News Time

   The new  iPhone  12 series may have a secret wireless feature to charge an external device like upcoming AirPods and the long-expected Tile-like item tracker AirTags, reports claimed on Thursday. Citing a series of US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) filings first spotted by VentureBeat, the report said that the  iPhone  12 "supports a built-in inductive charging transmitter and receiver." Apple  has not officially announced any such functionality yet. "In addition to being able to be charged by a desktop WPT [wireless power transfer] charger (puck), 2020  iPhone  models … also support WPT charging function at 360 kHz to charge accessories," one of the documents read. The list includes iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. The FCC documents said that "currently the only accessory that can be charged by iPhones is an external potential  apple  accessory in future" and that reverse charging currentl...

   Registering stronger sales of mass-market models in key regions including India, Samsung sold 88 million handsets in the third quarter this year, with more than 90 percent of them being  smartphones  and nine million tablets, the company informed on Thursday. In India, it took Samsung two years to recapture the top slot in the smartphone market in the third quarter (July-September period) with 24 per cent share, as the Chinese major  Xiaomi  logged 23 per cent market share for the second spot, according to a Counterpoint Research report. Samsung said that the overall market demand increased in the third quarter as stimulus measures helped many economies recover following lockdowns during the second quarter. "The smartphone sales rose sharply from the previous quarter, with the launch of new flagship models such as the Galaxy Note20 and Galaxy Z Fold2, as well as stronger sales of mass-market models in key regions including India," the South Korean major ...

  (Reuters) - Alphabet Inc's  Google  said on Thursday it plans to launch a VPN service for consumers, which would be available with certain subscription plans for its  Google  One cloud storage services. Designed for secure internet usage, virtual private networks (VPNs) are used by individuals in countries where access to certain sites and services have been barred by governments. Google  said the VPN service will roll out in the U.S. in the coming weeks through the Google One app for Android users, with plans to expand to more countries and to iOS, Windows and Mac operating systems in the coming months. Read Complete Article

   (Reuters) - Alphabet Inc's  Google  said on Thursday it plans to launch a VPN service for consumers, which would be available with certain subscription plans for its  Google  One cloud storage services. Designed for secure internet usage, virtual private networks (VPNs) are used by individuals in countries where access to certain sites and services have been barred by governments. Google  said the VPN service will roll out in the U.S. in the coming weeks through the Google One app for Android users, with plans to expand to more countries and to iOS, Windows and Mac operating systems in the coming months. Read Complete Article

   Section 230 makes it possible for  Google  to provide access to a wide range of information -- including high-quality local journalism -- while responsibly protecting people from harm and keeping their information private,  Alphabet  and  Google  CEO  Sundar Pichai  has said. Appearing before a US Senate hearing along with Twitter CEI Jack Dorsey and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg late on Wednesday, Pichai said: "I would urge the Committee to be very thoughtful about any changes to Section 230 and to be very aware of the consequences those changes might have on businesses and customers". Section 230 states that "no provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider". Under the US law, Internet firms are typically exempt from liability for content that users post on platforms. President Donald Trump has challenged this via ex...

   Section 230 makes it possible for  Google  to provide access to a wide range of information -- including high-quality local journalism -- while responsibly protecting people from harm and keeping their information private,  Alphabet  and  Google  CEO  Sundar Pichai  has said. Appearing before a US Senate hearing along with Twitter CEI Jack Dorsey and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg late on Wednesday, Pichai said: "I would urge the Committee to be very thoughtful about any changes to Section 230 and to be very aware of the consequences those changes might have on businesses and customers". Section 230 states that "no provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider". Under the US law, Internet firms are typically exempt from liability for content that users post on platforms. President Donald Trump has challenged this via ex...

