Times Top News

Times Top News

Fitbit by may launch Charge 6 fitness wearable on Sept 28: Details here

Fitbit by may launch Charge 6 fitness wearable on Sept 28: Details here

by | Sep 20, 2023 | Technology


The video teaser briefly shows a wearable device similar to Charge 5. Therefore, it is expected to be the successor, the Charge 6


Google-owned health-and-fitness wearable maker Fitbit has posted on X (formerly Twitter) a short video, possibly hinting at the launch of a new product on September 28. The video teaser briefly shows a wearable device similar to Charge 5. Therefore, it is expected to be the successor, the Charge 6.


According to 9to5Google, the Fitbit Charge 6 would be an incremental upgrade with no big changes in the design. It is said to bring back the physical side button, which is not available on the Charge 5. The Charge 6 is expected to run the user interface similar to the Charge 5, but it is expected to get Maps and YouTube Music apps from Google.


In related news, the wearable device maker rolled out a redesigned Fitbit smartphone app on September 20. The new app is based on Google’s Material You design. It has a new Coach tab for workouts, and offers improved tracking using the connected smartphone’s sensors, and more.


Fitbit app now shows collected data over three tabs: Today, Coach and You.


The main metrics under the Today tab have customisation options to highlight different focus areas. For example, sleep, heart, and more. The Today tab also provides some custom presets for common fitness goals.


The Coach tab shows curated workout data with other premium features like HIIT and more. The You section has the option to adjust personal settings such as daily steps, bedtime, active minutes. Redesigned achievement badges will also appear under this section.

First Published: Sep 20 2023 | 5:01 PM IST



Source link

86% GCCs keeping service expansion as top priority over the next 1 year: EY

86% GCCs keeping service expansion as top priority over the next 1 year: EY

by | Sep 20, 2023 | Technology


Eighty-six per cent of Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in India are looking at service expansion as their top priority over the next 12 months, a report released by consultancy EY said on Wednesday. It added that 56 per cent of GCCs are developing customer-facing products.

In its “GCC Pulse Survey 2023”, based on findings from 87 GCC leaders, EY said that the GCCs are looking to go beyond the traditional services of IT, Customer Interaction Services, Finance, HR and Supply Chain. They are now aiming to foray into Marketing, Legal, ESG, Advanced Analytics and Data Science amid the rising adoption of technology and growth of leadership skills.


“Compared to our 2021 survey, we have seen a 36 per cent increase in focus on enhancing capabilities and extending functional scope,” EY said.


It added that the leading agenda of these GCCs continues to drive enterprise-wide digital transformation. Fifty-five per cent of participants in the survey have established a mature data and analytics practice as part of their digital strategy.


“This is closely followed by cyber security and robotic process automation, which support the digital transformation journey of GCCs and help drive value across business functions,” it added.


Seventy-nine per cent of participants stated that their centres are acting as a global hub for digital skills and delivery, which is the backbone of their digital transformation journey. The adoption of blockchain technology and metaverse has been slower than other technologies.


The survey also showed a higher interest in developing consumer-facing products. At 56 per cent, it is 28 per cent higher than EY’s survey in 2021.


The report added that 77 per cent of the GCCs believe that the mode of work is expected to stay “hybrid” for the next 12 months. However, most of these believe that less than 25 per cent of their workforce will continue to work remotely.


The average attrition rate in GCCs has been recorded at 12.5 per cent, with 60 per cent of them recording a rate between 5 to 15 per cent. “Most of the survey participants felt that ‘war for talent’ still holds a significant risk for their business,” it said.



Source link

Microsoft Surface and AI event on Sept 21: Where to watch, what to expect

Microsoft Surface and AI event on Sept 21: Where to watch, what to expect

by | Sep 20, 2023 | Technology


the recording of the in-person event will be available for a global audience after it is over – at around 1PM ET (10:30 PM IST) on September 21


Microsoft is hosting a special in-person event in New York, US at 10:00 AM ET (7:30 PM IST) on September 21. At the event, the American technology giant is expected to launch three new Surface devices and AI-powered tools for Windows, Microsoft Office, Bing and more.


When, where and how to watch


Microsoft has announced that it will not stream the Surface event live. However, the recording of the in-person event will be available for a global audience after it is over – at around 1PM ET (10:30 PM IST) on September 21.


