Apple Begins Hiring for Effort to Bring Retail Chain to Malaysia

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Jan 25, 2023

Apple has been working to shift its iPhone production from China to other Asian countries. In addition to this, the company has begun to open official stores in these countries. Recently, Apple has begun hiring staff to bring its retail operations to Malaysia as it prepares to bring its chain of stores to Asia country first. Here are the details…

Apple expands into Malaysia with new retail store

Apple has started hiring to push its retail presence into Malaysia as it prepares to bring its chain of stores to the Asian country for the first time. The company recently posted job listings across Malaysia on its website seeking store managers, technical specialists, support staff, sales staff, and business and operations experts.

The listings suggest that the positions will be for Apple’s own retail stores, rather than long-running third-party reseller locations in Malaysia. The move will strengthen Apple’s presence in Southeast Asia, where it already has stores in Thailand and Singapore. The company also recently started advertising a job opening for its first location in India, which has been planned for several years.

The job listing did not say where in Malaysia the first store would be located, but Apple is likely to open in the country’s capital, Kuala Lumpur. Apple doesn’t report sales in individual countries, but the company generates more than $29 billion in revenue from its Asia-Pacific region. The company already operates an online store in Malaysia.

Apple started its retail chain nearly 22 years ago and now has more than 500 stores around the world. Mostly in the United States. The last international expansion took place in India a few weeks ago with news physical stores. The entry into Malaysia represents Apple’s ongoing efforts to expand its retail presence globally and increase its market share in the region.

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POCO X5 Pro Launch Date Seemingly Revealed During Bollywood Movie Screening

By

Viraj Gawde

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Jan 25, 2023

The POCO X5 Pro has been in the news a lot lately. The smartphone’s key specifications and price range have surfaced online. It was also spotted in the hands of Indian cricketer Hardik Pandya. Now, the upcoming offering’s launch date appeared in Shah Rukh Khan starer Bollywood movie called Pathaan. The image was shared by a Twitter user. Notably, the Xiaomi sub-brand is yet to confirm about the POCO X5 Pro’s launch details.

Poco x5 series is launching on 6th February 2023 photo from pathaan moive interval @stufflistings @Iamnil7 @IamAyan_Sarkar @ishanagarwal24 @IndiCoder18 @utsavtechie @techstarsrk @AmreliaRuhez @8ap pic.twitter.com/1tSzXkncaX
— Sudipta Debnath (@imsudipta_deb) January 25, 2023

As per the image shared by the Twitter user, the POCO X5 Pro is set to debut in India on February 6th at 5:30 pm IST. The poster also gives us a look at the upcoming smartphone’s back panel. The smartphone will arrive as the successor to the last year’s POCO X4 Pro 5G. The upcoming X5 Pro is seen with a boxy form factor and the top portion of the back panel has a horizontally elongated island with POCO branding on the right side. There is a rectangular camera module on the left side of the back panel.

Going by past reports, the POCO X5 Pro is expected to feature a 6.67-inch FHD+ OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is tipped to come with a 108MP main camera coupled with an 8MP ultra-wide-angle unit and a 2MP macro lens. The smartphone will reportedly be powered by a Snapdragon 778G processor paired with up to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. A 5,000mAh battery with support for 67W charging is expected to keep the device running.

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New 14-Inch M2 MacBook Pro Suffers From SSD Downgrade

By

Oğuz Çakır

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Jan 25, 2023

MacBooks, especially those equipped with M-series processors, have long been praised by users. However, recent reports have indicated that this may not be the case when it comes to SSD performance. According to the latest tests he base level 14-inch M2 MacBook Pro reportedly has a slower SSD than its predecessor. Here are the details…

The base M2 14-inch MacBook Pro has an SSD downgrade

The base level 14-inch M2 (Pro) MacBook Pro reportedly has a slower SSD than its predecessor. In BlackMagic’s Disk Speed Test, the 512 GB SSD in Apple’s latest flagship achieved read speed scores of around 2,970 MB/s and write speed scores of around 3,150 MB/s, compared to 4,900 MB/s reads and 3,950 MB/s writes that the M1 Pro with a 512GB SSD was capable of.

This means that the base model of the M2 MacBook Pro has around 39 percent slower reads and 20 percent slower writes than the one released in 2021. The reason for the difference is likely because of to the chips used in the SSD. According to 9to5Mac, the 512 GB SSD in the previous-gen 14-inch had four NAND storage chip. However, the one on the M2 Pro seems to have only two.

