Forza Horizon 5 launched back in 2021 as the latest entry in the popular driving franchise. And now, the game is getting an update that brings an updated feature as well as a few new cars. So here are all the details.
Forza Horizon 5: Explore the Horizon update announced
Earlier this week, the Playground Games revealed that the new major update for its popular Forza Horizon 5. This new update was announced carrying the title “Explore the Horizon” as a part of its 21st Festival Playlist Series for the game. The company revealed the update through the blog post and it will be arriving for gamers soon. One of the major aspects of the new update is undoubtedly the new and improved Photo Mode.
The new update will let users to change the time of day, change the weather, change the tilt of your vehicle’s wheels, change the position of your character outside of the vehicle, and even emotes for the characters. The Forza Horizon 5 update brings six brand new vehicles. The new cars also include two new EVs as well. Looking at the list, there is a 1972 Chevrolet K-10 Custom, a 1986 Ford F-150 XLT Lariat, a 2019 DeBerti Ford Super Duty F-250 Lariat “Transformer”, a 2021 CUPRA Formentor VZ5, a 2022 CUPRA Tavascan Concept, and a 2022 GMC HUMMER EV Pickup.
Apart from this, the Explore the Horizon update will also include new vehicle modifications, more EventLabs props, new accolades for players to climb, and even a bunch of bug fixes to make the game more stable. Notably, the new content also arrives as the company makes improvements to Forza Motorsport to help visually improved gamers. This new update’s live build will be arriving sometime later this year, so stick around for more updates.
Xiaomi continues to expand its smart product family. Currently second in the global smartphone market, the company plans to strengthen its position in other sectors as well. One recent example is the launch of the MIJIA Air Conditioner 2HP. And now, Xiaomi has introduced the Mi Home Smart Treadmill, priced at 1899 Yuan ($270). Here are the details…
Xiaomi Mi Home Smart Treadmill Features Noise Reduction Brushless Motor and Full Track Design
Working from home has become a popular and permanent part of our lives since the pandemic. Many people, including Gizmochina editors, now spend at least a few days a week working from home. This is beneficial in terms of comfort and productivity, but it can also lead to a sedentary lifestyle. Fortunately, Xiaomi has a solution for this. The company has launched the Mi Home Smart Treadmill, introducing an innovative solution to home fitness. The treadmill comes with a tag price of 1899 Yuan ($270), making it a very affordable option for those looking to get in shape at home.
The Mi Home Smart Treadmill is designed with a notebook-style folding mechanism, making it the perfect space-saving solution for small apartments or tight living spaces. Its full track design and fixed 4% incline provide a more intense workout experience, simulating outdoor running conditions. The treadmill features a running belt that measures 640x460mm, providing sufficient space for a comfortable run. One of its prominent features is the seven-layer flexible shock absorption system, which reduces the impact on the user’s joints, offering a smoother and safer running experience.
Powered by a brushless motor, the treadmill ensures noise reduction, making it an ideal choice for home environments. Operating at approximately 65 decibels, it won’t disturb family members or neighbors, even during intensive workout sessions. This motor allows the treadmill to reach speeds of up to 15km/h, and it can handle a load of up to 220kg.
The treadmill, weighing approximately 40kg, can be folded down to a height of about 210mm. It also supports full-house device interconnection, allowing users to link it with other smart home devices for a more integrated lifestyle. Furthermore, it offers a range of courses and supports various running modes, including heart rate controlled speed running. The Mi Home Smart Treadmill is a great option for those looking for an affordable and innovative way to get in shape at home
Xiaomi has unveiled its latest audio offering, the Dual Magnetic Ultra Dynamic Unit wired earphones with liquid silicone diaphragm. These earphones have been designed to provide an immersive music-listening experience with enhanced clarity and depth. Priced at just 129 Yuan ($18), they offer impressive specifications without breaking the bank.
Reduced Distortion, Precise Sound Imaging: Dual Magnetic Drivers
One of the standout features of these earphones is the micro diaphragm unit, which captures rich sound details and ensures a wide frequency response. The powerful resolution of the diaphragm unit allows for precise sound imaging and reduced phase distortion, resulting in a more accurate audio representation.
The micro diaphragm unit’s conductive layer is evenly distributed across its surface, enabling more uniform vibration through magnetic force. This unique design enhances the overall audio performance by reducing distortions and improving sound accuracy.
Adding to the impressive audio capabilities, these earphones incorporate a liquid silicone diaphragm. This diaphragm strikes a balance between rigidity and elasticity, enabling it to deliver sensitive and responsive transient performance. As a result, users can expect versatile sound reproduction.
The aluminum alloy sound chamber integrated into these earphones contributes to their exceptional performance. By providing lower distortion and richer details, the sound chamber ensures a balanced audio experience across the entire frequency range. Additionally, the earphones have obtained Hi-Res Audio certification, further emphasizing their commitment to delivering high-quality sound.
This earphone uses a 3.5mm headphone jack, weighs only 14.7g, has a cable length of 1.28m, a rated power of 5mW, and a frequency response range of 20Hz to 20KHz.
In terms of functionality, these earphones feature three-button control, allowing users to conveniently manage their music playback and calls. Xiaomi has once again prioritized affordability without compromising on essential features, making the Dual Magnetic Ultra Dynamic Unit Earphones with Liquid Silicone Diaphragm a compelling option for audio enthusiasts seeking remarkable sound quality at an accessible price point. Xiaomi has launched a series of new products ahead of the 618 shopping festival including this earphone and a 10000mAh Pocket Edition power bank with a built-in cable.
