Apple pushes back against sideloading of iOS applications

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Oct 14, 2021

Xiaomi yesterday released its Mi Home Smoke Stove Set S1 that includes the Mijia Cross-border Range Hood S1 and Mijia Gas Stove S1 4500W. The former is an advanced chimney while the latter is a smart stove.

The set supports operations using nothing but air gestures. These gestures let you perform all sorts of actions including turning the machine off with a simple wave of the hands, without the need for touching the devices themselves.

The set is equipped with dual infrared sensors that accurately track a user’s movements. The Range Hood S1 chimney can be powered on by a right swipe, its power can be adjusted by swiping right further, and swiping left turns it off.

The chimney is fairly wide at 900mm and covers both of the stoves, making it capable of capturing all of the smoke being produced by cooking. Its built-in motor has a maximum speed of 1010RPM and the diameter of its rotor stands at 256mm. It produces a suction force of 21m3/min.

As for the Mijia gas stove, it can output at 4500W and has high thermal efficiency. Its temperature can be adjusted from the usual 180°, all the way up to 230°.

The stove and the chimney from the Mi Home (Mijia) Smoke Stove Set S1 work automatically in harmony, with the chimney turning on automatically as soon as it detects smoke. Its suction power too is dynamic and follows the temperature the stove has been set at.

The set will be launching Friday at a retail price of around 2598 Yuan (~$403).

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Xiaomi to launch MIJIA Robot Vacuum Mop Pro for 2,499 Yuan ($390)

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Oct 14, 2021

Xiaomi will launch a new MIJIA product this week. The new product in question is the MIJIA Robot Vacuum Mop Pro. It will be the latest house cleaning-based robot from the company and offers minor upgrades over its predecessor.

As per official notes, the latest robot vacuum cleaner is the first from the company to offer dry mopping. In other words, it does not require water and other cleaning agents for the mopping process. Looking at the design, the new MIJIA Robot Vacuum Mop Pro features a square head form factor over the conventional overall circular design. This allows the device to clean the corners and edges properly as well. Under the hood, a LiDAR sensor guides the automated robot, which enables it to offer excellent mapping and planning for cleaning.

Since the vacuum cleaner robot is “self cleaning,” it arrives with a large charging compartment, which also features two integrated containers that store water. This lets it automatically clean the device’s mop by itself. Back in August, MIJIA had also launched another vacuum robot under the same series.

Now, the company will launch an upgraded version on the Xiaomi Youpin platform for a crowdfunding price tag of 2,499 Yuan (roughly 390 US Dollars) and a retail price of 2,999 Yuan (roughly 465 US Dollars).

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Amazon India rigged search results & copied products to establish dominance, documents show

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Oct 14, 2021

Internal documents from Amazon show that the e-commerce giant used its search system and user data to gain an unfair advantage over local sellers in India, as per a new report.

The report from Reuters – based on internal emails, strategies, and other documents – outlines an aggressive plan by Amazon to dominate the platform with its own products. This is combined with the misuse of a technique known as “search seeding” to boost the rankings of select products in search to ensure that company brands like AmazonBasics appeared in the top three or so listings for a category.

Amazon Featured — Image Credit: Reuters/Lucas Jackson

The second malpractice is even shadier and involves the company identifying certain products that are popular among customers and copying them. But the copying isn’t limited to the looks alone. Documents pointed that Amazon India employees examined data related to how often customers returned purchases and then based the products off it.

An example of this was allegedly the Solimo brand whose very strategy was to “use information from Amazon.in to develop products and then leverage the Amazon.in platform to market these products to our customers.” Plans to partner with the original manufacturers of selected products directly were also outlined in the documents.

amazon copied products — Williams-Sonoma products on left, Amazon copies on the right (Image: Reuters)

Amazon, which is already under investigation in India for alleged anti-competitive practices, has denied all of the allegations calling them “factually incorrect and unsubstantiated.” Its archrival – Flipkart – is also undergoing similar investigation by regulators. The investigation covers anti-competitive behavior and brands like AmazonBasics.