These are higher-capacity chips, but they can’t parallelize reads and writes as much, resulting in slower performance. This is not a new strategy for Apple, as both the 256GB M2 MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro had slower storage than the M1 versions of those laptops. It is disappointing to see that the base-level M2 Pro are measurably worse than their predecessors in terms of SSD performance. Especially considering the 14-inch MacBook Pro costs $2,000. It is worth noting that the SSDs in the new Macs will not be “that” slow. They will still perform well in daily tasks.

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Faraday Future FF 91 Luxury EV in Final Development Stage Ahead of Launch in China

By

Sean

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Jan 25, 2023

Faraday Future has just announced earlier today (25th January 2023) that its upcoming FF 91 luxury EV model that is currently in the pre-production stage is undergoing the final debugging process ahead of its launch in China.

The automobile maker also added that the brand is focusing on the needs of the Chinese market. It is looking to improve the charging system and offer a great power to performance aspect on this new car. For those unaware, the FF 91 is Faraday Future’s first flagship grade vehicle. The company claimed that its mass production was expected to start soon while the sale of the vehicle can begin by the end of March 2023.

Furthermore, the high end luxury electric vehicle was expected to roll off the assemble line in early April 2023, with delivery beginning before end of the same month. The FF 91 is equipped with a new power system that is capable of outputting 1,059 horsepower and has a EPA certified cruising range of 381 miles (roughly about 613 kilometers). Notably, it can even accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3 seconds.

According to previous reports, the production design of the FF 91 was completed at the headquarters of Future Faraday that is situated in Los Angeles. Its engineering research and development is also being carried out by engineering teams that is located in Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, and even China. The pre-production model of the FF 91 is currently being manufactured in California.

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Noise Buds Combat TWS Earphones With ENC, 8 Hour Battery Launched In India

By

Viraj Gawde

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Jan 25, 2023

Noise has launched its first gaming-centric TWS earphones in India. The latest offering is called the Noise Buds Combat. It is said to complement a gaming setup making it ideal for gaming enthusiasts. The audio device carries an affordable price tag and it competes against the likes of the boAt Immortal 121, Wings Phantom 850, and more in the market. Read on to know what the Noise Buds Combat offer out of the box.

The Noise Buds Combat TWS earphones feature an in-ear design with silicone ear tips and a stem. It is IPX5-certified water–resistant. Users can control various functions by tapping the stem of the earbuds. The audio device is offered in Stealth Black, Covert White, and Shadow Grey colours. The latter two have a dual-tone design where the stem is White and Grey coloured respectively and the earbuds are in Black.

In terms of audio, the Noise Buds Combat is equipped with a 13mm driver and quad microphones. There is environmental noise cancellation (ENC) for eliminating unwanted sound while on calls. The TWS earphones offer ultra-low latency up to 40ms for gaming purposes. The audio device features Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity with a range up to 10m. It also supports voice assistant.

The Noise Buds Combat is claimed to be backed by 37 hours of battery life with the case. Each earbud is said to deliver 8 hours of usage. The audio device supports fast charging via a USB-C port.

The Noise Buds Combat costs Rs 1,499. It can be purchased from Flipkart and the brand’s official website starting today.

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League of Legends Source Code Held Hostage, Hackers Demand $10M Ransom

By

Sean

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Jan 25, 2023

The source code for the massively popular game League of Legends is apparently being held hostage by hackers. In exchange for not leaking the source code, the hackers are asking for a ransom worth millions. So here are all the details.

The hackers that have managed to steal the source code for the successful MOBA title are asking Riot Gamers for a sum of 10 million US Dollars. According to a new report, the hackers had sent a random email to the Riot Games which read, “Dear Riot Games, We have obtained your valuable data, including the precious anti-cheat source code and the entire game code for League of Legends and its tools, as well as Packman, your usermode anti cheat. We understand the significance of these artifacts and the impact their release to the public would have on your major titles, Valorant and League of Legends. In light of this, we are making a small request for an exchange of $10,000,000.”

For evidence, the hackers also sent the studio two large PDFs that showed that they had managed to gain access to Packman and the League of Legends source codes. The hackers also claimed that once the ransom is paid, they will erase the code from their servers and “provide insight into how the breach occurred and offer advice on preventing future breaches”. The ransom note further added that “We do not wish to harm your reputation or cause public disturbance. Our sole motivation is financial gain”.