Nvidia is seeing a bump in GPU sales in the market over its AI capabilities. However, while this is great news for its GPU business, it would also have the company face stock shortages till the end of this year.
Nvidia GPU shortages could last till December
The company will likely struggle to meet demand as it tried to have TSMC to increase production. For those unaware, Nvidia’s graphics card’s chips are manufactured by TSMC. The boom in the GPU business for the brand also arrives amid the surge in AI applications. For those unaware, the American tech giant had bet on the advancements on AI technologies that ChatGPT and other AI based models are now based on. Notably, this is also in line with our previous report that mentioned AI chips from the company selling for a whopping 40,000 US Dollars on eBay.
This demand is particularly high for its brand new A100 and H100 GPUs that tech firms are seeking to buy. As of right now, reports have also claimed that the massive demand for AI chips has caused stock issues for Nvidia, who is struggling to meet these high demands. Furthermore, Team Green is also looking to bump up its orders to the world’s largest contract chipmaker, TSMC, since its A100 GPU is based on its 7nm process while the H100 is based on the more advanced 4nm TSMC process node.
The high demand has also led to a spike in prices as well. The company is selling modified versions of its A100 and H100 GPUs that are dubbed A800 and H800 (to circumvent US sanctions) at a price that is 40 percent higher than its MSRP. Even the delivery cycle for the new cards have been impacted as Nvidia seeks to ship GPUs to tech firms outside of China first.
Yesterday, Xiaomi revealed the rear design of the Xiaomi Civi 3, a female-focused smartphone for China. Today, the company released multiple teasers to reveal several new details about the Civi 3.
Xiaomi has confirmed that the Civi 3 will feature an OLED panel with curved edges and a pill-shaped cutout. While the company is yet to confirm the display size, it appears that it may have inherited the 6.55-inch OLED FHD+ 120Hz panel, which was made available on the Xiaomi Civi 2 last year.
Xiaomi has confirmed that the Civi 3 will have a 32-megapixel main selfie camera with a 78-degree FOV. It will be paired with a 32-megapixel superwide camera with a 100-degree FOV. The top edge of the device will have soft dual-LED flash units with 5 kinds of light effects, from warm to cold, for snapping brighter selfies in low-light conditions.
The company also revealed that a 50-megapixel Sony IMX800 camera with OIS support will be the focal point of the Civi 3’s rear camera setup. It has yet to reveal the details of the remaining rear cameras on the device.
One of the major attractions of the Civi 3 is its dual-tone design. The device will be available in four colors, such as Rose Purple, Mint Green, Coconut Grey, and Adventure Gold. In the Chinese market, the Civi 3 will rival other upcoming Dimensity 8200 phones, such as the OPPO Reno 10 Pro and the Vivo S17 Pro.
Dyson has just unveiled a couple of new products for your homes. The new gadgets include the new 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum cleaner and the new V15S Detect Submarine Vacuum Cleaner that offer improved floorcare to users. So here are all the details.
Dyson 360 Vis Nav Robot Vacuum Cleaner
As the name suggests, the Dyson 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum cleaner arrives to clean your entire house, while the V15S Detect Submarine is for hard floor cleaning. Talking about the robot first, this marks the first robot vacuum cleaner since its last model in 2020. The company has made various improvements in its navigation tech and even power be more competitive in the current market.
The brand claims that the new robot vacuum cleaner has six times the suction of other robots thanks to its Hyperdium motor that spins at up to 110,000rpm. It is equipped with a fisheye lens that has a 360 degree vision system and houses an edge to edge brush to clean floors of different types. The 360 Vis Nav uses a piezo sensor to detect dust levels, automatically adjusting suction power. This model will go on sale later this year.
Dyson V15S Detect Submarine Vacuum Cleaner
The V15S is a hard floor cleaner that is built with the brand’s Gen5Detect. This new vacuum cleaner has a Submarine wet roller head that can deliver water automatically to remove tough stains. It houses an eight jet system that can release 18ml of water every minute to help remove stains. The new V15S Detect Submarine is quite powerful and is portable thanks to its cordless stick design. Notably, the V15S arrives after the launch of the V15 Detect Extra cordless vacuum cleaner. Similar to the robot vacuum cleaner, this model will also launch later this year.
In December 2022, Redmi introduced the K60 series of smartphones exclusively in China. During the initial release, the entry-level model, known as the Redmi K60, was offered with a maximum configuration of 16GB RAM and 512GB storage. However, the brand has now unveiled a new variant of the device, featuring an impressive 1TB storage capacity.
The 16GB + 1TB model is initially priced at 3599 Yuan ($510) in China, but there will be a temporary reduction to 3099 Yuan ($439) during the pre-order period starting at 8 PM tonight in China.
In markets outside of China, the Redmi K60 is marketed as the Poco F5 Pro. It is available in configurations with a maximum of 16GB RAM and 512GB storage. Currently, it is unclear whether the company intends to release a 1TB variant of this device in the global market. If you are interested in either of these devices, you can check out our detailed Redmi K60 review.
Redmi K60 specs
The Redmi K60, a high-end smartphone, boasts a large 6.67-inch 2K display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It offers exceptional visual quality with a peak brightness of 1400nit, support for 68.7 billion colors, and a P3 color gamut. The device also incorporates an under-display fingerprint sensor for convenient unlocking.