What to expect

Microsoft is expected to launch three Surface devices, the Surface Laptop Studio 2, Surface Go 4 and Surface Laptop Go 3. Along with new additions to the Surface lineup, Microsoft is expected to announce AI-powered features for Windows, Office and Bing.


According to news reports, 13th Generation Intel Core processors paired with Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU would power the Surface Laptop Studio 2. It is said to be the first Surface device with up to 64GB RAM.


The Surface Go 4 is expected to feature Intel N200 processor, while the Laptop Go 3 is rumoured to be powered by 12th Gen Intel Core processor. No major changes in design for these devices are expected as it is being said that Microsoft is focusing more on upgrading the internal specs on the new Surface devices.


As for the AI-related announcements, the American software giant is expected to unveil an updated Windows 11 with an AI-powered assistant built-in for use across its apps and services. These AI-powered versions may include a new snipping tool and an updated Photos app with provision to copy text from images expected to be included in this new update. Microsoft Paint might also get updated with AI-based image generation features using text-to-image prompts.

First Published: Sep 20 2023 | 3:22 PM IST



Source link

Decoded: All that Google’s Bard Extensions does and guide on how to use it

Decoded: All that Google’s Bard Extensions does and guide on how to use it

by | Sep 20, 2023 | Technology



On September 19, Google announced a new set of features for its generative-artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, Bard. One of the most significant additions is Extensions, which enables Bard to integrate with various Google tools and services, including Maps, YouTube, Drive, Docs, and Travel with Google (flights and hotels). This integration allows Bard to retrieve relevant information and provide personalised answers in a conversational, easy to understand manner.


For context, Bard is an experimental AI chatbot that simulates human conversations using machine learning and natural language processing. Based on Google’s transformer-based pre-trained large language model, Bard draws information from both its dataset and the web to generate responses. With Extensions, Bard can now also access information from Google apps to enhance the user experience.


With Extensions, users can link Bard to the Google apps and tools they use, such as Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Maps, Google Flights, YouTube, and more. Essentially, Extensions grant Bard access to users’ data to inform its responses.


For example, if you are planning a trip with friends from Delhi to the backwaters in Kerala, you can ask Bard to find suitable dates for everyone from Gmail, check real-time flight and hotel information, get Google Maps directions to the airport, and watch YouTube videos about things to do in that area — all within a single conversation.


It is important to note that Extensions are currently available only in English.


Regarding privacy and the protection of users’ personal information, Google said, “We are committed to safeguarding your personal information. If you choose to use Workspace extensions, your content from Gmail, Docs, and Drive will not be viewed by human reviewers, used by Bard to display ads, or utilised to train the Bard model. Additionally, you have full control over your privacy settings when deciding how to use these extensions, and you can disable them at any time.”


How to enable Extensions in Bard


First up, you need a Google account to access Bard. So, create a Google account if you don’t already have one or sign in using your existing personal Google account. (Google workspace accounts do not support Bard in India yet.)


Next, open the Bard website. The Bard interface on web has been updated to reflect Extensions through a Lego-shaped icon visible on the top-right corner of the window, alongside the settings and help options. Clicking on it takes you to a window with Google apps available for integration. You can decide which apps to allow permission to. By default, all apps are enabled for integration, except for workspace apps such as Gmail, Drive, and Docs.


Once done setting up the Bard integration, you can click on the “New Chat” option on the left to start using Bard with access to data from selected Google apps.


Double check with ‘Google it’

Apart from Extensions, Google has introduced a “Google it” button in Bard’s interface, allowing users to double-check its responses. This feature is available for responses in English. Bard will read the response and assess whether there is related web content available to substantiate it.

 


Google Bard allows double checking the search results using ‘Google It’ option


For easy reference, users can click on highlighted phrases to learn more about supporting or contradictory information found through a web search.



Source link

Musk shares his plan to implement a paywall in interview with Israel’s PM

Musk shares his plan to implement a paywall in interview with Israel’s PM

by | Sep 20, 2023 | Technology



Elon Musk recently had a conversation with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on September 18, 2023, on X, where he shared his thoughts about considering a monthly payment system to tackle the widespread bots issue on the platform. According to Musk, this move will address the issue of misinformation and spam spread through automated accounts.


