Fitbit by Google: Maps coming soon to Versa 4 and Sense 2 fitness wearables

by Hansraj Agrawal | Sep 30, 2022 | Technology

Acquired by Google in 2021, the health and fitness tracker maker Fitbit is now ‘Fitbit by Google’. It is not just the new branding; select Google services are coming to the Fitbit products line. The company on Thursday announced that Google Maps would soon be available on the recently launched Fitbit Versa 4 and Sense 2.

Priced at Rs 24,999, the Sense 2 is a premium health-tracking smartwatch in the Fitbit line. It has sensors that can detect signs of atrial fibrillation through the ECG app and PPG algorithm (both FDA cleared and CE marked) which helps to track heart health. It also has a Body Response sensor, which measures cEDA for stress management. The smartwatch offers features like heart rate variability, skin temperature and more with over six days of battery life.

The Versa 4, priced at Rs 20,499, is similar to the Sense 2 but without ECG sensor. It offers over 40 exercise modes, real-time stats, built-in GPS and Active Zone Minutes. It packs premium features such as ‘Daily Readiness Score’ that help in tracking activity goals. Like the Sense 2, the Vera 4 has a six days battery life.

Besides Sense 2 and Versa 4, Fitbit launched an entry-level fitness tracker called the Inspire 3. Priced at Rs 8,999, the tracker has a colour display that shows health metrics, date and time, and more. It is a minimal device designed around health and fitness features with ten days of battery life.

Fitbit is offering six-month premium membership for new and returning customers with the Inspire 3, Versa 4, and Sense 2. Fitbit Premium membership enables features such as daily readiness score and sleep profile. Besides, it offers over 1,000 workout and mindfulness sessions.

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Apple plans to build team for its electric car ‘Project Titan’ soon

by Hansraj Agrawal | Sep 30, 2022 | Technology

Tech giant Apple is reportedly planning to build a team for its electric car project — Project Titan — before the end of the year.

On the microblogging site, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo wrote, “Apple is building a new team to accelerate the project that was laying dormant during the Covid pandemic”.

Apple went through many stages of its rumored car project, never actually confirming nor denying the existence of it, reports ArenaEV.

Industry analysts have been predicting an Apple Car for years now, it began as a simple city car and now it is looking more to be a fully-autonomous vehicle that will not require any input from the driver, the report said.

Project Titan began its life in 2014, when Apple formed a so-called shell company — the SixtyEight Research — to work on the car project.

The project has been marred by many changes, teams walking away, direction of the project changing completely, sudden changes of management.

Bob Mansfield, who was the VP of Technologies at Apple, currently leads the project.

With all the restrictions and wider industry aftershocks slowly subsiding, it looks like Apple wants to get back on track with the Titan Project, the report said.

Two years were lost and it will take more time to catch up with the lost work, it added.

–IANS

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(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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Apple includes ‘Emergency SOS via Satellite’ demo in iOS 16.1 beta

by Hansraj Agrawal | Sep 29, 2022 | Technology

Apple is gearing up to showcase a demo of its Emergency SOS via Satellite feature with iOS 16.1 release for iPhone 14 users.

The iOS 16.1 update will include a ‘Satellite Connection Demo’ so that users can try out the satellite connection without actually calling emergency services.

The company has released iOS 16.1 beta 3 to developers. With this feature, users will be able to see how Emergency SOS via Satellite works without having to go to a remote area without Wi-Fi or cellular signal, reports 9to5Mac.

The Emergency SOS via Satellite update is expected to be released to the public in October and the satellite features will be available in November.

The ‘Satellite Connection Demo’ can be accessed at any time via the Emergency SOS menu within the Settings app once it becomes available.

The iOS 16.1 update also has a Clean Energy Charging option, Live Activities API, early support for the Matter protocol and the option to delete the Wallet app.

The Emergency SOS via satellite combines custom components deeply integrated with software to allow antennas to connect directly to a satellite, enabling messaging with emergency services when outside of cellular or Wi-Fi coverage.

According to Apple, Emergency SOS via satellite will be available to users in the US and Canada in November, and the service will be free for two years.

–IANS

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(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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Google search gets new features to be visual and add languages

by Hansraj Agrawal | Sep 29, 2022 | Technology

Google search will become more natural and intuitive, improving itself after its features for text, voice and visuals.

At the ‘Search On 22’ event recently, the technology giant announced new search features and updates that are more visual and support more languages.

“Google is making visual search even more natural with multisearch, a completely new way to search using images and text simultaneously, similar to how you might point at something and ask a friend a question about it,” said Prabhakar Raghavan, senior vice president at Google, in a blog post.

Multisearch was launched as a beta service in the US earlier this year and it will expand to more than 70 languages in the coming months. “We’re taking this capability even further with “multisearch near me,” enabling you to take a picture of an unfamiliar item, such as a dish or plant, then find it at a local place nearby, like a restaurant or gardening shop. We will start rolling “multisearch near me” out in English in the US this fall” he said.

