Archives February 2023

Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi’s India business unit has gone through a rough patch in 2022 and it keeps growing. The company has shut down one of its consumer-oriented apps Zili. This popular TikTok-like short-form video app has more than 10 crore downloads on Google Play. The Xiaomi-owned social media platform has reportedly posted an in-app notice to announce its shutdown.
According to a report by TechCrunch, Zili’s website is currently unavailable and the app is set to close its operation on March 13. The company’s notice said that the move was “due to an operational adjustment”. The app is allowing users to download and store their content offline. Zili users can also redeem their “Z-Points” reward points before the shutdown date. The company has reportedly confirmed that all user data will be deleted from Zili’s servers as it will “no longer be retrievable,” after the mentioned date.
What is Zili
Xiaomi launched the Zili app in 2018. After TikTok got banned in India in 2020, the Xiaomi app saw notable growth. As per the Sensor Tower data, within three weeks of TikTok’s ban, Zili’s downloads went up to 8 million. This added to a serious chunk of the app’s user base which was earlier limited to 3 million downloads.
Zili also comes pre-installed on the latest Xiaomi phones. This helped the app to further expand its user base and boost its user engagement. The Chinese smartphone maker is yet to offer a comment about the shutting down of the Zili app.
Chinese apps banned in India
After TikTok was forced to exit the Indian market Zili and some other short-video apps saw a flow in users. Multiple other TikTok alternative apps developed by home-grown startups tried to fill the gap and saw a similar upsurge.
Other Xiaomi apps, like Mi Browser and Mi Video Call, were also banned by the Indian government. The company hasn’t confirmed if Zili is closing down for the same reasons. Xiaomi has been y facing challenges in retaining its top position in the Indian market.
In 2022, the company also discontinued its financial services in the country. Xiaomi explained that this was done as a part of the annual strategic assessment activity and to enhance focus on its core business services.

The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), which was once synonymous with major game announcements, is set to return as a physical event in June this year. However, major gaming companies are reportedly planning to skip the exposition. Console major Nintendo has confirmed that it will not be present at E3 2023 as per a report in IGN.
The Japan-based gaming company stated, “We approach our involvement in any event on a case-by-case basis and are always considering various ways to engage with our fans … Since this year’s E3 show didn’t fit into our plans, we have made the decision to not participate. However, we have been and continue to be a strong supporter of the ESA and E3.”
E3 returns as a physical event for the first time since pandemic
It was 2019 when E3 last took place as a physical event. This was also the year E3 had its first major absence as Sony chose not to attend the event, after years of involvement.
Due to the pandemic-related concerns, the event was cancelled twice, first in 2020 and then in 2022. In between, E3 2021 was organised as a digital event and briefly rebranded as ‘Electronic Entertainment Experience’.
For the first time in 4 years, E3 will return as a physical exposition from June 13 to June 16, 2023. The event will return to the Los Angeles Convention Centre in Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Sony and Xbox may follow suit and skip E3
The source had previously reported that, alongside Nintendo, console giants Sony and Xbox will not attend E3 either. While Sony hasn’t confirmed anything as of yet, its absence at E3 since 2019 doesn’t signal a change of heart will happen this time. On the other hand, the source has mentioned that Xbox will organise an event of its own instead of going to E3.
Why gaming companies prefer self-hosted events
Over the years, we have seen major gaming companies, including Sony, Xbox, Nintendo, and Ubisoft, prefer to make major announcements via self-hosted events such as PlayStation State of Play, Xbox Developer Direct, Nintendo Direct, and Ubisoft Forward.
This approach not only allows the companies to reveal new projects on their own terms but also gives them more time as they don’t have to rush to push out trailers and demos for any particular third-party event.
However, this doesn’t mean gaming companies are completely done with attending third-party events as events like The Game Awards and Gamescom continue to draw the interest of certain developers.