Underneath the sleek design, the Redmi K60 is equipped with the reliable Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC, along with LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage, ensuring powerful performance. It houses a massive 5500mAh battery that supports 67W wired fast charging and 30W wireless charging, allowing for extended usage without frequent recharging.
In terms of photography capabilities, the smartphone features a 60MP primary camera with optical image stabilization (OIS), providing excellent image stabilization for sharp and clear photos. It also includes an 8MP ultrawide lens and a 2MP macro lens for versatile photography options. The device runs on MIUI 14, based on the latest Android 13 operating system, delivering a user-friendly interface and a range of features.
The competition in the smart TV market is heating up. Every day, a new and improved model is released by a different brand. For example, Samsung just opened pre-orders for its 98-inch 4K Mini-LED TV yesterday. This advanced and enormous TV is also facing competition from a Mini-LED rival from Toshiba. Toshiba recently launched its Z870MF TV series with Mini-LED and an advanced sound system. Here are the details…
Toshiba Z870MF TV Launches with Mini LED and Advanced Sound System
Toshiba has announced its new Z870MF TV, a high-end model that features Mini LED display technology and an advanced sound system. The TV is available in two sizes, 75 inches and 85 inches, and starts at 17,999 yuan ($2,500). The Z870MF’s has over 1200 Mini LED zones, which allows for more precise control of local dimming and better contrast. The TV also has a peak brightness of 2000 nits, making it capable of displaying HDR content.
The Z870MF’s sound system is powered by a 95W speaker, a 1.8L subwoofer. It supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X surround sound, and it has been tuned by Toshiba’s professional acoustic team. In addition to its impressive display and sound, the Z870MF also has a number of other features that make it a great choice for home entertainment. It supports 4K 144Hz video, Wi-Fi 5, and full-featured HDMI 2.1 ports. It also has a built-in iCare visual care technology that helps to reduce eye strain. Here are some of the key features of the Toshiba Z870MF TV:
Mini LED display with over 1200 zones
Peak brightness of 2000 nits
95W speaker system with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support
4K 144Hz video support
Wi-Fi 5
Full-featured HDMI 2.1 ports
iCare visual care technology
The Toshiba Z870MF TV is a great choice for anyone looking for a high-end TV with stunning picture quality and immersive sound.
Xiaomi has recently unveiled the Xiaomi 10000mAh Pocket Edition Power Bank featuring a convenient built-in Type-C 22.5W bi-directional fast charging cable. This power bank, available at the price of 129 yuan ($18), offers a practical solution for daily power needs.
Seamless Charging Experience with Built-in Cable
With its built-in cable, the power bank eliminates the need to carry an extra cable, making it especially convenient for users of mainstream Android devices. It provides hassle-free charging on the go.
According to official specifications, the Xiaomi 10000mAh Pocket Edition Power Bank can charge various devices multiple times. It can charge the Xiaomi 13 1.7 times, Redmi K60 Pro 1.4 times, iPhone 14 twice, and Switch 1.1 times. For typical smartphone usage and other devices, the power bank’s battery capacity is sufficient to last through a full day.
It’s important to note that the power bank supports a maximum of 20W charging for iPhones. However, due to the Lightning port used by iPhones, a C to L data cable is required to connect the power bank.
The power bank features a Type-C power cable, Type-C interface, and USB-A port, all supporting a maximum output power of 22.5W for a single port. This enables simultaneous charging of up to three devices, providing flexibility for users.
Additionally, the power bank offers a low-current discharge mode, activated by double-clicking the power check button. This mode is particularly useful for reviving small devices with low battery levels.
In terms of safety, the Xiaomi 10000mAh Pocket Edition Power Bank incorporates multiple protection features, including safeguards against short circuits, overvoltage, overcurrent, overcharge, and over-discharge.
Overall, Xiaomi’s new power bank provides a practical and efficient charging solution with its built-in cable, versatile charging capabilities, and focus on safety. With its affordable price point, it offers great value to users seeking reliable portable power.
In an effort to combat the increasing threat of flooding worldwide, Google has unveiled its innovative Flood Hub, now available in 80 countries and regions across Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, South, and Central America. The tech giant’s Flood Hub leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to provide estimated water levels for flood-prone areas over the next seven days, offering crucial information to local residents, governments, and organizations involved in flood response.
Google Flood Hub will help 460 million people globally
With the expansion of Flood Hub’s coverage, an estimated 460 million people will benefit from this cutting-edge technology as they confront the challenges posed by our changing climate. Google’s commitment to supporting communities affected by flooding is reflected in its decision to extend the flood forecast from 48 hours to a more comprehensive seven-day period. This enhancement empowers individuals, governments, and organizations to execute large-scale operations, such as efficient evacuation procedures, with increased accuracy and planning.
Yossi Matias, Google’s Vice President of Engineering and Research and Head of Crisis Response, provided insights into the technology behind Flood Hub. By harnessing AI algorithms, publicly available data sources—including weather forecasts and satellite images—are analyzed to create two essential models: the Hydrologic Model, which predicts river water levels, and the Inundation Model, which forecasts the areas most likely to be affected by flooding.
