China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative to propel the metaverse into mainstream prominence. A dynamic working group, comprising key industry players such as Huawei, Tencent, Ant Group, and Baidu, alongside academic experts from renowned institutions, has been established to steer the nation’s metaverse ambitions.

MIIT recently announced a robust three-year action plan aimed at fostering the metaverse’s growth. The primary objective is to nurture three to five globally influential metaverse companies by 2025, with special emphasis on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises. This forward-looking strategy positions China as a frontrunner in the rapidly evolving metaverse landscape.

The action plan underscores the pivotal role of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, cloud computing, and virtual reality in shaping the metaverse. By integrating these technologies, China seeks to not only set industry standards but also fuel innovation within the metaverse ecosystem.

In a bid to bolster metaverse development, financial support initiatives have been initiated. This includes the implementation of tax and fee cuts for industries related to the metaverse, signaling the government’s commitment to creating a conducive environment for sustained growth.

Also recognizing the global nature of the metaverse, China is actively encouraging international engagement. MIIT’s working group is poised to participate in international standard-setting activities, fostering collaboration with industry leaders on a global scale. This approach aligns with the establishment of the Metaverse Standards Forum in 2022, where Chinese tech giants like Huawei and Tencent are actively contributing.

Beyond national efforts, local governments are taking proactive steps in metaverse development. Beijing’s Tongzhou district aims to incorporate over 100 metaverse-related firms by year-end, while Shanghai plans to raise a substantial initial fund of 1 billion yuan in late 2022 through government-backed and private funds, further boosting the metaverse ecosystem.

With aspirations to lead the metaverse domain, Beijing, in collaboration with MIIT and other authorities, is set to nurture at least three metaverse companies with global influence by 2025. This comes as the metaverse gains international recognition, exemplified by Facebook’s rebranding to Meta Platforms in 2021, marking a strategic shift towards the metaverse.

China’s multifaceted approach, combining industry collaboration, technological innovation, financial support, and international engagement, positions the nation at the forefront of the global metaverse race.

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(via)

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Meta, the birthplace of Metaverse, is hitting some bumps in the road to its vision. The company plans to lay off employees from its Reality Labs division, which focuses on creating custom silicon for AR/VR devices, according to inside sources. This news comes amid concerns about Meta’s ability to develop competitive custom silicon and places question marks over its collaboration with external providers like Qualcomm.

The custom silicon unit of Meta has around 600 employees

Employees got wind of the layoffs via Meta’s internal discussion forum, Workplace, which indicated that they would be notified of their status by Wednesday morning. While a Meta spokesperson stayed mum on the issue, the move could potentially hinder CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s goal to redefine how we interact with technology through augmented and virtual reality. The custom silicon unit, known as Facebook Agile Silicon Team (FAST), employs roughly 600 people and aims to make Meta’s devices stand out in the growing AR/VR market.

The layoff news may be a sign of larger issues at Meta Platforms. The company has already cut around 21,000 jobs since last November, primarily to appease investors worried about slowed revenue growth and high operating costs. This layoff could be another cost-cutting move, especially as Reality Labs has been bleeding money. It also poses questions about Meta’s commitment to internal innovation, particularly as the company has turned to external chip maker Qualcomm for its currently marketed devices.

Despite these setbacks, Meta is not taking its foot off the pedal in its drive toward a metaverse. The company is still working on new products like less bulky AR glasses and smart watches, expected to be finalized next year, albeit not for mass consumer release initially.

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Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has recently reported its best quarter since 2021. However, the company’s ambitious dive into the metaverse has been met with substantial financial setbacks. During the second quarter of 2023, Reality Labs, the division responsible for overseeing Meta’s virtual and augmented reality projects, reported a staggering loss of $3.7 billion, with a revenue of just $276 million.