  Tablets  seem to have gained more currency in these times of pandemic, especially since strict lockdowns were imposed to control the spread of coronavirus earlier this year. Most working professionals and students have been depending on remote working and online classes, and  tablets  prove very effective for this purpose. There has been little activity in the mid-range Android  tablet market  lately, so that has left the market open for the likes of Apple and Samsung, both of which have come up with a bunch of offerings — the Apple iPad 8th generation and  Samsung  Galaxy  Tab S6 Lite  (review)  for example. For those looking for the latest tab and do not wish to pay too much, Samsung's Galaxy Tab A7 seems a decent proposition. Starting at Rs 17,999, the tablet comes with a 10.40-inch touchscreen display and offers a long battery life. Let's find out in this review if the Galaxy Tab A7 makes for a good second screen for online cl...

    The newly-launched  iPhone  12 and 12 Pro for which pre-orders were thrown open in India on October 23 have done tremendously well at  Apple  Authorised resellers who have received record pre-orders riding on cool, exciting offers. Trade sources told IANS on Wednesday that the pre-orders for the new iPhones this time are super high and the authorised sellers are set to hand over the new  iPhone  12 and  iPhone  12 Pro on October 30 to those who pre-booked it in the country. iPhone 12 in 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB models in blue, green, black, white, and (PRODUCT) RED -- starting at Rs 79,900 -- will be available for Rs 73,900 with HDFC Bank's cash back offer for the 64GB version. iPhone 12 Pro in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB models in graphite, silver, gold, and pacific blue -- starting at Rs 1,19,900 -- will be available for Rs 1,14,900 with HDFC Bank's cash back offer for the 128GB version. Once you opt for the trade-in and take the EMI rou...

   Microsoft  CEO is delighted by early reviews and excitement for the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X, which will be the most affordable and the most powerful consoles available next month. "Our Xbox Game Pass service has more than 15 million subscribers," Nadella said during the company's fiscal Q1 earnings call on Tuesday. "Quality differentiated content is the flywheel behind the service's growth, and the addition of EA Play next month, along with our pending acquisition of ZeniMax Media, will add more of the world's most iconic franchises to the more than 100 high-quality games already available and materially increases our ability to increase content," he elaborated. Microsoft  beefed up Game Pass this year by adding plenty more titles for players to enjoy. The company announced that EA Play would be added to Game Pass Ultimate in the coming months, bringing popular franchises like FIFA and Battlefield to the platform at no extra cost. EA Play will...

    Home-grown audio and gaming accessory company  Zebronics  recently launched its new soundbar, the Zeb-Juke Bar 9700 Pro, with Dolby Atmos support. Boasting a total sound output of 450W, the soundbar is competitively priced in the sub-Rs 20,000 category. But does the soundbar fare well enough on audio parameters to make for a sweet deal? We reviewed the device to see if it meets the expectations. Here’s what we found: Design and connectivity The Zeb-Juke Bar 9700 Pro has a sleek profile that goes well with most home décor types. The metal grilles covering the front and top add to the appeal of the soundbar. At the top, there are buttons for power, volume controls and input options. There is an LED display beneath the front grille to show basic information. However, the display looks a bit awkward. The Zeb-Juke Bar 9700 Pro features multiple connectivity options, such as USB, HDMI, AUX, optical and Bluetooth. The good thing here is that you get cables for that – so...

   As you drive down the road leading to Jodrell Bank Observatory, a sign asks visitors to turn off their mobile phones, stating that the Lovell telescope is so powerful it could detect a phone signal on Mars. Radio telescopes are designed to be incredibly sensitive. To quote the legendary astronomer  Carl Sagan , “The total amount of energy from outside the solar system ever received by all the radio telescopes on the planet Earth is less than the energy of a single snowflake striking the ground.” The total energy now is probably a few snowflakes’ worth, but nevertheless it is still true that astronomical radio signals are typically magnitudes smaller than artificial ones. If Jodrell Bank could pick up interference from a phone signal on Mars, how would it fare with an entire  4G network  on the  Moon? That is the issue that is worrying astronomers like me, now that  Nokia of America  has been awarded US$14.1m (£10.8m) for the development of the ...

