PUBG Mobile Arctic Mode First Impressions

Tencent Games’ PUBG Mobile has gotten a new gameplay mode called Arctic Mode, which adds survival elements to the snow-covered Vikendi map. We played it for a few hours and here are our first impressions.

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WhatsApp group voice and video call limit to increase with new update

WhatsApp could increase the current group video call limit on its messaging platform with the upcoming version 2.20 update. The instant messenger is one of the most used communications platforms with over two billion users and as the Coronavirus pandemic forces people to stay indoors, video calling has gained more relevancy than ever. 

As per a few lines of codes, first spotted by WABetaInfo, WhatsApp version 2.20 will increase the limit on group video calls. Right now, WhatsApp supports group video calls with up to four people and while it’s not known how many more people will WhatsApp let you add to a group call, the update doesn’t seem to be far away. This comes as Google recently released an update to its Google Duo video-calling app to increase the limit from 8 people to 12 people on a video call. 

The report also states that for people to join a group call, everyone will need to use the same version of the messaging app. The update also brings a revamped call header toast message which states that the calls are end-to-end encrypted whenever a user makes an audio call.

Recently, WhatsApp made it easier for users to initiate a group video call by providing a dedicated button on the chat window. However, the group needs to have four members or less for you to make a call. Earlier, users needed to add the members manually to a group video call, but now there is a dedicated button for doing just that.

WhatsApp keeps releasing incremental updates to keep the momentum going as seem with its release of dark mode. To curb the spread of misinformation around Coronavirus in India, the company decided to limit the number of forwarding messages a user could send and brought it down from five at a time to a single share. Indian government’s WhatsApp chatbot for Coronavirus news and updates was also reportedly used by 1.7 crore users in just ten days from its launch.

 

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Aarogya Setu app privacy policy updated after social outrage

Aarogya Setu, India’s contact tracing app launched in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak in the country earlier this month has been updated with new features and privacy policy. The updated policy answers some of the pertinent questions around privacy and security concerns raised by cybersecurity experts and agencies. Aarogya Setu is the world’s highest downloaded app as it reached 50 million milestones in 13 days, the fastest ever for an application, Android or iOS.

Telephone took 75 years to reach 50 milion users, radio 38 yrs,television 13 yrs,Internet 4 yrs, Facebook 19 months, Pokemon Go 19 days. #AarogyaSetu,India’s app to fight COVID-19 has reached 50 mn users in just 13 days-fastest ever globally for an App Salute the spirit of India! pic.twitter.com/xKqt3Tmj4f

— Amitabh Kant (@amitabhk87) April 14, 2020

Contact tracing is being adopted by many countries in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 and India’s app is no different as it is capable of producing a social graph from the various data points it collects automatically. It also uses Bluetooth and GPS to ascertain real-time information that’s logged in the app and based on the graph, the app determines whether you have been near an infected person.

The changes in the privacy policy now state that the personal data of its users will not be shared with third-party. The government has made it clear that all private data collected by the app is encrypted and that it is assigned a unique DiD (Digital ID). This data is stored locally as well as on the government server and will only be used in two cases-- for the generation of anonymized statistical figures and graphs related to the spread of Coronavirus and for communication to the user in case of detecting infection. Interestingly, the location data is collected every 15 minutes and stored locally and is only uploaded to the government servers if the user tests COVID-19 positive.

The changes in the policy also make it clear that the data stored on the government server of people not infected by the disease will be deleted after 45 days from the date of upload while the data of those infected will only be deleted after 60 days of being declared cured.

Outside of this, however, the app has recently received an update that adds a link to donate to PM CARES fund and is reportedly being prepared for another update that will add the functionality of getting an e-pass for lockdown. Therefore, Aarogya Setu can easily transcend its fundamental use case if the government wants to.

According to a recent report by PTI, Tata Consultancy Services and Mahindra group are both working on different aspects of the Aarogya Setu for the next version with data science and machine learning baked in. The app will soon be launched for feature phones as well because, for contact tracing to work, the social graph needs to feed on data points of more users. This is why the government has been pushing citizens and its employees alike for downloading the app, including all educational departments and institutions.

While the new privacy policy does clear some doubts regarding how the government will handle user’s data, the app isn’t open-source and neither allows auditing of code as stated in the white-paper released by the Internet Freedom Foundation. Meanwhile, Aarogya Setu is set to get more users as the PM suggested every citizen to download the app in his nation-wide address, earlier this week.