Mass Employee Layoffs may have played a major role in stabilizing Meta’s position

Despite these challenging figures, Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg remains steadfast in his commitment to the metaverse vision. During the company’s earnings call, he downplayed the significance of the losses, assuring investors that Meta will forge ahead. He expressed optimism about the upcoming launch of the Quest 3 headset at the Connect event in September, promising it to be the company’s most significant headset release since 2020. Zuckerberg attributed the rising expenses to bringing the tech to the market.

While the metaverse may be a financial drain at present, Meta’s overall performance remains quite robust. The company reported an impressive $32 billion in revenue, marking an 11 percent increase compared to the previous year. Key successes include the popularity of Reels, drawing a staggering 200 billion views daily across Facebook and Instagram. Meta’s emphasis on AI-driven recommendations has been instrumental in Reels‘ success.

Amid the metaverse challenges, Meta has launched Threads, a new application that has shown promise with early user engagement. Though analytics data indicated a slight decline, Zuckerberg remains hopeful, foreseeing Threads potentially attracting “hundreds of millions” of users in the long run.

Efficiency has been a central focus for Meta, evident in the completion of substantial layoffs since last fall, reducing the company’s workforce by over 20,000 employees. Zuckerberg’s cultural changes at Meta have streamlined operations, and he expressed satisfaction with Threads’ development led by a relatively small team.

However, when it comes to the metaverse’s profitability, Zuckerberg remains cautious. He acknowledged that it is a long-term bet and that investors may feel uncomfortable with the uncertainties. Nevertheless, he believes the metaverse aligns with the world’s future direction, and Meta is prepared to face the challenges (clearly).

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At the APEC Business Leaders’ Forum held in Beijing, Huawei’s Rotating Chairman, Hu Houkun (Ken Hu), unveiled a bold vision for the future of artificial intelligence (AI), spearheaded by ChatGPT. Mr. Hu declared that this new form of AI has officially ushered in a new era, set to rewrite personal and industrial applications.

The Arrival of a New Era: Huawei Chairman Highlights the Power of Artificial Intelligence

Anticipating exponential growth in computing demands, Mr. Hu confidently projected that general computing power would experience a remarkable tenfold increase by 2030. Furthermore, he forecasted that artificial intelligence computing power would skyrocket by an astonishing 500-fold within the same timeframe.

As part of this technological revolution, Mr. Hu further outlined his predictions for global connectivity and latency reduction. By 2030, he expects the total number of connections worldwide to reach a staggering 20 billion. Moreover, low-latency applications, with a mere 1ms delay, are predicted to become widespread, effectively reducing waiting times by a hundredfold compared to today’s standards. Such advancements aim to meet the low-latency requirements of intelligent devices, transitioning from 100ms to 1ms.

Mr. Hu also highlighted the emergence of new business forms, including the metaverse and holographic imaging. As these cutting-edge technologies take shape, bandwidth demands are anticipated to surge a hundredfold, creating unprecedented opportunities for growth.

Insights shared at the forum underscored the pivotal role of digital technology in driving human social progress. The energy sector, in particular, stands to benefit immensely. By harnessing the power of digital technology, the decarbonization process can be accelerated, paving the way for a transformed energy structure.

Traditional power plants and grids are primed for digitization, facilitated by the widespread adoption of 5G, AI, and cloud computing technologies. This digital transformation promises enhanced quality and efficiency in power generation. Furthermore, the development of solar and wind energy, among other renewable sources, can be significantly augmented by leveraging digital technology, maximizing their value.

Huawei’s vision, presented by Chairman Hu Houkun, highlights the immense potential of AI-driven technologies like ChatGPT and paves the way for a future where computing power knows no bounds. With these advancements on the horizon, the tech industry braces itself for an era of unprecedented possibilities and accelerated progress.

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Artificial intelligence is taking the internet by storm. Every day, more and more companies are integrating AI into their products and services. This is driving up demand for AI chips, which are used in the supercomputers that power AI applications. Meta, which has significant investments in AI, is developing its own AI chip to power next-generation AI applications. This chip is expected to be more powerful and efficient than current AI chips, which will allow Meta to develop even more advanced AI applications. Here are the details…

Meta Develops AI Chip to Power Next-Gen AI Applications

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is developing its own AI chip to power its next-generation AI applications. The chip, called the Meta Training and Inference Accelerator (MTIA), is designed to be more efficient and powerful than traditional AI chips.

