Archives January 2024

Apple is set to make some changes to how apps are distributed on its smartphones, ahead of a March 6 deadline before the European Union’s Digital Markets Act regulations go into effect. The iPhone maker is changing how developers can offer applications on iOS, and will allow users in the EU to install apps from third-party marketplaces. However, Apple only plans to enable this functionality on iOS in the EU, and customers on iPadOS, tvOS, and watchOS, will have to rely on the App Store to download apps.

The Cupertino company recently detailed all of the changes coming to iOS 17.4, including support for alternative app marketplaces on an iPhone, app notarisation to keep users safe, support for third party browser engines, and opening up its Near Field Communication (NFC) technology to more apps. However, all of these changes will be limited to iOS (via MacRumors), which means that your experience on different Apple devices will vary.

The EU’s Digital Markets Act will force Apple to open up iOS to allow third-party app stores, but the regulations do not cover iPadOS, which is a distinct operating system. As a result, all of the sideloading-related changes coming to users in the EU won’t apply to iPad owners, who will continue to get their apps from the App Store.

While app sideloading and third-party marketplaces aren’t coming to the iPad, Firefox Mozilla has highlighted another issue with Apple’s changes before the DMA deadline. As part of the DMA, Apple will allow browsers like Firefox and Chrome to use their own engines — they were previously using Safari’s WebKit engine — but these changes will remain limited to iOS. Mozilla told The Verge that the non-profit would need to develop one version of Firefox with its own engine, and one with Safari’s engine for iPad users in the EU.

iOS 17.4 is also expected to bring one more change related to the DMA — access to NFC hardware for third party apps. Until now, only Apple Pay supported contactless payments on an iPhone, but this is set to change in the EU. Users will soon be able to set third-party apps as the default for making contactless payments, via the phone’s NFC technology. This change will also be limited to iOS, and will be accessible in the EU, just like the other changes being introduced by the company.

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WhatsApp has released a new update for the iPhone users. The latest update brings the new text formatting options and a sticker creator feature to the app.
What is the new sticker creator tool and how to use it
WhatsApp update version 24.2.75 brings the new sticker creator tool and text formatting option to iPhone. The all new sticker creator feature enables the WhatsApp users on iOS to create stickers from photos and edit stickers with decorating tools. To experiment with this feature, users can tap the sticker icon in chat, navigate to the sticker tab and choose the new create option.
What are the new text formatting options
On the other hand, the Meta-owned messaging app has also introduced the new text formatting option to iOS. The new text formatting tools are aimed at enhancing the user experience when customising the appearance and layout of text messages.
Here are the formatting tools to users can use to format their messages:
– Code block: The main purpose of this tool is to simplify code sharing on WhatsApp. Although it is commonly used by software engineers and programmers, it is open to all users. To utilise this formatting tool, just insert the backtick character to format your text.
– Quote block: The Quote Block serves the purpose of responding to a particular section of a previous message. To apply this formatting tool, simply precede the text with the “>” character.
– Lists: Lists provide a structured way to organise information. Ordered lists can be generated by commencing your text with “*”, “-“, or numbers.
In addition to these tools, WhatsApp provides four alternative text formatting options to enhance the visibility of your messages. Utilise bold for highlighting crucial information, italics for subtle emphasis, strikethrough to retract statements, and monospace for presenting code snippets.

IT giant Infosys has been hit with a $225 penalty by the Nevada Department of Taxation for allegedly underpaying modified business taxes in the state, according to a report by The Economic Times. The penalty relates to a shortfall in payments for two quarters, spanning from Q4 2021 to Q1 2022, according to a stock exchange disclosure made by the company on Monday evening.
“Short payment” refers to a situation where the amount paid falls short of the invoiced tax amount.Infosys confirmed the receipt of the communication from the Nevada authorities demanding the penalty amount and stated it is currently investigating the veracity of the claim. The company further clarified that the alleged underpayment is not expected to have any material impact on its financials, operations, or other activities.
This is not the first time Infosys has faced tax-related penalties in the US. In August 2023, the Florida Department of Revenue imposed a $76.92 penalty for underpaying taxes in the state. Additionally, in October 2023, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts fined Infosys $1,101.96 for rejection of its family and medical paid leave return filings, noted the report.
In September 2023, Infosys found itself in a bit of hot water with the Indian tax authorities. The assistant commissioner of the Kelambakkam assessment circle in Chennai slapped the IT giant with a hefty demand notice of Rs 26.5 lakh for non-payment of Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST). The notice also included additional penalties and interest charges, bringing the total sum to a significant financial blow, according to the report by The Economic Times.