Musk further said the subscription plan for all the users would make “the effective costs of bots very high” and the operator has to pay for each account. 


Israeli PM Netanyahu also questioned Musk about antisemitism and hate speech on his platform and asked about measures he is taking to prevent “vast armies of bots”. According to Musk, X currently has both free services and subscription plans for individuals and brands. Musk said the only reason to implement monthly payments is to prevent bots from swarming the platform.


While responding to Netanyahu’s question, he said, “This is a super tough problem.” A bot costs a fraction of a penny to operate, he said, adding that making someone pay a few dollars to use the X service makes the effective cost of bots higher and requires bot operators to make a payment every time they want to create a new one. During the interview, Musk was vocal about his commitment to making X a safe and responsible social media platform.


X users aren’t happy


However, the comment was unclear on whether Musk was changing the policy for everyone. But, people have already started sharing their thoughts on X.


One of the users wrote, “There really is no doubt that he simply wants to kill the platform.” 


Another user, Bradley Wall, told his followers if a paywall was implemented, he would quit the platform: “I just want you all to know I’ve loved connecting with you, sharing my thoughts and my adventures.”


Another user shared that he would quit the platform if a paywall was implemented. He added, “I just want you all to know I’ve loved connecting with you, sharing my thoughts and my adventures.”


One of the X users shared his plan to move to another platform, he said, “I believe social media should be free to users, so if that happens, I’ll be decamping to the other place permanently.”


Musk having conflict with Jewish civil rights group


Musk is also facing conflict with the Jewish civil rights group, the Anti-Defamation League. Musk said that it’s not easy to “police” the 100-200 million daily posts on X in advance, however, he could take steps to de-amplify hate speeches on the platform.



Source link

Meta announces new business-focused features for WhatsApp in India: Details

Meta announces new business-focused features for WhatsApp in India: Details

by | Sep 20, 2023 | Technology


WhatsApp payment-to-merchant feature


Meta announced several business-focused features for its instant messaging platform WhatsApp at its Conversations event in India on September 20. The American technology company introduced Flows for businesses using WhatsApp Business Platform to create and provide rich menus and customisable forms that support different needs. Besides, it enabled payment options within the chats from diverse platforms besides its own. These platforms include UPI apps, debit and credit cards, and more. Lastly, the company announced that businesses could now apply for verification badge through Meta Verified platform.

“We have continued to innovate with our messaging formats, our group chats and broadcast channels. And it is the same focus that we are bringing to how we support businesses, creating simple to use and easy to scale tools so they can connect with their customers in meaningful ways,” said Mark Zuckerberg, Founder and CEO, Meta.


WhatsApp Flows

It is a new feature for businesses to create in-chat experiences for their customers like booking a reservation, ordering delivery or checking in for a flight, directly on WhatsApp. Businesses will be able to choose from a series of flexible, pre-made building blocks so they can easily design these customisable experiences for their customers. WhatsApp Flows will be available for businesses around the world using the WhatsApp Business Platform in the coming weeks.

Also Read: WhatsApp introduces Channels for instant celebrity and news updates


WhatsApp Payment-to-Merchant


Expanding its payments service in India, Meta enabled payment-to-merchant option on WhatsApp for Indian businesses using the WhatsApp Business Platform. It essentially means WhatsApp users would now be able to send a payment using the payment method of their choice – either WhatsApp or other payment methods including all UPI apps, debit and credit cards, and more – all without having to go to a website, open another app or pay in person. Already live in Singapore and Brazil for small businesses, the feature is now live in India.


Meta Verified for Business

It would allow businesses to subscribe for a fee, and get a verified badge, account support, impersonation protection and other features that would help them amplify their brand online and make it more efficient to chat with customers. The verified program would roll out to Facebook and Instagram business in select countries in the coming weeks. WhatsApp to follow.

Also Read: PM Modi creates his WhatsApp Channels, says ‘Let’s stay connected’

First Published: Sep 20 2023 | 12:52 PM IST



Source link

About-us

Privacy Policy

Email: hansrajagrawalakola@gmail.com

YouTube
Instagram
WhatsApp