Times Top News

Times Top News

Pixel 8a can be located by Google's Find My Device even when switched off

Pixel 8a can be located by Google's Find My Device even when switched off

by | May 9, 2024 | Technology


2 min read Last Updated : May 09 2024 | 4:38 PM IST


The Pixel 8a joins its elder siblings, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, in advanced location tracking feature that enables Google’s Find My Device network to locate the devices even when they are switched off or out of battery power. In simple language, you can track down the Pixel 8 series smartphones, including the recently launched Pixel 8a, even when switched off or out of battery power by using Google’s Find My Device.


Google launched Find My Device functionality to Android smartphones last month. The feature uses a crowdsource network, essentially a network of Android smartphones to help locate misplaced Android devices. At the time of launch, Google said that the feature will be able to locate both Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones even when they are turned off. Now, this feature is extended to the Pixel 8a, which is a new addition to the Pixel 8 series.


According to a report by Android Authority, the Google Pixel 8a supports offline tracking through Find My Device using specialised hardware which has been inside all other Pixel 8-series smartphones too.


While Google has not officially confirmed the presence of any such feature on the new Pixel 8a, the report states that the smartphone supports Android’s Powered-Off Finding API. This Android API is responsible for sending location data in power off mode from the other Pixel 8 series smartphones.


How Google Find My Device works


Android devices that contribute to the Find My Device network broadcast location data over Bluetooth that other nearby Android devices can pick up on. When other devices in the network detect these signals, they securely send the locations where they detected them to Find My Device. The Find My Device network encrypts the locations of the lost items using a unique key that only the owner can access by entering your Android device’s PIN, pattern, or password.


How Find My Device works on Pixel 8 series


Majority of Android devices cannot broadcast their location data over Bluetooth when out of battery or turned off. This is because the Bluetooth chips do not receive power to run in this state. However, in a statement to Android Authority last month, Google said that the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones have reserve power channelled to the Bluetooth chip for several hours even after the battery drains out

First Published: May 09 2024 | 4:38 PM IST



Source link

WhatsApp set to release new audio call bar feature: Here's how it works

WhatsApp set to release new audio call bar feature: Here's how it works

by | May 9, 2024 | Technology


Additionally, WhatsApp is rolling out a zoom control feature for the camera to select iOS beta testers

2 min read Last Updated : May 09 2024 | 3:01 PM IST

Messaging platform WhatsApp will launch a new audio call bar feature that is currently accessible to select Android beta testers, WABetaInfo reported. Select beta testers are currently exploring the feature designed to oversee outgoing audio calls within the app.


How does the new audio call bar feature work?


When users minimise the call, they encounter a redesigned call bar positioned at the interface’s top, providing enhanced management of outgoing calls. Previously, users had to tap the green status bar to re-enter the call. But with the arrival of the new call bar, users can now easily mute or end the call directly, removing the need to navigate back to the call screen.


The updated interface introduces a new minimise button aimed at reducing confusion in call navigation, along with revamped buttons located at the screen’s top for better visibility and distinction.

WABetaInfo, in a report, said, “The introduction of the new call bar offers significant advantages for users, as it enhances multitasking capabilities by allowing users to manage outgoing calls with ease. This means users can continue with other tasks or conversations within the app while still having quick access to some call controls while experimenting with a more modern interface for the call bar.”


WhatsApp rolls out zoom control feature


Additionally, WhatsApp is rolling out a zoom control feature for the camera to select iOS beta testers. A fresh button has been added, enabling users to effortlessly adjust zoom levels during recording, enhancing their capacity to create photo and video content with accuracy. This camera zoom feature is available in update version 24.9.10.75 of WhatsApp.


WhatsApp Community members can create events


Last week, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that WhatsApp Community members now have the ability to create events within their groups and respond to admin announcements. The CEO said the introduction of the event creation option for groups aims to facilitate both offline and online gatherings.


Regarding the “reply to admin announcements” feature in Community Announcement Groups, Zuckerberg said it will help in enabling admins to gather feedback from group members.

First Published: May 09 2024 | 3:00 PM IST



Source link

Motorola sets Edge 50 Fusion launch in India for May 16, confirms key specs

Motorola sets Edge 50 Fusion launch in India for May 16, confirms key specs

by | May 9, 2024 | Technology


2 min read Last Updated : May 09 2024 | 2:18 PM IST


China’s Lenovo-owned smartphone brand Motorola has scheduled the launch of the Edge 50 Fusion smartphone in India for May 16. On X, formerly Twitter, Motorola India confirmed that the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion smartphone will launch in India on the e-commerce platform Flipkart. The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion debuted alongside the Edge 50 Pro and Edge 50 Ultra. While the Edge 50 Pro arrived in India on April 3, the Edge 50 Fusion is slated for launch in the country on May 16.


