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GC Daily: Nothing Phone (3) launch pushed back to 2025? Qualcomm’s dual sourcing strategy for 8 Gen 5

In today’s news roundup, we dive into the latest leaks of the OnePlus Ace 3 Pro’s design changes and get insights into the postponed launch of the Nothing Phone (3).

Discover what industry firsts the OnePlus Pad 2 is set to bring and Qualcomm’s potential dual-sourcing strategy for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5. Plus, learn how a recent ChatGPT outage spiked interest in Google’s Gemini AI. These stories and more await you!

Here are all the top stories from the past 24 hours.

Alleged OnePlus Ace 3 Pro schematic emerges to showcase few design changes

Alleged OnePlus Ace 3 Pro schematic emerges to showcase few design changes

A leaked schematic of the alleged OnePlus Ace 3 Pro reveals potential design updates. This teaser offers a glimpse into possible changes coming to the device, piquing curiosity about potential new features and enhancements.

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Nothing Phone (3) launch pushed back to 2025?

Nothing Phone (3) launch pushed back to 2025?

Nothing unveiled the Nothing Phone (2) in July 2023, leading to speculation that the Phone (3) will debut in the same month this year. In a video message, Nothing founder and CEO Carl Pei discussed the company’s plans for introducing AI features on its devices and hinted at the Phone (3)’s arrival.

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OnePlus Pad 2 will offer a number of industry firsts, hints OnePlus President

OnePlus Pad 2 will offer a number of industry firsts, hints OnePlus President

Li Jie, President of OnePlus China, recently talked about the upcoming OnePlus Pad 2 in his Weibo (a Chinese microblogging site) post. According to him, the Pad 2 will bring a number of industry firsts.

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Qualcomm is considering a “dual-sourcing” strategy with Samsung and TSMC for Snapdragon 8 Gen 5

Qualcomm is considering a “dual-sourcing” strategy with Samsung and TSMC for Snapdragon 8 Gen 5

Qualcomm is reportedly thinking of a “dual-sourcing production strategy” for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset. The two companies will be Samsung Electronics and TSMC. According to Businesskorea, during a media briefing held at the W Hotel in Taipei, Taiwan, on June 4th, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon shared the information in response to a question.

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ChatGPT Outage Forced Users to Switch to Google Gemini, with a 60% Jump in Global Searches

ChatGPT Outage Forced Users to Switch to Google Gemini, with a 60% Jump in Global Searches

A recent outage of OpenAI‘s ChatGPT chatbot triggered a surge in interest for Google’s conversational AI competitor, Gemini. Data from QR Code Generator reveals a near 60% jump in global searches for “Gemini” on June 4th, coinciding precisely with the reported downtime of ChatGPT. On average, daily searches for “Gemini” hover around 204,991, but during the ChatGPT outage, that number skyrocketed to 327,058.

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🔥 More Top Stories You Might Have Missed

Oppo Reno 12 series global launch this month, next Find X series to launch outside China

OnePlus 11R gets New Animations, May 2024 Security patch & New Touch Controls in latest update

YouTube Updates its Firearms Policy, Age-restricts Gun-related Content to Viewers 18 and Older

Honor Magic V Flip’s massive cover display offers dual-screen experience

Alleged OnePlus Ace 3 Pro schematic emerges to showcase few design changes

OnePlus is expected to unveil the OnePlus Ace 3 Pro in China soon. It may not launch before the June 18 shopping festival in the country, which suggests that it may either debut by the end of this month or in early July. There have been multiple reports that the Ace 3 Pro would have arrived with a revised rear design. Today, tipster Digital Chat Station released a schematic of an engineering prototype of an upcoming smartphone. While he did not mention the device’s name, it is quite evident that he may have revealed the OnePlus Ace 3 Pro’s design.

OnePlus Ace 3 Pro design

OnePlus Ace 3 Pro schematic by DCS
OnePlus Ace 3 Pro schematic by DCS

The alleged OnePlus Ace 3 Pro shown in the above schematic has a similar design to the OnePlus Ace 3. The device will have a curved edge screen on the front, while the back panel will have a round camera module. A pill-shaped LED flash will be available at the left corner of the camera module. The left edge of the device will have an alert slider, while the right will have a volume rocker and a power button.

The company has seemingly introduced some changes to the Ace 3 Pro’s camera module. Unlike the previous flagship models from OnePlus, the camera module of the Ace 3 Pro does not seem to fuse with the edge of the device. According to reports, the Ace 3 Pro will feature a metal middle frame and a ceramic, leather, or glass back panel. It is also said to offer IP64-rated dust and water resistance.

