Technology news: Google enhances AI experience on Android with free Gemini Live: Know more

Technology news: Google enhances AI experience on Android with free Gemini Live: Know more



Google has reportedly started rolling out Gemini Live for free users on Android devices. The American technology company announced last week that Gemini Live is available for free users, and following this announcement, users began seeing Gemini’s voice options in the Gemini Settings. There are ten voice options applicable to all responses within the Gemini app.


Gemini Live: What is it?


Gemini Live offers a conversational experience that facilitates seamless interactions with the digital assistant. In addition to text input, it supports hands-free operation, allowing the assistant to function in the background or even while the phone is locked. Gemini Live began rolling out in English to Gemini Advanced subscribers on Android phones in August, including select Pixel and Samsung devices, and is expected to expand to iOS and more languages in the coming days.

 


Gemini Live was observed on a free account (US Pixel 6 Pro) by 9to5Google. A new waveform with a sparkle icon is visible in the bottom-right corner of both the Gemini overlay and the full-screen experience. This icon replaces the grayed-out send/submit button, according to 9to5Google.


Once Gemini Live is launched, it offers a quick tutorial that allows users to select a voice and explains that saying “stop” will turn off the microphone if the user prefers not to use the “Hold” or “End” buttons. Upon exiting the full-screen waveform, a “Live with Gemini” notification allows users to end the mode. The “Interrupt Live Sessions” toggle is turned on by default in Gemini Settings.


Gemini Live has not yet been widely launched for all free users on Android but is expected to be available to more users in the coming days. Although Apple has added a direct home-screen shortcut for Gemini to the iPhone app, Gemini Live is not currently available on iOS.

First Published: Sep 19 2024 | 11:07 AM IST



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Google urges tribunal to scrap .3 bn UK lawsuit over search 'dominance'

Google urges tribunal to scrap $9.3 bn UK lawsuit over search 'dominance'



Google parent Alphabet on Wednesday asked a London tribunal to throw out a mass lawsuit that accuses the tech giant of abusing its dominance in the online search market.

 


The lawsuit valued at up to 7 billion pounds ($9.3 billion) is the latest case focusing on the business practices of Google, which is currently facing a major antitrust trial in the United States over its online advertising business.

 


It is also one of several multibillion-pound cases to have been filed at Britain’s Competition Appeal Tribunal in recent years, including a similar case against Google for allegedly abusing its dominance in the online advertising market.

 

 


Consumer rights campaigner and the lawsuit’s class representative Nikki Stopford argues Google’s dominance allows it to increase businesses’ costs for search advertising services which are then passed on to consumers.

 


Part of the lawsuit relies on the more than 4-billion-euro ($4.5 billion) fine levied on Google by the European Commission in 2018 for imposing restrictions on manufacturers of Android mobile devices, a decision being appealed by the tech company.

 


Stopford’s lawyers also argue Google reached an anticompetitive deal with Apple to make it the default search engine on Apple’s Safari browser in exchange for a share of Google’s mobile search ad revenues.

 


The lawyers asked the Competition Appeal Tribunal to certify the case to proceed towards a trial, a very early step in any mass lawsuit. Google, however, says the case is seriously flawed.

 


“The suggestion that consumers have been harmed by the Google conducts at issue is strongly rejected,” Google’s lawyer Meredith Pickford said in court documents.

 


Pickford added that the European Commission’s findings were simply “technical complaints about the particular form by which Google promoted its products”.

 


He also said that Google’s default search engine agreement with Apple was “in principle perfectly lawful”. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

First Published: Sep 18 2024 | 9:35 PM IST



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Tech wrap Sep 18: Google RCS on iPhone, Samsung Galaxy F05, Amazfit T-Rex 3

Tech wrap Sep 18: Google RCS on iPhone, Samsung Galaxy F05, Amazfit T-Rex 3



Google Messages is a messaging service that offers Rich Communications Services (RCS) with features like message reactions, typing indicators, end-to-end encryption, and more to over one billion users. RCS has begun rolling out on the iPhone with iOS 18, leading many users to potentially favor Google Messages for their communication needs.


Samsung has broadened its Galaxy F-series lineup in India with the introduction of the Galaxy F05, a budget smartphone equipped with the MediaTek Helio G85 processor. The device boasts a leather-pattern finish on the back and includes a 50-megapixel dual rear camera setup.

 


Chinese smart wearable brand Amazfit has introduced the T-Rex 3 smartwatch in India, showcasing a military-grade durable design. The smartwatch features GPS navigation and boasts up to 27 days of battery life. It also comes with an operating system integrated with artificial intelligence and an AI assistant powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4 model.


Apple has reportedly halted the iPadOS 18 update for the new M4-powered iPad Pro models after numerous users reported that their iPads became non-functional following the update. According to a report by 9to5Mac, Apple has temporarily suspended the iPadOS 18 update for the affected iPad models.


Snapchat is undergoing a major redesign, introducing a simplified user interface, new AI-powered tools, and additional lenses. During its sixth annual Snap Partner Summit on September 17, the platform’s parent company, Snap, unveiled these updates alongside the fifth generation of Spectacles—standalone augmented reality glasses powered by SnapOS, the company’s new operating system.


