Archives February 2023

Soon after rolling out the One UI 5.1 update for older flagships and a couple of mid-range smartphones including Galaxy A33 5G and Galaxy A53 5G. Now, the company has started rolling out the One UI 5.1 update for Galaxy A73 5G in select regions, according to a report by SamMobile.
Samsung Galaxy A73 starts receiving One UI 5.1 update
According to the report, the Galaxy A73’s One UI 5.1 update carries the firmware version A736BXXU3CWB7. Apart from that, the update also includes the February 2023 Android security patch. The update is currently rolling out in Malaysia and it is expected that Samsung will expand the rollout to more regions in the coming weeks.
Galaxy A73 5G users in Malaysia will receive the update via OTA and they will receive a notification for the same. Tapping on the notification will redirect to the Software Update settings. The update will then download and install.

Alternatively, users can head to Settings → Software update and check for the update manually. If the update is available, hit on Download and Install button.
Samsung Galaxy A73 5G: Specifications
Samsung Galaxy A73 5G is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G processor paired with 8GB of RAM. The smartphone comes in two storage options — 128GB and 256GB.
Samsung Galaxy A73 5G features a 6.7-inch FHD+ display with 1080×2400 pixel resolution. The display offers a 120Hz refresh rate and is made scratch-resistant with a coating of Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on top. It runs Android 12 operating system topped with Samsung’s own layer of One UI 4.1.
Samsung Galaxy A73 5G sports a quad-rear camera with a 108MP main sensor with f/1.8 aperture, a 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera, f/2.2 aperture, a 5MP depth sensor and a 5MP macro camera with f/2.4 aperture. The front is home to a 32MP selfie camera.

HP has expanded its gaming portfolio in India with the new Omen 17 laptop. This laptop is powered by an Intel processor and backed by an Nvidia RTX series graphics card. The HP Omen 17 sports a QHD (Quad HD) and starts at Rs 2,69,990.
HP Omen 17: Price and availability
The HP Omen 17 laptops are available for purchase at Omen Playground Stores, HP world stores & HP online store at a starting price of Rs. 2,69,990. To experience PC gaming, the gamers can locate the nearest Omen Playground store at www.hpworldstores.in/omen.

HP Omen 17: Key specs and features
This laptop sports a 17.3-inch display that supports a QHD (Quad HD) resolution and 240Hz refresh rate. The gaming notebook claims to offer an immersive experience for gamers. HP Omen 17 is powered by the 13th-gen Intel i9 processor and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 graphics unit.
The device utilises the Omen Tempest Cooling technology to offer desktop-calibre gaming. The Omen 17 also comes equipped with the Omen Gaming Hub (OGH) which is a one-stop destination to elevate a gamer’s play.
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 GPU is built with the company’s Ada Lovelace architecture. Nvidia GeForce RTX 40 series laptop GPUs offer improved performance with AI-powered DLSS 3 and enable enhanced virtual worlds with full ray tracing.
Moreover, the Max-Q suite of technologies optimises system performance, power, battery life, and acoustics for peak efficiency. The 13th Gen Intel core processors also claim to offer enhanced multi-tasking performance. The CPU distributes performance where needed the most to save time and increase its ability

OGH is a platform that helps in making the gaming experience better. From software enhancements to hardware control and live services, OGH improves gaming sessions ‘
The laptop also offers faster speed with Wi-Fi 6E. With this, the company claims that users will experience improved performance, greater capacity and lower latencies.
Omen 17 is also equipped with the HP Wide Vision 720p HD camera that comes with temporal noise reduction and integrated dual array digital microphones. Dual speakers by Bang & Olufsen further improve the experience.

