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iQOO Neo 9 Pro review: Performance-focuses smartphone with fiery red design | Tech Reviews – Business Standard

iQOO Neo 9 Pro review: Performance-focuses smartphone with fiery red design | Tech Reviews – Business Standard

by | Mar 1, 2024 | Technology


iQOO is typically associated with performance-centric smartphones. This year, however, the Chinese smartphone brand is striving to bolster its portfolio with devices that emphasise imaging and design aspects as well. A prime example is the recently unveiled iQOO Neo 9 Pro, a midrange smartphone priced at Rs 35,999 onwards, featuring a unique dual-tone design with vegan leather on the back panel and a dual-camera system headlined by a 50-megapixel main sensor.


Design


The iQOO Neo 9 Pro presents a striking appearance in its bold fiery red colourway (as reviewed). Adorned with a soft vegan leather coating on the back cover in a red and white colour scheme, the dual-tone design adds character, albeit with a noticeable plastic-like texture in the white area. Complementing the rear profile is a two-piece camera island with each unit bordered by a shiny metallic ring.


Beyond its aesthetic allure, the phone boasts a slim and lightweight build, facilitating ease of handling and comfort during usage. The vegan leather back instills confidence with its secure grip, although it is susceptible to colour deterioration and damage. Notably, the slightly protruding rear cameras cause the phone to wobble on flat surfaces.


Display and audio

The iQOO Neo 9 Pro features a 6.78-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with a 144Hz adaptive refresh rate. Delivering a bright and vivid panel with responsive touch capabilities, the display provides a smooth user experience, even though it tends to hover between 1Hz-120Hz in the default refresh rate mode, never quite reaching the peak 144Hz. This, however, does not significantly impact the overall smoothness of the user experience.

READ: Samsung Galaxy A15 5G gets 6GB RAM, 128GB storage variant: Details here


iQOO has integrated several value-added features to enhance the display experience, including a visual enhancement tool, MEMC, and super resolution. These features, facilitated by the Supercomputing Q1 chip, enable smoother frame rates and enhanced graphics in select games and apps, notably YouTube and Netflix. Additionally, the phone delivers a satisfactory audio experience through its stereo speakers, albeit lacking fullness and balance.


Camera


The iQOO Neo 9 Pro has a dual-camera system on the rear, comprising a 50-megapixel main sensor (Sony IMX920) with optical image stabilisation and an 8MP ultra-wide-angle sensor. The iQOO Neo 9 Pro offers competent camera capabilities. While the primary sensor delivers consistent performance across various lighting conditions, capturing fine details and exhibiting decent dynamic range and contrast, the captured colours may appear washed out, although easily rectifiable with the built-in photo-editing tool.


The ultra-wide-angle camera performs well with accurate colours and a wide field-of-view suitable for cityscape and landscape shots, albeit struggling in low-light conditions. The front camera, while adequate for everyday use, may exhibit difficulties in separating the background, resulting in artifacts, particularly along subject contours.


In summary, while the camera system represents an improvement over previous generations of the Neo series, it falls short of competing brands like Realme and Xiaomi in the same segment.


Performance

Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro offers midrange smartphone performance comparable to premium flagships. Capable of handling routine tasks and power-intensive workloads such as video editing and gaming with ease, the device effectively manages thermal control, ensuring sustained performance without discomfort during prolonged usage.

READ: HONOR X9b review: Sturdy smartphone with good battery, beautiful design


Complementing the swift performance is the Android 14-based Funtouch OS 14, which, while not the most refined custom interface, presents significant improvements over previous iterations. However, users transitioning from brands outside Vivo and iQOO may find the interface somewhat confusing due to bloatware and asymmetrically scaled interface elements.


Battery and charging


With a 5,160 mAh battery, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro delivers a commendable on-battery time exceeding a day with normal usage, supported by a screen-on time of seven to eight hours. Power-hungry tasks naturally deplete the battery more rapidly, but the included 120W charger replenishes the battery to full capacity in approximately 40 minutes, ensuring minimal downtime.


Verdict


The iQOO Neo 9 Pro emerges as a commendable performance-centric smartphone, albeit falling short of being an all-rounder due to its subpar imaging system and not perfect user interface. These are areas where its sibling, the OnePlus 12r, shines, albeit at a slightly higher cost. Nonetheless, for those prioritising gaming and performance over imaging and user experience, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro warrants consideration.


First Published: Mar 01 2024 | 10:44 AM IST



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Need for innovation to deal with challenges greater than ever: Bill Gates | India News – Business Standard

Need for innovation to deal with challenges greater than ever: Bill Gates | India News – Business Standard

by | Feb 29, 2024 | Technology


Bill Gates met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Thursday | Image: x @BillGates


The need for innovation to deal with different challenges is greater than ever, Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates said Thursday, asserting that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the most transformative technology he has seen in his lifetime.


Addressing students at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, he encouraged them to leverage the technology for social good and asserted that the AI advances will give them opportunities as well as force them to think through the new systems.


