Poco F5’s Launch May Be Close, Serial Production Begins in Europe and Asia

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Jan 16, 2023

Samsung has unveiled a new collection of Bespoke refrigerators in India. The announcement is coming on the heels of CES 2023 where Samsung showcased a raft of Bespoke offerings. The high-end customized Samsung refrigerators are made locally, with several India-focused functionalities.

Samsung Bespoke refrigerators in India evolved with inputs from customers. The insights from customers have continued to serve as inspiration for Samsung’s continued innovation. The 2023 lineup of Samsung Bespoke refrigerators offers WiFi connectivity and SmartThings functionality. They can be controlled using the SmartThings app across the major OS options (Android, iOS, and Windows).

The Samsung Bespoke refrigerators in India offer higher power efficiency through the AI Energy Saving Mode. They also feature a 5-in-1 mode for customizable storage choices. The Twin Cooling+ technology guarantees faster cooling. The Curd Maestro helps to prepare curd easily and it has a detachable curd compartment. The Samsung Bespoke refrigerators have a 4.5L water tank for ice or cold water. It does not need to be connected to a water supply. They have a minimum capacity of 635L while the top-draw model features Family Hub 7.0. It also has a 27-inch touchscreen display with FHD resolution. You can also view the inside of the refrigerator using the SmartThings app.

The Samsung 2023 Bespoke refrigerators in India have the Auto Open Door feature for automatically opening the door when your hand is placed on the sensor. The Samsung 2023 lineup of Bespoke refrigerators are priced from Rs. 113,000 ($1,384). They are available in four Bespoke Glass Finish options Navy, Pink, White, and Glam Deep Charcoal. Samsung is offering a 20-year warranty on the compressor. You can get Samsung Bespoke refrigerators in India from a raft of authorized online and offline retail outlets across the subcontinent.

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Samsung Could Finally Get Rid of the Controversial Crease With Galaxy Z Fold 5

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Anurag

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Jan 16, 2023

Samsung made the very idea of folding smartphones a big thing with its foldable line. The Korean company’s foldables are one of the best in the market, but just like everything, they are not perfect. And one of the major concerns with the Galaxy Z Folds and Flips is the controversial crease present on the display. Yes, it is less visible on the latest Galaxy Z Fold 4, but it’s still noticeable. Luckily, Samsung could finally fix this design flaw with the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 5.

The Korean publication Naver reports that Samsung will use a new waterdrop-shaped hinge on the upcoming Fold 5, which will allow the device’s display to fold completely flat without any gaps in between. This should mean that the inner display of the foldable will become more durable and have little to no crease.

To make you understand, the crease on the display of Samsung’s foldables appears due to the design of their hinges. Apparently, the hinge creates a tight bend at the center, which results in a visible stream on the display.

The report further states that the new waterdrop-shaped hinge is called a “dumbbell” type hinge internally. It is reported that the new hinge will increase the durability of the display and make the smartphone easier to carry.

It is worth mentioning that, unlike Samsung, Chinese brands (Xiaomi, Oppo, et al.) have already gotten rid of the unsightly crease from their foldables’ displays. Oppo’s recent Find X2 series debuts with a sleeker, crease-less display than Samsung’s best foldable. Xiaomi’s Mix Fold 2 isn’t any different. It comes with probably the best display in the industry and is thinner than every folding smartphone on the market.

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Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Laptop with 13th-Gen Core i7 SoC, 4K OLED Touchscreen Launched in India

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Jan 16, 2023

Lenovo has unveiled its latest 2-in-1 laptop in India. The Lenovo Yoga 9i packs the 13th-gen Intel Core i7 chipset and has a 14-inch option with a 4K OLED screen. The new models are the latest entries in the Lenovo Yoga series and the models are Intel Evo certified.

The Lenovo Yoga 9i can operate as either a laptop or tablet. It can also be used as a stand or tent. Its rounded surface has an easy-to-grip feel and makes it very simple to carry around. The 14-inch OLED touchscreen offers 4K resolution and supports Dolby Vision. The company has included the Lenovo Precision Pen 2 accessory in the box.