Android as an operating system isn’t known for functioning well on bigger screen devices and the main reason behind that is the unoptimised apps. The Android 12L update changed things a little bit by adding a 2-pane view for most first party apps, including Gmail. Now, Gmail for Android is getting another design update for foldable devices.
In an official Google Workspace Update blogspot, Google has confirmed that Gmail and Google Meet have already supported 2-pane view on foldables and now this includes the Chat tab in the Gmail app as well.
Gmail for Android on foldables is getting minor design update
The 2-pane view in Gmail is similar to what we’ve already seen on tablets. The left side shows all the emails, while the right side opens up the email with the full body and attachments. The right side pane also has an expand button. Pressing it will expand the entire email into a single plane and will cover the entire screen.
At the bottom, the usual tabs are there which include Mail, Chat, Meet and Spaces.
For those unaware, Google added the 2-pane view for Meet/Duo on tablets last year and in case of Meet, the 2-pane view shows the list of contacts along with the search bar on the left pane, while the right pane show contact details and also the option to make voice or video calls.
Recently, Google added the Pixel-exclusive Magic Eraser feature to Google One. Subscribers with active Google One subscription can now access the feature in Google Photos and use the tool to remove unwanted objects, photobombers from an image.

Air fryers are a healthier alternative to traditional deep frying. It is considered as one of the modern cooking appliances as it consumes less amount of oil also depending on the food being cooked. Here are some handpicked deals on air fryers from brands including Morphy Richards, Philips, Xiaomi, Havells and Kent.
Morphy Richards 5L Digital air fryer: Available at Rs 7,999 after 53% discount
Morphy Richards 5L Digital air fryer has digital controls and comes with 8 preset menus. It has a dual fan technology for efficient heat circulation and has adjustable time and temperature control.
Havells Air Fryer Prolife Crystal: Available at Rs 8,599 after 49% discount
Havells Air Fryer Prolife Crystal features a touch control panel and has an LED indicator. It also has 8 pre-set menu options with adjustable time and temperature. The air fryer comes with Aero Crisp technology that offers rapid air circulation in every direction.
Philips air fryer 4.1L: Available at Rs 7,499 after 25% discount
Philips air fryer has 4.1 litres of capacity and can be used for multiple purposes like air fryer, roast, bake, grill, and reheat. It has a long 1.8 metres cord length and consumes 1400W heating power.
Kent 16096 Classic Hot air fryer 4L: Available at Rs 4,444 after 44% discount
Kent 16096 Classic Hot air fryer has 4 litres of capacity and comes with easy-to-use temperature control knob to adjust temperature. It has a 30-minutes timer with auto cut off feature that shuts down the air fryer once the cooking is done.
Xiaomi Smart air fryer: Available at Rs 7,999 after 47% discount
Xiaomi Smart air fryer has an OLED display. The air fryer comes with over 50 cooking recipes, multiple cooking modes, dual-speed fan, wide range of temperature selection, app control, voice assistant support and more.

If you’re already a Wordle addict then Quordle could be your next must-play game. This spin-off takes the familiar Wordle format and makes it harder by giving you four puzzles to solve simultaneously. 

As you might imagine, it’s hard! So if you already find yourself searching for Wordle clues, you’ll probably need some for Quordle too.

Telecom equipment maker Ericsson will lay off 8,500 employees globally as part of its plan to cut costs, a memo sent to employees and seen by news agency Reuters said. The job cuts at Ericsson are the largest layoffs to hit the telecom industry this year so far. The company is seeking cost reductions at a run-rate of 9 billion Swedish kronor, or about $860 million, by the end of 2023. This $860 million cost-saving plan was announced in December 2022.
Earlier this week, the company, which has more than 105,000 employees worldwide, announced plans to cut about 1,400 jobs in Sweden. The Swedish company has said that most of the layoffs would be implemented in the first half of 2023 and the rest in 2024. While Ericsson did not disclose which geography would be most affected, some analysts had predicted that North America would likely be most affected and that growing markets such as India the least.
Ericsson statement on job cuts
“Our aim is to manage the process in every country with fairness, respect, professionalism and in line with local labor legislation,” Ericsson said in a statement. “We are also working on our service delivery, supply, real estate and IT. We have already started to implement and accelerate various initiatives to help us reach” the cost-cutting goal, Ericsson said. In January, Ericsson reported profit of $1.86 billion and revenue of $26.93 billion for 2022.
Ericsson CEO memo on job cuts
Ericsson chief executive officer Borje Ekholm sent a memo to employees announcing the layoffs. “The way headcount reductions will be managed will differ depending on local country practice,” Ekholm wrote in the memo. “In several countries the headcount reductions have already been communicated this week,” he said. “It is our obligation to take this cost out to remain competitive,” Ekholm said in the memo. “Our biggest enemy right now may be complacency.”