The message also revealed that the ransom is due in 12 hours and that “failure to do so will result in the hack being made public and the extent of the breach being known to more individuals.” While Riot Games did confirm that the League of Legends source code was stolen, it has refused to comment any details regarding its plans. Although, the company did share in a tweet that they would not be paying the 10 million US Dollar sum to the hacker.

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Toyota Partners Douze to Launch the Douze Cycles x Toyota Mobility Cargo Bike

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jan 25, 2023

Toyota has teamed up with French e-bike brand Douze to develop an electric cargo bike. The bike known as Douze Cycles x Toyota Mobility cargo bike is a versatile and stylish electric cargo bike that offers a sustainable and efficient alternative to traditional cars, especially for those working in the delivery sector or for individuals who need extra storage space. The bike’s sturdy aluminum frame can carry bulky items weighing up to 100 kilos on its 850-millimeter-long loading platform, and it is hitch-compatible to further boost transport capacity. This means that businesses can transport more goods in fewer trips, reducing their carbon footprint and saving on transportation costs.

On the performance side of the equation, the cargo bike is powered by a Yamaha electric motor with a nominal output of 250 watts. A 500-Wh battery pack supplies power to the motor, and is removable for convenient charging off the bike. The range on a single charge is around 62 miles, however, this figure could vary depending on how much stuff you’re hauling. The bike’s front end can be detached for easy storage, making it a convenient option for those who have limited space.

In addition to its practical features, the Douze Cycles x Toyota Mobility cargo bike is also designed to be stylish and user-friendly. It features a sleek and modern design that is sure to turn heads, and it is designed to be comfortable and easy to ride. It’s also versatile, with the option to configure the extra storage space to carry passengers. Three children or one adult can ride in the front storage compartment, so long as it’s outfitted with the appropriate seats and harnesses.

The Douze Cycles x Toyota Mobility cargo bike is expected to hit the market by September 2023, but the pricing has not been announced yet.

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Twitter Security Breach: Former Employee Claims Engineers Can Tweet from Any Account

By

Oğuz Çakır

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Jan 25, 2023

The scandals on Elon Musk’s Twitter are incessant. The company is facing another whistleblower complaint. This time from a former employee who claims that any Twitter engineer still has access to an internal program known as “GodMode,”. This mode allows engineers to tweet from any account. Here are the details…

Twitter engineers can still use ‘GodMode’ to tweet as any account

The complaint filed to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in October. Allegedly, the program now renamed “privileged mode,” remains on the laptops of any engineer who wants it.It seems that the requiring only a production computer and a simple code change from “FALSE” to “TRUE.”

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time Twitter’s security practices have disappointed users. In 2020, teenage crypto scammers hacked the company’s internal systems and sent fake tweets from the accounts of President Joe Biden, former President Barack Obama, Elon Musk, and other celebrities. Unfortunately, many people are fooled by these fake tweets shared by official accounts.

Twitter’s executives at the time claimed that they had fixed the issue and launched a “comprehensive information security program” to protect the users. However, some whistleblowers, claimed that GodMode was still widely available. According to the information received, the file was reopened after the complaints. Which revealed that engineers could also delete or restore anyone’s tweets. This is a privilege that is not available to regular Twitter users.

The real scandal is that there is no record of which account was tampered or who did it. The FTC is reportedly interviewing former Twitter employees about the allegations. If the FTC decides that Twitter is failing to protect its users’ information, this could have serious consequences.

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LG Holds Back on 97-Inch Ultra-Large 8K OLED TV Release

By

Oğuz Çakır

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Jan 25, 2023

Display technology continues to evolve and improve, resulting in lower panel costs. This opened the door for larger screens and high-resolution TV’s. Samsung in particular has released very successful models in recent years. However not all the company is experiencing the same success. According to recent reports, LG has decided to discontinue production of its 8K 97-inch large TV. Here are the details…

LG Electronics Delays 8K OLED TV Development

LG has decided to postpone the development of an OLED 8K 97-inch ultra-large TV. The company’s largest OLED product, the 97-inch model, will maintain its 4K resolution from last year, and no separate plans have been made to release an 8K model. In comparison to Samsung has released a 98-inch Neo QLED 8K TV as a flagship model this year, LG seems to be taking a wait-and-see approach in the competition for ultra-large TV resolution.

According to the latest reports, LG Electronics has internally decided not to release a 97-inch OLED 8K TV. In relation to this, an LG Electronics official stated at the CES 2023 held earlier this month that there are currently no plans for development or release of the product.