The Yoga 9i has up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. It has a 2MP hybrid FHD and Infrared camera with smart facial recognition features. A 75Wh battery provides power to the Yoga 9i for up to 10 hours. The touchscreen has a 60Hz refresh rate, 100% DCI-P3, and a 16:10 aspect ratio. The display is also VESA-certified DisplayHDR True Black 500, supports Dolby Vision, and has up to 400 nits of brightness.

The Lenovo Yoga 9i core i7 processor has 12 cores (4 performance + 8 efficient/16 threads). The connectivity options include Bluetooth 5.2 and WiFi 6E. In addition, there are 2 USB-C Thunderbolt 4.0, 1 USB-A Gen 3.2, and 1 USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, together with a headphone jack. The touchpad is made of glass and four Bowers & Wilkins speakers with Dolby Atmos provide audio output for the laptop.

The Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 laptops retail in India starting at Rs. 1,74,990 (~1.75 lakhs or $2,142). They are available in Storm Grey and Oatmeal colors from January 29 in India. The Yoga 9i can be purchased directly from Lenovo Exclusive. Other online retail platforms like Amazon, Croma and Reliance also have the Yoga 9i.

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Xiaomi Rolls out Stable MIUI 14 to Xiaomi 12 Series Globally

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Jan 16, 2023

Xiaomi has rolled out the stable version of MIUI 14 to the flagship Xiaomi 12 series globally. The new user interface update was first announced in Xiaomi’s home market last month. The MIUI 14 has already reached Xiaomi 12 smartphones in China earlier this month. The stable version of the software update will however start with Xiaomi 12 flagship models globally.

The MIUI 14 is based on Android 13 and delivers the January 2023 security update. The update is available for users who have been on the beta channel. The file size that must be downloaded is 4.43GB. The full version number is MIUI 14.0.2.0 (TLCMIXM) and is not yet available for the Xiaomi 12 Pro.

The update is only available for a select category of beta testers and it can only be gotten over the wire. There are no automatic updates yet but Xiaomi hopes to finetune the MIUI 14 with feedback from this select group. Subsequently, the MIUI 14 update will become available for all associated smartphones on the Xiaomi stables. Then, users will get a simple notification and OTA downloads will be possible.

Since 2010 when the first MIUI was launched, it currently has an excess of 564 million active users monthly across the world. The MIUI 14 is the latest Android 13-based interface for Xiaomi smartphones. It comes with a highly optimized and streamlined interface. It also starts with Project Razor with a substantial upgrade of the system architecture. The improvements include CPU, GPU, and memory resource scheduling, decreased memory usage, and a lighter firmware size.

MIUI 14 improvements also include automatic compression for inactive apps and a toggle option to turn off permanent notifications. There are only eight system apps in MIUI 14 that cannot be uninstalled, which is the lowest so far. The new user interface has customizable folders, animated flowers, pet widgets, duplicated file mergers, and improved text recognition. There are also improvements in privacy using MIUI 14 with its end-to-end encryption.

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Lenovo Teases the Xiaoxin Pro Ultrabook 2023 with Massive Battery Upgrades; 140W Charging & More

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Jan 16, 2023

Towards the end of December last year, Chinese tech giant Lenovo teased the Xiaoxin Pro Ultrabook 2023 laptop alongside the Air and Digital series. The company has now released a second teaser that gives us a hint of the features that the laptop will come with. The teaser reveals that the Xiaoxin Pro Ultrabook 2023 will come with a fully upgraded battery with improvement in energy density, charging and discharging performance, as well as service life.

According to reports, Xiaoxin Pro 2023 has upgraded the battery material with the model using a new generation 75Wh energy-concentrating battery. The volume of the same capacity is reduced by 15%, bringing leapfrog power and ample space. Thus, the laptop with a 14-inch display comes with power for a 16-inch model. There is also a video online where the battery life was tested. The video shows the battery can last for up to 9 hours and 59 minutes. Furthermore, the charging apparatus is upgraded to a 140W USB C port super-fast charge which can deliver up to 66% battery power in just 30 munites.

In addition, the battery life has also been improved, as stated earlier. The daily cycle charging simulation for four years (1000 times) has a capacity retention rate of ≥75%. Turning on the maintenance and slow charging can also be more durable.