OnePlus Ace 3 Pro specifications (rumored)

According to reports, the OnePlus Ace 3 Pro will have a 6.78-inch OLED panel that offers a 1.5K resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, up to 4,500nits of maximum brightness, and an in-screen fingerprint scanner. Under the hood, it will have the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, up to 24 GB of LPDDR5x RAM, 1 TB of UFS 4.0 storage, and a 6,100mAh battery with 100W fast charging support.

On the front, it will have a 16-megapixel selfie camera, and its back panel will feature a 50-megapixel (main, with OIS) + 8-megapixel (ultrawide) + 2-megapixel (macro) triple camera unit. The device will run on Android 14, based on ColorOS 14.1. It may arrive with a starting price of 3,000 Yuan (~$415).

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Gaming-focused Truke BTG Ultra TWS earbuds launches with up to 60 hours battery life

Truke has introduced its latest gaming-focused TWS earbuds, the BTG Ultra, in India. It offers key features, such as 13mm audio drivers, ultra-low latency, up to 60 hours of battery life, and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity. Here is detailed information about the specifications, features, and price of the BTG Ultra.

Truke BTG Ultra specifications and features

Truke BTG Ultra – Mint Mist

The BTG Ultra features Truke’s Battle Mode, which optimizes the gaming experience with ultra-low latency of 40ms, ensuring quick response times and improved audio effects, which can be crucial for gaming. One of the key features is the RapidPower Charging Technology, which provides up to 10 hours of gameplay with just 10 minutes of charging. Its case contains a 500mAh battery, and it promises a total battery life of up to 60 hours.

In terms of audio quality, the BTG Ultra uses Truke’s 360 Spatial Audio technology, supporting SBC and AAC codecs, along with 13mm titanium drivers to ensure clear sound transmission. For communication, the earbuds feature Quad Mic PureVoice ENC Technology, which utilizes four microphones and advanced noise cancellation to improve call clarity.

Truke BTG Ultra
Truke BTG Ultra – Metal Black

Additional features of the BTG Ultra include an IPX5 rating for water and sweat resistance, 1Step instant pairing technology with Bluetooth 5.4 for quick and stable connectivity, and support for voice assistants like Siri and Google Assistant, allowing users to manage gaming sessions, check notifications, and control devices hands-free.

Truke BTG Ultra price in India, availability

The Truke BTG Ultra is now available on Amazon, Flipkart, and Truke’s official website. Starting June 5, buyers can purchase it at a special launch price of Rs 899. After this period, the BTG Ultra will be sold at its regular price of Rs 1,099 after June 7. It is available in two colors—Metal Black and Mint Mist. Lastly, it comes with a 12-month warranty.

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Nothing Phone (3) launch pushed back to 2025?

Nothing unveiled the Nothing Phone (2) in July 2023, leading to speculation that the Phone (3) will debut in the same month this year. In a video message, Nothing founder and CEO Carl Pei discussed the company’s plans for introducing AI features on its devices and hinted at the Phone (3)’s arrival.

Carl Pei reveals AI integration on Nothing Phone (3)

Nothing Phone AI-

Carl Pei shared his thoughts on the current state of artificial intelligence and its integration with consumer technology. He acknowledged the significant attention AI has garnered, noting that while some of the developments are impressive, others can be confusing.

Pei emphasized that smartphones would continue to be the primary platform for consumer AI, citing the vast user base of over 4 billion and the annual shipment of more than 1 billion smartphones as evidence of their enduring relevance. He pointed out that the way we use smartphones needs a major overhaul, as the current user experience has remained largely unchanged for over a decade.

He envisions a future where smartphones offer a highly personalized, dynamic, and cross-device interface that fosters a more human connection with technology, making interactions feel more natural and intuitive.

Pei said that for the past two months, the Nothing team has been working on designing and prototyping AI interactions. He shared some initial concepts to illustrate their vision, with plans to introduce these innovations gradually, starting with the Phone (3) next year. So, this seems to be a good hint that the Phone (3) won’t be launching this year.

Since its launch, Nothing has focused on building comprehensive capabilities and has successfully established itself as a notable player in the smartphone industry, being the only company to do so in the past decade. Pei highlighted the company’s commitment to a creative culture that prioritizes exceptional user experiences and thoughtful integration of software and hardware. With stability and solid growth plans in place, Nothing is ready to advance further and make significant contributions to the consumer AI landscape.

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(source)

Oppo Reno 12 series global launch this month, next Find X series to launch outside China

Oppo held a press event in London on Wednesday (June 5) to reveal that it will be bringing generative AI features to 50 million users across the world by the end of this year. According to GSMArena, the company shed information on the global launch of the Reno 12 series and the next-generation Find X-series of smartphones.

