HP has completely withdrawn from the Russian market in order to conform with sanctions mandated by the US in response to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The company’s local website, which has served as a home for driver downloads and technical support in Russian, has now been directed to Kazakhstan. A former Soviet state, Russian is the country’s official language and one of its two most spoken languages.
Despite the removal of online support, Russian shoppers can still access drivers for notebooks, HP printers, and other hardware on the redirected website.
HP pulls out of the Russian market
Russia’s CNews was among the first to share information on the move, claiming HP’s termination of business within the country came as a shock, with no prior notifications being shared. CNews contrasts this to Microsoft, which gave Russian customers one week’s notice before shutting down its business.
HP started retreating in March 2022, announcing the cessation of hardware sales. However, it only took another two months for the country to obtain parallel imports, effectively rendering the change ineffective.
CNews revealed that distributors in the country, such as Softline, Merlion, and M.Video-Eldorado, have all declined to comment on the state of HP imports and sales, potentially alluding to higher-than-expected HP sales.
Russia doesn’t seem too concerned about HP’s decision to exit the market, though. In a subheading loosely translated as “Everything is bad in the world too,” CNews reveals that while HP may be boycotting Russia, the rest of the world is on the cusp of boycotting HP over its printer blocking.
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TechRadar Pro approached HP to discuss the above, but the company did not immediately respond.
The date has finally been set for Apple’s annual announcement event WWDC, and we expect some new AI announcements alongside software refreshes like macOS Sonoma updates and a peak at iOS 18. While that’s all pretty exciting, I’m not interested in any of that! What I want to see is an M3 Mac mini – in pink.
Now, I know right off the back that sound’s a little outlandish. Asking for an M3 Mac mini seems pretty reasonable to me, though – I mean, Apple launched the M2 Mac mini last year in January, so it’ll be almost a year and a half by the time WWDC kicks off on June 10, 2024. The MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and iMac have been updated with the M3 chip, so it’s about time the Mac mini got the same treatment.
The M3 chip was announced at Apple’s Scary Fast event last October and has proven to be the best processor Apple has put out so far. The system-on-a-chip (SoC) has the same 8-core CPU architecture as the M2 chip but offers better performance thanks to the increased number of transistors on the chip. Multi-core CPU tests were up 18%, which bodes well for people who need a laptop that can handle hefty video-rendering tasks without breaking a sweat.
Prettier in pink
I use an M1 Mac mini almost every day for work or my own writing and online shopping (lots of online shopping), and I’ve been waiting for the Mac mini to not just get an updated chip but to join the iMac in getting some more colorful designs.
I adore the colors of the iMac, but I could never commit to buying one of the best all-in-one’s with the current size of my desktop setup at home. The Mac mini is the perfect size for me and honestly looks super cute – just imagine how much cuter it could be if it came in color!
Mac mini’s are so versatile and used by all sorts of creative people like movie makers, musicians, artists, and more. I think adding a splash of color would lend the same uniqueness and ‘icon’ status that iMac already enjoys.
Out of the two, the iMac has more of a market share than the Mac mini, and having an interesting design change could be a start for making the Mac mini more popular. Apple wouldn’t even need to start with a whole new color palette – the colors of the iMac are perfect as they are and could easily be transferred over to the mini PCs!
The pink iMac is my absolute favorite, and I can’t even imagine how adorable it would be to have a pastel pink Mac mini on my desk. But setting my Barbie-themed computing dreams aside, I do really hope we see the Mac mini get an M3 refresh.
Realme C65 is set to launch in Vietnam on April 4. The company has teased some key features of the handset including its design and colour options. However, Realme has not yet confirmed the India launch of the model. A report now claims that a new Realme phone is expected to launch in India soon and it is speculated to be the Realme C65. The purported Indian variant of the handset will likely come with similar specifications as its global counterpart.
A 91Mobiles Hindi report claims that a new Realme model with 6GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage is expected to launch in India, priced under Rs. 10,000. This phone is likely to be the Realme C65, the successor to the Realme C55, which was unveiled in March 2023. If true, the Realme C65 will be the first handset in its lineup to launch with 256GB of inbuilt storage.
