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Sony is one brand that understands the audiophiles’ nerve and it shows in its products, including the tiny portable wireless speakers. The Japanese technology company recently expanded its audio range in India with the launch of the Sony SRS-XB13 portable wireless speaker. Successor to the Sony SRS-XB12, the Sony SRS-XB13 brings minor but relevant upgrades over the predecessor. But how does it fare in terms of price-performance ratio? Let’s find out: Design If you liked the Sony SRS-XB12, there is no reason to not like the Sony SRS-XB13 design. The speaker boasts a cylindrical body with curved grille covering the speaker on the top side for wider audio spread. It has a flat base with cutout areas right above on the lower circumference side that work as passive radiators to enhance low-end frequencies. Speaking of the circumference (sides), the front half is clean, Sony logo visible on the left side, buttons on the right side (extend...

Nothing's debut ear (1) true wireless earbuds to launch on July 27

Nothing is set to launch its first product, the ear (1), on July 27, 2021. The true wireless earbuds were earlier set to launch in June. The London-based technology startup’s founder Carl Pei recently announced on Twitter about the delay owing to some final touches before the product rollout. Nevertheless, the Nothing ear (1) finally has a launch date and it is not too far from now. Nothing said, the ear (1) are the beginning of a long and exciting journey that will eventually expand in other product categories, including smart electronics that are expected to arrive later this year. Pei, in the blog explained the reason for choosing earbuds as the first product in Nothing's portfolio. "...we believe the earphones market was begging for differentiation, space where we can elevate design and deliver value from day one. Additionally, as an area of hyper-growth, the earphones market will provide a fertile backdrop as ...

boAt forays into personal grooming category with sub-brand MISFIT

To introduce an exciting range of grooming and personal care products, lifestyle consumer tech brand boAt on Monday announced its entry into the personal grooming category with MISFIT. The company unveiled MISFIT T50, a trimmer, that is available at an introductory price of Rs 899 on the Flipkart and boAt website. "After having established our leadership in earwear and wearable category, we are all set to strengthen our lifestyle portfolio under the aMISFIT' brand," Aman Gupta, Co-Founder boAt, said in a statement. "With MISFIT, we want to bring in a fresh approach to the personal care category by designing products specifically for the Millennials," Gupta added. T50 comes with skin-friendly titanium-coated blades, which are corrosion-resistant and offer a smooth and safe trimming experience devoid of any roughness, scratching or irritation on the skin. These blades are easily detachable and can either be washed or just cleaned with a brush in a jiff...

Facebook to publish interim compliance report as per IT rules on July 2

Social media giant Facebook on Tuesday said it will publish an interim report on July 2 as mandated by the IT rules, and provide information on the number of content it removed proactively between May 15-June 15. The final report will be published on July 15, containing details of user complaints received and action taken. The new IT rules - which came into force from May 26 - mandate large social media companies to publish periodic compliance reports every month, mentioning the details of complaints received and action taken thereon. The report is to also include the number of specific communication links or parts of information that the intermediary has removed or disabled access to in pursuance of any proactive monitoring conducted by using automated tools. In accordance with the IT Rules, we'll publish an interim report for the period May 15-June 15 on July 2. This report will contain details of the content that we have removed proactively ...

Microsoft admits to signing rootkit malware in supply-chain fiasco

Tech giant Microsoft has now confirmed signing a malicious driver being distributed within gaming environments. According to Bleeping Computers, this driver, called "Netfilter," is a rootkit that was observed communicating with Chinese command-and-control (C2) IPs. G Data malware analyst Karsten Hahn first took notice of this event last week and was joined by the wider infosec community in tracing and analysing the malicious drivers bearing the seal of Microsoft. This incident has once again exposed threats to software supply-chain security, except this time it stemmed from a weakness in Microsoft's code-signing process. Microsoft said it is actively investigating this incident, although thus far, there is no evidence that stolen code-signing certificates were used. The mishap seems to have resulted from the threat actor following Microsoft's process to submit the malicious Netfilter drivers and managing to acquire the Microso...