MTIA is expected to enable Meta to develop more sophisticated AI models that can perform tasks such as natural language processing, computer vision, and machine learning. This could lead to a wide range of new AI-powered products and services, such as:

• More accurate and personalized recommendations
• Improved fraud detection and prevention
• Enhanced customer service
• New augmented and virtual reality experiences

MTIA is a significant development for Meta as it will allow the company to continue to push the boundaries of AI. The chip is expected to play a key role in Meta’s metaverse ambitions, as well as its efforts to develop new AI-powered products and services. Meta is not the only company developing its own AI chips. Other tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, and Amazon are also investing heavily in this area. The development of AI chips is a major trend in the tech industry, and it is likely to have a significant impact on the future of AI.

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Deemos Technologies has launched a new software called ChatAvatar, which utilizes generative AI to create 3D digital characters from natural language descriptions of faces. The software helps you to create a 3D model just by describing it using text.

The software is primarily designed for the gaming industry, where users can generate custom avatars using photos and multi-modal features, but can also be used by professionals to replace conventional asset libraries and reduce the need for extensive searches through existing options. ChatAvatar offers pre-made material options that can be easily adjusted, making 3D character creation more efficient and cost-effective.

Initially designed for assets involving human interaction, ChatAvatar will eventually be able to generate any 3D asset based on user requirements, making virtual world creation more accessible and affordable for gaming, film, and the metaverse industries.

However, there are several issues that must be addressed before the technology can be widely adopted, such as hardware development for high-precision 3D image creation, development costs, and ethical issues.

Deemos Technologies:

Deemos Technologies was incubated at ShanghaiTech University and received funding from Sequoia China Seed Fund and Miracle Plus in 2022. With seven years of facial data from the Plenoptic Stage, a micron-scale face scanning system, Deemos can generate precision-driven assets within one day and parallel processes up to ten at a time. 

The company aims to build an identity system of Metaverse from the underlying tech, by means of high-res 3D avatar generation, stylization, and intelligent interaction. It plans to create “game-ready” assets across all categories, including human faces, and take digital humanization to the next level.

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(via)

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WhatsApp has begun rolling out 3D Avatar feature for its users worldwide. These avatars can be used as profile photos or custom stickers, and were first introduced on Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger several months ago. The news follows months of beta testing, which was reported by WhatsApp beta tracker WABetaInfo in June. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the rollout on his Facebook page.

You can now make a 3D Avatar in WhatsApp and customize it

In a blog post, WhatsApp said that users can use personalized avatars as their profile photo or choose from one of 36 custom stickers that reflect different emotions and actions. 3D Avatar stickers on WhatsApp look similar to Snap’s Bitmoji or Apple’s Memoji stickers. “Your avatar is a digital version of you that can be created from billions of combinations of diverse hair styles, facial features, and outfits,” the company speaker said.

The feature will be accessible through the Settings menu, and users will also be able to customize their avatar with different lighting, shading, and hair styles. WhatsApp is following in the footsteps of Facebook and Instagram, both of which introduced avatar features in 2019 and 2020, respectively. If you want to use the new 3D Avatar feature:

• Check for any pending WhatsApp updates and install them
• Open WhatsApp on your phone
• Head on over to Settings
• Tap on Avatar
• Select “Create your Avatar”
• Let your creativity loose!

In addition to being a fun way to change up their profile picture, the use of avatars can also improve privacy. Since most people can easily recognize someone from a photo, using a 3D Avatar model of the person instead makes it much less likely that they will be identified. This can be especially useful for those who want to maintain a certain level of anonymity on the platform.