Reno 12 series global launch in June

Reno 12 series teaser for the global market

The report states that the Reno 12 series of smartphones will debut later this month (June) in the global market. Last month (May), the Reno 12 and 12 Pro debuted in China with the Dimensity 8250 and Dimensity 9200+ chipsets. It is unclear whether the same phones will be released in global markets.

The company showcased the teaser image above during the event. While the company did not reveal anything else about the Reno 12 series, the image suggests that the global market may receive a standard variant and a Pro model.

Oppo Find X series to return to global market

Oppo unveiled the Find X5 series of smartphones in February 2022. Oppo continued to launch the X6 and X7 series in China but skipped these devices for markets outside of China.

According to reports, the Find X8 with the forthcoming Dimensity 9400 chipset will debut in October of this year in China. Expected to feature the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, the Find X8 Ultra could potentially launch in Q1 2025. Now that the brand has confirmed that the Find X series will return to the global market, it remains to be seen whether both the X8 and X8 Ultra will be available internationally.

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New Lenovo Laptops Pass EEC Certification, Reveals Info about Upcoming Models and Intel Processors

Lenovo has a fresh batch of laptops on the horizon, revealed by Eurasian Economic Union (EEC) certification listings. These listings offer some insights into upcoming Intel processors and Lenovo’s naming conventions.

Lunar Lake and Arrow Lake are two Intel codenames that specifically stand out

Two new Intel codenames emerge: Lunar Lake and Arrow Lake. The Yoga Slim 7 15ILL9, a 15.3-inch consumer laptop expected this year, will be the first to sport the Lunar Lake processor. Look out for the Yoga Pro 7 14IAH10, a 14-inch consumer laptop launching in 2025 (successor to the YOGA Pro14s), powered by the Arrow Lake processor.

Certification Information

The IdeaPad Slim lineup gets an update with various models in 14″, 15.3″, and 16″ screen sizes. The Gen 9 version with a 15.3″ display is expected this year, likely packing the current Intel Raptor Lake (13th Gen) processor or its refresh. The 14″ and 16″ versions belong to the upcoming Gen 10 lineup expected in 2025.

Another wave of IdeaPad Slim laptops arrives under the IdeaPad Slim 3 moniker. Similar to the Slim 5, these will come in 14″, 15.3″, and 16″ displays but are slated for a 2025 launch, featuring the Raptor Lake or its refresh processor.

(Via)

Kawasaki’s Teryx KRX Blackout Edition UTV is the Perfect Night Riding Companion

Forget building your own night-time off-road UTV, Kawasaki‘s got you covered with the all-new Teryx KRX Blackout edition. This beast is designed specifically for nighttime adventures, featuring a menacing blacked-out exterior and interior to blend into the darkness. But it’s not just about looks – the Blackout comes loaded with upgrades for conquering those trails after dark.

The UTV has a huge LED light bar on the roof with various lighting modes

The package includes a massive 38-inch LED light bar on the roof with various lighting modes, including a special Kawasaki green glow. Three additional 8-inch K-Glow light bars are scattered across the vehicle for extra illumination.

Kawasaki didn’t forget the fun factor either. The Blackout boasts a roof and a thumping sound system with speakers and a subwoofer for your off-road jams. For added protection and utility, the Blackout gets steel bumpers front and rear, along with a powerful 4,500-pound Warn winch to help you pull through tough situations.

Under the hood, the Blackout packs the same powerful 999cc engine and long-travel suspension as the standard Teryx KRX, ensuring a thrilling ride over any terrain.

At $24,799, the Kawasaki Teryx KRX Blackout seems like a well-equipped package for those who crave nighttime off-road adventures without the hassle of building their own customized rig.

(Via)

YouTube Updates its Firearms Policy, Age-restricts Gun-related Content to Viewers 18 and Older

YouTube has quietly updated its firearms policy to restrict certain gun-related content. Here’s the gist: Starting June 18th, videos featuring homemade or automatic firearms, along with certain firearm accessories, will be age-restricted to viewers 18 and older. Tutorials on removing safety devices from firearms are completely banned, regardless of age.

The prohibitions apply only to real-world firearms, not games or movies

According to YouTube, these changes aim to adapt their policies to the evolving online landscape. The increased availability of 3D printing, for example, prompted them to expand restrictions on homemade firearm content.

YouTube Ad Blocker Detection Scripts

It’s important to note that these prohibitions only apply to real-world firearms, not video games, movies, or other artistic content. Exceptions may also be made for educational content deemed to be in the public interest, such as military training footage, news reports, or warzone videos.