   Smartphones  once again led the most sought-after shopping category with capturing 47 per cent of total festive sales in the seven day period (October 15-21), driven by new launches and affordable models. According to Bengaluru-based market research firm RedSeer,  smartphones  worth Rs 1.5 crore were sold every minute across online platforms in the first week of festive sales -- enabled by value selection, affordability schemes and fast delivery. "In many aspects this is indeed a #festivaloffirsts for Indian eCommerce which will build a strong foundation for its future growth," said Mrigank Gutgutia, Director at RedSeer Consulting. Fashion, while not as big a sales contributor as last year, showed resilience to reach 14 per cent of the festive days sales, despite the demand for formal and festive wear still being low. "Long tail categories including home and home furnishings have done better due to high demand for work-from-home and study-from-home infrastruc...

   Windows 10X, a modular and lightweight version of  Windows 10  designed for dual-screen and foldable devices, is expected to arrive as early as December but without support for Win32 apps. Win32 is the 32-bit application programming interface (API) for versions of Windows from 95 onwards. Microsoft  had promised that Windows 10X will be able to run Win32 applications using virtualization. However, reports have emerged that there will no support for Win32 apps and the users will be forced to use Universal Windows Platform (UWP) and Progressive Web Application (PWA) applications. Microsoft  earlier confirmed that it is aiming to refocus Windows 10X on single-screen devices like laptops first and will look for a right moment to integrate Windows 10X with dual-screen devices. The move is seen as reprioritising Windows 10X for laptops and single-screen devices because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Windows 10X will also come pre-installed with web versions of Offi...

   Smartphone brand  OPPO  has finally entered the wearable segment with a  smart watch  that aims to woo Indian consumers on Android who are looking forward to owning a good-looking smartwatch. The ' OPPO  Watch' is powered by Google WearOS and comes with premium smartwatch features such as heart-rate monitoring and advanced health tracking. The smartwatch comes in 41mm and 46mm variants, priced at Rs 14,990 and Rs 19,990, respectively. The 41mm variant has a 1.6-inch regular AMOLED display with 320x360 pixels resolution and 301ppi pixel density, whereas its 46mm counterpart offers a 1.91-inch flexible dual-curved AMOLED display with 402x476 pixels resolution and 326ppi pixel density. We used the 46mm variant (black colour) for a couple of days and here is what we think about the device. Text and icons are adequately sharp and clear and the curved display sides manage to instantly give it a distinctive look. In terms of design, the  OPPO  Wa...

   WhatsApp  is reportedly preparing to bring support for face unlock feature on  Android  devices. According to WABetainfo, a website that tracks  WhatsApp  in Beta, the feature will be very helpful specifically for Pixel 4 users as the device comes without a fingerprint sensor and only supports facial recognition. Once the feature rolls out, the "fingerprint lock" settings will be renamed to the more general "biometric lock". The settings are likely to be based on Android's BiometricPrompt API, which allows apps to use biometric unlock for authentication. Face unlocking has already been on iOS for some time now, which makes sense given the iPhone X first introduced FaceID back in 2017. Whatsapp  is also bringing a feature like Skype and Zoom where one can join the ongoing calls even if you have missed. This means when a user is busy and can't join the video or voice call can join them later when the call is still ongoing. Read Complete Article

    The malicious apps masquerading as  Adobe  Flash installer are not going to go away anytime soon as  Apple  has once again fixed six more such apps. Cyber criminals managed to pass malicious apps through the  Apple  app "notarization" process for the second time this year, reports ZDNet. The malware passed through the strict  Apple  "notarisation" process that scans an app for security issues. Once approved, Mac's in-built security screening software called "Gatekeeper" allowed the app to run. Once added to the GateKeeper whitelist, notarized apps can be opened and installed with a simple click, without any warnings or popups. "App notarization has been mandatory for all apps that want to run on Apple's newest macOS releases, like Catalina and Big Sur". The six new notarised apps posed as Flash installers. Once installed, the apps would download and install the OSX/MacOffers adware. Read Complete Article

  While PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, popularly known as PUBG, is currently banned in India and despite several attempts by the game lovers to somehow play it on their mobiles by circumventing the ban via virtual private networks (VPNs) and servers located in other countries,  PUBG  remains a distant reality for millions and the community is scouting for new games. Currently, Call of Duty: Mobile and Garena Free Fire are games that have become new favourites among the gaming community. Garena and Call of Duty are the among top three downloaded games across iOS and Android app stores. Another game 'Among Us' topped the list as  PUBG  Mobile went missing. According to the reports by Sensor Tower, the game has over 83.8 million installations, making its growth almost 40 times in September this year as compared to the same month last year. 'Among Us' is an online multiplayer social deduction game developed and published by American game studio InnerSloth....