The official stated, “There are currently no plans to release a 97-inch OLED TV 8K product,” and added, “We will look at how customers are using the currently available 97-inch OLED TV 4K product and take steps to improve convenience.” Also, “Instead of meaningless resolution competition, we will focus on improving other convenience such as wireless technology.”

In the ultra-large TV resolution market, LG Electronics will likely adopt a “wait and see” approach, monitoring market trends and consumer preferences before committing to developing and releasing a 8K OLED 97-inch TV. This move also highlights LG’s focus on improving overall consumer convenience, rather than just resolution.

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LG Gram 2023 & Gram Style Pre-orders Live Now, Features 13th Gen Intel CPU

By

Sean

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Jan 25, 2023

Earlier today (25th January 2023), LG announced it has began taking pre-orders for the Gram 2023 (17Z90R, 16Z90R) and Gram Style (16Z90RS and 14Z90RS) ultrabook models. These notebooks were announced during the CES 2023 event a couple of weeks prior, so here are all the details.

Looking at the new laptops, the South Korean brand has opted for a glass design on both of these models. We can tell that there was an emphasis on design since the angle at which the light hits the laptop also affects the color that is reflected. Furthermore, both models also come with a ‘hidden’ haptic touchpad with soft LED backlighting that illuminates the surface.

LG Gram Style

Talking about the Gram Style variant first, it arrives in display size variants, which includes a 14 inch and a 16 inch model. The latter has a 3,200 x 2,000px resolution while the former has a 2,880 x 1,800px resolution (WQXGA+). Furthermore, both models features an OLED display panel. The taller 16 inch variant even offers 120Hz refresh rate, while the 14 inch variant offers a 90Hz refresh rate. The panels on the Style models also have Anti Glare.

Under the hood, Intel’s latest 13th Gen Core Processor powers the device, which is be paired with 256GB of Gen4 NVMe SSD storage and 16GB of RAM. The CPU is paired with Intel’s Iris Xe integrated graphics as well. The 16 inch model weighs 1,230 grams while the 14 inch model weighs just 999 grams. The laptops are also equipped with either an 80Wh or a 72Wh battery pack depending on the size variant you opt for.

LG Gram 2023

The brand has also launched two variants with the 2023 lineup of the standard Gram laptops as well. This includes a 17 inch version that has a 2,560 x 1,600px resolution and a 14 inch model that has the same WQXGA panel. Notably, the screen on both models is an IPS LCD panel. However, the smaller version only supports 60Hz refresh rate. Meanwhile, the Gram 17 offers up to 144Hz refresh rate (VRR) and a normal refresh rate of 60Hz as well.

These laptops are also equipped with 13th Gen Intel Core processors but can also be outfitted with NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 3050 mobile GPUs. This enables the 17 inch variant to support VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), which can automatically adjust the refresh rate from 31Hz to 144Hz depending on the usage. Other notable features include Thunderbolt 4 and HDMI connectivity along with the first ever appearance of Dolby Atmos in the Gram lineup.

Pricing & Availability

The LG Gram Style 14 inch model with 13th Gen Intel Core i5 has a price tag of 2.49 million won (roughly 2,018 US Dollars). On the other hand, the 16 inch variant is available for a 2.74 million won (roughly 2,221 US Dollars) price tag. Meanwhile, the Gram 16 inch with an i5 CPU can be pre ordered for 2,44 million won (roughly 1,977 US Dollars) while the 17 inch model costs 2.59 million won (roughly 2,099 US Dollars).

The company has already begun taking reservations for these laptops, which will continue till the 1st of February in South Korea. Those that Pre-orders these notebooks will get a gram mouse, gift pack, and goodies on a first come, first served basis, as per official notes.

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Oppo Reno 8T 5G Appears in a Live Video Along With Specs & Pricing Ahead of Launch

By

Sudhanshu

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Jan 25, 2023

Oppo will soon debut the Reno 8T series in India. So far, extensive leaks have revealed the majority of the details regarding the 4G variant of the Reno 8T. Now, a known tipster has released a video showcasing the Reno 8T 5G, while also revealing its specs and expected prices.

The leak comes from tipster Sudhanshu Ambhore via a Tweet. In the video, it is revealed that the Reno 8T 5G will come with a slightly curved display. The bottom bezel is quite thin and there is a hole-punch cutout at the top center.

The phone’s back features a pill-shaped camera module with two sizable circular perforations. “108MP Portrait camera” is visibly etched below the camera island, confirming that the device will indeed come with a 108MP primary camera.