With cloud and AI, IBM broadens 5G deals with Verizon and Telefonica

By Clara-Laeila Laudette and Supantha Mukherjee BARCELONA (Reuters) - IBM will offer telecom operators Verizon and Telefonica new services ranging from running 5G over a cloud platform to using artificial intelligence, the U.S. technology company said on Monday. Big technology players such as Microsoft and Amazon are vying for a share of 5G revenue by offering telecom operators next-generation software tools. IBM, using technology it obtained from buying software firm Red Hat, will offer the telecom operators cloud services to run their networks and assist them in selling products tailored to customers. No financial terms were disclosed about the tie-ups, which broadened IBM's existing partnerships with the two firms. A cloud platform uses software instead of physical equipment to perform network functions, helping telecom operators build 5G networks faster, reduce costs and sell customised ...

Samsung Galaxy M32 goes on sale: Know price, introductory offers, and more

Samsung Galaxy M32 goes on sale for the first time in India on June 28 at e-commerce platform Amazon, Samsung online store and select retail stores. The budget smartphone boasts super AMOLED fullHD screen of 90Hz refresh rate. The Galaxy M32 comes in 4GB+64GB and 6GB+128GB configurations priced at Rs 14,999 and Rs 16,999, respectively. As an introductory offer, consumers can avail an instant cashback of up to Rs 1,250 while paying with ICICI cards. The cashback offer brings the effective ownership price of the 4GB+64GB variant to Rs 13,749 and 6GB+128GB variant to Rs 15,749. As for the specifications, the Galaxy M32 sports a 6.4-inch fullHD+ super AMOLED screen of 90Hz refresh rate. The screen is touted to push the peak brightness in High Brightness Mode (HBM) to about 800 nits for good sunlight legibility. The display is covered with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for protection against scratches. The Galaxy is powered by a 6,000 mAh battery. The phone supports ...

Dyson Omni-glide cordless vacuum cleaner launched in India: Price, features

Expanding its range of vacuum cleaners in India, British technology company Dyson on Monday launched the Omni-glide cordless vacuum cleaner priced at Rs 34,900. Like the company’s flagship V11 Absolute Pro vacuum cleaner, the Dyson Omni-glide has an in-line design, with the separation system, the motor, filter and handle all aligned. However, the Omni-glide is the first Dyson vacuum cleaner to feature an omni-directional cleaner head that glides in all directions – forwards, backwards, and sideways. “We are pioneers in the vacuum cleaner industry – we created our cyclone technology, removed the bag, and cut the cord with the introduction of our powerful cordfree machines. Today, we’re introducing a brand new way to clean hard floors with the Dyson Omni-glide vacuum,” James Dyson, Founder and Chief Engineer, Dyson said in a statement. He added, “Dyson’s new omnidirectional Fluffy cleaner head is a true testament to our engineering capabili...

6 bills to rein in Big Tech market power hurtle forward in US Congress

Six bills taking aim at the Big Tech market power are hurtling forward in the US Congress with bipartisan support even as a House panel has pushed forward an ambitious legislative package that seeks to rein in Facebook, Google, Amazon and Apple by targeting their ownership of mighty online platforms in combination with other lines of business that kill competition. The bills moved forward after a 12-hour all nighter debate, especially over features which would require online platforms to allow users to communicate across competitor services. Lawmakers closed shop at 5 a.m. on Thursday on the East Coast. Supporters of the bills argue that the proposed changes will hand consumers power over how their personal data is extracted and juiced by businesses which rely on these data to drive their predictive models and profits. "With this package of historic legislation, we have the opportunity to take control of our own destiny to be a global lea...

Microsoft announces Windows 11 operating system after weeks of hype

After weeks of leaks and hype, tech giant Microsoft has officially announced the next version of its desktop operating system (OS) -- Windows 11. The new OS will be a free upgrade for Windows 10 users and will start rolling out "this holiday". "We have simplified the design and user experience to empower your productivity and inspire your creativity. It's modern, fresh, clean and beautiful," Panos Panay, Chief Product Officer, Windows + Devices, said in a statement. "From the new Start button and taskbar to each sound, font and icon, everything was done intentionally to put you in control and bring a sense of calm and ease," Panay added. New in Windows 11, the company is introducing Snap Layouts, Snap Groups and Desktops to provide an even more powerful way to multitask and stay on top. These are new features designed to help users organise their windows and optimise their screen real estate. Users can also create separate Desktops for each part...