The Lenovo Xiaoxin Pro 2023 is expected to be available in Ryzen 7000HS or 13th generation Core processor options with up to NVIDIA RTX 4050 GPU. The laptop is expected to be equipped with a 2.5K 120Hz high refresh screen. Among them, the performance release of Xiaoxin Pro 16 independent display version is as high as about 115W, and the performance release of Pro 14 independent display version is as high as about 80W. It supports independent display direct connection, graphics card overclocking, dual display, and three-mode eagerness. It adopts 3D composite material 5 heat pipes, large-area pure copper cooling fins, and high-density ultra-thin turbofan. Equipped with 2xUSB-A 3.2 Gen1, 1x Thunderbolt 4, 1x full-featured Type-C 1xHDMI, 1xSD card reader, 1×3.5mm audio interface.

There is no officiaal confirmation as to when the laptop will be released but going by the teaser poster, it should go official soon.

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OPPO Reno 8T, F23, Reno 10 Series India Launch Timelines Tipped

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Jan 16, 2023

Earlier this month, it was reported that the OPPO Reno 8T may debut in India as the OPPO F23. The device has bagged multiple certifications indicating an imminent launch. Now, tipster Mukul Sharma (aka stufflistings) has revealed the launch timeline of the OPPO Reno 8T, OPPO F23, and OPPO Reno 10 series in India. The source also shared information about the Reno 8T’s pricing as well as RAM and storage configurations.

The OPPO Reno 8T is expected to be the third device in the Reno 8 lineup that debuted in July last year. The report states that the upcoming offering’s launch event will take place in the first week of February. However, the exact date remains a mystery. The tipster revealed that the Reno 8T will be available in 8GB RAM and 256GB storage configuration. It will carry a price tag of Rs 32,000 in the country.

The Reno 8T’s leaked renders revealed a curved AMOLED display with a centre-aligned punch-hole cutout. Rumours suggest that it will feature a 6.67-inch FHD+ screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. The smartphone had appeared on Geekbench with a Snapdragon 695 processor. It is tipped to be powered by a 4,800mAh battery unit with support for 67W charging.

Apart from the OPPO Reno 8T, Sharma revealed that the OPPO F23 will launch sometime in March 2023 in India. It will arrive as the successor to the OPPO F22. The tipster added that the brand will reportedly skip the Reno 9 series in India. OPPO will directly launch the Reno 10 lineup in April or May in the country.

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Chinese Tech Giant Tencent Fires over 100 corrupt Employees and Sends Some to Prison

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Joane

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Jan 16, 2023

Chinese Technology giant and the world’s largest video game company, Tencent, has fired more than 100 employees over allegations of fraud, corruption, and embezzlement. The company reported more than 10 employees to the Police, with one of the employees being sentenced to three years in prison for accepting bribes from a competitor. There are six other cases that have resulted in imprisonment.

The numbers prove that the size of internal corruption is larger and more severe in 2022 than the previous years. As a part of its anti-corruption campaign, Tencent has started annual reporting of the number of corruption and fraud cases found within the company. Some of the cases of 2022 include employees from the company’s News and Media content group and its famous TiMi and Lightspeed gaming studios.

Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Tencent Pony Ma admitted that the corruption level is severe within the company. Last month in an internal company meeting, he gave an intense speech highlighting the problems within the company’s management, gaming business, WeChat platform, and other subsidiaries. He stated, “the internal corruption is really shocking, involving some managers. This year, Tencent introduced the digital capability for anti-fraud by collecting reimbursement within the company and the data of external suppliers.”

In response to the corruption allegations, the firm said that it had a zero-tolerance policy against such behavior and would blacklist the people and parties involved in such shady business. The company also said that external firms and businesses involved in such transactions will be barred from future contracts.

In the last couple of years, Tencent has been involved in controversies and has been a target of the censorship campaign of the Chinese government. The biggest video game company in the world was under an 18-month ban from launching new games. The ban was lifted last September when the government approved a new batch of licenses, including one for Tencent’s action game, Metal Slug: Awakening. TiMi studios, a subsidiary of Tencent that developed this game, was also reportedly involved in the corruption scandal.