OPPO Reno8 T 5G Indian🇮🇳 variant hands-on video & specs

-6.7", Curved OLED, FHD+, 120Hz, 10-bit
-Snapdragon 695
-108MP + 2MP Portrait
-16MP Selfie
-4800mAh, 67W
-In display FPS, No 3.5mm jack
-Android 13, ColorOS 13

-8GB+256GB: ₹30k – ₹32k (expected) pic.twitter.com/9MtMenNpSV
— Sudhanshu Ambhore (@Sudhanshu1414) January 25, 2023

Coming to the specification leak, Sudhanshu states that the phone has a 6.7-inch curved OLED display with a Full HD+ resolution. The 10-bit display will support a 120Hz refresh rate. It is powered by the Snapdragon 695 chipset, which will be paired with up to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage.

The 108MP primary camera will be paired with a 2MP portrait camera, while on the front it will feature a 16MP selfie snapper. The batter has a 4,800mAh capacity and features 67W fast charging capabilities. Other than that, the in-display fingerprint sensor will provide security, and a 3.5mm audio jack will be present for users who like lossless audio and don’t like latency. The device will operate on Android 13-based ColorOS 13.

As for pricing, it will have a price tag between ₹30,00 – ₹32,000. A recent report has also revealed the price point of the Oppo Reno 8T 4G. You can read about it by following this link.

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POCO India Appoints Indian Cricketer Hardik Pandya as Its Brand Ambassador

By

Sean

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Jan 25, 2023

Indian Cricketer Hardik Pandya was recently spotted with the POCO X5 Pro ahead of the X5 series launch. Now, the company has officially announced that it is appointing the known athlete as its brand ambassador in India.

With the new appointment, we can expect to see Hardik Pandya promoting the brand directly. He will likely also be a part of the Chinese smartphone maker’s promotions for its upcoming X5 series. The company claims that the X5 lineup will arrive with a number of upgrades and improvements over its predecessor. So the brand would also have the popular Indian Cricketer help establish this in its marketing efforts as well.

The company has also stated that the new mid range smartphones will offer great performance with an aggressive price tag. According to Himanshu Tandon, Country Head, POCO India “Hardik Pandya is a name that connects with India in a heartbeat. His never give up attitude, zeal, and enthusiasm go perfectly well with our brand’s DNA and we are confident that his personality will resonate with our audience and fans. Aligned with our brand imagery, we are confident that he will play an instrumental role for our brand and we are extremely proud to have him on board as POCO’s ambassador.”

Similarly, Hardik Pandya, who is managed by RISE Worldwide, stated that “I am pleased to partner with a youth centric smartphone brand like POCO. I admire their smart, sleek and absolute performance led smartphones. Most importantly, I resonate with the brand’s motto of ‘Everything you need, Nothing you don’t. I look forward to this partnership and connecting with the brand’s young community.”

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Sony Unveils Innovative Float Run Earphones For Athletes

By

Anubhav

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Jan 25, 2023

Sony is a company that’s known for innovating with its products, especially in the audio department. The Japanese electronics manufacturer has an impressive lineup of audio products, including the WH-1000XM5 noise-cancelling headphones that were launched recently. Now, Sony has introduced the Float Run, a new variant of earphones designed for those who like to stay active while listening to music.

Unlike traditional earphones, the Float Run is designed to sit outside the ear canal, held in place with ear hooks and a flexible skull-band. This design, referred to as “off-ear” by Sony, aims to reduce discomfort and eliminate the risk of earphones falling out during exercise. As per reports, the earphones were tested on a variety of head shapes and hairstyles. It’s worth noting that this is the company’s most unique earphone design since the launch of the LinkBuds, which sported an innovative design as well.

Because of the earphone’s unique design, active noise cancellation is not an option. However, Sony claims that the Float Run’s large 16mm drivers will deliver “a more natural and wider sound” without compromising on audio quality, which will go perfectly with a workout session.

The earphones weigh merely 33 grams, which is quite light and will ensure comfort while on the move. As per Sony, this is expected to reduce drag and pressure during a session. The earphones come equipped with Bluetooth 5.0, a 10-hour battery that charges via USB type-C, and support for SBC/AAC codecs. They have an IPX4 rating, so users won’t have to worry about sweat ruining their earphones.

Float Run will be available in black and will be priced at $129.99. However, Sony states that the earphones won’t be available for purchase until February 2023, so you might have to wait to get your hands on these.