WhatsApp has confirmed that its new avatar feature will only be accessible within the app itself. This means that users cannot use avatars created on Instagram or Facebook on WhatsApp, nor can they use avatars created on WhatsApp on Instagram or Facebook. In order to use avatars on WhatsApp, users will need to create them within the app.

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The Metaverse epidemic started by Mark Zuckerberg continues to affect the technology world. Many companies want to participate in the virtual world, which is still in the early development stage. The aim, of course, is to take a large share of the future market. According to the latest reports, technology giants such as Huawei and LG are securing metaverse hardware patents.

The global metaverse market is expected to reach $996 billion in 2030

Although Metaverse is not a successful project, for now, it is still growing at an incredible rate. The global metaverse market is expected to reach $996 billion in 2030, and the annual growth rate is 39.8%. According to Nikkei Asia’s reports, since 2016, LG Electronics has filed the most Metaverse patent applications, moving up from 11th place from 2010 to 2015.

Samsung Electronics held its position in second. Display colour schemes and semiconductors are among the strengths of South Korean companies. They are more focused on technologies that make virtual reality headsets. Meta ranked third, and Huawei placed fourth in the ranking with numerous patents related to image and display processing.

Apple is still in sixth place. The company has been working on a headset known as Reality Pro for a while. However, these glasses are still in early development and not ready for the end user. However, it is worth remembering that all of these patents are investments for the future.

Tech companies apply for more patents yearly than we can count, but only some are used. Therefore, it is useful to be careful when investing in new technologies such as Metaverse lands, coins etc. You can lose all your money trying to get rich quickly.

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(Source)

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A new report had hinted at Apple working on an interesting new project. With Meta (parent company of Facebook) aggressively pushing its Metaverse out, it appears that the iPhone maker is also working on its own version of the Metaverse.

As of right now, many are still waiting for the Cupertino based giant to announce its highly anticipated AR/VR based headset, which will be the brand’s latest line of consumer electronic products. However, its launch is only rumored and the company has yet to reveal any launch timeline for this device. Although previous rumors have hinted at the mixed reality headset launching sometime in Spring 2023. But according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the company isn’t planning on stopping with a simple new hardware release.

The new report claims that Apple has already begun working on a whole “3D mixed reality world” and is currently in the process of hiring talents for this project. In other words, the brand is launching its own alternative to the metaverse to rival Meta in the mixed reality world category. Furthermore, Gurman based the news on Apple’s latest job listings. Apparently, the company is working on its own version of the Metaverse, which will be based on both virtual reality and augmented reality.

So it would appear that the upcoming AR/VR headset launch might be the brand’s first step into this endeavor. Interestingly enough, the search engine giant, Google, is also believed to be working on a mixed reality headset as well. Meaning that all three American tech giants are entering into the new mixed reality future, which Tim Cook hinted at being “the next big thing.”

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California-based virtual reality technology giant, Meta recently revealed that its next VR headset will be announced in October, at the company’s annual Meta Connect press event conference.

The news was revealed by present Meta CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, in a special interview on Joe Rogan’s podcast (via The Verge). Mark states that for the next virtual reality device that is coming out in October, there are a few big features that will be included on the headset.

In the podcast, Mark Zuckerberg did not reveal the name of Meta’s upcoming VR headset, but reports and rumours point to the aforementioned device, being Meta’s currently in development Project Cambria, and that its official release name will be called the Meta Quest Pro (part of the Meta Quest/Oculus Quest series of VR headsets).

Mark Zuckerberg shares with listeners that Meta’s next device will introduce eye and facial to consumer VR headsets. He shares some examples of what the Meta Quest Pro can enable users to do, like making flexible and direct eye contact in virtual reality in conversations, make avatar facial expressions to emulate your real-life face expressions and the most shocking of them all, Mark explains that if you smile or if you frown or if you pout, or whatever your expression is, the upcoming headset can have that translate in real-time to your avatar.

As for other details regarding the upcoming Meta Quest Pro, we will have to wait until early October for Meta’s official launch announcement.

The Meta Quest Pro is rumoured to launch at a starting price of US$ 799 or higher, making it the most expensive virtual reality headset in Meta’s catalogue.