This update comes after a watchdog group, the Tech Transparency Project (TTP), raised concerns last year about YouTube’s algorithm recommending violent gun-related content, including weapon modification tutorials, to underage users. Their investigation involved creating child accounts and monitoring their recommendations after watching popular video game videos.

The TTP applauds the update but emphasizes the importance of robust enforcement. While they view it as a step in the right direction, they question the delay and highlight the need for strong content moderation to ensure these new policies effectively protect younger viewers from potentially harmful gun-related content.

(Via)

Honor Magic V Flip’s massive cover display offers dual-screen experience

On June 13, Honor will unveil the Magic V Flip in China. Ahead of the launch, the brand is busy revealing key details about the device. The company recently took to its Weibo account to release a teaser video to highlight new features of the Honor Magic V Flip’s cover screen.

Honor Magic V Flip’s cover display officially teased

The video showcases the Magic V Flip’s external screen, touted as the “largest in the industry,” which allows users to directly open commonly used applications without unfolding the device. These apps include maps, short videos, social communications, and food delivery services.

What’s particularly interesting about the display is that around 35 percent of the external screen functions independently to display items such as time and notifications, as shown in the images below. The remaining portion seemingly allows users to run apps in an aspect ratio similar to the main display.

Honor Magic V Flip's covrer screen offers dual-screen experience
`Honor Magic V Flip’s cover screen offers a dual-screen experience

To recall, the Find N3 Flip, which debuted last year, featured a 22:9 aspect ratio display on the inside, while its cover screen offered a 17:9 aspect ratio. The outer screen could mimic the taller aspect ratio of the internal screen. This facilitated a smoother transition between the two screens, allowing apps optimized for the internal screen’s aspect ratio to function comfortably on the cover screen. However, while the Find N3 Flip offered a cover screen with a high aspect ratio, the area under the camera module remained unutilized.

Oppo Find N3 Flip
Oppo Find N3 Flip

The Magic V Flip offers a dual-screen experience on its cover display, making it the best implementation of the cover screen compared to other flip-style foldable phones with large cover displays. Since it allows users to do many things on the outer screen, it reduces the need to open and use the main screen unless really required, such as for more complex tasks or larger viewing areas.

On the specs front, the Magic V Flip is expected to arrive with 12 GB of RAM, 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB storage options, a 4,800mAh battery with 66W fast charging, and a 50-megapixel main camera with OIS support. It will be sold in black, white, and pink shades. There will be a limited-edition variant offering 16 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage.

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Solar launches Eclipse Race Edition lightweight electric motorcycle at an affordable price

Solar Scooters has unveiled the lightweight and affordable Solar Eclipse Race Edition electric motorcycle. The Solar Eclipse Race Edition is the brand’s most powerful electric motorcycle to date. It comes with a 13,000W peak power output and a top speed of 65mph. it delivers up to 70 miles of range on a single full charge.

Solar Eclipse Race Edition

The Solar Eclipse Race Edition electric motorcycle comes with an affordable price tag in comparison to other models. The electric motorcycle is seen as a market disrupter, given its performance specs and affordability. It is coming at a time when manufacturers continue to evolve new form factors of electric motorbikes.

The electric motorcycle as designed by Solar Scooters is lightweight and is primarily an e-motorcycle that is suitable for use on urban roads.

Solar Eclipse Race Edition

The Eclipse Race Edition e-motorcycle is equipped with an LG 45Ah battery, a 45A output controller, and a 13000W peak output motor. The bike’s frame chassis and swingarm are made from carbon fiber which underscores its lightweight credentials.

Although it is a lightweight motorcycle, the Eclipse Race Edition is durable and rigid. Interested customers may order the bike with wheel and tire configurations to suit their riding requirements. The options are supermoto, endure, and street riding. The bike features turn signals, mirrors, and a plate bracket, and riders will need to get a motorcycle license and insurance.

Eclipse Race Edition

Pricing & Availability

The Solar Eclipse Race Edition motorcycle starts at $6,795 and more details about the release can be viewed on the Solar official website.

Colorful Colorfire MEOW gaming laptop with Ryzen 7 SoC unveiled for the global market

Colorful‘s Colorfire MEOW gaming laptop is making its international debut after being launched in China last February. The model comes with AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS SoC and up to RTX 4060 graphics card. Colorful Colorfire showcased the MEOW R15 and MEOW R16 models at Computex 2024.

Colorfire MEOW gaming laptop

Features

The MEOW R15 has a 15.6-inch IPS display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels and a 165Hz refresh rate. The MEOW R16 comes with a 16-inch IPS display with a 240Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels. Both models have 100% sRGB color space coverage. The new MEOW R15/ R16 gaming laptops have subtle shades of orange and are cat-themed.