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Red Magic 8 Pro With Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, Built-In Heart Rate Detection Launched In The Global Markets

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Jan 16, 2023

Nubia launched the Red Magic 8 Pro series comprising the Pro and Pro+ variants in China last month. Now the brand has debuted the Red Magic 8 Pro smartphone in the global markets. Alongside the launch of the smartphone, the brand has also a new re-designed logo that is said to express nubia’s ultimate goal of becoming much more than a gaming smartphone, but rather the right gear for every age and lifestyle. Read on to know everything about the Red Magic 8 Pro.

The Red Magic 8 Pro sports a boxy form factor. The left side has a volume rocker and power key whereas the right edge of the smartphone has gaming-centric shoulder trigger buttons including a Red-colour slider. The back panel has vertically stacked triple rear camera sensors in a pill-shaped module. The smartphone is offered in Void and Matte options where the former is a transparent version and the latter is a Black variant. The transparent variant features a metal middle frame and a glass rear cover. It also has a built-in fan with RGB lights on the back panel.

On the display front, the Red Magic 8 Pro boasts a 6.8-inch AMOLED display bearing an FHD+ resolution, 1,300 nits brightness, and a 120Hz refresh rate. It is equipped with a seventh-generation ultra-thin screen fingerprint scanner with a heart-rate detection feature. There is also a second-generation 16MP under-display camera. The smartphone has a 50MP main sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 2MP macro unit.

Under the hood, the Red Magic 8 Pro houses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. It is equipped with an ICE 11 cooling system that comprises a composite graphene, vapour chamber heat dissipation plate, air aluminium box, turbofan, high-conducting gel, copper coil, cooling air duct, turbo cooler, and graphene under the screen. The device packs up to 16GB RAM and 512GB storage. It draws its power from a 6,000mAh battery unit with support for 65W charging. The smartphone runs on Red Magic 6-based Android 13 out of the box.

The Red Magic 8 Pro features dual speakers, 3 mics, and an X-Axis Linear Motor. Connectivity options on the device include Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 7, a USB-C port, and a 3.5mm jack.

The Red Magic 8 Pro Matte option is available in 12GB + 256GB configuration. It carries a price tag of $649 (~RMB 4,369). The Void option is offered in 16GB + 512GB variant and costs $799 (~RMB 5,379). The smartphone will be available in select countries in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Latin America. It will be available for order from February 2nd from the brand’s official website.

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Samsung Galaxy A14 5G, A23 5G Launched In India: Check Price, Availability, Offers

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Jan 16, 2023

Samsung Galaxy A14 5G and Galaxy A23 5G have been launched in India. They arrive as the successors to the last year’s Galaxy A13 and A22 respectively. The latest offerings have already debuted in the global markets. The Indian variants come with the same specifications. Read on to know what the devices offer out of the box.

The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G and A23 5G come with a 6.6-inch display bearing a waterdrop notch and a thick chin. The former packs an HD+ resolution with a 90Hz refresh rate whereas the latter offers an FHD+ resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate. Both devices have a side-mounted fingerprint scanner embedded in the power button. The Galaxy A24 5G sports a rectangular camera module whereas the A14 5G lacks it.

On the optics front, the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G features a triple rear camera setup of a 50MP primary sensor, 2MP depth, and 2MP depth unit. The A23 5G has the same camera setup alongside a 5MP ultra-wide-angle unit. There is also OIS for shake-free videos on the A23 5G.

Under the hood, the Galaxy A14 5G houses an Exynos 1330 processor whereas the Galaxy A23 5G is equipped with a Snapdragon 695 SoC. Both devices pack up to 8GB RAM along with a virtual RAM feature. The A14 5G and A23 5G are offered in up to 128GB storage options. Both smartphones are powered by a 5,000mAh battery unit with the A23 5G supporting 25W fast charging.