Previously, Realme confirmed that the Realme C65 will launch in at least two colour options – Galaxy Black and Violet (translated from Vietnamese) with a shimmering glossy finish. Alongside Vietnam, the phone will also launch in the Philippines, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Indonesia.
The Realme C65 is also confirmed to launch with a Dynamic Button feature and Air Gesture support. The handset will measure 7.64mm in thickness, sport a dual rear camera unit, and a centred hole-punch slot to house the front camera sensor.
Tipster Sudhanshu Ambhore (@Sudhanshu1414) claimed in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the Realme C65 is expected to come with a MediaTek Helio G85 SoC, a 5,000mAh battery with 45W wired fast charging support, a 6.67-inch 90Hz HD+ IPS LCD screen, a 50-megapixel main rear camera, an 8-megapixel front camera and an IP54 rating.
Meanwhile, Realme is also set to launch the Realme 12X 5G model in India on April 2. It is confirmed to be priced under Rs. 12,000 and will feature a 6.72-inch 120Hz full-HD+ display, a 6nm MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ SoC and a 50-megapixel primary rear sensor. The smartphone will support 45W SuperVOOC charging, an IP54 rating and measure 7.69mm in thickness.
Is the iQoo Neo 7 Pro the best smartphone you can buy under Rs. 40,000 in India? We discuss the company’s recently launched handset and what it has to offer on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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With macroeconomic headwinds persisting in the wake of cutbacks for many UK businesses, it’s clear that the pressure on companies to save money is not going away. But organizations must be wary of the temptation to reduce investment in data technology and analysis, as they risk losing a crucial competitive advantage. With data analysis and artificial intelligence (AI) growing in importance, almost half of businesses (44%) plan to push through data modernization efforts in 2024, according to PwC. Over half of organizations therefore cannot afford to turn their backs on technologies which can deliver key business advantages, such as improved customer experiences and enhanced product innovations.
In the year ahead, the organizations that will be most effective at navigating the economic landscape will be those that focus on managing spend and increasing efficiency to drive better business outcomes. According to IDC, the world is producing more data than ever, as much as 181 zettabytes of data per year by 2025 or the capacity of 45 trillion data DVDs. Especially with the boom of generative AI, data will continue to be a key differentiator for those looking to capitalise on AI – the more diverse and comprehensive the data, the better AI can perform. For businesses to remain competitive, harnessing the power of data insights, along with effective cost management and planning must be front of mind for business leaders.
James Hall
UK Country Manager, Snowflake.
Business value and transparency
Achieving transparency on existing costs is the first step towards becoming data efficient. For data admins – someone responsible for processing data into a convenient data model – this means using their analytical skills to scrutinize existing workloads, allowing them to identify which are actually delivering valuable insights. From this point, they can take a view on whether to re-architecture, increase or decrease the usage of the workload, or even retire ones which are not delivering results. A full understanding of data lineage, including where data comes from and what happens to it, can also be a useful starting point to help establish cost controls, as well as pinpointing costly errors.
Business transparency must also derive from the SaaS vendor and platform they select to use when it comes to spend. This enables businesses to understand what they are investing in each workload and weigh this up against return on investments. Understanding per-query costs can highlight the most expensive queries and allow admins or IT leaders to rethink them in terms of rewriting or refactoring. Increased visibility and control of spend will provide businesses with the best chance of maximising existing resources.
Predicting future costs
Only when businesses get hold of their data costs can they truly begin to predict future costs, and implement measures to keep spending as efficiently as possible. Many legacy data platforms are highly inflexible, with fixed cost pricing and long-term vendor lock-in contracts, making it harder to implement changes when times are tough, or even when scaling back requirements during quieter periods of data analysis. Such tools often require complex, time-consuming capacity planning in order to keep control of data costs, which can ironically prove expensive in itself.
The costs of data processing, monitoring and control mechanisms cannot be an afterthought. Flexible scaling and consumption-based pricing models are a great way of avoiding unnecessary overprovisioning and paying for processing and storage that does not deliver for the business. A growing number of organizations are also choosing to set up budgets in advance, with spending limits, digital ‘guards’ against overspending, and daily alert notifications and warnings. This allows businesses to pinpoint where money is being spent, how much value it is delivering, and how it can be reined in.
