<p>Highlights:</p> Amazon to launch wireless earbuds similar to Apple AirPods in the second half of 2019. The earbuds will come in a standard charging case, like AirPods. The earbuds will come in at least two colours, including black and grey. <p> </p> <p>It appears Amazon is determined to make a stronger impact in the voice assistant-enabled audio video products business. According to a fresh report by Bloomberg, Amazon is currently working on a pair of wireless earbuds that will compete with the Apple AirPods when it goes on sale sometime in the second half of this year. Like the Amazon Echo devices, the new wireless earbuds will feature Amazon Alexa, the popular voice-controlled virtual assistant.</p> <p>The new pair of wireless earbuds from Amazon, Bloomberg writes, will not only go up against the Apple AirPods but will also look and act like them. They will be designed to sit inside users’ ears without any clips around the ear. Engineers at Amazon’s Lab126 reportedly hope to achieve better audio quality on these. Like the Apple AirPods, Amazon’s earbuds will come in a storage case that also works as a charger through a standard USB connection. We can expect to see them in at least two colours: black and grey.</p> <p>“The Amazon earbuds won’t have built-in cellular connectivity and will require pairing with a phone. This means working through Apple and Google, which Amazon already does with its Alexa apps. That’s a strategic headache for Amazon, which is using Alexa to grab an early lead in voice-based computing and to get its main e-commerce business in front of more people,” writes Bloomberg. The new earbuds are reported to have physical gesture controls. For example, the user can tap on the earbuds to answer a call or pause the playback of music.</p> <p>Apple recently updated its AirPods wireless earbuds with a second-generation model, which offers better performance, faster connection, longer talktime, and a handsfree method of activating Siri. The new pair costs Rs 14,900 for the standard charging case and Rs 18,900 for the wireless charging case. According to Bloomberg, the AirPods generated $17.4 billion in revenue for the Cupertino-based company in the most recent fiscal year.</p> <p> </p> <p>Related Read: Apple unveils 2nd Gen AirPods with longer battery life, faster connect times and more; prices start at Rs 14,900</p> 
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<p dir="ltr">When it comes to Artificial Intelligence (AI), Google is considered as the leader. It has wooed people with developments in AI and Machine Learning as well as attracted a lot of criticism. With an aim to guide “responsible development of AI”, the company formed a panel at Google, and just a week after the formation, the group is now dissolved, a media report has said. One of the the main reasons for the breaking up of the group is said to be differences in opinions amongst members.</p> <p>Citing Google, Vox reported, “It’s become clear that in the current environment, Advanced Technology External Advisory Council (ATEAC) can’t function as we wanted. So we’re ending the council and going back to the drawing board. We’ll continue to be responsible in our work on the important issues that AI raises, and will find different ways of getting outside opinions on these topics.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Google established the eight-member group to consider some of the most complex challenges that arise under its AI Principles, such as facial recognition and fairness in machine learning. The members were chosen from different professional backgrounds, however, the group fell apart amid controversy over several of the board members. Reportedly, the team held four meetings since its formation.</p> <p>Thousands of Google employees signed a petition in favour of removal of Heritage Foundation president Kay Coles James over her comments about transexual people. In the past, she reportedly called transgender women “biological males”. A group known as Googlers Against Transphobia wrote that for Google to appoint James to the ethics board “elevates and endorses her views, implying that hers is a valid perspective worthy of inclusion in its decision making.”</p> <p>Meanwhile, the inclusion of Dyan Gibbens, Founder and CEO of Trumbull Unmanned, reportedly irked some Google employees. Gibbens had previously worked on US military drones and using AI for military purposes (under Project Maven) is a point of dispute among the company employees. Another board member Alessandro Acquisti resigned, tweeting, “While I’m devoted to research grappling with key ethical issues of fairness, rights, and inclusion in AI, I don’t believe this is the right forum for me to engage in this important work.”</p> <p>Related Read:</p> <p>Google's human-sounding Duplex AI is finally rolling out to real-world Pixel users</p> 
<p>The Xiaomi Poco F1 is now receiving an update that enables Widevine L1 DRM certification on the device. The update also brings 4K video recording at 60 FPS and Poco’s new Game Turbo mode. The Widevine L1 certification was promised as an OTA update last year after and should ideally allow users to stream HD content on Netflix, Amazon Prime and the likes.</p> <p>Xiaomi stayed true to its promise of delivering these features to the users with the MIUI 10.3.4 update. The huge change log mentions the Poco F1 now has new mode for its AI camera, and Game Turbo, which should improve gaming experience.</p> <p>Other new features include face unlock for apps and updated March 2019 Android Security Patch. There are also UI fixes like staying on the lock screen after using face unlock, restrict opening the notification shade in the lock screen, and more.</p> <p>There are also optimisations to the Face Unlock algorithm and adds floating window for incoming calls when you’re in a game.</p> <p>This is major update for the device and will be pushed out via an OTA update. We are yet to receive the update in our review unit. We also recommend taking a backup of your data before updating.</p> <p>While the company has not officially confirmed, we have seen reports of a Poco F1 successor in the making. The alleged Poco F2 has surfaced on Geekbench revealing Snapdragon 855 SoC under the hood and Android Q.</p> <p>Related Reads:</p> <p>Xiaomi Poco F2 spotted with Snapdragon 855 SoC, Android Q on Geekbench</p> 