The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G starts at Rs 16,499 for the base 4GB + 64GB option. The 6GB + 128GB and 8GB + 128GB configurations cost Rs 18,999 and Rs 20,999 respectively. The Galaxy A23 5G carries a price tag of Rs 22,999 and Rs 24,999 respectively for the 6GB + 128GB and 8GB + 128GB options. The Galaxy A14 5G comes in Dark Red, Light Green, and Black colours whereas the A23 5G is offered in Silver, Orange, and Light Blue paint jobs. SBI, IDFC and Zest Money users can avail Rs 2,000 and Rs 1,500 cashback on the purchase of the A23 5G and A14 5G respectively. Both smartphones can be purchased from online and offline stores across the country starting January 20th.

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Xiaomi Band 7 Pro, Watch S1 Pro, Watch S2 Launched In Magenta Strap Colour

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Jan 16, 2023

Xiaomi has announced a new colour option for the Band 7 Pro, Watch S2, and Watch S1 Pro. All three devices come in a new Magenta colour strap. They have been introduced as a part of the Chinese New Year also known as the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival in the country. Additionally, apart from a new strap colour, to celebrate the occasion Xiaomi also confirmed that it will launch a new year limited dial on January 21st.

The Magenta colour strap option for the Xiaomi Band 7 Pro costs RMB 59 ($8.77) whereas for Watch S1 Pro and S2, it costs RMB 99 ($14.71). It is already available for purchase from the brand’s official website The Xiaomi Band 7 Pro was launched in July last year whereas the Watch S1 Pro and S2 debuted in April and December 2022 respectively. Apart from the new colour of the watch strap, the core specifications of the wearable devices remain the same.

The Xiaomi Band 7 Pro features a 1.64-inch AMOLED screen with an always-on display feature. It is equipped with a heart-rate monitor, SpO2 sensor, sleep tracker, and packs 117 sports modes. The fitness tracker is backed by a 235mAh battery unit that is claimed to deliver 12 days of usage.

On the other hand, the Watch S2 comes in 1.32 (42mm) and 1.43-inch (46mm) AMOLED displays whereas the Watch S1 Pro features a 1.47-inch screen. Both smartwatches are equipped with an HRM, SpO2 sensor, stress and sleep tracker, temperature monitor, and 100 workout modes. There is also a built-in GPS for outdoor activities. The Watch S2 also features a body composition measurement and a built-in microphone and speaker for Bluetooth calling.

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Key Apple Partners Set to Increase Production in Southeast Asia

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Jan 16, 2023

Apple partners Foxconn Technology Group and Pegatron have announced plans to expand in Southeast Asia in 2023 as part of their efforts to mitigate geopolitical and economic risks. Foxconn chairman Liu Yang said at a company event that we will continue to expand our China, the Americas and Southeast Asia, these efforts will bear fruit in 2023.

Pegatron, Foxconn’s smaller rival, will allocate $300 million to $350 million for capital spending this year, in part to increase capacity in Southeast Asia and auto parts production in Mexico. The company is also a supplier to Tesla Inc. Both Foxconn and Pegatron currently produce iPhones in China and India, and Apple is also using Vietnam as an alternative manufacturing base for other products such as AirPods. Pegatron will increase production capacity in Vietnam and Indonesia, they already have existing factories, the company currently Apple products are not manufactured in these two countries. Foxconn did not specify which Southeast Asian countries it plans to expand in.

The expansion plans by these major contract electronics makers fit into an ongoing trend of diversifying supply chains that began in the Trump era, when the U.S. president imposed steep tariffs on some Chinese imports in his trade war with China. This China’s prolonged coronavirus-induced lockdown has disrupted supply chains and accelerated diversification efforts.

Both Foxconn and Pegatron have experienced Covid-related disruptions in China. Pegatron had to temporarily suspend production, and Foxconn was challenged by a violent protest that swept through its main complex in the city of Zhengzhou, disrupting the iPhone maker’s activities and forcing Apple to halt production. Warning shipments may be lower than expected.

The expansion plans of Foxconn and Pegatron in Southeast Asia in 2023 suggest that the world’s major contract electronics manufacturers will continue to increase production capacity outside China to mitigate geopolitical and economic risks and diversify their supply chains.

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Norton Password Manager Faces Breach From Third-Party Platform

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Jan 16, 2023

Cybersecurity firm NortonLifeLock recently notified customers that hackers had gained access to their Norton Password Manager accounts. However, the company claimed that the attacks were not due to weak security on its systems, but rather due to vulnerabilities on other platforms.