In a first, the top five spots in the India true wireless stereo (TWS) earphones were captured by local brands as the market shipments registered 85% year-over-year (YoY) growth in 2022, a new report showed on Tuesday.
According to Counterpoint Research, increasing local manufacturing helped drive the shipments. Moreover, timely sales events, frequent affordable offerings and the entry of new players helped the country register massive growth last year.
“Four-fifths of the total market was captured by Indian brands, their highest-ever share. For the first time, the top five spots were taken by local brands, which captured two-thirds of the total TWS shipments in India. Moreover, the majority of the new entrants this year were local brands,” said Anshika Jain, Senior Research Analyst at Counterpoint Research.
Chinese brands take a hit
Chinese and other global brands lost some of their share to the Indian players in 2022. Chinese brands were able to capture a 13% share in 2022 driven by OnePlus Nord Buds and Nord Buds CE. Both Realme and Oppo also supported the growth of Chinese brands.
“Global brands took an 8% share led by Apple, Samsung and JBL,” Jain added.
Why Indian brands topped charts
As per Liz Lee, associate director, Counterpoint Research, due to rapid growth in domestic manufacturing, the contribution of Indian brands rose from 2% in 2021 to 30% of the total shipments in 2022.

Furthermore, homegrown brands including Boat, Mivi and pTron ramped up their local manufacturing capabilities to account for 73% of the domestic shipment volume in 2022.
Other players like Noise, Truke, Boult Audio, Wings, Gizmore and Play also sold made-in-India devices for the first time this year. Combined with these factors is a drop in the average selling price by 20% in 2022.
How brands fared
Bota registered 89% Yoy growth, contributing two-fifths of the total shipments. Boat Airdopes 131 were the top-selling model for the second consecutive year.
Noise rose to the second spot with twice YoY growth in 2022. Boult Audio grabbed the third spot with a 7% share and 167% YoY growth.
On the fourth spot was Mivi which grew 544% year-on-year, followed by pTron, which retained the fifth spot with a 5% share of the total TWS shipments.

Rainbow Six Siege creator Ubisoft has recently kicked off year eight of the game. With this new season, the gaming studio has introduced a new anti-cheat system. The latest system claims to discourage Rainbow Six Siege players from using devices that combine controller inputs with the benefits of a mouse and keyboard setup on a console. In a blog post, the game maker has revealed that players who try cheating using third-party devices like XIM will soon start noticing more input latency that will cause trouble with their aim.
What are these devices
Certain players use third-party devices like XIM, Cronus Zen and ReaSnow S1 in various online shooting games which allows them to get the best of both worlds (controller and mouse-keyboard setups). These devices allow mouse and keyboard users to leverage controller features like aim assist, combined with the advantages of movement offered by the mouse and keyboard setup. Moreover, usage of such devices is also steadily increasing across online shooter games including Overwatch, Call of Duty, Destiny 2, Rainbow Six Siege and others.
How these devices are affecting other players
These devices help players to misuse such advantages to win against players who are participating ethically. Jan Stahlhacke, gameplay programming team lead for Rainbow Six Siege has shared a video message for players on YouTube. Stahlhacke said, “This is a problem that all console shooters have, especially the competitive ones. There hasn’t really been a reliable solution for this yet, in fact, the devices they’re using are specifically designed to be undetectable.”

What is the Mousetrap system
Mousetrap is a system developed by Ubisoft that can detect such third-party devices on consoles. The game maker has also mentioned that it has been silently running this system in the background for several seasons. Mousetrap has also helped Ubisoft to build a detection system and track the players who are using this third-party hardware.
Stahlhacke has claimed, “We know exactly which players are spoofing and when they were spoofing. We also know that at the highest ranks spoofers become much more common.”

How will Mousetrap cause problems for players using special hardware
Ubisoft has confirmed that it will start applying extra latency to players using such devices to cause troubles with their aim and movement with a mid-season update. Stahlhacke has explained that the problems caused by this system will, “start out really unnoticeable, but it’s going to ramp up over several matches and it’ll definitely be noticeable.”
To remove the extra latency, players using such special hardware will have to unplug the device. The latency will automatically reduce after a few matches. However, these devices are also used by players with disabilities. Ubisoft has claimed to be aware of this situation and has also asked for feedback from players in the community that might get affected by these changes.