The launch of Flood Hub represents Google’s ongoing commitment to utilizing its technological expertise to address critical global challenges. By leveraging AI and data analysis, Google aims to improve flood preparedness and response, ultimately safeguarding lives and minimizing the devastating impact of floods on communities.
As climate change continues to reshape our world, innovative solutions like Flood Hub serve as beacons of hope, equipping societies with vital information and empowering them to mitigate the risks posed by natural disasters. With Google’s Flood Hub, communities can proactively prepare for the challenges ahead, fostering resilience in the face of an uncertain future.
Motorola has just unveiled the new Edge 40 model in the Indian market. The device is a flagship grade smartphone with top notch specs and features and its pricing and finer details have finally been revealed. So let’s have a look.
Motorola Edge 40 Design & Display
Motorola’s latest Edge 40 model arrives with a sandblasted aluminum frame that adds to its premium feel. Furthermore, the sides are curved while the rear panel is made with vegan leather or matte acrylic options. With a width of either 7.58mm (Acrylic) or 7.49mm (Leather) and weight of just 171 grams (Leather) or 167 grams (Acrylic), the Edge 40 is quite light and thin.
The smartphone also arrives with IP68 water and dust resistance as well. Thanks to this, the company is also claiming that the Motorola Edge 40 is the world’s thinnest smartphone with IP68 protection rating. The new device sports a 6.55 inch curved pOLED display that offers 144Hz refresh rate, up to 1200nits of peak brightness, 360Hz touch sampling rate, and Full HD+ resolution.
Specifications & Camera
Under the hood, the Edge 40 is equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 8020 SoC that is paired with 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 internal storage. Notably, the device is also the first ever model to feature this particular chipset. A 4,400mAh battery pack powers the device, which also supports 68W TurboPower fast charging as well as 15W wireless charging. Other notable specs include, Android 13 OS, stereo speakers, 3 microphones, Dolby Atmos support, NFC, and even 5W reverse charging.
On the rear, the Edge 40 features a dual camera setup that consists of a 50 megapixel primary sensor that has a f/1.4 aperture, Quad Pixel Technology, and OIS support (Optical Image Stabilization). Alongside this camera, there is also a 13 megapixel ultra wide angle lens that has a 120° field of view, f/2.2 aperture, macro support, and LED flash. Meanwhile, the front houses a 32 megapixel selfie shooter that has a f/2.4 aperture and also supports Quad Pixel Technology.
Pricing, Availability, & Colors
The brand has launched the Motorola Edge 40 in multiple color variants. This includes the Eclipse Black, which is built with an acrylic back, along with Nebula Green and Lunar Blue that feature the vegan leather rear panel. However, the device is only being offered in a single storage configuration that has a price tag of 29,999 INR (roughly 363 US Dollars).
The device is currently available for pre-orders in the region via Flipkart and will go on sale on May 30 on the e-commerce platform, the company’s official website, and other offline retailers. The company is also offering up to 2,000 INR discount on exchange, no cost EMI options for HDFC, SBI, ICICI, and Axis bank card holders, and a one time screen replacement that is worth 9,500 INR for those that pre-order the device before May 30. Interestingly, this also arrives a day after we covered the Razr 40 Ultra pricing leak via online retails, so you can check out that report as well.
Last year, Oppo unveiled the Oppo F21 Pro, the Oppo F21s Pro, and the OPPO F21 Pro 5G in the Indian market. There was no standard OPPO F21. In the previous week, the company unveiled the Oppo F23 5G in the country. The same phone is available under the Oppo A98 5G moniker in the global market.
The Oppo F23 mainly focuses on offering worry-free battery performance and lag-free experiences through longer software support. Apart from this, the phone offers a 120Hz LCD screen, a Snapdragon 695, and a 64-megapixel triple camera unit, which includes a 40x micro-lens. Here is our review of the Oppo F23.
Oppo F23 5G review: What’s in the box?
OPPO F23 5G
Opening the Oppo F23 box will greet you with the following items:
The Oppo F23 showcases a polycarbonate back with a glossy section located below the camera module. Its rear design bears a resemblance to the Oppo Reno 8T 5G (review). I received the Bold Gold color option of the device, so I cannot comment on the appearance of the Cool Black variant. However, in the case of the gold variant, it exudes charm, thanks to Oppo’s innovative Glow design technology. On the front, the phone features a punch-hole display and a slightly thicker bottom bezel. According to the brand, it boasts a screen-to-body ratio of 91.4 percent.
OPPO F23 5GOPPO F23 5G
The hybrid SIM slot and volume buttons are available on the left, while the right side of the device has the power key, which is integrated with a speaker. The top edge has a microphone, and the top bezel houses an earpiece, which doubles up as a speaker. The bottom edge of the phone has a speaker grille, a USB-C port, a microphone, and a 3.5mm audio jack. A good thing about the rear panel of the phone is that it does not attract fingerprint marks.
The F23 boasts a spacious 6.72-inch LTPS LCD display that delivers FHD+ resolution and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. With a maximum brightness of 680 nits, the screen provides vivid visuals. Although the screen is generally bright, it can be challenging to view it clearly under intense sunlight. Additionally, the phone holds certifications from Netflix and Amazon Prime, allowing users to indulge in uninterrupted binge-watching on these popular OTT platforms. To enhance the audio experience, the F23 is equipped with dual stereo speakers, tested by Dirac. These speakers feature an Ultra Volume mode, which amplifies the volume up to 200 percent, ensuring optimal sound quality even in noisy environments. While an AMOLED panel would have been preferable, the F23’s LCD panel still offers commendable features.