Google is already facing antitrust lawsuits in over search and online advertising. Now it seems lawmakers have set sight on Google Maps. As per a report by Politico, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) is targeting Google Maps.
Citing three people with knowledge of the matter, the report said that the department met Google’s competitors and customers “to decide who would be the best witnesses in any potential lawsuit challenging its dominant position in the market for digital maps and location information.”
Focus of investigation
“The investigation is broadly focused on Google’s control of digital maps and location data, in this instance the precise location of a host of different places, which is a key part of its search results,” said the report.

Furthermore, the report also said that the department is examining whether Google illegally forces app developers to use its mapping and search products as a bundle.
Lawsuit may be filed this year
Politico reported that a lawsuit targeting Google Maps could be filed this year, however, the probe is ongoing and no decision has been made on whether to file a case or on what to include in a complaint.
The investigation is said to be a priority for the department’s antitrust division, and the prosecutors are working quickly to reach a conclusion.
What Google has to say
Google has reportedly said its policies are designed to improve user experience. It noted that combining Google and non-Google information could cause errors and safety risks.

“Developers choose to use Google Maps Platform out of many options because they recognise it provides helpful, high-quality information. They are also free to use other mapping services in addition to Google Maps Platform — and many do,” Google spokesperson Peter Schottenfels was quoted as saying.
Fines on Google
In October last year, the company was fined Rs 2,200 crore – Rs 1,337.76-crore fine on Google for exploiting its dominant position with respect to Android and Rs 936-crore penalty in a case related to its Play Store policies.
Google has in 2017 paid over 4 billion euros in a case where the European Union court considered the company as abusing its dominant position.

Microsoft recently made efforts to save its biggest deal in Brussels. During a closed door hearing, company president Brad Smith presented a number of arguments saying that its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard is good for competition. In order to convince the EU regulators, the Xbox maker announced 10-year deals to bring Call of Duty games on Nintendo and Nvidia. A recent development suggests that for Microsoft these deals may hold more significance than Sony’s opposition.
The Verge’s Tom Warren tweeted two images. One shows how many exclusive games Sony has for its PlayStation, compared to Xbox and other shows “150 million.”

He claims that Microsoft was going to show the difference between the exclusives that Sony had compared to the exclusive games on Xbox. “But Microsoft swapped it [the slide] out to push its message” that it was serious about offering the Call of Duty games to competitors, such as Nvidia and Nintendo, and eventually to 150 million more people.
Smith targets Sony
Smith did target Sony but his arguments seemingly had more context and included subtle references to the deals. He said Sony is a “super dominant company” that is outselling Xbox consoles and questioned the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which raised concerns similar to Sony’s.
“Do you want to kill a deal and cement Sony’s position and its 80% share in the European Economic Area… or do you want to let the future go forward with behavioural guardrails and remedies and bring this title to 150 million more people. I think that’s the fundamental choice that most regulators are going to need to address,” asked Smith.
Sony claims that if the deal is allowed, Microsoft will have the ability to make the famous Call of Duty franchise an Xbox exclusive that would drain consumers away from PlayStation. Microsoft has denied this claim saying that it is ready to offer a 10-year deal to Sony for keeping the game on PlayStation consoles.
Smith even showed a copy of the contract at Brussels saying, “I walk around with an envelope that contains the definitive agreement that we sent the Sony two days before Christmas.”