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Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Series Pre-bookings Begin in India – Checkout Benefits & Offers

By

Sudhanshu

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Jan 25, 2023

Samsung has the Galaxy Unpacked event scheduled for February 1. At this event, the brand will launch the Galaxy S23 series of smartphones along with other devices like the Galaxy Book 3 laptop series.

A couple of days ago, the Galaxy Book 3 Pro and Book 3 Ultra leaked revealing major details about the device. Pre-bookings also kicked off in multiple regions around the globe. Now, Samsung India has also begun taking pre-bookings in the sub-continent. Let’s take a look at the details.

Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Series

Samsung has started accepting pre-bookings for the Galaxy Book 3 series laptops on platforms like Samsung eStore, Samsung Smart Cafes, Samsung Smart Plazas, Flipkart, Amazon, and other brick-and-mortar stores. As with any pre-reservation campaign, customers ordering the devices will be getting several benefits.

The customers who pre-book the devices via Samsung eStore, Flipkart, Amazon, and other retail outlets will get a Rs 5,000 eVoucher which can be redeemed while purchasing the device. On the other hand, pre-bookings made through Samsung Smart Cafes and Smart Plazas will get 5000 Smart Club points (worth Rs 5000). Do note that customers pre-booking these devices will need to purchase them on or before March 31 to avail the benefits.

Signing up on the Samsung Shop App will earn users an extra 2% in loyalty points. A Rs 2000 welcome voucher is also available to those who are using the Shop app for the first time.

Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Pro and Book 3 Ultra Specifications

The Galaxy Book 3 series will be equipped with Intel’s 13th Gen processors. The Ultra variant will get access to the i9-13900H processor paired with NVIDIA RTX 4070 GDDR6 8GB GPU, while the Pro variant will feature up to Core i7-1360P paired with Intel Iris XE integrated graphics. Both devices will support LPDDR5 RAM and PCI-E Gen4 NVME SSDs.

The Galaxy Book 3 Ultra will sport a large 16-inch 3K AMOLED screen with a resolution of 2880x1800p for its display. According to reports, the 14-inch and 16-inch screen sizes for the Galaxy Book 3 Pro will be available.

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Twitter Ad Sales Fell By 70% in December: Report

By

Joane

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Jan 25, 2023

It seems like Twitter is playing a losing battle with its advertisers, as the Ad sales for one of the most profitable and lucrative months of December went down by more than 70%. November and December are the months when brands and companies spend extravagantly on their Ad budgets to rope in the benefits of the holiday season. However, according to recent data by SMI (Standard Media Index via Reuters), Twitter’s Ad spending for November fell by 55% and now December shows a fall of almost 71% in Ad sales. This huge fall comes after the major policy changes introduced by CEO Elon Musk.

Major Brands Suspended Ads On Twitter After Musk Takeover

Last October, Musk took over Twitter for $44 billion and since then has made a series of changes including mass layoffs, paid verification, reinstating banned accounts, no doxxing policy, banning links to competing social media apps, and more.

As soon as Musk took over, major brands like General Motors Company, Pfizer Inc., Ford Motor Company, and AMC Networks Inc. suspended their advertising on Twitter. Since then, more than 1000 advertisers have left the company. This is a great blow for Twitter, as advertisements accounted for more than 90% of its revenue.

Advertisers in general have left Twitter due to the uncertainty of Musk’s transformational policies. For instance, among the mass layoffs, Twitter fired most of its Ad team, including the top two employees responsible for networking and maintaining good relations with the brands. In November, the head of British Ad operations left Twitter, just a month after Musk became the CEO.

Advertisers protested against the new paid verification policy as they feared that random users could now impersonate famous brands and cheat the public. Musk’s takeover has also caused panic amongst the Automotive brands as they are worried that the data shared with Twitter might be passed on to competing companies owned by Musk like Tesla.

Apple one of Twitter’s biggest advertisers was also publicly criticized by Musk for pausing and reducing their Ad spending. Musk criticized Apple for its censorship policies and 30% Cut on App Store. However, this public shaming did not bring any considerable benefit to the company, as many more brands left Twitter.

Musk knows that Ad revenue is the blood of the business and has tried to bring back the brands. To rope in more advertisers and increase the Ad revenue, Musk offered Free Ads, greater control over Ad positioning, and even lifted the Political Ad ban.

In 2019, the then-CEO Jack Dorsey banned political Ads from Twitter as he believed that reaching people with political messages should be “earned, not bought”. But now Musk has lifted the ban and said that Twitter will align its Ad policies with TV and other media outlets.