But this isn’t the first time Amazon has had to face flak, as a Wall Street Journal report from 2020 highlighted a similar case where Amazon employees misused internal sales data to crush local sellers with competing products.

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Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G gets Awesome Mint color option in India

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Oct 14, 2021

Samsung launched the Galaxy A52s 5G in India at the beginning of September. Unlike other regions, India only got three colors. Now, over a month after its debut, the phone finally gets the missing fourth hue option in the country.

The only two differences between the Galaxy A52 5G and the Galaxy A52s 5G are chipset and color. The newer model comes with a Snapdragon 778G SoC instead of a Snapdragon 750G chip. Also, it arrives in an Awesome Mint color version instead of Awesome Blue.

India did not get the Galaxy A52 5G. On top of that, when Samsung brought the Galaxy A52s 5G last month, it did not bring the device in the exclusive paint job. The new color is the only way to identify the A52s from the 4G and the 5G models of A52.

Earlier today, in a tweet, Samsung finally confirmed the availability of the Galaxy A52s 5G in Awesome Mint hue in India. But unfortunately, the new color version is still not listed on Samsung.com.

Since the South Korean tech giant has made an official announcement, the latest color should be available soon. As the Galaxy A series is sold by almost all offline as well as online retailers in India, it should be easy for interested customers to get hands-on the new hue.

The Galaxy A52s 5G retails at ₹35,999 (6GB + 128GB) and ₹37,499 (8GB + 128GB) in India.

OnePlus Watch Harry Potter Limited Edition launch teased officially

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Oct 14, 2021

The OnePlus Watch Harry Potter Limited Edition was initially teased during the launch event of the brand’s first smartwatch. This product later leaked multiple times in the following months. Back in August, it was even tipped to launch soon. Now, weeks later, OnePlus officially teases the arrival of this wearable.

The upcoming OnePlus Watch Harry Potter Limited Edition will be the third special variant of OnePlus’s first smartwatch. For those unaware, the first two were Cobalt and Cyberpunk 2077. The former was made available in multiple regions, while the latter was exclusive to China.

Since the teaser for the Harry Potter version comes from OnePlus India, it could be limited to India. That said, the company is yet to officially reveal the release date for the wearable.

We think that the new OnePlus Watch should hit the stores ahead of the Diwali festive season, which kicks off in the first week of November.

As far as specs are concerned, we expect it to arrive with the same set of features as the regular OnePlus Watch. But it should have a customized casing color and a strap as suggested in the teaser poster.

Additionally, it has been previously exposed that this smartwatch will come with six custom watch faces based on Hogwarts, Hogwarts seal, and seals of the four Hogwarts houses (Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw).

Last but not least, the OnePlus Watch Harry Potter Limited Edition should cost more than the standard variant that currently retails at ₹14,999.

Acer’s ConceptD 7 SpatialLabs Edition laptop allows one to see 3D content without glasses

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Oct 14, 2021

Acer had earlier this year announced its SpatialLabs tech that enables 3D visuals without the need for any glasses, made possible by a special stereo camera with two sensors that track your eyes and head combined with a lens on the display that refracts two slightly different images in accordance to the position of your eyes. The tech is finally making its way to a laptop that you can actually purchase.

The Acer ConceptD 7 SpatialLabs Edition laptop was just announced and it comes with 3D SpatialLabs tech built-in. Its display will allow users to see 3D projects for CAD designs, 3D printing, architecture, animations, and more, thus making designing a more true-to-life and immersive experience than ever before.

Knowing very well that a 3D display is nothing without 3D content, Acer is shipping the laptop with tools like the SpatialLabs Model Viewer that allows one to import 3D files from apps like Rhinoceros, ZBrush, and Autodesk Fusion 360. The company also stated that it’s working with developers to bring more integrated solutions for the future, although without widespread adoption of the 3D SpatialLabs tech, the success is likely to be limited.