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Despite being out of the competitive smartphone market in some time now, HTC has just launched a new handset called the Desire 22 Pro and its gimmick is that it is built for the metaverse.

Desire 22 pro is the phone to carry you into the future.
Learn more: https://t.co/QOev17nRSQ#htc pic.twitter.com/Hrwrp5iNmw

— HTC (@htc) June 28, 2022

For those unaware, the Desire 22 Pro is the successor to the Desire 21 Pro, which is the company’s series of smartphones that are geared towards the metaverse. It is being marketed as the “perfect companion” to HTC’s newly unveiled Vive Flow VR headset. As the name suggest the headset offers users a chance to experience virtual reality, which is what the metaverse is based on. Keep in mind that the headset is compatible with any Android smartphone, but the Desire 22 Pro might offer some exclusive features or functions.

Some of these new features include access to a digital wallet to help manage cryptocurrencies and even comes with a free NFT. Talking about the specs of the device, it sports a 6.6 inch FHD+ display that has a 120Hz refresh rate and a punch hole cutout at the front for the 32 megapixel selfie shooter. Under the hood, the device is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 SoC that is paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The Desire 22 Pro packs a 4,520mAh battery that supports wireless and reverse charging as well.

On the back, it features a triple camera setup that comprises of a 64 megapixel primary sensor, a 13 megapixel ultra wide angle lens, and a 5 megapixel depth sensor. The device even comes with IP67 water and dust resistance and runs on Android 12 OS out of the box. As of right now, the smartphone is priced at 399 Pounds (roughly 490 US Dollars).

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Meta Platforms Inc has just recently entered into a partnership deal, which will be for three dimensional ads. These ads will be run on its popular social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and more.

According to a Reuters report, the new agreement is with an ecommerce technology firm. Now, the social media platforms will include integration with VNTANA that will allow various brands to upload the 3D models of their products to Facebook and Instagram and will convert to ads as well. Notably, this news arrives as the tech giant is moving towards its future with metaverse, as per VNTANA Chief Executive Ashley Crowder. In other words, we’re basically seeing integration of this level that will likely be a staple in the metaverse.

For those unaware, the metaverse is being imagined as the over collective of a number of virtual worlds that can simply be accessed through a device and a headset. As of right now, Meta has placed its focus on the building of the metaverse, which will likely take at least a decade to be realized. The company had previously partnered with augmented reality (AR) based firms like Modiface and PerfectCorp to aid beauty and cosmetic brands to run their 3D and AR advertising.

Crowder further added that “The metaverse is basically the spatial internet. It is a whole world of possibility that starts with having the right 3D models of your products.” So now, users of Facebook and Instagram can soon expect to see 3D ads while browsing on their PCs or smartphones. One would likely be able to interact with the image as well and view it from various angles as well.

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We expected last week to be slow, however, it turned out otherwise. We not only witnessed the launch of multiple smartphones but also interesting happenings. We have compiled some of them in this single article as ‘top stories’. Since everyone has a different opinion, we would like to know your top picks from last week after going through our list in the comment section below.

Honor’s first foldable smartphone is here – HONOR Magic V

After multiple leaks and teasers, Honor officially took the wraps off the HONOR Magic V and HONOR Watch GS 3 on January 10 in China. Though it is the brand’s first attempt at a foldable smartphone, the product doesn’t look like one, as it appears to have been under development while the company was still a sub-brand of Huawei.

The device’s hinge design makes it the thinnest foldable smartphone in the market right now. It has a thickness of 14.3mm and 6.7mm when folded and unfolded respectively. The inner display is folded in a tear-drop manner like the OPPO Find N to minimize crease.

Talking about specs, it has a 7.9-inch 90Hz foldable screen, 6.45-inch 120Hz external screen, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, Magic UI 6 based on Android 12, 50MP (wide) + 50MP (spectrally enhanced) + 50MP (ultra-wide) triple main cameras, dual 42MP front-facing cameras, dual stereo speakers, 4,750mAh battery, and 66W fast charging.