Modern data platforms built in the cloud provide an intuitive UI to examine usage and usage trends, with clear dashboards visualizing which teams, customers and cost centers are responsible for the bulk of spending. Rather than waiting for spending to go over budget, companies can get ahead of the game and see when spending limits are projected to be exceeded. In the long run, this will help technical leaders and CFOs reduce operational costs through more efficient usage.
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Tracking usage at a granular level — think account level, per user, or per task — will be a key differentiator. However, larger companies should also contemplate taking control at an organizational level. This can require restricting the actions of teams or individuals to perform credit-consuming resources, such as warehouse creation. Such capabilities also offer in-depth control over factors such as size and number of clusters, and offer granular control over when clusters are spun up, to help to control costs now and in the future. Per-job-cost attribution helps organizations manage department costs and maximize resources as they scale to more teams and jobs. Furthermore, auto-suspend and auto-resume capabilities can be enabled by default. This capability turns platforms off when they aren’t required, preventing paying for unnecessary usage and thus saving customers money.
Harnessing data, controlling costs
Even in tough economic times, organizations should not abandon ambitions to harness the power of data. For businesses in any sector, analyzing and understanding data has never been more important. The focus must instead shift towards changes that actually deliver results, such as moving from legacy on-premises platforms to modern SaaS data platforms that enable better transparency and planning on costs.
Doing so will have a massive impact and empower businesses to take control of their tech investments, which can be a key differentiator in today’s challenging macroeconomic landscape. Businesses should avoid taking the self-defeating, retrograde path of cutting back on their data usage, and should embrace the potential of modern data platforms to maximize cost efficiencies and control, while still forging a path into a data-driven future.
This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro’s Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro
Apple last year announced that it would support rich communication services (RCS) within iMessage sometime in 2024. While the iPhone maker has been silent about an exact launch date, Google just revealed the release timeframe for RCS on iOS through its new Google Messages Webpage. This indicates that Apple might extend RCS support in the upcoming iOS 18 update or around the launch of the iPhone 16 series. The adoption of RCS by Apple is expected to bring unity in cross-device messaging.
The official Android website has added a new landing page for Google Messages discussing the first-party messaging experience. The landing page has different sections for each feature set, including one for RCS. As per a report by 9to5Google, the page (now removed) notes that RCS on the iPhone is coming in the fall of 2024.
As spotted by the publication, the expansion of RCS features shows a label “Coming soon on iOS” under the subheading “Better messaging for all”. “Apple had announced it will be adopting RCS in the fall of 2024. Once that happens, it will mean a better messaging experience for everyone,” the description read.
If Apple is indeed aiming for a fall 2024 release for RCS support, that suggests that the next operating software — iOS 18 — could bring the new messaging standard in iOS. Apple usually releases major iOS updates in September around the launch of the new iPhone series.
Apple in November last year revealed that it is working on adding support for RCS and the compatibility would arrive in 2024 without specifying an exact timeline. The new RCS standard will work alongside iMessage and is likely to offer several messaging features like multimedia support, read receipts, typing indicators, and more. The adoption of RCS by Apple will enable cross-platform messaging between Android and iOS devices over mobile data or Wi-Fi networks.
Apple unveiled its first mixed reality headset, the Apple Vision Pro, at its annual developer conference, along with new Mac models and upcoming software updates. We discuss all the most important announcements made by the company at WWDC 2023 on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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There’s still a good chance we’ll see an iPhone SE 4 this year or next year, and a new case leak has added to the pile of evidence that this phone exists and is on the way – complete with a new and more modern design aesthetic.
The leak comes from serial tipster @MajinBuOfficial (via Notebookcheck) and shows an iPhone SE case that does away with the old home button and Touch ID sensor, and adds a notch at the top of the display. There will still be a single camera around the back.
Have a peek back at our iPhone SE (2022) review and you’ll see it’s a handset with what is a rather retro design by today’s standards. You have to go back to 2017 and the iPhone 8 to find a flagship iPhone with a home button on the bottom bezel.
