential companies within the AI landscape, highlighting their contributions and involvement in advancing AI technology in China.
The categorization and publication of the list by the CAC are expected to have a significant impact on the AI industry in China. Companies operating in this space will now have a structured framework to follow, enabling them to align their operations with regulatory requirements.
The relationships between technology companies are often intriguing. These firms can be both competitors and collaborators at the same time. For example, they might work together on a project while also suing each other for millions of dollars or accusing each other of wrongdoing. Most recently, Google accused Microsoft of anti-competitive practices in the cloud computing market. Google sent a letter to the authorities alleging that Microsoft is using its dominant position to push customers towards its own cloud services. Here are the details…
Google Accuses Microsoft of Monopolistic Practices in Cloud Computing
In a letter to the US Federal Trade Commission, Google alleges that Microsoft is using its dominant position in the enterprise software market to push customers towards its Azure cloud computing platform. Specifically, Google takes issue with the integration of Windows Server and Office products into Azure. It argues that this integration makes it almost impossible for customers to switch to other cloud computing platforms, thereby creating an ecosystem of dependency.
Google also points to Microsoft’s practice of charging additional fees to third-party cloud providers for running its software. This policy, enacted by Microsoft in 2019, has resulted in what Google deems an anti-competitive environment in the cloud services sector. Google’s accusations are in line with the concerns of other industry observers. Corey Quinn, a renowned cloud economist, has noted a worrisome trend in the industry towards making it more difficult for customers to switch cloud providers. He has described this trend as “anti-competitive” and “increasingly Herculean.”
Microsoft made the following statement on the subject: We have made changes to our cloud licensing terms to address licensing concerns and provide more opportunity for cloud providers. Worldwide, more than 100 cloud providers have already taken advantage of these changes. And as the latest independent data shows, competition between cloud hyperscalers remains healthy. In the last quarter of 2022 Microsoft and Google made small gains on AWS, which continues to remain the market leader by a significant margin.
The FTC is currently investigating Google’s allegations against Microsoft. The outcome of this investigation could have a significant impact on the future of cloud competition. If the FTC finds that Microsoft is engaging in anti-competitive practices, it could order the company to change its behavior. This could open up the cloud computing market to more competition and give customers more choice.
Emerging mobile phone brand, Itel has launched the ‘Super Guru’ series of feature phones in India. With the aim of providing affordable and reliable communication solutions to consumers, Itel has introduced three models in this series: Super Guru 200, Super Guru 400, and Super Guru 600. These feature phones offer an impressive array of features and are poised to set new standards in the feature phone market. This is coming weeks after the launch of the affordable Itel S23 smartphone.
The Super Guru series comes with mobile payment capability which is an impressive feature considering the limited mobile payment options available to users of feature phones especially in rural India. Users can easily perform UPI functions such as money transfers and bill payments on the go using the GSPay app developed by Gupshup.io and powered by NPCI’s UPI 123 Pay. This seamless integration of mobile payment services brings convenience and accessibility to a wider audience.
Itel Super Guru 600, Super Guru 400 & Super Guru 200 Features
The Super Guru series is designed to be robust and durable, meeting the demands of everyday usage. It features a strong call alert system, ensuring reliable communication even in noisy environments. The structural design of these feature phones has been carefully crafted to withstand wear and tear, ensuring longevity. Additionally, Itel is offering a complimentary transparent and dotted cover with the Super Guru series, combining style and protection for the devices.
Specifically, the Super Guru 200 packs a 1200mAh battery which is a whole lot for a feature phone. The battery is said to deliver a staggering 21-day standby time. The phone packs a 1.8-inch display and crams a 1.3 MP camera at the back. It comes with a metal finish as well as a wear-resistant keypad.
The Super Guru 400 has a slightly bigger display of 2.4 inches in size. The phone features an ultra-slim metallic design measuring just 9.8 mm. It equally crams a 1200mAh which provides up to 14 days battery life. The phone also features UPI payment capability.
Finally, the topmost model, the Itel Super Guru 600 features an elegant ergonomic metal design with a comfortable grip. It boasts a 2.8-inch display and a bigger 1900mAh battery which can deliver an impressive 20-day standby time. Just like its counterparts, the device supports UPI payments and features a 1.3 MP camera.