OnePlus launched its flagship smartphone — OnePlus 12 in India recently. The smartphone is powered by the most powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and runs Android 14 operating system. The most expensive smartphone of the company houses a Hasselblad-powered camera and is backed by a 5,400 mAh battery. The all-new OnePlus 12 is now up for sale in the country.
OnePlus 12: Price and offers
The OnePlus 12 comes in two variants — 12GB+256GB and 16GB+512GB priced at Rs 64,999 and Rs 69,999 respectively. The smartphone can be purchased in Flowey Emerald and Silky Black colour options. Customers can purchase the smartphone online on Amazon.in and OnePlus.in and offline from authorised retail stores in the country.
The company has also announced some offers for the buyers of OnePlus 12. An instant bank discount of Rs 2,000 is available for those using ICICI credit cards and OneCard. Additionally, customers can take advantage of a special exchange bonus, which can go up to Rs 10,000.
For added convenience, the OnePlus 12 is offered with OnePlus Easy Upgrades, allowing buyers to receive 35% assured value at the end of 24 months. A pre-booking option is also available for Rs 1,999, starting from January 23rd, accompanied by a 12-month no-cost EMI offer. The first 1,000 customers to pre-order the OnePlus 12 will receive exclusive OnePlus Merchandise.
Customers linking their OnePlus 12 to RCC (Red Cable Club) are eligible for a special coupon, providing a Rs 3,000 discount when purchasing the OnePlus Pad. Furthermore, a 50% discount on the Accidental Damage Protection Plan is accessible through OnePlus.in, the OnePlus Store App, and OnePlus Experience Stores. These offers enhance the overall value proposition for OnePlus 12 customers.
OnePlus 12 specifications
Featuring a 6.82-inch curved 2K OLED ProXDR display with a resolution of 3168×1440 QHD+, the device boasts a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 4500 nits. OnePlus asserts that the phone’s display meets or exceeds 18 standards of DisplayMate A+.
Under the hood, the OnePlus 12 is powered by Qualcomm’s latest flagship chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, coupled with up to 16GB LPDDR5x RAM and 512GB UFS 4.0 storage. To address thermal concerns, the phone incorporates a 9140mm² Dual Cryo-velocity VC (Vapor Chamber) cooling system.
Equipped with a fourth-generation Hasselblad triple rear camera setup, the OnePlus 12 features a 50MP Sony LYT-808 primary sensor with OIS, a 64MP OmniVision OV64B sensor with OIS-assisted 3x periscope zoom lens for telephoto images, and a 48MP Sony IMX581 sensor combined with an ultra-wide lens offering a 114-degree field-of-view. For selfies and video calls, the device includes a 32MP front camera, complemented by the Hasselblad Portrait Mode.
Powering the device is a substantial 5400mAh battery, supported by 100W SUPERVOOC fast charging, claiming to charge from 1% to 100% in just 26 minutes. The phone also supports 50W AIRVOOC wireless charging, providing users with versatile charging options.

iQoo is all set to launch its latest Neo series smartphone in India. The company has already confirmed that it will launch the iQoo Neo 9 Pro smartphone in India. However, ahead of the new smartphone launch, the Chinese smartphone maker has slashed the price of last year launched iQoo Neo 7 Pro in India. The smartphone comes in two variants and both of them have received a price cut of Rs 4,000.
New Price
iQoo Neo 7 Pro was launched in two variants — 8GB+128GB and 12GB+256GB priced at Rs 34,999 and Rs 37,999 respectively.After the price drop, the customers can purchase the 8GB version at Rs 30,999 and the 12GB variant at Rs 33,999. iQoo Neo 7 Pro comes in two colour options — Dark Storm with an AG glass back and the Fearless Flame comes with a vegan leather back.
Along with this, the smartphone maker is also offering an instant discount of Rs 3,000 on ICICI Bank cards and 15 days replacement policy.
iQoo Neo 7 Pro specifications
The iQoo Neo 7 Pro is equipped with a 6.78-inch FHD+ Samsung E5 AMOLED display featuring a 120Hz refresh rate, 360Hz touch sampling rate, and a rapid 1200Hz instant touch sampling rate. This display supports the DCI-P3 color gamut, providing a vivid spectrum of up to 1.07 billion colors, HDR10+ capabilities, and a peak brightness reaching 1500 nits. Additionally, the smartphone incorporates an in-display fingerprint sensor.
Available in two color options, Dark Storm with an AG glass back and Fearless Flame with a vegan leather back, the Neo 7 Pro combines aesthetics with functionality.
Under the hood, the Neo 7 Pro is driven by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, coupled with a custom gaming chip and Pixelworks display chip. It incorporates a VC cooling system covering an expansive 4013mm² and utilizes a multilayer graphite heat dissipation mechanism. With up to 12GB LPDDR5 RAM and a storage capacity of up to 256GB UFS 3.1, the device offers the flexibility to virtually expand RAM by an additional 8GB. Operating on FunTouch OS 13 layered on Android 13, the Neo 7 Pro ensures a smooth user experience.
Featuring a robust 5000mAh battery, the Neo 7 Pro supports 120W fast charging. The camera system on the Neo 7 Pro comprises a triple setup, led by a 50MP Samsung GN5 sensor with OIS. Accompanying it are an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 2MP macro camera. For selfies, the smartphone sports a 16MP front-facing camera.