Alongside announcing the launch date, Motorola India confirmed key specifications of its upcoming smartphone. Check details below:


Motorola Edge 50 Fusion: Specifications


The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion will sport a 6.7-inch pOLED 3D curved display of 144Hz refresh rate and 1600 nits peak brightness. Motorola confirmed that the smartphone display will have Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. The smartphone will be offered in three Pantone curated colours – Forest Blue, Marshmallow Blue and Hot Pink. The Marshmallow Blue and Hot Pink coloured variants will get a Vegan Leather treatment at the back with the Hot Pink will feature a suede finish. The Forest Blue coloured smartphone will get a PMMA finish on the back panel.


Imaging on the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion smartphone will be handled by a 50MP Sony LYTIA 700C primary sensor alongside a 13MP ultrawide angle camera on the back. The smartphone will sport a 32MP front facing camera.


The smartphone will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 System-on-chip (SoC). It will be offered in up to 12GB RAM and 256GB onboard storage configuration. The smartphone will be powered by a 5000mAh battery which will be supported by a 68W wired charging. The smartphone will boot Android 14 operating system with Motorola’s own Hello UI layered on top. Motorola said that it will provide 3 years of OS update and 4 years of security patches on the smartphone.

First Published: May 09 2024 | 2:15 PM IST



Source link

WhatsApp: Banned in China, Meta's messaging app now working for some users

WhatsApp: Banned in China, Meta's messaging app now working for some users

by | May 9, 2024 | Technology


WhatsApp, Meta, Social media (Photo: Bloomberg)

2 min read Last Updated : May 09 2024 | 1:52 PM IST


By Bloomberg News

WhatsApp has begun working freely and consistently for some users in China despite a longstanding government ban on the messaging service, an unusual phenomenon for a country with some of the world’s strictest internet curbs.

 


Users of the Meta Platforms Inc. service in Beijing and Shanghai, who normally employ workarounds like a virtual private network to get on the service, have been sending and receiving messages without those tools. Other social media services such as Signal and Instagram remain barred, part of a broad blockade of foreign internet platforms that critics have dubbed the Great Firewall. 


It’s unclear how many people across China have been able to navigate WhatsApp during the period. The phenomenon hasn’t yet trended on domestic social media such as the Twitter-like Weibo. Only several million people are estimated to use Meta’s signature messaging tool in the country, versus more than a billion for Tencent Holdings Ltd.’s WeChat. Representatives for WhatsApp declined to comment, while the Cyberspace Administration of China didn’t respond to a faxed query.


Beijing has barred the use of foreign messaging and social media platforms like WhatsApp for years, part of a broader campaign to tamp down potential dissent and enforce the Party’s control of content. That’s helped apps like WeChat and Weibo dominate, though Chinese users still employ VPNs to view Western media. Like most foreign messaging platforms, WhatsApp messages are encrypted on both ends and are difficult to police.


Still, users in China have in the past reported being able to access blocked services and websites for brief periods, which industry experts attribute to glitches in network restrictions. But at least some people in China’s two largest cities say they’ve been able to send and receive WhatsApp messages over an uninterrupted two-week span — an unusually long period for the country.


At least one of the users said that span began right around the time Apple Inc. removed WhatsApp and other social media services including Threads and Signal from its Chinese app store, responding to orders from Beijing to close more loopholes in the internet firewall.

First Published: May 09 2024 | 1:52 PM IST



Source link

Amazon launches Fire TV Stick 4K with HDR10 Plus, Dolby Vision at Rs 5,999

Amazon launches Fire TV Stick 4K with HDR10 Plus, Dolby Vision at Rs 5,999

by | May 9, 2024 | Technology


2 min read Last Updated : May 09 2024 | 1:53 PM IST

Amazon on May 9 launched the Fire TV Stick 4K. The streaming stick supports 4K content with UltraHD picture quality complemented by support for high dynamic range formats such as Dolby Vision and HDR10+. Moreover, the streaming stick supports Dolby Atmos surround sound. Amazon said that the new Fire TV Stick 4K is its most powerful streaming stick in India with 30 per cent more power than the previous generations of Fire TV devices.


Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K: Price and availability


Priced at Rs 5,999, the new Fire TV Stick 4K is now available for pre-orders on the e-commerce platform Amazon India and will start shipping from May 13. Customers can also purchase the new streaming stick from select online and offline retailers including Croma, Reliance Digital, and Vijay Sales from May 13.


Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K: Details


The new Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is powered by a 1.7 GHz quad-core processor and is compatible with Wi-Fi 6 over both 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands. The Fire TV Stick 4K includes a “Low Power Mode”, which conserves energy when a device goes to sleep or standby mode due to inactivity.


The included Alexa Voice Remote can control the Fire TV Stick 4K and certain functions such as power and volume on compatible TVs. Additionally, users can search, launch and control content with their voice. The Alexa Voice Remote also comes with pre-set buttons for select apps and streaming services.


Amazon said the Fire TV Stick 4K provides access to over 12,000 apps through its App Store, including popular streaming apps such as Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, Zee5, and Jio Cinema. It also supports other free-to-use streaming platforms including Amazon MiniTV, YouTube, and MX Player.

First Published: May 09 2024 | 1:52 PM IST



Source link

Pixel 8a: How 2024 affordable Google phone compares to Pixel 7a, Pixel 8

Pixel 8a: How 2024 affordable Google phone compares to Pixel 7a, Pixel 8

by | May 9, 2024 | Technology


3 min read Last Updated : May 09 2024 | 2:08 PM IST


Google has launched the Pixel 8a, its affordable smartphone model in the Pixel 8 series. The smartphone brings significant upgrades over the predecessor, the Pixel 7a. In fact, it has several features from the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro such as Google Gemini AI and gesture-driven Circle to Search. On that note, let us find out how the Pixel 8a compares to the Pixel 7a and the Pixel 8:


Display


  • Pixel 8a: 6.1-inch FHD+ OLED, 120Hz refresh rate


  • Pixel 7a: 6.1-inch FHD+ OLED, 90Hz refresh rate


  • Pixel 8: 6.2-inch FHD+ OLED, 120Hz refresh rate


The Pixel 8a and Pixel 8 boast a smoother 120Hz refresh rate display compared to the Pixel 7a’s 90Hz. The Pixel 8 has a slight advantage here with a tad bigger display footprint at 6.2-inch.


Processor


  • Pixel 8a: Tensor G3


  • Pixel 7a: Tensor G2


  • Pixel 8: Tensor G3


The Pixel 8a and Pixel 8 have the edge here with the Tensor G3 chip, likely meaning better performance and efficiency.


Storage


  • Pixel 8a: 128GB or 256GB options


  • Pixel 7a: 128GB only


  • Pixel 8: 128GB or 256GB options


The Pixel 8a offers a higher storage option (256GB), compared to the Pixel 7a. This is important because the Pixel smartphone series does not support storage expansion via external cards.


Camera


The Pixel 8a and Pixel 7a have a similar camera setup, featuring 64MP main and 13MP ultrawide dual-camera system on the rear and a 13MP camera sensor on the front. The Pixel 8, on the other hand, boasts 50MP main and 12MP ultrawide with autofocus on the rear and a 10.5MP camera sensor on the front.


Battery


  • Pixel 8a: 4492mAh battery with 18W fast charging


  • Pixel 7a: 4385mAh battery with 18W fast charging


  • Pixel 8: 4575mAh battery with 27W fast charging


The Pixel 8 has a slightly larger battery and faster charging compared to both the Pixel 8a and Pixel 7a.


Software


All three phones currently run Android 14. However, the Pixel 8a and Pixel 8 will receive seven years of OS updates, security updates, and feature drops. In comparison, the Pixel 7a will receive shorter software support.


Price


Pixel 8a (8GB + 128GB): Rs 52,999

 


Pixel 8a (8GB + 256GB): Rs 59,999




Colours: Aloe, Bay, Obsidian, and Porcelain


Pixel 8 (8GB RAM + 128GB): Rs 62,999 (currently discounted on Flipkart)




Colours: Hazel, Mint, Obsidian and Rose


Pixel 7a (8GB RAM + 128GB): Rs 36,999 (currently discounted on Flipkart)




Colours: Charcoal, Coral, Sea and snow


The Pixel 8a offers the newest processor, a brighter and smoother display of a 120Hz refresh rate, longer software support, and a slightly better battery with faster charging compared to the Pixel 7a. The Pixel 8 seems very similar to the Pixel 8a but with a slightly larger screen and a higher performing camera system. The Pixel 7a is the most affordable option but lags behind in some key specifications. But it makes the best value proposition at its current price. However, consider the Pixel 8a for the latest tech and software support. Goes without say, the Pixel 8 is the best among the three but it comes at a premium price.

First Published: May 09 2024 | 1:46 PM IST



Source link

About-us

Privacy Policy

Email: hansrajagrawalakola@gmail.com

YouTube
Instagram
WhatsApp