Pricing and availability
The Super Guru 200 is priced at Rs. 1499 ($18), the Super Guru 400 at Rs. 1699 ($20), and the Super Guru 600 at Rs. 1899 ($23), making these feature phones highly affordable for a wide range of consumers. They will be available for purchase on Itel’s official website as well as through other authorized retailers starting today.
Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly widespread. Companies are constantly developing new AI technologies to compete with or integrate with OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Cisco is the latest company to join this race, but not in the way you might think. Instead of developing new AI software, Cisco is launching new AI networking chips. These chips aim to rival the offerings from Broadcom and Marvell. Here are the details…
New CiscoAI Networking Chips Aim to Speed Up AI and Machine Learning Tasks
Cisco has launched new AI networking chips that are designed to compete with the offerings from Broadcom and Marvell. These chips are part of Cisco’s SiliconOne series and are being tested by five of the six major cloud providers, including Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud.
The new chips are said to be the most powerful networking chips in the market for AI/ML workloads. They can connect up to 32,000 GPUs together, which can help to speed up AI and machine learning tasks. Cisco also says that the chips can help to reduce the number of switches needed in a network, which can further improve performance.
As the use of AI grows, so does the demand for AI networking chips. These chips help companies build and deploy AI applications more quickly and efficiently. AI applications are becoming more complex and demanding, which means that they need high-performance chips. Cisco is meeting the growing demand for AI networking chips.
The company’s new chips are powerful and energy-efficient, which is important for AI applications. This could help companies save money on their energy bills. Cisco is a major player in the networking industry, and its new chips could help the company to gain market share in this growing market.
Apple’s Vision Pro mixed reality headset was recently unveiled at WWDC 2023. The headset, which is scheduled to go on sale in 2024, has captured everyone’s attention with its features. However, it has been revealed that Apple did not showcase all of the features that were originally planned. Here are the details…
Apple still has a lot of secret apps for Vision Pro in the works
The Vision Pro showcase at WWDC 2023 was impressive. We saw how the headset could be used for different applications, but it turns out that the event was originally planned to be even more spectacular. Apple had originally planned to show off a number of features that were not yet ready, include a Tai Chi app, a Nike workout app, a yoga app, games that require precision control, the ability to run Mac apps directly on the headset, and augmented or 3D Apple TV+ content.
Many of the health or fitness functions are on pause because they rely on full-body tracking, which isn’t working yet. Apple told developers that full-body tracking will be available when the device ships. In addition to software issues, there have also been hardware problems that have slowed down the development of the headset. For example, face cushions have been researched, but it’s not clear how they would have been used. The Vision Pro also lacks “brow cams,” which would have been used to more accurately depict a user’s facial expressions.
According to former team members at Apple, fitness was also removed from the demo because of other hardware concerns. The external battery pack was considered cumbersome, and the front glass of the headset is too fragile to survive a wearer bumping into walls. It’s possible that Apple will release some of these features in future updates, but for now, it looks like we’ll have to wait a little longer to see the full potential of the Vision Pro.
Google has just unveiled its latest update for the Google Play Store, with version 36.3.12 now available for Android devices. Although the app itself doesn’t include explicit changelogs, the recently released June 2023 Google System Updates provide valuable insights into the changes implemented.
Illustration: Soumyakanti Ray
Download Google Play Store Apk
The file size for the new update stands at 21.81 MB, making it readily accessible for all Android devices running Android 10+. While this update will install automatically in the background, users can choose to download it manually, ensuring seamless integration.
The Google Play Store’s June 2023 changelogs reveal three key areas of improvement. First, there are updates to search results and ad formats specifically tailored for app-based search queries. This will offer users more streamlined results, providing them with a more intuitive and efficient browsing experience.
Secondly, Google has improved the loading latency of ads on the Home Page. Long load times can be an inconvenience, causing users to potentially miss out on app recommendations. This tweak will reduce the waiting time, providing users with a smoother, more seamless browsing experience.
The third improvement targets a key area of user interaction – reviews. Select search results now highlight crucial information from user reviews. This feature enables users to glean key insights about apps and games directly from the reviews of other users. This helps users make more informed decisions about which apps to download and try.