The Apple Store app is a platform which users can visit on their iPhones to buy or test Apple products online. This app saves users from the hassle of using a mobile browser on their iPhones to visit the AppleStore.com website. For Indian users, the app is available in the App Store to download and update. However, the Cupertino-based tech giant is yet to make this service accessible to Indian users. Apple CEO Tim Cook recently confirmed that the company is planning to open physical retail stores in India soon. So, the company might make this service accessible for Indian users after it inaugurates the first Apple retail store in the country. The Apple Store app works for users in other markets like the US.
Apple Store app: What is it
This app allows users to make purchases from the online Apple Store. It also recommends certain Apple products to users based on the Apple devices they own. The company has recently started rolling out an update for the Apple Store app which adds new features to the app.
Apple Store app comes pre-installed on the iPhone and can also be downloaded from the App Store. The app also shows users the accessories that are compatible with the Apple products that they own. With this app, users can also sign up for a hands-on session at a physical Apple Store. The Apple Store app can even be used to upgrade to a new iPhone.
Apple Store app update: What’s new
The latest version of the Apple Store app (version 5.19) that brings new features is now available on the App Store. This new version of the app allows users to share the saved list of Apple products (that they’re interested in purchasing) with friends and family.
This feature will make it easier for users to share gift ideas or collaborate on shopping lists. Users can share their saved lists via the share sheet icon on saved list pages. Moreover, the items saved in the list can now be accessed from multiple places in the app.

Apart from this, the update has also improved the information displayed on store pages for users who are planning to visit an Apple retail store soon. Additional store data also offers more details about each retail store and its surroundings.
Before this, the company last updated the Apple Store app in November. This update allowed iPhone users to have Memojis engraved on AirPods or AirPods Pro. This feature is available exclusively through the Apple Store app.

At the 17th India Digital Summit (IDS 2023), Prof. Suresh Prabhu, Founding Chancellor of Rishihood University, Guest Professor of the London School of Economics, and former Union Minister highlighted the vast potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in various fields of life, and how India can take the lead in this domain.
Prof. Prabhu stressed the need to align education with technology, stating that the existing curriculum needs to be updated to match the demands of reality. He also emphasised the role of education in the development of AI, which is a rapidly evolving field.
He pointed out that the benefits of AI could be seen in many areas, including agriculture, where AI could help farmers determine where and how to grow crops and decide when to use water, adding value to the soil and setting the entire value chain. Additionally, AI could be used in natural resource management and have a positive effect on climate change.
According to Prof. Prabhu, India has a wealth of incredible talent and the potential to harness technology, but he emphasised the need for ethical technology use to prevent creating ‘monsters in the name of technology.’
IDS is India’s largest and oldest digital conference, featuring more than 150 speakers, including policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, and experts in over 60 sessions. Over 500 digital brands are represented, and more than 3,000 delegates are participating in the summit. The event culminates with the announcement of the winners of the prestigious India Digital Awards (13th edition) in 57 categories.
Prof. Prabhu’s comments highlight the importance of AI in various fields of life and how it can revolutionise agriculture, education, natural resource management, and climate change. With India’s talent pool and potential, the country has the opportunity to lead the way in AI development. However, ethical technology use is essential to ensure that technology benefits society as a whole without creating unintended consequences.

India and Singapore have linked their respective digital payments systems, Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and PayNow, respectively. This linkage will enable those living in India to quickly send money to people living in Singapore. Here’s all you need to know about the collaboration.
UPI and PayNow announcement
The announcement of linkage between UPI and PayNow was announced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das and the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s (MAS) Managing Director Ravi Menon. During the event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong were also present.

