Tech News Updates: January 2021

Sunday, January 31, 2021

Samsung Galaxy A72 May Come With 5000mAh Battery, 25W Fast Charging, Certification Listing Hints

Samsung Galaxy A72 has been leaked in several reports in the recent past. The smartphone is expected to be launched next week.

Chinese Copyright Body Raps Kuaishou For IP Infringements Ahead Of Stock Market Listing

A Chinese copyright association has asked Kuaishou Technology to delete 10,000 videos it said infringes intellectual property rules, days before the online shortvideo firm is set to list its shares in Hong Kong this week.

iCloud Passwords Extension Released on Chrome Web Store, Helps Access Saved Apple Passwords on Windows

The iCloud Passwords extension is available for download on the Chrome Web store, and is available for both Windows and Mac versions of Chrome.

Clubhouse, the Invite-Only Social Media App, Booms in Japan

Clubhouse, a private social audio app, is gaining a lot of traction in Japan. It is now the number 1 free app on Apple's App Store. The latest round of funding valued the company at $1 billion.

Chip Sales Rose 6.5% Globally In 2020 After Year-end Rush

Global semiconductor sales rose 6.5% overall in 2020, as a recovery during the last three months of the year helped offset a sharp dropoff in March and April, when pandemic stayhome orders rolled out around the world.

This Year’s Union Budget Is All Digital With Made In India Tablet As Out Goes The Bahi Khata

The use of a Made In India tablet is a dual push for digitization as well as the Atmanirbhar Bharat push along with the Made in India initiative. Earlier, the government rolled out the Union Budget app for smartphones that will allow users to follow the budget updates on their phones.

Apple Achieves Another Milestone – More Than 1 Billion Active iPhones in the World Currently

Apple had announced the sale of its billionth iPhone in 2016 and said that it had hit 900 million active iPhone users in 2019.

Invite-only Chat App Clubhouse Booms In Japan

Private social audio app Clubhouse is growing rapidly in Japan and now ranks first among free apps on Apple's App Store in a test of its international viability following its latest funding round.

Apple Just Made iMessage Even More Secure And The Best Part Is, You Don’t Need To Toggle Anything On

The way the iMessage protective layer works is that the BlastDoor sandboxing essentially provides for what is a quarantine zone where the service can inspect an incoming attachment in a message, for any malicious code or add-ons, before it is released and you receive it as a new iMessage on your iPhone.

Poco M3 India Launch Tomorrow at 12PM: Expected Price, Specifications and More

Poco M3 comes as the successor to Poco M2 that came to India in November 2020. The smartphone will come with a triple rear camera and will be sold on Flipkart.

As Google Eyes Australia Exit, Microsoft Talks Bing With PM

Software giant Microsoft Corp is confident its search product Bing can fill the gap in Australia if Google pulls its search over required payments to media outlets, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Monday.

Asus ROG Academy Aims to Mould Indian Gamers Into Professional Esports Players

The Asus ROG Academy will be looking at Counter Strike: Global Offensive initially, and the company plans to look at other titles as well in the near future.

LG Velvet Is Getting Stable Android 11 Update - Availability, Size, and Other Details

LG Velvet was launched by the South Korean manufacturer in October last year in India. The smartphone came to our market after almost eight months of its global debut.

WhatsApp Using Status Messages to Reassure Users of Its ‘Commitment to Privacy’

WhatsApp is now posting status messages to reassure users of its “commitment to privacy” in the latest attempt to keep them from switching to alternate messaging apps. A recent privacy policy update from WhatsApp that mentioned about sharing data with other Facebook products and services has sparked privacy concerns among users.

Pay Your Credit Card Bill Today On CRED During The Budget And You May Win Back Income Tax You Paid

The way this works is that you need to head to the My Money section in the CRED app on your Apple iPhone or Android phone, and select the Credit Score tab. As per the last reported numbers, CRED has a user base of 5.9 million credit card users with a median credit score of 830.

Saturday, January 30, 2021

Apple TV Plus Users Who Renewed Their Subscription Ahead of Free Trial Extension Will Get Refund Credits

Apple extended the Apple TV Plus free trial subscription for those users whose membership is slated to expire between February to June 2021. Apple offers a free trial of its streaming service with newly purchased Apple devices like the iPhone, Mac, iPad, and more.