“I am looking at India in a far broader way. I am lucky enough, through the work of the foundation, to look at innovators who can help with all kinds of problems — starting with health, but also agriculture, gender, and climate. We need fantastic Indian innovation,” Gates said during his keynote address on “Innovation for Public Good”.


“The need for innovation to deal with many different challenges is greater than ever. You are all lucky to be here and have gotten an incredible education. The complexity of how we take technology and shape it, you will get an opportunity to play a big role there,” he said.


Gates encouraged them to not only consider their careers in terms of financial impact but also how it relates to achieving social equality.


“Not only should you consider your career in terms of the financial impact – although that is important – but also whatever role you take on, do consider how that relates to achieving social equality. Technology should be leveraged for social good,” he said.


Noting that Artificial intelligence is the most transformative technology he has seen in his lifetime, Gates said, “If I was a student today, the mysteries of AI would draw me in. It is kind of weird that even the systems that are working so well, we don’t really understand them. I would definitely be drawn to that”.


“I think you have a very bright future. No matter what your specialty is – whether it is engineering, discovering new drugs, or policy work. The AI advances will give you opportunities and force you to think through these new systems in very deep ways,” he said.

Stressing upon the role of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in bringing inclusive opportunities, Gates said, “Another place that India leads, but there’s a lot more that all of you can be involved in driving forward, is this Digital Public Infrastructure.”

“No country is more able to take government benefits and get them out efficiently and effectively to their citizens than India,” he added.


Gates highlighted the critical role of emerging technologies in addressing persistent health and development challenges and the need for scalable and cost-effective solutions to ensure they can be equitably delivered.


“I bet when I come back here, say in five years from now, some of you will be able to tell me about new technologies you have created – to inspire students, to help farmers, to solve healthcare problems, and to help us with climate,” he said.


He emphasised India’s work in vaccine manufacturing, AI for education, and digital public infrastructure and their contributions in driving global public good.


He emphasised upon the importance of collaborative efforts between educational institutions, government, and the private sector in promoting innovations that can lead to widespread public impact.

“I hope that as you plot out your future after IIT, you use the skills you sharpened here to improve lives in India and around the world. There is a mind-boggling number of ways you can make a difference. I’m excited to see the great things you do for India and the world,” he added.

Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Thursday and said they discussed AI for public good, women-led development and innovation in agriculture and health.

Gates said on X, “I is always inspiring to meet with @narendramodi and there was a lot to discuss. We talked about AI for public good; DPI; women-led development; innovation in agriculture, health, and climate adaptation; and how we can take lessons from India to the world.”

Replying to him, Modi said, “A wonderful meeting indeed! Always a delight to discuss sectors which will make our planet better and empower millions of people across the globe.

(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: Mar 01 2024 | 12:06 AM IST



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Samsung announces microSD cards for products with on-device AI capabilities | Gadgets – Business Standard

Samsung announces microSD cards for products with on-device AI capabilities | Gadgets – Business Standard

by | Feb 29, 2024 | Technology


Samsung 256GB SD Express microSD cards


Samsung has announced that it has started sampling 256GB SD Express microSD cards. Additionally, the company said, it has started the mass production of its 1TB UHS-1 microSD card. Samsung said that the Express microSD card will launch later this year, and the 1TB UHS-1 cards will be available within the third quarter of 2024.


“With our two new microSD cards, Samsung has provided effective solutions to address the growing demands of mobile computing and on-device AI,” said Hangu Sohn, Vice President of the Memory Brand Product Biz Team at Samsung Electronics.


Samsung said that the 256GB SD Express microSD card boasts read speed of up to 800 MB per second and write speeds of up to 958 MB per second. The read speed indicates the time it takes to open a file that is stored on a card, while the write speed denotes the time taken to save a file on the card.


For comparison, Samsung said, its SD Express microSD card is 1.4 times faster than SATA SSDs (Solid State Drive) that reaches the sequential read speed up to 560 MB per second. The upcoming SD Express cards will be four times faster compared to traditional UHS-1 memory cards, which reach read speeds up to 200 MB per second. For performance and reliability, Samsung said that it has equipped its 256GB SD Express microSD card with Dynamic Thermal Guard (DTG) technology that helps the card maintain optimum temperature even during long usage sessions.


With its next-generation microSD card lineup, Samsung aims to offer storage solutions for products capable of running on-device AI. As AI features increasingly operate without reliance on the cloud, storage size and speed will become crucial specifications. Devices equipped with faster and larger storage capacity will be more capable of executing data-intensive AI tasks, like running AI image generation models directly on the device.

First Published: Feb 29 2024 | 5:49 PM IST



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Need innovation to deal with challenges greater than ever: Bill Gates | Tech News – Business Standard

Need innovation to deal with challenges greater than ever: Bill Gates | Tech News – Business Standard

by | Feb 29, 2024 | Technology


Gates encouraged them to not only consider their careers in terms of financial impact but also how it relates to achieving social equality (Photo: Bloomberg)


The need for innovation to deal with different challenges is greater than ever, Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates said Thursday, asserting that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the most transformative technology he has seen.


Addressing students at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, Gates he encouraged them to leverage the technology for social good.