Colorfire MEOW gaming laptop

The MEOW gaming laptops launched for the international market do not feature the Ryzen 7 7735H processor featured in the China variant. It is seen that the Ryzen 7 7735H is a Chinese-exclusive CPU while the more powerful Ryzen 7 8845HS is suited for the international market. It is a premium processor from the Hawk Point family and it can be paired with up to RTX 4070 running at 140W TGP.

The performance of the gaming laptops therefore matches with even processor-intensive games for a seamless performance. They offer a stable performance even under heavy loads. The models have an efficient cooling architecture with a 6-heatpipe setup and dual turbo fans. You can also tune the performance to suit individual needs using a software application. The company has not provided availability and pricing information yet for the laptops.

(source)

OnePlus Pad 2 will offer a number of industry firsts, hints OnePlus President

Li Jie, President of OnePlus China, recently talked about the upcoming OnePlus Pad 2 in his Weibo (a Chinese microblogging site) post. According to him, the Pad 2 will bring a number of industry firsts. “I was in a meeting with IoT partners. They have created many unique products in many industries,” he wrote. However, he didn’t reveal much about the product himself.

According to a recent rumor, the Pad 2 will come with four storage configurations 8GB+128GB, 8GB+256GB, 12GB+256GB, and 16GB+512GB, and two color options: space gray and fresh khaki green. According to the leak, it could be released as soon as this month.

The device weighs 585 grams, which is slightly heavier as compared to the 552g OnePlus Pad, which was released in April last year.

The OnePlus Pad 2 has already surfaced on Geekbench with model “OP2404” confirming that it will house the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 flagship chipset. This device will surely have an edge in performance compared to its competitors. As the president hinted, the device could come with certain software features that take advantage of the raw power. In comparison, last year’s OnePlus Pad packed the 4nm Dimensity 9000, a flagship chipset that was released towards the end of 2021.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset comes with a Cortex-X4 core clocked at 3.3GHz, 5 x Cortex A720 cores (3 clocked at 3.2GHz, and 2 clocked at 3.0 GHz), and 2 x power efficient Cortex A-520 cores clocked at 2.3GHz. It packs the Adreno 750 GPU. The silicon achieves over 2000 and 7000 points in single and multi-core tests in Geekbench respectively, which is slightly below the Dimensity 9300.

On the outside you will likely see a 12.1″ 3K (3000 x 2120) LCD display that has a pixel density of 304PPI and reaches a peak brightness of 900 nits. The device is reported to boast a 9510mAh battery paired with 67W charging support, which is the exact same as the predecessor. Since the SD 8 Gen 3 is more powerful than the Dimensity 9000 and still based on a 4nm process, it will be interesting to see how the Pad 2’s battery life compares to its predecessor while it introduces some industry firsts.

COLORFUL debuts EPOCH 14 AI laptop with Intel 13th Gen Core i9 CPU, RTX 4070 & 14″ QHD 165Hz display

At Computex 2024, COLORFUL has released the EPOCH 14 AI laptop, aimed at professionals and content creators who need a powerful yet portable device. This new laptop is lightweight, weighing only 1.5 kilograms, and has a slim profile of 17.9mm. Its durable all-metal body and CNC-machined aluminum unibody give it a sleek, professional look.

The EPOCH 14 features a 14-inch QHD display with a 165Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 2560 x 1600. It fully covers the DCI-P3 color range and offers a brightness of 500 nits.

The laptop is powered by the latest 13th Gen Intel Core i9 processors and includes an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU. It supports up to 32GB of DDR5 RAM and has 1TB of PCIe Gen 4 storage, allowing for efficient multitasking and storage of large files.

It includes a tempered glass touchpad, an LED-backlit keyboard, and multiple connectivity options such as HDMI 2.1, USB-C, and USB A Gen 3.2 ports. It also supports Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2, ensuring fast and reliable wireless connectivity.

Additional features include a 1MP HD video camera, stereo speakers, a 58Whr battery with a 150W charger, and it operates on Windows 11. COLORFUL plans to introduce an OLED screen option and is developing its own AI software to further improve this laptop’s capabilities.

Pricing & availability

Starting at USD 1359, the EPOCH 14 is available in two colors: Deep Ocean Blue and Silvery White.

Garmin Forerunner 165 smartwatch with built-in GPS launched for runners in India

Garmin has released the Forerunner 165 smartwatch in India to coincide with Global Running Day. This new GPS smartwatch is tailored for professional runners and sports enthusiasts. It features a clear 1.2-inch AMOLED screen, a lightweight frame, and is available in a range of colors.