Realme X7 5G May Come in Two Storage Variants in India, Prices Leaked Ahead of February 4 Launch

The Realme X7 and Realme X7 Pro debuted in China in September 2020 with 5G support, quad rear cameras and more. The phones will retain in India via Flipkart and Realme offline and online channels.

The Family Man, Pitta Kathalu, and More: February Guide to Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+ Hotstar

The Family Man season 2, Pitta Kathalu, Tom & Jerry, To All the Boys: Always and Forever, The Girl on the Train, I Care a Lot, Malcolm & Marie — the biggest movies and TV series on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, Apple TV+, Colors Infinity, and Mubi in February 2021.

Netflix February 2021 Releases: To All the Boys 3, The Girl on the Train, and More

To All the Boys: Always and Forever, The Girl on the Train, Pitta Kathalu, News of the World, Jurassic World, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, The Big Day Netflix, Malcolm & Marie, I Care a Lot, Bear Grylls’ Animals on the Loose: A You vs. Wild Movie, Eeb Allay Ooo! — the biggest movies and TV shows coming to Netflix India in February 2021.

Microsoft Teams May Receive Improvements for Desktop App to Cut Down on RAM, CPU Usage

Microsoft confirmed via a status update on a community forum that it was working on a performance issue on the desktop app. Users have been reporting that the Microsoft Teams desktop app consumes a lot of RAM. Microsoft Teams has received other updates this month, including an offline autosend option.

Tenet Now Available on Apple TV and Google Play in India

Tenet is now available for download on Apple TV and Google Play in India in English, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu. Christopher Nolan’s time-bending movie costs Rs. 690 / Rs. 820 in India.

Spotify May Soon Recommend Music Based on Your Emotional State, Surroundings, Patent Tips

Spotify has been granted a patent for tech that can suggest songs to users based on an analysis of their voice data, background noise, and more.

WandaVision Episode 4 Recap: It’s All Wanda

WandaVision episode 4 review: Marvel reveals the other side of the story as Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris), Jimmy Woo (Randall Park), and Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings) investigate the mysterious town of Westview, New Jersey — a sitcom fantasy fashioned by Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen).

iOS 14 Carries ‘BlastDoor’ Sandbox Security System to Protect iMessage, Google Researcher Discovers

Apple’s iOS 14 carries a new security system called BlastDoor that is meant to protect data transmitted via iMessage. The new system separates data processing on iMessage from other elements of the operating system.

Google Chrome Getting Tab Groups, Grid View for Android: Reports

Google Chrome is rolling out grid view along with tab groups for Android, according to reports. Users can reportedly drag and drop one tab on another on Google Chrome to form groups. The Google Chrome grid view and tab group features started rolling out for some users with the Google Chrome 88 update.

Google Play Allows Gambling, Betting Apps in 15 New Countries Including US, Canada, and Australia

Google Play has updated its policies allowing gambling and betting apps in 15 new countries, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, and the US. The latest change is, however, not applied to India where gambling apps are mostly illegal.

Signal Adds Chat Wallpapers to Android and iOS With Update 5.3

Signal has added chat wallpaper feature to the messaging app. This feature is already present in WhatsApp, as well as Telegram.

Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Twitter Asked by EU to Extend Fake News Watch With COVID-19 in Focus

The European Commission has told Google, Facebook, Twitter, and Microsoft to continue monthly reports on their efforts to tackle fake news, especially on COVID-19, for another six months.

Beyond Reddit, Day Traders Turning Social Media Platforms Into Squawk Boxes

Social media chatrooms are beginning to resemble the squawk boxes on old-fashioned trading floors, as a new generation of retail traders continues to gain influence over the stock market.

Google Search Bombards Australian Users as PR Campaign Intensifies Against News Payment Rule

US tech giant Google stepped up its public relations campaign against Australian regulation, presenting all search users in the country with a "proposal" to water down planned rules.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres Calls for Regulating Social Media Companies

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called Thursday for global rules to regulate powerful social media companies like Twitter and Facebook.

Facebook Oversight Board Overturns Four Content Takedowns in First Ruling

Facebook’s quasi-independent oversight board issued its first rulings, overturning four out of five decisions by the social network to take down questionable content.

Apple CEO Tim Cook Escalates Battle With Facebook Over Online Privacy

Apple CEO Tim Cook fired off a series of thinly veiled shots at Facebook and other social media companies, escalating an online privacy battle pitting the iPhone maker against digital services that depend on tracking people to help sell advertisements.