The Realme 12 Pro and the Realme 12 Pro+ are the brand’s latest number series smartphones. Between the two, the more affordable Realme 12 Pro looks identical to the higher-priced Realme 12 Pro+, even if the hardware inside both of them is worlds apart. The Realme 12 Pro+ obviously gets better hardware and plenty of upgrades, accompanied by a higher price tag. It’s priced from Rs. 29,999 for the base model, but it sure packs in a punch even when compared to the competition. Let me explain.

The Realme 12 Pro+ sticks with its faux leather design, which appears refreshing even though it looks similar to the 11 Pro+ released last year. Realme sticks to a faux-leather rear panel, which looks and feels quite premium. It will be available in Submariner Blue, Navigator Beige and an India exclusive, Explorer Red.

In terms of weight, the phone is not too heavy either at 189 grams. It is a bit chunky thanks to the extra layers of the vegan leather-wrapped rear panel, but its curved sides and 3D curved-edge display make it appear quite thin (8.75mm at its thinnest point) and also lend it a good hand feel.

For the first time ever, Realme has managed to squeeze in an IP rating in its number series phone. The Realme 12 Pro+ gets an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance which the company claims is good for splashes but not immersion.

Realme has a very unique-looking camera module which will remind you of an expensive wristwatch

 

Its 6.7-inch curved edge OLED display sports a full-HD+ resolution and offers a maximum 120Hz refresh rate along with a 240Hz touch sampling rate, which should be good for gaming. It’s also a Pro-XDR panel, which means photographs can be viewed in their full dynamic range, and this is useful given the camera hardware the phone packs.

The phone is available in three RAM and storage options. The base 8GB RAM and 128GB storage variant is priced competitively at Rs. 29,999, while the 256GB storage variant is priced at Rs. 31,999. Lastly, there’s a top-of-the-line variant with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, which is priced at Rs. 33,999.

The chipset has also got a notable upgrade. Realme has switched from a MediaTek Dimensity 7050 SoC to a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 SoC, which is fairly new and only available on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro, which is also priced similarly. While its maximum clock speed is limited to 2.4GHz, it should do well in the battery department as it has been manufactured using the superior 4nm fabrication process.

Realme maintains the 120Hz display refresh rate of the previous model along with its 3D-curved edges on the left and right sides

 

Realme went with a massive 200-megapixel sensor with its Realme 11 Pro+ last year and also used it to deliver some telephoto capability. With the Realme 12 Pro+, the company switches gears to a more sensible 50-megapixel camera (Sony IMX 890) with OIS but also adds a superior 64-megapixel periscope telephoto camera (OmniVision OV64B) which also has OIS. This is followed by an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera which appears to be the same as on last year’s model. The 32-megapixel selfie camera, too, seems to be borrowed from the Realme 11 Pro+.

This high-resolution telephoto camera provides up to 3X optical zoom, and Realme claims that it is capable of shooting photos at 120X as well. This telephoto camera also happens to be the same one as on the OnePlus Open and the OnePlus 12, so my expectations for it are sky-high indeed.

The Realme 12 Pro Plus frame is made from polycarbonate

 

The phone packs in a similar sized 5,000mAh battery as on the previous model, but drops the wired charging rate to 67W instead of the previous 100W. Realme claims a 100 percent charge in just 48 minutes, which we will test out in our full review.

Coming to software, there’s a fresh serving of Realme UI 5.0 which is based on Android 14. The usual ColorOS 14-like features (like File Dock) aside, the device comes with an interesting new feature called Flash Capsule, which we will test out in our full review.