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TikToks Family Pairing adds parental controls to the platform

TikTok has announced that it is introducing new features that are aimed at making the platform for secure for younger audiences. Called ‘Family Pairing’ the feature aims to make it easier for parents and teens to customise the safety settings based on their needs. This features will be rolled out over the coming weeks and will allow parents to link their TikTok account to their teens’ and set controls.

Once paired, parents will gain access to features like Screen Time Management, Restricted Mode, and Directed Messages. Screen Time Management will allow parents to control how long their teen can spend on TikTok each day. The company also notes that it has partnered with ‘top creators’ to make short videos that appear right in the app and encourage users to keep track of their screen time. Restricted Mode limits the appearance of content that may not be appropriate for all audiences. Finally, DirectMessages allows parents to limit who can send messages to their teen. They can turn off the feature entirely if they want. The company notes that from April 30 onwards, when will automatically disable Direct Messages for registered accounts under the age of 16.

“We are committed to giving parents insight into, and control over, how their teens use TikTok and helping facilitate important conversations within families about the responsible navigation of digital platforms. We believe these options promote a safer and more trustworthy experience for our users of all ages, but our progress in this area is also never finished. We look forward to working with all our stakeholders as we continuously seek to improve through new features and resources to help our community manage their digital experience,” the company said in its press release.

TikTok now has over a billion downloads on Android alone, but it seems like the popularity of the app has made it a breeding ground for the dissemination of false information. Recently, it was reported that 10 people had to be hospitalised after drinking a juice made from the seeds of the Datura Stramonium plant. These people had seen a video on the platform that said that the juice would keep the virus away. The Indian government has also requested Facebook and TikTok to remove users responsible for the spread of misinformation on their respective platforms.

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Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max design leaked

Apple unveiled its newest iPhone just a couple of days back, but it looks like we may have already gotten a glimpse at the next iPhone. YouTube channel, EverythingApplePro has released designed renders for the iPhone 12 Pro Max. The leaks were in collaboration with the tipster, Max Weinbach and are pretty detailed as far as leaks go. Not only did the channel leak the CAD renders of the phone, but they also created a 3D printed design based on the leaks for a better look at the upcoming device.

iPhone 12 Pro Max design

Judging by the leak, the new iPhone 12 Pro Max would have flatter sides, which is pretty much in line with the new Apple iPad Pro that was launched a few weeks back. It is also very reminiscent of the old iPhone 5’s frame, albeit with a larger 6.7-inch design with the new aspect ratio. The leak also suggests the size of the bezels and the notch has also been reduced. The bezels are said to be 0.9mm thinner than before, while the notch has also been reduced considerably. This should ensure a greater screen-to-body ratio than its predecessor, something that was mentioned in the video. Further, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is also said to slightly thinner at 7.39mm, which is 0.71mm thinner than the 8.10mm thickness of the iPhone 11 Pro Max. It is also said the new phone will be taller and wider than the old device.

The rear camera module is pretty much similar to previous leaks. This includes the addition of a new LiDAR sensor alongside the triple camera setup. The LiDAR is another feature that was introduced in the recently launched Apple iPad Pro and should help with depth-sensing for better Augmented Reality (AR). The quad-camera arrangement is completed with the flash, which is now located in the middle of all four of the sensors.  

The video also brings up the fact that the leaked renders suggest wider antenna bands, which could mean that the new phone may support 5G. The power button as been moved slightly lower, most likely to make it easier to press. The SIM card tray has also been moved to the other side of the phone. This is theorised to be done due to a different layout of the logic board. Interestingly, it seems like there is a Smart Connector where the SIM card tray used to be. It is not yet known what this will be used for, but it is used on the iPad Pro and is used to connect the keyboard accessory.

The YouTube channel noted that they also have a lot more information to share and have divided it into two separate videos. The second video is said to be released this weekend.

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Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum Mop-P smart home cleaner launched in India at Rs 17,999

Xiaomi India has launched the Mi Robot Vacuum Mop-P smart home cleaner on its crowdfunding website at a price of Rs 17,999. The company had earlier teased the launch of a home cleaning product in an attempt to make it easier for individuals to clean their homes regularly. Due to the ongoing nation-wide lockdown being observed by the country to curb the growth of Coronavirus, people have been forced to stay at home and maintain social distancing. As such, Xiaomi thinks it's opportune to launch a product that will let people keep their homes cleaner and the Mi Robot Vacuum Mop-P is aimed at just that.

