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Asus launches ZenBook Duo laptop in India at Rs 159,990 onwards: Details

Asus launches ZenBook Duo laptop in India at Rs 159,990 onwards: Details

by | Apr 16, 2024 | Technology


2 min read Last Updated : Apr 16 2024 | 1:27 PM IST

Unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this year, the Asus ZenBook Duo is now available in India. The laptop boasts a novel dual-touchscreen design and a detachable Bluetooth keyboard. Priced at Rs 159,990 onwards, the ZenBook Duo is now available for purchase online on ASUS e-shop, e-commerce platforms Amazon India and Flipkart, and Asus exclusive stores, including ROG stores.


Asus ZenBook Duo: Features


The laptop boasts twin 14-inch full HD resolution OLED touchscreens and a detachable Bluetooth keyboard. Asus said the displays on the laptop are validated by Pantone for colour accuracy. Moreover, Asus said, the display supports Dolby Vision HDR. For protection against scratches and smudges, the display is fortified with Gorilla Glass.


Asus said it has added software features to enable novel experiences possible through dual-screen design. Besides, the displays support gestures for intuitive experiences that go beyond those offered by conventional laptops.


The ZenBook Duo is powered by up to Intel Core Ultra 9 processor. Asus said the laptop is Intel Evo-certified and backed by its advanced cooling system for thermal management.


The ZenBook Duo has multiple I/O ports, a dual-mode keyboard, fast charging, and stylus support.


ASUS ZenBook Duo: Specifications


  • Display:  2x 14-inch FullHD+ OLED Touchscreens, 16:10 aspect ratio, 60Hz refresh rate, 500nits peak brightness, Pantone validated


  • Processor: Intel Core Ultra 9 (185H) / Core Ultra 7 (155H) / Core Ultra 5 (125H)


  • Graphics: Intel Arc Graphics


  • RAM: Up to 32GB LPDDR5x


  • Storage: Up to 2TB PCle 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD


  • Ports: 2 x Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A, 1 x full-size HDMI 2.1, 1x 3.5mm audio jack


  • Speakers: Dual speakers, Dolby Atmos, Harman Kardon-certified


  • Camera: ASUS AiSense Camera, FHD 3DNR IR camera with ambient light and colour sensor


  • Battery: 75Wh Lithium-polymer battery


  • Charging: 65W Type-C power adapter


  • Weight: 1.35Kg (Without Keyboard), 1.65Kg (With Keyboard)

First Published: Apr 16 2024 | 1:26 PM IST



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New X users may need to pay an annual fee to post on platform: Elon Musk

New X users may need to pay an annual fee to post on platform: Elon Musk

by | Apr 16, 2024 | Technology


2 min read Last Updated : Apr 16 2024 | 12:39 PM IST

Elon Musk announced that new users might incur charges for posting content on the social platform X (formerly Twitter). Responding to a user query on the platform, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX explained that implementing “a small fee for new user write access” is necessary to combat the persistent threat of bots.


Musk was responding to a tweet made by the X Daily News which had posted a notice by the platform stating that new accounts are required to pay a “small annual fee” before being able to “post, like, bookmark, and reply”. The notice added that this was to “reduce spam” and “create a better experience for everyone.”


Users can, however, continue to follow accounts for free.


“The onslaught of fake accounts also uses up the available namespace, so many good handles are taken as a result,” Musk explained in his response.


Musk also highlighted that current AI can easily bypass traditional bot detection measures.


“Current AI (and troll farms) can pass ‘are you a bot’ with ease,” he said.


Emphasising that this measure targets new users exclusively, Musk clarified that after a probationary period of three months, users would regain free write access.


This announcement follows the platform’s decision last October to charge new unverified users in New Zealand and the Philippines a fee of $1 per year.


Recently, X initiated a massive purge of spam accounts, resulting in some users losing followers. The platform has been grappling with an influx of spam and porn bots in recent months, prompting Musk to initiate the purge.