“I am looking at India in a far broader way. I am lucky enough, through the work of the foundation, to look at innovators who can help with all kinds of problems — starting with health, but also agriculture, gender, and climate. We need fantastic Indian innovation,” Gates said during his keynote address on “Innovation for Public Good”.


“The need for innovation to deal with many different challenges is greater than ever. You are all lucky to be here and have gotten an incredible education. The complexity of how we take technology and shape it, you will get an opportunity to play a big role there,” he said.


Gates encouraged them to not only consider their careers in terms of financial impact but also how it relates to achieving social equality.


“Not only should you consider your career in terms of the financial impact – although that is important – but also whatever role you take on, do consider how that relates to achieving social equality. Technology should be leveraged for social good,” he said.


Noting that Artificial intelligence is the most transformative technology he has seen in his lifetime, Gates said, “If I was a student today, the mysteries of AI would draw me in. It is kind of weird that even the systems that are working so well, we don’t really understand them. I would definitely be drawn to that”.

(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: Feb 29 2024 | 4:33 PM IST



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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: Everything about 2024 foldable device in the works | Tech News – Business Standard

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: Everything about 2024 foldable device in the works | Tech News – Business Standard

by | Feb 29, 2024 | Technology


Representative Image: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5


South Korean electronics company Samsung is expected to refresh its foldable devices line-up later this year, probably in August. While there are months to go, multiple news reports have surfaced on the internet related to the Galaxy Z Fold line. While some reports claim that Samsung would introduce an affordable foldable device in the line, others claim that the company is testing an expensive model too. Besides, there are reports detailing the design aspects of the mainline model, touted by many as the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Here is a round up of everything related to the Galaxy Z Fold series:


Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Ultra


Samsung is reportedly planning to introduce the Ultra model in the foldable line with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 series. According to a report by 9To5Google, the South Korean tech giant is working on an “Ultra” variant that could be expensive but better equipped in terms of features – compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 6.


Earlier, there were reports on the web stating that Samsung is planning to incorporate a 200-megapixel primary camera sensor from its flagship Galaxy S24 Ultra on the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 6. According to media reports, the change was highly unusual as an upgrade to a 200MP sensor from a 50MP sensor would be a big upgrade and the company has recently taken a more conservative approach by making smaller changes and refinements to its more expensive smartphones, such as the Galaxy S24 series. However, with an alleged “Ultra” variant in the works, it is likely that Samsung will keep its flagship camera sensor from the S-series Ultra variants for the high-end foldable device.


Affordable foldable


Samsung is also reportedly working on an affordable foldable device, which is expected to launch alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Considering there would be an Ultra model in the line-up, there are chances of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 to become the affordable model in the line-up.


Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6


The mainstream Galaxy Z Fold 6 is expected to feature a new squared-out design with sharper edges, compared to the round edges on the previous generation. According to news reports, the Fold 6 would be comparatively wider and slightly shorter compared to the Galaxy Fold 5. The change in the dimensions of the smartphone means that the company might have to change the aspect ratios of both the cover and foldable displays on the smartphone.

First Published: Feb 29 2024 | 4:17 PM IST



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Meta Platforms targeted in privacy complaints by 8 EU consumer groups | World News – Business Standard

Meta Platforms targeted in privacy complaints by 8 EU consumer groups | World News – Business Standard

by | Feb 29, 2024 | Technology


Critics say this amounts to users having to pay for their privacy. Users who do not mind advertisments can continue to use the services free of charge


Meta Platforms was hit with privacy complaints on Thursday as eight EU consumer groups asked watchdogs to act against the Facebook owner for alleged breaches of the bloc’s privacy rules when it collects user data.


The complaints by consumer groups in the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Greece, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain to data protection authorities in their countries add to previous grievances over Meta’s trove of user data.

 


The consumer bodies said Meta is not complying with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rules on fair processing, data minimisation and purpose limitation, with no legal basis to the company’s data collection and processing.

 


“Surveillance-based business models pose all kinds of problems under the GDPR and it’s time for data protection authorities to stop Meta’s unfair data processing and its infringing of people’s fundamental rights,” Ursula Pachl, deputy director general of the European Consumer Organisation, said in a statement.

 


She also criticised Meta’s recent launch of paid, advertisement-free subscriptions to Facebook and Instagram in Europe, which the company said aims to comply with new EU tech rules.

 


Critics say this amounts to users having to pay for their privacy. Users who do not mind advertisments can continue to use the services free of charge.

 


“Meta’s offer to consumers is smoke and mirrors to cover up what is, at its core, the same old hoovering up of all kinds of sensitive information about people’s lives, which it then monetises through its invasive advertising model,” Pachl said.

 


Meta said its subscription changes are a response to regulatory actions and court rulings.

 


“Subscription for no ads addresses the latest regulatory developments, guidance and judgments shared by leading European regulators and the courts over recent years,” a Meta spokesperson said.

 


“Specifically, it conforms to direction given by the highest court in Europe: in July, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) endorsed the subscriptions model as a way for people to consent to data processing for personalised advertising.”

First Published: Feb 29 2024 | 3:38 PM IST



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