Facebook Out to Loosen Apple's Grip on App Store, Prepares Antitrust Lawsuit: Report

Facebook is readying a lawsuit aimed at loosening Apple's grip on the App Store that serves as an exclusive gateway onto iPhone platform, according to a report.

Reddit Users Say GameStop Rocket Is Revenge of the Masses

For some Reddit users, GameStop's dizzying rocket ride on Wall Street is a case of the masses rebelling against one-percenters hoarding the world's wealth.

Facebook Shuts Popular Trading Group Robinhood Stock Traders Amid GameStop Frenzy

Facebook took down a popular Wall Street discussion group, Robinhood Stock Traders, in a move that its founder described as backlash for conversations buoying shares of GameStop and other companies this week.

Pokemon Go May Be Looking to Increase India Presence, New Job Listing Suggests

Game maker Niantic is scouting for local talent that can generate momentum, attend industry events in the largest cities in the country, and plan meetups for Pokemon Go community members. The employee may also have to generate more social noise by writing blog posts, articles, social media posts, and newsletters. The job listing hints that Niantic is looking at India ...

Telegram 7.4 Update Will Let You Import WhatsApp Chats Using a Migration Tool

Telegram 7.4 update for iOS and Android includes a migration tool to let users import chats from WhatsApp and other apps. The iOS update was replaced by version 7.4.1 soon after, which does not mention the migration tool. However, the tool is still working for users who have installed the latest update.

Tech Launches This Week: FAU-G, Sony A1, Razer Viper, Moto Edge S and More

The biggest launch of the week can at the same time be called the most dubious, as initial reviews of the mobile game FAU-G saw a largely negative response. Others, such as the Sony Alpha 1 mirrorless camera, stand out as being among the best in the industry.

Netflix Starts Testing Timer Feature to Stop Streaming Content After a Certain Period

Netflix has started testing a new feature that will allow viewers to set a timer for their favourite show or movie. The new feature is currently live for select Netflix subscribers on Android devices globally.

Google Finally Starts Pushing Updates for Its iOS Apps, Major Apps Yet to Get Updated

There were speculations early on that Google was trying to avoid iOS updates in order to avoid Apple's new privacy labels.

Will Apple Finally Bring In-Display Fingerprint Sensor on iPhone This Year? Here's What We Know

A recent report has said that Apple may go with a version of an optical in-display fingerprint sensor on the iPhone 13 series.

Facebook Content Moderators in Ireland Demand Work From Home Amid Spike in COVID-19 Cases

Facebook had announced back in August 2020 that all employees will be allowed to work from home till July 2021.

Justice League Snyder Cut Release Date Set for March 18 on HBO Max

Justice League Snyder Cut finally gets a release date. The director posted a tweet on Friday, confirming that his remastered version of the 2017-superhero caper will hit HBO Max in March 18.

Friday, January 29, 2021

Nokia 7.1, Nokia 6.1 Plus, Nokia 3.1, and Nokia 3.2 Get Jan 2021 Android Security Patch

Screenshots of the updates show that there is no software update coming on the new Nokia smartphones, and that the Security patch is the only thing rolling out on the four Nokia smartphones.

Robinhood Says It Temporarily Curbed Buying Of Some Securities As Deposit Requirement Increased Ten-fold

Online broker Robinhood, one of the hottest venues in this week's retailtrading frenzy, said it put temporary buying restrictions on a small number of securities as clearing housemandated deposit requirements for equities increased tenfold.

Your Data for Cash: Indian Lending Apps Force Tough Choice

Digital lending platforms in India have come under greater scrutiny recently for their methods, including the collection and alleged misuse of borrowers' data, underlining the risks to driving financial inclusion with newer technologies.

Facebook to Develop ‘Topic Exclusion Controls’ for Advertisers to Tackle Harmful Content

Facebook said it would soon start developing "topic exclusion controls" on its platform to give advertisers greater ability to weed out certain types of content from appearing alongside their advertisements.

Amazon Grand Gaming Days Sale: Best Deals on Gaming Laptops, Monitors and More Accessories

The Amazon Great Gaming Days sale started on January 29 and will go on till January 31.