First Published: Apr 16 2024 | 12:33 PM IST





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Google to launch second-gen foldable device under Pixel 9 series: Report

Google to launch second-gen foldable device under Pixel 9 series: Report

by | Apr 16, 2024 | Technology


Representative Image: Google Pixel Fold

2 min read Last Updated : Apr 16 2024 | 12:11 PM IST


Google is reportedly planning to launch its next-generation foldable smartphone under the Pixel 9 series. Consumer technology news platform Android Authority has reported that Google is expected to change the naming scheme to integrate the fold and non-fold line under the 2024 Pixel series. According to the report, the next-generation Pixel Fold, which was supposed to be named “Pixel Fold 2” as per the previous nomenclature, would launch as the “Pixel 9 Pro Fold”. A change in the naming scheme would likely have wider implications than just a rebrand.


The first-generation Pixel Fold was launched at the 2023 Google I/O Developers Conference. According to the report, Google internally called it a “Mid-Year” and not a flagship. However, if Google integrates the Fold line with the mainstream Pixel line, there is a likelihood that the company would treat the device similarly to its other flagship smartphones.


It is also likely that the company would make the “Pixel 9 Pro Fold” available in more markets, including India. The “Pro” suffix also suggests that the next-generation Pixel Fold would carry some of the hardware and features from the Pixel 9 Pro smartphone.


The upcoming Pixel Fold smartphone would likely be powered by the upcoming Tensor G4 chipset, which is expected to power the entire Pixel 9 series. For reference, the first-generation Pixel Fold was powered by the Tensor G2 chip.


Apart from the next-generation foldable, Google is reportedly planning to launch a new smaller-sized “Pro” model in the Pixel 9 series. According to news reports, the smaller Pixel 9 Pro would boast a display of the size of the vanilla Pixel 9 model. It would be joined by a “Pro XL” model, which would have a bigger display. If true, the Pixel 9 series would encompass four models – the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The Pixel 9a may join the series on later dates, but there is no confirmation or news on its existence as yet.

First Published: Apr 16 2024 | 12:11 PM IST



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Microsoft to invest .5 bn in UAE-based AI firm G42, takes minority stake

Microsoft to invest $1.5 bn in UAE-based AI firm G42, takes minority stake

by | Apr 16, 2024 | Technology


2 min read Last Updated : Apr 16 2024 | 10:14 PM IST


Microsoft will invest $1.5 billion in United Arab Emirates-based artificial intelligence firm G42, giving the US tech giant a minority stake and a seat on the board, the companies said in a statement on Tuesday.

 


Under the partnership, G42 will run its AI applications and services on Microsoft’s cloud computing platform Azure to deliver advanced AI solutions to global public sector clients and large enterprises.

 


Microsoft President Brad Smith, who will take a seat on G42’s board, said “We will combine world-class technology with world-leading standards for safe, trusted, and responsible AI, in close coordination with the governments of both the UAE and the United States.”

 


The firms will work together to bring advanced AI and digital infrastructure to countries in the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa.


The partnership comes amid Washington’s efforts to hobble Beijing’s technological advances, with the US adding four Chinese companies to an export blacklist for seeking to acquire AI chips for China’s military.

 


G42 had divested its investments in China and began the lengthy task of pulling out Chinese hardware amid US concerns over its relationship with Chinese businesses.

 


Microsoft and G42 will support the establishment of a $1 billion fund for developers to boost AI skills in the UAE and broader region.

 


The New York Times, which first reported the partnership, said deal places a series of protections on the AI products shared with G42, including an agreement to strip Chinese gear out of the Emirati firm’s operations. G42 will cease using Huawei telecom equipment, which the US fears could provide a backdoor for Chinese intelligence agencies, the paper said.

 


G42 and Azure have collaborated multiple times over the last year, and G42 said it would use Microsoft’s Azure data centers as part of its AI infrastructure to boost regional adoption.


(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.)