Xiaomi’s smart vacuum cleaner resembles iRobot’s Roomba in looks and even concept. It has been made available on the company’s Crowdfunding website at a discounted price of Rs 17,999 with shipping commencing from September 15. With the nation-wide lockdown in effect till May 3, the company is only taking pre-paid orders for the smart vacuum cleaner and is also offering a No Cost EMI option starting at Rs 2,999/month.

The crowdfunding listing aims to reach 10,000 units in 30 days for it to be successful and given the current health crisis, it might just be able to reach its goal.

"Today, technology has become an intrinsic part of every household and we are witnessing rising adoption of smart devices suitable for smart homes. Modern consumers want efficient tech-enabled devices that can help them improve their lifestyle and overall well-being. We truly believe that this product can redefine the way consumers approach and interact with the idea of cleanliness at their homes,” said Raghu Reddy, Chief Business Officer, Xiaomi India.

Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum Mop-P features

The Mi Robot Vacuum Mop-P is equipped with 12 multi-directional precision sensors and uses a Laser Distance Sensor (LDS) navigation system to automate the cleaning process. It also has an anti-collision and anti-fall sensors to ensure that it stays on course. 

The vacuum cleaner has two different modes of functioning and users can choose either between sweeping and mopping or just sweeping only. The former utilizes a 2-in-1 tank that’s provided in-the-box while the sweeping function makes use of a 550ml dust box, also provided with the packaging.

The LDS system can map and scan an area in real-time with a range of up to 8 meters at six times every second. The vacuum cleaner weighs 3.6 kilograms and is compact at 96.5mm so as to reach even the farthest corner of a room. The smart cleaner is fitted with a high-end brushless motor that can reach a peak suction pressure of 2100Pa for effective cleansing of your room. 

The cleaning unit has a built-in quad-core processor clocked at up to 1.2 GHz with a dual-core GPU that lets the Robot Vacuum Mop-P compute data, process room information and create a real-time map of areas quickly. It can be paired with the Mi Home app which offers control features like zone cleaning, spot cleaning, scheduling and real-time mapping.

The cleaner is fitted with a 3,200mAh battery that the company claims can power the device for 110 minutes of use. 

Xiaomi’s flagship Mi Home Store in Bangalore showcases many interesting products with some of them making it to the market sooner or later. The company aims to bring more lifestyle and home appliances products to the Indian markets including their range of laptops and other consumer electronic products in the near future.

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Artemis Fowl release date set for June 12, will stream on Disney+ Hotstar

Earlier, we had reported that Disney had announced new release timelines for a lot of its upcoming movies. Artemis Fowl, however, Disney said would make it directly to their streaming service Disney+. There was an initial announcement that the movie would release directly on Disney+ Hotstar on May 29th, but now, the release date has moved up to June 12.

Due to the global pandemic that is the Coronavirus, cinemas were amongst the first to be hit, as people started to avoid going to crowded places, followed by an actual mandatory shutdown in many parts of the world. As the Coronavirus continues to rampage through the globe, there seems to be no likelihood of the cinema industry returning to its former glory anytime soon. Hence, Disney took the decision to release some films directly to their streaming service, while movies belonging to the Marvel Cinematic Universe such as Black Widow, have all been pushed to a later date for a theatrical release. Given how much money Disney sinks into making a Marvel movie and how much revenue is then generated from theatres, its understandable for Disney to take this route. Disney had earlier marked May 29 as the release date for Artemis Fowl, but it has now been moved forward to June 12. You can watch the new trailer below.

Disney, as part of the update, has also rolled out a new trailer for Artemis Fowl. The film follows the 12-year old mastermind thief fighting against magical underground fairies who may have been involved in his father’s disappearance. The movie is based on the events occurring across the first and second book. The movie will stream on Disney+ starting June 12, and in India, anyone who has been a subscriber of Hotstar would automatically now be subscribed to Disney+, as long as they continue their subscription. Disney+ has brought its entire portfolio to the Indian streaming space, including the entire Marvel and Star Wars catalogue. For the kids, there is the Pixar and Disney animated studio collection, that’s definitely bound to keep them engaged.

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