GameStop's Reddit Rally Puts Scrutiny on Social Media Forums

Social media services including Facebook and Reddit restrict discussions about weapons, drugs, and other illegal activity, but their rules do not specifically mention another lucrative regulated good: stocks.

Microsoft India Development Center Inspired by Taj Mahal Established in Noida

Microsoft has opened its new India Development Center (IDC) facility in Noida, making it the third in India. It is inspired by the iconic Taj Mahal. This is the third development centre for Microsoft in India, after Bangalore and Hyderabad.

Facebook-Giphy Deal Faces Probe From UK Competition Watchdog

UK's competition watchdog launched its initial investigation into Facebook's completed acquisition of GIF website Giphy, at a time when the social media network is under global regulatory scrutiny over antitrust concerns.

WhatsApp Adds Biometric Security Layer for Web, Desktop App Linking

WhatsApp has announced that it is adding an extra security layer on its mobile app to prevent unethical use of WhatsApp on the desktop. In order to link WhatsApp Web or desktop app to a WhatsApp account, users will now be asked to use face or fingerprint unlock on the phone. Once this step is done, users can then access the QR code scanner on their phone that will th...

FAU-G Becomes Top Free Game on Google Play Store With Over 5 Million Downloads

FAU-G has become the top free game on Google Play. nCore Games, the developer, has announced that the game garnered over five million downloads in 24 hours. The game released on January 26 and saw four million pre-registrations on Google Play.

Amazon, Facebook, Google, More Big Tech’s Digital Taxation Debate Heating Up on Global Stage

An international debate over how countries tax big US technology companies such as Google, Amazon, and Facebook is heating up, presenting a challenge for US President Joe Biden's new administration.

Instagram Rolls Out a Multi-Story Carousal Redesign for Stories on Desktop

Instagram Stories has a new layout on desktop. Stories appear in a convenient carousel way in the new design, which is rolling out for Windows and Mac. Users can see a carousel of stories, including clickable previews of the previous and next stories. It also has play/ pause and volume mute buttons.

Apple Privacy Pop-Up Notifications on Apps to Roll Out in ‘Early Spring’

Apple said that new privacy pop-up notifications will start appearing on most iPhone units as soon as "early spring," a requirement that major digital advertising firms such as Facebook have warned will harm their businesses.

WallStreetBets Reddit Group Briefly Shuts Doors, Puts a Dent on Gamestop and Other Retail Companies

A slugfest between Wall Street and Main Street took an unexpected turn late on Wednesday after moderators of the WallStreetBets stock trading forum that has helped fuel massive rallies in the shares of GameStop temporarily closed its doors.

Discord Bans WallStreetBets Investor Coalition for Allowing Hateful Speech

WallStreetBets, the investor coalition that gained fame for boosting stocks from its perch on Reddit, was banned by the communications platform Discord for not doing enough to stem hateful speech.

Bridgerton Is Netflix’s Biggest Series Ever, as 82 Million Members Tune In

Bridgerton is now Netflix’s biggest series of all time. Over 82 million households watched Bridgerton in the first 28 days, with the show hitting number one on Netflix’s daily “Top 10” lists in 83 markets, including India, the US, and the UK.

YouTube Suspends Donald Trump Indefinitely, Stops Rudy Giuliani Monetising Clips

YouTube has suspended Donald Trump indefinitely from the platform and said it will also prevent the former president's lawyer Rudy Giuliani from being able to monetize his clips, US media reported.

Thursday, January 28, 2021

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres Calls for Regulating Social Media Companies

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called Thursday for global rules to regulate powerful social media companies like Twitter and Facebook.

Facebook Oversight Board Overturns Four Content Takedowns in First Ruling

Facebook’s quasi-independent oversight board issued its first rulings, overturning four out of five decisions by the social network to take down questionable content.

Apple CEO Tim Cook Escalates Battle With Facebook Over Online Privacy

Facebook Out to Loosen Apple's Grip on App Store, Prepares Antitrust Lawsuit: Report

Facebook is readying a lawsuit aimed at loosening Apple's grip on the App Store that serves as an exclusive gateway onto iPhone platform, according to a report.

Reddit Users Say GameStop Rocket Is Revenge of the Masses

For some Reddit users, GameStop's dizzying rocket ride on Wall Street is a case of the masses rebelling against one-percenters hoarding the world's wealth.