Garmin Forerunner 165

The Forerunner 165 allows users to download music directly from Spotify or Amazon Music, enabling them to listen without a phone by connecting wireless headphones. This feature is particularly useful for runners who prefer to train without carrying extra gadgets.

The smartwatch includes built-in GPS for precise tracking of distance and pace, and a heart rate monitor on the wrist. It offers adaptive training plans that adjust to users’ fitness levels and goals, which can be managed and customized through the Garmin Connect app.

For health tracking, the device measures blood oxygen levels, monitors sleep, and tracks other health indicators. It supports more than 25 activity profiles, making it useful for a variety of sports including running, swimming, and tennis.

The Forerunner 165 also provides a daily Morning Report, which gives users an overview of their sleep quality, upcoming training, heart rate variability, and the day’s weather.

With a battery life of up to 11 days in smartwatch mode and 19 hours with GPS use, the watch is designed to last through extended training sessions without frequent recharges.

Pricing & availabiliy

The Forerunner 165 Series is priced at Rs. 33,490 and comes with a two-year warranty. Available in colors such as Turquoise/Aqua, Black/Slate Grey, Mist Grey/Whitestone, and Berry/Lilac, it can be found at select premium brand stores.

Qualcomm is considering a “dual-sourcing” strategy with Samsung and TSMC for Snapdragon 8 Gen 5

Qualcomm is reportedly thinking of a “dual-sourcing production strategy” for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset. The two companies will be Samsung Electronics and TSMC. According to Businesskorea, during a media briefing held at the W Hotel in Taipei, Taiwan, on June 4th, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon shared the information in response to a question.

Qualcomm is considering a dual-sourcing strategy important for its business

The question was about the risk of relying solely on a single manufacturer for all of its chips. He responded that he is thinking of partnering with Samsung alongside TSMC for its chip fabrication. Notably, the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 will be manufactured entirely by TSMC. However, changes is the strategy may take place starting with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5. “The current focus must be on the foundry production at TSMC,” he confirmed.

Reportedly, the possibility of a dual-sourcing strategy for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 has been a recurring topic recently. On top of that, Qualcomm internally appreciates Samsung’s 2nm SF2 process. The node is expected to offer significant improvements in both performance and power efficiency.

Previous collaboration with Samsung Foundry wasn’t successful

Qualcomm has already tried collaborating with Samsung for its chip fabrication (the Snapdragon 888 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1). However, both the chips failed to meet everyone’s expectations regarding a stable performance. Due to the overheating issues with the two chips, Qualcomm had to move back to TSMC starting with the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, which was adopted by the Galaxy Z Fold 4. The refreshed version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 with TSMC’s 4nm process node showed significant improvement when it comes to power efficiency and sustained performance.

On the other hand, Samsung has managed to significantly improve the power efficiency of its last two generations of Exynos chips (Exynos 220 and Exynos 2400) that are also fabricated by Samsung Foundry. The Exynos 2400 version of the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus does not show a performance gap nearly as wide as it used to be a couple of years ago. That being said, we will have to wait to see how successful Samsung will be with its 3nm process, and more importantly, with the 2nm and smaller nodes that might be used to fabricate future Snapdragon chips.

Lastly, the CEO mentioned the dual-sourcing strategy but did not reveal how they plan to implement it. Samsung offers different chipsets in its flagships based on regions. Will Qualcomm’s dual-sourcing strategy be similar? Well, the only thing that’s clear at this point is that Qualcomm is considering the new partnership with Samsung as a backup and keeps the focus on the collaboration with TSMC. We will share more information as they become available.

(Source)

Redmi 13 5G & POCO M6 Plus 5G spotted on Google Play Certificate

Redmi 13 5G was introduced in China under the name Redmi Note 13R and is now expected to be introduced in India. We are eagerly wondering how the Redmi 13 5G, which is similar to the previous generation Redmi 12 5G, will be greeted by users. Two different “breeze” codenamed devices expected to be introduced in India have been spotted: Redmi 13 5G & POCO M6 Plus 5G. Both smartphones will have similar features and may come with slight differences in camera. Now that the devices are showing up on the Google Play Certificate, there is a good chance that they will be unveiled soon.

Redmi 13 5G & POCO M6 Plus 5G Google Play Certificate

In the Google Play certificate, devices with 2 different model numbers were detected: 24066PC95I and 2406ERN9CI. The first one belongs to POCO M6 Plus 5G and the second one to Redmi 13 5G. We are eagerly waiting to see how the models that will be supported by Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 will perform.

Although the launch date of the smartphones is not yet known, they are expected to be unveiled soon. Between the 2 devices, there will be differences only at the camera level, which we have already mentioned in a previous article. With the unveiling of the Redmi 13 today, the Redmi 13 5G may be introduced soon.