   The Covid-19 pandemic is making companies automate their workforce faster than expected globally, while firms with operations in India are accelerating their  automation  and digitisation above the global average, a  World Economic Forum  (WEF) study showed on Wednesday. The year-long study on effects of  automation  in the workplace and the outlook for robot revolution found that the ‘future of work’ has arrived early due to Covid-19 and may lead to 85 million jobs getting displaced in the next five years in medium and large businesses across just 15 industries and 26 economies. At the same time, the robot revolution will create 97 million new jobs, but communities most at risk from disruption will need support from businesses and governments, the  World Economic Forum  said. These new jobs would mostly emerge in the care economy, in fourth industrial revolution technology industries like artificial intelligence, and in content creat...

   Social media giants  Facebook  and  Twitter  have been issued summons by a joint committee of Parliament on the issue of protection of data and its privacy, sources said on Thursday. Representatives of  Facebook  India have been asked to appear on Friday before the Joint Committee on the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019, chaired by BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi, while  Twitter  officials are required to appear before the panel on October 28, as per the notice issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat. Summoning officials of Amazon and Google on the same issue is also under active consideration of the joint committee of Parliament, the sources said. When contacted Lekhi said, "Whosoever is required, whether an individual or an entity, will be asked to depose before the panel on the issue of protection of data and its privacy and their respective social media platforms will be thoroughly examined by the panel. "It would be inappropriate and unfai...

   Apple  India Store Online on Friday started accepting pre-orders for the newly-launched  iPhone  12 and  iPhone  12 Pro with some exciting trade-in offers. The  iPhone  12 and the iPhone 12 Pro are the first devices in the 2020 line-up to go on pre-orders in India and will be available from October 30. Those who pre-book iPhone 12 can opt for either Rs 5,637 per month via the EMI route or buy the basic variant even for Rs 47,900 with trade-in. The customers can effectively get up to Rs 22,000 off with  Apple  trade-in to grab a new iPhone 12. The basic variant of iPhone 12 Pro can be pre-booked for Rs 10,110 per month on EMI or get it for Rs 85,900 with trade-in. The customers opting for trade-in can save up to Rs 34,000. The two phones can now be pre-ordered, with deliveries for both starting October 30. iPhone 12 price in India starts at Rs 79,900 for the 64GB model. Meanwhile, the price of iPhone 12 with 128GB and 256GB intern...

   Rajasthan  BJP  president Satish Poonia on Wednesday said the  Narendra Modi  government at the Centre is committed to increasing farmers' income. "Prime Minister  Narendra Modi  has assured the farmers that the minimum support price (MSP) will continue and so will the mandi system. The ownership rights in contract farming will remain with the farmer,"Poonia told reporters here. Talking about the Congress opposing the agricultural laws, he said, "The Congress party did not fulfil the promise made in its own manifesto in 2019. It is creating confusion among the farmers and acting hypocritical." He said that the Congress has no vision for the farmers and it is opposing the agricultural law as it does not want the welfare of the farmers. Read Complete Article

    There has been a rise in online frauds and blackmailing during the lockdown, police and cyber experts said here on Wednesday, as they cautioned teenagers to be careful with how they use  social media  platforms like Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. The message came during a webinar organised by the Gautam Buddh Nagar Police for children above the age of 13 years as part of the ongoing "Mission Shakti" initiative in the district that focuses on checking crimes against women. Students from 70 schools and colleges participated in the programme where they were told about various forms of online crimes, including bullying, stalking, fake accounts, sexual extortion, honey traps, by cyber security expert Rakshit Tandon, while Deputy Commissioner of Police (Women and Child Safety) Vrinda Shukla and District Cyber Cell chief Ankur Aggarwal hosted the session. "There has been an increase in online frauds during the lockdown that was enforced due to the coronavirus outbrea...