OPPO F23 5GOPPO F23 5GOPPO F23 5GOPPO F23 5G
The display offers Vivid and Natural color modes, each offering options like Cooler, Default, and Warmer. When it comes to refresh rate, it does not offer an automatic option. Instead, there are 60Hz and 120Hz refresh rate options available.
Performance and Software
Qualcomm Snapdragon 695
5,000mAh battery
8GB LPDDR4x RAM
67W charging
256GB of UFS 2.2 storage
Android 13 OS with ColorOS 13.1
Up to 8GB of virtual RAM
Oppo opted for the reliable Snapdragon 695 chip to power the Oppo F23. The SoC is coupled with 8 GB of LPDDR4x RAM, up to 8 GB of virtual RAM, and 256 GB of UFS 2.2 storage. The device runs on ColorOS 13.1-based Android 13 OS. These hardware and software combinations offer smooth performance. There is a microSD card slot for additional storage. As far as gaming is concerned, the SD695 is good enough for casual gaming.
The 5,000mAh battery fuels the Oppo F23 5G. The retail package of the device includes an 80W SuperVOOC, but the phone supports 67W fast charging. In my battery charging test, it took around 46 minutes for the phone to achieve a full charge. It also offers an AI power-saving mode and a super power-saving mode. The latter can let the phone last for up to 17 hours and run up to six apps with a 5 percent battery. Super Night-time Standby consumes only 2 percent battery juice at night, which means it will not lose a significant amount of battery throughout the night.
Oppo is boasting about the battery and charging capabilities of the F23 on its official product page. It comes with 5-layer charging protection and a Battery Health Engine that extends the battery lifespan with up to 1600 charging cycles. According to Oppo, the BHE offers 58 months of “Fluency Protection” meaning it is capable of working smoothly for four years. The remarks section of the F23’s official website states that “Fluency Protection” does not mean that there is absolutely no lag. Due to factors such as network environment and personal usage, the actual experience may be different. Please refer to the actual experience.
Oppo has officially announced that the Oppo F23 will be eligible for four years of Android updates and five years of security updates. The ColorOS 13.1, although packed with numerous features and customization options, and generally operating smoothly, does come bundled with several pre-installed applications that may not be essential for all users. Fortunately, the good news is that many of these apps can be uninstalled. Here’s how it performs on the benchmark apps.
The Oppo F23 5G camera setup comprises a 64-megapixel primary camera, a 2-megapixel depth sensor, and a 2-megapixel microlens. On the front is a 32-megapixel selfie camera. The camera app offers photography modes, such as Night, Video, Photo, Portrait, Pro, Extra HD, Pano, Slow-Mo, Time-Lapse, Dual-View Video, Microscope (20x, 40x options), Sticker, and Text Scanner.
SelfiePotrait selfieWith 2x zoomWith 2x zoomWith night modeWith night mode
The 64-megapixel primary camera does a decent job in environments with brightness and daylight, as can be seen in the samples above. In low light conditions, it is better to use the Night mode rather than the Photo mode as it mellows down the effect of reflected light and enhances the shot.
20x zoom on mosquito40x zoom on mosquito20x zoom on flower petal40x zoom on a flower petalflower petal
When it comes to video shooting, the F23 can shoot up to 30fps 1080p videos with EIS support. Videos with Retouch or Filters captured in 720p quality. The front camera also supports 30fps 1080p video recording. Speaking of the front, it takes commendable regular and portrait selfies. However, the front camera’s performance struggles in low-light conditions.
Verdict
Purchasing the Oppo F23 during the promotional period can be a worthwhile investment. Outside of the offer, it may seem slightly pricey. Nevertheless, one of its key advantages is its extended software support, which lasts for up to 5 years and ensures a smoother user experience for 4 years.
While Oppo typically provides this prolonged support for its higher-priced Reno models, the F23 is the first Oppo phone priced below Rs 25,000 to offer such longevity. Consequently, F23 buyers can potentially avoid the need to switch to a different phone for at least a couple of years, making it a favourable choice in the long term.
Variants, Price and Availability
The Oppo F23 is available for purchase through offline stores, OPPO India’s online store, and Amazon.
8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage – Rs 24,999 (~$362)
Colors: Cool Black and Bold Gold
Those who wish to buy the Oppo F23 before May 31 in India can take advantage of 10 percent cashback and no-cost EMI up to 6 months from ICICI Bank, SBI Cards, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and other leading banks and financiers. The offer can also be availed from Bajaj Finance, TVS Credit, and HDB Financials on EMI Finance schemes.
Loyal Oppo customers can avail an exchange + loyalty bonus of up to Rs 2,500. Customers owning smartphones other than Oppo can also avail an exchange offer of up to Rs 1,500. Attractive EMI schemes, including zero downpayment, are available on Bajaj Finance, TVS Credit, IDFC First Bank, HDB Financials, and other leading financiers. Those who purchase the F23 before May 23 will get the Enco Air 2i at a discounted price of Rs 1,799.
The upcoming iPhone 15 lineup is expected to go official in a few months, but it’s the iPhone 16 series smartphones, which will debut more than a year later, have been in the news.
Some details about the Apple iPhone 16 smartphone getting launched next year have surfaced online and in the latest development, details about the rear camera sensor arrangement have been revealed.
