Samsung SSD T9 with USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface launched: Know price, specs

by Hansraj Agrawal | Oct 9, 2023 | Technology

South Korean electronics maker Samsung on October 9 launched in India the Samsung SSD T9. The portable solid-state drive (SSD) boasts USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface and transfer speed of up to 2000MBps. Offered in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB storages, the portable SSD starts at Rs 12,799. It will be available online on e-commerce platforms and offline at Samsung retail stores and select retail stores. Samsung offers a 5-year limited warranty on the SSD T9.

“In a high-resolution content landscape, the T9 is the answer for professionals seeking solutions for challenges such as data management, transferring large files, and durability and performance issues. Samsung’s Portable SSD T9 empowers modern content creators by addressing those data challenges and providing memory solutions that enhance their creative aspirations,” said Puneet Sethi, Vice President, Consumer Electronics Enterprise Business, Samsung India.

Samsung SSD T9: Specifications and features

Based on USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface, the Samsung SSD T9 has maximum sequential read/write speeds of up to 2,000 MBps that is nearly double the speed it offered on the SSD T7. Samsung said the T9 has a sleek and credit-card-sized design with rubber exterior for comfortable grip.

The drive comes with Samsung’s Dynamic Thermal Guard technology, which the company said mitigates performance dips caused by overheating, ensuring consistent and speedy transfer rates. According to the company, the T9 complies with the international safety standard IEC 62368-1.

On the software side, the SSD T9 comes with Samsung Magician Software 8.0 for access to features such as performance benchmark, security functions, firmware updates, and real time health status check.

The Samsung SSD T9 is compatible with Windows and macOS operating systems. Besides, it is compatible with smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and high-resolution cameras that support external SSDs. Samsung ships the SSD T9 with USB type-C-to-C and USB Type C-to-A cables.

Source link

Sony WF-1000XM5 review: Feature-packed ANC earbuds good for music and calls

by Hansraj Agrawal | Oct 9, 2023 | Technology

The WF-1000XM5 is Sony’s flagship wireless earbuds, with a focus on active noise cancelling. Unlike their counterparts from established tech brands such as Apple AirPods Pro and Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, these wireless earbuds are not exclusive to a particular ecosystem. This essentially means that the earbuds and most of their features function the same way regardless of the device platform with which you pair them.

Speaking of features, they include active noise cancelling with an adaptive sound control feature that adjusts ambient sound based on your actions, activities, and location. Additionally, they offer head gesture controls for hands-free operations, spatial audio for object-based sound, wireless charging, and multi-point connectivity.

Priced at Rs 24,990, the Sony WF-1000XM5 is a feature-packed pair of wireless earbuds. But, how do they fare in terms of audio and call quality? Let’s find out:

Design

Starting with the earbuds, they are slightly larger in size but lightweight. You can wear them comfortably for extended periods without any discomfort. The earbuds feature foam ear tips, which provide a snug fit without sacrificing comfort and offer good noise isolation. However, they can become moist over time and need to be kept outside the case to dry. This is one area where silicon ear tips have an advantage over foam-type ear tips. Moving on to the case, it is a pebble-shaped unit with a matte texture on the body. Although not petite, it is pocketable and lightweight. While the buds are IPX4 rated for resistance against minor water splashes, the case lacks such protection and should be used with caution.

Also Read: Sony launches Bravia XR Master Series A95L OLED TV in India: Price, specs

Features

The Sony WF-1000XM5 is packed with premium features. It includes active noise cancellation, which effectively cancels ambient noise for a distraction-free experience in noisy environments. For situations where you need to be aware of your surroundings, such as on the road or in the office, there is an ambient sound mode that allows external noise to pass through. While the ANC is excellent, the ambient sound mode is not perfect, as the environmental noise and vocals in this mode do not sound entirely natural.

What sets the Sony WF-1000XM5 apart is the neat implementation of these ANC and ambient sound features. For example, there is an adaptive sound control feature that automatically adjusts the ambient sound mode based on your actions, activities, and location. The earbuds can even learn from your usage patterns and optimise switching, but this requires signing in using a Sony account. Nevertheless, the adaptive sound control is a handy feature available through Sony’s Headphones app for smartphones.

Another useful feature is “speak-to-chat,” which allows you to have a conversation while wearing the earphones. It activates the ambient sound mode when you speak and returns the earbuds to their standard state after a period of inactivity. The voice detection sensitivity and time duration are customisable, with a default setting of 15 seconds.