The HONOR Magic V is priced at ¥9,999 ($1,575) and ¥10,999 ($1,733) for 12GB + 256GB and 12GB + 256GB memory configurations respectively. Its first sale is scheduled for January 18 (tomorrow).

OnePlus 10 Pro gets a solo launch

Usually, OnePlus’ flagship smartphones are first announced in international markets. Also, both vanilla and Pro models debut together. The brand broke this tradition with the launch of the OnePlus 10 Pro in China on January 11. It was accompanied by a special edition of the OnePlus Buds Pro.

The successor of the OnePlus 9 Pro continues the partnership with Hasselblad. It arrives with a 48MP Sony IMX789 primary sensor with OIS, a 50MP Samsung ISOCELL JN1 sensor 150° ultra-wide unit, and an 8MP 3.3x telephoto shooter with OIS. Then, there’s a 32MP Sony IMX615 sensor on the front for selfies and video calls.

Unsurprisingly, it comes with high-end features like a glass sandwich design with a metal frame, 6.7-inch QHD+ 120Hz 2nd-gen LTPO AMOLED display, Qualcomm snapdragon 8 Gen 1, LPDDR5 RAM, UFS 3.1 storage, Android 12-based ColorOS 12.1 with HyperBoost for gaming, dual stereo speakers, 5,000mAh battery, 80W fast wired charging, 50W fast wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging.

The OnePlus 10 Pro retails at ¥4,699 ($740), ¥4,999 ($787), and ¥5,299 ($835) for 8GB + 128GB, 8GB + 256GB, and 12GB + 256GB memory variants respectively.

Realme 9 series debut, starting with realme 9i

The realme 9i went official in Vietnam on January 10 as the first Realme 9 series smartphone. It costs VND 6,490,000 ($286) for 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. The handset is scheduled to release in India on January 18 (tomorrow).

The phone sports features like a 6.6-inch FHD+ 90Hz display (LCD), Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 SoC, LPDDR4x RAM, UFS 2.2 storage,  50MP (wide) + 2MP (macro) + 2MP (monochrome) triple camera setup, 16MP front-facing camera, side-mounted fingerprint sensor, dual stereo speakers, realme UI 2.0 based on Android 11, 5,000mAh battery, and 33W fast charging.

Meizu re-enters budget smartphone category with mblu 10

Meizu unveiled a budget smartphone after a long time The device is officially called mblu 10. As the name suggests, it is a phone under the company’s recently revived mblu sub-brand, which is also known as Blue Charm.

The handset offers a glass sandwich design with a plastic frame,  6.62-inch HD+ display (LCD), UNISOC T310 SoC, 48MP + 2MP + 2MP triple camera setup, 8MP selfie camera, IR blaster, Flyme 9 Lite based on Android 11, 5,000mAh battery, and 10W charging.

It comes in 4GB + 64GB, 4GB + 128GB, and 6GB + 128GB versions priced at ¥699 ($110), ¥799 ($126), and ¥899 ($142) respectively.

benco V80s – A smartphone without cameras and GPS

Out of nowhere, a company called INONE Technology launched a privacy-focussed smartphone dubbed as benco V80s on January 12. This phone lacks cameras and GPS.

Going by the specs, the Benco V80s is a subpar budget smartphone. It arrives with a 6.5-inch HD+ display (LCD), UNISOC S9863C chip, rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, Android 11, and 5,000mAh battery.

The price and availability of this device are not known.

Vivo introduces smartphones with outdated chipsets – vivo Y10 and vivo Y10 (t1 version)

Vivo released two new budget smartphones in China called vivo Y10 and vivo Y10 (t1 version). These handsets are limited to 4G connectivity and house outdated chips.

Both these phones offer a near-identical set of specs and design. They also cost the same ¥1,099 ($173) for 4GB RAM and 128GB storage.