The new information, shared by Twitter user @URedditor, claims that the standard iPhone 16 model will come with a two-camera setup where the sensors will be arranged in a vertical layout. The same design is also expected to be expanded to the iPhone 16 Plus.
It is further said that the change will make the device “instantly recognizable” as the latest model, at least when combined with other newer design aspects on the device, including the Dynamic Island and a USB-C port.
Apple switched to the diagonally-arranged sensors setup for the rear camera with the iPhone 13 lineup, and the same is found on the current generation iPhone 14 series models.
While Apple is expected to go with the vertically-aligned camera sensors on the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, the Pro series models in the lineup are expected to continue with the diagonally-arranged sensors.
After recently launching the Vivo S17e in China, the brand is preparing for multiple launches overseas. One of these is expected to be the V27 series devices (a rebrand of the S17 series), while the Y series is also said to get new additions.
One such device is the Vivo Y36 which is set to launch in Indonesia on May 25. A microsite for the device is already live revealing a majority of its specifications, and now, known tipster Paras Guglani has revealed a live image of the smartphone ahead of launch.
Image via PassionateGeekz
The image reveals that the device has a boxy design with a flat back and flat edges. The camera island has two large lenses, a design previously featured on many Vivo and iQOO devices. Let’s check out the specifications of the Vivo U36 smartphone.
Vivo Y36 specs and features
The Vivo Y36 smartphone boasts a sleek and modern design with dynamic glass construction. It features a rectangular camera module on the back panel and a center-aligned punch-hole cutout display on the front. The device incorporates a side-mounted fingerprint scanner in the power button for convenient and secure access. The Y36 could offer an expected 6.8-inch LCD display.
Under the hood, the Vivo Y36 is rumored to be powered by a Snapdragon 680 processor, delivering reliable performance and smooth multitasking capabilities. With 8GB of RAM and innovative virtual RAM technology, the device is expected to provide seamless performance, even during resource-intensive tasks. Additionally, users can enjoy ample storage space with the rumored 256GB of internal storage, accommodating their apps, files, and media.
The Y36 will likely pack a 5,000mAh battery with 44W fast charging support, allowing for quick recharging. Its camera setup consists of two sensors with an LED flash unit.
Xbox gaming has established itself as a prominent and influential platform in the world of gaming. With a massive community of players exceeding 3 billion worldwide, Xbox provides a diverse range of gaming experiences and a vibrant ecosystem for gamers of all ages and skill levels. Offering a vast library of games, immersive gameplay features, and advanced technology, Xbox continues to evolve and innovate, consistently pushing the boundaries of what is possible in gaming. Whether it’s competitive multiplayer, immersive storytelling, or interactive experiences, Xbox gaming offers a platform where players can explore, connect and enjoy. Microsoft‘s second Xbox Transparency Report sheds light on their continuous efforts to protect users and demonstrates the effectiveness of their safety measures.
Community Sift evaluated 20 billion human interactions on Xbox in 2022
The Xbox Safety team employs a comprehensive safety suite that encompasses proactive and reactive moderation strategies, Community Standards, parenting and family controls, and collaborations with industry partners and regulators. By combining artificial intelligence and human-powered technologies, they can intercept and filter out harmful content before it reaches players. In fact, the report reveals that 80% of total enforcements in the given period were a direct result of proactive moderation efforts. This data reinforces the significant impact of this approach.
Recognizing the evolving needs of players, Xbox remains dedicated to enhancing their tools to ensure a safe online experience. The safety of players is a top priority, and the company plans to invest in innovation, collaborate closely with industry partners and regulators, and actively seek feedback from the community.
Several key takeaways from the report highlight the effectiveness of proactive measures in creating safer player experiences. The majority of enforcements issued (80%) resulted from proactive moderation efforts, which employ automated tools like Community Sift. These tools swiftly identify offensive content across various media formats, including text, video, and images. In the past year alone, Community Sift evaluated a staggering 20 billion human interactions on Xbox. Proactive measures were also successful in detecting and enforcing against account tampering, piracy, phishing, and cheating/inauthentic accounts, achieving a 100% enforcement rate.
Furthermore, Xbox has increased its focus on addressing inappropriate content. In response to player feedback, they expanded the definition of vulgar content to encompass offensive gestures, sexualized content, and crude humour. This policy change, along with improvements to image classifiers, resulted in a remarkable 450% increase in enforcement related to vulgar content. Notably, 90.2% of these enforcements were proactively moderated, illustrating the team’s commitment to creating a respectful gaming environment. As a result, inappropriate content is promptly removed, leading to a 390% rise in “content-only” enforcement during the reported period.
Xbox also maintains a strong emphasis on combating inauthentic accounts, which can disrupt positive player experiences and create an unfair playing field. Through proactive moderation efforts, the Xbox Safety team issued over 7.51 million enforcements against such accounts, constituting 74% of the total enforcements in the reporting period. This represents a significant increase from the previous period’s 57%. By continuously investing in and enhancing their technology, Xbox aims to provide players with secure, positive, and enjoyable experiences.
Internationally, Xbox collaborates closely with industry partners to ensure safety standards are exceeded. One notable initiative is the launch of Australia and New Zealand’s Xbox Gaming Safety Toolkit, which empowers parents and caregivers to understand and respond to online safety in gaming effectively. In a recent survey conducted by Microsoft, it was found that 84% of respondents expected moderation of illegal and harmful content on gaming platforms. To address this concern, Xbox has developed features such as the Xbox Family Settings App, which allows parents to manage their children’s gaming experiences conveniently. The company provides a comprehensive suite of controls, detailed on their Xbox Family Hub.
