Garena Free Fire OB23 update: Heres everything you need to know

Garena Free Fire is being updated with the OB23 patch that adds a whole host of new features including new characters, pets and weapons. It also introduces Season 2 of Clash Squad, new spawn island and a bunch of additions and gameplay changes. While there were some reports of a character based on Bollywood actor, Hritik Roshan, to be added in the game. It looks like that’s won’t be the case, at least for now. 

Garena Free Fire new characters and pets

Garena Free Fire has added a new character called Luqueta that is now available in the Free Fire Store. Luqueta’s special skills allow him to increase his max HP every time he gets a kill. HP can be increased by up to 35. 

Hayato ‘Firebrand’ is another upcoming character in Free Fire. However, unlike Luqueta, Hayato can be earned for free by joining the game’s third-anniversary event on August 22. His skill is called Art of Blades and it reduces frontal damage by up to 40% for three seconds. However, firing your weapon will interrupt the ability.

Mr. Waggor is an upcoming pet that is aimed at those who love using Gloo Walls. The pet gives players the ‘Smooth Gloo’ ability that gives the player a Gloo Grenade when they have less than one or two grenades with them.  

New weapon

Garena Free Fire players will now be able to wield the AUG assault rifle in Classic and Clash Squad mores. This weapon has been described as a very flexible option for players and comes with a pre-attached 2x scope. In terms of stats, the weapon has a damage ratio fo 31, a magazine capacity of 35 and a fire-rate of 147, which isn’t bad at all.

Clash Squad Season 2

Season 2 of ranked Clash Squad is back for another season. Players get a chance to rank up to Gold III or above to get an exclusive item, The Golden G18 pistol. Besides this, there has been an adjustment to the Clash Squad store, while career stats for Clash Squad can now be viewed under the player’s personal profile.  

New item

Free Fire will now feature a new item called Horizaline. This allows players to revive themselves instead of waiting on their teammate. The iteam is only available in team-based modes and can be used when pinned down and teammates may not have the time or ability to come and revive their teammates. It also adds a strategic touch to the game as players will now have to make sure players are dead as a downed player may make a return and catch them off guard. However, it should be noted that Horizaline does not work outside the playzone and only restores the player to company capability. As such, players should ensure that they are in a safe sport before using Horizaline as they will have to immediately use a medkit in order to restore health.

Miscellaneous

The game has also introduced a new spawn island called The Runway. There has also been Aim Assist adjustment in Clash Squad. Previously, players complained that Aim Assist would prioritise downed players over those still in combat. The new adjustment should fix that issue. 

Other changes include a change in the maximum speed of the Motorbike, Jeep and TukTuk, which will now be 10km/h faster. The SUV, on the other hand, will be 10km/h slower. Further, the camera will now zoom out slightly when the vehicle is at max speed for a greater sense of speed.

To know more, you can check out the entire patch notes here. 

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Xiaomi Mi TV Stick confirmed to launch on August 5 in India

Xiaomi Mi TV Stick is now confirmed to launch in India on August 5, the company has revealed. The Amazon Fire TV Stick competitor was launched earlier this month in Europe and is very small and compact media player that you can connect to any display to make it a smart TV. It will also offer apps from leading streaming players such as Netflix, Prime Video and more. 

The Mi TV Stick comes after the launch on Mi Box 4K in India back in May, earlier this year which offers 4K streaming, HDR10 support and more. The Mi TV Stick is is a smaller and affordable version which comes with the basic set of features that offers a smart TV viewing experience. Xiaomi took to Twitter and posted a picture teasing its fans about the launch of the Mi TV Stick on August 5 at 12 noon.

Mi TV Stick pricing

Xiaomi Mi TV Stick is priced at EUR 39.99 which roughly translates to around Rs 3,500 by direct conversion. However, the Mi Box 4K retails in India at Rs 3,499 and hence the Mi TV Stick is expected to be priced much lower as it offers Full HD streaming. We’ll know the official price on the day of the launch.

Mi TV Stick specifications

The Mi TV Stick is very lightweight at 28.5 grams and connects to your TV, monitor or projector through an HDMI port. It is powered by Android TV and supports 1080p resolution at 60FPS. There’s a quad-core Cortex-A53 processor inside that is paired with 1GB RAM and 8GB storage. 

The Mi TV Stick is expected to come pre-loaded with Disney+ Hotstar, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Spotify apps. It also supports both DTS and Dolby audio decoding offering a much more immersive stereo surround sound. The Bluetooth remote comes with dedicated Netflix and Prime Video buttons and the Google Assistant button allows you to control it simply by giving voice commands. We can also expect the Mi TV Stick to come with PatchWall UI as well when it launches in India.

 

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Sony A7S III with 4K 120p recording, in-body stabilization and a new viewfinder launched

After five long years, Sony has finally announced the much anticipated A7S III. The A7S series is the company's premium full-frame camera. The first A7S camera was introduced back in 2014, followed by the much loved A7S II in 2015. The S in the name stands for sensitivity, which ensures excellent dynamic range, low-light and video recording capabilities, precisely what still attracts the masses towards its predecessors.