While there has been talk that the next iPhone SE would follow the look of the iPhone 15, it now seems more likely that it’ll be more along the lines of the iPhone 14 in terms of its appearance – with a display notch rather than a Dynamic Island.
A twisting tale
These images of the cases of the new iPhone SE 4 show the possible design which apparently will be different from what I described previously pic.twitter.com/Q6HJGLCGhnMarch 30, 2024
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We’ve had quite a ride when it comes to iPhone SE 4 leaks and rumors in recent months. The third-gen model launched in March 2022, and with doubts over how well it was selling, we originally thought that might be the last iPhone SE ever.
Fast forward to some more recent leaks, and it now appears the handset is back on Apple‘s agenda. A leaked roadmap has pointed to a launch sometime in 2025, and that’s not the only time we’ve heard that year mentioned in relation to the iPhone SE 4.
It would appear the more affordable iPhone is going to join the rest of the series by switching to OLED technology for its display. The device should also come fitted with a USB-C port next time, like the current flagship iPhones.
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Last month we saw some leaked images supposedly showing the new design of the iPhone SE 4, and they match up rather well with the cases in this leak. Add it all up and it now seems the iPhone SE series will be coming back after all.
For smartphone users across India, be prepared for a shift in how to call forwarding functions on your Android or iPhone devices. The Department of Telecom (DoT) is taking action to tackle fraud and online crimes perpetrated via mobile phones. As part of this initiative, telecom companies have been instructed to cease the use of USSD codes (such as *401#) for activating call-forwarding features. This directive comes into effect on April 15, 2024, until further notice.
Key Points of the DoT Ban Order
According to an order dated March 28, the DoT has observed that USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) based call forwarding, notably the *401# service for unconditional call forwarding, is being misused for undesired activities.
The order specifies, “In this regard, it has been decided by the competent authority that all licensees shall discontinue the existing USSD-based call forwarding services with effect from April 15, 2024, until further notice. All existing subscribers who have activated USSD-based call forwarding service may be asked to reactivate call forwarding services through alternative methods to ensure that such services are not activated without their notice.”
What exactly is USSD-based call forwarding and how is it accessed?
USSD codes are brief codes that mobile users input on their devices to access various services, such as checking their balance or obtaining their phone’s IMEI number. Despite their convenience, the DoT has identified vulnerabilities in these codes, which can be exploited for fraudulent activities and mobile phone-related crimes.
For users accustomed to using USSD codes for call forwarding, a change is imminent. After April 15, they will need to reactivate these services using alternative methods. Telecom companies will be tasked with providing these alternative means of managing call forwarding. The objective behind this shift is to enhance security measures and thwart unauthorised call forwarding, which could potentially lead to the theft of sensitive information such as one-time passwords (OTPs) used in online transactions.
Various rumours and leaks that we have been treated to so far have suggested that Samsung could launch more than one book-style Galaxy Z Fold 6 model this year. While the timeline for these releases is still quite sketchy, it is said that Samsung may hold its next Unpacked launch event for the same in Paris at an earlier than usual date. There’s also been plenty of rumours not just about a more affordable Galaxy Z Fold model, but a more premium one as well. It’s been tagged as the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Ultra and is expected to come with better features over the standard Galaxy Z Fold 6 model. Now, a report claims that this new high-end foldable model may not arrive in all markets.
A report by Galaxyclub.nl suggests that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Ultra has been in development. It also states that the device has been developed under the model code Q6A. The website reports that Samsung is working on a new device with a model number SM-F958, which according to the source is a Galaxy Z Fold 6 with an ‘Ultra’ branding. This is because the last digit of Samsung’s model numbering system usually indicates the model type.
According to the report, the number ‘6′ is always used for describing a ‘Fold model’, while the number ‘8′ is always used for the ‘Ultra’ models in recent years. The current Galaxy Z Fold 5 for example is called the SM-F946, while the upcoming fold is expected to carry the SM-F956 model number. Meanwhile the Galaxy S24 Ultra has the model number SM-S928.
Indeed, the new model number hints an unusual fusion of the Galaxy Z and Galaxy S series with the ‘Ultra’ branding moving to Samsung’s foldables for the first time. Samsung currently also uses the ‘Ultra’ branding for its Galaxy Tab S tablet series and for its Galaxy Book laptop series as well.