In November, at one of the investment conferences in New York, Musk publicly said that they had done their absolute best to appease the advertisers, but nothing is working. At the same time, Musk had also blamed activist groups for pressurizing brands to pull Ads off social media platforms.

Musk Looking At Alternative Revenue Models

Now that the Ad Revenue has dwindled, Musk is trying to revive Twitter by changing the revenue strategy from advertisements to subscriptions. Twitter has already started charging $8 per month for the Blue Verification Tick ($11 for iOS and Android) and now is planning to launch an Ad-free subscription tier.

According to a VP, Musk has said that he wants subscriptions to account for 50% of Twitter’s total revenue. However, a survey conducted by global marketing and consulting firm Harris Poll found that half of Twitter users from the US would not pay to use the site.

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U&i Launches My Beat Series Smartwatch and Peter Series BT Speaker

By

Chandan

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Jan 25, 2023

U&i has expanded its product lineup in India by launching two of its new gadgets in India. The brand has announced the My Beat Series Smartwatch and Peter wireless BT Speaker. Both products are aimed towards making the users’ work life, health and entertainment better than before. Both are products are quite amazing and offer a really good set of specifications at a reasonable price range. Let’s have a closer look at the products.

Coming down to the My Beat series smartwatch. The smartwatch comes with a large square dial which houses a colour touchscreen display. The dial is encased in a premium aluminium alloy frame and has a soft silicone strap for better comfort. The watch comes with multiple sports tracking features and activity modes such as a pedometer, calorie counter, indoor walk, and cycling. The watch further comes with all the necessary sensors such as a heart rate monitor and sleep monitoring. Additional features of the watch include an alarm reminder, messages and class reminders and find my phone support. It will be available in Black, blue and Pink colour variants.

Now speaking about the Peter series wireless BT speaker, it’s a portable wireless Bluetooth speaker with 7W of output. The brand claims that it can last up to 8 hours on a single full charge. The speaker comes with a built-in mobile phone holder which ensures entertainment on the go. It comes in a trendy design and Green and Yellow colour variants. So that was all we had regarding the U&i Peter Series Bluetooth speaker.

Regarding price and availability, the U&i My Beats Smartwatch will be available for INR 3,699 and the Peter Series Wireless Bluetooth Speaker is priced at INR 1,199. Both the gadgets come with a 6-month of on-site warranty. The product will be soon available to purchase from official U&i outlets and other partner stores across the nation. That concludes our post on the launch of these two gadgets. Thanks a lot for reading till the end.

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Is The New ‘Nvidia Eye Contact’ the Next Big Thing or a Creepy Misstep?

By

Oğuz Çakır

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Jan 25, 2023

Nvidia recently released a beta version of Eye Contact. This is a new AI-powered software video feature that automatically maintains user eye contact while on camera by estimating and aligning gaze. Software included with version 1.4 of the Nvidia Broadcast app draws mixed reactions. Some users praised its potential uses, while others criticized it as unnatural and creepy. Here are the details…

Nvidia Eye Contact Released with Nvidia Broadcast 1.4 Update

The technology works by replacing the user’s eyes in the video stream with software-controlled simulated eyeballs that always look directly at the camera. Even when the user looks away in real life, always seems to be looking at the lens. The prosthetic eye tries to replicate the user’s natural eye color, even blinking in sync Follow the natural blink of the user. You can see the results in the video below. However, this constant eye contact can feel weird and uncomfortable for some people.

Former TV news anchor Scott Baker weighed in on the technology, saying the role of eye contact in human communication has been well researched. Eye contact with someone for more than 7-10 seconds is intuitively considered creepy or uncomfortable. This isn’t the first time a company has tried using simulated eyeballs to maintain eye contact during video calls or streaming.

In 2019, Apple introduced its own eye contact feature in FaceTime, which also received negative reviews when it launched. While eye contact can be beneficial in certain situations, such as virtual job interviews or livestreaming, it’s important to consider the potential downsides of uninterrupted eye contact and use the technique with caution.

Users can try Eye Contact for themselves by downloading Nvidia It’s free to play from the company’s website, but it should be known that it requires Windows and an Nvidia RTX graphics card.

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Infinix Note 12i Launched in India With Helio G85 & 6.7 Inch AMOLED Display

By

Sean

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Jan 25, 2023

Infinix has just launched a new smartphone model in the Indian market. This device in question is a mid range model dubbed the Note 12i. The smartphone is the same model that was released as the Note 12i 2022 back in September 2022 in the global markets and it is finally making its way to India. So let’s have a look.