First Published: Apr 16 2024 | 12:10 PM IST



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YouTube extends crackdown to ad-blocking third-party mobile apps: Details

YouTube extends crackdown to ad-blocking third-party mobile apps: Details

by | Apr 16, 2024 | Technology


2 min read Last Updated : Apr 16 2024 | 10:57 AM IST


After cracking down on ad-blocking browser extensions, YouTube is now enforcing its policies on third-party ad-blocking apps. In a recent update on YouTube’s blog page, the Google-owned video streaming platform said, “We’re strengthening our enforcement on third-party apps that violate YouTube’s Terms of Service, specifically ad-blocking apps.”


YouTube said that those who are using third-party apps to block ads in the free tier may experience buffering issues while watching a video or see an error message that says, “The following content is not available on this app”.


The video streaming platform said that its terms do not allow third-party apps to turn off ads as it prevents creators on its platform from being rewarded for viewership.


According to a report by The Verge, YouTube has already started blocking YouTube videos from various third-party mobile apps such as AdGuard. YouTube said that it will only allow third-party apps to use its API when they follow its API’s “Terms of Services”. It added, if an app is found violating its terms, YouTube will take appropriate action to protect the “platform, creators and viewers”.


For watching videos without ads, YouTube suggests subscribing to YouTube Premium, which offers ad-free streaming along with additional content.


YouTube initially started the crackdown on ad-blockers in June, last year, as an experiment. It later started restricting content for viewers who were using an ad-blocking browser extension on the web version of the platform. The streaming platform started displaying a warning message that “ad-blockers violate YouTube’s terms of service”. YouTube mandated users to disable the ad-blocker to continue watching videos on the platform.

First Published: Apr 16 2024 | 10:57 AM IST



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China's Baidu says AI chatbot 'Ernie Bot' has attracted 200 million users

China's Baidu says AI chatbot 'Ernie Bot' has attracted 200 million users

by | Apr 16, 2024 | Technology


2 min read Last Updated : Apr 16 2024 | 10:09 AM IST


China’s Baidu said on Tuesday its artificial intelligence chatbot “Ernie Bot” has garnered more than 200 million users as it seeks to remain China’s most popular ChatGPT-like chatbot amid increasingly fierce competition.


The number of users has roughly doubled since the company’s last update in December. The chatbot was released to the public eight months ago.


Baidu CEO Robin Li also said Ernie Bot’s application programming interface (API) is being used 200 million times everyday, meaning the chatbot was requested by its user to conduct tasks that many times a day.


The number of enterprise clients for the chatbot reached 85,000, Li said at a conference in Shenzhen.


In February, he told analysts Baidu was starting to generate revenue from Ernie, and in the fourth quarter the company had earned several hundred million yuan using AI to improve its ad services and help other companies build their own models.


Last March, Ernie Bot was the first locally developed ChatGPT-like chatbot to be announced in China, but it only won approval for public release in August, one of the first eight AI chatbots that Beijing approved.


Unlike many other countries, China requires companies to obtain approval before rolling out generative AI services.


Recent data shows that rival domestic AI services, particularly the “Kimi” chatbot from a 12-month-old, Alibaba-backed start-up named Moonshot AI, are quickly catching up with Ernie Bot.


Ernie Bot was visited a total of 14.9 million times across its app and website last month, while Kimi had a total of 12.6 million visits in the same month, data from AIcpb.com, a site that tracks user visits to online AI services, showed.


And Kimi was growing much faster, with visits jumping 321.6% in March from February, while the number of visits to Ernie Bot grew more than 48%, the data showed.


Globally, Chinese generative AI services still lag far behind their Western counterparts. According to AIcpb.com, OpenAI’s ChatGPT remains the world’s most popular generative AI service, with total traffic growing 9% to reach 1.86 billion views last month.


In recent months, China has accelerated approvals for AI services after highlighting AI as a key area in tech where China will have to compete with the U.S. Last week, state media reported 117 large AI models have received approvals so far.

First Published: Apr 16 2024 | 10:09 AM IST



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