However, it’s not all good news. As galaxyclub.nl also suggests that for now, there is only an SM-F958N model being worked on by Samsung. The letter ‘N’ at the end indicates that it is a variant of the device developed for the South Korean market. The currently available information does not specify a device model or variant for other markets. And this is why the source concludes that Samsung may only release the standard model called the Galaxy Z Fold 6 at launch.
Alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 6, Samsung is also expected to launch its Galaxy Z Flip 6 model at the upcoming Unpacked, which is expected to be held in Paris, France this year.
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China’s Xiaomi is advising potential buyers of its SU7 electric sedan that they could face waits of four to seven months, in a sign of strong demand for its first-ever vehicle.
The maker of smartphones and other consumer electronics began taking orders on Thursday and said pre-orders hit 88,898 in the first 24 hours.
Deliveries for the standard SU7 model, priced at CNY 215,900 ($29,870 or roughly Rs. 24,89,900), may take 18-21 weeks, according to checks by Reuters on Xiaomi’s car app.
Deliveries for the SU7 Pro model could take 18-21 weeks, while the most expensive model, priced at CNY 299,900 (roughly Rs. 34,58,709), could take 27-30 weeks.
The SU7, whose design has drawn comparisons with Porsche’s Taycan and Panamera sports car models, has been launched amid a cut-throat price war in the world’s largest auto market where more than 40 brands vie for consumer attention.
On Monday, Huawei-backed Aito offered discounts of up to CNY 20,000 (roughly Rs. 2,30,000) on its new M7 SUVs until the end of end-April while Xpeng also offered subsidies of up to CNY 20,000 on its flagship electric SUV G9 for a limited time.
In addition, Chery announced it would offer tax breaks, trade-in subsidies and cash discounts on some of its best-selling gasoline-engine vehicles.
While the market is challenging for newcomers, analysts have noted that Xiaomi has deeper pockets than many EV startups and that its expertise in smartphones gives the company an edge in smart dashboards – a feature that Chinese consumers prize.
As part of the campaign to kick off sales, Xiaomi also released two special versions of the car called “Founder’s Edition” that come with complimentary gifts, such as refrigerators. The first 5,000 of those cars sold out immediately.
A second round of Founder’s Edition sales has been opened but it was not immediately clear how many would be sold.
PhonePe launched its Unified Payments Interface (UPI) services in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for Indian travellers as well as NRIs residing in the country on March 28. This service will now allow PhonePe users to make rapid digital transactions by scanning a QR code at retail stores, dining outlets, and other tourist attractions. The service is being enabled through UAE’s major bank Mashreq via its Neopay terminals. Notably, a report recently claimed that WhatsApp was also testing international UPI payments via its mobile apps for Indian users.
In a press release, PhonePe said that users will be able to make UPI payments in UAE through Mashreq’s Neopay terminals, which is available across a wide range of outlets. The UAE-based bank partnered with the National Payments Corporation of India’s (NPCI) International Payments Limited (NIPL) in 2021. That collaboration paved the path for PhonePe to form a new partnership with Mashreq to utilise the terminals for its platform.
“We aim to actively collaborate with financial institutions around the world, fostering partnerships to deliver convenient and secure cross-border payment solutions for consumers. This partnership encourages fintech collaboration and unifies the ecosystem to streamline payment processes for Indian travelers to UAE,” Anubhav Sharma, Deputy Chief – Partnership Business Development & Marketing, NIPL said.
The service will work in a fairly straightforward way. Users can simply scan the QR code located at the outlets to make payments. The transaction will occur in Indian currency while the users will see the currency exchange rate for transparency. Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) will also be able to avail this service using UAE mobile numbers by downloading the app and linking their existing Non-Resident External (NRE) and Non-Resident Ordinary (NRO) accounts. The company said that this service is aimed at enhancing the convenience of transactions for the Indian community in the UAE.
Ritesh Pai, CEO of International Payments, PhonePe said at the launch of the service, “We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Mashreq. UAE is a very popular destination, with millions of Indian visitors every year. With this partnership, customers can now conveniently transact through UPI, a payment method they are familiar with.”
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