Facebook Shuts Popular Trading Group Robinhood Stock Traders Amid GameStop Frenzy

Realme X7 5G and Realme X7 Pro 5G Key Specifications Revealed Ahead of February 4 Launch

Realme X7 5G and Realme X7 Pro 5G will be sold via Flipkart. The smartphones will be launched at 12:30PM IST on February 4.

Apple Doesn’t Want To Keep All Its Eggs In The China Basket? Focus Shifts To Made In India iPhones

Apple is looking towards India to ramp up iPhone production, and is expected to start the production of Made in India Apple iPhone 12 series as early as this quarter. So far, Apple partners in India, including Foxconn and Wistron, manufacture the iPhone 11 series and the iPhone XR as well.

Facebook - Giphy Deal Faces Investigation From UK Regulators

The CMA said it has until March 25 to decide whether it should make a reference for an in-depth investigation.

Exclusive: U.S. Oil Industry Seeks Unusual Alliance With Farm Belt To Fight Biden Electric Vehicle Agenda

The U.S. oil industry is seeking to forge an alliance with the nation's corn growers and biofuel producers to lobby against the Biden administration's push for electric vehicles, but is so far meeting a cool reception, according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions.

Amazon Set to Launch in Poland for Local Shoppers to Switch Over From German Site

Amazon is preparing to set up a Polish based website so local shoppers will no longer have to order via its German site, the company said.

Mozilla Firefox 85 Ends Support for Adobe Flash Player, Cracks Down on Supercookies

Mozilla has released Firefox 85, that does not have Adobe Flash support. Firefox 85 also aims to protect users from supercookies, which are trackers that can stay hidden in the browser and track you online even after you clear cookies.

Twitter Suspends Over 550 Accounts After Violence During Farmers' Republic Day Tractor Rally

Twitter suspended over 550 accounts from its platform in connection with the violence during the farmers' tractor rally in the national capital on Republic Day.

TikTok, 58 More Apps Ban by India Violates World Trade Organization Rules: China

China said that the Indian government's decision to keep a ban on 59 Chinese apps was a violation of the World Trade Organization's fair rules of business and would hurt Chinese firms.

FAU-G Review: Repetitive and Unfinished, for Now

FAU-G has finally released on Android and has since amassed over a million downloads. FAU-G has been developed by nCore Games and is set during the Galwan Valley skirmish between India and China.

The Disciple, Chaitanya Tamhane’s Venice Winner, Heads to Netflix

The Disciple — Court director Chaitanya Tamhane’s next movie — is headed to Netflix, as the streaming platform has snapped up global rights for the film that won the award for best screenplay at the 2020 Venice International Film Festival. Oscar-winning filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón served as the executive producer.

Clubhouse, the Invite-Only Social Media App, Is Slowly Getting Pried Open

When Clubhouse, a private social app, debuted in March of last year, it was hard for most people to score an invitation. Over the summer, its limited rollout fuelled intrigue and chatter, especially as big names in music, entertainment and tech created accounts. Even Oprah made an appearance.

Eros Now Unveils ‘First Day, First Show’ Offering, to Stream Hollywood Movies for Rs. 149

Eros Now has announced “First Day, First Show” that will offer Hollywood movies directly on its online platform in India at Rs. 149 per film. Eros Now’s “First Day, First Show” is the second major Indian pay-per-view offering after Zee Plex on Zee5.

Google Maps Improves Transliterated Search Results for 10 Indian Languages

Google Maps has built an ensemble of learning models to transliterate names of Latin script point of interest (POI) areas in the country to enable a more accurate search result. This means native language users will now get more accurate results of POIs in India than before.

YouTube Shorts Eyes TikTok Competition With 3.5 Billion Daily Views in India

YouTube Shorts – the video-sharing website's quick clips meant to compete with TikTok – are racking up 3.5 billion views a day during beta testing in India, the platform's head Susan Wojcikci said.

TikTok Parent ByteDance Says Reducing India Workforce, Unsure of Comeback

China's ByteDance has decided to reduce the size of its India team and is unsure when the company will make a comeback in India, it said in an internal memo to employee.

Twitter Acquires Newsletter Startup Revue, Will Eliminate Some of Its Fees to Encourage Users

Twitter has acquired the newsletter publishing company Revue for an undisclosed sum, part of an effort to expand its business and give writers who distribute their work on Twitter.