<p>Snapchat held its first Snap Partner Summit 2019 recently and made a slew of announcements at the event. The company has announced its new AR Camera Platform, Discover Originals, Snap Games and Snap Kit at the Snap Partner Summit 2019. Snapchat users will get access to the company’s new original shows called Snap Originals. These shows will be available on the app’s Discover page globally for all Snapchat users and are said to average five minutes in length. Additionally, Snapchat has announced that it’s App Stories can now be created for select other apps. It has also unveiled new Snap Kit capabilities that will unlock more features for users across other apps and has announced new partners across the Snap Kit ecosystem.</p> <p>Snpachat has also announced ‘Snap Games,’ which is said to be a real-time multiplayer gaming platform featuring original and third-party games from game devs like Game Closure, PikPok, Spry Fox, Zeptolab, and Zynga. There are also new Augmented Reality and camera search feature that adds to the existing augmented reality capabilities of the app. Here’s a brief look at what each of these new features will offer Snapchat users.</p> App Stories for third-party apps and Snap Kit integration <p>Snapchat’s App Stories are now opening up for third-party apps and users will be able to create a story on Snapchat and share it with some apps that the company has partnered with. Tinder, Houseparty and Adventure Aide are the three apps the new feature is currently supported on. Tinder and Snapchat users can now update their profiles with new “My Tinder Story” option from within the Snapchat app. These Stories integration will launch throughout 2019. </p> <p>The company’s Snap Kit, which was announced back in June 2018 is also receiving new Snap Kit capabilities. There is now a new Bitmoji Kit that enables the apps’ users to use Bitmoji in other apps and products. Fitbit devices will now show Bitmojis smartwatch clock faces that are dynamically updated. Venmo, the payments app will also integrate Bitmojis in its payments app. A Creative Kit will enable developers to design and build custom stickers, links, filters and more that can be shared from their app into the Snap Camera. JioSaavn, Netflix, Breaker and more are Snapchat’s partners across the Snap Kit ecosystem.</p> Snap Originals <p>Snapchat has currently announced ten new Snap Originals, which are short mobile shows that will be available exclusively for its users. These new shows will be available globally on Snapchat’s Discover page and will commence airing from May 2019. The shows being made by the app are said to span across a range of genres including comedies, character-driven docuseries, serialized scripted dramas, unscripted social commentary, and more. Production partners on the project include Bunim/Murray Productions, Dakota Pictures, New Form, and Bazelevs, along with some other film and television writers and producers.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"></p> <p>Each episode in a Snap Original is said to averages five minutes in length. Brands will also be able to purchase Snapchat’s six-second, non-skippable commercials within these shows. New shows announced for the platform include Two Sides, Commanders, Sneakerheads, While Black, Untitled BuzzFeed Daily Show, Can’t Talk Now, Compton Dream, Denton’s Death Date, Stranded with Sam and Colby and Dead of Night. </p> Snapchat AR and camera search experiences <p>Snapchat has announced new augmented reality and camera search experiences for creators, partners, and Snapchatters. The company is updating its Lens Studio application that enables lens creation and adding more features to enable hand tracking, body tracking, and pet tracking. Lens Studio now features templates for new Landmarker Lens Experiences that enable AR experiences to transform some iconic landmarks in real-time. These templates are currently available for five locations today: Buckingham Palace, United States Capitol Building, Eiffel Tower, Flatiron Building, and the TLC Chinese Theater. More filters for monuments are slated to be added soon. Snapchat users can visit these locations to experience Landmarker-enabled AR Lenses now.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"></p> <p>There are some additional camera capabilities added to Snapchat. Users can now press and hold on the Snapchat camera screen to Scan and unlock “relevant experiences” based on what's being displayed on the viewfinder or environment. One will also be able to scan a Snapcode to unlock some special Filters and Lenses and scan a physical product or barcode to get search results on Amazon. Additionally, the app now has an integration with Shazam to help users identify more about the playing music. </p> <p>An AR Bar is added to Snapchat, which is aimed at enabling users discover and navigate Lenses and camera search experiences on the app. There’s also a new Scan button that is designed to display contextually relevant Lenses and camera-based experiences. There are new Scan partners as well, one of them being Photomath, which is said to provide a solution to a math equation when they scan it with the Snapchat camera. Additionally, Giphy will dynamically generate GIF Lenses based on what’s in the Snapchat camera view. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"></p> Snap Games <p>Snapchat has also unveiled Snap Games, which is said to be a new real-time multiplayer gaming platform featuring original and third-party games. The company has partnered with game developers like Game Closure, Spry Fox, Zeptolab, PikPok, and Zynga to add games to the new service. The app will commence rolling out a series of ‘made-for-Snapchat’ games that currently include Alphabear Hustle, C.A.T.S. (Crash Arena Turbo Stars) Drift Race, Bitmoji Party, Snake Squad, Tiny Royale, and Zombie Rescue Squad. Snapchat users will be able to access and play games directly from Chat. </p> <p>Related Reads:</p> <p>Snapchat rolls out new app redesign for iOS</p> <p> </p> 
<p>Highlights:</p> Windows 10's next update is the May Update (version 1903) It should go llive in late May Users can defer installation of the update for up to 35 days <p> </p> <p>Microsoft is notorious for pestering its users with Windows updates, be it feature updates or security patches. Well, the Satya Nadella-led company is finally bringing us some good news. When the Windows 10 May Update (version 1903) goes live in late May, users will get a chance to defer the installation of the update for a period of up to 35 days. Sadly, that is the maximum time period a user will get before Windows forces the user to update.</p> <p>On the other hand, users ready to embrace the new May Update can always hit the “Check for updates” button in Settings in late May if their Windows is 10 version is either 1803 or 1809. When the update is ready, Windows will show a “Download and install now” option. Users may install it then and there if they feel like it. According to Microsoft’s blog post on the matter, the company will use its ML model to perform a phased rollout of the update. Machines predicted to have the best update experience will get the update first.</p> <p>“We have added new label criteria so we can train the model on a broader set of issues, such as display or audio issues after update. In addition, we have implemented an ensemble approach that enables the model to predict the individual label criteria (e.g., rollback, operating system crash, application issues, etc.) related to the update experience as well as the full collection of criteria to improve our ability to accurately predict and troubleshoot issues,” Microsoft writes in its blog post.</p> <p>In related news, Microsoft announced the end of support for Windows 7 SP1 a couple of weeks ago. “After 10 years of servicing, January 14, 2020, is the last day Microsoft will offer security updates for computers running Windows 7 SP1. This update enables reminders about Windows 7 end of support,” the company said. In fact, Microsoft has been urging its Windows 7 users to upgrade to Windows 10 for a while now. A fresh copy of Windows 10 Home costs Rs 9,299 on the Microsoft India site.</p> <p> </p> <p>Related Read: Microsoft announces end of support for Windows 7 SP1</p> 
<p dir="ltr">Xiaomi may soon populate the affordable smartphone segment in India with the seventh generation of the Redmi phones. Tipster Ishan agarwal has claimed that the Chinese company may soon launch the Redmi 7 device in the country. The handset has already been launched in China and is the successor of the (Xiaomi) Redmi 6. Further, the tipster says that the Redmi Y3 could also land on the Indian soil soon after the Redmi 7. He also says that the company may be “preparing another budget smartphone with model code C3F” which is presumed to be the Redmi 7A.</p> <p>The Redmi Y3 hasn’t launched in any market yet but it has made it to the Wi-Fi Alliance listing. The Wi-Fi certification documents, however, do not reveal much information about the phone but shows that the Redmi Y3 bears a M1810F6G model number, and will run on MIUI 10 baked on Android 9 Pie. If launched, the Redmi Y3 will be a successor of the Redmi Y2 that was launched in India last year.</p> <p>Similarly, the Redmi 7A will be a successor to the Redmi 6A that was launched in India in 2018. The information about the phone is scarce but it has already got the 3C Certification and has been spotted on TENAA. The 3C listing suggested that the phone with model number M1901F7E could be the Redmi 7A. Meanwhile, the Redmi 7 was launched in China in three variants: 2GB RAM and 16GB storage, 3GB RAM and 32GB storage, and 4GB RAM and 64GB storage.</p> Redmi 7 specifications: <p>The Redmi 7 sports 6.26-inch HD+ display with an aspect ratio of 19:9 and a waterdrop notch. Under the hood, the phone has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 processor along with the above mentioned RAM and storage options. The Redmi 7 has a 3.5mm headphone jack on top, and a fingerprint sensor on the back panel. Xiaomi says that instead of a glass finish, the back panel has a P2i coating which can protect the phone from water spills.</p> <p>In the camera department, the Redmi 7 incorporates a 12MP primary sensor with 1.25um pixel size and 1/2.9 aperture lens. There is a 2MP secondary depth sensor, and the camera setup comes with AI features. On the front is an 8MP camera, which is housed in the waterdrop notch. The highlight of the Redmi 7 is the 4000mAh battery. The phone comes bundled with 18W charger, runs MIUI 10, which is based on Android 9.0 Pie.</p> <p>Related Read:</p> <p>Mi Fan Festival: Xiaomi Redmi Go is now available in open sale on Flipkart, Mi.com</p> 