In terms of audio-related features, the earbuds support Sony’s proprietary 360 Reality Audio for spatial sound. However, this feature is limited to select apps, and commonly used music streaming services such as Spotify (India), YouTube Music, Amazon Music (India), and Apple Music are not supported. On Android devices running Android 13, the earbuds support spatial audio with a head-tracking feature. However, it appears to be a work in progress in its current form, as the experience is far from perfect.

Sound and Call Quality

The Sony WF-1000XM5 offers a rich sound signature with balanced bass and treble in default settings, accompanied by optimal loudness. For a personalised experience, there are preset equalizers and the option to create two custom sound profiles through the smartphone app. Each preset equalizer influences the audio signature to match its name. For example, the “bright” equalizer boosts treble and elevates vocals to make the audio sound lively. On the other end of the spectrum, the “mellow” equalizer subdues audio across frequencies and works well for softer soundtracks.

The Sony WF-1000XM5 excels not only in music listening but also in voice calls. With ANC activated, the voice call experience remains top-notch even in noisy ambient environments. Regardless of the ambient noise conditions, the built-in microphones capture voice with clarity and never struggle to deliver a quality experience.

Battery and Charging

The Sony WF-1000XM5 provides a solid battery life of approximately six hours with adaptive sound controls and speak-to-chat enabled, extending up to 15 hours with the case. Charging the case is quick, taking about an hour to reach a full charge, while the earbuds take a similar amount of time to charge fully from 10 percent.

Verdict

The Sony WF-1000XM5 are exceptional wireless earbuds with strengths in various aspects. They offer more features when paired with Android smartphones than with iPhones, but the headline features are available regardless of the device platform you pair them with. Since these earbuds are not tied to any one platform, these make a worthwhile purchase. Moreover, they deliver impressive sound quality for music and excel in handling voice calls.

Source link

Ad-free Instagram, Facebook likely to be launched in India by next year

by Hansraj Agrawal | Oct 9, 2023 | Technology

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, led by Mark Zuckerberg, is contemplating the introduction of an ad-free subscription plan in India by 2024, according to a report by Mint published on Monday. This consideration comes on the heels of discussions to initiate a similar plan in the European Union (EU) in order to align with privacy regulations there.

An individual knowledgeable about the development was cited in the report, stating that the company has been in dialogue to explore avenues for monetising Meta on a global scale, including India.

“While the firm is striving to comply with the newly enacted Digital Personal Data Privacy (DPDP) Act, there will be intensified discussions on the optimal ways to ensure full compliance with data protection regulations. A pilot for a paid, ad-free subscription option for users in India, following a trial in the EU, is likely to be rolled out in mid- or late-2024,” the person was quoted as saying.

Last week, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that Meta is looking to introduce an ad-free subscription plan for Instagram and Facebook within the EU.

According to the WSJ report, a $14 monthly subscription fee for using an ad-free version of Instagram on mobile phones will be levied unless customers consent to the platform utilising their personal data for targeted advertisements.

Furthermore, Meta plans to charge users $17 for desktop versions of both Facebook and Instagram in the coming weeks, the report added.

Earlier this year, the social media conglomerate was fined 390 million euros by Ireland’s Data Privacy Commissioner and was instructed that it could not use the so-called “contract” legal basis for sending user-targeted ads based on their online activity.

In response, Meta indicated that it would seek the consent of users in the EU before allowing businesses to aim targeted advertisements at them, aiming to meet evolving regulatory requirements in the region.

Companies now face stringent restrictions regarding the use of private data. In May, Facebook was fined 1.2 billion euros for breaching privacy laws that mandate appropriate measures for transferring data from the EU to the USA.

Notably, introducing a subscription option marks a significant shift in Meta’s business strategy. Zuckerberg has consistently argued that his core services should remain free and ad-supported to be accessible to individuals across all income brackets.

Speaking at a conference in 2018, Zuckerberg asserted, “You don’t need thousands of dollars to connect with people who use our services.”

Source link

Telegram bans 2,114 groups, channels related to child abuse on Oct 6

by Hansraj Agrawal | Oct 7, 2023 | Technology

Mobile messaging platform Telegram has banned 2,114 groups and channels related to child abuse content, according to a Telegram channel ‘Stop Child Abuse’.

The instant messaging platform is one of three entities to which the government on Friday issued notices to remove child sexual abuse material in India.

“2,114 groups and channels related to child abuse banned on October 6. Total this month: 10,312,” the update on the channel said.

The company did not share the break up of banned groups linked or having an impact on Indian jurisdiction.

Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajiv Chandrasekhar had warned that if social media intermediaries do not act swiftly, their ‘safe harbour’ under section 79 of the IT Act would be withdrawn, implying that the platforms can be directly prosecuted under the applicable laws and rules even though the content may have not been uploaded by them.