The collaborative efforts of the Xbox Safety team, industry partners, regulators, and players themselves are essential in shaping a safer and more enjoyable gaming landscape in the longer run.
WeChat officially launched Palm Pay on May 21. This new feature enables users to conveniently make payments using their palm prints on face recognition devices. To utilize this service, users are required to link their personal WeChat accounts to the device and register their palm prints. When making a purchase, they can simply place their hand over the scanning area of the payment device, allowing for seamless and secure payment transactions. By introducing WeChat Palm Pay, WeChat has introduced an innovative payment method that relies on palm recognition technology.
Introducing our new palm print-based payment feature🖐️that allows you to pay without a phone or wallet. Powered by #WeixinPay, the feature is now accessible on the PKX Line of the Beijing subway system. You can simply swipe your palm across a scanner to enter and exit the subway. pic.twitter.com/msuxBnWNY9
Tencent’s AI lab, YouTu, has developed this advanced technology that combines surface-level palm prints and unique vein patterns for transaction authentication. With this innovative system, users can conveniently authenticate their transactions by scanning and uploading their palm prints to a ticket machine. They can then link these scanned prints to their personal phone number and ID through the WeChat mini program, enabling them to initiate payments effortlessly. This groundbreaking solution leverages both palm prints and vein patterns, which enhances security and convenience in the payment ecosystem.
The technology has successfully adapted to various environmental lighting conditions, ensuring reliable performance regardless of the lighting situation. Furthermore, it can effectively handle the physiological variations in palm prints among different individuals, quickly identifying user patterns even when users present their hands in different positions or orientations.
source: wechat
The new payment method has generated significant attention and engagement on Chinese social media platforms. On Weibo, the hashtag “WeChat Palm Payment Release” has rapidly gained traction, accumulating an impressive 6.72 million views within a mere 24 hours. The widespread discussions reflect the public’s keen interest in this emerging technology and the importance placed on ensuring secure and reliable payment systems.
However, some users commented on the safety and security issues of the new payment system. Tencent has stated that, in accordance with relevant laws, the service provider will delete users’ original palm print samples and pictures after extracting the necessary information. In addition, Tencent emphasizes that WeChat’s Palm Pay offers enhanced personal information security as palm prints are considered a more private form of biometric identification compared to other methods, and personal information cannot be verified solely through palm images.
Apart from payments, the application of “WeChat Palm” is being expanded to include transportation modes such as taxis and the metro. On the day of the palm payment release, the palm print recognition system was first implemented on Beijing’s Daxing International Airport Line, enabling passengers to conveniently access subway trains without the need for their phones or cash. The payment transaction is processed once the passengers complete their trip, further streamlining the travel experience.
Multilingual speech projects represent a significant leap forward in advancing language technology and promoting global linguistic diversity. These projects utilize AI language models to recognize and generate speech in a wide array of languages, often spanning thousands of diverse linguistic backgrounds. By leveraging innovative approaches, such as incorporating unconventional data sources or employing self-supervised speech representation learning, multilingual speech projects aim to break barriers and empower individuals to communicate, learn, and access information in their native languages.
Meta has decided to put MMS out as an Open Source Project
Meta has unleashed its latest feat in AI language models with the groundbreaking Massively Multilingual Speech (MMS) project, setting it apart from mere ChatGPT replicas. In an unprecedented stride towards innovation, Meta’s MMS boasts the ability to recognize and generate speech in an astounding array of over 4,000 spoken languages, surpassing the capabilities of its predecessors. Not content with keeping this breakthrough under wraps, Meta has decided to open-source MMS, inviting researchers to leverage and expand upon its foundation. In doing so, Meta aims to reign over language diversity preservation and encourage collaborative advancement in the field.
Traditional speech recognition and text-to-speech models require extensive training on vast audio datasets, complete with meticulous transcription labels that facilitate machine learning algorithms. However, many endangered languages, predominantly found outside industrialized nations, lack such comprehensive data, placing them at risk of vanishing altogether. Acknowledging this predicament, Meta adopted an ingenious approach by tapping into translated religious texts. These texts, like the Bible, offer diverse linguistic renditions that have undergone extensive scrutiny for text-based language translation research.
Employing the wav2vec 2.0 model for self-supervised speech representation learning, Meta further refined the data’s usability by training an alignment model. The synergy between unorthodox data sources and self-supervised speech modeling yielded remarkable results. Comparative evaluations against OpenAI‘s Whisper revealed MMS’s superiority, achieving a 50% reduction in word error rate while surpassing Whisper’s language coverage by a staggering factor of 11.
With the release of MMS as an open-source research project, Meta aspires to reverse the concerning trend of technology eroding linguistic diversity, often limiting support to the most common 100 languages favoured by tech giants. Envisioning a world where assistive technology, text-to-speech, and even virtual and augmented reality technologies enable individuals to communicate and learn in their native tongues, Meta hopes to inspire the preservation and vitality of languages worldwide.
On May 19, Redmi unveiled the Redmi A2 and Redmi A2+ entry-level smartphones in India. The Redmi A2 series will be available for purchase in the country for the first time starting today (May 23), according to the brand. Here is a look at the specifications, features, and price of both smartphones.