A SpatialLabs Go app is also being offered that will allow the conversion of 2D content like images, videos, simple games, and webcam feed into stereoscopic 3D using AI.

Apart from all of the 3D, the Acer ConceptD 7 SpatialLabs Edition is a top-tier laptop with up to Intel Core i7-11800H processor, Nvidia RTX 3080, 32GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 2TB NVMe SSD. The display is a 15.6-inch LCD panel that offers 3840 x 2160 resolution in 2D mode or 1920 x 2160 in 3D mode.

As for the pricing, well, it isn’t cheap at all considering the top-level specifications. The ConceptD 7 SpatialLabs Edition will cost €3,599 (~$4,160) when it launches in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa in December. A North American launch should follow.

16-inch ConceptD 3 and ConceptD 3 Pro laptops have also been launched with updated 16:10 aspect ratios, and will be arriving to the US with price tags of $1,699.99 and $1,899.99 respectively. These are paired with the ConceptD 3 Ezel that will be made available in November starting at $1,899.99 and the ConceptD 3 Ezel Pro that’s set to hit the US in 2022 starting at $1,999.99.

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TSMC announces its plans to build its first chip factory in Japan

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Oct 14, 2021

TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) revealed its plans of building its first chip plant in Japan earlier today (14th October 2021). The news arrives as Japan seeks to strengthen its supply chain amid an ongoing global semiconductor shortage.

According to a NikkeiAsia report, the world’s largest contract chipmaker’s CEO C.C. Wei told investors that the firm has received support from both its customers and the Japanese government for this investment. Wei added that the plant will focus on the 22 nanometer and 28 nanometer process technology that can be used across many chip types, ranging from image sensors to even microcontrollers. The construction of the new chip site is planned to start next year, with production scheduled to begin in 2024.

The senior official has yet to disclose the exact size of the investment. Although, the company did share its financial report on the same day, which revealed its net profits for the period between July and September 2021. During this time, the firm saw a near 14 percent rise in net profits as it ramped up the production of processors for the new Apple iPhone 13 series. Furthermore, TSMC’s gross margin was 51.3 percent while its operating margin came in at 41.2 percent.

Notably, TSMC’s shift to Japan marks a major move considering the company had retained its decades long strategy of having its production based in Taiwan. Similar to Japan, the company is also constructing an advanced chip plant in the US as well, in the state of Arizona. Interestingly, a plan for a German site is also being considered as of right now.

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OPPO A54s leaks in its entirety ahead of official launch

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Oct 14, 2021

The OPPO A54s is in the news for the past few days. We know almost everything about this smartphone via multiple leaks. The handset once again leaks in full leaving nothing to the imagination.

The OPPO A54s will be the next budget smartphone from OPPO for Europe. This device is more of a tweaked version of OPPO A16 than OPPO A54.

According to a retailer listing (via @_snoopytech_) and tipster Sudhanshu Ambhore, the phone will sport a 6.5-inch IPS LCD panel with a resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels (HD+), 270 PPI, 20:9 aspect ratio, and a dewdrop notch. It will be powered by a MediaTek Helio G35 SoC paired with 4GB RAM and 128GB internal storage.

It will house a vertically aligned triple rear camera setup consisting of a 50MP primary sensor, a 2MP macro shooter, and a 2MP depth sensor. On the front, it has an 8MP snapper for selfies and video calls.

As far as connectivity is concerned, the handset will support dual-SIM, 4G, dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, GNSS, 3.5mm headphone jack, and USB Type-C port. It will also have features like a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, MicroSD card slot, proximity sensor, accelerometer, and compass.

Talking about software, the device will boot the outdated ColorOS 7.x operating system based on Android 10. As for energy, It will draw juice from a 5,000mAh battery with support for 10W charging.