The Sony A7S III features a new 12MP backside-illuminated EXMOR R CMOS full-frame sensor. It's the combination of a relatively low-resolution sensor and a large sensor size what makes it capable of good low light performance. It also has a BIONZ XR image processor with eight times more processing power compared tot he A7S II.

The camera has an ISO range of 40-409,600. Sony also claims 15+ stops of dynamic range and 3x reduction in rolling shutter. The camera is capable of shooting 10fps in burst mode, but because of its large buffer, you can click up to 1000 consecutive uncompressed RAW images with full AF/AE tracking. It can also shoot images in the HEIF format with wide dynamic range (HLG) and 10-bit gradation.

Connectivity options on the Sony A7S Mark III include dual-band Wi-Fi, USB tethering, and a USB Type-C connector that supports SuperSpeed USB 5GBps data transfer.

Sony A7S III is loaded with video features

As mentioned, its biggest highlight is the video performance. The Sony A7S III is capable of shooting 4K at 120fps, 10-bit, 4:2:2 internally. Which means for each 4x2 pixel grid, it records 2 colour pixels from the first row, and 2 from the second row. It should result in cleaner footage for instances like green screen shooting as the colours around the edges are better defined compared to 8-bits of data. You can also record 4K at 60p in 16-bit RAW externally.

The Sony A7S III supports multiple colour profiles including S-Gamut, S-Gamut 3 and S-Gamut3.Cine that makes it capable of colour-matching its footage that's seen on cinema cameras. It also has a new XAVC HS format with H.265 codec for more efficiency. There's no cap on recording time, and the only crop is at the maximum 4K 120p setting, which means other modes will be able to use the full width of the sensor.

In terms of autofocus, the company says it uses a new phase-detection AF that has 759 points covering 92% of the image sensor. To further aid its video capabilities, there's a real-time tracking and real-time eye AF to lock focus on the subject. The A7S III also includes 5-axis in-body stabilization. 

Sony has also introduced a new viewfinder and a 3.0-inch fully articulating touchscreen display. The viewfinder is claimed to be the world's first EVF with 0.64 type, 9.44 million dots OLED panel. Another welcome update comes in the form of a revamped UI. The new interface is entirely touch-based, which means all the navigations and selections can be made without needing to press a button.

For storage, the A7S III has a dual card slot option which supports SDXC/SDHC or CFexpress cards in each slot. It not only lets you record video and click photos simultaneously but its relay mode allows you to swap a card from one slot while it continues to record on the other. It is a handy feature for those who like to shoot uninterrupted long-length videos.

The Sony A7S III, undoubtedly, is a camera that cinematographers and video camera enthusiasts will feel excited about. Some may find the 12MP resolution a bit low for some users, but its video features can give more expensive video cameras a run for the money.

The A7S III costs $3500 (approx Rs 2,61,597) for the body-only and will hit the stores sometime in September. Sadly, the company hasn't shared any details about its price and availability for the Indian market, but we'll keep an eye on future developments.

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We could see the first 1PB Solid State Drive as early as 2023

As the future creeps up on all of us, technology shows no signs of slowing down. As chips get smaller and storage becomes even larger, CEO and founder of Nimbus Data, Thomas Izakovich has just revealed that the company is working on Solid State Drives that can store 400TB of data.

In an exclusive interview with TechRadar, Izakovich said, “we can do 200TB in 2021 and likely 400TB by 2023.”. So, why is it that a drive that is 400TB in size is so important. Well, for one, a drive with a native capacity of 400TB could potentially equal 1PB in tape capacity. This particular drive could be very expensive but it will also be much smaller and faster than most SSDs out there. 

We could see the first 1PB Solid State Drive in 2023

The company is also responsible for the world's largest Solid State Drive in the 100TB ExaDrive DC, which costs a whopping $40,000 (Rs. 29,87,900 approx directly converted). Is 100TB really worth that kind of money though? With the world moving forward at a breakneck speed, we wonder what different kinds of storage methods will we come up with next?

In other technology news, after the Indian ban on TikTok, Japan is looking at banning the popular social media app. You can read more about that here. The Indian government is also looking at banning 47 other Chinese apps, including PUBG Mobile and Resso. And finally, Android smartphones can now help COVID-19 research through distributed computing. You can read more about that here. 

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After India and US, Japan considering banning TikTok as well

Short video making app TikTok has become the most controversial applications of all time. Adding to its unending spree of controversies, now, a group of Japan lawmakers have their eyes on TikTok and other apps developed by Chinese firms. The steps are taken soon after Indian government blocked some Chinese apps, and the U.S. is considering doing the same. While India has already banned 59 Chinese apps and 47 of their clones, the government is reportedly considering a list of 275 more apps that it may ban in future.

A Japanese national broadcaster NHK first reported the decision. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party said they would be pushing the country's government to "take legislative steps" to "limit the use" of TikTok and other apps that originate from China. While the country considering the resolution is new, the core concern is the same between India, US and Japan, which is the risk of user privacy and sensitive data ending up in China, posing as a national threat to the respective nations. 