Redmi A2, Redmi A2+ price in India, offers
Redmi A2
The Redmi A2 comes in three variants: 2 GB RAM + 32 GB storage, 2 GB RAM + 64 GB storage, and 4 GB RAM + 64 GB storage. These models are priced at Rs 6,299, Rs 6,799, and Rs 7,999, respectively. With an ICICI Bank credit card or credit card EMI, both 2 GB RAM variants can be bought with a Rs 300 discount and the 4 GB RAM variant with a Rs 500 discount. With HDFC and Axis Bank credit card and credit card EMI, all the Redmi A2 variants can be purchased with a Rs 500 discount.
The Redmi A2+, which comes in 4 GB RAM + 64 GB storage version, only is priced at Rs 8,499. The A2 series comes in three colors: Classic Black, Aqua Blue, and Sea Green. It can be purchased through the Mi Store app, Mi.com, Amazon India, and offline stores. Both models come with a two-year warranty for a limited period of time.
Redmi A2, Redmi A2+ specifications
Redmi A2 Plus
The Redmi A2 has a 6.52-inch IPS LCD panel with a teardrop notch. It offers an HD+ resolution of 1600 x 720 pixels, a 20:9 aspect ratio, a 60Hz refresh rate, a 120Hz touch sampling rate, and 400 nits of brightness. The back panel of the phone has a smudge-proof leather finish. The A2 runs on Android 13 (Go edition).
On the front, the Redmi A2 features a 5-megapixel camera for selfies. Its back panel has an 8-megapixel dual camera system with an LED flash. It is powered by the Helio G36 chipset, up to 4 GB of LPDDR4x RAM, and up to 64 GB of eMMC 5.1 storage. There is a dedicated microSD card slot on the device for more storage. It has a 5,000mAh battery with 10W charging support.
The Redmi A2 Plus packs the same specs and design, but it comes equipped with an additional rear-facing fingerprint sensor.
Google Fi Wireless, the mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) operated by Google, has recently announced the rollout of a redesigned companion app. This update not only introduces a fresh name and new plan features but also brings a family-centric focus to the app for both Android and iOS users. The aim is to provide users with enhanced control over their family’s digital safety settings and simplify the management of family members within the app.
The Rebranded Google Fi App has a Material Design
The revamped app prominently displays a “Cycle ends” countdown in the top-right corner of the Home feed, ensuring users stay aware of their billing cycle. Large user avatars are featured in top tabs, starting with the “Group” tab that showcases offers, deals, and plan highlights. Material You shapes on these tabs provide informative content about the benefits available to customers. The “Manage plan” section allows users to view costs, list members and devices, and make changes to their plan.
While scrolling, the tabs remain docked along with the app bar, making navigation convenient. However, users who are the sole members of their Fi plan may find the design slightly sparse, with a significant amount of empty space, particularly at the top. Nevertheless, relevant cards related to offers and deals will still populate the feed.
For managers overseeing the account, a data usage card displays Overall and Daily views, excluding those on Unlimited plans. The “Your safety features” or “Help protect [user]” section prominently presents the status of crucial safety settings like Silence unknown callers, receive calls or texts only from phone contacts, location sharing, and data alerts. Phone and Account settings remain unchanged, with the “International features” toggles placed at the bottom.
The Google Fi Wireless app redesign is being rolled out with V85 on Android. Users have reported widespread activation of the server-side component within the past day, indicating a full-scale deployment of the new features and interface.
In the era of social media, the ability to delete regrettable or potentially problematic tweets offers users a sense of control over their online presence. However, an alarming discovery has left many Twitter users perplexed and concerned. It appears that deleted tweets are making an unexpected reappearance on the platform, creating a wave of frustration and privacy concerns among users. This article delves into the recent revelation and sheds light on the potential causes behind this.
Over a Million Deleted Tweets have reappeared on the platform
Renowned open-source developer and security expert, Richard “Dick” Morrell, was taken aback when he discovered that the tweets he had painstakingly deleted had magically resurfaced. Morrell shared his experience on Mastodon, a decentralized social media platform, prompting over 400 individuals to come forward with similar stories. Estimates suggest that over a million previously deleted tweets have mysteriously reappeared, dating back to November 2022 and earlier.
Experts in the field have offered insights into the possible reasons behind this disconcerting event. One theory posits that Twitter’s server restoration process may have inadvertently revived tweets stored in cold storage. A former Twitter Site Reliability Engineer, known as “mx alex tax1a,” surmised that the mishap could be attributed to the improper adjustment of server topology during data center migrations. This oversight might have allowed dormant data to resurface.
In response to inquiries about the issue, Twitter provided a rather unconventional reply—a poop emoji. This nonchalant attitude did not sit well with users, especially given the global implications of data privacy breaches. Morrell, in particular, expressed serious concerns regarding Twitter’s handling of data privacy, suggesting a potential violation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Twitter’s unexpected recycling of deleted tweets has left users questioning the platform’s commitment to data privacy and control. The reappearance of once-deleted messages, as if trapped in a digital Hotel California, has ignited a debate about the efficacy of data storage and restoration practices. As users navigate the evolving landscape of social media, it serves as a stark reminder that digital footprints may never truly vanish. It is understandable why other companies are building alternatives to Twitter, for instance, P92 being developed by Meta & Instagram.
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