As always, Google continues to prioritize the safety and stability of its applications. Regularly released updates not only introduce new features but also keep Google Play Store secure, bug-free, and more user-friendly.
Google launched a new feature two months back that empowers users to erase their data from specific apps. This new addition is a clear reflection of Google’s ongoing commitment to upholding user data privacy, offering users an easy and efficient way to manage their personal information across various apps.
Bolt will shortly release its newest standing electric scooter to the market. The new Bolt 6 e-scooter will have a longer life cycle and range than previous iterations. The company also says that the Bolt 6 is the most durable model yet from its stable.
The Estonian micro-mobility firm has continued to expand and evolve its operation in various markets. The development of the Bolt 6 means that the lifespan of the model will stretch to 8 years, from the current 5 years of its predecessor. The Bolt 6 is equipped with a larger 12-inch front wheel and a wider floorboard. It features swept handlebars and a lower center of gravity, thanks to its battery situated under the floorboard.
The design of the Bolt 6 with an ultra-low center of gravity provides stability to the EV. The Bolt 6 has a range of 55 miles (~89km) and the company hopes to deploy the first 1,000 units of the EV to Lisbon, Riga, and Tallinn. The rollout will subsequently spread to other European cities. Bolt currently operates in 260 cities in Europe. Bolt says the new Bolt 6 e-scooter was designed to address the needs of cities and riders. The in-house design and development team had full control of the software and hardware.
The Bolt 6 has a more advanced sensor and GPS system than its previous iteration and offers overall safety for users of the e-scooter. It uses AI and several other functionalities to analyze the E-scooter’s surroundings and detect whether the EV is being used on a sidewalk or incorrectly. Bolt has not provided any pricing information for the new e-scooter.
The Apple Watch has had a trail of testimonies of its life-saving capabilities. From its fall-detection architecture to its health and fitness notification system, the device continues to perform creditably as a lifesaver. A 29-year-old Cincinnati woman is the latest person to have been reportedly saved by with the aid of the smartwatch. The woman, Kimmie Watkins credits her Apple Watch for saving her life because it helped doctors detect a serious blood clot in her lungs.
The woman hopes her story will convince others to consider availing themselves of technology for enhanced health and fitness. She says the Apple Watch can be helpful in a health sense. She was able to discover that she had a blood clotting disorder that never manifested itself before the incident. The Apple Watch can measure your heart rate for 24 hours and it can recognize irregular patterns when the user is asleep. If the heart rate is elevated during rest periods, the smartwatch can trigger an alert to the user.
Watkins was roused from her sleep by the Apple Watch’s alert of a heart rate of 178 beats per minute. She then sought medical attention where she was told that she had a condition called saddle pulmonary embolism.
The condition limits blood flow throw both lungs and a 50% fatality rate is reported for the ailment. Watkins was able to get treatment and she is happy that her sleep was routed by the smartwatch on that day. She feels that the outcome could have been fatal if she was not wearing a smartwatch.
Processor technology is advancing rapidly. This means that chips are becoming more powerful, smaller, and more efficient. For example, the iPhone 14 Pro Max uses a 4 nm chip. Even though 3 nm chips have not yet been released, TSMC has recently started preparing to trial-produce 2 nm chips. Here are the details…
TSMC to start 2nm chip trial production for Apple and Nvidia
TSMC is preparing to trial-produce 2 nm chips. This is a major step forward for the semiconductor industry, as it means that even more powerful and efficient chips are on the horizon. The company has sent 1,000 R&D people to work at its new factory in Taiwan. This facility is still under construction, but soon, it will be a state of the art semiconductor manufacturing plant when it is completed. TSMC plans to start mass production of 2 nm products in 2025.
TSMC’s 2nm technology is expected to significantly outperform its previous 3nm chips in terms of both speed and power consumption. Specifically, the 2nm chips will be 10-15% faster than their 3nm counterparts while using the same power voltage. Furthermore, they will consume 25-30% less power than 3nm chips when operating at the same speed. These advancements are expected to boost the performance of devices using these chips, offering faster processing speeds while consuming less energ
TSMC’s move to prepare for 2nm production may seem insignificant at first, but it’s actually a very big deal. TSMC manufactures chips for dozens of tech giants, including Apple and Nvidia. This means that 2nm production could lead to much more powerful phones, computers, graphics cards, and gaming consoles. The smaller size and less energy consumption of 2nm chips could also help to overcome overheating issues. This could make handheld consoles and gaming laptops more stable and reliable.