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OnePlus 11R gets New Animations, May 2024 Security patch & New Touch Controls in latest update

OnePlus has recently been pushing out a major update to its devices with many changes and improvements to the operating system and UI. This new update called the OxygenOS 14.0.0.800 is now being pushed for Indian users of the OnePlus 11R. You can find the list of changes below.

OnePlus 11R

OnePlus 11R OxygenOS 14.0.0.800 update changelog

New smooth animations

  • Adds wallpaper zoom and seamless icon transitions during app launch and exit for a smoother visual experience.
  • Adds a bounce animation effect when sliding to the bottom of the notification drawer and optimizes the layer effects of Quick Setting icons and widgets, bringing a more natural and delicate visual effect.
  • Optimizes the transition animations for Home screen icons and widgets and adds wallpaper zoom animations upon device unlock.
  • Adds wallpaper zoom animations and gradual brightness transitions when the screen is turned on or off.
  • Optimizes the background colors and Gaussian blur effects in Quick Settings, Notification drawer, Home screen drawer, and Global Search.
  • Optimizes the transition animation when the Lock screen clock and buttons disappear upon device unlock.
  • Optimizes animations when entering and exiting Global Search, ensuring a smoother and more consistent visual experience.

New touch control experience

  • Adds a transition animation when swiping in from one side of the screen to exit an app before it starts up.
  • Adds a transition animation when swiping in from one side of the screen to go back to the previous page before a new page is opened.
  • Adds a transition animation when swiping inward from a side of the screen or swiping up to exit an app in landscape mode.
  • You can now tap the lower right corner of a large folder to view more apps.
  • You can now pull down app icons in large folders and then open an app in just one move.
  • Improves touch control responsiveness. Tapping and swiping on the Home screen and Recent tasks screen is now faster and more stable.
  • Increases touch responsiveness for app usage scenarios, for example, when opening and closing apps, entering and exiting recent tasks, or swiping on the gesture guide bar to switch between apps.
  • Optimizes animations when using large folders. Dragging apps on the Home screen is now smoother.

System

  • Adds a horizontal layout for the Lock screen clock.
  • You can now adjust the volume in Quick Settings.
  • You can now choose not to show the track when drawing the Lock screen pattern to unlock your device.
  • You can now use fingerprint unlock without waking up the screen.
  • You can now create photo collages without frames in Photos.
  • Adds a “Partial screenshot” option in the Smart Sidebar.
  • You can now press and hold the Volume Down button to turn the flashlight on when the screen is off.
  • You can now try out the “app-specific volume” feature to adjust the volume for individual apps based on your needs.
  • You can now adjust the size of a floating window by dragging its bottom and swipe up to close a mini window.
  • Improves the volume bar’s design for ease of use and visual consistency.
  • Integrates the May 2024 Android security patch to enhance system security.

The update is initially being rolled out to a select number of devices in India, with a wider release anticipated soon. If you haven’t received the OTA update notification on your device, you can manually check for it by going to Settings > About Device > OxygenOS and tapping on Check for Update.

ChatGPT Outage Forced Users to Switch to Google Gemini, with a 60% Jump in Global Searches

A recent outage of OpenAI‘s ChatGPT chatbot triggered a surge in interest for Google’s conversational AI competitor, Gemini. Data from QR Code Generator reveals a near 60% jump in global searches for “Gemini” on June 4th, coinciding precisely with the reported downtime of ChatGPT. On average, daily searches for “Gemini” hover around 204,991, but during the ChatGPT outage, that number skyrocketed to 327,058. This suggests that users actively sought alternatives when their go-to chatbot became unavailable.

The ChatGPT outage began around 8:00 AM London time on June 4th

Interestingly, the rise in Gemini searches mirrored the rise in searches for “ChatGPT down” during the same timeframe, highlighting a clear correlation. Reports from DownDetector indicate that the ChatGPT outage began around 8:00 AM London time on June 4th.

While Gemini emerged as the most popular alternative, other searches like “Microsoft Copilot” and “ChatGPT Alternative” also saw a rise. Daily searches for “Microsoft Copilot” typically average around 11,090, but on June 4th, that number jumped to 16,677, a 50% increase. Similarly, searches for “ChatGPT Alternative” spiked to 11,000 within the first few hours of the outage, compared to a typical daily average of 898. However, it’s important to note that these alternative searches pale in comparison to the surge in Gemini interest.

