ASUS launches Zenbook 14 OLED laptop in India: Know price, specs, and more
The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED will be available for purchase on e-commerce platform Amazon India and Flipkart, starting January 31
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Samsung's affordable foldable smartphone could be in the works: Report
Representative Image: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
Samsung is reportedly working on an affordable foldable device, which would likely arrive with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 launch. Citing the South Korea’s The Elec, Android Authority in its news article reported that Samsung is considering introducing a more affordable variant of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 to increase its presence in the foldable market.
According to the report, Samsung is aiming to reduce the thickness of its foldable devices to compete against Chinese brands such as Xiaomi, HONOR and OPPO that offer cheaper foldables in the Chinese market. For its clamshell foldable, Z flip series, the company is not planning any entry-level device as Samsung considers the Flip series to be relatively more established.
The report stated that the company may rethink about launching an affordable foldable smartphone this year due to the uncertainty in the smartphone market. Samsung, reportedly, believes that if the trend of increase in demand for premium smartphones continues this year, an affordable version of its book-style foldable will further affect the sales of its other entry-level devices and vice versa.
Last year, Vice President of Mobile Product Marketing at Samsung, Drew Blackard, said that the prices of Samsung’s foldable smartphone would come down eventually. He also said that the company is currently more focused on product refinement than affordability.
First Published: Jan 24 2024 | 3:28 PM IST
Google likely to go for major design change on Pixel 9 Pro: Details here
Representative image: Google Pixel 8 Pro
Google is working on the next generation Pixel smartphones, which would reportedly bring several cosmetic changes. According to a news report on MySmartPrice, the Pro model in the Pixel 9 series would feature a 6.5-inch flat display, a new camera module, and a new design language. Google is expected to launch the Pixel 9 series in the second half of 2024.
According to the report, the Pixel 9 Pro would feature a flat frame design that will curve slightly into the display and the back panel. The power and volume buttons would likely retain their spot on the right side of the frame, while the SIM tray moves to the bottom edge, to the right of the USB-C port. The left side of the smartphone would remain blank, similar to the current generation model.
Report stated that the back of the smartphone would receive the biggest change in terms of design with a floating island-style camera module, inspired by the Pixel Fold. The pill shaped camera module would not be connected to the left or right edge, like the current Pixel smartphone line up. The triple-camera setup would still be placed horizontally with a flash and a temperature sensor placed alongside in a vertical alignment.
The Google Pixel 9 Pro is expected to be slightly thinner than the 8 Pro, measuring 8.5mm at its thinnest point. Including the camera bump, the thickness might go up to 12mm.
First Published: Jan 24 2024 | 2:10 PM IST
Apple sold 180,000 Vision Pro units during first pre-order weekend: Report
Apple has reportedly sold around 180,000 Vision Pro units during the first pre-order weekend. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo in his post on Medium said that he estimates the American tech giant has received 160,000 to 180,000 pre-orders for the Vision Pro headset based on the pre-order inventory and shipping time.
Kuo in his port said that the shipment times for all Vision Pro models extended to 5-7 weeks within hours after the pre-orders began, indicating that the product sold-out immediately. The initial buzz, however, slowed down and the shipment times remained unchanged for the next 48 hours, which Kuo cites as sign that the demand for the mixed-reality headset “may quickly taper off after the core fans and heavy users place their orders.”
Comparing the demand for the Vision Pro headset to Apple’s iPhone, Kuo said, “Popular iPhone models also sell out immediately upon pre-order, and shipping times typically increase to several weeks within hours. However, unlike Vision Pro, iPhone models usually continue to see a steady increase in shipping times 24 to 48 hours after pre-orders open, indicating that demand continues to grow even after the initial sold-out.”
According to media reports, Apple’s supply chain partner such as assembler Luxshare will work over time during the Lunar New Year to meet demand, as the company expects an increase in demand for the Vision Pro. Commenting on this, Kuo said that Luxshare has already been working overtime due to the challenging assembling process of the Apple Vision Pro.
Kuo added that achieving a shipment volume of 500,000 Vision Pro units for the year 2024 should not be challenging for Apple. However, it is important for the company to “closely monitor demand in other markets and application updates to assess changes in demand.”
Earlier, Kuo reported that Apple will likely produce between 60,000 to 80,000 units of Vision Pro for its launch on February 2.
First Published: Jan 24 2024 | 1:54 PM IST
Google ends contract with Australian AI data firm that's helped train Bard
Google has ended its contract with Appen, an Australian data firm that trained its language model AI tools used in Bard, Search, and other products.
“Our decision to end the contract was made as part of our ongoing effort to evaluate and adjust many of our supplier partnerships across Alphabet to ensure our vendor operations are as efficient as possible,” Google spokesperson Courtenay Mencini was quoted as saying by The Verge.
Mencini further stated that Google is working closely with Appen to make the transition “as smooth as possible.”
Appen, on the other hand, notified the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) in a filing, saying that it “had no prior knowledge of Google’s decision to terminate the contract.”
Employees at companies like Appen usually undertake many of the most disagreeable aspects of AI training and are often the underpaid, undervalued backbone of the entire industry. Contractors at Appen help to rate the quality of data and AI model answers.
Last year, Fast Company reported that select Appen employees who are members of the Alphabet Workers Union petitioned the firm to increase pay from $10 to $15 per hour. The union was successful in gaining compensation increases, although the final number fell short of its goal. Many of these employees were then laid off, with Appen citing economic conditions.
According to a CNBC report, Appen has also helped train AI models for Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon. The company stated in its ASX filing that its collaboration with Google has had a major impact on its revenue. Appen’s revenue from Google alone in fiscal year 2023 totaled $82.8 million. It earned $273 million last year.
First Published: Jan 24 2024 | 12:53 PM IST
95% of Indian parents concerned about screen addiction of children: Survey
Screen addiction amog children | Photo: Wikimedia commons
95 per cent of Indian parents are deeply concerned about screen addiction, a survey finds hinting at excessive and compulsive use of digital devices by their children.
In today’s digital era, children’s screen addiction has become a growing concern for parents and educators. Where children are growing up in a world saturated with online content, the line between constructive engagement and harmful addiction has become increasingly blurred.
The survey presented by Baatu Tech, a smart parenting solutions company, announced the results of a recent survey that speaks about the alarming concerns of Indian parents regarding screen addiction, gaming, and adult content consumption among children.
The survey conducted among 3,000 participants revealed that an overwhelming 95 per cent of Indian parents are deeply concerned about screen addiction, while 80 per cent and 70 per cent expressed worries regarding gaming addiction and adult content consumption, respectively.
Studies have indicated that excessive screen time can negatively impact children’s physical and mental health, hinder cognitive development, and impede social interactions. One area of particular concern is the rising trend of gaming addiction among children. According to a study published in the Journal of Behavioral Addictions, approximately 3-4 per cent of children worldwide experience problematic gaming behaviours.
The survey highlights the escalating concerns surrounding children’s exposure to inappropriate content and excessive screen time. ‘As technology continues to permeate every aspect of our lives, parents must adopt an informed and proactive approach to ensure that their children develop a responsible and harmonious relationship with technology,’ the survey states.
“We believe parenting in the digital age requires constant vigilance, open and honest communication, and a well-informed approach. Our Smart Parenting Solutions empower parents to foster digital literacy while safeguarding their children’s well-being,” said Sandeep Kumar, founder & managing director, Baatu Tech.
First Published: Jan 24 2024 | 11:42 AM IST