Last but not least, the IPX4-rated OPPO A54s will measure 163.8 x 75.6 x 8.4mm in dimensions, weigh 190g, and come in two color options – Pearl Blue and Crystal Black.

The OPPO A54s is expected to retail around €219 in Europe. Unfortunately, we are still unaware of its availability.

Netflix may launch a video game based on its popular Squid Game

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Oct 14, 2021

Earlier this year, Netflix had officially revealed its plan on entering the gaming market, with titles based on its popular series being launched. Now, it seems that another beloved series, Squid Game, could be entering its gaming roster.

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the online video streaming platform’s VP for the Asia Pacific content, Minyoung Kim, talked about the possibility of turning the explosively successful series into a video game. As of right now, the second season for the South Korean series is currently in talks to start as well. The senior official of Netflix has confirmed that the company is “looking into” the possibility.

The news of the series being turned into a video game arrives as the show saw massive success across the globe. Minyoung Kim even added that she has been receiving requests to bring the series into a video game format. She added that “We’ve been getting an overwhelming but happy volume of requests from the organization — from the consumer product department, from the gaming group, from our other international teams.”

Notably, the executive also confirmed that the team is looking into creating a roadmap for its future ventures as well, stating that “My team’s role is to really look at all of those opportunities together, to create that roadmap for the Squid Game IP.” Additionally, Minyoung Kim believed in aiming towards increasing the viewers’ affinity towards their content by adding, ”We are looking at multiple different areas — from games, consumer product, and others — to really figure out what we can bring to our audiences to increase their affinity toward our content and give them more joy while staying true to the world that our creator has built.”

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Deal: Get $100 OFF on VIVO X70 Pro Plus 5G at Giztop (Coupon)

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Daily Deals

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Oct 14, 2021

Giztop is giving $100 OFF on the latest VIVO X70 Pro Plus 5G. The smartphone which retails for $1299 is now available at a discounted price of $1199 only by using the coupon code: VX70512100. This coupon expires on 20 October and is applicable only on the 12GB + 512GB variant.

WHERE TO BUY

VIVO X70 Pro Plus 5G at $1199 (after discount)@Giztop

VIVO X70 Pro Plus 5G

The smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ Octa-core processor and comes in three memory variants viz: 8GB + 256GB, 12GB + 256GB, 12GB + 512GB. It features a 6.78-inch 2K Samsung’s E5 AMOLED Full HD+ display and runs the Android 11 based Origin OS. The smartphone comes with a quad rear camera setup with a 50MP main camera and 8MP + 12MP + 48MP secondary cameras. It boasts a 32MP selfie camera.

VIVO X70 Pro Plus 5G is fueled by a 4500mAh battery and supports 55W fast charging, 50W wireless charging, reverse charging and reverse wireless charging. The smartphone comes in three color variants viz: Black, Blue, and Orange.

Generally retailing for $1299, you can now buy VIVO X70 Pro Plus 5G at a discounted price of $1199 by using the coupon code: VX70512100 only at Giztop. Please note that this coupon expires on 20 October. So place your order asap.

For more information on such exciting deals and offers check out our deals hub.

Hyundai to develop chips to reduce its reliance on chipmakers

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Oct 14, 2021

The Chief Operating Officer of Hyundai Motor revealed earlier this week that the company is planning on developing its own chips. This move arrives amid the global chip shortage as the company seeks to reduce its reliance on chipmakers.

For those unaware, the world is facing a shortage of semiconductors that has impacted various industries across the globe, including the automobile industry. The shortage even led to certain carmakers halting production entirely due to supply constraints. Now, the South Korean automobile maker, Hyundai, is apparently seeking to develop its own chips to cut off its dependence on chipmakers. The news comes after the company saw the “toughest months” in August and September 2021 (Via Reuters).