   Google  has long defended itself against charges of monopoly by stressing that its products are free and that no one has to use them. And it's avoided tough government scrutiny for years based in part on the idea that people searching the internet are not Google's true customers. We're its product. Advertisers are its real customers. That complicates the question of who, if anyone, is hurt by Google's dominance in selling ads off the world's search queries and through its array of affiliated businesses, from its Android phone software to its YouTube video platform and digital maps. The US Justice Department's new antitrust lawsuit against  Google  argues that both advertisers and regular people are harmed by the tech giant's position as the unchallenged gateway to the internet for billions of users worldwide." As a consequence, countless advertisers must pay a toll to Google's search advertising and general search text advertising monopolies,...

    The coronavirus pandemic has changed my – just like everyone else’s – perception of cleanliness and hygiene. Since the beginning of the Covid-19 lockdown in March this year, I have been scrubbing and wiping not just my home but also gadgets, clothes, and everything else that I use or come in contact with. However, after the initial zest for cleaning waned, I realized I could do with some help in everyday home cleaning. It was around this time that I learnt about the iMap 10.0 vacuum-cum-mopping machine built by Milagraow, a home-grown robot maker. The iMap 10.0 is a disc-shaped robot that looks futuristic and intriguing. Though a technology-rich machine, it is easy to use and manage. The robot not only vacuum cleans but also wet-mops the floors. It’s only a part of everyday domestic chores, the cleaning and mopping of floors is one task that consumes a lot of time and effort. With these two handled by the robot, I was at peace that I would finally have the time for other j...

   Two tech giants meet for their annual golf competition. They each tee off, and corporate pride is on the line as they head down the fairway to see which one has the advantage for their next shots. Ten open source developers then step up to the tee. They each take their shot, then race down to see which of the balls is best positioned for the drive down to the green - because that spot is where they will ALL be playing their next shot from. A collaborative approach to problem-solving is fundamental to how we innovate. While we may enjoy celebrating the lone geniuses in our history, their initial sparks of inspiration have always been adapted and improved upon to meet our need to develop agriculture, smelt iron, or build supercomputers. The digital-first world we live in today has been driven by the free exchange of ideas, collaboration, and meritocracy. And these principles have been so effective precisely because they mirror the way we have solved problems for millennia, bu...

   Chinese electronics maker  Realme  recently expanded its smart TV portfolio in India with the launch of the  Realme  Smart TV SLED 4K, a 55-inch model with a new breed of display technology (SLED) for improved viewing experience. Said to be better than conventional LED TVs, the  Realme  Smart TV SLED 4K promises enhanced contrast ratio, deep blacks, and a wide colour gamut. But is SLED a real breakthrough in display technology or just another marketing gimmick? Let’s find out: Design The Realme Smart TV SLED 4K is a well-built television for its size – it neither has thick bezels around the screen nor does it protrude too much on the back. Its slim profile makes it convenient to mount on the wall. However, it is best for a table-top set-up as ports on the back are difficult to access in a wall-mount set-up. The TV comes with a premium-looking metal-made side legs for a table-top set-up. Unfortunately, the legs fit on extreme ends and require a ...

   Chinese electronics maker  Realme  recently launched its 100W soundbar speaker system, priced at Rs 6,999. Called the  Realme  100W soundbar, it is a 2.1 channel audio system with a dedicated wired subwoofer. The soundbar features a quad-speaker set-up – two full-range  speakers  and two high-frequency tweeters, each of 15W power output. Its wired subwoofer has a 40W audio driver for low-frequency output. The soundbar features a rectangular tube-shaped design with a plastic build and a mesh covering the entire front. It does not look cheap but ordinary. Overall, the soundbar has a no-frills design with smooth curved edges. It has a light-weight build, which makes it convenient to use either as an extended audio system with television or as a standalone device. However, the soundbar’s wired subwoofer limits its standalone utility due to portability issues. Although the sound bar supports wall-mount and table-top installations, it is better suite...