Infinix Note 30 5G debuted earlier this month in India with a starting price of Rs 14,999 (~$182). Today, Infnix carried out the first sale of the device via Flipkart. It goes without saying that the launch has launched with an enticing price tag. Moreover, the phone is packed with features that make it one of the best 5G phones in its price segment. Some of which include 45W fast charging, a 108-megapixel triple camera unit, a Dimensity 6080 chip, a 120Hz LCD display, and an impressive design.
I attended the media briefing for the Infinix Note 30 5G before its launch. During the briefing, I had the opportunity to learn more about the device. Additionally, I got to personally experience the Sunset Gold color variant of the phone, which incorporates a leather back. The tactile feel and overall user experience of the Sunset Gold version greatly impressed me. The phone comes in other options, such as Magic Black and Interstellar Blue. For the review, I was provided with a black variant of the brand.
Infinix Note 30 5G review: What’s in the box?
Infinix Note 30 5G
Here is a list of items that are included in the retail package of the Infinix Note 30 5G:
The Infinix Note 30 5G features a polycarbonate rear shell and frame, weighing 205 grams and measuring 8.8mm in thickness. The back panel of the device has a slight camera module bump, featuring three cameras and an LED flash with a subtle protrusion. Despite this, the design is well-balanced, and the camera bump does not result in any wobbling when the phone is placed on a flat surface.
It is an IP53-rated device, meaning that it offers a certain level of protection against dust ingress and water splashes, further enhancing its durability and reliability. Speaking of durability, the phone comes with NEG glass protection for the display.
Around the flat edges, the Infinix Note 30 5G features dual stereo speakers tuned by JBL, a side-facing fingerprint scanner, a USB-C port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Moving to the front, it features a punch-hole display, with a slightly thick chin. There is no secondary microphone on the top edge of the device.
The Infinix Note 30 5G features a massive 6.78-inch IPS LCD panel that offers an FHD+ resolution of 1080 x 2460 pixels, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a 100 percent DCI-P3 color gamut. It comes with Widevine L1 support, ensuring a seamless streaming experience on popular OTT platforms. With the added advantage of dual stereo speakers, users can enjoy immersive audio and visual entertainment on the device. Since the screen offers up to 580 nits of brightness, it enhances outdoor visibility, allowing for comfortable usage even in brighter outdoor environments. The included screen guard falls short of completely covering the screen.
Performance and Software
MediaTek Dimensity 6080
5,000mAh battery
4GB / 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM
45W charging
128GB / 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage
Android 13 OS, XOS 13
8GB of virtual RAM
Infinix Note 30 5G
The Dimensity 6080, which is a 6nm chip, powers the Infinix Note 30 5G. The chip brings support for 14 5G bands to the device. The phone comes with LPDDR4x RAM, UFS 2.2 storage, and a dedicated microSD card slot. The phone runs on XOS 13-based Android 13. It will receive one Android OS upgrade and two years of security patch updates.
The 4GB+128GB variant of the device offers up to 4 GB of virtual RAM, whereas its 8GB+256G edition offers up to 8 GB of virtual RAM. In terms of performance, I found the phone to be well-suited for daily tasks, including gaming. The review unit that I have has 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage.
Infinix Note 30 5G
The Note 30 5G packs a 5,000mAh dual-cell battery that supports 45W charging. According to the brand, the phone can go from 1 to 75 percent in just 30 minutes. In my test, it took 70 minutes to achieve a full charge. The Note 30 5G comes with a nifty Bypass Charging technology, which activates when the battery level reaches or exceeds the pre-set threshold (30 percent by default), diverting charging current directly to the motherboard. This feature reduces overheating during simultaneous charging and gameplay, resulting in a maximum temperature decrease of 7°C compared to regular charging. The Note 30 5G is the only phone to offer such a feature in its price segment.