Sony PlayStation has more exclusives than Microsoft Xbox
Smith did highlight that “Sony has 286 exclusive titles, and Microsoft only has 59 on Xbox” – something he said in December last year. The top executive also said that a judge will “have to decide whether going from 59 to 60 is such a danger to competition that he should stop this [acquisition] from moving forward.”
While targeting Sony for cross-platform availability, Smith noted, “Mostly what you see is a cross-platform strategy for Microsoft even before this deal. Now as we look to the future, we believe the future is even more cross-platform than it has been in the past.”
“Microsoft has 58 games already running on PlayStation, Sony only has 2 running on Xbox. We’ve said that if this acquisition goes through, we’re happy to make sure that there’s a #59 with Call of Duty and no doubt others,” he said.

In October, Microsoft pointed out that since Microsoft announced the Activision Blizzard deal, Sony acquired several game studios. These include Bungie, developer of the popular online game Destiny 2, Haven Studios, Lasengle and Savage Games – and a minority interest in From Software, the developer of the biggest game of 2022, Elden Ring (among other hit games)
Sony also has minority shareholding in Epic Games, publisher of Fortnite.

Meta, Facebook’s parent company, continues to do significant work in this field and is releasing a new AI language generator named LLaMA today. “Today we’re releasing a new state-of-the-art AI large language model called LLaMA designed to help researchers advance their work,” CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a Facebook post.
What is LLaMA
LLaMA is a state-of-the-art foundational large language model designed to help researchers advance their work in this subfield of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Smaller, more performant models such as LLaMA enable others in the research community who don’t have access to large amounts of infrastructure to study these models, further democratizing access in this important, fast-changing field.
How LLaMA is not a ChatGPT
LLaMA isn’t like ChatGPT or Bing. It is not a chatbot that anyone can talk to, ask questions or give commands. Rather, it’s a research tool that Meta says it’s sharing in the hope of “democratizing access in this important, fast-changing field.” In other words to help experts solve the problems of AI language models, from bias and toxicity to their tendency to simply make up information.
What is the purpose of LLaMA
“We believe that the entire AI community — academic researchers, civil society, policymakers, and industry — must work together to develop clear guidelines around responsible AI in general and responsible large language models in particular,” the company wrote in its post. “We look forward to seeing what the community can learn — and eventually build — using LLaMA.” “As a foundation model, LLaMA is designed to be versatile and can be applied to many different use cases, versus a fine-tuned model that is designed for a specific task. By sharing the code for LLaMA, other researchers can more easily test new approaches to limiting or eliminating these problems in large language models,” the company added in a post.
“LLMs have shown a lot of promise in generating text, having conversations, summarizing written material, and more complicated tasks like solving math theorems or predicting protein structures. Meta is committed to this open model of research and we’ll make our new model available to the AI research community,” Zuckerberg added in the post.

Moonlighting, a practice where employees secretly take up a second job or other work assignments along with their full-time job, has been one of the major concerns of the IT industry lately. These concerns are now being backed by Infosys founder Narayana Murthy. He stressed that youngsters should not indulge in practices like moonlighting or insistence on working from home. Murthy exhorted that ethics and laziness need to be given special focus.
“My fervent desire and humble desire to youngsters is please don’t fall into this trap of I will moonlight, I will do work from home, I will come to office three days in a week,” he said while speaking at the Asia Economic Dialogue organised by the Ministry of External Affairs.

It is believed that the work from home culture, which became “a new normal”, during Covid-19 pandemic, is the reason why people took secondary jobs.
While companies like CRED and Swiggy supported its employees taking another job (under certain conditions), most of the IT companies opposed the concept saying it can affect their employees’ productivity and data confidentiality.
‘India needs culture of honesty’
Murthy further said that India needs a culture of honesty, no favouritism, quicker decision making and hassle less transactions to prosper as a country. He pointed out that only a small section works hard in the country and a majority of people have not imbibed the culture.

“We need to build a culture of quick decision making, quick implementation, hassle less transactions, honesty in transactions, no favouritism,” Murthy said, highlighting that such cultural attributes will help India join all the developed countries.
“If we want the business people to stay only in India and do everything in India, I think they will be very happy to do. All that we are respectfully requesting is that quick decisions must be taken, they must be implemented quickly and they should be no harassment, no unnecessary hurdle,” he added.
Murthy drew a comparison between India and China saying that both countries were of the same size in the late 1940s, but the neighbour has grown to be six times the size of India due to the culture it has imbibed.