The only major difference between the two is that the vanilla model is powered by a MediaTek Helio P35 SoC, while the t1 version features a MediaTek Helio P70 SoC. Both these chipsets are around 3 years old and rarely do any brand use them now

Second Moto G tablet goes official – Motorola Moto Tab G70

Motorola debuted its second Moto G branded tablet called Motorola Moto Tab G70 in Brazil on January 13 for BRL 2,399 ($435). This tablet is essentially a rebranded Lenovo Tab P11 Plus. It is set to launch in India on January 18 (tomorrow).

The tablet sports an 11-inch 2K display, MediaTek Helio G90T chip, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, 13MP rear camera, 8MP front-facing camera, IP52-certification, quad-speakers with Dolby Atmos support, Android 11, Google Entertainment Space, Google Kids Space, 7,700mAh battery, 20W fast charging

OnePlus 9RT and Motorola Moto G71 5G launch in India

The OnePlus 9RT and Motorola Moto G71 5G finally landed in India on January 14 and January 10 respectively. The latter was also accompanied by the OnePlus Buds Z2.

1 of 2

The OnePlus 9RT comes in two memory configurations, such as 8GB + 128GB and 12GB + 256GB for ₹42,999 ($579) and ₹46,999 ($633) respectively. Customers can avail bank discounts to lower the price.

On the other hand, the Motorola Moto G71 5G is priced at ₹18,999 ($256) for the sole 6GB + 128GB variant. It will go on sale for the first time on January 19.

Tencent eyes Black Shark acquisition for Metaverse entry

Recently, all popular companies have made announcements regarding metaverse. So it’s not surprising to learn that Tencent of all names is also interested in it.

A report from last week revealed that Tencent is eyeing to acquire Black Shark, a brand known for gaming smartphones and related accessories. With this acquisition, Black Shark will produce VR hardware, while Tencent will develop software to complement the hardware.

Tencent is yet to issue an official statement on this rumor.

BlackBerry isn’t dead yet

OnwardMobility, the licensee of the BlackBerrry brand, had plans to release smartphones with 5G connectivity in 2021. Unfortunately, that never happened. Hence, the revival of the iconic brand was thought to be dead after a short stint by TCL.

However, the brand licensee recently made an announcement saying that a BlackBerry smartphone with a keyboard and 5G connectivity is coming in 2022. Anyway, we don’t have any high hopes.

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A new report has just revealed that Tencent Group is planning on buying the Black Shark brand and integrating it with its own Content Business Group. The move from the company arrives as it apparently plans to step into the Metaverse.

The news arrives from 36Kr and multiple independent sources who stated that the Chinese tech giant aims on acquiring the gaming smartphone maker. It adds that the gaming smartphone making company will also undergo a business transformation after the acquisition process is complete. In other words, Black Shark as a brand would likely see an expansion once the transaction is completed.

This diversification process will reportedly grow to include VR (Virtual Reality) based technologies and devices. So, the software content for VR will be provided by Tencent while Black Shark manufactures the hardware. For those unaware, the gaming smartphone brand is a relatively young company that was established back in 2017 and was backed by another Chinese tech giant, Xiaomi. As of right now, Xiaomi is the majority shareholder, holding around 46.4 percent stake in Black Shark. Unfortunately, Tencent has yet to official comment on this news at the moment.

Although, with tech companies moving towards the AR/VR field, especially after the introduction of the Metaverse, it was only a matter of time before the Chinese company would also make its move. Back in Q3 2021, the brand had even filed for a number of trademarks for technologies for the Metaverse. While the company has yet to confirm this news, it makes sense that the group would seek out an experienced brand that has its own facilities for R&D and manufacturing to build a platform through which its content can be accessed.

This isn’t something new either, since Facebook had previously acquired Oculus in the past to fill up the hardware gap in its plans to provide both VR content along with the devices that allows you to access the VR world. Another source added that Tencent was likely in contact with all AR/VR related projects on the market, such as HTC. But since the group is known for a number of its popular gaming titles in the market, it isn’t odd that it chose Black Shark. Both brands have also previously partnered up for the latter’s gaming smartphones as well.