From its premium-looking design to its IP65 rating, the Realme 12 Pro+ seems to offer incredible value for money, given the underlying hardware. There’s also the high-end telephoto camera which Realme has somehow managed to squeeze into this package and price point. This should make it easier to combat offerings from Xiaomi and its Redmi Note 13 series of devices, which lack a dedicated telephoto camera and bank on lossless in-sensor zoom using their 200-megapixel cameras. So, stay tuned to our full review to find out if Realme’s new 12 Pro+ manages to be a solid, well-rounded offering in the mid-range smartphone segment or falls flat with execution.

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Realme 12 Pro is the latest smartphone from Realme to hit the Indian market. It was launched alongside the Realme 12 Pro+ on January 29. The new handset has an improved camera setup and a new chipset but looks identical to the Realme 11 Pro from last year, at least from the front. One of the key selling points of the newly launched handset is that it has been designed in collaboration with a luxury watchmaker. This is very much evident in the rear camera island. Here are my first impressions of the Realme 12 Pro after having used it for a few days.

For the Realme 12 Pro series, the Chinese smartphone maker has partnered with Ollivier Savéo for the design. Savéo is a well-known French luxury watchmaker who’s collaborated with brands such as Rolex. The phone is available in Submarine Blue and Navigator Beige colour options. I received the Submarine Blue variant of the Realme 12 Pro.

As soon as I unboxed the smartphone, I realised what Realme was talking about. On the rear panel, it has a large circular camera module, which has elements usually found in a luxury watch. There’s a golden bezel that runs around the circular module, and it gets a polished blue sunburst dial. The dial reflects light to create a spectacular gradient that a watch enthusiast will find pleasing. A golden stitching element is also found on the back panel, running at the centre from top to bottom.

Realme 12 Pro 5G in Submarine Blue

The Realme 12 Pro 5G also has a vegan leather finish rear that gives it a premium look and feel. It has a curved rear and front glass panel, giving the impression that the phone is slimmer than it is. The in-hand feel of the phone is really nice. There’s also a good weight to it, making it feel premium. The frame is still plastic, but it has a gold coating that matches all the other golden elements on the phone. The buttons are all placed on the left edge and easily reachable. Realme has included dual stereo speakers, a dual-SIM card tray, a USB Type-C port, and two microphones on the smartphone.

On the front, the phone has a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with full-HD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. The display curves around the edges, but not too much, and you get slim bezels all around. It’s a good-looking display, and I reckon it’ll be great to watch videos and movies and play games on this panel. There’s no Corning Gorilla glass protection here, though, but it does offer some kind of high-strength glass over the display. The panel can get as bright as 800 nits, and it supports ProXDR visuals. You also get an in-display fingerprint scanner and a hole-punch cutout for the selfie camera located at the top centre.

Realme 12 Pro 5G has a 6.7-inch curved AMOLED display

At the back, the circular camera module does remind me of the Realme 11 Pro, as it is placed in the same position as before and is roughly about the same size. However, that sunburst dial makes me forget all about the resemblance. The Realme 12 Pro has a triple camera setup housed inside the camera module, this is a step up from the dual-camera setup on the predecessor. There’s a 50-megapixel Sony IMX 882 sensor with OIS, a 32-megapixel Sony IMX 702 unit with 2x optical zoom and OIS, and finally, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide unit. Thankfully there’s no macro sensor here. I did try out the cameras, and it looks like Realme has done a good job. You’ll have to wait for my full review to find out more about the camera performance.

The Realme 12 Pro 5G gets a 50-megapixel Sony IMX 882 primary camera

For selfies and video calls, Realme has included a 16-megapixel camera, the same as last year. What’s not the same as last year is the processor. The Realme 12 Pro 5G comes with a Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 SoC, which is a 4nm chipset said to provide better performance and efficiency when compared to the older model. I’ll have to test the claims to find out if it’s true, but everything seemed smooth at first glance. The chipset is paired with 8GB RAM and up to 256GB onboard storage. The handset gets dual-band Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and GPS connectivity.

Realme has packed a 5,000mAh battery on the Realme 12 Pro 5G with 67W fast charging support, the same as last year. I’ll test the battery performance in my full review. The phone runs Android 14-based RealmeUI out-of-the-box, and you do get plenty of bloatware.

The Realme 12 Pro seems like a good deal for Rs. 26,000, but I will have to test it out more in the coming days. Its design is certainly one of the key selling points, and so is the upgraded camera setup. Stay tuned for my full review.

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In our Olympus OM-1 review, we labelled the flagship mirrorless camera for photographers “the best Micro Four Thirds camera you can buy”, and said it proved that computational tricks are the future of mirrorless cameras. Almost two years later, it has a successor with a different name etched on its body – the OM System OM-1 II.