Google is updating its strategy, as the young prefer platforms like TikTok and Instagram to search the internet. Search added nine new features for making shopping easier on Google. The new features give a visual feed of products, research tools and nearby inventory related to that product. Search is expanding the shopping options beyond apparel to all categories: from electronics to beauty.

Google is using AI for its shopping graph which now understands more than 35 billion product listings—up from 24 billion last year. Google is also integrating 3D into search, especially shopping. People engage with 3D images almost 50 per cent more than static ones. Google started with home goods earlier this year, and now will have sneakers in this format.

Google is also making map visual and 3D enabled. Google launched over 250 photorealistic aerial views of global landmarks that span everything from the Tokyo Tower to the Acropolis—marking a significant step toward a more immersive map. With search’s Live View, one can find what’s around you more intuitively.

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Apple may add exclusive features to upcoming iPhone 15 Pro Max: Analyst

by Hansraj Agrawal | Sep 29, 2022 | Technology

In an effort to get more customers to buy its larger and more expensive model, tech giant Apple may plan to offer exclusive features to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which is likely to launch next year, says an analyst.

According to Ming-Chi Kuo, due to the high demand for the 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max, the tech giant may decide to further differentiate its next iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models.

“iPhone 14 Pro Max accounts for about 60 per cent of the total order increase of Pro models, benefiting iPhone ASP/product mix for 4Q22,” Kuo wrote on the microblogging site Twitter.

“I think this result will encourage Apple to create more differentiation between iPhone 15 Pro Max and 15 Pro to raise 15 Pro Max shipments and enhance the iPhone product mix,” he added.

Kuo recently said that the iPhone 14 Pro Max is expected to be the most popular model, accounting for 30 to 35 per cent of the new product line.

Meanwhile, a recent report said that Apple may replace the current “Pro Max” branding next year with the top-end iPhone 15 series, calling it “Ultra”.

The “Pro Max” branding appeared for the first time with the iPhone 11 series in 2019.

Kuo had also suggested that “Ultra” will exclusively have a periscope lens (6x or 5x). Also, the Ultra will come with an improved battery life that lasts three-four hours longer.

With all these exclusive upgrades, the iPhone 15 Ultra is expected to go up in price compared to the 14 Pro Max, possibly starting at $1,200 (up from $1,100).

–IANS

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(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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Microsoft rolls out Windows 11 2022 update: What is new and how to get it

by Hansraj Agrawal | Sep 29, 2022 | Technology

Microsoft has released the Windows 11 2022 Update, the latest version of its operating system for PCs and laptops. It is the first major update to Windows 11, which was launched last year. The company confirmed that the update has been rolled out in 190+ countries, including India.

Windows 11 2022 Update: What is new

The update brings more layout and grids in the Windows snap layouts feature the helps the user to multitask by opening multiple windows at the same time. It also includes focus sessions and do not disturb, which silences notifications, and turns off application notifications in the taskbar. Besides, there is Windows studio effects to improve video and audio calls. Microsoft has also added Clipchamp video editing to the package with the update.

In partnership with Amazon, Microsoft expands the Amazon Appstore Preview to international markets and brings more than 20,000 Android apps and games to Windows 11 devices. This update will deliver features like auto HDR and variable refresh rate on windowed games to improve latency.

New accessibility features include a system-wide live captions option, to automatically generate captions from any form of audio content on Windows 11. It also offers voice access, which allows users to control their PC and author text using only their voice. Smart App Control blocks untrusted or unsigned applications from running on Windows 11 and predicts the safety of an application in real time.

Windows 11 2022 Update: How to get it

For Windows 11 devices

Users with eligible devices running Windows 11, version 21H2, can install the latest version by following steps:

Step 1: Go to ‘Settings’, and click on ‘Windows Update’

Step 2: Then select ‘Check for updates’

Step 3: If you are ready to download the update, click on ‘Download and install’

Note: Make sure to keep your PC on and plugged in during the installation. After your PC downloads and installs the update, you’ll need to restart to complete the experience.

Windows 10 devices:

Users running Windows 10, can check if their device is eligible (i.e., meets the minimum system requirements for Windows 11) to upgrade using the PC Health Check app. To check if their specific device is ready for update they can do so by following steps:

Step 1: Go to ‘Settings’, and click on ‘Update & Security’

Step 2: Select ‘Windows Update’, and ‘Check for updates’

Step 3: If the upgrade is ready, the option to ‘Download and Install’ will appear

Step 4: If you are ready to install Windows 11, select ’Download and install’ and accept the software license term to continue

Microsoft confirmed that a few updates will be coming next month, including an updated photo management app to simplify browsing, finding, management and consumption of photos. Taskbar will offer an overflow menu that allows you to view all your overflowed apps in one space.

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