What is PayNow?
PayNow is Singapore’s fast payment system. Just like UPI in India, people can send and receive funds from one bank or e-wallet account to another in Singapore using a mobile number.
This linkage is enabled through participating banks and Non-Bank Financial Institutions (NFIs) in Singapore.
When was it announced
India and Singapore announced to link their payments systems in 2021. It was decided that the two nations will start the low-cost, cross-border funds transfer from July 2022. As per the Singapore Prime Minister, PayNow-UPI linkage is India’s first cross-border, real-time system linkage and Singapore’s second.

How to transfer funds
The PayNow-UPI linkage is the world’s first such linkage featuring cloud-based infrastructure and participation by non-bank financial institutions.
People in the country can use UPI apps like Google Pay, Paytm and other similar payment aggregator systems to make fast cross-border transfers to people in Singapore.
Currently, Indians can transfer up to SDG 1,000 (around Rs 62,000) a day, as per RBI.
Which banks are collaborating
A total of eight banks, including DBS, Liquid Group, Axis Bank and State Bank of India from India and Singapore are participating in the collaboration.
Who will benefit
The UPI-PayNow linkage will especially help the Indian diaspora, such as migrant workers and students, in Singapore. As per the ministry of external affairs (MEA) document Population of Overseas Indians (2022), there are approximately 6.5 lakh people of Indian origin are residing in Singapore.
What this collaboration mean
As per Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the launch has started a new chapter of cross-border Fintech connectivity. Modi also said there were approximately 74 billion transactions amounting to more than Rs 126 trillion done through UPI in 2022.
Furthermore, this will also push for cross-border payments between India and ASEAN countries, creating a favorable environment for digital payments beyond borders.
The integration of the system will bring down the cost of sending remittances by as much as 10%, said Sopnendu Mohanty, chief fintech officer, Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).

Samsung Galaxy S23 and S22 owners have been hit with a one-two punch as users have recently been experiencing defective hardware and software.

Across social media platforms, and even on the company’s own Community forums (opens in new tab), are posts showing some kind of bubble defect appearing on the bottom corners of the Galaxy S23 Ultra. The location differs for each device: some have on the left while others have it on the right (opens in new tab). 

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 – particularly today! So if you already find yourself searching for Wordle clues, you’ll probably need some for Quordle too. 

Over the last few years, voice chat apps have become essential for education, learning, socializing, gaming, and work-related purposes. With numerous apps in the market, including popular ones such as Zoom, Skype, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Discord, and WhatsApp, voice-chat functionalities are widely available.
But one of the voice chat apps on Android has been leaking user’s private calls. A research by Cybernews has revealed that the OyeTalk app, which has five million downloads on the Google Play Store and a 4.1 out of 5-star rating from 21,000 reviews, had left its database accessible to the public.
This security lapse exposed users’ private data and conversations. The OyeTalk platform enables users to interact in discussion rooms on various topics and host podcasts. The app is marketed as “one of the fastest-growing audio talent-hosting applications” and is available for download in over 100 countries.
The voice-chat app OyeTalk was found to expose user data and conversations through unprotected access to Google’s Firebase. The data leaked included user chats, usernames, and cellphone IMEI numbers, which threat actors could exploit to impose ransom.
Additionally, sensitive data was hardcoded into the application’s client side, including a Google API key and links to Google storage buckets, which made the app vulnerable to reverse engineering. The app developers failed to close public access to the database after being informed of the data spill. Google’s security measures closed off the instance due to the large dataset.
The OyeTalk app has been found to have a history of data leaks, with the database previously marked as vulnerable to leaks by unknown actors. The database contained fingerprints used to identify open Firebases, demonstrating a lack of proper authentication and authorization for data. The vulnerability could allow malicious actors to exploit sensitive data, such as email logins.
In research, over 33,000 Android apps were analysed, and it found that over 14,000 apps had Firebase URLs on their front end, and out of these, more than 600 were links to open instances. The five categories of apps that contained the most hardcoded secrets were health and fitness, education, tools, lifestyle, and business.