Olympus had already been bought by OM Digital Solutions when the OM-1 was launched in March 2022. Since then, there’s been little activity from the fledgling name in cameras besides whacking its OM System brand on updated Olympus models that are mere minor refreshes. Sadly, the same is true here.

OnePlus Ace 3V is expected to launch as the successor to the OnePlus Ace 2V model, which was unveiled in March 2023. The company has not yet confirmed the handset but leaks about the purported smartphone have been doing rounds of the rumour mill. Recently, the display, processor, and price details of the handset surfaced online. Now some of those specifications have been reiterated in another leak, which also suggests other features of the rumoured OnePlus Ace 3V.

A Weibo user with the username @Liangangangangah (translated from Chinese) shared a screengrab of a post that suggested that the OnePlus Ace 3V may launch with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset and is also likely to feature a display with 1.5K resolution. These details were also tipped in an earlier leak, which claimed that the mid-range model may be priced under CNY 2,000 (roughly Rs. 23,400).

The new leak also adds that the screen of the OnePlus Ace 3V could have a 120Hz refresh rate and that the handset could pack a 5,500mAh battery with support for 100W wired fast charging. The handset is said to get a glass back and a plastic frame. 

Notably, the OnePlus Ace 2V comes with a 6.74-inch full-HD+ AMOLED 120Hz screen, a MediaTek Dimensity 9000 SoC, and a 5,000mAh battery with 80W SuperVOOC charging support. At launch, the phone was priced at CNY 2,299 (roughly Rs. 27,000) for its base 12GB + 256GB option.

The OnePlus Ace 3V has also previously been tipped to launch globally as a OnePlus Nord model, possibly the OnePlus Nord 4, since the OnePlus Ace 2V was introduced globally and in India as the OnePlus Nord 3. At launch, the OnePlus Nord 3 was priced in India at Rs. 33,999 and Rs. 37,999 for the 8GB + 128GB and 16GB + 256GB options, respectively.

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Elon Musk’s Neuralink has started to ‘mess’ with people’s heads – literally! The neurotechnology company has announced that it has performed its first human brain implant just months after it reportedly received interest from thousands of applicants. Neuralink received FDA approval last year for conducting human trials, and now, the first test has been carried out.

In an X post on Tuesday, Musk announced, “The first human received an implant from @Neuralink yesterday and is recovering well. Initial results show promising neuron spike detection.” Here’s everything you need to know about the Neuralink experiment.

All about the Neuralink experiment

The experiment is called ‘PRIME Study’ which is expected to last 6 years. As per reports, Neuralink has built a 4mm-square chipset, called N1, which is meant to be implanted into the inside of the skull. The chip has extremely thin wires attached to it that reach into the brain. The wires can receive and detect brain signals that are relayed between neurons, and they can generate their own impulse as well, which imitate that of the neurons. Musk says the device is named Telepathy.

According to the company, the chip can connect with 1000 different brain cells. A patient can have up to 10 chips implanted, the company claims. The experiment builds upon decades of technology aimed at implanting electrodes in human brains to interpret signals and treat conditions such as paralysis, epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease, Bloomberg reported. It is just one of the 11 surgeries that Neuralink aims to perform in 2024.

How will it help people?

According to Musk, this Neuralink experiment aims to primarily help people with paralysis. Over time, it could potentially be used to aid those with vision and hearing impairments. But the ultimate goal? Merging humanity with artificial intelligence (AI), which is something straight out of Cyberpunk 2077.

Who all are eligible?

To qualify for the study, there is a condition. Neuralink’s patient registry application states that the volunteers must suffer from one of the following conditions: quadriplegia, paraplegia, visual impairment or blindness, aphasia or the inability to speak, hearing impairment or deafness, and/or major limb amputation (affecting above or below the elbow and/or above or below the knee).

Patients must also be legal adults, meaning at least 18 years old and the age of majority in their state. They should also be a US citizen or a permanent resident.

Also read other top stories today:

AI on Apple devices? Apple is working on making AI models that can work on devices alone by making them smaller. But we may have to wait a few years for these to work to circumnavigate the “memory wall”. Know where things stand here.

AI leaders on the rise! Businesses are scrambling to appoint AI leaders with the recent boom in technology, leaving metaverse leaders in the lurch. Instead, AI is taking their place. Find out more about this shift here.

Saviour against AI! Taylor Swift’s deepfake photos went viral on X during the weekend but they’ve since been taken down. Can the Time’s Person of the Year save humanity from the dark side of AI? Know all the details here.

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