Netflix announces price hike on subscription plans in some markets: Details

Netflix announces price hike on subscription plans in some markets: Details


Streaming platform Netflix has announced price hike for basic and premium subscription plans in US, UK, and France. Basic plan in the US will now cost $11.99, while the premium plan will cost $22.99 – a hike of $2 and $3 respectively. Prices for the Standard and Ads supported plans will remain the same. The revised rates will be applicable from October 19 in all three countries.


There has been no announcement regarding change in prices for customers in India, but Netflix might hike prices on subscription plans globally.


Apart from new prices, Netflix announced that its Ads tier would soon feature the ability to download content for offline viewing. Company said its most affordable plan accounts for nearly a third of all subscribers in the countries it is currently offered in.


Netflix previously discontinued the basic plan in some regions for boosting the subscriber count for the cheaper Ads supported plan. According to news reports, the streaming giant is planning to do the same in more countries, including Australia, Japan, Germany and Spain.


Currently, Netflix users in India can choose between four plans – Mobile, Basic, Standard and Premium. While the company has not officially stated when it will introduce an Ad-supported plan in India, multiple news reports state that Netflix is looking to introduce its low-priced subscription plans in different regions to gain more customers.

First Published: Oct 19 2023 | 2:26 PM IST



Source link

Google to manufacture Pixel smartphones in India, will roll out by 2024

Google to manufacture Pixel smartphones in India, will roll out by 2024


Google on Thursday announced that it will manufacture Pixel smartphones in India, which includes Pixel 8.


The first India-made Pixel devices will come to market in 2024.


During the ninth edition of the Google for India event, Rick Osterloh, head of devices at Google, said, “It’s an early step towards expanding our production here to meet the local demand for pixel devices. And even more importantly, it’s a huge step forward in Google’s commitment to Make in India.”


In a blog post, Google said, “We intend to start with the Pixel 8, and will partner with international and domestic manufacturers to produce Pixel smartphones locally.”


Recently, Google collaborated with HP to start manufacturing affordable HP Chromebooks in India. These are affordable laptops, powered by Google’s ChromeOS operating system, which will be cheaper than Windows and macOS-running laptops.


According to sources, Ana Corrales, operating chief of Google’s consumer hardware division, and Maggie Wei, senior director of global sustaining product operations, were among the key executives who visited India for partnership talks.

Google manufactured about nine million units of Pixel phones last year based out of facilities in China and Vietnam. Google even plans to manufacture other hardware products in India. 

 

First Published: Oct 19 2023 | 1:21 PM IST



Source link

YouTube to recommend videos from credible sources in coming months

YouTube to recommend videos from credible sources in coming months



Google-owned YouTube will list credible news sources on a “Watch Page” which it will roll out in the coming months in India, a senior company official said on Thursday.


“Today, I am thrilled to introduce ‘Watch Page’ for news… the Watch Page will recommend videos available from credible sources,” YouTube India, head of government affairs and Public Policy, Mira Chatt said at the Google for India event here.


She said that the Watch Page will be rolled out in coming months in India.


Recently, the government asked YouTube to identify fake news channels on its platform.


Sources, however, said that the government has not defined “fake news” in its communication to YouTube.


Chatt said the platform removed more than 2 million videos in India between April and June, 2023 that were violating its policies.

(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: Oct 19 2023 | 1:20 PM IST



Source link

Samsung launches Galaxy A05s budget smartphone in India: Know price, specs

Samsung launches Galaxy A05s budget smartphone in India: Know price, specs


South Korean electronics maker Samsung on October 19 launched in India the Galaxy A05s. Budget smartphone by pricing, the Galaxy A05s boasts a 6.7-inch fullHD+ display and 50-megapixel main camera sensor. Priced at Rs 14,999 for the 6GB RAM + 128GB storage variant, the Galaxy A05s will be available on Samsung online store, e-commerce platforms, Samsung exclusive stores, and select retail outlets. As for the launch offers, consumers can get cashback of up to Rs 1,000 using SBI credit cards.
“With Galaxy A series, our mission is to make meaningful technology more accessible. The new Galaxy A05s is the perfect blend of style and performance. Powered by Snapdragon processor and a massive 5000mAH battery, Galaxy A05s enables Gen MZ consumers to explore Samsung’s innovations easily though Samsung Finance+,” said Akshay S Rao, General Manager, MX Business, Samsung India.