British consumer technology startup Nothing has announced the launch of a new product on September 24. The company revealed the date in a post on X (formerly Twitter), captioned “Out in the open,” suggesting that the upcoming device will be a new pair of open-ear style earphone


Apple is reportedly adding a new feature for the iPhone 16 series that enables users to recover and restore firmware wirelessly using another iPhone. According to 9to5Mac, the upcoming iOS 18 operating system includes RecoveryOS for the iPhone 16 series, similar to the system used for restoring firmware on Apple Watch and Apple TV from an iPhone.


Samsung is reportedly set to launch its rollable smartphone in the second half of next year. The device is anticipated to feature a 12.4-inch screen and an under-display camera that hides the front camera for selfies and video calls, according to 9to5Google. Samsung showcased a rollable display of a similar size at the SID Display Week 2024 event, suggesting that the company may incorporate this screen technology into the upcoming smartphone.


Google is reportedly broadening the availability of cross-device sharing features. These features are compatible with Android 11 and above and are being widely rolled out with version 24.35.30 of Google Play Services on Pixel and Samsung Galaxy devices.


Instagram has introduced new safety features designed to safeguard young users from online dangers. One significant update is the creation of “Teen Accounts,” which are specifically for users aged 13 to 17, aiming to mitigate the mental health effects associated with social media.


BlackRock Inc. and Microsoft Corp. are partnering on one of the largest initiatives to date aimed at funding the development of data warehouses and energy infrastructure supporting the surge in artificial intelligence.


Elon Musk’s brain-chip company, Neuralink, announced on Tuesday that its experimental implant designed to restore vision has received the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) ‘breakthrough device’ designation. This important milestone represents a significant advancement in the development of Neuralink’s innovative technology aimed at addressing severe medical conditions.

First Published: Sep 18 2024 | 8:03 PM IST



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Apple holds back iPadOS 18 update following reports of M4 iPad Pro bricking

Apple holds back iPadOS 18 update following reports of M4 iPad Pro bricking


Apple has reportedly pulled back the iPadOS 18 update for the new M4-powered iPad Pro models after multiple users reported that their iPads stopped working following the update to the latest operating system. According to a report by 9To5Mac, Apple has temporarily suspended the iPadOS 18 update for affected iPad models.


Many M4 iPad Pro users on Apple’s support page and the social media platform Reddit have reported that their iPads stopped working after updating to iPadOS 18. One user on Apple’s support page stated that their iPad Pro M4 is not turning on after the update. “The iPad won’t turn on, hard reset doesn’t work, and it doesn’t show up on my Mac. I’ve booked it in for a repair,” they said.

 


Similarly, another iPad Pro user posted on Reddit, stating that their device turned off during the update to the new operating system and has not turned on since. “I just took it to the Apple Store, who confirmed it’s (M4 iPad Pro) completely bricked, but they said they had to send it out to their engineers before they can give me a replacement, even though I have AppleCare,” they added.


Apple has not officially addressed the issue; however, the update for iPadOS 18 is no longer available for the new iPad Pro model. According to the report, Apple has also blocked the IPSW file needed to restore the new iPad Pro with the iPadOS 18 firmware.


The issue appears to be limited to the new iPad Pro model and has not affected other iPads in Apple’s lineup.

First Published: Sep 18 2024 | 4:14 PM IST



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Technology news: iPhone 16 allows wireless firmware recovery using another iPhone: Report

Technology news: iPhone 16 allows wireless firmware recovery using another iPhone: Report


iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Plus


Apple is reportedly introducing a new feature for the iPhone 16 series that allows users to recover and restore firmware wirelessly using another iPhone. According to 9To5Mac, the new iOS 18 operating system includes RecoveryOS on the iPhone 16 series, similar to the system used for restoring Apple Watch and Apple TV firmware from an iPhone.


When an iPhone 16 enters Recovery Mode, users can place it next to another iPhone 16 to initiate the firmware recovery process. The second iPhone downloads the new iOS firmware and transfers it to the device in Recovery Mode, eliminating the need for a Mac or PC to address firmware issues. While all iPhones running iOS 18 can recover and restore firmware for iPhone 16 models, the wireless recovery process is only supported between iPhone 16 devices.

 


The report stated that the new iPhone models feature a separate recovery partition that manages the recovery process even if the main iOS partition is not operational.


Apple has not confirmed whether this feature will be extended to older iPhone models. It is also possible that the iPhone 16 includes dedicated hardware to support this wireless recovery, which might make the feature unavailable for older iPhones.


iOS 18 has also introduced “Activation Lock” for individual iPhone components. This feature, aimed at reducing iPhone theft, binds components such as the battery and display to the user’s Apple account, preventing their reuse without proper authentication. Apple announced this feature earlier this year alongside updates to its iPhone repair policy, allowing customers and independent repair providers to use genuine Apple parts.

First Published: Sep 18 2024 | 2:57 PM IST



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