This type of attack is known as a credential stuffing attack, where the attacker obtains data from other sources, such as compromised accounts on other platforms, in order to gain access to the intended target. In this case, Norton detected an unusually high number of failed login attempts on December 12 This usually indicates a credential stuffing attack. An internal investigation revealed that the attack began on December 1, with many accounts successfully compromised.

While the number of accounts affected has not been disclosed, a statement from Gen Digital, the parent company of NortonLifeLock, indicates that approximately 925,000 inactive and active accounts may have been targeted by the attack. Customers have been warned that attackers may have obtained details Stored in private vaults, this could lead to further compromises. The attackers may have also seen the account’s first name, last name, phone number and mailing address.

In response to this attack, Norton reset the passwords for affected accounts and took additional steps to protect against future attacks. The company also advises customers to enable two-factor authentication on their accounts and offers credit monitoring services.

The attack on NortonLifeLock is the latest known incident involving the password lock service. In December, LastPass confirmed a data breach in August involving name addresses and encrypted password data vaults. By late December, it was said that the vaults may have been Only $100.

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Twitter Offers Free Ads to Brands That Market on Its Platform

By

Sean

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Jan 16, 2023

Twitter is apparently offering free advertisements to the brands that use its platform to market themselves. The social media giant is offering free advertising in an attempt to win back clients for its advertising business.

For those unaware, Twitter relies quite a bit on advertising as a revenue source similar to other social media giants. Now, the microblogging platform is offering free marketing to brands to help its advertisement business, which has been in decline following Elon Musk’s acquisition of the company. In other words, the company is seeking to attract clients by offering a free ad campaign that will match advertiser’s ad spending up to 250,000 US Dollars.

Meaning, the clients can avail a full 500,000 US Dollar investment in advertising that must run by 28th February 2023, as per the leaked emails. However, Twitter has yet to respond to any comments regarding this matter. This initiative is basically another step to increase ad expenses by its clients. The new ad campaign might also be used to bring promoted tweets that can dun during the Super Bowl week, which is a key period for Twitter.

For those unaware, clients typically spend more during the Super Bowl week since it helps expand the respective brand’s reach. The Super Bowl is also Twitter’s biggest revenue day of the year. In recent times, many brands like Pfizer, United Airlines, and auto makers General Motors and Volkswagen have stopped spending on Twitter. Similarly, 75 out of the top 100 spenders on ads on Twitter also lowered their spending as well.

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Gizmore Blaze Max Smartwatch Launched: 450 Nits Brightness, 15-Day Battery Life, and More

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Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Jan 16, 2023

Gizmore has launched a new budget smartwatch in India. The wearable officially goes by Gizmore Blaze Max.

The latest device from the brand is fitted with a large screen. It also offers a longer battery life. Let’s check out its features.

The newly released Gizmore Blaze Max sports a 1.85-inch rectangular display. The IPS LCD screen provides a maximum brightness level of 450 nits.

Despite being an LCD panel, the display supports always on display. If you are wondering about endurance, the brand claims a battery life of up to 15 days.

Just like any other wearable, the Blaze Max also supports multiple health functions. It offers heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen level monitoring, and sleep tracking.

There’s also support for other features, such as menstrual cycle tracking, stress monitoring, multiple sports modes, and more. Interestingly, it also comes with mini-games and a calculator.

The smartwatch is IP67-rated for dust and water resistance. It arrives with a built-in speaker and a microphone, and thus, users can make calls through it.

The wearable pairs with Android and iOS smartphones via a companion app called JYouPro. Finally, apart from English, it also has support for the Hindi language.

As far as pricing is concerned, the Gizmore Blaze Max is priced at ₹1,199 in India. It can be purchased from Flipkart starting today (January 16). The product is offered in three colors, namely Black, Burgundy, and Grey.