Raya and the Last Dragon Trailer: Disney Promises a Fantastical Southeast Asia Adventure

Raya and the Last Dragon trailer is here. Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, Gemma Chan, Daniel Dae Kim, Sandra Oh, and Benedict Wong are part of Raya and the Last Dragon cast. Raya and the Last Dragon release date is March 5 in Indian cinemas and on Disney+ Premier Access.

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Facebook CEO Zuckerberg Says Businesses Can Opt Out of WhatsApp Tools That Require Storing Chats

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that more than 175 million people message a business on WhatsApp every day.

Apple AirPods Max Review: This Is The Sound Of Luxury Drowning Out The Wails Of Your Credit Card

Apple isn’t the first to make really expensive headphones, and they most certainly won’t be the last. The AirPods Max are priced at Rs 59,900 and can be had in five color options—space grey, silver, green, sky blue and pink, all in dual tone finish. The magic of the Apple AirPods Max begins after you’ve dealt with the perceived pricing shock.

Bridgerton Is Netflix’s Biggest Series Ever, as 82 Million Members Tune In

YouTube Suspends Donald Trump Indefinitely, Stops Rudy Giuliani Monetising Clips

YouTube has suspended Donald Trump indefinitely from the platform and said it will also prevent the former president's lawyer Rudy Giuliani from being able to monetize his clips, US media reported.

Apple Logs Record Quarterly Smartphone Shipments, Huawei In Freefall

Apple Inc's smartphone shipments jumped 22% to record levels in the fourth quarter, making it the world's biggest seller, while those for Huawei plunged as U.S. sanctions took effect.

Explainer: Google, Facebook Battle Australia Over Proposed Revenue-sharing Law

Alphabet Inc's Google has vowed to withdraw its main search engine from Australia, while Facebook Inc says it will block news sharing if the government proceeds with a law to make them pay domestic media outlets for content they feature.

Australia Takes On Google Advertising Dominance In Latest Big Tech Fight

An Australian regulator is considering letting internet users choose what personal data companies like Google share with advertisers, as part of the country's attempts to shatter the dominance of tech titans.

TSMC Ramps Up Auto Chip Production As Carmakers Wrestle With Shortages

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC) is "expediting" autorelated products through its wafer fabs and reallocating wafer capacity, the company said on Thursday, amid a global shortage of auto chips.

Apple’s All Time Record Revenue Numbers Have A Very Distinct India Flavour

Tim Cook also confirmed Apple’s plans for physical retail stores in India. Apple has doubled its market share in the Indian smartphone space, during the winter quarter.

Facebook to Stop Recommending Political Groups to Users

Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg said the social network will no longer recommend

Game of Thrones HBO Max Animated Series in Early Development: Reports

Game of Thrones is going animated for HBO Max. Multiple reports claim that an adult animated Game of Thrones spin-off is in the “very early” stages of development.

Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg Hits Apple Over Privacy as the Social Media Company’s Quarterly Results Soar

Facebook capped a tumultuous 2020 with soaring earnings in the final quarter, but the company forecast challenges in 2021 that include a coming privacy update by Apple that could limit the social network's advertisement targeting capabilities.

Apple Says New Privacy Notifications To Roll Out In "Early Spring"

Apple Inc said on Thursday that new privacy popup notifications will start appearing on most iPhones as soon as "early spring," a requirement that major digital advertising firms such as Facebook Inc have warned will harm their businesses.

Indian Smartphone Market Witnesses 4% Dip in 2020, Q4 Shipment Up 19%: Counterpoint Research

The high consumer demand post-lockdown, as well as strong promotions on online channels and new uses cases like e-learning and work from home, drove the smartphone market in the pandemic-hit year, Counterpoint Research said.

Samsung Electronics Sees Solid Chip Demand, Stronger Phone Sales In Q1

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd on Thursday forecast solid demand for its chips this quarter and stronger mobile sales after bringing forward the launch of its flagship Galaxy S smartphone, along with a likely pickup in M&A activity.

OnePlus 9 Leaked Images Hint at Possible Design, Specifications: What We Know So Far

Previous reports have suggested that the OnePlus 9 may come with a 4,500mAh battery along with wireless charging and support for reverse wireless charging.