The company’s COO Jose Munoz stated that the worst has passed for the industry chip shortage. He further added that “But also in our case, we want to be able to develop our own chips within the group, so we are a little bit less dependent in a potential situation like this. This takes a lot of investment and time, but this is something we’re working on.”

The senior official said that the company is also aiming on delivering vehicles at the level of its original business plan in the fourth quarter of this year. Furthermore, the South Korean automobile manufacturer is also on track to produce electric cars in the US in 2022. Hyundai Motor is one among many other car brands like Tesla and Toyota that faced supply constraints amid the global semiconductor shortage.

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Tesla has a new competitor in China: the Zeekr 001 promises 700kms driving range

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Oct 14, 2021

The Zeekr 01 has been in the works for quite some time now following carmaker Geely’s entry into the jam-packed electric vehicle market in China earlier this year. But the wait is finally over as some reports suggest that the EV will officially be getting off the assembly line in the afternoon of October 16. Thus, Zeekr is set to start delivery of the 001 in late October.

The Zeekr 001 debuted at the Shanghai Auto Show and has grabbed plenty of attention thanks to its stunning design, 700km range on a full charge, air suspension, and ultra-fast acceleration. The charging is quite zippy too, providing 120km worth of power in just five minutes of charging time (via: IT Home).

The car is priced at 299,000 Yuan, around the same as the Shanghai-made Tesla Model 3’s starting price of 249,900 yuan, and is hence being touted by many as the new “Tesla-killer.”

The title makes sense considering the car offers a lot more at just a slightly higher price. The top variant of the Zeekr 001 has electric motors on both the front and rear axle, putting out a combined output of 536hp and 700Nm of torque, which can propel it from 0-100kph in just 3.8 seconds.

The car’s design is quite similar to the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo and its front-end borrows plenty of features from its cousins from Lynk & Co. But it’s the side profile that is especially commendable, looking quite streamlined and sleek. The inductive frameless doors along with their hidden handles only add to the character.

It is reported that the drag coefficient of the new car is only 0.23Cd, which surpasses BYD Han (0.233Cd) and is the lowest among domestic cars.

In terms of configuration, the new car is equipped with air suspension (optional), W-HUD ultra-wide full-color head-up display system, ECONYL environmentally friendly racing seats, seat massage, and aurora atmosphere lights.

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Windows 11 first update worsens performance of AMD CPUs

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Oct 14, 2021

Earlier this month, Microsoft had launched its highly anticipated Windows 11 OS. But soon after, AMD warned that the latest version of Windows had caused the performance of its processors to take a hit. Now, the first update of the new operating system has just gone live, however, it seems that the latest software update has further worsened this issue.

A new report from TechPowerUp found that PC systems that ran AMD Ryzen CPUs were seeing much higher latency after the first update of the new Windows went live earlier this week. Furthermore, Microsoft and AMD also found two issues with Windows 11 on Ryzen processors. This included slowing performance by up to 15 percent in certain video games along with L3 cache facing three times higher latency.

Similarly, the second issue affects Team Red’s preferred core technology that shifts threads over to the fastest core on a processor. As per the chipmaker, the second bug can potentially impact performance on CPU intensive tasks. The TechPowerUp’s report measured the L3 cache latency on a Ryzen 7 2700X at around 10ns, with Windows 11 raising this to 17ns while the October 12 Patch Update making the latency reach an even higher 31.9ns.

As of right now, patches for both of the bugs on Ryzen are set to roll out by the end of this month. However, the fact that these problems still occurring despite Microsoft severely limiting the number of processors that are eligible for the latest Windows is still surprising. Notably, the news also arrives as various Windows 10 systems are struggling to upgrade to the latest OS. As per a WccFTech report, around 55 percent of all workstations are not eligible for the new Windows, with only 44.4 percent of PCs meeting the CPU requirements while only 52.55 percent meet the TPM requirements as well.

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vivo T1x gets listed on JD ahead of official launch

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