Carl Pei's Nothing partners with Flipkart for Ear 1's launch in India

OnePlus Co-founder Carl Pei's new venture Nothing has partnered with Flipkart for the launch of its true wireless earbuds ‘Ear (1)’ in India. The London-based consumer tech company hasn’t yet revealed the launch date or the specifications of the product, but only said that it would sell through Flipkart and customers would be offered no-cost EMI options and free delivery. Nothing was set to launch its first product in June 2021, however, Pei later announced that the Nothing Ear 1 launch was delayed as a few things were yet to be finalised. “For the upcoming launch of Ear 1, we are excited to partner with Flipkart as we mark Nothing’s entry in India. Flipkart’s pan-India supply chain will be instrumental in reaching Nothing customers and delivering a superior end-to-end product experience, which is very important to us.” said Manu Sharma, vice president and general manager, Nothing India. Nothing has also confirmed that the Ear...

RIL AGM 2021: JioPhone Next to 5G, and more announced under Jio Platforms

Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani announced JioPhone Next, a 4G smartphone co-developed in partnership with American technology giant Google, at the RIL AGM 2021 on Thursday. He also announced a partnership with Google for the latter’s cloud services to power Jio 5G solutions. Under the Jio Platforms, Ambani said that the company is testing a full new commerce solution in partnership with social media giant Facebook, adding that it has operationalised the Jio-Azure Cloud Centres of 10-Mw capacity in partnership with Microsoft. The company also plans to expand the Jio-Azure data centres capacity and offering for small and medium businesses and start-ups in the country. Here are the details of everything Ambani announced under Jio Platforms at the Reliance Industries annual general meeting this year: JioPhone Next Co-developed in partnership with Google, the JioPhone Next is touted as a made-for-India smartphone. Powere...

Isro, NOAA-led multinational project endorsed by UN body for innovation

A multinational project, co-led by ISRO and NOAA from the US, that aims to improve the accuracy of coastal data based on satellite and land-based observations has been recently endorsed by a UN body for its use of innovative technology, and for fostering trust and collaboration among scientists. The project is called Committee on Earth Observation SatellitesCoastal Observations, Applications, Services, and Tools (CEOS COAST). Its pilot projects are uniquely capable of using Earth Observation technologies to meet several of the 17 UN-designated sustainable development goals for the Ocean Decade initiative, NOAA said in a statement on Wednesday. NOAA stands for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The themes of these projects include disaster risk reduction and coastal resilience among continental shorelines and small island nations. "Their work will improve the way we study how the sea can affect the land, such as in large-scale flooding events, as we...

Twitter opens applications to test new content subscription features

By Sheila Dang (Reuters) - Twitter Inc said Tuesday it will seek applications from users who want to be the first to test new content subscription and ticketing features, as the social platform works to build more ways for users to earn money. Twitter users can apply to get first access to "Super Follows," which will let them sell exclusive content to paying subscribers, and "Ticketed Spaces," to charge for entry into audio chat rooms they host on the platform. Both features are part of Twitter's plan to compete with other social media companies to attract more influential content creators by letting them earn money from fan followings. Users must have at least 10,000 followers on Twitter to be eligible to apply for Super Follows, and at least 1,000 followers to apply for first access to Ticketed Spaces. The company aims to select "a diverse set of voices," from the applications, said Esther Crawford, senior product manager at Twitt...

Google hit with European Union antitrust probe on ad-tech dominance

Google faces a sweeping European Union probe into its advertising technology, a move that strikes at the heart of the tech giant’s business model. The European Commission said Tuesday its new confrontation with the Alphabet unit will focus on concerns the company may be illegally favouring its own online display advertising technologies, squeezing out rivals. “This is probably the probe that many people were waiting for because it goes to the core of Google’s business,” said Aitor Ortiz, an analyst for Bloomberg Intelligence. The biggest risk would be an order for Google to separate from or restrict its online ads operations, which “could have a significant impact on the money generated through online advertising,” he added. It’s the first time the EU has directly examined the black-box of online advertising where Google automatically calculates and offers ad space and prices to advertisers and publishers as a user clicks on a web p...

CCI probes Google for alleged unfair biz ways in TV operating systems mkt