China Acquires Golden Shares in Alibaba: Next in line is Tencent

By

Joane

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Jan 16, 2023

China has acquired ‘Golden Shares’ in a couple of domestic subsidiaries of the tech giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, strengthening its control over the company. Beijing is also proposing to get similar shares in Tencent Holdings and other tech giants, revealing its plans to sway the power equation of technology companies in the country. Other firms which already have such golden share arrangements include subsidiaries of TikTok owner ByteDance, Kuaishou Technology, Weibo, etc.

‘Golden Shares’ are a type of share that gives its holder veto power over the company’s major decisions, even though he or she may not be a majority shareholder. In the case of Alibaba Group, the government has acquired a minority stake of about 1% which comes with special management rights. The government purchases such Golden Shares in tech giants through government-backed funds or state-run companies. It then appoints a government representative to the board of directors with veto power to change any major decision taken by the company.

The Alibaba group has been a target of a severe crackdown by the regulatory authorities over the past few months. Apart from Alibaba, several other homegrown technology giants like Tencent, Didi Global Inc, etc also faced the government’s wrath. During the two-year regulatory crackdown, hefty fines and penalties were imposed on tech giants, which erased more than $1 trillion in the market value of these firms.

With the zero covid policy and the subjugation of the major tech industries, the economic structure of China has worsened over the years. The restrictions and censorship on E-sports alone have wiped out millions from the Chinese economy.

China’s gaming revenue for 2022 stood at a whopping $44bn. With more than 655 million mobile gamers and a $24 billion market share, the government cannot afford to lose gaming and other internet and technology businesses. Thus, it seems like Beijing is now acquiring management rights in major tech giants to reform and revive the sector.

Therefore, the plan to acquire Golden Shares and gain special management rights can be seen as a sign of revival, to end the two-year crackdown, and move past the severe censorship.

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Killer Drone on Netflix Set, Leaves Actor with Severe Injuries

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Jan 16, 2023

Taiwanese actor Ke Qidong was seriously injured after being hit by a drone on the set of a new Netflix series. The incident, which took place on December 27, required as many as 30 stitches in the actor’s face. According to local reports, the accident occurred in The drone captured close-ups of Ko on the set of what is said to be the most expensive Taiwan-produced “Agent From Heaven” to date.

According to reports, the drone malfunctioned and exploded in front of the actors, sending debris flying in all directions. The drone’s propeller blades are said to have sliced open Ko’s face near the cheekbones, causing serious injuries. The actor was apparently ‘covered in blood’ as he was rushed go to the hospital. His agent confirmed to Taiwanese media that Ko suffered “serious disfigurement” and is recovering after receiving as many as 30 stitches.

However, the show’s producers, Singapore’s mm2 Asia and Taiwan’s Good Films Production, insisted the report was inaccurate. In a statement to Variety, the production team explained that standard safety protocols were followed during filming. drone propeller blades Shielded by a “protective layer”, “no explosions or blade shattering”. The statement from the production team added:

“We are deeply regretful that the accident occurred and injured Kai’s cheeks. Kai was immediately provided medical attention, and his talent management team has also arranged micro-stitching for him. The production team is sorry for the incident and is further investigating the matter. We have temporarily paused filming for our lead actor Kai to allow him time to rest and recover. We are looking forward to having him back on set when he is fully recovered.”

While Netflix has yet to comment on the accident, the streaming service did send Ko a care package on Wednesday, as indicated on the actor’s Instagram Story feed. Meanwhile, production has resumed on scenes that Ko didn’t star in. Agents from Heaven follow ex-drug story Drug addicts are recruited to do the bidding of a legendary Chinese god, the Third Prince, in order to atone for their sins.

Gao Baowen is a big star in Taiwan, rising to fame in 2011 with the movie “You Are My Sweetheart”, which earned him the Best New Actor trophy at the prestigious Chinese Film Golden Horse Awards. In 2022, Ke Yidong’s directorial debut “Bad Education” Four Golden Horse Award nominations.

It’s worth noting that drones have become a popular filmmaking tool of late, with countless professional videos shot each year without a single unfortunate incident. Exact details of what happened on the set of Agent From Above on Dec. 27 remain unclear, The incident underscores the importance of safety protocols on movie sets.

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YouTube’s New Ad-Supported Streaming Service Offers Free TV Shows, Movies and Channels

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