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The Japanese tech giant Sony recently unveiled the PlayStation VR2 at CES 2022 and provided some of its specs along with some in-game footage showcasing its functionalities. And now, a new patent has surfaced revealing a 3D Scanner that might allow gamers to put real-world items into video games and VR spaces.

According to a report by GameRant, the patent was initially submitted to the patent office back in June of 2021, however, Sony has had to resubmit it with adjustments due to conflicts with other patents.

In a figure provided in the patent, we can observe that the upcoming tech will allow users to scan real-life objects, which can then be rendered into the virtual space. Sony has not mentioned any explicit use of the technology. Still, some possible applications can be using it in VR games to render real-life items into the game, uses in the evergrowing metaverse to generate your real-life possessions into the virtual space, and even a tool for animators and game developers which could potentially make their jobs a lot easier.

Readers should note that the patent has not been granted to sony yet therefore we might have to wait for a while before this technology is made available.

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With Facebook becoming Meta, the company also seeks to build the metaverse, which would be an “internet platform that will be more immersive.” Now, more brands are seemingly joining the virtual realm, with Nike and Dyson being the latest to join in.

Earlier this week, Nike unveiled its virtual world that is modeled after its headquarters on a popular video game called Roblox. This marks one of the first major brands joining the metaverse. The new digital space is dubbed “NIKELAND” and will let players have their avatars’ be outfitted with special Nike products. NIKELAND is currently free for anyone to visit on Roblox and even offers certain games like “Tag”, “The Floor Is Lava” and “Dodgeball” on the platform.

Similarly, Dyson a known luxury home appliance maker has also entered the metaverse with a virtual world of its own. The company has built the Dyson Demo VR, which features visualization and simulation technology that is also used by its engineer’s. This technology helps in testing, prototype, and develop new products and software for the UK based company. In the virtual platform, customers can now test the brand’s hairdryers, straighteners and stylers from their homes.

Notably, the two firms are one of the first to enter the metaverse. In other words, we can soon expect more major brands to soon follow suit and embrace VR as well. Previously, we had also reported on Microsoft announcing its Mesh, which it stated was the next step in the evolution of Microsoft Teams. So it appears we’re all moving towards a more interactive and immersive VR world soon.

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Microsoft has announced that they will be integrating Mesh, the next step in the evolution of Microsoft Teams. The Mesh will be an interactive platform for virtual experiences inside the Teams platform. This announcement comes just days after Facebook reincarnated to Meta and revealed its future vision for a metaverse.

Microsoft Mesh appears to be the next step in AR technology. Some new features revealed by Microsoft consist of a ‘Together Mode’ which is designed to create a virtual avatar of a person that will aid in better engagement during meetings. The idea was inspired after seeing so many users experience pandemic fatigue due to excess screen time.

Microsoft Teams will be equipped with new 3D avatars to facilitate a metaverse environment, which won’t require a VR headset. These avatars can represent the user, both in 2D and 3D meetings. This provides the user with the option of not turning on the webcam if he or she doesn’t want to. “It’s not binary, so a person can choose how they want to show up, whether it’s video or an avatar, and there’s a variety of customized options to choose from, as to how one wants to be presented in a meeting,” says Katie Kelly, principal product manager for Microsoft Mesh.

Additionally, according to Katie Kelly, these technologies, or should we say prototypes work better with VR or AR headsets, these features will be accessible by most of the devices. Also, because it is based on realistic experiences, the human presence such as talking, eye contact, and reactions are going to be important. This upgrade also focuses on removing language barriers by including a built-in app translation support, which will be a blessing in the post-pandemic scenario wherein companies have remote workers across the globe. The great news is that Microsoft has promised that these features are going to be accessible as soon as early 2022.

The addition of this feature will enable the corporations to model their own virtual spaces, or metaverses inside Teams. This seems to be Microsoft’s own metaverse.

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