Also Read: Microsoft launches Surface Laptop Go 3 in India, price starts at Rs 80,999


Samsung Galaxy A05s: Specifications


The Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 processor, paired with 6GB RAM and 128GB on-board storage, powers the Samsung Galaxy A05s.  The smartphone is offered in light green, light violet and black colours. It sports a 6.71-inch fullHD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate. As for the camera, there is a triple-camera set-up on the back. The smartphone sports a 50-megapixel main camera sensor, paired with 2MP depth and 2MP macro cameras. On the front, the phone has a 13MP camera sensor.


The Samsung Galaxy A05s has a 5,000 mAh battery, which would last for about two days – said the company. The phone supports up to 25W fast charging. The smartphone boots Android 13 operating system-based One UI interface. Samsung has committed four years of security updates and two generations of OS upgrades.

First Published: Oct 19 2023 | 12:17 PM IST



Source link

HP to sell refurbished laptops to consumers, businesses in India: Details

HP to sell refurbished laptops to consumers, businesses in India: Details



American PC maker HP on October 19 introduced a refurbished laptop initiative in India. The company said it is committed to provide access to affordable technology, and India is the first market where it has launched the refurbished PC initiative, with plans to expand in other regions in 2024.

“Recognizing the limited PC adoption in rural and smaller towns, we aim to transform this landscape. Our new initiative is a significant step in our ongoing mission to bring affordable technology to everyone. It’s a game-changer for those facing financial constraints, opening doors to PC usage,” said Gurpreet Singh Brar, Vice President, HP India. “Students gain educational resources, small enterprises enhance productivity, and startups find a cost-effective tech solution, all contributing to a more digitally inclusive society. This program underlines our dedication to serving the needs of a growing market, particularly in regions where access to PCs has been a challenge”.


HP said it will run this program through an HP certified partner who would sell affordable HP PCs to retail customers and businesses. In India, the refurbishment program is being operated in a subscription model, allowing businesses to access the latest tech for 6, 12, or 24 months. It is now being expanded to offer refurbished PCs to retail customers and small businesses on a transactional basis. The program’s initial focus will be on notebooks.


HP said its certified partner would source devices from enterprise, and retail consumers and refurbish them as per the standards defined by HP. Post refurbishment, the partner would sell and provide comprehensive post-sales support, including warranty.


HP said it has set a goal to achieve 75 per cent circularity for products and packaging by 2030, and the refurbished program is a step to this goal.


To ensure laptop integrity, HP said every HP-certified refurbished device would undergo a rigorous refurbishment process ranging from memory enhancements to storage expansions to meet individual preferences and requirements. The devices are then tested extensively, and inspected to ensure optimal performance and reliability.



Source link

Microsoft launches Surface Laptop Go 3 in India, price starts at Rs 80,999

Microsoft launches Surface Laptop Go 3 in India, price starts at Rs 80,999


Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3

American software giant Microsoft on October 19 launched in India the Surface Laptop Go 3. Available for pre-order online on Amazon India and at select retail outlets, including Reliance Digital, Croma, and Vijay Sales, the laptop will be available for purchase from November 9. As for the introductory offers, consumers who pre-order the Surface Laptop Go 3 until November 8 would get complimentary Marshall Major IV Wireless Headset (worth Rs 14,999). Besides, all pre-orders would be bundled with a 1-month free subscription for Microsoft 365 and PC Game Pass.


Microsoft Surface Laptop 3: Specifications and features


Surface Laptop Go 3 is the lightest and most portable Surface laptop, said Microsoft. The ultra-portable laptop weighs about 1.13kg. It sports a 12.4-inch PixelSense touchscreen, full-size keyboard, and a large precision touchpad. Powered by the Intel Core i5 processor, the laptop is offered in up to 16GB RAM and 256GB on-board storage in consumer category, and up to 16GB RAM and 512GB on-board storage in business category. The consumer category variants are based on Windows 11 Home edition, whereas the business category variants are based on Windows 11 Pro.


The Surface Laptop Go 4 supports fast charging and offers up to 15 hours of battery, said the company. The device boasts high-quality video and audio experience for calling, streaming, and gaming with Omnisonic Speakers with Dolby Audio and dual Studio Mics, and a HD camera that adjusts to lighting and skin tones.


Backed by Microsoft’s AI-powered tools, the Surface Laptop Go 3 comes with Clipchamp video editing software with AI auto compose feature. Besides, it features the new version of Paint that lets you eliminate backgrounds and generate images from text prompts. It is one of the first Surface laptops in India to come with Windows Copilot out-of-the-box.

First Published: Oct 19 2023 | 11:36 AM IST



Source link

YouTube
Instagram
WhatsApp