Marc Porcar, CEO of QR Code Generator, sees this as a validation of Google’s efforts to position itself as a major player in generative AI. “The clear parallel trend between the ChatGPT outage and the surge in Gemini searches suggests that people see Gemini as an obvious alternative,” commented Porcar. He further emphasizes that in the absence of ChatGPT, users readily turned to Gemini, signifying its potential as a strong competitor.

FILE PHOTO: OpenAI and ChatGPT logos are seen in this illustration taken, February 3, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

It’s worth mentioning that OpenAI’s ChatGPT boasts around 180 million active users worldwide, solidifying its position as a leader in generative AI chatbots. Google’s Gemini, launched in late 2023 as the successor to LaMDA and PaLM 2, entered the scene with claims from Google’s parent company, Alphabet, that its “Gemini Ultra” outperformed OpenAI’s GPT-V4 in various text and multimodal functionalities. The recent outage of ChatGPT provided Gemini with an unexpected opportunity to gain traction among users seeking alternatives, and it will be interesting to see if this translates into sustained growth for Google’s conversational AI offering.

(Via)

Case Manufacturer Fractal Design Announces First Gaming Chair, Wireless Headset & Two New PC Cases

Popular PC Case manufacturer Fractal Design has announced a wave of new products, including their first gaming chair, wireless gaming headset, and two new PC cases. The company is exploring new avenues, let’s check out what features these products have to offer.

The Gaming chair is inspired by Nordic Furniture Design

The centerpiece of the announcement is the Refine gaming chair, inspired by Nordic furniture design with clean lines and a minimalist aesthetic. The chair boasts extensive adjustability for the headrest, seat, lumbar support, and armrests, and reclines to various positions for maximum comfort. The Refine comes in two material options: mesh and fiber for $549.99 (around 3,984 Yuan) or Alcantara for $899.99 (around 6,519 Yuan), and will be available later this year.

Fractal Design also unveiled the Scape wireless gaming headset, which utilizes Bluetooth 5.3 for a reliable connection. The headset allows for unique customization of its sound profile through the Adjust Pro website and features ambient lighting effects for a touch of personality. The Scape is priced at $199.99 (around RMB 1,449) and is expected to hit shelves later this year.

Scape Gaming Headset

For PC enthusiasts, Fractal Design introduced two new cases: the Mood mid-tower case and the Era 2 small form factor (SFF) case. The Mood features a unique column design with ample space for most graphics cards and comes equipped with a 180mm top fan for improved cooling. The Mood will be available on June 18th for $149.99 (around RMB 1,086).

Era 2 case interior

The Era 2 SFF case is designed for smaller builds but offers surprising power. It supports graphics cards up to 326mm and can even accommodate a water cooling radiator. The Era 2 is expected to launch in Q3 of this year with a price tag of $199.99 (around RMB 1,449).

(Via)

Lenovo Updates the YOGA Air 14 AI Laptop Line with a New “Princess Peach” Color Option

Lenovo is adding a new “Princess Peach” color option to its YOGA Air 14 AI Yuanqi laptop, endorsed by popular celebrity Dilraba Dilmurat. The new color is described as sweet yet elegant, offering a warm and fashionable look. This version will be officially available for purchase starting at 10:08 am on June 8th.

The laptop weighs around just 1.4kg and is only 14.9mm thin

The Lenovo YOGA Air 14 AI remains powerful on the inside, packing a Core Ultra 7 155H processor, 32GB of LPDDR5x-7467 memory, and a 1TB PCIe 4.0 solid-state drive. It carries a price tag of 8,499 yuan.

For portability, the YOGA Air 14 weighs just around 1.4kg and measures a mere 14.9mm thin. Its exterior boasts a beautiful “PureBright treasure craftsmanship” finish, with the existing light seashell color option drawing inspiration from the luster of ocean shells.

The star of the show might be the display. The YOGA Air 14 features a stunning 2.8K 120Hz PureSight super-sensitive OLED screen. This high-resolution display boasts 400 nits of brightness, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, Dolby Vision support, and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 certification, ensuring vibrant visuals and a premium viewing experience.

Shallow sea shell appearance

Beyond the gorgeous display, the YOGA Air 14 offers a comfortable typing experience with its 1.5mm rhythmic keyboard featuring a 0.3mm key travel and a spacious 5.6-inch anti-mistouch touchpad. The laptop is equipped with a built-in 65Wh battery and supports Windows Hello IR face recognition for added security.

For connectivity, you’ll find a selection of ports including HDMI 2.1 and two Thunderbolt 4 ports on the left side, while the right side houses a camera switch, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port.

The Lenovo Xiaotian AI agent, powered by the Tianxi big language model, is integrated into the system to provide users with natural and intelligent interaction in various work and study scenarios, offering a more personalized user experience.

(Via)