The Infinix Note 12i sports a tall 6.7 inch AMOLED display that has a Full HD+ resolution and 1000 nits of peak brightness. Although this model only offers just 60Hz refresh rate. This screen also comes with Widevine L1 certification and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. Under the hood, it is equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity G85 SoC that is paired with Mali G52 GPU. This chipset is paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage.

Furthermore, this features a dedicated microSD card slot to expand memory up to 512GB. The device runs on Android 12 OS based XOS 12. The rear features a triple camera setup that consists of a 50 megapixel primary sensor, a 2 megapixel depth sensor, a QVGA AI lens, and an LED flash. Meanwhile, the front houses an 8 megapixel selfie camera. The smartphone is powered by a large 5,000mAh battery pack that supports up to 33W fast charging.

Other notable features include, a side mounted fingerprint scanner, stereo speaker setup with DTS audio support, Bluetooth 5.0, and 3Gb of virtual RAM expansion. The Infinix Note 12i is available in two color variants, namely Metaverse Blue and Force Black options. It can be purchased for a price of just 9,999 INR (roughly 122 US Dollars), with its sale set to begin on January 30 exclusively from Flipkart.

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ASUS ROG Strix 15 Custom Configured Models With Up To 64GB RAM and 8TB SSD Goes On Sale

By

Jeet

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Jan 25, 2023

ASUS recently unveiled the latest ROG Strix series laptops, which are yet to go on sale in the market. Before the new laptops go on sale, customized models of the last year’s device with high-end configurations are now available for purchase.

A custom upgraded ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 with model number G533QS-DS98, which was first released in 2021, is now available for purchase through Amazon for a whopping price of $8,568.

The laptop in question packs AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080, along with 64GB of DDR4 RAM and 8TB of PCIe SSD storage. The device is configured by GreatPriceTech and comes with a one-year manufacturer warranty.

It features a 15.6-inch 2K display with a 165Hz refresh rate, and the device comes running the new Windows 11 64-bit operating system out-of-the-box. When purchased, the seller also includes a wired TUF Gaming M3 mouse and TUG Gaming P3 mouse pad.

There are a few more configurations available from GreatPriceTech. The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 with 32GB RAM and 8TB SSD is priced at $8,088, 64GB RAM and 2 x 4TB costs $5,368, 64GB RAM and 2 x 2TB model is priced at $4,568, and the 32GB RAM model with 2 x 2TB storage costs $4,088.

The newly announced ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 G33 models come powered by the 12th generation Intel Core i9 processor, DDR5 RAM, and PCIe Gen 4 SSD storage, among others. The devices are yet to be available for purchase in the market.

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Samsung Galaxy S23 Lineup Pricing in Europe Leaked, Expensive Compared to the US

By

Anubhav

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Jan 25, 2023

As Samsung gears up for the launch of its latest flagship lineup, speculation around the prices of the smartphones is still looming. While rumors indicate that the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23+ and the Galaxy S23 Ultra will retain the original S22 series pricing from its predecessors in the US; the same may not be true for Europe. Latest leaks indicate that the Galaxy S23 lineup will be sold at a higher price point in the EU region.

Where the Galaxy S22 base model was priced at €850 (~$927) in Europe at the time of launch, the Galaxy S23 base model is expected to be priced at €950 (~$1036) this year. Similarly, the price of the Galaxy S23+ (256GB) will be bumped up to €1100 (~$1199) from €950 ($~1036) for the Galaxy S22+ base model. Lastly, the price for the base model of Galaxy S23 Ultra is expected to be priced at €1399 (~$1523), which is €150 higher than the pricing point of the Galaxy S22 Ultra base model, €1150 (~$1254). It is worth noting that customers do get 256GB storage in the base model, which wasn’t the case last year. The bump in prices can be attributed to higher VAT levels in Eurozone countries.

The Galaxy S23 lineup is highly anticipated, with its launch just around the corner. The specifications of the phones have already been leaked. For starters, the base model Galaxy S23 has a 6.1-inch FHD+ (2,340 x 1,080) AMOLED screen with a 120 Hz refresh rate. The Galaxy S23+ has a larger 6.6-inch screen, but the same display specifications as the Galaxy S23. The Galaxy S23 Ultra is expected to feature a 6.8-inch QHD+ (3,088 x 1,440) AMOLED screen and a refresh rate of 120 Hz. The phones have top-of-the-line specifications and camera setups. The Samsung Galaxy S23 lineup is expected to launch on February 1, 2023 at the Galaxy Unpacked event.

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