Telegram in response to the notice said it is always committed to upholding legal and ethical standards on the platform, particularly in this case of addressing issues related to Child Pornography (CP), Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), and Rape and Gang Rape (RGR) content, in accordance with the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

“When CP/CSAM/RGR content is reported, we initiate prompt actions to remove the offending material. Our average response time for removal is 10-12 hours, well within the permissible time limit of 24 hours as stipulated by the aforementioned regulations. We have a specialised team working towards removing all the illegal content that falls under the child abuse category,” Telegram said.

The company said it has employed an automated BOT system in order to maintain proactive content removal and the circulation of explicit material on its platform.

“This BOT continually scans the platform for explicit material by identifying keywords, text, pictures, and videos that violate our guidelines. Additionally, we take proactive steps to remove or block content based on user reports, ensuring that explicit material is swiftly addressed,” the company said.

(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.)

Source link

Amazon launches test satellites for internet service to compete with SpaceX

by Hansraj Agrawal | Oct 7, 2023 | Technology

Amazon launched the first test satellites for its planned internet service on Friday as a rival to SpaceX’s broadband network.

United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket blasted off with the pair of test satellites, kicking off a programme that aims to improve global internet coverage with an eventual 3,236 satellites around Earth.

Amazon plans to begin offering service by the end of next year.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX has a huge head start over Amazon and its founder Jeff Bezos, who has his own rocket company, Blue Origin.

SpaceX flew its first test Starlink satellites in 2018 and the first operational satellites in 2019. It has since launched more than 5,000 Starlinks from Florida and California, using its own Falcon rockets.

Europe’s Eutelsat OneWeb also is launching internet satellites, with around 600 in orbit.

Amazon originally agreed to put the satellites on the debut launch of ULA’s Vulcan rocket. But with the Vulcan grounded by problems until at least the end of this year, Amazon switched to the long-established Atlas V.

When licensing the programme, the Federal Communications Commission stipulated that at least half of the planned satellites be operating by 2026 and all of them by 2029.

Amazon has reserved 77 launches from ULA, Blue Origin and Europe’s Arianespace to get everything up.

(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 7 2023 | 8:18 AM IST

Source link

Google changed ad auction formula in 2017, raising prices 15%, says witness

by Hansraj Agrawal | Oct 7, 2023 | Technology

By Leah Nylen

Alphabet Inc.’s Google changed its advertising auction formula in 2017, raising prices by 15% and likely making the company billions of dollars in additional revenue, according to an economist testifying for the US Justice Department in the antitrust case against the search giant.

Michael Whinston, a professor of economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said Friday that Google modified the way it sold text ads via “Project Momiji” – named for the wooden Japanese dolls that have a hidden space for friends to exchange secret messages. The shift sought “to raise the prices against the highest bidder,” Whinston told Judge Amit Mehta in federal court in Washington.

Google’s advertising auctions require the winner to pay only a penny more than the runner-up. In 2016, the company discovered that the runner-up had often bid only 80% of the winner’s offer. To help eliminate that 20% between the runner-up and what the winner was willing to pay, Google gave the second-place bidder a built-in handicap to make their offer more competitive, Whinston said, citing internal emails and sealed testimony by Google finance executive Jerry Dischler earlier in the case.

“It’s really easy to slip into the thought that it’s an auction and an auction is competition,” Whinston said, explaining how Google’s ability to tweak the rules demonstrates its monopoly over online advertising. But “it’s the advertisers who are running in this race. It’s Google setting the rules.”

The Justice Department alleges that Google has illegally maintained a monopoly over online search by paying billions of dollars to web browsers and smartphone manufacturers to ensure it’s the preselected option for users accessing the web. As part of those deals, Google pays Apple Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. and others a share of the revenue it earns from search advertising.

About two-thirds, more than 60%, of Google’s total revenue comes from search ads, Dischler said previously, amounting to more than $100 billion in 2020. Every year since 2012, the company’s search ad revenue growth has been in the “high teens,” according to documents shown by the Justice Department.

Dischler testified on Sept. 19 that Google sometimes tweaked its advertising auctions to ensure it met revenue targets, but most of his testimony occurred in a sealed session. Whinston’s comments Friday described Google’s technique, called “squashing,” that seeks to make the runner-up’s bid more competitive. Google estimated that technique along with charging more for ads that used more words in their text would increase revenues by 15%.

“Google has not been transparent about what they are doing” with pricing, Whinston said. But advertisers “do have ways of finding out even if they don’t know exactly what Google is doing.”

Source link