The 10W reverse charging capabilities of the Note 30 5G allow users to use it like a powerbank to charge other devices like a smartwatch, TWS earbuds, or a smartphone. In addition, the phone supports the USB PD 3.0 charging protocol. According to Infinix, the 5,000mAh battery of the Note 30 5G retains 80 precent of its original capacity even after 1,000 charge and discharge cycles. This performance surpasses the industry standard of 800 cycles, equivalent to approximately 3 years of regular daily charging.
During extended gaming sessions lasting approximately 45 minutes, the device experiences a slight increase in temperature. This is where Bypass Charging proves beneficial, allowing the device to be charged while gaming without causing overheating. In terms of gaming performance, the device can comfortably handle HD settings, although it may not deliver the smoothest experience on graphics-intensive games.
The OS experience is the usual affair as seen on other mid-range Infinix phones. There are several preloaded apps onboard and only a handful of them can be uninstalled. Thankfully, there are no intrusive notifications. The XOS 13 is user-friendly, smooth, and has plenty of features. However, I hope the brand de-clutters the experience in the future iteration of the XOS.
Here is a look at the phone’s performance on benchmarking apps:
Sitting on the front is a 16-megapixel front-facing camera flanked by dual-LED flash units. On the back, the device is equipped with a 108-megapixel primary camera, a 2-megapixel macro camera, an AI lens, and a quad-LED flash unit. If I am not mistaken, the Note 30 5G is the most affordable smartphone with a 108-megapixel camera. Some of the photography features available onboard include street photography filters, a super night scene filter, sky remapping, film mode, and dual-view video.
Potrait selfiePotrait shot2x1x
In well-lit conditions, the primary camera of Note 30 5G performs admirably, capturing images in a default resolution of 12.5-megapixel. These images exhibit a decent dynamic range and contain a good amount of detail. The main camera also impresses in indoor shots as well as low-light environments with the Super Night mode. While this mode significantly enhances the quality of shots in challenging lighting conditions, it does require a few seconds to capture an image.
With Super Night ModeWith Super Night ModeWith Super Night ModeWith Super Night ModeWith Super Night ModePotrait shotPotrait shotIndoor: 2x zooIndoor: 2x zoomWith Super Night ModePotrait selfieWith Super Night Mode
The selfie camera performance of Note 30 5G is somewhat lacking, with occasional issues of softness and a lack of detail in the selfie shots. When taking selfies at night, there is some noticeable noise, although the Super Night Mode feature improves the quality to some degree. To assist in capturing better shots in low-light environments, the device is equipped with a dual-LED flash unit to provide adequate lighting for the subject. In summary, the Note 30 5G pleasantly surprises with its impressive performance in the photography department, without excessive hype from the company.
Some of the other features worth mentioning on the device include a dedicated microSD card slot and NFC connectivity, which can be used for contactless payments at POS terminals.
Verdict
The Infinix Note 30 5G excels in multiple areas, boasting impressive features such as rapid charging, a high refresh rate display, a capable primary camera, and a decent design. While I personally would have preferred the inclusion of an AMOLED screen, it’s understandable that this might have resulted in a higher price point. Nonetheless, the device stands out as a formidable competitor among 5G smartphones in the Rs 15,000 (~$182) price range. Moreover, the Axis bank offer price, which reduces the price of the device to Rs 13,999 (~$170) further enhances its value proposition, making it an enticing choice for budget-conscious consumers.
Variants, Price and Availability
In India, the Infinix Note 30 5G is available for purchase through Flipkart. Following are the configurations and color options available for the buyers:
4 GB RAM + 128 GB storage – Rs 14,999 (~$183)
8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage – Rs 15,999 (~$195)
Colors: Magic Black, Interstellar Blue, and Sunset Gold
Those who purchase the device using an Axis credit card or debit card can avail a flat discount of Rs 1,000 on both variants. Hence, with the Axis Bank offer, both variants can be purchased for Rs 13,999 (~$170) and Rs 14,999 (~$182), respectively. Buyers can also benefit from no-cost EMI for up to 6 months. For those who are not aware of the company’s after-sales support, it has 1250 service centres spanning across over 1000 towns across the country. There’s a Carlcare app on the device, which can help users find the nearest service centre.
Disclaimer: All of the opinions in this Infinix Note 30 5G review are mine and based on my own experiences. There has been no editorial input from Infinix.
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