Japan considering banning TikTok

Although Bytedance's TikTok had it's largest user base in India, Japan was the first overseas market where the app rose to fame and went viral. TikTok is said to be consistently topping the entertainment app section of Apple's App Store and is also the fifth-most downloaded apps across all categories as per App Annie.

The U.S., on the other hand, has also shared thoughts on banning TikTok soon. A Senate panel had disallowed government officials from using the app last week, and both President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had said earlier that the government is considering a ban on TikTok.

TikTok's response 

In response to the inquiry arising from Japan, a TikTok spokesperson reiterated the app is distant from Chinese control, in a statement to TechCrunch. He said, "there's a lot of misinformation about TikTok out there. TikTok has an American CEO, a Chief Information Security Officer with decades of industry, U.S. military and law enforcement experience, and a U.S. team that works diligently to develop a best-in-class security infrastructure. Four of our parent company's five board seats are controlled by some of the world's best-respected global investors. TikTok U.S./ user data is stored in the U.S. and Singapore, with strict controls on employee access."

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Xiaomi patents a smartphone design with in-built earbuds

Xiaomi patents a full-screen smartphone with an under-screen camera and a compartment to store your wireless earbuds in China and Netherlands. The patent renders show earbuds slot into cylindrical shafts at the top of the phone, which can double as a loudspeaker as well.

This is not the first time Xiaomi has shown interest in a bold design idea that looks very intriguing. Having released phones like the Mix and the Mix Alpha that defied conventional smartphone designs in the past, Xiaomi has a history of experimenting with new designs.

Inspired by the new patents, LetsGoDigital has created design renders as per their imagination of the idea. 

According to the two patents, the phone will have two holes at the top that will accommodate wireless earbuds. The earbuds point upward when placed into the shaft, but it can pivot at different angles to fit the ears well. The idea is very similar to how Samsung provides the S-Pen in the Note series handsets. 

By the looks of it, the earbuds might also double as a loudspeaker when it's in the slot. 

Can we see this in a future smartphone?

It's too early to say if it is going to be seen on a future smartphone, but it's a design that can be made possible after working on the underlying issues. For example, such a compartment will require a lot of space depending on the size of the earbuds. A lot of components will have to be readjusted and replaced by smaller parts, which will entail high manufacturing costs. Similarly, making compact earbuds with good battery life and sound isn't an easy combo to make under a budget. Also, this might add bulk to the smartphone, which is not something many would look forward to.

Moreover, if the earbuds use the smartphone's battery to charge, the capacity will also need to be increased. And not to forget, OEMs have been ditching the 3.5mm audio jack (a single unit) to fit bigger batteries on phones. This will be a big challenge. 

Aside from the production cost, the company will also have to take care of hygiene too. The earbuds will be exposed to the outside world, doubling as a loudspeaker and will then go into your ears. So this is something that the company will have to consider too. 

In case Xiaomi can achieve this design, it might not cost anything that an ordinary user can afford for at least three generations. The benefits, however, are tempting. Having earbuds inside the phone means you don't need to carry an additional device with you and fewer chances of forgetting them unless you forget your phone. 

Likely, this design will not become commercial anytime soon. However, we do feel that if achieved this is a more useful design for a future phone compared to the, Mi Mix Alpha, which is not more than just an all-screen gimmick.

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Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 starting at Rs 60,990 launched in India

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 has launched in India as a thin and light laptop that comes with the latest hardware inside. The company announced the IdeaPad Slim 3 last month in June and now the Slim 5 takes it a notch higher as it is powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 processor. 

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 is listed in a single variant on the official India website priced at Rs 60,990 and comes with 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD storage. It is available in a single colour, Graphite Grey, online. The listing was first spotted by TechnoSports who reported that the IdeaPad Slim 5 is also listed on Amazon India but is priced at Rs 66,950.

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 specifications and features

The IdeaPad Slim 5 features a 14-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) resolution anti-glare display with 300 nits of brightness and 100% sRGB colour range. The screen is surrounded by narrow bezels, the top one measuring less than 7mm, the left and right ones measuring 4.3mm and bottom bezel measuring less than 10mm.

The Slim 5 is powered by AMD Ryzen 7 4700U processor with Radeon graphics and runs on Windows 10 Home. This is paired with upto 16GB RAM and upto 1TB HDD/SSD M.2 storage options to choose from. Having said that, currently the only variant listed on the website comes with 8GB RAM / 256GB SSD.

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 packs in a 57Wh three-cell battery that is able to provide upto 12 hours worth of battery life with support for Quick Charge 2.0. Lenovo claims that a 15-minute charge can top-up the battery for a 3-hour long use.

There’s a privacy shutter on the webcam and the power button doubles up as a fingerprint reader. The IdeaPad Slim 5 comes with upward-firing stereo speakers tuned by Dolby Audio. It also comes with support for Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1.

As for the I/O ports, the IdeaPad Slim 5 comes with two USB-A 3.1 ports, a USB Type-C port, an HDMI port, an SD card reader and a headphone/mic combo jack.

 

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