Google Apps to Stop Using Apple Tool to Track iPhone Users, Avoiding New Pop-Up Warning

Google's iPhone apps such as Maps and YouTube will stop using a tool from Apple that allows them to personalise advertisements, avoiding a new Apple warning that informs users their browsing is being tracked.

White House Vows To Protect U.S. Telecoms Network From Huawei Security Threat

The Biden administration will work to safeguard American telecoms networks from "untrusted vendors" like Huawei Technologies Co Ltd that threaten national security, the White House said on Wednesday, offering some insight into its plans for China's top telecoms equipment company, long in Washington's crosshairs.

Latest OnePlus Launcher Brings Some OxygenOS 11 Features to Older OnePlus Smartphones

While OnePlus 6, OnePlus 6T, OnePlus 7 series, OnePlus 7T series, and OnePlus Nord owners wait for OxygenOS 11 on their smartphones, the OnePlus Launcher will give them a slight feel of a new software in the meantime.

Facebook Says It Will Permanently Stop Recommending Political Groups To Users

Facebook Inc's CEO Mark Zuckerberg said on Wednesday the company would no longer recommend civic and political groups to users of the platform.

Apple Sees Revenue Growth Accelerating After Setting Record For IPhone Sales, China Strength

Apple Inc on Wednesday reported holiday quarter sales and profits that beat Wall Street expectations, as new 5G iPhones helped push handset revenue to a new record and sparked a 57% rise in China sales.

Facebook Scores Earnings Beat On Holiday Retail Advertising; Apple Privacy Changes Loom

Facebook Inc soundly beat quarterly revenue estimates on Wednesday after heavy holiday advertising by ecommerce retailers, but it warned Apple's impending privacy changes could hurt revenue by interfering with ad targeting.

Samsung Electronics Sees Solid Chip Demand, Stronger Phone Sales In First-quarter

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd on Thursday forecast solid demand for its chips in the current quarter and stronger mobile sales after bringing forward the launch of its flagship Galaxy S smartphone to grab market share.

Motorola Edge S With Snapdragon 870 SoC, Dual Front Cameras Launched: Price, Availability and More

The Motorola Edge S is currently available in China, and the Lenovo-owned company is yet to share its global availability details. Its price starts at CNY 1,999 (approx Rs 22,600) for the base 6GB + 128GB storage variant.

Eros Now Unveils ‘First Day, First Show’ Offering, to Stream Hollywood Movies for Rs. 149

Google Maps Improves Transliterated Search Results for 10 Indian Languages

YouTube Shorts Eyes TikTok Competition With 3.5 Billion Daily Views in India

TikTok Parent ByteDance Says Reducing India Workforce, Unsure of Comeback

China's ByteDance has decided to reduce the size of its India team and is unsure when the company will make a comeback in India, it said in an internal memo to employee.

Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Poco M2 Clocks Over 1 Million Units in Sales: Price, Specifications and Where to Buy

The smartphone is being sold via Flipkart and is priced at Rs 9,999 onwards for the 6GB RAM + 64GB storage variant and Rs 10,999 for the 6GB + 128GB variant.

Twitter Acquires Newsletter Startup Revue, Will Eliminate Some of Its Fees to Encourage Users

Twitter has acquired the newsletter publishing company Revue for an undisclosed sum, part of an effort to expand its business and give writers who distribute their work on Twitter.

Raya and the Last Dragon Trailer: Disney Promises a Fantastical Southeast Asia Adventure

Grindr Faces $11.7-Million Fine in Norway for Breach of Data Privacy

Norway's Data Protection Authority said it plans to fine dating app Grindr NOK 100 million (roughly $11.7 million/ Rs. 85 crores) for what the regulator said was illegal disclosure of user data to advertising firms.

Google's FLoC Is a Privacy-Centric Alternative to Ad Cookies: Here's How It Works

While the technology still remains under development, the tests suggest that FLoC could provide more privacy than many tracking cookies.

Mozilla Firefox Will Get a Fresh UI Redesign Later This Year: Here's What's New

While there is a workaround to use and experience the new Firefox features already, Mozilla says that it is not advisable as it could have a negative impact on performance.

Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, World's Richest Men, Lock Horns Over Satellite Internet Projects

Elon Musk's SpaceX had recently asked the FCC for permission to operate Starlink satellites at a lower orbit than initially planned. On the other hand, Amazon's Jeff Bezos says that that the move would risk interference and collision with Amazon's Kuiper satellites.